A month passed by, a month where though nothing happened, the world still seemed to be crumbling around them. Rebekah's absence still hurt them, Elijah and Klaus clearly feeling the pain of her departure deeply though neither chose to talk about it. Frankie had tried to broach the subject with Elijah more than once, bringing her up in passing and then more bluntly but each time she did she'd catch the wave of pain that shot across his face and she stopped mentioning it.

It was funny, in all the time she'd known them, this really was the first time she was truly with Elijah more than Rebekah or Klaus. They were close now, more than just close, their hands would find one another whenever they were near, like they were reminding themselves the other was near. It sometimes felt as though they were the only two people in a room no matter how many people surrounded them, he'd lean over and whisper in her ear something that would make her lips twitch up into a grin or a frown.

Frankie and Klaus by comparison were barely speaking, it wasn't that she was necessarily angry at him, she was hurt. Hurt by what he'd done to his family and hurt that he was excusing Genevieve's actions against everyone she cared about and everyone she'd thought he cared about. It was that he didn't acknowledge it either, that each time any of them mentioned anything he waved it off as though it was a joke, an overreaction for even mentioning it.

That being said, despite Frankie's silence towards Klaus, the indifference she forced when he was nearby, she was perhaps his greatest defender to his brother.

Elijah grew more exasperated as each day passed by with Klaus neglecting the kingdom he'd so desperately sought. While the city's turmoil only grew, so did Elijah's annoyance as Klaus hid from the world in favour of his art and his literature and Genevieve.

Frankie didn't understand why Elijah was pushing so definitively for Klaus to step up when he clearly lacked interest. Elijah seemed the natural leader to her, someone who could be trusted to be fair, impartial, and focused. Klaus by comparison was led by his impulsivity and his selfishness that forced his and his family's will above all others.

Eventually her pushing made his mind up, stepping in in place of Klaus in order to ensure at least something was done to maintain peace between the supernatural creatures who'd been running wild without someone taking charge.

While Frankie supported Elijah's reign, there were already disagreements they had about some of his ideas. It was difficult, on the one hand, she didn't want to get involved in the supernatural politics, on the other, she knew he was hosting the first tribunal with a representative from each faction and she knew that the wolves weren't invited. It wasn't that he agreed with some of the more difficult members of the community who pushed to maintain the restricted rights of the werewolves, it was that he was prioritising the greatest issues, the current New Orleans community.

They'd gotten the closest they'd ever been to an argument over it, Frankie determined everyone be included, worried that if he didn't include the wolves from the beginning they wouldn't ever get the equality they deserved. It was a difficult argument, Elijah knew himself, he knew how he cared for Hayley and the baby and he knew that as a result he wouldn't let their needs go unmet, but too he knew that the agreement he'd be forming would be tenuous at best and he thought perhaps it would be best to solidify that and bring the wolves in later.

It was clear Elijah cared about Hayley, he didn't ask directly about her but his eyes shot to her each time Frankie mentioned they'd talked. To Elijah, regardless of the baby, Hayley already was family through and through and nothing could change it. Even now as she stayed in the bayou with the crescent wolves Frankie knew he often snuck off to check in on her and the baby as he worried about her being alone there.

"Hayley," Frankie grinned as she spoke, the phone between her ear and her shoulder as she rushed about the kitchen, "I'm not working today, since you're gonna be in the city do you want to grab a coffee after the meeting?"

"What meeting?" Hayley asked, "Is there a meeting?"

All at once Frankie realised what she'd done. When their conversation ended the night before, lulled into sleep as her eyes drifted shut she'd been sure Elijah had conceded, inviting Hayley and the wolves a seat at the table.

She didn't want to undermine Elijah, she truly believed he was doing what he thought was best, but so was she. Frankie knew that Elijah would be frustrated by what would no doubt occur when Hayley knew the truth but she needed to make sure it was equal. It wasn't fair that a town in such turmoil was being divided up by only those currently in power, all working together to abandon one faction and she wasn't going to stand by if her telling Hayley could help them out.

