Chapter 57

Damon couldn't believe the way things had turned out; everything had been fine until Caroline's sudden change of attitude. Sure, having your boyfriend try to bite you, and not in the fun kinky way would surely influence you but to go to the enemy? To help them after everything that they did to them? Damon ignored the way his heart tugged at the still human part of him that spoke of their past and how he couldn't blame her when he treated her so horribly.

As bad as Klaus was, he had never harmed Caroline. The same could not be said for Damon or Stefan.

"Damon."

Ah, Saint Stefan to the rescue. "How are you baby brother?" Damon greeted flippantly. "Come to tell me how lovely it is to be a part of the Mikaelsons groupie lifestyle."

"Elena's gone. She left with Tom about an hour ago." Stefan informed his brother, flopping onto the ground next to the darker haired man. "You know I have the keys to this thing. We can leave anytime."

Damon snorts,"You're saying Caroline's boy toy would just allow me to leave? After everything I've done?"

A pair of boots could be heard, and Stefan said, "Your friend is visiting."

"Damon Salvatore, as I live and breathe. I have to say, I'm a fan of your current digs. Reminds me of how we met." Enzo greeted joyfully, sitting on Damon's other side.

Great, now he was surrounded. Damon grunted, knowing that despite his skill, with the limited supply of blood he was given, even his vegetarian idiot of a brother could catch him off guard. "Fuck off!" Damon growled.

Stefan shook his head, "Damon it's over…Elena…. She's safe. That's all we ever wanted for her."

"Dependent on the asshat that is Klaus Mikaelson." Damon muttered angrily. "Who's to say he won't simply change his mind?"

"Do you think Caroline would allow that?" Enzo butted in. "I may be new to this little group but even I can see how blondie has the big bad wolf wrapped around her finger."

Damon scoffs, "She won't always be in his favor. He could change his mind and then Elena will be fully vulnerable to him! That's not safe!"

Enzo scoffed, hitting Damon upside the head, the vampire smirked at his once fellow prisoner. "You really do obsess over Petrova women, don't you?"

Stefan laughed, as Damon growled, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Enzo shook his head, "Man look at you. When I met you all you could talk about was a woman who put herself between you and your brother. Talking about all the ways you planned on saving her from desecration. And now your sole focus is on a teenager who looks exactly like her while the previous woman is shacking up with an original vampire."

"Katherine is a self-serving bitch who lied to me this entire time. Elena-" Before Damon could finish, Enzo hit him in the head for the second time. "Ow. Stop hitting me!"

"I will when you stop being an idiot. Elena is gone, she chose your brother's look-a-like and a human to boot. You really want to be with someone who doesn't want to be a vampire, something you have thrived on becoming?"

Damon grits his teeth while Stefan sighed. "Damon…" The younger brother glanced over with sympathy in his eyes.

"Elena is free to choose what she wants." Damon grounded out. "As long as Klaus leaves her alone."

"The only interaction that will be held is between Elena and her friends. They'll have trusted vampires keeping an eye on the two doppelgangers for their protection. Heck, I even volunteered to check in on them from time to time." Enzo snapped, before Damon looked begrudgingly reassured by the last bit.

"Caroline and Bonnie would never let anything happen to Elena." Stefan reminded his older brother. "I also trust Klaus not to go back on his word. The Mikaelson's for all the shit they do are true to their word."

Enzo stretched his arms out, "Now that your mission of being a Petrova savior is over and accomplished. What will you do now?"

Damon and Stefan looked at him perplexed. Enzo laughed, "You can't follow Elena. She deserves to live her own life and she won't be safe if you follow. Just look at the drama you brought into town."

"Katherine-"

"Katherine is no longer on the run from Klaus," Enzo pointed out. "She and Elijah appear to be a solid item for the time being. Based on your stories it wouldn't surprise me if she tries to cause trouble, but she's out of your hair."

"For now," Damon grumbled.

"Then enjoy it." Enzo encouraged him.

Stefan looked thoughtful, "Damon… I hate to say it but Enzo might be right."

Damon shot him a betrayed look, Stefan held his hands up. "Listen, we can't control when Katherine is going to get bored or if she'll try to mess with us again. Why don't we enjoy our lives until then?"

"And do what?" He asked sarcastically. "Skip into the sunset holding hands?"

"I was thinking we could travel. See our favorite places, only together like we talked about doing before I enlisted for the World War?" Stefan offered.

Enzo was prepared to intervene but Damon seemed to pause at his brother's suggestion. He didn't immediately shoot it down with his sarcastic humor. He seemed to deflate and nod, "I did always wanna show you how to actually live."

"Without ripping people to shreds?" Stefan snorted.

"It's not my fault you're a ripper!" Damon rolled his eyes. "My sweet baby brother can't handle human blood. Are you still trying to get used to it?"

Stefan frowned and nodded, "It's hard to stop… but I'm managing not to rip the blood bag and only take a couple sips."

