TW: Talk about the loss of a child, child abuse, Dahlia's less-than-stellar parenting, Mikael's less-than-stellar parenting, and smut. Guess what took me forever? (yes, the smut)
FINN
Finn gazed down at his sister's face and prayed. She was still unconscious, though the witches had assured him that she would awaken sometime that day.
Finn sighed and stroked the delicate pale skin of her face.
It was October 29th, over a month since Freya's casket had returned to him and his siblings. After Elijah had talked with her, Aya had called her loyal Strix members and had Freya delivered (like a package, Finn had seethed) to Hearth Hall within a day. Aya had also called her special Strix witch coven, and a dozen witches had arrived in Roanoke soon after. June had returned, as well as Dr. Martin. Both had brought rare ingredients and witches who had specialized magic with them. Nearly two dozen witches and roughly one hundred ingredients were needed to wake Freya from Dahlia's spell without waking Dahlia as well.
However, before they could wake her, they needed to siphon the spell that Dahlia had used to link Freya to her. June had brought a unique type of siphoner who could siphon specific spells off and on a person. The siphoner had removed every spell that Dahlia had placed on Freya… and there had been a lot.
The siphoner had listed all the spells that had been forced upon Freya, and Finn still felt sick whenever his mind drifted to the topic. All the spells were invasive, but the most noteworthy of them were a permanent location spell, a spell that controlled Freya's voice, a spell that kept Freya from saying 'no' to Dahlia, and even a spell that tracked Freya's monthlies.
After all the spells had been siphoned off, Finn and the others had to wait for all of the magical ingredients to mature. Several required soaking in the light of a full moon. Another needed to lay in the embers of a fire for a week. Yet another needed to be soaked in water for thirteen days.
The spell had been performed the day before. The sleeping spell had been stripped from Freya, and now she no longer needed to sleep for one hundred years. Finn and Elijah did agree to link Freya to them and Klaus and Kol; that way Freya would pull from their strength for her magic. She could also be revived from death, just like them. Finn wasn't sure how she was going to feel about that, but at least she would have extra protection.
So now Finn sat by her bedside, waiting for her to wake.
And as the sun reached its peak in the sky, Freya's eyes slowly blinked open.
A heavy fog of drowsiness covered her blue eyes. Her skin was pale, almost sallow, though Finn could tell that if she spent time in the sun she would become more tan. Her body was thin, as if she hadn't eaten a hardy meal in months. She still wore the white nightgown they had found her in, though Finn had put a pair of rainbow knitted socks (made by Miriam) on her feet. Her blond hair was in a loose braid tied with a simple white ribbon.
"What…" she sat up slowly. Her words were said in accented English. "Who are you? Where am I?"
"You are safe," Finn assured her, but in their mother tongue. "You are with your family."
"... Family?" she repeated in the same language slowly, hesitantly, and Finn wondered when was the last time she had heard her native language.
"Yes, family. You may not recognize me, for it has been many years since we have seen each other. For you, it has been two decades, but for me… dearest sister, I have lived lifetimes believing you lost from me forever."
The fogginess left her eyes and recognition took its place.
"Don't break my heart by saying you do not recognize your dearest brother," Finn pleaded softly.
"Finn?" She gasped.
"Freya. My sister. My first friend. Oh, how I've missed you!"
The two siblings embraced for the first time in a thousand years. It was a wet hug, with both participants crying heavily. Freya's fingers were daggers in Finn's shoulders, but he welcomed the pain, for it meant that she was alive and real and there.
When their tears had dried up, they finally separated.
"How?" Freya asked, voice hoarse from sobbing. "How did you find me? How did you wake me? How did you remove Dahlia's magic? How are you awake?"
"The answers to those questions are long," Finn warned. "Let us fill your stomach and dress you in modern clothes."
"What is the year?" She asked as she slowly climbed out of the bed and onto her feet. Finn gave her a bag of clothes that Miriam and Caroline had procured for her.
"2010; we woke you two years before your curse would have woken you. Dahlia still sleeps, so you need not worry about her for a while."
Freya nodded, before her brow furrowed with another troubling thought. "'we'?"
"Our brothers: Elijah, Niklaus, and Lol. Rebekah is currently in Paris. She said she would return in a couple of weeks."
"Our brothers?" Freya said dubiously. "The last time I walked the earth I found our brothers and sister living in New Orleans. Right before my very eyes Elijah and Niklaus pinned Kol down and daggered him!" Freya said hotly. "I also discovered that you had been left in your coffin for hundreds of years by Niklaus! How can you stand them?!"
"Our siblings have made many mistakes over the centuries they have been alive," Finn said slowly, "and many of those mistakes have harmed our family as a whole. Betrayal, paranoia, and trickery runs rampant in our veins. I am not immune. I know you are not, either. Niklaus has harmed me, but he is currently working on being a better brother. Please, sister, do not throw away a chance at being a part of this family because of their past actions."
Finn didn't know what he would do if Freya rejected his brothers. He loved his brothers, despite their past tension. He and Kol were closer than they had been in their human life. He and Elijah were fond of playing strategy games. He and Klaus were still on rocky ground, but neither of them were actively pushing the other away.
Freya reluctantly agreed to be civil with their brothers.
Finn waited patiently outside Freya's room while she changed. When she finally emerged, she was dressed in a tea length cream-colored pinafore dress. It was embroidered on the bust with a lovely floral motif, and Freya had paired it with a light teal cardigan and a pair of sandals. She had brushed out her blonde hair and left it loose around her shoulders.
"Come, sister. Let's go greet our brothers."
