A/N: Thanks for the follows :). And a very special thanks again to MerlynPyndragon for her awesome work as a beta!


One week later:

"And there should be a new announcement about the upcoming changes in the management of the mine," Eric said, flipping through the pages of the latest dossier.

Christian wrote down a note on his to-do-list for the rest of the day, looking up again. "Anything else, your highness?"

Eric sighed and set the loose papers aside before leaning forward, his hands folded on the desk. He studied the face of his secretary, lips pursed.

Christian did his best to look as innocent as possible. Fortunately his Maushertz-side was a huge advantage.

"Yes, there is," Eric finally decided. Leaning back on his chair his eyes began to wonder through his office. "Do you remember the small suite in my rooms?"

Christian placed his notebook on his leg and frowned. "You mean the old butler's rooms?"

Eric nodded. "Exactly those! I want them renovated as quickly as possible."

Christian, still frowning, made another note.

"But!" Eric lifted one finger. "It should be from the same company that renovated the old tower last year."

Christian looked up. "Is there a specific reason why, your highness? I only ask because of the approval. You know how the treasury secretary of your father's can be. Gebrueder Holstein was a topic last year and I guess, they will be this time again."

"Tell that over-aged dinosaur they have special skills I need for doing the renovation right. Just in case he hasn't noticed, this castle is about 700 years old. We cannot hire the cheapest idiots on the market."

Christian nodded again but didn't write this out.

To be correct, Hermstein, the minister of finance of the house Renard, wasn't really a problem. He himself wanted to know what Eric had planned.

Those rooms he mentioned hold a hidden doorway. A six-room apartment on a secret floor, entrance only possible through Eric's own rooms.

"And there will be a change in my staff," the prince continued. "A new man will fill in for Lukas. For him are the rooms."

Christian took a deep breath. The fingers around his pencil went white, so hard did he pressed it. A soft click warned him that the pencil was about to break.

"Of course, your highness," Christian said.

So, that was the plan for the Grimm? Placing him in the middle of Eric's private rooms would make an escape impossible. Hopefully the move from the cell in the tower to the suite in Eric's private part of the castle wouldn't be as quick as he feared. The spare rooms hadn't been used during the past twenty years, so a renovation would take some time.

Eric leaned back, folding his fingers. He began to smile a cold smile. "There will be a few changes in the near future," he continued. "The new man and his fiancee won't be the only one."

Christian lifted his eyebrows in a faked surprise. "Oh, he's bringing his wife with him?" he asked.

"So far they are not married. Maybe we will have something to celebrate later, you know? Maybe he wants me to marry them, who knows?" Eric shrugged. "His fiancee will arrive here soon. She should be here by now but ... there's a small issure causing a delay I will have fixed soon."

Christian looked down at his notebook but didn't even try to write down anything. "So, I assume this new man is here?" he asked.

Eric blinked and seemed to realize that he probably had said a little too much. Moving on his chair to sit upright again the smile vanished. He looked at Christian thoughtful. "You know that I trust you, don't you?" he asked.

Christian bowed his head. "I feel honored, your highness, for your trust in me."

"If I ever find out that you are aiming to betray me -"

With a bang the door sprang open and a woman stormed in. "We need to talk, NOW!"

Christian jumped to his feet. Whirling around he stared in the face of a woman he barely remembered from a long time ago. Back then she was here too, together with ...

"Eloise, I'm so sorry for your loss!" Eric said. Slwoly he stood up and leaned forward. "But would you please respect that is my home and my office and you are nothing more than an unexpected guest at my table?" His voice was very calm, but also very threatening and cold.

The woman startled and seemed to realize that her rude entry wasn't really welcomed.

Christian stepped backwards. Again he bowed. "Your highness," he mumbled, still watching the familiar looking woman he couldn't really place.

"I am demanding my right of revenge! I want the heads of those animals who did this to my father!" she said harshly.

Christian turned around after he finally realized who just stormed into Eric's office.

