WARNINGS: MENTIONS OF DEPRESSION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, VIOLENCE AND DEATH.

┌─────── •✦• ───────┐

Thursday, November 2nd 1918

THREE moons had passed since the wedding and Adrienne had gotten worse. The pregnancy regressed her mind. When looking at her reflection she sobbed, disgusted with how big she was and when realising it was because of her son, she sobbed harder, hating that she blamed him in the first place. His constant kicks ruptured her spine, causing more pain and torment for the teen Queen. She hated to complain, so days passed when she didn't say a word, confined to the giant walls of her room. Sure she had guests, brother and sister-in-laws to cheek in, and friends to keep her updated. Her father only came by with useless news about their family club and how it was sustaining despite her prominent absence.

Klaus revelled in his delusions of Adrienne finding her way back to him and everyone was too exhausted to argue. Most days he would wake up outside her bedroom door, neck craned and sore, limbs stiff and hair unkempt. And when Adrienne exited her room to retrieve food or whatever she needed, she successfully avoided him, despite his pleadings and kind words.

On the odd occasion when they found themselves in the same room, he would listen to his son's heartbeats and marvel at her stunning appearance. But when he would ask about how she was, she would blankly stare ahead, not acknowledging his questions, driving him mad. Even when he proposed to touch the bump she would leave the room, with him trailing behind, pressing about matters they needed to revisit. Elijah reprimanded his brother many times, despite tending to be shocked each time he saw Adrienne, after all, it had been over nine hundred years since they were around a pregnant woman, that woman being their mother who was last pregnant with little Henrik.

Days would go by and Adrienne would find herself touching her swelling stomach and talking to the baby, it scared her how easily she lost herself in their one-sided discussions before her fears clouded her judgment. Rebekah sometimes slept beside her, whenever she wasn't working at St James infirmary. She would check Adrienne's temperature, food intake and the amount of sleep she had.

It was all too much Adrienne.

It got worse when she revealed the gender of the baby, attention came to her at every corner, and she couldn't take it.

She wanted it all to stop.

─────── •✦• ───────

Adrienne watched as the moon fell and the icy sun rose, still sitting in the chair facing the window, rubbing her bump, mumbling then stumbling on words she said.

"You would've loved your Aunt Mira. She was kind, too kind, especially for the world we live in. It's cruel, very cruel and I'm sorry for what you'll have to go through." She glanced down, "I'll – we'll prepare you for it all, as kindly as your late aunt would've."

She winced at the sound of the many servants passing through the Abattoir. They showed up at five in the morning, not even the blistering cold could keep them from doing the job they were compelled to do.

"I promise I'll do my best in raising you, I haven't had many role models and I'm sorry if you ever see me become angry or weak –" You lying bitch, she shook her head of her mother's... and Klaus' taunts. "I'll make sure you never see me that way. You can't, I won't allow it. You're a gift. That's what your Aunt Rebekah continuously says to me. The angel among sinners, now someone I hope you'll never see said that to me, in one of the gloomy alleyways of the city. I keep telling myself they'll be right, but I can't put that amount of pressure on your nonexistent shoulders."

Her hands moved to adjust her bust, hissing at their sensitivity in her gown. She'll need a new one if she wants to sleep with minimum discomfort.

"There are many people I'm glad that are no longer breathing so you won't be subjected to their horror. You see my son, when something doesn't grow as intended, it rots and I had to be the one to cut many of those weeds out. I want to you, not like you'll understand but my beloved mother was one of those weeds, my best friend was another," she gritted, sitting back in the chair, "and your uncle and oh-so-caring father were the others," she sighed as she held up the wedding ring that she now wore as a necklace.

The vows she made that day were forever on her decaying mind.

Eying the ring in disgust she continued, "I made promises in the eyes of God –  A God, to forever uphold, well until death. My death, because men like you're father cannot be cut away, ripped out like some damn ragweed. And what's worse is I have no energy to try. My silence torments him, but it won't last long. I have proclaimed to love him countless times, but love doesn't conquer all, not how I thought. It makes you blind, I was a victim of it and in turn, together we made you."

