This chapter's a weird one
Hope you guys like it
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(sorry about the wait for an update lol)
Longer a/n at the end, sorry

"I'm here!" MJ arrived in a rush of air, "Oh my – "

Pupils dilating in and out, pushing the dark veins on her cheeks away. Blood. Davina's face was more red than white. Such a bright colour, practically glowing among the greyed tombs and looming shadows, parading as a light to find among the labyrinth of spirits. So easy to get led astray searching.

Kol opposite it.

He was wincing in pain but in control.

Skin paling...

If MJ lost it, Kol would be forced to stop her, cutting Davina's power in half.

A breath in.

"Ven El Forte Es Cufe."

Hair sticking to her skin.

"Davina," MJ stepped closer, "Stop."

Her eyes opened, "I'm fine."

Doll-like painted streams stronger down her cheeks. 

"They're in control – "

MJ felt her throat closing up.

"No..." Davina's started to hear singing, "No."

Head shaking desperately.

"Please!"

The spirits howling with joy.

"You need to listen to me!"

"Davina," MJ couldn't watch, "Tell me what's going on."

"Stay out of it!"

"Davina."

"This is my deal."

MJ bit her lip

"They hate you more than they hate me."

Not incorrect, but not helpful.

"They'd make it worse – "

MJ shoved Kol out of the way, taking Davina's hands herself, channelling power into her as fast as possible. Leaving him to grip the wall and rub his eyes back to non-battery pack reality.

"I know you don't want to help me," Davina felt the energy rush, "But Hayley can be used against Klaus!"

MJ grimaced.

"She's the only one he truly fears!"

"And you all fear me," MJ made a choice, "Right?"

She was calling out, feeling the wind pick up.

"You wanna beat your Regent down?"

Making Davina beg for their help was disgraceful.

It's not what the dynamic was meant to be.

Punishing her for helping was not the deal.

"Try me."

New Orleans wasn't old enough to beat the Floare stones.

"Say the spell."

"It hurts so much," Davina was barely able to stand up on her own, "MJ – "

"We have got this," She let the girl half-collapse into her, "You do not need their permission."

"But – "

"You want them to respect you?"

The core of the problem.

"Stop asking. Start doing. Show them who you are."

Davina's eyes were pinned on her.

"Say the spell."

Her voice was quiet but flowing, "Ven El Forte Es Cufe."

"Ven El Forte Es Cufe," MJ repeated.

Falling in time.

Working together.

"Ven El Forte Es Cufe."

Sam's fangs dug straight into Hayley's neck, only one thought on his mind.

His vision was so blurred by pain that he no longer cared who was there. He just needed food. Specifically blood. Letting all of the anger – the smell of bodies - the burning of his pack – the way his siblings cried every time he'd been forced to say goodbye to them since February –

Yanked back by an invisible force.

No more cracking in his body.

Leaving him and Hayley under the harsh white street lights, her scrambling back to her feet, eyes wild, hand over the healing wound, taking in his face. Still hunched forward and panting. No more spell unleashing a wolf, but pure hunger ready and waiting to finish the fight.

Determined not to look at her till the fangs went away.

Giving her a breath.

A vamp movement to Kara.

Snapping her neck like it was nothing.

A different shooting pain moved up her spine, ice in their bones as the gathered witches encircled them, the full moon directly overhead. Hands lifting, hybrid screams rolling through the air, Sam's neck twisting as he felt the power.

And he didn't even try to resist it.

Letting his body just break with their spell.

The side effect of that was not what they'd planned for.

When you break the bones of a shapeshifter, they might just turn.

"Ven El Forte Es Cufe."

The candle's wick exploded with fire, magic flowing between MJ and Davina so fluidly; elder and regent, meant to be a team. Spirits on the ancestral plane falling in line. Ish. It was impossible for every single ancestor to hate them both. Jo LaRue was there.

And, now the spell was approved, the ancestors couldn't just screw with it.

It was Davina's.

Whatever deal she'd made with Hayley was hers to end.

Their eyes met again.

Davina spoke, "Thank you."

"Screw the ancestors."

The cemetery lamps turned on, warmth against the stone.

"You can't get mad at me!" She huffed, "You're meant to work with your Regent."

Davina almost smiled at the defence.

"You need to feed," Kol pointed at MJ, "Now."

"Give me a minute," She rubbed up her neck, expecting a paper-like feel, "I should be fine."

Nothing rough.

"Had a hybrid boost."

Kol hesitated, "Um – "

"I was turning grey; Klaus was there."

He bit his tongue, "You carried blood bags for your friends."

"Should probably start carrying some for me."

Davina stared at her curiously, "You need different blood bags?"

"Not different," MJ wasn't ready to open up, "I just need more spares."

"Feed on me to nurse my ego?"

MJ wasn't about to say no, but she also felt awkward with Davina and the spirits watching.

"Darling..." His left hand rested on her neck, "You need it."

"If I need it, you need it."

He knew she had a point.

But,

"Mira."

"You sure?"

He smirked, "You're not the only one who benefits from this."

MJ felt her cheeks heat up.

The click of a padlock in the background.

Her stomach twisting, the smell soaking through Davina. Making her the prime target.

MJ's head down tilted to bite Kol's wrist.

Flittering her eyes shut as he groaned, fingers massaging the roots of her hair encouragingly.

MJ forced herself to stop, breathing out across his skin.

Kissing the wound the way he'd once kissed hers. Kol wiped the corner of her mouth to remove the slight spillage, MJ licking his thumb with a wink. Smiling at each other giddily. Taste lingering on her senses, more sour than sweet – MJ's attachment to the flavour made each sip comforting.

Until she remembered the issue.

MJ turned to inspect the candle, "This controls the curse?"

"Temporarily," Davina confirmed, "The wolves now answer to me."

MJ and Kol shared another look.

Watching how Davina used an incense stick to put up a final protection charm.

"What do you get out of it?"

Whatever Davina made the wolves do, MJ was technically culpable. Her involvement had forced the ancestors to get on board and give her that control...

"What is Hayley doing for you?"

Davina walked towards the exit.

"You've been cloaking her all day, so you must've needed something off her."

He smiled a little, about to speak, when Marcel arrived.

"We got a problem."

THE WOLVES
It's Gonna Be A Long Millennium

'Problem' was one way to phrase it.

Every inch of Marcel's body was tense, knowing that making a scene would put Davina in danger. A pile of body parts had been left outside Kara Nguyen's café, a collection of witches turning it to ash before any humans woke up and created a press nightmare.

Their small group watching from afar as the mourners sobbed around their fallen family.

"Twelve bodies," Marcel muttered, "A lot of pissed-off loved ones."

Kol inched closer as a terrible realisation about Davina hit MJ.

"Some of my vamps heard the fight. Luckily," His expression hard, "I got here in time to hide Sam and his snapped neck."

Meaning Sam could've been blamed.

And that Hayley had snapped his neck?

Or one of the witches?

"I swear, D," MJ turned on her, "This – that – "

She was too mad to talk. Air like fire in her lungs, simultaneously adding power and trying to rip her apart. Twelve witches were dead, and as annoying as Kara was, she was still one of their people. MJ had sworn to protect them, and murdering anyone who opposed her was not the hole Davina needed to fall down.

"Where's my mom?" Van pushed through the crowd, "Where is she!?"

The familiarity of the expression on his face had MJ shivering.

"Someone answer me!"

A woman managed to grab him, her eyes saying everything.

"MJ," Marcel clocked a change in her, "Don't – "

Van fell to his knees as the Ninth Ward coven swarmed him, trying to wrap him up in comforting words, completely unaware their Regent was behind the massacre.

"Step down," She hissed at the girl, "You are going to step down right now."

Davina's face looked somewhat remorseful, "No."

"Davina."

"If I step down, it's for nothing."

"Nothing!" MJ surged, pinning Davina to the nearest wall, "Are you kidding me?"

Her nails dug into her throat.

"Do you have any idea what you just did?"

