Hey guys! How's it going? I'm doing great, thanks for asking. Back at school and figuring out how to juggle college and work, but it's going lol.
Onto the chapter! I've spent a lot of time on this, making it longer so you get more content in between my long breaks :) I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries or The Originals, just the characters under the age of seven.
*September 4th, 2015*
Matt pulled the car into the driveway with a smile on his face. Beside him was his beautiful wife, and in the backseat was his three-day old baby. His newborn son. Jonathan Henrik Donovan. It was his first day home, and Rebekah's too. He couldn't believe that this day was here. He wished his sister Vicky could be here to meet her nephew. But he knows she's smiling at him from wherever she is, looking down at him and beaming with pride.
"He's sleeping so peacefully," Rebekah smiled as she looked back her sleeping son. "He's so precious." She turned to look at Matt. "I'm so happy he's finally here."
"Me too," Matt took her hand and squeezed it. "I love you."
"I love you, too," she leaned forward to kiss him only to be interrupted by a knock on the car window.
"Chop chop!" Caroline knocked. "It's baby time!"
Katherine stood behind her, smiling into her hand. "Let's bring that baby inside!"
Klaus and Elijah were standing far aback from where Caroline and Katherine stood, both holding one of the twins in their arms. The twins were now almost 10 months old. Hope was jumping up and down, excited to help her new baby cousin.
"Oh my god, why the hell are you guys here?" Rebekah hissed as she opened the car.
"To help you transition home with the baby!" Caroline squealed.
"It was Care and Eli's idea," Katherine shrugged as she examined her nails. "But I do want to spend time with Matty Blue Blue's baby. He's so tiny. My babies aren't tiny anymore, they are monsters—" Katherine grabbed Rebekah's shoulders. "Enjoy it while it lasts!"
Rebekah laughed and shook her head. She was originally annoyed by her family showing up, but they only wanted to help. She was grateful for the people she had in her life, for the people her son was going to have in his life. Definitely more than Matt and she had growing up.
…
"My brothers!" Kol greeted as he saw Klaus and Elijah get out of Elijah's Honda CR-V. It's the dad life when you own a van. Elijah picked up Klaus on their way to meet Kol and Finn at the baseball diamond in the middle of town. Finn arrived only moments before the two middle brothers. Kol asked his brothers to meet him in a place where he figured no one expected to see the four Mikaelsons.
"Kol," Klaus shook his head as he reached his brother. "We see each other every week, but you suddenly want sophisticated 'bro-bonding'?"
"There is nothing sophisticated about 'bro-bonding,'" Finn chuckled as he followed Kol to greet Klaus and Elijah.
"I just wanted to spend some time with my big brothers, what is so wrong about that?" Kol asked.
"Nothing, but it is strange," Elijah admitted. "It hasn't been just the four of us hanging out, in well, forever. Rebekah wouldn't let us hang out without her. Only when she was thirteen and hating all of us were we able to hang out without her. Now, not only do we have Rebekah tagging along, but Freya and our wives. And girlfriend," he addressed Kol with the last phrase.
Kol smiled. Girlfriend. Wives. Well, he was about to change that. Or, he wanted to. But he wasn't sure he should. There was a specific reason he called his brothers to hang out with him.
"Can we play a game?" Kol suggested.
"Is your foot even healed?" Finn asked. Kol's foot had healed months ahead of schedule and he has been cleared for over four months. But it does still hurt if he puts too much pressure at a wrong angle. It's not strong enough to run in a baseball game yet. Almost. Hopefully by the time baseball season starts. A few more months.
"I'll pitch," Kol decided. He reached over to the picnic table and grabbed the four baseball caps he brought from his house. One from each team he's played in. London Youth Little Leagues, Mystic Falls High School, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Baltimore Orioles. He randomly passed them out, and he realized he was left with the Baltimore Orioles. The team he traded to when he fell in love with Bonnie. Yes, he still has to drive to another whole state to practice for the week, but he's able to be home on the weekend instead of being all the way across the country and a couple hundred dollar plane ticket away if he wanted to come home for the weekend.
Bonnie Bennett. He loves her more than he ever thought he could love someone.
Kol's feet somehow made it across the field into the center of the diamond. The boys agreed that Finn would swing first, then Elijah, then Klaus. Elijah would be the catcher while Finn swings, and Klaus be outfield trying to catch it. It won't be an elaborate game but something lowkey and fun.
Kol cracked his neck and stretched his arms. He nodded to his eldest brother, who nodded back that he was ready. Kol chuckled to himself when he saw Finn's terrible posture. There was a reason he was the athletic sibling. Him and Rebekah. Klaus is a fast runner, but never applied that to any sports.
Kol sent the ball flying, he aimed it right to Finn's bat. If the bloke doesn't hit it, then Kol will just call this game quits right now. Finn leaned his bat back, anticipating the ball, and when it was time, he took a step forward and the bat collided with the ball, sending it straight towards outfield.
Lucky for Finn he hit it, but unlucky for him he sent it right in the direction of Klaus.
"RUN!" Elijah screamed at his older brother who was just mesmerized by the ball in the air. "If Klaus gets the ball before you get to first base, you're out!"
Finn threw the bat on the ground and took off running as if he forgot how the game is played. Kol started laughing hysterically. It is never a dull moment with a clueless Finn and an agitated Elijah.
Klaus took off running in the direction of the ball. It was heading in his general area, but he still had to run to catch it. Sure enough, he jumped into the air and caught the ball in one seamless second. Finn made it to first base a split second after Klaus' feet landed on the ground, ball in his hand.
"And you're out!" Kol called.
"Damnit," Finn hissed as he walked towards outfield.
