MENTIONS OF SUICIDE, TRAUMA AND DEATH

┌─────── •✦• ───────┐

Saturday, January 3rd, 1920

MIDNIGHT came and so did the sounds of clashing from below, which made Klaus even more suspicious, Adrienne's kisses were distracting, enticing like a siren but he couldn't just let it carry on.

"What is that —"Just as she went to pull him back for another kiss he turned his head to the side and picked up more voices, his siblings. It was all of them and that was the problem. He heard all of them. He abruptly stood from the bed, shaking his head, as his eyes flitted with rage, "Adrienne, what did you do?"

She rose from the bed, recognising the anger on his face and winced.

"Promise you won't be mad."

Klaus raised his hand, clenching it wanting to suppress the urge to lash out.

"Tell me you haven't done what I presume, tell me you haven't dared to —" his rant was cut off by a yell from downstairs.

"Blood hell Finn, throwing vases won't remedy your troubles!" They heard Kol's voice and Klaus flashed out of the room, leaving Adrienne no choice but to follow.

"Shit," she cursed, rushing downstairs, eyes widening at the mess in the courtyard. "Klaus leave them," She couldn't believe it, her husband was already being held back by Elijah and Kol, who struggled to do so as they felt the strength of the full moon radiating off of him. They wouldn't be surprised if they received a bite. "It wasn't their fault."

Her efforts were futile but her voice attracted the newly conscious Mikaelson.

Finn stared at her with uncertainty, and quite frankly utter confusion. Her voice was something he never heard of and her looks were surely something he'd seen a few times. Her attire was another thing he didn't understand, surely she's disrobed, he thought but when he caught her eye she too was taken aback.

"Finn," she breathed out, but before she could take him in, Klaus was ready to go again.

"You dare undagger him, you dare go against me!" He bellowed, shrugging off his siblings.

Kol rolled his eyes, "Careful hound, it wasn't my idea."

"I wasn't even there Nik, I didn't know they were going to undagger Finn, even though I'm sure it was all for a good outcome," Rebekah was terrified to glance at her eldest brother, feeling his piercing gaze pin her to her spot. "Would you please stop?"

"Niklaus calm yourself," Elijah approached him again.

"Oh yes all jump to defend him," Finn scoffed, grimacing at the hybrid. "I assume he has become more volatile since activating his curse." This earned a few sighs, "No need to answer, I can see for myself."

"You certainly wouldn't want to see for yourself Finn, You shouldn't be seeing anything at all! Adrienne, I have no doubt you concocted this plan. So it is your responsibility to tell my eldest brother why he will return to his mobile home in a matter of seconds," Klaus took a daring step towards Finn.

"He won't be," Adrienne replied, and Finn narrowed his eyes onto her.

Klaus scoffed, "Oh yes he will."

"Niklaus would you please listen," Elijah started, "It's about time our brother was released from the box he stewed in."

"I did not stew, I was held prisoner!" Finn yelled.

"All that shouting," Kol tutted, "and you'll wake up that poor child."

Klaus cast him a glare.

"Shut up Kol." Rebekah snarled.

"Don't tell me to shut up, what have you been doing all this time? You sure made a haste escape from the unveiling, why is that dear sister?!"

"Haven't you got someone else to torment Kol?" Marcel asked rushing into the room, confused by the random man in their vicinity, he looks like them, despite the severely outdated clothes and long hair... "Who is this?"

Klaus approached his adoptive son, smacking a hand on his shoulder, "This Marcellus is someone who should be in a coffin, until —"

Rebekah cocked her head to the side, "You say so?"

Klaus scowled, "What was the need for all this? That you would use my wife to distract me —"

"She didn't distract you enough," Kol remarked, eyeing his half-dressed state.

Adrienne made a face, "Really Kol?"

Klaus glowered at her, "I'll deal with you later."

"Don't talk to me like that," Adrienne snapped, and his anger did not subdue. "Finn won't be going back into that box, what is wrong with you?"

"What is wrong with me, dear wife, is that you all swore not to betray or conspire against me and look what you've done!" He snarled, looking around, "Undaggering Finn might be the first step in something far more insidious."

"Get over yourself Niklaus," Kol stepped forward.

Klaus sped towards him, "You do not tell me what to do!"

"Children!" Elijah got between them, as Finn watched his younger brothers yell their heads off.

He felt eyes on him the entire time, brown eyes belonging to who was suspected to be his nephew, one of them at least. But he was more perplexed about his relations with his sister, the very sister who seemed more fidgety than he knew her to be.

"You want protection for our son but refuse your own brother," Adrienne didn't understand his issue with Finn.

"Of course, I would refuse his help," Klaus snapped his head towards her, "I might as well ask a choir boy to protect Malachai."

Finn's tired eyes widened briefly, "Malachai..."

"That's his name," Rebekah quietly informed him, sending him a smile that was not returned.

Marcel couldn't help but add, "I named him."

Klaus rolled his eyes and the interaction.

"I'm Adrienne," The queen witch introduced, staring awkwardly at the eldest Mikaelson brother, "Adrienne..."

"Mikaelson!" They all jumped at Klaus's exclamation.

