Heartless to Heartfelt

Authors Note/Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries or The Originals or Legacies. All credit goes to the writers and creators.

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Chapter 14


Klaus pulled Caroline back against his body, the water lapping against their skin as they sunk lower into the bath tub. He held her against him, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. The sound of their breaths seemed heavy among the silence. Four am would have seemed like an odd time to bathe but when sleep evaded them it seemed only natural to spend time together.
There household was full of family, their children all under one roof and the dramas that constantly surrounded them often left little time to be together just the two of them.

It was in these moments, in the silence when he was certain that Caroline had a million things that she wished to say but didn't, that he truly realized how lucky he was to have her. Somehow she knew when to press from information and when he simply needed to hold her.

He would never say that he was thankful for being daggered because the knowledge of what he missed was unbearable. Time he would never be able to recover and many questions that would go unanswered. But he would be foolish to not acknowledge that this life he had now and the people in it would not be here if it had not occurred. It was a sense of limbo. He was not thankful but in a sense he struggled with his fury.

"I can hear your thoughts."

Klaus ran his fingertips across the center of her stomach. "And what might they be saying?"

Caroline grabbed his hand in hers and laced their fingers together. "Where would you like me to start?" She felt his lips spread into a smirk against her head. "I'm here."

"I know." He pressed a kiss against her blonde hair, shifting into a slightly more comfortable position as silence filled the air again. He felt her gentle reassuring squeezes, the simple gesture that spoke volumes. "I'll have to talk to Hope, ask her not to reveal who Freya is." The thought had been on his mind since he had offered Freya as a solution. He felt Caroline tense and he understood that she was uncomfortable with the idea. "Do you think she'll be angry with me? She's made it clear she is angry with that side of her family." It wasn't the only thing that concerned him, however he didn't mention the thoughts that ran deeper.

"She won't be angry with you, Nik. That little girl is in tune with her surroundings, if you explain that is it for Josie then I think she'll understand."

"You don't understand." Caroline had made it clear to him that she didn't understand why he was insistent on Freya.

Caroline drew a deep breath, using her left hand to run her fingertips across the top of his hand that she had enclosed in her grasp. "I am not going to pretend that I understand why you are insisting on it being her because quiet frankly she could disappear from the face of the earth and I would not bat an eyelid. That aside, I don't need to know your reasons, Nik, because I trust you."

Klaus relaxed a slight bit at the declaration. He knew that years ago he would never have doubted the choices he made, because he cared little for the outcome or the consequences that followed. Life was different now though, he had to much to lose. "You are to good for me."

"No. I'm everything you need." She tilted her head back so their eyes connected. "And you are exactly what I need."

Klaus felt the shiver run through his body, her eyes had this way of piercing straight though his soul. It was unnerving but exhilarating all at the same time. He would have shied away once, but for her in this moment he welcomed it.

"You're worried. It's Kol isn't it?"

Klaus nodded briefly. His younger brother had been on his list of never ending worries. "I asked him where he had been, if has been in contact with any of our family. How he had come to be familiar with Hope yet he dodged my questions, gave vague answers."

Caroline settled back into her position. "That bothers you."

"Kol knows better then to be dishonest with me. The knowledge that he is doing so concerns me."

"If you crossed while the veil was down then you've been earth side for years. Where have you been?"

"I was around."

"Kol."

"I thought you were dead. I was grieving. Drowning my sorrows in clubs."

.

"How did you meet Hope?"

"Feisty ain't she? Knows what she wants. Remind me of you, Nik."

"Kol,"

"I met Lizzie when I came back with Hope, looks like you would have your hands full with that one too, brother."

.

Caroline gently ran her fingertips over his arm that held her close, trying to calm him slightly. "We'll handle it, whatever he is hiding we'll deal with it." She smiled when he pressed his lips to the top of her head. "Nik, I know it's hard but you must try not to dwell on what you don't know and instead relish in the fact that Kol is here with us. Take the win, my love, we need it."

Klaus gently tilted her her head back with his fingers, capturing her lips with his. "I love you."

"I love you."


"Hope, can I talk with you, sweetheart?" Klaus had went straight to his daughters room, hoping to catch her before they went downstairs for breakfast.

Hope glanced up from the drawing she was working on her eyes finding her father standing in the doorway. She bit her bottom lip, something was different, the expression on his face. "Is something wrong?"