"Baronesse," he greeted before he finally left the room, closing the door.

Baron Samedi's stepdaughter had just arrived. And that was the worst news he could collect ...


The woman opening the door looked like Juliette, Monroe decided. A Juliette, only twenty (or a little more) years older. Grey strands of hair at her temples, lines in her face telling about her life. Yes, this was Juliette's mother – or a very much older sister.

"Juliette?" Mrs. Silverton called, surprised. Looking first at her daughter, then up to Monroe, she really seemed confused. So the Blutbad put on his best and friendliest smile and nodded.

"Mom," Juliette greeted. "Sorry for the short notice."

The "short notice" was a call she made only five minutes before they arrived here, in a small town between Portland and Seattle.

Mrs. Silverton shook her head. "No problem. I'm glad to see you." But the smile on her lips wasn't in the right position, there was no light of excitement in her eyes to see her daughter.

Juliette turned to Monroe. "This is a friend of mine. Monroe," she introduced him. "Monroe, meet my mother."
Monroe, still smiling the friendliest smile he had on stock, nodded again. "I'm honored to meet you, Mrs. Silverton. Juliette did ... tell a lot about you." Which was a complete lie, and the look in the dark-grey eyes of the older woman answered him that she was well aware of that.

"Mister Monroe," Mrs. Silverton answered, lowering her head a little.

"Only Monroe. That's enough."

"I need to talk to you, Mom," Juliette said. "It's urgent and important. That's why I came here on such a short notice."

Mrs. Silverton lifted her chin a little. "Oh! Of course, come on in." She welcomed her unexpected guests and opened the door completely.

Monroe really started to wonder what was going on between mother and daughter. Juliette had never mentioned her at all, and if Nick hadn't told him a while ago, Monroe would have been really baffled after Juliette said she wanted to meet her mother to talk to her about this mysterious Uncle Norman.

As Captain Renard had asked for help in case of the still accused Hank, and Rosalee had some important errands to do, Monroe had decided to drive with Juliette to meet her mom.

Mrs. Silverton led them into a huge living room with a beautiful view into the woods. The furniture was - no doubt here was where Juliette got her taste from - distinguished chic without being too snobby in Monroe's eyes. The highlight of the room was an old clock with a hand-carved frame standing by the back wall.

"Do you want a coffee? Or a tea? Maybe water?" Mrs. Silverton asked and broke the spell before Monroe could fall into deep love with the clock.

"No, I'm good, Mom," Juliette answered. Monroe shook his head and sat down on one of the armchairs, near to said clock to continuing studying its movement.

"Okay." Mrs. Silverton took a seat on another armchair, on the opposite side to Juliette, who took the couch. "What do you want to talk to me about?"

"First of all, I'm pregnant," Juliette said.

"Oh my God!" Mrs. Silverton hid her mouth behind her hands and stared at her daughter. "Are you sure?"

Juliette nodded when Monroe looked at her.

Mrs. Silverton looked at the Blutbad. "Are you ... ?" she asked.

"No, it's not me. I'm about to get married, you know?" Monroe answered quickly. "To a very lovely woman, who's not Juliette."

"It's Nick's," Juliette said.

Mrs. Silverton looked at her again. "I see ..." Suddenly the upcoming excitement vanished complitely, making Monroe wonder.

"But that's not what I want to discuss with you right now," Juliette continued. "I need to learn more about Uncle Norman."

Mrs. Silverton's face went pale. "Juliette, that's not a good topic," she warned. "If you fear for the baby ... don't do that! Nowadays there are so many different ways of treating schizophrenia. Even if you are carrying ..."

"Schizophrenia?" Monroe interrupted. "Are you sure?"

Mrs. Silverton looked at him. "What else would you call someone seeing strange things? My brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia, yes."

"And I doubt that was true," Juliette said. "Mom, I need to know if there's anything you inherited from Uncle Norman."

"I don't think you understand, my dear," Mrs. Silverton said. "If you fear for the baby, that's okay. But schizophrenia is nowadays ..."

