Hey guys! Thank you for your patience and thanks for the reviews for Mikaelsons Aren't Always Blood! I received some older reviews about the chapter Mothers and how you all wanted a Father's Day chapter, well, here you go! I can't always grant every wish, but one or two are plenty acceptable. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I really appreciate it!
They don't hate their Dad.
That's not it at all. They love him. They wouldn't be in this world without him. Without any of their parents. Jo and Alaric who made up their generics, and Caroline, who gave up her life to not only birth them, but help raise them.
They owed a lot to their Dad. Their mother was off on recruitment trips and trying to figure out an alternative to the Merge, so their Dad stayed behind to run the school. Their mother's face still very well known around Mystic Falls. It was better for the eternal 17-year-old to not be seen around the town without an aging cloaking spell on her, or if she was planning to stay indoors and not venture out of the house.
Of course, that was BK, before Klaus, and not now. Klaus didn't care if he was identified or not, nothing a little compulsion couldn't fix. His way of thinking brought their Mom around more, because of course it was their Dad who thought it was better that their Mom wasn't around too much in Mystic Falls. Their mother and Klaus could be seen strolling around Mystic Falls or the school, checking in on their daughters and their schooling, much to the annoyance of their father.
Their father, who seemingly, after so many talks, more like fights, had finally faced reality.
The Mikaelsons were family. Caroline was a Mikaelson. And as an extension, so were his daughters.
He only cringed every so often when the twins put an aunt or uncle in front of one of the Mikaelsons names. He does not however contain his scowling or eyeroll when they refuse to call the Salvatore's anything but their given name, sans any titles, and identifies them as 'their father's friends'. Yes, they 'made up' with the dopplewhiner's family. They thought it would lift their fathers' spirit that while they don't want to be around his friends, the twins didn't wish them any ill-will anymore.
They still did. They just didn't tell their father that.
The twins still said good morning to their father, when they saw him in the halls or at morning meetings. They waved from a distance, and the few times they see him in the evenings they say goodnight.
That was it though. Aside from all those times. The twins rarely saw their father.
It wasn't Klaus' fault either. Before he came into their mothers and their life, the only time they saw him were in instances where they made it happen. They got in trouble and were sent to the headmaster's office, or he needed them to siphon something, though he always tried to find Josie alone when he needed magic done. Or he sent them to their mothers to keep them safe. Aka, keep them out of the way. Of course, all of this didn't apply in the least to Hope.
Hope who, now had her own father back, when made to choose sides, obviously didn't pick Alaric's. Their father was still not taking that very well, but was smart enough not to antagonize the tribrid and her family any longer, especially when most of them resided in Mystic Falls, and were only a phone call and minutes away. Alaric just chose to stay out of her way now, treat her as any other student, which is ironic really, considering that was all the twins ever wanted in regards to their father's relationship with Hope, but never got. He always left his twin daughters for the shiny, new girl. Not even their mother around to go to for comfort.
Alaric stayed out of everyone's way now.
So, the twins rarely interact with their father. That didn't mean they hated him. They just...
Learned to live without him.
Contrary to popular belief, and the outward behavior the twins exhibited now, it isn't easy either. The slow descent to the knowledge that you aren't a priority in your parents' life. And for the twins, this descent into realization was 10 years in the making. It was hurting them slowly.
It's an awful feeling, to love someone so much, that you absolutely hate them for leaving you, even before their gone.
There is a spot in their hearts that has been filled since the very beginning. The spot of the mother. The mother who brushes her daughter's hair, and teaches them how to cook or goes shopping for pretty things with them. The mother who sings them lullabies and tells them bedtime stories. A mother's spot in a child's heart.
There was a spot in their hearts that had been filled in their childhood, infancy and toddler years, but had unfortunately dwindled as the years went by. By the time when that attention was most crucial, it was nothing but a distant memory. The father that protected them. Picked them up when they fell, and scared away the monsters in the night. The father that teased them about boys and girls in their life's and embarrassed them in front of their friends. The father who dances their daughter around the living room and always tells her she is the prettiest thing he's ever seen. A father's spot in a child's heart.
While in the back of the twin's mind, they knew that only one of those spots were nurtured and taken care of, while the other one withering away, it wasn't until recently that they stuck their heads up and realized that that feeling of emptiness wasn't so empty anymore. It was full to the brim and continuously overflowing. When did that happen? When did Lizzie and Josie stop feeling like second string kids? When did Lizzie start to feel listened to? And Josie seen? What was surprising, was the fact that it wasn't Alaric Saltzman who filled that spot for them anymore.
It was Klaus.
Klaus kept them protected. Each girl had two hybrid bodyguard. One of Lizzie's specifically is a werewolf-witch. Someone to calm Lizzie down and contain the situation of her magic, if the need arises. Klaus picked them up when they fell. Physically and Emotionally. Josie, surprisingly is the one that fell emotionally recently. As much as everyone harped about the good twin this and the good twin that, the good twin was exhausting. People always think it's a breeze. They don't realize that the 'good child' is just as messed up as the 'bad child'. A person is the good child in hopes of lessening their parent's problems which ultimately lead to buried feelings, inability to express emotions, wanting to please everyone, and inability to handle the tiniest bit of confrontation and criticism.
Or, at least that was the line that Emma used in their therapy appointment.
After a particular rough argument with Alaric pushing in the guilt trip about how he expects more from Josie than her sister, and her using magic for personal gain is not the way he raised her. Which was then interjected with Josie pointing out he didn't raise her, they raised themselves with the help of their mother, and Josie throwing Jo, in his face.
''Just because you gave me her name, doesn't mean I have to shape my whole life like hers. Newsflash: I'm a witch! I will never want to play human!''
Not Josie's best moments she concedes. While, the words were truthful, and articulated how she's been feeling for a while. Josie didn't like to yell at others, and felt bad that she yelled at her father.
What made the rest of the day bearable was a phone call Josie made afterwards. She doesn't know why exactly, maybe because she knew he would answer, but her fingers dialed Klaus' number. They talked on the phone for a while. About her argument and then about miscellaneous things. Next thing Josie knew, Klaus signed her out of school and they spent the day with Freya, who was visiting. Mikaelsons temper are legendary and the need to release energy and anger are crucial. Freya had the perfect antidote for Josie to let off steam and embrace her power. Safely, mind you.
And when she was done, she was sweaty, out of breath, covered in dirt, and had traces of blood on her. One or two spells hit people nearby, but Klaus thought ahead and said the people were prisoners, that before today, where never going to see the light of day anyway, so they were perfect targets for her. Josie felt euphoric and when she turned to smile at Klaus. There was no disgust or caution in his face. No worry or wariness. Just happiness and pride. Josie felt better. Her magic was growing exponentially, and she looked lighter and happier than she had in days. Josie spent the rest of the day with Klaus after that. They went home to the mansion to clean up and eat dinner with the family. He dropped her off the next morning for school. Josie rushing passed her father, who was standing in anger and glaring daggers at Klaus, and pulled Lizzie and Hope into hugs. She answered their questions about where she's been, Hope getting excited that Josie now knew one of her therapeutic magic sessions, and wanting to join in next time.
Klaus picked Lizzie up after a fall. Physically.
Lizzie and Landon's friendship came so out of left field that the students and teachers at the boarding school don't think that even they know when it happened. It wasn't because Hope and Landon were dating, and Landon would eventually be Lizzie's step-brother-in-law, or the fact that Josie and Landon were friends, and were often in the library studying together. The two who bickered back and forth, the blonde with an unlimited range of insulting names, and the phoenix, with a mud pit for a father, somehow became friends. Unfortunately, for the teachers and staff at school, they were the friends who were always up to no good.
Landon had endless sci-fi knowledge, and Lizzie wasn't lacking either. Lizzie had magic, and a slew of things and people to siphon from. Both were very passionate and creative teenagers, who, when had an idea, would strive to complete it. Single-minded in their task. Driven to the point of recklessness.
Or so Emma wrote down in their therapy session with the two.
Which seemed true considering Klaus, while driving back from New Orleans, noticed a shadow above him. At first, seeming to think the clouds just rolled over in preparation for a storm, was just about to roll his windows up when he heard the unmistakable voice of his little blonde daughter.
''Woo-hoo! That cloud! Go to that cloud!''
Klaus screeched his brakes and got out the car. Looking up, low and behold, Lizzie was being carried by Landon Kirby, both were bouncing around each cloud of the day. The phoenix, holding his daughters' arms, and trying to sit her down on the...cloud?
''No, not sturdy enough. Next!''
''There aren't any more puffier clouds, Lizzie. Maybe, we should have waited till a storm. Those gray ones always look very thick and-,''
''Mommy look!''
With two words, Klaus' heart stopped. It showed what a thousand years of endurance and strength looked like, that Klaus could go compel a mother and child, while running and catching not only Lizzie but that bird boy as well.
''Have you two lost leave of your bloody senses!?'' Klaus roared at them.
''I got distracted! The cloaking spell wore off.'
''I lost concentration, my wings gave away, Kl-, uh-, I mean, sir?''
He honestly shouldn't be surprised. If it wasn't phoenix flying, it was creating their own Gremlins, or turning in a herbology assignment that could have been casted in The Little Shop of Horrors.
''Elizabeth.'' Klaus rubbed his eyes, feeling a headache coming on.
They both got in trouble. Detention. A whole month. Plus, they both got a good lecture from her mother.
They both thought it was well worth it. I mean, who else can say they laid on a cloud!
When she went to bed that night. Klaus came around to scold her once more before a final goodnight. ''Thanks for catching me.'' Lizzie spoke softly, with a small smile on her face.
Klaus couldn't stay mad at his littlest girl for long. He and Lizzie just weren't like that.
''Always.'' He whispered.
''And Forever.'' Lizzie whispered back, before closing her eyes.
Klaus was always good at that too. Whether in Mystic Falls, New Orleans, or out of town. He always said 'good morning' and 'goodnight' to the girls. No matter that they were probably too old to be tucked in, he still did it, and they all secretly loved it.
Klaus teased them about Landon, MG, and Penelope respectively all the time.
Klaus danced with Lizzie around the kitchen to slow tunes, and always taught her a new move from the 20s.
The kids, not only his, but the entire school, didn't have to go and be heroes anymore. No more monsters to chase away, because Klaus hired trained adult supernatural's to do it. All they had to do was be kids.
Klaus wasn't a fan of Lizzie's crop tops, Hope's high heeled boots, or Josie's sometimes too short skirts in his case, but he never failed to compliment them anyway. He noticed every haircut, new piercing, even though he hated it, new make-up, even though he hated that more, and new hoodies or jackets that the girls picked out to add to their new uniforms.
''Beautiful sweetheart.''
''Matches your eyes.''
''Picture perfect, just like your mother.''
It never failed to make them smile.
Klaus filled that spot in their heart, before either twin even was aware it was happening. He was always just there.
Not to trash talk their Dad or anything, because...
They didn't hate their father. They didn't. They just didn't want to spend Father's Day with him.
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''What's the difference between you and Hope spending Mother's Day together, and Josie and I wanting time with Klaus.''
''Besides the obvious.'' Caroline patented her daughter with a look. ''Hayley, may she rest in peace, isn't with us, so Hope has options whether or not to go to her resting place or spend time with me. While, I am happy that she chose to spend time with me, it wasn't, uhm-,'' Caroline stopped on the word she was going to use, knowing it wouldn't help the case she was trying to make to her daughters,
''Obligated.'' Josie finished for her. ''Hope wasn't obligated, because you are her stepmother, the day isn't devoted to you technically. Well, Klaus is our stepfather-,''
''More like father.'' Lizzie muttered under her breath. Caroline heard it, but chose not to dive in to it, as of right now.
''-and we want to spend it with Klaus. It's not an obligation to us. It's because we love him and want to show that we appreciate him.''
''What we do feel obligated to do, is spend it with someone who acts like he doesn't even have the time to be our Dad. Does he even know what holiday it is? Or is he even here? I didn't see him at breakfast.'' Lizzie asked her mother.
''He's out as of right now, but he will be back.'' Caroline huffed.
''That's the line he always uses on us. Spoiler alert, 'being back' means not till night fall.'' Josie uncharacteristically snarked.
''Jos-,'' Caroline started to try and comfort her daughter.
''Can you please take our side in this!'' Lizzie huffed, getting upset.
''I am always on your side.'' Caroline said firmly to both girls.
''Then look at it from our point of view. We sent both Dad and Klaus a text this morning. Happy Father's Day, I love you, can't wait to see you today. Surprise, surprise, guess who texted back out of the two.''
''Mom, please. We got him gifts. We worked with Hope on timing. We have everything planned.'' Jo pleaded with her mother. ''You know how much that day with Hope meant to you, well it would mean the same to us with Klaus.''
''I know. Girls, I promise, I do. It's just that I don't want you to write Rik off that quickly. I know he's been a little...lately, but-,''
''Lately?'' Scoffed Lizzie. ''Try yearly, Mom. This is nothing new. It's only new to you, because your actually around to see it firsthand now.''
''We know why you were gone before though.'' Josie shot a glare at her twin.
Lizzie took a breath. ''I'm sorry. I just... Mom, this isn't new behavior. The only thing new about it, is that he is leaving Hope out of it too. Usually, he's off spending time with her.''