Klaus tossed the ball back to Kol and walked towards the home base. He took the catcher's mitt from Elijah, who picked up the bat on the ground and got in position. Elijah hit and made it to second base. When it was Klaus' turn, he got both him and Elijah home. Finn's turn again and Klaus got him out. The little game went on for about 40 minutes before the brothers decided to call it quits.
"Damn, Finn. Could you even land on a base?" Kol laughed as the four brothers sat down on the picnic table to rest.
"He hit a couple!" Elijah defended his older brother. "Klaus is just extremely fast."
"That I am," Klaus grinned. Then he furrowed his eyebrows. "Not sexually, though."
"Gross, Niklaus," Finn shook his head.
"Why is it gross? We're all fathers here. I think we know how those babies are made," Klaus chuckled.
"How are the misses doing?" Elijah inquired about Sage, Caroline and Bonnie.
"Sage is doing fine. She's having a lot more hot flashes this time around. I have to keep the house at 50 degrees, or else she has a fit. Autumn is coming, but I'm going to have to wear a winter coat until the baby comes. Which isn't until December!"
"Sucks to be you," Kol laughed.
"Bonnie could be that way too," Finn pointed out.
"My girl is perfect. She's doing great. We had a gynecologist appointment this morning and found out we're having a boy."
A chorus of "congratulations" and "that's great" filled the atmosphere.
"Caroline's appointment is tomorrow morning. She's really excited, she will not stop talking about the baby, and making plans with the baby, and planning her conjoined baby shower that isn't for another three months." Klaus sounded exasperated.
"Didn't Liz move in with you guys?" Kol inquired.
Klaus nodded. "Two weeks ago. Caroline and her mom thought it'd be best since Liz needs to be on bed rest most of the time. This way, Caroline can spend time with her mother and take care of her without leaving her house. And Liz can help Caroline with the pregnancy and pass down all her motherly wisdom."
"Liz is a great mother, I am sure Caroline will be, too," Elijah spoke.
"Liz has been a great roommate. I am just worried that when the end does come for Liz, Caroline will be distraught and harm the baby. I believe Caroline believes that her mother will live until the end of February."
"Isn't that when your wedding was originally supposed to be? But then you moved it up to June so Liz could be there? Then moved the legal ceremony to March when Liz had that health scare?"
"That is correct. I know Caroline is strong and she knows what is going to happen. But I am worried that she is forgetting what is going to happen."
"Caroline will be fine," Elijah assured his brother. "She knows her time with her mom is limited, and although it's wishful thinking, I can't blame her for wanting her mom to meet your child. It's truly horrible if Liz doesn't get that chance. Caroline will be fine."
"I hope so," Klaus spoke. He turned to Kol. "So, was playing a horrible game of baseball your idea of 'bro-bonding'?"
"Can we stop saying that word?" Finn interjected.
"I'm mocking American 21st century culture," Klaus said. Finn and Elijah both rolled their eyes.
"I actually wanted to ask for some advice from my … wise … older brothers," Kol admitted.
"Wow, was it that hard to admit we are wise?" Klaus laughed.
Elijah, the serious one, ignored Klaus comment and focused 100% on his baby brother. "What's going on? How can we help?"
Kol looked between his three brothers and glanced at the weddings rings that sat on each of their left ring fingers. "How did you know that your wives were the ones?"
Klaus, Elijah and Finn were taken aback by this question.
"I-I mean, like marriage. I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with Bonnie—but marriage? What does that… What is marriage? What does marriage mean to you guys? I guess that's what I'm trying to ask."
Kol's brothers sat there speechless. They weren't expecting to be asked what marriage meant to them, let alone by their little brother.
"Uhm…" Klaus began. "I mean… I've been in love with Caroline since I met her. It's just something about her. I knew I'd marry that girl."
"But why?" Kol asked.
"To me, marriage is about making a promise to your wife, to yourself, to your friends, family and God that you will love this one woman for the rest of your life. That it is only her from now on," Klaus explained. "Not that this stops some men, but marriage is supposed to a binding contract, so men don't cheat and fool around."
"I agree with you," Elijah said. "It should go both ways. A promise to be faithful and make a commitment. It's not just a title and a name change and passage to live together and a promise you make to her, it's a promise you make to everyone else. You say that this is the woman, or the man, that I love, and I promise to love her and only her until I die."
Finn nodded in agreement. "I knew Sage was the one because she challenged me. She challenged me but I didn't want to give up. She made me try harder, get out of my comfort zone, get a job I was happy doing, be more outgoing. She made me feel things no girl had ever made me feel. I wanted to scream from the rooftops that I loved her. I wanted the whole world to know that she was mine, that I was hers. That's what I did. That's what it means to me."
"Katherine showed me that every other time I thought I was in love, I was wrong. It was only ever her. It will always be her. And despite her past, I know that it'll only ever be me for her."
"Caroline gives the best blowjobs and that's why I married her," Klaus smirked. Elijah smacked him on his head. "What?! I just got married three months ago. If you guys can't remember my vows, that's your own fault. I couldn't say this fact in front of her parents!"
Kol laughed at Klaus. "I actually agree with all your opinions. Except the blowjob thing because I have no idea what Caroline—anyway, uhm…" Kol pulls out a ring box out of his pocket. "I already bought Bonnie a ring. I think I want to do it tomorrow."
Elijah smiled fondly at his younger brother. "Bonnie is a lovely girl. I am thrilled to welcome her into the family, not like she isn't already a part of it."
"That's great, brother. I'm sure she'll say yes," Finn patted Kol on his back.
"I'm happy for you," Klaus smiled. "I'm happy for all of us. I can't believe after our horrible childhood; this is how our lives ended up. We're truly blessed."
