AN: Thank you for reading. Still no beta so forgive the fact that there may be some grammatical erros and such. See you at the bottom.


Caroline knocked on the door to Nik's house. She held in her hands a box of cupcakes she made earlier. She heard yelling and then the sound of feet running, then scuffling, before a crash to the floor. She heard Rebekah yelling and then the door flew open.

"Hello beautiful" Kol said smiling

"Hi" Caroline answered

"KOL!" Nik yelled as he ran towards the door

Kol jumped behind Caroline and used her as a shield. Nik appeared, ready to kill Kol.

"Brother! Look who's here!" Kol said from behind Caroline

"Stop hiding behind her!" Nik circled her

"I'm not, merely trying to get to know her better" Kol said as he moved around Caroline as Nik was trying to catch him

"What are you two doing?! Stop it!" Rebekah yelled from the door

"He started it!" Nik and Kol both said

"Boys! Stop scaring Caroline!" Rebekah yelled

Nik leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

"For me?" Nik asked looking at the box in her hands

"No for me!" Kol said as he grabbed it and ran into the house

"There's far too many men in this house!" Rebekah said as she walked back in

"Welcome to dinner with my family" Nik said

Caroline walked into the house with Nik. Kol was already eating a cupcake as he sat in the living room.

"These are amazing Caroline! Did you make them yourself?" Kol asked

"Yes" Caroline answered

"You're not suppose to eat that before dinner!" Rebekah said as she hit Kol on the head.

"What you hit me for?" Kol asked

Rebekah just glared at him. Nik looked over at Caroline. He reached over and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. She smiled.

"Please don't do it in the bathroom again. Some of us actually have to use it!" Kol said

"Kol!" Nik yelled

"At least you have the decency not to do it in public this time around. Could you at least wait till after dinner?" Kol said

"Last time it was at a petrol station, they left me in the car for god knows how long" Rebekah added

"You abandoned our dear baby sister in the car by herself? Did you at least have the decency to leave the windows open? People do it for their dogs" Kol said

Rebekah hit Kol on the head again.

"What was that for?!" Kol asked

"I can't leave you alone for minute can I? Elijah said from behind them

"He started it!" Rebekah said

"How come I have to be the adult here?" Elijah asked

"Because you're the oldest!" Kol answered

"I'm not the oldest" Elijah said

"You're the oldest one in the room" Kol said

"Dinner's ready" Elijah said

Kol and Rebekah ran into the dining room.

"Niklaus help me with the roast?" Elijah asked

"Of course" Nik answered

Caroline walked into the dining room. She saw Kol and Rebekah pouring wine into the glasses. She looked down and saw the place settings, with napkins, forks, spoons and knives. She noticed there was an extra setting.

"Are you expecting someone else?" Caroline asked

"That's for Finn, whenever he decides to show up" Rebekah answered

"Finn?" Caroline asked

"He's the oldest. He's in Australia at the moment. But we set a place for him" Kol said

Nik appeared with the roast in the pan and placed it on the table. Elijah followed him, carrying two bowls, one was roasted potatoes, the other roasted carrots. Rebekah and Kol went into the kitchen without being asked and carried out the rest of the food for dinner. Caroline watched how they all worked off each other easily. She watched as all worked together, Nik carving the roast, Elijah putting the sides on the plates, Kol picking up the empty plates and Rebekah setting the full plates of food back on the table. Caroline sat there watching them, amazed.

"So are you guys always like this?" Caroline asked

They all turned and looked at her confused.

"Like what?" Rebekah asked

"Nevermind, I've never had brothers or sisters. I don't know what it's like to have someone there all the time" Caroline explained

"You learn sharing at a young age" Elijah said

"And that you have to watch over the baby because she'll do something stupid" Kol added

"And that everyone will break all your toys no matter what" Rebekah said

"It's lovely actually" Nik said

"That is just too weird!" Caroline said as she got up and left the table

"Does she not like my roast?" Elijah asked

"Elijah take over, I'll be right back" Nik said as he went after her

Nik found her in his studio, surrounded by his sketches. He walked in and closed the door.

"Something wrong love?" Nik asked

"No, it's just, your family can be overwhelming at times" Caroline said

"It's just us"

"You all get along, or try to. I'm just not used to it. I mean it's always been me and my mom for the longest time. Before that my dad was around but not really, and then his boyfriend Stephen. I've never done this huge family dinner thing"

"Relax, it's just us Mikaelsons. We're normal people, somewhat"

"Right, you're a fireman, your sister's a model, your older brother's a lawyer, and your younger brother is a total flirt"

"I said somewhat. And they all love you, I mean you brought cupcakes"

"Is that all you want from me? Cupcakes?"

