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originalhybridloverfics · 3 years

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Good To You - CH 24

A/N: I'm sorry for the insanely long wait but I hope the length of the chapters makes up for it!

Updates are really slow for me, I have some family stuff that came up, if you follow me on tumblr or twitter you probably already know about it, and on top of that I got sucked into another fandom that has consumed me.

I want to thank everyone who is still reading this story despite the unbelievably slow updates.

Genevieve and Celeste stroll through the cemetery.

“Oh, I remember this cemetery. Hmm. Hasn't changed a bit.” Genevieve mused.

“I've been coming here over a century, wearing one face or another,” Celeste replied.

~*~ ~*~ ~* ~

1919

Genevieve approaches a woman kneeling in front of a tomb in the Lafayette cemetery, praying to her ancestors.

“Clara Summerlin, will you come on?” Genevieve complained. “We're gonna miss everything.”

The two walk over to where a crowd of witches is standing around a bonfire, playing conga drums and watching as a witch dance around the flames. Papa Tunde walks out with an albino python around his shoulders, which he hands to his twin sons after clapping in order to quiet the crowd.

“Told you. Every witch in the Quarter is here to see the great Papa Tunde,” said Genevieve.

“Witches of the French Quarter, thank you for your welcome.” Papa Tunde addressed the crowd of witches. “It is good to be among people of the faith. I, too, practice ancestral magic, honoring those who walked the path before us. From them, we draw strength. And you will need strength, for a great darkness is coming. The city your forefathers left you is now overrun by pirates, beasts, and vampires.”

Papa Tunde takes the python from his sons and throws it into the fire, and many of the witches gasp in surprise and fear.

“I practice other magic, as well. Sacrificial magic, channeling power from the lives of my offerings.” Papa Tunde explained. “I use this strength to vanquish my enemies, and I will punish your enemies for their greed. In return, you will accept my family into your coven, and me as your leader.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

1919

Two men enter the room and join Elijah and a police officer at a table where a meeting was taking place.

“Gentlemen, make yourselves at home.” Elijah greeted. “Mayor O'Connell appears to be running late, but there's much to discuss, so I shall begin.”

Klaus walked down the stairs to join them. “One moment, please, brother. You know how much I enjoy these illicit, little gatherings.”

“Do not be troubled. Despite my brother's reputation, I can assure you, we've invited you here to broker in peace.” Elijah assured the men. “You have my word.”

“And, lucky for you, my brother always keeps his word,” Klaus told them. “You two are from the Guerrera crime family, a brutish pack of thieves and killers. And that's nothing compared to what you become on a full moon, is it?”

“Yes, yes, yes. Of course, a bite from your kind is not lethal to an Original. Conflict between us would not end well for you at all,” Elijah cautioned. “Let's state our proposal here. My brother and I control the ports of the city, but with Prohibition soon to be the law of the land, there'll be a certain uptick in the kind of federal presence we prefer to avoid. Therefore, I'd like to suggest a system whereby, under our supervision, of course, the Guerrera family can traffic alcohol into the city of New Orleans for a profit. We would still be in charge, but our rule would remain a secret.”

Papa Tunde walks into the room with his sons following behind him.

“This all sounds very good, but tell me, how will it benefit the witches?” asked Papa Tunde.

“I am sorry.” Said Elijah. “This is a private meeting.”

“Yes, for kings of the city, but I, too, am a king, and I have rules,” replied Papa Tunde.

“I'm impressed. You're either quite ambitious or quite mad. What's your name, mate?” asked Klaus.

“I am Alphonse Bellatunde Delgado, Papa Tunde to my followers, and I come to ask that the witches be granted fair tribute for allowing your existence in our city.” Papa Tunde responded.

“Are you suggesting that you speak for the French Quarter witches?” Elijah questioned.

“I do now, and I expect our future negotiations to go very smoothly.” Papa Tunde answered. “As a guarantee, I brought a gift. I await our next gathering.”

A small leather case is placed on the table. Papa Tunde and his sons leave. Everyone else gathers around as Klaus lifts the lid on the trunk to reveal a head inside with a symbol carved into his forehead.

“Well, I suppose we'll need a new mayor,” Klaus said.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Marcel walked into the Abattoir Courtyard Davina and Josh beside him.

Marcel grabbed a table with Davina and Josh. Davina was supposed to be meeting with Sophie at Caroline’s request to start searching for a way to save Katherine.

Most of Marcel’s guys weren’t happy that Klaus was now in charge and Marcel appeared to be following his lead without question. And were shocked to see Davina alive and well having believed she was dead after learning the truth about her and Marcel’s connection with her.

Diego sees him enter and approaches. He walks over to the table Marcel had chosen.

“Hey, Marcel, maybe you know what's going on. Klaus ordered us to meet here, and now he's a no-show.” he looked at Davina. “And how are you alive?”

“Caroline,” Davina answered simply.

“Klaus has a lot on his hands to deal with. Give him time.” Marcel told him.

“Like what?” Diego challenged but before Marcel could answer. Klaus enters the room with Caroline and on his other side is Thierry.

“Dearest brethren, your attention, please.” Klaus’s voice ringed loudly through the courtyard. “No doubt, you're all surprised to see Thierry Vanchure, who's supposed to be rotting in the Garden for the crime of killing one of our own, and I personally decided to issue him with a pardon.” Klaus declared. “I hope you'll all welcome home Thierry.”

Thierry smiles and gives Diego a hug.

“Welcome home, man,” Diego told him.

“Now some of you may see the difference with Caroline.” Klaus continues, pressing his hand to her lower back and the other resting on her stomach. “It turns out the wolf Hayley who I had believed to be carrying my children was working with the witches all along and had stolen my children from their true mother. Now they are back where they belong and the witches will soon pay for what one of their own has done.”

Caroline forced a smile before moving toward Marcel’s table, ignoring the stares of disbelief she was receiving. “Davina, thanks for coming.”

“You said you needed my help,” Davina replied.

Caroline frowned, tilting her head at the younger girl. “You know you don’t have to help me just because I helped you, right?”

“Caroline, you saved my life.” Davina countered. “I owe you everything.”

“No, you don’t,” Caroline told her. “I didn’t save your life so you would feel indebted to me. I want you to live your life how you want. I do want your help but I don’t want you to feel obligated that you have to. You can say no.”

Davina smiled. “I know, that’s why I want to help you. You're not like everyone else.”

“As long as you know you have a choice.” Caroline gestured to the stairs. “Let’s go see Katherine.”

Davina smiled and linked their arms.

“You too, Josh,” Caroline called over her shoulder as she started up the stairs.

“Coming.” Josh quickly followed. “Hey, Caroline, any chance you have some blood bags lying around. I haven’t eaten all day..”

Marcel tuned out the sound of Josh's voice turning to Klaus as he took a seat across from him. “You're in a good mood,” Marcel said to Klaus. “You must really love the fact that Caroline is the mother of your children.”

“It’s definitely a gift,” Klaus responded. “But before I can truly celebrate this turn of events I have responsibilities that I need to tend to.” Klaus turns to address the crowd of vampires. “The witches have gone too far with their actions against Caroline. Actions they will pay for. However, since their Harvest failed, their magic will soon be gone forever. Now there has been a debate, on whether to kill them or keep them on their toes. I, however, want them dead, every last one. Diego, I wonder if you might lead a rousting in the cauldron. One that ends in blood and carnage.”

Diego smiles and starts to plan with the other vampires.

Marcel smiled. “As much as I would love to shed some witches' blood, especially after everything they put Davina through, I do have another girl to see so I will be taking a personal day.” Marcel stood and left. Confident that Davina would be fine in the compound with Caroline there.

Klaus' eyes narrowed, wondering where Marcel was headed and who he was going to see. Almost everyone he knew was at the compound.

Diego and the others looked up at the sound of multiple voices and a group of men, women and even a few children walked into the compound.

Klaus smiled at Zach and the other wolves and walked over to them. “Caroline has been expecting all of you. She’s currently occupied with helping someone who doesn’t deserve saving but until she has a moment free why don’t you get to know the place and divide up some of the empty rooms amongst yourselves.”

“We will be staying here?” Zach asked speaking up on the behalf of the wolves who were more than a little surprised.

“Caroline has insisted that you all stay with us and what Caroline wants she will get,” Klaus responded, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“What the hell is going on here?” Diego walked over, glaring darkly at Zach and his group of wolves.

“I’d like you to meet Zach and the rest of my pack,” Klaus smirked. “They will be staying here at the compound. Indefinitely.”

Diego's eyes darkened with hate. “You’re kidding, right? They terrorized the Quarter for centuries. It’s why Marcel ran them out of town.”

Zach stared Diego down. “Wrong pack. We don’t run from anyone. Not anymore. And we only came to New Orleans once we heard of Klaus’s children.”

Diego scoffed as more vampires gathered behind him.

“What he says is true. Zach is of my bloodline. Not the New Orlean wolves and they are welcome guests in my home and every single one of you will treat them so or face my wrath.” Klaus’s voice hardened like a steel blade.

The other vampires started yelling out their protest.

“Quiet.” Klaus thundered, eyes flashing, a growl emitting from deep in his chest.

Diego glared but was wary. “You expect vampires and werewolves to co-exist? You’re crazy.”

The other vampires' protest increased.

“Maybe so,” Klaus smirked. “But you will work together, starting today. Zach here will be joining in on the witch hunt.”

Diego glared but said nothing. Klaus was in charge and as of right now there wasn’t a thing he could do about it.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Katherine looked over at the door as it was opened, feeling Elijah squeeze her hands in reassurance.

Caroline walked in followed by a girl who couldn’t be more than sixteen and a young male not much older than Caroline.

“Caroline,” Elijah greeted.

“Sorry to interrupt but I was hoping to check on Katherine and introduce her to Davina.”

“And why do I need to be introduced to kids?” Katherine raised a perfect brow as she sat up more in the bed. She had been feeling weaker and weaker. It was only a matter of time before her body completely gave out on her. She didn’t want to think about it, refusing to think of the fear that came with knowing you were going to die.

She hated it. She was Katherine Pierce, sick, frail, weak, was not the way she was supposed to go out. For the last 500 years, she had clawed and kicked and screamed to get everything she wanted to make it this long when she had a man like Klaus Mikaelson intent on killing her.

“Because Davina here is going to save your life.” Caroline wrapped her arms around Davina’s. “So if I were you I would be a little nicer.”

“Nice isn’t in my vocabulary.” Katherine retorted.

“Expand your vocabulary because without some witchy interference you're going to die soon.” Caroline stepped further into the room.

“And you care so much about my well being, why?” Katherine asked.

“For telling me the truth. Let’s not pretend we’ve ever been friends because it would be a lie. Still, this is my way of repaying you for once doing something when you had nothing to gain from it.”

“I wonder what Elena would say about you trying to save me?” Katherine taunted, trying to push Caroline’s buttons.

“I don’t much care what Elena has to say about it.” Caroline retorted. “This has nothing to do with her.”

Katherine smirked. “I gotta say, I’m warming up to you. Getting out of Mystic Falls suits you.”

Josh cleared his throat, making Caroline realize she hadn’t introduced him. “Oh, and this is Josh.”

Katherine looked him over. “He comes across as a puppy,”

“Puppy?” Josh wasn’t sure if he should be offended or not.

“Caroline,” Elijah interjected. “Just how do you intend to save Katherine's life. She is getting worse by the day. I’m not sure how much time she has.”

“Yes,” Katherine said. “How do you and this young witch plan on keeping me alive?”

“Well, I planned on seeing if Sophie knows anything or maybe looking at The Original Witch book of spells. Generations after generations of witches walk this city. Someone has to know something.”

“Caroline, I don’t think Sophie is going to be so keen to help,” Elijah interjected. “We’ve ruined all her plans and have taken her prisoner. Let’s not forget the torture.”

Caroline’s eyes darkened at the mention of Sophie. “Who said she had a choice in the matter?”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Sophie’s arms dangled above her from chains attached to the ceiling, her feet barely touching the ground, she had to stand on the tip of her toes, her shirt was soaked with blood, her neck covered in red stains.

Her skin pale and dark circles beneath her eyes, exhaustion coming off her in waves.

She looked up as a knock sounded on the door. The werewolf guarding her sent her a disdainful look and pulled the door open.

Caroline stepped in. She was alone. Davina was with Katherine, Josh had stayed with his friend.

“Did you really come here alone?” Sophie asked, eyes glaring. “How wise is that?”

Caroline moved forward. “You and I both know, you are too weak to do a thing to anyone, and secondly if you did anything and I mean anything you would be scattered in pieces across this floor.”

“What do you want?” Sophie asked through clenched teeth.

“Your help.” Caroline stepped closer, her eyes filled with hate.

“You have got to be joking!?” Sophie exclaimed in disbelief. “You’ve chained me up like an animal, tortured me, fed on me, healed me only to do it all over again. You keep me weakened and you expect me to help you?! You’re crazy!”

Caroline grabbed her by the neck, eyes blackening, her temper flaring. “You will do whatever I asked you to do. You live because I say so, because I allow it. The second I say otherwise you will be dead and forgotten. Don’t test me. The sight of you makes me see red and I want to rip you apart until there is nothing left. Even now I fight the urge to kill you. I rather delight in your screams as I slice you open and cause you excruciating pain.”

Sophie's eyes darkened and she looked at Caroline in revulsion. “You sound like Klaus. Has being with him changed you that much?”

“Being with Klaus has been the most freeing thing I’ve ever done,” Caroline said, feeling like the words were the most honest she ever was in her life. “Selfish, deplorable, disgusting individuals like Hayley and yourself have no legs to stand on moral ground.” Caroline pressed closer, her hand tightening on Sophie’s throat cutting off her air. “You can do as I ask or we can make this into another torture session. If you won’t do as I say. I will turn you into a vampire. I know from a friend that there is no worse fate than this for a witch. I’ve seen it. The disconnect a witch feels is hollow.”

Sophie glowered. She hated Caroline. She underestimated her and now she was just starting to realize who she was dealing with.

Sophie tried to pull back from Caroline’s hand. “Okay. Okay.” Caroline released her. “What do you want from me,” Sophie asked, struggling to breathe normally again.

“You’re going to help me save someone’s life.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“Klaus.”

Klaus was in the middle of giving orders to the wolves and vampires, splitting them up into two separate parties when he heard his name from someone he wasn’t expecting to hear from anytime soon.

He turned to see Stefan standing in the middle of the courtyard. “Stefan, mate, what are you doing here?”

“I came to see Caroline?” Stefan’s brow furrowed as he saw all the people lined up awaiting further instructions. “What is going on here?”

Klaus turned back to the two groups. “You know your orders. Go.”

The wolves and vampires shared a hateful look and dispersed.

Klaus focused back on Stefan. “Now is not a good time.”

“Then it’s a good thing I’m not here for you, isn’t it?” Stefan replied.

Klaus tensed, a voice in his head whispering that Stefan was there to convince Caroline to leave him behind and go back to Mystic Falls.

“Look, Klaus, I’m not here to play games. I’m here to see my friend. You can tell me where she is or I can call her and tell her I’m here, either way, I’m not leaving.”

Klaus rolled his eyes heavenward. He would never hear the end of it from Caroline if he told her he sent Stefan away. She had such a soft spot for the younger Salvatore but so help him if he was there to take Caroline from him, he would find himself in Marcel’s Garden.

“Dwayne,”

Dwayne stepped forward seeming to move out of the shadows startling Stefan.

“Take Stefan here to Caroline, then if she wishes for you to leave do so,” Klaus ordered.

Dwayne’s face brightened. He wanted, needed to be near Caroline.

He started walking, not even stopping to see if Stefan was following.

Stefan shot Klaus an uncertain look before following behind Dwayne.

Dwayne led him down a corridor and down a flight of stairs, the sound of a bloodcurdling scream had him, stopping. His mind screamed that Caroline needed his help and he took off on a run past Dwayne. He burst into a room, slamming the door open with his shoulder. “Caroline!” he looked around the room frantically and froze.

A dark-haired girl was strapped to a med table, blood pouring down her skin, dripping into a large puddle on the floor, she was crying out in agony, she tried to thrash around, attempting to get away, to break free but was restrained tightly to the table with barely any movement. When she turned her head his way, shaking from the pain, Stefan recognized her.

Hayley Marshall.

His eyes shot to the blonde standing over her, pouring something over the girl. The blonde’s back was to him, he couldn’t see who it was but he knew he had to stop her. What did Hayley do to deserve to be tortured like this? Her cries were echoing off the walls, the stench of blood filled the air.

He moved forward grabbing the girl by the arm spinning her around. “Stop, what are you-” Stefan released the blonde, taking a step back in shock. “Caroline?!”

“Stefan, what are you doing here?” She pushed her hair back from her face, streaks of blood coating the blonde strands from her hands that were coated in Hayley’s blood.

“What the hell are you doing, Caroline?!” You’re torturing people now? This isn’t you?!” Stefan stepped forward again, crowding her. “First Damon, now Hayley, who’s next?!”

“She deserves it and so did Damon!” Caroline shoved him back not liking the way he was standing over her.

Suddenly Stefan found himself pinned against the wall by Dwayne.

Stefan’s eyes widened as he stared in the face of an angry hybrid. “Oh my God,” he looked past the werewolf to Caroline. “Klaus can make hybrids without Elena’s blood?”

Caroline turned and stuffed a gag into Hayley’s mouth cutting off her screams and cries of pain.

“Klaus didn’t make him. Tyler did, trying to prove he was right about why Klaus cared about his children.” Caroline said, her hand drifted down to her stomach. “Let him go, Dwayne.”

Dwayne let Stefan go reluctantly but he was eager to get closer to Caroline, coming to stand beside her.

Stefan pushed off the wall, rolling his shoulders, he followed the movements of Caroline’s hand’s, his eyes widening. “Your mother told me what was going on but I had trouble believing it.”

But how could he continue denying it when he could see the roundness of Caroline’s stomach. “I don’t understand.”

“You want to know what Hayley has done to deserve this? She stole my babies, she used magic to steal a pregnancy for her own gain. I’ve taken back what’s mine but that doesn’t mean, she gets to walk away from this after everything she has done.”

Caroline turned back to Hayley gripping the surgical tool, a rib spreader, and spread Hayley’s open wound where all the blood was coming from open wider.

Hayley whined in pain, sniffling. “Please, it hurts.”

Caroline’s eyes hardened. “Good.” She lifted a bottle of liquid and started pouring it inside Hayley, watching Hayley’s insides burn and sizzle as her bloodcurdling scream filled the air.

“Is that wolfsbane?” Stefan asked, alarmed.

“Yes, mixed with hydrofluoric acid,” Caroline answered, a dark smile pulling at her lips.

“Caroline, you have to stop.” Stefan came forward again.

Caroline put down the container of Acid and wolfsbane. And removed the rib spread from Hayley’s body. “She needs time to heal until next time.”

Caroline bit into her wrist and squeezed it over, Hayley’s mouth giving her only enough so she would heal slowly and not die from her wounds.

“Next time?” Stefan repeated.

“Dwayne take care of this for me,” Caroline ordered and walked out of the room.

Stefan followed her. “Caroline, stop, we need to talk about this.” he grabbed her arm, turning her around to face him.

“What’s there to talk about?” Caroline asked, shrugging him off. “I am causing Hayley pain for her deceit.”

“Caroline, this isn’t you. You don’t torture people.” Stefan protested. “You’re good.”

“What I am is tired. Why am I always the pawn in someone’s larger game? I will not allow my children to suffer nor will I allow them to be used. I’m done being a casualty. If I have to do things that I otherwise wouldn’t then I will without hesitation and if you can't accept this then maybe you shouldn’t have come here.”

“I came here because I realized what a bad friend I’ve been. I’m not going to turn back now. I wasn’t there for you. I can’t make up for what happened to you in Mystic Falls but I can be here for you now. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling. How you handle this is up to you but I am not going back to Mystic Falls.”

“Then follow me,” Caroline said and turned walking down the corridor, expecting Stefan to fall into line behind her.

Caroline led Stefan upstairs and into a room, he was shocked to see Katherine lying in the bed, Elijah sitting beside her and on her other side was Nadia.

Nadia had shown up, demanding to be with her mother. Caroline hadn’t much cared about keeping the mother and daughter separated.

There was a woman in the room and a younger girl, a dark hair male, and another man who was watching the dark-haired woman like a hawk.

“What’s going on here?” Stefan questioned, looking to Caroline for answers.

“We’re going to save Katherine’s life,” Caroline told him.

“I’m sorry, what?” Stefan was in disbelief.

“I’m still doubtful about it myself,” Katherine spoke up. “It’s good to see you, Stefan.”

“Klaus is okay with this?” Stefan asked, looking to Caroline.

“He’s willing to accept it for me,” Caroline said and then did a quick round of introductions to the room.

“Have you found anything yet?” Caroline asked Davina, coming forward.

“Not yet,” Davina answered, casting a curious look at Stefan.

“Stefan and I will go through the books Elijah has required and I’ll call Bonnie, see if she knows something. Maybe there’s something in the Bennet books that can help.” Caroline said, after thinking it over.

“You really think Bonnie’s going to want to help save Katherine’s life?” Stefan asked skeptically.

“No but I’m asking as her friend and I will explain why I am trying to do this.” Caroline insisted.

“I believe Katerina is in good hands.” Elijah smiled over at Caroline and walked past her and Stefan into the hallway. “I will be back shortly.”

“Alright, so this is what we’re going to do, Sophie and Davina continue searching here. Josh and Stefan will go through the books in the study. I will call Bonnie and see if I can get her to help. Dwayne.”

As if he was just waiting for Caroline to need him Dwayne appeared.

Caroline shifted away. He made her uncomfortable with how he was always ready to do whatever she asked. She didn’t like using the sire bond he had to the twins and how he was always lurking in the shadows wherever she was, creeped her out.

“Dwayne, you will make sure Sophie doesn’t try anything if she does lock her up and get Zach or one of the wolves to deal with her until I have the time to do it myself. Nadia, you can stay with Katherine.” No one moved much to Caroline’s annoyance, she clapped her hands. “Well, you got jobs to do. Go!”

Davina nodded and continued searching the book in front of her, Sophie glared but did as she was told.

Josh motioned to Stefan to follow him and led him out of the room.

“You really think this is going to work?” Katherine asked Caroline.

“Yes, because I will make sure of it,” Caroline answered.

“I don’t want to be human,” Katherine argued.

“You don’t want to be dead either, do you?” Caroline retorted.

Katherine shot her a look. “What do you think?”

“Good, we’ll save your life, and then we’ll find a way to turn you back into a vampire.”

Caroline stepped out of the room to call Bonnie in private.

Katherine watched the door close behind her. She hated the feeling of hope that was beginning to rise within her.

Damn Caroline Forbes and her unending optimism and determination.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Rebekah and Elijah walk through the streets of the Quarter as they talk about recent events.

“Now, you may doubt him, but today, I saw Niklaus demonstrate mercy towards an enemy. Tell me that's not progress,” said Elijah.

“That’s Caroline’s influence,” Rebekah stated. “He wants to be better for her. He’s not the same brother we knew the last thousand years. Honestly, she is the only reason I’m not still working with Sophie.”

Elijah turned to her abruptly. “You were working with Sophie?”

“Not anymore. Not after everything she has done.” Rebekah responded.

“Are you the reason he let Thierry out?” Elijah eyed her with suspicion.

“No, that was Caroline,” Rebekah told him. “She didn’t like that he was locked up for protecting someone he loved. Though we should keep a close eye on him. Thierry despises Klaus and for good reason. He got the witch he loved killed. However, I was thinking, he knows about French Quarter covens because he dated a witch. Maybe he can lead me to whoever stole off with the Harvest magic.”

“Rebekah, we are all devastated by the outcome of this ritual,” Elijah began.

“That's just it,” Rebekah interrupted. “There was no outcome. Davina is only alive because of the Elixir. We both know that power like that doesn't just vanish. I say someone stole it. I'd like to know who, and then I'd like to make an ally out of them and then kill them.”

“To what end, exactly?” Elijah asked. “When will killing everyone who challenges us be enough?”

“I'm tired of being threatened and controlled by our enemies, being moved on a chessboard like sacrificial ponds,” Rebekah told him. “If you want to stop bullies, you need the power to stand up to them.”

“You’re not alone in this Rebekah. You have me and you have Niklaus.” Elijah insisted. “He is finally making an effort. He's invited us back into our family home. He yearns for our family to be reunited. He’s there for Caroline and their unborn children.”

“Yes. He's in a brilliant mood now, but for how long?” Rebekah challenged. “What about when things fall apart with him and Caroline? What then? He was bad before but if anything were to ever happen to Caroline or their children, he will be inconsolable, wreaking havoc and pain wherever he goes. And who says he won’t turn that anger on us and bury a dagger in our hearts?”

“I believe that he is approaching some semblance of peace here. As long as we keep Caroline safe we have nothing to worry about,” Elijah argued. “Leadership may, in fact, be a good thing for him and as I am quickly learning Caroline may very well be the best thing to ever happen to him in his thousand years on this earth.”

“I hope it’s enough and that Stefan has not shown up here to take her back to Mystic Falls. That’s not her home anymore.” Rebekah said. She had been surprised to learn that Stefan was here but she didn’t think he would be staying long. It was only a matter of time before he found his way back to Elena and his brother in Mystic Falls.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Her phone call with Bonnie didn’t go as well as Caroline had hoped. Bonnie was hesitant to help Katherine but Caroline kept insisting that she owed Katherine. Caroline reminded Bonnie that Katherine was human and was no longer in New Orleans.

Caroline kept insisting until Bonnie finally gave in. Bonnie ended the call with the promise to look through her family journals and she would let her know immediately if she finds something.

Caroline walked to Elijah’s room and sifted through his things until she found what she was looking for.

Esther’s grimoire. Grabbing the book she left the room and found a sitting room in the compound, she settled into the end of a couch and started sifting through it.

The smell of blood filled the air and she looked up to see Klaus carrying a glass of blood and a plate of food.

“What are you doing?” Caroline asked.

Klaus set the plate and glass on the table in front of her. “Have you eaten?”

“No,” Caroline shook her head and took a drink of the blood, savoring the warm liquid sliding down her throat.

“You should,” Klaus took the seat next to her. “I know you're dead set on finding a way to save Katherine but you can’t neglect yourself or the babies.”

Caroline’s eyes widened suddenly and pulled the glass of blood away from her lips. “Do you think blood is bad for them?” her other hand dropped the book in her lap, placing her hand over her stomach.

“I think nothing that is good for you can possibly be bad for them.” Klaus reached for the book. “Are you looking through my mother’s book for a spell?”

“I was hoping it might have something to help Katherine,” Caroline admitted and reached for the place of fruit grabbing an apple slice. “I found nothing so far.”

“Where did you find it?” Klaus asked.

“Elijah’s room. I went and took it,” Caroline took another drink of the blood.

Klaus laughed. “Elijah’s is not going to like that.”

Caroline shrugged. “I don’t care.”

Klaus tossed the book on the table and turned his body more towards her. “Did you speak with Stefan?”

“I did. My mom told him about what’s going on here and he came out of concern, I guess.”

Klaus nodded, his body becoming tense. “Has he managed to convince you to go back to Mystic Falls?”

Caroline placed her glass on the table and turned toward him. “Klaus, we’ve been over this. I’m not returning to Mystic Falls. Not even for Stefan.”

Klaus swallowed, choosing his words carefully. “Things are different now. Why would you stay here after everything that was done to you?”

Caroline nodded slowly. She needed to get her point across. Klaus had insecurities and she more than anyone understood how powerful they could be, if she let the insecurities take root it could ruin what they were building. He needed her reassurance to silence the voices in his head telling him she would return to Mystic Falls.

Caroline pushed at his shoulders, shoving him back.

Klaus fell back against the cushions surprised. Caroline threw a leg over his hip, settling into his lap, and grasped his face in her hands. “I need you to listen to me and hear me, Klaus. I am not going back to Mystic Falls no matter what happens. Not for Stefan. Not even for my mom. My life is here, with you. I will go where you go. As long as you want me by your side I am going to be there. I won’t leave you.”

Klaus leaned his forehead against hers, his hands coming to rest over her stomach, over their children. “I am never going to want to let you go, love.”

“Then don’t,” Caroline whispered. “Don’t let me go. Always fight for me. Always want me.”

Klaus couldn’t take it anymore. He surged forward, burying his hands in her hair and clashing his mouth against hers.

Caroline deepened the kiss and Klaus licked into her mouth, tasting the blood she had been drinking on her tongue.

A groan tore from his throat as she circled her hips, grinding against him. He grasped at her hips urging her down on his rapidly hardening jean-covered cock.

A whimper pulled from Caroline’s mouth and she gripped his shoulders for leverage, looking for friction as she ground her hips against his, desire taking over.

“Hey, guys, we got a problem,” Diego announced entering a room in the compound, looking worried.

Klaus broke away from Caroline with a growl, his hands digging into her hips.

Caroline looked over her shoulder at Diego, perched in Klaus’s lap. “You know there’s this thing called knocking.”

Diego’s worried expression twisted into mild disgust.

“Just a little common courtesy would be nice.” Caroline reluctantly removed herself from Klaus’s lap.

“What’s wrong?” Klaus asked, readjusting his jeans as he stood. “And there better be a real problem or I might just kill you for the interruption.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Thunder rumbles overhead as Diego leads Klaus, Caroline, and Stefan to the Cauldron to show them what he found.

Stefan had insisted on tagging along last minute when he realized Caroline was going.

“We came to kill the witches, just like you said,” said Diego. “And these two, they went missing. Found them like this, not even staked. Just dead.”

Two vampires were on the ground desiccated, symbols carved into their forehead.