''How do you know he isn't planning on doing something with the new Sherriff's kids? Lizzie and I probably won't even be on his radar today.'' Josie said.
Their Dad had recently started dating the towns new sheriff. She didn't know anything about their school or his daughters, except that he had two of them and what the towns people usually think about the little spoiled rich kids. They seemed pretty serious, even though it hadn't even been a full year, but then again maybe that was just their Dad's style. Full speed straight ahead or going nowhere. 8 months of dating is equivalent to a promise ring in their Dad's book. Which, the girls came to see as another slap in the face to them, because if the relationship was serious, and full speed ahead, why hadn't the twins ever meet her? Or her kids for that matter. They most likely had walked by each other countless times in the small town, but without pictures or introductions. They didn't even know each other.
''The Sheriffs kid's Dad isn't dead. Just a deadbeat that divorced their mother and took off. For all we know, Dad is off playing happy human family with them, and Josie and I can spend time with Klaus.''
''I-,'' Caroline couldn't say anything else after that. Of course, she knew Alaric was seeing someone. She knew before Klaus did a full background check on everyone with anything to do with the girls. Now or potentially in the future. She also knew how serious he could get, very quickly, so while the attitude was definitely not needed. Everything Lizzie said, could be quite true.
''Mom, really, it is a testament that I can say all that and not get in a state and trash the office. I am done trying. I'm done getting in trouble, just for attention, and done trying to be good to get praise. I'm done fighting.'' Lizzie said plainly to Caroline. ''Do you know how liberating it is to not have to go through all those ropes and schemes just to get five minutes of Dad's time? And now, with Klaus, all we have to do it pick up a phone. If that! Klaus makes it a point to talk to all of us. Daily!''
''It's okay to fight for the people you love. It's not okay to fight for people to love you.'' Josie said quietly. ''You taught us that.''
Caroline breathed in, in her mind, going over so many desperate moves on her own part, from her own youth, when she didn't realize the wisdom of those words. ''Yes, I did.'' She breathed out. ''I just never thought your own father would be in that category.''
Tears welled in Carolines eyes. That the girls spent the last 10 years feeling unloved, unwanted, and invisible. Three things that Caroline herself have felt as a teenager, and never wanted her little girls to feel. She wanted more for them.
''I'm so sorry, babies.'' Caroline whispered brokenly. The twins' eyes grew wide and they raced to hug their mother.
''It's not your fault. It's Dad's. Our breaks with you were heaven sent Mom, seriously.'' Lizzie reassured her.
''Plus, you brought us Klaus.''
Lizzie wiped her mother's tears. ''You're our parent too, remember Mom? What Klaus said? You can give 'the okay' too.''
Caroline nodded, with a smile on her face. It was something the family was working on. Well, besides Rik that is. Letting Caroline know she had more say in their life, and she wasn't just a 'weekend parent', that Alaric didn't have all the power.
Caroline still had a tiny bit lingering insecurity about her title as Mom, but the twins and Klaus had been great. The twins always backing up what she says and putting Alaric in check when he went too far. Klaus reminding her that with school coming to a close and the girls eventually graduating and being away from school and Alaric, they would need Caroline more. To see how they fit in the real world with their powers and that it was better that Caroline and the twins establish a good parental script now, so that even when they get of age, there wouldn't be any 'I don't have to listen to you' nonsense.
Caroline taking all of his words to heart, because the hybrid went through the same with Hope and her trying to see how much of a parent Klaus could be and testing his lengths. Safe to say Hope learned her lesson when Klaus magically grounded her and kept her locked in a castle for two weeks. Hope couldn't use any magic to break free, or break out. He didn't bound her magic, no, he would never do that, he simply put a hold on it. Stuck in a castle with a fully furnished and stocked kitchen, no TV, internet, or phone. Just books, her paints and canvases, with guards allotted all the way around. Nothing less, for 'his little spoiled, temperamental princess' he told Caroline sarcastically. A lesson that he wouldn't hesitate to use in any of the girl's lives, no matter the age. He warned them.
Oh yea. Lesson learned.
''I remember. Just residual loyalty.'' Caroline shrugged. ''Yes, he's your Dad, and he's the father of my children, but before that, he was my friend. It's hard to give up on friends. Especially since there's not that many left that I can say were with me through every part of my life.''
''Some friends are better off as acquaintances though.'' Josie told her mother.
''Lord knows, we are all better off without the Salvatores in our lives.'' Lizzie smirked.
The all laughed.
''How about a compromise.'' Caroline suggested. ''You know how your father will take this, and while his lack of attendance is welcomed after the past months of argumentative hell we have all been in, we can all agree we don't want him to completely disappear. Right?''
The twins nodded their heads slowly.
Of course not. They didn't hate their Dad.
''Knowing him however, he will be raving mad and throwing proverbial punches left and right. So, lets cover out bases. You guys have everything planned, right? Well, let him know you have everything planned. So, you have proof this isn't anything that just popped up or that Klaus put in your head.''
Lizzie opened her mouth to disagree, but before she got a word in. Caroline cut her off.
''You have to spend some time with him, if he wants it. Two hours at the most. If he reply's back, oh well, there's two hours out of your day, not too bad since I know you both allotted more time with Klaus.'' Caroline gave a pointed look to them.
''If he answers, your it. If not, you have your day with Klaus.'' Caroline looked at them, waiting for their agreement.
The twins looked at each other, each getting there, but not sold. Any time away from Klaus, felt like an 'F-U', in the grand scheme of things to the person that had their backs, and loved them and thier mother, since the day they all got together.
''I know it's hard to see in the pit of jealousy and anger he's been spewing, but the reality is, he just doesn't want to be forgotten. You two are all he has left of Jo, and while it isn't your responsibilities, in the least, to fill the hole she left behind,'' Caroline looked hard at Josie when she said this, willing the teen to listen to her words, knowing Alaric pushed Josie in Jo's shadow more times than not, ''it would be nice to at least be understanding about it.''
''He doesn't want to be forgotten or left out. The latter is all his fault and is not any of ours. He's been invited, he declines. With Klaus, you're getting siblings, and aunts and uncles. While, sure, you had something similar with him,'' Caroline chuckled at the gagging sounds the twins pulled, thinking about who their father considered their aunts and uncles, ''seeing you interact with Klaus and the Mikaelsons, showing a real family dynamic, he feels he can't give that you.''
The twins sat in contemplation for a bit. ''So, what if the itinerary isn't enough and he still pitches a fit?'' Lizzie asked.
''Then I'll take care of it.'' Caroline shrugged, not bothered in the least. The twins looked at the mother.
''I am on your side girls. Always. You did all you could do. You gave a heads-up. You sent a text. You sent a schedule. This holiday is marked down on the calendars. If he looked at one, he would see it. There's nothing else to be done. So, if he has anything to say about it. Oh well, case closed, he can try again next year, and see if you two will be on board.''
The girls would be 18 next year. Alaric liked living by human rules so much, next year would kick him where it hurt. They would be adults. They didn't have to follow any rules or ideas he wanted them to live by then.
Their mothers voice, broke them from their thoughts.
''He is the one missing out. You two are nothing short of extraordinary.'' Caroline smiled at the twins.
''Thanks Mom.'' Lizzie said softly.
''Now, shoo! Go get ready for your day. Link up with Hope about last minute things, go.''
The girls laughed and got up to give their mother a hug and a kiss. ''Thanks Mommy!''
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''Who are you texting? And here I thought I was the one who gets your attention today.'' Klaus walked in the kitchen seeing his eldest daughter taking a break from setting the table and tapping away on her phone.
''The twins, getting ready for your special day. Happy Father's Day.'' Hope smiled wide and gave her father a hug.
As much as Hope disliked when Mother's Day came along year after year, with a mother who 9 times out of 10 wasn't even in the same state as her daughter to celebrate with her, she absolutely loathed Father's Day.
She never got a chance to celebrate it.
When she was a baby, the family had a million and one more important things to do than to celebrate a miniscule holiday.
When she was a child, in the brief weeks she got to be with all of her family, reunited, the holiday didn't fall under their time together.
As a teenager, with the Hollow business and the supremist vampires, it was both. Too many other important things to handle, and the holiday didn't fall under their time together.
This would be the first Father's Day she would have with him. She could see how it would seem to be sacred. How she may want this time by herself with him and no one else. How, like with Mother's Day and Caroline, she wanted to show him how much she appreciated him, but it wasn't. It was different.
Hope didn't really know her Dad.
Her Dad didn't really know her.
It wasn't sad. It was truthful. They were getting to know each other. Quirks, triggers, and all. In total, before his resurrection, her father spent a total of a year more or less, of her life with her. 1 out of 18.
They were reaching 4 years now, together.
The thing about Father's Day to Hope was the guilt. Guilt that while she mourned Mother's Day, and cringed every June. She knew her mother. She had something, someone to mourn. Even if they didn't spend Mother's Day together, Hayley's face popped up first in her mind, followed closely by Caroline's, but Hayley's was first.
Father's Day, Hope felt nothing. The guilt is because she should feel something. He was her Dad. She loved him. This day of the year was his. He didn't share it with anyone else. But...
You can't miss what you don't know.
That is true.
But you can miss, what could have been.
When Father's Day came around and the students had phones glued to their ears talking to their fathers, and some were leaving to go spend the day with them, Hope was day dreaming. Day dreaming about what her own Father's Day would have potentially looked like. What they would do, what they would say. It made the day go by, just like her time with Caroline made Mother's Day go by.
So, sharing a holiday with the twins, who were getting to know her...their father like she was, didn't seem like a big deal to her. She was happy to share. Happy to have siblings to share with. She appreciated the text, seeing if they were stepping on toes, similar to Hope asking the twins with Caroline, but Hope didn't mind at all.
''Lizzie and Josie are coming over for brunch and then you'll open some presents, then an activity, then a snack, then a-,''
''Are you going to 'then a' at me through your whole sentence love?'' Klaus smirked amused at his daughter.
''Hey, it's either I tell you, or you wait till Lizzie gets here, and she'll hand over the color-coordinated, time slotted, tabs in place, itinerary she made for your 'Big Day'.'' Hope raised her eyebrows at her Dad.
''Continue if you must, but whether you say it or not, I'm going to sit through Elizabeth's itinerary of my,'' Klaus paused and squinted his eyes, '' 'Big Day', you say? Did she plan a wedding and I had no idea?'' Klaus half joked.
''You never know.'' Hope warned. ''Don't jinx yourself.''
''Uhm, excuse you, lack of a fashion expert, but if I planned Papa's wedding, it would put Princess Di's to shame.''
Hope whipped around to see her youngest sister balancing a binder and ceramic food dishes into the kitchen. Josie hot on her heals with a decorative storage box and presents wrapped in red, black, and gray.
Papa.
What first started as a playful poke to Klaus' position in the twin's life, turned into a real title. Papa Klaus was the name Lizzie dolled to him with sarcasm and her dramatic flair, that Klaus always excepted with fondness, if not a look of scolding. The girl reminding him constantly of another blonde 17-year-old he once knew.
As months went by and Klaus proved he wasn't going anywhere and he became someone they could rely on; the name changed a bit.
Papa Klaus just became Papa.
No one knew how much the name warmed his heart. How much it meant to him. What most people nowadays would see as a title for a grandfather, it reminded Klaus of the simpler times of his human years. Had he spawned children back then the normal acceptable word to address your father was Papa. There was no 'Daddy' or 'Dad' back then. When the child became older and could speak properly, Papa would then become father.
He didn't want any of his children addressing him as father however. Father was Mikael. What he and his siblings all called the monster of their awakened and sleepless dreams. Even Marcellus when he was young never addressed him as such. He was called Klaus or Dad.
Elizabeth was the first one to use Papa. To say the word to him and not just speaking about him in a conversation. Josie used it every so often, her loyalty still intertwined with the hunter, who felt like he was being replaced, and Josie didn't want to add fuel to the fire. Klaus loved their name for him. Something that was just his and the twins. It was special. Hope still only called him Dad. Even as a child, she may have only uttered Daddy once or twice in a frightened state with the Hollow business. Marcellus, now grown, called him Klaus. Elizabeth and Josie called him Papa.
''Happy Father's Day.'' Josie and Lizzie sat down their things and ran to squeeze Klaus in a twin hug.
''We have so much to show you and activities to do! You are going to love it! Now I am fully aware that you and the redhead over there aren't on the same extravagance level as me and Auntie Bex, but don't worry! I have a bunch of things that will suit everyone's speed today. Now, Papa, here are some outfit choices-,''
Klaus's eyes were growing larger and more amused as his little love rambled on about his day. Josie was sporting a snickering smile while pouring orange juice in everyone's cups and Hope had a smirk as she doled out pancakes to each plate. Klaus plain with a side of apples. Josie's blueberry pancakes, Hope's buttermilk with strawberries on the side, and Lizzie's chocolate chip.
''After that, we all will retire to your drawing room, where you will receive an item, no telling what it is! And-,''
Everyone dug in to their meal. Elizabeth's chatter as their background.
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Klaus' usual all black colored ensemble was now replaced with dark blue jeans and a dark navy-blue shirt, with black dress shoes to match. The girls taking pity on him by dressing him in something new, yet still him. He cringed at the preppy smock his firecracker originally wanted him to dress in. He was thankful for the change, because bloody hell, for his daughters, he would have worn the monstrosity. Only his little love could get him to dress in such things. When asked when exactly she had time to access his clothes, her rather flippant remark was that she waltzed in the other day to browse her choices.
