A/N:

Hey guys! This chapter includes a tearful goodbye and an interesting new bonding moment. I wanted to develop Haley's character into much more than Klaus's baby mama, and to give her a more elaborate personality. I really hope that you enjoy, and happy reading!

-Erin

Chapter 44: The Girlfriend and the One Night Stand

Caroline POV

"I can't believe I'm leaving you here by yourself with a man." My mother sighed as she placed the last article of clothing into her suitcase.

"Mom, I'm going to be fine. You know Klaus and Elijah are completely thorough when it comes to protecting me. There is nothing to worry about." I reassured my worrisome mother about her leaving me with the Original family. She wasn't really leaving me, since it was my choice to stay.

"Okay. Just call me more, Care. I want to be kept updated." Mom chastised me before zipping up her suitcase. She extended the pop-up handle before shifting it to the floor.

"I will, Mom, I promise. Alright, do you have your plane tickets and boarding voucher?" I asked her, and she showed me the paper brochure that held both things.

"Okay. Klaus arranged for a town car to take you to the airport. I love you." I said as we walked down the stairs, and mom pulled me into a side hug.

Klaus, Elijah, Rebekah, and Matt met us at the front door. Klaus immediately took my hand when I reached him, and he said a polite farewell to my mother.

"Have a safe flight, Sheriff Forbes. The town car is awaiting you in the front drive. Please, call us when you arrive." Klaus shook my mother's hand with a firm grasp.

"Thank you, Klaus, for providing such hospitable accommodations. And for taking care of my daughter. The effort you've put into her protection is all I could ask for. So please, call me Liz." My mom surprised me with that last line.

"Well then, Liz, I promise that Caroline will remain safe and I will protect her with my life."

"Thank you." My mom thanked Klaus before turning to Matt.

"Have a safe trip, Ms. Forbes." Matt encircled my mom with a hug and she willing returned it.

"I will, Matt. Take care of yourself down here, and watch out for Caroline." Mom spoke as she released Matt from his hug.

"Safe travels, Elizabeth." Elijah placed a small peck on my mother's hand in his typical gentleman fashion.

"Thank you, Elijah." She responded.

Mom gave Rebekah a curt nod, which Rebekah responded with a small smile. Lastly, Mom came to me.

"I love you, sweetie. Be safe." She said before pulling me into the tightest hug she could. We held onto each other for a few brief moments before she had to go.

Everyone watched as the driver loaded my mom's luggage into the trunk of the car. He opened the door for her, and slid into the backseat. The car pulled away, and she was gone. Elijah closed the front door, and we al went our separate ways.

"What is going to occupy your time now that your mother has departed back the Mystic Falls?" Klaus inquired as we entered the kitchen.

"I don't know. Maybe I'll learn a musical instrument. I've always wanted to learn piano." I mused as I opened the fridge door in pursuit of a snack. Grabbing a bowl of freshly cut strawberries, I slid them onto the counter as I sat down on a barstool.

"I dabbled in piano years ago. Whatever you wish to learn, I will provide the necessary materials."

"Thank you." I responded as I took a bite of the strawberry in my hand.

"When was the last time you had blood, Caroline?" Klaus asked me with a sudden look of question on his face.

"Last week sometime. Having blood always freaked out my mom, so I avoided divulging in it. Why?"

"Well, because you need to eat. I'll prepare you some." Klaus bent down to the hidden blood stock that resided in one of the cabinets.

He removed a chilled blood bag labeled B+ from the mini fridge, placing it on the counter. Klaus then went to the mug rack and removed one. Pouring the blood into the mug, he warmed it in the microwave before placing it before me.

"Here, drink." Klaus encouraged me. I made a face at him before taking a small sip.

"Why are you babying me?" I asked him when I had finished off the mug of warmed blood.

"Because I want to propose an idea to you. I thought if I endeared first that you might be more open to agreeing to it."

"What do you need?" I asked Klaus with a sigh.

"I want you to bond with Haley. Since I plan on having you involved with the children's lives, you need to bond with their mother."

"You know how much I dislike her." I snipped.

"And I also know how much you want to have a relationship with my children. I discussed it with Elijah, and he agrees that you and Haley need to form a friendship. Please, Caroline. For me."

"Fine." I huffed, and Klaus kissed my forehead.

"Thank you." Klaus whispered into my ear, and he left the kitchen.

What was I getting myself into?

I hesitated briefly before knocking on the cottage's arched front door. Klaus's security detail had just dropped me off at the cottage where Haley resided. I was still waiting for a moment to regain my confidence and composure, and it finally came.

