#thierry really came for my life here

[minimanic]

Thierry Mugler Spring 1998

[josefavomjaaga]

Joseph and the ladies

Even Thierry Lentz, very well disposed towards Joseph and really trying to show in his book that Joseph was much more than the weakling he is often perceived as, is quite open about how Joseph spent his free time from the job as king of Spain:

In the Royal Palace or in La Moncloa [a country house], Joseph indulged in two of his favourite private activities: getting rich and loving.

With regards to the first activity, there’s a long story involving, among other things, the crown jewels of Spain, of which a certain amount at some point disappeared from Madrid (Napoleon blamed it on Murat but later learned that the thief had been his brother dearest). And as far as the second activity is concerned, Lentz of course also names the Marquise de Montehermoso, »non exclusive holder of the title mistress�� [maîtresse en titre non exclusive]. But there are more. Plenty more.

So many that Colonel Desprez, Joseph’s clumsy aide de camp who had gone all the way to Moscow in order to hand Napoleon a letter of complaint, would later have some acerbic comments on his former master, put together in a report called »Caractère du roi d’Espagne, Joseph Bonaparte«. But this was indeed much later, after the fall of the empire, during the July monarchy, and – possibly on demand of one Marshal Soult . (The question of allowing the exiled Bonaparte family back into France frequently came up.) Soult and Joseph obviously kept up their mutual dislike a long time after Napoleon’s death.

Desprez in this report comments about the Marquise de Montehermoso as follows [quoted in Thierry Lentz, »Joseph Bonaparte«]:

This woman had an exquisite mind, a strongly organised head [...]. She didn't know anything about love other than the physical pleasures and she readily acknowledged this [...]. Her constant aim was to become rich [...]. The weak prince poured out showers of gold and, although forced to use this means, he never ceased to believe himself tenderly loved […]

and about Joseph’s way of life in Madrid in general:

I have often groaned to see a man called to such a prominent role waste his time in vain occupations, laying out paths, planting trees, tearing down walls, building others, changing at every moment the comings and goings of his chambers; giving parties [...], supervising the preparations himself, reading tragedy and repeating to exhaustion the passionate roles of which he thought himself suited to express the delirium [...]. I laugh with pity to see a king, whose throne is trembling, exhaust his attention on hemistichs [...].

But not everyone judged Joseph so harshly. Somebody who seems to even have greatly admired Joseph’s success with women is another aide de camp, General Bigarré. That’s not all too astonishing, as Bigarré’s own memoirs are a crude mix of brutalities, battle scenes, and lewd descriptions of himself seducing teenage girls. About Joseph he says:

In Spain, as in Naples, this prince has been bitterly criticised for occupying himself a little too much with women during the time he governed these two kingdoms. I will agree that he had a particular fondness for this sex, that he did not disdain conversations with the liveliest ladies of his court, that he was even very gallant with several of them, but nevertheless, I repeat, he never forgot what his duties as sovereign required of him.

Which is something, I guess. About Joseph’s entry into Sevilla and his tour around Andalusia, Bigarré also has an interesting remark:

The noble Andalusians, for their part, did not know what to think of in order to show the new King of Spain their love and devotion; some sent him a dozen magnificent bulls as a present, others perfectly harnessed Andalusian horses, and several placed their wives, daughters and houses at His Majesty's disposal. [...]

Hello there, strange French king! Here’s my bull, my horse, my house, my wife, my daughter – take your pick!

[…] the ladies of Sevilla who were invited also found the King of Spain very amiable and attractive. It is a fact that this prince had a wonderful gift for pleasing women. I do not know whether winning over women formed part of his policy, but in all the cities he visited he made many conquests, not only as a king, but also as a man.

Bigarré’s admiration here is palpable.

Bigarré also must have been very well informed about Joseph’s successes in this field, as apparently (according to Thierry Lentz), Joseph took care of Bigarré’s favourite mistress, a Madame Finesi, wife of an Italian actor, whenever the general was on a mission out of town. Bigarré in turn claims to once have had a fling with the Marquise de Montehermoso. But as Napoleon’s police spy Lagarde wrote home, these were hardly the only ladies whose company distracted Joseph from his »political chagrin«. Lentz also lists a Marquise de Jacuso and a Nancy Derrieux, wife of some official in the administration, as regulars in this early 19th century edition of a royal swinger club. Varying female extras were approached through Joseph’s valets, who habitually had to adress young ladies about their willingness to meet the king in private.

For the final judgement on this topic, here’s Napoleon, in Bertrand’s »Cahiers de Sainte Hélène«, echoing what cardinal Ruffo had told him:

Prince Joseph had gentle manners, fine qualities, but he could never attend to business and never pursued anything. He was locked up with a few women, not to fuck all the time, but for the pleasure of society.

Yes, that’s Napoleon using the F-word with regards to his brother. And I honestly do not know if he wanted to somehow excuse Joseph in emphasizing that it was only »for the pleasure of society«, or if he wanted to make sure people didn’t think too highly about Joseph’s stamina...

[fortuna9]

EXPLAINING MY 2010S DR MORE!

☆ Nicknames I have: Barbie, Bunny, Ellie, Ali

☆ Most popular songs: Cruel Summer, DDU-DU DDU-DU, Run away with me, Genie, Something like a party, Shooting Star, b2b heartbeat, Vroom Vroom, Tattoo, Boom Clap etc

☆ I'm the face of Thierry Mugler

☆ Other endorsements: Mattel, Sanrio, Sailor Moon, Nintendo, Toidoki, Dolls Kill, Versace, H&M, Jeremy Scott for Moschino, Blumarine

☆ I have a reality tv show that runs from 2010-2016 (so ages 15-21) (I also scripted that it won't be too hectic so I can have decent teenage years)

☆ I also am THAT girl, the it-girl to end all it-girls it's so serious

☆ There will be a Barbie doll line made inspired by me, and I will also have a cameo in the Barbie movie dressed as one of those dolls (the meta of it all)

☆ I also have cameos in movies I'm on the soundtrack for (Catching Fire, Dork Diaries, Percy Jackson and The Titan's Curse, The Great Gatsby, Barbie etc.)

☆ I also scripted that the Percy Jackson movies weren't dookie and that Dork Diaries got 3 films.

☆ I want to live that Nikki Maxwell lifestyle, so I also go to North Hampton Hills (on scholarship), I won Valentine's Sweetheart, I won an Ice Skating competition, I ran my school's newspaper's advice column, I write in my diary a lot.

☆ My rise to stardom came from my win on a talent show in 2009/2010 (the timeline here is a bit wonky)

☆ Songs I covered: Together again, Halo, Love Story, Just Dance, Umbrella, Fantasy, Loverboy

☆ Original songs I performed: Message in a bottle, Enchanted, I AM, Teenage Dream

☆ I stole Barbie's entire house from Life in the Dreamhouse zxncaskl I just scripted that no-one questions my endless closet (Elektra Crystal...yeah of course we don't know when her closet ends...makes sense)

☆ I scripted 6 albums so far (7 if you include the songs from the talents show). I scripted a trilogy (2010-2014), UTOPIA (2019), and The Phantom Pulse duology (2022). I'll post about them soon!

☆ I have two singles (Really Bad Boy released in 2016 and DDU-DU DDU-DU released in 2017). I also have a few songs I did for ads specifically (Peek-a-boo for a Halloween themed pizza commercial, Speed Drive for a Barbie ad and ICONIC for a Nike ad)

☆ I also did the soundtrack for a Nintendo game I scripted in (Odyssey), released in 2021.

☆ I'm considered the best performer of my generation.

☆ I had a mega tour from 2015-2017, bigger than the Eras tour. It was a cultural phenomenom, and the demand lead to the tour being extended.

☆ I also scripted that I know everyone's secrets cause I don't want anyone playing with me I will END your career.

☆ Still questioning if I should script young coriolanus in...I could write style about him...save me blonde tom blyth...save me..

Anyways that's all for today, that's for tuning in, you're shifting today, hope you know ♡

[vahalia-cress-ffxiv]

Inception

A letter within a letter…within a letter.

How obnoxious that Vahalia had to try and read her sister’s writing between the scrawled banter that was Voss’s odd confessions. What was worse was the additional note within from Thierry. One wouldn’t have known if she was holding auditions or something of the like for suitors.

Shaking her head she handed the photos off to Bruce, “Here, a gift for your brother. Assuming he still very much enjoys his men; extra material if he finds himself in need.”

Vahalia stopped and smirked up to Bruce who took a quick glance at the photos offered and a gruff laugh escaped the man, eliciting a wink from Vahalia as she skirted the floor to read through her other missives. Voss and Thierry’s happening to be abandoned to the flares of the fireplace in true Vahalia fashion.

There were several returned summons back from a collective of people she was aiming to hire for the position of housekeeper. She only needed one or two and Bruce was far more than capable to fill the role of security. Not that she needed it. If it was one thing she had learned from dinner with the Blythe’s was the abundance of staff, that it often made the space stuffy and smaller. Not something she wished for within these halls, it was easier to have a more private life when your household didn’t know your every move, meeting or correspondence. Such things were supposed to be left for her to handle.

She passed over the letters, coming alongside of the table in the dining hall and taking care to put two aside that looked promising. The other was a simple letter addressed to her from the Blythe Manor. There in slipped the air of ennuli into the space around her through a small sigh, nail sliding through the envelope with ease.

Honeyed eyes ran over the words rather quickly and towards the end she scoffed, “It's a dinner. The man acts as if though he’s hosting a gala. Honestly…” her words trailed as she looked over her shoulder to Bruce, “I can’t imagine it takes a terrible amount of planning for five people, possibly six to eat. Especially if the work is footed by their staff.” She laughed as did Bruce.

“It’s exhausting work sitting in a parlor all day drinking liquor and gossiping I imagine.” Bruce retorted and stood at the door with his hands folded to his front. The man liked to remain silent and not delve into conversations much with people unless he could help it.

He was much better suited for cracking skulls, Vahalia knew this. It was no wonder his given name was Brutal Bear, until she gave the Hellsguard something a little less intimidating when he came to the company. If anything 'Bruce' was merely a nickname for him.

As before, the correspondence from Ricard found its way into the fire. She really disliked keeping anything tied to her and her personal affairs with people. Paper trails were messy, as much as they were a boon in her line of work for the Wolves.

She slipped into her chair with ease and began to ready her tools to write. In theory, the dinner could go well no matter who she decided to bring with her but ‘well’ meant something different to her than what she would imagine it meant for others. Self-seeking, self-serving – that was Vahalia. She already had her little ducklings in a row and lined up and there was little else to be done other than to celebrate. If that is what the dinner was for.

Thankfully for the Blythe family, they would be receiving the more docile and less problematic of the two women. A favor for Catherine, perhaps. It was amazing that a mother could not see the pining in her son’s eyes where someone else could have; Vahalia did. Many times. It stared her in the face, an easy feeling to grasp – all save but her. As barren and devoid of actual empathy the woman was quite good at picking them out about others which is probably what made most people easy targets.

With elegance, Vahalia’s hand began to scrawl her writing along the parchment to pen her first letter.

Ricard;

Pardon my confusion, I thought you were well equipped to play on her desires as you’ve so adequately demonstrated. It would all make for a good novel if there weren’t lingering disappointment had at the end. I digress however since my sister’s desires and your part in them is not of consequence in this point in time.

I merely am interested in seeing Valeria surrounded by common faces she finds comfort in for the evening while she embarks on what may seem like a high anxiety riddled evening for her. Meeting one’s parents for the first time as they weigh and question her and her worthwhile in their presence– be it verbal or no – she will be scrutinized. I have no doubt in my mind that your bride-to-be, my sister, will dazzle them with her charm, sincerity and affection I know she is boundless in.

The end of the week works for our scheduling and I’ll make sure that Valeria is well prepared for the evening as I have no doubt she has had a passable visit amongst her companions and closest confidants.

Word to the wise, try not to shirk her from former connections. In most cases it ends badly and despite how you might feel about some, even her relationship with me, these people mean more to her right now than you and they hold her confidence in ways I cannot.

Cordially;

Vahalia Cress

Setting the letter aside entirely, Vahalia focused on the paper in front of her. She had a million different ideas to play this out and thus she decided  to take the route she knew would bring Valeria the most comfort. As much as Vahalia would have been quite alright in asking Hakan to come along, Hakan and Valeria barely knew one another outside of a mere introduction and fancy dinners were less likely an affair for her to trouble Hakan over.

And so, she wrote.

Captain Thorne;

I am gladened that Valeria was able to get in some shopping while she was away and I certainly hope her time was well spent with the lot. She is being expected home within the coming days and Ricard has summoned us to dinner at week’s end so that she meet with his parents.

I have taken the liberty of requesting a plus one for the evening and I thought it might be of some comfort to Valeria if you were there. I expect you to pick something out appropriate and to arrive with Valeria when she returns home. I will have a room prepared for you at the estate for you during your stay.

I suspect you will not let her down during an important evening for her.

Sincerely;

Vahalia Cress

PS: He’s still taking residence in my bed. But, take heart in knowing your pictures are to be used very thoroughly. 

Smiling to herself she lifted the letter and casually swiped it through the air to let the ink dry. Now, all that was left was to see to her work, the evening and interviews to come the following day.

Oh.

What a delight.

[renaldiroyals]

Louis: Will you keep your voice down!? I don’t want them to hear you. Leah: I don’t care. She can’t stay here. Louis: Wouldn’t it be nice for Thierry to have a friend his own age.

Leah: We don’t even know who she is or where she came from. For all we know she could be dangerous. Louis: Rachel asked us for our help. She’s just a harmless and scared girl who is in the same position I was in. Leah: Of course you just listen to everything she tells you to do.

???: Ignore them. We’re just not used to having new people around. Charlene: I didn’t mean to cause any trouble for your family. ???: You’re not. I’m glad you’re here, I could use the company.

Thierry: My name is Thierry by the way. I believe you’ve already met my dad. Charlene: Charlene. Thierry: Cool. Do you have any other names?

Charlene: Well my Papa named me is Charlene Juliette Henrietta Louise. Thierry: Henrietta? Charlene: [smiles] Yeah. It’s sort of a family tradition. Thierry: Come on I want to show you something. Charlene: Oh. Ok

Thierry: Will you tell me what it’s like? Charlene: What do you mean? Thierry: Your life before. I have never left the island. I bet it was really exciting. Charlene: Oh, uh it was fine.

Beginning || Previous || Next

[peacesmovingcabaret]

Ok so I think it’s time we talked about Laurent. Specifically his widely unknown backstory and the fact that he’s a con artist with a savior complex! 

I took a bit of inspiration from both @edaurents and @ikbonbon excellent posts here and here and here involving Laurent’s elaborate role in the plot, a little bit on his backstory, and his past/current habits. So I’m gonna incorporate some of their theories into my meta. (Also if you already came up with some of these theories, I don’t mean to copy you and I’m sorry if it seems like I am.) I just might end up breaking this into multiple parts since it’s probably gonna be pretty lengthy. 

So without further ado. Spoilers Ahead!!!!!!

Great Pretender is a comedy/heist anime about a group of con artists or “confidence men” as they put it. Whose stories involve conning several corrupt figures out of their money with some really elaborate scams. 

And the mastermind behind those schemes is none other than our lovable, French bastard Laurent Thierry. 

Now off the bat, we can sum up this guy as this suave, charismatic, conniving, smug, super intelligent, ‘always three steps ahead of any and every one’ and ‘makes 5-6 different plans for the job while in his sleep’ kind of con man. He also has a Robin Hood complex, in that he only targets the rich and corrupted, robbing them blind and then exposing crimes to authorities. While helping honest and underpriveleged people who were victimized by those corrupt targets.  So he he clearly has a conscience and a good heart underneath. 

Now his backstory, however remains an enigma. In all three of the cases presented in the show so far, Laurent’s is the only one out of the main four characters that isn’t explored. The only tidbit of information we get from the show is that one line he says towards the end of episode 14, while holding up a ring on a chain.

“Men are such miserable creatures. Isn’t that right, Dorothy?”

Now, who is Dorothy? You might ask. Well judging by the ring, our best guess is maybe an old flame, lover or some type of significant other. Whoever she was, she was a woman who clearly impacted Laurent’s life (if him carrying what I assume was her ring on him is any indication). And I think it’s safe to say that she is no longer among the living. So this is really the only piece from the show that gives us any direct bit of info about his past.  

However, there are elements in this show that do give us some clues on his background, the type of person he was in the past and even his motives. 

And they include: His profession as a Scam Artist, this ‘Dorothy’ woman and his relationship with her and finally, his strange fixation on Edamura. 

Now judging by how intricate his schemes are along with the amount of resources and people he has on hand for his plans, we can say that he’s been doing this for a while. Like no one is this skilled and this talented at conning rich, influential people out of their money with these super elaborate plans after only a little while. No, these are skills he’s been honing for years. However, I don’t think he obtained these skills from Dorothy. I think he’s been a scam artist way before he met her.

Here’s the thing: The overall idea of scam artists is pretty scary. You’re essentially exploiting people, taking advantage of either their trust or ignorance and stealing their money. With Laurent, he takes it to another level. He doesn’t just steal money from his targets, he gains their trust, gives them a false sense of security and satisfaction, then he psychologically torments them by exposing their crimes and fucking bankrupting them. And sure all his victims were bad people, but imagine if they weren’t. Like Laurent is lowkey terrifying, his character’s like a Bond villain on the light side. Which leads me to believe that Laurent had some pretty dark, fucked up shit going on in his past in order for him to turn out that. Maybe involving some dark corrupt figures he dealt with that turned him bitter and even broken. Especially if these pictures from the Case 4 preview are anything to go by:

Now these pictures could mean a lot of things. But what’s important to note is that this is clearly a low point in his life. He’s sitting in the garbage smoking, he’s visibly drunk, and he looks roughed up a bit. He’s also noticeably younger so likely this took place in his past. Clearly he went through some tough shit. @ikbonbon Brings up in their post that Laurent possibly had a drinking problem when he was younger (in which they speculate based on some of his current lack of drinking habits in the show). I think it’s possible that some type of trauma (maybe as a result from those corrupt rich figures I’m mentioned before) took a toll on his mental health which caused him to resort to drinking and other self destructive tendencies.

Enter Dorothy.

I kinda speculate that he’s speaking to her in the first picture, but I don’t have enough evidence to back that claim. But she was someone who became a positive influence on his life (If him becoming some vigilante type who uses his cons to help others and carrying around the ring of his likely deceased lover with him is any indication). I think it’s likely that she was the one who encouraged him to help people, not only with the money he earns from his cons, but also via a sense of closure from past traumas and current struggles. Like with what he does with Edamura, Abbie and Cynthia in the three cases. It’s also likely that she got him out of that slump and played a part in his schemes to take down some corrupt, rich assholes. And after Dorothy’s supposed passing, he decided to continue with his mission in her honor.

So we now have clues on Laurent’s motives and a little bit on his backstory. Alongside who Dorothy was and Laurent’s relationship towards her. But I think there’s more evidence in the show that delves into his backstory a bit and kind of supports my theories that I’ve presented here.

And it involves his odd fixation on Edamura in the show and how he goes out of his way to recruit and incorporate him into his plans. Which I’m going to discuss in a different post because I’m gonna be in full tin foil hat mode and it’s going to be too damn long to incorporate in this post that I’ve already started.

Part 2 is here.

[originalhybridloverfics]

Good To You - CH 24

A/N: I'm sorry for the insanely long wait but I hope the length of the chapters makes up for it!

Updates are really slow for me, I have some family stuff that came up, if you follow me on tumblr or twitter you probably already know about it, and on top of that I got sucked into another fandom that has consumed me.

I want to thank everyone who is still reading this story despite the unbelievably slow updates.

Genevieve and Celeste stroll through the cemetery. 

“Oh, I remember this cemetery. Hmm. Hasn't changed a bit.” Genevieve mused. 

“I've been coming here over a century, wearing one face or another,” Celeste replied. 

~*~ ~*~ ~* ~

1919 

Genevieve approaches a woman kneeling in front of a tomb in the Lafayette cemetery, praying to her ancestors.  

“Clara Summerlin, will you come on?” Genevieve complained. “We're gonna miss everything.”  

The two walk over to where a crowd of witches is standing around a bonfire, playing conga drums and watching as a witch dance around the flames. Papa Tunde walks out with an albino python around his shoulders, which he hands to his twin sons after clapping in order to quiet the crowd.  

“Told you. Every witch in the Quarter is here to see the great Papa Tunde,” said Genevieve. 

“Witches of the French Quarter, thank you for your welcome.” Papa Tunde addressed the crowd of witches. “It is good to be among people of the faith. I, too, practice ancestral magic, honoring those who walked the path before us. From them, we draw strength. And you will need strength, for a great darkness is coming. The city your forefathers left you is now overrun by pirates, beasts, and vampires.” 

Papa Tunde takes the python from his sons and throws it into the fire, and many of the witches gasp in surprise and fear. 

“I practice other magic, as well. Sacrificial magic, channeling power from the lives of my offerings.” Papa Tunde explained. “I use this strength to vanquish my enemies, and I will punish your enemies for their greed. In return, you will accept my family into your coven, and me as your leader.” 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

1919 

Two men enter the room and join Elijah and a police officer at a table where a meeting was taking place.

“Gentlemen, make yourselves at home.” Elijah greeted. “Mayor O'Connell appears to be running late, but there's much to discuss, so I shall begin.”  

Klaus walked down the stairs to join them. “One moment, please, brother. You know how much I enjoy these illicit, little gatherings.” 

“Do not be troubled. Despite my brother's reputation, I can assure you, we've invited you here to broker in peace.” Elijah assured the men. “You have my word.”  

“And, lucky for you, my brother always keeps his word,” Klaus told them. “You two are from the Guerrera crime family, a brutish pack of thieves and killers. And that's nothing compared to what you become on a full moon, is it?”  

“Yes, yes, yes. Of course, a bite from your kind is not lethal to an Original. Conflict between us would not end well for you at all,” Elijah cautioned. “Let's state our proposal here. My brother and I control the ports of the city, but with Prohibition soon to be the law of the land, there'll be a certain uptick in the kind of federal presence we prefer to avoid. Therefore, I'd like to suggest a system whereby, under our supervision, of course, the Guerrera family can traffic alcohol into the city of New Orleans for a profit. We would still be in charge, but our rule would remain a secret.”  

Papa Tunde walks into the room with his sons following behind him.

“This all sounds very good, but tell me, how will it benefit the witches?” asked Papa Tunde. 

“I am sorry.” Said Elijah. “This is a private meeting.” 

“Yes, for kings of the city, but I, too, am a king, and I have rules,” replied Papa Tunde.  

“I'm impressed. You're either quite ambitious or quite mad. What's your name, mate?” asked Klaus.  

“I am Alphonse Bellatunde Delgado, Papa Tunde to my followers, and I come to ask that the witches be granted fair tribute for allowing your existence in our city.” Papa Tunde responded.  

“Are you suggesting that you speak for the French Quarter witches?” Elijah questioned.  

“I do now, and I expect our future negotiations to go very smoothly.” Papa Tunde answered. “As a guarantee, I brought a gift. I await our next gathering.” 

A small leather case is placed on the table. Papa Tunde and his sons leave. Everyone else gathers around as Klaus lifts the lid on the trunk to reveal a head inside with a symbol carved into his forehead. 

“Well, I suppose we'll need a new mayor,” Klaus said.  

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Marcel walked into the Abattoir Courtyard Davina and Josh beside him. 

Marcel grabbed a table with Davina and Josh. Davina was supposed to be meeting with Sophie at Caroline’s request to start searching for a way to save Katherine. 

Most of Marcel’s guys weren’t happy that Klaus was now in charge and Marcel appeared to be following his lead without question. And were shocked to see Davina alive and well having believed she was dead after learning the truth about her and Marcel’s connection with her. 

Diego sees him enter and approaches. He walks over to the table Marcel had chosen.  

“Hey, Marcel, maybe you know what's going on. Klaus ordered us to meet here, and now he's a no-show.” he looked at Davina. “And how are you alive?” 

“Caroline,” Davina answered simply.  

“Klaus has a lot on his hands to deal with. Give him time.” Marcel told him.  

“Like what?” Diego challenged but before Marcel could answer. Klaus enters the room with Caroline and on his other side is Thierry.

“Dearest brethren, your attention, please.” Klaus’s voice ringed loudly through the courtyard. “No doubt, you're all surprised to see Thierry Vanchure, who's supposed to be rotting in the Garden for the crime of killing one of our own, and I personally decided to issue him with a pardon.” Klaus declared. “I hope you'll all welcome home Thierry.”  

Thierry smiles and gives Diego a hug. 

“Welcome home, man,” Diego told him.  

“Now some of you may see the difference with Caroline.” Klaus continues, pressing his hand to her lower back and the other resting on her stomach. “It turns out the wolf Hayley who I had believed to be carrying my children was working with the witches all along and had stolen my children from their true mother. Now they are back where they belong and the witches will soon pay for what one of their own has done.” 

Caroline forced a smile before moving toward Marcel’s table, ignoring the stares of disbelief she was receiving. “Davina, thanks for coming.” 

“You said you needed my help,” Davina replied. 

Caroline frowned, tilting her head at the younger girl. “You know you don’t have to help me just because I helped you, right?” 

“Caroline, you saved my life.” Davina countered. “I owe you everything.” 

“No, you don’t,” Caroline told her. “I didn’t save your life so you would feel indebted to me. I want you to live your life how you want. I do want your help but I don’t want you to feel obligated that you have to. You can say no.”

Davina smiled. “I know, that’s why I want to help you. You're not like everyone else.” 

“As long as you know you have a choice.” Caroline gestured to the stairs. “Let’s go see Katherine.”

Davina smiled and linked their arms. 

“You too, Josh,” Caroline called over her shoulder as she started up the stairs. 

“Coming.” Josh quickly followed. “Hey, Caroline, any chance you have some blood bags lying around. I haven’t eaten all day..” 

Marcel tuned out the sound of Josh's voice turning to Klaus as he took a seat across from him. “You're in a good mood,” Marcel said to Klaus. “You must really love the fact that Caroline is the mother of your children.” 

“It’s definitely a gift,” Klaus responded. “But before I can truly celebrate this turn of events I have responsibilities that I need to tend to.” Klaus turns to address the crowd of vampires. “The witches have gone too far with their actions against Caroline. Actions they will pay for. However, since their Harvest failed, their magic will soon be gone forever. Now there has been a debate, on whether to kill them or keep them on their toes. I, however, want them dead, every last one. Diego, I wonder if you might lead a rousting in the cauldron. One that ends in blood and carnage.” 

Diego smiles and starts to plan with the other vampires. 

Marcel smiled. “As much as I would love to shed some witches' blood, especially after everything they put Davina through, I do have another girl to see so I will be taking a personal day.” Marcel stood and left. Confident that Davina would be fine in the compound with Caroline there. 

Klaus' eyes narrowed, wondering where Marcel was headed and who he was going to see. Almost everyone he knew was at the compound. 

Diego and the others looked up at the sound of multiple voices and a group of men, women and even a few children walked into the compound. 

Klaus smiled at Zach and the other wolves and walked over to them. “Caroline has been expecting all of you. She’s currently occupied with helping someone who doesn’t deserve saving but until she has a moment free why don’t you get to know the place and divide up some of the empty rooms amongst yourselves.”

“We will be staying here?” Zach asked speaking up on the behalf of the wolves who were more than a little surprised.

“Caroline has insisted that you all stay with us and what Caroline wants she will get,” Klaus responded, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. 

“What the hell is going on here?” Diego walked over, glaring darkly at Zach and his group of wolves. 

“I’d like you to meet Zach and the rest of my pack,” Klaus smirked. “They will be staying here at the compound. Indefinitely.” 

Diego's eyes darkened with hate. “You’re kidding, right? They terrorized the Quarter for centuries. It’s why Marcel ran them out of town.” 

Zach stared Diego down. “Wrong pack. We don’t run from anyone. Not anymore. And we only came to New Orleans once we heard of Klaus’s children.” 

Diego scoffed as more vampires gathered behind him. 

“What he says is true. Zach is of my bloodline. Not the New Orlean wolves and they are welcome guests in my home and every single one of you will treat them so or face my wrath.” Klaus’s voice hardened like a steel blade. 

