A/N: I'll update Turning Back Time soon. I promise!
Disclaimer: I don't own TVD or TO.
Enjoy and please review!
They were all awake by ten, including Hayley and Jackson, who had been spending a surprising amount of time together following their engagement. Elijah glared at Jackson for only moments before Elena, toting Hope in her arms, appeared by his side and made a smile take over his face once again.
"I feel the need to do something," Rebekah said, wandering down the stairs with Hope's coat and shoes. "Let's go out to lunch. We are in the middle of nowhere; no one will be capable of finding us here."
"It's not safe, sister," Klaus said.
"It's never safe, Nik! We have to be able to live; your daughter has to be able to live." Rebekah glared at her brother. "Hope deserves a normal life, and we have the opportunity to give her that. Hayley, agree with me."
"She's my daughter," Klaus pointed out.
"She's Hayley's, as well. Hayley, what is your opinion?" Rebekah snapped.
Hayley held up her hands in surrender. "I think that we should do what's safe. I just don't know which of you is right." She glanced at Elena, who held onto Hope tightly. "I don't think Elena is going to let anything happen, though."
Hayley smiled at Caroline's friend. Here, especially when she knew that Hope's mother was kind and giving when she could be, it was much easier for Caroline to like her. Elena seemed to have adopted the philosophy, as well, harboring no feelings of anger for the family that had tried to end her life.
"Well, she may fall," Elena defended herself, glancing at Hope. Hope patted Elena's cheeks. "Yes, you are adorable," Elena said, hoisting Hope higher in her arms. "Here you go," she said, handing the baby over to Caroline.
"Hello, princess," Caroline cooed, kissing Hope's cheek as she walked around the living room, the baby facing forward in her arms. She smiled as she rested her chin atop the tiny child's head. "Do you want to do something today?" she asked Klaus.
"Caroline, we can't. It's dangerous," Klaus sighed, kissing Caroline's forehead.
"Well, she's a baby. She doesn't understand that, and she deserves a normal life, right?" Caroline questioned.
Klaus nodded begrudgingly. "Of course she does. Hope has done absolutely nothing wrong." He glanced at his daughter. "She certainly does not deserve to live her life in fear."
Caroline looked at him expectantly and he sighed.
"Fine," he groaned. "Caroline, Rebekah, you have won. Get your things, everyone; we're going somewhere."
Caroline hoisted Hope higher in her arms, smiling as Jackson helped Hayley from the car. Their relationship, although forced, seemed to be going okay, and Hayley always seemed happy around the werewolf. A glance at Elena showed that she was happy for the couple, as well, although Caroline knew that she must feel a bit of residual anger for Hayley. Although not on purpose, the woman had at least fractured Elijah's heart, if she hadn't broken it entirely.
"We are at a restaurant," Rebekah said happily, although her eyes remained on her phone. She and Matt had been texting each other for the past hour, and now, Caroline was sure that would continue. Rebekah playfully pinched Hope's cheeks and the baby cooed, waving her hands in the air and spitting out her pacifier. "Well, I guess we know what you think of that now, don't we?" she cooed to her niece, who waved her arms in the air once again. "You are one excited child, aren't you?" she said, smiling at the baby as Caroline entered the restaurant.
"I think she is," Caroline agreed, pressing a kiss atop the child's head.
The hostess smiled as they approached. "Can I get you a table?" she questioned them.
Klaus nodded.
She smiled at him and nodded, walking away and approaching them again moments later. "If you'll follow me, we have a table ready for you. Would you like it?" she questioned.
"Yes, of course," Rebekah replied, shooting a glare at her brother before Klaus could snap at the waitress for asking pointless questions. "We need a highchair, as well," she added, gesturing to Hope, who stared up at Caroline with a smile on her face and her legs kicking rapidly.
"Of course. She's precious," the hostess said, smiling as Caroline thanked her. "I'll get you your highchair right away. Here are the menus. Your waitress should be over any second to take your drink orders."
"Thank you!" Caroline called, bouncing Hope in her arms. "Are you going to sit in a highchair?" she questioned the infant, who simply continued to suck on her pacifier contentedly. "Okay, then," Caroline laughed, lifting Hope to her shoulder and holding her close.
"I can hold her, love," Klaus said, but Caroline shook her head.
"Let Caroline," Hayley said, smiling at the woman.
"Thank you, Hayley," Caroline said, truly touched. Perhaps, now that Hayley and Jackson were well on their way to being married, which meant that Elijah was no longer being tortured by his relationship with her, they could all be friends. Hope was capable of changing the world, she thought with a smile as the waitress finally brought over the highchair.
"I'm sorry for the wait, guys. My name is Alexandra, and I will be your waitress. What can I get you to drink?" the rushed blonde asked quickly, flashing a smile at Hope as Caroline settled her in the highchair.
"I'll have sweet tea," Caroline said, and Alexandra nodded as she wrote down the order. She quickly took everyone else's orders before hurrying off into the kitchen and returning quickly with their drinks. "Here you go. Just call me if you need anything," she said, handing them a small pager.
"Thank you!" Caroline called yet again, and Alexandra nodded as Caroline began to flip through the menu. "I'm getting fettuccine Alfredo," she said, and Klaus nodded, smiling at her. "What?"
"You should take me up on that offer to see the world," he murmured to her.
She smiled at him, a dazzling, loving smile. "Maybe I will someday," she whispered to him before they turned their attention back to his family and her friends.
A/N: If you wish to know what outfits and stuff I am dressing Hope in, feel free to check out my Pinterest account, LiveLaughLovex. The board is called 'Stages of Grief' and can be found on my main page. I will post stuff there as soon as this chapter is posted.