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Whoa. Near 50 reviews for the first chapter. Jaw on ground...

"Holy shit," Caroline whispered as she entered the grand hall, or at least that what it looked like. Kol snickered next to her.

"I set the two of you up in Kol's old room," Esther told them. Caroline froze. She had forgotten about that part. Of course Esther assumed they were sleeping together after a supposed year together.

"Great," Caroline said brightly to Esther while shooting daggers at Kol who shrugged.

"Elijah and Tatia went out for a ride, but they should be back shortly," Esther said, "Finn and Sage are having lunch out. Rebekah is by the pool. A shame that boy of hers couldn't come too." Yeah a real shame. Kol and Caroline both knew Rebekah didn't bring Matt on purpose.

"Well, I will leave you two to get settled." Esther told the two supposed couple.

"Thanks Mum," Kol said and Esther smiled once more before leaving them alone.

"Come on," Kol said and he and Caroline headed up the stairs.

"Your Mom seems nice," Caroline said as they walked to his room.

"She is, she really opened up a lot since my father died," Kol said.

"How did he die?" Caroline asked and Kol paused. "Kol?"

"He drank himself to death," Kol replied his tone as serious as she had ever heard it, "But enough about that. My room is just down the hall." Caroline opened her mouth to comment but thought the better of it and said nothing.

"Oh how cute!" Caroline said entering the room and see all the posters of superheros. "You were such a dork! Are those...comic books?"

"I liked comic books when I younger," Kol said trying to act like it was no big deal but Caroline was still grinning. "Shut it." Caroline laid down on the king sized bed and stared at the ceiling. "What is it?"

"Nothing, just thinking about family," Caroline said and Kol went and laid next to her.

"Missing your Mom?" Kol said and Caroline nodded.

"She was all I had until Ella of course, but I still really miss her," Caroline said, "I wish she could have met Ella, she would have loved her."

"Who wouldn't?" Kol said. "My girl is the best."

"Yes she is," Caroline agreed.

"I suppose I do take my family for granted," Kol said, "But there are more then one types of family, right? I mean Bonnie, you, Ella, and I make a nice little group. I love being surrounded by all you pretty ladies." Caroline laughed and playfully hit his chest.

"You should tell her you know," Caroline said turning over and facing him. "Bonnie I mean. You should tell her how you feel. She doesn't feel the way I do about accents."

"I know," Kol said turning as well, "Let's just get through the weekend, okay?"

"Okay," Caroline said and there was a knock on the door.

"Kol your brother and Tatia are back from their ride," Esther said.

"Coming Mum!" Kol said and then helped Caroline off the bed.

"Ready?" Kol asked.

"Yeah," Caroline answered. Kol held his hand out and she took it.

K&C

The first thing Caroline noticed was how stunning Tatia was. She had flawless olive skin and long wavy brown hair. No wonder Kol's brothers fought over her.

"Hello," Elijah said, "You must be Caroline. Heard great things about you."

"You too," Caroline said even though she hadn't heard much of anything. The only thing she really knew about him was that he stole his brother's girlfriend and that he was the oldest of the bunch.

"I'm Tatia," The pretty girl said and Caroline had to struggle to keep the smile on her face.

"Caroline," Caroline said.

"Becks still out by the pool?" Kol asked.

"Yes she is," Elijah replied.

"Well we better go say hi," Kol said taking Caroline's hand once more, "See you at dinner."

Caroline had always liked Rebekah. Probably because they were so similar. Rebekah was a little more ruthless then Caroline was, but she had to be with four older brothers. They had talked and skyped over the years. Rebekah had a modeling career in New York that kept her really busy. Caroline walked to the backyard and saw it was just as gorgeous as the rest of the house, and that there was a lot of land behind it. Were those...stables?

"Caroline!" Rebekah said getting off her lawn chair and coming over. The two girls hugged and Rebekah turned to Kol, "So what did you promise Caroline to pretend that she was slumming it with you?"

"Funny," Kol said but hugged her anyway. "Babysitting, what else?"

"Have you told anyone about Ella?" Rebekah asked getting straight to the point.

"If the subject comes up I won't hide it," Caroline answered. Rebekah nodded. Caroline could tell Esther wasn't the type to judge her too harshly, but it could open up a lot of questions that she didn't really want to answer. At least not at the first "Meet the Family" gathering.

"So how is she?" Rebekah said, "I haven't seen her since she was a baby. The only thing she could say was "No."

"Good, she actually..." Caroline started to say but she was interrupted by that musical voice Caroline was already starting to dislike.

"Finn and Sage are back," Tatia informed them.

"Be right in." Rebekah said with a fake smile and Tatia went back into the house. "Bloody hell do I hate that woman."

