A few days after the peace treaty was signed I woke up in bed alone and turned until I could see Nik painting something.

"You're up early." I said relaxing against the small mountain of pillows at my back.

"Yes, well, morning sun offers the best light. Hold still. I'm almost finished." He told me with a smile causing me to smile as well.

"You know, when most people pose in the nude they are aware of it beforehand." I told him. Yes, we still had sex with each other and often. I'm pregnant not a nun.

"But doing this without you knowing about it makes me able to catch what one would normally hide." He said and I sighed before getting up. I walked to him to look at the painting but he hid it from me.

"Well, aren't you going show me?" I asked him with a smile.

"The painting is a gift." He told me. "A way to apologize for missing both yours and Nikolas' birthdays."

"I get how you are apologizing to me with the painting, but how are you apologizing to Nikolas with it?" I asked him. "I don't think he'll be wanting a nude painting of his mother.

"I plan on spoiling him until he can't stand it." He told me and I laughed.

"Don't we already to that?" I asked him and he chuckled. "Nik, do you really think things will stay quiet?"

"Well, the treaty my dear brother negotiated between the warring factions of this city, the one that I myself signed. No doubt everyone means well, but this is after all..." Nik left off.

"...Still the French Quarter?" I supplied and he nodded.

"A borough rife with natural enemies. What we need to do is make allies of each faction. Convince them they need the protection only I can provide." Nik told me.

"And in exchange, what will you ask them to offer, exactly?" I asked him.

"All I ask is for the promise of their allegiance. One never knows when a powerful ally might come in handy." Nik told me.

"Sounds good to me." I told him before kissing him deeply. With thoughts of the painting forgotten we continued the activities of the previous night.

Later, after we were both dressed and ready to face the world, we heard a lot of construction work going on downstairs. Nik and I left our room to see Elijah in the courtyard. I turned and went to Nikolas' room and get him so we could go to the Bayou.

"Enough with all the racket!" Nik called down to him.

"Is there a problem, brother?" Elijah asked him. "Gentlemen, please." The workers left us alone until summoned once more.

"I agreed to a general sprucing up, not a bloody three-ring circus." Nik told him.

"Marcel and his minions abused our home for the better part of a century. Now, you might be content to live in squalor. I'm not." Elijah told him.

"I agree with Elijah." I said linking my arm with Nik's. "It's a new era in the French Quarter and this place could use some sprucing up."

"Careful, Elijah. When this one agrees with you, it's a sure sign she wants something." Nik said smirking down at me.

"Be nice, Nik. Or you may not get anything later." I warned him and he gave me a mock false shocked face making me laugh.

"Actually I have a request." We turned to see Genevieve walking up to us. "I'm told our coven hasn't been able to celebrate feast days in the open since Marcel restricted the use of magic. Now with the new peace, I'd like that to change."

"Am I to assume that you have a certain feast day in mind?" Elijah asked her knowingly.

"La Fête des Bénêdictions. Feast of the Blessings." She told him with a charming smile on her face. "In the past, members of the community offered witches gifts in exchange for blessings. We'd like to use it as a forum for introducing our young Harvest Girls to society."

"So your coven attempted to destroy my family- and you yourself held my siblings in unspeakable torment- and you would like a party for the witches?" Elijah asked her making Nik chuckle.

"I made my amends with your brother and his wife. Why don't you think it over?" she asked him before leaving.

"Oh, don't be such a stiff, Elijah. The tourists love a good festival. Besides, what better way to cement the solidarity than a show of faith toward a one-time enemy?" Nik asked him.

"A onetime enemy with whom you seem to have grown rather nauseatingly intimate with." Elijah said.

"Not really. She's just a means to an end for the priest." I told him with a smile.

"Besides, who said maintaining alliances can't be fun?" Nik asked with a smirk on his face.

"One would think you'd be a little more interested in attending to the needs of your family." Elijah said looking both Nikolas and I over.

"Oh, he has been." I told him.

"Elijah, the truth is, my wife and child are under the protection of werewolf royalty. They're far safer in the Bayou with their pack than they would ever be here with us twenty four seven. Don't worry. I'll make sure she stays home for the birth. No child of ours will be born in a swamp." Nik told him.

"That's not up to you." I reminded him before taking a sleepy Nikolas with me towards the exit. "That's up to our dear daughter."


By the time we arrived at the Bayou, Nikolas was asleep. Even when I got him out of his car seat and carried him to where Hayley was living with the pack to see her on the porch with Eve drinking tea. There was a long line of werewolves in front of the house.

"What's with the people?" I asked once I met up with them.

"Seriously, what is going on?" Hayley asked Eve. "Why are they standing out here all weird and lurk-y?"

"They've come from all over. All the packs." Eve told us.

"To see a baby that isn't even born yet?" I asked her confused while adjusting my sleeping son.

