Everything and Nothing has Changed:
Anna turned in the bed. She felt Marcel's arm circle around her waist in his sleep. She gently pried them off before sitting up. "Trying to run away?" He chuckled as he tugged her back to him. "Without even a goodbye? I'm wounded."
She smiled back at him. "I highly doubt that." She started to get dressed as he laid back watching her. It had been nearly 3 months since Niklaus had arrived back in town. She was happy that whatever conflict he and Marcel had, quickly diminished. Elijah had mysteriously disappeared with Klaus telling that he had business to take care of, but she had her doubts when it came to Klaus.
"Do you think you'll come over later? We could go out." He said. She looked back surprised.
"Like on a date?"
He chuckled as he pulled her to sit on the bed with him. "Like a date." He kissed her before pulling away. "I...like you. There's nothing stopping us now, not this time. Come on, let's go out. I promise that you won't regret it."
She smiled at him with slight hesitation. "Okay, um, I'll see you later. I have to go." He tugged her back one more kissing her deeply. She laughed. "I do have to go. Try not to destroy the whole quarter today?"
"No promises." He grinned as she left the room and house.
It was still pretty late at night, but she didn't feel like she could sleep. Marcel would probably sleep for a hour before going out to party again. After getting news that Rebekah was on her way, she wanted to be there to greet her. They had been like sisters since they were human, that included the love and the hate, but she had missed her.
Within a few minutes, Anna Marie stood outside their old home as she waited for her surrogate sister. She walked on the porch glancing at the home. It seemed like just yesterday that they were there, enjoying what they had all miss so much, family.
Anna Marie walked into the room filled with people. They were at the governor's home. Anna Marie didn't like him. He was a drunk, vile, cruel man that kept humans for slaves. It made her ill. She, personally didn't want to go or be there for that matter, but Elijah insisted she could. She mingled and put on a fake smile for everyone to mask the annoyance she felt. The governor had covered for their indiscretion, mainly Niklaus', but she dealt with it because her family was happy.
Rebekah once again smitten with a boy, the governor's son, of course. Niklaus had easily forgotten the past that they once had and happily took care of his needs. Niklaus glanced at her grinning as he guided two women past her. She looked away. She stayed with him so long because she loves him, but as she became less of a priority, his attention turned to other things, other women. She didn't want to be second to him again as he had never chosen her. She was never a priority for him.
Even Elijah had found company of his own. She smiled as she saw the eldest come to her. "I believe that at a party a woman shouldn't be alone." He smiled as he neared her.
"Well, seeing as your siblings as well of you were busy, I didn't want to bother you. I'm fine. Don't worry about me, Eli." She assured him with a smile of her own. He wasn't as sure. He didn't want to put her in an uncomfortable state. He touched her arm.
"We don't have to stay, Annie."
"Yes, you do. Go have fun. I'm fine. Don't worry, I'll search for a way to keep Klaus from doing anything too reckless."
They both heard a scream come from the hallway. The conversation of the party kept the humans unaware of what happened, but both of the vampires heard the familiar sound of Rebekah's screaming. They ran out to see Rebekah in tears. "I believe we are too late for that." Elijah muttered as he saw the body of the dead governor on the ground floor. Klaus was obviously the cause.
Anna Marie hurried over to Rebekah tugging her away from the scene, shooting Klaus a dirty look. "It's okay, Bekah. Shh, it's going to be okay. You're going to be okay." She held her trying to calm the girl down. Once again, Klaus' seemed to ruin his sister's happiness without a care.
Anna Marie shook out of her thoughts as she saw Rebekah pull up in a red sports car. She hung up the phone and smiled at her. "Annie," She pulled her into a hug. She was one of the few people that she freely hugged without worrying what anyone would think. "Elijah mentioned that you had taken up residency here. Dear, has it been so long?"
"Temporary residency. It's been decades and I have missed you so very much." She smiled as they opened the door. "I'm glad you told me you were coming. I've been worried about Elijah's disappearance as well. It's very...odd."
"I agree." Rebekah closed the door behind them as a girl came down the stairs. "This isn't like my brother at all."
"Who the hell are you two?"
Rebekah barely paid her any attention. "You must be the maid. My bags are in the car, get them, will you?"
Anna Marie laughed. "I don't think that she's the maid, Bekah." She told her with a nudge.
"Yeah, I'm not the maid." Hayley looked insulted.
Anna Marie rolled her eyes. "She's the werewolf. The one Klaus magically knocked up somehow? I thought Elijah gave you the memo about the whole baby redeeming plan he had made." Rebekah smirked at her before nodding in understanding.
"Yes, that's right. I was expecting some supernatural magical baby bump. It's Hayley isn't it?" She asked her as the wolf neared the two girls.
"You both have Klaus' manners."
