Always and Forever, The Original Family
Chapter 8: Family Above All
SONIA TYRA PETROVA MIKEALSON
Dining Room
Mikealson Castle
Mikealson Island
South Pacific
United States
June 24, 2055
Aunt Delphine was integrating into the family quite nicely. But Sonia could sense the girl's thoughts, she would never truly feel safe as a Mikealson until she was able to control her powers and protect her children, and until she settled up with Marcel for the murder of her biological grandmother.
And honestly, Marcellus had yet to be punished for his treatment of Emma. Ingrid had been thinking about it but she was to afraid of harming her brother. But Marcellus had to learn that the golden rule of being a Mikealson.
No one harms a Mikealson but a Mikealson and lives; and Mikealsons only quarrel with family members that can defend themselves. Family above all, always and forever; there is no bond greater than that of family.
Ever since they rescued their parents, she had gotten a little more comfortable with using her magic. Had even discovered the useful abilities to crate portals to travel through. Papa was right, she needn't worry about using her powers irresponsibly, using them only helped her feel more in control of them.
As the meal was winding down, Sonia saw what she needed to do; something that would solve the problem of Delphine not feeling like a Mikealson, and of Marcellus' punishment.
Sonia looked to Papa, still needing some guidance of right and wrong. 'Wonderful idea Sonia.' He responded in her mind.
Sonia took a knife and sped over to Delphine, cutting her newest aunt's palm and her own, before most noticed what she was doing. She untied their palms in an old spell that would occur when a new coven member came to the family through marriage. Most witch covens have a similar spell but the Traveler version needed fresh blood of the line of the patriarch or matriarch. Since they all were of Grandmmama's line it didn't matter who did the spell.
"You are now a Petrova." She said in Bulgarian, English, and in the language of the ancients. She put all the feelings of family and unity into the spell. Her desire for Delphine to feel the bond as well. The need for Delphine to have access to the Petrov line, ancestors and magic so she could anchor her own abilities and unlock her full potential.
The dining hall was silent as the spell finished. Delphine looked at her palm as it healed and grinned, jumping into Sonia's arms for an embrace. "Thank you Sonia." She said.
"Yes, thank you Sonny." Elya said, breaking the embrace "But next time a bit of warning is required before you accost my wife."
Sonia rolled her eyes, still looking at Delphine. "You can do what you were thinking about now. And more."
Marcel ran from the room, and a rush of air took a laughing Delphine after him.
"It seems like she can control the element of air as well now." Grandpapa said with a grin.
"And you can bet she can control fire as well. We Petrova love our fire." Grandmama said with her eyes dancing in glee.
Marcellus' sisters and parents had followed after he and Delphine, Sonia and the rest of the Petrova followed.
They came upon the Marshall-Mikealsons trying to uncover a large mound of dirt, but the dirt would not move for them. Delphine was standing over them laughing.
Uncle Nik was glaring at Delphine like if she weren't pregnant he would very much like her to feel his wrath.
"Delphine, perhaps a minute buried alive is enough of a scare?" Mama suggested.
"He killed my Grandmother. But he is family now so I left the spell to expire after two minutes." Delphine said, "one minute for my Grandmother, thirty seconds for his betrayal of my aunt, thirty seconds for his betrayal of this family."
The Marshal-Mikalsons stopped digging at that news and they all waited, soon joined by the remainder of the family.
Marcellus rose from the dirt after the two minutes expired weeping. "I'm so sorry. To all of you. I'll never betray or hurt any of you again." He said throwing himself into his father's arms.
Delphine nodded. "Forgiven. Never forgotten." She said.
"Forgiven my son." Uncle Nik said.
"Forgiven." Uncle Henrik and Aunt Nat said, holding their daughter.
"Can I play in the dirt too?" Declan asked
All the Mikealson's laughed.
FREYA MIKEALSON
Fifth Floor
West Wing of Mikealson Castle
Mikealson Island
South Pacific
United States
June 25, 2055
She and her siblings were put in charge of the remodel of the home, their first task was making the fifth floor larger and attach it by staircase to the rest of the West Wing.
She and Aaron were doing most of the work laughing as Niklaus and Finn used wooden planks as swords in a duel against Henrik and Finn. Rebekah and Kol had been helping Freya and Aaron but they quickly devolved into a fistfight over the floor plan.
"Are siblings are utterly ridiculous." She huffed to her older brother.
"They always have been sister dear." He replied.
"Freya, Aaron, have some fun with us!" Rebekah said in glee after she pinned Kol.
"Sister dear, our eldest siblings are the biggest sticks in the mud. Even Finn is more fun then they are." Kol growled, reversing the pin and putting Bekah in a headlock.
Freya and Aaron looked at each other and nodded before using magic to throw Kol out of the window.
"If we are going to horse around, we shall do so outdoors." Aaron explained to their shocked siblings.
Laughter filled the space as her siblings threw themselves out of the window to continue their fun outdoors.
Freya and Aaron were the last to leave, when they landed they joined the ongoing brawl in glee.
It was lovely to have some sibling bonding that didn't involve torture every once in awhile.
Freya glanced up to see Father in his rocker on the back porch with her son on his lap, looking up from his book and grinning at the sight of them.
This is what mattered. This bond was everything. These moments were important. This life they had built was amazing. They would do everything to protect it.
INARA MIKEALSON
Fourth Floor Study
West Wing of Mikealson Castle
Mikealson Island
South Pacific
United States
June 25, 2055
All of her sisters-in law looked up upon hearing the rukus upstairs. But none of them looked concerned when they heard the breaking window and saw a body fall. And none of them batted an eye when more bodies fell.
