Maya was elated to return to the academy after an incredibly stressful week. As the portkey deposited her at the familiar gates, she was immediately enveloped by the comforting atmosphere of the school grounds. The air was filled with the sounds of laughter and chatter, a symphony of life that echoed through the thrumming crowds of students. The mingling scents of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers tickled her senses, signalling that life was finally returning to normal.

Her heart swelled with relief knowing that her family were safe, alive, and well. There were no more imminent threats looming over them, at least for now. Maya wasn't naïve enough to believe danger would never strike again, but in this moment, she could let go of her worries about losing her loved ones. The anxiety of the past week melted away, replaced by a sense of peace and gratitude.

The absolute best part of returning to school was reuniting with her friends. Although they had kept in touch through text messages and a single video call, it wasn't the same as being together in person. The digital connections paled in comparison to the warmth of their presence and the joy of shared laughter. She was especially excited to see Ronan, eager to share the thrilling news that her dads had agreed to let them go on dates together. The thought of telling him in person made her heart race with anticipation.

As Maya walked through the bustling courtyard, her eyes scanned the familiar faces, each one bringing back memories of happier times. She spotted her friends gathered near their usual spot under the large oak tree, their animated conversation and bright smiles a beacon of welcome. Her steps quickened, the last remaining weight of the past week lifting with each stride.

"Maya!"

Kamala and Sora's excited exclamations rang out simultaneously. In the next moment, Maya found herself buried in warmth and affection, as her two best friends raced over and enveloped her in a fierce embrace. She hugged them back just as tightly, relishing in the happiness seeing them in person again brought.

"We missed you," Sora's honest statement, voice tinged with emotion, was followed by another squeezing embrace from both of them before they finally let go and stepped back.

Only to be replaced by Aiden, whose hug was shorter but no less fierce than the others. His strong arms wrapped around her, conveying a silent message of support and relief.

"Glad you're back. Classes aren't the same without you," Aiden expressed, his voice warm and genuine.

Ronan was the last to greet her, as the others stepped back to give them space and a bit of privacy. He took hold of her hand and squeezed it lightly, pulling her into an emotionally charged, gentle, and lingering embrace. Maya let herself sink into it for a moment, letting the peace and comfort of his hug wash over her.

"Hi," he said softly once they'd let the hug end, though neither of them seemed willing to let go of the other's hand.

"Hi," Maya replied, her voice equally soft, a smile tugging at her lips.

"I'm glad you're back," Ronan stated, his eyes reflecting a mixture of relief and happiness.

"I'm glad to be back," she echoed, feeling a deep sense of contentment.

They stood there for a moment, hand in hand, savouring the connection and the unspoken emotions that passed between them. The chaos and stress of the past week seemed to melt away in the warmth of Ronan's presence.

"So, last week sounded like it was absolutely awful" Kamala stated, as they fell back in with the group, "but it's all over now?"

Maya nodded.

"Yeah. It was horrible, but Uncle Elijah said pretty much everything's been dealt with and we're not in danger anymore, which I guess is the same as being over." She turned her head and smiled mysteriously at Ronan, "there was one good part though."

"Aside from your family not dying you mean?" Aiden interjected.

"Okay, so two good parts," she laughed.

"What was the second?" Ronan asked, curiosity piqued by Maya's mysterious smile, and the excited giggles Kamala and Sora were exchanging.

They were the very first people she had told after getting her dads to agree to allow her to date Ronan.

"Well," she began, her eyes twinkling with excitement, "my dad's agreed that we can go out together, on dates." She gave him a lopsided grin. "If you still want to, of course."

Ronan's eyes widened in surprise, then softened with joy.

"Are you kidding? Of course, I still want to!" He pulled her into another hug, lifting her off the ground and spinning her round giddily.

"There is one condition," she added when he put her down, "well there was a couple actually. But the most important one is that you have to come to a family dinner first, an official introduction if you like. My dad insisted."

"Anything."

"Anything?" she echoed, raising an eyebrow playfully.

"Anything," he repeated, before leaning down and placing a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Just tell me when, and I'll be there."

Maya's heart fluttered at the tenderness of his kiss and the sincerity in his voice. Kamala and Sora both squealed with excitement and leaped forward, tugging Maya away as the bell rang, summoning them to homeroom.

"Come on, lovebirds!" Kamala teased, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Homeroom awaits!" Sora added, her grin wide as she linked arms with Maya.

As they hurried down the hallway, Kamala and Sora kept up a constant enthusiastic chatter about potential first date locations and the perfect outfits to go with each one.

