An Unblinking Death

Some say it's painful to wait for someone. Some say it's painful to forget someone. But the worst pain comes when you don't know whether to wait or forget. As Lola looks out onto the night's sky of New Orleans, she thinks back to a conversation she had with Klaus over a hundred years ago; the way he was so confident that he'd be able to answer any question she threw at him, even something as simple as what her favourite season is.

"You enjoy spring because it's a symbol for rebirth, everything begins fresh. But, deep down, winter fascinates you. Winter speaks to the darkest part of your soul. It's everything you fear and yet you love it. Because the fear makes you feel alive."

At some point of Lola's life, she may have believed that. She did believe that. It was as though Klaus was winter, no matter how much she tried to fight it she was never able to be away from him. But in this moment, with a feeling of pensive sadness, she can't remember why she liked winter. Everything looked dull and grey. Lifeless.

Exhaling a deep breath, Lola closes her eyes when she feels a figure walk into the room behind her, "Where have you been?"

"I thought you were leaving?" With a practically empty bottle of bourbon, a looking worse for wear Klaus walks into the room Lola stands in. He scoffs not even looking towards her, instead heading straight to the drinks bar, "Didn't you say that you want nothing to do with me or this family anymore?" With a passive aggressive expression on his face, a spiteful looking grin he turns towards Lola, "If you are leaving then I'm not obliged to tell you my whereabouts anymore."

"I am leaving." As Lola turns to face Klaus, his heart sinks a little to see the frail and defeated stature of the woman he loved. Her smile is forced looking up and down at the man before her, "Call me foolish for thinking we could at least be civil for once and say a proper goodbye to each other. Are we completely passed that now?" Her arms fold against her chest as she steps closer to him, "Just like you're passed apologising for what you done."

Klaus' grip against the bourbon in his hands is so tight his knuckles begin to turn white, resisting as much as he can to not bite, "I saved your life and you expect an apology from me for that?"

"You knew what you were doing and you knew it would hurt me. But that still didn't stop you from doing it." Lola looks away from him, fearing if she continued to look towards Klaus her tears would seen begin to flow. Her eyes stung from the threat of broken tears, she clears her throat in attempt to make her voice sound more stern but if anything it made her voice break even more, "What hurt the most was having to pretend that I had stopped hurting long before I was ever healed."

The sudden ringing sound of glass being smashed makes Lola flinch, taking a step back from an angered Klaus who's grip became so tight around the bottle it shatters. He throws whatever remains of the bottle there was left in his hand onto the floor before he harshly points towards Lola, "You weren't the only one who was hurt! How was I suppose to chose between the lives of my wife and child?" Still with his finger pointing towards a now horrified looking Lola, Klaus steps closer, "No one should ever have to be in that position, Lola!"

They say there is no greater pain, no loss that can compare, the torment when you lose a child— no heart can bear it. No one can imagine the pain, no one can comprehend. Unless they lose a child of their own, and then they'll understand.

Lola's breath halts at the back of her throat at Klaus' outburst, she stares wide eyed towards Klaus who's anger pulsates through his veins. A long shaky breath exhales from Lola's lips before her eyes turn dark, "I'm not talking about that night! Yes, I was angry that you chose my life over our daughter's. Now we have to live without our little girl."

Klaus looks away from her, closing his eyes as he attempts at controlling himself from completely breaking apart as he thinks back to the horrific night in which he had to chose on who to save. Lola's eyes are full of fury as she steps closer, "But, what hurt the most was we were both in pain. We should have been there for each other and comforted one another, but instead you went out and found comfort with someone else. We made a promise to each other and you broke that promise the second you started to keep secrets from me. You broke my heart in more ways than one, Klaus." She scoffs to herself, turning away from him before she sighs, "As upset and angry as I am, I still miss you." Laughing spitefully Lola looks back over to Klaus, "Do you know how fucking pathetic that makes me feel?"

The hybrid would be confident to say that his face showed no expression in this very moment, but that was a complete lie. Heartache was all you could see in his eyes as his jaw tightened, "You say you miss me and yet you're the one that's leaving."

"The old you," Brows knit together as Lola gestures towards Klaus, "Not this version of you that is just a stranger. I can't even look at you anymore without feeling such anger. All I see is this stranger that once meant everything to me." Vision becomes blurry when the broken tears start to fall, staining Lola's cheeks, "I'd have done anything for you, Klaus. I'd be by your side when you asked me to, I'd never leave you. But this—" A sad smile twitches at the corner of Lola's lips as she twists around the rings against her finger before taking them off and placing it on the bar beside Klaus, "There's no coming back from this."