Davina's panicked gaze narrowed, a pain infliction spell kicking in, MJ only stepping closer, spare hand punching the wall next to her shoulder – cracking it.

"Trying to hurt me too?"

The white of her eyes turned red.

"I'm a hybrid, D."

Irises flickering purple and yellow-orange.

"You don't stand a chance."

MJ was yanked back by Marcel, Kol lurching forward to shove him back, too, only for Marcel's expression to say everything. A few people starting to notice that the pair. Hoping their arrival was a good thing. A sign of respect from the other covens, not a culprit returning to the scene.

Davina rubbed her neck, fear clear, MJ forcing herself to human features.

"Where's Sam?" She was asking Marcel.

"At mine. Unconscious."

"He hurt?"

"Bloody and bruised," Marcel glanced between them, "I can't have a wild Crescent in a vamp den – "

"The wolves are under my control," Davina needed to feel powerful, "Free. He won't shift back."

MJ's hand was a fist, "I can't believe you."

"You know Kara was a problem."

"Kara – not the eleven others."

"I didn't ask Hayley to handle the others," Davina defended, "I don't know what happened."

"Exactly, D," MJ's arms came out, "We are in the same place we were in Feb. You never think through your choices. You let your anger control you – and you just dragged me into it."

"I told you not to help me."

"You were gonna die."

"Then you should've – " She cut herself off, "The Ancestors wouldn't have let me."

MJ didn't like what her initial outburst might've been.

"They were trying to scare me. You called them out on it."

"Them being manipulative doesn't cancel out you being manipulative."

"The worse they can do is shun us."

"Exactly," MJ's hands came to her face, "What happens when I'm not there to stop the child sacrifices? The war plans?"

Silence.

"This power you're basing your whole personality on?" She gestured at her, "It only protects you as long as you're Regent. And you've just given the ancestors a perfect way to boot you out."

"Only if the other witches found out."

MJ, Kol, Marcel, Sam, and Hayley all had to keep quiet.

"They won't."

"Because you can stop the ancestors?"

They were always listening.

"What happens when they start whispering in someone else's ear?"

Davina shifted.

"I try so freaking hard to get you to listen, Davina," MJ was giving up, "And you just made me culpable in a massacre."

"You've killed more before."

"Yes. But I chose to do that."

The point Davina seemed to be missing.

"I was trying to stop the ancestors from overwhelming you – I didn't know – I – I – " She took a breath, "I'm a freshly turned vampire trying to manage my shit. It is not my job to manage yours, and I'm done trying."

But it sounded like Davina had been going to say, 'then you should've let them,' about the ancestors killing her.

And being more isolated was not a good idea.

But she was so mad.

"Admitting you make mistakes isn't bad, Davina. That's how you do better."

She stormed off, Kol about to follow, but eyes catching Davina's and lingering.

"What?"

Kol poked his tongue into his cheek.

"You care about me doing this?" She called out.

"God no."

Marcel rolled his eyes.

"I'm almost impressed that you are this committed to burning all your bridges."

Davina didn't understand his casual tone.

"It's very Mikaelson of you," He shrugged, "...Only difference..."

A slow head tilt.

"You don't have the centuries to make amends for it."

Kol looked past her at the bodies.

"You just have the spirit plane forcing you to watch us on from."

A click of the teeth.

"Take it from the Mikaelson who got killed for their rash actions."

While Kol had said he stood by everything he'd done to Jeremy, it was more; he stood by why he did it. He believed he was right, and they were all wrong. But, he could admit he hadn't taken the most thought-out course of action.

Why had he brought the white oak with him?

Why hadn't he looked into where MJ had been driving when he'd phoned her?

"The murder? Though you'll feel guilty about it, realising they're in that awful place too – it won't be the thing chipping away at your soul while you mull from the afterlife."

Marcel shifted at the topic.

It was easy to think Kol 'acted differently' for MJ's benefit.

All the 'you got killed' jokes meaning the few times it was talked about seriously, felt like slaps in the face. Reminding someone who hadn't been there that it had happened. It had done something to him, even if it didn't seem like it had on the surface.

"How you damaged the living? Now that's the thing you need to watch out for."

~***~

MJ stopped for a breather outside The Mikaelson Compound, Kol appearing a few seconds later.

Kissing her forehead.

It was around four a.m., and while they weren't reliant on sleep, it had been a long ass day.

And MJ really didn't want to go inside.

Hayley could be anywhere, but her goal would be Hope, and Klaus had raced back to protect his daughter, and MJ was genuinely exhausted, Van's scream echoing in her skull.

"Breakfast?" Kol suggested, "Clover Grill is open 24/7."

She barked a laugh.

"Think about it," He whispered teasingly, "Full-cooked breakfast – "

Hand on her hip, swaying like he might tug her into a dance.

"Coffee – "

"Look at you," MJ mused, "Converted to a coffee vampire."

He chuckled.

"We could just skip town," MJ suggested, "Go find someone to eat."

"Tempting," He rested his chin at her hairline, letting MJ's arms wrap around his waist, "But you only suggest things like that when you simply need a nap. But don't want to admit it."

"True."

Before MJ could get too settled in his arms, a person rushed past them faster than a breeze.

"Where the hell is that bastard?"

Hayley.

MJ vamp-ed after her, Kol opting to move at human speed, glancing around to see if any of MJ's craving snacks had been left out for him to munch on.

"Hayley," Jackson was chained up, Freya knocked out, "What happened?"

The woman's blood-covered state reminded MJ she'd just enabled a massacre.

"Hayley," Klaus sauntered into the room before she could respond, "Come to apologise for all your transgressions?"

Eyes locked on each other.

Posture rigid.

The noise made as she lunged wasn't entirely human, boney fingers digging right into Klaus's neck, only for the snap of her wrists to cut it all short. A powerful hit sending Hayley into the nearest wall. Chains clanged, stone cracking as Jackson yanked – eyes desperately looking to MJ, only for Kol's hand to grace her wrist.

A deadly look in his eye.

Getting in the middle was putting herself in Hayley's firing line, which would put Hayley in Kol's.

"Do you have any idea what you have taken from me?" She roared, Klaus grabbing her fist and twisting her down, "AHHHH!"

MJ couldn't let that happen, "Klaus!"

The affirmation of her presence broke Klaus's concentration, Hayley kicking out of his hold, sending him barreling into the stair railing, not missing her chance to kick him in the face, Jackson's struggle to get free underscoring everything. The chains twisted around his wrists painfully, grunts as more punches were thrown from the two parents.

"You sought to take it from me too," Klaus ducked back, "The chance to raise our daughter – "

He spun around her, meaning Hayley was backed into a corner.

"Your punishment fits your crime."

"Your family was ruining her life!"

"Can you both stop!" MJ was ignored, Hayley finally landing a punch square on Klaus's nose.

He retaliated by vamp-speeding her into a table, choking hard enough to make her instantly wheeze.

"My family saved her life," He could've taken solo credit, "While you were off playing hide-and-seek in the forest!"

Jackson finally broke free, lunging from all fours.

"I swear," MJ's roar sent a ripple through the air, pushing everyone back, "Stop!"

"NO!"

The communal vote, Hayley slamming forward enough to push through the spell and headbutt Klaus in the face. Finally drawing blood – Jackson rushing to her aid, forcing Freya to intervene as she woke up, her own hand going up to keep him back.

"Let me go!" Jackson begged, "He'll kill her!"

"He'll kill you!"

"There's a minuscule list of people who've tried to take Hope away from me," Klaus punched, "And you're the only one left breathing."

"Are you that delusional, Klaus?" Hayley hit back, "You cursed all of us!"

MJ shot Kol a look.

Him leaning back and amused, faltering at her pleading eyes.

Telling him she was gonna throw herself in the middle.

Eyes reading 'you don't have to.'

MJ simply responded with, 'yes, I do.'

"Every wolf that I fought for," Hayley grabbed the nearest table, ripping it, "Everyone that stood up for our daughter – you took all of them away from their families!"

