A/N: Dedicating this chap to all my readers in the USA, who are having a rough go of it, due to the madness of Mother Nature xx


Also congratulations to Celajwhitney for being the 300th reviewer for this story xx Another couple of places for my Facebook group in this chapter xx Alexis


I was in awe of Esme; she just took this whole thing by the horns and brought it to its knees. Emmett and I were glad; it really wouldn't have worked if Carlisle was going to still hide things from us, things we should by law know! Carlisle was now hiding in his study, fully aware he had once again let us down. Esme and I were discussing who wanted what and which places should be sold. Emmett had gone hunting to burn off some of his pent up anger. We were going to keep a loose connection because we would never abandon Esme like that. But we would never live together again either. Esme suggested we contact Jasper and even Peter and see if our four sets of two could in times of trouble come to each other's aid.

I liked that idea. Esme was taking over from Carlisle; Jasper would have to be in control as Alice couldn't be trusted either. But like Peter and Char, Emmett and I would obviously be a team. There were a couple of places we had lived that I knew were favourites of Jasper and suggested we give them to him. Because I still saw him as my brother and Esme loved him like a son. There was no way he would be punished for Alice's wrongdoings! I know my brother and I bet he's already beating himself up about it as it is. There were a lot of things I was looking forward to finding out the truth about, from Peter. Most of what Carlisle had told us, well it was crap!

IOOH

I had explained to Elijah, that I wasn't running away from the possibility of his sister arriving. We would still go to New York, for my birthday and to meet his accountant, but as we planned it and not as a knee-jerk reaction. In fact, we were invited out to his home on Long Island, somewhere called Great Neck. His wife was hosting a dinner for his clients and we were amongst those invited, my first formal event. Elijah also told me to pick six places or things I wanted to see in the New York area and boy he's going to be surprised! First, it's the Motorcyclepedia Museum in Newburgh, followed by the Dutchess County Historical Society in Poughkeepsie, and then the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston.

Next, the Rip Van Winkle Bridge at Catskill, going onto Albany, really seeing everything as it's the Capital. The penultimate place was Burden Iron Works Museum in Troy and finally the National Bottle Museum at Ballston Spa! I wonder what he'll make of that. I like the unusual and the unexpected, not the glitzy tourist trap stuff! I'll bet he's never been to at least four of these. It's amazing what you learn when you read as much as I have. There is something fascinating and intriguing about unusual museums, well to me there is anyway. Meanwhile, I'm working as much as I can for Teresa and Gareth, to thank them for being there when I needed help.

I won't take their money now, because I'll be leaving and they have been kinder to me than anyone else ever has. But if Rebekah turns up then so be it. I won't hide and I won't run hell that's what most want and then like sharks they'll smell the proverbial blood in the water. I have to stand firm, not just for me but for Elijah too. I'm already aware he shoulders most of the responsibility; he deals with all the financial things and has for a very long time. He's the one who makes sure they have the money to live ridiculously lavish lifestyles with, that frankly, no one needs. He's the investor, he's the powerhouse behind this family, maybe that's why they don't want him to have a life of his own?

Who'd slave away making them rich if he had other things to do, God forbid they might have to do it themselves! Because I would like to see him occasionally relaxing and taking time for himself, never mind me. I don't need him to keep me, I will have a job and from what I've managed to work out he needs the help, someone to share the load and be there to bounce ideas off. All these centuries they have been partying and wallowing in blood while he kept them solvent, it's not fair and very shallow of them. I know he too has a less than stellar past, but it's just that, his past. But from all accounts, Niklaus still behaves like that and I don't think Rebekah has stopped partying since the sixteenth century.

It must be so boring, well to me it would be, but she's just another Alice Cullen! Money and possessions seem to be what they need, to keep them warm at night! I find it rather sad and unimaginative when the world is literally their oyster and they do nothing in it, with it or for it! That's not even touching on Kol's obsession with sex, that's something I'm happy to ignore. I wonder what Finn's deal is because they all seem to have some kind of problems! It seems weird but the Cullens, except for Edward don't seem so bad anymore. Why do immortals have so many issues and hang-ups? With all that time on their hands, you'd think it would have been sorted long ago.

I knew it was her before she opened her mouth. The walk, the superiority, it all screamed entitled! I actually ignored her for a minute or so. I'm a server, not a servant, there is a big difference. It wasn't like I was doing nothing, I was serving but I could have moved faster.