“Someone has to account for this!” Klaus growled.

“Are we talking about revenge?” Caroline questioned. “I’m only asking because even though I’m no expert on magic, I know that marks got to be tied to some bad mojo.”

“I don’t like this,” Stefan said, having a bad feeling. Caroline was in complete agreement.

“Revenge is only the beginning,” Klaus told Caroline before turning to Diego. “We're gonna find whoever did this, and I will show them what suffering is.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Thierry and Rebekah walk into a warehouse at the docks to investigate.

“Used to run things down here for Marcel,” Thierry explained. “Thought you'd like to see what I found before Klaus did.”

Rebekah smirks. “Not a day out of the Garden, and you're already proving yourself useful.”

“We made a deal, and if it screws things for your brother, I'm all for it,” said Thierry. “Though, to be honest, this stuff makes my skin crawl. I've never seen anything like this.”

“Except you’re a little late to the party,” Rebekah told him. “I have ceased my plans for my brother.”

“What?” Thierry glared at her. “You can’t-”

“Quiet,” Rebekah cut him off. “I have seen this before,” Rebekah said as they stop in front of another salt circle on the ground with two dead vampires inside. Both are desiccated and have the same symbol carved into their foreheads. “I have, a long time ago,” said Rebekah, recognizing the mark. “Somebody is copycatting a very dangerous witch. They draw their power from sacrifice.”

“I just don't understand why someone would leave it here for us to find,” said Thierry, distracted by the turn of events.

“Unless they wanted it to be found.” Rebekah pointed out.

Papa Tunde appears from the shadows behind them. Rebekah notices him in shock and horror.

“Mademoiselle Mikaelson.” Papa Tunde greeted.

“That's not possible,” said Rebekah, still unable to believe what she was seeing.

“Sure, it is, chére. It's magic.” Papa Tunde told her.

Rebekah speed vamps toward him to try to kill him, but Papa Tunde simply reaches out and grabs her by the throat. “Symbole du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi. Embrace-toi. Symbole du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi. Embrace-toi. Symbole du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi. Embrace-toi. Symbole du masque et de l'ombre, embrace-toi.”

Rebekah starts to desiccate, and thick gray veins pop up all over her face and neck. Terrified, Thierry speeds vamps and disappears out of the warehouse, leaving Rebekah on her own.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Klaus, Caroline, Elijah, Stefan, and Diego, and many of the other vampires are congregating in the courtyard, discussing their current situation.

“Ah! Someone will die for this.” Klaus declared.

“Remarkably, I don't disagree,” said Elijah. “However, I would like to know where they learned such dark magic.”

“I had hoped never to see that symbol again,” said Klaus. “I recall it is the signature of a fool who once stood against us.”

“Isn’t someone always standing against you?” Stefan asked with an arched eyebrow.

Caroline smacked his arm. “So not the point, Stefan.”

“Clearly, some upstart witch is salvaging old tricks,” Elijah responded.

“Ugh, witches,” Caroline said. “I’m really starting to hate them.”

“Bonnie was a witch,” Stefan reminded her. “Before she became an anchor, she was a witch.”

“Bonnie’s, Bonnie.” Caroline defended. “And she’s different. She’s not morally questionable.”

Stefan couldn’t argue with her there. Plus, Caroline’s hate for the witches in New Orleans was understandable. “What about Davina?”

“Davina is innocent, nothing that has happened is her fault.” Caroline defended her new friend.

“I'll do for him as I did the other.” Klaus turns to Diego. “Diego, when night falls, I want you to gather every vampire in the Quarter. Get me the head of whoever did this and put it on a stick.”

“Yeah. That's gonna be a problem,” replied Diego. “Everyone is freaked out, man. We haven't had witches killing vampires in a long time. Marcel made sure of that.”

“Marcel is no longer in charge and is busy chasing after his human. You lot are left with me. Now, who of you will fight to defend our home?” Klaus looked around to see that no one comes forward. “Not a single one of you will stand with me, so afraid are you of this new threat? You should know better. I'll handle this myself.”

“We will stand with you,”

Klaus turned to see Zach and his pack stepping forward and he smirked. “Good.”

He turned to Caroline. “Stay here, I don’t want you near this,”

Caroline wanted to argue but she did not want witches near her unborn children again. “I’ll be fine,” She brushed a kiss against his stubble jaw.

It wasn’t nearly enough for Klaus, he grasped her chin and kissed her deeply.

Stefan cleared his throat after a moment, uncomfortable seeing Klaus and Caroline kissing each other like they’ve been doing it for years.

Klaus turned and the wolves followed, sending disgusted looks the vampires’ way.

Caroline lifted a hand to her lips watching him leave.

“Stefan a word,” Klaus called over his shoulder. Stefan rolled his eyes and followed him out onto the street.

Klaus turned to him. “Keep an eye on Caroline, will you? It’s only a matter of time before she involves herself.”

“I’m not going to keep her prisoner for you,” Stefan glared.

“I didn’t tell you to keep her in.” Klaus rolled his eyes. “I said keep an eye on her as in help her if she needs it. I promise you now if one hair is harmed on her head and you could have prevented it, your brother won’t be the only Salvatore I want to kill.”

And with those parting words, Klaus left.

Stefan sighed, he came here for Caroline but it looked like he was going to have to deal with Klaus on the regular.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Cami spoke into her phone. “Sophie, the restaurant is an epic disaster again. Do you think maybe you could come in today and…”

The voice mail interrupts: "User's mailbox is full."

“Good-bye,” Cami said annoyed, ending the call.

“Looks like I should've been here last night,” said Marcel.

Cami, startled, looks for anything she can find to use as a weapon, finally settling on an empty liquor bottle on top of the bar. “Before you try anything, I'm on vervain.”

“Yeah, Klaus mentioned you broke free of his compulsion. Good for you.” Marcel wondered.

“What are you doing here?” asked Cami.

“Wanted to see you.” Marcel sits down at the bar.

“I thought now that you have Davina back you wouldn’t be leaving her side.”

“Except now I need to keep New Orleans from falling apart,” Marcel told her.

“Is Klaus causing trouble?” Cami questioned.

“When isn’t he?” Marcel responded, “and I’m more than likely going to have to be the one to clean it up. He has his hands full with Caroline and his kids and Hayley’s betrayal.”

“What are you talking about? What did Hayley do?” Cami questioned.

“Right,” said Marcel. “You wouldn’t know.” He reached for a bottle and poured two shots. “You’re probably gonna need a drink for this.”

Cami joined him at the bar. “Tell me,”

“Caroline is the one Klaus knocked up before coming back to New Orleans,” Marcel said.

Cami’s eyes widened. “But she's a vampire and Hayley is the one who's pregnant.”

“Not anymore,” Marcel shook his head. “The twins are back with Caroline now.”

Cami’s shoulders slumped forward. “I’m so confused.”

Marcel laughed. “It’s pretty unbelievable. From my understanding before the witches brought Caroline to New Orleans, she and Klaus got busy in her hometown, and by some dark magic on Sophie’s and her sister’s behalf they made it possible for Caroline to get pregnant and-”

“But how did they even know about Caroline?” Cami questioned.

“Witches talk.” Marcel shrugged. “Plus, when Klaus Mikaelson truly cares about someone other than himself people tend to notice. It’s no surprise word traveled. Anyway, when the Deveraux witches learned their plan worked and that she was pregnant they lured her here, took her babies, and put them in Hayley’s womb. Hayley went on to pretend it was her pregnancy.”

“Why would someone do that to another woman?” Cami was disgusted.

“The witches promised to help Hayley find her family and she was desperate enough to take the deal,” Marcel said.

“Still,” Cami shook her head.

“So while he’s dealing with that I have to deal with all the other drama he’s left in his wake,” Marcel stated.

“Marcel, I'm sorry,” Cami told him sympathetically. “This all sounds so complicated.”

Marcel shrugged. “Same old, same old.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Elijah walks into Davina’s room to find her going through her old sketches.

“There you are.” Elijah greeted. “Aren’t you supposed to be helping Katerina?”

“I needed a break and something keeps bothering me,” Davina answered, continuing her perusal of her sketches.

Elijah gestures to the sketches. “And it has to do with your drawings?”

“I don’t know but I feel this pull. I know they're telling me something,” Davina insisted. “I don’t understand why I was drawing a witch who has been dead for longer than I’ve been alive. I’m killing time, now that I'm on vampire lockdown.”

“Are you sure it has nothing to do with the harvest?” Elijah asked and Davina glared at him. “Whoever did this, we will deal with them,” Elijah stated. “It won't be long.”

“I'm not worried.” Davina declared. “I can handle what’s thrown my way. I just want to be prepared. I don’t want to get caught off guard. Something’s coming and I need to know what it is so I can protect the people that I care about.”

“I do apologize if you feel all of our problems have fallen on your shoulders,” Elijah told her. “Finding a way to save Katherine, the Sophie and Hayley situation, Caroline. Stefan’s arrival. Rebekah is off trying to make things right. Niklaus grows more agitated with every new threat. You're just a child none of this should have fallen on you.”

“I’m not a child,” Davina said strongly. “I was forced to grow up sooner than I should have but I did it and I can handle this and I will. For Caroline but ultimately for myself. They have not beaten me down and I intend to show them they never will.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Marcel is still sitting at the bar with Cami when his phone rings. It's Klaus. He hits the ignore button and returns to his drink.

“El presidente?” Said Cami.

“He likes to keep track of his people,” Marcel responded.

“Why are you loyal to him, exactly?” Cami wondered.

“For someone who says she can't stand the guy, you sure ask a lot of questions about him.” Marcel pointed out.

“My interest is purely academic.” Cami defended.

“I know what you're doing,” Marcel said, knowingly. “You're mad he used you, and you want to get back at him. Maybe you're hoping I'll let slip some chink in his armor. Friendly advice--don't do that. It won't end well. Let me tell you a story about someone who went up against Klaus.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

1919

Marcel returns home in his military uniform to find a party being held at the compound. Marcel sees Rebekah sitting at a table with an unknown gentleman, and walks toward her.

“This was right after I returned from World War I. I'd been trying to get away from New Orleans for a while. Something kept drawing me back.” Marcel began.

“Why don't you get me some Martinis?” Klaus suggested. “Thank you.”

“Aren't you gonna welcome me home?” Marcel asked Rebekah.

“I wouldn't want you to think that I was happy to see you,” replied Rebekah.

“How long you gonna hate me?” Marcel asked.

“You left me in a box for fifty-two years.” Rebekah glared. “Twice that seems like a good start. Come on, boys.”

Marcel watched her walk away with a look of longing.

Klaus approaches Marcel. “There he is. Our war hero triumphantly returned. Oh, good to have you back, Marcellus. Welcome home.” They drink together. “Mm.”

“Haha! The prodigal son has finally learned to hold his liquor.” Elijah teased.

“The Army'll do that to you,” Marcel replied.

“Well, it's good to have you back,” Elijah told him. “Niklaus was beside himself in your absence.”

“Now that you are here, perhaps you could help settle an argument,” said Klaus. “You see, you've traded a war abroad for one here in the Quarter. Some rogue witch wants a piece of the city we built, and Elijah, for reasons beyond my comprehension, insists that negotiation is our best recourse.”

“Yes,” said Elijah.

“On the topic of your failed comprehension, you neglect, as a soldier, Marcel has seen not only how small the world has become and how fast news can travel, but also the very horrors of war itself.” Klaus continued. “Surely, Marcel would agree with me.”

“The best way for us to defend our home is by exercising discretion.” Elijah insisted.

“So who's the witch you want to kill?” Marcel asked.

“His name is Papa Tunde,” Klaus answered. “I think he's a charlatan. “

“Well, Marcel shall be able to decide that for himself. You invited him here.” Elijah reminded.

“Of course. We're not savages, are we?” Klaus replied.

Papa Tunde arrives at the party, and Klaus immediately approaches him.

“Thank you for accepting our invitation, and welcome.” Klaus greeted. “I hope you'll allow me to play the role of host. If there's anything you need- Anything at all…”

“Pleasure before business, then,” replied Papa Tunde. “Hahaha! Hahaha!”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“I didn't get it at first,” said Marcel. “Klaus was the one who wanted to go to war.”

“So, why was he inviting his enemy into his home?” Cami questioned. “Why be so generous to someone who he's gonna have to kill?”

“But, you see, that's the thing. It was all part of Klaus' plan.” Marcel told her. “He was sussing the guy out, learning his weaknesses, his strengths, getting him to let his guard down. That's how Klaus does it. Then he goes in for the kill.”

“Because he's a two-faced sociopath.” Cami accused. “There's nothing enviable about what Klaus does. He is a monster.”

“We're all monsters, Cami,” Marcel told her. “If you're powerful like Klaus is, you just don't have to bother hiding it.”

“Davina’s powerful,” said Cami. “She is not a monster.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Papa Tunde finishes doing his spell on Rebekah. She laid desiccated in a circle of salt, with his symbol carved into her forehead.

He stands back and admires his work. “It is done. The power of the Original sister flows through me.”

“And will that be enough to make Klaus suffer?” Asked Celeste.

“I will hurt Klaus Mikaelson as he hurt me,” said Papa Tunde. “When I am done, he will wish that he could die.”

“You’re going for Caroline?” Celeste inquired.

“His children will die before they even take their first breath.” Papa Tunde promised and celeste smirked.

Caroline had interfered with her plans when she saved Davina, she would celebrate the blonde’s untimely, tragic demise along with Klaus’s abominable spawns.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“You gonna open this place today?” Marcel asked.

“And risk you eating the clientele?” Cami asked in return.

“Oh, and here I thought you were starting to like me again,” replied Marcel.

Marcel's phone rings again and he answers it.

“Ah, you've stopped chasing after Cami long enough to pick up the phone.” Klaus’s voice came over the line.

“I figured you'd just keep calling,” Marcel replied.

“I'm in the Cauldron now,” Klaus informed him. “You could meet me here, we could start burning passersby at the stake.”

“Sorry. I'm in the middle of something here.” Marcel replied.

“Is she more important than what is happening?” Klaus asked.

“Is Caroline?” Marcel countered. He knew the answer but he wanted Klaus to understand that he could care about someone as well.

Klaus scoffed. “Please you couldn’t possibly feel so deeply for Cami so quickly. Finish up with her and come and help me end this.”

Marcel hangs up the phone not taking too kindly to Klaus’s tone.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Katherine tensed as Klaus walked into her room. Her face forming into a scowl. “Have you finally come to kill me?”

Klaus scoffed. “You have long since lost your importance to me. You live because Caroline wants you to, if you want it to continue that way, I would advise you keep in her good graces.”

Caroline walked in and swatted at him. “Be nice.”

Stefan snorted from the doorway. “I can’t believe you just said that to him.”

“You’re still here?” Katherine asked Stefan in surprise. “I would’ve thought you would have returned to be Elena and Damon’s third wheel by now.”

“Perhaps, I’m learning,” Stefan countered, shooting her an annoyed look.

“Enough,” Klaus said, impatiently. “I did not come here for you.” He turned to Sophie who was glowering at them. “I came here for you, the witch I was looking to brutalize.”

“What now?” Sophie shut the book she had open in her hands. “I am trying to do as you asked.”

Caroline stepped forward. “While I would love to torture you some more, there are some more pressing matters at hand.”

Klaus speeds vamp towards Sophie and grabs her in a chokehold. “Perhaps you could explain the attacks on my men.”

“What about helping me?” Katherine protested, the witch couldn’t help her if she was dead.

“I will handle it.” Davina stepped back into the room, picking up the book Sophie dropped when Klaus hoisted her up by the throat. “We haven’t given up on making sure you don’t die.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Elijah is in the courtyard, trying to reach Rebekah.

“Rebekah is not answering her calls,” said Elijah.

“You worried about whoever killed those daywalkers still being out there?” Josh asked.

“Yes, I'm worried. She is dead set on making things better for Caroline,” replied Elijah. “I’m not sure how far she will take this.”

“Can she really be in any real danger?” Stefan asked. He had left Klaus and Caroline to deal with Sophie not wanting to get involved with torturing the witch.

“Things here in New Orleans are a lot different than Mystic Falls. Much more dangerous. Enemies around every corner.” Elijah notices Thierry drinking alone at a table and joins him. “Thierry, is it?”

“That's right,” Thierry answered.

“My sister is rather fond of you. Strange, she's not typically drawn to unremarkable men.” Elijah commented. “Would you care to explain your sudden magnetism?”

“I don't know what you're…” Thierry started.

Elijah, annoyed, grabs him by the throat and pushes him against the wall.

“You can either tell me what you know, or I can distribute tiny pieces of you throughout the Quarter.” Elijah threatened.

Stefan crossed his arms wondering where Elijah was going with this. Usually, it was Klaus’s method to use threats and fear to reach a goal.

“She asked me to keep an eye out on witch stuff,” said Thierry reluctantly. “I found something, and when I showed her, we were jumped by some guy. He desiccated her with his touch.”

“Like a coward, you left her.” Elijah accused angrily.

Stefan dropped his arms and stepped forward. “You did what?”

“What was I supposed to do, fight some warlock that took out an Original?” Thierry asked.

“Yes, if you were friends you shouldn’t have left her,” Stefan scolded.

“Where was this, exactly?” Elijah questioned.

“The docks, warehouse 57,” Thierry answered. “I was just doing what she asked. You cannot tell Klaus about this.”

Elijah throws Thierry against the wall. He's unconscious. “I shall take that into consideration,” said Elijah.

”I'm coming with you.” Caroline appeared. “I need a break from hearing Hayley wail when all I want to do is kill her.”

“You're not going with Klaus to handle the witch thing?” Stefan asked.

“No,” the truth was she was concerned for Rebekah. She was still mad at Rebekah but she didn’t want her in any real danger.

“No. Stay here.” Elijah instructed. “The compound is safe.”

“First, Rebekah is in trouble. I'm going. Second, I don’t care what is safe” Caroline was not going to stay behind. “And third, you don’t get to tell me what to do. No one does.”

Elijah considers this and sighs. “Do not leave my sight. I don’t look forward to being daggered by my brother for the rest of time.”

“If Caroline is going, I’m going,” Stefan said. He was determined to stay by her side and be there when she needed a friend. He needed to make up for being a bad one.

Caroline nods, and the three leave for the docks.

Elijah prayed nothing was going to happen to Caroline. He would really hate to end up in a coffin even longer than Finn or watch Klaus ripped Katerina’s heart just to watch him suffer.

Niklaus was the most vengeful, vindictive person he knew.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“Me calling things off with you wasn't lack of interest. I was hoping to save you from all this.” Marcel told Cami.

“Well, thanks, Romeo, but I'm in it,” Cami replied. “So, when are you gonna get to the good part with Klaus and that Papa guy?”

“Papa Tunde said he wanted to empower the witches. Mostly, he wanted money and territory. Klaus and Elijah weren't about to give him either. He didn't like that, so he went on a rampage.” Marcel continued his story.

“No one was safe. Not the humans in the faction. Not the Guerrera werewolves. He even went after the witches who opposed him. Elijah offered a truce. He gave his word, in fact, but Klaus, being Klaus, he had another idea.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Papa Tunde is waiting in their meeting place when he hears someone enter. “You're late, Elijah. It's not like the noble brother to keep me waiting.”

“I'm sorry, mate. Elijah is the brother you meet when negotiations are to be had. I'm the one you get when negotiations are closed.” Klaus informed him, something dangerous shining in his eyes.

“You do not scare me,” said Papa Tunde. “You have no idea the power I possess.”

“Oh, in fact, I made it a point to learn all about your power,” Klaus responded. “I noticed how you're almost always near those twin sons of yours, how they bear your distinctive mark. Got me to thinking--you channel their power, don't you? Which, of course, begs the question: what would happen were that power to be taken away, if those sons whose lives you depend on were suddenly struck down? What of that power then?”

Marcel brings in a box and sets it down. Papa Tunde looks into the box and sees the severed heads of his twin sons.

“I will kill you for this.” Papa Tunde vowed enraged.

“I cannot be killed.” Klaus declared confidently. “You, however…”

Klaus zooms over to him and presses his thumbs into Papa Tunde's eyes.

“Aagh!” Papa Tunde cried out in pain, blood streaming out of his eye sockets.

Klaus pressed harder, his thumbs smashing through his eyes and into his brain, killing him.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“That's awful!” Cami was horrified.

“Oh, to Klaus, it's just business,” said Marcel.

“And don't you think there's something fundamentally wrong with that?” Cami questioned. “Don't you worry you'll end up one of his victims or, worse, just like him?”

Cami wondered how Caroline could justify being with someone like Klaus if this was the man that laid beneath all the art and charm. Let alone have children with him.

Papa Tunde suddenly appears in the bar. “Poor Marcellus. You remain always in the shadow of your father. Climb out from beneath it, will you, so you can die like a man?”

“Cami, you need to run now. Don't look back. Just go.” Marcel urged her urgently, wanting her to get to safety.

“I think she should stay,” said Papa Tunde. “I prefer an audience, and I'm about to put on quite the show.”

“Marcel?” Cami was unsure of what to do.

“I said get out of here,” Marcel ordered.

Cami, terrified, hesitates in the doorway, not wanting to leave Marcel alone.

“You cannot defeat me.” Papa Tunde declared, he strode forward like he was stalking prey, his sights set on Marcel. “I channel the power of an Original vampire. Soon, I will have all three. But first, I will take you, however not before you can tell me where I can find Caroline Forbes. I will take from Klaus what he has taken from me.”

Even after all this time the loss of his sons still left him with unbridled rage and the need to take everything from Klaus.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Sophie examines the abandoned desiccated vampires that Papa Tunde left for the vampires to find at the docks. “It's a complex spell. Old-school stuff, rooted in sacrificial magic. Whoever did this to your guys, my guess is they were an offering to gain more power. More guys they kill, more power they have.”

Klaus's phone rings, and when he sees it's Cami, he answers it, motioning for Zach beside him to not take his eyes off of Sophie. “I didn't expect a call from you.”

“You need to get to Rousseau's now. Some lunatic witch doctor looking for Caroline is killing Marcel.” Cami told him. “He refuses to give her up. I can maybe buy him some time, maybe lie about where she is-”

“Say one word about Caroline to him and I will make you regret it. There is a line that can’t be crossed. Not even by you.” Klaus hung up abruptly, meeting the worried eyes of Zach, he was gripping Sophie by the arm, ensuring she didn’t try anything as he got distracted by the mention of the only vampire he considered a part of his pack. “Stay with her.” He ordered

Zach nodded. “Caroline?”

“Don’t worry about her. I have it covered. Keep your focus where it’s needed.” Klaus looked at Sophie. “If you try anything your coven will suffer the consequences.”

“I’ll make sure she doesn’t try anything.”

Klaus turned to see a familiar face.

“You, your Katherine’s daughter, right?” Klaus' eyes narrowed on the brunette who's been in and out of the compound since they brought Katherine to New Orleans. He hadn’t really cared to question her whereabouts. She held absolutely no importance to him.

“Yes,” Nadia answered. “We don’t need her breaking free. I need her to save my mother.”

“I need her to suffer.” Klaus retorted. “Don’t make me regret this or I’ll take you from your mother just like I did the rest of her family. “

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Caroline, Stefan, and Elijah arrive at where Theirry told them about. Rebekah's body was on the ground. Caroline started to run toward her but Stefan stopped her pointing toward the magic circle beneath Rebekah’s body.

Elijah is also on the phone with Sophie.

“Rebekah!” Elijah goes to kneel next to her, but can't cross the barrier made by the salt.

“What’s going on?” Caroline questioned.

“Some kind of boundary spell.” Elijah answered..” Someone is channeling her. Typically, it's a lethal process, but, because she's an Original, she can't die. Instead, she's an endless source of power. “

“So what are we supposed to do?” Stefan asked. “I can only imagine the damage that could be done by channeling an Original.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Papa Tunde bends over Marcel and holds his knife to his forehead as he begins to carve in his mark. “As I recall, you're one of the few people Niklaus Mikaelson ever gave a damn about. You know what he did to my family.”

“Aah!” Marcel cried out.

“The sins of the father are paid for by the son. I will take pleasure in telling Klaus how you died.” Papa Tunde told him. “And how you refused to give up the woman carrying his spawns.”

“Wait!” Cami screamed, running back inside. “I can get Caroline here. Just don’t kill him.” She ignored the look of betrayal coming from Marcel. She was trying to save his life.

“No!” Marcel snapped through the pain. “She has to stay away from him.”

“Marcel, he's going to kill you.” Cami protested. “If we give him what he wants-”

“You will do no such thing!”

Cami gasped, whirling around to see Klaus, his face black with rage.

She took a step back frightened.

“I would kill anyone who puts Caroline in danger for whatever the reason.” Klaus shoved Cami back and she crashed into a table, crying out in surprise and by the force. “No one’s well being is worth more than hers.”

Papa Tunde glared. “You cannot protect Caroline or your children she carries, no more than you can protect Marcellus, here.”

Papa Tunde prepares to kill Marcel but Klaus runs forward, ripping him away from Marcel.

“I remember killing you,” said Klaus. “I rather relished it. What a joy it is to relive fond memories.”

“I can crush you before the eyes of your son.” Papa Tunde said, brushing himself off. “Then, I will consume you both and then I will kill Caroline and end your children’s lives before they take their first breath. This time, I'm stronger.”

Klaus' eyes turned amber. “Stay away from my family!”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

“You're not listening. We cannot enter the circle. There's some kind of confinement spell... If I can't remove her, we can't break the link.” Elijah explained to Sophie on the phone.

“It's a convoluted spell. It's like a witch's recipe. You can spoil the balance by adding a more potent ingredient.” Sophie informed him. “A mystical binding agent. I don't know, volcanic ash, rock salt...anything up to and including eye of newt.”

“What about the blood of a witch?” Elijah inquired.

“Do you have the blood of a witch?” Sophie asked, confused.

Elijah turns to Caroline. “I need a favor.”

“Why are you looking at me? I have vampire blood.” Caroline protested.

“The babies, Caroline,” Stefan interjected. “Their Quarter witches.”

Caroline nodded slowly, she raised her wrists to her lips and bit into it gingerly, drawing blood. She walked toward the circle, holding her wrist out and letting the blood fall on the magic boundary line. It starts to fizzle and deteriorate.

Elijah is able to get through, and he quickly picks up Rebekah and takes her out of the circle.

He nodded at Caroline and Stefan to follow him before speed vamping out.

Caroline looked down at the ruined magic line. A little surprised it had work and that her vampire blood had not tainted it. She vamped away and Stefan followed in her wake.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Papa Tunde has the upper hand on Klaus, Papa Tunde’s superior strength throwing Klaus off and is about to finish him off when he suddenly becomes weak when his link to Rebekah is broken. Klaus is able to stun Papa Tunde long enough to run over to Marcel.

“Uhhh, is he dead?” Cami asked.

“Get out of here.” Klaus glared at her.

“Is Marcel dead? Did that guy kill him?” Cami questioned, ignoring his glare.

“He didn't finish him off. Marcel needs blood to heal. Go. Find me someone off the street.” Klaus ordered.

“I'll do it,” Cami told him.

“Fine. Get over here.” Klaus snapped. He didn’t have time for this.

Cami rushes over to Marcel and puts his mouth to her neck. “It's ok, Marcel. It's ok. It's ok, Marcel.”

Klaus barely spared the two of them a look, needing to find Caroline. She was being used as a target against him. Again.

He needed her beside him. He needed to know she was safe.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Rebekah ambushes Thierry in an alley. “Ah! I should rip out your coward heart.”

“What, Rebekah? We made a deal to take out your brother. You were the one to go back on that deal, and at the end of the day, it's every man for himself.” Thierry responded.

“I am so sick of self-serving narcissists. Are men simply incapable of thinking about anyone but themselves?” Rebekah demanded angrily.

Elijah speeds up to Thierry and snaps his neck.

“Oh, I asked you to cease these petty moves against our family, and yet you conspire with this fool. Is this what it's come to, making moves against your own blood?” Elijah asked, looking at Rebekah with disappointment.

“I called it off and don't you try and shame me,” Rebekah replied. “Nik grows more powerful by the day, and you do nothing but encourage him. Before the truth came out, I was set on taking him down but this isn’t about Klaus anymore, it’s about our whole family. I know we need to stick together for the sake of Caroline. She has a target on her back. If we don’t stick together her children may never see their first sunrise. I refuse to let that happen. She has inherited enemies she doesn’t deserve.”

“I offer him, my counsel because it's clear to me that he needs to make the city our home. Now, perhaps leading these derelicts will curb some of these impulses, grant him some degree of happiness. Caroline is that happiness. We will all protect her.” Elijah said. “We all will make sacrifices in the name of this family, Rebekah, but know this. I will never stand against you or Niklaus.” Elijah told her.

“What about Hayley?” Rebekah questioned. “Are we just going to let her live after everything she has done to deceive our family for her own gain? Are we just going to let her go?”

“We are going to let Caroline and Niklaus decide her fate, she wronged them more than any of us. It should be them who decide her punishment. Not us.” replies Elijah.

Rebekah glowered, she wanted to kill Hayley for her treachery. The wolf girl didn’t deserve to breathe another breath.

“I think death would be a blessing for her.”

Elijah and Rebekah turned to see Stefan standing there.

“How long have you’ve been there?” Elijah questioned with narrowed eyes.

“Long enough to know Rebekah was making plans against your brother,” Stefan answered.

“Will you tell him and Caroline?” Rebekah demanded.

“No,” Stefan answered. “I don’t see what good it will do.”

“Be sure that you don’t, Stefan,” Elijah told him. “Or your time here in New Orleans won’t end well.”

Stefan watched him and then looked at Rebekah. “Did he just threaten me?”

