After having witnessed one of the most terrible nights for Klaus, as he saw the future, he realized what would happen if he continued this reckless behavior. Hayley and Hope became the most important people in his life, and he was going to lose both if he didn't do anything about it.
In this final chapter, everyone tries to make the best of what Christmas they have left on the 25th. Hope is happy about her presents, as Kol tries to make Davina come back to him. Cami and Finn officially declare themselves as a couple, while Elijah tries to convince Gia to spend Christmas with him. Hayley and Rebekah have a heartfelt discussion as Klaus is nowhere to be found.
December 25th
Hayley slowly opened her eyes when she heard movement from downstairs. Memories were slowly coming back to her as she realized that it was Christmas Day at last. She softly smiled as she remembered the presents that she had taken the liberty to buy everyone in the family, especially her spoiled and precious daughter. Her smile dropped as she slowly turned around and noticed that Klaus' side of the bed was empty. He had already left, God knows where. The door creaked open and Hayley really hoped it would be him. "Merry Christmas!" Rebekah exclaimed as she entered.
The hybrid girl, disappointed, stood up on her bed as she saw that Rebekah was holding Hope in her hands. And she was also holding a little red box. "This is your present! Have a look!" Rebekah said directly as she handed Hayley the box. "Merry Christmas, Rebekah!" She smiled slightly at Rebekah's directness and opened the box. Inside, was a ruby necklace. "It's not much but with everything going on…this was the best I could do." Rebekah said and Hayley shook her head, bringing her in for a hug. "Thank you! It's beautiful." Rebekah just shrugged and winked. "Made for a Queen." Hayley then got out of bed and went to the closet, and took out what looked like a brown box with ancient designs.
Opening it, Rebekah smiled as she saw what looked like a medium sized elephant statue. "I was told that whoever possessed it, receives good luck from such an elephant. I really hope that's the case." Hayley told her and Rebekah nodded, a couple of tears dripping from her eyes. "It's better than any Prada dress you could have bought me. Thank you, Hayley! And I do happen to adore elephants." "Really? I didn't know that." "No one does. Except Marcel." Rebekah mumbled. Hayley slowly looked away at the disappointment in her voice. She knew how she must have been feeling. Abandoned. "It's going to be okay." Hayley insisted and hugged her tightly. "Yeah, I think so. So, where is my knuckle-headed brother?" Rebekah asked her once she pulled back. Hearing Klaus' name just brought more pain in Hayley's heart. She took Hope in her arms and hugged her tightly.
Rebekah watched her closely and finally whispered, "You really love him, don't you?" "I don't." Hayley snapped almost at once. She didn't want to get hurt. She knew what her feelings were doing inside of her. They were tearing her apart for falling for a man that she shouldn't have. Rebekah raised one of her eyebrows as if she didn't believe her. Pulling out of phone, she showed Hayley the secret recording of hers. "I want to be loved. I think I deserve it. I don't want to be known as his one night stand or the mother of his child. I want to be known as…the woman he loves because I know that he feels something for me just as I feel something for me. But he just won't give in. He lives with me and treats me like he has treated every single lover in his past life: no commitment, no nothing. Just the sex part which is driving me insane. I want everything. I want the whole package and I...I could have had that with Elijah. Elijah is a wonderful guy and he would have given me love and everything but…I can't help if I am in love with Klaus!" Hearing the voice that confessed that she loved Klaus, made her heart swoon. "Why did you do this, Rebekah?" Hayley asked her with a whisper. "Because I have to remind both of you of this!"
"Have you showed him?" Hayley gasped, shocked. "No, of course not. I was planning to because you are never going to be able to express yourself like this to him, but I couldn't because you're my friend." Rebekah answered. "Rebekah, I appreciate you trying to help, but I really think that you should focus more of your relationship with Marcel and leave Klaus to me." Hayley told her, angrily. "I'm sorry. Come on, you have to know that I didn't intend on doing anything to affect you." Hayley held Hope tightly as she stood up from the bed and put on her silky purple robe. "I think we should just go downstairs. I don't want anything to affect Hope's happiness today. It's Christmas, no matter what." Hayley told her, as she left the room. Rebekah sighed in disappointment and went after her.