Hearth Hall was completely empty of all guests for the first time in a long time. Dr. Martin had returned and moved his kids and himself into one of the cabins on the property (Maddox was still staying at the Hearth, and Greta was over constantly to visit her fiancé). Aya and the Strix, as well as all the visiting witches, had all left Roanoke after pledging their allegiance to the Mikaelson family. Finn was glad to see the back of them, especially Aya, who had threatened Miriam and also underestimated the growing bond between the Mikaelson brothers. She had thought that Niklaus would never free Finn, but she had been wrong. Finn hadn't appreciated how shocked she had been to see him. If he never saw her again it would be too soon.
But at the moment, every person besides the Mikaelsons had made themselves scarce. Even Miriam had left, saying that the siblings needed to talk between themselves first.
Elijah, Klaus, and Kol were waiting for Finn and Freya in the formal living room. When they entered, Elijah immediately stood up.
"Freya, dear sister," he greeted warmly. He gently grasped Freya's thin hands in his own. "Welcome to Hearth Hall, and welcome back to our family."
Freya's eyes shone with tears. "Elijah. I have dreamt of you- of all of you- for a thousand years. Elijah, when you were in Esther's womb, she would ask me to sing to you. I would feel her belly as I did. How you would kick. She would say, 'it was as if Thor himself had raised his hammer'-"
"'and summoned thunder and lightning'," Elijah finished. A soft smile dominated his face. "Mother rarely mentioned you. When she did, she would say how enchanted you were by the prospect of my birth."
"I-I always wanted more brothers and sisters," Freya admitted. Her face clouded over.
"And now you have them," Finn interjected before the mood could turn too sour. "You have three younger brothers and a younger sister to dote over."
"Including a brother that is thankful that you did not let him suffer under any allusions of romance when you met a hundred years ago," Kol teased as he stepped forward. He gently pulled her from Elijah's grasp and kissed her hands softly. "When we met, I thought you were beautiful and powerful, and I have pursued witches for a lot less."
Freya chuckled lowly. "I must confess, I was unsure how to approach you. I did not want to reveal my identity, for I was fearful that you wouldn't believe me, and I wanted to go to the Christmas party and see you all with my own eyes."
"Your approach lacked tack, but it was effective," Kol laughed. He pulled away from her and turned to their brothers. "She walked up to me in the witch's market, brave as anything, and said, 'Mr. Mikaelson, my wife has left to visit her family for the holidays, and I am sorely in need of a non-romantic distraction; would you mind terribly if I accompanied you to your family's Christmas party?'"
"At least you gave him no chance to try to woo you," Finn joked. "Though we all know that even if there was no blood relation, you would be too good for Kol."
A throat cleared, breaking the light-hearted banter. All eyes turned to Niklaus, who stood just a few feet away from the rest of his siblings. He stood tall and imposing, but suspicion had clouded his eyes.
"Kol was lucky to have met you all those decades ago, but I do wonder why you did not show yourself to us earlier?"
"Niklaus," Finn growled, a warning and a threat all rolled into one name.
Klaus raised his hands in surrender, but his gaze on Freya was still sharp and dissecting.
"I simply want to know the facts, brother. Our dear long lost sister had ample opportunity to approach us through the years. We could have helped you hide from Dahlia. We could have helped you break all the hideous curses she placed on you. Even if we didn't achieve success during the year you walked the earth, we could have kept your body safe and worked on a solution to free you during the century you slept."
"You think I would have trusted you with my sleeping body?" Freya said incredulously. "Do you even remember what happened that night I was able to lay eyes on you, Elijah, Kol, and Rebekah? You and Elijah pinned Kol down and daggered him for nearly a century!"
"Kol was planning on daggering me!" Niklaus defended his actions.
"And I would have gotten away with it… if Rebekah hadn't betrayed me," Kol added unhelpfully.
"I-I can't do this," Freya shook her head. Her breathing became rapid. "Every century, when I woke, the stories about the famed Mikaelson family would grow. Vampires became plentiful, and the Original vampires became powerful. I heard nasty rumors, but I thought that I could look past all the atrocities you all committed. And I probably could, if you would stop hurting each other. I lived most of my life with a relative who sought to control me, manipulate me into the perfect puppet she wanted. I can't do that here, with my brothers and sister. I can't do it, Finn!"
Finn pulled her into a tight hug and glared at Niklaus. Freya's face was wet against his shoulder. Her hands were claws in his back, but he ignored the sensation and held her just as fiercely. His poor sister. She had been fearless and full of life when they were children … they all had been. Mikael, Esther, and Dahlia's choices had influenced them in the worst ways. They were all damned, but they didn't have to stay like that.
Elijah must have been thinking similar thoughts, because he stepped forward and placed a tentative hand on Freya's back.
"Sister, we are not perfect. I am sorry we could not be a normal family, for you deserve to have a normal family. But despite all of our faults, we are family. Niklaus, Rebekah, and I pledged to stand by each other's side 'always and forever'. While a noble idea, we were wrong to exclude Finn and Kol."
"You have righted your wrongs," Finn said softly. He tenderly pushed Freya away from his torso and turned her until she was facing their other brothers.
"Maybe so," Elijah inclined his head before handing a handkerchief to Freya so she could wipe her reddened face. "However, we must now expand that pledge to include you, Freya. Regardless of all our bickering, betrayal, and annoyances with each other, we have always returned to each other. I have forgiven Niklaus for all his transgressions, just as he has forgiven me of mine."