All the pain MJ had seen the pack in for months, now dead. Leaving a collection of orphans because Klaus had decided 'revenge' instead of just explaining himself. Playing into their worst assumptions rather than working together.

"Yes, yes," He taunted, "Your precious pack."

MJ closed her eyes, trying to think straight.

"That family you chose over us."

All the objects around her started to hum, vibrating.

No amount of calming breaths could stop the power from leaking out.

Davina's choices and attitude, paired with Klaus's bullshit, meant her patience was held in place by a string.

"And in doing so, you chose them over Hope."

Hayley stilled, "Is that what you were planning on telling her when she got older?"

Realisation making her arms too weak to move.

"When she asked for me?"

Klaus stood tall in the declaration.

"That I abandoned her?"

"We never would have let him – "

MJ could barely get the words out as Hayley drove her piece of wood forward, the other hand a fist, beating his head – Klaus snatching it off her to chuck it away.

"Hayley – " MJ didn't want to use magic in case she hurt her, "Hayley!"

The wolf just jumped onto the stair railing to use it as a springboard to punch Klaus down, forcing him to dodge at supernatural speed.

MJ's ears twitched.

A noise.

A noise that wasn't Hayley slamming into Klaus with her shoulder, her fist - anything she could. Hot tears streamed down her bloodstained and thin face. Body weak after months of entrapment, mind fried with grief, guilt, and longing for how easy life could've been if the father of her child wasn't the definition of the word 'villain.'

"My parents left me!"

Another hit.

"Yours turned their backs on you!"

MJ turned from the fight to tune in, Kol straightening up at her reaction.

"Look at us now, Klaus!"

He seemed to have lost the will to fight slightly, eyes distant, MJ clicking what the sound was.

Padding towards them.

Vamping up the stairs in a panic.

Kol tensed, "MJ?"

His voice was entirely overpowered by Hayley's roar, desperate for a reaction.

"Niklaus!" Elijah rushed in, eyes landing on Kol, "You didn't intervene?"

Kol played dumb, "I thought it was healthy to let emotions?"

"She deserves something better than what we had," Hayley hit his jaw, "And all I have ever wanted for her is something better!"

Klaus didn't even back up anymore, just letting her attack.

"Fight back!"

Klaus had noticed the same thing MJ had.

"FIGHT BACK!"

As Hayley went to punch again, the entire compound was frozen by a twist of MJ's wrist, only eyes able to move.

"Shh – shhh," MJ was scooping Hope off the floor and into her arms, "It's okay, lovely."

She'd vamp sped Hope through them to get her head facing away from the fight.

"Nothing to be curious about."

Spinning her slowly to make her giggle, eyes pinned on MJ rather than the blood staining the steps and broken furniture. Klaus's eyes were wide, guilt washing over Hayley like it might drown her.

The magic dropped, letting everyone move now they were aware that Hope was awake, Hayley's hands shooting to cover her face, Freya freeing Jackson too. Both slowly stood up to take in the sight sorrowfully, Elijah wrestling back his instinct to go to her side.

"Down!" Hope cheered, so MJ obliged, letting her dawdle off and towards the kitchen, none the wiser as to why her aunt had practically flown her down the stairs.

"She's walking?" Hayley's voice cracked, swaying, "When did she start walking?"

Klaus still didn't respond.

"Hayls," MJ moved to her faster, helping her down the stairs, "Let's – "

She was going to say, 'get you clean,' but once Hayley was on the bottom floor, she rushed towards her toddler. Hope paused to look back at her. She had no complaints about being picked up by the person who could've become a stranger, February to October, and no qualms about the blood covering her. Hope was too young to know what it was, simply cooing happily at the warmth and love on Hayley's face. She wasn't a stranger. They'd made sure of that, but the familiarity certainly wasn't quite what a mother would typically receive.

"I missed it," Her tears were reforming, showering Hope's cheeks with kisses, "I missed everything."

MJ swallowed, glancing back to Klaus, seeing some in his eyes too.

After letting them have a moment, Freya helped Jackson with his sore wrists, Hayley still soothing Hope, MJ coming forward to squeeze her returned friend's arms, not letting herself focus on the bored expression on Kol's face.

He was loitering on the side, which, to be fair, Elijah was also doing.

Elijah didn't know where he stood, and Kol didn't stand anywhere, barely knowing Hayley.

Even with his Bayou visits, again, he'd been around Sam.

"What happened?" Jackson joined Hayley and Hope's hug when healed, "Is the curse broken?"

"Momentarily," MJ answered, "Davina channelled me to get the non-cooperative ancestors in line."

"We're safe," Hayley murmured, "For now."

A pause.

A look to MJ, "It went wrong? Right?"

"Hence my involvement."

"...Thank you," Hayley didn't like Davina's deal, but that wasn't on MJ, "For making it work."

"Hopefully, I can get you guys the rest of the way there."

She was praying to god the spell wouldn't mess with her rings.

"Good for you," Klaus stupidly spoke, "I'll have your bedroom made up."

"The only way that I will stay under your roof," Hayley hissed, "Is if I'm in a coffin."

"If you think I will allow Hope out of my protection for a second – "

"What you'll allow doesn't matter, Klaus," She didn't blink, "Welcome to a 21st-century custody battle. Mums win them now."

"Guys," MJ's eyes were locked with Hope's, "Compromises."

"Precisely," Elijah nodded, "You were meant to be free next month."

The rings...

"Mira and I already started making arrangements."

Klaus spun to face her.

MJ deliberately hadn't told him about her progress to keep the peace. Klaus needed to think like someone wasn't working against him – because she wasn't. Hayley had momentarily become their new 'unspoken.' Yet he was still hurt.

Obviously.

"The apartments across the street have recently been renovated," Elijah continued, "I paid a visit to the management."

"I had it furnished," MJ continued, towards Klaus, "This way, Hope's never out of earshot."

He was holding back an insult; she could tell. Ignoring the expression and taking his hand, MJ forced it to unclench by pulling the fingers out of a fist, not looking at Kol, knowing that acknowledging his growing glare wouldn't help the situation. The internal battle inside of Klaus, determined to be 'betrayed' despite the instinct to relax against her touch.

Elijah also placed himself closer to his brother, "That should assuage your incessant paranoia."

"So we listen as my daughter is raised by savages?"

Jackson scoffed, "Because everyone here is so civilized?"

"Brother," Elijah's expression was hard to read, "You created the problem."

MJ somewhat disagreed.

Freya set off the internal problems.

Klaus hadn't done anything until Freya had told them to pick sides, and he automatically assumed the worst and acted out.

"This will be the solution."

Hayley looked gratefully between the pair, then put the flat tone back on, "Put the place in Jackson's name."

"It already is," MJ had assumed that suggestion.

"Klaus won't be invited in."

With that message, Hayley turned, storming to pack up the remains of her room, Jackson just behind her and Hope still in her comforting embrace. Elijah gave Klaus one last looked before following after them, Freya giving a familiar 'I told you so' head shake and returning to her room. MJ was still squeezing his hand, knowing she could check in with Hayley and Hope later to make sure the small child got settled into the new place.

"You didn't mention that you were nearly done."

"I thought I had a month to ease you into it."

"Yet the apartment is ready and waiting."

MJ just sighed.

She didn't want to, but she couldn't stop herself from asking, "Are you okay?"

"Is your other 'friend' still in town?"

"...Yeah?"

"Then no," He stomped towards the kitchen himself, "She's using you. And you're letting her."

MJ tipped her head back in annoyance, "That's not what I was asking about!"

No response, just the yanking of cupboard doors.

"I'll deal with him," Kol reluctantly got involved, "Go talk to Hayley."

~***~

Klaus was already pouring a second drink when Kol stepped into the kitchen, but as the glass was lifted towards the door, he frowned.

Kol grinned at the reaction, "Expecting someone else?"

Klaus rolled his eyes and slid the bourbon across the table instead.

