After making herself some tea and turning on a radio station that played soft jazz, Sybil sat down on the couch with her legs tucked under her to think about the mess she'd made of her life. As she kept thinking about what a fool she'd been, tears began rolling down her cheeks and she let them linger for a while before finally wiping them off with her right hand. Damn her for being the biggest fool in the universe, and damn that Mikael Mikaelson for taking advantage of a vulnerable woman to sate his lusts! If that didn't make him the biggest jackass to ever walk the Earth, she didn't know what did.

But, her brain countered as she sat there sipping her tea and letting the music wash over her, when he wanted to be, he could be awfully sweet. And he made good pasta. And beautiful eyes, a wonderful smile, wore that cologne she couldn't resist, and his hands...the things those hands could do...

"Stop!" She whispered angrily, literally slapping herself. "Never mind all that. Paying attention to all that was how you got abandoned and are now sitting alone on your sofa with your cat and drinking really watery tea!" She winced and stuck the cup on the side table, then got up to drag herself to the kitchenette to reheat the cup in the microwave. As she waited for her tea to warm again, she looked around. The apartment was small, really only one large space divided into sections. Not a penthouse, but still hers and something she didn't have to rely on some man to buy for her. At least until the Council stopped giving her funds, that is.

The doorbell rang, and she put on a cardigan before unhooking the chain on the door and opening it just a crack. There was a man she had never seen before on the other side. "Yes?" She asked. "What can I do for you?"

"I have a registered letter here for a Sybil Vane," the man replied. "From the Witches' Council. And I need someone to sign for it. Would you mind?"

She opened the door a little further. "Did you say it was from the Council?" She asked.

"Yes," The mailman nodded and held out his pen and a pad. "Sign here, please."

"Sure," Sybil nodded, quickly signing and then taking the envelope. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome ma'am," the mailman nodded and disappeared from sight.

Sybil shut the door and eyed the letter nervously. Last time she'd received something from the Council, it was that opera ticket, which had led to her spending all that time in the bathroom with...no! She gave herself a mental slap. No need to think of him now. Not when it was more than likely a letter telling her that her time to find a job was up and soon they'd be taking the apartment back. She could be thrown out onto the street any day now!

Feeling like she was going to throw up, she ripped the letter open and read it over. It didn't say she was going to be thrown out of her place. It was just a request that she present herself at the Council building to talk to Mr. Malachai Fale about a scholarship and to be paid while taking her courses? It was too good to be true! She narrowed her eyes at the envelope. This was too good to be true. There had to be a price somewhere. And Malachai would damn well tell her what it was.

Then she heard a noise that made her forget all her anger and smile.

Letting out a squeal of excitement, Sybil took a deep breath and strode back to her laptop as she heard herself getting a zoom call. Accepting it, her eyes widened at the sight of her son, Christopher.

"Mom!" He cried, wide-eyed. "So it's true! You're alive!"

"I am," Sybil nodded. "Still getting used to it and all, but it's nice. I have my own place...and a cat. How's New York? Your dad said that's where you were. Are you taking care of yourself? Did you and Hannah get a place in a safe neighborhood?"

"Yes," Christopher nodded. "Ellie and Lucifer made sure of that. One of the perks of dating the Queen of Hell's sister."

"And are you having a good time? How's Hannah?"

"Hannah's great and I love New York," Christopher sighed. "It's...it's nice because I don't have to feel ashamed about being a demon or anything, you know? I feel like I can really be myself here. No one treats me like a freak."

"I don't think you're a freak!" Sybil told him, wishing she could hug him through the zoom screen. "I never have, and I never will."

A tear ran down Christopher's cheek. "I...have I told you how happy I am that you're alive?"

Sybil choked up herself. "Y-yes...many times."

"I don't want you to just sit in your apartment and cry," Christopher said. "I want you to enjoy your life."

"I will," Sybil sniffled. "Now tell me, have you talked to your father?"

"Oh, yes," Christopher said. "Apparently, I have a new little sister. Dad couldn't stop talking about her."

"Yes," Sybil nodded. "She has bright red hair, and her name is Natalie. She's a very beautiful girl."

Unenthused, Christopher just stared at his mother, frowning and not saying a word.

"Oh, come on, sweetheart. Don't be like that," she told him. "Can you try and be happy for your father? I know it hurts to see that your parents aren't together, but we were never more than friends, even when we were a couple. We're still like that. We don't hate each other or anything. Now your father is with Amy, who is his soulmate. Don't begrudge him happiness. At least pretend to be nice, even if you don't feel it. Please? For me?"

"All right, for you," Christopher nodded. "But...I just don't want you to be alone and unhappy."

"It's okay," she sobbed. "I'm not.." Tears began to run down her cheeks as she stopped midsentence. What was she thinking? That she and Mikael Mikaelson were some sort of couple? No! If that's what he'd wanted, he wouldn't have thrown her out! She looked in her tea cup. Clearly there was something in the tea that was messing with her brain.

"What...what's wrong?" Christopher asked. "Has someone hurt you? Did you meet someone? Did it end badly?"

"Of course not," Sybil tried to wave off his concern. "I have better things to do than pursue some silly relationship. I have a life to rebuild and a cat to take care of. Her name is Princess Leia!"

"You don't have to lie to me, Mom," Christoper sighed deeply. "I can see that you're sad."

"No, I'm not!" Sybil shook her head and smiled after blowing her nose. "I'm happy, see?" She said. "I can't talk much longer, though. I got a registered letter from the Council asking me to go talk to Malachai Fale about an opportunity, and I still need to shower and change. I hope you don't mind."

"Of course not, Mom," Christopher smiled. "That's fantastic!"

