Disclaimer: I don't own anything

Chapter 14: Darling

The familiar smell of the Grill hit her nose and Caroline couldn't help but feel her stomach turn. Ever since, finals she had been getting weird feelings in her stomach, almost like nausea. She had chalked it all up to stress and the fact she and Liz were still at odds, despite the fact Caroline had returned to Mystic Falls alone. Nik had stayed behind, saying he would join in her a week or two, which would allow for Liz to have more time to grow comfortable with the fact she and Klaus were dating. At first, Caroline had been upset about the idea of them being separated, but at the same time, Caroline needed a chance to tell Bonnie and Elena. So, just days after returning home from her first semester in New Orleans, Caroline planned to come clean with her friends about her relationship status. It was risky action, after all, she could find herself in Mystic Falls for a few weeks with her friends extremely crossed with her. Although it was a risk, Caroline knew she needed to take it. She hated lying to Bonnie and Elena, and it was time for her to come clean.

"Bonnie," Caroline smiled as she sat across from Bonnie in a both at the Grill. Elena was supposed to be there, but she was absent. "Is Elena not coming?"

Bonnie rolled her eyes, "Damon thinks he might have found some witch who can do some spell to break the sire bond," she paused looking at Caroline. "They are currently halfway to Nevada, so no she won't be joining us."

Caroline frowned, as she flipped the menu open despite already knowing what she wanted. "Really?" She asked, disgruntled that she couldn't tell both of them at the same time.

Bonnie sighed and shrugged her shoulders, "It's whatever. Any case, are you glad to be home? Or you currently wishing you were back in New Orleans?"

"New Orleans," Caroline answered without any hesitation. In the past few months, the Crescent City and become her home. It was the place where her heart was, it was where Nik was. "However, a big city girl like me does miss Mystic Falls time from time," she added as the waitress walked up. The two paused their conversations and placed their usual orders as they did many times before in high school.

"Back to what you were saying," Bonnie said as the waitress walked away. "Caroline Forbes actually misses Mystic Falls, after she wanted to get away so bad?"

"I mean," Caroline begun, thinking about her hometown. "I miss you, Elena, Matt," she trailed off. The only thing about Mystic Falls that she really missed was the people. They hadn't been the best about keeping up, but Caroline understood. It was hard too when everyone was so caught up in their lives. "But enough, about me, what have you've been up too?"

"School, more school," Bonnie paused and glanced around as if she was making sure no one was listening in. "I've been trying to decode those markings," she sighed.

Caroline's eyes widen. The markings she knew had been bothering Nik for awhile. Usually, when something with his name appeared it led to bad things. "Really, Bonnie I thought you said you weren't going to try too?" Caroline asked quietly as the waitress sat down their drinks and then walked away.

Bonnie waited a few seconds before respond. "Ok, I haven't been trying to decode them," she paused and looked at Caroline. "Kol helped translated the first line for me before he ran away to Las Vegas for some stripper convention."

"Kol?" Caroline questioned, she wasn't aware that Kol had been in contacted with Bonnie, which only made her more curious.

"Long story," Bonnie sighed. "He showed up on my doorstep, one thing led to another and he helped point me in the right direction."

"Well," she stopped and thought about what was about to say. "What does it say?"

Bonnie reached into her purse, and pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to Caroline. The blonde took it, and let her eyes scan the witches' sketchy handwriting, and a feeling of confusion watched over her. There Bonnie's scratchy handwriting on the paper read:

The Son of Ansel will have a mate.

Once he finds his mate, she will bear him his child.

"This doesn't make any sense," Caroline breathed out looking at Bonnie, who was shaking her head. "He can't have children, no vampire can," Caroline stuttered. Vampires couldn't have children, it was one of the basic facts about vampires that the folklore got right.

"It might be," Bonnie paused, her brown eyes wilds. "When Klaus became a Hybrid he disrupted the balance of Nature. To balance nature you have to be able to create more of a being, or destroy it," she stopped and took a deep breath. "Klaus can't be destroyed and he can't create anymore, so what if the witches made it possible for him to have a child?"

"Excuse me," Caroline whispered before she got up and rushed to the bathroom. It couldn't be possible, if Klaus could have a child then she would know. But it was impossible if Klaus could have children surely he would have gotten someone pregnant by now. With a sickening feeling coming over her, Caroline ran into a stall and closed the door behind her, before emptying her stomach into the basin. Her eyes grew wide, and she pulled out her phone from her pocket. Without any hesitation, she flipped through her calendar and began doing some simple math. She let her back leaned against the door as the realization hit her. She was late.

