XI

Caroline had decided to meet Tyler for brunch the following Saturday at a small, breakfast joint that she enjoyed even though she had a lot on her mind. First and foremost over the absurd fact that Klaus wanted to buy her store. Why would powerful, rich, successful, holier than thou Klaus Mikaelson would want to buy her store? It didn't make no sense at all.

She had been planning on questioning him about it for days, but so far hadn't had the guts remembering all too well what happened before, she didn't want to be humiliated anymore.

Caroline had chosen her outfit carefully, trying not to make it too obvious that she was expecting, but that had been complicated she was growing a baby bump, there was no other way around it and unless she wore sweats and baggy sweatshirts for the rest of her pregnancy she was going to look pregnant.

Caroline clutched the knife if her hand, how would she love to dig it into Klaus' cold, bitter heart.

"Sorry, I'm late." Tyler said cheerfully as he slipped in the seat in front of Caroline.

"No, thanks for meeting me on such short notice." Caroline said as she opened her menu. "I really needed someone to talk to."

"Well, I'm your guy." He studied Caroline's face closely, he couldn't help but noticed that the blond looked tired, nervous, and agitated. "Caroline, are you ok?

Caroline's heart swelled finally a guy who actually cared about her feelings. Why couldn't she be carrying Tyler's baby instead? "Not really, just a lot on my mind I guess."

"Talk to me." Tyler suggested, his brown eyes indicating that he was truly honest. "I'm your guy."

"I'm pregnant." She blurted out straightening up so that her small, baby bump looked more prominent.

Tyler whistled. "Wow, I wasn't expecting that."

"Believe me, neither was I, but I guess life has a way of surprising you, sometimes when you don't expect it."

"I guess." He said doubtfully, his tone becoming wary. "Who's the father? I didn't know you were married or dating."

She bit her lip. "I'm not it was a stupid one night stand with Klaus Mikaelson."

"That jerk?" Tyler scowled. "The younger brother of Elijah, the one that Katherine is dating?"

"That's the one." Caroline's eyes welled up with tears. "Anyway, long story short he doesn't want the baby, so basically I'm in this by myself, and I'm really freaked out-"

"Calm down, Care." Tyler put a reassuring hand on her arm. "You're going to be ok, these things happened, it's Klaus' lost. You're going to make a wonderful mother and you don't have to deal with this by yourself, you'll have me. What are friends for?"

Caroline smiled. "Thanks Ty, you're so sweet, believe me I need sweet."

"So no more crying and no more worrying all right?" Tyler prompted as he handed her a napkin. "You're not in this alone anymore."

Klaus had been on his way towards Caroline's apartment when he had been interrupted with a red light. While waiting impatiently for the light to turn green he looked around his surroundings. Pharmacy, bookstore, restaurant, Caroline-wait, Caroline.

He blinked twice, thinking that his eyesight was deceiving him, but it was not. Caroline was sitting in the outside patio of the restaurant looker prettier and more vibrant that Klaus had seen her. He couldn't help but noticed that she looked prettier when she wasn't angry.

He frowned when he saw the man across from her. He didn't recognize him, but she appeared to be perfectly happy with him. Klaus felt something strange in the pit of his stomach. Had that man, whoever he was been the source of Caroline happiness?

What was she even doing with him? He looked like a damn commoner. Klaus had thought that Caroline would be unhappy, depressed even and that somehow Klaus would be able to fix all of that, but Caroline looked-

A large honking awoke him from his tyrant the light had turned green. Klaus started driving. "Shut the hell up all of you!"

"Katherine?" Elijah stood by the doorway as he watched Katherine unpack the few clothes that she had taken to Caroline's. All though their bedroom was large, the closet was still too small for all of Katherine's belongings. Katherine was kneeled down on the floor wondering where she was going to put her 50th pair of shoes.

Katherine looked at him and it still amaze Elijah how quickly she had changed in only the course of a few days. Her face looked slightly rounder though it was still beautiful and even through her dark shirt he could see her small, swollen belly forming.

Elijah couldn't help but feel pride, his Katherine was carrying his baby and maybe they were going to become a family.

"Yeah?"

"I've been thinking," he folded his arms across his chest, not knowing how she was going to take the news. "We need to tell my family soon about the pregnancy, before-"

"Yeah, before I start showing even more." She sighed. Katherine had meet and liked Elijah's family even though his parents could be a bit uptight sometimes, still there were pretty nice most of the time.

"So you don't mind?"

She shook her head. "The sooner news gets out the better." She hesitated. "Elijah, can we please keep you know our own problems . . . between us?"

He nodded as he kissed the side of her forehead. "Of course, kitten."

Caroline pushed the door of her apartment around noon, she just wanted to take a long nap. Pregnancy had a nasty habit of always making her tired. She was just passing her living room when she stopped short. She turned back and snapped. "Klaus, oh my god what the hell are you doing here?"

Klaus was sitting in one of her chairs in her living room as if he was perfectly at home. "Good afternoon, Caroline I'm hoping your little brunch date was all right?"

"How did you even get in here?"

"Elijah gave me Katherine's extra key." Klaus said simply showing her the key. "Is that a problem?"

"Yes, it's a problem!" she snapped. "I don't want you inside my home without my permission!"

"Oh." He said, clearly not caring. "You didn't answer my question though, how did your little date went with that man you clearly have feeling for?"

"Tyler? He's a friend and has treated me better than you." Caroline's face darkened with rage. "Klaus have you've been spying on me?"

Klaus snorted. "I do have more important issues in my life than you, Caroline." He handed her several papers. "Here."

Caroline frowned as she looked at the papers. "What is this?"

"That indicates that all of your bills have been paid." Klaus said smugly. "I've paid them all, you don't owe anyone a cent." He paused. "This is the part when someone would usually say thank you."

"I don't want your help and I don't need it!" she snarled. "Isn't it already bad enough that you want to buy my store? You probably want to make into a whore house or something knowing you."

"I could care less about the stupid store." He snapped. "I bought it for you, Stefan said you were fond of it."

Caroline gaped. "You did, for me? So does that mean that I can keep it?"

"You can keep your little muffin store." Klaus said with a wave of his hand.

"It's a clothes' shop!" but Caroline's anger almost melted instantly. She was keeping the store, her dream wouldn't be crumbling to pieces. Without thinking she threw her arms around Klaus. "Thank you! Thank you!"

"You're welcome." Klaus said, forcing himself not to blush at Caroline's sudden admiration. "Well, I must be going now, you have my number and I won't be entering your house without a proper invitation since it upsets you so much." Caroline almost smiled.

"Klaus?"

Klaus turned around, he had just been about to leave. "What?"

"What changed your mind about the baby?" she forced herself to ask. "About me?"

Klaus gave her a wry smile. "Let's just say you have Elijah to thank, love. Looks like we're stuck with each other for the long haul."

-End of Chapter Eleven-

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