Enzo let out a low whistle, "Well then, what's it going to be Damon? Are you going to let your brother risk becoming a ripper again?"

Damon groaned, "Where are we going?"

Stefan looked thoughtful, "Chicago?"

Enzo laughed as the two brothers got into an argument about which city to go to first. He watched as they squabbled, enjoying the way Damon seemed to lose some of his anger. They had been at it for a long time trying to get Damon…to well agree to let Elena go. Enzo knew that his heart would only break if he stayed near Elena…He'd destroy himself to be what she needed.

Damon never wanted the cure, to learn from Caroline that he took it for Elena. So Elena could have a family life she always wanted pissed Enzo off. For all his faults, Enzo had a lot he admired about Damon… but it was clear women, especially Petrova women, were his weaknesses. The end result of the Elena-Damon-Stefan triangle was a tragedy.

Stefan who sacrificed himself for them.

Damon who makes himself human again first for Elena's sake then agrees to do it once Stefan sacrifices himself just because he knew in his current state he would at least see his brother again one day.

Then Elena got what she wanted in the end…only from what Caroline spoke of it, wasn't all she wanted it to be. Yeah, Caroline was right encouraging them to separate was the best… After all, looking at the two brothers now one thing was clear.

They didn't need a woman, they needed each other.

XXX

Davina sat beside Freya and Bonnie as they were quizzing her on the ritual aspects that natural and ancestral witches share. Davina was naming the importance of calling upon the elements, particularly if you lacked the power of your coven ,when she felt a tickle on the back of her neck.

Seeing Davina's change in behavior, Freya asked "Davina?"

"Someone's here…from my…old coven," Davina struggled to say the last words. Ever since they had agreed to help her and she learned of some of the more awful realizations about her coven, Davina has struggled with whether she truly had belonged there.

Only, she was a witch because of her ancestral lands. They were a lineage that was gifted with tangible power after generations and generations of practice, otherwise they'd simply call themselves Wiccans. Those who practiced methods of the old ways in various contexts tend to link back to the old routes. But Davina's family… The families within the French Quarter were able to receive tangible power but only if they stayed in the city.

And Davina had always wanted to travel. She'd be a sitting duck without protection if she left. It was her connection with her ancestors, despite how angry with her they are now-that gave Davina her abilities.

Freya and Bonnie stood up, as the rest of the house assembled. Seeing their curiosity at her being there Caroline said, "Mom's with them."

Niklaus wrapped his arm around Caroline as he looked over at Davina. "Your fellow Harvest Girl, Monique has left with her Aunt. They chose not to come to our aid despite our deal. I'll hold them accountable."

Davina nodded, "They won't be sending anyone of importance…the leaders of our individual covens would send a young witch…"

"So they are sending in a pawn,'' Finn concluded as Sage squeezed his arm. Knowing very well how troubled Finn would be at this knowledge. All his life Finn had been an obedient son, his siblings having a far easier time with rebellion than him. With each sibling acting out, Finn had confided in Sage that he felt it was his responsibility to please his parents, until the others could decide on what it is they wanted.

Then being faced with almost a thousand years of forced sleep because of his attempts of protection, and his struggle to adapt to a new order, Finn's world had never truly settled for him since the death of his parents. Well their human deaths, as their mother was a practitioner of dark magic that allowed her to eventually bring herself back, and their father who demanded he be given the same power she gave them.

The fact their father was somewhere out there… It never failed to make Caroline uncomfortable when she managed to hear his name. Sage made a mental note to ask the blonde about it after she ensured Finn didn't equate his selflessness to the little witch coming into their territory.

After all, Sage learned never to truly trust witches. Freya's blood ties to the Mikaelsons and the look of earnestness in her face at using her magic to be helpful allowed Sage to feel at ease with the witch. Bonnie was a wild card that would set Sage's teeth on edge if not for the witch's loyalty to Caroline.

It seemed the later generations still taught loyalty, even if Sage could see the way that loyalty was tested over time. Enzo made his way over to Caroline and whispered in her ear, "Well Love, the Salvatore's are planning their escape plan as we speak. What's the fuss in here?"

"Those bitches are trying to get out of the fact they backed out on our deal!" Rebekah hissed.

Klaus and Elijah both looked far too calm for any of the more reasonable supernatural creatures in the room to be comfortable with. Caroline turned to look at Klaus with a skeptical eye, "You're not going to kill whoever walks through that door right."

"Of course not," Elijah reassured. "The witch is here to negotiate which we'll do."

Katherine raised a brow, "Lijah, just what are you two assholes planning?"

Klaus chuckled, "Oh my brother is an asshole now? Trouble with Satan brother?"

Elijah didn't react to his brother's ribbing, instead he kissed Katherine on her forehead much to the disgust of his vampire siblings and the amusement of everyone else. "Niklaus and I have discussed it."

"Where were we?" Kol demanded.

