Despite what they had done to save their family, taking a part of the Hollow into themselves and reestablishing the old link the Hollow had once put on them, Mira and Hope were so far coping okay. Freya had kept a close eye on both of her nieces afterwards, looking for any signs that the dark magic was effecting them, but they seemed to be fine after getting a good night of sleep. Mira couldn't help but smile when she woke, finding Elliot and Grace curled up either side of her, not wanting to leave her side until they knew that their sister was okay. 

   That morning, Klaus had gathered all four children and Freya for a celebratory breakfast down in the dining room. He'd gone all out for it, reminding Hope and Mira of the day he first introduced them both to beignets seven years ago, at the table filled to the brim with different desserts and pastries they'd found down in the courtyard. Hayley hadn't been too impressed when she found them, but it was hard to be mad seeing both of the girls so happy. The two cousins sat side by side on one side of the table, Klaus sitting at the head while Freya sat opposite Hope, Elliot and Grace beside her. 

   "The curse that plagued our family for seven years has taken its toll on all of us. On our city. On our home. On our family. The consequences of us being together were grave, but today, thanks to you two, we celebrate a new beginning." Klaus began, smiling at his daughter and niece, and they gave small smiles in return. "One in which we have the freedom to stand side by side. And whatever trials may come, we will face them together, as a family. Always and forever." He raised his glass in toast, the five of them doing the same.

   "Would you please pass the beignets?" Hope smiled politely at their aunt.

    "Of course." Freya passed over the tray to Hope, who took one gratefully.

    "Us too, Hope." Grace grinned, and Hope smiled before leaning over and handing one to Grace and Elliot each. "Thank you!"

   "So, Rebekah will be back in a few days." Klaus announced to them all. "She's just tying up some loose ends overseas."

   "Aunt Rebekah's coming?" Elliot questioned happily, earning a nod. "Awesome."

   "It'll be nice to have her here." Hope agreed.

   Freya smiled at the thought. "It'll be good to have all of us under one roof again."

   "Shame uncle Kol couldn't be convinced to stay longer." Mira added, picking at the food on her plate.

   But they'd all understood why he needed to go, and his want to get back to Davina as soon as possible. He'd made a point to wait to say goodbye before he left, making sure to get a hug from his three nieces and nephew and a promise they'd come out to visit him and their aunt soon. And since they no longer had anything stopping them from doing so, the kids had made the promise without any hesitation. 

   It fell silent as they heard footsteps approaching, and all eyes fell onto the open doorway as Elijah approached, all of them able to see his wariness to do so. Mira immediately looked down and focused on her plate, feeling a lump form in the back of her throat. Grace and Elliot glanced from their father to each other, neither of them sure what they were meant to do. And all three of them could feel his eyes darting between them, taking in the sight of his children after so long.

   "Good morning." He greeted, nerves edged in his tone. "Obviously, there is a lot for us to discuss." Elijah wasn't sure where to start, and noticing Mira avoiding his gaze, he held back a sigh as he glanced at his niece. "Hope, let me begin by telling you how truly sorry..."

   Hope focused on the table and glared furiously down at the fork in her hand, until it bent in half with her magic. "Thanks for breakfast, guys, but I have homework to catch up on." She shot her father and aunt an appreciative smile, before quickly getting to her feet and leaving the room.

   "I, uh, have homework too." Mira cleared her throat, pushing her plate away as she got to her feet. "Thank you, uncle Nik, aunt Freya. Excuse me." She mumbled, following after Hope before Elijah was able to say a word.

   Freya glanced at Grace and Elliot, who looked uncomfortable, neither of them sure what they were meant to say or do. "Why don't you guys go finish upstairs?" She said gently, neither of them needing to be told again before they happily took the chance to escape.

   Klaus waited until the youngest two had left, before he looked at the bent fork and gestured to it. "That's not normal. She's not normal."

   "She lost her mother, Niklaus." Elijah shook his head, moving to stand behind one the now empty chairs at the table. "All of them lost their mothers." He gripped the back of the chair. "I shouldn't have come down here." He muttered in guilt, glancing in the direction they all left.

   "At least you can claim amnesia, unlike our sister, who willingly aided two children in ruining their lives." Klaus sneered in distaste toward their sister.

   "Hope and Mira aren't children." Freya argued in her defense.

   "They're fifteen and fourteen." Elijah cut in, giving Freya a look. Adjusting back into his old life was taking some time, especially given the circumstances, but he wasn't pleased with what the girls had done either now he was in his right mind. "They're not adults, either."

   "Did you even consider what absorbing all that magic could do to them?" He questioned angrily.

    "And what choice did I have?" Freya shot back in disbelief.

   "Deny them. Defy them." He stated like it was obvious. "We had a plan to keep the dark magic away from them."

   Freya smiled humorlessly as his words before she looked at her brother. "A plan that wasn't working."