Klaus couldn't help but be worried about the way Hope would take the news of who he planned to bring into the house. He knew the child was angry at that part of their family and he was concerned that she would be angry at him for bringing Freya back into their lives, into her life. But inside he also held onto another fear, one that ran slightly deeper. He was worried that seeing Freya, talking to her would have Hope realizing how much she missed that part of her family. How many good times they had shared despite the bad. Klaus was worried she would miss her mother but feared that she would miss Elijah. The man who had played the role of father for ten years.

"What's wrong?"

Klaus heard the worry in her voice and knew that he had been silent for too long. "I need to talk to you about Josie, there are somethings you should know since you live here now."

Hope dropped her pencil down and gave him her full attention as he stepped further into the room to take a seat to her left. "Is she okay? Is she sick?"

"No, not sick. It's a little more complicated then that. Lizzie and Josie have a magical...curse upon them. In order to save them we need to look inside Josie's memories."

Hope frowned. "Save them? Are they going to die?" She felt her heart speed up slightly, she didn't know the twins very well but she knew they were family. Her sisters. She had never thought she would get to have sisters or a brother. She never thought she would have anymore family then those she had growing up and even though they weren't close yet, they were her sisters and she wanted to know them.

"No," Klaus immediately reassured. "I would never let that happen." If there was anything a person should know about him, it was that he would never let anything happen to his family. "They are in danger, Hope, I would never lie to you about that but Josie is very anxious about allowing Bonnie inside her mind and it may very well be the only way we can save her. "

"I don't know much magic." Hope informed him. "But I can learn."

Klaus gave a slight smile, the immediate willingness to help warmed his heart. He knew she didn't get that from him. "That is very thoughtful of you Hope but Josie does not want anyone in this family to see her memories."

"Why?"

"Some bad things happened when she was younger and she doesn't want anyone in our family to witness it."

Hope's nose wriggled and she leaned forward slightly. "Did someone hurt her?"

Klaus nodded, not bothering to hide it from his daughter. If anything it would help her to understand Josie's shyness. "Yes, her father hurt her."

Hope's eyebrows drew together and a brief look of anger flowed through her eyes. "I saw a dad hit a little boy once. Auntie Bex got really mad...and when she gets mad it's bad."

Klaus felt the corner of his lips lift slightly. "Hmm, your Aunt and I share a temper."

"Da...Uh, Elijah said I got my temper from her...but maybe we both get it from you."

"Maybe..." He agreed, ignoring the pain that shot through him at her correcting herself over Elijah's name. He was almost certain he would never get over that, that it would always hurt. "I do want to let you know that I found someone who I think might be able to help her." He got back to the subject he had came inside to talk to her about.

Hope looked curious. "Who?"

"Your Aunt Freya." He braced himself fro the brunt of her reaction though she merely sat staring at him and he wondered if that was worse. Had he expected anger? Yes. Perhaps joy? Yes. Silence? No. "Hope?"

"Why Auntie Freya?"

"You know Caroline asked me this question. Yesterday when Josie ran off when we found her she was with Freya and it seemed they made a quick connection. Josie doesn't know that Freya is family and although Freya committed acts against me, I have this instinctual feeling that she won't harm Josie." He refused to say what was truly on his mind better the devil you know. He was certainly not going to trust any stranger to look inside his daughters mind, at least he knew what he was getting with Freya.

Hope nodded slowly. "Auntie Freya wouldn't hurt a kid." That much she was confident in saying. "It's a good idea."

Klaus exhaled, he hadn't realized he had been holding his breath for so long. "How do you feel knowing you may see her again?"

"I'm angry with her." She admitted, she had been angry with all of them since Klaus had admitted that they were the reason they were separated. "Really angry but I..." She struggled with how to tell Klaus how she truly felt.

"You love her, you love all of them." Klaus filled in for her, knowing that would be exactly how his daughter felt and he couldn't blame her. They were family and had been in her life and loved her since she was a baby. He couldn't get angry because she loved them. "It's okay to be angry with her and still love her Hope. I'm not upset at you for feeling that way."

Hope blushed a little, looking down at her lap. "I don't like what she did, I don't like what any of them did and I am really mad at them. I really am."

"I know." He gave her a reassuring smile, reaching over to grab her hand. "It's okay."

Hope looked up at him, her eyes shining tears. "I really hate what they did but I still love her." Her voice broke slightly.

Klaus got up and pulled her into a hug. "Hey, it's okay." He reassured. "It's alright, sweetheart. It is okay to love them and still be angry."

Hope buried her head in his shoulder, holding onto him tightly. "I hate that they didn't let me know you. I really hate that."

"I do too, sweetheart. I do too."

"Maybe I don't need to see her. Not yet. I can love her but not want to see her right?"

