"What did you think of that?" Adrian asked Helene as they drove away from the wedding.

Helene shrugged. "It was unusual, but I can't say I'm surprised. This is your family after all."

"Oh, please," Adrian said. "Like yours is any better."

"I don't know many of them, really," Helene said. "Dad's a lot older than he looks, remember, so his family died out years ago, and Mom, her family all lost their actual magic. Mom only has her visions now."

"Why'd your Mom's family lose their magic?" Adrian asked.

Helene shook her head. "I don't know. And I've never had the courage to ask."

"Well not to be pushy," Adrian told her, "but I really think you should ask. Just in case it's cause of something bad that could mean trouble for you."

Helene thought a moment. "I suppose you're right. Let's just go and get it over with before I lose my nerve."

They drove to Alistair and Astrid's and knocked on the door. Astrid answered it. "Your father's not home yet, but assume that he'll need a good stiff drink once he gets here."

"Actually," Helene said, "we don't need to talk to him. We need to talk to you."

Astrid sat down and pushed her blonde hair out of her eyes. "Why?" She asked. "What's the matter?"

"Could you tell me," Helene said quietly, looking her mother straight in the eye, "why it is that your family lost their magic? Did you make somebody angry? Should I be worried?"

Astrid sighed. "No, it's nothing that you need to be concerned about. It's just that...I guess I'm kind of like your father in a way. You remember how he did all that reckless stuff with his magic when he was younger?"

Helene nodded. "I do."

"Well," Astrid said, "my family was in Salem."

"You mean where the witch trials were?" Helene asked.

Astrid nodded. "We lived peacefully until the terror, never using our magic for bad things. We were actually quite well respected. But then, the terror came and a distant aunt of mine was caught. A villager that she was treating for an illness died a horrible, agonizing death."

"So she was hung?" Helene said quietly. "That's terrible."

"No," Astrid shook her head. "It's even worse than that. To save herself from the gallows, she began an affair with the town magistrate. He told her that she would be saved, but she had to do one thing: she had to help him convict other witches. She knew that agreeing to his terms would mean a terrible price for her: the loss of her magic. There are heavy prices for robbing people of their lives, both innocent humans and one's own kind. But she was so scared for her own life that she agreed anyway, and her tesimony sent many innocent humansand witches who had only done good magic before to their deaths."

"But she was able to keep herself alive, right?"

"Yes," Astrid nodded. "But after the magistrate died, things went down hill for her. She began being haunted by the spirits of those she had condemned. They demaned her magic, and they took it. And not only that, but the magic of all her descendants for five hundred years."

Helene gasped. "So does that mean I'm going to lose my magic?"

"It's a distinct possibility," Astrid said. "And now is not the time for that to happen."

"Why?" Helene asked.
"You'll see," Astrid whispered.

Helene leaned forward. "What do you mean, 'You'll see'? Mom if I'm in trouble, you have to tell me!"
Just then, the front door opened. "Astrid!" Alistair called, "get Adrian and Helene over here right now."
"We're here," Helene yelled back. "What's the problem?"
"When I was driving back here, I got a phone call," he said, sitting down next to Astrid at the kitchen table. "It wasn't about much. The caller didn't identify himself. He just said 'It's time for you to pay the piper.' and then I remember feeling very weak, and now, I..."
"You what?" Helene asked. "Please don't tell me you can't do magic anymore."
He shrugged. "I don't know. I hope that's not the case."
"Try and do something," Adrian urged. He went to stand in front of Alistair. "Turn me into a rat or something. You've always wanted to, I know that."
Alistair laughed weakly. Then, he began muttering under his breath. A few minutes later, he looked up at Adrian. "You're still yourself," he said."
"Well that doesn't necessarily mean your magic is gone," Adrian said. "I'm a complex individual and..."
Helene brought her hand down and Adrian turned into a horse. "It's definitely not because he's a complex individual," Helene said, and changed Adrian back. "That must mean it does have something to do with you."
Alistair nodded. Then he looked at Adrian and Helene. "Would it be too much to ask for the two of you to move in here? As of right now, Helene is the only one who has magic."
"Is there any way I can give you mine?" Helene asked him.
"No," Alistair shook his head. "And even if there was, I would never ask you to do that for me."

"Why not?" Helene said. "What do I need my magic for, really? And if Mom's right about her family history, I might as well put it where it can be useful."