Klaus didn't know why he needed a whole other outfit for dinner. He also didn't know whether to feel happy that Lizzie felt so at home in his house to loot through his room, or if he should feel put out that the girl clearly didn't understand boundaries. Even if the person in question was one of her fathers.
A talk for another day.
Today however, honestly had a very good start, middle, and end. Klaus sat in the kitchen of his mansion telling Caroline all about the day his girls planned for him.
.
.
.
After breakfast, outfits once again had to be changed. Klaus' surprisingly enough was okay, though he needed to exchange his boots for more, outdoorsy boots, in Lizzie's words.
Hope, Lizzie, and Josie each had a variation of different colored leggings, high boots, and shirts. Josie went with classic black leggings, white button down, and knee-high black boots. Her hair was in two braids, rolled into two buns at the back of her head, pieces of her hair hanging on the side of her face.
Lizzie sported navy blue leggings, brown knee-high boots, and a white polo colored shirt with navy blue stripes on the wrists and collar, added with a navy-blue vest over top. Her hair was in a French braid down her back.
Hope opted for black leggings and knee-high boots like Josie, but her shirt was like Lizzie's. It was crimson red with white stripes. Her hair was in a high ponytail with tendrils framing her face. Lizzie warned her with the windy day they were having, she might want to wear a headband. Hope brought it along, but for now she went without.
''Well look at you three. I can surmise a few things we could possibly be ready to do.'' Klaus looked up from his sketch book as the girls came down the stairs. He grabbed his keys from the table, assuming he was the driver for today's events. The twins each had a room here. Fully stocked with more clothes, accessories, and girly things then they would ever need, but nothing was too much for the twins. It was the same as he had done with Hope, and it was what his sister was counting on when Klaus commissioned her to get space ready for the twins here in the Mystic Falls mansion as well as both their estates in New Orleans.
''Sorry to keep you waiting Papa. Your first surprise is all me, and for that, we have to go to,'' Lizzie dragged out the dramatic pause, leaning forward to snatch the keys from Klaus' hands, ''the backyard. Keys not needed.'' She finished with a Cheshire smile.
Klaus raised both eyebrows, genuinely surprised. ''The backyard?'' He asked slowly. ''Alright.'' He nodded, confused.
Lizzie looped her arm in with his as they made their way through the house, past the kitchen, outside, and walking in the Mikaelsons massive acres in the back.
''Well, this activity is my choice. Something I think you will love, and your present, also something I think you will love. So, I hope you like it. Love it, really! It took some research, interviews with family and whatnot, a couple of months in the process. A lot of work Papa! Not that I minded! Or that you aren't worth it-,'' Lizzie was rambling on a mile a minute to Klaus as they neared their destination, unbeknownst to Klaus, whose attention was on the high energy girl.
''Elizabeth.'' Klaus chucked. ''The simple fact that I get to spend time with you today is more than enough. Everything else is just a bonus. One that I will appreciate. Stop fretting sweetheart.''
''Yea, you are right. You and I have the best times together, and I am just the more awesome daughter to hang out with.'' Lizzie said smugly, ignoring the scoffs coming from Josie and Hope.
''What can I say girls, blondes just have more fun.''
''You all are awesome company and I'm rather content in the presence of any of you three, or all of you together.'' Klaus said with a laugh, imitating an American teen when he said the word awesome, and made it a point to poke Lizzie's nose with his to drive his point to her. Elizabeths little girl giggle was music to his ears and it really hit Klaus in moments like this where times had really changed. He was a father. Thrice over. Four, if he counts Marcel. His children loved him, and he them.
''Well, what do you think Dad?'' Hope's voice brought Klaus out of his inner monologue. Standing in front of Klaus were five magnificent horses. The first: A dark brown one with hair the color of hay on its mane and foot. The second: A beautiful golden horse with a golden, white and brown streaked mane, hair seemingly wavier than straight. The third: A russet color with a light brown mane. The fourth: An ashy coal grayish black horse, with the longest hair out of the five. The hair streaked with white, gray, and black was down to the horses' hooves. A white triangle on its forehead below the ears sat on all the horses. Besides the last one.
This horse. A horse Klaus swore he dreamt about some nights, a horse that was filled to the brim with fire and determination. Loyalty and ruthlessness alike. A horse jet black the color of the darkest coal. Not a hint of any other color on it. A perfectly straight mane, no bumps or waves. Trimmed perfectly and never tangled. This horse. Klaus' horse.
''Tempest.'' Klaus whispered in awe, stepping forward. The horse neighed softly, wondering who was this man approaching it.
''The reincarnation. Sorry, I haven't tested my magic on reviving horses.'' Lizzie said softly, not wanting to break the moment her Papa was having.
Klaus's head swiveled around at her voice. He was coming out of his head and back into reality. ''How? Why? This is-,'' Klaus couldn't form a sentence. His eyes were getting moist at the reincarnation of a long-ago friend, lost to the tyranny of a bitter cruel man.
''I spoke to Mom and Elijah. I saw a picture you made for her. It was taped up, but it was her and a horse. She then told me about when you two went to a ball together and talked in front of the horses. You didn't say much about your horse, just that Mikael killed it, but Mom saw that it...he...must have meant a lot to you.''
Klaus nodded his head. Showing that he was paying attention to her words, even though he wasn't looking at her. He had already been given acceptance by the horse, who allowed Klaus closer to stroke him and feed him.
''Today is about showing you how much your appreciated. I wanted to give you something from your human days. You always say we, well, us and Mom were the biggest things in your life that reminded you of humanity and of Niklaus Mikaelson. The son of a Viking farmer and healer, from a village in the old world.'' Lizzie paused, looking to see if she offended or over stepped in anyway, before continuing.
''I did try to see if there was a spell to revive Tempest or get him back, but even Kol and Freya haven't touched many spells specifically about animals before. So, they advised against it. So, the second plan was Elijah. He gave me a descriptive detail about what Tempest looked like, your stable hands number, and a call to buy everything that these guys needed. I researched where I could find one that looked like him, and wa-la. Here he is.''
Klaus was in awe. He and Elizabeth, since the very beginning had a close relationship. Whether it came from their personal narratives that linked up in some places or the fact that they both had personalities that apparently just synced up to one another. He wasn't sure. What he did know was that only Elizabeth, could get him a present such as this. The daughter of the woman, that just in a few sentences, spoken years ago, read him well enough to know that his once black horse, meant a great deal to him, and she passed the story down to her daughter. Klaus stepped away from the horse and turned and scooped Lizzie up and twirled her around before setting her down, their arms still around each other.
''Thank you, my little firecracker.'' Klaus whispered hoarsely, tears of happiness threatening to break through
''Your welcome Papa.'' She whispered back.
Josie and Hope were wiping their eyes, sniffling and smiling at the pair. Neither jealous in the least at the outpour of emotion their father displayed Lizzie. The moment Lizzie told them her plan; they knew it would mean a lot to him. Klaus didn't talk about his human years that much, and missed less than what he did talk about. His baby brother Henrik was the main one, and a huge source of grief and guilt came with him. The second was his horse.
''So,'' Klaus cleared his throat, grabbing Lizzie's hand and raising his other arm for Hope and Josie to come join them, ''who are these magnificent creatures? Or do they require a name?
Josie stepped forward. The dark brown one with caramel hair is mine. ''I'm naming him-''
''Chocolate?'' Hope laughed, Lizzie joining in, with Klaus shaking his head fondly.
''If that is what she chooses, she can. No judgments.'' Klaus said sternly, the affect not taking, with the smile on his face.
''Give me some credit guys. Chocolate is such a basic name.'' Josie rolled her eyes. All of them raising their hands in a placating manner. ''I'm going to name him Hersey.'' Josie said softly with a blush coloring her checks and spreading to her face.
''Awww Jo!'' Hope cooed at the brunette. Klaus cleared his throat. ''I love it, Josie.'' Lizzie said with a smile.
''Hey I was being serious! I like it for you Josie. Something cute, simple, but with meaning still. Hersey is your favorite candy.'' Hope defended herself,
''Yea, you're usually a semi-serious person anyway with everyday things in your life. Having a silly childhood name for your horse is long overdue. We've been asking for these guys since we were 4.'' Lizzie told her sister.
''Hersey, he shall be.'' Klaus said in a final kingly tone.
''The second one is Mom's. She was already named, but we think it is perfect for her.'' Josie said with a smile. ''Lux. It means light.''
''Befitting.'' Klaus murmured with warmth, thinking about the woman that first introduced light into his heart after a thousand years of coldness. ''She'll love it.''
''This beauty right here is Gladiolus.'' Hope spoke up next. ''Want to know why?'' Hope asked her Dad with mirth and delight in her eyes. The perfect mixture of good and bad.
Klaus chuckled at her cheek, though was brimming with pride that such a name and meaning were to be said in reference to a child of his. ''I can guess. In a thousand years, I have studied the meaning of flowers before. Why don't you tell me though still, hmm?''
''Actually, Lizzie named it for me. I was upset at the name, I thought it was gibberish, and she was just being silly until I looked it up.''
''For those of us, who don't study flowers, what does it mean?'' Josie questioned from atop her horse. She mounted it, as she waited for introductions to be made and they all got on there's too. Caroline had taken the girls to horseback lessons early on. They don't think their father, Alaric, even knew. It was where their desire to have a horse or pony of their own came from. All those years of horseback riding lessons, and they couldn't own one of their own.
''Gladiolus: 'gladius' meaning sword, having associated with gladiators. Symbolizes strength and integrity or strength of character.'' Klaus answered.
''Lizzie, you came up with that?'' Josie asked in awe. The girls had come a long way from enemies and frenemies. They blended their families and lives together. They were sisters. As siblings, there was always one that didn't do well with emotions, or doling out compliments, and admitting when another is better at something. While Lizzie was improving on being a better version of herself, that didn't mean she didn't have her spunk or bite to her anymore. Or that she was doling out praises left and right either.
So, the fact that the one thing she always whined about in reference to Hope, the thing their Dad always mentioned with such pride when discussing his 'favorite student', the one thing Lizzie was envious about, considering to her, she didn't have it. That was the thing Lizzie gave to Hope's horse, because the description matched the owner. It was a lot in Lizzie's case.
''It seemed fitting for a horse of Hope's.'' Lizzie muttered, her eyes darting each way not looking at anyone in particular, until she lifted them and they found Hope's, who smiled at the blonde with thanks and appreciation for the compliment.
''Fitting it is indeed. It's a brilliant name Elizabeth, and an amazing compliment to one's sister. Never be ashamed to give one.'' Klaus told the blonde. ''Now, it seems you are spectacular with names, what is the name of this antsy soul.'' Klaus waved his arm in the direction of the ashy, black, grayish horse. It was shuffling on its feet, moving around, as if it was itching to take off.
''Storm actually. His name is storm. You don't know when you'll get thunder or a gentle rain. His name is Storm.'' The three watched Lizzie as she went forward, to calm her horse.
''Lizzie, careful.'' Hope advised from the top of hers.
''It's okay, Hope. He's okay. Just restless, aren't you boy. I get restless too. Standing in place so long, one tends to get lost in their head, huh? Me too. I'll pull you out of yours, if you pull me out of mine. Deal?'' Lizzie spoke softly to the horse, petting him and keeping herself calm. To the surprise of the girls, the horse did calm down, and as if agreeing to the deal Lizzie made, he head butts Lizzie's own forehead as to show agreement. Klaus wasn't surprised in the least, he having spent a great deal of time with horses, and knowing they understood more than some humans did.
Lizzie picked a good name and a good soul. This horse would help her tremendously in her efforts to better herself mentally and emotionally. Lizzie did need to get out of her head and to do that you have to transport yourself to other worlds. Some can do that mentally. Be one place and think and then drift off into somewhere else. Others, unfortunately, with less control of their minds, need a push, need to feel things in their senses to take them places. They can't just think it. Storm would be good for Lizzie. With the wind in her hair, green fields below, smell of grass, and the sound of wind whooshing passed her ears, and her horse, who she already entrusted her mind to, taking her all around the fields. Lizzie could truly break free and breathe.
''I love it Eliza-Beth.'' Hope grabbed Lizzie's hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. ''We should talk to Emma when we go back to school. Maybe make Storm apart of your schedule somehow.''
''Yea. Papa, can Storm come to the school sometimes? We have a barn there.'' Josie asked.
''Or we can just build one, just for us.'' Hope shrugged.
''That sounds like a lecture in nepotism from our mother waiting to happen.'' Josie interjected.
Klaus chuckled. ''That it does. Nonetheless, I will talk to Ms. Tig at the school for you Elizabeth. That was a great idea, Hope. I will ensure that you all will have access to your horses when you need them. After all, these aren't just to ride and for show, you all will be tasked your share of taking care of these creatures. Stable hand or not, you need to learn how to do it yourselves. I, as well as the rest of the family all know the ins and outs of horse care.
The girls nodded in agreement.
''Well, last but not least. What about your reincarnation.'' Lizzie asked atop of Storm.
''Hades.'' Klaus spoke nonchalantly with a shrug. As if he had that name in his back pocket and was waiting to use it.
''Typical.''
''Seriously!''
''The God of the Underworld?!''
''Shouldn't we call Caroline's horse Persephone then?''