The tree was bright and gorgeous downstairs and as promised, the whole Mikaelson family was to be gathered in the living room, by the tree to open up presents. Despite their differences and problems with one another, Hayley asked Gia and Camille to join them as well, seeing as how much they meant to Finn and Elijah. Hope was being pampered like a doll, and there was no one stopping her from ravaging all of those presents. She was happy and that was all that mattered to Hayley. "Have you seen Niklaus?" Elijah whispered to her as she was watching Hope play on the ground, by the tree with her new jewelry and dolls. Hayley gently shook her head and though back on how the two of them have been acting with each other for the past couple of days. It was as if they were strangers. How did it start out that way? Hayley felt herself getting warmer by the second as she blushed when she thought about the drunken night between them when she asked him to start a romantic relationship with her for Hope.
"I can see that you are keeping yourself occupied eying my brother, little wolf." He whispered from behind me and startled me as I turned around to face him. "I was not looking at him." She bluntly stated and Klaus smirked as he slowly nodded his head, looking at her from head to toe. To him, she was the most breathtaking woman at the party tonight. He was throughout happy. New Orleans was his…Hope was back into his arms and his family was whole again. "Power, loyalty, family. Can you believe it, little wolf? I have succeeded." "Yes, you have." Hayley responded, smiling at him, her cheeks turning pink as his legs began to feel like jelly and would have collapsed right there.
Before she could say anything else, he was right there in front of her, pinning her to the wall and they had been sped away from the crowd so no one would see them. He gently kissed her lips and she ran her hands over his chest, over his tux as he wrapped his hands around her waist. She kissed him back as she felt the pleasure rise in her. What was going on with her? Why was she behaving this way? She shouldn't. Not with Klaus. Klaus was not any good for her. Elijah was…but they weren't the same. She felt everything that she felt for Elijah, had just disappeared in a couple of months. "I am glad we get to spend Christmas with her this year." Hayley whispered between kisses as Klaus finally released her.
They lay their foreheads on one another as they breathed in deeply. He frowned as she smiled. "What are you talking about?" "This year…our first Christmas with Hope." "It was last year, love. We had that bonfire. You…I remember it perfectly well." Hayley bit her lip and said nothing as she looked away. She wanted to tell Klaus the truth about her and Elijah, but she never felt like she could. Every bone in her bone was telling her that she should not tell him, and keep him guessing. She shouldn't let her guard down. Not even now. "Klaus…" He kissed her again before she could continue. She let her lips mold onto his for a minute before pulling away as she felt his hands massaging her thighs under her dress. "What are we doing?" she asked in a breathless tone. "I have no idea, love." He responded and grinned at her.
He was in the mood for something. He wanted to be with her in that moment, but she was not going to just sleep with him. No, she couldn't. He could feel her rejection and slowly put her down and took a step away from her. Hayley rubbed her hands together and whispered, "I have a proposition for you." He smiled at that and stepped over to her, caressing her cheek softly. "Which is?" "I want us to have a commitment." Hayley responded. "As in…a relationship?" "Yes. I have been thinking about Hope. She would really benefit from having her parents together. I was hoping that we can try…for her." Klaus nodded and said, "What if nothing works out? Can you imagine what a scandal that will create?" Hayley nodded and said, "But something might come out of this. You never know." He smiled. He was in a very good mood, otherwise, he would have never agreed to this…but he did…because he wanted her.
Gia walked through the door, holding a present in her hands and Elijah immediately walked over to her, as Hayley remained where she was, with her thoughts about Klaus. "Gia." Elijah whispered, politely greeting her. Gia showed him a small smile as she went over to Hope and handed her the small gift-wrapped present. "For you, precious." Gia whispered and then turned when Elijah put a hand on her shoulder. "I am glad that you're here." They had not spoken much the other night at the feast, especially after the way she had accused him of doing wrong when he slept with his brother's baby mamma. Elijah liked to think that she was a tad bit jealous as well. "I am guessing that you want to talk." Gia told him with her hands crossed over her chest. Elijah smiled and nodded. "That would be lovely."
