~E v e r l a s t i n g~ {book two}

~fifty-one~

five years later

"Five years later, and I still can't figure out how to fold up this darn stroller," Davina exclaims with a huff. She looks at Hope, who was currently giggling at her.

"Do you need any help, Auntie D?"

"Well, it's been like this for years," she murmurs. "It can stay like that for a few more. Or, we could just, I don't know, destroy it."

Hayley comes into the room and smiles at her daughter. "I see Davina is still fighting a battle with this stroller."

"The stroller may have won the battle, but I'm going to win the war," Davina states and pulls it out of the room. She brings it outside and just engulfs it into flames with her magic. "Hah, you're toast."

"Davina, my dear, must you really continue talking to inanimate objects?"

She looks up and smiles when she sees Mary approaching her. "Maybe I'm just growing to be a tad crazy over the years. Hayley will be right down to talk with you."

Mary nods and stays silent for a moment before looking at her. "You're really going to wake them up, aren't you? Did you ever think that Hope might be better off without them?"

"Well, as much as the Mikaelsons can be a pain in the ass, they're still her family," Davina reminds her. "And Hope should be surrounded by the people that love her." She notices Hayley exit the house and they exchange nods. "Hayley's here." Davina heads back inside and finds Hope coloring on a paper. "Hey, kiddo. Whatcha up to?"

"I'm drawing a picture for Mom," she replies with a grin.

"Oh, wow. I'm sure she'll love it," Davina chuckles.

"I heard her go up to the attic earlier. Does that mean we're going to wake up the rest of our family soon?"

"I sure hope so, because I miss them just as much as you."

"I think I know who you miss best," Hope tells her with a mischievous giggle.

Davina lets out a burst of laughter and tilts her head in amusement. "And who might that be?"

"Uncle Kol...?"

"Wow, have I really talked about him that much to you? This is what happens when your goddaughter's a great listener," Davina smirks.

———————————————————————————————————

"Do you guys have to go?"

"We do, but we'll be back very, very soon," Hayley promises. "And we won't be alone. I'll call you every night before bed, okay? In the meantime, you listen to Mary. Deal?"

"Deal."

"We'll see you, kiddo," Davina chuckles and ruffles Hope's hair a bit. The two girls walk towards the truck where Mary's standing.

"Keep your guard up. Stay moving. You smell trouble, you run. Those folks back there, they had plenty of life. What you need to do is stay alive for your little girl."

"Everything I do is for her," Hayley sighs.

———————————————————————————————————

Davina and Hayley walk into a bar and see a bunch of people downing shots. They approach a woman and give her a smile.

"You look like you're having fun. Might end up drunk in an hour by this rate. What's the occasion?"

"I just finished my residency, which makes me an official ER doctor," Keelin tells them.

"Ah, congratulations!"