If Alaric had any doubts about his daughters spending time around the Mikaelsons, he managed not to show any of those misgivings to Caroline.

Jo took to visiting a few times a week and Caroline made sure she went to visit her at least once a week as well, to give Jo a hand with some of the housework.

As winter began to creep over the French Quarter, Caroline's thoughts began to turn to the upcoming celebrations.

"Jo," she said one morning, "have you started thinking about the girls' birthday?"

"Yes and no," Jo said. "I've been shopping; I've got presents stashed away. I know that Elena and the others want to come and visit; I just don't know if I'll have the energy to throw a party. I still need to figure out what I'm doing with the twins when I go back to work next week."

Caroline sighed. "You know that we're happy to have them."

"I know," Jo said. "I'm not sure Ric would be okay with that. Not if I wasn't there as well."

"Let me speak to the coven," Caroline said. "I'll see if they know anyone. I'm guessing you'd rather not just put them into a daycare that doesn't know how to deal with witches?"

"I'd rather not," Jo agreed, "but I also don't really like the idea of a coven."

"I know," Caroline said gently. "When I say I'll speak to the coven, I mean I'll speak to Madeleine. She's one of the elders. I would trust her with my daughter's life, and that should tell you everything."

Jo gave a little sigh of relief. "Thank you. If you could, that would be wonderful."

"Not at all," Caroline said. "About their birthday …"

"Do you have an idea?" Jo asked hopefully.

"Well, I was thinking," Caroline said, "they're only ten days before Hope, and they're only little still. Why don't we just throw a birthday party for all three of them?"

The idea quickly took hold, and two days after December began with an unusually cold wind, family and friends descended upon the Mikaelson compound, for Hope's second birthday, and Josie and Lizzie's first.

All three girls were dressed up. Josie was quite content to sit on laps for cuddles and stories, while Lizzie did her best to run around after Hope as she darted from aunt to aunt, and uncle to uncle.

Every now and then Caroline would start to remind Hope that Lizzie was much younger than hers, but she never really got a chance to - whenever that seemed necessary, Hope tended to slow down herself, returning to take Lizzie's side to take her hand.

The sight made Caroline smile. She would have been lying if she said she wasn't a little concerned about Hope's ability to play with other children, given how everyone spoiled her, but she generally looked out for Josie and Lizzie the way an older sister might.

She was distracted by Hayley and Tyler's arrival, which had been delayed by a slight drama in the Mystic Falls pack.

Normally, she would be just as happy to see them, but today their arrival brought with them a duty she didn't particularly want to carry out.

Still, as she approached them, she did so with the same welcoming smile as she would have on any other day.

As soon as she'd greeted them, and Tyler had made a beeline for Matt (and a drink), Hayley turned to Caroline. "What's up?"

"You're ahead of me," Caroline said, with a weak smile. "Is it that obvious?"

"You look like you've had some bad news," Hayley said. "What's happened?"

"Nothing recent," Caroline said with a sigh. "But Aiden came to talk to me a few days ago. You remember how he recognised your birthmark?"

Hayley's expression froze. "Can we have this conversation in private?"

"Of course," Caroline said, taking her arm. "We can use my office."

Once they were safely ensconced in the sanctuary of Caroline's office, Caroline retrieved a small package from her desk. "Okay, so good news; we are 99% sure that we've found your parents."

Hayley closed her eyes. "What's the bad news?"

Caroline sat down beside her. "They're not with us anymore."

"Just say they're dead, Caroline," Hayley said, a little harsher than she probably intended.

"Okay," Caroline said softly. "They're dead. They died when you were about four. From what I understand, the Crescent clan used to have several alphas - less of an absolutely monarchy and more of a democracy. Eventually the bloodlines mixed, so when you were born, there were only two - the Dumas' and the Lebonairs."

"Which …?" Hayley's voice cracked and Caroline covered her hand with hers.

"The Lebonairs," she said. "Martin and Brooke. They named you Andrea. Do you …?"

"Tell me," Hayley said bluntly. "Just … Please tell me."

Caroline nodded. "The story I was told went as follows: Richard Dumas was one alpha, Martin Lebonair was the other. They disagreed on how to deal with the vampire issue. Richard felt that they should go to war, Martin preferred a diplomatic approach. When you were born, your mother came up with an idea that you would marry Richard's grandson, Jackson, to try and stop the infighting."

"What is this, the middle ages?!" Hayley asked, her eyes flashing.

