➳
On the streets Francesca is holding a press conference, in an attempt to cover up the supernatural activity of the previous night.
"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." She addresses the media, and the crowds surrounding her.
"We will rebuild. We will remember those who perished," She gestures behind her now, at a memorial wall set up for the victims, "as we seek to disinfect our town of it's worst elements. We will work together to ensure that the heart of the Crescent City thrives again!"
- Jardin Gris Voodoo Shop -
Oliver enters the voodoo shop to find Marcel is waiting for him. "Last man standing, Huh?" He says, closing the shop door behind him.
"I'm interested in making a deal." Marcel shrugs.
"Don't look like you got much to offer." Ollie retorts back, cocky as ever.
"I'm hearing word the Guerrera's want the Quarter to be a no vampire zone. I can make that happen - in exchange for you leaving us alone across the river. Or, I can unleash hell on your new Wolfpack." Marcel replies.
Oliver only laughs. "And how can you do that?"
"Easy! I made my peace with Klaus. He cured me. So now, it's you vs us." Marcel tells him.
"Klaus is a warmonger. You think he's gonna choose to side with a pack of scrawny vamps, or an army of the new wolf breed that he created?" Oliver taunts.
"I'm thinking he's gonna side with us.." Oliver scoffs now. "Especially when he finds out that your pack killed his kid." Marcel adds.
Ollie's face falls serious. "What?"
Marcel turns now, gesturing to a small box on the shop counter. "Open the box, and let me know what you think Klaus will believe about who's responsible for what you find inside of it." He heads for the door now, but stops before leaving. "Cremation may be the best way to go, before Klaus smells it on you."
Marcel leaves Oliver alone. The werewolf turns now, gingerly lifting the lid off the box and peering inside. He winces, growing pale.
Outside, Cami is at the memorial for the dead. She scans the pictures, before her eyes fall on one sign that reads Baby Mikaelson. She gasps, hurrying away and to the Abattoir.
Klaus is stood on the balcony, mournfully looking down at the courtyard, when Camille races into the compound.
"Klaus? The baby?" She questions, looking up at him sadly. He walks down the stairs to join her.
"She died. A few hours after the Guerrera attack." He informs his friend.
Cami gasps, a hand flying to her mouth as she starts to cry. "This..this is all my fault."
"I can assure you it is not." Klaus replies.
"No! If I hadn't hesitated, I could have uncovered Francesca's plot in time to stop it!" Cami argues.
"And, how would you have stopped the coven of witches in league with her?" Klaus questions, tears pooling in his own eyes, too. "No. If anyone is to blame, I am."
"I am so, so sorry." Cami sighs, watching as Klaus turns away from her. She reluctantly leaves the compound.
Elijah watches Cami leave from the balcony, before Nik joins him. "Did Marcel play his part?" Elijah asks.
"He managed to locate a stillborn baby in a hospital in upstate Louisiana." Klaus informs his brother.
"I trust he agreed to the terms." Elijah replies.
"He has agreed to allow me to compel him to forget what he knows of my child. In exchange, he wants vials of my blood." Klaus says.
"The witches will have to believe this. Soon, that fourth Harvest girl will resurrect. The coven will rebuild. If they sense that your child lives, they will hunt her." Elijah warns.
"The witches will buy what we sell. We just have to sell it properly." Klaus shoots back.
The two stand in silence for several moments, before Elijah finally speaks. "Well, then, all that remains is to say goodbye."
Klaus turns to his brother. "They will be watching us. All of them. The three of us leaving together will draw too much attention. I will go alone. Take your mourning public when I am gone."
"I don't imagine that will be too difficult. Grief, after all, is grief." Elijah replies, voice tinged with sadness.
—————
Lunar is packing up the last of her daughter's things, along with the letter she wrote whilst pregnant, when Klaus enters the room.
"Lunar. It's time." He tells her. She nods, fighting back tears as she moves to the crib, bending down and lifting the baby out.
"You still need to complete your transition." Nik says, watching the brunette. Her silence is frightening.
"I know." Lunar eventually chokes out, she walks with baby in arms, picking up a small needle off her bedside table. "Use this." She hands it to Klaus, who reluctantly, but, gently sticks the needle into their baby's finger.
Lunar leans down, kissing the blood off her baby's thumb, and completing her transition into a hybrid. With a sigh, Lunar places the baby into the car seat, fastening her up.
"She needs a name, Lunar." Klaus says, watching from the doorway.
Lunar looks down at the baby now, quietly thinking. She brainstorms names. It feels like such a massive responsibility, to name a tiny human. Would the name suit her when she grew up? Would she grew to despise it, or love it?
"Zoe? Kaitlyn?" Lunar rattles off names now, the same she'd used in her letter, but they still don't seem to fit, less so now that she can see her baby girl's face. "Katherine?" She laughs, looking at Klaus. It'd be poetic, considering the devious vampire was the only reason she and Klaus were here right now.
"God, no." Klaus starts to laugh too, and it's nice that, even just for a moment, they are smiling. They are here, together, and they are happy.
"I never knew I could love something so much." Lunar admits with a small sigh, her heart breaking at the thought of saying goodbye. "It honestly feels..awful. Like it might kill me."
