By your side

Over the next few days Elijah began to renovate the compound. Talia felt that he was micromanaging since the factions were beginning to coexist but let him have his way and give him an outlet. In the meantime she began scheduling her classes and applying for online courses at Loyola. She suspected Elijah might have pulled a few strings, particularly with the human factions, but she wasn't going to complain.

The two were downstairs overseeing the progress of the renovation when Klaus and Genevieve began to make their way downstairs in the late morning. "Enough with the racket!" Klaus yelled and the workers stopped jackhammering into the ground.

"Is there a problem, Klaus?" Talia requested innocently.

"Gentlemen, please," Elijah dismissed the workers.

Klaus made his way down the steps with Genevieve right on his heels, "I agreed to a general sprucing up, not a three-ring circus."

"Marcel and his minions abused our home for the better part of century," Elijah pointed out. "Now you might be content to live in squalor but I'm not and I will not force Talia to do so either."

"I agree with your brother," Genevieve announced, "It's the twenty-first century, this place could use a makeover."

Klaus wrapped his arm around Elijah's shoulder, "Well, when this one sides with you it's a sure sign she wants something." The hybrid walked off a bit to pour himself a drink as Genevieve turned to Elijah and Talia.

"Actually, I do have a request. I'm told our coven hasn't been allowed to celebrate Feast Days out in the open since Marcel's restriction on magic. Now with the new peace, I'd like that to change."

Elijah watched her calculatingly, "Am I to assume you have a certain Feast Day in mind?"

"The Fe de Benediction," the redhead replied causing the brothers to chuckle, much to Talia's confusion. "The Feast of the Blessings, in the past members of the community offered gifts in exchange for blessings. We'd like to use it as a form for introducing our young Harvest girls to society."

"So your coven attempts to destroy, you yourself held my siblings and my fiancée in unspeakable torment, and you'd like a party?" Elijah questioned sardonically. Talia grabbed his hand, hoping to convey that it was all in the past.

Genevieve looked over at Klaus, "I've made amends with your brother and Talia and I have reached an impasse. Why don't you think it over?" With that the witch sauntered out the door.

"Don't be such a stiff, Elijah," Klaus advised his brother. "The tourists love a good festival."

"Besides, it's not as if she's acting outside the realm of the treaty, and she did ask permission," Talia added.

"And what better way to show solidarity to a one time enemy," Klaus finished.

Elijah glanced at Klaus, "A one-time enemy you've grown nauseatingly attached to."

Talia giggled as the hybrid replied, "Who said maintaining alliances can't be fun."

"One would think you'd be a little more interested in attending to the needs of the mother of your child," the Original pointed out causing the tension to immediately thicken in the room.

Klaus recoiled ever so slightly, "Elijah the truth is the mother of my child is werewolf royalty. She is far safer in the bayou than she would ever be here with us. Don't worry, I'll bring her home before the birth." He clapped Elijah's shoulder before walking away. "No child of mine will be born in a swamp."

The Original sighed and turned around to find Talia's blue eyes fixed on him and her arms crossed, "Given your expression, I would assume you are upset about something."

"As a matter of fact I am. Look Haley is happy down in the bayou, I've reported as much to you every time I have returned from visiting her. She has finally found her biological family and as much as we miss her and fear for her safety we can't rip that away from her," Talia replied as Elijah stepped closer to her and gently caressed her cheek.

"You are correct but it will not sway my feelings on this matter," he told her. She nodded in understanding and pressed a kiss to his palm. "Now if you'll excuse me, I will go invite our resident head of the vampires and attempt to get them to come to the festivities peacefully."

He turned away but paused when Talia cleared her throat, "Aren't you forgetting something?" His lips quirked up into a smile before he swept her into a deep kiss. She sighed happily before releasing the Original and turning on her heel to return upstairs. Talia pulled out her cell phone, "Ms. Corerra, Talia, I'd like to meet with you for a drink."

"I'll see you in an hour," the woman replied.

"Elijah, prefers to see it as a demonstration of strength and trust to a lesser faction," Talia said as she finished telling Francesca about the festivities.