The other vampires started yelling out their protest. 

“Quiet.” Klaus thundered, eyes flashing, a growl emitting from deep in his chest. 

Diego glared but was wary. “You expect vampires and werewolves to co-exist? You’re crazy.” 

The other vampires' protest increased. 

“Maybe so,” Klaus smirked. “But you will work together, starting today. Zach here will be joining in on the witch hunt.”

Diego glared but said nothing. Klaus was in charge and as of right now there wasn’t a thing he could do about it. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Katherine looked over at the door as it was opened, feeling Elijah squeeze her hands in reassurance. 

Caroline walked in followed by a girl who couldn’t be more than sixteen and a young male not much older than Caroline. 

“Caroline,” Elijah greeted. 

“Sorry to interrupt but I was hoping to check on Katherine and introduce her to Davina.” 

“And why do I need to be introduced to kids?” Katherine raised a perfect brow as she sat up more in the bed. She had been feeling weaker and weaker. It was only a matter of time before her body completely gave out on her. She didn’t want to think about it, refusing to think of the fear that came with knowing you were going to die. 

She hated it. She was Katherine Pierce, sick, frail, weak, was not the way she was supposed to go out. For the last 500 years, she had clawed and kicked and screamed to get everything she wanted to make it this long when she had a man like Klaus Mikaelson intent on killing her. 

“Because Davina here is going to save your life.” Caroline wrapped her arms around Davina’s. “So if I were you I would be a little nicer.” 

“Nice isn’t in my vocabulary.” Katherine retorted. 

“Expand your vocabulary because without some witchy interference you're going to die soon.” Caroline stepped further into the room. 

“And you care so much about my well being, why?” Katherine asked. 

“For telling me the truth. Let’s not pretend we’ve ever been friends because it would be a lie. Still, this is my way of repaying you for once doing something when you had nothing to gain from it.”

“I wonder what Elena would say about you trying to save me?” Katherine taunted, trying to push Caroline’s buttons. 

“I don’t much care what Elena has to say about it.” Caroline retorted. “This has nothing to do with her.” 

Katherine smirked. “I gotta say, I’m warming up to you. Getting out of Mystic Falls suits you.” 

Josh cleared his throat, making Caroline realize she hadn’t introduced him. “Oh, and this is Josh.”

Katherine looked him over. “He comes across as a puppy,”

“Puppy?” Josh wasn’t sure if he should be offended or not. 

“Caroline,” Elijah interjected. “Just how do you intend to save Katherine's life. She is getting worse by the day. I’m not sure how much time she has.” 

“Yes,” Katherine said. “How do you and this young witch plan on keeping me alive?” 

“Well, I planned on seeing if Sophie knows anything or maybe looking at The Original Witch book of spells. Generations after generations of witches walk this city. Someone has to know something.” 

“Caroline, I don’t think Sophie is going to be so keen to help,” Elijah interjected. “We’ve ruined all her plans and have taken her prisoner. Let’s not forget the torture.” 

Caroline’s eyes darkened at the mention of Sophie. “Who said she had a choice in the matter?” 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Sophie’s arms dangled above her from chains attached to the ceiling, her feet barely touching the ground, she had to stand on the tip of her toes, her shirt was soaked with blood, her neck covered in red stains. 

Her skin pale and dark circles beneath her eyes, exhaustion coming off her in waves. 

She looked up as a knock sounded on the door. The werewolf guarding her sent her a disdainful look and pulled the door open. 

Caroline stepped in. She was alone. Davina was with Katherine, Josh had stayed with his friend. 

“Did you really come here alone?” Sophie asked, eyes glaring. “How wise is that?”

Caroline moved forward. “You and I both know, you are too weak to do a thing to anyone, and secondly if you did anything and I mean anything you would be scattered in pieces across this floor.”

“What do you want?” Sophie asked through clenched teeth. 

“Your help.” Caroline stepped closer, her eyes filled with hate. 

“You have got to be joking!?” Sophie exclaimed in disbelief. “You’ve chained me up like an animal, tortured me, fed on me, healed me only to do it all over again. You keep me weakened and you expect me to help you?! You’re crazy!”

Caroline grabbed her by the neck, eyes blackening, her temper flaring. “You will do whatever I asked you to do. You live because I say so, because I allow it. The second I say otherwise you will be dead and forgotten. Don’t test me. The sight of you makes me see red and I want to rip you apart until there is nothing left. Even now I fight the urge to kill you. I rather delight in your screams as I slice you open and cause you excruciating pain.” 

Sophie's eyes darkened and she looked at Caroline in revulsion. “You sound like Klaus. Has being with him changed you that much?” 

“Being with Klaus has been the most freeing thing I’ve ever done,” Caroline said, feeling like the words were the most honest she ever was in her life. “Selfish, deplorable, disgusting individuals like Hayley and yourself have no legs to stand on moral ground.” Caroline pressed closer, her hand tightening on Sophie’s throat cutting off her air. “You can do as I ask or we can make this into another torture session. If you won’t do as I say. I will turn you into a vampire. I know from a friend that there is no worse fate than this for a witch. I’ve seen it. The disconnect a witch feels is hollow.” 

Sophie glowered. She hated Caroline. She underestimated her and now she was just starting to realize who she was dealing with.

Sophie tried to pull back from Caroline’s hand. “Okay. Okay.” Caroline released her. “What do you want from me,” Sophie asked, struggling to breathe normally again. 

“You’re going to help me save someone’s life.” 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

“Klaus.”

Klaus was in the middle of giving orders to the wolves and vampires, splitting them up into two separate parties when he heard his name from someone he wasn’t expecting to hear from anytime soon. 

He turned to see Stefan standing in the middle of the courtyard. “Stefan, mate, what are you doing here?” 

“I came to see Caroline?” Stefan’s brow furrowed as he saw all the people lined up awaiting further instructions. “What is going on here?”

Klaus turned back to the two groups. “You know your orders. Go.” 

The wolves and vampires shared a hateful look and dispersed. 

Klaus focused back on Stefan. “Now is not a good time.” 

“Then it’s a good thing I’m not here for you, isn’t it?” Stefan replied.

Klaus tensed, a voice in his head whispering that Stefan was there to convince Caroline to leave him behind and go back to Mystic Falls. 

“Look, Klaus, I’m not here to play games. I’m here to see my friend. You can tell me where she is or I can call her and tell her I’m here, either way, I’m not leaving.” 

Klaus rolled his eyes heavenward. He would never hear the end of it from Caroline if he told her he sent Stefan away. She had such a soft spot for the younger Salvatore but so help him if he was there to take Caroline from him, he would find himself in Marcel’s Garden. 

“Dwayne,” 

Dwayne stepped forward seeming to move out of the shadows startling Stefan. 

“Take Stefan here to Caroline, then if she wishes for you to leave do so,” Klaus ordered. 

Dwayne’s face brightened. He wanted, needed to be near Caroline. 

He started walking, not even stopping to see if Stefan was following. 

Stefan shot Klaus an uncertain look before following behind Dwayne. 

Dwayne led him down a corridor and down a flight of stairs, the sound of a bloodcurdling scream had him, stopping. His mind screamed that Caroline needed his help and he took off on a run past Dwayne. He burst into a room, slamming the door open with his shoulder. “Caroline!” he looked around the room frantically and froze. 

A dark-haired girl was strapped to a med table, blood pouring down her skin, dripping into a large puddle on the floor, she was crying out in agony, she tried to thrash around, attempting to get away, to break free but was restrained tightly to the table with barely any movement. When she turned her head his way, shaking from the pain, Stefan recognized her. 

Hayley Marshall. 

His eyes shot to the blonde standing over her, pouring something over the girl. The blonde’s back was to him, he couldn’t see who it was but he knew he had to stop her. What did Hayley do to deserve to be tortured like this? Her cries were echoing off the walls, the stench of blood filled the air. 

He moved forward grabbing the girl by the arm spinning her around. “Stop, what are you-” Stefan released the blonde, taking a step back in shock. “Caroline?!” 

“Stefan, what are you doing here?” She pushed her hair back from her face, streaks of blood coating the blonde strands from her hands that were coated in Hayley’s blood. 

“What the hell are you doing, Caroline?!” You’re torturing people now? This isn’t you?!” Stefan stepped forward again, crowding her. “First Damon, now Hayley, who’s next?!”

“She deserves it and so did Damon!” Caroline shoved him back not liking the way he was standing over her. 

Suddenly Stefan found himself pinned against the wall by Dwayne. 

Stefan’s eyes widened as he stared in the face of an angry hybrid. “Oh my God,” he looked past the werewolf to Caroline. “Klaus can make hybrids without Elena’s blood?”

Caroline turned and stuffed a gag into Hayley’s mouth cutting off her screams and cries of pain. 

“Klaus didn’t make him. Tyler did, trying to prove he was right about why Klaus cared about his children.” Caroline said, her hand drifted down to her stomach. “Let him go, Dwayne.” 

Dwayne let Stefan go reluctantly but he was eager to get closer to Caroline, coming to stand beside her. 

Stefan pushed off the wall, rolling his shoulders, he followed the movements of Caroline’s hand’s, his eyes widening. “Your mother told me what was going on but I had trouble believing it.”

But how could he continue denying it when he could see the roundness of Caroline’s stomach. “I don’t understand.”

“You want to know what Hayley has done to deserve this? She stole my babies, she used magic to steal a pregnancy for her own gain. I’ve taken back what’s mine but that doesn’t mean, she gets to walk away from this after everything she has done.” 

Caroline turned back to Hayley gripping the surgical tool, a rib spreader, and spread Hayley’s open wound where all the blood was coming from open wider. 

Hayley whined in pain, sniffling. “Please, it hurts.” 

Caroline’s eyes hardened. “Good.” She lifted a bottle of liquid and started pouring it inside Hayley, watching Hayley’s insides burn and sizzle as her bloodcurdling scream filled the air. 

“Is that wolfsbane?” Stefan asked, alarmed. 

“Yes, mixed with hydrofluoric acid,” Caroline answered, a dark smile pulling at her lips. 

“Caroline, you have to stop.” Stefan came forward again. 

Caroline put down the container of Acid and wolfsbane. And removed the rib spread from Hayley’s body. “She needs time to heal until next time.”

Caroline bit into her wrist and squeezed it over, Hayley’s mouth giving her only enough so she would heal slowly and not die from her wounds.  

“Next time?” Stefan repeated. 

“Dwayne take care of this for me,” Caroline ordered and walked out of the room. 

Stefan followed her. “Caroline, stop, we need to talk about this.” he grabbed her arm, turning her around to face him. 

“What’s there to talk about?” Caroline asked, shrugging him off. “I am causing Hayley pain for her deceit.” 

“Caroline, this isn’t you. You don’t torture people.” Stefan protested. “You’re good.” 

“What I am is tired. Why am I always the pawn in someone’s larger game? I will not allow my children to suffer nor will I allow them to be used. I’m done being a casualty. If I have to do things that I otherwise wouldn’t then I will without hesitation and if you can't accept this then maybe you shouldn’t have come here.” 

“I came here because I realized what a bad friend I’ve been. I’m not going to turn back now. I wasn’t there for you. I can’t make up for what happened to you in Mystic Falls but I can be here for you now. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling. How you handle this is up to you but I am not going back to Mystic Falls.”

“Then follow me,” Caroline said and turned walking down the corridor, expecting Stefan to fall into line behind her. 

Caroline led Stefan upstairs and into a room, he was shocked to see Katherine lying in the bed, Elijah sitting beside her and on her other side was Nadia. 

Nadia had shown up, demanding to be with her mother. Caroline hadn’t much cared about keeping the mother and daughter separated. 

There was a woman in the room and a younger girl, a dark hair male, and another man who was watching the dark-haired woman like a hawk. 

“What’s going on here?” Stefan questioned, looking to Caroline for answers. 

“We’re going to save Katherine’s life,” Caroline told him. 

“I’m sorry, what?” Stefan was in disbelief. 

“I’m still doubtful about it myself,” Katherine spoke up. “It’s good to see you, Stefan.” 

“Klaus is okay with this?” Stefan asked, looking to Caroline.  

“He’s willing to accept it for me,” Caroline said and then did a quick round of introductions to the room. 

“Have you found anything yet?” Caroline asked Davina, coming forward. 

“Not yet,” Davina answered, casting a curious look at Stefan. 

“Stefan and I will go through the books Elijah has required and I’ll call Bonnie, see if she knows something. Maybe there’s something in the Bennet books that can help.” Caroline said, after thinking it over. 

“You really think Bonnie’s going to want to help save Katherine’s life?” Stefan asked skeptically. 

“No but I’m asking as her friend and I will explain why I am trying to do this.” Caroline insisted. 

“I believe Katerina is in good hands.” Elijah smiled over at Caroline and walked past her and Stefan into the hallway. “I will be back shortly.” 

“Alright, so this is what we’re going to do, Sophie and Davina continue searching here. Josh and Stefan will go through the books in the study. I will call Bonnie and see if I can get her to help. Dwayne.” 

As if he was just waiting for Caroline to need him Dwayne appeared. 

Caroline shifted away. He made her uncomfortable with how he was always ready to do whatever she asked. She didn’t like using the sire bond he had to the twins and how he was always lurking in the shadows wherever she was, creeped her out. 

“Dwayne, you will make sure Sophie doesn’t try anything if she does lock her up and get Zach or one of the wolves to deal with her until I have the time to do it myself. Nadia, you can stay with Katherine.” No one moved much to Caroline’s annoyance, she clapped her hands. “Well, you got jobs to do. Go!” 

Davina nodded and continued searching the book in front of her, Sophie glared but did as she was told. 

Josh motioned to Stefan to follow him and led him out of the room. 

“You really think this is going to work?” Katherine asked Caroline. 

“Yes, because I will make sure of it,” Caroline answered. 

“I don’t want to be human,” Katherine argued. 

“You don’t want to be dead either, do you?” Caroline retorted. 

Katherine shot her a look. “What do you think?” 

“Good, we’ll save your life, and then we’ll find a way to turn you back into a vampire.” 

Caroline stepped out of the room to call Bonnie in private. 

Katherine watched the door close behind her. She hated the feeling of hope that was beginning to rise within her.

Damn Caroline Forbes and her unending optimism and determination. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Rebekah and Elijah walk through the streets of the Quarter as they talk about recent events. 

“Now, you may doubt him, but today, I saw Niklaus demonstrate mercy towards an enemy. Tell me that's not progress,” said Elijah.  

“That’s Caroline’s influence,” Rebekah stated. “He wants to be better for her. He’s not the same brother we knew the last thousand years. Honestly, she is the only reason I’m not still working with Sophie.” 

Elijah turned to her abruptly. “You were working with Sophie?” 

“Not anymore. Not after everything she has done.” Rebekah responded. 

“Are you the reason he let Thierry out?” Elijah eyed her with suspicion. 

“No, that was Caroline,” Rebekah told him. “She didn’t like that he was locked up for protecting someone he loved. Though we should keep a close eye on him. Thierry despises Klaus and for good reason. He got the witch he loved killed. However, I was thinking, he knows about French Quarter covens because he dated a witch. Maybe he can lead me to whoever stole off with the Harvest magic.”  

“Rebekah, we are all devastated by the outcome of this ritual,” Elijah began.  

“That's just it,” Rebekah interrupted. “There was no outcome. Davina is only alive because of the Elixir. We both know that power like that doesn't just vanish. I say someone stole it. I'd like to know who, and then I'd like to make an ally out of them and then kill them.” 

“To what end, exactly?” Elijah asked. “When will killing everyone who challenges us be enough?” 

“I'm tired of being threatened and controlled by our enemies, being moved on a chessboard like sacrificial ponds,” Rebekah told him. “If you want to stop bullies, you need the power to stand up to them.”  

“You’re not alone in this Rebekah. You have me and you have Niklaus.” Elijah insisted. “He is finally making an effort. He's invited us back into our family home. He yearns for our family to be reunited. He’s there for Caroline and their unborn children.”  

“Yes. He's in a brilliant mood now, but for how long?” Rebekah challenged. “What about when things fall apart with him and Caroline? What then? He was bad before but if anything were to ever happen to Caroline or their children, he will be inconsolable, wreaking havoc and pain wherever he goes. And who says he won’t turn that anger on us and bury a dagger in our hearts?”

“I believe that he is approaching some semblance of peace here. As long as we keep Caroline safe we have nothing to worry about,” Elijah argued. “Leadership may, in fact, be a good thing for him and as I am quickly learning Caroline may very well be the best thing to ever happen to him in his thousand years on this earth.” 

“I hope it’s enough and that Stefan has not shown up here to take her back to Mystic Falls. That’s not her home anymore.” Rebekah said. She had been surprised to learn that Stefan was here but she didn’t think he would be staying long. It was only a matter of time before he found his way back to Elena and his brother in Mystic Falls. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Her phone call with Bonnie didn’t go as well as Caroline had hoped. Bonnie was hesitant to help Katherine but Caroline kept insisting that she owed Katherine. Caroline reminded Bonnie that Katherine was human and was no longer in New Orleans. 

Caroline kept insisting until Bonnie finally gave in. Bonnie ended the call with the promise to look through her family journals and she would let her know immediately if she finds something. 

Caroline walked to Elijah’s room and sifted through his things until she found what she was looking for. 

Esther’s grimoire. Grabbing the book she left the room and found a sitting room in the compound, she settled into the end of a couch and started sifting through it. 

The smell of blood filled the air and she looked up to see Klaus carrying a glass of blood and a plate of food. 

“What are you doing?” Caroline asked.

Klaus set the plate and glass on the table in front of her. “Have you eaten?” 

“No,” Caroline shook her head and took a drink of the blood, savoring the warm liquid sliding down her throat. 

“You should,” Klaus took the seat next to her. “I know you're dead set on finding a way to save Katherine but you can’t neglect yourself or the babies.” 

Caroline’s eyes widened suddenly and pulled the glass of blood away from her lips. “Do you think blood is bad for them?” her other hand dropped the book in her lap, placing her hand over her stomach. 

“I think nothing that is good for you can possibly be bad for them.” Klaus reached for the book. “Are you looking through my mother’s book for a spell?” 

“I was hoping it might have something to help Katherine,” Caroline admitted and reached for the place of fruit grabbing an apple slice. “I found nothing so far.” 

“Where did you find it?” Klaus asked. 

“Elijah’s room. I went and took it,” Caroline took another drink of the blood. 

Klaus laughed. “Elijah’s is not going to like that.” 

Caroline shrugged. “I don’t care.” 

Klaus tossed the book on the table and turned his body more towards her. “Did you speak with Stefan?” 

“I did. My mom told him about what’s going on here and he came out of concern, I guess.” 

Klaus nodded, his body becoming tense. “Has he managed to convince you to go back to Mystic Falls?”

Caroline placed her glass on the table and turned toward him. “Klaus, we’ve been over this. I’m not returning to Mystic Falls. Not even for Stefan.”

Klaus swallowed, choosing his words carefully. “Things are different now. Why would you stay here after everything that was done to you?”

Caroline nodded slowly. She needed to get her point across. Klaus had insecurities and she more than anyone understood how powerful they could be, if she let the insecurities take root it could ruin what they were building. He needed her reassurance to silence the voices in his head telling him she would return to Mystic Falls. 

Caroline pushed at his shoulders, shoving him back. 

Klaus fell back against the cushions surprised. Caroline threw a leg over his hip, settling into his lap, and grasped his face in her hands. “I need you to listen to me and hear me, Klaus. I am not going back to Mystic Falls no matter what happens. Not for Stefan. Not even for my mom. My life is here, with you. I will go where you go. As long as you want me by your side I am going to be there. I won’t leave you.” 

Klaus leaned his forehead against hers, his hands coming to rest over her stomach, over their children. “I am never going to want to let you go, love.”

“Then don’t,” Caroline whispered. “Don’t let me go. Always fight for me. Always want me.”

Klaus couldn’t take it anymore. He surged forward, burying his hands in her hair and clashing his mouth against hers. 

Caroline deepened the kiss and Klaus licked into her mouth, tasting the blood she had been drinking on her tongue. 

A groan tore from his throat as she circled her hips, grinding against him. He grasped at her hips urging her down on his rapidly hardening jean-covered cock.

A whimper pulled from Caroline’s mouth and she gripped his shoulders for leverage, looking for friction as she ground her hips against his, desire taking over. 

“Hey, guys, we got a problem,” Diego announced entering a room in the compound, looking worried.   

Klaus broke away from Caroline with a growl, his hands digging into her hips. 

Caroline looked over her shoulder at Diego, perched in Klaus’s lap. “You know there’s this thing called knocking.” 

Diego’s worried expression twisted into mild disgust. 

“Just a little common courtesy would be nice.” Caroline reluctantly removed herself from Klaus’s lap. 

“What’s wrong?” Klaus asked, readjusting his jeans as he stood. “And there better be a real problem or I might just kill you for the interruption.” 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Thunder rumbles overhead as Diego leads Klaus, Caroline, and Stefan to the Cauldron to show them what he found. 

Stefan had insisted on tagging along last minute when he realized Caroline was going.

“We came to kill the witches, just like you said,” said Diego. “And these two, they went missing. Found them like this, not even staked. Just dead.”  

Two vampires were on the ground desiccated, symbols carved into their forehead. 

“Someone has to account for this!” Klaus growled. 

“Are we talking about revenge?” Caroline questioned. “I’m only asking because even though I’m no expert on magic, I know that marks got to be tied to some bad mojo.”

“I don’t like this,” Stefan said, having a bad feeling. Caroline was in complete agreement. 

“Revenge is only the beginning,” Klaus told Caroline before turning to Diego. “We're gonna find whoever did this, and I will show them what suffering is.” 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Thierry and Rebekah walk into a warehouse at the docks to investigate. 

“Used to run things down here for Marcel,” Thierry explained. “Thought you'd like to see what I found before Klaus did.”  

Rebekah smirks. “Not a day out of the Garden, and you're already proving yourself useful.”  

“We made a deal, and if it screws things for your brother, I'm all for it,” said Thierry. “Though, to be honest, this stuff makes my skin crawl. I've never seen anything like this.” 

“Except you’re a little late to the party,” Rebekah told him. “I have ceased my plans for my brother.” 

“What?” Thierry glared at her. “You can’t-”

“Quiet,” Rebekah cut him off. “I have seen this before,” Rebekah said as they stop in front of another salt circle on the ground with two dead vampires inside. Both are desiccated and have the same symbol carved into their foreheads. “I have, a long time ago,” said Rebekah, recognizing the mark. “Somebody is copycatting a very dangerous witch. They draw their power from sacrifice.”  

“I just don't understand why someone would leave it here for us to find,” said Thierry, distracted by the turn of events.   

“Unless they wanted it to be found.” Rebekah pointed out.  

Papa Tunde appears from the shadows behind them. Rebekah notices him in shock and horror. 

“Mademoiselle Mikaelson.” Papa Tunde greeted.  

“That's not possible,” said Rebekah, still unable to believe what she was seeing. 

“Sure, it is, chére. It's magic.” Papa Tunde told her.  

Rebekah speed vamps toward him to try to kill him, but Papa Tunde simply reaches out and grabs her by the throat. “Symbole du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi. Embrace-toi. Symbole du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi. Embrace-toi. Symbole du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi. Embrace-toi. Symbole du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi.”  

Rebekah starts to desiccate, and thick gray veins pop up all over her face and neck. Terrified, Thierry speeds vamps and disappears out of the warehouse, leaving Rebekah on her own.  

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Klaus, Caroline, Elijah, Stefan, and Diego, and many of the other vampires are congregating in the courtyard, discussing their current situation. 

“Ah! Someone will die for this.” Klaus declared.  

“Remarkably, I don't disagree,” said Elijah. “However, I would like to know where they learned such dark magic.”  

“I had hoped never to see that symbol again,” said Klaus. “I recall it is the signature of a fool who once stood against us.”  

“Isn’t someone always standing against you?” Stefan asked with an arched eyebrow. 

Caroline smacked his arm. “So not the point, Stefan.” 

“Clearly, some upstart witch is salvaging old tricks,” Elijah responded.

“Ugh, witches,” Caroline said. “I’m really starting to hate them.” 

“Bonnie was a witch,” Stefan reminded her. “Before she became an anchor, she was a witch.” 

“Bonnie’s, Bonnie.” Caroline defended. “And she’s different. She’s not morally questionable.” 

Stefan couldn’t argue with her there. Plus, Caroline’s hate for the witches in New Orleans was understandable. “What about Davina?”

“Davina is innocent, nothing that has happened is her fault.” Caroline defended her new friend.   

“I'll do for him as I did the other.” Klaus turns to Diego. “Diego, when night falls, I want you to gather every vampire in the Quarter. Get me the head of whoever did this and put it on a stick.”  

“Yeah. That's gonna be a problem,” replied Diego. “Everyone is freaked out, man. We haven't had witches killing vampires in a long time. Marcel made sure of that.”  

“Marcel is no longer in charge and is busy chasing after his human. You lot are left with me. Now, who of you will fight to defend our home?” Klaus looked around to see that no one comes forward. “Not a single one of you will stand with me, so afraid are you of this new threat? You should know better. I'll handle this myself.”

“We will stand with you,” 

Klaus turned to see Zach and his pack stepping forward and he smirked. “Good.” 

He turned to Caroline. “Stay here, I don’t want you near this,” 

Caroline wanted to argue but she did not want witches near her unborn children again. “I’ll be fine,” She brushed a kiss against his stubble jaw. 

It wasn’t nearly enough for Klaus, he grasped her chin and kissed her deeply. 

Stefan cleared his throat after a moment, uncomfortable seeing Klaus and Caroline kissing each other like they’ve been doing it for years. 

Klaus turned and the wolves followed, sending disgusted looks the vampires’ way.  

Caroline lifted a hand to her lips watching him leave. 

“Stefan a word,” Klaus called over his shoulder. Stefan rolled his eyes and followed him out onto the street. 

Klaus turned to him. “Keep an eye on Caroline, will you? It’s only a matter of time before she involves herself.” 

“I’m not going to keep her prisoner for you,” Stefan glared. 

“I didn’t tell you to keep her in.” Klaus rolled his eyes. “I said keep an eye on her as in help her if she needs it. I promise you now if one hair is harmed on her head and you could have prevented it, your brother won’t be the only Salvatore I want to kill.” 

And with those parting words, Klaus left. 

Stefan sighed, he came here for Caroline but it looked like he was going to have to deal with Klaus on the regular. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~  

Cami spoke into her phone. “Sophie, the restaurant is an epic disaster again. Do you think maybe you could come in today and…” 

The voice mail interrupts: "User's mailbox is full." 

“Good-bye,” Cami said annoyed, ending the call.  

“Looks like I should've been here last night,” said Marcel.  

Cami, startled, looks for anything she can find to use as a weapon, finally settling on an empty liquor bottle on top of the bar. “Before you try anything, I'm on vervain.” 

“Yeah, Klaus mentioned you broke free of his compulsion. Good for you.” Marcel wondered. 

“What are you doing here?” asked Cami.  

“Wanted to see you.” Marcel sits down at the bar.

“I thought now that you have Davina back you wouldn’t be leaving her side.”  

“Except now I need to keep New Orleans from falling apart,” Marcel told her.  

“Is Klaus causing trouble?” Cami questioned. 

“When isn’t he?” Marcel responded, “and I’m more than likely going to have to be the one to clean it up. He has his hands full with Caroline and his kids and Hayley’s betrayal.” 

“What are you talking about? What did Hayley do?” Cami questioned. 

“Right,” said Marcel. “You wouldn’t know.” He reached for a bottle and poured two shots. “You’re probably gonna need a drink for this.” 

Cami joined him at the bar. “Tell me,” 

“Caroline is the one Klaus knocked up before coming back to New Orleans,” Marcel said. 

Cami’s eyes widened. “But she's a vampire and Hayley is the one who's pregnant.” 

“Not anymore,” Marcel shook his head. “The twins are back with Caroline now.” 

Cami’s shoulders slumped forward. “I’m so confused.” 

Marcel laughed. “It’s pretty unbelievable. From my understanding before the witches brought Caroline to New Orleans, she and Klaus got busy in her hometown, and by some dark magic on Sophie’s and her sister’s behalf they made it possible for Caroline to get pregnant and-”

“But how did they even know about Caroline?” Cami questioned. 

