AN : Thank you for the kind reviews, the following, the favouriting. I'm so glad you liked it. Kudos to you guys.
Still don't own the Mikaelsen characters and Sophie Devereaux, gueststarring in here - she's awesome, nough said. And sorry about that - but Nate Mikaelsen keeps tormenting me so I come play with him. Here's how I envision Nathan giving his loyalty to his father. I'm so in love with that kid and he's unborn yet. If 'the Originals' makes the baby a daughter, I won't be mad - it has some interesting possibilities but my fanfic writer's heart belongs to the awesome Nathan Mikaelsen. [I'll definitely be mad if they end up killing the baby for plot advancement (too soapy then)].
xxx
NATHAN
« The boy is mortal, Niklaus.
-Courtesy of his mother, I presume. »
Elijah didn't answer. Klaus nodded, straining his eyes on New Orleans. He gripped the banister as for dear life. His son was mortal. He would die and be lost to him. Fear would never leave then. Never.
xxx
No one could help caring for Nathan. He was just that sunny, kind, smiling child, never sad, never dark, never afraid.
« Dad ! »
A living fireball of energy. Elijah would often smile, reminded of their younger brother Kol. Even Klaus had to admit – there was something of the mischievous late Mikaelsen in the younger one. But most of all, Nathan was kind and genuine. And all in all, he had the undivided love of all the Mikaelsen family – his father included. Hayley couldn't say the same. But Klaus was so certain Nathan would turn his back on him when he discovered his truth. So here is what happened when the kid did.
xxx
New Orleans was basking in the glory of a late summer afternoon. Father and son were at the Short Spell. Nathan was telling his father the story of what happened to Stefan his latest prank and Klaus was about to chide him somehow, when he caught in the corner of his eye Sophie gesturing to him. He slowly turned around. Three people had entered the Short spell. Vampires no doubt.
« You're not welcome, here » Sophie said bravely.
They were wearing the half-sun sign Marcel had chosen for his allies before entering open rebellion.
« The truce was short lived. » Klaus whispered.
Nathan leaned forward.
« What's happening, Dad ? »
He stood slowly.
« Sophie. »
The young witch nodded and came to Nathan. The three vampires had not moved.
« Take him back.
-Will do. »
He smiled, as she left by the backdoor. Loyalty was not that hard to earn.
« Just three ? Is Marcel running low on fighters ?
-You don't own us, hybrid. We'll always fight.
-Can't do that if you're dead, mate. »
They were eerily calm. The door behind him opened again. The vampire leader grinned.
« You're outnumbered. »
Klaus didn't need to turn around to know that Sophie had been forced back inside with Nathan.
« Hand the boy over, witch. And you'll live. »
Sophie called on her magic, as she pulled Nathan behind the counter.
« Always good to have a back-up plan, right. »
Klaus smiled.
« Sophie. Priority of life. »
She nodded. The vampires grinned.
« Guys, we're going to take the royal family out in a single sweep.
-Nate, get down. »
The vampire closest to the door whistled and a dozen more figures appeared in the street. Marcel had stepped up his murder attempts on Nathan. Five years had not taught him anything. The attack started swiftly but not quick enough. The first three vampires were dead by the time the fourth went in the door. The others were stuck outside with the no-invite rule. Klaus pushed the door open and less than five minutes later, the last two survivors were out running away from the hybrid. The street was littered with corpses – there were just ten of them, but he had not been restrained about it. Even he could define it as gruesome. And at the window of the Short Spell, he found his son's blue-green eyes, so identical to his, frozen in a sort of shock.
« Nate ! No. » he heard Sophie.
The door opened again and out came his son, around three feet tall, just five years old. He barely took in the mostly red scene before running to his father.
« Dad ! »
He was still trembling, but Nathan wrapped his arms around him.
« You okay ? » the boy lifted his eyes to him. « Your eyes look funny. »
He realized his hybrid face was still on and not leaving. Sophie appeared at the door, apparently wary of the outcome. He stooped down to be level with his son. Nathan was looking at him with curiosity. The moment looked frozen in time and space.
« Nate...
-You're really part vampire, part wolf... » he wondered.
Klaus felt the world crumble on him. Nathan put his hands on his shoulders.
« Dad...You're awesome. » he grinned.
Four words. That's all it took. Klaus wrapped his son in his arms.
« I can't lose you, Nate.
-You were afraid ? »
Klaus met his son's eyes and nodded.
« They were more. » Nathan observed, turning to the street and the corpses.
-No one messes with our family, mate. »
Nathan nodded gravely. Klaus grinned and ruffled his son's hair.
« Dad ! » the little boy protested cheerfully.
And that sound was enough to sweep away the fear. Sophie grinned at their antics, shaking her head.
« Niklaus. » she chuckled.
His eyes met hers. Sophie held out a hand and set all the corpses on fire. Nathan turned around, wide-eyed. Klaus thanked her with a nod.
« Nate. Time to go.
-Bye, Sophie. »
She smiled but she couldn't help hearing Nathan.
« Dad, we're pals, right ? Always and forever, right ? »
Sophie watched them walk away in the sunset, going back to the Mikaelsen mansion. Nathan was truly one of a kind.
« One of a kind, kid. »
XXX
As usual, let me know... and kudos to those of you who find out which other fandom crossed this one-shot path.