Chapter 75

Every goodbye hurt.

Beatrix had been asleep the entire ride back to New Orleans. Hope rode in the front with her father, exhausted from her transformation and leaning back in the seat. Elijah had Beatrix on his lap and was stroking her hair soothingly.

She dreamed of her mother.

They were in the Bayou where Beatrix had grown up. Instead of the abandoned carpenter's workshop, there stood their little house, just as they had known it. Beatrix walked up and opened the door, seeing her mother there.

"Mija," she breathed when she saw her. Ianira ran to her and pulled her into a tight hug. "Mi cielo..."

"Hola, Mamá," said Beatrix as they embraced. "It's good to see you."

"The Hollow's magic is inside of you again," she whispered, holding her daughter's face. "At the very least, it means I can see you. But..."

"I'm dying, Mamá," Beatrix whispered. "I'm going to die."

"I know, mi preciosa," she sighed, kissing her forehead. "And I am so, so proud of you. I'm so sorry that your life had to come to this. I should never have taken that magic to get away."

"It's not your fault," said the Heretic. "It isn't. I was happy. I lived. And I'm grateful that you brought me to term against the wishes of those who tried to stop you."

"You turned out better than I could have hoped," sighed Ixazaluoh. "And when it's time, I will be there to catch you when you arrive. You will be at peace. I know it. Though I wish you could have suffered less, I am so happy that you grew the way you did. You make me feel as though I did something right." She kissed her head again. "Wake up, my darling. Say your goodbyes."

She had awoken to being carried into the courtyard by Elijah. Clearly, they had already let the others know, because a hoard of people rushed to her side.

"Beatrix," said Vincent. "Beatrix, can you hear me?"

She mumbled sleepily. "Yes. So loud..."

"Set her down, Elijah."

He let her body rest gently on the couch beside the fountain. "Please," she sighed, looking up at them. "Don't... waste your energy."

"What can we get you?" asked Rebekah, her hands shaking. "What do you need?"

"Just... food."

"Alright," said Marcel, kneeling beside you. "How about this. Klaus and I can get the best chefs to cook you some of your favorite food. Anything you want."

She smiled. "Enchiladas. Pan dulce. Beignets. Atole. Please."

Marcel and Klaus shared a look before rushing off.

They were all clearly hurting. They spoke to her gently as if she might break any second. They could see that she was in pain, but she tried to pretend she wasn't. She wanted to enjoy her day with them, just knowing they were there for her.

So they ate. A feast was made and they chatted and teased as if it were any other day. It felt good to see them all together. Kol and Davina joked with Rebekah and Marcel. Freya and Keelin were having a fun conversation with Klaus and Elijah. Vincent and Hope had asked Beatrix to tell them more about the food they were eating.

Rebekah had proposed for them to do a wish burning ceremony. Though she was frail, Beatrix was able to walk out with Elijah's help, tossing her wishes for them into the fire. None of the others spoke their individual wishes around. She knew, however, that they were all wishing something along the lines of finding peace. So that she could rest after centuries of life.

Then came the goodbyes.

Klaus was the first to come to her room. "Beatrix," he whispered as he sat at her bedside. He was already crying. "This wasn't how it was supposed to end."

"You thought you'd be the one to kill me?" she tried to tease. Already her voice was failing her. It was incredibly soft from the effort it was taking to speak. The blackened veins were completely covering her face. She had at most an hour and a half left.

He forced a laugh. "Not at all, my little witch. I thought you would live forever."

"No one can live forever, Klaus, you know that by now."

He swallowed hard. "You may think... that you did not succeed at making me a better man. But you did."

She reached for his hand. "You always had the potential to be a better man, Klaus. And I'm happy that you see yourself that way. It pleases me." She coughed, and Klaus offered her a glass of water to drink. She took a gulp and winced, pushing it away. "Throat too dry."

"Relax," he said, bringing a hand to stroke her hair. "I'm so sorry. I should have done more."

"You couldn't have stopped it. Please, don't blame yourself." She pulled his hand to her mouth and kissed it gently. "Listen to me," she whispered. "Don't hover over her. Give her some privacy, she deserves it. And when she starts to date, don't try and control her every move. Leave her some space to grow. There is still a lot she has to learn. She will inevitably get her heart broken, as we all did. What matters is that you're there for her when it happens. Don't make her feel... like she has to be secretive about her life. Don't pry, but make sure she knows she can trust you. Listen to the others. Rebekah and Freya can help her with some girl stuff, so don't hesitate to reach out to them. Trust your brothers. Be respectful with Marcel, Vincent, and Alaric. And maybe, just maybe..." she beckoned him closer. "You should try for another shot with Caroline. You two... are something else. I want you to be happy. You have a chance to make her happy, too. Be respectful. Be kind to her daughters and to Alaric. There is so much that none of us will ever understand about kids or about humans, because we haven't been like them for so long. You have a beautiful daughter. Appreciate it."

