Augustine smiles down at the beautiful brunette standing in front of him as he curls a piece of her hair behind her ear. He swears every time she smiled at him his heart froze. She slightly steps back revealing an infant in her arms. 

His smile widens as he takes in the features of the child. "She's perfect." He breathes out. 

Hayley's eyes crinkle with happiness at seeing the instant love in his eyes while he looks at her. "She-"

She chokes, blood splattering onto Augustine's face. His eyes widen feeling like the entire world just froze. "Hayley!" 

He grabs the baby from her arms just as she falls to the ground, revealing a man standing behind her with a heart now in his fist. "Hello, Augustine." Mikael sneers. 

Augustine gasps awake looking around in fright before realizing he was just in his bedroom at the compound. It was just a dream. 

A horrendous dream. He hadn't had nightmares about his father in hundreds of years. 

Augustine takes a seat across from his brothers, the city of New Orleans was hosting a wake in honor of Kieren, Camille's uncle that had passed away thanks to the witches hexing him. Although to Augustine it felt more like a party. There was loud music, endless drinks, even dancing everywhere up and down the street. Not a single tear shed. 

"Seems rather uncivilized to laugh and dance around the body of a loved one." Klaus says looking glum. 

Augustine doesn't respond but downs yet another glass of whiskey. Elijah pouring himself one as well. "Yes, far better to practice your process of grief, Niklaus, denial, rage, and hoarding coffins in basements."

Augustine straightens as Hayley slides in beside him and Lucy beside her. Lucy had not called, texted, or come to see him since her near death in the Bayou. He was curious but knew to give her some space. 

"I will warn you, Hayley, Lucy, Niklaus is in a spectacularly foul mood today and Augustine hasn't gone ten seconds without downing his drink." Elijah borderline teases. 

"Sod off." Klaus grunts as he stares at the glass in front of him. 

Augustine offers him no response but Hayley gives him a once over. She wants to ask him whats wrong but knows he wouldn't appreciate her asking in front of so many people. So instead she very subtly scoots closer to him, making their legs touch. It was the only form of comfort she could hope to offer without making a scene of it. 

Augustine tilts his head, not taking his eyes away from the table but if you watched closely enough the right side of his lip had twitched up for a small second. 

She turns to Klaus with an attitude. "What's the deal with these moonlight rings? Oliver's trying to set a revolution every five seconds. People are scared, angry, and frankly, I'm tired of stalling." 

Klaus waves away her complaints. "It's a day of peace, Hayley. Try and enjoy it. And, in the meantime, with all manner of unknown enemies conspiring against our family, you and Lucy will move back in with us."

Augustine looks at him oddly. He didn't know why his brother would say that, he knew he cared about his niece but he usually left these matters to Elijah and Augustine. 

Hayley smiles sarcastically. "Awesome! Then, we can do that thing where you lock me in the tower, I escape, there's drama, and then you two both realize I'm very capable of looking after myself." She turns to Augustine with accusing eyes. He holds his hands up in defense. "I did not talk to him about it, but I do agree with him."

"Don't tell us what to do, Klaus." Lucy grumbles with her arms crossed. 

Klaus' face becomes frustrated. "The rings are in progress. I will live up to my word. We will find and punish whoever launched the attack on the Bayou, and you both will return to the compound for your own safety! But, right now..." He grabs the bottle from in front of Augustine. "I'm gonna finish this bottle and the next, in the hopes of drowning the demon who has chosen today to haunt me." He holds the bottle up in a mock toast. "Cheers, Mikael. Impeccable, Freudian timing." 

Augustine and Elijah lean forward at the same time. 

"Elaborate." 

"Explain."

Hayley and Lucy give all of the men odd and concerned looks. 

"You have been dreaming of Mikael?" Augustine questions. 

Klaus doesn't meet their eyes. "Go ahead, have a good laugh." 

Elijah shakes his head. "I can assure you there is no piece of this that I find even remotely amusing, Niklaus. Especially considering I've been dreaming of him, too." 

"As have I." Augustine sighs. 

"If you two are also seeing him..." Elijah looks towards Genevieve's direction, both brothers following her eyes. "Perhaps our elusive, unknown enemy is orchestrating a further attack?"

"Well, then. What better way to punctuate a day of peace than by killing someone?" Klaus lightens up a bit now knowing it wasn't just him. 

The three brothers wait inside of Jardin Gris Voodoo shop for the red headed witch. They're not disappointed when moments later she appears and closes the door behind her. She spins around upon notices the presences. "You disappeared from the party." She wearily comments. Who wouldn't be intimidated? 

