Here it is guys the final chapter! It's been a pleasure hearing all your lovely reviews and having your support.

Chasing An Outcome

Chapter 13: Free

It was over.

The connection between the ancestors and their world had been successfully severed.

But the mission wasn't without its casualties.

Marcel had told Vincent and Josh what had happened. How Nathan had valiantly sacrificed himself to sever the link the ancestors had.

Vincent had tracked Lucien's body shortly after coming back; he'd brought him to the old house they were in. It was refreshing seeing him wake up there looking like a deer caught in the headlights. Stripped of the ancestors power he was reverted back to the pitiful vampire he was. The man had begged to be spared but Marcel was never going to grant him that mercy. He'd plunged a hand through his chest and literally ripped his heart out.

Nathan had been properly buried.

The four of them had all attended the funeral.

Vincent figured Kol was watching from a distance, while Marcel had sensed him from a mile away. If Josh had noticed Kol's looming presence he said nothing, holding his best friend's hand throughout the whole funeral. He knew what loss was.

They all did.

Loss was what had formed this awkward yet unique friendship between them. And Nathan, too, was a part of this friendship.

One by one the four paid their respect.

But Davina's tears hadn't stop trickling down her cheeks. And nobody had seen her after the funeral.

Vincent knew Marcel kept an ear out for her though. But they knew she needed to be alone.

... ... …. …. ... ... ... …. …. ... ... ... ….

It was almost a week later that Marcel decided he could not let her endure thisp by herself anymore. He owed it to Nathan; he'd given him his word. Marcel looked towards the darkened sky, recalling the message he'd gotten from Nathan prior to his death.

Jumping to his feet he skid passed them, using his hearing to pick out hostile sounds, he began evading anything that sounded like chanting, focusing entirely on Davina's voice.

"Marcel."

Marcel was briefly stunned before recognizing the voice. Nathan was communicating with him the way he'd done with Davina. "Nathan! Are you guys alright? Where's Davina?"

"She's okay, so is Vincent. He's the reason we've made it this far; he's safely out by now. I don't have much time to explain so pay attention. I'm going to activate the dark object; I have just enough magic to do so. It's going to come down really hard though so I'll need you to get out of here. Don't worry about Davina, I'll get her out but you've got to get out of here no matter what. You have to survive this Marcel. Promise me you'll make it. Promise me you'll stay by Davina's side. I have a feeling she'll need your support."

Marcel frowned slightly. "Nathan... What are you—"

"Promise me Marcel! I don't have much time to start this thing."

Sensing the urgency Marcel spoke truthfully. "I swear I'll always be by her side. I swear I'll always protect her."

"Thank you Marcel. I'm really happy I got to meet you."

It was only after their talk that he'd understood what would happen. Deep down he had an inkling of it during their exchange. He'd just been hoping for a miracle.

Unsurprisingly Marcel found Davina in the cemetery, by Nathan's grave. She was kneeling by the headstone; fresh flowers were resting gently by it. "I've been looking for you."

"I wanted to do the boring bonding activities with him," She spoke without facing him. "I'm not too old to bike ride you know?" Her hands clenched over her knees, fighting back the tears. "But all we ended up doing was fighting some stupid old witches. I was..."

"Well, my father was scum," Marcel murmured as he recalled his life prior to Klaus. "He was more of an owner than a dad. I never had the opportunity to have a true father; who celebrated birthdays with me; who did boring bonding activities with me; who loved me. I missed out on all of that. You and I are one in the same Davina. We've both had to live without true parents."

She clenched her hands over her lap even tighter, biting her trembling lower lip.

Marcel smiled softly, bending forward slightly to place his hand over her head. "I'd do anything for a father like yours Davina. Even briefly. Your father is something to be proud of. Not having a father like yours though I can't exactly say I know what you're feeling right now. But what I can say is that nothing has ever hurt me more than when I lost you. I know you must be feeling something similar. And you must be thinking about all the things you could've done differently, aren't you?"

Davina lowered her eyes and nodded. "He's really gone Marcel. I'm never going to see him. And now it feels like I'm spiraling down into the darkest ocean."

"He's not gone. Bonds we make can never be broken."

Davina gasped lowly as Nathan's similar words flashed through her mind.

