A/N: Thanks so much for reading everyone. This is part 1 of probably 2 for their first Christmas. I hope that you enjoy :)

And I made notes of everyone's suggestions for things for Klaroline to do with the baby. They will be happening at some point in the story.


While we try to teach our children about life, our children teach us what life is all about-Angela Schwindt


Caroline used to sleep through the night, not waking up once after she finally managed to close her eyes and shut off her brain. But then Henrik had come into their lives and waking up a few times every night through the last week or so had become habit. Sometimes it was because she was worried about Henrik and felt a need to check on him but other times he woke her and Klaus with a cry to let them know he was hungry. It had started to become a new routine, her body waking her at the usual times that Henrik would wake, alternating with Klaus for who would end up feeding or calming the baby down.

Once they had been able to move him into the nursery, the amount of times for waking lessened a bit, Henrik no longer waking whenever Klaus moved around. Her fiance was unable to sleep peacefully every night, nightmares he didn't like talking about waking him up and causing him to head to the studio for a few hours to let it all out on canvas. When Henrik had been in their room he'd woken sometimes when Klaus did but once the nursery was finished and they were able to move him into it, those extra wakeful times had dropped off and now he only woke because he was hungry. According to the parenting books she'd started reading that would begin to stop too and he wouldn't need to have late night feedings any longer. Though that could start happening anywhere from three to sixth months so it might be some time until that happened, especially with all of the changes the baby had gone through.

Today she had woke up at the usual time when Henrik would have started moving around but she wasn't picking up on any noises from the monitor. Caroline reached out and picked it up, wanting to check the screen, panic gripping her for a second when she didn't see Henrik in his crib-what if someone had come in during the night and taken him?-but then she realized that Klaus wasn't in the bed beside her and surely that meant he had the baby.

Except maybe he was in the studio and her first fear was correct.

She put the monitor back down and picked up her phone, ready to dial 911 as she got out of bed and headed past the bathroom and into the nursery. Her panic quickly disappeared as she took in the sight of Klaus sitting on the rocking chair with Henrik, gently moving back and forth with the baby who was having his first bottle of the day. Caroline quickly snapped a photo, thankful for the morning sunlight that was peeking in through the blinds and giving off enough light for the camera on her phone to capture the moment.

Klaus looked over at her, arching a brow at the phone. "You can't look that adorable and not expect me to immortalize it on my phone," Caroline told him as she fiddled with it, ready to add it to her instagram and facebook pages.

"You're ruining my reputation with all of those photos, sweetheart," Klaus sighed, knowing he'd be hearing about the cuteness overload whenever he stepped back into his gallery. Thankfully that wouldn't be for another ten days. He'd like to think Marcel and Lexi would have forgotten it by then but considering Christmas was in four days, Klaus had a feeling that the number of 'cute' pictures would triple by the time he saw them again.

"That's what I'm here for," Caroline teased, smiling as she headed over to the changing table to make certain that her calculations were correct and the right amount of diapers were still laying on it.

It had taken a few days to ensure the nursery was exactly how she wanted it and even once it was done she hadn't quite wanted to move Henrik out of their room and into it, even if it was only a few feet away from theirs. But in the end it was better for Henrik to have his own room and how could she not want him to enjoy the lovely space that they had been able to make for him?

Baby elephants, giraffes, monkeys and a lion were painted on the walls of the room-a perfect mix of realistic and adorableness. Even the crib sheet was covered in baby elephants and she'd managed to find a diaper genie that was shaped like a giraffe, though the adorable mobile with alternating elephants and monkeys was her favorite. Caroline thought they had done a pretty good job of fitting with the theme. The giraffe Italy had given him was placed in one of the corners by the small bookshelf that held a few different board books and other toys that he'd grow into being able to use.

"Caroline, we have everything that we need," Klaus assured her as he rose with Henrik and headed over to her. "You triple checked that we packed enough diapers, formula and clothes. Plus I doubt Mystic Falls will suddenly be out of all of those things."

