Hey everyone! So it's been a while, I know. I started college and time just sort of got away from me and this story was pushed to the back burner. I can't promise regular updates, but I do hope that I can slowly start working on this story again. I decided to give you all more of a filler chapter while I worked on reevaluating the direction I'm taking this story, so hopefully, you enjoy this brief update and I will try to get back into the storyline very soon! And once again, thank you so much for your patience, especially to those of you who have waited for over a year and sent me encouraging messages about how much you enjoy this story. It means a lot and helped to keep me motivated, even if I wasn't actively writing!

When I woke up in the morning, Nik was gone. In his place was a note, informing me he had gone to collect Hayley and bring her here now that she and Elijah were back from the bayou. He also informed me that there would be a banquet tonight with Marcel and some of the former king's inner circle of vampires to test how they were reacting to the newer hierarchy. I sighed before pulling myself out of bed and rummaging through the closet that was filled with my clothing. My collection had left only a small space for Nik's own belongings, much to my delight.

I pulled on a semi-casual outfit, slipping my heels onto my feet before heading downstairs. Marcel didn't keep any compelled humans around like Nik tended to, so I had to drink a blood bag from the fridge instead of drinking directly from the vein. Blood bags aren't quite as delicious, but they are enough to keep the cravings down, and that's all that really matters in the end.

I could sense the gaze of one of Marcel's vampire lackey's boring a hole into the side of my head as I hopped up onto the kitchen counter, long legs swinging alternatingly. Using my teeth, I ripped the stopper off the tube connecting to the bag, spitting it into the sink next to me before sipping at the tube like a straw. The vampire looked at me disapprovingly. He obviously wasn't a fan of his new rulers. I vaguely recognized him as part of Marcel's inner circle. He'd slashed at Nik yesterday with a knife and was just about to die under my husband's teeth when Marcel picked up that coin, saving his life.

"What?" I said, tauntingly.

"Nothing," he said, his tone the epitome of nonchalance.

I scoffed at his lie before quirking an eyebrow. "What's your name?" I asked, taking another sip of the blood.

"Diego," he said shortly, his tone showing how much he despised me.

"Well, Diego, seeing as this is my home now and I'm technically your queen, I'd like a tour of my new house."

"Please, allow me to escort you," a silky voice cut in before Diego could respond. I turned to face the newcomer, hearing Diego sneak away while my back was turned. I ignored his rude behavior and turned my attention back to the man in front of me.

"Marcel, fancy seeing you here. If I recall correctly, the last we spoke was when you were kidnapping me. Good times."

"Allow me to apologize then," he said smoothly. "You have to understand that what I did was done for love. Klaus wouldn't let Rebekah and I be together, and I'm sure if someone tried to separate you from your husband, you'd do the same."

Hopping off of the counter, I scrunched up the empty blood bag and tossed it at the trash can, enjoying his wince of irritation as it landed on the floor instead. "Do I actually love Nik though? I certainly love to torment him, but currently, I feel very little love for my husband."

"Fickle thing, isn't she?" A smooth voice said behind me as a familiar pair of arms slid around my waist.

"Niklaus, if you want your wrist to remain aligned with the rest of your body, I suggest you get your arms off of me right now." A soft sigh echoed in my ear, and the arm reluctantly withdrew. "Now, Niklaus, I'm sure you have too many kingly things to worry about right now, so how about you scurry off and hop to it, hmm? I, for one, am looking forward to my tour with your dear Marcellus here." I tossed a quick glance over my shoulder at my husband, smirking at his broody glaring. "Oh, don't frown so much, Nikky," I cooed, pinching his cheek rather harshly. "You don't want to get wrinkles before your eleven hundredth birthday, now do you?"

He rolled his eyes in irritation and with a cheerful smile and a sharp series of pats to the side of Nik's face, I turned back to Marcel, mirth glimmering in my eyes as I sauntered over to him and slipped my arm into the crook of his elbow.

"Now come along, Marcel," I ordered. "Niklaus allowed you to keep your life for some silly reason, so you'd best show me that you're worth it. I'm expecting a damn good tour"

The man next to me sighed irritably and without another word escorted me out of the kitchen.

We strolled through the house, Marcel pointing out different rooms and explaining their normal functions as he went, as well as including some history or snippets of tales he remembered from growing up in this house.

While poking around through an old storage room (much to Marcel's irritation as he seemed to want to hurry through this tour as quickly as possible), I stumbled upon a pile of framed canvases laying in a back corner beneath an old, moth-bitten sheet. Intrigued, I had lifted the edge, nearly dropping it in surprise as my eyes landed on the portrait of myself staring back at me.

"You know, I don't ever recall posing for this," I said wryly, casting a quick glance over my shoulder at Marcel before turning back to the paintings, looking through them slowly as I recognized the familiar faces of Rebekah, Elijah, and Niklaus.

"Klaus used to have all of those hung in the front hall, back when I was still a kid," Marcel said cooly, his arms crossed as he walked forward and stopped next to me. I felt my eyebrows raise in surprise. I could understand the pictures of the two siblings closest to Niklaus, but why a painting of me as well?

