Selina took Elise in her arms and brought her into the farmhouse's large living room, where Angelica Mikaelson and her mother Eleanor smiled back at her, their toddler daughters sitting on the floor with toys surrounding them.
"Come on Elise, let's meet some new friends." Selina kissed her daughter's head and set her down next to the other two girls.
The three girls each wore a different pastel colored dress (Elise in blue, Victoria in purple, and Diana Dove in pink) and a matching bow or clip. As soon as they were settled, they immediately began to look at one another with interest.
"They don't seem too enthusiastic to meet each other," Angelica winced as she watched, not liking the way Elise was beginning to eye her daughter.
"Oh, don't be silly!" Selina quickly brushed the words away. "Sometimes it just takes time for people to…to…"
"Find a way to try and kill each other?" Eleanor finished, a bright light in her brown eyes as she chuckled. "It's a bit early, but…"
"Mom, please, would you not?" Angelica cried, outraged.
"What?" her mother shrugged unapologetically. "They're all going to be very powerful women in the supernatural community someday just like we are, and although it's never the intention, that can lead to jealousy and rivalries, and…"
"Right, but I think we'll be okay!" Selina pointed at the three girls and smiled. Victoria was caressing Elise's cheeks and making her giggle as Diana, curious about the shiny things Selina put in her hair, brushed and played with it. Soon, they were all hugging, kissing, and grinning widely as they lost their balance and ended up in a heap on the floor, giggling as they tried to get back to their feet, unharmed.
"That is adorable!" Angelica remarked, a hand put over her heart.
"Yes it is," Selina nodded. "But I'm still wondering, just like Eleanor is, how long it will be until they get powerful, full of darkness and start desiring to kill each other."
Ellie winked. "It will probably be a few months after I guess."
"No, no," Angelica shook her head, shaking her finger at her mother. "I want Victoria to stay as nice and sweet as she is for the rest of eternity."
Selina clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Sweetie, we all want that, but we all have demon genes…it's kind of wishful thinking." She sighed and raised her head as the doorbell rang. "Oh, that must be Amy!" Then she excused herself to go get the door.
"So sorry I'm late," Amy apologized a few minutes later, then gave Selina a kiss on each cheek. "But Froy wasn't in the mood to get dressed today. He kept toddling around the penthouse naked and seemed to think my efforts to catch him and get him dressed were a game."
"Gee, I wonder who taught him that that was a good idea," Selina drawled as she winked at Angelica and Eleanor as Amy came to stand next to her.
"I don't run naked around the penthouse!" Amy cried, full of outrage. Then she blushed bright red. "Oh, you probably meant Kol, didn't you?"
"Who else?" Ellie remarked, elbowing her daughter and giving her a smile.
"All right, my big boy," Amy told her son. "Let's meet your new friends." Then she set him down in front of the three little girls, who eyed the little boy with interest.
Froy looked back at them, placing his fingers in his mouth and munching on them. Then he leaned forward and reached for one of the toys, but quickly had it taken away from him by his cousin Elise. Then she threw it at him. He stood, fingers still in his mouth.
"Not much enthusiasm when it comes to meeting their cousin Froy," Amy remarked, worry in her voice.
"Oh, it's their first time encountering a little boy," Eleanor teased. "They're probably trying to find all his weak spots so they can kill him."
"What?" Amy cried out, her eyes wide with shock as she handed Selina her coat. "Don't say things like that!"
"Just ignore her," Angelica tried to calm the redhead. "Mom's in a joking mood today." She rolled her eyes and watched her mother follow Selina into the kitchen.
"I say we let the kids get accustomed to each other while we have a warm piece of pie with some ice cream and a hot cup of coffee," Selina called. "Anyone object?"
"I have no objections whatsoever," Angelica replied enthusiastically. "Your pies are amazing!" She grinned as she took a seat on one of the kitchen stools.
