House Of The Rising Sun

Lola peeks her head round the door of the room Adrianna is staying in, trying to be as quiet as she can. She smiles to herself when she sees Adrianna pacing around on the phone, not even noticing that Lola is standing there. Lola rushes down the staircase and waits by the front door for only a moment before she can hear Hayley trying the front door. 

Too impatient, Lola opens the door herself making Hayley tumble in slightly. Lola puts her hand out blocking Hayley from walking in as she narrows her eyes at her, "Did you get them?" Hayley nods and holds up a brown paper bag making Lola sigh, "Thank god!"

Lola snatches the bag out of Hayley's hand and walks straight into the kitchen as Hayley follows. Lola sits by the island counter and rips the bag open, squealing in excitement as the fresh curly fries in front of her. Without any hesitation, Lola starts eating the curly fries before looking over to Hayley, whole-heartedly, "You're the best."

Hayley watches as Lola starts eating the fries and can't help but laugh at how sentimental Lola is acting, "They're just fries, Lo."

"You're not the one that Adrianna has been forcing to drink kale smoothies every day." Lola grabs hold of Hayley's hand, her grip tighter than she planned as she looks at Hayley with pleading eyes, "I'm about to lose it, Hayley. I need carbs! Carbs need me."

Hayley snatches her hand away from Lola, "Oh my god, calm down." 

Hayley reaches out to grab some fries herself but Lola slaps her hand away and glares over to Hayley, "Hey! Get your own!"

"I got two lots of fries, give me some."

Lola scoffs as she moves the bag away from Hayley slightly, "One for me and one for the baby. That was a rookie mistake."

Hayley glares at Lola as she sits on the stool beside her, "I'll tell Ade."

Lola leans closer to Hayley, her glare even more aggressive than Hayley's, "You tell Ade and I will cut you."

"Wow." Hayley breathes out as she stands up, walking away slightly, "Now you're being dramatic."

Lola shrugs, "There's nothing dramatic about my love of curly fries."

"I'm gonna kill him!"

Hearing Adrianna's bellowing voice get closer to the kitchen, Lola grabs the bag and hides it behind her back, quickly chewing the fry as Adrianna walks into the kitchen, "Who?" Adrianna looks over to Lola with an annoyed expression that seems to be very rare to find a place on Adrianna's face. Lola laughs slightly, "Oh, I haven't seen that face in a long time. Let me guess, Scott?"

"No, Nate!" Adrianna scoffs, rolling her eyes, "But also Scott." She glances over to Lola who's posture shows that she's up to something, especially that she can't keep still with her hands behind her back, "What are you hiding?"

Lola purses her lips looking away from Adrianna, "Nothing."

Adrianna narrows her eyes at Lola before vamp speeding behind Lola. She grabs the paper bag out of Lola's hands. Adrianna's jaw slacks as she sees the contents of the bag, "Lola Salvatore!"

"It was Hayley!" Lola blurts out making Hayley's eyes widen, "She forced them onto me. I tried to tell her I was just so full up from that really nice salad you made."

Adrianna's shoulders slump as she looks over to Hayley unimpressed, "Hayley, come on. Lola needs nutrition and healthy foods, not fried carbs." Adrianna puts the bag onto the island counter then walks towards the fridge, "You should join us on this little health kick, Hayls. Want me to make you a kale smoothie?"

Hayley's face squirms with disgust as she shakes her head, "I think I'll pass on that."

"You sure?" Adrianna takes out the ingredients for the smoothie, "They're really good. Right, Lo?"

Lola's lips form a thin line as she tries to compose herself before looking over to Hayley with a mocking grin, "So good. You should try it, Hayls. You're getting a little...you know." Lola points over to Hayley then taps underneath her own chin. 

Hayley glares at Lola before she scoffs and turns her attention to Adrianna, "No, you know what? It was Lola's idea for me to get those fries!" Lola stands up ready to interrupt but Hayley blocks her from Adrianna's view as she continues, "She practically threatened me to go out and get them and said if I didn't she was going to sneak into my room when I'm sleeping and shave my hair off!"

Lola nudges Hayley slightly, glaring at her, "Now who's being the dramatic one." Hayley rolls her eyes before walking out of the kitchen and heading back upstairs.

Lola watches as Hayley walks out but then looks back over to Adrianna, "I just simply said that Hayley is due a haircut and said I'd help her." Adrianna crosses her arms against her chest, tilting her head and giving Lola an unamused stare making Lola scoff, "You brought this on yourself, Ade. You can't keep a hormonal pregnant woman from her cravings because I'll get violent."

Adrianna sighs, "Well, at least you've got an appetite and you're not throwing up every two seconds."

Lola sits next to the counter as she grabs the bag of fries again, "New topic, why have Nate and Scott got you so mad?"

Adrianna rolls her eyes as she sits beside Lola, "They should be here by now but instead they've decided they've wanted to add Mexico onto their little boys adventure."

Lola frowns over to her, "Woah, they're not coming here." Adrianna purses her lips as she stands up making Lola's voice become more stern, "Ade, no."

Adrianna's lips part as she is about to say something but gets interrupted by Lola's phone ringing. Adrianna smiles over to her, relived of the interruption as she starts to walk backwards out of the kitchen, "You should get that."

"We aren't done talking about this!" Lola shouts but Adrianna then rushes out of the kitchen. Lola sighs as she answers the phone, "Hey, D."

"Actually..." Lola's posture straightens as the voice on the other end of the phone isn't Damon, "It's Elena. Please don't hang up."

Lola clears her throat, not expecting to be receiving a call from Elena, "Why are you ringing me on Damon's phone, Elena?"

"I was worried that if I rang on my phone you wouldn't answer."

Lola shrugs to herself as she stands up, "I wouldn't even know it's you. I don't have your number saved."

She can hear Elena sigh on the other end, "Right."

"So, is this call something to do with Stefan?" Lola questions as she places all of the smoothie ingredients back into the fridge, "Because I'm not interested in hearing about Damon's boring ass summer with you, no offence."

"I've been trying to work up the courage to apologise to you. I'm really sorry about what I said calling you selfish and that you don't care about your brothers. I am so sorry for almost hurting you when I shut my humanity off. I just wasn't thinking straight."