The acid taste her mouth was horrid, but despite that fact, Caroline barely tasted it. For the past two weeks, she hadn't been able to keep anything down. In fact, she couldn't even remember the last time she ate or even drank, something without it coming back up within minutes. In reality, she knew should go to the doctor, however, the stomach flu had been running rapid throughout the dorms. It would pass in time, she knew the stomach flu only lasted about a week. However, she feared what the results would tell her, and those results would most likely lead to her death. Klaus would kill her if what she thought was wrong with her turned out to be true. Yet, it was impossible, she couldn't be pregnant. For the past fours months, she had been sleeping with the original hybrid. Klaus got her chance with her, that was for sure, he was more or less her addiction. So, despite the lack of period and constant nausea, pregnancy was ruled out by the blonde. Vampires, Hybrids, Original, whatever the heck he wanted to call himself had been sterile for years before she was even born, centuries in fact. Caroline didn't care what Bonnie had said in the Grill either, Klaus couldn't have children, and she wasn't pregnant.

"Caroline, sweetie, I am home!" Liz hollered, as Caroline heard the familiar sound of the door clicking.

"I'll be done in a second!" Caroline yelled back, before quickly ripping off a wad of toilet paper and wiping her mouth. With a disgruntled face, she threw the nasty paper into the toilet and flushed. She moaned, Liz had been working since she got home for Christmas break. Caroline had been relieved because that was one less person she would have to fake feeling well around. Now, though Liz was home, downstairs before five, which meant she probably wanted to spend time with her. If Caroline hadn't been holed up in the bathroom since returning from the Grill, she would be up for it. However, Caroline hadn't left the bathroom in what seemed like hours.

"You can do this," Caroline muttered as she reached for the bathroom vanity counter to lift herself up. A groan escaped her lips, as the blood rushed to her head, and the small bathroom around her became to spin. "Oh,no," Caroline gasped, as she felt her head slamming into something hard.

"Caroline?!" Her mother's panic yell, was the last thing Caroline heard, before her vision went black.

Caroline tried to keep her eyes shut, but her undeniable thirst was making it impossible to do so. Without much regret, she allowed her eyes to flicker open only to realize she was not in her room. Her eyes scanned around, as the undeniable hospital smell filled her nostrils. She was in a hospital room, just her, in a bed hook up to a couple of different machines. Her mind was racing. Oh god, how long have I been out? She wondered, the last thing she remembered was her mom coming home, and the net thing she knew she was wearing a god awful hospital gown and was being pumped fluids like no tomorrow. Without any hesitation, she grabbed her phone off the table next to her and flipped through the notifications.

Klaus: How is Mystic Falls?

Klaus: What have I done now?

Klaus: The cold shoulder is not appealing sweetheart

Klaus: If you don't answer me by tonight, I am flying in

Elena: Hey?

Elena: Look, sorry I missed lunch...

Bonnie: Hey, what's wrong?

Caroline groaned when she realized it was a little past two o'clock. How long had she'd been out? Ignoring the girls, texts she went to respond to Klaus. The last thing she needed was him flying into to Mystic Falls to find her in the hospital.

Caroline: Sorry, I am fine. My phone was out of commission for awhile.

She pressed send, just as she heard the door to her room open. "Stefan," she said, as he smiled and sat down next to her. "Where I am," she stuttered. "Can you tell me what's going on?

"You're mom called me this morning, and told me you were in the hospital," Stefan began, he was in town for few days to visit, and they had plans together for today. It was no surprise that Liz called him. "She had to go into the station for a bit, something major had happened, and asked if I could come sit with you. From what I've heard, you got the worse stomach bug in the world, and were so dehydrated you passed out and hit your head pretty hard on the bathroom wall."

Caroline sighed, remembering passing out in her bathroom after vomiting. "I should have gone to the doctor, sooner. I've haven't been able to keep anything down since I've been home," Caroline said, hoping Stefan wouldn't detect her fear there was something more going on. "Thanks, for coming, though, I appreciate it," Caroline said as her phone began going off.

Before she covered up her phone from Stefan, he had already seen Klaus's name, and picture flash up on her phone. Stefan raised his eyebrow, "Answer it," he said.

