As it happened, the party ended up quite soon after Frankie left though it was a while until Elijah joined her. Shifting contentedly as he slipped in behind her, she twisted to face him, squirming a little at the coldness of his hand that had recently held his icy glass but now brushed against her skin.

"Did it end alright," she asked, a grin overwhelming her when his hand caressing her cheek allowed his thumb to trace across her bottom lip, "treaty still strong?"

"It did," he nodded, "although I broke my word."

"Oh?" she peeked an eye open in concern. Frankie knew how much Elijah's word meant to him, how careful he was with the words he spoke and how much he valued the steadiness of it. She knew it was rare for him to ever go back on a promise and hearing he had made her wonder why, "What happened?"

"I believe I promised I'd help you take your dress off."

Relief washed over her as an annoyed but playful grin rose to her lips, anxiety flooding away. She'd earned that one she supposed, considering how often she teased him and really it wasn't that cruel a trick in the slightest.

"You did," she laughed, pressing forwards to kiss him quickly before pulling back and rolling over, "I guess you'll just have to owe me one. You left me to get drunk with your brother all night and now I want to sleep."

Elijah was fine by that, especially when his arm fell across her waist and instead of allowing it to land on her side and trace gentle circles as he often did, she reached up and linked her own fingers with his. This moment was the one he wanted to remember for all of eternity, her curled up beside him with his arm pulled to her chest and their fingers linked so one couldn't move without alerting the other. For the moment until he allowed himself to drift away, he counted his blessings that she had ever entered his life and granted him such serenity.

Although their entanglement was pleasant in the night, warm and comforting, when morning came and Frankie felt Elijah shifting in an attempt to pull his hand and arm away from her she groaned in annoyance.

"Stop moving," she whined, rolling so his arm was only pulled closer, "I'm sleeping."

"I have to go -"

"No."

"It's still early," he said, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he detangled their hands "Just go back to sleep my love."

Frankie had her mouth open to growl back a response but with what he called her her cheeks reddened and she rolled over, pressing her face back into the pillow with surprise. Elijah was prone to sweet names rolling off his tongue when he talked to her but he hadn't called her his love before and she was surprised by the title as well as a little overwhelmed with what felt such a leap.

Though she wasn't nearly as bad as she had been when they first met, not nearly as reluctant for any kind of relationship, the only person she'd ever loved in her life had been Mitch and it was clear that had been a misstep. Frankie tried to allow herself a little forgiveness, but it was difficult for her to really trust her gut and truly believe that she was the best at choosing people.

She trusted Elijah, she trusted him beside her and with her but with her heart it felt a little different, she still felt weary that he'd hurt her if she let herself love him. It was ridiculous, she knew, but it was hard for her to properly accept what they were becoming, that they were more than just friends who were particularly intimate.

His words made her stiffen in shock because it didn't feel real, his love seemed much too kind a name for her. She was too closed off for someone to care about like that.

Fortunately, if Elijah noticed her stiffening he never brought it up and soon after she fell back asleep. By the time she woke she'd practically forgotten his words, instead the only thing she could think of was how much she wanted to wring Klaus' neck because he was yelling loudly so early in the morning.

"Can you keep it down," she said, stumbling from Elijahs room to the balustrade to see Klaus descending the stairs in argument with Elijah who was overseeing the renovations causing the other great sound, "Christ even with regular hearing I can hear your tantrums Klaus."

"But not the actual source of my annoyance I'm sure," he retorted, rolling his eyes and gesturing to Elijah's amused face, "Not the bloody three ring circus that Elijah's organised nice and early after the party he threw last night."

"Marcel and his minions abused our home for the better part of a century," Elijah cut in shortly, "Now, you might be content to live in squalor, I'm not."

Frankie had to repress a snort of amusement. Originally she'd been intending on rounding on Elijah next and snapping at him for the noise that had caused Klaus to wake her up from what she'd hoped would be a sleep in but with Klaus the one who'd been chastised she was willing to let Elijah's slight go in order to annoy him further.

"That's right, you wouldn't want to live in squalor now would you, Klaus?" she grinned a toothy grin she knew would make his blood boil, "Remember that time you made Stefan drive us to like three different hotels because you weren't happy with the rooms they gave us? Seem's a funny time to change your tune now."