"You've accepted him into your heart. It's up the people left behind to always remember those who've past on. From here on your life isn't just yours Davina. So lift your head high and embrace his memory. Do it for Nathan's sake as well as your own."

Finally she turned to him, her eyes glistened with tears.

At her tearful gaze he opened his arms in an inviting way, his features softened. "You don't need to hold back. You don't need to be strong with me. I'm here for you honey. I'll always be here for you. Because you and I will never be separated."

A cry of sorrow escaped her before she tackled him, arms encircling him. She gripped his shirt tightly and sobbed fiercely.

Marcel held her tightly, despising the world for bringing this torment onto someone so young. Somewhere in the world right now some girl Davina's age was living her life to the fullest, ignorant to everything she was enduring, ignorant to everything supernatural. And as another painful sob fell his way he vowed to himself that he'd show Davina the world that girl was living in.

An hour later and he had her back home, in the church. He sat by the side of the bed as she slept soundly on the other; the sound of her chest rising and falling relaxing him.

Nostalgia filled his body as he thought back to the first days after their fateful meeting. He used to stand guard like he was now back then too. His heart melted upon recalling one particular event. She'd told him how his presence was calming; how it helped her sleep. During their initial days together nightmares would plague her, so hearing those words then made him feel like he'd finally done something meaningful in a long time.

Marcel smiled fondly at the memory before glancing towards her. Almost instinctively her sleeping body reacted by snuggling her back closer to where he sat.

She was it. His purpose. His reason for existence. His family. He loved her.

He closed his eyes, not necessarily to sleep; he didn't require it, but to relax. Just as he used to he stayed there until the sun poked out.

Davina woke up with a yawn, stretching her arms over her head. It felt like an eternity since she'd slept so peacefully. A faint smell of food caught her attention and she smiled. No doubt it was Marcel.

Quickly she readied herself before going downstairs to meet him. The church-turned-gym was deprived of its usual vampire visitors. Marcel was downstairs in the process of pulling two chairs next to a few stacked boxes, forming a makeshift table.

He waved at her to come over. "Morning D! I got us some coffee and food, get over here!"

There was a tranquillity floating in the air as she made her way to one of the seats. "Good morning Marcel."

This was far from a kitchen and it was far from sitting at a table but it felt nice. Come to think of it, it was never the church or his loft that made her feel at home, it was him. All she needed was him and she'd be right at home.

It was only when she was around him that she'd stop and think: is this what it's like, to be with family? She understood why Nathan could up and leave everything behind to be with her. Family was truly something special. And it didn't take being of the same blood to experience such a wonderful feeling.

So when he told her that he'd like to leave this place and take a road trip around the world with her, she'd agreed to it without a moment's hesitation.

He was her home. He was her protector. He was her family. She loved him.

Klaus eyed his brother, feeling empty as he watched him pack. "Will you really be doing this?"

"I already said I would didn't I?" Kol replied as he mounted what little belongings he had into a suitcase.

"Kol, all I ask is that you think this through," Klaus tried reasoning. "Where will you go? I'm your brother Kol; you can't just toss me away like nothing."

Kol glared him down. "Watch me. I made it clear that after everything was done I wanted nothing to do with you and this family."

"That isn't fair Kol!" Rebekah snapped, having tried in vain to remain composed. "You can't torment all of us as if we all had a part in it."

Kol sighed. "I'm doing this whether you like it or not. My decision is made. Although I may not have any grudges with you I refuse to ever have anything to do with Elijah or Freya."

Rebekah grabbed his arm, halting his packing. "Will you just leave? Forget our existence entirely?"

Kol scoffed. "Don't be so dramatic."

"Dramatic?" Rebekah repeated incredulously. "I wake up to find the hell I missed out on and you're calling me dramatic!? The brother I saw die is now leaving my side once again. How do you think I feel? Why do you only think of yourself Kol?"

"This isn't about me anymore!" Kol retorted. "It's about her; it's making sure she never has to suffer. After what has been done to her I can never look at this place the same. Can't you see that? Why are you making this so bloody difficult? It won't be the first time I go missing." He finished bitterly.

Rebekah was infuriated by his stubbornness. "You think we enjoyed your absence!?"

He shrugged and tossed another shirt. "All the same. I'm going. Where I go is none of your business. Perhaps you lot enjoy all this family nonsense but, I'm not going to stick around waiting for the next vengeance driven sod to show up. There are bigger things in life than revenge."