"Dear Mom!" Juliette screamed. "I'm not here because Uncle Norman might have been schizophrenic! I am here because I need to know some things about him and if he had any sort of legacy!"

Mrs. Silverton startled. "Juliette, this isn't about you, is it?" she asked, face still pale. "If so, I'm sure ..."

"I am not schizophrenic, Mom. And I think neither was Uncle Norman," Juliette took some deep breaths to calm down again. "And I need to know if there ever were others like Uncle Norman. Others you would refer as mentally ill."

Mrs. Silverton looked at Monroe. "I'm sorry for this topic, Mister Monroe. I really am. This shouldn 't be discussed outside the family."

Monroe pulled the smile back on his face. "It's okay, Mrs. Silverton. A nice clock you have here ... I assume European?"

"Switzerland," Mrs. Silverton confirmed.

Juliette leaned forward, staring at her mother. "Mom, I NEED this information! Now!"

"Why? Juliette, why do you want to dig into the family curse? You should be lucky not to be part of it." Mrs. Silverton tried a sad smile now. It failed.

"You said your brother claimed he could see strange creatures?" Monroe asked.

Mrs. Silverton nodded. "Yes, he said he saw them change right before his eyes. But there was never anything else than average people, I'm sure!"

"Were there others before Uncle Norman?" Juliette repearted.

Mrs. Silverton sighed. "As far as I know yes," she finally answered. "Your grandaunt Silvia and I think I remember there also was her father, so your great-great grandfather."

"And they never survived very long, right?" Monroe asked. "They died young. Possibly violently?"

"I don't know where this is leading to," Mrs. Silverton said. "But it's painful. Juliette, please! If there's something you have to tell me, I am sure we will find help if you need it."

"Is there anything you have from Uncle Norman?" Juliette asked, ignoring the plea from her mother.

Mrs. Silverton again looked at Monroe. "I'm very sorry, Mister Monroe."

"Don't be." Juliette lifted her chin. "This isn't a curse, Mom. This isn't even an illness! This is -"

"Something more complicated than you might think," Monroe interrupted Juliette, sending her a warning stare. "But we really have to find out, if your brother left a legacy after he passed. This really could be important."

"Is it because Nick is missing? Do you think you will find anything valuable among his stuff?" Mrs. Silverton asked her daughter. "Juliette, I may not always be with you, especially when it comes down to Nick, but this is ridiculous! If you need money, say it!"

Monroe blinked.

Mrs. Silverton didn't like Nick and that was why Juliette broke with her? Maybe, he decided.

"No, Mom, this isn't because of Nick. This is because of me," Juliette said.

"What is it?" Monroe interrupted again. "Nick at all or Nick as a cop?"

"The cop part of the Nick story," Juliette answered for her mother.

"That's not true, not completely! I liked him, but you see where his job brought you now," Mrs. Silverton said.

"Nick isn't dead, Mom! He was taken from me!" Juliette snapped.

Mrs. Silverton shook her head. It was as clear as day that she didn't believe this. Who would? Nick wasn't rich, he hadn't inherited much. From the outside, there was nothing that could make him valuable enough to abduct him.

"It's true. Nick's alive, we know for sure," Monroe said, as calmly as possible in hopes of not witnessing how mother and daughter could really start to fight.

Mrs. Silverton looked at him. "So, he's gone and left you behind?" she assumed then.

Juliette shook her head. "No! Nick even doesn't know that I am pregnant. I found out after he vanished."

"And that makes it even harder," Mrs. Silverton said softly. "Oh, Juliette, if you only would try to understand! My concern from the very beginning was that you would end in a situation like this – or very similar to this. Don't you see that you are throwing your life away? For what? Nick will not come back to you, maybe he isn't alive anymore anymore!"

"He is! Mom, why don't you listen? We have proof!"

Monroe frowned. "This isn't all about Nick, is it?" he asked. "This is to distract us from the real reason why we are here."

