I own nothing...

"A date?" Klaus said into the phone. He was supposed to leave to go have tea with his mother in an hour when his brother called and informed him that Caroline went on a date with some bloke named Jesse.

"Yep, they had the third one last night," Kol told him. "Looks like it might be getting serious."

"Really?" Klaus said trying to sound not interested, "She never mentioned when I talked to her yesterday."

"You know what third date means, right?" Kol said and Klaus stiffened in spite of himself. "I would tell you, but you don't care."

"Fine, what happens on the third date?" Klaus asked.

"Nothing," Kol said, "Nothing happened. They are going out again, but she didn't sleep with him." Klaus let out a breath of relief that Kol heard. "You might be a prat, but if Ella has a chance to have a normal family I am letting her."

"I...I...can't be that person to Caroline," Klaus insisted. "I tried that once and it all went to hell. I can't do that again. I love and I get hurt, that is the way it goes. Or I will hurt her, and I that is the worse thing I could think of. Caroline and I are friends, I don't want to jeopardize that. Especially because of Ella."

"Fine," Kol said seeing his brother was still as stubborn as ever, "I will do my best to take care of this Jesse problem, but the rest is up to you. And Nik just because our parents were crap together doesn't mean you will have some same relationship. And you won't hurt them. I know what Dad did to you messed you up pretty bad, but you are doing a good job as a father, and I have high expectations when it comes to that little girl."

"I have to go," Klaus said not wanting to talk about it anymore.

"Alright," Kol said, "Looks like I am on my own."

"Kol, what are you going to do?" Klaus asked but his brother had already hung up. Klaus threw the phone on the bed. He had been in the middle of getting ready to go see his mother when he called. This was just great finding out Caroline has a boyfriend right before he is about to have a heart to heart with his mother. Still, he almost felt bad for the guy.

Who knows what Kol is going to do?

E&K

"You told him?" Elena said to her sister shocked, "You never talk about the accident. After you left the hospital you pretended like nothing ever happened. The only time you have ever yelled at Amara was when she brought up the accident,"

"I know, but I felt like I could trust him," Katherine admitted, "Figures the first trustworthy guy I meet is married."

"You like him?" Elena asked shocked.

"What is it about those damn Mikaelson's?" Katherine replied, "Is it the accent? Caroline is totally hot for Klaus even if she won't admit it, and Bonnie is head over heels for Kol. That Matt guy couldn't take his eyes off Rebekah. What is it?"

"Charm I guess," Elena answered.

"Damn accents," Katherine mumbled, "Caroline was right, men with accents are trouble." Katherine started chewing on her nail a habit that she had broken years ago.

"Oh my god," Elena said with wide eyes, "You do like this guy."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Katherine asked.

"You are Katherine Gilbert, you never let guys get to you," Elena said.

"He's married," Katherine reminded her, "No matter what the circumstances...he's married, little sister. I am not going to go there. Maybe I should just go out with Damon again."

"You never went out with Damon, you were "not friends with benefits" remember?" Elena clarified.

"Well maybe I want to do things right this time," Katherine said, "Maybe even get a...boyfriend." Katherine made a pained face at the word "boyfriend." What was Elijah Mikaelson doing to her?

"He's married Kat," Elena said softly.

"I know," Katherine said, "And from what he told me, they are never getting divorced and I respect myself too much to be the other woman. Katherine Gilbert is never anyone's second."

"Good," Elena said.

"He does look sexy in a suit though."

"He does," Elena agreed.

"Maybe even better than Stefan," Katherine said and Elena nudged her.

"Who is better than me?" Stefan asked coming into the room.

"No one," Katherine replied turning to face her brother-in-law, "No man is as good as you, Stefan. Interested in taking on a second wife?"

"Thanks but no thanks, the one Gilbert is more than enough," Stefan said and dodged the pillow Elena threw at him.

"Worth a shot," Katherine said and leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes.

K&C

Klaus stood outside his family home debating wither or not he should turn around and forget the whole thing. They were a cold English family who never talked about anything personal. Why ruin a good thing? Yep, he should leave. He could phone and say he got called away or maybe that he was talking to Ella and got so caught up that he forgot. No, no, Klaus couldn't use Ella to avoid his mother. It was a tempting thought, but he couldn't use his child like that. Finally he knocked on the door. To his surprise his mother answered. He had never seen her answer the door before. Jonas always did that.

"Hello," Esther said and Klaus kissed her on the cheek.

"You wanted to talk?" Klaus said and Esther smiled.

"Always straight to the point," Esther said and led him to the living room. On the coffee table there was a pot of tea and some cake. Esther served herself and stirred her tea. Klaus was about to ask her what she wanted to talk about again when she finally spoke.