''Maybe that can be her middle name?''
The girls were all talking at once giving Klaus grief for his name and trying to rename his Caroline's. He laughed. ''What happened to no judgement, hmm? Hades is my favorite God; I like his story very much. No, we don't have to change Caroline's horse name, it still fits to me. Persephone brought light to the grim and dark world of Hades' realm. Lux is quit fitting and they do make quit the pair side by side, don't they?'' Klaus answered back all the girls while mounting Hades and turning around to face the expanse of land.
''Well? What are you three waiting for?'' Klaus looked back at them with a smile.
Five horses raced off through the field. Four riders heard laughing the whole time. Not once did they let up or slow down.
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''That was amazing!'' Hope, who had gotten lessons at school through the option of Phys Ed had only interacted with horses on riding days. Knowing how to ride a horse was just to get an A, but out here, riding with her sisters and father, that was something completely different. Something more.
Showered, refreshed, clothing changed again, the group made their way into the kitchen for a big lunch after their activity. Klaus once again looked at the table and marveled at the consideration his daughters took. The table was loaded with all his favorite lunches. Some of which he was sure the girls did not know about through their many lunches over the years, but his siblings and Caroline certainly did. Pasta salads from Italy, variation of meats from Poland, and his favorite fresh fruits and crackers from a little bistro in California. All spread out for sub sandwiches and chips with salsas. Klaus was touched.
''Girls'', he chuckled fondly, 'You know hybrids don't have to eat as much as regular werewolves do, yes? This is the most I've eaten in a single day; in decades I think.''
Which was true. As a hybrid, the first and strongest, Klaus' diet consisted of fresh blood from the vein and hearty pounds of meat when he did eat. Obviously through his travels he indulged in the cuisine of each new place, but it wasn't necessarily needed. Just something he liked to do. Just like family dinners with his family, though there was the element that some members in his family now, did actually require sustenance. Though, Klaus himself, never truly needed any. So, this day with the girls providing him food for every time of the day, was a new thing for him. Even as a human, sure he and his siblings ate nuts and berries they found in the woods, but real meals were only breakfast and supper.
''We know, but one: It's your day, we can spoil you and your taste buds. Two: We, the three bottomless pit teenagers, love to eat, so, not going to lie, this is just as much for us, as it is for you.'' said Lizzie.
''Plus, it's not just food. They're your favorites. We're trying things you like and seeing if we match on anything.'' Hope stressed the importance of the meal, while shooting her youngest sister a look at her cheek.
Klaus wasn't phased in the least. By now, already having witnessed Hope and Lizzie's bickering and squabbling towards each other. It reminded him of Kol and Rebekah most of the time and with centuries of practice, Klaus was able to tune most of it out. With the girls however, when he did listen, he honestly couldn't help but let out a few laughs himself. When they weren't truly miffed with each other and throwing punches below the belt, the girl's little squabbles were very amusing, and instead of scolding them and telling them to be good to each other and act their age, like his dear Caroline would, Klaus would ruin any disciplining act with a chuckle or amusement in his eyes, letting the girls know they weren't truly in trouble with their words.
''Let's eat.'' Josie interrupted the two. Forever the peacemaker, Klaus thought. Elijah would be proud. ''The next activity is my idea.'' Josie said shyly.
Klaus raised his eyebrows with a smile. Internally however, he was intrigued.
Elizabeth was his little light. Klaus and Lizzie had a relationship with each other unlike even the one he had with Hope. Not that it was a competition. It was not. It was just that out of the three girls, Lizzie was the one to truly let him in. Hope, even as a child, while loved him dearly, he knew, never truly got to know him, or he her. So, he suspects when the time came and they indeed had just that with each other, time, the two came off more awkward and distant with each other than gravitating towards a relationship. Any bonding or talks they had previously had been all soaked in grief over Hayley, and even his own once planned death. Death, ironically, has a way of bringing people together, but when that element left and the family each in their own way started to move on and live again, Klaus and Hope found themselves right where they left off.
Not having a clue what to do next.
Caroline of course helped. She was his biggest support and advocate to getting him to be a father, and her little pokes and prods have been working. He and Hope go on lunch dates, outings, and simply talk on the phone a bunch. They were getting to that closeness. Not the closeness that comes from the simple fact that they were family, but because they wanted to be close, they liked spending time with each other and getting to know each other. It was lovely, but a nagging in Klaus' head, or rather heart, said he couldn't keep using Caroline to initiate that closeness, to direct that bonding time. He should be able to do it himself.
With Lizzie, he honestly doesn't know. It never seemed to be a problem for them. Lizzie was a closed off individual when it came to feelings and her expressing them. Klaus was too, so he never pushed or judged the blonde in the slightest. So, it was surprising to both that the two opened up to each other as quickly as they did. A cynical dark part in Klaus whispered, a broken heart knows a broken heart and the mad people always find each other, for the simple fact is, they can't find themselves. That was most likely probably it. Similarities could be found through both Elizabeth's and his life, and unfortunately, they weren't the good parts. Though it was those bad parts that they bonded over. Having a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen and understand, to empathize. Someone who went through the trials and tribulations, and didn't necessarily have a fix-it in mind, but someone who knew how hard it was to work on oneself, and how sometimes whatever work they did make, it simply doesn't take or last.
Now mind you, it wasn't all doom and gloom for the two either. Their struggles may have built the beginnings of their relationship, but it encouraged Lizzie to open up more. She already had confidence to talk to anybody about anything, but their mutual trust in each other allowed her to start talking about the things that mattered to her, the real things, and in return, Klaus did the same. A give and take with the two. Klaus would give his little blonde the world if she wanted it. In return, Lizzie gave him support, respect, and unconditional love that was like no other, because she didn't have to give it. Biologically, she wasn't Klaus', there aren't any ties. Yet, she gave her love just as much as his own biological daughter, and it meant even more.
Josie...Josie was...halfway? Maybe is the word.
He didn't love Lizzie more because they were the closest. He didn't love Hope the most because they were biologically related. He didn't love Josie any less because she and he were the last to take any sort of step further in their step daughter/step father relationship.
Klaus had Josie's personality pinned down when he first met the little darling. Quieter than her sister. Not necessarily shy, but reserved. Not talking, not because she couldn't or wouldn't hold a conversation, but because she always had the lively Elizabeth to speak for her. She was considerate, thoughtful, and kind. Always looking out for others to the point she forgot, or rather didn't see the point in looking after herself. Even though she didn't have the blonde hair and blue eyes like her mother and sister, Klaus still saw Caroline's traits in her. He told Josie that herself. The girl was always happy about that. Unfortunately, just like her mother with the caretaker gene, it got taken advantage of, and caused his little darling to burn out more times than none.
He suspected that what Josie liked about being with him and Caroline was that she didn't have to take care of them. He knew Caroline always made sure Josie was taken care of and her only focus was on herself when she is with her mother. None of that picking up behind someone that she does with her father, Saltzman, or having to keep an eye on Elizabeth. When she was with them, it was the only time she could truly rest.
Klaus took cues from Caroline when it came to disciplining or parenting the girls, though it wasn't that hard with Josie either. Behavior wise, Josie's was undisputedly, the best compared to her sisters. She was always so peaceful, mellow, and happy. Warm and lovely. She reminded him of his late brother Henrik a bit at times, when she wasn't behaving like Elijah.
With all that being said, there wasn't really any reason to interact with Josie outside of a family setting. Not that he didn't want to, he wanted a close relationship with all of his daughters, but he always felt Josie held back. He knew she had some insecurities already in motion about her place in the family, even before the Mikaelsons were added to that list.
Always getting compared to her biological mother from the history teacher, while was nice to hear, was starting to give the girl a complex and she was less inclined to hear anymore comparisons between the two. Yet, Josie always smiled softly at the comparisons with Caroline, liking that she wasn't the outcast of their little family. A belief that so far, no amount of reassurance had disputed. She always looked at their little family and how she just didn't fit. Even when it was just Caroline, Saltzman, and Elizabeth. Adding in his lot, the picture in her head still didn't add up.
Even when Hope and Caroline were together, a person could and did say she had her mother's eyes. Hope and Caroline, to their credit, usually never corrected them, but thought it amusing that people could find similarities to push the two together as mother and daughter. Lizzie of course was a carbon copy, looks and personality. Which left Josie. The brown haired, brown eyed girl, whose sisters were blue eyes, hair that matched each parent, and nobody matched Josie's.
Extended family wise, Josie could be mistaken for Kol or Elijah's child, but those gatherings were going to start to get two and far in between, since the family was getting itchy feet and wanted to separate to their corners of the world. So, Josie would once again, be the odd one out in her mind.
Caroline was doing her best to resolve those issues with Josie and Klaus desperately wanted to help, and he thought he did to an extent. The girl who always took care of others, Klaus made sure was pampered like no other. Made sure Josie had his number and contacts. If there was anything someone wanted Josie to do with the school, family, or outside commitments and she didn't want to, she knew all it would take was a call to Klaus and it was her 'Get out of Jail' free card. He would take care of it.
The thing is, Josie rarely used it.
It baffled Klaus in the beginning.
When the two were together, Josie wasn't nervous, or gods forbid, scared of him. Klaus can say she enjoys his company, and she herself admitted she loved spending time with himself and her mother. Josie asked him for things, again, she wasn't shy. He has gifted her the same gifts, just in different colors, as he has done her siblings. He has also gifted Josie things especially just for her. A grimoire pertaining to fire spells, just for her. A new bicycle, light blue, with the picnic basket in the front, and yellow seat. Just for her. As well, as multiple tickets to Broadway plays and musicals that she has shown interest in. The best seats and a fancy dinner afterwards. Just for her. Klaus honestly didn't know what was blocking their connection.
For a girl that was so insistent that she didn't 'fit in' with her family, Klaus couldn't help but think she was much like her mother in this way. Obviously, the types of love are different, but just like in his relationship with Caroline. Klaus was always there, but never in. He had Carolines affections and her attention, then when the next day aired, it was like the previous encounters were a simply dream. No, Josie didn't berate him or call him evil on the daily. The girl was always strictly respectful and pleasant whenever they spoke, but...the familiarity died. One day he was her loving step-father and the next he was just the father of her step-sister, her classmate, or worse, her mom's old friend.
It hurt in the beginning. Hope and Klaus were working on their relationship, he and Lizzie were the best of friends, and Josie and he...were nowhere.
It took him a while to see, but eventually he got it.
It was all the history teacher's fault.
He should have seen it coming, he should have. He calls her the peace maker, for bloody sake! Of course, she wouldn't want to rock the boat. Saltzman was always upset when he saw him with the girls. Coming back from a shopping trip or even a simple ice cream at the Grill. It was always a battle. Josie, who abhors confrontation and upsetting others, would obviously pull back if she could fix the problem. Especially if the person that was upset was her father.
Klaus, while didn't care at all if the history teacher's feelings were upset or not, didn't like putting Josie in an uncomfortable situation. So, he backed off. Which caused Josie to back off more. Mind you, they still talked, and texted, and she still accompanied the girls to dinners and some lunches, but their Broadway show days and her wearing little pieces of jewelry that her stepfather gifted her were over. Klaus still saw her with them, but not in front of the history teacher of course.
Elizabeth's relationship with her father was already deteriorating and she wasn't willing to let her newfound happiness in life go all for the man's ego. Josie, who focuses more on other people's happiness than her own however was still very much willing to cancel her down time just for Saltzman.
Which led them to now. Klaus was curious to what Josie had planned. They hadn't had anytime to bond like with Hope and Lizzie, but the reason for that, no matter the subtext of everything, was because they didn't want to.
Josie didn't want to hurt her father.
Klaus didn't want to put Josie in that position.
The daughter, who he loves just as much as the others, yet who knows the least about him, had an activity for them to do.
Intrigued he truly was.
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''I love your paintings.''
The statement brought Klaus out of his musings. In front of him stood the backyard balcony. Which wouldn't be so shocking, if it wasn't transformed into an artist's paradise.
Back when the family lived in Mystic Falls, the second time around that is, Klaus bought the biggest mansion in the little town as a sanctuary for his family. With all the conundrum and problems encountered, somewhere along the way the house didn't get finished. Or rather, the interior didn't. Outside looked magnificent. Bedrooms, dining rooms, and common areas were all done to his specifications. What was left was furniture still wrapped, catching dust on balconies, and boxes filled with books and drapery, now most likely a haven for a spider's nest. Rooms were housing dust mites and storage instead of the complete immaculate picture Klaus had in mind.
It never bothered Klaus really. He was going to get around to it eventually. Right now, he was busy with his love and their family. Getting the girls situated and upgrades with the school, not to mention the back-and-forth trips to New Orleans, he still did every month. Anyone who needed room had one and the dining room, library, and sitting room were available at all times, he was alright with that. He figured he could have Caroline help with the house when his sweetheart had the time. She spent just as much time at the residence as his siblings had. She could put her touch on things, just as she's done with his whole life.
The balcony was amazing. It housed a table filled with paints and brushes, all different sizes and materials. To the side a beautiful stream with water filtering in from the side of the house, entering into a little stone bowl, to wash the paint off their hands when the day was done. Plants and flowers were planted surrounding the outside balcony and its walls. Not too many flowers but not consumed with hundreds of vines. A beautiful mixture of reds, greens, and vibrant blues. Enough to entice any artist to capture its natural beauty onto their canvas. Klaus could feel his fingers twitching to do just that, until his eyes landed on something else.