Mrs. Silverton took a deep breath and looked at Monroe like a deer in the headlights.

Juliette looked at the Blutbad, then again to her mother. "Do you holding something back, Mom?" she asked.

Mrs. Silverton shook her head and got up from the armchair. "Maybe it would be better if you left now. Both of you."

Monroe looked at her, studying her face. "You are not speaking the truth here," he repeated. "There's something you're holding back."

Instinct. That was what told him that. All over his life Monroe had always studied people, sometimes drawn out, sometimes from the front window of his little house. He could sense it if a human was lying, and Mrs. Silverton truly was lying about something.

"What are you hiding from me, Mom?" Juliette demanded to know. "Does it have anything to do with Uncle Norman?"

Mrs. Silverton shook her head. "It's time to leave now if you don't accept the truth, Juliette."

"What truth, Mom? What truth? I think you are the one not accepting the truth here. Not everything is easy to explain or to accept, true! But you should show at least a little faith! Norman was your brother as he was my uncle!"

"Your favourite uncle." Mrs. Silverton sighed and blinked, looking out of the window into the small yard and the woods behind.

Monroe wasn't sure if they should push her. For his own taste this was enough, but he didn't know Mrs. Silverton.

"Mom, this could also be important for Nick! There's so much you don't understand, believe me. And I think Uncle Norman was part of this. And that is why I need to look through his stuff!" Juliette stood up, looking very serious at her mother. "I would never disrespect Uncle Norman, never!"

"I know that! That's why I'm hiding it!" Mrs. Silverton stared into thin air for a moment, trying to realize what she just said.

"So, there's a legacy?" Monroe said.

Mrs. Silverton shook her head again, desperately. "Please, let this be, Juliette! You don't know what you would face if you don't."

"That is why I am here, Mom! I know those things, and I have to find out if there are more out there. I have to understand it! I have to! Not only for me, but for the child!"

Mrs. Silverton closed her eyes. In her eye lashes Monroe could see tears shimmering.

"There's a trunk in the attic," the older woman finally gave in. "I've stored it since Norman was the last time around."

Monroe frowned while Juliette went quickly to the stairs.

"Did you say 'the last time'?" the Blutbad asked. "The last time as in he's still alive?"

Juliette froze, turned around then again, looking at her mother.

At first Mrs. Silverton shook first her head, now openly crying. But after a moment she changed her mind and nodded.

"He's alive?" Juliette asked, baffled.

"I don't know if he is still alive," Mrs. Silverton said. "But I know two months ago he was."

Monroe exchanged a look with Juliette, before she sped up and ran to the stairs.

"Aren't Grimm supposed to be loners?" Monroe muttered. "Well, obviously I just stumbled into a whole hive ..."


The little restaurant Christian had gotten him a table at really was one of the better, Eric decided. The meal probably wasn't world class but tasty, the wine a little too dry for his personal taste but the cognac he had now was surely the best he had for a long time. He really had to find out what distillery they got it from and buy some bottles for his private cellar.

Eric leaned back in his chair, took a look all around the restaurant before he finally said to his guest, "Never do that again, especially not in front of any of my servants. Do you hear me?"

Eloise, the stepdaughter of Baron Samedi, nodded with thin lips.

Eric leaned forward again, still staring at her. "It doesn't matter if we have history or not. You are a guest in my home, so you should behave like a guest. I understand you were close to your father, I understand his death is hitting you hard. But there's no excuse to coming to me in the way you did this afternoon. Do you understand?" Keeping his voice low but cold, she would know how close she was to getting punished.

After a long-lasting stare, Eloise finally lowered her head. "I am sorry, your highness. You are right, I crossed a line I shouldn't have."

Eric nodded. Taking the glass he sipped a little cognac, rolled it several times around in his mouth and tasting the alcohol, the wood and the wine.

"But I have the right for revenge. Those animals not only killed my father, they humilated his body and now send it back piece by piece. This is an outrage, Eric," Eloise said. "So, after I have spoken to my brothers I demand the family right to avenge what was done to our father."

