I do not own TVD or TO

Greece, 1821

She held the sheet tightly to her chest and stared at the ceiling. Silent tears streaked from her glistening green eyes into her hair. The thin sheen of sweat cooled her skin and raised goosebumps on her arms.

She stiffened when the arm snaked over her waist under the sheet and tried to roll her over. She shook her head and rolled onto her side away from him. Fingering the jade tied around her wrist she flinched when the hand settled hesitantly on her shoulder.

"Do you want me to leave?"

The disembodied voice was husky to her ears; the reply was brittle and she knew she was moments away from breaking.

"Please."

She managed to keep it together until the door closed behind him. Her lip trembled as the sobs tore through her body.

Surely it was irrational. She had no reason to feel the way she did. She had no reason to feel guilty. So why did every molecule seem to scream that she had done something wrong?

Her eyes opened on the vase of daisies as fresh and full of life as they had been one hundred and nineteen years before. There was no sign of the tears on her face but the guilt still sat heavy in her chest beneath the soft sheet. She couldn't bring herself to roll over to where she knew he was lying lifeless behind her.

She stared at the flowers instead and willed them to disappear. She was in no mood to view something so bright and innocent. So focused was she on her futile task that she didn't feel the bed shift.

Her eyes grew round when her hair was moved aside and a kiss pressed to her bare shoulder. A shriek fell from her lips. She might have fallen from the bed if the arm hadn't wrapped around her waist.

"What's wrong, Elskling?"

Lexa finally rolled over. Her breath came out in shaky pants.

"Kol?" Hesitantly she lifted her fingers and traced the grey lines of the veins under his eyes and over his cheeks. She was really starting to hate her unconscious mind. As if she wasn't giving herself enough of a guilt trip when she was awake.

Maybe it was wrong, but it had been so long since she had heard his voice and he seemed so real. She completely ignored the grey tint to his skin grasped the back of his neck and crashed her lips to his in a desperate kiss; she knew if she had been awake his grip on her shoulder would have been bruising.

"I love you," she breathed against his lips.

"I love you, too," he smoothed back her messy curls. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong, little witch?" He leaned back and met her glittering eyes; his thumb swiped away some of the moisture that had gathered there.

"I…" the sob caught in her throat. "I miss you."

His lips quirked up in a small smile while amusement danced in his dark eyes. "I'm right here, Lexa." His expression turned serious. "There is something I need to tell you. The…"

She laid her hand over his mouth and shook her head. "Later, mi amor, later." She pressed her lips to his again in a slow kiss and felt his skin grow warm beneath her palm.

She followed the path of his hands and shifted to straddle him. Her hands cupped his cheeks. A soft moan reverberated in her chest when his previously dry hands explored her bare back.

He was just sitting up to help her remove his shirt when the annoyed voice reached his ears. He ignored it and flipped Lexa onto her back to trail kisses down her throat. Her hands were tugging on his trousers when the voice proved too difficult to ignore.

She gasped when the weight that had been separating her thighs vanished. She had just enough time to register the fact that she was alone before the room dissolved and she found herself standing on the shore looking out at the sea. She tightened the woolen shawl around her shoulders and stared at the crystal clear waters.

The gentle lapping of the waves turned violent before her eyes.

New Orleans, 1821

Kol sat up and gasped. His head turned this way and that in an attempt to make sense of his surroundings. A moment before he had been with her, now he found himself on an unfamiliar bed in an unknown room.

"Welcome back, little brother."

Kol's dark eyes narrowed when he spotted the smug expression on Nik's face. His gaze snapped to the dagger Nik twirled between his fingers. His every muscle tensed with rage.

"How long?" Kol practically trembled with rage. His throat burned with hunger.

"It is 1821," Nik grinned. "You've been asleep for one hundred and nineteen years. I thought you might be a little peckish," he strode to the door and pulled it open, "there are twenty-three servants in the house."

Kol felt his heart pound with fury. He was getting ready to attack when Nik pulled in a trembling maid.

He was on his feet in time to catch the young woman. The fear lifted the smell of her blood and brought his fangs down. His intention to make his brother suffer moved to the back of his mind as the bloodlust took over.

He was draining the final servant when his mind caught up with him. His eyes dropped to his bloodstained shirt when he heard the telltale sounds of his older brother's hearts.

Licking his lips he decided the first order of business would be punishing his brothers for their actions, and the best way to get to Elijah was by drawing undue attention to the family with no remorse.

"Bravo," he cleared his throat and clapped his hands. "That was delectable," he met Nik's amused gaze, "but make no mistake, Nik, I'm still cross that you daggered me," he looked around at the dead bodies, "but, as far as apologies go, it's a start."

"This is your idea of fun?" Elijah clenched his jaw and turned to Niklaus while angrily motioning to Kol and the mess he had made.