"I just want you to feel at ease"

Caroline sighed and wrapped her arms around Nik. She buried her face into his chest.

"I do, when I'm around you" Caroline said

Nik smiled and kissed the top of her head.

"I hope you're not doing what I think you're doing in there! We're all waiting to have dinner! You can do this after!" Kol yelled through the door

"We're not doing anything!" Nik yelled back

"Then why is this door locked?!"

Nik let go of Caroline and opened the door.

"Oh, you're going to let me watch?" Kol asked

"No! How are we even related? Let's go" Nik said


Caroline sat there, watching the rest of the Mikaelsons eat. She poked at the strange pastry puff on her plate, that they said was called pudding. It didn't look anything like pudding.

"Lovely dinner Elijah" Rebekah said

"Yes, well done brother" Kol said

"Thank you. It reminds me of happier times" Elijah said

"Yes, before we were sent away" Nik said

"Finn wants to visit us." Elijah said

"Excellent!" Kol said

"Wonderful! When does he get here?" Rebekah asked

"I said he wants to visit us. Not that he is. I do like the suggestion of going to Bali instead" Elijah said

"Oh yes, I like that idea better!" Kol said

"Can't we visit him in Australia?" Rebekah asked

"I don't think Finn can fit all of us in his house, or boat" Elijah said

"He's on a boat?" Nik asked

"Finn spent most of his life running from Mikael. He wanted to be able to get away quickly if he was ever found" Elijah said

"Finn was always the smart one" Kol said

"So shall we go to Bali?" Elijah

"Yes!" they yelled

"To family" Elijah raised his glass

"To family" they raised their glasses up

"And cupcakes" Caroline added

"Yes cupcakes!" Kol added


Caroline kissed Nik goodbye and got in the cab to go back to her apartment. Nik watched her cab drive off before returning into the house. He saw them in the kitchen and Rebekah holding a bag of marshmallows.

"What's going on?" Nik asked

"We're making smores!" Rebekah said

"Niklaus, a moment please?" Elijah asked

Nik followed Elijah into the living room.

"Have you decided yet?" Elijah asked

"I don't want to meet him yet. I want to make sure he really is who he says he is"

"Provide the DNA sample and we will have the truth"

"And if it turns out he's not my father, what then? Mikael really is my father and he still hates me"

"Then we'll know the truth"


A month passed. A month of dinners with the Mikaelsons. A month of Caroline baking various sweet confectioneries. A month where they relaxed and felt at ease. A month of being a family. And it all came crashing down with a phone call. One by one their phones went off, with the news they feared. They ran to the hospital. They ran down the hallway. They could see the fireman standing around waiting. The smell of smoke, burnt plastic filled the hallway.

"Where is he?" Elijah asked

The firemen looked up at them.

"Where is Nik? My brother?" Rebekah asked

The firemen recognized her.

"You're the sister" one of them said

"Yes! Where is he?!" Rebekah yelled

"He's alright, he's at the room at the end of the hallway"

Rebekah ran down the hallway, her brothers following her. The say Nik sitting on an exam table with a brace around his hand and wrist. He looked up, his face covered in ash and soot.

"What are you doing here?" Nik asked

"They called, saying you were in an accident" Rebekah said

"Well I'm fine as you can see" Nik answered

"How can you say that? We thought something happened to you!" Rebekah cried out

"Rebekah calm down" Nik said

"Niklaus, Rebekah, we all were worried about you." Elijah said

"Well you can all relax, I'm fine, except for this bloody thing on my hand" Nik said

"What is it?" Kol asked

"I fractured a bone in my wrist or arm or hand or something. They're making me wear this blasted thing. And I have to go to physical therapy" Nik said

"Will there be any cute nurses?" Kol asked

"Not the time Kol" Elijah said


Caroline stood outside Nik's door wondering why there was no one home. She called Nik and it went to voicemail. She called Rebekah and she didn't answer. She sighed. Maybe they decided to go out on a family picnic or something. She turned to leave when she saw Nik's black SUV pull into his driveway. She watched them all get out of the car and wondered what happened. She looked at Nik who smiled at her. He didn't say anything to her but just kissed her. His hands cradled her face as he kissed her. Rebekah rolled her eyes and opened the door and walked into the house.

"Why do you smell like burnt plastic?" Caroline asked

"Did you forget what I do for a living?" Nik asked

"But you never smell like burnt plastic"

"I didn't have time to shower."

Caroline wondered what happened. She noticed there was something on his hand. She pulled away and grabbed onto his hand.

