The party wasn't very exciting.

She at least expected them to hire some professional dancers. Or maybe a band. Instead there was a DJ who was only into electronic dance music, which she wasn't the biggest fan of. The alcoholic drinks were insanely tempting and yet she couldn't consume any. The humans that'd been invited weren't to be fed on.

It didn't really feel like a party to her.

"Go socialize," prompted Klaus, nudging Yara's lower back to propel her out into the middle of the courtyard. "Meet someone new."

"While you stand on the balcony and sulk?" she asked sweetly. "I'd rather stand next to you. We could do what we always do, criticizing everyone that walks in and drinking in between. I don't even need to drink to have fun making comments."

"What, you find no entertainment because you cannot drink?"

"My god you make me sound like an alcoholic." Klaus gave her a significant look. "Okay, I always have drunk a lot—" another look, "maybe more than a lot, but it's not that! I know how to enjoy a party without it. I just don't know many people and the environment doesn't feel... right."

"Aha, that implies you know even few people. Find someone you do know and glue yourself to them. I have to handle Elijah."

Yara made a face as he walked away.

She tried to mingle with the vampires, the only ones she more or less recognized. She spoke for a short while with Thierry and Katie, who had only come to see what the scene would be like, and were making a point not to cause any problems. Diego was less friendly with the wolves but was eager to tell Yara more about a business he apparently owned making silly t-shirts and donating the funds to children with cancer.

"Excuse me," she said, having liked the conversation until she saw the witches walk in with Davina in tow. "What kind of idiot–?"

She slid in front of Genevieve, who gave her a very obvious look over and asked, "You must be Yara Lopes."

"Yes," she said tightly. "And these girls are too young for a party like this."

"The witches were invited, namely their leadership. That includes the three Harvest Girls."

"Yes, I understand, but this is a party where the majority of people are overage and likely going to be intoxicated. It's like letting a high schooler into a college party. Seems like a good idea in their minds but it isn't in their best interests."

Genevieve gave her a look as if to say, 'What do you expect me to do about that?'

"Come with me, girls," offered Yara, trying not to punch the bitch in her face. "I will show you where the non-alcoholic drinks are." She beckoned them to come with her, guiding them to where one of the bartenders was catering to those in the crowd who either couldn't drink, or didn't like to. "Monitor these three closely, please, nothing with alcohol, but make the beverages fun and fruity. Close enough to the real thing without the final splash."

"We have drank before," said Monique pointedly.

"Good for you, I can relate, I've been drinking some kind of alcohol since I could walk, but this is a party in my house and I don't want anyone who is underage getting hurt and then trying to practice magic. That would be very bad. Everyone but the vampires is still capable of getting very plastered."

"Thank you," said Davina politely, knowing Yara was just trying to make sure they were alright. Neither Monique or Abigail seemed to find anything normal about her declaration, and were inclined to complain about her restrictions. "Is there anyone our age?"

"No, we were under the impression everyone was going to be over twenty-one. There are very few just over eighteen."

"Does that mean we could invite someone of our own?"

She hesitated, knowing exactly who Davina had in mind. The last thing she needed was to see Tim get his neck torn out by one of the nightwalkers. However, she knew it might make the party more tolerable and said, "Yes, you may each ask a guest your age to join you if you'd like but same rule, no drinking, and secondly, you keep an eye on them the entire time."

Davina squealed in delight, skipping away to call Tim.

"I see you're inviting more people," said Klaus, materializing beside her while she was serving herself some of the appetizers, piling them high onto her little plate.

"Those girls would have been out of place otherwise and I'd rather they invite someone and be left out of the mix for potential dance partners than be approached by these old-ass people who either don't know they're minors or... ew, intentionally go for them because of that fact. One day I'm going to kill every pedophile in the world, that's a promise."

"One I look forward to helping you bring to life." He nodded to where Elijah was speaking to a woman by the chocolate fountain. "Her. What do you think of her?"

"She's flirting with Elijah."

"I didn't ask what you see in her, what do you think of her?"

"Jeez, I think aloud here. She has a resting bitch face. Her smile isn't enough to make me dissociate the 'bitch' idea from her persona. But I don't know anything about her just from listening in while she talks to your brother about them getting to know each other better. Why do you ask?"

"Her name is Francesca Correa. A matriarch to a sizable drug empire, owns the Palace Royale Casino, now interested in speaking on behalf of the humans in light of Father Kieran's deteriorating condition."

"Well, I guess we did need a backup but did she really speak up because of that? Kind of tactless."

"If you would have been able to pick someone to take over that seat, who would you have picked?"

