Disclaimer: I Do Not Own TVD. Only My OC's
A/N: This chapter covers Bringing Out The Dead (3x13) which means I did skip The New Deal, Our Town, and The Ties That Bind (3x10,11,12) The scooby gang now have the sealed coffin but have returned the other four, having undaggered Elijah. Lennox is staying at the Salvatore Boarding house because she couldn't afford Mikael's mansion and she doesn't want to return home to her siblings. Her and Damon are starting to grow a friendship but very slowly because she doesn't trust him. Lennox and Stefan have been dealing being around each other while she's been staying with him.
Enjoy the chapter!
Family Above All
The pale colors of dawn touches the morning sky; glimpses of pearl and pink and pale yellow sift through branches and leaves. The birds continue their beautiful melodies as Tatia and the oldest Mikaelson brother trudge through the forest. She keeps a light hand on his arm to keep the possibility of falling just that. Elijah's eyes rest on the younger woman every few seconds, a smile forming on his lips each time.
"My brother is growing restless at the thought of us being together." Elijah finally breaks the calm silence. "He wants to push the idea of having you choose."
"Choose what?" Tatia moves her toe under a rock and sends it flying a few feet ahead.
Elijah clears his throat audibly. "One of us."
"Whatever do you mean, Elijah?" Tatia's eyes fill with curiosity as she stares at the older man. He purses his lips as he drops his gaze to the branches and pebbles scattered across the floor.
"Niklaus and I have both agreed that it would be best if you decide which one of us you would like to pursue a relationship with." Elijah speaks quickly but Tatia catches his words. Her hand falls off his arm.
Tatia holds her hands in front of her stomach as she halts. She keeps her eyes remain on Elijah's back as he continues to keep his eyes on the manmade path ahead.
"I have already told both of you that I cannot make that decision." Tatia shakes her head slowly, her hair falling around her face. "You two mean too much to me."
"But Tatia, my brother and I cannot continue living this way. Loving the same girl." Elijah faces Tatia and strides in front of her. He runs his fingers down her jaw line. "It will bring our relationship to ruins."
"I'm sorry, Elijah. But I love the both of you too much to decide at this time." Tatia leans her face into his hand as she places her own over his.
Elijah keeps his eyes on Tatia's as he leans down toward her lips. "I love you too, Tatia Petrova."
Tatia gets the same tangled reaction when their lips meet. It only makes it harder for her to even think about making a choice as to which brother she wants to love for the rest of her life. She does not want to spend her existence with the wrong man.
Lennox's eyes spring open when the dream ends. Her hair falls behind her shoulders as she pushes herself up onto her elbows. The rays of sunlight shining through the curtains land on her, causing her to hold her hand over her eyes. Lennox sighs as she throws back the covers and swings her legs over the edge of the bed. She looks down at her finger, assured by the sight of her daylight ring.
"Morning sleepyhead." Damon says as he enters her temporary room. Lennox stands from the bed and stretches her hands above her head.
"Morning Salvatore." Lennox forces a smile as she walks over to the dresser pushed up against one of the bedroom walls.
"How'd you sleep?" Damon asks. He moves to the bed, making himself comfortable on the soft mattress.
"Fine." Lennox pulls out a shirt and a pair of shorts before moving the bathroom. She makes sure she's out of sight before she starts to change out of her pajamas.
"I slept just great. Thanks for asking." Damon calls out just loud enough for Lennox to hear. She smiles to herself as she pulls on her shorts.
"Where's your brother?" Lennox questions. She reenters the bedroom once she finishes getting dressed. Damon stands up and meets Lennox halfway to the bed.
"He's meeting up with Bonnie and her non magical mother." Damon responds.
"How long do you think it's going to take them to open that stupid coffin?" Lennox goes to her bedside dresser and grabs her phone. She checks to see if anybody has tried to get in contact with her. Her shoulders fall when she sees that no one has.
"I don't know. But seeing as how only one of them is actually able to do the spells…" Damon doesn't have to finish his thought. Lennox shoves her phone into her pocket and walks past Damon out of the room. He follows close on her heels.
"Niklaus is growing less patient by the day." Lennox skips down the steps, taking two at a time.
"I know." Damon clutches her arm as she starts towards the front door. "That is why I pulled the dagger out of a certain original before Klaus got back his coffins."
Lennox faces Damon. "Who?"
"Elijah Mikaelson." Damon smiles as the name leaves his mouth. Lennox purses her lips. The name brings out several different emotions.
