A/N (1-8-22): Happy New Year!

I'll cut to the chase, this chapter deserved another round of editing, but is being posted as is. I hope it makes sense. At some point, there is blatant dialogue stolen from Buffy/ BtVS in there. If you've made it this far, thank you for reading!

Warning: Canon typical violence & melodrama.

The Chosen (Part 4):

Sophia woke up in a fog the next morning, then was quick to jump out of bed as it dissipated, wondering if Elijah or Marcel's vampires had found any leads.

"I can't just stay here and do nothing," she had lamented to Hayley last night, a rather large yawn leaving from her mouth not a second after.

The hybrid shook her head. "The best thing you can do for Klaus and your baby is sleep and rest- C'mon Sophie, you've had a long night and you're practically dead on your feet."

"Have you heard anything-" Sophia greeted Hayley the next morning. She trailed off as the brunette shook her head and smoothly tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Elijah just got back- Let's go check with him."

The old soul followed her friend into one of the many study rooms where Elijah was... Stripping? Sophia blinked rapidly as she immediately began to read what appeared to be words- Names?- All over his bare torso and arms.

"What is happening?" Hayley asked as she slowly made her way over to him.

"Hayley- I need you to make a list of these names," began Elijah. "Please."

Hayley read some of the tattooed names out loud while Marcel walked past Sophia to give Hayley a notebook and pen.

Elijah spoke again. "I believe these names represent the women that Celeste inhabited for the past two centuries."

Sophia walked closer so she could read them herself.

"It's called a devinette," explained Marcel. "It's old school- Kind of a riddle. Witches use them to teach their kids- Solve it and it disappears."

"Why?" Sophia asked softly. "What's the point?"

Elijah's eyes lingered on hers as he spoke. "Celeste forced me to make a choice between yourself and my siblings-" Sophia inhaled sharply. "And now, she means to mock that choice. Taunting me with a childish game. The longer the game, the more they suffer. To find Niklaus and Rebekah, we need to solve this riddle."

"Sophia, I have to go- I'll call you back," Elijah said over the phone. The original and Marcel had gone out into the quarter to track down leads, and Elijah had called to give her an update.

"Elijah wait," interrupted Sophia, warily looking around her surroundings as she took a seat. "Hayley wanted you to ask Marcel if he knows anything about a name on that list- Brynne Deveraux. Sophie told her it was her family's bloodline that put the curse on the Crescent wolves, but Celeste said she was the only one that could break it. If Brynne was actually Celeste when she cast the spell, then maybe Celeste can still break it."

Elijah agreed. "I'll see what he knows."

Sophia raised her free hand and nervously toyed with the necklace she wore. "Elijah- I'm really sorry that you're going through this. If I had known that Celeste made you choose who to help-"

"You were going to die in that fire Sophia," the vampire smoothly interrupted. "Along with my brother's child- Again. There was no choice."

The riddle had been solved- Only Elijah had no idea what it meant. Somehow, the name Clara Summerland was the answer to one of their problems. Sophia was hunched over the study desk, her eyes excited to have found an old picture of this Clara, when Hayley and Elijah walked into the study where she sat.

"Hey- Look what I found-" She quieted as Elijah held a finger to his mouth.

"You two were right about the Deveraux witch," the original said in a low voice as his eyes went back and forth between the wolf and the hybrid.

"Find anything about Clara, the mystery witch," Marcel greeted as he entered the room.

"Not much," said Sophia, "She was a nurse at the Fleur de Lis Sanitorium. Recognize her?" Sophia clicked to enlarge the picture on her laptop and touched her finger tip to the screen. "Top row, second from the right."

"No, I don't," said Elijah while Marcel paced away from the desk. "Marcel?" The suit-clad vampire's eyes hardened. "Do I need to remind you that Niklaus and Rebekah are somewhere suffering horribly? If you know something- Talk."

Sophia and Hayley exchanged a glance as Elijah walked over to the younger vampire.

Marcel's eyes were wary. "The Sanitorium- That's where you'll find them."

"Are you sure?" Sophia narrowed her eyes. "How do you know?"

His eyes briefly cut to hers. "I just know."

"How do you know?" Elijah repeated.

Marcel's face took on a combative edge. "If I'm right," he said as he dropped his gaze, "You need to know exactly what we're walking into."

Elijah and Marcel took off for the Sanitorium before Sophia could insist on going with them. Next best choice- Tagging along with Hayley who was on her way there as well.

"I agree with Elijah, Sophie- You should've waited at home," the hybrid said with eyes on the road as her car's speed increased. Sophia clutched her seat belt.

"He's going to want to kill her, Hayley- If he doesn't already." Sophia struggled to take in air. "I don't- I don't know how any of us are going to talk him down."

Sophia hid away in a cobbed-webbed, shadowy corner outside the Sanitorium. Hayley had refused to let her go inside, to see if Elijah had been able to talk down his siblings. Soon, Sabine- No, Celeste- Walked out and down the front steps with a triumphant smile on her face. Hayley's eyes flashed gold. One moment, the hybrid was at Sophia's side, and in the next, she was knocking Celeste out cold with the jab of her hand.

While Hayley stood looking coldly over the witch, Sophia took her opportunity to go inside the Sanitorium.

The building was run down, falling apart around her. The eerie, dull gray hallways seemed endless and were littered with outdated medical equipment. Sophia instantly followed the vague sounding voices above her, and they became more clearer as she journeyed up the staircase.

Klaus' outraged bellow echoed in the hallways. "Rebekah!"

Sophia pushed past a shredded door just in time to see Klaus bat away Marcel's attack. "Just the man I wanted to see- Rebekah's punishment won't be complete until she watches you die."

Klaus was looming over Marcel as Rebekah spoke weakly from where she laid across the room. "Nik, it was my idea to summon Mikael- If you're going to hurt anyone it should be me."

Klaus turns towards his sister. "Such loyalty to your beloved-"

"Nik," Sophia called out. "Please-" She froze as he turned to her. For all his dramatics, his eyes were filled with a cool, clear resentment that chilled her. She exhaled sharply and sucked in a gasp at the dull pain that attacked her ribs, swallowing back the acidy bile that rose in her throat as she did so. "Don't do this- Please."

He faced her fully, and she momentarily zeroed in on the pale, curved, bone- like dagger in his hands. "Do you know what she did?" His voice was razor sharp, angry, and guarded.

Sophia nodded rapidly, her vision blurry. "I do- and it was horrible and- and... traitorous of her, Nik," Sophia attempted to placate him. "Of both of them." Against her will, her eyes drifted warily to the weapon in his hand.

"Oh, this." His eyes glinted with dark satisfaction. "No more 'daggered in a box' for my treacherous little sister-" He raised the blade. "She'll long for what the dagger offered- How to describe what this blade does exactly?" Klaus questioned the room with mock reverence as he turned away from Sophia and began to circle around his sister. Sophia tentatively, shakily, walked over to the pair. "After I plunge this into her heart, she will be immobilized, imprisoned in a state of raw inescapable anguish. Time loses all meaning- It's not unlike a living hell, which I find rather fitting given her treachery."

"Then do it," Rebekah goaded from the floor.

A low whimper escaped Sophia's throat as the previously manageable pain in her ribs spiked, and it was all she could do to not keel over. "Don't," Sophia hissed, but wasn't able to say much more as she grasped her stomach with one hand and massaged the ache she was feeling in her upper abdomen with the other.

Klaus looked up at Sophia as he knelt beside his sister. "You know-" he dropped his gaze, "If she had offered me even a fraction of the same loyalty, I wouldn't have to do this."

Sophia opened her mouth as Klaus raised the dagger- But before she could say anything, Elijah was behind him, using Klaus's momentum and twisting the hybrid's arm to plunge the dagger into Klaus's own chest.

His eyes shone with pure horror as he looked up at Sophia, crying out in pain. His betrayed eyes momentarily glanced up at Elijah as Sophia's heart seized.

She fell to her knees before him, gasping for breath. "Nik- the baby," she said weakly, terrified.

Terror- stricken eyes rapidly looked towards her, his free hand weakly reaching out to her- And then his eyes rolled back as his body seemed to collapse in on itself after the dagger sank further into his chest, disapearing out of sight.

"Sophia," Elijah exclaimed harshly, eyes alarmed as he kept his hold on his brother.

She couldn't talk, and focused instead on taking in deep breaths- Then she was cradled in a pair of wiry arms. "I have her, Elijah." Hayley's voice was strong. "I'll make sure she's okay."

Elijah's eyes flickered over to Rebekah, then back to Hayley with a firm nod.

"Why did you call me?" Camille asked Elijah, sunlight shining in her hair as she stormed into the Abattoir. "Have you found a way to help my uncle?" she continued breathlessly. She didn't know how much time she had.

"I can try," he offered. "But first- I need your help."

"The dagger the witch gave me is inside of him?"

Cami stood at Klaus's beside, where he laid pale, clammy, and passed out. He hadn't stirred at his brother's and the bartender's intrusion.

"And every second it remains," Elijah explained as he rolled up his sleeves, "Causes Niklaus untold suffering."

"Who stabbed him?" she wondered as the vampire went to his brother's bedside.

"I did," Elijah shared. "And now I intend to remove it- You might want to take a step back."

As she did so, Cami asked again. "Why am I here?"

"Because of all the people that could be here, you're one of the only ones he wouldn't immediately slaughter." Cami winced as Elijah sliced a dagger through his brother's torso and plunged his hand through the bloody wound. "Also, he speaks of you with what is a rare degree, for him, at least- Of respect. I can see you challenge him to see himself and others in a new light." Finally, Elijah yanked the dagger out of Klaus, who moaned in pain.

Cami flinched and took a step back from the gruesome sight.

"A wonderful skill I shall be counting on shortly- You see, Niklaus will be weak as he recovers. So watch over him, and feed him, if you would. Perhaps you could use the time contructivly, persuade him not to murder his baby sister."

Sophia moaned as she turned to lay on her otherside, loathing to join the waking world.

"Rise and shine," a twangy voice greeted her as sunlight briefly lit up the small cabin room where Sophia was recuperating.

"Morning Eve," Sophia greeted the pale blonde as she slowly sat up, not wanting to take out her frustration on the kind, imposed woman.

When Hayley had buckled Sophia in her car last night, it hadn't taken the pregnant wolf all that long to notice Celeste passed out in the back seat. Hayley drove Sophia to an emergency room outside of the city and compelled the doctors to see her right away. Based on the symptoms she described to him, the Doctor on call ascertained that Sophia had felt the pain she had due to stress and high blood pressure. She and the baby had seemed perfectly healthy to him by the time she was in the waiting room (thank you miracle baby) but suggested that she talk to her regular doctor about a pregnancy complication called preeclampsia.

Assured that her baby was safe and healthy, Sophia went along with Hayley out into the bayou where the hybrid wanted to hold Celeste hostage without Elijah's interference.

Eve, who, as luck would have it, was formerly a maternity ward nurse before she took on looking after the Crescent Wolves full time, advised bed rest for Sophia.

"I'm fine- You checked my vitals yourself," Sophia said as she ate her cinnamon sweetened oatmeal on the front porch chair later that morning.

Wanting to follow the woman's advice, Sophia struggled to not let her thoughts stay stuck on Klaus, who was likely suffering and in pain as Elijah tried to buy time for his sister to escape.

Eve tsked. "It's only thanks to the father's blood that the doctor gave you a clean bill of health- Based on what Hayley described, you should have a severe form of preeclampsia," the woman warned before she left.

Sophia allowed Eve's words to ruminate, when her phone chirped.

Klaus will be awake soon.

Elijah was nothing if nothing if not concise. Sophia twirled the ring on her finger, remembering that the last time she saw Klaus, she had collapsed and was terrified for their baby.

When Hayley wasn't looking, distracted by drinking and celebrating with Eve over Elijah confirming that Celeste's potion wasn't a hoax, Sophia stole her car keys and did her best to make her way over to the car undetected. She had a feeling both women would try to talk her down from going back to the Quarter.

She was distracted as she opened the car door, eyes on her phone, and was startled when she felt it was being pushed closed.

"What the- Jackson?" Sophia smiled at the sight of the grey and white wolf. She smoothed back the fur between his ears, grinning. "Soon, Jai. By the next full, this curse will be lifted."

Her smile dimmed slightly as he used his strength to keep her from opening the car door. "I have to leave- I can't just stay here and not help, okay? I appreciate you looking out but- Please, Jackson." A disappointed look in his eyes, the wolf growled softly as it stepped aside and let her get into the car.

"Where is Sophia?!" Klaus growled, eyes flashing an unnatural yellow as he pushed the tourist he had been feeding from onto the brick alley wall, knocking him out cold.

Cami resisted making her way to the collapsed man as she kept her eyes on the recently awakened hybrid. He had woken up deeply aggrieved, seething, and well aware of what his brother had done to him. He demanded to know how Sophia was, and the baby.

Cami regretted not having an answer for him, and allowed him to feed from her. Elijah had said her vervain laced blood would slow him down for the time being, and maybe that was why the elder vampire hadn't informed her of Sophia's whereabouts and health.

Surly it's another stalling tactic, Cami told herself. Another distraction that would allow Elijah to assure Rebekah's safety while Klaus searched high and low for Sophia. In that moment, Cami truly wanted nothing more to assure him that the woman he so obviously loved was safe.

If something awful had happened to Sophia, Elijah would never-

Cami didn't let herself finish the thought.

The bartender thought back to when Klaus had first started to wake up. He had still been in a dream state of sorts, and not yet lucid. His face had been pained and tortured, and against her better judgment, she had reached out to grab his hand to comfort him.

The world around her had disappeared, all the sunlight and the comforting sounds of New Orleans. She found herself lost in the cold- Surrounded by darkness and trees and rough dirt floor.

A small, elfin little girl. She couldn't have been more than five. Her scared face was surrounded by a cloud of dark curls, eyes glittery with tears that had yet to fall. Lost and scared of the dark.

A kind, thoughtful young boy whose voice had not yet broken. He helped the girl find her parents, her way home- And in doing so, had gained an unfettered loyal friend.

That little girl had grown up into a lovely young woman. Tough, wild- Fierce in a way Cami had not known Sophia to be. She had also been a girl in love- Klaus had not been unperceptive to how her dark eyes pined for him.

And one day, at the young woman's side, an absolutely smitten young man. With fair hair unkempt, his demeanor was distinctly dorky in a way the bartender had not known Klaus to be.

The unfiltered joy on both their faces as they were wed.

Klaus's devastation as he lost his youngest brother. Then, sunlight breaks through stormy clouds. There was newfound hope in having a child that would be his own. His family.

The painful grace on Sophia's face as she realized her last breath was not far away. Heartbroken anguish as the love of Klaus's life died in his arms.

Then Cami was entombed in stone castle walls. Klaus's face was as rough as the gray walls of his home as he entered the room and crouched by a too still, young woman. Her dark hair covered her face, and Cami couldn't make out her features. The bartender audibly gasped as Klaus gently brushed away the hair from the young woman's face and picked her up, cradling the disfigured girl in his arms.

"Bloody Trefor," Klaus growled. Cami was startled when the vampire briefly met her eyes and realized that he was talking to her. Soon, he looked back down to the girl in his arms.

Sophia, Cami remembered him sharing in one their earlier sessions.

"I ought to have flayed him alive," he seemed to say to himself as he walked over to a nearby couch and sat down, holding Sophia to him all the while. Tears came to Cami's eyes. She couldn't even recognize the girl she now called a friend.

"This life had not been kind to her," the hybrid went on. "I didn't know what it was that drew me to her- Her eyes looked familiar, but it would be a lie to say I recognized her- Perhaps, a part of me did. She obviously knew me." His face turned distraught, and he bent his head to her's, hugging her to him.

