𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐎𝐍𝐄:
Remember me
(S2:E22 - As I lay dying)

THERE'S THIS UNEXPLAINABLE THING when it comes to healing from a loved one's passing, it does get easier as time passes by, but at the beginning, when the feeling is raw and fresh-it feels like it will never get better from there.

It's as if the world is going against every ounce of happiness a person feels. The pain is real, and the emotions are real; the tears won't stop, the guilt won't stop-the could haves, should have, and would haves won't stop racing in a person's mind, taking them to this bottomless pit of despair.

An otherworldly despair that wouldn't be experienced by any other except those who have witnessed death or felt death itself.

Death is an uncomfortable conversation for mortal people because, for them, death knocks on their door and goes silently. Accidents, sickness, natural, homicide, suicide, and undetermined. Those are the different kinds of death when it comes to humans.

But when it comes to the creatures of the night who are cursed with immortality. Death comes in six different ways. A stake to the heart, heart ripped out of their chest, beheaded, lethal magic spells, or a werewolf bite.

Out of all those things, Rafael Hudson took the slowest and most painful death out of the six. A werewolf bite, it comes with the sting of the bite, the venom slowly coursing through their veins, the hallucination-like their mind is spiraling and hunting them of whatever buried memories they have. They can visibly see themselves dying as their skin turns gray, followed by the noticeable veins crawling up their skin, then death comes, and it goes.

In loving memory of
Raphael Hudson
A brilliant musician, a fiance, and a good friend.
Musica amorem provocat.

Genesis brushes her fingertips against the gravestone, "Music provokes love." Genesis mutters with a smile. Elliot stood a few steps behind her with his hands tucked in his pocket, watching Genesis silently. Over the years, for him, the sight of Genesis crouching over Rafael's grave is vast.

When they buried him, denial was present in her dark green eyes that shredded no tears, and she stood silent and unmoving as they lowered the coffin down.

The second time is where all the pent-up emotion she didn't get to express the first time, Elliot was beside her, consoling her, calming her for a whole day until she felt the exhaustion and he brought her home.

The fifth time, Elliot can see the longing in her eyes as the tears threaten to fall to her cheeks. That time she was quiet, as if she was contemplating the life she had without Rafael. But the acceptance of his death is evident.

The tenth time is the first time he sees Genesis smile when they visit Rafael's grave and begin to talk about what happened in her life the past year. This time Elliot can feel that Genesis has entirely accepted Rafael's death, that finally, she is okay.

And now, she comes here not for grieving but for remembering Rafael's life. Always with a bouquet of white daisies that Rafael loved and a candle.

The progress that Genesis made signifies that grieving does get easier over time, and it heals.

They have visited every year for the past 23 years. Genesis and Elliot always made sure to clear their schedule every April 30.

Genesis stood up from the ground and walked towards Elliot with him waiting in open arms as Elliot wrapped his arms around Genesis, hugging her from behind. It was always like this.

Genesis always relied on Elliot for comfort, and they found safety and peace with one another, and their friendship is like no other-they both know what the other thinks about without even telling it as if they both could read each other's mind.

Where the other goes, the other follows.

There isn't Genesis without Elliot, and there isn't Elliot without Genesis.

They are the epitome of an epic platonic friendship.

"I hope he found peace." Genesis leaned on his chest as Elliot placed his chin on top of her head.

Elliot hums, "He did. You finally found someone."

Genesis frowns, "Do you think he would approve of Elijah?"

She feels Elliot shrug, "Maybe. Does he make you laugh?"

"He does."

"Does he make you feel at peace?"

Genesis nods, and Elliot concludes, "Then he will."

Comfortable silence engulfed the two of them as the cold morning breeze flowed through them. They just stood in front of Rafael's grave with acceptance and healing in their hearts.

But Genesis couldn't help her mind think about Elijah, and he had informed her that Niklaus was still in his wolf form and had been watching over him since his transformation.

Clementine and Cassandra will have their flight tomorrow at midnight to the Philippines. Bonnie, Simon, and the Martins had arrived in Seattle.

Bonnie and Luka will start their first day in their new school tomorrow, with Simon and Jonas on their first shift at the hospital at the end of the week.

While Rose ensures no harm will come to Giana, Caroline, and their mom. Genesis offered Rose to go, knowing that Rose hadn't come to London for centuries. Still, Rose disagreed, reasoning she didn't want to intrude on such a personal matter, and said that she'd stay in Mystic Falls and they could visit London another time.