"Now I'm thinking," Amy remarked as she took a seat next to Angelica "How did you get Diana Dove here, Eleanor?"
"Julian has been kind enough to accept the Council's offer for me to keep Diana unsupervised for a few days." She avoided everyone's eyes.
"That was very kind of him to give you that time, wouldn't you say?" Angelica shrugged.
"He's been kinder these days," Ellie blushed slightly as she spoke.
"What do you mean by 'kinder'?" Selina asked, filling everyone's cups with coffee.
"We've been talking and sharing coffee when I visit Diana at Julian's house," Angelica explained, still avoiding everyone's gazes.
"Mom," Angelica sighed "Don't feel like you need to hide from me that you and Julian are back together. I've made peace with it and it's beyond awkward at this point."
"What?" Ellie protested. "No!"
"What?" Amy shrugged. "He's hot!"
"Okay, fine," Ellie sighed and crossed her arms. "But it doesn't mean anything."
"Are you saying you don't want to be back with that sexy, handsome good enough to eat man then?" Selina asked perniciously.
"Could you not, Aunt Selina?" Ellie protested.
"What's wrong?" Amy shrugged. "She's telling the truth! He's hot!"
"I can't even refute that," Angie added.
"Okay, fine!" Ellie snapped, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "But that doesn't mean a thing!"
"Sure, it doesn't!" Selina winked at the others. "When you're ready to be open with all this, I'll set up another get together."
"Angelica, tell your aunt she's a pain in the butt!" Ellie demanded of her daughter.
"No!" Angelica cried. "What do you think I am, an idiot? I want pie and if I listen to you, I probably won't get any!"
"Well, you're a smart girl," Selina remarked with a grin and plopped a rather sizeable piece of pie in front of her. "Enjoy."
"How about we talk about you and Elijah for a change," Ellie suggested to her aunt, eager for a change of subject.
"Well, we could, but it would be a boring conversation," Selina shrugged. "I'm keeping him at a distance at all costs because there's no way I'm getting pregnant again. Not for a while, anyway."
Amy choked on her coffee. "You and Elijah aren't having sex?"
"I'm with you, Aunt Selina!" Angelica cried. Klaus isn't coming near me! I'm keeping a close watch on my body!"
"Is this a joke?" Ellie chuckled. "You two have a couple of the most fertile men in the world wanting you in their beds, and you think keeping them at a distance will be a good solution forever?"
"As long as it takes!" Selina and Angelica said at the same time. Then they stared at each other and burst into laughter.
"Kol can't stop making love to me," Amy blurted out. "Morning, noon, afternoon, night…several times a day, but I'm confident that nothing will come of it. We're just happy with Froy." She smiled.
Then the other woman looked at her incredulously for a few seconds before bursting into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Amy demanded.
"Oh, you sweetheart!" Eleanor put a hand over Amy's. "I'm so happy that you and Kol found each other, but if you think that eventually he won't mark his territory, so to speak, by getting you pregnant with a truckload of babies, you're sorely mistaken. It's part of being in love with a Mikaelson."
"And a Morningstar," Angelica added, since she had seven brothers and sisters. "You can say it, Mom…unless you were never really in love with Daddy…you know what, never mind. Forget I said anything." She shut her eyes tight and shook her head. "Klaus has tried everything he can think of to get me naked and in his bed but…I'm strong. I'm not giving in to him just yet. Not until I find out a way to not get pregnant."
Before anyone could respond to that, they heard a cry from Froy and watched in surprise as he ran into the kitchen with the three girls in pursuit.
Finally, Amy came to her senses and picked him up. His face seemed to be dark red. Had he been hit with something? Was he hurt? "My sweet boy!" She cooed but didn't hold him closer to her because she didn't want unknown red stuff on her clothes. "What have they done to you?" She smiled though so he wouldn't be scared.
"Oh, no, it's my fault," Angelica replied as she looked into the living room. "I left my handbag open and one of them must've gotten their hands on my lipstick. That's what seems to be on his face."
