A/N In time for the new semester, I managed to finish the next chapter. Plus, it's rather long ;) I hope you enjoy it

Katerina almost danced along the streets in her expensive boots. She hadn't wanted to take a cab, simply because she wanted to feel the wind and sun on her skin. It was a warm afternoon slowly fading into an evening and Katerina had never felt more alive. Well, the sex with an unbelievable gorgeous and more than able original surely played its part in her mood. She knew that the witches lived for the most part in the French Quarter, but right now she didn't want to see any witches. She did plan on stopping by during the next days, but for now there was someone more important to see.

The address Elijah had given her on a costly looking slip of paper lead her to some warehouses on the other side of the city. It was a quiet area, not meant for residential buildings but seemingly deserted. Except for some guy guarding on of the doors. Katerina rolled her eyes at that. Was there a way to be any more obvious? She stepped confidently around the corner so the guy couldn't possibly miss her and strutted towards him. Katerina wasn't disappointed.

"Who are you? You can't be here, go home", the guy called and blocked the door with his body. He seemed to have been in his early twenties when he had been turned; the puppy look hadn't left his eyes yet. The dark hair was tousled, if by wind or styling she couldn't decide.

"Tell Marcel there's an old friend to meet him. And be quick about it, my feet are killing me." Katerina crossed her arms in front of her chest and shifted her weight to her right. Maybe walking hadn't been the best idea after all.

"Marcel's busy. He told me not to let anyone in and-"

"Gosh, you wanna kidding me? Just go in there already or let me pass. That's not Fort Knox." By now Katerina really was annoyed. Did Marcel even look at the people he was turning? If all of those were such boys, he had not the slightest chance to overthrow Klaus.

Just as the boy opened his mouth to reply, Marcel's head appeared behind one of the upper windows. "What's going on out there? Kat? Thought I heard your voice. What are you doing here?"

"Visiting you. Am I allowed come in or do I have to deal with your bellboy here first?" Katerina winked at him and ignored the sulking guy.

"Josh, let her in already! And also Davina, if she shows up. Even if this Kaleb guy is with her. I need to talk to her." His head vanished again, but Katerina already looked at Josh.

"Sorry, but half an hour ago he said-"

"Don't worry, Joshy. Keep your pecker up, life could be worse. Trust me." Katerina passed through the door Josh held open for her and started to climb the steps. Someone with enough taste had turned the warehouse into a living space, that could or could not resemble some modern college dorm.

Marcel already awaited her at the stairhead to pull her into a brotherly embrace. "Good to see you, Kat. Glad, those rumours I heard were just that." Then he held her away at arm's length and examined her more closely. "You look different and that's not only your new style. Something you wanna talk about?"

"What kind of rumours made it to New Orleans? Some of them could be true." Katerina wrested herself from Marcel's touch and walked over to the settee in front of the window looking over the city. "Nice place. Where are your vampires?"

Marcel poured two drinks and took a seat beside her. "Out. Snacking on some tourists or watching the enemy. Here you are." He handed her one of the glasses and laid his arm on the back rest. "There was talk about you being dead. Something about a cure the Mikaelsons also wanted to have. A cure for vampirism. Did you really take it? You seemed so confident as a vampire back then but your heart sounds different."

"Someone forced it on me. But I survived, as I always do." Katerina turned the glass in her hands before she looked at Marcel again. "Back then, when we first met and you said that I looked like your sister after they had taken away her child… Do you remember?"

"Yeah, I do. You told me, if I didn't shut up, you would find a witch to set my dick on fire. So why are you telling me this? The Katherine Pierce I know would never admit that someone was right about her history."

"Because you were right. I had a daughter but she was taken away from me. She found me. Last summer, after so much time, can you imagine? Sometimes Nadia resembles me so much, I'm honestly scared. And then again I see her father in her. She got herself turned so she could find me." Katerina shook her head and smiled to herself. "She's looking for a place to stay, so we can get to know each other a little better."

"You're kidding, right? That's great. I'm really happy for you. If she wants some company, just send her over. And don't worry, I'll keep her identity private." Then Marcel's look got harder. "I would offer you a place to stay, too, but you have already found a bed to sleep in."

