Amy dragged herself out of bed and began brushing her hair and thinking about her current predicament. Amy Burke, or as she would be called in the human (or most other worlds, except her own), Amy Mikaelson Mikaelson Mikaelson. Yes, she had been foolish enough to marry a Mikaelson again! And it wasn't because she liked Kol or anything (so she kept telling herself, although even she could admit that she found him nice to look at), but the fact of the matter was, he'd gotten her pregnant and convinced himself that she was carrying their son. It was truly a dirty trick!

She growled and yanked the brush so hard that the tangle she'd gently been working on came free. Amy stared at it, cursed under her breath, and threw the brush in the sink.

The pain of having her hair yanked out had woken her up a little, but she was still groggy as she dragged herself to the very modern, high-tech kitchen of the penthouse, sitting down at the table and yawning several times. It was a new thing for her to wake up tired, but as Kol had kept her up all night wanting to have sex with her, she'd only truly slept a few hours. Damn the man!

"Hello, darling!" The sound of his voice made her jump about a mile. He was standing by the coffee machine and looking very chipper. "Did you sleep well?" He teased.

"Not so loud!" She cried. "Do you mind? Get me some black coffee and then go to hell!"

"Is that the way to talk to your sexy, handsome new husband?" He asked as he poured her the coffee, then gave her a smirk as he set it down in front of her.

She shrugged nonchalantly, turning her gaze toward the window, ignoring him to take in a panoramic view of the city before raising the cup to her lips and taking a long drink. "I would prefer we don't talk at all about last night," she said. "I fulfilled my marital duties, so leave me alone during the day! Or better yet, now that we're expecting the son that all you vampires think is so important, leave me alone during the day too!" She grinned slyly. "And the day the baby is born, we'll start working on the divorce. Just to give you a heads up about where this stupid marriage is going, so you don't make any big plans."

"I know you fulfilled your wife duties last night," Kol grinned. "Several times, if I remember correctly." He then laughed into his coffee cup. "Darling, if you think for even one second that I'll agree to divorce you, you're being extremely foolish. Or lying to yourself." He started chucking again.

"What's so funny?" Amy asked, narrowing her eyes and bringing her cup down so hard on the table that it cracked.

"Well," Kol grinned and bit his lip. "The effort you're putting into trying not to fall in love with me is really hilarious! Or is it more about me?" He asked as he played with her curls. "Do you think that if you act like a bitch, I'll get angry and throw you out? Or demand an annulment?"

"Hopefully," Amy murmured without looking at him.

"Well, if that's your plan," he told her as he crossed his arms in front of his bulging chest. "You'll have to be worse in bed. You did a wonderful job sucking my dick last night. And not only that, you looked like you enjoyed yourself very much!"

Amy rolled her eyes, gently hopped off her stool, and dumped the rest of her coffee down the sink. "Don't think that means anything," she replied. "It's not 'evidence' of whatever vision of us you have in your head. Sex is sex and I need it from time to time." She paused. "You will give just like you get, right? Our time in bed isn't only gonna be about your dick if I have to put up with you."

Kol smirked. "Is that so?" He asked as he wiped the corner of his lips with a napkin and jumped off the stool he'd gone to sit on with his own cup. "Tell me," he asked, coming to stand next to her, his lips on her ear. "Tell me, Amy: Did you enjoy sucking my brothers' dicks too when you were with them, or was it an obligation then, too?" He paused and nibbled her earlobe. "Or you could make it easy on yourself and just admit you enjoy sucking my dick, which is why you've been such an ice cube with everyone else."

Amy went pale and swayed a little before he grabbed her and kept her upright. But it wasn't long before she got her wits back, freed herself from his grip, and slapped him hard, panting heavily as her heart pounded wildly in her chest.

Kol said nothing, only bringing his right hand to his face and cracking his jaw a few times. "Well, if I wasn't awake before, I definitely am now! Nothing like a good slap from your wife in the morning, wouldn't you say?"

"Don't try and make me feel bad," Amy lashed out. "You deserved it! What you said to me was awful! You know I'd never lord my relationships with your brothers over you! If it's something you need to talk about because you're jealous and insecure, just say so!"

