After that night things felt different between Frankie and Elijah. They still weren't where Rebekah and Klaus had expected them to be so immediately after meeting but Frankie had made the decision to stop forcing herself away.

They'd been getting dinner a lot recently, that or Frankie had been coming over late in the evening for a drink if she worked too late for dinner. Truthfully she liked staying with Elijah or having him stay with her, she felt a lot less lonely than she had in a long time when they fell asleep talking softly about books they liked or about their days.

Klaus was of course more than smug when he'd returned home from Mystic Falls two days later, barging into Elijah's room to see her curled up beside him with his arm around her waist. The smug grin of his didn't even falter as Frankie threw her pillow at him almost as soon as she peeked her eyes open to ascertain who'd caused the disturbance.

"Our lovebirds," Klaus grinned, ducking instinctively from the pillow she'd thrown with astonishing accuracy considering her eyes were closed, "reunited again. What a dream, Rebekah will be delighted."

"Fuck off Klaus," Frankie growled, tugging Elijah's pillow from under his head and pulling it over hers, now her own pillow was gone, "Go away its early."

"It's noon."

"I don't like you," she informed him matter of factly, when he didn't reply she added quickly, "and neither does Elijah."

Elijah didn't join in on their conversation but she felt his arm tighten and if she'd been listening more closely she'd have heard a snort of amusement. He knew why his brother truly was here however and when the door clicked shut behind him he reluctantly pulled the pillow from Frankie's face to talk to her.

"We have a meeting to attend."

"We?" she asked, confused.

"Niklaus and I," he corrected, "I'll drop you home if you like."

"This vampire chauffeur service really is a win that more doppelgängers should take advantage of," she said. Enjoying the way he instinctively went to correct her, Frankie continued with a poor impersonation of his accent before he could, "'You're not a doppelgänger.'"

"Well," he replied, his face twitching into a smile at her accent, "It's certainly clear that we're not taking you north of the Atlantic, you'll offend more people than Niklaus."

"They'll love me."

"Mhm."

"Thanks anyway but I've got to head to Rousseau's, Cami's been drowning and Sophie is nowhere to be seen so I said I'd open up today and let her to relax. I've gotta go figure out what we need to do."

Elijah nodded, smiling in approval at the button down she was tucking into her trousers thanks to the red wine stain on her shirt from the evening earlier. Rebekah was downstairs when she left and while she gave her and Hayley hugs and a conversation, she enjoyed the scowl covering Klaus' face as she gave him the bird and stuck her tongue out.

Rousseau's was a shitshow, even an hour after she'd arrived it was clear that it was going to be difficult to sort everything out and that they really needed Sophie to come and work. While the front of house wasn't necessarily clean it was stocked, it was clear though that the back was falling into disarray, orders missing and paperwork abandoned as Sophie shirked her responsibilities to wallow instead.

Frankie didn't blame her, she still felt overwhelming guilt for her part in Davina's sacrifice however small and Sophie was the one who'd technically caused it to all go wrong in the first place. The tinkle of the door being pressed open came from the front and Frankie groaned before moving to tell them off.

"Read the sign dude," she groaned in annoyance, "Open at three means we open at- Oh, Marcel."

"Looks likes I should've been here last night," he murmured, looking around at the mess that had been left for her to deal with, "Sophie 'round?"

"No, why?"

"Got a witch problem, she's a witch. Mind if I wait?"

Without waiting for a response, Marcel collapsed into a seat at the bar and Frankie sighed as he tugged a bottle from the bar. She could see the despair ripping through his body and she knew he felt as guilty as her that Davina had been sacrificed.

"Not that I'm not a day drinking fan, I'm well acquainted with Klaus, but uh- You sure you should be drinking after all that dude?"

"What else am I gonna do," he replied disdainfully, "just run around like another of Klaus' little minions?"