Lola closes her eyes as she sighs, "Elena-"

"We used to get along and I know we probably won't ever get back to that point but just know I am so sorry about everything, Lola."

"Elena, it's fine."

"I-" Elena pauses on the other end, "It is?"

"I don't want there to be bad blood between us. I may just be saying this because I'm in an okay-ish mood but I mean it." Lola's face twists with disgust slightly, "Yes, everything that has happened between you and my brothers still to this day makes my eye twitch slightly." Lola runs her hand through her hair as she pauses for a moment, "But, you and I have both done a lot of things to one another and I just think for our sanity that we stop it. If Stefan wants to move on from all of that drama then I'm going to move on too."

"I agree. I instantly regretted everything I said to you at the mansion that day. You're not a bad sister or a bad person. You were just looking out for your brothers. Something I can relate to."

"I was sorry to hear about Jeremy." Lola's tone sounds sincere, despite everything that has happened between them both she feels for Elena for losing so many loved ones in such a short amount of time, "No one should have to go through losing a sibling. But I hear somehow little Gilbert has managed to return to the land of the living, good for him. Look, Damon is probably sick of me asking but have you heard anything from Stefan at all?"

"Nothing. But maybe-"

Lola's attention goes to the front door when she can hear is shutting and Hayley's voice, "Who the hell are you?"

"Oh, you must be the maid." Lola smiles to herself as she hears Rebekah's voice, "My bags are in the car – get them, will you?"

"Elena, I gotta go. Tell Damon I'll call him later." 

Hayley scoffs slightly as she steps further down the stairs, holding onto an iron poker, "Hello. Not the maid."

Rebekah closes her eyes for a second as she remembers, "Right. You're that werewolf girl that follows Lola around like a little puppy. It's Hayley, isn't it?"

Hayley crosses her arms against her chest, tilting her head slightly at Rebekah, "You have your brother's manners."

"And his temper, too, so watch it." Rebekah's eyes soften as she looks over Hayley's shoulder to see Lola walking towards them both, "Lola!"

Rebekah walks past Hayley and pulls Lola in a hug, Lola can't wipe the smile off her face as she sighs with relief, "You have no idea how good it is to see you, Bex."

Rebekah pulls away, taking hold of Lola's hands, "How are you? I was expecting to see some kind of supernatural, miracle baby bump. Guess you're not showing yet. How far along are you?"

"Eight or nine weeks, I think." Lola smiles awkwardly, "Weird, huh?"

Rebekah nods, smiling sincerely at Lola, "It's something I definitely wasn't expecting Elijah to inform me about. Speaking of, where is he?"

Hayley clears her throat, stepping closer to them, "He's long gone."

Rebekah narrows her eyes towards Hayley, "What do you mean, "long gone"?"

Hayley shrugs, "Well, one minute he was here making epic promises about protecting Lola but then he bailed."

Rebekah glances over to Lola confused, "You believe this?"

Lola rolls her eyes, "Of course I don't."

"Guess that's what Lo gets for trusting vampires."

Lola scoffs and glares over to Hayley, "You can't say that about someone who used to be a vampire."

"Elijah is not just any vampire, and he doesn't break promises." Rebekah's face drops as realisation hits, "Which means Niklaus has done something dastardly and Klaus-like." Rebekah walks past Lola and steps into the living room, "Klaus! Get out here and tell me what you've done with our brother, you narcissistic, back-stabbing wanker!"

Klaus opens a pair of doors and enters the room, looking smug, "Enough with all the shouting. Little sister, I should have known. I assume the six dead vampires were your doing?"

"They were very rude." Rebekah smiles in a mocking way, "Trying to victimise a poor, innocent girl just trying to find her way to the Quarter. So sorry, were they friends of yours? Oh, that's right, you don't have any friends."

"I do have friends. I have Marcel." Klaus starts to smile, "You remember him, don't you? Yes, of course you do. He fancies himself the 'King of the Quarter' now, and he has these rules about killing vampires. It'll be fun to see what sort of punishment he comes up with for you."

"I don't care about Marcel or his rules. Elijah doesn't welch on deals. What did you do to him?"

Klaus smiles slightly as he leans against the desk, shrugging his shoulders, "Perhaps he's on holiday... or taking a long autumn nap upstairs. Well, go on. Take a look around. You remember this house as well as I."

Rebekah glares at her brother, "I remember everything." Rebekah walks past Klaus and opens up the double doors that Klaus walks through earlier, "I especially remember one of the rare moments I found happiness with Emil and you destroyed it."

Klaus laughs as he follows Rebekah out of the room, he walks over to the chairs in the hallway, sitting down, "Well, he wasn't good enough for you." Klaus' smug expression fades when he glances over to see Lola speaking with Hayley beside the front door in a hushed tone. 

They both lock eyes momentarily, sharing the same helpless expression, both wanting to speak to the other but unable to fathom the words until Rebekah speaks up, "No one was ever good enough for me, Nik, you made sure of that. Now where is Elijah?" Klaus' phone pings, he checks it then stands up and walks towards the front door. Rebekah watches as he does, "Where are you going?"

Lola gestures for Hayley to go back upstairs as Klaus starts walking towards the front door, "It appears the night is not quite over, yet. I'm off for another drink with Marcel."

"Elijah told me about your plan to take apart Marcel's empire piece by piece." Rebekah scoffs as she stands beside Lola, "I don't remember it involving you two drinking New Orleans dry together."

"Hm, neither did I." Lola grunts with hostility in her tone.

"I know you don't have many friends, Rebekah, but what some friends do when they get together is they drink. And when they drink, they tell secrets. Marcel has somehow found a way to control the entirety of witches in the Quarter, and I aim to uncover the 'how' so I might take it for myself. Finding Elijah didn't make my to-do list today." Klaus turns away from the pair and opens the front door before turning back to smile towards Rebekah, "Oh, and welcome home, little sister."

They both watch as Klaus closes the door behind him, Rebekah stands in front of Lola to stop her from staring at the door, "How long has it been like this?"