She let out a deep sigh as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Sleep was catching up to her and no doubt a maid would come in to change her bedding since she continuously sweated through it all. Between her late-night cravings, heartburn and hot sweats, she also suffered from constant back aches.

"The family you're gonna be born into... families, they're tough, strong but very damaged. I'm sorry – we're all damaged, twisted and traumatised, in different ways. I'm constantly reminded of it. So is your father. And the genes you've inherited will be judged and looked down on. You'll isolated partially because of your looks, you're different and that's okay, but people won't see it as such. Every day more people will know of your existence and I'll keep you away from those who will try to strike you down, hurt you. Those who I love and who love you won't stop protecting you, I won't stop, to the very end. Dedicated and devoted," she spat, thinking of the man she was bound to, "Always and forever."

─────── •✦• ───────

Tuesday, November 7th, 1918

With Clementine's constant encouragement, Elijah insisted that Adrienne restarted her piano lessons, but a storm came down on the music room, destroying all that was there, preventing not only them but also Marcel from occasionally calming his mind by playing whatever instrument he could find.

Elijah even tried suggesting another room with a piano, but he was met with the same answer, no. Playing in her presence did little to the teen witch, she had no opinions, no expressions, and not even her eyes moved like they used to.

"Rebekah mentioned you fainted, our mother used to when she was with child, typically with boys, so I believe that makes sense," He spoke softly, analysing the tea she drank, It had a special tonic, Marie sent to prevent fatigue and so far it was working, "History books detailed that Boudicca was the same, did you know she – " seeing her unimpressed expression, he changed the subject, "Clementine also informed me of your back pain."

"Oh did she?" she took another sip, glancing around the kitchen they found themselves in. She hated leaving her bedroom, but Elijah was just as persisting as his half-brother, "What else did she say, Elijah?"

Elijah found himself used to her blunt tone and how she didn't address him by his nickname anymore.

He leant on the countertop, uncaring for the food resting near, "When I told you that you have my word that I shall protect you and this child, I meant it."

"And I heard you loud and clear," she mumbled, placing the cup down.

"And yet you do not believe me," he accessed.

"I don't."

"And may I ask why, have I ever given you a reason to doubt my intentions."

"Your intentions are no doubt to have the baby growing in my belly, to be Klaus' sole purpose to grow as a person," his eyes grew wide at her response. "This may come as a shock to you Elijah but no child should bear that responsibility, nor will I let this one do so."

"I do not think that, but –"

"No buts, My child won't be his redemption, just like I wasn't Klaus'. Look where that got me, look where that got Marcel," her tone grew quieter as she spoke, "And although you thought I would help Klaus as if he isn't a grown man who's lived many lifetimes I didn't help him. That is up to him if he wants to change not to me or this baby," Just as he was about to argue, she carried on, "And even though you never distinctively said I was a tool to help him, when I couldn't I felt like I failed and I won't have that type of pressure and responsibility placed on something as small as a couple of oranges."

"Adrienne, my brother is many things, that I cannot deny, however the child you grow –"

"My child," she corrected to which he nodded.

"– You're child is special, not to just this family, but to him."

Adrienne sighed, briefly closing her eyes at his justification.

"For someone claiming to protect me and this child, you sure are doubling down on your words."

"I disagree, I'm merely stating the significance of the child. It was said none of us could procreate and yet Klaus could because of his nature. It is a miracle and I assure you he will act accordingly when that baby is born."

Adrienne took a deep breath and leaned closer, "If something doesn't grow it rots. And My husband has been rotting for nine centuries, you know that better than anyone," he remained silent, letting her go uninterrupted, "I have wished that this all was a nasty and cruel dream, but I realised I ran out of luck the moment I fell in love. My son isn't a pawn, nor is he some sort of redemption spawn. He hasn't even been born yet mind you. You keep insisting that I have your word, so keep it. Protect the baby, but do not come to me and claim that he's your family's redemption, no single person will be enough for that, especially not a child."