“What are you doing here, Stefan?” Rebekah asked on a sigh.

“I came here for Caroline. She should have a friend here.” Stefan said. “And I have a lot of making up to do in that department.”

“I know that,” Rebekah rolled her eyes. “I meant here. Why did you follow me?”

“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” Stefan admitted.

Rebekah met his eyes, she could see his honest expression but then again it wouldn’t be the first time Stefan deceived her into thinking he actually cared about her.

She looked away. “Don’t bother yourself with me. I’m fine. I always am.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Marcel walks into the Jardin Gris Voodoo shop, where Rebekah is standing and waiting for him.

“Fancy meeting you here,” Rebekah said in greeting.

“That symbol is already up and down the cauldron, more of them popping up everywhere,” Marcel said.

“I suppose Papa Tunde is marking his territory,” Rebekah replied.

“I'm told you saw him, as well,” said Marcel.

“Yeah. Brought up a lot of memories. Memories that are best left buried.” Rebekah stated.

Marcel swallowed. Memories of a secret long since buried 90 years ago that if it ever came to light would find him and Rebekah on the run for their lives.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

1919

“You're soused. Celebrating Klaus' defeat of the mad Papa Tunde?” asked Rebekah.

“Not celebrating, drowning sorrows,” Marcel told her. “I'm the one who brought Tunde to town.”

“What?” Rebekah replied.

“I made some inquiries while I was abroad, wanted the most dangerous witch anyone could find,” Marcel informed her.

“Why on earth would you do that?” Rebekah wondered.

“For you,” Marcel answered. “I figured if someone as bad as Tunde comes in, maybe Klaus gets chased off. Very least, he's occupied enough that he can't stop me from trying to get you back.”

“You mean to tell me that you would tear down everything my family built, everything you helped us build, risk your own life on the off chance that I would show you the slightest bit of affection?” Rebekah asked.

“I would,” Marcel answered. “I did. I'd do it again.”

“Klaus has killed a thousand Tunde's. All his life, there's only ever been one man he has truly feared. My father Mikael.” Rebekah told him.

“The vampire who hunts vampires,” said Marcel.

“If he came here, Klaus would flee and never turn back,” Rebekah told him. “All we need is a witch who can help us find him.”

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Klaus commanded the attention of the whole compound as he spoke directly to the vampires of the french quarter.

“Not long ago, you all united against me. You failed. Since then, in my benevolence, I have wiped the slate clean, yet it seems clear you think that I am the one who needs to earn your respect, your loyalty. You're mistaken. It is you who must prove yourselves to me. Our community is under attack. I require soldiers. I need warriors, not cowards. Each of you has a decision to make. You either fight alongside me and my wolves or you leave now.”

“We don't owe you anything. If staying in the Quarter means living under your rule, working with wolves, I'd just as soon get the hell out.” Thierry declared.

Caroline grabbed Klaus’s hand as they watched a handful of vampires join Thierry and walk out of the compound. Thierry looks at Diego in hopes that he'll come along, but he gives him a pained look and stays behind.

Theirry couldn’t believe his friend was choosing to stay. Diego hated wolves and for good reason. His family was torn apart by them.

Afterward, Marcel, Caroline, and Klaus talk with Sophie.

“I got to admit, I thought you'd lose a lot more guys than that,” Marcel told him.

“Well, good riddance to them, I say,” Klaus replied. “We've no room for slackers or cowards in our kingdom. Now that you've regained your composure, let's move on to the next item of business, shall we, with a little help from our prisoner Sophie.”

“The last thing I want to do is help any of you!” Sophie snapped.

“Now, now, don't be difficult,” Klaus told her.

“You're lucky you’re still alive. You should be more grateful.” Caroline said, wanting nothing more than to slap the taste out of the witch's mouth but now was not the time to torture her some more. That time would come again later.

“You'll only live as long as you're of use to me, and right now, your best use is to explain why a witch I killed has come back for revenge. Come on. Resurrected witches with vast power?” Klaus insisted.

“It's the Harvest. To die and be reborn.” Sophie told him. “I don't know how, but someone jacked that power, and they used it to bring back three witches, just not the right ones.”

“Davina’s not in danger, is she?” Caroline asked, speaking the words before Marcel could.

“I don’t know,” Sophie answered.

“Well be sure.” Marcel ground out. “I will not lose her.”

“Let's concentrate on the immediate problem, shall we?” Klaus suggested. “Papa Tunde wants revenge. He'll continue to attack us, channeling power from the vampires he sacrifices. He kills, he grows more dangerous. So how do I end him? He needs sacrifices to gain power.”

Klaus needed to kill him, he wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing he was out there, wanting to take from him what Klaus himself took from Papa Tunde.

“Hmm. You keep him from killing any more nightwalkers, that's a start.” Sophie told him.

“Easier said than done in a city full of them.” Caroline snapped at her, just hearing Sophie speak made her want to rip her tongue out through her throat.

“Caroline’s right,” Klaus said. “If he finds the one place with a load of vampires ready to be sacrificed,” Klaus stated.

They all look at each other with a look of dawning realization.

Stefan who was standing back, for the most part, minding his own business stepped forward. “What’s happening now?”

“Nothing good,” Caroline said and leaned into Klaus’s side, seeking his touch. She felt more grounded when she could feel any part of him pressed against her.

Klaus’s arm wound around her waist, his hand curving around her side, unthinkingly, he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

It was actions like these that threw everyone around him, having never seen Klaus so tactile so affectionate.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Klaus, Marcel, Stefan and Caroline, and Zach arrive at the garden only to discover that they are too late. All of the vampires are dead, sacrificed by Papa Tunde.

Not only that the wolves he had guarding the place until he got there were dead.

Caroline’s hand went to her mouth, she knew every wolf by name, she had got to know in the short period after being introduced to them and had formed an attachment.

They were good and they had welcomed her into their pack, willing to overlook that she was a vampire, they trusted her and protected her and she did the same for them.

Now, here they were. Gone. Dead at her feet.

Anger coursed through her with a viciousness that left her reeling.

“How could this happen?” Zach stumbled forward, falling to his knees in disbelief.

“This..this act of violence,” Caroline turned to Klaus, her eyes blackened with her rage. “Can not go unanswered. Their lives meant something. These were our people and they slaughtered them! We have to make everyone involved pay!”

Marcel's brow raised up to his hairline at her harsh reaction.

Klaus was enthralled by her words, the anger coming off her in waves, she vibrated with righteous anger for their wolves.

The way she had accepted his wolves as her family was something he admired. “Nothing that has happened today will go unanswered, I promise you that, love.” He cupped her face, his thumbs tracing the black veins beneath her eyes. Soothing them away.

Caroline breathed slowly, her eyes closing at his touch. A calm washing over her, pushing her anger back down just beneath the surface. She nodded and released him. She stepped forward and placed her hand on Zach’s shoulder. “We will make this right.”

Zach nodded numbly, his hand coming up to cover her own. Thankful for her support, he looked at Klaus seeing the same readiness to avenge the wolves in his eyes.

Stefan wanted to reach out and offer his support to Caroline but it seemed she had all the support she needed.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Celeste meets with Papa Tunde near a crypt in the Lafayette cemetery.

“Is it done?” asked Celeste.

“This blade now contains all the power I harvested from the vampires. It will do things worse than death, even to an Original,” said Papa Tunde.

“And are you ready for the final offering?” Celeste questioned.

“Will you avenge my sons?” Papa Tunde asked.

“Klaus will never get the chance to see his children be born,” Celeste vowed darkly

Papa Tunde nodded in acceptance. “In the name of the witches of the French Quarter, it is my honor.” Papa Tunde hands her the bone knife.

“Thank you, Papa Tunde.” Celeste stands behind him and slits his throat with the knife.

Celeste breathed deeply, her hands coated in Papa Tunde’s blood. Her plan of making Klaus suffer was closer than ever thanks to Papa Tunde’s sacrifice to her cause.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Caroline walked into Katherine’s room, Davina sat on the floor surrounded by a mountain of books. Elijah was seated on the bed next to Katherine who appeared to be asleep.

“Where’s Josh?” Caroline wondered.

“I told him to go find something to drink. He couldn’t stop talking about blood.” Davina looked up from her book to Caroline. “How did today go?”

“I don’t really want to talk about it,” Caroline said. “I rather talk about how things are going here. Have you found anything yet?”

“No,” Davina answered reluctantly. “But I will find something. I will, I just need more time.”

“I don’t know how much time she has left.” Elijah didn’t look away from Katherine. He reached his hand brushing her hair back from her face. “We need to save her before it’s too late.”

“She knows that,” Caroline cut a look at him. “Don’t pressure her. It’s not all on her.”

“I promise I will try everything I can to help her.” Davina insisted.

“Good but don’t forget to take care of yourself too. Have you eaten at all today?” Caroline asked.

“No,” Davina shook her head.

“Come on, then,” Caroline looped her arm through hers. “I haven’t either and I am starving for blood but I am craving actual food. I talked my friend Stefan into cooking for me. He’s a good cook. He makes great pasta.”

“Caroline,” Elijah protested but Caroline ignored him and walked out the door with Davina.

She would not allow Davina to neglect taking care of herself.

Nadia, Katherine’s daughter appeared in front of them in the hall. “Where are you going? You're supposed to be helping my mother.”

“And she will but right now, she is going to eat and then get a good night's sleep and rest her mind.” Caroline moved protectively in front of Davina. “And if you don’t like it, you can leave.”

Nadia took a step forward as if to challenge her and Caroline raised one pointed brow, daring her to try something.

Nadia with an angry huff pushed past them into her mother’s room.

“Do we like her?” Davina asked as they walked down the stairs.

“Not sure yet,” Caroline answered, leading Davina to the kitchen. “Don’t really know her.”

Stefan was pulling something out of the oven, Josh was seated at a table, drinking from a bag of blood while engaging Stefan in conversation.

“Something smells good,” Davina said, looking toward Stefan.

“That would be baked pasta. I hope you like Italian.” Stefan popped the platter on the counter.

Caroline leaned forward getting a better look. The melted cheese mixed with red sauce and beef looked delicious and smelled even better. “It looks great, you know, if you’re going to be sticking around I might talk you into cooking for me more often.”

“I am sticking around and shouldn’t Klaus be the one taking care of your food cravings?”

Klaus walked into the room. “I take care of all her cravings.” He tugged Caroline into his side, placing a kiss on her neck.

Davina made a disgusted face. “TMI.”

“Agreed.” Stefan put two plates on the counter and filled them with pasta putting them in front of the two girls. “I am not used to seeing the two of you together.”

“Well, you better get used to it then because it’s not about to change.” Caroline took a seat and started digging into the food. “Thanks for the food, Stefan. I’m starving.”

“I would imagine,” Klaus moved around and set a glass of blood in front of her.

“Is it your blood?” Caroline asked curiously, giving Davina a look of encouragement to eat.

“No,” Klaus pulled up a seat next to her, his hand resting on her knee.

“Pity,” Caroline said, wishing it was his blood. She loved the taste of his life-sustaining life force on her tongue.

Klaus moved his hand on her knee higher, fingers curling around her thigh. “Later.” his eyes held promise and Caroline felt heat rush through her.

“You guys are blood sharing?” Stefan asked, surprised. Wow, being together was one thing and accidental pregnancy another but blood sharing, that was like a whole other ballpark of seriousness in a vampire relationship. The only thing more serious would be if they had shared the vampire mate claim.

“Not really,” Caroline said. “He doesn’t drink from me and I don’t like being poisoned by a hybrid bite”

“You could always bite your wrist for him,” Davina suggested and Caroline looked at her. “I know this is not a discussion for me.”

“Actually, that’s a great idea. Klaus and I will have to try it.” Caroline said, her interest piqued.

“We will?” Klaus asks, his eyes darkened with want, imaging the taste of Caroline’s blood on his tongue as he was buried deep inside her.

Caroline bit her lip. “We will.”

“Okay, that’s enough.” Stefan cut in. “How about you keep the blood sharing interest in the bedroom and eat your food.”

Klaus grinned. “I could eat but it’s definitely not food.”

Davina’s eyes nearly widened and Caroline choked on air, her cheeks heating. “Klaus!”

Klaus smirked at her in response that devilish smirk that had Caroline squeezing her thighs together as desire shot through her.

“I think I am going to take my food back to my room.” Davina stood up and made a quick exit, waving a hand when Caroline called out an apology.

Stefan sent Caroline a strained smile. “I’m going to leave you to enjoy your food.”

Caroline watched him go, knowing it was just an excuse for him to leave. He might be weirded out by her relationship with Klaus but she didn’t care.

She dug into her food, moaning at the taste. Stefan sure did know how to cook.

Klaus’s hand tightened on her thigh and she looked at him to see his pupils were blown wide, eyes dark with that look she was quite familiar with and despite the hard and difficult day, her lips pulled into a smile.

“Want some?” She asked, her smile coy and flirty.

“Yes,” he answered.

Caroline extended a bite to him.

“Not of your food,” he said roughly, resisting the urge to pull her against him.

Caroline's own eyes darkened with want. She quickly ate her food and pushed the plate away and downed her glass of blood.

The second she was out of her seat and on her feet, Klaus hauled her against his body, urging her to wrap her legs around him.

Caroline did so eagerly, her arms going around his shoulders, eyes sliding shut as his mouth slanted over hers.

Klaus groaned, he could taste the blood she had been drinking on her tongue.

It was mere seconds before Caroline felt her back resting against soft sheets, Klaus’s weight a comfortable feeling settling over her.

Klaus pulled his mouth from hers tugging at her shirt.

Caroline rose up, allowing him to remove her shirt.

She fell back against the bed as he kissed a path down the valley of her breast to her rounding stomach.

His hands moved to cup her belly, the softness in his kisses had tears filling Caroline’s eyes, her chest tightening with emotion. “I’ve been avoiding my mom.”

Klaus looked up at her, waiting for her to say more. “I know she’s going to have questions about the pregnancy and I can’t talk about it with her.”

Klaus pushed down his desire and moved back up her body, he rolled off her laying on his side, and pulling her into him. “Why?”

“Sometimes it doesn’t feel real,” Caroline confessed.

“What?” Klaus looked at her taken aback. “What doesn’t feel real? Us? The babies? All of it?”

Carolien placed her hand on his heart, wanting to reassure him. “Not us. What we have is the realist thing I have ever felt in my life. I meant the pregnancy.”

Klaus's hand came to rest over her stomach. “Trust me it’s real. I can hear their small hearts. I know you can too.”

“It’s a beautiful sound,” Caroline’s eyes grew wet with unshed tears. “I love hearing it, knowing they're there.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Klaus asked, his hand absentmindedly stroking her belly, caressing his unborn children.

“What if they’re more hers than mine?” Caroline whispered, voicing her fears.

“I don’t understand,” Klaus said, her words confusing him.

“She had all this time to connect with them, to form a bond. I feel like I missed so much. I feel like they're no longer mine. It's almost like she has this claim on them that I don’t. And if I feel like this now, how can I possibly be a good mother to them?”

Klaus lifted a hand to her cheek as a lone tear slipped from Caroline’s eye and brushed it away. “Caroline, love, you are everything any good mother should be. Your kind, loving, caring, selfless, forgiving and so fiercely protective of the people you love. Being a mother is going to come naturally like everything else for you.”

Caroline's lips pulled into a smile before she put her hand on the back of his neck and leaned forward, pressing her mouth to his in a meaningful kiss.

Klaus kissed her back, his arms going around her, pulling her flush against him, his lips moved down her jaw. “Is that all that’s bothering you? Today was a hard day. How are you dealing with everything?” His every word was pressed against his skin as he spoke.

“Shh,” Caroline rolled onto her back, pulling him on top of her. “Everything else can wait. Talking can wait.” She pulled his mouth back to hers. “I just want to feel us.”

Klaus kissed her deeper, her mouth opening beneath his inviting him inside, he reached behind her unfastening her bra.

Caroline pushed her head back, her body arching as his lips traveled across her skin, leaving a burning fire in his wake.

She put everything else out of her mind and focused on the here and now.

She and Klaus, the way he made her feel, how he knew her body like one of his sketches.

She lost herself to the most real thing she ever felt.

And when he finally pushed inside her, eyes locked on hers, one hand digging into her thigh the other planted next to her head, she felt like everything would work itself out.

She would make damn sure of it because she was not giving up the life she was building or her new family.

Always and Forever.

It was the Mikaelson family motto.

And now it was hers.

She held on tightly to Klaus as he moved inside her, branding himself on her soul.

She opened herself to him, letting down all her walls and defenses, pushing the love she had into his heart, wanting him to know, to believe after all his time on this earth he wasn’t alone and he never had to feel like he was.

She will always be there.

She wasn’t going anywhere without him.

A/N: Thanks for reading!

Tags: @zinebaklaro @eloiselili @caritobear @paulinhaals @lord-luminous @bellarkehotchniss @fantasylover4evr @storm-pirate

#Klaroline #klaroline fic #klaus x caroline #klaus mikaelson #caroline forbes #fanfic #fic: good to you #the vampire diaries #the originals

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thecandywrites · 3 years

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Jewel Of The North Part 11

Woo, this was so much fun. Karma begins to sink her teeth into Alorna and Doug. Meanwhile Noah and our dear reader Zara draw closer and closer. Que- Lady in Red.

Many thanks to @monstersandmaw for sharing ice orcs with me. I am having a blast. Enjoy.

Jewel Of The North

Part 11

The next morning, you accidentally slept in because you were up half the night getting some of the best sex of your life and reconciling with Noah and having the best heart to heart while you were fucking the other’s brains out and this morning you felt like you were running around like a chicken with your head cut off trying to get ready on time and Noah walked you to the spa himself and you weren’t five steps from it before you saw Alorna and Doug at the counter, getting last minute upgrades on their services and about to go into it and both you and Noah stopped dead in your tracks and gasped and squeezed the other’s hand tightly and you doing that made Alorna and Doug turn around to look and one look made them freeze and breathe in tightly and the looks on their faces were priceless as they looked like they both had been caught with their pants down as both you and Noah quickly got your phones out and got pictures of them, together for proof of where they were and why the couldn’t be found back on the mainland.

And seeing them, you and Noah looked at each other before looking back at them and started busting out laughing and pointing because the odds of the four of you meeting back up, let alone like this- was astronomical. So it was either by fate that you met or by the craziest coincidence. Yesterday you would have wanted to beat them both to a pulp. Today- though, you didn’t care. You had your family and a clean conscience and you knew they couldn’t boast of that last one and you knew Karma was about to bite them in the ass and you knew that justice was coming for them and for you.

“Oh my gods, you left John for Doug?” Noah asked his sister.

“What if I did?” Alorna shirked with a shrug.

“I mean you’re a stupid, faithless bitch either way and incase you missed it, I officially disown you. By the way, since you seem to have been ignoring your phone, I think you should know I got a text from your soon to be ex husband, telling me that you had skipped out of town on a cruise and he officially called all his credit cards that you have- in as stolen and cancelled your check card and kicked you off the checking account at the bank. And his lawyer is expediting your divorce and all your stuff is at the community center and that he changed the locks on the doors. But at least he left you your car.” Noah informed her as he pulled up his text from John on his phone and read it off to her.

“What?” Alorna blanched as she came over to look at his phone to read it herself.

“Even if that’s true, Sweetheart, you can move all your things in with me.” Doug offered Alorna which made her beam smugly at her brother.

“Thank you Baby, I knew I could depend on you.” Alorna practically sang as she sauntered back to him and kissed him sweetly as you just stood there and shook your head as you texted your picture to Summer and gave her the update as even more updates came pouring into your own phone.

“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment I need to keep.” You excused yourself and went up to the desk to check in for your own appointment.

“What are you getting done?” Doug asked you curiously from down the counter.

“Nothing. It’s an interview and sales pitch to be an onboard LMT, I get the ultimate cruise experience and elite package in a King’s Suite for free just for about an hour or so of my time and any money I spend on this cruise, I write off as a business expense, both personally and from a business expense for all of my businesses. So while this cruise is free, I get to enjoy a twenty thousand dollar tax break for myself and for each of my businesses, which considering all four of them and counting myself, is a whole hundred thousand dollars. Not bad for an hour or two of my time eh?” You returned with a smugness of your own as Doug and Alorna’s jaw dropped in jealous disbelief.

“Enjoy your time at the spa.” You offered sweetly before you paused and turned to address them head on.

“Oh by the way, before you go, I should remind you- just in case you didn’t know, there is always legal backlash for defaming and maligning a priestess of Aura. Because my lawyers have already been in contact with every single elder in every clan up here and especially with every single elder on the councils and got so many statements of what you two said about me to them and already have more than enough evidence to sue you both and it doesn’t matter if and when which of you turns on the other or not, both of you will answer for what you’ve done. You should know that the last person to defame a priestess of Aura, was sued for a 150 million dollars in damages, and the out of court settlement ended up being 15 million. So you’ll be hearing from my lawyers when you do get home and currently you’re both in the process of getting warrants out for your arrest because defaming and threatening a public figure which all priestesses of Aura are, is an arrest-able offense in every country in the world and an expedite-able offense too. So enjoy jail. I doubt anyone but me will have pockets deep enough to bail you out and there’s no way in hell I would ever do that either. But I hope this little affair was worth it for you.” You offered, your tone sweet as honey but the gravitas of what you were saying hit them both like a ton of bricks Noah beamed the happiest, proudest smile.

“Yes! In your faces motherfuckers!” Noah cheered as he gave them both the bird.

“Baby, I’m gonna be sitting right over here until you get out.” Noah informed you happily as he pointed to a chair before he strutted over and settled into it.

“You’re lying. That’s the worst bluff I’ve ever heard.” Alorna scoffed at you.

“I guess we’ll see when you get off the ship, in any port you do get off at. You’ve fucked around, now you get to find out.” You smiled smugly back with a shrug.

“Ms. Kingsley?” Sharon- the spa’s manager called when she came out.

“That’s me.” You confirmed as you went over to her and shook her hand and went back with her into the spa for your interview.

“What if she wasn’t bluffing.” Doug murmured to Alorna before their own therapists came out to get them.

“She has to be, she’s just trying to get the last word and the last laugh and steal our fun. It’s not gonna work.” Alorna insisted but Doug wasn’t sure before they went back into the spa.

Noah happily texted his mom that you and him had fully reconciled and that he had told Alorna the ‘news’ of John’s divorce as his mother confirmed everything you had just told Doug and Alorna and that yesterday, shortly after you left, that she had gotten a call from a lawyer asking about the incident and that not only did she and Ukluk confirm the case, but so had Isla, Tonrar and everyone else involved and that the clan law was in the process of getting modified by each clan and that each clan was offering Zara a share of the tribal lands as recompense for believing the lies about her and were working on a formal apology and would be officially stripping Alorna and Doug of their clan standing and ties and that the police were involved and that there were indeed warrants out for their arrests and that cops were already contacting the cruise ship to let them know they were harboring wanted individuals.

Noah simply giggled gleefully as he got up and went to the closest bar and got a celebratory drink before settling back into his spot.

Finally, after all this time, and pain and heartache and damage, his sister and Doug had caused, they were getting what was coming to them. Karma was real and was gonna bite them in the ass soon enough. And the best part about it, is he didn’t have to lift a finger and neither did you. All he had to do was stand by you and do right by you from now on, which he was more than prepared to do. Never again would he waiver from you. Because while you had lost the battle the other night, you sure as hell were going to win the war and just because you weren’t physically fighting or combative, didn’t mean that you weren’t fighting back, you were just fighting back in the best way possible. You were going to hit where it would hurt them the most. And Noah for one would rather get the shit kicked out of him rather than be abandoned by his clan. So he was supremely grateful.

He pulled out your check that had been in his pocket, and turned it over to read the back one more time.

‘Dear Noah, please don’t think that I’m giving up. I’m not. I will never give up, not on you or on Sakura. And I will fight till my last breath for you both. I don’t want you to have to choose between your heritage, your culture and your birthright- and me. You deserve both. You both deserve everything you want. Love, happiness, honor, pride, heritage, roots and family. When you read this. I hope you’ll understand that as a priestess, there are rules I have to follow while in regalia. And I hope we find each other again soon. No matter what happens, I will always love you both- Sincerely, Zara.’

Even now, Noah wiped a stray happy tear from his eyes as he pressed the check to his heart. He had been a fool yesterday. A thankless bastard, a reprehensible asshole. But you redeemed him. Even when you shouldn’t have. And for that, he would always be grateful. And love you unconditionally and always treat you with the utmost care and respect. And treat your children as his own. Even if they both hated him at first. He would win them over by staying true to you and them. And he was always going to have your back and theirs and be the trustworthy rock you and they needed. He silently prayed to every god you both believed in and vowed this to them and when he had finished. A renewed sense of peace and happiness came and settled in him and renewed his spirit.

The interview process did take about an hour and a half. But you came out of the spa, happy and smiling and laughing with the spa’s day manager before you practically strut over to him.

“So? How’d it go?” He asked before you slid into his lap and drank the rest of his drink.

“It went great, they offered me a job but sadly I had to turn it down because I actually want to be around for my kids and possible new husband and can’t do that living on a ship full time.” You hinted.

“They have a jewelry store on this cruise ship right?” Noah asked. “I can get you a wedding ring right now.” He offered.

“Don’t you dare, the jewelry on this ship is cheap in quality and sky high in price. I would much rather have a traditional ring from the clans or bead in my hair or whatever. Besides, if you do get me a ring, it’ll live on this necklace or any other necklace you get for me because I can’t wear jewelry on my hands for work. But I would wear it on my off days and special occasions.” You answered.

“Besides. Call me old fashioned, but I want a traditional wedding with all the friends and family and all that and not some last minute thing on a cruise ship.” You urged him.

“Me too.” Noah simply grinned as he happily wrapped his arms around you and held you comfortably.

“So, let’s go get some brunch.” You urged him before you got off of him and offered him your hand to help him up which he gratefully took and once he was up to his full height he returned the glass to the bar and walked down to one of the restaurants on the ship with you comfortably under his arm.

“I will say this though, could we get you some nice dress clothes for dinner?” You asked as you walked down the hallway with your own arm around his waist.

“Sure.” Noah answered before you both gorged yourselves on a brunch then went shopping to get Noah a few things for the remaining nights of the cruise, including a black suit with a black dress shirt and black dress shoes with black socks with a few different ties and handkerchiefs that would match the dresses you brought so that you would match and so that Noah’s suit would be versatile.

“Aww, I see you found her.” Maggie said as you guys walked past the customer service desk together, both of you carrying several bags each.

“I did.” Noah grinned proudly.

“So- what did you forget?” She asked you curiously.

“His heart.” You answered truthfully.

“Awww!” She gushed. “Really?” She asked as she looked from the two of you.

“Yeah, we’ve been falling for each other since we first met each other, and it just took one good kick in the pants for me to come to my senses and come after her.” Noah revealed.

“What was your kick in the pants?” She pressed giddily.

“This.” Noah said as he showed her the back of the check before she and everyone else at customer service read it and started crying once you explained the whole story after putting your things on the counter so you wouldn’t have to keep holding them and it freed your hands up for your gestures.

“So, I actually won’t be needing my cabin. I’m rooming with her.” He nodded over to you.

“Well then I guess you need a refund for your suite don’t you? I mean you didn’t even really use the room at all, barely stepped your foot in it. So it doesn’t count, besides, we need the room for other guests anyway.” Maggie insisted before she got his room card and re-programed it so it would work for your room instead.

“And I got you some ship credit for whatever else your hearts desire while sailing with us for any “inconvenience”. Oh this is straight out of a movie I swear!” Maggie swooned happily as she typed on her computer before she printed out receipts and stuff for you both.

“Thank you so much for sharing. I ship you guys so hard. Here’s my email address, email me what happens, I want to know.” She insisted as she wrote down her personal email address to you.

“Definitely.” You grinned before you got your stuff and went back to your suite together and got ready for dinner at the cruise’s most fancy restaurant.

“Wow.” Noah breathed in awe before he wolf whistled at you from the comfort of the couch in the suite when he saw you walk out of the bathroom in a red dress that hugged your curves gorgeously and was sexy as sin. Your hair was done up, your makeup flawless, the red of your lipstick matching the shade and tone of the dress perfectly and your jewelry he could tell was older and most likely inherited from your late adopted grandparents.

“Thank you.” You thanked him bashfully as you struck a few seductive poses for him.

“That’s going to be real fun to take off.” Noah grinned as you could already see the beginnings of a hard on tent his pants.

“Yes it will. Later of course, not right now, we have a reservation to keep.” You urged him as you got on two different pairs of shoes.

“The red or the black?” You posed as you stood before him, switching from one foot to the other.

“They both look amazing, pick whichever one is more comfortable.” He urged you.

“They’re about the same. I’m going with red. Save the black for the little black dress.” You decided before you walked over to a chair and put the other red shoe on the other foot so now they matched before you found your shawl and put your things in a little clutch. “You ready?” You asked once you were all put together as you draped the shawl around your shoulders.

“Ready.” Noah said as he turned the TV off and got up from the couch and straightened himself up before he was by your side in just a few strides and happily escorted you to dinner and smiled so proudly when everyone you walked past seemed to stop and stare at you strutting past them. You could tell most of them wanted to say something, a few of the brave ones whistling lowly after you passed them but one look from Noah had them biting their tongue and looking away guiltily. While Noah looked perfectly dashing- he was an ice orc after all and therefore- not someone to mess with and Noah happily escorted you to the restaurant where you got seated at a table in the center of the restaurant where you happily shrugged your shawl off and laid your clutch next to you in the comfortable armchairs.

