a/n (9-21-22): Season 2 was rough, and a certain storyline and some dialogue was stolen from The Magicians.

Warning: canon typical violence.

Spellbinder

PRESENT DAY (Month 6 without Hope):

Elijah watched impassively as Klaus shredded yet another canvas. The sunroom his brother favored was littered with broken and beaten canvases, all void of paint. Being confined to his home had done Klaus no favors the past few months, but it was necessary as Elijah tracked those gifted with the ill-fated moon rings Genevieve had created.

"I suppose we shall just have to call this your white period, " the elder brother said as he picked up one of the many torn canvases.

"I'm missing a crucial color in my palate, " responded Klaus. "That of my enemy's blood."

"Well, I recommend a Venetian red with a dash of rust, " Elijah offered casually.

"It's been months!" deplored Klaus. "I adhered to our plan, sit and do nothing, sell our grief! And now my child is safely away, and another full moon is upon us. Another night of pathetic weakness as the moon rings steal my strength- I need to act. I need to spill blood-"

"Here you are, my love. A lovely shade, I think. Will it do?" Sophia inquired with a mock British accent, a spring to her step as she entered the room. She tossed a mason jar filled to the brim with dark blood over to Klaus, who caught it with ease, his expression unreadable.

Elijah refrained from frowning, worried it would only… Encourage her.

"What?" Sophia smiled sweetly. She walked over to peck Klaus on the cheek, and practically skipped as she then went to sort through his old paintings, her back to them.

Elijah raised his eyebrows pointedly at his brother, who was eyeing the bloody mason jar with a contemplative expression, likely envisioning his next painting.

"And who's blood is this, sweetheart?"His younger brother finally asked.

"I wanna say it belongs to Francesca's baby brother, but I really can't tell with them- Don't they all look the same to you?" Sophia asked offhandedly as she turned around to address them.

Klaus nodded sagely at her words. "Yes, I do see what you mean-"

"You attacked a Guerrera?" Elijah asked calmly. Experience had taught him yelling would get him nowhere with the pair of them.

Sophia smiled sweetly. "I killed him."

Day 10 without Hope:

"Caroline- I just- When I'm ready, I'll go to you, okay? I'm just- I'm not really up for seeing anyone right now."

A strained silence followed in the wake of her words, and then finally…

"Okay. I'll follow your lead on this. Sophie, I've never- I can't even imagine-" Sophia wiped away a stray tear as her friend struggled to find the right words to say. "I love you, and I'm on the next plane to New Orleans if you need me, kay'? Just say the words."

A choked laugh escaped Sophia. "Love you too." Before she could hang up, Caroline hurriedly spoke again.

"I- I'm sorry Elena isn't- That she hasn't reached out yet. She's so broken over Damon and Bonnie, and I think she's really worried about what to say to you-"

"I understand, Care. It's fine, really."

Sophia laid on the floor of the beautiful room Klaus had made for their baby girl, curled in on herself.

She couldn't sleep, couldn't focus, couldn't see straight.

"As far as your sister knows, you just lost your daughter," Klaus spat after her phone call from Caroline. "She and your brother should be at your side. For all their talk of family, of loyalty, and they can't be bothered-"

"With everything going on, it's better that they're not here, Nik. You know that." Sophia had abjectly reminded him.

"At least your brother had the decency to call, to offer to come to your aid. That bloody doppelganger however-"

"Nik- Please," Sophia had pleaded gently, disgusted at the tears gathering in her eyes. All she did was cry. Day in and day out, with only a blissful- if worrying- ennui to break up the monotony. "Damon and Bonnie are also gone. Maybe dead. She lost the love of her life-"

"And you lost your child! And nearly your own life-"

Flashes of the agony her daughter's birth had been played out in Sophia's mind, of a dagger being raised above her daughter-

Sophia visibly crumpled, her shoulders falling, her legs buckling.

Klaus was quick to pull her to him, wrapping his arms around her as he shouldered her weight.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he murmured as he held her.

Sophia turned over so that she was flat back, turning her gaze to the ceiling. Not even a full day after she said bye to her daughter, Caroline had called to tell her about Damon and Bonnie. She stayed on the line for over an hour as Sophia sobbed and sobbed in response, then finally finding the breath to tell her friend of the loss of her baby.

Should it have bothered Sophia more that it was Caroline who stayed on the phone with her all night? She wasn't sure. Sophia honestly believed Elena was doing the best she could. She had yet to call Elena to comfort her over the loss of their friend- of Damon. So there was also fault to be found in Sophia as well.

Sophia pondered the blood bag Klaus had left in her bedroom, of the blood she poured down the drain yesterday.

The wolf in her- a warped monster now, really- had snarled. Sophia had dismissed its needs with ease. It was so exhausting to feed. Much easier to tuck the wolf away in the corners of her mind where it had once remained dormant until she had activated her curse. Amongst the shelves of her other lives.

Day 30 without Hope:

"Sophia, eat. Please."

She stared up at him, her unfocused gaze meeting his, eyebrows creased. Purple, sallow crescents marred her dark eyes. In the days since they've had to bid goodbye to their daughter, her complexion shifted from waxen and unblemished, to pallid and sickly.

Now, her veins were prominent, her skin creased and gray as desiccation finally began to weaken her.

Amid his own turmoil, it had taken Klaus far too long to realize that Sophia was, simply put, starving herself.

It was only too apparent to see once he realized what was going on, but how was he to have known?

A baby vampire ignoring their natural, instinctual hunger was unheard of, and Klaus's experience with his treacherous hybrids proved that they were more of the same. The demon within demanded to be sated, to be fed- Its urges overwhelmed the sound mind.

Klaus had first tried to tempt Sophia with blood bags, and then, drunk and easily confused tourists. She had yet to give in to temptation.

"I'm not hungry," she insisted, growing weaker and smaller by the day.

And now, she was incontestably pitiful as she stared up at him from the rocking chair In what should have been their daughter's room, all alone in the dark. The only light was provided from the window.

"I- I'm worried, Nik," Sophia finally rasped, her voice painfully hoarse. "I don't feel like me. I don't feel anything these days. Just numb and- and," her voice trembled, "Cold. I'm so cold. It never goes away. Any bit of any strength I have left, I use to remember Hope. And pretty soon, she'll slip away from Me too. It's all leaving me."

Cold. She was cold. Those specific words repeated themselves in Klaus's mind, a tangible problem he could help her with.

Klaus scooped her up from the chair and carried her to her bed, cradling her in his arms as he sat down.

"You need to feed Sophia. It'll warm you, help you regain your strength. Please, feed."

His wolf, protective and enraged, rose to the surface. She looked up to meet his gaze, eyes confused, as he touched his forehead to hers. He summoned all memories of warmth.

The feeling of the blazing sun on his skin, lazy days on isolated islands, the heat that coursed through him when the wolf was reunited with her.

He heard Sophia gasp as he recalled the first time he fed from her, how feverishly delirious she had made him.

Inspired, Klaus rearranged the both of them, sitting with his back to the headboard and Sophia on his lap, her legs falling on both sides of his waist.

He used a sharp nail to slice a puncture into his neck, satisfied when the blood that spilled caused Sophia's dark iris's to melt into a burning, greedy gold.

Even as the veins on her face shifted and her teeth sharpened, she resisted. "The- The full moon's tomorrow, you need your strength -"

Klaus tilted his head as he placed his hand on the back of her head, gently guiding her mouth to the crook of his neck.

He closed his eyes and clutched her tighter to him as he felt her teeth pierce him.

As her defenses melted away, Klaus was startled to see that there was no meadow. All there was was the night sky, its moon absent, and a sprinkling of stars.

It's all leaving me, she softly reminded him as she continued to feed. He was pulled back to the present as she shifted her hips enticingly, if roughly, against his.

Feed from me, Nik.

Klaus groaned as he bucked against her, his head falling back. He placed his hands on her waist to keep her still. "Sophia, we shouldn't-"

She lifted her head, her lips stained with his blood. He was able to take note that color was already returning to her when she pressed her mouth insistently against his. She covered his hands with hers and began to rock against him.

"Don't pretend you don't need this as much as I do," she murmured as she pulled away from him. She gathered her hair to place over one shoulder, and bowed her head, feeding from him again. Debauched rhapsody assaulted his senses as he tugged at the length of her hair to further expose her neck. He placed an open-mouthed, wanting kiss on her pale neck, and then he bit her.

Sophia retracted her teeth, whimpering against him as she raised her hand to weave her fingers through his hair, holding his head in place.

As if he wanted to be anywhere else.

Klaus growled, falling back onto his chair as the moon rings stole his strength, whittling him down. He frowned as he heard the shattering of glass in the next room. He kept his hand on a nearby wall for leverage as he made his way over.

"Nik-" Sophia said weakly as she saw him. Her skin had regained its deathly pale parlor, her face soaked in sweat.

Alarm seized him.

His blood had made her ravenous yesterday. They had spent hours in bed the day before, lost in an entanglement of limbs as the sun had risen and fallen. Her room still smelled enticingly of sex, blood, and sweat.

He had even managed to convince her to feed from blood bags so they could keep up their strength, but now-

He was at her side in an instant as she collapsed, growling to himself as his knees gave away.

Elijah found them on the floor, Klaus begging Sophia to wake up as he held his wrist over her mouth, his blood spilling over her lips.

Day 31 without Hope:

Elijah had called in a favor from the daughter of a family of witches indebted to him. Handy, but not a particularly powerful or talented witch. Still, better she than any of the French quarter variety.

The gray-haired and wrinkled woman had declared it wasn't a hex cast upon Sophia, but the two magicks that made up her body warring with each other. Paliá psychí's

were the purest form of natural magic, and the unnatural magic Esther had inflicted on her children was a plague, dark and damnable and overpowering.

Hayley, who had been working with Elijah to track down the Guerrera rings, didn't trust the old woman.

"You're not telling us everything," the hybrid had declared with narrowed eyes, her voice even.

The witch met Hayley's eyes as Elijah and Klaus made their way back into the room.

"What I know of paliá psychí's has been told through word of mouth in my family, and it will die with me. I wanted no child of mine to be indebted to them." Erie, pale blue eyes briefly glared at Klaus and Elijah, and then met Hayley's gaze again. "Paliá psychí are sacred individuals, and inflicting this curse upon her was an act of impiety. I assure you she will awake within hours after the unpolluted magick that runs in her blood is rendered stagnant. This will be her final life."

The old woman gathered her bag and made her way to exit the room. She paused at the doorway, her back to them. "A word of caution- Palia psychic made vampires make for particularly atrocious, irrepressible individuals. When Sofija awakes, she won't be as you knew her."

Elijah kept Klaus from gutting the witch.

"She may be of later use, Niklaus. For now, let us see for ourselves how her words will apply to Sophia."

Abomination. Atrocious. Unnatural.

These words had ceased to mean anything to Klaus over the centuries, but to hear them applied to Sophia-

Klaus tossed back scotch until it no longer burned. The liquor still had yet to dull his senses.

"Is she awake yet?" Hayley asked as she stomped into the compound, Elijah at her side.

Just minutes ago, Sophia's calm, even breaths restored a sense of peace over Klaus. Now, they were replaced with light footsteps. Klaus stood up, shaking his head at Elijah and Hayley. Before he could return to her side, a whimsical whistle rang in his ears.

Sophia smiled brightly down at him as she made it down the steps from her bedroom. Klaus's eyes ran over her, taking in her flushed cheeks, bright eyes, and overall positively chipper demeanor.

"Good morning loves," she greeted as she made her way over to Klaus, raising her lips to peck his cheek as she stole his glass from his hand, finishing his drink.

Elijah shared Klaus's bated silence. The same couldn't be said for Hayley.

"Sophie- How are you feeling?"

Sophia took a seat in a nearby chair. "Like I've been relieved of millennia's worth of baggage." She hummed under her breath an unfamiliar tune as she gazed thoughtfully at the three worried expressions before. "What's with the looks on your faces?"

Month two without Hope:

"I'll take… The La Palma looks good."

Cami nearly dropped the pitcher of beer she had just filled. "Sophie! Omigod," the bartender breathed as she rushed around the bar to hug her friend. "How are- Stupid question. I'm so sorry, it's just really good to see you, Sophie," The bartender settled on as she pulled back to study the "younger" girl.

Sophia looked… good. Great, even. Her skin was glowing, her cheeks rosy. All her dark, soft curls were flipped over one shoulder, and an airy sundress showcased her lithe body.

"It's good to see you too, Cami," Sophia smiled.

"I'll get started on your drink, have a seat," the bartender insisted as she made her way back to her station.

Guilt continued to gnaw at her.

"I am so over this quarantine Elijah has us under- And so is Klaus, by the way." Sophia shared, lips curving upwards when Cami set the fruity pink cocktail before her.

"Quarantine?" Cami asked, eyebrows pulled together.

Sophia sideswiped her gaze and tilted her head. "Elijah feels we should keep our grieving… private. He has his reasons- Dumb reasons, but Nik's letting him take the lead." Sophia brought her gaze back to Cami. "Losing our daughter is hitting Klaus pretty hard."

"I can- I can only imagine." Everyone grieves differently, Cami reminded herself.

Still, she couldn't help but feel thrown at how… Nonchalant Sophia appeared to be. She held herself with ease, and in all the time Camille had known her, Sophia had never been this relaxed. As if her daughter hadn't been-

"You turned it off," the blonde said softly to herself.

"Hmm?" Sophia hummed as she sipped at her drink. "Oh, right. My emotions," the young hybrid said mockingly. "It certainly appears that way, doesn't it? Juries still out on that one, to be honest with you. It's a- Not a long story, per se, but it's a whole thing and I really don't want to go into it right now, if that's okay." Sophia arched an eyebrow, her smile teasing.