"He has forgiven me for plotting against me," Kol reluctantly admitted. "And I have begrudgingly forgiven him for daggering me."
"Niklaus has always been possessive of Rebekah's affections, but he has allowed her to roam freely for the first time in many years," Finn told Freya. "Elijah was right in stating we are not a normal family. We have our issues. But we stick together."
"You are not a prisoner here," Kol said, serious for the first time. "You are free to leave with access to all of the resources and contacts we have gathered over the centuries. If you want, you could go find Rebekah, or even explore the world on your own."
All eyes turned to Klaus.
"I don't understand your actions," he admitted. "And that makes me nervous."
"I have no ulterior motives," Freya insisted. "I was trapped under Dahlia's thumb for too long. And once I was free, it was all I could do to stay ahead of her. That year that I met Kol was the first time I felt comfortable in approaching you all without Dahlia causing trouble. For though I was wary of your actions, I did not want Dahlia to hurt you."
"If you are comfortable, would you mind telling us about your life?" Elijah asked. "We want to get to know you, and to do that, we need to understand you."
"Yes, I think that is a splendid idea," Freya gave him a watery smile and sat down on one of the couches. Finn sat down next to her, and the other three found their seats as well.
The story that followed was heart wrenching to listen to.
Freya spared no detail. She shared stories of her life after Dahlia had taken her from Esther: her trouble adjusting to life with Dahlia, growing up under their aunt's assessing eyes, and all the spells that Dahlia had taught her.
"Dahlia never warmed up to motherhood," Freya said with a humorless chuckle. "She was stern, cold, and always frustrated with me. She claims that my power was wild because I was the first witch born to my generation, but really it was because I hated her. I knew that calming my magic took a physical toll on her; she would sleep for days afterwards. When I turned fourteen, she began to watch all of you."
Finn was startled at that.
"Watch us for what?" Klaus asked suspiciously.
"Magical abilities, but mostly to see which one of you was going to have a child first."
Both Finn and Elijah flinched.
"She didn't want me anymore," Freya explained. "She said I was too strong-willed, and that my memories of my family were too stark. She wanted an infant free from the burden of childhood, one that she could mold in her image. She was wickedly happy when you had children, Finn."
Finn blanched. His children had died of a terrible sickness that took them much too young. But before their deaths, his children had lived good lives. They had known full bellies, loving parents, and a safe and warm home. The thought that his children could have been taken from him was chilling.
"Why did she not steal Finn's children?" Klaus asked.
"I did not let her," Freya tilted her chin up, pride in her eyes. "When Finn's eldest child survived her first winter, Dahlia began to make plans to cross the ocean. I intentionally cast a powerful spell, one that I had no hopes of containing. She tried to calm my magic down, but the effort nearly killed her. We both were frozen in time in a magical coma that lasted for ten years. When we awoke, your children had died from disease. Dahlia punished me greatly, but it was worth it to keep your children out of her talons."
The weight of Freya's actions, and Dahlia's evil intentions for Finn's daughter, hung heavy in the air.
After a few moments to process Freya's words, Finn was able to croak out a hoarse: "Thank you, sister. Your sacrifice saved my daughter from years of pain."
"I wish I could have met her," Freya said softly. "I wish I could have met all of your children, and your wife. I wish I could have been a part of our family."
Klaus scoffed. "Our family has been poisonous since its very conception. Even before your kidnapping, Dahlia and Esther made sure that our family was filled with pain and torment."
Freya frowned. "It can't have all been that bad."
"Sister, the rosy childhood you remember was temporary," Finn explained in a much more controlled tone than his brother. "After Dahlia snatched you from our mother's arms, Father became violent and cruel. He beat me, and after I left, he turned his ire onto Niklaus. Mikael was the one who forced Mother to return to the dark arts. He killed each and every one of us by thrusting a sword through our hearts, thus triggering the vampire transformation. When it was revealed that Niklaus was also a werewolf- thus exposing Mother's faithfulness- he again forced his will on Niklaus by locking away his werewolf side for one thousand years. Once the extent of our vampiric nature was discovered, Mikael turned on us and tried to kill us. For hundreds of years he hunted us with the intent to kill us."
"He has never shown remorse for his actions," Elijah added. "And if a witch hadn't locked him in Pickett Mausoleum, he would still be attempting to kill us, and anyone who stood in his way."
"Not too long after your visit in 1914, he found us in New Orleans," Klaus picked up the tale of woe. "He compelled an entire theater of humans to passively sit as the building around them burned. He has killed countless innocents in his mad quest to kill his own children. He is not the father you remember."
Kol refused to stay silent while everyone was bashing on their awful father: "He's an insane maniac, sister. His logic is flawed, his morals are questionable, and his prejudices run strong. He would kill all of us in a heartbeat."
Tears welled in Freya's eyes.
Finn sighed and once again hugged her. His poor sister. She had spent most of her life with that vile woman, with only her early childhood memories sustaining her. Now they were destroying her image of the father she had adored. And while Finn and Elijah were gentle in their delivery, Klaus was biting and vicious.
"Let us tell you of our childhood," Finn whispered into Freya's hair.
They talked for hours.
Finn told her about the early years after she had been taken, and how once he was old enough, he left the house to get married. He talked about his wife and kids. He told her about Henrik, the one sibling that she would never get to meet. He talked to her about the struggles he faced once he was turned into a vampire, and how it was like to be daggered. He did not hide his past melancholy from his dearest sister, and revealed to her all of the dark thoughts that had permeated his head after his family had died.