They'll return to Mystic Falls tomorrow.

Suddenly someone from behind cleared their throat, startled. They both turned around, and they see a woman in their 20s with brown skin, curly dark hair, a petite figure, and an awkward smile on her cupid bow lips.

"Hi." She stutters out nervously, looking between Elliot and Genesis, then her brown eyes settle on Genesis, "Are you, Genesis Ackerman?"

"Who's asking?" Genesis asks her. Genesis could feel the magic in this girl's veins, she was a witch, and she went cautious, as did Elliot as he stood in front of her.

The girl cowers slightly at Elliot's glare, and she answers, seemingly out of breath, "I-I know you don't know me, but-" She picks out an old picture in her bag and hands it to Genesis. "I hope the photo explains it."

Genesis furrows her brows as she takes the photo from the girl's hand. Genesis' eyes settled on the photo. It was in black and white. It was old, almost tarnished as the ink slowly faded and tarnished, but that wasn't the one that caught her eyes.

She saw herself beautifully dressed in the traditional Victorian-era dress, and her eyes scanned through each face in the photo.

Elijah was beside her in a formal suit-with his hand wrapped around her waist. They were gazing at one another-so full of love and affection.

Kol and Rebekah follow Klaus beside him.

On Genesis's side, there were two women beside her-two women she didn't know.

The setting looked as if it was a celebratory ball. How the decorations surrounded them and their clothes-dresses that are only worn in formal balls.

Elliot looks at her with confusion, "When was that?" Elliot questions the girl, and she simply replies. "You can turn over the photo."

And Genesis did, "This is my handwriting." Genesis mutters, seeing her elegant cursive writing.

"New Orleans. 1819. A Grand Christmas Extravaganza." Genesis reads out loud as her mind begins to scatter, thoughts running a million miles.

"I thought you turned off your humanity during the late 18th century to the early 20th century?" Elliot asks her, confused as he takes the photo in her hand.

Genesis looked at the girl in front of them, who was awkwardly watching their reactions. "Where did you get the photograph?"

"It was my great-grandmum's." The girl answers as she points her finger toward the woman who was beside Genesis in the photo.

"And who is your great-grandmum?"

"Her name is Ruby Ackerman." The girl answers. Genesis and Elliot shared a confused glance, "And my name is Willow Ackerman."

"Ackerman?" Elliot questions-almost an echo.

"You named my great-grandmother. You gave her the surname." Willow informs Genesis, and Genesis just looks at her with an unreadable expression.

"I don't remember naming your great-grandmother. Trust me, that's a big deal." Genesis purses her lips as she takes the photo in Elliot's hand. "And why am I with Elijah and Niklaus? And his siblings?"

"You were with them in New Orleans."

"Well, obviously." Elliot rolls his eyes, then he looks at the girl, "How did you find Genesis?"

Willow explains that her great-grandmother, Ruby, has been looking for Genesis since 1919.

"Where is your great-grandmother now?" Genesis asks as she hands Willow the photo.

Willow purses her lips, frowning, "She passed away ten years ago. She tried to lengthen her life until she could find you, but old age caught up with her even with magic."

"My deepest condolences, Willow." Genesis consoles as she looks at Elliot, who is already looking at her, waiting for her to make a move, a decision.

"Tell me more."

And so Willow told them everything their grandmother told her. Genesis arrived in 1790 in New Orleans with the hopes of undaggering Kol Mikaelson-apparently, she had been friends with Kol Mikaelson since 1547, and Genesis had no memory of it at all.

Willow said that her great-grandmother didn't know why Genesis wanted to undagger Kol. Genesis never told Ruby about it.

In 1801, Willow's great-grandmother was left on Genesis's front porch a newborn with no name, resulting in Genesis adopting Ruby as her own, hence, Ruby Ackerman. Genesis's mind was spinning in circles, and she had adopted a child with no recollection of doing it at all.

As well as opening a sanctuary for the enslaved colored people of New Orleans to escape the maltreatment of their owners and disguising it as a saloon with the help of a friend Juliette Porter. In Genesis's opinion, that sounds like something that she would do.

Then in 1821. Genesis made Ruby flee New Orleans because of Niklaus. With Genesis resulted in violence with turning a human into a serial killer for ten years.

Ruby and Genesis sent each other letters since then, with Genesis visiting her from time to time, but it all stopped in 1919.

