I own nothing but the plot

Nice long chapter for all you awesome readers!

Caroline walked into the living room to see Klaus and Ella staring at each other.

"Ella what have I said about answering the door?" Caroline said and they both broke out of their trance and looked at Caroline.

"Don't answer the door unless an adult is in the room with me," Ella said looking at her feet.

"And was there an adult in the room with you?" Caroline asked.

"No," Ella mumbled.

"What are you going to do the the next time someone knocks on the door?" Caroline said.

"Let you know so you can answer it," Ella said and Caroline smiled.

"Good girl," Caroline said and finally addressed Klaus, "Come on in." Klaus walked into the apartment and Caroline could tell he was nervous, not that he would ever admit it of course.

"Thank you for having me," Klaus said and Ella's eyes went wide.

"He talks funny like Uncle Kol!" Ella said and Caroline laughed.

"I know, this is Uncle Kol's brother actually," Caroline told her, "He is coming with us to the zoo today. Isn't that right?"

"Yes, my name is Klaus," Klaus said to Ella.

"Kloose," Ella said mispronouncing his name.

"Klaus, baby." Caroline corrected.

"Kloose," Ella said again, and then looked upset, "I can't say it."

"It is a hard name, sweetheart," Klaus said leaning down so they were eye-level, "So why don't you call me Nik. That is what my sister calls me." He poked her nose with his finger.

"Nik," Ella repeated. Klaus smiled, "You have dimples like I do! Mommy loves my dimples, she says they are the cutest thing she has ever seen!"

"Really?" Klaus said standing up and looking at Caroline. "You think dimples are cute, love?"

"I think Ella's dimples are cute," Caroline said, "Now let's stop talking about that and go to the zoo!"

"Yeah!" Ella said excited, "I want to see the lions, and the elephants, and the giraffes, and the tigers, and the..." Ella began listing every animal known to man as they headed out the door.

K&C

After the "dimple" incident Caroline was afraid Ella would start to notice more similarities between herself and Klaus, but it seems she is too distracted by the animals now to care. Caroline watched as Ella went on and on about the animals and Klaus was hanging on to her every word. One look at them together and you could see that they were father and daughter. Everyone had always gone on and on about how much Ella looked like Caroline, but they hadn't seen Ella next to Klaus. Sure Ella favored Caroline in the way of looks, but Ella and Klaus had the same expressions and mannerisms. They even tilted their head at the same time at the reptile house. It was almost comical. Klaus was also telling Ella stories about when he had seen a lion and a elephant. Caroline wasn't sure if they were true or not, but Ella seemed to like them.

"I can't see," Ella protested as she jumped up to try and get a better view, but was blocked by the crowd. Klaus put his hand out and Ella took it without hesitation.

"Hold on, okay?" Klaus said and Ella nodded. Klaus took her by the arm and placed her on his shoulders before anyone could blink.

"Whoa!" Ella said, "Mommy look how high I am!"

"I see that," Caroline said and whispered to Klaus, "If you drop her I will hurt you."

"I will not drop her, love," Klaus said rolling his eyes, "I used to do this all the time."

"With Rebekah?" Caroline asked.

"Um...yes...with Rebekah," Klaus said purposely not looking at her. Strange.

Ella once again got their attention so Caroline couldn't ask him more, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Klaus was hiding something, again, but she wasn't going to press the subject right now. The day was going too good to try and dig up anymore drama.

Klaus bought them lunch. Caroline tried to protest again, but like before he just ignored her. Caroline knew he had money, a lot of it, but she didn't want him to feel like he had to pay for everything now. Caroline was perfectly capable of paying her own way, she didn't need his money. That was Caroline for you though. She was used to taking care of everyone around her, but no one really took care of her. She didn't really know how to let anyone. Again she pushed the thought from her mind. She was going to let it go. The day was going great and Caroline wasn't going to let her neurotic mind ruin it.

"What is your grown up job, Nik?" Ella asked Klaus as they ate.

"Baby, don't talk with a mouthful of food," Caroline said, "You'll choke." Ella made a big show of swallowing her food.

"I am an artist, sweetheart," Klaus replied.

"I want to be an artist!" Ella said excited. "Everyone says I am really good!"

"I don't doubt it," Klaus said and then asked, "Why don't you show me some of your drawings when we get back to your apartment? I would love to look at a fellow artist's work. I am sure it is spectacular." Ella blushed.

"Can he Mommy?" Ella said turning to Caroline.