“Witches talk.” Marcel shrugged. “Plus, when Klaus Mikaelson truly cares about someone other than himself people tend to notice. It’s no surprise word traveled. Anyway, when the Deveraux witches learned their plan worked and that she was pregnant they lured her here, took her babies, and put them in Hayley’s womb. Hayley went on to pretend it was her pregnancy.”

“Why would someone do that to another woman?” Cami was disgusted. 

“The witches promised to help Hayley find her family and she was desperate enough to take the deal,” Marcel said. 

“Still,” Cami shook her head. 

“So while he’s dealing with that I have to deal with all the other drama he’s left in his wake,” Marcel stated.

“Marcel, I'm sorry,” Cami told him sympathetically. “This all sounds so complicated.” 

Marcel shrugged. “Same old, same old.” 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Elijah walks into Davina’s room to find her going through her old sketches.  

“There you are.” Elijah greeted. “Aren’t you supposed to be helping Katerina?” 

 “I needed a break and something keeps bothering me,” Davina answered, continuing her perusal of her sketches. 

Elijah gestures to the sketches. “And it has to do with your drawings?”  

“I don’t know but I feel this pull. I know they're telling me something,” Davina insisted. “I don’t understand why I was drawing a witch who has been dead for longer than I’ve been alive. I’m killing time, now that I'm on vampire lockdown.”  

“Are you sure it has nothing to do with the harvest?” Elijah asked and Davina glared at him. “Whoever did this, we will deal with them,” Elijah stated. “It won't be long.”  

“I'm not worried.” Davina declared. “I can handle what’s thrown my way. I just want to be prepared. I don’t want to get caught off guard. Something’s coming and I need to know what it is so I can protect the people that I care about.”   

“I do apologize if you feel all of our problems have fallen on your shoulders,” Elijah told her. “Finding a way to save Katherine, the Sophie and Hayley situation, Caroline. Stefan’s arrival. Rebekah is off trying to make things right. Niklaus grows more agitated with every new threat. You're just a child none of this should have fallen on you.”

“I’m not a child,” Davina said strongly. “I was forced to grow up sooner than I should have but I did it and I can handle this and I will. For Caroline but ultimately for myself. They have not beaten me down and I intend to show them they never will.” 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Marcel is still sitting at the bar with Cami when his phone rings. It's Klaus. He hits the ignore button and returns to his drink. 

“El presidente?” Said Cami.  

“He likes to keep track of his people,” Marcel responded.  

“Why are you loyal to him, exactly?” Cami wondered.  

“For someone who says she can't stand the guy, you sure ask a lot of questions about him.” Marcel pointed out.  

“My interest is purely academic.” Cami defended.  

“I know what you're doing,” Marcel said, knowingly. “You're mad he used you, and you want to get back at him. Maybe you're hoping I'll let slip some chink in his armor. Friendly advice--don't do that. It won't end well. Let me tell you a story about someone who went up against Klaus.” 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

1919 

Marcel returns home in his military uniform to find a party being held at the compound. Marcel sees Rebekah sitting at a table with an unknown gentleman, and walks toward her.  

“This was right after I returned from World War I. I'd been trying to get away from New Orleans for a while. Something kept drawing me back.” Marcel began. 

“Why don't you get me some Martinis?” Klaus suggested. “Thank you.”  

“Aren't you gonna welcome me home?” Marcel asked Rebekah.  

“I wouldn't want you to think that I was happy to see you,” replied Rebekah.  

“How long you gonna hate me?” Marcel asked.  

“You left me in a box for fifty-two years.” Rebekah glared. “Twice that seems like a good start. Come on, boys.”  

Marcel watched her walk away with a look of longing. 

Klaus approaches Marcel. “There he is. Our war hero triumphantly returned. Oh, good to have you back, Marcellus. Welcome home.” They drink together. “Mm.”  

“Haha! The prodigal son has finally learned to hold his liquor.” Elijah teased.  

“The Army'll do that to you,” Marcel replied.  

“Well, it's good to have you back,” Elijah told him. “Niklaus was beside himself in your absence.”  

“Now that you are here, perhaps you could help settle an argument,” said Klaus. “You see, you've traded a war abroad for one here in the Quarter. Some rogue witch wants a piece of the city we built, and Elijah, for reasons beyond my comprehension, insists that negotiation is our best recourse.” 

“Yes,” said Elijah.  

“On the topic of your failed comprehension, you neglect, as a soldier, Marcel has seen not only how small the world has become and how fast news can travel, but also the very horrors of war itself.” Klaus continued. “Surely, Marcel would agree with me.” 

“The best way for us to defend our home is by exercising discretion.” Elijah insisted.  

“So who's the witch you want to kill?” Marcel asked.  

“His name is Papa Tunde,” Klaus answered. “I think he's a charlatan. “ 

“Well, Marcel shall be able to decide that for himself. You invited him here.” Elijah reminded.  

“Of course. We're not savages, are we?” Klaus replied.  

Papa Tunde arrives at the party, and Klaus immediately approaches him. 

“Thank you for accepting our invitation, and welcome.” Klaus greeted. “I hope you'll allow me to play the role of host. If there's anything you need- Anything at all…”  

“Pleasure before business, then,” replied Papa Tunde. “Hahaha! Hahaha!”  

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

“I didn't get it at first,” said Marcel. “Klaus was the one who wanted to go to war.”  

“So, why was he inviting his enemy into his home?” Cami questioned. “Why be so generous to someone who he's gonna have to kill?”  

“But, you see, that's the thing. It was all part of Klaus' plan.” Marcel told her. “He was sussing the guy out, learning his weaknesses, his strengths, getting him to let his guard down. That's how Klaus does it. Then he goes in for the kill.”  

“Because he's a two-faced sociopath.” Cami accused. “There's nothing enviable about what Klaus does. He is a monster.”  

“We're all monsters, Cami,” Marcel told her. “If you're powerful like Klaus is, you just don't have to bother hiding it.” 

“Davina’s powerful,” said Cami. “She is not a monster.”  

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Papa Tunde finishes doing his spell on Rebekah. She laid desiccated in a circle of salt, with his symbol carved into her forehead. 

He stands back and admires his work. “It is done. The power of the Original sister flows through me.”  

“And will that be enough to make Klaus suffer?” Asked Celeste. 

“I will hurt Klaus Mikaelson as he hurt me,” said Papa Tunde. “When I am done, he will wish that he could die.”

“You’re going for Caroline?” Celeste inquired. 

“His children will die before they even take their first breath.” Papa Tunde promised and celeste smirked. 

Caroline had interfered with her plans when she saved Davina, she would celebrate the blonde’s untimely, tragic demise along with Klaus’s abominable spawns. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~   

“You gonna open this place today?” Marcel asked.  

“And risk you eating the clientele?” Cami asked in return.  

“Oh, and here I thought you were starting to like me again,” replied Marcel.  

Marcel's phone rings again and he answers it. 

“Ah, you've stopped chasing after Cami long enough to pick up the phone.” Klaus’s voice came over the line.  

“I figured you'd just keep calling,” Marcel replied.  

“I'm in the Cauldron now,” Klaus informed him. “You could meet me here, we could start burning passersby at the stake.”  

“Sorry. I'm in the middle of something here.” Marcel replied.  

“Is she more important than what is happening?” Klaus asked.  

“Is Caroline?” Marcel countered. He knew the answer but he wanted Klaus to understand that he could care about someone as well. 

Klaus scoffed. “Please you couldn’t possibly feel so deeply for Cami so quickly. Finish up with her and come and help me end this.”  

Marcel hangs up the phone not taking too kindly to Klaus’s tone. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Katherine tensed as Klaus walked into her room. Her face forming into a scowl. “Have you finally come to kill me?” 

Klaus scoffed. “You have long since lost your importance to me. You live because Caroline wants you to, if you want it to continue that way, I would advise you keep in her good graces.” 

Caroline walked in and swatted at him. “Be nice.” 

Stefan snorted from the doorway. “I can’t believe you just said that to him.” 

“You’re still here?” Katherine asked Stefan in surprise. “I would’ve thought you would have returned to be Elena and Damon’s third wheel by now.” 

“Perhaps, I’m learning,” Stefan countered, shooting her an annoyed look. 

“Enough,” Klaus said, impatiently. “I did not come here for you.” He turned to Sophie who was glowering at them. “I came here for you, the witch I was looking to brutalize.”

“What now?” Sophie shut the book she had open in her hands. “I am trying to do as you asked.” 

Caroline stepped forward. “While I would love to torture you some more, there are some more pressing matters at hand.” 

Klaus speeds vamp towards Sophie and grabs her in a chokehold. “Perhaps you could explain the attacks on my men.”  

“What about helping me?” Katherine protested, the witch couldn’t help her if she was dead. 

“I will handle it.” Davina stepped back into the room, picking up the book Sophie dropped when Klaus hoisted her up by the throat. “We haven’t given up on making sure you don’t die.” 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Elijah is in the courtyard, trying to reach Rebekah. 

“Rebekah is not answering her calls,” said Elijah.  

“You worried about whoever killed those daywalkers still being out there?” Josh asked.  

“Yes, I'm worried. She is dead set on making things better for Caroline,” replied Elijah. “I’m not sure how far she will take this.” 

“Can she really be in any real danger?” Stefan asked. He had left Klaus and Caroline to deal with Sophie not wanting to get involved with torturing the witch. 

“Things here in New Orleans are a lot different than Mystic Falls. Much more dangerous. Enemies around every corner.” Elijah notices Thierry drinking alone at a table and joins him. “Thierry, is it?” 

“That's right,” Thierry answered.  

“My sister is rather fond of you. Strange, she's not typically drawn to unremarkable men.” Elijah commented. “Would you care to explain your sudden magnetism?”  

“I don't know what you're…” Thierry started.  

Elijah, annoyed, grabs him by the throat and pushes him against the wall. 

“You can either tell me what you know, or I can distribute tiny pieces of you throughout the Quarter.” Elijah threatened.  

Stefan crossed his arms wondering where Elijah was going with this. Usually, it was Klaus’s method to use threats and fear to reach a goal. 

“She asked me to keep an eye out on witch stuff,” said Thierry reluctantly. “I found something, and when I showed her, we were jumped by some guy. He desiccated her with his touch.”  

“Like a coward, you left her.” Elijah accused angrily.  

Stefan dropped his arms and stepped forward. “You did what?” 

“What was I supposed to do, fight some warlock that took out an Original?” Thierry asked.  

“Yes, if you were friends you shouldn’t have left her,” Stefan scolded. 

“Where was this, exactly?” Elijah questioned.  

“The docks, warehouse 57,” Thierry answered. “I was just doing what she asked. You cannot tell Klaus about this.”

Elijah throws Thierry against the wall. He's unconscious. “I shall take that into consideration,” said Elijah.  

”I'm coming with you.” Caroline appeared. “I need a break from hearing Hayley wail when all I want to do is kill her.”

“You're not going with Klaus to handle the witch thing?” Stefan asked. 

“No,” the truth was she was concerned for Rebekah. She was still mad at Rebekah but she didn’t want her in any real danger. 

“No. Stay here.” Elijah instructed. “The compound is safe.”

“First, Rebekah is in trouble. I'm going. Second, I don’t care what is safe” Caroline was not going to stay behind. “And third, you don’t get to tell me what to do. No one does.”  

Elijah considers this and sighs. “Do not leave my sight. I don’t look forward to being daggered by my brother for the rest of time.”

“If Caroline is going, I’m going,” Stefan said. He was determined to stay by her side and be there when she needed a friend. He needed to make up for being a bad one. 

Caroline nods, and the three leave for the docks.  

Elijah prayed nothing was going to happen to Caroline. He would really hate to end up in a coffin even longer than Finn or watch Klaus ripped Katerina’s heart just to watch him suffer. 

Niklaus was the most vengeful, vindictive person he knew. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

“Me calling things off with you wasn't lack of interest. I was hoping to save you from all this.” Marcel told Cami.  

“Well, thanks, Romeo, but I'm in it,” Cami replied. “So, when are you gonna get to the good part with Klaus and that Papa guy?”  

“Papa Tunde said he wanted to empower the witches. Mostly, he wanted money and territory. Klaus and Elijah weren't about to give him either. He didn't like that, so he went on a rampage.” Marcel continued his story. 

“No one was safe. Not the humans in the faction. Not the Guerrera werewolves. He even went after the witches who opposed him. Elijah offered a truce. He gave his word, in fact, but Klaus, being Klaus, he had another idea.”  

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Papa Tunde is waiting in their meeting place when he hears someone enter. “You're late, Elijah. It's not like the noble brother to keep me waiting.”  

“I'm sorry, mate. Elijah is the brother you meet when negotiations are to be had. I'm the one you get when negotiations are closed.” Klaus informed him, something dangerous shining in his eyes.  

“You do not scare me,” said Papa Tunde. “You have no idea the power I possess.”  

“Oh, in fact, I made it a point to learn all about your power,” Klaus responded. “I noticed how you're almost always near those twin sons of yours, how they bear your distinctive mark. Got me to thinking--you channel their power, don't you? Which, of course, begs the question: what would happen were that power to be taken away, if those sons whose lives you depend on were suddenly struck down? What of that power then?”  

Marcel brings in a box and sets it down. Papa Tunde looks into the box and sees the severed heads of his twin sons. 

“I will kill you for this.” Papa Tunde vowed enraged.  

“I cannot be killed.” Klaus declared confidently. “You, however…”  

Klaus zooms over to him and presses his thumbs into Papa Tunde's eyes. 

“Aagh!” Papa Tunde cried out in pain, blood streaming out of his eye sockets.

Klaus pressed harder, his thumbs smashing through his eyes and into his brain, killing him. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

“That's awful!” Cami was horrified.  

“Oh, to Klaus, it's just business,” said Marcel.  

“And don't you think there's something fundamentally wrong with that?” Cami questioned. “Don't you worry you'll end up one of his victims or, worse, just like him?”

Cami wondered how Caroline could justify being with someone like Klaus if this was the man that laid beneath all the art and charm. Let alone have children with him. 

Papa Tunde suddenly appears in the bar. “Poor Marcellus. You remain always in the shadow of your father. Climb out from beneath it, will you, so you can die like a man?”  

“Cami, you need to run now. Don't look back. Just go.” Marcel urged her urgently, wanting her to get to safety.  

“I think she should stay,” said Papa Tunde. “I prefer an audience, and I'm about to put on quite the show.” 

“Marcel?” Cami was unsure of what to do.   

“I said get out of here,” Marcel ordered. 

Cami, terrified, hesitates in the doorway, not wanting to leave Marcel alone. 

“You cannot defeat me.” Papa Tunde declared, he strode forward like he was stalking prey, his sights set on Marcel. “I channel the power of an Original vampire. Soon, I will have all three. But first, I will take you, however not before you can tell me where I can find Caroline Forbes. I will take from Klaus what he has taken from me.”  

Even after all this time the loss of his sons still left him with unbridled rage and the need to take everything from Klaus. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Sophie examines the abandoned desiccated vampires that Papa Tunde left for the vampires to find at the docks. “It's a complex spell. Old-school stuff, rooted in sacrificial magic. Whoever did this to your guys, my guess is they were an offering to gain more power. More guys they kill, more power they have.”  

Klaus's phone rings, and when he sees it's Cami, he answers it, motioning for Zach beside him to not take his eyes off of Sophie. “I didn't expect a call from you.”  

“You need to get to Rousseau's now. Some lunatic witch doctor looking for Caroline is killing Marcel.” Cami told him. “He refuses to give her up. I can maybe buy him some time, maybe lie about where she is-” 

“Say one word about Caroline to him and I will make you regret it. There is a line that can’t be crossed. Not even by you.” Klaus hung up abruptly, meeting the worried eyes of Zach, he was gripping Sophie by the arm, ensuring she didn’t try anything as he got distracted by the mention of the only vampire he considered a part of his pack. “Stay with her.” He ordered 

Zach nodded. “Caroline?”

“Don’t worry about her. I have it covered. Keep your focus where it’s needed.” Klaus looked at Sophie. “If you try anything your coven will suffer the consequences.” 

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t try anything.”

Klaus turned to see a familiar face. 

“You, your Katherine’s daughter, right?” Klaus' eyes narrowed on the brunette who's been in and out of the compound since they brought Katherine to New Orleans. He hadn’t really cared to question her whereabouts. She held absolutely no importance to him. 

“Yes,” Nadia answered. “We don’t need her breaking free. I need her to save my mother.” 

“I need her to suffer.” Klaus retorted. “Don’t make me regret this or I’ll take you from your mother just like I did the rest of her family. “

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Caroline, Stefan, and Elijah arrive at where Theirry told them about. Rebekah's body was on the ground. Caroline started to run toward her but Stefan stopped her pointing toward the magic circle beneath Rebekah’s body. 

Elijah is also on the phone with Sophie. 

“Rebekah!” Elijah goes to kneel next to her, but can't cross the barrier made by the salt. 

“What’s going on?” Caroline questioned.  

“Some kind of boundary spell.” Elijah answered..” Someone is channeling her. Typically, it's a lethal process, but, because she's an Original, she can't die. Instead, she's an endless source of power. “

“So what are we supposed to do?” Stefan asked. “I can only imagine the damage that could be done by channeling an Original.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Papa Tunde bends over Marcel and holds his knife to his forehead as he begins to carve in his mark. “As I recall, you're one of the few people Niklaus Mikaelson ever gave a damn about. You know what he did to my family.”  

“Aah!” Marcel cried out.  

“The sins of the father are paid for by the son. I will take pleasure in telling Klaus how you died.” Papa Tunde told him. “And how you refused to give up the woman carrying his spawns.” 

“Wait!” Cami screamed, running back inside. “I can get Caroline here. Just don’t kill him.” She ignored the look of betrayal coming from Marcel. She was trying to save his life. 

“No!” Marcel snapped through the pain. “She has to stay away from him.” 

“Marcel, he's going to kill you.” Cami protested. “If we give him what he wants-” 

“You will do no such thing!” 

Cami gasped, whirling around to see Klaus, his face black with rage.  

She took a step back frightened. 

“I would kill anyone who puts Caroline in danger for whatever the reason.” Klaus shoved Cami back and she crashed into a table, crying out in surprise and by the force. “No one’s well being is worth more than hers.” 

Papa Tunde glared. “You cannot protect Caroline or your children she carries, no more than you can protect Marcellus, here.” 

Papa Tunde prepares to kill Marcel but Klaus runs forward, ripping him away from Marcel. 

“I remember killing you,” said Klaus. “I rather relished it. What a joy it is to relive fond memories.”  

“I can crush you before the eyes of your son.” Papa Tunde said, brushing himself off. “Then, I will consume you both and then I will kill Caroline and end your children’s lives before they take their first breath. This time, I'm stronger.”  

Klaus' eyes turned amber. “Stay away from my family!”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

“You're not listening. We cannot enter the circle. There's some kind of confinement spell... If I can't remove her, we can't break the link.” Elijah explained to Sophie on the phone.   

“It's a convoluted spell. It's like a witch's recipe. You can spoil the balance by adding a more potent ingredient.” Sophie informed him. “A mystical binding agent. I don't know, volcanic ash, rock salt...anything up to and including eye of newt.”  

“What about the blood of a witch?” Elijah inquired.  

“Do you have the blood of a witch?” Sophie asked, confused.  

Elijah turns to Caroline. “I need a favor.”  

“Why are you looking at me? I have vampire blood.” Caroline protested. 

“The babies, Caroline,” Stefan interjected. “Their Quarter witches.” 

Caroline nodded slowly, she raised her wrists to her lips and bit into it gingerly, drawing blood. She walked toward the circle, holding her wrist out and letting the blood fall on the magic boundary line. It starts to fizzle and deteriorate. 

Elijah is able to get through, and he quickly picks up Rebekah and takes her out of the circle. 

He nodded at Caroline and Stefan to follow him before speed vamping out. 

Caroline looked down at the ruined magic line. A little surprised it had work and that her vampire blood had not tainted it. She vamped away and Stefan followed in her wake. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Papa Tunde has the upper hand on Klaus, Papa Tunde’s superior strength throwing Klaus off and is about to finish him off when he suddenly becomes weak when his link to Rebekah is broken. Klaus is able to stun Papa Tunde long enough to run over to Marcel. 

“Uhhh, is he dead?” Cami asked.  

“Get out of here.” Klaus glared at her.  

“Is Marcel dead? Did that guy kill him?” Cami questioned, ignoring his glare. 

“He didn't finish him off. Marcel needs blood to heal. Go. Find me someone off the street.” Klaus ordered. 

“I'll do it,” Cami told him.  

“Fine. Get over here.” Klaus snapped. He didn’t have time for this. 

Cami rushes over to Marcel and puts his mouth to her neck. “It's ok, Marcel. It's ok. It's ok, Marcel.” 

Klaus barely spared the two of them a look, needing to find Caroline. She was being used as a target against him. Again. 

He needed her beside him. He needed to know she was safe.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Rebekah ambushes Thierry in an alley. “Ah! I should rip out your coward heart.”  

“What, Rebekah? We made a deal to take out your brother. You were the one to go back on that deal, and at the end of the day, it's every man for himself.” Thierry responded.  

“I am so sick of self-serving narcissists. Are men simply incapable of thinking about anyone but themselves?” Rebekah demanded angrily.  

Elijah speeds up to Thierry and snaps his neck. 

“Oh, I asked you to cease these petty moves against our family, and yet you conspire with this fool. Is this what it's come to, making moves against your own blood?” Elijah asked, looking at Rebekah with disappointment.  

“I called it off and don't you try and shame me,” Rebekah replied. “Nik grows more powerful by the day, and you do nothing but encourage him. Before the truth came out, I was set on taking him down but this isn’t about Klaus anymore, it’s about our whole family. I know we need to stick together for the sake of Caroline. She has a target on her back. If we don’t stick together her children may never see their first sunrise. I refuse to let that happen. She has inherited enemies she doesn’t deserve.”  

“I offer him, my counsel because it's clear to me that he needs to make the city our home. Now, perhaps leading these derelicts will curb some of these impulses, grant him some degree of happiness. Caroline is that happiness. We will all protect her.” Elijah said. “We all will make sacrifices in the name of this family, Rebekah, but know this. I will never stand against you or Niklaus.” Elijah told her.  

“What about Hayley?” Rebekah questioned. “Are we just going to let her live after everything she has done to deceive our family for her own gain? Are we just going to let her go?”

“We are going to let Caroline and Niklaus decide her fate, she wronged them more than any of us. It should be them who decide her punishment. Not us.” replies Elijah. 

Rebekah glowered, she wanted to kill Hayley for her treachery. The wolf girl didn’t deserve to breathe another breath. 

“I think death would be a blessing for her.” 

Elijah and Rebekah turned to see Stefan standing there. 

“How long have you’ve been there?” Elijah questioned with narrowed eyes. 

“Long enough to know Rebekah was making plans against your brother,” Stefan answered. 

“Will you tell him and Caroline?” Rebekah demanded. 

“No,” Stefan answered. “I don’t see what good it will do.” 

“Be sure that you don’t, Stefan,” Elijah told him. “Or your time here in New Orleans won’t end well.” 

Stefan watched him and then looked at Rebekah. “Did he just threaten me?”

“What are you doing here, Stefan?” Rebekah asked on a sigh. 

“I came here for Caroline. She should have a friend here.” Stefan said. “And I have a lot of making up to do in that department.” 

“I know that,” Rebekah rolled her eyes. “I meant here. Why did you follow me?” 

“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” Stefan admitted. 

Rebekah met his eyes, she could see his honest expression but then again it wouldn’t be the first time Stefan deceived her into thinking he actually cared about her. 

She looked away. “Don’t bother yourself with me. I’m fine. I always am.” 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Marcel walks into the Jardin Gris Voodoo shop, where Rebekah is standing and waiting for him.

“Fancy meeting you here,” Rebekah said in greeting.  

“That symbol is already up and down the cauldron, more of them popping up everywhere,” Marcel said.  

“I suppose Papa Tunde is marking his territory,” Rebekah replied.  

“I'm told you saw him, as well,” said Marcel.  

“Yeah. Brought up a lot of memories. Memories that are best left buried.” Rebekah stated.  

Marcel swallowed. Memories of a secret long since buried 90 years ago that if it ever came to light would find him and Rebekah on the run for their lives. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

1919 

“You're soused. Celebrating Klaus' defeat of the mad Papa Tunde?” asked Rebekah.  

“Not celebrating, drowning sorrows,” Marcel told her. “I'm the one who brought Tunde to town.” 

“What?” Rebekah replied. 

“I made some inquiries while I was abroad, wanted the most dangerous witch anyone could find,” Marcel informed her. 

“Why on earth would you do that?” Rebekah wondered.  

“For you,” Marcel answered. “I figured if someone as bad as Tunde comes in, maybe Klaus gets chased off. Very least, he's occupied enough that he can't stop me from trying to get you back.”  

“You mean to tell me that you would tear down everything my family built, everything you helped us build, risk your own life on the off chance that I would show you the slightest bit of affection?” Rebekah asked.  

“I would,” Marcel answered. “I did. I'd do it again.”  

“Klaus has killed a thousand Tunde's. All his life, there's only ever been one man he has truly feared. My father Mikael.” Rebekah told him.  

“The vampire who hunts vampires,” said Marcel.  

“If he came here, Klaus would flee and never turn back,” Rebekah told him. “All we need is a witch who can help us find him.”  

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Klaus commanded the attention of the whole compound as he spoke directly to the vampires of the french quarter.  

“Not long ago, you all united against me. You failed. Since then, in my benevolence, I have wiped the slate clean, yet it seems clear you think that I am the one who needs to earn your respect, your loyalty. You're mistaken. It is you who must prove yourselves to me. Our community is under attack. I require soldiers. I need warriors, not cowards. Each of you has a decision to make. You either fight alongside me and my wolves or you leave now.” 

“We don't owe you anything. If staying in the Quarter means living under your rule, working with wolves, I'd just as soon get the hell out.” Thierry declared.  

Caroline grabbed Klaus’s hand as they watched a handful of vampires join Thierry and walk out of the compound. Thierry looks at Diego in hopes that he'll come along, but he gives him a pained look and stays behind. 

Theirry couldn’t believe his friend was choosing to stay. Diego hated wolves and for good reason. His family was torn apart by them. 

Afterward, Marcel, Caroline, and Klaus talk with Sophie. 

“I got to admit, I thought you'd lose a lot more guys than that,” Marcel told him.  

“Well, good riddance to them, I say,” Klaus replied. “We've no room for slackers or cowards in our kingdom. Now that you've regained your composure, let's move on to the next item of business, shall we, with a little help from our prisoner Sophie.”  

“The last thing I want to do is help any of you!” Sophie snapped.  

“Now, now, don't be difficult,” Klaus told her. 

“You're lucky you’re still alive. You should be more grateful.” Caroline said, wanting nothing more than to slap the taste out of the witch's mouth but now was not the time to torture her some more. That time would come again later.  

“You'll only live as long as you're of use to me, and right now, your best use is to explain why a witch I killed has come back for revenge. Come on. Resurrected witches with vast power?” Klaus insisted.  

“It's the Harvest. To die and be reborn.” Sophie told him. “I don't know how, but someone jacked that power, and they used it to bring back three witches, just not the right ones.”  

“Davina’s not in danger, is she?” Caroline asked, speaking the words before Marcel could. 

“I don’t know,” Sophie answered. 

“Well be sure.” Marcel ground out. “I will not lose her.” 

“Let's concentrate on the immediate problem, shall we?” Klaus suggested. “Papa Tunde wants revenge. He'll continue to attack us, channeling power from the vampires he sacrifices. He kills, he grows more dangerous. So how do I end him? He needs sacrifices to gain power.”  

Klaus needed to kill him, he wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing he was out there, wanting to take from him what Klaus himself took from Papa Tunde. 

“Hmm. You keep him from killing any more nightwalkers, that's a start.” Sophie told him. 

“Easier said than done in a city full of them.” Caroline snapped at her, just hearing Sophie speak made her want to rip her tongue out through her throat.  

“Caroline’s right,” Klaus said. “If he finds the one place with a load of vampires ready to be sacrificed,” Klaus stated.  

They all look at each other with a look of dawning realization.

Stefan who was standing back, for the most part, minding his own business stepped forward. “What’s happening now?” 

