"New Orleans is a beautiful place, full of magic," I observed, looking around. You could feel the magic in the air. "Bonnie would've liked it here."
"Yes, she's going to love it," Caroline came up beside me, holding my arm, while Amara walked on the other side holding Katherine's hand.
"Why is she small?" I looked at Katherine, and she had the appearance of a 10-year-old child.
"Apparently her inner vampire decided it would be better for her to match her mental age and used transmutation to turn herself into a child," Caroline joked beside me. "And since she looks like Amara and is very attached to you, the cover story is that she's your daughter."
Well, they decided that without telling me, and honestly, it's pretty useful that they have the autonomy to make those decisions.
I looked at Caroline and noticed a slightly sad look in her eyes. Ah… I got it.
"Don't worry," I said, rubbing the back of her neck, "I'll find a way for you to have a child with me."
Caroline went silent for a second.
I felt it. It wasn't just her body going stiff — it was something deeper, like my words had touched a place she avoided even thinking about. When she finally smiled, it was beautiful… but not completely light.
"You say that like it's simple…" she murmured, looking away, but squeezing my arm lightly.
I shrugged.
"For me? Nothing stays impossible for long."
Amara let out a soft laugh beside us, still holding hands with little Katherine, who walked distractedly, kicking a small stone.
"He's not wrong," Amara said. "You just have to decide how you want to break the rules of nature."
Caroline let out a small breath through her nose, half laughing.
"Coming from you, that's not exactly comforting."
Before I could respond, Katherine suddenly stopped walking and looked at us with narrowed, suspicious eyes.
"Are you talking about a baby?" she asked.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe."
"Then I want to choose the name," she said immediately, crossing her arms.
I let out a short laugh.
"You can barely decide what you want to eat."
"Hey!" she snapped, offended. "I'm great with names!"
Amara actually laughed this time, and Caroline ended up laughing too, her sound lighter, more relaxed. For a moment… it felt normal.
But then—
Something changed.
I stopped walking.
It wasn't a conscious decision. My body just… reacted.
A chill ran across my skin, slow and cold. The city was still alive around us — music, voices, lights — but underneath all of that… there was something else.
Something ancient.
Something that was… watching.
"What is it?" Caroline asked, moving a little closer to me.
I didn't answer right away.
My eyes scanned the street, the buildings, the shadows. Feeling. Listening. That wasn't just normal magic.
"This magic…" I murmured. "It's not just the city's."
Amara turned serious instantly. I felt the shift in her like an echo.
"There's something here," she said, tightening her grip on Katherine's hand.
Katherine felt it too. Even in that childlike form, her face changed immediately. The light expression vanished.
"I don't like this…"
Caroline leaned closer to me, instinctively.
"Friend or enemy?"
A smile pulled at the corner of my mouth.
The kind of smile that never shows up in peaceful moments.
"In New Orleans?" I replied, starting to walk again, but now with purpose. "Probably both."
Deep in the city… I felt it again.
The magic pulsed.
Like a heart… waking up at the exact moment we arrived.
--++---
After buying a house — a very luxurious one.
Now that I had a lot of money thanks to the blood factory, no more living with little.
Even though grandma is pretty rich and Bonnie and I lived like a prince and princess under her care…
I want to buy what's mine.
I left Caroline and Amara with Katherine to take care of things and went out. I wanted to look around the city and find where that magical pull came from.
I got to a bar, and who was there? Elijah, talking to a blonde.
"Hello," I said as I approached. "I see you're flirting."
The blonde looked at me strangely, and Elijah turned toward me.
"Nephew… where have you been?" Elijah's tone was controlled.
"Wait, that's the son of your brother who disappeared and made him paranoid again?" the blonde asked, confused. "Sorry, I'm Cami… I thought you'd be younger."
"Of course… everyone thinks my old man is younger than he looks," I laughed, glancing at her before turning back to Elijah. "I see you're telling the family story."
"I was simply talking and received some useful information," Elijah replied politely.
"I imagine. It's about my old man's disturbances," I said, glancing at Cami. She just nodded.
"After you disappeared, nephew… Niklaus lost control and vanished," Elijah sighed. "He was doing so well, and now I hear he's here assuming someone is conspiring against him."
"I can imagine. I was drawn here for a reason too," I said lightly. "See you around."
"Wait… why are you here?" Elijah asked, confused, following me.
"Then come on," I said, looking outside where a group of vampires were following a witch, pointing. "There."
We followed the witch into an underground place, and the vampire finally confronted her and began threatening her.
She talked back rudely, and when the vampire was about to attack, Elijah intervened like the knight he is.
He killed the two vampires with ease and stepped forward.
"You're him… an Original," the witch said in shock.
"Well, well," I clapped slowly, stepping into the conversation. "The hero saves the princess."
"Who are you?" the witch asked, startled, trying to back away.
"No one important. What matters is why those vampires were attacking you," I made it clear what she needed to say.
