The Vampire Diaries

Hope just shrugged, "You still hang around with your father, the man who tortured your sister. I don't take well to that."

"He showed up at my home earlier, I didn't invite him at all. So I hardly 'hang around' with him."

"I want to know why he isn't dead yet after what he did."

"Because I haven't had time to murder the man," Henrik spoke up, "I'm glad nothing has been done yet because I want to kill him."

Jordan sighed.

"Do you have to discuss this in front of the baby? No death talk until she's at least eighteen." Dakota mumbled from underneath her covers.

Henrik just laughed quietly at that before whispering, "Okay, Kota… go back to sleep,"

Dakota nodded, rolling over and resting her face against Jordan's palm before falling asleep again.

Jordan smiled.

"Mind if I leave now, or would you like me to stay?" Hope asked her brother.

"You can go if you like,"

"M'gonna go surprise Zac." Hope told him with a smile, kissing his cheek and her nieces head before standing and heading out.

He smiled a bit at that and just watched her go silently.

Hope left the hospital and got into her car, driving through the night to Zac's college. When she finally got there, many hours later, she compelled herself a key into his room and headed up there. Sneaking in as silently as she could so she wouldn't wake the roommate he mentioned, she slipped off her shoes and sat next to him on the bed, just watching him sleep with a smile.

---

Dakota woke up later the next morning, sitting up and looking around.

---

Tatia was sat downstairs, nervously tapping at the table, having not slept the night before due to how worried she was for Qetsiyah turning up.

Zacarias blinked his eyes open with a yawn after a few moments, smiling gently when he saw her and whispered, "Hello,"

---

Henrik was leant back against the bed beside her, dozing lightly. Still holding Ellie in his arms.

Dakota laughed quietly at seeing them, gently taking their daughter from his arms and softly cooing at her.

---

Hope said nothing, simply brushing his hair away from his face before kissing him softly.

"You're awake," Jordan mused gently as he entered the room, glancing to the coffee in his hands and offering it to her.

---

Zacarias closed his eyes and kissed her back after a few seconds, still half asleep.

"You stayed." Dakota said as she gently rested the baby in her lap and took the coffee with a thanks.

---

Hope relaxed when he kissed her back, having expected a rebuffal.
((Brb))

"I didn't think it was right for me to leave without saying goodbye, and I didn't want to wake you."

---

"Mm, I really do wish I would stop having dreams like this. Sucks when I wake up."

"You're not dreaming, but it's nice to know you dream of me."

---

"Ah." Dakota nodded, watching her baby sleep.

"Mm dreaming. Must be." Zacarias hummed, "Would only happen in a dream."

---

"How are you feeling?"

"Incredible." Dakota whispered as she put the coffee to the side and picked Ellie up in her arms, holding her as close as she could. "So tired, so so tired too, but I feel amazing at the same time."

---

"Well then I must be dreaming too," Hope whispered, resting her forehead on his.

Jordan just gave a small nod in response to that.

---

Zacarias lifted his arms to slid around her waist.

"I never wanted to be a mom, never." Dakota hummed, "I'm glad I changed my mind."

---

Hope smiled and snuggled into him.

Jordan laughed at that.

---

"What does this mean? Concerning us."

"What do you want it to mean?"

---

"I always thought you'd be married before me, and have children before me..."