"So, you thought it was a good idea to release another Original from hibernation because…?" Lennox waits for a reasonable answer.
"Because he might know what is in the sealed coffin."
"But what if he doesn't? What if he just decides to help his brother or undagger his siblings?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there." Damon pats Lennox on the shoulder before walking past her. "Right now, I need you to join me on a little field trip."
"To where?" Lennox folds her arms over her chest as she turns to face Damon.
"To meet with Elijah, of course. We need to talk strategy."
"He agreed to meet with you?"
"Let's just say that I have a gut feeling he'll want to talk with me." Damon snatches his jacket off the couch as he makes his way to the door. Lennox doesn't think long before following him. She can't ignore her rising curiosity about the oldest Original.
Elijah hears the footsteps before he sees whom they belong to. He's surprised to find that Damon has brought along Elena to their little meeting. He thought it would have been more discreet. But he isn't upset.
"Elijah. Back from the dead, at last." Damon smiles at the older vampire. "You clean up nice."
"Damon, Elena." Elijah greets, nodding his head slightly. A disappointed look spreads over Elena's face and Damon smiles down at her.
"I'm not Elena." Lennox mutters as she hugs her elbows.
Elijah remembers Niklaus mentioning the existence of yet another Gilbert. "Ah. Yes. I apologize. You must be Elena's twin sister, Lennox. I am Elijah Mikaelson."
Lennox takes Elijah's extended hand cautiously. "I know who you are. You're the trustworthy one, the noble brother."
Elijah places a light kiss on the top of her soft hand. "I see that my reputation precedes me."
"You could say that." Lennox's stomach twists as his eyes meet hers. An elongated silence falls over the trio as Elijah keeps his hand on Lennox's.
"You left me a note, in my pocket." Elijah releases Lennox's hand, ignoring the urge to keep hold of it. He turns to Damon who has been watching the strange greeting between the Original and Elena's twin.
"Oh, yeah. 'Dear Elijah, let's get together, plot your brother's destruction, XOXO." Damon smiles as he recalls the gist of the note that Elijah is now holding.
"Damon." Elijah's smile falls off his lips.
"Was I right to undagger you or are we going to have a problem?" Damon steps towards the Original. Lennox takes this time to step back. She doesn't want to get involved in a fight between an Original and a cocky normal vampire.
"I'm here, let's talk." Elijah responds after a couple silent seconds pass by quickly. He glances at Lennox who seems to be retreating.
"I'll start with an easy question. Any idea what kind of Klaus killing weapon could be magically sealed in a mystery coffin?" Damon watches Elijah's face for any type of reaction. But his features remain unmoving.
"No. Why?" Elijah's statement is believable. Damon shares a look with Lennox.
"Because we happen to have our hands on that mystery coffin. And our witches can't seem to find a way to open it." Damon admits. Lennox stops herself from slapping him for giving out too much information.
"And why do you think it contains a weapon that can kill my brother?" Elijah straightens his jacket as he asks the question, his own curiosity growing.
"Niklaus wanted that one coffin more than the ones that contained your siblings. I have a gut feeling that whatever is inside of it, is dangerous, for him." Damon shrugs. Lennox bites her lip while keeping her eyes on Elijah. He glances at her for a second before addressing Damon.
"What do you need from me?"
"The only thing that would help us right now, time." Damon responds without pause.
"How are we going to buy even more time? Niklaus is getting anxious. It isn't long before he allows his hybrids to return to Mystic Falls." Lennox steps beside Damon.
"I want you to get Niklaus to arrange a meeting. So we can talk about making a truce." Damon explains.
Lennox throws the oldest Salvatore a look. "You've got to be kidding me. This is your big plan? Calling a truce with the one person we know we can't trust?"
"It's not going to be real. We just need more…" Damon starts.
"Time." Elijah finishes. "I'll do it. But be ready incase your plan falls through the cracks."
"We're always ready." Damon smiles happily. Lennox rubs the back of her neck. She doesn't like the idea of Damon going to meet with two Originals to make a fake truce.
"Your presence will be mandatory as well." Elijah turns to Lennox. Her lips part when she realizes he's talking to her.
"Wait, what? Why?"
"My brother and I have a couple of questions we'd like to ask you." Elijah responds before looking at Damon. "And your brother must attend too."
"I'm sorry. But Stefan isn't going to be up for it and neither am I." Lennox shakes her head slowly. Damon holds out his hand for Elijah to shake.
