A new adventure will be waiting for Klaus starting this chapter. Someone unexpected will visit him, in order to make him understand that Christmas is the one moment in life when he gets to tell the people he cares about and loves what he feels for them. Will this help his relationship with Hayley? Will this surprising visit help him reconnect with Hope around the holidays?
Finn is convinced that he has the perfect surprise for Camille to make her feel like she can be part of something special despite everything she had lost this year. Marcel and Rebekah will have a heart to heart discussion about their relationship after Rebekah finds something unforgiving.
December 22nd
Klaus & Hayley
The snowman did not help him and Hayley. It would no longer help him reconnect with his daughter. He could feel at that moment that he was close to losing them both. There was no possible reason that he would want that. He was in his room, watching the snow falling from outside the window and thinking about current events. Hayley refused to sleep in bed with him for two nights in a row. This made him angry. What did one little incident have to do with everything else? He had no idea about these things and he really wasn't getting in the holiday spirits like he should have. Why should he care?
There was a knock on the door and Klaus looked startled. He looked towards the door and he saw Hayley standing there in a beautiful purple transparent nightdress. Her hair was let loose and she was brushing it, without looking at him. She came inside and went directly to the bathroom. Klaus waited impatiently until she came out when he asked, "Why did you bother knocking?" Hayley looked at him, surprised that he was speaking to her and whispered, "Well, this is your room, isn't it?" "As I remember correctly, love, this is our room. We share this room and we normally should be sharing this bed!" He exclaimed and pointed his finger to their king-sized bad that she always loved to sleep in. Hayley sighed and went over there, lying down. Klaus felt something hard drop on his heart when he saw that.
"I am not forcing you to sleep with me, little wolf! Stop making me look like the guilty one around here for not understanding your bloody holiday!" Hayley stood up at once, her eyes flared with anger. "I came here because I wanted to make peace with you and just go back to the way it was before, for the sake of Hope. She has started to notice the rift between us and I don't want that anymore, which is why I am going to sleep here with you tonight. Like you said, we share the room and the bed. I am not making you guilty and if you think that I would actually obey you when you order around, you are mistaken. You're forgetting who you're speaking to." Hayley replied and dropped back down on the bed in anger, pulling the duvet over her and closing her eyes tightly. Klaus smiled a little as he looked at her and sighed as he went to plop down on the other side.
How could he possibly resist her? She was breathtaking in her nightgown, with her wonderful hair flowing freely around the pillow and a part of it was tickling his skin. And her scent…there was no way that Klaus would be able to sleep next to her tonight without… He pushed the thought out of his mind when he remembered how angry he was with her at making him feel like the bad guy in his relationship with Hope. It was not the first time that he had felt this way. He could remember how she had attacked him when she was with Elijah. The two of them just loved to gang up against him. He shut his eyes tightly and concentrated on sleeping…but he couldn't. All he could think about was her, her beauty, how tough she was, how irresistible she was, how smart she was. Hayley was his match…his mirror. He had always known that and the reason why he tried to keep away from him. He knew he would end up falling in love with her, truly in love. The thought scared him, and he wished that he wouldn't let himself love her. He would only cause her the pain she didn't need or want.
Without realizing what he was doing, he turned towards her so that he was facing her back and gently brushed a finger over her exposed shoulder, the shoulder where he could clearly see her birthmark, the sign that showed her true nature. She was not just a werewolf or a hybrid; she was a Queen, a Labonair. He brushed his hand over to her waist and used both of his hands to gently pull her towards him. There was no denying his attraction to her any longer. Not thinking, he leaned over and pressed a lingering kiss on the shoulder where her birthmark was. Hayley's eyes flared open and she stood up on the bed, as Klaus removed his hands from her waist at once. "What are you doing?" she asked, shocked. "Nothing." Klaus whispered before turning around and going to sleep. He could feel her lying back down again and going to sleep too. He couldn't believe what he just did.