Elijah talked about the years he spent protecting the younger siblings from Mikael's rage as best he could. He reported on the guilt that flowed through him when he helped Mikael lock Niklaus's werewolf side away, and how this guilt drove him to stay by Niklaus's side. He told Freya about the mistakes he made with Katerina Petrova, the Strix, and believing Niklaus when he lied about dumping Finn, Kol, and Rebekah into the ocean.
Niklaus spoke about the years he spent under Mikael's abuse, and how the helplessness he felt fueled his need to be strong. He talked about the pain that he lived with for one thousand years while his werewolf side was locked away, and how the recent relief felt like breathing for the first time. At the prodding of Elijah, he told Freya about the times and reasons for daggering his siblings, his tumultuous relationship with Marcel Gerard, and how and why he killed Esther.
Kol told Freya about the happiness he felt when he cast his first spell, and how his transformation into a vampire had severed his connection to his magic. He talked about his unwillingness to control his bloodlust. He spoke about the centuries he spent learning different forms of magic, and offered to share his knowledge with her. He admitted to growing closer to Finn while they were both daggered.
The four of them told her about how they shared the same soulmate, and how she was inspiring them to mend old fences. They talked about recent events: Klaus becoming a full Hybrid, having all the siblings be undaggered, and their quest to find Freya.
By the time that they finished, Freya had softened.
"I am sorry about the pain that our parents caused all of you," she said quietly. "None of you deserved the pain that both Mother and Father dished out. Niklaus, I am happy that you were able to undo the curse that they placed on you. Kol, my heart hurts to know that you would have been a powerful witch. Elijah, you never should have had to take care of everyone; that should have been my job. And Finn, dear, dear Finn. You have experienced more pain than anyone should have to experience. I also know the pain of burying a child."
"You told us that Dahlia kept you on a tight leash," Niklaus pointed out.
"Yes… until you all became vampires, and thus barren. After that, she turned her eyes to my womb, for only I could continue the family line," Freya's eyes darkened. "Dahlia spent the first three years of our curse casting powerful spells on my body in order to have further control over me. She would take me into the village of whatever town we hid in and try to tempt me with the men. I resisted, for I knew what her plans were. The fourth year- or century, rather- of our sleeping curse, I met a young man named Mattias. I fancied myself in love with him, for he was kind to me. And Dahlia allowed me to love him."
"Of course," Klaus murmured. "She wanted you to bear her another firstborn."
Freya nodded miserably. "Matthias was a witch as well, and he knew what Dahlia would do to our son. We tried to escape, but Dahlia cursed him to death. He died in my arms."
Freya took in a shuddered breath. Finn wished he could lend her his strength, but the best he could do was give her a hand to hold.
"I knew that I'd never be free of her, that my child would be born a slave. To spare us both the horrors of the life I'd known, I took a bottle of Dahlia's strongest poison. But I had misunderstood something essential: the spell that sealed our magic sleep guarded us from all forms of harm…"
"But not the child," Finn finished for her. Freya had tried to escape Dahlia, but in the process had lost her child.
Even stoic and skeptic Klaus winced. They had committed many atrocities over the centuries, but Freya's actions had been pure. She had hoped to join her lover in the afterlife with their son, but instead had separated herself from both of them.
"I saved my son from Dahlia, but in the process I betrayed her. She realized that I would do anything to keep her from her goal. So she tightened her hold on me. The spells and curses she placed on me were horrible," Freya shuddered. "One of the most awful curses she placed on me made any adult men in my vicinity become crazed with lust. That entire year I spent fending off men while also trying to escape from Dahlia. Even once I managed to escape her immediate hold, I knew she was tracking me. I know that once she wakes, she will continue to hunt me. I am her last chance at having a powerful immortal coven."
"Could you not make yourself barren?" Niklaus asked. "Now that Dahlia's magic no longer influences your body, you can make your own decisions regarding its upkeep. If you no longer have the parts needed to grow a baby, no baby will ever be born."
Freya shook her head, her eyes fierce. Her eyes held a look that Finn had seen many a time growing up with Niklaus, Kol, and Rebekah, and then later with his more strong-willed children. It was a look that said, 'I will not be moved'.
"Why should I permanently alter my body and take away my option to have children?" Freya seethed- not at Klaus, but at her situation. "Why does that evil woman get to dictate my life? If I am truly free, then I get to make my own choices."
"No one will take your choices away from you, sister dearest," Elijah said seriously. He leaned forward, a sharp glint in his eyes. "We will make that harpy pay for every freedom she took for you, and every moment she made you feel weak."
"Elijah is right," Klaus said. Finn watched warily as the Hybrid rose to his feet and walked over to Freya. But Klaus proved to have more restraint; he placed a hand gently on Freya's shoulder. "We will make her pay for every infraction. Our family is filled with flawed characters, but our greatest strengths are our loyalty to each other and our dedication to vengeance. You are a part of that family, and we will support you."
As first meetings go, it wasn't the worst, Finn decided.
The next big hurdle they had to get over was introducing Freya to Miriam.
Finn's loyalty was equally split between the two women, but he knew that his brothers had no such dilemma. Niklaus was playing nice at the moment, but any perceived threat to Miriam would make him turn on Freya in a heartbeat. The Mikaelson siblings were finally all undaggered and free of their respective curses for the first time in forever, and of course it would be Niklaus who would threaten that peace, Finn thought cynically. He knew that Freya had one chance to impress Niklaus, for his younger brother was not in the habit of giving second chances- even to his siblings.
It was evening when Miriam returned to the Hearth.