"There's just one problem—with my proposal," Kol said. Seeing the confused looks on his brothers' faces, he explained. "I was thinking of doing a hot air balloon thing tomorrow, I got a guy and everything. But Bonnie invited her parents over tonight. I kind of want to do it before her parents get here because we're planning on telling them about the baby, but they're going to rip into her if we don't have plans to get married. But I want to do something romantic. I obviously can't ask her to change the date with her parents and not tell her why."
"Yeah, I heard from Caroline that Rudy and Abby were absolutely brutal with Bonnie when she got pregnant with Emma. Kicked her out and everything," Klaus said.
"Wait, really?" Kol asked. "I knew she moved into the Gilbert house immediately, but I never knew Rudy kicked her out."
"Rudy kicked her out and Abby didn't want her," Klaus clarified.
"Holy fuck," Kol whispered.
"That's horrible," Elijah said.
"Good thing she already lives with you, Kol," Finn pointed out. "What's the worst they could do? Get a little upset? She'll be calling them tomorrow that she's engaged anyway. Or you could propose tonight and then celebrate by taking her on a romantic trip tomorrow."
"If I'm going to do something, I'm going 110%. I've been thinking about this for months. I admire your guys' relationships, and hearing you say exactly how I feel about Bonnie just proved my point. I'm ready to get married."
…
"Nana!" Emma squealed as her grandmother, Abby, walked through the front door to Kol and Bonnie's condo. The six-year-old ran into her grandmother's arms, to which the older woman responded happily.
"Oh, my baby, I've missed you so much!" Abby told her granddaughter.
I'm sure you do since you never make trips to Mystic Falls anymore, Bonnie thought irritably. She walked over to her mother and daughter to greet the woman who taught her exactly what a mother should not be like. Don't get Bonnie wrong, she does love her mother, but she resents her for so many faults of her childhood—and for leaving her father, that she promised herself to never do those things to Emma.
"Hi mom," Bonnie smiled as she gave her mother a hug. "I'm glad you could make it."
"Why else wouldn't I?" Abby asked.
"Bonnie, dear—" came the voice of her father who had been out on the back porch with Kol starting up the grill. His words stopped dead in the tracks as he saw his ex-wife. Abby's face dropped to the floor. With the exception of Caroline's wedding—where they heavily ignored each other—and Emma's birth, they haven't been in the same place since Abby left Rudy when Bonnie was a young child who took her father's side in the divorce. That stung Abby, but she still loved her daughter. Although, Abby never went to Bonnie's high school graduation.
"Hi Abby," Rudy interrupted his own sentence. "Fancy seeing you here," he greeted as he gave a look to his daughter saying, what is she doing here?
"I could say the same to you, Rudy," Abby grimaced. "Bonnie?" She turned to her daughter, her eyes asking for an explanation.
"Mom, Dad," Bonnie began. "Kol and I wanted the two of you to be in the same place when we told you some very importance news."
"Oh, wow," Rudy grinned as he seemed to know what was coming.
"Ugh, no," Abby groaned as she seemed to know what was coming.
Kol laughed at the two opposite reactions. "I see where this leaves me in the family." Bonnie hit his shoulder, hinting for him to stifle his laughter.
"I would like us all to have dinner first—"
"No, just rip the bandaid off," Abby interrupted.
"Now, Abby, the young couple has prepared us a lovely dinner. There is no need to be hostile," Rudy spoke to his ex-wife.
Emma glanced from her grandmother and her grandfather in awe of the bickering and fighting that escalated between them. She couldn't understand what made two people she loved so much hate each other. She hoped they didn't hate her parents, or Kol-ey, or her baby brother. Emma was glad she was getting a baby brother and was hoping for a baby sister from Jeremy and Anna.
"Why do you guys fight?" Emma asked in a tiny voice. Rudy and Abby immediately stopped bickering. Flashbacks to when Bonnie was little and asked those very same questions in her footy pajamas and her stuffed bear in her hands came rushing through their brains.
"Sorry," Abby muttered while Rudy just stared at the ground.
"I wanted this evening to go great because I had some very special news to tell the two of you, but you can't even get through five minutes without yelling at each other!" Bonnie cried.
"We weren't yelling," Rudy pointed out.
"It doesn't matter!"
"Now, honey, you're the one who is yelling," Abby said.
"Are you fucking serious right now?" the young brunette snapped. "You two know what? I don't even care about telling you in a nice way anymore. I'm pregnant again, and no, Kol and I don't have any plans to get married. It's a boy this time."
Both of her parents stood there dumbfounded. They were expecting Kol and Bonnie to reveal they were getting married, not having a baby and not getting married. Kol just stood behind Bonnie swaying back and forth on his heels, whistling to get over the awkward atmosphere that was in the room. He could feel Abby Bennett glaring at him, he could feel the anger piercing through his skull, and honestly it gave him a headache.
"How could you be so stupid? Again?" Kol was surprised to hear those words come out of Rudy's mouth, not Abby's.
"Finally. Something we can agree on," Abby agreed.
"Emma, go to your room please," Bonnie said, tears threatening to stream down her face.
"But—" Emma started, but Kol intercepted.
"Babe, just go to your room," Kol told his step-daughter who he loves just as much as the little boy growing in his girlfriend's stomach.
Emma nodded and trotted to her room.
"We thought you would've learned your lesson having a baby with someone you're not meant to end up with," Abby snapped. "Jeremy didn't stay with you, what makes you think Kol will?"
Kol's veins started to flare up, as if they were on fire. Before he could scream at Abby, Rudy interrupted.
"Having Emma put your education and your career and your life on hold! You just started this business. Having a baby out of wedlock will just destroy your career—"
"How the hell will it?!" Bonnie screamed. "Just because I get married, doesn't make my career any fucking different—"
"Don't you swear at me. I did not raise you like that. Or this," he gestured to Emma's toys that were sitting on the table.
