This story is a continuation of my other story "Nowhere To Go" fifteen years later. It does not include my story "a devil makes three" it takes a different story line. It is loosely based on the new episodes of the season but very very loosely.

I do not own The Originals

Petaluma California 2029

There was no sign on the outside of the shop. No name or indication where the front door was. Tucked into the small downtown area you would have to know where it was to be able to find it. The true green door had only the shops hours etched into the glass and a small clock saying that they were open.

The door had one of those bells at the top that alerted the people inside that the door had opened. It rang as the old door swung into an entryway that almost immediately took you to a large wooden staircase to a second floor of the shop. The bell on the door was the signal that you had been transported back to a time where everything had held a bit of ordinary magic.

The shop floors, stairs and all the railings were made of the same dark stained wood. The bookshelves that lined every inch of every wall were painted a dark grey and housed a colorful and what could only be imagined to be a vast selection of books. The shop smelled of sweet vanilla-ey incense that wasn't sickening but just added to the smell of paper. There were green velvet old fashioned high back chairs littered about and though they were designed to look dated they looked perfectly comfortable and usable.

Up the stairs more rooms with more books with soft illuminating light invited anyone to spend hours perusing the shelves. Each section was clearly marked on hanging wooden signs with loopy script. Self Help, Religion, How to, Guide, Travel, Fantasy Fiction, Science Fiction, Action and Adventure… The signs went on and on.

To the left was a small room with a counter with a glass case underneath. There were stacks of much older looking books confined by the glass. On the wall adjacent to the case was a display with what looked to be every flavor of licorice that could be thought of. Behind the licorice display was a wall full of post cards. Some were face up showing pictures of places traveled and some were turned so that you could read the messages inscribed.

All the postcards were addressed to an Ella.

"I'll be right out! Take a look around holler if you need something" a woman's voice called from the back

"No problem!" Rebekah called back smiling at the familiar lilt to the woman's voice.

"Actually I'm just making a cappuccino would you like one?"

"That'd be lovely." Rebekah smiled walking to the nearest bookshelves that the sign said would be stocked with Poetry.

As she perused the titles she smelled the faint aroma of coffee mixed with the paper and incense and thought that she knew why her friend had stayed here all these years.

The woman came from behind the staircase where there was a small bathroom and a tiny kitchen with an espresso machine. She was holding two white wide mouthed mugs and she passed Rebekah without looking up. Rebekah watched her as she set the mugs down on a window seat that was in the front of the store where there was pop out window.

She was beautiful with pale porcelain skin and a mouth that was always turned up in a small smile. Her heart shaped face was open and honest. She was wearing old high-waisted LEVI shorts with a hole in the left pocket. A buttercream yellow vintage shirt was tucked into the front of the shorts with a slogan advertising a RV park. Pink high top converse graced her feet and somehow they looked better than any heels that she had seen on any other woman. Large gold hoops hung from her ears and a small diamond stud decorated her nose. This was all familiar to Rebekah. The only differences were her hair which instead of platinum blond was now a steely shade of grey that made her Airforce blue eyes seem piercing and mischievous. Short full bangs outlined her face and hit about a half an inch above silver circular wire framed glasses. Her makeup was light and almost nonexistent but it only accentuated her clear skin and soft features.

Rebekah had always thought the woman was beautiful but actually knowing her had changed her opinion over time. The longer you knew Tesla Coos the more beautiful she became.

"Double Americano with milk and honey." Tesla said sitting on the window seat and tapped the spot next to her indicating Rebekah to sit down. Rebekah walked over and took the warm mug in her hands and sat.

"It's like you knew I was coming." Rebekah said closing her eyes against the taste of the coffee.

"I always know when one of you is on the way." Tesla said smiling with her eyes behind her prescription less glasses. "It's like the air changes."

"You look different but it suits you." Rebekah smiled

"You look the same and it has always suited you."

"I miss you Tess." Rebekah said looking down in her mug feeling vulnerable for admitting it.

"I miss you too darling."

Rebekah relaxed at that. Tesla would never use something she said against her. Though it went against everything that her family had taught her over hundreds of years.

"What has he done this time?" Tesla asked

"You assume I'm only here because we want your help?" Rebekah countered "I'm offended"

"Please" Tesla laughed "You only come here when he's done something. Now if you were Elijah that would be different; he comes about once a year to see how I am and he doesn't ever asked me for help. Rebekah, the last time you came to see me was five years ago. What had he done then? Tried to drive out any other supernatural person in the French quarter? Including werewolves and witches? Oh yes that was it."

"Tess…" Rebekah said feeling slightly guilty

"And I'll tell you the same thing that I told you five years ago." Tesla said standing up now visibly irritated

"Tess please" Rebekah tried to interrupt her but the woman was now organizing a cart full of books and talking over Rebekah.

"I am not coming back to bail Nicklaus Mikealson out of trouble for two reasons. The first, is that I got tired of cleaning up his messes ten years ago and that is why I left. The second, is that he doesn't want my help and he probably doesn't want yours either. He is a thousand and change years old! He doesn't need anyone, he can take care of himself and when I left he made that perfectly clear."

