Thank you to Guest, Jo, Layla, Epitomeofme, Onceuponatimeships, veronica, Laura, Jen, redbudrose, SmilesAndLaughs, Brina3, Nat, Natalie, .5, thexlittlexlisa, RCB04, i love klaus and damon, shadowfaxangel, JennylovesKlaus, Emowyen, Guest, Jen7, Lisolotte, walkinthegardengnome, yourloved, SweetyK, redbudrose, Esperanza14, ILove2Write13, PsychVamp, Rorylvalkovic, Marta, arabella, babyvfan, KRISTINE.W, ilovetvd, chillwithJyl, Ellavm18, vulnera-sapientia (x2), Eliza, Guest, Aaaammber, Christobel, mysticgirl125, Juliet Taylor, jamie, Guest, Guest, ApekshaStar, Lovely Rain Dancer, KlarOlinelOver17, Shellbees, meredith77, HelloCutePanda, .Executioner, Team Damon Mom, glevez25, EmmaRedVelvet, MysteryGirl3, jessinicole, ilyreid, TheMiseducationofB, and the tree was happy, MarsterRoo, and ANGELiCAWROTE for reviewing!
Hehehe….. So…. I've been gone for a while…. I know, I know, I am a horrible author… Life just got to me and major writer's block tends to get in the way. Hopefully, from now on I will be able to update more frequently! Still, I'm really, really sorry for making you wait so long!
A huge, HUGE thank you for carasedrin for continuing to be so awesome and helping out with this story ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own TVD, sorry.
Chapter Four
Truth
"And everyday I see the news, all the problems that we could solve... And when a situation rises, just write it into an album… Send it straight to gold, but I don't really like my flow."
Caroline considered herself to be the type of person who thought things through. In her world, everything was part of the plan she had meticulously designed back in the seventh grade. Of course, that plan had completely veered off track as of late. But did that mean everything had to go to shit? Ok, maybe she was over exaggerating but, come on.
She really wished she had thought this whole thing through and hadn't told Klaus when and where her doctor's appointment would be. Of course, it was implied that a paternity test would include both parties involved but just because she did what she promised and contacted him about it, didn't mean it was an automatic invitation to just come along. Ok, yes, he needed to give a DNA sample for the whole thing to work and all that but he could have done that another day!
But there he was, standing outside the red brick building that held the clinic, hands in the pockets of his dark jeans, waiting. Maybe she should just ask Stefan to turn back around and take her home.
It wasn't that Caroline completely hated the guy (well, she kind of did… does), but she just wasn't ready to face him again after last time. A part of her was embarrassed at the whole Tyler debacle and she didn't want to know Klaus' undoubtedly annoying opinion on it. Why would I even care what he thinks?
Because he's the father of your child, and this whole thing is to prove that fact to him, the more reasonable part of her answered.
Caroline sighed, her thoughts shifting to the business card currently occupying her pocket, regretting its very existence. If I didn't have the stupid thing I wouldn't have felt obligated to call him.
The words still stuck in her head.
Mikaelson Art & Antiquities
Niklaus Mikaelson CEO
The guy ran his own company. The idea bothered Caroline more than she thought possible. It just didn't sit right with the image she had of him – the image of the good-for-nothing womanizer with no responsibilities. And yet he's responsible enough to head his firm. Not that she would admit it, but for some reason that fact made her feel somewhat… inadequate.
Sighing, Caroline decided to face her fate. I might as well get used to having the guy around. I mean I'm here to prove to him he's the father of my child, right? Neither of us would be here otherwise. I need to give this a chance.
Caroline was pulled out of her thoughts when the person in the driver's seat of the car she was currently sulking in spoke to her.
"Earth to Care. Hello? You in there?" Stefan asked, even going so far as to wave a hand in front of her face, trying to get her attention as she stared out of the window of the car.
"Hm?" She finally met his gaze, though there was a distracted light in hers.
Stefan just rolled his eyes slightly, an amused grin on his face. "I just asked if you were planning on getting out any time soon… unless, of course, you're too busy staring at Klaus over there." He tacked on at the end, shooting her a knowing look.
"Hey!" Caroline immediately exclaimed, her full attention now on her friend, desperately hoping he wouldn't notice the red tinge of embarrassment on her cheeks. "You know it's not like that… I just… I don't know. Maybe I never should have told him."