There were easels set up with blank canvases as well as a couple of the paintings that Klaus recognized as his own. Each painting while had the same subject matter, was different. The first painting was a beautiful sunset background with the picture of an old building underneath, a camera man to the side, and people seen gathering in the audience. It was clear that Klaus painted a TV or Movie set done outside and if you looked hard enough, some could say they saw a faint figure of Elijah painted in the audience.
The second picture was a beautiful nighttime gala affair. Classic sleek old-time Rolls Royce cares lined outside with skyscrapers in the background. Lights from the Radio City Music Hall were painted with such vibrancy, Josie swore it came alive. Lines of people dressed in beautiful starlet gowns with their dates, donned in black and white tuxedos, were all making their way to the entrance from the red carpet.
The last painting was breathtaking to Josie. It was the picture of a Hollywood scarlet. Red lips lifted at the corner in a soft smirk. Green eyes and blonde hair curled perfectly and draping delicately over her face and arm. Her head tilted sideways as she laid on her arms on the back of a blue studded edge couch. Lashes curled and drenched in black, a beauty mark sitting on the corner of her mouth and another next to her eyebrow. A soft dark red drapery was wrapped loosely around her shoulders, hanging off. Josie could even see the smattering of freckles on them. Her back ground were dozens of men with cameras in front of their faces. Lights flashing from the old technology and dust lingering in the wake of each snap. The woman's eyes weren't shy in the least. More...mischievous. She obviously loved being adored.
Klaus remembered when he painted each and every one of these paintings. Each in different time periods, each in different states and cities. He couldn't tell you where most of his pieces of art were, he was actually surprised that Josie was able to find these few.
''Where? Ah, what is...and where are your sisters?'' Klaus stuttered through his astonishment of the turn of events, and just now looking around and seeing that Lizzie and Hope weren't anywhere to be found.
''This activity is just for me and you, actually.'' Josie answered shyly. ''I got the paintings from New Orleans. Marcel shipped them to me earlier last week. He said Aunt Rebekah was going through your old properties and cleaning everything out and renovating it to catch up with the times, she figured you wouldn't want some of your old paintings to get destroyed, so she shipped them to New Orleans.''
Klaus nodded. That made sense. He, and his siblings, even with Rebekah's need for all things shiny and new, had always had an appreciation for old time things. It was necessary to renovate their old buildings and such, but never to the point where it ruins its character or essence. The siblings did this every few decades or so. Rebekah always showed a real knack for it, having known her brothers very well to know just how much modernism they would like.
''Well thank you for the compliment little darling. I wasn't aware of it.'' Klaus said back.
''I know some of the paintings in this house you painted and I always admired them. Mom and I play this game sometimes,'' Klaus pops his head up and raises an eyebrow intrigued, ''when we are looking for art for her place in Europe and we figure out which one you painted. It's fun, but nerve-wracking, you never put your name and most are under aliases.'' Josie huffed playfully.
Klaus chuckled. ''That I do. I never do art for the fame or creditability of it. It was always just an outlet of emotion for me, an old age hobby, that grew into a passion, as I grew into myself. Though I am curious to which paintings you and your mother guessed. I would be happy to tell you which are actually mine.''
''Can you really remember every painting you've done. Even after a thousand years of endless canvases?'' Josie asked astonished.
''I put a piece of myself into each work of art. Every tear, anger, grief, and victory. I painted with my brush. Each milestone in history, each true love kiss witnessed at a distance, and a widower's cry, I remember everyone.''
''That's amazing.'' Josie whispered mesmerized by his words.
Klaus couldn't help the blush on his cheeks at the girls' words and the awe in her voice. Only a Forbes girl can do this to me, he huffed internally. ''So, is this our days activity? Would you like me to paint you a masterpiece?'' The thought actually welcoming to Klaus, as well as the talking happening around it. He liked conversing with Josie, answering her questions. This was all he ever has tried to have with the girl.
''Yes and no.'' Josie said with a smirk at his confused face.
''I do want a painting, if you wouldn't mind, but for this activity, the way we paint it will be different.''
Klaus looked on confused and intrigued at his middle child, as she moved a blank canvas in front of him.
''There is a spell, and before you asked, it has been approved by not only Auntie Freya, but Ant Bonnie as well.'' Josie held up her hand in front, when Klaus' gaze got wary.
'' I loved Mary Poppins when I was little. It is one of the movies Mom till this day, sits down and watches it with me. The spell is kind of like Mary Poppins and the chalk drawing scene.'' Josie smiled, when realization was washing over Klaus face.
''Out of all the paintings Marcel sent, I loved these three. They remind me of our shows we went to. The whole movie/musical atmosphere in each. And-,''
''You want to jump into one of my paintings.'' Klaus laughed lightly surprised. To be fair, it was something he could see his little dare devil, Lizzie doing, but then again, out of the three, Hope and Josie were more into their magical education and what they could do with it, plus Klaus was still learning the ins and outs of Josie, so maybe this was right up the little brunette's alley.
''Yes!'' Josie said excited. ''I've spelled each picture and canvas. All you have to do is think of the moment you were there and paint it. The smell, the scenery, what you heard, and what you felt, the magic will do the rest by helping set the scene around us. When we return, our picture will be on the blank canvas. The three original painting were just a memory jog for you to go off of.'' Josie rambled off in her explanation hoping Klaus liked her idea.
Klaus looked up to the ceiling, before leveling Josie with an amusing look and smile, before huffing playfully. ''Where would you like to go sweetheart?''
Josie squealed and hugged Klaus hard. He laughed and squeezed the brunette. ''Now, I'm sorry to say but, only two options are open for you however. I love your choices, but the Hollywood scarlet, is a tad bit too risqué for you to be involved in.''
Josie smiled okay with that. ''Well then, out of the two choices...hmm...''
Josie pointed to a canvas, and Klaus couldn't help but smile wide. ''I like your taste love. This will be a trip you shall never forget.''
Josie rushed to the canvas and started activating the spell, while Klaus made use of his materials and painted that atmosphere of the painting. Altering somethings to appropriate his teenage daughter, and adding in things he knew she would love. A dinner spot here and a candy shop there. Klaus was done. As was Josie.
''Ready love.''
''Ready Papa.''
Holding hands, they reached out to the canvas and their hands went through the picture until there was a bright light and then an empty art room.
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Josie didn't hate her stepfather.
On the contrary, she loved Klaus. She understood for some people that having their parents separated and not being together was the worst thing imaginable, but Josie never thought that once in her 17 years of life.
She knew that her parents tried the marriage thing when her and Lizzie were young, even though they never made it to the alter. She also knew that they only did it to give the girls a 'normal' child upbringing, with a mom and dad and picket fence house, with the family altogether. Well, she knew that was the only reason that her Mom originally agreed to it, at least.
Caroline Forbes would have never been happy playing human for the next 18 years with Alaric. Josie compares her mother from before, when she was managing the school and living in Mystic Falls, to the woman who lived in Europe and dinned in places with fancy white table clothes, and ate at bistros and stopped at markets buying pastries, cheeses, and wine. The Caroline that went on adventures around the world, and came back and brought gifts and souvenirs and told her daughters all about it. That Caroline was always happier, freer, brighter. Josie liked that Caroline more.
Klaus is perfect for her mother. Her Dad, while not abhorrent to the idea of a vacation, was more along the lines of stateside vacations: California, Florida, L.A., Chicago. He claimed New York was too busy and too dangerous to visit as a respectful, friendly, family vacation. Though he wasn't aware the girls had already been on a weekend visit with their wild Uncle Kol. While their Mom's vacations were out of this world. Literally: Paris, Italy, Columbia. Klaus was even talking about attending the Festival of Colors this year maybe to shake things up a bit.
She couldn't judge her dad though. He was human, a homebody. He liked things the way they were, the way they used to be. Adding Klaus Mikaelson to the mix shook everything in the usually put together, if not sloppy, headmaster.
Josie tried not to compare her two fathers.
She knew it wasn't fair. No two people are alike and no one is perfect. Though a deep part in Josie that didn't want to admit anything out loud said, in terms of a good caretaker and father-figure. Klaus was taking the cake.
Even though she didn't let him know it.
And she didn't show it.
Her Dad had enough going on with Lizzie and Klaus walking around like the best of friends. She knew it hurt her Dad when he heard second- or fourth-hand information about them. Information Lizzie rushed to tell Klaus about before she told anybody. Klaus was Lizzie's rock. He was her everything. Their Dad, never even came close to having a relationship like that with Lizzie. Josie knew he was jealous. Josie couldn't blame Lizzie either. It wasn't like Lizzie intentionally rubbed Klaus in his face either. She just lived her life. Went about the day-to-day routine of it. It just so happened that the one time their Dad actually wanted to look up and see what his daughters were doing, they were doing it with someone else.
If that wasn't enough, he had lost his favorite daughter too.
Before they had become friends and sisters, Josie never blamed Hope much about her relationship with her father. Josie, more understanding and sympathetic than her sister, knew that even if Hope didn't say it, she was yearning for a father-figure in her life. Their Dad, who had known Hope longer than her actual father, had always been there, had seen her grow up, just slid into that dynamic. At the end of the day, it takes two. Their Dad could have easily put boundaries in place with Hope, or at least made sure he wasn't spread too thin to where he couldn't even give his daughters attention.
Again, there was a place inside her head that said. Klaus, for all the less time he has had with each girl, had no problem compartmentalizing.
He spent time with all three of them. Separately and together. It was always a fun and light affair. No arguing or snide comments. Besides the occasional squabble from Hope and Lizzie, but even that was all in good fun. He asked about their school, social life, and friends. Talked about upcoming trips they may want to take, gifts they thought were a good idea for their mother and step-mother respectfully. He always paid attention to what each of them said, so much so, that after a while it wasn't a surprise to see a gift on their bed. A passing comment about something they liked and he made it happen.
Contrary to what most thought, it wasn't the gifts or trips that made her and Lizzie like Klaus. Not at all. It was his time. The fact that he gave them his time. Something that only their mother ever gave, and even that was temporary before because of her travels. It was addicting. Having someone who talked and just listened. No judgement, no complaints. Josie remembered the first time they talked. Penelope was at her worst that day. Shoving co-dependency garbage down her throat. Lizzie had started a mini earthquake because of her anger, and Josie, who rarely left Lizzie alone to deal with her episodes, just couldn't get her own emotional state straightened out enough to help her sister.
She rushed into her mother's office to sit down and breathe and ran into Klaus instead.
''Oh, I'm sorry. I thought it was empty. Mom went into town with Rebekah.'' Josie rushed her apology, wiping her tears, about to leave. She saw Klaus siting down at the desk, an irate person on the other end of the phone.
''I'm interrupting your call, I'll get out of your hair, go for a walk or something.'' Josie murmured, already thinking of the go-to exit she always had with her father, and ignoring the sting of hurt whenever he would sigh and give a thankful smile, like her leaving and being out of his presence was just the thing he needed to have a perfect day.
''Nonscience love. What is the matter, Josie?'' Klaus said.
Josie, surprised turned her head around to see Klaus mute the call and looking over her face with concern.
She always appreciated how he called her Josie and not Josette. Unlike with Lizzie, who still gets called Elizabeth, no matter how many times she corrects him. Josie had a hard enough time trying to live up to her bio-moms image for her father, who she honestly wasn't entirely sure knew she wasn't and would never be Josette. It would have killed Josie to have her future step-father contribute to her father's delusion.
''Your busy.'' Josie stuttered out confused and pitifully. Not used to someone stopping what they were doing to give her time.
Klaus picked up the phone and sat it back down, effectively ending the call.
''Not anymore.'' He smiled softly. He grabbed the Kleenex off the bookshelf and offered Josie a sit. ''I happen to know where your mother keeps her sweets in this office. A decade and some of living as a vampire and still a little teenage junk food hoarder.'' He chuckled fondly.
Josie cracked a smile. ''Yea, I know. It's the bottom locked drawer on the side.'' Josie knew that hiding spot, but was thankful anyway that he was trying to cheer her up.
Klaus raised both eyebrows in question with a little smirk and went over to a painting and pulled it out, opening a door. 'Is that the only hiding spot?
Josie chocked out a laugh. So, this is where the good stuff was, she thought.
Klaus brought over an assortment of European chocolates, some chips, biscuits, and jerky. ''That drawer is just a fake-out, she knows you students always loot in there for one thing or another.''
Josie smiled softly and nibbled on a piece of dark chocolate. It was delicious.
''Now then, tell me who I need to kill.'' Klaus said pleasantly with a soft smile and twinkle in his eye.
This time Josie laughed. Loudly.
Josie thought back to that with a fond smile. Klaus didn't kill Penelope, but he did do some type of undercover sneak attack to pin her with a crime and get her suspended for two and half weeks. Lizzie jumped for joy at that. Almost a whole month without Satan incarnate.
Klaus sat and they munched and talked for a couple of hours that day. After a while it wasn't even about the altercation, it was about anything. A conversation that went from favorite movies to fruits, and from there somehow, they started talking about compelled monkeys. It was one of those conversations where you didn't have to follow a map to hold the conversation, it just flowed freely with interesting topics spoken about throughout.