Klaus rubbed her back, giving her a kiss the head. "Of course, Hope. You don't have to see her until your are ready but I do need to ask something of you. I understand that it is a lot to ask..."

Hope took her head from his shoulder to look him in the eye. "What is it?" She wiped the tear from her eyes.

"Josie doesn't know that Freya is family and we cannot tell her..."

"Okay." Hope interrupted. "I won't tell her."


Josie lifted Lizzie's blanket and slid into bed beside her sister, rolling onto her side so they were face to face. "Lizzie," She whispered, gently trying to wake her sister up.

"I'm sleeping."

"You're talking."

"Am not."

"Are too."

Lizzie groaned. "JoJo, I'm sleeping."

"But I have something I got to tell you, Lizzie...It's important." She smiled shyly when her sisters eyes popped open. She needed to tell Lizzie what she had done so that Lizzie could decide what she wanted to do. They did everything together, made all the big decisions together, except this time she had made a decision on her own. "Promise you won't get mad?"

Lizzie smiled. "I never get mad at you...except when you steal the last cookie." She grabbed her sisters hand. "What happened?"

"I called Klaus daddy."

Lizzie smile disappeared almost immediately. "What?"

"I didn't mean to but it came out." Josie defended herself. Josie didn't want to take it back, or to call him Klaus again. Calling him daddy felt right, like it was meant to be and she had wanted to call him that before but hadn't because she wanted to speak to Lizzie first. "Sorry Lizzie."

Lizzie rolled onto her back, drawing in a big deep breath trying to make the anger that sprung into her chest go away. She didn't like to be angry with Josie, her sister was her best-friend but...Lizzie felt the tears springing to her eyes. It wasn't fair. How come Josie was always first, why did daddy always pick her?

"Lizzie?" Josie sat up, confused and upset when Lizzie threw the blanket off her and got out the bed. "Lizzie, I said sorry."

"It's not fair Josette. You had a daddy. I've never had one before! I was meant to call him that first." Lizzie balled her hands into fists by her side. "You ruined it!" The tears started to fall from Lizzie's eyes and she grabbed her stuffed bear off the bed and took off running out of the room.

"Lizzie!"


Lizzie slammed the door of Hope's bedroom shut, tears steaming down her eyes, breathing heavy as she squeezed her stuffed bear tight to her chest. Why did Josie always get to have a dad? It wasn't fair. Why didn't they notice her? She slid down the back of the door and pulled her knees to her chest. "I hate her!"

"Hate who?"

Lizzie's head snapped up, surprised to see Hope. "Oh, it's your room." She hadn't thought about whose room she was barging into.

Hope frowned, she had been about to head downstairs to breakfast when Lizzie barged into her room. "You're crying."

"Thank-you, Captain Obvious, I didn't know that." Lizzie wiped furiously at her cheeks to get the tears to go away.

Hope smiled slightly. "You're sarcastic too...cool." She walked cautiously over to Lizzie, sliding down the door to join her on the floor. "Who do you hate?"

"Josie." Lizzie mumbled, but when she said it, it didn't feel right. "Well, not really...but I'm mad at her."

Hope sighed. "I'm mad at my whole family, so I get it." She leaned her head back against the door. "What did Josie do?"

"Doesn't matter." Lizzie shrugged, everyone always took Josie's side when they fought. It was because Josie was the sweet one, whenever they argued everyone thought it was her fault because Josie was to shy to argue with anyone.

"It matters to you." Hope mimicked Lizzie's posture and pulled her knees up to her chest.

"I don't even know you."

"I think that's the best part." Hope nudged her shoulder gently. "I can't take sides, cause I don't know either of you yet."

Lizzie bit her bottom lip, looking down at her stuffed bear. "Josie was daddy's favorite. He loved her so much and he never loved me."

Hope saw the tear slide down Lizzie's cheek, the girl look absolutely miserable. "I don't think that could be true. I think all parents have to love their kids."

"Not my dad." Lizzie grumbled, she didn't remember everything but she did remember how her daddy had always read to Josie, and took her places, pushed her on the swings and held her hand. "Momma loves me, but she loves Josie too, sometimes more then me I think because Josie was gone for a while and she wants to make up for it." Lizzie hugged her knees to her chest tighter. "And Auntie Bonnie's favorite is Josie, and maybe Uncle Stefan's...and Auntie Kat loves me but she loves Josie tons too." Lizzie's voice cracked a little, she wasn't sure she really believed that everyone loved Josie more, but dads did.

"Lizzie, Josie is not more loved then you. I've only been here a little while but I saw how your mommy looks at you, and how Klaus looks at you. You make him smile and laugh."

