AN- Updated! Enjoy :)
Klaus groaned and let his head fall against the hard plastic of the wall.
-"Niklaus, if you would please try to understand."
"Just shut the fuck up, mother. You have no right to speak to me anymore." His hands clenched around the steering wheel.
"Sweetheart, you have to understand. Your fa- Mikael and I didn't have the most loving relationship. And-"
"I do not need anymore pathetic explanations. Especially one coming from the mouth of a whore."
"Niklaus- You would do well to mind your tone with me. I'm still your mother."
"Oh are you now? Or did you lie to me about that too? Do you even know the meaning of that? You're no mother to me."
"Nik- you're going too fast."
"Shut your mouth before I do it for you, Henrik!"
"Why are you taking your anger out on your brother? If you have something to say, say it to me."
"I have nothing to say to you. You're nobody to me. This family means nothing to me."
"Niklaus, you don't mean that- you're my son, my little wolf"
"Oh nice play on that by the way- Ansel Wolff?
Esther winced.
"Niklaus, please. I was not in a tawdry affair with Ansel. I was madly in love with him. You were a product of that love. He was an amazing man and a wonderful artist. And I found him while I was in one of the most darkest periods of my life. He saved me."
"How great is it that you're so willing to talk about him now that he's dead." He bit out bitterly.
"Twenty three years of my life, I lived under your wretched husband's feet, enduring abuse after abuse. I lived my whole life wondering what I did to make my own birth father hate me?"
"Nik- slow down."
"Now I hear that my actual birth father was just as worthless a man as your husband . Otherwise he wouldn't be so pathetic as to keep his existence from me until his death."
"Niklaus- I didn't mean to keep it from you. But you know Mikael-"
"Do not utter his name in my presence." He growled
"Nik- you're scaring me." Henrik whimpered from his seat.
"Niklaus, we're your family."
"This family means nothing to me anymore. I had finally found someone who I thought genuinely loved me and Elijah took her from me. And my own mother kept my paternity hidden from me, my whole life. So forgive me if I don't give a fuck about family anymore.
The only courtesy I'm extending, is taking you home and that's only because you dragged Henrik along with you in the middle of the night."
"Sweetheart, just try to understand-"
"I don't need your bloody explanation. Don't you understand that it's too late? I lost a chance at a childhood with a man who wouldn't have beaten me up. A man who would've loved me. A man who would've let me follow my dreams. Because of you. Because of you and that monster I knew to be my father, I lost a chance at all of that. I'll never forgive you. Until I take my last breath, I'll always hate you for keeping my parentage hidden from me and forcing me to endure Mikael's abuse. And you'll die regretting that you couldn't make things right with -"
"Nik! Watch out-"
"Klaus. Klaus- wake up"
He blinked his eyes open and they met the concerned blue ones of his girlfriend.
"You ok?" She squeezed his hand. "You were shaking and moaning in your sleep. And not in a good way." She tried to joke.
Klaus shook his head, the dream making him slightly disoriented.
"Dadda otay?" The little one year old asked from her mother lap, concerned.
Klaus' eyes softened and he picked up the child. Unknowing to the 18 month old child, her dad relied on her greatly for comfort.
He buried his face in her wild curls and inhaled the sweet baby scent.
"Yeah, dadda is ok." He met Caroline's eyes.
"It'll be fine, you know." Caroline took his hand once again and intertwined it with hers.
"We're going there for Rebekah's big day. This is about her ok. She needs you."
He nodded absently and looked out of the window of the aircraft.
"Dadda toon. Dadda and 'Lee watch toon?"
"No honey, mama has to put the laptop away. We will land soon" Caroline pointed towards the windows, where faint light from the city below them were starting to be visible.
"Unca 'tefa?" The little girl cocked her head.
"Yes, Uncle Stefan and Auntie Bekah are waiting for us."
" 'tee Bex" the little girl nodded understandingly.
"Yeah they're getting married in two days. And we get to see dadda's family."
Klaus sighed. "Caroline-"
"Klaus, I'll be there with you through it all, I promise. But you can't keep avoiding them."
"It's not avoiding when the other party doesn't want to see you either."
Caroline rolled her eyes. "You don't know that. You never tried reaching out after the drama ended. Yes, they weren't there for you when you were hurting and I get that you feel like they betrayed you. But think about it from their point of view-"
"I know Caroline. I am thinking from their point of view. And that's why I know that the last thing they need is to see me. I don't want to be the one to spoil my sister's wedding. I already owe a lot to her."