His eyes stare down at the engagement and wedding ring Lola placed beside him, if you listened closely enough you could hear Klaus' heart shatter within. Just for a second he imagines the memories where he proposed to Lola and when they were married and it was an excruciating feeling to know it was over, "We finally agree on something after months of being at each other's throats." This was now the moment Klaus mastered the no emotion on his face, the stone cold exterior and yet there was nothing but darkness and heartache within, "There is no coming back from this. Close the door on your way out."

A breathy, scornful laugh escapes Lola's lips as she shakes her head, "At the end of the day, you're the one that pushed me away, Klaus. Not the other way round. So, don't act like this is my fault." Shrugging her shoulders, Lola takes a step back from his gesturing her arms out to the side of her, "You had a choice to make and you made the wrong one. That's something you gotta learn to live with. I'm done saving you and I'm done being your excuse as to why this has came falling down." Her skin is heated with anger, glaring over to him, "Why don't you go back into the arms of that trashy slut who you sought comfort in more than your wife."

Klaus watched as the love of his life left the room, the compound and him. She never said the goodbye she planned because of his vicious attitude. She never stayed which he hoped deep down she would. Hell, she didn't even look back as she left and that terrified him. It was as though as soon as Lola left the room, the lights went out and everything turned cold. Those walls that fell down, instantly went back up within Klaus' soul.

With a sharp gasp, Klaus wakes from what he hopes isn't a horrifying future. He leans over the edge of the bed, taking in harsh inhales that turn into calm exhales with his eyes tightly shut. Once again having a dream that his deepest fears may become a reality; being alone. As his breathing becomes more controlled, Klaus lays on his back staring up at the ceiling running his hand through his hair. His mind feels like it's going a million miles as he tries to forget everything his mind is throwing upon him.

We made a promise to each other and you broke that promise the second you started to keep secrets from me.

Klaus knew deep down that Lola saying this wasn't just because of the dream; it's because of reality. A sort of epiphany. A pent up feeling of regret begins to weigh heavily on Klaus' chest, knowing that Lola will feel betrayed when he explains about moonlight rings and planning to have the assistance of Genevieve to create them. His deepest, darkest fear is that he will be alone and that is just fuelled even more as he continues to keep this secret from Lola.

Turning his head to the other side of the bed, his eyes soften realising that's all it took. Realising that he isn't alone as Lola is asleep by his side. He turns over, facing her back as he wraps his arm around her waist pulling himself closer to her.

The sudden shift in the bed causes Lola to stir awake, she shifts in the bed but not opening her eyes. With a faint smile her hand glides across Klaus' arm around her, "You okay?"

Klaus snuggles in closer to Lola, his nose brushes against the back of her neck before pressing a quick kiss against her skin, "I am now."

—✤—

"As you lay here, you are able to release all tension." Hayley's tone is monotone, laying on the floor of the bayou shack as Lola lays the opposite way as her, holding each other's hand. Hayley's eyes are closed, gesturing her other hand up and down. Lola opens one eye looking around when Eve begins to play calm sounding music when Hayley continues, "Allow yourself to relax and let the relaxation heighten with each exhale. Breathe in..." Lola closes her eyes breathing in at the same time as Hayley, "And release. Bring your tension to your breath..."

A snort mixed with laughter is heard from Lola's side making Hayley groan, sitting up and glaring down at Lola, "You're not even trying!"

"I'm sorry." Lola covers her face with both hands as her laughter increases, "I'm sorry. I thought you said breast." A loud unamused scoff is heard from Hayley which makes Lola lower her hands, clearing her throat, "Okay, I'm focused."

Hayley rolls her eyes before laying back down as the continues, "Taking slow, deep and controlled breaths—" Obnoxious laughter is heard once again from Lola which makes a frustrated Hayley pull away fully, "Lola!"

"I'm sorry, I just can't take any of this seriously." Lola's laughter dies down, only slightly as she props herself up with her elbows, "Laying in a shack, doing some kind of pregnancy meditation with some spa type music; it's a little weird. Maybe we could practice something else, oh!" She perks up, eyes widen as she sits up with a beaming smile, "Practice what curse words I'm going to throw at Klaus during the delivery as I scream," She frowns mimicking a deep voice, "This is your fault!" She glances between Eve kneeling beside the pair who is trying her hardest not to laugh and an unamused Hayley, "Yeah?"

