WARNINGS: VIOLENCE, BLOOD, TRAUMA, SOCIETAL PRESSURES, MENTIONS OF ABORTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

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Saturday, August 12th 1918

THE Greeks said that if one were to cut off the head of Lernean Hydra, two more would grow back in its place. Funny that, Adrienne had a similar monster, well monsters around her. Initially believed to be cats, traitors to not just her, but her brother too. Kali was the first head, concealing her prejudice by using a religious man with an axe, causing casualties where it swung, causing Hadeon to become a drugged and dazed mess. The Lumières didn't know what cutting off Kali's head would lead them to. One manic original and a narcissistic original hybrid grew in her place, committing atrocities and spilling lies to achieve a common goal... treachery.

When the truth was brought to light, it was chaos and amongst all the hate, animosity and tension, a new life was acknowledged, a baby, growing in the teen Queen's stomach, fathered by not just anyone in the city, despite misconceptions, Klaus Mikaelson seed took root much everyone's shock.

Two months had passed, since that fated day, the day that the Lumière patriarch ensured a wedding, a union between families would take place, making Adrienne realise who truly had the power, who had the influence and it wasn't her. After all, she was only a woman, a woman whose skin rejoiced in the sun, but was judged for its darkness. She was hopeless, trapped, forced to marry the man who publicly claimed she was nothing to him, that their love was his deepest regret.

No matter how many dresses were bequeathed, jewels or paintings, nothing could fix what he'd done. They were going to be parents to a miracle child and she hadn't even glanced his way since the day. And sure, he'd tried to get her attention, he begged, pleaded to be let in, but each time she slammed the door in his face at any given opportunity. She resided in her family home for the remaining days leading up to the wedding. The harsh blows that were traded that day, were vivid in her memory, delivered mainly by him, no, especially by him, a fact that no one could deny or would dare to in the presence of the teen Queen.

Adrienne was a pawn, she'd never seen it before, but now, she was going to adorn a wedding dress and play the perfect wife until the day ended.

Oh, how she wished that everything would just end. But her twisted life was only going to get much worse.

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The vow exchange didn't take place in a church, Erebus insisted that in Haitian tradition it was customary to tie the knot in the bride's abode, however, the Abattoir was practically a hotel, and that was where the ceremony was held. Rebekah had Invitations sent out months ago, each supernatural representation rsvp'd; William Kenner for the wolf faction with Easton William as his second, Hadeon and Valerie for the witches, Emerson for the humans, Elijah for the vampires and Klaus as his own entity. Each was there to bless the union.

Adrienne was primped and dolled up, suffocated by the dress Evania put together, the fabrics were allegedly provided by the groom. Being the raging kleptomaniac he was, Klaus apprehended a dress that was owned by Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. A dress for a Queen, but Adrienne felt like anything but, a stuffed pig more like and no words of reassurance from her witches or Rebekah could do anything to make her feel right. How could it?

She barely woke up each morning, for the last two months. Her responsibilities were split, between Valerie and a newly sober Hadeon. Clementine and Rebekah continuously visited, forcing her to eat, drink and get sunlight. Her pregnancy morphed her body, her skinny brows thickened, her hair grew and her hips widened. To an outsider, it wasn't that evident, however, she was now four months pregnant. Marcel checked in on her, but she barely spoke. Elijah hoped that reading to her would break her from the spell his brother put on her but no, and in turn his and Klaus' bond was fractured – the formidable duo, and yet Elijah couldn't stand to be in the same room as him.

And now here they were, standing side by side at the end of the aisle, waiting for Adrienne to be brought out. Whispers spread throughout the decorated room, most important guests were sitting, and the rest were peering down from the balconies, awaiting the city's witch Queen. Marcel reluctantly joined his adopted father and passed him the rings, wishing the day was over.

Kol was in attendance, but far away from his brothers, sweating in his suit, twitching at the wolf venom attacking his system. For the past two months, he'd been bitten, battered and bruised by his Klaus and every time he received the cure, the cycle repeated. Now he was forced to attend the event of the decade... no of the century, a hybrid, first of its species, marrying a Lumière, a witch and a Queen at that, who would miss it? His fluttering eyes were glued to the doors, ignoring the emotions echoing in his head. Adrienne was getting married to his brother, his bastard brother, who arguably hurt her more than he ever could, You will marry him, oh how he hated Erebus Lumière but he hated himself more.

The doors finally opened and Klaus was met with glares or grimaces from the bridesmaids that adorned crimson floor-length gowns and black wraps. No glare was worse than Valerie's. Since that chaotic day, Valerie had been ignoring him, which he found infuriating, no more wisecracks exchanged between the two and it hurt. His sister didn't look at him, even though she constantly yelled at him, screaming in his face whenever they crossed paths, Clementine only glanced in his direction, because Elijah was near, but when she saw Klaus, she frowned because he was another person who hurt her friend and she neglected to see it happening. Evania's face remained stoic, believing she could not judge since she only arrived in the city a few months prior.

A gasp escaped Klaus when the doors opened for the final time, revealing the woman he loved, looking as beautiful as ever. White lace moulded over her arms and hung loose on her physique so the small bump - that he never touched - was not visible. She was everything, his everything...well, not anymore, but he was determined. The sounds of guests rising to their feet, watching as she walked down the aisle with her father and brother didn't distract him from seeing her, watching her, how much she'd changed since she lived under this roof. Her empty eyes were what made him shudder. With each hesitant step she took, her trance became more real and it only made his guilt resurface. He wanted nothing more than to pour his heart out to her, explain his faults and shower her with countless apologies but apart from today, he wasn't allowed near her. For forty-nine days he was made to stay away from her, if it wasn't Elijah advising he stay away, or Rebekah's ranting, it was Hadeon and the rest of wishes, placing spells around the Lumière estate, that burnt him whenever he came near.