Caroline shook her head, as she put the phone to her ear, "Hello," Caroline said, earning and even more odd look from Stefan.

"Hello, love, how is Mystic Falls treating you?" The sound of Klaus's accent reached her ears, and she tried to control the warm and fuzzy feeling she allowed herself to indulge in New Orleans when around him.

"Good, I am actually in the middle of catching up with Stefan," Caroline paused trying to create a lie so complicated she couldn't keep up with. "Is it all right, if I call you later?" She asked, saying a silent prayer, that he would agree, and drop whatever was worrying him.

"Ok, well," He paused, and Caroline could tell he was thinking, which was not good. "There's no reason for me to come up there?"

"No, everything is fine," Caroline said. "I'll call you later, I gotta go, bye." She said hanging up, and looking at Stefan.

In all of her years, knowing Stefan, Caroline had never seemed him look more concern. "Caroline," he began. "What have you gotten yourself into?" He asked his tone in voice hinting that he knew something was wrong with her.

Caroline bit her lip, for the first time it was not Elena causing the supernatural mess that was about to unfold. Everything she had tried to walk away from, Caroline had just walked further into it. "Stefan, I need your help," Caroline said on the verge of tears.

"Ok, hit me," Stefan said, leaning closer to Caroline.

Caroline felt a few tears roll down her cheeks, "I need you to go find everything out about what's actually wrong with me from my doctor, and then I need your help to disappear, Stefan."

Stefan looked at Caroline, "Caroline, you're scaring me, is it something to do with Klaus? Did he do something to you?" He asked.

Caroline shook her head, "Just go find my doctor, I need to know if I am right, and if I am right Stefan, you have to help me," Caroline pleaded. The tears were falling uncontrollably now from her eyes, and Caroline couldn't even fully comprehend what she was saying. She knew it was ludicrous, but she knew if there was even a slight possibility that she could somehow be pregnant, Klaus would be furious. Her life would be endangered.

"Caroline you need to calm down and tell me what's going on," Stefan said resting his hands on her shoulders.

Caroline's took a deep breath before looking at Stefan, "Stefan, I think I am pregnant," she paused, "But, I shouldn't be."

"Caroline were you rap-

"No, Stefan," Caroline said cutting him off. He if she had been, she wouldn't be here. Klaus would have found out, and she would be somewhere, anywhere but Mystic Falls. "The only person I've been with since leaving Mystic Falls is Klaus," Caroline admitted.

Without any words, Stefan stood up and made his way to the door. "Wait, Stefan," Caroline said.

"I am going to find the doctor," Stefan said calmly. "And if your right, I am taking you some place he will never find you, Caroline, you'll be safe," Stefan said before closing the door behind him.

After storming out of Caroline's room Stefan seemed to zone out. He didn't have any trouble finding Caroline's doctor, or compelling the doctor to follow him. Once, he situated himself and the doctor into a supply closet, Stefan seemed to snap out of autopilot. Although he knew his troubles with Klaus were long gone, he knew he had to be there for Caroline. Klaus would never believe her, and Stefan even found it hard to believe. How would it even be possible for Caroline to get pregnant by Klaus?

"You will answer all my questions truthfully, and to the full extent of your knowledge," Stefan said, and the doctor's eyes dilated. "Is Caroline Forbes pregnant?" He asked the middle aged man, that was in charge of caring for his friend.

"Yes, Ms. Forbes seems to be four to six weeks pregnant, however, her body doesn't seem to be taking well to the fetus," The doctor said.

Stefan crossed his arms, "What do you mean?" He asked.

"Well, it seems the fetus is not agreeing with Caroline's body. It could be several reasons, however when I drew Caroline's blood, I went ahead and ran tests to ensure everything was right with the baby. The baby seems to have a unique blood type, but some of Caroline's own blood has crossed through into the placenta and it's making not only Caroline ill but I fear it's creating antibodies that are attacking the baby," The doctor explained.

Stefan thought for a second, "How do you fix it?" He asked, knowing Caroline would never recover from losing a baby, she would blame herself.

"Well, I've never seen something like this quiet early on," the doctor said. "Usually, we see trouble with pregnant women whose Rh factors do not match their baby's. In those cases we usually see the trouble occur much later and we give the injection at 28 weeks then after birth."