"Easy. Cami. She's an O'Connell, she has access to whatever records Father Kieran has. Even if she's still not fully in-the-know, she could hold the seat with those resources and simultaneously be a voice of reason. She's calm and she's unbiased. I don't know this other woman. I may try to..." she narrowed her eyes, "oh, you wanted me to want to talk to her, didn't you? To size her up? What, you think if I don't like her, I'll kill her?"

He shrugged. "It is a possibility."

"I'm not killing anyone at this party. It's bad enough Marcel is not here. I don't want to go and speak to a woman I might not like just to fill that void. Ah! There's Hayley. That's who I want to talk to."

"When you can, tell her and that Jackson boy to come and meet me in my study."

"No, not yet," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "Elijah is trying for peace with everyone now. We do want this alliance with the wolves most of all but we can't single them out behind the backs of the other communities, they'll be offended. We're making a list of what gift to give each leader on behalf of our family. The wolves will likely be getting the best gift and given our relationship to Hayley it stands to go about much better. We can slip in something extra once it's done. But I don't think we ought to do anything just yet."

"You are a buzzkill."

"I get that you enjoy the thrill of going behind people's backs, namely your brother's back, but I advise against it. It's not the time. Let's see how this works out before we pick favorites. With any luck, we can get everyone nicely on our side. But if worst comes to worst... wolves are the priority. The vampires are technically already our allies, so we don't need to worry about that."

She went to greet Hayley, who was standing with the Alpha, Jackson Kenner, surveying the scene and trying one of the fruity drinks the bartender was offering, an apparent invention of his own.

"Hi there," said Yara politely. "Welcome."

"Hey, Yara," said Hayley awkwardly. "Listen, I am so sorry about what happened at the other house, we don't know how those wolves were recruited for it, no one seems to be able to recall what happened–"

"It's okay. I know it wasn't your fault. And what you're saying leads me to believe it might not have even been their fault. They could have been mind-controlled. It's in the past... we hope. I'm glad to see you were able to undo the curse."

"Thanks to you, giving Hayley the tip about that witch," said Jackson, extending his hand. "Jackson Kenner, at your service."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Yara Lopes."

"Yeah, Hayley told me about you. Taking over the miracle baby pregnancy and making it a whole lot easier on her."

Hayley was still eyeing her stomach wistfully. "It's growing fast."

"Yes, she is," said Yara softly. "We recently found out it's going to be a girl. Little... Crescent princess."

"That's so good. Truly, that's wonderful news. What are you going to name her?"

"Klaus and I decided on Hope. But we aren't sure about a middle name yet. We don't want to necessarily name her after someone we know and we aren't the biggest fans of naming her for those that have died, namely his brothers, his sister, or my mother."

"Hope is a beautiful name," said Hayley. "I'm sure you'll think of a good middle name. Can I–?"

"Of course."

The wolf placed her hand gently on Yara's stomach, feeling around until she sensed movement. "Oh, is that–?"

"Yes, she's been more active," said Yara, guiding Hayley's hand to where the main kicks were happening. "It's still very minor but as supernaturals, we sense it much earlier."

"I just want you to know," said Jackson, "that your little one will always have a place in our pack. It's like you said, she's a Crescent Princess. Eventually, I think, she'll be the leader after Hayley and I have had our time."

"You're going to rule together?"

"Yeah. Bit of a crazy story, we were betrothed as kids. Our parents wanted to unite the two royal bloodlines at last but the infighting came too soon and it all went to shit. We're going to be co-Alphas now, really try to unite the pack. I appreciate you talking Elijah into roping us into this peace; I heard he wasn't the biggest fan of it."

"Well, he wanted to focus on just those that live in the Quarter and since you don't, it wasn't the priority, but I figured it was essential to create those bonds from the start."

"You will always have an ally in us," promised Hayley. "I want that little girl to know her roots, to know that wolves have her back. We've heard stories about... well... wolves and Klaus. And I've lived a few of those conflicts. I didn't expect there would be anyone on his end to guide her."

"I would very much like that. And if you'd be willing to teach me about being a werewolf... I'd like that, too."

She had a nice time dancing with one of the wolves, Jerick, who swore he was proficient in ballroom dancing just to give her a good laugh by swinging her around with no aim in mind. She chatted with Oliver and Aiden, Jackson's two Betas and best friends, who each had many wild stories to share and were actually quite funny. She watched while Hayley and Jackson danced, the two whispering to each other and maybe, just maybe, beginning to develop feelings on their own.

And then, out of nowhere, a fight broke out.

Aiden was the first to react, moving Yara to stand behind him and Hayley as Jackson ran to break up the brawl ensuing between Diego and Oliver. Francesca was nearby, apparently delighted to witness this.