She had made herself busy throughout the day, but returned one Finn texted her that it was okay to do so. She, Jenna, Jeremy, Caroline, and August came in through a side door. The others went to their respective rooms, but she made her way through the mansion towards Finn and his siblings.
Finn was beginning to appreciate being a vampire more and more. He liked being able to hear Miriam's quiet footsteps, and her low humming as she walked down the hall. He could move quickly to her side if he wanted. His supernaturally strong hands could easily support her weight. Yes, he had to drink blood to survive, but unlike his brothers and sister, he didn't kill his prey. He took what he needed to survive, then hurried back to his mate.
I am not damned, he reminded himself.
It wasn't always an easy thing to remember, but as Miriam came into view, all thoughts of damnation fluttered away.
Miriam smiled hesitantly as she stepped into the room. As Finn struggled with depression, he knew that Miriam struggled with her self-worth. So when she paused in the doorway, he reached out a hand.
"Dearest, come meet my sister," he said in Old Norse. Beside him, Freya startled.
"She knows our mother tongue?"
"I do learn," Miriam said, somewhat incorrectly, as she walked over to Finn and put her hand in his.
"'I am learning'," Finn corrected gently. "And yes, she does. I am learning English and Spanish, and she is learning Old Norse."
"It is nice to meet you," Miriam said. She smiled at Freya. "I am glad that we broke the spell."
Freya returned the smile, if cautiously. "Me, too. I have to admit, when my brothers told me they were all mated to the same woman, I was not expecting her to look like… you."
Klaus growled low in his throat. Elijah and Kol both tensed, ready to grab Klaus if he made a move towards their sister.
Freya glared at Klaus. "I meant colorful, brother." She gestured to Miriam, who wore red sandals, a pair of light blue shorts, a white tank top, and a multicolored button-up shirt that was fully open. Her fingernails were also painted several bright, different colors.
"I like color," Miriam laughed nervously. She picked up a decorative pillow and chucked it at Niklaus. "Stop growling at Freya."
Klaus caught the pillow and gave Miriam a mulish look.
"I could do much worse than growl at her if she harms you," Niklaus threatened.
"Niklaus," Elijah warned.
"What? You know I am serious."
"Yes, but you don't have to threaten our sister."
"Don't tell me what to do-"
Finn decided that he was damned, but with perpetually bickering siblings instead of a soulless existence.
"Have I ever told you about the first time Mikael hit me?"
It was early November.
October had come and gone. Miriam's soul-brother and his mate had visited for Halloween, but had returned to New Orleans the Monday after. It was now the weekend after Halloween, and the anticipation for the winter holidays was beginning.
The living room was filled with family. Elijah and Caroline sat at a small table that had been put in front of the inactive fireplace. Elijah was attempting to teach Caroline chess, but the girl was impatient and didn't like to think ten steps ahead of her opponent. Kol was perched on the couch opposite Finn and Elijah with Miriam sat at his feet. Kol was attempting to braid her hair, and Miriam sat patiently for him as she knit and gave him tips every now and then. Freya was in a chair next to Finn, a large history book open on her lap in order to help her understand the new world she had woken up in. Finn and Klaus sat on opposite ends of the second couch, each with a book in their hands. Klaus was reading an old grimoire, and Finn was reading a more modern book on foraging.
At Finn's words, the entire room went silent.
Freya looked up from her book. Kol's finger's froze in Miriam's hair, and the sound of knitting needles stopped. Caroline and Elijah turned in their seats so that they could see Finn better. And Klaus looked up from his book with guarded eyes, for Finn had addressed him.
"I was five," Finn continued, speaking to Klaus but wanting everyone in the room to hear. "Dahlia had taken Freya the year before. Elijah was just a baby. Our family had journeyed across the sea and settled in a small village that we would one day call home. It was a small village, but there were many children. I played with them during the day, laughing and running free. At night I would return to our home, which was filled with tension, and had been ever since Freya had been stolen. Mother told Mikael that a sickness had taken his favorite child from him, and he had never recovered."
Klaus's jaw clenched, but he said nothing.
"Our home was no longer a place of safety or comfort, so I stayed outside playing with my friends until late in the evening. One night, as winter began to touch the land and shorten the days, I stayed out until darkness had shrouded the land. When I finally returned home, Mikael was furious. He berated me angrily, and when I dared open my mouth to defend my actions, he struck me across the face."
From beside him, Freya let out a pained noise.
"From that day on, I became the outlet for his anger. Mother protected young Elijah and made remedies that soothed the wounds Mikael left on my body, but she never fought back against his cruelty. One year, when Elijah was two years old and I was seven, Mother would leave for hours when Mikael was off waging violence against his enemies. I stayed at home, tending to Elijah and the chores. Mother was my only ally in that horrible home, so I stayed silent about her whereabouts. Niklaus, you were born the next year."
"You were just a child; you wouldn't have known what Mother was up to," Klaus said, obviously suspicious of Finn's story. Finn didn't blame his brother, but it still pained him that Klaus's paranoia ran deep.
"You are right, I did not know she was going to meet your true father. But I did realize that whenever she returned from her liaisons she was happier. As our family grew with the additions of Kol, Rebekah, and Henrik, she became devoted to keeping up appearances with our neighbors and our village. She brushed off concerned whispers from the other women. She made up excuses for why my face was bruised or why all of us jumped at Mikael's voice. She was content to pretend that her life was perfect, that the choices she had made were good ones. I could do no such thing. As soon as I was old enough, I married and left the house… I left you, Niklaus, to take my place."
Finn set his book down on the coffee table, and angled his body to fully face Niklaus.
