-

"Chicago was magical"

Klaus spoke from behind me, as I looked out at the scenery. It was night and the lights from the building shined bright, it was a beautiful view. I remember being here, it was a while back though so unfortunately I could only remember parts.

"Yeah well I'll take your word for it" I huffed, "Like I said I don't remember most of it"

"Ready to get down to business then?" He asked, watching me walk away from him.

"Where are we going?" I asked, leaning against his car, well I assumed it was his car, he never actually told me how he got it.

"We're going to see my favourite witch. If anyone can help us with our hybrid problem, it's her" He explained as he made his way to the car himself.

—

Pulling up outside a bar, I felt as if I had been here before, it looked really familiar. That's when I realised I had actually been here before, a long time ago when I was in serious ripper mode. It was a nice place to attract young men looking for one night stands, which was lucky for me because that meant I had plenty to eat. Those who were stupid enough to be fooled by my good lucks and charm never lasted the night.

"Looks familiar doesn't it?" Klaus asked as we walked through the open doors, into the bar.

"I can't believe this place is still here" I responded, looking around in awe.

The place didn't even seem to have stopped running, the only thing missing from the last time I had been here was the crowd of happy people.

"You gotta be kidding me"

My head turned as I heard the voice of a woman. To the side stood an older woman with very short hair, wearing a casual outfit as she looked between the two of us in shock.

"So, a hybrid walks into the bar and says to the bartender-"

"Stop" The woman cut him off, "You may be invincible but that doesn't make you funny"

I held back a laugh at her statement, she clearly didn't take any shit from Klaus which I liked. The more I looked at her the more I seemed to recognise her, but the person I thought it was couldn't be right, she must've died years ago considering she was only a human. Her name was Gloria and she sang sometimes, I think she owned the bar actually but I wasn't completely sure.

"I remember you" She looked at me and I nodded slowly, looking her up and down.

"Gloria?" I questioned, not sure if I was right.

"Mm-Hmm" She hummed, a proud smile on her face.

I furrowed my brows in confusion, how is she alive right now? With all due respect she should be rotting in a coffin somewhere.

"Shouldn't you be.." I trailed off, cocking my head to the side.

"Old and dead?" She smiled, knowing exactly what I was thinking. "Now if I die, who's gonna run this place huh?"

"Gloria's a very powerful witch" Klaus explained.

"I can slow the ageing down some" She confirmed, and I nodded my head now understanding how she was stood in front of me right now.

"Cheryl, why don't you go and fix us up a little something from behind the bar?" Klaus asked, now facing me.

I shrugged, and took a few steps back. "Yeah, sure thing"

I then fully turned my body so I could see where I was going, not wanting to embarrass myself by falling over. I was a vampire but that didn't mean my clumsiness had disappeared, unfortunately. I made my way behind the bar, as Klaus and Gloria took a seat at one of the many empty tables, beginning to discuss the reason why the two of us had arrived here. I grabbed two glasses, as I used my vampire abilities so I could hear the conversation clearly.

"Every spell has a loophole, but a curse that old... we'd have to contact with the witch who created it" Gloria explained to Klaus, as I poured the alcohol into each cup.

"Well that would be the original witch" Klaus responded, "She's very dead" He deadpanned.

"I know, and for me to contact her, I'll need help"

My eyes fell onto a photo that was pinned up against the wall, just as I put away the glass bottle I had been using. Klaus' conversation was long forgotten about as my eyes scanned over the photo, the sight left me confused and shocked. My jaw fell slack as I turned to face Klaus, not bothering to wait for his conversation to end.

"What is this?" I asked, causing him to turn his gaze towards me.

"Well I told you Cheryl, Chicago's a magical place" He spoke, not even waiting for me to explain. I hadn't even shown him the picture.

"But this is me" I muttered, glancing between him and the photo that was still in my hand. "With you"

I then showed him what I had found, a photo that had clearly been taken years ago. I recognised myself from the night, but I couldn't remember the photo being taken, and I especially didn't remember being stood with Klaus, his arm around my waist whilst the two of us had giant smiles on our faces, we seemed to have known each other for ages.

—

I rubbed my temples as I took in the new information Klaus had decided to drop onto me. Apparently, I had met him that night along with his sister, and we apparently seemed to get along rather well.

"Your sister? So I knew another original vampire?" I stated, though it sounded more like I was asking him to confirm.

"If you can't handle it then don't ask" He responded, noticing my clear frustration.

