Once they were certain that Hope, Mira, Elliot, and Grace were okay, Audrey and Elijah left town that same evening to head home to France. They'd both had a word with Alaric about how upset he'd made Hope, and Audrey made it clear that if it were to happen again, she would be involving Caroline in getting it dealt with. Hope had yet to tell any of her cousins the full story of what had happened with Landon in the woods, all three of them able to easily tell that she was still keeping secrets. 

   But they also knew better than to push her, and just hoped she'd come to them when she was ready. The next morning, the two eldest Mikaelsons and the Saltzman twins all had Dorian's class together, one of the few classes Mira dreaded each week. It always ended with her caught in the middle between the three, Hope wanting her to take her side against whatever insults were thrown at her, Lizzie and Josie expecting her to do the same for any insults thrown against them. 

   She just hoped for one class, they'd manage to get through it without any incidents.

   "Alright, gather together." Dorian instructed them all, getting the students to sit together in a circle on the floor for the practical lesson he'd planned. Mira ended up sitting beside her cousin, the Saltzman twins sat across from them, muttering and whispering to one another as they normally did. "Chain spells are about the fluid movement of energy from witch to witch." He paused, raising a brow as he glanced around the room. "Where's Penelope Park?"

   "Uh, lady cramps, Mr. Williams." Lizzie answered with a wicked smile.

   Dorian shuffled awkwardly where he stood, Mira and Hope both unable not to roll their eyes at Lizzie's answer. "Sorry I asked." He cleared his throat, attempting to get them back on track with the lesson at hand. "A disharmonious group makes for an uneven flow."

   Instantly, childish snickers filled the room at his choice of words, and cracked a slight smile as she locked eyes with Josie, the two making one another laugh. Hope sat beside her with a bored expression, not in the slightest bit impressed. Dorian just watched them all and shook his head with a sigh, at this point not even surprised. Before he could try to continue, a note came levitating into the room toward him, and everyone had been at the school long enough to know what it meant. A summons to see the headmaster, meaning someone was in trouble with Doctor Saltzman. 

   "Uh-oh. Who's in trouble with the headmaster?" Josie mused, as Mr. Williams grabbed the floating paper to read.

   Hope looked at the twins flatly, her gaze mostly on Lizzie. "Probably the people who started a rumble with the local high school."

   "Don't say that." Mira mumbled with a sigh. "I was also apart of that, remember?"

   "Lizzie Saltzman, Josie Saltzman." Dorian read out the names listed, making the twins faces drop instantly. "Mira Mikaelson." He continued, and Mira closed her eyes with another sigh, even though she'd been expecting it. "And baby makes four." He looked at Hope last, who looked surprised, both Lizzie and Josie eyeing her with surprise and curiosity. "Off you go."

   The rest of class whispered about them as they got up and left, going to find Alaric in the library. He didn't waste any time in getting to the point, as he broke the news of them all serving in detention by taking part in community service in the town square, just like anyone else who had been involved in the fight at the game. 

   "This makes no sense, dad." Lizzie protested, as the four followed him around as he collected books he wanted. "Why are we being punished?"

   Alaric turned to her with an exasperated look. "Because you started a brawl at a charity football game that risked exposing what we really do here."

   "Well, you weren't mad last night." Lizzie countered, unable to deny he was right.

   "I was mad last night." He corrected his daughter. "My undying love for my daughters just happened to trump my rage." He looked between the four of them. "I volunteered everyone in the game, so stop complaining. You're lucky it's just community service and not actual jail time."

   "You're making us clean up the mess of the other team also apart of the brawl, who aren't even being punished." Mira countered flatly. "I'd prefer the jail time.

   Alaric shot her a look, but Mira just held her hands up innocently. "Can I at least offer a rebuttal in my defense, if it please the court?" Alaric rolled his eyes slightly, but gestured toward Lizzie to continue. "First of all, I was provoked-- my response was totally proportional considering the levels of abuse that I was forced to endure." Hope chuckled, earning a glare from Lizzie yet again, before she hesitantly continued. "And secondly...if anyone should take the blame, it's Mira and Josie!"

   "Excuse you?" Mira stared at her in disbelief.

   Josie looked at her twin with eyes of betrayal. "What?"

