'𝟑 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐬

..,..

KOL PACED the porch as he spoke, "What's the holdup? All right, we rescued Nik, we escaped mortal danger why are we not on a private jet to Saint-Tropez? You can catch up on the last five years when we're on our way- I can assure you haven't missed much."

"Circumstances have changed we will leave here soon enough." Elijah told his brother.

"We have our niece to consider." Rebekah spoke.

"Kol has a point. We need to put an ocean between us and Marcel Gerard as soon as possible." Freya agreed with Kol.

"We're not going anywhere today. I want one day of peace with my daughter. Before we uproot her." Klaus said.

"Any delay is a risk." Freya replied.

"One day. We're in the middle of nowhere, the house is cloaked. We weren't followed, and i'm  not asking!" Klaus shouted.

"Everybody, look who's awake." Hayley said as she walked onto the porch with Hope in her hand.

"Hello" the little girl said.

"Hello" Klaus replied, looking at his daughter.

"Mom, can I go play in the garden?" Hope asked her mother.

"Yeah, sure."

..,..

Kol went into the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of blood. "Oh, here you are." Rebekah said walking in.

"Yeah, I came in here to have a quiet bite alone, thank you very much." Kol told his sister.

"Well, go and be alone somewhere else, because I have some thinking to do, and I would like to do it near the expensive wine."

"After five years of being trapped in a house together, here we are- trapped in a house together." Kol chuckled humorlessly.

"Well, at least this one doesn't have imaginary blood." Rebekah pointed out.

"It's not normal. Living in each other's pockets for a thousand years. Paranoia, betrayal, violence, repeat." Kol stated.

"Well, we're undead, so if it's normal you're after, I don't fancy your chances. And why the sudden melancholy? Did you expect to break out of the Chambre de Chasse and into a family cured of dysfunction?" Rebekah asked.

"When we were in there, it felt like the world had stopped. But it didn't. It kept turning. Without Wanda. You know, she would have been thirty three today. And I wonder what she would have done with the time. She would be saving lives. Meanwhile... we're here, breathing. And what are we doing?" Kol questioned.

"Paranoia, betrayal, violence, repeat."

..,..

Kol walked upon a car on the side of the road, "Nice car. Hey, do you mind if I borrow it?"

"I knew you'd like this car. You're so predictable." Rebekah said appearing from the shadows.

"What are you doing?"

"Well, I'm due an adventure, and Saint-Tropez is as good a place as any. Besides, someone's got to keep you out of trouble." Rebekah smiled.

Kol smiled.

..,..

"How is she?" Klaus asked Hayley.

"Uh, the fever's back. But she's not in any pain. She's asking for you."

"Well, make an excuse. I'd rather my daughter not know I've gone off to murder witches." the hybrid replied.

"We can not be reckless, Niklaus." Elijah told his younger brother.

"And how would you have me respond? Should I delegate my child's safety to someone else?" Klaus questioned.

"Let me see what I can do." Elijah spoke.

"And I will handle Marcel. Out of the three of us, I win Most Likely Not to Get Killed on Arrival. Whatever we're up against, it's as much his problem as is it ours." Hayley pointed out.

"Leaving me to do what, exactly?" Klaus asked.

"Stay here and protect our daughter. Do not let anything or anyone near her."

"A word of warning. The Marcel that you knew is gone. So, whatever he is now, he's no ally." Elijah said.

..,..

Klaus walked up to where Hope was laying, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm still so cold. Are the birds gone?" young Hope asked her father.

"Yeah, they're gone, sweetheart. And when you're better, which will be soon, you and I are going to share the biggest plate of beignets you've ever seen. And you can tell me where in this big, wide world you'd like me to take you next." Klaus smiled.

"Mom said you loved New Orleans most of all."

"I did, once. But putting your love in a place is a mistake. Being here in our home, seeing these walls, I am reminded that it is people who are best suited to fill our hearts." Klaus replied.

"Can I ask you a question?" Hope said to Klaus.

"Always"

"Where's aunt Wanda? I saw all of our family except her, is she coming any time soon?" Hope asked.

Klaus didn't know what to respond, his daughter still thought the young girl was alive. Should he tell her or make something up.

"Why do you ask?"

"Because Mom told me she's a Mikaelson too, and she took care of me when I was a baby. Mom also said she had such unique powers and that she protected our family. From the pictures she looks so pretty and kind, so I want to meet my other aunt. Could you tell me some more things about her?" Hope replied.

Klaus didn't know what to say, the girls death hurt the hybrid more than one would have thought, and hearing his daughter ask for her left him unsure how to answer.

"Your aunt Wanda was a wonderful person, the first time I met her I sort of pissed her off and ended up with my ankles broken in a split second. Thinking back on it makes me laugh now. She was the first person and the only one who conquered your uncle Kol's heart." Klaus smiled.

"Did you two get along?" Hope asked.

"Yes, I saw her as a younger sister. We bickered like siblings, had arguments, and fought side by side protecting each other. When you were a baby, I was skeptical about almost anyone taking care of you but I trusted Wanda the most. And some times I betrayed her trust but she still stood by me." Klaus said.

"When will she come back?" Hope wondered.

Klaus was unable to answer his daughters question, because he still hoped there was a possibility of the young witch walking through a portal.

Hope furrowed her brows, "Dad. I don't feel so good."

..,..

That man, Vincent, Mom said he was a witch. That he came to help me feel better. But I feel worse." Hope said.

"I know. I know. But don't worry, because as we speak, your mother and your Uncle Elijah are working with Vincent to fix you up. So you just stay calm and they'll make everything all right." Klaus told her.

"Do you know what it is? The Hollow?" Hope asked her father.

"No, sweetheart I don't."

"It wants those other kids. I can feel them. I think it wants me, too. But I don't think it's working alone." Hope spoke.

"I am not gonna let anything take you. I promise you that. I'm going to keep you safe, always and forever."

..,..

"I managed to find an old friend. Or enemy, I can never really tell. Here's to a wretched day." Elijah said.

"A wretched day indeed. As soon as Hope is better, we'll leave. She's all that matters." Klaus told them.

"Hey. I want to ask you something. In the woods, if Vincent hadn't found that loophole what would you have done to those kids?" Hayley asked.

"Whatever I had to do." Elijah answered.

"We have got to stop making it a habit of putting our family lives ahead of others. I don't want that for myself, I don't want that for Hope."

"We have to do better."

..,..

A/n: About the age for Wanda Kol said, he doesn't know she was just snapped from existence so when she comes back she will be 28 because those five years didn't happen for her, just thought I would explain because 33 is not the age she will be.