"Don't you dare speak to her like that," Kol growled. "And you," he addressed Abby. "You do not get to say that I will leave Bonnie. I am not less of a man than Jeremy. For the record, Jeremy didn't leave Bonnie or Emma. Him and Bonnie just didn't work out romantically. But I know that Bonnie and I will. She is the love of my life and you do not get to say otherwise!" He turned to his girlfriend. "I didn't want to do this here, or like this. But I need you to know that I love you so much and that you mean the world to me."
Bonnie glanced at her parents, who were fuming because of Kol's words calling them out. "Of course, I know that, sweetie—"
"Good. Because I can't imagine the rest of my life without you in it. You, Emma, and our crazy little boy. Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me because I got to know who I am as a father, as a partner, and as a good man. I love you, Bonnie Katerina Bennett, and I never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but you would make me the happiest man on the earth by marrying me. So, will you?" By the time he was done he was leaning on the ground with one knee, and he pulled out a diamond ring out of his pocket. It had a 1 karat diamond in the center with an oval cut, and tiny diamonds spiral around the band around it.
Bonnie was speechless, but very touched. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She was definitely surprised. Kol and her talked about marriage, and how it might've not been in the cards for them. The tricky bastard! Deep down, Bonnie was thrilled because she wanted to marry Kol and she was glad he felt the same way. "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes, I will marry you," she said as he put the finger on her left ring finger. He stood up and kissed her, not caring that her parents were five feet away. He lifted her off the ground and she giggled.
"You couldn't have done that before you told us about the pregnancy?" Abby snarled.
"You are such a bitch," Bonnie muttered.
"You know, I would have. But I had this whole air balloon thing planned, and I obviously couldn't tell Bonnie what I was planning, and she wanted to have you guys over tonight. I wasn't expecting you guys to freak out on her for this, especially since she is a grown ass adult and can make her own fucking decisions. But whatever floats your boat by getting mad at your only daughter. Also, I would like you both out of my house until further notice. You don't get to talk to my girl like that and think you're still getting free food and not to mention time with the granddaughter you obviously think was a mistake and a burden. Which, she is not. So, get the fuck out of my house."
Bonnie's heart melted at how Kol was standing up for not just her, but Emma too. She really picked a good one. Her parents, on the other hand, stood there flabbergasted at Kol's speech. Neither Rudy nor Abby knew what to say.
Kol was proud of himself for his speech. The amount of times he wanted to scream at his parents for what they did to him and his siblings and how many times he actually did are so far between. He never told Mikael off, and he only told Esther off that one time. However, the feeling he has right now, yelling at another pair of disrespectful parents, who were disrespectful to his favorite person—oh, boy, what he is feeling surpasses every proud moment he would've felt if he had yelled at Mikael and Esther.
Before his eyes, Rudy and Abby both walked out of the house, neither of them saying a word. Rudy glanced at his daughter and both Bonnie and Kol could see the regret in his eyes, but he walked out of the house regardless.
Emma came out of the room when she heard the front door slam. She had been crying.
"Emma, honey, what's wro—" Kol began to ask when Emma flew into his arms, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck. He picked her up and held her in his arms. Bonnie smiled sadly. She knew Emma heard every word that was said. It went without saying that Emma was crying because she knew that her grandparents never wanted her to exist, but the young girl was grateful for her stepfather who stood up for her, her mother, and even her father. As a six-year-old, she didn't understand a lot, but she understood love. She knew who wanted her, and who didn't.
…
"Eeeph! Are you excited?" Caroline squealed as Klaus and her walked into their ultrasound appointment, where they would be told if they are having a son or a daughter.
Klaus chuckled at his adorable, excited wife. He knew she was beyond ecstatic about the baby, but he also knew she was worried about her mother. Liz survived an extra six months than she was supposed to—and while everyone is grateful for the extra time, it makes the time ticking on the clock more aggravating. Caroline has this assumption that her mom will get to meet her baby, and that is why her mom is still alive—and not getting worse! She's not getting healthier, but she's not any closer to the end than she was six months ago. There was a purpose to Liz's extra time—but no one had the heart to tell Caroline not to get her hopes up. Although, someone should tell her because the heartbreak Caroline will go through when losing her mother will cause infinite stress on the baby. Everyone hopes that Liz will make it, but no one's counting on it.
Caroline knew that her friends were worried about what will happen to her and the baby if Liz was to die before the due date. Her due date, February 27th, 2016, is around the time that her wedding was supposed to be before she moved it up to June of 2015. Liz wasn't going to make it until February. Caroline knows this. She is not stupid. She is mentally preparing every day for the loss of her mother. She refuses to let it jeopardize her baby. But she can still hope for her mother to meet her grandchild, right?
"Of course, I am excited, love," Klaus brought his wife's hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckle.
"I am hoping for a girl," she admitted.
"Surprise, surprise," Klaus joked. She lightly hit him on his shoulder.
"It makes sense! Matt had a boy, Elena is having a girl, Bonnie is having a boy, so I must be having a girl!"
"You forgot the fact that Sage and Finn are having a girl, as well," Klaus pointed out. "Their child is part of the generation, too. It's two girls and two boys so far. The odds are even."
Caroline laughed. "I know that. But if we're talking in terms of your family then this year's new Mikaelsons are two boys and a girl! So, the next baby must be a girl."
Klaus shook his head. "I really don't think the universe works that way, if it could even understand what you just said." He rubbed her back as they approached the reception desk. "We are here for a gynecologist appointment. Mikaelson."
"Dr. Miller will see you in Room 304," she receptionist answered and gestured down a hallway to their right. "It's all set for you to head down there."
"Thank you!" Caroline beamed as she took Klaus' hand and walked towards their room. "That was so quick! We didn't even have to wait!"
Within minutes, Caroline was lying on her back on the chair with cold jelly spread upon her stomach. She didn't even notice the chill until the wand began moving.
