AN: Hello readers! As usual, thank you for all your support for this story! I am so glad that you all seem to be enjoying it! I love reading all your reviews and seeing all your thoughts and feelings! They are great motivators! Always feel free to review or PM with questions, concerns or suggestions. I like hearing from you all! And I do try to respond when I can, so don't hesitate! Enjoy this chapter!
Caroline practically drags Enzo and Damon all the way to her apartment, glaring at them the entire time. Stefan is waiting for the trio as they enter the apartment. "Well, you came back with both of them, so things must have gone fine."
Caroline sighs and shakes her head. "Stef, you can sleep in my room tonight. I'm going to crash with Lizzie and these two," Caroline points at Damon and Enzo. "Can sleep on the couches." Caroline storms into the master bedroom and grabs two pillows and a couple of blankets. She throws the pillows and blankets at Damon and Enzo and tries not to laugh as they are pelted with fluffy blankets.
"Ouch." Damon snarks.
"Seriously, you two. Why? Damon, you know better." Caroline reprimands.
"How were we supposed to know he was in a foul mood?" Damon responds.
"From what we heard, it was your fault anyways." Enzo teases.
"I'm serious, guys. Bad mood or not, don't bait the hybrid king of New Orleans. I watched him kill a vampire for accidently killing one of his minions. Just be smart for the remainder of time you are here." Caroline let her shoulders sag, showing her exhaustion at the whole situation. "Please?"
Damon can sense that there is so much more to this situation that he doesn't know. "Yeah, Blondie. We'll behave."
"Anything for you, Gorgeous." Enzo winks and plunks down on one of the couches. Damon settles on the other one and Caroline retires to sleep on the floor of her daughter's room.
"Mommy?" Lizzie's tired voice wakes Caroline up.
"Hey Liz." Caroline blinks to wake herself up.
"Why are you sleeping on my floor?" Confusion is evident in Lizzie's voice.
"Long story. Short version, Uncle Stefan is here and brought two, uh." Caroline pauses. "Friends. He brought two friends."
"Ok. Can I meet them?" Lizzie hops out of bed and quickly dresses herself. Caroline chuckles at her daughter and they walk to the kitchen together. Stefan is in the kitchen making some waffles and when Lizzie sees him, she takes off running towards him. "Uncle Stef!" Lizzie jumps into his arms and Stefan catches her effortlessly.
"Hello, my Lizzie!" Stefan kisses the young girl on the cheek and places her back on her feet. "Waffles?" Lizzie nods enthusiastically.
Damon and Enzo both groan as all the noise Lizzie is making wakes them up. "So, this is the munchkin?" Damon asks as he sits himself down next to Lizzie.
Lizzie looks at him curiously. "You must be one of mom and Uncle Stefan's friends?"
Damon laughs as Enzo sits on the other side of Lizzie. "Friend is one word for it. Yes. I'm Damon." Damon sticks out his hand and Lizzie shakes it.
"I'm Elizabeth, but everyone calls me Lizzie. And you?" Lizzie turns to face Enzo.
"Lorenzo, but everyone calls me Enzo."
"You talk funny, like Klaus." Lizzie comments, as she goes back to eating her waffles.
"So, she really is Klaus' daughter?" Damon asks.
Caroline nods. "Yeah, Klaus and Hayley's. But they hid her away from the supernatural war and I found her and adopted her. They came looking for her and found us." Caroline shrugged and drank down her blood.
"So, the miracle child of a hybrid and a werewolf." Damon looked at Lizzie suspiciously. "What can you do?"
"I like to sing." Lizzie replied.
"No, dear. I think what Damon means is what supernatural abilities do you have?" Enzo clarifies.
"I don't know." Lizzie wrinkles her brows in confusion.
"Try to compel me!" Damon exclaims.
"How do I do that?" Lizzie asks. Stefan and Caroline just stand back and watch.
"Look me in the eyes and focus. Tell me to do something." Damon crouches in front of Lizzie.
"Damon, you will quack like a duck." Lizzie giggles.
"I don't think it worked." Enzo snickers, wishing it had so he could see Damon quack like a duck. "Can you perform magic?"
"Never tried." Lizzie looks to Caroline.
"We are not trying magic in here. Nope."
"What about shifting? Can you become a wolf?" Damon asks.
"Again, we aren't trying." Caroline replies. "It's like having three kids." She grumbles.
