AN: Thank you so much for all the sweet reviews, favs and follows! This chapter is a little longer than the rest, so I hope you all enjoy it!
Disclaimer...I don't own any of the characters, though I have taken liberties with the "Hope" character. :)
"Hello, Caroline." Klaus is the first one to recover.
Caroline stands up, picking up Lizzie with her. Caroline wraps her arms around Lizzie and walks further into the apartment. "What are you doing here, Klaus? Why are you terrorizing my daughter?"
"Your daughter?!" Hayley furiously yells. "That is my daughter. She is my Hope."
Lizzie is startled and clutches Caroline tighter. Caroline looks from Lizzie to Hayley and then to Klaus, who is nodding. Caroline's eyes wonder to Abby who looks terrified, sitting in the corner and watching. "Lizzie, I want you to go in your room and go back to bed. I will be in after I talk to Klaus and Hayley. They are friends of mine."
"I want to stay with you, mama." Lizzie protests, as she is afraid to leave her mother's arms.
"It's ok, Lizzie. I told you, they are friends of mine. They won't hurt you. They won't hurt me." Caroline assures her daughter.
Lizzie nods, untrusting of Hayley and Klaus. "I love you mama." Lizzie says as she walks into her bedroom and closes the door.
Caroline walks over to Abby. She hands her a wad of money. "Abigail, you will not remember Klaus and Hayley. You had fun babysitting Lizzie and she actually behaved herself for you."
"Thanks Caroline. Lizzie was great. See you later!" Abby leaves the apartment and Hayley glares at Caroline.
"How did you find her? Why did you take my Hope?" Hayley demands.
"I didn't know she was your daughter." Caroline defends herself. "Why was she in a children's home? I thought your daughter was killed by witches."
"We spread that rumor to keep Hope safe." Klaus admits. "Threats changed and the plan had to be switched up. We put Hope in that home to keep her safe."
"Well, she is safe here. With me." Caroline takes a defensive stance in front of Lizzie's bedroom door.
"You think you are a match for two hybrids?" Hayley laughs. "Just give us Hope back. We will leave peacefully." Hayley begins to stalk towards Caroline, ready to fight for the child.
"You will leave peacefully, but Lizzie does not seem to want to go." Caroline reminds the hybrids, causing Hayley to halt her movements.
"Why do you call her Lizzie?" Klaus asks, changing the subject because Caroline does have a point.
"That's her name. Elizabeth Hope."
"Her name is Hope!" Hayley shouts.
Lizzie lets out a shriek, clearly hearing the argument from her bedroom. "Listen to me very carefully." Caroline says in a hushed tone, while moving the conversation away from her daughter's door. "Lizzie does not know about the supernatural. I have been able to keep her sheltered and safe from it. If you two want any chance to reunite with your daughter without her resenting you, then I suggest you leave and come back another day and we will see what we can work out."
"You'll let her go?" Klaus asks, shocked.
"Not much of a mom." Hayley snarks.
"If Lizzie chooses to go with you, I will let her. I will always do what is best for my daughter because that is what a real mother does." Caroline glares at Hayley. "If Lizzie wants to stay with me, you can bet that I will fight to the death to keep her safe by my side."
"That can be arranged." Hayley quips.
"Hayley." Klaus growls. "Ok, love. We will crash elsewhere for the night. We will come over tomorrow morning and talk."
Hayley gives Klaus a dirty look and Caroline seems to think it over. "Ok, tomorrow morning." Caroline murmurs.
Hayley grumbles a goodbye and walks angrily out of the apartment. "Good night, love." Klaus whispers as he follows Hayley.
Caroline spends the night sitting on the floor in Lizzie's bedroom. She memorizes every small detail of Lizzie's face, in fear that her daughter will decide that she would rather live with her birth parents in New Orleans. Caroline knows that she has a powerful bond with Lizzie, but Caroline is not used to being the one chosen. After such a rough night, Lizzie finally stirs later than usual. Caroline watches carefully as Lizzie rubs her eyes and yawns. "Mom?" Lizzie questions, her voice groggy.