"You never know. There could be a snow storm." It wasn't like that never happened in her hometown.

"Are you saying that you don't think your mother will be prepared for something like that?" Klaus asked as he laid Henrik down on the changing table.

Oh god, no. She was so not saying that. Caroline narrowed her eyes at Klaus when she realized that he was teasing her. "He's wearing this today for the ride down today." She handed him the onesie that had little elves on it as well as a pair of red pants to help keep him warm. They would bring along the snowsuit for him to wear when they were outside, but Caroline didn't want him to overheat in the car so blanket wrapping into it was her go-to plan, especially since it'd be parked only a few steps from their brownstone. Plus he'd be wearing his red beanie hat and thankfully the pants were the type that would cover his feet with little built in booties. "But you should go shower and I'll do this because you still have to pick up the car from the garage."

Then they'd need to load it and make the six or so hour drive down to Mystic Falls. They had considered flying but with the amount of things Caroline was insisting they bring and not wanting to deal with the hassle of a rental during the holiday season, driving down seemed better in their eyes. No matter what they would need a car. Mystic Falls version of public transportation was having a bike or good walking shoes and while that had been fine when it was the two of them heading down, neither of them wanted Henrik out in the cold longer than necessary.

"I'll shower while you're getting dressed and he can sit in his chair-swing thing and try to swat the animals," Caroline added, switching positions with Klaus.

"Or we could wake up Rebekah and have her watch him," Klaus pointed out and Caroline scrunched her nose at that idea.

"I am so not about to seek out your sister's wrath when we're going to be cooped up in a car together for hours today. Nope." Caroline shook her head. That was so not a good way to start their first family vacation.

"Point taken," Klaus cringed, knowing she was right. Rebekah would be unbearable to deal with if they did that. She'd wake to her alarm in half and hour or so and still be a bit hard to handle but nothing like if he went to wake her early.

Klaus tapped Henrik's nose, earning a smile from the little boy. "Try not to give your mommy any trouble."

The way that Caroline always seemed to smile just a little brighter whenever he called her mommy was something that Klaus loved. It was endearing, a nice sign that what they were doing was the best for Henrik, even if they were still figuring out so much of it. He kissed her cheek and stepped back. "Don't go through the suitcases again," he told her before disappearing back toward their room.

Caroline shook her head at that before snapping the last button onto the onesie. "You're going to meet your grandma later today," Caroline murmured to Henrik who was becoming fascinated by his hands again before looking at her when she spoke. "She's worried but I know that she'll love you so much once she sees you."

Henrik smiled at her, pumping his legs when she tried to get the pants onto him next. "Yes, I know, you'd love to be pantsless always if you could but its cold so not gonna happen, little love." She tickled his stomach, grinning brightly as his limbs flailed at that, his smile broadening too.

It took a few moments but she managed to get them on him and swooped him up once all of his clothes were in place. "You're probably too little for making a snowman or cookies or a few other of the usual Forbes' Christmas traditions, but I have a feeling that this will be our best Christmas yet." She pressed her forehead gently against his for a second before heading toward the master bedroom to place Henrik into the baby swing to keep him occupied for a few minutes.

It would entertain him for only so long but it should give them enough time to get showered before he would start to want attention again. Caroline glanced over at the suitcases lined up by the door, travel crib set on top of them and took a step toward it, letting out a squeal when Klaus unexpectedly grabbed her from behind, pulling her back against him.

"No suitcases," he reminded as he swept her hair out of the way and kissed her neck. "Go shower."

Caroline turned in his arms and gently shoved him away, eyes narrowed playfully, though that didn't last long as she took in the towel wrapped low around his hips. She bit her lip as she backed away toward the bathroom, happily ogling him before she let her gaze travel back to his face, smirking. "I'm going, I'm going."

She glanced over at Henrik who was watching the two of them intently, her squeal obviously having worried him for a moment. But he went back to trying to touch the animals once he realized that everything was okay. "Mommy will be right back," she murmured to him before slipping into the bathroom to get ready for their journey.

