~ Christmas Day ~

Christmas Eve had been a nightmare, but for Freya, Christmas Day was perfect. There was bickering and death threats were exchanged but Freya accepted that as a part of the family. It was heaven compared to the previous day. Rebekah made it back in town for Christmas and Marcel arrived during dinner as well. After dinner, Davina played with Hope in her room while everyone else relaxed in one of the lounge rooms.

"I'm sorry I didn't return your calls Freya." Marcel said. "My phone died. I saw you were blowing it up yesterday, was there an emergency?"

"Nothing I couldn't 'solve on my own." Freya answered from the chair she was seated in. "Don't worry about it."

Lucien caught her eye and winked. Freya smiled back. He wasn't as terrible as she thought. Maybe she would give him a chance. Marcel looked on the coffee table where Esther's grimoire sat. The page was still open to mistlethyme.

Marcel looked at it. "I've seen this in action before." Everyone but Rebekah stiffened. She looked around, curious at the change in the room. Marcel continued. "It amplifies feeling's that are already there. It makes people act wild though. On the upside, a person voices what's in their hearts." Suddenly no one in the room could look each other in the eye. Marcel picked up on the tension. "Alright, who was exposed to mistlethyme?"

"No one!" They all answered.

Marcel shook his head. "I don't even wanna know."

"I do!" Rebekah piped up. "Sounds like a good story."

"NO!"

Rebekah jumped. "Fine. Pass the cookies Cami."

When everyone went in their separate directions, Freya found herself in the kitchen.

"You're washing dishes too?" a voice said behind her, "You're really taking this seriously."

Freya looked at Lucien. He leaned against the counter drumming his fingers on it. She laughed. "No. Dishes are a chore I gladly turn over to the servants."

"Ah, you're a Mikaelson after all." Freya laughed and Lucien looked at her nervously. "I was wondering...would you like to come over sometime? Have dinner, discuss times lost, and how much your siblings get on my nerves?"

"I'd like that." She laughed.

They both smiled. Lucien kissed her cheek. "See you around...Frey Frey."

Before Freya could react he was gone. "You too, Lu."

Hayley sat next to the tree, picking up all of Hope's presents. This child was going to be spoiled rotten.

"May I help with that?" Elijah stood over her.

"Sure." Hayley gave him a half smile. They sat together, folding new clothes and organizing toys.

"I've already apologized to Jackson." Elijah said, not looking at Hayley. "It's time for me to apologize to you."

Hayley shook her head. "You don't have to-"

"The way I acted, the things I said-"

"You were under a spell." Hayley insisted.

"The spell didn't place those thoughts in my head or in my heart. You heard what Marcel said."

"Yeah, I did."

They looked at each other. Hayley remembered their kiss yesterday. Jackson had witnessed it, and she knew he wasn't happy. They'd talk about it when she returned home. If Hayley was being honest, she was happy about what happened yesterday. Not the fighting and near genocide of her people, but the honesty. She was finally able to get some things off of her chest. Hayley felt like a weight had been lifted, in a way she was grateful.

"We both spoke our hearts yesterday." Hayley finally said. "Elijah-"

"Don't." He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I want to enjoy this moment, and all the ones to come."

She bit her lip. "Alright."

"Hayley?" She looked at him. "Always and forever?"

Hayley returned his smile. "Always and forever." She promised.

Klaus stood on a balcony, looking down into the courtyard. Cami fiddled with her hands in the doorway. She knew he knew she was there, but Klaus didn't turn around.

"I wanted to let you know I was leaving. It's late, I should get going." Cami turned to leave.

"Join me?"

Cami did not want to join him. She didn't want to have this conversation, but knew it was best if they got it over with. She joined him, standing a few feet away.

"I didn't give you your Christmas present." Klaus finally turned to her and walked over, producing a small box from his pocket.

"Klaus, you shouldn't have. Thank you."

"Open it."

Cami did and gasped. It was the necklace she fell in love with at the mall. Her mouth dropped open. The other gifts had been returned, but this was the only one she missed. How did Klaus know?

"Klaus." she said.

"It's only fair you have it. After all, I'm keeping mine." He pulled his collar down, revealing the necklace she bought him.

Cami blanched. "You remember?"

"I believe these are half yours." Klaus placed the pictures from the photo booth in Cami's hand.

Cami looked at them. She and Klaus looked so happy making a variety of faces. Goofy, serious, in one picture Klaus bared his fangs and Cami acted scared. Almost like a normal couple. These weren't all of the pictures, they were torn. Did Klaus have the other half? Cami looked up to find Klaus' eyes waiting.

"As for your question...yes I remember everything, baby." Klaus teased, enjoying her nervousness. He looked at her lips, recalling how Cami kissed him passionately.

Cami panicked, looking everywhere but at Klaus. "Errrr..." she coughed. "Well, see, uh...I can explain..."

"Wait, before you continue, here's the last part of your gift."

Cami looked at him warily. Klaus pulled out some mistletoe from his other pocket. "Don't worry, it's real mistletoe this time. No more madness." They both chuckled awkwardly. Klaus looked at her, the facade dropping. "Come here." he whispered.

Klaus kissed her, and they slowly rocked back and forth. To Cami, it was better than anything they shared the day before. Maybe in life it was okay to sometimes have a little madness.