"Sounds like something Elise would do," Selina scoffed. "Sorry, Angelica. Would you like me to buy you a replacement? It seems only right."
"Oh, you don't have to do that," Angelica shook her head. "It's a new color I thought I wanted to try, but I don't like it, so don't worry about it. In fact, Elise did me a favor."
"Well, all right then," Selina smiled. "Looks like the girls have marked poor Froy as one of their own." She then took Froy from his mother's arms. "Come on, Froy. You've been through enough today. It's time for Aunt Selina to clean you up."
Klaus dropped his gym bag on one of the benches in the men's locker room, glancing at his older brother and smirking. "Nice to bump into you, brother."
Elijah turned and glared at him. "Niklaus, I didn't know you were coming today."
"Well…" The hybrid opened a locker and placed his gym bag inside. "I heard this new complex was the place to be, so I decide to come and have a look at it while inviting others along for a friendly boxing match."
"And who is the unlucky man whose face you'll be rearranging?" his brother questioned and put on a gray t-shirt.
"It's Sean Mikaelson," Klaus said with a smile. "Just for a friendly match. That's all."
Elijah paused and blinked at his brother several times. "Let me rephrase that: So he's the man you decided would rearrange your face today?"
Klaus scoffed. "Don't be melodramatic, Elijah. I'm just having a civil meeting in a sports complex with Angelica's grandfather. Nothing more, nothing less.
"Oh, please," Elijah tried not to laugh. "The man can't be in the same room as you without wishing you dead so he can plot to whisk Angelica and Victoria away! I doubt he'll just happily agree to a get together with you."
"Oh, brother, you're exaggerating!" Klaus rolled his eyes. "We have different opinions from time to time, but that's about it."
"I doubt it," Elijah shook his head and narrowed his eyes at his brother. "What are you planning to do to him? Sean is a good guy and a great doctor, so I think it would be best for everyone if you just left him alone."
"I'm not saying he isn't a good man," Klaus replied. "And I'm not planning to do anything bad to him or I know I would die swiftly and painfully at Angel's hands." He tilted his head and smirked. "I just want him to learn to appreciate my good qualities."
"Lucifer couldn't stand you either," Elijah continued.
"And?" Klaus asked. "Are you saying you actually like him? I don't like Angel's father and neither do you. He's a pretentious ass. So, what's your fucking point?"
"I agree that he's a fucking asshole!" Elijah nodded. "That's true! But my point is Sean doesn't like you much more either. Don't make things worse just to prove a point!"
"Well, it's too late to tell me that now," Klaus shrugged. "I invited hm and he's probably on his way."
"I'm just glad Angelica is at the farm having a nice afternoon with the girls and Victoria is making friends with the other children," Elijah pointed out. "That means you won't be killed twice in one day."
"Oh, she already knows about my get together with her grandfather," Klaus replied. "It's not a surprise." He smirked.
"Can I ask you a question?" Elijah said.
"Sure, what's up?" Klaus asked, leaning against the locker.
"Well," Elijah swallowed. "I'm sure it's nothing time won't cure, but…It's been ages since Selina gave birth and she still won't go to bed with me! This has never happened before!" He paused. "Like I say, it's been ages! There's no medical reason for delays anymore!"
Klaus blushed and coughed, clearly uncomfortable. "I'm…I'm sure you'll be fine, and it will all work itself out."
"What?" Elijah asked. "Why are you looking at me like that? Don't tell me that Angelica is…denying you too? You're kidding!"
"Angel has become convinced that if I so much as breathe on her, much less do anything more fun, I'll get her pregnant, regardless of what protection we use." He shrugged. "So for some time, it's been 'don't approach me or I'll bite'."
"That sounds very familiar," Eljah sighed.
"Not that I blame her," Klaus admitted. "Or that you can blame Selina. We are very fertile!" He shrugged.
"But I thought she liked our big family," Elijah remarked sadly.
