darkest timeline } { of confessions and new plans

[hereditare]

Laura: [Derek goes off to find Elena, Cora and Stiles go out to pick up dinner, which is probably code for eat at the diner and bring Laura food back after, but that means she has a good hour to herself, so she picks up her phone, retreats to the window seat of her room and dials Espo's number]

Esposito: [and he's at home watching sports and drinking beer when the phone rings. He looks over at it and smiles before answering] Hola senorita.

Laura: Hey, you. How's New York faring?

Esposito: It's a dark and lonely place without you in it.

Laura: I miss you too. [all of this has been more isolating than she thought it'd be, even if this is her home]

Esposito: Any ETA on when you're coming home?

Laura: Still figuring that out. [though considering New York home is a nice thought] We've got estate stuff to settle, and ... I'm trying to think through some things.

Esposito: Like what?

Laura: Like ... if I really want to be an alpha, if this is the way I have to do it.

Esposito: Best thing about free will, baby... you get to choose your own path now.

Laura: I know. [she tips her head back as she looks out the window] But if I don't, part of me feels like I'm taking the easy way out.

Esposito: How is it the easy way?

Laura: Because it's my mother, my family, my birthright. I should want to fight for it.

Esposito: Alright. Tell me this though: what does an alpha actually do?

Laura: They lead. Protect the pack, keep everyone safe and together. Protects their territory from supernaturals that would prey on it.

Esposito: Ok. But can you do all this without your mother's power?

Laura: Without mom's power ... it's not our territory anymore. I mean, Satomi will probably take it on. She and Mom were good friends, but there's a certain weight that comes with an alpha. A real presence. No one else will respect it if we're just a bunch of betas.

Esposito: Uh huh. Which means that if you try and do it without the power, it is NOT the easy way out. You gotta do the work to earn the same respect that just comes with the power.

Laura: That's not how it works. Another alpha will take us in and it will become their problem.

Esposito: Sure, but that's not something you can control. If they take you in, then they know what they're walking into. But that doesn't mean you can't still be the leader of your own family.

Laura: It still feels like I'm letting her down.

Esposito: You really think your mom would be pissed at you for all this?

Laura: I don't know. [she runs a hand through her hair] I still don't understand any of the decisions she made, with Derek, with me, with Cora. Sometimes it feels like everything I thought she was didn't exist.

Esposito: You know what she sounds like to me, bonita?

Laura: What?

Esposito: Human.

Laura: [she laughs] Yeah, I guess. [she sighs] I'm worried Peter's going to be disappointed in me.

Esposito: Even if he is, doesn't mean he won't get over it.

Laura: Yeah, I know. [she sighs] I'll talk to him later.

Esposito: I think he might surprise you.

Laura: Maybe. I'm just worried about him in general.

Esposito: Want me to have a talk with him?

Laura: No. No, I'll talk to him first.

Esposito: Good. So, you at least doing alright, being back home?

Laura: Yeah. Still feels like home. I'd probably feel better about it if there wasn't an endless parade of people coming to tell me how great my mom was.

Esposito: Are they at least feeding you? I mean, you need to be getting an endless parade of casseroles and empanadas.

Laura: Sometimes, yes, there is food. Not empanadas though. Maybe you could make those for me when I get back?

Esposito: I think I can make that happen.

Laura: Good. I'm looking forward to it.

Esposito: You want me to make them extra spicy? [he's teasing her now]

Laura: [she laughs] Is that a challenge? Because I can handle a little spice.

Esposito: Mmm, I know you can, but not sure if you can handle my spicy

Laura: So it is a challenge. One that I just may have to accept.

Esposito: First friday night you're back.

Laura: I'll be there.

Esposito: Good. Maybe I'll even dress up for the moment.

Laura: Oooh. Fancy dress or costume dress?

Esposito: ... Costume.

Laura: Do I get a clue so that I match?

Esposito: I'll send you a text with more information

Laura: Looking forward to it.

Esposito: So, you need me to distract you from everything happening there?

Laura: I never say no to a good distraction.

Esposito: [and he'll go on to tell her about the crazy case of the week they were working on]

Laura: [and she will listen and provide color commentary as needed]

Esposito: [and he'll eventually get to some more adult teasing type conversations]

Laura: [she enjoys those too, giving her own share of teasing right back]

Esposito: [and then he will get the inevitable text from work] I swear, criminals have the worst timing.

Laura: I'll be back soon. I'll make it up to you.

Esposito: I'll hold you to that.

Laura: Be careful.

Esposito: Always. See you soon.