"I did not torment my wife and children like Mikael tormented us. I was a good husband and a good father. It was a point of pride to me that I was nothing like Mikael. But I realized that even worse, I am like Mother."
"How so?" Elijah asked.
"Like Mother with Dahlia, I abandoned you all by getting married. I knowingly left you all to deal with Mikael, knowing that Mother would do nothing to stop his anger. After my family died, I became apathetic. I ignored all the signs that said that Mikael was insane. Once we became vampires, I dove into my own pain. I did not think about the losses you all suffered, only my own. In my quest to reject all aspects of our father, I became too much like our mother. I was selfish, self-absorbed, and purposefully blind to the pain of those around me. And so I beg your forgiveness, Niklaus, Elijah, and Kol, for my actions."
One by one his brothers nodded, even Niklaus, whose eyes were shiny.
Finn knew he hadn't fixed everything with one conversation. Niklaus would probably always be paranoid. But at least they were moving in the right direction.
And that's all they could really do.
MIRIAM
"You're a hard man to pin down."
Miriam held back a grin as she watched her words make Klaus freeze.
It had been a couple of months, but now that Freya was awake and everybody was cool with her being a part of the family (mostly- looking at you, Klaus), it was time to address the elephant (Hybrid) in the room. So Miriam had August put a silencing charm on her until she reached Klaus's room, not giving him a chance to come up with a reason not to talk to her.
Because he hadn't talked to her, not really, since the night he had returned from Las Vegas. He had said he was sorry for his hurtful words, and he had smothered her with lavish gifts- her favorite being a huge box of yarn of different textiles, including cashmere and vicuna. Vicuna! But gifts given in guilt were not healthy, and just slapping a 'sorry' after a horrible action did not make everything magically better.
"You're a persistent woman," Klaus commented with forced blase.
Miriam hummed in agreement. She stood in the doorway, unwilling to enter his private space without express permission. Inside his room Klaus had set up an easel next to his window and was painting.
"May I come inside?"
Klaus's demeanor relaxed a smidge. "Of course. You are always welcome here."
Miriam walked into the room and sat down at the end of his bed, facing him. "We need to talk. Really talk. You don't get to be distracted by cursed sisters or intricate spells."
Klaus put his paintbrush down but didn't move closer. "Those were worthy distractions."
"They were," Miriam allowed, "but we need to talk about what happened."
"Then by all means, talk."
Miriam ignored the sarcastic bent to his words. She gathered her thoughts, then said, "You know I struggle with self-worth. You know that the only really valuable thing about me is the knowledge that I have about one possible future. And that day you belittled me by calling me a child, and you challenged my decisions about holding back information. You made me feel small and stupid."
Klaus flinched at her words, and while Miriam never wanted to hurt him, she hoped that he was starting to understand why she was so upset.
"I… I'm so- I was stressed," he finally said. "I shouldn't have said what I said. I don't want you to feel small or stupid, because you are neither of those things."
"Klaus, if we're going to work, we can't continue this cycle of you poking at my bruises and then apologizing later," Miriam said softly.
He clenched his jaw, but he didn't turn away from her or the discussion they were having.
"And… And I know Lucien said something to you in Las Vegas that has affected you," Miriam continued. "You don't have to tell me what he said, and honestly I'm not sure I want to know. But you do have to communicate better with me."
"I know," Klaus whispered.
"I just want you to try. We don't have to be perfect; we just have to be functional." Miriam stood up. She had said everything she needed to say, and he had seemed receptive. She hoovered awkwardly before saying, "I guess we're good, then. I'm going to go-"
Klaus flashed in front of her, and goddamn she'd never get used to his super speed.
"Don't go," he said, on the edge of desperation. "I-I can't… I need you here with me. I'll protect you and provide for you, just please, stay."
Miriam's heart clenched. "Klaus, you don't have to bribe me. I'm here, with you, because I want to be."
He didn't believe her. She could see it in his eyes.
So she surged up on her tip-toes and kissed him. She tried to pour all of her emotions into the kiss and hoped that he understood. He was frozen for a moment before he wrapped his arms around her torso and returned the kiss with a fierceness that startled her. He picked her up and deposited her on his bed and climbed on top of her as he continued to kiss her. Pinned to the bed, all Miriam could do was feel.
His hands were all over her, squeezing, stroking, and gripping. His mouth was relentless: he kissed her deeply and passionately before traveling down to her neck, where he lavished the area in kisses and bites. In no time at all Miriam's shirt and bra were torn off of her and tossed away from the bed.
"Klaus," she moaned as he bit her on the left breast hard enough to break the skin. He balanced out the sharp pain of his teeth by stroking her over her shorts.
"I want to go further," he whispered into her skin, before sucking a nipple into his mouth.
"Y-Yes!"
Her shorts and underwear were discarded as quickly as her shirt and bra had been. She was wet between her legs, which Klaus found out when his fingers began to explore the area.
Despite all of his fierceness, he was tender as he touched her most intimate place. He almost seemed hesitant to push too hard, so Miriam bucked up into his hand.
"More," she begged.
He smiled against her neck. "Of course, love."
Fingers, now more confident in their actions, pushed through her folds and into her. His thumb stroked her clit with firm motions, and in no time at all she was shuddering through her release.
Klaus didn't give her a reprieve. He kissed and bit his way down her body until he was face to face with where she was wet and needy. He looked up at her, eyes pleading.
Miriam hesitated for the first time. No one had ever done this with her before, and insecurity flashed through her mind. What if she looked weird? Or smelled weird? Or tasted weird? She didn't think she could stand seeing disgust on his face.