"So much for being a team," Rebekah rolled her eyes as she turned towards the eldest. "Finn, did you know about this?"

Finn shook his head, "No."

"We'll discuss this later, " Caroline shook her head. "Until then no stabbing, neck-breaking, bodily harm of any kind with any special daggers!" The blonde looked over at Klaus. "Don't think I didn't know how you tried to make new daggers. I have the other ones under lock and key and plan on keeping them until I find someone I can trust explicitly."

"Those things can harm my siblings." Freya hissed.

"And myself." Caroline rolled her eyes. "But I can't trust my beloved fiancée not to try and stab his siblings because they irritate him."

"I've been doing well actually," Klaus pointed out.

"I just saw you trying to get into where you last saw Caroline place them yesterday." Bonnie ratted him out with a daring tone. Niklaus glared at the witch.

Just then Marcel burst through the door, "You have an expected guest." The vampire dropped the young witch onto the ground as he walked around her. Marcel winked over at Rebekah, who bristled and turned to look the other way as he smirked.

Katherine inwardly chuckled at the former lovers, wondering if the bad wolf knew of all their secrets? Turning to look at the blonde by the hybrids side and she pouted at her. "What?" Caroline asked the brunette.

"Did you tell him about Marcel and Rebekah's dirty little secret?" The doppelganger demanded. "It's not fair you have all this information and make it so shit does not blow up! I need entertainment!"

Niklaus looked over at his fuming sister, "Rebekah?"

"You already know." She bit out.

"Not all of it," Caroline muttered. "But we can discuss that later." The newly made original pointed towards the witch on the floor whose face was readily expressing fear as she glanced around.

"Miss?" Elijah stepped forward bringing his hand out to help the young witch up. The witch glanced at the hand in distrust but allowed herself to grasp the offered hand standing up to her full height.

"My coven wants to remake the deal." The young witch announced her voice firm but Caroline could detect the uncertainty in her voice. Not that the blonde blamed the girl, being alone with any of the vampires or witches in this room as a stranger would have given even Caroline a heart attack as a human.

"Forgive me brother," Finn interrupted. "But Miss, your coven has never kept up their end of the deal. So why should we consider this?"

"We have information!" The witch declared. "About a witch named Dahlia? She said that she was family."

Finn closed his eyes, "Our mother's sister." He offered the information to the witch. Caroline noticed the way the young woman's eyes widened. Ah, so whatever Dahlia was up to, she was keeping certain things close to her chest. Why mention being family but leave out how she was tied in? Caroline bit her tongue knowing that girl was nothing more than a pawn.

If Dahlia shared more information the witch in front of them would not be made aware of it. Caroline had dealt with enough enemies in her lives to know this, the blonde glanced over at Freya. The Mikaelson witch was holding onto her necklace tightly.

"What does your coven suggest?" Freya asked as the witch turned her attention towards her. With so many taking turns to speak, the younger witch had no idea of the true workings of their group.

The witch glanced over at Marcel, "He can't be here." The witch muttered, lowering her gaze. The young witch's feet twisted, as she fidgeted under the pressure of their stares on her.

"Marcellus, I'll meet with you later." Niklaus nodded towards his formerly adopted son.

XXX

Bonnie watched as evening struck from the room she was housed in, lost in deep thought as it dawned on her just what her life has been like since she realized how real magic was. How the misuse brought about the death of her grams also how it returned Caroline back to being a member of the undead. Thoughts of the past plagued her mind.

Caroline had just gone through her last contraction, squeezing Niklaus's hand as she finally pushed the last of their children out. Bonnie held Freya's hand outside in the hallway, as the rest of the siblings milled about in the room where the births were occurring. She had alerted Niklaus to it being time, and was now watching as Jo's sister Liz ran out of the room with a clear bottle filled with a red substance.

"Here take this!" Liz tossed it towards Freya who opened the bottle and used her magic to levitate the blood. As the witches chanted, Bonnie could see Liz's eyes widen at seeing the blood not only suspended in midair but also turn golden as the two witches chanted.

"As soon as the final child is out, Niklaus needs to finish the transition," Bonnie breathed out quickly before she returned to chanting. Ignoring the drop in her gut, Bonnie continued to chant. This had to work. She had fought against the idea of killing Caroline…again…but Freya had said if they wished to give her the gift of being an original then she needed to die like her siblings.

She'd be the sole human in a family of supernaturals… and knowing that Caroline wasn't planning on leaving this family especially now, allowed her to reluctantly agree to this plan. Bonnie allowed a smile as Niklaus's blood reacted to the magic in the air and the bond that existed between them.

She could hear the sounds of a baby crying, then the scream of Liz Forbes. Then the golden mix of magic and blood shot up and went straight to the door. Where Bonnie knew it would land on Caroline.

She and Freya kept chanting until Kol looked up at them and said, "It's done. Caroline's in transition."

"Love?" A concerned British accent broke her out of her thoughts. The African American witch turned towards the vampire, relaxing when she realized it was only Enzo.

