I feel like I should warn you all
The ending I have planned for this story is gonna bring on the Rolijah feels
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Chapter One Hundred & Fourty-Three
Elijah's arm went to rest on my waist, his hand on my hip while he pulled me slightly closer to him. It had been his idea to ask Jackson if he, Hayley, and Hope wanted to stay for Christmas. They apparently did, and happily came down to see us.
Elijah looked down at his niece in pure bliss, grinning. "Merry Christmas, little one," he said, then leaned down to kiss her on the head.
Klaus handed Jackson a glass of wine, acting uncharacteristically civil with him.
"Thank you for helping Freya," he said, seeming genuinely gracious. "Unfortunately, we're all out of mason—jar moonshine."
He, of course, laughed at his own joke. Jackson just smiled, while Rebekah walked up to us to join our lovely little party.
"Well, Nik, you are positively merry tonight!" she exclaimed, then looked over at Cami. "All that therapy must be paying off."
Klaus had been looking at the other side of the room, in the direction that Rebekah had come from. I saw it, and snickered.
"Oh, no!"
"Oh, yes," I smirked.
Since it was Klaus' least favourite tradition, it was automatically the one I loved most.
Rebekah glanced back at the fire she had made, then back at her brothers. "Yes, I know it's not exactly a bonfire, but I improvised," she said, and groaned when she saw Klaus look even more nervous about it. "Come on, it's tradition!"
Cami looked over at the fire, then at all of us in confusion. "Tradition?"
I would have thought Klaus would have told her before that, since he was spending a considerable amount of time with her lately.
Klaus sighed rather loudly. "We write our wishes and then burn them for luck. Strangely, I don't recall wishing for an influx of enemies, and yet year after year..." he couldn't help but smile a little.
Elijah smirked as he sipped his wine and looked down at me. "How odd. Forever on Santa's naughty-list."
I grinned at Klaus. "Yes, indeed. You'll be getting coal in your stocking for all eternity, Niklaus."
He glared at me playfully, then spun on his heel in order to continue to annoy Rebekah in the hopes of her giving up on the bonfire idea.
The three siblings went to the fire alone, and I insisted that they do it as a family, though Elijah attempted at dragging me over there. He eventually gave up and went with them while I stayed with Hayley, Cami, Jackson, and Freya. Freya had opted out of it, for some unknown reason.
We showered Hope with presents, before the other three siblings quickly joined us again. Elijah had gotten Hope a tricycle, and was ringing the bell while she attempted to do the same. I was only full of disappointment when Rebekah came up to us, wearing a coat and carrying a suitcase full of her belongings.
"Oh, Rebekah," Freya frowned, standing up from where she had been playing with Hope on the rug. "So soon?"
Rebekah nodded. "Take care of our brothers, Freya," she said, then leaned in for a hug. Freya hugged her tightly as well, seeming reluctant to let go. "God knows they need it."
Rebekah pulled away and turned back to Elijah, who was holding Hope. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before rubbing Hope's back.
"Bye, baby," she hummed, then turned back to Hayley with a guilty expression. "I'm so sorry about what I said, Hayley."
"It's fine," Hayley said, though it was clear that she still was a little hurt by the words.
"You know, when I left last, I though for sure you'd hate Klaus forever."
Hayley laughed and rolled her eyes. "Oh, I will! But even when you hate him..."
Rebekah smiled, and Hayley laughed before they hugged one more time. Klaus walked into the room and Rebekah turned to him, frowning a little at his sad expression.
"You're always leaving." I got a glimpse of the little boy that he once was in that moment. The little boy that only wanted to be with his sister.
"And I always come back," she reassured him.
They hugged tightly before Klaus told her her instructions for the millionth time.
"Run far and fast, stay on the move, and - should you happen to meet some handsome fool - know your weaknesses."
They both laughed happily.
"Well, perhaps it's time our roles reversed. I'll run away from love if you run toward it."
Cami blushed beside me, and I smiled a little at her before I walked to Rebekah. "I'll walk you out, Beks."
I picked up her suitcase for her, and we went out to the entrance of the compound. She turned to me, a saddened expression on her face.
"Look after them," she said. "All of them."
She reached to rub at her wrist, which wasn't surprising. It probably was still a little sensitive.
"They need you, Rose. We'll always need you."
I nodded. "Of course. And all you have to do is call me; I'll come and help you the moment you need it, Beks."
She smiled sadly at me, then came forwards and hugged me tightly. I hugged her back, not wanting to let go. I knew exactly how Freya felt. Rebekah was the closest thing I had ever had to a sister, and this felt so much worse than a 'see you later'. Not knowing how our situation was going to turn out, for all I knew, this was the last I would ever see of her. This felt like a goodbye. Why did it feel like a goodbye?
"Goodbye, Roseia," she said, picking up her suitcase and heading to her car.
"Hey, Bekkers!" I shouted after her, and she turned back to me while at the car's driver's door. "Be sure to bring home a handsome man the next time you come back, won't you?"
She laughed in reply, shaking her head at me. "Now what would Elijah think about that?"
I snickered and just shrugged my shoulders.
She shot me one last grateful smile before getting into the car.
I could only hope that I would see her again soon.
And I had no idea what Elijah would come home and tell me later that night.