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Marleny Aleelayn Net Worth, Marleny1 Onlyfans, Marleny1__

Marleny Aleelayn net worth is $7 Million in 2023. Marleny Aleelayn (Marleny1) only fans account is growing rapidly. Marleny1__ is her Instagram id.

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Marleny Aleelayn is a Famous Social Media Star

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Marleny Raful Aday

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Ch.7:  My Beloved

Current Story Masterlist  // Previous story // Maleny’s Masterlist

Pairings: Klaus x OFC || Elijah x Cami  

Pronunciation of OC’s name: Ma-leh-nee

Taglist: @ocappreciationtag​​​​ @arrthurpendragon​​​ @anotherunreadblog​​​ @transformerfan97​​​ @stareyedplanet​​​ @foxesandmagic​​​​​

If you’d like to be a part of this OC’s work/edits, let me know!

"Mummy! Mummy!" A young, five year old, Marlenie came running inside the cottage where Maleny, in the body of Iris Velden, was separating straps of cloths the witches had ordered her to do.

"What is it, Marls?" Maleny looked up momentarily to see the girl looking crossed as ever.

"It's Nick, he won't let me play with him," Marlenie huffed and crossed her arms. "He won't share the wood with me."

Maleny smiled. "And why not?"

"Because he's making something special," Marlenie rolled her eyes, grumbling. "He can't make anything, Mummy!"

Maleny chuckled and went back to the cloths. "Don't be mean, Marlenie. He is, after all, only five years old - like you are."

Marlenie ignored her mother and dashed for their room, seconds later returning with the wooden craft of two joined stars in her hands. "No one will be better than Daddy, though," she sprinted back to Maleny. "Don't you think, Mummy?"

Maleny briefly glanced at the craft, no longer easy to see the craft without shedding tears. "Of course, but I bet if Nicolas keeps practicing, he might be able be just as good as your father."

Marlenie grinned at the craft, just like she always did when she held the craft in her hands. But when she looked up and saw her mother silently working, her smile waned. "Mummy, why don't we run away?" Maleny froze in the midst of her work. "Why don't we go find Daddy?" Marlenie climbed onto Maleny's lap, innocently looking at the woman. "I want to see him."

Maleny sighed and wrapped an arm around the small girl. "Marls, you know why we can't do it."

"Because the bad witches…" Marlenie glumly said, looking down at the craft.

"Hey," Maleny gently swayed her, pressing a kiss on Marlenie's dark hair, "Now you know what I told you - you and your brother - about your father. Can you tell me?"

Marlenie sighed and proceeded to recite the words she had heard since she could remember. "Nick and I will find Daddy as long as we're under the same stars."

"Exactly," Maleny took the craft from Marlenie and held it in front of them both. "Your father travels all the time, but no matter where he ends up at, you and your brother can find him. The stars are the same, and no matter where I am, you know that I will always love you."

Marlenie looked up at her mother, teary-eyed. "But I want you to be with us, Mummy."

Knowing it was impossible, Maleny became teary-eyed as well. "I would like that too, sweetheart, but Mummy made a bad decision that got her into this mess. But wherever I am after this, you look up to those stars, Marls, and remember that I am with you - will always be with you."

Marlenie sniffed and leaned on her mother's chest. "Always and forever," she reminded, wrapping her small arms around Maleny's waist.

She may have been only five, but Marlenie knew that her mother would soon be leaving her - that was what the bad witches were beginning to murmur. She wished she was big enough to protect her Mummy from the bad witches, to help her Mummy run away and find her Daddy, along with Nicolas. She wished on every star that she could just have her family together, doing family stuff….

"Okay! I think we just need one more," Maleny beamed at their almost finished Christmas tree. "Marls, hand me a gold bauble?"

Marlenie had been caught up in the memory while she and her mother decorated the Christmas tree the Mikaelsons had brought into the courtyard for the holiday.

"Marls?" Maleny called again and glanced back to see her daughter lost in thought. Slightly concerned, she left the tree and walked up to the young-looking woman. "Marlenie?" she gently shook Marlenie's arm, snapping her out of her trance. "Hey," Maleny chuckled, "what happened there?"

Marlenie sheepishly smiled. "Sorry, I, um…" she shook her head, fully embarrassed as she tried to talk, "...I was just thinking back to when I was a little girl and how much I wished we could do normal family stuff…like that," she gestured to the large Christmas tree.

Maleny softly smiled, half-remembering those certain memories. Now that more days had passed by, and with Marlenie's help, she was beginning to remember a lot more of her days with her twins...and Maleny felt incredibly happy. It was surreal to know she had children now, and even more-so to have one of them with her at the moment. Marlenie had made it her business to know as much as she could of her parents and their family. If she wasn't with Maleny, then she was with Klaus, and if she wasn't with either she was with her uncle Elijah or aunt Freya. She wanted to know every last thing about her family and no one was telling her 'no'.

"Well," Maleny began, walking towards a box set on the couch, "you can help me finish my very first Christmas tree by putting one of these on," she turned to Marlenie, holding out the golden bauble.

Beaming, Marlenie rushed to retrieve the bauble and place it to where Maleny pointed at. "Like that?" she glanced back at her mother questionably.

"Mmm," Maleny took a couple steps back, hands together as she stared the tree up and down. "Perfect!" she declared a moment later.

"Really?" Marlenie went to stand beside Maleny as they both took in the tree. "Ooh, I think we did good."

Maleny chuckled and went back to the boxes, figuring which ones needed to be put away where. She and Marlenie had taken out every last bit of decorations they could find to use on the courtyard and several other rooms. Being it the first Christmas Maleny would spend in her original body, and the first to spend with her daughter, she wanted everything to be perfect.

"Dad!" Marlenie's sudden exclaim startled Maleny into dropping a bauble onto the ground, making instantly shatter to pieces.

"Marlenie!" Maleny turned around, half irritated with her.

"Sorry," Marlenie winced at the scolding she knew was heading her way. But she just went to meet her father instead, Klaus distracted with the courtyard's appearance for the moment.

"You two went all out…" he remarked slowly.

Marlenie beamed. "Do you like it? Mum and I decorated it - well, Mum did a lot of the job. I just hung the ones she couldn't reach."

"Hey," Maleny hissed, crossing her arms.

Marlenie giggled. "You should have seen her trying to hang up the lights herself."

"Marlenie!"

Klaus, trying not to look as amused as he actually was, interjected the conversation. "Marls, go upstairs," he ordered lightly.

Marlenie pretended to gasp. "Is there a present for me upstairs?"

Klaus reiterated his order with a pointed finger to the rails. "Go upstairs."

Marlenie rolled her eyes and did as told, grumbling things under her breath that Maleny couldn't hear, but Klaus could. When Marlenie was gone, Maleny loudly sighed.

"You know, she reminds me of Kol a lot," she bent down to pick up the shards of the bauble she dropped. She thought that Marlenie had inherited some of Kol's mischievousness as well, because there were certain things Maleny knew for a fact neither she nor Klaus had ever acted like.

"Let's not go insulting the poor girl," Klaus joked and came to help her.

"Don't be so rude," Maleny playfully scolded. "You should have seen Marlenie in her younger days - she was an outright terror sometimes. I really wish good luck to Hayley with Hope. If that little girl inherits your awful temperamental genes like Marls...oh dear."

Klaus quirked an eyebrow at her, surprised. "Well, now who's being rude?"

Maleny sheepishly smiled and straightened with the bauble pieces in her hands. "Sorry," she uttered a minute after, reverting back to her shy demeanor. "Can I take those?" she pointed to the bauble pieces he held.

"How about I take them instead?" Klaus offered, not waiting for the answer as he took the pieces off her hands.

When his fingers touched her palms, Maleny felt a warm tingle that she was sure caused a bright blush across her face. Wanting to move on before Klaus could get a good ear on her racing heart, she brought in conflicting subjects to the table.

"I need to go out today," she announced while Klaus went to dump the bauble pieces over a small table for the meantime. "I need to see Davina. I know she hates me and all but I heard from Cami that she got shunned from her coven. I need to see her and see if she's okay."

"It's probable she won't want to see you, though," Klaus warned her, wanting to prepare her for the worst.

Maleny sighed, agreeing. "I know, but I have to go see her. It's Christmas."

"It's Christmas," Klaus agreed, lightly smiling towards her.

"And…" Maleny bit her lip, suddenly nervous which did make Klaus suspicious of what else she was thinking of. In the end, Maleny took in a deep breath and just came out with it. "I want to go see Lucien too."

"What?" Klaus nearly growled, his teeth gritting together.

"Look, it's been a couple days and I'm worried about him," Maleny tried to explain in a way that would make it easy to see her affections were completely platonic. They hadn't yet completely made up but Maleny would like for Klaus to see that her affections were never going to be on Lucien again.

"If he was worried then he would've came already," Klaus dismissed her statement and began walking away.

Maleny scowled and went after him. "You know damn well the moment he walks in you would snap his neck - at the very least anyways."

"Does he deserve any less?"

"He's not the villain here, Klaus," Maleny reminded, forcing him to stop by grabbing his arm. She turned him around, looking him in the eyes. "Lucien may have made some remarks about me I didn't like but last time I checked, he wasn't the one who kidnapped me. He wasn't the one who fed off me. He wasn't the one who hurt me."

"I don't think you need to go," Klaus declared after a minute or so before heading up the stairs.

Maleny, more than irritated with him, crossed her arms and called from her spot, "Well, it's a good thing I wasn't asking for your permission then!" Klaus stopped and looked over the rails, glowering. Maleny upheld the look on her. "I was only letting you know my plans should you need to find me. I need to see how he's doing and that's that." She left him to think about that and headed for one of the downstairs rooms.

~ 0 ~

Marlenie had laid down several evening dresses over her bed and was sipping some blood from a glass when Klaus walked into her room - well, her aunt Rebekah's room. She would have taken her mother's bedroom but unfortunately her parents were refusing to just make up already.

"So, did you and Mum and talk?" Marlenie barely turned to Klaus when he snatched her glass right from her hand to drown it all in one go. Marlenie blinked and watched him go lean against the dresser, taking a big breath in. "Um...how do I put this delicately - that was mine!"