Stefan nodded, "But Caroline is different, but she's having problems earlier."

"I was about to call one of my colleagues to see if they had any advice before I broke the news to her," the doctor offered, as Stefan thought. Caroline and Klaus had been with each other for some time, Klaus obviously cared about her, which Stefan already knew. In fact, Klaus had always been protective of Caroline, he even gave her a packet of his blood in case she ever got bitten by a wolf again while she was home for Christmas break without him.

"Blood," Stefan muttered, Caroline's body was rejecting the fact the baby held the werewolf gene. The very gene her family as supernatural hunters were allergic too, she needed Klaus's blood in her system to survive.

"Yes, the condition involves her blood," the doctor said.

"You will forget this ever happened, and you will erase Caroline's records from the past twenty-fours hours, and will forget that you ever treated her," Stefan said, before walking out the closet leaving the doctor.

Stefan knew Caroline was freaking out. If he was in Caroline's shoes, he would be thinking that Klaus would never believe it. He would be rash,mad, angry, probably accused Caroline of sleeping with another man. She most likely thought he would kill her. However, Stefan knew without a doubt in his mind that Klaus loved Caroline with every fiber in his body. Never once, had Klaus ever threaten Caroline, it was the reason they had always used her as a distraction. Stefan had known Klaus, longer than anyone else in Mystic Falls, and never once in the 20's had Klaus even looked at a woman as more than a plaything. It was obvious though, when Klaus looked at Caroline know, it was like for a brief second Klaus was actually human. However, Stefan knew Caroline, and he knew that Caroline wouldn't want to tell Klaus, but she needed him in order to survive the next nine months. The one bag of Klaus's blood, Caroline had wouldn't sustain her through nine months, and Klaus just wouldn't give anybody more of his blood. The only way of saving Caroline and her baby was to go to Klaus. With a heavy heart, Stefan pulled out his phone and dialed the one number he hated very much to call.

"Stefan, mate," Klaus said after the second ring, "I thought you and Caroline were catching up?" It was the original plan, but then he got a call from Liz saying Caroline was in the hospital. Stefan though had wished he never gotten that phone call, he wished his friend was ok.

"Yeah," Stefan said as lean against the wall outside of Caroline's room. "Caroline wasn't very forthcoming with where we were catching up. Caroline's in the hospital Klaus, she's not doing great," he finished awaiting the blowout.

Stefan could hear the unevenness of Klaus's breath, "What do you mean she's not doing great? What on earth happened!?"

"Listen, it's just," Stefan didn't want to be the one to tell Klaus, but he knew he needed to get Caroline to Klaus as soon as possible before she got any crazy ideas. "She got bit by a werewolf, and the blood you gave her didn't mix well or something, it made her sick. Look, I am about to get her out of here, and bring her to you."

"That's would you should have done in the first place!" Klaus yelled, "Compel yourself a plane ride, the drive will be too long," Klaus barked.

Stefan nodded, "Don't worry, I'll take care of her, I'll call you when we get there," he said before hanging up. Now the hard part was getting Caroline back to New Orleans.

She wanted to murder Stefan for calling Klaus, but after he explained his reasoning she had broken down in more tears. More tears, lead into her confessing that she had feelings for the Hybrid. Of course, Stefan had already known that fact and if he didn't, it had to bluntly obvious now that, she was pregnant with his child. Throughout the flight she had moments where she believed that everything was going to be ok, then the fear would strike again. Stefan comforted her and gave her injections of Klaus's blood when he could. Thankfully she was physically feeling better now, but emotionally she was a wreck. Now, standing inside of the courtyard waiting for Klaus, she was worried. Fear was racing through her veins, and she could feel exhaustion creeping into the point, where she sat down in one of the chairs.

"Caroline, are you ok?" Stefan asked looking at her with concern,

"She'll be fine, mate," Klaus said looking down from the stairs, "All she needs is some fresh blood, why don't you make yourself at home?" Klaus continued as he walked down the stairs.

Stefan looked to Caroline and nodded for him to give them a moment. Stefan glared at Klaus before flashing upstairs and out of sight. "I can explain," Caroline began, already knowing that Klaus was in a bad mood.

"Oh really," Klaus began as he walked in front of her. "You can explain why you lied to me? You were in the bloody hospital, and you didn't think to tell me?!"

Caroline sighed running her hands through her hair, and stood up, "It was complicated, Klaus!"

