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As he sits at Mystic Grill, Teddy can't help but glare at his uncle. He cannot understand how Hope can sit beside him and lazily eat her fries without fury rising in her veins. Elijah stares back, meeting Teddy's glare head-on as Hope willfully ignores the battle of testosterone.
"If you're here to tell me that my dad has a heart of gold, this is probably the worst spot," Hope says as she picks up a fry. "considering that there's a plaque inside near the dartboard for some woman that he killed in a moonstone ritual."
Elijah shakes his head as his eyes move past the cousins. "Take a look at that storefront across the street with the charcoal awning." Teddy and Hope both glance at the store. Gleefully, the wolf notices his parents passing the store.
His mother pauses before it, causing his father to stop. Teddy cannot hear what they say, but he watches as his mother wraps her arms around his father before they continue through the square.
"That piece of land used to be our home," Elijah says, seeing the spark in Teddy's eyes. "Smell of it still haunts me to this day. The burning wood, the crushed flowers, the berries." Elijah lets himself look back at Hope. "Your father was incessantly painting back in those days. Mixing, searching for brighter reds, for deeper blues. Used to wake me in the middle of the night just to show me the color that he would swear he himself had invented. I remember the first time that he showed me a turquoise."
Hope lets out a chuckle as she looks back at her uncle. Teddy just clenches his jaw: he knows what's coming next—the bad memories. No story is complete without the good and the bad.
"It's also the first time I smelled blood," Elijah says, confirming Teddy's suspicion. The young adult shifts uncomfortably. "You see, when Mikael found Niklaus fashioning a paintbrush from a small branch, he took that branch." Like a ghost, Elijah brushes his fingers across his cheek. "He struck my brother across the face."
"What did you do?" Hope asks.
"Niklaus begged me to run away with him, but I told him that I would never leave Rebekah and Kol and Alexis at the mercy of Mikael." Elijah glances back at where Lexi and Derek are strolling through the town square. They are stopped beside a man playing guitar. "Alexis was quite young at the time—barely understood her magic. But old enough to get into trouble constantly. So, we stayed. And, of course, it was a mistake. We should've run away together, but Niklaus couldn't go alone. But I did swear to him I would protect him from that very day."
Teddy straightens his back suddenly, causing Elijah to pause. A dark-haired boy approaches the table with a milkshake in his hand. Setting it next to Hope, he says, "Peanut butter blast, whipped cream on the bottom. Just how you like it."
"Thanks, Landon," Hope smiles up at him. "This is my uncle and cousin."
The boy's eyes widen. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Marshall," he says, glancing at Elijah.
The Original tenses and forces a terse smile on his face.
"This is my cousin, Teddy," Hope says as Teddy nudges her arm.
The beta grins wickedly, reaching out his hand. "Nice to meet you, Landon." He can hear the human's heart beating widely in his chest as they shake hands. Hope steps on Teddy's foot, wiping the smirk off his face.
"So, Hope, you haven't been around much lately," Landon says.
"Oh, yeah, there's been stuff back at home," Hope replies awkwardly.
"Well, I was—I was hoping you'd be back." Landon scratches the back of his neck as he looks at the town square. "I mean, you're from New Orleans, right? I've always wanted to go. It's home to some of the greatest musicians of all time."
"You should go," Hope smiles. "No matter where you are, there's always someone playing a Louis Armstrong son somewhere."
"Uh, actually, there's, um, there's music in the square tonight," Landon begins to blush as high school boys from another table begin to laugh, calling his name. They begin to throw wads to paper at the boy, but he does nothing.
Elijah suddenly raises his hand, catching one of the napkins. The boys stop throwing instantly.
"They do it all the time," Landon continues, glancing at Elijah wearily. "but tonight there's this kind of bluesy vice, and I thought, maybe, if you wanted to go..."
Hope sighs, "Oh, Landon, I-I can't tonight. I have a thing."
