Cami rang the doorbell and waited. A woman with long brown hair wearing a pink apron answered. Cami smiled.
"Hi i'm Hope's mom."
The woman smiled. "Of course. Come on in. The girls are watching a movie."
Cami followed the woman into a small kitchen that connected to a living room. She smiled.
"Hope your mom is here."
Hope turned and squealed. "Mommy!"
She ran over and Cami grabbed her. "Did you miss me?"
"Yeah but we had a lot of fun."
She set her down and smiled at Macie. She was a shy little red head. "Hi Macie. Did you and Hope have a good time?"
She nodded. "We made Cinderella cookies."
"Wow."
Macie's mom extended her hand. "I'm Jessica by the way."
Cami shook her hand and smiled. "Cami."
Jessica looked at the girls. "Macie can you help Hope get her stuff?"
The girls took off up the stairs. Jessica started placing some cookies in a small box.
"You're a single mom right?"
Cami nodded. "Hope's dad has been away for a while." She quickly lied. "He works in Africa."
She nodded. "My husband is in the military. He's been gone for a year. It's ruff."
"I promise it gets easier."
She smiled. "I just miss having my best friend."
Cami felt the familiar ache in her chest and nodded. "Me too."
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Cami was in her bed later that night reading a patient file. She heard little feet across the floor. Soon Hope appeared in her doorway clutching her plush wolf.
"Mommy can I sleep with you? Just for tonight?"
Cami smiled. "Of course."
Hope smiled and crawled in next to Cami. She covered herself with blankets and then smiled. "Thanks Mommy."
Cami kissed her forehead and set her file aside. "Did you miss me while I was away?"
Hope nodded. "I don't like sleeping somewhere without you."
"I don't like it either."
"Did you have fun on your trip?"
"Yes I did. I went home for the night."
"Home?"
"New Orleans." Cami hesitated before adding. "I was thinking that maybe it's time that we move back."
Hope looked surprised. "Really?"
"Yeah. We have family there and I think you would like it there."
Hope thought for a minute before asking. "Are we going to go get my Dad while were there?"
"Yeah we are Princess."
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A few weeks later Cami and Hope drove into New Orleans. Hope was looking out her window amazed.
"Why is there people in the road?"
Cami smiled. "They're telling fortunes and playing music."
Hope cocked her brow. "Telling fortunes? Are they witches?"
"A few but most are just people who want to make money off of gullible tourist."
Hope nodded and then pointed. "Ooh I want to go in there!"
Cami looked and laughed. It was a voodoo shop owned by an actual witch. "We can check it out tomorrow."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Cami drove to the gate of the compound and punched in the code before pulling into the garage. Hope jumped out as soon as Cami opened her door. They walked inside and Cami's jaw dropped. The place had been scrubbed spotless. All the furniture had been uncovered and cleaned. There was an intoxicating aroma coming from upstairs. Cami led the way into the kitchen. Vincent was standing in front of the stove.
"Welcome home."
Cami grinned. "Did you do all of this?"
"Well Josh may have compelled a cleaning crew and a few appliance stores but yeah it was my idea. And my gumbo."
She nodded and picked Hope up. He turned from the stove and smiled at her.
"Wow Baby Hope is not a baby anymore."
Hope nodded. "I'm six."
"I know and I feel old. Do you remember me?"
Hope shook her head and Vincent extended his hand to her.
"I'm Vincent."
She shook his hand. "Nice to meet you."
Cami set her down and Hope took off exploring. When dinner was ready she sat at the table with Cami and Vincent. She frowned at Cami.
"Mommy where is my room?"
Cami looked surprised. "You didn't find it already?"
"Well there is a room with a bunch of toys in it but it has a crib in there. I don't sleep in a crib anymore."
Cami laughed. "Well you can sleep with me tonight and we'll fix it up tomorrow."
Hope nodded then looked at Vincent curious. "Are you a vampire too? Or a werewolf?"
He chuckled. "I am a witch."
"Boys can be witches?"
"Yes they can."
Cami shook her head amused. "You know Hope, Vincent would be the perfect person to take you to the voodoo store."
She looked at him excited. "Will you take me?"
"Sure. We can go there while your Mom gets your room ready."
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Hope looked closely at the different barrels.
"Vincent, what is this?"
He looked. "That is ginger root."
"What do you use that for?"
"It's used in a lot of medicines."
She nodded and pointed. "And that?"
"That is Wolfsbane." He dropped his voice. "Don't touch it. It will burn you."
She quickly jerked her hand away. A woman at the counter smiled.
"Hey Vincent. Whose your little friend?"
He smiled. "This is Hope. I'm babysitting."
Hope glared up at him. "I am not a baby."
"Pardon me."
She looked at some of the necklaces lined up on a table. She grabbed one and handed it to Vincent.
"Can you hold that for me?"
He nodded and watched her amused. Hope looked around the entire shop. She grabbed a deck of tarot cards before running back to the counter. She set the tarot cards and the necklace on the counter and smiled.
"I'll take these please."
The lady smiled and rang her up. Hope handed Vincent her purse and he pulled some cash out of her wallet. He looked at her amused.
"Dang little money bags."
She smiled. "Mommy gave it to me in case I saw anything I wanted."
He nodded and the lady handed Hope her bag.
"Come back soon."
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Cami was just hanging the last photo when she heard the front door open and little feet running up the stairs. Hope appeared at the door and her jaw fell open. Cami smiled.
"What do you think?"
Hope walked around the room. Cami kept the mural Klaus had painted and the handpainted night sky on the ceiling. Hope took in the wrought iron full size bed, the white play table and chairs, the dollhouse that was as tall as she was, the toys and books on the built in shelves, the little sign above her bed with her name on it, and the framed pictures. She grinned.
"I love it!"
Cami hugged her and kissed her forehead. "I'm glad."
Hope started playing with her toys while Vincent motioned for Cami to follow him. She walked into her bedroom and looked at him curious.
"What's up?"
He spoke quietly. "I heard whispers. Marcel knows that someone is trying to bring the Mikaelson's back. He moved Klaus into the basement of his building. Josh says he's chained up like a dog and is talking to himself."
She felt a chill run down her spine. "He's fighting the blade?"
He nodded. "But he's weak. Marcel only gives him enough blood to keep him from desiccating."
Cami started to pace. "I need to see him."
"Cami it's too dangerous. Besides he's loosing his mind."
She looked at him determined. "I have too."
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Josh met Cami outside of Marcel's building. He sighed.
"Marcel just left to go speak with the witches. You maybe have five minutes."
She nodded. He led her into the building and down several flights of stairs. When they reached a huge steal door he pulled it opened and they rushed inside. Klaus was in the middle of the stone floor. He had a collar around his neck and a huge tow chain. He looked ill. She looked at Josh in horror.
"What the hell have they done to him?"
"This is what happens when you add Papa Tunde's blade and very little blood."
She sighed. She pulled out the picture of Hope with the note on the back. She slipped it into his jacket pocket and kissed his cheek before rushing out.
An hour later Klaus woke and felt something in his pocket. He looked and felt a lump rise in his throat. It was a photo of a little girl with long honey blonde hair, blue eyes and a devious little grin. The bottom read, "Hope's 6th Birthday". He smiled to himself and flipped the picture over. Written on the back was a message, "You'll be home soon".
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