Elena sat down by Freya's side, studying the grimore while she waited. From the courtyard came the sounds of Bonnie and Abbie chanting over Esther's coffin. Finn stood by the window and Sage had her arms around his waist, her cheek resting against is shoulder, watching the witches below them.
"How much longer?" Finn asked.
"It's a binding spell using Bennett blood, so it could take a while," Elena replied.
"And with Kol hunting down the other ingredients, we'll have everything in place to take Dahlia down."
Someone knocked on the door and they looked up to find Ryan in the doorway.
"What's wrong?" Elena asked.
"I've had an idea." He shifted on his feet. "If we find Dahlia before she wakes up, we could set Freya free and kill Dahlia before she becomes a problem."
"She'll have shielding spells around her."
"I know. But we have Freya, and she's bound to Freya. I could use that to find Dahlia. It might take a while, but I know I can do it."
"When were you planning on doing this?" Elena stood up and walked slowly over to her son.
"After the twins are born, so we can deal with the Harvest and Reaping before focusing on Dahlia."
"If this is what you want to do, I'll support you all the way."
"Someone needs to find her so we can deal with this. And I'm the best option since I can't exactly die."
"She can hurt you if she wakes up before you get back here though."
Ryan kissed Elena's forehead. "I'll be okay, Mama. You and Elijah will find me if you suspect I'm in trouble."
"Yeah." Elena nodded.
Her boy was finally coming into his own, and embracing his life. He no longer felt it necessary to exist in the protection of Elena's shadow and even though it scared her, this was the best thing that could happen to him.
"I'll still be around for a few more months, so we're not saying goodbye just yet."
"I know. I just need to wrap my head around you going away."
"Which is why I'm telling you now, because I know you love me and you worry about the people you love, especially when you're not in a position to protect us."
"Thank you, Ryan," Finn murmured fervently.
"You're family. Family is always and forever."
Finn swallowed thickly and hugged Ryan.
"You, Elena, and Caroline, you made that statement a reality for me. You gave me my family and made me feel like I was one of them." Finn stepped back and wiped the tears his eyes. "Thank you, so much."
A flash of guilt knifed through Elena, but she refused to let it take root. Finn's death belonged to her other life, not this one. He stood in front of her now, alive and well, wanted and accepted by his family. She would never allow Finn or anyone she cared about die in front of her without exhausting every avenue first.
A clang and a rush of power from the courtyard broke the moment and they hurried to the window just in time to see Abbie fill a vial with Esther's blood.
"Now, we're going to have to destroy her body so no one tries to consecrate her," Sage remarked. "I think I can handle that."
"Burn her and scatter her ashes at sea," Elena suggested.
"She made mistakes, but she did love us, doing everything in her power to protect us from Dahlia," Finn said.
"And she deserves to be honored for that, even if I disagree with her methods."
"Thank you." Finn wiped a stray tear from his face and walked over to the bed where Freya lay. Pressing a kiss to her hair, he whispered, "Soon, sister, you'll be with us, as you should have been all along."
"Let's get this done before some witch gets an idea for stealing her power for themselves," Sage murmured.
She brushed her fingers through Finn's hair and kissed his cheek.
"Yes. Just give me a few moments."
Elena grabbed Ryan's arm and pulled on him lightly, encouraging him towards the door. Finn needed this moment with his sister. After a thousand years apart, even if the sleeping spell still separated them, she was there, with him and they just made another step to set her free.
"Hey," Bonnie greeted them with a wide smile whens she saw them.
"You did it." Elena wrapped her arms around her friend in a tight hug. "Thank you, so much."
"You and Caroline are my friends and this will protect your children. Of course I'd help."
"Still, thank you."
"Hey, Ryan. How are you doing?" Bonnie reached over and patted his arm
"I'm good." Ryan smiled.
"I hear you're going to be hunting for Dahlia's body soon."
"I am, after the twins are born." His lips curled into a teasing grin. "I don't think Mama could tolerate it if I left before then."
"Damn right." Elena wrapped one arm around his shoulders and rested her head against his shoulder.
"If you need any help, Enzo and I could do with a road trip," Bonnie offered.
"I might take you up on it. Everyone here will be busy with the children, so I couldn't ask them to come along."
Ryan's stomach growled and Elena laughed as she tugged him towards the kitchen.
"Come on. Let's get you something to eat."
When they got to the kitchen, Ryan started mixing batter.
"What are you making?" Elena asked.
"Waffles sound good, don't you think?" He glanced at her and smiled.
"Yes, they do," Elijah agreed, wrapping his arms around Elena's waist.
Elena lifted her hand to Elijah's cheek and he kissed her palm.
"How's Finn?" he murmured against her temple.
"He and Sage are planning to burn Esther's body and scatter her ashes to keep her out of the hands of the local witches."
"Smart plan. And he'd be the best one to do it since he knew about everything she did to try to protect us from Dahlia all along."
"That was crazy to watch," Davina was saying to Kol as they walked into the kitchen. "I've never seen a bloodline spell of that power undone before."
