The Originals: Always and Forever

Chapter 1: Nobody's Children

Niklaus Mikaelson opens his eyes, wincing at the bright light. A soreness aches throughout his body, similar to the pain after turning. He struggles sitting up. He is sitting in a wide field, sparsely decorated with wildflowers. There is nothing familiar about the field. When Klaus squints, he is able to make out another body, barely visible through the grass.

As he nears the body, his heart lurches. It was Ansel, his father. He was breathing, but unconscious. Klaus debated running, not fancying a difficult and emotional discussion. Despite the guilt that panged his heart, Klaus turned and fled.

After half a mile he stops and collapses on the ground, burying his face in his hands. Abandoning his father, just like he had done to his daughter. Screw up, bastard, abomination! Voices familiar and unknown scream at him. Klaus makes out those of his siblings, family and daughter most clearly.

He can't breathe. It feels like the air is trapped in his lungs. Breathe, breathe, he tells himself. Black spots buzz around his eyes, threatening to blot out the world, like oil paint spreading on a canvas.

"Just inhale. Four and four. Inhale 1...2...3...4... exhale now 1...2...3...4..."

Klaus briefly wondered why one of the voices was helping him. They never helped him, preferring to scream and curse and blame until he wanted to dig his nails into his brain.

"Come on, inhale!" the voice repeated, more urgently.

Klaus followed the instructions, too weak to protest. After what seemed like hours, but was probably only minutes, he was able to breathe on his own, though his body was still shaking.

"Good job" someone tells him. Klaus opens his eyes to see Ansel kneeling next to him, holding his shoulders. Unable to process what's happening, Klaus closes his eyes and drops his head.

"It's okay" Ansel tells him. "Everything is going to be alright. We are going to sit here for as long as you need, okay? Then we'll find out where we are and who brought us here. Just relax, son."

Klaus feels incapable of responding, dazed from this peculiar interaction and from the previous lack of oxygen. They sit there for ten minutes before Klaus withdraws from Ansel's grasp. Ansel watches him quizzically before standing and offering Klaus a hand. Klaus takes it, unsure of their standing. Ansel doesn't let go of his hand, just pulls him deeper into the woods.

They walk for several hours in silence, Ansel still holding his hand. Klaus finally breaks the silence; it feels suffocating.

"I'm sorry" he says. Ansel glances at him and stops walking, his silence prompting Klaus to continue.

"You don't know my mother. Whoever you knew and loved a thousand years ago is gone, replaced. She's cold, she's cruel, she's manipulative. She gave up her eldest child to her sister as part of a deal so that she could have children. When she resurrected you, she wanted to kill my daughter. If she didn't, her sister would kill us." Klaus paused, but Ansel was still watching him, his unwavering gaze silently urging him on.

"I had to protect my daughter. My mother would use you to get to her, she would manipulate any good intentions, your kindness and care. I couldn't risk that, and I would do it again. And, I'm sorry I hurt you. For centuries you've been everything I ever wanted. You deserve a better son than me, but I will do my best to protect my daughter, whatever sacrifice that entails."

Ansel lets his words sit before he speaks.

"I understand. That doesn't mean I'm not upset, because I am. But I do understand. You thought I was weakened because I had loved your mother, maybe I still love her. But I think you know in your heart that love is strength, and I would never have let her hurt your daughter."

When Klaus doesn't respond, Ansel tugs on his hand and starts walking again. They stop at a clearing after several more hours of walking.

"This should do for the night," Ansel says, observing their surroundings. "I'm going to hunt, why don't you make a fire?"

Klaus nods, and Ansel heads off into the woods. By the time he returns, Klaus has created a large fire, perfect for cooking the deer. Ansel cooks and prepares their food. Their familiar smell makes Klaus' heart ache and yearn for his childhood. Ansel offers him some of the deer and he accepts for the comfort it provides.

"I don't know where we are, but I think we've been resurrected," Ansel tells him. Klaus nods in agreement, he can feel his blood coursing in veins, and can hear Ansel's as well.

"It seems our only option is to keep walking until we run into people. In the meantime, I want to get to know you. We've been given a second chance. We'd be fools not to take it."

"Second chances are rarely given for free," Klaus comments.

"Klaus, hope is the essence of life. Without it we would have nothing. Try to be positive."

"My family calls me Niklaus" he tells Ansel. Ansel smiles, recognizing his attempt to reach out.

"Is that what you prefer?" Ansel asks.

"For you, I think." Ansel smiles again and clasps him on the shoulder.

That night Klaus tells him about Hope; her kindness, her courage, her creativity.