"Lack of blood is not a problem here," was all Klaus had to say on the matter. His eyes trailed towards the bed with the evening dresses and made a face. "Funny, I don't recall having a gala tonight."

Marlenie playfully rolled her eyes and turned to the bed. "They're options for tonight. It's Christmas, haven't you heard? Plus," she smiled softly as she ran a hand down one lavender dress, "I was looking for something for Mum. Which do you think suits her best?" she glanced at Klaus. "You know her likes better than I do - as well as what looks better on her."

At her suggestive look, Klaus rolled his eyes. "I need you to do something today," he announced instead.

"Oh, like what?" Marlenie made a face. "You didn't let me help uncle Elijah go get aunt Rebekah."

"Elijah was more than capable on doing that himself," Klaus said back, leaning off the dresser. "Maleny has...these ideas, that, well...aren't safe."

"Like?"

"She wants to go see a friend who, currently, hates her. But, being who she is, Maleny is going to go anyways. She's a witch, and she's angry, so it wouldn't bode well for Maleny to go on her own."

Marlenie nodded in agreement. "Okay, I can do that." But just by looking at her father she knew that wasn't particularly what was troubling him. "What's the other idea Mum wants to do?"

"...she wants to go visit…" Klaus balled a fist, the mere name of the man making his insides twist with rage, "...Lucien."

Marlenie immediately crinkled her nose. "Ugh, why?"

"I don't know!" Klaus exclaimed, throwing a hand. "But she is going to do it and I'd rather you go with her to…" he paused momentarily, his gaze falling low.

Marlenie studied the sudden change in her father's face, unable to keep her smirk hidden. "To make sure she doesn't stay again," she finished what he couldn't. Klaus looked to the side as Marlenie approached him. "You want me to go make sure she comes back."

"Just do it," Klaus ordered her, attempting to keep his feelings away.

Marlenie widely smiled, chuckling to herself. "Alright, I'll go. Mostly cos I agree - I don't want her getting brainwashed again by that man. But you want to know something? It might be better for you to tell Mum about this. I assume you argued it out with her again?" by the silence she was given as a response, Marlenie sighed. "Not the best way to go, Dad. But, who am I to get into that, right? Only the daughter," she playfully rolled her eyes and headed back to the dresses.

"It's complicated," Klaus said as if it were obvious but he got a rather rude scoff in return.

"After a thousand years what else can there be that's complicated for you two?" Marlenie shook her head. "Be the bloody straight forwards man I heard you always are and just go to Mum already - clear the air! I just want to spend Christmas as a family...our first Christmas together?"

She met Klaus' amused look with a smirk. After a minute of silence, Klaus walked towards her, wagging a finger at her. "I should ground you for that big mouth of yours…"

Marlenie clapped her hands sarcastically. "First of all, it's your big mouth, actually. Second of all, I would just escape like I hear Mum tends to do."

Klaus rolled his eyes, letting another moment pass as he cast a look at the dresses Marlenie had placed on her bed. "That one," he touched a white, laced dress on the edge of the bed. Marlenie raised an eyebrow as he looked at her with a soft smile. "It makes her eyes look more beautiful."

A wide smile spread across Marlenie's face; she nodded her head and watched him leave the room. She then scurried to the side of her bed and picked up the white dress, smiling excitedly the more she gazed over it.

~ 0 ~

Cami walked into St. James' and was mildly surprised to see Tristan comfortable at the bar counter doing paperwork. She cast a brief look towards the vampire guard standing not too far from Tristan.

"Are you taking over the bar now?" she asked. "Funny, you don't seem like the one who listens to jazz."

"You're a Strix, Camille," Tristan said without looking up yet. "What's yours is ours and vice-versa. You should be grateful. You'll need my help, as I imagine the Mikaelsons still want your head."

Cami raised her eyebrows, deciding to leave the part out where she met Elijah to give him the information she gathered on a couple days ago.

Tristan went on without noticing. "This venue is brilliant. A neutral space where magic is useless. It should do nicely, at least until I install a suitable Regent to shepherd the local witches."

"Oh, well that might take a while," Cami said, pushing down her triump. "See, the last Regent was shunned, and the one before that murdered. No one is really eager to step up."

Tristan scoffed. "As a member of this organization, you should know that we do not wait for men to step up. We step them up."

As he got up, Cami walked towards him. "Alright, then, so we get an ally as a Regent - it's not a bad plan. However, how easy can it be to find a witch willing to do your bidding?"

Tristan smirked. "I already have a candidate. He's young, malleable. His name is Van Nguyen. It seems someone killed his mother. As it is Christmas, and I am- despite reputation- a charitable man, I made an offer. He'll use his powers to do as I ask."

Cami took his pat on the arm and watched the man go with his guard. Knowing she had to do something to be a step ahead, she pulled out her phone and marked towards a familiar number.

~ 0 ~

"So, am I to assume you just randomly wanted to come with me to meet a girl you don't know?" Maleny was giving suspicious glances towards Marlenie as the two walked down a street.

Marlenie was walking beside her, polite smile across her face with her hands behind her back. "Mother, I haven't seen you in almost a thousand years. I just want to be where you are."

"Hmm," Maleny looked straight ahead, then. "You know, you're almost a good liar like Klaus."

"Mum, I just want to spend time with you," Marlenie said softly, casting her blue eyes towards her mother. "Plus, you have to admit, with that Aurora still running around I can't leave you alone."

Maleny playfully rolled her eyes. "Alright, fine. But this girl I want to see, she's like my little sister so be nice to her. She's going through a rough time."

"Got it," Marlenie mimed-zipped her mouth as they came to a stop at Rousseau's. She opened the door and let Maleny walk in first.

Maleny immediately scanned the area for Davina, disappointed to find the girl sitting lonesomely at a booth. "Marls, give me some time with her alone, okay?" Marlenie nodded and headed for the bar counter while Maleny went for the booths.

Davina was blankly staring ahead of her, an untouched plate of food in front of her. When Maleny came up to the table, she made a face. "What do you want?"

"I heard what happened," Maleny sighed, "and I wanted to see how you were doing."

Davina scoffed. "Or maybe you just wanted to see what spell I was thinking of doing to hijack it."

Maleny sighed again. "Davina, I apologized a million times for that. I'm truly sorry but there is nothing I can do. Now really, I just wanted to see how you were doing. May I have that privilege?"

Davina cast a glance towards the blonde, reluctantly motioning her to take a seat across. "I do have to tell you you're the first one to come and see me after I was shunned."

"I'm sorry," Maleny felt the need to say again. "I've been through some stuff, and…"

"Oh, I know," Davina cut her off. "You were kidnapped by some psycho vampire hell bent on making Klaus pay for whatever he did to her." At Maleny's surprised face, Davina added, "I have a civil connection with Cami due to the faction - or had anyways. Now that I'm no longer regent, I won't have that."

Maleny reached for Davian's hand, silently gracious Davina was allowing it. "No matter what happens, Cami and I will always be your friends. It doesn't matter how you view us, we love you."

Davina's eyes teared up for a second but she masked it with disinterest. "I don't know about you but I'd rather keep away from the Mikaelsons and anyone associated with them."

Maleny tilted her head. "That's kind of going to be hard if you bring back Kol. He can be whatever he wants but he always comes back for his siblings." Davina knew that she was right, but didn't agree out loud. "Davina, who are you spending Christmas with?"

"What?" Davina's eyes snapped back onto the blonde.

"Amarrah's having her own Christmas gathering with Cami, Alton and Yamilet. They would be more than happy to have you with them," Maleny smiled, patting Davina's hand affectionately. "Plus, Alton and Yamilet are leaving the Quarter tonight, so it's sort of a combined Christmas party and 'going away' party."

"Are you serious?" Davina looked more weary than irritated.

"It's Christmas, Davina, and I don't want you spending it alone. I hear Cami's going to be dragging Marcel too. Now that you don't have to answer to the witches, what does it matter who you spend Christmas with?"

Davina began to smile, the idea making sense to her. "Well…"

"I'd offer you my place but I know how you feel towards us now," Maleny sighed, pulling back her hand. "I want you to be happy and comfortable."

After a moment, Davina nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Maleny."

The blonde scooted out of her seat to go hug Davina in her spot. "Stay away from the drinks, though," she joked, making Davina chuckle. "Hell, what am I saying, like Marcel's gonna let you anywhere near bourbon."

The two laughed together, more than used to Marcel's overprotection with Davina.

~ 0 ~

On a gas station at the roadside, Elijah was finishing up putting in more gas in the car when Rebekah stepped out of the gas station's convenience store.

"Ugh," the blonde crinkled her nose as she wiped her mouth with a paper towel. "I think I prefer the bottom of the murky sea to that restroom."

Elijah was more than amused by his sister. "Still hungry, are we?"

Rebekah groaned, frustrated, while she relentlessly rubbed her wrist. "I'm not hungry, I'm angry. Staked by your ex, drowned by Nik's. Do me a favor and just stick with the ones you already have please." Seeing Elijah's confused face, Rebekah rolled her eyes. "Maleny and Cami, clearly." Now flustered, Elijah focused on the gas. Rebekah sighed. "Do those lunatics actually believe the prophecy? I mean, to kill me just to get me back in this body because of some stupid fortune?"

Elijah sighed then,. "You'd be foolish to ignore the manifestation of these omens."

Rebekah scoffed and leaned beside the car. "We can't be killed, Elijah!"

"This prophecy does state one of us will fall by family."

"Well, I would never harm you, you killed half the Navy rescuing me, Freya hates traitors…"

"Yes, Freya. Let's not forget her allegiance to Finn. I do want to trust her, but…"

Rebekah felt a jab at her wrist but ignored it for the moment. "So, that leaves Nik. Do you think he's learned his lesson about backstabbing his family?"

"Hmm," Elijah shook his head, "I think he learns that lesson all the time. He's just a terrible student." He took the nozzle from the gas tank and put it back in place. He then moved to the driver's seat but was stopped by Rebekah, whose eyes were in a dazy state for a second or two before darkening up with hunger - even her fangs bared out!

"Do you ever want to just rip out his heart and see how long it takes to grow back?" she growled. It only lasted a minute before yelping in pain and clutching her arm. She slowly raised the sleeve of her arm to reveal a skull-shaped weal on her wrist.