Christmas had always been a favorite holiday of hers, even after her parents divorced, but Caroline found herself really looking forward to this one. It was Henrik's first and it was going to be perfect.


Rebekah moved to switch the music on the radio again, still not satisfied with the station she had picked. At least they were apparently nearing the end of this never ending journey. "You would think that the damn satellite would have something decent to listen to." Wasn't it supposed to be better than standard radio stations?

"We could always listen to the holiday one," Caroline suggested from the back seat where she sat by Henrik who was asleep in the car seat. She swiped her finger across the iPad, turning to the next page in the book she was reading.

"Ugh. Of course you subscribe to that holiday cheer crap," Rebekah muttered, finally settling on the top 40 station again. Caroline didn't reply, turning her focus back to her parenting book. Rebekah sighed, annoyed that she wasn't getting more of a reaction. What was the point of a ribbing if she didn't get a response? "I can't believe we're doing Christmas in some backwater little town."

Klaus's grip on the steering wheel tightened at that, not at all liking her discrediting Caroline's life. "You didn't have to come, Rebekah," he reminded as he glanced into the rearview mirror to look at Caroline who was rolling her eyes. At least she wasn't offended.

"And miss out on his first Christmas?" Rebekah scoffed. As if that was something she would do. "Why couldn't we have gone somewhere with more style? Like Vail or even Tahoe if we have to stay stateside?"

"We do Christmas at Caroline's mother's house. It's tradition," Klaus replied, knowing she already knew that, but it seemed like she needed a reminder.

"How could that possibly be more entertaining than skiing or snowboarding?" Rebekah sighed, feeling extremely put upon. "Or we could have gone somewhere warmer and enjoyed the beach."

"Because that's exactly what a three month old is going to enjoy getting up to," Caroline commented from the back. "He'll get to hear carols, have presents opened for him, decorate a tree, and all the things that you're supposed to do as a kid for Christmas."

"How utterly normal," Rebekah murmured as she looked down at her nails, trying to ignore the idea building in her that it sounded fairly nice. Not at all like the Christmases she'd endured with her own family.

"You don't have to stay the whole time," Klaus told her. "You can be on a plane to wherever you really want to be whenever you want."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Rebekah glared at him, at how easily he seemed ready to send her off. Just like their parents had done. "Then you'd get to play happy family."

"We're not playing the part of that," Klaus sighed, shaking his head. "We are a happy family and you're part of it, Rebekah. But if you're going to be completely miserable I'd rather you be somewhere that you think might make you happy than wallowing all week long. No one has patience for that. And you never know, perhaps you'll have fun."

She didn't reply, staring out the window instead and Klaus sighed again before looking back at Caroline who tried to look reassuring. He was going to need a glass of scotch before this day was over.


Klaus pulled up into the car port of Caroline's childhood home, ignoring Rebekah's look of disgust as she surveyed the small town neighborhood. The nearest mall was miles away in a neighboring town, an actual club who even knew how far away, and while Klaus would always prefer city life to a small town one, he enjoyed the relative peacefulness of Mystic Falls in December. He hadn't thought he would when he'd first joined Caroline at her childhood home two years ago, but the way she lit up with every little activity and the slow pace of everything was a welcome respite from the go go go lives they tended to lead.

"This is where we're staying?" Rebekah peered out at the one story home, trying to determine how it was supposed to even fit the four of them plus Caroline's mother. She was certain that her college apartment was bigger than this. "Are you even certain that it's up to code?"

"Rebekah," Klaus started, ready to put an end to her comments but Caroline pushed her way between their two seats and fixed Rebekah with a harsh gaze.

"Look." Caroline could handle little quips about her just fine, one didn't become captain of the cheerleading squad their sophomore year without being able to handle mean-spirited comments that were meant to chip away at one's self-esteem. But her mother was off-limits. "You're a guest here. So you will keep all of your snide little remarks about the size of the house or the color scheme or a million other little things going around in that head of yours to yourself. This is my mother's home and she's proud as can be of it. It's not the Ritz or whatever you're used to but it's the damn holiday season so zip it or you can take a plane back to New York and enjoy the brownstone all to yourself. Is that clear?"