Lizzie shrugged. "But Josie was the one to call him daddy first. It's always Josie." Her voice held a bitterness to it. "It's not fair. I've never had a dad before, never...what if Klaus loves Josie more then me, just like Alaric did." Her breath was heavy. "I was supposed to call him daddy first so then he'd love me." Lizzie sobbed into her knees.

Hope frowned, Klaus had said earlier that Josie was someone they had to worry about but did no one know that Lizzie was hurt too? "Hey," Hope scooted closer to her, slinging an around around a shoulder and pulling her into a hug. "I got you, Lizzie."

"Everyone loves Josie."

Hope felt her own eyes water at how sad Lizzie sounded. "Everyone loves you too Lizzie. It's going to be okay." Hope pulled back slightly from the hug. "Hang out here, just for one minute, I'll be right back. Promise." Hope climbed off the floor, waiting still Lizzie shifted so she could open the door and then she took off. "I got to find Caroline," Hope bit her bottom lip when she saw Caroline carrying Josie down the stairs. "Not Caroline...Uh," She looked down the hall as Davina stepped out of her bedroom. "Davina,"

Davina turned to find Hope, she immediately was thankful for the small child. Someone to walk into breakfast with, to keep her attention so she wouldn't have to look in Kol's direction. "Hey Hope, you ready for breakfast...hey, you okay? You kind of look panicked."

"It's Lizzie,"

Davina sighed. "I swear if she got her head stuck again, I'm not helping."

Hope shook her head. "She's in my room."

"Okay," That was odd, she followed the little girl back to her room. "What's wrong?" She immediately dropped to her knees in front of Lizzie who was crying. "Lizzie, hey, what is wrong?" She pulled the little girl into her arms, but Lizzie's sobs were rapid and making it hard for her to breath. "Hey kiddo, I've got you."

Hope shut the door, settling down onto the carpet beside them. "Josie called Klaus daddy and Lizzie she...just tell her you love her." Hope encouraged Davina.

Davina frowned. "Of course I love her." She rubbed Lizzie's back soothingly. "You know that, don't you, crazy girl. I love you millions."

Lizzie's breath hitched, and she leaned heavily on Davina, tears still streaming. "Everyone loves Josie more."

"Oh, Lizzie, you know that is completely untrue. Mom, our Aunts, Klaus, Marcel, Stefan...they are all crazy about you."

Lizzie bit her bottom lip, maybe it was a bit of an exaggeration. She knew everyone loved her but Klaus...he would have to love Josie more now.

Davina looked towards Hope. "I don't understand." All this because Josie called Klaus daddy, it was a little odd. "Lizzie, you can call Klaus dad too, you know that right?"

"Not the...same." Lizzie hiccuped. "I had to say it first...I had too."

"Why, honey?"

"Because..." Lizzie sobbed. "Josie's first word was daddy and Alaric loved her more!"

Davina's heart broke. "Oh, Lizzie." She held the little girl tight, she looked over at Hope again, mouthing the word Caroline.


"Hey, Caroline didn't tell me I made the family portrait." Katherine's voice floated into the dining room before she had entered. "Did Klaus decide he doesn't hate me anymore?"

"Hate is a strong word, Katerina." Klaus tore his eyes away from his glass of blood to seek out the vampire he had previously hunted for hundreds of years. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of amusement as she stepped backwards bumping straight into Stefan.

"Babe," Stefan muttered, forcefully pulling his shoe out from beneath her heel. "Watch the stilettos will you,"

Klaus found it amusing, he knew that he wouldn't do anything to her. All that anger he had once felt was gone, it just failed to seem important upon all else that was happening in his life. It was only natural that torturing her had drifted to the back of his mind yet she did not know that which only served to amuse him. Who said he couldn't have a little fun? "All those years running in the opposite direction, who thought you would step into my home willingly."

Katherine stood still, there were very few things in the world that truly scared her, it just so happened that Klaus was one of those things. She knew the right thing to do was say something, to not give him the satisfaction of sending her silent but she couldn't get her brain to activate her mouth.

"My, my, have I rendered you speechless Katerina?" Klaus couldn't hide the amusement that danced in his eyes.

Stefan stepped out from behind his girlfriend and grabbed a seat at the table. "You could put her out of her misery you know? Let her know that you aren't going to kill her." He reached for a blueberry muffin.

Klaus smirked at Stefan. "Where would be the fun in that?" He saw Stefan suppressing a chuckle.

