By the time Elijah woke up, Beatrix and Hope had become fast friends.

She could hear Rebekah and Elijah's conversation in the other room, but she was not paying attention. Currently, she was on the floor with a quilt laid out. She'd moved the furniture away for safety, and had conjured up several fun toys for the baby, who was rolling happily around on the quilt and picking things up, observing them and enthusiastically babbling about them.

"That's right," said Beatrix, handing her a little yarn doll. "She's like you! She's tiny but so pretty, and very firm. Strong, like you!"

Hope didn't respond, of course, but she let out a soft squeal and took the doll, shaking her gently.

Rebekah then came into the room. "Come on, girls, let's go outside," she chirped. "Elijah could use some love from this sweet little girl. He feels quite patronized."

"I could try and siphon some of the hex away," said Beatrix as she scooped Hope up and handed her to Rebekah. "I don't know if he wants me anywhere near him, though. There's... a lot of tension there."

Rebekah gave her a sympathetic look, and cradled Hope close as they went outside. "I was thinking about setting up for a bonfire. You remember those, right, Beatrix?"

"I remember Kol and I would write the silliest wishes to see if they might come true," she said. They exited out onto the back porch, and Rebekah lowered the baby into Elijah's waiting arms. Beatrix did not look down at him, rather, kept walking to where she could see Rebekah had already made a space for the bonfire preparations. Beatrix went closer and waved her hands over the space, allowing some pieces of wood to gather on their own.

"Look at that," she heard Elijah saying to Hope. "Your aunt Beatrix is doing magic. You will probably be able to do magic like that, someday."

Beatrix didn't turn to face them. She continued until the longer pieces of wood had joined into a cone, the peak reaching just around her nose. She then perked up, catching some sound. "They're here," she announced. She slowly brought one of her hands up, parting a piece of the veil she'd placed up around the house to keep Hope safe. The SUV that contained Klaus and Hayley sped through it, and she lowered her hands once more to conceal the house. Before Klaus could put the car in park, Hayley rushed out and sprinted toward Elijah and Hope. Klaus got out more leisurely, smiling as Hayley took their daughter in her arms, hugging her tightly and breathing out a sign of relief. She turned as Klaus caught up, and handed him the baby. He held her tenderly, before pressing a gentle kiss on her head.

It warmed Beatrix's heart to see Klaus as a father. He was gentle— much more so than when they were raising Marcel. He held Hope as if he was afraid he might break her. However, she soon fixated her eyes on Hayley, who was glancing back at Elijah. They smiled at each other. Beatrix knew that look. She and Elijah had shared it many years ago before they had officially become a couple.

Klaus seemed to have taken notice of this, and handed Hope back to Hayley. He put his hand on Beatrix's shoulder. "I was hoping to run something by you. We have had the most... interesting revelation with Finn. There appears to be some sort of curse on the first borns of the Mikaelson line."

Rebekah blinked at this, looking confused. "Curse on the first-born? What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?"

Klaus tucked his hands in his pockets. "Well, according to Finn, our sister Freya didn't die of plague. She was taken as payment by our aunt Dahlia, who then cursed all Mikaelson first-borns for eternity."

"Well, is any of it true?" asked Hayley, seemingly clutching Hope a bit tighter.

"It is if we are to believe Finn, who learned it from the bastion of truth— our mother," mused Elijah.

Rebekah gave a light scoff. "Well, no wonder Finn hates us. He lost the sister he adored, and instead got a judgy pack of siblings who found him unbearably dull."

"Great," said Hayley sarcastically. "So, is there any chance of us running into your loony aunt Dahlia any time soon?"

"The fable's over a thousand years old," said Elijah reassuringly. "Dahlia is long dead."

"...Like Esther?" questioned Hayley.

"No one's going to hurt Hope, because no one's going to find her," said Klaus. "Beatrix, what do you make of this?"

"I have heard of Dahlia, but I never knew she was your aunt," she murmured. "There are rumors here and there. It's been a very long time since anyone has seen her, though. Wherever she is, she isn't showing her face. I advise caution. This may be true. But with all the spells and such protecting Hope... I don't think we should worry immediately. However, if Dahlia is as powerful as they say... we should be very careful."

Clearly, none of the siblings had been expecting her to confirm that what Finn was saying could be true. "I could always search his mind," said Beatrix awkwardly. "See if he's telling the truth."

"No, we needn't properly introduce you to Finn," said Klaus with a small smirk. "He might bloody well take a fancy to you and then where shall we be?"

Rebekah let out a laugh as Beatrix covered her face. "Shut up, Klaus." The Original sister then smiled at her brothers. "Well, Trix got the bonfire set up! We're just missing a key ingredient."

Klaus sighed loudly. "No, we are not."

"Yes, we are, Nik!" Rebekah insisted. "Back me up, Elijah!"