"Crystal," Rebekah bit out, taken back by Caroline's ferocity.

"Good." Caroline unbuckled Henrik from the car seat and wrapped him in the blanket as Klaus popped the trunk. The backdoor to to the house opened and Liz Forbes stepped out, still clad in her Sheriff's uniform as she headed toward the SUV.

"Hello, Liz," Klaus nodded to her as he got out of the car.

"Klaus," Liz greeted him with a smile and nod as he opened the door for Caroline to get out before heading back to the trunk to start taking out their things.

"You are going to meet someone very special now, Henrik," Caroline murmured to the baby as she got out of the car and grinned at her mother.. "This is my mom, who is now your grandma."

"Let me have him." Liz easily took the baby from her and looked down at him, studying his face as Henrik stared up at her, taking in this new person. "His eyes are a lot like Klaus's."

"Yeah, Henrik has longer lashes though," Caroline pointed out with a grin. "We should get him inside before he becomes an icicle." She grabbed her purse and the diaper bag from the car as Liz headed into the house with him.

"Caroline," Rebekah started, looking as apologetic as she ever seemed to get, though she struggled with the right words to say. "I didn't mean to…"

Caroline nodded, taking pity on the other girl since she looked like she was about to have a brain aneurysm with the strain Caroline could see her exhibiting. "I know. She's my mom. I'm protective."

"It's a good trait to have, to be protective of one's family," Rebekah commented before heading into the house as well.

Caroline shook her head at that. "It looks like we get to unpack the car," she murmured to Klaus as she rounded to the back to help him with the suitcases and baby things.

"I'm sorry," he started, brow furrowed in frustration and Caroline set her things down so that she could hug him, or at least try to do so with all he was holding.

"You've got nothing to be sorry for," she assured, pleased when Klaus placed down the suitcases and hugged her back. "Plus I think I got the point across. But come on. We've got a list of things we need to start doing and you so know my mom hasn't even gotten the tree out of the attic yet so we have to unload this thing and get moving."

Klaus chuckled at that before pressing his lips to her forehead. "We're here for over a week, love. We'll cover that entire list of yours before we leave."

"Not if you don't let go of me," Caroline murmured as she tried to squirm out of his arms, laughing as he only held her tighter. It really wasn't her fault at all when she whined his name in protest.

"Are you two coming-" Rebekah called from the doorway as she stepped back outside before rolling her eyes as she turned to head back in. "Ugh. I swear you two are sickeningly sweet."

Klaus reluctantly let Caroline go and gathered up the items he'd put down before heading inside to set them down with her. He turned to head back out, shaking his head at Caroline as she set to follow and help again. There was only so much left and he should be able to get it all. He knew she wanted to spend some time with her mother before Liz would have to leave for the evening.

Caroline watched him go before taking heading out of the kitchen and into the living room to find her mother sitting on the couch with Henrik while Rebekah walked around, looking at all of the different photographs on display. "Where's the bathroom?" Rebekah asked as Caroline sat down on the other end of the couch.

"Just past the french doors, first door on your left," Liz replied before continuing to talk to Henrik who was fascinated by her.

"He kind of just wins your heart at first meeting," Caroline murmured as she watched the two of them, loving the warmth that she saw there. Henrik turned his head, trying to catch a glimpse of her, mouth starting to wobble when he couldn't spot her. She leaned over him, letting her hair tickle his chin before placing a kiss on his nose. "I'm right here."

Henrik kicked his legs excitedly at that before he brought his hands up to try and grab onto her hair. Caroline swept it back out of the way and shifted him so she could sit him in her lap. "I doubt you want to be tripping over everything in the kitchen, Liz," Klaus started as he walked into the room, pausing for a moment to smile at the sight of Caroline with Henrik. "Where should I put everything?" He caught Caroline's pointed look as well and shook his head at her. "And then yes, I'll get the tree down."

