AN : Hello to my dear , beloved readers I missed you all so much , Here is the final draft of this chapter it took me so long and I'm not even as close to satsfied it , but it's here and it can finally get me past my Block , Read and enjoy , and please review , tell me if I need to take it down and rewrite it please , I will if need be .
The Abittoire :
Hope Mikaelson Nursery :
Hayley looked up from the Tablet in her lab, she was siting in the floor of Hope crib, having finally succeeded in putting her Daughter to sleep.
The only time she remembered Hope being this fussy and restless was when Klaus stabbed himself with that damned dagger, after linking his life with his siblings, her Baby had been inconsolable, fussy,and temperamental for half a year.
She sighed, and her eyes met with Her daughter mirror image, he smiled at her and in two long strides was in front of her and sitting cross-legged in front of her, and he managed to make even this posture casually elegant, figure.
" Hey, finally sleep", He whispered with a small smile to their daughter, who's sweet sleeping face was just right by him, separated only by the crib bar's. " I thought the new formula worked? " He asked.
She sighed and replayed at the same level, The fear of waking her daughter was still prominent, especially after spending three hours trying to stop her fierce bawling "it's me actually", at Klaus startled glance she reported, "according to Halona ".
" Your ancestor, who shouldn't be able to contact you now that you gave birth". Klaus raised a brow and checked with her with barely withhold displeasure.
She grimaced and extended her Hand for him to take and see for himself, It should be disturbing how casually easy it's to let him, THE KLAUS MIKAELSON, into her head, she should be more careful. More cautious and self-aware, what if Klaus saw more than she wanted him to, but somehow she knew that he will never violate her trust like that, because he is Klaus, and he will never misuse the trust of his family mentally.
Klaus took her hands gently, not looking away from her eyes, and she felt the pull as he pulled them both to the memory.
Hayley was pacing around the room with a fussy Hope in her arms, her Daughter adamantly refused to fall sleep and give her a slight respite. Since she woke up this morning, Hope has been irritable, her small face was scrunched up, and she keeps brushing into fits of loud wails and cries. While waving her tiny hands around as if towardsomething off.
If not for Kol and Finn reassuring her that Esther curse didn't take effect, she would have been on her way to track down that Bitch wherever the place Klaus stashed her away.
" Please Baby take a nap, an hour will ve enough", Hayley pleaded with her daughter as she circled the crib for the eighteenth time, feeling at the end of her Robe, and not knowing what to do to calm down her baby girl.
Aside from the few blessed minutes of calmness when Hope is feeding, she couldn't calm her at all.
" From my experience, no amount of begging would be of help when they are this young", a soft accented voice stated from behind her, startling her into tightening her hold around Hope, jostling the infant and making her cry louder.
" Dammit", she hissed, recognizing the voice but Deny it, it just can't be, she growled at her unwelcomed entrodure.
The voice continued, not deterred by her exclamation and the anger and exasperation bleeding from her in nearly visible waves. " Or any age in the case of my firstborn Daughter".
She turned around and glared at the woman behind her, annoyed at the other unwelcomed presence and comparison," Why are you here? ". She demanded aggrieved, not in the mood to speak to anyone, not even her Great ancestress," can't I escape your meddling even in the living Realm and in my Home".
Halona's shock her head and narrowed her eyes and reprimanded her softly," now! , is this away to greet your dear ancestor, who expended great effort to help you. Why earn now, I only came with the intention to advise you for your own good".
She sighed, and her shoulders slumped in guilt, Halona was right of course, she has always helped her. And without and her other relatives, she wouldn't even be here and having this second chance with her family and Hope. " I'm sorry, it's just Hope ... I don't know what is wrong with her! , she has being crying from sundown and is driving me insane, I can understand what she wants". She explained Helplessly.
Halona hummed and sat on the armchair across from the swinging chair, and gestured for her to take the opposite seat. She did and listened while adjusting Hope more comfortably in her eyes. " Maybe you should start with calming down yourself", she suggested calmly, Hayley stared at her perplexed.
Halona sighed and shake her head at her and instructed," Take a deep breath, clear your mind and dispel all the negative emotions inside you ..." . "What are you getting at, exactly? ", she asked irritatedly.
Halona sent her a patronizing look and ordered her firmly," Hush! Child and do as I say".
Feed up with the older woman and with the entire wolves' population after today, she snapped angrily, "what don't you just say what you came here to say and spare us both, I have a Baby to put to sleep, and I'm feed up with people scheming my life for me".
Halona didn't snap back or retort in any way, but frowning and staring at Hope who was crying even louder, her face turning redder, worried and guilty she gently stroked Hope face and head, usually this with gentle humming and shushing will be enough to calm her and put her in bed. But not this time, like everything else for the past few hours, nothing seem to do the trick.