Anna Marie scoffed at that and Rebekah touched her hand from moving to hurt the wolf. "I'd watch it if I were you, I may have his temper, but Annie is worst." Rebekah warned her as she looked behind looking for her older brother. "Where's Elijah?"
"Beats me. He's long gone." She crossed her arms.
Rebekah looked worried. "What do you mean long gone?"
"Well, one minute he was making epic promises about protecting me from this predicament that scotch and a bad decision got me into and was all poetic about how we're family, then Klaus told me he bailed." She turned to face them. "Guess that's what I get for trusting a vampire."
"Than obviously you don't know Elijah at all." Anna Marie said defensively. Elijah wasn't perfect, but he's looked after her all the time. "He's not just some vampire, mutt. He doesn't make promises and just go back on them, not to those who mean something to him, but not even those who mean very little." She said coolly as she walked past her.
"That means that Niklaus had done something dastardly and Klaus like. Klaus!" Rebekah yelled as she entered the other room. "Get in here and tell me what you've done to our brother you narcissistic backstabbing wanker!"
Anna Marie hid a smile as Klaus entered the room. "Enough! With all the shouting. Little sister, I should've known. Annie, sweetheart, I didn't know you'd be around." He grinned at the younger vampire.
She rolled her eyes "I've just come for answers and to stop anyone from being daggered." She gave him a pointed look that he ignored as he turned back to his sister.
"I assume the 6 dead vampires are your doing."
She didn't look apologetic. "They were very rude. Trying to victimize a poor innocent girl just trying to find her way to the quarter. So sorry, were they friends of yours? Oh, that's right you don't have any friends."
"I do have friends. I have Marcel. You remember him, don't you?" He asked. Everyone knew about his protege and how protective he was of him. "He fancies himself the king of the quarter now and he has these rules about killing vampires, it'll be fun to see what punishment he comes up for you."
Anna Marie rolled her eyes. In some ways they were just like any other siblings, taunting each other, knowing which buttons to push to get what they wanted. "We're getting off topic. That's not why we're here." Anna Marie interrupted Klaus and Rebekah's stare down.
"Annie is right. I don't care about Marcel or his rules. Elijah doesn't welsh on deals. What did you do to him?" The blonde demanded.
Klaus smirked as he leaned back with a shrug. "Perhaps, he's on holiday? Or taking a long autumn nap upstairs." Rebekah rolled her eyes. "Well, go on, take a look around. You remember this house as well as I."
She shared a look with Anna Marie. "I remember everything. Especially when the governor's son who I had found a moment affection was killed by you when you wouldn't let me turn him." She said coldly.
"Well, he wasn't good enough for you." Klaus sat in his seat.
"Yes, no one was ever good enough for your baby sister, but that wasn't your choice, Niklaus." Anna Marie reminded him. He looked over at her. "Where is Elijah?"
He looked her up and down. "I have no idea. You were very close to him once, but perhaps he's decided you weren't worth telling his whereabouts to." Anna Marie looked away hurt at that. Klaus avoided her eyes as Rebekah shot him a look. She had just gotten her friend back and she wasn't going to let her brother ruin it, like he ruined everything else.
"Fine, I'll find him myself." She snapped at the hybrid before walking out the door. Klaus sighed deeply as Rebekah went after her.
"Annie, wait. He's being vile. You know that it isn't true. He's done something to Elijah. Nik is just trying to get under your skin. Don't let him." She told her. She looked at her friend pleadingly. "Come on, I need your help to find my brother."
She sighed. "You can take a look in the house, but I guarantee you, Bekah, he's not in here. Klaus is smarter than that to keep on a location here. I have an idea of someone who may be able to help, but I'm not sure. I'll text you tomorrow."
Rebekah nodded, still unsure. She knew how Klaus could be and lately, Annie hadn't stayed in one place for too long. "Don't worry, sister. Just be careful." She assured Rebekah with a small smile and she nodded.
"I'll see you later, then."
"Try to resist the urge to kill your brother." She called out as Rebekah went inside the house, laughing.
xxxxx
It was already the middle of the afternoon when Anna Marie went out again. She smiled as she saw Marcel and Klaus walking together out of a parking garage. She saw Klaus get in the car and Marcel on the phone. She really did hope that this feud between them had mellowed out. If it didn't, she didn't want to think about how the blood was spill through the quarter. Klaus and Marcel were very close once, like father and son.
Rebekah stood besides her, weeping silently as they followed the group, also mourning the governor son's death. He was in a black carriage as they followed them to the cemetery. She did not care for the family, but she was only here for Rebekah's sake. She stood between her and Elijah. She held her hand as Klaus stayed behind them. She was too upset with him to even look him in the face.