"Oh, I'm sure it's nothing too exciting," Sybil shook her head. "Maybe they just need someone to get them coffee and answer their phones."

"Well, whatever it is, I'm sure you'll be fantastic at it," Christopher told her with a smile. "Good luck! Love you!"

"Love you too, sweetie," Sybil said. "You're in the City That Never Sleeps! I hope you can find something that will make you happy. And will you say 'Hello' to Hannah for me?"

"Yeah," Christopher nodded. "Of course I will. Talk later?"

"Of course," Sybil said. "Can't wait!"

The call ended and Sybil was left alone again, crying as she looked out the window and tried not to think about the twenty four hours that had made her life better...and worse. Shaking her head, she finally stepped away and went to shower and dress, wondering just what the Council was going to tell her.

"So?" Malachai asked as Avery shut yet another book? Did that show you anything? Give you any hints about why the souls you brought back still have one foot in the grave, so to speak?"

"Nope, nothing yet," Avery shook her head and swore under her breath. "It's so frustrating. You think I'd be able to figure it out!"

Malachai sighed. "We've been looking for hours and have found nothing; Maybe we should take a break."

"Just one question before we do that: Do you think Mikael will kill us if we don't find him an answer immediately?" Avery asked. "He seemed very insistent."

"Well, I mean, you're immortal, I've been around for centuries, and Mikael's my friend, so I know all his tricks." Malachai gave her a wink. "He'll make us suffer for sure!"

Avery winced. "Yeah, even with your protection, I don't think that's something I want to experience."

"Oh, gosh, look at the time," Malachai said suddenly, looking at his watch. "I didn't realize just how long we've been doing this."

"What's the matter?" Avery questioned, rubbing his shoulders. "Do you have somewhere you need to be?"

"No, but..." He reached back and moved her hands. "Sybil is coming to see me about a very important matter."

Avery froze. "The Sybil?"

"Yes," Malachai sighed. "What I'm about to tell you is strictly confidential so keep it to yourself, all right? Mikael donated a sum of three million dollars to start an educational program for adults. Anyone who registers will be able to receive a scholarship and get into the program and study."

"What subjects?" Avery asked. "All sorts or something in particular?"

"Veterinary medicine for magical animals," Malachai clarified.

Avery's eyes lit up. "Well, that's amazing! And surprisingly generous for someone like your friend Mikael."

"Oh, yes," Malachai nodded. "Students are registering already."

"Why do you sound so upset?" Avery asked. "This is good."

"Think, Avery, dear," Malachai insisted. "Think very hard."

"Oh, duh," Avery realized, hitting her forehead with her palm. "He started this for Sybil!"

Malachai nodded. "And just in time, too. In a few weeks, the funding she received to restart her life on Earth will run out; she'll be on the streets if she doesn't have a source of income."

Avery sucked in her breath and put a hand on Malachai's arm. "Damn. And you're the one who has to tell her that? I'm so sorry!"

Malachai winced. "I'll try to, but she's very bright and she'll probably figure it out on her own soon, if she hasn't already."

"This could give us a chance to talk to her about the ghost thing," Avery said. "Maybe she can give us a hint or a clue. If I can stay, of course. I promise that I'll behave myself until all the school stuff is discussed."

"Oh, please stay," Malachai begged, taking her hand and kissing it. "I really don't want to handle this by myself."

There was a knock on the office door. "There she is," Malachai sighed. "Here goes nothing!" He got up and opened the door, giving Sybil a smile. "Hello, Miss Vane. Lovely to see you again."

"Thank you, Malachai," she said, coming through the door. She wore black gaucho pants with five buttons down the front, an off white blouse with a large bow, and a pair of high heeled Mary Janes. Simple but elegant. She froze when she saw Avery. "Oh, I didn't know you had company, I apologize. I can wait."

"No, no, it's not what you think," Malachai shook his head. "This is Avery Morningstar; I know you haven't been formally introduced but she's helping me with my work. We can talk in front of her. Avery, this is Sybil Vane."

Avery smiled and shook her hand. "Hello, Sybil. It's wonderful to meet you at last."

Sybil smiled back. "Now, has he admitted his feelings to you yet or not? Because I swear, I told him-"

"Hey!" Malachai blushed. "Do you mind? I'm sitting right here!"

"Things are better than when you talked to him," Avery said. "But...we're not all the way there yet."

"Well, I hope things work out for you," Sybil said. Then she looked at Malachai. "All right, we're done now," she assured him. "Now, about that letter I got from the Council..."

"Yes," Malachai cleared his throat. "The Council has contacted you to encourage you to register in a new scholarship program for adult learners."

Sybil nodded and looked at Avery. "I know, I read the letter before I came. This is so exciting, especially since I'm almost out of money. It's like a gift from, well...your father."

Avery glanced at Malachai while avoiding Sybil's gaze. "It might seem that way, but I don't think Dad had anything to do with it this time."

Malachai pushed a pamphlet toward her. "Here's all the programs you could be part of. Go ahead and take a look!"

Excitedly, Sibyl grabbed the pamphlet and began leafing through it. "So let me get this straight," she said. "If I take one of these programs, I'll have the money I need to keep my apartment and manage my expenses while I'm learning?"

"Exactly!" Malachai nodded.

Sybil smiled wider. "So let's see: I can take...accounting, literature, math..." her smile disappeared. "Veterinary medicine for magical animals."

Malachai blushed and coughed. "Yes. That's new."

"Oh, you can stop with the lies, Malachai!" Sybil spat. "There's only one person who knows that's what I want to do with my life. Mikael planned all of this, didn't he? He's the source of the scholarship!"

Malachai and Avery caught each other's eyes and she got up to go to the window while rubbing her hands.

