They had been traveling with Kol, Neal taking the time to get to know the brother who hadn't been around New Orleans much, when they were witness to Elijah's entire sire line dropping dead around them. It's a disturbing sight, to say the least, especially considering there's nothing they can do to help them. A phone call from Klaus later, and the three of them are getting on a plane - the two Mikaelsons to New Orleans, and Neal back to New York.
He didn't want to leave her, but he recognized that this was family business. He would be waiting for her when she returned, and hopefully it wouldn't be another five years before that happened.
Still, when the door opens to his loft, and he sees the familiar head of blond hair, he can't help but smile, glad that she's home in one piece.
There is no smile on Rebekah's face in return, though she is happy to see him the reunion is bittersweet at best. It comes at the cost of her family -- she may never get to see her siblings ever again and that is a burden she was not expecting. Though she is glad for the chance to go out and start living her life on her own finally --
His eyes narrow for a moment, because that isn't the happy reaction he was expecting, but he still steps to the side to let her through, watching her as she goes before closing the door behind her. Something is definitely wrong, and for some reason it doesn't surprise him, but if this something didn't end in her being daggered or spelled into a magical prison for years on end, he's fairly certain they'll be able to figure it out.
"I need a drink before I can tell you everything."
There's so much to say, between Elijah's death and revival, the Hollow taking over hope and the solution to that problem, while Rebekah is free she is also severed from her family in a way she hasn't been before, in a way that feels depressingly permanent.
Neal probably should be surprised, but he isn't. Things with Rebekah's family rarely end well, and they were heading into a mess to begin with. So he doesn't comment otherwise, just makes sure the apartment door is closed, before going to pour her a glass of whiskey.
"Here," he says softly as he hands it over. "Take your time."
"That's good." That's what she went back to New Orleans for, but he has a feeling that that isn't where things ended. Things usually didn't, as far as the Mikaelsons were concerned. "What about the Hollow?"
"Well, that's where things get tricky. The Hollow decided to inhabit Hope -- and we were able to save her, but it came at a price." There was always a price when it came to things like this, but this one feels particularly heavy and cruel.
He watches her carefully for a moment, before making his way closer, reaching out to take her hand with a small squeeze. He can tell that whatever this price is, it is more than they had expected to pay, but he can also understand that Hope is the priority. They all would do anything to save her, no matter the cost.
She squeezes his hand back, taking a deep breath before continuing.
"In order to take the Hollow out of Hope -- we had to separate it into several parts, and only my siblings and I were strong enough to contain those parts -- but we have to keep separated our the Hollow will be able to reform again."
"So you can't see your brothers ever again." Which sounds ... terrible. He knows that she and her brothers may have their differences, but he also knows that when there's someone who's been part of your life for so long, being forced to be away from them is never as easy as it makes itself out to be.
"No, just me and my brothers. Elijah, Klaus, Kol and I all took parts of the Hollow in us. Hayley took Hope to continue raising her and most of us will never see Hope or each other ever again."
It was one thing to want freedom from her family, to want a little distance, it was another to be severed from them completely. This was never what she wanted.
He reaches over gently, one hand coming up to brush against the apple of her cheek for a moment. "I'm sure Freya will find a way to get you all back together again. You know how she feels about her family."
Freya likely will not rest until all is right with the Mikaelsons again, and while it's one of the things he appreciates about Freya, it's also why he worries about her.
He knows it's not the same as her brothers, but if he can be a consistency for her in all of this, he's willing to try. Something to anchor her, even when things get rough.
"And, the beauty of being separated in the twenty first century is that there are a lot of ways to keep in touch."
"Exactly." He pauses for a moment, just letting the silence settle, before he turns on her with a smile. "Why don't we plan a vacation? Winter is coming sooner than we'd like, and I'd rather spend it somewhere warm and sunny."
It sounds like she could use a distraction, and if there's one thing Neal Caffrey is very good at, it's being distracting.
He considers for a moment, before giving a small shrug. "We could go back to Cape Verde. I'm pretty sure I still own the house there. We can sun on the beach. Have dinner on the terrace." Just have some quiet time to themselves, which they hadn't really had while Kol was traveling with them.
Not that he minded, because he knew Rebekah wanted time with her brother, but since it's just the two of them, he wants to take advantage of it.
