WARNINGS: CHILDBIRTH AND COMPLICATIONS, BLOOD, DEPRESSIVE THOUGHTS

┌─────── •✦• ───────┐

Thursday, January 23rd, 1919

EVERYONE wanted power and Papa Tunde kept showing how thirsty he was for it, his campaign was never-ending, killing vampires, witches (despite his beliefs) and a few Malraux wolves, using their sacrifices without Adrienne's permission, but with her significant absence, the town was back in turmoil. Klaus said to have started studying Tunde's methods, and even reached out to his wife's witches who did the same; they only peacefully coexisted because of their common goal: Adrienne.

Using various Grimoires to help with the task at hand, Klaus sought to apprehend his mother's from Adrienne, however, her depressive episodes prevented her from speaking, so he made do with the plethora of Grimoires he'd found during his many years on earth. With the help of others, he was adamant about putting Papa Tunde down. Even Marie advised the hybrid in such ways since she and the great sorcerer were familiars and she would do anything to help her surrogate daughter, even work alongside one of the men who hurt her.

Adrienne was no longer the Teen Queen. She entered her twentieth year unable to move around, ensuring that her birthday was unbearable and crippling.

People were once again gunning for her title and slating her name and she had to defend it, but first, she had a son to bore and it was only a matter of time before he would come.

A prince to a King and Queen or an angel amongst sinners?

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"What's wrong? What happened, why is the floor wet..." Hadeon had rushed into the Abattoir after feeling inadequate.

"Her water burst you bloody idiot!" Rebekah returned from the infirmary just in time to witness it all happening. Her brothers had passed through the sitting room also, in shock, but quickly alerted everyone they knew and trusted to come over.

Hadeon gawked, "You sure know how to pick your timings don't you sister?"

Adrienne wailed once she felt another contraction, Marie had helped her up along with Klaus. The hybrid kept whispering to her but even in her moment of agony she kept trying to push him away.

Everything was in utter chaos.

Hadeon stood in shock despite his mother screaming at him, Elijah pushed Kol to get towels and loads of them. Thunder clapped and sent the Équilbre witches to the mansion, at first they joined their Queen's side but they were sent away as she was brought up into a spare room, which was her designated birthing room.

All the men were sent downstairs to the sitting room to wait.

But there was only so much they could do when Adrienne's screams were all they could hear.

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"Where's Erebus, he should be here, no?" Klaus wondered where his father-in-law was after he heard Hadeon make many calls.

"He's not exactly father of the year," Hadeon muttered, scowling at their proximity.

"Gentlemen, not now," Elijah pulled his brother back, then kneeled in front of the witches who lit candles and poured salt in a seven-sided shape, "Clementine, dearest,  what are you trying to achieve?"

"She's birthing a tribrid, the first of its kind," she said, focused on each corner.

Valerie nodded along, "Unimaginable power will be in the air today."

"Tonight," Kol corrected, his presence was unwelcomed and that he knew but he couldn't stay in his room, not when the screams echoed through the house.

Evenia scrunched her face, "What?"

"Look at the sky," he repeated from where he stood.

They all rushed to the windows, jaw-slacking at the bitter sky, it wasn't bright at all, darkness had forcibly concealed the light. It drove citizens to abandon the streets in fear of what was to come. Lightning struck, mostly around the house, it was only a matter of time before the rain poured from the sky, the colour of the sun, drowning the streets in its glory.

"Fuck," Hadeon muttered much to Elijah's dismay, "You girls start on the plan, I'll focus on the weather," he instructed, eyes morphing black as his hands touched the window.

Soon everyone returned to their places apart from Kol who continued to stare pensively out at the horrific horizon, near a muttering Hadeon.

Marcel decided to stay close to his friend, not liking how Kol was so close.

Evania rushed out, looking at Klaus, "Everyone will know what is happening as soon as the babe is delivered, your son's existence will travel, strong and fast."

Dread spread across the room, as the house started to shake. It's Adrienne's doing.

Klaus turned to Hadeon, "How is that possible?"

Feeling his icy gaze, the Lumière man responded, "The blood of a Lumière runs thick and strong, many already knew about the prophecy regarding my nephew, we just didn't know what it meant."

Clementine reminded Klaus, "An angel among sinners."