As if on cue, Marcel's phone began to ring, he tugged it out and Frankie leant over to see Klaus' name flashing across the screen. Marcel hit the ignore button before refilling his drink and Frankie internally sighed, making a mental note to lock the front door at some point and open the bar later than she had originally planned.

"El presidente?" she mocked.

"He likes to keep track of his people."

Don't I know it. She wanted to say, vividly remembering her hybrid check ins and forced road trip attendances. Frankie was more than acquainted with Klaus' control issues and his narcissistic need to have someones every move reported to him.

"Why are you so loyal to him, exactly?" she asked, curious as to Marcels tie to the Mikaelson family. Though she hadn't figured out exactly how, she'd quickly gathered that Marcels knowledge of Elijah and his siblings was greater than most and certainly more intimate than that of a friend they'd known several years.

She remembered Stefan and his relationship with Klaus and Rebekah in the 20s and she knew that despite the fact he dated Rebekah, he was far from an inner circle member and he certainly didn't have intimate knowledge like of who Francesca had been.

"For someone who acts like she can't stand the guy, you sure ask a lot of questions about him."

"I'm trying to sort that family out," she retorted nonchalantly, tugging a glass from the sink and pouring some liquor from Marcels bottle, "I'm pretty fucking wrapped up in it and I want to know why you are too."

"Word of advice," Marcel sighed, downing his drink, "get out while you still can."

"I did, remember? That's how I ended up here, where I thought I'd be far away from vampires," she rolled her eyes, "Okay, look, I know Klaus is a monster but he is kind of sometimes good too. I've seen the way he treats people who he cares about, he's psychotic but he under all that anger he does care too."

"Theres this witch," Marcel changed the subject, refilling both their drinks as he spoke, "hundred years back he came with his sons to help the quarter witches. All he wanted was a little money and some territory and it pissed Klaus off so bad he beheaded his sons and made me deliver their heads in a box. Gives the guy half a second to look at them before killing him too."

"There's something beyond fucked up about that," she agreed her face screwed up in disgust as she imagined the horror in seeing your family's dismembered heads, "like fucking hell-"

"You might think he's on your side but-"

"Poor Marcellus," a french accent interrupted from behind them causing both Frankie and Marcel to spin in their seats, "You remain always in the shadow of your father. Climb out from beneath it, will you, so you can die like a man?

"Frankie, you need to run now," Marcel said sharply, "Don't look back. Just go."

"I think she should stay," the man called, his voice was confident and sure and Frankie knew well enough that Marcel's nerves told her this man was more than a little dangerous, "I prefer an audience, and I'm about to put on quite the show."

"Marcel," she faltered, guilty about leaving him though she knew she wasn't exactly any help against the stranger.

"I said get out of here."

"You cannot defeat me," the man chuckled, his hand flying out as he used magic to pull Frankie from the floor and slam her against the wall, "I channel the power of an Original vampire. Soon I will have all three. But first, I will take you."

Pulling herself to her feet, Frankie ignored the pounding in her head that she was almost used to now, as she snuck through the door, already dialling Elijah as she ran. She called him twice but when it reached his voicemail a second time she switched tracks, dialling Klaus instead, desperation seeping through into relief as she heard him answer.

"Ah, so you've unblocked my-"

"Shut up," she snapped, anxiousness tearing through her, "You need to get to Rousseau's now. Some creepy fucking french witch is killing Marcel. Doing some weird voodoo shit-"

"Get as far away from there as you can. Get to the compound, I'll help Marcel," he told her sharply, understanding instantly who she was referring to, equal parts terror enveloping him as he thought of both her and Marcel against the witch.

Faltering for several beats as she tried to decide whether to obey Klaus' instructions or to return to Marcel who she'd abandoned. When she returned, she waited outside the bar at least, pressing her ear against the back door until she heard Klaus talking more calmly allowing her to enter, presuming it was safe.

"Is he dead?" she asked, glancing to Marcel who was laying on the floor, still with his eyes shut and his face screwed up in pain.

