XIV

"I can't do this," Caroline said as she grasped Klaus' forearm, she looked at the big, beautiful house that had been the home that Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah had growned up in. His parents' home, her baby grandparents' home, as if that wasn't modifying enough Caroline was going to have to meet them.

At first she had been flattered when Klaus had invited her to a small family party where Katherine and Elijah were going to announce the fact that they were expecting babies, but now that they were actually there she was chickening out even though she knew that the only ones that were going to be present were Rebekah and Stefan, Katherine and Elijah, and Mikael and Esther.

She had asked Kat for advice in how to deal with them, but Katherine had just told her that they were nice people, but kind of cold and withdrawned. Not exactly inviting.

Klaus wiggled away from Caroline's grip, ignoring Caroline's look. "What are you so worried about?" He asked. "They are just my parents."

"Yes, they are your parents," Caroline hissed at him. "You parents that will probably think I'm a slut because their son knocked up someone that they have never head off."

A twitch of a smile appeared on Klaus' lips and she groaned.

"Really, love there's nothing to be afraid of and sooner or later we have to tell them about that," he said motioning to her small baby bump that she had quietly hid under her cardigan. "Besides I've meet your mother, so it's only natural that you meet my parents."

Caroline didn't say anything else as she accompanied Klaus inside, she didn't feel like telling Klaus that she only had one parents and that Liz probably wasn't as intimidating as Esther and Mikael. They were greeted by several voices at once, it seemed that they were the last ones to arrive.

Mikael and Elijah were speaking in the den while Rebekah and Stefan were cuddling on the couch apparently still in the honeymoon phrase. Katherine was helping Esther bring in trays filled with sandwiches and pasta.

"Nik!" Rebekah exclaimed as she hugged her older brother. "Finally, what took you so long?" she looked confused to see Caroline for a moment, but quickly shook her head. "Caroline, darling you look lovely."

"Hello, Rebekah." She said. "Hi, Stefan."

"Hi," Stefan said as he looked from Klaus to Caroline. "I didn't know that you guys were friends."

"We're not really-"

"It's complicated-"

Both Caroline and Klaus stammered with their sentence until Stefan thought it would be better to act as if he hadn't asked anything. Mikael stood up and greeted them. "Klaus, you didn't tell us that you were going to bring a lady friend."

"I was sort of last minute," Klaus said quickly. "Caroline, I'd like you to meet my father, Mikael. Father, this is Caroline Forbes."

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Mikaelson," Caroline smiled politely.

"Please call me Mikael." Mikael said. "Is your mother, Sherriff Forbes?"

"Yes sir."

"Hey, Care." Katherine saved Caroline by hugging her hello, Caroline couldn't believe how big she was. Even thought it had only been a few days since she had last seen her, her shirts seemed a little snug around her waist and she wasn't trying to hide it like Caroline. She guessed that most people already knew that she was pregnant, but were just keeping it secret out of politeness.

"Hi, Kat." She pulled away and came face to face with Esther. "Hello, Mrs. Mikaelson."

"Hello," Esther said, not unkindly. "Are you my son's girlfriend?"

Caroline said quickly, ignoring the question. "I'm Caroline Forbes."

"Esther Mikaelson."

Elijah urged Katherine to come forward and Katherine nervously stood by his side. "Everyone Katherine and I would like to make an announcement before lunch, sweetheart?"

"I'm expecting a baby," Katherine said nervously. "Actually babies, twins. We're going to be parents."

Even though half of the room had guessed that Katherine was expecting, they pretended to be surprise and immediately started congratulating them and asking Katherine about the pregnancy. Caroline breathed a sigh of relief. At least the spotlight wasn't on her anymore.

"How did this happen?" Both Esther and Mikael questioned later that day after lunch. The time had moved so fast that Caroline was actually dizzy. After lunch Klaus had asked his parents to meet him in his study and they had agreed confused.

Caroline had actually been glad that for once Klaus had taken initiative and told them that Caroline was expecting a baby. He didn't mention the drunken one night stand thank god, though Mikael and Esther looked like they were about to faint.

Caroline couldn't blame them, because unlike Katherine who had been dating Elijah for years and actually known them, she didn't have a legitimate excuse to be pregnant.

Caroline gave a nervous chuckle trying to make a joke. "I think we all know how it happened."

Esther raised a pointed eyebrow and Caroline looked down.

"But I haven't seen you before today," Mikael frowned. "Have you been dating long?"

"Only about a year, secretly," Klaus said locking eyes with Caroline, silently telling her it would be better not to tell his parents that their relationship had been a one night stand.

"And are you sure that the baby is Klaus'?" Esther blurted out.

"Mother!"

"Yes, it's his child," Caroline said angrily. Why were Klaus' parents being so judgy? "Like your son said we've been dating, Mrs. Mikaelson."

Esther blushed, but didn't offer an apology.

"How pregnant are you?" Mikael asked.

"Three months."

They didn't say anything for a moment. "And are your planning to marry?" Klaus knew that he had asked Elijah the same thing, but he had simply said, maybe after the babies' births.

"Perhaps later, right love?" Klaus asked. "This has all caught us by surprise, but I do know one thing the baby that Caroline is expecting is my child and I'm ready and willing to take care of them both."

"Thank you." Caroline said as Klaus drove her home later that night. "For defending me from your parents, you didn't have too."

"I did." Klaus said, he didn't bother looking at her. "I don't like people, even my parents insulting what is mine."

Caroline scoffed. "I'm hardly yours."

"Fine, be sensitive." Klaus said. "But the baby you're carrying it's mine."

"No," Caroline corrected. "It's ours."

"That went well, didn't it?" Elijah said later that night as he kissed Katherine's forehead, they were in their bed together.

Katherine snuggled closer to him. "Rebekah and your mom we really excited I think Rebekah actually registered us at Toys R Us." She smiled. "I was surprise to see Caroline there, she and Klaus seemed to be getting along."

"You sound surprise."

"In a good way," Katherine said. "And you have to admit that you can brother can be an ass."

"That he is," Elijah agreed. "I hope that he can make that girl happy, I hope that he can make their baby happy, and I hope that they themselves are happy."

-End of Chapter Fourteen-