I woke up early and lay in bed. My eyes rested on the ring box Kol had left here the night before. I bit my lip, feeling guilty for what I'd said. I hadn't been cruel but I hadn't exactly been kind either. I knew eventually I was going to have to give Elijah an answer, and Kol as well. That thought scared me more than Dahlia did.

I sat up and picked up the ring box, turning it over in my hand. An idea began to form in my mind as I looked at it.

I got out of bed and put the ring back on the table before getting dressed. I looked at the wolf who was resting his head on his paws, watching me.

"Are you up for a little trip?" I asked him. He wagged his tail. "Good. Let's get the girls, they've been cooped up inside too long." He whined. "Yeah, I know Dahlia's out there. But I'm fairly sure she could get in here if she wanted to. I don't think the presence of walls are going to stop her."

I headed to the twins room. The wolves I'd instructed were still there, and they immediately tensed as I opened the door, relaxing when they saw it was me. I gave them an affectionate pat before going to my daughters. I took them downstairs to feed them. Kol and Elijah were both there, sitting on opposite sides of the room and I could see the tension between them. I ignored them both, fed the girls using the last of the milk I'd saved. The alcohol was hopefully out of my system with this point (particularly given the throat slitting from the night before) but I didn't want to risk it.

"I'm going out today," I said to no one in particular. "I'm taking the girls for a walk."

"Is that a good idea?" Elijah asked.

"Well clearly Dahlia can get in the house if she wants to. So staying locked inside achieves absolutely nothing. Besides, the streets are full of witches and vampires who are all sworn to protect me. And if you want, Rebekah can come with me. I'm only going to see Sophie."

"Why?" Kol asked.

"Because she's my friend. Do I need another reason?"

"If you're risking your life and the lives of our children, then yes."

"She is a witch and I want her to do a spell." I said simply. "And I need to go see Marcel about something."

"And why can't we come with you?"

"Because I just… I just need some time… girl time."

"Marcel is a girl?"

"No but I need to see him and ask him a question." I burped the twins and got up. I bundled them into their push chair and whistled for my wolf, who came dutifully to my side.

"Maybe get that mutt a leash," said Kol. "Or a handbag since he's basically your lapdog?"

I ignored him and left the courtyard, pushing the twins in front of me. I made my way down the street, immediately aware when two tall guys began to follow me, keeping their distance but still undeniably present. I glanced back at them and gave them a jaunty wave before heading to Marcel's compound.

I let myself in and went to the main room where Marcel was usually lurking.

"Marcel!" I called. "You home?"

He appeared in front of me.

"Your majesty. You making house calls now?"

"Please don't call me that. And I needed to ask you a question."

"Of course." He smiled at the girls. "May I?"

"Go ahead." He picked up Blair and rocked her gently. "So what can I do for you Elena?"

"I was wondering if you had any records of… werewolves in the city?"

"All the werewolves were driven out a long time ago."

"I know but when they were here, was there any records of them?"

"Not kept by me. There is someone who might be able to help you but he's not super helpful when it comes to vampires so you'd have to go alone."

"I'm basically a vampire. Just without the perks." He laughed softly.

"Try St Anne's Church. Ask for Father Kieran. If anyone can help you, he can." He handed Blair back to me and I strapped her in her seat. "Are you okay Elena? I mean… I know all this witch stuff is crazy but… I know that things with the Mikaelsons is never easy."

"It's tense. But I'm working with it. Same as always. Nothing brings a family together quite like a crisis." I gave Marcel a kiss on his cheek. "Also if you're going to have your guys follow me, do you think you could make it less obvious? People have been staring. I feel like I'm in the mob or something."

"I'll do my best."

I gave him a smile and headed out back onto the street. I decided to go to Rousseau's first to see Sophie and then try the church. I was hoping if I found a list of werewolves, I might be able to find out which of them was currently living at my side. I knew none of these tasks would help with the Dahlia situation but in my mind I felt if I dealt with these small problems it would make the larger problem go away or at least easier to deal with. At least they provided a sufficient distraction.

Rousseau's was fairly empty when I got there. It was early in the day so I didn't expect anything different. Cami wasn't in but Sophie was there, restocking the shelves behind the bar. She looked over as I entered.

"Hey Elena. And hello mini witches." I laughed softly. "Pretty crazy party last night."

"Yeah, sorry we didn't get to actually hang out. Between me getting my throat slit, Elijah proposing and Dahlia, it was all a bit hectic."

"It's fine. But I have to ask… did he get an answer?"

"Not yet… And to make matters worse, Kol also proposed. Kind of…"

"Shit. Who are you going to pick?"

"I… I don't want to think about it. There's no good ending to this situation, it's just going to end in pain." I rested my head on the bar.