"I...I don't know who you're talking about," Malachai mumbled.

"You do too!" Sybil raged. "Mikael's your friend! Don't pretend like you don't know him!"

"Does this Mikael have a last name?" Malachai asked.

"Just stop pretending," Avery urged. "The jig is up. She knows."

"All right," Malachai admitted at last. "He was one of the donors."

"One of?" Sybil questioned. "Or sole donor?"

"What difference does it make?" Malachai cried, throwing up his hands.

"It makes all the difference in the world to me!" Sybil cried, pointing at herself.

"Oh, all right," Malachai cried. "He was the sole donor."

"Well, then I don't want his money!" Sybil spat. "I'd rather be homeless and starve on the street. I won't take his charity and I won't let him pity me!"

"Believe me, Sybil, this isn't pity," Malachai tried to assure her. "He's crazy about you!"

"Listen to Malachai about this," Avery urged her. "He's not lying to you."

"I don't care," Sybil cried and stomped her foot. "I have my dignity to preserve!"

"Well, I think that if you don't lighten up, your dignity is going to cost you a great opportunity," Malachal replied and reached for the coffee pot to pour himself a cup. "Want some?"

"No, thank you!" Sybil shook his head. "And I don't think I'm going to stay much longer." She made her way to the door, but Malachai ran to the door and grabbed her.

"Don't get me wrong," Malachai told her. "I get that this is an awkward situation and if I were in your place, I would think exactly the same way, but...if you refuse a spot in the program, he's going to pull all the funds."

"Excuse me?" Sybil cried. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," Malachai nodded. "That was something he specifically made clear."

"That...that bastard!" Sybil cried. "How dare he? Now I look like the bad guy if I don't do what he wants! How could he think something so despicable and manipulative would get me on his good side? First he dumps me, then he manipulates me. I guess I picked a real Prince Charming!"

Malachai shrugged. "I told you...I don't condone his methods, but...that's just how he is when he wants something."

"I have to agree with Sybil that this isn't okay!" Avery cried. "Definitely not. Like what my dad does with his people! That's not how you do a relationship!"

"And you're absolutely serious that if I don't join, he'll shut everything down?" Sybil asked again, just to be sure.

"Yes," Malachai nodded.

"Damn," Sybil growled. "Now I really really wish I hadn't gone to his place and slept with him. The things I agreed to do!" She shuddered. "What was I thinking?"

Malachai spat his coffee out and began coughing. "What?" he asked when he could speak again. "What did you just say?"

Avery ran back to her chair and sat down, a wide grin on her lips. "Now this is getting interesting. Please, tell us more!"

"Damn," Sybil murmured and shook her head. "I should have kept my mouth closed.

"Where did you spend 24 hours with him?" Malachai asked. "His penthouse?"

Sybil just shrugged and blushed, saying nothing.

"Stop badgering her!" Avery chided him. "Can't you see poor Sybil is in distress and missing Mikael very much?"

"She just told us!" Malachai cried. "It's not like I forced it out of her."

Sybil sobbed. "I don't miss him at all! He can go to hell for all I care!"

Avery handed her a box of tissues. "Here, take one of these. Go ahead and cry! Men are rats!"

"That's so true!" Sybil sniffled.

"Well, thank you!" Malachai huffed.

"So what happened with him?" Avery asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Well, we made a deal for me to stay with him for 24 hours and then part ways," Sybil explained, blowing her nose.

"Except you didn't want to go, did you?" Avery asked knowingly.

"What difference does it make?" Sybil questioned.

Malachai rolled his eyes. "Oh, what a mess!" He cried. "You have to understand something about Mikael: He pushed you away because he thinks he's terrible, but he gave this program millions of dollars so you could do exactly what you want with your life. That means he has feelings for you. Real, true feelings. Don't you think?"

"Maybe, but that doesn't excuse how he treated her!" Avery cried.

"I don't know what to do!" Sybil complained. "If I register, he gets what he wants, but if I don't, a bunch of people will lose the chance to follow their dreams."

"I know you, Sybil," Malachai told her. "You'll do what you know is right and will help you sleep at night."

"Can I ask you a personal question?" Avery asked Sybil. "Mikael told us that you have been having trouble keeping your human form. Is that true?"

"He told me you were looking into it," Sybil told her. "What can I do?"

"Tell me if you disappeared at all at any point you were with him," Avery said.

"No," Sybil said after thinking a moment. "I was fine; I didn't disappear once!"

"Interesting," Avery nodded. "Thank you, Sybil."

"Do you think this is pertinent to helping us find out what the problem is?"

Avery shrugged. "I don't know. It could be."

There was a long silence and Sybil said, "All right. I'll register for the program. Just don't tell Mikael."

"Very good," Malachai nodded. "I'll go call Gerald. He's one of our clerks who's taking care of that. I promise it won't be too long to wait."

"You know, Gerald, it's so sweet of you to get me this program information and help me register," Sybil told the young man. "And for getting me all these books so I can read up before I begin classes. I hope it won't get you in trouble!"

Gerald blushed. "Oh, no, Miss Vane. It's no trouble at all. It's my pleasure."

"It's very appreciated," Sybil assured him. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"The pleasure was all mine," Gerald repeated. "Did you know that you're very beautiful, Miss Vane?"

Sybil blushed. "Gerald, that is so kind of you to say." Suddenly, the hair stood up on the back of her neck. She turned and found herself looking into blue eyes that could belong to no one but Mikael Mikaelson.

Gerald, seeing her go white, turned to see what she was looking at, and opened his mouth to shoo Mikael away, but he didn't get the chance.

"Leave," Mikael ordered him. "Now."

"M-Mister Mikaelson," Gerald muttered and gave a small bow. "How are you, sir?"