"There have been two times in my life I felt like I would die," Esther said, "When Henrick died, and then when Mikael gave you that horrible scar."

"You don't..." Klaus started.

"I do," Esther interrupted, "I do. I have kept things from you for far too long. You need to know the truth."

"Everyone knows that my father isn't my father, what else is there?" Klaus asked.

"No, no, not everyone knows," Esther corrected, "In fact only a few people know, and that is how Mikael wanted it to stay. In his mind your name is all that survives you. He would do anything to keep it from scandal. Pride was always his weakness."

"But he lost his title," Klaus said confused, "Wasn't that shame enough?"

"That was a long time after, this was when you were just a child," Esther said, "So when he hit you I told him if he every laid a finger on you again I would go to the press and tell them that Mikael was not your father. They would have had a field day. Mikael would be humiliated, and you would be safe."

"And labeled as a bastard," Klaus added.

"Yes, but it wasn't your fault," Esther said, "It was mine. It was all mine. So I made a deal with Mikael. I would keep quiet and he wouldn't hurt you. However, he came up with a condition of his own. I would have to ignore you, treat you like you didn't matter to me. And Elijah, god bless him, took over the role I supposed to play. He was more your parent than I ever was." They sat in silence for a moment letting it all sink in. Esther ignored him to save him. What do you even say to that? Can you say anything?

"Who was my father?" Klaus asked softly.

"Just a man, a kind man," Esther replied and then smiled, "An artist. He came to do my portrait, the one that hangs on the wall." Esther nodded to the painting of her on the wall. "I had to sit for hours, it was so boring, but Mikael insisted I have it done. He told me of his adventures and places he had been. He said I was the loveliest woman he had ever painted. How could I resist? Someone who made me feel beautiful rather than someone who looked at me like a breeder, there for the sole purpose of giving him children and carrying on the family name."

"What happened to him?" Klaus asked, "I know he died. Did father kill him?"

"Mikael liked to say he killed him to seem tough, but truth is your real father died in a climbing accident," Esther said.

"He died alone?" Klaus said and Esther nodded. How sad.

"Yes, but he was the lone wolf type," Esther told him.

"What was his name?" Klaus said.

"I never got a last name, he told us to call him Nick," Esther said.

Back in the states Kol was coming up with a plan. Klaus was too chicken shit to try a relationship and Caroline was too afraid of ruining the friendship she and Klaus had now. Caroline was going on date number 4. This was not good. Kol opened the door to go next door to fake a injury of some kind and insist that Caroline take him to the hospital and therefore cancel her date. He stopped when he saw Katherine and Elena coming down the hall. Elena was holding Katherine's hand. The Gilbert twins were identical, but unless they were playing a trick, you could always tell them apart. Not now. In all the years he had known them the twins had never looked more alike. Elena was whispering to Katherine and Katherine was leaning on her slightly. This was odd. Katherine never leaned on anyone. When they got closer Kol closed the door so it was open a crack.

"I don't want to do this," Katherine said.

"Kat, if you want to turn around I won't stop you, but there are things you need to face, and telling Caroline and Bonnie about what happened it a good place to start," Elena said gently.

"Caroline has a date," Katherine said, "This can wait."

"Don't make excuses, you are stronger than that," Elena said, "Petrova fire, remember?"

"I can't believe you are quoting Gran," Katherine said with a laugh. "Okay." Katherine knocked on the door and a second later Caroline answered.

"Hey," Caroline said, "I was just getting ready. Katherine, what is it?"

"Can we talk?" Katherine said.

"Sure, come on in," Caroline said opening the door wider and moving out of the way. "Bonnie is here to get Ella, and we have time before Jesse comes." The twins went inside and Caroline closed the door.

Talk? What were they going to talk about Kol wondered.

K&C

"What is the big mystery?" Caroline asked as the four sat at the dining room table.

"I um...do you remember when I was in the hospital the beginning of junior year?" Katherine started out.

"Yeah," Caroline said, "You were in there for a couple days because of the accident. We brought you cookies and magazines."

"I remember," Katherine said recalling when Caroline and Bonnie came to visit. "But there was more." Katherine took a deep breath. "I was pregnant." Both Caroline and Bonnie's mouths dropped open.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Caroline asked.

"I didn't tell anyone, and when I lost her I figured it was best to pretend it never happened," Katherine replied, "And then Mom and Dad died, and Amara started getting really depressed, so I thought it was best to just move on."

"You can't just move on from something like that," Caroline said imagining her pain. Caroline would have been a wreak if she had lost Ella.

"I did," Katherine said, "Especially since I brought it on myself. All the drugs, drinking, sleeping with random guys. Ignoring you, the best friends in the world. It was all my fault she died."

