This Could Be Forever

Emily shook her head quickly, finding it hard to wrap her mind around the possibility. She could feel a slight panic build in her with the idea of what this meant - that if Kol was right, her entire life, her entire self was a lie. Shifting, she lifted her hand back to the tomb, but only to lean on it for support while she tried to understand all of this. If Kol was right, why had her parents never told her? Why hadn’t her powers manifested? “If you’re right,” she started cautiously, trying to avoid freaking out and panicking, but still leaning on the tomb for support, “Then, what’s wrong with me?” Because something had to be wrong if she didn’t have powers, right?

---

Klaus nodded slightly, because it was something he should have already known. Considering the fact that, when he’d sneak to see her, she’d been in similar environments or had lilies in her home already, he should have known that her love for them wouldn’t die. It left him almost bitter. Why should flowers receive her affection and adoration when he apparently never had? He tried not to think about it. “A very long time ago, my family helped to build this city. And, then, my father chased us out,” he said easily, “And, when we returned recently, we found that a boy I had raised as my own had taken over, so I’ve spent my time taking it back from him.”

@ momentai.
Addie nodded as she listened to Klaus talk about the city and his reason for being there, "Why do you want to take it back from him?" She asked curiously as she walked to another part of the store, grabbing a single potted sunflower and then walking up to the counter to pay for her flowers. She handed the woman behind the counter enough money before she took her flowers and started to exit the store with Klaus, "If he really was like a son to you then wouldn't you want him to have a city that you built."

---

Kol could tell she was confused and upset, and that was the last thing that he wanted at the moment, "Nothing is wrong with you, love." He replied to her words, "Your parents must have had your magic suppressed when you were a child. It's not that you don't have powers, Emily. They are just simply pushed below the surface so you couldn't accidentally tap into the magic." He explained. He paused for a moment before he had a thought pop into his head, "I can help you."

Emily stared at him with confusion, shaking her head. “How do you expect to help me?” she asked, her brows furrowing. “You’re a vampire. Or have you forgotten that? You can’t just magically force whatever magic you think I have to the surface when you have no magic yourself.” She was struggling to understand how they’d even be able to get her magic to work. If her magic was pushed down, how could they possibly force it out? It seemed like an impossible task and she hated impossible tasks.

---

“Because it’s my city,” Klaus said simply, turning to face her with a frown, “A city that he stole from me when he called Mikael here to chase me away. He drove me away from my city with the very thing I sought to protect my family from. So, I will not allow him the enjoyment or satisfaction of running the city that my family built.” No, he would gain it back and he wouldn’t dare give it up again, no matter what. This city would serve to be a safe haven for his daughter one way or another.

@ momentai.
Addie nodded at his words before walking into the center of the Quarter, holding her purchases from the shop tightly in her hands, “I understand. You felt betrayed because he called your father, and now you feel even more betrayed because he took the city from you on top of that, and he believes that it belongs to him now because he is the one that drove you out of the city.” Addie stated as she looked over at him, “It’s easy to see why you’re angry, Klaus. It’s completely called for.” She said and stopped walking directly in front of the compound. She turned to Klaus, knowing this is where his family was living. Addie handed to sunflower to him with a smile, “For whatever in your life has changed you. Whether it be a woman, or something else. Sun flowers to me symbolize light and happiness. Hope. I don’t know who changed you, Klaus, but I noticed that you are different. It’s nice.”
--
Kol laughed, “I may be a vampire, but I spent most of my undaggered life around witches, and I was eventually brought back as one. I know a thing or two more than what you are giving me credit for, love.” He replied with a smile, “I may not be able to do the magic with you, but I can help you find ways to get it to resurface itself.” He explained. Kol knew that he could hopefully get help from a witch or two if they needed it as well. Witches always helped out their own, especially New Orleans witches. He knew that there was magic suppressing her powers, he knew that magic was going to have to be what brought them back, “You have to be willing to let your magic in, Emily. If you can’t do that, none of this is going to work out.”

Emily stared at him for a few long moments, weighing her options and processing his words. She still wasn’t so sure that a vampire could be very helpful, but a part of her wondered if that was due to her own mistrust of the species. She wasn’t even sure she wanted to tap into her powers, but the knowledge that there was something within her, locked away, made her realize just how much she felt like something was missing. Watching him for a while longer, she eventually nodded. “Fine,” she eventually decided, straightening herself as she watched him. “We’ll never know if I don’t try, right? So, fine. I’m in.”