“Nothing good,” Caroline said and leaned into Klaus’s side, seeking his touch. She felt more grounded when she could feel any part of him pressed against her. 

Klaus’s arm wound around her waist, his hand curving around her side, unthinkingly, he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. 

It was actions like these that threw everyone around him, having never seen Klaus so tactile so affectionate.   

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Klaus, Marcel, Stefan and Caroline, and Zach arrive at the garden only to discover that they are too late. All of the vampires are dead, sacrificed by Papa Tunde.

Not only that the wolves he had guarding the place until he got there were dead. 

Caroline’s hand went to her mouth, she knew every wolf by name, she had got to know in the short period after being introduced to them and had formed an attachment. 

They were good and they had welcomed her into their pack, willing to overlook that she was a vampire, they trusted her and protected her and she did the same for them. 

Now, here they were. Gone. Dead at her feet.

Anger coursed through her with a viciousness that left her reeling. 

“How could this happen?” Zach stumbled forward, falling to his knees in disbelief.

“This..this act of violence,” Caroline turned to Klaus, her eyes blackened with her rage. “Can not go unanswered. Their lives meant something. These were our people and they slaughtered them! We have to make everyone involved pay!”

Marcel's brow raised up to his hairline at her harsh reaction.

Klaus was enthralled by her words, the anger coming off her in waves, she vibrated with righteous anger for their wolves. 

The way she had accepted his wolves as her family was something he admired. “Nothing that has happened today will go unanswered, I promise you that, love.” He cupped her face, his thumbs tracing the black veins beneath her eyes. Soothing them away. 

Caroline breathed slowly, her eyes closing at his touch. A calm washing over her, pushing her anger back down just beneath the surface. She nodded and released him. She stepped forward and placed her hand on Zach’s shoulder. “We will make this right.” 

Zach nodded numbly, his hand coming up to cover her own. Thankful for her support, he looked at Klaus seeing the same readiness to avenge the wolves in his eyes.

Stefan wanted to reach out and offer his support to Caroline but it seemed she had all the support she needed. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~  

Celeste meets with Papa Tunde near a crypt in the Lafayette cemetery. 

“Is it done?” asked Celeste.  

“This blade now contains all the power I harvested from the vampires. It will do things worse than death, even to an Original,” said Papa Tunde.  

“And are you ready for the final offering?” Celeste questioned.  

“Will you avenge my sons?” Papa Tunde asked. 

“Klaus will never get the chance to see his children be born,” Celeste vowed darkly

Papa Tunde nodded in acceptance. “In the name of the witches of the French Quarter, it is my honor.” Papa Tunde hands her the bone knife. 

“Thank you, Papa Tunde.” Celeste stands behind him and slits his throat with the knife. 

Celeste breathed deeply, her hands coated in Papa Tunde’s blood. Her plan of making Klaus suffer was closer than ever thanks to Papa Tunde’s sacrifice to her cause. 

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ 

Caroline walked into Katherine’s room, Davina sat on the floor surrounded by a mountain of books. Elijah was seated on the bed next to Katherine who appeared to be asleep. 

“Where’s Josh?” Caroline wondered. 

“I told him to go find something to drink. He couldn’t stop talking about blood.” Davina looked up from her book to Caroline. “How did today go?”

“I don’t really want to talk about it,” Caroline said. “I rather talk about how things are going here. Have you found anything yet?” 

“No,” Davina answered reluctantly. “But I will find something. I will, I just need more time.” 

“I don’t know how much time she has left.” Elijah didn’t look away from Katherine. He reached his hand brushing her hair back from her face. “We need to save her before it’s too late.” 

“She knows that,” Caroline cut a look at him. “Don’t pressure her. It’s not all on her.” 

“I promise I will try everything I can to help her.” Davina insisted. 

“Good but don’t forget to take care of yourself too. Have you eaten at all today?” Caroline asked. 

“No,” Davina shook her head. 

“Come on, then,” Caroline looped her arm through hers. “I haven’t either and I am starving for blood but I am craving actual food. I talked my friend Stefan into cooking for me. He’s a good cook. He makes great pasta.” 

“Caroline,” Elijah protested but Caroline ignored him and walked out the door with Davina. 

She would not allow Davina to neglect taking care of herself. 

Nadia, Katherine’s daughter appeared in front of them in the hall. “Where are you going? You're supposed to be helping my mother.”

“And she will but right now, she is going to eat and then get a good night's sleep and rest her mind.” Caroline moved protectively in front of Davina. “And if you don’t like it, you can leave.” 

Nadia took a step forward as if to challenge her and Caroline raised one pointed brow, daring her to try something. 

Nadia with an angry huff pushed past them into her mother’s room. 

“Do we like her?” Davina asked as they walked down the stairs. 

“Not sure yet,” Caroline answered, leading Davina to the kitchen. “Don’t really know her.” 

Stefan was pulling something out of the oven, Josh was seated at a table, drinking from a bag of blood while engaging Stefan in conversation. 

“Something smells good,” Davina said, looking toward Stefan.

“That would be baked pasta. I hope you like Italian.” Stefan popped the platter on the counter. 

Caroline leaned forward getting a better look. The melted cheese mixed with red sauce and beef looked delicious and smelled even better. “It looks great, you know, if you’re going to be sticking around I might talk you into cooking for me more often.” 

“I am sticking around and shouldn’t Klaus be the one taking care of your food cravings?” 

Klaus walked into the room. “I take care of all her cravings.” He tugged Caroline into his side, placing a kiss on her neck. 

Davina made a disgusted face. “TMI.” 

“Agreed.” Stefan put two plates on the counter and filled them with pasta putting them in front of the two girls. “I am not used to seeing the two of you together.”

“Well, you better get used to it then because it’s not about to change.” Caroline took a seat and started digging into the food. “Thanks for the food, Stefan. I’m starving.” 

“I would imagine,” Klaus moved around and set a glass of blood in front of her. 

“Is it your blood?” Caroline asked curiously, giving Davina a look of encouragement to eat. 

“No,” Klaus pulled up a seat next to her, his hand resting on her knee. 

“Pity,” Caroline said, wishing it was his blood. She loved the taste of his life-sustaining life force on her tongue. 

Klaus moved his hand on her knee higher, fingers curling around her thigh. “Later.” his eyes held promise and Caroline felt heat rush through her. 

“You guys are blood sharing?” Stefan asked, surprised. Wow, being together was one thing and accidental pregnancy another but blood sharing, that was like a whole other ballpark of seriousness in a vampire relationship. The only thing more serious would be if they had shared the vampire mate claim. 

“Not really,” Caroline said. “He doesn’t drink from me and I don’t like being poisoned by a hybrid bite”

“You could always bite your wrist for him,” Davina suggested and Caroline looked at her. “I know this is not a discussion for me.” 

“Actually, that’s a great idea. Klaus and I will have to try it.” Caroline said, her interest piqued. 

“We will?” Klaus asks, his eyes darkened with want, imaging the taste of Caroline’s blood on his tongue as he was buried deep inside her. 

Caroline bit her lip. “We will.” 

“Okay, that’s enough.” Stefan cut in. “How about you keep the blood sharing interest in the bedroom and eat your food.” 

Klaus grinned. “I could eat but it’s definitely not food.” 

Davina’s eyes nearly widened and Caroline choked on air, her cheeks heating. “Klaus!” 

Klaus smirked at her in response that devilish smirk that had Caroline squeezing her thighs together as desire shot through her. 

“I think I am going to take my food back to my room.” Davina stood up and made a quick exit, waving a hand when Caroline called out an apology. 

Stefan sent Caroline a strained smile. “I’m going to leave you to enjoy your food.” 

Caroline watched him go, knowing it was just an excuse for him to leave. He might be weirded out by her relationship with Klaus but she didn’t care.

She dug into her food, moaning at the taste. Stefan sure did know how to cook. 

Klaus’s hand tightened on her thigh and she looked at him to see his pupils were blown wide, eyes dark with that look she was quite familiar with and despite the hard and difficult day, her lips pulled into a smile. 

“Want some?” She asked, her smile coy and flirty. 

“Yes,” he answered. 

Caroline extended a bite to him. 

“Not of your food,” he said roughly, resisting the urge to pull her against him. 

Caroline's own eyes darkened with want. She quickly ate her food and pushed the plate away and downed her glass of blood. 

The second she was out of her seat and on her feet, Klaus hauled her against his body, urging her to wrap her legs around him. 

Caroline did so eagerly, her arms going around his shoulders, eyes sliding shut as his mouth slanted over hers. 

Klaus groaned, he could taste the blood she had been drinking on her tongue. 

It was mere seconds before Caroline felt her back resting against soft sheets, Klaus’s weight a comfortable feeling settling over her. 

Klaus pulled his mouth from hers tugging at her shirt. 

Caroline rose up, allowing him to remove her shirt. 

She fell back against the bed as he kissed a path down the valley of her breast to her rounding stomach. 

His hands moved to cup her belly, the softness in his kisses had tears filling Caroline’s eyes, her chest tightening with emotion. “I’ve been avoiding my mom.”

Klaus looked up at her, waiting for her to say more. “I know she’s going to have questions about the pregnancy and I can’t talk about it with her.” 

Klaus pushed down his desire and moved back up her body, he rolled off her laying on his side, and pulling her into him. “Why?”

“Sometimes it doesn’t feel real,” Caroline confessed. 

“What?” Klaus looked at her taken aback. “What doesn’t feel real? Us? The babies? All of it?”

Carolien placed her hand on his heart, wanting to reassure him. “Not us. What we have is the realist thing I have ever felt in my life. I meant the pregnancy.”

Klaus's hand came to rest over her stomach. “Trust me it’s real. I can hear their small hearts. I know you can too.”

“It’s a beautiful sound,” Caroline’s eyes grew wet with unshed tears. “I love hearing it, knowing they're there.” 

“Then what’s the problem?” Klaus asked, his hand absentmindedly stroking her belly, caressing his unborn children. 

“What if they’re more hers than mine?” Caroline whispered, voicing her fears. 

“I don’t understand,” Klaus said, her words confusing him. 

“She had all this time to connect with them, to form a bond. I feel like I missed so much. I feel like they're no longer mine. It's almost like she has this claim on them that I don’t. And if I feel like this now, how can I possibly be a good mother to them?” 

Klaus lifted a hand to her cheek as a lone tear slipped from Caroline’s eye and brushed it away. “Caroline, love, you are everything any good mother should be. Your kind, loving, caring, selfless, forgiving and so fiercely protective of the people you love. Being a mother is going to come naturally like everything else for you.” 

Caroline's lips pulled into a smile before she put her hand on the back of his neck and leaned forward, pressing her mouth to his in a meaningful kiss. 

Klaus kissed her back, his arms going around her, pulling her flush against him, his lips moved down her jaw. “Is that all that’s bothering you? Today was a hard day. How are you dealing with everything?” His every word was pressed against his skin as he spoke. 

“Shh,” Caroline rolled onto her back, pulling him on top of her. “Everything else can wait. Talking can wait.” She pulled his mouth back to hers. “I just want to feel us.”

Klaus kissed her deeper, her mouth opening beneath his inviting him inside, he reached behind her unfastening her bra. 

Caroline pushed her head back, her body arching as his lips traveled across her skin, leaving a burning fire in his wake. 

She put everything else out of her mind and focused on the here and now. 

She and Klaus, the way he made her feel, how he knew her body like one of his sketches.

She lost herself to the most real thing she ever felt. 

And when he finally pushed inside her, eyes locked on hers, one hand digging into her thigh the other planted next to her head, she felt like everything would work itself out.

She would make damn sure of it because she was not giving up the life she was building or her new family. 

Always and Forever. 

It was the Mikaelson family motto. 

And now it was hers. 

She held on tightly to Klaus as he moved inside her, branding himself on her soul. 

She opened herself to him, letting down all her walls and defenses, pushing the love she had into his heart, wanting him to know, to believe after all his time on this earth he wasn’t alone and he never had to feel like he was. 

She will always be there. 

She wasn’t going anywhere without him. 

A/N: Thanks for reading!

Tags: @zinebaklaro @eloiselili @caritobear @paulinhaals @lord-luminous @bellarkehotchniss @fantasylover4evr @storm-pirate

[thebrotherssalvatore321]

Keeping Secrets Ch. 49

Keeping Secrets Masterlist

“You’re back.” Elijah said with a smirk on his face when Katie walked through the front doors of the compound that led straight into the courtyard where Elijah sat in a black suit, light blue shirt and a black tie reading a book.

“I’m back.” Katie said with a smile and a look around the place. “And you’re wearing a suit.” He closed his book and sat it on the table. “The laid back look didn’t suit you. Pun intended.”

Elijah just shook his head at her bad joke as he stood up and walked over to her where she’d stopped next to the fountain. “How was your trip?” he asked as he held his hand out for her bag.

“It was good, but I’m happy to be home.” She answered as he took her duffle bag off of her shoulder.

“So where is Niklaus?” he asked as they started up the stairs to Katie and Klaus’s quarters.

“Father Kieran asked for a meeting as soon as we returned.” Katie answered as they came to the door and she pushed it open. “So how was your Klaus free week?”

“Quiet.” He answered with a bit of a smirk as he put her bag down next to the door.

“A good quiet or I’m bored out of my freaking mind quiet?” she asked curiously as she sat down on one of the two couches in the sitting room.

“Good quiet.” He answered with a bit of a nod as he sat down on the couch across from her.

“Good.” Katie said with a small smile.

Things had fallen comfortably quiet between them for a few minutes when Elijah looked around. “I just realized there is not a t.v. in your quarters.”

“Yeah, so?” she asked with a confused shake of her head.

“So, how can you watch your man if there’s not a t.v. in your room?” he asked with a smirk.

“My man?” she asked, still confused.

“The crossbow wielding man with angel wings on his back and in dire need of a bath.” He described making Katie wrinkle her nose at the memory of her telling Elijah that Daryl Dixon from The Walking Dead was her man. “Or do you only have eyes for Klaus these days?”

“Yes, I only have eyes for Klaus, but I am also a red blooded American woman who can’t deny that Daryl Dixon is very attractive.” Katie told him honestly.

“And who pray tell is Daryl Dixon?” Katie heard Klaus’s voice behind her and turned to see him walk into the room having caught the end of her sentence.

“A fictional character from her favorite t.v. show.” Elijah answered for her as he stood up and Klaus walked around the couch and sat down next to her. “Blue eyes, dirty blond hair, questionable people skills…It seems she has a type.” Elijah said then saw himself out.

“You know, now that I think about it, the guy that plays Daryl is also an artist. Maybe I do have a type.” She thought out loud.

“You’re trying to make me jealous aren’t you?” Klaus asked with a glare to which she just held up her fingers in a pinching manner with a devious smile.

He glared at her and let a low, playful growl rumble up from his throat. “Okay,” she laughed, holding her hands up in surrender, “before you go all Big Bad Wolf on me…what did Father Kieran need?”

“He asked me to compel Camille to leave town.” He told her and she frowned. “The look on your face tells me I was right to seek your council before compelling her.”

“Why does he want her to leave town exactly?” she asked as she turned, pulling one of her knees up on the couch to face him.

“It seems compelling her to sleep easy and accept that her brother simply snapped, hasn’t had the desired effect. Her pursuit of what happened to her memories is leading her closer and closer to the dangerous truth. Father Kieran doesn’t want her to get mixed up in our world. I’ve stopped compelling her since moving here, but it’s too late. If I don’t compel her to leave she will get mixed up in all of this and you know better than anyone what happens to the people that get pulled into our world.” He explained.

“I also know that unfortunately some people are just meant to get mixed up in our world and will do so no matter what compulsion is worked on them.” She added. “Take Jeremy for example. Damon compelled him to leave town and forget about Vicki. He did, but Kol found him and pulled him back in. You can compel Cami to leave, but if someone wants to get to Father Kieran again they will just go after her and pull her back in. I’m not sure compelling her to leave and taking away her choice in the matter is the answer.”

“So do you think we should just let her find out the truth on her own?” he asked curiously.

“I think you should ask her what she wants. It was clear when I met her that she felt like she was going insane and compelling her to leave won’t fix that or the gaps in her memory.” She answered.

“Have you been compelled before?” Klaus asked.

“Nope and I hope it never happens. Which is why I picked up this while we were in the mansion.” She said as she pulled her vervain necklace from Damon out of her pocket. I figured since I can’t ingest vervain I could wear it just in case.” She explained.

He took in a deep breath and breathed it out. “So exactly what do you suggest I do?”

“Let her remember everything.” She started.

“She will despise me.” he pointed out.

“Maybe, but there’s also the chance that by letting her have a say and giving her back her free will she won’t. She may even choose for you to cover up everything supernatural with a story fabricated by her and choose to leave on her own. But I firmly believe it needs to be an educated decision on her part and that you need to respect her decision whatever it may be.”

“It will anger the priest if she doesn’t leave.” He pointed out.

“Just because he is her family doesn’t mean he knows what’s best for her or that he gets to dictate her life.” Katie shrugged. “Telling her everything includes that her uncle knows about vampires and witches. I didn’t agree with Elena messing with Jeremy’s memories and I didn’t use compulsion a lot when I was a vampire for a reason. I don’t like playing god and messing with people’s free will.” Klaus sighed and turned away from her as he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped. “You know, just because you come to me for advice, doesn’t mean I’ll get mad if you don’t take it. I trust you to do whatever you think is best.”

“I’m just trying to figure out if I should warn Father Kieran of what I intend to do before we talk to Cami.” He said then sat up and looked at her.

“We?” Katie asked.

“I would like you to come with me. My presence tends to put her on edge however last I checked you managed to win her favor.” He told her with a look in his eyes that told her he was set on taking her advice.

“Okay.” She gave him a nod. “I’ll go with you.”

TVDTVDTVD

Katie stood next to Klaus who knocked on the door of Cami’s apartment. After a few seconds she answered, looking confused for a second before she remembered them. “What do you want?” she asked him with a glare, her eyes darting back and forth between the couple.

“We just want to talk.” Katie told her.

“According to your uncle you are on edge and not yourself.” Klaus added.

“And you’re here to what, compel me not to be?” Cami asked as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“Actually I was going to take your uncle’s advice and compel you to leave town. However after discussing things, we,” he looked at Katie then back at Cami, “believe that wouldn’t clear the root of your anxiety.” Klaus stated. “May we come in for a chat?” he asked with a motion inside considering the couple was still standing in the hallway.

“Sure, why not.” She answered sarcastically and stepped aside letting them in.

After explaining everything to her, she stared at them with tears in her eyes. “My uncle has known what happened to Sean this whole time?” she asked with a whisper and Katie nodded. “Why are you telling me about all of this if I’m just going to forget it when you leave?”

“Because we want to give you a choice in the matter.” Klaus answered then looked at Katie.

“Knowing what you do about this city is dangerous.” Katie took over. “It may very well mean the death of you, but we don’t want to manipulate you anymore. You can choose to remember everything, a little or nothing at all.” Katie explained. “Point is…how much you want to remember, if you leave or stay…it’s your choice.”

Cami just stared at them. “You do not have to decide today.” Klaus told her

“I want to remember, everything about everyone.” Cami answered, her stunning green eyes wide and watery.

“You’re sure?” Katie asked, needing to know that this was truly what she wanted.

“I’m positive.” Cami answered with a wide eyed nod.

“Okay.” Klaus answered then moved to kneel in front of Cami, placed his fingertips on her cheek and looked her in the eyes. “You will no longer forget about us when we leave your sight and you will remember everything. You…are…free.”

As Klaus stood up Cami blinked out of the compulsion then looked up at him. “Thank you, both of you.” when she looked at Katie she gave her a nod and a small smile.

“You’re welcome, although I’m sure your uncle will not be happy with me.” Klaus replied.

“Probably not, but he’ll just have to get over it.” Cami said as she stood up and crossed her arms over her chest with a smirk.

TVDTVDTVD

“What do you think about me letting Thierry out of the garden?” Klaus asked as they walked into their quarters.

“I don’t know.” Katie answered as she set her shoulder bag on the table by the door. “He’s only in there because you set him up. So he doesn’t really belong there, but at the same time if you let him out he might want revenge.”

“Or perhaps if I issue him a pardon he will be thankful enough to not try anything stupid.” He countered as he grabbed her hips and pulled her close.

“I’ve never met Thierry.” She answered as she slipped her hands up his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck. “It’s totally your call.”

“What about if I tell you I’m thinking about asking Diego to lead a rousting of the caldron?” he asked with a look at her eyes.

“Why?” she asked.

“With the loss of Davina we no longer have the edge over the witches. Not only will a rousting keep up the morale, but it will remind the witches who is in charge.” He answered. “I’m also hoping Marcel might join them. Getting back at the witches might do him some good.”

“If it will entertain the men and keep them happy along with keeping the witches on their toes then I say have at it.” Katie answered then pecked him on the lips.

TVDTVDTVD

Katie stood to the side of the courtyard watching as Klaus walked in with Thierry and announced to the handful of the top men that Thierry had been pardoned. They all clapped and welcomed Thierry home. “Well, you’re in a good mood.” Marcel said from where he sat at one of the patio tables with a bottle of bourbon and a glass. “You should visit Mystic Falls more often.”

“Well, as much as I’d like to, I have pressing responsibilities here.” Klaus said then got the attention of the people around him. “Now, as you all know, the witch Davina is no longer with us. Without Davina we can no longer monitor the activity of our witch neighbors. However, since their harvest failed their magic will soon be gone forever.”

Elijah walked up to stand beside Katie with his hand tucked into the pockets of his suit pants. “Was letting Thierry out your idea?”

“No, it was his.” Katie answered not looking away from Klaus.

“And the rousting?” Elijah asked.

“Also his idea to keep the witches on their toes and lift morale.” She answered seeing Marcel grab his bottle and walk away, not interested in the rousting. “Although it’s not working for Marcel, not that I thought it would.”

TVDTVDTVD

Katie, Elijah, Klaus, Diego and a few of the daywalkers stood in the courtyard looking at the two desiccated daywalkers that were killed at the rousting. A small symbol carved on their foreheads. “Someone will die for this.” Klaus stated.

Elijah kneeled, looking at the forehead of one of the men. “Remarkably, I don’t disagree. However I would like to know where they learned such dark magic.” Elijah stood up and turned to Klaus who stood next to Katie with his hand on her lower back. “I had hoped never to see that symbol again.”

“I recall it is the signature of a fool who once stood against us. Clearly, some upstart witch is salvaging old tricks. I’ll do for him as I did the other.” Klaus said then walked over to Diego. “Diego, when night falls, I want you to gather every vampire in the quarter. Get me the head of whoever did this and put it on a stick.”

“Yeah, that’s gonna be a problem.” Diego replied and Katie frowned. “Everyone’s freaked out man. We haven’t had witches killing vampires in a long time. Marcel made sure of that.”

“Marcel has run off like a scared child.” Klaus replied and clapped his hand down on Diego’s shoulder. “You lot are left with me.” he took his hand off Diego’s shoulder and back away, turning his eyes to the other daywalkers. “Now, who of you will fight to defend our home?” no one said anything. “Not a single one of you will stand with me. So afraid are you of this new threat? You should know better.” Klaus looked away from them to Katie to see her giving the daywalkers a frowning glare. “I’ll handle this myself.”

Katie and Elijah watched Klaus walk out like the man on a mission that he was. Katie looked at the daywalkers, scoffed with a roll of her eyes and started to walk off. “You got something to say, queen?” the female daywalker with dark hair spiked up into a mohawk asked.

“Actually yeah, I do.” Katie answered as she walked over. “You were all given the privilege of a daylight ring to protect this city. And now when you’re needed most you tuck your tails and hide? The hell kind of soldier cowers from a fight?”

“The kind that doesn’t bow to Klaus Mikaelson.” The tough looking brunette standing next to the mohawked woman answered. “And Marcel advised us to stay out of the fight with the witches.”

“Marcel is stuck in a cloud of grief and not thinking clearly. Or did you all forget how much he cared about Davina?” Katie asked with furrowed brows. “The fact of the matter is your people, your fellow vampires, are being threatened and you’re just going to stand back and watch. How is that the right thing to do?”

“Is right because it keeps us safe.” Mohawk girl argued.

“Oh my god.” Katie laughed with a look at Elijah as she threw her hands up in frustration. “Why do I even bother when it’s clear you are all a bunch of selfish fools?” as she turned toward the stairs she saw Diego look at her as if he agreed with her then back at his people. Contrary to the tone he took with her at the dinner Klaus threw when they first moved back into the compound, Katie actually liked Diego. Of course he was loyal to Marcel, but he also seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. Elijah followed her up to what she was starting to think of as the common room. She made herself comfortable on the couch and Elijah went to the bar in the corner of the room and poured himself a drink. “Should I have kept my mouth shut?”

“No.” Elijah answered without a second thought. “You are their queen and as such you have the right to speak your mind.”

“But what if what I have to say isn’t the right thing or if I make things worse?” she asked with a sigh. “You and Klaus built this place, you both have experience at being leaders. I’m just a weirdo that lived two lives and has never been given authority over anything before.”

“Based on what I just witnessed, I believe you will do just fine.” Elijah answered honestly as he walked over and sat in the armchair across from her. Katie just grabbed a throw pillow as she leaned her head back then pressed it to her face with a groan. Elijah smirked at her dramatics.

TVDTVDTVD

When night fell Katie started to worry about Klaus and went down to the courtyard to wait and found Elijah pacing with his phone to his ear. When he pulled it away and hung up Katie gave him a look that asked what was wrong. “Rebekah’s not answering her phone.”

“You worried about her?” Katie asked as she tucked her hands into the front pocket of the dark grey hoodie with a pink Under Armour symbol of the front of it.

“Frankly I’m worried that she had something to do with this. She’s very displeased with Niklaus.” He told her with a worried frown.

“Well, she does love to conspire against him.” Katie said with a tilt of her head.

“Yes and I believe this time she’s had help.” He told her as he turned his eyes to Thierry, sitting at a patio table by himself in the courtyard littered with other vampires, mostly night walkers lounging around. “Thierry, is it?” Elijah asked as he and Katie walked over to him.

“That’s right.” Thierry answered skeptically.

“My sister is rather fond of you. It's strange, she’s not typically drawn to unremarkable men.” Thierry looked at him with fear in his eyes. “Would you care to explain your sudden magnetism?”

“I don’t know what you’re-” with a woosh Elijah grabbed Theirry by his neck and pinned him to the wall of the arching hallway that led to the front doors.

“You can either tell me what you know or I can distribute tiny pieces of you throughout the quarter.” Elijah told him as Katie rushed over to them.

“She asked me to keep and eye out on witch stuff.” Thierry answered with a groan. “I found something and when I showed her we were jumped by some guy. He desiccated her with his touch.”

Elijah who had loosened his grip a little while Thierry was talking slammed his head back into the wall again. “Like a coward, you left her.”

“What was I supposed to do, fight some warlock that took out an original?” Thierry asked in fear of his life.

Katie pushed her hair back out of her face. “Where did you leave Rebekah?”

“The docks, warehouse 57.” Thierry answered while looking at Elijah. “I was just doing what she asked.” He looked at Katie. “You cannot tell Klaus about this.”

Elijah threw Thierry head first into the wall behind them. “We shall take that into consideration.” He gave Katie a smirk then started for the doors.

“Take me with you.” Elijah turned and gave her a look that told her she was out of her mind. “As much as I like my home I don’t feel safe in it without you, Klaus or Rebekah here. It’s no secret these people don’t like me.”

Elijah pondered it for a moment. “You do not leave my side, understand?”

“Yep.” She answered, popping the p at the end of the word as she headed for the door.

Elijah grabbed her hand, stopping her. “I am serious.”

“I know, Elijah, but you and your brother need to remember that while I am human and pregnant I’m not made of glass. I know my limits.”

He took his hand off her wrist. “Very well then.” He pulled the large wooden door open and waved her out.

TVDTVDTVD

They found Rebekah in the warehouse lying in the center of a salt circle with other witchy symbols drawn in salt, and a dead snake inside of it. When they tried to step inside it and get her out they hit an invisible wall. “Of course there would be a boundary spell keeping us out.” Katie sighed then kicked the wall.

Elijah saw the symbol on her forehead. “Someone’s channeling her. Typically it’s a lethal process, but because she’s an original, she can’t die. Instead she’s an endless source of power.”