"Enzo, it's you. What is it?" She asked as she followed his movements around her guest room. She watched as he lay on his back atop the covers of her bed. Bonnie rolled her eyes at the vampire as he made himself at home on her bed.

"You seem like you have a lot on your mind. Penny for your thoughts? That's how the saying goes isn't it?" Enzo smiled at her; his tone playful as she rolled her eyes once again back to looking out of the window.

"I have a lot to think about." She countered. Enzo nodded, not moving from his spot on the bed. The two shared a companionable silence for several minutes before he pulled a small ball from his jacket pocket and began to throw it into the air and catch it.

"You're frowning!" Enzo said, glancing over at the beautiful witch. His eyes scanned her body appreciatively, smirking at the small blush he could see bloom across her cheeks.

"I'm just a bit…at a loss, that's all." Bonnie admitted reluctantly. Very aware of how the vampire paused in his movements to sit up so she could feel the full extent of his gaze.

"Love? What are you talking about?"

"What the hell am I supposed to do now?" Bonnie shook her head. "I used to be a regular teenage girl whose biggest concern was getting into college, preferably with her best friends to avoid a Caroline Forbes meltdown."

The two shared a snicker at how easily the image came to mind, "Then you discovered magic?" Enzo coaxed trying to get her to continue.

"Then I discovered that I was a witch, a powerful one at that and my best friend was dating a vampire and suddenly our town was overrun by supernatural problems with Elena usually at the forefront."

Enzo let out a long whistle, "I only know what Caroline's told me but she said you got the smallest end of that stick."

Bonnie snorted, "Caroline ended up dying all so Katherine could give the Salvatore's a message. Admittedly, what could have happened to me further than what has…terrifies me. It was bad enough losing Grams all so that Damon could try to save Katherine."

At Enzo's confused look Bonnie explained, "The bitch faked her capture to outrun the Mikaelsons…Klaus really."

"Now that makes perfect sense." Enzo nodded.

"She was never in the damn tomb in the first place and opening it caused more shit to happen than was expected," Bonnie shook her head. "I swear my ancestors were right in sending Caroline back."

"She seems to have managed to save both you and Elena a lot of pain."

"She also saved you earlier than her original timeline," Bonnie pointed out. "But that's why I'm at a loss…I don't want to become what Caroline said would happen to me."

"What did you become?"

"I became the witch in the middle of all the vampire drama to save Elena. Sometimes Caroline needed help but it always comes down to saving Elena. Then Caroline told me in order to give Elena her human life back I would lose myself, abuse my magic and unleash Silas on the world and end up dying… we seem to die repeatedly in our quest to save her." Bonnie shook her head.

"What do you want?" Enzo asked after several minutes more of silence.

Bonnie opened her mouth to respond but paused. Enzo could see her thoughts racing across her face. "I…I don't want to use my magic for the whims of vampires. I want to figure out what I really want. What about you? Surely you've paid your debts by now. Caroline would never keep you here."

Enzo laughed, "I want to be the fun Uncle!" The vampire paused as they could hear Kol shout that he was already the fun uncle. Enzo smirked, "I also want to watch you figure out what kind of witch you want to be."

XXX

Davina was sitting in her guest room, trying to finish the project Freya had set aside for her. The aim was to build control. She was to levitate small items for ten reps and move on at the end of the week. Freya would see what the heaviest item she could lift was. At this point, Davina was frustratedly stuck on trying to make a book levitate.

After the harvest, Davina knew she could do anything even though her magic had been untamable. Now that the ritual was complete, Davina could feel her power differently. There wasn't so much of it, it finally felt like an extension of herself as opposed to a waterfall threatening to drown her with a constant flood.

Yet, what she used to be able to do after the original ritual and her current abilities were vastly different. Now as she concentrated on levitating a book, she was hiding the fact that she could once do this with ease though what often followed was her accidentally blowing said books up. She found out she had to concentrate harder on her precision and keeping the book level stable, but for once she didn't feel her magic slipping out of control. Feeling herself waning, Davina lowered her hand letting out a gasp for air.

"Ooh, Practicing magic love?"

Davina looked frustrated to see Kol Mikaelson leaning against the door with a grin. "What do you want?" She asked, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Kol has managed to weasel his way into almost every practice session. If it was with Freya, the older witch would allow him to join, Davina was always surprised about the amount of magical knowledge he held without opening a single book. The Mikaelson witch would always smile at her brother and Davina could see the wistful look in his eyes sometimes.

It had confused her, whenever she asked around every Mikaelson would say that Kol had his reasons. Caroline would only say that she should give him a chance and that he was one Mikaelson she would want to have on her side. What amused Davina the most was Bonnie's reaction to the vampire. If his sister was fond, the Bennett witch was furious at his presence. The two existed in what seemed like a thin truce.

"I'm just checking in on my favorite witch." Kol winked at her, flopping down beside her and raising an eyebrow at the book on the floor. "Levitation?"