Mikael ignored him, making Sybil frown.

"Are you kidding me?" She asked. "Could you be any more impolite?"

He gave her a long look, sighed, and turned back to Gerald. "I would leave now," he told the younger man. "If you'd like to live into the next century, that is."

Gerald gulped nervously. "Yes, sir. Right away." Then he disappeared, leaving Sybil and Mikael alone.

"A bit young for you, my dear, wouldn't you say?" He asked, while playing with Sybil's hair.

"I won't even dignify that with a response or tell you what I think of your behavior," Sybil snapped. "Good day, Mr. Mikaelson!" She tried to pass by him, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her close, making her cry out in surprise.

"If you think you could just leave without me trying to stop you, you're sorely mistaken, woman," he whispered.

"You...you let go of my arm, Mikael!" She cried. Her breathing was picking up, her heart was pounding fast, her body temperature was picking up, and the scent of his cologne was making her want to fall into his arms.

"You smell nice," he murmured, his thumb rubbing her upper arm as he looked over every inch of her, finally pausing on her full, beautiful lips.

Crying out, she finally found the strength to pull out of his grip and step away from him, rubbing the spot on her arm where he'd grabbed her. "I know you're intense but I never thought you could be abusive!" She spat. "Thank you for proving me wrong!"

"This is exactly the sort of thing we did in my bed and you weren't complaining then," Mikael reminded her. "Or have your tastes changed to more...juvenile men?"

Sybil sighed. "What do you want from me?"

"Did you register for the program about supernatural animals?"

"Of course I did!" Sybil growled. "It wasn't like I had any other choice! If I hadn't registered, it would have ruined things for everyone else and you know I'm not that sort of person. This was your game all along, wasn't it? The powerful Mikael Mikaelson strikes again."

Mikael shrugged. "I played my cards well and I won. I got what I wanted."

"I don't want you sticking your nose in my life!"

Mikael sighed loudly. "Sybil, I know this is hard for you to admit, dear, but you need me. You need me in your life. You need me to help you out and when you're done being so stubborn, you'll realize that since I am a filthy rich man, and I can help you if I want to, you'll feel better about this whole thing."

Sybil shook her head and waved her finger under his nose. "Never!" She cried. "I'll never accept help from...from the man who threw me out of his home!" Her voice broke on the word 'from' and the rest of the sentence she spoke through tears.

Mikael bit his cheek. "I did it for your own good."

Sybil scoffed. "Well, screw you, Mikaelson, because I'm not just some prostitute you can purchase when you have an itch to scratch."

"I would never think so low of you," Mikael protested. "I would never think of us that way. For fuck's sake, woman! Let me help you if I want to help you. And let that be..." He trailed off.

Sybil crossed her arms and shook her head. "You had no business talking to Gerald that way. He's a very kind young man."

"Yes, only because he has his eyes on you and wants to make you his woman!" Mikael told her.

Sybil burst out laughing, "Are you listening to yourself? Are you joking with me? His woman as opposed to what?"

"Instead of being mine!" Mikael cried.

Sybil stood silent for a moment and then shouted out, "The audacity of you! Oh, my god, I don't believe this!"

Mikael began pacing back and forth. "Please don't involve Steve in our business!"

Sybil began stomping around too. "Your woman? Really? You told me one day I would find someone and be happy. Right before you kicked me out of your house! Will you make up your mind?"

Mikael opened his mouth to protested and then growled and kept his mouth shut because she was right.

"You told me to find happiness somewhere other than with you. and obviously, thank heaven or hell, you can pick. Because I dodged a bullet. I deserve way better than you." Sybil hissed.

Then she started to vanish and Mikael's eyes widened. "Sybil!"

"What?" Sybil asked. "What now?"

"Stay with me," he whispered as he took off his jacket, undid his tie, and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt.

"What...what are you doing?" Sybil asked as she slowly became solid again.

He slowly advanced on her until he had her backed up against the wall. "What we both want," he murmured, putting one hand on either side of her head and trapping her against the wall. "Don't tell me you don't feel the sexual tension between us. The longing, the lust, the heat..."

"Don't...don't do this," Sybil begged. "We're in public, in the middle of the Council building. What if someone comes and sees?"

He shook his head and lowered it to bite and lick her ear. "No one will come. It's just you and me."

"Mikael," she begged, while a moan she wasn't expecting escaped her lips. "Don't do this. Remember, you don't like to make a spectacle."

"True, but I hate the thought of having you near me and not touching you even more," he said.

He lowered his lips down to her neck and she pulled his shirt out of his trousers to caress his abs underneath.

Her moans got louder and soon he was trying to undo the knot on her blouse without much success. "Are you kidding me?" He growled.

"It's because the fabric is tied around my neck," Sybil informed him.

"Woman, you are trying my patience at the moment," Mikael growled. "How am I supposed to touch your breasts if I can't access them?"

Sybil chuckled nervously. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry."

"Are you laughing at me?" Mikael asked. "Is this funny to you?"

"Just a minute. There," Sybil cried after undoing the knot. "Are you happy?"

"Ecstatic," Mikael replied, kissing her soundly before pushing her shirt off her shoulders. He began kissing her neck and shoulders before gently biting her through her bra.

"Oh!" She cried and held onto his hair, pulling him closer to her. They kissed furiously, hands going everywhere, not knowing where one ended and the other began.

"Damn it, Sybil," he groaned as he tried to undo the tiny buttons on her pants. "Why? Why do you always make me work for it?"

She bit her lip on a smile. "Would you really enjoy it more if it was easy to get?" She asked. "And I never know when you're gonna show up and want me. If you would just plan these things maybe I'd dress a little easier for you."