He walked towards some coffins, inside were his siblings which was weird but then again I'm stood with a hybrid, and I was a breathing vampire. He opened one, and I neared it, looking inside I saw his sister. Her hair was curled and to one side, the dress was clearly from decades ago meaning she must've been daggered for a long time and her body was a scary gray colour, as the veins were more prominent. She looked like a vampire who had just been staked.

Seeing her triggered something inside of me, it was as if I felt a connection with her but my body wasn't allowing me to remember. Why did I feel that way? And why couldn't I remember meeting her?

"I don't recognise her. But I feel something" I told him honestly, as he stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"Well don't tell her that, Rebekah's temper is worse than mine" He muttered, before his hand clasped around the dagger sticking out of her chest, and he pulled it out quickly.

"Time to wake up little sister" He smiled, as I watched him with cautious eyes.

—

"I was your number one fan" Klaus told me, as we walked around he building, waiting for Rebekah to wake up.

Apparently, being woken up after almost a hundred years took some time.

"Why should I believe you?" I asked him, as we rounded the corner.

"When she wakes up tell her to meet us at Gloria's bar then volunteer your carotid artery and let her feed until you die" Klaus compelled one of the men he had guarding his siblings, and he nodded as if it was all a bit of fun.

"Where are you going?" I asked him, unaware we were leaving.

"You think I'm lying Cheryl, you and I knew each other, you trusted me with one of your secrets and now I'm going to prove it to you" He quickly explained, leaving me puzzled as I followed behind.

"How?"

"We're going to your old apartment"

I slowed down at the statement. My old apartment? I hadn't been there for a long time I'd be surprised if it still existed. It took me awhile to figure out why we were going there, why it was so special. And then I remembered, the names of my victims were written along the walls in one of the cupboards, but I was the only one who knew about it. Why would I of told Klaus? I was still overly confused about the whole situation, but something told me that I'd soon be told everything.

—

"What a charming little homestead" Sarcastic Klaus doesn't disappear for long.

We arrived outside of my old apartment, Klaus seemed to know where it was located more than I did which wasn't a huge shock seeing as my memory wasn't doing me any favours today.

Klaus easily kicked opened the door, which appeared to be unlocked, which left me wondering why but I didn't really bother to think about it in much depth. Klaus was the first one to walk in, as I stood back, mentally cringing at the state of the apartment. Someone seriously needs to decorate this place, it looks like a 1950's movie threw up all over it.

"Do you feel that?" Klaus asked, breaking me from my thoughts.

I walked in, glancing around as my eyebrows furrowed. Klaus turned to me, a suspicious look on his features, "Is anybody here?"

"It's been vacant for decades. I meant can't you tell? The wallpaper doesn't scream 2010 to me" I scoffed, making my way inside. "People must break in all the time"

This seemed to drop Klaus' paranoia, as he circled the room with.

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked, I had an idea but I wanted him to tell me for himself.

"Your friend, Liam Grant, the one who drank his wife's blood- I never could figure out why you wanted his name" he trailed off, looking down at the bed. "And then you told me your little secret, it was all apart of your special little ritual"

"To write it down" I confirmed, and he nodded.

"And relive the kill, over and over again"

He sent me one of his infamous smirks, before he twirled around to face some shelves, surprising me when he pulled on them, revealing a separate room. I didn't remember this, I assumed it was inside some shoe cupboard or something. How did he know my life better than I did myself?

"You believe me now?" He teased, taking amusement in my shocked expression.

I made my way inside, to double check he was right and that he wasn't just saying this to get me on his side. Imagine my surprise when I look to the right, and see little miss Elena Gilbert hidden up against the wall. We made eye contact, and a flash of relief washed over her face, I didn't know if that was because she thought Klaus was about to walk in or because she realised I was perfectly fine. I felt my hard gaze soften, at first I was annoyed that she was here. How many times have I asked them to stop? Was it ever going to sink in?

But I couldn't stay mad at her, she was only trying to help me, trying to be a friend. And you could tell she was currently terrified, considering an original who was under the impression that she was dead was pacing around in practically the same room as her. I sent her a small smile, which she returned before I decided to move the attention away from the area she was hidden.

"Hey look what I found" I spoke up, and Elena froze.

I picked up some wine, before turning slowly. "1913. Single Malt"

"Hmm, my favourite" Klaus smiled, I was now fully facing him.

"Let's go and find someone to pair it with" He decided, and I felt myself relax as I watched him leave the room.