Adrienne didn't give him time to respond and left him alone.

Elijah stood with his thoughts, ignoring the servants that travelled back and forth between and around all the rooms. He knew what Adrienne said and understood it to be true. Klaus had been given chances, time and time again and squandered them in such a fashion, that none of them saw coming. Like the storm that destroyed the music room, he destroyed the one person who loved him so purely yet so fiercely. Elijah prayed, no he hoped that the same wouldn't fall upon his nephew.

When discovering that Adrienne would bear a boy, he smiled, uncharacteristically so, that Clementine and Valerie mocked him for days. It only fell when the reality of Adrienne's current mental state revealed itself once again. She is not fine, he told himself constantly. And whenever he saw his brother try to make amends he grew tired, watching the consequences of the actions and words Klaus committed.

He understood his brother to be a possessive and insecure man whose fears drove a wedge between him and his adoptive nephew Marcel and he wouldn't allow that to happen again.

The familiar scent of the hybrid and the hint of gin drew his attention.

Klaus entered the room, eyes narrowed, watching and taking in the half-eaten fruit and finished tea on the side.

Elijah's mood turned sour, "I assume you've come to threaten my being after engaging in a conversion with your wife? Or perhaps endanger someone I care about if I don't stay away?"

"I wouldn't hurt Clementine," Klaus retorted, only wanting to question where his wife was.

Elijah's gaze hardened, "Hmmm, I'm afraid im not convinced, does the name Celeste come to mind?"

"Celeste and I were not familiars," Klaus said, sounding bored.

"Well then I suppose that makes all the difference Niklaus," Elijah stepped closer to his brother, "But know this, if you ever decide to lay a hand on Miss Griffith, I will unleash the rage I keep concealed, not even your daggers will protect you," Elijah eyes flashed red, surprisingly unnerving his younger brother, "And I'll show you that I am my truly my father's son."

─────── •✦• ───────

Saturday, November 11th, 1918

"You said you loved me," Klaus forced his way into Adrienne's room, overwhelming the aroma with the smell of alcohol and desperation.

"And you said I was a lying bitch," she retorted, not able to find any energy to kick him out.

He rubbed his dry eyes, "You don't know how much I wish I could take back those words."

She sat back in her chair, "And you don't know how much I wish that I'm not Mrs. Mikaelson, but here we are."

"You honestly don't mean that," he stammered, distracted by the ring she wore around her neck.

"Just like you meant that was a lying bitch who was fucking your brother," she said spitefully, causing him to flinch at her tone.

"I'm so sorry," all the alcohol he'd consumed, rendered him unable to control his emotions, he was close to tears, upset from the hurt she tried to conceal, but he knew.

A humourless laugh escaped her, "When pigs fly I'll believe you."

"What do you want me to do? I've apologised countless times," he pleaded, which made her scowl.

"And that's just going to miraculously make me forget everything you said. That you regret loving me –"

"I don't," he took a step closer, but she stood up, revealing her bump, it'd grown in the last time he'd seen her. So beautiful, he needed to touch it, her, everything.

She shook her head, "You said that you did."

"I didn't mean it."

"I don't believe you."

"Adrienne –" he tried coming closer, but her eyes threatened to turn black.

"It hurts when someone you love doesn't believe a word that you say doesn't it?" she huffed, mind-pounding by all the memories of the warnings she received from others, how she shouldn't have sex with him, kiss, or love him because she should've found someone more patient to do those things with. "Remember how we used to say that we would love one another until hell froze over," he timidly nodded at her, furrowed his brows, readying himself for what she would say, "I guess it did."

Klaus refused to believe her, even if the heart she held was squeezed tightly, making him gasp for breath.

"We need to talk about us, I at least deserve that."