   "Yes, well, thanks to you, the magic has them now. So, if my daughter or our niece should be harmed in any way, shape or form, I will hold you personally responsible." He warned dangerously. "And I suspect Elijah will do the same in regards to his daughter." Slamming his napkin down on the table, he stormed out of the room, leaving Freya and Elijah alone.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   If Mira wasn't honest with herself, she wasn't sure what had happened during breakfast. For years, all she'd wanted was to have her father back and be able to talk to him again, and now she finally had that. Then again, as she'd envisioned that scenario over the years, each time it looked very different to what it was. In scenarios, her mom was alive, and her family was whole and happy again. But that wasn't the case, nor would it ever be. Her mom was gone, and they were left to navigate this reunion without her there to help. She wasn't their to finally see Grace and Elliot meet their dad, and Mira wasn't sure how she meant to help them with that. She didn't want them to avoid him because they thought that was what she wanted, they deserved the chance to know him and decide what they wanted.

   He was the only parent they had left now, and the twins needed one more than ever.

   Mira stared at the ceiling as she laid on her bed, throwing a small rubber ball in the air and catching it repeatedly. It had been a gift from their uncle Damon, who told her used it to keep himself amused when he was once stuck in a prison world with Bonnie Bennett years ago. Mira had been skeptical she'd ever use it, but she found more use for it than she thought she would, using it when her head needed a distraction from whatever was going on. 

   "Elliot and Grace are in their rooms playing if you're looking for them." She finally spoke, feeling eyes on her from her doorway.

   Elijah had been hesitating on if to speak or not, just standing their and watching his eldest daughter in silence for a few minutes. "What happened to homework?" He finally asked, watching as she continued to toss and catch the ball. 

   "Taking a break." She mumbled quietly, catching the ball a final time before she sat up, shoving away in her bedside draw. "I should probably get back to it, so if that's everything, I--"

   "Mira." He cut her off as he stepped inside. "We should talk."

   Mira bit her lip as she looked away, her fingers playing anxiously with the blanket she'd been laid on. "Uh...I guess." She mumbled with a nod, knowing she'd have to do this sooner or later. She heard a low hiss like whispering begin inside of her head, but she ignored it, not giving any sign that it was happening as Elijah carefully moved to sit beside her. 

   "I'm not sure where to begin." He admitted, as they fell back into silence for a moment. Mira focused on her fingers fidgeting in her lap, and he looked around the room, his eyes falling on one of the many photos of Audrey Mira had on her desk. He tried to ignore the ache in his chest as he gazed at it. "Mira, your mother..."

   "You didn't know who she was." She said quietly, shaking her head as she looked up, catching sight of the same picture he was looking at. "It's not your fault." Mira closed her eyes as the whispering got louder for a moment, before she shook it off. 

    Elijah shook his head. "I could have saved her and I--"

   "Dad, if you want to go down that route, I could have saved her by never leaving her defenseless in the church attic." Mira cut him off, finally meet his eyes as he looked at her. "Hope and I put her and aunt Hayley in that position."

   "You felt like you had no other choice." He sighed, unable not to blame himself no matter what she said. "I never should have done what I did. Had you been able to talk to me somehow...I thought I was making the right choice for your safety, all I did was hurt you, your mother, and your siblings more."

   The father and daughter were still so alike, a lot more than either of them either realized in that moment. And currently, they probably understood what the other was going through better than most, and knew all the feeling of guilt and pain coming up constantly. This wasn't the reunion with her dad that Mira had ever imagined happening, but it was going better than it could have with all the circumstances surrounding it. Biting her lip, Mira got up and walked over to her desk, opening up one of the draws to get something from inside. 

   "Uncle Nik gave me this at aunt Hayley's funeral." She began, her eyes staring at the ring for a moment before she turned to show it to her father. His face fell sadly as he looked at the engagement ring, remembering the day he first placed it on Audrey's finger as Mira dropped it into the palm of his hand. "I thought you should have it, I, um..." She reached around her neck and showed Audrey's old necklace charm that was hidden beneath her shirt. "I wanted to keep this, if that's okay."

   Elijah held the ring tightly in his hand as he looked, a sad smile twitching at his lips. "Of course it is." He assured, looking at the old red gem charm. "It used to belong to you once, before your mother needed it back again. She'd want you to have it."

   "I remember." Mira nodded, her fingers holding onto the charm as she spoke. "You're the one who gave it to me." She let out a small sigh as she glanced at him. "I don't know how to this...because for years this is all that I wanted. And now," She bit her lip. "I know it's not your fault mom died, no more than it is mine or Hope's. But we needed you, dad." Mira felt her voice crack. "And you didn't come. She died, and that you, you knew about us but you didn't come. You didn't get your memories back."