"What is it?" Elijah asked in concern as he held his sister's arm to study the mark.

"Marvelous," Rebekah rolled her eyes, more tired than anything else. "What do you get the girl who has everything this Christmas? A cure to a magical mark growing on her bloody arm."

~ 0 ~

After Maleny had left a somewhat happier Davina, Marlenie pulled her mother towards the busy streets of Jackson Square. She knew Maleny still wanted to go visit Lucien and she wanted to put off that stupid visit for as long as possible. Plus, she did want to spend time with her mother. So, it was a win, win for everyone.

"Look, Mum!" Marlenie held a little mistletoe hanging by a red ribbon. Maleny, who had been looking at other decorations from the next stall, looked up in confusion. "Maybe we can put it up at home for a certain Original to walk through it at the same time you do…"

At Marlenie's suggestive look, Maleny coughed and blushed. "That wasn't funny!" she scolded when Marlenie laughed.

"What? I was just saying," Marlenie put down the mistletoe.

"Mhm," Maleny rolled her eyes. "Your first Christmas is going to be spent in your room if you don't watch what you say."

"You would actually ground me?"

Maleny glanced at the vampire. "I am your mother, and therefore I have the authority to."

"But I'm nearly a thousand years old—"

"I'm your mother."

"Yeah, but I'm past the adult age—"

"I'm your mother."

"But I'm a vampire!"

"I'm your mother."

Huffing, Marlenie walked past Maleny. "Can't believe I'm being threatened to be grounded - on Christmas!"

Maleny chuckled and walked after her. "Be polite and you can have a wonderful Christmas."

"Well," Marlenie came to a stop and played with her fingers, "the only way I can have a wonderful Christmas is if my parents work things out." Maleny's amusement faded from her face as Marlenie went on. "I mean, when I came into the Quarter I was only looking for my Dad. I never thought Mum would be here too. And now that she is, I would really like to have my parents content and together."

Maleny sighed and rubbed her arm. "I'm sorry, Marls. It's just compl—"

"Don't say it's complicated!" Marlenie exclaimed, whirling to face her mother who was surprised by the sudden louder voice. "I don't understand what is so complicated, mother." She ran her hands through her hair. "You clearly made a mistake going to Lucien's because you still love Dad. He made a mistake going to Aurora, and guess what? He still loves you. Please, point me to the complicated part because I don't see it."

"I'm—"

Marlenie whined and came back in a rather childish way, taking Maleny's hand. "Why can't just one of you just speak up with the truth?"

"Marls—"

"It's Christmas!" Marlenie continued on. "I don't want you guys fighting like I know you did earlier."

Maleny cut her daughter off by placing her hands over Marlenie's cheeks. "No matter what happens, I promise you today there will be no fighting. You're right, it is our first Christmas together and I would like one family night in peace. Everyone will be on their best behavior."

"But what about you and—"

"Marlenie, sweetheart, everyone will be on their best behavior," Maleny smiled. "I am only making promises I can keep. Now c'mon, I still have to go see Lucien."

Marlenie groaned, rolling her eyes. "That guy? Honestly, I don't know why Dad didn't kill him on the spot after what he said about you."

Maleny shrugged and started walking again. "Lucien is always throwing comments like that. Now I really don't like what he said about me but I still need to make sure he's okay."

"You're too nice to that guy," Marlenie crossed her arms, glumly following beside Maleny.

"No, I'm really not," Maleny said earnestly. "What he said about me did hurt me, but what I did was worse."

Marlenie sighed deeply and almost stomped after her mother, unable to believe Maleny could feel guilty towards Lucien. Who gave a damn about that guy?

~ 0 ~

"Look, Marcel, I know it's another hassle but please? Can't you do anything to help me?" Cami was in the church gym having trouble convincing Marcel to help her out with a Strix problem.

"Cami, this is a dangerous game you are playing with the Strix," Marcel had his arms crossed, firmly looking at her.

"You have to understand that if we put Vincent as Regent, we can ensure that the Strix don't activate the Serratura," Cami insisted.

"Except we'd be placing our friend in danger," Marcel gave her a narrowed look, feeling more like a parent than a friend to the blonde.

Cami scoffed. "Oh, c'mon, we both know Vincent would love to kick some vampire ass. He won't be manipulated so easily."

"While I can agree on that," Marcel began, walking past Cami, "How would we even get Vincent to accept the offer? That's the whole reason he got Davina into the mess of Regent in the first place."

"I don't know," Cami admitted, flapping her arms. "But we have to come up with something. The Strix already have Van Nguyen in their hands - they transferred a heavy amount of money to his bank account." Worried, Marcel turned back to the woman, listening as she continued on. "His family business got shut down because of his mother's death so he didn't have money for his sisters. The Strix have him in their hands. It won't bode well for any of the factions if a kid with a debt to the Strix is placed as Regent of the witches. Marcel, he's going to become Regent tonight."

"Okay," Marcel sighed, he too would rather see Vincent as Regent than some kid. "So how do we do it, then? How do we get Vincent to agree?"

Cami was a little relieved and so felt more confident now that there were two people working. "Well, I think we should go with the most basic thing: guilt."

"Guilt?" Marcel quirked an eyebrow up, doubtful of the tactic.

"Look, Vincent put Davina as Regent because he didn't want to do it. Now she got shunned because of him and now he's going to let some kid take Regency."

"You want us to throw it back into his face, then?" Marcel could see that actually working, and impressed with her, he smirked and nudged her. "You're good at this."

"I'm not proud of it," Cami sighed, thinking back to all that she had done lately because of the Strix. "So, you think you can help me out? Vincent's my friend, but you and him…"

"Aren't exactly on good terms, got it," Marcel nodded, making a face that had Cami chuckle afterwards.

~ 0 ~

"I can't believe we wasted all this time for a guy that wasn't even home," Marlenie complained for what Maleny believed was the tenth time since they left Lucien's apartment.

"I'm frankly a little worried," Maleny admitted with a light sigh. "He hasn't answered any of my calls nor has he appeared anywhere in the Quarter since Thanksgiving. That's well over a month now."

"And here's to more months," Marlenie widely grinned at the idea of never seeing Lucien again.

Maleny rolled her eyes and turned down a new street. "Honestly, Marls, can you stop being so bitter? You're like the Scrooge."

"Oh," Marlenie came to an abrupt stop, letting Maleny walk on ahead. "That's rude! You don't know squat about Christmas but you know who 'Scrooge' is?"

"To be fair—" began a third voice behind Marlenie, "—that is an interesting character."

Marlenie gasped with delight and turned around. "Dad! You're here!"

Maleny stopped walking to turn as well, surprised to find Klaus with their daughter. He had a wide smile across his face as he looked between both women.

"What are you doing here?" Marlenie asked him.

"I realized you were right about it being your first Christmas - how it's the first Christmas for both of you," Klaus met Maleny's look for a minute, "and I—" But Marlenie's excitement cut into his words.

"And you wanted to spend time with us!" she beamed, nearly hopping of her joy. "That's what you meant to say, right? Right?"

Klaus chuckled but nodded, making her squeal. While she proceeded to babble on about what they could all do, Klaus' attention drifted towards the silent blonde who had yet to say a word.

"Mal, is that fine with you?" he forced himself to ask after a moment. He admitted it was a rather abrupt idea of his to come and find them. Partly, his idea sprung out from fear of Maleny visiting Lucien - and a little jealousy - but he felt the need to make the first step to make things return to normal.

Maleny cleared her throat as she slowly came towards the two. "I'm alright," she shrugged. "I promised Marls there would be no fighting today. Plus, I wouldn't mind having a nice first Christmas."

"Ooh! This is so exciting!" Marlenie exclaimed, clapping her hands.

~ 0 ~

Back in the compound, Freya had taken a closer look at Rebekah's mark on her wrist. Unfortunately, as the time passed by, the mark grew larger and painful.

"Give me the bad news, Doc," Rebekah sighed as Freya finished up.

"Aya's stake was cursed. It infected you," Freya regretted to inform. "As this mark grows, you will go mad. Left unchecked, you will become a relentless, unstoppable Ripper."

Rebekah rolled her eyes, ungracefully leaning against the couch cushion. "Aya was always thorough."

"The Strix always employ a safeguard," Elijah sighed. "In the event that we were successful at retrieving your body, you were cursed. You see, if one is on a rampage, one is not difficult to hunt." And of course that would be their downfall, he thought. He glanced at Freya. "Can you fix this?"

Freya grabbed the enchanted stake to study it a little more. When she noticed a set of carved runes running down, she nodded. "The spell is carved here. I can... I can reverse it." She made the mistake of rising up to her feet quickly. Her head felt fuzzy, and the way she spoke was not a good sign. "I just... need some time... and a hell of a lot of magic."

She then fainted, falling almost to the ground if Elijah hadn't caught her in time. Placing her back on the couch, the others exchanged looks of worry.

"She was fine. Hayley healed her," Jackson felt the need to say before accusations started flying about. They thought they had cured Freya of the attack the Strix had done against her.

Elijah then noticed a puncture wound on Freya's neck which was still bleeding. "This scratch is not healed," he realized with horror. "This is poison. This is an assassination attempt."

~ 0 ~

Marlenie was somewhat disappointed to find her parents still watching the ongoing Christmas musicians play across them. She'd gotten sidetracked by a couple of holiday trinkets and so when her parents began paying more attention to the music, she felt more comfortable looking at the trinkets. But now that she was done, and they were still intently watching, she was bored.

"Why are you still watching this?" she came to stand beside her mother. "It's just random music."

"Be more appreciative, Marls," Maleny smiled softly, her eyes locked on the musicians. "These people are out here, choosing to play wonderful music for people they don't even know. I love it."

Marlenie rolled her eyes and leaned forwards to see Klaus. "Dad? Please tell her something? I'm bored."

"You haven't told her about the piano?" Klaus asked Maleny instead, sounding rather amused much to Marlenie's dismay.

Maleny shrugged. "I haven't had a mood for the piano nowadays so she hasn't seen it."

"Seen what?" Marlenie asked curiously.

"Your mother has an exceptional ability with the piano," Klaus explained to her. "And one of her favorite pass times is to come out and listen to these 'random musicians' and you say."

