A/N Thank you all for reviewing!

"What do you think, my love?"

Elijah blinked several times as he straightened in the chair, his vision blurry for a moment before he was able to make sense of the shining in front of him. They were no longer sat in a study surrounded by witches. Instead where they were was entirely the opposite. Elijah looked left and right, shielding his eyes from the glaring sun in the sky. His eyes widened a little as he finally noticed the picturesque location he and Eliza were in.

"Eli?"

Elijah instantly stood, smoothing down his suit as Eliza came ambling toward him. He stood frozen for a moment as she came toward him, vibrant and gracefully, resembling that of a deity appearing in front of a devoted and praying follower.

"Elijah, you are staring."

The Original blinked, snapping out of his daze, opening his arms. Eliza reached out with her hands, taking his hands and happily entering his embrace.

Elijah smiled as he leaned down and lovingly pecked Eliza's temple."I can't help it. You are ethereal."

"And now i'm blushing, i'm sure."Eliza smiled against Elijah, touching his cheek tenderly before she gestured around them."What do you think?"

"I think i'm quite offended I haven't been invited before today."Elijah replied in a teasing tone as he looked around, fighting the smile that threatened to appear."I assume you and my sister gossip when you visit her. I can only imagine the childish antics you and Kol get up to."

When Eliza laughed to herself, Elijah looked down at her with raised eyebrows."Is he the reason you have improved in our chess matches?"

Eliza's showed no sign of confirming his accusation; he hadn't expected her to. Kol and Eliza had always been light-hearted around one another, similar to Kol and Rebekah. His brother would tell Eliza stories of their childhood, always making sure to divulge Elijah's losses when Kol was old enough to use a sword. The pair, along with Rebekah, were always whispering in corners and laughing.

Kol, Eliza and Rebekah were a trinity of mischief-makers. Eliza, along with Rebekah, brought out a side of Kol many thought had died long ego.

"Nonsense, Kol finds chess boring."

"That wasn't a no, Lizzie."Elijah replied with a suspicious tone, shaking his head with a long sigh."You both did the same during our fencing lessons."

"Elijah, I can hear the petulance in your voice."Eliza sing songed with a scolding tongue, wagging her finger at the Original as she fell into step beside him."I'm afraid you've been spending too much time with your brother."

"I'm sure Niklaus would be offended by that claim."The Original gave a laugh as he followed Eliza, taking in his environment once more before he added."Speaking of petulance, how is my brother? Is he still upset?"

Elijah knew that his brother had been indignant that he'd been daggered. Eliza had visited Kol many times over the century and, while she would never break Kol's confidence, he knew his brother well enough to know that he held grudges, much like Klaus.

"You know full well that Kol has needed time to overcome his grudge he holds against you. It has been a hundred years and long enough, i think."

Elijah looked down at Eliza, looking a little hopeful and curious.

Eliza smiled to herself, sensing his optimism and the female vampire looked ahead. Elijah had made sure his family would be one again, but he was also slightly nervous about seeing Kol. He and his brother had not left each other on good terms given the fact he hadn't stopped his daggering.

"Has he?"

Eliza stopped walking and patted Elijah's arm once more before she gestured ahead of them.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?"

Elijah followed her gesture and saw a large garden. There was a waterfall in the center with a table that did, in fact, have a chess set up on it. The garden was scattered with vibrant flowers, along with a giant maze that Elijah knew Kol would use in chasing his victims.

"There he is."

And, in the midst of the garden stood Kol, surrounded by bloody and slaughtered people. Of course, the blood he consumed was as real as the astral location Eliza had landscaped for the Original. It wasn't her scene, but it was Kol's. In the Chambre de Chasse he could do whatever he wished, such as slaughter if he wanted to. He wasn't trapped. She hoped the slaughtering would quell his rage toward Klaus when he was free.

"Is the slaughtering necessary?"

"This was conjured up for Kol so, yes, it is."

Elijah hummed in agreement, offering his arm and, as if she had been sensed his move, Eliza wove her arm through Elijah's. The Original led her through the garden, his free hand covering her own, thumb brushing back and forth her knuckles. The scenery was brighter than it would've been in the real world, the green of the grass and the blue of the sky were incredibly vibrant.

Excluding the bloodshed, it was beautiful.