"There," he said and kissed her again to shut her mouth as he slipped his hand under the waistband after dealing with the buttons. There was one thing he wanted to hear out of that pretty mouth and it wasn't babbling.

"Oh, Mikael," she moaned between kisses. "Harder, harder!"

He listened, his lips against her ear. "I will always jump your bones, any time, anywhere. Now and forever."

She stared into his eyes and kissed him again until at last, she climaxed, her head buried in his neck so she wouldn't scream out and make everyone stare. He then let her go, his gaze not particularly warm, and as they both dressed again, she started crying.

"What now?" Mikael asked.

"You always have a talent to break my heart in a thousand pieces!"

Sensing he'd made some sort of mistake, he ran a nervous hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, but I can't be close to you and not touch you. It's impossible!"

She gave him a good hard slap. "Then don't be around me. Just leave me alone!" Then she stormed off, leaving him alone in the corridor.

"Thank goodness we're out of there!" Malachai panted as he and Avery burst through his office door and shut it behind him. "I saw things I just can't unsee!"

Avery smiled and sighed. "Isn't it wonderful how in love they are? Oh, my father, it's wonderful! Did you see?"

"Oh, I saw," Malachai nodded. "Now I'm going to have nightmares! And we didn't even see the worst of it. Thank goodness I pulled you away before they started having sex right there in the corridor!"

"Well, I needed proof of their feelings so I could throw all my good work in Daddy's face," Avery told him.

"Not to burst your happy bubble, but...I still don't think they're on the same page, and just because there's a strong sexual attraction, that doesn't mean they'll get married any time soon."

"Well, no," Avery crossed her arms over her chest. "But its a start; a step in the right direction."

Malachai shrugged. "Hopefully. Time will tell with those two but...just to warn you, Mikael is a stubborn bull."

Avery scoffed and put her hands on her hips. "You don't say!" She began pacing. "Now...she disappeared after she felt he was pushing her away. After he kicked her out of his house. What if she's anchored to him somehow? What if being with him assures she'll stay on Earth?"

"You know, you could have something there!" Malachai exclaimed.

"Okay, but that still doesn't explain why she would vanish into the other world, except...Oh, my gosh, my crazy sister!"

"What?" Malachai frowned. "I feel like I'm missing something here."

Avery scoffed. "I can't believe I didn't think of it before when it makes all the sense in the world! The reason why Sybil can't be whole is because of my sister?"

Malachai blinked. "Excuse me?"

"My sister!" Avery repeated slowly as if he were a fool. "Azrael, the short, irritating Angel of Death! She's jealous that I have powers that could make her useless, so she's doing all she can to stop me from reaching my full potential! I wish Dad could have told me, but since everyone else has had their jobs for a gazillion years, he doesn't check up on them anymore." She heaved a big sigh. "I guess it's all up to me!"

"I don't believe it!" Malachai cried.

"Believe it!" Avery insisted. "What other explanation is there?"

They both jumped when a loud, furious knock interrupted them. "I wonder who that is?" Malachai drawled. They went to take their seats around the desk, dust off their clothes and look as normal as possible. "Come in, Mikael," Malachai called.

Mikael growled as he threw open the door and slammed it shut. "It took you forever to answer!" He complained.

"You're exaggerating," Malachai cried. "It took maybe five seconds!"

"Whatever!" Mikael narrowed his eyes at Avery. "And just who is that?"

"Hi!" Avery said with a smile. "I'm-"

"Not interested," Mikael snapped. "I believe I was asking Malachai!"

"Okay, then," Avery sighed, stepping back to sit heavily in Malachai's chair.

"Why do you need to ask me?" Malachai asked him. "She has a mouth! She can talk. Mikael Mikaelson, Avery Morningstar."

Mikael rolled his eyes. "Oh, that figures. She's just your type of woman."

"Hello to you too, Mr. Mikaelson," Avery got out.

Mikael continued to keep his eyes on Malachai. "I don't have all day. How's she coming on Sibyl's case?"

Malachai turned to Avery. "I'm sorry, dear. This is him being charming."

"Oh, he's a real gentleman," Avery winced.

"Just stop with all that and tell me why Sybil's always disappearing on me!" Mikael snapped.

Avery cleared her throat. "Well, we're working on finding a solution that fits everything that's been happening to her.

"How long will it take?" Mikael asked, his eyes narrowing. "I'm not a patient man."

"Not really, but..." Avery muttered.

"Well, then just tell me what you found!"

"Actually," Malachai began, "Sybil was here not too long ago and told us that you and she had gotten...close."

Mikael's eyes widened. "She told you that? What did she say?"

"Well," Avery cleared her throat. "That you passed some time together, and that you, um..."

"That you had sex," Malachai finished.

Mikael quickly rose to his feet and pushed everything on Malachai's desk onto the floor with a clatter that made both Malachai and Avery jump. "Don't you tell me that my entire relationship with her is about sex," he hissed dangerously.

Avery stood up, shaking her head. "Oh, no, no! We wouldn't do that, would we Malachai?"

"No," Malachai shook his head.

"What's a better word?" Avery pressed. "Copulate?"

Mikael growled and prepared to launch himself at Avery, only stopping when Malachai shielded her with his body. "She can't be killed so don't bother."

"I apologize," Avery told Mikael. "I know that was a step too far."

"Let's just say you have an intimate relationship," Malachai got out when he was sure Avery was safe. "Is that a gentle enough way of phrasing it?"

"Regardless, what does that have to do with anything?" Mikael asked.

"You'll let Avery live?" Malachai questioned.

"Well, you just said she couldn't be killed, so I don't see how I could do anything else," Mikael said. "What's the point in all this?"

They all headed back to their chairs and sat down.