"After your nap," Caroline said and Ella frowned.

"But I'm not tired," Ella insisted.

A half hour later Ella was wiped out. Instead of holding her on his shoulder's Klaus was now carrying a nearly sleeping Ella to the car. He then started to put her into her car seat.

"I can..." Caroline said but Klaus cut her off.

"I got it," Klaus said but Caroline couldn't help but watch to make sure he did it right. He got her in perfectly, and didn't even wake Ella up. Was there nothing this guy couldn't do? Oh yeah, have an affair with his brother's wife. She had almost forgotten about that.

"You did great," Caroline said as they drove home. She saw Klaus let out a tiny of breath of relief, "You didn't even have to buy her a stuffed animal to get her to like you."

"How about I just buy her a pony?" Klaus said with a grin. Caroline shot him a glare.

"Absolutely not," Caroline replied, "And she will try to talk you in to getting her one too. She is very persistent that one. I wonder who she gets it from?" Klaus smiled again.

"Is she really a lot like me?" Klaus asked.

"Well, the more I get to know you the more I see how similar you are," Caroline answered. "Ella is your daughter, that much is obvious."

"I want her to be." Klaus said, "I want her to be my daughter." Caroline's heart sped up.

"Are you sure?" Caroline said looking at him.

"I have never been more sure about anything in my life." Klaus said his gaze so intense Caroline had to look away.

K&C

Klaus carried a sleeping Ella into the apartment. Caroline pointed to Ella's room and he carried her into it and laid her on the bed. Klaus pulled the blanket at the end of the bed over her. He looked at her for a second. Just looked. Looked at the way Ella's chest rose and fell with every little breath. Watched as Ella shifted onto her side and went back to sleep. A curl fell in her face and Klaus moved it out of the way. Klaus had never seen a more beautiful sight in his life. How was it possible to love someone you just met? He felt someone looking at him and Caroline was standing in the doorway. She smiled softly at him and he walked over to her. Caroline turned off the light and closed the door leaving it open a crack.

"She will be out for a while with the day she had," Caroline said, "Do you want to stay for dinner?" Caroline asked. "I don't have the best cooking skills, but Bonnie dropped off a lasagna if you want to have some."

"That sounds great, love, but I am afraid I can't," Klaus said regrettably, "I have some calls to make tonight, a few deals that still need closing."

"Oh, right, of course," Caroline said.

"Tell Ella I will come see her drawings tomorrow, she has my word." Klaus said and Caroline nodded. He gave her arm a quick squeeze and left. Caroline leaned against the door.

Klaus wanted Ella.

He wanted to be her Dad.

Ella finally had a father.

Caroline wiped away a tear that had fallen down her cheek.

Her baby finally had a father.

K&C

"I'm sorry I couldn't stay yesterday," Klaus said to Ella the next day. "But I have something for you to make up for it. Close your eyes." Ella did as she was told and closed her eyes. Klaus put something in it. "Okay, sweetheart, open them." Ella opened her eyes and saw that in her hand was a picture of her with a pony, or a stallion as he liked to call them.

"Wow," Ella said looking at the picture with wide eyes. "It looks just like me! You are really good."

"Thank you, that means a lot coming from another artist such as yourself." Klaus said and Ella laughed. She loved the way he talked. She also loved how he talked to her like a grown up and not a little kid. Ella looked over at her Mom.

"Mommy can you put this on the fridge, please?" Ella asked, "Right in the middle?"

"Sure," Caroline said taking the picture from her and putting it front and center on the fridge. There was a knock on the door. Caroline went over to open it and saw Bonnie and Kol on the other side.

"Hey," Caroline said.

"Hey Care," Bonnie said and walked into the apartment. She looked Klaus over and saw that he was indeed good looking, but there was something about him she didn't quite trust. Kol followed behind her.

"Uncle Kol I met your brother!" Ella said excited upon seeing him.

"I see that," Kol said and walked closer to them.

"He said he likes my drawings and even drew a picture of me!" Ella said almost jumping up and down. Kol grinned. He loved that Ella was so happy. Ella went over to Bonnie and showed her the picture.

"Didn't even have to buy her a stuff animal did you, brother?" Kol said with a smirk. Klaus shot him a glare. While the girls were busy Kol's face turned serious. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes," Klaus said meeting his gaze.

"That is my best friend and that little girl is the best thing in the world, if you hurt either one of them I am going to beat you to death with my baseball bat." Kol warned.