"Complicated!" Klaus shouted, before stepping closer. "How is it complicated? Were you not experiencing side effects from getting bitten by a wolf, or was that a lie?"

"Yes, that was a lie if you can't tell," Caroline admitted. "I told you-

"It's complicated," He said with an eye roll as he paced away from her. His back was facing her now, and she could how tense his muscles were through the thin fabric of his white henley. She hesitantly took a step closer, only for him to whip his head around.

"Nik," she breathed, "Just let-

"Quiet," Klaus demanded as he stared at her. For the first time this day, Caroline suddenly felt self-conscious. She was dressed not in her usual style, but just a simple pair of jeans and one of his oversized sweatshirts she had brought with her. "No," he muttered, as his sight line focused on her stomach. "And I thought you would never betray me," he said, and her heart broke at the sight of his face.

"Nik," she cried, "Please just," she paused knowing what she was going to have to do, "Compel me, that's the only way you'll understand," Caroline pleaded.

"Compel, what that you slept with another man," Klaus said with disgust in his voice, as he flashed in front her face, "The evidence of that is beating away in your stomach right now!"

Her worst fears were coming to life, "Klaus, just do it please," she begged. His eyes softened for the first time since he heard the heart beat, something she hadn't even heard yet.

"Fine," He muttered, "I compel you to tell me the truth about what is going on," He said, and Caroline felt the pull of compulsion take over her.

"I am not quite sure how, but I am pregnant. The only plausible option for the father is you, I haven't slept with anyone else in months. I thought when I got sick it was the stomach bug, and then I missed my period, but I was fine until I left for home. I got worse, and I passed out from being so sick, and then Stefan found out from the doctor my body is allergic to the baby. It makes sense, though because your baby would be a werewolf, and my body rejects werewolf venom so of course, it would reject a werewolf baby. Stefan has been injecting me with your blood, and I am halfway through with bag and that's the truth."

The words Caroline said began to process in Klaus's mind. Pregnant. Werewolf. Baby. Caroline by some odd twist of faith was pregnant with his child, a child he didn't even know was possible to create. Yet, it was all true. Caroline wasn't wearing any vervain, and she had never learned to resist compulsion like her father. How after a thousand years, had a girl become pregnant with his child? Was it because he was hybrid? Was it some type of a curse?

"I release you from my compulsion," Klaus said ending his hold over Caroline.

Caroline's eyes returned normal, and she looked at him, and the sudden rush of nausea raised over her. She could feel her head spinning and her feet were tingling, "Nik, I don't-" She managed to say before she felt herself falling back.

Klaus without any hesitation caught her, "Shush, love," he said as her eyes teared up. He bit into his wrist, "Just drink some, it will all be ok."

Caroline grimaced as she drank the fresh blood from Klaus's wrist. She much preferred the way Stefan had been injecting the blood, saving her from tasting the metallic taste. "Thank you," Caroline muttered, before wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.

Klaus gently stood up with Caroline in his arms, and moved to the ornate couch and sat down. Caroline allowed herself to rest her head against his chest, taking in his familiar scent that seemed to calm her nerves, as he placed a simple kiss on the top of her head. "It's all going to be, love. I'll take care of you don't worry," Klaus said quietly, and with that small assurance from him, Caroline broke down.

Klaus rubbed circles on her back as she cried into his chest. She was scared, very scared. Caroline Forbes was not supposed to be a pregnant teenager. Pregnancy and children were not in her five-year plan, they weren't even in her ten-year weren't in any plan. Yet, here she was pregnant at nineteen. To make matters worse she was pregnant with a baby that wasn't entirely normal. There was no telling what this pregnancy would do to her, there was no telling if the baby was normal. Overwhelmed, was an understatement to what she was feeling right now. After all, Klaus wasn't supposed to be able to get her pregnant, that was one of the perks of being with him. Yet, now she was another statistic, an unwed, pregnant teenager.

"Love," Klaus whispered, "There is no need to cry," he said. Although he himself had yet to fully comprehend what was happening, he knew he had to get Caroline calmed down. Once she was calm and able to be left alone for awhile, he could find out information. He needed to know how this happen, and what this meant for Caroline. It was obvious the pregnancy was already taking a toll on her body, and he needed to know if she would be able to survive the next nine months.

"I am statistic," Caroline laughed, "I was Miss Mystic Falls and now I am a pregnant teenager," she cringed.

