Chapter 11

A/N: Don't kill me. Okay? I'm trying to write but I have my exams and I am suffering a MASSIVE writer's block.
P.S. Ella and Nick are totally based on my family life. Nick's character has been taken from my 2 years older overprotective brother. ENJOY!

"Nick!" Caroline called out. "Nick!" she huffed out in annoyance as she placed her hands on her hip and balanced herself on top of the ladder. She reached into the back pocket on her shorts to check if she had her cellphone or not. Apparently not. "Come on!" she cursed out loud on her luck. "Ella! Nick!" she yelled hoping one of her children would come to help her. Of course, she didn't particularly like climbing stairs but someone had to replace the old light and Damon was just not that someone.

That didn't mean she was any more expert than him at the task. She had left the light at the table below and she was in no position to get down and get it herself. Hence she was shouting her children's name, hoping one of them would save her from devastatingly falling and landing on her butt.

She huffed in irritation again before taking a step down. However, she missed the step completely and twisted her ankle, making her tumble down from the top of the stairs. She yelped and closed her eyes waiting for the impact. Waiting for the blow to her face, as she fell facedown.

Only it never came.

She felt herself being caught in someone's arms. Damon! Oh God! That man was a lifesaver. She opened her eyes slowly but once she did, she screamed again. As loud as possible.

Damon dropped Caroline on the floor and laughed clutching his stomach, as tears sprang to his eyes. Caroline groaned at being fooled and rubbed her bum. She could hear the telltale of the snickers of her two little devils too.

They had all set her up.

"Damon scared you mommy" Ella said showing up with a proud glint in her eyes. "Which means now you owe us ice cream" she announced giggling and jumping up and down.

The older Salvatore stood up and wiped the tears off his face with his hand but when he looked at his hand, it was black. Covered with all the makeup- Caroline's makeup- that the kids had put on him to make him look scary. "I have to wash this off" he said. "But you" he pointed towards Caroline. "Are getting us ice cream" he ordered seriously.

"Fine" Caroline groaned out and watched as Nick and Ella started dancing. Her children were a tornado. A tsunami. A hurricane. Too energetic for any age. "We'll get ice cream" she promised.

"Let me just go wash my face and then let's go" Damon declared and ran off to the bathroom.

A couple of hours later, they had eaten their ice cream and were roaming the Sforza Castle. As soon as Caroline and Damon had shifted to Italy, she had decided that since it would be her new home, she needed to know each and every place over here. So it was mandatory for Ella, Nick and Damon to accompany her to any local place she felt like.

At first she thought her children would be bored with these history lessons and tourism field trips but Ella and Nick surprised her yet again and always urged her to show them more of Italy.

"Careful Ella" Caroline called out as she watched both her kids running, trying to catch each other. She smiled back when Ella beamed her way showing her cute dimples. Her dimples made her think of him. How cute were his dimples? She had almost forgotten what he looked like. It seemed like another lifetime to her when she used to live with Klaus. It seemed like it had been centuries since the time she was with him. Here in Italy.

Caroline spun around, opening her arms wide breathing in the atmosphere. The warmth, the environment, the people. Everything was incredible.

"I love it here" she announced and turned around to face the love of her life. "This is amazing. Thank you Nik" she thanked him and kissed his cheek softly.

Klaus smiled and intervened their fingers together. "Anything for you my love" he answered sweetly. "Now where would you like to go next?" he asked, glancing at his phone to see if there were any calls or text messages from back home. He had been reluctant to leave all his business to go for vacation but he knew that going for honeymoon was also necessary. And delaying it would mean his own death by his newlywed wife. So he had left it all in the capable hands of his brothers. Elijah and Finn to maintain their empire and to clean up Kol's messes.

When he received no reply or comeback from his wife, he looked up to see her staring at him critically. His eyes darted to his phone and then back at her face. She gave him a small smile mixed with disappointment and acceptance. In all the time she had spent with him, she knew he could- would never give her a whole day without any distractions. Maybe his business couldn't allow it but she had started accepting that fact. It didn't, however, lower her disappointment.

Klaus saw as Caroline turned her face to the other side, pretending to see the scenery but she was actually hiding her face. Trying to hide the distress on her face. To be honest, he felt like an ass at that moment. He couldn't even give her his whole attention during their honeymoon period.

"We can go back if you have work to do" Caroline's voice came snapping him out of his thoughts. He could detect the sadness in it and he didn't like it one bit.

He shook his head lightly. He was not going to disappoint her. He switched off his phone and stopped walking. Caroline stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him with confusion. Out of nowhere he threw his phone into a stream passing right in front of them.