The walls around her shifted again, and Cami was comforted by the sound of crickets chirping.

The night air was balmy, and in front of her, a large brick and wood boarding house.

Standing before her, a modern day Sophia. Pale and tired and just the slightest bit younger, she was standing warily on the porch. At her side, a slim and scared woman about Cami's age with reddish blonde hair.

Aunt Jenna, Cami recalled, dismayed at what she was about to witness. To the bartender's immediate left, a smug and predatory Klaus.

His cruel face was calm and curious as he studied Sophia. Cami had never seen him regarding the mother of his child as he did now. As if she were a strange, new species he wanted to dissect.

"Well, this is an unexpected surprise. The elusive Sophia Gilbert. I don't believe we've made an acquaintance," he greeted.

Sophia's face was pinched and angry as her aunt said, "W-Where's Elena?"

In a matter of seconds, Klaus had a frightened Jenna in his arms. With that damned smile of his, he said, "You have Damon to thank for this." He opened his mouth to take a bite of his wrist- And then he paused.

Suddenly, he looked wretched. Shame and miserable remorse seemed to flood every limb of his body. He gingerly let go of Jenna, and stepped away from her. Bewildered, the woman turned around to face him.

"If it was within my capabilities to undo what I have done to you, I would," Klaus said pleadingly. "The indescribable pain my actions have caused Sophia- If I had known who she was- Who you were to her… I decided a long time ago to not second guess myself, to not regret doing what needs to be done- I can't afford to. But this." Klaus shook his head. Jenna was confused.

Then, Klaus, Jenna, and Cami were all caught off guard when Sophia was only feet away from all of them. Klaus turned to face her completely. Cami admitted to herself that she felt intrusive as she walked over to get a better look at their faces, but she couldn't help herself.

Sophia's face was pained as she stared at him, a hint of childlike wonder in her eyes.

Klaus' face was despairing and humble as he took her in. Sophia raised her hands out to him, but she refrained from doing so, dropping them back to her sides when she realized what she was doing.

"I love you, and I am more sorry than you will ever know- Forgive me." Klaus fell to his knees before her, his head against her stomach as he hugged her to him. "Please, Sophia, please," he muttered in a low voice. Sophia's reservations melted, and her face turned tentative as she began to run her fingers through his hair.

At this, Cami looked away,

"I love you too, Nik," she heard Sophia whisper.

Cami frowned and shook her head, trying to clear her mind as she realized Klaus was glaring at her.

"Elijah still has yet to deign to share with you the whereabouts of my- Of Sophia, I presume?" Shaking his head with disgust, he walked past her onto the tourist- busy street.

Cami stumbled after him. "No one's answering my calls-" She nearly walked into him after Klaus came to an unexpected halt in front of her.

"She's returned to the compound," she heard him say.

And then he was gone.

After Sophia had gotten to the compound, she went upstairs to Klaus's room only to find his messy, distraught bed empty. With a sigh, she began to walk back down the stairs, head down and eyes staring at her feet as she did so.

"Sophia," a familiar voice said. Her head snapped up, and she met Klaus's eyes. Only a few feet away, he was just at the bottom of the stairs.

"Nik-" she began. In her haste to make her way to him, she tripped over her feet, and nearly tumbled the rest of the way. Her eyes closed on instinct, waiting to hit the ground, but the chaotic impact failed to happen. She felt pressed up against a familiar, solid body. When she opened her eyes, she was standing at the center of the compound, Klaus staring intently down at her.

Her lips twitched upwards, and Klaus raised an eyebrow, his own lips mimicking hers. They were both a little worse for wear, but he was here and she was here. Finally.

A surprised laugh bubbled out of Sophia when she felt a particularly hard kick from within her. Musn't forget the little one, she thought to herself.

Klaus's eyes sharpened once again. "Sophia- The baby," he said roughly.

A smile split across her face. "Quick, Nik, your hand- Give me your hand," she laughed impatiently as she placed his palm to her abdomen. He looked down, marveling at her stomach.

"I'm not going to lie, it was touch and go there for a bit, but she's doing great, Nik," Sophia told him softly. After a moment he met her eyes, and nodded, the slightest bit of tension deflating from his shoulders. She told him the rest of it- The tentative preeclampsia diagnosis. How, despite the baby's blood, she wasn't entirely invisible.

"How are you?" she asked imploringly when she was done, reaching out to grab his hands. "I think I remember something along the lines of the dagger you were stabbed with causing unbearable touture."

He smiled mirthlessly as he squeezed her hands. "You mean the dagger Elijah stabbed me with-" He shook his head, his eyes taking her in once again. "I believe bed rest is in order."

They settled in bed, with Klaus sitting up against the bedrest while Sophia laid curled in the fetal position, her head resting on his lap. He tugged at her loose curls as he described the events leading up Mikael running him and siblings out of New Orleans.

"You don't have to forgive her Nik, but don't- You won't survive if you're the one who kills her," Sophia pleaded. She didn't want to believe that Klaus was capable of killing his sister. It was naive of her, perhaps, but she so wanted to believe that this would be where he would draw the line.

He wouldn't survive it. Rebekah was his baby sister. Sophia remembered how he doted on her, and she on him. Klaus continued to gently play with her hair, and Sophia only just kept from purring. She cursed her pregnancy hormones.

"I'll tell you what I almost didn't survive love," he began, "My sister- Your friend- brought the most vile creature to ever walk the earth down upon me. Bloody Mikael," the hybrid spat.

"Nik," Sophia said softly. "Don't do this. Chasing Rebekah and Marcel to the ends of the earth- Terrorizing them like Mikael terrorized you. Don't become him."

Blue eyes took on a dark glint. "I've been called every shade of monster, little love, but that's new. My father? Mikael was the monster monster's were afraid of."

Sophia stared up at him, unsure of what to say next. She was rather grateful when her phone rang. It was Hayley. Thankful for a distraction, she answered her call. As she sat up to sit beside Klaus and blinked in surprise at the dark room before her. How long had they been talking?

"Hi Hayley," she greeted, casting a side glance over to Klaus who was glaring at the wall across from him. Sophia considered that she may have hurt his feelings, comparing him to Mikael.

"Sophia, where the hell are you?" the hybrid greeted.

"I'm back at the compound."

"What the hell were you think- Nevermind. Between you and Elijah, I swear-"

Sophia cleared her throat, not wanting to admit she had spent the last few hours with Klaus. "You heard from Elijah?"

"Freaking Sabine cursed him and Rekekah to be confined in the cemetery- They'll be held up until sundown. In the meantime, Elijah wanted me to keep an eye on you. Just- Just stay where you are, I'll go to you. These witches are getting on my last nerve." And with that, Hayley hung up. Sophia frowned at her phone. "Why would the witches-" She froze.

Beside her, Klaus smiled bitterly. "They're a clever lot, I'll give them that."

"They're manipulating you," Sophia bit out.

"Then it's lucky our goals are aligned."

"They- They planned this, Niklaus! They want you to kill Rebekah- Celeste wanted all of this to happen because she's bitter- I'll admit, rightfully so- And she wanted to throw your family's vows in Elijah's face. Don't let her toy with you!" Sophia struggled to keep her breathing even.

Klaus swung his legs off the bed, and walked over to his discarded jacket he had laid on a chair, and shrugged it on.

"The depth of Rebekah's betrayal-"

Sophia's heart seized as she scrambled to get out of bed herself. "Rebekah is my oldest friend, your sister- Our daughter's aunt! If you're hot headed enough- Stupid enough- to play into the witches hand then- Then that's it for us Nik!" Sophia all but shouted those final words.

The silence that followed was deafening.

"Issuing an ultimatum, my love?" Klaus's gaze was flinty as he regarded her.

Sophia was suddenly exhausted, and all she wanted to do was burrow in her bed for the next week.

"I just- We can't keep going on like this Nik. This is not how I want our daughter to grow up. Between this- And what's already happened to Elena and Jenna-"

"Circling back to Jenna again, are we? I do grow tired of that unforgivable wrong constantly hanging over my head."

His cavalier tone broke her heart. Sophia doubled down."I would never dare keep our daughter from you Nik- But if you go to the cemetery, then that's it. I'll respect you as the father of my child, but that'll be all there is to it. I can't do this any more. It's not good for me, and it's certainly not good for the baby."

Her breathing shortened as Klaus walked over to her, and her skin grew flushed under his heated gaze. He took her face into his hands.

His voice was low, enticing."How many times are you going to run from us, sweetheart, before you realize- "She closed her eyes as he felt his chapped lips press against her cheek. "You're mine."

Sophia opened her eyes, her wolf blinking through. And for better or worse, you're mine.

His own gaze reflected the same gold that likely was shown in hers.

"Woah," Hayley said with raised eyebrows as she took in Sophia's multiple duffle bags.

The old soul was sitting by herself in the compound, staring morosely at the moon in the sky. She looked down towards Hayley.

"Is it okay if I stay with you indefinitely?"

The next morning, Sophia learned the ins and outs of the bayou, an excited, four legged Jackson leading the way. All the Cresent wolves were upbeat now that there was a cure in their near future.

She fretted over the Mikaelsons, who would be locked in the cemetery until that night when the moon would reach its apex again. She got the occasional update from Elijah and Rebekah, who were managing their own against Klaus. Feeling her phone vibrate, she took it out of her back pocket.

"Cami! I'm so sorry I didn't call you back- It's been crazy-"

"Davina's returned and- And I think it would help her to see a familiar face," Cami broke in softly.

"Cami… And Sophia." Marcel's voice was subdued as he addressed the pregnant werewolf. Turning his eyes back to Cami, he said, "I thought I told you to come alone."

"I care about Davina too, Marcel. Just-" Sophia flinched as she remembered the teenage witch's death. "Let me try to help her. Please."

The stairs creaked beneath their feet as Sophia and Cami walked up the church attic that had once served as Davina's bed room.

Sophia lingered by the doorway as Cami stepped closer over to where Davina sat in bed, and made her way to them after the sight of the young witch's helpless eyes as she gazed at Sophia over Cami's shoulder.

Wordlessly, Sophia reached over to hug her. The blue eyed brunette briefly clung to her before letting her go.

Witches were petty beings. Sophia knew this, had been subject to their cruel magic.

Davina had blindly trusted her people, who in turn, groomed her for sacrifice. Greater beings had faltered when faced with death. When given no other choice, Davina finished what they started- Only to be kept isolated. Made other. The ancestors lashed out at a teenager for their sins, and it enraged Sophia to no end.

Sophia held back a wince as Cami tried to reason with Davina, trying to expedite the healing process. The werewolf understood these were dire times, but weren't they always? Anyhow, what Davina had been through wasn't going to heal in a few hours, or anytime soon for that matter. Sophia knew that. Cami knew that. Davina knew that.

The poor girl was questioning her own reality, and she had every right to.

"Marcel wants to use me to save Rebekah, Cami wants to use me to save her uncle- What do you want Sophia?" Davina inquired with tired eyes.

"I- I just- I wanted you to know you weren't alone. That you have friends other than the witches."

Davina scoffed. "Sure."

"No, I'm serious Davina," Sophia said solemnly. "What you've been through- Are going through- It has no easy fix. Cami wasn't wrong when she said you could make your own choices, but she made it sound easier than it is to do that. We both know it's not that easy."

Tears fell down the witch's face. "What am I supposed to do?" She asked brokenly.

Sophia cleared her throat, and her laugh was watery. "You take it one day at a time, one step at a time- And know that time will help."

"He- He's just giving her back to the witches," Sophia stated in shock as she and Cami walked back over to the bartender's apartment.

"He said that there were bigger forces at work," the blonde responded monotonously. "Are you heading back to the compound?"

Sophia shook her head. "I- I'm staying with Hayley and the wolves… Indefinitely."

Cami turned her head, eyes confused.

"I- Me and Klaus can't be around each right now. We're not good for each other. And- And I said something to him that I can't… I won't be able to look at myself in the mirror if I don't-" Sophia shook her head at her words. "Sorry," she laughed uncomfortably, "I know I'm not making too much sense right now."

"Sophia, I should tell you that-" Cami cut herself off, taking the opportunity to study a beaten down Sophia. When she spoke again, her words were careful. "I- Anyone can see that… You have complicated feelings for a monster, and he has complicated feelings for you. Somehow, you're both the worst and best thing that probably has ever happened to the other." The bartender paused again, and smiled self effacingly. "I should stop myself there, it's a client- patient confidentiality type thing- Plus, I think you should hear this from Klaus himself."

Sophia frowned. "Hear what from Klaus?"

Green eyes met dark. "Just... Just ask him if has any regrets. And- and try to be completely honest with each other." The bartender rolled her eyes. "Knowing him, you'll probably have to make the first move."

At her own insistence, that night when she returned to the bayou, Sophia sat by herself, a campfire burning before her. She even shooed Jackson away from her. It was difficult to read his eyes, but she hoped he understood. All the Mikaelson's were still MIA-

"Rebekah," Sophia gasped as she stood up abruptly, a surprised smile lighting up her face. "What are you- How are you here?" she tearfully laughed as she hugged the pale blonde vampire.

Rebekah's smile seemed fraught as she pulled back. "I came to say goodbye."

Sophia shook her head. "I don't understand- Klaus nearly killed you, and I'm so glad he didn't- But what happened between now and then-" her babbling was frantic.

"Come, let's have a seat," Rebekah said gently as she wrapped an arm around Sophia and led her back over to the benches by the fireside. "Me and my brother have come to an agreement of sorts- As I'm sure you've noticed, we are an all or nothing sort of family… Sophia, I am leaving town for good, and Nik is allowing me to."

Sophia shook her head, feeling numb. Klaus was letting Rebekah go. "What happened to us girls sticking together?"

The original vampire smiled fondly, if sadly, at her friend. Sophia nodded in understanding, knowing that distance from her family was something Rebekah has wanted for quite some time.

"I love my brother, Sophia, and I know you do as well. Plainly said, he is a monster, but even so... I- I know what you said to him, before he went to the cemetery to make good on his threats." Tears inexplicably came to Sophia's eyes.

"He- I… I was desperate, Bekah, to keep him from hurting you. To keep him from doing something he couldn't take back- It wouldn't be the first time he-" Jenna's face flashed in her mind. "It was stupid, and I should've known he would never pick me over his- His ego." His anger, his pride. A moment of silence followed, and then the vampire broke it.

"For so long, all I've wanted is the devotion you and Nik have for each other. For all your spats, not even a thousand years apart has eroded it- He loves you very much, it's why you could get away with saying such a thing to him. You two will undoubtedly make amends and get past this, Sophia."

Sophia stared uncomprehendingly at the blonde. "I don't see how. The timing- The time has never right for us. I'm starting to think it won't ever be- I think it's best that I start getting that through my head now- And maybe this way, our daughter will at least have parents who can stand each other as friends."

Rebekah gaze drifted over to the fire, her lips smiling fondly as she rolled her eyes. "You and Nik- Honestly, the pair of you," the blonde laughed. "Love isn't brains, my dear. It's blood- Blood screaming inside you to work it's will. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other until it makes you quiver- But you'll never simply be friends. Nik's made me suffer relentlessly for being love's fool time and time again, but at least I'm brave enough to admit it."

Sophia was stuck silent as Rebekah's words continued to echo in her ears. The wolf in her longed to go to her mate, to lick his wounds. Love isn't brains, my dear.