"The little shit," Frankie groaned, "Hales, you've gotta get to the church. Elijah's holding some round table with a representative from each faction and you guys deserve a say just as much as anyone."

"Why didn't he tell me?" Hayley asked, a little hurt despite herself, "I get not talking to Jackson or Oli but Elijah always tells me what's going on."

"He's worried about what's going on here and thinks they have to prioritise. I'm so sorry I would've told you earlier if I'd known. Elijah and I talked about it and I thought he'd include you guys now, not just once this is under control."

"It's alright."

"Nah it's not," Frankie sighed, "Look, if you go now you can still make it. Don't tell Elijah I tipped you off if you can help it but you guys deserve your place."

"Thanks Frankie."

It was difficult to know how Hayley's arrival at the meeting went down but she was sure that Elijah was less than pleased though he didn't let it show. Despite her intentions of spending her evening eating take out on the couch, Elijah arrived late in the afternoon with a different suggestion and a glint in his eye that told her he knew she'd been the one to spill the news. His plan for the evening was a party, of course, one he was throwing at the compound in hopes to unite the factions under copious amounts of alcohol and lowered inhibitions.

"Why is it that your family is always forcing me into dresses," she groaned into his neck as his arms wrapped around her waist, "Feels a little sexist."

"You can wear a suit," he shrugged, "If you're more comfortable. You can wear whatever you like just so long as you're by my side."

"Hmm," she pulled away, heading towards the door, half so she could escape the inevitable conversation about Hayley and half so she could borrow something from Cami, "I think I'll just take the dress. Maybe then I can find a hot date, we could double?"

Elijah knew she was teasing but he'd be lying if the joke didn't make him feel just the slightest bit jealous and possessive. Nevertheless, when Frankie left he did too, heading home to change into a slightly more appropriate suit for the evening. He returned only a little before they needed to leave for the party pleases that she was coming and coming with him.

"It's open," Frankie called when Elijah arrived to pick her up and knocked on the door.

"Definitely the green," Elijah mused, strolling towards her voice and catching sight of her holding two dresses up to the mirror as she stood in her underwear to compare. Frankie startled slightly, despite knowing he'd entered her apartment, she forgot sometimes how quickly he moved as a vampire and so when she spun to face him she pushed a false frown to her face.

"It's not polite to spy," she said shortly, turning back to the mirror and holding up the blue dress Cami had leant her, "Surely you'd have learned that in your old age."

"Isn't it?" Elijah asked her teasingly, "I suppose I do recall someone telling me I did rather lack some manners. I think they likened me to my brother."

"They sound smart."

"And beautiful," Elijah added, his arms snaking around her waist as he stood behind her watching them both in the mirror as he kissed her neck, "Particularly beautiful when she wears that dress though I do enjoy you like this."

"Living with your family forces me into an awful lot of these outfits."

"Mhm," Elijah said, half tuned out as his hands began to roam across her bare skin while his lips continued their assault.

"More fancy dresses, they're so hard to get on and do anything in. What if I wanted to skate there?"

"What if I promise to help you take it off in the evening?"

"Always trying to get me out of my clothes, Mr Mikaelson," she grinned, tossing the dress to a chair and spinning to catch Elijahs face and bring his lips to hers, "that's definitely not polite."

"Haven't you heard?" he mused when they pulled apart for air, "I'm quite old so I've had centuries to learn etiquette, if you like I can tutor you."

"I'll pass," she pushed him back a few steps, tugging the green dress up and over her hips as she wriggled into it, "Wouldn't want to pick up any bad habits like peeping on people."

"Do accept my apologies," he said jokingly, wrapping his arms back around her waist and pulling her towards him again even as her dress lay open at the back.

"I'll think on it."

Elijah smiled in amusement, clearing his throat before changing the subject, "Hayley came to the meeting today at the church."

"Hmm?" she mused, stepping forwards and fiddling with the zip on the dress to avoid looking at Elijah. Frankie had spent a two and a half decades thinking she was a good liar and yet each time she tried to lie to Elijah he made it clear she was not.

