Littlest wolf

As the three of them arrived at the plantation house on the outskirts of New Orleans, Elijah went upstairs to unpack, intentionally leaving Klaus and Hayley alone in the hall.

Klaus pulled out a chair for Hayley to sit on, to which she responded with a smile. Klaus slowly removed the sheets from some of the furniture while contemplating how to deal with the enemies they would face. He already possessed the knowledge which would give him a great advantage, but more importantly, he wouldn't be making the same mistakes the original Klaus did. He would have his family stand beside him.

"I wanted to thank you," Hayley started. "For a second there, I thought you would leave me behind."

Klaus looked at Hayley, who did not seem scared of him but was still anxious.

"I suppose I should be grateful if that is the worst you thought of me, little wolf," Klaus said with a sad smile, causing Hayley to look down guiltily.

Klaus went to her and put a hand on her shoulder, which made her look at him. "I am sorry for scaring you back there. I needed to make sure they did not think of any underhanded moves," Klaus explained with a calm and gentle tone.

"I didn't mean..." Hayley started.

"I know," Klaus cut her off, "but you don't need to worry. I would never leave you behind," Klaus said with a smirk before continuing. "I have grown quite fond of you, little wolf."

Hayley gave a weak smile in response. "I didn't know you were fond of me enough to save me."

Klaus sighed. "I try very hard to not let those kinds of things show, but I do care," Klaus said while looking into Hayley's eyes.

He knew that with everything the original Klaus did, gaining their trust would not be a simple matter, especially when it came to his siblings. Centuries of anger, betrayal, and several daggers would make it somewhat difficult, but he also knew they could not stay away from each other too long. "Always and forever," a simple promise, and yet one that forever bound them to each other. No matter what, they would always come and help when need be.

"So, what do we do with the witches?" Hayley asked, trying to change the topic as she felt drawn to Klaus.

"Well, the most important thing would be to remove the binding spell. While they may not try anything as long as we 'play along,' I do not wish to take any chances," Klaus said while Hayley slowly nodded.

He could see her starting to fidget again, a clear indicator of her anxiety or nervousness, and given her current position, she could not be blamed.

"So, how do you feel?" Klaus tried to distract her, causing Hayley to roll her eyes.

"The same I was feeling five minutes ago and five minutes before that," Hayley responded with sarcasm.

Klaus chuckled before looking at her again. "I meant being a mother."

Hayley shifted uncomfortably, with a sad expression. "I... I was abandoned when I was born, and my adoptive parents kicked me out the second I turned into a wolf... so I don't really know how to feel about being a mother as I never had a good one," Hayley said as she looked down at her stomach and hugged it slightly. "I just want her to have better, to know she is loved."

While Hayley kept looking down, she did not notice Klaus' expression at her words. It hit too close to home and managed to break his facade for a slight moment. He took a few small steps closer to Hayley and put his hand over hers while looking at her lovingly in the eyes.

"I promise you, on my life, I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe... you and our littlest wolf," Klaus said with a small smile, hiding his sadness, though it did not go unnoticed by Hayley, who had to learn how to read people from a young age to survive.

She kept looking at him, wondering if this is the same big bad wolf that everyone spoke about, the one she met back in Mystic Falls, who craved nothing but power and control. As she was thinking, everything that happened in the last few days finally took its toll, and she fell asleep.

Klaus cleared the hair that got in her face. Before getting up to leave, he looked at her and said, "Good night, love."

Elijah could hear all this. As he was heading downstairs, he smiled, thinking that maybe his brother's redemption isn't too far away. Yet something felt too off, like this was all too sudden. He shook those thoughts away, at least for now.

He saw Klaus standing near the dining table. "So, what exactly are we going to do about Marcellus?"

Klaus looked at Elijah, thinking of the best course of action. Marcellus, the boy he took in and raised as his own son, taught him everything he knows, one who later faked his death and remained in the city as the new king of New Orleans. Perhaps the only place they were ever truly happy.

While Damon did not hold any attachment towards Marcellus, through his memories of the past and what he remembers of the show, it would be more beneficial to have him as an ally. In the end, no matter what, he always wanted to be part of their family, to be a Mikaelson.

"Nothing," Klaus answered with a shrug, causing Elijah to give a confused look before Klaus elaborated. "I have no interest in a multiple front war, not when we all share the same enemy. And as for him not contacting us, he may have his reasons, ones we can talk about at a later time. Nonetheless, getting rid of the witches is our first priority," Klaus explained.

"So, you want to risk going against the deal we made, putting both Hayley and your child in harm's way?!" Elijah said angrily.

"Watch it, brother," Klaus said firmly with a hint of anger. "I would do nothing to cause any harm to them. That is why I want to remove the threat that looms over them as soon as possible, without any of them getting hurt."

Elijah calmed down a little, hearing his brother express such concern over them, yet he could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. The man standing in front of him, the one he has known for over 1000 years, his own brother, one he had hoped to guide to his redemption, was now unrecognizable. Whether it was for the better or worse, he could not yet say.

"Trust me, brother," Klaus said as he put his hand on Elijah's shoulder. "I know you have every reason not to, but..."

Elijah narrowed his eyes on Klaus as he glanced towards Hayley's room.

"I assure you, I only wish to obtain the same thing as you have wished for the last 1000 years."

"And what might that be?" Elijah asked with his eyebrow raised.

"Family."