Katerina looked at him annoyed. "Oh, how can you possibly know? I'm in this town for what? Four hours?"

"Three and a half, if my guys aren't mistaken. The Mikaelsons, really? After all those centuries you ran from Klaus? What happened? You fucked his brother and he welcomes you in the family?"

"Oh no, you won't judge me!" Katerina stood up abruptly and put her glass down. "You have no idea, alright? I've been through enough shit to earn some sort of happiness. And when Elijah decides to stay here with his stupid brother instead of going to Europe, then I have to make sure that I don't bring my daughter into a city where two guys comparing dicks are raging wars. You were my friend when I first came here and I still consider you my friend. I don't want you to die because of Klaus. He already ruined enough lives."

Marcel stayed silent after Katerina's speech and only turned his glass in his hands. Then, finally: "What makes you think I couldn't stand against this bastard?"

"Well, there are no white oak stakes, for a start. Klaus presumably has all the daggers and as far as I know, there are no other vampires old enough to be able to fight him." Katerina took a sip of her drink, crossed her arms and sighed. "Look, I know you're proud, but I don't tell you to rum from Klaus or lick his ass; I'm just telling you to make some kind of peace. What about all of your vampires? Shall they die, too?"

"Have a little faith, Kat", Marcel just replied with a boyish smile. "Look, I would love to share the backup plans I have, but since you're fucking the noble brother, I cannot trust you to not spill the beans. After all you were the one to teach me to trust no one." He stood up and walked over to Katerina. "But I promise you to have an eye on your daughter, if that's what you want me to do. Nadia, is it? And you're always welcome, as long as you don't try to spy for Klaus."

"Yeah, as if there wasn't anything better to do for me", Katerina scoffed. A worried frown showed on her forehead. "Just promise to not get yourself killed, you hear me?"

"I'll do my best. But let's talk about something else, shall we?" Marcel laid a hand at the small of her back and guided her gently to the settee. "So you're human… Why haven't you asked Elijah to turn you again?"

"When the cure was still running in my veins, it rejected vampire blood; I couldn't even heal a single cut with it", Katerina told quietly, as if not to summon those ghosts. "Even if the cure seems to have left my body, I don't trust it. What if I stay dead because my body still rejects vampire blood? I cannot risk it, not now. So I'll stay human until I'll find a saver way."

"You'll need a witch. And a powerful one with that. I'll keep my eyes open", Marcel promised, taking another sip.

"Don't open them too wide, your eyes could fall out."

Both Katerina and Marcel turned their heads. A tall young man with curly brown hair and blue eyes stood at the door, a darker brunette girl right beside him. A smirk played on the man's lips as he strode towards the settee. "You know, sometimes you don't have to look too far to find a witch. He or she could just stand in front of you."

"Is it even politically correct to call a male a witch? Or is it rather warlock?", Katerina replied, eyeing him carefully. "And sometimes the first witch you see is not the one you need right now."

"True enough", the boy laughed and bowed mockingly. "Kaleb, at your service. Or not."

"Davina!" Marcel walked towards the girl and laid an arm around her shoulders. "Glad you're here. Kat, that's Davina, a good friend of mine. Davina, Katherine Pierce. Old friend of mine, known to most of the supernatural world. And now the two of you need to enjoy yourselves alone, Davina and I have to talk."

"Don't worry, Marcel, I need to go anyway. Prepare for the night, if you know what I mean." Katerina winked at the vampire and got up. "I'll see you later, maybe I'll bring my friend Nadia along."

"Kaleb can hear what we have to talk about, Marcel", Davina said in that annoyed voice distinct to teenagers Katerina hated so much. "He's my friend and knows about things I haven't even heard of."

"Na, don't worry, Davina. I'm fine. I can walk Katherine home, who knows who's out there now. We don't want something to happen to her", Kaleb suggested with a glimmer in his eyes Katerina didn't miss. "We'll see each other tomorrow at school, okay?"

Katerina and Marcel exchanged a glance until Katerina shrugged and followed Kaleb out again. Poor Josh still stood guard and looked at the two of them with wary eyes as they left the ground. "So, you're new in town? Or just visiting?" Kaleb asked unbiased and put his hands in his pockets.