"Girl, I've been waiting for ages!" she whisper-yelled, you know that voice,

"I'm sorry Madame, a table for one?" I ask cheekily since I am the server,

"No! Why would I want to eat here?" she retorted and I couldn't resist,

"Because this is a restaurant!" I say acting confused,

"I'm looking for my brother you stupid girl!" she almost spits at me,

"And?" I ask now still acting oblivious,

"What do you mean and? Where is my brother you imbecile?" she actually screeches,

"Excuse me? I don't know who you are, so how would I know your brother? Speak to me that way again and I'll be forced to remove you!" I say slightly smarting at the insult,

"I'm Rebekah Mikaelson!" she snarls now,

Looks like she doesn't like being pulled up for being rude. I raise an eyebrow before saying,

"Wow, you're nothing alike then! Elijah is polite and refined and you...!"

I tail off letting her fill in the blanks herself. I walk to the landline and call Elijah,

"Hey, your sister is here demanding to see you! Could you come down and take her out of here, please"

"What! Take me to him, right now you moronic girl!" she yells and I ignore her,

She tries to head for the stairs but is confronted by my shield and ends up on her ass. She hisses and rants on about witches, but shuts up as she hears her brother's growl.

"Must you always behave like a spoilt brat? What do you want Rebekah? Why are you here?" he demands,

"Elijah? Could you please take this outside, she's already drawn a crowd and this is still Gareth and Teresa's business!" I say smiling at him,

"No worries Isabella. I'll see you later" he said squeezing my shoulder as he passes me,

She storms out before him and I grab his hand,

"Stay calm, hold firm! You are entitled to a life as well" I whisper and he nods.

IOOH

I waited patiently for Rebekah to start berating Isabella for treating her badly, which she hadn't. What neither was aware was I heard everything and yes Isabella pretended to not know who Rebekah was but she wasn't rude. The minute I heard her voice I went to the landing to listen and as usual Rebekah was behaving rudely and entitled! This was not the worst behaviour she's ever presented. Probably because Isabella didn't fold under her first insult. When nobody fights back Rebekah usually digs in for multiple insults and put-downs. This has long been one of her tactics, does it make her feel better, feel important? I don't know and until now I've never really cared, I know that sounds bad.

We all had our own problems when this all started and well it was rough that's for sure. Finn should have been the one guiding us helping us. But he was so distraught over losing Freya and Henrik, he never wanted Rebekah around and then Klaus decided he should be in charge and although I'm older I went with it to keep us together, but it was a mistake. He is cruel and often brutal in his interactions with not only others but for us as well. Case in point he has Finn and Kol secreted away somewhere, keeping them daggered, just this side of death! At some time throughout the tears, he has done this to all of us, them more than me. Why, because in some warped way he needs me more than them.

"You should insist that girl is fired! She was rude and disrespectful to me!" Rebekah says pretending to be nonplussed about it,

"No! You were rude, you were disrespectful and I doubt they would fire their own niece. Now, why are you here?" I reiterate my earlier question,

"I heard you had a new floozy in your life! I came to check out the gold-dogging bitch!" she started her usual crap thinking I'd laugh,

"Listening at keyholes again sister? My private life is my affair and you will stay out of it. That's if you wish to keep your own wasteful lifestyle!" I retort with a growl and feel my face change in my anger,

I hear Isabella's warning in my head and regain control once again. Rebekah is stunned at first and then starts to get angry and berate me, regardless that we are in a public place. When she sees that's not working she turns on the waterworks and I laugh at her and tell her I'm busy and turn to leave her outside her apartment. I can't believe we just let her do whatever she wanted without recourse. More than anything I was comparing her to Isabella and Rebekah was not measuring up at all. They were the same age and with all her years on earth she was not as mature or grown-up as Isabella. In fact, I really didn't like any of them very much. Yes, I loved them; they were my siblings, but like. No not much!

"I'll tell Klaus! He'll put a stop to this" she yells at my retreating back,

"Of course you will! That about sums you up Rebekah, still a nasty little tattle-tale after all these years! Tell him then, see if I care. Goodbye Rebekah" I say saddened but not surprised,

She gasps at my resigned tone and watches me, as I really leave her standing there. I had put on a brave face, but I knew it would come to this eventually. I didn't want Klaus near Isabella as a human, but she's right we can't run and hide. I will have to face him and if he tries to act like he has in the past, I will retaliate this time! Isabella is more important to me than anyone has ever been and that includes my siblings! I will fight for her and I will win. He may know where the bodies are buried, but I control the money and in this day and age the money is more important! If it's a fight they want, I'm prepared to fight dirty to keep my Isabella safe!