"So...you come out to watch these people?" Marlenie asked Maleny, chucking a thumb in the direction of the musicians.

"Well, not alone," Maleny shrugged, glancing at Klaus with a sly smile, "I have to force him to come along. And then I have to deal with his nonstop commentary that's almost always annoying."

"Oh, is that the case?" Klaus raised an eyebrow. "Because I don't recall you having any problem with my 'pretty words' for you that I would whisper to you while we watched."

Maleny then awkwardly coughed and looked to the musicians. "You can be quiet now."

"Oh no," Marlenie beamed, seeing a playful (and hopefully helpful) banter start between the two, "Please go on, Dad. I'd love to hear more about these 'pretty words'."

"No, you wouldn't," Maleny shot her a warning look before quickly changing her look towards Klaus, even more threatening, "She doesn't need to hear them - you know some of those were not for others to hear."

Marlenie snickered while the two went at it again. Klaus dramatically sighed as he went on, ignoring Maleny's looks. "So I can't tell Marlenie how I often say you would make a lovely pianist? Because your tunes are the only ones that would actually make people give a damn about the classics?"

"Is she really that good?" Marlenie asked curiously, seeing her mother was becoming flustered.

"Marvelous," Klaus assured, now only looking at Maleny.

Marlenie saw she was no longer being paid attention, and figuring they could probably use a moment she made her exit. "I'll be back, I want to go get some of those snacks…"

"Do you know Mal," Klaus went on, neither of them really noticing Marlenie leaving, "I think you could acquire a renown piano teacher…"

"Oh, I think Elijah has done a good job with my lessons," Maleny chuckled. "Despite all the headaches I probably gave him, he did manage to make progress with me."

"Perhaps an abroad teacher could continue that progress? I know of excellent Italian ones…"

Maleny met his look with a surprised one of her own. "Venice…" she whispered, reminded of the last time they'd spoken about 'Italy' and all that traveling stuff. It seemed like such a long time ago for her.

"Ah yes, we could always make that stop," Klaus smirked at her.

"You still...you still want to g-go?"

"You don't want to go anywhere?"

"U-um," Maleny nervously scratched her cheek, glancing at the musicians, "I just figured you would have thrown those plans out the window - considering everything that's happened. We haven't 'decided' yet what...we are..."

Klaus reached out and took Maleny's hand from her cheek, making her look back to him. "If it means spending lovely afternoons like this with you - like we used to - then I would leave today."

Maleny displayed a warm smile across her lips, gripping his hand that was in hers. "I would like that too. Oh, we can go to the water-filled streets—"

"Its streets aren't covered with water, Mal," Klaus chuckled, "Just where...well, where the roads are meant to be."

"Ooh," Maleny blinked, looking to the side while she processed that new detail. "That would make a lot more sense."

"And we could take our twins with us - because they're twins now," Klaus once again had to redirect her gaze back onto him, though he felt less anxious around her now that the, quote on quote, 'ice had been broken'. It almost felt like old times.

"Marlenie," Maleny whispered, the idea of them actually having twins was still such a novelty. They had never expected to have a child between them, let alone two.

"Yes," Klaus nodded, moving his hands to her arms, discreetly moving closer to her. "We can visit any place you want…"

"Marlenie did mention there were fantastic shopping stores—"

Klaus dramatically groaned and shook his head. "Except there - anywhere but there."

Maleny giggled, deciding to tease him further. "Oh, but we are going to go there. I want to go to those cute little shops I see on the magazines. Oh! And the shoe stores - I definitely need to go to the shoe stores."

"Absolutely not," Klaus declared, shaking his head with genuine horror. "Do you know I once took Rebekah to get modern clothes - after I daggered her for a near century - and all I heard was 'where's the rest of the dress' or 'why isn't this in red' or-"

"Good, then you already have practice!" Maleny leaned forwards, beaming. "And since Marlenie does lead a very successful designer company you can rest assure we'll be spending a lot of time at the stores."

Klaus suddenly placed his hands on her cheeks, taking a minute to just look at her. "I suppose if it keeps you happy - like this—" he rubbed circles over her cheeks, making her smile even bigger, "—then make your list and we shall go."

"Don't I feel special," Maleny chuckled to herself, actually sporting a blush she wasn't fully aware of.

"Because you are, and I failed to show you for a while…"

"It wasn't just you - I did my fair share of bad stuff."

There came that awful, awkward silence that neither wanted. With his hands already placed on either side of her face, Klaus meant to lean down and kiss Maleny. And it would've happened, seeing as Maleny was already under his charms with her eyes closed, but then came the lovely interruption...

"Uncle Elijah just called," Marlenie was meekly smiling. Her parents turned in her direction, sending her very annoyed looks. "There's a problem with my aunts. It seems like aunt Rebekah has been cursed and the only way to help her is by reversing it with some stake. However, aunt Freya's been poisoned by the Strix. The ingredients for her poison antidote are a bit complicated so we should get a move on to help—"

"You don't need to find the ingredients," Maleny declared, earning herself confused looks from Marlenie and Klaus. "Look, it was 2 weeks at Lucien's and when I got bored...I snooped. He has a bunch of strange things and one of them was a strange chess I couldn't open on my own. Odds are, he keeps his defenses well guarded."

"Like antidotes," Klaus realized, thinking back to Lucien's magical cure for the werewolf bite he received from Jackson.

Maleny nodded. "If the Strix poisoned Freya then we can probably find the antidote there."

"That's great!" Marlenie cheered and rushed to the two. "I can't believe I'm saying this but let's go back to Lucien's!"

"I hope you never say that again," Klaus grumbled under his breath, leading the two women away. Marlenie giggled and cast a wink towards her mother, who sheepishly looked elsewhere.

~ 0 ~

Much time had passed and Freya discovered her power alone may fail to reverse the curse set on Rebekah. She had called upon the spirit of Finn - which was still locked away in her blue talisman necklace - to get help but he outright refused to do so. So, Freya ventured on her own to do the required spell. However, in the midst of her cast, she felt the power begin to overwhelm her - telling her to stop or she would die - but it wasn't going to make her quit...even as the blood began pouring from her eyes.

Finn's spirit stood across from her, wearing a mixture of anger and concern across his face. "You are dying for her!" he said to Freya. "Let Rebekah go. Let them all go!"

"Nu-uh," Freya vigorously shook her eyes, squeezing her eyes shut to focus better.

"It will just be the two of us again!"

"I will save her," Freya angrily insisted. "If I am at all important to you, brother, help me!"

A second later, Elijah came into the room with a glass of water Freya requested. Seeing her terrible state, he sped up beside her. He put the glass down and tried to stop her as well.

"Freya, stop! Please!"

Freya turned away from him, keeping her eyes shut. "No!" she argued with him as well. "Don't touch me! Do not stop me!"

"At least wait until Maleny returns," Elijah persisted, trying to get her to snap out of her spell trance. "Together you two can do it - we cannot lost anyone else in the process." But seeing Freya wouldn't listen to him, he grew more frustrated. He shook off his jacket and tried more forcibly to get her to stop.

Unbeknownst to him, Finn was watching rather surprised of the act. He believed firmly that none of his siblings truly cared for Freya...but perhaps he was wrong.

Freya was having none of the pleads getting in her way. Nearing a rage, she shouted a warn to both brothers, "Help me, or get out!"

A couple minutes later, she started breathing heavily, like there wasn't enough air to fill her lungs. Worried she might actually die from asphyxiation, Elijah bit into his wrist and practically forced Freya to take his blood. "This will strengthen you."

With a light sigh, Finn walked over to stand on Freya's other side. He leaned closer to her, speaking softer, " As will my power. Just this once, sister. For you." Just like Freya had pleaded with him earlier, he gave her his strength to help her finish the spell.

And perhaps it was fate putting everything together, because not too far from them there was a brewing fight between Hayley and Rebekah - the latter beginning to lose her sanity. Eventually, the strength boost given to Freya began fading as the spell required more of her power. Combined with the poison deteriorating her health, the spell had to be done between pauses as she threw up considerable amount of blood on the side.

"Ugh! I can't do it," she finally stopped for a minute to rest. "I can't focus."

Jackson came into the room and saw how awful the woman was, instantly becoming worried. He hurried to check her temperature and was appalled to feel her skin like it were fire. "She's burning up!" he looked up at Elijah. "I guess a hospital's out of the question?"

"A hospital won't help her," Elijah shook his head, internally wishing the little trio he called earlier would hurry the hell up.

His thoughts were interrupted by the loud crash outside. Exchanging a seconds-look with Jackson, both of them made to go see for themselves...when Freya chucked up another worrisome amount of blood.

"You stay with her, please," Elijah said to Jackson, assuming Rebekah was in need of help only he could give. Jackson sent him off with assurances to look after Freya.

Outside in the courtyard were both Hayley and Rebekah, barely waking from their violent tumble from the second floor. Rebekah woke up with a ferocious growl, her eyes pitch black as she jumped to her feet. She turned for Hayley, intending on a second round with her. Hayley already had her hybrid face out, preparing to at least take down the woman long enough for the spell to be done.

However, Rebekah was a bit quicker and kicked her in the stomach before backhanding her across the face. Hayley landed with a thud on the floor, and struggled to get back up as Rebekah came towards her. When Rebekah lunged for Hayley, at vampire speed, Elijah cut in and roughly grabbed her by the arms.

"Listen to me. Listen to me!" he tried capturing Rebekah's attention, but she was growling at Hayley like she were a wild animal. "Rebekah, look at me! Rebekah!" Slowly, Rebekah was able to do so. "Control yourself."

Rebekah sighed and closed her eyes, doing as he wanted. A couple seconds later, she re-opened them to reveal her blue eyes. "Dear brother... I have control."

Elijah released her then, sighing with relief. "Good."

But not a second later did Rebekah smirk and her eyes returned to their dark orbs. She swung a hand to Elijah's chin, the force of the hit sending Elijah to the floor with a near-snapped neck.

"Ha!" Rebekah cried with actual joy.