But it was their wedding day and she was standing in front of him, therefore all the scowls from her family didn't matter to him, everything he didn't know he could want was before him... but not in the way he wanted, no, needed. Adrienne's face was a work of art but the look aura emitting from her trembling body brought forth the ugliness he felt the last time she spoke to him. He could not hear their child's heartbeat and it caused his own to spike. Marcel made him aware of the spell concealing the little heirs' proof of life and how it was in full effect but that didn't stop him from worrying.

Adrienne's emotions rose to the surface the moment Hadeon let go of her arm and joined their father in the front row. She couldn't bring herself to look up at Klaus, it hurt her to even place her hands in his. She shivered once they touched and what hurt more was that he loved it, the fact she was right where he needed her to be.

She tried blinking back her tears. The headpiece she wore was tugging on her scalp and her heels were gnawing at her swelling feet. This isn't happening, oh but it is. Her enemies were laughing at her, and her biggest living one stood before her, lovingly smiling down at her.

Clarence O'connell's brother; a priest was officiating and despite his prior convictions about the union not being in St Anne's church, he agreed. Clarence would've attended, but his newly appointed role as Mayor kept him busy, therefore Emerson stood in his place for the human faction.

The moment the priest started speaking Adrienne's heartbeat skyrocketed and to outsiders, it would seem like she was excited or elated because she was marrying the man of her dreams, but her closest confidants knew the truth.

Klaus could see the tears stinging in her eyes, even though she didn't look up.

Instead, she looked elsewhere, mustering up a smile as she glanced at the guests in attendance.

And that's when she saw a familiar face, Marie Laveau. Her eyes were practically peeking into her soul as she monitored the room. The Priestess promised that nothing would embarrass the bride, therefore, no one would be wearing green due to superstition, she placed little red ribbons into certain places along with skulls for good luck, not for the couple, but for Adrienne, because Hecate knew she needed it. It was a good thing that the full moon was far away, ensuring no bad spirits were present, well, apart from the ones hidden within the two traitorous Mikaelson brothers. Adrienne was glad a mother figure was present since hers was scorched from the earth and far from loving and caring. She didn't doubt that Keyara was working with the ancestors to get her back somehow.

Klaus continued to listen to Adrienne's heartbeat, it was pounding, almost deafening in his ears, but he missed so much it comforted him as did the touch of her skin, he hadn't felt not just her touch, but anyone else in months. Unless it was siblings forcefully bumping into him whenever they walked past. For centuries he craved the touch of another not just someone he slept with but someone he cared for, his person. But that all came crashing down. Adrienne's silence was excruciating but her lack of touch was... he's lost without her.

"And now for tying of garments," Father O'connell's voice drew the bride and groom's attention. The priest wasn't surprised to see the fear on Adrienne's face, she was marrying a renowned psychopath so of course she wasn't happy. He knew there was something fishy about the happenstance of the ceremony, but chose not to question it.

With a nod from her brother, Adrienne turned back to Klaus, tentatively avoiding his gaze and held out a garment and he did the same, they were soon tied together, symbolising their supposed commitment to each other, the sacredness of their marriages and future promises made.

What a joke right?

"Now now for the vows."

Adrienne bit her tongue to stop the whimpers escaping her lips as she heard the words spoken by Father O'Connell and then Klaus.

"I, Klaus Mikaelson, take thee, Adrienne Lumière, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part," she winced at the vow, it physically pained her to listen, remembering the same words her father uttered months prior, "For I pledge myself to you, mind, body and soul... for all eternity."

The addition to the last sentence came as a shock to many, guests found it to be endearing, but those who knew the truth suppressed the urge to scoff or roll their eyes.

"And now the bride," Father O'Connell insisted.

As Adrienne's head rose, her brown eyes connected with Klaus' blue and he saw a tear trickle down her face and her lips quiver as she began her vows.

"I, Adrienne Lumière, take thee, Klaus Mikaelson, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part."

Father O'Connell coughed encouraging her to add the last line, earning a glare from Hadeon, the Equilibre witches and Marie.

"For I pledge myself to you, mind, body and soul for all eternity," her voice lowered towards the end, furthering the anguish swarming his mind.

"She is mine and I am hers," he didn't look away from her, feeling her shake in his hold.

Adrienne rushed out, "He is mine and I am his."

"Now I pronounce you, man and wife, you can now kiss the bride."

Leaning in Klaus' face hovered monetarily, eyes darting over her, taking in all her glory, murderous eyes and tear-stained cheeks.

And with that, his lips met hers.

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Sunday, June 24th 1918

Adrienne ran out of the room, past her father, with Klaus hot on her heels, attempting to block out the pain inflicted on him by Hadeon, before the witch was halted by his father. Kol ignored the disgust on Elijah's face as his sister listened to the words spoken between Marcel and Erebus regarding the wedding.

"Adrienne please!" Klaus's voice boomed throughout the abattoir.

She stumbled away, "No!"

He tried reaching out to her, "Please, let me –"

"Talk yourself out of it?" she struggled to string a sentence together, her cries were loud enough to wake the dead.

Coming across a hallway where she hoped to cry and sit in peace, Klaus appeared in front of her, only fuelling the anger bubbling deep within.

"You know what the worst part of it all was? The look in your eyes. All the love disappeared and was replaced with hatred. And now that's what I feel for you. I let you in. I let you know intricate details about my life and who am as a person, things that my brother doesn't even know. We spent months together learning and loving each other the way we wished we were loved as children. I gave you everything and it wasn't enough, it's never enough with you. I let you know... me. And what do you do? You throw it back in my face." She stood there, violently sobbing, gasping in pain.

Klaus was a mess himself and it was all his fault. He didn't know what to do, or where to start, there were so many things that he said, he regretted all of them, from the insults levied against her, trusting the words of an outsider and denying the child growing inside of her.

Thoughtless, he reached out for her, causing her to recoil backwards.

"Don't you ever touch me!" she yelled, he flinched at her tone. "Don't do that! You don't understand how long it took me to figure out that nothing was my fault. I thought I was going out of my mind because you spent days blaming me for things you believed to be true. You made me confused and doubt myself all because of you. I think I...Hate you...No, I hate you."