"The point is, that Avery thinks Sybil is anchored to you somehow; attached to you," Malachai said.

"Anchored?" Mikael's eyebrows knitted. "Like an invisible link between us?"

"Yes, and it helps her stay on Earth in a solid, human form." Avery nodded.

"Well, if we're linked, why does she keep disappearing?" Mikael cried.

Malachai cleared her throat. "Well, our running theory is that Avery's sister, Azrael, who is the Angel of Death, got really mad when she found out about the spell to bring all the souls back. Therefore, she tried to stop it with her own magic but since they're both directly Steve's kids, neither is more powerful than the other, putting the souls in a tug of war between life and death."

Mikael rubbed his temples. He was getting a headache. "So...how do we fix it?"

"I'll summon her here and have a talk with her as soon as possible," Avery promised.

Mikael nodded and stood up. "You better not dawdle." He strode to the door and pulled on the handle.

"Mikael?"

"What, Malachai?" he asked, without turning to face his friend.

"Why are you pushing her away?" Malachai asked. "A blind man could see that you two care for each other very much."

Mikael sighed and looked at his friend, hand still on the doorknob. "I'm no good, you know that; therefore, she is better off without me."

He left, shutting the door gently behind him while Avery silently screamed and pounded her fists on Malachai's desk. "Is he nuts? Is he deaf? Did he completely miss the part where we said she is anchored to him so being with someone else is not an option? How could he not understand that part?"

Malachai sighed and pulled her onto his lap. "He will, eventually," He said, kissing her fingers. "Even if my friend has to go through a lot of pain first to get it through his head."

"So," Malachai said as he put a cup of coffee down for Avery on the edge of his desk. "What do you think of Mikael now? Charming, isn't he?"

Avery sighed, took the coffee, and stared out the window. "Maybe I'm crazy now I've met him. Maybe he and Sybil won't work out. I hope they will though. She must be in love with him if she's willing to put up with all that. I had no idea he was such a brute!"

"He;'s not so bad once you get to know him," Malachai pointed out. "Maybe she sees something in him we don't."

She sighed. "I have more important things to think about, like trying to contact of my sister."

"You seem tense," Malachai told her and came up behind her, pulling her close. "And since you seem tense, maybe I could with that. Maybe we can have some passionate moments of our own." He put his lips on her neck, making her giggle.

"What in the world has gotten into you?" She asked. "You're usually so serious! If this is what's gonna happen every time you talk to Mikael, maybe you should see him more often!"

"Nothing's wrong," Malachai shrugged. "Can't a man just tell a woman he loves her and wants her?"

"Wants her?" Avery repeated. "You better be serious about this. You better not be joking! I don't think my heart and libido could take it if you were!"

"I'm not," Malachai replied. "I'm absolutely serious!"

"What, now?" Avery looked around. "In your office? During a work day, even if it's nearly over? No offense but that's not very romantic!"

"Of course not in here during a work day," Malachai assured her with a wink. "We've waited long enough for this that I'm not going to throw the chance away or make it dull. I have some time until I have to do the next thing on my list. Let's go to my place."

"But," Avery pouted, "Your place is so far away and the roads are packed at this time of day. We could be stuck in traffic for ages!" She thought for a moment and then her eyes lit up. "What about my parents' place? It's just down the street!"

Malachai was horrified. "You're proposing we have sex in a place where your parents are? Have you lost your mind?"

"No, no, calm down." Avery put calming hands on his shoulders. "They've gone to some sort of conference and won't be back for a few days. The house is empty!"

"What about Pepper?" Malachai pressed. "The last thing we need is an overexcited dog making your parents' neighbors call the police because they think the house is being robbed cause he doesn't know me very well."

"Oh, they took Pepper with them," Avery said. "Daddy didn't want to be away from him for so long and he doesn't really trust kennels. Any more objections?"

"Nope, I'm all right now," Malachai winked and took her hand. "No reason to hold off anymore."

"I sure don't see any," Avery agreed and they carefully made their way out of Malachai's office, with Avery trying to suppress giggles because even though what she was doing was completely okay and harmless, she felt like she was about to get away with something very, very naughty.

"Da-dum, da dum!" Avery sang, giggling as Malachai carried her bridal style into the house and shut the front door with his foot. "You better do this again when we get married. I like it!"

"What?" He asked her as he put her on her feet, leaning her against the closed front door. "This?" He smiled and began making out with her, relieved more than he could say that no dog would come and interrupt them.

"Oh, oh, gosh," Avery murmured as his hands began to roam all over her body and one kiss just led to another. "You're really on fire, aren't you?" She pulled his lips away from her neck by holding his face in both hands.

"What?" Malachai asked. "Are you all right? I thought this was what you wanted. It still is, right?"

"Oh, it is," Avery nodded. "But...it's been such a long time coming, and I've dreamed about what it would be like so many times that I just...I feel like it's all gonna end and I'm gonna wake up alone in my bed again. I'm not, am I? I'm here, you're here? This is real?"

"You better believe it's real," he nodded, picking her up and carrying her toward the stairs to go up to her bedroom. "On second thought," he said, pausing at the foot of the stairs, "What do you say we start down here? Not for long. Just a little."

"What, you think I'm going to protest?" Avery asked as he turned and sat down with her on the sofa. She quickly undid the buttons of his shirt and together they pulled off hers and let it land on the floor before they began kissing again.

"Yes," Avery murmured between kisses, her fingers sliding down his bare chest to the buttons on his jeans. "Yes!"

"No, no," he said, a wicked glint in his eye as he grabbed her wrist. "Not here. That's for upstairs.

"You sure you'll be able to get up there after we do this?" She asked.