Camille nodded, flummoxed. "Of course. Whatever you want."

Sophia's eyes brightened, and Cami's stomach dropped. "I do have a favor to ask you."

Camille stayed quiet, and Sophia continued.

Elijah's serious eyes surveyed the mausoleum before him. The very one Sophie Deveroux had lured him to over a year ago, when Hope Mikaelson was but a flicker in her mother's womb.

Wet blood covered the masonry walls, limbs littered the floor. Bodies absent of their heads were carelessly strewn about.

"She- she made me watch as she butchered my daughter," a grey-haired witch sobbed, her hands holding in her bowls from spilling out of her.

Finally, the scene settled in for Elijah. He was surrounded by pairs of mothers and daughters, with the youngest appearing to be in her early twenties. He supposed Sophia showed some restraint in not murdering children.

Elijah knelt beside the sole witch left alive.

The old crone's voice grew acidic, her eyes hateful as she stared up at him."The ancestors will have their revenge-"

With the flex of his fingers, Elijah snapped her neck.

Reign her in, Niklaus, Elijah had demanded.

Are you two sure we shouldn't take the witches' warning more seriously, Hayley had inquired warily.

The bloody Owen's witch had gone off and died out of spite shortly after she diagnosed Sophia, so she wouldn't be of further help.

Klaus refused to believe that Sophia would remain as she was forever. What the witches regarded as unnatural was merely an act of self-preservation, a tactic many a baby vampire have succumbed to.

Sophia was dealing with multiple lives of repressed emotions, they likely flooded her in the event of her turning, and that was compounded by the loss of their daughter. From what she told him, it wouldn't be the first time her body's instincts acted on their own accord. Sophia had turned off her emotions, it was as simple as that.

When the time was right, Klaus would help her find her way back.

But not until he could guarantee their daughter's safety, not until they could be safely reunited with Hope.

"You look lost in thought," a soft voice said.

Klaus raised his head, meeting Sophia's eyes.

"I assume Elijahs already told you of the witches."

"He was... Rather displeased."

Sophia scoffed as she walked over to him, grinning as she took a seat on his lap.

Klaus was surprised to find himself returning her grin. Her smile softened as she relaxed against him.

"I- I loved you very much, didn't I?" Her words were tentative.

Klaus hummed thoughtfully as he tugged at her damp curls. Of course, he had mourned the loss of his partner. Of a Sophia who understood every bit of his drowning grief.

But he didn't begrudge her for turning it off. A young hybrid, a young mother, forced to be separated from their daughter. He wouldn't dare hold this against her- Try to fix her. She was more than allowed this lapse.

"I- I also remember how much I loved our daughter. It was… consuming. It was the most terrible, wonderful feeling." Sophia remained quiet for a few moments before speaking again. "I- I'm going off memory, Nik. I lost whatever maternal instinct I may have had. It's easier to feel how much I hated those witches for what they did to Hope and me, than it is to recall how much I adored Hope." Sophia didn't share her words with any guilty inflection, more matter-of-factly.

Klaus knew all too well that vampires, particularly those with their emotions shut off, were loyal to no one but themselves. He was all too conscious of the fact that he didn't have as much influence on Sophia as she was now, certainly not as much as Elijah liked to believe. She continued to remain with them in the compound, in the company of Klaus and Elijah, because they were familiar and their goals were aligned. It was good enough for now.

Klaus grabbed one of her hands and raised it to his lips. "That's quite alright, love."

PRESENT DAY

Elijah took a deep breath. "When did this… Occur?"

Sophia without her humanity unnerved him. She was an impulsive, hedonistic, disingenuous creature.

And yet.

She still retained her fascinating control over her cravings. On a lark, she went a week without feeding after Elijah chastised her for feeding from the human faction instead of the approved tourists. Of course, this was after she targeted the extremist witches complicit in her daughter's sacrifice, with the aid of Cami and the dark magical artifacts Kieren had hidden.

And now this.

Sophia pursed her lips as she prepared her answer. "He started it. I found one of his lackeys casing the compound and traced him down. Apparently, Klaus's silence is making Francesca a little… Tetchy. No great loss, right?"

Unsmiling, Elijah turned to face Klaus, who grinned in response. His little brother was far too dotting on the young hybrid.

A white oak stake had become absent the night of Hope's birth. Its presence was why Elijah encouraged a lack of action over the past few months.

"We don't know for certain that they don't have the stake-" Elijah worried.

"I'm willing to gamble," hedged Klaus.

"So am I," Sophia said as she studied her nails, her back to the brothers. Finally.

"Sophie, please… Please spare them if you can."

Sophia frowned at Hayley. "They all betrayed you, betrayed Jackson- None of them deserved to be spared. Why are you even asking?"

Hayley pulled her shoulders back, her eyes growing hard. "Please Sophie, you owe me."

Sophia thought black to the night she had killed Francesca's brother… Risking Hayley's life in the process. She had held such little regard for the life of her once dear friend, who had tagged along to keep an eye on her, and nearly was put to death for it.

Sophia had been so single-minded in getting the documentation she needed to ensure that Francesca couldn't hide anymore, so focused she also almost let the Guerra's get Hayley all alone…

When reflecting after the fact, Sophia couldn't believe she let herself be so uncaring, so disregardless of her friend's life. She was almost disappointed in herself. It had been at Hayley's insistence that they didn't tell Elijah and Klaus, coldly insisting that they didn't need to know.

Slowly, stiffly, Sophia nodded. "I'll spare the ones I can."

Sophia found a peculiar delight in killing the wolves who had turned their back on her, on Hayley. She pocketed the moonlight rings with ease, a joyful smile on her face as she stalked around the compound, when she saw him.

She disarmed Oliver with ease, bringing him to his knees. She shoved her hand into his chest after removing his ring, all too ready to yank out his furiously beating heart.

"We were strong- We were part of a pact and you ruined it-"

Sophia's hand stilled, Hayley's words echoing in her mind. What would Hayley do?

"I will kill you myself if I catch you with one of these rings again, but for now-" Sophia finally lifted her head, remembering her friend's plea. With a sigh, Sophia removed her hand from Oliver's chest cavity and kicked him to the floor.

Please-Please!

Francesca's final shrieks before Sophia yanked out her heart continued to repeat themselves in her mind as she surveyed her daughter's room.

With the simple flex of her fingers, she had laid to rest the bitch who had bartered her and her daughter's life. While momentarily satisfying, it wasn't enough.

"Elijah informed me he left Francesca to you."

Sophia smiled as she turned to Klaus. "Elijah told me you threw a fit when he tried to have Hope's room cleaned out." Muted as she was, Sophia couldn't help but wonder why he still was so pleasing to look at. His broad shoulders pulled back, chest wide, vindication in his eyes.

His expression turned guarded. "I did not feel it was yet appropriate to clean it out, and this is my room."

"It was meant to be our daughter's room, and you made it so beautiful for her. I told him he was an idiot to try to take it apart." The masonry fell from his face as he stared at Sophia with befuddled eyes.

She huffed out a laugh. "You might be pleased to know Francesca begged for her life before I tore out her heart, but it's not enough. Even if we kill every last of them, I don't think it'll ever be enough… Soothing this- This craving in me to destroy everyone that took place in our daughter's sacrifice… I can't tell where it ends and where it begins."

"It's perfectly natural- Being a hybrid allows you to feel things with a greater intensity-"

Sophia scoffed, her lips twitching wryly. "Nothing about what I am is natural, Nik. Even by hybrid standards. Hayley's only just started making peace with being a hybrid, but even so, she hates it. It made her sick to her stomach to have to kill her own people tonight, on our behalf, I might add… Meanwhile, I took to it as if it were a game. A fun game. I could care less about the life I snuffed out. My ability to empathize, to feel scared, to feel pain… To recall the love I felt for our daughter- It's all absent Nik, and I didn't even have to turn off my emotions to achieve this. Even by hybrid standards, that's not normal."

Sophia held Klaus's gaze as he evenly breathed in and out. "I'm not- Whole, Nik. And that's fine by me, makes life bearable. It's quite novel in some ways, and even if has yet to change the way you stare at me, something tells me that will change when we are reunited with our daughter and I'm not able to care for her- to love her-"

And there it was. Sophia was more disappointed she couldn't participate in the previous joy she felt for her daughter, but she didn't find as heart-wrenching she might once have. Merely a shame. "What I did tonight- I should feel awful about it- If I were me, I would feel terrible about it, you remember how I was Nik. As I am now, I just think it's awful. You can't keep denying that witch's warning. Whatever's wrong with me- I want to fix it before I see Hope again."

Klaus walked steadily over to her."And so we shall- What's one more quandary to add to our to-do list."

Sophia blinked at him, eyes unfocused. She relaxed as he pulled her to him and simply held her. She closed her eyes as he spoke into her hair. "You are the most infuriatingly impossible woman I know- There is no one I know better capable than you to search for the answers you seek."

"Go away, Hayley."

"Are you seriously telling me to go away?!" The fellow hybrid's voice was indignant. "Get your ass out here, Sophie, it's the least you can do."

Sophia sighed and turned to press her back against her bedroom door. "I- I almost killed you, Hayley. These past few months, I didn't care if what I was doing was right or wrong- If it made the world a safer place for my daughter, the ends justified the means. But now, all I do is question if I'm doing the right thing. As amazing as Klaus has been, he's not exactly the best barometer for this sort of thing, and I'm so out of touch with my family and friends in Mystic Falls. You know better than most what I've been through the past few months- So now, before I act, I ask myself would Hayley look at me like I'm evil? I can't feel any of it anymore, I'm performing from memory, and my daughter deserves more than a hollow mother. I'm broken, and that makes me dangerous. So you should go."

"I talked to your shade."

"What- How-" Sophia frowned, cutting herself off. She and Hayley both stood outside, leaning against the railing of the balcony.

"I was trying to figure out more about my family and this witchy friend Hannah's was in town. I reached out to her, and she gave me these herbs to help out with a vision quest- thingy. Whatever. And I saw your shade- She wants to be reunited with you."

"I- So where is she?"

Hayley frowned. "Honestly, I'm not sure- We'd have to find her. But at least now we know she's out there."

"I mean- I'm not completely sure I really know what a shade is, Hayley."

"Me either- But we both know someone who does,"

"In all her research, this Hannah of yours has come across exactly one ancient Egyptian legend that mentions shades. One. And Hayley has supposedly seen yours in some drug-induced haze." Klaus fixed her with a flat stare, decidedly unimpressed.

Sophia sighed as she stole his scotch glass from his hand. "It's not nothing, Nik. I just wanted to ask, you haven't heard of anything about shades yourself in the time you-"

"I didn't even know what a bloody old soul was until I happened upon you again-" His gaze softened ever so slightly. "I think you're exceeding despite your absence of shade, much better than any baby vampire or hybrid I've met in my time. But, since you feel this of importance, then I will support your efforts. In the meantime, I ask that you don't make this your sole focus-"

"We have enemies to see too and a kingdom to conquer, yadda yadda yadda," Sophia rolled her eyes and smiled fondly at the father of her child.

Klaus quirked his lips in response, then cleared his throat. "Elijah feels that I've been something of a bad influence on you- He finds our proclivity for massacring witches distasteful-"

Sophia frowned, remembering the bloodshed she had caused at the cauldron the night before. "I was careful not to kill anyone who wasn't explicitly involved in our daughter's sacrifice-"

"Be that as it may, he recommended that you spend time with Hayley, reconnecting with your roots to ground yourself- The wolves. I believe his idea could be fruitful for our cause-"

The next day, Sophia and Hayley ventured out into the bogs of Louisiana.

"Klaus is insane if he thinks I can rally the wolves together- The only thing they hate more than vampires is hybrids-"

Sophia smiled cheekily. "And yet your winning personality still managed to win them over."

Hayley rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well- Jackson vetting me went a long way, but he's not around to…"

The hybrid looked meaningfully at Sophia, who pressed her lips together as she continued her trek through the trees. Jackson had briefly introduced the concept of shades to Hayley, but since it wasn't a priority at the time, the brunette had been quick to wave away the topic.

"Look, if nothing else Klaus is a good strategist. He's right, we have to get the wolves on our side before Esther gets to them. And by we, I mean you, princess," Sophia quipped.

The rather bleak, beaten, and weathered wolves formed a circle around Sophia and Hayley.

"The hell you two want?" Oliver asked, chest puffed out.

Sophia arched an eyebrow at him. "I'd shut up if I was you, Ollie," she sneered, "Or I'll do what I should've done months ago. Just last week, you were still working for the woman who traded me and my baby away." Sophia let her hands shape into claws and allowed her eyes to glow.

"We didn't come here to fight, Oliver," Hayley said calmingly. She briefly looked over her shoulder to give Sophia a warning look before focusing her attention on the combative wolf. "Our pack has been divided by people that want us to be their slaves- What we need right now is a leader. Someone who will reunite us and make us strong again. Someone who will fight for our pack. If you let me, I can be that person."

"You think we can trust you- You're not one of us," Oliver argued. "Hell, you're not even a wolf- You're a bloodsucking vampire parasite."

Sophia sighed tiredly as Hayley frowned.

"You wanna say that again and see what happens, Oliver?" Hayley warned.

"Tough girl," Oliver said as he stepped forward. "You really want to attack me, in front of all of them," He gestured to his fellow wolves. "Give them another reason to say yes to Cassie and her moonlight rings- Yeah, they would rather follow a witch than you. Me? Hell, I'd rather die than follow you. "

Sophia sped forward, Knocking Oliver on his ass. She let her unimpressed eyes look down at him as she pressed her heel to his throat. "That can be arranged- Ollie," Sophia taunted.