Emotions attacked Klaus' face and the sounds of Adrienne's screams didn't help.

Valerie muttered bitterly, "The power emitting from Adrienne let alone this home – people will seek and try and draw from this power, no doubt some have already started."

Hadeon gritted his teeth, wondering if his father was currently doing that.

Marcel gently rubbed his shoulders, calming him slightly.

"Nexus Vorti..." Kol realised, earning annoyed nods from the witches.

"English please!" Klaus' rage was growing, his wife was in pain and he could feel every second of it.

"They're rare occurrences, usually seen as miracles because they are so infrequent," Evania cautiously explained, recalling the tales her brother used to tell her.

"They can be channelled for enormous amounts of power to fuel near-impossible spells," Hadeon mumbled, between his chanting.

The female witches found it hard to light the candles, Adrienne's forces were unintentionally working against them, but they prospered even though it took some time.

"Such as what exactly?" Marcel asked curiously.

"The birth of the first immortal," Silas, Kol shuddered at the mere thought of the man.

Elijah glanced between his brothers, wary of how they might react.

They all tensed at the shriek escaping Adrienne's mouth. They couldn't escape it and it looked as if neither could nature. Plants grew and died all in seconds. Could her magic be doing this? Hadeon eyes fluttered back to normal as his powers maintained the balance for now.

"When the first vampires were created," Clementine continued with the examples, softly smiling at Elijah who she found was already longingly looking at her.

"The other side," Evania went on, drawing power from a consenting Clementine.

"Not to mention how this child was conceived on a full moon," Valerie knew all the details much to Klaus' annoyance, "and our beloved Queen was born during a blood moon."

"Adrienne's power only adds to it," Hadeon added.

Evania turned back to Klaus, "There might not be much we can do to stop people from discovering what's occurring, but we can at least stop them from taking the power."

"Well get on with it then," he snapped, on edge from being so useless.

Everyone turned to him, with mixed emotions.

"Klaus..." Marcel sighed.

"Don't speak to me like that!" Evania couldn't help but snap, sending a lamp tumbling to the ground. She never got used to the limited power pumping through her veins.

"Niklaus sit down," Elijah advised.

"We'll get on with it, but do not think we're doing this for you, not after all that you've done," Valerie hissed, glaring at Klaus and Kol, "both of you."

The building shook as Adrienne's screams grew louder.

"They're doing the best they can, snapping won't help," Marcel followed the hybrid to the nearest seat.

He too was angsty and the fluctuations in weather didn't help. He never liked thunder or lightning, even as a child.

"And what will Marcellus, can't you hear the defeating screeching of my wife? I have no idea what could possibly happen tonight," he snarled, and everyone could hear, "I've had to endure the copious occasions of her proclaiming she might prefer to endure a slow, agonizing death than risk becoming her mother when my child is born. The same child that will have enemies before taking its first breath, so excuse me if I can't muster any patience or kindness."

After that long winding response, they all thought long and hard. Whilst Klaus mindlessly muttered the worst.

"Everyone will know," he stared at the ceiling, "Everyone will know of his birth."

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Adrienne's head was beaded in sweat, and mountains of pillows were sat up behind her as she groaned and rolled her neck to the side, watching as the nurses dashed back and forth with various tools and towels. Her gown was pushed to her knees, legs pried apart and tubs of water were on either side.

Marie whispered, "It'll be over soon ma cherie,"

"It's been five hours!" she collapsed backwards, the contractions only now started to get closer together and, Rebekah's encouragement and Genevive's doting were more annoying than anything.

"It'll be over soon," Marie repeated, cautious of her surging magic.

It appeared that ever since Adrienne somehow blocked herself from practising, it had been growing, festering waiting to explode and today was that day.

"He's not coming out is he?" Adrienne cried.

Walking around didn't help when it was suggested that the baby might've been the wrong way around. It felt that he didn't want to come out.

"I can't keep doing this," she breathed out, aching all over.

Another surge of magic jolted the house, earning wide looks all around.

Marie knew she had to help harness the power, but she couldn't leave Adrienne's side.

"Yes, you can Adrienne," Rebekah rushed over, clutching her hand, sweat-coated her nurse uniform along with other bodily fluids.

"No," Adrienne shook her head, panting in pain.

