Damon glanced up at the Mikaelson Bourbon Street manor, before looking one more time at the two files he had in his hands. Shrugging, he strode forward. "Anyone home?" He called, voice mocking. "Cause I have some news for you about your two girlfriends back in Mystic Falls, Klaus and Elijah."
Elijah looked down from the balcony of their New Orleans home, highly amused at the brazen actions of the young vampire. He hadn’t yet spotted the original but Elijah could hear Klaus approaching and knew all too well what was about to transpire.
“Damon Salvatore,” Klaus crooned slowly emerging from the shadows underneath the balcony with a menacing smirk. “Last I heard, you had your hands quite full with your little family of Geminis. I hope you’re not here for any hand-me-downs.” 
“It is rather bold of you to show up unannounced,” Elijah agreed, alerting them both to his presence above. “And to our home, nonetheless.” In the bat of an eye he appeared at ground level, face to face with the young vampire, his eyes sparkling with challenge. “To what do we owe the displeasure?”
"Perhaps Klaus should go to Mystic Falls with Caroline and Elias," Katherine remarked, glancing at the naked mole rat. "My father won't be able to undo Uncle Gabriel's tricks, so he's stuck until the the week is up. I'm sorry." She glanced at Evie, eyes brightening. "As for your Uncle Kol and Uncle Finn, they'll be coming with us I'm sure. I...unfortunately do not know about your Aunt Kobi."
"Will Aunt Kobi be stuck here?" Erik asked, frowning slightly. "Why can't she come with us?" He asked.
"Kobi will have to go back under protection. Dreamers are special....those who hunt them are still hunting them." Katherine stated, meeting Caroline's and Elijah's gazes.
________
"We know for sure you have Phoenix and Dragon," Lucian said rubbing Kol's back. "Finn said it was all Fire magic. So there's no conflicting mixtures."
Caroline frowned at the mole rat who stared up at her blankly. “What, you have a better idea?”
Klaus scrambled over to Hope’s remnants and began to nibble her French fries.
Elijah sighed. “It’s been too short of a time since we’ve had so many predicaments under one roof.”
Evie’s brows knit. “What’s a dick mint?”
Elijah tried to repress his smile. “A predicament is another word for a problem. As your one uncle is a mole rat and the other is…indisposed. And I’m not so sure Finn will be joining us,” he informed Katherine. “He signed on to be your sister’s protector. For however long.”
…
Kol held his hands up, observing the flames with a newfound intrigue. His eyes flicked to Amenadiel with a conspiratorial twinkle. “You’re an angel, yeah?”
“Yes,” Amenadiel answered obligingly.
Kol’s lips formed a sinister smirk. “Which means you can’t be killed?”
Oblivious, Amenadiel spread his hands. “Well, not by humans or even immortals such as—”
A fireball went soaring in his direction and he jumped out of the way, gaping at a grinning Kol. “That doesn’t mean it won’t still hurt!”
“Relax, darling. I’m jut testing the waters,” he said, gearing up to form another fireball.
Amenadiel raised a finger. “Don’t.”
Katherine frowned, looking thoughtful. "Father may allow Kobi to come with us...if Kobi wants to come. She hasn't been allowed to see the world, and it's not fair for all of you to be separated from Finn."
"Yeah! Let Auntie Kobi stay with us, and Uncle Finn!!" Erik cried, eyes glimmering.
_______
Lucian laughed, grinning as he watched Kol and Amenadial. "Don't burn down the house Kol. Dad will be pissed."
“That’s entirely up to your grandfather,” Elijah advised. “And your uncle Finn.”
“And Auntie Kobi,” Evie pointed out. “Mama says girls are allowed to make their own choices without a man telling them what to do. Right Mama?”
Elijah smiled to himself as he sampled a French fry. “As a devout feminist, I am inclined to agree.”
