I own nothing...

"Holy shit," Katherine's voice said from the other line.

"Yeah," Caroline said into the phone. "How do I even handle this?"

"Well you can start by not telling him," Katherine advised, "Ella is your baby, not his. It is none of his business."

"Kat, she has to tell him," Elena's voice said from the other end of the three way call. "No matter the circumstances he is Ella's father. What about Kol? Do you really want him to keep this from his brother for the rest of his life?"

"Don't think about Kol, this is about you Caroline," Katherine said. "Do what you need to do. If you don't want to tell him you don't have to."

"But he is her father," Elena protested again, "He has a right to know he has a daughter."

"He doesn't have a daughter," Katherine argued, "He has no claim to her."

"But..." Elena started but Caroline cut her off.

"Will you quit it!" Caroline exclaimed, "It feels like I have the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other each telling me what to do, and it is driving me nuts!"

"Sorry," Elena apologized while Katherine snorted.

"It's fine...I...I know what I am going to do," Caroline said and hung up before the Gilbert twins could ask anymore questions.

Caroline knew what she was going to do. She was going to protect her daughter. She had to swallow her pride and try and find out what kind of person Niklaus was. If this darkness he said he possessed was really true. If he deemed fit, Caroline would tell him. If he did not, well, like Katherine said Ella was her daughter.

K&C

Klaus made his way down the hallway when he got grabbed by the jacket and pulled into the nearest room. A second later Tatia's lips descended on his. So this is how it was going to be. Klaus let her kiss him for a moment before breaking apart.

"You do remember you are here to marry my brother," Klaus reminded her.

"I know," Tatia said actually managing to look guilty, "I want to call in off, but I can't."

"You won't Tatia, not can't," Klaus corrected, "If you want to call off the wedding that is your prerogative, but if you do go through with it this thing we have is done."

"What?" Tatia said, "You want to end this?" When Klaus didn't answer she changed the subject, "So what do you think about Kol's girl? Pretty little thing isn't she? Practically has a halo over her head. It is all fake though. The girl is trash."

"Why would you say that?" Klaus asked. He knew Caroline was far from trash. She had more class then a lot of girls he knew. Including the one standing in front of him.

"Sweet Caroline has a kid, right?" Tatia said and Klaus nodded, "Apparently she doesn't know who the father is."

"What?" Klaus asked.

"I asked her who the Dad was and her cheeks became as red as a rose," Tatia explained.

"Why would you ask her that?" Klaus said sternly. Tatia blinked.

"I just wanted to see those perfect feathers get ruffled," Tatia told him, "Good thing too. The girl is a skank."

"No, she isn't," Klaus said softly.

"What did you say?" Tatia asked.

"I said, she is no such thing," Klaus replied and left the room leaving a confused Tatia behind. Klaus knew exactly who the father of Caroline's baby was. It was that ex-boyfriends of hers. Caroline was probably just taken aback by Tatia's bitchy question.

K&C

After her talk with the twins Caroline took a walk out on the grounds. The rehearsal dinner was tonight so no one was really paying attention to her. Kol was helping to plan the bachelor party which was keeping him busy too. Caroline came across a bench under a tree and sat down. She closed her eyes and felt the breeze blow through her hair. It really was beautiful here.

"Hello Caroline," A voice said from behind her.

"Klaus," Caroline said not turning around.

"May I sit?" Klaus asked.

"It is your house," Caroline replied and he took a seat next to her. "Sorry about the...incident earlier. I was just surprised."

"I bet you thought you never would see me again," Klaus said and Caroline nodded.

"Kol told me he had a brother named Nik, never thought it would turn out to be the Klaus I met five years ago." Caroline said.

"Yes, nicknames, annoying little things, hard to tell who is who," Klaus said, "I take it you don't want me to tell Kol about our encounter oh so long ago."

"He knows," Caroline said and Klaus looked at her shocked.

"You told him?" Klaus asked.

"That is why we were in the bathroom for such a long time, I told him everything," Caroline replied. "Kol and I have no secrets."

"How sweet," Klaus said in a mocking tone, and Caroline rolled her eyes.

"He did say he wasn't looking forward to you rubbing it in his face that you slept with me once," Caroline informed him.

"Twice actually," Klaus corrected.

"Right," Caroline said blushing, "I just want you to know I am not that person. I don't jump into bed with strangers."

"I know, love," Klaus said. "You just wanted to have some fun, and we did, didn't we?"

"Yes, but that was a long time ago," Caroline said getting up, "I am here with Kol for his brother's wedding and after that I am going back home to Chicago. I suggest we pretend it never happened."

