"Too many people know already," Hayley said. "The only way now to protect our secret is to kill the one trying to uncover it."

Cami still had to wonder what this "secret" was, and what the soft looks of concern between Klaus and Hayley really meant, but at the moment the gears in her head whirled loudly; she had an idea. The others saw Finn Mikaelson as some unstoppable monster, but she knew him as Vincent Griffith, her patient yet dedicated adviser - which just might be the key to his demise.

The conversation continued to fade in and out around her. "Unfortunately, if we kill Finn, he'll just jump bodies," Klaus was saying.

Then Elijah spoke, aggrieved. "Niklaus, tell me you did not mean to suggest that our brother is currently in the body of one Vincent Griffith?"

"Problem?"

Cami looked up, yanked from her thoughts. "Definitely," she said. "But I have a plan. A plan to put down Finn."

"Care to share?" asked Hayley.

"Well, it starts with me finishing my thesis."

The room grew silent; skeptical. Klaus was frowning, looking more than slightly annoyed. "I'm going to finish my thesis," she repeated for him.

"No, I heard you the first time, Camille, but would you like to explain how now is the time or place for this announcement? Did I not just reveal that my brother Finn is a hair's breadth from destroying this family from the inside out?"

"You did," she assured him, calmly coming to her feet. "Which I why I changed my mind. I'm not giving up on my thesis. I'll do my project, write the proposal, and invite my adviser to meet. The Mikaelson Papers will be in Vincent's hands by tomorrow."

"You mean Finn's hands," said Hayley. "Finn you fake adviser."

Cami smiled, proud of her plan. "Finn doesn't know what I know. He won't realize it's a trap."

Klaus shared another look with his brothers. "It just might work. Finn's been a slippery fool, but if Cami arranges a meeting with him, for once we'll know exactly where he is."

But Elijah was less optimistic. "Finn is hellbent on our destruction, Niklaus. Why would he turn away from that path for something as pedestrian as a thesis proposal? No offense, of course, Camille."

"None taken, " she said smiling. "I'm just happy to be of some assistance. Truth be told, I can't help but feel responsible for all this. I've kept you distracted this week with my silly sessions, and you, Elijah, I had you running around town like an errand boy. I guess I liked the attention; it was nice to feel...needed."

Klaus set a hand on her arm. "You are needed, Camille. Now more than ever. But if you go through with this tomorrow, you understand, yes? You'll be more than simply a helpful assistant. You'll be an accomplice to murder."

Cami looked around. "Wait - we're killing Finn? What happened to the fear of him body jumping?"

"That's where I'll come in, love," smirked Kol. He had tossed his long limbs onto the sofa with a flourish. "If you get me close enough to the old bore without him knowing, I can spell him good and put a hex on his body that won't let him jump around no more. Then, once we kill him, he'll be one and done and dead."

"It's an inspired plan," said Elijah. "If it works."

"You see, that's my problem with all this too," came Marcel hotly. "You're not just underestimating Finn, but Vincent too. I knew the man in the day; he was a powerful - and I mean powerful - witch. And now with Finn the Esther Fanboy behind the wheel, Finn's not going to hesitate to blow up Jackson Square the second he senses a trap."

"I'm not afraid; are any of you?" asked Cami. She looked around the room, to Kol and Elijah and Klaus. None moved. "Then it's settled."

"Not quite," said Hayley, uncrossing her arms. "What about your little McGuffin?"

"What is she talking about?" Klaus asked. He looked to Cami.

"She means my thesis; the proposal I'm planning to hand over to Finn. Hayley has a right to be worried; you all do. If I hand Finn my thesis, I'm handing over more than just paper," she said. "I'm handing him all of your secrets."

Klaus and Elijah shared a look. Even the youngest Mikaelson looked worried. "You can't go givin' Finn power like that," Kol said. "The only thing I fear more than him is what he'll do what info like that."

Elijah agreed. "And if our mother gains access to the Mikaelson Papers, she'll have all she needs to tear this family apart."

"Not to mention, she'll know the secret our family has been keeping," said Hayley. Again, she was looking at Klaus, then Elijah and even Marcel had caught on.

"Time out," he announced. "The three of you have been making eyes at each other all day – and not the sexy kind. Care to share with the rest of the class?"

"Yeah, what gives?" whined Kol. "I always knew my brothers had their secrets, but what's so important the Wolf Girl gets to know but not me? I'm family."

Hayley lurched forward. "That 'Wolf Girl' has a name..." she growled.

"And Hayley is family," Elijah announced to the room. "We don't mean to keep you in the dark, Marcel - Kol - but this secret we share...if Finn finds out, all is lost."

