A/N Hey guys. Merry Christmas only 2 chapters and an Epilogue after this! I'm pretty excited! I put the first chapter of my next Klaroline fic on the other day. It's called "His Weakness". I'm super pumped to start writing it! Hope some of yall will like to read it! :) Anywho let me know what you think about this fic! Your REVIEWS mean a lot to me :) By the way this chapter has a lot of POV switching back from Klaus to Caroline which I don't like to do too much in one chapter, however it was necessary since this chapter they were apart.

Chapter 24 - Tick Tock

26 weeks pregnant

Caroline's POV

"I thought you said you were going to help me?" Klaus laughs.

Today is the day we paint the nursery.

It's the room beside Carly's, just down the hall from our bedroom.

Klaus and I both refuse to find out the babies genders, so we decided on a mutual color, green.

The day started out with both of us painting the walls the shade of green we had gotten from the home depot store.

By the time it came to the specific detailing, the trees, monkeys, elephants and giraffes that Klaus wanted across the walls I zoned out.

"I am helping." I announce, proudly.

I bend down, careful of my growing belly and dip my fingers in the green paint.

Klaus' back is to me as he works on the specific tribal print border.

I scrape my fingers down the side of his face, smearing the paint down his cheeks.

He inhales deeply.

"No you just didn't" He barks.

I can't hold back my laugh.

"You wanted me to help." I say, feigning innocence.

"Okay, well I can help too."

He grabs my shirt, pulls it up to expose my belly, and pours the whole can of paint on it.

He rubs both of his hands over my stomach, smearing the paint everywhere.

I break out in uncontrollable laughter.

All of the sudden the babies start kicking, both at the same time.

"Ohhh." I say, doubling over, grasping my stomach.

"Baby, are you okay. Did I hurt you? I was just messing around."

He reaches for me, concerned.

"I'm fine, Klaus. Your kids are just kicking me something fierce."

I grab his hands and place them on the two different spots on my stomach where the babies are kicking.

"Wow, they could be soccer stars in the making."

"Ahm." Rebekah interrupts, knocking on the nursery door.

"Niklaus I need to speak with you downstairs if you have a moment."

"Do you mind, love?" He asks, wiping some smeared paint off of my cheek.

"Sure. I'll be looking in the baby catalog and try to pick out the cribs. I think we need to put the orders in this week."

A broad grin crosses his face as he kisses my forehead.

"Be right back." He says following Rebekah downstairs.

...

...

Klaus' POV

"What's the problem this time Rebekah?" I ask, following into the foyer.

"Ester sent us a letter. She's been watching us and she knows Caroline is pregnant."

"Great." I rub my heads down my face.

"She wants to know when the babies are going to be born so she can come and get them."

"Why does our mother have to act deranged. Isn't it enough just knowing she has grandchildren, does she have to raise them and make them her little pawns too. I won't subject my kids to that, Bek I just can't."

Im pacing and the breath is coming ragged from my throat.

"I know, I know. Just breath, Nik. Geez."

My pocket buzzes.

I pull my phone out.

There is a text from Elijah.

*We think we found Hayley back in the states! Can you fly out tonight?*

I look up at Rebekah.

"I got to go. Elijah thinks that they found Hayley back in the states. He wants us to go deal with it tonight."

"Go, I'll handle the Ester situation don't worry."

I let out a deep breath.

"Are you sure."

"Yes. Go." She insists, shooing me away with her hands.

"Thanks Bek."

I pull her into a hug, then run upstairs to tell Caroline.

"Hey babe so I think I decided that I like the Dark Oak cribs. They are just precious. Is something wrong?" She asks noticing I'm out of breath.

"Yeah but I have to leave tonight. Elijah and I are going to the states to deal with Hayley. We will be gone 2 days tops."

She stays silent.

I lean forward and kiss her belly.

"Take care of the little ones for me."

"I will." She says, a frown still etched on her face.

"Be careful, I love you." I tell her. "I'll be back before you know it."

...

...

Caroline's POV

I lay in bed the rest of the day.

Carly watches tv on the bed with me while I try not to mope.

