They had followed Beatrix's plan.

"I'm going to put a cloaking spell over all of you," she said. "It'll seem like I'm alone, and no one will be able to sense you're there. If we run into one of Marcel's little minions or Marcel himself, it'll seem like it's just me, and it should be safe. Josh is working at Rousseau's now, I think, since I last popped in, and we can use that to access the tunnels. You'll still be able to see and hear each other but I won't be able to see or hear you. Do me a favor and don't talk shit on the ride there."

"No promises, Trix," said Kol with a smirk as she turned around and cast the spell.

For her, the ride had been calm. At some point, someone had turned on the radio, so she had assumed that they'd chosen to stop talking at that moment. She hadn't minded. It was safer this way, and it gave her time to drive in peace. She didn't get to do that often.

They had gotten into the New Orleans borders, and Beatrix had let out a quiet sigh. This was it. They were going to get Klaus and free him, at last, and then get the hell out of there.

She wondered what he'd think when he saw her. Would he be bitter? Calmer? She had been mostly calm after her month with the Strix, but for him, this was five years. Even her time in the prison world wasn't as terrible as whatever Marcel had put him through.

She'd driven into the French Quarter and squeezed the steering wheel anxiously. No one would recognize the car, but anyone could be watching her, and someone could recognize her. She tried to ward off negative thoughts and drove calmly to Rousseau's, parking at the front.

"This is going to be complicated," she said loudly, "but you all need to get out fast through my door and go stand on the sidewalk. I'll just pretend to be leaning on my door and checking my phone. Whoever is the last one out, brush up against me so I know I can close the door."

Somehow, it worked. She had gotten out and held the door open with her knee, pulling out her phone. She heard distinct 'whoosh' noises and at last, someone brushed past. She calmly closed the door and opened the door to Rousseau's, hearing the whooshing again as they presumably moved in past her, but no one in the vicinity noticed. She saw Josh behind the bar, cleaning some glasses.

He was surprised to see her. "Beatrix," he said. "Wow— uh... are you popping in to visit?"

She leaned onto the counter and smiled. "Sure. Let's get everyone out of here, shall we?"

He was perplexed, but didn't question her. He ducked behind the bar to put the glass away then pretended to gasp loudly. "Oh no," he said a bit awkwardly. "I think there's a gas leak— can everyone get out quickly?"

The customers didn't inquire further. Josh ushered them out quickly and Beatrix let up the cloaking spell as he closed the door. He turned and saw the Mikaelsons and flinched. "What the—"

"I'll keep it simple," said Beatrix. "We're here for Klaus. In, out, half an hour tops, no need to cause a problem. Don't intend to hurt anyone."

She faced back and saw that Rebekah was not in the group. Kol shrugged. "We told her she should have tried to tell you first, but she thought it was a good idea to go speak with Marcel."

The Heretic sighed loudly and put her hand on her forehead. "Alright. Well—" she turned to Josh. "Can you move that freezer unit back there so we can access the tunnels? Pretty please?"

Josh looked conflicted. "Fine, but only because of the 'pretty please.'"

"Perfect."

Kol crossed his arms. "Are you absolutely certain we're looking in the right place?"

Freya answered for her. "We know this tunnel runs the length of the city. Marcel must've carved out a section to serve as his personal dungeon, according to what Beatrix had mentioned."

"Ingenious and sadistic," mused Elijah. "Well done, Marcel."

Kol scoffed. "Save the compliments for when he comes to kill us. Your flattery might give him pause."

Josh clasped his hands together as he walked back in front of them. "Okay, you're all set here. So, uh, good luck, break a leg, and I'll just be on my way."

"What, so you can rat us out to Marcel?" said Kol sharply. "Not bloody likely."

Freya sighed. "Oh, just snap his neck. We'll be done by the time he wakes."

"And if he wakes before that?" Elijah asked.

"Then kill him," said Kol casually.

"I'm right here, guys," said Josh awkwardly.

"We're not killing him," said Hayley and Beatrix in unison.

"He's helping us," said Beatrix. "We're leaving him in one piece."

"You're probably right," said Elijah. "For some reason, he's of value to Marcel."

"For some reason?" said Beatrix playfully. "Wow, way to downplay the fact that he's basically his right hand man. Kol, you don't look so eager to go on a rescue mission, so do you mind staying behind?"

Kol smirked. "Happy to stay and have a drink and eviscerate anyone who tries to follow you."

Freya nodded in approval. "Good, then let's go. We're wasting time."

"Splendid," said Elijah as Hayley, Freya, and Beatrix slipped into the tunnels.