Rebekah lingered at her locker, pretending to rummage through the contents when, in reality, she was merely avoiding going to her first class until the very last minute. The decision she'd made to kill Elena weighed on her, but she didn't regret it, a part of her actually took pleasure in killing Elena, she hadn't liked her even before the doppelganger had participated in an attempt to kill her and her siblings. Not that she would express that to anyone, because it wasn't the reason she'd killed Elena, the truest reason was that her family came first—they always had, and they always would. But even as a human, she'd understood that actions have consequences, and saving her family might well cost her the friendships she'd painstakingly built since Klaus had freed her from the coffin, he'd her in ninety years ago.

She tried to convince herself that she didn't need friendship. She had her family, and that should be enough. But deep down, she had to admit that even when surrounded by her brothers, she often felt a profound loneliness. Over the past months, she had come to cherish the bonds she'd formed with Caroline and Bonnie. They had filled the part of her heart that had always longed for a sister, and she wasn't eager to find out if her decision to save her family had cost her their friendship.

"Bekah? Are you gonna stand out here all day, or are you gonna come to class?"

Startled, Rebekah looked up to see Caroline standing a few feet away, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

"I…" Rebekah's voice faltered as she stared at Caroline. "I wasn't sure if you'd want to spend any more time around me than you had to."

Caroline's gaze was steady, her eyes reflecting a complex blend of emotions.

"I'm not gonna lie, I'm angry," Caroline began, her voice firm yet soft.

Rebekah flinched, her heart sinking, but Caroline quickly shook her head.

"Not at you. My mom explained everything, but even before that, I already knew you wouldn't have ki—" she glanced around the crowded hallway, her voice lowering to a whisper, "—done what you did unless you had a very good reason. The truth is, I'm angry at that Lilith bitch and John Gilbert for involving Elena in their plans. And I'm furious beyond words at Elena for going along with them, even when she knew about the whole sireline thing."

Caroline's voice trembled slightly, betraying the depth of her pain.

"And maybe I'm a little angry at myself for not seeing before now that Elena wasn't the same person I grew up with. The best friend I knew could never have done that. How could I not see that she'd changed into someone who could make such an awful decision?"

She paused, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"And I'm angry that it hurts so much, that I want to mourn my friend, but how can I when she was willing to let me die just to get rid of you and your siblings? So yeah, I'm angry, Bekah, but not at you."

Rebekah felt a surge of emotion at Caroline's words, her throat tightening. She hadn't expected such raw honesty, such an intricate tangle of feelings. It was both a relief and a new burden, knowing she wasn't the target of Caroline's anger but still feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on them both.

"I'm so sorry, Caroline," Rebekah whispered, her voice barely audible. "I never wanted to hurt you. I just... I had no choice."

Caroline stepped closer, her expression softening slightly.

"I know, Bekah. And I know it wasn't easy for you either. But we're friends, and friends stick together, even when things get tough. We'll get through this, somehow."

Rebekah felt a flicker of hope at Caroline's words. Maybe, just maybe, they could find a way forward through this, that wouldn't shatter their friendship. She could only hope Bonnie felt the same way as Caroline did.

"I must speak with you both."

Esther's voice, though gentle, held a gravity that commanded immediate attention. She had carefully orchestrated this moment, ensuring all her other children were either absent or deeply engrossed in their own pursuits. Her eyes, sharp with intent, zeroed in on her son and the man seated beside him—the man who had taken up the mantle of raising her grandchild, and whom, if her instincts were correct, her son was in the process of courting.

Esther had watched from the Otherside as Damon Salvatore embraced the task of raising her granddaughter with a love and kindness she had not expected. In observing him, she had come to a profound realization of her own failings as a mother. She had neglected the very essence of what Damon embodied—compassion, patience, and an unwavering strength.

Esther's respect for the young vampire had grown with each passing day. She saw in him qualities that made him an ideal partner for her son. Damon was not only capable of loving Niklaus with a fervent heart but also possessed the resilience to stand both with and against him when necessary. His presence brought a sense of balance that Esther had longed to see in her family. Though she suspected her approval of the courtship would mean little to her son.

"Can it wait, Mother?" Niklaus asked with a glance over his shoulder. "We're actually in the middle of something."

Since she was fairly certain that "something" was him attempting to seduce Damon, considering the flushed look on the younger vampire's face, rather than something of actual importance, she shook her head.

"No. It's important." She insisted.

Niklaus sighed, a mixture of frustration and curiosity crossing his features. Damon, still slightly flushed but now more composed, gave a slight nod and placed his hand atop her sons, encouraging him to listen.

"It is a long story, and I beg you to listen to me without interruption. You may curse and rail at me afterward to your heart's content if that is your wish."