Her friend lost his teasing expression, suddenly turning serious. "Care, you did the right thing, ok? You may not have gone about it the right way…" She shot him a semi annoyed look at the reminder of her little outburst at the bar, even though she knew he had a point. Stefan only smiled in response though, shaking his head. "You did the right thing..." He reaffirmed. "So stop second-guessing yourself and get out of the car. I do have other things to do besides being your chauffer, you know?"
Caroline looked down at her lap for a moment before meeting Stefan's eyes with a smile. "Thanks. I needed that." She told him.
"I know." Stefan replied with a smirk. "Now go before you make me even later."
"Yeah, yeah." Caroline rolled her eyes before leaning forward and giving him a quick peck on the cheek. "See you later, grumpkin." She laughed lightly at her friend's mock annoyed face before getting out of the car. Caroline was grateful that he had come all this with her to make she was all right going through with this. She waved him off as he drove away, probably a little longer than necessary, still trying to avoid going to Klaus, whose eyes she could feel on her back.
"Caroline." His familiar voice called. "There you are, sweetheart, I was worried you would be a no show."
The blonde took a deep breath before turning to face him, a tight smile on her face. "Well, not all of us can be like you." She told him mockingly, not being able to stop herself despite her previous resolve to be nicer. Immediately after she said it, she winced internally. Great start, Caroline… Really.
Luckily, Klaus didn't seem affected as he approached her, amusement dancing in his eyes. She found her own eyes scanning him as he approached, taking in his casual appearance, the necklaces he wore reminding her of their night they spent together over five months ago, of the way she had used them to pull him down to her lips. It was hard to believe he had his own business.
"My, aren't we feisty today?" Klaus commented with a wide smirk, interrupting her thoughts. Caroline didn't deign to answer that.
"Look, maybe we should just go in now, ok?" The blonde said instead, eyeing the door to the clinic warily. It might sound odd but Caroline was not actually the biggest fan of going to the doctor's even though, being a nurse, she constantly worked around them. She didn't like being the patient; she preferred to be the one taking care of the patient, making sure they were comfortable, keeping them as healthy as they could be. Just like she had done with her father all those years ago…
"After you." Klaus invited, pulling Caroline out of her melancholic thoughts. She snapped her gaze up to him, startled by his interruption. She found his eyes staring steadily back at her, blue and sparkling, strangely grounding her. There was none of his usual snark in his face now. In fact, Caroline couldn't quite read him; the face that at first she thought was a simple open book now seemed like much more of a mystery to her.
Before she allowed herself to analyze this any further, the blonde nodded tersely and walked up the steps to the door, trying to convey confidence.
She tried to ignore the fact that she felt strangely more at ease when she noticed Klaus' hand hovering over the small of her back, a silent sign that she wasn't alone in this.
Caroline stood nervously at the reception desk, the twirling in her stomach for once not caused by the life that was growing there. She knew she was being ridiculous; she was a nurse for crying out loud! She should be in her element - she dealt with similar situations daily. But being on the other side of this situation... she wasn't quite sure how to deal with that.
Caroline frowned, only half listening as Klaus stepped forward to talk to the receptionist. Luckily the blonde was paying enough attention to follow the both of them as they were led to the small room where she would finally be able to put some evidence behind her claims. As she walked beside Klaus to the room, she noticed the young woman leading them giving her barely concealed dirty looks.
What the hell is her problem?
Finally, they reached their destination and the receptionist opened the door for them, a huge fake smile on her face. "Here we are Mr. and Mrs. Mikaelson." She trilled in an exceedingly shrill voice, her eyes drilling angry holes through Caroline's skull.
Wait! WHAT?
"Um… I, uh…" Caroline stumbled over her words, completely bewildered. Why would she think that? As soon as her first thought ended, her mind went on a whirlwind, suddenly realizing why the girl was acting to weirdly to her. Ohmygod! Is that why she's been giving me those looks this entire time? We're going in for freaking paternity test - she must think I cheated on him or something and that why we're getting the thing in the first place!
Damn it, I really shouldn't have let Klaus do the talking.
But, seriously, where does this bitch think she's coming from? She should just keep her judgy little looks to herself and do her job. How does she have the freaking nerve to think she's knows my entire life story from just one conversation?
Oh, she is so getting it.
