thepicketfencecliche | darkest timeline } { of grief and trust

Corrine: [she arrives late one of the first nights the Hales are back in Beacon Hills. Satomi had been there earlier in the day, not that she knows that, and she's mostly just trying to sneak up the front stairs without disturbing the family too much. She pulls to a stop, before sending a text in to Peter] I'm here. Everyone asleep? [if he's asleep, she'll take that as a sign to find a hotel for the night and come back tomorrow morning]

Peter: [he's not going to sleep anytime soon. Someone needs to stay with his sister while the children sleep, and as her second, that's his job. So he's standing in the kitchen, sipping from a cup of coffee when he feels his phone vibrate. He smiles a bit and texts her back] Yes. Come to the kitchen door.

Corrine: [which she will do. She pushes open the car door, grabbing her bag and making her way to the kitchen door to let herself in] Hey.

Peter: Hey. There's coffee if you'd like some.

Corrine: Always. [she leaves her bag by the door for now, and goes to find herself a mug] How're you doing?

Peter: [leaning against the counter near her] As best as I can. I'm trying to stay strong for the kids so they can experience their grief and find their path to moving on.

Corrine: What about yours?

Peter: I've been waiting for this to happen for awhile now. It hurts, but I know it'll pass and I'll be left with the good memories. [he snorts as he sips his drink] I've already lost a lot of people in my life. It ends up not affecting me as much anymore.

Corrine: [her head tips to the side as she looks at him] That's not what some would consider a good thing, Peter. And it's more than just a person you lost, it's your sister. I know how much you loved her. [She makes her way closer, resting her hand on his arm] You deserve some time to grieve too.

Peter: [he looks over at Corrine] If I let myself cry right now, I'll never stop. I will, but we have more problems that need to be dealt with. I can grieve after.

Corrine: So long as you do. [she won't push him, but she also doesn't trust him to take care of himself emotionally]

Peter: [she shouldn't trust him] I will. How was your trip out this way?

Corrine: Nothing too exciting. Lots of people have been reaching out to me, asking questions about what happened to Talia.

Peter: Well, the only thing we know that's changed since we talked last is that there was another alpha at the scene of the murder.

Corrine: ... Really.

Peter: [nods] We haven't told anyone though except Satomi and Victor, and only after we made sure it wasn't them.

Corrine: [shifts and leans back against the counter] That's ... weird.

Peter: I know. I'm not sure what to make of it.

Corrine: Do you think it was the Alpha pack?

Peter: No, because if it was, one of us would be the beta that killed her, and then the rest of us would be dead as well. That's how they play their game.

Corrine: So Deucalion wouldn't want the Hale alpha unless he was getting an actual Hale alpha.

Peter: Right. But the only one he would have had time to corrupt would have been Derek, and that wasn't going to happen.

Corrine: So we need an alpha that would have had a reason to turn a beta they had investment in into another alpha. That's ... a rare situation.

Peter: And one who would be willing to put themselves in the crosshairs of a lot of alphas who loved and respected her.

Corrine: Only if he gets caught. The longer we wait after Talia's death, the harder it's going to be to tell whether or not it's her power without some kind of proof. Never mind proving that the alpha involved actually was complicit.

Peter: We have a plan for that. [and he explains the plan about having a magic user compare their aura to that of the one at the crime scene, and how it'll narrow the field down to those who don't come to pay respects.]

Corrine: [nods slowly] That's a start, at least. Still going to have an uphill battle to prove that the alpha was actually involved.

Peter: We'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Corrine: [nods] Well, I'm here until the end of the week. I was planning on heading back to the city, so I can take Malia for a bit if you need the space.

Peter: It might be good for her to spend time with you. She'll have to negotiate with Stiles and Cora to bring the mice.

Corrine: ... Mice?

Peter: Those Aeslin mice I mentioned before. They belong to Stiles.

Corrine: Right. [makes a face] Well, keep me in the loop. I'm here for whatever you need.

Peter: [he'll reach his hand out to brush along her arm, gratefulness in his eyes] Thank you.

Corrine: Of course. Even if we're not together, you're still part of my life, Peter. I've got your back.

Peter: Yeah. And if we weren't so supremely stubborn, maybe we'd still be together.

Corrine: [she laughs] I think it was a little more than just us being supremely stubborn. [her nature meant that she was never going to be the mother that Malia needed. but she's doing her best and so is he] But I'm sure there's someone out there who will be a much better fit.

Peter: So I've been told.

Corrine: [rubs his shoulder gently before reaching for her coffee] Where do you want me?

Peter: There's a pull-out bed under Malia's. You can surprise her.

Corrine: Sounds good. [and she'll go to grab her bag again] Get some sleep, Peter.

Peter: I will when one of the kids wake up to take my place.

Corrine: Okay. [and with that, she will head upstairs to get some rest]

Peter: [and he will refill his coffee and head back to the parlor and relax back in his father's old armchair] Don't worry, sis. I'll make sure the kids remember how much you loved them.