I know Klaus will be back soon but I miss him.

Bonnie is also laying on the bed with us.

She helps me make some decisions about the babies nursery.

Our day goes mostly boring until the butler, Kristof bursts in.

"Kristof, is everything alright."

"No maam. Mistress Ester is on the island and she is coming for you maam. Master Kol sent me to come and protect you."

I breath hitches.

Ester's here and she's here for me!

I pick up Carly and force her into Bonnie's arms.

"Protect her." I demand and force Bonnie into the closet nearby.

Ester doesn't know about Carly.

If I could hide her she had a chance, Ester just wants me.

I brace myself for her arrival.

I sit on the bed, my head fallen.

I just want Klaus.

Kristof stands in front of me, in a protective position.

I hear clattering and loud footsteps running through the hall.

"Here's the dear." Ester says, opening the bedroom door.

She extends her hand out to me.

"Come now, dearie. You don't want to make a scene. No one needs to get hurt."

I make my way off the bed and head towards her.

Kristof steps in my way.

"I can't let you go with her." He says.

I try to move past him but he is standing firm.

Ester pulls out a gun from her tiny prada purse.

"Kristof, please let me go. Please. They aren't going to leave without me."

Kristof stares at the gun for a moment before finally relenting and letting me pass.

As soon as Ester puts the gun away, I kick the purse out of her hand and Kristof grabs for the gun.

That's all I see before everything goes black.

...

...

"Wakey, wakey. Caroline. Good ole Dr. Brown is here to check on you and the babies."

I hear Ester say.

My vision is blurry.

I see multi colored dots all around the room.

I force my eyes to focus.

"Okay Caroline we are going to see how you are doing today. First we are going to do the oral exam."

The lady I assume is Dr. Brown puts on rubber gloves and fixes herself in between my legs.

She moves her hand uncomfortably around down there.

I want to cry, I want Klaus.

"Very good." Says Dr. Brown, removing her hand and shifting the ultrasound machine into place.

She squirts some of the cool gel on my belly and moves the wand around.

Immediately a loud thump-thump-thump sound enters the room.

"Healthy heartbeats. The babies both weigh about a pound and a half now which is healthy weight at this stage. 14 inches long. Beautiful. Are you feeling ample amount of movement Caroline?"

"Yes." I say, my vision still slightly blurry.

I move my hand up to shield my eyes from the light.

My stomach contracts slightly.

I wince.

"She's not going into labor is she?" Ester asks.

"It's Braxton Hicks contractions. She was dilated any when I checked so she will be fine."

I try to breathe as my stomach contracts again.

"I need to call Klaus." I beg.

"Please let me tell him I'm alright and the babies are fine."

Ester hands over her phone.

"You have 3 minutes dearie I would make it fast."

I dial Klaus' number as fast as my fingers allow.

"Hello!" He answers on the first ring.

"It's me. I'm okay. The babies are okay."

"Caroline. Where are you?"

"I don't know Ester has me. I'm at some hospital they just did an ultrasound."

"Are you sure your fine?" He asks, his voice dripping with concern.

"I'm fine. I'm just having a few contractions but the doctor doesn't think I'm in labor just Braxton hicks."

I hear him breath hollowly on the phone, I know he is pacing.

"The doctor thinks. Well the doctor better know. Shouldve known my mother would take you to a quack doctor. For all we know you could be in premature labor."

"Way to calm a girl down."

Ester taps her wrist telling me times up.

"Listen babe I have to go. I love you okay, don't do anything stupid."

Ester grabs the phone and hangs up.

My heart sinks.

I know Klaus must be frazzled.

...

...

Klaus' POV

"Rebekah get the plane ready right now! We needed to fine her yesterday! She could be having the babies you know! Oh God what if I'm not there when they are born. There own daddy not there."

I sit down and put my head between my knees.

I can't breathe.

"Did she say she was in labor?" Rebekah asks, her own voice now revealing frantic.

"She said she was having contractions but the doctor said it wasn't labor just Braxton hicks."

Rebekah's breathing evens out.

