@cursedbcrn & @brokencanbefixed
Standing on the front steps of the compound, Rebekah exhaled audibly. The last time she stood at these doors, the Original swore she was leaving New Orleans for good. At the time, Hayley had a bun in the oven, Niklaus had found enough sense to set her free without a fight, and Elijah remained hopelessly devoted to staying at their side.
Since then, she returned only once to the edge of town, where she first held Hope in her arms and made a new oath: to keep her safe and happy and hidden as long as Dahlia walked the earth. Rebekah recalled that drive away from the Quarter with nothing but a fussy baby, a car seat, and a small bag of her belongings. She had driven away that night with so much care (following the speed limit at that) and compelled a cashier at the nearest department store to give up half the baby section.
"Nothing to be nervous over," she told the teenager, clasping Hope's hand in her own. "Your parents are dying to see you. Get to know you. I know with the wolf business this feels ill-timed, but try and enjoy it." Another audible exhale. The Original rapped at the door.
"Klaus?" Hayley's eyes shot up toward the ceiling, beckoning the hybrid upstairs. The morning had been so pre-occupied with Vincent surrounding the place with protective spells that Hayley miraculously managed to keep her nerves in check... up until now. Now that Hope stood outside the door, flesh and blood, rather than an update from Rebekah, her insides churned. The kid would hate her; visiting parents who were absent all because she'd accidentally activated a curse inherited from them...
"Klaus! Get down here. They're here!" Not like he couldn't hear her. Nerves were probably getting him too. As soon as Hayley opened the door, she willed away the desire to be sick all over Rebekah’s fancy schmancy shoes. Hope was unbearably beautiful (whose genes did she carry exactly?) and so much older than the image that lived in Hayley's mind, even with photos.
Unsure if it was kosher to hug a teenager that probably wanted to be anywhere but here, she settled for a stupid wave and beckoned them both inside. "Come in. Klaus is just coming down. It's so good to see you both," she said with a strangled laugh as Rebekah obliged her in a hug. Despite Hayley's gratitude for the vampire who cared for her baby, she could not take her eyes off the girl. Now it felt weird to hug Rebekah and not Hope. Shit. Tentatively pulling her daughter into an embrace, she gave her an awkward pat. "Can I get you anything? Are you hungry?"