Caroline opened her mouth to say something but closed it when nothing came out.

"No more interruptions" he promised and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. He brought his kips to hers and kissed her slowly, bringing her impossibly close to him. He pulled back when they were both breathless and rested his forehead and against hers.

Caroline smiled brightly. "No more interruptions" she repeated before diving in for another scorching kiss.

She was pulled out of her thoughts when she felt someone sit next to her, on the bench. She frowned and turned to see who it was. Her eyes widened as her heartbeat accelerated. Oh no! She was doomed.

"Caroline"

She let out a shaky breath before answering. "Kol. What are you doing here?" she whispered with bated breath. Her voice quivering.

The brunette turned and gave her a wink. "What? No hello. How have you been since I ran away from your care?" he taunted mockingly.

Caroline didn't answer but glared him.

Kol sighed. "Fine. I'm here to see my family of course" he replied and then looked ahead where Nick and Ella were playing. "Smile. You're going to get the kids worried" he told her plastering a smile on his face.

Caroline locked eyes with Ella who was playing with her brother, oblivious to the risk they were in and turned to look at her mother. She smiled brightly and waved at her mother from a distance. Caroline gave her a small smile and waved back.

"What do you want Kol?" she asked turning to face him. Her voice more confident now that she saw what was on line. Her children, their happiness and safety.

Kol shrugged. "At first, I was simply going to drug you. Take you back to Nik. Earn his trust back" he listed off each point. "But then I saw that you had quite the family life here and I thought not to disturb you seeing as you had moved on" he said generally pointing towards her kids. "Marcel did a little digging. Found out you were living with Damon Salvatore" he grinned. "What a scandal it caused" he commented sarcastically.

"Get to the point" Caroline bit out worriedly and angrily.

"But then we observed you lot for quite some time and realized that you weren't with Damon as we thought. You are with Lorenzo" he stated knowingly. "Elijah said he doesn't live with you. Which ensures the kids' are not his. They're not Damon's" he pointed out and Caroline's heartbeat quickened with every word he said. She was praying to any super power there was that she would be saved today. If only she could get another chance. She'd take her kids far away and keep them safe.

"Marcel also mentioned they were twins" he said and grinned as if he'd found out a treasure. "After that I recalled you showing me a picture of the twins you had supposedly miscarried" he hissed at her.

They both stayed silent. Caroline's eyes were glued to her hands as she twisted them nervously in her lap. She didn't know what to say or to do in this situation. She didn't even have Damon with her to spin a couple of lies to save their asses. Why did she send Damon back at the vineyard? She cursed herself at that moment.

"They're Nik's. Aren't they?" Kol asked silently. His voice dead serious and Caroline knew it was more of a statement than a question.

She nodded defeated. "Yes" she answered in a small voice.

Kol sighed. "I was hoping you would say no and I wouldn't have to do this" he said and wore his sunglasses. He took out his phone and dialed someone's number. Caroline stood up and watched him warily.

"What are you doing Kol?" She asked and turned her head to look at her children. Only they were gone. Her eyes widened and she looked around frantically trying to find them. Where did they go? They were just playing in front of her eyes, two minutes ago. "Where are my kids Kol?" she asked worriedly. Her eyes darting everywhere to search for her babies.

He didn't answer her and kept speaking into the phone. "Yes" he said in a hushed tone. "Yes, I've got them" he added. "Alright. I'll meet you there" he said and cancelled the call, putting his phone back into his jacket's inner pocket.

He then turned to her. "Now, you can come with me easily or I can simply drag you. The choice is yours but I'd prefer if you went quietly. I have never disrespected you or hurt you and I don't want to start now" he warned her and motioned for her to start walking towards his car.

"Where are my kids Kol?" she asked sternly, glaring him. She was going nowhere until she knew her kids were safe. "Tell me because I won't be courteous enough not to hurt you if my kids are in danger" she promised darkly.

Kol smiled at that. "Easy mama bear" he joked. "I would never hurt them. I'm Uncle Kol. Just come with me and you'll meet them soon enough" he promised and started walking towards the car, knowing she would follow him.

Caroline huffed and stomped her foot in annoyance, knowing she had no choice but to follow him. She looked around and saw that no one was looking and quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Stefan's number and put the phone in her pocket, hoping her plan would work. Right now, Stefan was the only one who could help her.

"What the bloody hell are we doing here Elijah?" Klaus growled as he got out of his private jet and rubbed his temples in annoyance. Okay it was more because of the hangover. He may have over-partied with Genevieve last night.