“You wouldn’t happen to know how to break this kind of boundary spell would you?” Katie asked and he shook his head, his brown eyes wide with worry. “I’ll call Bonnie, you try Sophie.” He gave her a nod and they both pulled out their cell phones.

Sophie answered before Bonnie so Katie gave up and listened to Elijah talking to Sophie who was on speaker phone. “You’re not listening. We cannot enter the circle. There’s some kind of confinement spell or… If I can’t remove her, we can’t break the link.” Elijah explained.

“It’s a convoluted spell. It’s like a witch’s recipe. You can spoil the balance by adding a more potent ingredient, a mystical binding agent.” As Sophie spoke, Elijah turned to Katie with wide eyes then kneeled near the circle. “I don’t know, volcanic ash, rock salt, anything up to and including eye of newt.”

“What about the blood of a witch?” Elijah asked and Katie placed her hands on her stomach.

“Do you have the blood of a witch?” Sophie asked, confused and Elijah hung up on her as he looked from the circle to Katie. “I need a favor.”

Without a second thought Katie held her hand out to Elijah and watched as he took it and bit the fleshy part of her hand between her pinky and wrist. Like usual Katie didn’t even flinch from the pain his sharp fangs piercing her soft skin caused. When they held her hand over the outer line of salt and dripped her blood on it the salt started to bubble and smoke, working its way around the circle back to her blood droplets. “Did it work?” Her question was answered when Elijah stepped into the circle, picked up Rebekah and whooshed her out of it.

“So I’m guessing you want me to keep the fact that Rebekah is conspiring with Thierry to myself?” Katie asked as she slid into the passenger seat of Elijah’s Lincoln.

“Yes.” Elijah answered as he shut the back driver’s side door having laid Rebekah in the back seat. “If you wouldn’t mind.”

“I don’t like keeping secrets from him, but…” she paused as she grabbed the seat belt strap and buckled herself in, “he has asked me to let him worry about Rebekah and to not stress over her. So, I will let you two worry about your sister while I worry about whoever is behind these weird marks on people’s heads.”

“His name was Papa Tunde.” Elijah started, then proceeded to tell her about the dark witch and former leader of the French quarter coven in the early twentieth century. How he used sacrificial magic to gain the power needed to make the city the witches once again. But Klaus studied him, figured out his strengths and weakness and in doing so figured out that Papa Tunde was channeling the power of his twin sons, killed them, then killed Papa Tunde.

When Rebekah woke up she informed them that it wasn’t a copycat, Papa Tunde was alive.

TVDTVDTVD

“Elijah has informed me that you had a talk with the inner circle.” Klaus said as he walked out onto the balcony where Katie was sitting on the patio couch looking through Davina’s drawings.

“They poked, I bit back.” She answered honestly as she kept her eyes on the drawings she was flipping through.

“He also said you handled yourself well and did a good job of putting them in their place.” He said as he took the papers from her hands, shut the large folder they were in and set them on the table.

“Yet they didn’t venture out to help you did they?” she asked as he sat down on the couch beside her and pulled her to straddle his lap.

“No,” he answered as she rested her hands on his chest and his held her outer thighs, “but you did.”

She lifted her eyes to his, a hint of guilt in them. “Are you angry?”

“No.” his answer surprised her and her face showed it. “He said you didn’t feel safe here without one of us around and I never want you to feel unsafe.” He moved his hands to hold her sides over the thick hoodie she still wore. “Now, as for the cowardly vampires, Marcel and I have discussed giving them an ultimatum. Either they stay and prove themselves to me or they get out of my city.”

“The only thing I know about an army is when they aren’t acting like one.” She replied as she moved her hands to hold the sides of his neck. “If you and Marcel think this is what’s best then I trust you.” he gave her a small smile before he realized her hands were sucking the warmth out of his neck.

“Your hands are like ice, Love, what are you doing out here?” he asked as he took her hands off of his neck and started rubbing them to warm them up.

“Just thinking.” She answered. “We never figured out why Davina was drawing Celeste. It couldn’t have been to warn us that Sophie was going to use her magic to complete the harvest, there was no magic to consecrate.”

“Will you do me a favor and not freeze to death in the process of figuring it out?” he asked with puppy dog eyes.

She laughed. “Sure.” With a whoosh he brought her inside, shut the balcony door and set her on her feet near the fire that was lit in the fireplace.

“So would you like to stand with me while I give my speech?” he asked from where he stood behind her with his arms wrapped around her chest.

“No. Contrary to what they seem to think, I’m your queen, not theirs.” She answered. “I won’t be their queen until they respect me and they won’t respect me until they respect you. So, you lead the way and I’ll follow.” She said as she turned in his arms and pecked him on the lips.

TVDTVDTVD

Katie stood on the balcony overlooking the courtyard across from the one Klaus stood on, the vampires of the French Quarter gathered below. “Not long ago, you all united against me. You failed. Since then, in my benevolence, I have wiped the slate clean. Yet it seems clear you think that I am the one who needs to earn your respect, your loyalty. You’re mistaken.” Klaus spoke, looking down at the vampires. “It is you who must prove yourselves to me. Our community is under attack. I require soldiers. I need warriors, not cowards.” He held his hands out at the people below. “Each of you has a decision to make. You either fight alongside me, or you leave…Now.”

The vampires started murmuring amongst themselves, no one moving until Thierry stepped up and looked up at Klaus. “We don’t owe you anything.” The vampires stopped talking and looked at Thierry. “If staying in the quarter means living under your rule, I’d just as soon get the hell out.” He turned and looked at Diego who gave him a look that told him he wasn’t leaving. Thierry shrugged and left. A little over a fourth of the vampires followed his lead. Katie noticed that none of the people that she had spoken to earlier that day left with Thierry and she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d made a difference or if they stayed because Marcel was still here.

TVDTVDTVD

Klaus and Marcel shared a drink at the bar in the corner of the common room while Katie sat on the sofa and Sophie stood near the lighted bookshelf that was built into the wall on each side of the fireplace and held records and a record player. “I’ve got no reason to help you, and I sure as hell don’t have a reason to help him.” Sophie told Klaus with a motion at Marcel.

“Now, now, don’t be difficult, love.” Klaus told Sophie as he moved to sit at the table in the room. “You’ll only live as long as you’re of use to us and right now, your best use is to explain why a witch I killed 100 years ago has come back for revenge.”

“Come on, resurrected witches with vast power?” Sophie told them as if they should be able to figure it out. “It’s the harvest. Four girls were meant to die and be reborn. I don’t know how, but someone jacked that power and they used it to bring back 4 witches…just not the right ones.”

“So there’s still a chance. If we can get that power back, we can save Davina.” Marcel said with an almost excited look between Klaus and Sophie.

“Let’s concentrate on the immediate problem, shall we?” Klaus asked. “Papa Tunde wants revenge. He’ll continue to attack us, channeling power from the vampires he sacrifices. He kills, he grows more dangerous. So, how do I end him?” Klaus asked, talking with his hands as he thought out loud.

“He needs sacrifices to gain power.” Sophie pointed out. “Keep him from killing anymore nightwalkers, that’s a start.”

“Unless…” Klaus looked up at Marcel, “he finds the one place with a load of vampires ready to be sacrificed.”

“The garden.” Katie thought out loud.

“The garden.” Klaus confirmed with a nod as he stood up and he and Marcel headed for the door. “Katie-”

“I’ll stay here.” she told him and he gave her a thankful nod before he disappeared out of her sight.

TVDTVDTVD

Katie was eating a small dinner in their quarters when Klaus came in and sat down across from her with a glass of blood in his hand. “He got to the garden and drained every last soul in it.”

She took the last bite of her salad and pushed the empty bowl away. “So now what do we do?”

“I say we figure that out in the morning.” He sounded tired as he lifted his eyes to hers. With that one look she knew exactly what he needed. So as soon as he was done with his glass of blood she walked around the table and held his hand out to hers. He put his in hers and let her lead him to their bedroom.

“Lay in the center of the bed, arms outstretched and eyes closed please.” She told him and he gave her a curious look. “Just do it.” she told him then disappeared into the bathroom. When she came back out she found him lying as she said, minus his shirt. “I didn’t ask you to take your shirt off.” She laughed.

“You didn’t ask me not to either.” He pointed out with a smirk keeping his eyes closed. “Will it be a problem?”

Katie picked up his shirt from where he had put it on the bed and replaced her own with it, loving the spicy scent of his cologne. “Nope. You know I love the view.” She answered as she sat down beside him, squeezed some hand cream into her palm and rubbed her hands together to warm it up before she picked up his hand and worked the cream into his skin.

“What are you doing?” he asked only to get shushed by her which made him chuckle. However, his laugh was cut off when she dug her thumbs into the heel of his palm and slid them outward. She repeated the action up his arm, halfway to his elbow, then back down and focused on one of her favorite parts of his body.

After spending a good ten minutes kneading every muscle and joint of his left hand she straddled him and kissed her ways across his chest then sat down at his right side. Another content sigh left his relaxed, parted lips when she started massaging his other hand. When she’d spent just as much time on his right hand as she did the left she started working her way up his arm, but before she could massage any further he grabbed the back of her neck with one hand, wrapped the other around her waist and rolled her over so that he was hovering above her. “You’re too good to me.” his blue eyes looked lovingly into hers.

“I would argue that I don’t show how much I appreciate you often enough.” She argued as she slid her hands from his sides that she’d grabbed out of instinct, up to rest on his chest, feeling the beating of his heart.

“You don’t have to. It’s in your eyes every time you look at me.” he said then caught her bottom lip between his and she sighed into the gentle yet intense kiss.

TVDTVDTVD

Katie sat on the bed watching Klaus get dressed for the first public service at Saint Ann’s since Sean massacred his fellow seminary students and himself. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with me and get out of the compound for a bit?”

“Yeah.” She answered. “We still don’t know where Papa Tunde is. Plus, I stopped being a beliver somewhere around 1822.” She slipped off the bed and walked over to him as he shrugged on his jacket.

“So you said that these people won’t respect you until they respect me.” he started as he put his hands on her hips and Katie hummed a positive answer. “I feel like I have forced the position of queen of the French quarter on you.”

“Maybe a little.” She agreed with a so-what shrug.

“Do you even want to be their queen?” he asked.

“I don’t feel like I deserve the position, but you’re their king and I’m your partner in crime. It only makes sense that I’m queen.” She reasoned.

“Yes, but is it something you want?” he asked with a pointed look.

“I haven’t thought much about it to be honest, so I don’t know if it’s something I want.” She shrugged with a frown.

“Okay, to help you decide, why don’t we use today as a trial run.” He offered.

“What do you mean?” she asked with a confused shake of her head.

“While Marcel and I are out, if a problem arises Diego will come to you with it.” he told her and she just stared at him with wide eyes. “You don’t have to. If you feel better with how things are now, with you behind the scenes, I will be fine with that too.”

She thought about it for a minute. She never saw herself as a leader but since coming to New Orleans she’d been helping as Klaus said, behind the scenes, but if she stepped up as Queen she’d be putting herself directly in the limelight working with Diego and Marcel. Was that really something she wanted? “I want to stay behind the scenes. If I change my mind later I’ll let you know.” She answered and then looked at the clock. “You better get going or you’ll be late.” He pecked her on the lips then left.

TVDTVDTVD

Katie was bundled up in a hoodie and yoga pants, reading a book on the private balcony when a knock sounded from the door of their quarters. So she closed her book and answered it revealing Diego on the other side. “Hey, Klaus isn’t here.”

“I know, but I thought you should know the witches left us a package in the courtyard.” He told her then jerked his head for her to follow him.

“Did Klaus ask you to keep me in the loop?” Katie asked, sounding confused as she followed him.

“Na, but you’re our queen now right?” he asked as they walked down the stairs.

“Seems that way.” As they walked into the courtyard the bright white suit of Papa Tunde caught her eyes. “What the hell…?” she asked, taking in the slit across the dead man’s neck.

“Either our witch problems are over, or they’re just getting started.” Diego told her as he too looked down at the body.

“I’m gonna go with just getting started.” Katie said, noticing that the symbol he was laying on was the one he used to channel the power of his offerings. “He doesn’t have the mark on his head.” she thought out loud.

“Yeah, so?” Diego asked, sounding more confused than snarky.

“So whoever killed him thankfully didn’t absorb his power.” She answered. “Which was a lot considering he drained the entire garden last night.” She looked over the body in thought. “It also mean’s he most likely didn’t become anyone’s sensei during the short time he was on our side. No smart witch would let power like that go unclaimed.” She looked up from the body to Diego. ”Sorry if you had friends in the garden.”

“I didn’t,” he answered, “but a few did walk away.”

“Well, for what it’s worth I’m glad you stayed.” She told him as she tucked her hands into the pocket of her hoodie then looked at the other inner circle vampires standing around the courtyard, including the two women that had sassed her the day before. “All of you.”

“Yeah, well, getting called a coward by a human tends to make you rethink your actions.” Mohawk girl said with a tilt of her head and a shrugged shoulder.

“I see my lovely queen is already on top of things.” Klaus said as he walked into the courtyard with Marcel.

“If by on top of things you mean gawking and trying to figure out how someone as powerful as him ended up with a slit throat and left in our courtyard then yeah, I’m on top of things.” Katie answered a little sarcastically.

Elijah came downstairs and kneeled down by the body. After a few minutes of Elijah looking Tunde over Klaus asked, “Can I get you anything brother, a magnifying glass, a pipe perhaps?”

“Do you have a theory that you’d like to share with us, Niklaus?” Elijah asked.

“Back in the day, if the witches wanted to send a threat, they’d just kill a chicken and leave it on your doorstep.” Marcel spoke up.

“It’s a rather large and ominous chicken, wouldn’t you say?” Elijah asked as he stood up.

“Papa Tunde defeated Rebekah with ease, almost got the two of us as well. If he was supposed to be their prized fighter, why leave him for dead in our front yard?” Klaus asked.

Before anyone else could say anything Rebekah walked in. “Well, don’t you all look cheery?” she asked as she joined the circle around Papa Tunde. “Listen to this. A girl literally exploded from a grave today as Sabine was giving her tour of the city of the dead.” Everyone perked up giving her their full attention. “It was Monique Deveraux.”

“What?” both Katie and Klaus asked at the same time.

“The tourists thought it was part of the show, but the witches are celebrating like it’s some kind of bloody miracle.” Rebekah told them. Katie realized then that Papa Tunde’s death redirected the magic that raised him back to the rightful owner, Monique.

“Maybe it is. They think that all hope is lost, but now suddenly a harvest girl is resurrected.” Marcel said, his brain taking the same path as Katie’s. “This is how we’re gonna get Davina back. Kill the witch that took her place.”

“Well, Davina was drawing pictures of a dead witch.” Katie spoke up making everyone look at her. “It stands to reason that Celeste could be the witch that took her place.”

“First Papa Tunde returns to settle old scores.” Klaus said with a point to the dead Papa Tunde, then pointed at Elijah. “Now your murdered lover is back. This isn’t witches attacking vampires. They are declaring war on us.”

“Awesome.” Katie sighed letting her head fall forward.

TVDTVDTVD

Katie was in the kitchen making herself an early lunch when Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah found her. “Okay, what’s with the family gathering?” she asked with suspicious eyes.

“We would like to talk to you about your safety here.” Elijah answered.

“Mkay.” She drawled.

“With three more resurrected witches out and about we think it would be best if you left the quarter for a little while.” Klaus told her.

“So, as your future sister in law, I’d like to accompany you to the plantation house.” Rebekah said with a hopeful smile.

Katie looked at Klaus, Elijah and Rebekah then back at Klaus. “And you all agree that this is what’s best?” she asked and he nodded. “Then I’ll go.”

“That seems too easy.” Rebekah pointed out skeptically.

“Well, you guys have a war on your hands. You need all hands on deck and my puny human ones, fighting skills and magic muting bombs aside, are more of an obstacle than an asset.” She pointed out.

“Magic muting bombs?” Rebekah asked with a confused face.

“Bonnie gave me a going away present.” She explained. “Bombs like the vervain one Elena used on you after Rose and what’s his face kidnapped her.” she told Elijah. “Only these are full of a crushed herb that when inhaled by a witch will mute their power. But I only have three and I need to save them for when, slash if my back is ever against the wall.”

“Leave it to the Bennett witch.” Rebekah said clearly impressed.

“You two can’t think clearly if you’re constantly worrying about me and the baby.” she told Klaus and Elijah then looked at Rebekah. “So I’ll go pack a bag and meet you out front. I’m driving.”

“But your car’s a junker.” Rebekah argued.

“It is not a junker, it’s well loved and the only thing I’ve ever earned and paid for myself. I just got it back, I’m driving.” Katie argued making Klaus and Elijah smirk at her as she left the kitchen, her bowl of lunch in her hand.

TVDTVDTVD

“I had hoped to not spend another night in this house again any time soon.” Katie complained as she and Rebekah rocked in the rocking chairs on the front porch, taking in the cold night air.

“Yet you agreed to come here.” Rebekah pointed out. “With me even though you don’t trust me.”

“I don’t trust you when it comes to your attempts to thwart Klaus’s rule, but I do trust you when it comes to keeping this baby, and therefore me, safe.” Katie corrected her then hugged herself. Even in the thick hoodie she was freezing. “I’m gonna turn in for the night.”

Instead of going to sleep Katie sat at the piano in a small room playing what her fingers could remember of what her mother had taught her. When her phone started ringing she pulled it out of her pocket to see that it was Elijah. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Where are you?” he asked, sounding worried.

“The plantation house where I’m supposed to be.” She answered with a frown.

“Where’s Rebekah?” he asked.

“Outside last I checked. Elijah, what’s wrong?” she asked as she stood from the piano headed to the front door.

“You were right. Celeste is back.” he told her as he pulled the front door open. “Niklaus, Rebekah, you’re all in danger.” As she tried to walk out the door slammed shut and Katie yelped. “Katie, you have to find Rebekah and stay with her until I get there.”

“Elijah, I can’t. Those stupid witches are trapping me in the house” she told him as she rushed to the back door only for it to catch fire making her yelp and jump back. “Damn it!”

“I’m on my way.” Elijah hung up. Every exit she tried burst into flames, the door to the rooms she ran through shut behind her until she was trapped in the piano room that wasn’t on fire, but when she tried to kick the window open a line of fire spread along the walls completely trapping her. Not knowing what else to do she took off the hoodie she was wearing and the tank top underneath, poured the glass of sweet tea she’d been drinking while playing the piano on the tank top then lowered herself to the floor where less smoke was likely to be. Even with the filter she’d created, smoke still managed to make its way into her lungs making her cough. She was starting to feel light headed when Elijah whooshed in through a window, scooped her up, whooshed her out into the fresh air and laid her on the hard drive way out front. “Where’s Rebekah?”

“I don’t know.” Katie answered as she sat up still coughing. “Last I saw she was on the front porch.” He grabbed the hoodie she’d been clutching in her hand and pulled it over her head then helped her stand up and bit his wrist. She drank enough to heal her smoke ridden lungs then pushed it away.

“Aww you healed her. How sweet.” the voice of Sabine made them both turn from the house to see her walking up the drive to them. Elijah pushed Katie behind him with a defensive stance. “You won’t hurt me. I’m the only one alive who can break the curse on Hayley’s family.” Katie had no idea what curse she was talking about, but at the moment she didn’t care because another redheaded witch walked up to stand beside Sabine who Katie guessed was really Celeste. “And Genevieve knows where your sister is.” Another older witch joined the women. “Bastianna has Klaus tucked away someplace safe. He’s suffering horribly, I might add, and all because you chose to save the little human instead of your own blood.”

Elijah took a few steps toward Celeste and she held her hand up, the sickening crack of bones breaking filled the air a second before Elijah yelled out in pain and sank to his knees. “Stop!” Katie yelled as she rushed to Elijah’s side holding his shoulder, wishing she could help, but she’d stupidly left the grenades in her car. “Stop hurting him.”

“Oh I’m going to do more than hurt him.” Celeste told her then looked at Elijah. “What a horrific ending,” Celeste closed her hand into a fist causing Elijah to yell out again, “to your pathetic diseased family.” Celeste opened her hand and closed it again torturing Elijah. “I guess always isn’t forever after all.” Celeste twisted her fist snapping his neck before the three witches walked away. Not knowing what else to do Katie sat down next to Elijah and waited for him to wake up.

TVDTVDTVD

“Marcel!” Elijah yelled as he and Katie walked into the compound courtyard. “Where is my brother?”

“I’ve got guys out looking for him right now.” Marcel answered with his hands held out in a calming manner. When two men stepped in front of Marcel, Elijah grabbed them and threw them aside.

“Was that really necessary?” Katie asked with a frown at Elijah’s temper.

“Klaus threw one of his classic temper tantrums, snapped my neck, tried to take on a coven of witches by himself. He got dropped.” Marcel explained. “I don’t know where he is or how to find him.”

“They also have Rebekah.” Elijah informed him then turned his eyes to the vampires around them. “Every! One of you, will help me to find them.” He pointed at the vampires then looked at Marcel. “I’m going to kill them all.”

TVDTVDTVD

Katie was getting out of the shower from washing the stench of smoke from her hair and skin when she heard a knock on the door. So she threw on a robe and answered it to see Elijah. She stepped aside and jerked her head for him to come inside. “Are you okay?”

“Physically yeah, mentally not so much.” She answered as she went to the bedroom and grabbed a tank top and a pair of pajama bottoms. She changed in the bathroom and came back out to find Elijah leaning on the archway. “So the night walkers are looking for Klaus and Rebekah?” She asked as she sat down on the bed and pulled her leg up on it.

“Yes, I was going to join them, but I didn’t want to leave you unprotected.” He told her as he walked further into the room. “They are originals, they can’t die.”

“But I can.” She added. “Is that why you saved me? Because they can’t die but this baby and I can?”

“Yes.” He answered with a nod. “However I also gave you and Niklaus my word. I will not let anything happen to you or the child.”

“Well, whatever your reasons…thank you.” she told him with a tired blink.

“I will let you get some sleep.” He turned to leave.

But she stopped him, “Elijah?” he turned to her with questioning eyes. “I really don’t mean to send the wrong signal here and I have no right to ask after leaving you in the bayou with a werewolf bite, but I haven’t spent a night by myself since moving here and with the witches after revenge…” she shook her head. “Never mind.”

“I will stay, if that’s what you’re asking.” He told her seriously.

“That's what I’m asking.” She told him with a nod that he returned as he watched her slide under the sheet and comforter. He laid on the other side of the bed on top of the comforter facing her. After laying in the dark for a while Katie asked, “What curse was Sabine or Celeste or whatever she wants to be called, talking about?”

“Hayley’s family has been cursed to spend most of their time as wolves, only being human on the full moon.” He answered. Katie couldn’t help but wonder why that meant so much to him that Celeste though it was enough to keep her alive. She knew Elijah well enough to know that he’d either given Hayley his word that he’d help her break the curse on her people in return for helping him during his time in the bayou or he’d developed feelings for Hayley. “You can ask whatever it is you’re not asking. I hide nothing from you.”

“Why does the fact that Celeste is the only one who can break that curse matter to you so much that it would keep you from killing her?” she asked. “I mean why would you go out of your way to break a curse on werewolves without there being something in it for you or someone you care about?”

“I have given Hayley my word that I would help her people.” He answered. “I also started courting her during the week you were gone with Niklaus.” Forgetting that he could see her even though she couldn’t see him she smiled. “This pleases you?”

“If she brings you even the slightest bit of happiness then, yes, it pleases me.” she answered then yawned. “The sooner I go to sleep the sooner I can help you find Klaus. So, goodnight, Elijah.”

“Goodnight.”

[ayatosmlktea]

Hiiii i love ur writing!! can u do a modern au with levi who's awkward/clumsy when it comes to romance but tries his best to show his s/o some affection

𝑴𝒐𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝑳𝒆𝒗𝒊 𝑩𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒔𝒚 𝒂𝒕 𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 ❤️

- This man is going to pretend everything is under control, he’s going to keep his cool and play it off like he’s been in plenty of relationships before you

- Jokes on you because he’s literally freaking out on the inside

- You’re his first real relationship, like serious he’s thinking about marrying you relationship

- Everything about you makes him feel …warm and fuzzy on the inside

- At first he really didn’t understand why you made him feel that way, I mean you were way out of his league and there was no way in hell you’d ever go for a guy like him

- Yes he’s insecure about his height okay fight me - it’s normal

- Every subtle sign you give off to let him know you’re interested literally flies right over his head and it’s kind of adorable

- “Wow it’s really chilly today” you laugh, your hands crossing over your chest to rub your arms trying to create some kind of warmth. In all honestly you weren’t that cold but you just wanted an excuse to have his sweater to smell- this man smells divine like Thierry Muggler divine

- “Oh, um here take my sweater. I’m kind of hot anyway”

- “Fuck yeah you are” you think to yourself but probably shouldn’t say that this early into your blossoming courting

- Levi thinks you look utterly adorable wearing his clothes and he really has to fight his whole being not to melt into a puddle right here, especially when you cover your hands with the slightly long sleeves of his hoodie

- Levi is a sucker for sweater paws

- Asking you out was the most difficult thing he’d ever done in his life

- You wouldn’t have thought him to be nervous, he was usually so calm and collected but Levi was full of surprises

- It had been when you least expected it, you two were studying at your usual cafe stealing the two tables located near the back of the store like you always did

- “Y/N you don’t look bad today” he started off, you almost splattered your drink everywhere with how abrupt his…compliment? was

- “Uh thanks Levi, you look nice too” Unsure of whether or not to be offended you open your laptop and resume copying your notes, unaware of Levi’s internal struggle

- “No I meant like, you…you’re uh..hair looks nice and you just look…oh my god…I like you!” You knew this wasn’t a normal comment of him saying he tolerated your presence. Your eyes widen, Levi’s face was beet red but he maintained eye contact.

- “Oh” Is all you can say your head too overwhelmed with information. Levi liked you! Levi Ackerman…liked you! Your silence was interpreted as rejection and Levi began to gather his things not wanting you to be around while he wallowed in self-pity

- “No wait! I like you too! A lot actually” You had never seen him smile so brightly before but fuck you wanted to see more of it

- And that began your relationship, despite having been together for almost a year Levi was still as shy and clumsy when it came to romance. Valentine’s day he’d nearly had an aneurism just giving you flowers and chocolate. Not to mention the entire date he’d had planned had completely floored you. It was so over the top and cliche but it screamed Levi.

- He’s not really comfortable with PDA but he wants to be near you at all times. Hand holding allows him to keep you close to him without drawing so much attention to himself. But when you’re having a bad day he’ll throw in the extra effort to be more affectionate with kisses every now and then while whispering how special you are to him

- This man is so in love with you please don’t take his hesisance at showing affection as being uncaring because it’s the exact opposite. Sometimes he’s so overwhelmed with how much he loves you that he doesn’t know what to do because he feels like nothing will ever properly convey just how much you mean to him

Masterlist

[ubernoxa]

The Token: A GNR FanFic

Chapter 4: The First Gig

Story Summary: Story inspired by the movie She’s the Man. A female Duff is tired of dealing with the bullshit of trying to make it on the strip as a female bassist.

Chapter Summary: Michelle is worried that Izzy will reveal her secret about her being Duff. Free coffee, and their first gig as Guns N’ Roses!

Masterlist

Taglist: @viralwolf02 @littlemisscare-all @smokeandmirrorz @aratbaby

Please let me know if you would like to be added to the tag list or if I forgot to add you. (I’m not the best with tag lists

Author’s Note: sorry this chapter is kinda long, but I didn’t want to beak it into two smaller chapters.

Chapter 4

I balanced the coffee as I quickly knocked on the door of the Hell House as the guys called it. Axl had arranged a band meeting for god knows what reason this morning before our first gig. As I peaked into the windows, I quickly realized there was no movement inside. So much for our morning meeting, the guys were probably still asleep.