"Hi Lizzie. Your birth parents will be coming back to talk in a little bit. But I figured you might have some questions for me before then." Caroline stands up and opens Lizzie's door. They walk into the kitchen in silence. Caroline starts to prep waffles, as they are Lizzie's favorite.
"How do you know them?" Lizzie asks, watching her mom like a hawk. She has so many question swarming in her head and that one just seemed to pop out first.
Caroline sighs and pours the batter into the waffle iron. "Your birth father and I were friends, years ago. I knew your birth mother, but we didn't really like each other."
"Did you know I was theirs? Their child, I mean." Lizzie asks, struggling with the idea that her birth parents wanted her back.
"I had no idea. I knew that your birth father had fathered a child. But I had heard that the child died." Caroline places a waffle and some fruit on the table in front of Lizzie.
Lizzie eats tentatively, thoughts from last night still plaguing her brain. "Um," Lizzie softly begins. "Or, uh, never mind." The young girl is so conflicted she decides to give up.
Caroline reaches for her daughter's hand. "Lizzie, you can ask me anything. Any questions you have, I will answer honestly. You have a right to know before they come back."
Lizzie offers Caroline a thankful smile. "Why didn't Abby help me? She acted weird and I feel like they did something to her."
Caroline holds her breath for a moment, trying to find the right words. "Ok, Lizzie, what I am about to tell you is not only completely unbelievable, but it is entirely true. Please listen carefully and when I am done, I will answer as many question as I can." Caroline spends the next 90 minutes telling Lizzie about vampires, hybrids, miracle babies and everything supernatural. Lizzie takes it surprisingly well, as her imagination allows her to believe without completely seeing. Lizzie's only question that remains unanswered is if she is a supernatural being.
Hayley and Klaus walk back to Caroline's apartment. "We are not going to do any negotiations, Klaus. I don't care what you feel for Caroline." Hayley spits out Caroline's name with disdain. "We're taking Hope home with us, if I have to rip Caroline's heart out so Hope will come, I will."
Klaus chuckles. "There will be no ripping of hearts, Hayley. This is your one and only warning."
Hayley glares at Klaus. "You'd rather leave the blonde distraction intact, with our daughter, than actually leave with what we came for? All those years for nothing? No way."
"Don't test me, Hayley. You won't beat me. I have so many years on you. And let's be honest, you know I'd choose Caroline over you, anyways." Klaus waves off Hayley's threats and knocks politely on Caroline's door.
Caroline cautiously opens the door. "Good morning, Klaus. Hayley. Come in."
Klaus and Hayley step into the apartment and Hayley beelines for Lizzie. "Oh, Hope!" Hayley wraps her arms around the girl.
Lizzie become anxious and starts to panic. "Mom…."
Hayley beams, misunderstanding Lizzie. "I'm here, Hope."
Lizzie starts to shake her head as her eyes find Caroline's, pleading for aid. "Hayley, you are scaring her. Let her go." Caroline says softly.
As soon as Hayley releases Lizzie, Lizzie runs to Caroline and wraps her arms around the only woman she knows as 'mom'. "Ok, Caroline. What do you want from us? Money? Klaus has tons of it. He'll give you boatloads of cash and I'll even help you find another child."
"Do you really think that just because I didn't birth Lizzie, that she is so worthless to me?" Caroline incredulously asks. "There is nothing you can offer me that I will take in exchange for my daughter."
Klaus senses Hayley's rage and decides to step in. "You said last night," Klaus looks at Caroline. "That you would be willing to put the decision in Hope's hands."
Lizzie stands up straighter. "My name is Lizzie. Stop calling me Hope."
Klaus can't help but laugh at how his daughter has picked up on some of Caroline's personality traits. "Ok, Lizzie. The decision is yours. But before you make it, perhaps we should be properly introduced."
Lizzie nods and sticks out her hand. "Elizabeth Hope Forbes, pleased to meet you."
"It is indeed a pleasure. Niklaus Mikaelson, but you may call me Klaus. This is Hayley Marshall." Klaus shakes Lizzie's hand. "I have one further request before you make your decision."
"Ok." Lizzie says hesitantly.