He snorted and burst out laughing so hard that he couldn't breathe or speak for several seconds. "Oh, that was funny," he said when he could get a breath, although he was holding his stomach. "A very good joke, darling. I'm not jealous of my brothers at all, and I'll even admit I crossed a line with my words. But now that I've said my peace, are you going to look me straight in the eye and be foolish enough to say I wasn't wrong?"

"Oh, go to hell!" Amy snapped and began to make her way back to their room.

He followed close behind her, his voice losing every trace of good humor and becoming very subdued. "That's always your way, isn't it, Amy? To run from things that scare you instead of facing them. Interesting behavior from someone in your line of work, wouldn't you say?"

"And I don't know what you're talking about," Amy shook her head, then spun to face him. "Are you meaning the pregnancy and being forced into marriage? Or is it that I'm stuck here in this penthouse and can't beg my daughter to go back to my old apartment because that would make her think I was unhappy and that's the last thing I want for her after she's already been through so much?"

"No," Kol shook his head. "I mean that you're running away from the fact that you're attracted to me! Something about this is scaring you and you're using your failed relationships with my brothers as an excuse not to get close to me or let me help you! Let me help you and just…admit to yourself that you're madly in love with me, Amy Burke! It'll make things easier for both of us!"

She blushed and met his eyes. "Believe what you want, but my relationships with your brothers weren't all bad!"

"Really?" Kol asked. He crossed both his arms in front of his bulging chest. "Let's see: with my lunatic brother Klaus, you were treated like a toy he only played with when he was bored, and and things with Elijah the Bland were so boring that I don't know if he knew where to put his dick when you guys went to bed!"

"We had a daughter together!" Amy reminded him, stomping her foot.

"So?" Kol shrugged. "Sometimes a guy can get lucky!" Then he chuckled.

"Well, at least when I was with your brothers, they were capable of occasionally thinking of other things besides their egos and their dicks!" Amy spat.

"What does that even mean?" Kol shrugged, dumbfounded.

"It means," she hissed, "that all you think about is sex, sex, sex, all the time!" She shook her head as she spoke, her curls flying in every direction.

"Because that's what you need!" He told her. "It's how you're going to get out of your own head!"

"Both Klaus and Elijah were romantic!" Amy explained further. "At least they had the decency to act like they were interested in more about me than what's in my pants or under my skirt! I want to be romanced and you don't know how to do that at all!"

That got him at last. He stared blankly at his wife, his jaw dropping. "I…you think that I, Kol Mikaelson, have no romantic feelings in me?" He pointed at his chest.

"Yeah, you heard me!" Amy nodded, crossing her arms and staring him down. "And I stand by it!"

"Really?" Kol asked. "Is that your logic as to why I've been alone for so long, woman? Because I'm not romantic and I can't love anyone?"

Amy lowered her eyes to the floor, a blush finally coloring her cheeks because she sensed she'd gone too far. "I didn't say that," she mumbled and gazed at her shoes.

"You didn't have to," Kol shook his head. "But you certainly implied it. And if you want me to show you how wrong you are, I'll gladly accept your challenge!" He then took off down the opposite corridor without another word, leaving Amy alone and stunned in the kitchen.

"Kol?" She called. "What did you mean? Come back here! Come back and tell me just what you mean!" But she was met with silence. Growling in frustration, she picked up a small knickknack from the counter and examined it. "I hate you," she said. "I hate you, Kol Mikaelson!"

Then, with a grunt, she threw the…well, she wasn't exactly sure what it was, other than breakable, against the wall, smiling with satisfaction as it shattered.

Klaus dragged the lawn mower up to the front of the large hacienda home, then tried to remember where the thing was that turned it on. Not that he'd never done anything like it before, but it had been awhile, since he preferred to pay people to do such trivial things for him.

But today, Pedro, the kind Mexican human who took care of his lawn, was home sick with the flu. That wouldn't have been an issue for Klaus himself. He didn't mind letting things get a little wild if need be.