"I was quite surprised," he continued, his fingers taking the zip and pulling it closed for her, "Did you know she was coming?"

"I suspected," she agreed, leaning back against his chest in concession. She hoped her heart wasn't racing, that was what always gave her lies away and she didn't want it to be the case this time. When Elijah didn't reply and she caught his eyes in the mirror she curled her fingers around his arms that circled her waist from behind and crumbled, "I'm sorry. I just didn't think it was fair to start without them. They've all been discriminated against for-"

"I'm not annoyed," he assured her softly, "I know we don't talk about it or him, and we don't need to now if you don't want to but I don't want you to ever be afraid of going against me. Before we leave it I need you to know I'm never going to be angry at you for something like this. I didn't want her there just yet but I know why you did it and I don't blame you for it. I just need you to know, nothing you do will ever make me angry at you."

"You're really not-"

"Never," he cut her off, punctuating his words with a kiss, "never."

"Maybe you can be my date," she said with a grin, catching his eye in the mirror as he reassured her, settling her fear that she hadn't even realised was bubbling beneath the surface until now it was calmed.

"Maybe?"

"Possibly."

"Possibly seems to be much too far from definitely."

"Come on," she grinned, tugging him towards her into a kiss before pulling away to find her shoes, "Lets go before Klaus starts a fight night between the factions. God I can't believe I talk like this now, it's like I'm in some shitty teen dystopian novel."

The scene when they arrived at the party was an overwhelming one. When you often only saw those from the supernatural community in small groups and pairings, it was often easy to forget just how many people in New Orleans weren't human. The party was at the compound and unsurprisingly Klaus was the first person to catch her eye when they entered.

"I'm gonna get a drink," she told Elijah, pressing up on her toes to speak in his ear, "Go mingle with your people."

"I'll come-" Elijah offered, breaking off quickly as he caught sight of some disagreement between Marcel's vampire Diego, and the wolf Oliver, "I'll come find you."

"Good luck," she said, smiling as she pulled away to find herself a drink.

It was at the bar where Klaus cornered her. He pretended it was a coincidence, downing his fresh glass and strutting over to lean beside her against the bar. Frankie rolled her eyes and went to pull her phone out so as to ignore him, inwardly groaning when she realised that because of the bloody dress, her phone was currently in the inside pocket of Elijahs jacket.

"Gin and tonic, and a whiskey," Klaus told the bartender who'd made her way over the moment she caught sight of Klaus.

"I can order for myself," Frankie snapped, her face screwed up in annoyance with the bartender gone while she was stuck with Klaus.

"Who says it's for you?" he arched an eyebrow, amused when she spun to face him and did the exact same.

"Who's it for then, your little witch?"

"Of course it's for you, love," as he spoke he pulled the drink from the bartenders hand and passed it smoothly to her, "Wonderful to see you're no longer pretending I don't exist."

"A girl can only dream."

"Truly, you wound me," he told her, fighting to keep the grin from his lips as his tugged his own glass up, "Such hostility can only come from family though I suppose, wonderful to see you and Elijah have finally done the deed."

"Fucking hell," she groaned, turning to leave. Frankie was annoyed at Klaus, at his inability or unwillingness to acquiesce that he'd been at least a little in the wrong with Rebekah and not understanding about how Genevieve made her feel. She was annoyed and she was hurt and at this taunting she conceded, turning to leave when he grasped her arm.

"Look," he said with a surprising amount of kindness for Klaus, "Can we talk."

"About?" she sighed.

"Come on," he told her, downing his and nodding for her to do the same.

Frankie reluctantly drank her drink in one, surprised when she felt his arm grasp hers as he sped them both from the party to an empty room upstairs, so far that not only were there no prying ears, but the thudding of the music below was so soft it was almost hard for her to hear at all.

"What do you want, Klaus," she said with her arms crossed across her chest. He was silent for a few moments and she pressed him again, "I'm losing my patience with you."