"Hayley died." Rebekah said suddenly

Tesla looked up and grief stricken shock was spreading across her face. She leaned against the book cart for support. She started taking deep breaths and Rebekah watched her eyes well up with tears. Telsa had become comfortable with the Mikealson's and Rebekah had always admired her honesty that included not pretending she was okay when she wasn't

"I thought Elijah would have told you." She said crossing her legs feeling a pang of sadness in her own heart.

"No he hadn't." Tesla said wiping her face

"Nik is in a tail spin and we can't track him down. He moves from city to city and goes on a killing spree."

"That's him?" Tesla asked "The serial killer in the papers?"

"Yes."

"He's getting sloppy"

"He doesn't care. He hasn't seen hope in three years and he won't listen to Elijah or myself."

"I figured it was a vampire." Tesla said sitting down on the floor "I just didn't go as far as to think he was behind it. I suppose it makes sense."

"I know this is a lot." Rebekah said

"Save it." Tesla said from the floor "What exactly do you think I am going to do different than you? How do you think I am going to reach him when you haven't?"

"He loves you." Rebekah said grasping

"He loves himself" Tesla said now laying all the way down on her back. "And he may have LOVED me but not anymore"

"You were together for five years." Rebekah countered

"You guys have been together for a lot longer than five years and it isn't helping you." Tesla said but she looked more defeated than anything.

"You haven't seen him in ten years."

"Feels like less." Tesla said running her hand over her face "Feels like days since I have subjected myself to that particular torture."

"You miss him" Rebekah said and watched as the truth washed over Tesla's face. She didn't deny it she just frowned.

"Won't you try to help him?" Rebekah asked "I'm begging you. Elijah and I need you to at least try."

"Why would I do that?" Tesla asked her

Rebekah didn't have the answer to that. She had sort of assumed that when she came here with the shock of Hayley's death and news that Klaus was murdering hundreds of people she would not have to press Tesla very hard.

"You thought you would come here and bat those pretty lashes and throw Elijah's name in and I would fold. Maybe you thought I would because of sympathy for him. Maybe you think that I'm still holding onto some fantasy that Klaus and I will ride off into the sunset." Tesla sat up and looked over at her.

"I don't"

"Your family is like a life draining disease." Tesla said calmly

"That's a little harsh." Rebekah said

"I can't move on, I can't live my life without you guys showing up every so often. Because I got close to you I can't move beyond you. If I don't help you now I'll feel guilty because for some reason I still feel like I owe you."

"So you'll try?" Rebekah asked hopefully

"On one condition." Tesla said standing up and dusting herself off

"Anyhting"

"You leave me alone. If I get him to come back then you never come find me ever again."

Rebekah felt hurt and Tesla turned from her so that she didn't have to see her face.

"Not you, not Elijah and not Hope." Tesla said trying to keep the pain from her voice. The pain of never seeing any of them again. She told herself that it would fade eventually I they didn't keep popping up every couple years.

"Okay." Rebekah said and her boots clicked on the floor

"I'll be ready tomorrow morning eight o'clock." Tesla said not turning around to see her face.

"I'll be here." She heard the bell at the top of the door ring "Tesla…"

Tesla turned then to see Rebekah who looked a little hurt but there was a surprising amount of understanding on her face.

"Thank you." Rebekah said smiling.

"Sure." She said as Rebekah walked out

"I'm going to regret this." Tesla said to herself walking into the back to get her things ready.

Rebekah pulled up to the bookshop just as Tesla was locking up the storefront and pulling a metal gate down over the front door and locked it to the ground. She picked up two to go cups of coffee and a white to go bag. She walked up wearing a red button up peasant blouse with a pair of black overall shorts. Her long slate hair was thrown up into a messy bun. She had a large brown duffle bag slung across her back and a yellow polka dot satchel purse on her hip. A pair of metallic gold KEDS on her feet as she walked to the back of the black mustang. She rapped on the back and Rebekah popped the trunk.

"Do the glasses have to come with us? Rebekah asked when Tesla got in. Telsa reached up to touch the glasses.

"You don't like my glasses?"

"You don't need them, you're a vampire you have better sight than any human." Rebekah rolled her eyes as Tesla shut the door.

"Well I like them, they make me feel like I have a secret identity."

"Like Wonder Woman."

"That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." Tesla said putting her hand over her heart.

"It wasn't a compliment it was an observation."

"Nice car." Tesla said admiring the interior. "The fines for driving a non-electric or clean vehicle are outrageous"

"I've never paid a fine." Rebekah said matter of factly

"Of course not." Tesla said

"Where's that damn blazer that you never leave."

"Don't bring her into this." Tesla scowled "Let's just say that I do pay my fines and that is one that I have chosen to lay to rest."

"Shame." Rebekah said as Telsa handed her a coffee. She reached into the bag and pulled out a hand help pie and handed it to Rebekah who took it and bit into it without question.

"Your book store doesn't afford you a carefree lifestyle." She asked

"Print has become…" Tesla faltered for the word "trendy" She almost sounded disgusted.

"You should have opened another business." Rebekah said "A waxing salon perhaps."

Telsa laughed out loud. "I sure did miss that sense of humor."

Hope you enjoyed!