M is for Mothers
This is one is for Dreaserrano, by request.
Disclaimer: Not my characters.
Caroline arrived at Hayley and Jackson's house to pick up Hope. Usually Klaus did it or they picked her up from school, but Caroline had some time off. The wedding was less than a month away and things were going great. She accepted the task with a smile, leaving Klaus to get dinner.
As Caroline got out of her car, she could hear Hayley tell Hope she was there. It was a nice day in May. Hope would be finishing kindergarten in just a few weeks.
Hayley stood in the doorway, holding the screen door open for Hope to pass through.
"Hi, Hayley," Caroline greeted her as she stood with her keys in hand.
"Hey."
Caroline didn't have any problems with Hayley- she wouldn't let there be any. Hayley was Hope's mom and Caroline knew how special a mother-daughter bond could be. She still missed her own mom. Caroline also knew how hard it was to be a kid shuffled between parents. Caroline didn't see her father as much as she wanted to after her parents divorced. She didn't have to remind Klaus of that because he was a strong presence in Hope's life. Caroline did what she could for Klaus and Hope, her priorities. Causing real drama, not in front of a camera, didn't interest her.
Hope came out with a paper in hand and her backpack on. She didn't look happy. In fact, she looked mad. Hayley kissed her on the head as she walked by. "Bye."
Hope didn't say anything and stood before Caroline, handing her the paper while giving her mom the evil eye.
It made Caroline pause. She'd certainly gotten that look from Hope before, Klaus, too, especially when they had to actually parent Hope. She was a Mikaelson after all and their tempers were fierce. Making sure there were rules was part of being a parent and they weren't always Hope's favorites but she was a really good kid so it was rare. Who knew what would happen when she turned into an angsty teenager coming into her witchy powers.
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to your mom?" Caroline asked gently as she took the paper.
Hope sighed and was gracious. "Goodbye, Mommy. I'll see you soon."
Hayley nodded, but her mouth was pinched.
Caroline looked at the paper. It was a card Hope made for her. It had a picture of them together on the front and inside it said that Hope loved her and she liked doing things with her. It also said Happy Mother's Day, which was the following weekend.
It was beautiful and it touched Caroline's heart. "Awww, it will make me cry. I love it and I love you. I'll treasure it forever. Thanks, baby," she beamed at her and gave her a big hug. Hope smiled, proud, and jumped into the SUV, getting settled.
"She's not your baby you know," Hayley said before Caroline could walk around the car to get in the driver's seat.
Caroline changed directions and walked towards her. Clearly something was going on. "I know. Hope knows too."
Hayley crossed her arms. "Do you? Really?"
Caroline knew more than biology mattered, but sometimes it did matter. "Yeah. What's your problem, Hayley? Is this because of the wedding? Nothing's going to change and I thought you and Klaus figured out visitation while we're on our honeymoon." Her head tipped to the side in confusion.
"It's not that." She stared at Caroline. "Hope's class is doing something for Mother's Day. She wanted to invite you too, but I told her no. I'm her mother."
Caroline tried really hard not to roll her eyes and mostly succeeded. She didn't notice Hope open the door behind her to find out why they hadn't left yet. Caroline was busy trying to find the right words to say.
"I won't go. That's fine, but I think it's really crappy that you'd make her categorize who she's allowed to love and how much." "To make yourself feel better" was the part Caroline thought in her head, but didn't say out loud. Whatever Hayley said hurt Hope and that wasn't ok with Caroline.
Hayley wasn't ready to give in. "You're not her mother," she repeated stubbornly.
"She's just like a mother to me," Hope yelled, upset at what was happening, starting to cry. She loved them both. "She ties my shoes and braids my hair. We sing songs and dance together. She makes me lunch. She hugs and kisses me all the time. She loves me." Her voice was shaky as she listed some of the things moms and Caroline did as she cried.