I raised my knuckles to the door and rapped against it a few times. For a few moments I waited in silence until I heard the fall of heavy footsteps. The door opened a second later, revealing a baby-bump bearing Haley.

"Oh, goody. The Vampire Barbie is here." Haley groaned before leaving the door open for me to enter.

When I did, I closed the door behind myself. I found Haley lounging in the living room, with what seemed to be a bowl of steaming hot chicken noodle soup in front of her on the coffee table. It smelled divine, and I wondered why she wasn't eating it.

"So what did you come here for? I thought in your eyes you considered me a slut." Haley asked me, her eyes sharp with suspicion.

"I know that we have had our differences, but evidently Klaus and Elijah think that we need to bond. Something about how I'm dating Klaus and you're carrying his children." I explained to Haley, who gave me a sour look.

"How do I even know that Klaus is going to be involved in the twin's lives? He doesn't exactly seem like the fatherly type."

"Klaus has spent numerous times trying to protect you and the twins. You shouldn't be so ungrateful. I know it doesn't seem like it, but Klaus wants to be involved with the twin's life. I've been trying to make him a better man, and I really think he's coming along. He's kinder; more dependable."

"Even if he is, I've seen Klaus's brutality. I don't think I can raise my children around such a violent individual."

"The thing is, they're not just your children. Their Klaus's also, which means he deserves a chance to raise and get to know them. He is completely dedicated to his family, which you and the twins are now apart of." I tried to remind her of the fact that Klaus never abandoned his family. Even if he hadn't wanted the twins at first, he wanted to be their father now. And Haley needed to give him that chance.

"I don't want to be apart of the twisted Mikaelson family. They have too many problems that I don't want to deal with. Right now they're in a battle against a man that Klaus raised. How do I know that he's not going to raise the twins to be monsters like Marcel?" Haley gave me a questioning glance.

"Because he'll have me."

I didn't even realize the significance of the words I had said until they had come out of my mouth. Haley looked at me with criticism for a moment, and then smiled. It was the first time she had ever smiled at me.

"You're in love with Klaus. The Beauty and the Beast." Haley realized.

"We just click for some reason." I went to sat down in the armchairs opposite Haley on the couch.

"It's seems we have similar taste in men. First Tyler, then Klaus. Except Klaus was more an impulse. I genuinely liked Tyler, until he turned into a manipulative douchebag."

"Oh don't remind me. I had enough mental and physical abuse from him to last an eternal lifetime." I sighed, leaning back into the armchair.

"And now we are interconnected with the same man again. The girlfriend and the one night stand." Haley chuckled to herself.

"Don't remind of that either. We have got to stop getting ourselves involved with the same men."

"Agreed." Haley huffed.

"Did we just have a civil conversation?" I suddenly noticed that we weren't fighting. We were just talking like two normal, supernatural people.

"I guess Elijah had a point when he said that we need to get along. Even though your peppy exterior still pisses me off, I guess I can tolerate you. It gets kinda lonely being here by myself." Haley answered.

"I thought Georgiana and Fay were always hanging around, making sure you were taken care of." I asked, and Haley snorted.

"Georgiana checks up on me about every two days. Fay on the other hand drives me insane. I haven't eaten normal food since I was living at the plantation. All she makes is this healthy, disgusting witchie recipes."

"Like what?" I wondered.

"Everything is supposedly to help the twins develop. Things such as chicken and sage pasta, and this crappy chicken soup. It's filled with all these fancy herbs and spices, yet it has no flavor. I've been craving a cheeseburger for weeks."

"I understand. Klaus tried to force feed me blood this morning. It's not like I can't feed myself." I tried to relate to Haley, which sorta worked.

"So what do you want to do? There's nothing really to do beside binge on Netflix and Hulu. I've watched seven seasons of Supernatural. Whatever that is."

"How about we plan the nurseries for the twins? Having them ready before they are born will be a huge help." I suggested, and Haley thought about it for a moment.

"Okay."

We ended up diving into the wonderful and mystical world that is Pinterest. For the little girl, Haley and I agreed on a blush pink and white color scheme with rustic accents of lace, burlap, and pearls. For the little boy, Haley liked the nautical theme with a bright red, navy blue and white. Anchors were everywhere, and so where rope accents. Finishing up a couple hours later, I gathered the notes we had made and slid them into the Tory Burch purse I was carrying.

"So, I'll come back sometime soon. And maybe bring some edible food." I got up from the armchair, and Haley walked me to the door.

"You're not so bad, Forbes." Haley opened the front door for me.

"Thanks." I waved goodbye and exited through the front door, to where my car and driver were waiting.

This hadn't been so bad.