Rebekah made the decision that we should drive back, instead of flying, which obviously would have been much quicker. The drive took just under nineteen hours. And in that time Rebekah caught me up in her life, where she's been, the people she's met. For awhile, I let myself fall back into my sense of normalcy with Rebekah, speaking with her the way we used to. I forgot how much fun I used to have with her, it was almost as if we were never apart.

But seeing the sign saying 'Welcome to New Orleans' drew me back to reality.

Rebekah sensed the change in me.

"Welcome home," she said with a small smile.

Passing through town I finally felt the nerves I had been holding back start to surface. I could feel the tremors in my hands and formed them into fists to calm them. I just needed to remember to breathe, all I had to do was say my peace and then I could get the hell out of there.

Rebekah's hand covered my fist. "It's going to be alright." She told me reassuringly.

I shook my head and gave her a small smile.

We reached the compound and she put the car in park, not in a hurry to get out of the car I stayed in my seat.

"Take all the time you need," she told me.

I took a deep breath and readied myself. "I'm fine, let's do this."

I got out of the car and started towards the compound. "Might as well just get this over with," I muttered under my breath.

I made my way into the compound and the first person that came into view was a young girl. It took me a moment, but when I realized who it was I nearly stumbled over my own feet. "Hope?" She was nearly a grown woman.

"Tolly?" I couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled out of me. When Hope was younger, she never called me by my actual name, Tolly was what she always called me.

I could have cried. "Hope!" If their was anyone I was excited to see, it was Hayley and Hope. Hope ran over to me and jumped into my arms. I caught her with ease and held onto her tight.

"I've missed you so much." She told me.

"I missed you too." I set Hope down and took a look at her, still not believing how much she had grown. I felt someone walk up to us and I looked over. "Hayley," I said happily.

"Welcome back," She told me. Bringing me in for a hug, I held her tightly, relishing the fact that I was seeing my friend once again.

She pulled away and gave me a once over, looking almost confused. "Natalia, you're a vampire?" She asked, unsure.

I felt myself stiffen. "Yeah."

The happiness that was once on her face was replaced with sadness. "Oh, Natalia." She brought me in again, hugging me once more.

Hayley knew this was never the plan for my life, and although I had loved the Mikaelson family, and loved Elijah, becoming a vampire was something I had never desired to become.

Elijah had understood, and he was content to stay with me until I was old, well, at least he was before he left.

"What?" I pulled away from Hayley and spotted Niklaus, who looked like he couldn't believe it was me.

He looked over at Rebekah, "Why didn't you tell me when you called?" He asked her, anger evident in his voice.

"It was for Natalia to tell." She said firmly.

I heard heels against the concrete and looked over to where the sound was coming from. "Davina!" I exclaimed.

I knew Davina was with Kol, but I hadn't even thought to expect her to be back in New Orleans after everything that she had gone through.

Davina threw her arms around me, "I'm so sorry this happened to you." She whispered in to me.

"I know."

We held on for a moment longer until we let go.

When I looked up I spotted the rest of the Mikaelson's, including Elijah.

My breathing had turned shallow and I felt frozen to the spot I was standing in.

He was still as handsome as ever, and I hated myself for thinking that. For a split second I let myself enjoy seeing them together once again, until Elijah took a step towards me.

Instinctively, I stepped back.

Elijah stopped short, almost looking hurt.

"Natalia." I nearly closed my eyes at how good it felt to hear him say my name again.

Stand your ground, Natalia.

"Don't," I said, barely above a whisper, but knowing he heard it. "Don't ever say my name." The anger was finally starting to resurface.

"Natalia, please." Elijah took another small step forward, and with that step I took two back.

"Stay away from me." I told him in a voice I barely had recognized.

Elijah looked like I had slapped him.

The anger I felt overshadowed the need to go towards him.

I thought I would be able to do more, that maybe I would scream, cry or throw some things at him. But now that I was here, I found that I couldn't do any of that. I felt so consumed with my rage that I couldn't even do anything, that's when I knew I was at my angriest.

Niklaus thought this was the best time for him to take a step forward. I held out my hand, signaling for him to stop.

"Same goes for you, Niklaus."

He merely stared at me, surprised at my words.

I looked over at Rebekah, and her eyes were on me. "I've done what you asked, I'm leaving."

I turned towards Hayley, Davina and Hope, offering them a nod of a goodbye and sped out of the compound.

_____

Rebekah never truly thought that Natalia would actually walk out, but that was what she had done.

Rebekah's eyes brimmed with tears that threatened to fall. "She left, she really left." She said in disbelief. "She was so angry, but I thought, I thought if she saw all of us together she would remember." Rebekah tried to continue to speak but she could feel her tears spilling down her cheeks.

Kol went to his sister and wrapped her in his arms, feeling the same hurt that she did.

Elijah hadn't moved from where he stood, and was still staring at the spot where Natalia was.

"Who did that to her?" Niklaus asked angrily. "Who turned her?" He asked Rebekah. Rebekah lifted her head from Kol's chest.

"An enemy of Elijah's."

Elijah's ears perked up and he turned towards Rebekah, waiting for her to go into further detail. "Whoever it was found out about her and Elijah's relationship, and figured killing her would hurt Elijah."

"But how did she turn?" Freya asked, stepping into the conversation.

"A vampire had slipped her his blood in a drink the night before. Claimed he knew of this vampire's plot and wanted to save her."

"Who killed her?" Hayley asked angrily.

"She wouldn't say, only shared that he was dead and she made sure of it."

Elijah's eyes nearly widened. That was not the Natalia he knew. The girl he knew never would've hurt anyone, she always tried to save everyone, even if they were villainous; it was who she was.

"How long ago was she turned?" Kol asked.

"Five years ago."

Elijah's head dropped in disappointment, he thought leaving would protect her. And instead it put her in more danger, and because of that she was murdered. If Natalia hadn't killed the one who murdered her he would have gladly.

"We need to go after her." Niklaus stated.

"She's not going anywhere tonight," Hayley stated. Everyone turned to look at her. "You guys have been in the car for hours, pretty sure she's getting a hotel for the night and then she'll be leaving tomorrow. She needs time to process. Going after her now would only add fuel to the fire, she needs time alone to figure herself out. Tomorrow we can talk to her, tonight just let have her peace."

The siblings nodded in agreement, in the morning they would search for Natalia and convince her that staying with them was what was best for her.

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