It was nighttime when she returned to the Compound.

Everything was quiet. She figured Elena had already put Anita to bed. Klaus might not be back yet, considering that there was no broken furniture to suggest he might have beat Elijah up. Strangely, however, Maddy didn't sense Elijah was home either. She did a quick sweep of the house, finding that the only one home was Freya, who had finally returned from whatever she was up to all day.

Maddy hopped into the shower, cleaning off the buildup of dirt from her time in the gym. When she came out, she fetched her phone, messaging Klaus to ask where he was. He responded a few minutes later letting her know he'd be home soon. She asked if he was okay, and he did not respond. She deduced that he likely wasn't sure how to feel. She didn't allow it to bother her.

Not long after, she heard movement downstairs. Seconds later, Klaus was in her doorway, and she leapt to her feet. "Nik," she said immediately. She figured she ought to say something after that, but she was at a loss for words. The distraught look on his face kept her from being able to discern what was appropriate in this situation. Should she say she was sorry? Should she say that she would be okay if he needed time to process everything?

She caught sight of a tear stain on his cheek, and she immediately moved closer to him, putting her hands on his arms. She slid one of her palms to hold the back of his head, the other looping around his shoulder blades. She brought him against her body, resting her head on his chest.

"I'm not upset," he insisted, his voice cracking and suggesting otherwise.

"You can be upset," she whispered. "It's okay."

"To think of the man I could have been," he said, starting to tremble. "I became so bitter... so cruel... convinced I was not worthy of being loved. Had I not experienced that, I would have been a better man for you from the start... a better father and better husband..."

"Nik," she said, pulling away. "You are a wonderful husband and father. I am so, so sorry that you had to go through that heartbreak. You didn't deserve that."

"I understand Elijah's aim," said Klaus unsteadily. "Just as I daggered my siblings, sabotaged their relationships, he did the same to me. He was furious. And he sought to harm me. He managed it. I cannot even blame him... I might have done the same to him." He shook his head. "The past cannot be changed. What happened has... happened. And it changes nothing. I ceased loving Aurora centuries ago."

He withdrew, and started to head to his art studio. Confused, Maddy followed him, watching from the doorway as he moved a dresser out of the way, before punching into the brick wall behind it, which had apparently been concealing a painting of Aurora. Maddy kept still while he went to fetch a tool that would scrape the paint off of the bricks. She wasn't sure whether to tell him to stop or whether to allow him to continue. She opted to stay silent while he scrubbed the wall, allowing the colorful flakes to fall to the floor.

"That's it," he said, stepping back when the portrait was gone. "No more." She noticed his hands had gotten very dirty once he set down the tool. She followed him to the bathroom, where he started to clean himself with the soap, rubbing his own palms very hard.

"Nik," she said gently, placing a hand on his arm to stop him, worried he might actually split his skin open. "Talk to me. Don't just bottle it up. Tell me what you're feeling."

"It doesn't matter," said Klaus. "She will be dead soon enough, mark my words."

"What did she say that makes you want to kill her?"

He huffed, looking at her through the mirror. "She threatened you. She was raving about how our love was never meant to end. How she had been loyal to me all these years. I told her that I felt nothing for her." He offered her his hand, and she realized he was allowing her into her mind. To let her see his memory and to prove to her that he felt nothing for Aurora. She decided to dive in.

"You've had a thousand years to tell me of Elijah's betrayal," said Klaus sharply. "Why now?"

"Well," replied Aurora, "there's never been a prophetic witch spelling all of our doom until now."

"What do you know of her?"

Aurora smirked. "I know I killed her. My brother told me of her prophecy, but I needed to see her for myself. And what did she show me? The clan Mikaelson destroyed, including my sire. And I believed her. But, a dangerous toy in dangerous hands must be removed, so I poisoned her. And now, I'm going to change the future she saw."

"By turning me against the only brother I have left," Klaus growled.

"The prophecy said that you would fall by friend, by foe, and by family. Have you thought of who that family might be? 'Cause it might just be the one closest to you. How do you know the pattern won't repeat?"

Klaus had narrowed his eyes. "What are you insinuating?"

"Come now, everyone knows that Elijah was infatuated with your wife before you saw her again. What's to say he won't ruin another one of your relationships?" She kept talking, noticing he was growing tense, "What if he were to annihilate you? Replacing you? Your daughter would grow up to call him father." She stood in front of him, smoothing her hands over his chest for a moment before he swatted her arms away. She seemed to have expected this. "I see the mere mention of your wife has made you far more defensive."

"Don't you dare speak of her," snarled Klaus.