Seething, Caroline found herself already forming a biting reply when Klaus suddenly put an entirely unwelcome arm around her waist, hand resting lightly on her swollen belly, and her response died on her tongue. She snapped eyes up to the man, her glare shifting from little miss bitch to Klaus' annoyingly calm face. What's he doing?
With a charming smile, Klaus spoke with barely veiled patronization. "I'm afraid it's just Mr. Mikaelson for now, until I can convince Ms. Forbes here otherwise." For once, what Klaus did was actually a pleasant surprise and Caroline found her glare melting away into a look of astonishment. It was because of this that when he looked down at her and gave her a decidedly saucy wink, Caroline's lips actually twisted into the smallest of smiles. "She's really a keeper." Klaus continued after a moment, looking back to the receptionist.
To the Caroline's somewhat sadistic pleasure, the other woman wore a look of offended shock and before that blonde could even so much as smirk at her, Klaus stepped forward, pulling his arm from her waist as he did so, and closed the door on the receptionist, effectively dismissing her. Caroline had to fight really, really hard not to let the amusement show on her face. She could say a lot of things about Klaus, but he was nothing if not unexpected. He continuously surprised her, especially his willingness to back her up. First Tyler, now this girl. She wasn't sure exactly sure how she should be reacting to this but she was grateful for his actions.
Of course, she wasn't going to let Klaus know that.
So, she did the mature thing; she wacked Klaus on the shoulder… Hard. "What was that?" She exclaimed, referring to the pretend-couple thing that's he's already done twice.
Naturally, Klaus remained unfazed and simply grinned at her amusedly. "Come on, sweetheart, live a little."
"In case you haven't noticed, I'm living for two now… and quit with the 'sweetheart' thing." Caroline hissed, though it was without her usual viciousness.
Klaus' grin widened as he chuckled. "Alright, love."
"Ugh!" The blonde threw up her hands in exasperation before turning away from him and sitting down heavily in one of the chairs, waiting impatiently for the doctor to come in so they could get this over with. Why is he so infuriating? I should just stop talking to him – I bet then we could get along spectacularly.
Caroline almost snorted at her own thoughts, crossing her arms over chest. She ignored Klaus as he sat next to her, that stupid smirk still on his face.
It was going to be a long appointment.
She wouldn't realize until later that he had managed to stop her nervous thoughts over visiting the doctor in the first place.
It had been just over a week since Klaus and her went in for the paternity test and since then Caroline had thought of nothing else. She analyzed and analyzed and analyzed every moment, from her little encounter with the receptionist to Klaus' teasing manner... To the way he had stood silently by her side when the doctor collected amniotic fluid by the use of a very large needle. And she thought constantly of the results, waiting nervously for them. She was pretty much driving her friends crazy with her nervousness. She wasn't even sure why she was so nervous; she knew what the results were going to be, after all. So why would it be bothering her?
Maybe she was just anticipating Klaus' reaction. Much as she hated to admit it, she knew that what Klaus thought and how he would react was actually really important. She realized that her baby needed a father; Caroline couldn't imagine what her life would have been like without the time she had spent time with her own father.
It was because of these reasons that Caroline hesitated when she received the envelope that held the news. It's not news. I know what it is. I know what the answer will be.
But Caroline was still nervous.
Taking a deep breath, she ripped the envelope open, pulling the papers out of it quickly, her eyes scanning the small font until they found what they were looking for.
DNA markers… identified similarities…. father…
Niklaus Mikaelson.
Caroline froze, unsure of what she should be doing now. She had been right, of course she had been right. She'd known it all along. Then what was this odd suffocating feeling in her chest, this pressure on her heart?
With a heavy sign, Caroline sat down in one of her comfortable armchairs, rubbing her face gently. What's going to happen now? There was a whole lot of emotion running through her right now that she wasn't sure where or even how she would begin. One thing was odd, however, she was not disappointed with the results; she not was disappointed that Klaus was the father of her child. Which, in itself, was definitely shocking, after all there was no love lost between the two of them. But I have seen his calmer side; he may tease the heck out of me and annoy me but maybe… maybe we don't have to do this with all the hate and tension.
Maybe we can work this out as friends… well, acquaintances.
With that more positive thought on her mind, Caroline reached for her cell phone, thumbing through her list of contacts until she came to the name she was looking for. She didn't allow herself to hesitate, knowing that if she paused for even a moment she would most likely lose her nerve. She dialed.
