Hello loves!
I own nothing, A/N is at the end of the chapter.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Finn stared out of the window of the bell tower, contemplatively watching the bundles of humans passing below him on the streets; blissfully unaware of the horrors they'd exposed themselves to by chancing a visit to the city. He turned slightly when he heard a quiet murmur behind him.
"Don't worry. I've made sure no one can come in here."
Finn sighed, "I'm not worried. I'm just impatient for a reunion with my brother that no doubt wants me deader than dead." He turned back to face the witch, "Aria… now that I'm able to use my magic again, I need power. Now, Mikael's still in the tomb where I left him. I think it's time that I go back and I channel him."
Finn turned, as if to leave the bell tower, but the door in front of him flew shut with a loud bang, two of the windows behind him slamming shut mere seconds after. He closed his eyes and resisted pinching the bridge of his nose, Aria's magic was swarming the room again. They needed to get this under control before someone started sensing it.
"Miss Gerard-"
"We need to wait for Elijah."
The statement was more than her saying they simply needed to show Elijah the same courtesy they both hoped he would show to them, it was her saying that there was no point in changing her mind. Neither of them would leave until they'd made some sort of progress in the issue of, well, him.
"The longer the Mikaelsons are adamant that they need to kill you to keep their niece safe, the more danger New Orleans is in. Klaus might love his city." He could hear the contempt dripping from her words, "But don't think for a second that he'd let it burn again to keep his daughter safe."
"You're so sure?"
Aria nodded. Finn resisted another sigh and nodded, Aria had been hunched into herself for the past hour and a half they'd been waiting in the belltower for – neutral enough territory for both the two witches and the Original vampire that was due to be there any minute now – but it only meant that it came as a continuous shock when she let her power loose. If he'd felt like possibly risking his life again, he'd have questioned her on why she was keeping it all inside her – at potential risk to her own health. But he did value his life, so he kept such questions to himself.
He wasn't quite naïve enough to realise that she was still keeping things from him, but he had a sense that it wasn't because she wanted to, rather because she was perhaps doing someone a favour that he would be revealed to in time.
The room went silent – a feat he wasn't exactly sure to be possible considering there was no noise in the room – when they felt it. Or, more accurately, Aria felt it and Finn in return, felt Aria's magic spike dangerously. If there was a way he could calm her, he would. But despite all their progress in the recent week, he feared they weren't quite far enough to begin that specific stage of… friendship? He'd think about it later. He settled for gently whispering what he hoped would be words to calm her. Maybe amuse her.
"If this goes badly, you may very well have the chance to set Elijah's suit on fire."
The pressure against his head calmed significantly and a small smile touched his lips, identical to the one now gracing Aria's face.
"He'll have an identical dark suit on the right side of his closet, I'm sure." She replied.
"Or perhaps another one in the middle."
The pressure decreased again, until it was little more than a placid hum in the air, more calming than frightening. Aria felt it too, but rather than her smile slipping, it widened the tiniest bit. Finn bit back another smile of his own.
He cursed every God he knew of when the magic spiked again as a figure revealed themselves in the now-open doorway of the belltower. But, try as he might, Elijah wasn't able to hide the anger on his face as they made eye contact.
Finn knew that he should make some sort of show to prove that he wouldn't hurt anyone, but he couldn't resist a small smirk. Elijah bristled and stood straighter, if it was possible, dark eyes narrowing. This time, Aria's magic didn't spike, but she did sigh, managing to sound far older than she was in reality.
"Children. I'm surrounded by children." She groaned, pressing her hands together right in front of her face as though she was about to pray – despite Finn being relatively sure she wasn't quite as religious as his family had been when they'd been human.
Fingers parted ever so slightly and he saw a small patch of blue staring at him, and then moving over to Elijah. Her magic receded and when Finn thought he could finally breathe again without issue, he found himself feeling incredibly offended.
He glanced to his younger brother, who had bristled further at Aria's previous remark, before sighing and relaxing his own posture to avoid looking too similar to the noble Elijah. When he'd said he wasn't sure how to amuse Aria, he hadn't thought she'd find her amusement at his expense. A snort bubbled out of the teenager, and he was reminded painfully of the morning three days previous where he'd likened her to a hyena.
"Miss Gerard, please." He begged, sighing when it only seemed to make her more amused. Not quite enough to be rolling around on the floor, or even laughing outright, but her shoulders had begun to shake in what he hoped was laughter.