"You are not going to spoil Rebekah's wedding Klaus. She really wants you there."
"But-"
Caroline leaned forward and interrupted him with a chaste kiss. "No butts. You're going to put your big boy pants on and deal with it. Your family and you have been on the outs for far too long."
Klaus sighed.
"And your daughter and I will be with you every step of the way, we promise. Right Charlie?"
The little girl nodded, her blonde curls bouncing.
"Yah dadda. Pwomise" she held out her pinkie for Klaus to kiss.
He still looked unsure but he kissed the finger nonetheless.
Caroline took his hand in hers and squeezed it.
"It'll be ok, babe."
"He would be so big now." Klaus gazed out of the window.
"Henrik?" Caroline asked.
Klaus hummed in response. "He turned thirteen last week."
"His birthdays used to be so special. All of us would fight each other on trying to be his favourite sibling by spoiling him like crazy, but I didn't even have to try." Klaus smiled slightly in memory.
"His seventh birthday, he and I went to Germany-"
"You took your brother to another country for his birthday?"
Klaus laughed. "Mikaelson's are fancy that way." Then the smile vanished from his face. "The only thing I regret about not having having access to that kind of wealth is not being able to take you on such trips."
Caroline rolled her eyes and swatted his arm. "Klaus, come on. You know those things don't matter to me."
"They matter to me, love. I want nothing more than to take you and Charlie all over the world. I want you guys to experience all the great cities, art and music the world has to offer."
"And we will. Once I get a better job and once you start your own art gallery, we will pull Charlie out of school every other month and travel with her ok?"
Klaus laughed and kissed her.
"I was worried about how she would be on a plane, but she seems to be doing ok."
Caroline rolled her eyes. "Well I had to sit through three rounds of Frozen while you napped, but ok."
"I'll be on Charlie duty once we get to the hotel and you can take a nice long bath and unwind, will that be alright?"
"Hmm, that'll have to suffice for now."
"Is that chocolate milk on my laptop?" Klaus slapped a hand on his forehead.
"Don't ask me, ask your daughter." Caroline shrugged.
"Ugh Charlie- that cost me a fortune." he scrambled to get wipes.
"Dint dooo it"
"Are you excited, love?" Klaus tickled the little girls feet as he put socks on them.
"Yah" she squealed.
"And will you be a good girl and not throw a tantrum?
"Yah."
"And when we get to the party who's gonna be there?"
"Unca Stefa an 'tee Bex"
"Good girl." He kissed her sock clad feet.
"You know we're going to see daddy's family tonight. Your aunts and uncles in a way. Well, that is if they accept me."
"Dadda otay?" The girl pouted quizzically and reaches up to poke one of his frown lines.
Klaus smiled at her reassuringly and lifted her up into a sitting position.
"Dadda is just nervous that's all. These were people that dadda loved very much, a long time ago. Almost as much as I love you and your mummy." He tapped the child's nose.
"Dadda love 'Lee?" Charlie grinned up at her father.
"Of course dadda loves Charlie. Charlie is the most important thing in my life." Klaus nodded at her seriously.
"You mean the world to me, little love. Both you and your mum take up all the room in my heart. Never forget that." He kissed the little girl.
"You know I'm very tempted to just take you and your mum out for dinner and sightseeing and skip the whole party but I'm genuinely afraid your mother will kill me."
"Mama kill?"
"Yes, your mum can be quite scary when she wants to be. Same goes for your Auntie Bekah."
" 'Tee bex scawy?"
"Yes, she used to be a little monster when she was your age. She used to throw tantrums all the time when I didn't let her touch my paints. And she would tattle to my mum and da-, she would tattle to my mum that I broke her dolls."
The child giggled seemingly understanding the story her dad was trying to tell.
"But I'll let you in on a secret. It was actually my little brother Kol who broke her dolls, I would just take the fall for him."
"Dadda brudder?"
"Yeah dadda has a brother. Well dadda has many brothers. Hopefully you'll meet them tonight."
Klaus picked up the hair bow that Caroline had laid out for the little girl to wear, and slipped it onto her pile of curls.
"There's Finn, Elijah, Kol and - and Henrik. Can you say their names?"
The girl pouted quizzically for a second. "'Inn, 'Lijah, Kow an Rik"
"Good girl Charlie. You're speaking so well." He kissed her head.
"And then you already know Auntie Bekah. Well, there's Freya too."
" 'tee Laya?"