"What the hell is this?" Caroline asked

"Some hand brace thing"

"Why are you wearing it?"

"I fractured a bone in my hand, wrist or something"

"What?! Are you ok?"

"Yes, it's nothing. I'm fine. No need to be upset sweetheart"

"When did this happen?"

"A few hours ago"

"What the hell happened?!"

"There was a fire, we went in and then everything just fell on us. I don't know how I got out, but I did somehow."

"Don't do that to me!" Caroline said as she hugged him

"It's ok, I'm still here"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't tell anyone"

"Then how did your family drive you back?"

"Someone must have called them. I didn't expect them to show up at the hospital, causing a scene"

"Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"I don't know sweetheart"

"I get it, I'm not part of your family!"

"Caroline don't be mad"

"Why would I be mad? Obviously I don't matter!" Caroline walked off

"Sweetheart!"

"NO! Don't!"

"Caroline"

"No! You act like it's nothing. Oh a ceiling fell on me. Oh a wall fell on me. How can you be ok with that?"

"It's what I do!"

"Something could have happened to you! Don't you understand that?"

"But it didn't, so please stop arguing with me. I can't change who I am"

"What?"

"Everyone runs out of a burning building, while I run right into it. That should tell you that there's something wrong with me"

Caroline looked into his eyes and could see that he really believed what he said.

"There's nothing wrong with you" Caroline said

Nik turned and looked away from her.

"I get it ok. I get it" Caroline said

Nik didn't say anything but looked back at her.

"Your father didn't love you, so you assume no one will either. So you think running into burning buildings will make you redeemable or less screwed up. But there's nothing wrong with you. Stop thinking that there is!"

"You should leave"

"Don't shut me out!"

Nik turned and headed back to the house. Caroline ran after him and grabbed onto his arm. He pulled away from her.

"I get that you want to be the hero. That you want to be the good guy because all your life your father has always made you think there was something wrong with you, but there's nothing wrong with you!"

"Leave. NOW!"

"Nik-"

"You need to leave, now!"

Caroline could see his anger rising. She could feel it radiating from him.

"I can't change who I am, what I am. You can either accept it or get the hell away from me!"

"Nik!"

"I became a fireman because it was the one thing I wanted that my father couldn't take away from me. It was the one thing that was mine. And I will never change it" Nik said as he slammed the door shut.

His siblings turned to look at him. He said nothing and walked back to his room. He pulled the annoying brace off his hand and threw it across the room. He stretched out his hand, flexing his fingers. Then he felt the sharp pain in his hand. He sighed and sat down on his bed. He fell back and let his head rest on the pillow. He relaxed before he realized his pillow smelled like Caroline. He groaned and threw the pillow across the room. He threw the other pillow off his bed as well.

Caroline wiped the tears from her eyes. She ran down the block away from his house.


Nik looked at himself in the mirror. He put on his hat and made sure he looked presentable. He looked down at the white gloves he wore. He had taken off the hand brace. He was dressed in his class A fireman uniform. Navy jacket with silver buttons, with his firehouse number on the lapel and the FDNY signia patch on the arm. On his other arm was the patch for his firehouse. His tie was held in place by a tie clip with the letters FDNY on it. He walked out of his house and got into his SUV and drove. He parked in the parking lot of the funeral home and went inside. His fellow firemen were inside wearing their uniforms standing around the coffin of their fallen brother.

"He made it out of the building alive, he kept saying that it looked like orange fanta inside"

"He made it to the ER though, I know he was flirting with the nurses"

"Yeah, he always liked nurses"

"I think one of them gave him a heart attack or something"

"That had to be it, he was a fighter, he'd never give up"

"They tried to save him, but they couldn't"

"Well we won't leave him"


Caroline held the cake in her hands as she walked towards Nik's firehouse. She noticed that there were black and purple ribbons placed on the outside of the firehouse. She knocked on the door and hoped Nik was there. She hadn't spoken to him in almost a week. She had hoped they both had cooled off and could talk. The door opened.

"Hi, is Nik here?" Caroline asked

"Pretty boy? He's at the funeral"

"What funeral?"

"One of our guys died in the fire a week ago. The rest of the crew are there now"

"Thanks"


Nik drove back in his SUV. He was tired and wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep. He pulled into his driveway and rested his head on the steering wheel. The passenger door opened and closed. He turned his head and saw Caroline sitting there next to him.

"What are you doing?" Nik asked

"Sitting, I've been sitting at your door waiting for you"

"You could have called"

"Yeah and you would have just ignored me. Why are you wearing white gloves?"