Elijah fixed his tie and slid into the awaiting car gracefully, looking fresh as ever while his younger brother looked like he had been dragged from hell. He had thought of everything and was ready to come to Italy himself to check up on Caroline but decided against it when he saw Klaus stumbling around the mansion drunk with his lovely companion. Genevieve was it? He didn't really care. He cared only that his brother was stumbling and falling into the depths of darkness and despair. He feared that soon no one not even Caroline, would be able to pull him out of his misery.

He knew he couldn't do it alone so when he had asked Kol for help. The younger Mikaelson had been ecstatic and had even been helpful to solve the puzzle of whom the kids were. Apparently they were his own family. They were Niklaus' children. Caroline had lied. She had lied to them all and now there was nothing he would do to save her from the consequences.

That was when he had decided that it was Klaus' right to decide what he wanted to do with them. Either he could let them live happily and blissfully ignorant to their own family heritage or he could take them back home.

Obviously he hadn't told his brother all this. Only dragged him along saying that they had business to attend to. Klaus was not very happy, to say the very least.

"For the last time Niklaus" Elijah began as he started driving the car. His brother sitting in the passenger seat. "I will tell you everything but first. Please make yourself a little presentable" he requested, internally cringing at his brother's appearance. Klaus looked like the true miserable drunk that he was. Dark circles, wrinkled forehead, unshaved scruff (rougher than before), red puffy eyes and an annoyed expression plastered to his face.

He couldn't remember the last time he had seen his brother smile genuinely.

"Fine" Klaus snapped and combed his fingers through his rough curls and ran a hand over his face, washing away the tiredness and sleep. "Happy?" he asked sarcastically.

Elijah sighed and then turned to his brother. "Now, have an open mind because what I am about to tell you is going to shock you most probably" the eldest Mikaelson started and braced himself for his brother's reaction.

"Where are we going Kol?" Caroline asked for the hundredth time, hoping he'd say it so Stefan could hear it. She had been blindfolded as soon as she sat in the car and her hands had been bound together.

"Ask me hundred more times and I'll tell you darling" he bit out as he continued driving.

Caroline sighed. "Is the blindfold and rope necessary?" she asked tugging her wrists apart to break free. But to no avail….

"Yes. I can't have you running on me again. Niklaus would kill me" he told her and her heart tugged painfully, hearing his name after so many years. "Tell me more about the kids. What do they do? What do they like?" he asked and his voice was high pitched which made Caroline realize that he was really excited.

"Why? So you can be uncle of the year?" she teased back, rolling her eyes. "Ella is younger, likes to draw, paint and dance. She's the sweetest and most innocent girl in the world" she said. "… Nick is the older, overprotective brother. He's very observant, reserved and grumpy. He likes playing video game, remote control airplanes, cars and stuff. He's also into baseball but they don't play it here so he just plays with Damon" she said smiling at the thought of her kids.

"Baseball huh?" Kol said impressed. "That little kid did inherit something from his uncle after all" he gloated proudly. "So you named him Nick" he stated amused.

Caroline's smile fell. "His name is Nicholas. We just call him Nick for short like Ella. Her real name's Eleanor" Caroline told him.

"Guess you did care about my brother after all" Kol commented snidely.

"It's not like I hated him Kol" Caroline said frowning. What did they all think of her? "I loved him- she started but was cut off by Kol when he suddenly pressed something against her mouth. She struggled and tried not to inhale the pungent smell but it was too strong and soon she fell unconscious in her seat.

"I know you did" he said and he gazed at his sleeping sister-in-law. "I know you still do" he whispered before getting out of the car and moving towards the other side to pull her out. But before doing that, he took out her phone from her pocket. He glanced at the screen and smirked.

"Stefan!" he greeted putting the phone to his ear.

"What the hell did you do to Caroline Kol?" his angry voice came through.

Kol smirked. "Nothing. She's just taking a nap. However, I do suggest that you run and hide mate because my brother doesn't have any use for you anymore" he told him seriously. "You're dispensable to him" he added. He had known all along that Caroline had called someone. He just hoped it would be her boyfriend. He really would've loved to see his brother's reaction to that.

"Leave her alone Kol" Stefan warned him.

"Oh I wouldn't do anything to her. My brother on the other hand" he said and shrugged. "They have a lot of catching up to do. Bye now!" he said cheerily and shut off the phone and threw it to the ground, crushing it under his foot. He carefully picked up his sister-in-law and entered walked over to the front door. He smirked at the name written there.

Augustine Vineyard

He nodded at Diego who was standing guard at the door and opened the door for him. Once he entered the house, Kol looked around. There were so many of their people in the house, it was like his brothers had planned to live here forever.

"I'm home!" he called out loudly, hoping to catch the attention of his brothers who were nowhere to be seen.