Elijah laughed. "I suspect Niklaus would rather choke on the ashes."

Hayley raised her eyebrows. "What are you all talking about?"

"Well, before we light it, we write down our wishes for each other to burn for luck!" explained Rebekah. "It was Kol's favorite part when we were kids!"

"It's further evidence as to why we should ignore it!" said Klaus.

"Aw, don't be so mean to Kol," said Beatrix, nudging the hybrid hard in the ribs. Klaus made a face, before Hayley clapped Hope's hands together. "Hope's first bonfire season. I like it! We're doing it!" She then rushed into the house, and Rebekah gave her brothers a smug grin.

"I'll just go and tidy up a bit inside," said Beatrix, glancing at the three siblings before deciding to depart.

She felt awkward. Out of place. This felt so strange to her. She began to clean up in the room where she had been with Hope, trying to force herself not to listen in to any of the conversations happening in the house. She could hear one between Klaus and Hayley, another between Rebekah and Elijah. Gritting her teeth she went upstairs, going into the bathroom and closing the door. She sank to the ground and covered her ears, trying to halt her breathing.

Overwhelmed. That would describe her perfectly.

She hadn't realized until now that she felt completely and utterly bombarded. Eighteen years with only Kai as a companion. No longer used to the annoying humans that milled around, not used to the Mikaelson drama anymore. She had thought things would go back to normal right away, and they essentially had— she'd been dragged right back into an issue that needed solving. But she hadn't taken time to realize that she had needed to be eased in, not thrown in. This was too much too soon.

She had never taken time to assess how she felt before. But in the prison world there was not much else to do. So she had been in tune with her emotions again. This felt like the first instant she had a break since she was back, and it was too much. She wanted to rest for a few days, but she couldn't.

And Elijah. Hayley. The way they looked at each other. Beatrix felt embarrassed for having expected that she and Elijah would just come back together seamlessly. She was an idiot for having such expectations. It was purely absurd.

She began to hyperventilate, clutching her chest tightly. She felt tears welling up in her eyes. She felt pain, humiliation, and she was beyond tired already. She let out a quiet sob and a whimper, letting her head rest back on the wall. She could hardly put into words what she was actually feeling, but she just knew that this might make her feel better.

There was a knock on the door and she quickly covered her mouth to not make a sound.

"I know you're in there, Beatrix," came Klaus's voice. "I am not deaf."

Fuck. She should have cast a spell to keep the others from hearing her.

He opened the door without asking for permission, and she quickly covered her face, shaking her head as she buried it in her knees. "Go away, Klaus," she mumbled.

"It's a little difficult to concentrate on my daughter when I can hear your ragged breathing over my head," he said simply.

"I am really not in the mood to talk right now," she insisted, hoping he would go away.

But she felt something nudge her arm. She looked up and saw Klaus kneeling in front of her, holding Hope. The baby cooed as Beatrix quickly wiped her eyes and took her, cradling her and swallowing back a sob.

"You and Elijah are not so different right now," Klaus said quietly. "While his problems lie in the wake of our Mother's scheming... yours are rooted to an entire two covens that sought to rid themselves of you. I do not pretend to understand what you felt. Dormant for decades, awoken briefly, just to be tossed into a repetitive world with only one other person. Doesn't sound pleasant at all."

Beatrix sniffled as she caressed Hope's face. "You're more sympathetic now that you're a father, I see," she whispered shakily. "Setting a good example for your daughter..."

"She will not remember this," mused Klaus. "But perhaps she can inherently learn that being strong does not mean that one does not come crashing down at times." He tugged at a cloth resting beside the sink and handed it to her. With her free hand, she dried her eyes quickly, sniffling unsteadily as she looked back down at Hope, who was oblivious as ever and just wanting to be held.

"She's so perfect, Klaus," she whispered. "She's going to soften you, you'll see. And I don't mean it in a bad way."

Klaus smiled. "I'm sure she will. Besides, this is nothing new. You have seen me this way before. I always did have a soft spot for you, Beatrix."

"Only because you sired me," she said a bit dryly. "You felt responsible. And maybe also because I was always at your beck and call, doing spells for you. You felt obligated to be kind."

He shrugged. "I am grateful, as any other person would be. You forget that just because I do not open up as my brother do, does not mean that you and I were not very close friends." He paused to look at his daughter briefly, her blue eyes blinking as she reached a hand up to try and pull Beatrix's hair. "The last time I was a father, you were the one who made sure I remembered that children needed less abrasiveness from a parental figure. I remember the gentle words you would whisper to Marcel on nights when he felt powerless. The way you'd tell him that I cared a lot about him even if I showed it in very distinct ways."

She half smiled. "So does that make Hope and Marcel half-siblings?"

"If you would like to consider them so. I suppose that would make the witch Davina your granddaughter, or niece, since Marcel practically treats her as his child. You will meet her soon."