"It nearly did." Klaus reminds her, moving forwards now. "I'm sorry the beginning of her life was so violent."
"It's not your fault, Klaus." Lunar replies softy, looking up at him now. "I know that you fought for us."
"You know, when Elijah thought you were dead, he said we'd lost our family's only hope." Klaus tells her, and she smiles.
"Hope." Lunar tries the name on for size, looking down at the baby. "Hope Mikaelson."
"Hope Saffron Mikaelson." Klaus adds, and Lunar looks up at him in silent awe. Even though she'd told him about her parents, even mentioning her mother's name, she hadn't quite expected Nik to remember. She smiles, it was perfect.
"You remembered my mom's name." Lunar whispers.
"Course I did. I did actually listen to you, you know." Klaus replies, a tiny smile on his face.
Reluctantly, Lunar gets to her feet now. She pulls Klaus in, kissing him. "We're doing the right thing." She says, mostly for herself.
He nods. "She will be safe, and loved." Klaus reassures her, and Lunar knows it's true. She pulls him in close for a kiss.
"I love you." She turns now, picking up the car seat and handing it to Klaus. "Be careful." Lunar tells him, bending down to look at Hope. "I love you, baby girl, and I'll see you soon." Lunar chokes on the words, unable to stop the tears.
Nik leaves quickly, afraid if he waits too long Lunar will change her mind. She will not, she knows how important this is, but that doesn't make it any less heartbreaking.
Once he's gone, true to his word, Elijah takes Lunar out onto the streets of the French Quarter to the memorial. They lay flowers, and everyone can see, how evidentially heartbroken the brunette is.
- Boarder of New Orleans -
Klaus parks his SUV, cradling Hope in his arms, waiting on a quiet country road. Eventually, another car pulls up in front of him and he steps out of the car.
Rebekah climbs out of the car, smiling when she see's her brother and newborn niece. "Hello, sister." Klaus greets her with a smile.
Rebekah steps forwards, gently touching her niece and starring in wonder. "Oh, she looks like her mother." She smiles. "Maybe there is a God after all."
Klaus laughs. "Well, she has a hint of the devil in her eyes. That's all me." He grins, before growing serious. "I need a witch you can trust to cast a cloaking spell."
"I'll get one." Rebekah reassures him.
"No one can ever find her." Klaus insists.
"I know what to do, Nik." She says, looking at the baby. "Perhaps we'll get a white fence. I think that would be lovely."
Klaus holds up the baby to get one last look before he hands her over to Rebekah. He lowers his voice to a whisper. "This city would have seen you dead. But, I will have it your home. And every soul who wishes you harm will be struck down, just as sure as my blood runs in your veins. You will return to me." He kisses his daughter's forehead, before handing her to Rebekah.
Then, he hands Rebekah the little wooden knight that he carved for her a thousand years ago. She grabs his hand, tears shining in her eyes.
"In spite of our differences, Rebekah, there is no one I would trust more with my daughter's life." Klaus tells her softly, before hugging her. He kisses her on the cheek. "Be happy, sister."
Rebekah smiles at him. "She will be happy, Nik. I promise." They smile at each other for a moment. "What's her name?"
Klaus pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Hope. Her name is Hope." He chokes on the words, tears pooling out of his eyes now and running down his cheeks, as he watches Rebekah put Hope into the car.
- Plantation House grounds -
Cassie, the fourth Harvest girl has risen. She awakes in her tomb at the Lafayette Cemetery, before leaving to a clearing near the old Plantation House.
Bending down, the young girl lays a rose over a grave stone. She's soon joined by fellow witch, Vincent Griffith.
"May you rest in peace." Vincent says, looking down at the headstone that reads Esther; our beloved mother.
"What's the fun in that?" Cassie smiles, looking at Vincent now. "Come along. We have much to do."
"Yes, mother." Vincent replies, following after Cassie when she turns to leave.
- The Abattoir -
Lunar feels like her head is gonna explode. The sounds of hearts off the street is deafening, the insatiable hunger mixing with her sadness and anger.
She clasps her head in her hands, before screaming. She cannot help herself, and she doesn't care who hears. Before she knows it she's in the nursery, throwing what she can to the floor. Things smash, clattering, the noise is deafening.
Nothing has ever seemed so loud. She wants to tear out her ears. Lunar stops now, looking at the painting Klaus did for her. She reaches up, ready to tear it off it's hook and send it flying in blind rage, when a hand stops her.
Turning, Lunar is surprised to see Klaus is home. He doesn't say anything, just pulls her close. His arms hold her, strong and anchoring, as she falls to her knees, sobbing loudly. He falls with her, refusing to let go.
"Everything hurts." Lunar chokes out through sobs. "My heart..my heart is breaking. I don't want to do this, I don't want to feel." She pulls away from him now, starring into his eyes. She can see he's fighting back the tears now too.
"Lunar, you don't have to be the werewolf with no humanity. Not right now, not with me." Nik tells her with such sincerity, it just makes her heart shatter even more. "It's ok, little wolf. I got you." He pulls her in closer again. "I got you."