"Do you care to explain why you would choose to torment us with visions of our father?" Elijah questions straightforwardly, unwilling to participate in any small talk. 

The woman looks genuinely surprised. "Your father? I didn't. I wouldn't!"

"Of course, how foolish of me. It must have been that other witch that's been parading through our house in scraps of lace." Elijah snarks and Augustine purses his lips in efforts to hide his amusement. 

A sly smile spreads on Klaus' face. "I know how talented you are with your tongue, Genevieve. Might I recommend you use it to provide answers? I would so hate to tear it from your mouth." 

She nervously laughs though is very much offended by his comment. "As much as I enjoy these repeated accusations of wrongdoings, I don't know what you're talking about. But, if you've both been seeing your dead father, I can try to get you answers."

"Fine. Go." Klaus orders, ignoring Elijah and Augustine's looks of disbelief. 

"You don't trust her, and you're right not to. Only a fool would. But, she certainly wants us to, doesn't she?" Klaus tells the two as soon as she's out of hearing. 

Elijah rolls his eyes. "Let me guess, there's something of benefit for you in all of this, isn't there?"

"I need a witch to make those rings for the wolves. Perhaps we'll get both answers and cooperation?" Klaus shrugs and then looks towards Augustine. "You've been more quiet than normal, brother." 

Augustine blows his cigarette smoke out. "Believe me when I tell you I nearly had my manhood removed just for you bringing her into our home." 

Elijah makes a disturbed face and Klaus snickers at his brothers predicament. 

Genevieve approaches the brothers from behind later on at the compound. "I asked around. It's not just your father. The purgatory where supernatural souls are trapped is disintegrating."

"What do you mean, "disintegrating?" Elijah questions in surprise. 

Klaus joins them holding his phone up. "She's right... more or less. It's actually imploding. I made a call to a rather reluctant Bennett witch in Mystic Falls who said the same thing. The dead are being torn away into nothingness. And, they're not interested in going quietly."

"So Mikael is spending his remaining time in existence to torment us? What a dreadful man." Augustine pulls another cigarette out of his pocket. 

"Well, on the plus side, we'll soon be rid of his abhorrent soul forever. And what a good riddance that will be!" Klaus smiles gleefully. 

The red head sighs at their banter. "So, am I in the clear, Elijah? Or is there a new conspiracy you two would like to threaten me over?" 

Elijah makes a thoughtful face. "Nothing springs to mind at this precise moment..." 

"Oh, gee. Thanks." She snaps. She sends Augustine a sly glance before turning to the last brother. "I have to get back to the girls. Perhaps tomorrow, after the funeral, you and I could spend some time together. Alone?" 

"I suppose we'll have to see." He teases but it comes off as a bit dull. 

"Please tell me you've designed a stronger method to control the witch than playing hard-to-get?" Elijah questions with a disturbed facial expression. 

"Well, I've always been partial to the classics..." 

"And it's never ended well for you." Augustine reminds him but he goes ignored. 

The family rejoins the wake just in time for Kierans casket to be walked down the street into the cemetery. They had joined Hayley and Lucy's side upon noticing them. Hayley looks slightly pale and continues to have small coughing fits. 

"Are you alright?" Augustine furrows his brows in worry and looks down at her. "You were just fine earlier in the day. You look-"

She interrupts him with a small glare. "A hundred months pregnant and pissed off at the world?" 

"Perfect." He corrects her and she looks away, feeling under the weather and grumpy at the world. He rubs her back as they walk making her slightly cuddle into her side. His brothers and Lucy all notice how they look like a perfect couple if you didn't know them. It brings small smiles to all of their faces. 

Lucy notices Francesca on the sidewalk pretending to wipe nonexistent tears from her eyes and looks at her in distaste. Hayley had filled her in on Marcel's thoughts of the humans, specifically, her being the cause of the bombings. "Do you guys think Hayley and/or Hayley and I were meant to be the targets for the bombings? Or just the pack in general?"

Klaus jumps in quickly. "Of course you were the target! Were I to wage a war on the wolves, you'd both be my first kill!" 

Augustine sighs and gives Hayley who was now glaring at him along with Lucy apologetic looks. 

He continues. "I would string you up, for all your worshipers to see." 

"You two are werewolf royalty and have a strong connection to the original family. Logically it would make sense that you two were the targets." He nicely tells the two women who don't look comforted by the information whatsoever. 

Elijah pinches the bridge of his nose. "I believe that was my brother's way of telling you both he'd like you to return home with us." 

