AN: Genetics are genetics - Lizzie is still bipolar in this story. I have tried to keep this as sensitive and accurate as I can; however I am not a doctor, nor do I have any experience with this particular illness - I suffer from severe anxiety and mild to moderate depression, but that is not the same.

By 2029, the Laughlin Academy was in its sixth academic year and going strong. In the communal living room, students were enjoying a quiet Saturday morning, some doing homework, some chatting, and a couple of the werewolves napping, recapturing their energy after the transformation a few nights ago.

Hope was in the homework group, curled up in her favourite window seat with her essay and a book. Now sixteen, the blonde curls of her youth had darkened to long brunette locks, framing features that were no longer an almost mirror image of her mother, but blue eyes that still held the glint of her heritage.

Her pen tapped against her notebook, her eyes travelling around the room. One of the newer students was leaning against the doorway, watching her.

Their eyes met and she held his gaze for a second, before he turned away, slipping out of the room.

"He likes you," her best friend murmured

"If you say so," Hope said, unable to help the smile that touched her lips.

"He does. I ship it."

Hope sighed, her smile fading. "You ship it because Lizzie hates it."

Roman Sienna's interest in Hope was complicated by Lizzie's crush on him. Once upon a time, the two girls were so close that it wouldn't have mattered.

Now, however, it wasn't Lizzie who was sitting by her side, but Penelope Park, who had joined the school three years ago.

"I don't know why you don't just talk to her about it," Penelope said. "You've never told me why you two stopped being friends."

"If I knew I'd tell you," Hope said, turning her eyes back to her essay. "How much did you write?"

Penelope popped her gum. "As little as possible. Look, whatever happened, you can't let Lizzie Saltzman's issues control your life."

"It's not her fault," Hope murmured.

"No, being bipolar is not her fault," Penelope said. "Being a bitch is totally controllable."

Hope shook her head, as the front gate intercom buzzed just behind her. "Well, you'd know." She reached back, ignoring Penelope's gasp of mock-outrage, and picked up the intercom phone. "Laughlin Academy, Hope speaking."

"Hope Mikaelson?"

Hope frowned. "Yes? Who's this?"

"Sorry, this is Greta Sienna - Roman speaks very highly of you. I have a package for him - could you open the gate for me?"

"Of course," Hope said. "Give me two minutes." She hung up and pressed the button that would open the gate, looking out of the window so she could close it again after Mrs Sienna had entered - but the gate didn't move.

Hope frowned. "Gate mechanism isn't working. Pen, can you do me a favour and log it for maintenance, while I let her in?"

"Not a problem." Penelope checked her watch. "Later though - I have a date. Try not to screw up the 'meet the parents'."

That afternoon, Caroline stepped through the front door of the Academy with a smile. Her visits were always the highlights of her month, not least because she got to see her favourite teenagers.

"Hi Caroline."

"Hello Josie," Caroline said, giving her a hug. "How's your sister?"

Josie shrugged. "It's a good day. I think. Has she still not called you?"

Caroline sighed. "I haven't had more than a three word conversation with Lizzie since she and Hope stopped talking. Do you know where Hope is?"

Josie shook her head. "No - do you want me to find her for you?"

"If you don't mind," Caroline said with a smile, "I think she knows I'm here today, but I would like a catch-up."

"No problem," Josie said. "She's probably with Henrik and Mariella."

Henrik and Mariella were in the in the media room with a few other students. Henrik was playing a video game against Jed, one of the werewolves, and somehow keeping a discussion going with Mariella at the same time.

For her part, Mari was braiding Ariana's hair for her, while Jenna patiently waited her turn.

"Dammit," Jed grumbled.

Henrik sniggered. "Dude, you suck."

"Best out of three."

"You're on." Henrik paused his screen to grab his soda. "Are they going to braid your hair next, Mari?"

"My hair doesn't like being braided," Mariella answered. "Mom has to help me straighten it for about four hours before you can do anything with it."

"Amen, sister," one of the vampires said, holding up a fist. "Although, how did you end up with that hair and that skin?"

Mariella tied off the braid and gave him a fist-bump. "Well, MG, my biological parents gave me up when I was born, but I assume that one was African-American and one was Irish, so I've ended up with a red afro and freckles."

Ariana stood up and Jenna took her place, glancing over to the screen. "Good luck."

"Luck's got nothing to do with it," Henrik said, with a charming smile that was all his father. "It's all talent."

"Henrik, stop corrupting the younger students," Mariella chided, gently sectioning Jenna's dark hair.

