Klaymonth Day 13: Hope's First Birthday
"Little wolf! What are you doing up this late?" Klaus asked as he stood in front of the kitchen and watched her get busy with frying pans. She just gave him an angry look and went back to what she was doing. Klaus raised one eyebrow and rolled his eyes. She's always been cranky, waking up so early in the morning. The two of them had a complicated relationship. For one thing, after everything they've been through and everything they had put themselves through, they had never expected to fall in love. They had during Hayley's transition and Hope's departure. It was heartbreaking and yet comforting when they were around each other. Things happened, and when Hope came back, they realized how much they wanted to continue to be around one another. At that time, Hayley was still with Elijah, so some secret calls were made between them, secret midnight kisses and nights of passion when Elijah was out. They didn't want to tell him about their relationship yet. Hayley didn't feel guilty. She and Elijah weren't in a relationship…but they weren't completely estranged from romance either.
Finally, they had told him together. Klaus and Elijah had gotten into a fight in which Hayley had to intervene or things would have gotten bloody. For the sake of Hope, Elijah and Klaus had decided to maintain the family peace in the household but even now, Elijah couldn't forgive Klaus for taking Hayley away from him, not that he did. Klaus and Hayley always had a bit of history together and more things in common. That is what happens to people in their situation. They fall in love. Elijah and Hayley tried to maintain a friendship, but Hayley was trying to avoid him as much as possible. She knew that Elijah was a good man with a good heart who needed someone better than her, someone who could relate to him, the way she could relate to Klaus. Hayley had found true love, and she wanted to keep it.
"Hayley, talk to me, love. What is going on? I have a bloody meeting with the factions tomorrow all afternoon! I need to get some rest. Stop making this noise, you'll wake up Hope!" Klaus snapped at her and Hayley stopped when she heard what he said. "Klaus, what do you mean you have a meeting tomorrow?" "I am going to be busy all day." "No, you can't!" Hayley nearly yelled and then covered her mouth. Elijah and Rebekah were fast asleep upstairs but Hayley was more worried about waking up her daughter. "Yes, love. I will be busy almost the whole day, why?" Hayley went closer to Klaus and crossed her arms over her chest. It was five o'clock in the morning and the sun was now slowly beginning to rise. "What is wrong with you? Don't you know what day it is?" Hayley asked and Klaus frowned. "It can't be your birthday, love, is it? I remember yours was…"
"Last month. I am surprised you remembered that at least. What day is it today, Niklaus?" Klaus raised both eyebrows when he saw how upset she was that she used his full name. She never called him that. This must have been really serious. "It's Tuesday." Klaus said, smiling, trying to get out of this mess by joking with her but it did not cut it. Hayley shook her head. "I can't believe you would forget your own daughter's birthday." "Hope." Klaus said immediately and he remembered. Hayley had told him about today. Hope's first birthday. He touched his forehead with his hand. "I'm sorry, little wolf." Klaus murmured and pulled her into his arms, "I didn't mean to forget." He placed a soft kiss on her lips and Hayley smiled. "Then, you'll cancel your plans?" Hayley asked in a whisper. "For the party you wanted to throw for her?" Hayley nodded. "That is why I woke up this early. I want to bake a special cake for her and I need to buy her gifts and spoil her rotten. This is her first day." Klaus sighed and nodded. "I will see what I can do. I still have some business to take care of."
Hayley ordered Rebekah once she got up to keep Hope busy and make sure that she doesn't see anything that her mother is doing. "I want it to be a surprise for her." Hayley said and Klaus chuckled. "Love, it's her first birthday. She is still too small to understand anything going on around her." Hayley frowned. "You might be really underestimating your daughter. It will come bite you in the ass one day." Hayley had been cooking for a couple of hours to bake the perfect cake. "There! Finished!" she exclaimed and looked proud of herself as she stared at it. Klaus thought it was perfect as well. "You did an incredible job, little wolf." Hayley took some cream onto her finger and sucked it off her thumb gently, staring at him with puppy dog eyes. She knew that it was just to tease him; to tempt him like she always did and he almost took the bait. He smiled back at her and thought about doing the same thing to her, when the clock met his eyes and he saw what time it was. "I have to get going to that meeting, love." He kissed her on the cheek goodbye and headed out. "Klaus, wait! Remember that you are in charge of the presents. The party starts in four hours and you have to be here! Don't forget to buy presents!" Hayley yelled out after him. "I won't forget, love!" Klaus called back to her with a smile.
The rules of New Orleans had changed since Klaus became King and it was time for him to elect a mayor. He wouldn't have had to choose one if the humans hadn't manifested. The humans needed support and a human representative in this town. They wanted a human at power so it was up to Klaus to choose the fit mayor for this city. Marcel was present at the table along with other vampires, werewolves and witches. Humans for the time being weren't allowed in this decision. No one knew that Father Kieran had another brother who was alive. This one was much older than him but with a wiser mind, one that Klaus didn't think he would mind. "Mr. Mikaelson, I think that out of all the contestants here, I possess the proper skills and wisdom for such a position. If you would give me a chance I would…" "I need to be sure of something, Mr. Kieran. I am not the man that I was before, who did reckless things and thought the same, but I am a man of my word and I need to keep the word I gave to the people of this city when I took my rightful position as King. I need to make sure that…" The phone was ringing and it was what had interrupted him. Klaus growled and took the phone from his pocket and silenced it. He didn't even bother to look at the Caller ID. The phone kept buzzing and Klaus couldn't continue.