Bonnie rolled her eyes, walking into the room. "Relax Kat, if he kills you then I'll have to kill him in an act of revenge which will lead to upset nieces and a pissed off Caroline...It would be a big mess and no one in this family has time to deal with that right now." Bonnie grabbed a croissant off the table and sat down, eyes flickering to Klaus. "Be nice."

"I'm always nice." He quipped. "I thought you agreed you wouldn't threaten to kill me."

"No. I agreed not to do it, threatening is completely allowed."

Klaus turned to Stefan. "I do not know how you put up with that one." It was said with sarcasm.

Stefan smiled. "Ah, you think she is bad. I believe when my girlfriend regains her voice she is worse."

"Rude." Katherine glared at Stefan, eyes then flickering back to Klaus.

He smirked. "Relax Katerina; I make no plans to resume my need to hunt and torture you." He heard her exhale, the breath she had been holding finally released. "At least any time soon." He caught the muffin Bonnie threw in his direction, chuckling as he took a bite of it. "Help yourself, Katerina."

"Katherine." Kat corrected taking a seat.

Klaus raised his eyebrow, though he did not correct himself. "Stefan, my old friend;"

Stefan tipped his head in Klaus's direction. "Good to you have roaming the Earth again, Klaus." Stefan did not always see eye to eye with Klaus, but they had been like brothers once and that was a time he could not forget. "Grab a drink later?" A break the ice peace offering.

Klaus nodded. "I'd like that."

"Hey Nik, when did we get a pool?" Kol entered the dining room, confusion on his face. It had definitely not been there the last time he was in New Orleans.

"We didn't. Bonnie got a pool, which she is getting rid of."

Bonnie sighed heavily. "You are no fun." She felt the kiss against her temple. "Morning sleeping beauty." She glanced up at Marcel with a grin.

He dropped into the chair beside her. "I'm not a princess."

"Debatable."

Marcel gaze flicked across the room at the sound of the youngest Mikaelson brother. "Kol," The name was strained leaving his lips, almost as if he was uncomfortable acknowledging he was here.

"Marcel," Kol greeted in the same way, sounding slightly more irritated to see him.

Klaus knew how the two of them felt about each other, jealous of each other which he truthfully found quiet ridiculous. There was not any reason for them to be jealous of each other, one was his son and one was his younger brother. They weren't competition for each other but he was certain they viewed it that way. "Play nice." He warned them, eyes flickering between them both. "Clear?"

Marcel gave a brief nod. "Yeah, Klaus." He grabbed a piece of Bonnie's muffin, smirking when she scowled at him.

Kol tilted his head in acknowledgement and then slid into a seat, his eyes running across the people at the table. "Odd mix you have here Nik."

Klaus couldn't help but chuckle. It certainly was an odd mix, he never assumed that he would be sitting in a room with these people here but it also felt just right, like it was meant to be. "Mmm, it is."

"No one is arguing, no one is dead and Kat isn't petrified. It seems to be going far better then I expected." Caroline entered the room, placing Josie's in the chair beside Bonnie's. The little girl had been rather silent this morning, infact, she hadn't spoken at all since Caroline had encouraged her to come out of her room.

Katherine glared. "Petrified, really? Klaus doesn't scare me that much."

Bonnie raised her eyebrow. "He rendered you speechless...which I've always thought was impossible."

Kat picked up the rest of her croissant and threw it at Bonnie. "You're an ass." The witch merely laughed.

"Behave, both of you." Caroline scolded them, leaning down to place a kiss on Klaus's cheek.

"Yes Mom."

Stefan rolled his eyes at Bon and Kat as they spoke in unison. "You two are children."

Caroline looked down at Klaus. "Speaking of children, where are our other three? Never mind, Hope...what's wrong?" She immediately noticed the worry in the little girls face.

"Davina said to get you. It's Lizzie."

Caroline heard Josie's whimper behind her, and she looked down at the brunette concerned. "I..." She felt Klaus grab her hand, pulling her from the room as Bonnie turned her attention to Josie.


Caroline's heart dropped into her stomach, the first thing she saw when Hope opened her bedroom door was Davina holding a crying Lizzie on the floor. "Lizzie?" Her voice rose an octave, panic seeping into her body. "What happened?"

"Firecracker?"

Lizzie turned her head, burying it in Davina's neck. "Go away." She felt Davina's hand rub her back.

Klaus looked up at Hope. "Thank-you for coming to get us, sweetheart. You go have some breakfast, okay?" He waited for the little girl to nod, and then she left, shutting the door behind her. "Lizzie, what's happened?"

"Baby, did you hurt yourself?" Caroline asked, reaching out to place a hand on her knee.

