June 21st 2015

Mystic Falls

(Damon POV)

"Damon, now that we've had breakfast, I was wondering if we might go to church." Lily asked.

"Do you want me to get the horses ready?" I asked, smirking at her. She gave me a disapproving look and Elena gave me a look. "I'll go get… a car." I remember Mother always loved church. Not to mention Stefan and I would steal candy from the church… okay it was me who stole it but still… okay no. Just me. Stefan, of course, was always doing what he was told.

Speaking of Stefan, he'll be very pleased to see what I've done, how far we've come from her hating us and refusing to be our mother. That look she'd given me was one she used to give me when I was a kid, back when Mother was living with us instead of a bunch of stupid vampires.

(Klaus POV)

I took my family home. We'd just come back from lunch at a restaurant. I walked over to Finn, I needed him to watch the kids so I could get things done. Sunday might be a time for rest but I'm going to break that rule… I had made it mainly for them anyway. It's summer, kids have to sit around the house and be lazy at some points. Kol was never in the mood to do that.

"Finn? Can I ask you to watch them?" I looked at Kol, Kai, Tyler, and Jeremy. "I need to talk with the… my father. I need to apologize. Besides, I have a meeting that's taking place at the church." He smiled.

"Actually taking on some responsibility Niklaus?" I growled.

"Will you do it or not? I'll even give you a bit of lee way if they misbehave while I'm gone." He nodded.

"I would have done it either way Niklaus. However, thank you for the 'leeway'." He smiled. I forced my sneer into a smile. Which Finn didn't believe. "You should probably go now. Before you are late." I rolled my eyes.

"I'm King of New Orleans. If I want to be late, I will be late. Thank you, Finn." I turned from him and grabbed Marcel's arm. He looked at me, shocked. "We have a meeting to attend at the church Marcel. Let's go." He nodded, and made a few calls. Probably reminding them of the meeting. I'd prepared it the day before. A meeting. However, I had other plans.

So there they are. Marcel, Thierry, Tyler, Norman, Jackson, Oliver, Genevieve, Sophie (and Davina (because I'd demanded her presence)), Kieran, Camille, and me. Jackson looked around.

"Where's Elijah? We need all faction leaders." I blinked once. Was he really that dim? Stefan strolled in and I rolled my eyes.

"What? Stefan, I'm trying to do business here."

"What about your second hand man? Don't Hybrids need that too?"

"Oh you misunderstand, I represent myself. Elijah usually represents my family." Before he said another thing, I slapped my hand over his mouth. "And you, incidentally, are nothing but a vampire, a young one, and you don't even live here. Your opinions don't count." He moved my hand and I sighed.

"They do with you."

"Stefan, go find someone to terrorize or something." Oliver stood up.

"Don't do that. Just send that bloodsucker away." I snapped at him.

"Don't tell me what to do." I looked at Stefan. "You can either leave… or have your neck snapped." He chuckled.

"I'll go get Elijah." He started walking away again.

"Be snappy about it!" I snarled. When he was gone, I cleared my throat and put my hands behind my back. "Now we can begin. First order of business, since we have last met, have you had any new problems and have any of your earlier ones been fixed?"

"Actually I think the humans are doing just fine." Kieran spoke first. "The only problem I notice we've been having is that the city might be running out of money." I smiled.

"Luckily for you, you have a wealthy rich man friend. I'll pay whatever expenses this city needs. I refuse to let this city fall apart. Whether that be monetary problems or relationship problems."

"Niklaus, I'm sorry for being late, I didn't know we were having a meeting." I rolled my eyes at Elijah.

"That's because I didn't tell you." He raised a brow but staid silent. He sat down in his usual chair. Jackson seemed happy about Elijah's presence here. He relaxed in his chair, waiting for the what was likely to be a long meeting to be over. At my own words I felt a few laughs come up and then I smirked at them. "Is that all Kieran?"

"Yes it is Klaus. Thank you." I hummed.

"Camille? Do you agree?"

"Yes Klaus, I agree with Kieran that the human faction is doing well besides for the city running low on money. I think to fix the problem we could do a fund raiser or we could do something special."

"Or we could do what I've been doing before Klaus came back and drive up tourism even higher."

"I would rather pay it myself. Have I placed someone in charge of the casinos and drug trafficking?"

"Don't bring up the Guerreras." Marcel whispered. I only smirked. That was my entire plan, I had to bring up a threat. Besides, they were all going to have to attend what I really called this meeting for. Another party.

"The human faction is in charge of the casinos, the vampires are in charge of trafficking." Kieran and Thierry reminded me. I nodded.

"Good, good. I'm still waiting for the other factions to speak up." I looked at each of them in turn, making sure to meet them eye to eye. Oliver bristled when I looked at him, making me widen my smirk. I suppose I'm being arrogant.

"The Shitanais are doing just fine, we don't need your-"

"Oliver, not here." I raised a brow at Oliver but turned to look at Jackson, tilting my head to the side a bit. "The Shitanai are doing fine, we've plenty of food, plenty of water, and we're not having any problems with the witches or the vampires." I smirked, beaming at Marcel. He actually knew how to keep his vampires in check? I'm so proud of him.

"The Akatai are also doing well. No problems with werewolves, vampires, or witches. We've also plenty of food, water." Norman replied. Tyler… Father nodded at what he said. Werewolves…

"Vampires are minding their own business. Of course there aren't any problems with us. We've been dividing our fangs between the citizens, tourists, and bags." Marcel stated, glaring at the werewolves. "We've also not been having problems with the werewolves, which is great. The witches are also leaving us to do our own thing. As long as we don't go in the cemetery." I frowned.