He smiled at Kieran and said, "Excuse me." He then stepped outside and saw who had been calling him. "Hayley." Klaus whispered, a bit surprised. He put the phone to his ear. "What's the matter, love?" "Klaus, where are you? The party is going to start anytime soon." "What?" Klaus asked and then looked at the clock in front of him. Hayley was right. In less than twenty minutes he had to be home. "Klaus, are you there? Talk to me. What's going on?" "Hayley, I am in the middle of a very important meeting. I can't just leave. I think I am going to be a little late." "What are you talking about? Klaus, it's Hope's first birthday, the most important birthday of her life. You are going to throw it away for some meeting?" "Hayley, I wouldn't expect you to understand. I have to pick the right mayor for this town today. The human faction is expecting…" "Your daughter and I expect you to be home in less than twenty minutes with the gifts." Klaus couldn't breathe. Gifts! He had completely forgotten. He was so wrapped up in his meeting with Kieran that… "Klaus, what is going on? You did remember to buy Hope presents didn't you?" Klaus could hear Hayley saying. He gulped and knew he had to answer quickly but it was too late. He heard her gasp over the phone and then whisper, "No, you didn't." "Hayley, please listen. I am sorry…" "I don't need to hear any more of your apologies, Klaus. Save those for your daughter when you finally decide to come home. Or better yet, maybe you can sleep at Marcel's place tonight with his nightwalkers because I sure as hell don't want you stepping into this house now! Have a good meeting and I'll tell Hope that you wish her happy birthday!" Klaus was about to protest but Hayley already hung up. He rubbed his temples and gone back inside.
What had he done? He had disappointed the woman he loved and his child. He remembered what he had told Hayley that morning, that Hope was too young to understand anything and how she had told him that he was underestimating her. He knew that she was right and Hope would never forgive him for missing out on her first birthday party, but this meeting was so important. "Where is Marcel?" Klaus asked when he saw that he was missing from the room. "He went to a little girl's birthday party, I suppose. We should be taking acre of this business, Mr. Mikaelson! The Human Faction needs a mayor for this city today, at this moment." Klaus looked down for a minute and thought things through. Marcel was going to his little girl's party. Hayley was right. No meeting can be more important than his daughter's first birthday! "We will have to reschedule this meeting." Klaus announced and everyone complained. "Does anyone wish to go against me?" Klaus roared at them all and they remained silent as Klaus walked out. Gifts! He needed a gift for Hope now!
Hayley looked upset as she grabbed the cake with her two hands and made sure not to spill any of the cream. This was just a small party. Marcel, Rebekah, Camille, Davina and Elijah were waiting with Hope in the other room. They each brought Hope a little gift. Rebekah got her a heart shaped necklace. Elijah and Camille joined forces and bought her a charm bracelet while Davina got her a protection spell, something that would increase her own powers as a small part witch. Hayley walked inside the living room with the cake and Hope started giggling and screaming with happiness when she saw it. Hayley couldn't smile when she thought of him, but she had to be happy for her daughter. They sang happy birthday as Hope continued to giggle. "Let's blow on the candles! She's too young to do it herself and we can each make a wish for her." Camille suggested and Hayley agreed. Before they could do so, the door opened and Klaus staggered inside. There was silence in the living room.
The others backed away as Hayley crossed her arms over her chest. "Klaus, what are you doing here?" Klaus didn't even bother to look at her. He went straight to his little girl who was screaming "Daddy!" He pulled her into his arms and hugged her. "Happy birthday, sweetheart." He pulled a bag from behind himself and revealed what was inside. There was another plush wolf which Hope adored and would not let go, a painting he made himself of a little wolf, in a small frame for Hope to keep forever in her heart and at last, he bought her a genuine crown with diamonds that he put on top of her head. "For my little princess." He whispered and kissed Hope's cheek. Hope giggled and she did look outstandingly pretty with the little crown on top of her head. Then, Klaus turned to a frowning and upset Hayley and pulled her into his arms and whispered, "Close your eyes." Hayley did as he asked and Klaus slid a beautiful necklace around her neck and Hayley gasped as she opened her eyes. "How did you know…" She had been checking out this necklace in the store window for weeks. "I know you, little wolf." "Are you trying to bribe me into forgiving you?" "That's exactly what I am doing. Please, love. It won't happen again." Klaus whispered and in a flash, Hayley kissed him softly. Elijah cleared his throat as Davina giggled. Hayley and Klaus pulled back, blushing slightly. "We haven't blown the candles yet." Camille explained and they all gathered around the cake, Klaus holding Hope in his arms. "One, two, three!" They blew all the candles, laughing. Hayley kissed Hope's cheek as Klaus placed a kiss on her head. "Happy Birthday!" They all exclaimed and Klaus pulled Hayley and Hope in a tight hug. He would never let down his girls again. He sealed the oath with another kiss he placed on Hayley's lips. "I love you." she whispered to him as she laid her head on his shoulder. "I love you, my little wolf."