"Well," Klaus shrugged, "you and Marcellus have grown thick as thieves… why should I be alone?"

"What do you want, sister?" Kol tore off the cravat. He knew he Rebekah to thank for his current misery. The only reason he made no plans to punish her was because he knew she had been acting in his best interests… what she thought had been his best interests; Rebekah had suffered enough at the hands of Nik over the years.

"I wanted to talk to you," she crossed her arms and watched him carefully. "You're acting out and it's going to get you in trouble."

"I don't know what you're talking about?" He denied lightly. "I'm just having a little fun."

"You don't think I see the pain in your eyes?" Rebekah shook her head. "Nik and Elijah might think you've turned off your emotions, but I can see it."

"I feel nothing," he smirked and leaned against the wall.

"Don't lie to me Kol," she pleaded. "You're haunted by something. It's eating away at you and you're lashing out. How many did you and Nik drain last night?"

"Not sure," he shrugged. "Now if you don't mind sister, I am tired and would like to sleep. I've been awake since the dagger was removed. Three days without sleep" He pulled the curtains shut and held open the door.

Maybe he was punishing her a bit.

She blinked when she found herself in the tavern bedroom. She hadn't been there in three nights. Her dreams had been haunted by visions of the churning sea.

She had thought guilt was taking her away from the dreams that had haunted her for over a century. She had thought he was gone forever from her mind.

Sitting up she propped herself on her elbow and exhaled when she saw him sleeping soundly beside her. Reaching out tentatively she ran her fingers over his cheek.

She gasped when his hand closed around her wrist and his eyes snapped open.

"Elskling?" He sat up slowly and wrapped his arms tightly around her body.

"Hello," she pressed her lips together to stop the trembling. She laid her head on his shoulder and slid her arms around his neck. "You had something you wanted to tell me."

"In a minute," he murmured against her hair.

"I believe I said something like that," she pulled back and cocked an eyebrow.

"I believe you did," he chuckled. "I find all I want to do right now is hold you."

"What is it with men and multitasking?" She pushed him back to lie down and laid her head on his chest. "You can do two things at once, Kol. You've proven rather competent at that in the past."

"Hold you tight, and talk then?" He smiled and ran his hand up and down her spine.

"Precisely," she nodded. "I've missed your voice."

"I can't help but note that yours has changed," he took her hand from his chest and threaded their fingers together.

"Time does that," she murmured. "What did you want to tell me?"

"Can't I just hold you until the sun comes up?"

"It seemed pretty important the other night," Lexa arched her neck and kissed his jaw. She propped her chin on his chest and stared into his eyes.

"The daggers," he ventured after a moment of silence. "The silver dagger my brother stabbed me with…"

"Kol?" She sat up. Sorrow closed her throat. Her heart wrenched as the unbidden images flooded her mind. She wanted him to stop talking. She wanted to forget for the time being that he was dead.

"It had a specific purpose," he pushed on.

Lexa tilted her head in confusion. This was her dream shouldn't he concede to the wishes of her mind? Normally she could alter her dreams when she found them uncomfortable, but her old bedroom had never worked the way the rest of her mind did.

"They were weapons forged by a witch," he inhaled sharply and pressed his palm to the small of her back. "When dipped into the ashes of a white oak they have the power to neutralize an Original vampire. We remain 'dead' and desiccated as long as the dagger is in our hearts."

"I should have told you," he sat up and carded his fingers through her messy curls.

"You should have," she nodded. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. "I am not going to waste what little time we have on anger though."

"How would you like to spend our time, little witch?" He tilted his head and slid his hands from her hair to her shoulders.

"I'm certain you can guess," she ran her fingers through his hair, "your hair is shorter."

"Time changes some things," he smirked. He grasped her hips and pulled her to straddle him.

"Hopefully not everything," she murmured.

He was in a foul mood; practically murderous. Dreams had the ability to do that he supposed. For five undisturbed hours he had slept; he had held her, spoken to her and made love to her in his dreams.

Waking up had not been an enjoyable experience. He couldn't remember the last time he'd woken in such a state; he had a suspicion he had been human though.

He was nothing if not an optimist though. Moving his rook over the chess board he relished the opportunity to push his brother's temper to the breaking point. Besides, it wasn't like he had a hope of putting Nik in check anytime soon.

"Forty-six," Elijah paced the room. His fist clenched tightly as he moved. "An entire tenement," he brought his hand down on the board when neither brother seemed to care and roared. "Forty-six bodies drained."

"Nonsense," Kol straightened the pieces. "It was at least sixty," his mouth quirked up in a smirk. "Ah," he held up his finger and nodded, "they neglected to check the attic."

"Aha," Nik laughed.

"Why do people always run for the attic? I mean, it makes absolutely no sense!" He waved his hands.

"It is difficult enough to keep out presence in the city a secret without the two of you doing absolutely everything in your power to draw attention to us," Elijah inhaled sharply.