Beatrix let out a soft laugh and handed Hope back to Klaus before standing up. "Don't say anything to Elijah about me, please," she said. "I don't think either of us are ready for a discussion."

Klaus didn't seem to mind doing her that favor. He took his daughter and went back downstairs. Beatrix allowed herself a few minutes to fix her face in the mirror before following him down.

She found Klaus, Hope, Hayley, and Elijah outside, gathering around the branches. Rebekah ran out behind Beatrix holding up a Polaroid camera. "Hey! Look what I found! I wonder if it will work."

Elijah and Klaus groaned. The hybrid turned away, hands on his hips. "Oh, bloody hell."

"Looks like you're striking a pose, Klaus," teased Beatrix.

"Come on, let's try it!" said Rebekah excitedly. "Hey, Nik, do you think you can cram us all into a selfie?"

Elijah smirked. "Oh, Niklaus is a virtuoso at cramming his siblings into confined spaces."

Klaus threw his hands in the air. "Well, I'm just glad I traveled hundreds of miles to visit my mentally ill brother, only to have him insult me to my face!"

"I can take the picture, don't worry," said Beatrix quickly, snatching the camera from Rebekah. "Get in there."

The siblings, Hayley, and Hope crammed together, all smiling except for Klaus, who was blank faced. Beatrix captured the picture and the polaroid shot out. She waved her hand over it to speed up its development, and turned it to show it to them.

"Aw, see?" said Rebekah. "I wish that it could always be like this."

"If wishes were horses..." Elijah began. "...Beggars would ride," finished Klaus. He then sighed loudly. "You realize we'll have to burn it. You want me to make a wish for the family, Rebekah? I wish it didn't have to be like this. But, it does. We can't risk it falling into the wrong hands."

"You don't need to do that," said Beatrix as Klaus handed the photograph to Hayley. "I can vanish it."

"Vanish it?" inquired Hayley. "What do you mean?"

"I can do a spell that'll make it disappear from existence. Only I will ever be able to pull it out of that realm of nonbeing. That way, it still technically exists. When it is safe, I can pull it out so you have a memory, at least."

Hayley looked up at Klaus, a smile on her face. "I like that better." She handed the photo to Beatrix. The Heretic held it in her hands and concentrated, making it disappear.

Rebekah gave her a dejected look. "It shouldn't have to be like this. This isn't right. We deserve this. We've earned this!" She looked up at the others, a wistful look in her eyes. "I won't let it slip away. I know what to do to stop Esther."

Elijah tensed. "Rebekah, no—"

"I'm going to take her deal," said the blonde. "And, when I do, I'm taking her down with me."

Hayley gave a wince and held Hope tighter. "But Rebekah—"

"No, it has to be done," she said firmly. "Come, I'll talk you through it. Trix, please back me up."

"I don't know if that's such a good idea," said the Heretic. "So many things can go wrong."

Hayley nodded in agreement. "Please... think this through. I'll be on the porch feeding Hope..."

She left, and the Mikaelson siblings shared a look before going into the parlor. "It'll work," Rebekah said confidently. "She will be distracted during the spell. She'll be vulnerable."

"No," said Klaus. "If we kill her, she body-jumps."

"Then stop her from jumping!" Rebekah said.

Klaus rolled his eyes. "If I knew how to bloody stop her from jumping, don't you think I would have happily murdered her ages ago?"

"Well, ages ago, you didn't have a Harvest girl or a Mikaelson witch. Kol knows all of her tricks. Besides, with Trix helping them, their power will be much greater than Esther's!"

Elijah scoffed. "Now you're both insane."

"Hardly, Elijah— it was your idea!" said Rebekah. "You're the one who said she needed a win, and if we get this right, then she'll have one."

The elder Mikaelson gritted his teeth, looking visibly concerned. "And if we get it wrong, you're no longer in your own body!"

"Would that be the worst thing? You were ready to do it yourself."

Beatrix and Klaus both snapped their heads to look over at Elijah, whose jaw twitched. "It was a foolish moment, and one that you sagely dissuaded me from."

Rebekah shrugged, trying to remain indifferent. "Hopefully, we'll get lucky and stop the spell before I jump."

"And, if we're not, you'll get what you always wanted," said Klaus a bit harshly. Rebekah gave a nervous swallow, and the hybrid narrowed his eyes at her. "I mean, that's what you're saying, isn't it? You're willing to lose."

Rebekah nodded slowly. "I'm willing to risk losing, yes."

Klaus sighed loudly and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Well, we need to find someone for her to jump into. Someone anonymous. Someone who could disappear with Hope."