"Oh, this is gold!" Cheered a voice that made his brothers' blood run cold. Their youngest brother passed them and opened a locker of his own nearby. "Klaus. Elijah. It's nice to see you both."
"See us, or eavesdrop on us?" Elijah drawled.
Kol shrugged. "Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Tomayto, tamahto, Elijah." He threw his bag in the locker.
"Okay, Junior, just get it over with and gloat all you want," Klaus growled.
"Five minutes?" Kol smirked. "You think that's all I need? Why not a lifetime of contentment and laughter on the both of you? That would sound more like it to me," Kol replied solemnly, a hand on his heart.
"You are such an asshole!" Klaus growled. "Will you just have your fun and be done with it?"
"My brothers, my family, my flesh," Kol leaned against the locker, arms crossed. "The two most powerful vampires and the most powerful hybrids in the world unable to have sex with their partners?" He heaved a big sigh. "I feel for you. I really do."
"Why did you have to talk so loud?" Klaus snapped at Elijah. "How else could he have heard?"
"I whispered, Niklaus, for heaven's sake," Elijah hissed. "It's not my fault Kol is a vampire also, damn it!"
"Oh, don't feel bad, you two," Kol pretended to be upset. "I mean, I know it's hard for both of you to hear that Amy and I did it…was it eight times yesterday?" He tilted his head and pretended to think. "Yeah, that's what it was. Or ten. Let's say that's what it was to make things a nice even number.
"Are you done?" Klaus growled, his hands balling into fists on either side of his body.
"Will I ever be done is the real question," Kol winked. And burst out laughing. "That's what I think about before I fall asleep at night. I smile really wide after I fuck my wife for hours and think of how you two aren't experiencing it."
"How much?" Elijah asked his brother at last.
"Oh, no, Elijah," Kol grinned. "No amount of money in the world will stop me from enjoying this!"
They stood silent as a few other men passed by them on the way to the boxing arena. Then Klaus nodded at someone he knew
"Klaus, Elijah," Alistair Fale greeted them before turning to Kol and speaking through his teeth. "Mr. Mikaelson."
"Alistair, always a pleasure," Elijah nodded.
"For you two, my sentiments exactly," Alistair remarked.
"Really now, Alistair," Kol said, pouting. "I thought we'd turned a corner with our relationship. You're really hurting me right now!" Then he grinned.
"Let's have our boxing match and be done with it, Kol." Alistair replied between clenched teeth after closing his locker.
"We hope that in spite of your difficulties, you'll both be able to help with the current crisis.
"You told them?" Alistair glared at Kol. "Why did you have to go and open your big mouth?"
"Did you just touch me right now?" Kol asked, dumbfounded. "Call me impressed, Mr. Fale! And just so you know, I wasn't the one who said anything. Would you two like to enlighten him?" He gazed at his brothers and waited.
Both Klaus and Elijah looked at one another and smirked. They knew very well that it wasn't Kol who'd told them but…a little sweet revenge never hurt.
"Well, we couldn't say who told us about Steve vanishing into thin air," Klaus shrugged.
"Angelica did it!" Kol spat. "She was at the meeting too!"
"Was she?" Elijah raised an eyebrow. "I don't think it was her."
Alistair threw a pair of boxing gloves at Kol. "Ring. Now!"
"You two are gonna pay for this!" Kol hissed at both his brothers as Alistair dragged him away toward the ring, their laughter echoing in his ears.
Klaus sat beside his brother on a bench in the arena, their eyes locked on Alistair and Kol, who were engaging in a 'friendly' boxing match.
"You know," Elijah remarked, his eyes glued on the fight. "I'm very surprised at how skilled a fighter Alistair is."
"Well when you hate someone as much as Alistair does Kol, of course it makes you more motivated to fight." Klaus grinned.
"Probably," Elijah chuckled. "It's lucky for Kol that Alistair arrived when he did because I was getting incredibly fed up with his teasing. I get enough of that at home."