"MJ doesn't even like bourbon that much," Kol lifted it like a toast, "She only drank it so often because it was Alaric's drink."

A mourning tick that had faded from her pallet through the summer.

"Who says it was for Mira?"

"Did you think Elijah would comfort you?"

"Why would I need comfort?"

"You know," Kol clicked his teeth, "I can answer that question by insulting you in so many creative ways."

Lips twitching up.

"Yet you still asked."

Klaus sighed dramatically loud.

"Did you think," Kol picked up the glass, "Hearing Hayley reaffirm that she and Jackson are together would reset his brain to your side?"

No answer.

"Nik."

"What?"

Kol put on his best sympathetic face, voice sarcastic, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Just because you are a younger sibling doesn't mean you need to be this annoying."

"My tone may not amuse you, but the point is there," Kol relaxed into his height, "You've spent the entire day acting like you do not care about anything that has happened."

"I don't."

"Not even the dead wolves?"

"You already tried to make this point."

"No," Kol spoke with his hands, "I pointed out the curse. And Hope. And our histories tell you exactly what she'll probably be like when she's older."

He looked disgusting, "Hope will be nothing like you."

"I'm not talking about that anymore," Kol repeated, "I'm talking about the bodies."

They were locked in a staring contest.

"Sam gave me the number if you want it."

Silence.

"Wolf upon wolf."

Tone unbothered.

"Murdered for being the vermin mutts they are."

Klaus's jaw clenched.

"You can't tell me you don't care about that."

"The Crescents made their choice."

Kol stifled a laugh, "And you've only been wittering on about packs for a thousand years?"

"Awe," Klaus wanted to turn it back on him, "Showing an interest in my heritage?"

"Hardly," Kol sipped, "But you're being too quiet."

Walking away from MJ's prompt and redirecting rage to Pri.

"Because you care," He spoke flatly, "And you hate that you care. And you're going to sit there, whining at a wall when you think no one's looking. And I'm going to keep bringing up how many bodies there were until you snap."

"So kind of you."

Kol nodded, "I really am such a comforting soul."

"The Crescents did nothing but complicate things," Klaus stared at the liquid, "Perhaps Hayley will be able to think with her own head rather than theirs now."

Kol just pulled a face at him again.

"Do you really think that if I was going to have a moment of doubt, I'd have it with you?"

"I'm not saying you need to have a moment. Stop being dramatic."

Klaus had only said that to try and piss him off so he'd leave him alone.

"I'm just saying," Kol's hands were up, "I see you."

A half-step back.

"And that we both know how moments like this end. Don't be you about it."

"So wise," Klaus mocked, "So knowledgeable. So settled and adapted to emotional living. How lucky am I to have such a clever baby brother."

"You are," Kol ignored the sarcasm, "Neither of us are good at stomaching anger."

"And?"

"And," He pointed, "If you attack Hayley or Sam again, MJ will get involved."

His eyes were stiller than usual.

"If she gets hurt...?" A small head shake, cruel smile forming.

"Are you threatening me for your girlfriend?"

"I'm reminding you that the past few months have been whatever," He'd enjoyed everyone else's stress, "People will get over it."

The Mikaelson's were always brought back together.

"And instead of 'vengefully' stumbling around doing every task you know Elijah likes scolding – "

"Who says I'd behave in such a manner?"

"Me," He answered bluntly, "Being related to you. Having spent history getting undaggered when you're in this type of mood. Knowing how you two loved to bond over blaming me."

Klaus bit his cheek.

"We can do that," Kol reminded him, "A feed for old times' sake..."

"And here I thought I was being lectured, by you of all people, on how to be a better person."

"Elijah's expectations are overrated. Feeding is fun," Kol looked offended by the implication, "I'm just saying, you can simply ask."

Already halfway there with bourbon in their hands.

"No isolation parading needed."

No coffin to sneak him out of.

"Trying to poke Elijah will only give him more ammunition to keep Hope away."

It was a long-winded way of telling Klaus to keep it out of the house while reminding him that he wasn't alone. Kol didn't want to seem like he was comforting his brother. Never! He had to phrase it twistedly, or what was the point?

"Get it out of your system, knowing I've always liked when you tag along to indulge with me," He stressed that part, "Rather than a lash out as you cry about not being loved."

"My memory states that you're the one who cried about that – "

"You can't make fun on my deathbed rambles while Jeremy's here!" He taunted, "Mira said no."

Klaus put on a higher voice, "Mira said no."

"She's within listening distance if you want to finish your jab?"

He didn't.

"Ha," Kol finished the drink, "Perhaps I'll ask Jeremy to stay a while. Watch you squirm, trying to come up with an original insult."

He realised something.

"And you have no leg to stand on! You cried that night – and when I actually died. You snowflake."

"You cried when you thought I'd died."

"No, I ripped a steering wheel in half – very different. Far less pathetic."

"I love how you two can somehow argue about how you mourn each other," Freya walked in to join them, Hope's eyes aware but tired, against her shoulder, "I'll take a drink too."

"Your brat of a youngest brother can get it for you," Klaus stomped away.

Putting up with Kol's comments was one thing.

He and Kol were in a good place.

Freya had been with Elijah all day. Points had a sharper meaning, the daughter he was expected to let leave his home in her arms. Asking for him to snatch her back and tear everyone involved with her removal into pieces.

Except, MJ was technically involved.

So, instead, he just left, ears pricked, focused on listening to Hayley and MJ directly overhead.

~***~

MJ walked into the bedroom while Hayley was packing, chucking anything she could grab into an old bag, actions sharp and pointed. Jerking. Until MJ spotted how the material seemed to rip around everything, weight and hybrid strength pulling her down, blood across her features.

"Hayls – "

She didn't stop.

"Hayley."

More shoving – pens and shoes –

"Hayl – "

"Stop," Hayley's voice was gruff, "Talking."

MJ did, but she also moved a hand to force the woman to still and face her, instantly dropping it when Hayley's eyes filled with panic.

"Sorry," MJ kept her voice low, "I just..."

Shivering skin, having rushed off so quickly, knowing that if she stilled, she might lose it completely.

Hope had been handed over to Freya when Hayley had started spotting things she wanted to take, breathing, jumping, body not safe for a baby.

"If you don't wanna talk – "

Hayley's lips quivered.

"Can we hug?"

"We can hug," She whispered.

Hayley didn't like seeming weak. Or like she needed anyone. Especially not hugs from another woman. Whether it was because of the adopted parents who kicked her out, mum doing more damage than dad, or the protective 'not like other girl's' persona that had kept her safe while she'd been on her own – but it was something. And it was something she'd only let drop behind closed doors when she'd needed MJ that first year.

Parental issues in peak panic mode after missing Hope's first steps, but –

Hayley let MJ's arms wrap around her, squeezing to hold her up for a moment.

Face nuzzling into her now longer red-ish brown hair, suddenly freezing and pushing back.

"Why do you smell like burning and lake water?"

"You gonna detail how one murder resulted in twelve bodies?"

Hayley almost laughed, "Touché."

"Hopefully, Davina's situation can be loopholed."

"If anyone's gonna figure it out," She sighed, "It'll be you."

A beat.

"Sorry if I sound ungrateful; I'm just sick of relying on other people."

"I know," MJ didn't take it personally, "Regardless, want help moving things?"

A quick swallow, eyes darting around.

"Or do you just wanna sit here for a second?"

"Can we, uh," Hayley let herself sit, "Can we sit?"

"We can sit, and we can drink."

"Hope – "

"Is downstairs," MJ reminded her, "And will not remember nor notice."

"Please don't tell me you've been drunk childminding."

"I'm a vampire; I can get away with it."

Hayley closed her eyes and listened.

Freya rocking Hope gently, Klaus leaving her in the kitchen – not running off with her into the night.

"Balcony," She needed air, "I wanna drink on the balcony."

~***~

Freya and Kol were in a somewhat awkward silence.