"You will be home soon, you're almost due." He tells Hayley bluntly. She glares at him but it has no affect. 

"As much as I would hate to throw you over my shoulder, and drag you kicking and screaming to the compound, we both know I will, for the sake of my niece." Klaus smugly smiles. 

"One bad dream, and suddenly, you want to be a responsible uncle!" Lucy mocks him.  

Klaus wraps one arm around Hayley and the other around Lucy pulling them closer and pulling Hayley away from Augustine's side which instantly annoys him. "Let me put this into perspective: my father lived to torment me and Augustine. This cycle of misery ends with my niece." 

"Mmm." Hayley yanks herself away from him with a sarcastic smile. "You forgot one thing in your little attempt to plead your case. She's not your child. She's ours." She states pointing between she and Augustine. 

Augustine stuffs his hands in his pockets watching as the two women stomp off to the side but close enough that he could keep an eye on the two. After all, all of the factions were in attendance and the person who bombed the Bayou was most likely here as well. 

"Very heartfelt, Niklaus." Elijah smirks. 

Klaus throws his hands in the air. "I bloody hate funerals." 

"Must you always make her mad?" Augustine questions. 

"I was only speaking the truth." Klaus smiles sarcastically. 

Augustine pulls his cigarette out and darts his eyes around to see where the two wolves had landed. Just as he brings the cigarette to his mouth he drops it on the ground and speeds to Hayley's side as she faints right before Genevieve screams for the brothers. He catches her bridal style staring at her wide eyed. 

His brothers quickly catch up and they speed her to the compound. 

Elijah swipes the table clear enough for him to lay her body down. 

"I can help." Genevieve offers.

"Don't touch my sister!" Lucy snaps with her finger pointed at the red head threateningly. 

"It's alright, Lucy. She was a nurse." Klaus gently tells her. 

"There's a spell I can do. Klaus, get chamomile from the pantry. She's trembling. Your jacket." She demands. Augustine quickly complies, given the circumstances not caring that the red head was bossing them around. 

Augustine freezes realizing he was missing something. He stills, leaning closer to the body praying he was mistaken. He snaps his head up to Genevieve. "I can't hear her heartbeat, only the baby's." 

 Genevieve checks her pulse but is pulled into a vision. 

Hayley awakens on the table, but the room is completely empty, except for one other person- Mikael. He walks toward her, and Hayley automatically backs away from him feeling scared out of  her mind. 

"Who are you?" She hesitantly questions feeling her stomach drop. 

"I suppose I'm family." The man smirks. 

"Coeur blessé, battre avec mwen. Coeur blessé, battre avec mwen." The witch chants. 

Augustine stares down at her willing her to wake up. He bites into his wrist and forces it into her mouth hoping it'll heal her but nothing happens. "Wake up, my love." He whispers pleadingly. If the situation was different everyone would have made a comment on his endearment but everyone was just as scared. 

"She's still not breathing. It's not working!" Lucy chokes out, she grabs her sisters hand. "Come on, Hay."

On the Other Side, Hayley backs away from Mikael as he approaches her. 

"I assume my reputation precedes me." He mockingly taunts her. 

Hayley shakes her head. "This is a nightmare. I'm dreaming."

"On the contrary, my darling, this is very real." He speeds towards her and puts her into a headlock making her gasp. "Welcome to my hell, stuck in an eternity of watching over those hideous creatures my children call brothers!"

Hayley's face shows how terrified she is. "You're dead! How can I be here? Oh my god! NO!" She starts struggling in his arms in attempts to get out. "No, my baby!" 

Mikael laughs. "The baby? That kid never had a chance. As if your bloodline isn't filth enough you poison it by merging it with Augustine? That deathless vermin, fancying himself a daddy?

Hayley's eyes turn bright amber. She yells as she breaks free from his grip and breaks his arm by twisting it behind his back. The grabs the nearest thing which turns to be a coat rack and smacks him across the head with it as hard as she can. "She's not dead! I'm not dead! If I was dead, you wouldn't be trying to kill me! And do not speak about him like that after everything you've put him through! You're dead, Mikael. Your son already beat you!" 

"He is not my son! He's a scourge, a walking symbol of weakness!" He screams in rage.

She breaks a piece of wood from the banister to use as a stake and jogs up the stairs with Mikael following her menacingly. "There is no saving that atrocity festering in your womb. Augustine will destroy it, one way or another. Better it dies now, and you along with it!" 

He jumps onto the second floor right besides her making her jump. She rushes behind him and stakes him in the heart. As he screams in pain she whispers in his ear. "My daughter has an advantage he never had, she will never, ever know you and August will make damn sure of it." 