Hayley didn't waste a second in trying to take her down again, before she actually hurt someone. Rebekah growled and sped Hayley up against a pillar, shooting her hand through Hayley's chest for her heart. Hayley frantically squirmed as she felt her heart tightened by Rebekah's hand. Another minute and perhaps Rebekah would've actually ripped it out, but thankfully the required trio had returned.

"Rebekah!" Klaus called out to her, appalled of the sight. He sped to her, grabbing her wrist to force her to let go of Hayley's heart. "Not her!"

Hayley loudly gasped when she finally felt the hand leave her heart. She slid to the ground as Klaus pulled Rebekah away.

"Oh my God!" Maleny rushed to Hayley's side, ignoring Marlenie's exclaim for her.

"No, Mum!"

Rebekah caught site of the human blonde and tried lunging for her next. Klaus yanked her back, even more annoyed. "Not her either!"

Without a further word, he slammed Rebekah onto a table across them. Marlenie, who held the black briefcase they'd taken from Lucien's (still lonesome) apartment, called out to Klaus. "I'm giving this to aunt Freya!"

"Go," it was Maleny who responded back, frantically motioning to her daughter to hurry up. "C'mon, Hayley," she then helped the healing brunette up.

Right after Hayley mumbled a 'thanks', Rebekah called out, eyes flickering from Klaus and Maleny, "Aah! Dear, sweet Mal, stuck forever behind glass like the breakable object she is." She managed to push forwards and get to her feet, but Klaus still tightly restrained her by the arms. "Tick-tock will go the clock, and before you know it you'll have withered away from age…"

"Rebekah…" Maleny feebly said, visibly hurt.

"She's not precious, Nik," Rebekah went on like the blonde hadn't spoken. "Every woman that you and Elijah bring into our lives turns to poison. She'll grow toxic, too."

Klaus looked back to Maleny, horrified, while Maleny became overwhelmed. She shook her head and dashed away.

"Mal!" Hayley went after her, slightly better enough to run.

Elijah, who had recovered from the nasty attack, got to his feet and hurried to help Klaus keep Rebekah back. But the blonde was persistent and tried fighting them both. Minutes felt like hours as the two brothers worked to keep her in one place. In the end, they threw her back on the table, each pinning her by one arm.

"No!" Rebekah growled at them both, pushing forwards. "No! Aah!"

"Hold her!" they heard Freya's frail voice from the stairs. She was coming down holding the needed blade in her hand.

As Klaus and Elijah pinned Rebekah to the table, Freya came forwards and used the blade to slice the part of Rebekah's skin that bore the deadly skull weal, all in the meanwhile she chanted the spell. Rebekah screamed in utter pain until the spell finished, and then she fell limp. Hesitantly, Klaus and Elijah let her go, stepping back to where Freya was as Rebekah closed her eyes for a second.

When Rebekah opened her eyes, they appeared to be her normal blue hue. She sat up with a groan, speaking in a sarcastic tone. "Well," she rolled her eyes, "that was annoying."

~ 0 ~

Much time later, Marlenie knocked on the open door of Maleny's bedroom. Maleny stood in front of the window, which was opened and letting in a breeze.

Marlenie came in holding the dress that had been chosen in the morning. As she put it down on the bed, she glanced at her mother, seeing the conflict in Maleny's eyes. "I know this is a stupid question but what's wrong?"

Maleny couldn't force herself to look away from the window. "I...well," she sighed, "forgetting all of today, the problem now is...well...I don't know." Marlenie straightened up, crossing her arms while she looked at her mother. "There's just something…" Maleny put a hand on her stomach, "...like a feeling, yeah - it's a weird feeling that I have in the pit of my stomach. It's not bad, I...I actually feel like I want to cry…"

"But that's not bad?" Marlenie arched an eyebrow, struggling the urge not to make another sarcastic remark. She may be nearing a thousand years of age but her mother could and still would smack her if she tried getting smart.

Maleny shook her head, her eyes quickly returning to the sky which bore only a couple of stars due to the overflow of Christmas lights in the Quarter. "They're...happy tears," she tried explaining, "Like...like it's...a relief. I…" she sighed, unable to find her right words to correctly explain the odd feeling she felt.

Marlenie walked up to her mother, hugging her tight from behind. "Oh, Mum, let's get ready for Christmas instead? Aunt Freya says you make mean minty fresh brownies."

Maleny lightly chuckled. "If you only knew who taught me how."

Marlenie let go to give her a curious look. "Who?"

Maleny turned around, a smirk spreading across her face because she knew the reaction she would get from Marlenie. "An alien Queen who traveled through space and time."

Marlenie's eyebrows shot up. "What!?"

The white dress on her bed caught Maleny's attention, and so she left her confused daughter to go examine it. "What's this?"

"Alien Queen?" Marlenie whispered to herself as she went for the bed. "It's the dress you're wearing for tonight." She picked up the dress and smirked. "Someone special chose it for you."

Uncomfortable, Maleny hugged herself and looked to the side. "Dare I ask how this happened?"

"Oh, before he asked me to come with you because he was overly scared you would leave again," Marlenie knew her answer would startle her mother, and so when it happened she chuckled.

"He said that?" came the low whisper from Maleny, now eyeing the laced dress.

"Mother, it is completely obvious," Marlenie rolled her eyes and put the dress on the bed. She took her mother's hand and led her towards the dresser. "And I think it's high time this silly, childish game came to an end."

"What are you—"

"Hush," Marlenie covered her mouth, ignoring the looks she received as she thought of the look she would create for her mother. She would be damned if her Christmas wasn't like the proper family one she always dreamed of.

~ 0 ~

Down in the courtyard the large Christmas tree that had been set up was now being covered in different wrapped-up gifts. Freya and Elijah were sifting through some of them, while also dropping off their own. They had dressed up for the night, Elijah dawning a sharp dark suit, while Freya wore a tight, dark blue dress.

"Where in the hell did Marlenie get the time to put all of these?" Freya couldn't help laugh at the influx of gifts from her older niece.

"Sneaky just like someone I remember," Elijah mused, sharing a knowing look with Freya before the two chuckled.

"I suspect they are talking about you, Nik," Rebekah also laughed as she and Klaus came with two drinks in their hands for them and the others. Her berry dress matched the shade of Elijah's shirt under his jacket.

"Well, just like me, Marls doesn't take it lightly," Klaus warned as he handed Freya a drink. "And she's also quite the match in a fight."

"That I am," Marlenie strolled in with her own drink in hand, fashioning a bright pink dress with no sleeves and an opened black jacket. "And I can ruin that nice jacket," she winked at Klaus, nodding to his silver jacket, "so I best get my present."

"Don't be smart with me," Klaus warned her, and paused suddenly to look around, "...where's your mother?"

Marlenie beamed. "Oh, she's coming, trust me! She was just on the phone with aunt Cami."

"And bidding goodbye to 'aunt Cami'," Maleny came in with her phone still in hand. "She wishes you all a merry Christmas," she looked to the siblings, "Actually, there's a long list of people but you get the gist."

"Thank you," Elijah said first, resigning himself to receiving only that from the distant blonde vampire.

They heard a noise upstairs and looked up to see Jackson leading Hayley, who held Hope in her arms, down the stairs. The others gathered closer to welcome them in. In the process, Klaus 'discreetly' pulled Maleny closer to him, looking her over in the dress he had chosen for her. Maleny caught him and smiled, her face warming.

Her face was brightened up with the stark red lipstick over her lips, her pretty blonde hair curled and let loose with only two twists to keep it from getting in her eyes. The laced, straight-across dress was a pure white, its lace reaching down to her wrists in long sleeves. Matching lace went around the hemline of the dress which settled right above her knees.

It was exactly how Klaus pictured her after seeing the dress in the morning.

"You said you wanted a happy family Christmas. Well," Jackson helped Hayley take the last step of the stairs, "the family's all here."

Hayley was ecstatic to see everyone there, and more so knowing her husband actually wanted to be in there same room as them. She immediately rushed to them, more than ready for one peaceful night.

"I will take her," Marlenie declared as she took her younger sister into her arms. "You won't believe what your big sister got you for Christmas," she kissed Hope on the head.

"Thank you for helping Freya," Klaus walked up to Jackson holding a new glass of wine for him. The level of shock on Jackson's face by the genuine kindness Klaus portrayed was clearly evident, and so Klaus felt the need to add on a special joke afterwards, "Unfortunately, we're all out of mason-jar moonshine."

"Well, Nik, you are positively merry tonight," Rebekah rolled her eyes.

"Ooh, but not for long," Maleny laughed as she smelt the beginnings of wood burning.

Klaus gave her a look of confusion until he too began smelling the burning wood. It was fairly comical of the rapidness in which his expressions turned into terror. "Oh, no!"

"It's not exactly a bonfire, but I improvised," Rebekah laughed herself. "Come on. It's tradition!"

"What is?" Marlenie asked then, beyond confused on what apparently was so funny.

Klaus sighed, still explaining to her, "We write our wishes and then burn them for luck. Strangely, I don't recall wishing for an influx of enemies, and yet year after year…"

Elijah smirked as he took a sip of his wine. "How odd. Forever on Santa's naughty-list."

Marlenie then huffed mockingly, remarking, "Well, I find myself to be a delightful gift, don't you think?" Klaus smiled, unable to say much when Marlenie added, "And Mum's here too - oh, and we can't forget Nick is coming home soon. We're good gifts...aren't we?" she asked in an unexpected soft voice.

"Marls," Maleny gave her daughter a good stern look, but in the end Klaus had the last word.

"Excellent gifts," he smiled wider at the two.

~ 0 ~

A middle aged taxi driver was stuffing in a suitcase into the back of his cab while the customer patiently waited on the side. "Where are you headed, young man man?" he asked after shutting the trunk. "And I must warn it'll cost you double the rate for Christmas."

The customer nodded. "Can you get me to the French Quarter please? As fast as possible?"

"Of course," the cab driver nodded and went for his seat while the customer got in the back. "Address?"

"You just drive," the customer said, getting comfortable in his spot. "I'll tell you where to turn."

~ 0 ~

Even as the night progressed and peace did continue, there always had to be one upsetting detail. In the Mikaelsons case, it was the departure of Rebekah. As far as anyone knew, she was still at the bottom of the sea and it was best it stayed that way for strategic points.