He nibbled on her earlobe and neck. "If I cant," he said. "I'm sure you'll be more than willing to zap us up. Won't you?"

"Oh, yes," Avery said, shutting her eyes as his hands went down her back and undid her bra before cupping her bottom before nudging her onto her back. "Yes, I will."

With her bra undone and her desperate to undo his pants, she zapped them both upstairs soon after, settling them both down in bed. "Figured we don't want to have to move too much more," she smiled and booped his nose and kissed him. They got her bra and underwear off and as they were working on his pants, he moved and rolled right off the bed.

"Damn, why is your bed so small?" Malachai asked as his head hit the floor. Then he sat up and noticed the pink painted walls and the shelves of dolls and stuffed animals. All of them were facing the bed. It was like performing for an audience.

"Are you okay?" Avery asked, peering down at him. "Do you have a bump?"

"N-no, I'm fine," Malachai said and got up, tossing his pants aside as Avery leaned forward and started kissing him again. "But. Could. We. Please-"

"Could we please what?" Avery asked. "What do you want to do? Is it something really dirty cause I'm into that!"

"Your toys," Malachai got out. "All the dolls and things. Could you...could you move them? I don't like being watched."

"Malachai it's okay," Avery said, running her fingers through his hair. "They aren't real. They won't hurt you."

"Right," Malachai nodded and took a deep breath. "Sure."

"You're so tense!" Avery told him. She was completely naked now and her hands were all over his body. "Why don't you let me start? Ease some of that tension?"

"I...oh!" Malachai gasped. As he spoke, a particular brown teddy bear seemed to frown at him. Then, as Avery continued to rub him and he climaxed, it fell off the shelf along with a couple others.

"What?" Avery asked as Malachai pointed over her shoulder. She turned. "Oh, it's okay. I know where they go. I'll put them back once we're done. Those are the first ones Daddy and Mom got me."

"W-really?" Malachai asked. "They're just...stuffed animals right? They don't have cameras or anything in them do they?"

"No," Avery shook her head. "Are you gonna be worried now that they do?"

"Kinda," Malachai nodded. "Please make them go away. Please?"

"Oh, all right," Avery nodded, with a wave of her hand, a curtain covered both the bear shelf and the doll shelf so they weren't visible. "Is that better?"

"Yes," Malachai took a deep breath. "Thank you. That's much better."

"Good," Avery nodded and grinded against him as his hands went up her stomach and gently squeezed her breasts. "Very good."

He kissed her several times more and then finally moved her so that she was on the bottom, looking up at a wicked smile that was one of the most alluring things she'd ever seen in her life. Then her jaw dropped as he tied her wrists together over her head.

"This is a surprise," she said. "Scared I'm gonna try and run off?"

"Oh, no," Malachai shook his head. "I just don't want you to fall like I did." Then he parted her legs and carefully began to taste her.

"Yes," she muttered. "Oh, yes." Her hips bucked and Malachi continued, slowly but surely, until she climaxed with a cry, very glad that she was secure.

"I'm...I'm glad you did that now," she said as he ran his hands over her body, swirled his tongue around her belly button, and gently bit each one of her breasts in turn.

"I thought you would be," he nodded, kissing every bit of her body he could get his lips on. Her skin was so hot now.

"If..." Avery panted, "If I didn't know any better, I would think I'm going to hell for this."

"No," Malachai shook his head. "Not you."

"Come inside me now!" Avery begged. "I need you inside me."

Malachai clicked his tongue and rubbed against her gently. "Say please," he said.

"Please come inside me?" Avery asked. "Even though you're a big tease?"

"What fun would it be if I let you have me so easily?" Malachai grinned. Then he buried himself inside her, taking Steve's daughter on a bed covered in a comforter with smiling ponies.

"Yes!" Avery cried. They both felt release with enough force to send them tumbling off the small bed onto the floor. Shocked, they paused a moment and looked at one another and after making sure they were both okay, Avery said, "Do you want to try and get back on the bed?"

"No," Malachai shook his head and continued to push into her while sucking gently on each nipple. "I'm good here. Are you?"

"Oh, yes," Avery nodded, pushing a nearby staring bear further away, running her hands down his back and firmly squeezing his bottom. "I'm fine where I am, thanks."

"Yeah, Malachai nodded, liking the feeling of her fingers in his hair as they both tried to catch a breath before going at it again. "Me too."

"No," Sybil cried as she ran inside her apartment, the bag from the pharmacy clutched tightly in her hands. "How could I be so stupid? How did I not think that I could get pregnant, especially after twenty four hours with a man and no real protection!

She sat down and took several deep breaths. She knew why. It had felt so good to be wanted...to be in some place that felt familiar, that she didn't want to think of anything else. She hadn't planned on going to bed with a man so soon. That was her excuse. She shut her eyes and begged whatever helped demons to get her through this, and if that happened, she would go straight to the doctor and be checked out so she could have some pills. She did her business on the stick, then waited and begged and hoped. One blue line. One blue line. And eventually, that's what she saw.

She laughed to herself and wiped her eyes. She was fine. Thank Steve. She was just late. No need to give Mikael so much credit. He probably wasn't that virile anyway. He wasn't someone she wanted a life with him...or kids. As she thought this, her phone rang. She saw who it was and groaned, letting it ring for what seemed like several more minutes out of pure spite before answering.

"What?" She yelled before he could say anything. "What is it that you want now?"

"All I want to know is if you got home safely," Mikael told her, sounding somewhat alarmed. "No need to bite my head off!"

"Well, I got home fine," Sybil told him. "Goodbye!"

"Oh, come on, Sybil," Mikael tried to calm her down. "Talk to me, please? Face time me? I need to look in your eyes."