"I'm sure you'll figure it out. And when you do, I want an invite. I've seen what they do for parties, I would kill to see what a Mikaelson wedding looks like."

"Sophie…"

"Yes?"

"I was wondering if I could ask you a favour…"

"Is this a magical favour?"

"Yes…"

"Didn't take you long to use your new found power did it?"

"I am not using my power. I am asking you for a favour as a friend. You can say no." She looked at me and perched on the edge of the bar.

"What's the favour?"

"You know the spell… the one that connected me to the Mikaelsons and…"

"Let you have undead vampire babies with them?"

"Yeah…"

"I'm aware of it."

"I was wondering if it would be possible, theoretically, to put it in an object. You know, like how there's daylight rings… would it be possible to have a connection ring…"

"Is this for your future undead husband?"

"Maybe…"

"I don't know if I should. I don't even know if I can."

"Would you be willing to try?" I bit my lip. "Ever since vampires came into my life, things have been… hard. I've had to give up… a lot. My family… my home… pretty much everything. And I know things will never be normal now. I may have had chances to change and become normal but that went away a while ago. And I just… I want a chance to have something semi normal. I need it. And I know there's every chance that I'll die trying to protect my girls from Dahlia but I need the hope to get through it all. So I'm asking you… Sophie, please will you try?"

She watched me for a long time before nodding slowly.

"Alright, I'll look into it at least. If you can try and remember the spell that they did the first time I might be able to adapt it from there."

"Thank you Sophie."

"I'm not promising results, just… effort."

"That's all I ask for."

"I suppose you'll be dashing off now you've asked what you need to?"

"No. I do have somewhere else to go but I just want to spend some time out of the house for a bit. Elijah and Kol are pretty unbearable at the moment… they're competing with each other… Finn's trying to smooth everything over but it's not working. And Klaus is still missing so I need to work out how to get him back."

"You're distracting yourself from the bigger issue."

"And you have been spending too much time with Cami, clearly."

"I will admit she is rubbing off on me a little bit."

"She working today?"

"No, she… she's taking some time off. There was a… incident the other night."

"What kind of incident?"

"Vampire. She caught him feeding in the alley out back, mistook the situation and tried to intervene. He compelled her but there was a bit of a scuffle when she tried to fight him off and she bashed her head. We decided it might be best for her to take some time off."

"Was this… the night before last?"

"It was…"

"I think I know the vampire in question. Or at least I came here the night before last and there was a vampire hanging around outside." Sophie narrowed her eyes.

"Did you break in and drink up most of the vodka?"

"Umm…" I heard the door opening and closing and the wolf made a noise at my feet but I ignored it, looking down at the bar so I wouldn't have to meet Sophie's eye.

"You did!"

"Technically it wasn't me doing the breaking! I just… followed him in."

"Elena!"

"I'm sorry, I know I'm a terrible person but I was upset and he was there and I really needed the vodka and I got so drunk and I couldn't think straight."

"You owe me big time for that!"

"Actually, I believe I owe you." I looked up sharply and turned to see Lucien standing nearby. He smiled. "Hello Elena."

"Hey Lucien."

"So you're the bastard who broke in?"

"I am indeed. How much do I owe you? $300 cover it?" He fished his wallet from his pocket. "Here. I believe this will cover the alcohol and repairs to your door…" He dropped a wad of notes on the bar.

"Well thank you but you can go drink somewhere else."

"I didn't come here to drink, I came here because I heard Elena's beautiful voice and I heard how the party ended last night. I wanted to make sure she was okay."

"I'm fine. Nothing happened, it was just a bit scary."

"I was talking about the ever so dramatic Elijah Mikaelson proposing. Very theatrical. I almost wish I'd shown up."

"How did you hear about it so quickly?"

"I have my ways." Sophie sighed.

"Elena, I'm sorry but I need to get back to work and as long as he's hanging around you…"

"I get it. I'll go. Thanks for your help Sophie, I'll see you later." I got up and wheeled the twins outside into the open air. Lucien followed. "Thank you for your gift by the way. It was lovely… but a bit overkill."

"I like to make an impression."

"You certainly did that. I've got Rebekah asking me if I have a secret admirer now."

"Ooh I like that idea. I could send you flowers… really stir things up."

"Don't you dare!" He grinned.

"I'll think about it. So where are you off to?"

"I'm going to St Anne's Church."

"You have sins to confess?" He raised an eyebrow. "Are they interesting? Lustful dreams about me?"

"You wish."

"I do indeed." He smiled. "Are these the little ones then?"

"No, I'm just wheeling two strangers' kids around town."

"Okay fair point."

"Shouldn't you be working? Your company can't run itself."

"I am CEO, I can do whatever I like. But… technically, I am working today. I was just running out to get an early lunch and I heard your voice."