"What do you mean by that? What is Selina teasing you about?" Klaus wondered aloud.
"Nothing," Elijah shook his head. "Pretend you didn't hear a word. The subject is closed."
"Oh, come on!" His brother protested. "I promise that I won't make fun of you. Scout's honor. I mean, if it's Selina, I've probably been through something similar. Not that I can remember it at the moment, but I'm sure it happened. Let's bond about that."
"I doubt it," Elijah gritted his teeth. "Selina knows how you are about things like that and I doubt she would make fun of you for it if you told her you…you…"
"Okay, come on…you're so close. Spit it out!" Klaus grinned. "Don't make me beg, brother!"
"Fine," Elijah huffed. "She wouldn't make fun of you if you told her you had a dream about having sex with another man. But I did and she's giving me grief."
"Why?" Klaus asked curiously. "I mean, as far as I know you've gone that way, but it's not the end of the world. Why would she laugh about it? May I remind you that one of the first conversations I had with her was my explaining that Alistair and I weren't a couple?"
"Well, you can hardly blame her for thinking that in days gone by," Elijah said, very grateful for the change of subject, even though it didn't have anything to do with anything. "I mean, he laid out your clothes, ran your baths, made your meals…I'm surprised he didn't feed you and scrub you clean too."
"No, it never went that far," Klaus shook his head. "Especially since by the time Selina and I met, Alistair just had eyes for Astrid. But anyway…why would Selina make fun of you for a dream about having sex with a man? It seems so unlike her."
"Well, it's probably because the man in question was…was…" Elijah shut his eyes tight and gritted his teeth, speaking in the low murmur. "The other man in the dream was Dorian Gray. Now do you understand, Niklaus?"
Klaus's jaw dropped and his eyes widened as he put a hand over his mouth to hold in his laughter.
"You said you wouldn't make fun of me!" Elijah cried. "You stop laughing right this minute!"
"I…I…" Klaus paused and tried to catch his breath. "I wouldn't dare. You have my permission to have sexual dreams about Dorian Gray and tell them to me without fear of mockery, since you obviously have repressed sexual feelings for the man."
"Fuck you, Niklaus!" Elijah raged as his brother bent his head back and laughed uproariously. "I have repressed nothing for the man! I hate him and I hate him openly!"
"But he's good looking in a purely aesthetic sense," Klaus said. "I mean, anyone looking at him can see it. Are you sure it's something you haven't repressed? You've never had a relationship with a man before. There's always a first time for everything…"
"I couldn't care less about the way he looks!" Elijah snapped. "As for men, I'm not attracted to them at all. I like women. I love Selina and that's that. No, it has to be something else that made me dream of him. I couldn't put my finger on it, but he's back with all his shenanigans and it probably has to do with my family."
Klaus raised his head and kept his eyes on the tall man who had just set his gym bag down on a bench a few feet away. Then he turned and nodded at Klaus.
"Mr. Gray," Klaus acknowledged. Then he elbowed his brother. "Look, Elijah. "Dorian Gray is here!"
Elijah turned his head and winced at the sight of his wife's ex.
"Elijah," Dorian nodded politely.
"Whatever," Elijah muttered between clenched teeth.
"Seriously?" Dorian heaved a sigh. "I'm doing my best to be polite here. The least you could do is reciprocate."
"I'm sorry," Elijah replied slyly. "But the only thing I would reciprocate now is a punch in the face if we made our way to the boxing ring."
"Well, that doesn't sound like a bad idea," Dorian shot back angrily. "Nothing like a friendly boxing matching to even the score between us! Really, Elijah. I don't know where this attitude of yours is coming from. I thought we had gotten over the dumb rivalry. Since we'll all be together with Selina at Arthur and Gabrielle's wedding not too long from now, maybe we should start practicing civility, so you don't spoil anything."