Not even the interruption of Lizzie stopped her joy that day. At first Josie was a bit disappointed, Lizzie entering the room and all attention would be drawn to her. It was like that with her Dad and even her Mom sometimes. Josie couldn't judge though; she gave Lizzie most of her attention too. That wasn't what happened though. When Lizzie came in and saw they were munching and talking she wondered what it was about, and Klaus brought Josie out of her disappointment with relaying to Lizzie that her sister was collecting an impressive number of languages in her young age. Lizzie than turned to Josie with a look of surprise and pride.
Josie was happy that Lizzie didn't take away from her talk with Klaus, she didn't mind in the slightest that she joined now. Klaus made sure the talking was always even. He listened to both of them, and he stopped Lizzie from talking over Josie. He still gave Josie his undivided attention when she was speaking on something and he did the same for Lizzie.
It was the best conversation Josie had had in a while.
She never told Klaus that though. Never showed it.
She doesn't hate her step-father.
She just makes sure she doesn't get that close to him.
She hates doing that to him, she does! Josie never considered herself ungrateful or spoiled. She never thought herself unkind or ignorant. When someone does something nice for you, you show your appreciation with a 'thank you'or you give them something in return. Klaus has done, and continues to do, everything for them, as soon as he got involved with their mother. Lizzie tried to play off his generosity by stating he was already dating their Mom; he didn't have to bribe them.
Klaus, ever the wordsmith and charmer, settles that score very quickly.
''You two may be the children of the love of my existence. I love you, and will provide and parent you as such. Liking you never factors into that equation, Rest assured though, I do like you two as individuals as well though. It isn't because of your mother. You all have traits that make you into a person I would be happy to have around me. Hopefully with time, you can say the same for myself.''
''Elizabeth, you remind me of your mother when we first met. Quick witted, sharp tongue, and a fiery sprit. You're a bit more ruthless than she was, but I like that. Your loyal, but people have to earn it. It takes a while, but it shows you who will stuck around. Even when you don't necessarily display traits of a person who deserves to have others stick around for them. You don't back down, and you go after what you want, damned the consequences. I see how that can, and has, gotten you into a bit of trouble, but I promise you outside of this school yard, it's that fearlessness that will make this world bow to your feet. Keep that fire love. You can learn how to tame it later.''
''Josie, you remind me of the softer sides of your mother. I myself, have only been allowed to see it a handful of times, but each time those moments have stayed with me. Loyal to a fault. You believe in second, third, and even sometimes fourth chances. There is no limit for what you would do for the people you love. You'd fight till the bitter end. That love, devotion, and honor is your power. It draws people in and makes them want to know you, be your friend. The friend that they know would never leave them behind. Like a true Forbes. You have you mothers' heart, and your love is just as rare as hers is in this dark supernatural world we live in. Keep that, but make sure you never let anyone take advantage of it. ''
Any argument Lizzie had about Klaus ended there. The reason for him wanting to spend time with them wasn't about their mother or trying to buy them. It was because he genuinely liked them.
Josie never thought he was bribing them or trying to buy them. In fact, to her, he treats them the same way he treats Hope. Like a father.
That is what caused the drawbacks for Josie.
She already had a father. Albeit, not a great one or even one she sees and talks to all the time, but a father none the less.
A father, who for the past year has been starting fights and arguments. Throwing snide comments about the Mikaelsons, and trying to educate his daughters on the dangers that come from being associated with him. How awful they were. Ruthless. Evil.
During that year, he pushed Hope away, the girl not wanting to spend time with someone who continuously speaks bad about her family.
He pushed their mother away. After so many years of putting others first and being in a position that doing so cost her in spades, including the love of her life, her Mom put her foot down. She wasn't giving up Klaus for anything. Especially not Alaric's bitter feelings and grudges. Most of which were residual and came from her ex-befriend and his surrogate daughter.
He pushed Lizzie away. Though, that one had been a long time coming. Josie noticed it. After a while, Lizzie stopped complaining about their fathers' attentions or lack thereof. Now that their mother was back, she just went to her. They hardly spoke to each other and she could say with confidence that her Dad probably didn't even know the classes they were taking this year or the extra curriculars they signed up for.
Klaus came into the picture and only then did her Dad's head pop up. Lizzie only had their Mom to start with, but then she brought Klaus and biology aside. Lizzie formed her own family. She had a mom, she had a dad, and she had sisters, aunts, and uncles.
And Lizzie was thriving. Josie thought a bit enviously.
Josie knew she shouldn't. She was the biggest advocate to get her sister help and make her have positive views of herself. She was Lizzie's biggest fan. A part of her just can't help but think that she could be just as happy, if she did one thing:
Distance herself from her Dad.
And damn it if Josie wasn't her mother's daughter. It was hard to cut someone out of her life, to leave someone behind. Even if their behavior towards her has been less than stellar.
With Alaric pushing everyone away, the only person he had left was Josie. Josie to talk about the Mikaelsons with. Josie to talk about the betrayal of her mother with. Josie to talk about the spoiled behavior Lizzie and Hope were exhibiting, after being pampered by Klaus.
Josie honestly was sick of it. She has always wanted to talk to her father like this. To have his attention, but they weren't talking about her or school. Just the bitterness in his heart.
Josie, the eternal fixer, thought, she could make him feel better. So, she fell back into the routine of the perfect daughter that lessens the parents' stress. To do that, she distanced herself away from Klaus.
She doesn't hate her stepfather, but by being in his presence and apart of his family...
...it was tearing her father apart.
Josie made a choice.
She regretted that choice.
She didn't know how to fix it.
Until Father's Day.
Josie wanted to do what was best for her, for a change. What was going to make her shine and thrive. When she had Klaus more involved in her life, she was happy. Spending time in a household with her Mom and sisters all together. No flinches or looks of disgust when bags of blood were brought out and re-heated. Or disinterested looks and eyerolls when talks centered on what was happening in the supernatural world with the species. No rebuttals or Dad talking over the twins and speaking for them when they showed interest in wanting to be involved in these changes. Just talks and laughs. The three girls always come back to the school with stories to tell and inside jokes they gained by hanging out with family.
Recently, Josie wasn't apart of those jokes or time away. Lizzie and Hope were two peas in a pod and after a while stopped inviting Josie to little outings and just resigned themselves to the fact that they would only see her at family meals.
Father's Day was her last straw. They did what their mother said. Let their Dad know plans and dates, and with no reply. Josie was going to walk into the mansion and show Klaus how much their time together meant to her. Bringing up good memories of Broadway shows and luncheons. Walks at the playground and looting through Mom's snack drawer. Josie was all in.
Whatever little guilt she felt about basically abandoning her Dad was gone when while being driven to the mansion, she saw him with Sherriff Mac. Holding hands and drinking milkshakes walking out of the Grill. She was about to reach over and tell Lizzie, but then she saw Maya and Ethan she assumed, come out next shoving each other playfully, jumping into the back seat of the car.
Josie decided not to tell Lizzie, while she turned her body a little ways away to stop the on slot of tears threatening to spill, and the hurt that pounded in her chest.
She shook her head, as if to push the picture out of it, and wiped her tears away. So be it. He can have his happy human family, Josie thought.
I'm going to be a Mikaelson.
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It was chilly.
There was a breeze in the air, but temperature wise, it was cold.
Not like the warm weather of Virginia, Josie was just standing in. Yet she wasn't completely cold. Her body was protected by a wool tan coat with lapels up to her neck and a warm cozy inside. Josie gasped. The bottoms on the coat were golden and she felt herself balancing in what could be at least two- or three-inch black heels on her feet peeking out from the bottom of the coat.
''Well, shall we.''
Looking beside her Josie let out a surprised laughed. There stood her stepfather. Black coat on as well, but Josie could see the white and black dress shirt underneath. His hair was sleeked back and he wore gloves on his hands.
Josie smiled wide. ''We shall.''
Tucking her arm into his, they gave their coats to a nearby doorman and Josie breathed out in awe. Her dress was stunning. Strapless black with a triangle opening at the top, widening out at the waist and flowing to her feet. Josie never felt more grown up and classy.
They were standing at the entrance to Radio City Music Hall. Everything looked like the painting in her Papa's studio. The cars behind them, the music blaring from inside the hall, and the people flashing cameras and wanting to get people's attention for a picture.
Her attention.
''We're next, love.'' Klaus whispered at the starstruck girl.
Josie and Klaus walked the red carpet together, and stopped every now and then to take a picture. Josie's smile wider than a mile, and even Klaus showed off his pearly whites for his little darling. Klaus wore the suit of the times, golden pocket watch in place and handkerchief at the ready. Elijah would be proud.
He guided her into the Hall and took her up to the box seats where he procured the binoculars with the long handle out to her and enjoyed her childlike amusement of using the device like all of the other worldly women were.
They laughed, they joked, they were enchanted with the music and actors. They made little jokes in between about the play and those around them. To Klaus' surprise they made plans to see another one in the real world.
Not to Josie's surprise, she doesn't think she could have had a more fun time.
After the play was over, they walked down the block stopping at a restaurant for dinner.
''I don't remember seeing this in the painting.'' Josie questioned as she sat in her seat.
''It wasn't. I threw in some additions that I thought you would appreciate from my time here. This little hole in the wall, while not quite as popular, has the best pasta you could ask for.''
Josie smiled wide, but then her face fell for a moment. ''That's thoughtful Papa, but this is supposed to be about you. Your trip to the past, in art form anyway, and your favorite place. You do stuff for me all the time.''
''Josie.'' Klaus said softly, putting his hand over the girl. ''This is something for myself. I get to take my lovely daughter out to a play and dinner; I can't remember the last time we did this. I'm having a great time, and I do like this place. I never said I was getting the same dish as you love. They have a very delicious fish on the menu that I was an absolute glutton for back then.'' Klaus said reassuringly.
Josie smiled pleased, but couldn't help but feel a bit bad. They hadn't done this in a long time and she wanted to fix that.
''We're going to have to fix that.'' Josie said to Klaus, who looked confused at the statement. ''Us, hanging out and doing stuff together. I'm not as talkative as Lizzie and while I can talk about art with you and would love to go to art museums and exhibits, I suck at painting and drawing, so, I will leave that to Hope,'' Josie breathed a bit, cutting off her ramble, ''but this, our meals together and just enjoying each other's company, I like that. I want to do more of this.'' Josie said imploringly at Klaus so he would know she wasn't going to do what she always does.
Klaus looked surprised but hid it quickly. Josie never initiated outings with him.
''Maybe tomorrow, we can have breakfast? Hope and Lizzie have a morning detention, so maybe you, me, and Mom can go out to breakfast?'' Josie suggested shyly.
Always shyly. As if Klaus didn't want to spend any time with her or if he had more important things to take care of. Never.
''Of course, I want to Josie. I always do. You know you and our family mean the world to me. I want you girls to have the world and never struggle or hurt a day in your lives. I missed most of it with all three of you and your mother lectured me constantly about how I can't save you from everything, but I wouldn't be a father if I didn't try.''
''You're doing great Klaus. The best.'' Josie whispered. He truly was. He was more than they could ever ask for.
''I'll do my best too.'' Josie said confidently with a smile. She'll spend more time with him and let him into her life.
''I wouldn't want to force you, Josie. We each have our own paces. It is alright. Anytime with you is pleasant and plenty enough.'' He didn't want to make her choose between him and Saltzman. He would take whatever time she would give him.
''You're not. We're family. Of course, I want to spend time with my family.'' I always have. I just thought I couldn't spend time with you.
''We will always be here when you need us, little lady. I promise. Always and Forever.'' We'll always be here, no matter how much distance you place from us.
''Always and Forever.'' I'll never ignore you again.
The two smiled a pleasant sweet smile to each other from the outside, but to them it means so much more. That was something that they had. They never had to speak words at each other. The little number of words they used, spoke volumes. Every issue they had in the last year and some months were just put to rest with that little conversation, and they both knew it.
The two ate and then proceeded to walk around the painting for a little longer. Talking and catching each other up on events. Klaus wondering what his other daughters received detention for and Josie wanting to know when they could visit Uncle Elijah in Germany. No talks about picking and choosing family members, no talks about long radio silence or disappointments. Just a young girl on a daddy dinner date with her Papa.
Josie didn't even linger on the fact that her and Lizzie never had done this with their father.
''Alright love, sadly I believe that glowing red figure in the air is our call home.''
''Ugh, now I have to share you again. Such is life.'' Josie rolled her eyes jokingly.
Klaus chuckled. ''Oh, you girls' possessiveness never ceases to amaze and amuse me. Now that, you all got from me.'' Klaus winked smugly. ''Yes, I am a shared father today, but don't think I don't notice you three picks different times of the day to get your mother and I alone, so you can have our undivided attention.'' Klaus raised his eyebrows at Josie.
''What? How? No, we don't! What makes you think that?'' Josie laughed confused and astonished.
''Lizzie is an early riser, which is how I always am the first to talk to her, not necessarily by enthusiasm, but because she knows that 1.) I am the only one in this family that is always up with the sun. 2.) If she waits, Hope will get to me first, and since she lives with me, she will have the most time allotted between getting ready for school and the drive to and from. When you want time for you and I to chat, you wait until the afternoon. I didn't know why at first, because I know sometimes you are up even before Lizie and could talk to me then, but then I realized that Lizzie most likely, usually, has detention or extra curriculars in the afternoon. Hope runs off with Kirby, yes, I know about that.'' Klaus favored Joise with a raised eyebrow. ''Which leaves you a good cushion of talking room in the evenings, without interference from either.'' Klaus ended proudly at his deduction skills.