Elijah had got to them first, slamming Oliver face first into a table. "This ends now. I won't ask again."

"Oh, we'll end it alright," said Jackson, pushing Diego into a pillar and holding a stake against his heart.

"This is literally the opposite of peace," said Yara in a singsong voice, eyeing Klaus, who, with great interest, was watching from the balcony. "Okay, seriously, nobody–" she stepped forward, pushing Jackson's arm down at the same time she yanked Elijah's arm off of Oliver, "is killing anybody. Not in my house and not while there are minors present. I have kept violence out of this courtyard for decades and I won't have you all breaking the streak because of some age-old feud. The past vampires hated the past werewolves. Get over it."

"Excuse me?" said Diego coldly. "I lost my family because of them!"

"These particular werewolves aren't even responsible for that! They have no idea who you are or what happened to your family. As for the wolves, the whole reason they're barely re-integrating into society is because Marcel had a Deveraux witch curse them. What's done is done, you all hurt each other. But almost a century ago, I was here when we struck a peace just like this."

She smiled, thinking of their party to celebrate the peace treaty. "I remember the Crescent Alpha, Lana Labonair, sharing a drink with me. I remember Klaus and Elijah as leaders of the vampires making a toast to New Orleans. And the Regent of the Nine Covens, at the time, was a wonderful young man named Phineas La Rue, who went on to have a daughter you all know now as Josephine La Rue. It wasn't easy but it was possible then. And it is possible now. But it's a choice."

She took the stake from Jackson's hand. "Everyone here has done something wrong to another member of a different supernatural community. Either you all learn to apologize and work with each other or..." she gestured to the door, "you head on out and massacre everyone you want. Easy peasy, no peace if there isn't any supernatural left alive. If all you want to focus on is the violence and the grudges, go for it, just get rid of each other now and let it be done. But if anyone is interested in finding out what it was like to have peace, what it was like for all the communities to work together and benefit from each other... stick around."

"She's right," agreed Hayley, taking responsibility for the wolves. "If we can't all learn to get along, if our families can't create some sort of community, what's the point? Kill each other and get it all over with."

Elijah and Jackson both stepped away, letting Oliver and Diego be free.

The party ran more smoothly after that. At least, Yara had a better time knowing the Harvest Girls were gone, the DJ had started taking song requests, and nobody was murdering another.

Elijah took the leaders of each community upstairs to sign the peace treaty while Yara had been at the front calling drivers to take some of their drunk guests home. She figured that she wasn't being invited to sign, given Elijah was probably handling it on behalf of the family.

"Lovely dress," said a voice in her ear as she was serving herself some juice.

"Yours, too," she said tightly, eyeing Francesca Correa out of the corner of her eye. "I don't believe we've met. Who are you?"

Francesca smiled wryly. "Francesca Correa. And, as of five minutes ago, leader of the Human Faction."

"Congratulations. The body isn't even cold yet."

"It's only temporary. Until Father Kieran is cured."

"Except you're settling in as if you don't expect him to be. When you're vying for power, at least own up to it. You're not doing this to be a good samaritan, are you? You want something."

"I require my life to stay as perfect as it is now. If peace with the supernaturals can ensure my lifestyle remains the same, I will do it."

"So it's about the drugs, the drinks, and whatever else you smuggle in. Got it. Well, I can't blame you for that. Just know that now that you're involved, we will monitor everything closely. We used to conduct business with the Guerrera Cartel, we know your type. Shame..." she leaned in to whisper in Francesca's ear, "at least they were more durable."

"Are you threatening me?" the woman whispered back.

"Please, I saw the look in your eyes when Diego and Oliver fought. You enjoyed it. And even if your lifestyle is your motivation, I can't say I trust your intentions. Prove me wrong and you'll have nothing to worry about Francesca. But just know my nose is very potent. And when I smell a rat, I don't forget the scent until I've disposed of it."

"Fortunately for me, I'm not rat."

"We'll see about that. Have a good night."

Klaus found her in the study, angrily scribbling in a journal. "You are displeased."

"You think?" she said, continuing to write. "Something is weird about Francesca Correa. Either she's a complete sadist or she's just slimy and horrible. I don't trust her one bit. Something feels wrong. I'd very much prefer to kill her and be done with it. Install Cami. I want leaders we can control if the going gets tough."

"Are you implying you want to control Cami?"

"No! But she'd listen to us within reason. Francesca won't do anything to please us if it stands in conflict with her lifestyle. That's the thing, the reason she's in it. That's what bothers me. Everyone else is in it more or less because they want to better their community, because they want peace. What does she care about the humans? She just wants her casino to thrive and wants us to help her hide what she smuggles in."