Adrienne laughed in disbelief, "I have given you everything Klaus. Everything. My love, my affection, my body and now I have your name and I'm carrying your child. I force myself to wake up in the morning because I am not selfish, I need to be fine so our child is fine. So I don't want to speak to you about anything that doesn't involve our baby. You berated me, claimed that you regretted loving me, then insulted my honour and my part in our relationship for all to see. Said that I was with every man that you could think of and to top it all of you call me a lying bitch. The exact words my mother tormented me with throughout my life and you expect me to jump into your arms and play happy families with you? No. You deserve nothing from me. Nothing."

"Fine, if not for me... for our boy, please, one more chance."

Exhausted by his pleas, she blinked slowly, turning her head to the pale ceiling, wishing it would just tumble down, smothering her until she no longer could breathe. So she could finally be rid of the curse she felt was consuming her, but that would be selfish right? She couldn't think that way, right? Wrong, it was all that took up her mind.

"You know what, I can never leave you," she paused, "It's settling in, I just tried to ignore it."

He held up his hands, tentatively coming closer as tears appeared in his eyes, "Adrienne let's sit down, stress isn't good for our child."

"I'm nineteen, married and pregnant. I can never leave you." She repeated until she was in tears, luring Rebekah who happened to arrive home. Her angry gaze landed on her brother, whose focus was adrienne, "Perhaps dying during childbirth is my only escape."

The Mikaelsons were speechless, watching as Adrienne laughed to herself and returned to her chair, looking out the window like they weren't even there.

─────── •✦• ───────

Sunday, November 12th, 1918

Kol's eyes fluttered open from where he lay in his bed, shocked that his sister was there, glaring between him and Klaus. Rebekah was renowned for her temper, it could be more challenging to reign in than Klaus', so when it unleashed it somehow could unnerve all of them.

Klaus had just bitten him again and snapped his neck, he could feel the bite spreading, and his body was sore, but it was only the early symptoms so he would be fine for the next hour.

She yelled, "Enough with the bites Niklaus!"

"And who are you to decide what I can and can't do?"

"Since your actions are the reason the city is in turmoil. Don't think I haven't noticed the townspeople going missing every week. Is the stench of blood trailing to your art room not enough?"

"He wants Mikael's attention sister, haven't you heard," Kol was seconds away from being bitten again, but Rebekah threw Klaus to the other side of the room, making him hit his head against the wall.

Kol's raspy laughter was only cut short when he saw Rebekah's scowl, "You two single-handedly ruined something brilliant, You broke the heart of my close friend and for what? Because of your vendetta against Niklaus?" She then turned to Klaus, "Or for your jealousy and pride? She brought out parts of you two that I haven't seen since we first turned since we were children and you not only destroyed that, you destroyed her, Let's just hope she isn't as malicious as you two because God help us all if we have to endure a Lumière's wrath."

The brothers couldn't help but take in every word she spoke, subjected to reliving their actions.

"I force her to eat because she forgets to and when she doesn't she overeats and vomits, triggering the demons that gnaw at her mind, her mother taunts her in her dreams claiming that she lost all her value, that she's too large so no one will ever want her again. And what did you do Niklaus, use her mother's words against her, threw it in her face that she had to put down that nasty woman."

Klaus turned away and gritted his teeth and the memory.

Rebekah clenched her fists, "You know more than anyone how a parent's abuse can mould you, change you for the worse and yet you believe you have the right to weaponise her trauma, I'm ashamed of you."

She then recalled the sombre words Adrienne uttered days before. She couldn't sleep, scared of what her sister-in-law would do to herself if left alone, luckily Hadeon was there with her now.

Adrienne was watched like a hawk and though she hated it, it was necessary.

Rebekah continued, "She is like a sister to me, she is the reason that you do not hunt us down like Mikael with your silly toys that keep us from seeing years, decades, empires rise or fall. She is carrying your child Niklaus, your son," Klaus didn't dare to look up at her, "the very son she had to convince you that it is yours and that you were the only man she ever laid with," she shook with anger, "you labelled her a trollop, just like you do me, both of you, even Elijah's judgments never cease when I claim to be in love, but Adrienne never looked at me how all of you do."