Waking up in the middle of the night was not his plan, but he did and he had no idea why. Everything seemed different. The sky was darker, and he could barely see around the room, but he could still feel Hayley right next to him, fast asleep. "Hayley." He whispered and gently shook her, but she didn't budge. He frowned. She couldn't be that asleep. "Hayley." He insisted and shook her harder, but she still didn't move. "She can't hear you!" A voice exclaimed, making Klaus jump. Right next to the window, stood a shadowy figure. "Who are you and what are you doing in my home?" Klaus asked, outraged as he stood up from the bed. The moon reflected inside the room, making everything seem clearer. The spitting image of Ansel, Klaus' long dead werewolf father stepped into view, making Klaus' eyes widen.
"What are you doing here? You were supposed to be dead! And what have you done to Hayley?" Klaus asked him and Ansel gently smiled at him. "She is just in deep sleep, just like the rest of your family. I have been watching you, Niklaus, for a long while since I've died. I've seen what you've been through and I have seen the potential in you to have a family who loves and respects you. For that, you need to understand one of the most important holidays of the year. Christmas." Klaus chuckled as he heard that. "Is this some kind of a joke of yours? I don't need any help in realizing anything. What I do realize is that you have some nerve coming over here in the middle of the night and ordering me to do something that I do not wish to do, sending my whole family in deep sleep, in the process." He finally growled.
Ansel smiled at that and clasped his hands together. "In case you forgot, I am your father and I have every right to help you, as you are my son." Klaus chuckled and said, "I am not going anywhere with you." Ansel shook his head. "We are not going anywhere. Tonight, I am going to present to you your past. You will be able to see it through your own eyes and see things that you haven't took the time to analyze. It may sound like a joke to you, but it will definitely make you understand the things that truly matter around the holidays. Take my hand, Niklaus." Klaus was not taking him seriously and he continued to look at his father for one moment before he took his hand and closed his eyes. Upon opening them, Klaus realized that he was in a different room of the house. "Where the hell are we?" he asked Ansel. "Why don't you look around and see for yourself?" Ansel tried his patience but Klaus did as he asked and he looked around, noticing himself standing outside of the nursery, where Hayley was breastfeeding Hope. Ansel came over to him. "December 13th. You remember this moment, don't you?" Klaus growled and whispered, "Of course I do." "Watch it carefully." Ansel told him. "And do what?" Klaus groaned as he watched his past go inside the nursery, paying attention to the exposed breast that was Hayley's. "Think about what you said to her and what she said to you."
"Tempting?" "As a matter of fact, I came here hoping that I would get a chance to be with her alone. I had not seen her all week." Hayley nodded as Hope pulled her lips away from the nipple and gently burped. "I know that. You have barely seen anyone since we came back here with her. It is like you are once again possessed by this city. It's controlling you." She said as she put Hope back in her crib. Klaus chuckled but he didn't seem like he was happy by her remark at all. "What you seem to be forgetting is that you and Hope are the two reasons why I am out there, taking care of business. I am doing it for you. Not that you appreciate the effort, little wolf." Hayley scoffed. "And we are back where we started."
Klaus came over to her and pulled on her arm, making Hayley face him. "What is that supposed to mean?" "It has been 13 days, Klaus." Hayley whispered. "13 days of what?" "Since we decided that for Hope's sake, we would try to make a commitment here." "And we have done so. We spend time together and we do share the same bed, love. I don't understand what the problem is." "It's pointless. I don't see anything between us happening anytime soon and I don't think you do either. What is the point of this?" "The point of this is what you so bluntly suggested, for Hope to see that she has normal parents in a normal family. I hate to break it to you; sweetheart, but we are no ordinary family here." "We would have been, just like Rebekah wanted us to be, had you stopped being so occupied with your work and spend more time with me and Hope." Klaus groaned. "Do not bring Rebekah into this, little wolf." "Why shouldn't I? She has been more than willing to help out with Hope around here, which is more than I can say for you."
"Is this what a commitment means to you? You wish for your daughter to see her parents arguing? Is that what you wish for?" Hayley looked enraged and huffed, "What I wish for is for you to start opening your eyes and realize what is really important, especially with the holidays now. Christmas is in 12 days and I want Hope's first Christmas to be something that she will forever remember. What I don't want her to remember is you acting like a dick in front of her mother and the rest of this family." Hayley made her point. "You don't have to worry about that, because I'm not sticking around for this." Klaus growled and picked up his coat, leaving the house before anyone else.