" Hayley you are surely to Hope, and you are her mother, she too is subjected to your emotions. When a mother is upset, angry or sick their child empathize with them, it's a connection that exist between the two from the womb...and the connection between you and Hope is more solid than anyone else, your girl is powerful and intuitive by Nature ... I credit this to our side of the family, our wolf side was always strong even inactivated", Halona lectured her with a steely tone.
She blinked at the older woman and tried to digest her words, she looked at Hope flushed, upset face and sighed, she took a deep breath and tried to apply Halona's advice, she cleared her mind and tried to dispel her tremulous emotions.
Surprisingly when she let out her frustration, hurt and humiliation in a series of deep inhales, she was deeply thankful and relived when ten minutes later Hope was silent and dozing peacefully in her crib, her tiny palm resting on her left cheek, her face still flushed. " Thank God", she breathed lowly.
" Now that wasn't so hard? Was it! ". Halona asked bemusedly.
" Oh shut up", she's grumbling, a blush of embarrassment.
Hayley pushed Klaus out of her head and turned her gaze away from him for a second, Klaus raised his eyes and checked on Hope again and smiled at her angelic visage before turning back and met Hayley gaze and asked her softly," what did she really want? , I'm sure she didn't exert all that effort just to bestow parenting advices on us".
She flushed and looked at the door for a moment contemplating escaping , before her shoulders slumped and she turned to meet klaus amused expression , " she came to bestow advices on me okay , but not parenting one's " , she huffed feeling irritated at even discussing this , but she needed to vent to someone and who is better than Klaus. " she came to remind me that , I can't go lone Wolf , and as the last of my line as Hope doesn't count she will always be your daughter first, That I have duty to marry for alliance " .
Instead of anger or frustration even irritation , Klaus suprised her when a sympathetic expression crossed his face and he winced , " you two , I belive we have been teamed against " .
Her eyes widened in disbelieve and alarm," No, no, no, they won't dare ... have they all gone insane".
" Sadly, they did". Klaus affirmed with a downcast of his lips.
" Who was it? ". She asked him curiously.
" Ansel", he answered with a huff.
Her eyes widened and jaw dropped and shake her head in clear dumbfounded," your awesome Dad is into this too! ".
" He is not into this, Hayley, he helped plan this", Klaus growled lowly.
Hayley waved her hand in front of her before pressing her palms into her head, "So he ... they want you to let the other Alpha's court you too, and then pick whoever doesn't repel you most and marry him too? ", she asked with a hysteric laugh.
Klaus's eyes sharpened and unholy light shine from them and for a second she felt scared, before he smiled and his eyes softened, and he smiled at her, more like bared his teeth" something like that".
She shot him a sympathetic and worried look, "are you planning to accept ... their offers of courtship I mean? ", she asked fearfully, "because they get to you, they may as well have gotten to me too".
Klaus took her hands in his much larger ones and squeezed them comfortingly, he stared deep into her eyes his eyes shinning with that unholy light again, but it was shadowed with affection and confidence, "Hayley I promised that you never have to do anything you don't want ever again, you won't have to marry a stranger or anyone ever as long as I draw breath, and you forgot that anyone who wants to court you will have to go through me first ... and they probably won't survive me to get past my siblings let alone near you".
Warmth spread from the center of her chest, an unconscious smile overtook her face and she lunged into the other hybrid smile feeling lightheaded, save, protected, cherished, happy and lucky. "I don't know what I will do without you, I love you so much".
Klaus's arms tightened around her, and his lips planted a soft lingering kiss to her temple and his eyes sparked down at her, and he whispered, softly in a tone that bade her heart thump, "I love you too, very much my Darling".
They sat like that for a few minutes, basking in their affection, connection and understanding, she had never felt more thankful than now for giving Klaus the chance he deserved, she felt rewarded and joyful knowing that it had all paid out, with this wonderful friendship they share now, a relation that they didn't share for years from now, and she counted this as her greatest success after giving birth to Hope again.
" You can count in my help too, you know ... I will send those pretentious, power Hungary bitches running, just say the word". Hayley promised with a mischievous smile .
Klaus chuckled lowly and pulled them both up and out of the nursery, "that will be appreciated, just don't back down when I do ask".
She rolled her eyes and opened the door to her bedroom and vowed, "you won't even have to ask if she doesn't meet my approval, we are tied together, and I own half of you already".
" I'm pretty sure you own more than that love, Goodnight", he replied laughingly, he kissed her cheek and left her in the corridor feeling slightly cold and apprehensive, is it her or Klaus seems to be up to something.
The Abittoire:
Klaus Mikaelson Room :
Klaus sat on the table in the Balcony of his room watching the bustling city under him, he took a large sip from his Bourbon as plan after plan were conjured up, analyzed, discarded or added on.