"That shouldn't be too much of a problem," said Beatrix. "I can transfigure her face to look different all the time, if you so wish. I can make it so she can constantly choose who sees her face consistently. I can do more cloaking spells this time, I can—"

"Think about this, Rebekah," interrupted Elijah. "We've been together for centuries. If you were human—"

Rebekah rolled her eyes. "When I'm old and wrinkly, you can dump me back into my old body. Nik already has a coffin he can store me in."

Elijah crossed his arms, glaring at his sister. "But to trust Kol?"

"I can monitor it, Elijah," said Beatrix impatiently. "I can do my best to make sure Kol doesn't try anything."

"Either way, it's not about trust, Elijah!" said Rebekah. "It's about finding the proper leverage."

Klaus nodded. "She's right. Kol will do what's best for Kol— we just have to meet his price." He looked over at Beatrix. "You can make sure he adheres to it." He pulled out his phone and dialed Marcel's number.

Rebekah, seemingly pleased, walked off triumphantly to the kitchen. Elijah and Beatrix shared a tense look, but neither said anything. When she realized he wasn't going to speak, the Heretic turned on her heel and followed Rebekah out of the room.

She had lost him...

Later in the evening when the details had been sorted out, they prepared to leave. Hayley and Hope would stay behind with Elijah. Rebekah and Beatrix would accompany Klaus back to New Orleans.

"So what did you arrange with Kol?" asked Beatrix as she curled up in the backseat of the SUV. Klaus was driving, and Rebekah was riding shotgun.

"He wants the paragon diamond," said Klaus. Rebekah let out a snort.

"You are mad to give Kol that diamond," she huffed.

"Our little brother has been plotting against me for years, and he hasn't got a lick of it right," said Klaus. "I'll take my chances. I should be right to assume that Beatrix isn't going to be helping him anymore, yes?"

"You almost killed me because of that bloody diamond," said Beatrix, rolling her eyes. "And besides, you're a father now. I've no desire to dagger you."

Klaus let out a chuckle. "Ah yes, I remember that night..."

Kol and Beatrix thought they'd done it. They thought Rebekah was not going to tell Klaus what they were up to. Beatrix was still searching for the diamond and her piano key when she heard Klaus giving his toast.

"As you know, when the Mikaelsons arrived in Louisiana, we brought with us the tradition of holiday bonfire season," Klaus was saying distantly as she rummaged like mad around his room. She couldn't find the stupid bloody diamond. "Now, we invite you chosen few to join us in our family's own tradition of writing wishes for each other and burning them for luck. The holidays are a time for celebrating family, and friends."

She tore through the cabinets, tossing clothes everywhere. It had to be in there! But now it was not. Where the hell had he hidden it? She tried to switch gears— find the piano key first, instead. She could get her magic back and locate the diamond like that...

"It is especially gratifying in times when treachery runs deep. To know you have someone you can trust. A toast, to you, my sister."

She froze. Rebekah. She heard the guests' muffled toast to her, and her body went rigid. She told. She bloody told. She sped out of the room, making her way to the staircase. She caught a glimpse of Kol running her way, but suddenly, Elijah was between them. He grabbed Kol and yanked his jacket off, holding him near the balcony as Klaus joined him.

"Ladies and gentlemen," said Klaus. "I apologize for the disturbance! But, what's a Mikaelson party without a little squabble?" He pulled out one of the daggers and stabbed it into Kol's heart. Beatrix gave out a loud gasp and ran forward as her best friend's body went limp. Before she could drop down and try and pull the dagger out, Klaus caught her by the shoulders and shoved her back into the wall, thrusting his hand into her chest and making her let out a soft cry as he closed his fist around her heart. She no longer had her magic— just days before, Elijah had forced her to put it away in the piano key, having grasped her heart in a similar manner to make her do so.

Beatrix had let out a choking noise, and a whimper, her eyes tearing up. It caused a flicker of hesitation in Klaus, and he did not immediately yank the beating organ of fire out of her. She swallowed hard and let her mind go blank, thinking that she should just let herself go... it would hurt less that way...

And then Elijah had ripped Klaus off of her, making her gasp and stagger back, her hand over the bloody, ripped patch of her dress. She looked up as Klaus stared at her, wide eyed, almost looking horrified at what he'd tried to do to her. Elijah came to her side, but she backed away, glaring at him.

"Get away from me," she whispered, her eyes dark with fury. "GET AWAY!"

"You almost killed me," repeated Beatrix. "Then Elijah and I started having problems." She refrained looking at Rebekah, who had gone inexplicably quiet.

Klaus simply kept silent for a bit, then looked over at his sister. "Do you know what to do?"

Rebekah drew a deep breath. "Yes. But, if it doesn't go to plan, will you handle my body with care, please? I may miss the old model."

"If everything goes south, we'll be there to pull you out. We just have to take Esther down before she body-jumps. I don't want all of this to have been for nothing."

Rebekah half smiled. "The three of us on the same team. It must be Christmas."