"If this is your way of making up for the little murder spree you went on after you died," Alistair said, "There are other ways to make up for it. I don't want you giving up your magic. It's part of who you are."

"Well what about all that time you spent telling me you wanted me to grow up and have a normal life?" Helene said. "Wouldn't giving up my magic help me do that more effectively?"

They all sat in silence for a moment, then Alistair said, "Even then, I never meant for you to give up your magic," Alistair said.

"Personally, I think it's a good idea," Astrid told him.

Alistair turned to her in surprise. "What?"

"I think that if Helene wants to give you her magic, she should be able to," Astrid said. "She's grown up and we should allow her to make her own decisions."

Adrian had remained silent during this exchange. Now, as Helene looked at him imploringly, he said, "Everything that happened to you is really my fault," he said. "The second time after I attacked you, I heard Alistair talking to you at the hospital, saying how important it was to him that you had a normal life. When I heard how desperate he sounded, I decided to play along, even though all I wanted was to be with you. I figured that if I loved you, I should do what I had to so that you lived instead of thinking of what I wanted. That's why I left and made you feel so bad. And now we're at another impasse, aren't we? Do I agree with you and let you give your magic away, or do I tell you that you should keep it because you'll be safer that way?"

"If it helps," Helene said quietly, "I know what I'm going to do, and if you agree with Daddy, I'm still going to give my magic away."

"I'm not going to take it," Alistair said.

Astrid stood up. "Yes, you are," she said. "You're the one who'll need magic the most out of any of us! Whoever called you isn't just wanting to talk. They seriously want to hurt you and you have to be able to fight back!"

"Do you realize what you're doing to your daughter?" Alistair asked, shocked.

"I'm not doing anything," Astrid said. "I'm agreeing with a decision that she's already made."

Alistair sighed and looked at his wife and daughter, who both wore self-righteous expressions. "Fine," he said warily. "I'll take your magic, but I won't be happy about it."

Helene took a deep breath and took her father's arm. She shut her eyes and muttered a spell. Adrian watched in alarm as the color seemed to drain from her face. Soon, a surge of power went through the kitchen, rattling the pots and pans and breaking the windows. Then, Helene collapsed unconscious on the floor.

After the air cleared, Alistair caught Adrian's eye. "Take her to her bedroom," he said. "Lay her down on her bed."

Adrian nodded and picked her up. He brought her to her room, tucked her in, and then went back downstairs. "What now?" he asked.

"Stay here until she wakes up again," Alistair said. "Then, take her back to your house."

"But I thought you wanted us to stay here."

Alistair shook his head. "Not anymore. I have her magic. And if she stays here, whatever is keeping tabs on me could use her against me. I want her as far away from me as possible. Do whatever you have to so that she doesn't want to come back here."

"What?" Adrian asked in surprise. "Really? You mean like compel her so that she doesn't remember you're her father? I don't know about that."

"Why not?" Alistair asked.

"Well, what if the thing that's chasing you still goes after Helene and convinces her that you're evil or something and she kills you?" Adrian asked.

"She can't," Alistair said. "No one can. Except your father. Now, please. Just do what I'm asking you."

Adrian sighed and went to Helene's room, sitting in a chair and watching her until she awoke. "Adrian?" She asked groggily. "What's the matter with me? I feel so weak..."

He picked her up. "It's okay," he said. "We're going to get you out of here and make you better."

Helene shook her head. "But my father. I have to..."

Adrian locked eyes with her. "No, you don't. Your father is human, an insurance salesman who died in a car accident when you were four years old. Your mother abandoned you to run off with her boyfriend to Florida a few years later. You've been living with an aunt ever since. But her house burned down and you need a place to stay. I'm going to help you with that."

"All right, Adrian," Helene nodded.

Adrian said, "you have to come with me."

Helene nodded. "Okay, sure. Where else do you think I would go?"

"Do you think you can walk?" He asked her.

She nodded and he followed her down the stairs, watching her apprehensively as if she were a toddler.

When Alistair saw them, he choked up. "Is it done?" He asked.

Adrian nodded as Alistair threw his arms around Helene. When he pulled away, a confused Helene asked Adrian, "Who is that?"

Alistair shook his head. "I'm nobody. Goodbye, Helene."

She nodded. "Goodbye, whoever you are."

Six months later, Adrian got a call. "Hi, Adrian. It's your mother. We're having a bit of a crisis at home. Could you come by for a bit? Thanks."