"Get out of here," Klaus replied, concerned too about Marcel but not wanting her there and at risk. It was enough of an issue what he'd just prevented from happening with the witch and Marcel, he didn't need to be worrying about protecting her too if he came back.

"Is Marcel dead?" she asked again, "Did that guy kill him?"

"He didn't finish him off," Klaus sighed, running his hand though his hair as he accepted she wasn't leaving them, "Marcel needs blood to heal. Go, find me someone off the street."

"I'll do it," she told him, rolling her eyes as she tugged up her sleeve.

"No," he snapped sharply, "Not you. I don't want you involved in this. Elijah would-"

"You know neither you nor Elijah have any control over me," Frankie rolled her eyes, crouching beside Marcel with her wrist by his mouth, "When will you stop using Elijah as an excuse and just admit that we're friends rather than pretending the only reason you don't want me dead is your brother. It's alright to care about people, Klaus."

Klaus rolled his eyes at the irony of that statement coming from her of all people but stayed silent, knowing what she said was the truth. While Klaus might taunt her, constantly blaming his care for her wellbeing on his relationship with his brother, it was true that Elijah had little to do with it.

When they'd first met, Klaus wanted to keep her safe because of Elijah and because of Francesca but soon after it was because he enjoyed her company and their teasing relationship. He'd been the one to search so insistently for her when she'd run from Elijah because he'd been just as worried as Elijah about her wellbeing. While his brother was able to separate himself, however hurt he was, and let her run and make her own choices so long as she was happy, he worried too much about her safety when she was away from one of his family.

"It's okay," he could hear her muttering to Marcel softly as the colour began to return to his face, "It's okay, Marcel. You're gonna be okay."

Just as Frankie began to get so woozy that she had to force her eyelids to stay open, Marcel released his grip on her wrist, standing and then pulling her to her feet beside him. Marcel was already pulling his wrist to his mouth to heal her when she tried to step back and instead felt her legs buckle, Klaus catching her and pressing his already bleeding wrist to heal her.

"Thanks," she groaned as she pulled away, "never get used to that. Are you okay Marcel? I'm so sorry I left you."

"I'm good," he nodded with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Nothing you could've done against Tunde. Thanks for the blood and the cavalry."

She saw him look past her to Klaus and though it felt like they were having a silent conversation she didn't question it, watching as he raised his hand in thanks and sped from the room.

"Come on, love," Klaus told her, "I'll take you home."

"No," she sighed, "I've gotta get this place cleaned up. I didn't even end up opening today because of Marcel and Sophie hasn't been back since Davina, I can't leave it looking like this too or we're gonna go out of business."

"I'll send some nightwalkers to clean it up, this isn't the time to be in the quarter alone."

"Really Klaus, I'm good, it'll take me like an hour tops. Thanks for coming to help but I can get myself home."

Klaus had to repress a snort at the idea that he'd abandon her at the site of a barely defeated foe to wait and then walk home alone. Instead he ignored her protests, pulling a broom from the backroom and helping her tidy the bar up, clearing the place quickly with them both working in a contented silence.

He was relieved at least when he'd turned to leave with her and she'd turned with him towards the compound, grateful he didn't need to argue with her about how unsafe her apartment was from witches who could easily break in if they liked.

"How was Mystic Falls?" she asked.

Klaus had been filled with glee each time she'd seen him since his return and she was curious if there was a real reason behind it rather than just Katherines demise. Even whilst he'd been away both her and Elijah had been surprised by how little he communicated with them, having expected that he'd be calling every other hour to bark commands.

"The Salvatores asked about you," he said nonchalantly as they neared the gates, "asked if I'd heard anything about where you were."

"Oh," Frankie did her best to seem disinterested though she arched an eyebrow in surprise, "and had you heard anything?"

"I told them I might have a lead on a phone number."