Although she was extremely envious that he friend could bore a child, she didn't let it stop her from loving or caring for the teen Queen.

"I thought we all finally found parts of ourselves we'd lost all those years ago," The brothers finally looked up at her, just as Rebekah tossed a small carving towards the hybrid who caught it with ease. He was shocked by what he held; a brave warrior he made back when they were kids. "What happened to us?" she asked gripping her necklace, "Where did those lovely boys go?"

─────── •✦• ───────

Later in the evening, Klaus found himself plastered, sitting, confined to the walls of the attic, muttering to himself, in the presence of her older brother who sighed, standing before him.

"She hates me, Elijah," he slurred, trying to take another sip of whiskey.

"Can you blame her?"

Klaus hiccuped, "She stares at me like I'm nothing and what's worse is I feel like nothing."

"Congratulations Niklaus, you now know how she feels," Elijah rolled his eyes at his brother's drunkenness.

"O-oh enough with the reprimanding, I know what I've done, I cannot escape my past transgressions, not like how I've been able to do so," Klaus stammered.

Elijah readjusted his tie, "I think it's time for you to be patient, she's close to falling into a void no one could pull her from. You're words triggered the –"

"The demons that she used to fight. I know, and I feel awful, worse than that..."

"... you feel responsible for her pain. Good," Klaus flinched at his hostility, "Now it's time to be patient or whatever patient is for you. I suggest, instead of the copious gifts or the pleas, you start working on yourself, be better, you'll be a family in a matter of months, it may not be the one you want, but it is the one you'll get. Not stop with the self-pity, it's unbecoming of a self-proclaimed King of the city."

Klaus drunkenly whined, "But –"

"You don't want your son to see you like such, or am I mistaken?"

"What kind of question is that?" Klaus asked in disbelief, holding a hand to his chest.

"Then act accordingly, not like this," Elijah insisted, taking the bottle from his hands.

"So you're finally acting like my big brother again?" the hybrid mocked, cocking his head to the side.

"Don't insult me, how I've behaved is in direct response to how you act."

The feeling he felt when Klaus claimed to not need him all those months ago wasn't lost on him. It was fiercely strong and yet he chose to forgive.

"Threatening me with unleashing your anger lies behind your eyes, I would've been effective, but now, I am not so sure," Klaus muttered, "Still, such threats were foolish."

"Foolish is losing a queen," Elijah almost smirked at the offended look on Klaus' face, "What I am doing, is reminding you that you are a King," he dropped the bottle to the ground, not caring that it shattered, "So I suggest you reconsider my words because Adrienne is losing herself and foolish is not a word I would use to describe the matter if she truly does."

─────── •✦• ───────

Sunday, November 19th, 1918

"Damn, would you look at that," a shiver tingled down Marcel's spine at the movement under his palm. "Sorry I haven't seen a pregnant woman since my mom," that earned a raised brow from Adrienne, "She was pregnant a few years after me, but it didn't survive..." he trailed off, realising how inappropriate that was, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," she waved him off, but he knew better.

He'd been hearing of all the symptoms Adrienne was going through and how sinister they were getting. He felt as if he assisted in pushing her this position and no matter how often she told him that he wasn't at fault, he couldn't forgive himself.

"He's really a he?"

"You want a sister?" Adrienne wondered, She shivered at the thought of having someone like her, someone she could potentially hate as her mother hated her – she violently blinked away those visions, startling him slightly, "Why?"

"There are enough men around here," he murmured, pulling his hand away, and smiling at the bump.

"Can't disagree with that one."

"Adrienne, I'm sorry, about before, about what I did."

"Stop apologising," she cut him off, already annoyed by his tone, "Nothing would've stopped him from reacting how he did, not even you."

He stiffly nodded and then surveyed her room, It was cosy, which he liked, but he thought she had to get out of there once in a while.

"I could get you outta here you know?" she nearly cracked a smile at the offer, "We're in the longest-standing buildings in New Orleans, many secret tunnels, so people can come and go as they may."

