[11th century]

"Kol, where are you? Please, don't leave me all alone here!" A girl cried, running around in the woods. "I mean it!"

The twelve year old, knowing she would not get a solid answer, just sat against a tall and strong tree. Warm tears rolled down her face as she hugged her own knees, providing the realisation of how cold her own hands were; aside the obvious shaking.

Playing hide and seek was a bad idea, she thought, feeling helpless. Kol was the girl's best friend and was perfectly aware over the extension of her loathing towards the merely concept of being alone. Especially in the woods, where her father warned her she should be extra careful. It was the burden of being a Hale: to always live hidden and to always be careful.

"Can't you be nice to me?" Once more her high pitched voice yelled. "You are supposed to be my friend. Best friend. Answer me!"

"You're no fun, Elizabeth." A voice came out from between two other trees, making she jump, scared. "We come here everyday to play and you're still scared I'm going to leave you."

"That's because you always hide so well. I never find you!" The girl shook her head. "Also, one of these days you will, once I become..."

"A wolf?"

Mary Elizabeth nodded her head, lowering her eyesight. Kol chuckled and walked towards her, cupping one of her cheeks and lifting her chin in order for the girl to look at him. She had puffy and red eyes from the crying. At that sight, he felt something inside him break. It was awful to look at her like that. Knowing she was hurt and scared. The young Mikaelson wanted to keep her safe and far way from her family problems. Like a best friend should do.

"Listen to me, please." The boy said, firmly. "I don't care about your past or what you will become in the future."

"It's not that and you know it. Honestly, I'm only scared that one day I might feel the urge to hurt you."

Kol sighed, pulling Elizabeth into a tight hug. She instantaneously wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling the boy's soft squeeze. He rested his head on hers, her scent invading his nostrils. Even though it was awkward, as boys and girls usually tend to not get along when young, they loved every minute they spent together.

That moment, especially, felt endless. Both of them under the sunset, feeling their skin's warmth... Perhaps it was right that second they had fallen in love with each other for good.

"You won't." He said, his voice muffled by her hair.

"Excuse me?"

"Hurt me."

"You can't possibly know that..."

Kol placed two of his fingers on her mouth, not allowing the girl to finish the sentence. Mary Elizabeth could be very pessimistic when she wanted to be and he hated that. A smug grin curved his lips until, suddenly, he felt the tip of her tongue against his skin. A disgusted glare showed up on his eyes, while she laughed out loud.

"Better now?"

"All better. It's always amusing to see you like that."

"I'm glad you're happy." Kol said, sarcastically.

Eventually, he caved in and joined her, chuckling.

"It's getting dark. How about we go home, Lizzie?"

"Yes!" She placed a hand on her stomach. "Oh, Lord, I'm starving."

"Me too! I feel like I could eat a horse."

"And, since you're my best friend, we could share this horse."

"No way! It's my food."

"Alright, Mr. 'It's my food'."

They giggled and started to walk home.

Since the village they lived was bit far from where they were, night fell before Elizabeth and Kol got home. The sky was beautifully clear, which allowed them to appreciate the pale light coming from the moon. Definitely a moment they would remember for the rest of their lives, as they would perceive later on.

"Kol, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Why did you become friends with me?"

"You were the prettiest little four year old I had ever seen." She giggled, looking away. "I mean it!"

"Don't play dumb with me. I am a Hale, sure your parents did not want their son hanging out with my kind."

"I'm pretty sure they don't know. But again, I don't give a shit. Soon we're old enough... I don't know. Maybe we could leave this place."

"Of course!" She said undoubtedly. "And don't you dare leave me behind."

"I don't think I made myself clear: you're stuck with me."

"Don't make those kind of promises. You're thirteen. I bet when you're older, you get yourself a girlfriend and forget all about me."

Kol frowned and then stopped walking.

"Why are you saying that?"

"Well... It's true that you'll probably get a girlfriend. But I was joking about the part where you leave me. It doesn't have to be like that."