"You're aware people know me as Adrienne Lumiére, Niklaus," Adrienne snarled, briefly disregarding his anger.

"Lumiére?" It was all starting to make sense to Finn, the power he could feel from her. Only someone with that level of influence, the bloodline could possibly be with a... thing like his brother, "I once knew a Lumiére, well I heard about them as a child."

"A boring child," Kol quipped, slightly amusing the hybrid.

Elijah sighed, "Nikolai."

"Elijah," Kol mocked.

"So what was your plan then Adrienne?" Klaus came closer to his wife. "Distract me while they undagger Finn, then he just miraculously decides to help us with Malachai against the dozens of enemies we potentially have coming our way. Is that what you wanted to transpire?"

"Well, not exactly like that, he needs time to adjust..." Adrienne trailed off.

"I won't be doing anything, not with any of you, you all despise me," Finn's eyes told all. He was scared. He jumped whenever someone spoke.

"See, he said himself, he won't be helping," Klaus hissed.

"I don't despise you," Rebekah mumbled, seeking Marcel's hands for comfort.

"None of us do brother," Elijah insisted, all while Klaus and Kol exchanged a look.

"Maybe a bath and some new clothes would help?" Rebekah offered, looking for Adrienne for support. She couldn't believe that he was in front of her, after all these years, centuries. "And perhaps a haircut."

Just as Klaus went to speed towards Finn, Adrienne held up her hand and froze his entire body.

"Let go of me, Adrienne!"

They all caught her noir eyes, to which Finn took a frightful step back.

"It was my idea, don't be mad at them," she said calmly, drawing him closer, no matter how hard he fought against her magic. "Leave Finn alone and talk to me."

"You didn't dare consult me about this, they were your council!" He snarled at his wife, feeling angry and hurt. "You operated without me."

"Because you left me no choice! Just listen, we can go upstairs. Finn," she turned to him, dark eyes piercing his soul, "you don't know or trust me, I understand but, I promise no harm will come to you. Let the servants bathe and aid you, please."

With all eyes on him, some murderous, the rest guilty and sympathetic, Finn felt uncomfortable, he didn't like the attention, much less being caught in the crossfires of the married couple. Klaus shamelessly admitted to wanting him gone. Kol didn't care for him, Elijah was being Elijah and Rebekah seemed somewhat accepting of his return. He didn't think much of Marcel, but Adrienne was something else he couldn't wrap his head around. His head pounded and newfound hunger itched.

He couldn't tame his thoughts, and even now believed that all this was just a bad dream and that he was still trapped in his coffin.

So all he said was,

"Fine."

─────── •✦• ───────

It took an hour to convince Klaus to return to his room, Rebekah had to deal with the mess made throughout the house, Marcel checked on Malachai who managed to remain asleep, and Elijah instructed a few servants to cater to his older brother, who was too scared to move from the courtyard.

Adrienne awkwardly glanced around Klaus' room when he sat on the bed in silence. She could feel the fierce anger radiating from him because of the effects of the full moon that circulated.

One o'clock bled into two and she still didn't hear a peep from him which was unnerving. 

"Was it all a distraction? Did you do all of that as some kind of ploy? I understand that I hurt you but did you have to lie to me just then? Put on a big show just to conspire with my brothers?" he said, breaking the silence.

Adrienne shifted on her feet. "It was for our son."

His head snapped up, "So all of that was just... we kissed Adrienne, did you not feel anything?"

"I did," she said, but he wasn't sure.

He looked physically in pain, "So then why would you... How could you?"

He thought tonight meant something to her, to them. Transforming into his werewolf form not just for him, but for her, bearing himself to the woman he loved and it felt like she spat in his face.

"I've been telling you to undagger Finn for a while now," she meekly excused, making him laugh in disbelief.

"All this for someone as pathetic as Finn, wow," the was an edge of bitterness to his tone.

Adrienne made a face, "Why do you hate him?"

"Don't turn this back on me, you used me," he said, standing up.

A humourless laugh escaped her, "Hurts doesn't it?"

Her words felt like a slap to the face, "So it was all a lie."

Klaus almost staggered back.

Realisation dawned on Adrienne, "What? No, I didn't mean to hurt you, and no I didn't want to use you like that," she could tell he was buying it, "I just knew we needed more allies and he is...."

"A wild card Adrienne. He hates me," he hissed.

She sighed, "I wonder why."

"He hates me, he hates Kol, he tolerates Elijah."

Adrienne stepped forward, "You and Kol bully him, for the fact he despises who he is."

"As if you wouldn't do the same."

"I wouldn't," she was offended that he could say that, "You were all forced into vampirism, you all adapted, he didn't."

Klaus threw up his hands, "Because he's pathetic, it's survival above all, you'll understand that when you become like us"

"Then maybe I won't," she said thoughtlessly, making him tense.

"What did you say?" he uttered quietly.

"What if I don't become immortal what will you do then?" she pressed, not really believing the words she spoke and annoyingly he caught on quickly.

"Stop lying Adrienne. You've done enough of that tonight," he wouldn't stand for her dishonesty, not after the stunt she pulled. "You won't leave me for eternity and you sure as hell won't leave me to raise Malachai alone just for plain pettiness, so drop it."