"Been here before, now just returning", Katerina answered, shrugging nonchalantly. "What business do you have with the vampires?"

"Let's say, they… fascinate me." Kaleb smirked again. "I study all kinds of magic and vampires are some sort of it. At least as far as I've heard. It's interesting that one single spell so long ago can create a population so big."

"What do you know about the original witch? Or the spell she created?" Elijah had told her the story of his transition long ago; not that Katerina hadn't found out most of it by herself.

Kaleb shrugged. "I know she's dead. And I guess she'd been quite a powerful witch. Too bad her spell is lost. But otherwise the spell is worth nothing if you don't have a witch who can perform it."

"Let me guess: you're quite a powerful guy yourself, right?"

"I've learned a thing or two. I bet you could be quite powerful yourself if you would start practicing."

For the blink of an eye Katerina stopped short, but then her face was blank again. Aside from Nadia and herself, only few knew of her heritage; even fewer were still alive. How could this boy she never met before know of her being a Traveler witch? "I have no idea, what you're talking about. What should I practice? Yoga's really not my sort of sport and I don't know if my boyfriend would appreciate me doing Pole Dance."

"I'm rather talking about your witchy side. And I would think it a pity if you would skip Pole, but that's just my two cents." Kaleb winked at her. "No, but honestly. Are you practicing? I heard Travelers are more supporters of curses than of keeping nature's balance. On the other side, it's no surprise at all, right? What other kind of magic could they possibly use, if they are banned from the usual kind? It's a pity their subculture has grown so small. I guess they can use every practicing witch out there."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm just a former vampire, nothing special. We cannot all be witches and warlocks." Katerina gave him her best smirk. "So, you and this Davina girl… what's going on there? You're old enough to do more than holding hands, but Marcel doesn't seem to like you that much."

"We're just friends. But I hadn't thought you the humble type of person, Katherine. Nothing special, huh? Being the doppelgänger who managed to run from the original hybrid for five hundred years is nothing special? Please. And I know about you being a Traveler. Don't worry, I won't tell Davina or the other witches. I know, witches and Travelers are not exactly on good terms and it would be a pity if the older Mikaelson would lose his girl." Kaleb's smile seemed to be meant sympathetic, but Katerina again noticed the glimmer in his eyes.

"You know the Mikaelsons? I didn't know Elijah and Klaus were mingling with students."

"Who doesn't know the Mikaelsons in this city, right?" Kaleb chuckled to himself and stopped in front of the gate of a great mansion. "You will forgive me if I don't bring you to the front door. Maybe I'll see you around." He waved at her and turned around.

Katerina looked after him with a frown. She couldn't remember telling him where she lived. With slow steps she made her way to the mansion where she pushed the door open and headed for the kitchen. As she hadn't eaten after waking up, her stomach grumbled now. Katerina opened the fridge, but aside from blood bags there wasn't much to eat in there. "Great", she muttered, slamming the door shut again.

"It's not a hotel. If you want to eat something, you can buy it yourself." When Katerina turned around, she was faced with Rebekah. The vampire glared at her, arms crossed over her chest and the blonde hair braided on one side. Fantastic. Katerina sighed. "My brothers already told me that you would be here. For how long are you staying? I'm sure the Salvatore's already miss your bitchy attitude."

"Look, Rebekah", Katerina started impatiently, "I know the two of us had a bad start, but we're grown-ups. Elijah won't kick me out and you and I know that it would only hurt him if we don't get along. I don't want to borrow your clothes or talk boys with you, but I'm tired of fighting you, too."

"I really don't know why he fancies you. Must have something to do with your looks; you're the spitting image of Tatia. He loved her, you know? It took him a long time to get over her death and I think you're just some sort of consolation, but nothing more. He even left you for Nik, so how much can you really mean to him?"