The vampire continued to speak. "He's too broken to find it himself, but I know that Nik wants more from life than just to be feared. That's partly the reason why I think your love is so enduring - You're not truly afraid of him, and he knows it-"

"That's not entirely true, Rebekah," Sophia was quick to deny. "You're right. He is a monster, and I have been afraid of him-"

"That's just it- I understand why it would be difficult to admit to yourself, but the truth of the matter is, he's not a monster to you. To anyone who's paid attention to the pair of you, he never was. Any fear you've had regarding him has to do with what you're willing to overlook over the sake of your love for him. I and Elijah understand you very well in that regard. When Niklaus went after your family- Oh fine, when we went after your family, it had nothing to do with you- It was tragic coincidence really, and things got muddled from there." Sophia's lips twitched despite herself as Rebekah rolled her eyes. The air around them turned solemn once again as the blonde's face grew serious. " But you- your person- Is not very afraid of him. Not at all. And that makes him want to give you no reason to be afraid of him. That's why I believe there is hope for him." Sophia's eyes met Rebekah's. "In you and the baby that you carry."

A beat passed, and then Rebekah snorted. "Bloody wanker, merely hours ago he was vowing to kill me and banished me from the city, and here I am trying to make amends on his behalf." The blonde shook her head as Sophia choked out a tearful, watery laugh. Rebekah pressed on as Sophia subtly turned her face to wipe away the lone tear that fell down her cheek. "Speaking of your child, our family has no shortage of enemies. She will inherit all of them. Please, be careful."

Sophia's lips turned the slightest bit upwards. "You know, you can come and visit. I've been known to keep a secret or two from Nik."

Rebekah's eyes turned glassy. "Well, if I can't, you make sure to tell that little girl stories of her crazy Aunty Bex." Sophia nodded in reassurance as she pulled her friend in for a hug. "And let her know that despite my absence, I do love her very much."

They say the passage of time will heal all wounds, but the greater the loss, the deeper the cut, and the more difficult the process to become whole again….

"Sophie! You would rather live out in the middle of a swamp than with Klaus- That's definitely a sign that you should move back home." Caroline's voice was loud and piercing through the cell phone.

Beside Sophia, Jackson huffed and snorted. Sophia smiled fondly as she ruffled the fur around his ears. Only half a month to go, and the crescents curse would be gone.

"It's more complicated than that Care, and me living in the bayou is temporary for the time being."

Sophia hadn't expected the past month to be as joyful and relaxing as it was. Living amongst the wolves, becoming more in touch with her own- She was at peace with herself in a way that she hadn't been in a long time. It bemused her.

She helped Eve care for the children of the pack, along with aiding the wolves wounds from the odd skirmish.

She learned a great deal from Eve about the Crescents history, and Eve learned much from Sophia about the legends she remembered from her past life.

Yes, she hadn't seen Nik in quite some time, an ache that was inflamed when the stars shone brightly in the dark sky, but it was manageable.

Wine red hair was splayed across his bed, her eyes still rested shut. Genevieve's bare body was thinly veiled by a limp, white bedsheet.

Klaus paid her no mind as he continued to sketch on his terrace as the morning light shone into his bedroom.

A few days had turned into weeks, and those weeks were now going to amount into an entire month that Sophia had spent playing house with the mongrels. She rarely ventured into the city, and had taken to texting him updates about their daughter.

'Quick, Nik, your hand- Give me your hand,' she had laughed impatiently as she placed his palm to her stomach. He remembered being startled by the overwhelming joy in her gaze, their faces inches apart.

Issuing an ultimatum, my love.

We can't keep going on like this.

The steadfastness in her gaze, the nerve. If she had been anyone else-

But she wasn't. She was the love of his bloody life. The waffling yet paradoxically pigheaded creature that she was. And the wolf in him burned for her. Sophia haunted him. Her anger, her laughter, her tears and her touch.

But it was her doubts that niggled into his ears like unpleasant worms, burrowing deeper every day that they were separated.. Being away from him had been what she needed to restore her health, and that of their daughters.

She- she's happy here, Klaus.

Hayley had been uncharacteristically kind when she had spotted him spying upon Sophia. Hayley Marshall, one of three hybrids in existence.

I think being here has been really good for her and the baby. They've both seemed to become stronger by the day.
Indeed, Sophia Gilbert was glowing. Her dark fell into spiral curls and lazy waves around her face, her figure full and face shining with joy as she conversed with the wretched wolf at her side. Sofija's long lost friend, Jai.

Don't tell her I was here.

Hayley rolled her eyes in long suffered annoyance as she nodded in agreement.

He allowed Sophia this distance from him. There was some leeway to be had, and he wouldn't force her to return to the city. Yet. He did so hope she would soon come to understand how rash she was being, and only putting off the inevitable.

Klau's eyes briefly flitted over to his bedmate who was shifting in bed.

He had binged on tourists when he returned to the city after his excursion to see Sophia.

All the unpleasantness that had been dealt to him led Klaus to taking on Genevieve as a bedmate. Eager and willing and rather enamored with his… machiavellistic ways, she made for a pleasurable distraction. Everything that Sophia struggled to accept about him, the pieces of him that she wished away as she forlornly recalled the simple man he once was, the witch accepted. Admired.

In a cloudy haze of bloodlust, self loathing, and despair, she was quite appealing.

"Displeased with your child bride, " the vengeful witch had smirked as she settled beside him as he fed from the svelte tourist who had been bold enough to offer to buy him a drink. After he compelled the woman on his lap to continue on her merry way, Genevene stood up to step even closer to him, looking down at him as he stared at her with hooded eyes. Her gaze never left his as she reached out with her ring clad finger to swipe the drop of blood that had stained his lips, and enticingly brought it to her mouth to clean off.

"She's always been a willful little thing- I actually quite admire that about her," Klaus redirected as he took a sip of his drink.

Genevieve's gaze faltered, and she turned her stare just beyond him. "Rumors run rampant about you and her." Her smile was a touch acidic . "Such a naive and doe-eyed young girl- Truly, it is a miracle you and your family have yet to rob that of her. If I had known good girls were your type…" the witch trailed off as she flipped her artfully curled hair over her shoulder and turned away from him. Klaus downed the rest of his drink and stood up.

"Fond as I am of my little ex-wife," Klaus murmured into Genevieve's ear, " I have found that I've outgrown her in the last thousand years…"

That lie had been enough for the leader of the witches to fall into his bed.

Night after night after night, he allowed her warm, pliable body to satiate the demons within.

The balmy night breeze comforted Sophia. Anxiety and tension stilted the air around her.

A large hand enveloped hers, clutching it nervously. She briefly looked towards Jackson with a reassuring smile, then turned her eyes back towards the full moon. She could see Hayley from the corner of her eye, and even with the stakes as high as they were, the hybrid had the audacity to smirk. Sophia suppressed a glare.

Finally, the moment of truth came to pass. The Cresents's curse had been lifted.

"Shouldn't you be out there playing fight club with the rest of the frat boys?" teased Hayley, keeping her eyes on the bayou brawl playing out in front of her. The Crescents were wasting no time now that they had regained their freedom.

"Nah, " smiled Jackson. "That's just for pecking order- They already know who's the alpha."

Hayley laughed despite herself as she met his eyes. She counted down.

Three. Two. One.

Like clockwork, Jacksons gaze drifted over to Sophia, who was yards away from all the excitement, distracted and not quite aware of her surroundings.

Hayley took the opportunity to study her apparent betrothed. In another life, anyhow. The concept had seemed ludicrous when Sophia first told her, and even more so now that Hayley knew he was hooked on Sophia.

Oh, her friend claimed they had simply been good friends in a past life and that's all they were now. While that was the case for Sophia, it obviously wasn't for Jackson.

Hayley never thought she would be pondering the similarities between these two particular men, but the way Jackson looked at Sophia was not unlike how Klaus did. They were both in awe of her.

The thing was, Hayley liked Jackson. And while she liked most of the Crescents, werewolves tended to be a mercurial bunch. Even if his leadership had been somewhat inherited, she truly felt he was the best pick for alpha. Temperate and level-headed, he was by far the best choice to help the wolves regain their footing.

Hayley would even go as far as to say that Jackson was a friend. And that was why she was constantly biting her tongue around him, silently reminding herself of boundaries and that he was a grown man. If he wanted to pine over a girl who would never feel the same, well, that was his business. Besides, she was in no position to offer advice on anyone's else's love life.

"You both have to try Tucker's ribs, " Jackson suggested as he placed plates before Sophia and Hayley.

Hayley smiled wryly. "Then what? Then we're all going to go play horseshoe?"

"Sounds like an afternoon, " Sophia offered brightly as she began to edge away from the pair.

Jackson laughed as he stepped closer to Hayley. "Hey- Don't mock country living darlin'."

"Sorry, " the hybrid said as her gaze darted from Jackson to Sophia. "This is just a lot more family fun than I'm used to."

"Well- Maybe I can help you get used to it, " Jackson offered earnestly.

'She's very… brusque,' Jackson had said after formally meeting Hayley.

Sophia encouraged him to not be put off, remembering how thrown Hayley had been that she was essentially werwolf royalty and had once been intended to be Jackson's wife. And sure enough, it hadn't taken all that long for the Lebonair heir apparent and the alpha of the Crescents to find their footing. There was definitely a tension there, Sophia felt.

She was just about to extract herself from them when Oliver began to make his way over. Did she still hold a grudge for how he screwed Rebekah? Why yes. Yes she did.

He smirked as his green eyes freely roamed over Sophia and Hayley, and it was all she could do to not bare her teeth."Then all we got to do is forget how both your girlfriends spent half their lives with humans and and the other half with vampires."

Jackson's face grew serious as steel shone in his eyes. "Ollie- Back off."

"That's okay," Hayley smiled charmingly. "If the runt of the litter has got something to say, then he should say it."

Oliver laughed. "Word from the quarter is that your boy Elijah is holding some kind of power summit- Guess who wasn't invited?"

Sophia and Hayley drove into the city together, with Sophia trying to talk Hayley into confronting Elijah about why he excluded the wolves until after his summit was over. She wasn't successful.

And so, while Hayley barraged the meeting, Sophia took a stroll around the city and sat at a park bench, helping herself to beignets while she admired the view. Humming contemplatively, she dusted the white powdered sugar off her fingers and took a sleek velvet, stars and moon patterned journal out of her bag.

'Write it all down for her, and give it to her when she's old enough to read it' Elena had encouraged. 'Every crazy, insane thing that you've been through so far. Tell her about mom and dad, me and Jeremy. How much you loved Aunt Jenna. Tell her why you love her father so much- Trust me, she's going to want to understand it all one day. Write it down.'

Journaling had most definitely always been Elena's coping mechanism, more so than it was for Sophia. But, her sister had a point. Her daughter's family tree would be a complicated one, in large part due to Sophia's messy choices. The least she could do was help make sense of it all for the poor kid.

She nervously rolled the pen between her palms as she contemplated visiting Klaus. She hadn't seen him since she told him she would leave. That they would be co-parents, but not romantic partners. It was the 21st century, this sort of arrangement was commonplace now. They could make it work. With their daughter due to be born soon, all their drama and back and forth could be put on hold.

She recalled the exasperation in his gaze, the dark amusement that shone when she threatened to leave him. As much as she wanted to slap his stupid pretty face in that moment, she understood why he didn't take her seriously. The wolf in her could only be soothed by Klaus, and, unfortunately, all the bad that he had done didn't make him any less appealing to Sophia. As much he loved her, she knew some part of him had to have acknowledged that she was not his ideal. And yet.

You'll never be friends, Rebekah had wisely declared.

Shaking her head, Sophia began to write.

Dear Baby,

Sorry that your dad and I haven't had the chance to talk names yet…

The sky grew dim as Sophia walked over to the compound, her heartbeat rising as she noticed the light in Klaus's room was lit. She pulled out her cell phone to call him, to tell him that she was right outside- And instead took a page from Hayley's book and strode right on into the compound and up to his room. The Abattoir was curiously empty.

She wrung her hands as she walked through the makeshift study and to his bedroom. This was completely impulsive of her and she had no idea what she would say when she saw him. We haven't seen each in a month and I'm starting to even miss your shit-eating grin.

She missed him, period. He had been right to scoff at the notion that she would follow through on her words.

"I saw the light from the courtyard and decided to take a chance-" she abruptly came to a halt, her body seizing a gasp as she saw Klaus in front of his easel, fully dressed as he painted… And a half naked woman at his side. Genevieve. The witch who had pitted Klaus and Rebekah against each other.

"You- You and her," Sophia choked out, her face hot and her hands trembling.

It was possible the barest flicker of surprise reflected from Klaus's eyes, but she couldn't be sure. His expression was staunchly impassive as he studied Sophia's. "Genevieve was just about to leave."

The auburn haired witch turned affronted eyes to Klaus, who didn't spare her a glance.

Hurt and scorn and surprise marred Genevieve's features as she made her way to pass Sophia, who held up her hand to stop her.

"No, don't- I didn't mean to interrupt, please- Continue?" Sophia insisted awkwardly as she met the witch's eyes. She felt her hair whip around her as she turned around to leave. Her breath was choppy as she walked down the stairs. Before she could exit the walls of the Abattoir, Klaus was in front of her, his eyes soft. Pitying.

"Love, don't- "

"Stop," Sophia spat as she hardened her gaze, blinking rapidly all the while. She backed away from him, struggling to take in a deep breath. She shook her head when she saw Klaus taking a step towards her. "I said stop," she hissed. He did.

She viciously wiped away at the tears that were stringing her eyes.

"Genevieve," she finally gasped, her voice broken and her tone slightly hysterical. "She- she set you up to kill Rebekah. Was part of a plot to unravel your family- She was probably one of the witches who left me stuck in a burning house!"

"You said you were done with me," Klaus murmured, infuriatingly calm as he stared at her with searching eyes.

Sophia wanted to scream. You should have known better!

Was this all some sort of twisted joke, or fate ensuring that Sophia kept her promise to herself. To her baby.

"We're going to have a baby together, Nik." She let her tear tracks dry on their own, her hands at her sides as she managed to speak to him somewhat level headedly. Damn pregnancy hormones. "We'll never be done with each other." She kept her face impassive as she walked past him to exit the compound. She didn't let his next question slow her down, and stuck to her stride.

"Why did you-"

"I missed you."

Sophia walked numbly over to Rousseau's where she agreed to meet Hayley.

"Hey stranger," Cami called out brightly as Sophia took seat at the bar. "Long time no see," the bartender said as she placed a glass of water in front of her.

Sophia felt her cheeks grow warm as mortification seeped through her body. She had assumed that Klaus would miss her as much as she missed him, that their separation agitated him as much as it did her.

And then, to her surprise, the next wave of emotion she felt was fermenting outrage that caused her arms to tremble and her skin to prickle, sublimating her more pathetic woes over what she had seen. Her anger was a salve, a cool relief.

Yes. This she could work with.

Sophia focused her gaze back on Cami, who was eyeing her with worry.

"Sophie, is everything-"

"It's nothing serious," Sophia assured her friend with false nonchalance as she took a sip of water . "I just walked in on Klaus and Genevieve clearly post coital. You've met her- The wicked bitch who cursed your uncle." Cami's sharp, disbelieved laugh was instantaneous

"I'm sorry- You're serious. What a jackass," the blonde comforted as she led Sophia over to a more private booth. "He really can't help himself, can he? Self sabotage at it's finest."

Sophia found herself unable to comprehend the bartender's words, and blinked at her in a daze.

"Nevermind- Um, let me get you some food, on the house. Are you still staying with Hayley?"

"That's Elijah's solution for the hostile warring factions- A party?" Sophia inquired the next morning, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"The werewolves have been cordially invited," Hayley nodded.