"You'll need more water my queen," Genevieve joined Rebekah, but Marie knocked the cup out of the witch's hand, sneering at her shocked expression.

"Stick to your job, not coming here, giving her things she doesn't need," the Priestess glared.

Genevive gasped, "It's only water, do you think I would dare to –"

"I don't think, not about you no, never you, just watch yourself," Marie's expression never wavered and one nudge from Rebekah had the red-head returning to her station in front of Adrienne's legs.

The original could smell the water that was in the cup and water only, but she knew of the jealousy the older witch had for her friend. It was obvious, yet she needed assistance with delivering her nephew, luckily Marie was there also for extra protection. Genevieve heard whispers of the pregnancy but didn't believe it to be true, only gossip, that was until today and her harbenged feelings toward Klaus deflated, but only ever so slightly.

"Now push!" Rebekah's command drew an angry groan from the witch Queen.

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"How long has it been?" Marcel held back a yawn, exhausted from the constant running around, hunting down anyone who posed a threat to the house.

"Six hours," Klaus's eyes lost their gold specs as he threw off his bloody blazer.

Civilians may have been scared to leave their homes, but in the darkness out came the monsters.

It's as if they were possessed to attack the house, forcing the Mikalesons to defend it.

Blood rained from the sky, pouring over the fights that surrounded the property. Wolves were drawn out, not summoned, some overcame it like the Malrauxs and a few of the Crescents. The Guerraras lost a few members in the fight, only calming down when they saw their brothers and sisters' lifeless eyes.

Nightwalkers fled to the scene the moment they weren't in control, their cravings and hunger made them.

Witches kept to the shadows, humming their spells targeting the abattoir and attempting to draw from the power echoing all around them.

Fortunately, Melinda joined the Equilbre witches and Hadeon, regardless of any animosity, made a pentagon, chanting which caused the salt surrounding them to catch fire. They gripped onto each other, feeling the home shudder beneath them.

"Elijah I can't..." the screams of Adrienne brought tears to Klaus' eyes.

Kol watched as his older brother comforted Klaus. It was torture, not being able to help Adrienne, not being able to speak his feelings, so he monitored the witches instead, gritting his teeth with every thunderclap and groan he could hear.

Marcel aided his friends who got hurt in the fight, it wasn't their fault, it was beyond their control.

But nothing worse could happen, right?

─────── •✦• ───────

Adrienne thought she was going to die, she went in and out of consciousness, her throat was sore and her body was almost numb. Sweat clung to her like a second skin. She didn't know what she wanted anymore. Voices were heard around her but she was too tired to decipher who was speaking, who was telling her to keep going, to stay awake, to not shut her eyes. Apparently, she was given some sort of anaesthetic but that wore off hours ago.

She suddenly gasped for breath, feeling the movements inside her become more aggressive.

She rose on her elbows and cried out.

"I don't wanna hate this baby, it's killing me and I don't wanna hate it, Please, I can't be my mother!" She repeated in pain, her voice booming through the house.

"You won't be," Marie cooed, whilst Genevieve didn't know what she meant.

"You'll be better," Rebekah said fiercely, "We'll make sure of it."

"I need him," Adrienne panted, throat growing dry again.

Genevieve glanced around, "Who –"

"Klaus..."

"It's improper for a man to be –"

"Oh shut it!" Rebekah hissed, only wanting to accommodate Adrienne in any way possible.

Marie waved her head, jerking the door open, "Get him!"

"Klaus!" Adrienne screamed his name like it was the last thing she would say.

Her scream tore through the floors and he was there in an instant, by her side, taking Marie's place, moving the pillows out of the way, pulling Adrienne up as he replaced them.

Her rich, addictive blood nearly entranced him upon entering, he stared at his sister, worried she would somehow lose control due to the stench and yet she didn't, and instead came to the foot of the bed.

"Adrienne, I'm here," right where I need to be.

"You're here," she looked and he could've sworn she smiled, disregarding the blood on his attire, he'd missed that smile. "Help me, I can't —" she let out another groan.

Marie dabbed the sweat out of her face, sending a nod to the hybrid who felt the bones in his hands crack and break with every squeeze his wife did, but he didn't care. He would rather have all the broken bones in the world than see his sweetheart suffer.