"Like you and Rebekah?" she quirked up a teasingly brow, Marcel began coughing loudly, whilst giving her a warning look. "You're not subtle and nighttime is the only time I can wander through the halls of this place. It's somewhat peaceful, provided no dead bodies are lying around."

"Kol's doing," he noticed her tense at his name. "No more werewolf bites for him."

"And why that?"

He shrugged, "No doubt your husband has something else for him planned."

Adrienne had no response to that.

Marcel rubbed the back of his neck, "I should get going, Deon's coming soon."

"I mustn't keep you," she nodded, grateful for the company. "Thank you for the offer."

"No problem, you need some colour on those cheeks and fresh air would do you good," she rolled her eyes at his teasing.

"You don't say."

"There's only room for one unstable Lumiére at a time," he joked.

That brought a small smile to her lips, making him grin widely.

He rose from his seat, but before he could leave she said one last thing.

"Marcel...Just because he saved you doesn't mean you owe him the rest of your life," he opened his mouth to speak but she continued, "If you and Rebekah love each other as much as I can tell, don't squander the chance, please."

He averted his eyes and slowly nodded, then pressed a kiss to her forehead and walked out, gently shutting the door behind him, leaving her to rub her bump again.

Seconds had barely passed before the door opened, revealing her pensive-looking brother.

Hadeon stepped in and ensured they wouldn't be heard as they talked, even ceiling the door momentarily.

"How mad do you feel today?" he quipped, sitting down with a hand behind his back.

"Shut up," Adrienne scoffed, whilst he kissed her cheek, "how was the meeting a few days ago? I'm hearing more buzz about this Papa Tunde."

He rolled his eyes, "That redhead came by, sniffing for information."

"Genevive?"

He nodded, "Yes her and her boring friend."

"And did they say anything?" she asked, knowing how much of a sycophant Genevive was.

"Valerie stunned them with her vicious tongue before they could get anything," Hadeon smirked at the memory.

"No doubt Genevieve is enthralled by sacrificial magic," she sighed, rubbing her bump.

"As if we haven't been practising it for years," Hadeon's tone lowered, growing angry as he spoke, "even when you helped that traitor with his magic."

Adrienne's shoulders rolled back at the thought of assisting Kol for months with his magic revival. What a waste.

"The witches wouldn't take kindly to that if I informed them," she replied, shifting in her seat, trying to find a better position.

"Fuck them," he spat.

She chuckled, something she only did in his presence, "Deon, say it politically."

He tossed back his head, "They can kindly disappear before the consequences of their actions draw them to the same ends as their predecessors."

"There you go," she mockingly clapped much to his amusement, "and now tell me what's behind your back."

Adrienne looked unimpressed when he pulled out a familiar brown teddy bear with a patchy hat sitting on top, he grinned when he held it out for her.

"For my nephew," he beamed.

She accused, "You stole this from me."

"Years ago, I know," he innocently smiled when she snatched it out of his grip.

"I hate you," she mumbled, eyeing her stolen childhood toy that would soon be placed in her son's nursery.

"Make sure my nephew knows who it's from," Hadeon had already a list of things he and Rebekah bought, but didn't feel like it was time to showcase them just yet, "All our witches blessed it, even Marie."

Her eyes lit up, "Evenia too?"

He slowly nodded, "And she's even helped Val monitor who's in areas of places she visited, quite clever."

"It is," she couldn't hide her amusement.

Hadeon playfully scoffed, "Don't give me that look."

"What look? That I was right in letting her join our coven?" she sassed.

He held his hands up in mock surrender, "Never said you were wrong."

"No, you were unwelcoming," she pointed out.

"We didn't know her," and we were just betrayed, that went without saying.

"And now we do."

"Yes, now we do," he agreed, then played with his ring-clad fingers, "There's a spread downstairs, would the lady want her meal there or up here so the wolf strolling the land can threaten to huff and puff and blow the Abbatoir down?" he joked and her mood deflated.

"The latter."

"Good," he would bring that up for her shortly.