"But-" However, Selina hung up before he could get a word in.

"Who was that?" Helene asked. He thought she was doing remarkably well in spite of everything.

"Oh, just my mom," Adrian sighed as he got up. "She and Dad are having a 'crisis'."

"I'm sorry," Helene said. "If there's anything I can do, don't hesitate to tell me."

Adrian nodded. "Thanks a lot."

He left the house, got in his car, and drove until he saw Klaus' car in the driveway. He opened the door to the house he'd grown up in and strode inside. "What?" he said to his parents who were seated on either sofa with guarded expressions.

"I just had the most interesting encounter," Klaus said. He looked sweetly at Selina. "My dear, would you care to explain it?"

Selina scoffed. "No, I will not."

"Just tell me, please," Adrian said through his teeth. "I already have enough problems. I don't want to be thrown in the middle of another one."

Klaus just rolled his eyes. "Funny thing. I was walking around town when I had an encounter with an old friend of your mother's, who told me that if I even thought about hurting her or the babies, I would pay for it." He grinned wolfishly. "Selina, when were you planning on telling me that Damon Salvatore, your ex-husband is the father of one of the twins?"

Adrian blinked. "Wait, what?" He looked at his father. "Only one of the twins is yours? Which one?"

"I wish I knew," Klaus said. "But your mother refuses to tell me."

Adrian groaned. "Why can't the two of you just talk about your problems like normal people? It would save a lot of people a lot of headaches."

"Well I was going to ask Alistair's opinion, but he doesn't seem to be answering his phone." Klaus said.

"And he probably won't for awhile," Adrian said. "He just had a big shock that ended with Helene giving him all her magic. Then he asked me to compel her and make sure that she never sees him again. Apparently he thinks something evil is after him and that if Helene stays with him, whatever it is will hurt her too."

"Poor Alistair!" Selina cried, momentarily forgetting how angry she was. "I can't imagine having to do that to any of our kids!"

But Klaus was unaffected. He quickly turned back to Selina. "Speaking of our kids," he said, "Which twin is mine?"

"Why should it matter?" Selina said. "We're keeping both of them here and Damon's going to have visiting privileges."

"No," Klaus shook his head. "That's not happening. I won't have any extra children in my house!"

Selina turned. "It's your house now? I believe I was the one who compelled the realtor to give it to us," she said. "And as for the rest, I would think that you of all people would be more sympathetic to this situation."

Klaus frowned deeper. "So you want me to pity you because you strayed?"

"I was drunk," Selina said. "I didn't intentionally cheat on you. It was an accident! And I'm not saying I want pity. Just that I want you to remember how you grew up. Do you really wish that on anybody else?"

Klaus squirmed uncomfortably. "Fine," he said. "Just go. Bring them back here, do whatever you want."

Selina nodded. "All right, then." She left, telling them she'd be back in a little bit.

After she was gone, Adrian looked at Klaus. "She's got you in a bit of a chokehold, doesn't she? You want a drink?"

Klaus nodded. "Don't bother with a glass. Just bring me a bottle of anything."

Damon had Sam in his lap on the sofa and got up to carry him to the window when he heard Selina drive up. Then, he came out onto the porch. "Hey," he said. "Good to see you made it back okay."

Selina nodded. "Although you, Mister, are in so much trouble."

Damon handed Sam to her and gave her a look. "What did I do?"

"You shouldn't have confronted Klaus," she said. "Although I shouldn't have expected different from you because that's the way you are. Where's Lucy?"

"She's asleep," Damon said.

Selina nodded. "Good. Did Sam not feel like sleeping?"

"He never feels like sleeping," Damon said.

Sam giggled.

When Lucy woke up, Selina went in to get her, then came to sit next to Damon in the living room. "I have something to say," Selina began carefully. "And you might not like it."

"What?" Damon asked.

Selina sighed. "Well, now that Klaus knows about everything, I think it would be best if I moved back home. There's no point in staying away now. And I don't think the kids should be separated, so I want to take them with me when I go."

"No," Damon's eyes widened. "That's not going to happen. If you take Sam away, I'm never going to see him again!"

"That's not true," Selina said. "I will make sure you get a chance to see him. Trust me. There's no easy way to deal with this so that nobody will be inconvenienced or hurt."

"You're right about that," Damon said.

Selina said, "I could take Lucy over first, if you wanted. Then take Sam in a couple of days so you'll have time for a proper goodbye."