"So what are you going to do about Klaus?" Stefan asks, pulling Caroline's attention away from the kids at the table.
"I don't know. I'm so torn. I want Klaus and, oddly, Hayley to be a part of Lizzie's life. They all deserve it. But I don't know if I can stick around. Where would I fit in?" Caroline's train of thought is interrupted by her cell phone ringing. "Speak of the devil." Caroline mutters. "Hello Klaus."
"Caroline, good morning. I was hoping to catch you before you made plans for the day."
"Ok, yeah. No plans yet."
"Perfect. I would like for you and Lizzie to join us for a family dinner tonight." Klaus says smoothly.
"On one condition."
"I'm listening."
Caroline smirks to herself. "Only if Stefan, Damon and Enzo are allowed to come with us. They are all technically part of my family."
"Damon and Enzo are hardly a part of Lizzie's family. They never even met her until last night." Klaus basically whines.
"They are my family, Klaus. It's all or nothing. You choose." Caroline stands her ground, knowing Klaus will give in. If she has to sit through dinner with him, she's going to at least make it uncomfortable for everyone.
"Fine. All of you may come. Be at the house around 5:30, please." Klaus relents. He doesn't want Damon or Enzo to come, but he needs to get back into Caroline's good graces.
"Ok, see you then." Caroline goes to hang up.
"Wait, Caroline." Klaus calls out, urgently.
"Uh, yeah?"
"May I speak with Lizzie? Please?"
Caroline is taken off guard. "Uh, yeah sure. Hang on." Caroline walks over to Lizzie and hands her the phone. "It's Klaus."
A dazzling smile is etched on Lizzie's face. "Hi Klaus!" Lizzie exclaims. Then she holds the phone away from her mouth and looks at her mom. "I'm going to take this in my room." Lizzie skips off to her bedroom, babbling happily to Klaus.
"Stef, what do I do?" Caroline asks, as she leans up against her best friend. Stefan looks at her quizzically. "Lizzie totally adores Klaus. I can tell. But I'm afraid."
"Care, she's his daughter. He wouldn't do anything to hurt her." Stefan tries to reassure Caroline.
"I don't think he will hurt her, at least not intentionally. But he could ruin her. Stefan, she's so sweet and innocent. And Klaus is just not. He could ruin my Lizzie." Caroline looks down at the ground and her voice gets softer. "He's already ruined me, in more than just one way."
Stefan wraps an arm around Caroline's shoulders and gives her a little hug. He can't find the words to make her feel better because this situation is foreign to them all.
Lizzie comes bouncing out of the bedroom, waving Caroline's phone. "I've decided something, mommy."
Caroline takes her phone back and stares at Lizzie, afraid of what Lizzie's decision is. "And what is that?"
"I want to start calling Klaus 'daddy'." Lizzie says, shyly. "Do you think he will mind?"
Caroline and Stefan exchange looks and Caroline bends down to her daughter's height. "I think he will love hearing you call him 'daddy'." Caroline says honestly. "What about Hayley?" Caroline dreads the answer, but she needs to know if she is being replaced in her daughter's life.
"Well, it would be weird to call her 'mom', when I already have a mom." Lizzie gifts her mother a sweet, proud smile. "But I've never had a daddy before. And I guess Klaus really just feels like a daddy to me."
Caroline can't hold back her smile at not being replaced, yet. "Ok. Let's go get ready. We can do some sightseeing before we need to get ready for dinner with your daddy and his family."
Caroline, Lizzie, Stefan, Damon and Enzo spend the day sightseeing around New Orleans. They have a blast and Damon and Enzo really come to enjoy Lizzie. They all filter back to the apartment to freshen up and get ready for dinner with the Mikaelsons. "Ok, we need to be there by 5:30, so I think as long as we are all ready by 5, we should be ok." Caroline looks to the other people in the apartment for their acknowledgements. Damon tips his glass to Caroline, Enzo and Lizzie, who is currently riding on his back, both salute and Stefan just smiles and nods. The group gets ready and are filing out the door of the apartment building when Lizzie shrieks.
"Oh my gosh. Mommy, a limo!" Lizzie is jumping up and down, clapping her little hands.
Caroline sighs and covers her eyes with her hands. "Stef, can you go and make sure that this is not for us?"
Stefan goes to the driver, who is waiting patiently by the back door of the limo. "I hope it's for us!" Lizzie exclaims, not holding back her excitement.