Lola's eyes darken slightly as she smiles weakly to Rebekah, "As soon as we came back here."

"Okay, so they called again!" They both turn their attention to see Adrianna walking down the stairs, "There is still no movement on them not going to Mexico, apparently it's criminal to not go there according to Scott." Adrianna looks up as she gets to the bottom of the stairs to see Lola standing beside Rebekah, she smiles sweetly, "Oh, sorry, am I interrupting?"

"Ade, I want you to meet Rebekah." Lola stands between both of her closest friends, "Rebekah this is Adrianna."

Adrianna holds her hand out and smiles broadly over to her, "Rebekah Mikaelson, I have heard a lot about you."

Rebekah mimics the same smile as she takes Adrianna's hand, "Adrianna Miller, I've heard a lot about you too. So it's you I have to thank for making sure Lola doesn't fall too far over the deep end."

Adrianna laughs slightly, "It took some work but we got there in the end."

Lola clears her throat glancing between them both unamused, "Can you both not talk as though I'm not in the room?" Lola looks up to see Hayley at the stop of the stares before smiling to Adrianna, "Could you guys give us a second?"

Adrianna nods and starts to walk up the stairs, gesturing for Hayley to follow, "Come on."

"Well you know just as much as I do about this place." Rebekah starts to walk further into the house, "Have you checked the cellar?"

Lola follows her, "I've looked everywhere, Bex. Elijah's coffin isn't even down there with the rest." 

Rebekah sighs before walking into one of the rooms and pours herself a glass of bourbon, "What's going on between you and Nik? It's not uncommon for you to both bicker but I've never seen you both act this way around each other for a long time."

"This whole pregnancy is a shock to us both." Lola shrugs her shoulders as she takes a seat on one of the couches, "It's a lot for him to take in so I'm giving him his space, letting him continue on with this plan against Marcel and when he's ready, he'll talk about it."

"It's also a lot for you to take in too, Lola." Rebekah sits beside Lola, taking hold of her hand, "This is happening to you both but you're letting him avoid the topic." 

"Because whenever I did bring it up, we'd argue. I'm worried that what he's done to Elijah is because of his paranoia yet again." Lola sits back further into the couch, her hands rest against her stomach, "When all of this first came out you knew how set Elijah was on protecting me and the baby and he was there for me. He was the first person to ask if I was okay about it and how I felt about becoming a mother. The sort of things I'd have hoped Nik would be the first to ask but he wasn't."

"He's jealous." Rebekah deadpans making Lola roll her eyes, "I'm serious, Lola. There has always been a small part of Nik that was always jealous of the bond you have with Elijah. Clearly all of this fresh information and you and Elijah bonding once more is making him think that way once more."

Lola scoffs as she stands up and starts pacing around the room, "I don't know how many more times I need to say there has never and will never be anything other than friendship between me and Elijah. It hasn't felt this hostile between us both since-"

"1890." 

Lola closes her eyes for a moment as she nods softly, "Yep." Lola clears her throat, shaking her head before sitting beside Rebekah again, smiling broadly, "Anyway, enough about this. I want to hear everything about your crazy summer adventure even if it was with Matty blue eyes."

—✤—

Lola wakes the next morning, alone once more in her room. It feels wrong to be in the same house as Klaus yet staying in separate rooms. Tired of the constant feeling of walking on eggshells around him, Lola goes straight into the room where Klaus is staying. But her heart drops a little to see that it's empty and he's already left the house which is likely to be for the full duration of the day. 

Her mood adjusts slightly as she walks into the kitchen to see yet another extravagant breakfast display by Adrianna, "I come downstairs at your request every morning and you double the amount of food on this table. This is too much, Ade."

Adrianna shrugs her shoulders as she puts a plate of cut up watermelon on the table where Lola sits, "How am I supposed to know if anyone else is just going to turn up? Hey you know I thought of an idea last night."

Lola grimaces at Adrianna as she picks a fork up, "If it's another pregnancy app I'm gonna kill you."

"We're both engaged. We should have like a joint wedding or something!" Lola continues wearing the same grimaced look as she looks over to an excited looking Adrianna, "Wouldn't that be fun?"

Lola harshly swallows the food she was chewing, in fear if she doesn't she'll choke after hearing Adrianna's idea, "Your wedding is in five weeks."

"Well you and Klaus will be out of your little rut by then." Adrianna continues to wear the same beaming smile as she sits opposite Lola, "Everything is organised you just have to show up!"

Lola clears her throat, she stretches her hand out and takes hold of Adrianna's, "Ade, I love you but I don't want a wedding like the one you've planned. It's not mine and Klaus' thing."

Adrianna scoffs as she moves her hand away from Lola's, "Are you dissing my taste?"

Lola rolls her eyes, sitting back in her seat, "Ade, I've helped you organise the entire wedding. You honestly think I'd let you have the wedding the way that you are if I didn't agree with your taste?" She shrugs her shoulders as she looks down at the plate in front of her, "I don't know, I just always imagined it wouldn't be a big thing for us. Probably just something that's just the two of us."

Adrianna sits back, showing a pet lip, "So the joint wedding has been scratched?"

Lola's lips form a thin line as she shakes her head, "It wasn't even a thing to begin with." Lola turns her head to see Rebekah walking into the room, she takes Rebekah's hand and forcing her down into the seat beside her, "Rebekah! Thank god. Talk to me. Literally about anything."

"I can't stop I'm afraid." Rebekah takes a strawberry off Lola's plate before standing up again, "I'm going to find Sophie Devereaux to find Elijah. Where's Nik?"

Lola flashes an annoyed smile at Rebekah, "I'll give you one guess."

Rebekah rolls her eyes, "Marcel. I'll be back soon."

Lola watches as Rebekah leaves the room, she turns back to face Adrianna who is about to say something but Lola holds her finger up to shush her before she can even speak. Adrianna frowns as she watches Lola listening until she can hear the front door shutting behind Rebekah. 

Lola flashes a devilish smile as she stands up from her seat and starts to walk out of the room. Hayley walks into the room at the same time but Lola puts her hands on Hayley's shoulders, turning her around to face out of the room, "Get dressed. We're going out."

