Chapter 1
June 1902
"...That's it one more big push, Amelie! Good girl." The midwife encouraged as the brunette in labour screamed and pushed, a few seconds later her scream was mingled with that of a baby. Amelie collapsed, exhausted after her 14 hour labour with her first child. A baby she knew did not belong to the man she had married 8 months ago- but it belonged to a man all the more powerful and noble- her best friend, Elijah Mikaelson- a man she loved more than anyone else in the world.
"You have a healthy, beautiful baby girl, Amelie. Congratulations." The midwife explained handing her the tiny babe. Once she was settled in her mother's arms, the baby opened her eyes and Amelie gasped, her daughter's eyes were exactly the same shade of hazel as Elijah's and her own.
"Mikaela Amelie." She breathed, her accent was French and her voice sounded like wind chimes, and touched her tiny cheek. "Please show them in, nurse."
"Them?"
"My husband and my best friend, Monsieur Mikaelson. please, Nurse." Amelie begged and the nurse scuttled off to the door.
Outside, Elijah's hand tightened on his brandy glass- not enough to break it however. He had heard her scream and the cry of the baby. But that did not mean both were well. He glanced across at Amelie's disgusting husband, Nathaniel, who enjoyed nothing more than seeking the company of women of ill repute. Something no decent husband would partake in. The man did not seem worried at all for the woman giving birth to his child- a month premature too.
All of a sudden the nurse opened the door to the bedroom and Elijah stood up placing his glass on the top of the landing bureau. Nathaniel followed.
"They are both well. Miss Amelie asked for both of you. The baby is a little girl." The nurse said as she stood aside and allowed the men to enter. Nathaniel entered first, Elijah behind him. They both looked on at the woman and babe and headed to either side of the bed. Elijah to the left and Nathaniel to the right. Both men sat gently on the mattress beside Amelie and her child. Amelie looked up at Elijah first and then at Nathaniel.
"She is beautiful." Nathaniel breathed, stroking the baby's head. Elijah just grinned from ear to ear.
"Just like her mother." He smiled and Amelie giggled and looked down on her baby as she opened her eyes.
"She has your eyes, love." Nathaniel said, obviously oblivious to the fact Elijah's were the same shade too.
"Does she have a name?" Elijah asked.
"Mikaela Amelie."
"Welcome to the world little one." He crooned letting her wrap her tiny fist around his finger.
"Will you be her godfather, Elijah?" Amelie asked and Nathaniel looked stunned, he had intended that his best friend would be his daughter godfather, but he didn't complain.
Elijah looked up at Nathaniel, to Amelie and back to little Mikaela. "It would be an honour."
August 1902
Two women, two men, a priest and a baby stood around the font in the English country church that hot summers day. Elijah watched Amelie hand his goddaughter to the reverend, his heart swelling with pride.
The reverend turned to Elijah and Nathaniel's sister who stood beside him at the font, she was Mikaela's godmother and said calmly. "Dost thou, in the name of this Child, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow nor be led by them?"
Elijah and Nathaniel's sister answered clearly. "I renounce them all."
"Dost thou believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth? And in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son our Lord? And that he was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; that he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; that he went down into hell, and also did rise again the third day; that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and from thence shall come again at the end of the world, to judge the quick and the dead? And dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Church; the Communion of Saints; the Remission of sins; the Resurrection of the flesh; and everlasting life after death?"
"All this I stedfastly believe."
"Wilt thou be baptized in this faith?"
"That is my desire."
"Wilt thou then obediently keep God's holy will and commandments, and walk in the same all the days of thy life?"
Elijah and Nathaniel's sister answered the final question with pride. "I will."
There was another prayer in the service and then the reverend dipped his finger in the font and made the sign of the cross in holy water on Mikaela's forehead. "I baptise thee in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit. amen." The reverend then handed Mikaela to Elijah who held her tight and made his own silent vow that he would protect always.
They left the church together and returned to the house, Amelie linked arms with Elijah who still carried Mikaela. She knew the truth but he did not. In those moments on the walk back she saw the life she could have had with Elijah flash before her eyes and it saddened her but she knew that if the worst happened he would be there to protect their daughter, just as he had been for her, everyday of her life.
