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Soft sobs and muffled whimpers left the blonde vampires lips, the only other sound in the car being the gentle hum of the engine.
Astrid was slumped across the seats in the back of the car, curled into a fetal position, knees pressed against her chest as Nik unsurely ran his fingers up and down the bumps of her spine- what she assumed was supposed to be a soothing gesture.
But nothing would soothe the pain so vast in her chest that it simply hurt to exhale.
If anything, Nik's touch seemed to irritate her, something he quickly caught on to when he noticed she was leaning out of his touch, jerking away as if his fingertips were burning her back.
Niklaus found himself watching helplessly as her fingers clenched the leather material of the seats, nails scratching and marking. He was uncertain of what to do, how to help his wife, how to soothe her pain as well as his own.
She wasn't the only one grieving Marcel- with not only Rebekah sniffling in the front seat in her slumber- but he too was grieving Marcel dearly. The little warrior from mars, the abused little boy who reminded him so much of himself as a boy.
Losing a child the first time around had been hard, initially it had almost tore them apart before they bounded together, seeking comfort in one another.
Niklaus couldn't help but wonder if this time would be different, if his inability to comfort his wife would drive them apart.
'No, no, it wouldn't come to that', Nik wouldn't let it.
He loved his wife to dearly to let her go, to let her drown in her grief alone. If she was going to drown, he would hold her hand and pull her out when she was ready.
'Elijah- what if Mikael had caught up to him?' At the thought of his big brother, Niklaus' jaw clenched in anguish. His noble brother had taken it upon himself to save them, to lead Mikael far away from them.
The thought of losing his brother- his closest friend; it was too painful to think about.
Fortunately the prominent sound of Rebekah sniffling caused Niklaus to escape from his thoughts. Despite being in a deep slumber, scattered tears were still dripping down her cheeks.
Swallowing, Niklaus casted a wary glance towards Astrid. She had wrapped her arms around her legs, eyelids tiredly drooping as she continued to cry, tears dripping onto the leather interior of the car.
Her blonde hair had fallen out of her previously pristine up-do, splattered with dried and damp blood, blood of her own, blood from her husband, blood from her baby...
Marcel. An involuntary whimper left her lips at the name as the thought of her precious baby haunted her mind, his face clear to picture in her head. She could still see the cross, the stakes through his hands, his head lulled forwards.
