Hello, my lovely readers. And like all god things, our journey has come to an end. On with the show…

Chapter 20: Freedom

With a feeling of being very much alive and settled, Rebekah Mikaelson managed to forget her cares. She also forgot that she promised to go and see Enzo and his daughter. A yawn escaped her as she pondered her journey thus far. Perhaps she should wait until the next day to see the newly released father-daughter team. And Marcel's arms felt so inviting…

"Marcel, would you be horribly disappointed if I said I had one more call to make before I took you home?" Rebekah inquired, running a hand through his hair and gracing him with a sweet smile.

"Yes." Marcel took her hand and pressed it to his lips. "But for you, I would wait a lifetime."

"Right, then. It's settled. I will make it a quick visit so I may make other things last." Lowering her eyelashes, Rebekah watched Marcel's eyes darken with desire. "Hold that thought," she whispered, placing a finger to his lips.

"Will do," Marcel retorted, leaning back inside his car. "You need a ride?"

"No. I was hoping to take your car. If you'll allow me to," Rebekah told him.

Marcel nodded. "Not a problem. Be safe." He handed over the keys to his car and Rebekah felt regret as she watched him slide out. Perhaps she should postpone her visit for another day. However, she wanted to get on with her life and be done with this case. Hell, Enzo might even shed some light on matters which plagued her still.

With a sigh, Rebekah slid behind the wheel and placed the key in the ignition. The sooner she headed off, the sooner this chapter of her life would close and new beginnings would arise. With this thought, Rebekah began to smile and felt hope in her heart.

~0~

Rebekah stopped at the address that Enzo had used while staying in Chicago. She walked up the path and knocked on the door. At first no one seemed to be home and Rebekah checked her phone. It read 10:02 P. M.

Sighing, Rebekah decided it was too late to be here and turned on her heel to leave. Then a click came from behind her. "Rebekah?" Enzo's voice startled her.

Turning back around, Rebekah offered Enzo a tight smile. "Hi. You're here late," he called, folding his arms over his chest. He offered her a smirk and she remembered how he'd behaved the first time they were in court together and did not feel entirely comfortable.

"Yes. I am." Rebekah shouldered her purse. "And I realized my mistake. Perhaps I should come back…say tomorrow morning."

"No. No. You should come in. Monique is at her most ferocious in the morning." Enzo shook his head, a genuine smile on his face. "Teenagers."

"Quite." Rebekah peered into the darkness of the hallway and forced herself to be a bloody fool and to go inside. Her mother taught her better than this. This is how people died. Go into a stranger's home and never be seen or heard from again.

The door closed behind them and Rebekah forced herself not to jump or to scream in terror. Then a shadow parted from a wall and Rebekah did shriek, her hand over her heart.

"Someone's jumpy," Monique quipped, limping over to a couch and sitting down, propping her leg up on a footstool. "Hello, Lawyer Lady. Planning on getting my dad sent back to jail?" She inquired, a nasty smile on her face.

"Monique, I am sorry about your mother—" Rebekah began when Monique held up a hand.

Monique chuckled. "That woman is not my mother. She's my aunt. And she's as dead to me as my mom is…" She glared into a glass tumbler before she picked it up and took a long gulp.

"Are you supposed to be drinking? With the painkillers?" Rebekah stopped herself from adding the part about Monique being a minor.

Enzo came further into the room and snatched the glass from Monique. "Monique. I said no alcohol until you're better." He waggled a finger at his daughter but looked more amused than anything. Then he turned to Rebekah. "Can I fix you a drink? Coffee? Smoothie. It is a bit late for caffeine."

"God, your parental instincts are killing my buzz," Monique complained, running her hands over her face. "Can't we just be, like strangers, and work up to this daddy-daughter crap?" she groaned, letting her arm hang off the side of the couch, her head lulling there, too.

"I think it's past someone's bed time," Enzo said.

"Ugh," Monique moaned, shaking her head, her face pressed into the leather.

"Can I use your bathroom?" Rebekah asked them.

"Sure. Just down the hall and to your left," Enzo replied. He was trying to get Monique off the couch but she kept shifting away from him. "Not going to make this easy on me, are you?" he grunted.