"I'm sorry, for all of it," tears stung his eyes, "I take it all back. I love –"

"Don't you dare say it? You said it yourself, loving me was your greatest mistake. How could you – and now you act as if your love would make up for it, soothe my pain when you know nothing of it? You act as if love excuses a multitude of brutish behaviour. You're an awful man, and I was too blinded to see it all. God, I'm sick, no I'm disgusted to think that I allowed you to slate me, to insult me, when my only crime was loving you!"

All this time she was shakily palming her stomach, worried that her anger would surge her magic and somehow hurt the baby. She wouldn't forgive herself if she did. She would be no worse than her mother and that's the last thing she wanted to be.

"And my mother – Keyara, you quoted her, despite knowing all she did to me, what she still does to me even though she was gone. How could you?"

Klaus swallowed the emotions clogging his throat and bowed his head in shame.

"And now I can't be rid of you, forced to tie the knot because the powers that be have more authority than my title, our titles combined, because, at the end of the day, I am nothing."

He violently shook his head, "You're everything, my everything to me, please."

"Enough with the lies. Your dear Aurora takes that title apparently," she spat.

He desperately stared at her with glossy eyes, "I was wrong."

"So was I."

And with that, she left him alone, no longer fighting the tears that stung his eyes.

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Adrienne was first to pull away from the kiss, almost like the sounds of cheers shocked her, but in fact, her heart plummeted and the feelings escaping her only heightened.

She turned away, glancing up at the rowdiness, to see manic and erratic eyes zeroing in on her. The sweat on Kol's face was evident. A wolf bite. Rebekah had already told her about the plethora of times he'd been bitten by Klaus and yet she remained indifferent. Kol hurt her in ways she couldn't believe, but she couldn't bring himself to laugh or revel in his pain, she had no energy to. Klaus clearly got more creative with his methods of revenge in the absence of the daggers that were still in her possession. With a sigh she she snapped her head back to Klaus and he gulped at the emptiness returning to her eyes.

"May the festivities begin!" Erebus's statement was followed by applause and Adrienne was quickly pulled away from Klaus by her bridesmaids.

Hadeon and Marie engaged in Vodou rituals to honour their ancestors and seek blessings because they needed one. Drumming and dancing started around them, creating an enchanting atmosphere that Adrienne wanted to escape.

Melinda sent a smile to the bride that was unintentionally disregarded. Franklin remained close to her, occasionally exchanging looks with Kol, before turning back to the food in front of him.

The manic original's eyes grew droopy and he knew it was only a matter of time before his delusions set in again, reminding him of everything he could never get, everything out of his desperate reach.

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Sunday, June 24th 1918

"I won't ask why you did this because I know. I know what he took from you, but... you... for months faked everything."

"It wasn't fake Enny," Kol tried.

"Do not call me that. Don't you ever call me that again!" she screamed, "You lied, to me, about me and all for revenge, are you happy? You've gotten revenge, does it make you feel good, powerful, and special? I hope it does because I can't stand to look at you. You remind me of all the warnings I received from being in your presence let alone, being your friend. We worked together and talked about things that I never thought to utter to another soul. You opened up or at least I think you did. I don't know what's real anymore, I can't think straight, everything is all muddled."

She panted, clutching her stomach, trying to take deep breaths in front of the bloody vampire who attempted to step forth but she couldn't allow that to happen.

She could see Elijah and her brother from her peripheral, even though her sight was coated in tears.

"After all the effort of trying to get your powers back, you were truly using me... it was all fake," she couldn't stand to look at him, the blood staining his pain-filled face made her angrier somehow. She was torturing him, worse than Hadeon had done, only her words could inflict pain worse than magic. She wanted to use spells to drive him mad and torment him for the rest of her life but she wanted nothing to do with him, nothing at all. "I'm done."

She turned on her heel, but that didn't stop Kol.

"Would you please listen, I did what I thought — No, at first, when I met you I thought you were nothing but my brother's plaything, and when I saw you, I truly saw you for who you were, only that the plan had been decided and I couldn't stop it."

"You could," she whispered, glancing back at him, "you didn't want to. Vengeance was your goal, I was simply there, collateral in the fight to best your brother. And well done Kol, you did it," a false smile breached her lips, making him scrunch up his face in what appeared to be remorse, but she didn't care, it's not like she would believe him. "Well done."

"Enny... I mean Adrienne, just listen."

"And next time think twice before you decide to use a woman as a pawn in your games. You may think you're the perfect tactician, but I'll show you far worse fates than lying in that narrow little box with a dagger embedded in your heart."

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"Adrienne," Elijah's voice brought her out of her memories. She looked around realizing that it was only him and Clementine near, Valerie was off talking to Easton. Evania was off smoking with Hadeon because Rebekah demanded that no one should smoke around a pregnant lady if they want their heads to remain on their shoulders, the rest of the confidants were socializing but keeping an eye on her. "Are you alright?"

Elijah was met with a blank expression from the teen witch. Clementine patted his shoulder, knowing he meant no harm, but recently, Mikaelson men had been doing more harm than good.

"Apologies," he said, internally cursing himself for asking such a foolish question. He had been trying to comfort Adrienne in ways he thought were right, but his efforts were futile. There was a disconnect between them like she blamed him for the actions of his brothers, the feeling wasn't foreign to him. After all, he'd been cleaning up after them for over nine centuries. "Is there anything I can acquire for you?"

"The will to live."

Clementine jumped in before he could respond, it was fair to say that Elijah wasn't expecting that answer, his face was a picture.

"I think a dance will do some good," the Griffith witch cast her friend a soft smile, "get the blood pumping. 'Lijah, my love, you're good on your feet aren't you?"

The nobleman blinked a few times, tearing his eyes away from the emotionless bride and nodded.