"You'll see a lot more of that if you spend time around us, Miss Claire." Kol winked at her. "Especially since Elijah and Elena have become a thing and she comes with an equally powerful son."
Elena fought back a grin a the sight of Davina's blush. It seemed as though they were a couple that would be together this time around too. Though she hoped Kol would wait a little while before pursuing her. Even though they were in love in her other life, she didn't want Davina falling in love with him before she was ready for a mature relationship.
"We need to borrow a vehicle," Sage said from the doorway. "One we can transport a coffin in."
"You're going to take care of it now?" Elijah asked.
"The sooner the better. I don't trust these witches. If they can sacrifice children every three hundred years for power, they are capable of anything, including stealing the body of a witch who may very well be at peace to steal her power for themselves."
"You might have to rent a truck, because I think everyone here has cars," Ryan said over his shoulder.
"Okay. I was afraid of that." Sage kissed Finn lightly on the lips. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
Finn nodded and Sage vanished.
Once she was gone, Finn went to the fridge and pulled out a bag of blood. Pouring it into a cup, he put the cup into a microwave and started it. The microwave beeped and he pulled out the mug, then just set it on the counter, staring at it for a long moment.
Ryan placed his hand on Finn's shoulder and Finn lowered his head. Neither spoke, but a moment of silent understanding passed between them. Finally, Finn lifted his head and drew a deep breath.
Elena found herself thankful all over again that Ryan and Finn had each other. No one else in their circle understood what it was like to be trapped, helpless, in total darkness, except each other. Brothers in arms, fighting to regain control of their lives.
One of the three waffle irons he'd set up beeped and Ryan pulled the waffle out. After buttering the iron again, he poured some more batter in.
Elena pulled out a stack of plates for her son and he smiled at her as he pulled the other two waffles out.
"I swear you eat more waffles in a week than I have ever seen," Klaus commented as he walked into the room, followed by Caroline.
"Waffles are my favorite breakfast food and I like breakfast for dinner, especially after a stressful day." Ryan shrugged.
Bonnie ducked around them, followed by her mother.
"I'll make enough for everyone. Just let me know how many."
Elena handed a plate to Bonnie and another to Sheila.
"Davina, you can have the third one if you want it."
"Oh, thanks." Davina smiled. "You're so sweet. Why don't you have a girlfriend? Or boyfriend?"
Ryan chuckled at how flustered she was and said, "I'm straight, but I have some issues I need to work through before I'm ready for a relationship."
"That's smart." Davina nodded. "Whoever you fall in love with, she'll be very lucky though. Sweet guys who can cook aren't exactly easy to find."
"Is that all it takes to win your heart, Davina?" Kol raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing around his lips.
"I said, 'a sweet guy,' Kol."
"Ouch!" He held his hand over his heart.
"I suppose you have your moments, but you've got nothing on Ryan."
Davina poured some syrup on her waffle and sat down at the table.
The tips of Ryan's ears turned red and he ducked his head.
"Where's Hayley?" Elena asked, in an effort to distract people from talking about Ryan.
"She's in the bayou for the week." Klaus frowned.
"She'll want to remain in the city once she gets closer to her due date, so it's probably a good idea for her to get to know her family now, since she won't be able to much in a few months until after Hope is born." Elena opened one of the beeping waffle irons and pulled the waffle out as she spoke.
"I suppose. I just don't like the mother of my child out who knows where doing who knows what."
"She'll be fine. I don't think Jack will let anything bad happen to her." Caroline patted Klaus's back and he smiled at her, some of the tension fading from his shoulders.
"Here you all are." Marcel walked into the room. "So, I'm hosting a charity ball here in a few days. It was planned before any of you showed up. I'd like for all of you to be in attendance. Including Hayley, her betrothed, and a few members of the pack."
"I'll speak to her," Klaus offered.
"Ask, Niklaus, not demand," Elijah cautioned.
Klaus rolled his eyes and poured himself a tumbler of bourbon.
"It's time New Orleans accepts that we are in alliance and that we will protect Davina as best we can. And not for the power she currently wields, but because she's a kid and I love her like a daughter." Marcel's dark eyes blazed with determination.
Marcel placed his hands on Davina's shoulders and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Davina patted one of his hands and smiled up at him.
Elena found herself wondering how this poor kid had survived last time, surrounded by the Mikaelsons and Marcel, each pulling her in a different direction, because none of them had the same goal in mind. Or at least the same path to achieve a goal. Small wonder she lashed out so much.
But she wasn't alone now. She had friends, even among the very same people who had been those who'd sought to use her. Because Klaus knew he was loved and Marcel had his place within the Mikaelson family back and no one was trying to steal his kingdom.
Klaus pulled out his phone and typed out a message. He showed it to Caroline and she nodded. Then Klaus sent it and put his phone away.
"Alright, I asked Hayley if she and members of her pack would attend the ball."
"This'll be fun." Marcel grinned. "Just so long as no one gets daggered. We need this night to go off without a hitch."
"I'll be on my best behavior," Klaus promised, but the devilish gleam in his eyes promised mischief of some sort.