Klaus frowned. "Umm... I'm not sure whether she would appreciate you calling her auntie. I certainly hope that will change in the future, but for now, let's not go there ok?"
"Otay"
"Are you making proposal plans with our daughter again?" Caroline came out of the bathroom dressed and ready.
She wrapped her arms around his lean body and pulled his pouty face in for a kiss.
"I wasn't." He grumbled, slightly pushing her away.
"I don't think our daughter is the best wingwoman, Klaus." Caroline giggled against his lips.
"In her defence, she's the best wingwoman there is, aren't you love?"
Caroline rolled her eyes.
"It was her cuteness that got me to agree to you leasing my apartment. Charlie was the deal breaker, weren't you sweetheart?"
" 'Lee deel bekoh "
"Don't get me started on how you made a poor innocent mother and child wait out in the snow cause you were being a drama queen"
"You're the farthest thing from being poor and innocent, my love."
Caroline stuck her tongue out at him childishly.
"Now, I must say you certainly do look ravishing in that dress."
Caroline beamed and did a little twirl for him.
"You should see what I'm wearing for the wedding. You won't be able to keep your hands off me."
Klaus laughed and kissed her. "I can never keep my hands off you"
Caroline smiled into the kiss.
"Mama mama kiss 'Lee" Charlie pulled at her mother's arm impatiently, not liking the lack of attention one bit.
Caroline rolled her eyes, but complied by smothering her little mini me with kisses.
"You ready to meet daddy's family, baby girl?" Caroline lifted the girl and propped her up on her hip.
"Yah. 'tee Bex an 'tee Laya"
"It's Freya, honey. But I don't think you should call her auntie, ok?"
"Otay."
"Caroline, I-" Klaus started once again.
"No, we are leaving. So put on your big boy pants and follow me out ok. We will get through this together, do you get me? As a team"
Caroline pressed a firm kiss to his lips.
"And once we get there, you'll see your family. You guys will argue and then hug and kiss and cry and all will be well. I'll make sure of it."
"I didn't think I would ever come back to this place."
Klaus muttered to no one as the little family stood outside the open doors of the Mikaelson manor.
"I don't think I'm ready to do this." Klaus paused.
"Klaus-"
"We can just call Rebekah and Stefan later. Besides Charlie is terribly jet lagged " he pointed at the toddler who was looking around at the various lights and sounds of the party excitedly.
Caroline cocked her eyebrow at him.
"Klaus-"
"Let's just go back to the hotel, love. We can order in room service and once Charlie's up, I'll give you a tour of the city."
Caroline rolled her eyes and took a hold of his hand.
"Klaus, that's your family in there. Family above all. They want you here. Don't forget that." She squeezed his hand reassuringly.
Klaus took a deep breath and stepped inside the opened door.
He helped Caroline with her coat and picked up Charlie from her stroller.
Caroline sensed that he needed the comfort that radiated from the small child.
"Hey, look at me." She nudged him. "It will be fine."
He nodded absently. Then his eyes focused on something or someone behind her and he blanched.
He pushed the child into Caroline's arms.
"I-I need a drink. I'll come and find you."
He sprinted and she stared at his retreating form wondering who had caught his eye.
"Well, looks like it's you and me, Charlie. Cause your dad is an ass who ditched us."
Her daughter blinked at her.
"Ok that was a rude word, we don't say that ok."
"Otayy " the little girl lisped.
"Caroline Forbes?" A beautiful blonde, dressed in a very obvious designer cocktail dress came up to her.
Caroline smiled, unsure.
"Yeah, hello."
"Freya Mikaelson"
Caroline's eyes widened in recognition.
"Oh hi. I'm sorry I didn't recognise you."
Freya brushed it aside nonchalantly. "Don't be. I'm surprised that you seem to have heard of my name after... well after everything."
Caroline smiled weakly. "Klaus talks about everyone a lot."
"That's shocking considering how he bolted the second he saw me and Henrik."
Caroline sighed. "He's - he's scared. Absolutely terrified of being back here and meeting everyone, to be honest."
"I can understand. We were nothing but cruel to him. We were mad at him, absolutely furious, true. But that didn't mean we didn't want him in our lives.
But you have to understand Caroline, Mikael- our father was a cruel man and he wouldn't have it any other way. He had a firm grip on each of us even in our adulthood. And yes, we could have found a way to reach out to Niklaus after Mikael's death, the very least, but things were too different- too awkward. All of us are to be blamed for our actions."