Caroline chuckled. "From what I've heard, they would never have made either of you do anything you didn't want to do. But if they'd raised you both in that mindset …"

Hayley sighed. "Go on then. What happened?"

"Richard never settled," Caroline said. "If anything, he got worse. When you were two, your parents made the decision to send you away to keep you safe, from Richard Dumas as well as the vampires. Given your age, and that they didn't know how long you'd be gone, they made the decision to ask a witch to hide your memories, so you'd settle with a new family and wouldn't miss them. They fully intended on coming for you, Hayley."

"But they didn't," Hayley said, unshed tears choking her voice. "It was vampires, wasn't it?"

"That was how it appeared, yes," Caroline said gently. "The wolves went to war. A lot of wolves were killed, including Richard's son-in-law - Jackson's father. The fighting continued for years, until Marcel had the pack cursed, so they would be human on the full moon, and wolves the rest of the time."

"That's just …" Hayley shook her head. "That's awful. What about …?"

"Anyone who hadn't triggered the curse wasn't affected," Caroline answered. "Because they're pack - something about the bond kept them safe. But it meant that a lot of the kids were living out in the woods."

"Christ, and I thought I had it bad," Hayley muttered. "Wait - you said my parents' death appeared to be vampires."

"On his death bed, Richard finally confessed," Caroline said with a sigh. "He'd killed your parents and made it look like vampires, to get the pack to support his side."

Hayley sucked in a shaky breath. "Son of a bitch."

"I know," Caroline said. "I know. His wife, Mary, was absolutely horrified when she found out. She and their daughter disowned Richard and they laid him to rest outside the bayou - that's where they put the pack traitors."

Hayley sniffled. "I guess that's all I can ask for."

"Jackson's the alpha now," Caroline said quietly. "Aiden told me the story so I could tell him as well as you."

"Why?" Hayley asked, but then her eyes cleared. "Because I wasn't raised with the mindset of marrying him, but he was raised to believe he would marry Andrea Lebonair."

"Something like that," Caroline said. "He took it really well actually. I think he'd known that Andrea was gone, but hearing it is something else. He's made his excuses today so you don't get put in that position, but he did give me a couple of things to give to you."

Hayley flinched. "Do I want to know?"

"It's not bad," Caroline assured her, handing her an envelope. "This is a letter from Jackson. He's not expecting a response, or even for you to read it, but he did ask me to give it to you."

"Thanks," Hayley said weakly. "That's kind of what I was worrying about."

"Well, the rest of it's good," Caroline said. "In this package is all that's left. Because of the circumstances, a lot of your parents' belongings got swept up in the drama."
"Do you know what's in it?" Hayley asked.

Caroline smiled. "I had a feeling you'd ask, so I did take a peek. There's a photograph, of you and your parents. At least, I assume it's you. The child in the picture is blonde, but you're the spitting image of your mother, so it is definitely your parents. There's a box that I assume contains your parents' wedding rings and your mother's engagement ring. And there's a journal."

Hayley's breath caught, her hands hovering over the lid. "A journal?"

"I haven't read it," Caroline said. "But it looks like a baby book to me. You know, those things moms use to record their pregnancies."

Hayley swallowed, finally opening the box. The photograph was on top and she touched it gently, a sob breaking in her throat.

Caroline wrapped her arms around her and Hayley slumped in to her, burying her face in her friend's shoulder.

Downstairs, the doorbell rang.

Freya paused on her way to the kitchen, waited a second for someone else to react, then went to open the door herself.

She found a rather nervous looking woman, clutching a bag with some brightly wrapped gifts. "Um, hi? I hope I'm in the right place, I work with Jo; she invited me to her daughters' birthday party."

Freya smiled. "Yes, of course; come on in. I'm Freya, I'm Hope's aunt - that's the other birthday girl."

"Keelin," she said. "When Jo told me about the joint birthday party, I thought it was a brilliant idea. My grandmother always said it took a village to raise a child."

Freya shook her offered hand. "Well, she wasn't wrong. I'd be flattered though; I think you're the only person I've met so far that Jo's invited. Everyone else is on Alaric's side."

"She said she didn't have family," Keelin said, shrugging her jacket off. "And I've given the girls a check-up once or twice."

"Here, let me take that," Freya said, taking the bag from her. "When you said you worked with Jo, I assumed you were in the ER as well."

"Oh, I am," Keelin said, hanging her jacket up with everyone else's. "But I'm also a werewolf and I have a private research interest in the affect of the supernatural on the blood. Jo was worried about the girls seeing a doctor that wasn't aware of witches."