"So I don't spoil anything?" Elijah bristled at the insult. "Why don't you just look in the mirror you…you…"
"Stop," Klaus whispered in his ear, giving him a wink. "The man is trying to be friends with you. Give it a chance. If you do, it's possible that you could end up being intimate friends!"
Elijah scowled at his brother. "Don't push me, Niklaus!" He hissed before getting to his feet and approaching Dorian. "That's the problem, Dorian. You always manage to be around my wife much more than is called for and it bothers me a lot!
Dorian scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Oh, for Steve's sake! Selina and I…it's water under the bridge now! She chose you, and even though you resorted to underhanded trickery to take my place, I've always respected her choice!" He threw some gloves at Elijah. "If you want to fight me, fight me then! Come on and be a man! It might be more work than hitting on Selina while she's drunk and depressed but…be a man!" He then turned and marched over to one of the rings.
Elijah turned and looked questioningly at his brother. "Can you believe this?"
"Well, I'd go if you still want to keep your status as a man," Klaus chuckled.
Elijah's eyes narrowed. "You have no idea how much I hate you at the moment, Niklaus," he spat before turning on his heel and marching after his nemesis.
"Well here you are!" Klaus exclaimed enthusiastically, watching as Sean Mikaelson made his way into the boxing arena.
"You forget that I'm a doctor, Klaus? Emergencies hound me day and night. Lots of people depend on me so finding time to myself is difficult unless it's planned in advance." The tall blond man gave him a look and took off his hoodie.
"Oh, I understand that," Klaus nodded. "I know you're a busy man. I'm in no rush to do this, so if you need to take a rain check because you have work to do, that's fine with me. More than fine, in fact."
Sean gave him a look. "Why are you so eager to delay this?" He pushed, before his lips curved. "Are you chicken, Klaus? I wouldn't delay this for another minute. I've dreamed about being in a ring and punching you in the face all day long." He stepped back. "But if you want to take a raincheck…"
"Oh, no, and please don't sugarcoat your feelings about me," Klaus replied dryly. "And I want us to have a friendly match, not a bloody Game of Thrones fight."
"Oh?" Sean raised an eyebrow. "I must've heard wrong then, because I thought you said you wanted to fight to the death…your death in particular."
"Well, at least everything is out the in the open now," Klaus got out. "You're finally admitting, in no uncertain terms, that you can't stand the thought of Angelica and me together."
Sean scoffed. "Are you just realizing that now? Have I been too subtle?"
Klaus was about to respond but froze when he heard another voice.
"Bravo, bravo," the devil said, applauding.
"Go away, Lucifer! You and I have nothing to say to each other," Sean told the devil dryly.
"I'm really surprised to see you here," Klaus spat at the devil. "I didn't know they let animals in. I didn't see any signs saying so."
"Wel, you're here, aren't you?" Lucifer pointed out with a wink. "I have to admit that it's a pleasure seeing the two of you fight."
"Oh, please," Sean hissed. "The one thing Klaus and I will never disagree about is how much we hate you," Sean spat at his former son in law.
"I bet Angelica would love to know that the two of you are fighting over her," Lucifer said. "She's always been such a needy child and I see now that indulging her was my mistake. She loves men's attention but in the end she always needs to come back to me…if not physically than emotionally. No one else can have her. That's just not fair for you, is it?" He asked, his eyes gleaming wickedly.
"Until me!" Klaus pointed out. "The fact that she hasn't come back to you should give you a hint or two about where you stand in her priorities!"
"Fuck you, Mikaelson!" Lucifer lashed out. "I know my daughter better than either of you and it won't be long before she's thrown you and your daughter to the curb!"
Klaus growled at this and sprang at Lucifer, but didn't get far before Sean grabbed him and held on tight.
"Don't give him the satisfaction of seeing you upset," he whispered. "It's what he wants, and you have no interest in making that man happy, do you?"