"I'll call all of the guys so they can be on the lookout."

"What about Carly?" I ask.

I haven't seen the baby since I first got back on the island.

"Bonnie has her so she will be taken care of. We need to focus on Caroline. Where would Ester have taken her?"

"Maybe to the mainland or even to France."

I shake my head rapidly, tears starting to prick my eyes.

"Don't worry Nik, we will find them."

She rubs my back soothingly.

I intake a deep breath.

"Bek, try to call Ester, maybe we can negotiate. She let Caroline call me so maybe we can get through to her."

Rebekah nods and begins clicking through her phone looking for Ester's number, finally she finds it, presses the call button and hands the phone to me.

...

...

Caroline's POV

"Klaus, darling, it's absolutely splendid to talk to you. I'm very busy though I'm afraid."

There is a pause from Ester.

I can hear Klaus' angry voice on the other end.

"I'm afraid that is no good. See I want to raise these babies Nik. They will be great, like you and your brothers. She will be high class and when old enough, immortal like the rest of our family."

I can hear Klaus' angry voice again but I can make out no words.

"Of course you may retrieve Caroline, promptly after she gives birth."

His voice bursts through again but this time Ester cuts him short.

"No negotiation."

She flips her phone to a close, cutting off Klaus' angry words in the process.

"That son of mine sure has a temper. "

She laughs, smoothing my hair down.

"Don't worry dearie, I'll have you back home safe and sound soon."

Her words chill me to the bone.

She grabs me by the arm and leads me out of the unmarked building we are in and into a maroon van.

She then binds my hands together with zip ties and fastens me into a seat.

"Where are we going?" I ask, as Ester takes her place in the passenger seat.

It's not Ester who answers my question though, it is the driver of the van who replies.

I don't hear what she is saying, I just see her devil lips move and I feel nauseous.

Mine and my babies fate rest in the hands of Ester and Hayley.

...

...

Klaus' POV

As the phone goes dead in my head, my heart plummets.

We had to find Ester.

We have to save Caroline and the babies.

I sit on the floor of the unfinished nursery, staring at Carly who Bonnie brought to play.

She is flopping her stuff animal this way and that before it finally finds it's place in her mouth.

I can't help but smile, seeing the sheer innocence on Carly's face.

I embrace her in my arms a hold her close.

When Bonnie comes to take her for her nap I don't move.

Holding this little girl is the only thing keeping me sane.

I only loosen my arms when I hear Rebekah enter and say, "We have a location."

...

...

Caroline's POV

I look at the floorboards in the SUV.

I try to keep my thoughts positive, but it's an uphill battle.

I miss Klaus.

I miss Carly.

I try to hold myself together.

I refuse to look weak in front of Hayley and Ester.

I refuse to let them think they win.

I lean back against the seat and try to stay calm.

Suddenly the car swivels and Hayley lets out a stream of curse words.

"They found us." She says in an aghast whisper.

"Keep driving." Ester demands.

We cut down several ally ways to try to lose them.

It seems to work after the fourth cut through, the headlights are no longer behind us.

I can't watch.

My stomach keeps flipping, the babies are kicking vigorously and I'm getting overwhelmingly nauseous.

All of a sudden, the SUV comes to a screeching halt.

Hayley and Ester look around nervously for a way out when the jeep containing my husband cuts us off.

Klaus, Elijah and Stefan get out of the jeep, guns raised, slowly walking towards us.

I know this is my moment to escape.

I slowly reach down to undo my seatbelt, careful not to make a single noise.

I am somehow able to accomplish it even with the cable ties around my wrists.

I open the car door clumsily and blindly make a run for my husband.

Tears stream down my face as I hear his sweet voice call my name.

Just as I'm halfway between the car and my husband I hear the car's engine purr, and the tires squeak as Hayley lurches the car fastly forward in a desperate attempt to stop me.

All I feel is the pain of the car colliding with my body and the sheer horror on Klaus' face.

Then everything fades to black.

A/N Please REVIEW and let me know what you think and make sure to check out my other story, His Weakness which is also a Klaroline story. Happy Holidays!