But Angelica was a different story. Apparently, his lovely mate's neat freak, orderly tendencies didn't just pop up during work hours. She was now looking out the window every chance she got and making less than subtle hints that that grass needed to be cut, that they didn't live in the jungle and other nonsense like that. But she was pregnant and going through a lot, and he loved her, so…even though he didn't think it was necessary, he got the lawn mower out and here he was, ready to cut the grass.

As he looked for the button or whatever to turn it on, he realized that it probably didn't have any gas in it, or that he should at least see how much there was. He went and got the gas can and bent down to fill up the tank when he heard a voice call out to him.

"Klaus, got a minute?"

The hybrid froze, his eyes wide. No! No, no, no! Why him? It was just his fucking luck!

The voice was easily recognizable to him: Mrs. Johnson's grandson, Julian, who also happened to be Angelica's mother's alleged lover. Not that they'd had any trysts recently, or would in the conceivable future since, for some reason, Ellie had chosen to go back to Lucifer, but…he wasn't stupid. Klaus knew in his gut that the devil had threatened Ellie somehow or had given her some reason not to leave him. But of course, Angel couldn't know about this. Because if she did, she would march back home and try and save her mother, possibly giving herself up to her father again in the process and, especially with their baby on the way, there was not a chance in hell (no pun intended, he grinned to himself,) that he was going to let that happen!

"Klaus? Klaus, can you hear me?" He heard the human man's words but didn't reply, straightening up and turning the mower on instead, its loud noise covering up anything Julian said.

"Hey, Julian!" He yelled at last and waved. "Sorry I couldn't hear you before. As you can see, I'm mowing the lawn and it's very noisy! Vroom, vroom, vroom, you know?" He paused. "Sorry, I can't chat, but it was nice to see you. Bye!" He began pulling the mower as far away from Mrs. Johnson's driveway as he could. Because if he stayed to chat with Julian, he knew the young man would ask him things he didn't want to talk about.

He knew in his guts that Julian would want to talk about a certain relative of his named Eleanor Mikaelson. He had figured it all out by his lonesome self!

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Julian called as he watched the hybrid struggle with the mower before he ran toward him and put a hand gently on his arm so he wouldn't startle too badly. "Hey. Looks like you could use a break from doing battle with that thing. You got two minutes for me?"

Klaus startled pretty bad anyway before turning to stare at Julian. "What?" He cried, pretending he couldn't hear the human man.

Julian leaned forward to shut the mower off, and then stood up straight. "I thought supernatural beings had superior hearing," he pointed out

"Yes, we do, but…" Klaus tried to think of some excuse to give to the human man. "But…something about the mower messes with it, you know? I can't explain it, so don't ask me!"

"Of course you can't," Julian replied, dumbfounded. "Cause I think you just made it up."

"You don't know that," Klaus replied. "Since you're human, you can't possibly know everything about the supernatural world. Just trust me, okay?" He was starting to feel really uncomfortable, and just wanted to end the conversation. "Now if you'll excuse me. I have grass to cut. Someone in my house is insisting strenuously."

"I know, but…two minutes of your time, please," Julian asked. "Then I promise I'll go away."

Klaus sighed and looked heavenward. Clearly there was no way out of this. Why him?

"All right," he told the human man at last, after a quick look at the hacienda to make sure that Angelica wasn't spying and plotting World War III. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, this might sound weird to you, but I've been seeing a woman," Julian told him. "And she's from the supernatural world."

"Right," Klaus nodded. "And?"

"And…you aren't surprised?" Julian questioned, his voice full of awe.

"Why should I be?" Klaus asked, glancing at the windows again as he tried to figure out a way to get Julian to wrap up the conversation because he knew they wouldn't be lucky forever.

"What if I told you she was a Mikaelson like you?" Julian questioned. "Then would you be shocked?"

"Really, wow!" Klaus got out, avoiding Julian's eyes. "Well, you know we're a very large family. Lots of nieces, nephews, and cousins, all over the world. So it's entirely possible that even though she shares my name, I don't know her at all."