Klaus' eyes widened marginally. It was what Marcel and Davina had told him. There was a dawning realization sinking in then. This was no longer the troublemaker of a brother he knew. It was like the thousand years that had passed had finally caught up with Kol and matured him. The transformation put into motion from the very first moment he met Davina Claire to now.

Klaus wasn't naive or stupid to believe this change in Kol would've happened if he'd never met Davina. She'd sparked something inside him and dug her way into his heart, his humanity. Why couldn't he, his brother, his blood, do the same? What had he done wrong? All he wanted was his family by his side, always and forever.

But some part of him, deep in his core, also wanted what Kol had. Love. He'd experienced that briefly with Camille. Would he still have her if he thought more like Davina Claire? She held no regards for destiny and moved as she pleased. What if he'd been like that?

"Nik," Kol exclaimed, cutting his thoughts. He then glanced at Rebekah. "You too Beks."

They stared intently, waiting for him to continue.

"There's always a choice. Whether you continue to live in this never-ending cycle you have going on or break free, will be of your own doing." He closed the suitcase and pulled it to his side. "That goes for Hayley as well."

It'd take a long time before the family moved on from what Elijah and Freya did, but Klaus knew that things could well and truly never be the same again.

He lowered his head. He'd never felt this drained in his entire life. Perhaps the years have finally caught up with him as well. Now all he could think of was if he'd ever see his little brother again.

Hopefully one day. Hopefully one day he'll see Marcel again. Hopefully one day even he could be happy.

One look at Rebekah and he knew she felt the same; knew she wanted the same.

Regret truly was the worst taste of them all.

... ... …. …. ... ... ... …. …. ... ... ... ….

"So, is this like our last date?" Josh joked lightly, but Davina could see the undertone of sadness.

Davina stopped, causing him to stop as well and turn to her. "Josh, you have no idea how thankful I am to have met you. It doesn't matter where I go or how far apart we are. You'll always be my best friend."

This caused the corner of his lips to lift. "I feel the same way. We'll always be Team Dosh, right?"

Davina grinned. "Of course!"

"And I'll visit you no matter where you go. I'd journey to the center of the earth if I have to. Although I'd prefer if you didn't move there." He said with a laugh.

She linked her arm with his. "Don't worry Josh I'll be sure to stay in contact. I really am sorry for just taking off like this though. I know it's pretty sudden."

"No it's totally okay!" Josh replied. "I just want you to be happy. One of has to."

"You deserve to be happy too Josh. So let's both try and find our own happiness. Deal?"

He nodded. "Deal."

The two sealed the promise with a pinky swear.

On her way back to Marcel she stopped by Nathan's grave. She was surprised to see Vincent there.

"Vincent? What are you doing here?"

He gestured to the flowers she hadn't realized were there. "Just paying my respect to my friend."

Friend.

Hearing him say that...

"Thank you Vincent. I know I told you how grateful I was for giving me the chance to meet Nathan already, but I just wanted to remind you. And I'll never stop being grateful."

"He was a really great guy Davina, funny too." He said before looking up to the sky thoughtfully. "You're going to leave, aren't you?"

A small gasp escaped her. "How did...?"

"I had a feeling. So it's true?"

She came to stand beside him, staring at the sky like he was. "Yeah, it's true. It's what I want Vincent."

"Good," He nodded. "I've seen too many things being done out of necessity that it's nice to see a little freewill here and there. I like it."

"And you? What will you do?"

"Someone I knew gave his life to create stability here. I want to help maintain it. I want to protect his legacy. I want to protect her legacy as well."

Davina smiled. "I like it. New Orleans couldn't be in better hands."

Vincent placed his hand on her shoulder. "Take good care of yourself Davina. And if you ever need anything, I'll always be available."

His words were genuine. His touch was sincere.

"You too Vincent, take care. I'll be sure to update you once in a while if you'll keep me updated with yourself too."

"Yeah, I'd like that."

The night sky looked really wonderful from where she was. Marcel wasn't home yet. He had preparations to make for their 'journey' as he'd put it.

"Beautiful sight."

She recognized him instantly. Her meeting with Kol was inevitable. She was just thankful he'd given her space after everything that happened, before choosing to find her. For that she owed him the truth.