"But you and your fiancée aren't asking, are you?" Talia smirked a bit. "Well, they sure are right about your fiancée, Talia, and you aren't that much different. You even make strong-arming seem noble." The human took a sip of her drink. "Well, the tourists do eat this stuff up. Can you imagine what they'd think if they found out it was all real?"

"Pure pandemonium," Talia said before taking a sip of her gin 'n' tonic.

"I suppose you want me at the public event and the private party afterwards," Francesca assumed.

Talia nodded, "That is correct."

Francesca grinned, "I'd be happy to attend. And in return you two will owe the humans a favor."

"Well, I shall make your demand known to Elijah and we will expect you at the festival," Talia grabbed her purse and headed for the door.

"Oh, one more thing," Francesca turned around in her chair. "Have you and Elijah decided if you'll have an engagement party?"

"Hmm, no we haven't, I will have to run that by him. Goodbye Ms. Corerra." Out on the sidewalk, Talia was on her way back to the compound when her phone rang. "Hey, how did it go with Diego?"

"Surprisingly well," Elijah answered from the other end of the line.

"Well, while you were busy with the vampires, I took care of the humans," she admitted holding her breath for his reaction.

"Did you now?"

"Yes, I just left Francesca at the bar, she's agreed to attend the festival but she wants a favor in return."

"What sort of favor?"

"She didn't say, but I'm sure it will come up again in the future. She also asked whether we were going to have an engagement party?"

"An engagement party? Hmm, that sounds interesting and could be useful. Let's put a pin in that and worry about the present."

"Agreed."

"I'm on my way to the bayou to meet with the wolves, care to join me?"

"On my way."

A few minutes later Talia and Elijah knocked on Haley's door. She looked confused seeing them there. "We need to talk," Elijah told her before explaining the festival to her, Jackson, and Oliver. "Your people are uniquely positioned to be an example for the rest of the French Quarter for the wolves to attend."

"Thanks but no thanks," Haley replied stiffly.

"Let's hear him out," Oliver tried to reason.

Haley looked at Jackson and Oliver in disbelief, "The witches are the ones that cursed your pack and tried to kill me when I first came to town, no. We're not going."

"It's a new day in the Quarter, Haley," Jackson spoke up. "I agree with Oliver. If we're gonna coexist we're gonna have to play ball. We'll send a representative with a gift." Elijah and Talia nodded to Jackson as Haley turned and stormed off.

Elijah flashed over to Haley and Talia turned to the two wolves, "So, how have things been?"

Jackson offered her a small smile, "Good, surprisingly."

"Look, I know it's not really any of my business but if you guys ever need anything down here-"

Oliver suddenly cut Talia off, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, we've got it all under control." Talia eyed him warily for a moment before shrugging and zipping off after Elijah.

"So, it would seem we've got a party to attend," Talia said taking Elijah's hand in hers. The Original smiled slightly and brought her hand up to his lips.

"Shall we?"

A few hours later Davina called Talia to ask for her help to get ready for the festival, which the vampire happily obliged. Monique, the twisted little evil Harvest girl, who hated Talia no matter how much Talia helped and how much the other witches liked her, glared at the vampire the entire time she styled Davina's hair, with some direction from Genevieve.

"You okay, Di?" Talia asked noticing the anxious look on the young girl's face. Talia had taken up calling her Di over the last few weeks.

The young witch nodded, "Just a little nervous." Talia gave her a hug.

"I have to go, I'll see you at the party, okay?" Davina nodded and Talia zipped back to the compound to change.

Elijah walked in as Talia was brushing her hair, already dressed and ready to go. "How did it go?"

"Well enough," Talia replied catching his gaze in the mirror. "She seems all right, if not a little jittery about tonight but it feels like something is wrong. The witches seemed nice like normal, but it felt forced and Monique was even more scornful than usual. It may just be the festival but I can't help but feel there's something else going on that we don't know about."

The Original gently kissed her head, "Whatever it is or isn't, we shall find out and deal with it, don't worry." He offered her his hand and off they went.

