Hope paused when she saw her father, Elijah, Vincent, and a man she didn't recognize. All of them looked concerned and her father started to pace.
"What's going on?" Hope asked, looking from one man to the next as she entered the room. She adjusted the strap on the bag she had hanging across her body into a more comfortable position.
"Nothing children should concern themselves with," the stranger said in a condescending voice.
"Triad seems to be making plans to come into New Orleans," Elijah replied, raising an eyebrow in the stranger's direction.
"I erased myself from their memories. Why are they coming here now?" Hope wrapped her arms around herself.
"You erased yourself after you destroyed the access to their pet weapon," Ryan said as he came up behind Hope and placed his hand on her shoulder. "They don't know how the pit was destroyed, so of course they're looking for answers."
"And New Orleans has some of the strongest witches in the world who practice a variety of disciplines, so it makes sense to them that someone here could have done it."
"Wait, who are you?" the stranger asked.
"My daughter. Why are you leader of the human faction again?"
"Because I won the vote."
"Or bribed the right people." Hope raised an eyebrow, enjoying the way he scowled. He was rude to her, so making digs at him seemed perfectly acceptable. "Why can't Declan be the faction leader?"
"Because he would have a conflict of interest, being involved with the werewolf. Speaking of, where is she?"
"My mother has been busy with personal issues. Now, I don't see how who Declan's involved with would matter in terms of making the right choices for the humans in this city."
"He'd do whatever he could to keep his girlfriend happy."
"And yet, he's already better at the job than you are."
"Why's that?"
"He'd know better than to insult Klaus Mikaelson's daughter." Hope tilted her chin up and smiled coldly, drawing on every bit of training she'd gotten during her time with Triad to maintain her expression.
"You're- you're-" The blood drained from his face and he looked from Hope to Klaus
"While you're figuring out what it is you need to say, I'm going to go to pay a visit to Marie Laveau's grave."
"Be careful," Klaus said, giving Hope a quick hug.
"If I treat her with respect, she'll do the same for me."
"Do you have everything you need?" Elijah asked.
"Yes."
Instead of asking the most feared witch New Orleans had ever seen to welcome her home like she'd planned, she would ask for her help in protecting the city from Triad. Marie loved and loathed the city in equal measure, but only she was allowed to punish it. Outsiders had no place harming the people who lived within the borders of her domain. Besides, Hope wasn't planning on asking Marie for help and do nothing. She planned to fight as best she could alongside whatever aid Marie saw fit to bestow.
"Do you still want me to go with you?" Ryan asked.
"She needs to meet you, otherwise she might feel threatened, me bringing a new sort of being into town and not bringing said person to see her." Hope caught one of his hands in both of hers and lead him towards the door.
As they walked down the street towards the cemetery, Hope took in the city she was a part of, a city that should have been her home for years. The streets she should have known so well by now were alien to her.
What would her life have been like if the Hollow had never attacked and drawn the attention of Triad?
No. She wouldn't think that way. If she had never been taken, she might never have crossed paths with Ryan, or at least not in the way that brought them together like this.
"What are you thinking?"
"I was wondering if I should regret not growing up here."
"Do you?" Ryan's voice turned serious.
"I do wish I'd been raised by my parents, but I can't regret my life, because it led me to you. We have forever to make up for the lost time, and this baby can help heal the wounds my parents have over not being able to raise me." Hope cradled her belly where their baby grew and smiled up at him.
Ryan brought one of her hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles, his lips curling up as he smiled.
"I love you, Ryan."
Near the front gate, Hope paused as a charge of magic emanating from behind the walls grew stronger and Ryan inhaled sharply through his nose.
"You feel it too?" Hope asked.
"I feel something." He gestured to the raised hair on his arms.
"Most people who come around here are able to feel her presence, so I'm not surprised you do."
"I'm not human though."
"But you are a supernatural being."
After a few more moments of standing there, Hope tugged Ryan towards the gate.
"Are you sure she won't mind?"
"She seems more curious than angry, I think." Hope tilted her head to one side, as if trying to get a better read on the energy she was feeling. "Come on."
The closer they got to the tomb, marked up by people who'd come to Marie asking for favors, she swore she felt tendrils of magic ghosting across her skin.
Hope knelt in front of the tomb and set out her candles. Before she could do anything more, they were lit.
"She's listening, isn't she?" Ryan asked.
"She's here, for sure." Taking a deep breath, Hope spoke, "Madam Laveau, I am here for two reasons, the first is to introduce my family to you. Ryan Clarke, the father of my child, created by the golem Malivore, but he rebelled and now is fighting to protect me and our child from the ones who pose a threat to us now. Triad, they're coming. And they mean to kill anyone who's not human, whether witch, werewolf, vampire, or anyone else who doesn't fit their idea of who should be allowed to live."
The flames rose sharply.
"I swear, I will fight to the best of my ability to protect our home, but I'm begging you, don't let these humans destroy this city. Please."
The center candle started to bleed and Hope exhaled. Hope could feel Marie's rage directed towards those who would harm the city the voodoo queen both loved and loathed, with an undercurrent of fierce protection directed towards the tribrid on her knees before her.