Laura: [she says her goodbyes and hangs up, hanging out on the window seat and watching until she sees Peter's car pull up in front of the house]

Peter: [and he's returning from dealing with estate matters, rubbing at his eyes. He needs coffee or a nap. probably both]

Laura: [makes her way downstairs, and when she sees him, she hesitates] You look tired. What me to fix you something?

Peter: [he looks up at her and gives a small nod] Coffee would be great. Let me just change into something else. [he's already undoing his tie and shrugging out of the jacket]

Laura: One coffee coming up. [and she'll even heat up some food, because if he's not hungry, she is. But it'll be waiting for him when he comes back down]

Peter: [which he will, dressed in old, comfy sweats. He goes right for the coffee] Thank you.

Laura: No problem. How did the estate stuff go?

Peter: There's a couple of things we need to decide about the house and land, but that can wait. The finances are in order, and I've paid the taxes on the land for the next year so that we don't have to make a choice on the property right away.

Laura: [nods, because she doesn't want to give up the house, but that's going to depend on how this conversation goes] That's good.

Peter: How'd your day with your siblings go?

Laura: It was good. We talked about a lot. [she curls her fingers around her coffee cup with a sigh] One of which, I have to talk to you about.

Peter: [and up one eyebrow goes] Oh? [sips his coffee]

Laura: [deep breath. here we go] I don't think I can do it.

Peter: Do what?

Laura: Kill the person who killed Mom.

Peter: [he doesn't say anything at first, just slowly puts his coffee down. It's almost as if he was expecting this] Tell me. [wanting her to explain]

Laura: [deep breath] I don't want to be an alpha this way. It was one thing when it was Mom dying of old age one day and I would be taking over but ... actually having to take the step to kill someone? Hunting them down and ending them? That's not me, Peter. I want us to catch him, I want him to pay for what he's done, but I can't kill him.

Peter: [he listens. There's a part of him angry, wanting the satisfaction of ripping the head off the man who killed his sister and putting it on a pike to warn the world that the Hales are strong. But he helped raise these kids with his sister, and he has his own kid. He'd never wish that on them.] And what of the pack? [he's keeping in tone even, not giving away where his head's at just yet. He wants to see how far she had gotten in her thinking]

Laura: Derek and Cora don't want to do it either. I don't want to speak to their reasons, but Cora's pointed out that we have a lot of strong alpha allies, so if none of us want it, then we have options. We could talk to Victor, or talk to Satomi. [she tips her head to the side] But if you want this, Peter - I won't stop you. And I'll back you if you want to be the alpha.

Peter: [nods slowly] As much as I wanted to as a teenager, I've seen what happens to alphas who have anger management issues. I'd never do that to any of you, or Malia.

Laura: It's your choice. [she reaches over and gives his shoulder a squeeze] We can talk to Satomi while we're here. She's already been watching our territory when Mom's out of town. It would make the most sense.

Peter: My home's in New York now. Not here. [he looks around the building] So unless you, Derek, or Cora want to come back here, it might be best to give the territory to her.

Laura: I'd like to keep the house. Just in case. Doesn't feel right selling it to someone else yet.

Peter: Okay. [and he nods, reaching for his mug] Are you confident that this is the right choice?

Laura: [she shrugs as she runs her finger along the top of her mug] I don't know. But putting it into actual words it ... it feels right.

Peter: [he reaches over to put his hand on top of hers] Your mother wanted nothing more for you three than to follow your hearts on your own path. Yes, the power comes with responsibilities, but she wanted you to be Laura first. If she cared about the power more, she'd have never let you leave Beacon Hills and trained you for all those years you were at school. She and I never got that chance, but you three have it, and she would want you to take it. So be Laura, not the alpha, but the person.

Laura: [deep breath and she turns her hand over to squeeze his] And I think she'd have more faith in you than you think. But I meant what I said, Peter. Whoever killed Mom, we'll find him and we'll make sure he pays for it.

Peter: Good. [he squeezes it, then takes his hand back to grab his coffee. He sips, then chuckles] So which of your siblings felt I was going to have a tantrum?

Laura: Honestly? I was more worried about it than either of them.

Peter: [laughs] I'm still working on my temper, and I'll do my best not to let it take over when we find this guy. But when you get a little old... when you have kids of your own... you'll realize that all the power in the world is worthless compared to the power of making your child proud of you.

Laura: [smiles softly] It's not your temper I'm worried about. I was worried about you being disappointed. [she turns and presses a kiss to his temple] This guy isn't going to pull his punches though. So if it's him or you, don't let it be you.

Peter: I could never be disappointed in someone who's thought through their reasoning. And honestly, I hated the idea of you having to kill someone to get it back.

Laura: We'll figure it out, Peter. And we'll do it together.