"A really early lunch."

"Brunch then."

"So you won't be joining me in an attempt to corrupt me and drive me down a path of debauchery?"

"Not today at least. I'll walk you to the church and then I'll have to get back to business." I smiled and turned down a side street that I thought led to the church. The wheel of the pushchair caught on the pavement and refused to budge.

"Son of a…"

"You need a hand?"

He carefully lifted up the stuck wheel and helped me up onto the pavement. I smiled gratefully and looked around, trying to work out exactly where I was. I spotted a woman standing nearby, staring at me. I frowned.

"Something wrong?" Lucien asked.

"I'm not sure." He followed my gaze. The woman was still staring. He took a step towards her. She immediately turned away and began walking.

"That was… odd."

"Welcome to my life."

We continued down the road towards the church. As we walked, I noticed more and more people stopping and staring at us. I bit my lip and gripped the pushchair tighter, my knuckles turning white. Lucien reached over and gently touched my hand, giving me a reassuring look. We picked up our pace, moving quicker.

Further up the road, the people gathered, forming a line in front of us. We stopped. I looked back and saw another line of people behind us, hemming us in. The wolf growled.

"Five days." The people spoke as one, one voice. "Five days"

"You are not taking my children Dahlia!"

"Five days and I will take what is mine."

Lilah started to cry. I felt tears in my own eyes and I screwed them shut, trying to block out the words. Lucien placed a hand on my arm.

"Elena… Elena, they're gone."

I opened my eyes. They were gone, as if they were never there. I hurried round to the front of the pushchair, picking up Lilah and rocking her.

"It's okay… I won't let her take you… I won't let you hurt her…"

I cradled my baby and wiped a few angry tears from my eyes as she fell silent. I kissed her forehead and carefully tucked her back in her pushchair before turning to Lucien who was watching me.

"Sorry… You should go… i… I need to get finish and get home."

"Elena… if you need me, I'm here…"

"Not your mess, don't worry about it."

"Maybe I want it to be." I looked away, not sure what to say. Lucien didn't speak and when I looked back, he was already gone. I took a deep breath and headed onwards to the church. I kept checking over my shoulder, expecting to see Dahlia or one of her minions watching me.

I reached the church and carefully pushed the door open, wheeling the twins inside. Even though I wasn't religious, I felt like maybe this place would help me get some clarity.

A tall man in a cassock was lighting candles at one end of the room and he looked up as I entered.

"We're not actually open."

"Oh… sorry… I just… I thought you might be able to help me." He sighed softly.

"We may not be holding services but… I am always here to help those in need." I smiled slightly and came over with the twins, stopping a few feet from him. He glanced at the girl and the wolf who was still at my side. "Although strictly speaking we don't allow animals inside."

"Right. I forgot he was there." I turned to him. "Go wait outside."

The wolf huffed but padded back down the aisle between the pews and sat by the door.

"He is… remarkably well trained."

"We have a connection." I sat in the nearest pew. "I need… guidance."

"What about?"

"I… I only became a mother recently. And I'm worried that… I'm not good enough. For them."

"Motherhood brings many challenges. No one is truly prepared to be a parent and anyone who says otherwise is lying."

"Do you have kids?"

"No, I never found the time. But I took care of my nephew for a long time. But I have spoken to many mothers with similar fears to yourself."

"My circumstances are… a little different."

"How so?" I bit my lip, unsure where to go with this.

"I was actually… told to come here… by Marcel Gerard."

"Ah. But you're… not…"

"A vampire?"

"Exactly."

"I'm not. I know a lot of them. In fact… my kids are part vampire." He looked away.

"You're the new 'queen' of the city."

"Oh god I wish people would stop calling me that." I bit my lip. "Sorry, I probably can't say that can I?"

"I think we can overlook it this one occasion." He looked over at me. "I was expecting you to be…"

"Less human? Older? Scarier?"

"Most of those, yes."

"Well this is me. I have all this stuff to deal with and I have no idea to be a mother. I've got an ancient witch trying to steal my children, a family of vampires who all seem to be bipolar and a dead werewolf who follows me around."

"These might be a little out of my area of expertise. Did Marcel just send you here for advice?"

"No, I asked if there was anyone who might have a list of all the werewolves who've lived in town."

"Oh. Yes I do have that."

"Can I… borrow it?"

"I think given the circumstances I can arrange that." He smiled slightly. "And while I might not be the best to offer guidance I can certainly try." We both got to our feet. "I'll have that list sent over to you."

"Thank you Father."

"You're welcome."

"I might be able to help with some other things as well… I need time to investigate first." I smiled slightly.

"I appreciate the effort." I did. These days, it was all I could ask for, that people try. Even the smallest gesture felt particularly meaningful in these dark days.