"Miss Gerard?" This time it was Elijah who spoke, and he sounded a thousand times more concerned than Finn had. Despite knowing the witch longer, Finn was relatively sure that he knew her mannerisms just as well, if not better, leading to him knowing that she was laughing and not crying.
Aria heaved a sigh and moved her hands from her face, folding them on her lap and transforming from a slouching teenager to someone entirely different in mere seconds. Surprise registered on his face, just as he imagined it was on Elijah's, but she ignored it.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna start crying." She began, rolling her eyes. He tried, he really did, but Finn couldn't see any heart in what he thought to be her usual favourite pastime – mildly affronting those around her. Whether it was by rolling her eyes, or out-right insulting them, she just didn't seem to be half as amused by herself. It was worrying. "Believe me, if I was crying, a few people might find themselves having difficulty breathing."
Finn shifted, it wasn't a threat. But that made it all the more terrifying.
She had control over her power, but it was limited. When said magic spiked, he did find himself having difficulty breathing for the majority of time.
Elijah shifted beside him, and he wondered briefly just how many times Elijah had seen the enigma in front of them perform magic. Well, magic that wasn't just a parlour trick.
He broke himself free from his head when Aria lifted her hands, muttering a terrifyingly familiar foreign phrase under her breath that had the walls of the room pulsate a bright white glow before settling back to the brown they'd been a moment before.
Elijah's eyes narrowed and he turned to walk to the door.
"I wouldn't, if I were you." Aria said lightly, a slight edge to her voice.
Elijah didn't walk through the door – thankfully – but he did hold his palm up an inch away from the frame, his eyes scrutinising the seemingly innocent doorway.
"A barrier spell." Elijah said at last, "Inventive."
He whirled to face the teenager, accusation plain as day on his face, "How exactly did you know those words?"
Aria smiled innocently.
"I'm not allowed to do magic in Old Norse?"
Finn felt his eyebrows raise high on his forehead, but he wasn't surprised like Elijah was. His younger brother didn't know the connection between Dahlia and Aria yet, and even if he did, he doubted he would understand it. It was witch business. Something that Elijah had no business dabbling in.
Elijah sighed, and Finn had a feeling they'd had similar conversations before.
"I would ask why I've been summoned here." He began, sparing a livid glance to Finn, "But I believe I've figured it out." He turned back to Aria, his expression nothing short of livid, "Miss Gerard, do you know precisely how much danger you have put yourself in? I'll assume you don't, because quite frankly, the slight possibility that you are entirely confident in what you are doing is more terrifying than any other alternative."
He sighed, suddenly looking like his thousand-year-old self, "I will take Finn off your hands, and not tell Niklaus of this… momentary lapse of rashness, this… indiscretion."
Finn didn't bother warning his brother at any point of his little speech, and sat down on a chair at the same table Aria was at, mindlessly tracing shapes into the surface as he waited. The spike came, and for the first time, he heard a physical reaction to it. Elijah's breathing pattern lurched, but he remained as composed as ever. Unfortunately for him, both the witches had heard the surprise.
"Unfortunately, Suit and Tie, that's not why I brought you here."
Aria sounded entirely uncaring and Finn wasn't sure what to make of it.
"I brought you here, for two reasons." Aria uncrossed her ankles, placing one leg over her other knee and then letting her arms rest on the rests of the chair she was sat on. One word came to Finn's mind, and it stood alone as he watched her.
Magnificent.
"One, I have managed to keep Finn hidden from all of you for weeks. I highly doubt you'll want to push me when you know I've woven my way around the witches you've called in numerous times to find him." If Elijah was surprised she knew about the witches he and Klaus had called in to try and track Finn, he didn't show it, "And two, there is one thing you want much more than Finn's head on a spike, and I can help you get it."
"What might that be, Miss Gerard?"
Elijah knew exactly what she was talking about, that much was obvious. But he wanted to hear her say it.
Aria smiled coldly.
"Dahlia's head on a spike."
~*•°•*~
Aria dearly hoped that she wasn't imagining the surprise on Elijah's face. He could call her ruthless all he wanted, but it would be the excuse of an equally ruthless man. Then again, maybe comparing herself – a teenager – to a thousand-year-old immortal vampire was a bad idea. She may not dream of committing the sins of the Original Family, but she'd committed plenty of her own. Maybe it was time to start praying, after all.