"I hardly think that woman holds a candle to me," said Aurora, making it very clear that she was jealous. "Can't you see, Nik? Our love was never meant to end. I have been loyal to you for centuries. That girl was merely your substitute for me. Now I am here, and I—"

"Quiet," he sneered. "You are nothing to me, Aurora. I feel nothing for you. What I want is for you to leave this city."

Her smirk dropped. "What's the matter? Would you like to shoo me out before I can meet that lovely girl you married?" Her lips curled further upward, "It would be a shame if I were made to leave in a rush... people do tend to get clumsy when they aren't being careful. I might accidentally rip her heart out."

She managed to speed out of the building they were in just before Klaus could slam her into the wall and bite her.

Maddy exited the memory, and felt him shaking. "I tried to find her," said Klaus worriedly. "I feared she'd go right for you. Thankfully, by then, you had already returned home. You were safe here, behind the barrier that keeps uninvited vampires out. So long as Freya remains alive, Aurora cannot get you."

She frowned when she realized what he was insinuating. "Am I meant to stay on house arrest, then?"

"I know I cannot command you to remain here," said Klaus. "But I would very much prefer you stay here as often as you can. If you are to leave the house, myself or Elijah will accompany you. Until Aurora, Lucien, and Tristan have been dealt with, you are not safe here. And though I know you don't wish to leave, I'd like to remind you that you may, perhaps, be better off in Mystic Falls with our daughter."

Maddy tried not to look so crestfallen. She knew he was only trying to protect her. "I'm staying here. We need each other. Hope will be okay with my brothers for awhile longer. If I leave and something happens to you..."

"Then you will tell her stories about me," said Klaus.

"No, I can't just do that. I know I used to tell you that if you decided this wasn't for you anymore... that I'd be okay raising her on my own. But the truth is I can't even imagine having to watch her grow up without you by my side. We need you, Nik. And the best way to ensure we can get her back here is to work together. Work efficiently. Splitting the team is a bad idea. So I will stay here. I will continue this fight to protect our family. All I ask in return is that you tell me everything you can about your history with these people. No more secrets. Everything... right now. Why do they hate you all so much?"

Klaus's eyes flickered to the floor. "We compelled them. More specifically, Elijah compelled them, the rest of us encouraged it and allowed it. Lucien was made to believe he was me. Aurora, to be Rebekah. Tristan, Elijah. They were made to be decoys to keep Mikael from finding us. While we settled in Tuscany, they functioned as bait and kept him off our scent. Then, of course, Elijah and the rest of my siblings were daggered. The compulsion ended and the realization hit. Since then, I imagine, the animosity has grown."

"And now," muttered Maddy, "Lucien and Tristan are working together doing who knows what. This weapon... it all makes no sense. We need to find out what the hell they're planning."

"Then what we must do," replied Klaus, "is expose their alliance. And then, when the time is right and we have procured the weapon they seek, we will kill them all. I've already contacted Rebekah. She will likely be here around midday tomorrow if all goes well. Depends how much she's planning to bring with her. I haven't the faintest idea how long she intends to stay. Likely not long considering our daughter isn't here. She's been having a wonderful time seeing her constantly in Mystic Falls."

Maddy winced, thinking about how there would be one less person to protect Hope while Rebekah was here. "Do you think Aurora would try to hurt Hope?"

"I do not believe she would," said Klaus. "Unfortunately... and it bothers me greatly to have to say it... Aurora sees you as competition. Absurd, really, considering I will never fancy her again. Her aim may be to replace you. The Aurora I knew loved children. Considering your motherly instincts were magnified with vampirism, I highly doubt her opinion changed when she turned."

"The idea of her wanting to be Hope's stepmom makes me want to vomit." She blew some air out of her mouth. "How do we proceed then? With exposing them and keeping Aurora from murdering me?"

"I will speak to Elijah about it in the morning. For now..." he put his arm around her waist. "I wish to hold you."

His grip on her was tighter that night than most nights. Most times, they fell asleep facing each other, hands linked, because it truly wasn't that comfortable to be tangled together constantly. Other times, she'd simply lay with her head on his chest. This time, Klaus was laying so that he was hugging her from behind, his head against her shoulder, arms secure around her chest and stomach to keep her close to him. She could sense he wasn't falling asleep. He just laid there, listening to her breathing and her heartbeat. She put one of her hands on his, squeezing it lightly, reassuringly. She heard him let out a sigh.

"I love you," she whispered an hour later when both were still awake. Trying their hardest to drift off but being unable to. "I am always going to love you, Nik."

"And I love you, my Madeleine," he said in her ear. "More than anything in the world. You and Hope are all that matters to me."

