Hi, Tala here. Sorry I haven't written anything in two months. Family issues. But, I worked through it and found my inspiration for this story. Saving Kol isn't going to be over for a while. I have a huge surprise waiting for you. Be warned, Danny read it and she called me evil. She litteraly screamed evil at me. It's nothing bad, just a cliffhanger I wrote. ;) I don't own Vampire Diaries or the Originals and enjoy.

Talia stepped carefully off the plane into the hot, muggy New Orleans night air. She wiped her forehead dramatically. "Matty. It's so humid. I'm melting." Talia turned to her little sister.

Matty rolled her eyes. Matty was pouting. Elijah had compelled her. She got that she might have overreacted. But seeing her big sister carried into the house, covered in blood, by a panicking Kol freaked her out.

"Come on, Matty. I know you want to smile." Talia elbowed the blonde in the ribs.

Matty turned her head away.

Talia gasped. "Oh my God! My hair will be ruined!"

Matty's lips quirked up but quickly frowned.

"The curls will be unmanageable!" Talia continued as the seven of them got into the cars provided.

Kol, Talia and Matty got into one car, followed by Niklaus.

Elijah looked over at Rebekah and Jordan who had talked and had called a tentative truce. "I guess we get this one."

The three got in the car. Rebekah up front, Elijah driving which left Jordan to hop in the back.

In Talia's car, Talia and Kol were trying to cheer up Matty. It finally worked when Talia pretended to melt into Kol when Niklaus rolled down the window.

"I am a puddle of Talia." She said, mock sadness coating every word.

Matty busted up laughing.

"Ha!" Talia sat up with a smirk. "I did it. Nik, you owe me."

Nik rolled his eyes. "I was only joking."

"No. You can't weasel your way out of this. A bet is a bet." Talia spoke firmly.

"It doesn't count. You wanted to cheer her up anyway." Nik countered.

"True." Talia paused. "I really don't like this weather."

"Don't worry, Darling. We will leave to go somewhere colder as soon as the witches are freed." Kol clenched his fists.

Talia leaned into him in the backseat as she replied. "Uh . . . that's not gonna work. I promised Matty that I would take her to anywhere in the world she chose after we saved the witches. She chose Australia. We have a week planned with just her and I. I promised no boys, no Rebekah and no Jordan. And after that, I might win that wager with Bekah and I will have another week with just me and her doing whatever she wants."

"So after all this I won't see you for two weeks?" Kol frowned.

"I think I can take a week in between Matty and Bekah to be with you." Talia thought aloud. "I might have to reason with Rebekah."

Nik snorted. "Good luck with that."

Talia leaned forward and flicked his ear. "Don't be mean to Bekah."

The car swerved. "Hey! No distracting the driver." Matty reached back and slapped Talia's leg.

"Ouch! That hurt you freak!" Talia frowned.

"You love me psycho." Matty smirked in the front seat.

Kol and Niklaus rolled their eyes. While they haven't gotten used to Matty and Talia's relationship they were getting a really good idea about it right now.

Kol's phone rang. "Elijah." Kol said in greeting. "Yes. We're fine. Talia flicked Nik's ear." Kol sighed. "Alright. Here, Darling. It's for you."

Talia hesitantly took the phone. "Hello?"

Everyone in the car could hear Jordan and Elijah's scolding tones.

Matty snickered. "Double team." She muttered under her breath.

Talia glared at her sister. "Yes, Elijah. I promise to not distract the driver of any car I am in. Not even if it is Kol." Talia said sullenly.

Kol rubbed her arm. "It's alright Darling. You can distract me anytime."

Talia's face went as red as her hair. "Kol!" Talia elbowed him in the ribs. "Sorry for yelling in your ear Elijah." Talia gritted. "Yes. I will be a perfectly behaved poodle." Talia snapped the phone shut.

"What was that for?" Talia hissed.

"Talia, calm down." Matty turned in her seat. "You can get your revenge later. We have some people to save."

Talia relaxed as much as she could. "Yeah. People to save." Talia looked out the window as New Orleans rolled by. "Are we there yet?"

"Almost." Niklaus spoke as he made a turn onto a rural road.

Talia pressed her face to the glass of the window as a huge, sprawling manor loomed in the distance. "Wow." She mouthed.

Talia and Matty shared looks.