Noah wanted to pinch himself. Two weeks ago, he was bartering flights and airplane fuel and googling what he could make for dinner with only two or three ingredients and a handful of spices and he felt like he was treading water, barely keeping his head above water and begging his garden to ripen his produce faster so he could eat it and use it and he had been so grateful that Taylor had recommended him to you. You were one of the first clients to not haggle. He had given you a high price to start with, expecting to be haggled down. But you had accepted it and even sent him a deposit and that had set him straight and it was enough to ease the sinking feeling and gave him breathing room. And then the moment you walked into his life. Suddenly money was the last thing to matter to him. For the first time since childhood, money was not a major factor in anything. All that mattered was Sakura and you. Your safety, your wellbeing, your comfort, your happiness. And when you took to Sakura as easily and readily as you did, all he could do was thank the gods for answering his prayers for allowing the right woman into his life and Sakura’s life and for giving him the patience to wait for her. You were like a soothing balm to all the wounds losing Neena he and Sakura had sustained.

Neena, while she was traditional in most senses and was an excellent mother and careful with money and expenses and incredibly thrifty and resourceful because she had to be, she was easily contented and not demanding at all, however she wasn’t the greatest lover, or cook. She was very reserved. And not expressively passionate.

But you? Passion and heart, feeling and intuition was in everything you did. You were mild, gracious and generous when you wanted and needed to be but you didn’t let anyone walk all over you or take advantage of you and very protective. You were balanced between open yet discrete and an excellent judge of character. And you created such a safe, wonderful, nurturing, welcoming and relaxed environment wherever you were. And you were always, always- professional. You garnered respect wherever you went and whatever you did. And you were a goddess in both the bedroom and the kitchen and the perfect fit.

He felt guilty comparing you with Neena. It wasn’t fair to either of you. He had married Neena out of obligation, because Isla had arranged it since his youth and being married to her was a lesson in patience and persistence and learning to adjust to the other and learning to be a team. But to feel his heart and his soul and his mind light up brighter than the moon and the stars in the dark of night- when he met you, was something else entirely, it was an instant attraction rather than a growing to like, then love and working in tandem with you was second nature to him. You were an addiction for his soul. And he couldn’t believe he was lucky enough to have you in his life. And he was adamant, that he was never, ever going to be foolish enough to try let go- ever again.

Soon enough, he noticed that your table didn’t have the usual two waiters, your table- had four. And all of them were practically drooling over you. Noah was used to only having great service at home. They were treating both you and him like royalty and he sincerely doubted he would get this kind of service if he wasn’t with you. But he was going to enjoy it and suddenly the table was full of all kinds of complementary offerings. And with you flashing that smile and remembering each waiter by name and being sweeter than sugar and honey, they were all eating out of your hands. Even the chefs and sous chefs came out to see how you liked their offerings and happily sent you away with a handsome spread of other desserts to enjoy in the room since you were quite full just from all the appetizers and tapas and entrees whether they were on the menu or not.

On the way back to the room as both of you were carrying a few bags each, you passed Alorna and Doug who were leaving the casino and arguing bitterly with each other. Apparently they both had had some really bad luck in there and you and Noah simply snickered a laugh and shook your heads at their theatrics and drama.

Once you were in the room Noah was all too happy to peel your red dress off of you so you could take your corset off and groaned in relief once your body wasn’t being restricted anymore which got Noah to chuckle as he got his own suit off.

“Feel better?” Noah asked.

“Much.” You answered before you went to the bathroom to wash all your makeup off and once you reappeared you found Noah in a simple t-shirt and a pair of night shorts as you had donned your own pajamas.

“Dessert on the balcony?” You suggested.

“Sure.” Noah nodded as he grabbed the bags as you two went out the porch as you grabbed a blanket and snuggled into the double sunchair together as you two got to digging into dessert.

“So what are your hobbies?” You asked him curiously.

“Like what?” He asked you.

“Well, bedsides the flying, when it’s the off season, what do you like to do?” You asked as Noah took a big bite of cheesecake and thought it over as he chewed. “Besides the things you have to do to live up here, what are the things you look forward to doing in your off time?” You clarified before you took a bite yourself.

“Well I guess, just...making things and improving things. Two weeks ago, my winter plans were to rewire the parts of my plane I didn’t rewire last year. And the usual home improvements. Last winter I made Sakura a new dresser, so I’m kind of a jack of all trades.” Noah answered.

“Well then I think I have something that will interest you, it’s a workshop and it’s a decent sized outbuilding. When Andy and I were designing the house, he wanted to have a space to do his tinkering, to work on the vehicles, to do some maintenance and whatever else he needed or wanted to do. So even after he died, I went ahead and built the workshop that’s bigger than a shed but not quite a pole barn. It’s big enough to do small to medium sized projects in, comfortably. Thanks to my brothers and brothers in law and my dad I was able to score a lot of various equipment for super cheap from a lot of the old estate sales and barn sales and such. Like I have a lot of woodshop equipment, mechanic stuff, forge stuff, blade-smithing stuff, blacksmithing stuff and the like. And my dad and all the men in my family, whenever they come over, I can always find them out there, fiddling with stuff. Like it could be a proper man cave. All it would need is like a couch and a tv. Because it already has a mini fridge for soda and beer along with a bathroom and washing facilities. It is a separate space from the stables, and the hay barn.” You informed him as you pulled out your phone and showed him pictures of it before he took the phone and zoomed in on some of the equipment was shown as Noah’s lips were pursed into a silent ‘ooh’.

“Why do you have a hard on?” You teased as you noticed his half hard cock make an appearance in his shorts as you stroked your leg against it from half sitting in his lap.

“Cause I’m looking at one of my biggest fantasies brought to life, in my wildest dreams I never would have imagined anything like that and my head is almost spinning with all kinds of ideas of everything I could do with all of this. It’s almost too good to be true. I mean that’s a….” Noah chuckled as he looked at it all before he started listing off what he saw and what he knew about all of it as you just smiled brighter and prouder as relief and validation and vindication flooded your mind.

“Good.” You beamed.

“Why did you build it if Andy wasn’t alive to enjoy it and use it?” Noah asked you thoughtfully.

“Can you promise me not to freak out?” You posed.

“Yeah.” Noah answered as he gave you a curious look.

“Ok, so it was one of those- ‘build it and they will come’ kind of things. I had always planned in my head that if and when Andy would die, I would just up and move to the northern Great Lakes to be with the rest of my family. And then when Andy did die and we had already bought the property and were in the process of bulldozing the existing farm house and clearing brush and trees to make room for the house. I flirted with the idea of still cutting ties and just up and moving. But Olga surprised me by coming down to see me and she advised not making any rash decision with a broken heart and not to let my past ideas limit my current potential. And she had me bring her out there. And she ended up doing a peering right then and there, among the dirt and gravel. She told me to not change my plans of moving there, that my roots where I was- were already deep enough to sustain me and my family and if I uprooted myself and my family that I would damage them and me more than help them and myself. That I had the will, the means and the ability to build my dreams right there, from start to finish and that if I built it, they would come true. I just had to lay the foundations. To grow a garden, you ready the soil and then plant. I had already started to ready the soil. What I grew from there depended on how much soil I readied and what I planted. Both literally and figuratively. And that by the time my heart was ready, everything else would be ready too. And when she shared that with my family, they were all too happy to help in any way they could. When I had full control of all the funds from all of my inheritance from my adopted grandparents- I went back to the design firm and did a complete redesign and because I now had, literal millions to play with, I was able to design my dream house with all the flourishes and thoughtful touches and dreams and fantasies I had initially wanted but gave up because they didn’t fit the utilitarian point of view Andy had and I got to plan and execute it exactly how I wanted it. And even when there were little hiccups with the construction. I was ok with it. Because I wanted it to be perfect and it was. And then after it was built, and I was furnishing it and suddenly my dad, my father in law and my brother and brothers in law drug me to all these estate sales and barn sales and I got a ton of equipment for super cheap. And Olga told me that the right man would recognize what I have and know exactly how to use it best, not just in my self but with what I had. Which you just demonstrated for me, cause you knew what all of that was and I am willing to bet that you have at least a dozen ideas of what to do and how to use it all in your head.” You grinned proudly as you tapped the side of his head affectionately.

“Oh at least a hundred.” Noah admitted happily before he turned to kiss your fingers and your palm with equal affection.

“I look forward to seeing them.” You insisted as you snuggled further together.

#Jewel Of The North #Jewel Of The North Part 11 #ice orcs #jewel orcs #ahhh #all better #but it's going to get even better

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lokiondisneyplus · 3 years

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Sasha Lane always plays the rebel. “Somebody make me a f***ing fairy princess, please,” says the actor, sighing with exasperation. “I promise I won’t say f***.” She is the type of plucky young star you imagine can do anything but, until now, Lane has excelled at playing the daring renegade, whether it’s as a teenage runaway in American Honey, the dazzling coming-of-age film that made her name in 2016, as a spliff-smoking “bad kid” in The Miseducation of Cameron Post, or, this month, as a violent fugitive in Amazon Prime’s Utopia.

The 25-year-old puts these sorts of roles down to her 20 tattoos and her dreadlocks. “I’m immediately seen as dirty and dark,” she says, recalling when she attended the illustrious Met Gala event in 2018, wearing a white lace dress. “I had diamonds in my hair – diamonds,” she says, with faux indignation. “Somebody was like, ‘She's so grungy.’ I was like, ‘What about this outfit says: ‘I'm gonna do a head bang and burn a town down?’ No. I'm sipping with my pinkie up and feeling very graceful and I wish you would just let me have my moment.”

Lane is just as captivating to watch on Zoom as she is in her films. She plays with her distinctive dreads – piling them atop her head, sweeping them over her shoulder – and her hands spiral around each other as she talks in a rhythmic southern drawl. When we speak, Lane has just got off a video call with her one-year-old daughter. She's currently in Atlanta, where she’s rumoured to be shooting the new Thor-spin off series, Loki, with Tom Hiddleston. “I'm just gonna skip over that one,” she says, laughing, when asked about it.

No one could have foreseen that Lane would end up here, though she is easily one of the most intriguing actors of the moment. She’d never planned on acting, let alone liked it, and thought she’d join the Peace Corps after college. But in 2014 her life changed forever when, aged 19, she was spotted on a Miami beach by Andrea Arnold. The director had just lost her lead actor for American Honey, the dizzying, sun-soaked Cannes Jury Prize-winner about a girl who decides to cut and run with a band of misfits. Among the tens of thousands of students getting wasted on spring break, Lane stood out.

“It was a crazy trip,” says Lane. “Me and my friends had been kicked out of a hotel and we ended up on this beach. I had no care in the world and that's when Andrea saw me.” Arnold told Lane she was making a film and later that night, while two of her friends were passed out from partying on her hotel bed, Lane improvised scenes in the lobby. “I had definitely been drinking that day, but I can hold my own,” she says now.

The next day over breakfast, Arnold asked Lane to stick around for another week. Lane was cautious. “I was like, ‘Alright, well if you turn out to be a murderer this is not gonna go well for you. I know s***. You're gonna have to really hack up my body if we're gonna do this.’ Which is weird to say to someone, but I did,” says Lane. She stayed, and by the end of the week she’d been cast in the film opposite Shia LaBeouf. She dropped out of college and flew out to Oklahoma to start shooting.

Her resulting performance as Star, a teenager from a broken home who hits the road with a travelling, partying sales crew in the midwest, was magnetic. With no professional experience, Lane managed to delicately balance her character’s mixture of vulnerability and grit.

Lane, like Star, left her life behind to go on the road with the film’s cast and crew. “I didn't know how to act,” she says. “So I didn't know what to do other than pull stuff from my own mind. I got to the point where I’d be crying to Andrea, saying, ‘I can't tell the difference between who I am and who Star is.’ We were in a bubble and had no visitors. We slept in s****y motels together, we were in the van for hours. There was no escaping American Honey.”

Star’s love interest in the film is the crew’s wild, hyperactive “business manager” Jake, a rat-tailed LaBeouf who Lane was reportedly dating off-screen. LaBeouf was intense on set. In one instance, Star was supposed to be angry with Jake, but Lane was struggling to conjure the emotion. “I was just laughing,” she says. “So Shia started telling me, ‘You're ruining this scene. You're f***ing ruining the whole movie.’ I knew what he was doing but it hurt and it was pissing me off. I just snapped and then they started filming and it was like, ‘Oh right, I see what you did there. You f***er.’ It was smart.”

The kids in the film, who are from forgotten, midwestern towns, are in a demographic that Donald Trump claims to be the voice of. Our interview is a week ahead of the 2020 election, and Lane is not convinced. “He's had his time and he has nothing to show for it,” she says. “He didn't deliver. I understood, especially back then, why certain people voted for him. They just wanted to believe that he would put money in and give us jobs, but it didn't work out that way.”

Like Star, Houston-born Lane moved around a lot as a child, between Texas, Florida and Dallas, and helped raise her little sisters. “I don't really like to talk about my family but my mom was gone a lot,” she says. “I played this role of being the glue, trying to keep everyone together. I grew up really, really young. Bad things happened to me as a kid but I had this feeling that it made me a better person. I have empathy and perspective.” As a result, she continues, she “internalised a lot because I never wanted people to feel my pain. I wanted to appear strong and light and be able to take care of everyone. Meanwhile, I would sit in my closet, give myself like 10 seconds to cry, then I would suck it up and be like, ‘OK, move forward, time to go get my sisters some food and act like everything's OK.’ I got really good at pretending things were OK.”

When Lane went to college, she started to crack. “I ended up getting diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder,” she says. “There are voices in your head, things are really dark. It's hard to explain to people who care about you that you can't sleep and you're hearing voices all day and you're sad and you're just tired. By the time I was a teenager, I was so tired.”

In the weeks before Lane met Arnold in 2014, the voices were “saying something nice for the first time”. “They told me, ‘Hold on, something’s coming that will allow you to fill your purpose and let you breathe,’” she says. “People ask me all the time, ‘If American Honey didn't happen, what would you be doing?’ Truly, I don't think I'd be here. I think it saved my life.”

There is a serendipity to Lane’s acting career. First, American Honey came out of the blue. Then, in 2018, she starred in Desiree Akhavan’s gay conversion drama The Miseducation of Cameron Post as a girl raised in a hippy commune. The part resonated with Lane as someone who refuses to put a label on her sexuality and whose brother had a difficult time growing up gay and black in Houston. “I've never seen myself as someone who's like, ‘Hey, I'm queer, I'm bisexual, I'm this,’” says Lane. “I just have a very broad and open and unique way of loving. I can literally fall in love with a f***ing squirrel. Anyone.”

Her brother, she says, “always prayed he’d be normal”, much like the characters in Cameron Post try to “pray away the gay”. She says the film moved some elderly conservative viewers to tears and has helped to change people’s minds.

After that, Lane landed roles in the warm indie drama Hearts Beat Loud and the horror Daniel Isn’t Real, and her latest project is the US remake of Dennis Kelly’s Utopia, about a gang of bright youngsters who are in possession of a cult graphic novel that seems to predict disastrous real-world epidemics, making them the target of a shadowy deep state organisation. Lane plays yet another woman on the run, Jessica Hyde, who has been evading The Network all her life and who helps the young group survive.

Lane studied feral cats to get into the character’s mindset. “For them, everything is survival mode,” she says. “You're terrified someone's gonna capture you. You don't hang in packs because you're a loner. That's Jessica Hyde.”

She may be stuck playing the rebel but, through playing misunderstood outliers like Jessica Hyde and Star, Lane wants her work to bring people together and help us to understand each other. “I’m not the biggest public speaker,” she says, “but if I can make films that touch hearts and connect people, that's beautiful. Of course I want to be a part of that.”

#Sasha Lane #Loki #Kate Herron just like her tweet about acting during Covid #and she's in Atlanta

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dailyaudiobible · 3 years

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08/20/2021 DAB Transcript

Esther 8:1-10:3, 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13, Psalms 37:1-11, Proverbs 21:23-24

Today is the 20th day of August welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian and it is wonderful to be here with you today as we come in out of the…well…here in the rolling hills of Tennessee it's coming in out of the heat and not coming in out of the cold at all, but we’re coming out of the heat into this oasis, this cool place around this Global Campfire where we can let it all go and focus on the Scriptures as they inform the choices and decisions and steps that we will continue to make each moment by moment in each day by day. So, we have…in the Old Testament been working our way through the book of Esther. We will conclude the book of Esther today. It’s been a high drama story. Haman the antagonist met his end yesterday. His plot to annihilate the Jewish people though is still intact. And, so, let's reach our conclusion on the book of Esther by reading chapters 8, 9, and 10 today.

Commentary:

Okay. So, yesterday we were talking about this…the Holy Spirit, the gifts that are bestowed by the Holy Spirit, that they are to serve the body and that they are to serve the Lord and that we are all part of a body and no one part can say to any other part that I don't need you or I don't want you because we collectively make a whole, a body, and every parts needed to make of that body, whether it's a seen part or an unseen part, whether it's pretty part or a hidden part. No matter what, it's a part, a necessary part of a body, the body of Christ in this world. And, so, we can seek the Holy Spirit and seek the giftings of the Spirit and serve the Lord through them, but when it's really about our attention…like drawing attention to ourselves then we’re forgetting that we’re a part of a whole and that comparison leads us nowhere, which leads us to what Paul just lays out in the 13th chapter of first Corinthians. We can have all these gifts that we want. We can jump up and down and draw attention to ourselves. We can do noble things we can do impressive things, but if we do not do these things in love they do not do or mean anything. And that's kind of a line in the sand. For example, can you be jealous in love or envious in love or raging in love. That gives us a bit of a plumb line to inquire of ourselves. Am I doing this in love or am I doing this in selfishness or envy or some other thing that is not going to serve God or the body, is only gonna serve ourselves? Love is the currency, or maybe…maybe the blood of the body. Love is the blood flowing through the body. A necessary irreplaceable piece. We’re dead without blood, right? Paul says, without love, I am nothing. So, let’s think about that and let’s go into the rest of our day loving and loving well.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit we can't on our own in our own strength. Certainly, we can love those who love us and we can be patient, we can be extra kind. But to just embody love, to just be Your love in this world and to try to in some way offer love wherever we go, we don’t have the capacity. Only through the power of Your Holy Spirit can we achieve anything even approaching this. But as we think about it, as we just consider, man what would it be like to just love. That is such a serene and peaceful place to think about because it overlooks so many of the things that we get so entangled in, so much of the bitterness and resentment, so much of the depression, so much of the anxiety comes from places that we feel wronged or wounded. And if love could fill those spaces. So, Holy Spirit come into our brokenness, the places that we find it really difficult to operate in love and fill those spaces with Your love. Help us to understand that, that it's not…it's not by brute force that we’re just acting like we’re loving, it’s that we need You to fill us in those spaces so that it's not our will or our love, it is Your love flowing through us, filling us, healing us, restoring us, and then going out into the world. Come Holy Spirit, we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

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dailyaudiobible.com, that’s home base, that is the website, that is where you get connected and find out what's going on around here. And all of these things can be found inside the Daily Audio Bible app as well.

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And that's it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Good evening DABbers please pray for my grandma that has multiple myeloma. Please heal her…I mean please pray that God will heal her and please pray for her that she will have a lot of fun with us in the pool and she will…and she will be…I mean and she will have a lot of energy. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Hello DAbbers this message is for Jonathan from Denver. I'm calling to encourage him and acknowledge him that he just confessed he has a problem with an addiction. And I really wanna tap you on your back man because you're very brave to do such as this. I suffered the same thing. I…I went through this addiction of pornography and it last for many many years, 25 years in my life and what I had to do, the same as you did. Basically, just surrender to the Lord and He will give you the strength and the self-control to get rid of all this junk, all this material that you have. Just focus…focus on the thing that you have, that you are able to. Focus on what you are able to do and God will provide you the strength and the power and the will and all the self-control to carry on until you completely destroy this out of your life. He will put you…and Jonathan, He will put you good friends that will guide you to a different path. And just rely on the Lord and I'm sure as He did for me and many others He will give you the power to come out of this addiction. And I've been praying for you and for all the community, everybody that has any addiction, doesn't matter if it’s pornography or anorexia or, you know, alcohol, drugs. I've been praying for all you guys. Love you all. And thank you Brian for this wonderful podcast. Cheers. Blessings everybody. __ here from Australia. Bye.

Good morning DAB family this is Tito Ramirez calling from Southern California. I wanted to call today and have you guys pray with me over my mom Mara. She is in my life her and Brian Hardin are the two people that I've seen just really turn themselves inside out to serve the Lord. My mom came to this country and became a citizen, but she came from Peru and always had a heart for serving the Lord. And she started raising money. All my life all my life I remember my mom raising money and putting in her own money to build churches and Peru. And then she funds out of the money that she raises and her own pocket the pastor's salary that goes around and preaches at these churches that she built down there because she didn't want him encumbered by any red tape from any religious institution. And she, once my sisters and I got into Graduate School she partnered with our…with our universities here in Southern California to take the medical and dental schools there and set up free medical care in these churches that she built. And it was a great experience for the medical students and the dental students and the hygiene students. And they would take volunteer doctors and dentists and they would just go serve man, just give away free medical care until they ran out of stuff. And they did that every year. And my poor mum is suffering right now in the hospital. She's had some small strokes and it sounds like she's having another one this morning. And I just want to cover her in prayer. She's…she's a retired nurse and she just reminds me so much of my own kids when I take them to the doctor to get a shot. She's become so scared, you know, and it just feels so different. But please provide cover her in prayer, that the doctors would diagnose her quickly, that they would treat her effectively, that the Lord would send the Holy Spirit to comfort her and give her peace so she's not afraid. I love you guys. Thank you so much for praying for my family. You guys are the best.

Hi this is Anonymous. I just wanted to call in and ask for some prayer because…it seems so silly…but my husband and I have very different needs when it comes to intimacy. And in order to not make him feel bad about his drive not being as high as mine is I've kind of gotten sucked into porn and I don't…I don't want to go to that. I…I want that relationship with my husband, but I don't know how to make that happen or get to a place where I'm content with what we have. So, if you guys could just pray for me, I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

Hi, my DAB family this is Julie calling from the UK. I've been following the DAB since the beginning of the year. So, I'm doing quite well with it really considering I’ve had such a tough time. And I'm just asking for prayer really because I just cannot get out of this anxious state I'm in. My life is just not there. I just feel I can't do anything. I just sit in the same chair everyday feeling weak and reading my Bible and listening to the Daily Audio Bible. I've had a lot of changes in my life. I've moved to a new…a new country and I'm just struggling. I miss my family so much. And I don't know whether I should be here or go back. I've only been here…I've been here three years, but I just feel that I need some…some prayer to…to guide me whether I should return or stay. This anxiety is just unbearable. And I'm just praying that you'll all pray for me or at least one of you will pray for me and that I can trust in God to help me, bring me through this. Thank you.

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ladynestaarcheron · 4 years

Text

Like Pristine Glass - Chapter Seventeen

ao3 - ff.net - masterpost

(tagging these cuties: @humanexile @skychild29 @rhysandsdarlingfeyre @candid-confetti @rhysandsrightknee @missing-merlin @azriels-forgotten-shadow @books-and-cocos @sezkins79 @city-of-fae @someonemagical @dusty-lightbulb @messyhairday-me @rinad307 @superspiritfestival )

i know all of us read for an escape, and that is especially true for fanfiction, so the only thing i will say here is this: i am sorry that elected officials have bastardized the phrase “thoughts and prayers” because i believe it is a sacred one. please know i am entirely sincere when i tell you i have been thinking of and praying for you all, especially my black american readers. i hope this grants you few minutes’ reprieve from the pain of the world. i wrote it for you, dear reader.

---

February 8 - Year of

Just as Nesta was finishing her preparations for dinner, Emerie knocked on the door. Nesta untied the apron she had donned before going to open it.

"Hello," she said in greeting, and not Happy birthday, even though that was why Emerie was coming over.

"Hi," Emerie answered.

"Dinner's ready. Come in."

Nesta was not naturally inclined towards cooking, and in their little cottage under the Wall there hadn't been much to cook with, but here she was learning. Sometimes she and Cassian even cooked together now.

"This looks nice," Emerie said, inspecting the duck carefully.

"I've learned, all right?" Nesta said, remembering the first and last time she had attempted to cook for Emerie. This time she had used Cassian's recipes.

"Where is he, anyway?" Emerie asked.

Nesta shrugged, although she knew. Whenever he left with a vague I have to go, it was to Velaris.

"That looks loved," she said, nodding towards a book on the countertop. She frowned. "Haven't you read that already?"

"It's children's stories. You're supposed to read them again."

"Or children are," Emerie said, stifling a grin as she poured herself some water.

Nesta scowled. "Cassian still likes them." They had even read some together. Nesta bit her lip tightly, trying not to think of the evenings spent in the living room, her reading aloud some of his childhood favorites.

"You have a great voice, you know that?" he said to her quite suddenly, interrupting what he had claimed was the best story in the book.

She had scowled at him then as she was scowling at Emerie now. For Nesta's voice had been described as many things: shrill, thin, even grating, once, by some horrible girl from her old village—but never great. "Shut up," she had snapped.

His eyes had widened and his arms went up in surrender. "What? I mean it!"

"You do not."

"I do! It's...clear. Soothing. And sometimes..." he moved his head from side to side, trying to think of the right descriptor. "Lyrical."

"Lyrical?" That was certainly a first.

"Yeah." His face had split into a grin. "Do you sing?"

"No," she said, forcing her head back into the book. "Don't interrupt me, or I won't read anymore of this Nicholas thief..."

"Nicholas, the Thief Who Stole the Night! And fine. Keep going."

But perhaps some of the memory bled onto her face, judging by Emerie's smirk.

"How do you normally celebrate?" Nesta said, quickly changing the subject.

Emerie's brown face fell flatly. "I don't, really."

"Well...how do people here normally celebrate?"

She shrugged. "Like this, more or less."

"Duck?"

"No, doing what they like. With...you know. People."

For the second time that evening, Nesta forced the flush out of her cheeks. A person knowing that they are one of your two friends isn't nearly so miserable when you are also one of their only friends.

---

December 23 - 4 years after

The children face leaving Velaris to go home to Sugar Valley with the same excitement they greet everything, but Elain is fighting back tears.

"We'll see each other again soon," Nesta reminds her, slightly exasperated.

"No, I know," she says. "I'll just miss you."

"You can come and visit whenever you want."

"Well, I will." She wipes her eyes. "I'll move in with you."

"Don't sound so miserable," Nesta says, laughingly.

"I just want to be with my whole family all of the time." Elain rubs at her face again, and, without much warning, throws herself at Nesta.

"Ugh—all right, Elain...yes, I'll miss you too..."

"Come on, Elain," Feyre says, walking towards them, Avery on her hip. "Give her some air."

"I'll miss you," she says again, muffled against Nesta's neck

"I won't," Nesta tells her, making both her sisters laugh. She hides a smile.

"You know," Elain says, finally taking a step back, "you don't look like you had a very relaxing vacation."

No, she'd wager she did not. Because after falling asleep in bed with Cassian on Solstice Eve, she had not managed to sleep at all for the two nights after that. Perhaps being back home in her own room would help grant her some peace of mind.

"There's not really a holiday from being a mother," she says instead.

Elain's eyes light up, looking over eagerly at Feyre. "We could give you one! We could take care of the kids for a few days and you could have some time with—for yourself! Or..." she says, backtracking at the look of alarm on Nesta's face.

"No, no, it's fine," Nesta says, bringing up her hands. "I just don't think I'm ready for that yet."

"We're here when you are," Feyre says, putting Avery down and throwing an arm around Elain.

"Mummy, I want to stay with my aunts," Avery says, tugging on her hand.

"They'll come visit soon. Where are your brothers?"

"Cass and Rhys have got them...oh, here they come."

"All set?" Rhysand asks when they reach them.

Nesta narrows her eyes at the extra bag he's holding.

"Is it all right if I join you?" Cassian mumbles in her ear, appearing at her side.

Well, she doesn't have much choice now, does she? "Sure."

"I just want to spend some more time with you all while the Illyrians are still celebrating."

This mollifies her slightly. "Of course."

After more tearful goodbyes from Elain—the children all seem upset to leave her, too, which softens Nesta's heart in a way she had not expected—Feyre and Rhysand take hold of them all and they are finally home.

"Elain and I will come soon," Feyre says, squeezing her tightly. "Thanks so much, Nesta. We loved having you in Velaris."

"Bye, Aunt Feyre."

"Bye, Aunt Feyre!"

"Oh, goodbye, you three!"

"We hope to have you again, Nesta," Rhysand says, the picture of politeness.

But Nesta doesn't think she will ever be able to look at him without glaring. Still, she maintains the same civility he does. "Thank you."

And she doesn't even snarl at the cooed "Bye, Uncle Rhys!"

"It's been a long few days," Nesta says. "We're going to take a nap."

"I'll get them down," Cassian says, picking up all three of them in one swoop, making them shriek with laughter.

"Thanks," she calls after him as he wrangles them up the stairs.

She supposes he's given her some time to herself, but there's stuff to do. She's got so much new crap she needs to put away...and what on earth is she supposed to feed Ollie's new caterpillar?

Half an hour later, when Cassian sees her sitting at the kitchen table scrawling out a list, he laughs.

"I thought you'd take a shower or something."

"I have so much to do," she says, rubbing her eyes.

"Those authors you found?"

"They've given me some samples...I need to decide what I'm giving to Adil." And she was incredibly busy trying to avoid him, of course.

"Well...when can we talk?"

Nesta looks up at him. She sighs. "Now." She pushes away the work in front of her.

Cassian perks up, obviously not having expected this.

She opens her mouth, but he holds up a hand.

"Actually, do you mind if I go first?"

Nesta blinks. "Sure."