A sly smirk appeared on Clementine's face, watching the anger form in the eyes of two other Mikaelsons from their placements.

Adrienne felt multiple eyes on her when Elijah guided her to the dance floor, her father being one of them. He's barely spoken a word to her all day apart from reiterating, you've got your wish, you and your beast are one, despite the tears streaming down her face. Hadeon calmed her, all while fighting the urge to consume every substance in his reach.

Klaus' venomous expression brought amusement to many. Adrienne was forced to dance with him an hour ago, she didn't stare at him, constantly ignored his compliments and ensured her body remained purposefully limp. The only thing that brought him some joy was her growing bump gracing him. He desired to feel and caress it but knew it was out of the question and that only angered him more. How willing she is to be in the arms of another, his insecurities roared at him.

"Adrienne, although it may not seem so, I am here for you, both of you," Elijah promised, speaking quietly, aware of the eyes and ears of the guests. He felt the hardened stare of his younger brother, who remained up on the balcony, gripping the bannister, causing splinters to slice his flesh, "I give you my word."

Adrienne hummed in acknowledgement, yet his promise and vow meant nothing to her.

Elijah took her in and what he saw wasn't the confidant witch that once sat opposite him during their weekly book club meetings, or council meetings, or the woman who managed to tame his beast of a brother and outsmart countless enemies. No, she was a shell of herself and judging from her family's history with pregnancies it would only become worse.

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Sunday, June 24th 1918

"Admit it!" Klaus raged, throwing punches at his younger brother.

Kol coughed out some blood, "I admit nothing."

"You saw that I was happy and in love and you wanted nothing more than to rip it away," Klaus shook with anger.

Elijah came across the pair fighting in the library after everyone dispersed out of pure astonishment and dismay, to put it lightly.

"Sounds familiar doesn't it?" Kol taunted, rising from his feet, and launching himself at the hybrid.

"Admit that you fell for her!"

Lightheaded from the wolf bite on his shoulder, Kol rasped, "How could I not fall for her?"

Upon hearing that, Klaus roared, grabbing the nearest chair, breaking a leg and embedding it in Kol's abdomen, making him groan in pain as his eyes met Elijah's almost pleadingly but the nobleman did not come to his aid.

Klaus wished he had the white oak stake to put Kol out of his misery.

"I do not apologise for loving her but I do for my part in causing her pain," Kol gritted out, pushing against his brother's hand that was driving the stake further into his body.

"She was a pawn in your game," Klaus hissed, angry that he was nowhere near finished in his ploy to torment his younger brother.

Kol choked up some blood, "You speak as if you haven't committed the same crimes as me."

"If it is Solana who you refer to, she was my friend far before you dug in your hooks. She was mine and you took her, bedded her and treated her like some common whore," Klaus twisted the stake, earning a scream from Kol, "I did her a favour,  my lies saved her from your twisted and manic mind."

That was what set off Kol, his anger permitted him to push his brother off, managing to pull the stake from his abdomen with a grunt.

He yelled, "That was not for you to decide, she died weeks later, I doubt you even cared. Your attention was elsewhere, that doppelganger wench had you and Elijah by the balls, juggling them for her amusement, and yet you judge me as if you have a leg to stand on."

Klaus's malicious gaze narrowed, "But you see Kol, I do. I spun yarns in Solana's favour, I relished in your pain, the hurt in your eyes all because I could. Call me a monster, call me the devil, so be it. I played God and it saved her from a life with you."

Before Kol could retort, Elijah came between them, staring down at the hybrid in disappointment.

"You look like our father."

The words brought pain to the hybrid, enough to distract him so the nobleman could swing, landing a fist in his face, and causing him to stumble back.

Neither Klaus nor Kol was expecting their brother's attack.

"We do not feel and we do not care brother," Elijah quoted Klaus as he twisted his arm and pushed to the ground, "How wrong could you be? You embarrass me, both of you brought shame on our family tonight, far worse than I imagined." Elijah didn't stop there, his menacing gaze landed on a recovering Kol who tried escaping his grasp but failed, "The pain you feel, will only amplify. My transgressions are the least of your worries. You induced harm to one of the strongest witches of this generation, who happens to carry a Mikaelson heir." he finally let go of Kol and stared between the two who's energy had been rendered to nothing by Hadeon's dark magic, "find comfort in this misery brothers as I fear that's all that is left for you."

The shock was evident on their faces.

"Do you know how hard it is to find love? After nine hundred years it has found us and yet you squandered it because you fell victim to your paranoia and nonsensical narcissistic tendencies," Elijah snarled staring directly at Klaus.

A harsh snap brought Kol crumbling down, it was so quick Klaus didn't see it coming.

Elijah stood over his unconscious brother and fixed his cufflinks, before glancing up at Klaus once more.

"You've brought this on yourself."

─────── •✦• ───────

"Adri, Mother would like to speak to you," Hadeon brought Adrienne away from Elijah and over to Marie.

Marie whispered something in her ear that made Adrienne's eyes dilate before she nodded and conversed with her witches about such information.

"Mother, you're aware that an old friend of yours has come to town, some spies of mine have seen him coming off the docks with twin sons."

"Alphonz ain't a friend," Marie tutted, keeping an eye on her surrogate daughter. "I knew of him before he was deployed."

"Marcel," the male witch motioned for his friend to come over. Marcel stopped his conversation with Easton and strolled over, drink in hand and nodded at Marie in acknowledgement, "You know anything about a man with the last name Delgallo, who also goes by Papa Tunde?"

The vampire's brows furrowed at the question, bringing up his drink to his lips as he shook his head.

Marie sceptically stared at the vampire.

Hadeon sighed, "I hear he practices ancestorial magic, no doubt he'll get the rest of the French Quarter witches on his side."

"Sacrificial too," his mother added, keeping her eyes on Marcel who stiffly nodded.