"Sophie- You said you wouldn't," Hayley said measuredly, not moving where she was, with only her eyes betraying her worry.

"You see, I haven't been well since my daughter's been killed over a botched ritual sacrifice, Ollie. It's the sorta thing that would drive even the sanest of women a little mad, and given how things went down- Well, all my friends think I've gone batshit crazy."

"You parasite, lunatic bitch-"

"Shut up Oliver," Hayley said as Sophia dug in her heel. "Sophia, let him go- He's family."

Sophia smiled sweetly at her friend as Oliver gasped for breath below her. "So protective of the runt of the litter." She looked back down at Oliver. "These days, any restraint I show is solely for Hayley's sake, she's very much the merciful leader, and much more than any of you deserve." Sophia took her foot off of Oliver, her expression calm as she stepped back to let Hayley have center attention.

"Take any of the rooms on the first floor," Sophia directed the handful of wolves who took up Hayley's offer for shelter at the compound.

A familiar, if irritated voice, spoke up behind her. "Are we running a kennel now?"

Sophia nodded for her new guests to continue before walking to meet Klaus where he stood.

"It's not the time for guests-"

"If they're not with us, they're with the witches. You asked me to be Hayley's right-hand man, to help the wolves, and that's what I'm doing," Sophia said calmly.

"Well, it seems I'm something of a good influence on you after all."

Her lips twitched as stepped forward and hooked her arms around his neck. "I think I missed you today," she said thoughtfully, tilting her head to the side. A surprised laugh burst out of her as Klaus grasped her waist and dipped her, his grip entirely keeping her from crashing to the floor.

"I should think so," he murmured against her lips.

Sophia laughed into his kiss, unable to stop once she was standing upright again. Klaus grinned freely at her. In her shadowless state, the thrummings of joy and giddiness came easily to her.

A handful of feet away from them, some pointedly cleared their throat. Sophia turned her head to see Hayley's mystified eyes and Elijah's unreadable ones.

The simple, somehow wholesome delight on his brother's face was something Elijah had witnessed fleetingly after their family was cursed to be vampires. It was rather rallying to witness, a boost to his personal morale.

Hayley looked stunned at his side, and Elijah was careful to keep a smile off his face. As much as he appreciated what she meant to his brother, it was best to not encourage Sophia's flights of fancy- How they so quickly turned in her current predicament.

Still, it was dizzying how the sight of the happy couple brought him back a thousand years.

"I believe Hayley has an update she would like to share."

The hybrid in question nodded, frowning ever so minutely at him. "I made a deal with Oliver- In part to make amends to Sophie and you, he'll pledge his loyalty to Cassie, report back, and tell me everything he learns."

"Well done," Klaus nodded, his eyes narrowed at the mention of Cassie.

"What's with that look on your face," Sophia wondered bluntly as Klaus's jaw further tensed.

"It would appear that our mother is inhabiting the young witch known as Cassie," Elijah shared.

Sophia's hands fell away from Klaus as her body stiffened, her eyes dark. Elijah's gaze couldn't help but track how Klaus's grip on her imperceptibly tightened, unwilling to let her go.

"A matter equally pressing as the return of our mother is the presence of our father." Sophia shifted to meet Klaus's gaze. "Elijah saw him, all bones and flesh, enslaved by a spell cast by Davina- He holds the stake."

"What will it take to ensure that Esther stays dead and buried?" Sophia wondered to herself as she lay in her bed.

"We have enough enemies here," Klaus said bleakly as he crumpled his mother's dinner invitation. "And now the war for our home is to be fought against my own family."

"It wasn't enough that your awful mother has killed me once already, but she's decided to add putting a knife through our baby's heart to her list of sins- I will gladly add to the body count, Nik."

Klaus smiled fondly at her, but before he could say anything, Elijah entered the room.

"You will do no such thing- Esther is a master at the art of possession. We know whose body she currently inhabits. We must figure out her intentions before she finds another host."

The dining room where they were to meet with Esther was aptly dark and gloomy, with only the occasional candle to provide some light.

"I just talked to Hayley- She told me Oliver found out your mom partnered up with another witch."

Klaus seemed nonplussed. "Building alliances in her quest to destroy us, I imagine."

"Nik," Sophia began as she took a seat at the table. "Why is she so… Esther wasn't always like this. I mean, I remember how she doted on you guys. I thought she liked me well enough up until she killed me," Sophia said dryly. "She had six kids, and was one of the most maternal women I met."

"She had seven kids, actually," Klaus corrected clinically as he turned to face her. "I think at one time, she loved us very much. One died before I was born."

Sophia pulled her eyebrow together. "A babe who died of the plague," she recalled.

"And then Henrik was killed by the wolves- As you recall, that pushed my mother over the edge. So she used her magic to turn us into immortals. I think that's when she loved us the most, but it was her undoing."

Sophia couldn't look away from Klaus's haunted gaze as the events that surrounded their courtship played out in her mind. Their wedding, Henrik's death, Mikael's wrath, Esther's affair… the reveal of Klaus's true father.

"No wonder she's crazy," Sophia offered. "Having to send Hope away- I would be absolutely out of my mind right now if I was within my right mind."

Klaus frowned at her, and in a few short steps, was standing before her offering a hand. Sophia let him pull her up so that they were standing eye to eye. "The look in your eyes before you died in my arms, so broken because my mother denied letting you hold our babe. I think a part of me knew, even then, that she was culpable in your death- Her face said it all." Blue eyes searched hers and didn't seem to find what they were looking for. "What is it you now ask yourself as you discern your next actions?"

Sophia relaxed her shoulders. "Will this make Hayley look at me like I'm evil."

If possible, the intensity in his gaze grew. Sophia didn't believe she was even capable of such emotion anymore. "Our daughter needs you, Sophia. For me, before you act, please ask yourself 'Will this make it so Hope grows up without a mother?' If the answer is yes, choose another course of action."

Sophia looked thoughtfully at him. "That seems awfully guilt trippy of you to ask of me, Nik- And not the most effective tactic in my current state."

Exasperation became plain on his face. "Sophia- At least with baby vampires, self-preservation is their number one instinct, but you… Fear doesn't register. Guilt, sadness, devastation. If Hayley acts as your conscience, let our daughter be the placeholder for your self-preservation. I beg of you."

Sophia was surprised to find her lips raising a smile. "Well, I suppose it's growth that you're trying to reason with me instead of locking me somewhere and throwing away the key- Alright, Nik, I'll do as you say."

Finally, Klaus dimpled, his eyes appraising her. "Well, it would be untruthful to say that warding you to the compound wasn't floating around in my mind."

Sophia narrowed her eyes, her lips twitching as she fought off a grin. "I'd like to see you try."

Blue eyes darkened as Klaus matched her expression. "Is that so-" Sophia felt pleasantly short of breath as Klaus wove his fingers through her hair, gently tugging as he cupped the back of her head. "Don't think I won't-"

"Ahem."

The two hybrids mirrored each other as they turned to face Elijah, Hayley at his side.

"We do have our mother to attend to, if you would cease-" The elder brother waved a hand, gesturing vaguely at them.

Hayley raised an eyebrow at them. "I believed what Elijah is trying to say is that now's not the time for your weird foreplay."

Time was closing in on them, and soon Esther was to be expected. Things had seemed to be briefly on the upswing, and Elijah had managed to get Marcel the location of a witch who seemed willing to help them identify the next body Esther would jump into. Klaus was willing to donate the necklace his mother had gifted him as a child for the cause, when everything went to hell.

"Marcel's with is being held captive in the Quarter."

Sophia was void of expression as she shared what Hayley had found out from Oliver. "Look, this dinner is really more for you guys than me anyways, give me the necklace, I'll meet up with Hayley, and we'll rescue Lenore and get her to do the spell."

Elijah frowned. "I don't like this-"

Sophia continued speaking. "Nik- I can do this, I remember what we talked about earlier, and I still think this is the best course of action. This is a necessary risk."

Klaus's eyes were wary as he handed her the necklace.

"So- will this take long?"

Hayley stood guard outside of Lenore's shop as Sophia watched with curious eyes as the witch prepped for her spell.

"You want me to soul brand the resurrected spirit of a thousand-year-old witch- It's best I take my time and do it right," the witch retorted. After Sophia handed her the talisman, Lenore shared that after her spell was complete, Esther would be branded with a distinctive symbol on the back of her hand so they would always know who she was.

"Did she give you any idea on why she's doing all this?"

"Love," the witch answered simply.

Sophia stared with questioning eyes at Lenore.

"What besides love inspires such pain and cruelty- And Esther?" The witch's hands were stained in blood as she sliced the snake in her hands in half, removing its entrails and squeezing them into her potion. "Her love is very, very strong."

Sophia looked on with curious eyes as Lenore chanted in a familiar language, when suddenly, she came to halt, looking dazed.

"Are you okay-"

"Yes," Lenore said calmly, "Just getting my bearings."

Sophia rose to her feet when she saw a distinctive, inky black tattoo in the shape of a bird on the back of Lenore's hand.

"Esther," Sophia nodded with guarded eyes as her phone vibrated in her pocket.

"Go ahead," the witch nodded as she wiped the blood on her hand away with a nearby cloth. "You can answer it."

"Nik," Sophia said monotonously, "I'm at Lenore's shop-"

With the wave of her hand, Esther dropped the call. "That'll be enough."

Sophia stared at her former mother-in-law with calculating eyes. "You know they'll come for me-" Lenore's eyes twinkled in response. Sophia cursed under her breath, irritated at herself for willingly playing the part of the damsel in distress. "But that was the idea all along, wasn't it?"

Esther stared at Sophia with fond eyes. "It's lovely to finally see you again, Sophia- Tell me, does Niklaus ever acknowledge all the good you've brought to his life? After all, it was you who gave him hope. The promise of a child shows us all the possibilities of a future that could be. Children are meant to save us from the worst parts of who we are, a truth that makes my own circumstances all the more tragic, wouldn't you say?"

"I don't pity you, Esther," Sophia said calmly, for the moment keeping her anger at bay. "I've lost two daughters, your granddaughters, at your hand. I would be crying, begging you to tell me why, except I lost my shade soon after your disciples tore my daughter away from me. But Nik had recently shared with me that you lost not one, but two children, so you can imagine how traumatized I was."

Esther's face clouded in guilt. "They weren't meant to kill you, believe me, Sophia, the last thing I wanted was for you to be this- This aberration of nature." Sophia scoffed, shaking her head in confusion. "You were a palia psychi, dear girl, the purest, most blessed form of magic. And so in love with my son. A love you are now incapable of feeling- I can give that back to you."

"You can return my shade?" Sophia asked skeptically.

"Your's is out of my reach, I'm afraid. But I can offer you the gift of a new body- and the shade that body is equipped with. It won't feel quite the same, I'm afraid, but freedom will be worth the price. I can give you what you have lost, Sophia. You and Niklaus will be able to finally have the life you were always meant to_ With the ability to create a family of your own. More children of your own. Wouldn't that be nice?"

Sophia stilled. "You're more far gone than I thought if you think Niklaus will ever-"

"He loves you. He gave his heart entirely to that laughing, free spirited village girl- To you. And for a thousand years, it didn't beat until he found you again. You were meant to marry my son, to bring each other joy, to have a beautiful family of your own. With your help, I'm merely ensuring you both live the life you were meant to."

Sophia shook her head, unanswered questions still plaguing her. "Why did you take that away from us in the first place-"

Klaus, decked in a tux, burst into the shop, standing guard in front of Sophia, Elijah following him soon. "I assume I have the misfortune of speaking to my mother-"

Esther put up some sort of shield before Klaus could get too close to her. "I did not come here to wage war-"

"Everything you do is an act of war," snarled Klaus. "If you touch her, so help me-"

"Sophia is free to go," Esther said calmly. "I've spoken my piece, she knows why I'm here. I'm here to heal our family."

"Well, that's a grand sentiment coming from you," Klaus said, unimpressed. Then he turned to Sophia. "Go, now," he urged.

With a frown, she was gone.

"Of course, she used those bloody birds to make her escape," Klaus cursed as he paced at the center of the compound.

"Other than her offer of rebirth, what else did she say?" Elijah inquired calmly.

Sophia shrugged nonchalantly. "That was the gist of it- And honestly, I got the feeling that offer was put on the table more for Klaus's sake than my own. Apparently, me dying this time around was an accident on her part. She dodged any questions as to why she felt the need to kill her grandchildren in the first place."

And with those words, Klaus stormed away. Elijah began to walk in his direction, and Sophia turned to Caroline and Elena as she asked herself what she should do.

"It's okay, I got this," Sophia said, patting Elijah on the shoulder as she walked past him.

She found Klaus at his bedroom balcony, staring down at drunkards wobbling their way back home. Locals knew better than to cross through this road at this time of night.

"My mother- The woman who brought me into the world, made me what I am- And the whole time she lied to me!" Hurt was plain in his tone, in the way his knuckles whitened as he gripped the railing. "That necklace I treasured as a boy, it- She made me weak."

Sophia lightly placed her hand over his as she pressed her shoulder to his. "You were never weak, Nik. You were, by far, the fiercest warrior in our village. The fiercest Mikaelson as far as I can tell."

Klaus turned to face her, and Sophia let her body mirror his. "I did my research, Nik. The elusive, vicious Niklaus Mikaleson. A savage, ruinous monster who decimates others without blinking- You will not let your mother get the better of our family Nik."

Sophia closed the distance between, pressing her lips to his for a searing kiss. A shame she couldn't feel the full extent of her love for this man, yes, so lust and muscle memory would have to. "There is no one better capable of returning our daughter to us. You and that beautiful, twisted mind of yours." Next she knew, her back was pressed to a rough, brick wall, and her legs were wrapped around Klaus's waists. She exhaled sharply as he nipped at her throat, and struggled to roll her hips against his, but his own held her in place.