---

Klaus was mildly surprised to hear her being understanding about it. After all, most people had decided that he was being ridiculous and petty. The people closest to him had tried to get him to step away from the search for revenge, even - his own siblings had tried to talk sense into him. But, Adelaide, the woman who tore out his heart and said she’d never loved him, seemed to understand his thoughts better than anyone, which caught him off guard. As she offered the sunflower, he stared at it while he listened to her talk about it, the mention of hope, the reminder of Hope, causing him to look mildly amused. “I see,” he decided eventually, nodding, “Thank you for your encouragement, then. And for understanding.” He looked to her, watching her for a moment. “It was nice seeing you again, Adelaide.”

@ momentai.
Addie smiled at his words before she gently put the sunflower put in his hands, "It was really nice to see you again as well, Niklaus." She replied, "I really hope I get to see you again soon." She added before placing a hand on his arm and giving him a smile and then walking back to her apartment. Addie had truly missed him these past few years. Shoving him away was the biggest mistake she had ever made, and now that they were in the same city once more, she wasn't going to let him go that easily again.

---

Kol smirked at her words, "Good I'm glad." He stated before he looked around them, "We start tomorrow. I want you to go home and clear your mind." He said before smirking, "If you need help relaxing, I know a way you'll love." He teased with a wink. He pulled out his phone and handed it to her, "Put your number in my phone so I can tell you when and where to meet me tomorrow." Kol stated as he looked over at her. The flirting was all fun and games, but he did truly think that Emily was stunning to look at, not that he would admit that aloud.

Emily tilted her head as she listened to him, but decided to play along because there wasn’t much else she could do. “Oh? And what way might that be?” she asked, arching a brow, “If it’s by you feeding or compelling me to relax, it won’t work. Vervain and all.” For a moment or so, she stared at his phone before she sighed out and reached for it to put in her name and number, though she soon handed it back. “And, just because I can’t kill you doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have fun staking you a few times.”

---

Klaus watched her leave, eyeing her for a few long moments. He was reminded of the past, of when they first began speaking and flirting, and how similar this moment was to back then. A small smirk played on his lips at the thought, because if history was going to repeat itself, he might as well make things interesting. After everything that had happened in the past, he didn’t want to fully let himself fall into her. No, perhaps he’d make her chase him a bit this time around. It seemed like a fun idea.

@ momentai.
Addie arrived back at her apartment and went to work making the place look alive and decorative. The lilies always went in her bedroom next to her bed. They were the second best thing to wake up to in the morning, so they were always on her bedside table. Addie smiled at the thought of the first thing she would love to wake up to, and she remembered the times that she had woken up to him. He was always awake before she was, except once. That one time Addie took it upon herself to sit and watch him until he woke up. He was so childlike when he slept and she loved it. She loved him. She still did, after all these years. She more than likely always would at that.

---

Kol smirked at Emily's question, "I can show you if you'd like, love." He said as he got closer to her. When she spoke about staking him, he feigned hurt and placed a hand over his head, "Ouch, darling. I thought we were having fun." He teased before taking the phone back and slid it back into his pocket with ease, "Go get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a frustrating one." Kol said softly before he walked away back toward the compound. Kol hadn't been able to help a witch with her powers in ages, and he was more than willing to help Emily with hers.

@ momentai.
Addie arrived back at her apartment and went to work making the place look alive and decorative. The lilies always went in her bedroom next to her bed. They were the second best thing to wake up to in the morning, so they were always on her bedside table. Addie smiled at the thought of the first thing she would love to wake up to, and she remembered the times that she had woken up to him. He was always awake before she was, except once. That one time Addie took it upon herself to sit and watch him until he woke up. He was so childlike when he slept and she loved it. She loved him. She still did, after all these years. She more than likely always would at that.

---

Kol smirked at Emily's question, "I can show you if you'd like, love." He said as he got closer to her. When she spoke about staking him, he feigned hurt and placed a hand over his head, "Ouch, darling. I thought we were having fun." He teased before taking the phone back and slid it back into his pocket with ease, "Go get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a frustrating one." Kol said softly before he walked away back toward the compound. Kol hadn't been able to help a witch with her powers in ages, and he was more than willing to help Emily with hers.

(We can skip to the next day, if you want!)

Emily watched him as he moved closer, but she refused to back down and ignored the odd nervousness that filled her, raising her chin defiantly as she listened to him. When he mentioned the next day would be frustrating, she tried not to scowl; it couldn’t be much worse than any physical hunting training she’d done, right? Or, she could hope it wouldn’t be anyways. Shaking her head, she waited until he was out of view before she turned to head home, though she could feel a tension grow in her the closer she got now that the knowledge of what she was supposed to be and what her parents had done had been brought to light. Slipping into the house silently, she went to her room without a word to try to get some rest.