Adrienne's tongue ran over her cheek as she folded her hands, irritated that he read her so easily.

Klaus continued, "Finn will not fight for our son. You've wasted your time with this cheap act. Give me the dagger so I can put him back to bloody sleep."

"You won't."

After acquiring the dagger from Elijah, she cloaked it until she could place it with the rest of them.

He scoffed, "I will, he will not be helping us and that is final."

Adrienne tilted her head, "Oh, it's final?"

"This isn't just some game Ria... Adrienne," he snapped and his slip-up earned an eye roll.

"That's rich, you play with your siblings like it is. How could you just leave him there to rot."

"You neglect to realise I was not alone in that decision," he retorted as he scowled.

Adrienne's head rapidly shook, "Do you think I'm delusional? None of them would be able to undagger each other without your say-so. The influence you have over them isn't just anything, you act like a dictator, They do and say what you want and if they don't they end up in a box it was the prime reason why I decided to take them all in the first place. They deserve to live, not just survive!"

She hadn't realised she started to yell.

"So what, one can plot against me, against us and might end and destroy everything just for the fun of it?" he stepped towards her.

"Need I remind you, you caused just that. You ruin Kol's chance at true love," Adrienne's heart was pounding loudly as she finally met him in the middle of the room.

He stiffened at the memory, "And therefore he ruined us, I know but I've apologised."

"Sure you have, but stop acting like you're the victim here Niklaus, I am sorry for going behind your back to undagger Finn but I'm not sorry for helping your brothers do so, he's your brother, your oldest brother that should be allowed too just live, not because you deem he can because he wants to."

"It's just that. He doesn't want to live, he doesn't wish to do anything apart from attract Mikael," he seethed.

"And copious massacres and streets pouring with blood don't do that?" She argued, "You attract attention where you end up and Finn has had nothing to do with that. You call him boring and dull and joke about keeping him locked up, just for your kicks."

"He wants to die, you woke him up from an enchanting over-extended nap so he could off himself, well done," his hands met in a sarcastic clap that Adrienne was surprisingly unbothered by.

She was far too focused on his repetitiveness. He wants to die, Finn wants to die.

"Why do you care?" Adrienne suddenly asked.

His eyes darted over her face, "What?"

"Why do you care that he wants to die? You said it yourself, you find him to be a bore, basically not worth your time yet you care so much about him considering taking his own life?"

Klaus suddenly looked uncomfortable, "I don't understand what you mean."

"Yes, yes you do Niklaus. There is some part of you that cares about Finn," she added, catching the displeasure flash across his face.

"Poppycock."

"Le vieillard," she responded, drawing an offended look from him. "You care about Finn despite how little you have in common. You even love him."

"Now you're just trying to vex me," he said, shaking his head.

"You have Kol for killing sprees, Elijah to pull you back from your destructive paths and Rebekah to dote and infantilise, but with Finn, you share very little and that irritates you," she deduced much to his annoyance.

Klaus' face scrunched up, "It doesn't irritate me."

"You hate things you can't control and Finn potentially wanting to die is just that, because he doesn't want to be what you are, he doesn't like the things you do and is terrified of the world you all changed by just a few drops of blood and snapped neck," she settled her hands on his bare shoulders, wanting him to understand. "I get it, he's your big brother, and if he decides on his own, without council from anyone, why would he? — you're all awful to him — so if he decides to take his own life you'd be another sibling short, and deep down you would hate that. You care Niklaus, admit that you do before you let your harsh words get in the way of something you have a chance to salvage, well at least I think you do."

Klaus let out an exacerbated sigh, tired at the idea of it all. When they were children, he and Finn rarely played together, perhaps it was because of their mutual envy for the other, or because of Esther's favouritism. Maybe he didn't want to know or accept the reason why he and his eldest brother were never close, why they never got along.

All he knew was that he didn't trust Finn and that Adrienne tricked him.

He softly shrugged her off.

"Tell me something, was it truly all a lie, the moment we shared, it was fleeting but I know it was true on my part, earnest even," he needed to know.

Adrienne sheepishly looked into his eyes,  "It wasn't a lie. I wanted to kiss you, be touched by you. And I'm sorry that I used you, I just thought that if we had someone else on our side, we have more protection for Malachai and he would be safer. So I'm sorry."

Klaus reeled back, shocked, "Huh."

"What?"

"I think pigs just flew," a small smile grew on his lips. "You apologised to me."

She playfully shoved him, "Shut up."

"It's a first," he kept joking and inched close to her again.

His eyes settled on hers, both seeing and then hearing the truth from her tame heartbeat. She felt something, the entire night wasn't a waste, even if his bore of a brother was now conscious and kicking in the early hours of the morning.

"You truly believe he would help us fight to protect Malachai?" he questioned, more calmly this time.

Adrienne pondered aloud, "He doesn't know any of you but if he just knew his nephew, well one of them then maybe —"

"You're banking on maybes and ifs, great," he stressed.

"Let me finish – he has no reason to help us, not one. But hopefully, I can convince him."

