There were generally two types of people in the world; those who could be categorized as a 'morning person' and those who were decidedly...not. Imogen Claire just so happened to be one of the rare people who could be classed as both the former and the latter. Early mornings waking up at 7.00am so that she could ensure that she had enough time to wake up Davina, make breakfast for them both and get them to school before the first bell rang, had programed her internal clock to rise at a certain time. During the witch's sabbatical in South America she had gotten into the routine of sleeping until late morning, often nursing a nasty hangover and strange circumstances, and it was a habit that she hadn't broken since her return to the city.

A distant knocking caused Imogen to groan sleepily as she rolled further onto her stomach, trying feebly to block out the sound that had woken her from the almost comatose sleep. Some part of her knew that it was a lost cause when the knocking persisted after a minute of her ignoring the sound and she sighed heavily in defeat as she slowly blinked open her eyes.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." she muttered under her breath as she forced herself to climb out of the warm cocoon of blankets and she blindly reached for the silk robe handing on her closet doorknob as she started to make her way out of the bedroom. She slipped her arms through the sleeves as she wandered through the empty apartment and she mentally cursed whoever was disturbing her sleep as she approached the front door.

The annoyed frown on Imogen's lips transformed into a bright grin when she saw the impeccably dressed man standing on the other side of the door; her blue eyes lit up in delight and a swarm of butterflies were released in her stomach. It didn't help matters that his own oak brown eyes seemed to illuminate at the sight of her in front of him and she blushed profusely at the unadulterated lust in his gaze when he caught a glimpse of her bare legs as her robe parted slightly with her movement.

"Elijah! Hi." she greeted him warmly in a voice rough from sleep as she moved out of doorway and he took that as an invitation to enter the dwelling, pausing briefly to press a lingering kiss on her cheek before continuing inside.

"Good morning, darling." Elijah returned the greeting with a serene smile on his lips as he strolled towards the kitchen, moving around the apartment with expert ease since he had mapped the layout over numerous visits. The first he had been invited inside he had noticed the distinct lack of personal items decorating the living room and when he had questioned Imogen about it she simply shrugged her shoulders indifferently as she told him, 'These place isn't home. Not yet.' The only personal touch in the apartment was the handcrafted collage that was hanging on the living room wall; an artwork that had been a gift from Davina for her sister's nineteenth birthday.

With every passing visit he noticed that she added little touches to individualize the residence, like the orchid on the bookcase, or the multicolored crocheted blanket on the couch. There were even a series of photographs lining the hallway wall leaning towards the bedroom in the back of the apartment; a four year old Davina and a ten year old Imogen having a picnic outside, Imogen and Sophie with their arms around each other in bikinis at the beach, a teenage Davina, Marcel and Imogen all grinning happily in a self-taken photograph, and his favorite of the sequence was a candid photograph of himself and Imogen, neither of them looking towards the camera but instead they were gazing at each other with undeniable warmth in their eyes.

Imogen trailed after the Original at a subdued pace as he lead the way towards the kitchen and she marveled at the way his shoulder muscles moved under his dress shirt when he removed his suit jacket. She bit the inside of her cheek as her eyes travelled down the length of his back appreciatively and she knew that her heartrate had accelerated uncontrollably so she shook her head to stop her current line of thought. The witch didn't want him arrogantly assuming that her traitorous brain had conjured the image of stripping that shirt off his body to reveal the delicious muscles she was aware laid beneath, even if it was an accurate assumption.

"So, what brings you here this morning? We didn't have plans, did we?" she asked him with a small frown on her lips as she wandered into the spacious kitchen and he leaned back against the edge of the counter with his hands in his pants front pockets as he watched her fondly.

"No, no, we didn't, but I was in the neighborhood for a meeting and it doesn't begin for another hour." he answered with a casual ease as he watched her prepare cups of coffee for the two of them, smiling slightly as she added the exact right amount of milk and sugar to the blue mug she'd designated as 'his' on previous visits before handing it over to him. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. And you're more than welcome here anytime." she told him honestly with a smile as she picked up her own coffee mug and walked around the counter to take a seat on one of the stools on the other side. "It's always nice to wake up to a handsome man. Granted, they're normally inside the apartment, but..."

Elijah released an amused chuckle as he turned around to face her, folding his arms on the countertop between them and then adopting a more sober expression as he sighed heavily with a taunting edge, "There another reason I was so eager to leave the house this morning."

"Ooh! Elijah, do you have gossip for me?"

"I may have stumbled upon something about someone that you'll find interesting."

Imogen waved a hand to indicate that he should continue speaking when he paused for dramatic effect and she took a sip of her coffee as she eagerly awaited whatever tidbit he had discovered. She was drawn into the way his dark brown eyes seemed to glow with mirth, the way his lips twitched slightly as he attempted to stifle a smile.