   "I'm sorry." The blonde quickly apologized to the pair. "I totally cracked during cross, but if you had just let Kaleb catch the ball..."

   Josie scoffed incredulously. "Yeah, okay--"

   "You'd still be in trouble." Alaric cut them off before anymore bickering could take place.

   Hope sent Lizzie a bemused look. "But nice job throwing your sister and my cousin under the bus."

   Mira gestured to her cousin gratefully, sending Lizzie a frown as Josie looked at the eldest Mikaelson in surprise at her words. "Thank you, Hope."

   Lizzie gaped at the small exchange, looking at her sister with a glare, but Josie merely sent her an unbothered look in return. "Speaking of, the bus leaves in ten minutes, and I expect all four of you on it, working together today, harmoniously and without drama." Alaric warns all of them. "End of debate."

   "I wasn't even at the game." Hope pointed out, crossing her arms. "Why am I being punished?"

   Alaric just looked at her. "You know what you did." His words causing her to look away. "Alright, now, go, all of you." Lizzie and Josie knew better than to argue and left, Mira hesitating behind as she waited for Hope.

   "I'll catch up." Hope muttered to her, shaking her head.

   Mira gave a small nod and left her alone with Alaric, heading upstairs to prepare for the day of community service.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *   *

   Everyone being punished was very reluctant to get on the bus to head into town, but given they had no other choice, they did. Lizzie had been staring Hope down the entire way, but Mira was determined to stay out of whatever argument was brewing between them. Instead, she spent the short ride into the town square sat with Theo, the pair splitting a packet of sour patch kids between them. 

   "So, what did you do?" Lizzie pressed Hope for answers as they filed off the bus. "My dad never gets mad at you. You're the prodigal daughter. Must have been juicy."

   "You ever heard the definition of insanity, Saltzman?" Theo glanced over his shoulder at her, raising an eyebrow. "It's doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. She's not gonna tell you."

   "If I wanted your opinion, Lassie, I would have asked for it." Lizzie looked at him dryly.

   "He's not wrong though." Hope smirked slightly, clearing her throat. "Sorry. No time for girl talk. Public service awaits."

   "Alright, listen up!" Dorian gathers all their attention once the bus was empty. "It's a beautiful day. You got options-- litter, weeds, graffiti! Your choice." He announces, holding the litter picker up toward Kaleb, who looked at it in disgust before taking it. 

   The second Dorian walked away, Kaleb began to protest. "It's bad enough we get punished while the humans get a pass, but their ain't no way in hell I'm picking up their garbage." He refused, holding the tool out toward Lizzie. 

   "Uh, I don't do trash either." Lizzie scoffed, stepping back in refusal.

   "I love trash." Hope pipes up, quickly snatching the tool from Kaleb. "As of this moment."

   "Perf. It suits you." Lizzie snarked, before turning to her sister and Mira. "Looks like we're scrubbing paint today."

   "Dad told us to work together, okay?" Josie reminds her. "Harmoniously." 

   "Yeah, and he also said without drama, and I am feeling a rage attack coming on, so I will be remaining drama free over by that wall of graffiti." Lizzie stated, gesturing to the window that had been spray painted. "Are you coming or not?"

   Josie stares at her for a moment.  "I don't know, Lizzie-- is there another bus you want to throw me under?" She asked, before she moved to stand beside Hope, crossing her arms over her chest stubbornly.

   "Fine, daddies girls." Lizzie huffs, before looking at Mira. "Come on--"

   "Uh, no." Mira shook her head. "You threw me under that bus too, remember? I'll pick weeds, away from you and your wall graffiti." She moved over toward Hope and Josie, Theo looking impressed before he moved to stand with her.

   Lizzie's face fell entirely before she quickly gathered herself, looking around at the rest of students just watching. "Anyone else?" She snapped, and they all began to walk away to do their own tasks for the day. She turned and began walking toward graffiti, glancing over her shoulder at the Greasley boy who hadn't moved. "Get the lead out, MG!" She called, forcing the conflicted looking boy to follow her.

   As Hope and Josie left to start picking up trash, Theo looked at Mira and held up two pairs of gloves. "Weeds?"