Hayley's face twists as she continues to be unimpressed by Lola's humour, "No."

"Plus, why are we doing it here? It's not like pregnancy classes aren't a thing." Lola's tone turns high pitched, shrugging her shoulders as she looks around the shack, "You know, somewhere less wooden. You sure I can't do this thing in, say, a hospital? The place with the doctors and the really good drugs?"

"Honey," With a warm smile, Eve rests her hand against Lola's knee, "The werewolves have been having babies out here since before you were born."

"Which is great for werewolves. I'm not one." Lola pats her hand against Eve's before she shrugs, "I'd feel a lot more comfortable if I was somewhere with drugs that will make Klaus look like Chris Evans."

Eve shakes her head as she laughs, "Stop worrying."

"Okay. Then what, Eve?" Lola throws her hands up before looking down at them in her lap, picking at her nails, "I don't even really know what it's like to have a mother, let alone be one. The one I had was more of a stranger to me."

"Trust me," Eve's tone is the usual warm and welcoming tone as she continues to smile at Lola, "When the time comes, you'll know exactly what to do."

"I hope so." Lola laughs to herself as an image pops into her head of what her future may look like, "I guess it is a funny thought to imagine Klaus changing dirty diapers."

Hayley frowns, as though she can hear something before she quickly stands up and rushing out of the shack, "I'll be right back."

Eve stands up straight after noticing Lola trying to also stand, "Here," She takes hold of Lola's hand, "I'll help you."

After what feels like an hour long struggle to Lola, actually just seconds, she stands up fully and breathing out a sigh of relief, "I don't think there will ever be a flattering way to do that when you're eight months pregnant. How's Hayley doing?"

"She's is the same as whenever you've text or called me;" Eve rests herself against the wall of the shack, "She's great, Lola."

Lola smiles back at Eve before her eyes catch a figure in the window beside Eve, "What's Elijah doing here?" She watches as he, Jackson, Oliver and Hayley walk into a separate shack, "Excuse me."

As Lola approaches the other shack, she can hear Jackson's voice come into play, "Look, Elijah. We know all about your brother's reputation, but if there is even a chance that these rings can help us take control of our curse—"

"—Our gift." Oliver scoffs, interrupting Jackson.

"—Then, honestly, we don't care what he's really after." Lola opens the door to the shack as Jackson shrugs, "Won't have to."

"What are you talking about?" Everyone turns their attention to a confused looking Lola who steps further in, "What rings?"

"You're quite the actress, aren't ya?" Oliver grunts, his eyes show nothing but annoyance as he tries to step closer to Lola, "You seriously expecting us to buy that you didn't know about your baby daddy's plan?"

Elijah vamp speeds in front of Oliver, blocking his path towards Lola. Elijah's tone is calm yet assertive, "Might I suggest you take a step back." With Oliver ignoring Elijah, he holds his hand out as his eyes darken, "Let me be clear, that wasn't a suggestion."

"Elijah, what's going on?"

Just as Elijah turns to face Lola, Hayley stands beside the witch and threads her arm through Lola's, "Come with me." Hayley gives Elijah a knowing look as she guides Lola to another corner of the shack.

After Hayley quickly explains what Klaus' proposal is to all the crescent wolves regarding moonlight rings, Lola stands back in shock. Her mouth is agape, more in shock at the fact Hayley seems completely okay with this idea, "You knew?"

Hayley sighs, guilt darkens her eyes as she takes hold of Lola's hands, "I told Klaus to tell you and it's clear he never had any intention to tell you. I was just about to tell you in there but then I heard Elijah arrive."

"That doesn't matter right now," Lola quickly dismisses the conversation of Klaus, "It doesn't matter that I'm just finding this out now or that he never told me. Obviously you won't need one of those rings but you're okay with your people having these?"

"There are those in the Quarter who will consider this a great provocation."

Elijah's voice breaks the pair out of the conversation and they walk back to the men when Oliver scoffs, "Apparently, most of them see us breathing the same way."

As Lola and Hayley approach them once more, Elijah looks in Hayley's direction, almost hurt, "You signed a pledge, and you looked me in the eye as you did so."

"We don't want a fight, Elijah." Hayley shrugs, standing by Jackson's side, "We just want a better life for our pack. These rings will guarantee that."

It's as though Elijah has to painfully hold back an amused grin, "Allegiance with my brother will guarantee you anything but that."

The sound of a motorbike getting louder cuts their altercation to a halt. Each one of them stepping out of the shack as a group of wolves are congregating around when the motorbike comes into view.