Nik turned into the driveway and parked the car at the end of it. "Now, we haven't been here in a while so the house may need some touching up."

"How long is a while?" Matty asked.

"Since the beginning of the 1900's." Kol spoke up.

"So, it's an old relic like you?" Talia questioned mock innocently. Talia squealed as Kol pinched her side. "Okay. Okay. Not an old relic."

"So basically, ancient plumbing and electrical." Matty said, ignoring the two in the back.

"Essentially." Nik popped open the car door and got out.

Matty, Talia and Kol got out of the car.

"An elderly artifact?" Talia giggled.

Kol made a face at her.

"A decrepit antique?" Talia tried to calm her giggles.

"Who are you calling decrepit?" Rebekah huffed. Just her luck to be stuck with the stuffy ones.

"Talia's calling Kol that. Klaus explained about the house and Talia made a joke." Matty explained.

"I got it! Ancient heirloom." Talia shrieked.

Kol growled and chased after her. Talia yelped and ran around the house.

"What is Talia doing? She's supposed to be helping us save the witches." Rebekah said, angrily.

"Give her a break!"

"She's doing her job!"

Matty and Jordan defended her.

"Look, you guys know best how destructive Kol can be. Talia is helping by keeping things light. Don't get her wrong, Talia and Kol are furious but they are doing their best to not go all Terminator on Marcel and the other vamps." Matty explained.

"How can you tell she's angry?" Elijah asked, curious.

"Simple." Jordan took over from Matty. "It's in the way she carries herself. Look at her shoulders, see how tensed they are? Outward, Talia may appear calm and happy. Inside is a different story. Talia is pissed."

"She is keeping calm for Kol's sake." Matty whispered.

"See? She's doing her job." Jordan said, just as quietly.

Talia and Kol emerged from the side of the house. "Matty? You have got to see this. There is a garden back there. Overgrown and in desperate need of care, sure. But it is massive. Come on! Jordan, you come as well."

"I can't." Jordan told her. "I have to go inside. The sun is coming up."

Talia whipped her head to face the east and sure enough there was a lightness in the sky. Talia's face fell. "Yeah. That's right. I forgot."

"It's okay Tals. I will see it tonight." Jordan wrapped Talia in a hug. "Don't worry so much. We will save them."

"I'm not-" Talia protested.

Jordan threw a look at her. "Talia, your back and shoulders have been military straight since we got off the plane. Take some time today to just breathe and relax. You have the advantage. You know almost everything. Just don't get too cocky. Arrogance can be our downfall. I really have to go inside." Jordan brushed past everyone, grabbed her small bag from the trunk of the car and scurried inside.

Talia grabbed her bag and went inside. "I think we need a meeting at around one in the afternoon. That will give me time to come up with a better plan." Talia shot over her shoulder as she went.

Talia and Kol got situated in their room. They unpacked and set up their bed. When they were done, Talia lit a piece of sage.

"Kol? Can I ask you something?" Talia asked at Kol's questioning look.

"Yes." Kol answered.

"Are you really okay?" Talia whispered.

Kol sat down on the bed and sighed. "Honestly Talia? No. It infuriates me down to who I am that this is happening. These people were once my kin. They were once who I was. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure." Talia sat down next to Kol.

"Why don't you like your parents?"

Talia scrubbed her hand down her face. "My mother was once a great woman. We were a loving family. My dad was the best person in the world. Then Matty came along and we were perfect. The complete family. That all changed the night my dad was killed. Matty was only three years old. I was eight. All I remember was being asleep. My father had tucked me in. Told me he loved me and he would see me in the morning. That was the last I saw of him." Talia wiped a tear from her eye. "I woke to screaming. Mom was crying and shouting at the police at the door to go away. That they were lying.

"Matty woke when the door slammed. Mom wouldn't help her. She was just sitting on her knees on the ground. I got Matty out of her crib and carried her downstairs to mom.

"Th-that was the first time I saw her be that mean. She yelled at us. Told us we were nothing but brats and that it was our fault Dad was dead. Mom said he had gone on a milk run because Matty and I loved to eat Lucky Charms in the morning. She told us in great detail what had happened.

"I tried to shield Matty as much as I could. I covered her ears as she wailed her little heart out. I couldn't escape because mom had us trapped in a corner.

