Reminder: This fanfiction is unbeta-ed, and I don't own TO, TVD or the characters; I just own the AU/AR they reside in (and my OCs).

for more info on this fic visit (allhailhales dot webs dot com / the-original-family)...there are photo galleries, chapter guides, character lists and more...

AN: regarding the last chapter, idk how much more POVs from Esther I'll do. She is such a difficult character to write for me. She thinks or her family members as pawns in her quest for power, and only respects power. She doesn't love her children, she is 'proud' of the power they have, but its kind of in a 'look what I made' kind of way. I apologize if that was an odd section for you to read…

Just a reminder that the characters in this fic are a bit different than in the show (especially Mikael, Finn etc) because this fic is and AU/AR, and everything is just a bit tweaked, which changes the characters a bit

"Aaron without you this family would be lost. We would be broken and miserable; we wouldn't be a family. Many of us would be dead; the ones remaining would barely care for each other as we do now. You are what held this family together. We were at a critical point when you awoke, very near to being lost to each other forever. You brought us together, you made it possible for us to love each other and others. You are the reason we are as happy as we are today."

Rebekah Mikaelson

This Is Us, The Original Family

Chapter Thirteen: Heart To Hearts

We Remain, The Original Family

Chapter Thirteen: Together As One

SAGE MIKAELSON

Library

Mikaelson Castle

Mikaelson Island

South Pacific Ocean

April 17, 2012

Sage supposed it was heartwarming to watch as Esther and Mikael set aside their hate of what their children were and of each other, Ansel, and Soren to help plan an offensive and defensive strategy against Dahlia.

Mikael seemed quite taken with Erik, and has asked to hold him quite a few times. Erik preferred Soren and Ansel as opposed to Mikael and Esther, but no one was cruel enough to point it out. Mikael might be a monster, but anyone could see he loved his grandson, more purely than he had been able to show love to his own children. And Esther seemed less wary of Erik and Ingrid today, and more willing to engage in conversation with her children and their spouses as well. It was as if she was a completely different person. Sage knew that once this battle was over, it would not be a pretty sight. Everyone knew that Esther and Mikael had their own agendas that they intended to carry out after Dahlia was no more.

They had a family meeting last night after Esther and Mikael were locked in their rooms to prepare for the inevitable treachery. The Mikealson siblings had spent the days before the resurrection preparing each other for the hurtful words and hate that went along with their relationship with their parents, and knew that while they were on the same side at the moment, they wouldn't always be.

Finn, Freya and Henrik were having the most difficult time coming to terms with the fact that the deceptions would come eventually. Freya and Henrik knew intellectually that their parents had always turned but had never experienced it first hand, having spent so little time with them. Finn was a nervous wreck, as he was once devoted to his parents, until he was no longer able to ignore what they were, Esther looked almost upset when the child that was once her right hand refused to stand near her.

After spending the early morning introducing themselves and having Esther state what she knew about how to defeat her sister (then having it confirmed by Soren who knew a bit about such immortality spells and Katerina who could sense any deceit thanks to the spell on Esther and Mikael). The witches set to work, while the others minded the children, went looking for needed ingredients, started preparing for battle.

Finn, Hayley and Nadia were constantly being sent around the island by the family's magic users to gather specific ingredients needed for certain spells and the making of the weapon that would kill Dahlia. Aaron, Rebekah, Kol, Katerina, Bonnie, Soren and Esther were gathered around a long table in the middle of the room, pouring over cauldrons, and scribbling in grimores. They would pause to discuss something about what they were doing, or ask Esther and Soren a question about the particular magic that Dahlia used. Most of the conversation went over Sage's head, but she could tell progress was being made because Katerina (who was really the only face she could see at the moment from where she sat) was fighting a smile as she poured some of Freya's blood onto a map and received a location for Dahlia.

Mikael had taken Freya, Henrik, Nataila and Caroline outside to teach them to fight properly once he figured out they were the ones in the family that had the least experience in 'battle', and could use some instruction. Everyone was unsure if Dahlia had minions to fight for her or if she would rely sole on magic, so they wanted to be prepared for both cases, and it did not hurt for each family member to be able to defend himself or herself properly.