As Rebekah returned to the courtyard with a suitcase in hand, and black coat around her, the others were in the process of opening up the gifts. While Marlenie helped Hope onto her new tricycle, gifted by Elijah, Maleny busily unwrapped a cream-colored present.

"Oh my God it's a reversible sweater!" Maleny gaped as she raised the red leather jacket which clearly had a white side underneath. When she heard the others snicker, she blushed and lowered the jacket. "I said that too loud, huh?"

"I'm glad you liked your gift, Mum," Marlenie said, struggling not to laugh as she added, "Though I don't know who's more excited for their presents: You or Hope?"

Maleny sent her a playful glare. "Keep it up, smart-alec, and you'll find yourself grounded on Christmas."

"Don't be so hard on her," Klaus came by her side, holding another glass of wine for Maleny.

"Thank you," Marlenie faked a dramatic sigh.

"I was talking about Maleny," Klaus clarified, causing Maleny to snicker as Marlenie huffed and looked away.

"I need you to grow up so we can outnumber them," she said to Hope, who merely responded with a grin.

Klaus bent down beside Maleny, handing her the drink. Shyly, Maleny took the glass. The exchange between them made the others feel like they were intruding on an intimate moment. Still mighty excited over it, Maleny showed off her new reversible jacket to Klaus, who laughed at her in amusement. It was apparently still a big deal to her.

When Rebekah came to bid goodbye, the group rose to their feet and each said their farewells. Second to last were the older mother and daughter.

"I'm sorry for all that I said," Rebekah pleaded as she hugged Maleny goodbye.

Maleny pushed down the ache of those words away and smiled at the honest blonde. "It's alright. I'm glad you're better."

Rebekah looked grateful for the forgiveness, and soon her eyes flickered to Marlenie, immediately perking. "You take care of your mother, then."

"Doesn't everyone," Maleny mumbled under her breath, clearly upset by the overused instruction.

"Of course I will," Marlenie said without letting her mother's words go. "But I think Dad's going to have that covered."

"Marlenie!" Maleny scolded, but Marlenie just shrugged and hugged her aunt. As she walked away, Maleny went after, continuing the scold.

Rebekah laughed lightly at the two, already knowing she would miss hearing those interesting arguments. When she met with Klaus last, she had only one warning for him. "You realize those two will be forcing you to pick a side against the other in arguments?"

The expression Klaus gave off said it was something he had already thought about. Rebekah had to laugh again, but she sobered when Klaus gave her his warning. "Run far and fast, stay on the move," she nodded, "And- should you happen to meet some handsome fool- know your weaknesses."

Rebekah playfully rolled her eyes. "Oh, ha, ha, ha. If we're on that page, then I'll advice you to run towards love." She cast eyes towards Maleny and Marlenie, the latter being still lectured. "The Girl in the Forest, it's a nice name…but I think she's earned her 'always and forever' don't you think?"

The idea put Klaus in a nervous state, something Rebekah wasn't quite used to seeing so openly. "I don't want to do this, Rebekah, especially not tonight."

"Yes, tonight," Rebekah softly insisted. "My words, as harsh as they were, had truth—,"

"No, Rebekah," Klaus shook his head, "Not—"

Rebekah put a hand on his arm. "Time will pass and before you know it, our Mal will age." She sighed upon seeing the refusal in her brother. "What is it, Nik? I don't...none of us understand. Why won't you relent and turn her? Between us," she whispered, "what's the real reason?"

Klaus hesitated to confide, but seeing everyone else distracted, he gave in. Astonishingly feeble, he explained. "I have met, killed, and hurt so many people. I am the ruthless monster people fear. I am the monster that plucks hearts out, slices people's necks without a second thought. To turn Maleny, she needs to die. And I know that she wants me to do it. I would have to—" he swallowed roughly, "—kill her. I have to take her life, and I...not her, Rebekah, not her."

Rebekah tilted her head, a half-smile working its way across her face. She put a hand on his arm, affectionately squeezing it. "This is something completely different. Think about it like this: one split moment of death for an eternity with your love? A hell of a bargain if you ask me."

Still mildly unsure, Klaus stayed silent. He glanced to where Maleny was, the blonde now intently watching Marlenie show her the reversible jacket. She was far too focused on it, and heavily awed by it, to notice any stares. To have that — a woman who managed to be wonder-struck by a material of clothing despite the terrible, dangerous situations she often found herself in — was comforting and...warm? Was that the right word? Well, it certainly felt like it. In all his centuries of life, he found no one could give him those same feelings. Could he bear to lose Maleny again? Forever?

~ 0 ~

Not too long after Rebekah left, Elijah took a lonesome drink inside the upstairs study. He heard the steps of his sister nearing and looked up with smile as she entered the room.

Freya held her phone in one hand while the other a wine glass. "Do you know, one hundred years ago, I snuck into a Christmas ball here." Elijah lightly chuckled. "I wanted so much to be a part of it, but I thought I was forever fated to be an outsider, always looking in. I know this hasn't been your most elegant family Christmas, but, well, it's already been the best one I've ever had."

"I suppose some things are worth the wait," Elijah clinked his glass with hers, both exchanging smiles.

As they drank, Freya stared intently at him, barely containing her excitement as she spoke again. "You would know. But you know what, brother, I think you should be done waiting." Elijah gave her a look, but let her continue as she waved her cellphone. "And I think Cami thinks the same, considering she's going to be waiting for another ten minutes out at Jackson Square."

Elijah's brow knitted together in fear, and mild confusion. "Freya, what did you do?"

Freya smirked and took a casual sip from her drink. "If Marlenie can play matchmaker why can't I? I phoned Cami, giving her some excuse of business to get her to come. She's waiting out there...so go."

"Freya," Elijah seemed almost mortified by what his sister had done. "This...this is completely-"

"A waste of my minutes if you don't hurry up," Freya cut in, finishing her glass of wine.

"But she's upset with me-"

"She was," Freya clarified. "But right now she's merely acting tough for show. Give her your charms and—" Freya winked, "—have a wonderful Christmas night."

For a minute, it looked as if Elijah wouldn't take the opportunity. But soon, he began smiling, and handing Freya his drink and kissing her cheek, he sped off. Freya laughed and finished his drink, turning to join Marlenie and Hope - who were given permission to continue with Christmas gifts in the lounge rooms downstairs. She was to be the supervision of her two nieces, and she couldn't think of a better way to end the night.

~ 0 ~

"Look, I know this is probably the thousandth voicemail I leave you, and if you want me to stop just give me a sign you're okay…" Maleny paused, simultaneously stopping and leaning against the second-floor banister, "...you can text me a simple word, one word to show me you're fine, and I promise I will stop these calls. I know I'm redundant and that I've said this so many times now, but...I'm sorry. I am so sorry for everything. I shouldn't have led you on to believe what couldn't work again. I should have just told you who I am, and...clarified where I was. I needed a friend, but instead I deceived you. I'm sorry. I understand you don't want to talk to me, nor see me, but please, just give me this last thing and you won't ever have to hear my voice nor see my face again. Please, tell me you're alright. And, merry Christmas, Lucien."

Maleny pulled the phone from her ear, looking at it a minute before hanging up. The chances of getting a call back, or a text message, were almost non-existential, but Maleny kept hope.

"Mal," the call had her gasping loud and whirling around to find Klaus coming her way.

She sighed, assuming he had heard everything she left in the voicemail. "I don't want to argue," she said. "If you heard, then you know it was all genuine platonic concern."

Klaus nodded. "I still don't like it," he admitted, not that it was much of a surprise.

Maleny rolled her eyes, thanking her stars it wasn't going to be turning into an argument. "I wouldn't expect you to. This is just...something for me. I need to set things right, and doing so means I need to apologize."

"I'm not surprised," Klaus tried his best not to chuckle at her. Things were delicate as it seemed and he had to be extra careful with what he had planned next for her. "It's very like you."

"Hmm," Maleny hummed and turned to the balcony, clearly upset despite their ongoing civilized conversation.

"What's wrong tonight?"

"Just…" Maleny bit her lip, glancing his way, "...I just can't stop thinking about Rebekah's words. I mean, you once said the same thing. I'm fragile, I'm...soft," she rolled her eyes, "And that's fine - for a while. I love that you care for me, that you want to protect me but...at the end of the day, I don't like knowing that you see me as this little breakable object—" she mimicked with her hands, "—that...that has to be put behind some glass. You didn't see me like that back in the village, did you?"

"No," Klaus answered quietly, coming closer to her. "But the times are different, and there are so many people who would be happy kill you just to spite me. It wasn't long ago when you were kidnapped because of me."

"I remember," Maleny made a face at the reminder of crazy Aurora. "And, I guess, on some level, I probably am this breakable thing. But I don't want to be treated as so, because believing it is what makes me so. It's what allows others, like Aurora, to take advantage. Don't view me like that please," she whispered. "Don't put me behind glass like a doll."

The frailty in her voice shook Klaus deep inside. Her glossy eyes staring up at him, pleading him to do as she requested. He rested a hand on her cheek, smiling as she leaned into his touch. "I could never put you behind glass 'like a doll'," he began, finding it amusing when she scrunched her nose in confusion, "because if I did that, I wouldn't get to do this," he leaned down and kissed her.

Maleny kissed back rather quickly, draping an arm over his shoulder. She had missed his lips and was eager to remember what it felt like to be kissed by him. Unfortunately, she had to pull away after a while because her human lungs needed air.

"I suppose that would be kind of awkward to do if I were behind a glass," she giggled.

"Your sarcasm is something I truly missed, you know," Klaus kept surprisingly serious, Maleny noticed he seemed a bit different and she couldn't help feel nervous of it.

"Then why does it look like there's something else you're worried about?" she asked him. "For tonight, we are allowed to forget everything outside this building. Example," she pointed at herself, "I forget that my son is still out there somewhere, celebrating Christmas with God knows who. I also forget that I am competing against a deranged, thousand year vampire for your love. Oh, and let's not forget the prophecy that foretells the downfall of our family."

"One of those three are completely irrelevant," Klaus informed, though Maleny laughed. "Mal…" he said more sternly.

"C'mon, Klaus," she gave him a sharp look, "You know it's true. When you loved Aurora, you were you - in all your complete senses. What I had with Lucien was under a false identity. I didn't even remember him up until a month ago. And you? You're seriously going to say you never thought about that redhead in all this time? At least once?"

