James was home alone when he heard the frantic knocking on the door. He opened it and found himself face to face with Jonathan Putnam. "What do you want?" He asked. "Whatever it is, I'm the only one home, so you'll most likely have to wait."

"Actually," Jonathan told him, "you're the person I wanted to see. May I come in?"

"All right," James replied hesitantly. "What do you want?"

"I just wondered if you've met the new head of the Council," Jonathan told him. "Or if you've at least heard that Astrid has been replaced?"

"Yes, I've heard," James nodded. "I've wondered if this change is gonna mean anything for me. Are you worrying the same?"

"I did at first," Jonathan nodded. "But I met the young lady who has replaced Astrid and apparently, I have nothing to worry about. See?" He pulled Cordelia's number out of his pocket and showed it to James. "I don't know whether to be thrilled or worried. She may have been flirting with me, but I'm not sure. When I was last aware of what flirting looked like, the times were different."

He paused. "Her name is Cordelia, as you can see, and when she saw me, she said she was coming around to every important criminal and telling them that none of Astrid's decisions would be reversed. "I wonder if that also applies to hirings and firings, or if you'll get a visit from her, also?"

"Who knows?" James shrugged. "I guess we'll see, won't we?"

And it didn't take long for Cordelia to find James.

"You know, you're very well-hidden," she said as she came into the house. "I looked for ages."

"Really?" James asked. "It didn't seem like it took you very long, if you consider that Jonathan told me about you only a few days ago."

"So why is it that you choose to live in a completely different dimension and not on earth?" Cordelia asked, making herself comfortable on the living room sofa.

"Well, I assume you know of my previous job before I went into the more positive side of law enforcement," James said.

"Of course I know," Cordelia replied. "Everyone does!"

"Well, even though I've changed jobs, I still choose to live here because I value my privacy, and I'm sure not many people would want to visit me in the normal world anyway. My wife and I tried that once, and it didn't last very long."

Cordelia turned and gazed at the ship in the yard. "What's that?" She asked.

"It's a ship," James replied.

"I know that," Cordelia replied. "But why is it there?"

"It's sort of a place where the family goes for peace and quiet," James told her. "The kids can play there, and it has living quarters if we want a change of scenery."

"How delightful!" Cordelia exclaimed.

"Now back to brass tacks," James said firmly. "What did you come here to tell me? Are you going to place me back in my old job as a punisher, or do I get to stay in law enforcement, on the less hurty end of things? Or am I fired?"

"Why would I fire you?" Cordelia asked him. "You seem to be very good at your job."

"Well, I think that too," James replied. "But with you being new management and all, I figured it probably wouldn't hurt to ask anyway."

"So I can expect to see you at work tomorrow?" Cordelia asked him.

"Of course," James replied.

"Good," Cordelia replied. "See you then, Mr. O'Connell." Just as she was getting up to leave, Susanna came in with Rusty at her heels. "Hi, Lady," she said to Cordelia. "Who are you?"

"Well, hello, sweetie!" Cordelia replied. "I'm Cordelia."

"She's my new boss, Monster," James added to his daughter.

"'Monster'?" Cordelia repeated in surprise. "Why do you call this sweet little girl that?"

"It's meant affectionately," James told her. "But as you've only known her for a few minutes, it wouldn't make sense to you."

"And this is Rusty," Susanna said, presenting the dog to Cordelia. "He's my bestest friend."

"You know, I had a cat like that," Cordelia told her. "I told him everything."

"Did he die?" Susanna asked.

"Well, yes, he did." Cordelia nodded. "He got old and that happens when animals get old."

"But Rusty is really old," Susanna said. "He was Grandma's dog first."

"He has a spell on him," James told Cordelia. "He's got eternal life. It's a long story."

"It sounds like it," Cordelia said, and then got up. "Anyway, I need to get back to the office now so I can continue to move in."

"All right," James replied. "I look forward to working with you."

She left and Lenora came, a bathrobe on, her hair wet from her shower. "Who was that?"

"Daddy's boss," Susanna told her. "She likes Rusty."

"Well, who wouldn't?" Lenora asked, leaning down to pet the dog, who then rolled over so she could rub his tummy. She did that and then went off to try her hair. Then the phone rang.

"I get it! I get it!" Susanna cried. She went and picked up the phone before Jonathan could stop her. "Hi person!" She greeted cheerfully.