Kol had poured her a drink, but he'd also debated following after Klaus to stop him from stewing in hate over MJ talking to Hayley. He didn't, though. Kol had been on Klaus duty all day, somewhat unintentionally, and no matter how aligned they'd been, Kol wasn't about to be Elijah's fill-in. Not after the years of being betrayed by Klaus once Elijah 'came around.'

"Niklaus isn't going to take our advice," She placed Hope into her chair, "Not now Hayley's back."

Across the street with his daughter.

"If you wanted to help, you could've started during summer."

"But it was much more fun to watch you fail to make them bond."

"That was the fun part?" Freya looked exhausted, "If you'd help me reunite them, you might not have had to put up with Klaus's constant humming in your relationship."

"Am I finally about to receive a lecture?" Kol gleamed, "Sisterly attention! My – my – "

"Not a lecture," Freya turned from Hope, "I'm giving you a chance to not play perfect observer to make Mira's life easier."

Kol's mouth opened in semi-offence, then closed.

"I'd call it sisterly protection, but if you prefer the word attention."

It was meant to be teasing, but his brain was still processing her implication.

And Kol swore Hope was staring at him too closely, grabbing at the air.

Like she knew something he didn't.

He didn't like it.

They'd been alone together once, when he'd been in Kaleb's body, hiding from the witch parade post-MJ reclaiming her coven.

Kol just blinked at her.

Hope seemed to huff, hand dropping, lip quivering as she turned to face Freya.

Kol took a quick step closer, the 'crying' face vanishing as she giggled, hand back up and fingers stretching in and out now he'd moved.

Kol forced himself to still when Hope seemed to huff at him, hand dropping.

He lifted his hand, letting the digits wrap around his thumb.

The smile fighting its way onto his face was strong.

Freya coughed, reminding him she was there, Hope squealing as her aunt walked closer to her too. A lighter quiet after the mess of the day – too many people Kol didn't like having opinions he didn't want to hear.

The settled state the baby had entered was temporary, lips whining escaping her lips, Kol snatching his hand back in panic. Frowning as Freya snorted. Eyes darting about to the decorative plants in the room, breaking off a branch and clearing it off leaves before holding it out to her.

She slapped it lightly with another laugh before grabbing it, shoving the tip towards his mouth, Kol just tugging it back before she could. Using it like a cat toy. Dangling in front of her, watching how she wriggled in her chair to try and escape and reclaim it but pulling it away before the forming teeth could really latch in.

Freya laughed.

"What?"

"That's not safe for a child."

"Everything's safe for a child!"

Pointed look.

"Sister," Kol used the free hand to gesture between them, "We are from an era pre-medicine. Living proof that a few bits of leaf in your mouth don't do damage in the long run."

"That's one stance to take," Freya leant against the table, "And she does seem to like it."

Hope made a louder sound, leaning back in her seat as she pushed out.

The leaves caught on fire.

Kol quickly yanked it back, waving it out before sparks could land on her.

Freya stared at the burnt stick as he dropped it, "Do you miss that?"

Kol shrugged.

"Kol..."

"Mira happily sets any fires I ask her to when I'm that way inclined."

She managed a laugh.

"And she has her own ways of making me feel the rush."

"I don't need to know what you two get up to at night."

He smiled, "Because that's definitely what I meant."

Hope pulled a face when Freya lent forward to kiss her forehead, not liking how she didn't seem to understand what they were talking about.

"You'll get it when you're older," Kol spoke down to her, "Well, no – you won't remember – "

"Embwer," Hope repeated, "Ree-mbwer."

Kol blinked.

He looked at Freya.

Then back at the baby.

"Won't rem-em-em...?" Her eyes became smaller the longer he didn't say anything, "EM!?"

"Bur," He finished, "Re-mem-bur."

"Re-mem-burrrrr!" Hope smiled again, clapping herself, "Kcoll."

His lashes practically vibrated as his brain seemed to short-circuit.

"You look like you're trying to use code," Freya laughed, "Has she never said your name before?"

"She only says about twelve things properly," Kol's tone was unreadable, "...She stressed the 'k' too much."

Freya raised an eyebrow.

But she let him go quiet, leaving his drink behind to open a cupboard, scanning for something to chew.

Suddenly hungry.

Hope was babbling again, spewing out a collection of sounds like she was talking to them, Kol thinking through the scene in front of him.

A very awake baby.

Trying to talk to him.

All of his favourite snacks in his room, not on the shelves.

He needed to come up with something else to entertain them both, hand unintentionally moving to trace his nail over Hope's cheek, causing her to laugh at the light feeling of it. Then Hope started fidgeting again, twisting in the baby chair like she wanted to escape it. Head shaking to not look at how far the floor was below her tiny feet.

"Does she have an off button?"

Freya almost choked on her drink, "Oh my god."

"It's a fair question."

"You were an older brother!"

"Rebekah's barely younger than me, and for Henrik, I was of the age where asking my mother how to make him quiet was acceptable too."

"She just wants attention."

He glanced back at Hope's round face.

"You'd think seeing MJ would've taught you something."

"MJ just does things," He defended, "I don't know what cues what action."

"If you want to soothe her into sleep, you can try picking her up."

Kol shifted.

"Sleep is a version of an 'off button.'"

Nothing.

"Kol?"

"...Tell me if I'm doing it wrong."

He moved the chair's mini-table out of the way and awkwardly slid a hand under the child's back, eyes squinting as he tested the hold was secure enough. Kol stopped when Hope's arms started to move out, removing her from her seat completely, rapid noises landing her right back in the spot, Kol lurching back, hands up.

"You truly haven't picked her up yet?"

He didn't respond.

"...Support the head, not the back."

Kol placed his hand in a better spot, seeing Hope press into the palm.

"Then under her butt. Your arm's a chair."

Very slowly, he scooped her up against his chest.

Hope made a slight high-pitched noise while being lifted but quickly settled, a smile across her face, "Hewwo."

"...Hello," He was rigid, "That wasn't half as hard as I thought it would be."

Hope's hand grabbed his shirt, scrunching it up in her hand and then patting it back down before reaching up to then pat his nose. She'd wanted out of the seat, used to getting lots of attention during full moon nights, yet minimal that evening. About to be displaced – taken to a bedroom she wasn't used to and without her dad's familiar face.

"...Her head smells nice..."

"Is this your way of finally pushing back against the Mira-Klaus co-parenting?"

Kol rolled his eyes at the return to 'the point.'

"Trying to steal Elijah's spot as favourite uncle probably won't help you get his approval," She considered it, "It might impress him, but he'll probably just assume you'll get bored of it."

"There's nothing to steal," Kol shot down, "We all know MJ's her favourite."

'Mirma' too close to 'mama' for anyone but Klaus's liking.

"Ergo, I'll be her favourite by association."

Freya was laughing again, watching how focused Kol looked.

Another quiet forming.

"This Lucien," Freya thought over everything, "The man from the story you were all telling MJ after she turned."

"The servant we let live," Kol confirmed, "Here."

"Is he like MJ?"

Kol frowned.

"To Klaus, I mean."

A slow breath in.

"If he is his first sire – "

"Is Klaus emotionally vulnerable?" Kol finished, tongue poking his cheek, "I don't think anyone other than maybe Rebekah could claim to mean as much to Nik as MJ does."

Speaking pragmatically.

"Marcel? Maybe?"

Not the point.

"Being his first sire doesn't mean Lucien holds any power," Kol didn't look happy, "You think 'an old friend' could bring back the habits Nik locked in the closet all summer?"

"Would I be wrong to assume that?"

"It shows a misunderstanding of your sibling."

Freya paused at the sternness Kol used.

"Klaus won."

No debate.

"He's not acting like a better person because of MJ. Or Cami. Or Hope."

The mix of assumptions people had.

"If he was 'better,' he would play Elijah's game rather than act like a baby."

It was an odd back-and-forth between Kol complimenting and insulting Klaus.

Knowing he'd be listening.

