WHERE ARE THEY?

[ no episode relation ]

THINGS WERE TENSE IN THE MIKAELSON MANSION. Mere moments after Klaus' undaggered siblings finished attacking him, the door opened and their previously dead mother arrived — they had Bonnie and her mother to thank for that. And Esther Mikaelson was supposedly claiming that she had forgiven Klaus for killing her a thousand years ago.

Now, Klaus, who was feeling quite uncomfortable now that he was surrounded by his entire family that he was convinced hated him, was telling them about the rooms they could inhabit, which he built especially for them. Esther had already walked off to explore on her own, knowing her children would need time to adjust to her being alive again.

"Well, there better be a huge TV in my room," Kol said, pouring himself a glass of wine. Internally, he and Finn were counting down the seconds before they could rush off and find Lottie without Klaus or Elijah following.

"And I want a mini fridge," Finn mumbled. Out of all of them, he had a right to make as many demands as he wanted.

"Yes, yes," Klaus said, rolling his eyes at their attitude. "Whatever you require—"

Klaus froze and turned to look at his oldest and youngest brothers. And both Elijah and Rebekah did as well, it finally clicking in their minds.

"How do you know what television is?" Elijah questioned. "And a refrigerator?"

"And since when the hell did you know English, Finn?" Rebekah asked, raising an eyebrow. "We were only just reaching lands that spoke it when you were daggered."

Kol shot Finn a smug look. "Well, dear sister, I'll have you know—"

He was cut off by the sound of the front door opening so quickly that it hit the wall a little too hard. Lottie ran into the mansion, finally finished with consoling Caroline, who wished to have some time alone with her mom now that Bill was dead. She was out of breath and all her thoughts were consumed with all of her mates, none of whom had been redaggered since.

The closest, and the first that she saw, was Rebekah, who was next to Elijah and Klaus. She was still in a ruined red homecoming dress from the night Elena stabbed her in the back. But she wasn't what Lottie wanted.

"Love," Klaus said, stepping toward her nervously. "Now isn't the best ti—"

"Where are they?" Lottie asked while whipping her head around the large living room. She hadn't actually been in the house before but she didn't really care about Klaus' eye for interior design at the moment.

Not when she saw Finn Mikaelson standing by the fireplace.

Lottie was running again before she even realized it. And Finn was ready — so goddamn ready — when she jumped into his arms, legs wrapping around his waist to keep herself up as she hugged him tightly. There was no passing through each other. Just skin on skin and warmth as he held her in strong arms, faces buried in his chest and the crook of her neck. Every nerve ending in Lottie's body was singing from the contact she'd been longing for.

"And here I thought you were joking the time you said you could climb him like a tree," a familiar and playful voice said from across the room.

There were tears, happy tears, in Lottie's eyes as she pulled her head back just enough to see Kol grinning at her. "And I'm not letting him go, so you have to come to me."

Kol had no problems with that as he sped to their sides. With minimal shifting, Lottie maneuvered over to him while still being wrapped up in Finn. She wrapped her other arm around his neck and closed her eyes, knowing that she'd never feel more complete and safe as she did now.

"I was right," Lottie whispered. She felt Kol shiver as her lips tickled his neck and she basked in the knowledge that she affected them just as much with her touch.

"What about, ástin?" Finn questioned, his thumbs rubbing back and forth comfortingly where they'd slipped under her t-shirt.

Lottie moved her face away from Kol to look at Finn, the softest of smiles that would only ever be reserved for four men on her lips. She wound her fingers into the long hair at the base of his neck. "You are warm."

"What the hell?" Rebekah whispered, the first of the other three to snap out of it.

It was a confusing and horrible sight for Klaus and Elijah to behold. Their two brothers that hadn't been undaggered anywhere near Lottie's lifetime now had their mate in their arms.

Their mate. Their soulmate. All of theirs, they were now realizing.

Though it certainly didn't explain why it seemed as if they knew her. Lottie had never been quite that touchy-feely with Klaus and Elijah yet. She was impossibly close to two men that were strangers to her.