He gives her a reassuring, relaxed grin and pulls out a chair. "I really wanted to thank you for agreeing to come for Solstice. It was the best of my life."

She can't stop her lips from tugging upwards. "The children enjoyed it as well."

"I hope you did, too."

Her slight smile falters, and she moves to pull back. He puts his hands over hers. "Nesta, I know that you're still hurting. But we've come a long way since a few months ago, and I want to keep that. And grow stronger. I don't want to do anything to jeopardize what we have now...and what I want us to be."

This is far too confrontational—

"I don't want to scare you off," he says softly, "but I don't ever want to leave things up to interpretation with you." He pauses for a moment, perhaps not even noticing how he traces her fingers with his. "I want us to be a family."

That isn't fair. Of course she wants that. What's the alternative? That her children come from—from a broken home? "A family can be many things." The hoarseness of her voice is unfamiliar to her.

"I know that." A short laugh escapes him, probably as he thinks of his own makeshift family in Velaris. "But I also know what I want ours to look like."

Is he going to spell it out for her, in the name of loose interpretations? She hopes he doesn't. She's not ready for that, she can't hear him say it.

"It was perfect, wasn't it?"

"What was perfect?" she asks blankly.

"That night. The two of us in one room, the three of them in another."

She flinches. "That was..."

"A mistake, I know. But it still happened." He still hasn't moved his hand. She hasn't moved hers either. He squeezes it tightly. "I know you liked being under the same roof, too. Let's just...not lose our momentum. Let's keep going. This pace is fine for me."

What if it's too fast for her, though? Or her children? Or—and this might be worse—too slow for them?

Sometimes she feels like she never got out of the Cauldron. Like she's still drowning.

---

January 1 - 1 year after

The last of the Solstice decorations were being taken down when Nesta walked to the post officer, the letter she was twirling in her hands drawing far less attention than the ever-growing bump under her gown.

Everyone was staring at it. And—ugh—it was only going to get bigger, wasn't it? Amorette had told her that a triplet pregnancy could result in gaining anywhere north of forty-five pounds. And also to stop referring to her belly as it.

There's no easy way to write to someone I know I never intended to speak to you again, but I changed my mind because I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant, by the way, because I don't know how fae pregnancy works, apparently. Which I guess means I shouldn't be having sex, but well, at least I've stopped now. Write back!

After hours of writing and crumbling up parchment and throwing it against the wall, Nesta had settled on the more gentle:

Cassian,

Write back.

Nesta.

Nesta knew perfectly well how pathetic that was, but after the way she left, she couldn't say anything else. She didn't want him to come here. She didn't want to go there. They'd have to meet in some neutral territory.

Announcing her pregnancy, she believed, was not something she could do in a letter. She had to do it face to face. Not only because she thought, well, he deserved being told that way, but...

Because of her reasoning for almost everything: she was a coward. That was the truth of it.

She had left him, and now he had the opportunity to leave her right back. Pregnant and alone. Delaying his finding out was delaying the possibility of that happening.

So even though she hated herself for sending that letter, she knew it was the only option she could bring herself to go through with.

December 23 - 4 years after

After playing at the park and dinner, putting the children down for the night, Nesta asks Cassian if he'll be all right alone with them for a few hours.

"I'm just going out to meet Amorette," she says.

"Before you do," he says, standing up from the couch and slipping his hand into his pocket. "I forgot to give you this...in all the—er—excitement."

He pulls out a small black box, very much like the one she had turned down years ago. But he opens it and she knows it's not the same one, because of the gift.

A white gold heart on a fine chain, with three tiny stones in the left corner. One deep violet, one royal blue, and one slate grey, each engraved with a letter: A, N, and O.

She traces it lightly with her finger. "Thank you," she says. "It's beautiful. I have...I have yours, too. Wait a moment." She rifles through one of the bags in the kitchen. "It's not—I mean, I guess I should've...you..."

"Give it here, Nesta," he orders, making her laugh slightly. She hands him the book.

He unwraps it and his eyes widen.

"I didn't really make it for you," she explains. "I just started it when they were born and kept adding on. But...I thought you might like it."

She keeps things. Three tiny bracelets Amorette had snapped on three tiny wrists, locks of hair cut for the first time, the first cohesive "art project"...

He looks up at her after flipping through some of the pages, eyes shining. "Thank you. Can I..." He gestures to the necklace, which she's set on the counter.

"Oh. Yes."

He picks it up as he walks behind her. Is it the cold of the metal that makes her wince slightly, or his body heat so close to her.

"Thank you," she says, looking down at it, after he fastens it. "It's beautiful."

"Say hello to Amorette."

It's rather abrupt of him, she thinks. But perhaps he's worried about pushing her too far. At any rate, Nesta takes her leave, and it's only a few minutes before she is knocking on her friend's door and being ushered in.

"Nice necklace," Amorette remarks right away.

"Thanks."

"It's a heart."

"I noticed."

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Well, what warrants a heart necklace?"

Nesta rubs her temples. "Can't I have a drink first?"

Amorette laughs before obliging.

She frowns as she takes the glass from her, jerking her head towards a chair in the corner of the room. "What's all that?"

Amorette's clear blue eyes slide over. "Oh. Paperwork."

"You don't normally bring this much home with you."

"Some research, actually," she admits, "from another hospital. In Ciyaluck."

Nesta raised an eyebrow. "You're working with a hospital in Ciyaluck?"

"Not exactly...they've put out some interesting stuff. They asked applicants to do their own...never mind," she says, waving her hands.

"No, wait. You're applying for something? That's great."

"It's up in the air, really. And I'll spare you the gore. Tell me what happened in Velaris."

Nesta takes a deep breath. "Cassian and I fell asleep in the same bed and Nicky walked in on us."

Even Amorette's healer-patience and understanding are not enough to stop her eyes going wide and her jaw dropping. "You slept—"

"No! We just fell asleep!"

"Oh." She pauses. "But...you were in bed together?"

"We didn't do anything," Nesta hurries to say. "Really. Just fell asleep. We didn't...nothing. It was just..." Nesta lets out a groan and drops her head into her hands. "Nicky saw."

"Did you talk to him?"

"Yes." Earlier today. She had stolen a moment alone with him.

"What was your favorite part of the trip?" she had asked, pulling him into her lap, and listened to his ramblings about everything he enjoyed for a few minutes before gently stopping him. "Do you remember when you walked into Mummy's room? And you saw me sleeping there with Appa?"

His brown cheeks darkened, going rosy at the top. Eyes cast down, he nodded.

"And how did that make you feel?"

He shrugged, still not looking at her.

"Sad? Or angry?"

"No..."

"Happy?"

"I don't know."

"You know we both love you very much, right?"

"I know."

"And you're allowed to come into Mummy's room when you wake up in the morning. Or if you wake up in the middle of the night. You know that?"

"I know."

"Would it..." Nesta paused, wondering how best to phrase it. "Would it be good or bad if Appa slept in Mummy's bed again?"

Nicky had looked up, his grey eyes shy as he started wringing his hands. "I don't know."

"All right," she had said, keeping her tone cheerful. She kissed his forehead. "Do you want to go play at the park?"

"Well, that's all right, then," Amorette says when she finishes recounting the events of the afternoon.

"How is that all right?"

"He's not upset," she replies. "He may not know exactly how it makes him feel, but it's not bad."

"What do you think he is feeling, then?" Nesta tries to decide based on his expression when he walked into the room that morning. He had averted his eyes...embarrassed?

Amorette echoes her sentiments. "In the moment, at least. But from what you said...I think he might be pleased."

Is that worse than him being upset? Nesta can't tell.

"Look, he's clearly not losing any sleep over it, and neither should you. You spoke to him, reassured him, made it clear he can come to you. What else is there?"

"I don't know...do you think he told Avery and Ollie?"

Amorette shrugs. "Well, they're not very good secret keepers."

That much is true. "Should I talk to all three of them?"

"If they ask. Parents have done worse things to their children than falling asleep, Nesta," she teases. "When you traumatize them enough for them to run away, it'll be for something worse than this."

Nesta sighs and stretches out her legs. "Suppose you're right...thanks for the book, by the way." An extremely rare edition of one of Nesta's favorites. "Although I don't know if I should thank you for supporting my competition."

"As if," Amorette says, grinning. "Adil tracked it down for me."

Nesta feels a warm flutter in her stomach. "Oh."

She has so much here, doesn't she? The thought doesn't leave her, throughout the whole evening with Amorette and the walk home. Not just for the children...but for her. Adil and Miri and Amorette...and neighbors...and Zeyn.

Who calls her name just as she walks up the steps to her porch.

---

February 16 - Year of

The cold of the Illyrian mountains did not melt alongside the snow, but all of the iciness inside the General Commander's house had gone. There were quiet moments of awkwardness here and there, when Nesta could hear him not mentioning the forbidden words: Velaris, Rhys, Feyre, etc., but the other moments outnumbered them and were pleasant. Which was why Nesta had agreed to join him on one of the mysterious meetings he always disappeared to.

He had asked her a few days ago, after coming home from one of these meetings. Slumped on the couch and complained about how the preferred method rebellion appeared to be directly disobeying him.

"Step down," Nesta suggested, and he had rolled his eyes. "Well, I don't see why you try so much. There are more armies than just the Illyrian one. So let them choose a new commander if they hate you. Be the other armies' commander."

He stretched his arm out, his fingers trailing the spot next to where her knee was under the blanket, and smiled softly. "But I'm Illyrian, Nesta."

She knew that. "Well...I just don't think you should be giving so much to people who don't even want you there."

"There's no way," he said. "Think what the rebels will do if I step down."

"I don't understand. They're Night Court, aren't they? So aren't they loyal anyway? And aren't they pleased to have an Illyrian High Lord?"

"They don't see themselves as Night Court," he said. "They live amongst themselves. They are only Illyrian. So they don't like having an Illyrian High Lord. They like Night Court society about as much as you do," he added ruefully. His grin tugged downwards slightly as he mused, more to himself, she thought, "Actually, you do have quite a bit in common with them..."

"With the Illyrians warlords?" Nesta asked drily.

"Camp lords. We're not at war."

"Not at war yet, you said."

His fingers inched farther, and she leaned back as he began to rub one of the dimples in her knee from over the blanket. "Come with me."

He was still touching her. "Come with you where?"

"To a meeting."

She hadn't thought he would be able to convince her, but his pleading and a rare burst of curiosity on her part won out in the end. So after a morning of his teasing her that they were going to be late and her grumbling that it was so early, Nesta found herself at the entrance of a building in an Illyrian camp that looked very much like the one she and Cassian lived in.

"Lysander's the new camp lord," Cassian told her. "Relatively young. The old one...well. Not a fan of Rhys' or mine."

"Did you kill him?" she asked, half teasing, half genuine.

"What? No! I didn't kill him...and keep your voice down, if you're going to accuse me of political assassination."

"How'd he die?"

"We're not sure," Cassian admitted. "It might have been an accident. But probably not."

"Are you going to find out?"

"We are." He grinned at her.

Nesta scowled. "That's what I'm here to do? I thought you wanted me to sit next to you."

"You will. And add another healthy dose of fear while I interrogate."

"This is stupid," Nesta said, crossing her arms. "Don't you have a mind-reader on hand?"

"This is a new camp lord," he reminded her. "I want him to see me as his commander, not Rhys' lapdog who calls him in anytime things get rough."

She could appreciate that, at least. "And I'm your lapdog?"

She expected him to give her a wicked grin and say something stupid like, You're a wolf, but he only laughed and said, "No. Who would believe that? You're just here on an excursion."

"That's a big word."

"Oh, shut up. I need your help. All right?"

"Fine," she agreed, forcefully making her tone sound begrudging. "You don't think the new camp lord killed the old one?"

"I don't. But I could be wrong. Let's go see."

The building was not much nicer than the tents the Illyrian military had pitched during the war...and the people's attitude towards Nesta have not changed. Muttering greeted her when she entered the room at Cassian's side, and some of those religious hand gestures were thrown in her direction.

She stifled a scowl. She'd been living in Illyria for six months now. If she were going to unleash hellfire down upon them, wouldn't she have done it already?

Cassian didn't waste much time on introductions. On their part, that is. "This is your new commander's table?" He motioned for Nesta to sit down next to him.

Lysander cleared his throat. "I decided on a chain of command, yes."

He was nervous. That was...good? Because he was nervous about doing something without Cassian's permission first? But if Nesta were living here, she wouldn't like knowing that her camp lord was nervous when presenting his decisions.

Oh, she didn't know what she thought. She didn't really understand the politics before her and she honestly didn't care to.

The whole meeting seemed spectacularly boring to Nesta. Even things that should have been interesting—Cassian asking why no females had been chosen for the new commander's table, discussions of Illyrian separatists starting a fire in the middle of the camp—were not. She just...didn't care.

She didn't think much of it was interrogating, either. Until Cassian said, "It seems odd that an established camp lord, who was well-versed in aerial combat, fell to his death. Don't you think, Lady Nesta?"

It had been quite some time since she'd heard that made-up title. But she gave no indication. "I do," she said.

They all flinched at the sound of her voice.

Cassian ignored them, pretending like they were the only ones in the room, as he leaned back and said, "What's your theory?"

Nesta looked around. "Was he popular?"

"He was not."

"Hm." Nesta thought for a moment.

If Cassian had wanted a politician, he would have brought Rhysand.

So she didn't think up any veiled threats. Instead, she turned to Lysander, and asked, just as she had asked Cassian, "Did you kill him?"

Asking Cassian, though, had not been nearly so funny. There was no chorus of sharp breaths, no sputtering.

But the answer was the same—more or less.

"No, Lady!"

Ooh, he would've had to be quite young to look at her with that kind of fear. But it was still hard to tell with faeries, for her.

"I don't think he did it," Nesta said.

"Anybody else?" Cassian was looking only at her.

She studied them all carefully. There—two from Lysander's right. He was calling on his gods far too much for an honest male.

"Did you kill him?"

His brown face bleached. "I did not, Lady." There was, perhaps, less terror in his voice than in Lysander's, but that wasn't very impressive. Perhaps he did not kill the old camp lord, but he definitely knew who did.

"This doesn't strike me as a good commander's table," Nesta muttered to Cassian, who chuckled slightly.

"Lysander...and you...stay. The rest of you, take your leave."

It wasn't something that she hoped to do again, she thought to herself. She didn't particularly enjoy intimidating people; she didn't like to be around people in the first place. But it was for a good cause, she supposed. Tangentially working for the Night Court, but weeding out corruption, right?

And she couldn't deny it—she did enjoy the secretive grins Cassian kept shooting her way.

---

December 23 - 4 years after

Cassian doesn't mean to eavesdrop. Really. He just thinks, when he hears Nesta coming up to the door, that she'll appreciate his help with her coat. Walk her into the living room where they can go over the book she had given him.

But then he hears her say, "Zeyn."

He freezes. Is he—here to spend the night? Should he leave?

Footsteps away from the door, and a kiss.

"I missed you," he says.

"I missed you too. Thank you for your gifts. We loved them."

When had he given her a gift.

"Suppose they're asleep."

"You can see them tomorrow." She pauses. "How was Solstice here?"

"Same as always. Madam Sabina had the kids put on a dance show."

Nesta laughs. "I wonder what the routine was like."

"Oh, it's such a shame you missed it. I can only hope this routine is repeated an infinite amount of times at every single town fair, so you have a chance to see it."

"Fingers crossed."

She's not sending him away, but she doesn't seem to be inviting him in. He notices, too.

"He's here, isn't he?"

Zeyn's voice has changed. He's not cold, but he's certainly not warm.

Nesta's own voice is unapologetic. "He's my children's father, Zeyn."

"But what is he to you?"

Cassian holds his breath. He doesn't want to listen in anymore, but he's too in-tune to her voice. He'll hear her from anywhere in the house now.

"He's my children's father," she says again. "That's a lot, Zeyn."

"Come on, Nesta, you know what I mean."

He wishes he could see her face—well, no, he doesn't. He saw it earlier tonight. She's not ready. He knows that.

Finally, ever so soft, she says, "I don't know, all right?"

Zeyn waits another few seconds before saying, just as softly, "All right."

"I can't have...anything...right now," she says. "It's too much. I'm focusing on the children."

"You always focus on the children."

"Well, really, Zeyn, what the hell do you expect me to do?"

"No, it's not wrong. I'm just saying...do you really think if you take some time to figure out what you want you won't be focusing on them?"

Privately, Cassian agrees with him.

"I don't know."

Now she sounds tired. Cassian doubts she'll want to look at the album with him.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Zeyn...all right?"

Another kiss. "All right. Good night."

Cassian is sitting on the couch in the living room by the time Nesta makes it to the door.

"Hey," she says, untying her boots as she sits down.

"Hey," he says, casual. "How was Amorette's?"

"Great," she says flatly. "How's the album?"

He can't stop the smile on his face. "Great."

She chuckles slightly and reaches for it. "Did you see the little handprints? When they wake up, we can ask them to hold their hands against it...I still make them do it sometimes...they've just gotten," Nesta pauses to sigh and smile slightly, "so big."

"Ollie was always the smallest?" he asks, looking at the prints.

"Yes. I guess he'll be bigger than Avery one day." She laughs. "Oh, wow...do you ever think about what they'll be like? What they'll look like? Nicky looks more like you every single day."

Cassian perks up. "Really? Do you think?"

She nods. "He's started losing his little cheeks already. They're really not toddlers anymore. Three and a half."

"Three and a half," he echoes.

Nesta flips some of the pages. "And the hair. Look, Avery's hair was so light when she was born. I thought she was going to be blond."

They sit for another hour or so, talking about their children. This time, when Nesta starts to doze off, she claps her hands together and announces she is going to bed.

Cassian doesn't mind in the least.

---

some of y’all might not be aware, but since last week was so tough for me, i turned to you. i asked for prompts to write things that might distract me, and i am so pleased that it distracted a lot of you. some of these are lpg-verse, some are not. all are short, and hopefully fun for you.

you can continue to come to me when things are hard for you. my writing will always be here to provide an escape, and i am always here to lend a listening ear.

don’t let the bad days win.

Chapter Eighteen

#nessian #acotar fic #acotar au #nesta archeron #nessian fic #<3 you all.

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ramon-balaguer · 3 years

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As reflect on my recent prayer post from a married friend on the download or closeted homosexual or bisexual if you will… praying against his homosexual temptations and thoughts to be a true husband and father to their children…

I believe more needs to be discussed, revealed and taught on sexual sins. Not just for their benefit but for ours, as The Church to extend love, grace and mercy.

And though this is focused on same sex stuff like lesbians and homosexuals, it really can be applied to ANY sexual sin, even in the heterosexual sphere, so let’s dig in and see what God has to say, that unfortunately so many see as Hate talk or speech:

What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality?

Few subjects are more controversial today in the church than this: What does the Bible say about homosexuality?

If one regards the Bible as God-breathed and authoritative, then one must respect whatever the Lord says about every topic.

What we say and think about the LGBT+ (#LHBTTABCDFIGMPPQZ) community should be derived from Scripture, including the ways in which we are to treat one another.

Bible Verses about Homosexuality

Christians must always start with the Bible in order to hear God’s Word on any subject. His commands are not optional, and he states clearly, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22).

Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error (Romans 1:26).

Some Christians suggest that a progressive God would overturn his own commands in a certain social climate, but God does not progress in his thinking; his thoughts and commandments are always right.

We know that God does not change his mind. That he is always the same; and this is foundational to our hope and our faith in his Kingdom purposes.

God was, is, and always will be against sexual sin in all of its forms, which include lust for a person who is not one’s spouse, sexual affairs, and even emotional affairs.

One must not single out someone who identifies as gay or transgender as a “sinner” but instead look inward. Ignoring one’s own sin by way of deflection does not fool God.

Modern Arguments about Etymology

There is an argument that Scripture does not contain the word “homosexuality” and that God is not opposed to men or women having sex with consenting members of the same sex. The word “zakar” in Hebrew can refer to any male, including human and animal, but also to boys.

But Strong’s concordance indicates that “zakar,” as used in Leviticus 18:22 above, refers to sodomy, a term not reserved for acts of child sexual abuse or rape but also consensual acts between adults.

“Arsenokoitai” is Greek for “men having sex with other men. And there is no real other interpretation that makes the best sense of the evidence both in the early Christian literature and especially in the Old Testament.”

Kevin DeYoung explains that Paul, a scholar and former Pharisee, coined the term. If Paul had been referring to men forcing boys to have sex, then he could have used the word “biazó” for “violent force” to denote a difference between consensual and non-consensual sex. He did not.

Positive Commands about Sex

Sex is a gift. “Before the fall — before sin — sex was part of the created order. It was good — VERY GOOD,” wrote Paul Carter. “In fact, contrary to cultural ideas about sex propounded during the first century AD, “Christianity taught that sex within a marriage should be free, generous and reciprocal.”

But God never depicted coital relationships between two men or two women in a positive way. When God made Eve, Adam said “this at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman” (Genesis 23).

Marriage is represented frequently in Scripture. We have the examples of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah, Ruth and Boaz; Mary and Joseph; and several more. None of these couples was perfect, but each is an example of heterosexual marriage.

Jesus' Relationships

When it comes to how society treats individuals who engage in homosexual relationships, Jesus’ attitude is the benchmark. The gospels illustrate how Jesus wants us to treat a person who has been marginalized by society on the basis of gender by highlighting several encounters Jesus had with women.

He called out their sin but offered something better. He allowed Mary Magdalene to serve him by washing his feet with her hair. The Messiah saved an adulterous woman from stoning. The Samaritan woman depicted in John 4 had been married five times and was with a sixth man.

He sat and talked with her when the rest of her community shunned the woman. Each of these women was guilty, but so were the Pharisees and other members of society who scorned or condemned them, and the men who used them.

Instead of judging these women, Jesus invited them to be part of his mission. The Samaritan woman was one of his first apostles. Mary was among his devoted followers.

Jesus gave these women a new identity so that they could freely choose to follow him, relieved of shame, and make him the focus of their lives. Everyone needs God’s mercy, but 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 is often taken out of context so that the emphasis lands on homosexuality.

This narrow-mindedness overlooks thievery, greed, drunkenness, abuse, and fraud which are also listed. Paul does not exclude anyone, even classifying himself as the chief of sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15)

Intimacy, Identity, and Culture

You may have heard of the famous South Carolinian Gospel singer, actor and Minister of the Gospel Donald “Donnie” Andrew McClurkin, Jr. I greatly admire him for his many gifts and talent, but especially his complete uncompromised commitment to our God despite his struggle with his sinful fleshly and worldly desires of homosexuality that started with being sexually abused by two uncles and ended being ostracized and blacklisted by Barack Hussein Obama for his opposing views on Same-Sex Marriage… Likewise Sam Allberry, a same-sex pastor from England, confronts the pain of being alone, even by choice, on the grounds of obedience to God. Celibacy is made more difficult by the elevation of marital intimacy to a lofty position above all other forms, including friendship.

Allberry’s fear is that “if someone’s only choice in life seems to be either unbiblical intimacy or no intimacy, they’re going to end up choosing unbiblical intimacy. And if that’s the case, I think the wider church shares responsibility for that.”

As Allberry asserts, people within the LGBT+ (#LHBTTABCDFIGMPPQZ) and the entire #SinSickSocialistLyingLeftistLiberal community are being denied access to this kind of intimacy, so even those who are keen to follow God’s commands and to please Him by their faithful obedience are drawn to other sources for belonging and acceptance.

Jesus never taught his disciples to deny friendship and familial love to anyone. “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50).

He also promoted mutually uplifting, godly friendship. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). The word friend, philos in the Greek, means “beloved” or “dear.” “I have called you friends,” Jesus said to his disciples (John 15:15).

Not everyone accepts forgiveness through Jesus; but he offers dignity, love, and truth to everyone. When a Gospel-Believing person highlights Sin in a person’s life, the purpose should always be to point that person to Jesus and His Saving grace and mercies.

Admitting and repenting of Sin, turning to Christ for Salvation, restores a person to peace and wholeness with God. Many so-called Christians, however, point fingers and exalt themselves by knocking down anyone whose lifestyle does not line up with their own.

A Merciful Love

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you” (Matthew 7:1-2).

A big problem in the church right now is the attitude that because someone identifies as homosexual, lesbian (or gay as they now prefer to be called), transgender, pedophile, etc., that they should not be welcomed into the church.

This is wrong for a few reasons:

1. We are all sinners. To suggest otherwise is to ignore the plank sticking out of one’s eye while examining the speck in someone else’s (Matthew 7:3-5).

2. We are commanded not to judge others. If we treat other people as though they are not as valuable to God as we are, then we risk incurring his judgment on ourselves (Matthew 7:1-2).

3. Jesus hung out with everyone. He ate with sinners. That’s why the Pharisees were so scandalized. He offered the gift of his presence and the offer of salvation without prejudice.

4. Jesus says, “Come to me all you who are weary.” This is not an invitation to particular individuals who qualify on the basis of their behavior or lifestyle but to anyone who is tired (Matthew 11:28).

Given the obstacles and even dangers the LGBQT+ community faces, added to the ordinary strains of life in general, one might imagine they are very weary, indeed.

What’s Next for the Church

Everyone was made in God’s image, but not all people embrace Christ’s message of Hope, Peace, Love, Holiness, Grace, Mercy, and Justice.

One reason for this is religious arrogance (Not much has changed in over 2,000 years, sadly) — Christians who act as though they are in a position to condemn or pardon.

But if churches shut their doors to those who defy God’s commands about sexual intimacy, the doors would be shut to everyone. The duty and privilege of Christ’s disciples are to offer all who will listen to the message of salvation and the promise of a love greater than anything.

His Love and Justice go together, but all who call on Christ’s name for Salvation are covered by His Blood. Believe it or not, that includes same-sex folks and all the rest… Each of us is a work in progress.

We can teach His inerrant Word but must always do so without judging or persecuting anyone, and with love and kindness.

If churches shut their doors to those who defy God’s commands about sexual intimacy, the doors would be shut to everyone. The smokers and drunkards, the liars and gossipers, the thieves and robbers, the cheaters and beaters…

The duty and privilege of Christ’s disciples are to offer all who will listen to the message of Salvation, Restoration and the promise of a love greater than anything.

I have way too many friends and family who’ve dibbled and dabbled or live out any of these lifestyles the same way others do with alcohol, marijuana, porn or other addictive drugs… but I Love them all and would support and do anything for them that I’d do for anyone else within the Word of God. :) #REBTD

My God and Father, how great is Your Love and Mercy… Thank You for Saving me from me and my poor choices in this life. Thank You for Saving my wife, sons and Godsons and so many family and friends from the Devil’s deceptions that lead to addictive behaviors. My Lord, bless and increase their Faith and Hope in You to continually walk with You that they won’t lose the precious Gift of Salvation from when they first Believed. Last but not least, let the lost find You and takeaway any thought or desire to sin and come to You with a repentant heart to give themselves to You. In Jesus’ Saving name, Amen.

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opera-simplified · 4 years

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Opera Simplified #1: Don Carlo(s)

Don Carlos (Don Carlo)

Opera Simplified #1

The Basics:

Music: Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto: Joseph Méry and Camille du Locle

Premiere: March 11, 1867; Salle le Peletier (Opéra national de Paris); Paris, France

Based on: Friedrich Schiller’s 1787 play Don Carlos, Infant von Spainen (Don Carlos, Infante of Spain)

Setting: Various locations in France and Spain; the late 1550s-early 1560s.

Characters:

Don Carlos (Don Carlo), Infante of Spain- tenor

Élisabeth de Valois (Elisabetta di Valois), Princess of France and Carlos’ fiancée- soprano

Philippe II (Filippo II), King of Spain and Carlos’ father- bass

Rodrigue (Rodrigo), Marquis de Posa- baritone

Princess Éboli, a Spanish noblewoman- mezzo-soprano

The Grand Inquisitor, head of the Spanish Inquisition- bass

A Monk- bass

Count Lerma, a Spanish nobleman- tenor

Thibault (Tebaldo), Élisabeth’s page- soprano

A celestial voice- soprano

Countess d’Aremberg, a lady-in-waiting to Élisabeth- silent

A royal herald- tenor

Note: This Opera Simplified will use the Italian names (which appear in the parentheses above), as this opera is performed much more often in Italian than French, even though the opera was originally written in French as a French grand opéra.

Requested by: @monotonous-minutia. (Also, thank you for reading over this!)

The Opera:

Act I:

Late winter of 1559, in the forest outside the Fontainebleau palace in southwestern France. A group of French woodcutters, their families, and other poor people are sitting around trying to keep warm.

**The People: WINTER SUCKS IT’S SO DARN COLD LIFE SUCKS

A Woodcutter: Don’t worry! When peace comes, everything will be better!

The People: YEAH BUT WHEN WILL THIS STUPID WAR EVER END***

*Hunting horns sound in the distance.*

HEY THE ROYAL COURT IS COMING THROUGH WE HOPE THEY HAVE HAPPINESS AND SUCCESS AND STUFF

The Hunters: C’mon, let’s go get the deer before they run off too far away for us to get them!

*Elisabetta di Valois enters with Tebaldo and a group of servants.*

The People: OH MY GOD IT’S PRINCESS ELISABETTA SHE’S SO NICE MAYBE SHE CAN HELP US

Elisabetta: Friends, how can I help you today?

The Women: Nothing for us, but do you see her?

*They indicate one of their own.*

She lost her husband, her two sons are off at war, she has nothing and no one…

Elisabetta: Say no more. Here, take this gold chain…

*She takes off a gold chain and hands it to the woman.*

Everyone, keep heart! A Spanish envoy is coming to talk about a peace treaty, and I’m confident that this war will end soon and France will see bright days again.****

The People: YAAAAAAY WE LOVE YOU ELISABETTA MAY GOD BLESS YOU

*She greets everyone and then leaves with her retinue. As they leave, Don Carlo shows up and hides among the trees.*

The Hunters: C’mon, let’s go get the deer before they run off too far away for us to get them!

