We Remain Together

Chapter Seven: I Am Your Mother!

Esther was still young. Even after being married to Mikael for 8 years and giving birth to Finn, Freya and Elijah, she still was just 25 years old. Having a young heart. A young heart knows what is real and what is true. And she knew that her heart had made its mind. The dark-blue eyes and hint of blush convinced her heart that the maddening smile he had put on for her was real. It was fool of Mikael to leave Esther alone after losing Freya in this new hamlet only to deviate his mind off of Freya. That’s what she thought. Esther wasn’t in her best place. Maybe, that’s why she knew that what she and Mikael had wasn’t real. And it broke her heart that it took loss of Freya to come upon that realization. What Esther felt whilst talking to the generous man was ton deeper than what she has for Mikael. Esther tried to control over herself over to the man. The tall dark and warm man just made Esther crazy times over times. Finally on their fifth meeting, Esther came to know what true pleasure was. Esther loved everything that was happening. This had conjured in her dreams many times and now that it was happening for real, she found herself to be in the man’s hand. As if they were the only thing that kept her realizing that it all is happening for real. She even loved the sweat that was produced for that bproofed true love, respect and warmth. “Children, please give your mother and I some space.” Mikael ordered.

“But father, we just fought with Hilrin. We should be spared with some rest!” Elijah reasoned.

“Elijah, I have given an order. You respect my order and do as I say so. Leave!” Mikael said in a demanding voice.
Elijah had no choice but to leave like his other siblings. But unlike others, he stood close so that he can hear what they were saying.
“Esther, Niklaus is low. You have noticed that, haven’t you?”

“I have. Mikael, what’s going on?...”

“He was low because he was a wolf not long ago.”
Esther’s eyes went wildly big. But not in anger. In fear.
“Can you think of any reason as to why that’s happening?”

“Mikael….”

“Because I am a vampire and you are a witch, so it makes no sense that he is a wolf. Unless….”

“Mikael, please….”

“UNLESS! (Esther shuddered) Unless, there was someone else involved. (Esther breathes deeply) I am going to ask you very politely and once only. Was there someone else involved?”

Esther looked upto him and replied,
“Yes, Mikael there was.”

Mikael’s eyes were wet.
“Surely you were tricked into it.”

“No, Mikael. I did it in my senses.”
Mikael was about to cry. His eyes were just about to give up.

“I’ll be back in a minute.”
He went out and saw Elijah there. Elijah was speechless, completely shut out. 
“I am sorry, Father.” He finally said.
Mikael nodded and sped away. He was angry yet so tormented. He broke trees, hunted animals what not all so rapidly that he was back to his home in a minute, like he said. Esther saw him with hands covered in blood.
She scoffed and said,
“This is exactly why I did what I did. (Mikael frowned) I was 16 when I met you and being 16, I was just a child and so were you. I was attracted to you because I was a child and had no intention of seeking inner depth or beauty. I was just attracted to what you looked like. Tall, strong built with a hoarse voice. I loved it. And so, I thought I loved you. But with time, I grew older and wiser but you were just like that. That same 16-year-old boy.”
Mikael’s frown disappeared.
“At once, I was fond of it, but soon I grew tired of it. I thought after Freya’s loss, you might grow up and we could find some kind of solace in each other’s grief. But you were distant. Didn’t even look at me, much less caress me. (Mikael looked down in defeat) I knew you were hurt and you knew I was too! Yet, you didn’t do a single thing! You just went away to sail and left me in the dark! (Mikael scratched his head) And you know what pulled me out of that darkness?”
Mikael looked up in hope. “It should’ve been my damn husband but it was that stranger. (Mikael as disappointed but accepted) He was understanding and loving. But most, caring. His warmth thawed my coldness and healed me from my grief. And in return I could only give him my body. He was my savior, Mikael. Something you never was.”

Mikael sighed deeply.
“I get it. I wasn’t a good husband. But that gives you no right to sleep with a man-wolf!”

“I didn’t know at the time that he was. When I found out, I grew distant to him. But then I realised some of it remained inside and that I am carrying his child. I hoped Niklaus won’t kill anyone. To forget him and to rekindle our relation, I conceived with 3 more children. But soon I realised, it was too late. Whenever I looked at Niklaus, I saw him. He would never go from my life.”

