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Hope For the Future

"Hello?" Kelly answered her phone cheerfully that morning.

For the first time in a long time, things were going great. She did miss her daughters, but she knew that with what they were it was better that they were in New Orleans with the Mikaelsons, where the supernatural community was not only well known to the locals but allowed to thrive, unlike Mystic Falls where they were hunted. She and Matt were adjusting well to life on their own, though she dreaded his graduation that spring.

"Kelly," Klaus said in response; she immediately rolled her eyes.

"What do you want Nik?" she asked. Their conversations were scarce and hardly ever pleasant. She appreciated all he did for their daughter, that he was stepping up, but that didn't mean she appreciated what he had done to her.

"It's about our daughter," Klaus informed her. They kept Kelly out of the loop on a lot. She knew that Jade was taken in New Orleans because she was pregnant, but she didn't know about the witches attempt to cause her a miscarriage. He knew that, with Jade in the hospital, her mother had the right to know.

"Is she-"

"Fine," Klaus immediately stopped her. "She fell and had to spend the night in the hospital. But she, and our grand daughter, are perfectly fine."

"She fell or one of those witches pushed her?" Kelly muttered.

"Mason was in a fight, I was getting Jade out of the way and we fell," Klaus explained.

"Damon finally snap?" Kelly commented. Mason and Damon were both on edge around each other, constantly making snide remarks at each other or subtly trying to one up each other when it came to taking care of Jade. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time before one took a swing at the other.

"Marcel," Klaus corrected her.

"The one that likes Vicki?" Kelly asked in confusion.

"It's all complicated," Klaus said. "Just know that Jade is all right, that I won't let anything happen to her."

"All right," Kelly sighed. "Nik," she stopped him from hanging up.

"Hm?"

"Thanks," she told him seriously, then hung up. Klaus smiled, his head turning towards the door as he heard Jade coming in with Damon.

"How's our girl?" Klaus asked, though Damon was immediately shaking his head telling him he shouldn't have asked.

"I'm fiiiiine," Jade was complaining as she walked through the plantation house. Damon had stayed the night with her at the hospital, bringing her home now. Mason hadn't come because tensions were still high, he didn't know how Jade felt about what happened at this point, but he was waiting practically inside the door when she got home; she was already feeling overwhelmed with attention since yesterday.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine," she repeated as she headed up the stairs. She knew that they were all worried, but to someone who spent most of their life taking care of themselves, all of this felt very smothering. "And if anyone follows me into this room right now, you're not going to be fine."

"Even me?" Vicki said from inside her room as Jade shut the door, making her jump. "Sorry," she shrugged.

"I just need a second to breathe," Jade said in exasperation as she sat on her bed with her sister sitting on Damon's side, their legs outstretched in front of them while they leaned back against the pillows.

"You got hurt last night," Vicki said like it was obvious; Jade gave her a look. "Your daughter could have gotten hurt last night," she said now.

"I know," Jade sighed, touching her stomach.

"Have you talked to Mason about what happened at all?" Vicki asked curiously.

"He stopped by the hospital last night before Damon got there to check on me," Jade explained. "Things were...tense," she settled on the word.

"It was kinda his fault," Vicki said somewhat gently, though she was throwing the blame right at him. While she was glad Mason was taking responsibility for his daughter, making him a stand up guy, she still wasn't thrilled he wanted to be with her sister; she would only ever root for Damon. Klaus, while he was none to thrilled Jade ended up in the hospital, tried to understand Mason because ultimately he still would rather her end up with the hybrid.

"Thank you," Jade rolled her eyes. "It's just...hard," she tried to explain. "I've always been on edge, I've always had this anger. And with everything magnified as a vampire..." She shrugged. "I think the only reason I'm handling it so well is because I'm pregnant."

"Maternity takes the edge off," Vicki observed and Jade nodded. "Guess that explains your dad, Elijah says he hasn't been nearly as 'volatile'," she used air quotes. "Since he found out about you."

"So, Mason's got five more months," Jade said with a fake smile. "Awesome." Hearing a knock at the door, both girls looked up.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," Elijah said, opening the door slightly.

"Not at all," Vicki grinned, hopping off the bed. "I was gonna head out anyway to spoil my niece," she grinned, heading out the door.

"Don't go crazy!" Jade called after her. The soon to be nursery was already full of stuff from the house's various occupants, though the main culprit was Vicki.

"How are you feeling Jade?" Elijah asked her, standing at the end of her bed rather than join her like Vicki did.

"I'm fine Lijah," Jade said. She had settled on that name for him since it seemed so strange to call someone that looked only slightly older than her uncle; it was like how she often referred to her father as Nik. "Really, we're both ok."

"I hope you'll forgive me for not stopping by the hospital," he apologized. "I know you wanted more space, and I figured between Damon and your father-"

"It's all right," she smiled. "Promise." She rolled her eyes playfully. "And here I thought I'd never miss abandonment."