The People: Once we have peace, everything will be okay again…

*They gradually leave. Once they’re gone, Carlo comes out of his hiding place.*

Carlo: Wow, Fontainebleau really is a huge forest…but it was here I saw Elisabetta for the first time just now…AND I’M IN LOVE! This was so worth leaving Spain in disguise and having Dad get very mad at me!

*Horns and footsteps sound in the distance.*

Oh, wow, the court’s still here even though it’s getting kinda late…

Tebaldo (from offstage): HEY PEOPLE COME HERE WE KINDA NEED HELP

Carlo: Who’s there?

*Tebaldo enters with Elisabetta.*

whaaaaaaaaaaat it’s Elisabetta again YAAAAAAAAAY

Tebaldo: I CAN’T FIND THE WAY BACK I’M SO SORRY ELISABETTA IT’S GETTING DARK AND COLD LET ME HELP YOU

Elisabetta: Thanks, I am kinda tired…

Carlo: Hello!

*He bows before Elisabetta.*

Tebaldo: uhhhhhhhhhhh who are you

Carlo: A stranger, a Spaniard, and I won’t say anything more.

Elisabetta: Oh, so you’re with Count Lerma, that Spanish ambassador?

Carlo: ...yeah. I’ll help you if you need.

Tebaldo: HEY ELISABETTA I CAN SEE THE PALACE FROM HERE LEMME RUN AND GET SOME PEOPLE TO BRING YOU BACK

wait actually I can’t just leave you alone with this strange guy what if he tries to hurt you or do something to you

Elisabetta: IT’S OKAY I TRUST SPANISH HONOR BECAUSE I KNOW THE SPANISH ARE REALLY BIG ON HONOR AND STUFF WHICH WILL TOTALLY NEVER BE A PROBLEM FOR ME SO THIS GUY AND I SHOULD BE OKAY DON’T WORRY ABOUT ME

*Tebaldo bows and leaves. Carlo himself suddenly kneels before Elisabetta.*

What are you doing?

*Carlo lights a small pile of branches on fire to create some warmth for himself and Elisabetta.*

Carlo: Well, we’re all stuck outside, especially considering there’s a war going on right now, so we might as well light some fires, and have light, and stay warm, and maybe even have peace and love…

Elisabetta: Speaking of which, do you think they’ll sign the treaty tonight?

Carlo: Of course! And then they’ll announce your marriage to Don Carlo of Spain—

Elisabetta: Let’s talk about him! Here’s the thing: I’m leaving my home, my whole life up until now behind forever to marry this guy because my father and God want me to, and tbh I’m a little afraid. Like what if I get homesick? Or if he doesn’t love me?

Carlo: I know this much: he wants to serve you forever and he already loves you.

Elisabetta: Whoo, good, I was worried. That makes me feel a lot better about going to Spain.

Carlo: You have no reason to worry; he really, really loves you.

Elisabetta: Why do I feel so weird about you saying this?

…Wait. Who are you?

Carlo: A messenger to the man himself.

*He hands her a small box.*

He asked me to give you this portrait of himself.

Elisabetta: *examining the box* I feel like I shouldn’t open this…but I really want to see him!

*She opens the box and looks at the portrait, then at Carlo, and then back and forth for a bit until she realizes. *

OH MY GOD YOU’RE DON CARLO?!?!?!?!

Carlo: *fainting at her feet* I am… and I really do love you!

Elisabetta and Carlo: YAAAAAY WE’RE IN LOVE AND GOD WANTS US HAPPY SO WE’RE GONNA GET MARRIED EVENTUALLY

*A cannon shot. The faraway palace lights up.*

Elisabetta: That was…

Carlo: IT’S THE CANNON THE PEACE TREATY HAS BEEN SIGNED *****

Elisabetta and Carlo: OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH THAT’S AWESOME PEACE WILL BE SO GREAT AND THE WORLD WILL BE REBORN ALSO WE MADE A VOW HERE FOR FOREVER AND WE’LL OFFICIALLY BE MAKING VOWS SOON IN FRONT OF EVERYONE AND GOD WOOHOO

*Tebaldo, several other pages and valets, Count Lerma, the Countess d’Aremberg, and a bunch of other people show up. Tebaldo approaches Elisabetta, bows, and kisses the hem of her dress.*

Tebaldo: My sweet Elisabetta pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease take me with you when you go to Spain because I may or may not have a crush on you and really you’re just so awesome

Elisabetta: Of course! You can get up now, you don’t have to be so formal.

Tebaldo: Okay, cool. Now for the news. I salute you, Elisabetta, future Queen of Spain—

Elisabetta: Thanks. I appreciate that.

Tebaldo: —and wife of King Filippo II.

Elisabetta: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAIT A SEC I’m supposed to be marrying Don Carlo those were the terms of the peace treaty we already talked about this

Tebaldo: uh that changed you’re marrying Filippo now

Carlo: WAIT WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Elisabetta: WHAT THE— wait I can’t finish that statement

well that’s it we’re done for my life is officially ruined but I’ll try to stick it out and keep my head up and fight fate anyway

Carlo: THAT’S IT WE’RE DONE FOR MY LIFE IS OFFICIALLY RUINED AND I’LL JUST HAVE TO BE DEPRESSED FOREVER NOW

Everyone Else: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY SPAIN’S GONNA HAVE AN AWESOME NEW QUEEN AND PEACE IS GONNA BE SO LIT

Elisabetta and Carlo: well our amazing lovely golden dream just got ripped to shreds and now all we have is sorrow

Count Lerma: My lady, your father wants you to marry Filippo as the price to end this war. However, Filippo wants the choice to be yours and yours alone. So, are you going to say yes to the dress? ******

The Women: PLEASE SAY YES HAVE MER—

Count Lerma: Shut up. It’s her choice.

Elisabetta: You say it’s my choice, but what choice do I have? If I say “no”, then the war will go on, and more innocent lives will be destroyed…

Count Lerma: Your answer?

Elisabetta: ...Yes.

The People: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY GOD BLESS YOU ELISABETTA

Elisabetta and Carlo: this is horrible I feel like I’m dying

Everyone Else: WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH ELISABETTA YAAAAAAAAY HONOR AND GLORY TO OUR NEW QUEEN

*Count Lerma leads Elisabetta to a litter and helps her get in. Everyone falls in line behind the litter and heads to the palace, merrily singing all the while.*

Carlo: MY LIFE IS OVER AND I WANT TO FREAKING DIE

Notes

Act II:

Scene 1:

An unspecified amount of time later, at a cloister in the monastery of San Yuste, with the tomb of Emperor Charles V. It is dawn. The monks are chanting, as one prays before the tomb.

Monks: Charles V is nothing but ashes, and his soul now trembles before God…

A Monk: CHARLES THOUGHT HE WAS SO COOL AND THAT HE COULD RULE EVERYTHING BUT IN HIS PRIDE HE FORGOT ABOUT GOD AND WAS THUS STRUCK DOWN SO LET THAT BE A LESSON TO Y’ALL

God, presumably from somewhere: ooooooooooooor it could mean that he was human and he died like every human does. just a thought. **

The Monk: WHAT WAS THAT ALSO GOD HAVE MERCY ON HIM

*Day dawns, all the monks leave, and Carlo enters, looking like he’s had...a very rough time of it.*

Carlo: I’VE BEEN HAVING SUCH A ROUGH TIME OF IT AND I CAME HERE TO FIND PEACE BUT IT’S NOT EXACTLY WORKING OUT

The Monk: We may try to find peace here, but even then suffering is always with us because we can only find peace in heaven…

Carlo: WAIT THAT SOUNDED LIKE MY GRANDPA AND HE LOOKED LIKE MY GRANDPA BUT MY GRANDPA’S DEAD I MUST BE REALLY LOSING IT

The Monk: We can only find peace in heaven…

*He leaves.*

Carlo: ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh why do I have so many problems

*Rodrigo, Marquis di Posa, Carlo’s…”best friend” according to most people, enters.* ***

Rodrigo: CARLO IT’S YOU I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU IN SO LONG

Carlo: OMG IT’S YOU RODRIGO LEMME HUG YOU

Rodrigo: I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M SEEING YOU AGAIN

Carlo: HEAVEN HAS SENT YOU TO ME

Rodrigo: MY BELOVED PRINCE

Carlo: MY CONSOLING ANGEL

Rodrigo: ALL THE HUGS okay look also the Flemish people need someone to save them and you should do it but wait are you OKAY CARLO YOU LOOK LIKE YOU’RE HAVING A ROUGH TIME OF IT SHARE YOUR PAIN WITH ME ****

Carlo: MY SAVIOR MY BROTHER LET ME CRY ON YOU

Rodrigo: POUR OUT YOUR TORMENT AND OPEN UP TO ME

Carlo: ...You really sure you want to know?

Rodrigo: Always.

Carlo: Very well. I love...and it’s a sinful love...Elisabetta!

Rodrigo: YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH YOUR STEPMOM?! (and you weren’t talking about me?!)

Carlo: nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Rodrigo are you abandoning me too???

Rodrigo: no no no it’s okay I still love you and since you’re suffering it’s my sole job to help you seriously I STILL LOVE YOU also has the King found out yet

Carlo: Surprisingly, no.

Rodrigo: Good. Then ask him to let you control Flanders. Kill two birds with one stone: help the Flemish and stop thinking about your stepmom.

Carlo: Will do.

*A bell tolls in the distance.*

Rodrigo: Hey, uh, the King and Queen will be here in just a little bit.

Carlo: ELISABETTA AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Rodrigo: CARLO PLEASE CALM DOWN but seriously stay by me and let me strengthen you and let God too because you have big things to do and I am fully confident in you

Carlo and Rodrigo: GOD YOU GAVE US HOPE AND LOVE SO GIVE US THE DRIVE TO FIGHT FOR FREEDOM ALSO WE VOW TO LIVE AND DIE TOGETHER AND WE’LL BE UNITED FOREVER

Rodrigo: Hey Carlo, don’t look now but—

*Filippo and Elisabetta enter with a bunch of monks.*

Carlo: AHHHHHHHHHH IT’S ELISABETTA I CAN’T EVEN SEE HER WITHOUT FREAKING OUT

Rodrigo: —they’re here. Have courage!

*Filippo and Elisabetta kneel at the tomb and then proceed offstage with the monks. While that is going on:*

Monks: Charles V is nothing but ashes, and his soul now trembles before God…

Carlo: I’ve lost her and she’s my dad’s wife now noooooooooooooooooooooooooo why does life have to suck so much

Rodrigo: hey hey stay by me your heart will be stronger that way

The Monk: GOD FORGIVE HIM

Carlo and Rodrigo: WE’LL LIVE AND DIE TOGETHER AND OUR LAST BREATH WILL BE A CRY FOR LIBERTY

*They embrace and then leave the monastery.*

Notes

Scene 2:

Later the same day, in a garden outside the monastery. Several ladies of the court and Tebaldo are hanging out and enjoying the day.

Ladies of the Court: it’s very hot out because duh it’s Spain and it’s hot but luckily there are a bunch of trees and some nice wind here

Tebaldo: IT’S SO PRETTY OUT HERE AND I LOVE IT

Ladies and Tebaldo: yaaaaaaaaaaay hanging out outside is fun

*Princess Éboli enters.*

Éboli: hey everyone since we can’t go inside the monastery and we have to wait out here for a long time would you all like to sing with me?

Ladies: YES YES YES ANYTHING FOR YOU ÉBOLI

Éboli: Cool! Hey, Tebaldo, since you’re so awesome at the mandolin why don’t you pull it out and play that one song about the veil?

Ladies and Tebaldo: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

Éboli: SO this one time there was a Moorish king who was hanging out in a garden one night and he saw a pretty veiled woman and was like “hey baby you should be my new wife because I’m tired of my current one” lalalalala

Éboli, Tebaldo, and the Ladies: let’s weave some veils so we can find love at night lalalalala

Éboli: and THEN the king was like “oh hey you should take off your veil and let me see who you are and then we can be SUCH a great power couple” and then she did and IT WAS THE QUEEN AND HE WAS SO HUMILIATED AND IT WAS THE BEST THING EVER lalalalala

Éboli, Tebaldo, and the Ladies: the moral of the story is that wearing a veil at night is conducive to love so let’s all weave some veils lalalalala **

*Elisabetta enters from the monastery.*

Everyone: Your Majesty!

Éboli: She always seems so sad…

Elisabetta: I wish I could be as happy as all of them were…

Tebaldo: HEY THE MARQUIS DI POSA IS COMING HERE

Everyone Else: yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

*Rodrigo enters and goes over to Elisabetta.*

Rodrigo: Your Majesty, when I was in Paris, your mother gave me this letter for you.

*He hands her the letter along with a note.*

see that note please read that note because it’s very important and I’m asking you in the name of God so PLEASE read it okay I think I need to distract Éboli now so byyyyyyyyyyyyyye

Éboli: so what’s new in France, you cute thing?

Rodrigo: Everyone’s talking about this super-awesome jousting tournament. They say the King of France will be there! ***

Elisabetta: Should I read it? Should I not read it? Would reading it be infidelity? I mean, God knows I would never willfully commit adultery...fine. Read it.

“If you ever loved me, please trust the man who brought this note. -Carlo” that’s it?

Éboli: soooooooooooooooooooo are all the French ladies as pretty as everyone says they are?

Rodrigo: I think you’re lowkey flirting with me and I’m not sure how to handle it so I’m just gonna say that you’re one of the most beautiful and gracious ladies I’ve ever met and the ladies of France would do well to be as lovely as you

Elisabetta: Okay, Rodrigo, I’m pleased with you so I’ll give you one favor card to use at any time.

Rodrigo: Can I use it now on behalf of someone else?

Elisabetta: ...sure, I guess, you little self-sacrificer.

Éboli: Oh come on, why are you using it for someone else if you’re so worthy?

Elisabetta and Éboli: Who’s it for?

Rodrigo: Look: we all love Carlo, right?

Éboli: ...in what sense?

Rodrigo: You know what I mean. ;)

Éboli: CALLED IT so you’re the Gay Best Friend

Rodrigo: yeah. What’s it matter?

Éboli: I may or may not have had a bet going on it. ****

Rodrigo: ANYWAY we all love Carlo and he’s suffering and if he had a private meeting with you that would REALLY HELP

Éboli: y’know, one day I saw him while I was with Elisabetta and he started freaking out when he saw us so that OBVIOUSLY means he loves me but he keeps trying to hide it and idk why

Elisabetta: I feel like I’m gonna diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiie

Rodrigo: PLEASE HELP CARLO

Elisabetta: Very well. Everyone out. Send Carlo in.

*Everyone else leaves and Carlo enters.*

Carlo: I need to ask my Queen for one thing. Please intercede with the King on my behalf and get him to allow me to go to Flanders because I cannot stand it here.

Elisabetta: I can arrange that, my son.

Carlo: nooooooooooooooooooooo don’t call me that because it reminds me that we were happy for one day and then everything shattered

At least you could say SOMETHING but noooooooooooooooooooooo you’re like cold dead marble

Elisabetta: look buddy I’m just following my duty and honor

Carlo: just LISTENING to your voice makes me happy

Elisabetta: Carlo, I would love to be beside you more than anything…

Carlo: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY YOU STILL CARE ABOUT ME ISABELLA I WOULD DIE AT YOUR FEET *****

*He faints.*

Elisabetta: HEAVEN HELP HIM BECAUSE OTHERWISE HE’S GONNA DIE IN MY ARMS

Carlo (delirious): ELISABETTA EVERYTHING IS BECOMING BEAUTIFUL AGAIN IT’S YOU MY LOVE

Elisabetta: OMG HE’S DYING

Carlo: WHY DO I HAVE TO COME BACK TO REALITY

Elisabetta: CARLO CAN YOU HEAR ME CARLO

Carlo: EVEN IF GOD HIMSELF WERE TO STRIKE ME DOWN I LOVE YOU AND I’VE FORGOTTEN EVERYTHING ELSE

Elisabetta: FINE THEN GO KILL YOUR FATHER AND THEN YOU CAN MARRY ME WHILE COVERED IN HIS BLOOD

Carlo: WHAT NO I MUST BE CURSED

*He flees.*

Elisabetta: ...thank God.

*Tebaldo runs in.*

Tebaldo: ELISABETTA WE’RE ABOUT TO HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM THE KING IS HERE I DON’T WANT ANYTHING BAD TO HAPPEN TO YOU BUT—

*Filippo enters with Rodrigo, Éboli, and a bunch of other court people.*

Filippo: THERE IS A RULE THAT SAYS AT LEAST ONE LADY-IN-WAITING MUST BE WITH THE QUEEN AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE I SAID SO SO WHO BROKE THE RULES

*The Countess d’Aremberg steps forward.*

You are going back to France tomorrow.

People of the Court: THAT’S A HUGE INSULT TO THE QUEEN

Elisabetta: Hey, listen to me. I know you’re getting banished but please don’t start crying on me, okay? You’re still with me in my heart and I still love you and you getting banished doesn’t change that one. bit. When you go back, my heart will go with you too.

*She gives her a ring.*

I’m not proposing, but this is still a token of how much I love and admire you. Take it, and whatever you do, do NOT tell anyone about how badly they’re treating me here. I wouldn’t want them to worry about me.

Filippo: Humph. What an actress.

Rodrigo and the Court People: SHE’S SO WONDERFUL

*Everyone starts to leave except Filippo, but as Rodrigo is about to go:*

Filippo: You, Rodrigo, stay.

*Rodrigo doubles back.*

Why have you never asked to see me? You’re a loyal man and I’d be more than happy to see you if you asked.

Rodrigo: Well, no offense, but I’m not much into following others’ caprice and what could I possibly need? I’m perfectly fine as is.

Filippo: A bold one, I see! I can forgive that...but not always. Anyway, you’re a soldier, and an outstanding one, I’ve heard. Don’t you want to fight?

Rodrigo: When Spain needs a fighter, I will fight.

Filippo: I know. So the big question is: what can I do for you?

Rodrigo: For me? Nothing. For others…

Filippo: wait wait wait. “For others?” what kind of self-sacrificer are you?

Rodrigo: If you’re not too angry, I’ll tell you.

Filippo: Very well. Speak freely.

Rodrigo: I just came back from Flanders, and you know as well as I that Flanders is a beautiful place. Well, it was. Now it’s horrible. I MEAN ORPHANS ARE WANDERING THE STREETS AND CHILDREN ARE BEING KILLED AND EVERYTHING’S ON FIRE AND THE RIVERS ARE RUNNING RED WITH BLOOD and thank GOD I’m able to tell you about all this because who else will?

Filippo: Look, blood is the price for peace! We can’t have the Flemish trying to rebel with their newfangled delusions of independence and their Protestantism and whatever the kids are all into nowadays. This will all lead to a brighter future.

Rodrigo: ...You really think that will work?

Filippo: It already works in Spain! Everyone here is faithful to God and to me, and they’re doing just fine. I’m offering the same terms to Flanders and it’s not my fault they’re not accepting the peace.

Rodrigo: A HORRIBLE PEACE THE PEACE OF THE TOMB

*Music: DUUUUUUUUUUUUUN-DUNNN-DUNNN-DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN-DUUUUUUUUUUN. Closeup on Filippo at this point optional.* ******

My King, may history never say of you: “He was a Nero!”

*And then Rodrigo really goes off.*

So this is the peace you want to give the world? A peace where soldiers and priests are pitiless murderers? A peace where so many people are dying that everyone curses you? Look, you have the power to redeem it all and become the best king ever: all you have to do is give them freedom. GIVE THEM FREEDOM

Filippo: Oh...you strange dreamer. You’re young and idealistic, you have no idea. If you did, you would change your mind. Don’t worry, though, I will not hold this against you; I’ll simply forget everything you said. But beware the Grand Inquisitor. He will not be so forgiving.

Rodrigo: But—

Filippo: You still have not asked me for anything? Let me ask you for something: I want to have you by my side, which may entail...several different things.

Rodrigo: With all due respect, my answer remains the same: I’m fine as is.

Filippo: NO YOU’RE TOO PROUD AND YOU’VE SEEN MY VULNERABILITY AND MY ANGUISH BECAUSE MY SON IS A DISAPPOINTMENT AND I’M PRETTY SURE MY WIFE AND HIM ARE HAVING AN INCESTUOUS AFFAIR *******

Rodrigo: WHAT NO THEY WOULD NEVER ESPECIALLY NOT CARLO HE IS PURE

Filippo: I need you to find out what’s going on. Effective immediately, I grant you free access to the Queen at all times. I’m placing my heart in your hands.

Rodrigo: uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh what’s happening what about Carlo WAIT I COULD USE THIS TO MAYBE CHANGE HIS MIND ABOUT FLANDERS

Filippo: I hope that you can help me find peace…I’ve been looking for a man for a long time, and now I found him in you...

Rodrigo: THIS IS MY CHANCE THERE IS HOPE

Filippo: It’s worth saying one more time: Beware the Grand Inquisitor!

*He extends his hand to Rodrigo, who kneels and kisses it.*

Rodrigo: My King!

Notes

Act III:

Scene 1:

The gardens of the royal palace in Madrid, shortly before midnight. There is a party going on in the distance.

Partygoers: WOOHOO WE LOVE PARTIES WE WANNA PARTY ALL NIGHT LONG AND MAKE DAY NEVER COME WOOHOO

*Elisabetta and Éboli walk in together.*

Elisabetta: I mean, I love parties as much as the next person, but I’m just super worn-out and I kinda want to go pray instead.

Éboli: but parties are fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun and everyone’s gonna be theeeeeeeeeeere

Elisabetta: And they’re expecting me, but I don’t want to go. Here, take all these accessories, take that veil, put it all on, and...perfect! They’ll never know it’s you instead of me. Have fun okay bye now

*She goes back into the palace.*

Éboli: ooh, playing queen for a night will be fun! WAIT while I’m wearing this veil I should get Carlo to come meet me in the gardens and ask him if he likes me this plan is FOOLPROOF

*She writes a note and gives it to a passing page.*

THIS WILL BE THE BEST NIGHT EVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER **

*She leaves.*

*At this point, the party continues with a ballet about the legend of La Peregrina as entertainment for the party guests.* ***

*Carlo enters, holding Éboli’s note— but the note is unsigned.*

Carlo: “Meet me at midnight in the royal garden under the laurels near the fountain.” Okay, I may not be the smartest person in the world, but it’s midnight, and I’m in the right place, so… ELISABETTA AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I GET TO SEE HER AGAIN I AM SO HAPPY

*Éboli enters in the disguise she got from Elisabetta. Carlo immediately mistakes her for Elisabetta.*

IT’S YOU I’M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU I LOVE YOU SO MUCH

Éboli: so he DOES LOVE ME THIS IS THE BEST NIGHT EVER

Carlo: LET’S FORGET EVERYTHING I LOVE YOU

*Éboli unveils herself.*

wait WHAT oh God no it’s not the Queen!

Éboli: ...are you okay? wait...do you not trust me? look you can trust me I know people are trying to plot against you

Carlo: I KNOW THAT THAT’S NOT THE PROBLEM HERE

Éboli: y’know, I heard your dad and Rodrigo talking about you

Carlo: you WHAT my dad with RODRIGO

Éboli: I CAN SAVE YOU I LOVE YOU

Carlo: Look, you are very nice and I’m thankful for your help but I’m afraid this is all just a strange dream—

Éboli: A DREAM?!?!?!?!?! Wait, so you didn’t know this was me, so you’re not actually in love with me, which means—

OH MY GOD YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH THE QUEEN WHAT THE FUCK

Carlo: god DAMN it PLEASE HAVE MERCY

*Rodrigo runs in because...he happened to be taking a walk or something I guess.*

Rodrigo: HEY STOP IT HE’S CRAZY Carlo I’m saying that for your own good I know you’re probably not actually crazy

Éboli: I KNOW EVERYTHING SO HE’S SCREWED

Rodrigo: what do you MEAN

Éboli: Let me put it this way: I know all his cards. I also know all your cards: you are the king’s favorite. However, neither of you know mine.

Rodrigo: but what do you MEAN by all this

Éboli: Nothing, just that Carlo’s fate is now entirely in my hands.

Rodrigo: WHY DID YOU COME HERE

Éboli: I’M NOT TELLING

Rodrigo: BUT CARLO IS INNOCENT AND SO GOD WILL DEFEND HIM AND SMITE THE LIVING HELL OUT OF YOU

Éboli: FINE SMITE AWAY but may I remind you that hell hath no fury like a woman scorned

Carlo: I’M SO STUPID I’VE RUINED ELISABETTA’S LIFE and also possibly my own but it was a huge mess anyway so yeah ONLY GOD CAN BE MY JUDGE NOW

Éboli: OH I SEE HOW IT IS ELISABETTA WANTED TO ACT ALL HOLY AND STUFF TO HIDE THE FACT THAT SHE’S HAVING AN AFFAIR

Rodrigo: YOU HAVE CROSSED A LINE AND I WILL KILL YOU FOR IT

Carlo: RODRIGO DON’T

Rodrigo: I THOUGHT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONE TELLING YOU DON’T

Carlo: RODRIGO DON’T

Éboli: I’M WAITING FOR YOU TO KILL ME

Rodrigo: HOW ABOUT NOPE

Éboli: WHY NOT

Rodrigo: because I’m going to leave all this up to God because that’s my only hope at this point

Éboli: I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE AND THE EARTH WILL SWALLOW YOU UP ALIVE CARLO

Rodrigo: IF YOU TELL THEN GOD HIMSELF WILL SMITE YOU

Carlo: SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING

Éboli: THIS IS THE WORST DAY EVER

*She leaves.*

Rodrigo: hey Carlo if you have any important papers about Flanders on you give them to me I need them for something

Carlo: ...to you? to the confidant of the King?

Rodrigo: you really suspect me? ME? your boyfriend?

Carlo: NO I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE MY ONLY HOPE HOW COULD I HAVE EVER DOUBTED YOU HERE TAKE THEM ALL

*He gives his papers to Rodrigo.*

Rodrigo: MY DEAR CARLO THANK YOU SO MUCH

Carlo: I ABANDON MYSELF TO YOU

*They fall into each other’s arms.*

Scene 2:

The following day, in the square before the Church of Our Lady of Atocha in Madrid. Preparations are being made for an auto-da-fé. Guards are trying to hold the people back as bells ring everywhere.****

People: WHAT A DAY WHAT A DAY FOR AN AUTO-DA-FÉ WHAT A SUNNY SUMMER SKY WHAT A DAY WHAT A DAY FOR AN AUTO-DA-FÉ IT’S A LOVELY DAY FOR DRINKING AND FOR WATCHING PEO— wait never mind that’s the wrong auto-da-fé song start over *****

TODAY IS AWESOME BECAUSE WE GET TO CELEBRATE FILIPPO WHO IS THE GREATEST KING EVER AND WE ALL LOVE HIM AND THE WORLD TREMBLES BEFORE HIM AND ALSO WE LOVE GETTING TO BURN PEOPLE

*A bunch of monks lead those condemned by the Inquisition as heretics across the square.*

Monks: TODAY IS THE FATAL DAY WHERE THE HERETICS WILL DIE ACCORDING TO GOD’S JUST WILL but God will maaaaaaaaaaaybe forgive them if they repent of their heresy

People: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

*An extremely long royal procession, including Elisabetta and Rodrigo, crosses the square towards the church.*

Royal Herald: OPEN UP CHURCH DOORS WE WANT TO SEE THE KING

People: WHAT HE SAID

*The doors open and Filippo leaves the church.*

Filippo: I PROMISED AS YOUR KING TO KILL ALL THE HERETICS AND I INTEND TO DO SO BECAUSE I’M NOT LIKE SOME LEADERS WHO FAIL TO KEEP THEIR PROMISES AND ARE SOFT ON CRIME

People: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

*Carlo leads in six Flemish deputies, who kneel before the King.*

Elisabetta: OH SHOOT HE’S HERE

Rodrigo: uhhhhhhhhh what is he doing

Filippo: ...who are these people?

Carlo: They are representatives of Flanders and Brabant. ******

Flemish Deputies: Your Majesty, we may be suffering immensely, but we’re still here and we’re still a concern, so if you have ever received mercy, then please pass it along to us because all the Flemish people are suffering and maybe you could save us with God’s help!

Filippo: YOU ARE TRAITOROUS TO YOUR GOD AND KING SO NO GUARDS TAKE THEM AWAY

Monks: YEAH THEY HAVE NO FAITH IN GOD AND THEY DESERVE WHAT’S COMING TO THEM

Everyone Else: please be merciful and spare them have pity they’re suffering and dying

Carlo: DAD IT’S TIME THAT I LEARNED TO RULE BECAUSE I’M JUST SITTING AROUND HERE AND DOING NOTHING USEFUL SO IF I’M SUPPOSED TO RULE THE WHOLE SPANISH EMPIRE SOMEDAY THEN I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE SOME PRACTICE SO GIVE ME BRABANT AND FLANDERS

Filippo: ...do you think I’m so dumb as to actually do that?! YOU’RE JUST GOING TO LEAD THE FLEMISH REBELLION AND TRY TO KILL ME WITH THE SWORD I GIVE YOU

Carlo: ONLY GOD KNOWS WHETHER THAT’S ACTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN

Elisabetta and Rodrigo: uh oh he’s done for

Carlo: I SWEAR BEFORE GOD THAT I WILL SAVE THE FLEMISH PEOPLE

*He draws his sword on Filippo.*

Everyone Else: WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL HE’S LOST HIS MIND

Filippo: DISARM HIM

*Awkward silence.*

I SAID SOMEONE DISARM HIM

Carlo: WHO WILL DARE DISARM ME

*Crickets.*

Filippo: IS NO ONE GOING TO DISARM HIM

*He takes the Captain of the Guard’s sword.*

FINE MEXICAN STANDOFF THEN

*Crickets.*

FOR THE LAST TIME SOMEONE DISARM HIM

Rodrigo: for God’s sake CARLO GIVE ME YOUR SWORD (I’m trying to save your life here)

Carlo: You? Rodrigo?

