AN: I do not own TVD or TO.

I'm sorry everyone but it was time. I put in some bittersweet Lol though to sustain you all.

After seven hundred years he had discovered that his body did not require much sleep. A few hours a night was more than enough to sustain him.

She was different. Her body needed more rest; especially after he had spent hours tiring it out. She would usually drift off in his arms. He would then spend however long it took him to fall asleep marvelling at the beauty at his side. She was sweet and pure, and she loved him. He had certainly done nothing to deserve her, and yet he had her; for the first time in seven hundred years he felt true remorse for some of his actions. It still amazed him that she didn't seem to care; that she had accepted that was who he was.

He exhaled and ran his fingers through her tight blond curls. He blinked and lifted his head when a folded piece of parchment landed on his abdomen. Sitting up he tilted the thick paper towards the dim light streaming through the window and was greeted with his sister's elegant handwriting.

Kol,

I don't know if you're still nearby, but if you are then meet me in the clearing.

There is something we need to discuss immediately.

I will be there until dawn.

~ Rebekah

Kol shook his head and sighed. Gazing at the angle of the moon he estimated three hours before the sun would crest over the horizon. Had it been one of his brothers he might have woken asked Lexa to return a letter saying he was somewhere in the far east, but he had never been able to say no to his sister; especially when it was such a simple request.

He laid the parchment beside the vase of daisies. They were well past the point in the summer when the flowers grew, but Lexa loved them so much she had used a spell to revive them when they died.

"Lexa, Elskling?" He kissed her cheek and made a soft trail to her ear. "Wake up, little witch." His fingers danced over her exposed ribs.

"Hmm," she giggled and squirmed under his wandering hand. "Kol…" she peered through bleary eyes at the sliver of moonlight, "… mi amor," she sighed and squeezed her eyes shut, "it's the middle of the night."

"I know, Elskling," he cupped her neck and rubbed his thumb over her jaw.

"I'm worn out," she sighed, "I do not think I could go again right now."

Kol chuckled and kissed the edge of her mouth. Her body was pliant under his hand. "That is not the reason I woke you," he tilted his head when her fingers closed around his length.

"It's not?" She felt him harden beneath her fingers. "It certainly seems like that's why you woke me," she rolled on top of him. Her lips made a slow trail down over his chest.

"Bloody hell," he cursed when she ran her tongue up the underside of his shaft and sucked the tip into her mouth. "Lexa," he threaded his fingers through her hair and lifted her back up into a sitting position. "That's not why I woke you, Elskling."

"Then why did you wake me?" She turned her head and kissed his palm.

Kol closed his eyes and drew her down for a soft kiss. "I have to leave," he breathed against her lips.

"What? You're leaving? Why?" Had she done something?

"I got a letter from my sister," he tucked an errant curl behind her ear. "She wants to meet me before dawn. I should be back in a few hours," leaning forward he brushed his lips over hers. "I didn't want you to wake up without knowing where I was."

She laughed softly, "For a moment I thought you meant you were leaving me."

"Little witch," Kol lifted her chin and peered into her eyes, "no power on this earth is enough to tear me away. You've stolen my heart. Rest assured, Elskling, I will always return to you."

A soft smile turned up the corners of her lips. "Just try not to go too far," she searched his gaze. "You've stolen mine as well. I don't know what I'd do without you." Her eyes flickered down to his straining arousal. "You can't meet your sister like that."

Kol stood downwind and watched for a moment as she paced in the moonlight.

He had spent the better part of an hour in bed with his beloved. Her embrace had been warm and inviting; the last thing he wanted to do was leave her loving arms, but he had torn himself away when the moon had all but disappeared. Her eyes had drifted shut when he'd pulled on his waistcoat.

Seeing the look on Rebekah's face made him want to turn around and race back to the small tavern where she slept. If he left that moment he could be back before she awoke. He was seriously contemplating it when the wind shifted and her head spun in his direction.

"Sister," he sighed and stepped from between the trees.

"Kol," Rebekah sighed. "I was beginning to think you had moved on. It has been months."

"Yes," Kol nodded, "well, I find myself quite fond of Cadiz."

"Let me guess," Rebekah rolled her eyes, "an endless supply of blood, flowing alcohol and women with loose morals?"

He thought of the goddess who slept nightly in his arms. "Something like that," Kol smirked. Perhaps one day he would introduce his sister to her; after he had enjoyed the tranquility that came from her presence. He knew tension would settle around him when his brothers re-entered his life; it was always the way. The last thing he wanted was to be drawn into Nik's world of debauchery; it was something that always seemed to happen when he was with his brother.

"What did you want Bekah? I would like to return before the sun reaches its peak."

"I want you to come home," she approached him and rubbed her arms, "the flames are getting closer. We will need to flee soon."

"I'm not going anywhere," he shook his head, "and if you knew what was best for you then you would cut your losses."