   The Mikaelson girl smiled and nodded, taking a pair to put on. "Weeds." 

   "How'd the rest of your parents visit go?" He asked curiously, as they made their way over toward the flower beds. "Things got kinda hectic yesterday."

   "It was good. Surprisingly, they weren't mad about what happened." Mira admitted before she paused. "Well, my mom tried to be but..." She shrugged with a chuckle. "Once everything calmed down, they took me, my siblings, and Hope out for milkshakes before they left."

   "Shame I didn't get to meet them." Theo said.

   Mira raised a brow. "Even with the way my dad was glaring at you all day?"

   He chuckled. "Even with that. They seemed cool." He told her honestly. "Your mom seemed really nice."

   "Yeah, she is." Mira smiled softly. "She grew up here, you know." She gestured around the town. "In Mystic Falls. This is where she first met my dad." Her eyes looked around thoughtfully. "Most of my family was born in this town and lived in this town at some point."

   "Even you?" He asked as they began to pull weeds out of the dirt.

   She shook her head. "No, Hope and I were both born in New Orleans. Our family lived there for years when we were little." She explained to him. "My aunt Freya and Keelin still live there now, with their son, Nik. Everyone else has moved, but we all go back to visit and spend holidays together."

   "Any of them still live here?" He raised a brow, then bit his lip with an awkward smile. "I'm prying too much, aren't I?"

   "Theo, you're fine." She promised him, shaking her head. "No one on my dad's side does." She answered his question. "But my mom's twin sister, my aunt Elena, she lives here with my uncle Damon and their daughter, Stefanie. Me, Elliot, and Grace go over every now and again to visit. And her brother, our uncle Jeremy, he doesn't live here full time anymore but he's around every now and again."

   "You've got a really big family, haven't you?" He couldn't help but ask.

   "Oh, you've got no idea." Her lips pulled up into a grin at the thought. "And they're all completely and utterly crazy in their own right, but I wouldn't change any of them for the world." She tilted her head at him. "What about you?"

   "It's just me and my mom." Theo yanked a weed from the dirt, glancing at her. "My dad took off before I was born. We've got an apartment down in Atlanta, which I trashed a lot when I couldn't control my temper. Wolf gene." He bit his lip with guilt, Mira looking at him sympathetically. "I don't even think she was shocked when Doctor Saltzman explained to her what I was, I think she was more glad she could start saving her furniture from my tantrums." He let out a small laugh. "She just took it all in her stride, you know? And it didn't change anything. It still stayed me and her against the world."

   "I'd love to meet her." Mira said softly. "She sounds amazing."

   "We've known each other for years and we've never introduced one another to our parents." He looked at her teasingly. "You know, some would say that an important step in a relationship."

   Mira felt her cheeks heat up at his words, looking down to try and hide it. "Relationship, huh?" She hummed as she pulled herself together. "And what type of relationship would that be, Nelson?"

   Theo moved forward on his knees, closing the very small distance between them. "What would you want it to be?"

   Their eyes locked and Mira gazed at him for a long moment, her gaze slowly falling down to his lips as his did to hers. She found herself slowly leaning in closer before her brain could process her actions, and within seconds, their lips met together. The two before hesitated a moment before they melted into the kiss, Theo slipped off a glove so he could move his hand to rest gently against her cheek.

   Maybe community service wasn't going to be so bad after all.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   After the moment Mira and Theo shared, the two got back to work pulling up weeds from the flower beds, both of them occasionally glancing at one another when they thought the other wasn't looking. It hadn't became in anyway awkward between them, things remained as comfortable and at ease between them as it always had been, almost as if nothing much really needed to be said on the matter. They knew what everyone else around them would say, that their kiss had been a long time coming. They wouldn't be wrong, Mira knew that. That moment had been building up for a while, but neither had the courage to follow through with it up until now.  

   Mira made a mental note not to mention it to Grace or Elliot for the time being. There was no doubt in her mind that Hope already knew, there was no way that she and Josie didn't witness the two of them. But she knew Hope wouldn't immediately tell her parents, and the last thing Mira wanted was for Audrey and Elijah to learn of her first kiss through her younger siblings.