Freya's eyes glistened.
"Well, your brother is back now. And I'm hoping that whatever happened in the past can be left behind. He would give anything to be a part of your family again." Caroline reached out and squeezed Freya's arm in comfort.
Freya smiled at her before her eyes caught on the tiny blonde in Caroline's arms.
"Hello there. You must be Miss Charlotte. Rebekah has told me all about you."
"Can you say hello to Miss Freya, Charlie."
" 'tee Laya?" Charlie cocked her head and Caroline winced. But Freya didn't seem to bat an eye
"She's just as precious as Rebekah described her to be." Freya pinched the toddlers cheeks.
"My kid and the rest of Nik's nieces and nephews are over there. We have set up a little kids thing for them with our nannies. We could put her there and then I could introduce you to everyone, if that's alright?"
Caroline smiled and followed behind her.
A brunette with gorgeous curls was soothing a screaming toddler, about the same age as Charlie.
"Shh... Shh.. Nadia, what did mummy and daddy tell you before coming here?"
"Be goo' girl." The girl lisped in her slightly accented lit, still sobbing.
"And are you being a good girl now?"
"No" the girl sobbed more.
"Why can't you play with Sarah or Ron if you don't like playing with Nick?"
"No mummy."
"Hey Nadia. I got you a new friend." Freya dropped to her knees in front of the crying toddler.
The child stopped crying and peered up at Charlie.
"Down mama." Charlie gestured.
The gorgeous brunette stood up and met Freya's eyes with a confused look, gesturing slightly towards Caroline.
"Uh Kat, this is Caroline. She is Niklaus' girlfriend. Caroline, this is my sister in law Katherine, she is my brother Elijah's wife."
Katherine's eyes lit up in recognition.
"It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise." Katherine smiled coolly.
"The red head over there is my brother Finn's wife, Sage. And those are her twins Sarah and Ron.
Freya pointed out the gorgeous red head.
"Finn will only make it in time for the wedding. He's in Singapore at the moment. Mikaelson's corp is opening a new branch there, so he's held up with that."
"Now, Kol and Elijah must be around here somewhere..."
"And I'm Henrik. Her youngest and most dashing brother."
Caroline turned to see a young boy seated in a wheelchair, with the most widest smile she had ever seen. And he had one of those mischievous smiles that made you want to be in on the joke. Caroline felt herself smile back at him helplessly.
He had dark hair and dark eyes. But Caroline could see Klaus in his cheekbones and in the shape of his nose. And Rebekah in his smile.
"You're Nik's girl right? Bekah showed me your photo. You really are gorgeous." He winked.
"You should stop hanging out with Kol, Henrik." Freya muttered.
"Where's Nik? He's avoiding us, isn't he? Didn't I tell you he would act like a wuss, Freya?"
Caroline was shocked at how blunt the teenager seemed to be.
"Can you take me to him? I haven't seen that wanker in seven years and the second he sees me, he bolts."
Caroline looked unsure.
"Henrik. Remember what we talked about? Nik will come to us when he's ready."
Henrik rolled his eyes at his sister and turned to Caroline and extended his hand.
"Shall we?"
Caroline sensed that stubbornness ran in the family. And if he was anything like her Klaus, he wouldn't back down.
Caroline looked over at Charlie who seemed to be having a very animated discussion with little Nadia and Katherine.
"Oh, she will be fine. You go find Nik." Freya nodded encouragingly.
Caroline met her eyes hesitantly and turned to Henrik and took his hand.
Klaus didn't know how many drinks he had downed by that point. Definitely enough to give him alcohol poisoning if he continued for another fifteen minutes.
His heart continued to hammer in chest and he was nauseous.
Henrik was here. His baby brother was here. Although Klaus only got a small glimpse of him before he bolted, the young boy's face was plastered into his brain. His face and the wheelchair he was on.
He had grown up so much. His face looked older and his hair was longer. But his smile was exactly as how Klaus remembered.
"No, Nik, no. Don't you-" the little boy broke off into peals of laughter as Klaus ticked his sides.
"I can't hear you Henrik. What was that?"
"Nik- Nik stop." The boy swatted at Klaus' arms
Klaus stopped his ministrations and the little boy collapsed in his arms.
"I love you, Nik." He beamed.
"I love you too, little monkey."
"Well, look who has finally landed on British soil."
A familiar voice said behind him.
Klaus gulped one more drink and turned around to face the cheeky grin of his brother Kol.