Klaus chuckled, her perfectionist side was coming out. "Well, if you makes you feel any better, I now hold the record for oldest father," he said.

Caroline laughed as she scooted off his lap, and tried her tears. "Wow, we are quite the pair aren't we," she offered, before pausing, "Klaus, what, how did this happen?"

"I don't know," He responded, "It was supposed to be impossible."

"Well, it's obviously not," she stated. "How do we even know if everything is normal? For all, we know I could be carrying some mutant ninja turtle or something!"

Honestly, Klaus had no idea what was going on. However, knowing Caroline and her tendencies he knew he had to keep his own emotions under control. If he lashed out, it would only make things worse. "Caroline, love, don't worry about anything. We'll get through this, and I promise you everything will be all right."

"You promise?" Caroline asked looking him in the eyes.

"You have my word," he said and for the first time in weeks, Caroline smiled the smile, that Klaus Mikealson would move planets to see.

After ensuring Caroline was safely asleep and content, Klaus set out for Elijah. He needed his brother at this moment in time, he needed his right hand to tell him what was going on was real. After leaving his bedroom, he stormed into the study to find both Stefan and Elijah sipping on brandy in the comfort of leather chairs. Not saying a word, he went over to the drink cart and poured himself a rather large portion of his strongest scotch he owned. The familiar taste of his drink filled his mouth and soon it was done. Without any hesitation, he poured himself another. In a thousand years, he had never once thought of being a father. Even when he was human the idea of fatherhood was not something that crossed his mind. Yet, in the room down the hall laid a nineteen-year-old girl carrying his child. The scary thing was that he cared for Caroline, and he hadn't cared for anyone else in that way his whole life either.

"Klaus," the stern tone of his elder brother reached his years, "We need to talk," Elijah said as Klaus turned around to face both his brother and his one-time best friend.

"If we are going to talk we need to stay civil, I don't want to worry Caroline anymore than necessary," Klaus stated, before taking another sip of his scotch. His room wasn't far from the study, and he didn't which for her to wake due to a heated conversation.

The two other men nodded, agreeing that Caroline needed her rest. Stefan looked at Klaus, "So what's your first move?" He asked, wondering what was going through the hybrid's mind.

"I am still processing the fact that I am to be a father, Stefan," Klaus snapped, earning a glare from his brother.

Elijah leaned back in his chair, "I think the first step should be figuring out how Caroline became pregnant and knowing that will help us determine if this pregnancy will be abnormal," Elijah said. Klaus glanced at his brother, he couldn't tell how Elijah felt about the whole thing. He was always calm, too calm.

"Bonnie," Stefan stated, earning a glare from Klaus. "The markings, she translated, Caroline told me in hysterics, I am surprised she didn't tell you"

Klaus took the last sip of his drink, turning away from his company and back to the drink cart. He popped the top of the bottle and poured another drink. "Go on, mate," Klaus stated putting the top back on the bottle and turning around to face the others again, silently wondering why Caroline didn't tell him about the markings.

Stefan sighed. "Kol helped with translating before he left Bonnie. The first line was the Son of Ansel will have a mate. The second line is what's relevant to what's going on it said, His mate will be able to bear his child," The former ripper explained.

"Esther!" Klaus yelled, cracking the glass in his hand. Only his mother would stoop so low to do something like this. "She has to be behind this!"

"Brother, calm yourself!" Elijah scolded.

Klaus shot his brother a glare, before looking at Stefan. "Call Bonnie and tell her Caroline needs her help," He said, earning a nod from Stefan. Klaus then turned his attention to his brother, "Are you still on good terms with the witch coven in France?" Elijah nodded. "Good, I want you to go and see what they suggest, don't be gone long."

"And you?" Elijah asked, wondering what is brother would do.

"I can't leave Caroline, she needs my blood," Klaus said. "I'll call Rebekah in the morning, as well as Kol, we'll need the family here when word gets out."

The two nodded, and Stefan raised his glass. "I would like to be the first to congratulate you Klaus on your impending fatherhood," Stefan said with a smirked.

With that statement, Klaus finished his drink and left the room, wondering if the thing Caroline was carrying really was a child or something his mother created to kill the women he loved.