"I'll make sure they go. Do we have a deal?" Damon's question lingers in the air for only a couple seconds. Elijah shakes his hand firmly, cementing the deal. Lennox lets out a deep breath. She will not let Damon make her go to some meeting with Niklaus Mikaelson. Never.
"So that's your guys' plan? Stall Klaus?" Stefan crosses his arms over his chest. Lennox tries to keep her eyes on anything but his bare upper body.
"It's not my plan. It's his." Lennox responds as she leans back on Stefan's bed.
"And you're just going along with it?" Stefan glances at the younger Gilbert twin.
"Of course I am. Unless you have a better idea." Lennox stands from the bed and waits with her hand on her hip. When Stefan doesn't answer, she steps towards him. "That's what I thought."
"There is nothing smart about trusting Elijah. He betrayed us the first time we thought he was going to help us kill Klaus." Stefan looks over Lennox's shoulder at his brother. Damon shrugs.
"With the way you've been acting, I trust him as much as I trust you."
"That goes both ways." Stefan moves around Lennox.
"This is about me kissing Elena, isn't it? Just remember, if it wasn't for Klaus, you never would have become such a dick and that kiss never would have happened. So get ready and get happy. We're going to negotiate a fake truce and I don't want your attitude screwing it up." Damon tells his younger brother before walking out of his room. Lennox watches him go and turns back to Stefan to find him only inches from her face. She subconsciously takes a step back in reaction to her stomach doing a flip.
"Why are you going?" Lennox can still feel Stefan's hot breath on her face even with the distance being expanded between them.
"It's not because of you, if that's what your conceded little brain is thinking." Lennox tilts her head slightly. "Elijah and Niklaus are requesting my presence. Turns out you're not the only vampire to ever be intrigued by me."
"Of course not. You're a fun beautiful girl." Stefan shoves his hands into his pockets. Lennox's breath hitches in her throat, unsure of how to proceed. Her eyes drop to his toned chest for split second.
"Just put on a damn shirt. You're coming whether you like it or not." Lennox manages to get out before leaving Stefan's room. She nearly runs down the steps to the boarding house's first floor where Damon is already holding out a full cup of bourbon for her. She takes it with a small smile and finishes it off with a single gulp.
"Thanks." Lennox wipes her bottom lip as she hands the glass back to Damon. He smiles knowingly.
"I could tell you needed it." Damon turns back to the liquor table behind him. He hands her the refilled glass a second later.
"Can you promise me something?" Lennox asks as she takes the cup. She waits to take the first drink.
"Don't I always."
"Can you please try to keep the conversation away from me for as long as possible?" Lennox clenches her teeth softly. She doesn't want to have to explain it all.
"Why do you want me to do that?" Damon's eyes meet Lennox's.
"There is a lot about me that I would like to keep from the Originals. For a while, at least." Lennox explains quickly. She crosses her fingers that Damon doesn't ask too many more questions.
"Is it about Mikael?"
Lennox looks away from Damon. "You could say that."
"Fine. But if Niklaus wants to find something out, he usually does." Damon warns the younger vampire. She nods consciously.
"I know. I just don't want this secret coming out until it is absolutely necessary."
Damon steps towards Lennox, his eyes searching her for a telltale sign of guilt.
"You two ready to go? Or are you just going to keep staring into each others eyes for the rest of the night?" Stefan joins the Damon and Lennox in the living room. He takes Lennox's drink from her hand but she quickly gets it back.
"I'm going to need that." She holds the cup close to her chest as she walks out of the house.
Niklaus' eyes bounce from each of his guests to the next. He stands from the decorated table and takes a few steps towards his brother. Lennox, Stefan, and Damon observe the room silently.
"So, my brother tells me that we are here to discuss the terms of our agreement." Niklaus smiles. "Let's sit."
When no one makes a move towards the table, Elijah clears his throat. "It's better to indulge him."
"I didn't come here to eat, Klaus. Fact, I didn't want to come here at all. But I was told, I had to cause you would hear us out." Stefan crosses his arms over his chest defiantly. Lennox shares a concerned look with Damon. Stefan had agreed to come and they thought he would leave his new attitude at home.
"Well, we can sit and eat or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides. The choice is yours." Niklaus smirks as he makes his threat. Lennox is the first to sit at the table. Damon and Stefan follow shortly after.
The uniformed waitresses move around the table, filling everybody's glasses with wine and placing extravagant food on their plates. Lennox pokes at her food and forces herself to eat little by little. She watches Damon smile flirtatiously as one of the compelled waitresses refill his tall wineglass. She throws him a look when his eyes meet hers. He shrugs.