Sophia's dress, a gift from Rebekah before she left, was a satin dark blue decorated in shimmery florals. It fell just below her knees and did little to hide her baby bump, but hey, who was she trying to kid. She opted for chunky heels that weren't too unfortunate to walk in.

Her hair, which now fell below her breast, fell in natural, haphazard waves around her shoulders. A touch of glowy makeup, and she was game to party.

Hayley let out a whistle as they walked into the compound. "Quite the shindig."

Sophia nodded in agreement, cursing the fact that her eyes were already searching for Klaus. Thumping music overwhelmed her ears, encouraging many party goers onto the dance floor, and if she hadn't activated her werwolf curse, people would be difficult to discern beneath the ever changing, colored lights.

By chance, Sophia looked up to the balcony, where Klaus's hands were on Genevives shoulders, and he was leaning towards her-

Sophia jerked her head away, and excused herself from Hayley. She frowned as she saw Jackson trailing up the stairs and away from the party, but before she could follow him, she was intercepted by a forlorn little witch.

"Davina," Sophia beamed with unrestrained fondness as she pulled her friend in for a hug. "You look so beautiful."

At first the young brunette stayed still, and then her thin arms wrapped around Sophia quite tightly, surprising the wolf who returned the gesture with one last squeeze around the witch before she pulled away.

"Is everything okay?" Sophia asked.

"My sister witches are complete bitches- My former best friend being the worst one of all," Davina shared, her cheeks flushed with anger. Then she shook her head as she summoned a small smile for Sophia. "It was really nice seeing you, but I'm not really in the party mood right now, I think I'm gonna go."

Sophia nodded in understanding, wishing she could also leave the loud, ear splitting music and distorting lights herself. But she had to see how this party would play out.

She absentmindedly made her way to the stairs, but having forgotten why she set off in this direction in the first place, she was startled to remember that she had been following Jackson.

Just as she made her way to the top of the staircase, Jackson was exiting Klaus's personal quarters.

At first his eyes were startled, and then his face broke out into a pacifying smile, eyes wary. "Just the girl I was looking for, I was hoping I could have the next dance-"

"What are you doing up here?" Sophia cut in. Before Jackson could answer, another voice spoke up.

"I wanted to remake the acquaintance of dear old Jai- My apologies, you just told me you preferred Jackson. Your old friend is moving up in the world, Sophia." Klaus's smile was biting, his eyes sharp as he stepped out of his study. "Two incredibly old, long lost souls reunited- I think I've read this story before." Blue eyes lingered on Sophia.

"Jackson, give us a moment." Her friend hesitated at her side, clearly not wanting to leave her alone. "Please, I'll be okay."

After fixing Klaus with one last glare, Jackson returned to the party downstairs.

Sophia pointedly avoided Klaus's gaze as she walked past him and into the study, making a face as memories of the last time she was here raised to the forefront of her mind.

"What did you want with Jackson?" Her inquiry was more of a demand. She hadn't heard him enter the room, but when she turned around, Klaus was right behind her.

"He is the present alpha of the Crescents, and as luck would have it, a former member of our pack. If I'm going to run a kingdom, it only makes sense that I reintroduce myself." Klaus's face was pleasant as his eyes swept over her.

While Sophia's mind was distracted, tracing any possibility she could think of as to what Klaus would want from Jackson, from the wolves- Her body remembered the anger she harbored towards him all too well. She herself was taken aback when her wolf rose to the surface to glare at Klaus. He was visibly startled.

"Where's Genevieve" Sophia asked cattily as she forced herself to calm down. "Do I have a say in my daughter's future step mom, because she's unacceptable."

Klaus's eyes leisurely made their way down Sophia's body, then back up. She was honestly torn on whether she wanted to slap the smirk off his face, or kiss it away.

Hands clasped behind his back, he strolled past her and over to his painting. "I've never been one to hold the body's carnal drives and passions sacred, not the way some do. Geneveive was a pleasant distraction, nothing more."

Sophia snorted. "It didn't mean anything- that's what you're going with? You probably invented that line."

Klaus turned to stare at her, infuriatingly calm. "You left me-"

"Because you're an insufferable asshole, who for all I knew, was on his way to kill his little sister. I didn't want to leave you Nik, but you make it so hard-" Before she knew it, Klaus was right in front of her. She stumbled back from him, and next she knew it, her back was to the wall, his arms caging her.

He stared down at her with gilded, possessive eyes. "It's the oddest thing- I've grown to find it rather charming how you push me away-"

Her wolf returned his stare as a rush of heat and irritation burned from her gaze. He thought her hurt and concerns were merely cute.

"Fuck you, Niklaus."

He dimpled, all teeth. Sophia was furious as she raised her hand to his hair, which was shorn too short for her to weave her fingers through, to pull.

Her breathing faltered as he bent his head, and she felt the warm, wet lick of his tongue along the ridges of her ear. Of their own volition, Sophia arms wove around Klaus's neck, pulling him closer. She felt him smile against her cheek, his nose tickling her. Then he was kissing down her neck as she pressed herself even closer into him. They were both wearing far too much clothes-

It was the way he affectionately nuzzled his nose into the arch of her neck that broke the haze, the desperation in the way he held her.

"Nik, let me go-" He went still, ceasing his actions immediately as she extricated herself from his grasp. "Not like this, not right here, not right now," she said, unable to meet his gaze. Her chest was heaving, her body warm and still excited by his touch. She shook her head, and numbly left the room.

"Elijah, Jackson- Don't!" Hayley's demanding voice helped to center Sophia, who was on her way down the stairs. She had been quietly observing the party from an alcove above as she attempted to calm herself down.

As she slowly stepped down the stairs, she saw that Elijah was ready to snap Oliver's neck and Jackson was ready to drive a steak into Diego, and fought to refrain from rolling her eyes. Yes, every life was worth caring about, but a voice that sounded far too similar to Klaus whispered No great loss either way.

Guilt immediately chased the thought away.

"This ends now, I won't ask again" declared Elijah.

"Oh, we'll end it alright, " Jackson rebutted.

Sophia never quite let herself entertain the thought that her daughter would be able to have a normal childhood. Frankly, with the way the last seven months had gone, it just didn't seem realistic, and normal was relative. Still, her daughter would grow up safe, happy, and not in the middle of a war zone if Sophia had anything to say about it.

The tension in this city was getting ridiculous, and the treaty was one perceived slight away from being useless. The words left her mouth before she had a chance to truly put together her thoughts.

"What's stopping you then? Kill him, " Sophia dared in a ringing voice.

"What's stopping you then? Kill him."

Sophia's dark eyes were blazing as she stood tall and proud above the crowd, her face disdainful. She enthralled Klaus, who longed to touch her, to gratify, to make his.

He hadn't meant to go as far as he did when he had her alone. Loathe as he was to admit it, he lost control. While a momentarily pleasurable mistake, he didn't need his palpably envious, red headed bedfellow catching wind of his favor for Sophia.

It had been the wolf in him surging forward, frenzied over how Jackson's scent was all over her. He rather wished it was Jackson Elijah was prepared to snuff, but as it was, Klaus needed the petulant wolf alive to keep up his pack's morale. Not to mention, Sophia was likely to be displeased if her childhood friend were to die at the hands of another Mikaelson.

"Go ahead, Elijah, do it, " Sophia continued, voice baiting. "I mean, it's not like he doesn't deserve to die."

"Shouldn't you intervene, " the cunning Miss Corea demanded in his ear.

"Why would I?" Klaus briefly turned to meet her gaze. "This party just got interesting."

Sophia commanded the room, surprising the attendees. He knew many thought of her as nothing more than an accessory to him, a beautiful ornament, a means to his malicious ends. Regrettably, the witches knew better (in the case of a certain witch, should know better), but he encouraged the rumors that his affection for Sophia was dependent on her birthing a healthy child. If hearsay of their history made their way to the other factions ears, well…

His and Sophia's romance was too fantastical for the humans to believe, and the wolves and the vampires believed Klaus more monster than man- Too much of a depraved beast to truly continue to hold affection for his once love after all this time had passed.

Sophia would deny it, but at the end of the day, for the sake of their child, she craved survival. The wolf in her sought a pack, whether she noticed it or not, and it had led her making the oddest allies in New Orleans.

An orphaned wolf of royal lineage, a volatile but incredibly powerful teen witch, a weak but loyal baby vampire, the brave bartender, and the alpha of the Crescents himself. She cultivated those relationships because she was in a strange, dangerous new land. They all required no fear or manipulation to be loyal to the old soul, all too genuinely fond of her for that to be necessary, and Sophia returned that affection.

Her voice took him away from his musings.

"I mean, it was Oliver who handed Rebekah over to he witches so they could torture her- but then again, wasn't it Diego who led a werewolf massacre last month? And the witches cursed the wolves while the humans stood back and let it all happen. So when you think about it, everyone here deserves to die."

"Are you approaching a point?" Elijah enquired, in that impatiently inscrutable way of his.

"My point Elijah, is this- If we can't all learn to get along, if our families can't create some sort of community, then what's the point? Kill each other, get it over with."

And with that, the antagonistic tension fell away for the time being.

Lovely Sophia, who Klaus himself had discounted. She hadn't asked to make New Orleans her home, forced away from what was left of her family, her friends, and the only place she had known. It made absolutely no sense why she did so. Aside from Hayley, this city was a stranger to her. But she embraced it for him. For their daughter.

Klaus felt Genevieve's eyes on him, and while he was careful his thoughts didn't rise to the surface, he couldn't help the small grin on his face.

Sophia would be a queen of the benevolent sort. A soft touch, and for those who would wish to take advantage of that, well , that's when he would step in. She experienced as much pain and torment throughout her lives, had suffered reliving it, in the process forsaking her own peace of mind, and the knowledge of all that she had suffered did not give her a taste for blood, it didn't make her want to watch the world burn.

She fought to preserve peace, to live a life of small wonders.

Klaus forced away memories of a dark green meadow in favor of scheming. Calculating. Machinating. Elijah's treaty was doomed to fail, and Klaus had a feeling that Sophia knew as well as he that her words only bought them time.

"To Sophia," cried out Jackson.

"To Sophia!" echoed the Crescents.

Sophia smiled, bashfulness getting the best of her as her gaze skimmed among the wolf pack.

"Am I to assume you have a certain feast day in mind?" asked Elijah.

"The Fete Des Benedictions," Genevieve readily answered. "Feast of the blessings."

Klaus laughed as Genevive described the debutant- esque feast she wanted permission to celebrate in order to raise the morale for her young charges.

Elijah was not impressed, still holding a grudge against the recently deceased witch for what she had done to Klaus and Rebekah. Yet, for all his rebuff, Klaus knew his brother would agree to it with a little encouragement.

"I made amends with your brother," Genevieve said as she threw a glance over her shoulder at Klaus, who smirked. "Why don't you think it over?" And with that, she made her exit.

"Oh, don't be such a stiff Elijah," Klaus remarked as he walked over to his brother. "The tourists love a good festival- Besides, what a better way to cement the solidarity than a show of faith towards a once time enemy?"

"A one time enemy with whom you've grown rather nauseatingly intimate with," retaliated Elijah as he looked over the renovations he was making for the compound.

Well, that wasn't quite true anymore. Klaus knew the witch's suspicions of him were growing after he charmingly evaded her advances into his bed. He hadn't been with her since Sophia learned of their dalliance.

"Well, who said maintaining alliances can't be fun." rebutted Klaus with a smile.

Irritation shown in his brother's eyes. "One would think you'd be a little more interested in attending to the needs of the mother or your child."

Klaus mimicked looking thoughtfully around the compound. "Oh- So she's the reason for this oh so thoughtful renovation. Elijah, the truth is the mother of my child is revered among the wolves- She's far safer in the bayou with her pack then she would ever be here with us." Elijah eyed him with descent. "Don't worry," assured Klaus as he walked away, "I'll bring her home before the birth. No child of mine will be born in a swamp."

"What is with all these people- We don't have enough space for them, not to mention they're being really weird and lurky." Sophia self-consciously eyed the growing crowd of people overfilling the bayou.

"They've come from all over- All the packs," shared Eve.

"To a baby who hasn't even been born yet," questioned Sophia.

"Forget the baby," Oliver said as he stepped out of the cabin behind her, "These freaks- They came here to see you. Y'know, given that you're the ancient, reborn sister-wolf of the North East Atlantic pack- Some of the legends say its you and not your daughter who's going to be the next werewolf messiah or somethin'."

Sophia shook her head at him. "Great- No pressure or anything."

"Your people are uniquely poised to set an example for the rest of the french quarter- Which is why it's important for the wolves to attend." Elijah's words were even and thoughtful.

Hayley was frowning at him, her arms crossed. Oliver and Jackson remained quiet. Sophia's head was tilted as she regarded Elijah thoughtfully. She opened her mouth, planning to play the diplomat and tell him that they would think about it, when Hayley spoke up. "Thanks, but no thanks," she intoned sarcastically.

"Hayley-" Sophia began to calm fully disagree, when she found support from an unlikely source.

"Hayley, Let's hear the man out," Oliver said kindly. Sophia resisted looking incredulously at him.

She crossed her own arms instead, immediately suspicious as to why Jackson's typically antagonistic right hand wanted to help support the witches. Frowning, she looked towards Oliver. "The witches are the ones who cursed your pack- And they've treated me like shit ever since I got to town." Sophia wanted the treaty to work as much as the next person, but facts were facts. She could count on one hand how many witches she trusted.

Sophia had wanted to consider Elijah's query out of respect for him, but she hadn't been prepared to outright agree to his invitation.

Hayley nodded, and even as she was looking defensively at Elijah, her lips twitched."To add insult to injury, it doesn't help that a particular red is sleeping with-"

"It's a new day in the quarter," broke in Jackson, "And I agree with Oliver. If we're going to co-exist, we're going to have to play ball." Sophia and Hayley exchanged glances as Jackson promised Elijah the wolves would send a representative with a gift to the festivities.

Sophia began to walk away, and Hayley fell into step beside her. As they neared the water, Elijah was in front of them. He bid them a warning before he left.

"That was too easy- Don't trust him. Don't trust any of them."

Jackson and Oliver quieted as Sophia exited the cabin.

She raised her eyebrows. "What is this, highschool?"

"Why don't you take a hint and mind your own business." Oliver paused to scoff, and he laughed under his breath. "You're not even a Crescent. Don't you think you've overstayed your-"

Suddenly, Oliver was pinned against the cabin piller, his arm dangerously pulled far behind him. "I am a Crescent, and me and Sophia are a pack. That makes this her business and mine." Hayley's eyes were glowing as she held the weaker wolf in place.

Jackson looked towards Sophia, seemingly expecting her to call Hayley off. Sophia shrugged in return, an amicable smile on her face. "What aren't you telling us?" she asked.

"Hayley, lay off," Jackson began.

Oliver managed to turn his head to glare at Sophia. "You two can go to hell-"

"Knock it," interrupted Jackson. "There's no reason for us to keep it from them."

"I can think of a reason," gritted Oliver. "Tall and immortal and wears a pocket scarf-" he moaned in pain as Hayley twisted his arm further.

"Hayley and Sophia are with us- They deserve to know," Jackosn said calmly, not disturbed by Hayley's violence. "Come on," he said as he nodded at the hybrid to let go. Rolling her eyes, Hayley shoved the lesser wolf away from her.

Jackson continued on as Sophia and Hayley turned to face him. "We made an alliance that's going to change everything for the wolves."

"An alliance with who?" asked Hayley.

Jackson locked eyes with Sophia. "Klaus."

