The Missing Piece

Meetings and Goodbyes

Despite knowing there was nothing he could do, I called Nik anyways, he of course said he'd try his best to help, knowing himself he couldn't do much at this point, being a thousand miles away didn't help. Talia had been my friend, helping me on the run since the the late 60s, since I met her, she was my confidant, only leaving when Nik had gotten close and Elijah found me.

1967

"Li," Talia said entering the large room with a smile.

"You're back!" I ran towards her, engulfing her in a hug. "It's so good to see you again."

"You too," she chuckled wrapping her arms around me. "I have news." Her face became somber in almost an instant. After a week of her being out to investigate, this made my heart sink.

"Don't play Tali, what is it?" I asked, taking a step back as I looked at her.

"I got news that he's on his way. My girls heard rumors, he's about a week out, in Munich actually." I sighed, sitting on the plush couch, placing my head in my hands.

"Just when I got comfortable. How did he find me?" I mumbled, feeling Talia sit by me and place a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I don't know Li, but you'll have to leave soon if you want to get a head start." I lifted my head and nodded.

"Aren't you coming with me?" She shook her head with a soft smile, moving her hand to the top of my head with a soft pat.

"No, I would attract too much attention, I've been in Paris for nearly fifteen years." Her eyes glistened with tears, "but we'll stay in touch, don't fret mon chou." I smiled at the familiarity of the nickname. "Besides, you'll have a travelling companion," my brows furrowed, causing her to chuckle again. "He's the one who informed me of Klaus' whereabouts." I looked up to see Elijah walking into the room, hands in pocket, and stone facade as usual. I stood up and took a few steps back.

"What do you want Elijah? I'm not being dragged back to Nik, not after how long I've been gone." His facade faltered, as if he wasn't expecting my reaction to him being there.

"Of course not Cleona, don't be ridiculous." He stepped down the few stairs into the living room. "I'm not here to take you back to Niklaus."

"Then what do you want?" I crossed my arms, staying on the other side of the room from him.

"To help."

Present

"What happened Talia?" I held a cool washcloth to her face, wiping the sweat from her face.

"I, don't know, " she said between coughs. "Werewolf I guess." She tried chuckling but it led into a coughing fit. Tears ran down both of our faces, her in pain, mine in worry.

"What's going on?" I heard Damon entering the room and I sushed him.

"Not the time Damon," I glanced up for but a moment, my attention being drawn back by a laughing/coughing Talia.

"So you're the other brother," She tried to sit up to look. "Got to say, I'm a bit disappointed." Her voice was nearly gone as she turned to speak to me. "Can you get me some water? Or blood, anything at this point." I let out a small smile before nodding and heading to the basement to get a blood bag.

(Third Pov)

"Who are you?" Damon asked, sitting on the other couch,

"Doesn't matter," Talia coughed, spitting out a bit of blood into the nearby bucket. "I'm not going to make it. She knows that." Her french accent still very noticeable though difficult to make out due to the hoarseness in her voice. "But I don't want her to deal with me like this." She smiled through the pain in her neck. "I came hoping Klaus would have been here, but I supposed that was wrong." She chuckled, trying to sit up. "If I get, well, dangerous, please," Damon nodded as she got cut off by another coughing fit.

"Here you go T," Cleona came back into the living room with a blood bag from the freezer.

"Thank you mon chou," Talia smiled softly, obviously feeling weaker by the second.

"Mon chou?" Damon questioned, his arms crossed giving an indifferent feel to his posture. "How did you ever get that name little sister?" Cleona narrowed her eyes at her brother as she sat on the edge of the couch.

1964

(Cleona's pov)

It was officially a hundred years since I left my brothers. This was always a difficult day, but this was the first time I was by myself for it. I always had Nik, he'd comfort me and tell me it'd be alright and remind me how much he loved me. But this year it was different, no Nik, no Bex, no Elijah, no one. I sat in the alley, my knees pulled up to my chest.

"What do we have here?" A light voice sounded and I looked up to see a petite blonde. She definitely was from here, you could tell by the accent, but she spoke English so clearly. "Oh, mademoiselle, what are you doing out here by yourself." She shook her head as she walked over, shifting her hat so it wouldn't fall as she bent down to see me better.

"Don't cry," She smiled softly. "Here," she reached into her purse that draped across her shoulders, pulling out a tissue. "Why don't you come with me and we'll get you clean up." She held out a hand, which I gratefully accepted.

"That's not needed miss, but thank you for the tissue." I began to walk away, stopping when I heard her sigh.

"Why are all you American girls so," she let out another frustrated sigh. "Come on mon chou, let's get you fixed up." I tried to protest as she linked her arm in mine but she held up her hand. "No, none of that 'miss' stuff. You can call me Talia."

"Cleo," I responded, my tears not falling quite as steadily.

"That's a cute name, mon chou." I couldn't help but smile, no doubt that name was going to stick.

I'm sorry it's a day late this week has been stressful. It's my birthday today so I'm going to post an extra chapter, hope you're all having an excellent day!