IOOH

I don't understand this! This is not how it normally happens; this is not how this situation usually goes. What's so different this time, what's different about this little tart and how do I find out who she is? He's never reacted to being threatened with Nik, like that before. Is that how he really sees me, as someone who goes running to Nik telling tales, to get my own way! Someone somewhere must know who this vampire is that has compelled my brother; she must be strong for it to work so well on him. What else could it possibly be! I'll ask around, first, prove to Elijah, he's wrong! I don't always go running to Nik when things don't go my way. What did he mean it's none of my business? He's my brother, of course, it is!

IOOH

Ah, an excellent test for Alice! I loved those homes on the occasions we lived there. So I'm takin' her with me to go over repairs etcetera. Sign any paperwork and return it to Jenks in Seattle, that sort of thing. But will Alice revert to her usual greedy over the top self or will she have changed? Faced with luxurious houses, places we needed to empty, how will she react? We'll pack up everyone else's stuff and send them on to their places. All of Edward's things are to be sold and we each keep the proceeds from our new respective homes. I haven't made any concrete decisions about it just passin' thoughts. Even if she's watchin' me, she won't pick up on it all.

That's how flawed her gift is, if it isn't a firm choice it barely becomes a blip on her radar. I wonder if it is a conditioned response from her. I think so, if it isn't paramount to her, then she ignores it. The first place is outside of Casper, Wyoming. Really it was off Casper Mountain Road, well back from view and very isolated in the forest. The other is near Chandler, Texas. Nobody liked it too much because of the sun. But it was a bolthole in times of trouble and I felt more at home there than most of the other places. We'll head for the Wyoming place first it's nowhere as big as some of the other places, the ones in bigger cities and that's why I like it and it's a way more rustic cabin, well luxury rustic cabin.

IOOH

"How did it go Elijah? Why is she here?" I ask as soon as he steps through the door,

"To rout the gold-digger who's only after my money apparently! God forbid someone would want me for me!" he replies sadly,

"I don't want your money or your status, but I do want your body! But definitely not your money!" I say trying not to smile and he sighs,

"Thank goodness for that sweetheart," he says laughing a little,

Now I'm angry, he was smiling and laughing freely before she showed up and now he's being all stoic and closed off again. Well if she wants to meet the gold-digging whore Elijah is involved with, we best get it over with, sooner rather than later! So let's see what she makes of me and an impromptu shopping trip.

"Elijah, can I have your phone? I'm inviting your sister shopping with me and you can come if you want. But it's shopping my way and if it's beneath her tough shit!" I tell him and he shakes his head,

"She'll need therapy after that" he laughs and this time its real,

"Hello, Elijah!" she answers haughtily,

"Rebekah, I believe you wanted to meet me officially? Elijah and I will be going shopping tomorrow. We'll stop by for you and you can join us" I say before hanging up,

Not giving her time to respond or start insulting me, I'm taking nobody's crap this time around. Plus I know she'll get all dolled up and I, well, I'll be in jeans and my converse! Because I doubt she's ever had to shop in thrift or vintage stores, this might be a culture shock for her. Sometimes if you're lucky things still have the original tags on and have never been worn. I need some suits for my new job and lots of tops and blouses. I'll save my money for decent shoes and boots! Oh, and underwear, I think I need to glam that up a bit too. So that's all sorted time to relax, just Elijah and me. Even if she comes back I doubt she could find this room, it seals itself back up when it's locked from the inside.

IOOH

God damn it! That was that bitch from Elizabeth's, they played me. She's human, how can a human compel an Original? What's going on? I don't understand what Elijah could want from a human girl? Well, she wants to take me on does she, plain little thing! Well, if anyone can shop, that is me! I will wait until after our outing before I decide whether to call Nik or not! Hell, if she annoys me enough I can just kill her and be done with all Elijah's nonsense! Why he allows himself to be caught up in the human's affairs is beyond me. So if I'm to look my best tomorrow I better get started on that right away. She'll never be able to compare to my beauty, but I can imagine she'll be frantically trying!

IOOH

I knew it! Where there is one Original the others follow! Now we have both Elijah and Rebekah Mikaelson here in New Orleans. Well, thankfully I as the Regent, have a loose working relationship with Elijah, his sister is a nightmare to work with. But from all accounts, she's about to rub Miss Swan up the wrong way and I doubt she'll be happy with the results! While Marcel has one of his henchmen watching Elizabeth's I too have a human watching the place. Not so much to see what they are doing, but what everyone else is doing in regards to them. Being in charge of so many witches is tiring and sometimes it's safer to use normal people as spies. Witches have far too large egos to be helpful some of the time, actually most of the time.