"You lost your appetite." Niklaus addresses Stefan, who still hasn't taken a single bite of his dinner.
"Eat. I thought you agreed to leave grumpy Stefan at home tonight." Damon leans towards his brother. Stefan reluctantly starts to eat.
"That's the spirit. Isn't this nice? Five of us having dinner together? Such a treat. Is this what you had in mind when you pulled the dagger from my brother's chest?" Niklaus glances happily at Damon.
"Well, I knew how he felt about you. So, I figured, the more, the merrier." Damon responds with a forced smile. Lennox keeps her eyes on her food as the boys continue their power struggle. She wants to stay out of the conversation for as long as possible.
"Well, Elijah and I have had our fair share of quarrels over the century. But we always make it through." Niklaus points out. Lennox can't help but think of Tatia, herself. The last dream she had was all about the feud that had been threatening Elijah and Niklaus' brotherly relationship.
"Kind of like you and Rebekah, right? Where is she, by the way? Last I checked she was still daggered because you were afraid to face her." Stefan places down his fork as he glances up at Niklaus.
"If you're referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother, I've already come clean to Elijah." Niklaus is noticeably pleased with himself.
"Hey, Stef, remember when you killed dad?" Damon's surprising question causes everybody to pause from eating their dinner. "Might want to dial down the judgment until dessert."
"We're here to make a deal, Damon. Doesn't mean we have to kiss his ass for seven courses." Stefan points out. Lennox stops herself from laughing out loud.
"I'm just saying we have a long night ahead of us. Pace yourself." Damon turns back to his food.
A lingering silence is cut short by Niklaus. "Stefan, where is the lovely Elena tonight?"
Niklaus laughs as Lennox forces herself to keep her eyes on her plate even though her neck is beginning to become strained from staying in the same position for such a long time. Lennox ignores the pain easily.
"I don't know. Ask Damon." Stefan mutters through his clenched teeth.
"I'm sorry. You have missed so much. Trouble in paradise." Niklaus summarizes for his older brother.
"One more word about Elena and dinner's over." Stefan addresses everyone at the table.
Niklaus lets another one of his laughs move through the room. Damon peers around the table. "You're know what. It is probably best to keep Elena in the do not discuss pile."
"You're probably right." Niklaus pauses. "Plus, we have the even more beautiful, intriguing Gilbert twin with us tonight."
Lennox purses her lips as she places her fork on her plate. She catches a glimpse of Damon before she smiles at Niklaus. He folds his hands together and leans over the table.
"Why don't you tell us all a little about yourself, love?" Niklaus phrases his question more like a demand.
"I don't think there is much that you don't already know." Lennox shrugs as she makes her best attempt to avoid the topic of herself.
"Ah, yes. So far, I have figured out that you are the infamous Gilbert twin, turned into a monster, feared by your parents, a couple months after your sixteenth birthday by none other than Damon Salvatore." Niklaus takes a moment to let his sentence linger. "Am I missing anything?"
"Nope." Lennox answers too quickly. Niklaus' eyes narrow in reaction. Lennox looks over at Damon, silently asking him to help her. He nods subtly.
"Why don't we move Lennox into the do not discuss pile due to the utter lack of excitement." Damon suggests. Lennox ignores the tiny sting his words leave behind. If it gets Niklaus to focus on something other than her, it does not matter what he says. Lennox tries to hide her nerves by taking a long drink of the aged wine sitting untouched in her cup.
"It's just the allure of the Petrova doppelganger. It is still so strong. What do you say, brother? Should we tell them about Tatia?" Niklaus turns to his brother. At the mention of Lennox's real name, she chokes on the wine. She coughs a couple times before she manages to restore her breathing. When she looks around the table, she realizes that all eyes on her. Lennox wipes her wet lips with a napkin before standing from her seat.
"Please excuse me, I have to… pee." Lennox doesn't wait for Niklaus to excuse her. She nearly runs out of the room, speeding towards the front door. She never should have agreed to come. It was a mistake.
"Whoa, speedy. Slow down." Damon gets a tight hold on her arm. "Where's the fire?"
Lennox faces him with pleading eyes. "Let me go. I am begging you to just let me leave before Niklaus tries to stop me."
"Why? What's wrong? Did he say something?" Damon glances over his shoulder. Lennox shakes her head.
