•A Take Over•

Klaus, Elijah and Jackson started their plan to get the stones for moonlight rings while Aphrena and Hayley stayed at the compound.

Aphrena sat in her bedroom with Hayley the former laying down staring up at the ceiling with her feet towards her pillows while Hayley sat up against the headboard and stared down at her older sister.

"Have you decided on any names for the baby yet?" Aphrena asked Hayley curiously. She had thought of some name herself

"I've thought of a few. But Klaus and I haven't decided yet." Hayley informed her.

"Well what are they?"

"Zoey or Caitlin or Angela."

"Those are really beautiful names," Aphrena said. "Whatever you choose will be perfect for her no doubt."

"What about you? Have you and Elijah talked over names?"

Aphrena turned on her side and propped her head on her hand. "Yeah but I won't tell you just yet." She smiled cheekily. "Woah!" She exclaimed in surprise.

"Are you alright?" Hayley asked worriedly as she moved closer to her sister in worry.

Aphrena nodded and she chuckled, she placed her hand on her stomach and softly rubbed it. "She's been really hyper these past few days. She really likes when her father is mentioned to. It's adorably painful."

Hayley laughed at her sisters expense and leaned back against the headboard.

"I'm sure she is excited to meet her mom as well. Because her mother is one of the most amazing people she'll ever meet. And I'm lucky enough to call her my sister," she said honestly.

•••

"Yes, brother, what is it?" Klaus asked over the phone.

"It appears our wolves have gone astray, brother," Elijah told him.

"They should have been back hours ago." Aphrena butted in anxiously. "Somethings wrong."

"We need to find them." Hayley added.

"Well, that might be a bit tricky," Klaus said sounding distant. "You see, we've located their car on a back road in the middle of nowhere. I suspect they've been shanghai'd."

"And you didn't feel the need to share this information?" Elijah asked Klaus annoyed.

"It was my intention to present you with a problem only after I had found an appropriate solution." Klaus retorted.

"Do enlighten us." Elijah urged him.

"I'm closing in on it as we speak," he said. "The only person who would be bold enough to snatch my wolf allies is the one who has the most to lose."

Elijah sighed. "Marcel."

"No, he'll kill them!" Hayley yelled with wide eyes.

"Genevieve assures me that Marcel has procured a cloaking spell. The only witch who will aid Marcel is Davina. I just need to get one last bit of leverage before I pay her a visit." Klaus informed them. "And there it is."

•••

Aphrena sat down on a chair rubbing her belly in comforting circles while Hayley paced around the nursery, worrying about their current problems while Genevieve sat down watching over the pregnant twins.

"Elijah should have called by now," Aphrena said. She had been worrying non stop since he left and the pacing was making her nauseous so she sat down and tried to soothe her stomach instead.

"Worrying isn't going to help. Hayley you should sit down, try to keep calm." The red-head suggested.

Hayley frowned at her suggestion and narrowed her eyes into slits at the woman. "What are you, now, magician slash zen-life-coach?"

"The treatment of pregnant women has advanced remarkably since I was a nurse, but even I know high blood pressure is bad for you, and your babies." Hayley sighed and sat down in the chair next to Aphrena. "Especially now, since you're both so close to term."

"I hate this. I feel completely useless. It's not my thing." The doppelgänger told the woman as she crossed her arms over her enlarged chest.

"Don't you get it? You two are the point of all this. Klaus and Elijah running all over town?" Genevieve sighed. "It's all for you two. I'm a bit envious."

"Great. Aren't we just lucky?" Aphrena asked as she tapped her foot up and down impatiently.

"Is there anything I can get either of you?" Genevieve asked trying to change the subject.

"How about a moonlight ring?" Hayley suggested.

Genevieve chuckled. "The spell can't be performed until the full moon reaches its apex. And, of course, I need the stones, which will be here soon enough. Have a little faith!"

Aphrena wasn't convinced, so she got up and walked away to call her mate.

"Impeccable timing," he said as he answered.

"What's going on?" She asked with furrowed brows. "Are you guys okay? What about Jack?"

"Jackson is fine. He's...a little tied up right now. Can we call you back?" Klaus sniggered at Elijah's joke.

"Oh, that doesn't bode well." Klaus muttered in the background.

"Are you trying to kill us?" She heard Jackson ask angrily.

"Elijah, tell me what's going on, now!" She ordered as her heart sped up a little in worry.

She doesn't get an answer and instead she heard an explosion before the line cut.

•••

Aphrena just about passed out when the line cut so Genevieve got her to sit down and try to remain calm with breathing exercises.

Suddenly Elijah, Klaus, and Jackson, all looking very disheveled and covered in ash, return and walk into the study where the girls were.

Jackson groaned, and turned to Elijah. "I got it."

Aphrena ran towards them. "Thank god you're alive!" She gave Jackson a hug as Hayley gave Klaus a hug. Then she let go and gave her mate a hug. Elijah held onto as tight as he could without squeezing her stomach and buried his face in her hair and inhaling her scent. "Thank you." She whispered in relief.

