A/N: PLEASE COMMENT your thoughts, vote/kudos, add to your reading lists/favorites, subscribe, bookmark etc. just share the story and let me know what you think of it!!! This seriously helps a lot.

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The Mikaelson Compound smelled like death. It was a sweet and rotten smell, like a poisonous flower dying in with the first winds of winter. It was a smell Mikael knew by heart. His mother loved it. She always poured her rotten perfume on everything she touched.

Mikael could not help but think that the entrance hall seemed more like the entrance of a graveyard than a of home. "That was my mother's intention," Mikael thought bitterly, swallowing his fears and rage. He had no time to waste on feelings--gods forbid! He could not waste a single second on fear, no matter how afraid he was. His children needed him. He had failed them once. But Mikael swore not to fail them ever again.

Besides, Mika knew his mother far too well to be surprised by her actions. The Hollow carried death with her wherever she went, throwing it around as though she was covering a path with flower petals. It was her nature. She was never truly human. The Hollow only used the body of a human being, but in her immortal soul, she was a goddess, born of pure order mixed with pure chaos. She was never meant to love her son like a mother. She did not create him to be loved. The Hollow and her mate, Mikael's father, created their son through magic. They made Mikael for destruction. They were never meant to love him. After all, Gods cannot love like mortals love. The Hollow could only love her son like a dragon loves its precious gold, like a murderer loves their victims... In his youth, Mikael told himself there was something human about his mother's and father's love for him. He had to believe they loved him...

But, now, even if Mikael had the body and the memories of his childhood self, he was no longer as naïve as he used to be. He could not afford to love his mother, or even consider her love for him. His naivety could cost his children's lives. He could not afford to act like a child. He couldn't even afford to be a child in his youth. To do it now would be suicide. Besides, Mika could never allow his mother to make his children miserable.

"Even if it's the last thing I do," Mikael swore to himself, holding Hope closer to his chest, and rushing his tired legs to match Davina's quick and desperate steps. "I'll make sure they are all alive and happy." he smiled slightly. Having a purpose, a mission again... especially one which had nothing to do with destruction, and everything with protection and love... It made him whole and happy like he had not been since his children were born...

But there was no more time for pondering. The little witch and the little Destroyer made their first stop--and rescue--right at the entrance to the Compound. Davina spotted a unconscious blonde woman laying next to a wall and a broken table.

"Cami!" Davina screamed, letting go of Mika's hand and kneeling beside her friend. "No, no, no, no." she muttered, turning the blonde woman over to examine the gravity of her wounds. Cami had a deep cut on her forehead, and her heart beats were painfully slow.

"Don't worry." Mika said, kneeling beside Davina and gently placing his hand over Cami's wound. "She'll be alright. I promise." he smiled, and when he pulled his hand away, her wound was gone.

Camille jumped up, panting and looking around with fear in her eyes.

"It's alright." the boy said, placing his hand over hers. "You're alright now."

"Davina." Cami said, throwing her arms to hug the girl. "Marcel and Josh--."

"We'll find them." the boy said, while Davina cried on Cami's shoulder. "I'll make sure they are alright." he smiled, tilting his head.

"Thank you." Cami let go of Davina and turned to face the boy. "But--."

"You need rest." Mika said softly, getting up. "We have no time to waste. You are human. You should find a place to lay down while I go heal the vampires." he added, taking Davina's hand into his again.

Cami opened her mouth to protest, but the boy placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Klaus and Hayley will be back soon. They'll be happy to know you're safe. And I'll be happy with that too..." he smiled, patting her shoulder.

Cami nodded, her mind and body too tired to question who the boy was and why he knew so much about her life.... The questions would come to her mind later, after all the Mikaelsons were safe and sound. And the answers brought both fear and hope to her heart....

***

When Davina and Mika arrived at the Compound, everything was quiet except for the dying moans of vampires. The faint sound of blood slowly dripping was torture to Mika's ears. Everything about the scene was so familiar. The fallen bodies, the smell of blood, the misery painting the walls red, the hopelessness carving its way through his heart.... It was as though Mikael was reliving a scene from his childhood.

Davina squeezed Mikael's hand, her eyes searching for Josh and Marcel. With her mouth slightly open, she turned to the boy, blinking away tears.

"It's all right." he said, smiling. "I'll find them and heal everyone I can."

"Ok.... I-I'll see if I can find Elijah and--and Rebekah." She said numbly, nodding at Hope.

Mikael nodded back. He didn't plan to give the baby back before he was sure the witches could not harm her through him. But it would be good to make sure the girl's family knew where he had taken her--especially if something went wrong.

He shook his head, swallowing his fears. "Nothing will go wrong," he murmured to the baby sleeping peacefully in his arms. "I'll make sure nothing bad happens to you." He reassured himself, smiling down at the baby. He took a new, clean piece of cloth, wrapping baby Hope in it and then wrapping it around his chest, so he could carry her against his chest--"Like a kangaroo," Mikael thought, smiling--and fight with both hands if he had to. With his work complete and Hope secure, Mikael rushed through the fallen vampires.

