All they could do was wait.

Dahlia was coming, this much they knew. When, they couldn't tell. No one could locate her, not even Freya. And it was difficult to formulate a plan when they didn't know what to expect other than a super-powerful witch who was sure to find Hope wherever she went.

Yara tried to solidify their alliances in preparation. She sent supplies out to the wolves, who preferred to stay in the Bayou and simply wanted to renovate the buildings they already had. Everyone was doing well now that they didn't have to turn each full moon, and if Hayley promised on their behalf that they would keep Hope safe, they would do it for the future of their pack. Yara had no intention of asking them for something they weren't capable of, or exploiting them. All she implored was that they let her know if they heard anything, and that they be ready to take any preventative measures they could once they had some to give.

The same happened with the vampires. All of the newest recruits had daylight rings and promised training sessions that Yara was happy to give, even roping Elijah in (which he didn't seem to mind given how fond he was growing of a woman named Gia). They were more than happy to keep their ears to the ground. As Marcel recalled sadly, Thierry had spoken about the willingness to do something because their leader's 'mother' requested it.

The witches were getting along with them as well. Grudgingly, Kol had donated some magical objects (mostly from the O'Connell stash, but created by him) and Yara had sat down with Josephine to tell her what threats their family faced and how it could come to affect the witches.

She'd even gone to speak with Vincent Griffith, offering emotional (and financial) support along with a care package where she expressed her condolences after learning how he'd gotten to the point where he was isolated enough for Finn to take over his body. He, too, knew what losing a child was like. And though Yara knew she couldn't erase his pain, she hoped he'd find in her a shoulder to lean on and someone to vent to. Though he wasn't sure he was ready to associate further with the Mikaelsons, he appreciated her offer.

There had been one more person Yara hoped to have a sit-down conversation with. Though Klaus wasn't pleased with it, she insisted it needed to be done.

"Well, isn't this pleasant," said Kol with a sarcastic undertone as they sat alone in a booth at a French restaurant he'd picked.

"I'm hoping it will be," said Yara tightly, plucking up a small piece of bread. "I wanted to apologize to you, Kol. I've never been warm with you, not even when Marcel grew up. I avoided you at all costs, made small talk with you in your own family's house. I was hostile and rude and I've not once been kind since you came back. I want to change that."

"Say what you really wish to say," murmured Kol. "You hate me but you need me to protect your daughter. That, I will do, not because you matter to me, but because she's Nik's child and I'll do anything for her."

"I don't hate you. Really, I don't. I disliked your attitude toward me, I never trusted you after what you did to Marcel. But I realize I never tried to understand where you were coming from. Not because I should excuse your behavior– because it was wrong– but because if I'd taken a moment to see it through your eyes, I would have realized that you were re-entering the family and finding two new members, invaders, and they were treated better than you. By not saying anything, by not being kind to you, I didn't help your brothers and sister be kinder to you. I perpetuated their cruelty and it... it is awful, I shouldn't have done it."

Kol stopped picking at his piece of bread. Yara continued, "Yes, it's no secret you're an essential player in this. I do need you, I won't deny that. But I don't want us to be an alliance that is only maintained while there is a threat, then we go back to avoiding each other and holding grudges when it passes. I want to apologize for my behavior and I want... to forgive you for yours."

"That's some apology."

"You were a threat to Marcel, you made me feel unsafe. And I held onto that for years. No more. I see you now, teaching Davina, helping everyone. It helps me realize you were just a little boy and you were special and filled with magic and your parents took that from you and instead you got stuck with siblings who didn't understand your loss, didn't see you as more than a nuisance. You lost something and no one acknowledged it, no one appreciated you. You reacted with hostility because you felt you were being replaced, shoved aside. It's no secret that even before I knew you all, they just put you in a box as a time-out and if you were around they didn't value your opinion. I'm sorry, Kol, for all of it. For my part in it. For not seeing that you just wanted to be appreciated because you are brilliant and can be sweet and giving and the way you've been these past days, that is an uncle I feel proud of my daughter having."

He sighed. "Then... I, too, will apologize for not having taken no for an answer, for having intimidated Marcel, for taking my anger at my brothers and sister out on you and him because yes, you are right, I thought they were replacing me. And when I came back in 1901, it was only because Nik wanted you to forgive him. Marcel sided with him, you weren't as explicitly there but you chose wherever your son went, wherever Nik went. When I woke up in Mystic Falls and I found out Marcel was dead and that you were gone, I felt happy. But I realized how much Nik had changed. How much worse he was. I tried to find you because I wanted him to let me go. I knew deep down you were the only one who could bring his focus elsewhere so I could leave. And I suppose it made me think of New Orleans and how... he didn't even care what I was doing. I could have left at any time but I was obsessed with the need to hurt him, to make him feel the pain I did, that I kept at it. I stayed to bother you and Marcel because I knew he cared about you. I started a war because I wanted to stand over him and laugh. And all it did was leave me dead."