"And there is your baby," Dr. Miller gestured to the screen as the sound of a heartbeat filled the room. "And if you see right there," she pointed to three lines on the screen, "is what we call the Hamburger sign, which indicates that your baby is a girl."
"I knew it!" Caroline squealed, whereas Klaus just asked, "Hamburger sign?"
"We call it the hamburger sign because the clitoris is layered between two labia, and resembles a hamburger," the doctor explained. Klaus nodded, now beginning to see the resemblance. Caroline giggled from her spot on the bench. The doctor wiped the goop off her stomach and helped her sit up. "I'll leave you two to it. Congratulations," she told the young couple and handed them a photo of their sonogram, which she had just printed.
Klaus smiled as he looked down at the photo. There was his child, getting bigger every day. His daughter. Yes, he has a daughter who he loves very much. He didn't get to see Hope as a little growing fetus, but that doesn't mean he loves her any less. However, it is a magnificent feeling to see his child at this stage. That he created that with the woman he loves.
"Gimme!" Caroline said as she reached for the sonogram photo. "I need to take a picture and send it to my group chats."
Caroline has a couple of group chats. One is with all of the mothers—and mothers to be— of the group. There is Elena, Bonnie, Rebekah, Katherine, Sage, Anna, Liv and Hayley. Then Caroline also has a group chat with Stefan and Lexi, and then also with Elena, Bonnie, Matt, Tyler and Jeremy. To all 3 group chats she attached the photo of the sonogram and texted IT'S A GIRL
Caroline's phone immediately started beeping with responses.
Rebekah: oh my goodness, so cute 3
Anna: Ahhhhh! So exciting!
Katherine: Congrats, Care!
Sage: Another girl!
Hayley: Hope is jumping up and down right now, haha. Congrats, babe.
Elena: OUR KIDS WILL BE BESTIES
Bonnie: omg Caroline J
Liv: woah congrats babe
Caroline laughed at the irony that her husband's baby mama and her ex-fiancé's current fiancé both just called her babe in a group message. Girls are usually so mean—and Caroline was never an exception to this rule, but she has grown up a lot and has become really good friends with both Hayley and Liv. Boys don't have to come between that.
More beeps.
Stefan: aww, congrats Care I'm so happy for u and Nik
Lexi: I knew it! I can only see u having a girl lol
Matt: congratulations! Another Mikaelson :)
Jeremy: congratulations!
Tyler: aww
Elena: 3
Bonnie: *heart blushing face**heart blushing face**heart blushing face*
"Wow, you're super popular!" Klaus laughed as they got into the car, him in the driver's seat. "Did everyone respond right away?"
"That is correct," Caroline laughed. "Want me to send it to your brothers? I already sent it to Rebekah."
Klaus chuckled as he reached into his pocket to grab his phone, then handed it to her. "I'm sure Sage, Katherine and Bonnie have already showed them. But be my guest."
She smiled and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "I'm so happy. I love you. And our little Lizzie Mikaelson."
Klaus placed his hands on her stomach and nodded. Since it is a girl, they are naming it after Caroline's mother. It has been agreed.
He rubbed his hands across her stomach. "Elizabeth Mikaelson. It's got a nice ring to it," he grinned.
…
*A week later*
"This girls' night is much needed," Liv says as she plops down on the couch between Anna and Bonnie. "Tyler is literally driving me crazy."
Anna laughed as she agreed. "Jeremy won't even let me put the dishes away on the top shelf. I'm too short, so me stretching is too dangerous."
"Bullshit!" Katherine laughed.
"I forgot how overprotective Damon is when I'm pregnant," Elena said. "I can't even pour myself a cup of tea."
"Oh my god," Kat rolled her eyes. "Why are men like this?"
"I wouldn't know. I am tragically single!" Lexi cried as she poured a glass of wine for all the non-pregnant ladies. That would include Katherine, Jenna, Rose, and Hayley. Rebekah could not show up to girls' night because she is at home with her newborn baby. Jonathan is not even a week old yet. Freya, Hope, Emma and Sophia were also a part of girls' night, but Freya was entertaining the kids in the guest room, soon to be baby room. Girls night was being held at the Lockwood Mansion. Tyler went to spend some time with Jeremy while his house was being taken over by girls.
"Oh shush," Caroline laughed from her spot next to Lexi behind the counter. "You don't even try to have a healthy relationship." Caroline grabbed a handful of jellybeans that were in the bowl on the counter and then ran to plop herself between Elena and Bonnie.
"Well, maybe I like having my options open," Lexi shrugged.
"Then you are not tragically single," Jenna pointed out. "You are choosing to be single." Lexi rolled her eyes and took a sip of her wine.
"Men are planning my demise, that's all I have to say about it," Lexi muttered.
"So, how's everyone's pregnancy going?" Hayley changed the subject. "So many babies this year, I can't believe it."
"I know, it's crazy," Caroline laughed. "I'm doing great! The doctor said the baby is very healthy and it's a girl, as you all know," the bubbly blonde beamed.
"I'm always hot," Sage groaned. "Otherwise, I'm doing fine."
Elena, Anna and Liv all pipped in that their pregnancies were doing well. Elena was having a boy, and Anna and Liv were both too early to find out about the gender.
"I'm having a boy, I don't think I said that yet," Bonnie said. A chorus of congratulations went around the room. "Also, I know I definitely haven't said anything about this," Bonnie grinned as she held up her left hand to show off the shiny diamond on her ring finger.
A chorus of screams and giggles went around the room.
"I KNEW IT YOU BITCH," Caroline screeched as she grabbed Bonnie's hand. "I've been seeing that ring for days and you had the nerve to wait until now to tell me?"
"I'm surprised you didn't mention anything first," Bonnie shrugged.