"Were you tempted to take her offer?" Klaus asked roughly, pupils blown as his eyes searched her face.

"It was quite idyllic, the pretty picture your mother painted but- I loved you as you are now, Nik. The monster and the man." Sophia struggled to keep her voice soothing, her head instinctively dropping back as Klaus left a trail of wet kisses down her chest.

"I'm a monster you denied, time and time again," he growled into her neck, hiking her legs higher and holding them in place as he pressed himself further into her. "What's to say you won't change your mind once you're reunited with your shade?"

"You're mine-" Sophia fought off a whimper as he began grinding his hips against hers.

"You're mine," she would repeat helplessly as they gave Bourbon street a free show.

Sophia wove through an overpacked street, wary of Klaus trailing her. She hoped tourists would aid in throwing off her scent. As far as she could tell, she was still in the clear. "You can't trust Mikael, Davina. As soon as he sees an opening-"

"I know what I'm doing, Sophie," Davina reiterated patiently.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine, I'll be back soon, I promise- Thanks for calling, it was good to hear your voice."

"Davina," the hybrid tried again, but the teen witch had already hung up.

"Well, that was rather rude."

Sophia sighed before she turned to face him, exasperated. His grin was lecherous as his eyes canvassed her. "Imagine my surprise when I woke up to an empty bed this morning."

"I'm a busy woman, Nik," Sophia said plainly. Their tryst on the balcony felt like a fever dream, with Klaus taking her on his bed soon after. Perhaps her first mistake had been leaving him to wake up on his own.

"It's far too late in the game to be playing hard to get, little love," he said as he walked over to stand at her side. "I've always admired how you think ahead- I assume you also heard the cicadas and the church bells as you spoke to Davina. Did you know her family owns a little cabin in Terrebonne Parish? It's been abandoned for years-"

"What the plan, Nik?" Sophia interrupted impatiently.

Klaus dimpled indulgently as her. "Well, if Davina wants to use Mikael to kill me, we have two options-"

"It only makes sense for Mikael to die, seeing as he has the white oak stake," Sophia said as she parked the car. "Have you thought much of your mother's offer?"

"To reunite me and my family as a group of extremely dysfunctional witches? It's unappealing, to say the least."

Sophia nodded as unbuckled and stepped outside. "Mikael's a fairly strong vampire, as I recall, how are you going to-" She quieted as Klaus stood before her, pulling Papa Tunde's blade from his jacket pocket.

"My parents have dedicated their entire lives to making me feel weak and afraid- I've killed them once already, that should have been the end of it."

"For Hope's sake, this time we'll make sure it sticks, " Sophia nodded, a bemused smile making its way to her face his hands reached out to tuck her hair behind her ears.

"This is something I should see on my own," he said with soft eyes, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. "I'll make this up to you." Sophia caught up to his words too late, barely raising her hands as he swiftly snapped her neck.

"You didn't kill him," Sophia said with surprise as Klaus loaded Mikael, staked with Tunde's blade, into the trunk. Godammit, she had meant to give him the silent treatment. And yet, the shock of him restraining himself from killing Mikael was overwhelming.

"As you said, it's best to make sure he'll stay dead this time around," Klaus grinned boyishly. With a sigh, Sophia reached out to hug him, briefly holding him to her tightly as she could. When she was done, she pushed him away from her.

"I'm still pissed at you," Sophia said flatly as she walked past him so could check on Davina in the cabin.

Inside, a pretty boy with an accent, about Davina's age, tended to the unconscious witch. Sophia briefly introduced herself as she listened to her friend's heart rate. The hybrid then pressed her hand to Davina's overheated forehead. "We should get her to the hospital."

Outside, Klaus glared at the teenager beside her, white oak stake in hand.

"Oh, hello darling," Kaleb greeted Klaus snidely. "Back to huff and puff and blow the house down."

Sophia frowned, studying the young guy next to her from her peripheral vision. Darling?

Predictably, Klaus threatened to rip Kaleb's tongue from his mouth.

"I promised not to kill Davina- I said nothing of this insolent sod," Klaus asserted with a glare.

"You- Shut it," Sophia warned as she stood up. Kaleb winked at her before looking back toward Davina.

She shook her head as she made her way to Klaus, feeling now was the wrong time to voice her suspicions. If she was right, it wouldn't help the situation. "You managed to keep yourself from killing Mikael tonight- please don't let yourself be baited by this smart-ass kid," Sophia said in hushed tones.

Klaus looked meaningfully at her, his eyes briefly darting over to the teenager. Kaleb's affectations, Esther being keen on reuniting her family and her penchant for robbing others of their free will- She could see that Klaus had the same hunch she did.

He nodded as he handed her the keys. "Go get the car and we'll take Davina to the hospital."

Sophia shook her head as she walked over to the car, overhearing as Klaus revealed to Kol that he knew of his identity. She froze as she noticed the car trunk was open.

"We meet again, Sophia," Mikael said into her ear as he shoved Papa Tunde's blade into her chest.

Missing an important sliver of her soul didn't completely abstain her from pain, from blistering torture. It was Trefor mercilessly feeding from her, being frozen in her body as Qetsiyah butchered her alive. The pain of giving birth to hope, only to have her baby torn from her arms and her neck slit open.

Sophia screamed, her body thrashing as a hand was seemingly plunged into her, digging around. Then finally, it was out of her, and the foreign object that had been plunged into her plucked out.

She could hardly keep her eyes open, the daylight blinding. The next thing she knew, something warm and heady and savory was being dripped into her mouth.

"I have you, love," Klaus whispered as he pressed his wrist insistently to her mouth.

"Was the kidnapping and torture necessary? I kinda figured it went without saying that your mother has Elijah." Sophia leaned against the doorway as a blood-splattered Klaus washed himself up.

"Needed the confirmation, love," he said as he tossed a rag back into the sink. "With Esther's power, I'll need to draw her out in order to find Elijah."

"How can I help?" Sophia asked.

The fellow hybrid frowned at her. "You know better than most how wretched my mother is- She'll target you to get to me. After what happened with Mikael-"

Sophia rolled her eyes. "Nik, please, I'm not entirely helpless-

"He could have torn out your heart Sophia," Klaus growled. "I'm luckier than I like to admit that he decided to play for his food rather than go for the kill- That he decided to taunt and toy with me rather than-" Anger darkened his eyes as he stalked over to Sophia. He wove her ponytail in his hand and used it as leverage to tilt her hair back, claiming her lips in a rough, needy kiss. Sophia sucked in a deep breath as he lifted his mouth from hers. "I won't let you die at my parents' hands again, Sophia. Not Mikael, not Esther- We both know she will target you if she feels it is necessary, and I can't save Elijah if I'm busy saving you."

"When's the last time you saw Jackson?" Sophia asked as she and Hayley made their way through congested swampland. Her senses were overwhelmed with bright viridescent leaves and vines- She found their rescue mission rather pleasant. A nice change of pace from the overpacked city.

"I lost track of him a few months ago- Between what happened to you and Ollie…" Hayley trailed off, shaking her head in frustration.

"It's not like you can completely blame the guy for becoming a bog hermit," Sophia said sagely.

Hayley's face took on a pinched quality, and she looked ready to disagree as Sophia clocked arrows flying at them from the corner of her eye. She deftly reached out and plucked it from the air as Hayley caught the one that had targeted her, her eyes murderous.

"So that's your best shot," Hayley taunted. "You're going to have to do better than that if you're going to kill a hybrid."

Their attacker used the nearby foliage to hide. "Where have I seen these before?" Sophia asked curiously as she studied the slim, sharpened arrow. The markings on it, her father- One of her father's- said they were meant to help distinguish their pack's weapons from their enemies in the case of friendly fire.

"Ansel," Sophia said with muted surprise as her former alpha stepped forward. His fierce blue eyes softened as he met her gaze, and she couldn't help but think of Klaus.

"You know him," Hayley said suspiciously.

"He's an old friend of ours," a flat, husky voice said from a few steps away. Sophia turned around to meet Jackson's eyes.

"That's one way of putting it," Sophia said tonelessly.

Around a campfire, Jackson shared how Francesca tried to buy Jackson's loyalty with a moonlight ring. After he turned her down, her henchmen dragged him out here and left him for dead.

"By the time I healed, I learned what had happened to you and your baby- After that, I knew it was over and I just kind of drifted," Jackson concluded.

Feeling eyes on her, Sophia turned to see that Ansel was staring at her, his face immeasurable grief-stricken.

"And that's when I found him, started teaching him the old ways," Ansel shared, his voice both quiet and resonant. So that's where Klaus got it from.

"Re-teaching me more's like it," Jackson corrected with a bitter smile. "Helping me remember what it means to be a wolf."

Hayley didn't seem all too impressed. "You mean by living out in the ass end of nowhere?" she asked skeptically.

"Easy," Jackson warned with smiling eyes, "Your kind makes him awry."

"Mine and Sophia's kind," Hayley said pointedly, her gaze briefly flicking between Sophia and Ansel. "Jack, whatever you and your friend think of me, my kind is the wolves, even if they did pledge allegiance to a witch. All that means is that they need an alpha- Ollie needs one too."

Jackson was quick to disagree, feeling that Oliver's death sentence was inevitable.

"Fine, then me and Sophie will save him ourselves- You got a problem old man," she asked combatively as Ansel stood in front of her.

"I have no love of vampires, but I will not allow a wolf to be killed by witches," he said conclusively.

Finding Ollie was quick work, but to Hayley's disappointment, he didn't have a clue where Elijah was.

"They know we're here," Ansel warned.

"I knew that was too easy," sighed Sophia. She hated this damn cemetery.

She stayed behind to help Ansel fend off the wolves while Hayley stole away with Ollie.

"How are you here?" she finally asked as they wandered outside the moonlit mausoleums.

He stayed quiet for the moment, keeping his eyes ahead. "I am deeply sorry for the loss of your babe, as well as your shade."

"How do you-"

"I can see that you're missing it- It's all too apparent to those of us who have crossed over to death-"

"And somehow, here you are standing beside me, a thousand years later-" Before she could say anymore, more wolves were on them.

Before Sophia could finish the last of them, Klaus was in front of her, snapping a neck. His lips quirked up. "And may I inquire what you are doing-" He stopped short as his gaze wandered beyond her.

"Niklaus," Ansel said in recognition, and then repeated himself, a familiar desperation in his tone.

"No no," Klaus spat, trauma and seeded distrust marring his features. "You're a phantom conjured by Esther- That is all you are."

"Nik," Sophia said softly. "I don't think-"

Klaus grabbed her hand, keeping her with him as he began to walk away from Ansel.

"It's my mother- That thing is not real-"

"Look at me Niklaus- I am flesh and blood, your flesh and blood." Ansel did his best to make his case, but Klaus wouldn't hear of it.

"Are we going to talk about-"

"No," Klaus said as looked over at Elijah, who had tossed and turned all night in bed, still suffering from the effects of Esther's magic. He was in rough shape, and even Klaus couldn't break through the barrier Esther had placed on his mind.

"Nik- Do you know what this mark on him is?" Sophia asked as she studied the rash on Elijah's neck as Klaus stepped back to gather his bearings.

"I haven't seen this since I was a child- Mikael would return from battle more blindly temperamental than usual and our mother would use the petals of a rare Merlock orchid to put him to sleep. She would mend his mind with a spell, and then wake him with the roots of the same plant. If she has access to it now, then maybe it also grows out in the bayou." Klaus loomed over her as he shared his speculations. "You stay here with Hayley and the wolves and mind the fort-"

It was plain to Sophia how distorted Esther made Klaus, bringing centuries of trauma and neglect that he hadn't dealt with to the forefront. "I rather track down Esther-"

"Don't go near her, Sophia- I mean it," Klaus said staunchly as he reached out to grasp her forearms. "Remember the promise you made to our daughter- She's gotten to you once already. Please," a pleading note had entered his voice. "I don't want to return only to find that you have been made a victim of her madness."

Sophia nodded once. "I promise."

After Klaus left, Sophia reflected on the lessons Esther has taught her, such as how it was much more effective to target those that she loved.

"Cami- Are you sure? If we do this, you're the bait?"

Klaus wouldn't be entirely pleased with her individual effort to take out his brother, but if they were successful, well, it would alleviate the worst of his ire. Camille, Marcel, Josh, Hayley, and Hayley's new wolf friend Aiden made an unconventional team, but Fin in one way or another posed a danger to all of them.

Cami met Sophia's eyes, quickly shaking off her hesitation. "Make it look convincing, he's pretty smart."

Sophia and Camille sat huddled in the church as Aiden got off the phone with Fin. It wouldn't be long now before his tracking spell would find Camille.

"I always thought having a woman's mouth on my neck would be more erotic," the bartender quipped as Sophia handed her a cup of her blood.

"This should help you heal fast," Sophia smiled wanly.

"Tell me the plan again," Cami asked before finishing Sophia's blood.

"Aiden's going to get Vincent to the altar and then me and Hayley are going to jump him,"

Sophia explained, watching said hybrid pace back and Forth by the church's entrance. "He's so powerful, we only have a few seconds to get the shackles on him."

"Where's Marcel?"

"Looking for Davina," Sophia sighed. "He heard that she's back in town-"

"Protective dad stuff?"

"If you want to call ripping Kol Mikaeelson into a million pieces protective dad stuff, then sure," Sophia agreed, quirking her lips.

It had been touch and go there for a minute, and Sophia had nearly had her heart magically yanked out of her chest, but they managed to get the cursed witch shackles Cami had inherited onto Fin, effectively neutering him for the time being.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner-" Jackson said regretfully as he helped Sophia to her feet.