"He fought in France, weren't you deployed there?" Hadeon knew Marcel hated talking about the war, but he needed as much information as possible. The task he and Valerie were doing kept him busy and eliminating further threats helped him with certain cravings and even from thinking of Mira, but that's the thing, he always thought of her,  "I thought maybe you would've had a run-in with him."

"I met a lot of people in the trenches," Marcel murmured, looking elsewhere.

"Like that handsome Easton," Marie remarked, drawing a look of disgust from her son.

"Mother," Hadeon almost gagged.

"I have eyes," she pointed out, then nodded to the Balcony, "Someone might wanna handle that."

Marcel locked eyes with a shaking Kol who was minutes away from tearing his way through the festivities.

"Rebekah," he called out to the blonde original who saw the same thing from her place next to Evania.

"I've got it," it wasn't long before Rebekah made her way up the stairs, pushing past many of the guests who were too drunk to care if she used brute force.

Despite the bite poisoning his supernatural senses, Kol knew his sister was near.

"The bite is just brotherly bonding Bekah as was the beating," Kol breathed out, eyes fluttering shut as she guided him to his room, "it's all his done for centuries and will do it again because he's just like Mikael."

"Kol,  you've brought this on yourself" she snapped.

"Oh, you taking his side, how familiar... how familiar," when he was met with the darkness of his room and the chains that would bound him to his bed, in case he would cause harm to not only others but himself too, brought tears to his eyes, "Don't leave me."

"It's what you deserve hurting my friend," Rebekah murmured.

Meeting the damp sheets of his bed, Kol breathed out, "... I love her."

"And yet you and Niklaus hurt her," Rebekah gently shook her head as strapped the cuffs over his wrists. She hoped that Klaus would eventually heal him, usually, it would take days if not longer, the entirety of July she only heard the cries and whines of her brother. "Sleep well, Brother."

Shutting the door before he could object, she blocked out his sobs and delusions and made her way back to the ground floor.

Pictures were taken, and the flashes almost blinded the bride. Adrienne paid no attention when the speeches started, tearing her gaze away from the bright colours that decorated the room and suppressing the urge to glare at the ring on her finger. Her wedding ring, felt like it burnt her flesh each time she shifted it. The large M made her hate it even more.

When her father concluded his speech about loyalty and love, his children did not react, Marie just stared at him with indifference despite his hypocrisy, before everyone raised their glasses and cheered.

"Mrs Mikaelson," the local photographer tried getting Adrienne's attention.

She was Mrs Mikaelson, she never thought it would sound so irritating to hear.

"Love," Klaus settled his hand down on hers, visible to all.

The photographer smiled, moving the camera closer to the bride and groom, "Mrs Mikaelson, just one more picture, then it's off to your lavish honeymoon I'm sure."

"There will be no honeymoon," her statement confused the crowd and had Klaus shifting in his chair.

Erebus cast a disapproving look at his daughter, "What my daughter is trying to say —"

"New Orleans is my home," she cut off her father, "Our home," she tentatively nodded to Klaus, "Residing here, with my husband is what I want and I always get that don't I...hubby?" She gritted out with a false smile that the cameras believed to be true.

"She does," Klaus nodded, just as she slipped her hand out of his, leaving him cold and alone.

"I'm sure there's a lovely place in that big ol' mansion where you two can find peace," the photographer tried again, glancing between them.

Adrienne almost laughed at the notion.

"If there isn't, I'm sure my husband would demolish the Abattoir to get what he wants — pardon me, what we want."

The photographer turned to Klaus, expecting an answer.

Klaus turned to her, feeling guilter at the entendre, "My wife is not wrong."

Oh, what a lie that is, Adrienne cleared their throat and began to speak again, far more sternly than she had before, grinding her father's gears.

"Oh, and I'm still Adrienne Lumiére, Witch Queen of the city, the blood of my ancestors runs thick and strong, I may be married, but don't forget that."

Marie and Hadeon chuckled to themselves. The Équilbre witches snickered at the hurt look on Klaus' face, but the hybrid quickly recovered. Rebekah grinned, Elijah hoped that Klaus wouldn't cause a scene. A few of the council representatives glanced away and the rest of the guests remained confused but didn't dare to state it.

The photographer nervously nodded, "I... oh I won't."

"Good," she forced another smile, "Now if you wouldn't mind, we have a honeymoon to get to."

─────── •✦• ───────

Against tradition, the Caribbean wedding wrapped up quickly. Erebus made sure to spread the word that all went well, before returning to his office in the Saints for the night. Hadeon couldn't bear the thought of Adrienne residing in the Abattoir, he knew that Rebekah and his trusted friend Marcel would be there to help, even Elijah, but it made him sick. All Adrienne's things were moved back, not into Klaus's room, but a new one Elijah made sure to have renovated to her liking against his brother's wishes.

When she came across Klaus' room she was in her nightgown, concealed head to toe despite the heat.

He stood there, gulping at the sight of her, he too was in his nightwear but didn't think he could hold a candle to Adrienne. My wife, he doubted he would get used to calling her that. His pregnant wife at that.

His stare irked her, it was like he viewed her as a painting, which was funny because she remembered Kol gawking at her like a siren. One's fantasy and the other's sexual fabrication. What is an artist without a muse and what is a predator without its prey? Kol and Klaus Mikaelson of course, but without her she imagined.

"You look..." he swallowed the knot creeping up his throat and blinked rapidly. Pregnancy has made her ethereal. He struggled to keep his hands glued to his sides when he saw the bump peeking through her nighty.

He wanted to touch her as he did previously, but small touches didn't satisfy his cravings. When they kissed after becoming husband and wife, he promised that at that moment he would do better, be better, for not just Adrienne but the babe growing inside her.

Adrienne ignored him entirely and scanned the room that she used to love. It felt bearer, empty, the smell was different, more him. But the walls, well one in particular left the outline of a particular painting that used to hang above the bed.

Klaus became unnerved by the wicked smile on her face as she'd been expressionless throughout most of the day. He followed her gaze and suddenly sorrow settled within him again.