The three of them were in their own little world — one Rebekah almost thought she was intruding on. One hand of Lottie's was tangled in Finn's hair as she let Kol place impossibly soft kisses on her other hand, then up the inside of her wrist and forearm and elbow, cherishing each touch. Finn was holding her up in a tight grip and looked content to never let her go while he pressed his forehead to hers and gazed at her lovingly.

Rebekah had to speak louder this time to get through the intimate scene. "What the bloody hell is going on?"

"Dear sister," Kol said, finally speaking up. "Finn and I have waited five years to hold our soulmate in our arms, so do shut up and leave us alone."

"Don't be mean to your sister," Lottie managed to say, placing her hand on Kol's cheek.

"Sorry, Bekah," he muttered while leaning closer to her touch.

Rebekah gaped in disbelief at that while Klaus and Elijah got even more confused. She looked from the boys wrapped around Lottie like vines and back to the other two. "But you two — and they — all four of you?" she whispered, her eyes widening. Then she cringed. "Oh, you poor girl. Good luck with that."

The sound of a vase crashing was what finally broke up the love-fest. Lottie flinched into Finn's chest at the loud noise, who held her tighter. It was Klaus who threw the expensive vase to get their attention, making sure the glass was nowhere near Lottie in case any went flying off.

"Oh, come now, Niklaus. You were just yelling at us for ruining your nice things during the squabble," Finn said, rolling his eyes.

"You remember quite well that I don't like to be uninformed. Especially when my and Elijah's soulmate is wrapped up in the middle of it," Klaus said, practically seething.

"Really?" Kol asked, raising an unimpressed eyebrow. "That's how you finally admit to her she's your soulmate? Imagine if she didn't already know. Not particularly stellar or romantic of you." Lottie pinched his arm for him being mean, and Kol quickly swept up her hand and kissed her fingertips.

"And I'm not just your soulmate," Lottie said softly. Then she tapped Finn's arm, signaling to let her stand on her own. Though he did as she requested, he still kept an arm around her waist as she stood between him and Kol.

"You've known?" Elijah asked, just trying to make sense of it all. "You've known what you are to us?"

"To all of you," Lottie answered quietly, looking down at her feet. She looked quite vulnerable as she glanced back at Klaus and Elijah. "Are you mad at me because of it?"

"Never," Elijah instantly answered as Klaus shook his head. "But it's not often we are confused, Charlotte. I suspect there's a very long story to come."

"And I believe I might be able to shed some light, if I may," said the Original mother who chose then to enter the room. She'd sensed Lottie as soon as she arrived but gave her a moment to reunite with the family.

Lottie looked at the woman in confusion for a moment, taking in her long blonde hair and dress that looked like something Eowyn would wear in The Lord of the Rings — which was one of the few movies that Kol and Finn both agreed were fantastic. But then it slowly began to click in her mind, seeing the same hair color on Klaus and Rebekah. And her eyes were the same as Kol and Elijah's.

"You're their mother?" Lottie had to ask for clarification. Esther simply nodded and watched as Lottie's eyebrows furrowed. It was almost funny as the younger, shorter, and very much human girl stomped over to her. "I don't know how you're alive, and maybe this is an okay thing, but if you think for even a second that you can hurt Nik—"

It was Kol who swooped in and picked Lottie up by her hips, pulling her away from the powerful witch. "Worry not, my vicious little... bunny," he said, chuckling. That was the most violent behavior Lottie could ever muster. "It seems mother has no ill will toward him — sadly."

From the side, Klaus' heart was jumping as his mate defended him even still. He wanted to snatch Lottie right from Kol's arms.

So that's what he did.

Kol all but growled when Klaus sped past him, gathering Lottie up in his arms, who hadn't been expecting it, and held Klaus' arms tightly.

"What was that about an explanation?" Rebekah then asked her mother, already annoyed by the slight territorial behavior. Or maybe she just found her brothers annoying. Or both.

It was almost comical as the group of five soulmates tried to find a seating arrangement. Rebekah and Esther watched silently from side-by-side armchairs. In the end, Lottie ended up on Klaus' lap with Finn and Kol on either side, both managing to make physical contact in some way.

