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XXXV - THEY ALL ASKED FOR YOU


   Some time passed after the wedding, and Elijah and Audrey had moved into an apartment in the Algiers. The loft was the perfect size for them, and had another room they could prepare for when they baby was born. Though, not everything about their move had been smooth sailing, as Klaus didn't take the news well. Hayley wasn't exactly thrilled either when Audrey told her, but she was taking it a lot better than Klaus was, which was causing bickering between him and Elijah.

   "Enough already with the family squabbling!" Rebekah said in annoyance, as the four were on a call that morning. Audrey sat on the stairs, quietly eating the bowl of fruit she'd been craving, as Elijah put his suits away onto the clothing rack. "Come on, Nik! Even you can see that the situation has become awkward!"

   "There's nothing awkward about it!" Klaus refused stubbornly. "Hayley and Hope belong in the compound where they are safe. As much as I would like Elijah's help to kill Finn, if his delicate sensibilities are offended by the presence of Hayley's pack, then he and Audrey are welcome to continue sulking across the river."

   Audrey rolled her eyes at his words. "It's like everything we said to you just went in one ear and out the other."

   "And yet another thing." Klaus continued, ignoring her words. "The compound is where Audrey belongs, where she'd be safe, under the protection of the pack as well!"

   Elijah made a face of annoyance. "As I have explained to you repeatedly, brother, my presence here in Algiers is purely to assemble allies to protect both our children. And given all the enemies we have afoot in the form of wayward siblings and ancient, maniacal aunt Dahlias, I would think that you would applaud my efforts."

   "Well, if it's my applause you seek, you shouldn't have dashed off in a bloody huff!" Klaus shot back mockingly.

   Rebekah let out a deep sigh. "Alright, can you two at least try and stay focused on what's best for the children's safety?"

   Elijah smiled in disbelief. "I would like nothing more!"

   "I am doing exactly that!" Klaus said firmly.

   "See? Your on the same team." Rebekah spoke calmly, and Audrey smiled as she heard the patronizing tone in her voice. "Conflict solved, crisis averted."

   Klaus simply huffed again and hung up, and Rebekah just scoffed and hung up herself, the phone going dead on the couple. "Well, that went well." Audrey mused, earning a snicker from Elijah as he sent her a look. "What? It did." She said innocently. "He didn't resort to threats or violence."

   "Oh, yes, how foolish of me." He nodded, as he helped her to her feet. "My brother has clearly became the epitome of mature man."

   Audrey's grin grew, leaning in and pecking his lips softly. "Clearly." She mumbled as she slowly pulled away. "I going to go shower." She raised a brow at him. "Coming?"

   Elijah's lips twitched into a smirk, lacing their fingers together as he kissed the top of her hands. "My love, if I ever answer no to that question, I recommend you be worried as there is clearly something very wrong with me."

   Giggling, she let go of his hands and walked ahead toward their bathroom, and Elijah lingered where he was as he just watched her a moment. Her voice calling his name snapped him out of his thoughts, and Elijah followed after her, closing the bathroom door behind him. Their otherwise peaceful morning had been interrupted shortly after, when they got another call from Rebekah, telling them she'd been attacked at Treme witches. Thankfully, Marcel had intervened before they could do any serious damage, and gotten her away from the market to safety.

   "Are you alright?" Elijah asked worriedly, as he and Audrey made their way into Marcel's loft.

   "Barely." Rebekah sighed as she walked over to them, Marcel pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "The attackers knew me, Elijah. Not me-me, but--" She gestured to her new body. "--this. Her. Whoever she is..." She looked at the couple anxiously. "They want her dead."

   Elijah frowned at this, unimpressed as he walked toward Marcel. "Then we find them and show them why their anger is unwise."

   "You don't want to mess with that crowd, alright?" Marcel shook his head at the idea. "We want answers, we need to ask Josephine LaRue. She serves as matriarch to covens outside the Quarter. She'll know who wants Rebekah dead."

   Audrey looked at him curiously. "How'd you know?"

   "She bankrolls Fauline cottage." He admitted, earning a look of surprise from the three. He focused his gaze onto Rebekah. "She'll know who you are and why you were locked up in there."

   "And what is she wants to lock me right back up?" Rebekah shot back, shaking her head quickly. "I won't go back to that horrid place--"

   "The two of you go and see what you can find about this body you now possess." Elijah cut her off. "Audrey and I shall pay a visit to Josephine." He then gently cups Rebekah's face in his hands. "A warning-- you are not who you once were. This body is all too vulnerable."