Both he and Elijah would be listening from the corners they'd sulked off to.

"He's enjoying the fact he won. If Lucien's here, and the pair go for drinks, and Klaus gets messy – it's not because of Lucien. It's because he can get away with it. Hope safe because of him."

Not because Lucien had caused some reversion.

"If he gets bratty with Elijah, making it seem like he would rather be around someone like Lucien, it's not because he's vulnerable. He's rubbing his win in."

Petty like that.

"Trying to act like he isn't a co-dependent mess who wouldn't be able to tie his shoes if Elijah didn't put them on his feet."

Hope tilted her head in confusion.

"Your father can't tie his shoes on his own!" His voice took on the same 'baby' tone he mocked everyone else for using, "No, he can't!"

A beat.

Kol cleared his throat to act like it hadn't happened, "Lucien filling the role I used to."

Trying not to seem miffed.

"Because using me doesn't have the same effect it used to."

Even if Elijah was wary of Kol's influence on MJ, daggering him wasn't the relationship band-aid it used to be for his older siblings.

"And if Elijah is worried," He spoke a little bit louder, "It's because he's just scared his extended silent treatment, combined with the arrival of someone like Lucien, will screw up the lesson he thinks he's teaching Klaus."

Not fear of Lucien himself.

"Fear of being irrelevant," Kol didn't let his eyes drop back to Hope, "Trying to trick Klaus into thinking he's the only co-dependent one."

Co-dependency swung two ways.

Cami had spelt that out for him.

And Kol had always been very aware of it when it came to his family dynamic.

"Forgetting that he wouldn't be able to pull on suits every morning without Klaus's 'screw ups' sewing any of his faux honour into the seams holding them together."

Eyes on Hope but speaking into the distance.

"The pair of you are a right mess."

"Shut up, Kol," Klaus's voice.

Kol grinned, "Love you too, Nik."

Freya smiled, even if she couldn't hear the comment.

"Are you simply too proud to admit you like spending time with me? Or do you genuinely think you'd have a better time with the manservant?" He jabbed, "All you need to do is ask, and we can go out on the town!"

"Kol," Freya scolded.

"What!?"

"Is now really the time?"

"It's always the time to lord my freedom to feed in his face."

If MJ hadn't died so traumatically, Klaus would've stuck his nose in her training and tried to get her feeding like that on his own, and they all knew it. Instead, he was left trying not to give Elijah any complaints about his parenting, watching Kol and MJ live the way he wanted to.

"Going out with me means acting for himself rather than for Elijah-jabs," Kol shrugged, "Either way, I will continue having fun. He can mope and be controlled by his pettiness – I love how the divisions between you all make my life better."

"Better in every way," Freya used the opening, "Except for Hope's attachment to MJ."

Kol narrowed his eyes.

"You claim freedom, but I simply refer to my earlier point. Elijah and Klaus's problems keep Klaus hyper-focused on his relationship with your partner."

"Are you ever going to actually apologise for dividing our house?"

Freya paused.

"Or are you just going to continue this 'guiding-elder' act?" He fake laughed, "I mean, why would you apologise? You're still trying to divide it with every leading question."

"I'm not."

"Then why bring that up now?"

"It's part of the conversation," She genuinely believed so, "Today, everything was about MJ. Her place among our family."

He didn't like that phrasing.

"MJ is only so closely involved because of her history with Klaus. Practically co-parenting now."

Hope's schedule built around MJ's more than anyone else's.

"You have to think any enemy interested in how we work, in the modern age, after knowing you all, would be drawn to why she had that role. What she means to Klaus, to be so trusted with his child."

"MJ and Klaus weren't co-parenting because of him. She's present because Hayley asked her to be."

"You think it's that simple?"

"I'm not stupid."

There was a slight hesitation on the balcony, Hayley and MJ exchanging a look but determined to only talk about light catch-up things.

"I know Hope's attached to her," Kol saw the pair together, "But I also know that Mira's lived through not having parents. She thinks they matter."

"And she's spent enough time with us," Freya lulled, "To see more proof of its damage."

"It's not the same," Kol shot down, "We grew up."

A pause.

"I know it is different for you."

Dahlia and all.

"But in reference to our family and our behaviour? We are all adults."

Rebekah, the youngest, qualifying as a high schooler, yet also a legal adult by modern standards.

"We don't need each other to survive," His argument for splitting up, "We never did."

Kol wasn't perfectly adjusted to emotions yet.

"Why embrace our actual skills when we can act like idiotic children?"

"You were the first of your kind."

"Not the point," Kol reasoned, "We had parents – we were old enough to be parents when we turned. Christ – Elijah practically was one considering Tatia's son."

A beat as something clicked in his mind.

"...Yet, we regressed rather than separate and live."

A blink to bring him back to his point.

"Mira was a child, in constant danger."

Some details about her history still murky, even to him.

"She plays carer because she is kind," Kol spoke louder for the insult, "The greasy tallow-catch is playing up his whole 'Mira is her mother now' act to make you all mad."

Hope's eyes shut, mouth open against Kol's shoulder, hand rubbing her back.

"By falling for it – thinking it will make me mad at him – "

"You've clearly been mad at him."

"If I was that bothered, I would've done something violent by now."

Freya had to admit that was probably true.

"I get agitated, but I'm not going to give him the satisfaction of falling for the goad. Especially when it's not even for me; it's for Elijah."

The taunt that Hayley wasn't actually necessary.

Klaus trying to justify himself.

"And can't sisterly concern for your feelings be why I'm mentioning it?" Freya spoke sympathetically, "Why do you have to think I'm trying to get you mad at him?"

"Because we're both in the middle, Freya," Kol lost some of his pep, "Me? I followed MJ's judgement. You?"

She felt her jaw tensing at the way he'd said the word.

"The day after our father died – you gave us an ultimatum."

"I was grieving."

"For a man, you'd known for five years versus our millennium of turmoil."

Silence.

"Maybe you think your grief was stronger because you 'loved' him, but the list of memories and questions, and conversations you missed was short and ignorant of the truth."

Freya hadn't expected talking about her to get a harsher reaction than the 'topic' they'd all assumed Kol had spent the summer internally fuming over.

"Let me tell you, grieving a man whose existence controlled every action you were allowed to make is a hell of a thing, Freya."

Even when MJ had given him the space to talk about it, he'd flipped it back on her.

Made her talk about his death.

Done anything to put off acknowledging it all.

"You made such a point about picking sides, only to make up with the man the second they'd all been screwed for picking you."

Kol had never given an answer to the ultimatum.

"Quite the fickle leader. Still defending over owning your actions."

Getting away unscathed.

" I'm not even sure Klaus knows you gave us a choice."

To Kol's knowledge, no one had told him.

"To him, Elijah and Rebekah picked Hayley."

If Klaus hadn't known, he did now.

"Have you thought about how that might be part of the punishment? She's been away from her daughter because of their choice, which you instigated."

MJ and Freya had clashed so much at the time for a reason.

"You're the reason he's lashing out, and now you're trying to play peacekeeper."

Freya didn't respond.

"But, as long as I'm at peace with him, I just prove that the others were in the wrong for siding with you. That they didn't have to. And therefore, they earned their punishments."

"I'm not at fault for adults making their own choices. Hayley did give them one too."

"A justified one, given how Klaus treats her."

"And you don't care how he treats me?"

"You were lying. You were putting Hope in danger. You revived Finn after he tried to blow her up and hexed me to die."

Something else they hadn't really talked about.

"And! You sided with Mikael. The man who not only technically killed us all but hunted us through history! And spent our childhood beating our brother."

MJ's rants had sunk in more than he'd realised.

"Have you actually considered that just possibly, maybe, you were in the wrong?"

Sarcasm coming back out.

"And that Klaus was justified in repeatedly testing you before trusting you with the fate of his child? I mean, he kept it from me! He had MJ, of all people, lie to me."

A point Freya didn't actually understand the weight of that.