"No. I just… I have to get out of here. Please, Damon. Just let me go." Lennox manages to free her arm from his hand. She doesn't wait for him to rethink his decision. She makes a break for the front door. When she runs into someone, she has to clutch her throbbing nose. "Damn it."
"Where do you think you're going, love?" Nikaus smiles down at the younger Gilbert twin. Lennox opens her mouth to give a sorry excuse as to why she was running for the door like there was a serial killer chasing her. She decides against it.
"No where." Lennox sighs quietly. Niklaus offers his arm, his smile still lingering on his lips. She clenches her teeth as she wraps her arm through his.
"That's what I thought." Niklaus says under his breath as he guides her back to the living room. Elijah and Stefan both look up at the three vampires joining them once again.
Niklaus moves Lennox chair next to Elijah and gives her a convincing grin. "Sit, please."
Lennox shares a quick glance with Elijah before she sighs and sits in her new seat. Niklaus pushes her chair in so quick that it knocks the breath out of her. She glares up at the Original hybrid. Elijah leans over so his mouth is closer to her ear.
"Are you okay?" The concern in his voice sounds real. But Lennox has learned not to judge a book by its cover.
"I'm fine." Lennox lies through her teeth. Niklaus sits back down at the head of the table, laying a napkin over his lap. He peers around the table slowly before clearing his throat.
"Now, where were we?" Niklaus doesn't let anyone remind him. "Ah yes, we were just about to tell them about the originator of the Petrova line."
"Niklaus." Elijah shakes his head.
"I don't think of any of us are going anywhere anytime soon." Damon keeps his eyes on Lennox. "Do tell."
Lennox glares at Damon when she realizes that he's not going to try to stop them. His curiosity about the subject of Tatia has grown too much. Lennox making a run for it just made it worse.
"When our family first settled here, there was a girl named Tatia, she was an exquisite beauty. Every boy of age desired to be her suitor, even though she had a child by another man. And none loved her more than Niklaus." Elijah starts off the story.
"I'd say there was one who loved her at least as much." Niklaus adds. Lennox drops her gaze to the table.
"Wait a minute, so you both loved the same girl?" Stefan asks.
"Our mother was a very powerful witch. She sought to end our feud over Tatia and so she took her. Klaus and I would later learn that it was Tatia's blood that we consumed in the wine on the night where my mother performed the spell that turned us into vampires. Tatia wouldn't make a decision between the two of us, so for a time Niklaus and I… grew estranged. Harsh words were traded, we even came to blows, didn't we, brother?" Elijah looks at his brother, a whisper of a smile on his lips. Lennox sinks into her seat as she starts to rub the tablecloth between her fingers. She can't ignore Elijah's gaze which falls on her every couple seconds as if searching her face for something hidden.
"But in the end we realized the sacred bond of family."
"Family above all." Elijah says as both he and his brother raise their glasses.
"Family above all." Niklaus agrees as their glasses clink together above Lennox's lowered head. She tries to sink even lower but she cannot do so without falling out of her chair. She finds herself thinking about making another run for it. Lennox knows it is unlikely that they will figure out the truth. Bus she doesn't want to be around if the impossible becomes possible.
The beads of sweat continue to roll down her forehead, collecting on her chin. Tatia shakes her head as another small scream escapes her lips. The pain is becoming more unbearable each time it returns and the only thing her father has to offer is his hand. She squeezes it harder when the pain returns.
"One more push." The woman at Tatia's feet yells out. Tatia takes a deep breath before letting out another scream, using all of her strength to force out the child inside of her. She cannot bear this pain much longer.
With the sound of a babies cry, a smile forms on her lips. Tatia cannot see much, other then movements of the woman who had helped her give birth. A few seconds later, the same woman hands a small bundle of hand made blankets to Tatia. The young girl takes the bundle and rests it on her chest. When she sees a tiny face looking up at her, she cannot help but be filled with the kind of happiness she hasn't felt since before her mother passed away.
This baby might be her redemption.
Lennox splashes her face with water from the sink. The chill it sends through her body distracts her for a moment. When she looks at herself in the mirror, she purses her lips. The baby she had just seen in her daydream had been her own child. She had been a mother once.
A knock on the door brings Lennox out of her thoughts. She wipes her face with a soft towel before opening the door. Elijah's eyes meet hers.
"Are you okay?" Elijah pauses. "My brother wanted me to make sure you didn't try to climb out the window."
Lennox returns Elijah's smile. "I'm fine. Thanks."