Elijah and Ansel were preparing for the trip to the family's castle in Russia. Esther had said that once they were ready for Dahlia, they would need to leave the island and lure her somewhere they could control, but she would not expect as a trap. Apparently the protections on the island were too powerful for Dahlia to simply come here and take the children, which is why Dahlia had to announce herself and her plan…to scare the family into running to a less protected place. Elijah was letting the Lord of Saint Petersburg and the Lord of Novosibirsk knowthat the Royal Family would be in country within the week for personal reasons. Both the wolf and the vampire Lords would be asked to send some of their most trusted men and women to prepare the family's castle and to provide extra security for their stay. Ansel was studying the blueprints that Niklaus had drawn of Castle Henrik before it was built seven centuries ago and the pictures Niklaus had taken on a recent visit, making sure he knew all the passageways, exits, and entrances looking for possible security holes.

Sage was sitting at a small corner table with Elijah, Ansel, and Niklaus, her son on her lap and rocking the baby carrier that held her sleeping niece. Niklaus was being useless, after giving his father all the information he could on the castle, he began shopping online cheerfully for coffins.

Klaus scooped Erik from her lap and pointed at the screen. "What do you think Erik? Is it too simple?"

Erik huffed.

"You're right, of course. What was I thinking? This person threatened to hurt you and Ingrid, they don't deserve a comfortable final resting place." Klaus said before handing Erik back to Sage. "Such a smart lad."

Sage rolled her eyes at her brother-in-law, while observing that Ansel had looked up from his work to smile at his son. "Niklaus, if you don't mind, would you finish with your task and assist me with mine?"

"Certainly Father." Klaus said eagerly, pushing the computer towards Sage. "Sage be a dear and purchase this for me?" he said placing his credit card next to the computer.

Sage began to purchase the coffin her brother-in-law had indicated when she noticed Esther had stopped her work to glare at Niklaus and Ansel. Sage then realized how quiet it was in the library, aside from the occasional murmur about magic, so even Esther's human hearing had heard Niklaus and Ansel speak and Sage realized that this was the first time Esther had heard any of her children call someone besides Mikael 'Father' (Aaron and Soren had taken to having their conversations via Aaron's telepathy so she had not heard him call Soren 'Father' yet). Esther looked surprised, but said nothing and eventually went back to work.

Sage shook her head, not really understanding the woman at all. Why would she care? Was this a control thing?

"Ma! Buy!" Erik reminded her.

Sage chuckled and finished Niklaus' purchase for him, before opening a search window of her own. "Klaus? Can I use this card to purchase more clothing for Freya? We only got her a few essentials, her closet is very empty compared to the rest of us."

"Have at it." He said.

So Sage opened her own search windows. The first few days Freya was here, she barrowed clothing until she decided what she liked. She had mostly barrowed from Sage's closet because they were of a similar build and had similar style (although Freya preferred longer sleeves and higher necklines then most all of the other Mikaelson women), so Freya had entrusted Sage to slowly start buying her a modern wardrobe. Sage hadn't had much time to shop since they decided to resurrect Esther and Mikael, so she had only bought a 'few things' (in Mikaelson terms), Sage hoped that once Dahlia was gone she could take Freya shopping at a real store.

She also resolved to purchase a few things for Ansel and Soren, they were apart of the royal family now, and they couldn't go running about in cheaply made jeans and ill-fitting t-shirts. Even though they insisted they had a handle on how to dress themselves in this century's clothing, Sage could see they were quite hopeless, even Finn had a better fashion sense, when he was newly out of the coffin…

Sage scrolled and clicked away, as her son grumbled in boredom, apparently he was not pleased with his mother's new task. "Ma! Bor!"

Elijah was getting off the phone as Erik shouted that he was bored, so he took Erik before he woke up Ingrid. "Let us assist Ansel and Uncle Niklaus." He said.

"Ca. Pay."

"Cara will come play with you later. For now, you can learn something from Ansel and Niklaus about protecting the family." Elijah stated sitting next to the diagram.

That got her son's attention. His tiny fangs came out and his eyes darkened, as he was reminded that there was danger. "Tet. Ig."

Sage smiled at her son and his new words, looking to Kol who had taken to letting everyone know what Erik was trying to say when he spoke his short words.

"He is trying to say that he wants to help protect Ingrid." Kol said, not looking up from his work. "So much like his father that one, he'd do anything to protect the ones he loves."

Sage smiled. "Such a darling boy."

