Vampire Diaries Imagines

Whisper of a Dream - Elijah Mikaelson

The sunlight streamed through the large bay windows of the Mikaelson compound, casting golden rays over the living room. Y/N walked quietly through the hall, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. She was about to call out for Elijah when she heard soft cooing and laughter from the adjacent room. Curious, she peeked through the doorway.

There he was-Elijah Mikaelson, the ever-composed and dignified Original, sitting comfortably on the plush couch. His hair was slightly mussed, his tie discarded for once. In his arms, he held his infant niece, Hope Mikaelson, gently bouncing her on his knee. Hope squealed in delight, her tiny hands reaching up to grab his face. Elijah chuckled, a sound so rare and unguarded that it warmed Y/N's heart.

She lingered in the doorway, unnoticed, her arms crossed as she leaned against the frame. Her lips curled into a soft smile as she watched him. In that moment, he wasn't the stoic protector of the family, the man who carried the burden of centuries on his shoulders. He was just Elijah-a loving uncle, a man capable of such tenderness and warmth that it made her chest ache.

Y/N's heart fluttered as she imagined a different scene, one she had dreamed of countless times. It wasn't Hope in his arms, but a child with his deep brown eyes and her smile. Their child. She swallowed the lump in her throat, brushing the thought away. It wasn't the time to dwell on what could never be.

Instead, she focused on the present. Watching him like this-relaxed, happy-was enough.

As if sensing her presence, Elijah looked up, his gaze locking onto hers. His expression softened when he saw the smile playing on her lips.

"Y/N," he greeted, his voice like a soothing melody. Hope turned her head at the sound of her name, babbling as she clung to Elijah's shirt.

"Hey," Y/N replied, stepping into the room. "Looks like you've got your hands full."

Elijah stood with ease, holding Hope securely in one arm. "Klaus and Hayley entrusted me with her care while they're away. I fear I may be spoiling her already."

Y/N chuckled, closing the distance between them. "You? Spoiling someone? I find that hard to believe."

Elijah smiled faintly, glancing down at Hope. "She has a way of bringing out the best in people, doesn't she?"

"She does," Y/N agreed, her gaze lingering on him.

Elijah noticed the way her eyes softened, a trace of something unspoken shimmering in their depths. He tilted his head slightly, curiosity mingling with affection. "What is it, love?"

Y/N shook her head, her smile widening. "Nothing. Just... you look good like this."

"Like what?"

"Happy."

Elijah's expression grew thoughtful, his thumb absentmindedly brushing over Hope's tiny hand. "You bring out that part of me too, you know."

Y/N's breath hitched at the sincerity in his voice. She reached out, brushing her fingers over Hope's soft curls before letting her hand rest lightly on Elijah's arm.

"I'm glad," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

They stood there for a moment, a tableau of quiet intimacy. Hope gurgled happily, seemingly content between them, as if sensing the bond they shared.

Elijah gently shifted Hope in his arms, her tiny fingers curling around his thumb as she babbled softly. Y/N stayed close, the warmth of his presence filling her with a bittersweet comfort. She knew better than to let her heart wander too far, to dream of impossible futures. Vampires couldn't reproduce; the child she imagined-their child-was a fantasy that would never come to pass.

Still, she couldn't suppress the ache.

"Elijah," she began softly, her voice almost trembling. "Do you ever... wish things were different?"

His dark eyes flicked to hers, reading her expression like he always did. Elijah had a gift for perceiving the undercurrents of emotion, and she knew he wouldn't let her question go unanswered.

"Different in what way, my darling?" he asked, his tone careful, yet warm.

Y/N hesitated, stepping closer. Her fingers brushed against Hope's little hand as she spoke. "Like... if we weren't what we are. If we could have... this." Her voice caught as she gestured to him holding Hope.

Elijah's gaze softened, a flicker of sadness passing through his eyes. "Y/N, love," he began, his voice a gentle caress, "I would give anything to give you that life, if it were within my power."

Her lips quirked into a sad smile. "I know. But it's not something we can wish into existence."

"No," he agreed, his brow furrowing. "But it doesn't mean the idea is any less beautiful."

She sighed, leaning against the edge of the couch. "Sometimes I think about it anyway. What it would've been like to have a family. To see little pieces of you running around. To know we've left something good in the world."

Elijah reached out, his free hand resting on her arm. "Darling, you already leave good in the world. You remind me that even in the midst of all this chaos, there's still love, still hope."

She glanced at him, her eyes shimmering. "You make it sound so simple."

"It's not," he admitted, his thumb brushing soothing circles against her skin. "But I've lived for a thousand years, love, and I've learned to treasure what I have in the moment. And you, Y/N, are the greatest treasure I've ever known."

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, the weight of her longing didn't feel so heavy. Elijah had a way of grounding her, of making her feel seen in a way no one else ever could.

"And since we can't have a child of our own," Elijah continued, his gaze falling back to Hope, who had fallen asleep in his arms, "then perhaps we can find other ways to create a legacy together. A legacy built on love, on the lives we touch. That, my darling, is a future I would be proud of."

Y/N felt her heart swell, his words giving her the solace she needed. She leaned in closer, resting her hand atop his. "You always know just what to say, don't you?"

Elijah smirked faintly. "Perhaps, love. Or perhaps it's simply the truth."

For the first time in what felt like ages, Y/N allowed herself to release the weight of her unspoken longing. She leaned her head against his shoulder, basking in the quiet serenity of the moment.

They didn't need to speak again. In that stillness, with Hope sleeping soundly in Elijah's arms and Y/N at his side, the impossibilities no longer mattered. All that did was the love they shared-and the knowledge that together, they could face whatever the future held.