Damon nodded. "Fine. If that's the best you can do."

Selina put a hand on his arm and then went to pack up Lucy's things. When she was finished, she picked up Lucy again and before she took her out to the car, paused by the front door. "Please don't make this any harder than it is," she told Damon. "I'll come back for Sam in three days. Don't try and run away with him or anything like that."

"I won't," Damon said. "I'm not stupid."

"I just thought I'd make sure," Selina said. "Because I know what kind of ideas you can get in your head."

"Will you just go already?" Damon snapped.

"Fine," Selina nodded and kissed the top of Sam's brown head. "See you in a couple of days."

The door opened so quickly in response to Selina's knock that she figured Adrian must have been waiting on the other side. He grinned when he saw the blonde girl Selina was clutching. "So Lucy is ours?" He asked. "Are you prepared for Roxie the sequel?"

"She's not going to be Roxie the sequel," Selina said.

"I think she will if Dad has anything to say about it," Adrian said.

"He's okay, isn't he? Not drunk or anything?" Selina asked.

"No," Adrian sighed. "He wanted to drain a whole bottle once you left, but I told him that you probably wouldn't let him near any babies if he was drunk, so he eased up after that."

Selina nodded. "Good."

"Dad!" Adrian called. "Mom's back!"

Klaus sped in. "Is she?" He asked. He looked eager. "Where is it? Where is it?"

"'It' is a she," Selina said, showing him Lucy. "Are you disappointed?"

"Of course not!" Klaus said, taking her and hugging her to himself. Lucy wasn't as welcoming as Roxie had been. Instead of snuggling, she looked up at him curiously. "She probably wonders if you're up to something," Selina said.

"So where's the other one?" Klaus asked.

"Still at Damon's," Selina said. "He wanted time to say goodbye."

"Why don't you just let Damon keep Sam?" Klaus said. "It seems like he's unwilling to let him go."

"I told you," Selina said through her teeth. "I'm not separating them."

"Well, that's just selfish," Klaus said. "Are you trying to make us both miserable?"

"No!" Selina cried. "I just...never mind. What's the point in explaining?"

"Are we good here then?" Adrian asked. "Because I really need to be getting home."

"Sure," Selina nodded. "You go. We'll be fine."

That night, after Selina put Lucy to bed, she went back to her and Klaus' room. "Lucy doesn't seem to be warming to you as readily, I noticed," she remarked.

"Well that wouldn't have happened if you would have just let me keep her," Klaus said. "This is all your fault!"

"It's not," Selina said. "I'm doing what's best for everyone."

"I think you were just being spiteful when you sent Lucy away," Klaus said.

"What reason would I possibly have to be spiteful?" Selina asked.

"I don't know," he said. "You tell me. I mean, I buy you pretty things and we're very active sexually, so what's the problem?"

"I know that it doesn't seem bad," Selina said. "It's not what you're doing that's the problem necessarily. It's why you're doing it. You buy me stuff whenever we should be talking instead. You think it'll shut me up so I won't complain. So you don't lose control."

"Well, I clearly have. So that's moot," Klaus said.

"I'm not doing this to hurt you," Selina said. "I just...I feel like I've lost control and I want to get it back."

"You did stray to get back at me!" Klaus said.

"No, I didn't!" Selina shook her head. "It was all an accident. I didn't even know about the spell Damon had on him until afterward!"

She paused. "Wait...are we in bed and talking to each other?"

"Yes," Klaus said in surprise. "I guess we are. Can we be done now?"

Selina sighed. "I suppose."

He kissed her deeply and then ran his lips in a trail down her torso, pushing his tongue inside of her and making her gasp. Then he drove into her and the world splintered. The next thing she woke up to was the sound of Lucy crying.

"The cautionary tale for all parents," she said, getting up. "I'll be back in a minute."

Two days later, Selina drove up to Damon's house to pick up Sam. Adrian had been nice enough to get Klaus out of the house, so leaving had been easy enough. She took Lucy out of her carseat. "Time to see your brother," she said, smiling. She let herself into the house, and then groaned. It was empty. Things were strewn about as if someone had packed up and left in a hurry. Then, Selina found a note next to the phone.

Selina,

I know I promised you that I'd make it easy for you to get Sam, but last night, I decided against it. Sam is my son and I'm not just going to give him up. I'm sorry.

Damon