Hayley wakes up in the real world with a loud gasp, Augustine's blood covering her mouth dripping down he chin. Lucy sighs in relief bringing her into a tight hug and Augustine drops his head down trying to reassure himself she was alive. 

"You're alright, love. You're alright." Klaus tells her. 

Hayley looks up to Augustine. "I saw him. He tried to kill me. I saw Mikael." 

Augustine's head snaps up looking furious. He wished he could bring the man back to life to kill him another hundred times for putting Hayley through that. 

Hayley is sitting on her bed in the compound in deep thought. Lucy had gone back to the Bayou for the night to inform Jackson what had happened so that the pack was worried. Augustine pushes her door open and closes it behind him just staring at her. "You and Lucy have proven that Marshalls are quite resilient as of late." 

"I guess we've had to be. Especially lately." She frowns and looks down at her hands. 

His heart slightly falls knowing it's his families fault that the two are in this situation. He opens his mouth to apologize but she beats him to it. "Lucy and I are going to move back in." 

His face seems to lighten, feeling relieved that he wasn't going to have to shackle her to the compound, especially after today he didn't think he could handle her so far away. 

"But no mouth-breathing bodyguards."She sternly tells him. 

He purses his lips in attempt to not smile. "What about me? Do I count in that?" 

A small smile grows on her face. "I guess you're fine." 

"I know you said I would know where we stand before the baby gets here..." She trails off. "But I-"

He stands and holds his hand out for her. "Follow me." 

She looks at him confused but takes his hand, he intertwines their fingers and she looks at him for answers but he only pulls her along to a bedroom near his own. 

He slowly pushes the door open allowing her to see a newly decorated room filled with a crub, a changing table, a bassinet, and everything else a baby could possible need. Her mouth drops in awe as she attempts to take everything in. "I want you here. I want us to be a family. I want her to grow up in a home far better than the one I grew up in." 

"And us?" She holds her breath directly after asking the question. 

He turns his body towards her staring deeply into her eyes. She would say these were one of the moments where his piercing eyes seemed to stare into your soul and you feel like theres no where in the universe you could possibly hide from him. 

Augustine stares into her eyes praying to everything above he would never regret what he was about to do. He had been holding onto threads trying to keep her close yet at a distance. But today was a turning point. 

He thought she had died and he felt like he was being dragged into the other side along side her. 

He didn't want to live without her. 

Just as Hayley's hope begins to dissipate he takes her by surprise by smashing his lips onto her own. Her eyes widen significantly but she slowly relaxes into his embrace. He had one hand behind her neck and the other on her lower back pushing their bodies as close as possible. 

She wraps her arms around his neck feeling the need to pull him even closer. 

To her it felt like electricity was buzzing through out her entire body keeping her going, a feeling she had never felt before in her life. 

To him it felt like she was breathing the life back into him. Like he was being resurrected and breathing for the first time. 

They hesitantly pull away forgetting for a moment that they needed air. 

"Tell me you understand or I will drive the white oak stake through my heart right this instant." He seriously tells her as he lays his forehead on her own. She opens her eyes, a light in them that wasn't there before. "Promise you won't pull away from me." She whispers pleadingly. 

"Never." He promises. "You're mine, always and forever." 

"That's your siblings motto." Her lips part. 

He smiles down at her and she blinks hard. She had never seen the man in the entire time of knowing him genuinely smile. It was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. "And here we are a thousand years later." 

She cups his cheeks beaming at him. "You're beautiful." 

"Stay with me tonight." He says as more of a statement instead of a question.  A blush rises on her face and he chuckles down at her. "Nothing like that. Just be with me." 

She nods her head and follows him to his room, sending one last happy glance back at the nursery. 

He hands her a shirt of his to change into and slides his shirt off. He locks the door and turns around noticing she had went out to the balcony. He joins her wrapping his arms around her waist to cup her belly. She leans her back to his front and sighs as she watches the party from the wake slowly die down. "If I died and someone threw a party, I would be so pissed." 

His face slightly falls. "You almost did today." 

Sensing his emotions she turns around and pulls him into another kiss. Augustine's worries slowly vanish. 

"Stop scaring me." He orders. 

"I'll try." She tells him with a small smile. She lightly gasps and grasps her stomach. 

"Is she..." He trails off and she nods. She takes his hand leading to where she can feel her kicking and a smile automatically comes to his face. 

A/N: PLEASE LEAVE OUR THOUGHTS ON THIS CHAPTER!