…
Kol watched the fire form in his palm and let it roll along his fingers, his eyes glowing with delight. “If I’m going to learn to control this, I’m going to need targets to practice on.”
Amenadiel narrowed his eyes. “Angels are not targets. In fact, we are regarded even more highly—”
Another fireball whizzed past his head, searing the wall him. He glared at Kol. “Stop that!”
Kol smirked and glanced to Lucian. “I think I’m going to like this.”
“If you insist on practicing before Raphael arrives, at least let me bring you to Maze’s combat room,” Amenadiel pleaded.
"That's right," Katherine remarked, smirking as she met Elijah's gaze. "Though I distinctly remember a certain someone in a rose garden who wouldn't teach me to fight because he was terrified of me being hurt...and wouldn't allow anyone else to teach me, either." She added, watching as the children gasped and stared at Elijah as Caroline laughed.
"Tatko, did you really?" Erik asked staring at his father in dismay.
"Is it because Auntie Kat wanted a big sword instead of one her size?" Elias asked thoughtfully, handing Niklaus an apple slice. "Dyado Lucifer and Uncle Amenadial says they had to stop her from grabbing the celestial broadswords to try out afore. She's not built for them, and trying to use them could tear up her back muscles."
"Only Uncle Finn, Uncle Elijahz and Daddy, when he's really worked up can use Broadswords Auntie Kat," Hope murmured, frowning at Katherine. "Daddy said even with all my power I'm too slight for a regular broadsword. A celestial one sounds way dangerous. You'd make Uncle Elijah go grey!"
Katherine hummed, shaking her head. "It was one of Elijah's swords, but I don't think it was a broadsword...I can't remember. I do remember it had Norse runes on it, and being fascinated by it. But I was always fascinated by Elijah. I once snuck out and asked for his copy of the Canterbury Tales he'd just got for Yule, an attempt to get him to read to me...but instead he handed the book over. Which was unfortunate as I was illiterate in English until 1502. Lucian found it hilarious. We owned a book we couldn't read for 3 years. I still have it, well The twins do. It's in their nursery shelves on their side of the bed."
_______
Lucian grinned, eyes shining. "Kol! Maybe you can go fully phoenix!! And then I can go fully thunderbird, and we can see how well our forms do? Like we can protect each other! It'll be great! C'mon! Uncle Amenadial lead the way!"
Elijah eyed her. “You never told me that.” He frowned as if deeply afflicted. “If you had, I would not have hesitated to read to you.” Klaus turned his head and squeaked. Elijah’s brows knit in confusion. “I’m afraid communicating with animals is out of my realm of expertise, brother.”
To that, Klaus scurried over and hit Elijah’s hand who yelped at the tiny teeth.
…
Kol’s flaking hand immediately extinguished as he frowned worriedly. “Full…phoenix?” He looked to Amenadiel. “Is that possible?”
Amenadiel shrugged. “Maybe. We’re not really sure yet the full extent of what was done to you, but given that your DNA is intertwined with it, I don’t see why not.”
Kol’s frown deepened in fear and he swallowed, deflecting, “I…I should talk to my sister. Perhaps Freya will know more.”
Amenadiel’s eyes narrowed suspiciously then flicked to Lucian’s in question.
"I think she tried to seduce you, Elijah," Caroline said, smirking as she began to pick up the remains of lunch. "I mean...snuck out...ask to see your new book you just got Yule..."
Katherine blushed, going to help the children. "Obviously it didn't work," she added, as she handed the children back their toys. "Now no fighting okay? We can watch the Minecraft movie if you want."
_______
"Alright," Lucian said, meeting Amenadial's gaze. "But Uncle Gabriel said you'll be fine and he's the one who's in charge of making humans now, so don't worry too much." He added as he led their group into the hall. "Freya should be in the library upstairs."
Elijah blinked and his brows twitched together. “You were trying to seduce me?”