Talia had to admit the festival was pretty amazing. All of the Harvest girls were carried on thrones as the parade of witches came to a platform and displayed their powers: air, earth, and fire. Davina looked absolutely beautiful and seemed confident when she used her fire power to light up a sign, followed by fireworks. Francesca was right, the tourists were eating it all up.

Elijah and Talia stood at the gate to welcome the guests at the location Francesca had picked out for the after party. The Harvest girls soon entered the gate and Elijah greeted Davina. "Davina."

"Elijah," she replied coldly. She then nodded to Talia, who returned the gesture in understanding. Despite Talia's recent friendship with the sixteen year old, she had not yet forgiven the Mikaelson brothers for everything they did.

"It is wonderful to see you, under better circumstances," Elijah continued ignoring her obvious disdain.

"Is it?" she questioned. "My friend Tim is still dead and your brother is still breathing."

"Davina, that's enough," Genevieve interrupted as she appeared. "Elijah and Talia have been a patron to us this evening, we will show them respect." Davina turned and flounced away. Talia shot Genevieve a look before following Davina.

"Di!" the young vampire called causing the young girl to stop in her tracks inside.

"How can you still be with him? After everything he's done to me, to everyone!" Davina demanded.

The dark haired vampire sighed, "The answer is simple but also very complicated. I love him. It sounds simple but it's not. Because I love him I stand by him even when he's wrong because someone has to pull him out and knock some sense into him. And because I love him I have to learn to forgive him and Klaus when they act out. Trust me it's not easy; but everyone makes mistakes, it's how they deal with them and how we treat them that makes the difference. I don't expect you to forgive Klaus, ever but I hope you'll see Elijah is trying to do the right thing. Look, Di, you are my friend and I care about you so please just think about it. And if you ever need to blow off some steam and you don't want to call me, just punch Monique in the face that should help." Davina laughed and hugged Talia.

"I'll see you later."

"Have some fun, Di. You've earned it." With that Davina walked away and disappeared into the crowd of people.

A few minutes later Genevieve tapped her glass calling everyone's attention to her and the three Harvest girls standing on a raised stage. "Welcome," the redhead greeted the guests. "As is our time honored tradition, you are all welcome to deliver your offerings. It is our custom that no one should be turned away, no blessing be denied."

The three girls sat down as they line of guests began to give their offerings to the Harvest girls. Talia noticed Haley step up to give Davina her gift but another witch directed her to Monique. The pregnant werewolf reluctantly presented her gift to Monique, who of course smirked.

Talia sighed and walked over to Haley, "Hey, glad you could make it, though I'm surprised Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum let you."

"Well, they didn't really have much of a choice considering," Haley replied crossing her arms.

The vampire's eyebrows furrowed in suspicion, "Considering what?"

"Can you keep a secret?"

"Haley, you know I can," Talia assured her.

Haley pulled her into the hallway and quickly checked to make sure there were so supernatural creatures in the vicinity, "Jackson and Oliver made a deal with Klaus."

Talia's blue eyes widened in shock, "What kind of deal."

"Klaus seems to think he can find a way to make moonlight rings to protect the werewolves from the curse and help them harness the strength, the speed, the senses…"

"I got it. How does he plan to do this?"

"With the right ingredients and the help of a witch."

"Genevieve."

Haley nodded, "Look, I don't know what to do about this, I only just found out this afternoon. So please just keep this quiet until you and I can figure something out."

Talia nodded, "Agreed, Elijah is still having trouble accepting the wolves as part of the treaty and this will only cause them to distrust them even more."

*15 years later*

"Woah, trouble in paradise. Should've none it would be Klaus," I said when Talia paused.

She nodded, "Yeah, should've have surprised me either especially with his whole attitude toward the treaty anyways."

"And Davina, you two grew close," I observed.

Talia nodded, "Well, once she came back and Marcel was exiled, she didn't really have anyone, other than Genevieve, Monique, and the other witches and honestly I didn't trust them. So, I wanted to be there for her, give her someone to turn to. She'd been through a lot at a young age and so had I so it gave us something to bond over and build off of."

"So did Elijah ever find out? Or did something happen with the wolves and Klaus?"

"Well..."