"Your welcome." She pulled back from the hug and grabbed his hand, wanting to hold onto something of him.

Aphrena saw Hayley had sat Jackson down and started to tended to his wounds.

"I'm fine, too, thanks for asking." Klaus told Aphrena with an annoyed tone.

"Good to know." Aphrena smiled sarcastically at him, not making a move to give him a hug. He rolled his eyes and she let out a soft giggle.

"What happened with the stones?" Hayley asked.

"Scattered across the bed of the Mississippi, I'd imagine." Elijah told her with a sigh.

Klaus poured himself a drink. "Marcel's not a fool. He knows an empowered werewolf army would mean the end of vampires in New Orleans. The explosion is his way of saying he means to prevent that. For all the good it'll do him."

"Well, it did him pretty damn well, didn't it?" Aphrena asked before looking at Elijah, who frowned deeply.

"This is my fault." Jackson blamed himself as he hung his head low. "I'll find a way to fix it." He promised.

Hayley's face softened and she pat his shoulder. "No, Jack, you're hurt. No one's blaming you." She assured the wolf.

"I'm blaming you!" Klaus disagrees with his mates statement. "Those stones will be hard to replace." He looked over at Elijah and smiled evilly. "Fortunately, I always have a backup plan."

•••

Francesca walked into the compound with five other men, all of whom are wearing suits, and one of whom is carrying a briefcase. Klaus, Elijah, Hayley, Aphrena, and Jackson all go downstairs to greet her.

"You can't seriously mean her!" Hayley exclaimed in disbelief.

"She's a gangster, Nik!" Aphrena told him.

"I see her more as a means of procuring rare items at short notice." He turned to Francesca and her entourage. "Greetings, Ms. Correa! I see you've brought company."

"These are my brothers. I always include them in delicate business matters." She turned to her brothers with a stern and business like look. "Fellas, meet Mr. Mikaelson."

Klaus smiled. "Please, call me Klaus. All my friends do."

"I don't know if I'd call us friends," she said as she reached into the briefcase her brother is holding, and pulled out a small black drawstring bag. "But, if you and Marcel are planning on having a little throw-down, I'd prefer my family to be on the same side as the inevitable victor." She told them with a mischievous smile.

"Then, you have what I asked for?" Klaus asked.

Francesca held out the bag. "Not enough for an army at such short notice, but it's a start."

"Strange, I wasn't aware that she was familiar with our plan," Elijah said sarcastically.

"My price for doing business is full disclosure. Your brother complied." She told the suited Original.

"And what does the Human Faction stand to benefit from all of this?" He asked curiously.

"I only want us to solidify our allegiance to the ruling class." The Correa woman admitted. "It's good for business."

Klaus examined the stones. "If only everyone shared your capacity for reason."

"Sadly, they don't. Marcel is being especially vindictive. I'm worried he might come after me, or my family, just for meeting with you." The human took a deep breath. "It might be in our best interests if we combine our efforts."

"So be it! The more bodies we have to defend the compound, the better. Let's get started, shall we?" Klaus asked eagerly.

•••

Hayley and Aphrena stood in front of Jackson in a study finishing bandaging his wounds.

When Aphrena finished bandaging her area on him up she smiled happily. "There we go. All done."

She and Hayley stepped back as Jack stood up and threw his shirt on. "Thank you."

"Don't thank us, it was Elijah who vamped your ass all the way to safety." Aphrena told him, folding her arms across her chest.

"Yeah, well, he really seems to care about you."

"The pleasure of being mates," Aphrena said.

"Look, I gotta go get back to the Bayou before the moon rises."

"Jackson, this will be the last time." Aphrena assured him. "After tonight, you'll never have to turn again. No more pain, no more hiding in the bayou. I promise."

"You know, Klaus isn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart. He's doing it for both of you. You're the ones who are going to change everything for us." Jackson told them before heading out.

"I understand he risked his life to save his friend. He's a good man."

"Yes, he is. Elijah... there's something that I need to tell you." Aphrena glanced at Hayley and the younger girl nodded before brushing past Elijah to let the two talk. "My family... they wanted me- I was supposed to be betrothed to Jackson." Elijah widened his eyes in shock. "I wanted to tell you guys sooner, I- I just didn't know how, it's this insane custody-"

"No, no, you don't have to explain it. I understand the need to make sacrifices for one's family." He told her softly. "But remember you will always have a choice."

Aphrena nodded softly and glanced down at the floor. Elijah stepped forward and took her jaw in his hand and lifted her face. "Don't feel bad. It was your parents who arranged it. There's no need for the guilt I feel coming from you."

•••

Genevieve continued to cast the moonlight ring spell in the Mikaelson compound, while Klaus, Aphrena, Hayley, and Elijah watched carefully.

"Tua virtuse. Materi lunare tua virtuse. Materi lunare tua virtuse."

Francesca rushed in with a panicked look on her face. "My people say Marcel is on the move, and he's bringing friends."