"Is that likely?" Damon asked, the concern in his eyes directed solely at Niklaus.

"I fear you both may wish to, once I am done, and I would not blame you for it." She sighed, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her own words. "I made many mistakes in my lifetime, but what I am about to tell you may just be my worst."

The room seemed to close in around them, the silence thick and expectant. Niklaus's gaze hardened, a flicker of anger and hurt flashing in his eyes, but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"When I was a young girl, I lived with my elder sister. Our parents and grandparents had all passed and so it was just us, we resided in a small village in Norway. My sister was my protector, she was strong; her magic incredibly powerful, the firstborn in our lineage always are, as I'm sure you've seen with Maya.

"One day, I was out picking flowers and herbs when the village was attacked by raiders. I ran straight to my sister, I thought she could protect us both, keep us safe from the raiders, but they were prepared. They blinded us with sack cloth, and she could not see to cast her magic. They took us with them, the only survivors of the village, they had seen my sisters' power, and they wanted it for their own.

"My sister agreed to perform magic for them, in exchange for protection. It was a harsh time, and we had only each other, with no coven to aid in our protection. In time I grew close to one of the warriors," throughout the telling of the tale she had kept her eyes averted from her sons boring gaze, but now she looked up and met his eyes with her own for a moment. "With Mikael."

"If you're about to tell us that your worst mistake was marrying that man, you can save your breath mother. I have no interest in hearing it."

"That was not the mistake I was referring to, Niklaus. Though you are correct of course, marrying Mikael was a mistake, but one I cannot regret because it gave me my children." She took a deep breath, no longer looking at her hands, but keeping her gaze locked with her son. "I told my sister that I had fallen in love with Mikael and wished to marry him, that I no longer wished to practice magic. I thought she would be happy for me, and at the time she acted as if she was fine with it, but with the benefit of hindsight I know I broke her heart that day."

Her son scoffed derisively but didn't speak again and so she continued.

"We tried for a while to have children without success, I was barren. Your father wanted children, sons and daughters who would secure his standing and carry on his lineage. I knew if I couldn't produce them, he would cast me aside and take a wife who could, I would be alone, without protection. I was desperate, so I went to my sister and begged her to help and eventually she agreed. She told me it would require a heavy sacrifice, but as I said I was desperate, I agreed to pay any price if she would ensure I could have a child with Mikael."

A soft inhale drew her attention to Damon. There was a sympathy in his eyes that she did not deserve, and she turned back to her son, much preferring the heavy judgement he was conveying with his gaze.

"What did you promise her mother?"

"I didn't fully realise until my sister came to collect payment what I had done. What I had given away in a moment of desperation." Esther continued, insistent on telling the whole story, "I got pregnant with my first child, your eldest sister Freya, shortly after my sister cast her magic, a few months after she was born, I was pregnant with Finn. They grew up together, the best of friends. When Freya turned five, she started to tap into her magic, I was pregnant with Elijah at the time, and Mikael was away in battle. It was just myself, Freya, and Finn, left at home when my sister came for payment."

Niklaus made to speak again, but he was interrupted by a voice from behind them. She had been so caught up in confessing her sins that she had not felt the approach of her eldest two sons, had not realised that they were standing in the doorway, listening to her words.

That Finn was listening.

"You told me I imagined it! That it was naught but a nightmare!"

"Imagined what?" Niklaus demanded, a heavy growl underlying his tone, "What payment did you give your sister, in exchange for having us, Mother?"

"Our sister." Finn answered before she could, "Father was away, called to battle and a woman came to our home. She took Freya, and mother did nothing to stop her. I let you convince me that it was a nightmare, brought on by the trauma of Freya's death, but it wasn't, was it?"

Esther shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears.

"No, it wasn't. My sister came to collect Freya as payment for the magic that gave me children. I tried to refuse her, tried to convince her to accept some other payment, told her I would tell Mikael, and we would wrest Freya back from her. But she told me if I did that, she would take you and Elijah as well and any future children I might birth. Losing one child to her was bad enough, I couldn't lose all of you. I was afraid, and I convinced myself it was the only way to protect the rest of you. I told Mikael that Freya had died of plague, and I convinced you it was just a nightmare."

Her gaze passed across her sons, from Finn's devastation to Elijah's utterly emotionless mask, and finally to Niklaus, whose face was twisted with a mix of rage and sorrow. Damon, still holding his hand, squeezed it tighter, grounding him.

"You gave away our sister," Niklaus whispered, his voice trembling with outrage. "For what? To save yourself from spending a life alone? An outcome that would have been by your own doing?"

"There's more." Esther whispered.

