Title: old ways
author: Cindy Ryan
pairings: Klaus/Hayley
timeline: future AU
Klaus Mikaelson walked through the hundred year old two story brick house on the east side of New Orleans. A middle aged red haired woman stood in the foyer watching. She was his realtor and Klaus had made Elise a very busy rich woman over the last few weeks.
Over that time Klaus had seen literally hundreds of houses. Some legally for sale others not so much. No matter the price none had seemed quite perfect until Elise had come across this one. It was modest by what Klaus was used to living in over the years. Modern updates in the kitchen and bathrooms, the living room and bedrooms spotted with architectural and designer touches that kept to the house's charm and history. Moldings, wood banisters and sconces on the walls all told Klaus this was the home for his family.
Walking through the living room with a fireplace to the kitchen Klaus peered through the window at the backyard. He could see Emily playing or sliding down a slide of a playset. Perhaps even a new treehouse could be built in one of the many old trees that scattered through the yard. There was even a gazebo in the back right corner. Also the yard held enough room to extend the patio or put on a deck.
"What do you think, Mr. Mikaelson?"Elise asked as she stepped into the living room.
Klaus turned away from the window and walked back to the kitchen. "It's perfect."
Elise smiled widely. "Wonderful! Let's go back to my office and sign the papers."
Klaus took a last look at the bare living room. He knew his absence had been noticed by Hayley and his siblings. It'd been hard to keep this quest a surprise. As much as Klaus and his siblings liked living together it was a roller coaster at the best of times. Klaus wanted to give Emily all the protection he could as well as much of a stable upbringing as he could. A home of her own was a good start.
Parked a block away Elijah watched as his brother placed a wooden small sold sign on top of a for sale sign in the front yard of a lovely brick house. The Original continued to observe with a sense of pride as Klaus shook hands with a woman that presumably was the realtor. The red haired woman got into her car and left. Klaus did the same.
Elijah did not follow instead he shut the engine of his car off and got out. He walked the short distance to his brother's new home. He stood on the sidewalk and looked at the house his niece would grow up in. Selfishly it saddened Elijah a bit that Emily would not grow up in the same house that he and Rebekah resided in. He didn't want to miss a minute of her remarkable life.
On the other hand Elijah was happy...very happy that Niklaus had taken this step. It showed that the sacrifices Elijah had made over the centuries had finally paid off. Klaus's redemption was closer than ever. Elijah wasn't a fool he had no delusions that his brother would ever comply completely to the proverbial white picket fence lifestyle. Still for Niklaus this was a huge step forward. Smiling Elijah turned and walked back to his car.