"So, how are you holding up?" Rebekah asked Hayley, as Hope was opening up her last present. "I am just happy that Hope is happy and…we have a Christmas tree." Hayley replied with a small giggle. Rebekah looked uncomfortable which forced Hayley to ask, "Is something wrong?" "It's just the way I got this tree. It wasn't pretty and I feel awful about it." "What did you do?" "I was pretty desperate to find one last night and incidentally, I saw an old man walking down the street. He was taking a tree home to his family. I wasn't thinking straight when I compelled him and told him to hand over the tree. God, I feel so bloody awful now, Hayley!" Rebekah exclaimed and covered her face. Her friend pulled her in an embrace. "I am sure that there's still time to fix this. His family will understand." "But what about us? We can't just disappoint Hope like this. She loves Christmas trees and you know that." "I am sure we will think of something." The doorbell rang and Cami walked inside with Finn. Finn was holding a present and handed it over to Hayley so she could give it to Hope. "How thoughtful of you!" Rebekah exclaimed sarcastically. Hayley gave her a warning look but Rebekah couldn't care less.
Davina and Kaleb were walking hand in hand towards the Mikaelson house, when Kaleb stopped in his tracks and stopped her from walking too. "What's going on?" Davina asked him, surprised that he stopped. "How long are you going to keep using me like this?" he asked her. "I have no idea what you're talking about." "Come on, Davina! You know exactly what I am talking about. I can see the way you look at him and the way you look at me there is a huge difference." Davina tried to act indifferent so she said, "Yes, there is a difference. I am with you." "But you're still in love with Kol! Admit it! You hold no interest in me. You're just using me to make him jealous! Why don't you just leave me be and let me go and celebrate Christmas with my family instead of living this lie any longer? Save me this torture of watching you eying him, Davina!" The little witch was prepared to say something in her defense but she realized that he was right. Kaleb didn't have to be a pawn in her game. It was not fair. "You're right. Kaleb, I am so sorry. I never meant to drag you along like this." She whispered. Kaleb nodded. "Thank you for your honesty. Goodbye, Davina. And Merry Christmas!"
"I hope that no one succeeded in offering you a better Christmas present than myself." Elijah whispered as he showed Gia to an empty room. She smiled as he handed out a box for her. It was wrapped up with a bow and everything that could make it even more beautiful. "I don't know if I should have this, Elijah." "You haven't even opened it." "You are going to try and convince me to spend Christmas with you, aren't you?" Gia asked him with a smile. "Indeed." Elijah smiled back and Gia finally opened the box and took away the bow, looking down and gasped. "It has been in my family for over 500 years. A vampire pendant, draped in emeralds and diamonds. It fits you perfectly." Gia looked away as tears filled up in her eyes. Elijah took the necklace from her hands and wrapped it around her neck. "It meant for you." He murmured and gently placed a kiss on the back of her neck, making Gia slightly gasp.
She knew that he was going to ask forgiveness through this necklace, but she didn't know if she was going to give it that easily. "Is there anything else I can do to make it up to you? Can you forgive me?" Elijah continued whispering and starting to place gentle kisses on her neck. "I am not going to lie. You're halfway there." Gia responded and wrapped her hands around his neck, leaning forward and kissing his lips. They continued their passionate kisses, until they were soon on the bed and without any clothes on. "What if someone walks in?" Gia asked, a bit shocked that this was happening so soon. He had this effect on her that she didn't know how to push out. She had known of this effect since they first met. "I locked the door. There will be no one bothering us." Elijah whispered and kissed her again. The only thing that Gia had on was the necklace that had started meaning so much for her, knowing it was from the man she loved. Elijah was the one man making her happy since Mark. It was going to be easy to forgive him. And this led her to believe that she was going to end up spending Christmas with him after all. "You're right. This is the best present anyone can offer me." Gia said, which made Elijah laugh.
"Davina!" Kol called out for her when she almost reached the Mikaelson house and she growled, annoyed at him. She really didn't want to deal with his snarky comments right now. He most likely found out that she and Kaleb broke up. "What do you want?" she asked as she turned around. She had her present for Hope in her purse and she was going to offer it to her when she got there. She could see that Kol was also holding some plush toys in a bag and something wrapped up in the other hand. "Presents for Hope?" she asked with a small smile. "Merry Christmas to you too." He said. "Very rude." She whispered and said afterwards, "Merry Christmas, Kol!" "That's the spirit!" he replied, grinning.