"I like what you've done with the place."

─────── •✦• ───────

Sunday, June 24th 1918

The echo of Adrienne's screams bounced through the Abattoir. When Hadeon approached her, she sobbed into his arms. Her brother nodded to Rebekah and Marcel to go, to which they complied.

"What do you need from me?" he carefully asked, cautious of the magic radiating off of her.

"The room, I need to go to me and Kl– his room. There's something I need to do."

"You won't be interrupted sister, his neck snapped along with his scheming brother," he made sure of it, threading vines around the hybrid's neck, watching him tumbling to the ground was a proud moment for him.

He scooped up his sister in his arms, walking carefully up the stairs. His shirt was stained with tears and his ears were full of her incessant mumbling.

As soon as she laid her eyes on the grand room full of her things, she snapped.

Hadeon stood guard, eyes charcoal black as she raged and tore through the dresses he brought her, the gifts, and jewels that were meant to soothe countless arguments and drawings that were made up as a token of his love.

The only thing that was untouched was the angel on the side.

"Lies, all of them are lies," she wailed, clutching her stomach as she stomped on the bed, kicking the bedding off it, tearing open the sheets before looking up to see the painting hanging above her. The Christmas present Klaus so lovingly painted of her, for her. She sat on a throne, a golden throne, with gladiolus woven into her thick locks that were far easier to tame before her pregnancy. The bloody ivory pearls she gripped in the painting seemed to cause her more suffering. Everything about the room did. "This... I want it gone, Deon."

Hadeon didn't hesitate to help her off the bed, placing her at a safe distance from it and then muttered,

"Incendia."

His eyes returned to the natural colour, beaming at the flames consuming the painting. They gradually scorched the frame before the entire thing fell onto the bed.

His sly smirk matched hers, well the one that was painted on. He then turned to his sobbing sister and escorted her out of the house leaving the Mikaelsons to deal with the mess they made, after all, it was only right.

A mean realisation drifted through the Abattoir. The hybrid who never lost a war, who never knew defeat had lost a Queen.

An hour passed since the destruction of the hybrid's room and Elijah and Rebekah knew what had taken place. Kol dragged himself back to his own, whilst Klaus hesitantly entered the place where he and Adrienne were once at peace.

His bed was charred, her clothes torn to pieces and traces of pearls and jewels scattered on the floor.

He thought he could ignore the smell of ash, but what caught his eyes drove his knees to buckle and hit the floor.

The painting of Adrienne was burnt to a crisp. It once hung above their bed. Hergift but now it was destroyed. He had no doubt it was her who did it.

And for the last time that day, his heart broke again.

─────── •✦• ───────

Klaus sighed at the memory, wishing he could paint a brand new one, but wouldn't be the same and he believed she would just burn it if she saw it again. The charred stain on the wall, was a reminder of his crime and he would wear it until she found it in her to forgive him.

"You wanted to show me something, what is it? Continuing this facade has made me far more exhausted than I already felt."

"That's a symptom... of pregnancy?" she quirked a brow at his question, unimpressed and embarrassed by it, "I've been reading."

"Impressive and yes it's a symptom of pregnancy and the deterioration of my body, Happy?"

"No Adrienne, I am not happy," his tone grew low, annoyed that she could even ask him that. He stopped closer and she stepped back, driving the shrapnel to scrape against his heart, "I heard you barely eat."

"Again trusting the words of others," she tutted, increasing his frustration.

"Adrienne," he huffed, "Pastries and fruit are hardly sustainable."

"It's what I crave."

His face briefly lit up at the fact. Rekebah tried to be secretive about how Adrienne was, however, the worried expressions she held whenever she walked back to the Abattoir upset him more.

"It's what you crave?" he asked, calmly. He would ensure she had whatever she wanted, but along with a steady diet.

The bubbling excitement on his face angered her.

"Show me what it is that's keeping me from a good night's rest."

─────── •✦• ───────

Klaus gently pushed open a door, patiently waiting for Adrienne to step through.

His bride took her time, adding to the torment running him rampant. Fortunately, the house was almost silent, it seemed like his siblings were all minding their own business, but keeping an ear out for any arguments, apart from Kol, who was being tortured by his own thoughts from what he could hear, despite being on the other side of the house. And Marcel was out, doing God knows what.

The pure atmosphere of the angelic room had her speechless. She stepped towards the centre, looking in awe at the brightness of the walls, the crafted oak chair that sat as a throne, near the crafted crib that rested beneath a shelf of several miniatures. One was the angel — their angel that could never be destroyed and the rest were seven devils surrounding it. Seven for each of him and his siblings or for the ones that survived, her and her brother? She didn't know, nor would she ask.

A smile tickled her lips at the wooden cot that contained what she thought to be Nordic toys no doubt.

As she neared closer to the crib, her gaze settled on what she believed to be a carving of mjölnir (Thor's hammer) and a single candle.

"Mikaelson and Lumiére," Klaus breathed out, watching her every move.

"You did this?"

Daring to step closer, he nodded, not like she could see.

"Yes I made them, took a day for the cot and two for the chair, and the crafts took a few weeks, I wanted them to be perfect. I haven't slept since — I haven't slept much, I confined myself to these four walls for weeks, ensuring that it was up to your style, the baby's style. They're our heir, they deserve nothing less."

She nodded senselessly, continuing her tour of the room, following the wolves that ran across the walls.

"Our little wolf," Klaus commented, rather proud.

"And witch," she added.

"And vampire, three entities, so much power in such a small and innocent body," every day he wondered how his child would be. Shy? Energetic? Stubborn like the pair of them? "It's unheard of," an abomination.

"Until now."

Adrienne also thought of the various ways their child would grow up. She had time to, all cooped up in her childhood home, avoiding such responsibilities and still keeping her ear to the pavement, even appointing Clementine's sister as regent. The older Griffith woman was level-headed and loyal to her blood so she was in turn loyal to Adrienne.