"Not only the baby." Oliver said coming out of the house. "These freaks, they come here to see you and words gotten out about your son. You know, given the place your parents held in pack hierarchy and that your with an Original, maybe they think you're gonna be the long-lost werewolf messiahs or something." He offered.

"Great. No pressure or anything." Hayley said before Oliver's phone rang. He moved away from us to answer it.

"Don't worry." I told her offering her a smile. "I'm sure you will be the werewolf queen we all know you can be."

"I'm no queen." She told me and I gave her a look before going inside and putting Nikolas down on a bed. I went back outside and joined her and Eve as the people continued to gather.

"Didn't you tell me that Jackson told you that your families were royalty?" I asked her.

"Like royalty. Why?" she asked me.

"Well that would make you a queen of the werewolves." I told her.

"And what about you?" she asked me sarcastically.

"What about me?" I asked.

"You're Klaus' wife which makes you queen to not just the vampires, but to the entire city." She pointed out and I shrugged.

"Maybe." I told her.

"What do you mean maybe?" she asked with a shocked look.

"He may have the title of King of the City with me as his Queen, but we haven't done a very good job in the last month. Have we?" I asked her.

"Just because Elijah is ruling in your place doesn't mean you aren't a queen." She told me. "Look at what happened last night."

"All I did was step in when Elijah tried to kill Oliver and Jackson kill Diego." I told her. "That wouldn't help with the peace talks now would it?"

"I guess not." She said slowly.

"I was doing Elijah a favor, even if he didn't know it at the time." I said.

"I'm surprised he didn't make you sign the treaty." She told me.

"He made Nik sign." I said. She nodded before we heard two small feet walking to us.

"Ma..." Nikolas said though most of it was baby babble. Hayley and I shared a look before going inside and playing with him and the other kids.


In the afternoon when Nikolas had fallen asleep after his lunch so Hayley and I stepped outside to see Jackson and Oliver were talking, but they stopped once we opened the door.

"What is this? High School?" Hayley asked them while the door closed behind us.

"Why don't you take the hint and mind your own business?" Oliver asked her. Irritated, she grabbed him by the arm and spun him around while twisting the arm in her grasp behind his back and pinning him up against the wall face-first.

"This is my pack. That makes it my business." Hayley told him.

"No need to get all riled up, Hayley." Jackson told her.

"I have tried to play nice." Hayley told him as she twisted Oliver's arm harder.

"May I remind you all that the last month of pregnancy is all hormones and mood swings, so please don't encourage one." I told them.

"Unless you want me to snap your arm like a twig, I suggest that you tell me what is going on." Hayley told them.

"You can go to hell." Oliver told her.

"Knock it off. There's no reason to keep it from her." Jackson told us.

"I can think of a reason. Tall and immortal and wears a pocket scarf." Oliver said as he fought against Hayley, but she forcefully pinned him back down again.

"Hayley, you're one of us. You deserve to know. Now, go on." Jackson told her. Hayley reluctantly released him and turned towards Jackson and myself for an explanation. "We made an alliance that's gonna change everything for the wolves."

"An alliance with who?" she asked him.

"Me and Nik." I told her.

"Tell me everything." She ordered and we did.


A few nights later I was standing in the French Quarter with Hayley for the Feast of the Blessings parade. Hayley wore a black floor length dress that hugged her body slightly. I wore a royal blue dress with a black sheer layer with black beading on it. I wore light purple dangle earings, dark blue heels and a blue clutch with black lace. In each of our hands was a gift. We applauded with everyone else as the witches marched down the street with the three Harvest Girls hoisted above the crowd on thrones. The girls were each dressed for the element they had represented in the Harvest: Monique n floral earth tones; Abigail in white for air, and Davina in bright red-orange for fire. The girls were lowered from above the crowd and escorted to a stage where Genevieve joined them.

"Now, in accordance with the Fête des Bénédictions, the witches of New Orleans bless you all!" Genevieve called out to the crowd as they cheered. Genevieve stepped offstage and Monique stepped forward. She rose her arms shoulder high and created a mild earthquake that rumbled the ground below us. She moved back and Abigail stepped forward and raised her arms above her head to create very strong winds the blew around the crowd. She stepped back and Davina turned and raised her palm to the sign behind them which immediately ignited with fire and setting off dozens of fireworks which made the crowd cheer once more. As the Tourists walked away Hayley and I walked to where the factions were having an after-party for the witches.

"Strange. I thought you'd be in the company of your colorful friends." Elijah said smiling at Hayley and me.

"Oh. You asked for a representative for the werewolves, so take us or leave us." Hayley told him. Elijah continued to smiled at her and offer us his arm, which we took before walking into the party. Hayley and I mingled with each other and Elijah until Genevieve kicked off the party.