His brain was full on his earlier discussion with his father and the aftermath of his talk with Hayley, and the consequences that she didn't seem to be informed of or comprehend.
This was more than his and Hayley freedom, or his love for her, it's even more than Hope, this about the three of them and everything they can be and achieve, and their happiness.
His mind fell back to his conversion to his father, who had blindsided him with his suggestion, more like command, that he marry Hayley.
" Now that Hayley's engagement is broken, we will prefer if you and her will settle down unit us by ... Marrying each others". Ansel announced, shocking him to the core.
For a few seconds Klaus was stunned, and his mind was blank, the first thought that sparked after the blankness was that his Hearing was failing him, even thought he knew that to be an impossibility, with his sense's as enhanced as they are. The second thought to enter his mind is that he must have misinterpreted his Father words, and that made more sense to him, so he leaned closer and asked him Blankly, "Could you run that by me again please! ".
Ansel's has the Gall to Grin in amusement, How dare he, father or not to take amusement from his misinterpretation, he is lucky that he is determined to improve his temperament, "I said that we want you and Andrea to join together in matrimony, you know tie the knot, Get hatched, start a family ...".
" Father". He cut him off with as much of a respectable tone as he could use, before abandoning it and asking him bluntly," are you insane! ".
His father gave him a reprimanding glare and replied calmly, "I'm in control of all of my mental facilities, and before you ask, yes I'm speaking seriously, this is not a matter to jest about".
His mind was buzzing and spinning at the same time, why would his father and the other three Alphas scheme his and Hayley's marriage, what would they gain? , what do the three alpha's, no all the other Alphas, truly want from them? , It can't all be to path Hope a future as a Queen, Who to say that Hope herself would want to be one, can he even trust the three motives from interfering in his family's life.
" Why? ". He asked his father suspiciously.
Ansel raised a brow at him inquisitively and asked him calmly, "why what Niklaus? ".
" Why would you want me and Hayley to Marry, what would they gain from us marrying, what would you gain from us marrying? ". He replied immediately, the demand for answer as clear as day in his words and tone.
Ansel smiled in satisfaction as he answered him, "Now, you start to think as an alpha. That why I would answer all your question at once, ... Power".
It was his turn to raise his brow and ask him curiously, "yes, that what I thought, but how? ".
Ansel patted his shoulder and adjusted his seat to be more comfortable as he started his explanation, "alpha Clark is getting old, he will relinquish his title to his Great-Grandson, who will be married to Alpha Blake granddaughter, his other granddaughter is engaged to Alpha Osborne the three are forming a power block to suppress the other young alphas, Allen and McNair are very ambitious, while Danvers and Howard are respectable, and amiable they are not weak, but Allen and McNair they don't know their place or what ambitious to never pursue. Allen has his eyes on Andrea, while McNair is contemplating perusing you, now that Andrea is free from her engagement and broke her ties to the crescent she is a lone Wolf, every Alpha with a hint of a brain to them will extend her an invitation to join their pack, having the labonair princess, the last labonair as Hope is considered more a poldark until her wolf form is activated, and we know which side she took after more".
Klaus took his words in and digested them before remembering the birthmark Hope shared with Hayley, "she took after Hayley". He informed his father, "she has the crescent birthmark".
Ansel beamed with satisfaction and rejoiced, "excellent, that's Marvelous news indeed".
His reaction surprised him entirely, and he asked his father curiously, "should you not be upset that she didn't take after our family trait! ".
Ansel dismissed his words with a hand wave and explained happily, " but I have you Carry and his cousin to pass on the family berserker traits, and Hope been more labonair will not mean that she didn't inherit our berserker tendency, it will help her future greatly to inherit her mother and her grandfather trait's and passing them to future generation, it means that the royal line won't die now that Hayley is incapable of having more children".
He nodded with understanding, coming to accept the importance wolves put on procreating and passing their blood to the next generation.
Ansel carried on his explanation, "being one of the major royal lines with the Parry's support through Andreas as the alpha is her maternal uncle who would be happy to know his nieces are alive, and our alliance with the Paxon's and our constant marriage alliance's with the other lines, we stand in the front most as one of the largest most connected packs, especially as we avoided Mikael persecution the last two decades and have time to repopulate and build our power and gather in one place, instead of large groups to avoid being slaughtered by him ". Klaus frowned at the reminder of Mikael crusade against his pack and family.
" With no royal blood in their veins McNair and Allen will do anything to remedy that, as of now Andrea is open to their machinations, and as we are related to the Blake's, Clark and the Osborne's by marriage, and they owe our family loyalty for centuries, they of course will be concerned about yours and Hayley's single state", surprised by this new bit of information he turned to his father for more explanation.