"Ugh, I hate you." Then Caroline pulled her best friend in for a side-hug and squealed, "Just kidding, I love you! Omg we are going to be sisters!"
Speaking of sisters, Caroline's phone started ringing and the caller ID said Rebekah Donovan .
"Guys, it's Bekah!"
"You can put her on the tv—we have a hook up for your phone—" Liv stated as she tossed Caroline the chord. "I will never understand exactly how rich the Lockwoods are."
Rebekah appeared on the tv with her hair in a messy bun and she had no makeup on. Understandable. The only person seeing her was a newborn baby and her husband.
A chorus of heys filled the room when they saw Rebekah.
"Hey guys," Rebekah smiled. "God, I am so tired, but I wanted to check in on girls' night. I'm so sorry I couldn't make it."
"Don't worry about it, you got your cute baby," Jenna said.
"Can we see him?" Freya came into the room with Sophia, who had been asking for her mother. Katherine took her and Sophia immediately melted into her arms.
"He's sleeping, but like clockwork he'll be up in—" she checked her watch, "25 minutes he'll be awake. He sleeps for about an hour at a time. I just got out of a much-needed shower."
"Won't be getting too many of those," Sage muttered.
"What'd you say?" Rebekah asked curiously.
"Nothing!" Sage said. Nobody wants to hear that their nice warm showers will become limited when you're home all alone with a baby.
"Anyway, what were you guys talking about?"
"Kol and Bonnie got engaged!" Elena exclaimed.
Rebekah's mouth fell agape. "That tricky bastard!"
"That's what I said!" Bonnie laughed. "Anyway, so Anna, how are things with your mom. It's been a while since I asked."
"Well, last year we made amends about the whole 'Gilbert drama' so we're talking again, but when I didn't move back in with her and I chose to stay with Jeremy she got all upset. I don't think she could handle the fact that I was growing up and moving on without her. Our relationship isn't the same."
"Have you told her about the baby?" Liv asked.
"Nope," Anna shook her head. "I know I have to soon. I'm just worried which way it's gonna go. It'll either bring us closer together or farther apart."
"I think it'll bring you guys closer together," Rose spoke.
"I agree," Caroline said.
"It could go the other way—I mean, my parents aren't speaking to me," Bonnie revealed.
"Oh yeah! How did Rudy and Abby take the news?" Elena inquired.
"Horribly," Bonnie stated. "Said things like 'how could you be so stupid, again?' and 'we thought you learned your lesson' and 'we didn't raise you like this' and oh! My absolute favorite line was 'Jeremy didn't stay with you, what makes you think Kol will?'"
"WHAT?!" Copious sounds of outrage and shock came from everyone.
"That's so horrible!" Hayley said. "I got pregnant at sixteen and my parents weren't that brutal."
"Hey, when I got pregnant my parents shipped me off to Bulgaria," Katherine laughed and then covered her mouth when she realized what she said. Elena looked at her like I can't believe you just said that. Elena and Elijah are the only ones who know this story about Katherine.
"WAIT WHAT?" Both Caroline and Rebekah screamed. Caroline pointed her finger in Katherine's direction and said, "We'll get back to you!"
"What did Kol say when your parents said all of that?" Jenna asked.
"Oh, he ripped into them. He was pissed—"
"Rightfully so!" Sage said.
"I'm so proud of my brother," Rebekah smiled.
"Ditto," Freya agreed.
"He stood up for Emma, he even stood up for Jeremy, saying that it just didn't work out romantically between us and that he didn't leave. He kicked them out too, saying that they didn't deserve to spend time with the granddaughter they obviously think was a mistake and a burden."
"Good for him," Lexi cheered. "It takes guts to say things like that."
"No kidding," Liv agreed.
"Anyway, so yeah," Bonnie turned to Anna. "It could go bad with your mom."
"Great," Anna grinned sarcastically.
"Okay, I'm very interested by what Katherine said a few moments ago," Hayley spoke.
All the girls turned their head towards the brunette who was snuggling her baby.
Katherine took a sigh. "Well, uh…" she locked eyes with Elena, who nodded her head. Twin telepathy told Kat that the truth couldn't be held forever. And she's with a room full of women who care about her. Katherine never had this kind of support system, except for Elijah who is her biggest support system. But it's different when it's a group of women—there's some sort of power in that bond. "Not much to say. I got pregnant when I was 14, had the baby, put it up for adoption. Got pregnant again right before senior year and my parents were so embarrassed—I mean that was why we moved to Mystic Falls in the first place, so they didn't want to move again—they just shipped me off to live with distant relatives in Bulgaria for my Senior Year—"
"But—" Caroline, Bonnie and Rebekah started because they distinctly remember being on the cheerleading squad with Katherine that year.
"Shh," Elena hushed them so her sister could finish.
"And uhm…" Katherine's voice slowed down. "I have this uncle who…wasn't very nice. He…" she took another deep breath and held her daughter tighter. "He beat the living crap out of me until I lost the baby."
"Oh my god," Sage whispered as she instinctively grabbed her baby bump, as did the other five expecting mothers. "That's so horrible, I am so sorry."
Jenna, who had been sitting next to Katherine, pulled her into a hug. Jenna lost her baby too, but it's one thing to have a miscarriage and have the living shit beaten out of you. Jenna wanted to cry as she thought about losing her baby, but she didn't.
"I'm so sorry I was so mean to you that year," Rebekah said quietly over the phone. The room had been silent. "I wouldn't have been if I had known."
"I wouldn't have wanted your pity. I didn't tell anyone for a good three years—not until Elena and I started to get close. And then I told Elijah before our wedding. It was the same night he told me about his parents."
"Shit," Caroline whispered. "I remember you being gone the first few weeks of school and you came back all depressed. We weren't really friends back then, so I didn't think too much of it. I wish I paid more attention—"
"You can't go back and fix the past, Care," Katherine shook her head. "Senior year was fine for me. I wouldn't have told you anyway. I didn't even tell my parents. They think I just had a miscarriage."