"Love, let me do this," he said before biting her inner thigh hard enough to draw blood. "Don't think, just feel."
Miriam nodded shakily before forcing herself to relax into the bed. He pressed a kiss into the top of her mound as a reward, then manipulated her legs into the position that he wanted. Then he attacked.
Miriam jolted so hard that he had to grip her hips to keep her in place as he licked and sucked at her. He used his teeth to nibble at her clit and his tongue to thrust into her. But what really set her off was when he inserted two fingers and stroked them in a 'come hither' motion. The combination of his fingers, tongue, and teeth pushed her over the edge.
"Klaus!" she shouted as she came shockingly fast.
She floated in pleasure for a few minutes. When she finally returned to the present, she realized that Klaus had removed his hands and was stroking up and down her legs. He smiled smugly at her, his face shiny with her wetness.
"Did you like that?" He phrased it like a question, but Miriam knew that he knew that she liked it.
She nudged him with her foot. "I didn't say you could stop."
He grinned and lowered his head once again. "You are a goddess," he declared before proving it by worshiping her with his tongue. And she truly did feel venerated. He paid her such careful attention that she couldn't help but feel desired and beautiful.
Klaus brought her to her peak twice more before Miriam felt too sensitive to continue.
"Come up here," she said as she reached for his hand.
He let her pull him onto the bed with her. She took off his shirt before kissing every bit of exposed skin she could reach. She bit him playfully with her dull teeth (and was more than slightly annoyed that she couldn't leave marks on his skin) and explored his torso with her hands.
Klaus caught her hands in his once she reached his belt.
"You don't have to do this," he said seriously.
"I want to," she said simply.
He helped her take off his shoes and pants, and then he was as naked as she was.
She wrapped one of her hands around him and began to work him to full hardness. Once she was satisfied, she lowered her head and took him inside her mouth.
It was awkward, at first. She hadn't given a blowjob in years (and she hadn't exactly been an expert), and there was a learning curve on what Klaus liked and didn't like. He coached her on certain motions and pressure, and Miriam followed his direction enthusiastically.
"I'm going to come," he gritted out after a few minutes.
Miriam hummed and took him deeper. When he tensed, she pulled back until just the head was in her mouth and sucked. He came with a shout and she swallowed everything he gave her.
He pulled her to him and they both relaxed into the bed.
They were both quiet for a long time.
Miriam had almost fallen asleep when she felt him shift against her.
"Lucien was the first person I ever turned," Klaus murmured into her hair. She tried to move so that she could look at him, but his arms tightened, keeping her against his side. "I don't know if we are similar because of that, or if I was drawn to him because I recognized something familiar in his eyes. We had both come from humble beginnings, and had lived our human lives being abused by those in power over us. Vampirism was freedom for both of us."
Miriam absent-mindedly stroked her fingers over his chest as he talked, not daring to make any big movement or loud noise.
"Even now, all these years later, I can see myself in Lucien. His drive and thirst for revenge is familiar. When I talked to him in Las Vegas, he mentioned ways he kept his human girlfriend with him. His actions towards the girl are deeply wrong, but he put an idea into my head."
"What idea?" Miriam prompted when Klaus was silent for too long.
"Of ways to keep you with me," he admitted. "One thing he suggested was a ring- a wedding ring."
"Marriage?" Miriam hadn't believed the Hybrid would want something so common- so human- as a marriage.
"Yes, but not in the way you are thinking," Klaus said. "The thought of you vowing to be mine for the rest of eternity is a heady thought. It's bad enough to have to share you with three other people, but for you to also have the freedom to leave anytime is terrifying."
And there was the crux of his insecurity, she thought. He was afraid she was going to leave him because she didn't care enough for him to stay. He couldn't compel her to be loyal, and he couldn't threaten her with a dagger to get her to stay with him, so he was stuck relying on her word that she wouldn't leave him. And Klaus Mikaelson was not known for believing people at their word.
But Miriam could try. She could say her words and reinforce them with her actions. Maybe then he would believe her.
"I choose you," she whispered. "Given the chance to do everything over again, I would choose you every time."
His arms tightened around her, almost to the point of pain.
"If wearing a ring would make you believe me, then get me a ring. But please, don't let Lucien's messed up mind make decisions in our relationship. Our relationship is between me and you. No one else is allowed to make choices for us."
"Elijah? Finn? Kol?" Klaus challenged.
"They can say their opinions, but at the end of the day, the choices we make are between the two of us," Miriam said firmly.
Klaus kissed the top of her head before circling back to the earlier topic. "You would wear a ring? You would proclaim to everyone that you are mine?"
"Elijah calls me his fiancé in public. Finn called me his wife last month when Aya arrived. If wearing a ring makes you feel more confident, then I will wear it proudly."
Klaus went silent, but his arms loosened and his body relaxed.
Miriam knew they hadn't magically fixed Klaus's paranoia or his insecurities. There was still a long road ahead of them. But Miriam was hopeful. He had talked to her about his feelings, and that was the biggest hurdle they would continually face.
After a little while Klaus shifted them. He turned his eyes towards her, and she grinned at the mischievous look in his eyes.
"Would you like to get up, or should we resume our delicious activities?"
Miriam laughed as he pulled her body to the edge of the bed and placed her legs on his shoulders. "God, you're going to turn me into some kind of sex addict."
"Oh, love, we're going to need to have much more sex before anyone can label you a sex addict."
And so the rest of the afternoon was spent in delightful bliss.
