Mrs Mikaelson One Shots

The Nightmare And The Daydream

"NIK! Nik! Baby! You're ok! He's dead! He's not here!" Isa soothed as Nik screamed himself awake, body still shaking in fear from his nightmare.

It was rare that any of them had nightmares anymore, but you can only push down a thousand years of darkness for so long. And once in a blue moon, Nik was plagued with nightmares of his father. Of his father beating him, trying to make him strong and beat the weakness from him. But the worst ones, the ones that really broke Nik, were the ones where he was Mikael, where he was the one beating his own children.

The soundproof walls of their bedroom were the only things keeping their family from rushing into the room as Nik's screams began to soften as Isa cupped his face and his hands gripped her forearms.

"You're ok. You're not him. He's not here," she promised softly as she swiped a single tear out from under his eye.

His chest still heaved as he breathed, not brave enough for words with his voice raw as Isa then pulled him to her chest, peppering kisses to his hair and forehead. And Nik's eyes closed as he sought comfort in his wife's embrace, the touch bringing him more comfort than words ever could as his breathing began to slow further.

Isa leaned against the headboard, Nik's head on her shoulder and one of his arms around her waist, the other laying on her stomach as hers settled around his shoulders, her other hand playing with his curls that he'd let grow out slightly.

Eventually, Nik drifted off again, but long before Isa could, the door to her bedroom crept open and her four youngest kids stood there.

"Mom?" Hope called, Henrik next to her and little Torin and Lydia in front of them, Lydia with her hand in Hope's, all of them dressed in sleepwear.

"What happened? Are you all ok?" she asked worriedly as they came in, softly shutting the door behind them.

"We're fine. It's just, all four of us felt it," Henrik answered and Isa furrowed her brows.

"Felt what?"

"Daddy. He was hurting," Lydia answered as she clutched a stuffed bunny, the bunny that Nik had first put in Hope's crib years ago.

"Is he ok?" Torin asked as he neared his mother's bedside.

Isa rested her hand on her son's head with a smile as she said, "Your father is fine. He just had a bad dream."

"What did he dream about?" Lydia asked and her mother sighed.

"Come sit," she said to her kids as they all sat on the end of the bed, the couple's large bed easily accommodating them all as they were mindful of Nik's feet.

"Do you all remember the stories that your Aunt Bekah and Uncle Elijah used to tell you about the evil Viking that was mean to the brave King?"

Hope and Henrik glanced at each other, knowing some of the more gory details about their family history, but Torin and Lydia were still completely clueless about the truth of the story as they nodded.

"Well, the evil Viking, his name was Mikael, and he was your grandfather."

"Does that mean Daddy is the brave King?" Torin asked.

"Was the Viking mean to Daddy?" Lydia asked and Isa's heart broke as she thought about the answer, and about all the things that had happened to her husband and her at the hand of the man.

"Yeah, he was mean to Daddy. But he's gone now and he can't hurt Daddy or any of you, ok?"

Lydia cuddled close to Hope as she held her bunny, watching as her mother continued to draw patterns with her fingers on Nik's chest with the arm she had around her shoulders.

"So then why was dad in pain?" Henrik asked, curious.

Isa sighed again.

"It doesn't happen often, but every once in a while, your father has these really bad dreams about Mikael."

"About all the evil things he did to Daddy?" Lydia questioned and Isa couldn't help but be impressed with how intuitive her daughter was with her young age.

"Yes."

"There's more, isn't there?" Hope said as she listened to the sound of her mother's answer. "What else is there mom?"

"I shouldn't be telling you all this," she said as she looked down to Nik who was still asleep on her shoulder. "But you should know. Your dad's worst fear is being a bad father, is becoming Mikael."

"But Daddy would never hurt us," Torin pointed out.

"Your father would never raise a hand to you. He detests yelling at you. And it breaks his heart to see any of you sad. And he would give his life up in a heartbeat if it meant you all were safe," Isa agreed as she stared lovingly at her husband.

"But I don't want Daddy to die!" Lydia said quickly and they couldn't help but chuckle as Isa squeezed her hand gently.

"Daddy is not going anywhere, my love. He's just a bit scared of being a bad father like his father was to him."

"But he's the best father!" Hope protested as all her siblings made noises of agreement.

Isa then put a finger to her lips, her lips that were curved into a smile as they all quietened down, a reminder that Nik was still sleeping.

"Then remember to tell him that every once in a while. Sometimes he needs a reminder."

Lydia then proceeded to crawl across the bed and poke her father in the cheek.

"Daddy, wake up," she commanded as she continued to poke and Nik's eyes fluttered open despite Isa trying to usher her daughter away.

"Sweetheart? What's wrong?" he asked confused as he turned on his side to face his youngest child, unaware of the rest of them sitting on his bed.

Lydia just threw her little arms around Nik's neck before smacking a big kiss to his cheek.

"You're the best daddy ever," she said as she squeezed him and everyone smiled as Nik hugged her back before showering her face and neck with kisses that made laughter burst from Lydia's mouth, the scruff of his beard ticklish on her soft skin.

"Was there a party that I wasn't invited to?" Nik questioned as he looked up to see three of his five kids also sitting on his bed as he held Lydia in his arms.

"Just a little impromptu sleepover baby," Isa answered and her children's faces lit up.

Cheers went around as they all moved towards the top of the bed, squeezing between their parents as they got under the covers. Even Hope and Henrik, who were in their teenage years, still loved sleepovers with their little family.

Torin slept on his mother, Henrik next to her with her hand in his as Hope lay next to him with her head on her father's shoulder, Lydia curled up on his chest with her bunny.

And as their children slept, Nik glanced at Isa who smiled at him understanding what he was trying to say.

And as he closed his eyes, he was still amazed at the power his childrens' affection had over him, how quickly it'd made him go from shaking with fear to laughing and smiling with them.

He couldn't believe how lucky he was.

Being turned was truly one of the best things that happened to him because without all the bad things he'd endured, he wouldn't be lying in bed with a woman who loved him and children that truly adored him.

A family that could turn the darkest of nightmares into the happiest of daydreams.