He clasped his hands together, "I am not the same man I was when I met you. I'm not even the same man I was when I died. I want to help Hope and I... I accept your apology and offer mine, too. I want to be better, I want to be free. I want to travel the world again and learn magic and meet pretty girls... and maybe if... well, if it was possible for Nik to have a family, maybe I could have one, too. As soon as Dahlia is gone, well, the sky's the limit for me. I want it to be. I realize I'm tired of trying to gain their approval. I don't need it. I just need to be on my own. I'm happier that way."

"And I will help you with all that in any way I can."

The waitress swept forward with their food, which they ate with smiles on their faces. Yara hadn't realized just how much Kol knew about magic until she sat down to ask him about his passions, about all the places he'd visited. And though Kol knew she had a reputation, he didn't realize just how fascinating all her adventures had been.

"Did you have a good day, my love?" she asked as she came to pluck Hope out of Klaus's arms. "Mm, you smell like soap."

"She had a bit of an accident," said Klaus, rubbing the back of his head. "I may have been guiding her in painting but there was a spill."

"Aw, her first little mess," said Yara, kissing Hope's cheek. "You'll get better at it. Your papa used to stain all his clothes and I'd be sitting by the fountain washing them so he wouldn't be left with nothing to wear."

"How was your dinner with Kol?"

"Good. It was good. There's a lot about him I didn't know. And I look forward to learning more once he is able to go and travel. Did you know Davina thinks she might be able to get him back in his original witch body? He'd look like himself and be able to do magic. He'd be much happier that way, I can already tell."

"Mm, certainly." He brushed against her as she leaned down to set Hope in the crib. "If she's to take a nap, perhaps you and I could do something nice."

She glanced at him over her shoulder. "What did you have in mind?"

"You've got to follow me to find out."

Her curiosity got the best of her. As soon as Hope had dozed off, she followed Klaus into his art room. The balcony doors were open, revealing two chairs, and a small table with some wine, fruits, and beignets.

"Oh," she whispered, eagerly sitting in the chair closest to where they used to set up their telescope, which probably no longer existed if Klaus hadn't brought it out. "Our first astronomy lesson for Marcel! We had a set up just like this– minus the wine– and I told you about my tattoo."

He brushed hair away from her neck, revealing a small moon and two stars etched beneath her hairline. "Your mother would calm you by having you look at the moon," said Klaus. "One star is for you, one is for your mother. You said you may add to it one day, or that you may find a new meaning in it."

"I think there is a new meaning that could be found," said Yara, looking out into the sky. "Two stars for my two children. Oh–! Oh my, is that–?"

"The Perseid meteor shower," confirmed Klaus. "I figured you may not be as up-to-date on astronomical events as you used to be. What with you running around these past days doing in a matter of hours what Elijah couldn't in weeks of a treaty."

Yara giggled, tapping his arm lightly. "You are mean for that one."

"But am I wrong, love?"

"I suppose you aren't. Oh, I can't wait to teach Hope about the stars! And then I will be able to start calling her my little moon, to pair with how you call her your littlest wolf. Have you spoken to Ansel?"

"I saw him earlier today. Gathering supplies for his isolated little motor home far from the Crescent settlement. He insists on living out there. I may ask him to watch Hope tomorrow while I accompany you to your next meeting with the Regent. It's about bloody time someone tells us clearly on a map where the hell Dahlia is and when we ought to expect her."

"I wish he'd accept our offer to move in. It would be good for you and for Hope."

He shrugged. "He insists he'd be intruding. It seemed to astound him that he could have a whole art room to himself if he lived here. How he could pass that up is beyond me."

"A different life, different values, more easily overwhelmed. He strikes me as a humble man who doesn't want too much, he doesn't wish to live in luxury."

"And he insists on continuing to turn each full moon rather than accept the blessing."

"He's an Alpha to himself, he didn't want to bow down to anybody. Would you have?"

"I suppose not."

"I take it you'll find out soon enough that you have many mannerisms in common. I bet he also sleeps with an angry look on his face."

"I do not."