"I have Rebekah in the study. I figured between her and Enzo she would be the one who should get the daybed with the real mattress. And he's not here for another two days anyway and will be on the blow up mattress in the tv room," Liz told them, nodding toward the door that led to that particular room.

Klaus didn't envy him that experience at all. He'd dealt with that blow up mattress his first year and swore he had back problems for weeks after enduring it. "You three are in Caroline's room. The travel crib should fit in there since her vanity is in New York now," Liz continued. That piece had taken up the most space aside from her daughter's bed. "If not we'll rearrange however you want to. And don't think that you need to get the tree out tonight just because of a certain someone's schedule."

Caroline gasped at that, looking slightly betrayed while Klaus tried not to laugh. "I think that should work fine and we'll see about that tree," he told them before disappearing back into the kitchen to move the bags around.

"Okay, you get to spend some more time with grandma while mommy helps daddy with all of our things," Caroline murmured to Henrik as she moved to hand him over to her mother. Like convincing him that the tree was happening that night.

"I was wondering what you two were going to have him call you," Liz said, watching her intently as she gathered the baby into her arms.

"We decided on mom and dad so he has some kind of normal in his life," Caroline told her and she could practically see the wheels turning in her mother's head and waited for a comment. Liz simply smiled and focused her attention back on Henrik.

Caroline pressed her hand against her mother's shoulder and gave it a squeeze, thankful for the lack of judgement on that and headed off to help Klaus, enjoying the sound of her mother happily talking to Henrik as she left the room.


"Why are we stringing popcorn?" Rebekah asked, swearing as she pricked her finger again with the damn needle. She smiled apologetically at Henrik who was happily swatting away at the toys hanging above him in the bouncy seat he was currently in.

"It's the garland for the tree," Caroline told her as she popped another kernel into her mouth before going back to humming along with the Muppets.

"They do sell that in a variety of colors," Rebekah pointed out as she worked to get one of the cranberries onto her string next.

"But this way is a lot more fun," Caroline replied with a big grin and Rebekah eyed her carefully, thoroughly amazed to see that her future sister-in-law actually meant that.

She shook her head and took another handful of popcorn to continue the pattern that Caroline had started on her own string. The sound of something crashing in the hallway, followed by Klaus loudly cursing caused the three of them to stop what they were doing. "Are you alright?" Caroline called out even as she moved toward Henrik who had frozen in his seat, eyes widening at the sound. She unstrapped him from it and held him close to her to help him feel safe. "It's okay, daddy is just clumsy."

"The bloody thing attacked me," Klaus muttered from beyond their view before managing to drag the box with the tree into the room. He rubbed at his neck, glaring for a long moment at the box, before looking over at the three of them, cringing at Henrik's fading fear.

Klaus stepped over the box and was at their side in seconds, rubbing his hand against Henrik's back. "Sorry, little love."

"He'll be okay," Caroline murmured as she sat back down with him beside Rebekah who was still working at making the garland.

"It'll get better for him," Rebekah commented, her gaze fixed on her hands as she stabbed a piece of popcorn a little harder than necessary. "Now that he won't be hearing...all of what he was."

"And it'll get better for you as well," Klaus told her and she looked up at that, nodding at how adamant he seemed to be. "Now come help me get this damn thing out of the box."

"The tree is in there?" Rebekah arched a brow, not quite seeing how that worked. "Aren't you supposed to get one from outside. Chop it down all manly like?"

"And have pine needles to deal with for days on end plus sap? Ugh," Caroline scrunched her nose, shivering in horror at the idea of it. "No thank you. Plastic all the way."

Rebekah actually laughed at that. She never really noticed all the downsides to a live tree. The housekeeper had always dealt with the needles and anything else that dirtied their house. But the likelihood of Liz Forbes having a housekeeper for such a small place was pretty ludicrous, even she could see that.