"That sounds …" Freya broke off, almost colliding with Tyler.

"Sorry," he said, sounding distracted. "Have you seen Hayley by any chance?"

"She went upstairs with Caroline earlier," Freya said. "I'd check her office first and foremost."

"Thanks," Tyler muttered, hurrying off in that direction.

"You're welcome," Freya called after him. "Jo's in the parlour with the girls and most of the party," she said to Keelin. "Let's go and take them these and then you can tell me more about that research project; it sounds fascinating."

The party was a great success, but it was also a perfect time for the ladies to go dress shopping, since all of the bridesmaids for both weddings were in the same place.

So the morning after, leaving the clean-up to everyone else, Caroline ushered Jo and the others out of the house and to a bridal salon on Royal Street.

"I don't think I'm going to find a dress here," Jo said with a sigh, flipping through one of the rails. "They are way out of my price bracket. And, no, Caroline - I can't accept your help on this."

"Then accept ours," Katherine said quietly. "Consider it our wedding present."

"Don't argue," Elena warned. "Damon will just put the money in Ric's account otherwise."

"If you're sure …" Jo began.

"I am," Katherine said, pulling one of the dresses off the rail. "Start with this one."

"Excellent choice," the sales assistant said, appearing practically out of nowhere. "One of our more popular styles. I believe we have two brides with us today?"

"This is the other one," Rebekah said, gesturing to Caroline. "She doesn't have a budget."

"Yes, she does," Liz said hastily. "I am happy for your family to take on the cost of the wedding, Rebekah, but I want to buy my daughter her wedding dress."

"She's going to have two ceremonies, Liz," Rebekah pointed out. "She needs two dresses."

Caroline sighed. "Do you mind taking care of Jo for the time being," she asked the assistant, "and I'll try and figure out logistics."

"Of course," the woman said with a bright smile. "If you'll step this way, ma'am, we'll pull some other dresses for you to try as well."

Caroline turned to her mother and her future sister-in-law. "Okay, let's compromise. Rebekah, I have no idea what kind of dress one wears to a hand-fasting, so you can look after that one for me, with whatever budget - or lack thereof, you see fit. And then Mom can still get me my wedding dress for the church."

"That's fair," Rebekah agreed. "Quite frankly, that ceremony might require a more unique piece, so I might need to commission one."

Caroline hesitated. "Okay, I trust you. We also need three sets of bridesmaids' dresses." She caught sight of one of the other attendants and excused herself to hurry over to her. "Hi, I'm going to need a favour.

"Yes, of course, ma'am."

Caroline passed her a slip of paper. "I'm going to need an extra bridesmaid's dress in these measurements. I'll let you know the style when I know it, but I need the utmost discretion."

The woman tucked the paper away in her clipboard. "Of course, ma'am; I'll see that gets done."

The months passed quickly.

Caroline introduced Jo and Alaric to Mardi Gras, thrilled when Jo loved the celebrations as much as she did.

In spite of the age difference, Jo was becoming as close a friend to Caroline as Elena and Bonnie were, and Caroline loved having another mother around.

And Hope loved playing with Lizzie and Josie.

April 14th dawned with the weather everyone had been praying for - blue skies, not too hot, and not a hint of a raincloud.

Jo had spent the night at the compound with the twins and the morning was a flurry of hair, make-up, and a minor breakdown.

Thankfully, the breakdown was Lizzie, and not Jo getting cold feet.

Caroline was already dressed and ready, so she took Lizzie outside and stood in the sun, bouncing a little in place to try and calm her.

"It's alright sweetheart," she murmured. "What's wrong, huh? I know it's not your pretty dress because you like that."

"Dada," Lizzie muttered, rubbing her eyes.

"Daddy's waiting at the church, honey," Caroline said. "Mommy's going to finish getting dressed, and then we're all going to the church, and Mommy and Daddy are going to get married, and then we're going to have a party."

Lizzie's eyes brightened. "Cake?"

Caroline chuckled. "You and Hope certainly have your priorities straight. Yes, Lizzie, there will be cake."

"Yay!" Lizzie bounced in her arms and Caroline laughed, pressing a kiss to her head.

"That's a good girl."

A car pulled up alongside her and the driver's window rolled down. "Caroline, I presume?"

"That'd be me," Caroline said. "Are you my wedding present?"

"I think we might be," the driver said, turning off the engine. "Alright, we're here."