"To strengthen my control," Davina said, leaning over to take the book back and scowling when he lifted his arm to keep it out of her reach.

"Kol!" Davina hissed, rising to her knees and leaning over to try and physically grab it. The vampire laughed, keeping his arm stretched out and leaping to his feet.

"Nuh-uh" Kol taunted. "Not until you tell me why you're frowning."

"Because I'm not as strong as I used to be! Now give it back!" Davina growled as he continued to hold the book up. Kol looked at her clearly expecting more. Davina huffed, lowering her hand to glare at the vampire.

"You're infuriating." Davina simply stated. She did not expect his grin to widen as he stretched his other arm, reluctantly she couldn't help but notice the way his shirt rode up.

"Like what you see?' He teased, Davina silently fumed, hating the way she could feel the heat come to her cheeks.

"Shut up."

"Don't be like that. You are my favorite witch you know."

Davina snorted, "I've heard you say that to Bonnie and Freya. So fuck you."

The witch blinked when she heard the book drop to the ground and could feel arms wrapped around her as she was pressed against the wall. "Don't tempt me, little witch." His breath was against her ear. Davina felt her heart race as he pulled back and she blinked as he reached over to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Freya is my long-lost older sister and Bonnie is Caroline's best friend. I must mess with them, but you little witch, truly are my favorite."

"Why?" Davina asked before she could stop herself.

Kol stepped back and grinned, "You're fascinating. A witch betrayed by her own, willing to work with vampires yet I don't see you seeking vengeance."

Davina blinked, "Vengeance?"

"Yeah you know, the master plan to make those who hurt you pay," Kol shrugged. "You're not angry. I've met many witches in my day. You're the definition of unique."

Davina could feel the blood rushing to her ears. Knew that with his enhanced senses that Kol could too. The fact he avoided mentioning it spoke volumes to the truth of what he was saying. He always was willing to push buttons, yet with her Kol appeared to pace himself in a way she didn't always see.

"Marcel killed them." Davina found herself saying. "Then he kept me safe…and introduced me to Caroline and Bonnie. They listened to me and didn't push…even when they did want something from me. I find it hard to stay angry all the time when I get a lot of good in return."

"Even though it was your family that betrayed you?"

Davina could feel her anger rising, "Didn't your brother dagger you? Repeatedly."

Kol shrugged, "When you're immortal those are more like pesky little spats. I admit though, that I can be a right ass when I want to be. Though some of those daggerings were truly undeserved, just ask Rebekah."

Davina's brow furrowed, "Didn't you ever rat her out?"

"She's my sister." Kol answered as if that answered everything.

"That's not an answer."

"It's like you can't stay angry at your coven for long. For all their sins, at the end of the day they're my family and we're getting better. Something I never thought would actually happen." Kol chuckled.

Davina looked up, "Sounds like you have a lot of good happening to you then bad now."

Kol grinned, "I have two beautiful nieces and nephews. I look forward to the chaos they'll cause."

"I knew you just wanted to teach them how to cause your special brand of mayhem."

XXX

Josephine Parker finished packing the last of her bags, which was not much considering how long they stayed. She turned towards her sister, Olivia, who much like other teenagers her age was unsuccessfully trying to pack her overstuffed case.

Jo stifled a laugh, "Need help Liv?"

Her sister huffed, curly blonde hair bouncing in the air as she jumped onto the suitcase, "No…"

Jo couldn't help but roll her eyes, "How did you even manage to pack the first time around."

Liv looked over at her sheepishly, "Pa just used a spell to pack and shrink everything. It's not one I know."

Jo couldn't help but blurt out, "How are you going to survive if you rely on magic for everything?"

The former witch flinched at the coldness that returned to her sister's eyes, "At least I didn't run away from my magic. I'm strong enough to survive without it."

"You knew I never ran away!" Jo countered, taking a deep breath to center herself. This was her sister… one of two siblings her parents were relying on to ensure her brother didn't gain control of their coven. So she wouldn't lose her life to a person, unable to mourn the loss of what his newfound leadership status would mean.

Jo cursed the founders of her coven, which sane person thought it was a good idea to make twins fight each other to the death in order to elect a new leader? Liz looked like she wanted to argue some more before they were interrupted by Caroline.

"Sorry, am I interrupting?"

"No."

"Yes."

The two sisters stared at each other for a long time, before Caroline suddenly laughed, "I guess I better get used to this. What with four children all the same age."

Jo smiled despite her frigidness of the atmosphere, "How are you feeling? That was quite a traumatizing birth."

Caroline laughed nervously, "My mother is still rather upset with Niklaus. We didn't warn her, and she tried to shoot at him with her gun."

"So that's what those shots were," Liz said with a laugh. "I thought New Orleans had more than just a supernatural problem."

Jo shot her sister a look as Caroline looked between them. "I hate your father."