"You're married to me, the chances of him listening to you are slim to none, no matter how compelling you are sweetheart," he replied.

"Well, it's a good thing I'm my own person then," she restored, sending him a knowing look, which he sighed at, "Do you trust me?"

"Yes," he said, despite the anger and contempt he felt at not just his siblings but her for undaggering Finn.

"Then just do that. Trust me on this."

He would... for now.

"Is it too soon for another kiss?"

Adrienne blankly stared at his bashful smile, making her wonder if Malachai would inherit it, even now with his two baby teeth.

Sensing her apprehension, his smile faltered and just as he was about to step away, her arms encircled his waist, something he wasn't expecting.

Her warmth, the rhythm of her heartbeat, her scent, her everything made his smile grow once again.

So he quickly wrapped his arms around her, resting his head onto hers and hummed lightly.

Progress.

─────── •✦• ───────

Finn stood in the middle of the kitchen, vials of blood had been placed on the island counter, and he just stared at it for hours.

The sun had yet to rise and he was motionless and restless.

The city of New Orleans was far too loud for him, it was overstimulating and bright, but also dark and gloomy, filled with beasts and blood, he hated it, he hated it all, but without a daylight ring – which Klaus took, he was vulnerable as ever.

He wasn't a vampire, he was an original but felt like a child, a confused child with an appetite of a thousand men.

The creek of the door made him jump back, and his heart almost leapt from his chest when some light tread into the room, followed by the gentle steps belonging to... his sister-in-law.

She held up her hands, still adoring a friendly smile that he didn't want to trust and nightwear.

When the door gently shut he let out a breath he wasn't aware he held.

The harsh light was gone, but she quickly lit a candle and placed it on the counter, close enough to the vials of blood but not to him, before she increased their distance once again.

He bathed, she realised. Finn was wearing more era-appropriate garments but his long hair was braided backwards, much to her surprise. He must not have wanted it to be chopped and shaved around the sides. She didn't blame him, the style was all he knew for almost a shy of a millennium.

"You look... better."

"The servants in this house are insistent," he spoke and she could now hear a slight twinge to his accent. It wasn't as strong as his siblings, because of the years theirs had been morphed and shaped from the continents they jumped between but he remained barely clinging onto their Nordic roots. "They're all compelled aren't they?"

Adrienne slowly nodded and Finn softly scoffed.

"Are my siblings truly incapable of doing anything themselves?"

"They've been helpful, sometimes."

"They've pulled you into their games I'm guessing, three years you've been trapped by their side, that's what Elijah informed me."

Ignoring the accusation she said, "They helped me when I was struggling with my pregnancy."

Her response made his gaze drop to her flat stomach, almost as if to see if the bump was still there, but it had vanished.

"I rarely ate and when I did it wasn't alot, nothing sustainable, I was a mess," she went on, "but they helped. I'm sure you had servants all those years ago."

"Thralls," he dragged his eyes away from her stomach, and over to the vials of blood,  "that's what they were called."

She hummed, "So you played the same game your siblings play now."

"I am nothing like them," he quickly argued.

She eyed him, "You've got the same brown eyes as Elijah, same hair, similar height as Kol."

"Appearance doesn't mean anything."

"To some," she countered, "not all."

"You'd understand if you have siblings."

She quirked up a brow, "I have a brother, half, but a brother nonetheless."

That shocked him, "And what does he think of your involvement with my family, that you married Niklaus?"

"Hadeon wasn't happy, nor did he like that I was forced to marry," She softly chuckled at his astonishment, "What, you believe I had a choice?"

"You're a witch, a powerful one," he had rarely seen that type of power before and his mother never displayed that much influence over his father. "A Queen and so I'm told."

"Titles aren't everything, especially when you look like me," his head cocked to the side at her explanation, "Sure, I attracted you brother –"

"– More than one from what it seems."

Finn caught how she shifted on her feet, was that discomfort? He didn't intend to make her feel such.

"Klaus and I were together for a while, then he messed it all up, but by then, I was pregnant and my father decided I can't be a woman in society, with child and unwed so he insisted — no forced me to marry Klaus in fear that I would ruin our family legacy."

His eyes finally find hers, "Couldn't you just say no?"

"Could the woman in your village just say no to the men in their lives?" she was met with silence.

Finn knew there wasn't a response to that. Of course, she did not willingly marry Niklaus, but how could she be with him?

"Where's your father now?" If Finn had children, a daughter, he would rather take his own life before letting her fall into the hands of a man, no, a beast like Niklaus. "Surely he knew this was a mistake."

"He knew what he was doing," Adrienne murmured, tentatively taking a step closer and away from the door, gaining his attention.

"I beg to differ," he said, growing annoyed.

"Well, he's no longer alive," she replied, casting him a pointed look.

"Niklaus' doing I'm sure?" he was so certain.

"If my father didn't somewhat take his own life, your brother wouldn't dare, but my brother would've."

"Why?"

"The same reason your siblings despise Mikael, not to that degree, but it's close."

"And your mother?" he dared to ask, watching as she took another step.