"That's weird," Julian made a face. "Because she told me that she knew your stepfather, my boss. And that she knew you as well. Her name is Eleanor Mikaelson. We've gone out a few times. And then we slept together. I thought for sure that we clicked. Then, out of nowhere, she tells me she can't see me anymore! It was a total surprise, and it didn't feel right. What if she's in danger for liking a human and didn't really want to break up with me at all?"

"You slept together?" Klaus asked, ignoring the rest. "Well, good for you! Her name doesn't ring a bell though. She must be a very distant cousin. Klaus tried not to sound as nervous as he felt, his eyes straying to his watch. "Sorry that it didn't work out between the two of you. Better luck next time, okay? Maybe stick with a human this time." He cleared his throat. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some tomatoes to pick so I can make a Bolognese sauce for my spaghetti tonight!"

"What?" Julian asked in shock. "What about your lawn?"

"Klaus Mikaelson!"

He swore under his breath at the sound of Angelica's voice, actually feeling a little bit of fear as he turned to see her storming from their home, hands balled into fists on either side of her body, her eyes narrowed at Julian.

"Oh, look who's here!" He got out at last. "My darling girlfriend!" Klaus exclaimed with a wince as he began to push Julian back toward his own house. "Sounds like she needs something, and when your lady needs something, it's not nice to make her wait. Nice talking with you, Julian! Take care!" He gave him a salute, then turned on his heel and strode over to Angelica, putting an arm around her waist.

"What are you…" She began, only a few words escaping her lips before he picked her up and gently put her over his shoulder like a bag of potatoes.

"Klaus Mikaelson, you put me down this minute! Do you hear me?" Angelica was angry and not shy about it.

Julian was trying to be gentlemanly and not stare, but he couldn't help himself and as he watched them, his jaw dropped. "What's going on? Are you two all right?"

"Oh, yeah, don't worry," Klaus told him easily. "She's horny and this is foreplay. Isn't it, love?" He asked before giving Angelica a slap on the bottom and hurrying her inside, ignoring everything she was whispering under her breath that made him a little nervous she knew where he slept.

It took a little time because Angelica was fighting him so much, but finally he got her through the front door and closed it with his foot, smirking at her shouting and horrible name calling, which of course had no effect on him whatsoever (although they might have frightened a lesser man.) She was his mate and he knew deep down that even though she couldn't say it yet, she loved him too. He knew it would take her time to admit it because of how traumatizing her father's rejection and loss was for her. But that was okay. He was more than prepared to take however long she needed to show that she didn't need to worry about losing him too.

They reached the living room and he gently set her down on the Persian rug.

"You! You won't ever do that to me again!" She lashed out at him, shaking her head so her brown curls flew in all directions as she poked his chest. "You are a…"

"No need to repeat it," Klaus interrupted. "You've called me everything already." But he was grinning at her, his hands on either side of his waist.

She let out a growl of frustration, and then raised her hand to slap him across the right cheek.

"Wow, didn't see that coming," he replied, rubbing his red cheek and moving his jaw.

"You…you wanted me here, but now you know," she lashed out. "Now you know the sort of person you brought into your house! I bet you regret it and wish you would have kept me at my father's house, don't you!" She spat, her chin rising. "Tell me the truth! I can handle it!"

A grin curved the right side of Klaus' mouth as he brought his finger up, gently beeping her nose. "Not a chance, Angelica. You're my adorable little fury on two legs! I never back away from a challenge. Especially a beautiful one with a lovely smile when you show it to me and a cute butt!"

"Whatever!" She shrugged off his compliments, although he was delighted to see a slight blush color her cheeks as she began to pace back and forth in front of him. "Just for the future, let me make one thing clear: never humiliate me again by putting me over your shoulder like a bag of potatoes in front of people. Understand?"

"Loud and clear, my little baked potato!" He teased. "But just so we're clear, do you mean all people, or just Julian Johnson?"

"I…" she trailed off and frowned, both hands going to her hips.

"You what?" Klaus asked. "Come on, get it out." He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at her.

"I just wanted to talk to him is all." She explained lightly. "Is it a crime to exchange a few words with my neighbor's grandson?"