The Gemini sisters turned to look at Caroline in shock, the blonde continued "Your coven is at greater risk now more than ever. It's the 21st century and there's yet to be a way that allows you to choose a leader that doesn't end in killing your twin? Jo, you know Kai couldn't help being a siphoner. You aren't at fault for what he became, it's your parents, your coven, for their treatment of him."

"How dare you?!" Liv stepped in but Caroline held her hands up.

"Kai has been in a prison world since 1994. How do I know this? Because I've lived it before, and I know what that monster is capable of. He escapes you know. Now, I have prevented him from being able to use Bonnie in his quest but he's been planning this for a long time and will not stop until he is free."

"Why are you telling us this?" Jo asked, her gaze turned from friendly to analytical. Not that Caroline could blame the young woman. With the pained smile she had on her face she continued, "Kai ended up escaping….and when we thought he was defeated… he killed you at your wedding and you were pregnant."

Liv gasped, looking over at Jo in horror, but Caroline was not done yet. "Your coven used the last of their power to safely place your twins in the nearest, indestructible womb, which I found out a while later was mine."

Jo and Liv stood there gaping, Caroline let out a sigh "I know it's weird, but it's the truth. Alaric and I named them after you and my mother. They were the most wonderful girls in the world but they suffered a lot."

Jo's eyes filled with tears, "Kai?"

Caroline let out a humorless laugh, "Bastard can't manage to stay dead. Alaric is unfortunately dead …he prevented some of Bonnie's most traumatic moments…and he stayed dead."

"Oh," Jo's heart couldn't help but mourn for a man she didn't know but clearly could have loved? If she even had children with him, perhaps...

Caroline took a step forward, "I know it sounds crazy."

Liv snorted "No crazier than usual. It's weird, but our coven can literally create prison worlds. Why not have a vampire return to the past?"

Caroline smiled at them, "I just…I need to ask you guys to be careful. Things have changed, if Kai gets out again, I'm not sure what the outcome would be."

The two sisters nodded solemnly. Then Jo suddenly sighed, "Kai can't be allowed to return. If you tell me how it happened, perhaps I can work with my father to ensure it won't happen this time."

Caroline nodded, "Okay then."

Caroline sat on the bed, as the two Parker sisters surrounded her, the blonde began to tell her tale. She spoke about Bonnie, her journey into being the anchor, and getting trapped in Kai's prison world alongside Damon. The blonde chose her words carefully, retelling the story Bonnie had related to her as well as the journey she took trying to get them back to the normal world.

She talked about Alaric and Jo's journey. Their wedding, Kai, and the destruction he caused. How the entire Gemini coven or what remained of them was wiped out. She talked about her girls, and how they created a school where young supernaturals found safety. Raising the girls with Alaric and how she left to keep the school safe from suspicion of being led by a woman who did not age. The hardships they confronted after her departure. Kai's attempts at turning the girls against each other, everything Caroline knew she told.

By the end of her tale, Liv and Jo were silent. She watched the different emotions play out on their faces, Liv being the hardest to read after her years of being taught by Joshua Parker. Caroline reached out and squeezed both girl's hands. "This isn't your fault. It can be changed, it's already changed, Kai won't be able to use Bennett blood to escape this time around."

XXX

Marcel stepped into the cemetery at midnight. He sent a few of his nightwalkers ahead to ensure it was not a trap. Despite the semi-truce within the supernatural factions in his city, Marcel was not about to be accused of being soft, especially when it came to the Mikaelsons. He could hear the soft crunch of the leaves on the ground under his every step, as he walked towards the oldest part of the cemetery.

"Marcellus," Came the familiar voice of his father figure. A man he had once been sure would have come back for him, even despite Marcel's obsession with the original female, whom Niklaus had originally intended for Marcel to see as family.

"Klaus," Marcel greeted with a single nod of his head.

The two vampires stood side by side as they stared down at what would have been Marcel's grave had he not chosen life as a vampire. "I know about you and Rebekah." Niklaus commented, glancing over at his adopted son, a man in truth now. When Caroline had tentatively reached out to him, asking him to keep an open mind when any of his siblings came to him with a truth they had previously hidden, Niklaus had been confused.

He thought he had ruled his family with so much fear, that his siblings did not have any real secrets. It's not as if Elijah's occasional dalliance with Katherine over the years was truly a secret. He had known about Marcel's obsession with Rebekah and how her heart had foolishly warmed to it over the years. But when Rebekah had come into his art room, wringing her hands, the air around her was full of nerves. Niklaus knew he had missed something…or had not wanted to see it.

"Rebekah told me the truth…and Kol had paid the price for what happened to cause us to leave New Orleans." Niklaus continued, his eyes stayed on Marcel. The young man he had raised…Niklaus had to know.

Marcel laughed, "You Mikaelsons it's always the same. You preach about Always and Forever yet you dagger your siblings at the slightest hint of betrayal."

"Mikael was not known to be merciful. We thought you were dead," Niklaus countered. "You were always a part of Always and Forever."