"Besides, I hope that it could help to subside the resentment he holds towards Nicky. I suppose he'll always be angry with him, he has the right, but hatred is not what we need."Eliza carried on in a soft tone, patting Elijah's arm lovingly as she walked with him."He's not completely trapped, so this is to give him time to think and maybe find a way to only be angry with his brother, not resent him."

Elijah remained silent for a long moment as he thought of her words. Eliza had a strong case. Kol rarely had time to recover from being daggered when Klaus demanded his loyalty. His brother expected Kol's forgiveness and not for him to retaliate. Maybe if Kol had time to think, to get rid of his anger he held for Klaus, it might subside.

He might be able to live with it; it would be a long time before forgiveness would even be contemplated. Nobody expected him to forget, Elijah never forgot about his own daggerings, but maybe Kol could let go of his bitterness.

If Kol even considered building bridges, maybe their family had a greater chance of mending the fractures.

In his subconscious scenery, he had time to think.

"Perhaps you're right, my love."

Eliza tutted with a shake of her head, arching an eyebrow."Perhaps? You are hesitant in believing i'm right?

"Forgive me."A somewhat playful smile graced Elijah's face as he softly laughed, index finger tip tracing Eliza's daylight ring."I had a moment of foolishness. In six hundred years, I have yet to be proven wrong concerning your good judgment, and I am certain that day will never come."

Eliza's smile grew, and she affectionately caressed Elijah's arm, leaning against them as they walked. She laughed, head resting on his shoulder when she heard him chuckle.

"Very good."

Elijah smiled down at his love as they came up beside Kol who, after becoming aware of a new presence, tore his fangs from the woman's neck with a hungry growl. He turned his head in their direction, licking his bloody lips before they curved up into a smile.

"Having fun playing cat and mouse, are we, brother?"

Kol simply glanced at Elijah before his gaze landed on Eliza. His smile instantly grew, his dark orbs turned warm with fondness, and he gave a pleased laugh.

"El, my darling!"Kol called out fondly, dropping the woman he had been feeding on with a careless hurl, looking to his brother just in time to roll his eyes at Elijah's head shake."Elijah. You're judging. What a surprise."

"You're rolling your eyes. What a surprise."Elijah's frown turned into a small, fond smile as Kol gleefully grinned."I suppose I would rather miss telling you off if you were to change. How are you?"

"Still daggered. I would return the question but, as expected, Eliza is still on your arm, so I know you're content."

Kol warmly smiled at Eliza, catching Elijah's handkerchief when he offered it, stepping over the body as he began to make his way over to them.

"These sceneries grow more impressive. The people, the music, the blood. I can almost feel and taste everything, but I know it is not real."Kol mumbled as he wiped the blood from his chin, giving an almost proud nod when he looked to Eliza."The witches you use must be improving if they are achieving this for myself, Rebekah and Finn."

"Yes, well, they are your followers, and Lizzie doesn't settle for anything less than perfect for family."Elijah said, glancing over at the bodies that were slowly beginning to revive just to be killed by Kol at a later time."It seems like you are having fun."

"I grow bored of slaughtering the same ones."Kol stated, glancing over his shoulder, sighing at his victims who were now going to hide and, once again, he'd have to find them."But the new landscapes you conjure up are new. I do get surprised when I find a treat you've hidden. It keeps me on my toes."

"That is what I hope."

The Original's mouth curved up as he got closer and he opened his arms."Now come here, my sister."

Elijah gave a soft smile, reaching out as Eliza took a step forward, only letting go when Kol embraced the female vampire. His smile only broadened when his other half let out a happy smile when Kol gave a laugh and lifted her up in the air, twirling around as they hugged.

"Oh, i've missed you."The Original mumbled as he held Eliza close, letting a sincere smile grace his face as she hugged him back."Is my brother still treating you well? Do I need to give him the warning beating?"

When Eliza instantly nodded, Kol didn't seem surprised. Elijah and Eliza weren't plain sailing but, like Klaus had always said, the couple were the epitome of devotion. In all honesty, Elijah and Eliza's relationship was the most stable one Kol had encountered.

They communicated, something he'd never seen his mother and father doing. In all his life, in the midst of family drama or the wily path he led his life on he could always look to the pair and know that there was some stability in eternity.

And, while he'd never say it, Kol knew without question that Eliza and Elijah were eternity.

"How are you feeling?"

