K I N G • KLAUS MIKAELSON [1]

epilogue

RIVER stood outside the apartment door, taking a deep breath before knocking on the wood. The door opened a few moments later, a familiar face opening it.

"River?" She asked, a small smile on her face.

"Hey Ash" River greeted.

The girl pulled him forwards, stepping outside the door to hug him tightly.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, pulling back.

"I needed to see you, there's a lot we need to talk about" River sighed.

Ash stepped back into her apartment, holding the door open for her brother who paused at the threshold.

"Yeah, this is one of them" River said.

River looked at the threshold as Ash sighed upon figuring out what had happened.

-

River smiled at the three year old that sat beside him, colouring in her picture.

"What happened?" Ash questioned, handing a mug of tea to the Original.

"Where do I start?" River asked.

"The beginning" Ash sat opposite him.

They sat at the table for a while, conversing, River explaining the past three years he'd spent in Mystic Falls, how he'd fallen in love and had his heart broken, how he'd become a vampire and turned off his emotions, how he'd graduated and how he was going to New Orleans.

"You're going to help him rase his child aren't you?" Ash asked "A family of your own"

River nodded.

"I had to come back, I had to see her once" River looked towards where the three year old girl sat watching cartoons.

"River-" Ash began.

"I know, she doesn't know" River said "I'm just a stranger, and it will stay that way"

"Don't feel guilty about this" Ash placed her hand above her brother's "She's happy"

"I left her, Ash, I abandoned her" River sighed.

"I made you leave, Riv" Ash sat back "And I've felt guilty ever since, she's your daughter and I made you leave her with me, but you were just a kid, you were fifteen"

"You did the right thing, Ash" River nodded "I just want to do right by her"

"Leaving was doing right by her" Ash said "I'll tell her about you, when she's old enough, and maybe she'll come looking for you" 

"Yeah, and see me looking after someone else's kid and not her" River retorted "It's better if she doesn't know, besides, she's not been mine for a while, she's yours"

Ash sighed, nodding at her brother.

"Promise me you'll look after her" River said.

"Always" Ash confirmed.

River stood from the table, hugging his sister tightly.

"I love you, River" Asher kissed her brother's forehead.

"I love you too, Ash" River hugged her tightly, moving to the doorway.

He opened it, moving into the hall, Ash standing at the door, nodding gently before closing it.

"Goodbye"