Through the Darkness

Chapter 12: No Rest for the Weary

As soon as Cami was settled into her room, with the help of Freya, she stopped in front of the ornate full-length mirror and tried to heal some more of her wounds. She managed to clear up what had been on her face before she felt fatigued. Freya had informed her the healing spells would exhaust her, so she decided she had better learn to pace herself. Then, she went down the hall to the nursery and found Klaus sitting on the floor with Hope. The little girl saw her and smiled, warming Cami's heart.

"That's right, Hope, our Cami is finally where she belongs," Klaus said, grinning as Cami walked in and sat next to them, greeting Hope with a kiss on her head. "I see you've managed to heal the wounds on your face."

"Yeah, all five places before I started to feel wiped out. I still have twenty more to go on the rest of my body."

"You should get some more rest, Love. I have much to do before I retire for the evening. Would you like to spend some time with Hope, or shall I call for Freya?"

"Oh, I don't mind staying with her for a little while. She's a nice, normal comfort from everything else that's going on."

"Well, then, I will take my leave of you two lovely ladies." He kissed both of them and got up to leave. Cami reached for his hand, stopping him. He looked down at her. "What is it, Love?"

As she looked up at him, she realized that she wanted him to stay. "Do you have to leave right now?"

He found her innocent question endearing. She had no idea that she was in any possible danger. All he could do was stroke her jawline with his finger and savor the feel of her soft skin. "I must go." He left, knowing that she was disappointed, but it was more important for him to keep her safe.

Cami watched him leave, then turned her attention to Hope. "I've missed you, Little Girl. Your babysitter has been one busy witch-in-training. Looks like you and I have something else in common now besides having a hopeless devotion to your handsome father." She watched her play with her toys for a while. "As much as you seem happy with your daddy, I bet you miss your mommy, don't you?"

Hope looked up at her, almost inquisitively. "Don't you worry - I'm going to work my therapist magic on your daddy to bring your mommy back home where she belongs. Your uncle Elijah needs some happiness in his life."

Suddenly, Elijah was standing in the doorway of the nursery, almost smiling at her. "So, what is this I hear of you accepting Niklaus's courting efforts?"

Cami smiled, almost shyly. "Yeah, I know. It's complicated. Beyond complicated. He's been so wonderful to me, Elijah. With everything going on lately, I decided to stop fighting my feelings and just accept them. He makes me happy and if I only have a short time left, I would be a fool to not experience some happiness before I bite the dust, right?"

Elijah chuckled. "I am happy for you, Camille. I am happy for my brother as well. You have been able to reach him in a way that no one else has in a very long time."

"How are things between you two?"

Sighing heavily, Elijah replied, "I am sad to say that they are about the same. I cannot forgive him, Camille, as much as I would like to."

"Well, maybe we can change that. Nothing would make me feel more normal than to have a good old-fashioned therapy session with the two of you. What do you say?"

"Perhaps. Only out of respect for you and your efforts."

She smiled. "Good. It's settled then. I'll tell your brother."

As Elijah walked away, he stopped. "I heard what you told Hope. Thank you."

"I think it's time this family comes back together. If I can help make that happen, then it won't matter what happens to me during the Merge. I'll have performed a miracle and I'll be a legend."