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Klaus' Study

"Bloody hell!"

Klaus tossed aside his paintbrush, it embedding itself in one of his paintings, making him growl once more because of a whole entirely different reason. He snarled, eyes flashing amber before he kicked aside his painting easel with a swift roundhouse kick, sending it flying across his study.

"Sod it!"

He wiped a hand down his face, thinking about the day he'd had.

Himself and Elijah had gotten into a verbal fight about Hayley seeing the child, a verbal fight that almost fell over into physical, which it would have, if Hope hadn't started crying for her father.

She sensed how stressed he was and he hated it.

But Lola had been there to ease Hope's feelings.

She read to the tribrid, hummed to her, even sang to her if she wouldn't rest.

The two would sit with Hope for hours, and her blue eyes would light up.

But then Elijah would return, demanding that Hayley see her daughter. He wasn't keeping Hope from her, well, he was but he had that right. From the moment she had married Jackson, the mother of his child had pushed him out of the picture, she had moved out into the Bayou, cut off all contact. She then had tried to run with her after he had been daggered.

Why couldn't his brother see Klaus' side?

Was he so blinded by his love for the girl?

Klaus flashed over to his table, picking up a bottle of Bourbon and a glass, filling it halfway before he gulped it down. He was about to pour another when a sharp knock could be heard from his door. He, once more, growled, turning to snap at whoever dared to disturb him.

He opened his mouth, ready to sling a series of curses at whoever was at his door...

"Mr. Mikaelson?"

...and he snapped his mouth shut.

Klaus perked up slightly, turning around and facing the closed door."Come in!"

"How many times do I have to tell you, love?"He smiled as the door opened."Call me Klaus."

"Of course, Klaus."

He turned around, smile on his face to greet Lola.

And his smile only widened as his gaze landed on his baby wolf and Lola.

As he did, the memory of a few nights before flashed in his mind.

'All that matters is that I keep Hope healthy and happy and that she has a dad that loves her. He loves her...'

"Da!"Hope, who was still grasping how to speak after her first word had been 'Da!', squealed as she saw her father."Dada!"

"Hi, daddy!"Lola giggled, fingers locking around Hope's tiny wrist and she raised it, mimicking waving at Klaus."Say hi, daddy!"

Hope smiled, head resting on Lola's shoulder as Lola, after Klaus' silent invitation, moved further into the study, smile falling as she noticed the slightly trashed study.

"Something wrong, uh, Klaus?"

He shook his head, giving her a smile."Just some artists' block, sweetheart."He grinned at her, it widening as the two sat down, Hope in Lola's lap."To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Lola picked up Hope and settled her by her feet onto the ground.

Klaus frowned as Hope stumbled slightly but didn't fall as she was being held onto."What-"

"Just watch, Klaus."She smiled up at him.

Klaus raised his eyebrows playfully but kept quiet.

She leaned down and muttered into Hope's ear."Come on, kiddo, don't make me look bad. Do it for daddy."

Hope looked up at Lola, as if she were looking for reassurance. Lola nodded and Hope then looked up at her father, eyes meeting his.

As if, again, she were looking for reassurance.

Klaus smiled lovingly at his daughter."Show daddy, love."

Hope looked down at her feet that were too far apart and she waved her arms, whining at Lola to let her go. Lola did so, but kept her arms up just in case.

Hope's tongue stuck out in determination, something Klaus also did, and she put on shaky foot in front of the other.

Klaus' eyes widened.

"S-She..."He stopped himself as Hope repeated the action, and soon she began to walk shakily but surely."She's walking."

Lola giggled, nodding as Klaus knelt down in front of his daughter, arms outstretched, ready to catch her.

"That's my girl."He smiled with a chuckle, his eyes sparkling."Daddy's here."

"Dada!"Hope smiled and giggled as she lunged into her father's arms, small arms locking around his neck.

Klaus laughed as he stood, kissing his daughter's forehead in pride.

"When did she start walking?"

"A minute before we came here. She just stood up and took a step. She tripped a little but I caught her."

Klaus' smile fell and he frowned."I missed it. I missed her first steps?"

Lola said nothing as she reached into her open pocketed cardigan and pulled out her phone. She smiled as she tapped on the screen a few times before she handed it to Klaus.

"I was taking a video for you...she said Dada but then she did something more awesome."

He took it and looked down, eyes landing on the screen.

Hope was holding onto the chair as she looked at the phone, fingers in her mouth.

"Come on, kiddo, say it. Da..da!"

Hope did nothing, just continued to stare, a smile on her face. She giggled as Lola sighed before laughing as Hope picked up Wolfy.

"Hope? Can you say dada?"

Hope, again, did nothing, just continued to suck on her fingers.

"Kiddo, it-Oh, my God!"

The camera shook as Hope took a step forward, then another, until she fell into Lola's awaiting arms. The phone shook and the camera fell, showing only blackness.

