Love & marriage

The map of moments

Klaus and Diana's black SUV speeds down the driveway, and Klaus doesn't even get the chance to park before Diana rushes out of the car and sprints toward Rebekah, Elijah and her daughter. She stops in her tracks as soon as she sees Hope, as though she can't believe her eyes. Rebekah and Elijah both smile at her as Klaus catches up with them, and Elijah wastes no time handing a smiling Hope to Diana. "Oh my god, finally." She carries her daughter. "Where's the other two?"

"Sleeping...Henry really knows how to throw a tantrum." Rebekah says. Diana hugs Hope tightly and breaths a sigh of relief. Behind her, Klaus is near tears and too overwhelmed to move. , unable to meet Elijah's eye, turns so Klaus can see his daughter as well. Hope coos happily, and Klaus and Diana both laugh as they smother her with kisses

XXXXX

"There's enough wood, Rebekah. You'll burn down the whole bloody state of Arkansas." Klaus says to Rebekah as she makes the bonfire. "Well, we're just missing a key ingredient!" Rebekah says. 

"No, we're not."

"Yes, we are, Nik! Back me up, Elijah!"

"I suspect Niklaus would rather choke on the ashes."

"What are you all talking about?" Diana asks. 

"Well, before we light it, we write down our wishes for each other to burn for luck! It was Kol's favorite part when we were kids!"

"It's further evidence as to why we should ignore it!"

"The triplets' first bonfire season. I like it! We're doing it!" She places each boy in a campfire chair as she rushes in to get paper. 

XXXXX

Klaus is holding Heath and sitting at the dining room table when Diana comes in with a small notebook and pencils to write their wishes. She holds out the supplies for him to take. "Come on...write." She says to him. 

"I'm holding a small child, Diana. This silly wish game will have to wait!"

"You know, Heath isn't in reading age yet..." She says as she looks at the baby holding a wooden book. "That won't stop me from teaching him." Klaus says

"You write, I'll hold."

"I'm your husband, but that doesn't mean you can boss me around."

"I've done it for 1000 years." Klaus remains unconvinced. "You do realize that I had to endure horrendous labor and actual death birthing the child that you're holding?" He sighs. "Fine..." Diana takes the baby from him. "Hey, my baby boy."

Klaus begins writing. "I wish that my dearest wife..." He takes a pause and looks up at her. "...stops being a bitch and lets me spend time with my children for once in...10 years." The smile wipes off her face. 

"You're not a comedian, you know?" She places Heath back onto his lap and takes the paper.

XXXXX

"Hey! Look what I found!" Rebekah holds up a Polaroid camera, and the boys groan. "I wonder if it'll work?"

"It should. I'd love a picture of of the triplets together." Diana says as she looks over at Klaus. "Oh, bloody hell."

"Come on, let's try it! Hey, Nik, do you think you can cram us all into a selfie?" Rebekah says.

"Oh, Niklaus is a virtuoso at cramming his siblings into confined spaces." Elijah says.

"Well, I'm just glad I traveled hundreds of miles to visit my mentally ill brother, only to have him insult me to my face!"

"Oh, come on, just take the picture!" Klaus sighs and holds up the camera to take a picture of the seven of them together. Everyone in smiling, the triplets including, except for Klaus, who remains blank-faced. They all watch as the photo develops. 

"Aw, see? I wish that it could always be like this." Rebekah says.

"If wishes were horses..." Elijah says.

"...Beggars would ride." Klaus adds. "You realize we'll have to burn it. You want me to make a wish for the family, Rebekah? I wish it didn't have to be like this. But, it does. We can't risk it falling into the wrong hands." He hands the photo to Diana. Diana takes a good, long look at the photo before reluctantly throwing it into the bonfire.

"No! This isn't right. We deserve this. We've earned this. I won't let it slip away. I know what to do to stop Esther." Rebekah says.

"Rebekah, no..." Elijah warns her.

"I'm going to take her deal. And, when I do, I'm taking her down with me."