She wiggled around until she was facing him, and was able to kiss his cheek. He tilted her head up to kiss her properly on the lips, sliding one hand to hold her hip.

"I want to show you," he whispered as he moved to be on top of her, "just how much you mean to me."

"You don't have to do that," she murmured. "I believe you, Nik. I trust you."

"I'd still very much like to kiss every inch of your body."

She blushed. "Then get to it."

They didn't sleep. It wasn't like they really had to. Besides, considering the stress they were under, relaxing made no sense.

"I believe I have an idea," Elijah announced the next morning when they'd gathered to speak about their plan to expose Lucien and Tristan. "Let's invite them for a friendly meal, systematically turn them against one another, and then devastate their pitiful alliance."

"Do you think that'll actually work?" said Maddy. "You think they'd actually give you all information when they're put on the spot that way? I don't know about this."

"It could grant us knowledge about the weapon they seek," mused Freya from the other side of the table. "I could potentially sneak a few herbs into their drinks. Spell it so they will not sense them. It could make it easier to enter their minds if they're reluctant to answer your questions."

Klaus and Elijah shared a look before nodding. Maddy cleared her throat. "That's great and all, but how can we guarantee they'll show up?"

"They will," said Elijah. "I am sure of it. Unfortunately..." he frowned, "we may have an unwanted guest."

"Aurora," deduced Maddy. "Which would mean inviting her in. Shooing her away would only infuriate her and we can't risk that."

"We could place the house in another person's name the instant the dinner is over," said Freya. "I will invite them in for now and then we can place the deed in... Jo's name, let's say. No one need know the change was made. Or, we could temporarily place it under a different person's name and switch it back to mine."

"Perhaps the former is better," said Klaus. "If we require another person to invite them in for this dinner they will know a change is going to be made. They will wonder why it is not in your name. It would be far too obvious."

"Unless we just nullify the deed temporarily," said Maddy. "If that's even possible. Make it so they can walk in freely. Might keep them from thinking about it, because it won't even be brought up." She checked the time. "I ought to go and start getting ready. If I'm going to be dining with—"

"No, you will not be," said Elijah. She was surprised that it wasn't Klaus who burst this out. Then again, the look on his face suggested he'd been about to say that. "In fact, I believe you and Elena ought to take Anita with you somewhere safer. Perhaps Camille or Marcel would be willing to have you spend the day with them. It will allow you to be seen out with the child while we deal with this. Tristan and Lucien hold a great deal of respect for you, outwardly, but we aren't sure if that is merely a lie. This would give us a chance to learn their true feelings while, I expect, Aurora spouts out her own. If you were to be present, they might all be perfect angels because they think you are the key to getting us to trust them. Which we most certainly do not wish to do."

Maddy huffed. "Fine. We'll spend the day with Cami. I don't want Marcel getting in trouble for hosting us. Besides, his place isn't under any human's name, so it wouldn't be secure if he were to leave."

Cami was more than happy to have them. She offered to pick up some food after she finished her shift at work. All she asked was that Maddy and Elena get to her apartment early and set the table. She'd let them know she had a spare key hidden in a small crack behind the doorframe.

"Well, half of New Orleans just saw me talking to 'Hope,'" muttered Maddy once they were in Cami's apartment. "I don't like having to call her that."

"It's only for a little while," said Elena, plucking Anita out of her carriage and smiling when the little girl giggled. "And then you can make a new friend for real! And you can be my little baby."

"She already is your baby," said Maddy. "You have her on your hip everywhere you go except when you're in class and Freya is watching her."

"I always wanted to be a mom," sighed Elena. "When I turned I thought that was a dream I'd have to give up. Then I saw you with Hope and I knew it was possible. I think the universe meant for Anita to arrive in the hospital, looking so much like Hope that I stopped to take a second look. I think she was meant to become a part of our lives. A part of my life. Elijah loves her. It'll give Hope a chance to have a friend her age. Someone human to allow her to be compassionate."

"You're right about that," said Maddy. "She's going to be so powerful... the last thing I want is for her to think she can do whatever she wants without consequences. Plus, I doubt we're going to be enrolling her in a regular elementary school. Klaus would go ballistic hearing about how shitty school lunches are." She withdrew her phone. "I'm gonna call Cami and see if she needs help bringing in the food. She said she was getting some burgers but she never replied to my text when I told her we were here."

The call went straight to voicemail. Both Elena and Maddy found this odd. "She might be at Kieran's apartment," she muttered. "She turns her phone off when she's there so that no one can track when she goes. Let me call the receptionist at that building, she gave me his number when she and Kol were looking through that stuff..." she called the friendly young man who always checked Cami in. He said she hadn't been there in two days, when she'd brought out a box of random objects.