And the phone rang. And rang. And rang. Until finally a voicemail message came up.
"You've reached Klaus Mikaelson. I am currently attending to some business; feel free to leave a message if it's important."
Caroline sighed to herself, relieved and yet strangely disappointed. Soon enough she heard the telltale ping signifying that she should begin her message. "Hey, Klaus…" She paused, thinking of what she could say. "Um, so I got the paternity test results back and I guess you did too so I suppose you know… Look, just give me a call ok?"
She hung up quickly, knowing that she would likely start to ramble if she kept talking.
When Caroline had contacted him in order to inform she was going ahead with the paternity test, also telling him that he needed to give a DNA sample at some point, he'd been wary and filled anticipation. He could tell that she didn't want him there with her, of course; Caroline wasn't as subtle as she seemed to think and Klaus wasn't completely clueless. He was a businessman, after all, it was part of his job to see through people's bullshit.
So, instead of following her unspoken demand, Klaus did exactly what she didn't want him to do. He showed up at her appointment, with a smirk on his face, planning on doing nothing but riling her up. There was just something about getting Caroline worked up that appealed to Klaus.
But then she had to go and get that look on her face as she stared up at the door of the doctor's office. The look that made her seem like she had seen too much life; sadness laced with nervousness and even some fear.
And the next thing Klaus knew, he was helping her out. Again. He'd thought helping her get rid of her ex was a fluke on his part, that something like that wouldn't happen anymore. But then he defended Caroline against that annoying secretary.
Klaus simply didn't understand why he did that.
It was not that Klaus was a bad person, per se, but he wasn't exactly a good person either. He wasn't the type to help out someone unless there was something in it for him. And he definitely wasn't the type to get so protective over a woman he barely knew.
What was wrong with him lately?
Klaus didn't know. So he naturally did the most responsible thing he could do. He ignored all thoughts of this and dug his head in the sand or, in his case, drank copious amounts of alcohol.
The only thing he didn't avoid thinking about was the actual paternity test and its results. He had mixed feelings about, to say the least. Klaus wasn't even sure if he would be able to describe what he was feeling. All he knew was that he needed to get those results now.
So, when he finally did get that all-important envelope, he didn't wait a second to open it and look.
And now, here Klaus was, holding paper in his hands, staring down at it in wonder, shock, and fear.
The baby was his. Caroline's baby… No, their baby.
He was going to be a father. It was real… And Klaus was suddenly overwhelmed. This entire time there had been a chance that this whole thing was a simple fantasy concocted by one of his crazy many one-night-stands. But Caroline wasn't crazy and this fantasy turned out to be a reality.
Caroline. Klaus supposed he would be spending a lot more time with the woman now. Since first reading the news he had decided that he wouldn't be an absent father. No, he would try to be there for his child, his baby; he would try to be a good dad.
But doing so meant he would have to interact with his child's mother.
The blonde was… different. Different from any other person he'd met. Unpredictable but dependable. Frustrating but strangely hypnotic. She was the expectant mother to their child. And he was surprised to find he was protective of them both, despite Caroline's often less than pleasant behavior towards him.
Our child, Klaus couldn't help the tiny smile that lit his face as the thought popped in his head.
My child.
But then Klaus began to doubt. Yes, his plan was to support his child, to be there for him or her. It was his responsibility, wasn't it? Isn't that what he should do? What he wanted to do?
But, should he be a father? Wouldn't he be a horrible at it? The only father he had ever had was Mikael, and god knows he was not a good example. Where would Klaus even begin with parenting his own child?
The sound of his phone vibrating nearby shook him out of his thoughts. He was quick to grab the phone from the coffee table in front of him but, noting the name on the screen, he decided not to pick up. He needed a moment to process this new information fully and if he talked to Caroline now, he knew he wouldn't be able to do that.
So, sighing, he closed his phone and sat back in his couch, rubbing a tired hand over his face.
Klaus was going to be a father. He was going to have a child.
He was going to have a child with Caroline, the one woman in the world he wasn't sure what to think of.
Clearly, this was going to go well.
She sat across Klaus in the small café, exhausted after having just finished an overnight shift but buzzing with new nervous energy. Klaus had finally ended up calling her back about four hours after she'd left her voice message. Their phone conversation had been awkward, stilted, but at least they'd managed to set up a meet for the next day.
