Entanglement (Yet Again)
Pairing: n/a
Warnings: pregnancy, mentions of a dead parent.
Word Count: 684 words
Notes: 1) [Loudly claps hands together] There, I fixed it!!! Finally! Yes, the original version of this scene has decent tension, but all the n.adalind makes me uncomfortable. So, I took out a chunk of dialogue, and made the Briar/Nick canon tolerable. :D 2) Also. They're in a police precinct (an office, specifically), I just couldn't work out how to work that into the writing.
‘What is she doing here? I’m done with her, she ruined Juliette’s life.’
‘I didn’t know that would happen.’ Adalind replied.
‘Also, Nick, she’s with me.’ Briar interjected. ‘Actually, for me.’
‘What are you talking about? How can she be here for anybody?’
‘That is true, she doesn’t often think about people other than herself., unless she needs them for personal gain.’
‘Hey!’ Adalind gasped.
‘We’re straying off-topic here.’ Sean asked. ‘Briar, why don’t you just show Nick?’
So, they opened their coat, revealing that they were in fact pregnant.
‘It’s your child, Nick.’
‘Are you crazy? That’s impossible.’ Nick laughed, smile not quite reaching his eyes.
‘Yeah, it should be.’ Briar said. ‘But, you can blame Adalind and her meddling at Monroe and Rosalee’s wedding for this. Apparently it’s a side-effect of the spell. I guess if I didn’t exist, the baby would be hers.’
‘Oh, I already blame her - for quite a lot of things, not just what she did to me.’ Nick sighed. Adalind looked like she was going to protest again, but Sean held up his hand and signalled at her not to. Nick pinched the bridge of his nose in exasperation. ‘So, what do you need?’
‘I need you to protect me from Juliette.’ Adalind replied. ‘And in return I’ll tell you how to cure her.
‘Why would I do that?’
‘For Briar, for their child.’
‘You don’t get to use me as a bargaining chip! You’re the one who cocked up!’ Briar yelled; resisting the urge to choke her sibling.
Watching this, a small smile crossed Nick’s face. He was glad that someone was able to stand up to Adalind (despite the tense and messy situation they were now tangled in.)
Awkwardly, Sean coughed, getting the room back on track. Briar sighed, and lent back against Sean’s desk. ‘Go, on pitch the thing.’
‘Look, I'm not making any promises, and you have to understand that there's no way to cure her completely--’ Adalind began.
‘Well, then what's the point of this?’ Nick asked.
‘Because there is a way to suppress the hexenbiest in her.’
‘But she'll still be one, so what good does suppressing it do?’
‘Well, a lot, if it works.’
‘If it works?’ Nick said, incredulously. He was moments away from snapping. ‘Yeah, I've heard that before. What kind of side effects this time?’
‘This isn't about changing her. This is so that she can live a normal-- If that's what you want--life.’
‘We've been through the book that you used, there's nothing about what you're saying.
‘It's not in the book, specifically.’ Adalind sighed. ‘My mother's aunt told me about this, when my mother was going through a very tough time. She didn't end up doing it, but there is a way. It's not easy, and there is one ingredient that's almost impossible to get.
‘What is it?’
‘A dead hexenbiest.’ Adalind explained.
‘That shouldn't be too hard to get.’ Nick threatened.
‘Not me. It can't be fresh. Besides, If anything happens to me, you'll be stuck with Juliette the way she is forever. Now, if you're good with that, then fine. But...it just so happens that I know where a dead hexenbiest is buried.’
There was a pause, in which both Nick and Sean looked around at each other, confused.
‘That would be our mother.’ Adalind clarified.
‘Your mother killed her. Remember?’ Briar said, to Nick.
‘And you slept with her.’ This, however, was directed at Sean.
‘Gross.’ Briar mumbled.
‘Right.’ Sean said, avoiding Adalind’s eyes. ’Well, as long as we're digging up the past, we may as well dig up your mother.’
‘What else do you need?’
‘Rosalee's help. We need access to the spice shop.’
There was a pause, where Nick considered Briar’s words. Briar then gasped sharply and pressed a hand over their stomach.
‘He's kicking. A lot.’ Briar said. ‘It's a boy. I wanted to know, but you don’t have to say anything, I don’t expect you to.’
‘I’ll take you to Rosalee.’ Nick replied, after a beat of silence. He then took Briar’s hand and opened the door.
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