"I'm an orphan," and Hadeon will be too, "and before you ask, no, Niklaus didn't kill her." I did. "But moving on from the topic of bad parents, you haven't asked about your nephew."

"Malachai," he breathed out, glancing not at the blood, but at the single flame illuminating the room. Firstborn, his lips twitched to say, but something inside prevented him.

She nodded, "Yes, Malachai."

"Why that name?" he blurted. "From what I remember angels never interested my siblings." Only Rebekah.

"Were you expecting names of the Valkyrie's and your Gods?"

His face lit up slightly, "You know of our culture?"

"Some, not all, Klaus and Kol love to spout about their childhoods, very effortlessly but only when they become more enthralled by the stories they tell. And as Marcel said before, he named my son," she then went on to say, "Did you want to meet him?"

"You would let me? Why? You don't know me."

"I do not, and I wouldn't let you come in the same room as him, without you consuming some of those vials of blood, I wouldn't want anything to happen."

"You believe I would harm a child?"

"That child is your nephew and I don't believe you would. I think you might, not that it's any fault but your siblings. Did you ever learn to control the bloodlust?"

"I managed."

"But did you learn to control it?"

"I had to, Kol was off on killing sprees, attracting whatever and whomever, even our father because of his carelessness, but of course I'm to blame for getting his attention. Niklaus pretends he's in control, but slips up whenever he wants to have...fun, and it is I who they keep locked away."

"They said you wanna die," she stated, feeling nothing but sympathy for him.

"What we are... who we've become, it's an abomination," Finn's fingers coiled into his palm.

She finally met the island counter and rested her hands on it, "And who told you that?"

"It's what we are," he mumbled, looking anywhere but her eyes.

"Because you don't abide by the rules of nature?"

"Because we are everything but natural."

"Many things are, I am a witch and parts of the Christian faith believe in miracles and messiahs don't they, both can be considered unnatural, yet I am more likely to be burnt at the stake..."

His head rapidly shook, "You do not understand."

"I'm trying to."

"Why?" Wave tremors kept coming over him without warning, and they grew worse when he met her eyes. "Why do you wish to know me, who I am, out of obligation or because you need me to fight with you against the forces that want to harm your son?"

"Can't I just wish to know?" Adrienne was met with an unimpressed expression. "Look Finn, whatever you think about me, think it. You don't know me, or trust me, which I get."

"Your influence over my family... that I don't understand."

Finn felt Adrienne's power and he couldn't deny her attractiveness, but all of his siblings flocked to her like foals to their mother, it astonished and unnerved him.

"I'm one of the youngest reigning queens the witch faction in New Orleans has ever seen, I guess I'm perceived as an anomaly."

"A what?" Many words he heard, he still couldn't understand.

To Adrienne, he looked at everything like a newborn and she felt for him, how could none of the Mikaelson pull him out from his tortuous slumber, she would never know, she scoffed at the insinuation that they didn't want to be daggered themselves, but coming together and overpowering Klaus would've been better, it could've worked.

"I'm a spectacle, a performance, a show," She dramatised.

"That doesn't answer my question."

"Well hopefully you stick around, long enough to see," she said, growing slightly irritated.

Finn disagreed, "Your husband will surely have his say."

"I won't let him," she said calmly, yet fiercely. 

He let out an incredulous scoff, "Then you don't know Niklaus."

Adrienne suppressed a sigh and leaned against the counter, "You're aware that I'm with Klaus, and that Kol had a minor attraction to me," that's putting it mildly. "Kol had a part to play in why Klaus messed up so terribly... and the reason why Kol is still breathing is because I have the daggers. All of them."

Finn's mouth opened and shut a few times.

"N-no, that can't be true," his brother, his half-brother would never hand over power to anyone. Was Adrienne just as dangerous as him, or worse? He couldn't get his head around it or everything. It was all noise. He didn't have a grip on reality. It wasn't tenuous because it wasn't there, no, It was fragmented.

"Niklaus handed them over to me," she iterated.

"He wouldn't."

"Oh, but he did, yours is now in the same place as the others," she informed, taking a step back from the counter, with a small friendly smile.

He had more questions, "But —"

"Like you said, I have a big influence over him, correct? Well, that is my influence," she backed away, "And please drink those vials, I can't have a rogue original around my son....well another one or you'll see how powerful I can be."

Finn was quickly left alone, staring at the door that slammed shut and made him jump.

─────── •✦• ───────

Adrienne hadn't slept, nor did most of them, so when she stalked into her son's nursery, she heard his cooing. He looked well rested, blissfully unaware of all the commotion made only hours ago. He's slept clutching his soft teddy bear with his magical skull not far behind.

"Morning handsome," she plucked him out of his crib, marvelling at his smile and hair that was almost an inch or two longer than in previous months. She pressed kisses to his cheeks, palming the small dimple one held and sat in the oak rocking chair. "Please don't bite Mama, I know your teeth are growing but it hurts."

Malachai only focused on his morning feed instead, unaware of the effect his baby teeth had on his mother.

Adrienne stoked his back and looked around the room, brows furrowing at the sight of freshly grown flowers in the corner that she had not placed into the vase, must've been Niklaus, she realised, curious as to why he didn't buy the usual gladioli.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt small nibbles on her skin.