Sophia froze, while Hayley glanced briefly, bewildered, at Oliver. Okay, so this wasn't a joke.

"Tell me everything."

"I will not be manipulated," Klaus breathed above Geneveve's lips, his hand on her neck, pinning her down. According to her, the means to undo the hex on father Keiren may be in his mother's grimoire. The witch didn't dare threaten Sophia, but she was more than willing to take out her petty jealousies on Cami.

Then, he was thrown off of her. The veins in Klaus's head felt primed to burst, and it was all he could do to keep from collapsing entirely. He gasped as the pain lapsed, and held onto the table as he recovered his strength.

"And I won't be threatened," Geneveive said proudly. "So, between the two of us, we each know where we stand. As long as we can maintain that mutual respect, I don't see a need for any further demonstrations of power- Don't call me again."

Klaus sighed, irritated, as she left the room. Well, it wasn't as if he foresaw their dalliance ending pleasantly. He wouldn't admit it to Elijah, but taking on Genevieve as a bedfellow may not have been one of his more brilliant ideas. He was sure the manipulative witch had designs on his mother's grimoire, and that she wouldn't be of any use in curing Cami's uncle.

Sophia accompanied Hayley to the after party after the parade the witches put on for the humans, tourists not invited. Hayley was acting as the official representative of the Crescents. It was one of the more tamer New Orleans parties she has been to. Sophia was careful to maintain distance from Genevieve, and she couldn't begin to guess where Klaus was.

There he is, she thought dryly as he dragged Josh by the neck.

She was over his and Geneveve's… extracurricular activities. Mostly. Whatever.

Not as light on her feet as she used to be, Sophia walked over to the front of the crowd to catch up to Klaus, when she noticed Davina at his heels.

"Niklaus," Sophia snapped when she was at the young witch's side. The hybrid's eyes brightened when they landed on her, and he held out his hand for her to take. Her eyes flickered over to a terrified Josh, and she reluctantly took hold of Klaus's hand and allowed him to guide her up the steps of the velvet carpeted staircase where he stood. Once she was at his side, he wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Klaus announced, "We are gathered here today to pay homage to our beloved witches. But one very special witch has been utterly ignored- That seemed a little unfair to both me and Sophia." Sophia looked over to Davina, whose gaze softened somewhat when it left Klaus on onto the pregnant wolf. Klaus pulled a small, carefully ribbon- wrapped box and passed it to Sophia. She took it warily, and he pointed with his eyes over to Davina. Refraining from frowning, Sophia stepped out of Klaus arms and down the steps to hand the box over to Davina, smiling kindly and pleading with her eyes for the young witch to accept the gift.

Sophia could see a no was on the tip of the witch's tongue, but she bit it as she reluctantly accepted the gift. As soon as she did, Sophia felt Klaus's arm around her once again.

"It would have been more than fair for Davina to reject me , given our past," the hybrid went on, "In truth, many of us here today have been wronged in the conflict which my brother's treaty has ended. Your friend Josh was involved in a plot to kill me- It would be well within my right to execute him here and now." Sophia stiffened, and Josh and Davina exchanged worried glances. Klaus's arm slid off Sophia's waist in favor of holding her hand. He briefly raised their adjoined palms. "In the spirit of solidarity, and for your favor Davina, I and Sophia Mikaelson herby pardon him- Josh, from this day forward, you have nothing to fear from me."

Sophia's gaze snapped to Klaus's face, wondering what he was playing at. Sophia Mikealson. She was displeased to see his smug gaze fall to the right of the room where Genevieve stood. The witch seemed to barely restrain her lips from curling in disgust as she met Klaus's eyes.

Sophia partially flung Klaus's hand away from her as she stepped from him to hug and congratulate Josh.

"So- Are you going to open it," encouraged Josh softly.

Davina's anxious gaze fell onto Sophia. "I thought you and Klaus weren't speaking."

"We're not- I swear. I don't know what the hell he was trying to pull."

Davina nodded, and she looked back down her gift, and opened it.

Inside of it, a gaudy ring and a folded, wrinkled paper.

"What is it?" asked Josh.

"Is that…" Sophia trailed off, waiting for the witch to confirm her suspicions.

"It's the spell that makes daylight rings," beamed Davina.

Sophia held her hands together as she walked softly around the room, trying not to be too obvious as she searched for Hayley. Then Klaus was at her side, falling into step with her, his hand resting on the small of her back. His unexpected touch jolted her in a way she hadn't let it when he was making a spectacle of himself earlier.

"I heard you made quite an impression with the wolves- An arrangement that was supposed to be a secret and yet you forced it out of them." Sophia had yet to meet his eyes, but his words had her pausing her stride as she turned to face him.

"It wasn't me, it was-"

"Yes, Hayley, I know. I've also been informed it was you who convinced her and her pack to allow her to represent them. Brilliant maneuver, that. Encouraging your dear friend, who we both know would kill for you, to rival the alpha's power among her pack. I trust she'll do nothing to harm our cause." Klaus spoke in low, dulcet tones, his eyes enamored as he stared at her.

Sophia swallowed, and she felt her face warm under his attention. "It wasn't - I'm not as calculated as you're making me out to be, Nik. Hayley is my friend, and I want her and the Crescents to be safe… Are you really plotting this behind Elijah's back?"

Klaus's lips twitched. "Come on- What difference does it make to you as long as your friend and her people benefit?"

Sophia hardened her gaze. "If I find out you're playing some game, trying to manipulate them for one of your schemes-"

He stepped even closer to her. "You know, you've come a long way from the confused, untoward girl you were in Mystic Falls, little love." Klaus's expression was unexpectedly significant. "I knew you were clever, I knew you were tough- But I never knew you were a queen."

A scoffing laugh escaped Sophia.

Klaus's lips curved, and his smile struck her as melancholic. "Always my queen, of course- But I regret to admit I didn't realize you were one in your own right."

She raised her chin to him, and he dimpled as he gently raised her hand to place a kiss on the back of her palm. Then he walked away.

Suddenly, all eyes in the room were drawn to a group of drumming, sharp suited men who made their way to the center of the crowd. A gift from Marcel to the vampires. Sabotage. Sophia looked on with horror as the men swiftly pulled daggers from their pockets and sliced at their wrist, deep red blood spilling.

Elijah made his way to stand before the men. "Control yourselves," he ordered. "This is a vulgar trick- We do not violate our agreement."

Sophia noticed as the vampires shed their more palatable veneer as their hidden nature made itself known. Then the lights were shut off, and all around her- shrieks. Screams. Pain.

She was roughly pushed aside, and crashed onto the floor.

"Sophia," she heard a worried voice bark.

When the lights were turned back on, she was surrounded by dead, drained bodies. She touched her hand to her forehead and was surprised to find wet blood. She vaguely noticed Elijah and Hayley making their way to her, but her eyes were drawn up to Klaus, who was already at her side, his eyes displeased.

"Nik," she said, distressed.

He crouched beside her and helped her to stand up. "You're alright, love. You're safe." As he moved to step away, she kept her hold on him.

Written in blood on the wall before them, There will be no peace.

Sophia leaned against Klaus. He was practically shouldering all her weight, but he could take it. She let his familiar scent and hard kicks in her stomach comfort her.

"I'm-"

"You're returning to the bayou." Klaus nodded in agreement. "It's for the best, and I trust Hayley to protect you." Sophia eyed him anxiously, and absentmindedly grasped Klaus's hand to place it to the right of abdomen. "Both of you."

"I've learned my lesson Sophia. I know I was against the plan too-"

"Living with Elijah's treaty won't be good enough." Sophia agreed with Hayley. "But after the party, all those innocent people…"

Beside them was a quietly furious Jackson, who was informed of the bloodshed that took place in the city.

"There will never be a peace," Hayley finished for her. "The weak will always be at mercy of whoever is calling the shots."

Jackson spoke up. "It's survival of the fittest- We need to protect ourselves, and we need to protect each other."

Hayley turned her eyes to Sophia. "We need to use Klaus's help while he's still willing to give it."

Klaus made his apologies to Camille as he let a filmy layer of alcohol soothe his mind, for his part in upsetting Genevieve- Causing the witch to leave the hex on Kieran.

"Kieran will die because of me, and it will be a horrible death."

"Why are you telling me this," she asked in a fragile voice.

"Because I believe secrets are a poison," he rasped. "They need to be spat out, like your secret."

Camille and Marcel. Disgust and jealousy overfilled him. Klaus broke the glass in his hand, then he was standing before Camille, grasping her shoulders.

"You tell Marcel, if I see him, I kill him," Klaus said. Then he turned and walked away from Camille and tears yet to spill.

"Even after a thousand years spent terrifying this planet, and you're still vulnerable to transference." Her voice was matter of fact. "You're not just slighted by me choosing to be with Marcel, you're betrayed. Enraged. These- these feelings aren't about me."

He kept his back to her. "You don't know what-"

"They're about Sophia. You're hurt that she hasn't fully accepted you, and you've placed what you've felt about her onto me-"

"Yes, I'm familiar with the concept of transference, sweetheart," Klaus said derisively as he turned back towards the bartender. Even as he was prepared to verbally discount what she was telling him, he thought back to their "sessions".

The look in Cami's eyes had not been unlike Sophia's as he recounted some of the so-called atrocities he had committed. How even Cami didn't let him forget and forgive what a regretful act it had been to kill Jenna Sommers. And how he cared for the blonde's survival and her opinion of him despite the pest she acted as at times.

Being the sore winner that she was, Cami smiled bitingly as she saw the realization light his eyes.

"I don't belong to you, and neither does Sophia."

Sophia let Eve guide her breaths. She layed on the floor, propped by an array of pillows, a relieving breeze blowing through the open door behind her.

"Inhale and release," Eve said.

"I guess this means no epidural, huh," Sophia said as she exhaled. "You sure I can't do this thing in, say, a hospital? You know, the place with the doctors and the drugs?"

Eve smiled. "Honey, the wolves have been having babies out here since before you were born- Stop worrying."

Sophia stayed silent about her worries of what happened after she gave birth. Not quite worried about being alone, no, but if Klaus would be a steady, consistent presence in their daughter's life. She thought back to how he dotted on Rebekah and Kol when they were children, tasked as the older sibling to watch over them.

She was startled from her thoughts by a knock at the door. It was Hayley and a genial Elijah.

"Pardon the interruption, I wonder if I might have a quick word with the conspirators of a supposed uprising"

A bombing in the bayou, a mortal with a debt to settle… Had he been compelled? Or had the assurance that his family would be taken of in the wake of his death been enough?

Hayley had saved Sophia from the worst of it, had rushed her to safety. The same couldn't be said of the entire pack. Children, men, women. Eve.

While Hayley insisted on going out alone to get to the root of the attack, and Elijah searched about the bayou to find survivors, Sophia tended to the wounded utilizing the skills her father had taught her and Elena.

Eve was found far too late, already succumbing to the worst of her injuries.

She had never turned, she hadn't had the luxury that was supernatural healing.

Sophia was at Jackson's side, holding his hand while they looked upon Eve, when Hayley returned home.

Hayley shared with Sophia in hushed tones what she learned from her confrontation with Marcel. How the banished vampire had been the one to rescue the sole survivor of the Lebonair clan and help her find safety away from those who would rather she be dead. The infighting between the wolves had been an ugly, merciless time for all.

Outside, a righteous Oliver ignited fury among the wolves, with Eve's passing being the match stick that ignited the flames.

Sleep that night had been an elusive, evasive thing. As she twisted restlessly in her cot yet again, she felt her mattress beside her wilt.

Her eyes blinked open and a small, relieved smile was on her face as she rolled over to face her intruder.

"Nik," she breathed as she nestled into him and his arms wrapped around her.

"Hayley and Elijah assured me of your safety, or I would have been here sooner."

He had been helping Camille with her uncle when Sophia had called him earlier, had vowed to be at her side as soon as she informed him of the attack, but Sophia insisted he stay where he was. Poor Camille.

Did it chafe a bit, the lengths Klaus was going to help save the uncle of the women Sophia now considered a friend? A tad. But smitteness aside, Sophia could see that Klaus considered the blonde a friend as well, and how could she not encourage his compassion, his willingness to think of someone other than himself?

And so, she listened patiently as he shared his day with her. How he helped Camille in her endeavor to save Kieren from the witch's hex, and then to say goodbye.

"Camille I… I'm so sorry for your loss."

The blonde's smile was melancholic as she hugged Sophia.

Rousseau's was packed to the brim. Father' Kieran's irish wake was loud, it's visitors drunk, as everyone paid respects to the priest's passing.

When Camille pulled away, she pointed with her eyes to a table over in the corner. "You might want to go check on your baby daddy- You might be the only one able to stop him from drinking all and any scotch we have."

Her eyebrows furrowed, Sophia sat in the chair beside Elijah and across from Klaus.

"Seems rather uncivilized- To laugh and dance around the body of a loved one," she had overheard Klaus mutter to his brother.

"Yes," began Elijah as he topped off his and Klaus's glasses, "Far better to practice your process of grief, isn't Klaus? Denial, rage, and hoarding coffins in basements."

Sophia offered her two cents. "Honestly, I like how… Lively this wake is. With how often we had to bury the dead in Mystic Falls, turning their losses into a celebration of life might've made it all a little more bearable."

Elijah smiled in greeting at her. Klaus, whose head was bowed, raised dark eyes to her.

"I will warn you, Sophia, Klaus is in a spectacularly foul mood today," Elijah said.

Klaus pointedly looked away from the pair of them."Sod off."

Just then, Hayley took a seat, and their table was officially filled. "What's the deal with these moonlight rings? Oliver's trying to start a revolution every five seconds. People are scared, angry, and frankly, I'm tired of stalling."

"It's a day of peace, Hayley," Klaus said impatiently. "Try and enjoy it. In the meantime, with the manner of all unknown enemies conspiring against my family, Sophia will move back into the compound."

Klaus didn't bother to look at Sophia as he relayed his plans to Hayley.

"Awesome," Hayley said sarcastically, eyes flashing in irritation. Sophia didn't begrudge her for it, feeling very much the same. "Then you can do that thing where you lock her in a tower, she escapes, you strangle me over her whereabouts, and there's drama- And then you two both realize that she's very capable of looking after herself."

"Nik," Sophia began,but he spoke over her as he responded to Hayley.

"The rings are in progres, I will live up to my word. We will find and punish whoever launched the attack on the bayou, and Sophia will return to the compound, with or without you at her side, for her own safety-"

"Hey-" intervened Sophia, only to continue on being ignored.

"In the meantime," Klaus went on, "I'm gonna finish this bottle, and the next in the hopes of drowning the demon that had chosen to haunt me today." Sophia's cheeks were flushed, and she felt as if she were cackling with anger. Klaus's next words gave her pause.

"Cheers, Mikael. Impeccable Fruedian timing."

Elijah's face took on a disquieted, curious quality. "Elaborate," he demanded.

Shared dreams of Mikael. That could mean nothing good. Sophia made a call to Bonnie.

"Oh- Is that all?" Sophia asked rhetorically as her friend updated her on how the purgatory of sorts for supernatural souls was being undone. The dead disappearing into nothingness. "There's more you're not telling me, Bonnie."

"Sophie, you're ready to pop. Don't worry about us, we'll figure it out. I'm just sorry that this whole mess is affecting you over there."

Sophia updated Klaus from Francesca Correas front porch. Thanks to a tip from Marcel, the newfound leader of the human faction was Hayley's most promising lead on the bombing attack in the bayou. Klaus had kept dodging her attempts to discuss Mikael, and knowing he wouldn't share until he was ready, Sophia opted to tag along with Hayley to ensure the incensed hybrid didn't do something she couldn't take back.