Elijah, Ansel and Klaus all gave Erik forehead kisses before returning to their tasks.

Erik was studying the map with a stern look on his face, as if he somehow understood every word they said, and the scope of the danger he and Ingrid faced. She'd never ask Kol or Aaron to spy on Erik's thoughts all the time to verify this (as she considered it an invasion of privacy), but sometimes she thinks her boy is way more advanced than a one year old should be. She worried that he was in fact advanced, and understood much more than he should, he remembered the bloodshed he had witnessed in his first six months of life. Would that scar him for his entire existence? She certainly hoped he did not remember, because she didn't want her sweet little boy to be haunted by those images his whole life. Yes, there was danger now, but Erik and Ingrid would not witness Dahlia's attack or her death, they were taking precautions to ensure it.

With that Sage returned to her task, and tried her best to think positively.

MIKAEL, SON OF ERIK

Family Dining Room

Mikaelson Castle

Mikaelson Island

South Pacific Ocean

April 17, 2012

He sat at the dining table with the rest of the family that called themselves Mikaelson. It peeved him long ago to find out the surname they had chosen, but now that he had a grandson it only irritated him. Like it or not, this was his family; his children, his wife, his wife's ex-lovers, his daughters-in-law, and their children were all apart of his family.

It annoyed him that Ansel and Soren were at the head of the table, as that should be his place…but, he understood that the children didn't trust him after centuries of trying to harm them, so they wouldn't give him such a place of honor. He took his spot towards the end of the table next to Erik and Sage, sitting across from his daughters and Caroline without complaint. The room was loud and while there was tension there was mostly happiness and camaraderie. His grandson was laughing, listening to the conversation.

Mikael was not laughing; he was hurt.

He glared at his treacherous wife, who was silently eating her meal in between Niklaus and Hayley, trying to get their daughter's attention from her mother's lap, while ignoring Niklaus and Kol's argument on who got to kill their mother once she betrayed them again. She had manipulated him their entire relationship, Mikael honestly didn't know what had been real, and she and her sister had set into motion events that led to their family's fracturing. But in the end he was a monster like she was; only he was a fool as well. And now, the sons that should have been his blood were getting to know their biological fathers, calling them Father and he was feeling just as heartbroken as he was when he initially found out they were not his.

Contrary to his family's belief, he loved his children and when he said his children he included Aaron and Niklaus.

For Aaron's first three months of life, he was certain the boy was his, and was so happy. Mikael knew in the first moment he held the boy that the love a father had for his child was a remarkable thing. This is why men went to war, to protect their children. When Aaron was first born, he knew he would do anything to keep the child from harm.

And then Esther said The Sorcerer was coming to town, that she ended her courtship with the man because he was an evil magician and now he wanted to sacrifice their son. The man thought Aaron was his... so she had gone to Dahlia and put a spell on the boy to protect him. Once he saw Soren look at Aaron, Mikael knew that his wife hadn't told the truth, that man did not want to harm the child; he just wanted to raise his son. But pride was Mikael's flaw, he saw images of Aaron growing to call the man 'Father' and refused to let it happen. Aaron was his boy. After Soren left, he tried to look at Aaron like he used to, but instead of seeing his son, he saw Soren's stricken face when he could not get near Aaron. Mikael had kept a father from his son, all because he loved the boy…but later he thought that if he truly loved the boy, wouldn't he have let him grow up happily with his true father instead of with a prideful man and a distant mother? Every time he looked at Aaron, he saw the horrible thing he and Esther had done.

Then Freya had died. His beautiful little girl taken by disease (or so his wife had said) and Mikael ached. The pain he felt was all consuming, he had to keep reminding himself he deserved this, he had caused Soren this pain and now the Gods had stolen his darling Freya as punishment. Mikael couldn't bear to be near Soren any longer, knowing the pain he had cause him, so they left the country after Elijah was born.

After Finn was born in the New World, he was again wracked with guilt. He had three sons, and a dead daughter…but one of his children he had stolen from another man, and moved him across the ocean. Esther had sensed his guilt and had given Aaron away to a childless family in the village, but that only heightened his guilt, those people didn't care for the boy, they would give him away once they had their own son (they had shortly after Kol and Rebekah were born)…this made him feel like more of a monster. Aaron could have grown up with a loving father, in a stable home but instead he was passed along and treated with anything but love.

