I feel terrible about not previously including an author's note. I had just wanted to get my bearings with this story and planned on addressing some things directly. However, I woke up to my very first review today, which made me smile like wow. D, the only thing I know to call you, I would like to thank you personally. I would also like to thank anonymous (in my mind you are Daniel Gillies unwilling to admit his love for me) and DTaylor201989. You are beautiful people.

(1) This story will eventually become Elijah-centric as the description promises. I just want to build the story properly first. Every single character should have an important role in the story because I am setting it in universe. (2) Charlotte is my own creation. She has the name originally supposed to belong to the original Petrova. As you have probably already guessed, I have a good reason for this. (3) I have not a clue about how long this will end up being. If I stick with it, I have a feeling it will be quite long. (4) I will update as frequently as possible. Right now, it seems like I can do maybe a chapter a night, which I hope is okay with you. (5) This is rated M because I want to be open to the possibility. There will probably be some smut, but we will have to work up to that. No one seems ready to get down and dirty yet, do they? (Unless you, along with Caroline, think Rebekah and Charlotte have some less than platonic feelings for each other.) I have decided to forgo swearing for a couple reasons. I personally have no problem with it. However, it isn't really a factor on the show (CW, yo), but that doesn't restrict them from being brutally honest. I just feel weird making Elijah say "fuck." Is that wrong of me? (6) Review please. I know it takes an extra second, but that effort helps to let me know how I am doing and what you think so far. I am totally open to suggestion and love to hear anything: good or bad!

Love,

Lisolotte

(Sorry it is so long!)

"Get out," was all Charlotte said to him.

"Charlotte, don't be unreasonable," Elijah said crisply.

Color filled Charlotte's face. She opened her mouth to yell at him, but changed her mind when she looked at the company in the room. Engaging with Elijah would lead to some topics that she certainly didn't want aired in front of this group. So, she bit her tongue. As she calmed, the group visibly relaxed. Except for Elena.

"What does that mean? That your last name is Mikaelson, but was Petrova?" She asked. "That could mean a whole lot. Why would your last name mean that you want to keep me alive? Could one of you explain?"

The Originals looked apprehensively from one to the other while Charlotte started straight at Elijah. "That is a story for another time. And certainly other circumstances. The important thing is that I start finding the items on the shopping list that Klaus brought. If you don't mind, I need a little privacy. I will let you know when I find something. I assume you are still based out of Mystic Falls."

"As much as I would like to give you what you want, I am afraid that is not possible," Elijah responded rapidly. "I already intercepted a group of miscreants on their way to murder Klaus. We need to close ranks and keep as many guards around him. You, Charlotte, are one of the oldest vampires we know. You are simply too valuable to leave here in Chicago until you find what we need. I am afraid we are all going to have to stick together."

Charlotte opened her mouth to respond, but Jeremy fell to the floor holding his head and moaning. Charlotte was the first to reach him. "You can see them, too, can't you?" Charlotte asked him.

"Ghosts?" Elena whispered.

Charlotte nodded. "I guess there is no point in keeping this secret. I am warning you though: there will be dire consequences should you let this get out. I have kept this a well-guarded secret for more than 1000 years. It better stay that way."

"You're 1000 years old?" Damon exclaimed.

A wry smile crept onto her face. "I don't look a day over 17, do I?" Her attention returned to Jeremy. "I'm sorry. If I had known you were coming, I would have sent them away. Ignoring them causes them to try and get my attention. That's what you're hearing. I have to admit, I keep pretty close tabs on your family. You certainly weren't born with the sight."

"That would be the fault of the same witch that left me in this predicament," Klaus offered.

"He died and she brought him back. Ever since then, he can see ghosts. But only when he is thinking of the person," Elena said meekly.

"Ah," Charlotte said while rubbing circles on Jeremy's back. "That explains it." She stood up and with a serious face looked around the room. "Keep quiet or I might just ignore you for 10 years. Does that suit you?" She asked to the air around everyone.

Suddenly, all Jeremy heard was silence. He looked gratefully at Charlotte. "Thank you so much. I am sorry that I caused such a scene, but it just was impossible to hear anything else."

Charlotte smiled warmly at the boy. "No need to apologize to me. I guess I should explain myself. In the very least as some sort of apology to you."

"How can you see ghosts?" Caroline asked. "I thought that people lost their powers when they became vampires." After a beat she added, "Ma'am."

Charlotte laughed heartily. "No need for ma'ams. Witches lose their powers when they die. I am not sure what would happen to Mr. Gilbert here. I am not a witch nor was I ever one. Witches lose their powers because they are linked to nature and vampires are unnatural. My powers are not in any way linked to nature. I am not sure exactly where they come from, but for simplicity's sake let's say they are a function of my brain. As a human, I could speak with the dead. Sometimes I could even make them appear substantial to other's eyes. The only downside is that doing so put a drain on my own strength. It was useful, but also meant that any ghost with an agenda could badger me. Unlike Jeremy, I don't have to be thinking of them to see them. I am constantly surrounded by the dead. Sometimes it is someone I knew while they were alive. More often, it is a stranger. I usually will help them find peace rather than walk the earth forever watching the living. I am not a saint though. I will sometimes ignore them."

"So, you're like the ghost whisperer?" Caroline asked.

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "No, not even close. Do I look like Jennifer Love Hewitt?"

"Got the curves down," Damon replied.

Charlotte gagged. "As I was getting at, my powers didn't disappear when I was turned. In fact, they became stronger. I found myself able to summon spirits. And with a stronger body, I was able to use my powers for longer. As I've aged, so have my powers. So that buzzing you heard was all the lost souls lingering here trying to garner my attention. I had been ignoring them though because news of your impending arrival had put me in a mood. That is why I can help you. Being able to talk to spirits gives me a wide net of information. They can see everything and never be detected. Unfortunately, they are still people, or what's left of them. That means they might resist me, lie or ask for something in return. It isn't like looking up something on the computer. And it isn't my life's mission to settle the lives of all the ghosts walking the Earth. Some of them can do that on their own."

"So, basically, you have to go from ghost to ghost until someone has the right answer?" Caroline asked skeptically.

"You can summon anyone?" Elena asked hopefully.

"What do you mean by making them substantial?" Stefan added.

"Shut up and let her breath," Rebekah barked. "All of us just show up here disrupting her life and giving her a list of things we need from her. You are lucky she hasn't kicked us out yet."

"Maybe a demonstration is in order?" Klaus offered.

Charlotte gave him a dark look. "Enough out of you for a bit." Then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly, the air took a charged quality and they all became silent with expectation. Then she appeared. Standing in between Rebekah and Charlotte was Gloria. Stefan and Klaus recognized her immediately. They weren't the ones who needed showing though.

"I saw you die," Stefan stated matter of factly.

"Yes, you did, but that doesn't stop Charlotte, does it?" Gloria offered. The entire room was in awe of the moment.

"Try and shake her hand, Damon," Charlotte said softly.

"Why me?" he responded immediately.

"You're the most skeptical."

Damon walked up to Gloria slowly. She offered her hand and he was amazed to find it solid. "So not only can you make Casper appear in front of me, but you can make her solid."

"With some effort," Charlotte said with a wry smile. "Gloria, if you don't mind, we are in desperate need of a witch and a certain spell. Which I am certain you already knew."

Gloria looked affronted. "All that dealing with the Mikaelsons has ever gotten me is pain and death. Why would I be willing to help?"

"Because I can make sure she knows that you truly loved her. Do we have a deal?"