Before Katerina could get her hands on a sharp knife and throw it into Rebekah's smirking visage, Elijah entered the kitchen and put his body between the two women, thus ended the fight before it could flare up. "Rebekah, I already told you I don't want you to insult Katerina. I have learned from my past mistakes and I will not commit them again. If Katerina cannot bear it to live here any longer due to your behaviour, we will look for another place. Together. I don't threaten you, sister, this is a mere warning. Take it to your heart. If Niklaus is able to leave the past behind, then you should try it, too." He then turned to Katerina, a smile playing in his eyes. He gently took her hand and brought it to his lips to plant a kiss upon it. "Since I thought you were hungry, I brought dinner. Would you like to join me upstairs?"

"Gladly." Katerina squeezed his hand and let him lead her to their rooms. While they left the kitchen, Katerina could still feel Rebekah's glares piercing her back. A plate was already set up on the coffee table, steam rising from a filet mignon and a bowl full with vegetables, almost hiding a chocolate soufflé. "Thank you", she smiled and gave Elijah a chaste kiss before taking a seat in front of the food. "It looks good."

Elijah joined her at the table and poured two glasses of red wine. "You're more than welcome. Did you enjoy your afternoon? I hope, Marcel did recognize you. He can be somewhat itchy about strangers."

"Marcel wasn't the problem. Well, he did fear I could spy for Klaus, but we all know how possible that would be." Katerina rolled her eyes and cut a little piece off of the filet. "Some Davina-girl visited him, obviously a witch. I don't know how powerful, she's just a teenager, but Bonnie Bennett isn't that old either. Oh and there was this Kaleb guy. He was creepy. Told me something about me being a Traveler witch and asked me if I was practicing."

"Kaleb?" Elijah frowned. "I do not think I remember this name. And he was with Davina?"

"Seemed to be a friend of hers." Katerina shrugged and tried the mashed potatoes. "You know this Davina?"

"I repaired her violin and lend her some pages of my mother's grimoire. Nothing difficult or dangerous, little things so she could practice." Elijah took a sip of his wine and swirled it softly in the glass. "I have not met her for some time, I fear. She is good friends with Marcel and I would understand if she'd chose his side in this war to come."

Katerina looked at him in disbelief. "You gave some witch spells out of the original witch's cookbook? You're kidding me, right? Don't you wonder how your mother has returned from the dead?"

"Davina never received a spell like that from me. I keep the grimoire in this room. Niklaus has no use for it and I did not think it a good idea to give it to Rebekah." Elijah again shrugged his shoulders and smiled as in embarrassment. "It reminds me of Kol. He was the one to suffer most after our transition. He loved having those abilities and he always had a special bond to witches. Having the grimoire reminds me of him."

"I'm sorry though I didn't have any to do with his death." Katerina gently squeezed his hand. "How did you even learn your mother was back in business? I'm sure she didn't drop in to say hello, did she?"

"The werewolves started not to turn at full moon and at the same time Niklaus was weakened. We then learned that it was due to moonlight rings the wolves did not turn. They worked just like our daylight rings and since our mother created this spell, we supposed it was her who helped the wolves. Hayley managed to bring some of them to our side, although it was difficult since they got used to not turning. The others we killed, but one told us the name of the witch who created the rings. Not voluntarily, I should mention. We visited Cassy and at first she seemed like a young woman but her eyes… Her eyes were too old. This look was so much like the one our mother used to give us that she couldn't possibly been mistaken", Elijah told. "When we attacked her, she simply jumped into another body. I did not want to scare you today but you should be careful. If this Kaleb seems to be somewhat off, maybe he is one of her minions doing her dirty work. Mother seldom went through her plans alone."

"Well, you don't seem to be afraid that she could be me right now", Katerina remarked. "Either you are too trustworthy or you think she doesn't know I'm here."

Elijah shook his head and looked deep into her eyes. "I could never mistake my mother for you. Never. I don't think she'd missed your arrival, but if she should ever jump into your body, I would do everything to get her out again and let her pay for it."

"Don't worry, my body's save. Traveler, you remember? We cannot be possessed except we allow it. Nadia wanted me to jump into her body so I could live on, but I couldn't do it." Katerina shrugged and dedicated her attention again to her food. It felt good having finally something in her belly. "If your mother's back, wouldn't that means Finn's also returned? Last time he was her favourite if I'm not mistaken."