Klaus ran his hands over her face, pulling any drenched kinky strands from her eyes. How women gave birth was beyond him. He rested his chin on her head, trying to gently encourage her to keep going.

Rebekah eyes were glued to the entrance of Adrienne's core, her heart thumped, echoing in her ears at the sight of the head peaking through.

"Come on Addy, push, we can see his head," she beamed, as Genevieve tried stopping the excess blood.

"I can't," she shook her head, collapsing against Klaus' chest again.

"She's losing blood Nik, Help her," Rebekah urged.

"I don't want... I can't, I want to be sick." She bit on her lip, resisting the urge to cry.

Marie knew she wouldn't be, it was nerves.

"Then be sick," Klaus encouraged, not caring about her nails piercing his legs as she attempted to push.

"I can't do this," Adrienne feared that she would be cut open, but then again she didn't, and that maybe death was better than this.

As if reading her mind, Klaus decided to say something that startled the woman in the room, and no doubt his brothers and surrogate son who could hear downstairs.

"What do you want Adrienne, do you want me to save him over you?"

She stared up at him in horror, "What?"

"Is that what you want, to lose your life, for me to choose him, do you not care?" he pressed on, dismissing the looks of disbelief and glares, and held her closer to him.

Adrienne shrieked, "I hate you!"

Klaus cracked a smile, "Good, use that, use all that anger, channel it into the strength I know you have, the strength that is possessing your bones, muscles, joints, your being and push and don't stop, for I will not lose you, either of you,"

He refused to lose them. He couldn't, he wouldn't allow it and rebuked the thought.

Adrienne felt defeated, which he knew. He's known since the moment he publically shamed her, with the notion that the child he was so desperately trying to save now wasn't his. Since their wedding she was far from herself, even when it was announced that they were pregnant she was afraid. He wasn't there, comforting or supporting her, he was doing the complete opposite.

But not now, he wouldn't stop until both his wife and child were okay. Seven hours or seventeen he didn't care.

Rebekah started nodding, realising what he was doing was working, Genevieve grabbed the Obstetric forceps and passed them to her.

Klaus was appalled by the equipment, but put that aside and pressed a little kiss to her head while he still could.

"Squeeze my hand, yell at me, spit in my face, rage! You have it in you, we all know you do, now come on, push, the shoulders are the hardest part," he bobbed his head in his sister's direction, they both remembered witnessing Henrik's birth and not leaving their mother's side, "You're halfway there!"

Adrienne gritted her teeth and pushed again, "I'm being torn in two."

"I'll heal you, I'll make sure you won't bleed out, I'm right here, Rebekah's here, Marie..." he turned to the priestess, "Your mother is here," a happy tear ran down Marie's face. "Now push."

"I won't die," Adrienne gripped his arm.

"You won't die," he promised.

"Push Addy," Rebekah timed every second.

Marie grabbed Adrienne's hand, uncaring of her strength, watching her try her best to deliver her child as safely as possible.

"And again," Genevieve insisted.

"Come on child, push," Marie squeezed her hand not nearly as strong as Adrienne had been doing.

Adrienne's mouth opened, but nothing came out.

"One more Addy!" Rebekah's face was a picture of excitement and vigilance.

Klaus pressed another kiss head, "Just one more sweetheart."

"Push!"

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A shrill cry tore through the house, breaking the witches from their chant and alerting the rest of the family.

A baby's cry.

A prince's cry.

"He's here," Hadeon gasped, feeling the shift in the atmosphere and the brightening sky, He was finally an uncle to a baby boy.

"It's over," Evania began to smile, looking around at the mess, broken glass, trails of blood and exhaustion from those around her. "It's over."

Valerie slapped her hand over her mouth, "He's here."

"She did it," Melinda looked at the ceiling in awe before turning to an astonished Hadeon.

"Well done sister," he whispered, beaming.

Evania cast an apprehensive look at the nobleman, "They're okay?"

Elijah enthusiastically nodded, hearing the chatter from above. He had never appeared as joyful or proud as he did now.

Marcel laughed at clapped, joining Hadeon's side as they congratulated each other.

"Praise Hecate," Clementine wiped her tears after finishing monitoring the aura of the house and jumped into Elijah's arms. He scooped her up, laughing into her neck and pressing kisses to her skin. No one expected the emotionally fridgit original to showcase his affection and yet he did. "She did it."