And now here they were. Caroline sent Klaus a hesitant half-smile as she sat, playing with her fingers, trying to get out from under the weight of this silence. Klaus seemed to be doing the same thing as he stared at her, his blue eyes electric as they examined her, full of sharpness.
"So, what now?" Caroline finally asked, wincing internally at her somewhat confrontational tone. Damn it, Care, tone it down. Just relax, he's here with you and you two need to act like adults about this.
"Now," Klaus leaned forward on the table, still staring at her, "now we figure this out."
"You're sticking around?" The blonde exclaimed in return, unable to hide her surprise. She'd thought that maybe, at best, he would pay child support and perhaps even ask for visitation rights every once in a while. But really staying? And helping out? Is that what he wants?
"You have to ask?" Klaus asked, annoyance clear in his tone in response to Caroline's own haughty one. This time Caroline really did wince. I guess, I should really just stop with all the judgy-ness.
"Well, can you blame me? I barely even know you and what I have seen…" She trailed off with a small shrug, tentative again. She didn't want to mess this up. Klaus may not be her most liked person, and yeah he may frustrate her to end, but he was still the father of her child… and she didn't need to be egging him on. Caroline may not like to admit it, but she hadn't exactly been making it easy on either of them.
"You don't think I'm good enough, that I can do this." Klaus' voice was monotonous; his face devoid of emotion but his eyes a stormy blue.
"I'm not trying to start an argument and I wasn't saying that." Caroline replied quickly, stopping this fight before it could begin. "What I was saying is that I just don't know. I'll admit, I was quick to judge you before, and probably a little too harshly." She took a deep breath, finding it harder to admit all this out loud than she thought it would be. "My opinion of you didn't change because I didn't want it to change." She turned her eyes away from Klaus, looking at her hands instead. She could still feel his gaze on her, however, feel it burning into her.
"And now?" He asked her after a moment, his voice less harsh than it was before. When Caroline looked back up to him, she saw that his eyes were less troubled and more curious.
"Like I said." Caroline spoke quietly. "I don't know you well enough, so maybe I should actually get to know you before I form an opinion."
Finally, the tension around them broke when Klaus suddenly smirked widely, amused. "Well, well you've certainly done some real thinking about this haven't you love?"
"Don't push me, Klaus, I'm giving you a chance here." She replied smartly, though her tone was teasing rather than annoyed.
"I know." His smirk changed into a small smile. "Now I can't promise that I will be the best of fathers, but I will promise that I can try." For once, everything about Klaus was completely sincere and Caroline found herself actual liking this version of the man.
"That's all I ask." She smiled at him now, a real smile.
"Caroline?" He asked after a moment, trying to sound nonchalant though she could see the interest in his expression. "Why are you doing this? Giving me a chance?"
"Like you said, our child deserves have both its parents." She paused, not having anything left to say on the matter. She'd had the conversation she'd wanted to have and she was pretty sure she couldn't do any other sort of planning now, considering the fact that her eyes seemed like they would close at any moment. I'm so freaking tired. I really shouldn't have agreed to do this after my shift. "Look, I'm going to get going, how about I call you later so we can figure just exactly what we're going to do?" Caroline offered, not wanting Klaus to think she wanted to avoid him or anything else like that.
Klaus, for his part, only nodded in assent. "Sounds like a plan."
The blonde sent him a small smile, standing up slowly. She hesitated as she turned to walk away, looking down at the still seated man in front of her. Well this isn't at all awkward. "Ok, um… bye." Caroline could have died in embarrassment at her complete and utter ineptness as she turned around abruptly and headed for the door.
She wasn't so fast that she missed his farewell, however.
"Goodbye, Caroline." Klaus called after her.
Caroline tried to ignore that odd feeling in her stomach at the way her name rolled off his tongue.
Again, I just want to say sorry for being so incredibly late with this chapter! I am so, so, so, sorry! You have no idea! I swear the next one WON'T take so long.
Also, I'll be finishing the epilogue of The Scars Not Seen soon ;)
About the paternity test – I am not a doctor or expert in the area so I can't guarantee that anything above is any way correct. I only used what I found on the internet (and we all know that there are often inaccuracies). According to my 'research' I found that there were different types of prenatal paternity tests which is why my own description of it is rather vague. I hope that didn't bother anyone or mess with the believability of the story!
Anyways, thanks for reading and let me know what you think!
RW