Josie's eyes were wide. ''That is impressive.''
Klaus wore a smug smile and shrugged his shoulders. ''You three do it enough times it isn't a coincidence anymore, it started to become a pattern. I work my schedule around you lot now.'' He laughed. ''But honestly, I just pay attention.''
Josie smiled and had misty eyes as they walked to their door home.
''Yea, you really do.''
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''Welcome back you two. So how crazy was it? Is it just like Mary Poppins? Do you have any paint speck all over you like the chalk? How was the play? Dinner? What was-,''
''Lizzie, give them a minute.'' Hope laughed lightly.
Klaus got up and helped Josie on her feet. ''It was all great. Crazy, great, amazing, cultured, engaging, and just...perfect. Perfect.'' Josie gushed, looking at Klaus, who once again was left with a blush at the hands of a Forbes girl.
''It was lovely and reminded me of shows of the past I went to, as well as shows of the not so distant past that Josie accompanied me to. It was a sentimental evening to remember.'' Klaus answered as well, looking at Josie.
Hope and Lizzie were happy to hear that. Just like with the relationship between Klaus and Lizzie, Hope and Lizzie had no feelings of jealousy either. They loved that they each had their own thing to do with Klaus. Caroline too. It seemed crucial to have that special thing with each parent, especially when there was more than one child wanting their parent's attentions.
The girls especially were keeping an eye out on Klaus and Josie when it became apparent that instead of growing closer, they were spreading apart. Spending less time together. Okay, granted, time together was sparce, or more so secretive because of the twins Dad, but Lizzie was clever and sneaky. A dangerous mix she always worked into the girl's favor. She made a way for them to spend time together and Josie was always invited.
She used to take them up on that. Josie, who was never comfortable lying to anyone or disappointing them, didn't have too much trouble with plausible deniability. She didn't see it; she wasn't an accomplice in it. She didn't see Lizzie send fake emails to her Dad to get his attention away from the school, or see her cause miniature riots all over school to divert his attention elsewhere. On the few occasions they needed a distraction with longevity, like that New York Minute trip with their Uncle Kol, or dinner out of town with their Dad, Josie turned a blind eye to Lizzie placing a tiny little time spell on thier Dad. Making him think that the time of day was in the middle of the night, on a Friday, and not seeing the girls for a weekend because they were at their 'mother's house' was the usual.
Josie didn't see any of that happen.
They never got caught...so far. In the off chance that they do, well, they were about to be 18, that was their ticket to the big world.
''Well, activity number 2 is a success! Good day still going?'' Hope asked her Dad?
''Marvelous.''
''Then the next one will be over the top.'' Lizzie said. Plus, ''Mom is joining us.'' The girls, while cringe at any intimacy that was displayed between their parents, couldn't help but be a bit amused and giggly about how moonstruck their father got whenever Caroline's name popped up. Even in a room full of strangers and he had to keep his Original Hybrid mask on, his eyes still glowed with the love of a decade's past. Just as bright as the day they met, their Dad always says.
''Well, let's not keep my love waiting. May I ask where will this next gathering be taking place?''
''It will be taking place in the strategy room.'' Lizzie said with a smirk, not holding the snicker in at the look her Papa gave her.
Klaus honestly did not know where she came up with the things she says sometimes. The room was not a strategy room. It wasn't any kind of room really. Just another room that had been left undone, but otherwise cleaned and lack storage like the rest of them. If anything, it was a conference room. A long, rectangular, oak table sat in the middle, with wooden and deep red fabric swivel chairs, and a smaller oak wood table up against a wall holding various office equipment. A printer/copy/ fax machine, a pack of print paper, ink, pens, yellow pad paper, and a try with glasses, waiting to be served in.
There was a wall of bookcases filled to the brim with books along one way, with a globe standing in front. A solid oak desk sat to the other corner of the room, with a desktop computer on it and various pads of paper and desk supplies. There was a spelled paper world map on the long conference table. A favor a witch did the family. You tap the continent or country you are looking into, then go into specifics. From Country, to state or region, then to city, and with an addition of a locater spell or town map, an address would show up.
Has the family used the room to go over battle strategy before? Yes. Do they always. No. It was too big a room, for the two or so members of the family that were ever out of the coffin at the same time. The only time the whole family used this room was when it was built, around the time of them trying to send their mother back to the pits of darkness she came from...the first time.
It was not a strategy room.
Yet, his little love continued to call it that.
He let her. Klaus couldn't help but admit he loved that, that was the first place Lizzie's mind went to. A strategy room, a place to conquer dominions, and wage war.
She acted so much like him at times.
Klaus cleared his throat and favored her with a look, but couldn't stop the twinkle in his eye. ''Conference room, Elizabeth, please.''
''Fine.'' She huffed, like changing words was the biggest struggle for her. ''Mom is meeting us in the conference room, Papa. She is aware of what we are talking about, but not the specifics. So, you're not the only one in the dark.''
''Splendid.''
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The girls sat on one side of the table. Binders opened up to the last page, bottles of sparkling water all filled up at different levels, highlighters and pens laying around, and expectant looks on their face, while looking at their parents.
''Well. What do you guys think?'' Josie interrupted the silence of the room.
Their parents sat on the other side of the table. Binders opened to the last page, a sheet of paper with writings on it sticking out, and pages scratched away with black ink and red marker. A glass of scotch sat in front if their father, and their mother helped herself to a glass of wine in the middle of their talk. Maps and books sat beside them with post-it tabs sticking out of some pages. Their father had his hand to his mouth, his finger sliding back and forth on the bottom of his lips. Their mother brought their fathers other hand to rest on her lap, she held it through the whole talk and now reigned herself in with simply playing with his fingers or sliding hers back and forth over the back of his.
''Is it that much of a bad plan?'' Lizzie questioned, confused and hurt. ''We have thought a lot about this. We researched until our eyes almost popped out of our skulls.''
'Yea. We didn't go into this blindly, and even with the more...outlandish requests, we think our compromises were very mature.'' Hope interjected, starting to grow weary of their parents' silence.
The girls put a lot of work into their decision making. What they wanted to do together and separately. They thought about it, contacted other family members, and got stamps of approval. They thought it all through, they thought.
Until they had left their outspoken, talkative, protective, and otherwise engaging parents...speechless.
''Guys, come on!'' Lizzie huffed out, seemingly annoyed, but if you looked closely, and knew the girl, it wasn't anger, it was disappointment.
Klaus sighed and grabbed his loves hand to bring her out of her trance and offer support.
''You are all right. Your mother and I both value everything you all did to put this research together. You did a splendid job and continue to amaze me with your talents and what you are capable of when you put them all together. Nothing short of spectacular.''
The girls looked at each other confused. ''Then what's the problem?'' Hope asked.
''Oh sweetie, we're just being parents.'' Caroline said softly, the twins barely heard her, and Hope was alarmed because she heard the hitch in Caroline's breath and could smell the on slot of incoming tears. She didn't mean to make her mother cry!
''We're going to miss you three.'' Caroline wailed.
There was a beat of silence, then the three all breathed in relief. That was all? They were worried they did things wrong.
''Oh, you guys, we'll miss you two, but that's why we're going to be close to each other again soon.'' Hope reassured Caroline and her father.
''Yea, and we still have the rest of the school year.'' Josie interjected.
''I'm going to be living with you guys. Don't pull that 'miss me' crap with me. I'll see you both at breakfast.'' Lizzie shrugged her shoulders and smiled. Crying out when both Hope and Josie whacked her on the arms for her lack of sensitivity she guessed.
Lizzie rolled her eyes. ''Look at the bright side guys. For the next five years we'll be in and out of your lives still. If you add up all the time, we see each other in and out of school, they pretty much line up with how the future will look like. Plus, breaks.''
Caroline dried her tears, and Klaus looked tense and stoic, but the girls recognized the emotion beneath the exterior. He was their father, and no matter the time it happened in each girl's life, it was inevitable now, they were all daddy's girls. Klaus didn't want any of them to go where he wasn't. The only reason he was calm about them being at the boarding school without him, were because of the changes he and Caroline placed within the school, and the dozens of hybrids he littered the school grounds and Mystic Falls itself with.
He could do the same with whatever part of the world his daughters were in, but that didn't mean he still didn't prefer them with him.
Apparently, that was what college was about. Living life away from the parents.
College. The girls had made their 5-year plans, and they wanted to share it with their parents.
Both her and Caroline noticed Saltzman was absent from this get together and they favored the girls a questioning look but otherwise said nothing. Lizzie's opening statement moments later, said all there was to say on the matter.
''I'd like to open this 'Mikaelson Second-Generation Five-Year Plan' to order. Those who are here are the only ones with a say and who need to be made aware of every plan in the future. Those not present will know on a need-to-know basis. Can all present psychically and electronically, verify they understand?
Klaus nodded happily; Caroline nodded regretfully, for the lost knowledge Alaric would receive about his daughter's life. Dings were coming from all the girl's phone in a group text designed for the whole family. They agreed to the opening.
The gist of the matter was this:
Hope, Lizzie, and Josie were all going to be living in the same state, the same city. They wanted to be with their parents and some of the rest of their family. The girls were semi-permanently moving to New Orleans after high school.
Hope didn't know what she wanted to major in, so for now she would be doing all her core courses. By the second year she said she will have that figured out, with a spoken agreement with Caroline, that if she didn't, she would sit down with her, and they would really talk about what's next. For a girl who for so long had the notion that it was her job, to keep her family together, and she failed at that, she didn't know what to do. She was told that it was her job to keep her father in line, and she failed at that. Klaus would always be Klaus, he's just less of a jerk with his family. Hope didn't know what the reason for her life was. Or more so, what to do with it.
The family members all pitched in to help. Elijah especially, him taking most of the blame for the pressure he put on the girl since her birth, even gifting her the name 'Hope'. The family each had something they were into. They all had their hands in different ventures over the years, and Hope asked that for every break while she's thinking, could she skip out on a few trips home to visit family. Yes, it would be a social visit, but also educational. They would each talk to Hope and pick her head.
Klaus conceded to that, within reason. Guards of course, and an itinerary, and a call a day form Hope and whatever family member she was with. Caroline pointed out that it wasn't only Klaus who lost time with Hope. His siblings probably wanted to get to know their niece too.
For the first year at least. Hope had different plans than the twins did.
Lizzie would be majoring in English Lit. She wanted to be a writer. She wanted to be a journalist traveling and writing about what she sees. She wanted to write the next Great American Novel that kids would be forced to read in high school. She wanted her future book on the New York Times Bestseller List. She wanted to have a job like on her favorite old TV shows 'the Bold Type' or 'Sex and the City'.
She knew in her heart of hearts, she wanted forever. She didn't make the final decision. She would wait until she was a couple years older, but with the way she was leaning to, social media and having her picture taken was not the way to have a low profile. So, Lizzie oversimplified something quite complex in a way that only she could do.
''If I can't be immobilized in picture and tabloids, I'll be remembered in print. In every one of my lifetimes to come. This is Lizzie Saltzman at 21, 50, 100, and beyond. I was here. Changing myself and the world with my words.''
Klaus and Caroline couldn't be prouder. They applauded on all of the goals Lizzie had. Agreeing to help her reach as many as she could. Caroline was pleased she gave herself options, and thought practical in terms of what would be acceptable in the supernatural world. Klaus promised to introduce Lizzie to a few underground writers he knew from ways back, they juggled immortality and notability quite cleverly to him. Caroline said she would take Lizzie to pick out a complete writer's corner for her room. Saying a writer needs a desk, a comfy chair, and inspiration all around them.
Lizzie wanted to live at home with her parents the first year or maybe two. It was her holding on to the fear that she wouldn't be able to handle too many changes, and that she needed her rock to help transition her into this new stage of life. They allowed it, but Caroline made sure Lizzie knew that Klaus could not be her crutch her whole life. Lizzie understood and explained that she just wasn't ready to leave them yet. As the youngest, they understood that explanation. Lizzie said by her 2nd or 3rd year she would join the dorms with her sisters or let Papa buy her an apartment. She didn't know yet.
What Klaus and Caroline were a bit hesitant on was the family support aspect. More so, the members of the family that were the beset matched to help Lizzie reach her goals.
Kol and Rebekah.
Rebekah not so much. Yes, she had a snooty side that they didn't think Lizzie needed to see, or gods forbid, rub off on her even more. Rebekah had calmed down from the little teenage drama horror story she was trying to portray when she got out of the coffin. She has grown into a sophisticated woman and has been known to jump into womans rights and activism over the decades. She has her hands in women's magazines, publishing, and health. As well as contacts just as impressive as Klaus' himself.
What they didn't want to happen was for their already spoiled child to come back as a highly spoiled brat.
With her perfect Auntie Bex, that very well may happen.
Hope and Rebekah have a good niece/aunt relationship. An epiphany with Hope realizing that being like her mother, Hayley, and mocking women who cared about fashion and makeup, she was unconsciously talking trash about her Aunt Rebekah. The same aunt that kept her safe for months when she was a baby. Not knowing that every word disheartened Rebekah that she would never grow a deeper connection with her niece as she wanted. Not like Hope had with Freya.