"Sorry, Care." Stefan says as he comes back. "Klaus sent a limo to bring us to dinner." Caroline hangs her head and follows her bouncing daughter into the limo.
"Wow. My daddy sent us a limo to ride in." Lizzie has been obsessed with trying out the word 'daddy'. Lizzie is snuggled up between Stefan and Damon, and is just admiring the limo's interior. "We're going to my daddy's house in a limo. Mom! Take a picture of me. Then send it to Clara's mommy. She will be so jealous!"
Caroline rubs her temples, but complies with her daughter's wishes.
They arrive at the Mikaelson home, soon enough and even Damon and Enzo are impressed by the size of the place. "Come on, follow me." Lizzie marches up to the front door and looks at it for a minute, debating what to do. A cunning smile stretches on her face and she just pulls the massive door open and walks in like she owns the place.
Klaus could hear the limo approaching, so he finishes fixing his suit jacket and begins his trek to the front door. He is standing halfway down the stair case when the door opens and in waltzes his daughter. Klaus can't help but smile as how comfortable she is in his home. He holds in a chuckle at the way Lizzie is dressed. Her wavy hair is in a side pony tail, which looks like she did it herself. She has on black tights, with a blue and green plaid knee length skirt. It's topped with a t-shirt that is green with blue polka dots and Klaus can only imagine that Lizzie picked the outfit out herself. Her independence and personality are definitely two things he adores about his daughter.
Hayley comes around the corner, and welcomes Lizzie. "Hi, Lizzie."
"Hi Hayley." Lizzie timidly approaches Hayley and gives her a hug. Hayley nearly tears up at the sign of affection from her daughter.
Klaus arrives at the bottom of the stair case and Lizzie locks eyes on him. "Daddy!" She runs at Klaus at full speed and jumps into his arms. Caroline, Stefan, Damon and Enzo watch from the door way and wait on baited breath to see Klaus' reaction. Klaus scans the group at the doorway until his eyes meet Caroline's. He takes a beat to appraise her body hugging jeans, three inch heels that only make her legs longer and the bright blue halter top that shows off her shoulders and upper back. When Klaus' eyes reach Caroline's face again, she nods and gives him an encouraging smile.
Klaus focuses back on Lizzie and he wraps her in his arms and kisses her on the cheek. "Well, hello my daughter." He says proudly.
Hayley watches the interaction with disappointment that she is not given the title of 'mom' yet, but Caroline's presence is still strong and Hayley knows she must give Lizzie time.
Klaus carries Lizzie into the dining room, where the other Mikaelsons and their guests are waiting. Stefan links his arm with Caroline's and they follow Klaus in, with Damon and Enzo behind them. The table is massive, as they have a lot of people to fit around it. Elijah sits at one end of the table and Klaus claims the chair at the other end. Klaus deposits Lizzie in the chair to his right and everyone else fills in the rest of the chairs. Hayley scoops up the chair on the other side of Lizzie, and forces Caroline to sit to Klaus' left and across from her daughter. The first ten minutes are awkward, as Rebekah and Stefan switch back and forth between eye sex and avoiding eye contact, Kol and Damon just glare at each other, Marcel's eyes dart between Lizzie and Klaus repeatedly, Cami glares at Caroline for hurting Klaus and Davina studies Lizzie. But Lizzie is blissfully unaware as she just smiles at her daddy adoringly. The food comes out and the awkward silence is filled with people eating and the start of conversations.
"So, Kol. How has life been treating you?" Damon mocks.
"Damon, my least favorite Salvatore. How did you earn an invite into my family home?" Kol responds, but Damon just laughs.
Enzo turns to Rebekah and gives her a flirty smile. "Rebekah." He drawls.
"Save it." Rebekah holds up her hand in front of his face. "I'm not interested." Rebekah turns back to Stefan and smiles sweetly. Stefan returns the gesture, causing Enzo to roll his eyes.
"So Caroline. How much longer do you plan to stay in New Orleans?" Cami asks, not even trying to hold in her hostility for the blonde. Cami realizes that she will never hold a place in Klaus' heart like Caroline does, but it bothers her that Caroline also has the power to hurt Klaus, and uses it.
"Not sure." Caroline trails off, as it is not a discussion she wants to get into with the entire Mikaelson clan.
"Lizzie, have you been enjoying New Orleans?" Hayley asks and most of the table quiets down to hear the young girl's answer.