From the first moment she had laid eyes on him that day in the attic at St Anne's Church, she was exceptionally aware of the physical attraction she felt towards the Original. Some things she had already deciphered before they'd started to spend extracurricular time together, like his absolute devotion towards his family, or the strict code of morality he followed at his own accord, but with every passing day, with every conversation they had, she was beginning to understand the man beneath the expensive suit. It was true that when you start to get to know someone, all of their physical characteristics start to disappear. You see only the essence of that person because when you truly connect with a person, any physical imperfections disappear, become irrelevant. Through discreet observations and countless conversations with the handsome vampire, Imogen was able to see past the hardened exterior to the humanity that was embedded deep inside. It was the small details that were starting to become more attractive for the witch; the way he tried not to smile when she made an inappropriate joke, the way he looked at her when she laughed, the way he absently played with her fingers, and so many other little things that she couldn't even name.

"It seems that my brother has found a rather...interesting pastime. One that includes a partner." Elijah informed her with a salacious lilt in his voice as he leaned towards her with a smirk on his lips and she gasped out loud in delight, her blue eyes widening in surprise at the new information. "It's his choice of partner that sent me fleeing from my own home."

"Is it someone I know? Tell me!" she demanded playfully as she reached out to grab his forearm and he chuckled lightly at her exuberance as he ducked his head to hide the grin that spread across his lips.

"It was Genevieve. The leader of the witches." he revealed with a raised eyebrow as he lips pursed unconsciously in disgust at the mere notion, the words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth and he hurried to take a sip of his coffee in an attempt to cleanse his palate.

"What?!" Imogen exclaimed in disbelief as her hand dropped from his arm out of shock, her eyes widened even more as her lips parted to form a perfect 'o'. Her thoughts were swirling together like they were stuck in a whirlpool, blending into each other until it was impossible for her to differentiate one from another. It wasn't the first instance of a witch and vampire spending time between the sheets, but it seemed so hypocritical to Imogen that the witch in charge of leading the coven, who was the authority over all the other witches, was bedding for worst of the vampires in the city. It wouldn't have bothered her if the relationship between witches and vampires was more positive, but she had been ostracized from the coven because of her relationships within the vampire community.

According to Marcel, the ancestors were using Genevieve as their mouthpiece because of her connection to the other side and that association had been strengthened when she had become the only living Elder of the coven. Imogen had only seen the witch from a distance when she had dropped Davina off outside The Lycée but buried deep down some bitter part of her blamed the resurrected woman for taking her sister away.

"He does recall that she tortured him? And Rebekah? And psychologically tortured Cami when she made her choose between him and her uncle?" Imogen asked in an irritated voice as her lips turned down at the corners and Elijah raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement but didn't answer her rhetorical questions as he sipped his coffee.

"Yes, apparently, my brother has decided to devote his time to bedding trollops and painting his demons away."

"It's such a waste. Klaus fought to be King, but the moment he gets what he wants, he throws a tantrum and leaves everyone hanging in the wind."

"Precisely. If he can so easily neglect our home, I wonder what will become of his daughter. I haven't forgotten what it was like to live beneath the threat of violence, and I do not wish that on my niece."

"I understand that." she said gravely in a compassionate tone as she slipped her hand into his with a small smile and his lips twitched in response as he squeezed her fingers in understanding. A bright grin spread across her lips as she leaned forward, her blue eyes twinkling with mischief and he quirked an eyebrow in question as she asked him pointedly, "So...What are you going to do about it?"

"Excuse me?" he asked in faux confusion as he cocked his head to the side with a frown and he couldn't help the small smile that spread across his lips when she gave him an exasperated look.

"As much as you want to deny it, Mr. Mikaelson, I know you. And I know that you aren't going to allow an all-out war to break out between the Factions. So, what are you going to do about it?" Imogen repeated her question knowingly with a hint of underlying curiosity in her voice as she crossed one leg over the other and leaned her elbow on the counter as she balanced her chin in her hand with her eyebrows raised expectantly.

Elijah regarded the witch in front of him with an awed curiosity, his oak brown eyes shining with affection and respect as she preened under his gaze. She was an oddity he had stumbled across, a rare and fascinating creature that he couldn't help but marvel at. Intelligence resonated in every word she spoke, a wisdom that only came from actually living and surviving the walk through hellish situations. Imogen possessed a quiet confidence that screamed loud, she was humble but strong, stable but rebellious, giving but not naïve. A walking contradiction. She chose her battles wisely, and once she had decided to fight, she was dedicated to the cause until it was either completed or she had exhaled her last breath.

Trusting someone was a choice, one that Elijah made hesitantly towards few people, but somehow Imogen had sauntered her way onto the list with her ability to sooth him, to make him smile, to be a steady presence in the rough waters surrounding them. It was for that reason alone that he set his near empty coffee mug on the counter with a sigh and leaned forward slightly on his folded arms as he answered her truthfully, "I extended an invitation some of the leaders of the community to a gathering at St. Anne's. I thought it would give us a chance to discuss the current statutes that were put in place during Marcel's tenure."

"That's a good idea. St Anne's is neutral ground. Who did you invite for each Faction?" Imogen asked seriously as she absently grazed her fingertip around the edge of her coffee cup and held his gaze evenly, an intrigued glint in the depths of her blue eyes. A thought suddenly occurred to the witch as she straightened her spine in realization and narrowed her eyes at him as she pointed an accusing finger in his direction. "Hey, wait a second! Is this why you were asking me all those questions the other night? Asking who the most influential players were?"