"I grew up knowing Finn was your brother, but you kept him daggered. You hardly trust your own siblings," Marcel rolled his eyes. "You ruled with an iron fist."

"Now you rule the same way." Niklaus turned his head pointing towards some of Marcel's nightwalkers. "Do they know your giant M's stand for Mikaelson?"

"You left this city to rot. I rebuilt it!" Marcel argued. "I recreated the city when it was rubble. It's my city now."

"You did rebuild it," Niklaus agreed much to Marcel's shock. It must have shown on his face because Niklaus smirked "I am capable of complimenting others or agreeing."

Marcel shook his head, "Man, you really are whipped." Marcel was ready for Niklaus holding his hands up as the hybrid's hands wrapped around his neck. Marcel pulled them away, just barely.

"Watch what you say, Marcellus," Niklaus growled. "That is my mate you are speaking about."

Marcel dangled in the air, using all his strength to keep his airways clear as Niklaus was hissing at him. Just able to move slightly, Marcel nodded in agreement and landed on his feet as Niklaus dropped him. Marcel glared at his adoptive father, "I meant no offense, it seems partnership agrees with you."

Niklaus looked at Marcel, "You brought Mikael into New Orleans. Threatened the safety of our family and you've managed to insult my fiancée. Why shouldn't I kill you?"

Marcel laughed darkly, "I am exactly what you made me. You wouldn't see reason, Rebekah and I saw no other choice. She did regret it immediately but it was too late to go back, Mikael had already received word of your whereabouts. You took me in, I never once wanted to harm you."

"Except you covet what is mine." Niklaus pointed out with a drawl. The anger at the implied is slightly wearing low.

"I rebuilt this city, it's been my home far longer than it has been yours. Rebekah chose you in the end, I suspect she always will."

Niklaus looked on, "I have come with a deal in mind. You are right; you did rebuild this city and have done wonders for the vampires here."

Marcel fought down the feeling of pride, "...I hear a but coming."

"Your attitude towards the witches and the werewolves have caused New Orleans to convert from a place of sanctuary to a war zone. The witches have already shown how badly they want you gone by going after Caroline to get me involved."

Marcel frowned, "Witches are unpredictable at best…they were growing restless. I had to do something to curb them…and well I may have allowed my feelings towards you get the better of me when it comes to the wolves."

Niklaus looked at him with what Marcel could not describe as frustration. "I cannot fault you for such thinking. I didn't do as well of a job teaching you as I should have. I thought witches were useful, yes?"

Marcel snarled, "But untrustworthy and best to be disposed of when their uselessness ran out."

Niklaus nodded, "What I failed to teach you is that many of the older families… their spells tend to have a little kick."

"A little kick?" Marcel questioned, withholding the snort he felt. Niklaus was many things, but an imbecile was not one of those things.

"Many witches imbue long lasting curses with a safety trick, in which what can cure or undue the curse in any fashion is hard to find or requires significant spell power or blood. The smartest of those witches ensure the key to undoing a curse of theirs is the combination of their bloodline whether as a blood drop or them performing the actual spell."

"How does that affect me? I'm under no curse" Marcel shook his head.

"But you have pissed off an entire city of witches. Ones that practice through a link to their ancestors. Natural witches can practice on their own power and thus only link to their ancestors when necessary. The ancestral witches are always connected, meaning they have more than enough knowledge to abuse whatever spell work you need especially now that your little weapon is no longer an all powerful time bomb." Niklaus growled. "A group of pissed off witches that have you in their sights, Marcel. That's a very dumb place to be."

"Like you care what happens to me!" Marcel snarled. "You only care about your precious Always and Forever."

"I adopted you into our family. You will always be my son," Niklaus paused. "It's true I didn't want you with Rebekah but that had more to do with both your sakes than whether or not you were worthy of a blood Mikaelson."

"You left New Orleans and never looked back! I..I thought you would come back." Marcel admitted.

Niklaus laughed bitterly, "Then I failed in my duty in installing the fear of Mikael in you. However, he is still buried somewhere… the previous Bennett witch assured that according to Caroline."

The two stayed silent, looking out into the graveyard before Niklaus spoke again, "I want a truce, Marcel…I want you by my side as I deal with Dalia and the witches."

"Then what? I won't turn over the crown to you. I have earned it."

"As long as my family is safe I would not take it from you," Niklaus vowed. "The only time I expect you to bow would be in the interests of our family."

"Our family…" Marcel's mouth twists at the strangeness of the words on his tongue.

"Yes, Our Family."

XXX

"Nik…" Caroline started as the two of them entered the manor, her eyes were wide as she stared at the scene. Niklaus, at first, didn't say anything as he stared at the disaster in the making. It took longer than usual for her words to process inside his enhanced brain; he let out a sound at the chaos before him that almost sounded like a whimper.

Almost.