“So all these years, I have been with someone who was not only unfaithful but also wore a mask of love? Is that why you were so awkward whenever I showed you a little affection?”

“Mikael hadn’t you been unfaithful to me? Do you think I don’t know what you did last night with Josephine?”

Mikael was dumbfounded,
“What have I done?”

“You were always so fond of her, weren’t you? After even our marriage, you didn’t get over her. In all the conversations we’ve had till now, you’ve always managed to mention Josephine in it. How Josephine talks, how Josephine handles stuff, how Josephine walks. So even though you did the deed last night, you’ve been unfaithful in this marriage since the first day of our marriage.” Mikael was speechless.
“We both have done mistakes Mikael. And I am not talking about being unfaithful. Because that’s something we both have done. I am talking about you marrying me. That was a mistake you did!”

*Present*

Everyone had mild reactions watching Finn and Esther. Elijah opened the door and hugged them without any strong emotions. Rest all just greeted each other. Esther sensed the foul mood each of them had towards her. She don’t blame them. Abandoning your kids after literally running away from their father is something more than ill deed. And she understood that. But she did expect a little emotion. 
“Welcome to our sweet abode brother.” Niklaus said in a hasty voice.

“Thanks brother. Been meaning to visit but….”

“Nothing to apologise for brother. It must have been a very busy life. To not even meet us once, I mean…. Anyways, good to see you, wouldn’t wanna be you.” Niklaus says this and leaves.
Everyone rolled their eyes at this. Not because Niklaus talked nonsense but because it was the truth but hoped for it to be buried.
Everyone dispersed soon after Niklaus did and so Finn. Leaving Esther alone to where she was. 
‘Niklaus only welcomed Finn. Not me. No one asked me how I am. I kept on waiting for them to do it, but they didn’t. Is it really as what Finn says? Have I really been a bad mother?’

*Past*

Everything was doomed. No one knew what laughter is. Ever since Esther and Mikael’s fight, nothing is the same. The children except Niklaus sometimes wander off to somewhere for hours. Esther suspected they all go to meet someone. But she didn’t blame them. The atmosphere that surrounded their home was too cold. To avoid all that was going on, Esther would keep her occupied in household work.
It’s been a week and Mikael had taken Niklaus somewhere. She thought it would finally be peace between them. Because Niklaus didn’t deserve the silent treatment from anyone. He shouldn’t be blamed for something he didn't do. How he is, that's just Esther and that man’s fault. But everyone banished him. 
Suddenly, as Esther was cooking meals, Mikael entered inside and started sharpening the tools. Esther saw Mikael coming alone so she asked,
“Where’s Niklaus?” There was no reply.
Then, Niklaus entered inside all soaked in blood and weak. All scarred. He fell on the floor as soon as he entered inside. Esther rushed to him and asked,
“Niklaus?!”

“Mother….” Niklaus called out to her weakly.

“I am here.” A concerned Esther put his head in her lap. Everyone circled around them except Mikael. 

“Brother what is this?” Elijah asked.

“Mikael, look at him!” Esther called out Mikael but he ignored it.

“Mother, (gulps down) Can you clean me up, please?” 

“Of course!” Esther replied.
“Mikael, come here!” Esther said once again with a fiercer and firmer voice.
But Mikael just went outside.
Esther frowned and then asked for Finn’s help.

---Present---

There was a knock at the front door. Esther who was ignored by everyone, was roaming around the mansion. So being closest to the door, she opened it and it was Dani.  Dani chuckled nervously and asked,
“Umm, is Elijah home?”

“And who you may be?” Esther asked formally.

“I am Dani, friend of Elijah’s.” She replied.

“I think we are more than friends Dani.” Elijah suddenly appeared from behind and said.
Dani was blushing and Esther seemed to catch that.
“But Dani, how come you’re here? I thought you were going to go away for a few days.”

“Why? Aren’t you happy to see me?” Dani teased and Elijah smiled. 
Then Elijah remembered her mother is standing there ogling at them. He immediately said,
“Um, Dani, this is my mother Esther Mikaelson and mother, she is Dani Asher, my lover.”