Adrianna vamp speeds in front of them both with a stern look, "Lo, you can't."

"Why can't I? Because Klaus said so?" Lola retorts in a bitter manner, "Nothing is going to happen. Besides, where I want to go no one will be there so chop chop."

—✤—

Adrianna nerves continue to build up as she hesitantly follows Lola further along Bourbon Street, "You said no one is going to be wherever you wanted to go."

Lola nods as she picks up her pace, "Correct."

Adrianna hums to herself before gesturing around where they are, "So talk me through why we are in the middle of the French Quarter that is surrounded by people?"

Lola glances down to her phone then back up and points to the alley way coming into view, "Because that next left is where I intend for us to go. We've got good disguises anyway. Haven't you seen every action film ever? Sunglasses and a baseball cap work every time."

Hayley stops walking with the pair, shoving her hands into her pockets, "There's something I need to go and do."

Lola stops walking, lowering her sunglasses down slightly frowning at her, "What are you talking about? What are you doing?"

"Just trust me." Hayley then crosses the road and walks away before giving either of them a chance to question her further.

Lola shrugs her shoulders and continues walking until her and Adrianna approach the alley way to the left. Adrianna cautiously follows Lola, she takes her sunglasses off and frowns at the destination, "What do you think Hayley meant back there? It's not safe for her to be out in the Quarter on her own either."

Lola waves Adrianna's worry off, "I'm sure she'll be fine. When I couldn't sleep last night I went into her room going on and on about beignets. I mean she was half asleep but I think she heard me. Maybe she then dreamt about them and woke up craving them." Lola looks towards the building and smiles proudly, "Ah, we're here." She takes off her sunglasses and hat passing them over to Adrianna, "Will you hold these, please?"

Adrianna continues to frown as she follows Lola towards an apartment door, "What are we doing at some dingy apartment?"

Lola pats her pockets as she tries to find something, "This dingy apartment belongs to no other than Sophie Devereaux."

"The witch you're linked to?"

"Yep."

"Okay..." Adrianna begins to laugh nervously, "So why are we here?"

"Because..." Lola drawls out as she takes out the pocket knife she took from the withes weeks ago and a bobby pin and begins to pick the lock, "I can't do what I want to do which is torture her so I figured I could create some other kind of fun." Lola successfully opens the apartment door with ease and pushes it open slightly, looking over to Adrianna smugly.

Adrianna begins to look even more confused as before as she glances between the front door and Lola, "And this new kind of fun is breaking into her home? How is this fun might I ask?"

"Because I get to create chaos." Lola steps into the apartment backwards, smirking towards Adrianna, "And now that I'm human I can enter a home while you can't stop me."

Adrianna glares at Lola who continues to step further into the apartment, Adrianna steps forward but is blocked, "Is this the kind of example you want to show your child?"

"I am going to show my child that you have to do whatever you need to do in order to show people who they shouldn't mess with." Lola looks around the room and scoffs, "I honestly expected Sophie Devereaux to live somewhere bigger than a studio apartment."

Adrianna leans against the doorframe, crossing her arms against her chest and watches unimpressed as Lola begins her so called chaos. Lola looks through a pile of mail that is on Sophie's counter before she starts placing the letters around the room, one being in between various books that are gathering dust on the bookshelf. Lola then takes a handful of leaves off a large plant growing, pursing her lips she continues looking around as she thinks on what to do with them. Her eyes glisten with mischief even more as she walks towards the fridge, she opens it to see a large jug of ready made iced tea. She removes the lid off the jaw and drops the leaves into it. 

Adrianna rolls her eyes, looking away briefly, "I forgot how petty you can be." She looks back into the apartment to see Lola taking CDs from the shelf and swapping around the discs, Adrianna scoffs and she stands up straight, "Really, Lo?"

Lola looks over to Adrianna, continuing to wear her smug grin as she takes a book and rips out pages from it making Adrianna roll her eyes, "Wow. You're really showing her who to not mess with."

Lola shrugs her shoulders as she starts throwing books over her shoulder, "I need to release my frustration in some way. This is how I've decided to do so."

Adrianna eyes widen as she looks over to a door in the kitchen part of the apartment and sees a silhouette, "Is that-"

Lola turns to face the other door and smiles, "Sophie Devereaux."

Sophie looks up startled as she opens the door to see Lola standing in the middle of her apartment, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Redecorating." Lola continues smiling over to Sophie as Sophie glares over to her making Lola roll her eyes, "Relax, Sophie Devereaux, I'm not going to hurt you. You made sure of that when you linked yourself to me." She shrugs, "Or your sister did, rest in peace. Just invite my friend in and we'll have a friendly discussion."

Sophie looks over Lola's shoulders to see Adrianna standing at the front door of the studio who waves over to her. Sophie glares back at Lola, "I'm not going to just do whatever you want me to do after you break into my home. I'm definitely not going to invite a vampire in here."

Lola purses her lips as she tilts her head slightly, "Oh, but you will. We just want five minutes of your time for you to unlink us and then we'll be on our way."

Sophie scoffs as she places a paper bag onto the kitchen counter, "If I do that then you'll just kill me anyway."

"Not straight away." Lola deadpans, she looks over to the paper bag and points at it, "Do you mind? This whole pregnancy has me hungry constantly."

"Do I even have a choice?"

"No. Not really." Lola starts looking through Sophie's kitchen drawers before she starts laughing, she turns around and looks at Sophie amused and holds up a fork, "You have one fork?"

Sophie shrugs, "I'm one person."

Lola continues to laugh as she shakes her head, "That is so weird."

"Let's just cut to the end of this whole situation, okay?" Sophie snaps, her shoulders broaden as her tone becomes more serious, "I'm not going to unlink us. This is my leverage I have against all of you so that you help me take down Marcel. I'm not stupid enough to do that because I know you will just kill me the second it's removed."

Lola holds her hands up in surrender, "I've already said I'm not going to hurt you right now, I promise. I don't have any weapons on me." Lola hears Adrianna clearing her throat making Lola remember the pocket knife in her back pocket, "Okay, I take that back. I don't have any weapons currently in my hands." Sophie raises a brow as she looks over to the fork that is still in Lola's hand. Lola catches her glare and looks at her hand and laughs slightly, "That's a lie also."