@ momentai.
(Yeah that's fine)
Addie hadn't had a good night's rest like that in a long time. Usually the thought of Klaus kept her up for at least a few hours. She hated that the guilt inside of her was enough to keep her up at night even after all these years, but after seeing him the day before. Things were different. Her guilt hadn't gone away, but she felt like she had a chance to redeem herself from the pain that she had caused him. She was more than wiling to try and help ease the pain at least. She needed to. She still loved him after all and didn't want to see him upset or hurt anymore.

---

Kol woke up earlier than usual and pulled out his phone, texting Emily, Ten o'clock. Cemetery. He got out of bed and got ready rather quickly. He had set up a meeting with a witch at the same time and place and she was going to help bring back Emily's powers. He knew that having them suppressed for so long was going to be a bitch to bring back out, but he knew it could be done. He just hoped that Emily was ready for it. She had them shoved down for her entire life, now to bring them back, they were all going to flood at her at one time and it was going to overtake her in a huge way.

Emily sighed out when her phone woke her and she tiredly reached to grab it, forcing her eyes open to read the text. Her eyes scanned over it for a moment before she made note of the time and, with a groan of annoyance, she pushed herself out of bed to get ready. Checking the time one more time, she made her way out of her home, once again without a word to her parents, and headed to the cemetery. Idly, she wondered what it was with this guy and cemeteries. An obsession with the inevitable, perhaps? Shaking her head, she focused her attention ahead as she walked.

---

Klaus had left the sunflower in Hope’s room and his daughter had adored it, watching it and entranced with the bright yellow hue it had to offer. It seemed to spark something within her, because she’d then begun to paint the sunflower and, with a smile, he watched her until he realized the time. Elijah took his spot today, watching over his niece while Klaus left to deal with a few things. It hadn’t taken long and, after that, he’d decided to wander around the city. Perhaps he’d have the good fortune of running into Adelaide once again today.

@ momentai.
Addie decided to take the day to explore the city she was calling her new home. Addie hadn't ever been to New Orleans before and the French Quarter was a loud place to settle down, but she loved it. She loved the feeling that the city came alive at night and everyone was always out for a party. The noise didn't bother Addie at all after living in New York City for the majority of her life.

---

Kol arrived at the cemetery near the Liore tomb where he would meet Emily and Abigail, the witch he was getting help from, to start bringing out Emily's powers. When Emily arrived, Kol smiled, "Was starting to think that you weren't going to show up, Love." He teased before he motioned to the girl standing next to him, "Emily this is Abigail. Abigail here is also a New Orleans witch and she's going to help us resurface your powers." Kol explained to Emily with a small smile.

“You’re the one who decided to start this so early,” Emily complained as she sighed out, looking over at Kol and the girl as she watched them before she made her way over. “So, how about we get this over with so I can go back to sleep?” She arched a brow, watching for a moment before she moved to lean against the tomb. “You must have a taste for witches, Kol Mikaelson. Weeding them out without batting an eye. It’s almost impressive.”

---

As Klaus wandered around, it wasn’t too difficult to spot Adelaide and, arching a brow, he made his way over to her, appearing behind her before long. “Enjoying the sights of the city, love?” he questioned, moving to walk next to her as he peered over at her, watching her for a few long moments before he looked ahead. “Are you enjoying New Orleans?”

@ momentai.
Addie looked over when Klaus joined her side and nodded, "I figured I might as well get to know the city I will be calling home for a while." She replied with a smile. When he asked if she was enjoying New Orleans, she nodded once more, "I love the night life. Everyone is just so happy and ready for a party. It makes me happy to see it." She replied with another smile as she looked down the street. Couples walked down the street hand in hand. Locals weaved in and out of the tourists who were stopping every five seconds. Addie loved the sight of it, "I can see why you and your family love it here."

---

Kol shook his head at her words, "Love, if you're going to do this, you have to be willing to do it. You can't be complaining. Today is going to be the worst for you. Your powers have been suppressed for essentially your entire life, so it's going to be a helluva time getting them back up." He explained before Abigail started speaking, "With a family as powerful as yours, it's not natural for your powers to be pushed down and not used for so long. If the ancestors didn't want you to have powers, they wouldn't have given you them, but with being in the family that you are, you undoubtedly have great powers that need to be brought back soon or else they will start to strike back against you."