   Rebekah rolled her eyes in frustration, as Elijah took Audrey's hand and headed for the door. "Elijah." Marcel called, causing them to stop and look at him. "Josephine is an eccentric old bat with no love for vampires. Your charms may not work as well as you think."

   "My charms are quite adaptable, Marcellus, I may assure you."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   After doing some research into Josephine, Elijah had a plan to try and win her over in their favor. It appeared it might work, when the offer he made her got them a meeting later that day, but the couple were going to need Gia's help to pull it off.  Which is why she sat on the couch beside Audrey, after being called over to the loft to talk it through, carefully placing her violin back into it's case. 

   "Can't we just bring wine?" Gia offered, Elijah glancing at her through the file of papers he was looking through. "Or coffee cake? Bundt cake? Any kind of cake?"

   "From what I can gather, Ms. LaRue was something of a musical prodigy in her youth." Elijah informed her. "However, in her heart is the music she loves the most--" He passes her several pieces of paper. "Beethoven's Sonata No. 9, Opus 47."

   Gia glanced at the sheet music, an unimpressed frown filling her lips. "How about I bring my laptop, speakers, and a drum beat?"

   "Gia." Audrey gave her a gentle look, earning a small huffed sigh in response. 

   "I promise, your performance is what will open the door for us." Elijah stated confidently. "If this fails, the life of someone I care for deeply will be in jeopardy, and that will displease me immensely." Snapping his fingers, he pointed in the direction of the door. "Shall we move, please?"

   "You're doing that rude thing again." Audrey hummed, giving him a look. 

   "No." Gia refused as he paused. "Why don't you make all our lives easier and just compel someone from the symphony?"

   "Because." The Gilbert girl gave her a serious look. "No one that could be compelled from the symphony would be as good as you." She told her wholeheartedly, making Gia's face soften at her words. 

   "My love is right." Elijah agreed honestly, before letting out a sigh. "Unfortunately Ms. LaRue despises vampires, so we need to show her that our community is comprised of a different breed." He sends her a wink. "With a new sophistication."

   "Sophistication, huh?" The young vampire smiled knowingly. "I suppose you want me in a dress?" 

   Elijah smirked and nodded to Audrey, who held up a dress bag she'd had placed on the arm chair beside her. "We should adapt to our audience, yes."

   "And you? Dark suit on the left side of your closet? Or--" She lets out a mocking gasp. "--identical dark suit on the right?"

   Audrey bit her lip to stop herself snickering, as Elijah's amused smirk grew. "I prefer the one in the middle, thank you so much."

   Gia rolled her eyes and looked at Audrey. "Have you tried to mess his life up at all?"

   "One battle at a time, Gia." She got to her feet, pulling the vampire up and tugging her to follow her, clutching the dress bag in her hands. "I'm starting by getting him to lighten his handkerchief color, then we'll move onto the suits."

   Elijah merely shook his head, as the two girls disappeared into the bedroom, Audrey helping Gia get ready for the meeting ahead of them. Soon enough, she Gia in a deep purple dress and black heels, her hair curled and pinned up. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she frowned. "I look ridiculous."

   "Adapting to our audience." Audrey reminded her, handing her a simple black coat to place over the top. "And you look fine."

   "Ridiculous." Gia said bluntly, shaking her head. "But I guess sophisticated."

   Audrey simply patted her shoulders from behind. "One meeting and hopefully, we won't ever have to ask this of you again." 

   Gia glanced over her shoulder at her. "I'd hold you to that, but I'm learning I probably shouldn't get my hopes up." Audrey just sent her an innocent smile, and Gia rolled her eyes for what felt like the millionth time, but smiled tightly. "Alright, let's go charm this witch."

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   Inside the LaRue mansion, Elijah and Audrey both sat in seats either side of Josephine LaRue, as they listened to Gia perform the piece prepared. Josephine was silent and expressionless, as she watched Gia carefully, who was concentrating on her music. When the piece comes to an end, Gia lowered her violin to her side, looking toward Josephine nervously.

   "You are as calculating as I've heard, Mr. Mikaelson." Josephine commented, saying nothing to Gia as she turned toward Elijah. "Having your companion play the very piece I once performed to great acclaim."