Or maybe a holiday like Thierry had suggested was exactly what she needed.
"I'm afraid I've become a bit lost… Miss Gerard." Elijah said at last, a small crease forming between his eyebrows.
Aria threw her arms up in frustration, abandoning the previous position that had made her seem exactly as powerful as she could be, "What is with this family? When I say I know how to murder your evil aunt, I don't mean that I know how to invite her to a tea party. I mean that I know exactly how to drive a knife into her cold dead heart, and keep her dead!"
Elijah seemed more amused at her outburst than anything else, and Aria narrowed her eyes, a small spark returning to them after days of them simply being endless blue pools.
"I believe some surprise is warranted, Miss Ger-Aria." He fixed himself.
Aria spun to face Finn, thunder flashing in place of her usually sunny disposition before he could even dare to so much as smile. She wasn't in the mood.
She sighed and turned back to Elijah, composing herself, "Right, I can explain the specifics later, but right now, I just need one little thing from you."
"I-"
"And don't for a second pretend you're not interested, you're ridiculously easy to read."
Elijah squinted at her, assessing her, "And the thing you need?"
Aria smiled, "Your word that you'll keep Klaus from killing Finn." Elijah was all too quick to respond with a 'yes'.
"And the rest of you Mikaelsons."
Now, he wasn't so quick to respond.
Finn sighed, "I have no wish to kill the child, Elijah. Only to keep Dahlia at bay. Mother convinced me it was the only way, Aria has now convinced me otherwise."
Aria winced, "Do not compare me to that witch, please."
Finn continued, "Brother, I swear on Kol's Grave that I will not betray you again."
Elijah tensed in surprise, Aria shrunk in on herself, and suddenly, everyone found it hard to breathe.
Finn kept his stare directed to his brother, regardless of the very possible chance he'd pass out. Elijah wasn't quite as affected, but the slightly greying skin at the base of his neck spoke for itself. After a moment, the vampire gave a tense, single nod, and Finn turned to Aria, pressing his hand over hers, "Miss Gerard."
The pressure receded, and Aria blinked once, twice, and then looked back up to Elijah, an eyebrow arched but no fire in her eyes.
"You have my word, Miss Gerard." He said quietly, "But I'm afraid I must leave, I have a meeting with a particular witch."
"What witch?" A small spark returned to her eyes.
"Josephine La-"
"Josie?"
Both Mikaelsons were surprised by the smile that lit up the teenager's face, particularly Finn. She hadn't smiled in days.
"You know Miss La Rue?"
The smile slipped from Aria's face, and she suddenly shook her head, "Well, I know of her, of course. She's the Regent. But I happen to know that she doesn't like vampires." She frowned.
"I believe I know a way I can… adapt to my audience."
Aria studied him, and then nodded, "Alright. Good luck."
Elijah turned to his brother and opened his mouth to speak before he closed it. Another moment later, he spoke up, "Finn, may I talk to you for a moment?"
Finn nodded, sparing a glance over his shoulder to Aria who assured him she was fine, before he followed his brother to the corner of the room as the witch worked on lowering her boundary spell.
"I do not trust you, Finn."
Finn rolled his eyes, "I'm aware." He said dryly.
"However, I am willing to take one chance." He grabbed Finn's arm tightly, barely refraining from snapping the fragile bone, "One. Do I make myself clear?"
Finn nodded tightly, and his arm was released. He watched as Elijah recomposed himself, tugging on his cuffs and smoothing his jacket as though nothing had happened, "Take care of Miss Gerard." He said simply.
Then he left.
~*•°•*~
Hours later at Josephine La Rue's Mansion, Elijah stood in the main room of the house, taking a pile of files from a nearby man, thumbing through one or two of the pages in interest.
"Thank you." He turned back to Josephine, "One of the witches that escaped the Fauline Cottage is of particular importance to my family. My request to you – tell your people to leave her to me."
"You have no idea how dangerous these witches can be." Josephine said simply.
"She will cause you no further trouble, I can assure you that. In return, I shall find all of the remaining witches and deliver them safely back to you."
Elijah flipped through the pages in the file he'd been handed, pausing on the page belonging to Eva Sinclair and briefly scanning it with mild intrigue, "Consider this the first step in a new and mutually beneficial alliance!"
He handed her the page and watched her expression carefully, taking notice of the raising eyebrows and tightening at the corners of her mouth.