He stepped back when he saw the guilt flash in her eyes. "Rebekah?"

"I'm sorry," she frowned, "I told them you were nearby. They will not leave without you."

"Let them find me," his eyes narrowed. "I'll not leave," he swore before flashing away.

Rebekah stepped silently passed the compelled servants loading chests of belongings onto a carriage. When had they reached the point where they were ready to run at a moment's notice? When had they started keeping trunks packed and ready?

She choked down a sob when she watched a coffin being loaded into another carriage. She cursed Kol and his stubborn nature. It was only a matter of time before Nik and Elijah forced him to join them; she just prayed he would see reason and come along willingly.

"Is he still around?" Elijah appeared in front of her.

"Of course he is," Nik came up to her side. "I can smell him on you," he leaned over and sniffed, "Kol… and lavender… a lot of lavender."

"He smelt like lavender," Rebekah shrugged. It had been an odd smell coming from him, but she hadn't thought to question it.

"And where is he?" Nik peered into the darkness as if expecting his baby brother to materialize. He should have known better; Kol had never responded well to being told what to do.

"He refused to come," she sighed.

"Where is he?" Elijah steered her towards a carriage.

"Somewhere in Cadiz," Rebekah adjusted her skirts. "He did not say where. You're going to dagger him aren't you?"

"Only if he gives us a reason," Nik swung up into the saddle.

"We will not leave him behind Rebekah," Elijah closed the door. He swung up into the saddle and motioned for the coach to move out.

Even from the distance she could hear him. "Family above all," he murmured.

"Always and forever," she returned.

"Lexa," Kol smoothed blond curls away from her face, "my brothers are on their way. They are going to insist I go with them."

She chewed her lip and lifted her finger to trace the planes of his chest. The soft material of his shirt shifted under her hand.

"Can you not simply tell them that you wish to stay?" She remembered him telling her of his father. "Or I could come with you."

"I can't let you give up everything you've ever known for me, little witch," Kol smiled sadly at her. He had no intention of leaving her, but he was unsure how to disperse with them.

"What if I want to?"

Kol lifted his head to meet her jewel-like eyes. "You would willingly spend the rest of your life on the run from my father?"

She propped her chin on his chest and smiled. "If it means I get to spend it with you."

"Stay up here, Elskling," Kol kissed her brow. He laid his finger over her lips when she moved to protest. "Please? I'd rather not have my brothers meeting you in your shift," he smirked.

"If you hadn't kept me in bed all day I'd be perfectly presentable," she gave him a pointed look. "That's not the reason you want me upstairs."

"I want you where I know you're safe," he cupped her cheeks.

Lexa sighed when his mouth descended on hers in a soft kiss. Grasping the back of his neck she deepened it. She couldn't have explained in that moment why she needed him closer. She didn't know why her kiss was so desperate. All she knew was that she had the strangest feeling that if she let him out of her sight for even a moment it would be a long time before he kissed her again.

Kol pulled back and rested his forehead on hers. Their breath mingled in the few inches of space between them.

"I'm afraid," she ran her fingers into his hair; a few strands fell from the tie, "that if you walk out that door you'll never walk back through."

"Alexandria Ricci," he lifted her chin and stared earnestly into her eyes, "I will always find my way back to you… even if I have to come through the window," he winked.

"Mi amor…" she sighed when he kissed her again. She felt every emotion he had for her in that second kiss. "I love you, Kol," she blinked when her eyes flooded with moisture; the tears stung.

He inhaled the soft smell of the burning herbs and wiped away her tears with his thumbs. "I love you, Elskling." His head turned in the direction of the door when he male voices called up the stairs.

"Kol!"

He gave her a pleading look and sighed when she nodded and dropped to sit on the edge of the bed. "Thank you," he bent and kissed her cheek.

"Kol! Kol show yourself! This is no time for bloody games!"

Kol opened the door slowly before closing it and flashing down the stairs. He stopped at the bottom and made a point to stumble.

"Come, come now brother!" He grinned at Niklaus. "It's always time for games." He lifted a half full glass of ale and raised it to them in a toast.

Elijah caught the falling mug and slammed it down on a table. "We must leave," he resisted the urge to sigh in exasperation when Kol sat and propped his feet on a table, "Mikael is nearly upon us."

"I very much doubt that," Kol tilted his head and smirked. "If he were upon us than I would imagine Nik would quite dead right now."

Klaus clenched his hand into a fist and stomped over the wood floors. "I barely escaped with my life!"

"Ever the entertainer," Kol snickered, "you should consider a career in the theatre."

"Father left the head of my horse on a pike in the town square!"

Kol gasped and covered his heart. "He killed poor Theo?" His eyes widened as he tempered his smirk. "The beast, but then Father has always hated you the most." Kol held his palms to the ceiling. "Surely he'll chase you if you flee, leaving me here."

