It wasn't that Esther and Mikael didn't love each other. Well, perhaps it was questionable, given that they weren't the most loving couple there ever was. But they did love each other. They just had a bit of difficulty showing it. And getting along with each other.

 When you've been separated for a thousand years, and you have seven children to be concerned about (especially when one of them is dead and at least half of the rest don't actually like you), that can put a bit of a strain on things. Which can lead to misunderstandings and arguments. Many arguments.

 There happened to one day where the couple ended up in huge argument, which resulted in Mikael storming out their apartment. Esther didn't care at the moment, because she felt she needed time alone, anyway. She was angry and frustrated, and she'd had half a mind to slap him.

 Not long after that incident, she heard the door to the apartment open.

 "Mother? Father? Are either of you here?"

 "Oh, Finn," she said. "Good, it's only you."

 "Were you expecting anyone else?" he asked.

 "No, no, come in. I thought your father had come back, and I don't think it's long enough yet."

 "Oh. You're not still fighting, are you?"

 "Well, everything's just been...difficult," Esther said. "So many things have happened in the last millennium, and we've both changed. Things haven't been easy, but they'll get better. How are your brothers and sisters?"

 "Mother, you're trying to change the subject. But if you must know, Freya's been fine, and the rest of them are being their usual ridiculous selves. Now, back to the topic of you and Father. Are you sure you're still...compatible as a married couple? It has been over a thousand years."

 She sighed. "I know is has. But when we first got back together, it almost felt like that thousand years had never happened. And now the reality of that is coming back to haunt me. Sometimes I just get so mad at him."

 "Well, it's perfectly normal for couples to get angry at each other sometimes," Finn pointed out. "You know," he seemed to be thinking of something, "...no, it's not a good idea."

 "What? You think you know how we could fix things?"

 "No, actually, I thought of a way you could get rid of him, or just keep him away from you for a while," Finn said. "Whatever it is you do when you're alone-and I don't want to know about that-if you get into a fight or he's just bothering you, have you ever thought about using vervain?"

~~~~~~

 Esther heard the door slowly creak open, and she knew it was Mikael. Of course he would be cautious; he might be a vampire, but she was a powerful witch. He knew what she could do to him if he ever crossed the line.

 "Esther?" he called softly. "Are you home?"

 "In here," she called back from her place at the kitchen table.

 She heard his footsteps. "Esther, about this morning-"

 That was all he said before he let out a hiss and skidded back at least five feet. "What have you done to yourself, Esther?"

 "It's vervain jewelry, Mikael," she answered. "Quite a lot of vervain, I might add."

 "Well, why would you put on so much of it?"

 "As an experiment. Now I know what to do to get rid of you whenever you have the idea of starting another argument."

 "When have I ever started an argument?"

 "You always start them, Mikael! It's always because you did something stupid! Now, will you just stop being stupid so we can get on with our lives?"

 She took a few steps towards him, and he took a few steps back.

 "How strong exactly is that?" he asked.

 "Very strong," she replied. "I suppose I could take it off before bed. But I suppose I could always sleep with it on, too. And we've acknowledged that that sofa isn't very comfortable."

 "All right, all right," Mikael said. "I'm sorry. I came back to apologize to you. What did you think I was going to do? You didn't have to...forge vervain jewelry to keep me away from you."

 "Well, I'm going to hold onto it, anyway," Esther said, "Just in case it should ever end up being useful."

~~~~~~

 Freya Mikaelson had wanted to meet with her father the next day. They hadn't spoken much recently, so she didn't know what exactly her parents were up to.

 "Finn said you and Mother were still having...problems," she said as they walked down the street together. "Have you dealt with any of that yet?"

 "Well, to be quite honest," Mikael said, "It's really more like she dealt with me."