Having this necessity brought by his father to watch this memory, made something heavy drop on his soul, not only his heart. Ansel didn't stop there. Klaus had to watch the tears that were slowly falling from Hayley's cheek after their argument. Ansel frowned and whispered, "You didn't have to be so cruel to her." "She gave me no choice. She was being ungrateful of everything that I had provided for her and Hope up until this moment." "Yes, everything except love and attention. You can see now that is what Hayley was craving and still is." Klaus shook his head and said, "I don't see the point of all this. It is not like this is going to change anything for us." "We will see." Ansel whispered and changed the image. Klaus recognized this one as if it were yesterday. It was the morning after their passionate night, when Hayley had ended their sexual relationship once and for all. "December 18th." Ansel whispered.
Hayley was ready to get out of bed when she felt strong and firm hands grab her from the back, keeping her still. Hayley smiled a little as she felt his lips brush over her shoulder. "What seems to be the rush here, sweetheart?" Hayley sighed as Klaus continued to brush his lips onto the shoulder on which she knew, was her birthmark. "Hope needs me to feed her now." Hayley whispered, covering his hands with her own as she grant him more access to her neck. He began placing gentle kisses on there, making her sigh.
Hayley finally snapped out of her thoughts and pulled away, shocking him at her rejection. "Have I said something to upset you, love?" he asked her with concern on his face. "I am not that type of girl, Klaus." She finally said and stood up from the bed, putting on her robe. Klaus stood up and started putting his clothes on as well, put refusing to place a shirt on himself quite yet. "What are you talking about? What type of girl?" he asked her. "You know damn well what I am talking about. I am not your next Genevieve. I don't hop in bed with you whenever you like. This…is not going to happen again." She was suddenly angry, making him feel even more confused.
He stepped in front of her before she could leave the room. Hayley raised her eyebrow. "Something you would like to share with me, Klaus?" "Something you would like to share with me, little wolf?" he asked her and came forward, kissing her hard on the lips. She smiled as he continued to kiss her and she responded, his arms sneaking around her once again and keeping her balanced. "You may want to forget about last night, but I don't." Klaus whispered against her lips as they pulled away from each other. She was not sure of what she was going to say to him.
"Klaus…we don't have…we can't be in a relationship. After last night, I am starting to realize it." "Why not?" Klaus asked her, fury showing on his face. "Because all you care about is sleeping with women. You have not once settled down for one alone who you could love and care for. It's just impossible for you. And I can't give my heart out to you like this." Klaus rolled his eyes and put his hands on his hips, getting even angrier. "You were the one who suggested this. It was not me, little wolf." Hayley bit her lip and looked away from him. "I know that." She managed to whisper. "So, what is the problem?" he stepped over to her and held her hands. "What is bothering you, love?" She pulled away from him and went to look out the mirror at some children playing in the snow.
"We will always be connected…through Hope…but I have come to the conclusion after last night that this was a bad decision. Hope doesn't need her parents to be involved romantically to make it work." Hayley told him and that made Klaus' mouth drop in shock. "So, you are going to take back what happened between us last night?" he asked her, rage filling up inside of him. Hayley bit her lip as she tried her hardest to make him understand. "I will always care for you. You know that, Klaus but…I can't see you involved with someone in a serious relationship. I just can't. And I'm afraid that soon…you will come to resent me if we keep this sexual relationship going. Besides, this is not what I want. I want to be loved. I don't really need the sex. You can have that with other women like you used to do with Genevieve but never with me. I won't do that."
"Of course I don't wish for you to be just some woman I sleep around with. I care about you, love…" Klaus began and Hayley put up a hand. "I know, but it's just not enough. And what is in fact bothering me is that I know you too well." She put on a sad smile as she stepped over to him and put her hand on his chest. "You are never going to settle with just one woman for your whole eternity. There will always be others. You have to find a woman who is strong enough to go through that. I am strong. I know I am a Queen to my people but I am not emotionally strong for something like this, especially not after what happened to me when I was just a child."