"Kol..."
Kol's smile disappeared and he moved forward to embrace his brother tightly, much to Klaus' surprise.
Klaus let out a shuddering breath as he gripped the back of his little brother's head tightly.
"It's been seven years, you twat." Kol muttered, still not letting go.
"I know. I'm sorry Kol. I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for mum, I'm sorry for Henrik. I'm sorry for staying away for so long. I was scared and I thought you were better off without me."
Kol pulled back and took a seat next to him.
"Well, you had no right to decide that."
He took a swig of his brother's drink.
"I thought Bekah was pulling my leg when she said that you were coming. But she told me that your girl promised her that you would be here."
Klaus looked over to the opposite side of the room where Caroline was talking to an unfamiliar brunette with his sister Freya by her side.
It seemed like the Mikaelson's had found her.
"Did you see the others?"
"No, I just got here. I saw Henrik and I bolted."
"And you left your girl in the hands of Kat and Freya." Kol nodded towards Caroline.
"Kat?" Klaus frowned.
"Elijah's wife. The gorgeous brunette with the big boobs next to Freya."
Elijah. Elijah was here.
Klaus turned to look at Caroline once again and saw that she was joined by a familiar young boy.
His heart started hammering again and Kol noticed the sudden panic and turned around to check what changed.
"Nik, you're not running again." He kept a firm grip on his older brother as he watched his youngest brother navigate through the crowd holding onto Caroline's arm.
"I'm not ready, Kol. Maybe tomorrow-"
"I won't let you break his heart again, Nik. You see, he doesn't blame you for the accident. None of us do, not even one bit. What he blames you, is for running away." Kol cast a hard glance at Klaus.
"Yes, Mikael chased you off but that shouldn't have stopped you from reaching out to Henrik." He said matter of factly.
"He used to cry himself to sleep every night, thinking he would never see you again. That little boy lost his mum and a big part of his life and all he wanted was you. He didn't want Mikael and he didn't want any of us. He wanted you.
What were we supposed to tell him? That his big brother whom he hero worshiped was a coward who couldn't stand to face his mistakes?"
Klaus' hand gripped tightly around the glass in front of him and he had tears streaming down his face.
He felt a familiar lump forming in his throat and he could sense a panic attack coming.
"I- I can't stay. I need air. I- I need to go"
Klaus pulled his hand away from Kol and ran out of the room and stepped into what used to be his mother's garden.
He leaned against the wall and slid down and buried his face between his knees.
"Niklaus?"
He heard a familiar voice call out.
Perfect.
Klaus lifted his head and came face to face with another person he was dreading to see.
"Elijah."
Elijah took a note of his rumpled appearance and red rimmed eyes and furrowed his brows in confusion and concern.
He extended an arm out for Klaus to take.
Klaus lifted himself to his full height and smoothed his hair down and fixed his tie.
"I didn't think you would show up." Elijah said after a moment, not really meeting his eye.
"Were you hoping that I wouldn't?" Klaus couldn't help but sound bitter.
"After all these years, brother? You still think the worst of me."
Klaus didn't reply but reached out to wrap his arms around Elijah.
Elijah froze initially. His brother never initiated physical forms of affection with anyone, other than Bekah and Henrik. And considering all that had transpired between them in the past seven years, this was clearly surprising.
He had thought about how it would be like to meet Klaus after all these years. He thought he might show up at his wedding. He was supposed to be the best man after all. But he didn't. And Elijah wasn't surprised. Rebekah had told him that Klaus hadn't batted an eyelid when he was informed of his nuptials.
Then he figured that Klaus would at least show up when he moved to America. Hell, he was in the same city as his brother. But years passed and they never even ran into each other on the streets. New York was big enough to separate the two brothers.
Elijah was sure that Klaus would turn up at the hospital when Katerina gave birth to their daughter. He knew that Elijah would need him. He was supposed to be the Godfather for Christ's sake. He was supposed to be the first person in the family to hold her.
And that night, as he rocked little Nadia to sleep, panic struck him when he thought that maybe his daughter would grow up not ever knowing her uncle. He cried to Katerina that night, fear that he will never see his brother again. And it did not strike him that maybe, he could make the first move and go to Klaus instead of waiting for him. But clearly, the Mikaelson stubbornness was too thick for him to come to that conclusion.
Elijah bought his arms forward to wrap around Nikalus. He hadn't held his brother like that since they were children.