Lola's laughter could be heard as she praised the little girl.

"Oh, kiddo, that was so amazing! Your daddy is going to be so proud!"

Klaus chuckled as he locked the phone and handed it back to the black haired woman who was smiling widely because he was so happy. He shut his eyes as Hope snuggled into him, her own eyes closing as he rocked her back and forth.

"She's growing up..."Klaus said against his daughter, eyes opening."I don't like it."

"You'll get used to it. There's more firsts. First tantrum, first day of nursery, then school and those are the easy ones, i'm talking from experience."Lola smiled as she walked closer, Hope's hand reaching for Lola's."Oh, she'll be dating before you know it."

Klaus' head snapped up and his smile fell."No dating. Ever."

She giggled, pressing a kiss to Hope's knuckles before looking up at Klaus."Don't worry, a girl never loves a man more than she loves her daddy."

She leaned close, fingers brushing Hope's cheek."And, again, from experience, what we have here is a true daddy's girl. Isn't that right, kiddo?"

Hope, as if agreeing, squealed happily.

Lola and Klaus smiled, staring down at the bundle of joy.

But Klaus' smile didn't remain.

Someone clearing their throat broke Klaus' moment.

Lola and Klaus turned their heads to see Elijah standing at the door, looking both unimpressed and downhearted.

"Elijah."Lola smiled happily, tucking black hair behind her ear."Hi."

Elijah, unable to stay mad in her presence, nodded."Hello, Lola. Pleasure to see you again."

He raised his head from her gaze and met Klaus' eyes over her shoulder."Brother?"

"Elijah."

"May I speak with you, please?"He asked, clear displeasure in his tone as he eyed his brother."In private, please?"

Klaus said nothing and the brothers stared at each-other for a long moment, tension clear.

Lola, noticing this, looked at Klaus.

"Do you want me to take Hope in the next room to play?"She offered with a small smile at the little girl."Leave you two alone?"

Klaus broke his gaze with Elijah and looked down at the two.

He noticed Hope's pout as she stared at her uncle, fingers curled in Klaus' shirt.

"Yes, please."

He handed Hope to Lola who took her with a playful mumble."Come on, kiddo, let's go and play, shall we?"

Hope happily wound her arms around Lola's neck.

"Say bye to daddy!"

Hope smiled at Klaus over Lola's shoulder."Da!"

"Daddy will see you later, love. Be good for Lola."

Lola smiled awkwardly at the two men before walking off.

Elijah smiled lovingly at his niece, a look only for her."Hello, little Hope."

Hope clapped, hands tapping Elijah's face, clear love in her eyes as she nuzzled against her uncle.

At Klaus' nod, Lola left the study, shutting the door behind her.

"It's been at least a few hours, brother."

Klaus walked away, moving around his desk before he sat down, leaning back against the cushion. His brother stepped over the easel and paintbrushes, noticing the embedded one in the painting. He cleared his throat, hands meeting in front of him as he stood before his brother's desk.

"You've been busy."Elijah mused then gave a small, fake, smile."Have a tempter tantrum, did we?"

"Would you rather I take out my anger elsewhere?"Klaus smirked, letting his amber eyes flash for a moment before he added."Perhaps take a trip to the swamp and visit a certain pack, would that meet your expectations?"

"Niklaus, need I must tell you-"

"Not to kill the mother of my child, brother, yes, I know."Klaus chuckled before his expression turned serious."I will have my revenge on Hayley for her past transgressions but I will never kill her. She's the mother of my child, she's apart of this family. I won't kill her. Maybe a certain hairy husband of hers and her friends, yes, but not her."

Elijah didn't seem impressed by this but his eyes showed some relief.

"Speaking of Hope..."Elijah started, glancing at the door before he met Klaus' gaze."You, Lola and the child seemed quite cosy."

"Am I not allowed to spend time with my daughter?"

Elijah seemed tempted to retort with an insult but he calmly said."Of course but, brother, as i've said before, i'm quite worried that Lola, while a lovely young woman, might be a mere pawn in your game at getting back at Hayley."

Klaus smirked, leaning forward, hands meeting in front of him."Why would I do that, Elijah?"

"Because, Niklaus, you are, well...you."

"Lola is a lovely girl, you are right, and she is Hope's guardian. A mother figure that she picked."

"What did you say?"

"Weren't you listening a month ago, Elijah?"Klaus asked, standing up, listening as Hope and Lola played in the front room."Hope and I went shopping for a mother figure. Hope's wolf needs a mother. We window shopped until my precocious little girl picked out Lola. She fit everything Hope wanted. Loving, caring, devoted...and loyal."

"You're saying that Hope picked out a mother?"

"I would never bring a woman into Hope's life that she doesn't feel comfortable with. Never. My little girl wanted Lola and she got her."

Klaus smiled to himself as he stared at Elijah. "Lola is perfect."

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