"I know." Niklaus said simply as his eyes narrowed in on one of his siblings, Elijah, who walked into the devastation with a calm look on his face. Niklaus, however, only grew more suspicious at the calm demeanor of his brother. Elijah stepped over the remains of what they assumed used to be a couch pillow as he got closer to the parents.

"Niklaus," His brother greeted with a small bow of his head before doing the same towards the newly minted original, "Caroline."

"Elijah, what the fuck happened?!" Caroline screeched before either brother could get in another word. Her hands raised, pointing to the disaster that was a foyer, the tapping of her foot indicating that she expected an answer.

Elijah coughed, "Well you see…"

The children had been put down for their naps for about thirty minutes when the sound of something crashing could be heard. Immediately, all the vampires went towards the sound, while a much amused Freya remained seated by the table.

She had sensed the magic in the air, one of her nieces or nephews had just produced their first bout of accidental magic. Idly she wondered what that would mean for the battle with Dahlia. She gingerly walked up the stairs, listening as the voices grew louder until she reached the nursery where a large body of adults had varying faces of shock.

"What magic did my nieces or nephews make?" She questioned her siblings, and their lovers in the case of Sage and Katherine and took a glance over at Caroline's little stray. What was his name again? Enzo?

Elijah glanced over at his elder sister with a sigh, "What do you know?"

Freya raised a brow, "That one of our lovely nieces or nephews would create a ruckus with magic sometime soon? They have Mikaelson blood… the blood of Esther and Dahlia who came from a whole line of witches."

The vampires all appeared to look a bit chastised over what was so very obvious. Finn coughed, it came out deep and strong as he pointed towards the ceiling where a baby was sitting and giggling at them. Freya followed her brother's finger and laughed as the child sucked on their thumb, all while down looking at them.

"Ingrid….Sweetheart, won't you come down for Auntie Rebekah?" The blonde vampire tried but Ingrid just giggled.

Then a sound could be heard throughout the room, it was the sound of cracking and the adults turned towards baby Conall, who seemed to make a dent in his crib with just his hand, his eyes glowing amber. Kol whined a little, "I thought werewolves weren't supposed to change until they murdered someone."

Katherine cooed at the baby, "Conall, do you wanna bite your Uncle Kol?"

The vampire in question yelped jumping into Enzo's arms, the vampire looked at the original unimpressed. "C'mon mate it's not that bad. Doesn't your own brother's blood act as a cure?"

Elijah snorted, "Our brother tends to threaten us with werewolf bites. Kol… seems to have developed a phobia due to those constant threats."

Kol shot his brother a dirty look, "I'm the one he used as a test subject!"

Katherine giggled, earning a look from the non-Mikaelson adults. "Oh come on, it's not as if any of you found that amusing!"

Sage sighed as she looked down to see Conall had escaped the crib and Elise was making grabby hands at her. She watched as he looked up at the ceiling at Ingrid who had giggled, before Elise was floating in the air gently put down beside her brother.

Rebekah gapped, "Did Elise?"

Freya hummed, "Possibly, it's difficult to know what gifts they have at this age… At the very least Ingrid is most definitely a witch and Conall seems to have inherited the wolf gene but it is strange that it's already been activated."

"...And it only escalated from there." Elijah finished succinctly. Caroline and Niklaus looked over at the damaged room and then back at Elijah. Niklaus felt his wolf hissing at him from inside, not in so many words but in what Niklaus could recognize as feelings. He needed to see his children.

"Where are they?' He demanded.

Elijah didn't have a chance to answer before a baby's giggle could be heard and the three raced to the sound. Elijah dreaded the further damage he might encounter. The trio arrived into the kitchen to find Bonnie, who had arrived home before them cooking in the kitchen. Each of the babies in their highchairs with blocks magically levitating around them, zooming around.

Niklaus turned to the side to see the rest of his siblings staring at the children in amazement. Enzo was helping the Bennett witch, as they shared a smile. Katherine and Sage were snickering in their hands at the Mikaelsons.

"What the hell happened?" Caroline asked one more time.

Rebekah turned towards the couple, "You have a confirmed werewolf and a witch child. We have no clue if their siblings will be the same or different."

Bonnie chimed in, "I found Kol getting hit with a tennis ball that was after chasing him, and Rebekah was trying to feed Elise, but she was not having it."

Caroline frowned, "Elise?"

Elijah and Finn seemed to look deep in thought, so Niklaus questioned them "Brothers?"

Sage sighed, "What they don't want to tell you is they think we should try feeding her blood but they didn't want to try it without your permission."

Caroline didn't even hesitate, "Bonnie do you mind?"

Bonnie looked up from her cooking, "You want to give her my blood?"

"It's just a hunch," Caroline admitted. "Elise haven't eaten all day?"

The adults nodded, "She refuses human food." Finn answered softly. "But if she requires blood I am unsure of what kind to give her…"

XXX

A.N: And there you have it! Do you guys have any theories about what is going on with the children?