Klaus raised his brow in silent challenge and Ansel retorted insistently, "you are the future Head of the poldark line, the alpha of the North Atlantic pack".
" The moment you participated in the fight for succession you have acknowledged your wolf heritage and your status as Royal wolf which require you to marry to further the pack interest, one day you will marry Niklaus ... Mark my words, I'm only making sure that you get to marry the women you love who thank the ancestors below and the Start's above are of suitable lineage, you marry Andrea we have the labonair joined to our line, Hayley has a pack, and you have a complete family, and I can finally have some peace". Ansel finished passionately.
Klaus took a deep breath and urged his prodigious mind to calm down, and analyze the situation with pure logic, and separately from his rolling emotions, logically his father scheme is the best course of action to take. Especially under their newly revealed circumstances.
To think he had went from a pariah , a figure of his mother indiscretion and betrayal , a constant stain on his family , to a royal alpha in the span if months. And now his royal duties are demanding he surrender the freedom he had clunged to for a millennia , not even with Tatiana or Aurora did he even dream of getting married . And here he was for months now trying to conger up the courage to ask for Hayley's Hand .
And here was his father giving him logical, valid reasons to present to her, to convince her to take him, without having to confess how madly and completely in love with her, he is.
He knew her enough to know that she is not ready to be wooed and romanced, she is too warped in the pain and hurt of her past and losses of her future vision, but an engagement... he can do that he can woo her, heal her wounded heart and make her fall for him, he just needs to plan his approach as thoroughly as this endeavor require.
What matter is that come hell and high water, even if he has to path the city in blood, and commit a genocide he will not let Hayley slip from him, to undeserving, scheming Bastards, like Allen and Jackson, they will have to kill him to get her, and even then he knew that his siblings will be thorns in the two hearts to the end of their days.
He touched his chest, Over his heart trying to force the Damnable thing to calm down physically, but he couldn't suppress the smile that overtook his face, and the light in his eyes from his father, who took to look at his enlightened face and let out a long delighted chortle, "you are more Hopeless than I thought my Boy", he laughed, "go ... go, seize on this opportunity, don't let me down or embrass yourself".
Ansel eyes sharpened, and he leaned closer and asked his seriously, "speaking of embarrassing oneself and line, do I need to go over how to secure a woman agreement to marriage..." "We can't afford for you to botch this one, just be less inspide, forcefully and sarcastic, and use more sincerity and emotional ... um, persuasion". He finished meaningfully.
Klaus shot his father a dangerous glare and hissed out calmly, "Go back to whatever grave you crawled from, before I throw you there myself".
Ansel rolled his eyes and waved his hand in a calming gesture, "Fine, Fine ... just don't come back demanding my assistance after turning my sincere and affectionate offer ". He grumbled.
" Get out of my Home", Klaus ordered his father in a sweet tone.
Ansel sighed theatrically they made their way to the main part of the house, so he can be escorted out, "the level of disrespect I have to put up with ... if you weren't my offspring I would have laid you down as you justly deserve".
Klaus put a hand on his father forearm and stopped his stride and tirade, "Thank you, Father", he whispered sincerely, emotionally.
Ansel face softened into a mask of paternal affection and pride, "you are my child, I will do anything for you and your Hope ... scheming for your Happiness and future is my responsibility ".
He took Klaus shoulders in his and continued sadly, "I had let you down even before you were born, I can never make up for the wrongs I did By you ... my shortcomings and failures with you are too numerous to count ... but I love you, I love you so much that, I love you with all your defects and sons and mistakes, your shortcomings mean nothing to me Niklaus, you, my son is part of my flesh and blood, a piece of my heart ... I will do anything for you, I will die for you, and I will never abandon you to loneliness and misery now that I can control it, I hadn't left your side in a thousand years, and not even death will make me, it never managed too ".
His chest was going to burst with how much pain and joy it was struggling to contain inside it, his eyes stung with tears, and his mind felt clogged, and his breath hitched, how much ... how deeply had longed to hear those words from his parent. How he had need to feel he mattered that he is important to someone, to be a welcome, cherished part of someone heart ... to be loved so much, to know that his father love him so deeply and completely, Faults and all filled him with pain,joy and love to an extent he felt he will brush from it, he memorized every word, branded the expression and the look in his father eyes and smiled at him softly, not finding a word to reply.
Hayley will not marry against he will. Not to the mutt or anyone of his mold, or to anyone of the power-hungry wolves that can't wait to swarm her, she is part of him now, she owned him complete, and he intended to be part of her and own her back, he had found his last love, and he isn't planing to let her go ever.
He just needed to play this opportunity right, to find away to get his lite wolf and outplay his enemies and competitors, and if there's anything that Klaus excel at It will be plotting and outplaying everyone.