Lucifer pushed Sean aside, making him land hard on the floor as he tried to punch Klaus in the face, but missed as the hybrid stepped aside just in time so he landed on the bench instead.
Then, after he got his bearings, Lucifer straightened up and grabbed Klaus by the neck as Sean jumped on his back.
It was insanity, but luckily, it didn't take for Kol, Alistair, Dorian, and Elijah to put their feelings aside and separate the battling men.
"That is enough!" Alistair cried as Elijah pinned both Lucifer's arms and Sean and Klaus had been pulled away by Kol and Dorian. "Lucifer, you leave now. "Don't forget that you're still wearing your monitor and if you cause enough trouble I won't hesitate to leave it on as long as it takes you to learn your lesson."
"Oh?" Lucifer raised an eyebrow. "And who decides when I've learned my lesson? Is it you?"
"Yes," Alistair nodded. "Obviously."
Elijah then released him and winced as he spat on the floor. "You…all of you!" Lucifer pointed at the other men. "I'll go quietly but only because none of you are worth my time and attention anyway!" Then he turned on his heel and stomped to the exit without another word.
The rest of the men stood in silence for a little bit and then finally, Kol cleared his throat. "Well…that was fun. Who agrees with me?" He grinned.
Klaus and Elijah looked at him and rolled their eyes but didn't say a word.
"All right, Klaus," Sean said after he grabbed his pair of boxing gloves. "You, me, ring…now!"
"You don't have to tell me twice," Klaus nodded. "It's my pleasure!" He grinned as he followed Sean into the ring.
Then Dorian looked at Elijah. "What would you say to a rematch, Mikaelson?"
"You want to fight?" Kol asked as he made his way next to Alistair. "Or would you rather have a beer? I'll buy."
"That sounds good to me," Alistair replied with a smile, surprised that the Mikaelson he thought was the most immature actually was not. "Thank you, Kol."
Julian Johnson raised his head up and looked in the direction of the door as the doorbell rang. Then he looked at his watch and hurried to the door without further delay, pulling it open. She was very late! Eleanor had asked to take Diana Dove on an outing to Elijah and Selina's farm and, against his better judgment, he had said yes. Granted, he didn't want to seem like he was being too overprotective, but he had a lot of respect for Elijah and Selina Mikaelson, and if there was an opportunity for his daughter to play with other children…he was all for it.
He stood in front of the open door, heedless of the rain pouring in as he stood speechless in front of her. Then he came back to himself and spoke. "Why are you dripping all over my porch?" He asked before taking Diana Dove from her and pulling her close to him so she could get warm.
"How could you ask that?" Eleanor replied. "Do you not see how much it's storming? Did you not hear it? Are you deaf?" She wiped water from her face.
Julian scoffed. "Of course, I heard the storm! What I want to know is why are you wet if you were driving your car?"
"Don't worry about that," Eleanor shook her head, her wet hair slapping her in the face and making her groan. "I got Diana Dove back to you just like I promised and that's what really matters." She waved his concerns away.
Julian sighed. "Come in the rest of the way," he said. "I'll give you a towel to dry yourself off with."
"Well, that's very kind," she said. "But I wouldn't want to be a bother to you or have you hold against me somehow later. Tell the council that I owe you something about visitation or whatever just because you gave me a towel."
"I would never do something so dumb!" Julian hissed. "You're not even making sense! Have you had a drink or some food lately? Get your ass in this house, woman!"
"Fine," She said and stomped inside. "Are you happy?"
"Yes," Julian nodded and slammed the door behind her. "Just give me two seconds." Then he sat Diana Dove down in her play pen so she could occupy herself with her toys before rushing down the downstairs corridor and entering the master bedroom.
Eleanor sat on the sofa near her daughter, and even though she was shivering as she wrapped her arms around her body, she tried not to look too cold.
"Now will you tell me just what the hell happened?" Julian demanded as he walked back into the living room and handed her a very soft towel.