"Yes you do, you look like you're fighting a demon every time you're asleep! That little smirk you have, too, and the way you raise your brows... none of your siblings do it, I think you'll find it came from him."

He was silent for a moment. "It is strange to consider how many things I inherited and I simply never knew about. To know him at all is... bizarre. It almost feels forbidden."

She put her hands on his. "Just try to enjoy it and to be happy. Let yourself be selfish with this."

"I will, love, I promise. I know how lucky I am compared to most. How lucky Hope is, to have a mother like you. She may not have your blood, she may not inherit any of your traits– like the way your mouth twitches when you've smiled too much– but she has a compassionate woman for a mother, someone who is a leader and who is the Queen Mother I always knew would make New Orleans better. I built this city, Marcel rebuilt it, but you have been the one that holds it together once it's made."

She laced her fingers with his, scooting her chair closer and leaning onto his shoulder to keep looking out at the sky. She sensed him smiling but made sure not to turn her head, knowing that if she acknowledged it, he'd get shy and stop.

Hope was eager to be outside the next morning. She cried every time she was inside a room, calming only when she could see the sky and hear the birds chirping by the fountain. Yara had to set up a little mat for her to roll around, letting her explore and practice wiggling around on her own.

"You're getting so strong, my love," she cooed as she heard a loud vendor trying to sell flowers outside. "Ah, there you go!" She tickled her feet as Hope managed to lift one. "You'll be walking in no time."

"At what time are you leaving for your meeting?" asked Klaus, coming downstairs and tossing her the bottle he prepared for Hope.

"In an hour, probably," she said. "We have some time to relax with this little one." Hope was already trying to turn and see where Klaus's voice was coming from. "Aw, she's looking for you."

"I'm here, my littlest wolf," said Klaus, kneeling down on the edge of the mat, reaching his hand out so she could swat at it. "That man outside will not quiet down."

Yara grimaced as she heard another bellow about the flowers. "Yes, I think he may be trying a new strategy. There are more vendors than usual out today."

"Flowers!" the man called out, voice nearing the entrance to the Compound. "Fresh flowers! Black dahlias, in bloom!"

They both sat up, alarmed. Yara scooped Hope up, moving her away from the entrance as Klaus walked out to where the man waited, offering out a singular black dahlia flower.

Immediately, the hybrid put him in a chokehold. "Show yourself, witch!"

The man's eyes turned a pure white. "I am here," he said. "I am everywhere. And I intend to take what is mine."

They had their answer about her location.

"The spell you described," said Freya, examining the vendor after Klaus had tied him down to a chair and compelled him to sleep. "Dahlia calls it 'kenning.' Using proxies to watch her enemies from afar. She could do it to anyone at any given moment."

"Well, isn't that wonderful," said Rebekah distastefully. "What do we do, then?"

"The good news is, I know a little about how her magic works," said Freya, gesturing to a silver tea kettle with several teacups full of brown liquid. "This tonic will at least prevent her from using any of us. Kol had the idea to distribute this to our allied communities; he's making more now. A recipe for the witches since they can make their own, but small kegs for the vampires and werewolves. Even a small sip will keep their minds from being compromised."

"Don't need to tell me twice," said Yara, taking a cup and downing it. "This may be a stupid question but should Hope–?"

"Better safe than sorry," urged Freya as Rebekah passed the rest of the cups around the room.

Yara placed a bit from Klaus's cup onto her finger, making Hope suck it off. "I'll try and sneak some more into her bottle later."

"This is unnecessary," murmured Klaus, not taking his. "Our minds are far too strong to be invaded by kenning spells."

Yara made a face. "Weren't you just telling me last night about some vision given to you by that old witch, Silas?"

With a huff, he took a miniscule sip of the tea. "What we experienced was a test," he argued. "Dahlia's watching to see how we respond to aggression. She's preparing for battle. My guess is sooner, rather than later."

"So we prepare," suggested Yara. "The only army we can call upon is ourselves; I won't subject the vampires and werewolves to fight when they don't stand a chance. We'll see if they can keep an eye out, track her movements from afar, make sure we know where she is at all times."

"She also knows where we are," said Elijah. "And, given the immense nature of her power, we simply do not know what to expect from her. What we need is to create a new stronghold. Something that Dahlia knows nothing about. A sanctuary from any witchcraft."

Freya nodded. "That's a fine strategy. I offer another– we can use this vendor to trace her magic back to its source. Find out exactly where she is. The wolves and vampires will do a better job of keeping us informed if we have a location for them to scout first."

