XXIII - 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔠𝔯𝔢𝔱𝔢 𝔧𝔲𝔫𝔤𝔩𝔢

(edited)

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"

"That Alaric deserves an alibi," Judas Mikaelson stretched his arms over his head and leaned back in his seat. "Figured it was the right thing to do, mother."

Lilura narrowed her eyes, "Well your moral compass called me up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday... in jail, to say the least."

"We knew that we had no right," Elena quickly jumped in, chewing the inside of her cheek. Her cheeks were flushed from the deadly stares coming from both Liz and Lilura, but the latter's was considerably more frightening.

"No right? You broke the law!" Lilura seethed, slamming her hands on the interrogation table. Elena jumped.

"Lilura," Liz Forbes gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "I think I'll take it from here."

The siren slowly sat back down.

"She's right," Liz said. "This is unacceptable."

"But, we found something that clears Alaric. It gives him an alibi in the Brian Walters murder," Elena said.

The blonde woman held up a piece of paper. "You mean this?"

"What is that?"

"A letter from the county coroner's office correcting the error in the time of death of Brian Walters. Meredith Fell received it today. She brought it to me several hours ago, full of apologies for accusing an innocent man."

Matt rubbed his red eyes, "Why would she have a copy hidden in her closet?"

"I can't ask those questions, Matt, because the very fact that you broke into her home to find it. Do you know how much I'm already protecting all of you?"

"I'm sorry," Elena bit her lip.

"Well, I'm not. It's a shame officer," Judas sighed, a smirk curling at the ends of his lips. "I've always wanted to be in handcuffs."

Lilura sent him a thundering glare, one scary enough to wet a full grown man's pants. The police woman elected to ignore that crude mark, instead sending the youths all a stern look.

"Just...get out of my office and go home. Please. Alaric will be released as soon as the letter is authenticated," Liz shook her head. "Go."

---- Δ ----

"You think you're quite clever, aren't you?" Lilura tutted, locking eyes with Judas who was in the back seat.

"Yes I do, actually," He grinned.

Elena inched forward, clutching the back of Lilura's seat. "If it's any consolation -"

"Shut up, skank," Lilura sneered. "Thank you for getting Judas in trouble."

The young man scowled, "Lilura, I'm not a little boy you can boss around."

The siren opened her mouth to defend herself. "Still, when you do stupid things, it is my job, as a mother, to tell you when it is stupid."

Suddenly his voice penetrated the car walls sharply. "You have no right to dictate what I can or can't do. You've given up that chance the moment you decided to discard me, heroic intentions aside."

Elena fell silent and clasped her hands in her lap, eyes flashing to and fro. She noticed the tightening of Lilura's jawline, and the serious glint in Judas Mikaelson's blue-green eyes.

Lilura's eyes burn. "I'm sorry-"

"- Don't be. You're not my mother."

The siren inhaled sharply. She nodded, immediately understanding Judas' unspoken warning.

Don't act a hero now.

"Don't worry," Lilura said, heart stinging, "I won't cross that line again."

He nodded and looked out of the window, and the car fell silent.

---- Δ ----

"Do you think he hates me?"

Sirius sat idly in the sink, big eyes watching Lilura's erratic hands which were flying everywhere.

He was sitting patiently, partial to all of Lilura's head massages and body rubs in an attempt to cleanse the dirt stuck to his coat.

In Sirius' mind, he had been having an innocently grand time before his owner carried him off to be washed and primed, all frowns and reprimands until he licked her face.

Now, Lilura had been hanging out with Sirius for over an hour with one thing on her mind.

Judas.

"Oh my god. You do think he hates me," She groaned, pulling at her hair.

Sirius yapped and licked her arm as if to say it isn't that bad.

"I'm sorry, are we living in the same universe?" She snapped, but when Sirius stared at her with his perpetual smile, she gently rubbed his ears.

"He'll come around, yeah? I reckon he will."

Sirius answered by blowing a bubble to Lilura and swishing his tail in the water.

