Trekking up through Andes was an idea Caroline had a week or so ago. With no pressing responsibilities in New Orleans, they went through a busy airport and flew to South America, preparing for a week or month in the mountains, depending on how long they agreed they wanted to stay there. Caroline had stayed by Klaus's side on the trail, or Klaus would see Caroline's backpack bouncing in front of him, their hands always connected.
Hope, Josie and Elizabeth were in Elijah and Hayley's care as they walked, and every so often, Caroline felt the urge to call, worried about whatever mothers worry. Klaus felt bad that Caroline couldn't get a signal, but she didn't want to leave the trail. And so he'd tell her stories to distract her. Stories of his travels, and his hardships involving Elijah, Kol, Rebekah. There were new stories involving Freya that seemed too incredible to believe, but she listened and the sound of Klaus's voice lulled her into a sense of peace.
Caroline looked at Klaus and he at her, both of them looking at the trail ahead again.
"I'm glad we went on this trip." Caroline said finally. Klaus squeezed her hand.
"I thought you were jumping at the bit to leave, worrying about Josette and Elizabeth so much."
"Well as soon as we leave the mountains I'm pretty sure we won't get home fast enough, but right now I feel a lot better." She replied. Klaus smirked to himself and lowered his head. Caroline kept her eyes on their journey and waited for Klaus to ready himself to say whatever he wanted to say.
"I do miss Hope as well, you know." He said after a while, and Caroline looked at him. She smiled.
"You and her mom on the road together, you guys probably got a lot closer than you were when you were more concerned about protecting Hope from people and forces far enough away you didn't have to stay by her side all the time."
"Yes, that's true. Watching Hope grow whilst I had no prior concerns was wonderful. I just hoped we would've been able to stay in one place. She missed every small hotel room we left, and as the months went on, the harder it was for her to leave. It felt as though I was getting hurt, everytime she cried." Klaus replied.
"I know what you mean. As soon as Josie woke up on the way to New Orleans she started crying, she didn't understand why we had to left Mystic Falls." Caroline said.
"Well I am glad she has come around. Seeing her smile at the beauty of the city is one of the wonders I can't quite get over." He replied. Caroline looked at Klaus with a grin and they stopped in the middle of the trail. She took his face and they kissed softly, his hands going to her waist.
A group of trekkers passed them, and a woman could hardly contain her disgust at a happy couple. She quickly rejoined her group before Caroline and Klaus glanced at her, Caroline looking back at Klaus with a giggle and kissing him one more time. Klaus kissed her back, not quite done with her mouth and pulled her closer.
A strong humming of wings broke their liplock as a hummingbird flew down to see them. They both stared at the little bird, who regarded them thoughtfully then flew off. Caroline grinned back at Klaus and she kissed him one last time, gripping him hard. When she pulled away, Klaus gave her a look of surprise and then they started on their journey again.
"What was that one for?" He asked. She smiled back at him and he slipped his arm between her and her backpack.
"You told me about when you met hummingbird on your trek here last time. The time you thought about being human." She replied. He couldn't help a grin spreading over his face.
"You remember." He said and she put her head on his shoulder briefly.
"Yeah. And this time, I heard the hummingbird's heartbeat, just like you said. And I got to have this moment with you." Caroline said. He grinned and they kissed one more time as they walked, enjoying the rest of their trek.