Dani widened her eyes and was surprised. She said to Esther, “You’re his mother? I thought you were one of the girls his brother brings.” Esther frowned at this. 
“I don’t mean to sound stupid but for a mother of a 29 year old, you seem awfully young.”

“Well, Elijah’s not my first child. I have a son who’s five years older than him.” Esther bragged.

“Oh. Wow! You do not look like so. How old are you?”

“Over a thousand years old.” Esther replied nonchalantly.

“What?” Dani asked and just then Elijah came into rescue,
“Oh, my mother likes to joke. I hope this was a fun meeting and (to Dani) I’ll see you later, okay?”
Dani noticed it wasn’t a good time to visit so she hugged Elijah saying to his ear, “Text me.” and left.

Elijah closed the door and turned only to see Esther carrying a proud smile.
“She seems nice.”

“Well she is nice.” Elijah replied.

“And I think she’ll never leave you.”

“I know.”

“Which is why, it was very strange for me when I learned you haven’t told her about your true self. (Elijah sighed) You, know out of everyone, I never expected you to be dishonest to a girl.
That’s what Kol and apparently Niklaus does.”

“Well, the world is no longer familiar with the terms like vampires or witches. People believe they are fantasy. And if I go out announcing every girl I met that I am a vampire am then I am most likely to live my life like Niklaus. Alone and miserable.” “Elijah, I just want you to be never heartbroken. Because you have to tell her someday to convert her. The sooner the better isn’t it. And I wouldn’t want you to have two consecutive failed relationships because as I recall, this is your first relationship after
Josephine, isn’t it?”

The name of Josephine angered him. 
“No mother it is not! And why would you bring up Josephine now?”

“Elijah, I just….”
Elijah left her without listening to what she had to say. 

---Past---

Six times. Nikalus came all bloody along with Mikael six times. Each time Esther would ask either of them to tell them how Niklaus gets likes this. But neither Mikael nor Niklaus answers to this. She noticed every other children has accompanied them one by one each time. She first asked Finn about it. He said,
“Oh, father is doing something to remove his wolf side. Though we all know that it’s impossible but he says he will do it.” Then she asked Elijah and he refused to answer. He said,
“I believe whatever father’s doing is for the best.”
She asked Rebekah and it didn’t help either. She couldn’t speak anything. Let alone tell her about what Mikael does to Niklaus.
Once, Kol was tied to a tree at night with his humanity off while Mikael was feeding off a person in front of him with blood trailing down his fangs. Kol tried to get rid of the knots and when he would, Mikael would snap his neck; killing him only for Kol to wake up after some time tied again. This was the punishment Mikael gave to Kol as he tried to help Niklaus. 
The next day when Esther asked him about Niklaus and Mikael, he said,
“Mother I am sorry. I can’t. He’d do what not if I tell you. Ask Henrik. I am sure he’d tell you something. But mother, it is not good. It feels like my organs are squeezed by someone so hard that it feels just numb. Standing there watching whatever father does. I was like emotionless at first because the things I was seeing, they were just excruciatingly painful to see. And I am sure it is the same for else.”
After Henrik’s turn, Esther asked him and Henrik immediately hugged her. He said,
“Niklaus needs our help mother. He needs it more than anything else now. But I can’t do anything since I am only a child.”

“Tell me what he does!”

“Come and see for yourself mother. I’ll ask father to take me with them next time and hopefully last time and you somehow sneak and follow us. See for yourself because I can’t say what I see. I shudder to even think about it.”

On next full moon day, Mikael took Niklaus and Henrik. As the plan was, Esther sneaked and followed them to the cave. She hid behind and used a spell to see faraway images. She saw how Mikael would hit him with that tightly- tied bunch of ropes on
Niklaus’ naked body. He wasn’t even wearing pants. Henrik stood there; his back facing them. Esther left terrified after seeing only two hits. She trembled in fear.

---Present---

Niklaus sat in front of the fireplace thinking about something. Something which he will talk about to Elijah soon. But just then he heard Elijah saying,
“Anyone in mood for some whiskey?”

“You can count me out of it brother. Our siblings are here and they all have stuffed themselves in their room! If they fancied it this much then why leave it?”

“Niklaus you can’t even say you miss them properly. Why can’t you tell them you miss them?”