"Yes, until now," he agreed, knowing that only their intimate circle knew of the child, but it was only a matter of time before the word spread after the ancestors whispered through covens which would get to the wolf packs and then night crawlers of the city. Klaus wouldn't let a hair touch their child's head, he vowed. "Trust you and I to conceive something of this magnitude," he tried joking and received no reaction.

Adrienne's attention was drawn to the small teddy bear resting in the crib, a red bow concealing its neck. For good luck, Marie's words echoed through her head, making her wonder if she had any influence over Klaus' decisions. She hadn't heard of them ever conversing, even at the wedding, he avoided her glares.

The sly scent of gladiolas drifted through the room. Her favourite flower, which made sure they were replaced whenever they were close to death.

A reminder of his love.

"It's perfect," she finally spoke up, turning around and seeing his pearly whites.

Despite all the contentment, she felt after seeing the nursery, she couldn't bring herself to smile, causing his to fade.

It was all so real, they were having a baby. They were married and together again...and Adrienne couldn't stand it.

She briskly walked past him, accidentally brushing her hand against his, feeding his thirst. That fleeting feeling left him incomplete, just like the painting of Fenrir.

"Adrienne," he followed after her, "Adrienne please."

"We may be married, but we're done," she snapped at him as they made their way to his room, "Yes I'm with child, your child —"

"I remember the night we conceived our child and how trusting you were," he rushed out, attempting to defuse the tension between them, but it didn't take.

She scoffed, "How delusional I was to allow you to ever see me in such a way. My body was nothing but a personal playground for you."

"You're wrong, it's more than that, you're more than that," he exacerbated, monitoring her and the baby's heartbeat, Adrienne's was skyrocketing.

"You should tell that to your tone then," she sneered, irked by the room they found themselves in.

The door was shut and she hated it, he was standing in the way.

"Do you think I would've gone along with this farce, our wedding, the union of our families if I didn't love you?" He stepped closer and she took another step back, "If I truly loathed you as you insist, I would've let you go out in the world, labelled as nothing more than a whore."

She shuddered at his words, "You've called me a whore Klaus, remember, you've diminished me, traumatized me, excuse me if I don't believe you can love me after that?"

Klaus ran his hands over his face, trying to find the right words to say, to soothe the situation. He couldn't stress her anymore. He was constantly reminded of these crimes against the woman he loved, from his siblings, her sibling, witches, parents and her and as infuriating it was, he knew he deserved it.

"Look, love, we're having a child together, we'll be parents, better than on our own."

"Not if I put it out of its misery," she blurted absentmindedly, but the moment she caught him to freeze and his eyes grew comically large, she gulped, "I thought about it before."

She's talked to Marie about it a few times and even Hadeon was going to take her to get the procedure but she changed her mind.

Klaus opened and closed his mouth a few times, mind racking with demons that threatened to speak for him.

"What did you say?" He rasped, eyes wide and swimming with betrayal as he balled his fists.

Adrienne's jaw clenched, "I wanted to get away from you, just like you claimed to be rid of me, so don't act like you want this. Our little problem would be for over, you can take down the nursery, not be a father, not be a husband."

He let out a harsh breath, "I wouldn't bloody want that, don't you dare say I would."

"You did many times," she snapped, then all of a sudden laughed at the anger radiating off of him, "What are you gonna do lunge at me, hurt me? Honey, you already did."

He flinched back at the memories shared between them, his breathing started to slow down, but the anger was still there.

"It was all a delusion, not devotion, all a fucking fantasy, all of it. But somehow we conceived a child during all of this, I child that I want," I'm just scared to have.

"A child you want with me?" Klaus bowed his head, scared to hear her answer.

"I have no choice," Adrienne whispered.

"Answer the question, do you want me as this child's father?" He pressed.

"You already know my answer to that."

No, he couldn't stomach the hurt he felt, it drifted through the air, latching onto her and yet she didn't regret it.

His nostrils flared and glossy eyes glanced at the wedding ring wrapped around his finger. It crushed him. The moment he put it on, he believed it would all change, yes he was fooling himself but so be it. Everything and everyone was working against him. Every day when he tried to see the woman who owned his heart and was turned away every time, made him wish he could somehow compel Adrienne to forgive, and everyone else to forget the crimes he committed against her name. If he were a lesser man he would give up, but no.

"Adrienne, You should know you're the owner of my heart," Klaus' voice tore through the silence.

Adrienne's gaze lowered to the ground, "And you're the breaker of mine."

Klaus heard her whisper loud and clear. Which only made him feel worse. The venom in her tone, her cold eyes and how she tensed with every interaction they had. He was the picture of dejection.

And she was the portrait of despair.

She started, "You failed to understand the words you spoke to me — yelled at me. How quickly you cast me aside for insecurities and hearsay. How easy it was to slate me, call me horrific names I haven't heard since my mother left me and proceeded to mock my trauma as if it was nothing. How you claimed to regret it all but you placed your first love and the origin of your cold and spiteful heart on a pedestal. You didn't trust me, no, I planted you inside my head, to set yours straight. And yet somehow you expect me to trust you, to look at you as if the ring on my finger means everything is okay. That this child magically makes everything better."

Her hurt eyes pinned Klaus in place, leaving him no choice but to listen.

He didn't mean the things he said, especially not about Aurora, nevertheless, he kept his mouth shut.

Adrienne took deep breaths between her speech, worrying him.

Just as he was about to rebuttal, she continued, "You know more than anyone how frightening the idea of having a child was to me. How I imagine myself morphing into the woman who bore me, who hurt and abused me until I couldn't take it anymore. I stole her power, she screamed that in my face constantly and now I fear I understand what she means."

Klaus digested her words, "You don't mean..."

"I feel weak. I'm getting weaker, my body and my powers. I don't remember my dreams as much, Marie claims it's normal for pregnancy and hormones to obstruct my magic, believing that since I've been so cautious not to use it, I've blocked myself and it's nothing to do with the child."