"I can't quite promise you that," Elijah said with a soft smile. "But, I can buy you a day. Your father and I are heading out to the bayou, to talk to the wolves that haven't triggered their curse, to see if we can smooth things over."

"Thank you," Jade said softly. She and her father were growing closer, but when he worried about her he could be very over bearing. What she realized though now was that, with everyone else leaving, it would just be her, Damon, and Mason alone at the house. The three of them tended to do better when others were around for a buffer. "Could you maybe do me another favor?" she asked.

"I'll see if Mason will come as well," Elijah told her quietly, keeping his voice low because the others were still in the house, not wanting them to hear.

"Thanks," she smiled appreciatively.

"Jade's all right?" Stefan asked, having called his brother while Jade was upstairs talking to Elijah; he had heard what happened from Kelly. Klaus was now getting the full story from Mason in the next room, speculating that they would need a witch to undo what was done to the werewolves. This, of course, was after he expressed his displeasure for what happened with Jade the night before. Mason truly hadn't known that she was there until it was too late; he was so blind with rage.

"She'll be fine," Damon assured him. "I would have killed Mason otherwise," he muttered.

"I'm surprised Klaus hasn't yet," Stefan commented.

"And ruin his 'shot' with Jade," Damon rolled his eyes.

"He's still pulling for him?" Stefan asked doubtfully. He knew how much more he liked Mason over Damon, but after Jade got hurt he wasn't sure how long that would last.

"You should have seen the look on his face when he saw her ring fall out of my pocket," Damon mumbled.

"Her what?" Stefan asked now in shock, not knowing his brother's plan.

"Ah, gotta go," Damon said now, expecting a lecture.

"You're not doing this because she's pregnant with someone else are you?" Stefan accused as Damon hung up. That was the exact comment that he expected, that he was just doing this to prove he loved her more, to 'make her his' and prove a point to others. It wasn't any of that; it was just that they were going to be together forever, and since she was pregnant, he thought it would be better if they got married.

"Someone must be going for aunt of the year," Marcel commented lightly as he caught up with Vicki that afternoon with Vicki shopping for some more toys for her future niece.

"I'll also take god mother of the year," Vicki smiled back, looking through a variety of stuffed animals; bears, bunnies, puppies.

"You just get god parent?" Marcel teased her. "Is it that safe to assume?"

"I mean, Mason doesn't have any siblings left," Vicki listed off. "Damon's brother, eh," she shrugged, making Marcel smile. "Then, my brother needs to be as normal as possible," she finished.

"Oh, so by default," he joked. "That makes sense then." Vicki playfully pushed his arm.

"Bunny or puppy?" she asked, holding up one of each.

"Ah, bunny," he said, just picking one.

"Good call," Vicki said, setting the puppy down and heading up to the counter.

"They pick a name yet?" Marcel was politely making conversation.

"Not yet," Vicki said, paying for the stuffed animal before leaving the store with him. "Jade isn't sure what to do, because she's hers and Mason's, but she doesn't want to exclude Damon, but not overly involve him to make Mason mad..."

"Sounds rough," Marcel said, Vicki nodding in agreement. "I know I asked, but how are you really, with all this?"

"Jade's my big sister," Vicki shrugged, smiling sweetly. "She's taken care of me my entire life. She's the one in a tough spot right now, and I want to help her with it. I want to help make things normal for her and that baby," she said, holding up the stuffed animal.

"You're something Vicki Donovan," Marcel grinned at her.

"I know," she smirked at him, making him laugh.

"Can I take you out this weekend?" Marcel asked her now, the following night being Friday. She opened her mouth to say something and he assumed to protest. "If you don't have fun, I'll go back to being your stuffed animal consultant," he assured her, making her laugh. "Besides, since you been here, has anyone actually showed you around New Orleans?"

"Ok," Vicki agreed with a smile. "Tomorrow it is then." She nodded over her shoulder. "I gotta get going," she told him now.

"I'll pick you up at eight!" Marcel called after her with a grin, getting a smirk out of her as she rounded the corner alone to get to her car. As she walked down the street alone, she barely sensed she was being followed until it was too late and everything went black.

"Today's been great," Jade commented as the sun was going down that evening. It had just been her and Damon alone at the plantation all day, with her father, uncle, and Mason all out in the bayou while Vicki was gone all day shopping she assumed.

"Yeah?" Damon asked, kissing her forehead as she rested against him, his arm around her as they sat outside on the big porch to watch the sunset. He was going to ask her the big question any moment now.

"I've just enjoyed the quiet," Jade joked.

"We can get out of here for awhile," Damon offered genuinely. "Just me and you, you're not linked to Sophie anymore."

"Vicki would freak," Jade half laughed, sitting up now on the softly cushioned couch next to him. "And, I know, things haven't been great with you two," she started off gently. "But, I'm having a great time with my dad."

"No, I know," Damon agreed, taking her hand. "This is our home." She smiled at him. "Besides, I don't see us getting too far without Mason tracking down our scent," he murmured sarcastically.