She softly hissed, "Careful my sweet boy."

It took another twenty minutes to nurse him, her mind drifted between her responsibility and other worries before she pulled him away, burping him carefully, whilst pulling up her nightgown.

He breathed out a few burps with a screwed-up face.

Their attention was quickly drawn towards the door that was pushed open with haste, revealing a concerned and pitiful expression from Klaus.

He was dressed, hair gelled back and arms out to take their son.

"Sweetheart, give him to me," he hurried, earning a confused look from her.

"Why?" She asked, stiffening up.

"We need to go to your family home," he said rocking his squealing son in his arms.

Adrienne rushed to stand up on wobbling legs, aware of what he meant, and what his expressions and urgency were all about.

"Has Marie...?" She dared to ask and received a slow and sad nod from him. "When?"

"Valerie called, she and Evania are over at the residence now, Clementine will be coming here," he said softly. "Read the letter she left for you. Get changed, I'll get Malachai ready."

Adrienne shakily tore open the letter that he held out, and let out a shuddered breath as she started to read.

                      Don't fret my girl,

Don't be afraid, nor should you be in the face of evil. I may have passed, but I sure as hell ain't gone, no priestess could ever just disappear. I'm with the Iwa's now, there are enough straw hats and sturdy canes to last a lifetime. So you'll do well to stay alert, and aware of everything because there will always be a green-eyed monster on the prowl, especially with your powers.

Now you may not be my child, but you are my daughter, never worry about that. If only we had more time... but just know, you're not alone, nor is my whorish son. Keep an eye on him, and I told him to watch out for you because eternity is a hell of a long time, especially with that beast beside you and my lovely grandchild that will cause a bigger mess than you'll be able to handle.

So like you influential Lumières say 'your sins are my sins' and that's how it will always be.

M.L.

Klaus was quick to pull her into a loving embrace as soon as she choked back a sob, worrying their son who whined and patted against her damp cheeks.

The hybrid pressed a kiss to her head after she pulled away so abruptly.

"I'll be ready in five," she murmured and quickly left the room.

Klaus listened out for her, but he didn't hear any cries, only closets opening and drawers shutting. she's in shock, he told himself whilst muttering Nordic phrases to Malachai, trying to keep him as distracted as possible because Klaus knew he could feel the change in atmosphere.

He plucked out navy overalls, a vest, a white shirt for Malachai, and a matching coat Rebekah bought. He made sure that the bracelet encircled his wrist and his lace-up boots covered his chubby legs.

Adrienne took fifteen minutes and walked in looking as if she swallowed a rather sorrowful seed, but was unable to spit it out.

"Let's go," she said, tugging on her overcoat.

Klaus recognised that vacant expression on her face, it reminded him of how she was on their wedding day, making him tense at the memory.

Malachai reached out for his mother, but she couldn't take him, which Klaus understood and shushed him, bringing forth his skull to pull his focus.

"Elijah will stay here and monitor Finn, Rebekah and Marcel will meet us there," Klaus informed,  threading his fingers through Malachai's hair, "and Kol is no doubt terrorising the city," for some reason, Malachai giggled at that, much to their confusion. "Adrienne, I'm sorry for you loss."

Adrienne slowly nodded, holding back her tears.

Klaus held out his hand for her to take and she did.

Less than ten minutes passed before they arrived at the Lumière estate and Adriennne rushed out of the car, running passed the suited vampire's Klaus positioned there.

She banged on the door, desperate and distressed.

The moment it opened, she burst in, "Deon!"

And not one second later, he fell into her arms.  He wasn't sobbing, nor was he crying, he was just cold and exhausted.

Valerie and Evania met her teary eyes as they shuffled out of the kitchen.

"She's gone," he mumbled into his sister's chest.

"She's gone," Adrienne repeated, hearing her son's babbles from a distance.

Marie was dead, but soon her life would live on.

─────── •✦• ───────

Morning turned into afternoon and Kol awaited outside the Saints, by the backdoor, standing with his back to the wall and gazing at the floor.

He pondered and contemplated whilst playing with his blazer.

"Penny through your thoughts Mikaelson?" he heard a familiar voice.

Kol met Franklin's soft eyes and replied, "You think my thoughts only cost a penny, Kennedy?"

"Not when you're wearing a suit that costs more than my apartment."

"Three times worth if we're counting," he quipped, eying the human.

"As humble as ever," Franklin neared, noting his tense expression, "Hey are you alright? You don't return my calls or letters."

Kol softly groaned, "It's not you."

"Of course, it's not me," Franklin joked, looking up at him because of their slight height difference.

Kol gave an exasperated sigh, staring up hoping that the right orchestrated words would fall from the cold sky,  "It's just — you need to get out of the city Frankie, I'm serious."

Franklin's brows pinched together, "'Cause of your family? I've never got involved in the first place, I know what happened between you and adrienne, Mel told me."

"It's not that," Kol murmured, annoyed that he decided to mention the whole ordeal.

"Then what, you want me to leave, without giving me a reason to, I have a job, I have friends, I have – well I thought I had someone special, but you can't stomach being around me anymore," his bitter words caught Kol's attention.

