The sun beamed down in a beautiful mix of light, the tree's dancing in the crisp summer breeze stained with the scent of the river. It was a stunning day, without warning, without even a whisper the day was in tatters.

"Kol! Rebekah!" I scream, gasping for air as I reach the surface

Standing on the meadow were two golden haired children… laughing their ass off

Whipping my drenched chocolate curls from my face I run from the spring "I'm going to kill you both!"

By the time I've reached the shore the two meddlers have scarpered, a voice calling from the far side "such an appealing look for you, sister"

My gaze narrows on the two men sitting happily under a tree "oh, shut up Nik! Elijah…"

At my moan the elder boy stands, with a timid smile and removing his tunic, only to come and wrap it around my shaking form "now what happened here?"

Turning we see Mother and Father approaching, Finn trailing not far behind. Nik stand's tense when they come near, Mikael holding a firm frown, Ester nods, and says as she nurses a small baby in her arms "I see you've been playing with Kol and Rebekah again"

"They pushed me!" I can't help but bark, I was soaking wet and livid

Shaking her head with a small smile my mother tells me "no need to shout, my dear"

In rage I huff and cross my arms, irritated and angry, but mostly wet!

We have lived in this village for just two winters now, they had welcomed us in open arms, it was a new start, but did little to numb the loss of Malik, the elder of us all…

I feel two arms wrap lovingly around me "hush now my angel, later you and I shall punish them justly"

At the fleeting playful, menacing tone a smile breaks from me, turning to see my father smiling down at me and embrace him.

Without warning I feel a pull, a dull ache in my chest, I can't breathe, and then the world storms into change around me the whisper of my name on a familiar voice…

I gasp for precious air; my eyes flutter open only to be met by the sight of my elder brother smiling down to me "Hello sister"

Sitting up I find myself in a silk lined casket, taking a look around I find myself surrounded by my siblings, all but one. My hand rises to the crimson staining my once white gown, which once was beautiful, but now aged and greyed. My eyes burn with unshed tears "Elijah…"

His face falls into understanding sorrow, hands cupping my pained expression "hush now sister; first we contest, and then we mourn"

My face falls into a firm nod as he and Finn move to aid me from the coffin, only then do I see the stranger standing by the door. I dismiss him as Elijah leaves the room with him, turning to my brothers and sister with a bittersweet smile, I take each of them lovingly before following our brother outside, then I hear my brothers voice, my heart fills with a rage so raw it quakes my flesh

Rebekah appears before me, handing me the danger still stained with my blood before following our brothers into the room

"This is for our mother" I hear her spit to the man she has for so long blindly followed

I grip the dagger, letting it cut into the palm of my hand before entering the room. There I see Kol restraining the older man, as his blue orbs settle upon my own and horror drowns them "Verity Please!"

Without hesitation I plunge the blade through his blackened heart "burn in hell brother!"

"You're free to go. This is family business." Elijah speaks, almost numbly

I glare at Niklaus, rounding away from him as Kol pushes him forward. My hate filled stare never leaves him as I come to stand between Elijah and Finn. Rebekah seems to be unable to contain herself as a vase collides with a picture framed wall at her hand "I like what you've done with the new place, Nik."

"I wanted it to be for all of us. A place we could all call home. A place we could all be a family. None of us would ever have to be alone again." He replies with a bowed brow, at least he has the decency to look ashamed

Taking my hand in his Elijah states "Well you're right, none of us will be."

"You're staying behind." Finn growls

I see a smile come to Rebekah's lips "We're leaving you, Nik. Right after I kill that doppelganger wench, then you will be alone; always and forever."

I don't speak, can't bring myself to say the words that seethe on the brink of my tongue

I watch as the familiar rage boils within him "If you run, I will hunt all of you down"

"Then you'll become everything you hate. Our father" At Elijah's words I breathe deep, heart clenching

Seeing this as an insult the blonde man screams "I'm the hybrid! I can't be killed! I have nothing to fear from any of you."

"You will when we have that coffin." I look at Elijah in confusion

"Coffin?" but my question falls on deaf ears as the sound of the door echo's the large house

We turn to see a woman with long blonde hair; my blue gems match my siblings as Rebekah sobs "Mother?"