"I'm sorry," he told her, "For Rebekah. I mean I'm not that sorry, she deserved the punishment that was dolled out to her but I'm sorry you're angry."

Frankie was certain that this was the first time she'd heard Klaus give an apology, not just to her but to anyone. It was a terrible apology, with almost more conditions and exclusions than actual apology and yet the words shocked her and the sincerity behind them too almost felt like a dream though she knew this wasn't something her head would've ever thought possible. Rather than nodding and grinning however, she pushed him further.

"And for Elijah," she finished.

"Elijah's fine," he rolled his eyes, leaning against the wall lazily as he brushed his brother away, "You needn't stay away from the compound you know, I wouldn't let Genevieve touch you again, I've made that clear."

"Christ," she ran a hand through her hair exhasperated, "Is that all Klaus? You're giving me some shit apology for driving your only sister away and bedding the woman who caused it among a fuck tonne of other things. Klaus, you're an adult, you're fucking old at that so I don't care who or what you do, I care that you do it without even giving a shit about other people. Have you even seen Cami? Even once?"

"It's difficult-"

"It's not," she deadpanned, "Klaus, fucking hell, you told her you'd help her and she's fucking spiralling. I'm there for her but I know shit all about anything supernatural, you promised you'd help her, I need you to help her."

"I don't know if I can," he said gently, "You've got to understand, a hex like that-"

"Then tell her," she cried, exasperation pushing through knowing all the hours she'd spent with her friend terrified and worried, "She's got hope and she's fighting, she believes somethings gonna fix it. If you know something tell her."

"Is that all?" Klaus rolled his eyes, annoyed by her chastising.

"No," Frankie snapped again, half on a roll with her demands now they were actually talking again, "It's not. You lay another finger on that poor boy Josh and I'll kill you."

"You've made these threats before."

"Klaus," she growled, "I mean it. You owe me."

"How long is our summer going to be exploited for favours?" he asked curiously, a brow arched in amusement, "It seems each time you want something or you're angry, you remind me. Seems like a bit of a magic pudding. You weren't exactly tied up and blindfolded along the way."

"This is the last time," she promised, "You pardon Josh and stop using him in any way and we're even."

"I'll consider it," Klaus conceded, "Provided you stop treating me like satan incarnate,"

"Get me another drink and it's a deal."

Klaus sped them back to the party and ordered Frankie the drink she wanted. It wasn't that she actually wanted or needed Klaus to get her the drink, it was an open bar, but just like Klaus she struggled to concede an argument and asking for a drink was as close as she could get.

One drink spread into two, then three, and then Frankie had spent half of her night drinking with Klaus.

With her arms resting on the bar behind her, Frankie's eyes ran across the crowd, searching for Elijah, Davina, any of the handful of New Orleans residents she was friends with. She settled on Elijah who was stood by the wall with a stiffness in his posture that she knew showed he was annoyed as he talked with a woman with dark hair.

"Who's that woman?" she asked, her elbow nudging Klaus to get his attention, "The one talking with-"

"Francesca Correa," Klaus answered before she could finish her question, "Jealous?"

"No," she rolled her eyes, pulling her newest drink to her lips, "Elijah looks funny, all stiff."

"Elijah's always stiff."

"No, like he looks like he's trying to figure out if she's lying to him."

"She's a human trying to have a seat at the table," Klaus told her flippantly, watching Francesca and then turning away to check his phone, "He's only got eyes for you, she's no one to worry about."

"I'm not."

"Not what?" Elijah asked, in front of her suddenly, watching her with a grin on his face.

"Not tolerating your brother anymore," she finished, shoving her glass into Klaus' chest with just enough force that his lips twitched into amusement, "Can we-"

"Dance?"

Frankie wasn't sure if the idea of dancing really appealed to her but she wanted to leave Klaus' victorious smirk alone and she didn't really care to mingle. Nodding she allowed him to tug her gently, pulling her with him to the dance floor where he wrapped his arms around her waist tenderly.