"Watch the wolf jokes," Jade teased and he smiled at her. "Are you sure you're ok with all this?" she asked nervously now. "I mean, really really ok with it?"

"Jade, yes," Damon reiterated, squeezing her hand. "I promise, we're ok. I love you, and I'm gonna love that little girl, no matter who's daughter she technically is."

"Ok," Jade smiled happily; sometimes, with everything that was going on, she just needed to hear him say that out loud. "What?" she laughed now, seeing the way that he looked at her.

"You're ok with this?" he asked now. "Really really ok with this?" he said, repeating her.

"Mason's going to be a really good dad," she started off. "But, he's not the one that I want. And, I think that Hope is going to need you both in her life."

"Hope?" Damon asked her. "You picked out a name?"

"I haven't said anything to Mason yet," Jade admitted, biting her lip. "But, she's changed so much for all of us, she's brought our family together. And, I was thinking, that gives me hope."

"I like it," Damon smiled. "I think it's pretty." She was smiling back at him. "Jade."

"Hm?" she asked but then noticed he was sliding out of his seat, onto the ground on one knee. "Oh my God," Jade gasped.

"Jade Donovan," he said, pulling the ring out now. "I love you so much, more than anything. And you've made me so happy, I want to spend forever doing the same for you." He took her hand. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" Jade answered and he slid the ring on her finger before getting up to kiss her. "Oh my God!" she squealed excitedly as they broke apart for a moment, staring at her hand. Damon smiled, happy that for just a moment she got to be like everyone else, that she was so excited about being engaged; they heard someone entering the house. "I bet that's Vic, she's gonna freak!" Jade grinned, getting up and taking Damon's hand to lead him inside with her. She couldn't wait to tell her sister.

"Vicki?" Jade asked as they stepped inside, entering the door to the kitchen; instead, they spotted her father and uncle. "Oh!" Jade said, surprised, but happy none the less. "Nik, Lijah, guess what!" she exclaimed, holding out her left hand to show them. Elijah smiled, looking genuinely happy for her; Damon could sense the fakeness behind Klaus's smile.

"Congratulations you two," Elijah said first, then took Jade's hand to observe. "That's quite the ring Damon," he commented.

"Vicki helped, I can't take all the credit on that one," Damon said lightly.

"Have either of you seen Vicki?" Jade asked.

"Not at all," Klaus told her. "But, I'm very happy for you sweetheart," he said, kissing her forehead. He was happy Jade was happy; he just wished she was happy with someone else. "I'm sure Vicki will be back soon, why don't you call your mother?"

"Oh my God, mom is going to die," Jade said excitedly. "I'm gonna go call her and Matty now," she said, taking her phone out of her pocket.

"Be sure to call your Aunt Rebekah as well," Klaus commented as she prepared to leave the kitchen. "She loves a wedding," he said and she grinned as she left the other three alone in the kitchen for now. As she stepped out into the hall though, she spotted Mason there.

"Oh, Mason," Jade said in surprise, though she knew that he would be coming back with Klaus and Elijah. "How was the bayou today?" she asked politely.

"I heard you Jade," Mason said. "About the engagement."

"Mason," Jade started and he waved her off.

"It's fine," he stopped her but she could tell that it wasn't. "I'm happy for you." He wasn't; Damon had come out now, hearing Mason was home. "I just hope someone doesn't think they're going to come in and be dad to my kid," he said now, looking past her at Damon.

"That's not it at all Mason," Jade said defensively.

"I get that I'm step dad," Damon said now. "I just want to make Jade happy, I'm not looking to replace you."

"Yeah, well having a step dad worked out so well for Jade right?" Mason asked.

"Mason, that's not fair!" Jade accused.

"It's not," Klaus agreed, stepping out into the hall now. "You two, go call Kelly. You," he nodded at Mason, motioning for him to follow him outside.

"Don't act like you're all right with this," Mason told him. "Like you didn't see this coming and don't already have a plan to-"

"Would I rather Jade end up with a hybrid over a vampire, yes," Klaus stopped him. "Would I rather that be with the father of the child she's already having, sure." He stopped, his eyes serious. "But, you don't ever talk to Jade like that. Ever. Are we understood?" Mason didn't have a chance to answer as Klaus spotted Marcel hurrying up the walk to the house.

"Marcel?" Klaus questioned in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"Is Vicki here?" Marcel asked, though he already has his suspicions; she wasn't answering her phone and he had found the stuffed animal abandoned in the street by her car.

"Jade's been looking for her," Klaus said, concern rising in his voice now.

"Dammit!" Marcel exclaimed. "I think they have her."

"Who?" Klaus asked now.

thanks for reading! i really hope you liked it, please let me know! sorry for the delay on this and my other stories! i hope to get more posted on each as soon as i can, i'm just struggling a lot right now with stuff in my personal life, thanks for all your patience!:)