She pulled a knife out of the bag and held her hand out over the candle. Running the blade across her palm, she said, "I, Hope Andrea Mikaelson, swear to protect this city to the best of my ability from the threat Triad poses against us and I ask that you, Madam Marie Laveau, the most powerful priestess to ever grace our city, come to my aid in this."
With that, the candles melted all the way down to nothing and the electrical charge faded to a soft, background hum.
"Thank you, Madam Laveau." Hope smiled.
"She doesn't seem to hate me," Ryan remarked after a moment.
"She's no fool. She knows you mean her and this city no harm. And if having you around gives her an advantage over those who pose a threat to us, she will be happy to let you remain nearby." Hope gathered up her remaining supplies as she spoke.
"If making-"
Hope put her fingers over his lips. "Be careful what you say in her presence. She will hold you to it."
Ryan kissed her fingertips. Wrapping his hand around her wrist, he brought her hand to his face and kissed her palm, his dark eyes alight with adoration.
"I love you," he murmured against her skin.
The intimacy of the moment sent a wave of heat through her veins and she pulled him towards the gate.
When they reached the street, Ryan asked, "Eager, aren't we?"
"Shh. Let's just get home, please."
Ryan grinned and kissed her softly.
"So, the abomination returns."
They turned towards the speaker and Hope pressed herself deeper into Ryan's side.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Greta. People like you shouldn't exist."
"Nature disagrees with you," Ryan remarked, his expression going cold. "Nature brought her into being, so I think you should keep your opinions to yourself, especially in regards to someone who's a part of the Original family. Insulting her is a surefire way of getting yourself kicked out of the city."
"I'm not leaving."
Hope raised an eyebrow and with a quick bit of magic, she had Greta on her knees, holding her head.
"You might want to get over your prejudices if you plan on staying here. We try to get along in the Crescent City, home of the Crescent Wolf Pack," Hope said, with a sweet smile. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we'll be on our way. But don't think my father won't be hearing about this."
The rest of the way home was uneventful, thankfully and as soon as they walked into the compound, Hope sought out her father.
"Someone named Greta called me an abomination and said I shouldn't exist."
"I'll have words with her."
"I don't suppose she's forgiven you for killing her husband," Elijah commented.
"Her husband was killing werewolves." Klaus shrugged. "Besides, you're one to talk. The last I heard her daughter still carries a torch for you."
"I've done nothing except give her a way to get away from a war." Elijah pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.
"We'll handle Greta," Klaus promised.
"Thank you. Meeting Madam Laveau was a bit draining." That and she needed Ryan, in ways she didn't want to discuss with her father.
"Get some rest." Klaus gestured towards the stairs. "Don't worry about Greta. I'll have words with her."
The moment her bedroom door closed behind her, Hope dropped her bag on the floor and tugged Ryan towards the bed. As they moved, they started removing each others clothing.
When she lay back against the pillows, Ryan knelt between her thighs, and Hope arched towards him with a moan.
"Impatient, aren't you?" Ryan teased, pressing a kiss to her stomach.
"Don't tease." She rocked up against him, the warmth in her lower belly growing with each brush of his skin against hers.
Chuckling, he trailed kisses up her torso. When he reached her breasts, he pressed his lips softly to her nipples, trying to be mindful that her breasts were extra sensitive now with all the pregnancy hormones flooding her system.
"Please," Hope begged. As much as she liked foreplay, she needed him inside her, pounding into her as hard as he could, sating her desperate need for him.
Leaning over her, he hooked her legs around his hips and thrust into her.
"Ohh." Hope moaned, digging her nails into his back.
As he moved within her, he kissed her throat and along her jaw.
"I love you, so much," Hope whimpered.
"I love you," Ryan murmured against her chin.
Linking their fingers together, he pinned her hands above her head. Hope writhed beneath him, moans falling from her lips and he groaned in response.
Fire raced through her veins and the coil in her lower belly tightened until Hope was screaming his name as she climaxed.
As she caught her breath, Hope combed her fingers through his curls and looked at his face. He was so beautiful, especially like this, naked, disheveled, and relaxed after making love. How had she been so lucky, crossing paths with him? And now, lying in her bed in her family home, while carrying his baby, did anyone deserve such happiness?
Tears stung her eyes and she blinked rapidly.
"What's wrong?" Ryan's brows furrowed and he brushed his thumb beneath her eyes.
"Nothing's wrong. I'm happy. Yeah, I know we've got problems to deal with." Hope shrugged.
"Struggles are a part of life," Ryan murmured as he kissed her forehead. "So, why were you crying?"
"Because I'm happy." Crying happy tears was a new thing for her, but he made her so happy, she couldn't express it with just a smile.
Ryan's lips curled up into a smile and he pulled her against his chest.
It didn't take much longer for Hope to drift towards sleep. Tomorrow, she would step into the war with Triad once more, but for now, she'd lie here with her lover, the father of her baby, and enjoy the moment.
