"Can someone explain, why we are not on a private jet to Saint-Tropez?" Kol asked all of us.

After leaving the warehouse and getting to the safe house over night, we all gathered on the front porch to discuss what we do now.

I'm a bit anxious though because I haven't seen my kids yet. I don't know how they will react to me and I'm afraid they will be disappointed in what I look like.

Kol didn't get a response from us so he turned his attention to Elijah who was reading the news. "You can catch up on the last five years— I assure you, you haven't missed much." Kol took the newspaper out of Elijah's hand and set it down in the chair next to him.

Elijah was unfazed by Kol actions as he stares off into the distance. "Circumstances have changed. We will leave here soon enough."

"We have our nieces' and nephews' yo consider." Rebekah said leaning against the railing.

"Kol has a point." Freya said as she gets up from her seat. "We need to put an ocean between us and Marcel Gerard as soon as possible." She moved next to Rebekah and leaned on the same railing.

"We're not going anywhere today. I want one day of peace with my kids before we uproot them." Klaus said.

I agree with both sides, I want to be far away from Marcel but I just want to spend one day with my kids, who might not recognize me on the spot. I missed 5 birthdays.

"Any delay is a risk." Freya said.

"One day." Klaus repeated. "We're in the middle of nowhere, the house is heavily cloaked, and I'm not asking."

As soon as Klaus said that the front door opened and I immediately locked eyes with all 8 kids as they came out to the front porch.

"Everybody, look who's awake." Hayley said.

I just stood their awkwardly as my kids just look at me. I didn't know if I was able to go hug them or just wait for them to come up to me.

"Hello." They all said as they looked at Elijah, Freya, Kol, and Rebekah. Hope looked up to Hayley, "Mom, can I go play in the garden?" She asked and Hayley nodded her head.

We all watch as Hope walked away from us then we turned our attention to my kids. Angel was the first person to walk up to me. She didn't say anything except for immediately hugging my hips as tight as she could. "I missed you, mommy." She said into my stomach.

Not long after all my kids ran towards me and gave me a hug.

~~~

We all went our separate ways with me and Klaus standing on the back porch now facing the garden as all of our kids were doing stuff. Hope, Angel, Nicholas, and Henrik were painting while, Maddox, Erik, Hunter, and Dove were playing different instruments.

"Should we join them?" I asked Nik. I don't want to feel like I'm intruding on them. They probably had enough of me.

Nik grabbed my hand and dragged me to the kids. They didn't stop what they were doing but they did notice us coming.

I sat on the ground in front of Maddox, Hunter, Erik, and Dove as they play a random song. I smile once they were done and I got a smile back when they saw I was proud of them.

Angel, Nicholas, and Henrik ran towards me with their drawing. "Look mama, we drew you something." Nicholas said as they all handed me their pictures and I'm surprised at how good they are.

Angel drew a picture of an Angel.

Nicholas drew a crown

And Henrik drew a Rose

Honestly, if you don't know our family you wouldn't tell if these weren't Nik kids. At least I know they got Nik's artistic side.

Me and Nik enjoyed our time with the kids as the sun went down and it was time for them to go to sleep.