"Are you sure it's my eyes you want me to look at?" Sybil asked dryly. "Once I turn it on, you'll probably just want me to flash you again, cause that's all I am to you. A body."

"So...absolutely no flashing at all, now that you brought it up? Not even a little?" Mikael asked hopefully.

"No," Sybil snapped. "You asked for twenty four hours with me and I gave it to you. Then you threw me out. And just today, may I remind you, you used me to sate your urges right in a very public corridor, which was incredibly humiliating to me. It made me feel like a whore! So now it's my turn to throw you out. To hang up on you! And I'm not sorry!"

"I wouldn't act so rashly if I were you," Mikael told her. "Remember who's paying for your schooling. I'm your benefactor."

A chill went up Sybil's spine. "Just what does that mean?"

"Not much," Mikael told her. "Just...I'd like for you to keep in touch with me about what goes on during your school year. Let me know about your grades, accomplishments...things like that."

"Or what?" Sybil asked, her hands balling into fists as she gnashed her teeth. She'd never been so angry in her life.

"If you're worried that I'm trying to interfere or get something from you, it's nothing like that," he said. "I just want what's best for you and the other students in the program."

"Don't lie to me, you son of a bitch!" Sybil yelled. "I know that you'll pull your money from the program and let down a lot of people if I don't take part. What's your game? What do you want from me?"

"Nothing like what you're thinking," Mikael told her. "At least not where this is concerned. When it comes to your schooling, I only ask for a short phone call every now and then to see how things are going and if you're happy. That's all."

She closed her eyes and heaved an exaggerated sigh. "Fine. A three minute phone call."

"Ten!"

"Five!"

"Seven!"

"Deal!" Sybil decided. At least it wasn't in the double digits.

"And Sybil..." Mikael continued.

"What?" Sybil asked warily. "What now, Mikael?"

"I just...since it's distressed you, I'd like to apologize for my actions toward you today. Though I didn't mean them that way, you clearly saw them as inappropriate so it won't happen again, even though just thinking of you makes me mad with desire and looking at you makes me lose control because you're so damn beautiful.I'm sorry. Goodbye."

"Wait!" Sybil cried, shocked that he was actually apologizing. And the compliments weren't bad either.

"What?" Mikael asked.

"I just...since you seem to be understanding now, I want to clarify something," she said. "It's not that I never want us to do what we did. I just...I want you to be sure about us before we do. No more having sex and then pulling away for ages. Cause that's what makes me feel bad, rather than the sex itself."

"Are you saying you...you like it?" Mikael asked.

"I do," Sybil nodded. "I wouldn't be so upset to be without it if I didn't. Goodbye, Mikael."

"Goodbye, dear," Mikael told her and ended the call, after which Sybil took a deep breath, shook her head, and tightly hugged a pillow to her chest, trying to get herself to stop thinking of him and what she'd just stopped for who knew how long.

Malachai chuckled, gently running his fingers through Avery's hair. She was resting with her eyes closed (although she wasn't soundly sleeping) and the sheets were situated in such a way that very little of her was actually covered.

"What's so funny?" Avery asked with a smile. "What's got you so happy?"

Malachai smiled. "I like you, Avery Morningstar," he said. "I like you a lot!"

"Why?" Avery asked. "I want you to tell me reasons."

"Well, you're funny, sexy, free-spirited," Malachai told her. "And it might not come as a surprise to you, but I need that in my life."

"Yes, but don't forget that I'm also stubborn, persistent, a real pain in the butt..." she winked.

"True, but I'm used to that now," Malachai said. "It keeps me on my toes. I like you...pain in the butt or not."

"I like you too!" She responded happily. "Although that should come as no surprise to you."

Then she sat up. "You know, Mr. Sex Bomb, after the workout I just had, I'm kind of hungry, aren't you? I don't know what made you be so different but I definitely didn't mind it one bit."

"Yes," Malachai nodded, noticing his stomach growl after he tickled her and made her laugh. "Now that you mention it, yes I am hungry. Want me to go down and get us something from the fridge?"

"Would you, please?" Avery asked sweetly. "My parents just went grocery shopping so it's good and full. I'm sure you'll find something. But-" Her eyebrows knitted.

"But what?" Malachai asked.

"But you might want to put on some pants before you go downstairs," Avery warned. "You never know who might see you."

"Oh, don't be silly," he said, brushing off her concerns. "It's only us here. I'll be back with food in a few minutes."

"Great!" Avery told him. "And Malachai?"

"Yes?" Malachai asked, pausing with his hand on the doorknob.

"Thanks for this," Avery told him. "Thanks for just...letting go, letting me see the wild, passionate side of you...trusting me."

"And surrendering to the inevitable?" Malachai asked dryly.

"Yeah," Avery blushed. "That."

Malachai chuckled. "Well, like I told you, I like you very much," he said. "I wouldn't have done this if I didn't." He gave her one more wink and, sure that he and Avery were alone, headed to the kitchen, unashamedly naked as the day he was born. But as he put his hand on the refrigerator door, he heard a cough. A loud, distinctive cough that couldn't have been mistaken for something like the house settling.

"Avery?" He called without turning around. "Is that you?"

"Don't be scared," came Gwen's voice.

"This is certainly a surprise," Steve added. "I wish I could have been prepared for it."

"Oh, shit," Malachai whispered, doing his best to cover himself up with his hands as he turned around, chuckling nervously. Then he just gave up. His cover was blown and there was no way he could be more humilated then he was right now. "Steve! Gwen! H-hello."

"To what do we owe the honor of this surprise?" Steve asked.

"This very big surprise," Gwen added with a wide grin as her eyes swept his body.

"Avery!" Malachai yelled, wanting to sink into the floor. "Your parents are home!"