Jackson steps ahead of them all, looking confused, "What the hell?"

The motorcyclist comes to a halt just at the edge when the group approaches him,"Which one of you is in charge?"

Jackson wears no emotion, stone cold as he steps closer, "Who's asking?"

The motorcyclist stays silent, a concerned Elijah steps closer when the man shows a small hint of a vindictive smirk. Elijah realising that something is off with the man, he vamp speeds over to him, pushing him off the motorbike just as it explodes. Hayley, having quicker instincts than the rest jumps towards Lola, attempting to block her from most of the impact.

Elijah quickly picks himself off the ground, glancing down at his now ruined suit covered in singed holes, ash and dirt. Everyone slowly comes to their feet but takes only a few short moments before Lola slowly comes to. She frowns at the sharp ringing around from the impact before she remembers exactly where she is and what happened.

As Lola opens her eyes, the sunlight is blocked from Oliver who kneels before her, holding his hand out, "Lola, are you okay?"

"Thank you." Lola breathes out, taking his hand but looks around the bayou in horror as Oliver brings her to her feet. Her heart drops when she notices a small boy who looks down at presumably his father thriving in pain on the ground, "It's okay. Here." The young boy sobs as Lola picks him up, "Come here. You're okay, sweetie."

Her entire body begins to tremble, feeling her knees turning weak until she spots Jackson stepping towards her, "Jackson? Here." She passes the young boy towards Jackson, "Get him away from here."

Straight away Jackson takes hold of the boy, stepping away from the wreckage. Lola feels a small ounce of relief when she feels Elijah's hand against her arm, "Charlotte, are you okay?"

Elijah's eyes follows Lola's horrified stare to the man on the ground that's been impacted by the bomb. Elijah kneels beside him, slowly lifting his shirt to find what looks like harsh chemical and heat burns, "Wolfsbane."

"It must have been in the gas tank." Lola breathes out, her attention turns to Hayley who rushes over to them, "You're the both fastest. Take him, anyone else who can't walk on their own." Elijah stands up straight, his eyes are flooded with hesitation as Lola takes hold of his hand, "It's okay, Elijah. I'm fine. They need your help."

Elijah helps the man up, allowing the injured to put their weight against him. Elijah watches as Lola walks deeper into the bayou, he gives Hayley a knowing look, "Go with her."

Lola looks on in horror when she sees Oliver kneeling beside a woman who has been impaled with a tree branch. His hand grasps around it, "Just hang in there, okay?"

"Oliver, no!" Lola shouts out but it's too late. The woman screams out in pain as Oliver rips out the tree branch, staring down at her leg, horrified, "Oh my god." Lola rushes over to them, kneeling beside her. She grabs hold of Eve's hand who is also there, "Press here." She gestures her hand towards Oliver, "Give me your shirt." Oliver remains kneeling there, almost like he's shellshocked from what is going on which makes Lola snap, "Now, asshole!" Oliver quickly takes his shirt off, leaving him in just a vest. A small smile is on Lola's lips looking down at the injured wolf, "It's okay."

Both Oliver and Eve watch as Lola wraps the shirt around Eve's hands and the wolf's leg, tightly tying it to stop the blood flow. Eve smiles at her, looking impressed, "How'd you learn how to do that?"

"It would be embarrassing if I didn't learn some tricks over the decades I've been alive." Lola shrugs, pushing herself up on the floor, "That should slow the bleeding, at least until the healing kicks in."

Oliver and Eve help the woman up before Eve carries her away from them. Oliver's breathing becomes erratic as he looks around the destroyed bayou before he picks up a nearby chair, smashing it against a tree, screaming out in frustration. He has his back to Lola and now Hayley, hands keep forming tight fights, "Vampires. They don't even have the guts to do their own dirty work themselves." He throws his hands up, turning to face the two women, "I mean, why bother when you can just compel some poor son-of-a-bitch to do it for you? I say we hit them back! Hard."

Oliver attempts to storm away but Hayley holds her hand against his chest, pushing him back, "Stay here, Oliver. I need you to look after everyone until I get back." Her eyes soften turning to face Lola, "And you gotta get out of here, Lo. It's not safe."

Both Lola and Oliver watch as Hayley begins to walk away but Oliver follows, "Where the hell are you going?"

Hayley swiftly turns around to face them again, "If this was vampires, I'm pretty sure that I can guess who gave the order. I'm gonna go find Marcel."