"At least they are taking it outside." Bonnie sighed looking up from her computer. "I knew we should have been the ones to oversee the addition."
"And let Niklaus have a hand in the supplies needed for the month?" Katerina huffed. "Do you remember March of 2035 at all Bon-Bon?"
There was a groan in the room. Inara didn't know what happened in March 2035, but she had a feeling it had to do with the large armory that they had in the basement. The Mikealsons had enough weapons to wage war for centuries and not have to be hands on.
Apparently the Mikealsons had supplies delivered to one of their residences each month and a plane would with a few Mikealsons would pick the items up from the residence and resupply the island. This month it was to all be delivered to the New Orleans compound so the rest of Delphine's belongings would be collected. Katerina was shopping for nursery supplies, and a few new outfits for her daughter in law, Inara was shopping for things for herself, Zachary and Declan and arranging transport of some of their things from New York, Natalia was purchasing new items for her daughter, Caroline was arranging for a supply of bagged blood, Hayley was in charge of groceries, Sage had a list of toiletries everyone needed, Nadia had a list of clothing each of the other family members wanted to replace after they had been ruined by the bloody tortures of the past few weeks, and Bonnie was arranging for some obscure ingredients needed for certain protection spells and for the upcoming battle.
It felt odd to feel so close with this family when she had only been apart of them for a few weeks. And it hurt so much to have to renounce her father and watch him die, but she had to hold onto her love for Freya and the memory of her own family.
Father had never been a great Father, and his love was always conditional. He would always insist that Tristan de Martel killed all of his previous children but her Father was a prolific journaler, she knew that he killed the ones that proved to be not useful and would just start over with another human child until that one was a disappointment.
Inara always had to be the best, always had to be smart and strong. She had to make the inventions she made so she could be useful; she had to be so good at making fake identifications for vampires because it made her father proud at how useful his child was. The more prestige she brought to her father, the more he cared about her, and the less likely he was to kill her.
Befriending Freya all those years ago was the first choice she made for herself. Father couldn't protest her life in New York City or her work at Haven because it brought more prestige onto him being Queen Freya's friend. Falling in love with Freya was the last thing she wanted to do, because her Father would want to exploit it, so she kept those feelings buried for decades.
But loving Freya was as natural as breathing. She loved Freya for years, and always to afraid to tell her, but after Freya had mourned Soren and Ansel, she confessed her feelings for Inara, and they had been unable to be apart for long since. There wasn't really a choice to make when it came to choosing a family that would love you unconditionally, and a man who loved you but would kill you or your son if you were found lacking. It hurt to see Father die, but it was necessary now.
"Inara?" Natalia said, breaking her thoughts. "Are you alright dear?"
Inara shook her head. "So much has changed…"
They all nodded. "Being a Mikealson does take some adjusting." Bonnie said.
"But we are here for you if wish to talk." Sage added.
"We're sisters now." Hayley said, "And we tend to have our little 'I married a Mikealson' support group here every few days. We will never judge you, we will always listen and give advice."
Nadia stood up, holding little Emma and handing her to Inara. "Here hold my cousin. She's a happy little girl, she will halp you feel better."
Inara took the giggling girl and smiled at her. It was hard to feel upset with a child smiling up at you with such joy. "Aut Rah!" The girl cried.
"That's right. I'm Aunt Inara." Inara said to the girl holding her close.
This is why the Mikealson fought to keep what was theirs; their family was the most important thing to them. It was not a family where you had to be the best or die; it was a family of unconditional love and loyalty.
ASTRID JOY MIKEALSON
Playroom
West Wing of Mikealson Castle
Mikealson Island
South Pacific
United States
June 24, 2055
Astrid was curled up on a sofa with Lynnie and Grace listening to the ruckus that was the playroom.
Elya, Leif, Alec and Hope were playing some racing video game and loudly insulting one another; Erik and Faith were getting to know Delphine while sitting at the old study table and occasionally stopping for Erik or Delphine to help Sonia with a tracking spell for Esther and her mother, and Zachary and Marcellus were playing chess at the coffee table.
"Would you like to play a game as well?" Lynnie asked them.
"So you can cheat again?" Astrid huffed. "Lynnie, my dear best friend, I was not born yesterday."
Lynnea giggled. "Sore loser. Just like your elder sister. Sigrid, don't follow in their footsteps."
Faith and Hope stopped their activites to flip Lynnea off, before returning to their activities.
Astrid growled and rolled her eyes. "Perhaps a film? You haven't been able to ruin the cinema yet with your abilities…"
Lynnea nodded.
No sooner had they agreed then Hope unpugged the game because Leif had taken the lead, and Marcellus tipped over the board because Zachary was about to checkmate.
"Perhaps you all should join us in watching a film?" Grace asked the room, already sensing a brawl brewing.
"Excellent idea!" Erik said, "First one to the theater gets to pick." He finished before speeding out of the room.
At that, they all used their abilities to rush to the room only to find Delphine scrolling through their digital library. Elya was laughing and congratulating his wife on her win while heckling his cousins.
They all settled themselves in on the various sofas Astrid took the large one and cuddled up with Hope, Grace and Marcie; Faith was cuddled up with Erik and they shared their sofa with Delphine and Elya; Leif, Alecand Sonia were behind them and sounded like they were fighting for space but all were to stubborn to move and Lynnie and Zach were cuddled up on their own sofa.
As the film started Astrid heard Mikeal and Declan join and settle in, followed closely by Dad and his siblings, Mom, her aunts and Emma joined moments later with popcorn and beverages for everyone. The entire Mikealson family settled in for the night to enjoy a film.