Klaus hissed at his brother. Elijah ignored him and continued trying to work out the unsolvable equation he’d just been presented. “You were promised to Niklaus. You acted as though…” He shook his head. “From the look in your eyes when you first met him on his birthday, I always just assumed…”
Evie looked up from her toy with a flat look. “Wow, Tatko. You really are slow.”
…
Amenadiel led them to the hall but Kol stopped halfway. “On second thought…”
Amenadiel frowned sympathetically. “I know you’re afraid, Kol, but I assure you—”
“I’m not afraid!” he said defensively. “I’m…I’m acclimating. It’s a lot to bloody take in, all right?”
Amenadiel’s gaze softened and he smiled gently. “Instead of Freya, would you like to see your brother Finn?”
Kol met his gaze, hopeful and trying to play it cool at the same time. He gave a half shrug. “He’s not allowed to leave his post. …Is he?”
“I can watch over Kobi for a few minutes. Just don’t tell Lucifer.”
"Niklaus greeted me in Bulgarian--besides Lucian, that was the first time I'd heard anyone speak my homelands native tongue. It was a pleasant surprise. But...even before I knew about...everything, we never clicked. It's why I'm sure he left me to you." Katherine stated as she finished cleaning up the children's lunches.
"But yes, that Yule night was my...failed seduction plan. Lucian, Kobi, and I had always been told reading would lead to seductive things between a man and a woman so I..." she shrugged, sending Elijah a smirk. "Went to try, as I thought it was mutual. After all, you had chased me in the garden, were adamant that only you could train me in archery, were with me any moment Niklaus did not call you away. So I assumed..." she shrugged, grinning at Elijah as Caroline laughed. "Lucian laughed in my face when I snuck into his room that night and told him what happened, showing him the book. He said now we have to learn to read English."
________
"I can go get him," Lucian said softly. "Dad won't be too mad if I say I just wanted to see my baby sister. That way you and Finn can talk." He added, turning towards the hallway that felt like Kobi was down. "She's this way."
Elijah frowned, centuries of lost time and hurt crossing his expression. “I am sorry, Katerina,” he said softly.
Evie’s face was scrunched up in confusion. “But why would reading books make seductive things happen, Mama? And what is seduction? Can I do it?”
Elijah coughed into hand, his eyes slightly widened in startle and a light pink creeping into his cheeks.
…
Kol swallowed nervously. “He’s really alive, isn’t he?”
Amenadiel nodded reverently. “Thanks to you. And thanks to Gabe.”
They followed Lucian to the door and Kol felt something cold rushing through him. His arms broke out in scales then and he felt a rippling in his back and groaned.
Amenadiel’s eyes widened as he drew Kol away from the door. “Luke.” He held Kol’s shoulders but lifted up his scaled arm to show Lucian. “I think I understand…”
Kol felt a sharp pain in his spine as his skin started to rip again.
“We have to calm him down. His wings are trying to break through.”
“Wings???” Kol said between gritted teeth and panting breaths.
Katherine hummed, leaning down to look Evie in the eye. "Remember how I told you that some things are for when you're much older? Seduction is one of those things. It helps set the mood to lead into intercourse." She said, watching as her daughter and the other children Remembered the documentary they'd watched.
"Oh. Eww," Erik murmured, shooting Katherine a disgusted look. "That's yucky mama. It's a good thing Tatko was dumb then."
"Can we watch Halloween Town? Hope's never seen it." Elias said, changing the subject. "Evie can be Marnie even!"
________
"Deep breaths, Kol," Lucian said softly as he darted forward and opened the door, Finn standing between the door and bed. "Kol needs your help," he explained quickly, taking Finn's place and standing Guard beside Kobi. "Go help him."
Finn glanced at Kobi before moving down the hallway and reaching Kol, gently squeezing Kol's face in his hands. "Firefly, it's okay." He murmured, voice steady. "I'm here. Everything is alright."