"In the living room Kol" Elijah's voice came through. He smirked and walked over to the living room, ignoring the looks he got from his family's henchmen who were too busy ogling the woman in his arms. He rolled his eyes. Of course. No one believed he would be able to get her back. Once he entered the room, he saw both his brothers turn to him. "I come bearing gifts" he teased Klaus and dropped Caroline onto the couch in the living room.

Elijah had enough sense to pull everyone out of the room to give his brother a moment. Klaus stared at Caroline with wide eyes. He couldn't believe he was seeing her again. His beautiful wife. Five years had done her justice. She looked even more radiant and beautiful than before, if it was even possible. Her hair was longer and reached down almost till her back. She looked weaker. Even though, he had expected her to gain weight, she had lost whatever weight she had gained before.

He sat down next to her and brought his hand up to stroke her cheek. He reveled in the smoothness of her skin and closed his eyes, savoring the moment. She looked so innocent while sleeping that he couldn't believe that she could be cruel enough to take his children away from him. But she did.

She faked the miscarriage. Ran away and took his kids away from him. She would pay for that. No one betrayed Klaus Mikaelson and made it out unharmed, unscratched. And she was going to be an example for everyone not to test his leniency towards them.

After two minutes exactly, Elijah, Kol, Marcel and Diego re-entered the room. Diego stood quietly in the corner, waiting for orders while Kol made himself very comfortable and lounged in front of the multimedia. "You know, this house screams Caroline. I wonder how you missed it Marcel" Kol commented looking around.

Marcel chuckled. "I wasn't exactly looking around the house. Those kids were- he stopped in between his comeback, not knowing if it would be appropriate to continue right now in front of Klaus when he was so pissed.

Elijah cleared his throat. "What do you want to do Niklaus?" he asked seriously.

Klaus gazed out of the window, into the vast greenery. "Where are the kids?" he asked, pressing his lips together into a thin line.

"Sleeping" Kol answered, eating a chocolate bar. "I didn't drug them!" he defended himself at the accusatory look he got from his brother. "Your daughter tired your son and herself from all her wailing. I swear she cries worse than Bekah" the younger Mikaelson said shuddering.

"Kol" Elijah warned, knowing it was a sensitive topic for his brother.

"Where's Damon Salvatore?" Klaus asked steeling his emotions.

"Knocked him out. He's locked in the basement" Marcel spoke up, crossing his arms over his chest. "We still haven't gotten ahold of this Lorenzo guy though" he added rubbing his neck shamefully.

Klaus scowled at that. "Find him and bring him to me. I will kill him before her eyes" he vowed darkly, his gaze shifting to his wife temporarily. "In which room are the kids?" he asked, keeping his anger in check.

"Upstairs. Next to- Marcel was not allowed to complete before Klaus walked out of the room to find his children. Elijah and Kol followed him to make sure he wouldn't do anything he'd regret later on. Once they reached there, they saw as Klaus hesitated a moment before opening the door.

Klaus' eyes darted around the room as he took in the childish wallpaper and the bright colors. Toys, colors, dolls, bears and books spilled on the floor. "Don't you know how to knock" he heard a taunting and grumpy voice. He looked down to see a young boy with blonde curls with his arms crossed over his chest. His son.

"Mean people don't know how to knock Nik" another sweet voice answered from the corner of the room. When he looked at her, his eyes watered momentarily. His sweet daughter sitting there clutching a bear to her chest with her blonde curls falling around her angelic face. He could laugh at how similar these kids were to him and to their mother.

Klaus opened his mouth to respond but at that moment, he couldn't find his voice to speak.

"Apologies. We didn't mean to intrude" Elijah spoke up, saving him from the sheer embarrassment of being shunned by his own children. "My name is Elijah Mikaelson" he said and tried to walk over and extend his hand to the little girl first but the young boy blocked his way and shook his head.

"You speak to me first" Nicholas spoke up protectively standing in front of his baby sister. Ella peaked her head from her brother's side. "We can't talk to you unless our mommy tells us to. We don't talk to strangers" She said sweetly.

Nicholas rolled his eyes. "Eleanor" he warned but the young girl huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "My name is Ella" she corrected him, annoyed.

Nicholas was about to retort before he turned to Elijah. "You said your name is Mikaelson" he stated eying him suspiciously. "Who are you?" he asked.

Elijah cleared his throat. These children were scaring him a lot more than he thought they would. "Do you know where your father is?" he asked, watching the kids' reaction very closely.

Nicholas' face hardened while Ella looked down sadly and stared at her little fingers. "We don't talk about him" she said dejectedly. "Mommy cries if we ask about him" she added and cast her eyes downwards.