"Better late than never Jai," Sophia said appreciatively, glad her heart was still in place.

"I just talked to Elijah- Guess you found those herbs," Sophia said tentatively as she entered Klaus's room.

His back was to her as he faced the window, a glass of scotch in his hand. She walked slowly over to him and sat on the bed. "What's-"

"I spent the day with my father."

Sophia stilled as Klaus turned around to face her, his expression grim.

"My real father."

"How- How did that go?" Sophia asked gently.

"Imagine- The thought of what I could be had I been raised by him, had I been nurtured…"

"Niklaus, son of Ansel," Sophia said with a small smile. "You probably still would have had a starry-eyed little stalker girl following you around everywhere."

A strangled laugh escaped Klaus as he sat on the bed beside her. "This was his."

He handed her a leather-bound folder, filled to the brim with loose parchment paper. The very first picture inside was a sketch of an adolescent Klaus. Sophia gently combed through similar pictures, pausing when she came across one herself, smiling up at Klaus.

"He knew about Hope," Klaus continued, his eyes watering. "And I wanted to trust him, more than anything in the world, I wanted to. But… I Couldn't be sure."

Sophia placed the sketches down beside her and fully turned to face him.

"And I would never forgive myself if anything happened to her because of my selfish desire for a father." Now, a touch of anger clouded his voice, his eyes defensive. "So I killed him. Without hesitation, I killed him."

Sophia kept her expression gentle, if impassive. "Nik," she sighed. She didn't know how to react to this, and her usual precautions didn't seem appropriate here. She settled on placing her hand over his and scooted over so that she was sitting right beside him. "You killed him for Hope," she said softly.

"For Hope," he murmured, interlacing his fingers with hers as he continued to stare out into the city, his eyes that of a young boy.

"So- Are you going to work on a rousing speech or are you just going to get day drunk?" Hayley asked irritatedly.

"How about a little bit of both?" Jackson returned glibly.

Hayley looked pointedly to Sophia, who shrugged as she cracked open a beer. "Works for me."

"Jesus Christ the both of you- It's 10 am," Hayley said irritatedly as she nabbed Jackson's beer with her hand. He stared balefully at her before as he walked up the wooden porch, passing Sophia, who passively handed him her own drink.

"I don't remember much bout' my past life as- As Jai," he sighed tiredly, tilting his head to briefly stare at Sophia, who pressed her lips together. "Both Ansel and Sophia advised against it. And after giving my word to Ansel, in exchange for not relieving my past life, he agreed to teach me everything he knew. If only I knew he was Klaus's father, I would have asked him a hell of a lot more."

Sophia cleared her throat. "Hello- I was there too. Ask away. By the way, Ansel wasn't only your alpha, and you aren't the only one here who died tragically in your past at the hands of a Mikaelson," she stated dryly.

As Jackson looked out towards the river, Hayley turned her gaze to Sophia. 'You're not helping,' she mouthed. Sophia frowned in response before looking down at her phone. Sophia's capacity for empathy had definitely improved a lot since she originally had lost her shade, but it was plain to see she still didn't quite consider the Cresent's a priority of hers. Not like before. She put herself and her baby in the line of fire for the wolves, Hayley reminded herself. That was how much her friend had cared, and she died for her loyalty. Taking a deep breath, she contemplated her next steps.

Sophia would much rather be at Klaus's side today, but he was busy trying to sway his brothers away from doing Esther's bidding and being the big picture guy that he was, he was the one to convince Sophia to join Hayley today.

Hayley knew it may not have been entirely wise to bring Sophia with her to help convince Jackson to get his shit together, but the truth of the matter was, it was all too apparent the recently turned hybrid was still a soft spot of his and Hayley wasn't above playing dirty if it meant getting her people out from under the witches.

She and Klaus saw eye to eye on that much.

"This rings a bell," Sophia murmured as she skimmed through the notes of what Jackson had learned from Ansel. "The Unification Ceremony."

"Say more," Hayley encouraged from where she sat on a horribly uncomfortable, creaky rocking chair, staring defeatedly out onto the lake as she sipped at a beer herself.

"Basically, werewolf bloodlines were blessed with what once were considered unique abilities- Some had speed, others with strength, and if the alphas of those packs got married and agreed to a magical- mystical ceremony, their packs were united as one and were gifted with both speed and strength. Nowadays, most wolves all have the same abilities- I imagine pack alphas got a little desperate once vampires started hunting them to extinction," Sophia shared thoughtfully.

"Are you saying you believe in this?" Hayley asked urgently, sitting up straighter.

Sophia tilted her head thoughtfully. "I'm a rare occurrence in nature who is mystically bound to my husband from a thousand years ago- There's not a lot I don't believe in these days. Not to mention," Sophia said quickly, her eyes brightening, "Ansel participated in one of these ceremonies himself. It wasn't secret back then how he and the Mrs' weren't a love match."

Hayley snorted. That would explain the consummation of Klaus. Then she puffed up in irritation. "Jackson," she called out as she stood up, walking towards the woods where Jackson was chopping wood. "Why didn't you tell me about the Unification Ceremony?"

Jackson shook his head as he lowered his axe, his eyes going back and forth between Sophia and Hayley. "What do you-"

"I'm a hybrid, that's a unique ability, wouldn't you agree? I can control when I change. If this magical marriage works, then our people get my power and they can ditch the rings- Then Esther won't have a hold over them," Hayley said desperately. "You guys, this is exactly the answer we have been looking for. Let's find a shaman, let's say some vows- Hell, we'll make it a party."

Jackson swung his taciturn gaze over to Sophia. "You want to tell her or should I?"

Hayley turned bemused eyes over to her friend. "What else is there to consider?"

Sophia sucked in her lower lip, her eyes far away. "If the vows aren't honored, it won't work."

Jackson's frustrated gaze burrowed into Hayley. "It's gotta be a real marriage in every way for the rest of our lives- Are you up for that?"

Hayley's chest rose as she took in a deep breath. Inexplicably, Elijah came to the forefront of her mind. They had lost steam months ago. He had turned her down one too many times, and then- Understandably- The safety of his niece became his number one priority. Hayley shouldn't care for him anymore, not like that… He had made it clear that they were off the table.

But that first month as a hybrid, she had been so angry, so incredibly disoriented. Her emotions were everywhere, and her attraction to Elijah felt as though it was going to burn her alive.

The sleeves of his crisp white button-up had been rolled up, his dark eyes unreadable as he looked over the cheap, hole-in-the-wall bar she had unleashed her hunger on.

Him promising to take care of it as she sobbed her apologies. How gentle he had been as he helped to clean her up-

His low groan as Hayley tightened her legs around his waist, his eyes closed in bliss as he allowed her to feed from her. She had never seen him look so undone-

Hayley's eyes blinked rapidly as she desperately buried those memories away once again.

Jackson's face was angry as he stared at her. "Yeah. That's what I thought."

In the end, it had been easy to convince the wolves to see things their way. Hayley had made a fairly convincing argument, and it didn't hurt that they had a thousand-year-old wolf who had witnessed the Unification Ceremony to back her up.

The wolves would be on their side.

"Are- Are you sure you want to do this Hayley?"

Hayley nodded, hoping her face was reassuring as she looked at Sophia. "I promised I would do anything to help them- This is how I do that."

Sophia shifted her weight to her other foot, her face distressed. "Look- There was this secret my first pack had to keep-" Her friend's lips curved into a wry smile. "A weakness we did everything to hide from the Crescents."

Hayley narrowed her eyes. "Alright, I'm curious."

Sophia nodded. "If thousand-year-old gossip is to be believed, Ansel's betrothed had the uncanny ability to sense enemies from hundreds of miles away, and Ansel's pack had superior strength- It was more than an ideal match and two major bloodlines became united as one… For awhile at least. Then, out of nowhere, the magic from Ansel's unification ceremony was mysteriously undone early on in his marriage, not too long after his only daughter, Astrid, was born- And my guess is, nine months later, Klaus was born."

Hayley pulled her eyebrows together, not sure what Sophia expected from her.

"This marriage will demand that you choose Jackson every single day, and your vows will allow for very little wiggle room. I just want to make sure that you know what you're getting yourself into," Sophia said, as earnestly as she could manage.

Hayley's face softened as she studied Sophia. "I would be lying if I said I didn't have any second thoughts, but I want to do this. And- This is your pack too, Sophie. You died trying to do the same thing for them, and your daughter nearly-'' Hayley cursed and cast a quick glance at their surroundings. "Your daughter did too. If this works, you'll have an army of hybrids who'll go to bat for your- Our family."

Sophia raised her lips in a tired smile. "They really don't deserve you. And- And nothing's been done yet. Jai was my best friend once upon a time, and from what I understand, this is an inappropriate situation to pick favorites, but you have a getaway driver if you need one."

Hayley laughed appreciatively, pulling in Sophia for a hug.

"Well well well- If it isn't the Mrs."

The familiar voice brought Sophia out of her head as she entered the dining room. "Kol," she greeted offhandedly, exercising her hearing to search for Klaus.

"I must say, greetings and tidings from those I hold dearest has been most lacking," he smirked, raising his eyebrows expectedly.

Sophia frowned as she really took in the youngest Mikaelson, remembering the events that surrounded his death and trying to find an appropriate response. "Look, what happened back in Mystic Falls, how you died-"

"Would you be referring to how your sister and brother conspired to-"

"It was a shitshow, and you did try to kill my brother first," Sophia said factually.

"Are we pointing fingers now? Excuse me for trying to prevent the return of Silas- And here I thought I was doing you a favor," he pressed, his eyes darkening as he kept his tone light.

Sophia sighed as she made her way to the chair beside him and fell onto it. "I'm sorry how everything went down, and I apologize on behalf of my siblings. So much has happened since then- Klaus threatened to kill the rest of my family, Silas and you and your other side friends terrorized Mystic Falls- I'm hoping we can let bygones be bygones."

Kol met her eyes, holding her gaze for what would have been an uncomfortably long amount of time, had Sophia had the capacity to be made uncomfortable by such a thing. Finally, he smiled.

"You do make it impossible to hold a grudge, Sophia Gilbert. Or is it Mikaelson? Have you and Nik had the talk, managed to clear that up-"

"Shut up," Sophia sighed, fighting the twitch of her lips.

Mirth shone in the witch's green eyes, then they took on an impish gleam."Only seconds after bringing me back into the fold and he's already harassing me about your pesky shade."

Sophia straightened up. "He asked about-"

"Personally, I think I rather like you like this- I'd have wagered that he would've too, but we both know despite his front, he's the sentimental sort. He misses you as you were." Kol rolled his eyes.

Sophia sat back in her chair, eyeing him curiously."Do you know anything?"

Kol shrugged. "I may have a contact who might be of use- Didn't mention it to Nik, can't say for sure yet if they'll provide anything worthwhile and I don't want him to run off another line of witches. Let's keep this between us, shall we?"

Sophia smiled. "Deal."

"There you are," Sophia sighed as she made her way down the stairs and onto the courtyard. Klaus's gaze was piercing as she made her way over to him. "There's been a new development-"

"Yes, there has been," he interrupted, his tone urgent. "You can tell me all about it on the way to see our daughter."

"I don't- I mean I can't…" Sophia trailed off, nervously unbuckling her seatbelt as Klaus parked the car. "I'm not the same woman who said goodbye to her eight months ago, Nik." She peered nervously over to him, but he was already gone. Suddenly, her door was opened for her.

"Together then, shall we?" he asked confidently, holding a hand to her. With a grateful look, Sophia took it, and together they walked over to their daughter.

Elijah and Rebekah smiled excitedly at them, with little Hope tucked into Elijah's arms.

She was a beautiful baby, Sophia admired. Round and cherub-like, with Klaus's complexion and eyes.

Mere steps away from her daughter, who had grown so much since Sophia had last seen her, she let go of Klaus's hand and nodded for him to greet their baby. Elijah readily handed Hope over to Klaus, who beamed as he took the baby into his arms. Hope was calm as she took them in, and without noticing, Sophia had raised her hand to her.

"It's okay love," Klaus said gently to her, noticing how she was about to pull her hand away. With a tentative smile on her face, Sophia gently cupped the back of Hope's head as she placed a light kiss on the top of her smooth cap of dark hair. Near black, like Sophia's.

The Mikaelsons and Sophia worked together to build up their traditional bonfire as Klaus rehashed what Fin had told him- The deal Esther had struck up with her sister Dahlia. In exchange for magically repairing her empty womb, Esther had bartered the firstborn in each generation of her line over to her older sister.

"According to Fin, our sister Freya didn't die of plague- She was taken as payment by our Aunt Dahlia, who then cursed all Mikaelson firstborns for all eternity," Klaus surmised.

"Are we sure he spoke the truth?" Rebekah asked.

"I believe it- I think," Sophia frowned. "It explained-" she looked meaningfully over at Klaus, who nodded in understanding.

Clearing her throat, Rebekah attempted to ease the tension. "No wonder Fin hates us- He lost the sister he adored and instead got a judgey pack of siblings who found him unbearably dull."

Sophia looked upon all of the siblings. "So what are the odds of us running into your loony Aunt Dahlia anytime soon?"

"Fable's over a thousand years old," said Elijah assuredly. "Dahlia's long dead."

"Like Esther- And myself," Sophia said pointedly. She didn't quite have the maternal extinct she once did, but she didn't go through all of this just for Esther's empty nest sister to sink her claws into her daughter.

Klaus looked at her. "No one's going to hurt Hope because no one's going to find her- That's enough wood Rebekah, you'll burn down the whole bloody state of Arkansas."

