"The Hollow has been haunting New Orleans for centuries. It's an unending evil. Its appetite for power is insatiable." Vincent gestured to Klaus. "And that's what attracted it to your little girl."
"You said there was a way to save her," Klaus said.
"There is. But I'm telling you right now, you are not gonna like my plan. Step one: we pull the Hollow out of Hope. Step two: we find some place to put it. But with the book gone, I need a place that's both powerful and eternal. And in order to make the transition work, I'm gonna need something that's connected to Hope through blood."
"You need a vampire," Freya said. "You want to put the Hollow in one of my siblings?"
"No," Morgana said, amazed at how steady her voice was. "Not one. Four."
Vincent nodded.
"Why four of us?" Elijah asked.
"Because that's how it happened last time," she replied. "Four bones, four volunteers, four different locations. Separated for all time."
"And you have to go your separate ways," Vincent said. "And you have to stay separate. For all time. You can never see each other again, can never go near each other again. That is the only way we're gonna beat the Hollow."
They all looked at each other.
"If it'll save my little girl, then we will make it so," Klaus said.
Morgana walked out of the compound and kept going, heedless of the danger that was out there. She needed to think, and she needed to think alone.
------
She ended up at the bell tower. She went through everything she knew, the knowledge she had from her centuries of experience and practice. She tried to remember what had been in her family's grimoires before they'd been destroyed.
When Freya walked in, neither of them said anything. When she began going through Esther's grimoires, Morgana joined her. And when nothing was found, Morgana left the bell tower in a fit of rage.
For a moment, Morgana was about to go back to the compound and take on a quarter of the Hollow herself, because she knew Klaus would do it to save and protect Hope. Morgana would do it herself, so Klaus could stay with his daughter.
Then she remembered the four volunteers had to be related to Hope through blood, and Morgana was not a blood relation. She couldn't do it.
She couldn't do anything. There was no other alternative. The Hollow would have to be put into four Mikaelsons, and they would have stay apart forever. Always and forever would come to an end, and there was nothing they could do about it.
------
It was time. They had Hope, Kol had finally showed up, and there was no other solution.
The symbol was sketched on the floor. Hayley was sitting in the center, holding an unconscious Hope. She had shackles on. Vincent directed Klaus, Elijah, Kol and Rebekah to stand at their respective places.
"I just want to say that what you guys are doing here today is gonna go a long way towards setting things right in this city," Vincent said. "The Hollow took everything from me. It inspired nothing but suffering and torment. It's ruined families, it's gone after little kids, and yet now, despite our differences, and there are many...thank you."
Morgana and Freya went up next to him.
"The savage Mikaelsons heroically defeating a terrible evil," Rebekah said. "Maybe this will finally earn us our redemption."
"Do any of us really believe that?" Klaus asked dryly.
"Not for a second," Elijah replied. "It's a wonderful sentiment."
Morgana, Freya and Vincent took each other's hands and knelt down.
"Hayley, when I tell you to, take the manacles off," Vincent instructed. "Hold on to Hope. Do not let her go. Everybody else, when this spell is over, you got to get away from each other, and you have to stay away from Hope."
"Always and forever," Rebekah said. "We had a good run."
Morgana shut her burning eyes. She, Vincent and Freya started chanting. He instructed Hayley to take off the shackles, and she did. Blue light flared as the Hollow's spirit left Hope. Morgana opened her eyes. The light separated into four parts, and each part shot into each of the four Mikaelsons connected to the spell.
And the spell was done. Morgana stood. Vincent yelled at them to go. Kol was the first to go, followed by Rebekah and Elijah. Klaus lingered, watching Hope. She hadn't woken up yet.
"I need to know if she's alright," he said.
"Klaus, I promise you, she is going to be okay if you go," Vincent urged.
Klaus still didn't move. Hope opened her eyes. She looked at Hayley, then at Klaus.
"Hope," Klaus said. "I love you."
He left. Hope called after him. Morgana left the compound.
------
Morgana crossed her arms against the wind. She knew he would come. He wouldn't disappear on her. She wouldn't let him.
She relaxed when his arms slid around her waist. She turned in his arms and wrapped hers around him, hiding her face in his chest.
"I'm gonna fix this," she said, voice muffled.
"I know," Klaus replied. "But first, I need you to promise me something."
She looked up at him. "Anything."
He cupped his hand against her cheek. "Promise me you'll remember to live a little."
Her brows drew together. "Why does that sound like a goodbye? You know I'm coming with you."
The look on his face made her heart drop. She fisted her hands in his shirt.
"No," she said. "No, I'm not losing you again, Klaus, that's not happening."
"You won't lose me, Ana. You could never lose me."
"Then what are you suggesting?"
"When Hope was born, I asked you to go with Rebekah and take care of her in secret. Now I'm asking you to stay, and take care of her again."
He knew she wouldn't say no. She hated him for it. She hated herself for it.
"You keep in touch," Morgana said. "We set up a place to meet as often as possible."
Klaus nodded. She kissed him hard, trying to memorize everything about this. When they pulled away, she kept her eyes closed. He took her hands and kissed her forehead. He pulled his hands out of hers, and when she opened her eyes, he was gone.
She ran her hands through her hair, tears spilling down her cheeks. Heedless of the sudden storm rolling in, Morgana swore to whoever was listening that she would fix this. The Mikaelsons would be reunited. Klaus would be with his daughter again.