Klaus growled and turned away from the image and back to Ansel. "I won't watch this anymore." He told him. "Well, you don't really have a choice. The night is young and I might have plenty more things to show you. I have so many memories of yours that could use some revising." Ansel told him. "Let me go, now! I told you that I will no longer watch any of this!" Ansel looked at his watch and whispered, "Perhaps it is time that you went back. It would seem like the past is not actually helping you as I thought. We will need to proceed with the present tomorrow. I will be looking for you, son." He told him and Klaus' eyes widened. "No, I don't want…" But a smokescreen was upon him before he could say anything, making it impossible for him to see anything.
He was gasping and breathing hard, as he woke up hard on his bed. The figure of Ansel was gone and the room looked normal once more. He could see her move beside him and she finally opened her eyes, looking at him as she sat up on the bed. "What are you doing?" Hayley asked him. Klaus continued to stare at her for a moment. He couldn't realize that there were some things that he wanted to tell her. "Hayley…" Was this a dream? What id Ansel was never really here? What if he had imagined the whole thing? Hayley continued to stare at him with worry in her eyes. "What?" she asked him. Klaus looked away from her at that moment, not bearing to look into her eyes anymore and that hurt her. "Goodnight, Klaus!" she snapped before going back to sleep.
Finn & Camille
"You don't get out much, do you?" Camille asked him as he showed up at her bar the next day too. What did he really want from her? "You do work here. Would it be that bad for me to show my face once in a while?" "Yes, because I don't know how many times I have to repeat myself. I don't want you around me. I can't forgive you after everything that you've done." "You've forgiven many people, including my brother, Niklaus. Why can't you forgive me?" Camille couldn't answer that question. "Let me show you how to have a good time. Let me take you out." Finn was insisting.
"How long has it been since you asked out a girl? A century?" Cami asked him with a smirk. "Actually, I lost the woman I once loved recently. It hasn't been much longer than two years ago." Cami looked at him for one moment in shock. He had a girlfriend, so recently, and he must have lost her. "What happened to her? Did she leave you?" she asked. It was the best possibility. He wasn't much of a people person and she couldn't have been able to stomach that. "No. I lost her…she died, right before my eyes." Camille put down what she was doing and was looking at him sympathetically. "I had no idea. I'm sorry." She whispered. Finn smiled and nodded. "It was some supernatural business that killed her."
"What was her name?" "Sage. She was a redhead and a feisty one. Frankly, she was the only woman in my life who has ever understood what troubles I always seem to have in my family." "You know, it wouldn't hurt for you to go back to your home once in a while. I am sure that your brothers and Rebekah miss you. They can give you a chance if you give them one." Finn smiled and shook his head. "Maybe, but not tonight. I have something planned for tonight." He said and pulled out two tickets. "The opera?" Cami asked, with a smile on her face. Finn nodded and showed it to her. "I am going with someone. It's a Christmas Special." "Really? With who?" "With you."
Camille was no longer breathing as she looked over at him. He was being serious about this. "But Christmas is three days away." "I know. I just want to offer you a Christmas bonus now. I think that with everything going on, you really deserve it." She was contemplating the idea. She did love to go to the opera, just as much as he did. But she wasn't sure that she could trust him anymore. "We can go as Vincent and Cami, if you would like." Finn said with a smile. Camille shook her head. "You can't go back to being Vincent. It's Christmas almost. Around the holidays, it's important to be who you truly are. No pretending. This is what my uncle always used to tell me." "I'm sorry you lost him." Finn said at once. "Thank you." Cami responded as she played with the tickets in her hands.
Finn stood up from the counter, pushing away his last drink and he was putting on his coat. "Well, then, why don't we do take your late uncle's advice and go as we are. No lies and no secrets. Just us. What do you say?" "You want me to get out of this place, don't you?" Cami started laughing and Finn nodded. "I think that if you continue working here, you're going to go mad. Come with me…and let me feel like I once felt." "How did you once feel?" Cami asked him. "I felt…like I was alive. I was in fact alive. Pretty problematic, I know, but…I was human and I have come to realize, that humans are the purest creatures out of us all." Cami smiled at him as he said that.