"Well, no, it's not, but coming from you, it's absolute bullshit, love," he chuckled. "Especially when you consider that to you, he's not just our neighbor's grandson."

"That's all he'll be to me for now," Angie murmured and brushed some curls from her eyes. "I don't know what else you're implying beyond my wanting to converse with him."

"Well, the way you stormed out of our home made it clear to me that you wanted to shred him to pieces," Klaus told her. "Don't try and say I'm wrong, Angel. I know you too well."

His face was now an inch or so from hers and she couldn't help but notice again how lovely his eyes were.

"I can't say you're wrong if I don't know what you're implying," she repeated obstinately, pouting as her inner little girl made a brief appearance. But luckily, her brain quickly moved on. "What did you mean by calling it our house?" She locked eyes with him.

He gently grabbed her chin to keep her eyes on his so she couldn't look away as he said his next words. "You know very well what I mean, love. This is your home now, as well as mine. You like that, don't you?" He then gave her tempting lips a sweet kiss, tasting the gloss she wore, instead of the usual lipstick in shades of red that usually got all over his face.

She closed her eyes and moaned the second their lips touched. "Why are you kissing me?" She asked after. "To shut me up?"

"Well, since you mentioned it," he smirked teasingly and brushed his scruff against her silky skin for a second. "There is that…and the fact that I just love kissing you."

He kissed her again and she moaned for a second before pushing him at a distance. "So…what did you and he discuss out there?"

"And there she is!" He chuckled. "She's back! I have to hand it to you Angel that you don't stay distracted for very long." He beeped her nose and then turned away before she could complain and went to get a beer from the fridge.

"What?" She pouted as she leaned against the kitchen arch, her arms crossed over her chest

He looked her over leisurely after taking a gulp of beer. "Are you wearing my shorts, Angel?" She clearly was, the designer elastic popping out from underneath her sexy shorts.

"I…maybe. They're comfortable. Are you secretly wishing I was in a thong? And you're not answering my question, Klaus Mikaelson!"

"Basically, he was upset because your mother called him to tell him they were done. And because he doesn't know about your father, he has no idea why she would just abruptly end things with him when things seemed to be going so well."

"Well, if she decided she wants to be with my father again for Grandpa knows what reason, it would make sense that she would break things off with Julian, right?" She asked, although she was doubting her own words.

"You truly believe that your mother up and decided out of nowhere to leave a relationship where she was happy and go back to one where she was miserable? Angel, I know you don't like the guy, but he seemed very clear that there was absolutely nothing your mother did that made that decision believable."

Angelica agreed with a nod. "At the end of the day, though, I can't do a thing if she wants to go back to my dad, even if I…even if I think…" she trailed off and shut her eyes tight, sighing loudly.

"Even if, for the first time in your life, you don't believe your father deserves your mother," Klaus finished.

"Yes," she conceded. "Now that you've said it, please don't make me repeat it!"

"I'm so proud of you, Angel," he gave her a wink.

"Whatever," Angelica huffed. "Just because my father and I are on very shaky ground now, it doesn't mean I'm automatically gonna start liking Julian Johnson!"

"Of course not," Klaus nodded. "How dare he sleep with your mother?"

"He slept with her?" Angelica asked in shock. "Like he actually did? When I said it before, I was just being angry!"

"Come on, Angel, The way they were kissing when you saw them in the garden that day, they weren't two people who were just sitting around and playing Monopoly!" He chuckled.

"If you keep mocking me like this, that's all you're gonna be doing, Klaus Mikaelson," she warned him, sticking out her tongue, before turning on her heel. "Would you go cut the grass, please? We don't live in a jungle!"

"Yes, ma'am," Klaus gave a mock salute. "And it's so polite of you to say please also!"

"Just go, or I'll move to another bedroom!"

"Oh, please, Angel," he told her, unmoved. "You wouldn't last a day without sex from me!"

Klaus glanced up the staircase that led to the upstairs bedroom, hearing the water running in the master bathroom. Good. Angel was taking a good, relaxing bath, which would give him time to go see Julian and apologize for how he'd acted earlier, which had unquestionably been awful. A look out the front window told him that the young man was sitting on his grandmother's front porch. It was now or never. He grabbed two bottles of beer and took one quick look up the stairs, but the sound of Angelica humming in her bath assured him that he could head out and she wouldn't miss him for a while.