"We don't talk about him" Nicholas cemented strongly.

Klaus' heart broke into a million pieces. His daughter and his son didn't even know about him. They didn't want to talk about him. Okay maybe his daughter did but his son didn't. And it hurt. A lot more than he expected it to. But hope flourished in his heart when he remembered his daughter's words. Mommy cries if we ask about him.

That had to mean something. Maybe Caroline still loved him after all.

"I'm your father" Klaus blurted out, unable to wait any longer.

The room was silent before Nicholas burst into a fit of laughter. "Yes and after this you can tell me your Santa Claus" he joked and Ella started giggling with him. Kol chuckled along with the kids. Everything was getting on Klaus' nerves. Caroline. The kids. Lorenzo. Damon. Kol.

"ENOUGH!" he shouted loudly, making everyone in the room go quiet.

Suddenly an ear piercing cry filled the room. He looked down to see his daughter crying loudly with huge tears in her eyes. Nicholas held his baby sister as she clung to him and started wailing loudly. He glared Klaus angrily. "Don't shout in our house" Nicholas warned Klaus and his tone of authority made Klaus impressed. His daughter was in good hands. "Ella doesn't like it when someone shouts at her and I don't like it when someone makes her cry" he threatened menacingly.

"Unbelievable!" Kol exclaimed astonished. "This kid is a carbon copy of our Nik" he said. "Remember how protective he was of Bekah?" Kol asked Elijah who nodded.

Klaus crouched down to the kids' eye level and sighed. "Give us a moment" he ordered his brothers and when he heard the sound of the door closing he turned to his daughter who, now, had pink cheeks and a pointed little red nose from all the crying. Her chubby cheeks were wet from the tears. He could swear she looked just like Caroline at that moment.

"I'm sorry sweetheart. I didn't mean to shout at you" he said in his softest voice possible and moved his hand forward to wipe the tears from her face. He also observed as his son watched his every move like a hawk. Klaus gently wiped her tears away from his thumb and brushed back the fallen curls from her face. He pulled out a tissue from his pocket and helped her wipe her nose clean. "I'm really sorry love. I will never ever shout at you again" he promised.

A small smile broke out on her face. "It's okay" she said in her small voice. "Are you really our daddy?" she asked quietly looking at him expectantly with her big blue eyes and red pointed little nose. She looked like a mini Caroline to him.

He nodded with a smile tugging at his lips. "I am" he confirmed.

Ella's eyes widened for a second before she started giggling and poked the dimples in his cheeks with her nimble fingers. "You have dimples like mine and Nik's" she told him showing her own. "I like them" she added, smiling shyly at him.

"I'm glad you do sweetheart" he replied and then turned to his son who was watching him carefully. Before he could say a word, his daughter caught his sleeve and pulled at him to gain his attention again. "Where's our mommy?" she asked innocently.

"She's … sleeping" he told them but somehow he knew convincing them would be a tough job. Especially his son who had the sharpness and vigilance of a wolf.

"Liar liar pants on fire" Nicholas said frowning, as he pointed towards Klaus. "Mommy never sleeps during the day. She only ever sleeps when Enzo or Damon are with us" he added narrowing his eyes at Klaus who felt like he was being interrogated. "Did I mention, I don't like people who lie to me?" he asked glaring Klaus.

"Nick you're being rude!" Ella hissed at him. "He's our daddy. Can we talk to him like that?" she wondered biting the corner of her lip.

"We don't have a father Ella" he told her but his eyes were staring into Klaus'. "We have mommy" he said solemnly.

Klaus didn't have much time to answer as the door flew open and Diego marched in with a look that screamed 'haphazard' plastered on his face. Nicholas rolled his eyes. "No one knows how to knock" he retorted.

"She's awake and- Diego started but Klaus cut him off. "We'll be there" he ordered and stood up.

Klaus held out his hand for Ella and Nick to take. "Come on" he said with a small smile. "We have to go downstairs" he told them. Ella easily grabbed his hand but Nick hesitated before pushing himself off the wall and grabbing Klaus' other hand. But he was still eying Klaus suspiciously. It reminded Klaus of his own childhood. He was very paranoid and was always very vigilant.

Klaus walked down the stairs and watched as Ella half-jumped, half swung by his arm down each step. "What's your name?" she asked openly, blowing her blonde curls off her face.

"Klaus" he answered.

"Why did Kol call you Nik?" she asked.

"Because my name is Niklaus" he replied. "But mostly everyone calls me Klaus. Only my family calls me Nik" he added.

"You said you are our father which makes us your family then why did you tell me your name was Klaus?" she asked unintentionally.