I then shut the secret door, making sure it was slightly ajar so Elena could open it, before I followed behind hoping Elena decided to go home. It was only a matter of time until she slipped up and Klaus found her.

—

"Where's Rebekah?" Gloria asked Klaus as we both sat at the bar, waiting for the blonde's arrival.

"She'll be here" He reassured the older woman who seemed to be quite panicky for some reason. "I can't just conjure her on demand"

Gloria sent him a disapproving look, before she turned and left, leaving me with Klaus who was in one of those moods where his main goal was to annoy me.

"What's with you? I thought Chicago was your playground?"

And so it begins.

"Is this why you wanted me with you all summer long? Because you liked the way I tortured people?" I asked him, getting straight to the point.

"Well that's certainly half of it" He took a swig of his drink before continuing. "The other half Cheryl, is to do with my dear sister"

"What do you mean?"

"You and my sister had something back in the day, something that I had never seen her have before" He stated, the conversation taking the serious route.

"Which was?"

"She liked you a lot, and it wasn't just some one night fling, no. She was infatuated with you and any sane person would've been able to see it that night. You two bonded quickly, and I was almost jealous at the fact you two seemed to get a long far better, than she and I ever had"

I let his words sink in, it was strange. Rebekah apparently liked me, a lot and yet I had no memory of the woman. Why? If we had bonded as deeply as Klaus is making out we had, then I should be able to remember something, even if it was just a word she had said to me. I thought about it, but nothing came to mind.

"Don't worry love, soon enough she'll be able to explain the situation herself" He noted, before sliding down a shot to me which I grabbed with ease.

—

"So I'm like, extremely confused. If me and your sister were so close, why do I only know her as the original with anger problems?" I asked Klaus, glancing down at my third glass of wine which was half full.

Klaus laughed at my words, and looked towards me, "All good things must come to and end"

"Something bad happened" He told me, realising I was still waiting for an explanation, "You were in danger if I had allowed you to remember so I had to make sure you forgot"

"You compelled me to forget" I concluded, finally realising why I was struggling to remember. Well at least now I know I wasn't just extremely drunk.

"It was time for Rebekah and I to move on" He nodded, his serious face showing, "Better to have a clean slate"

"But why? You shouldn't have to cover your tracks...unless you're running from someone" I shrugged, taking another sip of my wine.

"Storytime's over" He seemed annoyed at my statement, which only let me know I was right.

I didn't have time to press him about the situation, because a figure caught my attention from the corner of my eye. Turning to get a view, I saw Damon stood at the entrance. Once he noticed I had seen him, he nodded his head towards me over, mouthing the words "Come on", before walking outside.

Turning back to Klaus I let out a huff before standing up from my seat, "I need the toilet, order me another drink whilst I'm gone"

He didn't respond, he only waved his hand letting me know he had heard me and with that I left, sneaking out of the entrance where Damon was stood waiting for me.

"What is wrong with you?" I asked him, throwing my arms around as I spoke to make my anger more obvious.

"What is wrong with you?" He shot back, glaring at me, "You kill Andie one day, you save Elena's the next what are you good, bad? Pick one!"

"Klaus almost saw Elena today Damon! If you care about her then get her out of Chicago before she gets killed" I hissed, and he seemed taken aback by statement, but he soon recovered as he rolled his blue eyes.

"She's not going anywhere until she's got you Cheryl, checked into vampire rehab and on the mend, trust me I've tried" He voice dropped to a whisper, frustration clear in his tone.

"She is the key to everything. Klaus can't know she's alive"

"What're you talking about?"

"She was supposed to die in the sacrifice and she didn't, now Klaus can't create any new hybrids, his witch is seconds away from figuring that out" I rushed out, stressing more as I spoke.

Damon's 'I don't care' facade dropped a notch as he allowed his face to show how he really felt, scared.

"Tell Elena to go home and forget about me" I spoke slowly.

"Tell her yourself" He replied, just as I was about to re-enter the bar.

Turning my head, Elena stood not too far away in a purple summer dress and some black flats. I wasn't sure if she had heard the conversation, but that wasn't my main priority right now. I was more concerned that Klaus was about to walk out any second and see what was happening, he'd no doubt kill us all without flinching.

"You shouldn't be here" I said as I made my way towards her, leaving Damon behind.

"Where else would I be?" She asked, like I had just said something stupid.

"Elena what do you want? Klaus will be out here any second, if he sees you we're all dead"

"Damon's gone to distract him" She told me softly, and sure enough when I had turned Damon was nowhere to be found.