Francesca was politician through and through, and Sophia was reminded of the insulting, polite charm the founding families typically loved to snub each other with in Mystic Falls as Hayley accused her of terrorism.

"A human pulled up to our home in the bayou on a motorcycle and blew himself up, " Hayley said tacitly, her arms crossed.

Correa's eyes lingered on Sophia as she stepped past them to unlock her front door.

Sophia was startled to feel hands encase her forearms, but before she could react, Hayley was subduing the guard that had escorted Correa home, knocking him out cold.

Correa was not pleased, but recovered her pageant smile quickly as Hayley walked up the porch to face her, acting as a shield for Sophia.

"Word on the street is, " Hayley continued, "He owed 100 grand to the palace royal casino, and then after he died, the debt was erased- Just like magic."

Correa claimed she absolved Jeff's debt as a gesture of goodwill to his family after his death.

"Feel free to sniff around, my hands are clean, " Correa dared, then arched an eyebrow as she looked over Hayley's shoulder to meet Sophia's eyes again. "You should be more like your friend here, and mind your manners. She doesn't have your… Abilities. It's lucky she's still alive, " Correa said as she met Hayleys eyes again. "She's the one all the wolves whisper about. She's expecting, soft, mortal. If I was interested in hurting the wolves, she'd be my target. And when I get after someone, I don't miss."

Sophia hated Correa's smug face almost as much as Hayley did.

"Let's get out of here," Hayley bit out as she nodded for Sophia to lead the way.

Sophia waited on the sidewalk as Hayley closed the gate behind them, when she suddenly felt lightheaded, and briefly experienced an unexplainable, deep bone chill.

Unnerved, she tugged her coat tighter around her.

The next day, Sophia and Hayley were flanked by Klaus and Elijah during Kierens celebratory wake through the French quarter.

Sophia's throat burned as she coughed yet again, and angled her head away from Hayleys frown of concern. As she did, her eyes focused on Correa, whose eyes had yet to shed a tear as she dabbed her face with a handkerchief.

Sophia looked to Klaus. "Do you think I was the target of those bombings."

His eyes briefly met hers and then he turned to look ahead as he answered. "Of course you were the target- Were I to wage a war on the wolves, you'd be my first kill. I would string you up for all your worshippers to see."

Sophia bit back a smile as she moved in closer to Klaus so the hands brushed. She was starting to find that she was fond of his macabre wit, although one had to be when in the company of a Mikaelson. Meanwhile, Hayley shot the pair of them a startled look.

"Not to worry," said Elijah, who turned fond eyes onto Hayley, " That was my brother's way of telling Sophia she should return home with us."

Ah, yes. The compound debacle. Sophia's resistance was fading away, not that she had much to start with. She was perfectly willing to move back, she just wished it was asked of her, rather than demanded.

Elijah and Hayley had already helped pack Sophia's belongings, and they were stowed away in her former bedroom. Klaus didn't need to know of this yet, as far as Sophia was concerned.

"Perhaps," said Elijah wryly, "try a different approach Niklaus, with fewer references to murder."

Klaus turned possessive eyes on her. "As much as I would hate to throw you over my shoulder and drag you kicking and screaming into the compound, we both know I will. For your sake, and our child's."

Sophia merely blinked at him, a light smile on her lips as she gave Klaus a noncommittal shrug. Klaus shook his head, then wrapped an arm around her shoulder, his breath warm against her ear.

"I know you remember Mikael- how my father lived to torment me. It is not my intention to become him. This cycle of misery ends with our child."

Sophia briefly softened against Klaus, when she caught sight of Camille up ahead. "Riddle yourself this Nik," Sophia murmured, " Have you once asked me if I would move into the compound? Y'know, as opposed to commanding it." And with that Sophia made her way to the bartender.

Cami coughed a laugh at the sight of Sophia's sorry smile.

"You want something, don't you?"

Sophia wondered if the bartender was just that good, or if her face was simply that easy to read. She resisted looking over her shoulder at Hayley.

"I'm so sorry to have to ask you this today- "

Cami shook her head with a patient, if tired, smile. "Ask away."

"I think Francesca Correa might've been involved in the bombing against the bayou- If you hear anything-"

"Look Sophie, I'm trying- mostly failing- to stay out of this stuff, but you're my friend and she's a real bitch, so yeah, if I hear anything I'll let you know."

"Thank you Cami, and again, I'm sorry for your-"

Cami reached out to grasp her hand. "I know."

Sophia drifted away from the crowd as her body was wracked by a spasm of coughs. She grasped a nearby pole to steady herself, and stared down in shock as she coughed dark blood into her hand. She looked up to meet Hayley's eyes as she started gasping and heaving, terrified about what this meant for her daughter.

Gray spots clouded her vision, and her legs gave out under her.

"Klaus," Hayley shouted, tangentially surprised to hear another calling out the hybrid's name along with her. After she caught Sophia before the pregnant wolf could collide with the floor, Hayley looked up to see Genevieve making her way to them, Klaus and Elijah at her heels.

Elijah unceremoniously shoved everything that had been on the dark oak table in the compound, clearing the space for Klaus to gently lay Sophia down.

"I can help, " Genevieve offered urgently.

"Like hell-" snarled Hayley.

"Don't you dare-" began Elijah.

"You two, " barked Klaus, "Let her be. She was a nurse."

Like a hundred years ago, Hayley thought ungraciously. Still. Sophia didn't have too many options.

"There's a spell I can do, " explained Genevieve. Then she bid the brothers to help gather necessary ingredients and to help cover Sophia.

Hayley shook her head as she stared down at her friend. "She's not breathing, " Hayley said direly. "I can hear the baby's heartbeat, but not hers."

Genevieve chanted as Klaus bit his wrist and dropped the blood that spilled from it onto Sophia's lips.

"It's not working, " he growled as he turned around to throw a nearby chair to the stone wall.

"Im taking her to a real doctor, " Elijah finally said as he surged forward to cradle Sophia.

"Don't touch her, " ordered Genevieve. "If you move her my spell will break- There won't be enough time to get her to a hospital."

Hayley thought of how hopefully anxious Sophia was as she neared her due date.

Promise me, if it's me or the baby, save the baby, Sophia had pleaded to her in the bayou one night, her hand pressed to where her baby was kicking. I'll be reborn, eventually. I've had so many lives, but she's brand new-

"Will the baby survive if delivered now-" Hayley began with false airs of calmness.

Genevive shook her head as she met Hayley's eyes. "Sophia will bleed out if-"

"No, " Klaus snarled, his body tightly coiled, and eyes flashing yellow. "Save them both! I won't lose Sophia."

"You won't lose either of them, " Elijah vowed solemnly as he clasped his hand onto Klaus's shoulder while Genevieve resumed her spellwork.

Her closed eyes flashed open as she declared she knew what was wrong with Sophia and how to heal her.

Sophia gasped as she woke up in the compound. The muggy air seemed to smother her as she sat up, her hands wrapped protectively around her stomach. The world was shadowed in shades of gray, lackluster and morbid.

She scrambled to the edge of the table she been laying on as Mikael lazily strolled into the compound, eyes on her.

"Is that anyway to greet family, Sophia?"

Sophia rapidly shook her head as she stepped off the table. "No- no! You're not- you're not really here right now. This isn't real."

"On the contrary, this is very real. Welcome to my hell." Then he was behind her, and arm wrapped around her neck, suffocating her. "Stuck in an eternity of watching one that hideous creature my children call brother."

Game recognizes game Mikael, Sophia couldn't help but think frantically as she struggled against him. "How can I be here, " Sophia muttered. "Oh my God. No!" she shouted. "The baby!"

"The baby, " Mikael retorted snidely. "Your wretched child never had a chance. As if you weren't an abomination enough, you ruined yourself further by melding your bloodline with Niklaus." His chuckled grated against her ears. "The deathless vermin fancying himself a daddy-"

A loud cry burst out of Sophia as she managed to shove herself away from him. She felt the wolf rise from the surface as she yanked a metallic pole from the compound's foundation and used it to beat down Mikael. "She's not dead. I'm not dead. If I was dead you wouldn't be trying to kill me. You're dead Mikael, Nik already beat you-"

"Don't speak to me as if we are equals, " he snarled. "I remember how you pined for him as a girl, and even now that he's a scourge. A walking symbol of weakness. That's an atrocity festering in your womb. You know as well as I that Klaus will destroy it one way or another. Better he dies now and you along with it."

Sophia has been backing up the stairs throughout his diatribe, and rapidly spun around as he moved up to the second story. As he stepped up to her, she leaped back down to the stone floor, breaking away a wooden railing from the staircase. Mikael leaped down in front of her, and as soon as he landed, she plunged it into his back.

"My daughter has an advantage Nik never had," she hissed against his ear, "She will never ever know you."

Before her eyes, the gray washed away, and her senses were assaulted by vibrancy, the land around her tinged gold.

"Sophia, " she heard Niklaus plead. And then he was bent over her, one hand cradling her head and the other wrapped around her shoulders as he helped her up. "You're okay, you're alright, love." He seemed to be reassuring himself more so than her.

"I saw him, " Sophia stuttered out as her eyes drifted over Hayley, Elijah, and Genevieve. "I saw him and he tried to kill me." She looked back to Klaus. "I saw Mikael."

Freshly scrubbed and hair washed, Sophia sat on the bed in her former bedroom. Exhausted and eyelids heavy, she was terrified of going to sleep. At the sound of knock against her open door, her head looked in the direction of her intruder.

"Nik, " she greeted softly.

"Once again, you've had to prove your resiliency, little love. Fighters. Both of you."

Klaus's tone was overly kind, careful. For him, anyway. Sophia smiled wanly. "I guess we've had to be, especially lately."

A surprised giggle escaped her as Klaus looked briefly stunned at the pile of bags in the corner of her room, and then appraisingly back over at her.

"I've already moved back in, Nik. All you had to do was ask." Her heart raced as he dimpled at her, looking deceptively boyish. Sophia cleared her throat.

He stretched a hand to her, and Sophia grasped it, allowing him to pull her up so that she was standing. "All I want is for you and our child to kept safe." Sophia nodded in agreement as she followed him into a small bedroom adjoined to hers. In the corner, a tasteful crib adorned with a beautiful crystal mobile.

"I would like our daughter to be raised by her parents in her family home."

Sophia blinked away the tears gathering in her eyes as she turned back and stared at him. "That's what I want to."

His bright eyes dulled slightly. "You said you saw my father?"

Sophia pulled her eyebrows together. "Why do you call Mikael that?"

A storm flitted through Klaus's features. "He's done damage only a father could do… What did he say to you?"

"Nothing true," she said with a slight smile as she walked over to him, reaching out for his hand as she walked past him and led him back to her bed. Blue, vulnerable eyes were focused on her.

"Stay with me, " she stated softly, not wanting to admit she was afraid.

His hands reached up to tuck her hair behind her ears, and warm hands cupped her face.

"Of course," he rasped as she shyly touched her lips to his.

Sophia and Klaus laid in her bed, tucked under its covers, comfortably quiet as blaring music from outside made its way into the room. Sophia was curled in the fetal positions, with Klaus wrapped around her.

"If I died and someone threw a party, I don't think I would mind."

Klaus' arms tightened. "You almost did, " he murmured. "I haven't been that terrified in over a thousand years. I- I need you to live Sophia. Our daughter needs you to live."

Sophia yawned as she turned on her side to face him, and touched her nose to his as she closed her eyes. "She's going to need both of us."

"A ring to give us speed, strength, and a lethal bite to vampires- Is that even possible? Is she even capable-" Sophia cut herself off in favor of looking over the spells Klaus was planning to give to Genevive.

She felt overly flushed, her face warm, at the thought of Klaus bartering with that woman so she could make him these rings.

"I'm confident enough in Genevieve's abilities to make these rings- Unless, you would prefer to make a call to a certain Bennett witch-"

Sophia looked up at Klaus with stern eyes. "Bonnie's got enough on her plate-"

"What good is it for you to keep up with that uncopentent lot if you can't call on them or a favor every once and awhile?"

Sophia's eyes flashed. "Nik-" Her sharp retort was cut short at the sight of Klaus's laughing eyes, how he was suppressing a smile.

She rolled her eyes dismissively. "Nevermind. Call up your fuck buddy, ask her to make these rings, let's see what come of it." He had already sent out Jackson and Oliver to collect the alconite stones.

Sophia pushed the papers perhaps a tad too aggressively back over to Klaus as she stood up.

"Love, are you okay-"

"No I'm not okay, " Sophia said sharply. "I'm a hundred months pregnant, the witches have been hexing me left and right and you want to cozy up to your favorite redhead! It's bad enough my daughter has to be born in the middle of all this, but I can't even invite my family over for her birth because that is extra stress I just really don't need right now!"

There was also the small detail of how team Mystic Falls was dealing with Traveler drama and the other side imploding. Sophia was not exactly unknown to the Travelers, and Elena and her friends agreed the farther Sophia was from them and some dude named Markos, the better.

She wasn't all that startled when at the end of her tantrum to find Klaus standing right before her, gently taking her hands in his. "My dalliance's with Genevive we're merely a distraction-" He dimpled as her eyes darkened. "Unfortunately, we need her to ensure your protection, and our child's. She is nothing more than a means to an end."

Sophia avoided his eyes, not particularly proud of how she was sulking before him. Her back hurt, and with how much she had had to wake up the previous night to pee, she might as well sleep in the bathroom.

She was pulled from her thoughts as Klaus let go of one of her hands in favor of massaging her lower back. She closed her eyes in contentment. When he wasn't teasing her, he was actually a relief to have around.

"You shouldn't be on your feet, sweetheart. I know you don't like being confined to your bed, so where would you prefer to lounge?"

Klaus had an early start the next day, as Jackson and Oliver and not updated him on their progress. Hayley and Elijah kept the compound bound Sophia company as she rested in one the many reading rooms.

Elijah called Klaus as Hayley nervously watched on. They found out it was that Klaus had deduced that Marcel intercepted Jackson and Oliver. Marcel was currently difficult to locate thanks to a cloaking spell, and Davina was the only witch in the quarter who would lend aid to Marcel.

Sophia struggled to keep her breathing even as she learned that Klaus was now trying to find a way to get Davina to see things his way.

"He bit Josh!" she exclaimed. "He- he should've let me talk to her first! I might've been able to get her to undo the cloaking spell, I could've-"

"I know Sophie, your baby daddy's a dolt," Hayley soothed as she shot a frustrated look over at Elijah. He merely shook his head.

Now it was Sophia's turn to nervously pace and forth as she waited on a call from the Mikaelson brothers, and Hayley herself was too anxious to tell Sophia to sit down. The hybrid had wanted to accompany Elijah, but he had insisted she stay to help watch over Sophia.

Hayley abruptly stood up. "Maybe I should-"

Sophia shook her head. "Don't you dare leave me alone with-"

"Worrying isn't going to help." Speak of the devil. Genevieve shot Hayley a mild reproachful look as she entered the room.

"Genevieve," Hayley greeted with false cheer as she threw herself into an armchair.

Sophia nodded in acknowledgment of the witch.

"You should sit, try to keep calm," Genevieve offered pleasantly.

Sophia frowned as she took a seat on the couch.

Hayley scoffed. "What are you? Some magician slash zen life coach?"

Genverieves face briefly soured, but she recovered quickly as she addressed Sophia. "The treatment of pregnant women has advanced remarkably since I was a nurse, but even I know high blood pressure is bad for you and your baby- Especially since you're so close to term."

"I hate this." Sophia barely even realized she was speaking out loud. "I feel completely useless."