Esther, my mother, our mother walks through the door graces her children with a smile before passing us to stand before her murder, her son "Look at me! Do you know why I'm here?"

With reluctant fear he meets her stare, tears in his eyes as he speaks "You're here to kill me."

I watch them in sheer amazement, my gut reaches as I move to step forward, I hated my brother, but he was still… "Niklaus, you are my son and I am here to forgive you."

I am frozen at her words as she takes his hand and turns to us "I want us to be a family again"

"Family? He murdered you!" Rebekah screams in a fit of rage

Coming to stand before her youngest Ester cups my sisters cheek "yes, and I have forgiven him. We must forgive and grow Rebekah"

I find myself shaking my head and storming from the room, my mother's long forgotten voice following me "Verity!"

My bare feet meet cold concrete, the crisp air soothing me as my tear stained eyes meet the diamond dusted sky "Verity…"

I turn and see my mother stand before me "how can you forgive him? How can you allow him redemption when he has never sought it? …he has betrayed us all!"

She seems sullen and thoughtful as she takes a step forward to explain "haven't we all done wrong? Don't we all deserve a second chance? Verity, this is our chance, to reunite, to be a family again… Mikael is gone, now is our time"

My heart clenches tightly at those words, and I look her in the eye, coming to stand at her side "very well mother…"

I walk past her and back into the house, only to see Rebekah now dressed in the modern attire "Sister, where are you going?"

She smiles at me, walking backwards towards the door "hospital visit, if you need anything ask one of the hybrids"

My brow frowns but then I hear voices and follow them into the study, finding my brothers sharing a dink, as if all is forgotten "brothers, you'd you give Niklaus and I a moment please"

They each turn to me before leaving the room, as the doors close my gaze meets that of my brothers. You wouldn't know we were siblings, not at first glance, my dark hair, rosy cheeks and small stature so different from my siblings, but my eyes, I have always had mirroring eyes to my brother… before his became cold and cruel "Verity…"

With a scoff I brush him off "don't… so, Mikael is dead, you have your hybrid army and our mothers forgiveness, you got everything you wanted"

Coming to stand before me he says with sorrow "not everything"

I snap up to meet him with a cold glare "your dimple smile charm won't work on me Niklaus, and frankly your apologies are worthless in my eyes"

"Verity please, I made a mistake… how may I acquit myself?" he asks in a tone so sincere

I look into his eyes for a long moment then shake my head "you can't, what you did to me is reprehensible and I will not grant you forgiveness merely to free you of the guilt you deserve"

His head falls, he deserves my hate and his pain "however I can earn your forgiveness I will spend an eternity trying"

A thin lipped smile comes to my face as I glare "I don't know if I have it in my heart to grant you clemency…. But for the sake of this family, I will endure"

He swallows hard, as I turn to leave the room I open the door but hold my stature, turning only my head to glance at my brother "there is one more thing you can do for me… where is he?"

With a slight break in his voice he answers "last I heard he was in Europe"

With a nod I move forward and out of his reach. The house is vast, beautiful, I explore and find a room it was like the rest of the house, waiting for someone… my fingertips graze the while sheer curtains lining the bedframe as I find myself at the window, moonlight streaming in and over the beautiful garden built down below "you seem thoughtful sister dear"

I turn then to see my brother "Kol, how are you?"

Walking into the room he jumps onto the bed "rusty! Everything seems in working order mind. You know I just heard mother and Klaus talking about a throwing a ball, should be entertaining"

Shaking my head I take a seat beside him "or you'll make it so… I'm not equipped for a ball"

With a scoff he grabs my chin "come now darling, you're a very pretty girl… I more so obviously"

A light laugh escapes me "well it enlightens me to see you haven't changed, now if you don't mind despite my long slumber I find myself quite exhausted"

"Still as boring as ever I see, well I'll leave you to it. Goodnight Verity" with a playful peck on my cheek he darts from the room

I walk back to the window and raise my hand out, touching the cold glass as I question to the brilliant pearl hung in the night sky "where are you…"

Then crumbling into the floor I sob, weep for everything I have lost, everyone I have loved. These will be the last of my tears I will shed this night, because I am Verity Mikaelson, and I endure…