Starling City, 2013

FS*FS*FS

It was another Valentine's Day and Felicity was once again alone. Not that she was interested in serious romantic relationships after Damon Salvatore. But it didn't mean she lived as a nun. She just didn't want to enter anything more serious because her heart was not in it. It still belonged to her husband even after he left.

She went through hurt, pain and anger. But to live her life and not become bitter she needed to let it all go and move on. Just if it could be that simple - her mind told her to let go but her heart wanted what it wanted. But she chose to keep her distance and not to seek Damon out.

However Felicity didn't want to be spent Valentine's day wallowing in self pity and alone, so she dressed up to impress and went out to new club 'Paradise' which opened last month and lot of her coworkers recommended it.

Her dress, short and with revealing, deep plunging neckline, was raven black, contrasting her fair skin. Six inch black Louboutin stilettos made her legs look mile long. Her lips were painted with deep red lipstick matching her nail polish. She looked as every boy's wet fantasy. Nothing close to how Felicity dressed to office so there was no chance that someone would recognize her.

She felt the eyes all eyes on her and that made her feel powerful. Blonde took a seat at the bar and ordered fruity cocktail. She was sipping it absentmindedly, watching people as noticed Oliver Queen and Tommy Merlyn making appearances, probably checking out their competition before their own club opened in few weeks.

While Tommy blended in perfectly with the crowds, Oliver's discomfort was clear to Felicity. He did good job hiding it and less observant person believe that he was back in to his old hunting grounds, but from the moment he come to her cubicle at QC Felicity saw that this easygoing persona was just a mask he was wearing probably because his family and friends expected it from him. But it also was a surprise her that people didn't see that it was all an act. They could be so oblivious to the word around them.

Oliver came to her with most ridiculous excuses for technical expertise, but she helped him. Not only because she was getting bored in her day to day life, but she always said that mysteries had to be solved. She already figured out about his secret nightly activities, but waited for him to come to her. Felicity was sure it was just a question of time, but first Oliver needed to trust her. As the incentive she decided to arrange meeting with him to show him Walter's book with invisible list.

He had to have a copy of it or at least knew about it as he was going after people in that book. It was no coincidence. Only flaw in this theory was Royal flush gang, but even they were connected to Queen family. Felicity could see that Oliver felt guilty and responsible after he found out about that happened to Restons.

She was so immersed into her thought about city's vigilante that she didn't notice when someone come up to her from behind. Felicity felt someone tap her on the shoulder to get her attention.

"Hello darling. I'm Kol, but you can call me lover."

Felicity turned in her seat almost falling from it, to face the owner of familiar voice. And there he was leaning on the bar in the dim club, her youngest brother Kol. Shock of seeing him fortunately didn't let her focus the creepiness of situation of him trying to pick her up in the club. But from slight green tinge on his face Kol was disturbed by it too. Expression on his face was hilarious and Felicity would have laughed if she wasn't so weirded out.

"First of all - eww. Second, where did you find that line? No self respecting woman would fall for that. No matter how you say it, word 'lover' sounds creepy." Felicity shuddered and shook her head. "And third, we going to pretend it never happened and never mention it again. Okay?" She closed her eyes and silently counted to three. "Kol!" She shouted and jumped out of her seat to hug her baby brother.

KM*KM*KM

After he ended his assignment in Denver with baby Gilbert and killed Mary to prevent Mystic Falls' gang from discovering who was sire of their bloodline, Kol Mikaelson decided to leave before overcome with his temper Nik could pierce his heart with that cursed dagger once again. Kol already slept long enough, thank you very much.

Next few months Original vampire spent traveling around the country, reacquainting with current culture, visiting covens and reminding them of his existence, giving some favors on his way. You never know when you need to have some allies in witches' communities. After spending some time in California with Halliwells, he decided to go up north to check if Shades still around.

Kol always felt kinship to witches. From all his siblings he had most affinity for magic while they were humans, not that his father was pleased. To him all boys needed to learn to wield sword and fight, witchcraft was for the women only. After transformation he was disheartened to find out he lost his connection to magic. It felt like vital piece of him was missing. He tried to fill that hole with blood, women, chasing the thrill until it wasn't enough to distract him.