He stifled a sob and pulled her into a hug. "Where do you wish to be buried?" he managed weakly. "I need... I need a place to be able to go and speak with you."

She caressed his back weakly. "In the Bayou. Somewhere near Hayley and the water." She kissed his cheek. "I love you always. Even when I'm not here anymore."

Marcel came in next, and he started to cry the instant she took his hand.

"Shh," she soothed. "Hey, it's okay. I'm just glad it's not the other way around. Parents should never have to bury their kids. You know that's why I did this."

"I know," he said, taking her hand tightly in both of his. "I know. But I didn't want to ever lose you. Never."

"I'm so proud of you, Marcel," she said softly. "You need to live your life to the fullest. Do what you love. Love what you do. No matter what, you know I'll always back you up. If it's being with Rebekah or someone else... I just want you to be happy, okay? I want you to be able to look back and have no regrets."

He nodded and blinked away tears. "I-I know... I know..."

She smiled. "You know everything. I was so blessed to get to help you grow up. You've turned into such a perfect young man and I promise, even if I'm not physically there, I will always be there for you, alright? I love you, Marcel."

"I love you, Beatrix," he said, kissing her hand. "I love you, Mama."

Vincent followed.

He started with a blessing. He chanted and helped to prepare her body so that her death would not bring her so much pain. "I know I've already said this," he murmured, "but it was such an honor to have known you. Especially these past years that I got to learn more about you. Be your friend." He sat beside her. "I'm... going to agree to be the father of Freya and Keelin's child. They asked me yesterday. I want to help them have a family."

"Oh, Vincent," whispered Beatrix. "That's so good. You are always so kind. It was an honor to know you, too."

Rebekah, Freya, and Keelin came together. The three women were crying as they sat around Beatrix. "Hey," said the Heretic as Keelin covered her face so she wouldn't see her crying. "Hey, don't cry, Keelin..."

"How can I not?" she whimpered. "We didn't want to lose you."

Beatrix looked up at them. "You three were the sisters I needed. You made me feel so good, so loved. I will forever cherish that, and even if I'm not beside you, I'm still in your memories." She beckoned to her nightstand. "Rebekah, open the top drawer."

The Original sniffled and did as asked, extracting a rolled up parchment. "What is this?" she whispered.

"I wrote it out a few days ago. Freya and Keelin will be able to help you with it. If you ever want to have kids with Marcel, this spell will help you. Once, Keelin was the one that told Freya and I how monsters are still biological organisms. This will grant you your family, whether you take the cure or not. It's your choice."

Rebekah's lip trembled and she pulled Beatrix into a tight hug. Freya and Keelin followed, and the three just held her for a moment. The Heretic allowed her own tears to flow, even though she had been hold them back.

"We will miss you so much," said Freya quietly. "Thank you for helping me discover myself. You taught me that it was okay to love whoever I love and I ended up married to the best person ever. Thank you, Beatrix."

Kol and Davina had come in together, as well. The young witch tried to contain her tears as she gave Beatrix a blessing of her own.

Kol took her hand. "Thank you," he said shakily, "for being the first one that made me feel like I had a shot at being part of 'Always and Forever.' Thank you for making me feel like I could be part of a family. That I could find love and be loved."

"There's a copy of the spell for the both of you, too," sniffled Beatrix, beckoning for Davina to reach into the other drawer. "In case you want... you know, kids. Freya and Keelin will help."

The most dreaded goodbye was Hope's.

The young witch had started to bawl right away, and ran to hug Beatrix so tightly that it pained her to have to let go.

"I'm s-so sorry," whimpered Hope. "I should have done more— I shouldn't have been so stupid—"

"Don't you dare blame yourself," Beatrix whispered, tears streaming down her own cheeks. "This is not your fault, alright. I wanted this. And it makes me so happy to know that you're going to get to go to Prom one day, and find love of your own. I wanted that for you. Your mom wanted it, too."

"I-I don't know what I'm going to do now," Hope cried. "I'm l-losing both of my m-moms..."

"Oh, my sweet girl," sighed Beatrix, cradling her head into her chest. "There will always be people there for you. Please know that. You can always reach out to everyone. You have a family and family friends that love you and care for you so much. They were there before you were born. When you were little. And they will be there when you're older. You don't remember Camille, but we've told you about her, haven't we? She loved you so much, just as I did, and those around you feel the same. They will be there for you. You have your dad now, and you will always be able to hug him and talk to him about anything, okay? You have your Aunt Freya, your Aunt Keelin, Aunt Davina, Aunt Rebekah, Uncle Kol, Marcel, Alaric, Caroline, Vincent... I even texted some... old colleagues. Bonnie Bennett, Damon Salvatore, Elena Salvatore, Valerie Tulle... in my drawer you'll find all their contact information. They all told me to tell you that if you ever need anything, they will always be there. You can reach out and they will know who you are, okay? Even your Uncle Elijah. I know that you won't want to forgive him anytime soon but I promise you, he loves you so much and when you're ready to give him a chance, he will be there for you. He'll be there for you even before you're ready. You have a whole network of people who want the best for you. Let's not forget all the Crescent wolves. Reach out."

