Good Intentions

31: Christmas

Christmas was a weird time of the year this year especially. My parents were dead... and I was spending Christmas with my bio family. Plus I was also seeing Damon meaning I'd spend part of the day with his family. 

This morning I was woken up by Hope jumping on my bed telling me it was Christmas. Then Kol almost started a fire in the kitchen when he made pancakes unsupervised, Davina shouted at him, a highlight of my morning to be honest with you it was like he was a child. Aunt Freya and her girlfriend took over pancakes. Which everyone was relieved about. I went to the basement with Marcel to get a drink, I still didn't like doing that in front of hope. I know she was used to it with her mum and her uncle and her aunt and her dad and her brother but I just didn't want her to see me like that. 

Now we're sat eating the pancakes, everyone is avoiding Kol's burnt ones. "Did that one just move?" I teased pocking the black pancake with my fork. Hope giggled. "It might grow legs." She laughed. "Enough girls he tried," Hayley warned. "Thank you for trying." Hope and I say in unison with the sweetest smiles we could muster. 

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We passed presents around and it was a really cute morning, Bex made us all wear matching PJ's which I thought was so cute but some people weren't as excited. Apparently, the reindeer Pj's weren't masculine enough. I made sure to take a ton of pictures of dad, it was hilarious. I loved it. He didn't. 

All the presents were exchanged and Hayley was about to take the trash out from all the wrapping paper. "I'll help," I say picking up two of the garbage bags and taking them out with her. We threw them in the trash cans. "Hayley?" I said before she went inside. "Yeah?" "Merry Christmas." I handed her a card before going inside quickly. I already gave her, her main gift but this card was special.

"You should go get ready if you're going to be back in time for dinner," Dad tells me when I sit back down beside his feet. "Yeah, I will, in a moment, Damon's not coming for another hour at least. The twins are still opening their gifts." I tell him with a smile. "He's still okay to stay for dinner isn't her?" "Of course love." "Thanks, dad." 

I watched Hope play with the toys she got today whilst everyone else spoke. 

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HAYLEY'S POV

Dear Hayley, 

I know you've not always been in my life but since you have I've felt like I truly belong. You made me feel like I had a place in this family. You fought for me, protected me and comforted me. I didn't realise until recently that all my life I was looking for my family, for someone who I felt accepted me for who I am. 

Searching for something you didn't know you were searching for gets kind of complicated but I think I finally found it when I met you. Hope is very lucky to have you in her life as her mother and I'm lucky to have you filling that role for me too even if you're not my parent I know you love me like I was yours and I appreciate that. 

The best Christmas gift of all is having you here to experience life with. Your endless love and support mean the world to me you were able to fill an absence my own mother couldn't. 

Merry Christmas Hayley.

I love you.

Always and Forever

Azalea Marshall-Mikealson 

I wiped my eyes and closed the card, Azalea isn't one to talk about her feelings too much. And with the experiences, she's had of her mother I never wanted to overstep. But I was glad I was able to have an impact on her life and that she knew I loved her too and I had the same desire to protect her as I had over Hope.