He went a whole year thinking Niklaus was his boy until he noticed Ansel's son Rolf was always nearby intently looking at the boy. He knew in that moment that Esther had an affair with the wolf, and had done something to keep him away from his son. Mikael's guilt doubled, eventually turned to anger, which resulted in him beating Niklaus since he was old enough to run, which began the guilt cycle once more…He loved the boy, and felt sorry he could not show it, his children deserved a loving parent but they were burdened with an angry, abusive father and a cold, unforgiving mother.

He watched himself grow more abusive by the day…and even though he didn't beat them as harshly as he did Niklaus… Elijah, Finn, Kol, Rebekah and Henrik only knew their father as a cruel man who only said harsh words, who would harm their mother and brother in he worst ways and didn't love them. He continued his cycle because shortly after harming Esther or Niklaus he felt a moment of peace…he felt someone had finally been punished for his deeds, but his guilt always came back and always came back worse.

When Ansel beat him that fateful day he felt relief, Odin knew he deserved much worse...he hoped the man would kill him then and end his self-made misery. He had intended to demand Esther lift whatever enchantment she had placed on Niklaus and tell the boy the truth. He could never give Soren back his child but perhaps Niklaus and Ansel had some time left. But Esther had refused, and then killed Ansel's daughter.

Then the Gods punished him yet again and took Henrik from them, and in a flurry of grief and rage Esther had turned them vampires, and bound Niklaus' wolf side. But Mikael had hardly payed attention during that time, as his rational mind was gone. All that consumed him was his anger and hatred of what Aaron and Niklaus represented: his failure as a man, as a father and a human being; and his vampire mind thought the best way to end the misery was to kill those who represented his failure and their biological fathers.

He was unable to kill Aaron before Ayanna turned him into a vampire and linked his awakening to Esther's, so he decided to lug his coffin around until he woke so he could kill Esther if she were ever resurrected. Niklaus had fled with Mikael's other remaining children so he killed Ansel and left to hunt down his children. His mind had thought if Niklaus were no more, Mikael could finally die and get some relief.

In the end, Niklaus had beaten him, and when The Other Side collapsed he reunited with his wife she got her claws into him before he knew what was happening. He knows now (thanks to Soren's comment after he resurrected them) that Esther had been manipulating him from the beginning, helping him to become the angered monster he was…the villain in the stories his children would one day tell his grandchildren. It was what he deserved, and when Dahlia was no longer a threat, he knew Esther had a plan, Kol and Niklaus were correct in this. He also knew that she would end up using this jealously he felt against him to gain his assistance, and there wouldn't be much he could do to stop her.

She would use the fact that Aaron and Niklaus were calling another 'Father', just like the image that kept him from giving Aaron to Soren all those years ago. She knew that it hurt him, that he would be jealous and angry to see his boys build relationships with the fathers that he had denied them. She would easily be able to use the fact that his other children had seemed quite taken with Soren and Ansel against him as well, and that the final nail in the coffin would be Erik's adoration of the men while he only tolerated Mikael for a few moments at a time.

Mikael knew that this wasn't any more of a punishment than he deserved. In his opinion he deserved much worse. But she would still be able to get him angry enough to try to kill Niklaus and Aaron again, and once more he would be the monster in the story of his children's lives.

He sincerely hoped that he would be able to resist her; but he always felt a pull to Esther and knew he'd never be rid of her or be able to resist her. He hoped her plans wouldn't affect the children, so he could try to be apart of their lives on a more permanent basis one day.

But he knew that these were only hopes, and that he would soon be the enemy to his own family once again. So he decided to enjoy the time he had left with them and cherish it, even if it was fraught with things left unsaid, old hurts and the threat of Dahlia.

Dahlia. The woman would certainly pay for her crimes, and what she planed to do to his grandchildren, because unlike the people at this table, Dahlia was not a Mikaelson. And no one hurt this family and lived to tell the tale. She would not lay a hand on another Mikaelson and she would die by his hand for harming Freya.

This was his family. There may be much history and pain between them, but he loved his children, and grandchildren, cared for their spouses and felt regret for what he had done to Ansel and Soren…he would protect them with all he had. Even if it meant letting his wife who couldn't really feel love, and didn't much care for family lead the charge against her sister.