Lola sits at the table and gestures towards where Adrianna is standing, "Just invite Adrianna in. You'll wish you did, she's the more sane one out of us both."

Sophie hesitates for a moment before turning around to face Adrianna, "Come in."

Adrianna walks into the apartment with a smug grin, she closes the gap between her and Sophie, "Don't do anything stupid."

"Hey, Ade." Lola gestures to the take out container in front of her on the table, "Want some gumbo?"

Adrianna sits beside Lola and takes the fork, "I thought you'd never ask."

Lola smiles up at an anxious looking Sophie, "So, hey, Sophie Devereaux, I think you can help." She watches as Sophie sits opposite them both, "My friend here has never been to New Orleans before and the last time I was here was a hundred years ago."

Sophie frowns at them both, "What's your point?"

"What's new? What's now considered old?" Lola sits forward, resting her elbows against the table, "You could give me a little refresh and recommend by good spots for Adrianna to see."

"I've seen quite a lot of the French Quarter already, Bourbon Street, uh, Jacksons Square, you get the idea." Adrianna perks up as she passes the take out over to Lola, "Oh but I would like to go to that restaurant you used to always go on about, Lo, what was it called?"

Lola claps her hands together as she gasps, "Oh, cafe de monde! So good."

Sophie scoffs glancing between them both, "You're kidding right?"

Adrianna's shoulders slump down and looks over to Sophie with no expression, "What? It's not good?"

Sophie clears her throat as she shifts slightly in her seat, "No, it's uh, it's great. Just not somewhere I'd expect to see two bloody thirsty psychopaths."

Lola and Adrianna glance at each other wide eyed before the pair burst out laughing at Sophie's statement. Simultaneously falling back into their seats as the laugher grows louder making Sophie looks over to the pair confused.

"Blood thirsty psychopaths!" Lola echoes in an amused tone as her laughter dies down, "Oh, Sophie Devereaux, you are so funny sometimes. That one is the funniest."

Sophie sits back in her seat, crossing her arms, "Do you just keep saying my full name to prove that you know it?"

"Yes." Lola deadpans, she tilts her head as she watches Sophie, "I know a lot about you. While I've been stuck not being allowed to go anywhere I've done quite a bit of research on you." Lola sits forward again as she moves the fork around the food, "Mother, Joanne, father, Timothy. Both deceased when you were quite young, very sad. Sister, Jane-Anne who I briefly met also deceased. I understand that you left here not long ago to travel around the world which I admit is pretty cool." Lola leans over to Adrianna, "Don't you think?"

Adrianna nods in agreement, "It's pretty cool, you gained a few points about that one. But, then you came back." Sophie's eyes widen at Adrianna who also then leans forward in her seat, "We kept wondering what the reason was. Maybe the reason was because you and your sister created this plan to lure my friend back here to then use her as some pawn in your pathetic little games. You're going to stop all of this. Remove the link between you and Lola."

"I can't do that."

"Can't or won't? You know we can't hurt you." Adrianna shrugs her shoulders as she sits back, "Well, we can't physically hurt you. I'm not one to brag but I know quite a bit about the human brain and how it works. Without you even realising I can easily manipulate you into thinking you've gone completely insane, paranoid, thinking that everyone is out to get you without compulsion." Adrianna narrows her glare at Sophie, tilting her head, "Do you want that?"

Sophie swallows harshly but remaining silent. Lola hums to herself as she leans over to Adrianna, "It doesn't seem to be working."

"Hm, I guess you're right." Adrianna shrugs, not removing her glare from Sophie, "It's not like we can go after anyone she loves either, Lo, considering they're all dead."

Sophie's eyes turn into plead as she looks between them both, "If I unlink us then Marcel will find out I've used magic and he'll kill me."

"There's something you're not telling us." Adrianna continues in a stern tone. Lola's eyes drift away from Sophie as she notices a purple book hanging off the bookcase behind her slightly, she frowns as she stands up from the table and walks over to it as Adrianna continues, "There's something in your eyes that you're keeping from us."

Sophie scoffs as her attitude becomes arrogant, "And what would that be?"

"The whole situation with Marcel." Adrianna can hear Sophie's heartbeat begin to increase making her smile slightly, "You're not just wanting him to leave this city, are you?"

Lola's blood starts to run cold as she grabs the book, a book she thought was gone for good. Her jaw tightens as she storms back towards Sophie, "Why do you have this?"

Sophie looks up to see an angry Lola standing next to her holding onto the book, "What?"

"This was my grandmother's." Lola holds the book up, her voice becoming more agitated, "Why do you have something that belonged to my grandmother?"

Sophie's mouth gapes open but clams shut several times, beginning to panic and finding the words making Adrianna stand up and glaring down at her, "Answer her."

Sophie shrugs, she raises her hands up that are shaking slightly, "That book belonged to Charlotte Whittaker. Her and her sister were the beginning of the Whittaker coven."

Lola laughs spitefully, "Yeah, I know all about that. It's my family. But what I am asking is how do you have this book?" Lola slams the book onto the table beside Sophie making her flinch, Lola rests against the table and moves closer to Sophie, "It's not possible for you to have it."

Adrianna watches Lola cautiously, "Lo..."

"Tell me what you know!" Lola seethes. Sophie looks away making Lola scoffs, she storms over to the kitchen counter and takes a knife from the block then walks back over to Sophie and slams the knife into the table less than an inch away from Sophie's hand, "Want to see which one us can handle the pain of something going through our hand the best?"

Adrianna walks beside Lola, calmly placing her hand onto Lola's shoulder, "Lola, calm down."

Lola scoffs at Sophie who continues to look away, "Oh, so you've suddenly gone mute now?"

Sophie stands up from her seat, creating distance between her and Lola as she puts her hands up in surrender, "I don't know anything about the book, I swear. It's been passed down in my family for decades."

Lola's breathing becomes erratic as she tries to calm herself down, with a shaky hand she picks the book back up and stares down at it, "It's not possible." Lola shakes her head in disbelief before storming out of the apartment, her grip tightens on the book.