She set her supplies down and worked with Klaus to get all of the pieces out. Putting it together was another story though and Caroline's laughter from the couch really wasn't helping them to get it done. "Here, you take him," Caroline handed Henrik over to Rebekah who awkwardly accepted her little brother.

She was never all that sure how to hold him, frightened that she'd end up dropping him, scar him for life somehow. But her parents had already managed that one, hadn't they? Even if they were gone they still had left their mark. She settled back on the couch with him, not sure what to really do or say as she looked at him. "Hopefully Nik will have better luck with Caroline than he did me, hmm Henrik?"

He simply stared up at her, sucking on his pacifier. He wasn't crying though, so that was good, right? And then he smiled and Rebekah found herself smiling back at him, absolutely delighted when his hand curled around her finger.

"There, I think we got it," Klaus commented, and her attention turned back to the other two and the tree that was now correctly put together. He dropped down onto the couch next to Rebekah and sighed. "And here comes the fun part."

Rebekah arched a brow at that. "Oh?"

Klaus cocked his head toward Caroline who was walking around the tree and then surveying the room. She'd stop every so often, purse her lips as she stared at one spot before shaking her head and moving on. "What is she doing?" Rebekah asked, mesmerized by the display.

"Trying to find the perfect spot for the tree for this year," Klaus replied as he picked up the bowl of popcorn and started eating some.

"Doesn't it go in the same spot every year?" Rebekah asked. Wouldn't that make the most sense?

Klaus shook his head, amused. "We have more people here this year which equals more presents. Plus some baby things like that seat need to stay out," Caroline carefully explained as she walked over near the fireplace, looking the area over before shaking her head. "So it can change from year to year."

Klaus held out the bowl to Rebekah, nudging her leg with it. She placed Henrik back in the seat and strapped him in before finally taking some popcorn to munch on as well. "That is for the garland not eating!" Caroline told the two of them as she peeked at them from behind the tree, narrowing her eyes at Klaus who picked up what she had been working on.

He popped another piece into his mouth though and a pillow flew through the air to smack him in the chest, nearly causing the bowl of popcorn to tumble to the ground. He caught it, preventing any spilling as Caroline pointed two fingers at her eyes before turning to point them at him, and then popped back around to the other side of the tree. Rebekah found herself laughing as she picked up her own materials.

Henrik was back to playing happily with the hanging toys, Christmas music filling the air as they worked on the garland while Caroline continued to look for the best tree spot. "We should order dinner soon or everything will be closed by the time we get around to it," Caroline commented as she stopped in another spot.

"Most places close by eight," Klaus explained to Rebekah who looked baffled by the idea. "Though the Grill is open later but we don't really want to head there with Henrik."

A place called the Grill really didn't seem all that appetizing to her anyway. "What are our options?"

"Pizza or Chinese," Caroline replied, still not having moved from where she was. "I think this is the spot." Klaus placed down the half-done garland and got up to move the tree into place. "We'll go grocery shopping tomorrow so we can cook other things since my mom sucks with stocking anything. Single. Eats a lot of burgers." She shook her head at that.

"I vote pizza." Rebekah really didn't want to see what passed for Chinese there. Though she doubted that the pizza would be anything like New York's either but if she could handle Florida's pizza when at college then this small town's would be just fine.

"The usual?" KLaus asked, looking between the two of them who nodded before heading out to the kitchen to use the home phone.

"I think that might be enough garland," Caroline informed Rebekah as she headed over to her and held out her hands to gather the strands, carefully laying them out so they wouldn't tangle. "But first we need to do the lights." She held out a green wheel wrapped in lights out for Rebekah to hold and began to unstring them and carefully wrap them around the tree, reworking parts that didn't quite flow how she wanted as Rebekah curiously watched her.

"I never realized how much of a perfectionist you are," Rebekah commented and Caroline paused for a second, ready to make a snappy remark but held it back when she saw the genuine curiosity in the girl's face.