"He's finally here," Valerie excitedly bounced on her heels and hugged the rest of the witches, then Marcel.

Hadeon laughed, "Let's bring out the booze."

"Your nephew was just born," Valerie playfully shoved him.

He pulled her in for a hug, "So?"

Everyone apart from Kol had someone to laugh, cry, and cheer with. He stood afar, heart beating quickly at the sound of the cries from above. His nephew, the first of a new generation, a firstborn Mikelelson, neither of them believed could be born, not in the last nine hundred years. A baby that was half Adrienne's and half Klaus'. He gets everything, a pretty girl and a part of his identity back. The memory of his first introduction to Adrienne constantly echoed through his mind. Despite all the chaos of the previous year -- that he partially caused, he didn't understand how he was the only one still being punished.

The celebration dragged him kicking and screaming from his thoughts and still no one pulled him to join them, so he left.

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Shortly after the afterbirth was delivered Klaus hastily cut the umbilical cord thinking of how Vikings would've ripped it with their teeth, then he slowly approached his wife and newborn son.

Adrienne trembled when Marie placed her son in her arms, just after he was blessed and wiped clean.

Rebekah let Genevieve collect the towels, whilst she stared eagerly and with happy tears nearing the new parents.

"Wow," Adrienne whispered, it was all so surreal.

He was a small chubby little thing, with small whisks of golden brown whisks on top of his head. His parents were startled when his eyes fluttered open, presenting a mix of sea blue and forest green.

Adrienne loved every part of him.

"Hello," Adrienne traced her finger over his russet-coloured cheeks, tearily smiling when he squirmed against her. "So beautiful, you're so beautiful," she checked that he had ten fingers and ten toes. All of them were there, "Our son," she chuckled, looking up at Klaus.

Klaus appeared terrified yet in awe of the bundle of life in front of him. His child. His born son and second-born prince. He could barely move, just stare, slowly blinking scared to miss a second.

His entire world shifted and he had Adrienne to thank.

"Mama loves you," Adrienne promised, "Papa loves you." When she turned to place him in Klaus' arms he tensed.

"Are you sure?" he didn't want to drop him.

Marie wanted to capture the moment, shocked to see such fear on the hybrid's face. Genevieve as well, she was very taken, but Rebekah wasn't. She knew how he felt and no doubt she would've felt the same.

"You've got him," Adrienne gently placed the baby in his arms. Klaus choked back a sob when his son cooed up at him, "See, a natural."

Klaus didn't think he would hold something so pure and so innocent... ever and now they were in his arms, his son, his pride and joy. He loved every part of him, from his eyes to the small dark curls on his head, the whines that escaped his round lips, the humming of his heartbeat and the fresh scent of his skin.

Nothing or no one could prepare him for this moment.

Mother and father stared at him with irrevocable love.

"He looks like you," Klaus whispered, staring at his wife as she was cleaned and pampered by his sister.

Adrienne hummed, "He's kinda got your eyes and no doubt your hair."

"Thank you, for everything," Klaus turned to Adrienne, biting down on his cheek to prevent his tears and looked back at their son, who wanted to stretch his arms and so he did.

His parents stared at him in awe, as he reached out. Klaus jumped at the chance for him to grab one of his fingers, which he accomplished with a shockingly tight grip.

"So strong," he laughed, completely overjoyed by the feeling. His son was healthy and strong. "He's perfect," he pressed a kiss to his head.

"So perfect," Adrienne agreed with a loving smile on her face and tears streaming down her face.

"I love you," Klaus whispered to the both of them, yet received no response.

They all stared at the baby, watching in amazement how he took in the world around him.

"Thank you, sister," Klaus would never forget the role she played. Rebekah flashed her pearly whites and pressed a kiss to her nephew's head,  "Ms Laveau," Marie nodded at him, then blew a kiss at Adrienne. He finally turned to the redhead that he recognised,  "And you, I don't seem to know your name."

The witch tried not to frown, "Genevive, Mr. Mikaleson and it was your wife who was extraordinary."

"She was," Klaus couldn't stop smiling.

Adrienne quietly thanked all the women, trying not to startle her baby boy.