Elijah rolled his eyes and sighed. "Rebekah and Finn are already on board the ship that will take us to the New World."

"Rebekah does whatever she's told," Kol scoffed. He knew he had his sister to thank for their descent. It was partially his own fault; he never should have gone to meet her. He had been covering his tracks well enough that they would not have had time to find him; father might not have found him either.

"And poor Finn," Kol sighed. "Well, he's in no position to argue with you given the dagger." He rose to his feet and stalked towards Klaus.

He frowned at the thought of the daggers. He had not thought of them until that very moment in time; he had never even mentioned them to Lexa. He made a mental note to inform her of their existence and purpose when his brothers were gone.

Kol shook off his thoughts and smiled. "I think I'll take my chances here." He moved as if to turn away only to find Elijah blocking his path. Turning again he found Niklaus on the other side.

"No," he shouted as Elijah pinned his arms. Somewhere under his own voice he heard soft footsteps. "I swear to you," his eyes narrowed into slits when the silver was poised over his heart, "the day will come when I am not so easily subdued!"

"And on that day, I will make you suffer!" She frowned at the level of fury in his voice.

Lexa paused on the landing and peered through the darkening tavern towards the trio of men. None of them had seen her yet. She could see the look on his face. She hadn't seen him look at anyone like that since he had spotted the men in the woods.

She tilted her head when the man with the dirty blond hair pushed something into her lover's chest.

"Perhaps," she could hear the amusement in his voice, "but today is not that day."

The sob caught in her throat. Kol's agonized scream tore at her heart; every inch of her body cried out in agony, but no sound left her parted lips. She knew what it meant when a vampire's complexion turned ashen and grey.

Lifting her gaze from his face she locked eyes with the man who had held him down as the other killed him. Kol's body was still turning grey when she fled up the stairs in her thin shift.

She didn't know how long she had sat there. She didn't know how long she'd rocked back and forth on the floor. Time was meaningless. Time was endless.

Up and down ceased to exist. Left and right were figments of a world gone by.

Did she still occupy a space in the world?

The only physical sign that she was still alive was the constant pain in her heart. It was searing; it was ripping. The organ felt as if it had been torn from her body. She would have thought it gone completely if not for the pain.

The rest of her body melted away until she was nothing more than a bleeding heart.

A hand gripped her chin roughly. Her head was lifted forcibly.

The first thing she became aware of was the afternoon light illuminating the stubble on his jaw. His dark blond hair was tied back illuminating his hard blue eyes.

It took her a moment to realize that he was talking to her. Her throat burned as she swallowed and drew in a shuddering breath. Slowly his words penetrated the ocean that had swallowed her hole, body and soul.

"Where are they?" She saw his pupils dilate ever so slightly and exhaled. She cringed when his fingers tightened on her chin. "Where are my children? One of them was here with you… you smell just like him."

Mikael, Lexa swallowed nervously and found her voice. "I don't know," her whisper was little more than a rasp. Just how long had she spent crying?

"You're lying to me," he peered into her eyes again. "Tell me the truth."

She swallowed and shook her head. She wasn't sure who she was protecting at that point; surely his brothers deserved whatever their father would bring, but protect them she did. Perhaps it was the sister he had spoken fondly of.

"I do not know," she blinked away the fresh tears.

Mikael raked his eyes over her trembling body. Grasping the chains around her neck he pulled until he heard a soft snap and tossed the locket full of vervain and the jade stone aside.

"Let's try that again, senora," Mikael peered into her eyes. "Tell me where my children are right now."

She pressed her lips into a thin line. She knew in that moment he would hunt them down with or without her help; the most she could hope to do was stall him.

"East," she didn't stop to question how she lied. Perhaps Kol had been slipping vervain into her drinks; even as she thought it she knew it wasn't true. "They boarded a ship bound for the east."

"There now," Mikael pulled her to her feet, "was that so hard?"

She shook her head and shrunk back against the wall. "Are you going to kill me?" She remembered what Kol had said: vampires would not hesitate to compel and feed from her.

"No," Mikael shook his head and pressed the ruined jade back in her hand, "I do not feed from the living, and I only kill when necessary; your death would be pointless." He peered into her eyes again. "When I leave you will forget your encounters with my children and myself and live your life."

Numb she could so nothing but nod. Later when he was gone and she was marveling over the lack of bruises on her jaw she vowed that she would never forget.

I'm sorry :'(. It had to be done...

On a side note the soulmate of a vampire cannot be compelled unless by an Original, so Daphne could be compelled by a Mikaelson. An Original's mate cannot be compelled at all, because in my AU the enhanced Original does not exist.

Time Jumps are coming. Lexa is about to discover just how well she can live without him.

At this point in time she doesn't know about what the daggers really do. She thinks he is dead, but that's not stopping her from making plans if she ever gets a hold of one.