"Denied," Eric said, putting the glass back on the table.

"What? You cannot do that!" Eloise glared at him, a muscle in her cheek jumping.

"I cannot give you the right," Eric said to her. "You don't understand what happened to your father and why it is important that his killers are kept alive – at least for a while."

"You cannot deny me, Eric! This is law! Those bastards killed a member of one of the oldest noble families. If you deny our right of revenge, this will fall back on you. And I don't think you would like where this could lead to directly ..."

"Are you threatening me?" Eric asked, head tilted. "Because I don't like to be threatened, and that could end ugly for you and your family. What about losing your privileges? We could discuss that if you like."

Eloise crossed her arms before her chest. "I'm not leaving without permission! I could have waited for as long as it took for them to sent his whole body. But this way? Every day a piece of him? No way!"

Eric nodded.

"So, do you give your permission or do I have to pay the king a visit?" Eloise asked, eyes narrowing.

Eric had thought this situation through. He had a plan. And he needed her anger to get what the Baron couldn't bring to him.

He still wanted Juliette and the baby. Besides the murder Nick would do for him in a week they would be the best guarantee in keeping the Grimm under Eric's thumb. He should have thought about this earlier, the prince told himself. He should have watched Sean better to understand how he got the control over this unusual Grimm.

But now ...

Eric thinned his lipe. Staring into the glass with the cognac he thought his plan through again.

Eloise, the new head of the family, the new baronesse of the caribbean islands, had a special ability. Maybe he should have asked for her help first instead of the Baron, as Eloise's special ability wasn't as noisy as the zombies her stepfather created. And right now, her special talent would surely be the smartest move to get Juliette and the baby out of Portland and into his castle. He only had to make it look like he just came to this idea on this table.

"I cannot give you permission and I can only hope you will let my father stay out of this," Eric finally said. Hesitately looking up he tried his best so act weak, as if she really had hit him hard.

Eloise lifted her chin, a satisfied smile pulling one corner of her mouth.

"I need one person from the group of suspects for killing your father. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have something to do with his death but she's protected by the others. And I know your temper. You would probably lose control."

The smile died. Instead a line grew on her forehead. "This person has nothing to do with my father's death? Are you sure?" she asked.

He was sure she had but he needed her alive. "Look, as long as you can guarantee that you won't go after her I'm fine with you killing the others, especially as one of them is my brother Sean." Eric smiled.

Eloise lifted an eyebrow. "Father was still in Portland? Why was he there?" she asked.

He sighed. "Do you know why I asked your father to go there?"

Eloise frowned. "I think I know why," she finally told him.

"You see? I realized that I made a mistake bringing only him with me. He has a girlfriend, and I sent your father to bring her too," Eric said. "And then he was killed. I'm sure it was this rabble of rebellious Wesen my brother has gathered all around him. The girlfriend is pregnant with the child of the Grimm, and you know how precious this child could be."

Eloise started to nod. "I see ..."

Eric sighed again. "I need the girlfriend to control the Grimm. Unfortunately my dear brother did a sloppy job with taming him so I have to do it ..."

"And with this girlfriend it would be a lot easier," Eloise continued, still nodding. Finally she caught eye-contact with him again and sat upright. "Give the order to me. I will make sure this girlfriend will arrive here safely and I will take revenge on the others protecting her. So we are both getting what we want."

Eric's smile grew. "Are you sure?" he asked.

"Give me the details."


Nick sat once more with his back against the door and ate a sandwich this guy, Christian, had brought to him

This had become a daily routine for the past week. Every evening with sunset the little man with the French accent came to the door and brought two sandwiches with him. Christian had explained to Nick that this was the only time the two Grimm Hans and Franz left the tower together and left him alone so they could have dinner.

That made sense, Nick decided. And he was more than thankful that Christian came every day. It was a relief to have someone to talk to, someone who listened to him and gave him advice. Someone who calmed him down.

