A/N: I couldn't help it

Epilogue

"Stefan, where are you guys? Hurry Please!" Caroline tapped off the call and placed the phone gently on the long table before her, she sat at the head, looking at the empty seats bar hers and another. Her coffee cup was almost cold but she didn't care, her gaze was occupied outside the large window. She'd chosen this restaurant for its location and she'd chosen well. It was chic on the inside, filled with warm browns and oranges, with beautiful carvings on the outside. But her decision was based on the little children's park outside the window. A few children were scattered around the place, but the particular little girl she was watching had strayed onto the climbing frame, a little too far. Her gangly arms were stretched too far and she was dangling in place, she'd grown since she'd last seen her three years ago, panic evident as she calculated how painful exactly the drop the tarmac would be. She let a single hand go but before she slipped and fell a boy a few years older had caught her on his shoulders. Her older brother began reprimanding her in a foreign language, Caroline only recognised one word. Her name. Isobella. It was perfect for her, with her growing black curls and thick lashes falling over her freckled face. She'd chosen the restaurant well, celebrating her birthday and catching up on a promise.

It wasn't just her birthday though, not anymore.

She was drawn out of her thoughts by a little whimper from the second occupied chair. About 60% of the chair was occupied with a car seat, an ersatz baby chair for the 3 month old baby boy who had, up until now, been sleeping peacefully. Caroline picked him up gently and upon recognising his mother he quietened down, staring back at her with a grin. He looked so much like her with blonde hair and aqua eyes.

"Is that smile I see?" Caroline sat him on the table in front of her, holding him upright. "Is little Henry smiling for mommy?" She waved his tiny arms a little as his smile turned into a gurgle, "Yes you are, Henry loves mom- oh no, you pooped didn't you?" In response to the load he dropped in his nappy he laughed at his mother. "Yeah laugh it up baby but this is one present I'm not going to unwrap."

Right on cue the bell signalling another patron's arrival tinkled as Klaus entered, carrying a pink backpack on one shoulder and very much awake daughter on the other. Six years old and she could still sucker him into carrying her. He gracefully manoeuvred around the tables in the tiny place until he reached his wife, greeting her with a kiss and his son with another on his forehead. "He's smili- he pooped." Klaus stated upon realising the smell surrounding his son. He dropped his daughter gently into the chair next to Caroline, ruffling her brown curls and scooped Henry up, heading for the bathroom with the pink rucksack, stuffed with nappies and other items he'd so thoughtfully brought.

"So Lizzie..." Caroline began, wiping her daughters face with a napkin to clean up the cake Klaus had obviously let her eat, even after she told him not to. "How did the recall go?"

"We're getting a matching set of necklaces from Daddy, Uncle 'Lijah got me a book and he got you a perfume. That was all I could find before daddy caught me. I pretendeded I was looking for cake." Lizzie was aptly named, just as smart as her late grandmother.

"That's my girl." The shared small high five just as the others started filling in. First was Elijah with Matt and Rebekah straight after. Kol and Bonnie, now there was an odd pair, came five minutes after looking surprisingly roughed up.

"Ther-there's a leaf in your hair Bon," Caroline pointed out as they sat. While Bonnie blushed and reached for it the Salvatore Brothers and the Gilbert siblings arrived.

"Hey pipsqueak," Damon threw Lizzie's present to her and she almost squealed with delight a she turned over the box of cards in her hand. "I fully expect to beat you in game of poker after this."

"Not bloody likely," Kol replied for her, "we've been practicing."

"Yes but you don't provide much of a challenge dear brother."

"I beat you too Uncle 'Lijah,"

"Beginners luck." Elijah replied with a humph.

"Where's Klaus and darling Henry?" Rebekah asked, a hand resting on her own baby bump, while Matt laid an arm around her.

"Cleaning up a disaster." Caroline replied, confiscating the box of cards from Lizzie, "you can have these back after sweet- are these gold plated?"

"Yup." Damon smacked his lips cockly, daring anyone to beat his birthday present.

Vicky arrived last her two year old son practically leapt out of her arms when she sat beside Elijah and into his father's arms. "Way to make me feel loved kiddo," Elijah smiled and kissed her, placing a hand on his sons head. In reply his son stuck one thumb in his mouth and twirled a lock of his mother's hair in the other.

"Ah, you all made it I see. Took you long enough." Klaus said as he took his place by Caroline. Elena squealed with delight similar to Lizzie's and almost yanked Henry from Klaus's arms. Jeremy was much quicker and took him from Elena, blowing a raspberry on his stomach.

"Yes we got held up."

"I can see that." Klaus made a point to eye his brother's rumpled apparel.

"Well you can't blame me," Kol shrugged, "I received some good news."

"Oh, do enlighten us?" Caroline asked, knowing full well what the answer would be. He'd asked Grams for permission a week ago and she'd called her with the news, venting as much as she could and gaining Caroline's opinion on her brother in law.

"I said yes," Bonnie held up her hand to show the finger adorned with the ring and was met with rapturous celebrating.

"Took you long enough too." Kol smirked, kissing her, to which Lizzie clapped her hands over her eyes.

"Ewww"

"Eww indeed." Klaus echoed, turning to Caroline he mumbled "I hope she stays this way forever."

"Me too." She laughed, kissing him, earning another 'eww' from Lizzie.

Caroline drew back and looked around the table, at all the smiling faces. They'd come a long way. The cake was brought after an evening of feasting and Lizzie almost had to be restrained when she saw the sparkling candles. Unfortunately one had simply refused to stay alight longer than two seconds.

"I've got it," Klaus flicked a hand "incedia" and the candle re-alighted. "Now make a wish girls."

Both Lizzie and Caroline closed their eyes. One wished for a poker set and paintball gun while the other simply closed her eyes. Not wishing for a thing. What was the need? All her wishes had come true.

She was okay.

She was more than okay; she was happy.