"Eva Sinclair. Powerful and sadistic." She looked up to him, "If I am to relinquish someone like her into your custody, I will require someone equally powerful in return." Elijah looked at her expectantly, "The Tremé Coven wants Vincent Griffith returned. How you expel your brother Finn from his body is your concern."
"Consider it done." He paused, "Miss La Rue, before I take my leave, I was wondering if you would happen to know of a certain witch I know."
Josephine gestured for him to continue.
"Her name is Aria Gerard."
Elijah was most decidedly confused by the expression of pain that flashed across the Regent's face, but he didn't comment, "I… I am familiar with the name but I'm afraid to say I have never met the witch."
Elijah's eyes narrowed, watching closely as the witch crafted an indifferent mask onto her face, "Now, Mr Mikaelson, if that is all?"
He nodded, returning to the ever calm and collected Original, "For now."
That mask of indifference did not belong to Aria Gerard after all, it belonged to Josephine La Rue.
Elijah Mikaelson had questions. And he would get answers.
~*•°•*~
"FINN!" Finn rolled his eyes as the ever-familiar yell greeted him, "I know you're here! The wolves tell me you've been quite active robbing graves and violating corpses! Sounds like you. Why don't you just come out so we can finish this?"
Finn rolled his eyes again and continued watching after his brother who seemed to be getting progressively more confused by his absence. A small smirk of amusement found its way onto his face before he shook it off. Best not turn into Aria while he could help it. After another moment, he decided enough was enough, and cancelled the spell keeping him hidden from view, "Hello, Niklaus."
Klaus spun to face him, and mild surprise showed on his face once he saw the casualty Finn was standing with. Hands in his pockets, and his look practically promising the death he knew he couldn't administer to his family. As much as he'd grown to like Aria, a small bit of fear still remained. He wouldn't cross her.
The Hybrid shook off the confusion and stalked toward Finn, "Such a pedestrian greeting. How unfortunate those are to be your last words."
"Your hubris truly knows no bounds! You attack a witch in the very place the Ancestors call home!" He clucked his tongue, "Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"You're a fool if you think the Ancestors give a damn about you."
That was correct. Prior to Aria, the only reason the Ancestors had offered him the tiniest form of protection, was because they hated Klaus more than they could care for him in any way. Unfortunately, that protection had ceased as soon as he'd allied himself with the fiery witch. But, try as he might, he couldn't come to regret that decision. She was powerful in a way the Ancestors couldn't be, and from what he knew of her before meeting her, they knew it too. Apparently, they didn't take too kindly to the fact.
He held his hands up in surrender, "They may not care for me, brother, but they hate you."
As did Aria.
But he felt it was best not to let that bit of information slip just yet.
His hand dug into his pocket, clutching an old necklace Aria had retrieved for him. It wasn't much, just a small string of beads, but it would allow him to channel her without the use of a prior spell. It was just simpler.
With his remaining free hand, Finn balled his fist up tightly before slowly twisting it, cutting off any way his brother would be able to breathe. He knew he wasn't strictly allowed to kill Niklaus, but the mighty Hybrid wouldn't die from a little lack of oxygen.
Klaus lost his breath for a moment but, much to Finn's confusion, he quickly began to laugh, "You lost a step, brother!" He announced loudly, "But, being lost in what I'll presume to be the Bayou will do that, I suppose."
Klaus lunged, and Finn reacted quickly, watching as a wrought-iron fence embedded itself into Klaus' chest. It wouldn't kill him. And it would cause him very minimal pain. But it would slow him down for now. But then again, it seemed it didn't slow his tongue.
"Finished so soon, my indestructible brother?" Klaus scoffed, "My brother who decided that after the failed Mystic Falls assassination attempt, an appropriate encore would be to seek the death of an innocent child. My child."
Klaus dislodged the iron in his chest and threw it toward Finn, hitting him right in the abdomen. Finn groaned in sudden pain and collapsed down the wall of the tomb behind him, as Klaus approached him slowly and then twisted the pike cruelly, "For what you would have done to Hope, I'm going to enjoy making you suffer." He growled quietly.
For a brief moment, Finn worried that this would be his end, that he'd die by his bastard brother's hand, but then Klaus was gone, and pinned to a tomb of his own by none other than- Finn sighed. Elijah was difficult enough, but he'd never hear the end of this.
"You didn't answer my call." Elijah said very simply.
"Well, I was a little bit busy." Klaus replied.
Elijah rolled his eyes, "I need him alive."