"Your fears manifested causing some sort of power blockage?"

She scoffed at his question, despite the sincerity of his tone.

"Yes, that's what I said," she responded irritably, "And now I battle each and every day with the thought I will grow to hate the thing growing inside me."

"You won't," he said definitively, I'll make sure that doesn't happen, it can't happen.

"Or the opposite," noting his hesitance, she explained, "I should've known you would act this way, everything I love ends up hating me. No doubt this child will."

His shoulders slumped, "Your presumption that I hate you is incorrect my love, and the child that swells your stomach would never. He or she –"

"He," she corrected, much to his surprise.

His head was spinning, "What?"

"That's what it is," she mumbled, palming her bump, almost smiling at it. "Marie told me during the wedding, when she touched the bump that's what she saw. Apparently, she looked the same when she carried Deon. Clementine confirmed it also. Evania has been very helpful by easing her visions, allowing them to be less painful — We're having a boy."

"A son?"

"Another Mikaelson boy." that will grow to hate me, she kept thinking.

Every king needs an heir, and Klaus had one. another prince of the city, he hoped that Marcel was as excited as him even though the vampire rarely spoke two words to him and he's been more secretive than ever.

He took an excited step forward and she cautiously followed his every move, his hands that moved from his sides and his eyes lit up drawing a bright smile.

"Can I?" He couldn't contain his excitement, it nearly overpowered his guilt, nearly.

Adrienne didn't say anything, just stared ahead.

"A minute, Adrienne, that's all I need," he pleaded, seeing the gears turning in her saddened mind.

Not thinking, she wordlessly nodded, allowing one of his hands to reach out and touch her pregnant belly.

Being near her was a luxury and caressing the swell was a dream.

"Thank you," for a multitude of things, he wanted to add, but before either of them could speak, they felt flutters beneath her stomach, startling them, "Did he just...?"

"Kick," Adrienne nodded, remembering the feeling from earlier that morning, "it's not the first time," she murmured and his brows furrowed, "It's happened before, but I thought it was just my imagination," she explained.

You should've told me, his lips twitched to speak.

"I think he responds to your voice," she added.

"They'll be strong soon," just like Rebekah's and Henrik's from what could recall from his mother's pregnancies. His smile didn't waver although he was irked by her lack of communication but he couldn't blame her. "Hopefully I'll be there for the next ones."

Adrienne didn't say anything else, just promptly pushed his hand away, earning a frown.

She went to turn around and leave as quickly as possible, but his voice stopped her.

"Do you loathe that we are wed?" He was met with a deadpan expression.

"Yes."

Fiddling with his wedding ring, he pressed on, "Do you ever think you'll able to forgive me for my wrong-doings?"

"No."

"Not even for our child?"

A bitter laugh escaped her lips "Goodnight Klaus."

"What I meant was—"

"Goodnight," she said icily, spinning on her heel, walking away and slamming his door, leaving him alone.

Klaus' heart hammered in his chest, his hand still tingled with the feeling of the kicks of his child, no, their child. The child he couldn't screw up raising, not like how he allowed Marcel to be a pawn in Kol's malicious games or a toy bounced between him and Elijah. No, he couldn't let that happen.

Adrienne's consideration of terminating the pregnancy lingered in his mind, just like her odd eating habits that were no doubt his fault.

So he turned around and groggily stalked towards the bed fighting the tears stinging his eyes. Then filed through the copious things under his bed, hidden beneath the floorboards.

Klaus sniffled, retrieving a painting that Adrienne put together for him, a large black wolf holding a single gladioli between its dagger-shaped teeth. A tear coated the canvas as his finger traced over the inscription, Mrs Mikaelson. He knew it was nothing more than a gag when she wrote it before he publicly assassinated her character.

His silent sobs turned to cries.

All the promises he made turned sour due to his dangerous paranoia. She used to be his Adrienne, his love, his Queen, but now she was his wife by force.

It made him realise something as harsh as it were true; he was alone in this, a self-proclaimed King of the City was alone without the one he yearned for, that his heart swelled for.

But that was his burden to bear, that not all Queens need a King.

└─────── •✦• ───────┘

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a/n:

first thing i want to say is that adrienne and klaus tied the not on national youth day, i did that on purpose because my baby is literally legally bound to this man and is no longer a child despite being nineteen (which is seen as a grown woman). writing this chapter was tough guys, although i enjoyed incorporating the haitian culture (which is beautiful btw) i feel for adrienne, i really do. as stated before this act will be "twisted" so expect the unexpected. the flashbacks were my favourite part to write, i wanted to show the fallout from that explosive day. i hope it was easy to understand, going back and forth. i wanted to reveal how stagnant and depressed adrienne is, even so, that when she finds out the gender of the baby, she doesn't even smile, she just acts like nothing was said.

elijah being on the outs with his family won't necessarily last long, however like hadeon, he's the oldest (i know he isn't but right now he is), and he's trying to keep everything on track whilst holding his siblings accountable for their actions. even as the best man, it's clear that elijah doesn't really want to be there. even marcel was reluctant to be page boy, he also didn't want to attend the day and seemed rather suspicious right?

the witches' powers are growing, however, adrienne's has weakened due to trauma, but don't worry about that. I'll continue to mention the progression of their status in the new chapters. and personally, i feel like adrienne is losing herself and it's scary, especially because everyone is seeing it.

they are having a baby boy, if you're disappointment or prediction didn't come true then oh well, the gender of the kid is somewhat significant. plus if adrienne had a girl i would fear their relationship would mirror hers and keyara (not on purpose, just as a self-fulfilling prophecy) and then my girl's mind would break and for someone with that much power, it would be horrific to see. even though i wouldn't allow something like that to happen, i just wanted to break the mould as so many klaus stories have twins or daughters.

this is what her wedding dress would've looked like https://pin.it/3kKKhlI

do you feel bad for klaus?

hope you enjoyed this chapter. any predictions for future ones or questions you wanna ask?