"We're just missing a key ingredient," the blonde said brightly.

"No, we're not," Klaus immediately dismissed.

"Yes we are, back me up Sophia," Rebekah smiled.

Elijah's lips twitched as Sophia wracked her mind over the last time she participated in this particular tradition. "I suspect Nikalus would rather choke on the ashes."

"Help me out here," Sophia asked, looking with questioning eyes over to her friend.

"Well," Rebekah reminded her, "Before we light it, we write down our wishes for each other to burn for luck- It was Kol's favorite part when we were kids."

"Further evidence as to why we should ignore it," threw in Klaus.

"Hey," Sophia admonished as her lips curved playfully, "As I recall, that was my favorite part to- And it's Hope's first Bonfire season. We're doing it."

"Here you go," Sophia said with a smile as she placed a notepad and pen in front of Klaus. He was holding Hope before him on his lap, and she babbled at him as he in turn made goofy faces at her.

"I'm holding a small child, Sophia. The silly wish game will have to wait," he said dismissively.

Sophia dug her heels in. "You write, I'll hold."

"I don't recall you being this bossy of a wife our first time around," he quipped. Then, his expression turned awkward as he briefly studied her face, then brought his gaze back to Hope.

"We've never really talked about that, have we? Are we still technically married?" Sophia wondered flippantly as she walked over and lifted Hope from his arms.

"Our vows were rather cumbersome as I recall," he said, his lips curving upwards as Sophia rolled her eyes and sniffed at Hope's downy soft head of hair.

"Well, between Genevieve and Cami- It's not exactly as if I'm holding them to you, Nik," Sophia chided playfully as she sat across from him.

She frowned as Klaus's smile fell away, his eyes roving over her face, his tone somewhat defensive. "You were keeping on my toes love- Between spurning me away and dear Jai sniffing around you-"

"I'm not accusing you of anything. Nik," Sophia broke in gently as she stood Hope on her lap and hugged the baby to her. "My pregnancy was a mess, my hormones were everywhere, we hadn't really had the chance to talk in a thousand years… It's not your typical situation-"

"Marry me," Klaus said hurriedly, his gaze burning as he stared at her.

Sophia smiled in confusion. "Nik, I wasn't trying to guilt you into anything-"

"As far as I'm concerned you are my wife in all but name, the gorgeous mother of my child- Please Sophia, let me clear up any confusion you and others may have- Marry me."

Sophia briefly glanced down to her baby and saw that Hope's mouth was opened in what seemed to be a toothless smile. Feeling something in her soften, she placed a kiss on her baby's cheek before looking back at Klaus. "I don't know if it's fair to accept your proposal as I am now, Nik. I- I'm not fully capable of loving you and Hope like- Like before. I'm doing my best but… I'm going through the motions, and you both deserve more."

Klaus shook his head. "If I were a better man, I would wait until you had your shade before pressing you on this, but as I see it, you never stopped being my wife and I your husband. This is only a formality I would like to grant myself now that we are reunited with our daughter and finally have space to breath-"

"You have me Nik," Sophia cut in with a fond grin. "We don't need to be married for that, and while there was a time in our lives where the concept of wedding and marriage were important traditions for both of us, I think we 're long past that, and you don't strike me as the traditional type anymore."

Sophia felt the oddest twinge as Klaus's earnest expression smoothed over, his expression implacable. She went over her words again in her mind, wondering what was particularly upsetting about what she had said.

Hope was fussing in Elijah's arms, her face red from crying as they waited for Rebekah outside. The eldest looked with alarmed eyes over to Sophia. "Perhaps you should gather her?"

Sophia laughed. "She's probably just tired," the hybrid murmured as she picked up her daughter, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Hope instantly seemed to calm as she yanked at a lock of Sophia's hair.

"There she goes, all she needed was her mother," observed Klaus, eyeing the bonfire impatiently. "She barely knows me," Sophia dismissed, "We haven't seen each other pretty much since the day she was born."

Hope babbled, putting her hand in her mouth as she tucked her head against Sophia.

Feeling eyes on her, Sophia looked over to Klaus smirking as he calmly studied the pair of them.

"Hey, look what I found," Rebekah said excitedly as she exited the house, a sleek, bulky polaroid camera in her arms. "Come on, let's try. Nik, do you think you can cram us into a selfie?"

"Honey, Klaus is the virtuoso of cramming his siblings into confined spaces," Elijah remarked dryly. Rebekah and Sophia exchanged amused smiles as Klaus eyed them all unappreciatively.

"I'm so glad I traveled hundreds of miles to visit my mentally ill brother only to have him insult me to my face," he sniped.

"Come on, just take the picture," Rebekah said impatiently as they all crowded together for Klaus to take their picture. "See, I wish it could always be like this," she said somewhat mournfully as they studied the quickly developing image.

"If wishes were horses," Elijah murmured.

Klaus finished solemnly. "Beggars would ride." He met all of their gazes, his expression upset. "You all realize we have to burn this- You want me to make a wish for my family Rebekah? I wish it didn't have to be this way, but it does." He passed the picture over to Sophia. "We can't risk this falling into the wrong hands."

Sophia studied polaroid, all their smiling faces and Klaus's dour one. Her daughter, who had doubled in size since she had last seen her. She thought of all her family's belongings she had lost in the fire, and maybe it was selfish, but she wanted to save this memory for herself. For when she could fully appreciate it, and for something for Hope to look back on.

"Let's- Let's keep it. Please," she asked calmly. Klaus looked at her, a rebuttal on his lips, but Sophia continued. "We are doing everything we can to ensure that Hope doesn't have to hide away forever. She- she's gotten so big since the last time we saw her Nik, and these memories are so important. Please."

Klaus held her gaze, then gave her a nod.

Not being able to be together as a proper family, having to send Hope and Rebekah off into the night again… it was enough for Rebekah to want to stand up to her mother, to cut her off at the knees.

"The only way to truly protect her was to convince the world of her death," Klaus said as Cami gazed at Hope, in awe and in confusion. Sophia smiled kindly at the blonde as she made her way to her and Hope, who babbled at the stranger before her.

"It's really… Nice of you, to offer Cami protection from Vincent," Sophia said as she walked Klaus over to the car. He insisted that she remain at the manor with Hope and Cami, while he returned to the city. "Uncharacteristically nice, some might say," she smiled teasingly as Klaus narrowed his eyes at her.

"Is that jealousy I detect?" he asked glibly.

Sophia pursed her lips thoughtfully and turned her head up towards the sky. "I was, before. Now- I'm just curious. I mean, you were clearly attracted to her-"

"I- I admired her. And perhaps she… I was- Now, she's my friend." Klaus shook his head, his face displeased with this train of thought.

Sophia nodded. "I can respect that, but is that all this is? I can help but notice your predilection for blondes given-" she trailed off with a smile as she gestured toward herself.

Klaus barked a laugh, reaching over to tug at one of her stray, dark curls. "Is Camille the reason you won't marry me? I thought it was your lack of shade, or a need to shuck traditions-"

"I would have thought you would be above marriage? It's really very old-fashioned of you, Nik."

"You are not incapable of sentiment without your shade, love. Nor of delight, loyalty. But you do lack warmth."

Sophia nodded. This has been what she has been saying this entire time.

Kol, ever the prankster, did not place Rebekah where he said he would. His luck had also taken an unfortunate turn, and he was stuck in the Manor with increasingly starving vampires.

Davina, who had a soft spot for the wayward brother, was helping them to track down Vincent in the Hope of getting him to undo the spell he had placed on the Abattoir. As Davina realized that the eldest Mikaelson was channeling an extra boost of energy from his parents, Klaus collapsed.

"Why are you doing this, Hayley?"

Sophia was rather baffled that her friend was seriously entertaining her betrothal to Jackson. Hayley squared her shoulders as she met Sophia's eyes.

"This pack is my priority, Sophie, and I have the ability to help get them away from the witches, give them the ability to change at will, to not have to change at all…. And let's not forget you're part of this pack as well. Klaus wasn't exactly subtle about why he wanted me to reclaim my birthright- He's just lucky that I want to do what I can to help you and your baby."

Sophia took in a deep breath as she nodded, then smiled wryly at her friend. "If you're sure-"

Hayley cut her, her voice serious. "I'm sure."

The mud was littered with Sophia's and Hayley's footprints, and the occasional crunch of leaves could be heard as they strolled through the bayou.

"Do you think it's necessary to tell Jackson about her?"

"I know it's not strictly my secret to share, but- A big part of why I want to do this is because you and Hope are family, you're both a part of this pack… You're ours. They don't know it yet, but the Crescents will go to bat for her- It's only fair that I'm upfront with Jackson about this."

Sophia sighed, nodding her head. "Klaus won't be happy about this."

"No, I imagine he won't be."

"Hayley, I got this, you should catch up with Jackson."

The hybrid was glowering at Klaus, her lips thin. Sparing a sidelong glance at Sophia, Hayley's hair whipped behind as she turned to walk away.

Klaus' face was threaded with anger as he glared at Sophia. "Have you lost your mind- Under no circumstances will Hayley divulge our family secrets." He spat the hybrid's name as he stepped even closer to Sophia.

"It's not that simple Nik," Sophia said tiredly. "Fin controls more than half the wolves, and this marriage can change that-"

"The outcome of your strategy is not worth the risk it poses to our daughter," Klaus declared somewhat patiently.

"It's not a risk- I trust Hayley, and hell, I trust Jai. They're my pack, Nik. This was initially your plan, remember? We could have an army of super wolves who would protect Hope as one of their own-"

"Hope doesn't need a wolf army, I'll protect her myself. I'll have an easier time of it too if you would cease running off with every motley member of your werewolf brethren- It is absurd that you even considered this, Sophia. In this matter, there is no one above my decree, not even you. You will tell Hayley this wedding is off."

Sophia laughed coldly. "You're doing your part to protect our daughter, Nik, and this is me doing mine-"

"You can't even discern what's right and wrong half the time, you have Hayley to do that for you-"

Sophia's decision was implacable."I came back for her, Nik. I know I'm not the mother she deserves, but that's how much I loved her-"

"What does that mean?"

Sophia shook her head, thrown off by her own words. "It doesn't matter, she is our daughter, and this is how I can help protect her. Hope will always be the daughter of Klaus Mikaelson, the hybrid with a thousand enemies. One of the few strengths I have are connections- To Hayley, to Jackson, my family. Let Hope benefit from that too. Let them help, and we can bring her home. I'm not the one who wanted to raise her in New Orleans, you did. We'll never get this time back- Please trust me Nik."

As various alphas from wolf packs near and far away drew blood and renounce their leadership in favor of folding their packs in with the crescents, Sophia asked Hayley for a favor. For her blood. It was a stall, but hopefully, it would buy her daughter time, to put distance between her and Fin.

Sophia held her phone to her chest, numb. Regretful. Displeased, but not as terrified as Klaus would be right now. She had to do something. She turned her eyes towards Marcel, who was meant to deliver her blood to Fin.

"Klaus said it was all just a plan to keep up distracted, he's going after her, I have to leave-"

"Wait-" Marcel interrupted urgently. "Fins already there and you said it was six hours away-"

"I have to do something-"

"Listen to me, Sophia- There is no way that Elijah is going to let anything happen to your baby girl today. So, go help Hayley build the army that will keep her safe tomorrow," Marcel reasoned, his face earnest.

Rebekah insisted on Hayley having her wedding at the Abattoir, and Klaus agreed, wanting to put the spotlight on Hayley's connection to Sophia, as well as the Mikaelsons.

Sophia walked around the heart of the compound, appraising the elaborate, if tasteful, decorations.

Sophia raised her head to smile at Klaus as she felt his hand grasp hers.

"I never took you for the hand-holding type," she teased as he led her to the next room.

"Were we to get married, you -As you were- You likely would have insisted on returning to Mystic Falls for the nuptials. You were dreadfully sentimental."

"Then it's lucky you don't have to worry about that- For the time being, anyhow-" Sophia stopped short at the sight of Elijah, Cami… and her daughter.

"Nik," Sophia gently reprimanded, eyes on her daughter, "Fin could be anywhere-"

"I've taken precautions," Klaus broke in. "There will be no uninvited guests at Hayley's wedding."

Sophia nodded, a smile breaking out on her face as she reached forward to lift Hope from Cami's arms. Everyone laughed as the baby immediately cooed.

Klaus rocked their daughter in his arms, and Sophia stood at his side, and they watch on as all the werewolves in the room acquired Hayley's hybrid abilities.

"Thank you for trusting me with this Nik, I know it wasn't easy for you."

"The marriage has its merits, and better Hayley marries dear old Jai rather than you," he smirked.

Sophia rolled her eyes as she held out her pinky finger for Hope to grasp.

Sophia walked down the stairs, Hope in her arms, her gaze meeting Hayley's. The bride immediately pulled away from the groom and purposefully strode over to Sophia's side.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please direct your attention to the lovely Sophia Gilbert," Kkaus announced jovially, remaining a few paces behind Sophia.

"As Hayley's unofficial maid of honor, I would like to propose a toast," Sophia smiled as Hope gazed curiously at the crowd, a pacifier in her mouth. "Our friendship didn't have an easy start, and I never could have guessed that she would turn into one of my most loyal friends- Certainly more family friendly. Someone who I am proud to name my daughters godmother." Faces around the room had already been curious about the baby in her arms, but proper shock registered at Sophia's admission. "As you, last spring Niklaus and I had a daughter, but due to tragic circumstances, she was lost. And thanks to Hayley's continuous friendship, she has been able to return home. Her name is Hope."

Hayley's voice carried throughout the room as she spoke up. "Both Sophia and Hope are part of our pack, our family, and is it my honor to teach her our ways, to care for her as one of our own."