"Get Hayley and Aphrena to safety." Klaus told his brother before rushing away.

Elijah walked over to the twins and grabbed their arms softly. "Come with me."

"No." Hayley detested. "Someone needs to watch her." She gestured to Genevieve.

"And I'm not leave my Hayley alone with her."

"You should help Klaus." The Correa woman told Elijah. "My brothers and their security detail won't be much against a vampire army. I'll stay with the girls."

Aphrena nodded, satisfied. "Go, Elijah." The doppelgänger walked over to him and looked him in the eye. "And don't hold back."

Elijah reluctantly agreed to the plan, and left to help Klaus.

•••

One of the security guards made his way into the room where Genevieve stood casting the spell, in order to get Francesca out of there.

Francesca held up her hand. "Not yet."

"Ms. Correa, we need to go." He informed her. "Your brothers are already headed out the back."

"Materi lunare tua virtuse. Materi lunare tua virtuse."

Aphrena's phone buzzed. And she quickly checked to see it was Cami. She declined it thinking she'd just call her back once the spell and everything was done.

"Materi lunare tua virtuse. Materi lunare tua virtuse." She stopped chanting and picked up a stone to examine it. "The stones are finished," the witch said with an impressed face. "I've done my part. Now, it's up to you."

Upstairs Hayley's phone rang but no one was there to get it.

Aphrena went to grab the stones. "We'll get them to the Bayou."

Francesca rushed over to Genevieve and held out her hand. "Actually, she was talking to me." She told the doppelgänger.

"What the hell is this?" Hayley asked with furrowed brows.

"What are you doing?" Aphrena asked.

Genevieve who looked guilty, placed the stone in Francesca's hand. "Call it a side deal. The point is, I'm taking the stones." She started to walk away.

Hayley growled as she and her sister followed the woman. "Are you out of your mind? You think the humans can go up against Klaus?"

"No, I don't. But, I'm not human," Francesca said as she pulled out a knife, and used it to slit the throat of her bodyguard. When the bodyguard died, she doubled over in pain. Francesca looked back up at Aphrena and Hayley with gold eyes and a pair of fangs, revealing that she had just triggered her werewolf curse. "I'm like you guys. And now, I'm gonna take back my town!"

Aphrena lunged at Francesca with vamp speed, her eyes vamping out in anger. Behind her Hayley fell to the ground unconscious. "Like hell you are!"

Before she could reach the newly turned werewolf, Genevieve used a spell to knock her out, and she fell to the floor. Genevieve gave Francesca the rest of the stones yet still looked nervous and guilty for what she did to the pregnant wolves.

"Don't look so dour, Genevieve. We both got what we wanted." Francesca smirked.

"Yes, of course."

•••

A group of witches, accompanied by Genevieve, dragged a struggling Aphrena by her arms into the church toward the sacristy where another witch Abigail waited for them in the pews. Hayley had been separated and taken by Monique so that if by any chance the Mikaelsons tried to stop them they'd only get one.

Aphrena screamed in fright, hoping that someone, anyone would hear her.

"Get her down on the floor!" Genevieve ordered the witches who were restraining the girl.

"We should take her to the City of the Dead," the witch that waited for them said, panicked. "Monique is not gonna like this."

"We won't make it, the babies are coming now." Genevieve told them.

"No! It's too soon!" Aphrena screamed out in pain.

"Apparently not." Genevieve mumbled.

Abigail grabbed Genevieve by the arm harshly. "The plan was to induce her when the sacrifice was ready!"

"I had to subdue her, and the trauma caused a placental abruption." The redhead told the woman. "So, the baby is coming, and we'll just have to adapt. I need one of you to tell Monique. Now!"

One of the five witches scurried away to relay the message.

"Let me go!" The doppelgänger cried. "Please. Let me go!"

"You need to be calm, Aphrena," Genevieve told her.

Aphrenas watery doe eyes met Genevieve's. "Why are you doing this to me?" She asked, her voice cracking. "I didn't do anything to y-you."

"To be reborn, you must sacrifice." The witch answered with an expressionless face.

Aphrena slapped Abigail's hand away twice but that second time was slight faltered due to the pain. "What does that mean, you psychotic little bitch?" She gritted.

"The ancestors demand an offering in exchange for power," Genevieve said calmly.

"You, your twin, and your children will be fine offerings." Abigail informed the mother.

"No! You will not take my baby, I will kill all of you!"

"No, you won't! And neither will Klaus, or Elijah, or Hayley! When your babies are born, you will offer them up to those who came before us."

Aphrena cried hot tears that stung her eyes painfully and shook her head no as she continued to struggle against the witches' restraints but the more she struggled the tighter they held her.

Genevieve smiled apologetically as she looked at the struggling blonde with guilt in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Aphrena, but this is the way it had to be."

"No! Please! Don't! Please." She begged, her last plea coming out weak.

We're close to the end. Oh gosh. Not ready.

Baby name is coming soon. Any guesses?