Ruby tried to find out what happened but when she came to New Orleans. Genesis and the Mikaelsons are nowhere to be found-that Mikael had finally tracked them down.

Ruby tried to use the locator spell of Genesis, but it didn't work as Genesis, since she arrived in New Orleans, has cast herself a powerful cloaking spell on herself, and Genesis remembered during 1983. Willow told her that when the locator spell worked in 1983, they were too slow that another cloaking spell had been placed on her-a powerful one at that.

But the cloaking spell on Genesis has weakened, and Willow managed to break through and finally found Genesis.

"Why do you want to find me?" Genesis questions. They are now seated on the park bench, with Genesis and Elliot listening intently to Willow's every word.

"It's my great-grandmum's dying wish." Willow answers, fumbling with her fingers, "She wants to know if you're still alive. She never gave up on finding you."

"I don't remember anything," Genesis mutters quietly as she looks at Elliot in silent panic. Elliot places a hand on top of hers as he says softly, "Breathe, Gen."

"My great-grandmother eventually learned the truth that Klaus compelled your memories away. She said that you will never forget about her, your letters stopped, your visits stopped as if you had forgotten about her, she had a bad feeling." Willow explains as Elliot sighs heavily.

"How did Ruby learned the truth?"

"When she came to New Orleans. She visited Juliette, and Juliette informed her that Mikael had arrived in New Orleans and that Klaus and his siblings fled but not after compelling Juliette to stay and never try to find Genesis," Willow tells them as she continues, her voice anxious and low, "And that Klaus told Juliette that he had compelled Genesis to forget everything that happened in New Orleans and every memory she had of the Mikaelsons."

Genesis gaped at Willow, eyes blinking rapidly as she asked, "What?" Genesis stood abruptly, pacing as a hand went to her forehead.

Suddenly she felt a migraine-but vampires never felt migraines, but she felt like she was having one after someone had just basically bombarded her with information of her compelled memories--memories that she had thought to be suppressed by her mind because of the killing sprees that she convinced herself that she had done.

It was the only explanation that made sense. One-hundred and twenty-nine years worth of blackened memories, it seemed as the most reasonable excuse, but this, all of what Willow had informed them, this was more possible.

"That's why he was looking for you," Elliot mutters to himself, but Genesis hears it.

Her head snapped towards him, stopping her footsteps in front of him. "What did you just say?"

Elliot takes both of her hands in his as he pleads, "Please listen and understand what I'm about to say."

Elliot told her that he made a deal with Niklaus when he was human that he would win all the cases that he took. With the help of the witches, it made it possible, but all the cases he received were the bad ones-ending with him getting murdered and getting turned by Elijah.

Then Niklaus collected, he ordered Elliot to find Genesis and protect her from harm's way, he had a hard time finding her, and he now knew why until Genesis barged into his office.

"You knew them?" Genesis gritted her teeth as her jaw tightened, "And you didn't tell me?" Genesis asks, trying to refrain her voice from yelling at Elliot.

"I wanted to, believe me." Elliot explains, his tone anxious, "But he compelled me not to. After I told him that you deserved the truth. But I didn't know that he compelled your memories away. I only know that he badly wanted to find you."

Genesis looks at him, and her eyes are soft. She understands. "After that, he removed the compulsion, if I told you. He would take her away from me."

"Who, Elliot?" Genesis asks softly as she sits beside him. Genesis had never seen Elliot so anxious before.

"Rebekah. That he'll never undagger her again. If I told you."

"Oh, Elliot."

Rebekah Mikaelson was the reason why Elliot Cresswell loves blondes—it reminded him of her.

Genesis purses her lips as she hugs him, with Elliot releasing a relieved sigh. Genesis pats his shoulder as she slowly pulls away, her eyes filled with understanding.

Genesis looked back at Willow, who was sitting silently on the bench across from them.

"Can you do a spell? That would bring back my memories?" Genesis asks tiredly as she leans back on the bench.

Willow shakes her head with an apologetic look. "If it's only five years' worth of memories, I can, but with one-hundred and twenty-nine — it'll use too much magic to dig in your mind. It can kill you."

Then Willow continues, "There are memories that you should get back. Important memories for you to remember, and I can't tell you...it's too personal for me to tell."

Genesis closes her eyes in defeat, sighing heavily. She knew what to do.

Genesis has to demand Niklaus to bring back her memories.