"Alright, Mr. Fancy Pants, I'll scrub your fur."

---- Δ ----

Lilura and Sirius were done messing around in the bathroom, and now the two had retired to a little relaxation in the grand living room.

Sirius was trotting around and sniffing every single piece of furniture, determined to memorize the smell of his owners.

Lilura laid on the couch, blankly admiring the chandelier. Judas' words still rung in her ears and it pierced her already tattered heart.

You're not my mother.

"Good evening!" Klaus slipped out of his muddy shoes and shut the door. "Hello loves."

Sirius ran over to the Hybrid and started barking and jumping, pawing his pants and demanding attention.

A small smile graced Klaus' features, and the blond bent down to pat his head two times.

Lilura merely threw up a peace sign, not bothering to get up and properly great him.

"What's wrong with her?" said Klaus, picking Sirius up and walking over to the couch.

She met his perplexed expression.

"What?"

"Why the long face?"

Lilura heaved a hefty sigh. "I tried to be there for him and then crossed a line."

The Original sat on the armrest and placed Sirius on top of Lilura's stomach. The dog immediately made himself at home, laying down on Lilura's abdomen.

"I see. Did he, by any chance, yell at you?"

She nodded.

"Well, now. That's never bothered you before."

"Yeah," She abruptly sprang back up, frowning. "No shït."

Sirius whined as he landed on the cushioned floor. He sent the immortals a slightly cross look once before he got back on his feet.

Lilura grinned sheepishly in return. "Sorry," She mouthed, before returning to Klaus' expectant gaze.

"What do you want me to say? That I've subjected Judas to years of childhood trauma? Or that he didn't have a mother or father?" She crossed her arms. "Face it, Nik. I'm a bad person."

"You're not," He said. "You can't possibly believe you are."

"But how do you know when you're doing the right thing?"

"You don't," Klaus said,"But you learn how to fix mistakes."

Lilura was left at the couch in a slight daze while Klaus went to take a shower. If it were any other time, the Hybrid would have offered for them to save some water by showering together, but his wife seemed to be strung along in a dilemma.

That hypothesis was proven right when the enchantress flopped back down on the couch with her arms aflay.

Sirius came into view in a few seconds later, fluffy fur completely obscuring the ceiling and ticking Lilura's nose.

"What's on your mind?" She asked, smiling brightly at his sparking orbs.

She squinted when Sirius hopped off the couch and nudged an issue of The New York Times, wiggling his tail back and forth.

"Well, aren't you a little cultured boy?" The Siren mumbled. She shook her head. "Sirius, you're cute and all, but I hardly think innovative architecture will distract me."

Sirius flashed her an exasperated look.

Then the message dawned on her like a sunrise - unexpectedly beautiful and daringly brilliant.

"KLAUS!" She screeched. "HURRY UP IN THERE! WE'RE GOING TO NEW YORK."

"WHAT?" He shouted, shutting off the water and straining his ears for her voice.

Lilura shrugged and grinned bashfully at an impatient Sirius.

"I'll only be a moment," She insisted. To Klaus she shouted, "START THE BLOODY SHOWER! I'M COMING IN!"

---- Δ ----

"Did you enjoy that shower, love?"

"Honestly?" Lilura looked out the window. "You need to lose some weight. You took up half the bloody space. I could barely wash myself."

A perverse smile crept on Klaus' face. "I'm afraid I did that for you already."

"Aw c'mon!" Lilura giggled. "That's gross."

"But it's the truth. I licked off every single -"

"We're here!" The siren quickly shouted, wiping the playful look clean off his face.

Lilura reached over and pushed the button, prompting the Mercedes' window to roll down smoothly. She craned her neck and leaned out the driver's window, simultaneously allowing Klaus a delicious view down her shirt and gaining the attention of the two teenagers sitting on the porch steps.

"Get in loser," She grinned. "We're going to New York!"

Judas placed his hands on his hips and squinted in disbelief.