"Well, hello!" Jonathan said. "Susanna, is that you? It's Jonathan."

"Yes," Susanna replied. "Wanna talk to Daddy, Jonathan?"

"Yes, I would, dear," Jonathan replied. "Thank you." She then handed James the phone and said unnecessarily, "It's Jonathan," before she and Rusty ran off to play.

"Sorry about that," James apologized when he had the phone up to his ear. "Susanna likes to answer the phone."

"Oh, I don't mind," Jonathan replied. "For a girl her age, she really has lovely phone manners."

"Well, good," James replied. "What can I do for you?"

"Nothing," Jonathan replied. "I just wondered if you met Miss Payne yet."

"Miss Payne?" Jonathan asked. "Do you mean Cordelia? Cause she was just here, and apparently, I'm not gonna be fired, or demoted, or anything like that."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it," Jonathan replied.

"Why?" James asked.

Jonathan shrugged. "I just am."

"All right," James replied. "Thank you." He hung up after that and Susanna came back to him, her head hanging. "Am I in trouble for answering the phone?" She asked.

"No, sweetheart," James told her. "In fact, Jonathan seemed to enjoy it very much."

"Good," Susanna said. "Will you take me out to the boat now, Daddy?"

"Sure," James replied. "Why not?"

But things weren't so idyllic for everyone. Adrian, for instance, was having a problem. "Get dressed," Helene was presently urging him. "You have to come baby clothes shopping with me."

"I don't want to," Adrian replied. "I've gotten you food, I've rubbed your back, I've rubbed your feet, I held your hair when you got sick, now I just...can I have some quiet time to myself? Please? Besides, the last time I went with you to buy baby things, all the women in the store gave me dirty looks like they knew what I did."

"I want you to come anyway," Helene replied. "How do I know you won't head for the hills if I leave you alone?"

"Cause I won't!" Adrian replied. "I know I don't deserve to say this at all, but can you please just trust me?"

"Fine," Helene said shortly. "I'll go myself."

"Good luck," Adrian replied cheerfully. "I'll probably go visit my dad. If you want, you can call there to check on me when you get back."

"Don't think I won't," Helene replied, narrowing her eyes at him. She left and then after he was sure she was gone, Adrian grabbed his keys and headed over to Klaus and Amy's.

He started a little when Amy answered the door and he found Savannah staring back at him. "Are you all right?" Amy asked.

"Can I come in?" Adrian replied.

"Of course," Amy nodded and gestured him inside. "How have you been?"

"Busy," Adrian replied. "It seems like every time I turn around, Helene needs me to do something for her. Not that I'm not happy to, but I'm at the point where I need a break for a little bit."

"That's understandable," Amy said. "Has she been paying attention to the witch news lately? She probably knows they replaced Astrid at the council."

"Of course she knows," Adrian replied. "Astrid's a wreck about it. Apparently, being the mistress of the most powerful guy in the world isn't the boon everyone thinks it is."

"Of course it's not," Klaus replied. "Cause she loves Alistair for god's sake and Conal's completely deprived her of him. How could you think Astrid would be at all happy about this?"

"I never said she'd be happy," Adrian replied. "I just thought it wouldn't be so bad to put up with until Conal decides to give her Alistair back, but I guess not."

"Well, were you happy when you and Helene were separated and you were trying to have a good time with all those flimsily dressed girls in their bathing suits?" Klaus asked him. "Were you?"

"No," Adrian replied. "Not really."

"There you go," Klaus nodded. "I rest my case."

"On another subject," Adrian said, "isn't it Savannah's birthday next month?"

"Yeah, it is," Amy nodded as Savannah reached for her brother and Adrian took her in his lap.

"Great," Klaus scoffed. "Someone else for her to replace me with."

"Don't blame me for the fact that she probably thinks I'm you," Adrian told him. "That's all genetics' fault."

"Anyway," Amy said, "we probably won't do anything too big. Just cake, ice cream and presents. You and Helene are invited, of course. If she feels up to it, that is. And my sister and your uncle Kol are gonna be there too."

"How wonderful," Adrian replied dryly. "I still haven't thanked him for that while oak-covered sword he stuck in my gut."

"He's actually really improved since that happened," Amy said. "Margot's had a good influence on him, which is something I hoped for, but didn't think would actually happen."

"If there was a chance that they would both still be bad influences on each other, why did you insist on them meeting each other?" Klaus asked.