   After having a milkshake thrown over her by Connor, Lizzie had made her way back to school, which no one could blame her for. And with Kaleb disappearing to get out of work, MG now distracted by Dana, Dorian had asked Theo to finish up the graffiti the three hadn't managed to clean up, sending Mira over to help out Hope and Josie finish the litter picking. It seemed Alaric's request for them all to work together without drama was being heard, as the two weren't bickering like Mira expected to find them doing. Much to her surprise, Hope and Josie seemed to be getting on really well, which added to Mira's already good mood.

   However, things started to go wrong when Josie doubled over in pain due to no injury of her own, saying it had to be because something was wrong with Lizzie. After Dorian tried to refuse to let them go back to school and check on her, the three eventually won the argument and made back as it started to get dark, the school utterly silent and almost deserted when they walked inside. 

   "Lizzie?" Josie called out worriedly, but no one answered.

   "I'll check the library." Hope headed in that direction to look.

   "Come on, this way." Mira nodded to Josie, the pair heading to check around the opposite way.

   But no one was anywhere to be found, prompting them to head back toward the library to meet up with Hope. However, Mira stuck her arm to stop Josie mid step, pressing a finger to her lips as they heard two familiar voices talking.

   "The knife? The dragon knife?" Hope's voice asked, both girls realizing it had to be the knife they retrieved from Landon. Their eyes widened at the mention of a dragon, exchanging looks at they continued to listen silently. "And you're still breathing?"

   "Oh, I have a theory about that." Alaric replied, and Josie frowned.

   Her dad had been keeping much bigger secrets than she or Lizzie originally thought. And apparently, so had Hope. 

   "Well, save it, because we had to take down a containment spell to get inside the school, meaning our monster can get out." Hope told him urgently.

   "A containment spell?" Alaric asked in confusion, before it dawned on him. "Lizzie wanted to make sure whatever attacked her didn't escape into the world. Good girl." They heard him walk and caught a glimpse of him pulling an old axe down from a wall display. "Alright, well, guess we better find it before it makes the evening news." He raised a brow at Hope.  "So how'd you take the containment spell down?"

   Josie's frown remained as walked into the view of the pair, Mira close behind her. "She didn't. I did." His daughter corrected him, walking forward and grabbing the axe gripped in his hands. "And I have questions."

   Mira's eyes narrowed on Hope, who bit her lip as she met her gaze. "Me too." She moved her gaze toward the table, which held a small book on it about Gargoyles, blinking in disbelief as she held it up. "You're kidding, right?"

   "Sadly not." Hope shook her head. "We've got a plan, but we need to find it."

   For the time being, all questions the two girls had were pushed back until later, as the four of them knew they had to focus on killing the Gargoyle first. They made their way down toward the grand hall, toward where Emma had taken the younger students and Lizzie to hide from the creature. Alaric called out the counselors name, and the door to back room slide open, revealing a cautious and wary Emma. Mira and Hope caught a glimpse of Grace and Elliot sat quietly on the floor with the younger students, both of them relieved knowing that they were out of the way, safe. 

   Before any of them could say a word, the older woman lifts a finger to her lips and shushes them, before going back into the room and closing the door behind her. Hearing stomping approaching, the four turned to look behind them, to see the Gargoyle stood watching them threateningly from the top of the staircase, spreading it wings open wide. Letting out a loud growl, the stone creature jumps and flies down the stairs, immediately lunging for Hope and sending her falling to the floor in surprise. 

   "HOPE!" Mira yelled, as the creature raised the knife it clutched toward her.

   "NO!" Doctor Saltzman threw quickly threw himself Hope and the Gargoyle.

   "NO, DAD!" Josie yelled in fear, as Mira helped Hope to her feet.

   The creature froze mid movement, the tip of the blade hovering just above Alaric's heart. The two just stared at one another, the red eyed monster looking almost surprised at the headmasters actions. Before it could do anything else, Josie wasted no time and ran behind it, swinging the axe down and breaking off half of one of it's wings. 

   As it turned to defend itself, Alaric grabbed a weapon his own and swung at it's back, the father and daughter hacking away at it's wings, causing it to roar out. 

   "Stone." Mira realized and looked at Hope, who looked back at her in confusion. "It's made of stone." She repeated, and Hope blinked as she caught on. "We can blow it up."

