Warning: Strong emotional reactions may occur.
Klaus watched as she hurriedly ran into their son's nursery, as beautiful as ever in her yellow sundress and with a messy bun holding her golden locks together. Why Caroline had chosen him as her lifelong partner he would never know, but how grateful he was. She was a fantastic mother, a lovable wife and besides that: his best friend.
"Hey, hey, easy there little one," she murmured as she picked their child up from the cradle, "I've got you."
A smirk appeared on his face when he saw her looking at their son with that gorgeous smile of hers. He still remembered the first time he'd seen her, the same bright smile was on her angelic face. He had come to love that smile as much as he did her and it seemed as if their son already did as well.
Their son's blue eyes shone of joy when he saw his beautiful mother, a giggle escaping him as he wiggled in delight in her arms.
"Hi, little man," she cooed the boy, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "Look at you, so beautiful."
Again the nursery was filled with their son's bubbly giggles. Klaus had hoped the child would reflect Caroline more than himself and, gratefully, the child harbored his mother's laugh within his small form.
Giving him another smooch, she gently put him down on the soft carpet and moved to the other side of the nursery, kneeling with open arms, "Come on honey, come to mommy."
Even with his balance still a bit unsure, he marched towards Caroline with his small arms in front of him, reaching for her, cute grunts coming from him. Klaus could really see he made an effort, the little man.
He walked into her arms and she brought him in for a hug, rising to her feet and kept him close. He watched her inhale the boy's scent with closed eyes, "Mommy is so proud of you," she praised gently into their son's curly, golden hair.
She held him gently, singing a lullaby and within minutes their son was asleep again. She placed him in gently in the cradle and tugged the fluffy blanket securely around him.
Caressing his forehead she whispered, "He looks so much like you, Klaus. Just as brave and charming," and then she moved her fingertip to the boy's slightly open mouth, feeling the soft skin of his lips under her light touch, "he has your lips as well, your chin," her finger was now at his tiny nose, "your nose… but he has my eyes."
He kept a steady eye on her as her smile went from genuine to force and tears started falling from her eyes as she observed their little boy. A lump formed in his throat.
She was now stroking their son's soft cheek again, tears rolling down her own, watching him sleep, "Klaus, you should have seen him take his first steps the other day. He was so proud. I swear, I've never seen him so happy. And today he finished his first baby puzzle, he literally shrieked. He got so happy that he took one of the pieces and threw it across the dining table, giggling like a mad person. You should have seen it…"
He laughed. That sounded like their son in a nutshell.
She moved her hand and began stroking his forehead again, knowing how well that soothed him, "Your Daddy would be so proud of you, little man, just as proud as Mommy. Sometimes Mommy forgets Daddy won't come home, that he won't get to see you run for the first time or teach you how to ride a bike…" A loud sob escaped her, "but Daddy loved you so much, and I will remind you every day. You should have seen the look on his face the day you were born. He was so proud and happy, but also scared. To some people, Daddy seemed harsh but I saw him for who he was, and the first time he laid his eyes on you, I swear to God that he found a missing piece of himself. He was speechless. He held you all day and all night, he never let you go. You changed him for the better."
Heavy tears were forming in Klaus eyes as he heard his love explain to their sleeping one year old son how she'd seen his reaction since entering fatherhood. And she was right; ever since he saw the result of his love for Caroline lying in his arms, he had found peace. Whenever he had looked on the little one, it had reminded him of his deep and genuine love for her, of how she had changed and saved him from himself and his demons. Unable to hold it back, the tears began streaming down his face.
"I'd wish you were here, Klaus," she cried, her lips quivering in sorrow. "With me and William. I just wish you could see us now."
He longed to tell her that he could see them; he could still love them and watch them grow while he was frozen in time. And, more than anything in entire world, he longed with every fiber in his being to sit on the chair with her and hold her close. But death had parted them and there was nothing, absolutely nothing, he could do about it.
He could only watch them now and although it wasn't quite enough, it was all they had.