"Well, you never know with people," Amy said. "I mean, I think I've been good influence on you, Klaus."

"And I wish I could be a bad influence on you," Klaus replied. "But you're just too good to fall for it."

"Oh, I don't know," Amy replied. "It depends on what you do."

"All right, all right," Adrian said. "We're veering into territory that is uncomfortable for me. It's one thing to take it from my parents, but Amy, I expect better from you."

"Sorry," Amy replied, then smirked at Klaus when Adrian wasn't looking. He got up to walk around with Savannah just as the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Adrian told Amy. "I'm the one who's up anyway."

He went to answer the door and found Kol and Margot on the other side. "Well, speak of the devil," Adrian said as he narrowed his eyes at his uncle. Kol and Margot came inside and Kol said, "Adrian! It's been ages since I've seen you."

"No kidding," Adrian replied as Savannah, whom Adrian had left on the living room floor, began crawling toward Kol, who picked her up. "The last time we met, you stuck a sword in my gut."

"But that did you nothing but good," Kol said. "I mean, you've reunited with your lady love, who'd hated you previously. That's a good thing, right?"

"Maybe," Adrian replied.

"So I guess I don't have to apologize for that," Kol continued.

"Fine, fine," Adrian said. "What about apologizing for kidnapping and trying to kill my daughters? Cause that didn't benefit me. And the only reason why you did it was so you could be in an unchallenged relationship with Helene."

"Seriously?" Margot asked. "Kol, who did you try and kill?"

Kol sighed. "He and his wife were separated and Helene and I were working to help the witches he was oppressing in New Orleans," he said. "Then we got into a relationship, but she was too hung up on her daughters to pay me the right amount of attention so I thought-"

"You thought you'd kill them?" Margot asked. "Kol, are you insane?"

"Maybe I was then," Kol replied. "But you know I've improved."

"If you were really improved, you would have told me about what happened between you and Helene before now," Margot said angrily. "Cause I don't think you did!" She made her way toward the door and Kol started to follow her. She turned around and said, "Don't you follow me."

"I thought we were going home, though," Kol said.

"No," Margot shook her head. "I am going home. You are staying somewhere else until I've decided you can come back. Are you gonna kill me for making that choice?"

"No," Kol sighed. "Just go."

Margot left, slamming the door behind her and Kol sat heavily on the sofa.

"Well, damn," Amy remarked to him after a little bit. "I thought a chat to clear the air between the two of you would make things better, not worse."

"Well," Klaus said, looking out the door from which Margot had exited, "you were wrong, weren't you?"

"You know," Conal said, rolling off Astrid after some lackluster lovemaking. "I don't think you put a lot of effort into what we just did."

"How can you tell?" Astrid asked dryly, covering herself with a sheet and sitting up.

"Well, you didn't move," Conal said. "You just sort of lie there and let me do all the work. Is there how you are with your husband, too?"

"No," Astrid replied. "Cause I love my husband. I'm only putting up with you."

"You know," Conal said, "this can be very easy, or very difficult. At present, you're making it difficult, and it's beginning to make me angry."

"Good," Astrid shot back. "It's about time someone actually told you how they felt about you after more than a thousand years."

"I don't want a woman to tell me what she thinks," Conal replied. "I want a woman who is obedient, who when I tell them to do something, actually does it."

"Well, if you want that from me, you aren't gonna get it," Astrid replied. "And you can offer me all the bribes you want, but none of them will work, cause all I want from you is my husband back."

With a grunt of anger, Conal gave her a hard slap in the face, so hard that she fell back against the headboard, unconscious. Then, he stroked her bare body, causing magic to rise up and illuminate it. "When you awaken, you'll obey me," he said. "You'll think of no one but me, and focus on nothing but my whims." Then, he awakened her and she looked at him with a smile. "So," she said. "Where were we?"

"I think it's time for another tumble," he said and took her in his arms.

"Oh, good!" Astrid said cheerfully. "I'm so lucky!"

"Think about all the other women who would love to be in your position," Conal whispered, and then a silver tiara materialized in the air.

"Is that for me?" Astrid asked, taking it out of the air and putting it on.

"Of course it's for you," Conal replied. Then, he did the test of the spell. "Did Alistair ever give you things like this?"

Astrid's face became blank at the question. "Who's Alistair?"

"No one," Conal said, chuckling to himself for a moment before he went in to kiss Astrid's neck. "No one at all, dear."