Chapter 2
A little later in the day, in Mystic Falls at the Salvatore manor, Caroline had called everyone in for a meeting, they thought it was to discuss recent events, but they did not know the real reason yet. Everyone was there, apart from Alaric, who arrived 10 minutes late and so sat down next to Jeremy when he did eventually arrive.
"Sorry I'm late, I was grading papers"
"Oh, so they let you back then"
"Yup" answered Alaric
"What did you say?"
"He got Elena to compel the head"
"GUYS" shouted Caroline to get everyone to look at her and listen.
"Woah, chill out Caroline"
"Yeah and then you can tell us why we're here"
"A short while ago I had an interesting phone call"
"From who?"
"Klaus"
"What the hell did he want?" asked Tyler in indignation.
"He called to say that Hayley had given birth, about three weeks ago actually to a baby girl called Hope"
"Okay 2 things, 1, why is he letting us know at all? And 2, why now?"
"I don't know, at least not completely"
"I don't understand"
"There were and still are people who would see Hope dead, he had to send her away to live with Rebekah to keep her safe, he wants us to go to New Orleans and help cleanse the city of anyone who would harm his daughter. What do you say?"
After a couple of minutes of silence, Elena piped up and said "I'll do it, but not for Klaus, for Hayley, no mother should be without her child"
"Me too"
"I'm in"
"Am I the only one to forget that this is Klaus we'd be helping, the man is a monster" shouted Tyler in indignation.
"We all know that Tyler, but there is a baby out there living away from her parents"
"Fine, I'll come, but only to make sure Hayley is ok"
"Good, who else?"
After everyone had agreed to go, Caroline looked at each and every one of them before saying "Go pack a bag, Klaus has sent a plane to meet us in a field outside Mystic Falls in 1 hour".
Back in New Orleans Klaus and Hayley were walking the streets, the former looking for potential new hybrids while the latter followed behind.
"Why do we have to do this, turn innocent people?"
"Because, we need as much help as we can in this war"
"So it's a war now is it?"
"War was declared the moment the first person even thought about harming our child"
"Have you heard from Rebekah"
"Briefly, she sent word that they had settled in the east, had found a trustworthy witch and would send word again when they had completely settle in"
"I'm glad, I'm also glad that Rebekah has her, I know that she'll protect Hope with her life"
"Ever since she was young she has always wanted children, she even had names picked out, 2 of each, just in case. Eve or Elizabeth for a girl and Henry or Matthew for a boy"
"I wasn't sure if I wanted kids, but when I got pregnant I knew that I wanted her, with all my heart"
"I thought I could never have a child, at least not biologically and I was always adamant that I didn't want one, then ..."
"...Marcel came into your life"
"Indeed, now, with Hope, I want so much to be there for her, but I also want her to be safe. That is why, for now she is with my sister , for with her, not only will she be safe, but also loved"
Hayley doesn't answer back so Klaus turns to her and says "I promise you Hayley, Hope will return to us".
"Do you remember when you came back after giving her to Rebekah and you told me her name?"
**Flashback**
Two weeks earlier, after he had handed over his newborn daughter to his sister to look after Klaus went back to the compound where he found the main area still littered with dead bodies, he headed up to the living room where he found Elijah sitting down and Hayley stood at a window looking down at the world below.
"She's safe"
Hayley then turned around to look at the father of her child and just stared him in the eye for a few moments.
"How is our dear sister?" asks Elijah.
"She's ok, she's taking the child and running, far away"
"Did you tell her that I love her"
"Yes"
After a small silence Klaus walked up to Hayley and said "Rebekah asked me what she was called"
"You named her!"
"Yes. Do you remember when you called her this family's hope?"
"Hope, our daughter's name is Hope"
"Do you like it?"
"I do, it's perfect"
"It really is, a good choice brother"
"Thank you, well if you excuse me, I'm going to get some people together and clean up downstairs, see you both later"
Klaus then left the room and Elijah looked at Hayley who went back to staring out of the window.
**End of Flashback**
"I was scared that you would not like the name I had chosen for her"
"You shouldn't have been, it really is a good choice. You know, looking at you and your brother you'd think that he would be a better father and even though Hope isn't here, you are proving that you can be a good one too"
"Yes, well, let's just pray that I can get to be a proper father one day. Now come on, we have work to do"
The two of them then walked off to find people for their army.
End of Chapter