"I'm not that much younger," Jenna grumbled.

A couple of the even younger students that Mariella had actually been talking about fell silent, and Mariella glanced towards the door. "Jed."

Jed paused his screen, turning to face Dylan Scott, the other werewolf alpha. "Something wrong?"

"We agreed that the wolves would stop hanging out with the witches," Dylan said.

"No, you agreed," Jed said, turning back to the game dismissively. "We've ended up with two alphas, Dylan. Learn how packs work and get over it."

"Listen, dick …" Dylan began.

"You are an alpha because you terrify the younger students into obeying you," Mariella said coldly. "Jed is an alpha because the wolves respect him."

Jed smirked. "Ah, thanks babe."

"Never going to happen," Mariella said in a sing-song voice. "Get a grip, Dylan, or I'll call Jackson and tell him what an asshole you're being."

Dylan stormed off without a word, almost knocking over Josie as he brushed past her.

"What was all that about?" Josie asked.

"Dylan being Dylan," Mariella said, rolling her eyes.

Josie shook her head. "Have you guys seen Hope? Caroline's here."

"Aunt Caroline's here?" Jenna asked.

"She's here for her monthly admin meeting with Dad," Josie answered. "Where's Hope?"

"She was with Penelope this morning," Henrik answered. "Does she know?"

Josie frowned. "I think I've seen Pen since then and she didn't say anything. But I'll check."

As it happened, Josie had barely left the media room when she bumped into Penelope.

"Hey Jo-Jo," Penelope said with a smile.

"I was looking for you," Josie said.

"Aw, miss me already?" Penelope asked, slipping her arms around her waist. "We only saw each other this morning."

"Actually, I was wondering if you'd seen Hope," Josie said. "Her mom's here."

"I haven't seen her since this morning," Penelope said. "She went out to let Roman's mom in the gate."

"Why?" Josie asked.

"Because the button was broken," Penelope said. "Which reminds me, she asked me to raise it with maintenance. What's wrong?"

Josie had frozen in her arms. "I just used the button to let Caroline through the gate - it worked fine."

"Maybe they already fixed it," Penelope said, although she looked unsure.

"Maybe," Josie said. "Maybe Roman knows where she is."

Predictably, they found Roman in the gym, weight-lifting. In spite of being one of the newest students, he was one of the oldest vampires, having turned over 100 years ago - as such, he hadn't quite integrated with the students.

The two girls hesitated in the doorway.

Penelope glanced at Josie. "Are you blushing?"

Josie cleared her throat. "Nope."

"It's okay if you are," Penelope murmured. "I mean, if I swung that way at all…"

"You two know I can hear you, right?" Roman asked, setting the weights down.

"Okay, now I'm blushing," Josie said.

Penelope rolled her eyes. "Hey, where's Hope?"

Roman sat up. "I haven't seen her since this morning."

"That's not what I asked," Penelope said, crossing her arms over her chest. "I asked where she is."

"I don't know," Roman answered. "Why would I? You were with Hope this morning; we didn't even speak."

"What about your mom?" Josie asked. "Didn't Hope bring her to wherever you were?"

Roman frowned. "I haven't seen or spoken to my mother since she enrolled me here."

Josie turned to Penelope. "This is bad."

"Okay, someone who said she was your mother turned up at the gates this morning," Penelope said briskly. "Hope had to go out to let her in because the mechanism wasn't working, but now it appears to be working fine." She sucked in a breath. "Actually, she also clarified Hope's full name before she introduced herself."

"We need to go and speak to Hope's mother," Josie said, turning to Roman. "You need to come with us."

"Why?" Roman asked. "I haven't seen her."

"Yeah, and her mom will believe you," Penelope said. "You want her on your side, before Klaus gets involved, because he probably won't."

Roman froze in the process of reaching for his towel. "Wait. She's one of those Mikaelsons?"

"How do you not know that?" Penelope asked. "It's not like she keeps it quiet. She's Klaus Mikaelson's daughter."

"Crap," Roman muttered, yanking his shirt back on. "Where did you say her mother was?"

"Dad's office," Josie said, following him out of the gym. "What's wrong?"

Roman didn't answer, disappearing in a blur, and practically breaking through Ric's office door.

"What in …?" Alaric sighed. "Roman?"

Roman's eyes focused on Caroline. "Mrs Mikaelson?"

Caroline rose to her feet. "Yes? What's wrong?"

"My name's Roman Sienna," he said. "I think my mother has kidnapped your daughter."