"He talked about you a lot, you know," Marcel hummed, an uncharacteristically soft smile crossing his features as he reminisced on the past. "When I was little, he would tell me about the woman who would have been my mother if she'd been here." I felt a pang travel through my chest at his words. "Honestly, it kind of made me miss you, even though I'd never met you. I don't really blame you for leaving him though. He's a dick and he deserves everything you're putting him through."

"That he is," I said with a soft chuckle. Reaching out, I brushed my fingers lightly over the canvas in front of me, holding my likeness in such detail. "Do you know if he painted this?" I asked softly, trying to push down the wave of affection that was rising in me as I recognized the familiar brushstrokes of Niklaus' work, not even needing confirmation from Marcel to know.

"Probably," he admitted. "You know how Klaus is with his artwork." I nodded, my gaze never leaving the painting.

"Could you please have someone hang these back up later this afternoon," I requested softly.

I felt Marcel's gaze on me, the silence sitting heavily in the room before his voice rang out. "Sure, whatever you want, Lisette."

"Thank you," I whispered, feeling very emotionally drained all of a sudden after this shocking discovery. I knew Nik cared still, but to display a painting of me centuries after I had left him was something I had never expected of him. "If you're alright with it, I'd like to finish this tour later. I just remembered a few things I need to finish before this evening," I said, pushing my emotions down as I stood and faced the vampire standing behind me.

We walked down the hall in silence, Marcel escorting me back to the master bedroom upon my request. As I reached out my hand to open the door, Marcel's hand on top of my own stopped me, and I turned to him in confusion at his actions. He released my hand quickly looking down at the ground before raising his gaze to meet mine again, his eyes shining apologetically. "You know, I really am sorry for dragging you into everything yesterday," he said. "It wasn't right for Rebekah and me to drag you into our feud with Klaus. He's hurt us a lot over the years, but I think he's also hurt you pretty badly, and you didn't deserve what we did."

I sighed heavily, turning to face the younger man. "That's the curse of the Mikaelson's, Marcellus, and it's the lifestyle you were raised with, sadly. My family has always put their own individual needs and desires in front of everyone else's life, never caring about the repercussions they brought upon others. I do the same. It's what happens when you let the power get to your head after centuries of being in control." I sighed heavily before locking eyes with the younger vampire in front of me.

"I know this probably doesn't mean much to you, especially now, but I wish that I could have been here for you when you were growing up. I'd heard about Niklaus adopting you through my different sources and it took everything in me to not show up so that I could meet you. Truthfully, I believe that adopting you was one of the best decisions my husband has ever made," I said, my voice trailing into a whisper.

Marcel and I held our gazes for a moment longer, a new understanding seeming to have developed between the two of us before he softly bid me goodbye and disappeared down the hallway.

*Time Skip*

"Lisette, darling, I don't understand why you refuse to attend this dinner. A king needs his queen present when he is dealing with unruly subjects," Nik said, his hands brushing gently over my shoulders as I sat in front of my vanity table putting the finishing touches on my makeup.

I calmly placed my makeup brush down on the table before picking up one of my delicate, diamond earrings. Then without even glancing backwards, I stabbed to sharp end into Niklaus's lingering hands. I smiled sweetly at him in the mirror as he hissed in pain, his angry glare boring into my reflection as our eyes met in the glass.

"What have I told you about touching me, dear?" I asked tauntingly. Nik rolled his eyes, pulling the jewelry from its spot on his hand and tossing it back on the vanity table in irritation. "That's what I thought," I muttered, picking my brush back up to continue.

"Why are you sitting here getting all dolled up if you refuse to come to my dinner party?" Nik huffed, his hands falling to the back of my chair as he leaned against it, trying to meet my eyes once again in the mirror as I steadfastly ignored him.

"Just because I'm not joining you doesn't mean I don't have plans," I said coyly, knowing I was about to rile up my dear Niklaus. "I heard that the New Orleans nightlife is quite enjoyable. Who knows, maybe I'll find myself a gentleman who will help me let loose for the night."

Nik's hands clenched on the back of my chair, the wood groaning beneath his fists as it struggled not to splinter. Half a second later, I felt stubble brush along the side of my neck as Nik's mouth appeared beside my ear, his hot breath causing a tingle to rush down my spine. "Just try and go home with any man that's not me, Love. I doubt you'll like the consequences," he growled. His teeth clamped on my earlobe, pinching teasingly before he vanished, leaving me to gather myself from that encounter. I'll admit, I hadn't expected him to retaliate in quite that fashion and if he continued to do so, I may be in trouble.

Sighing in irritation at the slip in my composure, I finished getting ready, my spirits dampened slightly. Going out for the night seemed a little futile now. I already knew that there was no way I would be going home with any other man tonight. Just one touch from my husband had filled my thoughts with him once again and I knew there was no way anyone else could compare.

Glowering at my reflection as I tried to shove thoughts of Niklaus to the back of my mind, I finally made a decision that I may regret later. Reaching across my vanity, I picked up my phone and clicked on a contact.

"I'm surprised to hear from you so soon. I thought you would still be livid."

"Yeah, well I'm not the happiest with you right now, but I'll maybe consider forgiving you if you're willing to help distract me tonight. I need to get out and not have to think about anything."

"You've come to the right person. I'll text you the address of the club we're going to. I hope you're ready to not remember anything tomorrow."

"That sounds perfect, Rebekah," I said, a sad smile dancing across my lips.