No one but a Mikaelson was allowed to harm a Mikaelson.^^

FREYA MIKAELSON

First Floor Family Room

West Wing of Mikaelson Castle

Mikaelson Island

South Pacific Ocean

April 18, 2012

Freya was quite surprised that the family had accepted her so quickly. She knew that her siblings were not trusting beings and was glad that they had found it in their hearts the ability to trust in her, and her abilities. They would have never accepted Soren and Ansel into their midst so genuinely if not for her gift, and part of her was sure that had she been reunited with them in any way other than how she had been or if Aaron had not had the telepathy to see she was genuine they might have not accepted her so easily.

She was glad they had, and their spouses had followed their lead. She had brothers, and sisters and a nephew and niece…a true family and looked forward to bonding with them further once Dahlia was defeated.

That thought was refreshing. After spending a lifetime fearing her, Freya was relieved to find that Dahlia could be defeated. They had used her blood to track their aunt, knowing where she was now at all times, Esther had explained what ingredients were needed to make weapons they could use against Dahlia (and they were making enough so each family member could have two weapons), and Father had been instructing the less 'battle ready' family members in how to fight, training all of her siblings received from the time they were small. Niklaus had said that the training Father had given them all was the only thing he did correct as a parent.

Freya was inclined to agree, but her heart hurt. Father's actions were inexcusable, but Freya knew his pain, just has she knew everyone else's pain. She knew his regrets, and that he knew he had been manipulated, and she was struggling to find a way to love her Father, without excusing all the horrors he subjected her siblings to.

She was not in a similar dilemma with Esther. Yes, she didn't know that Dahlia would take Freya; she thought that Aaron would be taken…but that was a horrid thing for a mother to do. She knew her mother couldn't love even if she wanted too, that her own mother and sister had used a spell to pull such emotions from her…but Freya couldn't bring herself to use this fact to excuse Esther's actions, or bring herself to call the woman Mother. Esther knew what was right and wrong, Esther knew what her sister was capable of, but she let her take Freya anyway, and committed so many other atrocities (or let atrocities happen because of her pride and need to control others) happen to her remaining children. She knew what she was doing was wrong, but didn't see the point in stopping something unless it forwarded her own agenda.

Freya knew that Esther could never be forgiven, and never wanted to be redeemed. But Father…Freya so wanted to know her father and love him; she wanted him to apologize to her siblings, Soren and Ansel. Freya wanted him to finally tell Aaron and Niklaus the truth; that he loved them still, and his hurt over not being their father had driven him to the monster he had become. It wouldn't erase the past, but it would certainly help the family move forward, it would start a new chapter. Father had a chance to be the man he was before Esther had turned him into her own weapon, and Freya wanted that to happen more than anything.

But she knew, that once Dahlia was gone Father and Esther would be killed again. She knew Esther would get into Father's mind until the anger took over once again, and that once Esther put in motion her plans Father would be branded as a co-conspirator instead of just her pawn. Freya's ability to see the past was sometimes a better indicator of what would happen in the future than Rebekah's Sight, as history tended to repeat itself, until someone put a stop to it.

Perhaps she would be able to stop it. Or perhaps Father would be strong even to stop it himself one day. But she loved her Father and longed for the day she could say that aloud without feeling like she was betraying her siblings.

"Rebekah, Freya, what is wrong my darlings?" Father said with concern from his seat next to her. "Are you quite alright?"

Freya then realized that she and Rebekah, who were both sitting of either side of Father, were crying.

"I don't want to lose you." Rebekah said crying into his shoulder. "I like this version of you, the kind father I always wanted and I dread the day where you change again."

Freya nodded, and rested he head on Father's other shoulder. Sometimes Rebekah's ability to see the future was troublesome, because the future was typically so uncertain she would get multiple visions about the same event. Her sister probably saw the worst of what was to come; Freya only had imagination and history to lead her to her own conclusions.

Father's voice softened, so no one in the rest of the home could hear him. The three of them were alone in the family room for the time being they had spent the past hour talking, and it was amazing. "My darling girls, I love you, and your brothers…yes Rebekah even Aaron and Niklaus… but I cannot promise that love will not be enough to keep me away from that anger or from your mother's influence. It hasn't been enough in the past, and I will not make a promise to you that I very well may break. But I promise that I will fight myself everyday to be the Father you deserve…I may not succeed most days but I promise to try. I promise in advance for any hurt I will cause you."