"Wait a minute." Lola calls out, she clutches hold of her bump as she walks towards Hayley, "You don't know this was Marcel. He wouldn't do something like this, Hayley."

"Just like he wouldn't send in a group of men, compel them to pretty much sacrifice themselves in a room full of vampires?" Hayley's words turn Lola silent, making Hayley scoffs, "That's what I thought." She grabs a tree branch from the ground, snapping it against her knee before vamp speeding away from the bayou.

Lola's shoulders slump, staring at the now empty spot that Hayley stood in, until she flinches at Oliver standing behind her, "Running with vampires all your life sure can make you blind, huh? Take a look around, this is because of vampires."

—✤—

Lola steps through the bayou, helping anyone as much as she can while she looks around for Elijah. He notices Lola straight away as she comes into view, "Are you all right? Where's Hayley?"

"She's—"

However Lola gets interrupted when Elijah's phone begins to ring within his pocket, Lola gestures for him to answer it which he does, "Hayley."

"I have to take care of something. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Where are you?"

"Elijah," Hayley drawls out but still sounding stern, "I'm fine. Just take care of the pack while I'm gone, please?"

Hayley hangs up before giving Elijah the chance to say anything else. He stares down at his now blank screen when Jackson steps towards them, "Is she okay?"

Elijah sighs, placing his phone back into his suit pocket, "Apparently, yes."

Placing his hand against Lola's back, Elijah guides her further into the bayou when Jackson follows looking around the woods, "It's a good thing that bomb went off where it did. Could've been a lot worse. We all could've got killed."

They approach to where the entirety of the bayou have congregated after the explosion, they all attend to the wounded and dead. Elijah narrows his stare, looking around the bayou, "Unless..." Elijah's eyes widen in panic when he spots a flashing light from underneath an RV nearby. He wraps his arm around Lola before pointing towards Jackson, giving him a serious look, "Get everyone out of here! Now!"

In seconds bombs begin to explode in various points of the encampments, screams are heard from around the entire bayou. Elijah wraps himself around Lola even tighter until a bomb goes off near them, the explosion causing him to be pushed away from her.

As he regains consciousness, Elijah slowly lifts himself off the ground, "Charlotte!?" His hand clutches to the side of his head as the ringing becomes more unbearable than the last time, his eyes squint as his vision starts to become less blurry, until his eyes focus on where Lola is on the ground.

Elijah rushes over to where Lola is, slowly becoming conscious once more. He kneels before her, his hand goes behind her head, "You're okay."

Lola winces at the throbbing headache, her hand immediately goes to where the pain occurs when her hand begins to feel wet. Her hand becomes shaky as she moves her hand away from her head to see it's now covered in her own blood.

Elijah wraps her arm around him, about to help her up until Lola stops him, "Wait!"

He watches as Lola remains deadly still, her hand against her stomach which makes Elijah sigh, "She's okay, I can hear her heartbeat."

"No." Lola's brows knit together as she tries her hardest to not panic, "It's not enough." She remains as still as she can possibly manage, waiting for the sign she needs that the baby is okay. It's as though the baby knew what Lola needs which is when the baby kicks Lola. Her head is thrown back as she breathes out a sigh of relief, "Oh, thank god."

Elijah helps Lola stand up fully before his hands go against either side of her face, "Charlotte, you need to get away from here." Lola's lips part as though she's about to protest which is when Elijah removes one hand, holding it out in front of Lola to stop her from saying anything, "Do not even try to argue back or I'll carry you away from here myself. Go."

—✤—

"Nik, where are you?"

"I'm in a bit of a situation here, love."

Lola's elbow rests against the window ledge of her car window, running her hand through her hair, "Somebody sent a suicide bomber out to the bayou this morning."

"What?" She can hear the panic in Klaus' voice, "Where are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm in the city now. I'm fine." Lola clears her throat, sinking into the driver's seat as she pulls up in front of a building, "Hayley is going after Marcel, she's convinced that he is the one who sent the bomber."

"Marcel wouldn't stoop so low."

"I know he wouldn't." She leans forward, looking out of the front window of the car, staring up at the top floor, "I've just pulled up outside his loft now and hoping he's in there reasoning with her."

"I'm on my way." Not needing to hear anything else, Klaus hangs up and heads straight to Marcel's loft.

Stepping further towards Marcel's place, Lola can then hear Hayley's voice come into play, "Give me one good reason why I should believe anything that you have to say."