"Only took seven hours," Adrienne realised she had a newfound respect for her husband's mother for boring seven children.

Marie snorted, "You're lucky, Hadeon had me waiting for fourteen."

Klaus shivered at the image.

Marie smiled at the new mother, "You ready for him to latch on?"

─────── •✦• ───────

Genevieve and Melinda left soon after, letting the family all gather around the newly cleaned birthing room gawking in amazement and joy as they gazed upon the newborn baby. Everyone had to file in carefully and quietly because he had just been fed, easily latching onto his mother.

Marie made sure to do as many tests as possible on the baby, checking to see if his heartbeat was steady, his reactions were up to par and his hearing was clear. Every action she did with care and Klaus watched waryily even when his sister helped.

Everyone was slightly on edge around the priestess, nevertheless, they waited patiently before she wished her luck to the parents and bid adieu to her children and grandchild.

The Mikaelson heir weighed ten pounds.

"Ten pounds?" Hadeon screeched and was quickly hushed by everyone.

"Tactless, honestly," Evenia muttered, rolling her eyes and ignoring his glare when approaching the baby in Adrienne's arms. "Do you think I could hold him?"

Klaus trusted Adrienne's judgement and he didn't think the siphoner would hurt his child.

"Go ahead," the new mother nodded, completely exhausted so Clemeninte helped put her hair up in a bun.

"Thank you," Evania was so gentle with him, she was shocked by the power she could feel flying through him. "Wow."

"You were amazing I'm sure," Clementine smiled widely and carefully hugged her. 

Marcel and Hadeon were gentle with their embraces, the latter stayed beside her a little longer, checking over her.

"So tiny and handsome," Valerie was next to take him, softly chuckling at how strong his small grip was on her fingers.

Elijah was next to congratulate his sister-in-law, praising her for how resilient she was in getting through childbirth.

He kissed her head.

"So peaceful," Clementine held the baby, giggling at the little breaths he took. She failed to see the loving glint in Elijah's eyes, but she could feel the adoration reeling off of him, so she carefully placed the baby in his secure arms.

Elijah gasped, rarely was he rendered shocked or surprised by anything anymore but this... this was something different.

"Hello, little heir," his smile widened, despite the twinge of melancholy he felt as his mind drifted back to his littlest brother who was the last baby he held for hours on end. How times have changed?

Klaus teasingly corrected, "Little wolf."

Well, the witches didn't like that one bit.

"He's a witch," Valerie pointed out.

"Don't forget vampire," Marcel argued, Elijah nodded in agreement.

Hadeon shook his head, "Only when they're triggered, until then, he's a witch."

"Must you argue right now?" Adrienne sighed, halting their bickering and making everyone quickly apologise.

She was still in a lot of pain and the adrenaline had worn off the moment he was born. Though she loved her son, she didn't think she had the strength to ever do that again. Her breasts were sore and she was certain she would leak soon.

"Soon his eyes will turn black, only in a matter of time," Hadeon couldn't wait.

Evania laughed quietly, "Already thinking about him doing magic?"

He shrugged, winking at her as he said, "Why not?"

Her eyes remained on him after he turned away, something Adrienne noticed.

"Darling boy," Elijah still couldn't believe the beautiful boy was in his arms. He sent his brother a look which said, he's ours to protect.

Klaus' heart swelled.

Rebekah was the next to hold him. She'd been waiting since she helped him come into the world but respected the time the new parents took to get acquainted with their son. She didn't want to be over-excited or dramatic, she wanted to be perfect when she held him.

"Crying already?" Hadeon teased, standing next to her.

"As if you weren't downstairs Deon," Marcel rolled his eyes and joined him.

Rebekah ignored the pair of them, becoming so enchanted by her nephew.

"He's every bit of you, the both of you," she finally looked between the parents who smiled and exchanged a few looks of their own. "But he's got his mother's beauty, there is a God after all."

Everyone laughed, Klaus rolled his eyes but his smile didn't waver.

Hadeon stopped talking the moment he cradled the baby.

"I don't think I ever seen you so quiet brother," Adrienne noted.

None of them have.

Hadeon's mouth opened and shut a few times, but nothing came out.

"Are you okay Deon?" Clementine could sense a storm of emotions from him.