"Yes, I'm not the most reliable person. But his most trusted, trusted me, and that wasn't enough. So why should he trust a stranger? Why do you have that entitlement?"

Breathing out.

"As 'the family screw up,'" Kol calmed himself, "Take my advice."

A day of dishing it out.

"Own your choices."

A message both he and MJ had somewhat always preached.

"It'll make you far less infuriating."

"And here I thought you'd grown to like me."

"I have," He stood down, "But growing to like you is how it should've gone. Not an ultimatum about sides the day after my father died. And, after you'd killed our mother – 'funny' how you didn't mention that bit in your 'pick me' pitch."

Kol didn't want what happened to just be forgotten.

"It's almost like that's a double standard!"

Silence.

An awkward throat clear.

Warm body in his arms, half-dozed off, oddly guilty about instigating all the murder talk around her.

"And," Kol shifted, "Growing to like you also means I don't want you to end up like Elijah."

The brothers had less in common every day.

"People can judge me for the things I have done, but I never pretended to be anyone else. My actions, consequences be damned, and accepted. Unless it feels unfairly put on me."

Elijah and Klaus daggering him, fitting those asterisks.

"The pair of you don't."

Freya was just staring at the shiny fridge.

Her expression reminded Kol why he sometimes didn't like feeling everything.

But he wasn't sure what to say to soften 'the blow' of his words yet.

"It's not that I don't like you, Freya," Kol started slow, "It's that I find it infuriating that you try to play peace master like this."

Rephrasing the first point.

"All those letters you write to Rebekah?"

Freya paused that he knew about them.

"Asking her how to fix them?" He shook his head, "You're not going to fix Elijah and Klaus until you admit you're part of why they're like this."

"I guess that's true."

"It's not a guess; it's a fact," Kol dismissed, "Klaus is acting like it's not all his fault."

"Which makes Elijah hate him more."

"But he's right. It's not all his fault."

Tensions were rising throughout the entire house because of his points.

"You want to help them, Freya? Maybe start with taking some responsibility," Kol summed up, "But don't phrase it in a way that defends or invalidates either of their actions."

The way MJ had felt responsible for so many things in Mystic Falls.

"Say it because it's the truth."

"Elijah is mad about centuries of behaviour."

"But he's pretending it's about how he handled Dahlia."

Where MJ's problem came from.

She understood the Mikaelson's hating Klaus.

It was the reasons they were giving she disagreed with.

"By owning up, you remove that situation from the argument."

Show maturity they seemed to lack.

"Forces them to say what they're actually mad about," Kol had always been more intelligent than people realised, "Which means they can actually make up. And then, back to the old cycle!"

Bitterness seeping in.

"Fighting and making up like nothing matters."

"If you've realised all that, why didn't you say anything sooner."

Hope was officially asleep in his arms, glancing at her, then back at his sister.

"Elijah and I will probably never get on," He shrugged, "But when Nik's on the outs with him, we actually do."

"So their fighting is good for you."

He nodded.

"And telling me now?"

"Because it's finally lost its charm," He decided, "You look exhausted. Hayley's back. Everyone will be picking sides, and I don't want you all to judge MJ for trying to have peace."

'All' meaning his family.

"She died twice. In less than a year. Then, had her neck snapped by the person who'd paraded as a replacement older brother who actually cared for her, treating her like her real one did."

Talking about Elijah was odd for the couple.

He wasn't a good older brother to Kol, but when it came to MJ?

Then, he'd hurt her just like Ryos had...

"Not to mention that she slit her own throat," Kol listed, "If anyone in this house expects her to prioritise their grudges with each other over her wish for peace?"

Whether it be Hayley or Klaus – or Elijah or Freya.

"I will be throwing them through a window."

Freya still didn't look settled.

On edge, like she thought he might attack her.

Which he wasn't about to – but the protective instinct was a family trait.

"I've waited this long to pick Hope up because I was scared to do it around anyone else."

Her head jolted up in surprise.

"I should know how to," He'd watched it enough times, "But Mira's so good with her that if Hope had screamed in my arms after being handed over, it would've felt like some omen from the universe."

And they'd already been through enough to not play around with bad omens.

"If I mucked it up in front of Klaus or Elijah, they'd both overreact...but you..."

She raised an intrigued eyebrow.

"You're my big sister."

Kol did like her; he was just honest. And didn't like how everyone seemed to have become a goldfish and forgotten the part she'd played.

Especially when he'd spent the summer getting Elijah's side-eye.

Klaus had kissed his girlfriend, bitten him, then daggered him, but no – the 'Klaus ruined our lives' group would die on the hill that Kol was part of the opposition. Getting double the dislike with none of the solidarity from anyone but MJ.

"You'd help."

Freya smiled fondly at him, "I would."

The drool could be felt through his shirt.

"The reminder of why children are disgusting," Kol scrunched his nose.

"What are you saying about my daughter?" Hayley was back with two bags over her arms, MJ next to her, "Disgusting?"

"Inherited from the father," He didn't miss a beat, "I'm sure."

Hayley nodded, "One hundred per cent."

"Want me to carry her over while you got the bags?" MJ offered.

"I've got her," Hayley's anger melted away, "See you."

"Call if you need anything," MJ watched how Hayley somewhat peeled Hope off of Kol, him not knowing how to hand her over without waking her, "Literally anything."

"I'll be fine," Hayley was quieter, "And I will."

She left without another word, MJ staying with the siblings.

Then stretching her arm out to Kol.

He took the hand, "Bed?"

"Maybe..."

Kol smiled, "What are you planning?"

"Slight side quest."

"Don't you have work in..." He checked his watch, "Around three hours?"

"Three hours," She checked her phone, "And thirty-four minutes."

He snorted.

"The untriggered wolves. Then witch funeral."

His eyebrows jumped.

"All those bodies..." She was all some of those kids had left, "...They deserve peace."

"The wolves will handle it."

"I can handle it better."

He looked at her calm but tired face, cutely staring at him. They both knew she was going to do what she wanted, more so asking to see if she could rope him into helping. His initial answer would've been no, but...Sam. Kol should probably at least check that the guy was alive after sending him after Hayley.

"What do you need me to get?"

Her phone beeped before she could answer.

A message from Marcel.

- Davina's takeaway from today: 'This is New Orleans! We're always at war! Collateral damage happens. I learned that from you.'

MJ showed the message to Kol.

"Props for standing up for herself," He tried, "I would've made the same choice and said the same."

"Which is..."

"Exactly why it's the wrong one?"

She smiled fondly at him, "Not wrong, just not helpful."

Another beep.

- Followed by the classic 'I was born with blood on my hands.'

'I mean, I get it.'

- She kicked me out of the cemetery and then broke down crying when she thought I was out of earshot.

MJ really thought about that, "Witches first, then wolves."

"Friendly reminder that a lot of wolves hate me."

"But I don't," She pecked him on the lips, and his automatic response was to smile, "Thank you."

"That's cheating," He pouted, "A smile does not mean a yes."

Her turn to pout.

"Okay. Fine. Wolves and witches."

"I love you," MJ always said the phrase with complete conviction, "So much."

He kissed her properly.

~***~

The Mikaelson's weren't the only ones still up during the early hours of that morning, Cami waiting outside her apartment, Pri waiting on the balcony. Listening. Watching. Scanning the car as it slowed down to park next to the foyer entrance, window rolling down, news playing quietly from the radio. Kinney in the driver's seat, Cami having gotten his number off of Vincent and demanded he come.

"So you didn't just follow us around the city," She put her hands on the rolled-down window, "You broke into my apartment and stole my laptop?"

Kinney lifted the device back for her to take, "All the interesting stuff was password-protected."

His sheepish smile didn't do much to help her anger.

"I knew Vincent wouldn't pull you in just for kicks," He continued, "But you're not an amateur."

She shook her head in exasperation.

"Lucien Castle," He stated from her google history, "Watched one of those videos."

Her annoyance twinged, looking at him properly in worry.

"Highly motivating," He half-mocked, "Feeling like my best self already."

