A/N: And my essay is done. Yayyyy! And I meant to have this up earlier but I fell into one of my slumps. I finally got motivated and a massive wave of exhaustion hit me (didn't sleep much before, I was disturbed by a very persistent lawnmower outside my window) but I'm powering through so you actually get an update.

Lucien was still asleep when I got back and the girls hadn't moved. I set the rose on the bedside table, climbed into bed and wrapped the blankets around me, trying to keep my body as far from his as I could. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if Tristan 'took' me from Lucien. He certainly seemed more reasonable. Then again… appearances could be deceptive and I'd been fooled before. It saddened me that this was what my life had come to, considering which malevolent vampire it would be better to be imprisoned by. I sighed and rested my head on my arms. From my position on the bed, I could see out of the window to the garden I'd just left. I closed my eyes, hoping that tomorrow things would look just a little bit brighter.

I didn't dream that night, for which I was grateful. Life was hard enough without my sleeping being disturbed by the same problems. It was fitful but I was happy for even the briefest bit of peace. It was early morning before I managed to fall into a deeper sleep and actually get some rest.

I was woken abruptly from my sleep by something heavy hitting my chest. I groaned and opened my eyes to see Blair perched on top of me. Lucien growled softly.

"Your daughter is in our bed…" he murmured. "Why?"

"Because she's five and small children hate sleep." I sat up, running my fingers through my hair.

"Well then why isn't the other one doing the same thing?"

"Because she's terrified of you. In fact, I very much share her feelings and it's only the threat of violence that has me in this bed with you." I got up. "I'm going to take them downstairs and see if I can find some breakfast for them. We wouldn't want to impede your beauty sleep, now would we?"

He threw a pillow at me, clearly too tired to actually discipline me for speaking out. Our luggage had been brought up at some point in the night so I dressed Blair hurriedly and put Lilah in one of her sister's dresses that didn't completely drown her. I put on my own clothes and took their hands, leading them downstairs.

It didn't take us long to find the dining room and to my surprise, Tristan was already there, reading the paper. I paused, taken aback by the image that reminded me so much of Elijah. He looked up and smiled pleasantly.

"Good morning Elena."

"Good morning Tristan… I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone to be up this early. The girls were hungry and Lucien was getting irritated."

"It's quite alright. Please, have a seat. I wasn't expecting to see you up so soon."

"Well it was this or risk the wrath of Lucien by staying upstairs."

"Ahh, of course, we wouldn't want to wake him." He rolled his eyes. "If anyone could use the extra sleep, I believe it's you. If you don't mind me saying so, and this is with the greatest respect, you do look a little out of sorts."

"I didn't sleep well… I don't normally…"

I got the girls seated and sat down myself. I served their food and passed it over to them, aware of Tristan watching me.

"You're a good mother," he said quietly.

"I don't believe that sometimes. But I'm trying."

"What are their names?"

"Blair Isabel and Lilah Alexia."

"Pretty. And… oddly appropriate. Given their heritage." He refilled his glass. "I have to ask, for curiosity's sake…"

"You want to know which Mikaelson, right?"

"If you wouldn't mind. If it's too personal, then of course…"

"No, it's fine. Umm, it's a little complicated. Kol is Blair's father. And Lilah is… a mixture of Elijah and Klaus."

"That is certainly interesting. Although, I would not offer up Klaus' part with my sister around."

"Lucien said something similar… can I ask why?"

"Aurora and Klaus had a… relationship of sorts. And she still has something of an attachment to him. She can be terribly jealous, and I really don't like to see her upset." He folded his paper. "Do you have any siblings Elena?

"I… I used to… I used to have a big family… and now it's just me. And the girls. And Lucien."

"You say that like it's a bad thing Elena," said Lucien from the door. I rolled my eyes.

"I thought you were sleeping?"

"And miss all this wonderful bonding? You might give away all my secrets Elena." He came over and took a seat at the table. "Will Aurora be joining us?"

"No. She's… a little under the weather at the moment." Tristan ran his finger over the rim of his glass, looking slightly uncomfortable by the topic.

"You sedated her didn't you?" Lucien said.

"I did indeed." He smiled at Lucien. "Now, I have spoken to Aya and she has arranged for the sisters to meet with you today."

"Excellent. Elena, you can spend the day in the bedroom."

"Actually," Tristan interjected. "I'd like Elena to spend the day with me. I thought I could keep her company."

I saw Lucien stiffen and his eyes narrowed. Tristan raised an eyebrow, looking completely at ease with the tension between the pair of them. I tried to ignore them, instead focusing on my food and making sure the girls didn't make any mess.

"Come now Lucien. I'm letting you stay here and I'm helping you with your problem, the very least you can do is let me spend a little time with her. See what our sires find so appealing."

"Fine. Elena, you know the rules." He got up. "When can I meet the sisters?"

Tristan checked his watch.

"Your escort should be waiting in the hall for you now."

Lucien swept out of the room and I resisted the urge to giggle at the dramatics. I took a sip of my juice, hoping that would suppress it.

"I don't mean to be rude Elena, but I really can't see why you married him," Tristan said with a completely straight face. I choked on my juice as the laughter bubbled up inside me. Tristan grinned. I finished up my breakfast and tidied the twins up.

"So what are we doing? I know you said you wanted to meet a friend of yours?"

"Yes." He got up and gestured for me to follow. I got up, leading the girls with me and followed him. He led us to a large hall which I guessed had once served as a ballroom. There was a woman stood in the centre, her back to us. "Elena, I'd like you to meet Aya."

The woman turned and she cast her eyes over me.

"This is the girl?" I felt myself tensing. Whenever anyone said that phrase, it never ended well.

"Yes. Elena, Aya is my second in command. She's also a very skilled combatant. And I thought she might be able to teach you a few things… strictly for… self-defence purposes, of course."