"She took out a box," said Maddy suspiciously. "What if she figured out what the weapon was and wanted to hide it before Lucien could figure out where to look for it? Or what if... Lucien has her?"

"That can't be," said Elena, checking her own phone. "Elijah says he and Tristan got there... pretty soon after we left. Back when Cami was still replying. Unless he compelled someone to take her..."

"Hold on," said Maddy. "Lucien and Tristan? Not Aurora?"

"Guess not. You don't think—?"

Maddy gritted her teeth. "I really hope not. But if I were Aurora, and you were Madeleine Salvatore, and I wanted a private conversation with you, I'd definitely kidnap someone you were close to and set up a meeting location."

"What do we do?" asked Elena nervously. "Kol and Bonnie are at the airport waiting for Rebekah. Freya's at dinner and she needs to stay there. If we tell them... what if it's a trap?"

Maddy's phone started to ring. A blocked number was calling her, and she figured that the time to make the decision was now. "Calmly text Freya and tell her what's happening," said Maddy. "While I speak to whoever this is. You'll be able to hear everything. If she's gonna make a demand, I will go meet her. Cami doesn't deserve to get hurt for this. Besides... I don't think Aurora would be stupid enough to kill me so soon. She has to know that Klaus would kill her for it. I have a feeling that if anything, this meeting is just meant to be psychological torture. Like potentially her doing what Rebekah once did to me, telling me all the bad things about Klaus to try and turn me against him."

She answered. "Hello," she spoke calmly.

"I imagine you know what I'm calling about," a woman's voice said on the other line. It definitely sounded like the voice Aurora had used in Klaus's memory.

"You have Cami," said Maddy. "And I imagine you'll trade her for a conversation with me."

"Clever girl. Yes. All I'd like is a teensy little chat with you. I think there are some things you need to know."

Maddy gestured to the phone as if to tell Elena, 'See what I'm telling you?' "Alright. Where do you wish to meet?"

"St. Anne's Church."

"Okay. I'll meet you at the back entrance. You will release Cami and then I will enter the building to talk to you."

"Very well. Be here in five minutes."

She hung up, and Elena quickly sent the text to Freya. "If anything happens," said Maddy, "my brothers know how to access my will."

"You have a separate will?" asked Elena, not having known this.

"I made one when Hope was born. Before, Stefan and I had a document listing where we wanted our money and possessions to go if the three of us died. Except, now there are four of us. And I have a daughter. So, my portion and my specific belongings are going to be divided between her and a few other people. Don't worry, you get all my dresses as long as you promise to whip them out if Hope ever needs one. Though, I expect Klaus would buy her any dress she could ever want, brand new."

Elena tried not to be worried. She knew Maddy was just making sure to have everything prepared if the worst happened. She didn't know who the few other people were, but she figured Maddy had prepared accordingly. She imagined Hope and Klaus would be the two main people. Perhaps her brothers. Her, of course. Jo and Hayley. A bit for the Mikaelsons. And, unbeknownst to Elena, a bit for Sarah.

Aurora had Cami ready to go as Maddy approached. Cami looked terrified as Aurora pushed her out.

"And you didn't compel her, did you?" asked Maddy as she approached the redhead, who was a whole four inches shorter than her.

"Not at all," said Aurora truthfully. "She's on vervain. I wasn't quite able to get it out of her." She waved at Cami, wiggling her fingers. "Off you go, darling."

"Elena's waiting around the corner to take you home," said Maddy, offering her a smile.

Cami nodded gratefully before darting away.

Aurora kept her eyes on them for a moment longer before turning and entering St. Anne's Church. Maddy followed her, closing the door behind them.

Aurora then faced her. "Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Aurora de Martel." She curtsied, "Long-lost love of Niklaus Mikaelson. And you, of course, are the mother of his child. I have so been hoping to meet you."

"I'm also his wife," said Maddy with a wry smile. "Which means that this conversation better remain civil, or he'll rip you apart and bury you in a shallow grave... that is if he doesn't just toss you in the swamp for the crocodiles to finish you off. Bear in mind your brother is under his roof right now. It would be unfortunate if you were to harm me when Tristan is in such a vulnerable position. I rather liked him."

"So creative," said Aurora, jealousy and anger burning in her eyes. "Not to worry, darling. I really do wish to chat... and nothing more. But depending on what I learn about you with each question I ask... I may just decide to treat myself by killing you prematurely and dropping your head on Nik's doorstep."

"By all means," said Maddy, spreading her arms. "Fire away."