"What if they don't like me?" Madelyn mumbled standing in front of the school building. Today is the day Madelyn starts school as a kindergartner and she's not the only one that's nervous. Claire wasn't completely sure if this as the right decision. She knew Madelyn needed to socialize and make friends but she's more vulnerable out in the open compared to the safety of the plantation.

"How could they not like you?" Claire smiled kneeling in front of her. "You're amazing. You'll make plenty of friends and have a great time."

"But I don't want to be here" Madelyn pouted. "I want to go home. I want to be with you and my Papa's."

"Mommy and Papa's are going to be busy during the day," Claire explained to her. "You're going to come here while we're doing boring adult stuff," Claire said tickling Madelyn. The 5-year-old giggled lightly. "While we're doing boring stuff, you're going to do activities and make friends. You're going to have fun. Have I ever lied to you?" Claire asked tucking some of her daughter's hair behind her ear.

"No" Madelyn whispered looking down at her feet a small smile coming to her lips. Claire smiles and pulls her into a hug. Madelyn gripped her tightly.

"Then trust me, Mad-Cat" Claire pleaded. "You're going to like it here." Claire slowly pulls away. "You're my brave girl aren't you?" Claire smiles. Madelyn nodded quickly. "I love you and I'm very proud of you" Claire kisses her forehead. "You got this, baby girl" Claire whispers before turning Madelyn towards the door to the school. "I will be here to pick you up and hear all about your day."

"Promise?" Madelyn asked looking back at Claire. Claire grins and nods kissing the top of her head before standing up. "I got this" Madelyn whispered before slowly walking towards the school. She turned back to Claire before entering. Claire smiles and waves. Madelyn waves back before walking inside. 

Claire takes a deep breath before going over to the car and slipping inside. Claire didn't want to take the limo, she wanted a regular car so that Madelyn wouldn't be judged by the older kids. She wanted Madelyn to blend in though everything about her stood out, to Claire at least. But perhaps that's because Madelyn is her daughter and she'll always hold her above the other children at the school.

Klaus instantly takes her hand as she sits beside him. All of her mates were in the large car. They had all wanted to see Madelyn off. They had each given Madelyn their encouragement before giving Claire a moment with her alone.

"She's going to be fine" Klaus reassures her. "She's going to love it here, it's one of the best schools in New Orleans."

Kol reaches over and kisses her head. Claire had climbed over Klaus to sit in the middle between the two of them. Elijah is in the driver seat with Finn beside him while Henrik is in the very back where Madelyn had sat with him.

"She'll be safe, Elskan." Elijah comforts her. He makes eye contact with her through the rearview mirror. Claire gives him a small smile and a nod.

"Christian, Brandon, Lucy and Ethan are not going to let anything happen to her," Klaus tells her.

They all want what is best for Madelyn. Going to school, living as close to a normal life as possible, is what they believe is best for her. However, her safety is their top priority. So, while Madelyn is going to school and being a 5-year-old, four hybrids will be watching her carefully from a distance. They'll be ready to act should any threat appear.

"I trust them" Claire nods resting her head on his shoulder. "She'll be safe," She says confidently to herself.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Angel?" Kol asks rubbing her leg slowly. She glances at him.

Today isn't just a big day for Madelyn but for Claire. Today Claire is meeting Marcel. To say her mates are antsy is an understatement. The peace between Marcel and the Mikaelson's is shaky. Marcel is rightfully nervous because he knows he cannot do anything to the Mikaelson's. The Originals can break all his rules and he is powerless to stop them.

They've been working to gain Marcel's trust. Klaus has offered the assistance of their hybrids to help control the city as well as access to his blood as the cure to a werewolf's bite. Kol, much to his distaste, has agreed to follow Marcel's rules and be a good boy. Elijah helps keep the peace, he's very talented at negotiations between Marcel and the Mikaelson's. Henrik assures Marcel he will not practice magic unless Marcel needs him and Finn tends to stay out of everything unless necessary.

In return, Marcel and his vampires stay away from the plantation. The hybrids are allowed into the city as long as they do not bite Marcel's vampires and do not take their wolf forms. It's a delicate peace but peace nonetheless, a peace that they know will not last forever. Soon, the war will begin but until then everyone works together.