"Believe whatever you want, but you were the last Labonair. I mean, could've been a lot of leverage for our side, but instead, I took you to Father Kieran." Marcel looks over Hayley's shoulder as Lola steps into his loft wearing an eerily calm expression, "Lola."

Hayley frowns at Marcel before turning around to see Lola stepping towards them, "What are you doing here?"

"Lola, I didn't have anything to do with those bombings." Marcel sighs as he watches a silent Lola take the stake out of Hayley's hand before glaring over to him, "Come on, you know me. I don't hurt kids."

"I know it wasn't you, Marcel." Lola shakes her head as she places the stake onto the table beside her, "I'm not angry about that. I'm angry because you used me." Her hateful glare turns into a hurt one as she locks eyes with Marcel, "You used me to put that boundary spell on Kieran. Everything I said to you that day, how I apologised to you, saying that I miss you and that you're my family. It meant nothing to you, did it?"

Marcel frowns, shaking his head as he steps closer towards the blonde, "Of course it did, Lo."

Lola laughs spitefully, she shakes her head turning away from him and looking around the half empty loft, "So, then why did you send in that group at the witches feast?"

"There's a war brewing, Lola." Marcel sighs, "You need to get out of this city before it's too late. One of my guys said you weren't there that night but listen to me. If I knew that you were there, I'd have got you out before everything happened. I never wanted to put you in danger."

Lola turns back to face him as Marcel pulls out a duffle bag, placing it on the coffee table in front of her. Lola shrugs, before pointing at it, "What's that?"

"Money, mostly."

Raising a brow, Lola crosses her arms against her chest, "You think I need money from you?"

"There's stuff you need to start over someplace safe." Marcel sits on the edge of the leather chair opposite Lola, "Whatever happened in the bayou, I'm not your guy. But, the way things are going? Eventually, I might have to be."

"So, this is your grand plan?" Lola scoffs, "Get me out of town, and Klaus and Elijah follow closely behind?"

"I can't say that wouldn't be a positive side effect." Marcel chuckles to himself as he shrugs before his expression turns more serious, "You mean a lot to me, Lola, you're my family. And all I want it to keep my family safe and this is it. Leaving this city will be the best thing for you and your baby; you know deep down that's the truth."

Lola rolls her eyes, "You don't know what you're talking about." Lola takes hold of Hayley's arm, guiding her out, "Come on."

"Guy on the bike?" Marcel speaks up as he stands, Lola turns to face him as he continues, "The bomber? Word is, he had a gambling problem. Owed money to the casinos—more importantly, to the humans who run them." Just as Lola is about to turn away once again, Marcel continues, "And Lola? When things get bad, remember, I tried to get you clear of it."

Hayley is one step ahead of Lola as they walk out of the building towards Lola's car, "I'll take you home, Lo."

"No, it's fine. I'm fine driving. You should head back to the bayou," Lola's brows pull upwards, sadness covers her entire face when Hayley looks at her confused, "There was another explosion." It's as though the colour from Hayley's face is drained hearing about more attacks until their attention goes towards Klaus pulling up beside them. Lola takes Hayley's hand, placing her car key in the palm of Hayley's hand, "Go, take my car."

Klaus climbs out of the car, rushing over to Lola as Hayley drives away. He takes hold of Lola's hand, a lump in his throat forms as he notices the dried blood on her forehead, "Are you okay?"

Just as Klaus' hand is about to go towards Lola's forehead, she intertwines her hand with his and flashing a weak smile, "I'm fine. I just want to go home."

—✤—

As Klaus walks into his and Lola's bedroom, he finds Lola with a sorrow look in her eyes staring down at the bed she sits upon, with contents of an emerald green box spread across the sheets. He sits on the edge of the bed, wrapping his arm around Lola as he frowns looking at the various old photographs and nicknacks, "What are you looking at?"

"Nothing." Lola breathes out with a twinge of sadness in her tone, "Just memories."

A hint of a smile graces Klaus' lips as he begins to recognise some of the things laid across the bed. Memories from their life during the fifties, "I didn't know you had all of this."

"Remember this?" Lola laughs softly, picking up a small piece of card and holding it out in front of Klaus, "1955 you took me to the movies to see—"

"To catch a thief." Klaus takes hold of the ticket before smiling at Lola sitting beside him, "You kept the ticket stub?"

Lola matches the same soft smile as him as she shrugs, "I kept a lot of things." She taps her finger against the ticket sub in Klaus' hand, "This was memorable because this was our first proper date since we found each other again. You suggested we would be like a normal couple and go to the movies."