Klaus didn't return to his - no, their- room after ordering the two people in the world that could be trusted with such matters. Instead, he headed up the balcony of the house, in need of fresh air. Gripping onto the iron railing of the balcony, Klaus looked out onto the French Quarter. This place he had made his home, not once but twice. Once by creating the place with his own two hands, and the second by some brute force. However, as he looked on to the city, he wondered if he could really bring a child into the world. A thousand years he had spent running from his father, never staying anywhere long enough to call home. Yet, a father -a real father- was supposed to protect his family's home. But, Klaus didn't even know where his home was.

New Orleans had been his excuse to let out his anger that came along with the demise of Elena's humanity. It hadn't taken as long as he thought to get Kol back out of the witches gripes, and take the city from Marcel. Frankly, it was disappointing how easy it was. Despite the work he put into the city, Klaus wasn't planning on staying long. His family never stayed in one place too long, two or three years max. This round in New Orleans Klaus was only thinking about a year, he was missing the countryside of England with no interruptions.

"Brother," Elijah said announcing that he was on the balcony, although Klaus had heard his footsteps long ago.

"Why are you not on a plane to France yet, 'Lijah," Klaus demanded as his brother came to stand next to him on the railing.

"I wanted to speak to you in private before I left," Elijah responded, glancing at his younger brother. "You know even when we were human, I never thought I see the day you become a father."

Klaus sighed, "No, I've never taken to children before."

"You haven't taken to anyone really," Elijah paused. "Until, Caroline Forbes that is. She's the reason, I haven't lost all hope on you yet brother." They had sat here in this very spot months ago, Elijah spurting out his rambles of honor to him. Klaus had never really listened to Elijah's honor speeches. After all, a thousand years of them made them seem repetitive.

"I am not strong enough brother," Klaus began, "I have spent a thousand years trying to become the strongest creature alive, but now I fear. Now matter how strong I am, I won't be strong enough to protect her," Klaus admitted looking at his brother.

Elijah put his hand on Klaus's shoulder. "The bond of family blesses us with an immeasurable power," Elijah began. "It gives us a responsibility to love without condition, without apology. You will be strong enough to protect Caroline, Klaus. This family is strong enough to protect her."

Klaus shrugged his brother's hand off and leaned onto the railings. "If I was strong enough to protect her, I would have never dragged her into this life," Klaus sneered. If he hadn't said anything to Caroline that faithful day where he offered his protection. If he had never sought her out, she wouldn't be in the position she was now.

"Don't say things like that, Niklaus," Elijah scolded. "Statements like that will make you resent the child your dear, Caroline is caring. Honestly, I think that is what you fear the most," Elijah left off vaguely.

"Fear what?"

"You fear you will not be enough for that child," Elijah said bluntly.

Klaus looked at Elijah, "We didn't have the best of parents, Elijah. For all I know, this pregnancy could kill Caroline, or worse we not even sure if this child is completely normal. Caroline will never recover if she births some monster."

"First, this pregnancy is not a death sentence," Elijah replied. "Secondly, there is no reason to assume this isn't a normal child."

"We don't even know how she got pregnant!" Klaus yelled. "The baby has already caused her one trip to the hospital! She needs hybrid blood to live!" He feverishly added on, before releasing his grip from the railing and walking down the balcony from his brother. Klaus took a deep breath, though, "Yet, I can't help," he stopped not wanting to say anything else. One part of him wished to call out claim the child was a monster, but the part of him, the one that had comforted Caroline earlier, knew it was true. That part of him knew without a doubt Caroline carried his child, their child, a piece of him and her.

"It is alright to love your child, Niklaus," his brother stated with a small smile. "Some would say it is normal."

Klaus shook his head, "How is it normal to love something that might kill another loved one?"

For the first time in centuries, Elijah smiled truly smiled. "It is called the unconditional love of a father." With that Elijah turned to headed towards the door, "I'll be back from France in a few days, call if any urgent matters arise," he said before leaving Klaus to himself.

Father.

The word replayed through his head over a million times. First flashes of what his experiences with his own father had been like. Then slowly but surely, as he looked out the New Orleans sky that's darkness was fading away, those images were replaced with different ones. Of Caroline and him with a child in one of those ridiculous contraptions, they called a stroller. Others of Caroline handing off a little girl with a mass of blonde curls to Rebekah to be spoiled. One image of him, just simply holding a little baby and it looking at him. The images left him unsettled because they were too bright, too cheerful. Yet, he could find himself falling for the hopefully storybook ending. The bad evil Beast turned good by a fair and gentle lady. They lived happily ever after and had a child together. It couldn't be that simple, nothing in a thousand years had ever been simple. However, as he stood outside and watched the sun rise over New Orleans, he let his mind live in those happy thoughts. Finally, after the sun had risen, he knew he should go check on Caroline. His moment of reflection was over with, and it was now time for him to get down to business.