"My family aren't the greatest Franklin," he said, glancing down at Franklin's fidgeting hands, unsure of whether to reach out and grab them. "You know that more than anyone, it seems we've acquired more than we've perceived," he paused, staring into his eyes, "Our foes are coming from every which way and I'm telling you to get out while you can."

Franklin's mouth opened and shut a few times before he blurted, "Is this because of the baby? Adrienne and Klaus'?" and with that, he saw the violent vein threatening to pop out of Kol's forehead and although it pained him to see his... lover? Friend? still obsessing over a woman he couldn't compare to, Franklin knew he made the right decision, "Cute kid, from what I've seen."

Adrienne showed him a picture, a secretive one after a long and hard day of work, they sparked up a conversation about family and what it meant to them and out came the picture of baby Mikaelson.

"He is," Kol murmured, eyes glazing over with visions of fleeting interactions he had with his nephew.

"Well, it's a good thing I'm leaving then ay?" Franklin's cheeky smile didn't reach his stormy eyes.

"You are?" Kol didn't like the feeling washing over him, was it regret or sadness? Melinda had already escaped the vicious grip of his brother's ire and she had never picked up the phone whenever he called. 

"Yes, my family want me out of the house, they organised, no they planned me to meet some girl in some town, think it's called Mystic Falls or something," Franklin told him, quickly glancing down at his bare fingers that would soon be encircled with a ring.

"They're forcing you to marry?" Kol hated the notion of an arranged marriage, it was all too soon, far too quick.

"I have no problem with it, it's not like anything keeping me here right?"

Franklin waited for an objection but instead, he just got silence and an unrecognisable expression, which made his decision to leave the city take painstakingly clear. So he shuffled back as if a barrier was placed in front of him.

"Kol, you know, if things were different maybe, just maybe I would stay, but you already have your hooks in someone else," he murmured after a few moments passed.

"You and your ridiculous American idioms, I'm not pining after bloody Adrienne," Kol scoffed, scrunching up his face.

"Notice how I never said her name?"

"Well — I, you said — you're a trickster you know that?" Kol slumped against the wall, letting out a defeated breath.

"Well, I'll be a married man soon," Kol hated how that sounded, a married man? When did marriage become so popular?

"Yes, a married man," he repeated, gingerly looking back into those stormy eyes he'd liked so much.

"Since I know you'll miss me, I'll keep sending my letters," Franklin declared, "but you need to send them back."

"I will," Kol announced.

Minutes passed but they stayed in the same place until the original took the leap and materialised in front of Franklin, scanning his eyes and the rest of his pretty face. Many claimed that the Kennedy man was far more attractive than some of the women in the city and Kol couldn't disagree, not with those lips calling out to him.

But the second he leaned in, Franklin backed away.

He just couldn't allow himself to get caught in the web that was Kol Mikaelson or he would never escape.

"Take care of yourself mikaelson," he murmured, sheepishly smiling at Kol who managed to recover from his unexpected rejection.

"Oh come off it Kennedy,  I'm an original," Kol forced out, readjusting his overcoat, watching as a soft chuckle escaped Franklin before he sent Kol one last smile and reentered the building. "Yes, I'm an original, fated with loneliness that makes lesser men end it all."

─────── •✦• ───────

Adrienne was forced by Hadeon to leave their estate, he reassured her that he would be fine despite not saying more than ten words in the last couple of hours. Instead, he headed to Marie's home along with Valerie to collect the rest of her things and deliberate whether or not he should move in, leaving his sister to apprehend the two blades that'll be used in the ritual.

So she strolled through the jazz club where Klaus so publicly stated his blessing for Rebekah and Marcel, who were both at home along with Finn and Clementine, the latter caring for Malachai.

People danced, sang, laughed, mingled and most of all, drank. 

Over by the bar, Klaus observed the scene, with Elijah and Lana by his side.

"Well, this is a first. Werewolves, vampires, witches and dirty cops,"  he glanced, seeing a group of police officers drunkenly toasting their glasses together, "All happy as clams and drunk as stoats."

"Only other place for such sightings, of course, is the lovely Saints brother," Elijah stated, ordering three shots.

Lana giggled, "You gotta love this city."

"To a new era! Collaboration in the face of Prohibition," Elijah held up his shot after they all recieved theirs.

"To your docks, their booze, and our theatres to hide it under. You're welcome, boys," the werewolf Queen added, and they all happily toasted and threw back the shot with ease.

Adrienne approached with a glass of water, surveying the trio and how close Lana appeared to be to Klaus, the two whispered a few things, whilst the former laid a hand on his arm, but he swiftly shrugged her off.

"Sister," Elijah greeted, alerting the other two.

Klaus tried to embrace his wife but she swiftly dodged him, disguising her annoyance with a forced smile.

"Oh Adrienne, I see you're not drinking," Lana expressed, gaze dropping to the glass of water she held, surprised that they even supplied such a drink.

"Obviously," Adrienne said, dryly and the werewolf Queen took it as a sign to head into the crowd. "I see you're reconnecting with your wolf roots."