Cami's eyes glanced up, seeing Pri lean forward overhead.

"And just moved to town," Kinney called out, "Fits your profile, right? Narcissistic personality disorder?"

She held the laptop closer, "I should report you."

"You definitely should," He agreed, "Yet, you haven't."

She'd texted.

"Because you know I was right about your family," He wasn't backing down, "Your new friend didn't need to get so defensive – you're not a suspect."

"Damn right, I'm not," She glared.

"I'm actually looking out for you," He ignored the attitude, "I think you're mixed up in something much bigger than you realise."

"Trust me," She didn't blink, "I realise."

Holding her look meant the radio was the only noise in the early street.

Reports on the situation that they hadn't been able to stop.

"Possible serial killer in the Quarter..."

Cami's eyes jerked towards the device.

"While police refuse to release information – "

"Turn that up."

He did.

"Sources allege that a manhunt is on for a possible serial killer."

Even worse, for an investigation they were trying to keep humans away from.

"Two violently mutilated bodies entirely drained of blood have been recovered – "

"How the hell did they know about the blood?" Kinney was frozen, "They can't have known about that from pictures."

Sure, the faces hinted at blood, but fully drained?

That had only been confirmed by their morgue reports.

...Unless the person who'd informed the news had seen the victims closer up...

~***~

The funeral was ready when MJ arrived in The Cemetery, drifting through the back of the crowds. Most people wore black, and she felt slightly wrong for not having changed, but she'd had a long day. Kol was collecting them a change, both somewhat stinking of Bayou Water and blood, not wanting to cause chaos by rocking up with him.

The French Quarter may accept Kol, but other covens were still hit-or-miss.

Davina had already given a speech about the situation, and MJ was glad she'd missed it.

It probably would've just made her mad.

Something that made her worried?

The look of hatred in Van's eyes.

Beelining towards her, meaning MJ did too, not close enough to necessarily join in, but close enough to be on standby.

"Those remains used to be my mom."

Her heart hurt for him, no matter how aggravating Kara had been.

"I'm so sorry," She sounded genuine.

Marcel said she'd been crying.

MJ was only there because she'd been crying.

Being less 'doormat-like,' Ryos's description was not the same as spewing obsessive hate. Especially if Davina was waking up to the grave she'd made herself. A moment of anger, sure – MJ didn't regret or feel guilty about her earlier freakout, but she wasn't there to sign Davina's death sentence by letting her get outted.

MJ was an adult; only children were that petty (or stupid).

She and Davina were tied together, even if MJ hadn't realised what she'd been helping.

She could be shunned just as quickly for it.

Pettiness.

'Doormat.'

MJ couldn't let Ryos's manipulative phrases control her – or she'd be letting him win. And treating Davina like trash would be falling into that trap. She could just not engage with her. No overcompensating for Mystic Falls. MJ had had too much therapy for that!

"Spare me," Van didn't buy it, "She went after you."

"We had our differences," Davina's eyes were darting, "But – "

"Look," He saw weakness, "I'm gonna find out how this happened, and I'm gonna expose you."

MJ crept closer.

"Then, you'll be shunned. Unable to practice – exiled from the city."

What she'd been stressing to Davina earlier.

"I'm gonna erase you."

"Van," MJ put a hand on his shoulder, feeling him freeze, "Ngủ trên đó."

He processed her speaking his language, Davina tenser.

"Lời khuyên từ một người đã trải qua điều này?"

Advice from someone who has been through this?

"Hãy để bản thân than khóc trước khi bạn âm mưu trả thù."

Let yourself mourn before you plot revenge.

Voice openly exhausted.

Thinking about Silas and Marcel.

"Ngủ trên đó."

Sleep on it.

Van's eyes were locked with hers.

Moving to her hand on him.

Swallowing slowly, but letting it sit there.

Not telling him that he was wrong, or that she'd hurt him, or that he needed to keep quiet. Just letting tone and expression, and reputation, buy them time.

"You don't wanna be ten years older and only just letting yourself mourn."

He stepped back, forcing her hand to drop.

"Don't do something that'll make this isolation worse."

An only child, too.

"We are all with you."

Turning from her, slinking away.

Davina was staring at her shoes, "Of course you know Vietnamese."

"Been a long summer."

Determined to learn every coven's bias.

A grimace on MJ's face. The skill was meant to be about allyship, but was being used to trick Van a little.

"I thought you said you weren't gonna have my back anymore."

"I can be mad but not want someone to kill you."

Brown eyes meeting brown.

Davina's voice was quiet, "I'm sorry."

MJ bobbed her head.

"I'm so sorry, MJ," She repeated, "For saying what I did."

"Not like you meant it."

Davina had never been anti-siphoner.

She'd grown up on horror stories, met MJ, and been nothing but excited by the prospect of different types of witches.

She'd only said what she did because of her audience.

She'd said what she had to say to get where she wanted to be – i.e. it might've been the most innovative thing Davina had ever done.

"Still shouldn't have," She murmured.

"True," MJ scanned faces, locking eyes with Marco, "Thinking about it...forty-eight per cent didn't vote for you."

A statistic that scared Davina.

"No one but Jo defended my mum when they thought she was a siphoner."

To MJ's knowledge, anyway.

"And most witches when I arrived weren't on board with me."

Two years?

"Less than one per cent, up to forty-eight," MJ smiled, "All your mock hate did was prove that in the next few years, as the racist bats die out, this city might just stand a chance of being united."

A shaky breath in.

"Don't screw that track up."

Davina's eyes dropped, going over everything she'd said that night.

Hate had let her become murderous, so what was stopping Van?

Kol's words in her ears.

Davina wasn't ready to die and watch people who had once cared for her, live on hating her.

MJ didn't seem to. Josh didn't. Kol and Marcel didn't.

But Sam's rage replayed until it was like that list of names had been written in invisible ink.

~***~

Jeremy had coated Levi Ajan's body in gasoline, then set it on fire. Leaving it to burn up behind a bin in an alleyway. Calling Pri to get confirmation that Kinney had Cami's laptop, returning it to the apartment. Meaning he was heading back to the apartment, texting MJ to ask what had happened.

Andrew's body abandoned in The Bayou with the rest of the pack.

But no Crescents keeping tabs on it.

Why would they?

They had family to find.

Identify.

Scream and cry for.

Stay until the body is nothing but ash.

Do not leave a wolf, among the other victims, like that would mask his difference.

Like that would stop a witch from finding it.

Dressed in cloaks, two women met on a street in Gentilly, bags with bodies dragged behind them.

Tipping them out slowly.

Vials of water around their neck lifted up, dabbed onto their fingers, and then placed on the heads and across the chests. Head set above the neck it had been cut off, the other left open-chested and de-hearted. Eyes closed, hands linked, as words flowed passed their lips.

"Haec Beni Zo Sa Benedicimus."

Lucien Castle, feeding in an alley next to a tattoo shop.

Opposite a convenience store.

Hanging the victim in Lafayette Park, cuts from the tips of the lips, up, into the cheeks.

a/n: ...sorry for the overflow of author's notes; that said...

This chapter is the end of 'THE WOLVES.'

There are still a few changes to things, like the next chapter is canon plot but done in diff places with diff people, but will then settle <3

(What actually happened with Hayley and Sam will also be shown eventually)

LMK theories/ideas; for the rest of the season, and for how ya think everything added in these chapters might come back around.

Also, these 'cloaked witches' *cough* The Sisters *cough* (also mentioned as being with Kara pre attack) are not the cause of the watchful shadows ;)

One or two people have guessed what they are, and I don't really mind people clicking as it'll be explained soon, but it's interesting to see if my almost month without posting means re-readers know <3

... Maci's flashbacks will be starting up again next chapter mwhahahaha...
I'm 'this' close to posting another book just for her 'cos there's so much to her life that I want to cover, but is so irrelevant to this book/the plot lmao

Hope everyone's doing well and happy late Halloween

- Bea xx