Freya: [Talia will appreciate that Peter. and eventually one of the kids will come down to relieve him, and the parade of alphas will begin, dignitaries for all kinds of packs cycle through, some more notable than others, but a couple days in three Mikaelsons make their way up onto the front porch, joining the line of folks paying their respects]

Peter: [and since he was told to get out of the house for an hour, he took Malia to the diner for breakfast. Pancakes and hot chocolate for the impromptu daddy daughter date. As they walk back, Peter sees the Mikaelsons and heads over to say hello]

Freya: [turns as she sees him, offering a small smile] Peter. [Elijah on her left and Klaus on her right as her lieutenants, she's here in her official capacity as the head of the Mikaelson family, because she doesn't know how else to be for him right now. Every other instinct is couched in the Peter she knew] I know we already told Cora, but if there's anything you need, we're here.

Peter: We really appreciate it. Cora will be excited to see you all here too. Please feel free to take her out tonight and get her mind off all this for awhile.

Freya: We'll do what we can, I'm sure. Has there been any news?

Peter: None as of yet. But that's not rare for supernatural murders. The local police can only investigate by human standards.

Elijah: [glances over as the line begins to move] Why don't Niklaus and I take Malia inside? See if we can find Cora. [give the grown ups a chance to talk]

Peter: [looks down at Malia] Think you can help them find Cora?

Malia: [nods] I got it. [and she'll lead the two of them inside, leaving Freya and Peter alone on the porch]

Freya: [watches them go, before turning back to him, trying to relax some of her instincts and be less political] How have you been holding up?

Peter: [and he will guide her away from the line and around the side of the house, still on the wrap around porch] I've been doing okay. I've been guilt tripped multiple times that I need to take time to grieve.

Freya: Well, presumably that would be the healthy thing to do, but it would be rather hypocritical of me if I sided with them. I've always favored vengeance over grief.

Peter: It's not really that either. I mean, it partially is. But I don't feel I can grieve until the murder is solved. And the kids need someone to be strong right now.

Freya: [she nods] I didn't actually mourn my parents, so I can't say I've been in their shoes. But I do know what it's like to lose a sibling. I am sorry you lost yours this way.

Peter: [nods] Thanks. [takes a deep breath] I know the kids describe it like losing a limb, which is accurate. It's just, I've lost an alpha before... our mother. I felt it then too, but not nearly as bad as this time. I think... I dunno.

Freya: Were you and your mother close?

Peter: No. I was a disappointment. Tali was the perfect one, and I was the one who they couldn't control.

Freya: Sounds familiar. [both Esther and Dahlia struggled with keeping Freya from "running wild" in their opinion] But it also sounds like with Talia you had more to lose.

Peter: We were everything to each other as kids. At least until she got to high school and discovered boys. [chuckles]

Freya: [she smirks in return, moving to stand next to him rather than across from him] That must have been disappointing.

Peter: Yeah. I got angry when she was gone and I had no one to play with, and had to deal with all the focus of my parents

Freya: And that's never a good thing for anyone.

Peter: Nope. [he looks over at the line] You know I haven't met about half of the people that have come to pay their respects.

Freya: These formalities always end in a lot of useless platitudes. I've even given some of them myself. Cost of being the head of the Mikaelson family in a political world. [she glances back at him] But this is different, even though I never really met her. For you, I'd probably do anything you asked of me. [which is an emotional comment that breaks this veneer of professionalism between them, but it's true]

Peter: You should be careful of that kind of offer.

Freya: Maybe. But you're the only one I'd make it to. [which, in her own way, is her asking him not to take advantage of her]

Peter: Well, I will do my best not to abuse that trust.

Freya: Thank you. [but she does trust him, even if it's a different version of him]

Peter: So, I've been meaning to ask. Theoretically, you wouldn't by chance have a spell where you can trace the location of a specific werewolf's alpha power after it's taken from them?

Freya: It would be delicate, but it takes time for an alpha's power to acclimate to a new host. I would need something of your sister's.

Peter: You've got an entire house of hers. I'm sure we can find something. [smirks]

Freya: [she nods] The more personal the better. [another pause] ... Or you could lend me Derek.

Peter: He'll do it. He wants to find the killer just as much as the rest.

Freya: It might be better to do it here. The nematon could help boost the spell.

Peter: How long are you all staying then?

Freya: A few days. We have rooms at the hotel in town.

Peter: Good. I'll talk with him. He'll probably bring Stiles with him, knowing them.

Freya: Fine. They have my number, so they know how to reach me. But the sooner the better. The longer we wait, the more the power will become inherent to the alpha wielding it.

Peter: I'll let them know.

Freya: Good. [a beat] We should probably go and make sure my brother isn't turning your daughter into a new age hippie.

Peter: [chuckles] Yes, let's go do that.

Freya: [she smiles and off they go to where Elijah is definitely teaching Malia how to align her chakras]

Peter: [and he will just sigh and shake his head]

Freya: [amused] Every girl has a new age phase. She's getting it out of the way early.

Peter: [sideeye. You're not helping]

Freya: [still amused, not even going to bother to pretend she's innocent. this is what being friends with Freya is like, Peter. but she will intercede on his behalf, making her way over to her brother and resting her hand on his shoulder] Can I borrow you? I need your help working through a spell.

Elijah: [looks up, then looks over at Peter and smirks] Of course. It'd be my pleasure. [to Malia] Just keep taking those deep cleansing breaths. You'll start to feel it.

Malia: [opens one eye and quirks an eyebrow at him] I'm really not feeling it.