“There’s nothing wrong with complaining. Complaining doesn’t mean that I won’t do this. It just means I’m not very fond of being woken up,” Emily drawled out in response before she looked over, focusing on the witch for a moment as she eyed her. “And, by strike back, you mean what? Destroy me from the inside out? You two have spoken about my family, but you say it all as if they’re super important. They’re just hunters or… Or witches or whatever the hell they are. So, instead of talking, can we just get started?”

---

“Well, that is the beauty of New Orleans. Never a dull moment,” Klaus clarified with a small nod. “Every day, every night, full of celebrations and parties and anything else the heart could ever possibly desire.” For the most part, anyways. He hadn’t ever expected to see Adelaide there, but, again, that was the beauty of New Orleans. His heart desired her and, somehow, Adelaide had ended up in New Orleans. New Orleans never really ceased to amaze him. “It’s our home, likely the only city we’ve ever called home.”

@ momentai.
Addie smiled and nodded in agreement, "I lived in New York City for a while and while that truly is the city that never sleeps, but this noise is a fun noise. I don't mind listening to it while I'm trying to sleep. When I was in New York, I hated going to bed because I never got to sleep. It was always car horns and sirens. Here, it's people laughing and having a good time. It's beautiful music being played. It's the sounds of what the night life should sound like in a place like this." She explained with a smile. Addie hadn't been there very long, but she was already deeply in love with the city.

---

Kol looked over for Abigail and nodded at Emily's question. Kol looked to Emily, "Only a Liore witch can open the tomb." He stated as he looked at her, "It's easier to do the ritual inside the tomb because Abigail can harness the power of the ancestors, but more importantly, your ancestors." Kol explained. It would also be easier to not be out in the open doing the ritual. It was going to cause a lot of pain for Emily, and they didn't need that not being contained by the tomb.

Emily watched him for a moment. “And, uh, how exactly am I supposed to open the tomb?” she asked, arching a brow as she moved over to it. “What, blood sacrifice or something? Please tell me I don’t have to do something ridiculous.” She made a face, peering over at him for a moment, then to Abigail. “And, what exactly does the ritual entail, anyways? I feel like I’m about to walk into a death trap with zero knowledge of what to expect.” Her attention went back to the tomb and she stared at it for a moment, admittedly feeling a little nervous now.

---

Klaus nodded slowly as he took in the information. Of course, he was well aware that Adelaide had been in New York for a while. “Ah, I know that very well,” he admitted easily, lifting his shoulders in a small shrug, “But, then, every vampire seems to visit New York at least once. Most seem to like it.” It was a big city and allowed vampires to enjoy themselves and cause trouble without attracting attention to themselves. It tended to make things easier, even if only for a little while.

@ momentai.
Addie nodded, "I had family there once. Many many many years ago. I felt like I was getting back to my roots." She explained with a small laugh, "I never really felt like I was at home there. Only that I was where my family once had been. It wasn't where I belonged." She added, "New Orleans seems to be welcoming me with open arms, and I'm starting to feel like this is finally the place I will belong." Addie stated, "Stupid, I know, but I can't help but being drawn here."

---

Kol laughed and shook his head, "No, love. No sacrifice is needed. You do need to shed a little blood though. Not a lot. Just enough to prove that you're a Liore witch." He explained, "Normally a witch would draw some blood and say a spell, but your case is different, and we are hoping the ancestors see that." Abigail stated before she pulled out a pocket knife and handed it over to Emily, "You just need to cut your hand and place it on the tomb door, once the ancestors see that you're a New Orleans witch, they'll hopefully open the door and let us in."

Emily dropped her gaze to the knife, watching it for a moment before she sighed. Undoing the bandage around the hand she’d cut the day before to catch the vampire’s attention, she slid the knife along the wound. “Witches and their obsession with blood,” she drawled out before holding the knife back out to Abigail. Shifting, she pressed her hand to the tomb and, for a while, nothing happened, and she watched the others with an almost I knew it look before blinking when it started opening.

---

Klaus nodded gently as he listened to her explanation, taking it all in. “I don’t think it’s silly, love,” he told her easily as he looked back to her, tilting his head. “When you find a place that feels like home, you know it’s where you belong. It’s as simple as that. If a place doesn’t feel like home, if it doesn’t feel like you belong there, then it most certainly cannot be home.” Because a home was where you were supposed to feel most content; it was where you felt the desire to stay, despite everything else.