Kol shrugged as he led the pair over to a table where a chess set was placed as well as a stack of books. Kol hummed in response, pondering the question as he sat down.

"With this?"Kol pulled back his jacket to reveal the familiar wound on his chest where the dagger went in."I'm grateful I don't have to see the bloody thing, but it is annoying. Speaking of annoying how is my dearest but complete bastard of a brother?"

"The full moon is a few days away which means the doppelgänger is the last ingredient we must collect."Eliza replied as she sat across from Kol, hand instantly seeking out Elijah's which she, without question, found on her shoulder."We have her in grasp but, as she and her friends have made clear, they are not letting her go quietly."

Kol noticed Elijah's fingers interlocking with Eliza's as he calmly said."I believe the word you are looking for, Lizzie, is that she is proven to be quite a handful."

Eliza's mouth curved up into a smile and she gave a laugh that made both Mikaelson's smile. Elijah's humor was delivered with his usual calm tone but a hint of jest that Eliza could instantly pinpoint. The female vampire gave a vibrant smile, shoulders shaking as she squeezed Elijah's hand.

"I thought you didn't like making light of situations, Eli?"

The Original hummed in agreement."Yes, well, when I have to restrain myself, I tend to get a bit out of sorts. Forgive me."

Kol watched them with a puzzled look."What happened?"

"Before the doppelganger's sycophants drove a stake through my heart and left Eliza to fend for herself, they had the audacity to use her against me and then abuse her. When they assumed I had perished, they thought death too good for her and abandoned her."

Kol said nothing as he listened to his brother.

His gaze was focused on Eliza as the story was told but he gave no expression. There was no anger, no inappropriate humor, and no bitterness. There was utterly nothing in his eyes or expression. This was the worst of Kol, despite his wild and debauched actions. When Kol gave this look, it meant that he went to a place where there were no feelings.

It was a sight nobody wanted to see and, when they did witness this side of Kol, it was enough to make their blood run cold.

Eliza could feel it; it was a cold shiver running down her spine.

"But, on the bright side, Nicky sent the doppelgänger her aunt's severed hands in a box."Eliza whispered, free hand reaching out for Kol's, offering him a fond smile."I am not one for such bloodshed but he was very loving when he gave the order, and i'm sure that they received the message loud and clear."

"Kol?"

Elijah studied his brother before speaking again, tone firm."Brother, we are here for a short time. I'm sure you want to spend the rest of it usefully."

Kol blinked a moment later, a mix of emotions on his face before he smirked. The Original cleared his throat as he straightened, rolling back his shoulders as he looked down with a smile, patting Eliza's hand.

"Of course, of course!"

Eliza smiled again after she was sure Kol was at least composed."Are you at least entertained until you wake up?"

"I hate being daggered but, my darling, I am eternally thankful that you keep managing to draw my mind here."Kol drawled as he looked around, feeling somewhat tranquil before he gave a long sigh."Being daggered is a black hole of nothing. I don't know if I know i'm there. You know?"

Elijah's expression softened, and he instantly nodded, tone breathy."I know, brother, just as i am aware Rebekah and Finn are going through the same thing."

"Yes, well, not that I don't appreciate this lovely setting you crafted for me, darling, but is my freedom from this prison nearly upon us?"

Elijah heard the serious hint to his tone and pulled up a chair, sitting in between Kol and Elijah.

"That is why i'm joining you both today."Elijah replied, getting comfortable, hands meeting in front of him, Eliza's comfortably trapped between them."As Eliza informed you, Niklaus is breaking his curse in a few days which means that he, as well as Eliza and i, will no longer be on a mission for the doppelgänger."

Kol gave a half interested nod as he listened. He remembered the missions through the centuries he and his siblings had been on and his brother growing more impatient when nothing turned up. Even spending centuries in New Orleans hadn't tamed Klaus' need to break his curse.

Klaus would lock himself away, hunched over maps and surrounded by witches, searching for any way that a doppelgänger could've been born. He sensed that the revelation that the bloodline had continued would've perked everyone up.

"That means that the family is in one place and I hope that we remain here for the foreseeable future."Elijah carried on, observing Kol intently before he tapped the table with his fingers, it clear what he was going to say next was important."If that is to happen, if we are to be a family, we do not want any ill feeling between you and Niklaus."