"Mom finally stormed out of the house. I cried as I carried Matty back to bed. She wouldn't let go of me. I brought her to my bed and we tried to go back to sleep. Matty was successful but I couldn't get her words out of my head. That was the first nights of many that Matty and I shared a bed.

"Mom fell into bad habits. Drugs, men and alcohol were her favorites. By the time I was eighteen I was all set to move out and get custody of Matty. I had years worth of photos and videos of Mom being mean to Matty and I. The courts went in my favor. It didn't help Mom's case when she showed up to court drunk and high.

"I was awarded custody of Matty and we have lived our lives how we wanted ever since. I don't touch drugs or drink that much alcohol. I have never been drunk in my life. Matty deserves the best life has to offer. All she has ever known was hurt and fear and pain her whole life. The only love and good things she had were me.

"So, that's my story. Eight years of happiness and love, then twelve years of working my butt off to make ends meet." Talia sniffled. "What's your story?" She joked.

Kol was sitting as still as a rock. His face blank. Talia sniffed again and Kol snapped out of it. "I'm glad you are here, Darling. No one is going to hurt you on my watch." Kol pulled Talia into a hug. "I promise. You or Matty."

Talia leaned against Kol. "Thank you."

"Talia? I wanted to say something." Kol kissed her hair. "Talia I-"

There was a knock and then someone walked in the room. "Talia? I found the perfect spot for you to meditate to get a better plan. It's just around the-" Matty trailed off. "What did you do?" She glared. "I swear if you hurt her I'll-"

"It's fine Matt. He asked about Her." Talia wiped her eyes.

Matty's eyes went soft. "Oh. Well, the spot I found is in the garden. I spent some time clearing the weeds from this little patch by a small pond. I figured you could use the spot for your deep thinking."

"I'll be right there. Kol was about to tell me something." Talia made a go away motion with her hands.

"It's fine, Talia. It can wait." Kol frowned.

"Are you sure?" Talia nudged him in the ribs. "It seemed kind of serious."

"I'm sure. Go and do your deep thinking. The quicker you do that the quicker we can save the witches." Kol stood up. He pulled Talia to her feet. "I'll finish up in here Darling."

"If you're sure." Talia made her way to the door. She spun around and laid a quick kiss on his cheek. "See ya. You can tell me what you wanted to later."

Talia scooted past Matty and led the way down the stairs. "Come along Freak."

"Right behind you Psycho." Matty and Talia's laughter echoed down the stairs.

"I love you." Kol whispered forlornly to an empty room. He sighed. He finished by opening the windows in the room.

Kol watched from the window as Talia and Matty play fought their way to the garden. Looking at the sisters, most people saw a close relationship. Probably built from being sisters for so long. In fact, that was exactly what Kol had thought. Watching them now, he could see the looks Talia would often give her sister as if checking to make sure she was happy and protected. Their relationship wasn't made from being so close for so long. It was made from suffering and heartbreak and pain. Talia had so much thrust upon her at such a young age that she never really got to be a kid. Sure, eight years might be most of her childhood, but it wasn't enough at the same time.

Kol made a vow that nothing would ever hurt those two girls like that again. He swore it on his life. While he did that, Kol could have sworn that the sun got just a bit brighter and warmer.

Talia waved goodbye to Matty and flopped on the ground. She folded her legs and rested her hands on her knees. Talia shut her eyes and breathed deep. She had never tried this with extremely good senses before but how hard could it be?

It turned out it was really hard. Everytime Talia would be just about to slip under a noise or smell would bring her back.

Talia got up and moved further into the wilderness behind the house. After walking at a human pace for ten minutes Talia found a semi weed free patch of earth. Talia sank down and thought.

Talia began to glow with a faint white light as she slipped deeper and deeper. Soon enough Talia leaned back and laid down.

Talia opened her eyes to see a young woman sitting across from her.

"Hello? Who are you? Why am I here?" Talia demanded.

"All in good time Young One. We are waiting on a few people." The woman spoke.

A matronly woman entered the room just then. With a graceful swirl of her skirts, she sat next to the young woman.

"Who are you?" Talia asked quieter.

"You can call me Helen. This is Sola. We are the ones who brought you here to this world." The matron spoke.

"Why did you bring us here? We had a good life there." Talia defended her and her sister. "Jordan was going to be a nurse. Matty had school."

