( 10th century — kingdom of norway )

"Athena, I'm not sure if we should be out this far," Niklaus said as they made their way through the forest.

"Oh, come on, brother! It's a wonderful day. Beautiful," Athena breathes in the smell of the woods, sighing in bliss. She closes her eyes and spins around, her bare feet crushing leaves and sticks.

"How are you barefoot?" Niklaus mutters, following his sister further into the woods. They knew to be back before nightfall so their mother wouldn't get worried. Mikael was gone and it was one of the few times he had not taken Athena and the girl wanted to bask in it.

"Nature is such a wonderful thing, brother. Don't you agree?" Athena grinned, her fingertips brushing against the tree bark. Ever since she triggered her wolf, she has felt an even deeper connection with the world around her.

"Uh, yes, sure," Niklaus said, glancing around and eyeing a bunny that was staring at them.

Athena chuckles at her brother and grabs his hand. "Come on!" 

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

Niklaus huffed and puffed as he sprinted through the forest trying to outrun his sister. He had smacked her shoulder and now she was coming for him. He looked behind him to see where his sister was but couldn't find her.

Then, his body smacked into another.

He almost fell over but someone gripped his shoulder, keeping him upright. "Careful, boy. You should look forward and not back." His eyes widened as he looked up at the woman towering over him. He was smaller for his age, Athena having a slight height advantage over him for now. She laughed a bit at his expression.

"I—I'm sorry, miss. My sister—"

"Alix!" Athena came running over, grinning widely as soon as she saw the woman. She had slowed when Niklaus bumped into someone, getting in position to attack if they tried anything, but then she realized who it was.

Alix grunted as Athena threw herself at her waist, arms wrapping around her. The woman smiled softly, gently patting down Athena's wispy hair. "Hello, pup. What are you doing so far out here?"

Niklaus glanced between the woman and his sister, his fingers playing with the hem of Athena's tunic out of nervousness.

Athena frowned and gave her brother a side-glare. "Nik smacked me so I've given chase to him. Then he ran into you—idiot."

"Don't call me an idiot!... Idiot!"

"Nice, brother—"

"Enough," Alix cut in and they both fell silent. She huffed in amusement and squatted down to their height. "Do you know how far you've run?"

Niklaus glanced back at the trees, frowning at the unfamiliar scenery. "Um... no?" He said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

Alix hummed shooting Athena a look. The little girl puffed her cheeks before she blew out her breath, kicking some dirt. "Sorry," she muttered, not meeting Alix's eyes.

"I am not the one you must apologize to. Your mother is probably worried sick," Alix reminded, gently rubbing Athena's back. Then she sighed and turned to Niklaus who looked just as downtrodden. "What is your name, sweetheart? I don't believe I caught it."

Niklaus glanced at Athena who gave him an encouraging nod. He stood straight, tilting his head high. "I am Niklaus Mikaelson."

Alix smiled at him, tapping his chest gently and causing the boy to giggle. "Lovely to meet you. I am Alix Castillo."

"He's my brother," Athena explained and threw her arm over his shoulders.

Niklaus threw his arms over her shoulders next and smirked. "I'm her older brother."

Athena scowled and glared at him. "Barely! And I act older than you!"

"Still younger!"

Athena growled and tackled him. He yelped, quickly trying to fend off his sister. They wrestled for a moment, Athena not using her enhanced strength just in case she accidentally hurt her brother. She never wanted to do that.

Alix stared down at them, her eyes slightly wide. If they were twins, that meant...

"Hey," Alix caught their pants and tugged them away from each other. "Enough, you two." She laughed a bit. They were covered in dirt now. Niklaus seemed a little miffed by it, but Athena was right at home. "Alright, let's get you two cleaned up before I take you home."

She took their hands and guided them toward a makeshift camp. Athena tilted her head, waving to familiar wolves as they passed by. "Alix, how come you all are so close?" Last Athena remembers they were very far away—about a four-day trip on foot.