Caroline gave her a teary smile. That was the sweetest thing ever, but Hope didn't need to defend her and it wasn't good for Hope to see them fighting. Caroline squatted in front of her as Hope cried with her face in her hands. "It's ok, Hope. None of those things are changing and you don't have to change a thing, you're perfect, but she is your mom. That's special."
Hope squeezed Caroline in a tight hug. "She can't keep me from you."
"No one can ever keep me away from you," Caroline promised, holding her close and rubbing her back. The thought of it chilled Caroline to the core. No one would come between them. "Never, ever."
Hayley bit her lip, seeing what she'd done to her daughter, how upset she was. "Hope, I'm sorry." She stepped forward as Hope kept her arms around Caroline's neck. "You mean everything to me. I…wanted to have a special Mother's Day with you, just you."
Caroline stood and stroked the top of Hope's head. Hope sniffed and wiped her cheeks. Caroline did too.
"I love you," Hayley said quietly, not sure she said it enough. When Hope came back from being with Klaus and Caroline, she was more affectionate and vocal with her love. She never would have thought it, especially around Klaus, but it was true.
Hope walked to her mom and hugged her, heart open in a way that only a sweet 5 year old could be. It might not always be that way. "I love you, too."
Caroline couldn't believe she was offering, but, "It will be so cool to have your mom there in your class and maybe all 3 of us can do something else soon. You know I'll be at your kindergarten graduation too."
"Really? We can?" Hope asked, excited. So often the people in her life were firmly divided except for when she had her dance recitals. To have them mix any other time was thrilling and she was ready to jump up and down. It was a lot better than nothing.
"I'd like that," Hayley said when she saw how much Hope wanted it to happen. It was an olive branch she accepted from Caroline. Caroline was going to be Hope's stepmother. She had been in Hope's life for a long time and would remain there. Hope was crazy about her.
"Yes!" Hope said as she clapped and held her arms in front of her chest, so excited.
"Let's hit the road," Caroline said and Hope ran to the car, jumping in, feeling a lot better after a terrible day.
"Sorry," Hayley said softly to Caroline. "It wasn't fair, but sometimes I think she likes you more than me. She talks about you guys all the time and I snapped."
"I'm pretty awesome, Hayley," Caroline said with a grin, "but you're her mom and she loves you. I've never come between you and I never will." Caroline vowed to never make Hope choose between them. That wasn't fair to Hope.
"Thanks."
Caroline nodded and got in the car, setting off. That was weird, but baby-momma drama was rare fortunately and it would stay that way. There was no place for it and Hope deserved better.
Caroline caught her eye in the rear-view mirror at the first stoplight. "You made the card for me in case my feelings were hurt, right?" she asked. Hope nodded shyly, reminding Caroline so much of Klaus. "That was very thoughtful and made me feel really good. Thank you for thinking of me. I can't wait until I'm your stepmom." Hope gave her a big smile. Caroline turned up the radio and they sang together the whole way home.
When they parked, Caroline quickly jumped into the back seat before Hope could get out. She sat and as Hope watched, she admired her new card again.
"I still can't believe you did this. I love my dress and my hair and we're playing together. That's one of my very best favorite things to do." Caroline ran her hand over the crayon drawing. It was so sweet.
Hope grinned, twisting her hands around. "Do you really love it?"
"Seriously?" she asked her and Hope laughed at the stunned question. "It's awesome and it's going on the fridge. You know that no one can change my feelings about you, right?"
"Yup," Hope answered confidently and Caroline gave her a high five.
"In not too long, I'll officially be your stepmother, totally not an evil one, and we can start a new tradition to celebrate Stepmother's day every year, just you and me. I'll also come and visit your class again before school ends, ok?" She'd been to Hope's class for school events like the Christmas concert, but it sounded like Hope might want her to see her classmates and get introduced like Hayley was going to experience. Caroline would make it happen by stopping by another time to say hello and take Hope home.
"I love it, just you and me," Hope said with a big smile. "Daddy's gonna be so jealous." Caroline laughed. That would probably be true and he'd probably try to sneak in, but he also loved when they bonded, so he'd wait a little before making his move.