"Oh, thank goodness it fits," Caroline said, when the remaining bridesmaid exited the car. "I worry when I have to work with second-hand measurements."

"No, it's perfect," she said with a smile. "Thank you. Does she know we're here?"

"As far as I know, she has no idea," Caroline said. "This is Lizzie; we had a little meltdown earlier, but now we're all excited for cake."

"Cake!" Lizzie cried.

Caroline grinned. "Come on in. Jo!" She called, leading her guests into the courtyard. "Your wedding present's here!"

"Shouldn't I wait for Ric?" She called back.

"Not this one," Caroline said. "You're going to want this one now."

"Just make sure you're decent," the driver called. "I don't need to see that."

There was a moment of silence, then Jo appeared at the top of the stairs, clad in the beautifully simple wedding dress she had finally settled on, the only adornments the beautiful beading around the neckline that set off the veil she had yet to put on.

"Oh my … Caroline?"

Caroline smiled. "You told me I could look for them."

"I cannot believe," Kai Parker said with a smile, "that you honestly thought we wouldn't want to come to your wedding."

Jo broke into one of the brightest smiles Caroline had see on her face, and she ran down the stairs straight into her twin brother's arms.

"I thought you'd be mad at me," she murmured into his neck.

"Listen to me, Josette," Kai said, suddenly stern as he pulled back from her to look her in the eye. "I am not mad at you. I am mad at our parents for driving that wedge between us. I am mad at our mother for thinking that ritual is anything but an ancient tradition that needs to die and fade into the sands of time. I wish you'd come to me, instead of just disappearing, but I get why you didn't."

Jo sniffled. "Oh, god, don't make me cry - I'll ruin my make-up."

"We can fix that," Caroline said.

"If you say so," Jo said with a laugh. "Oh, Liv - you look so gorgeous. You've grown up so much. And Luke - oh God, when did you get so tall?!"

"I swear it happened in the space of like a week," Liv said. "One weekend we were the same height; next thing I know, I'm looking up at him."

"I know the feeling," Caroline grumbled, still mildly shell-shocked from the first time Jeremy opened the door and she found herself level with his shoulders instead of his eyes.

And that was years ago now.

Jo released her twin in favour of embracing her younger siblings. "Oh, I can't believe you're here! How did you even find them, Caroline?"

"I asked Katherine for a favour," Caroline said with a smile. "She still owes me one for turning me in the first place."

"It was harder than I thought," Katherine said from the top of the stairs. "You'd think there'd only be one Dr Malachai Parker in the States, wouldn't you?"

"How many are there?" Kai asked with a grin.

"Thirty-five," Katherine answered. "And you were the thirty-fourth."

"Mama!" Lizzie said. "Hugs!"

Jo laughed, finally pulling away from her sister. "Come here, baby girl. Come and meet Auntie Liv, and Uncle Kai and Uncle Luke."

"Oh, God, I assumed she was Caroline's daughter," Liv said, touching her niece's arm. "Hi sweetheart! And her sister?"

"Josie's here," Elena said, appearing beside Katherine.

Jo smiled up at her. "And this is Elena, my stepdaughter."

"Technically Ric's stepdaughter," Elena said with a smile, coming down to join them.

"I don't like the word technically," Jo said. "Honestly, I'd drop the word step as well, if I didn't have two moms to compete with."

Elena faltered for a second, then passed Josie to Luke and threw her arms around Jo. "You're the best third mom someone could ask for. Thank you."

"Okay, I'm not fixing your make-up as well, Elena," Caroline said, checking the time, "and we have to be at the church in twenty minutes."

Alaric had always had an unerring talent of rolling with the punches for the most part, so he barely batted an eyelid at the extra bridesmaid.

He didn't see surprised at Jo's unexpected escorts either (since Luke and Kai were both giving their sister away), but then that might have been because his whole focus was on the bride walking towards him with a brilliant smile.

Caroline could hear Elena sniffle a little beside her and tucked her free arm through hers, her other arm holding on to Hope's hand.

"… I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Alaric swept Jo into a kiss, which was broken with a peal of laughter when Lizzie piped up: "Cake now!"

"Please," Hope added, with the same tired tone that Caroline often used, which only served to increase the laughter.

Father O'Connell chuckled as well. "Out of the mouths of babes, as they say."

Caroline hoisted Hope into her arms, kissing her daughter's cheeks. "The idea of you teaching Lizzie manners is a little hilarious, baby girl."

Hope smiled brightly. "Love you, mama."

Caroline shook her head with a smile. "Flatterer."