The opera was anything but a blur. Camille was able to concentrate on everything that was going on up there on that stage. Sometimes, she wished that she could be in the Nutcracker tale or any other Christmas story, because she loved it. The singers were amazing and they were making her feel anything but hopeless for a wonderful Christmas. Finn was happy that she was having a good time with him. Looking over at her from times to time, he noticed her head sliding onto his shoulder, resting there as if she were at peace with herself, and there was the possibility that she had forgiven him. "You should be with your family." Cami whispered in his ear once the show was almost over.
Marcel & Rebekah
Rebekah was going to have a vampire heart attack any minute this night. She was walking around the fireplace, alone in the house as Klaus, Hayley and Hope had already gone to sleep. Kol was out with Charlene again and he couldn't care less if the family had no Christmas tree to put up. As she went around town that day, Rebekah discovered that all the good Christmas trees had been bought last week. "I knew that I am so late. I should have worked before and if I had a little help…" She threw a chair to the wall and picked up her phone, deciding to call Elijah and give him a piece of her mind.
"Where the hell are you and why haven't you been home for days? I know that you have been seeing Gia but that is no excuse when it comes to our family, Elijah! You know that!" Rebekah screamed into the phone, not caring if people woke up. "Rebekah, please try to remain calm. I am having a problem that I will need to take care of. I will be home on Christmas Eve, I can promise you that." Elijah said, but that wasn't nearly good enough for Rebekah who said in a whisper this time, "I have been working my bloody ass off for this Christmas and I think I deserve a little appreciation but I have been having none of it. Not from my family and not from Marcel either." Elijah chuckled but Rebekah screeched, "It's not funny, Elijah!" "Please, sister, with this rush you are never going to get into the holiday spirit. You need to keep calm and take a small break. I will see you as soon as I get home." With that, he hung up.
Rousseau's was open and Rebekah could clearly see Finn at the bar, trying to talk Camille into coming with him to the opera. She wanted to go over to him and slap him for not trying to be a part of their family. He couldn't imagine how heartbreaking it all was for her to have to live through this. Ignoring Finn and Cami, Rebekah went to the back of the bar where she knew that she was going to find him. There he was, drinking up a storm, with his vampire buddies, singing jingles…and with plenty of half-naked strippers around him. Rebekah's mouth dropped as she went over there and grabbed a blonde girl that was trying to get on top of him, and slamming her to the ground.
Marcel immediately stood up to help the girl and he looked over at Rebekah, angrily. "So, this is what you do when I am working up a storm around the house." Rebekah whispered, trying to hide the tears that were already falling on her cheeks. She went out of the bar and into the cold snow. "Rebekah!" Marcel called after her and went over to her, grabbing a hold of her arm. Rebekah showed her fangs and bit into him so that he would let her go but despite the pain, he refused to back down. "What were you doing here?" he asked her in a whisper. "What have you been doing here? Have you lost your mind? You were supposed to be with me! What kind of a sick jerk are you, Marcellus?" Rebekah screeched.
"Nothing happen over there. You are being possessive and this work has got you out of your mind, Rebekah. Please look at me, I am trying to help you but I think that this Christmas that you are planning is causing a lot more trouble for us than it's worth." "It is worth, Marcellus! It is worth and after what you did in there, I am starting to doubt that what we have is worth continuing." "What are you talking about?" Rebekah crossed her hands over her chest. "You know what I am talking about. Consider our relationship over and don't let the door kick you on your way out. And you have been disinvited from the Mikaelson family Christmas Eve feast. Have a Merry Christmas!" Rebekah told him, turning around and leaving.
A/N: I know this chapter was more Klayley than Finn x Cami or Marcel x Rebekah, because it is mainly a Klayley story, but I do have time to write for the other couples soon. I hope you like Ansel as the ghost who is to help Klaus this Christmas. The next chapter will have Klaus visiting the Christmas Present along with the couples Gilijah and Kolvina.
Thank you for reading and please leave me a review.