They got out of the car.
"Daddy!" Hope yelled when they walked inside the house, dropping her backpack on the ground.
"No need to yell, princess," he said as he strolled in, smiling at Hope who ran to him. Picking her up, even though she was really too big, he kissed her and asked her, "How are you, Hope?"
"Awesome. Mommy and CC and I are going out together."
"You are?" Klaus asked with a quirked brow extended towards his fiancee.
"Yes and it's going to be so great because I have Mommy and CC who is like a mommy and it's almost Mother's Day," she told him matter of factly as he set her down.
Caroline rolled her eyes with a smile.
"Why don't you bring your bag to your room?"
Hope nodded and practically skipped up to her room with her backpack.
"What?"
"Exactly," Caroline answered. First she showed him the card that he admired with a proud father smile. Then Caroline told him the run down and his expression changed. He was irate when Caroline told him about Hope crying especially, but she did remind him he promised to kill Jackson if Hope ever called him "Daddy." It didn't appease him at all. Then she asked him how he would feel if Hope invited Jackson to a Father's Day event. Klaus growled and she merely raised a brow. He picked up his phone to call Hayley, but Caroline stopped him. They were better served talking to Hope.
Klaus did think he might have put something together though which might explain a little of what was going on with both Hayley and Hope.
"Where can we go that doesn't involve a lot of speaking?" Caroline asked him, trying to come up with something to do with Hayley and Hope.
Klaus laughed and then did what Caroline often did to him and came up with a list.
"Waterskiing?" he offered with that familiar smirk.
"With a 5 year old? Really Klaus, it's like you aren't taking this seriously," she said with a faux sigh. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders as she smiled.
"The Opera?"
She shook her head.
"A movie?"
"That's actually not a bad idea. Speaking isn't encouraged and Hope can sit between us."
"Karaoke and you just keep singing?"
She laughed and he kissed her dimpled cheek.
Hope rejoined them and they moved into the kitchen. Caroline unwrapped the take out containers as Klaus took out the plates and utensils. Hope carried one of her toys.
"Hope, I haven't seen Jackson lately. Is he well?" Klaus asked, trying to be nonchalant.
Caroline stared at him. What was he talking about? He was being weird.
"Mommy said he's gone for a little bit," Hope answered as she played with her Disney princess doll. She pursed her mouth. "I hope he's ok." She sighed. "I miss him."
"I'm sure he misses you too, baby, and I'm sure he's fine," Caroline said, sad for her. She saw where Klaus was going. Hayley and Jackson must have been having issues. Hope definitely noticed that she hadn't seen Jackson since it came out with Caroline and Hayley was clinging more tightly to Hope.
After he set the table, Klaus sat next to Hope.
"Caroline's not going anywhere," he told her fervently. "Even if she didn't love me, she'd still love you. Do you understand?" It wasn't something he could even imagine, but if anything happened with Caroline, he'd never take Hope away from her or vice versa. He wouldn't do that to his daughter or Caroline. It was the Klaus who was a father who realized that and it was different than what he would have done five hundred or fifty or ten years ago. Maybe Hope needed to hear that because of what was happening between Jackson and Hayley.
"I guess."
Caroline set down the opened boxes on the table and joined them, more than willing to explain it again. "If anything happened to him and me being together-which it won't- I'll still see you and love you. Remember you said your mom can't keep me from you?"
Hope nodded.
"That's right and your dad can't either. I love you like crazy, Hope, and you do remember my ninja skills, right?" she asked with a smile. Hope rolled her eyes and her dimples popped out. "I'm very clever and if I want something I always get it, including this guy right here. I tricked him into spending the rest of his life with me," she said with a smile at Klaus who thought the exact opposite was true. "Nothing can keep me away from you, baby." Caroline kissed her on the cheek and laid her head on Klaus' shoulder. "Plus, do you know who I work the best with if anyone else tried to keep me from you? Who is my best partner?"