The Original had the decency to look abashed as he struggled to contain a smile at the sight in front of him; it was truly extraordinary to see the blush that spread across her cheeks and the fire that burned ferociously in her eyes when she was angry. He offered her a charming grin as he reached across the counter to brush a strand of brunette hair behind her ear and her features softened slightly at the gesture but she still had an annoyed purse of her lips as he told her sincerely, "You look stunning when you're angry with me."

Imogen scoffed incredulously with a roll of her eyes but couldn't resisted the urge to smile at his words as she reached up to remove his hand from her cheek and she gave him a look that was a mixture of amusement and exasperation as she kept a hold of the offending hand. "You can't just compliment me to get out of trouble."

"Imogen! Would I do such a dastardly thing?" he asked in mock offence as he placed his free hand over his heart and his oak brown eyes twinkled with obvious mirth as a smirk played on his lips.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Answer the question. Who did you invite to the meeting?" she asked him once again as she squeezed his hand, silently granting him forgiveness for partially deceiving her with his leading questions.

"Based on your insightful observations..." Elijah started with a teasing edge of his voice but paused with a grin on his lips when he noticed the way her eyes narrowed at him and he cleared his throat as he purposefully changed the tone of the conversation back to business. "I have asked Father Kieran to stand for the human Faction."

"That's a good idea. The O'Connell family has been influential in keeping tabs on the supernatural for decades. And Kieran has always been ally towards the vampires and the witches, before they went crazy." she added the last comment as an afterthought as she kicked her feet up onto the empty stool beside her, crossing one ankle over the other and tried not to react as Elijah's pupils flared at the sight of her bare legs laid out in front of him.

"It was a little more difficult to decide who should represent the vampires but in the end I felt Diego had enough experience as second-in-command during Marcel's reign that he should be able to handle the task. And I'm afraid that as the only remaining Elders of the coven..."

"You asked Genevieve to advocate for the witches."

"Yes, I did. She agreed to the meeting most vehemently." he murmured derisively with a roll of his eyes as he stood up from his slouched position and her lips twitched in amusement as she watched him take both of their empty coffee mugs to the sink, looking completely at ease as he moved around her kitchen.

"And the wolves? I assume you asked Jackson or Hayley." Imogen said absently, distracted from the conversation by the way the muscles in his back moved underneath his dress shirt. It took her a moment to realize that he hadn't answered the question and she forced her gaze upwards but his back was still facing towards her so she couldn't see his facial expression. "Elijah? Please tell me you invited someone to stand in for the wolves."

The Original sighed heavily in exasperation as he slowly turned around to look at her with a placating expression on his handsome face and she could clearly read the answer to her question on his face, causing her lips to part in shock as she openly gaped at him. He lowered his gaze for a moment before walking over to stand in his previous spot opposite her seat and she snapped her mouth closed as she tried to formulate a response but all she could do was scold him sharply in reprimand, "Elijah!"

"This first meeting is solely for those who remain in the French Quarter. Once all three Faction are operating together harmoniously, we will expand the treat to include the wolves." he explained calmly as he placed both of his palms down on the counter and his tone was reminiscent of someone that was stating facts, not defending their actions.

"It's a bad idea."

"It's the best idea."

"That doesn't make it good." Imogen stated truthfully with a huff, rolling her eyes as she stood up from the stool she was perched on and he opened his mouth to retort but she waved a dismissive hand over her shoulder as she sauntered towards the bedroom in the back of the apartment.

___________________________________

St. Anne's Church, standing in the centre of the French Quarter, had been considered neutral ground between the differing Factions for centuries. It was a place that anyone, witch or human or vampire, could come to for sanctuary and not feel the pressure of an incoming threat. For that reason alone, it was considered the perfect place to gather the influential members of the community to discuss the upheaval of the ruling class.

A large wooden table had been set up in the middle of the multipurpose room in the back of the church; Diego sat on the left-hand side with Genevieve opposite him on the right, Father Kieran stationed at one end and Elijah Mikaelson standing at the head of the table with Imogen Claire perched on the chair next to him. The Originals commanding presence made it clear who was leading the meeting; he stood with an effortless mixture of authority and confidence as his serious oak brown eyes scrutinized every movement made. A firm hand on the back of Imogen's heavy wooden chair silently indicated who held her alliance and she crossed one leg over the other as she clasped her joined hands over her knee.

"St. Anne's has long been neutral ground in our city. So, it's only fitting that we gather in this chamber at the behest of Elijah Mikaelson to bring harmony to this place we call home. Thank you all for coming." Father Kieran commenced the meeting in a businesslike tone of voice as he sat down on the furthest end of the table with a blank expression on his face and Imogen made a mental note to hasten her research into breaking hexes, the grimoires had been piling up in her apartment since Cami asked her to look into it.

"Yes, thank you for coming. And welcome. These are the rules of the city according to Marcel Gerard." Elijah announced in an unemotional voice as he held up a document for everyone in the room to see and he paused for dramatic effect before tearing it in half, the sound echoing through the otherwise silent room. "Which, of course, no longer apply, because I'm in charge."