She shrugged. "My mom thinks it's a symptom of the divorce. Though I was totally lining up my stuffed animals on my bed when I was like five so the divorce so didn't cause it." Maybe it exasperated it some but Caroline liked her order, the bit of control she could count on in life when everything else had been tumbling out of control. It had helped to center her, still did.

"How do you possibly live with the chaos that is Nik's studio then?" Because Rebekah knew how crazy that room could get, even if her brother ascertained that everything was in its correct space.

"I do not go into it unless I really need to," Caroline laughed and plugged the lights into the wall, beaming as the tree lit up. "And when I do its only for a little bit and he's chasing me out of it when I start trying to tidy things up."

"It doesn't bother you to know that it's up there like that though?" Rebekah asked as she placed the wheel back into the box Caroline had gotten it from.

"No." She sat down beside Henrik and got him out of the seat so that he could look at the lights. "I wondered if it might but that's his special place where he...goes to deal with things. So I don't mess with it. And he doesn't mess with my study." It worked out well for the two of them.

Rebekah nodded and sat down beside the two, watching with a smile as Henrik became entranced by the lights shining on the tree. She hadn't liked Caroline at first, or well, it was more that she hadn't liked the idea of Caroline, not wanting some girl to come in and take over her brother's life, to take Nik further away from the family than he had already become. Its what a few random other girls through the years after he'd been forced out of the house had done, though Nik hadn't kept any of them around for long.

But Caroline hadn't tried to take him away, hadn't monopolized all of his time or whined about her and Kol's intrusions. Even now, she'd welcomed her along to this family holiday and was taking care of Henrik like he was her own. And yes perhaps part of Rebekah would always be a little jealous of Caroline for her part in Nik's life, but she felt herself softening toward her some. She was infinitely more tolerable than Katherine and while Rebekah liked Sage just fine, the gap in their ages and the fact that Rebekah knew Finn the least of all her siblings had her not knowing that sister-in-law all that well either.

She simply needed to help Caroline's fashion sense along and Rebekah was certain they could have a decent relationship. After all it seemed as though Caroline Forbes was there to stay and as Rebekah watched her point out the different colors of the lights to Henrik, she couldn't help but think that the perhaps that wasn't a horrible thing.

"We'll hang up the ornaments after we string the garland and eat pizza while you have some delicious formula," Caroline murmured to Henrik as he tried to put a strand of her hair into his mouth. "Nope nope nope. Not delicious, I promise." She glanced down at her watch. "But its about time for your bottle."

"You have him on a schedule already?" Rebekah asked as Caroline rose and she followed her into the kitchen.

"We kind of charted out the schedule he kept for himself the first few days we were at home," Caroline explained as she picked up one of the bottles from the counter that already had the right amount of formula in it. "Can you open the bottle of water for me?"

"We?" Klaus arched a brow from where he stood with the phone, talking to the pizza place.

"Okay, so I charted it all out but aside from bedtime which has only just started to get a real schedule..." Though that would probably be rough with him sharing the room with them again. "He pretty much eats and sleeps at the same times of days. Not like by the second or anything but in like a half hour window."

"Oh." Rebekah handed her the opened water bottle and watched as Klaus held his hands out for the items, carefully pouring the water into the bottle before capping it back off to mix the formula in.

"Thank you." Caroline sat down at the kitchen table so she could feed him better while Klaus finally hung up.

"Pizza will be here in thirty," he informed them, thankful that the two seemed to have gotten along fine while he'd left the room. "Should Rebekah and I start unpacking the ornaments?"

"Just no putting up the mice," Caroline reminded with a look before she turned her attention back to Henrik.

"The mice?" Rebekah asked as she followed Klaus back into the living room.

"Two ice skating mice that Caroline likes to put on the tree last. It's a tradition of hers," Klaus explained as he opened one of the boxes that had ornaments in it and handed a tray of them over to Rebekah.

She stared at the ones he'd given her, confused as to why anyone would want such poorly constructed things on their tray until she realized their significance. Each of them had Caroline's name written on it followed by a year. The penmanship of the first three years was definitely an adults and then came the scribbling of a child's that became progressively easier to read as she looked them over. "Her mother kept them all?" Rebekah murmured in disbelief.