"Right, yeah. I should probably pick up an extra shift anyway," Landon says.
"Thanks, though, for asking and for the milkshake," Hope says as she tries to plaster a genuine smile on her face.
"It was nice to meet you," Landon says to the boys as he leaves.
"And you," Teddy says loudly with a wink.
"The full moon doesn't crest until later," Elijah says. "You could've gone with him. Why didn't you?"
Hope leans forward over the table, resting her arms on the cool surface. "Because I'm gonna be dead soon."
Elijah straightens his back as he turns to Teddy. "Did you—"
Teddy shrugs as he tries to keep his expression neutral. "We didn't tell her. That was Klaus' job." He furrows his eyebrows as he glances at Hope. "How did you know?"
"Every witch in our family locked in the bell tower all week. Creepy black veins all over my body," Hope tenses as she mutters. "And it hurts, you know? How long do I have?"
Elijah stays silent for a moment before he answers. "In your condition, we don't believe that you'll be strong enough to handle to full moon."
"What's not to handle?" Hope chuckles, raising her eyes to the sky. Teddy lays his hand over her's, squeezing tightly. "It's only every bone in my body breaking all at once."
"You listen to me, your father is searching for a cure, even as we speak," Elijah says, his voice hard and stern. "We will not allow anything to happen to you. You understand?"
"It might be all for the best, anyway," Hope sighs as she looks away from her cousin and uncle.
"Why would you say that?" Teddy demands, but their attention is taken away.
"Hey, nice outfit," A boy laughs loudly. They glance over at the table to see Landon attempting to get the bill while boys throw napkins and laugh. "That's really cute. Alright, boys, let's roll."
The boys monkey around for a moment, bumping into Landon repeatedly. "You guys are seven bucks short," Landon says before they can leave.
"No, that's your tip, Kirby," one says with a smirk. "That's negative seven bucks for the poor service that we received."
"Hello, boys," a voice says. The boys turn to see Lexi and Derek standing behind them. "I think you forgot a part of your bill," Lexi says with narrowed eyes.
"None of your business, lady," a kid sneers.
Derek growls under his breath, but Lexi's hand on his arm stops him from moving. With a sigh, Lexi lets her eyes turn cold as ice as she says, "Pay your waiter."
"Or what?"
"It's ok, ma'am," Landon says. When Lexi meets his gaze, all she sees is a scared boy, defeated by those around them.
She tips her head up as the high school boys get into their car and drive away. The moment they disappear, Lexi reaches into Derek's pocket.
Derek yelps, startled by the movement as she retrieves his wallet. She sends him a playful smile as she takes out two twenties and a ten. "Here," she says, handing the money to Landon.
"I can't take that," Landon says, letting out a nervous chuckle.
"I insist," Lexi demands as she takes his hand and puts the money in it. "Think of it as a prize for putting up with those assholes."
Landon looks helplessly at the money before glancing at Derek. "Take the money, kid," Derek says gently. "If you don't, she'll hang around and slip it into another tip, or she'll sit down, get water, and pay you more."
With a sigh, Landon holds out the money. "I appreciate it, I really do, but I can't accept this."
After a moment of silence, Lexi takes the money back. "You're a nice kid, Landon," she smiles. "But you will get this money."
She takes Derek's hand and walks past Landon over to the table with Elijah, Teddy, and Hope. She pauses, placing the money on the table. She turns to Elijah and mutters, "Cough up three hundred. And don't say you don't have it—you always have at least five on hand."
Elijah is quick to comply, setting his three hundred next to Lexi's fifty. He stands up with Hope, asking, "You ever drive a Bentley?"
Hope's eyes widen as he pulls her away from the table and from Derek's heavy glare. The moment they are gone, Teddy stands, leaving his own twenty dollars with the rest of the money. "God, I hate bullies," he says as he pushes in his chair.