"If that is your wish," Klaus said.

"It is," Caroline said keeping her chin up, "I will see you later Klaus."

"I'll make sure of it," Klaus said with a grin. Caroline rolled her eyes again, but smiled none the less.

Klaus watched her walk away. Pretty little thing she was. Just as beautiful as he remembered. He had thought about her once or twice over the years truth be told. He liked her, but she deserved boyfriends and not random hook ups which is all he could have given her. Klaus also remembered thinking what a fool that boy was to have broken up with her. Klaus just hoped the ex had done right with his child and not left Caroline to do it alone.

K&C

Esther took to her study and closed the door. She retrieved her phone from the drawer of her desk and looked at the picture she had sent herself. Her children all thought she didn't know how to use a phone when in fact she did. She sent herself the picture of Ella from Caroline's phone. Esther would recognize those dimpled cheeks anywhere. She didn't know how it was possible, but the little girl was her granddaughter. The resemblance wasn't that striking, which is why Kol had probably never noticed it. Esther knew better.

The little girl was an artist. Esther wondered what other traits Ella had inherited from her father. Was she as serious as he was? Was she as impatient? Did she have the same stubborn jaw? Was she as quiet? Niklaus wasn't born quiet. In fact he loved to talk when he was little. It was only when Niklaus was older that he began to sink deeper and deeper into himself.

Pride had been Mikael's weakness, and it was pride that ultimately saved her son. The first time Mikael beat Niklaus she swore it would be the last. Esther had said if he touched her son again she would go to the press and create the biggest scandal the Mikaelson family had ever seen. Mikael didn't want that. He didn't want the fact that Niklaus wasn't his child getting out. They came to an agreement. Mikael wouldn't lay a hand on Niklaus again, if Esther cast the boy out. Ignored him. It hurt so much to, but it was the only way. Esther knew Niklaus still had a scar from Mikael's belt buckle, she didn't want there to be any more scars. When Mikael died Esther tried to make things right, but it was too late. Niklaus had already turned his heart against her. It hurt more then she would ever admit that she loved her son with her whole heart, but he didn't love her.

Ella. Such a pretty name.

If Caroline didn't tell Niklaus, Esther would.

She had turned her back on her son years ago, she wouldn't do it again.

K&C

"This is a bloody joke," Rebekah whispered as they watch Tatia and Elijah stand up at the alter going over what they were going to do for the big day.

"Rebekah," Caroline said in a warning tone.

"What?" Rebekah said innocently, "Kol, do you honestly support this wedding?"

"I am here for the cake and booze," Kol said from the other side of Caroline. "My only job is to walk in a straight line down the isle and stay awake."

"You will make an excellent groomsman," Caroline said and Kol grinned.

"All right, let's bring in the rest of the wedding party," The priest said and Kol got up.

"The maid of honor isn't here," Tatia told him, "I don't know how it is going to work."

"Caroline can fill in," Rebekah said volunteering her friend before they could ask her.

"Wonderful," The priest said and Caroline wanted to slap Rebekah for her suggestion. Caroline was nothing but a team player and she got up to play maid of honor. It wasn't long before she found her arm linked with Klaus' and they walked down the isle.

"Have you been a maid of honor before?" Klaus asked.

"No, but I have been a bridesmaid," Caroline answered and then asked, "Are you jealous?"

"Of what?" Klaus said.

"That your brother is marrying your ex girlfriend," Caroline said and Klaus looked at her, "Kol filled me in."

"I am not the marrying kind, sweetheart," Klaus told her, "Elijah would make a much better husband then I ever would."

"It's good that you agreed to be the best man, I know this must be hard on you wither you want to admit it or not," Caroline said and Klaus turned his head away and wouldn't look at her. He didn't say another word to be the rest of the rehearsal.

He was ashamed, which was an odd feeling for him. That shame soon turned to anger. Why was he letting this girl get under his skin? Because he shagged her years ago and really wants to do it again now? Is it because Caroline is on his brother's arm? Just another girl that passed him over for his brother?

It wasn't any of that. Klaus knew what he was doing with Tatia was wrong, but he had always been a bit of a prick.

K&C

"This is the life," Caroline said taking in the sun after the awkward wedding rehearsal.

"Yes it is," Rebekah agreed.

The two were out by the pool trying to get a little natural tan before the wedding. Thankfully Tatia had gone to the city for her last gown fitting and wasn't there to ruin it.

"Oh I wish I still had a stomach," Sage groaned looking over at the two blonds in their bikinis.

"You will get it back soon enough," Caroline promised.