"My mind was occupied with a different woman—" Klaus said, or at least tried to anyway but Maleny cut him off.

"It's okay," she firmly assured. "I was the past — I was where I belonged."

But Klaus shook his head, looking more so determined then. "Come with me," he suddenly grabbed her hand and led her down for a room.

~ 0 ~

As Freya had told Elijah, Cami was beginning to get impatient waiting at Jackson Square. It was night and any people passing by were giving her odd looks for her solitude. She wrapped her arms around herself, cold in her dark, violet dress. Thinking it would only take a couple minutes with this sudden business call, she had only grabbed her purse and left for the place. But after an hour or so, she was growing irritated for being so 'stupid'.

"Camille?" the voice made her freeze for a minute. She shut her eyes, then, squeezing them hard like doing so would make it not real. Elijah came a couple steps closer, but still kept a respectful distance from her. "Camille, please…"

Opening her eyes, Cami turned around, surprised yet somehow believing she had known something wasn't right in Freya's request. "Getting your sister to trick me…?" she began, but Elijah was quick to clarify.

"Freya did this without my knowledge. You must understand I could not let this opportunity pass me by."

"What opportunity?" snapped Cami, "To see me like an idiot who waited for the Mikaelson witch?" she made to walk past him but he grabbed her arm, forcing her to stay there, and close to him.

"Don't leave me," Elijah whispered, looking down to her softly. She looked beautiful in her dress, her curled hair complimenting her angel-face as he thought it was.

"Elijah, I don't want to do this," Cami sighed, shaking off his hand from her arm. "It doesn't work between us - it can never work."

"If you believed that you wouldn't have helped us retrieve Rebekah," Elijah said sharply.

"I did that because I wanted to help you guys. Not to mention there's the little detail of my life hanging onto yours," Cami pointed. "You die, I die. Call me selfish, if you'd like."

"I will call you a liar," Elijah came up with instead, surprising her with his bluntness. "I'm not asking anything from you except this one night. Allow me to take you to dinner, anywhere you'd like—"

"Elijah—"

"We can just stand here if you say so," Elijah persisted, growing more determined by the second, "and I will be content. Please?"

Cami sighed and looked to the side. "If the Strix see us together…"

"Then maybe standing out here isn't the right thing to do," Elijah half-smiled. "But I do know of this lovely restaurant you might like."

Cami playfully rolled her eyes. "We don't even need the meal, you know that."

"I frankly don't care," Elijah chuckled. "It's the mere thought that counts, don't you think? Please, shall we?" he gestured.

Biting her lip, Cami racked her mind for any possible way this could go wrong and she would wind up hurt. And even as she came up with about ten, her hand automatically reached for his. Elijah smiled for a moment before the temperature of her skin got to him. He shook off his black coat and gently placed it around Cami's shoulders. The blonde flushed and smiled, allowing him to take her hand soon after.

~ 0 ~

"I don't understand what we're doing here," Maleny said as Klaus pushed a dresser away from a wall. They were in his art studio but apparently there was something she hadn't yet seen in the room.

"I often regretted not showing you this earlier," Klaus said as he put a palm on the brick wall, bitterly laughing to himself. "I suppose it would have avoided us many arguments if you realized how much you meant to me."

"Showed me what?" Maleny stepped forwards, crossing her arms.

"Life is like a city- built in layers. No matter what new experiences come along, the foundation remains," and then with such severe force, Klaus punched a fist into the wall.

Maleny jumped in her spot, alarmed with the action. "We're okay!" she quickly shouted, looking out to the open door where she was sure the others would have heard. "Klaus, what the hell was that?" she hissed and returned her attention back to the wall.

But as the last pieces of the wall fell to the floor, she caught sight of a never before seen portrait of herself. It was old, that much she could see straight off.

"When was this…?" she stepped towards it, her eyes scanning every last feature of it.

She was, once again, the simple village girl in a portrait that was far too kind with its beautiful colors and scenery. She suddenly laughed, her hand going up to her hair. "My flower crown…"

Klaus backtracked till he stood beside her, also viewing the portrait like it was his first time. "Two hundred years ago, it was my art studio. It became a tomb for my memory of you."

Maleny blinked, glancing sideways at him. "But I was dead to you. I mean, I was Maya at the time but I—" she gestured to herself, "—was dead to you."

Klaus nodded his agreement with her. "I thought if I painted what haunted me, I could free myself of you forever. But centuries have proved I have never been more wrong about anything."

Maleny moved to stand in front of him, her back to the portrait. "But I was dead. You couldn't have...you shouldn't have…" she shook her head. "You should have let me go."

Klaus reached to touch her face, making her stay still. "You think there's a competition between you and Aurora, but you won the moment you returned to my life. I suspect the only reason I was ever able to love her was because, as you said, you were dead in my mind. But now you're here. You're standing before me - your beautiful self with your pretty blonde hair."

Maleny smiled, flushed. "And would you really be content with someone like me? A girl who made flower crowns," she pointed back without taking her eyes off him, "Or, a woman who barely understands the concept of 'Halloween'? Because you were right, we are opposites sometimes. And I think it's only fair we finally discuss all this. I don't want to go back to ignoring everything we are. I am naive, and you are clever, I am clueless of this new world, and you almost run it."

"You're progressing, Maleny," Klaus assured, "And you will continue to learn like you have. You are a fighter, but with different weapons."

"I'm a weak fighter," Maleny quietly said. "Fragile one…"

Klaus traced his fingers over her cheeks, becoming nearly entranced with her scent. "There is beauty in the courage of the fragile fighter — those who persevere despite all they've been through. That is what I admire most of you."

"Hmm, really?" Maleny arched an eyebrow.

"Absolutely," Klaus nodded. "And I know that within the next week, the next months...within the next years..." he paused suddenly, pulling his hands from her. That nervous glint Maleny identified earlier had returned to his eyes, to his entire body. She watched him reach inside his jacket, pulling out a small silver box. He placed it over her palm, encouraging her to open it with a silent look.

Maleny looked at the box, gently raising its top to see what laid inside. The sight made her freeze.

"And hopefully, if it's not too late," Klaus continued, his voice now shaking, "...within the next centuries, you and I could learn of new things to admire about each other."

Maleny lifted the vial of blood from the box, her face pale with shock. Her fingers curled around the vial, gripping it tightly like it would slip away from her. "I-it's…"

Klaus took a deep breath before making his final statement. "You have given me your 'always', would you give me your 'forever' as I wish to give mine to you?"

Maleny shuddered a breath, her hand dropping the empty box to the floor. With teary eyes, she nearly lunged for Klaus simply to give her response in the form of a passionate kiss.

~ 0 ~

Just as Elijah returned to the table he and Cami had taken, Cami hung up on a phone call. She thanked him for her glass as Elijah took a seat across the table.

She sighed. "That was Alton and Yamilet. They're leaving the Quarter tonight."

"The best thing they could do, honestly," Elijah admitted. "This place...it's about to become the scene of a war."

"Yeah," Cami muttered. "Tell me something else I don't know."

There was a moment of awkward silence, but when Elijah spoke up again Cami wished he hadn't. "I would prefer if you left as well."

"Excuse me?" The blonde blinked rapidly.

"Save yourself, Camille, and leave," Elijah requested with a near broken heart. "You deserve far better than being constantly thrown into my family's fights. You deserve to…" his eyes bore into hers with such intensity Cami felt overly nervous than irritated, "...you deserve to see wonderful places. You deserve-"

"Stop," Cami ordered, her voice soft. "Please, stop. Is this why you took me here? To tell me to leave?"

"No," Elijah shook his head. "But seeing you, all beautiful and dressed up, reminds me that this is only for one night. For mere hours. By tomorrow morning you'll be back with the Strix, fighting more of their enemies - coming to fight me."

Without thinking, Cami took his hand over the table. "I'm in this for you and your family. Because no matter what happened between us I want you alive."

Elijah gripped her hand, his fingers finding a way to interlace with hers. He relished in the rare moment of peace and affection. "Camille," he began quietly, never knowing the effect of using her full name had on Cami, "I appreciate your attempts, your time on me and my family, but—"

"No," Cami cut him off, startling him with the determination in her tone. "Elijah," she sighed, "it's no secret I, um…" she blushed then, coughing awkwardly, "...I, uh...have feelings for you, so of course that's an extra motivation," both shared flustered smiles, "But I am doing this for my city, for people who don't deserve to die. I like helping people, don't take that away from me."

Elijah looked at her a long while, and finally placed his other hand on hers as well and smiled. "It seems like I now understand the troubles Niklaus goes through with Maleny - it is almost impossible denying you something."

Cami laughed wholeheartedly, knowing she was blushing like mad. When Elijah raised her cupped hand to kiss it, Cami discovered the conflict Maleny went through with Klaus. It was nearly impossible breathing right with such intense looks from them.

~ 0 ~

Maleny and Klaus had moved to the latter's bedroom. In the middle of the room they stood, kissing, until Maleny pulled away for a moment to catch her breath. With an incredibly happy smile, she held the vial of blood between them. "Tonight? Or tomorrow?" she asked curiously.

"Whichever you please," Klaus replied, honestly. The excitement on her face was unlike anything he had ever seen - it was impossible not to laugh just a little.

Maleny considered the upsides for a minute before returning her eyes to Klaus. "I think...tomorrow." Although the answer was a little surprising, Klaus took it with a simple nod. "I waited long for a proper Christmas, and I'd like to finish it as how I started it - a human."

Klaus took the vial from her then, speeding to the dresser to leave it there. He returned in a flash, taking her by the waist. Maleny giggled as he turned them for the bed.

"Take your last look at this human because tomorrow she's gone," Maleny warned with a wide smirk. "And then—" she kissed him softly, "—what wonders await us, hm?" she asked with a suggestive look on her face.

"I'd be happy to discover," answered Klaus all too quick, making Maleny laugh. He started kissing her again, backtracking her to the bed. His hand trailed searched for the zipper of her dress, causing Maleny to pull away with another smirk.

"You're gonna have to work for that," she warned, sitting on the bed first and scooting a bit back.