Anna Marie looked up as she heard the cry of a young boy. She turned seeing a young boy being whipped by a man on a horse. Just the sight of that made her sick to her stomach. How could someone hurt an innocent boy like that? She started to walk towards the two men when she felt a hand on her arm. Klaus had his eyes to the two as well. It was clear in his eyes. She could see the familiarity in his eyes as well as the rage. He remembered how his own father beat him.
He pulled her back slightly before she could argue and walked up with a rock, launching it into the forehead of the man on the horse, as he fell over dead. The young boy looked up at Niklaus, unsure and nervous. "What is your name?" He said to him calmly.
"Don't got one. Mama wouldn't name me until I turned ten, in case the fever took me, then it took her." He replied.
Klaus kneeled in front of the boy. "You're a survivor and survivors need names." He told him thoughtfully. "How about Marcellus?"
He looked at him curiously. "Marcellus?"
"It comes from Mars, the God of war and it means 'Little Warrior." He stood up holding his hand out for the young boy with clear intentions. He hesitated for a minute before taking it and smiling up at the man. Klaus, for the first time, gave him an honest smile back.
Elijah looked at his younger brother with a sense of pride. "Perhaps, there is hope for Niklaus after all." He mused as he watched Niklaus bring him back over to them. Rebekah, though still angry at the boy became fond of him immediately and walked with him back home.
Anna Marie walked besides Niklaus. "Thank you, Niklaus. I realize you did not do it for me, but still."
He turned placing a gentle kiss to her hand. She tried not to get lost in his gaze. "He'll stay with us. He shouldn't be alone." He told her seriously as he continued to walk. She smiled. Even now, she still saw small glimpses of her Nik buried underneath Klaus.
xxxxx
Klaus leaned against the pillar as he watched Marcel and Anna Marie duel. She was an expert swordswoman and was perfect to help teach him combat. She only agreed since she knew that if anyone should learn, it would be Marcel. She had grown fond of the boy as well as the others. He called out commands smiling watching them. "Palpable hit." He said as Anna Marie got the upperhand.
Marcel smiled in admiration as they both lifted off their masks. "I'm going to marry you some day."
She laughed. "I'd never marry a man who couldn't best me in a duel. Come on, again." She nodded with a smile.
Years had past since Niklaus had taken in Marcel and he'd grown into a man. Anna Marie and Marcel dueled expertly, years of fighting having paid off. She turned blocking one of his thrusts of his sword. Her blade hit his and he grabbed both of her hands pressing her into a wall. He won.
Breathing heavily, they both took the masks off of their faces. She smiled going to praise his improvement but she felt something in the way that he stared at her. Marcel glanced down at her lips leaning in slightly but they both stopped seeing Klaus. He looked between them and they kept their distance.
Anna Marie was pulled out of her thoughts by feeling the presence of another vampire zip up next to her on the balcony. She smiled turning to Marcel. "You realize that you could just say hi like anyone else." She reminded him as he smiled back at her moving closer to her.
"That's the opposite of embracing being a vampire." He kissed her pressing her into the building. She sighed under the pressure of his lips, kissing him back. His hands wrapped around her waist. He kissed her jaw taking in her scent. "I missed you today."
She smiled kissing him pulling him closer. "The feeling was definitely mutual." He chuckled as his fingers skimmed the edge of her shirt.
He felt her stiffen and sighed as he pulled away. "Rebekah Mikaelson. Last time I saw you Main Street was burning and you all were fleeing the city from your daddy."
"And I don't remember seeing you snog Annie before either." She said as he turned to face her. Anna Marie sighed as Rebekah looked at her. "We're having a little chat later. We thought you dead, Marcel."
"No one looked back to find out." He reminded her. "Why are you here?"
"Elijah...I think Klaus had done something to him."
"Stop, stop right there. If there's one thing that I've learned about you Mikaelson's it's don't get in the middle of family feuding. It doesn't end well." He said. They all knew the consequences of upsetting Niklaus. He didn't tolerate disloyalty.
Rebekah looked at him. "Even after all you've achieved, you're still scared of him."
"I'm not scared of anyone."
Anna Marie stepped between them. "Rebekah, let's go. Come on. This has to do with Klaus and we will deal with him." She told him.
"Yes, but Marcel is his best mate. He'd know." She looked up at him. "And if I do find out you know where Elijah is, you needn't fear Klaus. I'll kill you myself." She threatened him seriously. He stared at her before turning away.
"Nostalgia's a blast and all but I can't help you. It was nice seeing you. I hope you find what you're looking for." His fingers brushed against Anna Marie's shoulder, catching her attention. "Later, when they're are a little less Mikaelson's around." He hoped over the balcony, down to the streets.
He left Rebekah and Anna Marie alone. She smiled weakly at her blonde friend. "Hello?"
"Right, let's go. We need to have a long chat about your indiscretions with the so-called King of the Quarter." She sighed following Rebekah off the balcony.
