I have had this in my drafts for literally almost a year and just realized I never posted it. Oops.

The first time Caroline had met Hayley four years before, she hadn't been a fan.

Klaus had been cornered by his aunt at the appetizer table for his brother's wedding, and Caroline had taken the opportunity to use the restroom, a girl texting on her phone almost plowing into her on her way. The brunette hadn't apologized, simply sparing her a quick glance and moving on.

When Caroline had returned to the party, she saw her giving Klaus a huge hug and a bright smile. Now, after the whole Katherine incident Caroline had promised both him and herself to not overreact, and when she walked over, Klaus gave her a dimpled smile and grabbed her hand, squeezing it lightly.

"Caroline, love, this is Hayley, my cousin."

"Your favorite cousin," Hayley said, making Klaus scoff.

"It's nice to meet you," Caroline said uncomfortably, and Hayley shook her hand, the look she gave her oddly calculating before she nodded.

"You too."

Klaus seemed to sense the tension, and he shot Caroline a raised eyebrow before excusing them and pulling her to the dance floor. "What was that about, love?"

"She bumped into me on the way to the bathroom and didn't apologize," Caroline said, knowing there was no way she could make it sound less petty, and Klaus snorted, seeming to agree. "I didn't say anything rude to her," she added defensively.

"I never said you did."

"You were thinking it."

"Perhaps, but if you had, I'm sure that had you said something it would have been deserved. Hayley can be a bit of a handful."

"Seems like it."

"She'll grow on you," he assured her. "She's just a bit abrasive."

"Is she like, from Australia or something?"

He snorted. "No. She's an aspiring actress. Very method. Been getting 'in character' for an indie film she's doing for the last month or so. Her accent is still atrocious, but no one's had the heart to tell her."

Caroline had giggled a bit at that, letting Klaus spin her around the dance floor for a few songs before he excused himself, and Hayley had sought her out, apologized for the bump in the hallway, and they'd gotten to chatting.

It had been awkward at first, and when Hayley had moved to New York to live with her boyfriend Jackson, she'd come over once a week for dinner. She and Jackson had broken up soon after, but she'd moved into an apartment with a roommate (a psych major named Camille, who Caroline was glad she'd never met from the way Hayley complained about her).

The girls had grown from awkward acquaintances to friends (though never quite as close as Klaus probably would have liked).

It was at one such dinner that Hayley had asked how 'the whole baby thing' was going, and Klaus said that they'd been considering surrogacy or adoption. Hayley nodded, pushing around the pasta with her fork before taking a bite, chewing thoughtfully.

"I mean, if you decide on getting a surrogate I'd be willing to do it," she said after she swallowed.

"Really?" Caroline asked skeptically. "What about your job?"

Hayley was grossly overpaid from a part she'd landed on a television show, and her role mostly involved being a hot but boring love interest for the two 'complex' male protagonists. Hence, a pregnancy might be a bit difficult to write in.

However, she didn't look too concerned, shrugging and tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Can you keep a secret?"

Caroline and Klaus stared at her for a second, not speaking, and Hayley rolled her eyes. "Right, sorry. I always forget that you were secretly fucking when he was your teacher. Thanks for reminding me; I love a good dose of nausea while eating."

Caroline snorted.

"Anyway," Hayley continued. "I'm getting killed off at the end of the season."

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Caroline said immediately, and Hayley shrugged.

"I kind of knew it was coming. The show is nosediving in ratings. I'm planning on going to school in the fall, actually."

"Congratulations," Klaus said, and Hayley nodded, smiling.

"Thanks. Anyway, I know that this is important to you guys, and knowing you, you're probably looking at every miniscule piece of information about potential surrogates and stressing about it. If you'd rather I don't do it, that's obviously fine, but I'm just putting the option out."

"Thanks! We'll definitely think about it," Caroline said, unable to keep the relief from her voice.

XXX

There was a lot more to surrogacy than just taking Caroline's egg, sticking it in Hayley's body, and crossing their fingers, as it turned out. Contracts had to be signed (luckily Elijah had a friend that could do it for free), and there were quite a few more hoops to jump through.

Now, though, Caroline was twisting her hands nervously on the couch, tucked into Klaus's side as she stared at the timer on the coffee table. Hayley was on the nearby chair, flipping through apps on her phone, and when the timer went off, Hayley pulled the stick out and looked at it before turning it so Caroline could see, the digital letters spelling out 'YES' clear on the screen.

"Excellent," Klaus said, watching Caroline with amusement as she bounced in her seat, and she turned to him.

"We're going to be parents," she said excitedly, and he laughed quietly.

"Yes, I can see the test."

"Aren't you happy?"

"Yes," he said, smoothing her hair affectionately, his fingers tugging lightly at the ends as he drank her in, though she could still sense the hesitance.

"I know that you're nervous about it, but I think you'll be a good dad."

"I'll do my best, sweetheart."

She smiled, kissing him again. "I know. I love you."

"And I, you."

"So, um, do you want me to leave you alone for a few?" Hayley asked, interrupting the moment, and Caroline flushed, pulling back.

"Sorry. Thank you so much Hayley. You have no idea how much this means to us, and—"

"Really, I'm happy to do it," Hayley said, getting up and opening her arms for Caroline to hug her. "I promise that I'll keep you guys up to date on appointments and everything, and make sure you can make them."

"Thank you. Are you sure you don't want dinner or anything?"

"No, it's fine," Hayley said, reaching for her bag. "I actually have a test tomorrow that I should be studying for."

"Don't stress too much," Caroline said immediately, and Hayley snorted.

"I'll try," she said, throwing her bag over her shoulder and giving Klaus a one-armed hug. "I'll see you Sunday?"

"Yeah," Caroline agreed, walking her out and giving her one last hug before turning to Klaus after closing the door. "I'm so excited," she said again.

"I know, sweetheart."

She gave him a brilliant smile and walked over, hugging him and burying her face in his neck, inhaling his scent. He wrapped his arms around her, the warmth of his body wrapped around hers making hum in contentment before she moved to kiss him lightly on the jaw. "What do you want for dinner?"

He bent to nip her ear, his tongue flicking against the hollow of it, making her shiver, and she moaned as he began to lick and suck at her jaw, speaking between the movements of his tongue and lips against her skin.

"I want you naked and kneeling for me in the sitting room while I take you from behind, and then perhaps if you're a good girl for me we can go out to eat."

Hope you like it! Please review and let me know what you think :)

Hugs!