"We brought you here because you needed each other. The Mikaelson's and you need each other." Helen spoke. "Three more shall be added to your circle of friends. All will be from this world. We have destroyed what brought you here. There is no going back."

Talia frowned. "Do you have a plan to help the witches?"

"You have what you need in you. But we can offer advice." Helen answered. "Think Young One. Think hard. What do you need to deal with first?"

"The Harvest ritual." Talia spoke after a moment.

"Not quite Young One. First, you need to be on good terms with the witches. They will only help you if you help them first." Helen smoothed her skirts.

"How do I help them?" Talia asked, confused.

"Think Youngling. You arrived earlier than you realize." Helen encouraged.

"Jane-Anne. I save her, the witches will help us?" Talia posed it as a question.

"You are forgetting something. Niklaus won't have that baby." Sola finally spoke up.

Helen frowned at Sola.

"So, how will I know to save Jane-Anne?" Talia was confused. "Also, the Harvest Ritual brought back three powerful witches that ran amok in the story I know."

"That is where your witch protector comes in. Together, you two are unstoppable." Helen answered.

"So, I need to find him. How do I do that?" Talia looked to Helen.

"A rescue mission. Right now your protector is being held by the vampire in charge. This is where you start. Find your protector and we will talk again." Helen stood up. "Goodbye Young One." Helen vanished from the room.

"Great. Not a lot to go on. I have no idea where he is." Talia stood up. "How do I get back?"

"Daniel Motley is his name. You will find him near Davina Claire. Hurry. He doesn't have much time left." Sola spoke quickly and hushed as she moved toward Talia. "Have faith Young One. You can make it through this. Kol needed you. The Mikaelson's needed your family. As your family needed them. Go Young One. Wake up."

Sola touched Talia's forehead with a finger.

Talia blinked as she sat up. Talia looked around confused for a moment before she remembered their words. "Rebekah." Talia breathed. Talia scrambled to her feet and zipped back to the manor.

"Guys! Meeting. Now." Talia spoke as soon as she entered the mansion. "Everybody. Come quick."

Kol was by her side in an instant. "What's the matter Darling? You are practically humming."

Talia sat down on a loveseat and pulled Kol next to her. Everyone was in the room by then. "Okay. This is our first fight against the vampires and saving the witches. I need to find the witch protector."

Rebekah perked up a bit.

"I know where he is. He is being held captive by the vamps. He is near Davina's location. This will be our first attack against Marcel's army. Here is your jobs." Talia chattered excitedly.

"Wait a moment." Niklaus held up a hand. "How did you get this information?"

"Helen and Sola." Talia spoke carefully. "While I was outside I fell into a sort of trance. Like that time on the island but no killing. There were two women there. One was young. That was Sola. One was matron like. Her name was Helen. They said they were here to help me. They were the reason my family was brought to yours. They said we needed each other. Anyway they are my advisors you can say. Our first step is saving Daniel. Our next step is saving Jane-Anne. By then, the witches will trust us enough to help us in return. Helen and Sola said they would contact me again to help us plan further."

Talia looked at Rebekah. "She told me to hurry. He doesn't have much time left. That is why we need to go as quickly as possible. I'm sorry, Jordan, Matty, you two are staying here. No buts!" Talia held up a hand. "Jordan, it is daylight and until you have your necklace, you are stuck here unless at night.

"Matty, it isn't the full moon yet. You aren't strong enough to fight." Talia turned to Elijah. "'Lijah, your job is to get that necklace here as soon as possible. Rebekah, your job is to distract Marcel if he turns up. Nik and Kol will be leading the front charge. Mainly fighting off the vamps guarding him. Elijah will join you. My job is getting Daniel out. We need to do this within the next hour. Anybody have questions?"

Everyone was silent.

"Okay good." Talia collapsed back into Kol.

"Where is Davina at?" Nik asked.

"I don't know exactly what street but I do know the general location. It's somewhere in the French Quarter and it is a church that had a fire recently. One of the staff went crazy and killed all of his fellow people then killed himself." Talia sat up again. "Also and this is the most important thing ever. Don't go into Rousseau's without me and don't talk to anyone named Camille. She's the bartender at that bar and she works for Marcel. Jane-Anne's sister Sophie works at Rousseau's as a cook but I will be the only one to approach her. Marcel has vampires there that frequent and watch that bar. Don't go anywhere near it.