"I agree with the girl and Elijah," Genevive the witch spoke up causing Frankie's lip to curl in distaste.

"The girl has a name," Frankie snapped, annoyed as much by her title as by her agreement, "I'm sure you knew it when you tracked me down to slit my throat so don't pretend you don't now we're not alone."

"Of course," she said sweetly, holding up her hands in defence of herself, "I'm not here to cause trouble, Besides, it's a new era in the French Quarter, this place could use a makeover."

"Careful Elijah," Klaus said, placing a knowing step forwards to block Frankie from Genevive's view, "When this one agrees with you, it's a sure sign she wants something."

"Actually I do have a request," Genevive replied, "I'm told our coven hasn't been able to celebrate feast days in the open since Marcel restricted the use of magic. Now with the new peace, I'd like that to change."

Elijah seemed exasperated but as diplomatic as he was he turned to her considerately, his lips curling into a hint of a smile, a little amused by her audacity. Despite their treaty amongst the factions and Klaus' apparent reconciliation with her, Elijah wanted nothing more than to destroy her for the part she'd played in Frankie's pain. He knew that though she'd been the one to do it, it was Celeste pulling the ropes and he'd responded accordingly. While he hadn't killed her, he still more than disliked Genevive for all that she'd done.

"Am I to assume that you have a certain feast day in mind?" Elijah asked, watching from the corner of his eye as Frankie rolled her eyes and retreated into the bedroom she'd only just left.

Once Genevive began to negotiate Frankie returned to the room, the noise from the contractors, while it hadn't ended, had quieted in Klaus' rage and for now she figured she'd take the time to rest. She wasn't working today and though she had plans to check in with Cami, she wasn't in any rush to do so and wanted to savour the warmth of the duvet and the softness of Elijah's much too expensive linen sheets.

She heard the door open and then close and she rolled over, "Are you making me get up?"

"Not if you don't like," he said, kicking off his shoes and sitting on the bed, content when she shuffled over and up, curling against his chest sleepily, "But I came to let you know I'm going out until the festival."

"So you agreed to her feast?"

"Mhm," he nodded, "This evening, I'm going to inform the factions now."

As Elijah spoke, his fingers trailed gently up and down the side of her arm and she felt goosebumps erupt across her skin. His body was warm as she rested against it and she could feel the steady rising and falling of his chest. When she'd shuffled up to lay beside him her legs curled up to her chest but now with her contentment she lay them down, one half leaning against Elijah while the other sprawled out to the side.

"Hayley's included?"

"She signed the treaty last night."

"Good," she smiled, "If it's supporting everyone it should include everyone."

"I'll have to talk to Francesca too," Elijah said. He wasn't one to bring up difficult topics but he knew that she'd been a concern of Frankie's the night before and he'd promised they'd return to the topic, "Do you mind?"

"No," she shook her head, "Honestly Elijah, not to beat down your ego but you can talk to whoever you like, I don't care. But I know this treaty is important to you and I don't think you should trust her."

"Why?"

"Because you already don't," Elijah seemed puzzled by this and she continued, "I could see it in your body. When she was talking to you you were all stiff, it seemed like you were trying to figure out what her motives were."

"I was."

"Exactly. You know more about this stuff than I do, so do what you think is best but I don't trust her. What skin has she got in the game that's making it all worth it? I know Klaus said she's like some drug kingpin but surely she doesn't need you guys to help with that. It's not exactly like the human representative is the best job, a month ago Klaus and Marcel killed half of them and now the last one left has some fatal hex, why's she so eager to get involved?"

Elijah seemed to consider her words and she shut her eyes again. She had been well awake with Klaus' yelling but now with the steadiness of Elijah behind her she wondered if she could drift back to sleep, get a few more hours in to allow her body to recover from the inordinate amount of gin Klaus had goaded her to consume the night before.

"I'll keep an eye on her," he said thoughtfully, "I should go soon. I need to go to the werewolves first, I imagine Hayley will be unwilling to allow them to join, they might be the most difficult contributors."

"Will you stay a while," she mumbled sleepily, not quite willing to have him leave yet, "just until I fall asleep again?"

"I'll stay forever," he promised.