Kol looked to Eliza who, sensing his gaze on her, gave a firm nod. The youngest Mikaelson brother felt a warm feeling in his chest as he studied her. Eliza, like the rest of the family, even Kol, was content when they were all together. She, along with Elijah, worked hard to keep them all intact.

But, if the time came that one of the siblings were daggered, Eliza would make it her mission to make the best of it. That was when she started to create their own world using Chambre de Chasse whether Kol or Rebekah was daggered. She had even included Finn, a Mikaelson she'd never met, just so that if the time came, it would make it easier for him to reconnect with his siblings.

"Are you meaning to ask me if i'm plotting my revenge against Nik, therefore, declaring war for the next century?"Kol outright asked with raised eyebrows, gaze flickering between the couple who remained silent before he laughed."I could. I could knock him out and get him neutered."

"Brother, I advise you curb your inappropriate remarks."

He looked up at Elijah when the elder Original cleared his throat, shaking his head. Kol looked to Eliza before holding up his hands in surrender at Elijah, shaking his head.

Kol gave a curt nod, clearing his throat before he reached over and patted Elijah's hand."I apologize, El, that is no way to talk in front of a lady."

When she simply nodded, not bothered by his crude words as much as Elijah had been, Kol carried on.

"My point is i'm not looking for a war. I simply want to get out of my bloody coffin, get into it with Nik, possibly win the fight and move on."

"Fight?"

Kol's smirk faded from his face when he heard the worry in Eliza's voice. He waved off Elijah who sent him another disapproving look and leaned over the table, petting her other hand.

"Darling, Nik and myself are not him and Elijah or him and Rebekah. We don't bicker, we have wars, and we get through them. Our problems stem from when he 'accidentally' stood on my hand when we were children and broke two of my fingers. I retaliated by waiting a few years and bed his first girlfriend. We fought it out, I broke two of his fingers, and he got me good in the eye."

When the couple gave him both puzzled yet amused looks, Kol sighed with a roll of his eyes and gave a laugh. The youngest male Original leaned back in his chair, pondering for a moment before he carried on. His and Klaus' relationship hadn't been stable by any means and never would be, but the bastard was his brother, and Kol actually did care about Klaus.

Klaus was an utter bastard, but he was his brother.

"What I mean is that a hundred years ago he upset me and I planned to create a dagger just for him. We had a fight, I said some things, he threw a tantrum, and here I am."Kol held out his arms, looking around the landscape before he patted the table."Nik and I work through our issues by fighting. We don't talk; we never have and, if you think about it, we've gotten along all right."

Eliza's mouth curved up when she heard the sincerity in Kol's voice as she read in between the lines. The tone he used didn't matter; it was what was hidden in between those words that mattered. She'd been around Kol long enough to know that, she also knew that Kol cared more for his family that he would admit, that was evident in his behavior.

Eliza leaned forward, reaching for Kol's hands again as Elijah studied his brother.

The elder Original nodded, a glimmer of hope in his eyes when his brother gave a half smile.

"Does that mean that Eliza and I can trust that you will remain with our family?"

Kol gave a shrug, the half smile growing into a full one as he thought of his sister, giving a short nod when Elijah continued to stare at him.

"You can trust that Rebekah and I will almost tear apart our new home when we battle for the biggest room. You can trust that I will, once again, grace your lives with my presence. I plan on making Nik utterly envious with my roguish smile because you know that he daggers me because he covets my jawline."

Elijah shook his head once again, letting out a rare laugh, it obvious he had truly missed his brother. Kol looked at Elijah with raised eyebrows, feigning shock at his laughter. Kol made a show of rolling his eyes, sighing in annoyance as he thought of the vow that had both haunted him and remained his only tether to keeping a sound mind.

"Always and bloody forever, yes?"Kol smiled almost fondly at Elijah when his brother gave him a smile, reaching over and patting Kol on the shoulder."That is the vow that still haunts me."

Eliza smiled lovingly at the brothers, one of her hands taking Elijah's who brought her hand to his mouth.

"Always and forever. Yes?"

Nodding, the younger Original smiled small at his sister in law. She and Elijah weren't married, but they were as good as. After six hundred years of her standing with them, of her and Elijah being utterly devoted to each-other, Eliza was considered their family.

She was his sister.

Kol hummed, leaning back in his chair, his famous wily smirk gracing his handsome face as he gave them an expectant look.

"Now, tell me, what is the plan?"

Thank you for reading!

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