"Rousseau's will be on our list as well. Just not now." Talia stressed. "What do we need to get done to go save Daniel?"

"Just to find the location of this church." Elijah answered.

"Matty can do that easily. She is a whiz at technology." Talia smiled at her little sister.

Matty rolled her eyes. "Yeah, now you let me help. Well, just give me a computer and I will have that address in five minutes."

Elijah ran upstairs and came back down with his laptop.

"Ugh. 2012 technology. Man, what I wouldn't give for 2017 technology." Matty muttered. She booted up the laptop and started typing. "Here we go." Matty rattled off a street name. "That's the road the church is on. You should find him easily from there. Good luck. I'll be upstairs in my kid proofed room." Matty moved towards the stairs. "You know something, Talia," Matty paused. "I'll never be my own person as long as you keep babying me."

"Matty," Talia began.

"No. I get it. I get why you do it. But Talia, please, let me help. I am with you for a reason." Matty walked out of the room.

Talia looked at the floor. Kol pulled her into his body. "It's going to be okay, Darling."

"Is it?" Talia said lowly.

The others in the room quietly got up and left, giving the couple privacy.

"Yes. It is." Kol reassured.

"I look at her and I see that little three year old sobbing as I cover her ears and protect her." Talia whispered.

"That right there is the problem. Talia, she isn't that little baby anymore. Matty has grown into a bright young woman. She is fifteen years old. When I was human, she would have been looking for someone to marry. You have to let her grow up Talia. You can't keep doing this to her. Sooner or later, she's going to resent you." Kol told her.

Talia burst into tears. "I know. I know I have to let her make her own mistakes. But it's hard. I have raised her. I was there for everything. Every birthday, every sickness, every bump and bruise. I was there for her first heartache. Now I see that she is almost able to make it on her own and all I can do is think back to when she was little and needed me."

"She still needs you." Kol tugged her tighter against him. "That will never change. She needs you to make her laugh. To make her happy. She needs you to be there. Those things haven't changed. Just be there for her. Let her help us. She can shift at will, right? So let her come. She can be our doggy back up. Have her hide and if it looks like Nik, Elijah and I would be overrun, send her in."

Talia nodded. "Okay. You're right."

Kol broke into a huge grin. "Say that again. I am having trouble hearing you."

Talia smiled. "Never. That will be the only time I say that."

"We'll see." Kol smiled smugly. "I will get you to say it again. We have forever after all."

"Kol? Thank you." Talia leaned up and kissed him.

"Don't let my siblings know what a good guy I am." Kol said, mock seriously.

"I think it's too late for that." Talia flicked her wrist and the door opened. Nik, Rebekah, Jordan and Elijah tumbled into the room. "Ready to go save Daniel?" At the nods she got Talia stood up. "Okay. Let's all go. Just let me grab one thing." Talia ran up the stairs to Matty's room. "Matty? I think we need you after all." Talia knocked on the door.

Matty opened her door a crack and stuck her head out. "Are you sure? This isn't a joke."

"Yes Matty. We need you. Come with us." Talia coaxed.

Matty beamed. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." Matty squealed and almost strangled Talia in a hug.

"Go get some easily removable clothes. We need you to shift before we leave." Talia smiled softly at the happiness of her sister.

"What made you change your mind?" Matty called as she pulled clothes from drawers.

"More like who." Talia paused. "Kol did. He told me a few things, reminded me on other things and made me realize that you aren't a little kid anymore who needs me to protect her."

Matty froze in her room. "Remind me to give your boyfriend an awesome gift for that."

Talia chuckled. "Okay. Hey, Matty? Don't forget to give Kol an awesome gift."

Matty threw a shirt at Talia. "Jerk."

"Brat." Talia snapped back playfully.

Matty gathered her clothes and put them in a bag. "Can I shift here?"

"I don't see why not. Just don't ruin the floor. Nik will most likely kill me." Talia answered.

Matty started shifting. In twenty minutes, a blonde wolf stood in the middle of the room. The wolf walked up to Talia and nuzzled her.

Talia petted her. "Let's go kick some vamp butt, Matty." Talia walked from the room, her sister following her.

Tala