He crossed the lawn to reach Mrs. Johnson's porch, only to see Julian gulp down the latest of what seemed to be many bottles of beer.

"Wow, and I thought I had a good idea to bring you one of these," he remarked, holding the bottles up in the air so that Julian could see them.

Julian lowered the bottle he was holding and winced at the hybrid. "Well, look at that! You finally found time for me with all your mowing the lawn and making tomato sauce! I'm impressed!"

Klaus shrugged. "We both know those were terrible excuses on my part." He sat down beside the human man. "And I brought the beer as a way to apologize.

"Well, as you can see, you're late," Julian shot back. "I've started without you!" Julian took a swig of beer, then stared blankly at the street.

"I promise I wasn't being an ass just to be an ass," Klaus tried to explain as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Our family is very fucked up, and…" his fingers went to his hair again.

"You mean Eleanor's family too, right?" Julian remarked dryly. "The woman you know nothing about."

"I lied, yes," Klaus admitted. "And very distantly, she is part of our family. "I hate to say it, but…I can't put myself in the middle of it all. Some people would be very angry if I did. But I swear that my lies have nothing to do with you. They also in no way lessen the respect I have for you and your grandmother." He paused. "Speaking of, when's she coming back? She didn't just get in a plane and fly off forever, did she?"

"Oh, no," Julian shook his head. "She's coming back today. I think it's today. Or tonight. Soon." He paused. "And I thought you still liked us." He grinned.

They then sat in silence, drinking their beers before Klaus commented, "you seem very fond of her. Eleanor, I mean."

"Yep, just my luck, wouldn't you say?" Julian replied with a humorless chuckle. "I fall head over heels for a woman and she just suddenly decides to toss me aside like an old shoe."

"Well, maybe it's better this way," Klaus told him with a shrug, trying to make the human man feel better. "Human-supernatural relationships are hard. Maybe she just wanted to spare you heartache."

"Maybe," Julian sighed. "But still, even if that was the case, I wish she would have had the decency to tell me face to face." He locked eyes with Klaus. "To respect the little time we spent together and show that it meant something to her, and that I wasn't just some bored woman's fling." He paused and sniffled. "It was much more than that to me. I don't even know how to keep going anymore. Is it worth it?"

"Oh, there's no need to think that way," Klaus assured him. "You're a very handsome man! With that face I'm sure you'll have another woman steal your heart in no time. He knew from the pain and distress in the human man's eyes that what he was saying wasn't helping, but there was no way he could actually fix this and bring Eleanor back, so what else was he supposed to do besides try and cheer they guy up?

"No," Julian sighed "I know it's a bit much to say, but…I don't think there'll be anyone else. It's like Eleanor and I were meant to be!"

Shit! Klaus just nodded, hoping the look in his eyes wasn't one of complete panic. Then he stood up. "I'll leave you alone with your thoughts. And don't drink too much more. It'll seem like it helps, but it just makes the hangover suck all the more in the morning."

Julian remained silent as he watched Klaus cross the driveway to his own house. Then he cleared his throat. "Klaus?" He called. "Thanks…thanks for the small talk and the beer. I know that dealing with someone who's really emotional can be a lot, so…I appreciate it.

Klaus smiled, thinking of Angie's face every time her eyes landed on Julian himself. "It's all right," he assured the human man. "Compared to other people I spend a lot of time with, you're very put together."

"Do you…do you think we could have a beer again?" Julian questioned. "You know I'm in the house by myself. I wouldn't mind the company."

"Sure," Klaus nodded. "Whenever you want. Now I have to go make a phone call."

The human man gave him one last goodbye and he hurried into the kitchen, pulling his phone out of his jeans and making a call that he hoped would help his friend just a little.

"Klaus?" Ellie asked in surprise. "It's…I wasn't expecting to hear from you." She was breathing hard. "Has…is something wrong with Angelica or the baby?"

