When I Grow Up

Chapter 4. - Suspicions

The drive to The Grill was quiet between the pair meaning Nik was still a little upset, but with the passing scenery he smiled as he seen several children playing in a garden with their parents. He watched as the father caught his son and threw him in the air catching him as he squealed with laughter and repeated the action again.

"Caroline are all families like that one?" Caroline dodged his question but he was still looking at her for an answer, she didn't know what to say. She knew he had a hard life growing up from what she gathered when Mikael and Esther plagued the town but now he was a human kid and she didn't know what way to explain it to him. "My father doesn't play with me, he plays with Elijah and Finn. He never plays with me" he looked down sadly. "He says I'm evil and that mother should let him kill me" Caroline was unresponsive. What type of parent could do and say those things to a 3-year-old ? He was really still a baby in her eyes so why would Mikael be so cruel to hurt him just because his wife had an affair. It wasn't Nik's fault, his mother chose to do so and yet an innocent child was punished making him cruel and bitter as he grew older.

"It's okay Nik you're safe here with me, I won't let anyone hurt you." he smiled in response "You really are my Angel Caroline" he told her before busying himself with a game on Caroline's phone. The drive was yet again silent but it was a good silence which helped Caroline relax incase she bumped into Damon or Elena. She knows they'd eventually figure it out but she doesn't want to see the toddler getting harmed even if he turned out to be their enemy when he was older. Just as Caroline pulled into The Grill she spotted Bonnie along with Elena and Damon. She groaned not realizing it was loud when a little voice interrupted her thoughts "Caroline are you mad?" he looked slightly confused about why she was in a grumpy mood suddenly.

"Huh. No Nik I'm not mad"

"Okay" he grinned

"Come on little guy" she said as she climbed out of her side and around to Nik's one. She unbuckled his car seat and scooped him into her arms before hitting the button on her keys. Nik held Caroline's phone still preoccupied with a game when she let him down near the door. He handed her the phone and she took him by his little hand and let him inside to find a table. Elena had spotted them and she called her over "Hey Care, over here" she waved her hand towards them. Nik clutched her hand a bit tighter, he was shy when it came to meeting new people and he hadn't taken quite well to Stefan. "Aww is that Nik?" Elena asked Bonnie and Stefan and they nodded smiling. Elena if you knew Bonnie thought as she looked Care in the eye knowing she was thinking the same thing. "Any luck Bon?" Caroline asked her when she reached the table. Everyone else was confused

"No, sorry Care. Still trying to get in contact with them for you" she told her and then turned to the rest of the gang to answer the question they had all been thinking 'what are they talking about' "Caroline hasn't been able to reach Nik's parents, they're in Whales on a business trip and their cells aren't serviced or something." Elena nodded so did Stefan but Damon however knew something was off. He kept it to himself. Caroline took Nik onto her lap until they could get him a seat and Elena was gushing over how cute he was. Stefan tried to give him a high five but he glared back at him.

"Oh he's adorable. He doesn't like you Stefan" Elena giggled so did Bonnie. Damon just smirked.

"He's just a little shy, aren't you Nik" The toddler however turned into Caroline hugging her. Damon was trying to get a good look at him but Nik was making it impossible for him. He usually kep his head down or buried in against Caroline. "So Blondie, never took you for one for kids"

"Shut up Damon, I love kids and they happen to like me" she stated as Nik pipped up "I like you Caroline" in his accent and Elena and Bonnie aww'd at him. Bonnie felt utterly stupid saying that about Klaus Mikaelson but he was the cutest baby ever and his voice was soft so it was impossible not to smile or aww at things he said now. "Caroline I'm hungry" he told her.

"What would you like?" Stefan smiled as his best friend's voice softened as she spoke to the toddler on her lap.

"Uhm" he shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know"

"Well how about we wait for the kids menu and I'll read them out and you can pick something then?" he nodded as she stood with him in her arms to retrieve a seat for him and placing it next to hers. Just as she sat back down with Nik next to her Damon pipped up "Has anyone heard from the pyscho original lately?" Elena shuddered when she heard Damon even mention him. He looked over at Caroline as he asked and she shook her head more than she should have in that situation.

"It's a bit strange, no sight or word from him in about 2 days." Stefan said and Elena nodded. Bonnie and Caroline were silent until Bonnie spoke up for both Caroline and herself "Well just be glad, we don't often get this much peace. He's still hanging around I'd say"

"Yeah hanging around" Damon looked at the toddler. Caroline and Bonnie pretended to take notice of it but they knew Damon would be the first of the group to find out. He didn't know for sure, but he was suspicious. They were going to have to try harder to keep it a secret until they could reach either Rebekah or Elijah. Caroline told Bonnie it would be easier to get in contact with Rebekah. She had her phone number when she was on the cheerleading squad but she never knew how she even got it in the first place. Caroline was in a world of her own when she seen a hand wave in front of her face. "Hello, Care you in there?" Matt grinned

"Sorry Matt, I was miles away, I didn't get much sleep last night with this little guy" she lied because she slept better knowing Nik was there. He was like her teddy bear. "You ready to order Care ? I have everyone elses."

"Yeah uh, give us a hamburger, twisty fries and a strawberry shake" he nodded "So what about you little man?"

"Uhm can I get the chicken things Caroline?" he looked at her and she nodded "and can I have the chips uh I mean fries with a vanilla milkshake?" Matt smiled at him as he looked to up asking Caroline and finished writing the order before heading back to the kitchen to hand it in.

After their meal Nik was rubbing his eyes furiously with tiredness. "That's my cue to get him home, bye guys" she said as she lifted Nik into her arms and took him to the car. Bonnie ran after her with Nik's dessert all wrapped up for tomorrow. "Care"

"Thanks Bon, you're a lifesaver." she said as she took the dessert off her. "Do you think they know?"

"No but Damon is the most suspicious about it, he will probably find out soon" Caroline face fell when she heard her friend say that.

"Look I know it sounds weird but I can't let anything happen to him" she told Bonnie as she nodded towards a sleeping Nik in the back seat. "He is a baby at the moment and I know we can't excuse what he done before this spell happened but Damon will take advantage of the situation seeing 'Klaus Mikaelson' is stuck in his toddler body.

"I know what you mean Care but there's something else. Even before this happened, the way he treated you, you fell for him. Didn't you?" To say Caroline was in shock was an understatement she just stood there with her mouth open unsure of what to say. "Care it's okay"

"No it's not. He killed so many people we care about and made everyone's life a misery. I can't fall for him" she said frantically

"Care it's not that your scared falling for him, you already did that is what's scaring you. Look I know he's not boyfriend material or whatever but he shows you things in a different way and I hate to say this but he makes you happy and I'm okay with that"

"huh?" Caroline's eyes widened

"Have you been listening to anything I said ?" Bonnie teased "Caroline it's okay, We'll figure out a spell to turn him back then we'll deal with everyone else okay?" Bonnie smiled at Caroline's confusion, she felt bad for her and the way she was treated over the years by everyone. It was her turn for some happiness and as her friend, Bonnie was not going to stand in the way of that.