She quickly started telling her sad story about how Marcel killed her sister and that she needed to show us something.
We followed her and found her — my mother from another reality — and the woman carrying Hope in her womb.
Honestly, I hadn't paid much attention to her back in Mystic Falls.
I just made sure she had a child with my father, but avoided her like the plague… and now she's here.
Looking closely, she was beautiful, but I didn't feel any attraction toward her… I guess my instincts as a son are still there, even if all my instincts and lineage come from Qetsiyah.
Something in me still calls Hayley "mother"… or something like that.
The witch explained that Hayley was pregnant with my father's child and started making demands of Elijah.
I shook my head and said to the witch,
"Leave. Elijah and I have things to discuss with her," I looked at the witch with a burning gaze.
"Who are you to order me?" the witch snarled, irritated.
"Please, listen to him," Elijah said before I could, calm but with authority. The witch left, leaving the two of us alone with Hayley.
I walked up to her and placed my hand on her face. She pulled back at first, but then leaned into it, as if she felt she could trust me.
"It's okay," I said, chanting a spell.
I didn't sever the link connecting the witch to Hayley, but I made sure it wouldn't cause problems for Hope in her womb.
Some things need to happen.
"Who are you?" she asked, a bit confused. "I don't know why, but I feel like I can trust you."
"I have that effect," I smiled at her.
"They said I'm pregnant with Klaus… that's impossible, vampires can't have children," Hayley denied with all her strength.
"That's true for vampires. My father isn't just a vampire," I said with a smile.
"Your father?" she looked shocked.
"Your father?" she repeated, stunned.
I smiled without taking my eyes off her.
"It's… complicated," I replied. "But to sum it up: Klaus is a walking exception to pretty much every rule you know."
She stayed silent for a few seconds, absorbing that. Her hand returned to her stomach, firmer this time… protective.
"So this… is real?" she asked, her voice lower now. "This isn't some kind of… spell, illusion or—"
"No," I cut in calmly. "It's real."
Elijah observed everything in silence, but I could feel his eyes on me. Analyzing every word. Every reaction.
I let out a soft sigh and stepped back slightly.
"And more importantly," I continued, "this child… isn't normal."
"This child could be Niklaus' redemption," Elijah said with a hopeful sigh.
"Hey, I thought I was special," I feigned hurt.
I placed a hand on my chest, pretending to be offended.
"Hey, I thought I was special."
Elijah didn't hesitate.
"You are… particularly problematic," he replied dryly, "and already an adult. Niklaus didn't take part in your upbringing, although he clearly loves you very much."
Hayley fell silent after my words.
There was no denial left on her face… only confusion. And fear.
A lot of fear.
"So… I don't have a choice?" she asked, her voice low, almost afraid of the answer.
I didn't look away.
"Not much," I answered simply.
Elijah gave me a slight disapproving look but said nothing.
I continued.
"This isn't about what you want right now," I said, keeping my tone calm. "Your body has already decided. The child already exists."
Hayley closed her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath, as if trying to hold herself together.
Her hand went to her stomach again.
Instinct.
"This is… insane," she murmured.
"It is," I agreed.
She let out a humorless laugh.
"Pregnant with an Original hybrid… that definitely wasn't in my life plans."
"I imagine not," I replied.
Silence returned, but this time it wasn't as heavy. It was more like… forced acceptance.
Elijah stepped forward, his voice softer.
"Regardless of the circumstances, Hayley… this child is family."
She opened her eyes and looked at him.
Then… at me.
"Family…" she repeated, as if testing the word.
I shrugged lightly.
"Complicated, irritating, a bit dysfunctional…" a small smile formed. "But still family."
She stared at me for a few seconds.
Trying to understand.
"And me?" she asked. "Where do I fit in all of this?"
I thought for a moment.
But the answer came easily.
"You're already in," I said. "The moment this happened."
Her expression softened a little… not completely calm, but less lost.
"You don't have to like this right now," I added. "Or accept everything at once."
Elijah nodded slightly.
"But you won't be alone."
Hayley took another deep breath.
And this time… she didn't look like she was about to fall apart.
Still scared.
Still confused.
But standing.
"I'm going to need help," she admitted.
I tilted my head.
"You'll have it."
A small silence.
Then I stepped back, giving her space.
"For now," I continued, "focus on the basics."
She frowned slightly.
"What basics?"
"Staying well," I replied. "Eating properly. Resting. Not getting into unnecessary trouble."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
"You say that like I have a history of that."
I raised an eyebrow.
"I know the type."
She let out a small, almost involuntary laugh.
And that was already something.
I glanced at Elijah.
"Take care of this," I said, gesturing vaguely between them.
He nodded, serious.
"Always."
I looked at Hayley one last time.
"You'll be fine," I said, without dramatics.
It wasn't a promise.
It was a statement.
Then I took a few steps back, leaving the two of them there.
Family…
Sometimes it starts in the strangest way.