None of his siblings understood him, none of them felt like that gaping hole. Rebekah, Elijah and Finn never had connection to magic strong enough to feel it missing.

For a while he thought that maybe Nik would understand, with their mother locking part of him away, but he was too guilt ridden for Henrik's death. To distract himself he concentrated on finding the way to break the curse and free his werewolf side. At least the was chance to break his curse and him to be whole again. There was no such thing for Kol. He was condemned living forever, never feeling fully like himself.

But the biggest betrayal was that Felicity gained her powers after transformation and she wasn't happy about it. No she tried to ignore it, hide it. She got a gift he desired and wasted it.

To say the least his relationship with his siblings were strained. None of them understood him and written off his behavior as rebellion of baby brother of the family. But still they were family.

On his way to Portland he made pit stop in Starling City. He was bored and thirsty, so to hunt some food and entertainment he decided to visit one of night clubs full of willing women. Now he almost regretted his decision.

He felt embarrassed and sick that he made pass to his older sister. Sister he didn't see since before he was daggered in New Orleans. But he was also happy to see her. Aside from Felicity's aversion to magic and his envy, Kol loved her. She always tried to look after younger siblings, despite her tense relationship with their mother and she was the only one who could calm down Mikael. And she did until their mother made her to marry and leave home, but even after she wasn't around all the time she tried to be there for her brother's and sister, keep them safe from father's temper. His father would always soften up when Felicity was around. Kol never understood why. She wasn't his biological daughter and Mikael's behavior made even less sense when the truth about Nik's paternity came out and he lost his shit.

Felicity also appeared to be glad to see him and determined to forget his unfortunate mistake. He found himself enfolded in her warm embrace.

"Kol! What are you doing here? I missed you."

Even though he still felt weird about before Kol returned her hug.

"Lissy. I'm just passing by, decided to catch a snack before going further."

To get more privacy they moved to VIP area, ordered for refill and compelled guard from letting people interrupt them. They had a lot of catching up to do.

"So Lissy what are you doing here?"

"Spirits warned me that Esther is planning something so I left where I was before changed my name again, got a lot of cloaking spells and amulets and came here to hide, since it had no ties to me." After a second it looked like she remembered something and looked down at her hands. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Kol was confused because he couldn't think of anything she would be sorry for.

"I just know how you feel about my magic."

Kol was even more confused. "And how do I feel about your magic?"

Felicity wouldn't meet his eyes as she still looked at her hands with forlorn expression on her face.

"It's just I know how much you miss your own magic so I try not to flaunt it front of you."

After the second of shock Kol started to laugh. Full belly laugh. He faulted his sister for wasting her gift, but she was only doing it to spare his feelings.

Their family had serious communication problem.

"What? Why are you laughing?" Felicity snapped, clearly irate with his reaction to her sincere confession.

"N-Nothing." Kol answered still not managing to stop his laughter. "You were looking after me and I was resenting you for letting this gift nature gave you to fade away. Because before you were the one who taught me to read so that I could learn from mother's grimuars in secret, you were the one who took me to the forest in the guise to protect you from the threats to gather herbs and flowers for spells and potions. You were more interested in magic while you didn't have it. After you got it, it seemed that you tried to make it go away. You drifted away. From our family, from me."

After Kol's monologue mood become somber in their booth.

"I'm sorry. I just saw you hurting and wanted to make it easier for you."

For a few minutes they sat in silence, contemplating each other's words.

"Why is it that we only now talking about it?" Felicity accidentally said her thoughts out loud.

"Maybe because I spent half my life in the coffin and you travel alone a lot." Kol accused, but seeing Felicity's face fall he amended. "Or maybe our family is unable to share their feeling with each other. Even mother tried to stab us in the back while smiling in our faces. Literally. She said she wanted new starts made a show of forgiving Nik, threw a ball to show that we're united family. But not once did she mention you."

Felicity snorted. "Of course she didn't. Esther would gladly erase any evidence of my existence. To her I'm not her daughter and I'm fine with it. She carted me of as soon as I turned sixteen. If it was not for dad, I would have been married off to our village's drunk and abuser, who already had and lost three wives in mysterious circumstances."