"I'm so sorry that Klaus's agenda upstaged your wedding day, it was the way to-"

"I get it, Sophie," Hayley smiled. "Truth is, we got some fairly fanatical werewolves in our new pack, a good chunk of alphas decided to rescind their status because of their curiosity about you. I am surprised I managed to be named godmother, as I recall, there was strong competition," Hyakey said in a low voice as she rocked the increasingly drowsy Hope, who was slowly falling asleep.

"Yes, well I have to admit it was a pragmatic choice on Klaus's part, but honestly- Thank You for agreeing." Hayley's lips quirked curiously as her eyes met Sophias. "You were there from the beginning, through the hormones and multiple attempts on our lives. She- she wouldn't be here today without you. I'm honored that you agreed to be her godmother, and she's such a lucky little girl."

"I think I want to be alone for this bit," Kol said as he stared regretfully down at Davina Claire.

"I'm afraid that's not an option," Elijah declared matter of fact. Kol raised his head to see Klaus, Rebekah, and Sophia at his side, along with a pudgy little babe bundled and cradled in Sophia's arms.

"Hope, meet you uncle Kol," Sophia said softly.

Kol was surprised to find himself smiling as he appraised the softly blinking child. "Count your blessings, little Mikaelson, that your looks favor your mother."

Sophia rolled her eyes. "You and Bekah both think that, but she so obviously takes after Nik."

Kol mock frowned and shook his head as he peered at the baby. "No no, she clearly has your likeness."

The tentative cheer quickly turned solemn as coughs began to rack Kol's body. "I'm so sorry I couldn't be, well, helpful at all Kol. I-"

"I understand, Sophia. You were preoccupied with the bundle of terror in your arms. Take good care of my little niece while I'm gone, yeah?"

In typical Klaus fashion, he hadn't been gracious upon the reveal of a long-lost sibling. The mysterious Freya.

A foreboding message written in stark white chalk. A promise made is a debt to be paid.

An eerie, somehow familiar tune played on a violin.

A not-so-kind stranger offering a black dahlia.

What was supposed to be a simple walk around the bright French Quarter with her daughter grew increasingly more sinister.

A gangly man harshly grabbed onto Sophia, and before she could react, Klaus stood protectively in front of her and Hope. "Show yourself," he demanded.

"Nik," Sophia said nervously as a woman near her fell into a trance, the entirety of her turning a murky, cloudy grey.

"I am here, I am everywhere. And I intend to take what is mine."

"The point of a fortress is that it protects when you stay within its walls," Klaus said angrily to Sophia, standing up from his seat.

Regretful, yes, but Sophia wasn't capable of remorse these days.

"I know, I get it- Can we just try to figure out what we're going to do next?" she asked patiently.

Freya had invited to their impromptu meeting, and described kenning- A tactic Dahlia used to have proxies watch her enemies from afar.

The newfound Mikaelson shared a great likeness to Klaus, as well as Rebekah (prior to her body switch). From the shade of their skin to their gold woven hair.

the jury was still out whether could be trusted to help protect Hope or not.

Freya felt it would be best to use to try to locate Dahlia, Elijah thought it was worth investing in some sort of anti-witch, anti-magic clubhouse, and in true Klaus fashion, he sought a way to kill her once and for all.

Sophia spent the day with Hope within the safety of the compound, staying put as she was told until it would be time to leave for this supposed, anti-magic bar on the borders of the city.

No. I wasn't born like this. Her, you fight for- Lovely Freya, the daughter you barely know. Yet, there was a time when you knew me- As your son! A time before all the disappointments, the revelations of betrayal, when all you had to do was be my father- And even then, you despised me, didn't you?! I want to know why.

"You sure that was the best move?" Sophia asked in a hushed tone, rocking Hope back and forth on the chair in her nursery. She couldn't help but tune in from upstairs as the Mikaelsons spared with each other, culminating in Klaus staking his father through the heart. Freya could still be heard sobbing in Elijah's arms.

Klaus's eyes remained on their baby as he spoke. "We needed his ashes if we are to fashion another weapon to kill Dahlia- I thought it would be best to make good use of Esther returning Mikael from the dead."

The silence between them was tense, fraught with the memories of Mikael's abuse.

"You were such a sweet boy, Nik," Sophia whispered with a small smile. Klaus raised glassy eyes to meet her gaze. "Despite Mikael's best efforts to beat it out of you. Once upon a time, you were just a kid, and he was an adult. I'm sorry that his mistakes haunt you even now."

Klaus shook his head, blinking away unshed tears. "It is of no importance-" He quieted as Sophia stood up and walked over to him, the look on her face reproachful. Klaus carefully accepted a sleeping Hope into his arms, his eyes tender as he stared down at her.

"You're so good with her- Patient. Gentle. Everything Mikael wasn't with you. I always knew you would be a wonderful father, even back then."

"Our little-est wolf." Klaus's lips hinted at a smile as he pressed a lingering kiss upon Sophia's lips, Hope hugged between them.

Sophia's ears pricked as light, boot-clad footsteps grew closer and hybrid necks snapped all around the bar. Dahlia.

"I'll go get help," Hayley declared urgently, already moving outside.

"No," Sophia began, but it was too late. She winced as she heard the uncomfortable crack of Hayley's neck.

A haunting, echoed tune verberated off through the walls of the bar.

"What a beauty," smiled Dahlia when she stood face to face with Sophia, who held a calm Hope in her arms. She was a shrewd witch, and immediately knew it wouldn't be to her benefit to into Marcel's jazz bar.

"Won't be long now," the ancient witch shared. "Surely you've noticed that the spell protecting you is growing weaker."

Sophia felt mildly agitated at the thought of the witch laying a hand on her daughter, and calmly shifted her weight to her other foot. "If you lay a finger on her, I will make you suffer in ways even your evil mind can imagine." In her head, Sophia was formulating a butchering similar to her own.

Dahlia laughed softly, a bright smile on her face. "Sofija, isn't it? I have no quarrel with you, Esther made this bargain long ago. It's most unfortunate you've been dragged into it."

"Oh, I'm no stranger to how bargains were struck in the good old days- My own father unwittingly bartered me away," Sophia said wryly. "Be that as it may, I assure you, Esther has no say on my daughter's fate. She's a baby, she is her own person. If it's that last thing I do, I will ensure that she is able to live her life as she chooses."

"That child is rightfully mine." a swell of irritation flared in the witch's dark eyes. "I keep my word, and I expect others to do the same- It is a curious thing, the loyalty you have for your daughter despite your lack of feeling for her. Don't be coy, we both know you feel no genuine love for her," Dahlia said as Sophia opened her mouth in protest. "You're not the first palia pschi I've encountered who's shed their shade- Be pragmatic now. Do you really want to deny me, knowing that it would mean your death?"

Sophia remained stubbornly, if cooly, obstinate. "She is my daughter, and she will not know the life that I did- A victim to a bitter, ancient witch's wims."

Dahlia was silent for a moment as she studied Sophia and her daughter. "I would say treasure these last few moments you have with her, but you aren't capable… Goodbye for now, little one."

"Sophia- Sofija! Over here," a young, ringing voice cajoled.

Sophia was startled awake, her eyes narrowed as she studied the stained and paint-chipped walls around her. Both she and Hope had taken refuge in a bar Elijah had fashioned to repeal magic, with hybrids lurking its perimeters, providing 24/7 security.

She shoved the familiar, haunting voice out of her mind, choosing instead to focus a nagging idea that has taken shape earlier. Something that might buy her daughter some more time.

"You're telling me Klaus color me paranoid Mikaelson totally fell for your I came across the river for Hope's bunny ruse!" Josh exclaimed irritatedly

Sophia sighed. She insisted on going by herself to collect the hexed witches' handcuffs, but Hayley had insisted on sending Aiden with her as backup.

"Look, this was all my idea, okay? If Klaus asks, you were an unwilling participant."

"What's your idea exactly?" Davina broke in, raising an eyebrow at the chained handcuffs in Sophia's grasp.

"I wanted to ask if you could transfer the magic from these handcuffs onto something smaller- For Hope, to keep her from using magic. If she's not radiating magic, then maybe we can keep Dahlia from finding her," Sophia shared.

"I can try, but what differences would it make, isn't Hope already safe?" Davina questioned.

Sophia shook her head. "Dahlia already found us once already, and magic on the bar is wearing off. I need to be prepared if me and Hope need to run."

Davina transferred the magic from the cuffs onto her a bracelet, which Sophia had Aiden deliver back to Hayley. Per a request from Elijah, who learned from Hayley that Sophia had left the bar, decided to put her to use and asked her to get Klaus to share his machinations concerning Dahlia.

"And why are you not with our daughter?" Klaus asked as Sophia stepped into his makeshift art room, not taking eyes off the canvas he was painting a thick, paste-like paint on. It was a blur of bright reds, oranges and yellows.

"She's safe, Hayley and Jackson are with her." Klaus's lip curled, but Sophia kept talking before he could combat her words. "You need air, Nik. A minute to breathe, to get out of your head. You're not on your own in this. Forget that Elijah asked me to be here, and come with me. Please."

"Do you really have no empathy at all for Freya, for having to suffer Dahlia during her formative years?" Sophia wondered aloud, honestly curious.

"Oh yes, poor Freya- But that's my point," Klaus said patiently. He and Sophia had found a free table at a nearby cafe, playing the part of a young couple out for a simple lunch. "You and I- We both know whether the parent raising us, whether they love or loathe us, forms who we are. After all this time, am I not Mikael's son? Are you not Haldor's daughter, all these lives later? Therefore, is Freya not just as dangerous as Dahlia herself?"

Sophia opened her mouth to speak, then closed it.

"Yes love?" Klaus encouraged.

"That's the first time you brought up Mikael- Since you daggered him."

"The first good time we ever had together," Klaus smiled, his eyes bitter, "Just when, for once, it looked as if we might be allies, and I drove a stake through his heart."

Sophia spoke carefully. "Because he said he loved Freya?"

Klaus's expression fell for a fraction of a second before he recovered his slight smile, the one that kept you guessing. The One that used to keep her on her toes. "Or maybe it's just what I do. We've known each other a long time Sophia-"

"We've been married, I'm the mother of your daughter-" she carried on offhandedly, failing to fight off the wry twist of her lips.

Klaus smirked. "We both know I'm not a terribly good person."

Sophia sighed. "And yet," she said softly, briefly catching a glimpse of a softer, more innocent man in Klaus's eyes.

"Aiden," Sofija called out, walking into the alley the wolf had just ducked into. "What happened with-"

"I got the bracelet to Jackson," he shared with a nod.

Sophia took in the bright flowers in his hand, the nerves he was just keeping at bay.

"Look, we haven't known each other long, but Jackson vouch for you, everything you've done for us- Thank you."

She nodded in return with a smile. "Thank you so much for- You put your life at risk for my daughter, and I can't thank you enough. So, are you and Josh-"

"We're getting out of here, out of the city-" Aiden trailed off, a shy smile on her face.

Sophia smiled widely. "That's-"

"Both Sophia and Aiden gasped in unison. Sophia saw him nearly double as she fought for control of her own muscles, each one of them being puppeteered by some unknown force.

"Don't fear, this will be over quickly," Dahlia shared as she strolled over to them. "Sweet Aiden- You're what's known as the tipping point to set Mikaelson against Mikaelson."

Sophia cried out, reaching out feebly as Dahlia magically inflicted hybrid scratches on Aiden.

"In my plan to divide and conquer," Dahlia shared in that dulcet tone of hers, "You're the perfect kindling." And with that, she finished Aiden off, dropping the heart she tore from his chest at his side.

"You vile-" the words fell away from Sophia's mouth as she crashed to her knees, with Dahlia standing before her.

"And the lovely Sofija," the witch smiled. "I will admit, yours and Klaus' devotion to each other was somewhat unexpected- If enlightening. You provide him with much-needed grounding, minimize others' well-founded anger for him- I can't have that."

Sophia snarled as she fell completely to the floor, unable to help herself up.

"Fortunately for you, it's in my best interest to keep you alive," she heard Dahlia murmur as consciousness escaped her."

Hayley please, if anything happens to me-

I'll protect her as my own.

Hayley hovered protectively over Hope, who was safely asleep in her cradle. She hasn't seen Sophia since the hybrid set off that morning, and her friend hasn't responded to her calls and texts since the late afternoon.

And now, as the moon set in the sky, Jackson laid Aidens bloody body on a bar table. Aiden's dead body.

"Klaus made Aiden spy on us," Jason declared furiously. "Instead he told me everything - So you killed him!"

The expression on Klaus's face was cold, unmoving, uncaring.

"You killed him." Hayley fought off the frog in her throat, the tears that made her way to his eyes. Poor Aiden. "One of the wolves sworn to protect your daughter."

Klaus's eyes lingered on Hayley, then over the bristling wolves at her side.

"So what if I did," asked Klaus.

"This was Sophia's plan, Elijah," Hayley said pleadingly. "She knew it might come down to this, that she might need to take Hope and run. She went to Davina herself and asked her to make this bracelet, to make it possible to keep Dahlia from tracking Hope. Please let me honor her wishes and protect her little girl."

Elijah's face remained void of expression as he appraised Hayley's words.

Where was Sophia? Yes, she wasn't quite herself that's days, but despite her lack of feeling, she was very devoted to her daughter.

Fear seized Hayley. "Do you think Klaus found out what she-"

"Niklaus wouldn't dare hurt-"

"He would lash out if he was unhappy with her plans, he's done it before. It doesn't make sense for her to be gone this long." Hayley shook her head and looked over to Hope. "I can't run Dahlia and Hope at the same time- Buy us some time. It's what Sophia wanted."

