Prompt: from gooddame – "You nap, I'll stay awake."

I guess she shouldn't be surprised that everyone left her. Ric had decided that the twins reminded him too much of Jo and it hurt too much to help her care for them. She was utterly and completely alone. So, she shouldn't be surprised when she found herself driving down the interstate to the one place she knew she could call a safe haven for her and the twins.

The twins… they were quite the site and for all intents and purposes they were now her daughters. Hers. That baffled her mind. She never thought she'd get the chance to be a mom after being turned. She hoped she'd be half the mom her mother was. Yes, her mother worked a lot but Caroline never felt like her mother didn't love her or support her. The girls would feel the same if it were up to Caroline completely. She never thought she could love another human so much, let alone two at once. Josie and Lizzie were her life now and she needed to do everything she could to keep them safe. She had been thrust into single mom-hood and there was no way that circumstance was going to hinder her from her own happiness along with the girls'.

They were off to New Orleans. Caroline had been thinking about taking this trip long before the girls were magically transferred to her womb. Caroline couldn't handle the same old day to day of Mystic Falls. There was nothing keeping her there anymore. Her mother had been gone for over a year now and Caroline couldn't stand how suffocated she felt in the small town. She guessed Klaus' words back then were right: 'Small town boy, small town life, it won't be enough for you.' Those words had been echoing in her brain since he had said them at that decade dance. But another declaration he had given her rung stronger lately: 'I intend to be your last, however long it takes'. It didn't take as long as Caroline thought it would but she knew what she wanted and she knew that Klaus would protect her girls if it meant that she was happy. Caroline knew she could always count on him and now she hoped her instincts weren't wrong.

It wasn't too long of a drive really. They had arrived off the interstate and began to drive straight down Bourbon street, took a few turns here and there and made it out of the main part of New Orleans. Caroline had taken the address off the return the mini fridge box that Klaus had sent her as part of her graduation gift when she had attended Whitmore. It was the only way she could've found him later if need be. At least that is what she had told herself then.

The twins were fast asleep when she arrived at the large compound. She quietly took the car seats out of the backseat of her new "mom car" and made her way to the door.

"Caroline Forbes? What are you doing here?" Rebekah asked as she took one of the car seats from Caroline's hands. "Come inside. It's frigid at night this time of year. Don't want them to freeze."

"Thanks. I'm actually here to see your brother…" Caroline replied as she looked down at the sleeping babies.

"Are you ok?" Rebekah sounded concerned. That came as a shock to Caroline. Her and the blonde original had never gotten along.

"I'm scared Rebekah. I've been left completely alone with these twins that for all intents and purposes are now mine. I don't think I can do this on my own."

"Say no more. Sit. I'll go and get Nik."

Caroline placed the car seats on the hardwood floor in front of her. She quietly rocked them as she tried to compose herself.

"Nik?" Rebekah rapped at Klaus' bedroom door.

"What is it Bekah?" Klaus said as he opened the door.

"Nik, it's Caroline…"

"Rebekah, what are you talking about" Klaus was immediately on alert.

"Nik, Caroline is here and she's really upset. She has the twins with her."

Of course, Klaus had heard of the magic that the Gemini Coven had performed to transfer the babies from one womb to another to save the future of their coven. "Where is she?"

"She's on the couch in the family room. Please try to be quiet though Nik. The twins are sleeping and she looks exhausted. Maybe get her a blood bag? She appears to be hungry as well. She has some serious control over her bloodlust. I would lose it if I was in her shoes and I've been around for a thousand years.

Klaus made his way down the staircase to the kitchen. He stocked her favorite (B+) just in case she ever came to him. They would come in handy today. He squeezed a bag into a large coffee mug for her and placed it in the microwave to warm. Once it was finished he made his way to the family room. He had never felt like his home was too big until now. He couldn't get to her side fast enough. She had come for a reason and he intended to do whatever he could to help her. "Bekah, please make sure Hope is doing ok?"

"Of course Nik." Rebekah replied as she made her way towards Hope's nursery. "I'll make up a place for the twins."

"Thank you Rebekah." Rebekah just nodded as she continues towards the nursery room that would not hold three instead of one.

"Love?" Klaus asked as he approached the couch. "Not that I'm not happy to see you but I am surprised. What brings you to my doorstep?" Klaus slowly took a seat next to Caroline.

"Hey" Caroline replied with a quiet smile.

Klaus then offered her the mug of blood. She gladly took it and took a few gulps. "Thanks" she muttered as she wiped her mouth.

That was when Caroline let the flood gates open and she began to sob. Klaus pulled her close and held her there for a while. He didn't say anything. He just sat there and held her while she cried.

After her sobs subsided she spoke. "Can I explain later?"

Just as Klaus was about to answer her Josie began to fuss.

"It's ok love. Take a nap. I'll stay awake with her."

"Are you sure?"

"Sweetheart, you look exhausted. You need rest."

"Thank you" Caroline mumbled as she drifted to sleep.

Klaus slowly grabbed Josie from her car seat and began to rock her in his arms. It was then that he declared that he would do anything that this little family needed. He would be whatever it was that Caroline needed.

A few hours had past and Lizzie was now awake as Josie slept in the pack-n-play Rebekah had set up in the nursery with Hope still asleep in her crib. "What do you think happened Nik?'

"I'm not sure but we are going to do everything we can to keep Caroline and her girls safe"

Rebekah nodded in agreement as she took Lizzie from Klaus. "I can't imagine how Caroline has been doing this on her own for so long now. When one sleeps the other is wide awake"

"Caroline is strong, she can do anything" Klaus responded as he gazed at the blonde asleep on his couch. He still couldn't believe she was here in front of him. She began to stir on the couch as he turned his head back to Rebekah holding Lizzie.

"How long have I been sleeping?" Caroline questioned as she stretched.

"Just a few hours, love" Klaus replied.

"Your girls are so well behaved Caroline. I could cuddle them all day" Rebekah mushed.

"Well, thank you for taking care of them for me. Apparently, I needed the rest.

"Of course! Anytime." Rebekah handed Lizzie over to Caroline. "I'm going to go and check on Josie and Hope"

"Thank you Bekah." Klaus said as he watched his sister walk away.

"Oh my goodness I didn't even think about what my being here would mean for your daughter… Klaus I'm so sorry! That was so insensitive of me. I can't expect you to help me with my kids. You have your own to care for!"

"Caroline, you don't need to worry about that. Hope is just fine. She will enjoy the playmates" Klaus quickly responded. "We are here to help you however you need."

Caroline just shook her head. She couldn't believe he would be so willing to help her. She knew of his feelings for her after the last time he had visited Mystic Falls but she didn't think they ranged this deep. But who was she kidding? She was in deep herself. His reaction to her arrival just confirmed it all for her.

"So, are you going to finally tell me why you're here?"

"It's a long story. Are you sure you're up for it?" Caroline giggled softly.

"Anything for you love" Klaus smiled.

Caroline rambled off her story of how she got here. She told him of the times she debated making the trip before the twins were even a thought in her mind. She told him how she couldn't wait to meet his daughter and how she couldn't wait to see what the future held for the two of them if he'd still have her.

"I'm glad you're here Caroline. You're family. We stick together. We are all going to be ok." Rebekah said as she rounded the corner with a baby on each hip.

It looked like the rest of their day was going to be quite entertaining with all three girls now awake and alert. Rebekah handed Hope over to Klaus and cooed at Josie. Caroline's family was now whole. Everything happened for a reason and she wouldn't change it for the world. She finally had everything she ever wanted. Love, family and happiness.