Both for the witches, and for Aria.
Klaus growled, "I've no time for your soft-hearted sympathies. Stand aside, and just let him die, Elijah!"
"The witches want that body returned unharmed." Elijah stressed.
"And what else do they want? A parade? Free broomsticks for all?"
"This alliance could be greatly beneficial to us all-"
"Yes, well currying some witch's favour does not concern me!"
Another voice from behind all three brothers had them turning, "It should." Freya smiled knowingly, "Witch allies can prove valuable." She turned to face Elijah and tilted her head to the side in confusion, "But whilst I'm slightly upset with Aria from keeping him from me, I'm sure that you won't be considering backing out of yet another deal with her?"
Elijah seemed somewhat disturbed by those words.
Klaus was burning a hole into her head with his stare, demanding the answers which he would not receive.
Elijah met her stare, "I've learned not to doubt her. If she believes Finn to be true, I will take the advice with a grain of salt and-"
"Perhaps listen to the girl for once?" Finn chimed in.
All eyes turned to him and he laughed mirthlessly. "She was in such a state from Kol's death that she discarded any concerns she'd previously had with letting anyone know of my whereabouts almost immediately." He turned to face Elijah, "She placed her fragile trust in you, brother. It would do you well to keep it safe, this time."
Elijah actually seemed touched by Finn's words.
But no one there was foolish enough to think they could have a private conversation without Klaus opening his mouth, "What in the name of Mikael are you talking about?"
Freya turned to her brother, a pleasant smile placed on her face, "Nothing much, brother." Klaus twitched, "Just witch business."
Klaus glanced over to Elijah incredulously, "Witch business?" He echoed, amusement quickly giving way to darkness, "You must be joking."
"I'm afraid I'm not, Niklaus."
Freya ignored her brothers for a moment, and walked over to the spot Finn was laying. Freya knelt next to him, "You don't seem surprised to see me, Brother."
Finn smiled, "I figured it out relatively quickly after Kol's death." He almost tripped over the words, "But it didn't seem like the right time to approach her about it."
Freya smiled widely in return, "I suppose you have a point." She paused for a brief moment, "Don't worry, my sweet Muninn. I won't let them hurt you."
The Norse witch lifted her talisman, and chanted under her breath, watching as the pendant glowed bright and Finn's host body was healed, "Yovara vimuna virael."
Seconds passed, and the witch's eyes opened, decidedly terrified.
"Who are you?"
All eyes were on Freya, as she held two fingers up against the witch's face. And, ignoring the speculative looks from her brothers, Freya said one word very simply.
"Sleep."
The witch in front of her – whose name she wasn't entirely sure of – slumped further back if it was possible, before Freya stood and turned back to face her brothers, both of whom were doing impressions of what she felt were rather surprised fish.
"What the hell did you do to him?"
Freya held up her pendant for them to see, "Finn is now safe from harm. And once I release him, we may begin to work on our cause."
Elijah narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously, "Our cause?"
"Yes. Ours. And now, if you two can stop arguing long enough, perhaps you'll allow your older sister to offer you a deal."
"What could you possibly offer us besides fairy tales and lies?"
"Whatever you think of me, brother, know this- when I speak to you, it is the truth. If you have any doubts, remember that it was I who rescued Rebekah from the Fauline Cottage."
Aria had told her about how difficult her brothers could be, but she'd imagined that after Kol, she could handle them easily. Evidently, she'd been wrong.
"Do not talk speak as though we are familiars! We know nothing of you." Klaus snarled.
Freya sighed, holding her hands to their faces, she began chanting. They'd see exactly what happened, and all that she wanted them to see at the moment. She wasn't the only one that had to earn trust. The vision ceased after seconds, and Freya lowered her hands.
"Do you still think me a liar?"
Despite the look of mild horror on Klaus' face, he held strong, "That proves nothing but your ability to conjure illusions." His voice wasn't quite as strong as Freya was sure he believed it to be.
"Before you dismiss me, you should know this, I have woken from my slumber, and Dahlia has as well. Prior to her falling back under the spell." A small crease formed between Freya's eyebrows before she shook it off and continued, "Once she awakens again, she will sense your child's magic, and she will come for her. Now, she has the power to kill anyone who stands in her way – unless we kill her first."
"Well that's quite convenient, now isn't it? You show up in the nick of time to help us kill the woman with whom you've spent a thousand years!"