She motioned for him to sit beside her on the church steps. They sat in silence for a while.

"I'm leaving Kol."

A quick glance was enough to see Kol didn't seem too surprised. However, he did look heartbroken.

"I see."

This was it; the prospect he'd been so desperate not to acknowledge; the one he'd been carefully dodging. But there was no more ducking it. She didn't wish to stay in New Orleans— no, it was bigger than that. She didn't want to be anywhere near the state. Not that he blamed her.

"I'm going to do what I promised my dad. I'm going to live my life. New Orleans has become a prison. What I want, what my father wanted, I can't find it here. I don't want to do this anymore."

"I get it." Kol muttered weakly. He wanted to say more. But what could he possibly say? His family tried to kill her. Did he expect her to actually want to be anywhere near them or this place? It reeked of bad memories, death, betrayal, and regret.

She sighed. "Look—"

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you Davina." He cut her off, finally saying what he'd been wanting to say. "It was all my fault."

"Kol," Davina said softly while her hand touched his arm. "This wasn't your fault."

"But it was!" He snapped, pulling away. "I chose not to tell you about being cursed! And I chose to trust them!"

"No matter what they were your family. And it's only natural to trust family isn't it?"

He scoffed. "Some good it did me. I should've known better." He gritted his teeth. "You don't understand. It isn't the first time they've let me down! It's been several years of this! And the one time I chose to believe in them, to believe, in that moment, that it could be the day we turn the page..." At this point he'd exhausted his frustration and all he could feel was his guilt. "They do something that I can never let go. Do you have any idea what agonizing pain I'd have to live with if I'd lost you? I can't... I can't even think about it."

Davina's eyes watered as she realized his were too.

"Kol, listen to me." She reached out for him again -this time he didn't pull away- and gently held his face in her hands. "You have to let go of this guilt. I don't blame you nor do I resent you for anything that happened. I never did and I never will."

"But," A tear escaped him. "Davina, you almost—"

Quickly she shook her head. "I'm here Kol, alive. Nothing like that happened. That's all that matters. Please Kol, for me, please don't do this to yourself. I don't want to see you like this. Your pain is my pain."

One of his hands gripped hers. "I don't want you to leave me."

"This is your home Kol."

"I've never had a home Davina. Not until I met you. My home is wherever you go."

Her heart began pounding in her chest. "What are you saying Kol?"

He smiled, resting his hands on her hips. "I'm following you Davina Claire. Wherever you go I'm following you. I want to spend every waking moment with you. Nothing else matters to me but you." Now his forehead leaned over hers. "I love you."

The tears fell along her cheeks and she smiled. "I love you too Kol." She closed the distance and pressed her lips against his, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

He returned it with the same intensity, making sure there was absolutely no space between them. When they broke apart he refused to break the hold. Instead he nuzzled his head against her neck. "From now on nothing or no one will ever get between us. We'll get as far away from here as we possibly can, and start a life together. We'll get a house with a cliché picket fence; I'll get some stupid human job; we'll have movie nights; and we'll even get a damn dog if you'd like. Because I love you Davina. I love you."

Davina began kissing his cheek over and over, the flood of happy tears not ceasing. "I love you so much Kol."

He turned his head to the side so he could kiss her again.

Her hands ran through his hair as she deepened the kiss. She couldn't believe how fortunate she was to have him.

"About the 'having a family' bit..." Kol trailed off nervously.

Davina shook her head. "We'll think of something."

"I may have already done some thinking," Kol muttered as he looked away. "I spoke with Vincent about it."

Davina furrowed her brows in confusion. "About what?

He bit his lip slightly. "...About the cure."

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"Vincent told me he'd need to do some digging around first but that it isn't impossible. I can become like you."

"I don't want you to do anything you don't want to Kol," Davina firmly said. "Don't think you have to change for me. I love you no matter what your appearance is or what you are."

"Then you'd love me all the same if I were to be mortal again," He countered. "It's something I've given serious thought to. I want this. I want to be with you. I could care less about being a vampire. A lifetime with you is worth more than an eternity without you."

Davina kissed him again. "I want to be with you too. But we have to truly think this through, together I mean. Can you promise me not to jump the gun?"