"I want to meet him" Claire nods lifting her head. "Despite what we're trying to do, Marcel was once a very important part of the family. I want to meet him."

"I wouldn't say he was that important" Kol mutters shrugging. Claire smiles and kisses his cheek. He smiles at her and gives her thigh a small squeeze.

"We're almost there" Elijah announces.

"What's going to happen?" Claire asked. "When I meet him"

"We're going to have dinner with him and some of his friends," Elijah told her. "Something simple"

"Thank you," Claire told them. "For setting this up"

"As if we could deny you anything" Finn comments from the passenger seat. Claire smirks as the rest of her mates grumble in agreement.

"I love you," Claire tells them. They continue to grumble but she just laughs. Elijah smirks as he pulls up to the Abattoir. Everyone climbs out of the car. A man greets them at the door.

"Claire this is Thierry, one of Marcel's closest friends" Elijah introduced as he adjusts his suit. Klaus keeps Claire close to his side, Kol hovers beside her. "Thierry this is our mate, Claire"

"Pleasure to meet you," Thierry said taking a few steps towards her. A collective growl causes him to stop. Thierry glances at the Mikaelson's noticing them all glaring at him. He takes a few steps back and her mates relax. 

Thierry didn't believe it. He's heard about the phenomenon of 'mates'. He thought it was a load of horse shit. Yet there she stands. He can see the marks on her neck, they were repelling him. He could hardly stand so close to her.

"Marcel's waiting inside" Thierry motions for them to follow him.

"You might want to relax boys, someone would think you don't trust them with me" Claire smiles to herself.

She didn't want them to become too overprotective and get Marcel and his men nervous. She wants to gain their trust as well, she wants to get to know them. She wants to know their reasoning behind their actions, she wants to understand all angles to the situation there in.

"That's because we don't and I don't care if Marcel or anybody knows it" Klaus growls in her ear. "You're lucky we agreed to bring you here, don't push it" He nips at her ear before leading her inside the building.

"Relax" Claire whispers to him. "They would be idiots to try something"

"I wouldn't put it past them, Elskan" Elijah speaks up. "So please, stay with us and away from them" Klaus smirks to himself.  It's not every day that all the brothers are in agreement but when it comes to Claire's safety, they never disagree.

"Well, well, well, I thought the day would never come!" Claire's attention instantly goes towards a tall, dark-skinned man with a million-dollar smile on his face. "I've heard so much about you," He said walking up towards her. Kol instantly stands in his path.

"Admire from a distance would ya, mate?" Kol smirks standing toe-to-toe with him. Everyone could tell that Marcel and Kol didn't like each other, they could barely tolerate one another. Kol is just waiting for an excuse to kill him and Marcel is waiting for the opportunity to go after him.

"What Kol is trying to get at," Elijah said moving towards the two of them. He presses his hand on Kol's chest, pushing him back to Claire. Kol and Marcel continue to stare each other down. Kol sports a cocky smirk while Marcel stares at him challengingly. "Is that Claire is very special to us and we don't exactly like people other than us, anywhere near her."

"I get it" Marcel smirks lifting his hands in surrender. "As rare as mates are, I've met a few in my time. I understand how it works."

"Then you'll know to keep your distance" Kol snipped, a devious smile on his face as if he's daring Marcel to try something.

"Of course," Marcel grins back at Kol unnervingly. He then looks at Claire. "Welcome to my home, I've had my guys cook us up something nice."

"I look forward to it," Claire tells him.

"Follow me" Marcel nods. Klaus places a hand on her back and directs her. Marcel sits at the head of the table, Claire sits directly across from him. Klaus and Elijah sit on either side of her. Finn and Henrik sit on Elijah's side while Kol sits beside Klaus. Thierry and some more of Marcel's friends join them and sit beside Marcel.

"You have a beautiful home" Claire speaks up.

"Thank you. It was your mate's once upon a time" Marcel smirked. "Right before they skipped out of town."

"Oh, yes, they told me" Claire nods. "They left town to escape certain death" Claire snarks politely. "If they had stayed, I fear they wouldn't have been able to meet me," She said reaching for Elijah and Klaus's hands. They grab hers and gives it a gentle squeeze.