"Oh, nothing," she tried to shrug it off. "Just some little car problems, but I intend to get them fixed soon, though." She was driving a car that the Council had given her and though it was nice, it wasn't as new or dependable as all her previous cars had been. Not that she'd mention that to Julian. "That doesn't matter though. The point is, I made it here and Diana and I are wet but safe." She began to dry her hair with the towel, keeping her eyes off Julian.
"What do you mean you had car trouble?" He cried out in shock. "You could have called me! I would have come and helped you at least. Got you home so you didn't have an accident or people wouldn't be looking for you!"
"Why…why would you want to do something like that for me?" She asked, dumbfounded.
"So, I can know that you and Diana are safe!" He said firmly. "I would never just sit here on my ass if I knew you or she or both of you were in trouble!"
"Well, I understand why you would care about why Diana Dove was safe, but why would you care about my welfare?" Eleanor asked slyly.
He avoided her stare, although he knew he was giving himself away just by the look on his face. "Just call me next time, would you?" He asked without answering her question. "It's not like it would be the first time I got you when you were stuck in the dark on the side of the road."
"No," Eleanor shook her head and grinned. "The first time was when Diana Dove was born.
"Yeah…" A shy smile lit up his bearded face. "I remember. I was so pissed that night."
"Well, I think we can agree that you still are," she pointed out. Then she held up the hoodie and sweat pants. "What are these for?"
"Your clothes are soaked," he explained. "I thought it would do you good to have dry ones to change into until they dried. I know they're a little big but that'll make things cozy." Then he walked to the bay window and closed the black curtains. "There. Now you'll have privacy to change. I'll go make you some hot coffee too."
"Thank you," Eleanor replied gratefully and gave him a smile. Then she watched as he turned on his heel and walked toward the kitchen so she could get dressed.
Once he was sure she was dressed, Julian carried Eleanor's tea back to the living room, pausing in the entrance to the living room when he saw that his daughter was playing calmly in her play pen and her mother was sound asleep on the sofa.
"Well, I guess we won't be needing this tea, then," he told himself and then set it down before grabbing a throw to put over Eleanor so she would stay warm before tucking some flyaway strands of brown hair behind her ears.
After that, he picked up Diana Dove and carried her to his bedroom, loving the feeling of her head resting against his chest. Since the whole debacle with Lucifer, he'd kept her crib in his bedroom where he could keep a close eye on her.
"It looks like your mommy fell asleep and she seems so peaceful that I can't see myself waking her up," he shared with his little girl as he got her out of her pink dress and into some cozy pajamas.
The little girl smiled and clapped with excitement.
"You're happy that she's here, aren't you?" He smiled back at her and laid her down on her back and kissing her forehead gently. "I know you've had a lot of excitement, sweetheart, but it's time for you to rest now. Time for you to go to sleep." He caressed her hair and hummed a nonsensical tune until her eyes closed and he knew from the look on her face that she was dreaming beautiful dreams.
Then he headed back to his own bed, undressing until he wore nothing but boxers. Then he pulled the sheets aside and got in bed and turned off the light, placing his forearm on his forehead as he stared up at the ceiling, tossing and turning again and again, unable to fall asleep.
"Fuck it," he hissed, throwing his sheets aside and jumping out of bed to make his way back to the living room.
Eleanor was still sound asleep on the sofa and snorted a little as he pushed the blanket aside and picked her up, taking her back to his bedroom, and tucking her in his bed. Then he went around to the other side of the bed and climbed in beside her.
Suddenly, she rolled over onto her back, putting her arms around his waist and stretching like a cat, a peaceful smile curving her lips.
"This is heaven," she whispered, though she still seemed to be asleep as her lips brushed his neck.
"It is?" Julian asked, surprised.
"Mmmmm, yes," she nodded, lifting her head to kiss his lips gently before finally falling asleep for real.
Julian closed his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest. He smiled and pulled her closer to him as his eyes closed slowly and soon he too was fast asleep.