Summary: In another life, Rebekah Mikaelson gets everything she ever wanted. She takes the cure and becomes human, falls in love, gets married, has children, and grows old. All the while, her family watches over her to ensure her happiness. And when she lays on her deathbed, they gather at her bedside to send her off to the fields of Fólkvangr. Rebekah-centric featuring the Mikaelsons.

A/N: Non-graphic implied/imminent character death.

To the Fields of Fólkvangr

All Rebekah Mikaelson ever wanted was to be human.

She can't deny the perks of vampirism, of being one of the Original vampires, of being a Mikaelson. Of being royalty amongst the supernatural world.

But it's also so incredibly lonely, being surrounded by men (her brothers, but still) all the time. Being unable to connect with people without suspecting them of ulterior motives (because there almost always are). (Until Freya shows up, and although it's nice to finally not be the only female in the family, it's still not the same because Rebekah doesn't have the same connection to her older sister as she does to her brothers.)

All Rebekah ever wanted was to fall in love, to have a family, to live her life to the fullest within the constraints of time.


Henrik. Poor sweet Henrik, who didn't live long enough to transition.

Finn, killed due to carelessness. And even though she hadn't necessarily liked him, he had still been her oldest brother.

And now there are five of them left.

Kol. Niklaus. Elijah. Freya. And Rebekah.

They have been together for a thousand years, perhaps not always together, but they have lived a thousand years. Rebekah thinks, sometimes bitterly, that a thousand years is too long.


Elijah hands her the vial containing the cure, and simply says, "Be free, sister, and be happy with the life you choose."

Nik stands beside him, Kol and Freya a couple steps behind them. Their expressions are conflicted, but they hold their tongues, allowing for her to decide for herself.

Rebekah is no fool.

She knows that her family will never stop watching over her, intervening if they see fit, as long as it ensures her happiness.

So Rebekah takes the cure and steps out into the world for herself. And for the very first time, her family does not follow.


Rebekah becomes human and falls in love.

She marvels over the intricacy of relationships, of the good and bad in humanity, and of the struggles mankind faces on a daily basis. (When she was a vampire, she never had to worry about the consequences as compulsion could easily resolve the majority of her problems. And where compulsion didn't work, there was the knowledge that she and her siblings were the oldest, baddest, and strongest monsters around. And when all else failed, Nik was a menace in his own right.) Although she strongly suspects that her siblings have a hand in easing her transition and ensuring her comfort wherever she goes, she still faces problems head-on. Learning to communicate with others, struggling with consequences of actions or inactions, and navigating the complexity of human relationships.

Rebekah gets married.

She marvels over how humans pledge eternity for one another although they live for the smallest fraction of the thousand years that she and her siblings had lived. (Time that she will no longer live, and her siblings will continue to live as the world continues to change and grow. The remaining members of her immortal family will be ancient relics in this ever-changing world, destined to outlive everyone and everything else.) Her hand trembles when she recites her vows to her husband, tears forming in the corners of her eyes, her heart so full of emotion she could burst. Yes, she has loved deeply and greatly, but she has never thought that she could love like this.

Rebekah has children.

She marvels over the way her body swells with life, the way her skin stretches. Her babies are so delicate, so fragile, so prone to danger. (Her siblings visit her in absolute secrecy, and only when her husband is away on extended business trips. Freya blesses them with spells and wards against danger, Kol eagerly plays with them with amused expressions on his face, and Elijah and Nik stand off to the side, stiff and awkward, but dutifully entertain their nieces and nephews when they demand either of their attention. The visits stop when her oldest turns 4 years old, and her husband is none the wiser when their children speak fondly of Aunt Freya, or Uncles Kol or Elijah or Nik. Rebekah has always been a great storyteller, and she has numerous stories about her family to share.)

Rebekah grows old.

She marvels over how wrinkles eventually form, about how majestic age can look. (Her siblings, forever frozen in time, can't fathom this. To their credit, they never say a word, although she can tell from the slightest shift of expression on their faces.) Her body, once so supple and eternally youthful, is now weary. She is slower than she used to be, her hair graying, and her memory isn't what it once was. Her voice has also changed, not quite deeper but a little more frail. But what Rebekah loves most about her age is that she has carried her family legacy on, and although she has taken her husband's last name, her children will always be Mikaelsons at heart, bound by her family's promise of always and forever.


When Rebekah lays on her deathbed, her family gathers at her bedside to send her off to the fields of Fólkvangr.

Her husband has passed, her children are grown with families of her own, and her grandchildren are growing. And even if they have never met her siblings, they know their ancestors by the stories Rebekah has shared.

Long after her descendants have left, her sister and brothers silently come into the room. Her eyes fill with tears as she sees them, and she smiles as she whispers, reaching out to squeeze their hands one by one, "Thank you for this precious gift. Thank you for letting me go. I'll always be with each of you, always and forever."

And there are tears all around as they whisper in turn, "Always and forever."

As Rebekah closes her eyes for the last time, all she feels is peace.

It's all she ever wanted.


FIN.

A/N: In Norse mythology, Fólkvangr is a field or meadow that is overseen by Freyja, where half of those who die in combat go upon death; the other half go to Valhalla, which is overseen by Odin. I thought that Fólkvangr would be more appropriate for Rebekah, even if Valhalla is more well-known.