"I love you Father." Freya whispered, "I hope one day…one day you can be free of your demons and Esther…because my siblings, nieces and nephews…they deserve to know the man you once were, the man I see with my Hind-Sight."

Father wrapped them in his arms and squeezed tight. "I'm glad you can see that Freya. I hope I can be that man once again one day. You know I saw my own father when I was in the afterlife? He beat me and told me how ashamed he was to call me son."

Rebekah gasped, but Freya already knew. "I believe you can be the good man your father and mother raised you to be someday. We are vampires Father, you have time." Freya said.

"It shall be difficult Freya. I have done many terrible, unforgivable things."

"I know." Freya sighed, "But you need to try to be better for your grandchildren, and for us…we may be grown but we still need you."

"He'd promised he'd try Freya." Rebekah said, "That's all he can do."

"I love you girls."

"We love you too." Rebekah said.^*

AARON MIKAELSON

Library

Mikaelson Castle

Mikaelson Island

South Pacific Ocean

April 18, 2012

Aaron and Kol made loud celebratory noises, causing the rest of the family to start congratulating one another.

Aaron hugged his father and then ran over to his fiancée to kiss her. They were done! He couldn't believe they had done it.

They had made potions, stakes, daggers and swords all infused with the ingredients needed weaken Dahlia's magic so they could kill her. He was thankful they had had a garden of any herbs a witch would need (even the extremely rare ones), and that Niklaus kept everything that had to do with the family, no matter how morbid it was.

According to Esther, they needed to weaken Dahlia on all levels before they could kill her. After her immortality, her magic, her soul, and her mind were weakened they would be able to kill her body, ending her life. They had needed Freya's blood, as she was the first sacrifice Dahlia had made and Dahlia had stolen Freya's magic when she was young (so it was in her); his sister's blood along with some rare herbs would take away the immortality Dahlia held. They had needed Esther's hair and blood, freely given while Esther chanted a spell; his Mother's darkness and blood relation to Dahlia would strip Dahlia of her magic. Esther had explained that their father had made Dahlia and her mother use their magic at his bidding, keeping them shackled in special chains that suppressed magic unless the one that put them on allowed it; the hatred of men began with her father, who was the leader of their village and a celebrated Viking warrior. The ashes left over from Mikael, Finn, and Kol's deaths (Niklaus saved everything) were Viking ash and were used to represent the origins of Dahlia's darkness; Viking ash (more specifically the people it represented) would weaken what was left of her soul. And finally, a mixture of special herbs, native to the land Dahlia and Esther had been born would cause Dahlia's mind to be destroyed. After the weapons had been used on her, all that would be left would be to kill her body.*

They only had to get a weapon or two into her body, which is why they made so many. Dahlia's magic was formidable, and they could not allow her to see all the weapons they had made, for she would certainly be able to destroy them without expending much energy. So they would have to lure her into a trap to catch her off guard and hope that she would be sufficiently distracted enough to be unable to fight all nineteen of them off at once.

"We are ready." He said, as the Mikael, Rebekah and Freya rushed into the room after hearing all the commotion.

Esther was the only silent one as they all took a moment to celebrate their accomplishment. Aaron paid her no mind, it still made him uneasy that he was not able to read all her thoughts, but he was able to detect deceit so he was not worried that she was going to harm them just yet. "We should take a few days to regain our strength." She said, "Then I recommend we leave for the location chosen for the confrontation. These weapons are the most effective two to nine days after they are complete, we don't have much time to waste. After that we would need to get two weapons into her person, not just one."

Aaron nodded. He could use some rest, the making of those weapons took a toll.

"We shall leave for Russia, tomorrow evening, and arrive at our home there in two days time." Nik said, "Esther is correct you all need your rest, and I believe a few of you could use some more training from Mikael before the battle in case she brings minions." He said looking to Natalia and Freya, who unlike Henrik and Caroline had never spilt blood and hadn't learned as quickly from Mikael's lessons.

"Niklaus, perhaps one of the woman should teach them?" Mikael suggested, "I noticed Caroline has had pervious tutoring, that helped her use her small size and vampire strength to her advantage, that is something I know not how to teach and may benefit Freya and Natalia more."

