IX

To say that there was tension between Katherine and Elijah was an understatement, you could practically feel the tension in the small café, not to mention it was even icier since neither of them was saying anything.

Katherine was still wearing her hospital scrubs and she grumbled as she twirled the straw of her ice tea. Why had Elijah invited her to lunch if a, they weren't going to eat anything and b, they weren't even going to say anything to each other.

She pushed back her tea, desperately wishing that it was a vodka instead. You couldn't see the small swell that was forming under her scrubs, but Katherine could feel it and it was not pleasant it only served as a reminded that they needed to solve this sooner rather than later, before it was too late for an abortion, or perhaps that's what Elijah wanted.

"Come on, Elijah we need to talk," she nearly pleaded. "We can't keep ignoring each other forever."

She almost sighed in relief when Elijah said. "You're right, that's the reason I asked to you to come so that we could talk."

"Are you still angry?" she blurted out.

Elijah raised an eyebrow as if saying are-you-seriously-asking-me that? Katherine fought the urge to roll her eyes.

"Yes, I'm still angry, Katherine." Elijah said as calmly as he possibly could. "I think a part of me will always be angry, hurt even."

Katherine took a deep breath as she nervously played with the straw. "It's my choice, Elijah." She felt like she had said this a thousand times.

"I know it is, but I deserve to be part of that decision don't I? I am the baby's father." Even Elijah sounded tired.

"Of course. So what should we do?"

Elijah stirred the conversation a different way. "Klaus got Caroline pregnant, I'm sure that she mention that to you."

Katherine's face turned sour. "She did. She also pointed out what a horrible jerk your brother was."

"Well, my brother was never exactly what you call a gentleman." He shook his head. "I lost track, this isn't about them, and it's about us. What are we going to do about our baby?"

Katherine nodded. "We need to think about our options."

"Can't family be one of your options?" Elijah asked fiercely and he looked so hopeful that it almost broke Katherine's heart.

"No, it can't Elijah I'm sorry." Katherine said firmly, thinking back. "My childhood sucked, my parents cared more about the cigars and their bottles than taking care of me, it was always me that needed to be responsible, and I'm not putting a child through that."

"But this is different, Katherine." Elijah said frustrated. "Neither of us smoke or are alcoholics, I have a good job our child will have a good life. We at least owe him or her that to try to be good parents."

Katherine remained stubbornly quiet.

Elijah sighed. "I didn't want to suggest this but how about we make an agreement. You have the baby and as soon as it's born you give me full custody of the baby and we can both move on with our lives."

For some reason the statement angered Katherine. "So that's it, I just give you the baby? What am I an order online catalogue? You want something, I deliver it and you pay me? I thought I was worth more to you, Elijah!"

Elijah looked startled by her outburst. "You do, of course you do, I didn't mean-I just thought you didn't want the baby."

"I don't," she said weakly. "Or I do, I don't know. I just need some time, we don't have to decide this now, please just give me time. I won't have an abortion, I'll keep the baby till term, but about the whole custody thing, can we just wait for a little while?"

Elijah nodded. "All right." After all the difficult part had past, Katherine had agreed to keep the baby.

Caroline was in the middle of drinking her second cup of coffee when she heard someone knocking on the door or most likely pounding on it. She had decided to stay back and look for possible buyers for the store so she was dressed in a pair of gray sweatpants and her hair was in a bun. Not her best look.

When she opened the door she was surprise to see Klaus dressed in a suit. He looked at her once. "Caroline."

Caroline's anger returned quickly. "What do you want? Did you come to insult me even more?"

"I've thought about what you said." Klaus said slowly, Elijah's scolding and Caroline's tears had made him rethink a few things and Caroline was right, they hadn't used protection so there was a very good chance that the baby was his. "And I've considerate it."

"Wow, the great Klaus considered the fact that he's going to be a father," Caroline said sarcastically. "What do you want Klaus?"

"I came here to offer you money for the baby so that you can take care of it." Klaus said lamely.

This only seemed to anger Caroline even more, was Klaus really that dumb it was a baby for god's sake not a pet goldfish and did he really think money was going to solve everything? A child needed a parental figure not cash.

"Thanks, but no thanks I don't want your help and I don't need it." She gave him a sweet smile before she slammed the door in his face. "Good riddance."

"You're going to regret this Caroline." He hissed. "Mark my words I will make you regret this."

"Caroline, what a surprise," Stefan said as he let Caroline into his office. They hadn't really seen each other since the wedding, but he was glowing it seemed his marriage to Rebekah was going well. "Sit down."

"Thanks." She replied. That's what Caroline liked about Stefan, he was always friendly. "I won't bother you for long. I was just wondering if you knew someone that would want to buy my store."

"I'm a lawyer, Care I don't sell stores."

"I know." Caroline said. "But maybe someone who is interested in buying it? Some of your old clients' maybe?"

"I'll let people know." Stefan sounded confused. "May I ask why you're selling it, you were so thrilled."

Caroline flushed. She didn't really want to explain to Stefan about the whole Klaus-baby drama though he would probably find out soon since Klaus was his brother in law. "It's complicated with bills and everything." She said lightly. "And the economy sucks, right now it's just not the right time."

Stefan looked like he didn't believe her, but was too polite to say, instead he simply nodded. "All right, I'll spread the word."

Klaus stared at the business card in front of him, in black letters were the words, Michael Jackson, Private Investigator. Marcel, his friend had recommended him to him and said that he was one of the best private investigators in the state and right now Klaus needed the best especially if Caroline was being stubborn and wouldn't open the door.

Klaus wanted to know information about the mother of his future child and he had a feeling he wouldn't get very far through a locked door.

"Now I expect good, clear information." Klaus snapped at Michael. "I don't care about her science project in the sixth grade or whatever, I want details-how many property she owns, anything I should know of, and police records that sort of thing."

"Of course Mr. Mikaelson." Michael said. "Leave it to me."

-End of Chapter Nine-