"Okay… if I'd known, I wouldn't have worn a dress." I looked down at the twins. "What about…?"

"Well they can sit in here with me. They might even pick up something useful." He knelt down and offered his hands to them. Blair eyed him warily and I expected Lilah to react similarly, but she released me and stepped forward. I frowned, watching. She cocked her head to the side and I saw her wrinkle her nose, as if she was sniffing the air. Then she reached out and took Tristan's hand.

Blair looked at her sister and released me as well, taking Tristan's other hand. He led them to the side of the room and seated himself with them. I looked back at Aya who was still watching me intently.

"I'm not really dressed for this…"

"The thing about combat isn't it doesn't wait for you to be prepared. Either you always dress in preparation for a fight, or you learn to overcome your obstacles." She paused, her eyes sweeping over me. "Tell me, have you ever had any experience fighting?" Her voice made it seem like she didn't have much hope.

"Well, I come from a town where every vampire who shows up wants to kill me. So I have some experience with surviving. I wouldn't call it… fighting."

"Any actual training?" She sounded utterly bored, like this entire conversation was beneath her. I felt myself getting irritated. I was so sick of vampires looking down on me and thinking they could treat me however they wanted.

"Yes, actually I have."

"Oh really? Who by?"

"Well I was taught by a vampire hunter and a young vampire called Damon Salvatore." She made a noise and rolled her eyes. "And then I was trained by the Mikaelsons."

"Which one?"

"All of them."

"And yet you find yourself at the mercy of the likes of Lucien Castle."

"Well… I am a human. And he is one of the oldest vampires in the world."

"That shouldn't matter." She moved closer until there was barely an inch between us. "If you are in a situation where you have to fight, you fight until you cannot fight any longer and then you fight some more, because otherwise you die. You have to use what you have. If you lack power, you make up for it with technique. If you lack size, you use it to your advantage. You have to be ready for everything." I noticed that her body had tensed slightly as she spoke, the hyperawareness that Lucien's presence had instilled in me making me notice every slight movement she made. When she lunged, I dodged out of the way. She raised her eyebrow and a small smile appeared on her lips. "Maybe you're not quite as hopeless as I thought."

Aya spent the next hours teaching me a number of techniques, combat moves, working me until I was aching all over and exhausted. I collapsed on the floor, staring up at the ceiling.

"I can't do anymore."

"You have to. You fight or you die. What do you want?"

"Go on, I'll take death right now… please…"

"Get up!"

"Aya," said Tristan from his chair at the side of the room. "Go easy on the human. She's spent a great deal of time in the hands of Lucien who's most definitely not been taking care of her. Please don't break her on the first day."

"Fine. You did reasonably well…" She admitted. She offered her hand. I took it and jerked sharply, pulling her down to the ground and pinning her in one swift move. Tristan let out a loud laugh and clapped his hand. Aya blinked in surprise.

"Couldn't resist," I said, getting to my feet.

"Elena, I'm liking you more and more with each passing minute," said Tristan, coming over. "After all that, I imagine you could use a drink. Aya, how much longer do we have before Lucien comes back?"

"Oh a decent amount of time. I instructed the sisters to be particularly unhelpful today."

"You set him up?"

"Not at all Elena, we merely instructed our witches to take their time before giving Lucien what he wanted."

"I am beginning to like you more and more as well, Tristan."

"How about we head outside? I'm sure your girls could use some fresh air. And as lovely as the gardens look in the moonlight, you can't really appreciate it until you see it in the light."

I nodded and we went outside. Blair immediately set off running, enjoying the vast expanse of grass. Lilah was more hesitant but she too sprinted off after a moment. Tristan took me to a bench under a canopy of ivy and we sat there.

"Thank you for all of this. Helping with Lucien… setting up training with Aya. I do appreciate it." I looked over at the girls scampering around. "And it was nice to see Lilah not looking completely terrified."

"I think she senses the shared blood between us." He looked out across the grounds. "I must say, my motives aren't purely selfless. I find you rather fascinating Elena. Humans wander into our lives now and then but they never really last… they get killed or they get turned. And… obviously, it is rare to see the Mikaelsons to care for anyone beside themselves. You are… unique. I find that intriguing."

"Intriguing I can handle."

"I have many friends who would share my perspective. Not only because of what you can do, I must stress that. You are… beautiful. Clearly intelligent. Very determined. And that's only from a brief time knowing you. Aya was impressed by you as well. My Strix would admire you."

"Strix?"

"Oh yes. The Strix is a group of like minded vampires. It was originally set up by our mutual friend."

"Lucien? Cause I don't think either of us like him." He laughed softly.

"No, not Lucien. Elijah. All of the Strix are vampires from his sireline."

"Are you inviting me to join your secret vampire clubhouse, Tristan?"

"Not quite. I doubt Lucien would allow me to steal you away and he's far more valuable to me alive. But I believe that you underestimate your value."

"I know I'm valuable. Every vampire in the world wants to pump me full of undead vampire babies."

"That's not what I meant. Value is the wrong word. I meant that you are interesting. And you seem to forget that you are special as a person, not just for what you can do."

We sat in silence, watching the girls play for a time. The sun dipped a little and the air became cooler, so we headed back inside. I changed and met back up in the dining hall. It was pleasant being able to sit and eat and talk without fear of repercussions over what I said or Lucien's hands groping me under the table.

Lucien himself joined us after a brief period. He seemed rather frustrated and his presence made the light hearted feel in the room dip instantly. We were in the middle of our main course when Tristan suddenly went rigid, lifting his head. Lucien, a moment later, mimicked him, both of them looking to the door. I frowned and followed their gaze.

A/N: I'm going to sleep now for a long time.