Elijah took in the gentleness in which Klaus brushed Sophia's hair back from her face. She laid, pale and unconscious, in his bed, seemingly dead to the world.

Klaus's expression was seemingly calm, but Elijah knew just below the surface was a righteous fury.

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be guarding Hope," Klaus muttered, his eyes staying on Sophia.

"What did you do to her," Elijah demanded in clipped tones, only somewhat assured by the heart beating in the hybrid's chest.

"She's alive," Klaus said simply, finally meeting his eyes.

"She didn't deserve this- to be robbed of her autonomy for daring to protect your daughter." Klaus frowned at Elijah's words as he walked over to him.

"Sophia knew she might not make it back to Hope, but I'm sure she didn't expect it would be at your hand. Hayley and Jackson took Hope and you will not find them, brother." Disappointment and anger stirred in Elijah. Yes, his brother had a habit of turning on those he loved when he felt betrayed, but it came as a cold shock to Elijah to see his brother turn on Sophia.

"You helped Hayley escape with my daughter?" Klaus asked calmly, eyes flashing.

"Someone had to."

Elijah was prepared as Klaus lunged for him, unhesitatingly dragging his younger brother through the heart.

"For Hope."

Klaus observed the hurt in a younger Dahlia's eyes as his mother spurned her away, how pitiful she was as she hummed that haunting tune to comfort herself. Perhaps being forced to endure his aunt's dreamscape was to his advantage. It would seem his long-lost, sold-away sister was not the witch who broke Dahlia's heart.

"So Esther was cruel," Klaus surmised, breaking the silence as Dahlia comforted a memory. "You'll excuse my complete lack of surprise, seems it does run in the family."

"She left me for one of the very men who slaughtered our village and stole us away," said Dahlia. "My own sister abandoned me, just as your siblings have done."

Klaus was losing his patience, and very much wanted to know the point of this farce. "If you have a deal to propose, then find my body and undagger me."

"Oh," acknowledged Dahlia offhandedly. "I have the means to undagger you, as well as return your beloved Sofija to her former self, although, it certainly wouldn't be what is best for her. I envy her lack of shade, and learned a great deal from it. Should your Sofija welcome it back, she seems more apt to throw herself off a bridge than suddenly become a doting wife and mother."

Klaus narrowed his eyes. "What do you know of-"

The door to the hovel a younger Dahlia was forced to live in creaked open, and a young girl impatiently poked her head in.

Klaus shook his head in shock. It couldn't be possible-

Dahlia tsked and jerked her head impatiently towards the girl.

"Nik," Sofija beamed, running to hug him. "I missed you," she declared, looking up at him, small wiry arms wrapped around his waist. She looked roughly a decade old, if that. A tumble of haywire curls fell down her back, her face painfully innocent and joyful smile crooked.

He should have pushed the girl away, this fragment of his own memory… But he knew. It was her, it was Sophia.

She radiated the warmth and joy his Sophia was missing.

Tears pricked at Klaus's eyes as he was finally able to hug her back. "I missed you too," he rasped as he returned her grasp. Gathering his bearings he tucked her protective to his side, and far away from Dahlia.

"How-" he demanded.

His aunt rolled her eyes. "I practice the old ways and observe the magic of the old gods, dear nephew. Your wife's shade was doomed to return to where she began had I not hidden her away in my memories- You ought to be thanking me."

Klaus snarled, but before he could make his way towards Dahlia, a small hand enveloped his. He looked down to meet Sofijas's somber eyes, much too old on her young face. "She's right, Nik. I tried, I promise I did, but the tides had nearly stolen me away when she came to town."

Klaus took in a deep breath, glaring at Dahlia even as he forced himself to calm on behalf of the young and ancient Sofija.

"Freya turned on me because I denied her a basic need- the love of a parent. That is why I need you and Sophia to remain her father and mother. You and your wife will be able to raise your daughter, and in doing so, I would help Hope to harness her craft that you couldn't possibly comprehend."

Klaus struggled to remove the bloody dagger from his chest as his strength returned to him, when small hands swiftly pulled it out.

"Sofija," he choked out, looking at Sophia's shade in shock. "How-"

"Dahlia sent me as a form of goodwill," she greeted simply, then winced. "Sorry, I thought the quicker I pulled it out the better-"

"That's quite fine," waved away Klaus as he sat up, then looked towards the older Sophia, still unconscious in bed. "Do you trust Dahlia, sweetheart?"

Sofia wrinkled her nose. "No. Her mind is an ugly place- But I didn't want to leave you or Hope. But- She's right, Nik. This won't be easy for her, for me. I'm not sure of how much use we'll be once we reunite."

Klaus swiftly exited his casket. "Dahlia will not be in Hope's life- But she is for me to take care of. Stay here, and reunite with Sophia as soon as you can, the less time you both are separate and vulnerable the better."

Sofia nodded, then walked to him to hug him one more time. "Be careful."

"Sophie- wake up," a young, gentle voice cajoled.

Sophia's eyes felt so heavy to open, then-

Aiden. Dahlia. Hope.

Sophia sat up in shock, eyes flung open. "What-" She stared on in shock at the sight before her. Sitting crossed-legged near her was her adolescent self. Her prepubescent to more accurate. "Are you-"

"It's me," her shade smiled.

"How-"

"Nik found me," her shade shared. "How've you been?"

Sophia laughed numbly, wiping a stray tear that fell from her eye. "Not good without you."

Her shade nodded simply.

A cold, unveiling blade being sliced through her neck as her baby was stolen from her arms. Nearly killing Hayley. Starting as Dahlia killed the previously jubilant Aiden. The young witches she killed alongside her mothers in some machiavellian attempt to right a wrong.

Sophia whimpered, curling up in the fetal position as another wave of nausea overcame her.

She had just reunited with her shade when a burning fever took over her body, along with crippling fear and guilt.

This will be your last life. Old magic will not reside with the new. We don't have much time.

She was on the cusp of turning into a wolf, the magic in blood preparing her bones to break and re-shape.

Disjointed, the sudden sound of crying from her baby jolted her into action. She stumbled from her bed and into Hope's room, which was overfilled with blooming Dahlia's.

"Sophia," Klaus breathed as he entered the room soon after, Marcel at his heels.

Fending off the onslaught of pain choked. "It's not even a full moon, I don't-" Her hands curled into fists as her body began to burn. "I'm going to turn into a wolf soon, Nik. Get me out of here."

Their victory was a bittersweet one. Dahlia and Esther were reunited, then dead. Klaus and Elijah were on the outs. Rebekah, understandably, couldn't stand to be near her brothers. Klaus in particular.

Sophia would be told later that Klaus had cursed Hayley (and with her, her pack). Her best friend, her sworn alpha, who had put out everything on the line to protect Sophia's daughter.

My return has purged the new magic from your body, a voice reminiscent of her younger self told her.

"Drink," Klaus ordered as he placed a glass filled to the brim with blood in front of Sophia.

She sat at a desk, overfilled with self-loathing. Balanced around her neck, a simple blue pendant adorned in a silver locket. A moonstone, courtesy of Freya.

Sophia was the only wolf in New Orleans not cursed to be a wolf the thirty days out of the month.

"Don't take your anger for me out on yourself, I'd rather you didn't take to starving yourself again, please-"

Sophia stood up from her chair and stood to look Klaus in the eyes. "You know I'm not the same as I was Nik- Can you really not tell?" she asked softly.

Klaus searched her eyes. "How?"

Sophia wasn't a hybrid anymore, merely a woman turned wolf.

Hayley held Hope against her chest, the soon to be one year old fast asleep as she curled towards the hybrid. A full moon was high in the sky, and the sound of crickets chirping overwhelmed the night. Hayley sat on a rocking chair, patiently quiet as Sophia vented her frustrations.

"He forgives me for trusting you with Hope," Sophia said bitterly. "He knows that I only meant well."

Klaus, who was so sweet in one moment as her body was made to adapt to a millennia's worth of trauma, was also so petty and so vindictive in the next. "I'm sorry Hayley. It's me that he's really mad at, and he won't take it out on me-"

"He loves you and this baby with all of his twisted heart," Hayley observed calmly. "And you love him too."

And there was the rub. The only person who helped her to feel a shred of solace had cursed her friend for her so-called mistake. It was an unjust punishment, but Klaus would rather suffer a cold war than admit that and undo it.

"Sorry isn't enough, you wouldn't be stuck like this if it wasn't for me."

Hayley sighed, casting her eyes back down to Hope.

"Perhaps I can be of assistance?"

Both women looked up to see Freya Mikaelson's figure looming near them.

It had been too late for Freya to undo the curse the night she came to them, but she promised she would have the ingredients necessary by the next full moon.

"Why are you helping?" Sophia wondered. It had crossed her mind, once, to ask for the eldest Mikaelons's help, but the reasons not to were all too salient. For one, the blonde witch was still such a stranger to her. Not to mention, Freya's attentions (along with Rebekah) were focused on how to restore Kol, and for Mikaelson's, kin blood took priority. Then there was the matter of how Klaus and Freya were still tentatively learning how to navigate being brother and sister, and Sophia didn't want to be the cause of any fractures in their developing amity.

"Rebekah hinted that you would be thankful for my assistance, and by hinted-"

Sophia smiled. "She's usually not so subtle. Thank you, Freya, seriously-"

Freya returned her friendly grin. "Thanks aren't necessary, I'm more than glad to undo Dahlia's magic."

"All right, I believe I am ready," Freya began another night on the cusp of a full moon.

"I think not," Klaus said as he entered the room with a dour expression.

Sophia narrowed her eyes. "This isn't your business, Nik."

"I set this punishment-"

"It doesn't fit the crime, as no crime took place-"

Klaus sneered. "You so-called dear friend was to rob our daughter away from us-"

"It was my idea-"

"You weren't of sound mind."

"I really should begin this spell soon if Hayley's curse is to be undone tonight," Freya broke in matter of factly.

"Please, go ahead without me," Sophia pleaded as she addressed the Mikaelson witch.

Freya nodded and quickly made her way out of the room. Sophia immediately moved to block Klaus's path as he set to follow her. "Let her go, Nik."

"Like Elijah, you would truly choose her over me-"

"I thought Dahlia had the upper hand, that it would come down to Hayley and Jackson leaving with Hope while we fended off your wicked aunt, it... It was nothing we hadn't done before." Exhaust overcame her as she leaned back against the wall, keeping her eyes on the simmering hybrid. "Please let Freya undo this Nik, Hayley's my friend- I daresay on occasion she's even your friend! Please."

"Dick," Hayley scorned viciously as she walked past Klaus, a large box balanced in her arms as she sidestepped him. She and Jackson were in the process of moving into the walk-up across from the compound.

Klaus's smile was mocking. "And that's the thanks I get-"

"That's enough, Nik," Sophia said quietly as she took his hand and pulled him towards the compound. Her somber mood quieted him. He followed her up the stairs, taking her in with keen eyes as she curled up on the nearest couch, her hand pressed to her head.

"What ails you?" Klaus didn't bother to hide his worry as he crouched by her side.

"The headaches still won't go away," she murmured, eyes closed, the migraine settling in her head overwhelming.

He weathered her depressive moods with patience, her crying spells with comfort. Her eyes tearing up, she sniffled as Klaus scooped her in his arms and carried her to their bed.

"You'll be okay, Sophia," he soothed as wrapped himself around her.

… A prideful sentinel returns to town.

A mere century. Noah did not think that was so much to ask for

It was almost jarring returning to this city, so pervaded with sin, magic and tragedy. The perfect wellspring for the misogynismós.

The idiot, desolate witches of the french quarter had undone the seal. As infuriating as that was, his hubris was partly to blame. He truly did not think they were capable of such a feat.

It also meant that Elias left his post, no doubt distracted by a familiar face.

Quite fair, isn't she brother, Elias had once taunted him. Always born first, always more trouble than he was worth.

And there she was, with that ill-fated bastard tucked into her arms.

He held the cafe door open for her to exit, and she feigned a smile as her gaze skimmed over his eyes. "Thanks," she murmured softly. He stepped into her space as he moved to enter the cafe. "Oh," she breathed in surprise, backing away from him. The babe in her arms stared curiously at him, wide eyes blue.

He mimicked the false southern drawl his twin was so fond of, he grin nearly as endearing. "Sorry bout' that, darlin'."

She blinked dizzily in response as she finally met his gaze. "I'm sorry, have we met before?"

Sweet Sofija, who had foolishly gotten herself killed and sacrificed for aligning herself with her whore, low-born friend.

Noah almost hazard to believe that she and Elias still deserved each other, but even his lamebrained brother didn't deserve someone as befouled and ruined as her.

"I suppose I just have one of those faces, ma'am." He nodded his head, and she smiled more kindly before she left him.

Noah dialed his brother once more, his call going straight to voicemail. "If you fail to retake your place as sentry, brother, perhaps your once-betrothed will do… The more I think on it, the more of an excellent idea it sounds. I'd even be doing you a favor, luring her away from her half-breed lover. Think on it, Elias."

a/n: So, I regret introducing the whole shade storyline. In hindsight, it would've made more sense to take away her emotions, but I did my best to make it work. If you still care to read along, there will be two more installments to this story. TO Season 4 (Witchlight) and TO Season 5 (Daughter of Darkness) (I'm still working out how many chapters each will be). Season 4 will still feature a lot of the cannon plot, and I jump ship season 5.

[Edit: I shouldn't post a/n's. There will be three more installments, to include Season 3.]

[Edit: Err, I skimmed over this after posting, and I wanted to apologize for all the grammar errors. Also, I was in hurry to get through Season 2 in general, and I feel like that shows here. Sorry if the writing feels unfocused/ hurried.]

Thank you for reading!