Originals: Family Above All

Summary: Set in S5 and I guess kind of Legacies. After Hope tries to kill Rebekah with her humanity off, Bex goes to the one person she never thought she'd ever go to. Katherine who's human with active Traveler magic, and who found a way to stay young via a crystal necklace. After the cure was shoved down her throat, Kat got the hell out of dodge and went to live in a small town where nobody knows her. When Bex finds her and asks for help and tells her about what happened to Klaus, will Kat help her get the real Hope back? What will happen when Bex finally tells her that Elijah shared the same fate as Klaus?

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        It was a beautiful day in a little town, as a human Katherine got towards the end of her shift. A while after getting the cure shoved down her throat, she'd had to actually work for a place to stay. And so, she'd become a waitress. That had been years ago, but like some witches, she knew how to stay young and not age. She hadn't seen any familiar faces since being here, but now she saw one. 

        Kat walked over to her booth, but didn't sit. Last time she'd been in the same booth, she'd gotten her hair pulled and a fork through her hand. She wasn't taking a chance. Even with active Traveler magic, she could kill her in an instant. 

        "What are you doing here, blondie?" Kat inquired. 

        "I need your help. I have a problem I can't fix on my own." 

        "Why are you coming to me? I'm not a vampire anymore." 

        "Because Kol and Freya are half way across the world. And happy. I won't interrupt their happiness. Nik did that and it pretty much broke us all. I don't have Nik to ask for help, so I need yours." 

        "What's that supposed to mean?" she inquired. Being away from everyone, she hadn't known anything that had happened. 

        "He sacrificed himself for his daughter. He felt like there wasn't a loophole. Now, his daughter, Hope, has it off. She's been going on murder sprees. I tried reaching her, but she tried to kill me. She's the worst parts of Nik. I don't know what's true and what's not, but I know you had a daughter once. I think if nobody else was left, he'd want you to take care of her." 

        "I'm sorry about Klaus. I'll help you get the real Hope back. Anyone that tries to kill family needs major help. But considering this'll take a while, I need your handy compulsion so I can get out of work for a while." 

        "Consider it done," the blonde Original vampiress replied. 

        Later that night, Kat sat in the passenger seat in Rebekah's SUV, as the Original blonde drove. 

        "So, tell me about this niece of yours. Might be useful." 

        "She's a hybrid and witch wrapped all in one. Very powerful. She shares Nik's passion for art, as well as his temper. And murderous nature. She felt like it was time to become the tribrid, so she killed someone she loved. Her boyfriend. Since then, she's had it off. I tried to play nice and reach whatever's left of the real Hope, but that didn't work. I didn't have much of a backup plan, so I tried a dagger. It didn't work on her. Like Nik. I don't have any options left, and you and Nik were the most diabolical people I know. And since I heard you had a daughter, I thought you might have a plan or more. Hope was supposed to be better than the rest of us. Make our name mean something better than murder, fear, and mayhem to others. Not make it worst than before," Bex explained to her. 

        "Sounds sweet when her emotions are on. We have our work cut out for us, then," Kat commented. 

        The next day, after Kat was settled into the compound, they got to formulating a plan. She'd only dealt with emotionless vampires before, so she hoped she could help. She knew hybrids were difficult to deal with, even with their emotions in check. She could only imagine what a tribrid was capable of. 

        "I know she's your niece, and you came to me, but I think you should let me meet her and see if I can work my magic with her first. I think after she tried to kill you, she won't respond well if she knows you're there," she told her, as she sat in a recliner in the parlor. They were in New Orleans still. 

        "If you think your plan can work, be my guest. I'll be close enough to hear if you need help." 

        "Then it's a plan," Kat agreed.

        Hope was walking down a sidewalk, but stopped when she felt a presence. She then turned around to see someone. 

        "Why are you following me? Who even are you?" she inquired. 

