-•-•-

"I think she's asleep," Freya whispered as they all walked softly into the hallway. 

Marcel appeared in front of them within minutes. "Hey I got your texts, what's up?" he asked, looking around at the four Mikaelsons in front of him. 

"It appears Remi's been having some nightmares regarding Amelia's death and the witches," Klaus answered remorsefully, still in a hushed tone.

"And why do you think that is, Klaus? You let the witches kill an innocent woman, and almost kill that innocent woman's niece. You go around acting like you're the only one who matters but look in that room," Marcel said and gestured towards Remi's room. "Your actions affect her now, Klaus," he finished.

"You think I don't know that? I had no idea who she or her family was before I allowed the witches to kill her. I'm trying to make up for what I did, Marcel. I know what it's like to mourn someone. She shouldn't have to suffer any further," Klaus said back, and Marcel nodded.

"Here's a tip of advice. Just tell her that. Tell her that she's not alone; that's all anyone wants to know, especially a kid. There's no magic word to make her stop missing her aunt and her mother. Just be there for her," Marcel concluded as the rest of the Mikaelsons listened on.

The four Mikaelsons walked cautiously back into Remi's room to see that she was still apparently sleeping peacefully, while Marcel decided to stay in the hallway. They sat back down into their scattered seats and remained silent, wanting to let Remi catch up on as much sleep as she could. 

-•-•-

Meanwhile, Sawyer had just arrived back home with his parents. "Why did you have to say that about the Mikaelsons, mom?" he said, frustrated with his mom about the conversation she had with his former hosts.

"I don't know what you're talking about, dear. All I said was that if they couldn't handle her, to let me know. What's so wrong about that?" Mary-Louise responded.

"What's wrong is that Remi really likes staying there. She finally has a good thing in her life after everything that's happened to her. Please, just let her be happy," He says defensively.

"What baffles me is that you still stand here and defend 1,000 year old immortal vampires! Have we not raised you right? We're supposed to fear monsters, not want to be their friends! I only hope Remi realizes that soon enough before she gets caught up their messes," She spits back, not even attempting to acknowledge her son's position.

"But we are monsters, mom! We're werewolves! What makes us better than them? They took in Remi when she needed them the most. That's something that not even you both did... you didn't even offer to let her stay with us when her mom died. We were eight years old and you just let her be thrown to her aunt who had a full time job and barely any time to watch her. She was alone, mom! All alone. And now you want to rip her away from another source of happiness! I won't let you do that to her. Not again," Sawyer finished, slamming his bedroom door in anger. He just wanted to see his best friend be happy for once.

-•-•-

A few hours passed and Remi eventually woke up as the crisp winter breeze crept in through her balcony, which she had left open from earlier. She sat up, nervous to see if they had left her side. To her surprise, the Mikaelsons hadn't left. They looked up to see that Remi had the smallest hint of a smile on her face.

"You guys stayed," she said, almost shocked that they had kept their word.

"Of course we did. We don't break promises," Elijah stated. Marcel smiled as well, looking hopeful for Remi, as he peaked his head in through the doorway. After eyeing the girl for a little while longer, he sped off in a millisecond, leaving Remi to find comfort in the Mikaelsons.

"How are you feeling?" Freya asked.

"I'm ok I guess," Remi replied, honestly unsure of what she was feeling. Her mother had died when she was eight years old, half of her lifetime ago. Even then, she had her aunt to tell her everything would be ok. The only two sources of happiness that she had ever known were dead, and it made her feel alone. But she knew that eventually, she would need to move on and find a new source of happiness, even if she was afraid to. Remi looked over to the clock on the bedside table; 12:48pm. 

"Let's go," she said hesitantly while nodding, referring to conversation they had shared earlier. The Mikaelsons understood instantly, and they headed off towards the familiar French Quarter apartment.

-•-•-

Niklaus, Elijah, Rebekah, Freya, and Remi arrived in under ten minutes as the location was only a few mere blocks away from the abattoir. Remi jiggled her key into the lock, and the door swung open to reveal a sulky yellow living room, which lacked the light and happiness it used to possess. All that remained was the memory of what it once was, as tragedy dims even the brightest of colors. 

Remi led the ever-observant Mikaelsons through the rest of the spacious apartment, debating on what should be packed up, and what should be donated. After three hours, they ventured through all of the rooms but two; Remi's room and Amelia's room. Both doors were closed shut, and an unsettling silence surrounded the general area. Remi sighed and turned towards the originals.

"I love you guys for coming with me to look through everything... but I think I need to do these two alone," Remi stated, eyeing the ground as if it were the most interesting thing in the world at the moment.

"Of course. Call us if you need anything, we'll only be a few moments away," Rebekah said, each of the siblings giving a reassuring nod in Remi's direction. 

Remi gave a half-smile to the bunch as they exited her apartment. She let out a shaky breath and turned around to open up her old room. Everything was exactly the same as she had left it. Whoever had returned to clean up Amelia's body had not touched anything else. Remi's worn clothes were spread out across the floor, and her ballerina music box was still opening--spinning with as much force as the batteries could muster up after being left open for a month and a half. 

She took another empty brown box and started folding her old clothes neatly into it. She didn't have many knick-knacks to save since Remi never much enjoyed cluttering up her room. The only items she put in the 'keep pile' were her music box, a picture of her and her mother, and a locket that her aunt have given her; everything else was put in the 'donate pile'. When she was finished with packing up her room, she knew that she had to move to her aunt's room.