Niklaus turns to face Elijah.
“Brother they are over a thousand years. I am pretty sure they know I do.

“But can’t you tell them?”

“This is pathetic brother!” 
Niklaus turns again to look at the fire. To show he is no mood of neither the whiskey nor this conversation.

“I have always believed in your redemption brother and I always will. Elijah says this and leaves.
He knocks at Finn’s door. Finn says to come in. And so Elijah obliges.
“Tell me, are you two always so dramatic and over the top?” Finn asked.

“So I assume you heard?” Elijah said in counter back.

“So I assume you are. (Both chuckles) Yeah, I heard. One of the perks of vampire.”

Elijah nodded.
“Niklaus has become exceptionally paranoid. And I try to handle that. So overdramatic and over the top? That’s the least of what we are. (Finn nods) He isn’t wrong to be paranoid you know? I mean Mikael is still hunting him and us. We didn’t get those lashings from him. So I don’t judge him.”

Finn sighed in defeat,
“Okay, I’ll be down in a minute.”

Elijah knocked at Rebekah’s door. She opened the door and smiled. Elijah entered and said,
“Me, Brother Finn and Niklaus are having a drink down in the hall.”

“So I heard. And now you’re here to convince me to come. (Elijah nods) Walk away Elijah. You’ll only be wasting your time.”

“Rebekah, living with Niklaus isn’t easy. It’s tough and tiring. Remember when you were still here? You and I would sneak away to discos and bars. You’d order total ten shots for the both of us. Five for me and five for you. And then you’d go dancing after having your third shot. You’d be so tired after all the dancing that you’d never drink the remaining two shots. You’d tell the bartender to give you the remaining two shots tomorrow. Next day you do the same. Ordering five shots and then drinking only three. That became our routine. And I know I may have complained about this routine so many times but ever since you left, without that routine, my life has become tiring. Without ordering those five shots and drinking only three, my life has become tiring. And so if I see you now and want my life to go back to where it is; maybe for a little while, I don’t think I am asking for anything big.”

Rebekah sighed in defeat and said,
“Okay. I’ll come downstairs but only for you. So don’t complain if I’d seem a little less enthusiastic.”

Elijah opened Kol’s bedroom’s door and saw him naked in front of his laptop.
“Whoa-ho!” 
Kol instantly closed his laptop and rushed to bathroom.
“You know being a vampire, I can see you in your speedy run.”

“Why are you here Elijah?” Kol asked from inside the bathroom. “Brother Finn, Rebekah, Niklaus and I are joining together at the hall for a few drinks. Come, let’s go.”

Kol came outside in clothes and replied,
“You know who that was Elijah? Maria! It took me months to convince her to go out with me and now when she finally gave me a call, I was stuck here. But it wasn’t difficult to convince her to do a virtual fuck. She was about to come when you came!”

“Brother the last part seems highly unintentionally funny.”

“Oh, grow up! You know what I meant! And how did you convince Rebekah and Brother Finn?”

“You didn’t hear?”

“I just told you I was in a virtu---”

“Yeah, okay. Got it. So you’re coming right?”

“Fuck it! My only shot at Maria is gone! At least I’d have some drinks to wallow. I am coming in a second.”

Elijah opened Henrik’s bedroom’s door and saw Henrik with headphones on and eyes closed; laying on a bed. Elijah nudged Henrik’s arm and Henrik in response, opened his eyes and removed his headphones.
“Thanks God, you are wearing clothes. Kol gave me a nightmare in his room.”

“Well Kol isn’t exactly known for his merry presence.”

Elijah nervously chuckles and says,
“Henrik, join the rest of us. We are having a few drinks at the hall.”

“Okay.” Henrik got up, took his phone and left his room with Elijah. 

All of were present at the hall in front of the fireplace; seated well together at the sofas. 
“Her name’s Dani?” Kol asked in disbelief.

“Yeah. Dani Asher it is.” Klaus says.

“Seriously, his name’s Dani?” Kol asked the second time to Elijah as if he didn’t hear Klaus’s reply.

“Uh, yeah. Her name is Dani Asher.”

“I fucked a Dani once. Yeah, she was crazy! Moaning so loud that it nearly damaged my ears. Is your Dani a screamer?”