ELENA
Elena huddled underneath her covers in her bed, her only safe place. Oh, how wrong things had gone! She bemoaned to herself.
Ever since she had abandoned Jenna and Jeremy, Elena's life had become an awful mess. Mystic Falls had become a war camp. Uncle John, Alaric, Isobel, Sage, Bonnie, Stefan, and a newcomer named Tristan de Martel were gathering allies to the town in order to attack the Mikaelsons. The tentative goal was to attack the city of Roanoke before the new year.
John's house had become the center for all the war meetings that were happening. Elena had been involved during the beginning, but now, four months later, she very rarely left her room. The allies that John had found were… interesting.
Tristan de Martel scared her. He had cold blue eyes that made Elena's hindbrain scream, 'predator!' whenever he looked at her. He was elegant and refined, and carried himself like Carol Lockwood or any of the other rich founding families: with a certainty that he was the wealthiest and most powerful person in the room. He reminded Elena of Elijah Mikaelson, for some reason.
Tristan seemed to have brought an entire battalion of witches and vampires with him. They took up residence in Mystic Falls and the surrounding towns like an unwanted burr on Elena's shoe. The human citizens had been terrorized so much that many people were actually leaving the area. The Council of Mystic Falls had tried to put a stop to the violence, but they had been threatened into a temporary submission.
Death was becoming a permanent fixture in Elena's life, and she was helpless to stop it.
Normally, Elena would turn to Bonnie for comfort. Bonnie used to listen to her problems and give her advice. Now Bonnie was focused on her own aspirations. She spent most of her time with the new witches in town, diving deeper into the darker forms of magic that were available to her. She had all but dropped out of school.
Elena was trying desperately to juggle school, her horrible dating life, her family, and the growing threat of the Mikaelsons… and failing at all four. Her grades were horrible; she was close to failing multiple classes. Though she hadn't needed to re-do her junior year of high school, it was clear that she would never get into the colleges she wanted to with her current GPA.
Her dating life was just as messy. Stefan was becoming obsessed with the Mikaelsons. He could remember his time in Chicago after Klaus had freed him of his compulsion, but any fond memories he might have had with the Mikaelsons had been tainted. Damon was avoiding her.
Elena's family life was also crappy. Her biological parents were not the loving parents she had wanted. John honestly seemed to hold affection for her, but his hatred for the Mikaelsons came first. Isobel acted strange around Elena, like she was afraid to be near her daughter. Even Alaric, who had become something of a surrogate father to Elena, was now busy scouring the country for more Mikaelson enemies to befriend.
"Everything sucks," Elena bemoaned. She was so lonely. She just wanted the Mikaelsons dead and gone gone gone.
"Really? Everything?"
Elena lifted her head to glare at her mo… Isobel.
The vampire smirked and wiggled her fingers.
"What do you want?" Elena groused as she sat up in bed.
"I can't visit my daughter?" Isobel teased as she entered Elena's bedroom and sat down at the end of her bed.
Elena just shrugged.
Isobel sighed and fidgeted with her hands. "I just wanted to let you know that John, Tristan, and Alaric have decided that they're going to attack in December. There's a few spells that the witches are doing that need to mature, so we're waiting for those to finish."
"It'll be over soon?" Elena asked as hope bubbled in her chest.
"Yes," Isobel nodded. "But… don't get too excited. Wars have casualties."
"The only casualties are going to be the Mikaelsons," Elena said fiercely.
Isobel winced. "Maybe. The Mikaelsons are fierce adversaries, Elena. They trick people and use them to their own ends. They won't die easily. Just prepare yourself for heartache."
Elena has had enough heartache. Her parents, Jenna and Jeremy leaving her, being stalked and kidnapped by multiple bad guys, and dying so a megalomaniac could kill more people. Elena's life has only ever been filled with heartache, and she wants it to fucking stop.
Isobel was staring at her, and Elena's stomach twisted when she realized they shared the same eyes. "Why do you care about my heart? You haven't paid me any attention these last few months."
"I'm sorry," Isobel said softly. "I've been busy."
"Everyone has been busy," Elena snapped. "You're in here for a reason."
"Yes," Isobel admitted, "but it's nothing nefarious. I just wanted to let you know that even if something happens, I have always cared for you. Maybe not in the way you wanted, or in the way your mother did, but I tried my best."
Elena softened at those words. She remembered that Isobel was not much older than her when she had her. "I… I know."
Isobel smiled, relieved. She reached out hesitantly and patted Elena's hand awkwardly. "Good. I'll see you later."
And with that, Elena's birth mom left the room.
Elena didn't want anyone to die for her, especially not her friends or family members. Even Jenna, Jeremy, and Caroline were still on her list of protected people (though the deal with Elijah had become void). But now Elena was thinking of expanding that list to Isobel. Yeah, she wasn't the best mother figure, but at least she was there.
Please, Elena begged, her face turned towards the ceiling, please don't let any of them die.
For there was a war coming, and only one side would be left standing.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
Part of Freya's dialog is inspired by TO 2x16.
Question: I want to start another TVD poly story, and I need help deciding! I'm thinking a TVD human mob AU. With this option, I'm unsure if Caroline, Bonnie, Sarah Nelson/Salvatore, or an OC would be the main character. With Caroline: she's spunky, there's a potential for angst with her relationship with Damon, her mom's a cop, and I could totally see her holding her own in a mafia AU. Bonnie would be interesting because she would be a civilian (which was the basis of my original idea). Sarah, who was a distant relative of the Salvatores', would grow up involved in the mafia. The OC option would also be a civilian. So what do you guys think?