*He gives Rodrigo his sword. Rodrigo in turn gives it to Filippo.*

Everyone Else: ...oh shit. That was the twist of the year.

Filippo: Marquis, I now promote you to Duke!

*He dubs Rodrigo.*

NOW LET’S GO CELEBRATE

*Everyone goes to their places to watch the burning of the heretics.*

People: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY EVERYONE LOVES FILIPPO except those Flemish people who are about to get burned but we don’t talk about them YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

Monks: TIME TO GO BURN SOME HERETICS

A Celestial Voice: You poor souls, come, come to heaven and find peace with God! *******

Deputies: GOD WHY AREN’T YOU DOING SOME SORT OF MIRACLE TO STOP THIS THEY CLAIM THEY’RE DOING THIS IN YOUR NAME

*The pyre is lit.*

The Voice: Though you have been condemned as heretics on earth, come and be forgiven!

Deputies: THESE FLAMES DO NOT COME FROM GOD

Filippo, Monks, and People: GLORY TO GOD ********

*The flames rise.*

Notes

Act IV:

Scene 1:

Shortly before dawn the following day, in Filippo II’s study. Filippo is alone, lost in thought.

Filippo: She never loved me...never has, never will...I still remember seeing her when she arrived, and she took one look at me and my white hair and her face fell...no, she does not love me!

HEY CELLO COULD YOU SHUT UP FOR A SEC I’M ALREADY HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING AS IS

Solo Cellist In The Pit: but this is my big momeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeent

Filippo: NO IT’S MINE AND I CAN’T SLEEP SO SHUT UP

*The cellist obliges and Filippo looks around.*

Where am I? wait...I’ve been up all night, it’s almost morning, the candles have almost burned out, just like my days slowly dwindling...dear God, I can’t sleep…

When my life has reached its evening, I’ll sleep forever, in my tomb, in the Escorial, I’ll sleep forever...alone… **

If only I could read human hearts like God could, that would give me peace, but if I sleep, then I could be betrayed and not know it and I could lose everything!

No, she has never loved me, she does not love me, she never will love me!

*Count Lerma and two Dominican friars lead in the Grand Inquisitor.*

Count Lerma: THE GRAND INQUISITOR IS HERE

Filippo: ...Dammit.

Grand Inquisitor: Am I before the King?

Filippo: Yes, thanks for coming, Father. I have a major problem: Carlo is rebelling against me.

Grand Inquisitor: So what are you gonna do about it?

Filippo: I don’t know; part of me just wants to let him go but part of me wants to…

Grand Inquisitor: Wants to…?

Filippo: Question: If I ordered Carlo’s execution, would you absolve me?

Grand Inquisitor: Yes.

Filippo; BUT I’M A CHRISTIAN HOW CAN I ORDER THE DEATH OF MY OWN CHILD EVEN FOR MY EMPIRE’S SAKE

Grand Inquisitor: ...You forgetting about Jesus?

Filippo: BUT THAT WAS ALMOST 1600 YEARS AGO

Grand Inquisitor: THAT DOESN’T MATTER

Filippo: BUT EVEN THOUGH WE’RE NOT ON GREAT TERMS AS A DAD I STILL LOVE MY SON CAN I JUST DENY THAT

Grand Inquisitor: Everything falls silent before faith.

Filippo: Very well.

Grand Inquisitor: Any other questions?

Filippo: No.

Grand Inquisitor: I’ll talk, then. Long story short: if you thought Carlo was bad, then you’ll be even more appalled to discover that a man, a close companion of yours, one you trusted, is ruining you and our country. And I have foolishly allowed it!

Filippo: But but but I’ve found a man!

Grand Inquisitor: What do you need a man for? No man is your equal!

Filippo: SHUT UP PRIEST ***

Grand Inquisitor: You’re trying to break apart the whole Catholic world! Normally, I’d condemn you for it, but I will relent on one condition: give us the Marquis di Posa.

Filippo: NEVER

Grand Inquisitor: FINE THEN I’LL HAND YOU OVER TO THE INQUISITION

Filippo: SHUT UP

Grand Inquisitor: WHY AM I EVEN HERE

Filippo: FINE DO WHAT YOU WANT but seriously I just want us to have peace please forget all this

Grand Inquisitor: Perhaps…

*He is led out.*

Filippo: So the throne must always give way to the altar!

*Elisabetta runs in, frantic.*

Elisabetta: JUSTICE I DEMAND JUSTICE AND I HAVE FULL FAITH IN YOU TO GIVE IT everyone here is treating me horribly and to TOP IT ALL OFF THE BOX WHERE I KEEP MY JEWELS AND OTHER PRECIOUS ITEMS HAS BEEN STOLEN

Filippo: Your jewelry box? You mean...this box?

*He reveals a box sitting on his table.*

Elisabetta: oh GOD no

Filippo: Open it.

Elisabetta: No.

Filippo: FINE THEN I WILL

*He breaks it open.*

Elisabetta: death in 3...2…

Filippo: YOU KEEP CARLO’S PICTURE IN HERE DO YOU HEAR WHAT I’M SAYING

Elisabetta: Loud and clear.

Filippo: You keep it...with your precious items?

Elisabetta: Yes.

Filippo: You DARE TO ADMIT THIS?!

Elisabetta: Yes! What do I have to hide? He was once my fiancé, and he gave me his portrait then, so what? Now I’m your wife, and I’m loyal to you. And you dare to insult and doubt me! Me! A princess of France, now the queen of Spain, me!

Filippo: HOW DARE YOU TO SPEAK TO ME SO BOLDLY YOU THINK I’M WEAK AND THAT YOU CAN DEFY ME BUT I’LL SHOW YOU AND EVERYBODY ELSE

Elisabetta: What did I do?

Filippo: If you have betrayed me, I swear to holy God above, I WILL HAVE BLOOD

Elisabetta: I pity you.

Filippo: Ha! Pity...FROM AN ADULTEROUS WIFE

*Elisabetta screams and faints.*

SOMEONE HELP THE QUEEN

*Rodrigo and Éboli immediately run in.* ****

Éboli: OH GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE

Rodrigo: You rule half the world. Are you the only person you cannot control?

Filippo: I shouldn’t have suspected her I fucked up and I’m very ashamed of myself now thanks whatever demon made me think this

Éboli: I RUINED HER LIFE I CAUSED THIS HORRIBLE THING I BETRAYED HER I FEEL AWFUL

Filippo: Looks like she was loyal all this time…

Rodrigo: Now I need to take action because someone needs to; a man needs to die for Spain to be saved, and so that man will be me.

Elisabetta (waking up): ...where am I? Everyone’s abandoned me...Mama, I just want to see you again...I’m a stranger here and all my hope in this world is gone… *****

Éboli: IF I CAN’T FIND FORGIVENESS ON EARTH OR IN HEAVEN FOR WHAT I’VE DONE I’LL JUST DIE BECAUSE WHAT I DID TO HER WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE

*Filippo and Rodrigo leave. Éboli throws herself at Elisabetta’s feet.*

FORGIVE ME ELISABETTA I DID SOMETHING HORRIBLE

Elisabetta: Why are you...what did you do?

Éboli: I FEEL HORRIBLE YOU ARE SUCH A GOOD PERSON AND I DID SOMETHING AWFUL TO YOU BECAUSE I GUESS I’M JUST A HORRIBLE PERSON

...I was the one who took the box and gave it to Filippo.

Elisabetta: You?

Éboli: YES ME I ACCUSED YOU BECAUSE I WAS SO PISSED OFF THAT CARLO LOVED YOU INSTEAD OF ME BECAUSE I REALLY LOVE CARLO BUT HE REJECTED ME

Elisabetta: You love him? It’s okay. Get up, you don’t need to beg for forgiveness at my feet.

Éboli: No...it gets much worse.

Elisabetta: What do you mean?

Éboli: PLEASE FORGIVE ME

okay so the thing is, I ruined everything even more because I accused you of committing adultery, but the truth is...I had an affair...with the King.

*Elisabetta (understandably) reels at this, but suppresses that and turns back to Éboli.*

Elisabetta: I gave you a crucifix once. Give it back.

*Éboli does so.*

You have twenty-four hours to choose between a convent and exile. Either way, I want you out of my court so I will never see you again. Be happy. Farewell.

*She leaves.*

Éboli: NO I’M NEVER GOING TO SEE HER AGAIN I MAJORLY FUCKED UP

MY BEAUTY YOU ARE SUCH A FATAL AND CRUEL GIFT FROM HEAVEN AND THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF ALL MY PROBLEMS SO I CURSE YOU BECAUSE NOW ALL I CAN DO IS SUFFER AND I’LL NEVER BE ABLE TO FIX THIS

Elisabetta, my queen, I ruined you because I was so selfish and I’ll regret this for the rest of my life so I’ll just go into a convent and hide all my pain and suffering…

*She sees Carlo’s death warrant on the desk.*

OH GOD CARLO’S GOING TO BE EXECUTED TOMORROW NO NO NO wait WAIT A SECOND I HAVE ONE DAY LEFT HERE THERE IS HOPE THANK GOD I CAN AT THE VERY LEAST SAVE HIM BECAUSE I STILL LOVE HIM AND I HAVE ONE BLESSED DAY AND I WILL USE THAT DAY TO SAVE HIM

*She runs out.*

Notes

Scene 2:

Later the same day, in a nearby prison where Carlo is being held. He is sitting with his head in his hands. Rodrigo enters and talks briefly to the guards, who all leave.

Rodrigo: Carlo, it’s me.

Carlo: Thanks for coming to visit Carlo in prison.

Rodrigo: Stop referring to yourself in the third person, my dear Carlo.

Carlo: I’m useless for saving Flanders. I’m useless for EVERYTHING.

Rodrigo: NO YOU’RE NOT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH LET ME EMBRACE YOU I HAVE SAVED YOU

Carlo: How?

Rodrigo: I need to say farewell. Carlo, as much as it hurts to say this, and it’s a lot, we can never see each other again here below because my days have come to an end but I hope that we can see each other again and love each other when we are both with God...

Why are you crying? I’m happy to die for you!

Carlo: Why do you keep talking about death?

Rodrigo: WE DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME look the thing is I cleared your name and now they all think that I’m the one leading the rebellion

Carlo: Ha! Who’d ever believe that?

Rodrigo: Well, they have twenty of your papers found in my possession— **

Carlo: wait THAT’S WHY YOU ASKED ME FOR THE PAPERS?!?!?! Goddammit I AM SO STUPID

Rodrigo: shhhhhhhhh anyway that was more than enough proof and now there’s a price on my head

*A man in clerical garb and an assassin walk in (and no, this is not the start of a bar joke) and point out Rodrigo to each other.*

Carlo: I’LL TELL FILIPPO EVERYTHING HE’LL HAVE TO LET YOU GO

Rodrigo: No! It’s all up to you now; you must save Flanders and give it new life, and I must die for you.

*The assassin shoots Rodrigo at that moment.*

Carlo: OH MY GOD IT’S DEATH but...for whom? ***

Rodrigo: ...for me. The King’s revenge is swift. Listen.

Tomorrow, Elisabetta will be waiting for you at San Yuste. She knows everything and she will help you get out...I’m getting weak, Carlo, give me your hand!

I will die, but I’m happy because I’ve been able to save you and perhaps even by doing that save Spain! I’m so happy...but don’t forget me, Carlo, do not forget me! You were destined to reign and I to die for you!

No...no...the ground is giving way...I’m dying...Carlo...give me your hand...save Flanders...I love you, Carlo!...farewell...ah…

*He dies. Carlo collapses on his body as Filippo enters with his retinue.*

Filippo: HEY CARLO HERE’S YOUR SWORD BACK BECAUSE I GUESS YOU’RE NOT THE TRAITOR AFTER ALL

Carlo: STAY AWAY GOD HAS COVERED YOUR FOREHEAD WITH THIS INNOCENT MAN’S BLOOD

Filippo: MY SON—

Carlo: I’M NOT YOUR SON ANYMORE CHOOSE ONE FROM THESE MURDERERS BECAUSE YOU MURDERED THIS MAN WHO LOVED ME AND SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR ME IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING AND WE HAD ETERNAL UNBREAKABLE BONDS BETWEEN US AND MY KINGDOM IS WITH HIM

****Filippo: I might as well die because I killed the one good man God created in this world...me! I killed him! I loved him, he revealed a new world to me, and I threw him into the tomb!

Courtiers: Why should we go on living?

Carlo: MY LOVE SUPPORT ME AND LET ME BE THE HERO YOU ALWAYS WANTED ME TO BE AND LET ME HAVE SOME HELP FROM GOD OR AT LEAST PUT ME NEXT TO YOU IN THE TOMB ****

*The prison’s alarm bell sounds.*

People (outside): GET ‘EM WE WILL STRIKE ANYONE WHO OPPOSES US DOWN INCLUDING THE KING

Count Lerma: THE PEOPLE ARE RIOTING THEY WANT THE INFANTE

Filippo: OPEN THE PRISON GATES

Courtiers: WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING

Filippo: did I STUTTER

*The crowd pours in.*

People: WE WANT THE INFANTE AND IF YOU DON’T GIVE IN WE’LL KILL YOU

*Éboli runs in, disguised as a page.*

Éboli: CARLO GO NOW

*Carlo escapes as Elisabetta enters.*

LOOK ELISABETTA I STARTED THIS WHOLE RIOT TO SAVE CARLO BECAUSE I LOVE HIM anyway I’m going to a convent now farewell forever

Elisabetta: oh my GOD WHAT IS HAPPENING

Filippo: YOU ALL WANT THE INFANTE YOU CAN HAVE HIM

*The Grand Inquisitor enters.*

Grand Inquisitor: SACRILEGE ABSOLUTE SACRILEGE

The People: oh SHIT

Grand Inquisitor: BOW DOWN BEFORE THE KING WHOM GOD PROTECTS

*Everyone else kneels.*

People: Dear Lord, forgive us…

Filippo and the Grand Inquisitor: GLORY TO GOD

Lerma, the Courtiers, and the People: Long live the King!

*Éboli collapses at Elisabetta’s feet. Elisabetta holds out her hands to her in a sign of forgiveness.* *****

Notes

Act V:

The following night, back before the tomb of Charles V at the monastery of San Yuste. Elisabetta enters, kneels at the tomb, and begins to pray.*

Elisabetta: I don’t know if you can hear me up there, Charles, but you knew the utter meaninglessness of all the vanities of the world and now you sleep so peacefully...so if souls still weep in heaven, then weep for me and bring my tears to God…

Oh boy, Carlo’s coming here...he must leave and I must watch over him from afar like I told Rodrigo I would...he must go find his glorious destiny while I can only wait to die…

France! My beautiful home...and Fontainebleau, the one place in the world where I was happy, where God heard my eternal vow of love, and that eternity lasted only a day…as for Spain, if Carlo should ever pass through these gardens again, may he hear songs of our love…

Farewell dreams, farewell hopes and illusions, farewell lost love, farewell youth, my heart only has one desire now: the peace of death!

Charles, if you’re still listening after all this, bring my tears to God!

*Carlo enters.*

Carlo: IT’S YOU

Elisabetta: I ask one thing of you: forget me and live.

Carlo: I want to be strong, but love…

Elisabetta: Think about Rodrigo! He didn’t just sacrifice himself for ideas, he sacrificed himself for Flanders and more importantly, for you!

Carlo: When I get to Flanders, I want to build a monument to him!

Elisabetta: Heaven will smile upon him!

Carlo: It once smiled upon me too and then vanished! But no more of that: I see all the horrors in Flanders he once talked about, and I see the people reaching out to me, begging me to help them...and I will help them!

Elisabetta: Yes, you will be a hero! Go, go save them with all my love and support behind you!

Carlo: You know, before today, nothing could have pulled me away from you, but now honor has triumphed and I feel so much stronger in my mind and my heart! Even though I may hold you, I still want to go to Flanders, and I will, and I will save the Flemish!

You’re crying?

Elisabetta: Just because I admire you and you are a hero. But you see, we will see each other again in a better world, and there we’ll finally be able to love each other and be happy as God wanted us to but we never got to…

Carlo: We’ll be happy as God wanted us to…

Elisabetta: But for now, we must say farewell.

Carlo: Farewell, Mother!

Elisabetta: Farewell, my son!

Carlo and Elisabetta: Farewell forever!

*Filippo suddenly enters with his retinue and the Grand Inquisitor and grabs Elisabetta’s arm.*

Filippo: YES FAREWELL FOREVER YOU’VE REALLY GONE AND DONE IT AND NOW I WANT A DOUBLE SACRIFICE AND I WILL DO MY DUTY

Grand Inquisitor: SO WILL THE INQUISITION

Elisabetta: OH GOD NO

Carlo: GOD WILL AVENGE ME AND SHATTER THIS TRIBUNAL OF BLOOD

*Suddenly, the tomb opens and the Monk reemerges.*

The Monk: We may try to find peace here but even then suffering is always with us because we can only find peace in heaven…

Grand Inquisitor: WAIT THAT’S CHARLES V’S VOICE

Filippo: OH GOD IT’S MY FATHER

Elisabetta: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

*The Monk drags Carlo into the tomb.* **

Notes

The End

I hope you enjoyed this! PLEASE leave any and all suggestions in the comments, my messages, and/or my inbox! Thank you!

#opera #opera tag #opera simplified #Don Carlo #Don Carlos #Verdi #Giuseppe Verdi #Camille du Locle #Joseph Méry #French grand opéra

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naturaldisasterfanfiction · 4 years

Text

21. Part 3

Landing in London in the early hours, it is just my luck that I had to go through proper customs, it’s a hit and miss when that happens but they were ever so kind to me and it was quiet because of how late it is. I can’t fault them with how they treated me, took me to the backrooms, so I am annoyed but not that much. I think I am doing well actually, especially without a bodyguard to help me “thank you” I said to the lady that held the door open for me “Welcome to the UK Miss Fenty” she said, smiling at her “oh my baby!” my mom said “you been waiting for me all this time, mommy” opening my arms up to her “you look so good baby oh my god, I have missed my only daughter” hugging my mom, just to hug my mother close I have missed her so much “I feel so emotional seeing you like this, to see my baby having a baby. I have been dreaming of this moment, I am so emotional to see you like this and baby. You look so happy; you are glowing with happiness. I prayed god would look over you, to bless you. Gran gran to watch over you while you travel with the bundle of joy, I just love you so much. It makes me nervous when you travel now, I want you to stay put” my mom got me choked up “I wish she was here; I know she is looking down on me smiling but this is it now. I am not moving anywhere” moving back from the hug “you look so beautiful, my baby. Look at you, and how is my grandchild” my mom touched my bump “I just, I am amazed to see you this way. I find it weird but also a blessing” smiling at my mom “she is good, she is having a party every night. We are good, I am just ready to get home and start setting up for her, I need the break now. I want peace, it’s time for some peace, you know” my mom nodded her head “well, let’s go home now” my mom held my hand, I love her so much.

The home is in boxes so I decided to stay in a hotel for the night, better then going there in the middle of the night “how was the flight here?” my mom asked “it was ok, lonely. I know people are getting ready for Christmas so it’s all hectic and stuff, I am sad to not see everyone for Christmas, but I am scared, a little nervous about this. It’s a lot, and I just wanted her father with me” I didn’t want to mention names, I mean the driver can’t hear but you never know “your husband” my mom said, my face dropped “I am not stupid, and I know how crazy you both are” my mom put her head down, looking to where my mom is looking and it’s my ring finger “pretty ring Robyn, it was very thoughtful of him, he knows you adore emerald. Which you told me represented the love you had. Which was him” my mom lifted her head to look me in the eyes, I didn’t want my mom to know until I was ready “I am not angry at you for eloping, only god knows why and I do know why. The disapproval of the world will be heavy on you, and you and I both know that. I am not angry for my daughter to be a wife; I am not upset either. Chris made you an honest woman, and that does make me happy. I am a little upset because I didn’t get to see my daughter a bride but don’t hide such love” I feel awful now, I feel like I have upset my mom “I was scared, I ran as soon as he proposed to me. I ran because I didn’t want anyone to invade my thoughts, we have been through shit together and all I expect now is just that so when people say they are happy I see the negativity. I am so happy mom, you don’t understand” I sobbed out “I know you are, and I am not angry at you” my mom rubbed my back, it is so hard for us and it’s always a battle to please everyone.

I am a mess right now, and I did not expect my mom to know so quick “how was it, now you stopped crying?” my mom asked “it was perfect, so much love and happiness in one room. I don’t care for the dream because that left me a long time ago when I knew the powers of evil always won, I tried fighting and I gave up. The day was us, it was beautiful and we exchanged the vows that was meant for us, now we are married and not living in sin as you call it” my mom chuckled lightly “I have to give it to him, he made you a honest woman and you deserve to be that Robz, I know you have spoken on things and you felt like nobody will ever do that for you. God guided you and he may have guided you into the arms of Chris but that is because that man loves you, we know that and I would like to see him shine with you, I know you can do that. You know when you are a Mother Robyn, you only want the hurt to go for your daughter. You want to help them but I have been so helpless in this, from the depression on your face, from the time when you went so skinny and then you gained so much weight, you got bullied for being fat then, so much evil against you but you’re here now, I am happy. Your brothers don’t understand a woman’s trouble, especially when you were getting older and you felt you was not going to have a baby. I say god blessed you” looking at my mom, I am feeling very emotional about things “so there, I am happy for you. Don’t be sad” least she knows and is not angry with me “It is always hard being strong. I know Chris has his issues and I want you to take your family and you live your life Robyn. You don’t please nobody, you please your family now” nodding my head, my mom is right.

I am knackered, I just want to crawl into bed and sleep, but I need to call Chris, I did say I would, but I can just leave a missed call. He should be asleep by now, but I don’t know. He said he punched Keeis so I need to know why, I don’t want him to get in trouble at all. Those friends of his are just disgusting and rude, I want them gone. Putting my phone on speaker, placing it on the bed so I can climb into bed slowly. I am dragging myself right now, I am so sleepy “dumpling, I have been waiting for you to call me. I was so worried you wasn’t going to call but you did, I was going to call you but I know you said you was landing” I miss him, just to hear his voice and how excited he is “I miss you” that was it, that is all it took for me to be crying “are you crying? Robyn please don’t cry, I didn’t want that” placing the covers over me like a child that is being forced to sleep “you’re not here to tuck me in” I managed to say through my sobs “I know, I will be there soon” shuffling back against the headboard “not soon enough, it’s not fair. I am getting big, my ankles are swollen, my nose is big. And it’s cold in London” I cried out, it’s all so much “did the cold hurt you or something?” Chris questioned “no! But I don’t like it now because you’re not here” I sniffled, I am sounding like a brat, but I am sad as hell “I can’t change the weather Robyn, I am sorry. I haven’t even started doing anything yet, just please hold on” now my eyes are sore “how long” I mumbled staring at my hands “you sound so cute but like I don’t know maybe a week or two” I huffed out “you’re not here to see her, I just needed the support. I wanted the father there” blowing my nose, I just cry so much now, and it can be for the smallest reasons too “I know” I probably upset him now, let me calm myself down and stop being such a wreck.

I breathed out “I am calm now; I am in a hotel. I didn’t go to the home because I have a lot to do with just me and my mom” I said lowly “you’re making me feel so bad Robyn, like I am sorry ok. I am just trying my best here” taking in a deep breath “I will be fine, anyways tell me what happened with you and Keeis?” I would like to talk about something different now “because niggas be treating me like I am fucking stupid, Robyn I said to him don’t let niggas be there, and what does he do? Invites them, I am done with that shit. I felt laughed at so I punched him, and they soon ran out but they think I am going crazy. Robb called me and was like we family, why did you do that. Family fucking listen! And they don’t watch their cousin get fucked over so yeah, that happened” shaking my head lightly “it’s ok Chris, you’re not crazy. They will know soon enough why, you just need to ones that are happy for you” I am being too much for Chris, I think anyways “oh and I have something to tell you, like you’re already so upset so now I am unsure of saying it but like I feel like a punk bitch for not doing anything but I did it for you. I thought of you and had to be calm about it, it’s fucked up and I just, I am fucking angry” I am scared now “what is it?” I rather know “I should have knocked his Jew ass out to be honest” from when he said Jew, I knew. Taking my phone off speaker and placing it against my ear “tell me” I said.

“Wait, I am just parking my car. I just got home” I thought he was driving “so you just got home now? Where did you go? Oh you went to the studio ok, so what happened. Hurry up” he is taking his time “anyways I do have the home to myself now” I am glad to hear that “make sure you close your gate and stuff, be safe” I am sure those friends know his security pass “I will don’t worry about it, I am just getting inside now. But Mijo knows about us, he figured it out. That post I put up, and also you rang, and he saw it. He goes he knows us, and he knows we slept together at the party too. He told me to go to London and don’t look back and I appreciate that advice, it’s the best thing he has said to me” I smiled a little “I expected Mijo to figure it out. I am not shocked, after the caption I was like watch Mijo figure it out, it’s nice of him to say that now hurry up and come here” people that know us, then will know that we are crazy together “are you inside yet? Damn, I wish you was that slow when you cum” Chris snorted laughing “your pussy too good, I can’t last and I am inside but I need to get comfy first” rolling my eyes “I don’t have time, can you just stop playing around” he is taking ages now “time is all you have now but I went to the studio to lay a verse on a song with Drake, Ant said it would be good money and the blogs are talking shit, use him and whatever. So I did go there, I took Mijo for backup of course. So yeah I went there and erm, I just don’t want to upset you because I had to hold myself back, I was not happy but I didn’t do anything for you Robyn, I thought of you” now I am really concerned “I am a big girl, I can take it. Tell me” what has happened “I am angry, and I hate I can’t say anything because you’re my wife, but I promise you when it’s out I am gunning for him, I will beat his ass. I feel so bad I didn’t say anything but if I did then you would be upset with me, so I just had to stay quiet, I feel so bad like a real bad husband” I feel stressed already and I haven’t heard it “Chris, what the fuck happened?” I asked calmly, I am trying to be calm but they way he is reacting is worrying.

Chris cleared his throat “so I got to the studio and we all was ok, said hi to each other. I sat down and was like ok then come on, let’s hear it. I want to get home because I knew you would be getting home and you would call, so I just wanted to take this home with me and I will work on the verse. He was like oh yeah sure, I have this song for the album now I am like fine, so I am sat there. The song plays, it’s a good beat to it and I am like yo this is cool. I am angry all over again now actually, I feel like a bitch ass nigga for not saying anything, I didn’t take up for you at all!” he spat “whatever happened I am glad you didn’t because it would have been worse then this” it would be worse for him “yeah so the song is playing, he made a diss song about you Robyn. In the song he is speaking on how you played him, you play every nigga. You had to go for an unknown nigga, never trust a bitch that thinks she is a above you. Remember that night you were his forever, and erm something about London tattoos, and then something like now you stuck being a single mother did you really think niggas would wife a player, you’re lonely with your wine glass. The nigga wrote a text message he didn’t send and just put it on a song for you to listen too but didn’t mention names, but the song is called lonely Pisces, but he doesn’t mention no names. And then I walked out” my heart dropped, to hear those words and to know he has done that “I will call you back” disconnecting the call, I know that motherfuckers is not making a song about me.

This is the thing about him, of course he will pick up with my name calling him “hey riri” now it is hey riri “lonely Pisces huh? You were never a guy I would ever want to wake up as my husband, you gave yourself up to me like some desperate fucking bitch, how dare you! How fucking dare you even utter my name, making diss songs about me!? I will fucking leak every bastard nude picture you have sent to me, you sent them me. I never sent you shit, you sent me dick picture unprovoked you creepy fucking man, I am telling you now I am not lonely, and my baby has a dad. I said you was my forever when I was drunk, I don’t even fucking remember it!” I shouted, I am so angry “I erm, I didn’t do no song about you” he laughed nervously “lie to me, keep doing it! You pay for sex, let’s start there bitch” he lying, I know Chris wouldn’t lie to me “how do you know? Chris told you, is he the dad or something” Drake said “hell the fuck no, why would I want any of you useless niggas as the father of my child. I don’t even speak to that nigga anymore, same with you! I swear to god, on my baby Drake I will fucking get you back and I swear it will be worse for you. I will expose every thirsty thing you sent me; it has always been you. And Barry and I are very close friends, he told me. Maybe watch who you have with you. Don’t fucking try it! Don’t worry about my child, because they will be living good, think about why your so ashamed of your son and why you denied your own son because he was too white, fuck you” disconnecting the call, I am fed up like so fed up of people hating me because I closed doors on them and I didn’t et pregnant by them, who are these niggas to judge what I do.

I thought I would call Chris back but I am sad, I am very hurt by what he is saying about me “he blamed you so I called you a useless nigga and I don’t fuck with you, I said it was Mijo that told me. I am going to sleep now because I am just upset and all I have done today is cry” my voice broke “why do you have his number still?” of course Chris would say “oh my fucking god!” I shouted “is that all you care about!? Your wife is being dragged through the dirt and all you care is why does she have his number? I am going to be on my own for my scan, you are all actually useless. All I hear is reasons why I am a single mother and how I am the damaged one, how I deserve this shit because no man would wife this. Just please don’t fucking ring me back. I am tired and fed up now leave me alone” putting the phone down, I am angry and frustrated with everything right now, I just need to cry it out and fall asleep while doing so.