Things had been going pretty well this past week, not to brag or anything. It was probably one of the more stressful weeks in my life with the pressure of a gig around the corner. Lucky for me most of songs were covers I had played before, and the guys helped me with any originals. I would be lying if I said Macy didn’t pound on my bedroom door telling me to stop in the middle of the night. She would always look at me like a crazy person when she told me to stop and quizzed me on why I wasn’t sleeping. I always shrugged and said I wanted to be ready for the gig. I didn’t want to let my band down; however, that was only part of the reason. I never told her about Izzy. It had been a week since Izzy had casually dropped the bomb that he knew that I was masquerading as a guy.Since that day he hasn’t brought it up. Even after spending over 8 hours a day practicing, he didn’t say a word about it. If we talked, it was about music or tweaks we could make to sound better. He was a good musician, he really had an ear for it. All of them did actually, I was lucky they chose me.

“Mornin,” I was met with a very tired Izzy. He held the door open for me as I walked in quickly realizing that there was no way we were going to have a meeting in a couple minutes.

I walked into the living room and set the coffees down on the nearest flat surface I could find. I felt a flash a relief flow through me as the drinks safely made it to their destination. I had spent the last Thierry minutes of my very boring shift making them.

“They’re labeled, I’m assuming you know what your name is?” I said before plopping down on the couch.

“Any reason for the...” Izzy gestured towards the coffee what was sitting on the table nearby.

“Michelle was working this morning and wanted to treat the band with something nice because morning meetings suck...especially if Axl arranged the meeting,” I causally responded trying to keep up my act.

“Is she coming to the gig tonight? I’d love to thank her in person,” I rolled my eyes at his comment and sent him my best ‘are you serious look?’ earning a quiet chuckle from him.

I watched from the corner of my eye to see if I got his order right. I watched as he smiled after taking the sip.

“How many people know?” His question shouldn’t have caught me off guard but it did none the less.

“Depends,” my answer was short in hopes that he would drop it. Inside the house where the rest of the band was currently sleeping wasn’t the ‘ideal’ place to have this conversation.

“Depends on what?”

“On how many people you have told.”

“I’ve told no one,” his answer caught me off guard as I raised a brow.

“Really? Not even your Indiana brother?” This earned another laugh from him as he shook his head no.

“Do people seriously call us that?”

“That’s how I was introduced to y’all. I believe it went something like ‘and those pair of dicks right there are Axl and Izzy. Don’t waste your words on them. The redhead will get pissy no matter what you say, and I highly doubt the other would even pay attention.” I took another sip remembering Derek from my last band Double Dead introducing them to me them as if I hadn’t known who Izzy and Axl were. After a while on the strip you learn who’s who rather quickly. The main question was if what you learn about a person was the truth. Word of mouth was a dangerous thing

“Wow that’s harsh,” part of me felt bad for Izzy and I honestly should have left that out the last part.

“Well that’s when I was apart Double Dead, which looking back was a shifty band name. If I remembered correctly later that evening after the gig you guys beat the living shout out of my band,” I couldn’t help but check at how much of a train wreck that night was.

“That was the night you got me good with your bass!” I smiled as his laughed quickly joined mine.

“So you did recognize my bass! It was the dent wasn’t it?”

“How could I forget the bass that got me in the side of the head. Not every day does a chick beat you with her bass. Left a bruise for a month.”

“Well...in my defense I was aiming for Axl...sorry,” I felt bad remembering that night.

“No need to apologize, pretty sure Axl started the fight.”

“Little Axl Rose? Him? Noo....he would NEVER start a fight,” I teased back. It was moments like this regret flooded me. What if I came to them as Michelle instead of Duff? How different would things had been?

“What’s in this?” Izzy pulled me from my thoughts and back to reality as he spoke.

“Just like a magician, a barista never revels her secret,” I teased as I tried to hide the smile that was growing like a weed on my face.

My original plan was to make black coffee’s for everyone, but I knew Steven wouldn’t like it. Once I started making Steven’s, I thought why not make the rest of the guys a personal cup.

“You still mad at Axl?”

“No, why?” I turned my attention back towards Izzy as he spoke.

“The small cup, I’m assuming it’s for Axl because he called Michelle a mediocre bassist,” I shook my head and couldn’t help the laughter escape my lips.

“The small cup is for Steven. The last thing that boy needs is a lot of caffeine,” this time it was Izzy’s laughter that filled the room.

“If I....Michelle...wanted to mess with Axl, she would have put milk that was beyond spoiled and mixed in vanilla and berry flavors to mask it. It would give him the runs without knowing what caused it!” I stared in a matter of fact tone. I’m not saying it’s a prank I’ve pulled on my oldest sister, I’m just saying I didn’t not do it. Plus she had it coming.

His laughter filled the room again, “noted”

“What do we have here?” Slash asked looking at the coffee cups sitting on the table.

“Coffee, each of them are apparently different. Yours has your name on it,” Izzy said

“What’s mine?”

“Medium roast with cream,” I quickly responded earning a glare from Izzy.

“Not too bad,” he shrugged before joining us on the couches.

“How come he gets to know, but I don’t?” I had to mask the smile of my face with a shrug. He had made me feel like I was walking on glass, afraid he would tell the guys I’m actually a girl, all week. This wasn’t on the same level, but it made me feel like for once I had an upper hand. (Even though it was only coffee)

“I can’t remember? Plus Michelle is the one who made them anyway,” I raised my arms in defense never breaking eye contact.

“You dating her or some shit like that,” I watched as Izzy immediately took a sip of his coffee to hide his smirk.

“No, why?” I was frozen as I tried to understand his logic.

“Well she’s kinda acting like a groupie...”

“Who’s acting like a groupie?” Steven popped into the room like the morning sun.

“Michelle,” Izzy responded. I hated how much he was enjoying this. He was enjoying watching me squirm.

“Kinda tall, brunette, bassist, nice legs?” Slash asked with Steven quickly nodding.

I continued to drink my coffee wishing that I could turn invisible. This felt weird. I felt like I should leave the room or something.

“You should invite her to the gig tonight,” Steven’s heart was in the right place and what he was trying to do was sweet, but I wanted him the shut the fuck up. There was a small logistics problem with Duff inviting Michelle to the gig.

“Yeah! We can thank her for the coffee after the gig,” I glared at Izzy as he spoke. He was enjoying this. That bastard...

“I doubt she’ll come,” I shot back at Izzy.

“Who won’t come?,” by now Axl had finally made it down to the living room. He quickly grabbed the last coffee. Why the hell was everyone waking up NOW.

“Michelle, the bassist” I shot back.

I watched as a smirk formed on his face before he took a quick sip of his coffee, “Yeah, she ain’t coming. She’ll probably avoid Guns N’ Roses like the plague. Especially after what happened with Pixie and Double Dead.”

I prayed he wouldn’t elaborate what happened with Pixie. He could talk about Double Dead all he wanted. Pixie though, Pixie was another story.

————————-

“Stop being such a girl Duff, your hair looks fine,” I sent Izzy a glare from across the room. I could tell he was all too happy with his comment. That bastard had been teasing me all week, and aI was getting sick and tired of it.

“If anyone is the girl here it’s Axl,”

“It’s called Glam Slash!” By now Axl was standing where I was only moments ago applying some additional eyeshadow.

“How many cans of hairspray did you have to steal to get your hair to stick like that,” Izzy said above the laughter.

Axl’s hair resembled a lion’s mane. It was impressive and I was beyond jealous. I wished I hadn’t cut off most of my hair, so I could recreate his hairstyle.

“You’re just jealous! Chicks dig the big hair!” He shot back at Izzy.

“He’s not wrong,” I couldn’t help but smirk as I spoke, my voice barely auditable over the noise of the bar. Izzy just rolled his eyes and went back to messing with his guitars.

“You’re on in 5,” a man yelled into our tiny room causing all of my nerves to flood my body. That’s when I realized it had been months since I had performed on stage. I could already feel my palms getting sweaty as I sat down next to Steven. I could feel him watching me as I wiped my hands against my pants.

I felt him pat my back causing me to look up at him. “No need to be nervous. You’ll kick ass out there.”

I sent him a fake smile which he obviously didn’t by. “Dude, Duff, you’ll be fine. Plus it’s always good to be nervous!”

“Why would I want to be nervous? That’s when you make mistakes?” I shot back. Steven is a great guy, but sometimes I don’t understand what he’s getting at.

“Being nervous just means you care. Plus it’s your first show on the strip! You’ll love it! The energy is incomparable!” There was some sort of sparkle in Steven’s eyes that was uplifting. It was like a child talking about all of the candy they got on Halloween.

“Here,” I looked up to Izzy who handed me a shot.

“It will help, and if it doesn’t we have plenty more,” I nodded and took the shot from him and held back a cough as the burn traveled down my throat.

I earned a cheer from Steven and Slash passed me my bass.

“Alright boys lets go kick some ass and show them a show they won’t forget!” Axl yelled right before they walked onto the stage.

And kick ass we did! Despite Axl hating snakes, his dancing reminded me of some type of rattlesnake. It was pretty entertaining to watch, but Slash running around the stage like a mad man was even better. After our third song in the set, I quickly followed Slash’s insanity. The entire performance felt like a breath of fresh air, and the moment I stepped off of the stage I wanted to get right back up there. It just felt right. We clicked. I had lost tracks of the amount of times I have performed on a stage, but I have NEVER felt anything like I felt tonight. This was something special. Maybe this was the band that would make it. Maybe?

Steven raised a bottle of god know what and cheered, “To Duff, no longer a Sunset Strip virgin.” Cheering and laughter filled the room as he spoke. I knew what he was getting at, but there were thousands of better ways to phrase it.

“I’m gonna go for a smoke,” I said before stumbling towards the door. The air outside was more refreshing than the cold beer and vodka I had been drinking since the gig was over.

“Congrats,” I turned to see Izzy standing in the doorway.

“Same to you,” I smiled.

“Well I wasn’t a Sunset Strip virgin before the show so...” I glared at Izzy only for a second before I join in his laughter at what Steven had said earlier.

“How much has he had to drink? Because I don’t think he thought that last sentence through,” I joked back.

“Good thing you aren’t a girl; otherwise, his statement would have been taken into an entirely different context. Very inappropriate,” Izzy cooly replied earning a small chuckle from me. Guy’s minds are all the same.

“I was worried Steven was going to fall out of his seat while he was playing earlier,” I said in hopes of changing the subject.

“That’s popcorn for ya!” He offered me a smile before he went back to smoking.

After several moments of uncomfortable silence, I added “And for someone who hates snakes, Axl sure dances like one.”

Izzy nodded apparently keen on not wanting to have a conversation. Fine then, awkward silence it was. I still needed the fresh air to help me sober up a little. I closed my eyes and focused on the sounds of the strip and the refreshing cold air.

“You never answered my question earlier,” Izzy stared snapping me back.

“Which one?”

“The one about who knows about your secret,” he replied earning a small ‘ohhh’ from me.

“At least four people know. You, Macy, Walter, and Betsie,” I replied.

“How’d Betsie find out?”

“She saw my face,” I shrugged as I spoke to him. It was inevitable. I was originally hoping I could hide behind my hair, but Macy cut it just a tad too short, so I was wearing sunglasses.

“You do have a unique face,” I shot him a confused look. Was that supposed to be a compliment or insult? I just shook my head and decided against pressing further.

“So what’s the plan?” I turned to Izzy as he once again broke the silence and pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Plan for what?”

“You can’t remain a guy forever. You’re a chick, eventually you’re going to have to reveal that,” he turned towards me as he stomped out his cigarettes

“When we get our record deal or first tour.”

“When? Wow someone’s getting cocky,” Izzy shot back.

“Did you feel it?” My voice was barely louder than a mouse as I spoke.

“Feel what?”

“I don’t know Izzy, it’s hard to describe. But when we were playing I felt something. Yeah, we had a small crowd, but I felt something I’ve never felt before!”

“Yeah, I felt it too, but be careful we already have one cocky bastard in the band, we don’t need a second.”

“Yeah...yeah...”

More silence followed.

“Is it weird, preforming as Duff?”

I sent Izzy a small smiled and shook my head yes.

“It’s like a mask I put on. When I’m on stage playing, I’m always Michelle. There is no changing who I am inside. Whenever I look in the mirror or play Guns N’ Roses songs it feels weird. Guns an’ Roses is Duff’s,” I took relief as I said those words out loud.

“I like your hair by the way. The brown part that you didn’t dye, it’s kinda poetic. Even though you put on this show that you’re Duff, Michelle is still there,” Izzy said before turning to head back inside.

“Hey Iz, how do you think the guys would react if I told them....” my heart sunk the moment my eyes met his.

[alexiaugustin]

Since I seem to be in a really positive mood today and even though this show clearly doesn't deserve this post here's my list of favorite skam france s6 clips:

Samedi 07:52 The day after ep1: I really really loved the first clip of the season a lot more than the trailer and I think that it was such a great introduction to Lola's pov. We really saw the world through her eyes in such a special way in that moment n I loved all the hints to the plot (same sex couple walking down the street and being viewed as completely normal> w|w storyline with no internalized homophobia; the raccon tag > foreshadowing for otteli and urbex plot; lola photographing broken things > insight into lola's feelings) The cinematography and use of pov was a masterpiece in this one.

Lundi 7:43 Tiff ep1: This one is just here for the grew being the most supportive and loving friend group, skipping classes together to take care of Daphné and that group hug <33 need I say more?? No. Every clip with the grew is gonna be on this list because the little screen time they had this season needs to be honoured. I'm sorry that they did you so dirty babes:((

Mercredi 13:03 Fuck the planet ep1: my absolute favorite mayla clip this season!! one of my absolute favorite clips in general!! I still remember the day when they dropped that clip and I got so excited for this season again. Maya being a climate activist and such a warm and lovely person I immediately fell in love with her. Maya looking at Lola as if she's a princess walking down the stairs to a ball in some fairy tale. Maya not letting Lola's cold remarks throw her off n replying with equal sass instead, Maya's iconic coming out line and Lola smiling for the first time all season!! That clip was really off the charts

Vendredi 16:43 Someone exceptional ep1: This is my absolute favorite clip of the whole season and the amount of times I've rewatched this is actually unhealthy. Something just clicked and for the first time I felt really connected with Lola and felt and understood her pain (probs to Flavie she was amazing here) I loved the lil details abt this clip: Lucas playing the piano, le grew all hugging Daphné, Daphné's speech and break down (lula was amazing here too I really really felt connected to Daphné in that moment), Eliott and Lola meeting for the first time (their best clip this season, gosh the potential they had to actually develop such a cool and beautiful sibling relationship with them and then they did.... whatever the rest of their storyline was), Lola trying so hard to read Daphné's speech and then holding her own instead because she so desperately needs to get this off her chest and make ppl understand her and last but not least the cinematic shots of her running out of the church and breaking down. Truly my favorite clip.

Mercredi 12:56 You don't know me ep2: my second favorite mayla clip and hell did I love their dynamic and chemistry in this one. The community service clips were so so special and gave them such unique vibes I'm so sad that the rest of their storyline really couldn't live up to that because the beginning really was breathtaking and I was so here for their storyline and really believed that I would get the w|w rep I deserve this season. Rip

Jeudi 19:33 Sorry ep2: Daphné and Lola finally warming up to eachother, both of them apologizing, Lola saying that she can make dinner and they can watch one of Daphné's favorite tv shows together. Baby steps. Also Daphné grieving and smelling her mother's shirt to find comfort. Such an important clip!!

Vendredi 22:22 Otteli ep2: Again the opening shots and cinematography of this clip!! Lola meeting la mif for the first time and I was completely buying their found family dynamic from the start, maya and lola being 👀 the entire time and last but not least Eliott being introduced as urbex legend n royalty,, the wasted potential of that storyline tho...

Samedi 6:43 An awesome party ep3: again maya's and lola's chemistry in this one and their first real and deep conversation, maya opening up about her parents and how she found a home and family in la mif, their smiles and laughs and lola replying to Daphné's text messages because that's growth baby!

Lundi 7:53 The slap ep3: again just here for le grew, the way they all pulled daphné in for a group hug I'm cryinnn. Also Lucas telling the people who were gossiping abt Lola to turn around and mind their own business, dare I say iconic. the way we could have had it all this season and then skamfr decided to make them enemies. Hate it here

Samedi 13:18 Hangover ep4: this clip being a parallel to the beginning of ep2, we all believed that Lola went out and slept with another stranger and would feel lost and overwhelmed again and then! we and she found out that she's at maya's n instead of being lost again she completely openes up to Maya abt her life and Maya just holds her and Lola clings onto her as if her life depends on it and finds comfort in Maya. Still crying about this one

Mardi 21:43 You want to talk about it? ep4: I would be lying if I didn't tell you that I've rewatched this clip countless of times simply because seeing Eliott so happy and excited at his workplace has me feeling some type of way. I liked his and Lola's general dynamic in this one my main problem is just that it was so damn underdeveloped and came out of nowhere. Skam france you're a transmedia show text messages would have really helped you bby!!

Samedi 14:23 Luquette ep5: ohh out of all the clips with Eliott in it this one's definitely my favorite (and also one of the only ones I liked) both Eliott and Lola getting to speak for themself abt their mental health, seeing Eliott's development going from being ashamed and hiding his mental illness to now being so open about it and giving others advice, them talking about Eliott's Lucas and Lola's Luquette (🥺) Eliott being ready to run from Daphné with Lola and Lola saying that she's gonna take responsibility and Eliott looking like a proud big brother > the only clip with sibling vibes of them this season

Samedi 17:36 Just a girl ep5: Daphné and Lola reconciling, Daphné wanting to buy Lola picture frames and not letting that go even tho they have so little money and she sorts other stuff out instead. Please their sister bond this season has my heart. And also Maya and Lola at that supermarket gay panic energy at its finest. I loved that clip and that even after what happened last Friday Maya is still such a warm and loving person in that clip. Ugh why did they had to ruin her character later that season??☹

Mercredi 18:49 I miss you ep5: in case y'all are wondering if I'm just gonna put every single mayla clip on that list- don't worry this one is gonna be the last in a while. Anyway back to the good old days lamifex hanging all out together and being literal children together <33 mayla finally getting to talk and Maya explaining herself, showing Lola her scars and telling her that she misses her when she's not around. My heart combusted watching that clip

Lundi 12:35 We are even ep6: le grew studying together!! especially lucas and imane!!!! screaming. the only time we ever got to see them preparing for the bac but at least we have this one clip. Basile and Lola sibling dynamic and also the clip confirming that Daphné indeed has an eating disorder and Lola beginning to be really worried about her

Mercredi 18:27 I don't know what you're looking for ep6: Lola finding out about Daphné's eating disorder and finding proof in her room, Daphné freaking out and the last shots of her trying so hard not to fall apart, lula's acting in this scene!! It was all so realistic it truly is one of the top ten clips too

Jeudi 21:53 It won't always work ep6: Daphné and Lola talking and Lola opening up abt her addiction problems and telling Daphné that she can really really understand her and that both of them can get better again, Lola and Daphné being completely at peace and cuddling on the couch and watching tv together. One of my favorite clips of them this season I just love their sister bond so much

Mercredi 16:52 The break up ep7: both Lula's and Paul's acting was incredibly I was 100% buying that break up, Basile desperately wanting to help Daphné but not really knowing how, Daphné throwing him out and immediately having a break down, feeling so helpless and lost :'(( also Lola seeing her sister breaking down and not knowing how to help her either broke my heart. Protect the Lecomte sisters at all costs

Dimanche 18:32 Freesias ep8: for me this one was the true full cycle moment this season. The Lecomte family visiting their mum on mother's day, Lola revealing that she does know her favorite flowers and that her mum used to sent them to her along with letters she never read, Lola saying that if she could she might read them now but it's too late for that and in some kind of way she was making peace with her mum and everything that happened between them. Daphné taking the umbrella so Thierry can pull Lola close and them just standing in the rain and healing n growing as a family!! This clip was so emotional and important and skamfr had the audacity to destroy all that development with Thierry for useless drama. I'm endlessly bitter

Mardi 18:03 Vital prognosis ep8: just daphné, basile, lola and maya being a happy lil family together. This clip was so peaceful and beautiful to watch every time ep9 ruined my mood I went back to this clip to cheer myself up again. Really wish we could have seen more of them together and maya and lola as a couple

Vendredi 23:04 Emergency ep10: okay so I really didn't like that skamfr switched povs to build up suspense and was actually just triggering for many of us. But I just wanna say Lula's acting!!! The way she said "But how do you know we're going to find her, Lucas? Putain! She has never left a note before this is the first time for all we know" truly her acting!! I rewatched that clip so many times for that line alone (until I realized that the storyline was actually really triggering for me so I haven't watched the clip ever since but still)

Samedi 01:06 Sisters ep10: still hate the storyline and that it was done in episode 10 but I'm sooo glad that Daphné went to talk to Lola alone, that Daphné tells her that she's always loved her and basically everything they said in that clip!! Really moving and emotional one of the only clips that really made me cry this season. Again I live for Flavie's and Lula's acting

Mercredi 16:38 Beep beep beep ep10: even tho the mayla storyline was in context of the season really lacking depth at this point, watching this clip ignoring the context really was a cultural reset. One thing I love abt skam france is just that they let lgbt people live their lives without having homophobia being thrown at them left and right so kissing your gf in the middle of the supermarket like that might not be realistic but I don't care!!!!! let the gays live their life and kiss in the supermarket!!! thanks!! also that song especially the lyrics "darling I won't let you go" thoughts are being thunk💌

And yeah basically that's it. As yall may notice I loved the first half of the season way more than the second half and I feel like there was so much wasted potential and important storylines left unaddressed because they wanted to throw in more drama....

[rochey1010]

Look whose back, back again. 🤗 Hi guys. 👋 back for my regular dose of rambling thoughts. 😚

So i wanted to make a post about S5 and the link to S6 and how well the show has set up what is playing out on screen right now. E.g. Eliott, Lucas, Daphne, Elu, Dasille, Lola etc.

So i think S5 really laid the groundwork beautifully in regards to the story/characters and how they evolved, regressed or found themselves on the journey they are now. They really suceeded with Eliott and where he is now in S6. And it has remained consistent to the characters we see onscreen and i must say in a very organic way.

I think i'll break this post into 2 parts, because my thoughts are too much and the posts are too long and i have a lot to say....😱

PART 1:

Lola/Daphne (sisters) so Lola only really showed up at the end but there were easter eggs of her arrival and the effect on other characters. So Daphne is distant and keeps running off throughout the season. She is stressed, worn out and neglecting herself. It's such a huge contrast to pretty pink perfectionist Daphne who swans around social and clique like. Assertive and overbearing at times. Holds a lot of pretenses and ignorance at others. But genuinely a kind hearted person. She's a mess here, she's washed out, withdrawn and looks sickly. First thought is yep Daphne's eating disorder is back. She's ignoring food and she's over exercising etc. And then at the party a girl shows up and Daphne spills to Bas that this is her sister and she's been away and is trouble. We have never seen Daphne's home. The main's world opens when we go home and see their secrets. That is when we truly learn who our main is.

And boy do we go home here to a death of an alcoholic mother who cheated on her husband, had another man's child and drank herself to the grave. A passive father who gave up long ago and has been worn down over the years into almost this depressed failure. Who has put the weight on his eldest daughter Daphne and has love but a casual indifference to the youngest daughter and her pain. Both parents put the youngest sister in a clinic when she was hurting herself, treated her as the problem instead of looking at the mess of themselves and acknowledging their neglect of their children and the turmoil Lola is suffering. Lola goes to a clinic, gets worse in that environment and comes home a wreck doing anything risky to feel something. Meanwhile mother never accepts she needs help and continues to destroy the family. Father continues to be feckless and Daphne has the strain of being the parent to 2 adult children.

Daphne loving her sister but being young, helpless, and scared, and trying to save her from self destruction by telling the parents Lola's secret. Lola loving Daphne but blinded by anger, self loathing, and powerlessness over her self destruction. And seeing such a betrayal from someone she could only rely on- her big sister who is also her parent too, let's face it. And needing to blame someone for the reason she is broken. Mum's dead, and she has no closure, thierry is a strange man who isn't her father and there's a huge disconnection. So Daphne is the best shot. She's the full blood daughter to Lola's black sheep. Lola's inadequacy is projected on to Daphne as Lola hates herself, can't be loved and wants connection but is bruised so badly (her colour aesthetic is purple for a reason) and scared of letting people under her skin for fear that they will fail her or reinforce her self loathing of herself. Jealousy is there because Lola doesn't feel a part of something, she's been away by force, seen as the family problem, and Daphne was there and not thrown to the wolves so to speak. The reminders of the home are to Lola that she was the sacrifice of the family because strong links are with blood only e.g. family photos.

Must stress about Lola that this is her pain so it's twisted as a self reflection of herself. She's wrong. People are there with their arms open but she has a blindspot right now because she's an addict and depressed and has a lot of anger. This is addict behaviour. The blame, denial, and learned helplessness in this young girl. The need to attack the world through herself. When Lola stands up and says "i'm an addict, i have choices and i've chosen to keep doing this. I can no longer blame everyone around me. This is my responsibility now. I need to get better and i need to do it for myself and because i am worth more" then Lola will be her own hero and the world will flourish around her. She captures broken and malformed things. This is her art reflected in herself and how she perceives the world, which is broken and damaged. Ok i just broke into a Lola character study. Sorry about that. 😑

Lola's presence is foreshadowed on screen too. She passes by Arthur at the concert. A hint that Lola alone parties. She also came from the bar. A hint that alcohol is important. Lola's in detention with the boy squad. She sits in the back. A hint of her disregarding rules and being a little upstart. And a hint that Lola will be an outsider to these people in S6. Then she walks in at the end in slap a bitch mode. The grand arrival. Alone with zero fucks to give. And can't sit straight so queer solidarity 🏳️‍🌈 and then we see the hint of the complex character we'll get to know, and the vulnerability. Looking on from the outside at this family that her sister has, so connected and supportive and reflected in Eliott's positive expression of his art. He has created a friendship mural of these people in the big cosmos, grounded through this special connection. Lola alone, isolated and yearning for a family of her own. S5 everybody. 😊

Daphne/Bas: ok don't hit me but i think i have an unpopular opinion. I feel Bas loves Daphne more than she does him. Like i know they'll prob show how much Dasille love each other by the end. It's just i've never felt it. I don't know if it's chemistry or the writing, or maybe i'm used to the epic physical soulmate Elu love. So when other couples are there it feels less ya know. I even feel that with Sofimane too. But the way they set the relationship up is him being creepy, sleazy, and obsessive in S3 and then character growth happening with him being genuine and wanting to change to be someone Daphne could want. And then she sees the effort and does. And Bas becomes a sweet and nurturing boyfriend.

But then obviously we're seeing them developed off screen so it's less. That was the problem too with Arthur/Alexia. But then in S5 she's distant, and actually physically pushing him off her at times. I always laugh my ass off when there's a moment at the van in S5 where Elu are talking of marriage and just generally being full on PDA, zero fucks for comfort, and grossly in love. And then beside them Bas is trying to cuddle Daphne and she looks annoyed with her arms up blocking him, and then distracting him with Arthur's arrival. Guys i think Elu ruined me for anyone else. 😄

And then Bas is so gung ho about forever and the farm, and a life with Daphne and she just doesn't feel like she's with him. I know she's struggling but Daphne just has never given me the feeling that she sees Bas as a life partner. That she has yet to meet her epic. I feel bad saying that though. 😔

And Bas shows his character growth with him being sweet, kind, caring throughout. Unpopular opinion incoming. Love what the show did with Bas but it's very black and white. Goes from one thing to another, heavy emphasis on the other now. Maybe it's just me but i need the grey and the flawed and complex. I find it much more fascinating and interesting to see the layers in the characters e.g. Eliott sweet sunshine but has a darkness, very flawed, messes up, huge insecurities and fears etc. I dunno, maybe it would be different if we saw a Bas POV season and i do love Bas but find his character to be flat.

Bas is desperate and sad, and he's trying to break through to Daphne. There's a real emphasis on him trying to help her. So if he turns out to be Benny (office parkour gif) well then you'll have seen the reason for it in this season 5. But basically his relationship with her is very strained in this season. And now in S6 he's unconditional and supportive but the strain is still there, but now we see why. I can't say anymore because i don't know but flavie said she comes between them in a way we won't understand right away. But basically whatever happens with Bas/Daphne. S5 everybody. ☺️

So i'll end it here and PART 2 is coming up. 👍

[missnmikaelson-main]

The Forgotten - Chapter 27

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 , Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20, Chapter 21 , Chapter 22, Chapter 23, Chapter 24, Chapter 25, Chapter 26

Rebekah clung to the arm of the chair, watching the coffee table with wary eyes as the firelight winked off the sharp knife.