"Niklaus and I already came to the same conclusion, but we have no idea whose body he could live in right now." Elijah sighed and run his fingers through his dark hair. "Under these circumstances we cannot afford a war with Marcel but both him and Niklaus are too proud to avoid it. We need his help to find and end Esther, otherwise she will end us. A situation Marcel would love, I suppose."

"I'll see what I can do, promise. But don't you think she could've also brought back Kol? Or Henrik?"

Again Elijah shook his head. "Henrik died as a human, he never went to the Other Side. I do not think she could've resurrected him. But Kol… I do not want to have hope only to have it destroyed. Kol never played along the rules, he always was open for mischief, but he was not evil. But if mother promised him to give him back his magic, he might fight on her side just to keep it. And I could not blame him."

Katerina laid knife and fork aside although the plate still was almost full; her appetite was gone. "You said he often mingled with witches. What if your mother brought him back and put him in the body of a warlock? Would he be able to use the warlock's powers?"

"I am not sure. It would be possible, I think. Do you think that Kaleb-"

"He knew I was staying with you", Katerina interrupted him. "He knew I'm a Traveler and he knew my name. Who else in New Orleans knows my name and my face? I haven't been around for… I don't know, too long. I never met this Kaleb before, but if he is in fact Kol, he must have heard of me, though I never met him either. But since he is brother to you and Klaus, of course he has to know me."

After that Elijah stared into his glass and it was quiet for some time. "Do you really think it could be Kol? If Kol works with mother and wants to end us…"

"I know." Katerina sat down on his lap and laid her hands on his shoulders. "But if he does, maybe he is willing to help us instead. You believed for so long that I could be saved and I'm still not convinced. But if I can be redeemed after all this time, then Kol, too. Just don't tell your siblings for now. The fewer people know, the better." Katerina at least hoped she was right with that. "Maybe Marcel can tell me something more about Kaleb."

"Maybe", Elijah nodded, but he seemed absent-minded until he suddenly looked at Katerina again. "Did Nadia find a place to stay?"

Katerina shrugged. "She didn't call me. I hope she's taking an evening off. Since I started aging, she got way too serious. I trust she will come to me, if she needs anything. Why, you're worried?"

"She's your daughter. I only want her to feel at home."

Katerina was silent for a few moments. "It could be the first time for her to have a home. Her dad was a Traveler and since he practiced, he couldn't stay at one place like my father. And Mystic Falls… I would like to think she found people there she got along with. She often was in the Grill with that Lockwood boy and Matty Blue. I would love to have her around but I won't force her to stay here if she doesn't want to. Guess I'll just have to wait. But just like you, Marcel promised to keep an eye on her. Maybe she feels more comfortable around vampires who don't have half a millennium on her and killed her family for no reasons."

"I know Niklaus has done horrible things but I'm sure he would not hurt Nadia. At least not to punish you, not anymore", Elijah said sternly.

Katerina got up from his lap. "I'm not so far as to trust Klaus, but I wasn't thinking of him. It's your lovely sister I'm more concerned of. Really, Elijah, I scarcely noticed her back in England and I'm sure as hell did nothing to offense her in any way. I'm not interested in her friendship, but she's old enough to know how to behave."

"After you left before the ritual and got yourself turned, Niklaus was furious. Of course he had noticed I had been spending time with you and after I failed to bring you back, he suspected me to have helped you running. Rebekah thinks you were the reason to disunite us and since she always wanted to hold our family together, she can be quite furious. Rebekah is notorious for being able to hold a grudge for a long time, but she will behave. I promise, Katerina. My sister will not separate us. I have made enough mistakes to not let this happen."

"I'm not telling you to kick her out", Katerina sighed. "I know you're a family guy and that's fine, really. I don't think you would worry about Nadia otherwise. I'll work it out with her somehow or I'll just avoid her. Can't be that difficult in so big a town."

Elijah grinned. "You can sort it all out once the external threat is removed and you are a vampire again as long as you do not try to kill each other."

So, what do you think? I'm still not sure about Rebekah, if I'm honest, but I guess I'll just have to work into that. But I just love that they kinda brought Kol back and I couldn't ignore that. I think Kat and he will have a lot of fun together, once everything is sorted out.