“Yes,” Caroline agreed, shooting Katherine a pointed look. “Go make yourselves comfortable in the theater while we clean up. But put your jammies on first!” she called after them as the four kids barreled out of the room and down the hall filling it with giggles. She sighed. “I still can’t believe they watched that documentary,” she told Katherine.
Elijah was beside himself. “I was not aware they were so…educated.”
…
Kol’s breaths were fast and heavy. “It hurts,” he told his brother.
“It’s the dragon DNA,” Amenadiel told Finn. “His wings are trying to break through again.”
“I don’t want bloody wings,” Kol whimpered. “D-don’t tell Luke, but I actually hate flying.” He frowned at Finn when he chuckled. “D-don’t laugh at me! You’re supposed to be dead!”
Amenadiel nodded. “Right. He woke up with no memory of what happened. So this is all new to him again.”
"You were the one who let them go to Elena's home. She's a nurse, of course she was going to show them how babies were made after they asked how. You knew she was going to explain it to them." Katherine remarked, raising a brow at Caroline, before glancing at Elijah. "Yeah...you can thank Elena."
______
"I got better," Finn remarked, gently rubbing Kol's back. "Deep breaths Firefly. In, out. It's just like when your magic became to much. Focus on what you can feel and see."
Elijah sighed heavily. He stood to help them clean then paused as he heard commotion in the distance. “Kol…” he muttered.
Caroline frowned and listened, too. “Is he all right?”
“I’m not certain. But it sounds like Finn is with him, so he will be. Although, he gave his word to your father not to leave your sister…”
…
Kol listened to his brother’s words, trying to focus and breathe, memories of childhood resurfacing to comfort him. He blinked until the present came back into view and stared upon his eldest brother, tears in his eyes.
Amenadiel nodded in confirmation at Finn as Kol stopped squirming, and as soon as he released the Original, Kol threw himself at his brother and wrapped his arms tightly around Finn. “Don’t ever bloody die again,” he murmured, voice muffled against Finn’s shoulder.
"Uncle Amenadial or Lucian will trade with Finn so he can see to Kol," Katherine remarked, looking thoughtful. "And long as we don't mention that Finn left his spot guarding Kobi, Tatko will never need to know." She added, before looking at Elijah. "So, how'd you like McDonald's my love?"
______
"I'll try not too, Firefly." Finn replied, pulling Kol closer. "But to be fair, I was only trying to save Niklaus and stop that Jeremy boy from unleashing that Silas person you were scared of. I did not expect them to have planned everything out to kill one of us for Jeremy's hunter's mark." He added, rubbing Kol's back. "But still. Are you okay?"
Elijah made a face. “I liken it to drinking the blood of a field mouse in lieu of a perfectly good human donor. And truthfully, I would not harbor any remorse if we never ate it again.”
Caroline snorted. “A field mouse? Have you been talking to Stefan?” She grinned when his expression flattened. “Besides. With these kids, never having McDonalds again is a total impossibility.”
…
Kol let out a deep sigh, grumbling, “I suppose that’s all relative.” He pulled back from his brother looking more like himself. “I’ve just spent nearly a week being tortured like you couldn’t even imagine - and normally I like a bit of pain, but this… And those bloody doctors stuck me with who knows how many strains of mythical creatures. I don’t even know who—what I am anymore!” He ran a hand through his hat in distress. “And I’m supposed to be glad this happened? That I got the worst possible magic but it’s still magic, aren’t I? I was awful at fire magic, you know that. It was too volatile for me. I was too volatile for it. I feel lost, Finn.”
"It would break Evie's heart to stop eating McDonald's," Katherine remarked, grinning at Elijah's face. "She loves the place. Erik enjoys it too."
_____
We'll figure it out, Firefly I promise." Finn murmured, pulling Kol into another, tighter hug. "You're still Kol Mikaelson, still my baby brother, still the most troublesome Mikaelson. You're still Kol. Remember that. You're still you. They can never take that from you."