"I have. There's so much to do here. Plus the city is just fun. It feels more alive than Dallas." Lizzie says as she munches on her dinner. Caroline forces herself to plaster on a fake smile to match the ecstatic smiles adorning the Mikaelsons' faces.
"I was thinking." Davina's voice is quiet, but everyone turns to look at her. "We are still unsure of what supernatural abilities Lizzie possesses. I could do a spell on her to see what she has."
"Really?" Lizzie's eyes are wide with intrigue. "Can she?" Lizzie looks around the table to her mom and dad.
"I think it would actually be a good idea." Klaus agrees.
"Let's do it." Hayley agrees. "What do you need for the spell?"
Davina hesitates answering as she looks to Lizzie who is no longer smiling. Lizzie is staring at Caroline, pleading with her to agree. "I won't do it unless my mom says its ok." Hayley holds her tongue knowing that Lizzie is referring to Caroline. The whole table watches Caroline in silence. Caroline nods under the pressure. "I just need to gather a grimiore and then I would need Lizzie's blood and the blood of her biological parents."
"Then we shall do the spell tomorrow morning. Is that ok with everyone?" Klaus looks to Hayley who nods, happily, Davina who is nodding, and Caroline who looks pained, but gives Klaus curt nod anyways.
As dinner winds down, Hayley pushes her chair out and holds out her hand for Lizzie. "I want to show you something, Lizzie." Lizzie looks to Caroline for approval and happily leaves the table as Hayley mentions something about a heated pool.
"Ok, Stefan. You promised." Rebekah stands up and literally pulls Stefan to his feet. "We're going out dancing." She says with a smirk plastered on her face. Caroline waves her fingers at her friend and smiles at the despair on his face.
"Thanks for dinner, but we are off to enjoy the spoils of your fine city." Enzo bows to Klaus, comically. "Have a good night, gorgeous." He winks at Caroline.
"We promise not to kill anyone, and if we come home tonight, we will be quiet. Bye Blondie!" Damon waves and they vamp off.
Finn bids good night and retires to his room for the night. Davina, Marcel and Cami head out, with Davina promising to be back in the morning. Kol leaves to go cause mischief and mayhem and Elijah regrettably leaves to watch over and/or clean up after Kol.
Klaus looks around the now empty room, save for himself and Caroline. He knows this is his opportunity to make up for everything that happened last night. "Caroline." He calls her attention and Caroline visibly struggles with looking him in the eyes. "I wanted to apologize-"
"Let me stop you right there, Klaus." Caroline interrupts. Klaus stares at Caroline in shock. "We both know that you don't really mean it." Caroline gives Klaus a moment to argue and when he doesn't she continues. "That's who you are. I just forget sometimes. I forget that you are the big bad hybrid with over 1000 years of intimidation and torture under your belt. It's actually easy to forget when you are sweet, romantic and attentive. You have so many sides and when you show me the human side, I forget about the tyrant king of New Orleans." Caroline takes a quick drink of her wine and Klaus just stares at the woman who holds his heart. "But I understand how important this city is to you. This is part of your legacy. I understand that you need to rule this city as the hybrid king, not a love sick puppy. But I have been in second place in my own life for so long, that I need a break. I need to be the most important person to someone, even if that someone is me. You have other priorities, your city, and your people. Your family." Caroline takes another drink and Klaus just cannot believe how easily Caroline can see through him and understand him. "I will stay here for the two weeks I promised Lizzie. But if Lizzie decides she wants to stay here, with you and Hayley and your family." Caroline trails off and tries to hold her tears in. "I can't. I can't stay here and have to pretend to be happy. I deserve to actually be happy. Like I was when it was just me and Lizzie. Without Lizzie, I need to put myself first. Make myself happy. I want to be happy."
AN: Hey readers, I know I ended this chapter at a weird place, but the next one will pick up right where this one left off. I just wanted to get this out to you and not have it be an insanely long chapter followed by a super short chapter. Anyways, the real point of this is a personal author's note, so feel free to skip it! I have recently joined the world of tumblr and I really enjoy getting to see all the wonderful things that the talented members of the Klaroline fandom post. I would love to follow you, my readers and support you as you have been supporting my story. Please review or PM me your tumblr info and I will follow you! You are welcome to follow me at tippybabe093, but I do not post a lot of Klaroline. I do repost things and like them, but my own posts are mainly dedicated to my number one passion, my kids. :)