"I'm surprised you have the time to concern yourself with us," Nik rolled his eyes back to the chessboard; "given the hours you spend doting on Marcellus."

Elijah took a step back and stared at Niklaus. "Is that what this is all about? You envy my bond with Marcellus?" He shook his head and sighed in exasperation. "Niklaus, you brought that child into this home. He's no longer safe here; I cannot allow him to remain."

Nik jumped to his feet. Kol could see the indignation in his eyes.

"You would punish the boy for Kol's antics?" His voice echoed off the walls. "I would just as soon put him in a box!"

"You'd choose that little whelp over your own family?" Kol held his hand over his heart with an affronted look.

"That little whelp is our family!" Nik spun around to Elijah. "Marcellus stays."

She was mine, Kol watched Nik storm from the room. It seems I've found my revenge.

"Sometimes I don't know why I bother," Kol sighed in exasperation when the actor's body hit the floor. He held up his hands and shrugged to Marcellus.

"What have you done?" Elijah gasped when he rushed into the courtyard.

"I thought you'd be please, Elijah," he smirked, and waved to the troupe behind him, "I was just introducing young Marcellus to the theatre."

"There is no limit to your violent imagination, is there?"

"If the boy is going to be a vampire he'll have to learn somewhere?" Kol lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "I've already fed him my blood. All you have to do is snuff him, and voila," he held Marcellus by the shoulders, "one of us. That's what you want, isn't it?" His smile was overly angelic.

Kol grunted when Elijah grabbed his throat and shoved him backwards while holding his neck. He felt Nik grab his arms from behind.

"Let him go, Elijah."

Kol saw the hesitation in his movements when Elijah reluctantly released him.

"Thank you, Nik," Kol straightened his jacket, "at least someone knows the meaning of family."

"I told you before," Nik spun Kol to face him. His face was frozen in a severe expression. "Marcellus is family."

The anger simmered in his chest when Elijah took his arms and Nik pushed the silver through his chest. His last thought was that next time he would need to be smarter.

Greece, 1821

"Agatha," Lexa called, "could I speak with you for a moment?"

"Of course," she smiled gently. Her eyes lighted on the bag slung across the young woman's shoulders. "Are you leaving?"

"Yes," Lexa fingered the strap of her bag, "even in the coven people are starting to whisper. This is actually the longest I've ever stayed anywhere."

"Where will you go?" Agatha fell into step beside her on the path to the sea.

"That depends on what you can tell me," Lexa's gaze darted along the ships at the port. There were three of them each bound for a different location: Asia, France, and the New World.

It had been a week since her dreams had returned to normal. A week since Kol had become unresponsive again. In that time she had come to realize something; he had never mentioned a dagger. There was also no sign of them within his grimoire. It was definitely a long shot but if someone could confirm at least part of what he had said she knew exactly where she would go.

"Seeking knowledge again?" Agatha grinned. "You haven't peppered me with questions since I told you about soulmates nearly twenty years ago. You've actually been teaching me. Where did you learn all of those spells?"

"Here and there," Lexa shrugged non-committedly. "I picked up most of it on my travels."

"You don't want to tell me," Agatha nodded, "that's fine. What do you want to know?"

Lexa bit her lip and stared at the sea. She mulled over her words for several moments before turning to Agatha. She marvelled over the changes she saw in the other witch. When Lexa had met her she'd been a girl of seventeen on the cusp of marriage; now her own daughter was poised to marry at the end of the month beneath the full moon.

"What do you know about Originals?" Lexa tilted her head.

"Originals?" Agatha's voice dropped to a whisper. "I only know what I've heard. They're ancient beings. The rumors always said there were four… three brothers and one sister."

Lexa nodded. So far everything made sense.

"There were whispers that the coven slaughtered over a century ago, the ones that worshiped the first immortal, were killed by an Original." Agatha pulled Lexa to sit with her on bench. "They say he feared the coven would succeed in waking the beast and unleash hell on earth."

Lexa focused her gaze on the farthest boat bound for the France. Would she be taking that one?

"How do you kill an Original?"

"Oh," Agatha shook her head, "you can't. They cannot be killed; they can only be neutralized. There was some kind of weapon… I don't know what it was though only that it was made of silver." She turned her eyes to the youthful blond. "Why do you ask?"

Lexa inhaled and shook with a silent laugh. "I… I think I might have met one."

"Well," Agatha chuckled, "pray you never meet one again. They're deadly." She nodded to the ships in the harbour. "So, where are you going?"

"I thought I'd try the New World," Lexa smiled, "plenty of places to disappear."

I do love reviews... so so much...

I still think I'm going to introduce her to Claire again. I've got this idea where she somehow winds up in the hospital where Claire is working in Boston. Or maybe she meets Brianna and Bree introduces Lexa to her mother.