Elijah sighed theatrically. “I certainly would never want to break her heart.”
Caroline rolled her eyes smiling. “It’s more likely she’ll break yours first. Just wait until her bad boy phase.”
Elijah went pale, all humor gone from his eyes.
…
Kol hugged Finn back. “The took you from me,” he murmured. “And we never thought that would happen…”
“If it’s any sort of consolation, you did bring him back,” Amenadiel pointed out. He hesitated before continuing. “I shouldn’t tell you this, since we don’t know the full scope of what you are, and Lucifer would hate my spilling the beans, but human spirits aren’t capable of soul tethering.”
Kol drew back from his brother, frowning. “Soul tethering?”
Amenadiel took a step forward and glanced around before lowering his voice. “You shouldn’t have been able to grab Finn’s soul and pull him into your body. We were all surprised. Even Azrael. Which means whatever you are now, it’s more than just skin deep. Your soul changed when your DNA did.”
Kol stared stricken.
"Oh, don't look like that, Eli," Katherine remarked smirking. "If you remember my bad boy phase led me straight to you so..."
______
Finn frowned, glancing at Amenadial. "Are you sure it's from the Dread Doctors? Lucian and Kol have blood shared multiple times over the last 500 years. I've noticed while dead that Elijah's soul is....well, distinctly more divine than the rest of the family's because of his blood sharing with Katerina. Couldn't Kol and his relationship with Lucian protect his soul? As the Antichrist Kol's soul should be protected. I heard Lucifer state he couldn't touch Elijah's soul because Katerina claimed him as hers. Shouldn't the same be said for Kol, as Lucian is Lucifer's Heir?"
Elijah narrowed his eyes at her. “That is not as reassuring as you might think. I’d prefer not to discuss the idea of Evangeliya dating until she is at least of age.”
Caroline crossed her arms. “And what is ‘of age’ pray tell?”
Elijah glanced at her with a raised brow. “Indeterminate.”
Caroline rolled her eyes. “The more you tell her ‘no’ the harder she’s going to fight against you. Just speaking from experience.” She scooped Klaus up and headed to the theater room to check on the kids.
…
Amenadiel rubbed his chin, considering it. “It would make sense. But I’m not sure of the logistics with the Antichrist and the effects of bloodsharing with him. We would have to ask Lucifer.”
Kol frowned, hesitant. “Could we, perhaps, worry about that part later? Your brother already isn’t my biggest fan. He didn’t even come to the wedding, which, granted, was more of an elopement. Not to mention I don’t exactly know how to feel that Lucian literally saved my soul. He’s never going to let me live it down, I can hear it already.”
Katherine hummed, an eyebrow raised as she moved closer to Elijah. "So you see yourself was the monster waiting for me at period of time. But you weren't, lyubov. To me...to my humanself," she corrects, pressing a kiss to Elijah's cheek, "is that you were the only one who saw me. And I loved you for it." Katherine remarked, playfully waving his tie at Elijah, a mischievous grin on her face as Elijah realizes Kater had taken it.
___________
"Well, we could have Katerina ask her father what 500 years of drinking and blood sharing would do to Elijah. Then we can go from there." He stated, teasingly running his hand through Kol's hair. "You need a trim, Firefly.
Elijah narrowed his eyes, feigning annoyance as he tugged the tie from her fingers. A flicker of heat passed through his gaze before he drew her in by the waist, smirking. “I was still a monster,” he said softly, his lips hovering close to hers. “You were simply the light that kept it at bay.”
…
Kol shook his head away from his brother’s reach. “Why do you always have to mess with my hair?” He huffed and began trying to fix it.
Amenadiel smiled. “I’ll let you have that conversation with Katerina, then.”
“Can’t wait,” Kol said sarcastically. “So how long until Finn has to go back to guarding her royal highness? I know I’m not the only one who’s wanted to see you.”
Amenadiel sighed. “I can stall a few more minutes. Ten at most.”