Beatrix led the way, at least to where she remembered the cell being, under the Mikaelson Compound. She just didn't know exactly which tunnel led where. Marcel had known this system, but she had never taken the time to learn.

But they found him soon enough. There was a small boundary spell that kept them from getting near the cell door, but Beatrix siphoned the boundary off, and Freya snapped her fingers to pop the lock of the cell. Klaus was in a circle of salt, looking weak and disheveled. He was in chains and from the way his shirt was cut, he likely had Papa Tunde's blade inside of him.

"Niklaus!" cried Elijah as they approached him. "Brother... Niklaus, we're here..."

He placed his hand against the invisible wall that bounded Klaus inside of the salt circle.

"This spell is strong," muttered Freya as she examined it. "It's been reinforced over time, which means it's going to take time to break."

Beatrix patted her fist against it. "I can siphon this, but not as fast as I did the other one."

"We don't have time," Elijah said urgently.

"Well, we could try brute force and overwhelm it," suggested Freya. "But I'd need someone to channel, and that might taken longer than Beatrix just siphoning."

Hayley pursed her lips. "Then she'll siphon. Elijah and I will keep watch. Freya can assist."

The Heretic nodded and put both hands against the boundary, closing her eyes as she began to siphon. The familiar honey colored glow of her palms illuminated the room, but Klaus did not react. His eyes were open, as though he was seeing something, but not them.

They all perked up at the sound of distant footsteps. Hayley and Elijah shared a look, and Elijah put his hand on Beatrix's shoulder. "Whatever happens, don't stop until Niklaus is free."

She nodded to show she'd heard him as he and Hayley sped away, leaving only Freya, who was murmuring some words under her breath, probably to help weaken the spell so she could siphon it faster.

It was a dreadful few minutes of wait. Beatrix could hear things being knocked around upstairs, and she concentrated harder, thankful this wasn't dark magic, meaning she wasn't being affected negatively. This could only strengthen her.

"Done," she said at last, swaying as she felt the spell disappear. Both she and Freya lunged to Klaus, but he moved on his own, his arm reaching up and pulling Papa Tunde's blade out of himself, letting out a cry of pain as he did so. Beatrix bit into her wrist and pressed it against his lips while Freya snatched the blade full out.

Klaus grunted and grabbed onto her hand, closing his eyes as he drank, careful not to bite in. When he let go, she yanked him to his feet, steadying him as she pulled him out of the salt circle.

"Upstairs," said Klaus, still weak. "Freya, the blade—"

She handed it to him and grabbed on to Beatrix as she sped them up to where Elijah, Hayley, and Marcel were arguing.

"Stop!" Hayley was saying. "You win, okay? We can't beat you. I'm begging you, let us go."

"Why?" demanded Marcel. "Why?! Because you think that would be justice for your family? They were my family, too. And Elijah tore my heart out and threw me off a bridge. And his brother just stood by and watched. There is only one justice left—"

Klaus chose that moment to leap forward and thrust Papa Tunde's blade into Marcel's chest.

"Niklaus," breathed Elijah, catching the hybrid as he collapsed. Marcel let out a yell of pain, and the group sped out, back into the tunnels before Marcel could pull the blade out.

Elijah's phone chimed as they dragged Klaus back the way they'd come. "Rebekah— she says to meet us at one of the tunnel exits in the Bayou."

"I know where that is," said Hayley. "Follow me— quickly."

They moved as fast as they dared, with Freya and Beatrix bringing up the rear in case Marcel was following. They soon emerged from the drainage pipes into the woods, where Rebekah and Kol awaited them.

"Nik!" cried Rebekah, running to him.

"Hey, you can hug him later," said Freya as they looked up and saw Kol and Rebekah had brought the car. "We need to leave."

"Marcel's right behind us," said Beatrix, looking over her shoulder worriedly. "Go— go!"

"Actually," came a voice, Marcel now blocking their path to the car. "I'm right here. You shouldn't have come back— none of you."

"That's what family does," said Hayley sharply. "We fight for each other."

"Yeah, so I've heard," said Marcel. "Though it didn't really work out for me, did it?"

Kol let out an exasperated groan. "Oh, for God's sake, you were never a Mikaelson, get over it. Don't you have a city to run? Vampires to boot out of town?"

Marcel stepped forward, but both Rebekah and Beatrix blocked his path to the others. "If you want to kill one of us, you'll have to kill us all," said Rebekah firmly.

"Don't push me, Rebekah," Marcel said coldly.

"Then get on with it!" she challenged. "Let's end this once and for all!"

Beatrix held her hand up to silence them. "Marcel, we're not intending to stay. We want to go. Please, I don't want this to become a problem."

