There was laughter in the air when Caroline stood, patting Hope's back as she did so. Her friends and family seemed close enough to not try to murder each other in her absence, and so she walked towards the front door. And, since he was who he was and would never change, Klaus stood, his hand finding the small of her back as he caught up to her, a look of concern on his face as she pulled open the door and exited the home.
She breathed in the cool winter air, turned to face him with a smile upon her face. She balanced Hope in her arms, careful to support her head due to the position in which she was holding the child, and then stood staring out at the town she had grown up living in, out at the streets she had played on, laughed on, been injured on.
"My mom taught me how to ride my back on this road. I was six years old, scared out of my mind, and I begged her not to let go until I was ready. She said she wouldn't, and she didn't." Caroline brushed a strand of hair from her eyes with the back of her hand. "Sometimes I wish life was like that, like riding a bike. At least you know that if you fall, it'll hurt and there's always an end to the ride." She sighed as she glanced down at Hope.
"I know it hurts, Caroline," Klaus said. "My mother hated my existence. I was the symbol of her ultimate shame and sin, but I was around your mother when you were ill, and she was the epitome of a loving and caring mother. She didn't deserve to die any more than you deserved to lose her."
"Life isn't fair, though, is it? It's not about what we deserve. Your mother tried to brutally murder all six of her children, six innocent children who didn't do anything until she changed them into what you are, and then she tried to kill Hope, a true innocent who has done nothing but bring light and joy into this world. And she's still alive, Klaus, as she always has been." Caroline stared out at the road once again.
"Are you all right?" he questioned softly, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.
She smiled, nodded, and walked towards the steps. "I want to take Hope to meet my mother, if that's all right?" she said, and Klaus nodded wordlessly, heading inside to get the keys.
There was nobody at the cemetery, no one there to stalk them or to make Caroline cry more than she inevitably would. Hope slept in Caroline's arms, her smile angelic as she cuddled into the blonde woman's grasp, and Caroline sighed as she walked towards the headstone underneath which her mother laid.
"Hi, Momma," she said softly, stooping down and helping Hope stand on wobbly legs in front of the grave. "This is Hope, Klaus's daughter. You'd love her. I know you would." Caroline sniffled as she shifted, the baby now higher up in her arms so her feet weren't against the cold ground. "It's really hard without you, you know. It hurts so bad when I remember. But I told you I would be all right without you, and I am, Momma. I've learned that not wanting to lose someone doesn't mean you can't live without them, but that doesn't mean I'm okay. I honestly don't know if I'll ever be okay."
She sighed as she glanced towards the sky. "Elena's happy, Mom. She's away from Damon and Stefan and she fell in love. You would be happy with her choices. I hope you're happy with mine. Alaric and Jo, Mom, they're having a baby. I know you'll watch over her. Keep her safe up there, okay? Keep a close eye on her. With her mother and father, she's going to need all the help she can get." She breathed out deeply. "And don't forget me, Mommy. I know you're there in heaven, with no health problems and no pain, and I still want you to remember me, which is so selfish, but I will never forget you, so please don't forget me."
With that, she turned in Klaus's arms and held the baby close as she let several tears leak from her eyes, their wetness dotting his jacket as she sobbed for the loss of all that had been good. Then, as his arms tightened around her, she remembered that she still had him. So perhaps it wasn't all lost.