A/N Thank you for reviewing, it really means a lot!

Present

"There you are, Hope, all washed."

Hope giggled, kicking her small legs out, as Lola put her in her favorite pajamas. They were dark blue and had little moons scattered all over them. They were adorable, in Lola's opinion but anything Hope wore was adorable because the almost two year old was the cutest little creature she'd ever seen. She had bright ocean blue eyes, a smile that could light up a room and a giggle that made anyone's heart swell.

Lola smiled, shaking her head, as Hope kicked out her left leg when the eighteen year old attempted to put her leg into her pajama bottoms.

"Come on, kiddo, work with me here."

Lola narrowed her eyes as she tried to seem stern but her smile proved that she couldn't enforce her demand of the small child.

Hope poked out her tongue, something she did when she was in a giddy mood, kicking her small legs again. One leg, her right one, was in the pyjama bottoms but the other was trying to stop it from happening.

Lola sighed, arching her eyebrow in a playful manner."This is because I wouldn't let you take Wolfy into the bath with you, isn't it?"

Hope hummed, as if agreeing with her. She was very attached to Wolfy, the plush toy she had gotten from her father. She slept with it next to her, played with it along with her knight, and refused to be parted with it.

Lola chuckled, tickling Hope's tummy, making her giggle and the teenager used that distraction to quickly place her left leg into the bottoms.

"Ha!'Lola cheered, sticking her own tongue out at Hope before she lifted the toddler into her arms."I got you, baby Hope."

She propped Hope onto her hip, handing her Wolfy, nodding to the member of staff that dealt with disposing with Hope's diapers, dealing with her food and cleaning up after her. As they dealt with that, Lola made her way over to the rocking chair and grabbed Hope's favorite book.

"Right, story-time."Lola sighed comfortably as she sat down on the rocking chair, Hope in her lap, curled up happily."Ready?"

Hope nodded happily, clapping her hands as Lola opened up the book.

The book that Klaus had gotten specially made for his daughter for times that he wasn't there to read to her in person.

"Does Hope wanna press the button?"

Hope nodded again and her small finger pressed the button next to the speaker that was built into the book. As soon as she did, the page, that has small lights built inside, lit up and a large wolf as well as a little wolf appeared on the page, in front of a small castle.

Klaus' voice filled the room.

"Daddy's here, princess..."

Hope let out a happy squeal at the sound of her father's voice, making Lola smile.

"Are you ready for story-time?"

He chuckled and Hope smiled, head resting on Lola's shoulder."All right then, love, listen to daddy."

Klaus' voice became soft and soothing as he spoke."Once upon a time, there was a wolf king who fought a war for the most precious treasure in all the kingdom...his beautiful little princess."

Lola rocked the chair back and forth as Hope's finger trailed over the daddy wolf and the baby wolf on the page."But, victory came at a price. Allies lost. New enemies made...And so, the wolf king stood alone. Happily ever after, it was not. But, sometimes, even the worst endings are not really endings at all."

Lola turned the page to reveal a painted picture of Hope and Klaus standing hand in hand on a balcony, the city of New Orleans before them, lit up with lights."And, you should know, my littlest wolf, that even when all seems burnt to ash- in our story, there is always another chapter to be told."

Lola saw Hope's eyes flutter but, as always, she fought to stay awake a few more moments. There were a few seconds of silence as Lola rocked back and forth.

Then, a second later, Klaus spoke again.

"Sleep well, princess, daddy loves you."

Knowing that story time was finished, Lola shut the book and placed it aside. She stood up with Hope in her arms, the toddler now asleep, her father's story always put her into a deep slumber, no matter how hyper she was.

Lola made her way over to the crib, turning off the lights. The room wasn't in blackness, no, as always, there were lights of the streets shining through the window and into Hope's crib. The moon also shined in the sky, a soothing nightlight for the child.

"Right, princess Hope,"Lola whispered as she placed the toddler into her crib."You have fed, played, been bathed, been changed, been told your story and now it's time for bed. Your night-time routine has, as always, been a success."

She laid Hope down in the crib, near the left, which was how she liked to be placed, and covered her with her blankets, making sure that Wolfy was placed next to her. Lola smiled at the child before leaning down and pressing a kiss to Hope's temple.

"Night night, kiddo."

Hope shifted in her sleep, reaching out for Wolfy and pulling him into her embrace.

Lola glanced back at the child before she made her way out of the nursery, leaving the door open just a few inches so that Klaus could check in on her when he returned.

One Month Ago

"You cannot take Hope away from her mother."

"Don't be dramatic, Elijah."

Klaus rolled his eyes as he placed Hope in her crib for her nap, kissing her forehead and wishing her a nice slumber before he left her nursery. Elijah glanced at Hope in her crib, looking tempted to rush in and take his niece but he knew that Klaus would tear the world apart if his daughter was taken from him.

"I'm not taking Hope from Hayley...i'm just making sure that, while she is being punished for her actions, Hope is taken care of."Klaus added, making his way into his study room and walking over to the small bar before he poured himself a drink."She needs a mother figure and since I cannot trust my own sister to take that place, Hope hand picked her replacement."

Klaus glanced at Elijah with a smirk."And you know that I can't deny my darling daughter anything."