"No." Lizzie mumbled. "Go away."

"Baby, no. If you are upset I want you to talk to me. Hey, look at me, sweet girl."

"No."

Davina looked across at her parents, she knew Lizzie was a little bit embarrassed about how she was feeling. She was usually a strong little girl who rarely showed emotion, so this seemed to be a lot for her. "Klaus, I have a question..."

Klaus raised his eyebrow at Davina. "Can it..." He saw Davina's pointed look. "Sure, kid, what is it?"

She'd been trying to call Caroline mom towards the girls and attempting to get used to it but she hadn't really begun that journey with Klaus, sure it slipped from her mouth occasionally calling him 'Her father.' or something along those lines but she hadn't had that conversation with herself on whether she was ready to take that leap. Yet, as Lizzie's sister, she knew if it would help the little girl do this. "I want to call you dad."

Klaus's eyes widened considerably, the grip he had on Caroline's hand increased with intensity that he knew would break human bones. He had not seen that coming, or at least didn't expect it to happen so soon. He had know that Davina was taking steps towards calling Caroline mom, but this seemed to come out of left field completely blindsiding him.

"But I know that Josie called you that already, so maybe I'm a little concerned that means you'll love her more then me." Davina let her eyes drop to Lizzie's head and then back to Klaus, trying to convey what this was really about.

Klaus's eyes met hers, knowing not only by her voice but her actions that she was doing this for Lizzie. "It doesn't matter who calls me dad first, or if you call me dad at all. I love each of you girls equally. Nothing, absolutely nothing will change that." He placed his hand on Lizzie's leg. "Same goes for you, firecracker. You are all very special to me."

Lizzie gaze briefly flicked to him, but her grip on Davina was still tight. "I've never had someone to call dad..."

Caroline bit her bottom lip to keep from saying anything unhelpful, how she wanted to curse Alaric out. He had done this to her baby girl. And she was right, she had never had someone to call dad because he had never showed any interest in her. "Baby, I..."

Klaus squeezed Caroline's hand but his eyes never left Lizzie. "You don't have to call me dad just because Josie does, Lizzie; but if you do then I will be honored." He gave her a gentle smile when her eyes met his. "And it certainly doesn't matter if Josie called me daddy first, I will love you equally, always."

Lizzie bit her bottom lip. "Alaric didn't."

"Alaric was an ass." Davina muttered, making Lizzie giggle.

Klaus raised his eyebrow, but the small quirk of his lips indicated that he was amused. "He was an ass."

Caroline would have reprimanded them but the smile on Lizzie's face made her let it go. "Klaus is nothing like Alaric, he has plenty of love for you all." She reached forward and wiped the tears from Lizzie's cheeks. "Alaric was definitely an ass."

Lizzie looked gobsmacked at her momma, she never said anything like that. "Momma,"

"Well he was." She tapped Lizzie on the nose.

Lizzie looked back at Klaus. "Do you promise?"

"I promise, firecracker." He grinned when she leapt into his arms. "I love you, Lizzie."

"I love you too, daddy."

His heart fluttered in his chest, hearing her whisper the name. It was unusual to hear her so quiet but it also made it all the more special. Holding her tight to his body, he wanted her to feel the love that he felt. He was incredibly grateful to have her in his life. "If you ever get upset, I want you to come to me, kiddo. Alright?"

Lizzie nodded into his shoulder, feeling a lot better then she did just a few moments ago. "Okay."

Caroline wrapped her arms around Davina. "You are one amazing sister, you know that right? Lizzie is very lucky."

Davina smiled with confidence. "I'm pretty amazing."

Klaus placed at hand on Davina's shoulder. "Whether you ever call me dad is completely up to you, kid; just know I love you."

"I love you both too." She didn't use the term mom or dad, but perhaps one day soon things would change.

"Come on, firecracker, I saw a blueberry muffin with your name on it...if Bonnie hasn't eaten them all." He heard Lizzie giggle.

"I think Bonnie may be becoming his best-friend, they argue like children." Caroline stood up off the floor as Klaus took Lizzie out of the room, her little one would be just fine, she had a good feeling. Looking down she extended her hand to Davina, pulling the teenager up. "How are you, missy?"

Davina shrugged. "Fine, I guess...that's a lie, confused. Kol's back."

"Kol's back." Caroline confirmed.

"And Stefan gives good advice." Davina said sounding surprised by the fact.

Caroline laughed. "Occasionally he does." She placed her arm around the girls shoulders. "As your mother, I could kick Kol's backside for you. Or I could enlist Katherine to work her magic. She'd probably have him begging for mercy by midday."