—✤—

Marcel walks into Rousseau's , his eyes searching the place until he spots Klaus sitting at the bar. He walks towards him with haste as Klaus turns to face him and looks upon him amused, "I know that face – woman trouble."

Marcel laughs half-heartedly, "You're a dick, you know that? Why didn't you tell me your sister's back in town?"

Klaus shrugs as he looks down at the glass of bourbon in his hand, "Well, I thought it would be more amusing for you to find out for yourself."

"Is there anything else that I need to know?" Marcel questions, getting antsy, "Maybe that Lola is gonna arrive soon now too? You and I both remember what those two are like together so my guess is that Rebekah will be telling her to come here."

Klaus rolls his eyes as he pours himself another drink, "The only thing you need to know about Rebekah is that she's grown considerably more insane in the last century."

"Or maybe that it was her who killed my guys?" Marcel retorts, he steps closer to Klaus, narrowing his glare, "Or maybe it was her and Lola?"

"Doubtful. Unless that biker bar is frequented by small-town, high school quarterbacks, I can't imagine Rebekah would be interested. Besides, Lola isn't in the city. She's still in Mystic Falls having to deal with those irritating brothers of hers." Klaus smirks over to Marcel, "I will tell her you said hello though."

Marcel scoffs as his phone rings, Klaus listens in on the call as Marcel answers it, "Yeah?"

"Just got a tip – someone saw a werewolf in Bienville Park."

"Get a couple night-walkers to run it down. Bring me back its head."

Marcel hangs up and turns his attention back to a smug looking Klaus, "Well, I guess that solves the mystery of the murdered riffraff. At least my sister's in the clear."

"About that. I don't have time for Mikaelson family drama." Marcel pats Klaus on the shoulder, "You're my guest – keep your sister in line."

Klaus scoffs as he watches Marcel walk away, "I'd have a greater chance of draining the Mississippi with a straw!" His face drops after hearing the phone call Marcel had, hoping that whoever the night walkers have seen, it has nothing to do with Lola.

—✤—

Adrianna eventually catches up to Lola who is now sitting on a bench in Bienville Park, staring down at the book she took from Sophie's, "What was that back there?" Adrianna demands making Lola jump out of her thoughts, "What's going on?"

Lola flashes a fake smile up at Adrianna, "It's nothing. It was just a mistake."

Adrianna frowns, she sits beside Lola on the bench, "Don't do that, Lo. Don't lie to me."

"I just-" Lola sighs deeply as she closes her eyes, "I need to speak to Klaus about it." She moves the book around on her lap slightly, "The last time I seen this book was 1892 so I wasn't expecting to see it sitting on Sophie Devereaux's bookshelf."

"What is it?"

"I can't." Lola quickly says, she shakes her head before looking over to Adrianna with glossy eyes, "I'm sorry, I just-"

"It's okay." Adrianna says softly, "Are you okay?"

Hayley walks over to the pair looking relived to see them, "There you are."

Lola clears her throat as she smiles up at Hayley, "Where have you been?"

"I've been to get you something, Lo." Hayley holds out a cup towards Lola, "Something that's going to put an end to all this stupid drama that's going on."

Lola raises a brow at the cup in Hayley's hand, "Tea?"

Hayley shakes her head as she sits on the other side of Lola, "It's more than that. It's-"

"Wolfsbane?" Adrianna's eyes widen as she picks up the familiar scent of the flower, she stands up and glares at Hayley, "Hayley, what the hell!?"

Lola snatches the cup out of Hayley's grasp as she too comes to a stand, "What the hell are you thinking!?"

Hayley sighs, "It's my fault you're back here, Lo. So, I'm going to do everything I can to help you."

Lola laughs slightly, "And I am grateful for your help but not when you're wanting to poison me!"

A whooshing sound is heard behind Lola when an unfamiliar voice speaks up, "Well, well, well, if it isn't Lola Salvatore. Marcel is looking for you."

Lola rolls her eyes, "Of course he is." She turns to face the vampire which is when she notices a picture of her from 1919 hanging out of the vampire's pocket. She scoffs as she snatches the photo from him, "He used that photo!?"

The vampire's attention goes over to Hayley, a sadistic grin appears, "Dumb move, coming into the Quarter. You're coming with me, wolf."

Adrianna steps in front of Hayley, flashing her vamp features towards the unknown vampire. Lola scoffs, "I'm so sick of people demanding things from us!" Lola throws the contents of the cup into his face, the scorching hot tea makes the vampire shout out in pain. 

The vampire grits his teeth as he attempts to step closer to Lola but Adrianna steps in front of her, instantly ripping the vampire's heart out of his chest. Adrianna spins around to check Lola is okay but she then sees two other vampires standing behind them.

Adrianna's vamp features appear again as she grips hold of one of the vampire's throats, "Don't touch her." With her strength she pushes the vampire onto the ground, her foot steps onto his chest and the heel of her shoe begins to go through his chest making him shout out in pain. 

Suddenly, Rebekah appears and rips the heart out of the other vampire and pushes his body onto the ground, "Now, that is no way to treat a pregnant lady. I do hate bad manners."

Rebekah throws the heart on top of the vampire's dead body as she smirks at the trio. Adrianna then kicks the vampire who is still underneath her across the face with such force it breaks his neck.

She exhales deeply, ripping her heel out of his chest to look up to see Rebekah looking at her impressed, "I like you."

—✤—

Klaus throws the final body onto the pile of deceased vampires in the front courtyard of the plantation home, "This is why I told you never to leave the house." He turns to face everyone but narrowing his angry glare towards Lola, "Werewolves are banned in the Quarter and I told you to not leave because you'll be recognised."

Lola matches the same angry glare as she steps closer to him, "I'm not some prisoner you can keep locked up here for the next nine months!"

Klaus' jaw tightens as he steps closer to her, "I had a plan, and your little nighttime stroll put it all in peril!" Rebekah starts walking towards the pile of bodies as she can hear one of them groaning until Klaus snaps, "Leave him!"

Rebekah comes to a halt as Klaus' attention goes to her, "You've done enough, don't you think? Leaving a trail of bodies like a road map to my door?"