Kol nodded. "I can't see myself changing my mind but I promise you that I can hold off for a time being." He cautiously looked around. "For now I think I'd best be off before Marcel catches me here."

Davina chuckled. "Don't worry he'll be gone a while." She took his arm and dragged him inside. "Plus I think he should start getting used to you being in my life."

A honking outside the next day had Davina scrambling to get her packed suitcases. "Damn it Marcel, couldn't have given me five more minutes." She grumbled.

"Come on D!" He hollered from outside. "What's the hold up?"

Davina chuckled as she heard his excitement all the way from her spot. She paused by the door, turning to examine her old attic room. It would certainly be a long time before she'd see it again.

In spite of everything that had occurred throughout her life this room had always been a sort of sanctuary. It held some unforgettable memories. This was the place her and Josh always did their scheming; it was where she gave herself up to Kol for the first time; and it was where she introduced Nathan to her friends.

Leaving it behind was almost symbolic. As if... finally taking the leap over a precipice she'd once feared, and diving into a sea of opportunity.

"Goodbye." Davina murmured before closing the door and stepping out to see Marcel outside with Kol.

Quickly they both vamp sped to where she was and took her suitcases, making her roll her eyes and laugh.

"I am perfectly capable of carrying my bags you know."

"Why would you do that when you have your own strapping knight?" Kol joked. He leaned in for a kiss only to frown when a hand on his forehead stopped him.

"Back off lover boy," Marcel said with no actual hostility. Once her stuff was in the trunk he went over to the driving seat. "Let's go Davina we have a lot to cover." He grinned. "Don't want to hit traffic."

Davina nodded but glanced back at Kol. She bit her lip shyly. "I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to tell you." After all it wasn't like she'd never see him again. But she'd never done such a long trip that ever required her to be away from someone. Especially someone like Kol, someone she was in love with.

Kol ruffled her hair. "Not like I've done this sort of thing either love." He placed a hand to his chin to ponder something cheesy. "Call me...? That sounds like something a normal couple would say?"

Davina was beyond amused. "Call you?" Suddenly what he'd said hit her. "A couple? You said we're a couple?"

He shrugged. "Go easy. I'm still adjusting to the sappy crap a man is supposed to tell his woman. Was it that bad?"

She smiled lovingly. "No, no, I like it." A blush spread across her cheeks. "I like that you're... my boyfriend."

Kol gently bumped their foreheads together. "Take as long as you need Davina. See the world, the beauty of it. Once you've settled somewhere nicely I'll be there. We can have our own vacation afterwards." He added with a smirk. "This doesn't mean I won't stop by and visit once in a while during your trip. In the meantime I'll work on finding good house dogs. So don't worry."

"I love you Kol." It flew off her tongue so easily. "I know for a fact that I love you. And I want to be with you wherever I may end up."

"It's hard not to want to be with this handsome face," Kol joked. But his face hardened as he spoke his next words. "No matter where you end up I will find you. This isn't goodbye darling. Think of it as a long overdue vacation. Right now it's about you and only you. Once you've done this it'll be about us. Because I bloody love you and want to be with you as well."

With that Kol pressed his lips to hers, grinning into it as he heard Marcel honk the horn in annoyance.

Davina laughed herself before climbing onto the car. Her eyes never left Kol's until his figure shrunk and shrunk into the distance. They'd exited New Orleans entirely before she knew it. The wind caressed her face with its gentle breezes.

"Seriously though Marcel," Davina began as she eyed the man beside her in amusement. "A car with the top down? Could you have been anymore cliché?"

"I like being cliché and old school sometimes!" Marcel replied with a laugh.

"So, where are we off too?"

"No clue!" He answered excitedly. "We'll probably ditch this car for train tickets or plane tickets eventually. We'll probably be an entire ocean apart from this place, I don't know. But I'm loving every second of it! What about you kid? How are you feeling?"

"Hmm, honestly?"

Marcel nudged her happily. "Yeah, no more lies anymore Davina. You and me, never being separated. So tell me, how do you feel?"

Davina leaned back on her seat comfortably as a sigh of complete contentment left her.

"I feel light, like I'm floating."

Author's Notes

Thanks to all of you for reading up to this point and keeping up with my updates. Really guys, thanks! It means a lot. Been a real joy hearing your thoughts!