Niklaus looked at Mikael is surprise and Aaron had to stop his own face from showing shock. Mikael had never spoken so kindly to either of them in their lives. Aaron knew from Mikael's thoughts that he regretted every evil thing he did, but didn't think he would ever be able to forgive the man.

"Mama gave me lessons while she was still a vampire." Caroline said, filling the uncomfortable silence.

"I will not be fast enough to assist Freya and Natalia in their training as I am not a vampire any longer." Katerina said regretfully.

Aaron thought it over on how the woman in his family fought; Rebekah had learned from Mikael and from her brothers so she fought with the same brute force they did; Sage used the martial arts she had learned over the centuries; Nadia relied on her vampire speed and the strength her age brought in a confrontation; and Bonnie and Katerina relied on their magic in a fight. In the end he concluded that Hayley was the best candidate to help Freya and Natalia.

"Hayley fights using her size to her advantage well, it is similar enough to the way Katerina fought as a vampire, and her hybrid abilities are similar to your vampire abilities for her teachings to be applicable." Aaron said addressing Freya and Natalia.

He noticed most of the room agreeing with his assessment.

"Okay," Hayley sighed, "We will start after I put Ingrid down for a nap."

The child in question growled at the suggestion she would have to nap while her mother instructed her aunts, and Erik laughed at his cousin's displeasure.

"Ig sil." Erik said with a giggle. "Lil. No tet.

"He thinks Ingrid is amusing…or in his words silly. He says they are too little to protect the family themselves right now." Kol translated.

Everyone smiled, as they left the library to disperse about the house for some recreation (or training). Aaron stayed behind he had to lock Esther and Mikael away before resting.

"Go you martyr and cuddle with my daughter." Katerina said pushing him away. "I'll lock away Esther, and Bekah and Freya told me earlier they would lock away Mikael themselves. Apparently he is helping Bekah and Cara with the planning of their wedding…speaking of wedding's when do you plan on making an honest woman of my daughter?"

Aaron ignored Katerina, taking his fiancée's hand (who was laughing at her mother's question), and made his way toward the door with the rest of the family, leaving his father, Elijah, Katerina and Esther behind.

"Soren, you need to talk to your son. I want that granddaughter Rebekah saw, and I will not get her until after he marries Nadia." Katerina huffed dramatically, "I am not getting any younger."

Aaron heard his brother sigh at his wife's questioning, "Katerina, please…"

"It's quite alright Eiljah." Father had said, "I am in no rush for grandchildren Katerina. I'm just so overjoyed to get to know my son at the moment. When Aaron and Nadia are ready they will marry and eventually have our granddaughter. For an immortal you have no patience."

Aaron stopped listening to the conversation, as he and Nadia had reached their suite. "It's nice to have someone else on our side when it comes to Mama. If she had her way, she would have Cara and I married mothers already, yet she is not ready to have my brother…I love her but she's a bit…"

"Petrova?" Aaron supplied.

"I was going to say bullheaded, and a bit dramatic…"

"As I just said…"

Nadia laughed and playfully hit Aaron on his chest. "You get to sleep, you get cheeky when you're tired."

"Of course my love." Aaron laughed and made his way to their room to obey her command.

NIKLAUS MIKAELSON

Dining Room

Castle Henrik

Near Novosibirsk, Novosibirsk Oblast

Siberia, Russia

April 20, 2012

His family (and whether he liked it or not Esther and Mikael were his family) sat around the table in their Russian home eating in a silence, nervous about what was to happen in the days to come.

They had been here a few hours and had only had time to put up protection and alarm spells; prepare a meal; and made sure the wolves and vampires had secured the property, taken the sheets off the furniture, laundered the linens and cleaned the home like they said they would. Elijah had sent them all back to their Lords once he verified that they had secured and cleared the property, not wanting them to risk their lives once Dahlia came as they did not have the immortality that most of his family had to protect them.

"I still think since this place is named after me, Natalia and I should get the master bedroom." Henrik said to break the silence.

Niklaus laughed. "I had this home built brother, the Master bedroom is mine. But fret not, all the rooms are nearly as large as the bedroom suites at home."

The family made a few off hand comments at that, and assigned rooms for each other and debated which ones to place Esther and Mikael in, but once that was taken care of silence fell once more.

Perhaps it was time for one of his speeches?

So he stood, glass of wine in hand, and got everyone's attention.