   Hope raised her hands towards it. "Fluctus Impulsa."

   The spell caused the knife it clutched to fly out of it's hands to the ground, as it's body jerked out of control. "Josie, help us." Mira called, as it scrambling to retrieve the blade.

   Josie looked at the two anxiously. "How?"

   "Just repeat after us." Hope instructed, entwining one hand with Josie's and one hand with Mira's. Josie's hand began to glow red as she siphoned and channeled magic from both Mikaelson girls. "Fluctus impulsa. Fluctus impulsa. Fluctus impulsa." They chanted together simultaneously, causing the Gargoyles arms to fly out to it's side, it's head forced up toward the ceiling as it was immobilized. "Fluctus impulsa. Fluctus impulsa. Fluctus impulsa!"

   Suddenly, the Gargoyle exploded into a shower of broken and crumbled stone pieces, scattering all over the floor messily. Relief soon appeared on all of their faces, but Josie's relief quickly turned into anger as she dropped Hope's hand, storming toward her dad with tears in her eyes. "How could you jump in front of her like that?" She demanded, causing Alaric to look at her in shock. "You could have died, dad!"

   Alaric's face softened in an attempt to reassure her. "Honey, I knew it wouldn't kill me because my research told me--" But Josie didn't listen, storming away on the verge of fully crying, leaving her father stood silently looking at the two Mikaelson girls.

   Both of who said nothing, knowing Josie had every right to be angry with him.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   Both Hope and Alaric came to clean to everyone after that. Alaric held an assembly, being honest with the students about the dragon they'd encountered in the woods, and now gargoyle attack today. That these creatures were appearing in order to retrieve a knife, the same knife that Landon had stolen seemingly without reason. When Hope told Mira, Grace, and Elliot the full story, the four came to an agreement not to tell Audrey and Elijah for now. 

   The last thing they wanted was them worrying about them, when they were home in France and unable to do anything about the problem. Audrey already worried enough about the amount of work Hope and Mira already tended to do for Alaric in terms of recruitment missions, this news wouldn't make it any better.

   Majority of the students were in the lounge after the assembly, minus the lower school who'd been sent up to get ready for bed. Hope leaned in the doorway, looking over at Lizzie and Josie on one of the couches. Josie met her eyes for a moment before her face fell, and she moved her attention back onto her twin, who seemed to be recovering well from what the gargoyle had done to her. 

   "Give it time." Mira said gently, causing Hope to glance at her cousin now stood at her side. "It's been...a day, and she's still upset with her dad."

   Hope nodded, but let out a small sigh. "One step forward, three steps back, right?" Mira looked at her sympathetically, but Hope gave a small shrug. "Shouldn't you be with your new boyfriend?" She nodded over toward Theo, who was sat with other members of the pack over the other side of the room.

   Mira looked over herself, Theo sending her a small smile as their eyes met. "I thought tonight we could use a family night." She looked back at Hope with a small smile. "Grace and Elliot may be in bed, but I have tub of mint chocolate chip and a season of Cut Throat Kitchen waiting for us in my room."

   A grin began to form on Hope's face. "I can get behind that."

   As the two turned to head toward the stairs, they paused as they spotted people near the main entrance. A quiet Rafael and Landon stood with Doctor Saltzman, who was shaking hands with someone Mira recognized instantly. As Hope froze, staring at Landon who stared right back, the youngest of the two Mikaelsons made her way down the hall toward them.

   "Uncle Jeremy?" She asked, catching his attention.

   Jeremy looked at his niece and smiled. "Hey, Mira." He said softly, pulling into a hug. "I wasn't sure if I'd get to see you or not."

   "What are you doing here?" She asked curiously. "Are you staying with aunt Elena?"

   "Just passing through, doing a favor for Ric." He shook his head. "But I'll be back soon enough. Tell your mom I'll call her when I am, she should come by. I've not seen her in a while."

   "Yeah, of course." She nodded with ease.

   As Alaric then showed Jeremy out to say goodbye, Mira turned in time to see Hope's face grown cold and storm away, Landon staring after her helplessly. 

Next chapter,  it spider hunting time, and Mira will be visiting her mothers old high school! I hope you all enjoyed!