"Hello ladies," Klaus said coming into the pool area. He had a towel thrown over his shoulder and a shirt and swim trunks. "Aren't any of you going to swim?"

"It is called sun bathing Nik," Rebekah told him.

"I don't understand why women go out to the pool, but never actually swim," Klaus said putting his towel on the deck and began to strip off his shirt. Caroline was glad she was wearing sunglasses because her eyes widened at the sight of him shirtless. He was just as delicious as she remembered. Oh God it had been so long.

"Do you have any idea how much this bathing suit cost?" Rebekah asked her brother, "I am not going to ruin it by getting it wet."

Klaus said something back but Caroline wasn't listening. She just watched as he jumped into the pool and watched the muscles flex in his back and arms as he did laps. She must have been staring because not too long later Rebekah leaned over said whispered,

"You better stop staring at my brother like that if you still want everyone to believe you are Kol's girlfriend." Caroline looked at her hands.

"I wasn't...I mean..." Caroline stammered but Rebekah only put her sunglasses on top of her head and gave Caroline a knowing look. "Oh shut up." They needed a change of subject, "How is Matt?"

"Yes, how is the commoner?" Klaus said getting out of the pool. Oh god. He looked even hotter wet if that was possible.

"First off he is not a commoner," Rebekah growled, "And second he is just fine."

"Only our Rebekah would fall in love with a bartender," Klaus said drying his hair with his towel.

"Leave him alone," Rebekah threatened getting up, "He had much more class then you ever would."

"No need to get dramatic sister," Klaus said unfazed by her words. "It is not like you are marrying the bloke." Rebekah said nothing. "Rebekah?"

"Actually I am," Rebekah said crossing her arms. "I was going to wait until after the wedding but I guess the secret is out now. I am getting married to Matt and if you don't stop calling him a commoner you will not be invited to my wedding!" Rebekah stomped away and Sage got up and waddled on after her.

"That wasn't very nice," Caroline said and Klaus shrugged.

"Well I am an ass," Klaus said with a grin.

"At least you admit it," Caroline said and Klaus sat in the chair next to her. "You take her for granted you know."

"Well taking advantage of their sisters is what big brothers do," Klaus responded. "I heard you have a daughter." Caroline's heart sped up, but she managed to keep her cool.

"Yes, I do," Caroline said, "Ella."

"Pretty name," Klaus said and then asked, "Do you share custody with that ex of yours?"

"Excuse me?" Caroline said confused. Was he talking about Tyler?

"I said do you have some kind of arrangement with the girl's father," Klaus said and Caroline opened her mouth but thankfully Kol came out before she had to say anything.

"We have to get changed for the rehearsal dinner," Kol told them. "The show is about to start." Caroline got up and Kol threw his arm around her.

"Really?" Caroline said and Kol shrugged.

"Have to sell it darling," Kol said.

K&C

The rehearsal dinner went without any incidents. Caroline met Tatia's parents and Caroline found out where Tatia got her pleasant personality from. Not. The rest of the bridal party was no better. Weddings were supposed to be happy occasions, but no one looked very happy. Tatia had that same fake smile, and Rebekah had a permanent glare on her face. Elijah look tired and Klaus, well, his face was blank of any expression. That was probably more suspicious then anything. Kol was on his third glass of champagne and Esther kept on looking at Caroline. At least the food was good.

Sometime later Caroline was on her way to the bathroom, or the "loo" as they call it here when she heard a bang coming from around the corner. She peeked over and saw Klaus and Tatia in a heated embrace. Caroline held back a gasp. She then watched as they pushed each other into the nearest room. Caroline heard another banging sound and a moan. She walked hurriedly away in the the other direction.

Well, Caroline got her wish. Looks like she found out exactly what kind of man Niklaus Mikalson was.

One that she didn't want anywhere near her daughter.

…...

What did you think? I know a lot of you guess about the Tatia and Klaus thing, huh? And, as of now, Klaus thinks Ella is Tyler's kid.

Don't hate Klaus yet. He has issues. Mommy issues, Daddy issues, sibling issues, love issues, you name it. He has a lot of stuff to work through. I will address them all later in the chapters, but he isn't a stand up guy at this point. Klaus does feel bad about what he is doing though.

Klaus is at a low point, and who might be the wonderful people to bring him back up? (wink) But it will take work.

Does anyone perhaps want to make a graphic for this? I have no idea how, but if you are skilled perhaps you could help me out?

Thank you all for reading, reviewing, alerting, everything. Whoa. Just whoa. You are all amazing.

Thanks again to Luv22 for helping me with this story!