“Does your mind comprehend anything else other than blood and sex?” Henrik asked and kind of snarled.
Kol fell silent. Not because he had no answer but because he just didn’t want to fight with him.

“Nice one, brother.” Niklaus commented. But Henrik didn’t acknowledge to it.

“So Rebekah, have you found yourself someone?” Finn asked. “I remember how much you longed for one.”

Rebekah smiled sadly and replied,
“Well, unfortunately I didn’t in the five years of my mortality.
But now I have.”  

“That’s so brilliant sister.” Niklaus said.

“What’s his name?” Kol asked.

“Paul Lavigne.” Rebekah replied.

“Paul. They are so boring!” Henrik commented. “Not at all good in bed.”

“Oh mine is very passionate in bed. He barely left me walking when I was about to leave.” Rebekah said.

Kol cheered and said while clapping,
“Whooo!!! Go Paul!!”

While simultaneously Elijah said,
“Too much information. Okay…”
Rebekah smiled at this. But she had lied. While Paul and she were on bad terms when she was leaving, she doesn’t even remember the last time they had passionate, warm sex.

Finn laughed at this and said.
“This is great. I want to know what’s happening in all your life.”

“This all could take a while then. What about Mother?” Henrik asked.

“She told me she was doing a third order spell which takes a while. So tell me.”

Everyone looked at one another; waiting for someone to start.
“I’ll start.” Elijah said.
“After Rebekah left me and Niklaus, I would just roam around the city. Roam in the streets or occasionally visit a pub. But a month back or so, I met this amazing woman. Dani Asher and now I am happier than I’ve been in a long time.”

“And your relationship with Dani is your….” Finn wondered

“Fifth.” Elijah mentioned.

“Oof! Just five relationships in 1000 years. Poor guy.” Kol commented. 

“Why do you say that?” Finn asked.

“Because I spend almost every night with a girl.” Kol replied with a wink.

“Yes Kol, your life is wonders.” Henrik said.

“Why Henrik? Something bothering you?”

“No, no. It’s nothing.”

“Come on Henrik. Look how everyone is opening up. You should too.” Finn suggested.

Henrik looked at everyone staring at him with excitement.
He sighed and said,
“I haven’t been in a relationship since The Order was killed.”
Everyone was dumbfounded. Henrik nodded and continued,
“That’s true. No one. But the day I took the plane, there was a certain someone who was.”

“Oh good for you! What’s her name?” Finn asked.

Everyone looked at him with questionable eyes.
“You don’t know?” Rebekah asked.

“Know what?” Finn was confused.

“I fancy men.” Henrik said. Finn looked at him immediately in an emotionless face. “You were absent in all of our lives so you might have been out of the information. But I am. I do like men.” Finn was silent.
“You don’t have to say anything. It’s not something you can get off of easily.”

“Are you joking?” Finn asked which confused everyone.
“You fancying men does not change anything between the two of us. Don’t worry.” Finn said. Everyone smiled.
“So let me rephrase. What’s his name?”

Henrik blinked a couple times and smiled,
“Dacre. His name’s Dacre.”

“Dacre. That’s a nice name.” Rebekah said.

“Yeah, once we get over this mess, you’ll go back to him. I have faith that you will.”  Kol said.
Henrik just nodded at that.

“Well, I got no one, but now….” Klaus began to speak when Finn interrupted him.

“Well I guess nothing’s changed.”
Finn said looking at Klaus for just a second at the end.
Elijah frowned. He knew what was happening there. No one was in the mood to handle Klaus at all. But he didn’t frown because of that. He did it because he didn’t blame them for behaving like that. Klaus has done so much stuff to all of them after they flew away from Mikael that it made complete sense to be cold and distanced. He didn’t know exactly why Finn was behaving like that. Klaus hadn’t done anything to him.
“And as far as I am concerned, I haven’t had someone in my entire life.”

“What!” Henrik shouted.

“Brother?” Elijah hoped Finn was joking.

“That’s not normal.” Rebekah commented.

“For a thousand years?!” Kol’s reaction was the loudest.

“I know. But I just can’t convince myself that I will be good to her. That I won’t hurt her.”
Everyone fell silent after that. For a while.