"Forever's awfully long," she murmured, almost so softly it was imperceptible, drifting off before she could hear a response from him.

By the time Frankie woke again Elijah was gone though a note lay in his place telling her if she wanted to come to the feast to tell him but not to feel obligated. She couldn't exactly decide whether she was or wasn't interested in attending the festival exactly but considering it was a witch event, she could use the opportunity to talk to Davina who she'd been more than worried about.

Skating to Cami's house she had no luck in her search for her friend so she continued on to the bar where she found her, a mournful look on her face as she wiped the cutlery. Cami looked more exhausted than usual and guilt chewed away at Frankie, she knew she'd had to forgo work the day before to look after her uncle in the daytime and it was clear he continued to deteriorate.

"Hey Cami girl," she sung, "How's he doing?"

"Not great," she replied honestly, pulling Frankie towards her for a hug, "I know everything she did to you but I thought maybe I could ask that witch if she could help undo it, would you hate me?"

"Do what you gotta do," Frankie said, pulling the cutlery that was beyond sparkling from her grip and packing it away, "Family's family, you do whatever you can to help your uncle. There's some festival for the witches that Elijah conceded to tonight, there'll be a party afterwards because they need it to be all about them. Why don't you come and we can see Davina and you can talk to the witch about your uncle."

"Yeah?" Cami smiled up hopefully, "They'll be alright with a human coming?"

"Well I'm going for the free booze and I'm just as human as you."

"You're sure-"

"Yes," Frankie laughed, "Yes I promise to beat anyone up who tries to tell you to fuck off, besides, it's not like the witches have much room to be haughty after all they've done to everyone."

"Okay," she conceded, "Yes please, that'd be good."

"Do you want me to meet you after work or-"

"I might meet you there, I've got to check on my uncle before I can come."

"Alright," Frankie smiled, "Call me if you change your mind, I'd rather go with you than Elijah."

"If you go with me, who'd be helping you get all those hickies."

"I was hoping you would," Frankie deadpanned, a grin on her lips as she dropped to one knee, "come on Cam, gimme a chance."

"Sorry babe," Cami shook her head, pulling her up and turning away as though she really was breaking her heart, "But you know Elijah has my heart and soul, I couldn't betray him like that."

"That man is always getting in my way," she shook her head mournfully, a laugh breaking from her lips when her eyes met Cami's, "okay okay, I'm out."

"What're you gonna do with your day of freedom from here until the festival starts? Recreate the other day with just an eight hour-"

"I told you that in confidence," Frankie gasped, her hands flying to Cami's mouth to stop her talking, "Oh my god. Remember everyone in this bloody town has super hearing and if you finish that sentence Klaus is gonna know and he's gonna tease us mercilessly and by us I mean me because Elijah's fucking immune to his shit."

"Klaus isn't the only merciless one in that family," Cami taunted with a laugh as she tugged Frankie's hands from her mouth, "I seem to remember two days where you could barely walk."

"I'm uninviting you from the afterparty," Frankie declared, marching away to the door, "I'm not really but I will be annoyed with you for the next hour."

"I give you thirty minutes before you miss me."

"Forty five."

"You won't even make it out the door," Cami sung, "I know you Francesca Rossi, you love me."

"Francesca?" she turned with a raised eyebrow, "Is that where we're at Camille? I seem to remember your struggles to walk last night, how you said if you weren't already home I would've had to carry you back, have you recovered so quickly?"

Frankie's smirk as she watched her friend was one of victory. She was of course referring to Cami's evening with Marcel the night before. Whilst she was at a party full of supernatural's trying to maintain an ever floundering peace treaty and a somewhat manageable level of sobriety when paired with Klaus, Cami had spent the evening getting monumentally wasted and then hooking up with Marcel.

"I take it back," Cami laughed, "Don't say it."

"I don't need to, the delight in my victory is enough to fulfil me, as well as the vivid visual description that you spent a drunken twenty minutes telling me about on facetime. You really do paint quite the picture, I'm sure Klaus would love it."

"Oof," Cami stepped back and clutched her heart pretending to be wounded, "Alright you win. I'll see you tonight."

Frankie cackled at her defeat, "Do you want me to get you a coffee before I leave?"