"So, what did you get her?" she asked as she watched him fumble with his bag. "As you can see, just something that a girl like her can enjoy at her age." "And what is that thing that you have wrapped up in your other hand?" Kol smirked as he put down the bag with the plush toys and handed the wrapped up present to her. "This is especially for you." "Sweet." Davina replied, with shock on her face as she took the present from him and unwrapped it at once. "A grimoir." She whispered as she looked through it. "Yes. It contains some of the best spells yet that most witches in our time haven't taken the sweet liberty to try them out yet, darling. I just figured you would want it." "Thank you." Davina whispered and gasped when she saw him pulling out some flowers too. "A bouquet just for you, sweetheart." "Trying hard to sweep me off my feet?" "I am. Especially since I found out it's over between you and pretty boy." Kol told her with a grin on his face. Davina smelled the flowers and blushed.
"You know why we broke up, don't you?" she whispered and Kol stayed there for a moment, thinking about it. "Honestly, darling, I haven't taken the liberty of thinking of it. Why don't you inform me of what has been going on?" Davina rolled her eyes as she saw that tease in his eyes. He knew. She knew that he knew about what happened. "Kol Mikaelson, have you been spying on me?" she suddenly exclaimed and punched his shoulder as he laughed. "Hey, love, I was out doing all the shopping I needed. It is not specifically my fault that I found you and honey boy fighting. Curiosity took the better of me." Davina shook her head with a smug look on her face as she dropped everything that she was holding in the snow and came forward to him, grabbing him by the collar and connecting their lips together in a passionate kiss. "You bastard, you know everything." She whispered between their kisses as he grinned.
Rebekah pulled Finn somewhere to talk to him. "What do you want now? I was about to offer Camille my birthday present for her." Finn complained and Rebekah crossed her hands over her chest. "What are you playing at Finn? You haven't been here for ages and now suddenly you show up and you have this fawn over Cami? Why are you using her?" "Why should I be using her? I have fallen for her. That is the truth and we already started a relationship together." "You have got to be joking!" "This is no joke, Rebekah. It is Christmas and I came here because Cami insisted I be with my family on Christmas so we can forgive and forget. I have already spoken to Elijah and he forgave me, Kol doesn't care and now, I wish to settle things with you." "What about Nik?" "I haven't seen him or spoken to him." "Or are you just pissed that Cami likes spending time with him?" "Rebekah, you are trying my patience. Please. It's Christmas. Can we just put it behind us?" Finn was almost pleading with her. Rebekah rolled her eyes and finally nodded as Finn headed back to the living room.
Hayley was holding Hope, as Kol and Davina have finally showed up, as a couple again, with presents and everything. Cami and Finn were ready to announce something when moans and screams could be heard from upstairs. "Is that Klaus?" Cami asked, shocked. Hayley got a lump in her throat as she considered the possibility but Rebekah shook her head. "Nik is not back home yet. Who knows where he could be. I'm betting what we hear are the moans and screams of Gia, who has my brother Elijah on top of her as we speak." "Rebekah!" Hayley snapped at her and covered Hope's ears. "She is too young to understand anything, Hayley. Relax." Finn poured drinks for everyone and raised his glass saying, "I wish my family a Merry Christmas, in hope that it will come to terms to my relationship with Cami!" "Well, congratulations!" Hayley exclaimed and they all clung glasses as Hope started giggling again. But Hayley could see a bit of sadness in her smile. Her father was not there to share these moments with her. "Damn you, Klaus." Hayley mumbled and tried to think of a way to cover up for him for Hope's sake.