"Oh, no," Klaus shook his head. "Sorry if I worried you." He began to pace. "Angelica is taking a bath at the moment, and your little granddaughter is fine. Don't worry about her."

"A girl?" Ellie smiled. "I'll sleep much easier knowing that. But how do you know it's a girl? Have you seen my father?"

"No, but…I just have a sixth sense that it will be," he grinned.

"I see," Eleanor said. "Now, what did you really call about?"

"It's Julian Johnson."

"You know," she said flatly.

"Well, Angelica and I had just gotten home from the island and saw you both in the garden from our kitchen window. When you kissed, it was kind of hard not to put two and two together. Don't worry, though. I won't judge you. Not a bit. I'm just calling to say that I just saw him and he's in really bad shape. I've never seen a man drink so much beer and not be dead."

"What?" Tears filled Angelica's eyes, her hand going to her belly as she put the phone aside for a second and muttered, "Daddy's not feeling well, but he'll be fine, honey, I promise." She felt the need to assure the baby of that, even though it had no idea at all what things would be like if Julian weren't in the picture. Her eyes widened. Imagine if this one had been anther one of Lucifer's…poor child! "Is…is he sick? Tell me the truth! Is it more than just drinking?"

"No, but isn't that enough?" Klaus asked. "He's absolutely heartbroken. You might not have been together for very long, but you've really done a number on him!"

"Yes, I lied," Ellie admitted. "I just wanted to be happy, and he…he brought me such joy. But now that I've let him in, I've also put him in danger. I broke things off with him to save his life!" Tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"I thought as much," Klaus sighed. "I'm not saying you have to get back together with him or anything, but…at least end things face to face. Don't you think he deserves at least that much respect?"

"Yes, I…I see," she was sobbing now.

"Like I said, I'm just a messenger," Klaus told her since she was clearly hurting. "I'm not judging you. Don't let that asshole of a husband of yours destroy you. You deserve better!"

"Klaus?"

"Yes?" he told her, just about to end the call.

"Thank you for telling me this," she murmured.

"Not a problem."

As the line went silent, Ellie sat with her phone in her lap, thinking about what to do next, biting her bottom lip so hard that she tasted blood.

Klaus was right. Regardless of how good her intentions were for leaving him, Julian deserved to see her face to face. Even if the look she knew would be in his would break her heart more. She couldn't be a coward.

Decision made, she stood up, grabbed her purse, and rushed out of her bedroom, bumping into Milo on her way down the stairs, grabbing him so neither of them fell over.

"Mom, are you okay?" Her wide-eyed son asked. He reminded her so much of Lucifer in happier times that tears almost came to her eyes. "Where are you rushing off to?"

Ellie just smiled and took her youngest's face in her hands. "I'm heading to Klaus'. I need to see your sister. I'll be back soon so you don't wait for me." She continued down the stairs, rushing out the nearest door in a hurry.

Milo watched her go, shut his eyes tight, and slowly let out a breath, doing his best to keep his emotions in check. He knew in his heart that nothing in his life would be the same anymore. Angelica had left the mansion, the best plan of action for her with everything going on between her, his father, and Klaus. And as much as he didn't want to admit it, she had been the heart of the house, or had at least been the only one willing to do what needed to be done to keep the peace in the family. But now that she'd decided to do her own thing, everything was in shambles and the relationship between his mother and father was nonexistent.

"Milo!" He flinched at the sharp, angry tone of his father's voice, then slowly turned to face him.

"What can I do for you, Father?" He asked coldly.

"You can tell me where your mother went," Lucifer said. "Surely she told you before she ran off."

"I couldn't say," Milo shrugged. "Don't forget, I'm just the baby. No one tells me anything."

"I know you're lying, young man," Lucifer hissed through his teeth. "Now, I ask you again: where did your mother go?"

Milo put his hands on his hips. "She went to see Angelica."

"I bet it's not Angelica she's going to see," Lucifer lashed out, his eyes red, Then he grabbed his car keys and ran outside, slamming the door shut and leaving a shocked Milo in his wake.

"Shit," the youngest Morningstar muttered. "This isn't going to be pretty."