Alix glanced down at her, "we had to migrate. Different seasons, different land."

Athena nodded in understanding. 

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

"Niklaus. Come here, right now," Alix said, trying to grab the little boy who was running further into the water instead of letting Alix wash off the dirt.

Athena was washing the dirt off their clothes, having already been cleaned and much less fussy than Nik was being. He wouldn't even take off his pants! So now Athena couldn't wash them thoroughly.

"I'm swimming!" The boy yelled, diving under the water. Alix huffed, amused and a tiny bit annoyed. She smiled as the blonde boy popped back up.

"You look like a drowned rat," Athena called out without looking up from her task.

Niklaus pouted. "You look like a drowned rat," he shot back.

"Good one," Athena muttered.

Niklaus splashed her and then went back underwater. Alix shook her head and gave Athena a look when the girl went to tackle him. The little girl huffed and went back to cleaning the clothes and drying them. Alix stepped further into the water and scooped up the little boy.

"I wanna swim!" Niklaus pouted once more.

"Another day, child," Alix hushed, setting him on a shallower part of the river, "for now, we must return to your mother. Let me clean you." Niklaus huffed a bit but stayed still. He helped clean off his feet and legs once he took off the pants for Athena to clean.

Athena dried all of the garments and Alix helped the two get dressed after drying them off. She wanted a minimal amount of dirt since she just cleaned them. 

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

Esther brushed Rebekah's hair as it grew closer to nightfall. Finn was preparing dinner and Elijah was keeping Kol entertained.

"Are Atty and Nikky back, Mommy?" Rebekah asked curiously, trying and failing to look behind her since Esther kept her head straight.

"They're probably helping Finn with dinner or playing with Kol. Do not worry, child," she replied gently, smiling.

Once Rebekah's hair was done, the little girl rushed over to where Kol and Elijah were, wanting to play with them before dinner. Esther went into the other room where Finn was cooking the meat.

"Finn, where—"

"They haven't returned home, Mother," Finn interrupted, already knowing what she was going to ask. He looked a little worried himself, having been glancing at the door every couple of seconds.

Esther frowned, her brows furrowing. She glanced out the window. It was becoming dark. Those two knew better than to stay out so late.

She felt worry and fear start building up her spine. It always happened when one of her children was out of her sight for too long. After everything that happened with Freya and Dahlia...

"Continue cooking. Make sure your siblings stay inside," Esther ordered, already grabbing her coat, "I will be back once I've found your brother and sister. Do eat if we're not back."

Finn shifted a little. "Are you sure you do not wish for me to come with, Mother? Elijah can—"

"No, no. I need you to stay here," Esther said, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

Finn's expression shifted to determination at what went unsaid. He had to protect them. "I understand. Be careful, mother."

Esther smiled softly. She headed into the other room and told her other children she'd be right back. Then she went out into the darkening night. 

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

"Athena? Niklaus?" Esther called, carefully maneuvering around the darkness. She held a lamp in her hand, her head turning every which way. "Where are you?"

She paused when she heard a sound to her right. Her fingers went to her knife, one of them slipping through the loop. She readied herself.

"Who's out there?" She demanded, holding up the lamp.

"Mommy!"

Esther relaxed as Niklaus and Athena ran to her, hugging her around the waist. She let go of her knife, huffing. "You two—what have I said about being out so late? You know better." She hugged them both to her, kissing their foreheads.

"Sorry, mummy," Niklaus muttered into her side, "we got a little lost."

"But Alix brought us back!" Athena explained, grinning widely as she looked toward where the woman exited the shadows. Esther straightened, her eyes wide as she stared at the woman. It had been a little while—about five months since they last saw each other. Visits had been few and far between, but Esther cherished everyone she got.

Alix grinned at her, bowing her head a little. "Quite the little explorers you have here," she said, walking further toward them. She placed a gentle kiss on Esther's cheek, making a pink hue fill her cheeks.