"And you believe everyone else is as malleable as you want?"

"No. I don't trust Genevieve, either. The very fact she's here holding a place that belongs to a Harvest Girl is suspicious. I know Rebekah and Marcel manipulated her into helping, but she's still here and now I suspect it's for another reason. If it were up to me, I'd want Genevieve and Francesca out. Replace them with Josephine and Cami."

"You don't even know Josephine La Rue."

"No, but we knew her father and he was a good man. Died young, according to history, so she was raised mostly by her mother, but she's the Regent of all Covens in New Orleans. I'd like to include them all in the treaty. All vampires, all wolves, all witches. I would hope that woman to be more reasonable if she's been a leader for quite some time. And again, you know why I like Cami for the role. Diego and the two wolf Alphas are malleable enough in the sense we know them better and they have been our friends."

"The solution is simple, then. Kill Genevieve and Francesca. I'm certainly not opposed to it. I hear you were speaking with Elijah about a sniper."

"Honestly, both of you," said Elijah, entering the room with his treaty rolled up. "If there is no peace or agreement within our family, how can either of you expect others to follow suit?"

"There can be peace if we get better leaders," said Yara. "People we trust have the community's best interests at heart. Genevieve likely has an ulterior motive and Francesca is just selfish and suspicious. If we want peace, we start with the best leaders possible."

Elijah set the treaty on the table beside her. "Sign it. Both of you."

"Why?" asked Klaus. "You've already done so on our behalf."

"You each represent yourselves, this I know. And I want you both to promise me you will not interfere with the current leaders. I welcome your input but I do not wish for you to take it upon yourselves to enact vengeance based on a hunch."

"Then I'm not signing," said Yara. "You really expect me to just sit back and let you handle it? You and I are seeing this through very different lenses, Elijah."

"Yes, I recall, with Niklaus's influence you see everything through a negative lens, assuming everyone is out to cause mischief."

"And what if I'm right? Do you honestly trust Genevieve and Francesca?"

"I do not, but causing them harm will be obvious and it will tear apart what I am trying to build. Cease this plotting and let me handle it. Perhaps we are judging them too soon, perhaps they will be malleable for selfish reasons."

"Then in that case I think Klaus and I should move along with our plans to make allies of the wolves without waiting for some nice little gifts to be made for the others. If there was ever a time to act, it is now. The uncertainty and potential instability of the alliance is still very heightened. We've yet to see if peace will persist, given the treaty has just been signed. I want it to work, I really do, but will it be reasonable with this particular group? Probably not."

"You would go against my wishes to forge your alliance?"

"I'll do anything I damn well please if you're going to refuse to listen to my gut, Elijah. Genevieve and Francesca should not be in charge of their respective communities. Their sinister intentions may not be so sinister, perhaps, but anyone with conflicts of interest ought to be removed posthaste."

He held up a finger. "You will do nothing, you will say nothing. I will not tolerate either of you conspiring with the wolves behind my back."

"It's not conspiring, it's forming an alliance! My daughter is part vampire, part wolf, part witch. We have the vampire side down, I want to move onto the wolves. Hayley wants to be a part of her life and I like that, Elijah, and in return I want to find some way to help them, some way to make sure they do not move against our family. Hayley told me today how the wolves didn't even recall attacking Rebekah. The witches could have mind controlled them as easily as they locked me in that house and set it on fire. Do you really think that Genevieve is the right person for this given she was involved in exposing your sister and Marcel's lies?"

"We will work with what we have until such a time as it is proven that they do, in fact, care more about other commitments," said Elijah. "Genevieve has assured me she only wants to help the Harvest Girls, ease them into their role as community leaders before she passes. The seat will pass to one of them soon enough. It is only a matter of time."

"Good, well, while you're waiting to see if her words are or aren't the truth, I'll be here, not signing that treaty."

Klaus was clearly very amused with this, but Elijah wasn't having it. "You will both sign," he demanded. "As I said, I will take your concerns into consideration and I will do some investigating of my own. Until then, you will not be meeting with the wolves and you certainly won't be killing two of the community leaders, lest you dismantle the already fragile peace. If Davina, Marcel, the vampires, and the wolves mean anything to you, Yara, you will sign. If not for them, for your daughter. This peace stands to benefit her and it would be a shame–"

She snatched the pen from him, scribbling her name. He tried to reach for the paper, but she held it back.

"Let me make one thing clear, Elijah," she said darkly, "if you ever try to use my kids to manipulate me into doing your bidding again, it will be the last time you see any of us. If anything happens because you didn't listen to me, I guarantee, you will regret it."

Klaus only signed because he couldn't stop snickering.