"If I hadn't overheard this lot bragging about werewolf heads, everyone here would be screwed!" Rebekah snaps harshly, "And don't give me that crap about having a plan. You've had all the time in the world to execute a plan, and no one's seen you do a damn thing! Elijah made a deal to protect your child, so that it could save you from your selfish, rotten self." Rebekah laughs spitefully, "But you obviously don't give a damn about the child, Lola or Elijah, because what have you done to honour it?"

"I have done everything!" Klaus seethes, "Let me spell it out for you, shall I? From the day I arrived, Marcel hasn't trusted me. From Day One, he's had his vampires ingest toxic vervain which, as you know, little sister, protects them from my mind control. I needed a spy, someone on the inside with me who Marcel would never suspect. So, I created a Day Zero and got there first. Marcel had just lost six vampires, thanks to your little murder spree, and he needed new recruits. So, I made the new one mine, before he'd had even a drop of vervain." 

Klaus looks over Rebekah's shoulder towards Lola, "But we all know the real way to a man is through his heart." His attention goes back to Rebekah, "It may be hard for you to hear, little sister, but I have compelled the barmaid from Rousseau's to agree on going for a date with Marcel to distract him further. Then I will be informed on his whereabouts and who he sees."

Klaus then gestures over to the vampire groaning on the top of the pile, the same one who's neck Adrianna broke, "And this one –" He grabs the vampire by his collar, dragging him across the ground, "I'm gonna drain him of vervain, compel him to believe his mates found religion and moved to Utah, so that he can explain to Marcel why he lost three more vampires tonight."

Klaus drags then vampire into the house as Lola, Rebekah, Adrianna and Hayley all follow him into the home. He drops the vampire onto the ground, glaring at all of them, "Does anyone have any more questions? No?" He looks towards Lola, "Good. Because I have a question, Lola." Lola locks eyes with him as he steps closer, "What were you doing in the bloody French Quarter in the first place? Answer me!" Klaus' harsh tone makes Lola flinch slightly but looks away from him.

Rebekah sighs, "Leave her be."

"You wanna know what we were doing?" Hayley speaks up as she steps closer to Klaus, hatred fills her eyes, "I was buying poison, so Lola could put your little baby out of its misery."

Klaus' eyes darken as he vamp speeds towards Hayley, pinning her to the door by her neck. His grip tightens as Hayley gasps for air, "How dare you."

Lola steps forward, "Nik, let go of her!"

Klaus ignores Lola as he moves closer to Hayley, "Don't think I didn't hear your little tantrum saying so many delightful things about me. You're only still alive because Lola cares about you."

Adrianna vamp speeds at Klaus, she pushes him off Hayley who then falls to the floor. Lola kneels beside her, not knowing what to do other than soothing her saying she's okay. 

Adrianna's eyes turn dark as she pushes Klaus against the other way, "Get your hands off her! I've had enough of you and your pathetic ego! Yes, what Hayley done was stupid." Adrianna turns her head, looking behind her at Hayley still on the floor, "She knows that now." Adrianna turns her attention back to Klaus, pushing his against the wall again, "I swear, Klaus, if you lay another hand on her I'll make you regret it. You can keep up this stone cold attitude but I don't buy it."

"All of this bluster about not wanting the child, treating Lola as though she's a stranger to then react this way at the possibility of losing the child?" Rebekah snaps as Adrianna lets go of Klaus, he looks over to Rebekah, his eyes soften as she continues, "It's okay to care. It's okay to want something. That's all Elijah was trying to do, all he's ever wanted for you." Rebekah gestures between herself and Lola, "All we've ever wanted."

Adrianna sighs heavily as she turns to see Lola helping Hayley up. Adrianna takes hold of Hayley's hands as Lola gestures to her, "Go upstairs." 

Lola watches as both Adrianna and Hayley go up the stairs, her stare becomes cold as she looks down at Klaus who sits on the edge of the stairs. He looks up at her with pleading eyes and instant regret but that doesn't remove the cold from Lola's, "Don't you ever lay a hand on Hayley again."

"I gave Elijah to Marcel."

Rebekah sits beside him, looking over to him shocked, "What?"

Lola scoffs, shaking her head in disbelief as she begins to pace in front of them both as Klaus begins to explain, "Marcel was nervous. It's bad enough one Original returned to town, but two? His crew was getting antsy. He wanted Elijah gone, so... I gave him a peace offering."

Rebekah's eyes harden, glaring at Klaus, "You bartered our brother?"

"I have a plan." Klaus echoes his exact words from earlier, "Gain Marcel's trust, dismantle his empire, honour Elijah's wish that that baby be born. I am executing that plan the only way I know how." Klaus turns and stares over to the door, "If you don't like it, there's the door. See if I care." Klaus stands up from his spot and walks away from the pair.

—✤—

Lola steps outside to see Rebekah, sitting on one of the garden chairs, staring out into the distance, "Hey, Bex."

Rebekah jumps out of her thoughts and smiles over to Lola, "Are you okay?"

Lola nods as she sits on the chair beside her, "I'm okay. Ade and Hayley are on their way to New York. Ade was wanting to get some of her things to bring back here and figured it would be a good idea that Hayley gets out of the city for a few days." Lola leans back in the chair and looks over to Rebekah who continues to stare out in front of them, "Are you okay?"

Without her gaze moving from in front of her, Rebekah speaks up again, "Does it feel strange being back here for you?"

Lola laughs softly as she looks out in front of her also, "Really strange. It will be more so for you, I mean you all had decades here before I arrived."

Rebekah smiles softly as she thinks back to earlier times in their lives, "Our time here certainly brightened up when you got here." She glances over to Lola as she rolls her eyes, "I'm serious, Lola. You sprinkled your energy onto each and every one of us. Makes me wish we were back in those times."

Lola hums in agreement, "So do I. At least then Elijah would be here with us."

"I know things haven't been great between us, Lola, but I'm here for you." Rebekah reaches her hand out over to Lola with a sincere smile, "Us girls have got to stick together."

Lola takes Rebekah's hand, smiling back at her, "I've missed you, Bex."