#Chrianna FF #Chrianna Fanfiction #Chrianna #Fanfiction #Fanfic

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hopeworldfan · 5 years

Text

summary: you and yoongi have been best friends since you were kids, being hopelessly in love with each other was never part of the plan. aka, the typical cliche.

pairing: yoongi/reader

chapter one

word count: 6k+

genre: fluff, smut, angst, college!au, friends to lovers

warning: angst, depression, self-harm, suicide attempt, alcoholism, divorce

a/n: ive been working on this for a very long time and decided i had to split it up because shes a big one. let me know what you think!

The early hours of the morning had always brought a sense of comfort with them. The world was so quiet, so still, so peaceful. Being in the last year of your undergrad meant that you were intimately acquainted with the early hours of the morning; when the sun was just starting to shine through the blinds, the birds were just starting to chirp, the world was just starting to wake. You wished you could enjoy it, enjoy the quiet, but you were six cups of coffee deep into your Psychology of Counseling textbook and more than ready to jump off a bridge if it meant you didn’t have to take your midterm in three hours.

“You need to get some semblance of sleep Y/N, you’ll be too tired to concentrate on your midterm if you don’t.” A soft yet stern voice commented from your doorway and you sighed before leaning back in your chair -wincing as what felt like your whole spine cracked-, before spinning around and squinting at your best friend.

“Did you know that our awareness of death is the source of zest for life and creativity and that we can turn our fear of death into a positive force when we accept the reality of our own mortality?” Yoongi just continued to lean against your doorway, fixing you with an unimpressed stare and you sighed. “This chapter on Existentialism is really putting me through it, the death stuff isn’t even the worst of it. Did you know that having some anxiety is perfectly normal-”

“Y/N.” He interrupted and you sighed again, sliding your reading glasses up to where they were sitting on your head and rubbing your face.

“If I go to sleep now I won’t wake up, and I don’t have all the details of the six propositions down yet. I just know Bridgette is going to make that the essay question.” Bridgette, formally known as Dr. Coddou, had emphasized them way too much for them not to be the discussion question, and the discussion was worth half the points on the midterm.

Your best friend, however, didn’t budge, keeping his arms crossed and giving you a reproachful look. “You have work right after your midterm, you’ll be dead on your feet if you don’t get at least a few hours. I’ll wake you up on time for your test, so get in bed.”

“You’re being such a hypocrite,” you mumbled but closed the textbook regardless. Arguing with Yoongi would be a useless venture, it always was.

“What was that?”

“Nothing Yoongi-oppa.” You smiled brightly while he rolled his eyes, noticing the small upturn of his lips.

“Okay koreaboo.”

“You like it.” You sang before collapsing on your bed, disgruntling the black cat that was already sleeping there. Despite your previous protests, you were out like a light the minute your head hit the pillow. Yoongi just fondly shook his head before walking over and gently removing your glasses from the top of your head and setting them on your nightstand.

The first time you met Yoongi was in the third grade. It was one of those weird, super vivid childhood memories that seemed engraved in your brain, right along with your fifth birthday party. The school year had been well underway when he was brought into class, something that already made his presence exciting. His family had just moved from Korea to the states and he stumbled through his introduction, not quite having a solid grasp on the English language. Your classmates had laughed, finding his struggle and heavy accent hilarious. It wasn’t funny to you though, even at such a young, impressionable age because your abuelita didn’t speak a lick of English and your own mom’s heavily accented Spanglish was often ridiculed at school events.

He sat alone at recess that day and you were the first to approach him, a bright smile on your face and the offer of friendship hanging from your outstretched hand. Yoongi had been so incredibly shy at first, but you didn’t let it deter you. Instead, you stayed stuck to his side like glue, always with a bright smile and eager to help him learn English. By the end of the year, the two of you were inseparable and the rest was history.

Yoongi kept a diligent eye on the time while he worked on the composition in front of him. He knew he was prone to getting lost in his work without caring about the world around him, but the last thing he wanted to do was lose track of time and be the reason you missed your midterm. Especially after insisting that you sleep and promising to make sure you didn’t miss it. You would never let him hear the end of it if he this up.

Thirty minutes before your class, he got up and gently pushed open the door to your room. His breath caught in his throat when he saw you lying there. He’d seen you sleeping more times than he could count throughout the years, saw you lying there with your mouth wide open, drool on the side of your face, and the smallest snore coming from your sleeping form. It never failed to take his breath away. You never failed to take his breath away. There were no false pretenses when you were sleeping, no sign of the cheerful mask he knew you worse to make it through the day, the hardened armor you donned to protect yourself. When you slept there was a vulnerability you showed so rarely, even to him.

Yoongi had been in love with you for years. Maybe since that first moment in third grade, before he even knew what love was, but he knew you had a pretty smile and you were the first person to make him feel like moving away from everything he knew wasn’t the end of the world. There was just something so captivating about you, so endearing, it was unrealistic to think that he ever stood a chance. When you smiled at him, eyes squinted and barely visible, he knew without a doubt that he would do anything to keep that smile on your face, and that’s why he was okay with just being your best friend because that’s what made you happy.

Still, it was moments like this that he took for himself; approaching your sleeping form and gently brushing his fingers against your cheek. You unconsciously leaned into his touch and his heart skipped a beat. He wanted nothing more than to kiss you. The number of times he’d fantasized about it, about pressing his lips against yours was honestly ridiculous, but he couldn’t help it. It was something he’d dreamed about since he was thirteen.

You muttered something unintelligible in your sleep and Yoongi retracted his hand. He knew he had to wake up. He was being more than a little creepy and crossing a multitude of lines. The two of you were best friends, nothing more.

“Wake up, Y/N.” He said, bringing a hand to your shoulder and gently shaking you awake. Your eyes briefly fluttered and you groaned, trying to snuggle deeper into your bed to catch a few more precious moments of sleep. Yoongi smiled fondly and shook his head. “Nope, you have to get up and go take your midterm.”

“Midterm!” You yelped, shooting up in such a panic that Yoongi instinctively took a step back. “I have to go take my midterm!”

“Relax,” he instructed calmly. “You have thirty minutes and I brewed a fresh pot of coffee.”

You sighed, letting your shoulders drop and willing your heart rate to slow. “Ay dios mio, whew, I’ve never wanted to kiss someone more in my entire life.”

His heart rate spiked at your words, eyes glued to your form as you stretched out on your bed, arching your back and groaning. Less than innocent thoughts were playing through his mind and he willed them away. You weren’t being serious, it was commonplace for you to say suggestive things, but a large part of him always hoped.

“Do you work tonight?” You asked, finally getting to your feet and rolling your neck, wincing at the distinct popping. The question broke him from his reverie and he mentally slapping himself.

“No, I tried to but I’m already in overtime for the week so Jin wouldn’t let me.”

You pouted and lightly hit his shoulder. “What did I tell you about overworking yourself? Between the two of us, we make enough to pay the bills without killing ourselves.” Your eyes softened when you took a longer look at your best friend. The bags under his eyes were an even darker shade of purple and his skin was an even more ghostly pale than normal. Instinctively, you wrapped your arms around his waist and pressed your head against his chest. “You need to take care of yourself Yoongi, there ain’t no me if there ain’t no you, remember?”

The words were muffled against his chest, but the way his arms wrapped around your form was enough confirmation that he had heard. Being so sleep deprived made you overemotional, but that didn’t make it any less true. Over a decade of friendship made Yoongi a fixture in your life. When everything was crashing down, when everything was going wrong, when your abuelita and dad both died in the span of a year, when your mom turned to alcohol to numb the pain, it was Yoongi who was always there for you. He was the only stability in your life, and that was why you’d never tell him how you really felt, how you were desperately and hopelessly in love with him.

“You’re sappy when you’re tired.” He commented dully as he gazed down at you, praying you couldn’t hear how his heart was ready to jump out of his chest.

“Please, I’m sappy all the time.” You shot back, pulling away to get on your tip-toes and place a soft kiss against his temple. He had to fight every cell in his body to keep from blushing at your show of affection because it was so common that it shouldn’t even affect him anymore. The man was convinced you were the most affectionate person he had ever met; it was something he learned early on, so he knew not to read into it. However, the temple kisses were the one thing he could never get used to. While the hugs, hand-holding, and cuddling made his heart race, there was something about the temple kiss that was so tender, so intimate, and he’d never seen you do it with anyone else.

That was because you didn’t. It was selfish and stupid, but the temple kiss was the one thing you’d allow yourself. You could sweep it under the rug of showing platonic affection if anyone questioned it, but you knew that it was different.

“Alright gotta blast, see you later Yoongles, don’t forget to feed Noodle!” You smiled, already halfway out of the door, your backpack sling over your shoulder and a full tumbler of coffee in your hand. “Love you!”

“Love you too.” He replied softly, but the door was already swinging shut.

Relief flooded through you as you handed in your midterm, giving Dr. Coddou a polite smile before jetting out of the classroom. There were other midterms to study for, other things to stress about, but that was for a later date. The only thing currently on your mind was treating yourself to your favorite takeout to celebrate before going into work.

“Y/N!” Someone called out from behind you and you immediately whipped your head around. “How do you think you did?”

“I’ll be pretty upset if I didn’t make at least a ‘B’, what about you?” Namjoon smiled down at you, shyly adjusting his glasses.

“I’m pretty sure I made an ‘A’.”

“Of course, you did, you’re literally a genius. I really only asked in the interest of being polite,” you teased, noticing the way his cheeks flushed the most endearing shade of pink. Namjoon was cute in a nerdy, bookworm, librarian way with his wire-framed glasses, grandpa cardigans, and adorable dimples.. The two of you shared a class together your sophomore year and were partnered together for a project. You really hit it off and stayed friends, though you’d never interacted outside the context of academia. It had been a surprise when you walked into your psychology of counseling class and saw Namjoon already sitting in the front row, being that he was a Philosophy major and you were positive psychology of counseling wasn’t required for that degree plan. “I’ve been meaning to ask, but why did you take this class anyway? Planning on doing some philosophical counseling?”

Namjoon’s cheeks turned an even darker shade of pink. “Oh, uh, I mean, no uhm, I just well, I really like,” he paused and his eyes only met yours for a second before he looked away, his blush managing to deepen even more. “Psychology! I really like psychology! It’s really interesting.”

“Right!” You agreed enthusiastically, completely oblivious to the boy’s panic. “It’s all just so intriguing to learn about how people think and why. This chapter on Existential Therapy was so fun despite how much it blew my mind. I mean, our awareness of death being the source of our zest for life and creativity? Whew. Do you think you’ll end up with a psych minor?”

Namjoon just stood there with a dumb smile on his face, not realizing you had asked him a question. He’d been distracted by your rambling, the way your eyes lit up and you gestured wildly with your hands. It was the cutest thing he had ever seen. You were the cutest thing he had ever seen, and that was why he found himself in yet another psychology class that he had absolutely no need for.

“Hellooooo, earth to Joon?” You asked, staring up at him with your head tilted and one eyebrow raised.

“Oh! Uhm, yeah, I’ll probably end up with a psych minor.” He said in a rush, trying to downplay his embarrassment.

“Fun!” you glanced down at your phone and swore. “Shit, I have to get to work, see you later Joon!”

Namjoon sighed as you bounded away. Would he ever work up the confidence to ask you on a date? It didn’t seem likely.

Work was exhausting, per usual, but tips were decent so you weren’t complaining about that. What you were complaining about was just how bad your feet ached. Despite how many times you complained to Jin, he liked the uniforms the was they were, so you were stuck with stupid shoes that offered no support or comfort.

By the time you were gently closing the front door, it had to be close to two in the morning and you were ready to crawl under the overs and sleep like the dead since tomorrow was Saturday and you were off of work.

“Hey Noodle.” You greeted softly when the black cat made his presence known t you with a loud ‘meow’ before rubbing himself against your legs.

You were mid-yawn when you trudged into the kitchen, content to just drinking some orange juice because finding something eat would take entirely too much effort. It was by chance that you noticed the post-it on the microwave, Yoongi’s messy handwriting sprawled across it.

mac n’ cheese in here, just heat it up

Your lips upturned in a gentle smile. For all his talk, Yoongi was one of the softest, most thoughtful people you had ever met. His love language was in the small things. Sure, it was just mac n’ cheese, something that didn’t take longer than ten minutes to whip up, but it was ten minutes he knew you weren’t going to take. While the macaroni was heating up, you added a little something to the bottom of the post-it.

remind me to put a ring on it in the morning

Loud. That was your first thought as you were choke-slammed into consciousness. There was a very familiar, very loud voice carrying through your apartment and you groaned before grabbing your comforter and pulling it over your head, trying in vain to delay the inevitable.

You weren’t the slightest bit surprised when your door was slammed open and the person squealed “Y/N-ie” before jumping on top of you.

“Ay dios mio, get off Hobi,” you grumbled, trying -and failing- to push the older boy off of you.

Said boy just laughed. “Not a chance! I haven’t seen you in so long. I’ve missed you!”

You stopped struggling, content to accept your fate of being squished. “I missed you too, Hobi.”

“Why don’t you ever call me oppa?” Though your head was still buried underneath your comforter, you could hear the pout in his voice and knew he was making a devastatingly cute face.

“If I call you oppa will you get off of me?”

“Yes!”

“Okay...Hobi-oppa.”

Hoseok kept his promise and promptly rolled off of you, grabbing the covers and pulling them off in the process. You knew you should probably be at least a little embarrassed considering Hoseok now had a pg-13 rated view of your body since you only ever slept in a big t-shirt and underwear, but modesty was never one of your strong suits. Instead, you rolled over in a desperate attempt to sneak a few more moments of sleep. “Nu-uh, you’re getting up and coming to get lunch with me, Jimin, and Yoongi-hyung.”

He was equally as unaffected by your lack of clothing, having gotten used to it. “Hobiiiiiiiii.” You whined.

“Don’t make me tickle you.”

That was enough to make you jump out of bed. He didn’t bluff when it came to tickling, something you knew all too well. The redhead cheered before pulling you into a tight hug.

Hoseok was the first friend Yoongi made freshman year and became your friend by association. You couldn’t help but laugh at the fact that Yoongi attracted extroverts like moths to a flame because Hoseok was the textbook definition and while you weren’t quite on his level, you were up there.

“Ah, good morning Y/N.” A serene voice greeted from the doorway and you glanced around Hoseok’s frame to grin at the fourth member of your ragtag friend group.

“Hey Chim.” While Hoseok was the first friend Yoongi made in college, Jimin was yours. The two of you shared a hellish 7:30 your first semester and bonded over wanting to die every morning and keeping each other awake during the lecture. The four of you meshed together unsettlingly well, and Hoseok and Jimin ended up as roommates before the end of freshman year. You privately thought it was hilarious that your three best friends were all Korean, maybe Yoongi was right when he called you a koreaboo.

You meandered over to Jimin and wrapped him in a tight hug before brushing past him and noticing Yoongi was nowhere to be seen. “Is Yoongi still sleeping?”

“Mhm. You know you’re the only one who can wake him up without putting him in a bad mood.” Jimin said lightly and you rolled your eyes.

“I gave you guys that spare key to use for emergencies, not to break in and force us to eat lunch with you.”

“Eating lunch with us is an emergency!” Hoseok protested.

“Ya, ya, ya.” Regardless, you were awake, and if you had to be awake, so did Yoongi.

Creeping into his room, your heart skipped a beat when you saw him lying there. He looked so content, so peaceful, it warmed your heart. You knew how deeply Yoongi hid things, how he always put his own feelings last when it came to the people he cared about. It was only through years of friendship that you were able to discern when he was putting up a front, when he was putting on a brave face for your sake. Both of you had baggage and issues and things that were hard to talk about, even with each other. However, at that moment, you knew none of that mattered to Yoongi, he was at peace, and a part of you hated to ruin that.

The other part of you wanted to jump on him the way Hoseok did to you.

That part won out.

“Rise and shine sleepy head!” You giggled, throwing your body on top of his and gently patting his dumpling-like cheeks as you straddled him. He groaned, the same reaction you had to Hoseok, and you shot him a beaming smile when his eyes fluttered open. “Good morning Yoongi-oppa.”

Something strange flashed across his face at your words but you were too busy poking his squishy cheeks to notice. “What are you doing?”

The question was entirely for his own sake because he was becoming increasingly aware of the position the two of you were in, something you were completely oblivious to. He could tell you had just woken up since you only seemed to be wearing a big shirt -one of his-, and a pair of underwear. That alone was enough to make his cock twitch, seeing you in his clothes always had an effect on him, especially when the only thing you paired it with was underwear. Then there was the way you were straddling him, knees on either side of his torso, completely unaware that your crotch was directly over his. Usually, he had self-control, he could squash down the indecent fantasies, but he was still only half-awake and all he could think about was how easy it would be to grab your hips and thrust up. He knew it wouldn’t take him long to cum, even if there were three layers -his boxers, the comforter, and your panties- between his cock and your pussy. God, the fantasy of you placing your hands on his chest and grinding down on him was too delicious. He already had an idea of what you’d sound like, the small whimpers, the soft gasps, he’d heard it all before when you thought you were being discrete late at night. He wanted to hear those sounds when he was the one causing them, when his cock was-

“Hobi and Jimin are here and forcing us to go eat lunch. You should be grateful I’m the one who woke up and not Hobi.”

Yoongi mentally slapped himself. His cock was growing harder and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He prayed to every god in existence that you didn’t decide to press down on him because there was no way you wouldn’t know his dick was hard. “You have my eternal gratitude.”

You giggled before pressing a soft kiss to his forehead and hopping off his bed. “Hurry up and get ready, I’m starving and I’m pretty sure I can scam Hobi into paying.”

Without waiting for a reply, you turned and danced out of Yoongi’s room, missing the way his eyes stayed glued to your barely covered ass.

“See, completely unharmed. He probably would have killed Hobi-hyung.” Jimin pointed out from the couch, happily petting Noodle and you rolled your eyes.

“Oh,” you paused, an innocent smile slipping on to your face. “Hobi-oppa?”

Said boy’s face lit up and you internally smirked. A part of you would have felt bad for scamming one of your best friends, but it wasn’t like he didn’t -frequently- do the same thing to you. When he hit you with a pout you were helpless. “Yes, Y/N-ie?”

“Well, since you’re my oppa and all, does that mean you’re paying for lunch?” You tilted your head and stuck your bottom lip out the tiniest bit in a pout. Jimin ducked his head to muffle his laughter.

“Of course, leave it all to me!” Too easy.

“This so good I am going to bust the fattest nut.” You moaned between mouthfuls of lo mein noodles.

Hoseok had decided on Chinese and you weren’t complaining, especially when it was on his dime. “I second that.”

“Here Yoongi, you have to try this.” You insisted, gathering a hefty amount of noodles on your fork and turning your body sitting next to your, expectantly holding the utensil up to his face. He gave you an unimpressed look but the smile on your face persisted and it only took seconds her him to cave and take the offered bite. “See! Amazing, right?”

“Feed me next Y/N-ie!” Hoseok pouted and you rolled your eyes before gathering more noodles.

“Here you go Hobi-oppa.” You teased and he gladly wrapped his lips around the fork.

“I, for one, still can’t believe that you can’t use chopsticks,” Jimin commented and you groaned.

The three boys were all using the provided chopsticks while you didn’t even bother opening your set. “Let me live Jimin.”

“Just saying.”

“I’m not required to know how to use chopsticks just because the three of you do! Stop peer pressuring me.”

“It’s really not that hard Y/N-ie.”

“Look, Yoongi’s mom spent many a dinner trying to teach me, I’m just hopeless!”

“It’s true, she’s a terrible student.”

You immediately punched Yoongi on the shoulder, but his gummy smile erased any thoughts about even pretending to be angry. Before anyone could say anything, your phone started ringing and you only hesitated for a second before pressing the device to your ear after seeing just who was calling you.

“Hola mamá,” you greeted cheerfully, ignoring the concerned look Yoongi shot your way. “¿Qué pasa?”

The smile on your face slipped when you heard the drunken slur of her words. It slipped even more when she popped the inevitable question.

“¿Cuanto?” You asked, trying to keep your voice even, to not ruin the atmosphere because this was the first time the four of you had been together in forever and you wanted to enjoy it. You didn’t react when your mom listed off the number, despite the sinking in your stomach. “Bueno...sí mama...esta noche...sí...te amo.”

“Back to our previous conversation, all I have to say is that learning how to lose chopsticks is a lot harder than it looks when you’re not born into the culture, and it’s also harder to learn as an adult because your brain has less plasticity.” You rambled, forcing a smile as you logged into your banking app to transfer the money to your mom’s account. Yoongi tensed and you knew he was watching you, could practically feel the disapproval radiating off of him when you transferred the amount from your savings to her checking. You knew he understood the short conversation you had; he’d picked up his fair share of Spanish throughout the years. It would be an argument later. You could already feel the headache.

The rest of the lunch was fine. Hoseok was even louder and more ridiculous than usual and Jimin kept reaching across the table to fiddle with your hands, your hair, your face, all in an effort to make you feel better, seeing right through the smile plastered across your face. They knew you too well for it to fool them. Yoongi, on the other hand, was silent, he was stewing.

“Six hundred?” He asked the minute the two of you were alone in the apartment, barely giving you time to shrug off your jacket. You just collapsed on the couch, feeling all your energy leave you in an instant thinking about how much you were going to have to work to make up the funds.

“And what about it?” You sighed, too tired to muster together any anger.

“That money is for grad school, what did your mom need it for? Couldn’t pay rent because she spent all her money on alcohol again? Couldn’t pay her light bill because she keeps funneling money into poker machines?” In a turn of events, you actually weren’t too tired to muster together any anger, because Yoongi’s cold words brought it right to the surface. Mostly because he was right.

“And so what if it is? What am I supposed to do Yoongi? Let her get evicted? Let her power get shut off? It’s my money, I can do whatever I want with it.”

Your mom never did shake back from the alcoholic hole she fell into when your grandma and dad died and Yoongi resented her for it. It had broken you because you didn’t just lose your grandma and your dad, you lost your mom too, and Yoongi almost lost you. He’d been so caught up in his angsty teenage bullshit, hating the world because of his parent’s divorce that he didn’t notice. He didn’t notice when your smile became tight and forced. He didn’t notice when you started wearing long sleeves despite the unforgiving heat. He didn’t notice when the light started to fade from your eyes. It wasn’t until he broke down your bathroom door junior year of high school because of a goodbye text that he finally noticed.

Yoongi had never been one to cry, but he cried then, finding you crumpled on the floor, a knife in one hand and blood running down both arms from the cuts lining them. He carefully took the knife from your hand and threw it out of the room before sinking onto the floor next to you and wrapping your trembling form in a tight hug. He apologized as he cried, over and over again, for not realizing sooner, for not being able to take your pain away. It was then that he knew that he hated your mom because you were his sunshine, his light, and that was what she had reduced you to, because even then, the only thing you could manage to say besides ‘i’m sorry’ was ‘please don’t tell my mom’.

He hated that even now, even though you were so far away, she still had such a grip on your life. You were supporting yourself and supporting her.

Though you understood why Yoongi felt the way he did, though there were times when you resented your mom, at the end of the day she was still your mom. She was the woman from your childhood who was full of warmth and laughter, and there were rare times when she still was, when the old her shined through in her even rarer moments of sobriety.

Yoongi wasn’t fuming, but you were. His anger ran cold where yours ran hot. “How much more are you going to let her take Y/N? That’s all she does.”

“She’s my mom Yoongi! Fuck! I’m not having this argument with you again!” You shouted, throwing your hands in the air and storming out. It was such a pointless fucking argument to have, the two of you would just run around in circles, getting angrier and angrier until you inevitably stormed off. The two of you didn’t argue often, you hated arguing with Yoongi, he was your best friend in the entire world, but you knew the topic of you mom would never be something you agreed on.

You weren’t paying attention to where you were storming off to, the destination wasn’t the point, you just needed to clear your head and get away from Yoongi. Somehow you ended up at a little park that you didn’t even realize was near your apartment complex, so you sat on one of the benches and groaned. It was cold outside, it was getting dark, you were alone, and you didn’t have your phone, keys, or wallet. You really were a genius.

“Y/N?” A soft voice called and you yelped, jumping up and ready to run if the person was going to try and murder you. “Sorry!”

Whipping around, you visibly relaxed when you took in the boy in front of you, cardigan and all. “Whew, you almost gave me a heart attack Joon.”

“I’m sorry,” he apologized again and you waved it off, finally noticing the white dog curiously sniffing your shoes. Your response was instantaneous, dropping into a squat and gently petting the dogs fluffy head.

“Who is this cute little baby?” You cooed happily, laughing when the dog playfully jumped on you, causing you to fall back on your ass while being assaulted with kisses. Namjoon was literally melting.

“Oh, uhm, his name is Rapmon.”

“Hi Rapmon,” you greeted cheerfully, planting a kiss on the top of his head before getting to your feet and wrapping your arms around your torso. It definitely wasn’t the smartest move to run out without grabbing your jacket when winter was right around the corner.

Namjoon noticed and immediately shrugged off his cardigan. “You should put this on before you get sick.”

“Ahh I can’t take that! You’ll be cold!” You protested.

“I’m wearing long sleeves, and my body temperature naturally runs high.” You wanted to put up more of a fight, but the temperature was dropping as the sun sank below the horizon, so you gratefully took the offered clothing.

“Thanks,” you smiled as the boy’s cheeks warmed, seeing you in his clothes having an enormous effect on him. “Do you live around here?”

“Oh, uhm, yeah, my apartment is right across the street actually.” He replied sheepishly and you whipped your head around to the fancy ass apartments across the street.

You couldn't keep the amazement from your voice. “What the fuck, Joon, those are so nice.”

“Ahh, my mom picked it out, they’re alright.” He said, clearly embarrassed. “What about you?”

“I think my apartment is somewhere around here, I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going.” You admitted, it being your turn to be embarrassed. “I had a fight with my best friend and kinda just...ended up here.”

“Oh.”

The two of you just stood there for a solid minute, Namjoon trying to work up the courage to say something and you just not really knowing what to say for once in your life. It was Namjoon who finally spoke. “Do you...uhm...do you want to come up to my apartment? It’s getting dark and it’s cold out, once we bring Rapmon in I can drive you home...if you want.”

He trailed off, obviously flustered and you giggled. “I’d love to come up to your apartment Joon.”

It was exactly as fancy as you expected and you had to physically stop yourself from gawking like a tourist. However, you were doing a poor job and Namjoon secretly thought it was adorable how your eyes were the size of tennis balls.

“Alright, I can bring you home now.” He said after letting Rapmon off of his leash and grabbing his keys. You hesitated though. It wasn’t that you didn’t want to go home, per say, but you didn’t want to go home. Yoongi’s temper had a tendency to stick around, taking a while to defrost, and you didn’t have the energy to go another round.

“Is it okay if I just...chill here for a while?” You finally asked, nervously fiddling with your thumbs.

“Yes!” He answered immediately because he was ready to give you the world on a silver platter if that was what you requested, especially when you were standing in front of him in his cardigan.

“Thanks Joon,” you smiled, missing the blush that painted his cheeks.

You made yourself comfortable on his couch and he followed suit. It took a few minutes for the ice to break, but once it did, you couldn’t stop talking. Namjoon was hands down the smartest person you had ever met, and he had such interesting viewpoints on so many things. He was incredibly easy to talk to and you had to admit that he looked so fucking cute when he was rambling about a topic he was passionate about. It was the only time you’d ever seen him look confident about something and it was really hot. Namjoon had always been filed away as ‘cute’ in your mind, but seeing him in his element, completely at ease in his fitted long-sleeved shirt, hair in disarray from how he kept running a hand through it, well, you had a different perspective.

Almost unconsciously you gravitated towards him until your knees were touching and his cheeks were rosy, hyper-aware of the contact.

“What time is it?” You suddenly asked, realizing it was completely dark outside and you’d been talking for so long that your mouth was dry. Namjoon glanced at the watch on his wrist -it looked like a Rolex- and winced.

“It’s two in the morning.”

You immediately shot up, eyes wide in panic. Fuck. Yoongi was probably worried sick, you had stormed out without your keys, wallet, or phone and it was two in the morning and you weren’t home. “Fuck.”

Namjoon brought you home immediately, spewing apologized for not paying better attention to the time. You reassured him that it wasn’t his fault and you had gotten equally lost in talking to him, thanking him a million times for bringing you home.

Your stomach was in knots as you climbed up to the third floor, just knowing Yoongi was going to be even more furious with you. God, you were such an idiot.

You’d only managed to knock on the front door twice before it was yanked open and you were pulled into a bone-crushing hug, letting out a squeak of surprise.

“Y/N.” Yoongi breathed and your heart clenched painfully at how relieved he sounded.

“I’m sor-”

“No,” He interuppted, still holding you tight against his chest. “I’m sorry okay. I know, I know she’s still your mom and that will never change no matter how much I resent her for the hell she put you through. I’m sorry, just please, fuck, please don’t leave like that again.”

His voice shook the smallest bit and your heart broke. He must have been so worried about you.

“Hey,” you said softly, wrapping your arms around his frame and gently rubbing his back. “I’m sorry Yoongi. It was really stupid of me to run out like that. I ran into a friend and we lost track of time, don’t think you can get rid of me that easily. You’re stuck with me for the rest of your life, sorry to tell you.”

He took a deep breath, his face still buried in your hair, and loosened his grip just enough for you to reach up and place a kiss against his temple. Just like that, everything was right again.

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