"Don't you get it?" Genevive asked patiently. "You're the point of all this- Klaus and Elijah running all over town, it's all for you. I'm a bit envious."

Sophia mustered up something resembling a smile. "Lucky me, " she said dully.

Jackson locked in a room full of dynamite, Oliver and the stones nowhere to be found. Hayley and Sophia had heard over a phone call to Elijah as Klaus accidentally set them off.

"Jai, " Sophia exclaimed when all three returned to the compound, rushing over to hug a bloodied and beaten Jackson. She tried to keep herself from stiffening as he held her for a beat too long. She pulled away, a reassuring smile on her face, and thankful glance to Hayley, who stepped in to help guide Jackson over to the couch.

"I'm fine, too, thanks for asking."

Sophia's lips twitched as she turned around to meet Klaus's eyes. His eyes were mirthful as he offered her an arm and led her over to an armchair.

"What about the stones?" inquired Hayley.

"Scattered across the bed of the Mississippi, I'd imagine, " said Eijah.

Klaus sat on the arm of the chair Sophia was resting on, absentmindedly tugging at her loose curls. "Marcel is no fool, he knows an empowered werewolf army would mean the end of vampires in New Orleans- The explosions his way of saying he means to prevent that, for all the good it will do him."

"Well it did him pretty damn well, didn't it, " Hayley hedged bitterly.

"This is my fault, " Jackson insisted. "So I will try to find a way to fix it."

Sophia was quick to assure him it wasn't his fault, and Hayley added that no one blamed him.

"I blame him, " Klaus added soon after. "Those stones will be hard to replace. Fortunately, I always have a backup plan."

"He can't seriously mean her, she's a gangster, " Hayley muttered to Sophia, who nodded in agreement.

"I really, really don't think we should get involved with her Nik, " Sophia said softly as Correa sauntered into the compound, as usual, flanked with body guards.

"She is a means to procuring rare items at short notice, " Klaus said in a low voice to Sophia. He increased his volume as he walked down the stairs to meet Correa. "Greetings Ms. Correa, I've seen you've brought company."

Sophia, Hayley, and Elijah joined him soon after.

"These are my brothers, I always include them in delicate business matters, " Correa said as she made introductions. As such short notice, she didn't have enough stones for the army Klaus wanted, but enough to give them an edge. Sophia struggled to keep her expression implacable. Elijah was, in Sophia's opinion, rightfully suspicious of Correas intentions. She was claiming she merely wanted to be on the winning side, Klaus's side.

Sophia struggled to keep her expression from falling as Correa practically invited herself and her family to hunker down at the compound, fearing retaliation from Marcel.

While everyone else was out, helping to make sure the compound was secure, Sophia was helping to bandage up Jackson.

"Don't thank me, it was Elijah who vamped your ass to safety, " she smiled.

"Yeah, well, he seems to really care about Hayley, " Jackson muttered to himself as he looked out onto the balcony. He smiled grimly as he turned his eyes back onto Sophia.

She twisted the ring on her right hand. "It's… Complicated."

"More or less complicated than you and Klaus?" It was Sophia's turn to avert her eyes to the balcony as Jackson continued on. "Look, I got to go to the bayou before the moon rises, so…" He looked to the floor as he began to make his exit.

"Jai- Jackson- This will be the last time. After tonight, you'll never have to turn again, no more pain, no more hiding in the bayou. I promise, " Sophia vowed earnestly as he turned around to meet her gaze.

Jackson's face seemed… Frustrated. It softened as he spoke his next words. "You and I know Klaus isn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart. He's doing it for you, Sophia. You're the one who's going to change everything for us."

They were all watching on as Genevive began casting her magic onto the stones when Correa stormed into the room. She had received word that Marcel was on the move and on the way.

Klaus turned severe eyes onto Elijah and Hayley. "Get Sophia to safety."

"Come with us," began Elijah as Hayley nodded for Sophia to leave with them.

Sophia shook her head. With Klaus leaving to intercept Marcel, and Elijah and Hayley squirreling Sophia away, there would be no she trusted to watch over-

"No." Sophia stared unflinchingly at all three of them. She had promised Jackson. "Someone needs to watch her." She nodded over at Genevieve, who barely reacted to Sophia's words.

Sophia only just kept her lips from curling as Correa supported her decision. "You should help Klaus, " she said to Elijah and Hayley. "My brothers and their security detail won't be much against a vampire army- I'll stay with Sophia."

What a comfort. "Go, you guys, " Sophia encouraged as she walked over to Klaus. She hugged him, bringing her lips to his ear. "Don't hold back, " she murmured. As she pulled away, his arms tightened around her, holding her place. A rush of air, and then he was gone.

The battle went on outside, Elijah and Hayley against an army, as Geveive finished her spell.

Sophia looked down at her vibrating phone on the table to see she was receiving a call from Cami. She dismissed it as Geneve ceased her chanting.

"I've done my part, the best is up to you."

Sophia nodded readily. "I'll get these to the bayou-"

"Actually, she was talking to me, " Correa said as she surged forward.

Sophia's nerves were running on overdrive as she was seized by agitation. "What the hell is this?"

"Call it a side deal, " Correa smirked. "Point is, I'm taking the stones."

Sophia was missing something important, that much was obvious. "Are you out of your mind?" she asked as she walked over to Correa. "You think that humans can go up against Klaus?"

"No, I don't. But I'm not human." And with that, Correa plunged her pocket knife into her security details carotid artery. Then she was gasping as she kneeled over. Once she was able to meet Sophia's eyes, they were a glowing, predatory yellow. "I'm like you, Sophia. And I'm going to take back my town."

"Like hell you are, " Sophia sneered as she stepped forward. Finally, something for her to do. Then she stumbled, stuck and held in place by invisible forces. Her eyes snapped shut as she was assaulted by fierce fatigue.

"Well- Are we done?" Elijah asked of the strewn and broken bodies before him. Between the ones Hayley had bitten, dooming them to death, and the ones he had been able to subdue, they had taken care of Marcel's pathetic army in good time.

"Wow, nice job, " Correa's sleek voice called out. "You've saved me the trouble of killing all these vampires myself."

"Elijah!" Hayley shrieked, just as Correas brothers were upon him, their eyes yellow and hands sharp as claws as they took their venomous bites out on him.

"Run, " Elijah faintly heard Diego say. It was all he could do to keep his eyes open as venom coursed through his veins. "Hayley- find Sophia, " he was able to rasp out.

"Sorry mate, I'm a bit famished, " Klaus declared as he stumbled into Rousseaus for a drink from the janitor. He growled when he had his fill, his strength still depleted. He had been weakened after he had essentially executed Marcel for his crimes.

On his knees and Looking down at the gaping wound in his hand, Klaus snarled when he saw he was still spilling blood.

He heard a familiar laugh. "Huh. You look awful."

He turned his head to Genevieve. "Why aren't I healing? What have you done to me?" he rasped desperately.

"Well, you were the one who wanted me to cast the spell, so I made your stones, " Geneve shared smugly, "By linking their power to your blood- And, each full moon, whenever a werewolf uses their power to keep from turning, they will be drawing from your strength, and causing you pain."

"After all I offered you, you will betray me?" he asked angrily. Sophia, his thoughts screamed.

The witch crouched before him, and cupped her cold hand around his chin to raise it. "Look me in the eyes, Nik. Were you ever planning to give me your mothers grimoire? Did you care about me even for a moment?"

Her sky blue eyes implored him, burning and curious. How he wanted to gouge them. "I suppose you'll never know," he breathed defiantly.

Where was Sophia!?

Genevieve let him go, and moved to stand up. She continued to look down imperiously at him. "Francesca kept her end of the deal-" Genevieve smiled as she turned to walk away. "There is, after all, honor among thieves. Even if they are werewolves. And as for you, the great irony is in wanting to take this city, you lost everything." Klaus grasped a nearby bar stool as he struggled to pull himself up as Genevieve spat vitriol. "Your sister Rebekah, your adopted son Marcel- And now, even your child and her mother will suffer- All because of your greed."

Klaus growled as he tried to attack the scorned witch, only to fall on his face.

"I will kill you, " he vowed as he met the witches eyes.

"As weak as you are?" She simpered. "Doubtful." She raised her hand, and he felt as if he were engulfed in flames. He collapsed to the floor.

"Hayley, " gasped Elijah as he saw the fallen hybrid in the drawing room where he last saw Sophia.

"'Lijah, " she said drowsily as she sat up. Her face crumpled in remorse. "Sophia was gone by the time I got here and- and… I was knocked out cold. I don't know who or what-"

Elijah helped her up, and his ears pricked as he heard familier voices enter the compound. "Follow me, " he said as he made his way to the stairs.

"Marcel, " he bellowed once he was outside. "Where is she? Where is Sophia?!" Soon, Hayley was at his side.

Cami stepped forward. "He doesn't have her, " she tried to assure him. "Please. I know you don't trust him, but you know I wouldn't lie, he doesn't have her."

Elijah met Marcel's eyes. "Someone does- Where is my brother?" he asked as he walked forward."

Marcel eyed him defiantly. "I left him in the street- He was going to kill me. And then he got jacked up by some witch's spell."

"Genevieve, " Elijah and Hayley muttered together.

"No!" Sophia sobbed as two witches dragged by her arms into Kiernan's church. Moonlight broke through windows, along with candles to provide the only source of light in the drafty building. Genevive followed right after her, her magic likely subduing Sophia's strength.

"Get her down on the floor, " the red head witch ordered.

The teenager at her side said, "We should take her to the city of the dead."

"We won't make it, " Geneve said rationally. "The baby's coming now."

"No, " Sophia cried as they laid her on the ground. She placed her hands to her stomach. "It's too soon-" she cried out as a burning pain enveloped net senses.

"Apparently not, " Geneevie responded coldly.

Sophia shouted again. She felt as if a dull, rusty knife was scraping every last bit of her insides while a thousand bee stings buried themselves in her lower back.

"Let me go!" she shrieked.

"You need to be calm, Sophia, " Genevieve said in what Sophia guessed was the tone she used when she was a nurse.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Sophia asked brokenly. Finally, Geneveve seemed to falter.

Sophie's niece, Monique, responded in her place. "To be reborn, we must sacrifice."

Sophia's lips curled. "What the hell does that mean you psychotic little bitch!"

"The ancestors demand an offering in exchange for power, " Genevieve elaborated.

"And your child will be a fine offering, " Monique said.

Fear seized Sophia. "No- No! You will not take my baby, I will kill all of you!" Sophia snarled as she struggled against their hold.

"No you won't, " the teenage bitch insisted. "And neither will Klaus or Elijah- When your baby is born, we will offer it up to those who came before us."

Sophia was reduced back to whimpers and sobs.

"I'm sorry Sophia, " Genevieve said with stony eyes. "But this is the way it had to be."

Sophia screamed as she felt another contraction.

Sophia absentmindedly twirled her pen in her hands as she struggled over the words she wanted to share with her daughter. Sunlight shone into her baby's room, where Sophia made herself at home in the rocking chair.

"Writing a love letter to one of your many suitors?" Klaus quipped from the doorway.

Sophia looked up, shy after their night together. She didn't know where they stood, exactly. She wasn't mad anymore, and neither was he. They had fallen easily into familiar rhythms.

When Klaus wasn't out scheming and terrorizing he was… Nik. Sweet, caring, charming.

"Me. Jai." He rolled his eyes, then widened them in false surprise. "Don't tell me it's Elijah."

A quiet laugh escaped Sophia.

"When ever was he in the running?"

Before Sophia could respond, she let out a pained laugh of surprise, and applied pressure to where her daughter had just kicked. Klaus stepped closer to her.

"How is our littlest wolf?"

"Do you want to…" Sophia nodded to her stomach.

Klaus grinned, and crouched before her, and Sophia guided his hand to where their baby was kicking. He gasped and smiled in response.

"Right, well, " he said as he moved to stand up. Before he could do so, Sophia leaned forward to catch his lips, smiling against him as she did so. After a sound kiss, she pulled back.

Klaus' eyes focused on her, searching, and then happy with what he saw. Sophia opened her mouth to speak, then blushed as her stomach growled.

"And on that note, I'll let you get back to your secret letter then- Dinner will be ready for you when you're done."

Sophia beamed up at Klaus, who shook his head indulgently as he walked away. She looked back down at her letter.

'Dear Jocelyn, or Mia or Lily,

To my little girl. Your dad just asked if this was a love letter, and I guess it kind of is. A whole journal's worth of them, most likely. It's a long, complicated story, but I've had a few mothers. For you, I hope that I am the best of all of them.

However, as Miranda Gilbert nee. Sommers daughter through and through, for you, I hope I can be half the mother she was. She was beautiful, and she would have adored you. Never did a day pass where I felt unwanted or unloved, it was a given.

I am writing to you so that you could know how happy your dad and I are right at the very moment. How much we can't wait to meet you. And I want to make you a promise. Three things that you will always have. A safe home. Someone to tell you they love you every single day, and someone to fight for you no matter what. In other words, a family. So there you go, baby girl. The rest we're going to have to figure out together.

Klaus felt flayed alive, as if his flesh was being skinned off inch by inch, layer by gory, bloody layer. He staggered down the empty, desolate street, not particularly sure why the beast in him was guiding him in this direction. Surely his best chance at finding Sophia would be back at the-

A loud, shrieking scream flooded his senses. Sophia. He could almost taste her pain. With a roar, he made his way to her.

"Let go of me you bitch!" Sophia screamed through her contraction. The witches held her down, with Genevieve attempting to coach her through her birth. Sophia twisted her head to the side, surprised to see Klaus. She couldn't help brief the hope she felt that maybe they could get out of this-

He decapitated the witch coming for him with the swipe of his arm, but before he could get any further, the teenage witches aiding and abetting the Genevieve worked together to subdue him. She watched on with horror as they used their magic to pin him against the wall where he could only watch on as the witches carried on with their twisted sacrifice.

She continued to scream. Giving birth to her baby would kill her, how did anyone survive this?

"You should know this brings me no joy, " Genevieve said as she prepared to help deliver Sophia's baby. "I promise I'll make it quick- Let's begin, shall we?"

"One last push, your baby's almost here, " Genevieve coached.

"I will bring hell to your doorstep, " Klaus roared. "I will bathe in rivers of your blood!"

Sophia screamed as she pushed, having no other choice.

"You will die screaming, " Klaus yelled on.

"There!" Said Genevieve. Sophia collapsed onto the table, weak and aching. At the sound of her baby's cry, she began to sit up. There she was, swaddled in the wicked either arms. Her tiny, beautiful baby.

"You have a beautiful baby daughter," Genevieve said as she cradled Sophia's child. "We must start the sacrifice as soon as the moons sets with the morning sky-"

"Please, " begged Sophia. "Please. Can I hold her?"

With sympathetic eyes, Genevieve walked around the table, and gently placed the baby in Sophia's ready arms.

She was gorgeous. Sophia did her best to commit every feature on her daughter's face to memory. She looked up at Klaus, and despite everything, couldn't help how her lips curved up at the look of awe on his face.

Then she was yanked painfully back by her hair as a blade was sliced through her neck. Sophia choked on her blood, and quickly lost grasp of her daughter.

We never named her, she needs to have a name-

"Oh, " Klaus gasped softly at the sight of his daughter. There she was- Whole. Real. An innocent. She was beautiful.

He saw as Sophia's ready arms grasped their baby, the brief smile on her face after she raised her eyes to his-

"No!" He howled as the witches sliced a dagger through her neck. He continued to shout and struggle, he had to get to her. He had to rescue their daughter-

He fell to the floor, and with the twist of his neck, he knew no more.