Since then, Hope has made more of an effort with Rebekah and has watched her cheek and comments about judging different types of girls. They were better, but when push came to shove, Hope always went to Freya first.
With time as well, that became all right, because Elizabeth went to Rebekah. She called Rebekah the beloved name Rebekah coined for herself for Hope, who never once used it in her life.
Auntie Bex.
The relationship she lacked with Hope, came in abundance with Elizabeth, who thought Rebekah was the greatest female vampire in the history of the creation of the species. Their interest line up and their behaviors match in certain departments. It was a match made in heaven. Which made Rebekah the aunt of the year, sneaking Lizzie out for Fashion weeks and little club openings. Buying her the newest season of clothing, and berating Caroline of having her precious niece walk around in outdated uniforms. They each found somebody to share their love for material things with and it was a pain to separate them sometimes.
Lizzie was doing good. Mentally, emotionally, and psychically. Everything was checking out. Their littlest one was thriving. They didn't want all the glam, power, and however many servants walking around waiting on hand in foot for their sister, to change that.
Their deciding factor was helped by Elizabeth's big brother/uncle Marcellus, who said while he didn't and wouldn't tag along to fashion events or their girly nights out, he would keep Elizabeth humble and cautious with her head on straight. Hanging out with her Aunt was always a fun time for her, but the trips coming up were for her future that Lizzie herself wants as well.
The part of the trip, even with the added security of a dozen hybrids, three warlock/wolf hybrids, and 10 vampire guards, that still worried them was the one with Kol.
Kol loved the arts, believe it or not. He didn't care anything about Nik's paintings or sculptures like that. What Kol loves is the performing arts with literature as a side bar of his hobbies. Kol loved the stage and theatre. He loved singer and acting. Having hundreds in the seats waiting to get his attention. He loved the adrenaline and intensity of a good job done and raving reviews.
He even loved writing those reviews.
Kol acted in and attended hundreds of plays in his multiple lifetimes. He sat with the greats and critiqued them behind their backs, publishing works under anonymous and seeing everyone's head turn sideways to figure out who this newly discovered Shakespeare was. Even with his passions, Kol loved the chaos.
Chaos.
Another thing that Lizzie did not need right now.
Yet, with those two. It makes Landon Kirby and Lizzie's little duo look like a walk in the park. Maybe it's Kol's vampiric side or the fact that he is her uncle, and therefore would get her out of any trouble they got into, so there weren't any consequences or reasons to hold back. Two grenades that Elizabeth did not need to be holding, yet with her wild Uncle Kol. The world was their playground.
They loved creating chaos together. Whether Lizzie was using magic to cause a butterfly effect in New York that caused a state wide blackout, just for them to use magic to project cinematic movies off of each building for people to watch. Or one of their more extreme chaotic runs where they compelled dolphins and raced them through the waters of the sea, then started charging pedestrians a hundred dollars each if they wanted a ride. Klaus didn't even know that animals could be compelled!
Lizzie could already produce a chaotic bowl of cuteness by herself, adding in her uncle, an awful chaotic nuisance, wasn't helping matters in the slightest.
Kol had been having some issues with Davina. Now that the girl was older than her teenage years and made it passed her early twenty's and into the 30s, there were decisions to be made. Decisions she probably didn't consider when latching herself onto a vampire at the age of 18. Age preservation spells were great and they got the job done, but for how long? Davina never right out said she would become a vampire to stay with Kol, and Kol himself to his credit, never demanded it from the witch either. Kol having firsthand knowledge that being cut off from magic was a terrible feeling to have. Yet, here they were.
Even though the other never said anything to each other, in relationships like these, whether human, witch, or werewolf, it's kind of implied that one would change to stick around and be with the other. That assumption led to many arguments, long nights working separately and rarely seeing each other, and visits to see various family members, leaving Davina home alone, considering the only person she had to visit was Marcel.
The possibility of losing the woman he loves has started making Kol...antsy. Klaus could see it in his face. The look he gets when he doesn't feel fulfilled or is impatient. The look Kol gets right before he is about to mess everything up. It was this look that in the past, Klaus knew when to pull out the daggers. That wasn't an option anymore, Caroline, his brothers' new best friend, would stab him in the chest if he put a dagger in Kol's. Never mind, that giving his siblings their daggers were a show of good faith that he wanted to start anew after he was resurrected.
Kol bringing Lizzie on to these outings, Klaus hopes shows that Kol is aware of his behavior at least, and while he doesn't approve of the use of his daughter, he believes that Kol knows with Elizabeth there, he will have to curb some of his darker tendencies.
With that being said, having Lizzie mentored by Kol wasn't something that Klaus was comfortable with. Not until Kol got his bearings together with Davina and settles himself a bit. Caroline, having sat and listened to Kol as he talks through all of his relationship woes, was a bit more sympathetic. The compromise was that if Elijah came and joined the visit with Lizzie, it would be allowed. Best case scenario, whatever plans Kol came up with to get himself and Lizzie into trouble, would be postponed with Elijah accompanying them. Worst case scenario, Kol gets out of hand and Elijah snaps his neck, brings Elizabeth back to her parents, and Kol expects to see Klaus very soon to get what is coming to him for putting his little girl in harm's way.
That trip was still a little uneasy with Klaus, but Caroline calmed him with the fact that that trip will be in 2 years max. Kol could possibly be more settled by then and Lizzie could have a better head on her shoulders. Not just with Kol, but Rebekah also.
Josie. Josie was surprising. Her plans made sense to Klaus, he just didn't like them very much. Josie wanted a year off before college. A college she wanted to live at, not at home like with Lizzie. She didn't want a dorm or roommate. She wanted an apartment to herself. Not to share with Hope or Lizzie. They could be next door neighbors, but Josie wanted her own space. She wanted Josie time. A year off college to explore and visit family. Then she would start. She would be graduating a year late, but Josie thought it would be worth it.
Klaus looked like he was about to phase on the spot and flip the table over. With Caroline's presence anchoring him and him taking a deep breath, he thought about her request. Josie has never had time to cultivate the person she wants to be, the person she is. She is a daughter, a sister, the calm twin, the fixer, the caretaker, and anything that anyone needs her to be. She never had time to figure out who she wanted herself to be. What was best for Josie. Klaus wanted all of his girls to grow up and be confident, graceful, and strong women. He knows Josie can and will be all of these things one day. He also understands how it could possibly be a tad hard when she sees her sisters, who both have strong personalities, already tackle the world and are growing to be the best versions of themselves, and she feels like she's lagging behind.
Klaus never wants his children to feel left out. There would be no second-generation black sheep of the family. So, naturally, Klaus gave in to Josie's plan.
With his own requirements added of course.
Josie's travels would be in an itinerary that he provided and he would be supplying the supernatural equivalent of the national guard around her at all times. If her travels took her somewhere where her relatives lived, she would be staying with them. No exceptions. He would provide monetary help for whatever she wanted to acquire on her travels, as long as, she kept him updated and called every other day for longer conversations, and every night for check ins. The Mikaelsons owned hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, bungalows, and plenty of other fine establishments throughout the world. Josie would be staying under those establishments and nowhere else. Not with a friend. Not with a buddy. Not with whatever one night stand she may run into. Klaus cringed. Caroline winked. No exceptions.
When traveling it would be best to go by Josie Mikaelson, as well as wear the family crest emblem on a locket that must never come off. The necklace would be designed for her by Klaus, it would look similarly to Hope's, the Mikaelson family 'M' would be donned bold in the middle, to give other supernaturals their first warning to back off.
The locket will also carry a host of protection spells against a host of other magics, compulsion, and other nastiness his little lady may run into. Though, if his guards were doing their job, she shouldn't. Along with the locket will be a ring, bracelet, anklet, and earrings. All with protection spells on them. You can never be too careful.
Josie readily agreed with everything. She was absolutely okay with the guards. She wanted to enjoy her trip and not worry about someone trying to hurt her by association along the way. She had no problem visiting the family members and staying with them. She missed them all, thanks to her own bad decision about distancing herself from them. She agreed to the phone calls and even added in texts and pictures that she wanted to send. She promised them she would be safe, vigilant, and responsible.
When she got back, she would begin college a year behind Lizzie and her major was communications. Josie wanted to be a translator/mediator. Whether in the human world or supernatural, or both, she wasn't sure yet. She had many languages under her belt. If she wanted to change the world, she needed to be able to communicate with all kinds of people. This trip was going to help with that. She knew some languages and now she could dive into the culture around it. For the languages she wasn't that good at, she could improve by having to use it every day around the people and visiting the places. The hardest part of learning the languages at the school to Josie was that she was the only one learning them. No one to practice off of, or help her with them.
Klaus and Caroline both approved of Josie's goal. It sounded like something right up her alley and something that she would do greatly in. This line of work was Elijah's territory mostly. Klaus dabbled into it, though his focus was more on the culture and language. The arts and histories of a place. Klaus left the people to Elijah. Elijah has made hundreds of alliances all over the world and retained friendships spanning decades. Caroline was the ultimate mediator and those traits no doubt rubbed off on Josie. A trip with Elijah, Caroline, and Josie came to mind that Klaus thought was a good idea.
Josie would take a break in her traveling for all major holidays and birthdays that were being celebrated as a family. Something, again, she readily agreed to. As well as a clause to all three girls that Klaus wanted them to take advantage of. The Home Clause.
The clause is that if anytime you three feels like you are through and want to come home, you can. No judgments, no barbs, no problems. No matter how much or little you will see of the world, on the travels you'll be on in life, more sooner in college, you can always come home. Agreed?''
''Agreed.''
''Now then.'' Klaus clapped his hands. ''Let's wrap all this up and have a lovely dinner, shall we.''
''Yes!'' Everyone exclaimed.
''Wait! We need an outfit change again.'' Lizzie shouted out.
''Lizzie!''
''Really?''
''Enough!''
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Coming back to sitting in the kitchen with his love next to him, he finished the day's events before they met up with the college talk. ''So good day?'' Caroline checked with a smile.
''One of the best in my life.'' Klaus answered with a fond smile. ''Not to ruin that, and not that I minded whatsoever with having the girls to myself today, but what of Saltzman? Did he give you a hard time?'' Klaus questioned.
''That would imply we talked. All I have is a voicemail from him today. I left my phone off me with I delt with a crisis with the vampires.'' Caroline slid her phone on the counter and tapped on the screen.
''Hey Caroline. So sorry I missed your calls, I meant to call you back but something came up. I'm going on a trip to Richmond today, I know, I know, last minute. But Dorian agreed to help you with the school and I'll be back in a week. Emma thinks I need some vacation time away from the school and you know. That world.'' The two words coming out in a discrete whisper, though Caroline and Klaus could hear the undertone of annoyance and bitterness that accompanied it, as well as the relief from being separated from it. There was a shuffling in the back and a faint 'Rik! Come on! We won't ever beat traffic. '' Right so anyway, kiss the girls for me, and I'll see all of you soon.''
Caroline took her phone back and ended the voicemail. ''I don't really want to know if he forgot Father's Day or worse, he knows the day and -,''
''He chose to spend it with a different family, rather than his own.'' Klaus finished for her. ''Considering he most likely thought I would be out of town with Hope for the day and the twins wouldn't be sharing the day with me...''
Klaus knew the mischief his girls were capable of. So many family gatherings were centered around Lizzie's tricks and Hope's exaggerated tales of travels away. All for Saltzman to let his guard down and not worry that if the twins weren't in his line of view, they weren't off with his enemy.
He could only fight for first place, if his opponent was in the ring with him. Ignoring the fact that the only time he tries to be a good father was when he felt like his position was being threatened.
''Are you going to tell the girls?''
''I told them this morning, I would handle all the drama that Rik throws at them, if he comes at us about today, so...no? I mean, we don't know if he knows the day or not. He sounded okay, and not angry so...''
''Let's not tell the girls.'' Klaus says softly.
''Let's not.'' Caroline agreed.
Klaus pulled Carolines arm and brought her to stand in between his legs, wrapping his arms around her. ''Our girls are going to Tulane University.'' Klaus whispered.
''Technically, only two are. At first.'' Caroline teased with an arched eyebrow.
''I know the reaction you're trying to invoke and it won't work.'' Klaus smirked back smugly.
Caroline rolled her eyes. ''Only because she agreed with every security detail you gave her and then some!''
''I know!'' Klaus shrugged his shoulders happily. ''I love that little girl so much. With her sisters it would have been like pulling teeth.''
Caroline chuckled and shook her head at him. ''I know you do. And hey,'' she leaned forward and pressed a kiss through his shirt and over his heart. ''Thank you for being their Papa and helping me raise them. Even before we became an 'us' again. You always helped me with them. That meant a lot Klaus. I never want to admit a weakness or my shortcomings, but...the girls were miserable and I was drowning, trying to stop the Merge as well as be here for them.'' Carolines eyes got misty and watering as she looked into her love's eyes.
''So... just, thank you. Thank you so much.'' Carline gave a watery small smile, that Klaus returned, looking at his Caroline with so much love and adoration. He knew accepting weakness for both of them was a lot to say, and he appreciated that she said it to appreciate him. He tilted his head down and nuzzled his face into her neck, pulling back a bit to bump his nose against hers, and the resting his head against hers. Standing in each other's embrace, enclosed by love.
''Happy Father's Day, Klaus.''