A kaleidoscope of tears clouded her vision as she walked inside. Her aunt's work outfit was laid neatly on her dresser, the sheets were freshly wrinkled, and her radio emitted static. It tore her heart to shreds as she pulled her aunts clothes from the shelves, folding them neatly into boxes just as she had done with her own. 

Remi tried as quickly as she could to move through everything else in the room. She was almost finished, but an unfamiliar envelope in Amelia's bedside table drawer caught her eye. It made her heart skip a beat once she saw it was addressed to her, but she put in her back pocket to read later.

Remi moved all of the boxes for donation into a large pile near the front door so the Red Cross would come to collect them upon her request. She walked down the hallway past her apartment door, not daring to look back because if she did... it would surely break her. 

-•-•-

The girl walked through the streets of the French Quarter with her box of family sentiments, listening to the men and women busking for fun. Hundreds of people were scattered across the town, everyone seeming to have not a care in the world. She sat on a bench and watched them for awhile, envisioning what it would be like to be carefree like them. She smiled, seeing two little kids-- a boy and a girl-- dancing with their parents to the sound of the music. She didn't know why, but it made her hopeful; hopeful that her future could be as bright as the shimmer of glee which shone in the childrens' eyes.

She decided to stop procrastinating and pulled the letter out her back pocket, staring at it for a few short moment before tearing it open carefully. 

My sweetest Remi,

If you are reading this, it can only mean one thing; I am dead. When your mom died, I never thought I would pick myself up again. But then you arrived on my doorstep, your beautiful hazel eyes staring straight up at me. You were only a little girl so you most likely don't remember, but you almost never cried, let alone talked. For the longest time, I thought a vampire had compelled you to forget your mother's death. But then I heard you one night, crying into your favorite pink pillow. You fell asleep in my arms that night. I don't want you to regress into that because I'm gone. Don't isolate yourself. Just know that I'm with your mommy now, Remi, and we're always watching over you. You are so strong, and I know you can build yourself back up again. Because of this, I know you can handle what I'm about to tell you. Your father is out there, Remi, and on your 17th birthday he'll be looking for you. He is a terrible man, Remi, and my only hope is that he doesn't find you. He's a warlock; that's how him and your mother met. And just like your mother, he has great power. But with that power, comes great evil. 

I love you, Remi. Never forget that. Amelia Moore.

She started in shock at the piece of looseleaf paper. Stuffing the letter back into her pocket, she strode down the remaining length of the French Quarter sidewalk and into the abattoir. 

Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, and Freya were scattered about the courtyard, slouching in sofas and holding various drinks. Their eyes moved towards Remi who, like everyone else, slouched down in between Rebekah and Elijah, placing the box of trinkets in front of her. Freya and Klaus sat opposite them, curiously eyeing the girl.

Remi sighed. "I found a letter," she said, everyone nodding her on to continue. "It said that my dad is out there somewhere. And... and that on my 17th birthday he'd come looking for me. It said he was evil," she finished, trailing out in disbelief and uncertainty.

The Mikaelsons looked shocked, all of them shifting into protective mode. "Did it say anything about where he was last, or what his name is?" Rebekah asked, sharing Remi's same tone of disbelief. 

Remi shook her head, handing the letter over to Rebekah who read over it carefully.

"Well... when daddy Moore does come knocking, we'll just have to greet him with the Mikaelson charm. Isn't that right, Elijah?" Klaus said, a devious smirk appearing on his face. Freya rolled her eyes and shoved him in response.

"Perhaps you should ask permission before you plan on murdering Remi's father, Niklaus," Elijah said, taking another sip of his drink. 

Niklaus raised his eyebrows in Remi's direction, "pretty please?"

"Don't hate me, but... I think I want to meet him," Remi stated meekly, afraid of the others' reactions.

"You what?!" Niklaus asked in utter shock, his protective instincts flying into overdrive.

"Remi, excuse my jumping to conclusions here, but that seems like an awfully dangerous idea," Elijah inputted.

"I'm not saying I want to meet him today or anything, just that when the time does come... maybe don't kill him?" Remi replied.

"Is this something you really want, Remi? Your family seemed to be adamant about you not seeing him," Rebekah said.

"I know, it's just that I've always wanted to talk to him... to ask him why he left," Remi replied, embarrassed of her response.

Rebekah put a reassuring arm around Remi. "Then we'll just have to figure something out I suppose. Something that won't get you killed would be ideal." 

"If you insist upon it, then I agree with Rebekah. We'll keep you safe no matter what," Klaus added, Elijah and Freya nodding.

Remi smiled widely in gratitude. Noticing the time was half past eleven pm, Remi yawned and stood up. "I think I'm gonna head upstairs. 'Night, everyone," she said, giving everyone a quick hug before picking back up her box of things and walking to her room. 

She grabbed up her music box, necklace, and picture frame, and lined them all up on her bedside table. Changing into pajamas, she crawled into bed and pulled the covers up to her neck. 

-•-•-

hi again! I'm so sorry for making you all wait so long for an update, I've just been completely at a loss for what to incorporate into the chapters. From here on out, Remi will start to grow more confident with her magic, and her bond with the originals strengthen. The next chapter will be way less depressing, don't worry. Nonetheless, happy New Years! I hope you all have a better 2018 than 2017. Always remember: we write our own destiny, so make the new year worth the wait.

I love you all endlessly. Thanks for reading <3

-charlotte

(I also have a new The Originals book on the way! the first chapter will be released on January 1st, my last day of winter break :c )