"Spend an hour or two with Hayley. Give her a chance to make a better impression." Hayley beams at the idea and begins to pray that Lizzie will agree.
"Where will you be, mom?" Lizzie asks, looking at Caroline.
"Caroline and I will be catching up. We don't have to go far. You can stay in the apartment with Hayley. I have the car keys and your mom and I can even sit in the car and talk."
Lizzie takes a deep breath and nods. "Ok. One hour, tops."
Hayley has to use every ounce of her control to not scoop her daughter up in a hug. Caroline makes eye contact with Lizzie, reading her eyes to make sure that she is comfortable with this. "Lizzie, go get dressed. I need to speak with Hayley and Klaus for a minute." Lizzie runs off to her room to get ready for the day. "She had a lot of questions this morning. I promised to be honest and I could not avoid the topic of the supernatural. She knows what I am, what you guys are. But she asked what she is and I couldn't tell her. I don't know. Just a heads up." Caroline says as she walks into her own bedroom to change her clothes.
Caroline and Klaus step out of the apartment after Caroline promised Lizzie she would be back, many times. "Have you been enjoying motherhood?" Klaus asks, needing something to break the ice between them.
"It's not always easy. But I love Lizzie with my whole heart. So it's worth it." Caroline smiles in thought of her daughter.
"What caused you to make the choice to adopt a child, love?"
"My mom." Klaus nods and Caroline looks away, gathering the strength to talk about her mom. "She died six years ago."
"What happened?" Klaus murmurs, not wanting to upset Caroline, but feeling very curious.
Caroline takes a seat on a bench overlooking the parking lot. She knows that Lizzie will be able to see her from their living room window. "She was in a car accident. Massive bleeding."
"Why didn't you heal her?" Klaus asks, confused.
"She didn't want it. She knew she was dying and she was afraid that the blood wouldn't heal her, but turn her instead. She refused to become a vampire." Caroline says with sadness.
"I'm so sorry, love. I understand how it feels to lose someone you love." Klaus takes Caroline's hand in his own and squeezes it slightly.
Caroline grants Klaus an appreciative smile. "She made me promise her to hang on to my humanity. But somehow, my humanity became a casualty. Everyone left and I was on my own, again. I traveled, but found that I was taking more liberties with the human life than before. I couldn't do that to my mom. So I made the choice to adopt. Stefan has been helping me through the past five years. I'm so grateful for him."
Klaus feels the tightening of his heart at Caroline's story, but the inkling of jealousy at the way she talks about Stefan. "So you and Stefan?"
Caroline lets out a small giggle. "Is that jealousy I sense, Klaus?" Caroline teases.
"To be honest, love, you've known for years how I feel about you. I can safely say that distance has done nothing to diminish my feelings and desires." Klaus' eyes connect with Caroline's and she is drawn into his gaze.
Minutes pass before Caroline finds the strength to break away. "We are just friends. We tried the dating thing, but it didn't work out. It was how I'd imagine dating a brother felt." Caroline shrugs it off. "I've been so focused on Lizzie the past five years, I haven't had time to date anyone."
Klaus smiles at the idea of a single Caroline. "You are nothing short of a wonderfully devoted mother."
Caroline nods and decides to change the subject. "What about you? How have the past seven years been for you?"
Klaus directs his gaze out into the parking lot. "Well, obviously, I became a father. But I have spent very little time with her, regrettably. Esther and Mikael both came back from the dead. Esther also managed to resurrect both of my brothers, as witches, and my birth father."
Caroline gasped hearing that Klaus' actual father was alive. "Have you met him yet?"
"Ah, well." Klaus began, a little uneasy. "He knew about Hope, er, Lizzie. I couldn't let that knowledge get out. So I killed him." Caroline stared at Klaus, open mouthed. "On the plus side, I managed to kill Esther and Mikael, again. And Kol and Finn have since aligned with Elijah, Bekah and myself. Since then, I have been devoted to locating my daughter."
"How long have you been looking for her?"
"Five very long years."
Caroline's heart breaks at the pained look in Klaus' eyes. "I'm so sorry." She whispers. "I'm sorry I hurt you."