"Good," said Klaus, shoving the vendor so hard he fell off his chair. "Then it's settled. Off you pop to your respective tasks! Me? I've always been of the opinion that the best defense is a good offense. So, I'm going to find a way to murderthat godforsaken witch."

Yara tried to encourage for them to treat the vendor gently after that, knowing it wasn't his fault Dahlia had chosen to possess him and send a message. While Freya, Kol, and Rebekah prepared the spell, she gathered weapons that could be used once the ingredients were brought (this she assumed Klaus was handling given Davina had let her know the map to track Mikael was gone).

Marcel had done her a great favor by delivering the teas out to the werewolf and vampire communities, who all drank without complaints. The witches received the recipe to be distributed through the Covens, and Josephine had been quick to let Yara know that batches were being made to keep them from becoming puppies.

"Thank you for meeting me here," said Yara, shaking Josephine's hand. Elijah had suggested they use the St. James Infirmary for his idea, something the Regent readily agreed to.

"Well, this was quite the place back in my day," said Josephine, observing the renovations that were in progress. "Vulgar. Filthy. Loud. Some of the best nights of my life."

"And we're hoping it can be used as a safe house in the meantime," said Yara. "A long time ago, this was the place where members of all communities could meet on neutral grounds."

"Of course," said Josephine. "What did you have in mind."

"Miss La Rue," said Elijah cordially, "our plan is to prevent the use of magic within these walls."

Josephine was appalled. "You'd ask me to create a place where my kind would be utterly powerless?"

"It would ensure that Dahlia cannot hurt us while we're here," said Yara. "It would be a first resort in terms of safety and leaving the Compound. I know it is not your fight but as you told me, you do not wish for your way of life to be disrupted."

She considered it. "Well, I am not without empathy. Perhaps a traditional blessing to dispel unwanted spirits? A barrier against those who mean to do us harm?" She nodded. "Yes, a blessing combined with a disruption spell should do the trick. It will keep out Dahlia and anyone else that would hurt those that reside here."

"Perfect. Well, we'll get out of your way."

Yara stayed to oversee the preparations while Elijah returned to the Compound to see what progress had been made on the vendor. The repairs would be halted to prevent excessive movement in and out of the building. Yara did her best to clean the place up in case they did need to stay in there.

"What are you doing?!" she cried when Marcel showed up unexpectedly with a bag of clothes and Hope in her carrier. "Why is she–?"

"Dahlia lured Klaus and Mikael into a trap," he said. "Freya was being channeled but Kol and Rebekah think they were able to stop it. They're all heading out to fight her."

"And why wasn't I–?"

"Sorry, I agreed with them on this one... better you're here with her than out there trying to battle with that ancient bitch. I set up the patrols the way you suggested– distant eyes watching but no one too close so it doesn't draw too much attention to the place."

Yara scooped up Hope as she began to fuss. "Thank you. So if all goes well, we go home, if not, what, we go join Cami in the other safe house?"

"That'll be a last resort," said Marcel. "Let's see how today goes."

The answer was: not good.

"So no one is dead," she whispered to Klaus as he came in to check on them, "but you also didn't defeat Dahlia and now nobody knows where she is?"

"Yes," he said, annoyed. "Whatever she had to show for herself, I'm unimpressed."

"She probably felt the same. Oh, Klaus, you can be such a brilliant strategist sometimes, how did you go in there with only one weapon?"

He scowled. "Mikael thought it a worthless strategy and yet he offered no other solutions."

"Well... lesson learned. Plan ahead, communicate better next time. Where is Mikael now?"

"Dead."

"Oh. So someone did die."

"I killed him."

"Why?"

"Because why not? There he was protecting his favorite child–"

"Out of jealousy, Klaus? Because of the affection he showed Freya?" He was silent. "Let me guess, if you can't have it, no one can?"

"It doesn't matter," said Klaus lowly. "After what he tried to do to you and Hope, what he did to Marcel, I wouldn't have let him live very long. That man hurt our children. He never deserved a chance, he was never going to change."

She could sense in that moment that he just needed a hug. She wrapped her arms around him, resting her chin on his shoulder as she felt him trembling. He refused to let himself cry.

"Anyone who threatens you or our children," whispered Klaus, rubbing the back of her head, "will be buried beneath a thousand wretched torments. No one who thinks to harm any of you will live very long. I will destroy every one of them."

Yara turned her head, cheek squished against his arm as she stared into the doorway where Hope was nestled in her new crib. "So will I."