She shook her head. "But I don't want to talk about her. Tell me what you're up to? Others? It was few months since I talked to Elijah and about two years since last phone call with Nik."

"Elijah disappeared somewhere and I try to stay away from Nik, in case he gets into stab-y mood. Only Bekah calls me anymore."

"How is she?" Felicity asked.

"As always, chasing boys as they run away from her." Kol chuckled.

"Don't be mean." Older sibling chastised him.

"But this time it's human. A quarterback." Kol wined, puppy look out trying to make Felicity see things his way.

"Let her be. Maybe if you just let it run its course. Nik, Elijah and you always chase away her suitors before she can see their flaws for herself. How can she learn from her mistakes if you all don't let her make her?" Felicity reached across the table to grasp Kol's hand. "I know you want to keep her safe but she grown woman. It's her life, her choice."

Kol had to admit even if just to himself that Felicity was right as usual. He understood how it feels when the choice is taken away from you. But this time he couldn't stand behind his baby sister's decision. If he did he would lose her forever.

"She wants to be a human again."

Felicity's eyes widened and she squeezed his hand harder. "No. That's not possible. Not for her." She said barely a whisper.

"Remember lovely Alexander? I never met him, but judging from the letters I've received our dear sister was quite infatuated with him. One of his kind came to Mystic Falls."

"The Five." Felicity muttered under her breath. She stood suddenly, anxious look in her eyes. "We need to go."

She flashed away, not leaving Kol any other choice, just to follow after her. Felicity didn't stop until their reached nondescript apartment complex in seedier part of the city. Looking around if nobody was watching them; his older sister led him to the side of the building, to unremarkable metal door. Lifting her hand to her mouth she used her fang to pierce her finger and the drop of blood pooled at the puncture mark. She spread it on the door knob and with distinct click doors opened.

"Only my bloodline can open it." She explained. "That includes you too, but if I find something broken or missing I will take one of those daggers Nik so fond of and put you to sleep. Or better yet I will tell Elijah about Pisa."

Kol only laughed at her threat but in truth he was wary. He knew of his sister's love for knowledge and how angry she can get even the most powerful vampire's weren't immune to her loud voice.

With warning out of the way Felicity led him downstairs. As she flicked the switch to turn the light on Kol saw that they were in the spacious room. Even if most of it was occupied with bookshelves housing extensive collection of spell books, artifacts and various ingredients, there were also two quite big oak desks with chairs. In the other side of the room was couch and armchair for more comfort. In the corner you could find a minifridge filled with refreshments - drinks and blood bags. Everything was done in soft warm colors, giving the room cozy feeling. There even hang one of Nik's landscape paintings. Nobody would think it was the basement if not for the absence of windows.

Rushing to the one of the bookshelves Felicity scanned the titles till she found the one she needed.

"I heard the rumors that some professor found Quetsiya's tombstone and now there's hunters from The Five lurking around? It can't be good." She gave him the book she was holding in her hands. "You need to go warn Rebekah and Niklaus."

"Why I have to go? If it's so important and you already know all this information, why don't you go?" Kol asked not even a little bit eager to go back to his birthplace.

"I can't." Blonde vampire said in voice not leaving any space for arguments. But Kol saw that she was hiding something, something connected to Mystic Falls. But he let it drop for now.

Taking the book to read through during his journey back to Virginia, Kol gave his sister one final hug and kiss to the cheek. He promised to call when all of this was dealt with.

FS*FS*FS

After sending Kol away Felicity initiated her plan to gain Oliver's trust and now she was a member of his team. While she was happy that her plan was successful she was eager to hear from her youngest brother. But it never happened. Instead one evening Elijah showed up on her doorstep. One look at his face let her know that something terrible happened. It was the same expression he was wearing then he told about Finn's demise.

For a second it seemed that the world stopped. Silence between siblings was deafening. It was broken by guilt and sorrow filled sobs coming from Felicity as she crumbled to his embrace not caring if her tears would ruin his expensive suit.