"Good. I'll make the arrangements." He makes his way closer again, sliding his arms around her to keep her close. "You'll find your way back to them again, Rebekah. I know you will."
"I don't know about that." It's a tease, but a gentle one all the same. He knows how much she's missed of the world changing. "There's always Face Time. I don't think murderous witch spirits have figured out how to travel through cell phone towers yet."
He glances down at her with a small smile. "I know it's not the same, but at least it'll be somthing."
"It's true -- I forget about that sometimes, how different things are now."
Technology makes it so much easier to stay connected, it's not the same as seeing someone face to face, being able to touch and hold them, but it is far better than nothing at all.
"Always," Neal says with a grin. "We can do a whole world tour if you want." And probably steal some things on the way. Because this is Neal, and there are a few select ways he has fun.
"Perfect," he says softly. "I'll make the arrangements and we can leave as soon as you're ready."
And they'll be careful to steer clear of her siblings in the process. Or maybe as long as the four of them aren't all together, they can see each other one at a time.
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fourcolorlove2017-12-11 09:21 pm
previously on ... }
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They had been traveling with Kol, Neal taking the time to get to know the brother who hadn't been around New Orleans much, when they were witness to Elijah's entire sire line dropping dead around them. It's a disturbing sight, to say the least, especially considering there's nothing they can do to help them. A phone call from Klaus later, and the three of them are getting on a plane - the two Mikaelsons to New Orleans, and Neal back to New York.
He didn't want to leave her, but he recognized that this was family business. He would be waiting for her when she returned, and hopefully it wouldn't be another five years before that happened.
Still, when the door opens to his loft, and he sees the familiar head of blond hair, he can't help but smile, glad that she's home in one piece.
"You're back."
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There is no smile on Rebekah's face in return, though she is happy to see him the reunion is bittersweet at best. It comes at the cost of her family -- she may never get to see her siblings ever again and that is a burden she was not expecting. Though she is glad for the chance to go out and start living her life on her own finally --
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
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"What happened?"
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There's so much to say, between Elijah's death and revival, the Hollow taking over hope and the solution to that problem, while Rebekah is free she is also severed from her family in a way she hasn't been before, in a way that feels depressingly permanent.
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"Here," he says softly as he hands it over. "Take your time."
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It is the only thing close to good news she can offer, so she starts with that.
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"Most things usually do."
i lost this thread somehow
"In order to take the Hollow out of Hope -- we had to separate it into several parts, and only my siblings and I were strong enough to contain those parts -- but we have to keep separated our the Hollow will be able to reform again."
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His face softens for a moment. "Freya as well?"
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It was one thing to want freedom from her family, to want a little distance, it was another to be severed from them completely. This was never what she wanted.
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Freya likely will not rest until all is right with the Mikaelsons again, and while it's one of the things he appreciates about Freya, it's also why he worries about her.
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It took years for Hayley to find a way to cure them all last time, she's so tired of being severed from her family like this.
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He knows it's not the same as her brothers, but if he can be a consistency for her in all of this, he's willing to try. Something to anchor her, even when things get rough.
"And, the beauty of being separated in the twenty first century is that there are a lot of ways to keep in touch."
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That she doesn't have to be alone, at least. It's not the same as her family but it is a balm that is soothing all the same.
"That's true -- we can see each other on screens, if not in person."
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It sounds like she could use a distraction, and if there's one thing Neal Caffrey is very good at, it's being distracting.
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A vacation would be a nice distraction, he is right about that much
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Not that he minded, because he knew Rebekah wanted time with her brother, but since it's just the two of them, he wants to take advantage of it.
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And it'll be nice to be someplace that is simply theirs.
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He glances down at her with a small smile. "I know it's not the same, but at least it'll be somthing."
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Technology makes it so much easier to stay connected, it's not the same as seeing someone face to face, being able to touch and hold them, but it is far better than nothing at all.
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He thinks he's managed to survive this long without Klaus ripping out his heart, he can last a little while longer.
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And that's no small thing. It would be much worse if she was completely alone.
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And she's more than happy to help him steal -- running a good con is fun, okay?
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And they'll be careful to steer clear of her siblings in the process. Or maybe as long as the four of them aren't all together, they can see each other one at a time.
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And with that they'll make plans for their trip -- and they'll figure everything else from there.