Though Elijah drew the short end of the stick, Rebekah thought he seemed content enough to stand behind the couch, letting his hand graze along Lottie's shoulder and neck. As if sensing his displeasure at not having room on the couch, Lottie turned her head and kissed his knuckles gently, the attention earning a soft smile from the man.

Then it was time for Esther to begin, and she would be sharing far more than any of them imagined.

"As you know, Niklaus killed me," she started. In sync, Rebekah, Finn, and Elijah glared at Klaus. Lottie felt him tense from underneath her, so she leaned her head on his shoulder to subtly let him know she didn't hate him for something like that.

"No offense, Mother," Kol spoke up. "But that was ages ago."

"How could you forgive him already?" Rebekah asked him angrily. "You've only just found out."

"Actually, they've known since Homecoming," Esther revealed. That earned confused looks from all of them, Finn and Kol included. How did she know that?

Kol cleared his throat and leaned back into the couch casually. "Actually, I saw him kill you. Just kept that little bit to myself."

"What?" Klaus asked, looking at his youngest brother with wide eyes.

"Yeah," he said, nodding. "Kind of was, uh, on my way to do it myself — was still quite mad about losing my magic when you forced us to become this."

"And I am sorry for that, Kol," Esther told him, looking at her lap. Kol was the only one of her children who had tapped into his magic before turning. "I can't imagine what it felt like for you."

"No, you can't," he said coldly. Even in death on the other side, Esther had a connection to magic that he'd never feel again.

Esther then cleared her throat and moved on. "I spent the better part of a thousand years hating you from the other side — not just Niklaus, but all of you. I thought you were abominations and I regretted ever creating the vampire species. And I thought up many a plan to kill you all should I one day be resurrected."

That was like a slap in the face to all her children, especially Rebekah, who adored her mother and wanted her back more than anything. And each of them tensed, ready to flee if Esther so much as uttered one syllable of a spell.

"So your claim of wanting to be a family again was a lie," Klaus said, almost trembling with fury. "You want to kill us."

"I did, but not anymore," she said, not really giving them much comfort. Esther sighed heavily, knowing it would take a long time to gain their trust after an admission like that. "Things changed nineteen years ago."

When Lottie was born.

"As you know, an accidental side effect of my original immortality spell was a loss of humanity — it's also where the ability to temporarily dull powerful emotions comes from," she briefly explained. "That bit of humanity is torn from the soul but it's not lost. It travels through time and space until it finds a person to hold onto that piece of a vampire's soul."

"A soulmate," Rebekah said quietly. She'd watched for a thousand years as vampire after vampire found theirs and she was left alone. It was rare and difficult to find a soulmate given that they could be born at any time and weren't necessarily close to you on the planet. Most vampires were killed before finding theirs.

Esther nodded before looking to Lottie. "And fate would have it that nineteen years ago, a newborn Charlotte was meant to hold four souls with her own. I felt your connection to my children the moment you were born, and though I hated them, I could not help but watch you grow. Surely, I thought, this child must grow up to be a horribly cruel person."

"I'll have you know people often describe me as a delight," Lottie mumbled, not liking that an ancient witch was judging her from the moment she was born.

"That you are," Esther agreed with an actual smile. "And it was that business from ages ten to twelve that truly made me rethink not only you but the potential my children had."

"What business?" Kol asked curiously. There wasn't much about Lottie's childhood he and Finn didn't know.

But now wasn't the time to reveal to them that pen pal 'End Zone' was actually a nearly one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old vampire who she freed from a torturous captivity. After he was freed, Esther took the time to watch him as well, seeing how he changed and adapted after meeting Lottie. And though he used to be quite a violent vampire, Enzo hadn't once killed a human since being freed — not because he didn't want to but because he didn't want to disappoint Lottie, but baby steps nonetheless.

"What do you mean potential?" Lottie asked, ignoring Kol for the moment.

"The potential to be better," she claimed. "I hoped that having you in their life could redeem them — unharden their hearts after so many years of violence and cruelty. With Klaus and Elijah out of reach, I tested my theory on Finn and Kol."