"I am deeply sorry Niklaus. For Tatia, for your father, for mum, for not being a better brother to you and for not reaching out to you when I know I should have. I'm sorry that I'm the reason our family was broken all these years."
Klaus couldn't help but sob into his brother's shoulders.
"And I will be eternally grateful to Miss Forbes for she had the good sense to convince you to come be with your family."
Klaus lifted his head and turned around to see Caroline standing near the door with Henrik.
Elijah nodded towards Caroline to join them.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Forbes, I'm Elijah Mikaelson."
Caroline shook his hand warmly. "I've heard so much about you, and please call me Caroline."
"Caroline" Klaus murmured and wrapped an arm around her waist, his eyes still not leaving Henrik's who seem to have been frozen in his position by the door.
"Elijah, I haven't met the rest of your family, and I was wondering if you would introduce me to them." Caroline slipped away from Klaus' embrace.
"I'd be delighted to." Elijah nodded, catching onto what she was trying to do.
He turned to Klaus and gripped his shoulder. "We will catch up after the wedding tomorrow, brother?"
Klaus nodded weakly.
"Shall we then, Caroline?"
Caroline took Elijah's arm and left the two brothers.
Klaus felt his throat starting to close up once again.
Henrik took a deep breath and moved towards Klaus.
"Well, aren't you going to say sorry?" Henrik asked bluntly.
Klaus blinked back the tears as he stared at the hard face of his baby brother.
-"Niklaus, are you ready to meet your baby brother?"
Klaus peered curiously into the bassinet where a blue bundle lay squirming.
The infant had a tuft of dark hair that was peeking out from underneath his hat. And he was swaddled in the dark blue blanket he and Freya had gotten their mum one day.
"That's baby Henrik." His mother took his arm. "I think he looks a bit like you, doesn't he?"
Klaus frowned. "Nah. He seems to be taking after Finn, 'Lijah and Kol more"
"His hair, maybe. But you see those round cheeks and nose? Now that's all you, darling."
Klaus smiled and ran a finger across the baby's cheeks. Maybe he did look like him a bit.
"You promise you'll look after him?"
"Of course, mum. Always and forever. I'll be there for him. Just like how I'll be there for Kol and Bekah."
"Such a sweet boy you are, my little wolf."
Klaus felt tears streaming down his face and he hurriedly ran his hand across his face.
"I'm waiting, Nik."
Klaus moved forward to stand in front of his brother and much to the younger ones surprise, he dropped to his knees and took a hold of Henrik's hands.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so so so sorry, Henrik. I'll spend a life time apologising if I have to. I'll spend my whole life grovelling at your feet, if that's what it takes. But I don't expect you to forgive me. I have done the unforgivable. "
Klaus sobbed into his brothers hands.
"You have to know, I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't mean to hurt you or mum. You both meant the world to me. You still mean the world to me, Henrik. And I killed mum- I killed our mum and I did this to you. I truly wish that it had been me who had died that night. I wish that every day."
"What is wrong with you, you wanker?" Henrik swatted the back of his head.
"I asked you to apologise for leaving me, not for all of this." Henrik waved at his wheelchair, distractedly.
Klaus frowned and dried his tears.
"What happened to mum and I was an accident, you dolt. You were angry and rash, true- but you didn't mean to hurt any of us and that's why it was an accident. It happened years ago Nik, get over it."
Klaus blinked at his little brother confused.
" I wanted you to apologise for leaving, all those years ago. I was confused and hurt and scared when I woke up in the hospital and I wanted mum. Then Finn came and told me she was dead and then I asked for you. And they said you were gone. You were gone and you weren't coming back. Do you have any idea how terrified I was?"
Klaus looked down ashamedly.
"Bekah told me later on that dad wouldn't let you in, and I could understand that. But I couldn't understand why you never called or texted. Not even once. Even Bekah didn't know where you were until a few years later. And what of after dad's death? I don't care that you didn't come for his funeral, but you could've come for me afterwards. There was nothing holding you back."
Henrik took a deep breath.
"Why didn't you come for me Nik? Is it because you found out you had another dad? Or did you just hate us that much?"
Klaus' eyes widened. "Hate? Hate you? I was ashamed Henrik. And I was terrified of seeing you again. And I thought after all that I had done, I wasn't welcome in the family anymore."
Klaus took Henrik's hands again. "After I woke up, all I wanted was to see you. And Mikael attacked me in front of the critical unit where you were and Finn and a couple of security officers had to take him away. He wanted to press charges against me for the accident. And I felt like it was safer for everyone if I just left."