"Me!" Hope said. Caroline and Klaus laughed.
"Well yes, we do awesome stuff together. Who is my second best partner?" She slid her eyes over to give Hope a hint and Klaus coughed.
"Daddy!"
"Exactly. Together, we can't be beat. You, me, and Daddy are the best team and no one can get in our way."
"We're a family. Always and forever," Hope said, repeating the family motto, and they agreed. Always and forever. Klaus loved hearing her say it. It meant so much to him.
"Do you think anything could keep your dad away from you?" Caroline asked her with a big smile.
"No way, not like, anything," Hope said seriously with huge eyes and Klaus nodded, feeling a thousand feet tall.
"Exactly, princess. Caroline is the same way." He knew that was true. He didn't trust anyone like he trusted Caroline around Hope. She was determined, resourceful, and fierce in ways Hope didn't know yet. "At the wedding we're going to make promises to each other again, promises about being together forever," Klaus looked at Caroline as he spoke.
Caroline smiled and stroked his hand with hers. Sometimes it took a talk with Hope to remind them of what the wedding meant- solidifying their futures together. Sometimes love faded, but not for them. They'd been through so much and were ready for more, together.
Rising to get some milk for Hope, Caroline left them at the table.
Klaus slid his hand along Hope's cheek, speaking to her quietly. "I saw your card for Caroline. It was beautiful and thoughtful. I'm very proud of you, princess."
Klaus pressed a kiss to her cheek as she smiled shyly.
He spoke over his shoulder. "Do you want a kiss too, sweetheart?"
"Yes!"
Hope rolled her eyes at them. Caroline pressed a kiss to the top of Hope's head as she set down the milk and she got the promised kiss from Klaus too.
Klaus and Caroline got back to dinner and lighter talk, Hope comforted for by their words and promises, confident in their love of her. Klaus was sensitive to Hope's vulnerability and soft heart, seeing so much of his younger, human self in her. He watched her closely, but she really did look like nothing was weighing on her mind and that's exactly what he wanted for her. She told him all about school and what she'd done since they last had her.
When Caroline and Klaus were getting into bed, Klaus asked her, "Do you think Elijah knows?" He wiggled his brows.
Caroline laughed and groaned as she climbed in. "You are fresh."
"You're just jealous you didn't say it first," he said with a raised brow as he got in his side, sounding like her.
"True," she admitted as she laughed, sliding close to him.
He thought of thanking Caroline for how she handled the situation that day, but that wouldn't be right. That would make it seem as if she wasn't sincere and she was. She said what she really thought and wasn't exaggerating for Hope or for him. She chose to be a step-mother when she chose him, but she didn't love Hope because of Klaus. She loved Hope because she loved Hope. He considered her a mother to Hope utterly and completely.
"It's early, but…Happy Mother's Day, Caroline." He would be giving her a sapphire bracelet on the big day itself since it would just be the two of them celebrating. "She reminds me of you quite a bit with her enthusiasm for everything and bubbly nature. You're a great example for her. Then I see her put her hands behind her back."
Caroline giggled and got even closer to him. She loved when Hope did that. "Her soft heart comes from you. She's awesome just like you too and I love being around her." She looked up at him. "Klaus, she changed you, really, and I love the man you are, all the little pieces that make you, you."
"I love you."
"I love you."
In the end, Jackson and Hayley got through their rough patch and stayed together, which relieved Hope because she really did love Jackson, who was a good man.
Caroline, Hayley, and Hope ended up going out to lunch and then a movie. Hope couldn't stop smiling between them and they knew it meant a lot to her. The two women weren't thrilled, but did it for her. It's all Hope wanted, not to choose and divide, but to have it all. Caroline also visited her class as part of their Stepmother Day celebration. She said hello to all of the students and Hope proudly told them Caroline would be her stepmom very soon. Caroline was just as proud to have Klaus and Hope in her life.