She held the young girl's face in her hands, looking into her teary eyes. "There is so much more to life. I want you to be able to see it. Let yourself see the beauty in things. Know that you are free to explore and to be whoever you want to be. I thought my life was over the day I got stuck in that prison world. I thought I'd never see my family again. But I got out, and I got to be the aunt to the most amazing niece in the world. The best girl I could have ever asked for. You are going to do great things. Don't settle for less than what you deserve. I love you, mi esperanza. And I will always be there for you."

"I love you, Aunt Trix," sobbed Hope as she hugged her again.

There was a moment when Beatrix was left alone. She coughed and wheezed, trying to down some more water. She could feel the throbbing in her chest getting weaker. Her heart was slowing down, and she knew that it was almost time.

The door opened. Elijah was here at last, for her final goodbye. Though he was not yet crying, he would be soon.

"Itza," he said, sitting on her bed. "How do you feel?"

"It doesn't hurt so bad," she whispered. She looked up. "Can you take me... to the sitting room? With the piano. I want... to see the sky."

"Of course, my love," he said, picking her up. He cradled her very gently into him as he took her there. He set her down on the seat beside the window, propping her up with some pillows. He reached for a bag under the seat and extracted a stack of letters.

"What's this?" she whispered.

He smiled. "When you told me you were getting your affairs in order... I may have reached out to all of your past patients. They have sent you letters of thanks."

He played the piano for her while she read them. Some were short, just a sentence and a name thanking her for healing them. Some letters, like the one she received from Freddie and his mom, were longer, and they made her smile. Freddie was now in Medical School, and he wanted to be a fetal surgeon. She cried profusely, trying to read even though her vision was blurring. Her ears rang with the sweet melody that she recognized all too well— it was the first piece Elijah had ever played for her to hear, the day he told her he'd eventually teach her to play piano.

When the song finished, he came to cradle her in his arms, stroking her damp hair. She was shaking, the magic ready to overtake her.

"Make it quick," she pleaded. "T-Take... take my heart out."

"I will see you on the other side," he told her, squeezing her hand.

"Elijah, no," she whispered.

"Yes, Itza. I've realized that I don't want to live anymore if it will be without you. Niklaus has been redeemed. I have spoken with the others and they are supportive. I should have chosen you so long ago. If you're going to be gone, my life will have no meaning. I will find you in the afterlife, no matter what it takes."

She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down. She let her head slump into his chest as his knuckles grazed down the side of her cheek. "I l-love you, E-Elijah," she managed.

"I love you," he whispered back, making her open her eyes. A weak smile graced her features. "I love you so much. My beautiful, beautiful treasure. Always and forever..."

She let out an airy chuckle, stifling a cough. "I-I'm not... n-not..."

"Yes, yes you are. My precious, Itza Mikaelson. You are my soulmate. You are our family. You helped Klaus become a better man. You have given him a chance to be a proper father. You, selfless as always... I should have married you that day in 1899... when I saw the way your eyes lit up seeing that wedding dress."

She shook her head, but he silenced her, tracing his thumb over her lips. "I mean it, Itza," he breathed, tears now steadily rolling down his face. "You were the light that helped me overcome my darkness. Do you... remember that poem you wrote? The one you wanted to have someone publish?"

Her head gave a gentle nod. "You... r-remembered..."

"Robert Frost," he whispered. "1923. Four years after I thought I lost you. I kept it just as you told it to me and presented it to him. He included it without hesitation."

She shivered again. "E-Elijah..." She wanted him to recite it. One last time.

He drew a deep breath, and held her up so that he could lean his forehead against hers.

"Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold."

A smile formed, and she let her body relax, limp in his arms.

"Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour."

He could feel her heart beating slower with each passing second.

"Then leaf subsides to leaf."

Ragged, hoarse, her lungs couldn't take much longer.

"So Eden sank to grief,"

He swallowed back a sob, putting his hand over her chest.

"So dawn goes down to day."

In, gripping her heart, making her let out a soft sigh.

"Nothing gold can stay."

Out came her heart. Her body turned completely gray, and arms fell to her sides. Trembling lips pressed onto her forehead, and he let the heart fall to the floor.

He raised half of the White Oak stake, taking a deep breath. Looking down at her, he felt a tear drop off his chin, landing on her lips. He plunged it into his own heart, his body shaking as he held her closer, struggling to breathe, but wanting his last memory to be just holding her.

Just as dusk turned to dawn, just as souls reunited after years apart, just as light and darkness met and meshed into a beautiful array of life that had both good and bad...

Nothing Gold Can Stay.

Nothing Dark Can Stay, Either.