Klaus sighed. "You ask a lot of questions love" he told her.

"That's what mommy says too" Ella told him as if proud of the fact. "Did you bring us a gift?" she asked with wide eyes shining with excitement.

Klaus frowned. "A gift?" he asked perplexed.

"We're going to be five" she said showing him her toothy grin.

"Oh?" he asked. "Well, I'll get you anything your heart desires when we go home" he promised.

"We are home" Ella responded frowning.

Klaus shook his head silently and thanked God that they reached the living room. He entered the room and saw Caroline standing there with her hands on Kol's collar.

"I. WILL. KILL. YOU" she threatened him but when she turned to him, her eyes widened and he could swear he saw a flash of relief in her eyes. "Ella! Nik!" she called out and both the kids broke free from Klaus' hold and ran into their mother's arms.

Klaus almost groaned at hearing his name fall from her lips.

Caroline hugged both her kids and then pulled back to examine them thoroughly, from head to toe. "Oh my God! Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, kissing their cheeks.

"We're fine" Nick spoke up first. Although from the grumpy expression on his face, Caroline could tell he wasn't pleased. "Where's Uncle Damon?" he asked looking around the room.

Caroline ran a hand through her son's curls and softly scratched his scalp causing him to relax instantly, while she held Ella close. "Where's Damon?" Caroline asked locking eyes with Kol who shook his head and straightened his collar.

"You just threatened to kill me! Why would I tell you?" Kol taunted and saw Caroline and little Nick giving him a glare while Ella looked at him fascinatingly. "Your family's scary Nik" he told Klaus before going towards drinking straight from the bourbon bottle he found under the couch.

"That's Damon's!" Ella protested.

"Where's Enzo?" Nicholas asked and suddenly there was silence in the room. Caroline glanced nervously at Klaus. She knew about his jealousy issues but honestly, she had never thought that she would see him again to think of his reaction to her relationship with Enzo. Just as expected though, his jaw and fists were clenched and his eyes were cold. Everything about his demeanor screamed danger right now.

Klaus walked forward and stood in front of Caroline. "We need to talk" he told her. His voice coarse. It was like that when he was trying to control his anger.

With that he walked out of the room. Caroline turned to her kids. "Ella, Nick. Stay with Elijah" she told them and nodded at Elijah.

"Why not me?" Kol asked offended he wasn't trusted with the kids.

"The last thing they need is another partner in crime" she mocked him and then turned to Nick who was holding her hand too tightly. "Nick" she said softly. "Baby let my hand go" she cooed softly but he frowned and shook his head. "I'm just going to be on the balcony" she reassured him.

"I know who he is" he said grimly and Caroline sighed. She knew that all those nights when she cried to sleep holding her wedding picture that her little man knew who she was shedding her tears for.

"Nick. You need to stay with your sister" she told him and watched as his hold loosened a little. "Okay? I'll be back in a few minutes" she promised.

"Okay" he replied grumpily before standing next to Ella. Caroline walked over to the door and just as she was about to exit she heard Nick's mischievous voice. "He shouted at Ella earlier" he told her deviously and flopped onto the couch with a smile tugging his lips.

As soon as Caroline was out of the room, Nick turned to Marcel who was watching the kids with amusement. "So Marcellus" Nick started. "Is there something else you would like to confess to while your lies are being openly displayed?" he asked and everyone was shocked to see such a young boy say such a long sentence.

"I didn't lie about anything" he defended himself.

"No. You only hid the truth" Ella countered, answering for her brother. "Nick doesn't like liars Marcel" she told him as a matter of fact. "So Uncle 'Lijah. Why are you wearing those fancy clothes?" she asked sitting by her brother and swinging her legs idly.

Elijah blinked at the unfamiliar term but cracked a smile, nonetheless. "Do you not like it?" he asked playing along.

Ella shook her head. "No. I have no problem with them" she said and then smiled. "Can I tell you a secret?" she asked glancing towards Nick who shrugged.

The eldest Mikaelson nodded, secretly overjoyed that the children were already trusting him. "I'd be honored" he uttered.

"Come closer" Ella said. When he did, he kneeled in front of her and she came forward and put her hand at the side of his ear. "Damon had clothes like this but we painted them. I painted one yellow and pink. But Nick painted the others blue and green" she whispered in his ear and started giggling.

Elijah pulled back and smiled. "I believe that you ought to share these details with Kol. He has painted many of my suits during the overgrown duration of his childhood" he said and fixed his tie.

"So Kol is our uncle too?" Ella asked harmlessly.

Kol grinned. "I'm your favorite uncle" he announced. "I have the best video games" he said and Nick's eyes lit up. "I can even beat anyone any day" he challenged openly.