Both they and Lottie sat a little straighter, realizing what she was saying to them.

"You sent us?" Finn questioned, not believing they finally had answers after five years as to why and how they were sent to Lottie.

"I did," she confirmed.

"What do you mean?" Elijah asked her. "Sent them? Where?"

"To me," Lottie spoke up, turning her head to look at Elijah and Klaus. "I've had Finn and Kol in my life almost every day since I was fourteen. They just showed up in my room one day. I was the only one that could see them but I couldn't touch them."

"How is that possible while you were still daggered?" Rebekah asked. She didn't know much about magic, really, but she was filled with jealousy at the thought of Finn and Kol being free while she was still trapped.

"A very difficult spell that took me years to cast," Esther informed them. "Which is why Elijah did not appear the two times he was daggered this year. Unfortunately, Miss Bennett managed to undo it all when she cloaked the coffins from Niklaus' witches."

Lottie couldn't help her eyes welling with tears as she remembered how Finn and Kol disappeared, leaving her alone. Kol, sensing her sad mood shift, gently cupped her cheek and turned her to face him.

"Darling, we aren't leaving you again," he assured her with a smile. "You'll be sick of us soon."

She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. "I'd never get sick of you."

"Debatable," Rebekah muttered under her breath. Then she raised both her eyebrows. "So, Lottie, if they've been at your side so long, does that mean — well, just how much about, well, all of this and us did you know?"

"We've kept nothing from her."

"Basically everything."

"She's always known everything."

Finn, Lottie, and Kol spoke at the same time, all with similar answers.

"What do you mean by everything?" Klaus had to ask.

Lottie looked down at her lap while mumbling off a list. "Um, like when Damon and Stefan killed Elijah that one time, I knew it wouldn't work—"

"You should really be ashamed of that, brother," Kol teased.

"I knew all about you before even meeting. Oh, and I didn't tell them about the daggers and that they had to leave it in after the dinner party, so I knew Lijah would wake up and probably go for Elena. Um, I knew that Elena was gonna have to die so that Nik could break his curse — that was a lot for fourteen-year-old me to process," she went on. Then she sheepishly scratched the back of her neck. "It was actually Kol who figured out that the hybrids had to drink doppelgänger blood to transition, not me. And they helped figure out Mikael's plan at homecoming."

"You were aware of all those things?" Elijah asked, eyes shining with something akin to admiration. "And not once you betrayed that information to the Salvatores?"

"Of course, not," she told him.

"And that was why you were so adamant that I not kill Niklaus," he said, tilting his head. "Finn and Kol recognized that both of us were your soulmates as well."

"Yes, we told her after a great deal of complaining," Kol grumbled.

"Well, we aren't quite thrilled about the turn of events either," Klaus said, tightening his hold around Lottie.

Lottie turned to look back at Klaus and frowned. "Please, don't be upset with them, Nik. They can't help this any more than you can, and I don't want you to hate them for it."

"I do understand, love," he said softly. "It's just an adjustment that will take getting used to." She managed a smile at that, hoping the brothers really did find ways to get along. "Now, tell me why you never said anything about knowing you are our soulmate."

"You're a very busy man, Klaus Mikaelson," she said matter-of-factly. "Elijah too. I wanted you both to tell me on your own terms. Finn and Kol didn't tell me for four years."

"Four bloody years?" Rebekah asked in disbelief.

Finn looked at her, simply raising an eyebrow. "What part of she was fourteen do you not understand?"

It made her scoff and cross her arms. "Attitude, much?" she muttered, rolling her eyes. He really had been with Kol for the last five years. "But yes, I suppose that's a valid excuse."

"Mother," Elijah then spoke up. "You sent our brothers to Charlotte as a test. Just what were your results?"

"I must admit that the jury is still out," Esther answered solemnly. "Now that they are out of their coffins and able to interact with the world, their behavior will speak for itself. But even I can see the change in both of you, Elijah and Niklaus."

"I haven't changed," Klaus said, rolling his eyes. Lottie raised an eyebrow — did he want his mother to try and kill him?

"Actually, you didn't kill any innocent people when you got to town," Finn noted.