Davina smiled shyly. "It's okay. I think I'll try out Stefan's advice."

"Probably a safer idea." She placed a kiss on the side of Davina's head. "If you need me, I'm right here."

Davina pulled Caroline in for a hug, squeezing her. "Thanks Mom."


"Where is she Hayley? Where is my daughter?"

Hayley pressed herself back into the wall at the sound of Elijah's thundering voice. She was not a weak person, in fact, she had always had always been a strong headed fierce woman. But she could not deny that there was something utterly terrifying when it came to Elijah. He was the one they called the nobel brother, the one she thought she could trust, love...and instead all he brought her was pain.

"Answer me!"

"I...I don't know."

Elijah stepped away from her, his expression dark, eyes filled with rage. "Well isn't that inconvenient, or perhaps..." He leaned down. "It's a lie."

Hayley pressed herself back. "I'm telling you the truth."

"I do not believe you. I think you took my daughter..."

Hayley clenched her fists, when would he understand that Hope was not his daughter, she had never been. "My daughter. Not yours." She spat the words at him, it was never meant to be this way. Hayley gasped, her head snapping to the side at the force of Elijah's strike.

"Look what you made me do." Elijah scowled, rubbing his hand on his suit jacket. "Why would you say such a terrible thing, Hayley? I expect better from you."

Hayley placed her hand to her cheek, squeezing her eyes shut. She hated this part, how he could go from raging to calm in the matter of moments. It was dangerous. "I..." She launched herself into the nearest corner as Elijah's body fell to the floor before her. "What..."

Finn frowned. "I apologize. I was attempting to get to him before he struck you, but he would have heard me." Finn walked towards her. "Are you alright?"

Hayley stared at him cautiously. "Finn?"

He gave a slight smile, glad that she wasn't fleeing and running far from him. "I would like a chance to talk with you."

"I have to find my daughter."

"Hope is safe." Finn immediately reassured her, seeing her surprised look. "If you'll allow me a moment, I could use your help."

Hayley looked between Finn, and Elijah who was lying on the floor. "I can't...If he wakes..."

Finn looked back at his younger brother. "No need to worry, Elijah is going to be taking an extended nap."

Hayley frowned. "And Hope is safe? Where is she?"

"With Niklaus."

Hayley's jaw popped open, and her face filled with panic. "What?!" After all this time Klaus was finally roaming the Earth and he had their daughter.

"Please calm yourself Hayley, Hope is perfectly safe with Niklaus. I need your help with a bigger threat."

"What bigger threat?"

"My mother. She has a plan to execute the Mikaelson line and I fear I may not be able to stop it."


He could feel the anger in his veins but he forced it back down not wishing for this to be the moment he transformed back into the person he was before the daggering. He had to remember that this was for Josie. This was not about inviting Freya back into the fold and forgetting all that she had done. This was about allowing her to attempt to fix things, allowing her a small chance to do right for once. To start setting things right. It would take time but Klaus knew Freya wasn't the sibling he wanted to kill, in truth she was a sibling he barely knew and the sibling that he didn't want to get personal with right now.

Breathing deeply he knocked on the door, she hadn't driven far out of New Orleans after their encounter and it had taken Marcel a mere few hours to track her down. He couldn't be more thankful for Marcel, he hadn't wanted details or to judge Klaus on why he was taking this path. His son had just accepted what was and got the task done.

"Marcel," Klaus tilted his head as he headed out of the dining room.

Marcel followed after this father. "Need something?"

"I need you to track down Freya. She fled, at the time I wasn't set on stopping her but it seems we need her."

Marcel's eyebrow shot up. "You're not serious." The look he received took him otherwise, and he held his hands up in surrender. "Alright, fine. I'll take a look..."

"I wouldn't ask if this of you if it wasn't serious."

Marcel nodded, he knew that. "I said alright. I'll take Josh and we'll track her down. I'll let you know when I got something." He turned to leave.

"Be careful, son."

Marcel let the slight smile cross his lips, his back to his father. It felt good to hear those words, reassurance that he cared for him. Just as he should. "Always am." He pulled out his phone as he headed for the exit.

Klaus took a step back and listened to the sound of footsteps beyond the door before it cracked open. He couldn't help but feel the slight satisfaction creep into his body at the sight of her horrified face. It was as if he was the last person she expected to see and in a way he should have been.

"Niklaus," The name fell from Freya's lips in a very quiet whisper.

Klaus lifted his chin just slightly. "Hello sister," The word sounded sour coming from his mouth.