"She is very pretty," Caroline commented and Rebekah rolled her eyes.

"Yeah too bad it goes with a wrenched personality," Rebekah said.

"How did Elijah take it when you turned down her offer to be a bridesmaid?" Kol asked.

"I said I didn't want to be a part of any of it," Rebekah answered. "They are lucky I am even going. Sorry to bother you with this stuff Caroline."

"It's fine, Kol has been very tight lipped about his family," Caroline told her.

"For good reason," Rebekah said, "This family is bloody mad. Can you really blame us for moving halfway across the world and getting away from the Mikaelson name."

"Mikaelson name?" Caroline said confused. "What does your name have to do with anything?"

"You didn't tell her?" Rebekah said to Kol who was looking at his feet.

"I wanted a normal life, Beka," Kol said and Kol took a deep breath and turned to Caroline. "My father was a Lord. Our name is one of the oldest in England."

"What!" Caroline exclaimed. "Who are you!"

"This is why I didn't want to tell you," Kol said shifting his weight. "I am still the bloke who kills spiders for you." Caroline's phone rang interrupting the conversation. Caroline saw Bonnie's name on the screen. Caroline had called her right after she got of the plane, but didn't really get time to talk.

"Hey Bonnie," Caroline said into the phone, "How is she doing?"

"Since you asked me two hours ago?" Bonnie asked, "She is fine, and is drawing of course."

"She is an artist my girl," Caroline said, "Can I talk to her?"

"Mommy!" She heard Ella cry out, "I am drawing you a picture of the puppy we saw today!"

"She just won't give it up will she?" Caroline said and Bonnie laughed from the other end. "But I should be happy she changed her mind about that pony."

"Yes, Ella desperately wanted a pony for a while didn't she?" Bonnie mused.

"We better not mention it again in case she gets the idea back in her head," Caroline said.

"Kids?" Esther said coming outside, "Come on back inside."

"Coming, Mum," Rebekah said and grabbed her stuff before heading inside to change.

"I have to go," Caroline softly said into the phone. "Tell Ella I love her and will talk to her later."

"Why are you whispering?" Bonnie whispered back.

"No reason." Caroline said in her normal voice, "Bye."

"Bye," Bonnie said and the hung up. Caroline looked over and saw Esther was still waiting.

"Sorry," Caroline said, "I had to take that call."

"No problem." Esther said, "Come on in and meet Sage and Finn."

"Okay," Caroline said and Kol put his arm around her. She looked at him and he whispered in her ear.

"Got to sell it, right?" Kol said and Caroline rolled her eyes.

"Why do I have a feeling I am going to regret those words?" Caroline said and Kol only grinned.

K&C

"I thought you said you have three brothers?" Caroline said to Kol as they drank tea in the drawing room. Yes, Caroline was drinking tea in the drawing room. She had officially stepped into a Jane Austen novel.

"I do," Kol said, "Nik is always late."

"So what do you do Caroline?" Sage politely asked. Sage was a beautiful redhead who was married to Kol's older brother Finn. She was also very pregnant and had that glow around her.

"I work at an event planning agency," Caroline answered.

"Oh, do you plan a lot of events?" Sage said.

"I am still an assistant to one of the planners, but hopefully one day," Caroline said.

"She planned basically all the events at her high school," Kol cut in. "I saw her senior prom designs, they were amazing."

"Perhaps you should talk to Niklaus, he is good at things like that as well," Esther said, "When he makes his appearance of course."

"I remember a couple epic birthday parties," Kol said and Esther pursed her lips.

"Those parties were not epic, they gave me premature gray hairs," Esther said and Kol smiled cheekily.

"It must have been a job raising that many children," Caroline said and Esther nodded.

"It wasn't easy," Esther said, "Years and years of broken arms and scraped knees."

"We want a big family," Tatia said cutting into the conversation. She took Elijah's hand and smiled at him. Rebekah made a gagging noise. Caroline hid a giggle with her teacup. "What was that Caroline?"

"Nothing," Caroline said.

"Do you want a family?" Tatia asked and Caroline's eyes went wide. That was a very personal question, not very polite to ask a question like that to someone you just met.

"Um..." Caroline said but was drawing a blank.

"Mind your own bloody business Tatia," Rebekah said.

"It's fine," Caroline said, and thinking it was now or never went on to say, "I actually have a daughter."

The room went dead silent. All eyes were on Caroline who shifted in her seat. She normally liked being the center of attention, but not now.

"You have a daughter?" Esther said breaking the spell and Caroline nodded.

"She's four," Caroline said. "Ella."

"Pretty name," Sage said.

"It means bright light in Greek," Caroline said.

