✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

A drunken Talia climbed out of bed hours later. Her dark hair was in a mess around her head and somehow she was dressed in Klaus's clothes, but she didn't care. She stumbled out of her room and down the hall, hearing no voices in the front hall. So, the ball was over, but the bar was still open.

She tripped down the stairs but caught herself on the banister, laughing idly at her own klutziness. Her long legs were like that of a foal's in her intoxicated demeanor, knobbly and a bit knock-kneed.

Somehow, the Companion made her way all the way to the bar and snuck behind the counter, finding the rows of untouched alcohol. Her fingers wrapped around the neck of a bottle of bourbon, bringing it easily to her lips.

Before she could intake a second sip, a voice came from behind the curly-haired brunette, urging her to spin and blink in confusion at the sight of a Mikaelson. "Oh, it's-it's the youngest member of the Mikaelson boy band."

Her words slurred together, dark eyes wide with excitement and curiosity as Kol stared her down. She hadn't heard his earlier words and could only manage to smile blandly at him.

"I asked what you're doing down here at this hour, but it appears you answered my question. Intoxicated, but what else can I expect from a Mikaelson soulmate?" Kol's voice was rugged and teasing, his dark eyes moving over her pajama-clad form. But, he settled himself down at the bar and smiled quite politely at her. "Pass me a glass, darling. Unlike you, I do have table manners."

She stuck her tongue out at him and fumbled with a glass before setting it upside down on the counter in-front of the ancient vampire. He easily flipped it right side up and took the bottle of bourbon from her, pouring himself a glass.

Propping his chin on his hand, he watched her with a predatory curiosity, but the Companion didn't mind much. In fact, she didn't notice. She was far too busy sucking down the remaining bourbon.

Swiping her hand across her lips, the intoxicated brunette beauty peered with child-like wonder at the Mikaelson vampire. "So, you're, uh, the youngest. How's that going for ya?" Her hands situated themselves on the counter as the world felt like it was spinning for an instant.

Kol smirked and took a sip of his drink, swirling it around the glass. "Mm, as well as one would expect. How about you, Talia, tell me about yourself."

That one demand released a waterfall of information as she drunkenly poured out all the details of her life. Kol listened intently, his dark eyes widening and narrowing at all the right moments.

At one point, the Companion trailed off into drunken gibberish and Kol scooped her easily into his arms. "Let's get you to bed, sweetheart."

She attempted to argue but fell defeated and rested her head on his shoulder. "Good-night, Kol."

He smiled down at her and chuckled leisurely. "Good-night, Talia."

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

A pained groan escaped the parted lips of the Companion, one hand tossed over her forehead as if that would fight off the blinding hangover.

She somehow pushed herself into a sitting position and struggled to dress herself. Grasping a ball cap and sunglasses, the brunette tottered out of the room wearing the two items.

Her head dropped as extreme pain pounded through her temples, fingers grasping at the wall loosely.

"Hello there, darling, you're up earlier than expected. Rough night?"

She peered up at the toothy grin of Kol Mikaelson and her eyebrows furrowed into a glare. She had no memories of the night before except for a vague one of Kol and her at the bar. "I don't trust you." Her voice was low and rough with sleep, hand curling around the banister.

"That's good, you shouldn't." Kol tossed his arm loosely around her shoulders. "I can cure that hangover nice and quick, though. Vampire blood does wonders."

Her pink lips pursed, knuckles turning white from gripping the banister so tight. "Thank you, but no." Her voice trailed off into a few words of gibberish even she couldn't translate as she stumbled her way down the staircase.

As the Companion finally reached the floor, she swayed back and forth for a moment as everything began spinning. Her lips parted and nausea rose in her chest, her body growing dizzy. "Need to find Nik. Gotta make it stop."

Her words were rough and soft but Kol still caught it, wrapping his arm around her back to support her weight as they attempted to find his older brother. "I could just carry-"

"No." Her voice was cold, feet dragging slightly as she leaned heavily on Kol. "Niklaus."

The young woman lifted her free hand, pinching the bridge of her nose as she strained to ease the extreme pain from the hangover.

That had always been the issue with the soulmate bond. While Klaus never got a hangover, Talia always did. What made it worse was that she got all the pain he would've got if he had gotten drunk too. She was suffering not one, but two hangovers at the same time.

Her nails dug into the muscle of Kol's shoulder, but he didn't make a sound as they worked their way into the parlor.

Klaus was lounged on the couch sketching and Elijah sat across from him, reading a book.

As soon as they were in the doorway, her soulmate noticed them and was flying off the couch towards her. "Oh, Talia."

His voice was soft, hands pulling her from Kol to him. "I knew this was gonna happen. This is why you don't drink, love. You should start listening to me."

He eased her onto the couch and bit into his wrist, holding it against her lips.

She took a few sips of the nectar tasting liquid, leaning back against the cushions as the pain cleared and she could think straight again.

Klaus squatted in front of her, worriedly peering up at the stunning brunette beauty. "What caused this?"

She felt discombobulated, her dark eyes closing as she tried to recall the reason she drank so much the night before. But how could she admit she had grown jealous from seeing him with Caroline after all she had ever done was tell him how she hated him.

Her hands lifted, covering her face to hide the blush rising on her cheeks. Klaus's hands were placed on her knees and she sensed his pale gaze trying to gauge why she had done what she had done.

Just as she was about to speak, Rebekah sauntered in dressed in the same gown she had worn the night before and all eyes turned on their rebellious little sister.

Talia sighed in relief, falling back against the cushions as Klaus focused his attention on his siblings. A moment later, he and Kol decided to head to the local bar for drinks and Talia decided it best to remain at the house.

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

She headed back to her room, opening up a book and falling backward onto her bed. Her nimble fingers grasped the book, reading intently until her door opened and she was greeted with Finn Mikaelson.