Marcel was at Rousseau's drinking up a storm in sadness as Klaus showed up and he was holding tons of bags with him. "A scotch!" he ordered and sat down next to his protégé. "Hey, what are you up to so early in the morning?" Marcel asked him, confused. "I would love to stay and chat, Marcel, but I have a party to get to." Klaus whispered. Marcel got to look at all the presents Klaus had bought for Hope as he drank something to cool him off. "Desperation in the last minute? What is with all this? You don't regularly do this, Klaus." Marcel looked at him, shocked. "That may be so but last night, I had, what you would call, an epiphany. I realized how much both Hayley and Hope mean to me. I never plan on losing them for anything. So, for this one day, I am planning on letting go of my pride and celebrate Christmas the way it should be celebrated. Most importantly, I need to find Hayley and I need to apologize, hoping that it's not too late for her to forgive me." Marcel's eyebrows were raised. "Wow, it must have been more than a simple epiphany that made you realize all of this." "It wouldn't hurt for you to do the same, considering that you are the one who forced Rebekah to end your relationship." Klaus had already finished his drink and stood up; ready to leave when Marcel came after him. He realized he was right.
Klaus had done everything he thought would help him with this. It was Christmas Day and there was already so much that he had thought about doing for her and for their child. But he just had to see them now. Bursting inside of the house, with Marcel after him, they noticed the family sitting in the living room, celebrating something. Klaus' eyes directly met Hayley's and she looked away from him, as Hope started giggling with joy at seeing her father. "Hello, sweetheart!" Klaus exclaimed and took her into his arms, kissing her temple as he thought about the other night. He would never push his daughter away from him. She was his life, the one thing that helped him breathe again, and if it weren't for Hayley, who has offered him this precious gift, Hope wouldn't be in his arms. Hayley was still looking away as Marcel dragged the most gorgeous Christmas tree inside of the house.
"What the hell are you doing?" Rebekah exclaimed in shock as she went over to him. "I didn't realize you managed to find a tree, sister. Marcel and I thought it would be best we found one." Klaus spoke before Marcel could. "I have searched the whole bloody city for one and at the need, had to steal one from an old man!" Rebekah was beyond furious. "Maybe we should be cool about this." Marcel whispered and came over to her, placing a kiss on her cheek. "Merry Christmas." He whispered. Rebekah huffed and turned her head around but Marcel pulled it right back and this time kissed her lips to prove his point. "Why don't you and I go and take this tree back to the old man so he can have a good Christmas as well?" he whispered. Rebekah looked at him in the eyes for one moment before whispering, "Fine, let's go." Marcel grinned and took her hand, grabbing the tree in the living room, taking down all the ornaments and leaving with it and Rebekah.
Hope began crying the moment that Marcel disappeared with the tree and Hayley had to calm her down. "Everything is going to be fine, sweetie. We are replacing the tree. See? We have a better looking one over there." Hayley pointed at the other tree that Klaus had just put in the right place and started putting on all the ornaments. Cami, Finn, Kol and Davina came to help as Hayley took a curious Hope to the bag of presents that Klaus had brought with him. "What do we have here, Hope?" Hayley asked her with a smile as Hope started digging through all the toys and jewelry that Klaus had bought for her. "Don't think that I forgot about you, little wolf." Hayley could feel his breath on her neck and closed her eyes before snapping them open and stepping back from him with her hands crossed over her chest. Klaus sighed and took her hand in his. "I would like some privacy between us, love. Come with me. The others can take care of Hope." Hayley wanted to refuse, but she was too curious of what he had to say so she accepted and together, they headed to the art room.
There were many paintings over there, but they were all covered with white sheets. Hayley frowned as she could not understand for one moment until she realized that he probably didn't want anyone looking at his paintings. "What do you want, Klaus? I have to get back to my daughter." "She is our daughter, love." "Really? You have barely noticed she exists for the past few days." "That is not fair. You know that is anything but the truth, little wolf! You are simply upset that I have not offered you the same sort of time and affection." "Go to hell Klaus!" Hayley exclaimed and moved to the door, wanting to leave when he pulled her back to him, stopping her from leaving. She was beyond furious as she gazed at him. Klaus pulled out from his pocket at that moment…Rebekah's phone. "What are you doing?" Hayley asked him. "Making you listen to something I have always wanted to hear from you, little wolf." He gently held her hands with his one arm as he played the recording with his other hand.