"Hmm?" Klaus asked as he started placing hooks on the store bought ornaments, making sure to put them back in the right tray based on color. The same color wasn't supposed to be placed directly by one another. He looked up at his sister, concern quickly settling into his bones as he took in his sister's distraught features.

"I don't even think ours ever went on the tree," Rebekah shook her head, looking at the handprint one, guessing it must have been Caroline's first. "She always had decorators do them. Usually silver ornaments with white lights and we were never allowed to touch it."

He moved to sit beside her. "This house is so ridiculously small, Nik, and yet there is more love shown here than we ever saw in even an inch of ours," Rebekah brushed tears from her cheeks.

"We all loved one another," Klaus reminded as tentatively took hold of her hand, not entirely sure she'd want the contact. "You, me, Elijah, Kol and Finn."

Rebekah nodded at that and placed her other hand on top of the one he was holding, squeezing gently. "We did," she agreed, still looking too depressed for Klaus' liking. "But sometimes I don't know if mother and father really loved us."

What was he supposed to say to that? How could he assure his sister that they did when Klaus doubted that as well? He couldn't remember a time when he thought Mikael had cared, their mother was another story though. He remembered her caring touch, her loving smiles as he gave her a painting that he had done, but those were distant memories and hard to hold onto.

"You were right to bring him here," Rebekah told him as she stared at Henrik's bouncy seat. "This is what he should have. Not a cold, orchestrated Christmas where he's ushered away to finish opening presents in his room because the noise has become too much to handle." She pulled away from Klaus and took a deep breath as she rose, trying to center herself. She placed the ornament she had been holding into his hand. "I'm going to go freshen up."

Klaus watched her head off to the bathroom, knowing the moment was over, and he looked down at the small handprint with Caroline's name and the date scrawled across it. First Christmas, it read as well, and he stroked his thumb across the surface, knowing that Rebekah was right and this was the kind of holiday he wanted for their baby brother to have. But he also wanted it for Rebekah. For Kol. For the rest of his siblings. While he couldn't quite do that for the others, he could make sure that this was a good Christmas for Rebekah.

Every little step forward meant they got a little closer to healing, to actually being a family again. It would never go back to how it had been; they were all in different places now, but at least it would be one more step forward after so many years of taking steps back.

"Everything okay?" Caroline asked from the archway to the kitchen, Henrik resting his head against her chest as they both looked at him.

Klaus rose and headed over to the two of them, still overwhelmed at the sight of the two, at the depth of the love he felt for her. "It is now," he assured before glancing back at the ornaments. "Though I'm wondering if the amount of red ornaments we have will overpower the rest."

"There is more of the other colors in the last box," she reminded as she rolled her eyes and deposited Henrik back into his swing to watch their progress.

"Wouldn't it make more sense to pack these away all mixed up instead of sorted by their colors?" Klaus asked as he lifted the other trays of ornaments out, making sure to put them all near their respective matches.

"Just like you have a method to that madness that is your studio I have one for this so don't you try and mess with it," Caroline countered as she wagged a finger at him.

He caught it and tugged her her hand forward to brush his lips against her knuckles, enjoying the way she still blushed slightly at that contact. "Stop flirting and keep putting the hooks in," Caroline murmured as she tugged her hand away and nodded toward the ornaments.

Klaus chortled at that, smile broadening as Henrik happily waved his arms and kicked his feet at their interaction, before Rebekah came out of the bathroom, looking as if she hadn't shed a single tear and ready to help. "Let's get this tree decorated then because these lights are not enough," Rebekah commented as she sat down. "Did you know they apparently have ones that blink?"

Caroline grinned at that and handed Rebekah a bag of hooks to use, pleased that the week was already taking a turn for the better, and silently thanked whatever Christmas spirit was making sure the Forbes house was beginning to fill with laughter again, something that every single one of them definitely needed.