Even without his heightened vampire abilities, Mika was still not a normal child--he never was--and finding Josh and Marcel was no trouble to him. His little eyes, like the rest of him, held more power than anyone would guess at first glance. Mikael had always been like that. It was the reason why Esther created vampires based on Mikael's strengths and abilities. It was his idea to use his blood in order to give his children some of same powers he had since birth, only slightly heightened. But Mikael could never give all his powers to his children, even if he wanted to do it. Not only because the nature of some of his powers were a mystery to him, but also because most of his powers were a curse, soaked in pain, rather than a blessing. In fact, his healing ability was the only power was proud of... But even then, he would not wish such a burden on his children.

Mika found Marcel and Josh sitting in front of a staircase. Marcel held Josh's body while the young vampire moaned in pain.

"I found them!" Mikael yelled to Davina, who came running after him.

"Hello, Marcellus. Joshua. My name is Mikael. I'm here to help." he said, kneeling beside the fallen vampires. With his small fingers, he touched their foreheads, casting out the werewolf venom and all of its effect. "There. This should make it better. " he smiled, tilting his head.

"Thanks." Josh said, sitting up slowly. "But who the hell are you again?"

"Mikael..." Marcel muttered, swallowing dryly as he felt life flowing through his body again. "You---."

"Yes." the boy said, pouting. "I'm that Mikael... As in Mikaelson." he added, nodding at Josh.

"Wait--." Davina said, kneeling down next to Marcel. "You mean you're like Klaus'.... Dad or something?"

"Pretty much... I don't remember much of it..." Mika shrugged, his cheeks burning red. "But all of you," he looked at Davina and Marcel. "You know the old and mean version of me. He's... Very angry. But that's not me. Not now. I'm here to help them. And you too." he said, the words jumping out of his mouth.

The two vampires and the witch could see Mika was truly trying to make his voice sound matter-of-factly and mature. But he only managed to sound even more childish

"Anyway..." he swallowed, sighing and realizing for the first time just how odd he seemed, with his with shirt/dress full of blood stains, and the newborn baby wrapped around his chest. "Here. Drink." he said giving Josh and Marcel his wrists. "I don't have time to cure all the vampires. But if you drink my blood it'll make your blood able to heal them, just for a few moments. But you must act quickly."

"How is that even possible?" Marcel asked, frowning and glancing at the boy with suspicion. "Only Klaus' blood should be able to cure a werewolf bite. And you--."

"I'm his father." Mika said, his voice determined, even if his cheeks still burned red since he knew how absurd his words sounded. "He became a vampire through drinking my blood." he sighed, looking down at Hope. "The witches brought me back to kill Klaus and his child. But I'll protect them." he raised his fierce eyes to meet Marcel's gaze. "So, now, you can either drink my blood and go save your companions. Or you can sit here and watch them all die. I have no time to waste explaining to you why my blood can save them. If you haven't noticed," he nodded to the baby in his arms. "I have more pressing matters..."

"Is that---." Josh asked, his hand holding the boy's wrist, ready to bite it as soon as Marcel gave it his seal of approval.

"Yes." Mika said, smiling. "I must take her to the cemetery to unlink her and myself from the witches. So they can no longer try to use me to hurt her." he said, with his serious childish voice. "So, will you drink or may I get on with my plans?" he asked, turning back to Marcel.

"Fine." Marcel said, swallowing his doubts. "But if it doesn't work, you won't have to worry about Klaus--."

"I'm not worried about Niklaus." he boy said. The puzzled look on his face shocked Marcel. "Now drink."

This time, the two vampires obeyed.

"Thank you." Davina whispered, touching the boy's shoulder.

"No problem." he smiled, kissing her hand. "I made a promise to you, after all. I don't break my promises, and I don't let children suffer, if I can help it."

"Children?" Josh scoffed in disbelief.

"Well... I may look 10, but I am at least 2000 years old." Mika shrugged, "So... You are technically children to me..."

"What?" Davina, Josh and Marcel spitted out at the same time.

"Yes. I can tell you all about it later." he giggled. "Now, I need to go. Please, let her family know where I'm taking the girl, would you?." he said to Davina, getting back on his feet.

"Sure," she mumbled, looking down. Her mind tried to make sense of all the new information she received. "How--." she opened her mouth, a thousand questions burning her tongue.

But, when she glance back at the boy, he was already gone.

Mika went to save the Mikaelsons from the Hollow's cruelty. He could not fail. Not again.

***

A/N: Someone will have to hit me so I stop adding chapters to this story.

I was supposed to have the Mikaelsons meeting Mikael already, but I keep adding new stuff. Anyways, sorry for the delay. My offline classes are back so life is confusing. I still wanna try to post at least chapter 9 before I take a small break from this story.

Btw: do you guys prefer longer or shorter chapters?

I ask this cause I'm trying to keep the chapters between 1,000 and 2,000 words. But next chapter might be way longer.