"I want to be loved. I think I deserve it. I don't want to be known as his one night stand or the mother of his child. I want to be known as…the woman he loves because I know that he feels something for me just as I feel something for me. But he just won't give in. He lives with me and treats me like he has treated every single lover in his past life: no commitment, no nothing. Just the sex part which is driving me insane. I want everything. I want the whole package and I...I could have had that with Elijah. Elijah is a wonderful guy and he would have given me love and everything but…I can't help if I am in love with Klaus!" He couldn't get tired of hearing this. Hayley's eyes filled up with tears as she embarrassed, looked away from him. "How long have you known about this?" Hayley asked in a whisper. "For a couple of days now, love." "And why haven't you told me? Why now? What are you planning?" she asked him.
Klaus smiled lightly at her as her bent over and brushed his lips against her forehead, making her gasp a little, and her eyes were full of passion as he pulled back. "I believe we have both made mistakes in not making our relationship work, little wolf. If you had told me what you felt sooner and I have had the courage to tell you what I feel about you that night we made love, we wouldn't be in this situation." His eyes were full of concern and he looked nervous. "Klaus, are you feeling okay?" Hayley asked, scrunching her eyebrows at this unKlaus behavior of his. He chuckled at the expression on her face and whispered, "Let's just say that last night, I had an epiphany." "Is that so? And what have you realized?" Hayley asked him. "That I shouldn't have made the mistake of pushing you away, ever." He bent over and his lips crashed with hers in seconds. She wasn't going to fight it. She knew deep down now how he felt about her and even if he was not the type to tell her that he loves her, she didn't need it.
He pulled back almost at once and one by one, he started pulling off the sheets on all the paintings that were filling up the room. Hayley gasped and covered her mouth. Every single painting was of her. She was pregnant, with Hope, she was cooking, she was sleeping, she was watching the view from out the window, and everything had her. "Klaus." She finally gasped as he chuckled and came over to her, planting another soft kiss on her lips. "What do you think? Do you like your Christmas present, little wolf?" he asked her and she smiled up at him, nodding. "I don't know what happened to you last night, but I am starting to think that it had a big impact on you." "No. You did. Both you and Hope. My redemption is all hanks to you, love. And that is something that I will forever be grateful for." Hayley bit her lip as she pulled him out of the art room and they headed back to their room.
"I think you might still be curious of what I was doing and what I was hiding in this closet." Hayley said as she started searching through all the clothes inside. "The thought has crossed my mind but after I saw how upset you were with me, I figured I would leave you be." "And you have done well, because otherwise you would have spoiled by Christmas gift for you." Hayley presented him with a leather black box. "Open it." Hayley whispered, excitedly. Klaus did as she said and opened up his present. Inside, he noticed, was the most wonderful necklace he had ever seen. "I know that you always like to wear these things around your neck, and I got you this." Klaus smirked as he noticed two pendants on it. One had a dangerous wolf head, which showed his teeth, and the other, showed a drop of what looked like, blood. "So you never forget that you're both vampire and wolf. You belong to both sides. You represent the balance between the two. You have family with both." Hayley explained.
"As do you, little wolf." Klaus whispered and pulled her in for another passionate kiss, as she played with the hem of his shirt. "Merry Christmas." They whispered to one another simultaneously, laughed together and ended up ripping each other's clothes off. He touched every single part of her body, wanting to know how it felt to be with her so intimately again. They kissed and made love all day. Hope was safe and sound with everyone downstairs and Rebekah needed to knock just once on the door, see that it was locked to understand what was going on, so she left.
Hayley slept peacefully and soundly next to him. He was tired as well, after all the running around town he did and he wanted to sleep as well, when his eyes widened for one moment, as he wrapped his hands around Hayley, pulling her closer and throwing the duvet on top of them. Ansel was at the window, showing Klaus the thumbs-up. "Leave." Klaus mouthed in anger and Ansel chuckled before nodding and making himself scarce. Klaus slowly closed his eyes with a smile as he felt Hayley snuggle against him, her scent making him lose his mind. He knew that she had not completely forgiven him yet and was making an exception for the holidays but he would stop at nothing to make both her and Hope happy again, as they used to be. This certainly was a Christmas to remember.
A/N: End of the story! Sorry it took me so long to update the last chapter but it was Christmas Day and I was spending time with my family and friends. Hope this was worth the wait.
Thank you for reading and please leave a review!