-•-•-

"How are you feeling?" Freya asked as she walked with Rebekah, leading Remi through the abattoir and into the girl's bathroom. The party was in full-force - mortals, vampires, werewolves, witches, and anything you could imagine were in the courtyard below them. While Klaus, Elijah and Marcel worked on clearing out the crowds, the two women took Remi under their wing. 

"I don't know. Fine, I guess," Remi answered, but she was clearly distracted. The girl seemed jittery beyond all belief, which sent waves of nostalgia through the Mikaelsons - and not the good kind. Although they had been alive for over 1,000 years, their morals hadn't completely faded away. The overhang of death and destruction followed the Mikaelsons wherever they went; the last person they wanted it to effect was the sweet kid they had all come to want to protect and love. 

As they entered Remi's bedroom, their eyes wandered to the few pictures situated next to her bed, almost as if the photos were watching over her. One of her deceased aunt, Amelia, and the other of her deceased mother. In those pictures, the little girl that Remi used to be radiated innocence and joy. Who knew that her life would take such an unexpected turn... The two women felt their faces begin to soften and the corners of their mouths twist into an almost-unnoticeable frown. 

Near the end of Remi's bedroom was a separate door that led to her bathroom. It was mostly bare other than the fluffy blue towel on the rack near the shower and a few small soaps. 

Rebekah closed the bathroom door and walked back over to sit in front of Remi, as did Freya. The girl's eyes seemed to burn holes through the swirled marble floor. Her mind was in a different place, just wandering off into nothingness. Rebekah leaned forward and placed a hand on Remi's shoulder, attempting to snap the girl out of her daze. She shook her head, cleaning the fogginess that had overtaken her vision. 

"I may be more than a millennium older than you, but I know when someone has more demons than they're letting on," Rebekah stated as Remi took her gaze off of the tile. Her puffy red eyes were more noticeable under the several lighting fixtures. 

Freya handed her a tissue box, Remi letting out a soft chuckle as the corner of her mouth turned slightly upward for a fraction of a second. "Thanks," she said, gratefully.

"Spill," Freya said, motioning Remi forward.

Remi groaned over the fact that the two originals weren't going to let Remi off the hook. "Do I seriously have to say it?" 

"Yep," they replied in unison.

"You guys are annoying, but fine. I'm just kind of nervous," Remi said, shrugging her shoulders as if to downplay it.

"Kind of nervous?" Freya repeated.

"Ok, I'm really freaking nervous. Look," Remi said and turned around, lifting up part of her shirt to once again show the mark on her shoulder. Remi had been feeling the familiar pulsating burn from before for the majority of the night, but she had made her best attempt to ignore it. "My dad's getting closer, I can feel it," she continued and turned back around. Her voice was low, almost disappointed. "Thats why I've been kind of on edge all night, and Fernando just kind of put it all over the top I guess."

"You needn't worry about your father. I promise, Klaus promises, Freya promises, even Elijah promises - and you know how Elijah is with promises," Rebekah said reassuringly.

"Yeah," Remi said, giggling at the thought. "Can we just forget all of this for the rest of the night? Let's watch a movie, or do something fun," Remi said, not wanting to waste anymore time on worrying about the inevitable.

"That's a great idea," Freya said as the three exited the safe space of the bathroom. They returned to Remi's room to find Klaus, Elijah, and Marcel leaning on Remi's bed patiently.

"What are you three idiots doing?" Rebekah asked as she rolled her eyes.

"Waiting, for quite a while might I add," Klaus responded. "The guests are gone and we've compelled some teenagers to clean up in exchange for minimum wage."

"Well then get your things, we're going out into the Quarter," Freya said as the waited for the men to get up. 

"Isn't 3am when mortals should usually be sleeping?" Klaus asked, pointing towards an eager Remi.

"Screw that, I think we're all overdue for a walk through NOLA," Marcel stated and lead the group downstairs to the courtyard.

"Come on, it'll be fun," Remi insisted as she dragged Klaus and Elijah out of the abattoir.

"The things I do for family..." Klaus muttered. 

-•-•-

As the five walked throughout the Quarter, even the thousand-year-old originals couldn't help but find themselves enjoying it. Out of all the drama that had occurred within the past year, it was nice to finally feel... peaceful for a change. Remi had a smile shining across her face and although the feeling on her shoulder never left her, she felt the worry and nervousness just seem to feel insignificant. 

They soon approached a park bench illuminated only by the full moon above it. Each person took a seat, not speaking a word as they just sat in silence. 

"Thanks," Remi said to no one in particular after a few more moments of just enjoying the nonexistent noise.

"For what?" Klaus asked in a matching soft tone. 

"Everything. You guys have done so much for me, and I'm so thankful to have met you all. It's weird to think that in a matter of months, I fainted in Rousseau's, Elijah and Marcel brought me to the abattoir, Rebekah walked me home, my aunt was killed, and then you all took me in. if it weren't for you guys, I'd probably be dead by now. So... I just wanted to say thanks, for saving me," she managed to say, her voice slightly cracking at the end. She meant every word of it. She was thankful for Marcel's guidance, Freya's teaching, Elijah's wisdom, Rebekah's caring, and Klaus' protectiveness. She was thankful for everything. 

"We will always be here to save you, Remi," Klaus replied, a faint smile dancing on his lips.

"Always and forever," each Original chimed in. Just as Remi had meant her statement, they meant theirs. 

As Remi's yawns progressively multiplied, the Mikaelsons took that as their cue to head back to the abattoir. Each stood up and walked back through the French Quarter, passing buskers playing the loudest jazz music their trumpets possibly could.  Remi's head was swaying back and forth on her neck as her eyelids relentlessly drooped. She was exhausted from being awake for so long, but truth be told she didn't want to go to sleep because if she did, she would be one day closer to seventeenth birthday and having to deal with her own family drama. She couldn't deny that she was the tiniest but excited to see her father for the first time, but the anticipation was killing her. Her mind kept running in circles about what could go wrong, but also telling her to suck it up. 

Remi was so caught up in her own drowsy mind that she didn't even realize that they had arrived back at the abattoir, let alone the wall right in front of of her. She bonked her head right on the cement entrance, to which the immortals all bursted out in a laughing fit.

"You alright there, love?" Klaus asked, chuckling as she snapped out of the astral plane.

"Just peachy. Thanks for the warning, by the way," Remi responded, stifling a laugh and rolling her eyes.

"Any time," Elijah said, patting Remi on the back.

"Alright, I'm gonna run upstairs before I pass out. 'Night, everybody," she announced, but not before giving each and every person a ginormous hug, which they all graciously accepted.

"Goodnight, sweetheart," Freya said and returned the hug.

"See you in the morning, Remi," Rebekah said and did the same as Freya.

Remi then headed on the familiar walk up to her bedroom, and plopped right on top of the covers. She was fast asleep right before her head hit the pillow, a permanent smile on her face.

-•-•-

hi again, it's actually me lol. sorry this took a little bit longer than usual, this time of year is always hell for me. Classes end on June 1st, and then comes finals week. So I probably won't have that much time to update between that window, but I'll try lol. I can't believe the end is almost here. I've almost fully planned out the ending, so I hope you guys are excited as I am. I have a slight idea for book 2 as well, so we'll see when that gets added. (Just a reminder, book 2 will be within this book! not a separate one!). Ok I'm rambling. Anyways,just wanted to say thanks so damn much for 45.3k reads :,) It means so much to me. I love you all.

-charley ❤️