"I remember your baseball bat was your weapon of choice," Klaus said not phased but the threat. "And I have no intention of hurting them."

"What are you talking about?" Caroline said walking over to them.

"My brother threatened to kill me if I hurt you," Klaus said and Caroline laughed.

"With a baseball bat right?" Caroline said and Klaus nodded, "That is a lot quicker death then what my friend Katherine has planned. She mentioned using nothing but a nail file. That might take a while."

"Death by baseball bat or nail file?" Klaus considered, "It is too bad for them for I have no intention to die for a long time."

"Ah, yes, growing up Nik wanted to find a way to make himself immortal," Kol told Caroline, "Went on and on about it. Finally Elijah managed to get through to him and convince Nik it was impossible, but he had that obsession for years."

"Kol, if you don't shut your mouth the next thing that will come out of it will be your teeth," Klaus threatened, but kept a smile on his face for Ella's sake who thankfully wasn't close enough to overhear.

"Let's go," Caroline said before fight broke out between the brothers, "We have an important lunch to go to." Caroline walked over to Ella. "Be good for Kol and Bonnie, okay?" Caroline hugged Ella and kissed the top of her head. She turned to leave and Klaus started to follow her but was stopped by someone taking his hand. He turned around and suddenly Ella had thrown both her small arms around his waist. He stiffened for a moment before hugging her back tightly.

K&C

"Well this is no fun," Damon said he, Stefan, Klaus, and Caroline ate lunch to discuss the more legal issues. "I was expecting more of a fight."

"You should be happy there is no fighting," Stefan said to his brother, "You were the one that started the Ripper nickname, remember? I would hate to have to humiliate you in public if this had gone to court." Damon rolled his eyes.

"You said you wanted to set up a trust for Ella, I take it that is still the case?" Damon said to Klaus who nodded.

"Yes," Klaus said, "I think 1.5 to start off, but I will add to it annually."

"1.5 what?" Caroline said confused.

"1.5 million, Barbie," Damon said and Caroline choked on the bite of salad she had just taken.

"Million?" Caroline said in a shaky voice.

"I will also be sending you child support as well, what do you think a sufficient amount would be?" Klaus asked Caroline, "I was thinking $1000 a month, but if you need more it is no problem."

"You give me $1000 a month in child support?" Caroline said.

"Unless you need more," Klaus said but Caroline had found herself at a loss for words, "The amount should cover Ella's daycare bills as well as any other expenses she might have." Caroline could only nod.

"While Barbie is quiet for once, let's move on," Damon said and Caroline managed to glared at him, "We also need to discuss visitation."

"I was hoping that Ella could come visit me in England this summer," Klaus said to Caroline, "You would come too, of course, but I would like her to see where I live and meet my mother and brothers."

"So it seems we are thinking summers with Daddy?" Damon asked and looked at Caroline. "Does that sound okay with you?"

"Um..." Caroline said and bit her lip. "I was thinking more along the lines of him visiting us in Chicago, you know, whenever you can."

"I would love to, but I do have a life in England," Klaus said gently, "I wish I uproot it and come here frequently, but I am afraid that won't be enough. I don't want to disappoint Ella by having to come and go and never being constant. If she comes and stays with me in the summers it will be something she can depend on. I want to be someone she can depend on." Caroline looked conflicted. Yes, Klaus had some good points, but she couldn't surrender her child for how many months every summer.

"Like I said, custody cases, annoying little things," Damon said and took a drink. Caroline glared at him again.

"You said you travel though," Caroline reminded Klaus. "You travel all over Europe, what would you do with Ella?"

"I would take her with me," Klaus told her.

"What about all the parties you go to?" Caroline asked.

"I have two brothers in England as well as my mother who you have met, if I did need someone to look after her she would be in good hands." Klaus said.

"But..." Caroline said.

"Why don't you talk it over a little more and meet up with us again soon," Stefan said interrupting them before an argument broke out. "There is obviously still some issues to work out. I have all the paperwork in order to formally put Klaus' name on the birth certificate and legally claim him as Ella's father, and Damon will get started on the trust. Sound good?"

"Yes, thank you Stefan," Caroline said.

"You are paying for lunch, right?" Damon said to Klaus who in turn hit him upside the head. Caroline laughed. Leave it to Damon to make light of a serious situation.

K&C

"You understand where I am coming from, right?" Caroline said they made their way back to her apartment. "We haven't even told Ella about you and now you want to take her for the summer? It is too much."