"Is the cemetery not where we agreed that would be left for the witches alone? Unless we have a fallen friend, regardless the species, who needs to be… buried?" Marcel thought about that before nodding.

"That is what we agreed." I smiled.

"Glad you remember. Also remember that anyone who breaks peace will have to answer to me. I happen to have a short temper. Fast to aggression. Anyone else wish to speak? Everyone must speak or we won't get done here." That was the humans, the werewolves, and the vampires. We needed the witches to speak up. Gen needed to speak up for her species.

"Nik, the witches are in… a slight civil war." I looked over immediately.

"What's wrong? What's the problem?" Sophie and Gen looked at Davina, who looked up trying to pretend everything was fine. "What's wrong with Davina, Genevieve? Sophie? Is she not fit for regent of the witches? Is she not fit to lead the witches? As far as I remember, she was the Harvest girl who worked hard for her place. The others? They did nothing, they didn't do what she did. Take Monique for instance. I'm kind of ashamed you're related to her Sophie."

"Niklaus."

"Shut up Elijah, the witches and I are talking." Elijah opened his mouth to speak again but Gen cut him to it.

"Some witches, the Elders, don't believe she's right to lead. I believe she is going to be a great regent. I told you from the beginning you can't exactly put her in charge. I was right." Gen replied, softly. "The Elders will not stand for this."

"What do they have against her Genevieve?"

"They think I am a vampire sympathizer, that I'll let us be walked on." Davina whispered.

"I'll talk to your faction one on one later. Is that your only problem?" I asked. I really needed to hurry up with Kara. Who, by the way, is also going to attend this party. I would have to get myself alone with her.

"Yes, other than that, the witches are doing fine. We couldn't be better."

"I don't want a war breaking out in the witch faction, Genevieve you will get your witches in line. If one species is not in line, then the whole city will suffer the consequences, I will not have that happen in my city, understand?" She looked at me, blinked, and then nodded.

"I understand Nik."

"Good. Is that everyone?" I believe it is.

"I am glad to hear my family isn't causing any problems." Elijah said, sitting back in his chair. I raised a brow at him.

"Did you expect them to be causing problems Elijah?" He looked at me.

"Considering what we've been hearing Kol doing? Yes. I did. They've not caused a single problem this week." Marcel looked down at that. Was he feeling guilty? I looked at him and back at Elijah.

"Yes, I quite agree, Elijah." I looked at the table of people. "I have nothing to report to you myself. I've been doing well, plenty of everything I need. It feels great to be powerful. I'm sure you all agree." I beamed. They all seemed a bit agitated at my bringing up my status against theirs but other than that it was fine. "Now, why I really called you all here. Do you remember that party that we held at my house when I first became King again?"

I waited for them to use their brains and when they all seemed to recall it, I nodded myself and smiled, puffing out my chest… kind of. "That is what I'm planning on Monday. We'll be having a party again. Because it seemed to work so well last time. Why not do it again? I think we should throw a party at least once a year, to keep our city and factions growing strong. Anyone who doesn't attend can expect a rousting. Marcel seemed to throw those a lot for the witches. Ask the witches what that means. I don't care to explain it myself. Do you understand? Bring a substantial amount of your own people. Even the humans. All of this will be fine by Tuesday. Just wait and see." I vamped out of there and walked into Kara's coffee shop to tell her of the party and invite her.

(Damon POV)

We'd had a 'day on the city' today. Elena and I were lying in bed, naked. We'd just had one of those amazing sex moments. I was lying there in bliss as Elena laid on her side of this bed. I looked at her. She was humming a song. A song Lily had taught her.

"I love you Damon."

"I love you Elena." I pulled her closer to me and she hummed, snuggling into me. "What is that you're humming anyway?"

"Something Lily tried to teach me. Damon? I think you were born in maybe 1839?"

"Why would you be thinking about that?"

"Were you?" She smiled.

"Yep, you got it right. I was born in June 18 1839. How'd you figure that out?"

"Math." She giggled. I smirked at her.

"What Math did you do?"

"I took what I know and put it together. You were both turned in 1864 and Stefan was 17 at the time and you're 8 years older than him. You were 25. So I subtracted twice before I asked you."

"Why were interested in that though?" She smiled this time.

"By any chance did you get to meet Abraham Lincoln? The… 16th president maybe?"

"… I met a few historical people. Why? Do you want to know something about them?"

"Something about Beethoven?"

"One reason his songs are so fast paced is because he was kind of deaf and his metronome was out of pace. He liked his metronome and he used it to time his songs, almost or all of them."

"Damon, I don't know why I want to bring this up, but do you realize that if Stefan is a doppelgänger then you and Stefan are related to Silas? Silas had to have a kid. Like Katherine had one. I think her name was Nadia?"

"Who cares about Katherine? And yes, I do realize that Silas had to have a kid if Stefan was his doppelgänger. But then you also have to consider that other one named Thomas or something."

"Well siblings are a common thing. It's not like you have a kid and you can only have one." I rolled onto my side.

"So what were you humming?"

"Kathleen Mavourneen. Your Mom was trying to teach me how to play the piano." I kissed her lips one more time. "I think we should get ready for bed. We only have a week before Jeremy gets to come home right?"

"Actually that's a week and two days for that to happen." I replied.