“You won’t be. Even if you want to be. I try so hard to not but sometimes I just go along and do it. Even though I feel the peak of regret every time, I just can’t help myself. The scent of warm blood flowing in their veins. Being a vampire, everything is heightened and you just lose sometimes.” Elijah expressed.

“And even if you seek refuge in animals, there’s nothing like human blood. And you know it. Animal blood is just poor and sappy replacement of human blood. And even if you go out to satisfy your thirst whilst avoiding your special one, you lose there too. Because you can’t explain the reason why you just go out in the middle of night and come back hors later. And act like nothing happened. Because something does happen. Not only to the ones you hurt but also to your special ones.”
Rebekah expressed too.

“And that’s why I never form a relationship. I just spend the night with them and feed off of them after that.” Kol said with a snarky smile.

“Every night?” Finn asked.

“Most of them. Then clean them up, compel everyone about their life to make them forget her; it’s a tiring process.”  Kol expressed with a sigh.

“You better be careful, Kol.” Rebekah said.

But Kol just didn’t care about that.
“So what can I do? It feels like a drug each time you feed. A drug which makes you forget about everything. About everything that has happened; every sad little thing, it just vanishes. Who wouldn’t want that?”

“It’s not our fault you know.”
Klaus spoke. No one looked at him but they all were listening.
“It isn’t our fault we’re like this. We didn’t wish to become like this. No one asked for this. We are just what we are because our parents did what they thought was the best for us. Forget mother, but Mikael knew what this does to us. Still he made us like this. So we can at least think that we try to do the good thing and make a better choice but he didn’t even think of doing the right thing. We can be not happy but a little less guilty remembering that.” He said.
Everyone again fell silent. For a longer while.

“Say you have to be mopping their blood right?”
Kol didn’t reply even though he knew Finn asked him.

“Yes because we all know how much of a messy eater are you!” Rebekah said.

Kol was about to counter back when Elijah said.
“Damn all those women’s vagina.” Everyone laughed at that.

---Past---

One night, while Mikael was away for finding cure to Klaus’s wolf side, Esther called everyone and said,
“Children, we have to leave.”

“What?” Rebekah asked.

“Your father is no longer safe for us.” She said.

“Mother, what are you saying?”  Elijah asked.

“I went along with Henrik, Mikael and Niklaus and saw what he does to him. I could only see a few seconds, how do you manage to witness for the whole time?”  No one replied.

“We think what father does is the best. We think he means the best for him.” Finn replied after some time.

“Speak for yourself! I have told you that I don’t like this!” Henrik shouted.

“Be calm!” Esther said.
“Beating your brother till he bleeds every week knowing it doesn’t do anything is the best for him? (Everyone was silent) He is taking his anger out on him.
I can’t tolerate this any longer and so I am fleeing off with Niklaus tonight no matter what and I am not allowing you all to stay.” She commanded.
Then she looked at Niklaus in tears and rubbed his cheek.
“You’re not the monster. No one is the monster here. Not me, not your siblings… not your father! He may be at his least here but he is doing what he feels right. Those who don’t care about right or wrong, they are the monster. And I feel that we leaving now is right for all of us.”
Esther looked at everyone and nodded. And slowly everyone nodded with her.
Everyone took all the necessities immediately and went out. They all saw their house one last time. The place where they played with each other, the place where they fought with each other, the place where they all made fun of each other, the place where they supported each other. And that was what they were doing then too. Supporting Niklaus to be free from Mikael’s misery. They flew.

After reaching to a far away place; still in the forests, everyone stopped running for a quick breath. 
“Where are we going to go?” Kol asked.

After a few seconds, Esther called out Finn and Finn went to her leaving Kol, Elijah, Henrik, Rebekah and Nikalus alone.
“Yes mother?” 

“Finn, just trust me here okay? (Finn nodded) I think you, I and the rest of them have to separate.”

“What?”

“Yes. I think you and I need to go to somewhere else and not with them.”

“But why?” 