"And I wanted to talk to you, I really did. But as days passed my apprehension just got worse and I just knew you would never forgive me. And I was scared of seeing you like this. Seeing you b-broken."
Henrik frowned. "I'm not broken, you idiot. Being in a wheelchair doesn't make you broken. I'm way stronger than that. Besides you should see all the cool tricks I can do with it."
Klaus wiped his eyes. "Will I ever earn your forgiveness?"
"Well, you can start by promising to never ever leave me ever again and you can take me to that new ice cream bar that just opened across town- maybe Caroline's daughter would like it too, and then you can get me the new PlayStation that I've been begging 'Lijah for, oh and we could take a trip to Switzerland if you have time and then-"
Klaus couldn't help but chuckle. His brother hadn't changed a bit. "I don't really have access to the Mikaelson finances to indulge in all that anymore Henrik, but I promise I'll never leave you again and I'll take you to the ice cream bar. And I can try and convince Elijah to get you the PlayStation, ok?"
"Why don't you have access to the Mikaelson finances- don't tell me you don't use your old bank accounts anymore due to some stupid moral reason?"
Klaus rubbed the back of his neck. "It didn't feel right. And it was Mikael's money. And he made it plenty clear that I was no son of his."
Henrik slapped his forehead in frustration. "Elijah will have a cow when he hears this. So you have a job- are you earning well?"
Klaus shrugged. "Well it wasn't easy. But I got a job at this art gallery a year back and things have been looking up."
"What about your trust fund? That was from mum. You could've used that."
Klaus shook his head. "I don't deserve it."
Henrik sighed. "You know what you need, brother? A strong drink and therapy."
Klaus laughed. "Caroline keeps telling me that."
"She's gorgeous, by the way. Much prettier than all of your ex girlfriends. There's something just so bright about this one."
Klaus smiled and nodded.
"And that child of hers? Adorable!"
"We should get back to them." Klaus nodded at his watch.
Henrik took a hold of Klaus hand and they moved towards the direction of the party.
"Nik!" A blur of blonde hair and arms jumped on him.
"Hello, love."
Rebekah smiled widely at her brother and hugged him once again.
"See Rik- I told you he would come." She stuck a tongue out at her little brother. Rebekah was clearly inebriated.
Henrik rolled his eyes. "You tell me that every birthday and holiday."
Klaus winced.
"Sorry, Nik."
"No, I deserve it."
"All good then?" Bekah whispered to him.
Klaus smiled and hugged her back. "Thank you for making me come back."
Rebekah laughed. "Me? I didn't do anything. You should thank Caroline, she did all the dirty work. I just gave her an excuse to bring you home."
Klaus nodded gratefully. "Have you seen Caroline?"
Rebekah gestured towards where the little kids were seated. "Yeah, she was over there with Elijah and Kat."
Klaus nodded and walked towards where he could see his brother and a tall brunette.
"Elijah." Klaus stopped in front of them.
Elijah was holding a pouty dark haired toddler who looked to be the same age as his Charlie. "Niklaus, may I introduce you to my lovely wife, Katerina." He gestured towards the brunette.
"It's Katherine." She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "I've heard so much about you. Elijah practically talks about you everyday so I feel like I have known you forever."
Klaus smiled and kissed her hand.
"And this little one is Nadia, your goddaughter."
Klaus breath hitched in his throat and he looked at Elijah unsure.
"Uh- are you- really?"
"Nadia, love, this is Uncle Nik. Can you say hello?"
"No." The little girl crossed her arms in front of her and her pout deepened.
The adults couldn't help but laugh at the adorable antics.
" 'Lijah thinks she gets the grumpiness from you." Katherine winked at him.
Klaus cocked a brow at Elijah who just shrugged.
"Do you want to hold her?" He offered.
Klaus frowned, worried whether the grumpy child would comply.
"Oh don't worry, she's just cross because Caroline took her new friend upstairs to change her diaper."
Klaus laughed and held his arm out for the little girl. She looked a bit unsure first but went to his arms anyways.
And as she settled in his arms, Klaus felt unexplainable contentment. He had been dreaming of this moment for years. Reunited with his brothers. Holding his niece. Reunited with his family. And it all became possible because a blonde and her daughter showed up at his door on a snowy day.
"Hello." Klaus murmured to the little girl. She shared her mother's chestnut curls and her face was all Elijah. But her eyes-
"She has your eyes. Well your's, Rebekah's and your mother's eyes." Katherine said, noting how he was staring at the little girls eyes.