Rebekah went down the hall and opened the bathroom door. Inside, she closed and locked the door. Her eyes went to the mirror. She looked exhausted. As she looked over the damage, her phone began to ring. "Great," she muttered.

Answering the phone, Rebekah's eyes widened. "I'll accept the call," she said, feeling ice in her veins.

"Rebekah!" Jane Anne's panicked voice in her ear made Rebekah feel shaky. "I made a mistake! You have to find Monique and get her away from him! It's dangerous! She'll die! Promise me! You owe me this!"

"Time's up!" a new voice said.

"No! Please! My daughter…going to kill her…I need…warn…wait." Then a click sounded in Rebekah's ear and she felt her throat close off. Oh, God!

Should she call the police? What should she do? Rebekah felt panic beginning to build inside her. A knock on the bathroom door made Rebekah whirl around to face the piece of wood. "Rebekah?"

"Yes!" Rebekah called back, closing her eyes.

"Monique is going to go to bed, but she did want to apologize. She's struggling with everything that's happened lately." Enzo's words made Rebekah clutch her phone tighter. "Unless you need to leave."

"Oh, no. Just give me a moment I'll be right out," Rebekah called back with a light laugh. She hoped she did not sound hysterical. She felt somewhat hysterical. Enzo had been guilty all along. What a fool she had been and now she was trapped in here, with him, and Monique was in danger. How on earth did they escape this madhouse?

When Enzo's footsteps moved away from the door, Rebekah clasped the knob and slid the bathroom door open, slowly. She entered the bedroom and looked for something, anything she could use as a weapon. A lamp did Sophie little good.

Shaking her head, Rebekah dug through her own purse and removed a metal nail file and slid it up her sleeve. With a deep intake of breath, she went back down the hall and almost screamed when she found Enzo right around the corner.

"Are you alright? You seem jumpy," Enzo said, sitting down beside Monique.

"I'm just awfully tired. As Monique is, I'm sure. Perhaps I could help her upstairs?" Rebekah said.

Monique looked at Rebekah through hooded eyelids. "You've done enough. Thanks."

Repressing a snappy reply, Rebekah's eyes turned to the ceiling when she heard a noise. "What was that?" She hoped it was a burglar who would attack Enzo and give Rebekah and Monique time to escape.

Enzo frowned and looked upward, too. "Don't know. I'm going to go check." He placed a hand on Monique's shoulder. "Don't go anywhere."

"Wouldn't think of it," Monique retorted, propping her head on her hand and closing her eyes.

Once Enzo had gone up to the top step, Rebekah hurried over to Monique's side. "Monique, I know you and I are not going to get on, but you need to trust me now. We need to leave! Please!"

Monique shook her head as Rebekah took hold of her hand. "No," she moaned.

"Your…Jane Anne called me. She called to warn me that you were in danger! We have to leave!" Taking hold of Monique's arms, Rebekah tugged the girl to her feet and began to haul her toward the front door.

"Leave me alone!" Monique cried out, stepping on Rebekah's foot and falling on the floor. "Just get out!"

"I'm sorry but no one is going anywhere." A voice came from the stairs.

A woman who Rebekah had never seen before came down the stairs, patting her leg with her gun. "Well, you're going to the morgue. That's later." She aimed the gun at Monique. "And thanks for coming by. I needed a car to make it look like a robbery gone wrong. Or a murder-suicide. Still can't make up my mind."

"Who the hell are you?" Rebekah demanded.

"Me?" the girl grinned. "The last of the St. Johns, of course. Or I would be if Enzo had gone to jail and stayed there like a good boy. And if Monique had met with a tragic accident." She patted the gun over her heart and made a mock sad face. "Boo-hoo."

"I don't want to be a St. John!" Monique spat out.

"Tough luck, kid. I didn't want to be a born a psychopath with 'control issues.'" The girl shook her dark head and chuckled. "Nope. Don't care. Okay. Time to say good night."

"Good night," Enzo's said and then a lamp came down on the girl's head.

The gun went off and Rebekah felt blood beginning to drip from her right ear. "Oh…" she raised her hand to find she'd been grazed.

Monique's head came up from where she'd ducked down and now she scrambled toward the gun that had gone flying.