Lennox moves past the oldest Original and into the hallway. His hand wraps around her arm before she can go much farther. He spins her around quickly, too quickly. She doesn't have time to react as his lips smash against hers. Lennox tries to think of how she should be reacting but something takes over. The need to continue this intimacy with Elijah pushes out all the rationality in her head. She wraps her arms around his neck as his wrap around her waist, diminishing any distance between them. Their lips move together like machine parts designed for each other. Lennox imagines that if she did have a heart, it would be racing.
When Elijah finally breaks their kiss, he keeps his lips close to hers. "I knew it."
Lennox is pulled out of her trance when she hears his words. "Elijah…"
"Tatia." Elijah pulls Lennox into another passionate kiss. She pushes him away a little later than she would have liked.
"No, I'm Lennox. Lennox Gilbert. Elena's twin sister." Lennox places a firm hand on his chest, keeping them separated by a small gap.
"No, you're not. Somehow, someway, you're Tatia." Elijah stares down at her already certain of his statement.
"Elijah…" Lennox gulps as she tries to find an explanation. "I can't… Nobody… Elena…"
Elijah places a finger over her lips, silencing her. "It's okay. I wont tell anyone you don't want me to."
Lennox purses her lips. She knows that there is no use denying it with what had just happened between them. "Thank you."
She starts to hurry away from Elijah but he draws her back to him. He places a soft kiss on her lips and whispers against her mouth. "My love."
Lennox stares into his eyes for a few seconds, fighting the urge to kiss him again. She steps away from his slowly, making sure he wont reach for her again. Lennox speeds down the hallway, towards the filled living room. Elijah won't try to kiss her with Stefan, Damon, and his brother in the room. She hopes this is true.
"So, why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal?" Elijah asks as he follows Lennox into the living room. She makes sure to put as much distance between herself and Elijah. She falls into place between Stefan and Damon.
"What took you so long?" Damon whispers. Stefan turns his head towards them with a listening ear.
"I really had to pee." Lennox shrugs nonchalantly. Damon eyes her for a second before turning his attention back to Niklaus and Elijah. Stefan stares at her for couple more seconds before copying his brothers actions.
"That's very simple. Klaus gets his coffins back, in exchange; he and the Original extended family leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Stefan, Elena, and Lennox live happily ever after. No grudges." Damon watches Niklaus closely as he mulls over the offer.
"The deal sounds fair, brother." Elijah advises Niklaus. His eyes rest on Lennox though.
"I don't think you understand, Elena's doppelganger blood insures that I will always have more hybrids to fight those who oppose me. I will never leave her behind." Niklaus begins to pace. Lennox can tell that he's trying to make an even better offer. If there is one.
"While Lennox, here, probably has the doppelganger blood. She is a vampire which makes her useless nonetheless." Niklaus gestures sadly to the younger Gilbert twin. Both Stefan and Damon move their shoulders in front of her. "Let's say I leave her sister here under your protection? Will Elena have the same fate as Lennox? How long will it be before you two decide to turn her into a vampire as well? Or worse, how long before she dies, caught between your feuding? You two think you can protect her, but that is just a delusion. Gentleman, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert, is the two of you."
Damon lets out a frustrated sigh. "I'm going to get some air."
Elijah follows Damon out of the room quickly. "Let me deal with this."
Niklaus watches his brother leave with Damon then turns to Stefan and Lennox, a smile dancing on his lips. "All this talk has made me thirsty."
As a blonde girl comes up beside Niklaus, his smile grows. "What do you say Lennox, can I interest you in a little dinner drink?"
Niklaus bites the girl's neck and Lennox can hear the blood being drained from her body. Lennox has to look away when she sees a drip of blood move onto her shoulder. She hasn't drunk any type of blood since the day before. The hunger surging through her body is pushing her to drink from the innocent girl. Stefan doesn't seem as affected as Lennox.
"I think she's good." Stefan answers for Lennox, who has now fixated her eyes on the floor.
"She's delicious. Aged to perfection." Niklaus sighs as he wipes the blood off his mouth and drops the girl to the floor.
"I'm guessing the only reason you asked us here was to drive a wedge between me and my brother." Stefan eyes the dead girl for a second.
"And to learn more about the more devious Gilbert twin." Niklaus steps towards her. "It is obvious that my step father taught you well. But I want to know why he taught you so much about my family."
"He thought it was going to be important that I know everything I can about the people I was being trained to kill." Lennox gives the best explanation she can manage.