“Are you still staring at that?” Elijah held the back of her chair.

“We’re stuck in here,” she gestured towards the windows, “and there’s nothing better to do – at least not while Hope is napping.”

She stretched forward to pick up the knife and spun the point on the tip of her finger; a small trickle of blood ran toward her palm.

“You’re going to drive yourself crazy,” he plucked the blade from her hands, circling around to sit beside her.

Rebekah glanced at him, struggling to recall the last time he had appeared so haggard, or the last time she had seen him in jeans. She supposed it made sense; trapped in the house there was nobody to intimidate or impress, and with her there was no reason to hide the weary set of his mouth.

“Better I lose my mind then Elena,” she sighed, sinking into her chair. “Between her sleepless nights, and searching for answers, she’s running herself ragged.”

“And you think Freya’s botched spell holds the answer?”

Klaus strode into the room where his siblings sat, blinking to bring some moisture back to his dry eyes.

“All that that knife holds is the ability to enrage me,” he grumbled, snatching it he drove the end down into the table.

“Was that necessary?” Rebekah rolled her eyes. She just managed to catch her glass before it tumbled to the floor; they were running dangerously low on dishes as it was. It wasn’t like they could replace the things they broke anymore.

Klaus scrubbed a hand over his face, exhaling slowly.

Elijah lifted a bunched cloth from his brother’s shoulder.

His head jerked up, tired eyes watching Elijah fold and line up the pink stripes.

“You’ve got a rabbit in your pocket,” he nodded.

“Feeling a little peckish, Nik?” Rebekah smirked, unable to resist teasing.

“Sod off,” he growled. Pulling the stuffed animal free, he cocked his head to the side, listening for any sign that his daughter was fussing without it. “What are you doing with that bloody knife anyway?”

“Lamenting the fact that it’s not bloody,” she spun her glass in her hand, watching her brother absentmindedly fiddle with the rabbit’s ear. “I don’t understand what went wrong.”

“Freya’s magic is subpar compared to our dear aunt?” Klaus shook his head.

“But the logic makes sense,” Rebekah shook her head. “Dahlia’s three greatest weaknesses should have rendered her mortal.”

“Perhaps the ingredients were wrong,” Elijah placed the blanket down on the table in line with the knife. “Misinterpreted, perhaps?”

“How do you misinterpret sacred Norwegian soil, Viking ash, and blood?” She sighed, tipping her head back to stare at the ceiling.

“Was it the right blood?”

Rebekah jumped, twisting towards the door.

“Sorry,” Caroline shrugged, “didn’t mean to scare you. Although I did enjoy the result,” a small smile tugged at her lips.

“That’s the third time this week,” Rebekah’s eyes trailed over the baby vampire. “How do you move so quietly in heels?”

“I’m part cat,” she deadpanned, moving forward on silent feet. “You didn’t answer my question. Was it the right blood?”

“I don’t see how it could have been wrong,” Klaus sighed.

“Were there requirements for the blood?” Caroline perched on the coffee table, crossing her ankles. “Did it have to be a certain blood type?”

“In a way,” Rebekah finished the last of her drink. “It had to be the blood of the witch who broke Dahlia’s heart: Freya.”

“Freya?” Caroline’s brows knit together.

“Yes,” Klaus’ eyes flickered over her face.

“Freya,” Caroline repeated. “The beloved child your aunt stole away from her only sister?”

“That is who she is,” Klaus frowned. “Why is that important?”

“Well…” Caroline chewed her bottom lip, moving her hands as she spoke. “It’s just that stealing a child from her sobbing mother and younger brother sounds pretty heartless to me. And then she went on to make Freya’s life a living hell.”

“Somebody broke her heart long before Freya came into the picture,” Rebekah straightened up.

“That makes the blood open to interpretation,” Caroline glanced over her shoulder. “The only question is who did it?”

++++

“Elena, you need to sleep,” Kol ran a hand back through his hair.

“I can’t sleep,” she took the stairs down to the courtyard.

“Sure you can,” he skirted the fountain, barely sparing Finn and Sage a nod as he passed. “All you have to do is close your eyes.”

She whirled on him, stabbing his chest with her shaking finger. Muscles jumped under her skin. “How am I supposed to do that? How, Kol?”

“How am I supposed to sleep when every time I close my eyes I see her?” Her stomach twisted; bile rose in the back of her throat and tears shimmered in her red eyes. “How am I supposed to sleep when all I can see is her taking our baby?”

“How?” She shrieked.

He reached for her shoulders, pulling her closer as she struggled against his grip until she was encased in his arms. Her fingers curled around his jacket. He smoothed down her hair as she sobbed, kissing the top of her head. He could feel a gentle shifting where her stomach pressed tightly to his.

Her tears slowed, trailing off into the occasional hiccup as Kol lowered her to sit on the edge of the fountain.

“I will die before I let that bitch anywhere near our baby,” he swore, trailing his fingers down her arm.

She clung to his shirt, glancing up through wet lashes and whispering. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

“Nobody is dying Elena,” Finn moved some broken wood aside. The courtyard was slowly being cleaned up and resembling something semi-respectable – if in desperate need of repairs.

“I made sure of that,” Sage swept up some broken glass. “Remember?”

“How could I forget?” Elena made a sound between a groan and a laugh. “I hated you for that.”

“It all worked out,” she surveyed the courtyard, “you still found enough white oak for your spell.”

“And then promptly destroyed it,” Finn brushed some dust from his sleeves. “Right?” He lifted an eyebrow.

“Right,” Elena whispered.

“Then you truly have nothing to worry about,” he nodded, gesturing towards the stairs. “So go and get some sleep because Kol is right, you need it. This isn’t healthy.”

“I still have plenty to worry about,” she lowered her eyes, staring at the ground. “She’s still coming back for her,” she smoothed a hand over her stomach, “and we can’t stop her.”

“We’ll find a way, darling,” he rubbed her upper arm.

A loud knock drew their attention up toward the front of the house. Elena used Kol’s arm to awkwardly get to her feet and then crossed her arms. She stared at the floor, walked around the remaining rubble and ducked into the hall leading to the door.

“I’m surprised you haven’t put her under with a spell, brother,” Finn watched Elena go.

“I could put her to sleep, but I can’t control her dreams.” Kol rubbed the knotted muscles in the back of his neck. “I’d be trapping her in her nightmares.”

“What about dreamless sleep?” Finn tilted his head. “Or peaceful dreams? There are spells for it.”

“The compound isn’t exactly equipped for magic,” Kol frowned.

++++

“Wow…” Elena lifted her head when she heard Marcel’s voice. “I haven’t seen you this distraught since that time you bumped into Elijah in Europe. Do you remember that?” He stood a foot away from the barrier.

She nodded, shivering at the vivid recollection. She could see Elijah in her mind’s eye as he drank himself into a stupor. He had been so far gone when she found him that he didn’t even recognize her glamour, and after learning why he was drowning his sorrows she had wanted to join him.

“This is a little different then finding out people I care about are at the bottom of the ocean,” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”

“We brought you some stuff,” he tipped his head to the left.

Elena followed his gaze to where Davina and Thierry were pulling some bags from the trunk of his car.

“Hey,” Davina greeted. She pulled up the handle of a rolling suitcase and strode towards the door, nearly crossing the threshold before remembering at the last second.

“What’s all this?” Elena squinted. She recognized the bag; it was the same one she had dragged to Greece and back.

“I… we…” she amended, “thought you might like some of your own things. You must be longing for your stuff.”

“Davina packed your clothes,” Thierry lifted a cooler from the trunk, “I made sure she put your journal in as well.”

Warmth spread through her chest, momentarily chasing away the cold. Her eyes surveyed the bags as she curled her fingers around the handle Davina nudged through the open door; there was fresh blood, some groceries and several bags full of different things from the mansion.

“Thank you,” she rubbed a hand over her cheek, tucking hair behind her ear.

“You okay?” Marcel leaned against the gate. “You look tired. Have you been sleeping?”

“Of course not,” she scoffed. Her posture relaxed a fraction when she felt a warm hand on her back. She looked up over her shoulder. “Look, we got a care package.”

“Oh I’m thinking this was all for you,” Kol kissed her temple. He reached and took the cooler Thierry held out. He flipped the lid, chuckling at the contents. “AB negative?”

“That was not easy to find,” Marcel shook his head.

“I believe it,” Elena smiled.

“Sophie sent some gumbo too,” Davina waved her hand, “it’s in one of the bags. She felt really bad about Monique locking us in the cottage.”

“Did you ever figure out why she did that?” Elena leaned into Kol’s side.

Davina shuffled her feet, lowering her eyes. Guilt prickled the back of her skull. “She… she wanted to trap me like I trapped her. She said she was going to let you out after a few hours.”

“Personally I have a little trouble believing that,” Marcel rolled his eyes.

“Personally I don’t really care anymore,” Elena shut her eyes, inhaling sharply. “I just want to get out of this house so I can attempt to disappear.”

“You know that won’t work, my love,” Kol murmured. “You heard Freya: her magic will be like a beacon.”

“Let me dream, Kol. Let me dream,” she sighed. She let go of the suitcase and reached for the cooler. “I’m going to go put this away, and glare at Klaus if he goes for the AB negative.”

Kol nodded, watching her go for a moment before turning back to the guests.

“How is she really?” Thierry frowned. “She said she hadn’t slept.”

“She hasn’t,” he shook his head. “She’s terrified, and I don’t know what to do to calm her down.”

“Because you’re freaking out too?” Davina guessed, crossing her arms.

“I believe I have a right to ‘freak out’, little witch,” his jaw ticked. He cursed under his breath when she turned. “Wait.”

“Why?” She tapped her foot on the sidewalk.

“Because,” he gritted his teeth, “I need your help.”

“Why would I help you?” Her blue eyes hardened.

“You’ll help me, so I can help her,” he smirked, nodding to where Elena had disappeared.

She glanced over his shoulder. “Fine,” she uncrossed her arms. “What do you want?”

“Lavender, smoky quartz and parchment.”

“Where am I supposed to find smoky quartz?” She frowned.

“There’s some at the Jardin Gris,” Thierry cleared his throat. “I can take you.”

“I thought that place was shut down.”

“I have a key,” he shoved his hands in his pockets. “We’ll be back in a half an hour.”

++++

“Where’d all of this come from?” Hayley slipped into the kitchen, surveying the multitude of bags. “People outside of this family actually like this family?”

“Don’t be ridiculous Hayley,” Kol unloaded a grocery bag; “people in this family don’t like this family. Elena is the only Original to inspire friendship wherever she goes.”

“I do not,” she stifled a yawn. Her tired eyes fell to Hope as Hayley moved towards the counter. “Hi,” she traced the baby’s tiny fist with her finger, “I thought you were napping.”

“She was,” Hayley carefully passed her daughter to Elena, “but then she woke up and decided she was hungry.”

A wrinkle appeared between Hope’s brows, and in that moment she was the image of her father; she made a displeased grunt and suckled at the pacifier.

“Do you get cranky when you’re hungry?” She cooed. “Thierry used to get really cranky when he was hungry.”

“She’s not a very cranky baby,” Hayley shook her head, reaching into the fridge for formula.

“Are you sure she’s Nik’s?” Kol flipped on the bottle warmer.

“I’m pretty sure,” Hayley rolled her eyes in the direction of the courtyard.

“Then she must get her temperament from you,” Elena managed a small smile for Hope.

Hayley’s loud laugh startled Hope into wiggling against Elena’s bump; the baby kicked up in response, to which Hope harrumphed and wiggled again.

“Okay,” amusement leaked through Elena’s weary voice, “somebody needs to take her; she’s started a shove off with her little cousin.”

“Ah,” Kol smirked, “so she is Nik’s.”

“Are you implying that I push people for no reason?” Klaus strode into the room and plucked Hope from Elena’s arms.

“I’m not implying anything,” Kol placed the last of the groceries in the fridge, “I’m saying it outright.”

Elena placed a hand on Kol’s chest, gently pushing him back a step and inserting herself between the brothers. She really wasn’t sure how they had survived the last two weeks in close quarters.

A piercing cry filled the kitchen, reminding her.

Hope was the reason the brothers had refrained from fighting and destroying the rest of the compound in the process. Hope and her; Klaus was busy taking care of his child and Kol had his hands full with her.

Hayley tested the bottle on her wrist and then passed it to Klaus.

Elena pulled a bag of blood from the fridge.

“Is that AB negative?” Klaus squinted at the label.

“Hands off,” she growled, opening the bag and taking a long pull.

“You’ll find my hands are full at the moment,” he looked down to where Hope suckled the bottle.

Elena was prepared with a smart retort, but the sudden arrival of the rest of the family held her tongue. She sipped her blood, tilting her head as Caroline gestured people towards the table.

Elena shrugged and sat in the chair Kol pulled out for her, knowing better than to ever argue with Caroline Forbes about anything; the woman could make a grown man cry before she possessed super strength.

“Was there something you wished to share, Caroline?” Finn leaned back in his chair. His brows lowered when she dropped the knife on the table.

“She developed a theory earlier,” Klaus shifted Hope onto his shoulder, rubbing her back.

“I think I know why this knife didn’t work,” Caroline leaned over the table, bracing her hands on the wood and turning toward Freya. “You used the wrong blood.”

“What are you talking about?” Freya frowned. “The spell required the blood of…”

“The witch who broke her heart,” Caroline finished. “Except, Dahlia’s heart was broken long before you came into the picture.”

Kol’s hand found Elena’s knee beneath the table.

“Who then?” His eyes flickered over his siblings faces. “How are we meant to solve a mystery from before we were born?”

“I believe that’s why she’s called us all here,” Rebekah rolled her eyes. “Go on, love.”

“I think the answer,” Caroline glanced towards Freya, “is in the rest of the spell.”

“Sacred soil?” Sage guessed, tilting her head.

“Ashes of her oppressors,” Caroline cocked an eyebrow.

“Viking ashes?” Finn’s eyes darted to his siblings.

“She was oppressed by Vikings, right?” Caroline tilted her head.

“She told me once that they murdered everyone in her village and made her use magic for them,” Freya nodded.

“Right,” she gestured with her hand to the witch. “Okay, so, she’s oppressed by Vikings to the point where their ashes become a weakness for her, and then her sister – arguably the last person she has left in the world – leaves her to marry a Viking – possibly one of the ones involved in the slaughter of her neighbors. Do any of you see where I’m going with this?”

“Mother?” Kol’s brows shot up. “To kill our aunt and save our children we need the blood of our mother?”

“Yes,” Caroline nodded.

“Our dead mother?” Kol’s heart slowed.

“Yes.”

“The woman we cremated?” Elena paled.

“Yes.”

“So there really is no hope,” Elijah glanced toward his niece as she was transferred to her mother’s embrace.

“Not necessarily,” Caroline folded her arms on the table.

“What do you mean ‘not necessarily’?” Freya threw up her hands. “It’s next to impossible to bring back the dead when they have earthly remains. There is no possible way we could get her blood now.”

Elena didn’t realize she was drinking the blood faster and faster until the bag was empty and she was sucking on air. She wanted to swear, scream and cry but there was a baby in the room; the bag crinkled in her hand.

“We are royally screwed,” she muttered.

“Wow,” Caroline snickered. “I honestly thought you’d catch on first.”

“What are you talking about?” Kol frowned.

Caroline shifted, watching the confused expressions of her fellow prisoners for a second before sighing.

“Seriously?” She shook her head. “Seriously, nobody? Nobody can think of a solution?” She waited a beat and then leaned over the table towards Elena. “I’m sure you remember how you two met… when you met…”

“When… oh…” Elena’s mouth popped open. “That’s…”

“Brilliant,” Kol finished. “That’s bloody brilliant.”

“I was gonna say dangerous,” Elena shook her head.

“Elena’s right,” Finn shook his head. “Mother lived a thousand years ago.”

“What about a few months?” Kol countered. “She was alive in Mystic Falls when I went in the coma.”

“We already manipulated time around that spot once,” she shook her head. “It was dangerous than and it would be a lot worse now. We can’t send someone back a few months; who knows what would happen to our present, or the fabric of reality for that matter, if someone is walking around with a perfect body double.”

“It’s one thing when it’s hours,” Finn added. “That’s what time manipulation spells were made for, but it’s another entirely when a longer span is in question.”

“Elena went back in time and everything was fine,” Elijah glanced at her.

“But I had nearly eighty years to work out a solution,” she shook her head. “I put myself in an enchanted sleep a few days before I was born so there was no chance of interfering with my human life.”

“Whoever went back would have to go to a time before they existed,” Freya pushed her hands through her hair. “And that leaves a very long stretch of time.”

“I could go,” Kol rubbed small circles on Elena’s thigh with his thumb.

“Are you crazy?” She grasped his wrist.

“That’s one of the many reasons you love me, darling,” he smirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“It’s a thousand years,” her nails dug into his skin. “You would be alone for a thousand years.”

“I did it once, I can survive it again,” he flipped his hand over, threading his fingers through hers. “I can make it through, as long as you’re both waiting here for me.”

“How were you planning on getting through those years, brother?” Finn cocked an eyebrow. “Elena had to put herself to sleep, but those spells won’t last more than twenty years – fifty if you’re lucky.”

“I’ll take a dagger…”

“The daggers that don’t work?” Klaus cocked an eyebrow. His eyes were glued on Hope’s waving arm.

“I can make one work, Nik,” he snapped.

“No, you can’t,” Elena crossed her arms, “because that kind of magic takes two witches and a diamond, and I’m not helping you do this.”

“Very well,” his expression darkened as he turned towards Freya.

“Don’t look at me,” she held up her hands. “Elena has that diamond locked up tight, and I’m honestly more afraid of her than I am of you.”

“Darling?” He turned back to Elena.

“No!”

“Do you see a better solution? Somebody has to go.”

“It’s a thousand years Kol,” she glared, “anything could happen! The dagger might not work. You could be lost. There is white oak back there; you could be killed!”

“There’s no other way. Do you think I want to go?”

“You volunteered fast enough,” her heart hammered.

Klaus glanced up as their voices rose, escalating to a full blown fight with the occasional input from one of the onlookers. He could understand why Finn wasn’t volunteering to take Kol’s place since he had spent so long under a dagger already. Freya would be the next best choice, but then they were back in the sleeping spell boat. Elijah and Rebekah were remaining quiet, likely trying to think of some other solution, and he stared at his gurgling daughter who despite everything remained oblivious to the chaos around her.

“I’ll go.”

The quiet settled over the room as disbelieving eyes settled on him.

“D… did I hear that right?” Caroline’s eyes were round.

“Yes, sweetheart,” he sighed, “I said I’ll go. There is a dagger that works on me, so there will be no need for magical experimentation, and I’m fairly certain not one of my siblings will object.”

Nobody did. He tried not to let that chafe.

“I’ll go back and retrieve mother’s blood, along with Viking ash and the sacred soil, and then put myself under the effects of the dagger. Is that acceptable Elena?” He turned toward the doppelganger.

She slowly unfolded her arms and rubbed a spot below her naval. After a moment she pressed her lips together and cleared her throat.

“It’s still a thousand years,” she ran her tongue over her teeth. “Anything could happen in a thousand years, and how would we get you back here?”

“What if he didn’t go alone?” Caroline’s fingers drummed over the table.

Elena’s eyes widened. “You can’t be serious?”

“Why not?” She shrugged. “I can make sure he stays out of trouble, and remains not lost. It’s a lot easier to account for two decades then ten centuries.”

“You’re willing to journey a thousand years into the past and spend those years avoiding anyone you know and carting around a coffin?” Disbelief flashed in Elijah’s eyes.

“What is with this family and coffins?” Elena groaned. “Can we step away from the freaking coffins? It’s morbid.”

“Do you have a better method for transporting a body quickly?” Klaus leaned back in his chair. “Believe me love, you get strange looks when you’re lugging around grey bodies.”

“Well, you would know,” she said the words with false cheer.

“I’m not crazy about the idea of carrying around a coffin,” Caroline interrupted before they could get going, “but Klaus has a point. There’s not really another method, ‘Lena.”

“It’s heavy, and awkward and morbid.” She scrubbed her hand over her face, bracing her elbows on the table. Her nail caught the chain of her necklace. “And you don’t know the language.”

“I could actually teach her that,” Klaus interjected, “provided we were sent far enough into the past.”

“It’s still a thousand years,” Elena shook her head, staring at the table before dragging her eyes up to Caroline. “You would be alone for a thousand years.”

“Were you alone?” Caroline countered. “You made friends and had a life, Elena. If you want my opinion I don’t think you were at risk of harming your present until you were born. I’ll be fine and bonus…” she grinned. “I’d come back physically stronger than everyone in this room, well…” her eyes flickered to Klaus, “almost everyone. Kind of wish I could get around that coffin bit though.”

“What if you could?” Elena bit her bottom lip.

++++

3 Weeks Later

Mystic Falls

++++

“Where is it?” He muttered again and again under his breath, agitation growing with each passing second.

He tore through trunk after trunk. Scattered clothes and mementos from decades gone by. Shook every book on the shelf and flipped through each of his journals.

“Where is it?” He rifled through the contents of his desk.

“Where is it?” He flipped the mattress.

Smoke wafted up, over his balcony and through the door. He paused in the middle of kicking the bed post, spinning towards the open air and running to lean over the railing.

“What are you doing?”

“What am I doing?” Damon’s face twisted. He took a long pull from the bottle of bourbon in his hand and gestured toward his little brother with a rectangle in his other hand. “What are you doing? It sounds like you’re tearing the house apart.”

“I’m looking for something,” he rolled his eyes. “Why are you burning silk?”

“It’s Katherine’s old dress,” Damon smirked tightly. “I’m getting rid of anything and everything that reminds me of Katherine Pierce and Elena Gilbert.”

“What did Elena ever do to you?” He could feel a headache coming on.

“Honestly, nothing,” Damon shrugged, “I’m just thinking it will be much better for my health if I’m not obsessed with her, and I don’t appear to be obsessed with her.”

“That’s an oddly smart choice for you,” Stefan frowned.

“I know right,” he smirked. “Just about to get rid of the last of it,” he lifted the thin object.

Stefan’s eyes widened, horror filling him from head to toe.

“Don’t,” he shouted, holding out his hand.

Damon froze with Katherine’s picture held over the fire, dangerously close to the flames. He looked from Stefan to the tintype and back.

“Don’t tell me you’ve still got a flame for Katherine,” Damon snickered. “Flame…” he laughed, waving the picture over the fire, “… get it.”

“Damon,” Stefan held out his hand. “It is very important that you move the tintype away from the fire right now.”

“This kind of behaviour’s not healthy, brother,” Damon smiled, warmed from the inside by the liquor.

“Damon,” Stefan groaned. “You are drunk, and not thinking straight.” He took a deep breath and slowly jumped over the rail, bending his knees to absorb the impact. “Give me the tintype,” he held out his hand, palm up.

“Why?” Damon frowned, leaning back on his heels.

“Because,” Stefan approached slowly, “twenty years ago I put a false back on it. There is something very important behind Katherine’s picture. Give me that and then you can burn the rest.”

Damon watched his brother for a moment and then abruptly pulled his arm to his body. He put his half empty bottle on the grass and opened the casing around the picture. Then he pried up the photograph from the false back, glancing up at Stefan as he did so. Inside he found a leather book just a little smaller than the picture, and so thin it couldn’t have held more than a page or two.

“You were tearing your room apart for this?” Damon held the book between his thumb and forefinger, tipping it back and forth over the fire for a good look. “What’s so special about it?”

“It’s a really long story,” Stefan beckoned with his fingers, “involving Caroline Forbes and Sheila Bennett.”

“Blondie?” Damon’s eyes shifted. “Isn’t she stuck in New Orleans with Elena?” He passed the book to Stefan.

“No,” he visibly relaxed with the leather in his hand. Flipping it open he sighed when he saw the pages. “She’s right here.”

Damon reclaimed his bourbon and took a healthy swig on the short walk to his brother’s side. His blue eyes clouded when he looked down into the book at the twin portraits. Caroline Forbes in high-waist jean shorts and a leather jacket stared back at him; mirroring her picture on the right was Klaus freaking Mikaelson with slightly longer curls that tumbled over his forehead and clothes straight out of a renaissance fair.

“What the heck is this?”

“Something Elena needs,” Stefan sighed.

“So this is actually them?” Damon spoke slowly, pointing to the pictures. “Elena did her freaky little witchy thing?”

“Yes.”

“I could have burned Klaus Mikaelson alive?” His eyes sparkled.

“Yes.”

“Can I still burn him alive?”

“No.”

“Come on, Stef,” Damon slung his arm around Stefan’s shoulders. “It’ll be fun. We can take Caroline out first.”

“No,” he sighed.

“Aw, come on,” he pouted, “it’s not like it would kill him.”

“No, Damon,” Stefan rolled his eyes. “The stuff Elena needs is with Klaus,” he slapped the small book shut and slipped it into his pocket. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they planned it that way in case you got a hold of it.”

He shrugged off his brother’s arm, turned and took off for his car.

“Where you going?”

“New Orleans,” he glanced back over his shoulder. “Are you coming?”

“No thank you,” Damon shuddered. “I’d like to go at least a decade before running into a Mikaelson if I can help it.”

“Do I want to know what happened in New Orleans?” Stefan opened the car door.

“I got on the wrong end of a psychopath,” Damon shrugged. He dropped the portrait of Katherine in the flames and watched as the edges curled up. “Kol’s the jealous type.”

Stefan checked his pockets ensuring he had his phone and wallet before sliding into the car and turning over the ignition. He rolled down the window.

“At least you’re learning.”

“Mm,” Damon grinned. He pointed from the fire to the house. “Would burning anything Katherine ever touched be too much?”

“Considering that Katherine’s had her hands on everything in that house – including you – I’m going to say yes,” Stefan rolled his eyes. “Don’t burn our home Damon.”

He put the car in drive and peeled out of the yard, dialing Alaric as he went; he picked up on the fourth ring.

“Hey, it’s me. Can you do me a favor and come keep an eye on Damon? There is a small chance he might try to burn down the Boarding House.”

“Should I bother asking why?”

@elejah-wonderland @elejahforever @eternityunicorn @morsmornte @fandomrulesall @xanderling @cry-btch @kol-and-elena-fanfiction @geekofmanyfandoms @xxbeckybeexx-blog

[maxbernini]

❌ for España (but I'm not sure who else there is to pick other than Miquel hahaha), ❌ for France, ✔️ for Wtfock!

thank you so much for asking!! apologies for how long this took!! 💖

❌ least favorite characters from:

skam españa: i answered this earlier with a mini theory that eskam doesn’t really have anyone to hate because the characters are either #1. people you’re supposed to like or #2. people you’re supposed to dislike (miquel, mama soto), or #3. people who are simply too irrelevant to expend any emotional energy on either way (and are thus mostly men). so i said ruben & cristian before since miquel seemed too easy but i’ll be honest: whilst i very much appreciate viri/hugo as the superior vagnus remake, the dilan/viri/hugo triangle soured my feelings for him and in general his character didn’t immediately grab me the way lucas or jorge did. but still. virgo rights!

skam france: okay i’ve already answered this with basile, charles, daphné and elu stans so let me take a moment to rant about thierry. the anger i felt when he slapped lola was unparalleled. it’s one of the worst parts of s6. like i didn’t LOVE him before that but it completely destroyed his character imo. beforehand he sucked but he was obviously a grieving husband somewhat trying and as a family unit they were making progress (the cemetery clip, literally a parallel to the funeral clip). i love stories about grief and i loved how, even with terrible writing, it was all kinda connected: he couldn’t step up so daphné did which triggered her ED, which connected to lola’s feelings of guilt and paralleled the tension from daphné informing their parents about her self-harm years earlier. and just :( there was potential! and then he slaps her! which destroys everything! because you can’t go back from that! not in three 20 min episodes!

and not to get too personal here but: i’m someone that’s forgiven familial physical abuse, however that forgiveness only came after years of work and healing from everyone involved. like i’m not saying he’s forever irredeemable because that’s up to the individual victim but also this isn’t real life, the show doesn’t exist in a vacuum, it was just thrown in there for drama, and this was not a story about lola’s healing process, it was about narratively punishing her and pushing her to rock bottom. they literally do not ever address it again? he doesn’t even offer a measly apology? she was more apologetic???

i actually got an ask on my main blog about it at the time and i think i’m more coherent there but tw for abuse apologism and victim blaming from the anon lol. (and this which is another small rant about how not only was it a terrible decision but also made no sense narratively) (when do things in skamfr ever make sense).