Rebekah twists Lola's hand around slightly and looks down at her engagement ring, "I have to say I am surprised that you're still wearing this."

Lola scoffs as she looks down at her hand in Rebekah's, "Yeah, well, even when you hate him you still love him."

Rebekah smiles, nodding faintly, "But I do remember how we used to say it would be fun to actually be sisters." Lola laughs slightly as she remembers the conversation Rebekah is talking about back in the twenties, "I suppose now we finally get to find out."

Lola removes her hand from Rebekah's as she sighs, "Well, it will all depend on how he will react at what I'm about to do."

Rebekah sits up straight, raising a brow towards Lola who leans to her side to grab something. Rebekah's eyes widen as she sees the remaining silver daggers, "Where did you find them?"

Lola smirks slightly, "I know all of Nik's hiding spots." She holds them out further towards Rebekah, "I trust you to have these, Bekah. That way there is nothing stopping you from getting Elijah back."

Rebekah hesitates only for a moment before taking them. She looks over to Lola as they both share the same determined look in their eyes as Lola smiles over to her, "Go kick some ass and bring Elijah home."

—✤—

Every morning Klaus will walk past the room Lola is staying in, trying to work up the courage to walking in there and expressing how much he regrets reacting the way he did towards the pregnancy at the start. Yet he never works himself up enough to going in and speaking to her but after everything that happened last night it's time they've work it all out between themselves.

He steps closer to her room to see the door is already slightly open, he opens the door further to see that Lola is still asleep. He notices the vial of wolfsbane hanging out of Lola's bag as he steps into the room. 

Lola wakes to see Klaus standing at the foot of the bed holding the vial of wolfsbane, "I didn't use it."

Klaus looks over to Lola before placing the vial back against Lola's bag before walking towards the window, "You're awake."

Lola stretches slightly as she sits up in the bed, "I've barely slept. I forgot how humid this place can get."

Lola looks over to Klaus who continues to stare out of the window, "What stopped you? You could have been free of all of this..." He bows his head slightly as his voice turns into a whisper, "Of me."

"I'm not leaving you." Lola stands up from the bed and stands in front of Klaus, "I am never leaving you, Nik. I've been giving you space because I know that's what you needed." A shaky breath falls from her lips as she places her hands against his chest before looking up at him with a sorrow expression, "You were here but not here here and I missed you so much but I knew you needed space. I think we both needed this space so we can come to terms with what's happening on our own before we do this together."

"And that's what you want?" Klaus questions as his eyes dance around Lola's face, trying to read her, "To do this together?"

"Do you?"

Klaus sighs deeply, taking hold of Lola's hands, "Of course I do. I-" He closes his eyes for a second as he composes himself, "I don't know if-"

"I know." Lola squeezes Klaus' hands as reassurance, instantly knowing what he was trying to say. Klaus' eyes become glossy looking at Lola who nods softly, "I know what you are going to say and you can't think that way." Lola places a hand softly against Klaus' cheek, "We've both had crappy parents and yet we stood back up after they were constantly putting us down. We're strong, Nik. Last night made me realise it's not just ourselves we are fighting for now, we have someone else who needs us to fight. And I am not going to let anyone hurt our baby. We can do this."

Klaus nods softly, he runs his hands through Lola's honey coloured hair, he brings her towards him and kisses Lola on her forehead, "Together."

Lola's hands find a place on Klaus' wrists as he doesn't remove his hands from the side of Lola's face as he locks eyes with her once more, "I'm sorry how I've been these past few weeks, there have been many times I've wanted to come and say all of this to you. But when I do, I see how happy you were being with Adrianna and I didn't want to ruin it." He smiles at her softly as he traces his thumb against her cheek, "It's bittersweet because I love seeing you happy, and yet it pains me because I should be the one to make you happy and I'm not."

Lola's brows pull together, not agreeing with his statement, "You make me happy more than you'll ever know. Even if you aren't there you still make me happy and that will never change." Lola's eyes show the familiar warmth that Klaus fell in love with all those years ago, "We need to starting working together as team again. I am going to be by your side as you take back what is yours. We all mourned Marcel a hundred years ago and until a couple of months ago we all assumed he was dead. But for us all to then realise he was in fact alive is hurting you, it's hurting us all."

Klaus bows his head slightly as he removes his hands away from Lola, "And yet, when I returned, I found not only had he survived, he had thrived. Instead of seeking us out, instead of sticking together as one, he made a choice to take everything our family had built and make it his own." 

"We're going to get all of it back." Lola looks over to him with the same determination she looked at Rebekah with, "Whatever it takes."

The corner of Klaus' lips twitch upwards slightly, "Whatever it takes." Lola's face drops slightly as she glances over to her bag making Klaus frown, "What is it?"

Lola stares at him and hesitates for a moment before she sighs and walks towards towards her bag, "There's something you need to see." Lola picks her bag up and starts to go through it, "Before the situation in the park, I broke into Sophie's apartment." Lola looks up to Klaus who's mouth is agape about to say something but Lola shakes her head, "Don't ask. But when I was in there, I found this."

The colour leaves Klaus face as he stares down in shock at the familiar book in Lola's hands with a purple cover, "That's impossible."

"That's exactly what I said." Lola hands Klaus the book who continues to stare down at it and Lola anxiously paces around the room, "We burnt it, Nik. We burnt everything." Lola comes to a halt and looks over to Klaus with a worried expression, "What if this being here means-"

"No." Klaus interrupts Lola before she can finish her sentence. 

He throws the book onto the bed and closes the gap between Lola who continues to stare towards the book, "But, the book. What if-"

Klaus places his hands against Lola's arms, moving her to sit at the edge of the bed, "Love, he is dead." He kneels in front of her, taking hold of her hands, "You killed him. I seen his body myself, he's gone."

Lola shakes her head as she stares down at the ground before locking eyes with Klaus, her eyes are glossy as she becomes more and more anxious,

"But what if he isn't?"

—✤—

A/N: These chapters just keep getting longer and longer oops...

I'm trying my hardest to get a new chapter to you all every week but I am in the middle of taking all my exams so I'm really sorry if some chapters arrive later than others!

Hope you are all still liking the story :))))

Holly x