"How are you?" Adrienne suddenly asked, although he looked better, he was still grieving as was she.

He feigned confusion, "What do you mean?"

"Cut it out, tell me... are you still taking –"

"No. I'm clean," he tried to find the right words, "as clean as I can be, only one drink a day. Suppose prohibition couldn't come at a better time."

Her gaze turned to her hands, "I'm sorry I can't do more."

He sighed and scooted closer, grabbing her hands, "You've helped enough, same with Mother."

"Good," she weakly smiled at that, "and Erebus?"

"Acting as if nothing's wrong," he tried not to snap in her presence.

She gritted her teeth, "Yes, he hasn't visited this week, only sends word."

"Coward."

"Precisely."

After rubbing her hands, he sat back in his chair, "How is your Desdemona, Othello?"

She almost laughed at his joke, "Oh shut up."

"Still bothering you? I could slit his throat again," he rather liked that suggestion.

He glared whenever he saw the hybrid. It was insane to think they used to be friends, quite close at that, both would seek the other's council, but now, nothing.

Adrienne shook her head, "I don't want you anywhere near him."

"Well that's impossible as he doesn't leave you alone," Hadeon deadpanned.

"And he never will," she chillingly thought.

"Indeed."

─────── •✦• ───────

After returning from the tunnels of the Abattoir, Marcel tried to remain as quiet as possible, Rebekah had already gone off on her own, not without pressing a kiss to his lips, leaving him to make his way back to his room, but what he found resting outside it was not what he expected to see.

"Klaus," he cleared his throat, heart beating faster as the hybrid took in his messy appearance, "what are you –" a pale hand softly caressed his face.

Klaus stared at him with a look that he didn't understand.

"I'm proud of you," was all the Klaus said. Marcel seemed stunned, even more so when Klaus pulled him for a hug. "I regret not expressing that enough."

"It's okay."

"It isn't," Klaus pulled away, inhaling sharply as he kept one hand on the back of Marcel's neck, "Come, let's discuss the arrival of your brother."

"Okay."

─────── •✦• ───────

Friday, November 24th 1918

It was time for the weekly council meeting. For a while now, they were held in the Abattoir. Not to state the obvious but Adrienne wasn't in attendance tonight, no she was resting, and the human faction representatives were nowhere to be seen, but Elijah stood for the vampires as usual, Willaim was there for the wolves, but not just him. The Guerrera wolves had a seat at the table, two in particular. William wasn't a fan in the slightest, but bigger matters had to be solved.

Clearing his throat, Elijah began speaking, "Gentlemen, make yourselves at home. Mayor O'Connell appears to be running late and Mr Wilks is assisting with amending his place of occupation, but there's much to discuss, so I shall begin."

Klaus adorned a smug smile as he walked down the stairs, "One moment, please, brother. You know how much I enjoy these illicit, little gatherings," which he rarely attended.

Elijah withheld an eyes roll, turning to the table once again, "Do not be troubled. Despite my brother's reputation, I can assure you, we've invited you here to broker in peace. You have my word."

He directed his vow towards the Guerrera wolves.

"And, lucky for you, my brother always keeps his word," Klaus basked in the irritation in William's eyes and turned to the other men, "You two are from the Guerrera crime family, a brutish pack of thieves and killers. And that's nothing compared to what you become on a full moon, is it?" he licked his lips chuckling at the looks on their faces.

"Yes, yes, yes. Of course, a bite from your kind is not lethal to an Original. Conflict between us would not end well for you at all." Elijah stelled his hands on the table, "Let's state our proposal here. My brother and I control the ports of the city, but with Prohibition soon to be the law of the land, there'll be a certain uptick in the kind of federal presence we prefer to avoid. Therefore, I'd like to suggest a system whereby – under our supervision, of course," he faced the wolves, "the Guerrera family can traffic alcohol into the city of New Orleans for a profit. We would still be in charge, but our rule would remain a secret."

All their attention was torn away by three unfamiliar faces.