“Because Mikael will try his best to come for us. Before Niklaus was the only problem, but now that we all have flew away from him, we all are his enemies. We have betrayed him. He will come for us. And so I had to be doing a supreme order of tracking spell all the time. A supreme order spell requires the highest amount of attention and free mind. And to be honest, with all of them, my mind is not doing to be stable. They will have their own problems,
I will feel concerned to them and my mind will be filled up. I have to leave and you with me so that you can help me find place to live. (Finn frowned) Compulsion. Yes, we’ll be needing that.” Finn sighed.
“Finn, you have always known that I do; whatever I do is for the best. So please trust me.”

“Mother?” Elijah called out.
Both of them looked at them and then Finn asked,
“What about them? They’ll be furious.”

“They just have to understand my motives, that’s all.”

“But do you really expect them to live in peace?”  Finn asked.

“Don’t you worry. I’ll take care of everything. Okay? (Finn sighed) Okay?”
Finn nodded and so they both joined them.

“Where are we going to go, mother?” Kol asked.

“Somewhere far and safe. Maybe New Orleans. It’s populated. Use your compulsion to have shelter and make friends. A lot of friends. And whatever happens, always be with each other. Help each other….”

“Mother why are you saying all this? You’re going to be there too.” Rebekah said.

Finn looked at Esther and then Esther said,
“No, we actually will not be with you.”

“What?” Nikaus shouted. But everyone had the same reaction.

“I have to plan a supreme order spell and that’s why I’ll be needing free mind. So I’ll be leaving.”

“Why a supreme order spell?” Elijah asked.

“Your father. He’s going to come for all of us. We betrayed him after all. All he had was us and we left him. He will go crazy.”

“Wait a minute. You said ‘we’. Who’s joining you?”

“Your brother Finn. (Everyone was about to ask why) I have to use compulsion and for that reason, I am taking him.”

“Why only him? Why not all of us?” Kol asked.

“Kol…” Esther began to explain.

“We’ll not be having you or father! How are we going to survive?” Klaus asked.

“You’ll have Elijah. (To Elijah) Elijah, I am giving you the responsibility of taking care of your siblings.” Elijah nodded.

“But why Finn? Why not me? (Esther was about to speak) I know! It’s always been him. Isn’t it? Sometimes Nik or sometimes Elijah even everyone except me! Why not me?”  Kol asked.

“I promise to answer you this someday but we can’t be in this forest anymore. The sun is about to rise and people will see us and Mikael could use that. So we better rush. (To Elijah, Nikaus,
Rebekah, Kol and Henrik) You’ll be fine. As long as you’ll he with each other, you’ll be fine. You’re Mikaelsons after all! You are meant to survive. And live forever like kings. (Holds Finn’s hand) This is not a farewell. We’ll see each other again. I promise.”
Everyone was saying something while Finn was looking at his siblings. He don’t know the next time he’ll see them. He’ll miss them.
Esther said a spell which disappeared her and Finn.

“Wait!” Rebekah shouted with tears.

“We didn’t even get to say goodbye to Brother Finn.” Henrik said in a gloomy tone.

“Mother…” Rebekah sobbed.

Elijah noticed the sky turned light blue.
“Let’s go.”

“Brother, where? We’re alone. How will we live?’ Kol asked in an helpless manner.

“Together. We’ll live together. (Looked at Rebekah and Nikalus and back to Kol) Always and Forever.”

“Always and Forever.” Niklaus said and looked at Rebekah.

Rebekah sniffled and said,
“Always and Forever.” All of them looked at Kol.

“Always and Forever.”

---Present---

Esther entered in the room where all were having a good time. They all stopped laughing once they saw her.
“So, the spell’s done. Whenever Mikael is a mile away from us, we’ll all feel a blow of air around our neck. It would be a little scary but we are here to fight. We can’t get afraid of a little air.”  Esther said and snickered.

Everyone ignored her, got up and went past her. Esther broke down and shouted,
“I am your mother! (Turned to face them) I am your goddamn mother! The only reason behind all of your lives. Without me, all of you have been dead. It’s been so long since I have seen you all together, can’t I get a little bit of warmth form you? Don’t I deserve that? After all that I have done and been through, don’t I deserve a good time with my children?!”

No one said anything and continued walking. Esther remember how once they all used to run to her and hug her. And now they were showing their backs to her, walking away from her. If she knew that it would lead to this, that every child of her will despise her, she would’ve ended her life ages ago.