"Yeah," Kol agreed. "Didn't even try to kill Caroline or Jenna."

"Or the Salvatore brothers," Elijah added. "And Bennett witch."

"Or Jeremy," Lottie included, remembering the threats. "Or Caroline the second time."

"Yes, we get the picture. I've spared far too many people in this town," Klaus muttered. Then he narrowed his eyes at his mother. "So what? We make one step that you don't like, and that's it? You'll try to slaughter us — your children that you made into monsters?"

"You are not a monster," Lottie said, somehow glaring softly at him. Her talk with Finn before he disappeared was still at the front of her mind. "None of you are."

"Not even Bekah, and she thinks Mr. Schuester in Glee is attractive," Kol spoke up, a smirk on his face.

Rebekah looked at him with wide eyes. "You were there for our Glee nights?" she asked, unable to picture Kol sitting on a couch next to her and watching the teen show.

"He likes how mean Sue and Santana are," Lottie informed her. "He also liked Pretty Little Liars for all the murder and blackmail. And Finn likes sitcoms. On days when I didn't have time to teach him new things in English, he'd sit next to my father on the couch and watch Everybody Loves Raymond reruns."

"He almost developed a very annoying Ray Romano accent, but I put a stop to it," Kol stated, crossing his arms. "It was horrid, but he speaks proper now."

"Back to Klaus' question," Elijah said firmly. He would not let himself relax around his family until he knew it was safe in the home. "If we're to trust anything you say, you must be honest. How do you think you could even manage to kill us?"

Esther nodded, knowing there was little she could say to bring them comfort. Her eyes fell on Finn. "I planned to manipulate my oldest, to prey on your self-hatred and wish to die. Then after linking all of you together, I was going to harness the Bennett witch line and kill you and every vampire in your sirelines."

The momentary silence was deafening as Finn looked down shamefully, knowing that prior to meeting Lottie and learning to tolerate himself, his mother's plan likely would've worked. Not only did he hate himself but his siblings as well.

Though he couldn't look down at his lap for long because Lottie soon crawled over to him, Klaus having no problem with letting her comfort him as he loosened his hold on her. Finn wrapped his arms around Lottie instantly, letting her curl up against him. She rested her chin on his broad chest and looked up at him endearingly.

"The last time I saw you, I promised to show you a world that's lucky to have you in it. Nothing will stop me from that," Lottie told him. Not even their mother should she change her mind.

"Well, that's just nauseatingly adorable," Rebekah said, not caring about ruining the moment. Then she eyed her mother, feeling horribly betrayed by it all. "I'm sorry, but I think I shall return to my room at Lottie's home. I don't know that I feel comfortable under the same roof as you right now."

"No need," Klaus said, standing now that Lottie wasn't on him. "Mother, you are not forbidden from ever entering, but it is not your home — it cannot be when we don't trust you and you don't trust us." Esther nodded in understanding while also standing. "I will not put you out tonight, but tomorrow, other accommodations will be arranged for you."

"Even that kindness is more than I expected or deserve, from you most of all, Niklaus," she said lowly. "And do know that no matter my conflicting feelings about you children, never will I mean to do harm to your soulmate."

"And you're not going to harm them," Lottie said, looking at Esther. Then she got off Finn to stand in front of his mother. Kol was right — she looked about as threatening as a bunny rabbit, but she didn't care. "Your plan included channeling the Bennett line. Because of Kol's knowledge of magic and me passing the message along, Sheila Bennett survived after she and Bonnie opened the tomb they thought Katherine was trapped in. Grams may have moved out of town and sworn off magic after that, but that doesn't mean she and Bonnie have forgotten. The Bennetts may have given you life again, but they can take it away if you give me a reason to ask it of them."

Sheila Bennett, who lived in a nice little community in northern Virginia, knew she would likely die in the process of opening the tomb and breaking the seal. Until Lottie came up with an ancient magical solution — one that had Shelia scratching her head because how could a human girl with no magical background know something like that? But it worked and kept Bonnie from burying her grandmother.