"They have always been more adventurous than the others," Esther murmured, glancing down at her children with a look. Niklaus smiled up at her innocently. Esther's brows furrowed a little and she looked between Alix and Athena. "How do you two know each other?"

Athena glanced at Alix who had a slightly confused look on her face. The little girl looked down at the ground, shuffling her feet and playing with her mother's coat.

Alix sighed a bit, realizing Athena hadn't told her mother of the time she spent with her. "When she first transformed... I was the one who helped her through it. Mikael had come into our territory. He asked for help."

Esther's eyes widened in shock. "Why didn't you tell me that?" She looked down at Athena who shrugged her shoulders. The witch sighed and brushed her hand over her daughter's head. She looked at Alix, "thank you."

"Of course," Alix smiled.

"Did Mikael..."

"Recognize me? No," Alix sighed in what seemed like a relief, "though, his reputation proceeds him. I may or may not have told him... 'I may hate you, but I don't hold a grudge against your daughter.'"

Esther laughed a little, shaking her head in amusement. "Of course you did." She sighed a bit, playing with the ends of Athena's hair. "Would you like dinner?" She asked hesitantly, glancing up at the woman.

A small smile fell on Alix's mouth, "I... would love that. As long as it's alright with you two?" She looked down at the twins who eagerly nodded. Alix hummed, "then I shall." She scooped Niklaus up, noticing he was a little sleepy.

"I want to hold the lamp, Mommy!" Athena made grabby hands toward it and the witch handed it over. The little girl situated it, then took Esther's hand. "Okay, we're good now."

Alix laughed a bit and held her hand out for Esther. The blonde smiled and took it.

Then they were off.

( 𝖈𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖔 )

Athena opened the door, heading inside first to set the lamp down.

"Hey, dearest. Where have you been?" Finn asked, placing his hands on his hips as he gave her a look.

"Hi, Finny!" Athena grinned, hugging him. Finn tensed for a moment before patting her back gently. "Niklaus and I just went a little too far."

"Very far," Alix corrected, setting Niklaus down on the ground.

Finn's eyes widened in shock and excitement. "Mama!" He rushed into the woman's arms. Alix beamed, catching him and spinning him around.

"Look at you! You are so tall!" Alix set him down. He was almost her height. In another year or so, he would pass her. Esther smiled at the sight, closing the door behind her and shrugging off her coat. "How have you been, sweetheart?"

"Good," Finn smiled, "I've mastered different techniques for skinning."

Alix ruffled his hair, "you must show me. We'll go hunting one of these days." Finn nodded.

"Mama!" Elijah exclaimed as he entered the room, his eyes wide, "you're here!"

"Elijah," Alix smiled, kneeling so the boy could hug her. She pressed a kiss to his head. "Hi, darling."

"Hi," Elijah muttered.

Rebekah grabbed Niklaus and Athena's hands, hiding behind them slightly at the sight of the unknown woman. Kol just glanced at his brothers, confused.

"Kol, Rebekah," Esther said, smiling at her youngest children, "this is Alix."

Kol waved and Alix waved back, smiling. "Hi, buddy. It's nice to finally meet you."

Kol shrugged a little. "It's nice to meet you. Can we eat?"

Alix laughed a little as Esther sighed. The witch began getting it set up and Finn helped.

Athena gently pulled Rebekah out from behind her much to the little girl's dismay. "It's okay, Bex," she whispered soothingly, "Alix is really nice!"

Rebekah glanced at the woman who didn't move from her position. The youngest bit her lip and waved shyly. Alix smiled softly and waved back. "Hi, sweetheart. You are very pretty."

Rebekah smiled a little, swaying back and forth. "Thank you," she muttered, "you are very pretty, too."

Alix laughed a little, grinning. "Why, thank you." She stood and held out a hand for the little girl. Rebekah took it with little hesitation.

Together, the group ate a meal together.

And all of them hoped to do it again.

AN: andddd alix has met almost every kid!! can you guess who is alix's biological children?? (trick question, she doesn't care)

wc: 2272