Klaus, still recovering from being rejected, suppressed a sigh, "Yes she's helping me, with my werewolf roots," he couldn't help but mock, much to Elijah's displeasure. "She will be supplying me a few wolves to experiment on with the doppelgänger blood, or is that matter entirely put a snag in your day?" His eyes expanded wildly, she could see the remorse in them, but she didn't care, "Adrienne I didn't —"

"— mean to forget the closest thing I had to a caring mother took her own life in service of Hadeon and me today?" She scoffed, turning away from his desperate look, "Elijah where's Kol?" That question alone earned her questioning looks, "before either of you ask I need to speak to him regarding the ritual, and no I'm not asking for permission, only where he is."

"Over there, telling falsehoods to a hopeless girl across the room," Elijah informed, whilst his brother silently stewed beside him, itching to apologize again but knew it wasn't the right time.

"Thank you," and with that she slipped into the crowd of people that quickly parted for her.

"Well I think I'm right in my deduction by saying that you are still cursing her pain," he murmured dragging his brother to a secluded space.

"It was a mistake, you saw her Elijah she thought Lana and I —- we were discussing potential hybrids," he whispered the last part, "She doesn't seem to trust me," he saw the pointed look he received, "It's been months —"

"— And you just disregarded the grief she must feel, all because of what? She rejected a hug, gosh brother, your ego appears to be growing smaller and smaller each day."

"Just like my patience," Klaus hissed, eyes following his wife's steps, "I just — I snap, I let my emotions get the best of me. It's not always intentional. I want this relationship, this marriage to work. I need it to."

"A few months of pleasant behaviour doesn't erase your transgressions," Elijah responded.

"I'm aware, but she's wearing the ring, not around her neck, it's clinging to her finger, it might mean nothing to her but it's everything to me. I was progressing, we were progressing and yet a small mishap —"

" — one would hardly call that small —"

"— could've derailed everything," Klaus stressed.

"But think of it this way brother, one thing that has progressed in such a short time, the unification of New Orleans, who would have thought it possible?"

The hybrid gripped his shoulder, "We did it, brother."

Elijah put an arm around his shoulder, whirling him to overlook the scene before him, "Oh, certainly, we worked together, Niklaus. But this vision? This was all you, not just you but without Adrienne, I would fear for the future of this city. And now you and Adrienne will share it with your hier, my nephew. "

"There are two princes of the city," Klaus insisted, smile never faltering.

Elijah nodded, "Correct."

They pulled away and ordered a few more shots, "How's our eldest brother getting along, did the lovely Clementine help remedy his boring straights?"

Elijah uncharacteristically stiffened much to Klaus' shock, "She brought over a few teas and concoctions that he didn't bother to look at let alone consume. I studied him as she talked, he only dared to listen when she mentioned flowers and her love for growing them."

"Flowers? Why am I not surprised," Klaus couldn't help but laugh.

"Suppose that's something," Elijah hoped to see the optimism in such a trivial subject.

"You seem tense brother, afraid that Finn might have his eye on your witch?" Klaus loved seeing his brother so uptight, well even more so."Relax Clementine is besotted by you."

"It's not that," Elijah paused, gripping the glass, "She listens to him, he says very little but she listens to his memories and the ones he attempts to compile."

"You fear she'll leave you because we didn't let him come out to play?" Klaus grew more jovial with every drink, trying to forget about his cock up with his sweetheart. "Show you're ashamed brother, blame it all on me if you have to."

Elijah gave him a side glance, potentially considering the benefits of that, but he couldn't lie to Clementine, he wouldn't.

So instead he faced the bartender, and said, "Another round please."

Over on the other side of the room, Adrienne located Kol almost about to drown himself in another glass, so she waved a finger, chuckling at how it spilt across the table, almost spilling on the woman he surrounded himself with.

"What the – Adrienne," he cleared his throat and straightened up at the sight of her.

"We need to talk, I thought it was time, don't you?"

He wordlessly nodded with a gulp.

She smirked, "Good, no let's go."

└─────── •✦• ───────┘

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a/n:

rip marie laveau. (i know i wrote her similar to her on-screen counterpart instead of her real-life personality). she was not only hadeon's mother, but adrienne's true mother in my opinion and them officially being orphans hurts but they're also numb to it all. i hope you liked the letter that marie wrote, i preferred that type of goodbye instead of writing her death which would've been so extra.

we're getting closer to the end of this book guys. what do you think of finn and all of his interactions with his siblings? eight-hundred-plus years he's been locked away so him being overstimulated makes a lot of sense, also him not wanting to be around anyone, to touch or feel anything seems right. i felt so bad for him (both in fanfics and in the show) so i made sure that adrienne (a somewhat outsider) had that insight.

klaus putting his foot in it again was bound to happen. he and adrienne are progressing but very slowly. i know there's a lot of mixed reactions to their relationship but trust me pls.

also, i hope her being able to reign in a full moon klaus with her powers makes sense. she's getting stronger and the full moon is where her powers peak. speaking of powers, the next chapter will be so exciting to write not because of kol/ adrienne interaction, but because something new is coming this way.