        "You might not have heard of me, but I'm a legend. I've heard of you, though. The miracle child. The baby Mikaelson. A talented girl. You have your father's everything, even if you don't mean to. My name's Katherine. If your father and I hadn't hated each other, we could've been friends. He turned me into him. I'm the definition of broken and misunderstood. Elijah knew that, but loved me anyway." 

        "You knew him?" 

        "More than I ever wanted to. Look, Hope. I know the sacrifice you made, but he wouldn't want this for you. You can't feel it right now, but I know it hurts. I learned from friends a long time ago to let that pain in. The sooner you do, the easier it'll be. I know you're a Mikaelson, so you're like me. You don't deal with pain very well. You're also destructive. But what you're doing? I know you don't want to hear this, but this is a disgrace to what your parents died for. You're supposed to make your family name mean something better. Not make it mean even more murder and fear. That's what you're doing." 

        "How do you know so much?" she wanted to know. 

        "One of your family members caught me up to speed. I decided it was time someone that knew your dad outside of family should step in. Tell you what your dad can't. That this is a mistake." 

        "You can't possibly know what it's like," Hope replied. 

        "Really? Let's see. Deceased parents at a young age. Check. Misunderstood. Check. Emotions off at one point. Check. Powerful. Check. Not wanting to feel the overwhelming pain. Check. I think that covers it. Don't you?" 

        "He really did make you a monster like he was. And like I am," Hope commented. 

        "Is that what you think you are?" Kat asked.

        "What else would I be? I killed someone I loved to become this. I turned a friend into a vampire. I almost killed Alaric. What am I, other than a monster? Everyone at school seemed to be waiting for this, so I might as well make their fears come to life," she replied and shared. 

        "You're someone learning as you grow more and more powerful. Someone that's had more heartbreak than anyone should have to bare. Let me tell you something. My doppelganger once called me a monster. Most people did. But if you want people to see you differently, you have to show them that you're not the monster they think you are." She then assured her, saying, "I won't force you to turn it on, but you need to change your habits." 

        "You're not like most people, are you?" the youngest Mikaelson assumed. 

        "No. I'm not. I'm different from other people. Back in my vampire years, people didn't see me coming until it was too late. But I changed as a human. You and I are alike. We prefer to do things our own way." 

        "So, what is this? A hear to heart?"

        "Sorta," Kat replied. 

        A moment later, Bex came to stand behind her and snapped her neck. 

        "Time to take her home," Kat commented. 

        When the tribrid woke up, magicless cuffs were on her wrists, she had chains on her wrists close to the cuffs, and Katherine stood in front of her. 

        "What happened to not forcing me?" Hope inquired. 

        "I wasn't completely honest with you. Your Aunt Rebekah asked for my help. She wants you to turn it on. If you were a vampire, I'd starve you and a few questionable other things. However, we have to deal with you like a hybrid." 

        "I should've killed her, I see," Hope replied. 

        "Hope, listen. You can't go around killing family. Or trying to. Family is meant to stand by each other."

        "You too, with family? It's overrated." 

        "That's not you. You're a sweet and compassionate girl with it on. I know you love your family," Kat replied. 

        After Kat pulled a Freya stunt with a crystal, she was able to force her to revisit everything that was painful. That forced Hope to turn it on. 

        Later that night, Kat sat on her bedside. 

        "Thanks for helping me," Hope said, sitting on her bed. 

        "It was my duty. It's the least I could do for your dad. If it were reversed and Nadia was still alive, I'd want Klaus to do the same for my daughter. Besides, I know what it's like to lose your mother too early. I turned it off for a while after Klaus killed her. Then I made friends that helped me turn it on and deal with the pain. It took time, but I healed. So can you." 

        "I'd like if you stayed here. I know you'll never be mom, but you have wisdom like dad. He just didn't have enough time to share much with me. And I think I could use your wisdom right now." 

        "Then I'll stay. I'd be happy to help you through this tough time." 