"Maybe you should have thought about that before siding with them," he said, looking hurt. "I thought you were the one person I could count on."

"You went about it the wrong way despite my warnings," she said sternly.

"That's enough." Klaus stepped forward. "That's enough, Marcel— you've won. New Orleans was our city once. Now it's yours. For good."

He looked almost amused. "Is the great Klaus Mikaelson accepting defeat? Or is this all just another distraction?"

Klaus shook his head. "Neither. In fact, despite your appalling behavior, I'm offering you a chance at peace. Attempt to kill us all, and you will be making a mistake. Any who survived would no doubt return to seek revenge, bringing our enemies back to your city in our wake. And even if you did manage to eliminate us all, one day my daughter would come for you. And her daughter after that. On and on for all your days An endless cycle of violence you will bring upon yourself. Or... Or we leave and we never come back."

Marcel just glared. "After all that time buried in a hole, you still got some nerve. Yeah, well, you stand there with a straight face and try to sell this like it's your choice. But here's the truth. I could kill all of you right now. And tonight I would sleep like a baby. Hell, that's what you would do. You've destroyed more people, taken more lives, ended more families than anyone who's ever lived. All because you can."

"And you've become just like the man you deem to criticize," spat Beatrix. "Marcel, you preached about shutting them down for what they did, and I supported you, but not when you started acting just like them— wanting destruction and power. That's why I left. Because I wasn't going to aid you in taking over and hurting others."

"You continue to forgive them after how they've hurt you," scoffed Marcel. "The truth is, you're actually one of them— you're just as cruel, deep down. But here's the other truth. Despite being raised by you people I am nothing like any of you. In fact, I'm proud as hell I'm not a Mikaelson. I beat you all without turning into you. And now you can live the rest of your lives knowing that the only reason that you exist is because I am showing you mercy. Now go. And don't ever come back."

Beatrix glared at him as she beckoned for the others to get into the car. She and Marcel remained staring at each other. Neither said anything. At last, she just shook her head in disappointment before going to the car, seeing that Hayley was going to drive them back to the house.

The Heretic piled into the very back row of seats with Kol and Rebekah, and the unconscious body of Keelin in the back, comfortably sleeping, but still hostage due to Freya's insistence.

They were calm on the way back to New Orleans. Klaus slept, and Freya stroked his hair, murmuring calming spells to ease his pain. Elijah and Hayley had a quiet conversation in the front, and Kol and Rebekah spoke to Beatrix about how they'd been in Lafayette Cemetery, and some vampires had almost kidnapped Rebekah.

It was dark when they arrived in Texas, and when Hayley parked in front of the safe house, Mary was waiting. She nodded cordially and went to her truck without greeting the Mikaelsons, driving off as they got out of the car.

Kol and Rebekah climbed out immediately with Freya, who had gone to the trunk to drag off Keelin's body to the nearby shed/barn that was near the house.

Klaus, now awake, leaned against the car, looking up at the house.

"What is it?" asked Elijah quietly.

"Five years has never felt so long," whispered Klaus. "Thank you for not abandoning me."

"Well, we did consider it," Rebekah teased. "The vote was rather close."

Beatrix smirked, and led them in, seeing that Hayley wanted to have a private conversation with Klaus. "Be as quiet as you can," she told the siblings. "Hope should be asleep by now, and we don't want to wake her."

She led them to the kitchen and waved her hand, revealing a concealed cupboard with the bottles of bourbon and tequila. She brought them out, and Kol snatched one up immediately, beginning to drink.

They sat down at the table, and Beatrix made them some toast, bringing out jam and butter for them to put on it as a light snack before they all got to rest. "We'll get you all a decent meal in the morning," she promised.

"Thank you," said Kol, holding up an empty bottle of bourbon for her to take as he bit into the toast. "Mm... with the blood from this morning, this works out well."

She smirked and went to throw the bottle away, seeing Hayley leading Klaus upstairs. She was happy to know that Hope would finally be getting to meet him. She had always wondered, and Beatrix had shown her plenty of pictures. But Hope was still shy, and she would likely be a bit awkward when it came to the greeting. Beatrix couldn't help but smile at the thought of how Hope was a perfect little mesh of Hayley and Klaus.

But it seemed Hope hadn't been woken up to meet Klaus. He and Hayley came back down and had some slices of toast. Hayley took the others upstairs to show them what rooms they could stay in as Beatrix remained in the kitchen to clean up.

As she made her way up the stairs, Hayley stopped her. "So you know how this house isn't as big as the Compound?" she said, biting her lip.