"I just can't believe he's finally here," he whispered, "You know when Adrienne was born I was very young so I don't have many memories of it but one. You were a very easy baby, so sweet and thoughtful," his eyes didn't steer away from his nephew, "he's like you sister."

"Thank you," Adrienne wiped away her tears, just like a few of her witches.

Soon Hadeon nodded and finally placed the baby in Marcel's arms who joined Klaus on the small bench near the foot of the bed.

Hybrid couldn't believe it, one son holding another.

Marcel was clearly besotted by the baby. Klaus took in every image, storing it for future sketches and paintings.

Valerie and Clementine left a water bowl of mixed herbs and leaves (beny chans) at the edge of the bed for good luck.

Marcel spoke softly, "he's a charmer that's for sure," he gently rocked his brother in his arms, eyes darting over the details on his face, trying to memorise it all.

The vampire swore in that moment to always protect him, from whomever or whatever even if his life depended on it.

"He's the most important person in my life," Adrienne proclaimed as if it needed to be said.

Hadeon feigned offence from where he stood, "Ouch."

"Shut up Deon."

"A dimple is already coming through," Marcel happily noted, nudging Klaus.

"Just like his father," Klaus didn't think he could feel prouder.

"Oh god," Valerie joked, drawing a few laughs. 

"He's got the hint of devil in his eyes," Klaus reached out to play with his son's hands, which grew warmer against his touch.

Rebekah frowned, "No, he's an angel." Like Henrik, the thought echoed through the Mikaleson's minds.

"An angel amongst sinners," Adrienne said whilst yawning.

"Malachai," Marcel said casually, stroking his brother's cheek.

Everyone turned to him, even Adrienne with the help of her witches sat up.

Hadeon's face scrunched up, "What?"

"Malachai means angel," Marcel explained, Elijah taught him that during his early teachings.

"Malachai Mikaelson," Adrienne liked the way it sounded. "The first of his kind."

Klaus repeated, "Malachai Mikaelson."

His name spread throughout the room, and everyone nodded and laughed at how fitting it was.

"Guess there's no need for a naming ceremony," Hadeon teased.

"Malachai," and as if hearing his father's voice the baby mouth's twitched up, amusing everyone in the room.

"Awww," the witches cooed.

"I love that name," Evania gushed, remembering a distant relative of hers had the same one.

"It's perfect," and that was the last thing Adrienne said before settling her head back onto her pillow.

─────── •✦• ───────

Elijah slipped out of the room, in search of his younger brother. His absence was evident, yet necessary.

Finding the manic vampire in the garden came as a shock, yet Elijah remembered all the times they stayed outdoors as children. It was all they could do and all they had. Exploring and fighting was the Viking way, well of the ways he preferred.

On his journey around the house, Elijah remembered how all his siblings were as children. Most of the time he tried not to think of their childhood, because of how distressing it tended to be, but he remembered, Klaus, Kol, Rebekah and Henrik as babies, no matter how young he'd been. Finn might've moped around, but he was present, always present.

Too bad he wasn't here now, Elijah's face twitched upon reflection.

"You should know your nephew is as healthy as he is handsome," Elijah informed. Kol stood a few yards away playing with leaves in his hands, picking up more and tearing them apart. He didn't change after the battle, the stench of death and blood clung to him.

Fortunately, the spell protecting the Abattoir also blocked out lurkers from listening in.

Kol took some time to respond, "And what's his name?"

"Malachai," Elijah grinned, he could still feel the baby in his arms.

"An angel huh?" Kol kept playing with his leaves.

"Fitting, is it not?"

Kol slowly nodded, "Incredibly."

When he finally turned around, Elijah caught the distress in his eyes.

Elijah took a few steps forward, "Nikolai, perhaps you can go and see –"

"No, no I can't Elijah," Kol regretted snapping at his brother.

"She'll forgive you," Elijah's tone sounded promising.

Kol's head hung low, "She shouldn't. And it's not like I can get near her with Niklaus in the way."

"Be patient."

Locking his eyes with his brother, Kol let out a deep sigh, "Fine."

─────── •✦• ───────

"Malachai sounds evil. I guess that's fitting." Hadeon quipped and received laughs and glares. 

Valerie smiled, "He has blue eyes, or is it green?"