"The battle is near, and although we have prepared for this confrontation most of us fear that things will not go as we have planned. But I am in disagreement with you because at this moment I reminded once again of something Elijah had always said; family is power. *** We draw strength from one another, and we are all powerful beings. I believe that no matter how strong Dahlia's magic is she will lose, because she does not value the strength that family and love brings. We are the Original Family, and we remain together, as we always have**. We shall face this foe, like we have others in the past and will to those in the future, by working together. Our bond can no longer be broken or used against us, and is now a weapon against those who stand against us. As long as we are one, we will not lose. I believe that wholeheartedly."

Mikael stood and raised his glass towards Niklaus, "To our family, and our upcoming victory against Dahlia."

Everyone else stood and echoed Mikael "To our family."

"May we stand together as one, against all foes, always and forever…" Elijah said.

"Always and forever." Everyone repeated, before taking a drink and sitting back down. The conversation picked up afterwards, and Niklaus began to relax a bit as most of the tension left the room.

DAHLIA

Dahlia's Home

Oslo, Oslo

Norway

April 24, 2012

Dahlia was certain that this was the closest she felt to happiness in her entire life. The fools had left the safety of their little island and brought her sacrifices with them! How glorious!

Pity it took her days to find out. Once the fools had killed Freya, Dahlia had to rely on other spies. Dahlia almost regretted exposing the little fool, as she was just so convenient. But, the girl was quite annoying, almost too much of a bother to keep alive. No matter, she had other spies all over the world.

This battle was almost too easy to be called a battle. They had killed Freya who, though useless in general, would have provided them with a small link to the magic Dahlia had stolen from the little fool when she was ten, that could have helped them locate her. They would never bring back Esther, and she was the only being who knew exactly how to defeat her. The fools were also too busy avoiding The Sorcerer, who could have also made her at least break a sweat when she went to retrieve her prize. The Viking woman buried deep within her almost stopped her from going to claim her hearts, scoffing that a prize as great as her continued long life deserved to be worked for…

No matter, she was starving and also starting to grey and wrinkle. She would not wait any longer for her prize. Two firstborn hearts would be quite enough until the fools produced more firstborns for her.

AN: Feel free to leave comments/reviews about what you think of the chapter and any suggestions about how you think this story can be improved!

Footnotes:

^Rebekah references their castle in Russia in chapter seven of "This is us…" she states that 'People lived like this? In such cramped quarters? Perhaps her brothers had spoiled her through her long life. She had a suite of rooms at their castle in Russia bigger than this entire house.' …Just to give you an idea of how big this place is…it's not as big as their castle on Mikaelson Island, but it is quite large.

^^ I am not trying to excuse what Mikael has done, I am only trying to show that his anger, grief, guilt and rage turned him into a monster he couldn't even stand and he regrets everything he has done, wishes there was a way to make up for it, but deep down knows there are some things that can not be forgiven (also he knows that there is the potential that his emotions or Esther will take control once more and he could become that monster he hates again)

^* I guess, after re-reading this section… Rebekah and Freya's desire to continue "seeing this version" of their father is similar to many children with parents that have untreated mental disorders (instead of mental disease I'm apparently using Mikael's jealousy and anger, and Esther's influence as the thing that turns him 'into a monster")… so I'm sorry if this story I seem like I'm fighting for Mikael redemption so much, but they way he came out on the page…I sometimes find myself in moments like Freya and Bekah are having when my own father has a few lucid days… You don't want to blame them for the things they did while they aren't in their right mind, but still you simply cannot excuse what they have done. If you guys don't want to see anymore of Mikael after this section let me know, but I think an interesting plot point in the future is to see him struggle to do the right thing by his family (and fail, but keep trying)

* Some of these ingredients were barrowed from the show, but I changed what they do to Dahlia.

**Quotes adapted from TO Season 2 episode 13 and TVD Season 4 episode 20

- Also, for the cities and region names in this chapter (as for the rest of this story) I used Google, so I apologize if I got something wrong I know major cities and states in the USA, and major cities and providences in Canada… but I have some clue about major cities around the world but I haven't a clue about states (or what ever they are called in different countries) that they are in and other geographical information. I'm doing my best, but I think I got the wrong geographical location of Johannesburg a few chapters ago, so I'm dreading another screw up here.