Disclaimer: I don't own Saving Hope or The Originals. If I did, certain things would or would not have happened. (hello Elejah, Klaroline and Jalex. And Rebekah and Elena would definitely have been friends from the start and Kol would never have died in the first place.)

Chapter 2

4 years later…

Joel stood outside the building waiting as he thought over the past 4 years. So far he had managed to stay out of the supernatural happenings which seemed to occur in every corner of this city, but it hadn't been easy. The two men from outside the hospital seemed to be everywhere. He'd learned their names of course, thought it would be easier to avoid whatever supernatural events they would inevitably try to drag him into if he knew the names of the people to avoid. Vincent Griffith was essentially the Regent of the New Orleans witches – despite the fact that, as far as he was aware, the Ancestors these witches draw most of their power from were no longer connected to the living realm. And Marcel Gerard was actually the King of New Orleans.

Both had approached him after that one day four years previously, and if they thought he hadn't realized they had people try and follow him, they were idiots. Those people they had sent to follow him were actually how he got most of his information about what had happened in the years before his arrival, having discretely picked the information from their minds and sent them on their way to follow who they thought was him but was actually just some random person he'd made them think was him. He had decided not to wipe any memory of him from their minds, not wanting took do the same thing again every time they or someone they knew saw him around the city, but he'd rather not have these people near his son, thank you very much. Luke walked out of the school at half three and Joel him up onto his shoulders as the little boy giggled.

"I've got a surprise for you," he said in a sing song voice.

"Are we going to Rousseau's?" Luke asked excitedly, tugging on his father's hair slightly.

"We're always going to Rousseau's," he said with a grin. "Guess again, Little Prince."

"The park?"

"Nope."

"Movie theatre?"

"Wrong again."

"Hint?" Joel scrunched up his face, exaggerating a thoughtful look.

"I don't think I know anywhere called hint." Luke huffed.

"No, silly," he said in the exasperated tone only children could pull off when they think a parent is being particularly difficult. "Give me a hint please?"

Joel huffed a laugh as Luke tugged on his hair again slightly in minor annoyance.

"I think we should wait until we get there, don't you?" Luke shook his head emphatically, clearing wanting to know what his surprise was now. He leaned over to look his father directly in the eyes with a wide eyed adorable puppy face.

"Please give me a hint daddy? Please, please, please?!" Joel mentally groaned. His son was just like his mother. Alex could get him to cave with just one look too. It was a shame she couldn't be here, the pain in his heart still sharp after the accident 4 years ago rising again at the fact their son would never know his mother.

"OK," he allowed, "one hint." He paused as Luke have him a wide eyed look of excitement. "It's your birthday tomorrow." Luke's little nose wrinkled as he thought it over. His face brightened.

"Do I get to open my presents early?!"

"Maybe you can open one tonight, but not all of them, and not before then. Any other guesses, Little Prince?"

Luke bit his lip, head tilted to the side a bit, before deciding that he didn't have any right now and shaking his head. They got to where Joel parked the car, Joel strapping him in securely, before getting in himself.

10 minutes passed until they reached the bar, Rousseau's, with Luke offering more and more guesses, only to find the door securely locked. Joel frowned to himself as Luke jumped up and down excitedly, babbling about seeing his honorary aunts and uncles again after so long. Joel had completely given in after about 5 minutes and told him his old friends who hasn't seen Luke since he was a baby were coming for his birthday. Josh never closed during the day unless it was booked. Which, to be fair, he had booked it, but everyone was supposed be here before he closed the bar.

For a second he thought about using his telepathy to see what was going on, but brushed the idea from his head, having long since promised (himself, seeing as nobody else knew) that he wouldn't use his abilities on his friends or family, and settled on calling instead.

-TO/SH-

The phone in Kol's hand which he had taken from Josh a few minutes ago started ringing.

Joel.

Kol looked at Josh with a scowl, holding the screen out so it was facing him.

"And who's this then?" he said. "Another one of Marcel's lackeys?"

Josh's eyes widened as he looked at the screen. With the Originals back in town over the past couple of hours, he'd completely forgotten that Joel had booked the place. Oh, he was going to kill him. Then again, given Kol was holding him hostage, Joel might not get the chance.

"Well?!"

"No! He's just a customer!"

Kol gave him a look. "Customers can call the bar on that phone," he said, pointing at the one he could clearly see from where he was standing. "You don't get a customer who calls you on your private number. So tell me. Who. Is. He?" Josh's shoulders slumped, knowing he had to say it. Joel had become his friend over the past few years, despite his hesitation in the beginning due to his uncanny resemblance to the suit wearing Original who had just this morning broken into his house with his sister, and he really hasn't wanted to get him involved in all this. The fact that he was probably standing outside right now, meant that he was probably about to become another piece in this dangerous supernatural chess game. Suddenly, he was grabbed by the throat and pressed harshly against the bar, Kol getting right in his face, vampire visage clearly on show and pretty much one of the most terrifying things he'd ever seen in these circumstances. "Who is he?!"

"He's a friend!" Josh exclaimed through the choke hold the Original had on his throat. "Nothing to do with Marcel, Marcel can't even stand the sight of him." Kol released him and stepped back, this time answering it as the phone rang again.

"Josh, finally!" came a male voice over the speaker. "What the hell is going on in there?!" Kol raised an eyebrow and gestured for him to speak. Josh quietly cleared his throat.

"Joel, hey, listen, the party can't –" before he could finish speaking, Kol had rushed over to the door, thrown it almost off it's hinges, and thrown someone across the room.

"There," Kol said with a smirk. "The more the merrier."