"Why do you think I made Elijah give the money?" Lexi replies as they all begin to walk down the street. "He drives a Bentley—he can afford to give."
Derek just grunts in annoyance. "I hate this town," he murmurs.
"But it's where Mom was born." Teddy frowns. "Elijah said you lived right over there."
Lexi hums, nodding her head. "The hell that began my life."
Teddy stops in his tracks as he sighs. The look in his eyes causes both parents to pause. "Hope said something concerning," he says.
Derek straightens his back and clenches his jaw. He motions with his head for the family to continue walking as he glances around the street. "What'd she say?" he asks in a low voice.
"That her death might be for the best."
Lexi tenses, letting her eyes flicker closed. She lets out a sigh as she attempts to relax her shoulders. "We'll have to keep a close eye on her. If she's thinking that now, Nik's plan won't help. I doubt he's going to tell her."
Teddy frowns. "What's the plan?"
Lexi shakes her head and forces a smile on her face. "For now, let's follow Hope, and I'll point out the best hiding places in Mystic Falls. I'll tell you his insane plan on the way."
—|—|—|—
Shouting fills the Salvatore forest as Elijah runs with Hope in his arms to the small, broken shack at the edge. Lexi, Derek, and Teddy are trailing behind him as Klaus appears on the porch.
Elijah lies Hope on the wood planks as Klaus demands, "What happened?"
"She just collapsed," Elijah replies as Stella runs up to the growing group. She does not care that her father grabs her instantly, yanking her away from Klaus. "I don't know—"
"Quiet!" Lexi snaps as she drops to her knees beside Hope. She places her fingers at Hope's neck as her face pales. "Anyone hear a heartbeat?" She asks, already knowing the answer.
Klaus balls his hands into fists as Lexi positions her hands over Hope's chest. She begins CPR, counting quietly as she pushes on Hope's body. The trybrid does not move.
"Please, please," Klaus begs a god that won't listen. "Hope! Hope!"
As Lexi continues pumping her arms, Klaus turns to Stella, "Get Caroline and the twins. Tell them it needs to happen now." Stella's eyes flicker back to Hope's body. "Go!"
Without thinking, she throws Derek's arm off and sprints off towards the school. Derek runs after her, his expression full of fear and urgency. Teddy remains with Hope, beginning to pace and bite the tip of his thumb.
Klaus continues to mutter pleas, trying to get Hope to wake up and find him again. "Please, Hope. Please, come back to me." Tears fill his eyes, spilling over his cheeks.
Lexi does not have the time to think as she tries to get Hope's heart started again. "If I have to pump your heart with my bare hands, I will," she threatens aloud, even though Hope cannot hear.
Elijah watches silently as panic consumes him. He cannot lose Hope too.
Suddenly, Hope lurches up against Lexi's hands. Lexi falls back on her knees, throwing herself under Hope as Klaus wraps her in his arms. "Hope!"
"Dad!" Hope grabs onto his shirt tightly as fresh tears spring to her eyes. She is grateful that Lexi is holding her up—she does not have the energy to sit.
"You're ok," Klaus mutters as he kisses her forehead. Relief floods his body as he tightens his grip on her. The life in her voice and body gives him life. "You're ok."
"Dad, dad, I don't want to die," Hope cries as tears fall down her cheeks. "I don't want to die."
"I know," Klaus gently moves back so he is the only one supporting Hope. Teddy settles next to Lexi as the blonde wraps her arm around her son. His pale face holds terror and relief as he runs his eyes down Hope's back.
"Don't let me," Hope whimpers as she pushes her head into Klaus' chest.
"You're not gonna die," Klaus states, his eyes set ahead of him. "You're not gonna die, I promise."
Lexi looks between Elijah and Teddy through tired eyes. Instead of sharing her fears, she just tightens her grip on Teddy.
It's slowly coming to an end. I don't know how I'm gonna deal when it's over...
Hope you enjoyed!
-L