"It's part of the uniform"

Caroline looked at him and the rest of his uniform.

"You look cute in it"

"Do I look like a puppy dog? You're suppose to say dashing or handsome, not cute"

"And inflate your already huge ego? I'm sure women were shamelessly hitting on you"

"Not really, the only females there were moms and daughters"

"Sorry to hear about your friend. I heard you went to his funeral"

"Yeah, it was today. The only time I wear this thing is for funerals or medal day. Most of the time it's for funerals"

Caroline reached over and cupped his face. She ran her thumb over his cheek. He reached up and held onto her hand, and placed a kiss on her palm.

"I brought a peace offering" Caroline said as she placed the cake onto the dash

Nik lifted his head up from the steering wheel.

"Is that what I think it is?" Nik asked

"Yes, lemon drizzle cake"

Nik smiled. He turned and kissed Caroline.

"Thank you" Nik said

"So is this the part where we have make up sex?" Caroline asked

Nik smiled and unbuckled his seat belt. He reached over and pulled the lever on the side of Caroline's seat and she fell back.

"I didn't mean right now!" Caroline said

Nik was already on top of her, pulling his gloves off.

"No time like the present!" Nik said as he kissed her

"Ok" Caroline replied as she unbuttoned his jacket and pushed it off him

His lips returned to hers before she could say anything else. His hands were pushing her skirt up over her hips. His hand grabbed onto the inside of her thigh, pushing it against the car door. His other hand hooked under the knee of her other leg.

"Nik, how are the shocks on this car?" Caroline asked

"We're about to find out"


Elijah was headed towards Nik's house. He had phoned his other two siblings to meet him there. He had the results of the DNA test. Elijah knocked on the door before he took his key out and walked inside. He saw clothes scattered about.

"Niklaus! Are you here?" Elijah yelled out

Caroline and Nik were in his bedroom. They had taken a shower together and Caroline was drying herself off. They both heard Elijah call out for Nik.

"My brother's here" Nik said as he got up and got dressed

"My clothes are outside" Caroline said wrapping the towel around herself

"Then you'll have to stay here, naked then" Nik said pulling the towel away

Caroline screamed and tried to cover herself. Nik scooped her into his arms and pushed them both onto the bed. He kissed her as his hand roamed down her naked body.

"Just stay like this" Nik said

"I can't just lay here naked"

"Why not? I'll be back to ravish you"

"It'll get cold"

"I'll warm you up"

"Nik!"

"Just stay like this. You look like one of the girls in those old Playboys my father had"

"You guys had Playboy in England?"

"Every country has horny teenager boys"

They both heard Elijah calling for Nik.

"I'll be right back sweetheart" Nik said getting up

He took one of his shirts for her and turned back to her. He took one last look at her, naked lying on his bed. Caroline sat up, bending her knee, as she pulled her leg towards her. Nik's eyes grazed along her body and saw the faint marks of bruises forming on her inner thigh. He tossed her the shirt before leaving. Caroline took the shirt and pulled it over her head and covered herself.

Nik walked out and found Elijah standing in the hallway.

"What is it?" Nik asked

"The results came back"

"And?"

"You should sit down"

"I don't want to sit down. I want to know what the results are!"

Elijah took out an envelope from the inside of his jacket and gave it to Nik. Nik opened it without thinking and opened the folded piece of paper. His eyes went wide as he read the results. He sat down onto his couch and put the paper side. He buried his face into his hands. Elijah was concerned over his brother's reaction. He picked up the paper and read the results. He looked over at Nik and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"You'll be fine Niklaus" Elijah said

Kol came running through the door with Rebekah behind him. Nik and Elijah both looked at them.

"Well? Did you find out?" Kol asked

"What is it? Are you or aren't you?" Rebekah asked

"Could you try to to be a little bit sensitive here?" Elijah said

Kol looked down at the clothes scattered on the floor.

"Sensitive? You called us Elijah!" Rebekah said

"Tell me you didn't do it on the couch, where am I going to sit?" Kol said

"Kol!" Elijah yelled

"What?" Kol asked

"What does it say?" Rebekah asked

"Tell us brother" Kol said

"Shut up! Everyone!" Nik yelled as he got up, "Just leave me alone!"

They watched Nik walk off into his studio and slam the door shut. Caroline heard the commotion and peaked her head out the door and saw the 3 of them standing there.

"What I miss?" Caroline asked


And what are the results? This is a Maury moment! Who's actually had yorkshire pudding? And yes, keep the suggestions for Nik's ringtone. Thanks for reading and thanks for your comments.