"Welcome. As is our time-honored tradition, you are all welcome to deliver your offerings. It is our custom that no one should be turned away, no blessing be denied." She said stepping aside before the three teenagers sat in the chairs in front of the crowd and guests lined up to bring their offerings to the them. First was Hayley, who smiled at Davina and was about to give her gift to her, but was stopped by an attendant. She told Hayley to give her gift to Monique, which she did. The next person, Francesca, gave her gift to Abigail. I watched as person after person Davina received no gift. I was about to give my gift to Davina when they tried to stop me.

"Touch me and I'll rip your hands off." I told the attendant before placing my gift at Davina's feet and offering her a comforting smile. Other than my gift to her as the line continued, Davina received no gifts. I saw Monique send Davina smug smiles every time she received a new gift. Davina finally got up, picked up the gift I gave her, and ran away from the party. I looked up to see Nik watching everything. I walked up to him and told him what I'd noticed and he confirmed that he'd come to the same conclusion. Nik walked down the stairs and towards where Davina disappeared with me behind him only for us to see Josh.

"Joshua." They both turned to us in shock. "What a fortunate coincidence, finding you here. We have unfinished business."

"You need to leave here. Right now." Davina told Nik warningly.

"Now, to be fair, love, you're not quite as powerful as you once were, are you? You're in no position to give orders." He told her before vamp-speeding over to Josh and grabbing him by the back of his neck. "Come along, lad."

"Hey, can we talk about this?" Josh asked him as we walked back into the main party.

"Josh!" Davina called out bringing the attention of the party. Nik stopped holding Josh's neck and we stood a few steps above them and Nik spoke to the entire room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please. We are gathered here today to pay homage to our beloved witches, but one very special witch has been almost utterly ignored. That seems a little unfair to me." Nik said before holding a small box as his offering to Davina.

"No." Davina said making the smirk on his face fall. "I don't want your gift."

"I understand why you would reject me, given our past. In truth, many of us here today have been wronged in the conflict which my brother's treaty ended. Your friend Josh was involved in a plot to kill me. It would be well within my right to execute him here and now. But, in the spirit of solidarity, and for your favor, Davina, I hereby pardon him. Josh from this day forward, you have nothing to fear from me. Please." Nik almost asked her before handing the small box back to Davina. She looked to me and I nodded at her with a smile. She took the box from his hand and he offered me his arm. I took his arm and we rejoined the rest of the party. We walked to Hayley and he spoke to her in quiet tones. "I hear you made quite an impression with the wolves. My arrangement with them was supposed to be a secret, and yet you forced it out of them. It's very bold. As was your decision to represent them here today, on your own. I trust you'll do nothing to harm our cause."

"Are you really gonna go behind Elijah's back?" Hayley asked him.

"Come on! What difference does it make to you as long as your people benefit?" he asked her with a smirk.

"If I find out that you are playing some game, trying to manipulate us for one of your schemes—" she started warning.

"—You know, you've come a long way, little wolf." Nik complimented her. "I knew you were tough, I knew you were cunning, but I never knew you were a queen." He told her before walking away.

"See?" I told her with a smile. "I told you that you were a queen." Suddenly a large group of drummers marched into the party. Hayley and I were joined by Elijah as we watched them confused.

"Happy Fête des Bénédictions." The lead drummer called out. "We have a message for all of you from Marcel Gerard." I took a deep breath and frowned at the drummers as everyone started whispering to each other behind us. All the drummers took out straight razors and sliced their wrists open, bleeding all over the floor. I watched as the vampires in the room started to get antsy and vamped out at the smell of blood. I looked at Hayley and watched her eyes turn their wolf gold and the veins under her eyes darken. Sometimes I forgot how new to being a Hybrid she was.

"Control yourselves. This is a vulgar trick. We do not violate our agreement." Elijah ordered the vampires in the room. The lights suddenly went out and the vampires started feeding on the drummers as well as other humans in the room. Someone attacked me for a brief moment before pushing me down and moving on. The chaos continued until the lights turned back on. I rose from my spot on the floor and rubbed my hand over my abdomen to make sure my daughter was unharmed. I looked at the dead and injured humans lying around me on the ground.

"Nik!" I called out to my husband.

"Nicole!" I turned and saw Nik behind me. He helped me up and looked me over. He placed his hand on my neck and held it in front of me to show the blood. I placed my hand on my neck but felt nothing. My baby must have healed me again. We looked to the wall to see a message in blood. THERE WILL BE NO PEACE. Nik took me and Hayley back to the Bayou and left as we went to a fire Jackson was standing in front of.

"I've learned my lesson." Hayley told him as we walked towards him. "At first I was against your plan. I thought that we should just live with Elijah's treaty, but after that party, those innocent people. There will never be a peace. The weak will always be at the mercy of whoever is calling the shots."

"It's survival of the fittest. We need to protect ourselves. And we need to protect each other." Jackson told her.

"Jackson, where's Nikolas?" I asked him.

"He's in the house sleeping." He told me and I immediately went to him. He was sleeping peacefully next to a few of other kids and I smiled down at him before going to wash my neck and going to sleep.