───⊱⁜⊰───

"YOU HAVE SOME EXPLAINING TO DO." Genesis enunciates as she holds Niklaus by the neck, pinning him against the wall with. Niklaus raised his hand in defeat as Elijah, who was a few steps behind them, looked at Katherine's unconscious body because Genesis snapped her neck to not overhear their conversation.

"Genesis, what is the meaning of this?" Elijah queries with a confused tone looking between Genesis and Niklaus. Genesis looks at him with a glare as she removes her hand from Niklaus's throat and takes the photograph out of her purse.

"What is the meaning of this?" Genesis exaggeratedly tells them as she points a finger toward the photo and recites, "New Orleans. 1819. A Grand Christmas Extravaganza."

Elijah and Niklaus shared a panicked look.

Genesis saw it and then exclaimed angrily, "Well!?"

Elijah walks towards Genesis. He was about to grab her hand when Genesis took two steps away from him, the tone in warning, "Don't you dare touch me." Genesis spits out full of spite as she points her finger between them.

"Not when you're both lying to me this entire time."

Elijah hid the hurt in his face as he pleaded tone begging, "Let me explain, please."

"I want my memories back," Genesis tells Niklaus, and Niklaus looks at Elijah, helpless, not knowing what to do. They both knew that the time would come that she'll find out, that they had to tell her, not while Mikael was still out there desiccating in some cemetery.

They have yet to talk to Bonnie about it.

"Genesis-" Niklaus begins as Genesis raises her hand, stopping him.

"I. Want. My. Memories. Back." Genesis emphasizes every word, her french accent showing.

"My lo-" Elijah starts, but Genesis snaps her head towards him.

"Don't call me that. You have no right to call me that." Genesis furiously tells him, then her eyes settle on Niklaus as her hand goes to necklace and raised her palm as Niklaus begins to choke on air, his hands grasping his neck, knees on the ground as Elijah said in a haste yet his voice calm.

"Niklaus will bring your memories back."

Genesis stopped, and Niklaus takes a deep breath, catching his breath as he stands back up. Then Stefan barged into the apartment.

Niklaus looks at him annoyedly. "You just keep popping up, don't you?"

"What are you doing here?" Genesis asks angrily as Stefan raises his hand in surrounder.

"Since Rose got healed from the werewolf bite. I assume you have the cure, and I want it for Damon." Stefan tells her, and Genesis rolls her eyes.

"Why don't you ask him yourself." Genesis nods in Niklaus' direction.

Niklaus walks towards Stefan and says. "Your brother could wait. I have more pressing matters to deal with." Then he walked towards Genesis, standing in front of Genesis as his hand went to her chin. Tilting her head up, Niklaus looked back at Elijah.

"Do it, Niklaus. You don't need his permission for my memories." Genesis is infuriated already, looking at Niklaus as if she wants to murder him. Niklaus sighs as their eyes connect then he says.

"Remember, Elijah, Remember us. Remember every memory you have of the Mikaelsons."

As if he released a dam full of water, the memories flooded her mind and washed over her as a wave of memories surged through her mind like a tsunami.

Echoes of voices and rapid flashes of memories played in her mind. Suddenly, Genesis moaned in pain, groaning as her hand went to her forehead, knees buckling until Elijah caught her in his arms.

It was too much. All of it was impossible to decipher all at once. It didn't make sense at all, it was a jumble of different memories all at once.

"Elijah." Genesis groans out in pain, squeezing her eyes shut as tears fall from her eyes.

"What's happening to her?" Stefan asks with furrowed brows, confused.

Genesis looked at Elijah through blurry vision and whimpered in a high pitched tone, "It's too much. It hurts. Make it stop." She pleads out as she lets out a small scream as she struggles in his arms, writhing in pain.

"We should've known better. One-hundred and twenty-nine years' worth of memories is too much for her to bear." Niklaus grumbled out as he paced, looking at Genesis worriedly. Goodness, they were truly idiots when it comes to Genesis.

Elijah consoles her as he wipes the tears from her cheeks with his thumb, combing her hair out of her face, "It'll be over soon, my love." Elijah says softly as he presses a soft kiss on her forehead, with Genesis leaning instinctively in his touch as Elijah tightens his hold on her before snapping Genesis's neck to the side.

Genesis fell dead in his arms as Elijah scooped her securely in his arms. Niklaus then walks towards them as he looks at Genesis, pursing his lips, "Take her to Cassandra. I'll deal with this first."

Then all Genesis could hear and see was the familiar voice and figure of Kol Mikaelson.