Nick smirked. "Are you sure about that?" Nick asked seemingly innocently.

"Any day" Kol repeated.

Nicholas stood up and walked over to the multimedia. "We have a video game. What are we waiting for?" the little boy asked pulling out the gaming console.

Kol rubbed his hands together before indulging himself in his second favorite past time.

Ella huffed bored. She poked Elijah's side. The eldest Mikaelson looked at her perplexed. "Can you tie my hair? It's getting in my face" she whined irritated by the baby blonde curls falling on her face.

Marcel stifled his laughter. Oh boy! Were the Mikaelsons in for a treat or what?

Elijah, however, gave her a smile and nodded. "Turn around" he told her and grabbed her hair. Where many people thought he knew nothing of women, they forgot that he had been with Katerina for a very long duration and tying hair was one of the things he had picked up quite easily. He partitioned her hair into three and started braiding it.

"You're tying it like Aunt Kat" she said, oblivious to her uncle's connection to her aunt. "Aunt Kat is mommy's friend" she added as if he didn't know.

"Does she visit often?" he asked trying to find out where she was.

Ella nodded. "Yes. She came a week ago but then we had an accident and she had to leave" she said sadly.

Elijah's eyebrows shot up. "You had an accident?" he asked praying she'd say no.

"Yes and Ella dirty fella wasn't wearing her seatbelt" Nicholas' voice echoed from in front of the gaming console.

"Nik don't call me that!" the little girl protested crossing her arms over her chest. "Thank you Uncle 'Lijah" She said with a sweet smile once he had tied her hair and hopped off to her brother's side, leaving Elijah reeling with the new piece of information.

As soon as Caroline entered the balcony and closed the door behind her, Klaus zoomed in on her and grabbed her by her shoulders pulling her close. "You lied to me" he stated in a dangerously low voice.

Caroline struggled to get free of his hold but to no avail. "Let go of me Klaus" she hissed at him.

His fingers dug into the flesh of her arm. "No! I will not listen to you anymore" he sneered at her. "You hid our children from me. You lied and manipulated me. You betrayed me!" he growled angrily.

"Yeah well welcome to my world" she greeted sarcastically. "Because you betrayed me too" she told him angrily. "You pretended to be someone else for all those years and turned out to be someone else" she said a little more calm than before. "I took my kids because they weren't safe there with you" she growled.

"Oh so now you believe I would've hurt my own children?" he asked and chuckled menacingly. "Just say it Caroline. You were bored and found a new target. Tell me did you even wait before jumping into Lorenzo's bed or was it Damon first?" he asked, knowing to strike where it would hurt most.

Caroline raised her hand and slapped him right across his face. She felt tears coming into her eyes at the accusation. "This is exactly why I left" she said angrily. "You weren't Nik! I told you that before. I gave you a chance but it wasn't about me anymore. It was about my children too. And regardless of what you might think, I stayed loyal to you for as long as I could. I only started seeing Enzo a couple of months ago" she clarified and willed herself not to cry in front of this man that she had married.

Klaus' heart tugged painfully when he saw the hurt and disbelief on Caroline's face. He could see the tears swimming in her eyes but he willed himself to stay cold. She deserved this and a lot more. "I know Enzo's been here since the start Caroline" he snarled, knowing she was lying to him.

Caroline scoffed. "Yeah as a friend!" she defended herself.

"Friend or not. It doesn't matter any longer" he said moving closer to her and going towards her ear, pressing her body closer to his. "You are my wife and we are going back home. Pack your bags Caroline. Vacation's over" he whispered in her ear.

"These kids don't deserve the life you're about to drag them in Klaus" she told him seriously. "Do you think that they'll forgive you after they see you kill someone in their garden?" she susurrated at him remembering the time he had killed a guy who had begged for his life, right in front of her eyes. That one kill had cemented her decision about leaving him.

Klaus clenched his jaw. "We're leaving Caroline. I don't care what you want or think" he told her, his eyes cold and calculating. "These children are mine. You are mine" he announced with finality. "And when we do indeed go home we have to discuss your punishment too" he told her with an evil glint in his eyes.

Caroline rolled her eyes. "Like living with you won't be punishment enough" she quipped sarcastically.

"I see you still have your wit intact" he taunted. "Let's see if you'll still be having it after the birth of our next child" he told her making her whip her head to stare at him. He smiled pleased by the effect of his words on her. "You made me miss the birth of my firstborns. Their childhood. I won't sit and wait for you to do it again" he warned her.

"You are delusional if you think we are getting back together" she told him shaking her head and crossing her arms over her chest protectively.