"This way," Hayley urged Elijah. "Sophie!" She shouted as they made their way to the church.

Elijah was just behind her. "How do you know-"

"She's part of my pack, I know!" Hayley exclaimed in frustration. She didn't have the patience for explanations, for his questions. The wolf in her knew how to find Sophia.

She pushed the church doors open, and it must've been pure shock that kept her from collapsing.

Up before them was a defeated and wane Klaus, cradling Sophia. "She can't be-" denied Hayley as Elijah bypassed her, and fell to his knees before his brother.

She was. Hayley didn't hear her heartbeat, or the baby's-

The baby-

"She's gone, " Klaus muttered, his eyes unreadable. Almost stoic. Hayley wanted to snap at him. Then he raised his gaze to the ceiling as tears flooded his eyes.

"You've been bitten, " Klaus said compassionately, almost in a daze as he bit his wrist and offered it to his brother.

"How?" Elijah asked, now standing before Klaus, who still sat on the floor, clearly not ready to let go of Sophia.

Hayley sat a pew, and angrily wiped at the tears that fell down her face.

"I was bested," the older hybrid muttered.

"You were bested." A soft laugh of disbelief escaped him. "You were bested!?" Elijah shouted. "My invincible brother."

"Elijah, " Hayley interrupted softly. Klaus's face was almost childlike as he looked up to his brother, and she could easily see how he might've looked as a young boy.

Then he looked back down towards Sophia as he shifted his legs to stand up. He gently laid her back on the table and swiftly pressed a kiss to her forehead.

When he looked back to Elijah, even taking a moment to briefly meet Hayleys eyes, she saw as his strength was renewed.

"They took the baby, but there's still time. We can save her."

"The tombs are empty, the grounds are deserted- She's not here!" Elijah exclaimed in frustration.

Klaus kept striding purposefully forward through the winding cemetery."This is the only place they can be- we'll keep searching-"

"They are not here, Niklaus, we are wasting time!"

Hayley, who was just behind the bickering brothers, nervously flicked her gaze back and forth between them.

"The harvest was here, she said as she tentatively began to agree with Klaus. In truth, the wolf felt a connection to kin somewhere in this cemetery, but something was clouding her senses. Confusing her, almost spinning her in circles. Hadn't they just walked past that mausoleum?

"The reaping was here, " Klaus continued on with impatience. "They are about to perform a ritual which will feed their ancestors for centuries- Ancestors who are buried here!" Understanding seeped on his face as he looked up at the statue above, realizing what Hayley had. They had passed that statue three times. The witches had placed an illusion over the cemetery to throw them off.

"It's ingenious, really. I can see them, I can feel them, yet they're not real, " Klaus remarked of the mausoleum he scratched with his nail.

Hayley was just about ready to tear her hair off. Her friend, probably the closest person she had to best friend- Her family was dead, slaughtered while she still held her baby in her arms. An innocent baby girl who Hayley had an uncomfortable amount in common with.

The young hybrid couldn't even begin to fathom what Klaus was feeling. Somewhere out there was his tiny, helpless baby. His daughter, and all that he left of the woman he loved.

"What we need to do is focus, " said Klaus as Elijah pondered their best course of action.

"My only focus right now is that child and her safety, " snapped Elijah. "Do you understand me?" He was righteous with indignation. Hayley frowned, but knew better than to interrupt. "This- all of this- This is the world that you created, Niklaus."

"Brother-"

"All of your scheming, the enemies that you have made every single day of your miserable life- What results did you expect!? That your child would be born into a happy life? That the mother would be alive to know her daughter? That we could live and thrive as some sort of family-"

Klaus glared at Elijah. "That was your fantasy brother, not mine-"

"No brother!" shouted Elijah. "I saw how you were with her- I saw how you wanted this as well. This was our hope- This was our families hope! And now, Sophia is gone. Don't you understand? Sophia is-"

"I know!" roared Klaus, eyes flashing gold. "I saw her slaughtered before my eyes- I was helpless to- To help her. To save her! For all my power, and all the time I lost with her- When it mattered I couldn't save her! They took her from me." Klaus shook his head, defeated as he took a seat near Hayley. "They've broken me."

Hayley stayed still, too nervous to reassure Klaus. He seemed almost… human. She wasn't equipped to handle this situation. She turned expectant eyes onto Elijah, whose face was soft as he stared down at his brother. Elijah sat on the other side of Klaus.

"You'll be able to tell your daughter how much you loved her mother when we save her. And, if history is any indication- Even if it is not how you would have hoped for it to happen- One day you'll be able to reunite mother and daughter."

She felt cool, soft grass beneath her. The salty breeze from the ocean invigorated her senses. In her arms was her baby. Soft, red faced, squalling.

'The children of nymphs are never the same when they return with the magic of false Gods kindling their blood-'

"Shh," Sophia soothed with a smile, paying no mind to the familiar, even welcomed, melodic voice. Her daughter's features obviously had yet to settle, it was too soon to say if she would keep Klaus's eyes and Sophia's dark hair.

'You have a choice to make, Sofija.'

"What- No," Sophia cried out in horror as her daughter suddenly disappeared from her arms.

Where'd she go? Where'd she go!

"Mother," Sophia murmured in shock. There was no one to be seen, but Sophia felt her. She was here, her presence all around her. In the midst of her confusion and horror, Sophia felt unmistakably loved. Cherished.

'If you return, my daughter, this will be your final life. The magic of the old gods does not meld with the new.'

Ancient instinct told Sophia it was too soon to return to the plane of the living, it wasn't her time yet-

'There will be a terrible price to pay should you choose to return-'

She could hear her daughter's cry all around her. With shaky legs, Sophia walked over to the cliff where the ocean crashed upon. She looked down at the briny sea foam, the dangerous currents that created her. Her babe's cries drowned out her mother's warnings. With no hesitation, she stepped off the cliff-

Sophia gasped as she woke, clutching her neck, still stained by the thick blood that had spilled from her.

Her own shrieks haunted her ears, the look on Klaus's face as she was sliced open, the feel of daughter in her arms. Her daughter, who the witches stole for their selfish, backwards sacrifice.

Anger quickly replaced her fear, and she stormed out of the church.

"We've passed through here twice already," said Hayley as they walked through the familiar crypt.

"We're running out of time," remarked Klaus, stoic.

Elijah shook his head. "Then we have to move faster-"

"Or smarter."

Three heads rapidly spun as Sophia walked slowly into the crypt.

Barefoot, bloody, pale. In three quick strides, Klaus was standing before her, taking her face in his hands. Sophia seemed to be staring at him without really seeing him.

"How are you here?" He asked.

Finally, she met his eyes. "I woke up at the church- I felt this hunger. I knew what I needed. I can feel her. She's here." With scared eyes, Sophia stepped out of Klaus's grasp.

"I can feel my baby."

"You died with the baby's blood in your system." Klaus' pained, relieved face turned to meet Elijah and Hayleys eyes. "She's in transition."

Elijah finished his brother's thought. "Which means she has to drink the baby's blood to survive."

"To be reborn a hybrid," said Klaus.

Hayley was focused on Sophia, who seemed lost to another time, staring far off beyond her.

Then her gaze hardened as she met Hayleys eyes. "I don't care about me." She turned to look at Klaus. "I'm going to go find our daughter."

In no time at all, Sophia zeroed on the quickest path to her child- Just in time to see Genevieve about to plunge a dagger into the crying baby.

Klaus launched a stray brick at the witch, knocking the dagger out of her hands. Genevive ran in the direction the dagger fell, while the two harvest girls stepped forward, using their magic to slam Sophia Hayley, Klaus and Elijah against the wall.

"You fools- To Come against us in our place of power, in our strongest hour. You don't face three you face us all," intoned Monique.

Sophia and Klaus darted in different directions. Sophia was able to push away Genevieve from getting the sacrificial dagger, and saw as Klaus launched a fence rail at the blonde witch, impaling her. The act seemed to weaken the witches as a whole. Sophia scrambled to the dagger, when a blinding headache caused her to fall. She screamed as Monique picked up the dagger and moved to plunge it into her daughter.

"No!" Cried out Sophia repeatedly. The sharp pain attacking her head stopped just as suddenly as it started, and Sophia saw that Hayley had subdued the witch. She nodded in thanks as she walked forward with Elijah and Klaus to stop the last harvest girl standing, but Monique raised her hand, growing the previously small flames before her.

Then- A small, metallic, star-like blade was thrown at Monique, and at once, a hundred little cuts were sliced all over her body. She fell to the ground.

Sophia stared on shock as Marcel was suddenly holding her baby. He met her eyes before he sped away. Klaus wasted no time taking after his his protégé.

Sophia watched on with unsorry eyes as Elijah and Hayley ensured Genevieve was thoroughly chained and stuck in place, in one of the witches' very own crypts.

"Why?" Sophia asked simply.

"The ancestors left me no choice," Genevieve pleaded.

Sophia looked at her with disgust. "You were willing to sacrifice an innocent baby for more power-"

"Oh, not just power," the witch interrupted. "It was the ancestors' decree." Horror washed over her face as she broke Sophia's gaze. "It was her decree."

Elijah was quick to grab a rough hold of Genevieve's face. "It was whose decree?"

"I'm surprised you even have to ask." Genevieve smiled maniacally. "After all, it was you who convinced your siblings to consecrate her in New Orleans soil."

Bile rose in Sophia's throat. "Esther."

Elijah walked away Genevieve, momentarily thrown off at how his mother was disrupting their lives yet again.

"This isn't the end," continued Genevieve. "As long as that child lives, the witches of New Orleans will never stop coming for it." Genevieve lifted her stare from Elijah and onto Sophia, an honest warning in her eyes. "Esther will never stop coming for it- It has been decreed. Your baby will be concecrated among her ancestors- She will not live."

In spite of herself, Sophia couldn't help but pity the witch. She remembered how eager she had been to please her gods in another life.

"They're coming for me," Genevieve said as blood spilled from her eyes. "I can feel it- Please understand, I just wanted to live." Her eyes implored Sophia. "Tell Klaus I'm sorry."

Genevieve began to cough up and choke on her own blood, her eyes pleading.

Sophia grabbed the dagger from Hayley, and used it to slice Genevieve's neck, doing the ancestors dirty work for them. "Better a quick death than a slow one," she muttered as she walked out of the crypt.

There will be a terrible price to pay should you choose to return…

Sophia was quick to shoo away the intrusive thought, unsure of what to make of the familiar voice. She hugged her baby the slightest bit tighter, ignoring her frustration of failing to recall her forgotten dream.

Sophia sat in the room Klaus had made for their daughter, rocking her as she slept. She allowed one of her loose sleeves to roll off her shoulder so that there was skin to skin contact with her baby, it seemed to soothe her.

She heard as Klaus discussed all the enemies that surrounded them. His own mother, who was leading the witches, and the Guerreras, who wouldn't be fond of the influence Sophia, and now her child, would have on the wolves.

To continue to live in New Orleans would make their daughter a captive in her own home, and to leave would mean they would always be looking over their shoulders anywhere they went.

"She has inherited all of our enemies with none of our defenses," Klaus said.

"So whether we stay or we leave, we condemn her," Elijah concluded.

"There's a third option," broke in Sophia.

Rebekah would love and care for her as if she were own. She knew exactly of the sort enemies they were facing, and she knew how to match their ruthlessness.

Sophia loved her siblings- Her friends- but they were wrecks. And they were young. They deserved to be wrecks. (They still had yet to return her calls.) They also would not grasp the severeness of the danger her daughter was in, not right away. They would blame Klaus, and maybe Sophia, not that they would tell her to her face. Not right away, at least.

Sophia sat in bed, cradling her baby still. Klaus was beside her, his arm around her shoulders as he studied his daughter.

It was for the best, sending her away. She wouldn't be with them, and they wouldn't be with her, but it would be preferable to her growing up in a war zone, surrounded by those who would hurt her.

As much as she bemoaned growing up in Mystic Falls, Sophia's childhood had been a happy one. She had had a sister who was her best friend, a brother she adored. Parents who did their damndest to ensure their life was a stable, reliable, and loving one.

Until it wasn't.

It was the childhood Sophia wanted her daughter to have, and even if the world was anything but a safe place, growing up believing that it was would give her the resiliency she needed to face its inherent dangers.

"We owe it to her to clean up the mess we've made," Sophia murmured before placing a kiss on her daughter's head.

If this was going to work, no one could know that her daughter had survived her birth.

She felt Klaus unwrap his arm from her. "We should do this now, love."

- never the same when they return with the magic of false Gods…

Tears spilled down her cheeks as Klaus used a small needle to prick their baby's finger, and Sophia's heart broke as the pain caused their daughter to awaken and cry.

Jenna was definitely not an option, it dredged up far too many rotten memories.

"Sommers?" Sophia pondered.

Klaus tilted his head thoughtfully. "I suppose that's more tolerable than Jocelyn."

Sophia good naturedly rolled her eyes. Maybe not Sommers, but she did want to honor her mom and Jenna. Sommers reminded her of favorite time of year in Mystic Falls. Endless summers with Elena and their friends, the lake house with her family- Jenna had always made it a point to visit when they were growing up.

She looked down at her daughter, and Sophia felt as if her heart might burst.

"I never knew I could love someone so much," Sophia said as her daughter seemed to be staring up at her. "I mean, honestly, it feels like it might kill me."

She was startled as Klaus choked up before her. He made his way to her, his eyes bloodshot. "I'm sorry the beginning of her life was so violent," he said as he knelt on the floor beside her and the baby.

Sophia reached down to grab his hand, keeping her eyes on their baby. They only had so much time before they would have to send her away. "It's not your fault, Nik. I know that you fought for us."

"You know, when Elijah thought you were dead, he said we lost our family's only hope." Sophia tilted her head to meet Klaus's eyes, thoughtful.

"Hope," she echoed, her eyes bright. She looked back at their daughter. "Is that your name?"

The baby raised her hands in response, wrapping her delicate hand around Sophia's pinky finger. Sophia laughed softly in adoration.

"Hope Sophia Mikeal-"

Sophia shook her head, and Klaus looked questioningly at her.

"She clearly takes after you, Sophie- Thank God."

Sophia smiled in appreciation of Hayley's attempt to lighten the situation.

"Ah, but there's a hint of the devil in her eyes- That's all me." Sophia placed a reassuring hand on Klaus's shoulder. He was currently holding their daughter, mesmerized as he held her before him. "This city would have seen you dead, but I will have it your home. And every soul who wishes you harm, will be struck down. Just as sure as my blood runs in your veins," Klaus raised his eyes to Sophia. "You will return to me and your mother."

Sophia swallowed nervously. "It's time, Nik."

He nodded, and reluctantly placed their baby girl in Elijah's ready arms.

"What- what's her name?" Hayley asked nervously, car keys in hand.

Sophia and Klaus held each other's gaze. "Hope," they said in unison.

Sophia turned her head to meet Hayleys eyes. "Hope Summer Mikaelson."

The first inkling of change Sophia had was when she and Klaus took their mourning public. The people of the French Quarter gathered to mourn their losses together, and Sophia and Klaus joined them, wanting them all to know how ruined they were over the loss of baby Mikaelson.

It was a subtle sensation. A complex knot slowly becoming disentangled.

She was still devastated over having to send away her baby, it was pure shock that she wasn't an absolute wreck. All she had to distract herself from her grief was the bloodlust. Hayley must've hidden the worst of it from Sophia when she transitioned.

One minute her, her gums were aching, and in the next, the burning hunger she felt became a mildly distracting prickling. She reasoned that the hunger took a backseat to her anger.

Eventually, that would abandon her too.