Nick still feared that Juliette had been kidnapped by the Cracher-Mortal. True, it's been a week now since he heard the painful scream and gave in to Eric, but didn't the Royal take him on a journey with him after he was trapped and stored in the coffin for two months? Was it also possible that now also Juliette was in another coffin and flying across the world, unconscious and pregnant?

There was something else Nick noticed over the past few days: something inside him was changing. Now and then he found himself sticking in the middle of so deep an anger he'd never even thought to exist. He didn't have an explanation for what was going on with him, and so far he didn't trust Christian enough to tell him. Christian, this little guy with the big eyes, always nervous and ready to leave as fast as possible. And the same Christian was also Nick's only hope to flee.

"The premiere is next week," the voice with the French accent told him now. "I have to check with my contacts there and I also have to tell the one you will take with you. But ... do you have a problem with this?"

Nick swallowed and smiled a sad smile.

One week until he was supposed to flee together with someone he didn't know in the middle of a country he had never been to, the language of which he was incapable of speaking or understanding.

"Is she able to speak German?" he asked.

"She can. She's living here for a year," Christian answered. "I will tell you the details later, including a way out of Vienna. Sean has ordered two plane tickets from Milan airport Malpensa. Destination is Marrakesh."

What the hell was he going to do in Marrakesh?

"It is necessary," Christian continued. "We cannot fly either of you two out of Europe from Austria, Germany or France. It will be dangerous enough on your flight to the States when you stop in Great Britain."

Nick's mood sank down again.

All this sounded so complicated, and with the problem of not understanding the languages here these problems seemed to grow to the size of mountains.

"The only other way I would see would be from Brussels," Christian said. "And I have no idea how to bring you two from this side to the other side of the Alps at all."

"I understand," Nick said.

"Your partner is pregnant, never forget that. She's tough, true, but she carries a child."

His throat seemed to shut down for a moment. He couldn't breathe.

Pregnant, like Juliette. And Juliette was probably on her own now, maybe already abducted and on her way to Eric's castle.

Nick put the small remains of the sandwich back on the dish. "Have you heard anything from Portland?" he asked hesitately.

Christian was silent for a moment, and Nick wished he could see more of the small guy on the other side of the door than the small part of his face as he peeked into the cell.

"She's safe," Christian told him. "I told you I've spoken with Sean. Your fiancee and the baby are both well and eagerly await your return."

"Did you speak to her?" Nick wanted to know.

Again there was for a moment silence on the other side of the door. "I did speak with her, yes." the little man then answered. "As I have already told you, she's waiting for your return. She never gave up hope that you would find your way back to her."

A sad smile grew on Nick's lips.

How deeply he wished to be back at their house again. He really couldn't find words for this ...

"Do you want to talk to her?" Christian asked.

Nick froze.

Speaking with Juliette? Now?

"I can get Sean to set up a time, maybe tomorrow evening? It's the best time then I think," Christian said.

Listening to Juliette's voice would feel like a bath in crystal clear water, Nick decided. It would feel so good that he really wished he could take his own cellphone and call her right now. But Christian was right, Juliette was half a world away, and he didn't have a cellphone anymore. They both needed help to set up a simple call.

"I would appreciate that," Nick said. "I miss her."

"I will see what I can do," Christian told him. "And I hope you don't mind me when I go now. The cousins should be back soon."

Nick sighed.

Alone again ...

"Alright," he said. "We meet again tomorrow?"

Maybe then with the chance to talk to Juliette?

"I will see what I can do," Christian answered and opened the little window in the door. "The dish please."

Nick nodded and gave it to him. Christian frowned when he noticed that half of the second sandwich was still on the dish but he didn't mentioned it.

"See you tomorrow," Nick said and tried a bitter smile. "And ... watch your back!"

Christian smiled back. "Will do. Be careful, Grimm."

"Nick. My name is Nick," he corrected.

And Christian's smile grew. "Goodnight, Nick."