"I'm so sorry that happened to you," Lexi said. "But am I the only one curious about who the fathers are?"
"Yes, some juicy details I can give you and you all can stop pitying me!"
"How can you be so calm about what happened?" Freya asked.
"Because it happened so long ago. I've done my mourning. It makes me choked up, yeah, but I can't change the past. I couldn't fix it… I want you guys to be typical girls and gossip about girly things and not cry over my baby. I did have one before that-" The room was silent as everyone took a moment to shift their emotions. Caroline was the first to break the silence.
"You do have a baby out there with someone!" Caroline remembered. "Who is the father? Do we know him?"
Elena started laughing.
"Why are you laughing?" Rebekah asked.
"It's Stefan," Katherine admitted.
"WHAT?!" Caroline, Lexi and Rebekah all screamed. The three blondes who were Stefan's best friends.
"Stefan Salvatore?" Rebekah cried.
"My best friend, Stefan Salvatore?" Lexi clarified.
"Poster child Stefan Salvatore? Knocked you up at fourteen years old? WHATT." Caroline exclaimed.
"Does he know?" Lexi screamed.
Katherine shook her head. All the screaming woke up Sophia, who thankfully didn't start crying, but was looking at her Aunt Caroline like she had two heads.
"Oh my god!" Caroline and Lexi screeched.
"Oh my goodness, will you guys keep it down, I think you woke up my baby!" Rebekah groaned. Sure enough, the wailing of a newborn could be heard over the phone. "That is my cue to get back to mama duty. I will need updates on this story ASAP."
"I'll text you!" Hayley said.
Rebekah waved goodbye and then hung up.
"You never told Stefan?" Sage asked.
"It was a summer fling. He had already gone back home when I found out. When I saw him again in Mystic Falls, the baby was already with a lovely family. There was no need for me to tell him."
"Holy shit," Lexi whispered.
"Do you mind me asking who the other father was?" Liv inquired.
"Stefan. He fathered both of them."
"Wait, what?" Bonnie asked. "But he was dating Elena—"
"No, Stefan and I took a break the summer between Junior and Senior year," Elena reminded her friend.
"So, he goes and sleeps with your sister?!" Caroline exclaimed. "How come he never told me this?!"
"To be fair, I did go off and marry his brother… so… when Katherine told me, I couldn't be that mad."
"That's so crazy," Anna shook her head. "Do you ever plan on telling him?"
Katherine shook her head.
"Nevermind that! What did Elijah say when you told him?" Rose asked.
"He was fine with it… He was sorry about the second baby. I mean, it was a past I had before I met him. He said that if I had kept the baby, he would've loved her like she was his own."
"Of course, he said that," Elena smiled.
"If you had kept it, you definitely would've had to tell Stefan when you met him again in Mystic Falls," Bonnie pointed out.
"Oh definitely," Katherine agreed. "Made that reunion a little easier."
"Is it ever weird with Stefan?" Lexi asked.
Katherine shook her head. "No, not really. It hurt seeing him when I came home because it was a reminder that I lost the baby, but also that he was dating Elena again and I wasn't good enough. Again."
"Yikes," Lexi whispered. "I just wanna say that you had every right to be a bitch. I see that now."
Katherine rolled her eyes. "Thanks. Now are we done talking about me?" She looked at Elena and silently begged her to change the conversation.
"Yes. So, Care, how's your mom doing?"
Caroline sighed. "I mean, you guys have seen her," she gestured to her sister in laws and her best friends. "She's been pretty steady since April, but now she's starting to feel sick again. It started yesterday. I got my hopes up when I shouldn't have."
"It's not wrong for you to wish your mother could witness the birth of your daughter," Elena said. "Does it look like she could hold out until then?"
Caroline shrugged, her eyes silently pooling with tears. "I don't think so." She shuddered in a breath. "I'm trying not to cry." She breathed and breathed out. "She's been helping me so much; I don't know if I can do this without her. No, wait. I just… I've been mentally preparing myself for when she's gone so that the grief doesn't harm the baby—god forbid, she goes before the baby gets here… but, it's just so hard." Caroline let a single tear run down her cheek.
"You won't have to do this alone," Bonnie wrapped her arm around her best friend. "You got so many friends who are in the same boat you are. You'll never be alone."
Caroline nodded. "It's been nice having her in the house though," she focused on the good things. "Klaus and her getting along warms my heart. Their banter is pretty funny, though."
"Tell me about it," Sage laughed. When it's Klaus and Caroline's week to host the Mikaelson family dinner, Liz always hangs around with the family. It's not just Caroline she's given some motherly wisdom to.
"Anyway, does anyone have any happy news?" Caroline looked around.
"Liv and Bonnie are both getting married?" Anna suggested.
"We already knew that!" Lexi exclaimed. At that moment, Hope and Emma ran into the room to show off their new dance that they had been working on, filling the room with laughter and setting the mood for the rest of their girls' night.
…
Anna woke up to a pounding coming from the inside of her stomach. She smiled as she realized it was the baby kicking. She couldn't believe that this was her life now. Basically married, working as a fulltime teacher, having a baby. She just wished her mother was a part of it.
Anna wonders how her mother will react to the pregnancy. Anna never got the full explanation as to why Pearl does not like the Gilberts, specifically John Gilbert. From what she has been told about John… he wasn't the best young man. But he has changed a lot. Elena went from hating her Uncle to loving her biological father. Katherine started out bitter against him, but now she loves him, too. Anna met John at a birthday party for Christian a few months back. He seemed really nice.
