- THE BIRTHDAY -

After so many centuries, in his mind the picture of the first time he saw his little sister was still fresh. After what it seemed years to him and his childish perception of time, the day finally came, it was time to meet the new member of the family. That night everyone was up at the Mikaelson's house. Mikael sat next to the fire to carve some wood, Elijah and Finn sat next to him to admire his father's work and even baby Kol quietly stared at his father with eyes wide open while holding a wooden horse he used to play from time to time. Niklaus however had always been very attached to his mother, he would often hide behind her dress, lay next to her so she could caress his hair, sometimes he would go to the field with his mother to pluck berries but he would end up wasting time gathering flowers for her, At that time Niklaus was a loving, innocent yet fearful 5 year old, he loved his mother with passion but he already feared his father with the same intensity. The boys at the Mikaelson's living room sharing a bonding moment was a rather intimidating scene for Niklaus so it was not rare that he separated from the group and was picking through the bedroom door, trying to get as close as he could to his mother the night that Rebekah was born.

It was a cold winter night, everyone else was getting warm next to the fire but he shivered a little bit, Esther had been crying and under a lot of pain for hours, Ayanna had spend the entire evening making her teas and potions with herbs from the woods, Niklaus felt anxious as he heard Esther's screams, his mother seemed to be in pain and that freighting him, for a moment he felt he did not like whatever or whoever was making his mother go through such a pain, he just wanted it to be over.

"Niklaus!" Shouted Mikael. "Get back in here!"

Niklaus froze in the dark hallway, he felt scared, he knew he should get back to the living room with the others but he did not want to leave.

"You better listen to me boy!" Mikael's voice sounded like he was coming closer, and he did, in a few seconds he was strongly holding Niklaus arm, ready to drag him to the living room if it was necessary, Niklaus shivered knowing what was coming, his eyes were ready to burst into tears but in that very same second Esther's screams became louder and later overcame by a baby's cry. Standing next to the door, both Mikael and Niklaus turned their faces to see Ayanna lifting a baby and wrapping the tiny body in a blanket. Mikael slowly walked away from Niklaus and into the bedroom, he carefully sat next to Esther.

"What is it?" He asked in form of a whisper.

"It's a girl." Ayanna said with a smile.

Mikael drew a half smile on his face and with eyes closed he kissed Esther's forehead. Niklaus stood by the door, stunned, It was the first time his father seemed to be happy, kind. In a few seconds his siblings came running to the room, Elijah was first as he was the oldest and he ran faster than the others, followed by Finn and last Kol who had learned how to walk very recently. They sat around the bed, eager to touch and see the new baby. Kol started crying in a toddler's attempt to seek attention so Mikael lifted him up and sat him on his lap, Elijah and Finn sat next to his Father as Ayanna placed Rebekah on Esther's arms. Everyone was quiet, wondered, the boys admired their little sister with teary eyes and anxious hands, Mikael wiped Esther's tears and wrapped an arm around her, Esther held on tightly to Rebekah, it was a beautiful picture of a family, except that Niklaus wasn't in it.

Ayanna suggested everyone went out of the room so Esther could feed the baby and she could do some cleaning. Mikael nodded and took the boys out, as everyone headed to the door Niklaus was still standing there, where he had been watching the scene for this whole time, just by looking at him Mikael instructed him to follow them but a sweet voice called his name.

"Niklaus, come here." Said Esther with a sweet voice.

It took less than a second, He ran towards his mother and hugged her tight as soon as he could reach her. Esther smiled at him, stroking his hair, with her face she pointed at the baby she was holding in her arms.

"Look!" She said. "She's finally here."

Niklaus looked startled and a little bit scared, Esther was holding the baby so close to her body, that type of closeness intimidated him and made him feel a little bit uncomfortable, Esther was familiar with Niklaus shyness so she took his hand and carefully placed it over the baby's cheek, he did not know what to do but as an instinct he slowly started to caress the baby, it was a funny feeling - he thought-, soon the baby's mouth, started opening making an "O" shape that got bigger and bigger, Niklaus eyes winded open and he quickly withdrew his hand.

"Wow!" He said, startled and with a tone of amusement on his voice.

Esther jiggled. "A very big yawn!"

Niklaus started jiggleling too, he felt much more comfortable now.

"I think you two are going to have lots of fun." Esther said as she smiled. Niklaus eyes winded up, filled with a five year old innocence with a genuine doubt.

"Is she going to stay with us forever?" He asked.

Esther laughed and with a sigh she softly said, "Yes, Niklaus, Always and Forever."