   "And it will be a shame I carry with me forever." Elijah said honestly, as it was something he would never forgive himself for. He wasn't there when his children needed him the most. He wasn't there to say goodbye to Audrey. "I don't expect you to forgive me, Mira. That possibility is a long time away, if it ever is one. But I'm here now." He looked at her wholeheartedly. "And I want to try."

   "And Antoinette?" She finally asked.

   Elijah hesitated. "Mira, she was--"

   But she decided she didn't want to hear it. She couldn't hear about the woman he chose over them, that he chose over Audrey. "I'm gonna go see if Hope wants to study together." She got to her feet and grabbed her books. "You should focus on Grace and Elliot. They need you." She said before she left the room. 

   Elijah rubbed his face with his hands as he remained there after she went, his eyes flickering back to that photo of Audrey. Getting to his feet, he walked over to the desk and lifted it up, his finer trailing across the glass as he looked at it sadly. "I don't know how to do this without you, my love." He whispered.

   He'd give anything to be able to take it all back and have her there with them. To have the chance to speak to her again, hold her, kiss her and tell her just how much he loved and needed her. Apologize for everything that he'd done that had hurt her, but it was too late for that. And he had an broken, empty, painful ache in his chest to remind of him it, likely for the rest of the long eternity ahead of him.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   Elijah had to do this once before with Mira. When his family was bitten by Marcel, he missed five years of Mira's life. He had to start over again with her when they were woken up, get to know his daughter as the young child she was, not the small baby he'd known. Now, he had begin entirely with Elliot and Grace, who he'd never even had the chance to know as babies. He'd missed seven years of their lives, and after how his conversation with Mira had went, he wasn't how it would go with them. 

   The twins sat on the floor by Elliot's bed, a game of snakes and ladders set up in front of them. "You're not rolling the dice properly." Elliot grumbled, his eyes narrowed on his sister as she took her turn.

   "Yes, I am." Grace replied innocently, as she moved her piece along four places. "That would be cheating, Elliot."

   "I know." Elliot nodded, not taking his look off her.

   Grace now narrowed her eyes in return, resting her hands on her hips. "Are you calling me a cheater?"

   "Playing nicely?" Elijah interrupted, sensing an argument about to break out between the pair.

   The twins glanced up at their father as he entered the room, both of them glancing at one another as they did at breakfast. Knowing that their dad had was back was a lot for both of them to process, as all they knew about him was what Audrey had told them. Of course, Freya had helped with some stories over the years, as had Rebekah when they visited and spoke with her. Audrey had taken the approach with Grace and Elliot that she had with Mira when she was younger. They were made of what their family was, but she had always done her best to protect them from the dangers that came with holding the Mikaelson name. She made sure they knew everything that they possibly could about Elijah, and made it clear to them that although he couldn't be there with them, he loved them more than they would ever know. 

   "Grace is cheating." Elliot finally spoke up, earning a scoff from his sister as she whipped her head around to look at him. "She isn't throwing the dice properly."

   "Yes, I am!" Grace protested in disbelief. 

   A chuckle escaped Elijah's lips, the first genuine one in a while as he joined them sat on the floor. "Now, now. Don't spoil it." He told them. "You'll take the fun out of it bickering."

   "So will cheating." Elliot added in a mutter, ignoring Grace's flat look as he went to take his turn. "Where's Mira?"

   "With Hope." Elijah answered, deciding it best to keep them out of the conversation he and Mira had. They didn't need to feel as if they were in the middle. "Grace, Elliot, about what happened at breakfast. I need you to know--"

   "We know Mira and Hope are upset with you." Grace cut him off, shaking her head. "We're not. We just...didn't know what to say." She admitted honestly. "Everyone got so quiet, it was weird."

   "Yes, well, that may have been my fault." Elijah nodded, trying to hide his surprise as Grace moved herself to sit on his lap. "Things are complicated right now."

   "Are you here to stay now?" Elliot asked suddenly, Grace's eyes widening and shaking her head at her brother. "It's just...mom told us how you didn't remember us, and now you do, and Mira and Hope fixed the dark magic. So you're here to stay now, right?" 

   "Elliot!" Grace hissed, worry in her voice as she looked at Elijah. "You can ignore that."

   Elijah looked between both of them, confused at Grace's sudden panic. "She didn't want me to ask, because she's scared you won't." Elliot said quietly, before he could even open his mouth to question it. "Because mom's not here. And that's why things are complicated, right? Because of what happened to her and aunt Hayley. That's why things were weird at breakfast."

   "Listen to me, both of you." He reached and rested his hand on top of Elliot's, as Grace looked down. "You're right. That is a is a is a big part of all of this, and something I am going to spend a long time apologizing for. And when you're older, it will be something we talk about together." He said honestly, knowing they weren't old enough for the full details on what had happened that day. "But another part of it is concern for your sister and your cousin. What they did was a very brave thing for this family, but also could be harmful to them. We all just want to make sure they're okay, and I'm sure you both want that too." He added, both of the twins nodding with no hesitation. "I know I have missed out on so much of your lives, of your sisters life. I don't plan on missing anymore. Your mother isn't here, and I am going to miss her for a very long time. But I am not leaving the three of you again."