"Mmmph," Jeremy made some incomprehensible noises as he rolled over and wrapped Anna in an embrace. To him, it's been really nice having Anna live with him because he has a warm body to cuddle with every night. His bed had been really lonely since him and Bonnie broke up.
The future mom-to-be patted his head and kissed the top of his forehead. She loves these mornings, but she regrets to admit that she has to get up. And so, does he.
"Jer," Anna pushed him off of her. "It's six, we need to get up."
"Mmmmpppphhh," he groaned and hid his head underneath his pillow. She laughed at his antics.
"After school, I think I'm going to go over to my mom's," she said.
"Wait, what?" That certainly woke him up. "Why?"
"I should tell her that I am pregnant."
"No because she will kill me. Rudy and Abby almost killed me and they're not as religious as your mother is."
Anna sighed. "Jeremy. I have to do this sooner rather than later and I would really like it if you could come with me."
Jeremy rolled over so he could face his darling girlfriend. "You're lucky I love you."
Anna giggled as he pulled her closer to him to embrace her. He kissed her nose and she grinned.
Eight hours later, standing outside her mother's house, Anna wasn't grinning anymore. Jeremy held her hand as they walked up to the front porch. Jeremy let Anna lead the way as she brought her fist up to knock on the door. To their surprise, Pearl opened the door within minutes.
Anna did text her mom and say that she was coming for a visit. Her mom never answered her, so she wasn't sure she got the message. Apparently, she did.
"Anna," Pearl smiled at her daughter. "Jeremy," she nodded. It pains Pearl that she's so jealous of losing her daughter. She loves Anna more than anything in this world, and it's her own fault that their relationship is falling apart. Anna did nothing wrong but fall in love—not that Pearl could blame her. She did the same thing at that age.
"Hi, mom," Anna greeted. Pearl opened the door wider and stepped aside, signaling that they could enter her household. "How've you been?" Anna let go of Jeremy's hand and leaned forward to hug her mom.
"I'm doing fine, honey, and how are you," Pearl asked as she melted into her daughter's embrace. Anna tried to pull away, but Pearl kept the hug everlasting. The young brunette had to smile because her mom wouldn't let her go. Maybe this was off to a good start.
"I'm doing great!" Anna answered.
"Would you guys like something to drink? Or some scones, I made some scones."
"Sure, that would be great," Jeremy smiled.
After about 45 minutes of catching up and lifting the awkwardness in the air, the three of them were laughing and having a great time. This was the most peaceful interaction between Anna and her mom, especially Pearl and Jeremy, in over a year. Its warmed Anna's heart that everything seemed to be falling into place. She just hoped that the news about the pregnancy didn't destroy it.
"Mom," Anna spoke up. "There was a reason Jeremy and I came over today. We have something to tell you—"
"You're pregnant," Pearl stated.
Anna gasped and Jeremy sat there dumbfounded. They looked at each other in shock. How did she know?
"Uhm, yes," Anna stuttered. "How did you know?"
"You never changed the phone number on your health plan until recently. I got the call from your doctor that said you were pregnant."
Anna blushed in embarrassment. When she changed her phone number after it had been weeks since her doctor's appointment and the doctor never called her, she never put together that they could have talked to her mother. Awkward.
"Mrs. Zhu…" Jeremy began. "I want you to know that I love your daughter so much and I understand how protective you are of her. I'm very protective of my daughter, too. But I want you to know that I respect her, and I will not let her down. I won't leave her. Things didn't work out with my previous girlfriend, Bonnie, who is Emma's mother, yes, things didn't work out between me and her, but things are different with Anna. I love your daughter more than you could realize, and I will love this baby that I have with her. And I would really love for you to be a part of your grandchild's life. We both know that that would mean the world to Anna, just like she means the world to the both of us."
Anna smiled as she grabbed Jeremy's hand. Her heart ached at his words. He meant the world to her, too.
Pearl smiled at the duo. "Okay."
"Okay?" Anna raised an eyebrow.
"I realize that this tension is my fault. I never meant for it to go on this far. At first, yes, I was wary of Jeremy because he was a Gilbert, but from the stories you told me he was nothing like the previous generation. But then, I think I just got jealous because there was now someone you were going to love more than me. That you chose to stay with him and officially move away from me…I wasn't expecting that, and I was just hurt. But I've had some to reflect and I know it's stupid of me to feel that way. Especially with this baby on the way. I don't want to miss a single moment. Anna, I hope you can forgive me."
"Of course, I do, mom," Anna moved to the other couch and embraced her mother. "I love you so much and I will always need you."
Pearl patted her daughter's back. "Jeremy, I owe you an apology as well."
"It's no need," he shook his head.
And that was it! I was going to make this chapter longer, but I cut some scenes because I didn't think they were that crucial to the storyline. But this chapter is still pretty long. Over 9000 words. I think I've written longer but oh well.
So, what did you guys think? Kol and Bonnie are getting married! Bonnie's parents were pretty horrible, huh? And my heart just warms at the Mikaelson brothers moment.
Also, what do you guys think about Katherine and Stefan? I don't recall ever being a Steferine shipper, but I came up with this idea randomly one night and I was debating whether or not to actually use it… and it looks like I'm using it! There's some drama we got in the future—Stefan reacting to Katherine keeping this secret—and Elena kept it from him as well. And what will Damon say about it as he had been dating Katherine around that time too! Will their daughter come into the picture? All questions to ponder…
And in the light of the upcoming holiday season, I'm thinking of doing a Christmas chapter. Any ideas for that? I might also have it double up with a baby shower. Hmmm.., Maybe we'll see Kai again as he is Liv's brother… Any specific Christmas themes you would like to see?
One last thing: Sorry I'm like prolonging and dragging out Liz's death… I just don't know how to write it. Would you guys like to see her live to meet little Lizzie or should she pass before then?
Please review! I might update faster if you review xxoo