Damon and Elijah reenter the room as Niklaus opens his mouth to respond.
"What do you say, Klaus? It's time for you to put something on the table. We've made our offer, now you counter." Damon folds his arms over his chest as he steps next to Lennox. She tries to mimic his tough appearance but she knows it's not working.
"Okay. I offer Elena's happiness and Lennox's protection. You see, they would both be better off without the two of you. Elena can even fall in love with a human, maybe that nice football player, you know the blonde one?" Niklaus stares his best offer. Lennox looks between Stefan and Damon, unsure of how they might answer.
"Matt Donovan? Really?"
"Yeah, why not? They'll marry, live a long and fruitful life, and pop out a perfect family." Niklaus adds quickly.
"And continue the Petrova bloodline. Every few hundred years, you'll have a new doppelganger to drain and never run out of hybrids, right Klaus?" Stefan questions. Lennox purses her lips as Niklaus' eyes fall on her.
"That is only a small return on her well being. But you see, this one, this twin" Niklaus gestures to Lennox. "Seeing as how she's been traveling with my father for two whole years on a vampire killing expedition, she must have made a couple of enemies. I wonder what would happen if word suddenly got out that she was here in Mystic Falls? How many vampires would come running to try to rip out her heart?"
Lennox's mouth drops open subtly. She knows the number of vampires she has killed and the number of friends and family members she has pissed off. It is too many to count on her hands and feet.
"You see, I can not only offer Elena my protection but Lennox as well. They will never be harmed in their life. Supernatural or not." Niklaus smiles as Stefan shares a look with his brother. He steps towards them. "You know it is what is best for them. What do you say? Do we have a deal?"
Stefan meets the Original hybrid halfway. Damon's eyes grow wide with concern. "What are you doing?"
Stefan takes Niklaus' hand with a smirk. "Nice try, Klaus. But no deal."
Niklaus moves faster than anyone else in the room. He grabs Lennox by the neck and drags her to the fireplace. He forces her hand into the flames; her skin starts to burn immediately. Lennox screams in pain as her skin begins to bubble die to the extreme heat. Stefan and Damon and Elijah step towards Niklaus.
"What are you doing?" Elijah questions as Lennox's arm continues to burn steadily.
When Niklaus doesn't remove Lennox's arm from the fire, Damon steps closer. "Stop!"
"Now, bring me my coffins or I will make sure that she has a slow painful death." Niklaus threatens the two brothers. Stefan and Damon start out of the room.
"We'll get it." Damon assures the Original hybrid.
Niklaus turns to his brother. "Go with him brother, you keep him honest. And when you return, I will make good on my promise to you and I will hand over our family."
Elijah seems to debate the idea of staying to help Lennox. But he decides against it knowing that he gave her his word that he would stay quiet about her secret. He never breaks his word.
Once Stefan, Elijah, and Damon are out of the house, Lennox starts to fight against Niklaus' hold. "Why don't you just burn me alive now? I mean, you're going to do it once they come back, right?"
Niklaus pulls her arm out of the fire and spins her around to face him. He runs his fingers down her jaw line slowly. "I wouldn't harm such a beautiful face."
Footsteps entering the room cause the Original to peer over Lennox's shoulder. Damon, Stefan, and Elijah stand in the doorway.
"Elijah… why haven't you left?" Niklaus' face contorts with confusion. Lennox turns to the three vampires standing a few feet from her.
"Where are your manners, brother? We forgot dessert." Elijah announces. One of the blonde waitresses joins him, holding a tray covered by a cloth. Elijah removes the cover, revealing two silver daggers. Lennox watches Niklaus' reaction turn from confusion to fear.
"What have you done? You see I've learned not to trust your vulgar promises, Klaus. We're doing this on my terms now." A hint of a smile lingers on Elijah's face as he speaks.
A man enters the room behind him. His name comes to Lennox as Niklaus speaks it. "Kol."
"Long time brother." Kol smiles as Niklaus starts to back away. Lennox takes her chance to join Damon and Stefan.
Lennox recognizes the next Mikaelson as Finn. Apparently, so does Niklaus. "Finn, don't!"
Finn grabs one of the daggers on the tray and runs it through Niklaus' hand. Niklaus starts to leave before anyone else can harm him but Rebekah cuts him off. "Rebekah?"
"This is for our mother." Rebekah mutters as she stabs him with a dagger. Niklaus doubles over, clutching the weapon. He stumbles backwards into Kol who restrains him. Elijah turns to the Salvatore brothers.