"I accept that challenge," Klaus moved to get on the bed with her, crawling over her. He truly was never one to let a challenge just slip by.

~ 0 ~

"I can't believe that just happened," Marlenie looked at her aunt Freya as the two returned to the compound after a...interesting meeting with Rebekah. As it turned out, the cure had not been enough and Rebekah was on a one-way path to insanity if she was not subdued. So, they had to dagger her. But on Rebekah's request, they would not tell either of his brothers for the time being.

"I can't believe we just did that," Marlenie feebly remarked, holding little Hope closer to her, the baby completely unaware of what happened around her. She chewed on the wooden craft Klaus had made for Rebekah when they were children.

"For now, it's best we follow Rebekah's instructions," Freya sighed, coming to sit at the couch.

"I know," Marlenie nodded, resigned. She turned her head to Hope and smiled. "If your mother knew where we took you she would kill me!" Hope responded with a giggle, flapping her free hand. "Let's go get you changed, yeah?"

Freya nodded for her niece to go while she took a moment to herself and processed what they had done. They hid Rebekah's body in a temporary location, for it was dark and with a baby it was impossible to go far away.

Freya shut her eyes, letting her head fall back as she groaned in frustration. "Ooh, why can't anything be simple?" she asked herself.

Suddenly, she heard noises coming from the front entrance. She believed it to be Elijah so she quickly sobered from the tragedy. "Elijah?" she called but when she heard the distinct noise of suitcase wheels she knew it wasn't her brother.

A young man with dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes nervously came out from the dark, and upon seeing Freya he froze in his spot. "A-aunt Freya?"

It took only a second to realize who the young man was, and immediately Freya dashed to go meet him in an embrace. "Nicolas!"

Nicolas Mikaelson took his aunt into a tight hug, laughing as he was taller than she was and planted multiple kisses on her hair. "I-I can't believe it's you! Like, proper you…" he pulled away, eyes big as he studied her fancy clothes and genuine happier face.

Meanwhile, Freya took to studying his face. He looked exactly the same as the last time they saw each other - centuries ago. But being free of Dahlia's control was a reason to be more joyful, and it showed on Nicolas' face.

Freya remarked the first thing that popped into her head. "You really do look a lot like your father."

Nicolas warmly smiled, eyes roaming up to the second level of the compound. "I-is he...is he here? I...I don't know what's going on, aunt Freya. How did you defeat aunt Dahlia? How did my mother escape those awful sacrificial witches? How did she find you all? How did you find them? How-"

"Aunt Freya!" Marlenie called from the lounge room, coming out with Hope (now in a Christmas onesie) in her arms.

Freya turned around in time to see the woman coming in, and wondered how they would all react to the new arrival. Nicolas looked over Marlenie with a sense of familiarity, but the centuries had turned the once child Marlenie into a proper woman. The same happened to him.

Freya looked between them curiously. "Oh, don't tell me you don't know who they are," she spoke to both, chuckling. "I'm sure even Hope would know judging by the fact all three of you share the same eyes."

Marlenie fit the pieces in rather fast when she saw the suitcase behind Nicolas, and the clear travel clothes...and the eyes. The eyes were what told her exactly who he was.

"N-Nick?" her frail voice dared to ask.

"That's...impossible," Nicolas breathed in. "Marlenie?"

"Oh my God!" Marlenie cried out in utter happiness and rushed to hug her slightly older brother. "It's you! It's you!" she draped one arm around his neck, the other still holding Hope.

Nicolas leaned the side of his face on Marlenie's head, grasping the fact she was there - alive. "Of course it's me. But...you...you're a…"

"...vampire," Marlenie sniffed and pulled away, sheepishly smiling. "I had to meet my father, remember?"

Nicolas chuckled, and at that moment he made Hope squeal out like she clearly wanted to be included in whatever was going on. Nicolas laid eyes on her, evidently confused by the presence of the toddler, but nonetheless pleased to have the child. "And who's this little one?" he eyed the wooden craft in Hope's small hand.

"Oh, well...this is Hope," Marlenie slightly turned to bring Hope closer to Nicolas, "...our younger sister."

Nicolas' eyes widened in shock, flickering to Freya for confirmation. Freya chuckled and nodded. "D-did our mother…"

"No," Marlenie cut in before he made the assumption. "Hope is our step-sister. And, just before you get the idea, her mother is married and loves another."

That did make Nicolas feel a little better. What a disillusion it would have been to come home and see his father was with another woman, with a child as well.

"Hope, meet your big brother," Marlenie handed the toddler over to Nicolas, who nervously took her. "You and I are gonna make sure to annoy him like the good little sisters we are."

Hope tilted her head and looked at Nicolas, much like he did to her. Suddenly, Hope flapped a hand on his cheek, giggling.

"That means she likes you," Freya came to stand beside Marlenie.

Nicolas smiled and tickled Hope's stomach, eventually moving onto the two people he was dying to meet. "And, um…" he looked upstairs again, "...Mum...she's...and Dad...they're…"

"They're here," Freya nodded, smiling softly. "And they have been waiting for you for so long now." The piece of information made Nicolas brighten up. He had been rather nervous coming over to practically introduce himself to the two parents that he assumed new nothing of him except of his existence.

"But," Marlenie said before he could move a step, "I don't think you'll be meeting them today." Nicolas raised an eyebrow. "They had problems before, but I'm pretty sure they fixed it. So...you can assume they're, uh…" she cleared her throat, awkwardly finishing, "...a bit busy."

Freya snickered, mockingly scolding her niece with a look...while Nicolas just laughed and returned his attention to Hope who was flapping her little wooden craft in front of his face. He didn't mind spending the night with them.

[gurutrends]

Marleny the Honduran teacher: Only Fans and age

Marleny Aleelayn , better known as the Honduran teacher, or TikTok teacher, has been trending on social media, this due to a video she posted on TikTok where she is seen in front of a group of children, but she is not actually a teacher . She is currently venturing into Only Fans. The TikTok teacher is originally from Villanueva, Cortés , in the north of the country. She is currently around 36…

[lescroniques]

S'aprova una modificació de la llei que reconeix oficialment la llengua de signes peruana

congreso.gob.pe En la primera votación, el Congreso de la República aprobó, con 100 votos a favor, el texto sustituto del dictamen que propone modificar la Ley 29535, Ley de reconocimiento oficial de la lengua de signos peruana. Esta propuesta fue exonerada de la segunda votación, con 92 votos a favor, al superar la mayoría calificada requerida (tres quintos del número legal de congresistas)…[…]…

[bo1908]

Cardi B

[vitobayernmunich2023]

[ellinafox02]

Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almanza, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Cardi B’s net worth is estimated at $75-80 million. Cardi B Husband name is Kiari Kendrell Cephus famously known as Offset, they got married on September 2021.

[sleeptoome]

Marleny1(Marleny Aleelayn)

[skrzynka]

do lubiczów od strony pawła przyszła kartka na święta od marleny i nikt nie wie kim jest ta marlena. się już drugi odcinek głowią

[todos-los-30]

Mientras me quito los pantalones y luego los boxers, considero cómo se vería mi cuerpo desnudo de 30 años a ojos del exterior. Se parece a los cuerpos que nos dicen que deberían estar desnudos. Es una declaración "¿puedes creerlo?" cuerpo. Ha soportado los altibajos de la vida, el dolor, la pérdida, la confusión, el engaño, las alegrías confiables de relaciones pasadas y los meses en los que hacer ejercicio durante los períodos de encierro era definitivamente la opción más saludable. Es el cuerpo de un hombre que puede patinar en invierno sin ningún problema de salud. Quien debe dar seguimiento a los regímenes de cada gimnasio. ¿Quién puede salir de casa aunque sea por 3 noches sin dormir?

¿Debería preocuparme? Por supuesto que no.

Mi deseo sexual se está disparando y se está convirtiendo en una “montaña de libido”: ¿cómo redefino la intimidad en tales circunstancias?

Ninguna de estas preguntas necesita respuesta. Las respuestas llegaron más rápido que las preguntas. Ahora que estoy aquí, con mi cuerpo y mi cabeza listos, descubro que no me importa nada más. Ni siquiera puedo obligarme a preocuparme. Me estoy dejando llevar por todo lo que se pierde en un mundo bidimensional cuando me tocó vivir un año en Barcelona durante la pandemia, y ahora donde nuestros ojos son la única forma de interactuar con los demás, donde todos nuestros demás Los sentidos son reemplazados por una búsqueda inmediata de sexo duro.

(Continuará)

Cuarta parte

[yellowmanula]

Domknęłam projekt drugiego tomu, wydrylowałam każdą swoją symboliczną fiksację xd wycisnęłam z wyobraźni ostatnie soki i w sumie np. czuję, że na razie niech to leży i czeka na swój czas. Ale bardzo bardzo mocno zmieniłam frazę, kombinowałam sporo, będzie to kompletnie, diametralnie różna książka od debiutu, który był destylatem i dykcją nożyc. odchodzę też od posthumanizmu w nowych wierszach hehe, nie no, nie całkiem, ale zwróciłam się ku pierwotnemu tętnowi, primal takie to jest, taki Fangorn mojej zwariowanej głowy hahaha

także koniec pisania wierszy na jakiś czas, teraz chcę WASZEEEE CZYTAĆ

tak czas czytactwa nastąpi i może pisactwa recek:

mam zaległości z :

Tomaszem Lorencem "Gładzenie zwierząt" (uważam, że to jest dobre bardzo)

wspanialą Agatką Zu "Księżyc Grzybiarek"

i o Marlenie Niemiec "cierpkie" o chcę pisać, tak

na pewno chcę o tej trójce coś napisać, i coś o rymowaniu.

bardzo lubię rymować, bo jestem typowym słuchowcem, jak ktoś czyta rymowane wiersze to miód dla mnie

buziaaa

p.s. no i będę mieć fajnych redaktorów i opiekunów, ukłony dla Rafał Gawin i Pjotr Janicky

i kupuję sobie drumlę (to jest taki instrument perkusyjny tatarski) będę wam grać

lalala

[bodybuilding1604]

Marleny Canela - Beautiful Natural Fitness Girl 🇩🇴 with Perfect Glutes and Muscular Thick Legs