The Bennetts owed Lottie a big favor that she'd yet to cash in. Not even the feud with Klaus would get in the way of that. And at the end of the day, it didn't matter if Bonnie wanted the Originals dead because Shelia would uphold her end of the deal with Lottie. Bonnie would no doubt be more powerful than her grandmother on day, but for now, the oldest Bennett had far more power than the girl that had only been practicing magic for a year.

If Lottie wanted Esther gone, she'd be gone. And the Original witch knew that based on her almost worried expression. No, Esther truly had no ill intent toward her children anymore. But that could change if they went back to their savage ways, and she could no longer rely on the Bennetts.

The other Mikaelsons were surprised by Lottie's threat, as she never really made them. Yet there she was, standing her ground against one of the most powerful witches in the world to ensure their safety.

"Darling," Kol drawled, "that was insanely attractive."

Her threatening glare dropped as she shot him a playful look. "Now, if we're done with the threats, I haven't paid nearly enough attention to the most important Mikaelson."

Subtly, Elijah stood a bit straighter. Obviously, she must have been referring to him since he was the only one yet to hold her for the night. But then—

"Beks, I've missed you!" Lottie crooned while running over to the blonde.

Rebekah grinned and hugged her tightly, glad that she could take at least a moment to part from her mates. "I imagine life has been terribly dreary without me."

"Terribly so," she said, grinning. "It was so rude of them to dagger you before you got to the season one finale of Glee. You're in for a real treat."

"I do hope Jesse smashes another egg on that Rachel girl," she said with an evil glint. Rebekah hated Rachel Berry. "We'll bring your DVDs back with all my clothing, assuming you still have it."

"I didn't touch any of your things," Lottie assured her. "I knew you'd be back. Everything is waiting for you just like I was."

"Thank you, lovely," Rebekah said, linking her elbow with Lottie's. "I think we shall go get everything now. Though I suspect my brothers will wish for you to stay here tonight, so we'll be back."

She said that last part quickly before any of the brothers could protest. Rebekah needed time away from her family even though they'd just been reunited. And she and Lottie had gotten quite close before Homecoming.

"It won't take long at all," Lottie said when she saw the near-pouty expressions on some of their faces. "Actually, I won't let her take long. It's been a very long day for me, and I'm quite tired."

"You're welcome to share my room," Klaus offered, the corners of his lips turning up. There was a bedroom meant for Lottie, but he'd much rather she sleep in his arms.

"No, she'll stay with me," Kol argued, putting his hands on his hips.

"I think you've had quite enough time with Charlotte," Elijah said in a stern tone.

"Yes, but I'd probably hate my existence less if she were to stay with me," Finn added innocently.

Kol scoffed loudly. "I taught you how to manipulate the family with fake guilt, Finn. It won't work on me!"

"You manipulate us with fake—"

"Enough!" Esther interrupted her sons loudly. Then she sighed like an exhausted parent. "It might be nice for Lottie and Rebekah to have — what is it the people call it now? A sleepover."

"That's stupid," Klaus said under his breath. Then he received a look he got often while growing up that had him muttering, "Never mind," quickly.

"A sleepover will be fun," Lottie said softly. She knew Rebekah was likely very upset about the events of Homecoming in addition to her mother returning and admitting to once wanting them all dead. And Lottie would not let the sister of her soulmates go through it alone. "I'll come say goodnight to all of you when we return with Bekah's things."

"Then we shall count the minutes," Elijah told her cordially, which made Lottie smile.

"Eugh," Klaus and Kol groaned in sync.

"Told you that you were alike," Lottie said, grinning now. It made the youngest boys roll their eyes. Then she tugged on Rebekah's arm. "Let's get a move on."

"Oh, wait," Finn called as they neared the door. Lottie looked back and saw a mischievous grin she hardly ever saw on his face. "Kol and I have solid plans to burn these clothes once we freshen up but—"

"Honestly, Mother, the same outfit for five years without the ability to remove it? It was dreadful," Kol complained, picking at the hem of his vest that was unbuttoned for the first time in years.

Esther rolled her eyes at his complaints. "Heaven forbid something keep you from being inappropriate for a short time."