"I wouldn't... Never... I mean... Damn it. I just want you to know I like you. And no other girl will ever take your place."

Mary Elizabeth narrowed her eyes and gave him a small nod. She got confused by his words, but, somehow, it made her heart warmer. It was good to know he liked her just as much as she liked him.

"Promise you will be with me? No matter what?"

"Yes, Kol. I promise."

"What if you find a boyfriend?"

"I guess I feel the same way you do." Her voice was unsure, for they never had such type of talk. "Let's no worry about this now, okay?"

"Right. We don't have time, anyway. Your mum is already waiting by the door."

"Wait… Correct me if I'm wrong, but it isn't you mum there as well?"

"Huh? What is she doing here?"

Kol furrowed his eyebrows as she pulled him to a bush, in order to hide and listen to what the women were talking. The girl had so many unresolved questions about what she was and her parents would not say anything. All she knew was that her older brothers became wolves and she would be one herself, in the future.

"What are you doing?"

"Well, remember what I said about being fully aware of what I am?"

"Yes." He mumbled, trying to keep himself hidden.

"Well, I lied."

"What?"

"Shut up, I'll explain later."

Kol's complaints were muffled by her hand, which gave her an opening to concentrate. A few months earlier Elizabeth started to change. Sounds became louder and her sight improved so much she could see miles and miles away from where she stood. Also her reflexes were faster. The healing quickly was a thing as well. According to her brothers, that was normal. First those stuff, then, on the full moon after her thirteenth birthday, she would turn.

"Are you sure Kol is not here?"

"Yes, I am. But Mary Elizabeth isn't here too. They're probably playing in the woods."

"Oh, well then. If he comes here, send him home immediately."

"Are you afraid my family will do your son any harm?"

"Not your family, your daughter. Do you even know what she is? What she'll become?"

"You don't have to worry about that. My Elizabeth is a sweet girl, she could never do anything to anyone. No matter what you say she'll become."

"If you believe so..."

"I do."

"Very well. I must leave now. Send him home."

Then the Mikaelson matriarch left and Mary Elizabeth sighed, frustrated. She desperately wanted to understand, go deep within her origins. Knowing she had failed one more time to figure out made an urge to hit something come up, which induced the girl to close her eyes and take a relaxing breath. Only to keep it together.

"Care to let me know what the hell just happened?"

"It's complicated." She shook her head. "I mean... These things are all new to me. And I so don't understand it. Yet, nobody is able to explain what is going on with me."

"I don't get it."

"The wolf part of me is surfacing. I'm pretty sure my change will occur soon."

Kol looked confused.

"Why didn't you tell me that?"

"I was scared. So much was happening... Also, I didn't want to be worry you."

He stood up, cleaning the dust on his trousers and started to move towards the village again, obviously mad. She huffed, rolling her eyes and running to catch up with him. Even though Kol understood why she had hidden that, he still wished she would have told him. After all, they were best friends.

"Wait up!"

"You don't trust me." The boy said, almost snarling.

"I do. I do! But I didn't want to bother you before I was sure... Before I freaking know what I am." Elizabeth grasped his arm and captured his eyesight with hers. "That's why I was so preoccupied with you. I don't even know what is going to happen after I turn thirteen."

"Well, you have to be damn sure I'll be with you. I told you I don't care."

"Then let's forget about this and go home."

Hale used the five minutes left to arrive their homes to explain her subtle changes. Her friend looked stunned by it. Kol saw himself wishing to be like her. Perhaps not a wolf, but definitely something just as powerful.

"I guess this is where I stay." The girl stated, biting her lower lip.

"Will we see each other again tomorrow?"

"Like we do it every day."

"OK, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"You will."

Kol, then, leant in and kissed her right cheek, which made the girl blush, embarrassed. He whispered goodbye and left, a cocky smile shining on his face. This time more confident than ever about his future.