"She is the light in your life then?" Sage said and Caroline felt a great deal of relief at how they were dealing will all this.

"Yes, and your little one will be the same way," Caroline said and Sage rubbed her belly.

"It feels like I have been pregnant forever," Sage complained and Caroline laughed.

"I know that feeling," Caroline said.

"Where is your daughter now?" Esther asked.

"Back home staying with a friend," Caroline replied. "Probably staying up past her bedtime and eating too much candy." Everyone laughed while Tatia frowned.

"No harm in it," Kol said with a shrug.

"Says the man who let her eat a candy bar at 8:00 at night, twice." Caroline said and Kol shrugged again.

"Are you close with Caroline's daughter?" Esther asked Kol.

"Yes, she calls me Uncle Kol," Kol said and thankfully no one asked anymore questions about Kol's relationship with Ella. English people were much more polite then Americans. Well at least Caroline thought they were.

"Who is her father?" Tatia said and Caroline's mouth dropped open. She felt all eyes on her again and her cheeks started to turn pink.

"Tatia, come," Elijah said standing up and escorted Tatia outside before Caroline could answer.

"I am sorry about her, dear," Esther said taking a sip of her tea. "It is the stress of the wedding that has her on edge."

"Yeah that's it," Rebekah said sarcastically.

"Rebekah, enough," Esther said sternly. "You could be nicer to her, this girl is to become your sister. Remember you begged for a sister for years."

"Yes I did, and I got Sage who we all love," Rebekah said and Sage couldn't keep the smile off her face. Rebekah was a hard woman to please.

"I am going to show Caroline around a little more," Kol said getting up and taking Caroline's hand. "May we be excused, mother?"

"Of course, have fun darling," Esther said and Caroline knew where Kol got his habit of calling people "darling." Once they were out of hearing range Esther turned to her son, daughter, and daughter-in-law. "She has a daughter."

"Very grown up for Kol to date someone with a daughter," Sage said.

"But if they were to get married he would be a father to her, is he ready?" Finn pointed out.

"I don't think we need to worry about that." Esther said.

"Why?" Rebekah asked.

"I know love when I see it," Esther told her, "I can tell that Caroline and Kol care a great deal about one another, but they aren't in love. I think his role as "Uncle Kol" will never become anything more. I am sure they will date for a while longer, but ultimately end it."

"Too bad, I like her," Sage said.

"Yes, a whole lot better than that Petrova bi..." Rebekah started to say.

"Rebekah Mikealson!" Esther exclaimed.

"Sorry mother," Rebekah mumbled.

K&C

The rest of the day was uneventful and Elijah must have had a talk with Tatia because she didn't made another rude comment for the rest of the night. Esther asked questions about Ella and Caroline boasted about her artistic talent. It was when Caroline showed Esther a picture that she noticed something strange.

"She's beautiful," Sage said and handed the phone to Esther so she could see Ella too. Esther looked at the picture for a moment too long.

"Mother?" Rebekah said and Esther seemed to snap out of it.

"She is beautiful Caroline," Esther agreed, but she still had a strange expression on her face.

Caroline loved the feeling of family between them. She could see that yes, Finn was a bit of a Mama's boy, and Elijah certainly was moral. Rebekah was stubborn, but Caroline knew that already. That night Caroline found herself staring at the ceiling of Kol's room. Even if she didn't have jet lag she still wouldn't be able to sleep. It was hard to sleep without the sound of Ella's soft breaths. Thankfully Kol didn't snore from his spot on the floor. Caroline had said they could share the bed, but Kol wasn't having any part of that. He didn't want it to get back to Bonnie that they slept in the same bed together. It would have been totally innocent, but Bonnie still probably wouldn't have liked it.

She heard the sound of a car pulling up and she got up and went over to the window. A cab was pulled up to the front door and a man was getting out of it. This must be the famous Nik. It was dark and Caroline couldn't make out what he looked like. It was only a dark figure in the night. For some reason she couldn't stop watching. She watched as he unloaded his luggage and paid the driver. All of a sudden he looked up as if he could sense someone was watching him. He couldn't have known she was there, it was too dark, and she was too high up. Still, he paused before finally making his way into the house.

Caroline suddenly felt very tired and went back to bed. She heard Kol turn over and settle back down again. She punched her pillow a couple times and dreamed about her daughter's dimpled smile. A smile she didn't get from her.

…...

What did you think? You readers set the expectations bar pretty high and I hope I did not disappoint!

I am open to suggestions as well. I have an idea of where I am going with this, but once I get to a point not so much. Anything you would like to see? I value all opinions!

Thank you all for reading and reviewing, faving and alerting! You are all fantastic!

Thanks also to Lux22