Klaus sees the genuine sorrow and concern in Caroline. "Do not be. As hard as it was for us to not find her, you have kept Lizzie safe. You protected her and have raised her well thus far."
Caroline shrugs. "I love her."
"I do too. And we must all discuss where to go from here, since we all want what is best for her." Klaus watches Caroline carefully, to see if she is open-minded. "Come with us. Come to New Orleans with us."
"I don't know." Caroline stutters. She was not expecting that to be a possible solution.
"Please." Klaus' voice softens. "We can agree that now that Lizzie is aware of her heritage, she will be safer surrounded by Originals, hybrids and witches. But she is still young. And you are all she knows. She won't come willingly. Not without you. Consider it." Klaus gently takes Caroline's hand and places a tender kiss on the back of it. "For Lizzie." He pauses and whispers. "For me."
Lizzie watches as her mom and Klaus walked out the door. She turns to see Hayley looking at her with such adoration. "So, tell me about yourself, Hope." Hayley begins.
Lizzie groans. "Please call me Lizzie. It's my name."
Hayley's eyes glaze over with sadness. "Ok." She relents.
"My best friend's name is Clara. We take gymnastics together and we both play soccer. Mom said that next year I can take piano lessons if I want. I don't mind school, but my teacher is not very nice." Lizzie begins rambling and Hayley is in awe of how her daughter turned out. "Why did you leave me?" Lizzie asks in a quiet voice.
"Oh, my darling." Hayley softly responds. "We didn't want to, but it wasn't safe. Caroline"
"You mean my mom." Lizzie interrupts.
"Yeah, your mom." Hayley says, disappointed. "Your mom explained to you what your, what Klaus is. He has a lot of enemies and we had to keep you safe. It was very hard for us. We have missed you for seven long years." Hayley's eyes glisten with unshed tears.
Lizzie nods. "I think I understand." Hayley gets hopeful, thinking that Lizzie will agree to become her daughter again. "But I don't want to leave."
"Why?" Hayley struggles to keep her calm.
"I don't want to leave my mom."
"But I can be your mom." Hayley pleads.
Lizzie shakes her head. "I'm sorry. I'm sure you're really nice and I bet you'd make a good mom. But I'm happy with my mom. I love her. She's the one who rescued me from the children's home. She takes care of me and loves me."
"I can do all those things, too. Please, give me a chance." Hayley begs.
Lizzie turns to the window and watches her mom and Klaus sitting on a bench. She smiles as she sees Klaus take her mom's hand and kiss the back of it. Lizzie and Hayley sit in silence for the next few minutes, until Klaus and Caroline walk in the front door. "Mom!" Lizzie runs and gives Caroline a big hug.
Caroline kisses the top of her daughter's head and hugs her back. "Lizzie, how was your time with Hayley?" Caroline cautiously glances at Hayley and sees the hurt and anger in her eyes.
"I can't leave you. I won't" Lizzie's voice is muffled by Caroline's shirt.
Caroline makes eye contact with both Klaus and Hayley. "No one is going to make you." Caroline pulls Lizzie away to look at her face. "But I have an idea." All eyes snap towards Caroline. "How about, you and I take a little trip? We can go visit Klaus and Hayley in New Orleans. You can meet some of their family and see the city. If you are still happy here in Dallas, we will come back."
Hayley smiles at the thought of another chance to get her daughter back. Klaus is beyond himself thinking about Lizzie and Caroline in New Orleans. Lizzie thinks about it. "But what if I like it there? You won't leave me there, will you?"
Caroline pulls Lizzie into another crushing hug. "Let's cross that bridge if we get there. Ok?" Lizzie nods. Caroline directs her attention to Klaus and Hayley. "We will follow you back to New Orleans. We will stay for a little while. No promises. We will leave after lunch. Lizzie, go pack clothes, enough for two weeks." Lizzie runs off to her room to start packing.
Hayley nods her thanks and leaves the apartment to go pack up her hotel room. Klaus leans in and leaves a small kiss on Caroline's cheek. "Thank you, Caroline. For giving me this chance." Klaus leaves and Caroline is left to decipher the meaning behind Klaus' words.