"No it wasn't," Bonnie protested, "You are not the one who was driving drunk. Vicki was."

"I still shouldn't have been driving," Katherine said, "I had just told the father, and he was yelling at me telling me I should have "taken care of it" and not let it get this far." Katherine took a deep breath. "I was upset. I shouldn't have been driving. I thought about calling one of you, but we weren't talking then. I didn't know if you would come."

"Kat, of course we would have come," Elena said taking her sister's hand.

"I know," Katherine said blinking tears away, "You would have, and that makes it so much worse. You are a lot nicer people than I am. Then Mom and Dad died, and Amara couldn't get out of bed and I...I couldn't stop it. I couldn't' stop any of it."

"The world wasn't on your shoulders," Caroline said, "You were only 17."

"Doesn't matter," Katherine argued. "I am the oldest. It was up to me."

"You were amazing," Elena said, "You convinced Amara to see a therapist, you helped Jeremy get clean."

"And I couldn't have raised Ella without you," Caroline added, "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't taken care of her when I was in school. Katherine Gilbert, you are the best, and you would have been a great Mom."

"You think?" Katherine said letting a tear fall.

"The best," Bonnie agreed while Elena put her head on Katherine's shoulder.

"Aunt Kat?" A small voice said and they turned to see Ella walk over. The Disney movie she had been watching must be over. "Don't be sad Aunt Kat." Ella put her arms up for a hug and Katherine picked her up and put her in her lap. Kat ran her hand though Ella's blond curls and held her close.

Meanwhile in Kol's apartment...

This guy didn't scare easy. Damn. Kol had intercepted Jesse on his way to Caroline's. The tosser was even carrying daisies too and not the cliché roses. Caroline loved daisies.

"So, Jesse, take a seat," Kol said waving his hand towards the couch, "We can talk while you wait." Caroline had texted Jesse and told him she would be late for their date.

"Okay," Jesse said sitting down and Kol sat down in the chair across from him.

"Big day, huh?" Kol said, "Meeting Ella for he for the first time. Caroline must really like you."

"I hope so," Jesse said and Kol leaned back in his chair.

"I am Ella's godfather, did you know that?" Kol asked.

"I didn't," Jesse replied.

"Yes, that girl is very important to me, I value family more than anything else," Kol told him. "I also want the best for Ella, and the best for Caroline. The question is are you the best for them?"

"I don't know," Jesse said.

"Well you better figure it out," Kol said, "You are just dating Caroline, you are going to be a part of Ella's life too. They are a package deal, mate. Are you ready for that?"

"I would like a chance," Jesse said and Kol smirked.

"Fine, I will give you a chance," Kol said, "I just want you to know I am watching you. See, I want Caroline to be with my prat of a brother, and I always get what I want." Kol got up and so did Jesse. "Oh, and if you tell Caroline we had this conversation I will kill you and make it look like an accident, don't think that I won't. Have a good date." Jesse could only nod and Kol opened the door and watched as Jesse knocked on Caroline's door.

Time for phase two. Kol said as he shut his door and pulled out his phone. Time to guilt his brother into paying them a visit. That was going to be no problem though.

Caroline smiled as she listened to Ella talk to Jesse a couple days later. Caroline had told Ella that Jesse was her new friend. She didn't want to called him her boyfriend yet because it still felt too soon. They were on date number 6 and Jesse was having dinner with Ella and Caroline.

There was knock on the door. Caroline sighed. Katherine or Kol probably heard she was cooking and wanted to come eat. She opened the door and she swore her heart stopped.

"Klaus," Caroline whispered.

"Hello, Caroline," Klaus said with a smirk.

"Daddy!" Ella cried out and ran to him. Klaus picked her up and kissed her forehead. He had missed her so much. Then Klaus turned back to Caroline and said,

"Surprise, love."

…...

What do you think?

I know their isn't much of any Klaus/Caroline action in this chapter, and it more the set up for it. I just wanted Katherine and Esther's stories to be told so they can move on. But now Klaus is back!

How about Klaus' Dad? I am always iffie with original characters, but I wanted his Dad to be the adventurous type. Was Esther indifferent attitude to unbelievable?

I am deeply sorry this took so long, but with all the bad interviews and now the Stefan and Enzo thing as love interests...I just haven't been able to bring myself to write Klaroline. Having said that, I am not hating on any ships. If you like Caroline with either Stefan or Enzo I am happy for you. I kind of wish I could get on bored but I just can't...so in a way I envy you. Like I said no ship bashing. None. Love who you love. Doesn't matter to me.

Thank you all for reading and reviewing. You are all the best and I am so grateful for all of you amazing readers!