"You have no idea what it took to escape her! Or what I lost in the trying. Her punishment will be profound." Freya snapped back before calming somewhat, "However, it's not as though I've turned up friendless."
"Yes, we know about your prior relationship with Aria. But love, I'm afraid that the witch is already treading on thin ice, so forgive me if I don't trust her to be morally sound to this cause."
Freya sighed, "You two really are similar, aren't you?"
As he realised it wasn't so much of a question than a statement, Klaus gaped.
"She has said more than once that she often has the strong urge to force your transformation into a werewolf – and don't act like we don't both know she'd be more than able and entirely willing to – just so that she can keep you as a pet of sorts, conforming to her every whim. Of course that last bit about her training you is just my personal interpretation, though looking at Elijah who seems as though he's trying not to laugh, I assume it is most accurate to her character, no?"
At the sight of undeniable amusement in Elijah's eyes, Klaus contemplated how long it would take for him to find a dagger to use against his older brother, and precisely how much he would be missed by the Quarter. Any ire he would receive was sure to be more than worth it. His eyes narrowed further as Elijah spoke, "Perhaps there is some… resemblance to Aria and Niklaus' relationship in your description, I will admit."
Freya smiled in amusement, "I had gathered. But back to task, I know how to stop Dahlia – given the proper materials of which I have sent Father to procure."
Amusement wiped from Elijah's expression, he risked a glance to his more volatile sibling, "You put the life of my child in the hands of Mikael?" Klaus demanded furiously.
Elijah rolled his eyes; the expression of amusement may be gone but it still remained and he'd quite like to hang onto the thought a moment or two longer if he could help it, "Niklaus, this woman has knowledge of the threat we now face and is willing to share that information."
"Well, you'll excuse me, Elijah, if I'm not inclined to trust the mysterious sister we only just met! But, by all means, if you wish to entertain this idiocy, have at it."
Klaus abandoned them after that, and Freya sighed as she turned to face Elijah.
"Thank you." She smiled at her brother shyly, "Your kindness is much appreciated."
"I may be willing to accept your identity, Freya. It doesn't mean I trust you."
"Then I will look forward to earning that trust." Freya nodded, before an amused glimmer shone in her eyes, "Especially if it means I can stay around to watch Aria and Niklaus fight."
The amusement returned to Elijah's face, "It would be most entertaining." He conceded.
"Do you think she would accept bribes to bring my masterpiece to life?" The cheeky glimmer in her eyes only solidified the fact that she most certainly was blood. The only other person he'd ever been able to see replicate Klaus' look of amusement was Aria – actually, now that he thought about it, that made a lot more sense.
Elijah laughed, "My dear Freya, I do believe she'd do it free of charge."
~*•°•*~
In every moment, a choice exists. We can cling to the past, or embrace the inevitability of change. And allow a brighter future to unfold for us. Such an uncertain future may cause for even more uncertain allies. Either way, a new day is coming, whether we like it or not. The question is, will you control it, or will it control you? But, do bear in mind that time is forever ticking forward. Which means that tomorrow is already here.
Thierry Vanchure was startled awake by a trio of knocks at the front door of the apartment. He groaned, and pulled a pillow over his head, hoping that Josh would wake up himself and tell whoever it was to go away, or that it was too bloody early to be harassing some poor vampires trying to sleep.
A moment passed, before his eyes flew open in shock and he pulled the pillow off of his head, jumping out of the bed and making his way to the door in seconds.
Human heartbeat. Three knocks. Probably midnight. Aria. Dozens of awful thoughts filled his head as he pulled the door open, but when his eyes scanned his niece and he found no such injuries, he let himself breathe.
He looked up to her face, questioning why she'd decided to visit him at midnight. A small smile curled her mouth, and he breathed a sigh of relief at her words.
"What kind of holiday were you thinking?"
For the love of-
Have I actually updated on time?
Right, I'm just as surprised as you probably are that I've updated on time, I really hope I keep this up. I don't actually have much to put here, but I do want to say that the next chapter - as you might've guessed from the last scene - is mainly going to be a big ball of Gerard Family fluff and bonding with some special guests making appearances, both characters I've simply neglected to include recently, or some new characters, and maybe even one or two from TVD. I am having a lot of fun with this. As always, thank you to everyone that's reading, following, favouriting, reviewing, it's insane and I love you all so much. So before I ramble on too much...
As Always, SecretMidnightRose