"I'm in the middle of something!" He said, but jogged closer to his parents none-the-less.

"Concerning the doppelganger?" Klaus spoke for the first time, raising an unimpressed eyebrow. "You could do better."

Elena, offended in the distance, huffed and sat back down on her porch.

"That girl is never going to settle for one man," Klaus said, staring deeply as his son's hesitant expression. "She's not worth it, Judas."

The young man ran a hand through his midnight hair and groaned, cheeks pink. "I don't even like her like that."

Klaus leaned over the window. "You do," He said. "And you're being thrown into her bizzare love tryst with the Salvatores fast. Better escape while you can, Romeo."

"Judas!" Elena yelled and beckoned with her hand for him to return.

"Tick tock," Klaus sang, snickering under his breath when Judas almost pulled out the door handle in his haste.

"Fücking drive, old man."

Klaus did just that.

---- Δ ----

"Why the concrete jungle?" Judas began, inhabiting the backseat with Sirius.

"Why not?" Lilura shrugged.

"After all, it is the city of dreams," Klaus grinned.

"You're hiding something," Judas said.

"Oh, he's smart," Lilura cooed comically.

"Of course he is. He has my brain," The Hybrid supplied jovially.

Lilura had never seen him smile so much.

"Not true but whatever," She retorted immaturely.

"Will you two answer one question straight?"

Judas was pouting by now, and Lilura resisted the urge to pinch his cheeks.

"I've already called. We're going to visit some relatives," Lilura explained.

Judas scrunched his nose. "Kol?"

"No. Hopefully some less annoying people," Lilura said, checking her reflection and fixing her hair.

"You're not off the mark," Klaus chimed in. "We'll be paying my dear brother Finn a visit as well."

"If he runs I'll gladly intercept," Lilura grinned. "Can you break his hip like you did Esther?" She threw over her shoulder.

Judas grinned crookedly.

---- Δ ----

"You sneaky bastards," Judas gasped as Lilura pressed the condominium elevator to the 4th floor with Klaus in toll. "How did you manage this?"

Klaus grinned, "One thing you ought to remember, Judas, is that we're the Mikaelsons," He swept a hand grandiosely. "We can do just about anything."

The elevator doors dinged open.

Lilura stepped out first and knocked lightly on the first door of the right, fingers grazing the 4D inscribed on the door.

Shuffling footsteps. A door's creak. One blind attack of flowery perfume and red corkscrew curls -

"I can't believe it!" The woman squealed once she let go of Lilura, who was frozen still by the impact. "Donny! They're here!"

Judas' brilliant green eyes were already crinkling at the edges, premature sign of crows feet and a hearty laugh etching its way on his face.

"Claire. Donny. How good it is to see you," He hugged the plump woman, recieving a loud kiss on his cheek.

An older man with peppered hair stopped behind Claire, eyes half closed from a nap with an officer's uniform untucked.

"Is that our boy, Claire?" He asked, squinting and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Donny! We have guests! This is Lilura and her fiancé Klaus."

Judas raised an eyebrow. Klaus recoiled from being refered to as fiancé and opened his mouth to say something about it.

"It's such a pleasure," Lilura beamed, sticking a hand out. "I am so grateful my brother had such warm foster parents."

Judas coughed loudly as Lilura pinched his arm, willing him to play along.

"Oh, you're too kind," Donny chuckled, gesturing with a hand. "Please, come in. We're practically family."

---- Δ ----

Claire and Donny lived in a tight one bedroom condominium near an elementary school with utter bliss.

Claire was a nurse and Donny a police officer, both whom were incredibly warm. Claire in the I'll-bake-you-a-cake-and-give-it-to-you-for-free way and Donny with a I-won't-bake-a-cake-but-I'll-make-sure-it-has-your-favorite-icing-on- it way.

Needless to say, they were a welcoming pair and even Klaus had managed to let down his walls and converse.

"I have one in the back right now," Donny said, sipping his beer. "A Cilica. Bright red. She doesn't run anymore, but I still have her wiped and washed."

