Always & Forever A Mikaelson {Sequel to Klaus' Daughter Is A Lockwood}

How To Save A Mikaelson, Francesca Triumphs Over New Orleans

LAFAYETTE CEMETERY- TOMBS
Nicole returned to the cemetery to find Elijah and Hayley; who have shackled Genevieve in one of the tombs to get information from her. "Why?" Hayley asked her furiously. "The Ancestors left me no choice-" Genevieve began but Hayley cut her off."You were willing to sacrifice an innocent baby for more power?" Hayley asked her; appalled by her actions."No, not just power! It was the Ancestors' decree. It was her decree." Genevieve yelled and looked at Nicole hoping she'd understand who she meant. Nicole tilted her head in slight confusion. Elijah grabbed Genevieve roughly by the face and forced her to look at him in the eyes."It was whose decree?" He asked through gritted teeth. Genevieve smiled weakly. "I'm surprised you have to ask." She said then laughed darkly. "After all, you were the one who convinced your siblings to consecrate her on New Orleans soil." Genevieve said coyly. Nicole's eyes widened in fear. "Oh my God." Nicole said in realization. Elijah let go of her, visibly disgusted, when he realized who she's talking about. Hayley, too, now seems to have figured it out as well. "Esther." Hayley said stunned. "So, not even death can stop my mother from seeking the annihilation of her own flesh and blood." Elijah said with disdain for his mother. "This isn't the end. As long as that child lives, the witches of New Orleans will never stop coming for it." Genevieve said anxiously. Nicole listened to every word that came out of her mouth. She started to cry. "Esther will never stop coming for her." Genevieve warned them. "Why only her?" Nicole asked confused. It has been decreed. Your baby will be consecrated among her ancestors. She will not live." Genevieve explained. "Because she was born here. She's a New Orleans witch." Nicole explained more clearly. Hayley and Elijah just glared at Genevieve. Suddenly she began to bleed from her eyes. "They're coming for me, I can feel it. I failed them. Understand- I just wanted to live. Tell Klaus... I'm sorry." Genevieve plead and started to choke up blood. Nicole felt sorry for her. Hayley watched her for a moment before sighing and stabbing her in the stomach with the athame. Nicole and Elijah were shocked by her rash behavior. "I'm not." She whispered to Genevieve coldly. Hayley pulled the knife out of her, dropped it and walked out of the tomb, with Nicole and Elijah behind her. Genevieve died, still restrained by her wrists against the wall.

THE MIKAELSON COMPOUND
Klaus, Nicole and Elijah sat in Hayley's room, while Hayley held the baby in a rocking chair in the nursery, located right off of her bedroom. "We should have felt our mother's hand in this. We should have known she would not be bound by anything as obvious as death. And now she has control of the witches. They will never stop." Klaus said with fear and defeat. "No, she won't." Nicole said quietly. "Nor would I expect the Guerrera wolves to back down. Hayley and the child are wolf royalty, and as such, they are a threat to Francesca's claim to the leadership." Klaus explained as simply as he could.

Unbeknownst to the brothers and Nicole, Hayley was listening to them talk from the nursery. "They will never be safe." He said and paused for a beat. "What was it you said to me earlier? That I have made enemies every day of my miserable life? Well, the worst of them are within these borders, brother." Klaus said with regret in his eyes. Elijah sighed in frustration, clearly feeling guilty as well. "I have brought into the world a weapon they can use against me." Klaus said sadly. Nicole couldn't take it anymore. "Then we will prepare ourselves! We're the Mikaelsons for sobbing out loud!" Nicole stood up said encouragingly. "Agreed. Brother, we have fought every adversary in this town, and we have won. And we'll fight them again, no matter who they are! We will make this home a fortress." Elijah told Klaus forcibly. "I will not have her live her life as a prisoner." Klaus said in low tone. "Then we leave here, together. All of us. We can go to Mystic Falls, ask Bonnie for help." Nicole said butting in. "Wherever we go, however far we run, those who seek power and revenge will hunt us! They do not know of Nicole's existence but everyone knows of her! They will hunt her. She has inherited all of our enemies with none of our defenses." Klaus ranted.

Nicole really couldn't understand why they would come after the baby more than her considering she was older. Then it dawned on her. Hayley is the last of the Crescent bloodline. That means the baby was the heir to the Crescent line. "So, whether we stay, or we leave; we condemn her." Elijah said in defeat. Hayley suddenly appeared in the doorway with the baby in her arms. "There's a third option." Hayley said interrupting them. Klaus and Elijah looked surprised as they turn to face Hayley. Nicole noticed Hayley looked wrecked. She hated seeing her like this. "I grew up in a warzone. My parents thought they could protect me. But, in the end, they were slaughtered, and I spent my childhood alone and unloved." She said as she looked down at her daughter and smiled. Nicole saw she was trying to hold back tears. "I made a promise, to my baby, and to myself, that she would not grow up like I did. That she would grow up safe, and loved. And yet, here she is, on her first day in this world, with a grandmother who is bent on sacrificing her-" Hayley began but her cries were making it hard to speak, Nicole walked over and put an arm around her to comfort her. "And a-a mother who has to drink the blood of her own baby to survive transitioning into a hybrid. And I'm the one who loves her the most." She finished as sobs racked her body. Nicole looked to the brothers while Klaus and Elijah looked at Hayley; saddened and devastated by their current situation. "I think the only thing to do is... Send her away... While we stay behind and clean up the mess that we've made." Hayley said between her cries. "No! This is insane." Nicole said trying to talk them out of this option. "You heard Genevieve- so long as she lives, that baby will be hunted." Elijah said with certainty and sadness. Klaus moved next to Hayley and the baby in the doorway. "Not if no one knows she lives." Klaus said with a sad smirk. "What is it you intend to do, brother?" Elijah asked him confused. "Whatever it takes to save our family." Klaus said looking at his brother with a hint of danger in his eyes.

THE FRENCH QUARTER

On the main street, Francesca was holding a press conference to cover up the events of the previous day or so. The street was packed with reporters and townspeople, as well as Oliver. Francesca noticed Marcel walking among the crowd, and sent a signal to Oliver to follow him while she continued to speak. "Today begins a new day in the Quarter. My family, long time residents of this great community, pledges to help every citizen recover from the terrible outbreak of gang violence that erupted on the streets of our city last night." Oliver followed Marcel into the Jardin Gris voodoo shop as Francesca finished her announcement. "We will rebuild. We will remember those who perished." She said and gestured to a memorial wall. "As we seek to disinfect our town of its worst elements. We will work together to ensure that the heart of the Crescent City thrives again!" She shouted to the crowd to offer motivation.

Cami approached the memorial wall on Rue Dumaine, where a crowd of people had gathered to pay their respects to all of the citizens who died in the covered up 'Battle of New Orleans'. People were crying around her as Cami scanned the photos and notes stuck to the wall. She saw a framed sign that reads "In Memorium: Baby Mikaelson" on the wall, and gasped in horror.