"Did you compel the poor girl? Does she know what we are?"

Klaus shook his head."Of course not, I wouldn't want to scare her and, no, I didn't compel her. Hope picked her, knowing that she'd be unable to resist such a beautiful creature. I merely told her to come for an interview so that I could get to know her."

Elijah's jaw clenched and he crossed his arms over his chest."You cannot do this, Niklaus, it is not right."

"Neither is placing someone over your own blood, but you did that, didn't you, brother?"

Elijah went quiet, a blank look on his face.

The two stood in silence before there was a knock on the door.

Klaus sighed, taking a sip from his drink."Come in!"

The door opened and Luke, the head of his help, poked his head in."Mr. Klaus, your guest is here."

Klaus straightened, smiling."Ah, fantastic."He set down his drink on his desk."Bring her in."

Elijah opened his mouth to protest once again but, before he could, the door opened fully and in walked a young, beautiful woman with long black hair and bright blue eyes. She wore a black skater skirt and a long sleeved white crop top with flat pumps.

She looked...innocent.

And, going by the smile on Klaus' face, he knew that.

She politely smiled at Elijah before turning to Klaus, hands locked behind her back. She chewed on her bottom lip in a nervous manner as she looked at Klaus who walked around his desk.

He reached out and gently took her hand, lips skimming over her knuckles.

"It's lovely to see you again, Lola."

She smiled at him, releasing her lower lip from between her teeth."Likewise."

Klaus saw as she glanced at Elijah.

"This is my brother."Klaus said without looking at the other Original, motioning to him."Elijah."

She smiled at the Mikaelson brother again."Nice to meet you."

Elijah smiled at her, nodding."It's my pleasure."

"He was just leaving. Weren't you, brother?"

Elijah and Klaus stared at each other, the hybrid silently telling him not to make a scene, before the elder brother walked out, shutting the door behind him.

Klaus cleared his throat before stepping backwards, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk, across from his own chair. She nodded, making her way over to the chair and sat down, smoothing down her skirt as she crossed her right leg over the right. She kept quiet as Klaus sat down, elbows on the table, hands meeting in front of him as he looked at her, eyes narrowing.

"So, Lola, tell me about yourself."

"What would you like to know?"

"How old are you?"

"Eighteen and a half."Lola answered, holding up a finger with an almost petulant look."I'm counting down the days till my birthday."

She was younger than he thought. Klaus pursed his lips for a long moment, thinking before he asked."Were you born in New Orleans?"

She shook her head before replying, her nervousness fading with each second."No. My father moved us here after his divorce with my mother. They grew apart and he wanted a change."

"So no siblings, then?"

"No."She smiled softly, toying with her fingers."Only child but I always wanted a sibling, it wouldn't matter to me the gender. It got lonely after a while."

Klaus nodded before asking."So how would you be able to take care of a child?"

"I have cousins, two of them, and helped with them."She quickly said, smiling fondly at mentioning them."My aunt is a single mother so I babysat them when she was at work. It was the best time of my life and I learned as I went on."

"Do you work? It would be easier if you didn't...taking care of Hope would be a full time job."

"No, I don't, that's why I was looking."She answered, toying with her rings."My father works hard but without my mother's half of the money, he's struggling so I thought that I would-"

"Don't worry, sweetheart, I pay very well."Klaus smirked, leaning back against his chair."Do you know what this job would entail?"

"Taking care of your daughter?"

He chuckled, eyebrows raising."Obviously, yes. But, you see, Hope's mother can't be around at the moment and, while I make sure to be around 99% of the time, Hope needs constant care. Someone to not only take care of her needs but give her their undivided attention. I don't like her feeling like she is alone which is why it would be easier to have a mother figure not only being there physically but spiritually, too. Hope can...sense when a soothing presence isn't around."

He leaned forward, fingers locking."Do you understand what I mean, love?"

She blinked at him a few times before responding, unsure."You mean you want a live in?"

Klaus nodded, smiling."That's right and, in return you can have whatever your heart desires. Clothes, gadgets, money, even your father's welfare. All I as is that you love Hope as if she were your own. My daughter needs a mother's love and she has taken quite a...shine to you."

Klaus smiled widely, eyes drifting from Lola."Haven't you, princess?"

The sound of the door shutting and small feet hitting the ground hit Lola's ears.

Then a squeal was heard.

Lola turned her head to the side to see Hope staring up at her, small hands on Lola's leg to balance herself. Her ocean blue eyes, which she could now see that matched Klaus', stared into her own. She smiled up at Lola, giggling up at her. She wore a white summer dress and had a wolf plush toy tucked underneath her arm.

And, Lola melted.

She was so...cute.

"Hi, there."

Hope smiled up at her, making grabby hands at her and Lola could see that she wanted to be lifted up. Unable to resist the child, Lola leaned down and picked the child up, placing Hope on her leg. She smiled down at the child who had grabbed her hand and brought it to her mouth.

Klaus smiled, standing up and walking around the desk.

He stopped in front of them, arms over his chest.

"So...what do you say, love?"Klaus leaned against the edge of the table."Do you want the job?"

Lola smiled and nodded.

"I'll take it..."

Thank you for reading!

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