"We always knew we weren't like normal couples." Klaus' hand runs through Lola's hair, bringing her towards him as he presses a kiss against the side of her head, "One of a kind." His eyes catch a photograph in particular before holding it out in front of him, "That's you and Cora?"

"Yeah, I was about twelve." Lola takes hold of the photo, her smile turns into sadness as she looks at the last photograph that was taken of her and the woman she loved most. Still with the photo in her hand, Lola rests it against the bed as she looks at other photographs from her childhood, "It's funny, I'm smiling in all of these photos but I was so unhappy. But this one..."

Once again, Lola holds the photograph in front of her. The crinkled lines against her and Cora's eyes, the prominent creases as their smiles beam, "This was real happiness. It was only a moment before this photo was taken that Cora made a promise that one day we were going to escape from our life. She would say one day it was just going to be us two and we'd be able to do whatever we wanted." She brushes her finger across the photograph, her vision becomes blurry as her smile widens, "Live the life that we deserved. Nothing else would have mattered because we'd have had each other and we'd live a beautiful life in a beautiful home." Lola clears her throat when her smiles drops, she throws the photograph into the pile, "But we never did."

"She's proud of you, love." Klaus presses a kiss against Lola's temple as he pulls her closer before he chuckles softly, "Curiosity builds when I think how an encounter between myself and Cora may have played out."

"You'd get one hell of an interrogation, that's for sure." Lola joins in on Klaus' left as she thinks of her aunt staring down at a photograph of Cora on her own, "She'd want to know everything about you and why she should allow you to be with her only niece. Then no doubt suffocate you with her flirtatious side, it never stayed hidden long."

"So that's where you got it from." Klaus teases, pulling Lola closer to him until his eyes catch another dark haired woman with a young Lola, "Is this your mother?"

Lola nods with no expression on her face, "I don't know why I kept it. You can feel the hatred coming off this photo, it's in her eyes. When I was younger she used to call me her little flower then when everything happened it was like she was a stranger. The only time she'd say full sentences to me was if my father wasn't around. She despised a part of me I couldn't change which made her resent her own daughter. But it wasn't always like that." A small hint of a smile twitches up in the corner of Lola's mouth, "Before everything happened we were so close. My mother would always say I was her best friend and daughter mixed into one, she'd play with my hair until I fell asleep, sing to me if I had a bad dream, even let me wear one of her expensive necklaces one day and I'd walk around pretending I was her." Lola's brows pull inwards, eyes stinging with tears as she stares down at the photo of her mother, "I wanted to be just like her when I grew up but now I am terrified I will end up like her."

"Listen to me," Klaus shifts on the bed, making Lola face him. He has a soft expression on his face as his thumb swipes away the stray tear off Lola's cheek with his thumb, "You will never be like her. You will give our daughter the love that you deserved, the life that you deserved. Our daughter is never going to feel like she isn't loved and it will be because of you. You're going to be more of a mother than yours ever was."

—✤—

No matter how the day may have started, there's one thing for certain that Lola knew and it was that the day would end with something magical. With a beaming smile on her face, giggling to herself her hand rests upon her stomach as she feels her daughter kick. From the various pregnancy books that Caroline gave her, Lola knew that for a while the baby was able to hear Lola's voice and others. Every time Lola felt the baby kick she was reminded that there's a miracle beating in her body.

Every day would end like this, Lola laying on the sofa either telling her baby girl what happened during the day, a new fact that her and Klaus would find out about the baby or even something as simple as singing. Whenever Lola would sing, the baby kicked more than usual. Klaus would joke saying it was the baby telling Lola to stop singing but whenever he mocked, the baby would kick once again and Lola was adamant that it was the baby's way of saying what Klaus was saying wasn't true.

The sudden ringing of Lola's phone beside her makes her jump out of her thoughts. She frowns not recognising the number, twisting around on the sofa and sitting forward she brings the phone to her ear, "Hello?"

"Miss Lola, it's Sal." A frail sounding Sal is on the other end, Lola sits up straight hearing the panic in his tone, "I hope you don't mind me calling you so late."

"Is everything okay?"

Stupid question, she thought to herself. What other reason could there be for Scott's brother to ring her when it's eleven at night.

"I was just hoping you knew where Scott is. He's not answering my calls, I thought he might be with you."

"No, I'm sorry." Lola sighs heavily as she sits up from the sofa and begins to pace, "I'm not exactly sure where he is right now, things are a bit strange at the minute with him. I don't know what's wrong with him lately but I think there is something bothering him."