Klaus was careful to be quiet as we walked down the stairs and onto the second floor where his bedroom was. The house was old and even without vampire's abilities the creaks of the floors were easy to hear. Even with the greatest of care, he opened the door to his bedroom and entered the room. Caroline laid asleep in the bed, curled up with the ridiculous stuffed lion that he had won for her at the zoo. She looked so content as she slept, and Klaus only hoped that he could keep her that happy. Silently, he took his shoes off and shrugged his jacket off before climbing into the bed next to her. Without thinking, he began to play with her hair, twirling the blonde locks in between his fingers, silently wondering if their child would have her hair.

"Mmmph," Caroline groaned as she turned into his chest. "What time is it," she muttered, her eyes still shut close.

Klaus frowned, she was always such a light sleeper. There had been many of nights that he had had woken her by simply moving too much in the bed. "Go back to sleep, love," Klaus murmured into her ears and position her where she was laying on his chest, his arms wrapped around her.

"Your tense," Caroline stated letting a yawn. "That's never a good sign," she added her eyes to still closed.

"It's entirely too early in the morning for you to begin bossing me around," Klaus said.

"I knew it," Caroline exclaimed ripping the covers off of her and sitting up. She was wide awake now, and clearly not happy about something. "You said you would come back to bed with me last night, yet you never did!"

"I did come back to bed," Klaus began, "I am in it now." Before going off to clear his mind, he had made sure Caroline had fallen asleep. Of course, he had to promise her that he would come back after he had checked on a few things.

"When I say are you coming back to bed, Klaus that means like within in the hour, not the same day!" Caroline explained, looking at him. "Oh my," Caroline mumbled, her face dropping.

"What's wrong?" Klaus asked sitting up and reaching for her hand. "Do you feel ok, is-

"Am I always this dramatic or is this the hormones kicking in?" Caroline asked, interrupting Klaus mid-sentence.

Klaus laughed and laid back down in the bed. "Yes, Caroline you are always this dramatic, and I am already dreading what hormones will do to your dramatics."

Caroline teasingly hit Klaus's chest. "I am dramatic, what about you?" Caroline questioned.

"Love, lay back down and go back to sleep," Klaus suggested looking at her. "We'll talk about everything once it's not six thirty in the morning."

Caroline laid back down and rested her head on Klaus's chest. "I am wide awake." Klaus groaned. "It's not my fault you didn't sleep last night!"

"Love, you dropped the biggest bombshell of my life to me only six hours ago," Klaus began. "I think you are partially responsible for my lack of sleep."

Caroline's eyes soften. "Are you worried?" She asked quietly.

Klaus gently stroke her hair, and gave her a small smile. "Everything will be fine, love."

"You don't have to lie to me, Klaus," Caroline said, sitting up again. "I am not going to break apart into a million pieces if you admitted that you're just as scared to death as me."

"Caroline," Klaus started. He didn't want to get into everything this early when Caroline. There was still too many unknowns, too many things they both were unsure about. "Let's get through today, and then will go from there."

It was all he could offer her right now. For the first time one a thousand years he had been rattled to his very bones. The very thing he had tried to avoid his all lifetime was happing. He was powerless to protect the one thing he loved most in this world, perhaps the whole person he was genuinely capable of loving. No matter how scared he was that he would lose her, he found himself tuning his hearing to the small pitter patter sound that was thumping away in Caroline's stomach. There were so many conflicting thoughts running through his mind, but one thing was certain. The child that Caroline was carrying was his. Niklaus Mikealson was going to be a father, a role he never thought that he would ever fulfill. As he looked the girl next to him, he knew he would. Silently, he vowed to himself that he would be there for Caroline and this child, for every step of the way. They were his family, and he would be there for them forever and always.

AN: I hoped you liked this chapter, and thanks for reading! Also, thanks for all those lovely readers who have supported this story along the way! I hope you are just as excited as I am about where this is going! Feel free to leave a review and tell me what you think!