✔️ favorite characters from:

wtfock: this is hard because i’m honestly not that attached to anyone really but yasmina!!! queen of deserving better. i’ve said it before but even if s5 is yasmina’s and even if moyo is the s4 main over kato, a sana character not getting s4 will never sit right with me. idc if the order of the first 4 seasons are switched up, as long as those four - ESPECIALLY the sana - get their seasons first (although i care less when it comes to noora seasons bc most of them are terrible and i could do without lol). i also like jana and am sad to see her go although am also very “good for her!” @ femke. it’s a small thing but i like that jana had braces and i think it’s unrealistic that more skam characters don’t honestly. people who suffered through years of braces as a teenager and are now super pedantic about their teeth make some noise!

[elejahfanfic]

The Vampire Files/7

Fanfiction

Part 7

AU story with tvd/to characters, but also with many others from different fandoms like Nick Amaro _Law&Order svu, that I am borrowing here. And Joel Goran from Saving Hope etc.

Main pairing_ Nick Amaro and Elena Gilbert

Nick and Elena are FBI Agents investigating supernatural activities and homocide caused vampires and demons.

Expect witches, demons, vampires. Inspired by X-files, Twin Peaks, and many other shows

✽-( ˘▽˘ *:)/✽

tag_ @miguelsbrat​

* thanks for reading, xoxo ✺◟(*❛‿❛)◞✺

Back in the city, Elena took her phone and dialed Jenna.

"How is New Orleans?" Jenna said as she picked up the call.

"Bustling. What is the connection of a Bloodborn with the Harvest?" Elena asked without any innuendos.

"I can hear you are in a bar?! Why are you not having a normal drink? Talking of Bloodborn means you ditched Nick or he found something better to do?!"

"Jenna!!" Elena raised her voice, which meant I need answers now.

"I need to look. Get back to you in five" Jenna said and hung up.

She then dialled another number, a person she swore she would never call as long as she lived, but she was desperate.

"Hello Agent" a female voice said picking up.

"Tess." Elena uttered as a hello. The witch knew Elena needed something major if she had given her a call.

"Tell me all about the blood of a Bloodborne" Elena then asked.

The witch was quiet for a second, which meant something terrible was about to come out. Tessa then continued-

"To get the Spirit of the Ancient One! There are no Bloodborns- or?"

"Thank you" Elena said hanging up. “Damn!” Suddenly, all was clear. Davina Claire's death had nothing to do with any of the other cases. She now ran back to the hotel to fetch the SUV and get to the Bayou. Her phone rang. And the display showed Jenna and an unknown number simultaneously.

She answered the other number,"Agent Gilbert? This is Agent Stavros"

“What's up?"

"A cousin of Davina Claire's has come forward  with some new info"

"Listening" Elena said as she now got into the SUV and started the car.

Flashback Twin Peaks

A week after Elena and Dale Cooper had arrived. He had disappeared in the woods.

"He entered the Black Lodge again,” Elena said to Sheriff Harry,"and you cannot follow me in there"

"Tell me what I can do?"

"Nothing. Just wait for us here. I will do my best to get him back. And- this is really very important- whatever you hear and see- STAY WHERE YOU ARE. The evil in there will completely consume you."

Hawk Hill, once the deputy of the Twin Peaks sheriff's department now approached them.

"Angel Heart" the former Deputy said to Elena, who was startled a bit as he called her that and looked at the man slightly wide-eyed waiting to hear why he had come, handing her a bracelet,"this is for you"

Elena took it. And then walked through the trees and she vanished like she had entered some other alternative universe.

Agent Stavros now met Elena in the Bayou at the Pearl Cottage.

Agnes, the voodoo priestes and Jane-Anne now approached the two Agents.

"Why did you wait?," Dean blasted at Agnes,"you knew, didn't you?"

From the Agent’s behaviour, Elena quickly put together that Dean not only knew the woman, but he was close to Davina.

Agnes to explain that the evil spirits didn't allow her to act, and that she tried to save Davina from them. Dean stepped forward got hold of the woman by the neck shouting that she was not telling the truth. Elena jumped and pulled him away from the woman, telling him to calm down and get a  grip.

"This is not helping!"she gritted with her teeth staring into his eyes still holding him tight. He clenched his teeth and tried to collect himself. She could feel his heart wanting to jump right out of his chest with all the anger and pain it was harbouring. His eyes watered."She is dead because of them"

"I know. But now you have to," Elena shot a stern look at him,"remember that you are an Agent of the FBI!!"

Dean ripped himself out of Elena's grip walking away for a second to catch his breath and try and focus. This was not an easy night for any of them.

"Another Special Agent of the FBI, my partner was taken tonight. If you know anything about what is going to take place you have to speak now, before this gets any worse. You all are implicated in the murder of Davina Claire, but if something happens to my partner, thing can get really bad. Death row is knocking at your door."

Elena's phone was ringing again and she knew by the alert tone it was Jenna. She had to take the call.

"Something tells me things are really bad. I left the voice-mail with the data, but - something is not letting me rest, so-"Jenna said.

"Call you later, I am in the middle of something" Elena replied and hung up. At that very moment she could not speak to Jenna. The time was ticking. She looked at the big harvest moon, then at the women.

"Talk!" she said in a low but stern voice.

The voodoo priestess could see a flicker of darkness from Elena's eyes and all she had felt about her as she came out of the SUV now made her shiver slightly.

"Move lespri yo ap chèche pou ou (The spirits are looking for you)" the woman said to her.

Flashback

Twin Peaks, Black Lodge

Elena walked through a long  red curtain into the room with a strange black and white zigzag floor.

"Cooper" she called.

Suddenly there were strange hollow screams coming from everywhere. The light flickered as if the bulb was faulty. She walked across the room and through the red curtain yet again. It seemed like she was in the same room. But there were no screams anymore. Then Dale Cooper got through the red curtain from the opposite side. He looked at her and smirked at her and then went all serious.

"Let's rock."

"Oh, I don't think so!" Elena said and got hold of Cooper's neck. And then he screamed as if thousand banshees came bursting through him.

*

In the Bayou, Elena was losing her tether with the voodoo witch.

"Seriously, you telling me something I don't know!? And I really don't care at this very moment! There is a ritual right?"

Agnes nodded.

"Where exactly????" Elena asked narrowing her eyes at the woman.

The woman was now agitated and suddenly pleaded with Elena that she needed protection if she was going to divulge where the ritual was taking place.

"What is this? She is trying to make a deal?" Dean spat.

Elena gave him one of those looks that said not now. I know that you are hurt and you are not thinking straight and everything sucks right now, but we have to deal.

"You have a deal. You'll get protection." Elena said trying still to keep her calm- "now show me where it is!" Inside her, her heart was clumped up. All the images of Dale Cooper lying in the woods stone cold as she pulled him out of the Black Lodge, Jackson, as she found him lying lifeless by the river. She could not go through it again. Like in a haze she followed Agnes deep into the Bayou, not letting Dean go with them.

****

In Washington, DC

Rebekah called Caroline to come to her house. And as she waited for her friend, she tried once more to get hold of Marcel, but no one knew where he went.

Angrily, she tossed her phone on the sofa, running her hands nervously through her hair. How did life get so upside-down? she wondered.

Flashback A year ago

Marcel walked a blindfolded Rebekah into the apartment.

"Come on Rebekah laughingly pleaded her husband to be to take the blindfold off and show her the grand surprise he had prepared for her.

"Here" he said undoing the blindfold.

Rebekah looked at the place smiling from ear to ear, gasping with happiness, "You got it!!"

"This should have been the wedding present, but now it's my engagement present to you"

"To us!" Rebekah corrected him dearly walking around the lounge all happy then running to him wrapping her arms around his neck kissing him.

"I love you so much!" Marcel said dearly as they broke away from the kiss.

"Forever!" Rebekah said her eyes gleaming with happiness.

"Forever!" Marcel said placing another kiss on her lips.

Rebekah wiped away the tears brimming in her eyes, gazing out in the night. The buzz at the door broke her thoughts and she went to open the door. Caroline stormed in asking what was so urgent that she had to come immediately. Rebekah ushered her in.

"Something's not right. What now?" Caroline pressed on seating herself down on the sofa.

Rebekah sat down as well making a small mimic of a smile- "It's not that bad. It's actually good... but -"

"What?" Caroline was baffled.

"I am pregnant! It should be Marcel first I tell, but- I needed someone close to me"

"Oh, Bekah, this is great" Caroline now exclaimed relieved that it was not something dark.

"It is great," Rebekah smiled,"and I am happy, I really am. You know that I so wanted a baby, a family"

"Yes, I know." Caroline said full of empathy, and she also knew how much it pained her friend that it all came now when Marcel broke it all off.

"I can have the baby on my own. It will be so loved. I won't be the first, but I wanted us to be a proper family. It's not like we didn't love each other. The kidnapping changed him so much" Rebekah took a deep breath.

"He is not answering your calls?" Caroline then asked knowing Rebekah would have tried to get in touch with him.

"No. His phone is off. Not even going to voice mail. Nobody knows where he had gone. I feel that something is not right. I am so afraid that he would harm himself."

"We will find him!”Caroline reassured her friend."I know a very good PI Will Kinney"

"Why would I need a PI? He has maybe just switc hed his phone off." Rebekah was suddely in in disbelief.

"Mabybe” Carolie said,"but if you or Thierry don't hear from him - then try Will."

"I hope it doesn't come to this," Rebekah said and then looked at her belly," I still can't believe it”

"How far along are you?"

"12 weeks" Rebekah replied.

"Soo happy for you. I get to be aunty Caroline"

"Godmother. I know it's early, but I want you to be her godmother"

"Her?"

"I feel it's a her"Rebekah said.

"I'd love to be a Godmother" Caroline went all proud that she was bestowed with such special request.

*** In the Bayou, NOLA

Elena got into a small boat with Agnes. She didn't take her eyes off of the woman nor her helper, who was rowing the boat to the place of the ritual, which was to take place in a little while. She never trusted anyone like Agnes. In her experience deals made with those who dealt in dark magic could turn in a heartbeat and all would dimminish.

Strangely, the voodoo priestes now asked Elena to stop staring at her.

"What? I make you unconfortable?" Elena said with a ironic whiff in her tone.

"Ou gen dife nan je ou. (You have fire in your eyes). Eyes of thousand suns blazing." Agnes said.

Elena was told something like very similar like that once before and now narrowed her eyes at Agnes saying, "They can burn you alive, so I suggest you keep the end of your deal"

"Nan kou te chwazi a (Of course, chosen one)"

Flashback

The morning after the police found Davina's body

"Agnes, you have to help us," Jane- Anne came to the woman completely distressed,"what if they come for Monique?! I can't lose her"

"The spirits showed me the one with the heart of an angel with powers of great obifyo."

"Someone possess that great magic? If only I could get Sophie back"

"She gave up her witchraft," Agnes said,"but we will win this"

"I don't know. Look what happened to Davina"Jane-Anne said sadly.

Elena's feelings of despair were vanishing by the minute as it was apparent they were approaching the supposed place of the ritual. She had to focus even though her heart continued being in the state trepidation for Nick. They didn't have the greatest start and she treated him badly, but not because she wasn't respecting his efforts, on the contrary, she liked him. She liked him a lot. More than she thought she would. And if she found him dead her heart would explode. 

Flashback

A week or so after Elena got out of hospital.

One evening Nick came to her apartment announced. As Elena opened the door he put two boxes one on top of the other right in front of him saying,"They had this pie and I thought you could need some"

Elena smiled a little showing him in.

"And no talk of vampires or any supernatural occurrences"

"OMG. I should get monopoly out!?"Elena joked a little.

"I have not yet been beaten at monopoly!"

"Right! Be ready to have your ass whipped!" Elena went to look for the game.

Her heart was beating fast and she grabbed hold of Agnes, before she knocked Agnes' helper unconscious. She had already sensed two vampires near by. This was no time for pleasantries, and she dragged the priestess to the place lit up with torches.

"Tanpri chwazi yon sèl, pa fè m ' ale la (Please, chosen one, don't make me go there)" Agnes pleaded, clearly terrified of the creatures. Elena now looked at the woman with her eyes gleaming like amber.

"Go!" Elena then said to the old woman.

The woman was not clear if she meant it. Elena now shoved her back to the direction they came from. Whatever was to happen next Elena had to face it herself, she alone had to deal with whatever was coming. And to her horror she now saw Nick being dragged out of the cabin and taken to the ritual spot being pulled up by his legs on a tree. She could see that he was not conscious and that the blood was dripping from his neck.

She closed her for a split second, her blood roared with anger, flooding her heart.            

When the silence breaks with a thunderous roar Seasons change and I transform Oh oh oh, my heart is a storm When the time has come, I'll fly away On wings of a silver hurricane Eh eh eh, my heart is a storm My heart is a storm I shed the skin I need no more Reveal the colours I have never shown before And it spreads like particles of light Like particles of light You'll see me shimmering like crystals in the stars

My heart is a storm

The two vampires and the hybrid didn't see her coming and Elena's attack was like a unexpected storm, unstoppable and swift. Tossing the bodies in the depth of the Bayou waters, she ran back to her partner.    

Untying him, she slowly laid him down on the floor. She checked his wound. The bite was not deep. It was done purposely as they obviously needed it to drip slowly. She now pulled a small tube out of her jeans pocket and applied the ointment on the wound that had magical properties. It sealed the wound and as it got into his blood stream it acted like a booster and Nick opened his eyes, looking at her drowsily, transpiring a joyful so happy to see you.

"You will be fine" she whispered to him taking him up under her arm and they walked to the boat.

_to be continued

****

[itsstickball]

Could you do a prompt about Jean going back to see his parents? I’ve always wondered what he would do!

I have lots of feelings about Jean, so this got really long. Most of it is under the cut, but really the only things you need to know is that I created a summer professional Exy league in Europe and Jean, Jeremy and Neil are all playing in Lyon, France. (All conversations are in French unless otherwise specified)

It’s been seven years since he left Evermore.

Twelve years since he last set foot on French soil.

It’s…disorienting.

The steady stream of French that washed over him as they stepped off their plane and into the CDG terminal calmed the apprehension Jean hadn’t noticed growing in him until that point.  Whatever reservations he had about joining the Euro league and playing for Lyon faded away. He was one of the best backliners in professional Exy, and France was his homeland.

Seven years was a lot of time to recover from the damage done to him by Riko and the Master, but that didn’t mean Jean’s version of friendliness was the same as the other players who’d flown with them across the ocean. He nodded or waved in acknowledgment as the majority of them dispersed to catch connecting flights or trains to other parts of the continent until it was only himself, Jeremy, and Neil Josten.

“The manager says there’s a car waiting for us at the South pickup.”

Jeremy informed them in English, breaking Jean out of his reverie. He smiled back at the striker and gestured for him to lead on. The motion earned him a blinding grin from Jeremy and a raised eyebrow from Josten. He likes to think he’s grown a lot as a person since the last time they played together on a team, but it’s second nature to roll his eyes. Josten must be thinking along the same lines because he just answers with a grin full of mischief and good humor.

Jean didn’t necessarily want to go see his parents, but they were playing in France, there’s a full week between games, and somehow Neil and Jeremy double teamed him (though with very different sets of intentions). Jeremy has always wanted good things for him, even if that means pushing him into potentially uncomfortable situations.

“What happens when we go home and you regret not taking the chance for reconciliation?”

He asked. Jeremy was safer not knowing the full extent of Jean’s leash to the Moriyamas, but he was intelligent to take note of the extra hoops he’d had to jump through just to play in the summer league. They both knew this might be the only time Jean got to be in France in a long time.

Jean doesn’t know how to tell his boyfriend that he probably won’t ever be able to forgive his parents – that he was long past needing or wanting them in his life.

“I’ll think about it.”

Jeremy looked like he wanted to say more, but pressed his lips together and nodded. That patience, the willingness to wait and accept his decisions, it was one of Jean’s favorite things about him.

In the end, Neil’s the one to convince him.

The short man didn’t smoke, not without his goalie, but Jean noticed in the few weeks they’d shared and apartment that he’d take a cigarette and just let it burn away in front of him on the balcony. The habit often coincided with Jean’s evening coffee, and they usually shared the time in relative silence.

“I disagree with Jeremy.”

Neil said once they’d both settled in for a minute or so. Though proposed out of the blue, the statement wasn’t all that odd. On the court, he had a great deal of respect and cooperation with his fellow striker, but the two had very different views on the world outside of it. It was perhaps strange that he seemed rather contemplative about this disagreement, but that could be attributed to the setting.

Jean prompted him to continue with a hum.

“I think reconciliation if too weak of a thing to hope for.”

Jean turned towards him at that, interested to hear his own thoughts echoed back so clearly. His interest furthered when Neil continued, but refrained from looking back at him.

“But, I think you should still go.”

An angrier, more raw Jean would have snapped back, huffed out his anger and then belittled the red-head for trying to understand him. Currently, Jean just took another drink of his coffee and waited. Sure enough, Josten continued, staring at the burning ember of his untouched cigarette like it held the key to the universe.

“If my mother were alive, she’d be furious with me. Everything she did was to keep me away from my father, but in the end, it hadn’t mattered. If she were here, I’d want her to look and see what became of me. I’d want her to know that I broke every one of her rules and still made it out on the other side – because I didn’t need them anymore. Before, we just survived, but now, I’m living and it has nothing to do with her.”

He went because, well, mostly because he misses Marseilles. He’s not fully healed or willing to forgive, but Neil was right. He deserved some damn closure – to be able to look his parents in the eyes and say “this is what you did to me” to be able to walk away and say “you put me through hell, but I found my way out of it.” He wanted to see his sister; to know that she, at least, got the normal life he’d been torn from.

Despite his relationship with Jeremy, Neil is the one he takes with him. As much of an asshole and a pain in his side the petit striker continues to be, Jean knows he won’t ask questions – won’t pry in an attempt to help Jean. And sure enough, he’s silent almost he whole train ride, only speaking to be an asshole about their lunch choice or point out Exy posters.

It turns out to be a good thing, having Josten with him.

He probably should have thought beforehand how unlikely it would be that his parents still lived in their little rundown apartment. Neil lets Jean take the place in silently, however and takes over interrogating the neighbors to try and find out where the Moreaus went. He follows the various leads across town while Jean stares at the city he grew up in, cataloguing what has and hasn’t changed. The crime was still heavily prevalent, multiple knives and guns flashed at Neil during their search, but he never flinched away. He found the pockets of good were still there too, though. Little sail boats dot the coast as they ride the bus alongside it, a corner bakery employee hands out free samples to children, a group of teenagers giggle until one of them asks him and Neil for their autographs.

The city was a soothing lull until Neil stoppped walking abruptly in front of him. Jean almost collided with him out of spite, but he doubted the middle-age woman working on the small flower garden on her porch would have appreciated the tussling that would have followed. Instead, he adjusted his stride to step up beside the short man just as he called out to that neighbor.

“Pardon moi, do the Moreaus happen to still live here?”

He asked, his accent having melded near perfectly over the course of the afternoon to fit the natural speakers, whereas he’d been imitating the Lyonnais for the past several weeks.

“Ah, oui.” The woman responded, nodding her head towards the stoop they had halted in front of. “Why do you ask?”

Jean didn’t know if it was a natural proclivity to suspicion or if his parents still hadn’t rid themselves of the habit of getting into business with unsavory people, but Josten smiled and waved his hand at her regardless, making up some story complaining about being given and incorrect address. It was only half-false and the woman seemed to relax.

He thanked her and then led the way up to the door. Neil came to stand a few steps behind, there for support, but not hovering. When he knocked, it was his father who opened the door.

“Jean?”

He took a moment to wonder bitterly if the man recognized him because they shared the same facial structure or if his parents had followed his story in the news. The older Moreau’s expression shuttered slightly when his gaze landed on the three tattooed into his cheek and then flitted anxiously back to Neil.

“Uh, come in, come in! Let me get your mother.”

He seemed to remember enough of himself to offer them a seat and some water. Neil accepted both, picking the armchair furthest from the others and then immediately pulling out his phone. Ordinarily, Jean would have snorted, but he appreciated the semblance of privacy.

Jean still stood when he heard his mother’s footsteps and voice coming down the hall.

“Thierry? What is it? Do we have visit- oh.”

The backliner stayed put until his mother ran out of words and steps. Only then did he tear his gaze away from the scattering of pictures on the mantle – from the small frame in the corner that showed a grinning boy holding his first Exy racquet. As he turned, the whole room seemed to fall silent.

“Hello mother.”

The words sounded odd and formal in his mouth. For a moment, he was thrown back into a media room with red and black walls a smiling psychopath breathing down his neck – ready to pounce should he misspeak. He blinked slowly washing the memory from his mind. Riko was dead.

Riko was dead and he was here.

“Je-Jean?”

His mother stuttered, lifting a hand to her mouth. Where his father had been quietly accepting, pale and meek, Nadine Moreau was all emotion. He had her to thank for his complexion and his stubbornness. He remembered that she hadn’t gone with them to the airport, but that she’d cried in his doorway the night before when he’d been pretending to sleep. He’d thought she was proud and scared that he would be playing across the ocean. He had no idea of the horror that she’d sold him into to remove her husband’s debt.

“Are you -. You’re.” She stopped and started. Jean waited for the words “I’m sorry” to come, hoping silently despite what his heart and Neil had told him. When they never arrived, and the awkward silence of his mother trying to find words as her gaze skittered across his face and frame, and his father not even doing that, Jean put them all out of their misery.

“We’re here for the summer league, playing in Lyon.” He explained, motioning politely towards Neil. “This is my teammate.”

He saw the questions flit across his mother’s face once more. Was this another boy condemned by the mistakes of his father? Turned into a champion by the horrible machine  of abuse at Evermore? Neither player moved to explain themselves or their scars – though Neil had most of the ones on his arms covered by armbands anyway. The striker did offer a polite hello before going back to his phone.

When neither parent offered anything of value, Jean continued.

“We won’t be able to stay,” He said, no regret coloring his voice. “But a friend convinced me it would have been rude not to stop by.”

At that, Neil did snort behind him – though Jean didn’t know if it was at the return of his on-court arrogance, or the oversimplification of their conversation and his conversation with Jeremy. He found he didn’t care much – though it did help to snap him out of the awkwardness that had permeated the room.

“Well,” His mother said, sad but accommodating. “We don’t want to keep you if you have other places to be. I’m sorry Amelie wasn’t here to say hello, she’s out at the university most days.”

Her words were bland, but Jean saw in her eyes that she understood that she had no right to keep him, even if she still wanted to. His father’s eyes, as he escorted them back to the door, were as blank and numb as ever. Jean almost thought, in a quiet flash of anger, to ask if they’d replaced his heart with a machine yet. Instead, he allowed his mother to place a gentle hand on his shoulder and followed Josten out the door.

“Where are you going?” He called when he saw that the striker wasn’t headed back towards the bus stop they’d come from.

“To the university.”

Neil called over his shoulder without slowing down. Jean muttered about tiny assholes and lengthened his stride to catch up. When he was once more walking beside the red-head, Josten pocketed his phone and pulled out something else to hand over to Jean.

“What -?” He stopped himself when he saw that the small slip of paper was a picture. A picture of him and Amelie. “You stole this?” He tried to sound indignant.

Neil just shrugged.

“They have about twenty, I figured they could spare one for you.”

He did not thank the shorter man. But the striker didn’t comment on the way his eyes traced the photo of the two young children reverently either, so Jean figured they were even.

The university was apparently close enough that they could walk to it, though it was definitely well into the afternoon due to their circuitous trip to find his parents’ house. Still, Neil led on, occasionally checking the map on his phone until they stood on the edge of the school’s practice football fields. Jean didn’t bother to ask how Neil knew to go there, he’d seen the picture of Amelie proudly displayed in his parents’ front hall, holding a football and an acceptance letter.

They stood there quietly at the edge of the grass, watching the girls dribble, pass and shoot the ball around. Neil seemed content to ignore him until the players took a water break, and even when he spoke, there was no real judgment in his voice.

“So how much longer are we going to stand here watching?” Okay, maybe there was a little judgment, but it seemed to stem more from amusement and boredom than anything. “Jeremy wants to know what time we’ll be back.”

He tacked on more seriously, showing Jean the text on his phone. Neither of them commented on the fact that it was time-stamped twenty minutes ago. Jean let out a huff and steeled himself to walk over to the group of women. Neil followed until they got to the bleachers and then made himself comfortable on one of the benches. Jean stopped awkwardly several feet away, drawing glances and a few whispers from the closer players. He turned to look back at Neil, suddenly unsure of himself. By either miracle, or design, the striker was already watching him. Less of a help was the single-finger salute he gave in return.

Still, it made him turn around and take the remaining few steps.

“Uh, sorry to interrupt. Is Amelie here?”

He asked, trying to sound pleasant for once in his life. A few of the girls looked at him weirdly, which given his imposing stature, strange tattoo and scars was fair. But ultimately, they called out her name and Jean caught himself craning to try and get a look at the woman his sister had become.

She was laughing and breathless, jostling her teammates as she stepped up to join them.

“What’s up?”

He knew he was standing there staring for longer than was probably polite, trying to take her in and fight down the urge to wring his hand. It was getting to the point where Amelie’s friends had told her he had asked for her and the silence had stretched to become quietly awkward. It had been so much easier with his parents, whom he hadn’t expected anything from. But now, with his sister, he felt like he was standing on the edge of a chasm, with no way to see the bottom.

“Do I know –“

“Sometime today, please, Moreau! I want to watch Kevin’s dreams for the Sharks die in real-time.”

Jean whipped his head around to glare at Neil, who didn’t even have the decency to look up from his phone to catch it. He’d spoken in English, but names translated regardless of their context and the use of his brought a reaction from the footballers. The girls around Amelie bristled, having clearly not liked that some strange, foreign man knew their friend’s name. Jean’s sister looked pensive, however, when he turned back to face them. It soothed some of the anger and panic that had boiled to the surface with Josten’s intervention and allowed him to calmly bear the weight of her gaze.

She seemed to take a deeper look this time, not just mildly interested, but actually searching. After a moment, she stepped away from her friends and reached up towards his hairline, for a notch in the pattern that had existed long before evermore.

“Jean?”

She said questioningly, like she didn’t dare believe it.

He swallowed, his mouth dry with emotion at the gentle brush of her fingers against his childhood scar.

“You kicked me in the head with your cleats, jumping off that swing.” He said in confirmation, the corners of his lips turning up just slightly at the memory of that day. Their shape became more mischievous as she pulled her hand back.

“I’m not quite sure I’ve forgiven you for it, yet.”

“Oh my god! Jean!”

Where shock had barely touched his father and had rendered his mother motionless, it spurred Amelie forward until she practically tackled him. The force probably would have taken them to the ground if Jean hadn’t had years of practice bracing against much more determined assailants.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” She said into his t-shirt. “How?”

She pulled away, just enough to look up at him.

“How are you here? They said you wouldn’t be coming back.”

“I didn’t think I’d ever be able to.” He said honestly, rubbing a hand over the spot between her shoulder blades, uncaring of the sweat stains. “I wasn’t supposed to, but,” He glanced back at Neil. “Some friends helped me find a way.”

Amelie couldn’t talk for long, they were actually practicing for an upcoming summer tournament, but it was…nice. He shooed her off with another hug and his phone number. She texted him before returning to the field. Jean heard the crunch of Neil walking through the grass to join him as he stared down at the message.

[hey big bro! I know you said you’re busy, but maybe I can visit you before you go back to the states? Go to one of those fancy games of yours or something?

“Ready?”

Neil asked once he looked back up, gesturing in the direction Jean presumed there was a bus stop.

“Yeah.”

He said, a small smile pulling at his face. The day hadn’t gone at all like he’d thought it would, but maybe there was room for both Jeremy and Neil to be right. His parents had no bearing on his life now, no place in his heart – but maybe he could carve out a little room for his sister.