The girl had fallen down the stairs and let out a groan. She spotted Monique and made for the gun, too.

Enzo was coming down the stairs, a nasty welt on his forehead; his eyes were on the weapon.

And Rebekah wished she were closer to the weapon but heard a pounding at the door.

"Police, open up!" Turning around, Rebekah ran toward the door and came face-to-face with Will Kinney.

"Put it down!" Will shouted.

Rebekah wished she did not look back when she saw the crazed girl holding Monique, the gun pointed at the girl's head. Enzo was begging the girl to stop. Will was shouting threats and then the sound of a shot echoed through the room.

Silence.

~0~

The next day, Rebekah did not get up early. She laid on her back and stared at the ceiling. Marcel laid beside her. They had not felt much like celebrating last night.

"Are you okay?" Marcel asked her.

"No." Rebekah shook her head and buried it in his shoulder, crying.

After a long time, Rebekah got up and decided to shower and dress. "You're going to work? Today?" Marcel asked her.

"Yes. I need to feel normal," Rebekah said, buttoning her shirt. She smoothed her hair and looked in the mirror. "I'll be home soon."

"Home?" Marcel replied with a smile.

There was a pause and Rebekah nodded. "Home."

"Alright," Marcel crossed the floor and kissed Rebekah on the lips. "I will see you, at home."

"Have a good day." Rebekah smiled and left the apartment, ready to face the day.

~0~

"Bekah, your dad wants to see you," Hayley said, her expression serious.

"For what?" Rebekah retorted, looking over a new case file.

"Beats me," Hayley shrugged and stuffed a part of a bagel into her mouth.

Sighing, Rebekah forced herself to her feet. She went to the elevators and stepped inside. "Bekah."

"Damon." Rebekah nodded at Damon.

"Heard about last night on the news. You okay?" Damon inquired.

Rebekah shook her head. "Best not to talk about it, yet."

"Sure." Damon nodded. "If you need anything, feel free to drop by my place."

"I'll keep that in mind." Rebekah exited the elevator and then went to her father's office. The assistant was not there. The door was open. There were files in boxes. "Father?"

"Rebekah. Please, come in and close the door," Mikael said, closing his closet door and moving to take a seat behind his desk. He looked happy which scared her a little.

Pausing in the doorway, Rebekah decided to close the door and to take a seat. If this took a wrong turn, she would simply use last night's event as an excuse to leave.

Mikael steepled his fingers and peered at Rebekah. "It seems that you had a trying night but survived." Then he smiled and Rebekah nodded. Before she could say anything, her father continued, his eyes sweeping his desk. "I bought this desk when I opened this firm and have not parted with it since. Do you like it?"

Rebekah examined it. "Yes, Father."

With a swift nod, Mikael stood up. "Why don't you try seeing what it looks like from this side?" He waved for Rebekah to join him.

Reluctantly, Rebekah stood up and walked around the desk. She watched her father wave for her to take a seat at his desk. She sat down and placed her hands on top of the wood. Her eyes went to the door and inhaled deeply. For a moment, she could see what her world could be. She wanted this. She'd wanted this for a long time.

"Say the word, Rebekah, and this office is yours," Mikael whispered in her ear, patting her shoulders. "This is your destiny. You are my legacy. You've proven yourself this year. This is why I was always harder on you than your brothers."

Shaking her head, Rebekah turned to face her father. "Father, I love you," Rebekah said. Mikael took a seat on top of the desk and smiled. Holding up a hand, before he could speak, she added. "But I realized that there is more I want from my life. And I believe that I have proven myself enough. It is time that I live my life while I can. You never know when you will not have another chance."

Standing up, Rebekah kissed her father's cheek and patted his shoulder. The shocked look on his face made her smile. "I will be stopping by for Friday night dinner with my boyfriend, Marcel."

Walking back out of the office, Rebekah decided to make a stop that evening before dinner with said boyfriend.

~0~

"Hi!" Rebekah called, entering the hospital room. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Enzo said, pushing himself up. "Drugs help. A baseball bat to the head hurts a bit."

"You would think so," Rebekah replied with a chuckle. "So you are a good guy?"

"Not really. But I'm not a villain. This year." Enzo let out another chuckle and then a cough.