"I think that may have something to do with me. I need your help."

It isn't long before Klaus enters the living room, looking for Lola. There's a strange feeling in his chest as her back is to him, staring out into the nights sky as though the beginning of his dream is becoming a reality. Once he closes the door behind him with a frown Klaus steps closer to her which makes Lola jump.

Eyes wide with tear stained cheers she turns to see him before clearing her throat, "I'll sort out everything, Sal. Leave it with me."

Lola quickly drops the phone onto the sofa before wiping away the fallen tears against her cheeks and taking a deep breath. Klaus closes the gap between them, his hands going against either of Lola's arms as concern floods his eyes, "Are you okay?"

Lola frowns shaking her head as she pulls out of Klaus' hold, "I'll explain later. Have you heard from Scott?" She sits back on the sofa, turning her head slightly to stay looking in Klaus' direction, "How's Cami? Kieran?"

Klaus bows his head as he sighs, he steps around the sofa and sitting beside Lola as he takes hold of her hand, "Kieran's gone." Lola releases a long pent up breath as her heart sinks, her hand tightens in Klaus' as she rests her head in the other as Klaus continues, "The hex only intensified after his transition and Scott did what he had to do. Preparation for the funeral is already underway."

—✤—

It seems to be rare to find moments where silence surrounds the compound. Nothing can be heard but muffled traffic and conversations from outside; the music has stopped, the chaos has stopped. It as though the world has stopped on it's axis. This was one of the rare moments that Klaus sought comfort in as he stands on the balcony, staring out into the nights sky.

The rare comfort was soon disturbed as his phone begins to ring in his pocket. His jaw clenched as he stares down at the caller ID, giving a sleeping Lola a quick glance over his shoulder before answering the call as he quietly leaves their room, "I would like to think you've dialled this number by mistake."

Damon scoffs on the other end of the phone, not his usual sarcastic tone instead a slight twinge of sadness seeps through his words, "Sadly not."

"Well, I know this call has nothing to do with your special delivery you arranged because I've already informed you that it's arrived." Klaus approaches the drinks bar within the living room, wearing a smug grin as he pours a scotch, "So, tell me, Damon. Why are you calling me at two in the morning? How about you've angered yet another hunter who attacks you with werewolf venom. I hear young Jeremy is back from the dead, perhaps it was him."

"I figured you'd be awake." Damon grunts, "Or at least hanging upside down in your cave surrounded by bats."

Klaus harshly places the bottle of bourbon onto the bar as he rolls his eyes, "How long shall I expect this sort of banter to go on for?" His brows shoot up in slight annoyance, taking hold of his glass, "Though it may be two in the morning, I do have more pressing things to be getting on with."

"This is important." Damon sighs heavily on the other end, "It's something I never thought I'd be saying, nor does it feel right to be saying it."

Hearing the uncommon tone in Damon's voice, immediately makes Klaus tense, "What's going on?"

"It's Stefan. He's—" Damon's voice becomes shaky, "He's dead."

Klaus' face drops, it's as though all the colour in his face completely drains, "What did you just say?"

"It was Tyler. Well, some traveller in Tyler's body did it." Damon softly laughs, as though if he didn't laugh he would have completely broken down, "I don't know if this sort of stuff is happening in the big easy but the other side is falling apart. People are getting sucked into oblivion and no one has any idea where they're going. Bonnie is trying to figure out a spell to bring people back from the other side."

"And will it work?"

"We can only hope. I can't tell Lola, I can't—"

"Damon," Klaus' tone is calm, stopping Damon from fully breaking on the phone, "Might I suggest something. We keep this between ourselves and do not inform Lola of this news regarding Stefan. If there is hope that he is able to come back then we remain silent on this, for Lola's sake. There is no point putting this kind of daunting news on her this far through the pregnancy and risk any more stress."

"Look at us," Damon drawls out before he chuckles, "Finally agreeing on something." His tone becomes more serious and stern, "I'm going to do everything I can to get our brother back. But, if anything happens will you just—" He inhales sharply before exhaling heavily, "Will you tell her I love her?"

Klaus bows his head, closing his eyes for a moment. It's as though breathing becomes non existence, taking a moment for a silent pray that it will never have to come to that. He and Damon may have never got along but he knows how important Damon is to Lola. Swallowing harshly, Klaus nods to himself before slowly raising his head, "Keep me informed on what's going on."

—✤—

ahhh, we're getting closer...

is anyone as nervous as me lol—

hope you're still liking the story!

holly x