Hey! I wrote this little story as my replacement for season 5, which didn't quite satisfy me. Obviously it's in no way better (I'm no writer), but I had fun creating it and hope you have fun too reading it. I do not own The Originals. Enjoy!
Chapter 1
One year has passed since the Mikaelson siblings scattered through the world, separated for each carrying a piece of the Hollow. Free of such a curse, Freya remained in New Orleans and is now lying on a couch with a laptop skyping her sister, Rebekah.
"How are things over there? I can't believe I'm actually missing that God forsaken city." Rebekah says.
"Things are- normal. Which is a good standard around here. Keelin and I have been living here in the compound, ever since Hayley and Hope basically moved to Mystic Falls. We've been helping Vincent and Josh keep everything under bay." Freya responds.
"I guess everything worked out well." Rebekah sighs.
"Do you still hear from the others?"
"Well, ever since Kol and Davina discovered the internet it's hard not to. I've had people check on Elijah, I think he's- happy. I haven't heard from Klaus in a while, but I'm sure he's fine opening throats somewhere."
Freya smiles with sorrowful eyes, missing her family, "What about you? You don't seem so happy".
"Happy-" Rebekah ironically chuckles "How odd is it that for decades I've wished for this, to be free, to be with someone I love and who loves me and yet- doesn't feel right."
"Feels incomplete" Freya concludes.
The two sisters stare at each other through their screens, comprehending and sharing exactly what they are both thinking and feeling.
Mystic Falls, Va.
At the school, Caroline is talking to some kids at recess when she notices flickering lights, followed by flowers withering in seconds.
"Hey! Who's doing that-" Caroline yells at all the kids.
Without finishing her sentence, she hears whispers from afar and lays her hair back, uncovering her ear. She realizes someone is calling out her name from outside and excuses herself. Once outside, a figure quickly runs away and she follows without hesitation, both using their vampire abilities. In the middle of the woods, the figure stops and turns around, facing her.
"Klaus…" Caroline says unbelieving.
"It's been a long time, Caroline." Klaus exclaims.
"You can't be in Mystic Falls!" she yells.
"This isn't quite Mystic Falls, I made sure of that. I'm a man of my word, give or take" he adds with a smirk.
Caroline is both struck and entertained, but opts to hide it and continue with a straight face, "Why are you here?"
"I'm sure you've heard of my family's current predicament"
"Yeah, I mean Hayley told me most of what happened when she got here" she pauses and takes a deep breath "I'm sorry you can't be with your daughter, I can't even imagine what that must be like."
"It's- it's mortifying! In a thousand years I've never wanted to hold someone as I have every single day for over a year!" Klaus says, hurt.
"Hope misses you too. She's told me that many times."
"She talks about me?"
"Of course she does! You're her father." Caroline changes her tone, trying to light up the mood "And you know, she may be the one person in this world who says you're a hero"
Klaus smiles "She doesn't know any better".
Once again, he loses his smile and direly says "I don't know if I can keep doing this, Caroline."
"What do you mean?" she questions.
"Not being there! Not having someone to tell me how to do it right!" Klaus angrily responds.
"You're lonely… That's why you came to me" she says, understanding his pain.
"I didn't know who else to turn to, I feel like I'm going insane" Klaus says agitated, waving his hands in the air.
"Hayley still talks about you. She's here in Mystic Falls, you should be helping her"
"How? It's too hard to be with Hayley and have to leave whenever my daughter gets close. Not just for me, for her, for Hope. She doesn't deserve to have me run away every time she comes home. And one day, the temptation would be too hard and I would stay, I would wait for her and that could end up destroying her. I need to stay away." Klaus claims, almost in tears.
"The world isn't better without you, Klaus! You may not be able to be in the same room as your daughter, but you can be there for her! She's such a sweet girl, don't make her feel abandoned."
"So what am I supposed to do?"
"Just call her. Talk to her." Caroline says assertively. "I really need to go now."
She starts walking away, but turns around, facing him, smoothly saying "Please don't give up, Klaus".
Klaus watches as she fades through the woods, left to contemplate her words, which he knows are right.
The night falls, Hayley has picked up Hope from school and is driving her to their new home. As they get there, Hayley walks towards the kitchen and picks up a piece of paper with a genuine joyful smile.
"Someone left this for you".
"Who?" Hope wonders.
"See for yourself."
Hope's eyes turn to the paper her mother handed her and silently reads.
"Hope,
Not a day goes by when I don't think about you a thousand times over. You may not be able to see me, but I am by your side, no matter what. Don't give up on me.
Love, Klaus"
Later at night, Hope is alone in her room when she hears some noises, wood cracking as if someone was walking next to her. Scared, she immediately turns around, only to be faced by Davina, who has projected herself into the little girl's room.
"Shhhh- don't be scared" Davina claims, trying to soften her invasion.
"Davina? What are you doing here?" Hope asks, confused.
"I wanted to talk to you. I know it's been really hard for you lately so Kol and I have been looking for a way to fix everything and I think I know a way that can help you. All of you."
"How?" she questions excited.
"I need you to say a few words with me."
"And that's it?"
"Yes."
"You're hiding something." Hope realizes by Davina's hesitant responses.
"Wha-"
"People do that to me a lot. They don't think I can handle the truth."
Hope's words sunk on her, Davina didn't expect her to be so wise and perceptive considering her young age. So, after a long pause, she opts to not approach her as a naïve child anymore.
"I'm not lying because I think you can't handle it. It's because I'm afraid if you knew the truth, you wouldn't help me"
"I will, if you tell me the truth. Pinky swear." Hope says, assertive.
Davina extends her hand to her and whispers "Pinky swear."