Kol looked like he wanted to say something quite inappropriate in response but decided against it, settling for an eye roll. With him silent, Finn went ahead.

"I've been wanting to do this since July in the Grill," he informed her. Then, still grinning excitedly, Finn unlaced the ties on the long-sleeved, thick, leather shirt he always wore.

"Stop it!" Rebekah screeched while covering Lottie's eyes. Elijah and Klaus were groaning as well, all having the same thoughts. "You're meant to be a gentleman, Finn!"

"That's not what he's doing," Kol said, his tone becoming whiny. "But it's not fair! Bekah, keep covering her eyes. Give me time to find a puffy shirt!"

Lottie pried Rebekah's fingers apart to see Finn now standing in a white shirt exactly like Caroline described when mentioning the sluttiest thing a man could do. She grinned instantly, unable to believe Finn was hiding one all this time — and he did look rather good with the undone, deep neckline that showed off his chest.

But Kol ruined it by quite literally throwing himself at Finn to hide his frame. It was comical as the younger brother wrapped his legs around him, and Finn tried to push him away.

"Sister, take Lottie! I've been well informed that this attire is a weakness to modern women," Kol said, doing his best to speak clearly while struggling. Lottie couldn't help but giggle as she watched. "And I've got to meet Miss Forbes properly for a very important discussion,"

"You look very handsome, Finn," Lottie told him as Rebekah was already pulling her away. "But more of a pirate than Disney Prince now."

It wasn't until Lottie was completely gone that Kol let go of Finn, dropping to the ground ungracefully. "Would it kill you not to be the center of attention for ten minutes?"

"Says the one that started stripping," Klaus said in an almost joking tone. It was odd to see how Finn was acting since being undaggered — he was an almost completely different person now, not that his brothers would complain.

"Boys," Esther said, interrupting before they could part ways or get even more distracted. "A discussion is needed with Charlotte out of the house."

"What kind of discussion?" Elijah asked carefully.

"The discussion about how you'd better not fight over her like an object or prize," she said sternly. "And you are not to let any jealousy or anger at each other get in the way of your soulmate's happiness. I have watched that girl grow and love and care about so many people in her life, and you are lucky to be amongst those people."

"We know we're lucky," Kol said, for once quite serious.

"Then do not put her into any kind of position where she feels guilty about having so many soulmates. Yes, Finn and Kol got a head start, but in time, she will care for you all equally. And I hope her love can bring you together and fix the parts of this family that are broken," she said. "But to do that, you must treat her with respect. I don't care if you must work out a schedule or play rock, paper, scissors. You saw how sad she was for a moment when she thought Elijah and Klaus might be upset about you other two being her mates as well. I do not want to see a repeat of that."

After all, their treatment of this girl was the one thing keeping their mother from wiping out all vampires on earth.

"Mother, we would never harm her or disrespect her in any way," Elijah vowed. "Charlotte is the most important person in all our lives. This may take some time to get used to, but I also know that I would trust no one better with her than my brothers."

"And I could say the same," Klaus said while fixing himself a glass of scotch. He also cast a sideways glance at Kol. "Surprisingly."

"Klaus Mikaelson trusts me with something. Hell must be freezing over," Kol joked with a smirk that Klaus matched.

"Then onto another subject," Esther said. She took in a deep breath before turning her whole body to Klaus. "Niklaus, given that you met her before it happened, is it safe to assume you've had no... relations since breaking your curse?"

Klaus snorted and took a sip of his drink. "No, and also, you're about a thousand years too late on that discussion, Mother." His response had Kol snickering while Finn and Elijah smiled slyly.

Esther rolled her eyes, knowing they wouldn't be laughing in a moment. "I cannot be one hundred percent certain, but there is a small chance of this. Your werewolf side may overpower parts of the vampiric biology. There's potential that if you aren't careful, you could in fact father a child."

The room was so silent that you could hear a hairpin drop. Then the glass fell from Klaus' hand and shattered against the hardwood, spilling scotch everywhere. His jaw practically hung open as he stared at his mother in disbelief.

"I beg your fucking pardon?"