Klaus nodded pleasantly. "I reckon it was hard to aquire."

"Not that much actually," Donny answered. "Judas found it and bought it for his old man."

The boy raised his shoulder in a carefree manner. "Wanna check it out, brother?" He slyly remarked, getting up and leading the way.

Klaus laughed under his breath and stood up, helping Donny as well.

"I'm getting too old for this," The 60 year old sighed.

"I know what you mean," The blond replied with a small smile, catching Lilura's amused glance. "Sometimes I can't get out of my bed in the morning."

"Just wait until you're my age," Donny said, looking Klaus up and down. "You can't be anymore than 28, right?"

"...Right."

They disappeared out the door to examine Donny's vintage motor.

"Men," Claire shook her head. "Donny collects cars, or at the very least tries to. Does Klaus have any hobbies, Lilura?"

Killing people? She almost said. "He loves to paint."

"Ah, an artist." She started gathering the plates, "Arguably the most romantic type."

"I must say he is when he wants to be."

Lilura followed Claire, placing the dishes in the sink and waiting patiently as Claire handed them to her to dry.

"Judas loves you very much."

The siren jumped, startled by her statement.

"Pardon?"

"Judas," She quirked a grin. "I've never seen him so comfortable with someone before."

"He's quite the character," Lilura said. "Charming, clever, a straight pain in the arse."

Claire giggled. "Only to those he's close to. He's changed a lot. Happier." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Judas was never diagnosed, but he rarely talked to anyone in high school. He had no friends and didn't think of making any. I thought social anxiety, but he seemed to do well at parties and gatherings. What was a mother to do, you know?"

Lilura could only nod.

"His parents left him at a very young age. And before meeting us, he met some terrible people." Claire's face darkened. "We've never talked about it, but his scars..."

Lilura placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, hand trembling. "His scars?" She whispered, heart galloping at the possibilities.

"He's covered them up by now. The tattoos," Claire sighed heavily. "He's had a hard life, Lilura."

She nodded again. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. You're here now," Claire said, wiping her eyes. "I'm glad you found each other. Now he can finally feel like he belongs."

Lilura returned Claire's smile. "I'm glad too."

---- Δ ----

Klaus caressed the motor and smiled.

"A fine specimen," Donny declared proudly from the door. "Wish I could collect more."

Judas leaned against its hood. "If you could, what would you want?"

Donny clocked him with absurd stare. "Don't even think about it, Judith."

He laughed and put his hands up demurely, winking. "Wasn't gonna, Donna."

Klaus deduced that the female names must have been an inside joke. He grimaced at the thought that he and Judas would never have something like that.

"But for your question's sake, I'd like a blue Mercedes. Preferably one that can still run."

"I used to pick Claire up in it in college with it." Donny scratched his head. "I think I've got a picture. You boys wait here."

Donny's footsteps slowly faded away and Klaus hung his head, admiring the gleam of the model.

"Donny taught me how to drive," Judas said. It was apparent he didn't know why he decided to share, but the young man continued. "Almost hit the mailbox. Claire gave me so much shït for that."

"It must have been a lovely mailbox," Klaus said.

"Their oldest son painted it," Judas supplied. "God, he hated my guts."

Klaus nodded, a knowing glint in his blue eyes. "Brothers will be brothers."

"But they're family, right?"

"Always and forever," Klaus returned without a pause.

"Always and forever," Judas said slowly, testing the words. "Kinda sappy for your tastes, Klaus Mikaelson." Although the words were stiff and cold, Judas' eyes betrayed just the slightest hint of green amusement.

"I'll kill you if you regurgitate whatever was spoken to Lilura," Klaus joked. "She'll tease me to the ends of the earth."

"And you'll love it, to the end of eternity," said the Siren, who had stumbled upon their moment. She leaned against the door and smiled gently.

🌟 awwawwwww! Family bonding time. Sorry for the late update y'all!