The bonds of family

13

Klaus had directed them to a home in Arkansas. Rebekah and Arkyn waited for Klaus and Hayley to arrive, both of them keeping an eye on Elijah.
"It's alright, Elijah." Rebekah assured as Elijah looked at Hope hesitantly. "She won't break. Everything you did was in the name of protecting her. We're not worried."
"Clearly your twin doesn't share your sentiments." He gestured at Arkyn.
"Ignore him. He's been brooding since Alexis went off to college. Doesn't know what to do with himself."
"I'm fine."
"He's not." Arkyn rolled his eyes, and ignored his sister. Elijah looked at Hope again.
"Pick her up, Elijah. Surely she's not the first baby you've ever held." Arkyn said, sounding annoyed. Elijah shrugged but picked up the baby.
"Hi, sweetheart." He said softly, smiling. Hope cooed at him, oblivious to all the drama surrounding her life.
"And for god's sake, Ark. Help me find enough kindling."
"You seem to have it covered." He said, not moving from the porch swing where he sat.
"Is that what I think it is?" Elijah asked and Rebekah walked forward towards them.
"It's bonfire season! And I am reviving a family tradition! Especially since we're all going to be together."
"Only because we're fleeing from one of our deranged parents. Another Mikaelson tradition. It's a peculiar thing- never to be tired, yet forever exhausted by the sameness of things. Why is our family always at war?"
"Because we're a dysfunctional lot and god forbid we ever all get along." Rebekah grabbed a stone, throwing it at Arkyn with her speed but he caught it, smirking.
"I don't know. But, being away with her made me see things differently." Rebekah looked down at Hope, touching Hope's hand. "We're not so bad. We're not the monsters that our parents think we are." Arkyn got up, walking to his siblings.
"No." He agreed, putting his arm around Rebekah's shoulders. "We're not." Klaus and Hayley's car sounded as they drove up the road to the house. Hayley rushed out the car before Klaus had even parked, running to her daughter, stopping a feet away. Elijah stepped forward with Hope as Hayley stared at her daughter in wonder. Elijah handed Hope to Hayley and Hayley smiled, her eyes beginning to water.
"Hi." She said gently to her daughter, holding her tight. Klaus walked over to them, putting a hand on Hayley's back. She looked at him and held Hope out so he could hold her. He looked at her in awe, as he took her out of Hayley's grasp. Hayley kept a hand on Hope's back all the while. She and Klaus glanced at each other, smiling and gazed at their daughter. Rebekah leaned into her twin's embrace as they looked upon the sight before them.
"They make a beautiful family." Arkyn commented.
"They do."
"Who would've thought we'd ever see Nik with a child?"
"However unlikely it might have seemed in the past, it certainly suits him here in the now."
"It does."
"You know... he'll need you." Rebekah said.
"Good thing I'm here to stay."
"It's been three centuries. Are you sure you're ready to be a Mikaelson?"
"Considering our father is currently out to kill us..." he trailed off.
"You know what I mean."
"Kol and Finn are dead. I guess I'm stuck with you lot now."
"You could do worse." He looked at her.
"Name any pair of siblings more dysfunctional than us." He challenged.
"I've got one for you. Our mother and her sister." Klaus interrupted. Arkyn looked up.
"Esther was an only child.."
"Apparently not." Klaus and Hayley walked closer to the other three. "We had an aunt. Dahlia."
"Surely Esther would have mentioned her. Even once?"
"From what Finn told me-"
"I'm sorry. For a second there, I thought you said Finn." Klaus looked at Rebekah before remembering he wasn't aware of their brothers' returns. "Our brother is dead, is he not?"
"Ark-" Rebekah started and he glared at her.
"Finn's back?" He questioned.
"Yes."
"And Kol? If Mikael, Esther and Finn are back... what of Kol?"
"He's back too."
"You kept that from me?"
"I didn't mean to-"
"I'm taking a walk." Ark said, and sped away.
"Why didn't you tell him about Kol and Finn being back?" Hayley asked.
"Kol was his favourite brother. Finn, his second favourite."
"Finn wasn't a favourite of his. He just preferred Finn over you two." Rebekah corrected.
"Again... why didn't you tell him about Kol and Finn?"
"He loved Kol more than anything, and ever since he died, Ark has been blaming himself. He believes himself responsible for not being there. The moment Ark found out Kol was alive, he'd have gone to New Orleans. It would kill him to have to oppose Kol, and with Kol on our mother's side, Ark would have no choice. He'd put Hope first."
"Oh."
"It's not Ark's loyalty I'm worried about. Ark raised kids of his own- he know what it's like to be a dad. He could never put Hope in danger, especially not for himself." Rebekah assured Hayley.
"Yes, yes, Ark's selfless, we get it. We need to have a chat about our mother. Where did he go?"
"Give him half an hour. He's probably calling Xavier or something." Hayley frowned, but didn't push. She didn't really understand what exactly the siblings were saying, so she focused on her daughter instead.
"How has he been?" Klaus asked, a hint of concern in his tone.
"He's been worse since he found out Bonnie's gone too. And you know Ark, he doesn't like letting anybody in. Including me, half the time."
"Right... and the rest of you are always so open?" Hayley remarked. Rebekah smiled.
"Oh, I've missed you."
"I've missed you too, Rebekah." She grinned back.