   "You promise?" Grace questioned shyly, glancing up at him.

   "I give you my word." He swore, making small smiles appear on both their faces. Elliot moved and sat on his lap too, the two wrapping their arms around their father and hugging him tightly. Elijah knew deep down that one day, when they were old enough to know the truth about Audrey, they might feel about him as Mira currently did. And that would be their right to, but for right now, he wanted to make the most of this newfound time he had with his children. "I love you both, so much." He whispered affectionately. 

   "We love you too." They both mumbled together, not ready to let go of him just yet. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

   The whispering was getting worse. It got louder as the time slowly passed by, to the point both teenagers were clutching at their heads in an effort to drown it out. In an attempt to help them find some relief, Klaus demanded that the girls wear their old anti-magic bracelets again, which for a second did help. Until the bracelets began to burn around their wrists, until the point it became unbearable and they had to take them off, the bracelets setting on fire the moment they threw them onto the ground. While Hope tried to find them a solution using magic, Mira had pulled out the boxes of old dark objects they had stashed around the compound, looking to see if any of them could be helpful in keeping the magic at bay. But other than the anti-magic shackles, she was coming up short, and she got the feeling the magic would find a way around them as it did their bracelets. 

   Frustrated, she knocked the box off her bed and sent it crashing to the ground, groaning as she held her head in her hands. "Stop, please. Just stop!" She whimpered as the loud, hissing whispers consumed her head. 

   Elijah heard her as he finished putting the twins to bed, and immediately made his way down the hall to find her, concern filling his eyes. "Mira?"

   "Go away." She mumbled, shaking her as she paced back and forth. 

   "Mira--"

   "I said go away!" Mira snapped, her eyes flashing blue as she looked at him angrily. Elijah didn't leave, which only seemed to frustrate her more. "I've got it under control, I don't need your help!"

   "Mira." He spoke firmly yet calmly, holding his hands up as he took a step toward her. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to help. Let me help you."

   The whispers filled her ears which caused all the anger she held toward him to come bubbling to the surface, feeding off of her pain. "And where was your help when mom needed you?" She snapped, her eyes going blue once more. "Where was it when I needed it, when Grace and Elliot needed it at her funeral? It wasn't with us." She glared. "It was with the family that was a part of all of this!"

   Elijah didn't allow it to push him away. "I didn't remember--"

   "I don't care!" She yelled and flailed her arm, causing three bloody slash marks to appear on his chest as she lashed out with her magic. Mira immediately froze, her eyes widening with tears forming as she saw what she'd done. The blue faded from her eyes and whispers died down into nothing, and she stepped back shakily. "I--I...I..."

   However, Elijah didn't care about himself. The slashes healed with ease, leaving behind only blood stained rips on his shirt as evidence it ever happened. He focused on his daughter, moving and cupping her face in her hands. "It's okay." He assured, his heartbreaking at seeing her tears falling. "It's okay, I'm okay."

   "I--I didn't mean to, I..." Her voice cracked, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Dad, I'm sorry..."

   "You did no harm to me." Elijah shook his head. "Nothing you said was untrue, it was deserved. What just happened was deserved. I wasn't there for you." He admitted, guilt thick in his tone.  "And I wasn't there for her...and I will never be able to make up for that. If you need someone to blame for all of this, Mira, you blame me. Not yourself, not Hope. Me. Because it was my fault."

   "I don't think I can handle this, dad." She finally said, closing her eyes as she looked down. "I thought taking part of this power with Hope would be fine, but the whispers...this is the first time they've stopped all day, when I hurt you." 

   He pulled his daughter into his arms and Mira didn't fight it, she wrapped her arms around him tightly and began to cry into his shoulder, feeling comfort in her father's arms as he held her and rubbed her back. "We are going to work this out." He promised her softly. "I am not going anywhere again. I'm here for you, for your siblings, and we will find a way for you to beat this. Whatever it takes."

   He'd already let her down before. He refused to do it and let this darkness win, no matter what it took. 

I ended up going completely off script for this episode. I wanted to focus on Elijah working things out with Mira, Grace, and Elliot, and I hope I portrayed it accurately. Mira understands the reasons behind everything that happened, but she holds some anger which I think is understandable. Grace and Elliot need their dad after losing Audrey, and don't fully understand everything that happened yet. Despite what's happened, I'm trying to let them hold onto some innocence, the same innocence Mira and Hope had at their age. 

Back on script next chapter, as Klaus and Elijah try to find a way to give the girls some relief from the dark magic. 

I hope you all enjoyed!