"Er, yeah," said Beatrix, holding onto the railing and looking at her curiously.

"Well, Rebekah, Freya, and Kol took the three vacant guest rooms— I haven't cleaned where Mary was staying so we left that one vacant. Elijah, of course, has no problem doubling up with me, and well... I showed Klaus to your room. Hope you don't mind."

Beatrix smiled. "No, of course I don't mind. Thanks for letting me know."

She went to her room and found Klaus inside, sitting on her bed.

"Hey," she said gently, shutting the door quietly behind her. "How are you?"

"Better," he said. "I was wondering if you could show me how your bathroom works here?"

"Sure." She went to her bathroom and drew him up a bath, having used magic to remodel so that she had a bathtub and a separate shower the way she had at the Compound. Humming, she let the tub fill with warm water, and went to get him a towel and fresh soap and shampoo to use. "Let me get you some clothes, too—"

"That can wait, love, I think I'll be meditating in here for a bit," he said, smirking at her.

"Alright," she replied. "Well, I'll wait for you to be done."

"You could stay. I would like the company."

Blushing, she nodded, and helped him undress, discarding his clothes, which were worn with age. Obviously, Marcel hadn't let him bathe or change in a very long time. She aided him in lowering himself into the tub, single he was still a bit shaky. She moved to sit on the back edge of the tub where his head was, sinking her hands a bit into the water and beginning to massage over his shoulder blades, causing him to let out a groan.

"I've forgotten how magical your hands are, my little witch," he grunted, closing his eyes and letting her head lay back.

"I can do spells, like Freya was doing," she offered. "Soothe any lingering pains."

He nodded, and they were silent for a moment. "You visited me,"

She bit her lip. "Yes, I did... I didn't think you knew I was there."

"I didn't, in the moment. But Marcel knew. He told me, not long ago."

"I would have gotten closer, but I was terrified he'd catch me if I tried to get past all the spells. I was scared he'd torture you, and it'd be my fault, or he'd kill you and I'd ruin our chances of saving everyone."

He chuckled lightly. "What have you been doing the past five years?" he whispered.

"Working as a doctor," she said, rolling her palms lower down his back. "Growing to be a better person. Learning to let go... your daughter's been helping me improve my drawing and coloring skills. Though, of course, I'm not as good as either of you."

He brought a hand back and took hers, bringing it to his mouth and kissing it gently. "I am grateful that you have been there for her," he said. "You seem changed. Are you sure you're alright, love?"

She sighed. "I... I went through something a year ago. But I'm alright."

"What was that something?"

"I killed Kai. He... he came back and he tried to hurt those twins I delivered. I tried to offer my help. To help him be a better person. He refused and I had to kill him so that he wouldn't suffer in a prison world anymore."

He was quiet for a bit. "I am worse than him," he mumbled. "I didn't treat you as well as he did. I own up to that. I was a bloody idiot. I will never be good enough for you, love. You have every right to let me go. To choose someone better. I want the best for you. You deserve it."

She leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss against his shoulder. "The difference," she whispered in his ear, "is that you have consistently tried to change for the better. You own up to the fact that you are bad, but you have worked to become a better man for your little girl. You are capable of redemption. I don't think you a bad person, Klaus."

"I have hurt you too many times, love. How can you—?"

"Because I love you," she said, hugging him from behind. "I love you, Niklaus Mikaelson. You just spent five years captive to protect your family. That is noble and selfless."

They pulled away only so that he could finish bathing properly. She helped him dry off, and pulled out some clothes for him to wear in the meantime. He took her hand as they exited the bathroom. "The dark magic," he mumbled. "What happened? I know it hurt you that day."

"It was killing me," she admitted, which made his eyes flash dark in concern. "But I expelled it. I've bought myself time. But I will be honest... I don't have much time left, Klaus. Ten years, tops. This wasn't meant to be my nature."

He swallowed hard. "I ruined you, Beatrix. I let myself turn you. I hurt you. This is my fault."

"No, it's not," she said, cupping his face. "It's not your fault I was born through dark magic. That was something neither of us could control. I'm okay. I promise. I'm not fragile. We're going to make the most of it, aren't we?"

He sighed and rested his forehead on hers. "Are you sure you're not hurting?"

"Yes, I'm sure. You needn't be worried."

She tilted her neck up and pressed her lips gently onto his. He kissed back with more force, but then pulled back. "You're certain?" he panted very lightly. "You're certain you're fine?"

"Yes, why do you keep asking? You're not going to break me."

He chuckled lowly. "After five years of missing you, I wouldn't be so sure about that..."

She shrieked in surprise as he pinned her down on the bed.