Rebuild (The Originals, Book Two)

Ch. 3: Every Mother's Son

At the loft, Gia and I were sorting through books. 

Elijah walked in.

"I wondered when you'd show up," I told him. "Your pupil's waiting. It's not like you to shirk your responsibilities." 

Elijah sighed. "As you well know, she is not my... burden to bear. You turned her, you teach her." 

Gia turned to us, looking hurt. 

"Why'd you come?" I asked.

"I'm looking for a cooperative witch," Elijah answered.

"I don't know where Davina is, and given the fact that she's got your father on a leash, I wouldn't put her in the, uh, 'cooperative' category," I told him.

"Not Davina," Elijah told me. "Perhaps another witch? On another leash?" 

"What makes you think I got another witch?" I asked.

"Perhaps the daylight ring on your new librarian?" Elijah suggested, gesturing to Gia.

Gia pretended not to be offended.

I smiled. "Good point. My memory's a little shaky. Lucky for you, though, I know someone who can help. Gia?" I gestured to her. Gia sighed, walking reluctantly over to us. "Why don't you take Elijah to meet our friend Lenore?" 

Elijah sighed. "If this is your idea of a joke, I can assure you I am not amused." 

"Well, there's nothing funny about what's going on," I told him. "Mikael's back, witches causing chaos. It just seems like you could use all the friends that you can get." 

Elijah rolled his eyes, turning toward the door.

**

Gia walked back into the loft. "A snake? That was my big lesson of the day. Snake-fetching."

I laughed. "Hold on. You compelled yourself a snake?" 

"No," Gia answered in exasperation. "I stole the damn thing. Captain Condescension didn't feel the need to cover the mind-control chapter in today's lesson." 

"Did you even try?" I asked.

"I don't even know where to start trying, Noah," Gia told me, walking closer. "Why Elijah? I'm not stupid. You and Marcel want something from him. I just can't guess the reason why you'd think I'm the ay to get it."

"Actually, we want something for him, and it's the same thing I want for you," I told her.

"Which is what?" Gia asked. 

"This," I answered. "Us. Our new community. Look, I learned my lesson the hard way. You can't make your way in this town unless you got an Original looking out for you. Klaus is so fixated on those wolves, and Elijah's so wrapped up in centuries of his family's old crap that he can't see it. But, we need him. We need him to see us as a family, too."

Gia had tears in her eyes. "I couldn't even get my own family to care about me. How am I supposed to win him over?" 

I walked closer. "I've known that man one hundred years. He's cranky." I chuckled. "He's fussy. And, he can ride your last nerve. But, he has an Achilles heel, okay? He can't help but fix what's broken. You don't need to be anything other than what you already are. Someone who needs his help." 

**

I was sitting on the couch, having a drink. 

The remaining vampires across the river congregated in groups. Some were drinking alcohol and talking, others feeding on humans. 

Gia walked closer to me.

I smiled. "Where were you?" 

"I saw Elijah," Gia told me, smiling. "You were right. He found something that he wanted to fix." She laughed. "He's gonna help me." 

Gia sat next to me. 

We took in the party atmosphere.

I nodded. "He's gonna help us all."