"She's absolutely gorgeous."
"You know, you have other nieces and nephews to meet? Don't hog just the one." Freya came up behind them and nudged his shoulder.
"Freya." Klaus breathed.
"Hello, Nik." She leaned over and kissed his cheek and wrapped an arm around him. "Welcome back."
"You have a little boy right?"
Freya nodded towards a little curly haired boy who was talking intently to a dark skinned woman.
"That's Nicholas. We call him Nick, for short." She said with a wink.
Klaus' smile widened.
"And you remember Keelin right?" She gestured towards the woman Nick was sitting with.
Klaus nodded and smiled at the other woman who waved back.
Little Nadia started to fuss in his arms and he frowned down at her.
"What's wrong, love?"
" 'Lee" she pointed in the direction towards the stairs.
"Charlie just went to get changed, sweetheart. She will be back soon." He soothed her.
"I didn't think I would ever see the day when Niklaus Mikaelson would become a kid person." Freya laughed.
Klaus rolled his eyes. "I've had experience."
"Yes, Charlotte seems like a very sweet girl. And she's already formed a little gang of sorts with Nick and Nadia, so you don't have to worry about the cousins not getting along in the future."
"Oh- Caroline and I aren't- I haven't asked-"
Freya rolled her eyes. "The child calls you dad and she called me auntie Freya, what more do you want?"
Klaus sighed.
"This family will forever be grateful to Caroline, Nik. She saw past all of our stubbornness and bought you to us. Because Lord knows that we would all have continued living our lives separately if she hadn't come in between us."
"Where is Caroline? She doesn't take this long to change a diaper." He frowned.
"Oh- I sent her to your old room, I assume that's where you're staying?" Freya asked.
Klaus shook his head. "No, we got a hotel in the city."
"Why on earth did you get a hotel when you have a perfectly good room here in the manor?" Elijah frowned.
"No, that's alright Elijah. We don't want to impose."
"Nonsense, I'll have my driver go over to your hotel tonight to pack up your things and have it brought over. Staying at a hotel all the way in the city when the wedding is taking place here, is an absolute waste."
"Down, down Unca Nik." Nadia tugged on his shirt.
Klaus felt a happy twinge in his heart. The same happy twinge that he feels whenever Charlie calls him dad.
He put the child down and straightened his jacket. "I better find Caroline." He nodded to the group and walked up the stairways in the direction of his boyhood room.
The door was ajar and there was light coming from within. He softly knocked on the door and entered after hearing no response.
Caroline was curled up on top of the covers with Charlie nestled next to her. Their limbs flayed and hair wild.
It seemed like jetlag had gotten the best of them.
Klaus slipped off Carolines high heels and the little girls ballerina flats. And he removed the pins holding Caroline's hair up. And as expected, neither of them stirred. His girls were such heavy sleepers.
Klaus gingerly lifted the covers and tucked the both of them in. He slipped his own shoes and jacket off and slipped under the covers.
Caroline stirred and unconsciously moved in his direction, their little girl nestled in between them.
Klaus wrapped an arm around them both and ran a thumb over Caroline's arm.
"Thank you, love."
"You're welcome." Her sleepy voice groaned.
Klaus sighed happily and closed his eyes.
"Klaus?"
"Hmm."
"We need to go see your mom next, ok? After we wake up."
Klaus hesitated at first, but then he found himself humming in agreement.
It was easier to do things that terrified you, as long as you had people that loved you with you. And he knew that Caroline and Charlie will be there with him through all of that, always and forever.
AN- Guess who's back? :) Thank you so much for waiting patiently until I was done with my exams. And here is an extra long chapter for being such amazing readers. Your support is what makes me wanna sit my butt down and write. I'm done with the theory part of my exams and I still have practicals left and I'm honestly so drained out and the last thing I wanted to do was write, but then you get a message from wonderful readers asking whether you're going to update and your heart just soars, ya know what im sayin? Anyways this chapter was kinda hard to write cause obviously or was big on the feels with the whole reunion stuff. And I don't know, something tells me we need to see a London part 2. Like i want to see Caroline meeting the whole family and getting to know them and I think we definitely need more Klaus and Henrik moments. So would you rather I make a part 2 of that or would you prefer if I add it as a flashback snippet in another chapter? So let me know what parts you liked, what parts you hated, where you think I could've done better. Let me know your thoughts, whatever they are.
much love. xx