"I hear you're pregnant" He brings up. "So, who's the lucky daddy?" He smirks leaning back in his seat.

"That would be me" Kol pipes up before Elijah could. Claire's head turns towards him. They had agreed to say that Elijah was the father. He's the most practical. He's the peacekeeper between Marcel and them, he's more level headed and can carry a peaceful conversation with Marcel. They were going to use Elijah being the father as a way for him to reconnect with Marcel, gain his trust.

Kol, on the other hand, is still unpredictable. The loss of his son still leaves a hole in his heart just like the one in Claire's. The pregnancy angers him, though he wouldn't admit it. He's angry that Klaus is having a child while his was taken. 

On top of this, Kol holds onto old resentments towards Marcel. Kol never liked him, not even when the man was just a young boy. Jealousy consumed him whenever he's around Marcel. He always felt the need to one-up him, to be better than him.

All of those emotions combined made Kol speak up. Kol wanted that baby in her stomach to be his and he wants everyone to know it. He wants Marcel to know he has something that the 'King' can't. He can have someone who truly loves him and can give him the one thing that seemed impossible to vampires, a child.

"We're very happy and excited, aren't we Angel?" Kol asks winking at Claire. She smiles brightly and nods.

"Extremely" She winks back at him letting him know she's not angry with the sudden change of plans. Kol relaxes slightly before looking at Marcel.

"I hope this one works out for you," Marcel told her honestly. Claire tenses. 

"Careful, Marcel," Klaus says slowly. "Our love came here to meet you and make friends not relive the past."

"Of course, my apologies" Marcel smirks. "This should be a happy day!" He exclaims. "Let me make it up to you. Do you like to party?" Marcel asked. Claire smiles.

"I haven't partied in a few years," Claire told him. "I used to be very popular in my home town" 

"Oh, really?" Marcel smirks. "Well, you should come to one of my parties. I think their a little different than the ones in Mystic Falls."

"I would hope so" Claire grins. "The famous New Orleans vs Mystic Falls, I'd be terribly disappointed if you couldn't live up to the rumors I've heard."

"That sounds like a challenge" Marcel grins. "I hope I don't disappoint."

"I don't think you will, I have faith in you" Claire winks at him. Marcel chuckles. "I've heard of your parties since I've moved here, I've been quite anxious to come."

"We'll be happy to have you." 

The rest of the lunch continued like this. A tense discussion. No matter what Claire nor Marcel did, neither of them could break up the tension. Kol always had something to say, sometimes even Klaus helped his little brother make things tense.

"Thank you for inviting me over" Claire smiles.

"Any time" Marcel nods. "Let me know when you wanna party, I'll show you a good time" Marcel playfully winks.

"Yes, we'll let you know, Marcel," Elijah told him shortly. Claire rolls her eyes at her mate. "Thank you for the food and hospitality. Come, Elskan" Elijah leads her to the car. 

"What was that?" Klaus snapped at Kol as they drove to the plantation.

"I thought it was a lovely afternoon" Kol smirked.

"There was a reason why we were going to tell him it was Elijah's child" Klaus snapped. 

"Well, now it's mine" Kol smirked. Klaus reached around Claire and hit him in the chest. Kol groaned and went to retaliate when Claire stepped in.

"Enough!" Claire snapped. "We're raising one 5-year-old and will soon be welcoming an infant to our family. If you two start acting like children, I'll grab you both by the ear and make you sit in separate corners" She growled. "What's done is done, leave it"

"Well, look on the bright side" Henrik piped up. "Marcel likes you"

"A little too much" Kol grumbled.

"Oh, relax," Claire said grabbing his hand. "I make friends with them and they'll be more relaxed around all of you which is a good thing. Kol, we need them to be relaxed around us."

"I know, Angel" Kol mutters kissing the side of her head. She smiles and lays her head on his shoulder. "I'll play nice"

"Not too nice, don't want people getting suspicious" Claire smirks. Kol grins and rests his head on top of hers.

*How was it? Not my best chapter, not completely satisfied with it but it had some necessary events*