"Come home Cheryl, we all miss you"

"Elena, you need to go home not me. Be happy with Stefan and Damon and your family, Jeremy needs you and so do Caroline and Bonnie, you don't need me"

She shook her head, "That's not true Cheryl! You've become a good friend to me and I can't just carry on with my life knowing you're here, slaving away to Klaus"

"I'm fine, I promise, he's not all bad" I teased, "Just please go home. It's seriously dangerous"

She sent me a saddened look and she nodded, "Can I at least I have one last hug? I don't know when I'll be able to see you next"

I sighed but nodded, bringing the brunette into my arms as I enjoyed the last bit of contact we could possibly ever have. Something felt off about the hug, and I raised an eyebrow before I used my reflexes to grab the injection Elena was about to stab in my back, that was most likely filled with vervain.

She let out a gasp of pain as I held on tight to her wrist, "How much clearer can I make it Elena?! I don't want to come home!"

I pushed her back slightly, and she gave me an upset and shocked look, probably not expecting me to hurt her, but she had pushed me over the edge.

"Klaus is obsessed with siring these hybrids, the second he knows you're alive, he'll figure out why it's not working" I explained to her.

"Look, I know you're trying to protect me but I can't let you do it, come with me Cheryl please"

I felt like tearing my hair from my scalp, why was she not understanding right now? If she stays, she dies and so do I and Damon probably. If she goes, everyone lives and everyone can move on.

"Elena!" I yelled, and she jumped slightly. "I. Can. Not. Leave. With. You"

"I can't give up on you Cheryl"

"Yes you can. We aren't friends anymore Elena, I don't want to see you, I don't want to hear you, I don't want you to save me, I just want you to go"

It pained me to be so harsh towards her, but this was the only way she was going to understand. With those words, I turned around and walked away, and this time, she didn't try to stop me.

—

Me and Klaus had arrived back to the place Rebekah was being held, after I had returned from the toilet which he obviously didn't buy but he didn't question it either. He had told me to wait around the corner, so he had the chance to speak to her first. Apparently she wasn't going to be very happy when she first woke up, not surprising if I do say so myself.

"You can come in"

As soon as Klaus spoke, I rounded the corner coming face to face with the woman who looked much better than before. Her skin was now a healthy porcelain colour and you couldn't deny the beauty was radiating from her. I was almost speechless at the sight, and she seemed the same once she saw me.

"Cheryl?" She asked, a smile rising on her face.

Klaus left her side, and placed a hand on my clothed shoulder.

"Now you remember"

Flashes of memories appeared in my mind. Me feeding from some innocent people, Rebekah and I laughing with each other, Klaus and I having a conversation at the bar, Rebekah and I kissing, the smell of blood lingering in the air.

"Rebekah" I breathed, now realising who she was and why I felt so connected to her.

I had now also realised why I felt so lost after a year or two after that night, it's because I had lost her.

I took a few steps towards her, a smile on my face that matched hers before Klaus called out my name. I turned around to face him, and I was hit with another memory. It was of me asking someone to take a picture of Klaus and I, except I had used the phrase friend rather than just Klaus. It was the picture I had found at Gloria's bad.

"I remember you" I whispered, "We were friends" I smiled at the thought.

"We are friends" He corrected, smiling at me before his attention turned to Rebekah who was still silent.

"And now the reason you're here. Gloria tells me you know how to contact the original witch"

"The original witch?" Rebekah asked, with a look of disgust on her face.

"What do you have that Gloria needs?"

Rebekah's hand went to her chest, before her smile dropped and instead a look of panic appeared. She then glanced down, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Where's my necklace? What did you do with it I never take it off!" She yelled, now looking back at Klaus.

"I don't know I didn't touch it" He sounded bored, and I stood back, not wanting to get involved with the family drama.

"We need to find it now Nik I want it back" She spoke firmly, eyebrows narrowed.

"Please tell me that's not what she needs Rebekah!" Klaus yelled, grabbing onto her shoulders and shaking her in anger.

She pushed him away and searched the coffin she had been laid in, but found nothing. With a scream of anger, she slammed the lid and flipped it over. Wow, Klaus was right about her temper.

Well, this isn't going to be a fun family reunion.

There's a lot more Cheryl + Rebekah in the next chapter!!

Also, from now on I'm gonna kinda try and make Cheryl distant from the Mystic Falls gang, and closer to the Mikaelson's.