   Gia glanced at Audrey uncomfortably, who gave her a reassuring look, as Elijah smiled at Josephine politely. "Is it not also a piece that you enjoy?"

   "It's best not to insult those more powerful than you, which is the only reason I allowed you into my home." The elderly witch warned. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have many things to do."

   Despite her attitude, Elijah remained calm and polite as he smiled at her. "My goodness, I have expected a more cordial welcome here."

   "And why would I be cordial to you?" She asked, giving him a look that kept him from saying anything else. "Since your family has returned to this city, our Elders have been murdered. Promising young witches have been inhabited against their will." 

   "I can put an end to all of that." He assured her.

   "With all due respect, I can believe that... as much as I believe I will play my violin again someday." She looked down at her hands, which rested shaking and swollen in her lap. "Because, Mr. Mikaelson, beneath your formal attire, and behind the lovely Beethoven--" She nods her head to Gia. "-- you are all the same. Liars. Monsters wearing the skins of humans. Good day to you all."

   "With all due respect, Ms. LaRue, you're hardly giving them a chance." Audrey finally spoke up, crossing her arms.

   Josephine turned to her, glancing her up and down. "And I shan't listen to you either, my dear. See, while you may be human, you are still one of them. A Mikaelson, and eventually, you'll end up just like them."

   Elijah frowned deeply at that. "Ms. LaRue, we needn't be unpleasant."

   "I hold no animosity, nor do I want to do you any favors." Josephine told him simply. "I simply want you to leave my home."

   "Screw her, Elijah." Gia glared at the woman in frustration. "I don't see a frigging crown on her head."

   The LaRue woman looked shocked at her outburst. "I beg your pardon?"

   "You're not the Queen of the witches. You don't speak for all of them." She sighs. "You know, I can't believe I dressed up and learned how to play Beethoven. I hate Beethoven."

   Josephine looked almost amused. "And what do you like, young lady, if not for Beethoven? Then, what?" Gia cleared her throat and said nothing, lifting her violin up once more and began to play a much more upbeat piece. Elijah and Audrey glanced at one another behind Josephine's back, smiling knowing smiles as they listened, as Josephine just stares and listens in awe and surprise.  "Eddie South. That makes you a true jazz girl." She noted when Gia finished. 

   "You know Eddie South?" The vampire gave her an incredulous look. 

   "One time, I nearly eloped with a jazz musician." She admitted, frowning. "Um, my mother learned of my plans, and..." She looked down at her hands once again. "Let's just say she wasn't pleased." Gia looks at her sympathetically. "Your candor is refreshing. I find most vampires more calculating." She turns to Elijah with an apologetic look. "No offense."

   He simply smiled. "None taken.  I also, on occasion, admire her candor. I know Audrey does also."

   Josephine smirked, impressed. "They have great taste." 

   "They're also people you can trust." Gia told her seriously, glancing from the couple to Josephine. "And I say that as somebody who doesn't trust easily. Or, at all, really."

   Josephine considered her words, before taking a deep breath, and turning to look at the Mikaelson man once again. "I suppose I should just hear you out, Mr. Mikaelson."

   "One of the witches that escaped the Fauline cottage is of particular importance to my family." He began to explain, a butler very quickly handing him a pile of files to look through. "My request to you-- tell your people to leave her to me."

   "You have no idea how dangerous these witches can be." Josephine warned him. 

   "She will cause no further trouble, I can assure you of that." He told her. "In return, I shall find all of the remaining witches and deliver them back to you safely." After flipping through each of the files for a moment, he stops one he finally finds the one holding a picture of Rebekah's new body, and passed it over to Josephine. "Consider this the first step in a new and mutually beneficial alliance."

   "Eva Sinclair." Josephine spoke in surprise as she read the file. "Powerful and sadistic. If I am to relinquish someone like her into your custody, I will require someone equally powerful in return." Elijah looks at her expectantly. "The Tremé Coven wants Vincent Griffith returned. How you expel your brother Finn from his body is your concern."

   "Consider it done."












I know this is probably shorter then what everyone expected, but I decided to save Audrey meeting Freya until next chapter instead of this one, purely because next episode is a lot more Freya based. Not a lot exciting happened in this episode, but I think it was okay for what it was. 

Next chapter, Audrey, Elijah, Klaus, and Rebekah learn more about Freya and her past with Dahlia. 

I hope you all enjoyed! 

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