"This all sounds very good, but tell me, how will it benefit the witches?" A dark-skinned man wearing a white tuxedo strolled in, followed by two identical young men following behind, one held a box, which had Willaim's attention.

"I am sorry. This is a private meeting," Elijah said, pulling away from the table.

"And the witches already have representation," William surprisingly spoke in Adrienne's defence.

Klaus couldn't help but agree, "That, they do."

He took notice of the twin's markings on their heads, growing curious as to what they meant.

The dark-skin man stepped forward, taking off his white fedora, "This private meeting was brought forth to my attention, for Kings of the city. But I, too, am a King, and I have rules for my witches."

Klaus too stepped forward, after exchanging another look with his brother, "I'm impressed. You're either quite ambitious or quite mad. What's your name, mate?"

"I am Alphonse Bellatunde Delgado – Papa Tunde to my followers – and I come to ask that the witches be granted fair tribute for allowing your existence in our city."

Elijah deeply sighed, now recognising the name Hadeon brought to their attention a while ago. The man is harmless until he's not, Hadeon restated the words Marie said to him. Elijah wished they stopped him from doing have a while ago, but it was Klaus who was determined to play with him until Adrienne was well enough to.

He asked, "Are you suggesting that you speak for the French Quarter witches? I do believe my sister-in-law speaks for all of them."

"And yet the witch Queen is not in attendance, Why is that?" Alphonse pressed, wanting to meet the great Adrienne Lumière.

"Prior engagement," Klaus lied. Adrienne was sleeping off the midnight snacks she demanded him to make for her. He might've been tired when she woke him, but he was glad he could do what she asked.

"She's a busy woman," William defended again, shocking the Mikaelsons. "And tends to the needs of her people, so I'm told."

Alphonse chuckled, "Her people? I've been informed of her killing many witches."

Klaus struggled to contain his annoyance, "Killing the minority to save the majority, my wife is very noble, yet merciless when needs be."

"Saving the city countless times without gratitude from the followers you claim to represent is not easy," Elijah added, making the Guerrara wolves nod, as they remembered the events of Adrienne's coronation.

"Yes, I've heard of her... accomplishments, but now I speak for those witches who do not have a voice, as King and I expect our future negotiations to go very smoothly. As a guarantee, I brought a gift. I await our next gathering."

One of the twins placed a medium-sized leather case on their table before they left with Papa Tunde.

Everyone gathered around and watched as Klaus lifted the lid of the case, he felt a strange sense of deja vu as he did so.

They grimaced seeing what the severed head of Mayor Clarence O'Connell was, whose forehead had the same magical symbol carved into it as the twins.

The wolves all gulped at the sight, William in particular growled upon seeing his friend, Elijah flash next to him, holding his shoulder, to prevent him from getting up.

Klaus tutted, "Well, I suppose we'll need a new mayor."

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a/n:

originally the scene where elijah threatens klaus was supposed to be between adrienne and klaus, however, i hate putting my girl in scenes with him, it's too much and she ends up becoming more depressed and tired, which she doesn't need. and no doubt when she hears of the situations happening with papa tunde she'll get even more angry, but trust he will be dealt with.

this whole chapter was to show the progression of her pregnancy and how she's coping and safe to say, she isn't coping that well unless she's around her brother or even marcel.

you can say that she has similar symptoms to what her keyara had when she was pregnant with adrienne. 'how pregnancy destroys youth' but adrienne is doing her best not to allow her demons to run wild. she can't become like keyara so she's doing what she can with what she's given. she constantly tries to avoid klaus which is hard as she's living with him to keep up appearances. luckily kol is never around and the rest of the family is content with their small interactions, however, elijah is working overtime.

rip to clarence... in canon, he was the mayor who was killed but without a name so i gave him one. you'll find that i have so many oc's so if I'm not using them, they will be mentioned or sent away.

any name predictions for the baby, how do you think he'll look or act?

what did you think of this chapter? klaus' behaviour, the mikaelsons overall? hadeon and his grieving, my girl adrienne?