"Slightly both," Adrienne said and Klaus happily nodded.

"The coloniser genes are strong," Hadeon snickered, and Marcel joined in.

"Deon," Adrienne rolled her eyes at her brother.

"Will he be christened?" Marcel dared to ask just as Elijah snuck back into the room and joined his partner's side.

Adrienne cast him a playful glare, "Go to hell, Marcel."

"He's been blessed," Rebekah noted.

"Not by our coven," Clementine countered, not dismissing the Voodoo Priestess' blessing.

She grabbed Elijah's hand when she felt the anxiousness bouncing off his being, he squeezed back and kissed her forehead.

"We should do that in a few days," Valerie smiled when she received a nod from Adrienne.

"Still cannot believe he turned out to be a he," Rebekah commented, standing beside Hadeon who continued to hold their nephew.

"I pray he grows to be like you Adri," Evania didn't realise her words unnerved Adrienne, who simply smiled and nodded.

Klaus caught the fearful look in her eyes and wanted nothing more than to comfort her, but was grateful when Hadeon decided to change the topic at hand.

"Rebekah owes me a couple of big ones," he joked, making faces at his nephew.

The new parents turned to him in confusion.

"Same with me," Valerie laughed at the Rebekah's sour expression.

"That's unfair, you're witches," she pouted.

"And you grew up with dozens of men and yet, you believed Malachai to be a girl."

"You bet on our child's gender?" Adrienne questioned, staring around the room.

"Yes," all apart from Elijah nodded.

Klaus was more amused than angry.

"What else were supposed to do?" Hadeon wondered, passing his nephew back to his sister, who quickly forgot about the issue and pressed kisses to her son's face.

"Hope that he turned out healthy and handsome," Klaus said, not taking his eyes off the precious sight.

"How boring."

Valerie slapped his chest, "Deon."

"Pay up Bekah," Hadeon turned to the blonde original.

Elijah hushed them, "There is a child present."

"And he's trying to sleep," Clementine added.

"Me too," as soon as Adrienne said this, Klaus took their son into his arms, growing more familiar with the warmth spreading through his chest.

"Don't act as if you didn't wager on his gender," Hadeon accused the nobleman.

"You as well Elijah?" Adrienne raised a brow,

"I've learnt to not regret my successes," Elijah shrugged, "There was no harm in my actions."

Adrienne yawned in response.

"Wait, before he rests, can I hold him again," Evania clasped her hands together in a pleading manner, amusing the new parents and Hadeon who thought she looked somewhat adorable.

Rebekah flashed to her side, "And me."

"Please," Clementine rocked on her heels.

"I named him, I get priority," Marcel argued.

"I'm his uncle," Hadeon pointed out, "Favourite uncle."

Elijah was greatly offended by that.

In their moment of peace, they forgot all about the monsters that lurked outside, the whispers that passed through species and spread between the living, dead and undead.

They were happy.

└─────── •✦• ───────┘

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a/n:

malachai aesir mikaelson is finally hear. i picked the name out a while ago, it means in some religious texts (well parts of the name) angel/ messenger, that's why i kept adding it to little clues, did anyone guess this? it's fine if you didn't. malachai meaning angel, aesir meaning god and mikaelson meaning warrior (son of mikael and he was a powerful warrior) also for americans i'm sure his d.o.b. is 01/23/1919. so it is like 123, but for me, as a londoner it's 23/01/1919.

yes, papa tunde is still a massive problem, one that'll be put on hold for just another chapter, i want adrienne to at least be close to her best before she starts plotting again. just a reminder that her body and mind are very weak, postpartum depression is awful and feel for anyone who has or is going through it. not only that, but adrienne is experiencing the torment and trauma of her mother so she is very scared of how or what may happen when she's raising malachai.

anyone like how the birth was written? adrienne calling for klaus despite not wanting him near her? kol's reaction to it all? marie and rebekah helping with the delivery? (it was known that in real life marie was a midwife and in canon bekah was also a practising nurse during this time helping with genevieve ). also what was hadeon up to and where did the power of the first-ever tribid go?

just to add, adrienne wanting klaus' support does not mean she's forgiven him. it was a moment of desperation and fear that she was gonna die. so on that note, be prepared for next week and how the newbie parents are handling it.