It was Klaus' turn to have an idea. "Maybe that's it. If our secret is what Finns holds above our heads, then we take that advantage away."

"Meaning what?" said Hayley, arms folded once again.

Klaus took out his phone with excitement. "Nobody moves while I make a call. I'll be right back."

The atmosphere in the Mikaelson parlor was tense as the group waited for Klaus' return. Kol and Marcel circled the bar cart while Elijah seemed to creep closer to Hayley every second. But while Hayley, on the outside, seemed collected and cool, behind her eyes was a readiness to take on Finn that was quintessential Mikaelson to the core. "I can't do this anymore, this waiting. Tomorrow can't come soon enough." She was speaking for them all. Elijah tried to assure her, but his fingers were curling at his side, betraying his own agitation.

Alone in her chair at the center of the parlor, Cami couldn't help feeling she was in the waiting room of some psychiatrist's office. "Let's play a game," she offered. She knew it sounded like an absurd idea. "It's called 'I feel and I wish.' It'll make the time go faster."

Kol huffed. "Is this more undercover therapy?" he protested.

"Not if the therapist plays as well," she said. "It's easy; I promise. You simply turn to the person to your right and tell them two things: how you feel and what you wish."

"And does that person get to respond?" Elijah asked. He looked nervous at the prospect of having to participate.

"If they wish," Cami answered. "But briefly. This game more about listening to others and acknowledging how others feel. And like I said, it'll help pass the time until Klaus decides to tell us what he's scheming on the phone. I'll start. Kol? You ready?"

The youngest Mikaelson threw himself on the sofa with a fresh tumbler of ice. "I usually prefer Monopoly but alright, let's give this game a go. Lay it on me."

Cami had been thinking about this for a while. "I feel you're taking advantage of Davina and I wish you'd let her live her life Mikaelson-free for a change."

Kol shot up. "I don't much like this game! Games should be fun - this one's all judge-y. And mean."

"Well, it's your right to respond," she offered.

"Fine then I will," Kol huffed. "I feel you're ganging up on me – all of you - and I don't quite like it. In fact, I wish you'd stop treating me like some outside. I'm a bloody Mikaelson, ya know!"

"Well, I second Cami," said Marcel, naturally. "And since it's my turn: Cami, I'd wish you'd take your own advice and live your life Mikaelson-free for a change."

Cami frowned. "Oh? And tell me how you really feel."

"Same as always. I feel you're gonna end up dead one of these days if you keep inserting yourself in Mikaelson matters. I get the Good Samaritan thing, Cami; I do. But there's a whole city of people out there who need guidance and help and support. You know who doesn't need it? Thousand year vampires who ain't never gonna change! Don't give me that look. You know you're my girl, Camille. I'm trying to look out for you."

"How very noble," said Elijah, his hand on the back on Cami's chair. "Tell me, Marcellus, in this city, which during your long reign as tyrant you failed to bring even a modicum of peace to, where is there more safe for our dear Camille than by the side of me and my brother?"

"Uh-huh," Marcel smarted. "Hayley was smashed between the two of you and that didn't do her much good, now did it?"

Elijah and Hayley shared similar looks, but for different reasons. "Harsh," she said, "but true. What do you say to that, Elijah?"

"Oh, please," he blew out. "I wish you wouldn't fall for Marcel's rhetoric."

"And I wish you'd actually consider that he's right, Elijah. I know you want to keep everyone safe, but that's not possible anymore. Maybe it was; when I young and naïve and knocked up, but all our lives got a bit more complicated since then. I'm a hybrid and Klaus is…even more Klaus…and you, Elijah – you're not yourself anymore."

Elijah lowered his head, pained. "And yet I feel this distance you've built between us, Hayley, it's widening."

"...This distance...that I've built?"

"You seek to find a new family with the wolves. With Jackson -"

"Jackson is an alpha, Elijah. He's a leader to a pack. A powerful pack, willing to help. And if you haven't noticed, this family is under attack. It could use all the allies it can get."

"I don't disagree, Hayley. But no one - no one - remains more dedicated to this family than the members of this family. Than Niklaus, and I, and -"

"Rebekah." It was Klaus, returned. He pocketed his phone, in much better spirits. "I've just spoken with our sister. She'll be here by morning, our littlest secret in tow."

Hayley looked up. "You're bringing Hope to New Orleans? That's not part of the plan, Klaus!"

"It's the most important part," he corrected her. "If she's here, she's protected. Finn can't put her hands on Hope without coming through all of us first. Now all that's left is for Camille to play her part tomorrow."

She nodded. "I'm ready," she said, standing. "Just one question. Who the hell is Hope?"