        "Thanks." 

        Kat got up. 

        "You're welcome." 

        She left, heading downstairs.

        Kat entered the parlor, which Rebekah was in. The blonde had a shot glass of bourbon. 

        "Now that your niece is herself again, mind telling me why you haven't spoken about Elijah at all? Where is he?"

        "I didn't want to have this conversation until Hope was herself again. It would've distracted you. I may have never liked you, but I get the sense how far he would've gone to keep you safe and alive. Elijah fell for Hope's mother. His grief was too much. He blamed himself for not trying to save her, but at the time, he didn't have his memories to remember he loved her. He was too grief-stricken to think of you when he decided to die with Klaus. He thought his only solution was peace with her. I'm sorry, Katherine," she explained. 

        "Someone should've told me this. I could've helped him," Kat simply stated. Then she left. 

        Rebekah watched her leave, not attempting to stop her. She couldn't compete with or comprehend 500 years of love. He'd always be her brother, but it was completely different for Katherine. She just hoped the former vampiress didn't get herself killed. She wouldn't stop her from trying to bring one or both of them back, though. She still missed them. She just didn't know how to bring either of them back. She would if she could. Her family was separated without either of them. She wished for at least one of them back. But when Hope had tried looking for a way so long ago, she couldn't find a way. Maybe Katherine knew a way that they didn't. 

        Kat walked for a while through the quarter, upset at the news. She was strong usually, but she didn't feel like that right now. She grieved for her favorite Original. She'd always love him. He'd been her love, protector, anchor for her humanity, and just been there throughout the centuries. She was clearly hurting from his death. She'd always thought he'd outlive her. Not the other way around. Right now, she needed to be alone, so she was glad neither of them had followed her. 

        She sat on a bench after a while, and as she was thinking of him, everything changed. She didn't care or know why, though. She only cared about him. Then he was there next to her. 

        "I'm sorry, Katerina. I was selfish and in pain, much like you right now," he apologized. "I wouldn't blame you if you hated me for doing what I did." 

        "I don't know how I'm here, but I hate what you did. Not you," she replied, still looking at the ground. "You left me alone. I never wanted to live in a world without you." She finally looked at him. "Did you find what you were looking for?" 

        "I was reunited, yes, but whoever I love in this century, you'll always be my greatest love. I'm sorry I left again. I wouldn't blame you if you brought me back. I know you too well. I know they'll come a time you'll try." 

        "Thank you," she replied. 

        "As for your trip here, I think if you have magic, then wanting me back and your pain made it possible to travel to the afterlife." 

        "I'm descended from Travelers. I made it active magic," she informed him. 

        "That explains it then. You should go now. I'm sure I'll see you again soon." 

        A moment later, she was back. 

        "Thank you," she said, the trip having made the pain hurt less, having been able to speak with him, even just for a short while. And now she knew she had his okay to find a way to bring him back. She hadn't known before if she should, because she hadn't wanted to go against his wishes. That was one thing she honored. His wishes. They were as important to her as his word and promises were. Maybe even as important as the vow he'd made with his siblings. She cherished that, even if she hadn't acted like that as a vampire. 

        Kat entered the mausoleum in the cemetery she knew all too well. After all, she'd known Davina when she'd been a pre-teen. Before Marcel had stopped the Harvest. She'd also been friends with Sophie. She even knew some tricks from witches she'd met or seen as friends. It wouldn't be hard to bring someone back. She just needed to be strong enough to bring back an Original. Preferably, the right one. She preferred Elijah, but at this point, would take either of them. Right now though, she was concentrated on Elijah. 

        It took a while, having some trial and error, but with her hundreds of years knowledge of magic, along with everything else she knew she needed to complete it, she finally was able to bring him back all intact. And after he'd fed, he was here. Nothing extra attached to him. She'd made sure of that. It took her a year to do this, but she'd finally succeeded. And so, they got their happy ending at last.