Klaus ignored her and continued. "Eleanor and Nicholas are old enough to have another sibling. I think now would be a perfect time to plan our third child sweetheart" he told her.

"In your dreams" Caroline retorted glaring him. Was he serious right now?

He zoomed in closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer to him until her body was pressed into his. "In my dream, in my bed, in my room" he whispered to her, holding her tight. "I will get you heavy with another child Caroline. Don't doubt it. I will spend every minute of your second pregnancy with you and we will share every moment together. You will not run this time" he told her with finality. "But I am not as cruel a man as you perceive me to be. I will give you time to settle back into our home. Into our lifestyle before I get you pregnant" he reassured her and then he left her and waved his hand. "Now go. Pack your bags. We will be leaving in fifteen minutes. It is your responsibility to make sure the twins don't cause any problems" he warned her coldly.

Just as he was about to leave, he turned back to face her one last time. "And Caroline, don't try to run because when I find you then, I'll simply take the kids and leave" he threatened her very seriously which had Caroline shaking to her core.

She couldn't imagine a day without her children which is why an hour later, she was on her husband's private jet with her two very scared children clinging to her. Even though Nicholas was putting on a brave face, she knew he was frightened. Caroline was holding Ella in her arms as the five year old girl had her little arms wrapped around her mother's neck and her head resting on her mother's shoulder while Nick was holding Caroline's hand and practically pressing himself against her side.

"Why do we have to leave mommy?" Nicholas asked for the hundredth time.

Caroline gave him a small smile. "You'll like it there Nick. There's lots of … relatives in New York too" she reassured him.

"I like Enzo and Damon better" he complained crossing his arms over his chest. "When will we come back?" he asked innocently.

"Let's just go there first and see okay?" she said sweetly as Ella shifted in her arms. Caroline rubbed her daughter's back as Ella snuggled closer to her. "Nick why don't you go to sleep for a little while" Caroline offered, hoping it would calm him down. Besides they still had a long way to go.

"I'm fine" he said stubbornly, crossing his arms over his chest and watching everyone on the plane very closely.

He glared specifically in Klaus' direction. Caroline noticed the hatred in his eyes for his own father. "Nick" she said a little sternly. "Don't. This is not a good habit. How many times do I have to tell you that?" she asked angrily.

"I don't like him" he said.

"Nick!" she scolded. "There's no reason for you to dislike him. Is this what I've taught you? To behave like this?" she asked. Her voice low enough only for her son to hear.

Nicholas turned to glare his mother now. "I know what he did" he told her seriously.

"He didn't do anything" she defended him, not knowing how to explain the situation to her son. "Things didn't work out between him and I but that doesn't allow you to treat him like. He's still your father and you need to respect him like that" she told him, keeping her voice firm yet gentle. When her son didn't look at her she called him. "Nick. Baby look at me" she said and when he finally made eye contact Caroline could see the frustration and loneliness in his eyes. "Do you love me?" she asked quietly.

He nodded quickly. "I love you the most" he answered without a doubt.

"Do you respect me?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Do you want others to respect me?" she asked again.

He nodded.

"Then you'll be a good boy and treat everyone nicely with respect so they know that I've been a good mother" she explained to him, hoping he would not disappoint her.

"Okay" he said and then looked at her with his big puppy eyes. "Can I please sleep in your lap?" he asked giving her a small smile showing his adorable little dimples.

Caroline shook her head smiling. "Okay" she said and shifted Ella on her left while Nick jumped and settled himself on her right side, leaning his head on her chest. His hands fisting into her shirt. Caroline ran her left hand through his curls, lightly scratching his head before poking his nose. "Go to sleep. I'll wake you up before we land" she promised.

Nick yawned and rubbed his eyes before getting comfortable again. "I will always protect you and Ella mommy" he whispered sleepily which made Caroline's eyes water. She had been gifted the most amazing children ever.

Klaus watched silently as his son interacted so freely with Caroline. He couldn't help but feel envy while watching them. How his son could talk so openly to Caroline even when he couldn't? And how Caroline could talk to his son when he couldn't?

The pencil in his never stopped moving and ran across the sketchbook, smoothly while his eyes were fixated on his family. His beautiful little family. His wife and his beautiful two children. He watched as both his kids clung to their mother- his wife and slept peacefully in her arms. He itched to go there and be with them. To hold one of his children in his arms while Caroline rested her head on his shoulder. He longed to be a part of their little world.

But he didn't.

He stayed in his seat and kept watching them. No. He was not going to be a part of their world. They were going to be a part of his. With a wicked smirk, he looked down upon his sketchbook and smiled when he saw that his mind had engraved the scene ahead of him on the paper.