His green eyes flicked over her and a smile became present on his face. "Talia, you seem tired." He moved forward, politely keeping his distance but entering the room. "Are you alright?"

She sat upwards, smiling pleasantly at the Mikaelson. "Fine, sorry, sorta headachey. Very hungover. Do you want to get a drink?" She sat up further, shooting him a simple smile.

The oldest vampire in the world proceeded to offer his arm out to her politely and she took it with a smile, the duo heading to the local bar.

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

Talia settled down at a wooden table in the Mystic Grill, ordering a round of tequila from the busboy. Her large eyes were owlish and warm as the boy quickly returned with the tequila shots. "Thank you!"

Grinning at her companion, the Companion rested her chin on her palm. "Ok, so, how are you liking the modern world?"

"What was that word you used..." Finn trailed off, trying to recall her extensive modern vocabulary. "Oh, yes. It sucks."

Snorting, Talia covered her lips with her palm, fighting a laugh. Finn grinned back at her, making an even wider smile become present on her stunning features. "We should do this more often. Tequila is amazing." Without another word, the brunette grabbed the glass and threw it back, downing it quickly.

Finn followed her lead, the duo laughing loudly as they drank raucously. She heard a commotion behind her followed by the vague shouts of her soulmate and her dark eyes found Klaus rushing out of the bar after the blonde from the ball. 

Grimacing, Talia lifted her hand to order another round. 

Finn watched her with an assessing gaze before he spoke. "You don't like that girl." 

Releasing a dry and tittering laugh, the soulmate shook her head and lifted a hand. "I don't know her, how could I not like her?" 

He licked his lips, shaking his head and loose, brown curls fell in his eyes. "You don't like her because Niklaus does." The vampire tilted his head and she opened and closed her mouth before laughing. 

"That's stupid. I hate Klaus and I hate everything he stands for. Why would I care if he liked some vampire girl?" Placing her lean and muscled arms on the table, she rested forward on them so she was right in Finn's face, lips twisted into a snide sneer. "I don't care." 

"Do I sense jealousy?" Kol's sing-song voice came from behind as he sauntered over, looking between Finn and Talia. 

Talia opened and closed her mouth before pouting and rolling her dark eyes. "You're crazy and drunk." 

Kol grimaced as her words began to slur and he shook his head. "Niklaus would kill us if he knew we got you drunk. Again. Come on, Talia, let's get you some fresh air." Kol tugged her out of her chair and walked her outside, while Finn had left. Talia didn't notice her friend's disappearance as she clung limply to Kol, sucking in a deep breath of cool, night air. 

"God, my head hurts." 

Kol sighed and peered over at her, the slightest tint of warmth in his dark eyes. "It'll hurt worse in the morning, love. Best hangover cure is vampire blood, though." 

Before Talia could reply, a blond man and a dark haired woman came out of nowhere, one brandishing one of Klaus's beloved daggers. He smiled grimly at the brunette and stabbed Kol in the heart, causing him to drop Talia who staggered to the side. She yelped in pain, grabbing at the wall as her friend fell to the ground. 

An instant later, her skin began turning a faint gray and she released a pained groan, falling to the floor next to Kol. 

Before her eyes could fully close, Klaus came out of nowhere and undaggered Kol, letting a gasp of air to fill her chest in shock. She rested her palm on her chest, sucking in deep breaths of air. Oh, daggering really sucked. 

Her dark eyes moved to the Salvatore brothers who had come out of nowhere and seemed to be in a battle with Klaus. Or, trying to be. 

Her soulmate was winning. 

Before he could rip Damon Salvatore's sorry heart from his chest, Elijah appeared at the top of the stairs, ordering Klaus to leave the older Salvatore brother. The words were hazy and Talia wasn't one for listening in on conversations, anyway. 

She instead rested her back against the wall and closed her eyes, breathing in deeply. She felt Klaus pick her up, his arms winding under her legs as he walked up the stairs. Damon, Stefan and the couple had disappeared. Elijah was helping Kol off the floor as the Hybrid tended to his soulmate. "We have to go deal with our mother, Talia. Go back to the house. Do not leave under any circumstances." 

He studied her dark eyes, and then kissed her forehead and fled, his brothers on his heels.

The Monroe girl stood in the dark silently for a moment. She felt far more sober than before and capable of walking back to the Mikaelson Mansion.

But, she didn't know if she wanted to. 

✧✶⭒☆⭒✶✧

Talia rested against the kitchen counter, staring down at the marbled granite with her eyebrows knit together in confusion. The boys had yet to return and she hadn't even gotten a call or a telepathic message from her soulmate. 

Just as she was about to call, there was a whoosh of air and her dark eyes widened at the sight of a furious Klaus Mikaelson. "Finn." His words were colder than ice, pale eyes meeting hers. "Finn betrayed us. He sided with our mother to kill us." 

Her lips parted in shock and the Companion took a step forward. "Are you alright?" 

Klaus grimaced and shook his head, pressing his index and forefinger against the bridge of his nose. "I knew he hated what we are, but I never thought it would come to this, Talia." 

Sensing the pain in his eyes and the pain in his heart, she moved forward and wrapped her arms tightly around him. "Elijah is leaving, you know. Kol has fled as has Finn and my mother. You may go, as well." 

Pulling quickly backwards, the brunette met his pale gaze. Those blue eyes she had loved and hated for thirty years. "Are you sure?" 

He rested his palm on her cheek and nodded, searching her doe brown eyes. "I no longer need your presence, love. You don't have to stay with me ever again. Not if you don't wish to." 

A faint smile pulled on her pink lips as she stepped backwards. "Good-bye, Nik." 

He watched her go, his words hanging heavy in the air between them. 

"Good-bye, Talia."