"More!" Niklaus' roar made her jump, "What more could there possibly be? Did you give away another of your children? Is there a sibling we don't know about, because you bargained them to some hag?"

"Not my children, no."

Deathly silence followed her broken confession, none of her children, not even Niklaus seemed capable of reacting to her words.

"What do you mean?" Damon asked.

"After Dahlia took Freya, I vowed to return to dark arts, to grow in experience and strength until I was powerful enough to rival Dahlia, powerful enough to protect the rest of my children, and I did. I found a mentor in Ayana, and shortly after you were born, Elijah, we journeyed here at her advice. Mikael was devastated by the loss of Freya, and we were promised this land where everyone was healthy, he insisted we come here. He did not wish to lose another child, but the loss of Freya made him distant, emotionally, and I was lonely."

"Spare us the torrid details of your affair with my biological father, if you will mother, and get to the point."

"Even after moving a continent away from Dahlia, I kept my promise. I studied long and hard under Ayana, honing my craft, promising myself that I would never let another of my family be taken from me. I failed, despite my best efforts, Henrik still died."

"Yes, yes, then you and Mikael contrived to turn us all into vampires, so you would never lose one of us again, we all know the story. I fail to see why you're rehashing ancient history –"

"Niklaus." Elijah's tone was as emotionless as his expression, "hush."

Niklaus glared at him, but fell silent, and Esther continued her story.

"I had more than one reason for turning you into vampires. Yes, Mikael wanted to ensure that he would never lose another child, that you would be the most powerful beings, that none could rival you or threaten you. I did not want to face another loss either, more importantly I didn't want any of you to suffer the same loss I had –" Damon's sharp inhale told her he had inferred her meaning, even if her sons had not, "– I ensured that after you were turned, you would not be able to have children. I realised too late, that your werewolf side would make possible for you, what was not possible for your siblings. That is the real reason I bound it. It wasn't to hurt you, Niklaus, it was to protect you."

"Protect me from what!?"

"From Dahlia, from my sister, your aunt. I told you – I didn't realise until she came for Freya exactly what I had promised – I didn't just promise her my firstborn. I promised her the firstborn witch child of each of my descendants for as long as the bloodline existed. I thought I had done enough to prevent it, but despite everything I did, Maya was still born."

Niklaus face was frozen in a rictus of rage and confusion as she came to the end of her story, save the final and most important part.

"I'm so sorry, but you need to understand. Dahlia will come for her, just as she came for Freya."

Damon's grip on Niklaus's hand tightened as anger began to overtake the sympathy that had dominated his expression, until now.

"She's still alive?"

"Yes."

"Get out."

"I –"

"Get. Out." Damon repeated.

If Esther had thought the devastation in Finn's gaze had been bad, it was nothing to that which now consumed Niklaus' features, even his anger seemed to have deserted him.

"Damon –" Elijah attempted.

"I know what you're going to say, Elijah, and I don't care. Not right now." His gaze never left hers. "You need to leave; you need to leave right now."

"I understand."

"No, I don't think you do. You bargained away our daughter, for your own selfish desires, and I can't even properly hate you for it, because if you hadn't done everything you've done, then Maya never would have existed in the first place." Damon ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head despairingly. "I get that we will probably need your help when your sister does come for Maya, but right now you need to leave."

Esther nodded and stood up, she understood that his demand, was first and foremost to protect her son, and she couldn't fault him for that. She couldn't lie either, it was a better, well no, a calmer reaction maybe, than the one she had expected. Finn and Niklaus both refused to look at her as she walked towards the door, but Elijah turned and followed her out. Not, she thought looking at his face, because he was any less angry about her revelations than his brothers, but because he wanted to protect them from her.

"I own a small house about ten minutes away," he told her once they were outside. "You can stay there for the time being. I think it's best for everyone if we all have some distance right now."

"Thank you."

"I'm not doing this for your benefit, Mother."

"I know. That's why I'm thanking you."

Elijah nodded curtly, his face still a mask of controlled fury. A car pulled up in front of them, driven by one of the men she had seen around the manor the past few days, one of her son's hybrids she believed. Presumably Elijah had ordered it at some point when she had been confessing her sins. Elijah opened the door for her, and she slid inside.

"My staff will be able to provide you with anything you need. I will tell Rebekah and Kol what has happened. We will come to you when we're ready to talk. Until then, stay away."

Esther watched him turn back to the house, his shoulders rigid with the weight of their family's new turmoil. She understood that the road to forgiveness, if it even existed, would be long and arduous. As she was driven toward the small house Elijah had mentioned, she couldn't shake the feeling that her presence would be a constant reminder of their pain. Still, she hoped that in time, her family could find a way to heal and stand united against the threat of Dahlia.