Monique came out of the bathroom. "Enzo," she groaned. "I leave you for a one minute and you're trying to die, again!"

"I only got shot a little," Enzo said.

A knock on the door made Rebekah's head turn. "There's the hero of the day," Will cried, entering the room with a grin. Jane Anne came in behind Will. "Honey!" she cried.

"Mom!" Monique got up and ran to her aunt. "You're out!"

"I'm out! I only confessed to keep you safe. I'm so sorry. I made such a mistake lying to you," Jane Anne said, crying. "I'm so sorry, baby."

"It's okay, mom," Monique cried, hugging her mom tightly.

Rebekah crossed her arms. "Is someone going to tell me what really happened?"

"I grew close to Jane Anne to find out what she knew and you nearly blew my cover," Will exclaimed, giving Rebekah a long look. "Jane Anne was trying to protect Monique after she found out who Enzo was and what happened to Sophie. It would have helped if she just told me."

"I thought you were trying to use me to throw Monique in jail!" Jane Anne cried.

"And I argued with Sophie Anne the night of her murder because I saw a pic of Monique and became suspicious," Enzo told them.

"That's what my call was about!" Monique cried. "I wanted to meet you!"

"Really?" Enzo looked pleased.

"That would explain why it looked like one of you did it," Rebekah sighed. "But why would your cousin kill Sophie?"

"Because Sophie found out that Monique would inherit the estate," Enzo said. "And she's quite insane, as you saw. We tried to keep her safe, from herself and others…"

Another knock on the door made Rebekah's head go up. "Oh, excuse me." Rebekah looked to Marcel. "I'll be there soon."

Marcel nodded. "Okay."

"Marcel?" Enzo called out.

"Yeah?" Marcel looked confused. "Hi…"

Enzo let out a chuckle. "Didn't think I'd see you again, mate."

"We know each other?" Marcel replied.

"Of course. Met you about…what was it…ten years ago… Never forget that night. I got into a row with a group of idiots and you had come after being drugged by some crazy chick who spiked your drink and took your wallet." Enzo laughed. "How are you?"

"Crazy chick?" Marcel looked confused and then he looked at Rebekah. "Ava." They said at the same time.

"Right," Enzo nodded. "And you're with the lovely Miss Mikaelson. Such a shame. For me, not you."

"Guilty as charged," Marcel said.

Rebekah grinned as her phone went off. There was a text from Kol. Call me boss, it read. It could be worse. Maybe. Possibly.

Three year later:

"Mom!" Rebekah called, entering the house with a key and carrying groceries toward the kitchen. "Mother?"

Esther stood in the kitchen looking slightly confused. "Hi, Mom," Rebekah called.

"Bekah, your father wants a cake and I don't seem to have any flour," Esther said, looking into the cabinet.

"Never fear. I brought a cake." Rebekah said, kissing her mother's cheek.

Esther's eyes rounded. "Bekah, you're pregnant."

"Yes. It seems I am," Rebekah placed a hand on her middle.

"Rebekah, baby, you in here?" Marcel called. "They're getting anxious in the other room."

"Okay. We're coming," Rebekah took her mother's hand and led her into the living room.

"What's going on?" Esther asked.

"Kol's talking about the firm," Elijah said, bouncing his little boy on his knee while Hayley sipped a cup of coffee.

"Oh?" Esther looked at the TV. "Why?"

Rebekah placed an arm around her mother's shoulders as Kol talked about the latest case to take the state by storm. Corruption was his main objective for the year. Funny.

Klaus stood to Kol's right. Davina stood to his left. She'd taken on a role as a P. I. with Hayley. Monique stood behind them. She was working on a degree in law and interning at the firm.

Mikael sat beside his wife, holding her hand. He did look a little wistful but he also looked happy to be with her mother.

Finn sat with Sage and shook his head. "Kol, taking on corruption. Ironic, isn't it?"

Rebekah looked at Marcel and grinned. Life felt rather ironic. Her wedding ring clinked with his when they reached for each other's hands. Ironic, but blissful all at the same. Oh, and look, another text about her new case…not again, bloody hell…

The End

Thank you for reading, faving, following and reviewing.

Peace,

-J