"I know, that is why I wanted you to come with. So you could see I where I live and what my life is like." Klaus said, "After that maybe we can try to come to an agreement about Ella staying with me by herself."

"My career is dead so I can probably get some time off to come with you this summer, but you are right. I do need to see how you live before I can comfortably leave Ella with you." Caroline said and then added, "But as long as Elijah is married to Tatia I don't want Ella to stay with him. I don't want Tatia near my daughter."

"Okay," Klaus agreed, "Ella will never stay with Tatia. I promise."

K&C

"Give this to her teacher when you pick her up," Caroline said handing Klaus a note. It was her first day back at work and Klaus was going to be picking up Ella from daycare. "It just tells the daycare teacher that Ella is coming home with you."

"Okay," Klaus said and put the note in his pocket.

"Here is the key for when you bring her home," Caroline said giving him a key, "Do not abuse the privilege of having a key to my apartment like Kol does. What is it with him and knocking? Was he never taught to?"

"Family trait, Rebekah doesn't knock either," Klaus said taking the key.

"She can have a snack when she gets home. I just bought some blackberries. Ella loves them." Caroline went on. "And while she has you alone Ella will probably bring up the pony thing again, so just shut it down because she can go on for hours..." Caroline said.

"Oh yes, about that pony..." Klaus started to say and Caroline rolled her eyes.

"Klaus," Caroline interrupted, "Ella already likes you, probably loves you, you don't need to get her a pony. You don't need to buy her affection."

"You didn't let me finish, love," Klaus said with a smirk. "I stable horses in England. One of the mares just gave birth. It was another female. I was going to sell it, but Ella can have it if she wants. It would make no difference to me." Caroline looked at him with her mouth open in shock.

"Seriously!" Caroline exclaimed and Klaus only grinned.

K&C

"Hi Nik!" Ella said when she saw him waiting for her after daycare. Ella ran over and hugged him. He hugged her back. Klaus had never been much of a huger growing up, but he was really starting to like it.

"Come, I have to give this to your teacher." Klaus said and they walked over to the daycare teacher. Caroline had told him her name was Miss Peters.

"Hello," Klaus said and handed Ms. Peters the note, "I am going to be picking up Ella today." Ms. Peters looked it over.

"Kol's brother," Miss Peters said and Klaus nodded. Kol must have picked Ella up before. Klaus felt another pang of envy that his brother was had been involved in Ella's life and he hadn't. "Alright. I will see you tomorrow Ella."

"Bye Ms. Peters!" Ella said waving at her teacher and they left, "Where's Mommy?"

"I convinced her to let me pick you up today," Klaus told her. She smiled and took his hand. "I was also hoping that you might draw something for me? My fridge is a little bare and could use some artwork."

"I can draw you a lot of pictures!" Ella said excited.

"Fantastic," Klaus said.

K&C

Caroline showed up an hour later. Klaus and Ella were sitting on the floor drawing and Ella was looking at his work with wide eyes.

"Having fun?" Caroline said and Ella nodded. Her hands were a million different colors and her blue eyes were dancing.

"Nik is teaching me some new tech...tech..." Ella said stumbling over the word.

"Techniques," Klaus finished and Ella nodded.

"That's great," Caroline said happy that they were bonding. "Ella why don't you don't you go wash your hands?"

"Okay Mommy," Ella said and went over to the sink. Caroline turned to Klaus who got up.

"You ready?" Caroline asked.

"Yes," Klaus said even though Caroline could tell he was really nervous. She put her hand on his arm.

"You will be fine," Caroline said. Ella walked back into the living room. "Baby, take a seat, we have something to tell you."

…...

What do you think? I love being evil and ending things with cliffhangers! Still have some issues to work through, but overall everything is going good. Prepare for a Mikaelson evasion! Caroline likes Klaus, but she isn't going to be falling for him very quickly, she will have a girl talk moment soon where she lays her feelings out on the table. It will take time. Caroline will start to trust him with Ella, but can't trust him with her heart yet!

I have a tumblr! Finally! And it isn't embarrassing as it used to be! Seriously it was really lame, but it is less lame now so I am more inclined to let people see it. My user name is...peacefulvillagefairone.

I love making friends so message me, and I will try and give sneak peeks and status on where my stories are.

Thanks to tasha, jozy, Booklover9477, hybridspuppy, Mystery Girl3, ianlov, and all of you for the suggestions. I will try and incorporate as many as I can!

Thanks again for all the reviews! It is amazing! Thank you so much!