"You two may go. This is family business." Elijah nods to them. When Stefan grabs Lennox's hand, Elijah stops him. "She must stay. This concerns her as well."
"There is no way in hell I'm leaving her here with you." Damon steps between the Original and Elena's sister.
"She must stay." Elijah states again, his eyes staying on Lennox. She swallows nervously.
"Go. I'll be fine. They wont hurt me." Lennox assures the brothers standing on each side of her.
"Elena would never forgive me if you…" Damon starts.
"I can take care of myself." Lennox places a hand on her hip defiantly. Stefan starts to pull his brother out of the room when the Originals start to take interest in their presence.
"She'll be fine. We might not be." Stefan whispers into his brother's ear.
"I promise I will make sure no one lays a finger on her." Elijah promises.
"Fine." Damon leaves with his brother. Lennox takes a deep breath before looking around the room; taking in the sight of the people Mikael had trained her to kill.
"Who is this?" Kol turns his attention to the younger Gilbert twin.
"Lennox Gilbert. The second doppelgangers twin sister." Rebekah answers before Elijah has a chance to. She steps towards Lennox with a smile on her lips.
"Why is she here? No offense, dear." Kol questions his oldest brother. Elijah falls into place next to Lennox.
"She has a little bit more of a back story. And if she would oblige all of us, I would love to hear it." Elijah stares down at Lennox.
"Elijah…" Lennox pleads with him. Kol throws Niklaus against a table. Finn takes over the watch of his brother.
"I love stories." Kol tries to influence her decision with a charming smile. Lennox looks around at al the Originals. She wanted to have Elena to be the first to find out. But the Mikaelson's deserve to know the truth as well. They were like her family before, even if she cannot remember most of the time she spent with them.
"You're going to want to sit down." Lennox takes her own seat at the dining table. She doesn't have to wait long for each of the Mikaelson's to sit down.
Lennox clears her throat as she tries to figure out the best way to start. "Your guys' father, Mikael, found me after I got turned. He told me he wanted to help me adjust to my new life and at the time, I had no one. So I chose to trust him, a total stranger. I thought that having someone was better then having no one. I didn't want to spend an eternity alone…"
"Well, that was quite a story. But how do we know that Mikael didn't just ask you to tell us this elaborate tale to fool us into thinking we can trust you." Rebekah sits up in her chair.
"I wish that was how it happened." Lennox shakes her head.
"We're just supposed to believe this story." Niklaus speaks up finally. He looks at his brother. "I never took you to be such a fool."
"I made a rash decision that proved what I had been thinking since she darted out of here after hearing Tatia's name." Elijah fixes his jacket.
"And what was that?" Finn is the first to ask the question lingering in the air.
"I kissed her." Elijah responds without hesitation. Lennox throws him a look for being so honest.
"You kissed Elena Gilberts twin sister." Rebekah smiles. "This is going to be fun."
"She isn't just her sister. She is Tatia." Elijah looks at his brother. "The girl we fell in love with so long ago."
"You are losing it brother." Niklaus laughs quietly. He places his elbows on the table as his siblings debate the story Lennox has just told.
"She is telling the truth." A soft voice moves through the air. Lennox and the Mikaelson's all look up to see an older woman standing in the doorway. Lennox clenches her teeth when the woman's name comes to her.
"Esther."
"Mother?" Niklaus gapes as his siblings stand from the table. Lennox falls into place behind Elijah. She can't help but feel a little fear while looking the woman who had once ran a dagger through her heart.
Esther steps down into the living room and starts towards Niklaus. "She is telling the truth, Niklaus."
When Niklaus averts his eyes, she raises her voice. "Look at me! Do you know why I'm here?"
"You're here to kill me." Niklaus states. Esther shakes her head slowly.
"Nikaus, you are my son and I am here to forgive you. I want us to be a family again." Esther peers around the room at her children and Lennox. "All of us."
Lennox squeezes her eyes shut; praying with everything she has that this whole evening was just a dream. When her eyes flutter open again, the scene around her is the same. She lets out a quiet sigh. Lennox realizes this nightmare has just become all too real.
**Ta-da! A lot happened in the chapter! Esther is back, the Mikaelson's are all back, they found out about Lennox's secret, and Elijah kissed her. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I had a lot of fun writing it. I really want to know who everyone ships or what everyone thinks should happen in the next few chapters. So PLEASE review! It really does help me shape the story when I read the reviews. Thank you for reading! The next chapter should be up next Sunday.