Freya stayed hidden slightly by the door, her eyes watching his with a very cautious look. Freya knew that the only reason Klaus would be hunting her down was to hurt her, to make her pay for what the family had done. She was only one within range right now, the one who would take the brunt of his anger. "I..."

"I'm not here for apologies though I believe I am owed them. I need..." He swallowed, feeling the bitterness in his mouth. "I need your help."

Freya raised her eyebrow, the surprise registering in her eyes. That was the last thing she had expected to hear from his mouth but she knew she wasn't about to send him packing. She owed him this and more.
Hesitation was still in her eyes as she she slowly opened the door. "Niklaus, I...of course I'll help but I need you to hear me say..."

Klaus shook his head. "I don't want to hear it, at least not now." Any apology she gave him right now would mean nothing to him. It would feel forced because of his presence, because of that fear that she was clearly feeling because of him. Which in a way only unsettled him, he didn't truly want his family to be fearful of him, no matter who they were. "I'm here about my daughter, Josie; the little girl you met in the ally."

Freya nodded, her mind flashing back to the powerful little one she had encountered. However she finally caught onto his words, she had known yesterday that there was something more to the relationship between Klaus and the little girl but her mind had been filled with fear that she didn't pay attention to anything that was said. "Daughter?"

"Mmm, things have changed. You take one daughter and I gain three more. Apparently I was made to be a father after all." He inclined his head in the direction of outside. "Come." He was not stepping a foot inside a room with her, there was to many possibilities of what could happen. He saw the hesitancy in her eyes again. "I'm not here to harm you, Freya. Now, come." He turned around and headed back towards the parking lot giving her a choice to follow or not. He already knew what choice she would make and it was confirmed when he heard the door close and the footsteps heading towards him.
It was only when they reached the parking lot by his car that he turned to look at her. "What happened to your arm?" His voice was rough, he didn't particular care what had happened but the cast certainly made it stand out. When he saw the look of hesitance, the clear expression that she didn't want to tell him, he pressed for information. "In order this is proceed there will be no secrets. I want the truth, the complete truth from this point forward. You owe me that."

"Kol broke it."

Klaus's eyebrows drew together, annoyance creeping into his veins. His younger brother had failed to tell him that, probably because he knew what would be said. There weren't many things that Klaus did not tolerate, but to break a bone belonging to family, to place hands on a family member in that way...Klaus knew exactly why Kol hadn't told him.

"It's understandable. Hayley and I captured Kol, and when I let him go, he broke it. I deserved it." Freya's words were quiet as if she didn't want to speak them. Didn't want to hear him laugh and tell her that she deserved it.

"You took Kol prisoner?" His voice was tight, low...deadly. As if Freya hadn't done enough to offend him, she was now admitting to taking his brother hostage.

Freya took a small step backwards. "Yes." Her voice trembled. "Hayley thought he had Hope but...I let him go. He had to find her before Elijah did."

Klaus tensed at the sound of his older brothers name. The family member he most definitely did not wish to see again. "Why?"

Freya's whole body trembled. "Because if Elijah found her first, none of us would ever see her again."

Klaus's fists clenched and unclenched. What had become of his brother? What had become of this family? "Get in. You're coming with me." He opened the door, climbing into the car and slamming the door shut. He breathed heavily, hands gripping the steering wheel with force as he waited for her to make her decision. When the car door finally opened, he did not look in her direction.

"Where are we going?" She didn't step a foot inside the car as the question escaped her lips.

Klaus's veins pulsed within him. "Home. I need your help, and you owe me."


Esther crossed her arms staring at the man who was pacing back and forth before her. "How does it feel?"

"To be alive? Wonderful." He stopped pacing. "When can I enact my revenge?"

"Soon." She smiled wickedly. "Soon, my dear. Everything is falling into place. As soon as Rebekah returns to New Orleans I will be able to begin."

"My daughter?"

Esther gently took the picture from the table, holding it out to him. "Is alive. Intense power as you desired." She waited for him to take it from her, watching the grin from on his face. "She is a beauty, Alaric."

"Hmm, much like her mother. When I can I take her?"

"Soon, my dear." Esther looked down at the pictures on the table before her. "First, I need my grandson." She picked up the photo of Marcel, in the picture he was standing in the distance watching Niklaus with the twins. "Yes, he's on the outside. Easy to manipulate. We need him."


Thoughts? Obviously this chapter took a while to get out to you. I've been going through a lot in my personal life, and while I hadn't crammed all I wanted into this chapter, I thought I should post to at least give you something.
I hope I can get the next update out to you sooner.

Much Love. x