Disclaimer: The characters and the content of Klaus' letter belong to the CW and the creative team of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. The quote about the magical quality of hummingbirds was taken from Leonard Cohen.

London, United Kingdom

Klaus is returning home when he sees the large envelope on the table. Letters are a rare occurrence these days, the only ones favouring letters over emails are his siblings and a few old acquaintances. Receiving a letter at his London residence is even rarer, few people know where he has taken up residence after leaving New Orleans. The envelope does not offer any clues as to its origins, his name is the only thing written on it and the writing is neat but unidentifiable. He eyes the thing with some trepidation, but curiosity wins out in the end. The first thing he finds when he opens the envelope is a delicate drawing of a hummingbird, the blues and greens seemingly jumping off the page to form a vibrant and iridescent creature. No name or message is written on it, yet each colourful feather reminds him of a time long gone but never forgotten. He can almost hear the frantic heartbeat of that sole hummingbird again, fighting to stay alive when all the odds were against it, and he wonders for a second whether it's his own heart pulsing at the memory. The second item he retrieves from the envelope is a picture. Three young girls are sitting on a rug in front of a fireplace, their faces alight with joy while white feathers float around them. There is nothing artificial about it, the distance and the lack of posing making it clear that the photographer caught the young girls unaware. He zones in on the girl on the right, his eyes tracking each freckle and registering each change. She seems lighter somehow, at peace with herself and the world around her. It's something he's always wanted for her and it pleases him immensely to see that she's achieved it despite his absence. It's bittersweet seeing her like this, but he's glad that she has people in her life who make her smile. The third and final piece of paper finally clues him in on the identity of the sender and he smiles in gratitude when he realises who's responsible for the first moment of genuine happiness he's had in a while.

"You once told me that it was the tiny pattering of a hummingbird that made you feel the most human, because you admired its constant struggle to stay alive on the verge of death. I didn't fully understand back then. I didn't see how such a small creature could instil such a feeling. Until now. Now I finally understand how one can feel blessed when they appear nearby. There's a magical quality to them. I've met my very own hummingbird in the form of your daughter, Klaus. She reminded me of humanity in its purest form and made me smile again. I imagine that she did the same thing for you. Don't lose that feeling. Don't let the separation eat away at you until all that remains is darkness and despair. Never give up on your humanity. Make sure to fight for it every day. Remind yourself that there is a hummingbird waiting for you back here, a young girl on the precipice of womanhood waiting to spread her wings and fly. She's a precocious girl and you should be proud of her. You should be proud of yourself. No matter where you are, no matter where you go, never forgot about that. Rest assured that I will take care of her and that we will be here waiting."

There is no name on the note, but there doesn't have to be one. There's only one person with whom he shared the hummingbird tale, only one person who can fully understand its significance. He knew that his daughter was enrolled in her school, knew that it was only a matter of time before the two of them met, but it still hits him hard to hear her talk about Hope. Two of the most important women in his life are spending time together, are getting to know one another, and he is separated from them by miles of land and ocean. It does not seem fair to him and for a moment he contemplates giving in to the darkness and despair she described. He holds back though and re-examines the contents of the envelope, for the first time finding hope. Not only does he get to see his daughter again after leaving her in the witch circle in New Orleans, he gets to see her peaceful and content. He gets to hear from her, after believing that he would never hear her again. He rereads the last sentence of the note and smiles slightly to himself, only now realising that she included herself in the people waiting for him back home. His heart starts beating the same frantic pattering rhythm of that hummingbird so long ago, for finally he's alive. Finally she's part of his tale.

Mystic Falls, Virginia

Caroline smiles when she enters the hallway, glad to be finally home again. She misses the hustle and bustle of the school when she's away, the time spent in hotel rooms and conference halls giving her too much time to think. She greets the teachers and takes the mail from one of the teaching assistants, her mind already thinking of the hundred little things she has to do now that she's back. New pupils enrol each day and she has to make sure that both the pupils and the teachers know what to do and where to turn to when they need help. The mail tumbles to the floor and it takes her a minute to pick it all up. Crouching on the floor like that, she is suspended in time, her thoughts hovering somewhere between past and present. The moment passes, however, and she's back on her feet and looking at the ancient seal on the envelope. She only knows one person who still seals letters with candle wax as if it were hundred years ago and she smiles softly to herself thinking about his response. The first thing she sees when she opens the envelope is a cheque. The amount of money on it is staggering and she does not know whether she should be disappointed or delighted. Maintaining a school is expensive and while she knows that the money can do a world of good for the children, she had hoped for a more personal reply. There is an accompanying note and the handwriting is so familiar after all this time that her heart clenches suddenly. He has only written three sentences, which look for all intents and purposes like a graceful and courteous thank you note. To Caroline, however, the sentences mean so much more. They bring to mind a memory of an evening long ago, an evening where labels disappeared and a man and a woman finally found some common ground. She remembers twinkling eyes, a soft grin and a promise to be her last love despite all the evidence working against him. She is not ready to travel down that road, doesn't know if she ever will be ready, but she's touched that he remembers and still thinks of her in that manner.

"Dearest Caroline, I have often imagined the paths your life might take, but your chosen future is more noble than I ever fathomed. Please accept this contribution to your virtuous cause. I do look forward to thanking you in person someday… however long it takes. Yours, Klaus."

She tucks the note back into the envelope with a gentle smile when something else catches her eye. It's a portrait of three young girls sitting in a garden so lavish and colourful that she almost has to blink from the brilliance of it. The first girl has a whimsical smile on her face, her features so vivid and pronounced that it is clear that the artist has first-hand knowledge of her. There is a powerful combination of tenderness and fierceness within her and she seems to shine from within. With her auburn hair shining and her eyes sparkling, it is clear as day that Hope Mikaelson is destined to become a great beauty someday. The other two girls are equally as beautiful, but their brilliance is less outspoken. He has drawn them based on the picture she's sent him and she's amazed by the level of detail. The girls have a mischievous twinkle in their eye, almost as if they're in on a secret that the rest of the world knows nothing about. Without consciously knowing about it and without ever having met them, he has drawn Josie and Lizzie exactly as they are and she sighs when she realises that he can read her girls as well as he can read her. The girls seem entranced by the trumpet vines near them and it takes her a while before she spots the little hummingbird entangled in it. It's a beautiful little creature, at one with the nature and the girls around. Its eyes and bill are turned upwards, towards the sky where a solitary wing seems to leap off the page. She does not know how he did it, but he made it seem as if another hummingbird passed by for a visit and is only now leaving the garden. There for a second, only to be gone the next. There's a brief caption underneath the drawing which thanks her for not giving up. The symbolism of it all is not lost on her and she feels how a solitary tear manages to make its way down her cheek. For the first time in a long while she feels alive again. Finally she's found hope.

AN: This is my first time writing fanfiction, so reviews are much appreciated. If this is well-liked, I might consider extending it to a multi-chapter story.