Sighing with relief, her hand shot out to grasp Klaus' elbow, catching him before he left her by the entrance of the compound. Frankie was grateful Klaus hadn't revealed her location. She was not quite ready to face the conversation that came with leaving with no goodbye but she was glad he'd left at least a little tidbit. While she didn't want to see them yet, she did miss her friends and maybe she could start with a text.

"Thank you," she said. Klaus' eyebrow cocked in amusement at her kindness and she had to fight the urge to smack it, "Thank's for picking up my call even though I've been a bit of a dick."

"A bit?"

"Alright," she rolled her eyes and turned away, "Lets not forget the six months I was kidnapped for."

Klaus didn't reply but she could hear his snickers even as they both left the room. They were friends however much they both denied it, they both cared about each other and while they certainly didn't like everything the other did, like Klaus compelling basically her only friend, she wouldn't write him off based solely on that.

Elijah returned home a little after them both, his evening had been filled with just as much chaos and by the time he returned home with Hayley and his sister, he was surprised to see Klaus' grim face and the missed calls on his phone. He was more surprised too when he pressed open the door to his room and caught sight of something in his bed, something small and curled up with the shirt they'd stolen from him this morning on.

Sure, Frankie had spent more than one night with him or him with her, but there had always been a reason, dinner ran late or she was too tired after their wine, it was the first time he'd found her here seemingly with no excuse.

He tried to be silent as he entered, slipping his shoes and then his jacket off more carefully than normal but she rolled to face him with her eyes shut.

"Are you alright?" Frankie asked softly, listening to the sounds of him preparing for bed, "You always answer your phone."

Though once she said it she realised how accusatory her words seemed, truly she'd been more than just worried. While Elijah was certainly not one to waste a day on the phone, he always answered her calls no matter what he was doing or where he was. When her phone had rung out twice earlier her chest had clenched with fear and when she'd texted and received no response hours later she'd been frightened by what may have happened to him.

"I'm alright," he nodded, slipping into bed behind her, "Are you? Niklaus told me what happened."

"Yeah," she nodded as his arm fell across her waist, his fingers fiddling gently with the base of her shirt while his thumb swiped slowly, "Klaus healed me. Do you know the guy who did it, he was some french guy? Marcel called him Tunde."

"Papa Tunde," he nodded, "He's Haitian."

"Is that a yes then?"

Elijah faltered for a moment, he didn't want to tell her who Papa Tunde was and mar her sleep with images of what he and Klaus had done in the past, knowing the horrors of their history would rock and disgust her more than she'd like to admit, but he didn't want to hide anything from her either. Eventually he settled on the truth just perhaps a less detailed version of it.

"I do. Klaus and I knew him a hundred years ago. Klaus killed his sons and then him, I'm not sure how he could be back."

Frankie rolled over to face him, finally prying her eyes open to look at Elijah, "Klaus beheaded his sons and then made Marcel deliver them, right? Marcel was telling me about him today."

"That's him," Elijah nodded with his face furrowed in concern, "Let's talk about it in the morning."

Nodding, Frankie rolled back away from him, "I'm sorry for just turning up here, I was worried about you. No one in this town just attacks one of you, they attack all of you at once so you can't help each other and when you didn't answer your phone. . . I just needed to know you were alright."

"Don't apologise, you're always welcome."

"He said he was channeling an Original," she said softly, "Klaus came but I couldn't get his words out of my head. I knew if Klaus was there then it was you or Rebekah and I-" she broke off here.

The words she was about to say suddenly seemed too cruel to say, that she was so terrified it had been him she almost hoped for a moment that it was Rebekah who'd been hurt. She sighed, shutting her eyes and falling into silence

"It was Rebekah," he told her gently, "he was channeling Rebekah. She's okay, everyone's okay."

"I'm really glad you're alright."

Elijah didn't reply but his arm tightened around her and Frankie could've sworn she felt him shift, pressing a light kiss to her shoulder. She wasn't sure what she was doing with Elijah, staying night after night but she enjoyed being with him and she felt relieved to know he was safe.

She needed to know he was safe.