A/N: Thank you guys for your reviews and for just reading this. The answer to what Henrik will be calling them is in this chapter.
Some characters are also leaving but we'll see them again at times because this story will be about the Mikaelsons, though the focus will always be on Klaroline+Henrik. And there is still one Mikaelson who needs to make an appearance. Don't worry he will, but its Kol. He likes to take his time with things, make an entrance.
If there is anything in particular that you'd like to see Klaus and Caroline dealing with or doing with Henrik let me know. I've got tons of ideas for the adventures they'll be having but reviewers always come up with fun scenarios to try and incorporate.
"The way you help heal the world is you start with your own family."-Mother Theresa
Klaus watched Finn trying to wrangle all of his daughters toward the airport shuttle, the twins being their usual energetic selves and ignoring their father's warnings. All it took was one look from Sage as she turned away from speaking to Caroline for a moment for the two to settle down and do as their father was requesting, heading onto the shuttle with Aileen and Teagan.
Finn headed over to him once the girls were secure and Klaus could practically see the distress etched into every step that his eldest brother took. He had barely any of Mikael in him from what Klaus could see, more of Esther in every breath that he managed. "Niklaus," Finn started and Klaus shook his head at that. Both he and Elijah had never really accepted his need to go by Klaus, though while Elijah occasionally managed it, Finn never truly did.
Though Klaus was beginning to suspect that had more to do with how little they saw one another after FInn's departure fifteen years ago than anything else. Had he even chosen to go by Klaus by the time Finn had left? He didn't think so.
"If you need anything with him," Finn continued and the two of them looked over toward Caroline who held Henrik as she talked with Sage. "I know I have said that before…"
Back when Klaus had been eleven and had watched as Finn left them all behind to fend for themselves against their father. Klaus had held a lot of anger with Finn for doing that, moving clear across the country and not keeping in contact like he'd said he would. But a glimpse of Aileen-his fourteen year old niece-born six months after Finn and Sage had left was a reminder of why the two had left as they did. At eleven he hadn't appreciated that and for years he had held onto that loss with bitterness he'd never been able to shake.
But there was Henrik, only three months old, so vulnerable and what wouldn't he do to protect that little boy? Could he really still hold it against Finn for having done what was best for his daughter? Finn was his brother and maybe he had wanted to protect them, had tried his hardest too, but that responsibility had always really belonged to Esther. Was it right to blame her failings on Finn?
"I will call if we have any questions," Klaus promised, because he would much prefer Sage's parenting advice opposed to Elijah's and Katherine's. Even if he did adore Italy there was no discounting how spoiled that child was.
Finn nodded, still far too distant but at least he was relaxing some. "Perhaps next year we could do something for the holidays. As a family. I don't believe we have all been in the same place in a long time." Though they were still missing a piece of the Mikaelson puzzle with Kol still somewhere in the wind.
"I think that if the two of them get their way," Klaus nodded toward Sage and Caroline. "We'll be doing something together far sooner than that."
"Would that be such an awful thing?" Finn asked and Klaus looked back at him with a rueful smile before catching the glimpse of hope in his brother's eyes.
"No, I suppose it wouldn't be," Klaus admitted and Finn nodded again.
"It was good to see you, brother," Finn told him before heading toward the shuttle.
Klaus watched him go for a moment before Sage came over to say her goodbyes as well. "He worried about all of you constantly," she murmured as she hugged him goodbye.
It would have been so simple to lash out at that, to make a remark about running away, but Klaus held it back, let it wash away from him as she headed off to join her family. "Ready to go buy out the store?" Caroline asked as the shuttle finally pulled away, the girls waving goodbye to them.
They waved back and Klaus turned toward his fiance, ready to nod when he spotted Elijah, Italy and Katherine heading toward them. "So, right, we might have some company for the shopping trip," Caroline admitted with an apologetic smile. She handed Henrik over to him. "It'll be fun."
"I wonder about your definition of that word right now, sweetheart," Klaus groused as she kissed his cheek. But she was already heading off to greet Katherine and Klaus sighed as he looked down at Henrik in his arms. "The things I do for that woman."
Henrik smiled up at him and Klaus found that it was too difficult to hold onto any of his annoyance after seeing that.
"But I want it!" Italy whined, refusing to budge from her spot in front of the giant stuffed giraffe.
"Sweetie, there is no way we would be able to fit that into the rental let alone on the plane," Elijah tried to explain but his daughter crossed her arms and started to hold her breath. He wasn't quite sure where she had learned that particular habit from but whoever it was he wished a hundred years of torture on. "Italy, holding your breath is not going to have me change my mind."
The little girl simply closed her eyes at that and pressed her hands to her ears to try and block him out as she kept trying to hold her breath. "What if we have them ship it to us?" Katherine suggested.
Italy dropped her hands and looked over at her mother, taking a deep breath. "Okay," she agreed with a bright smile.
Elijah sighed at that, clearly not approving of the idea. "Katherine," he started, turning his attention toward his wife who shrugged.
"It's not like we can't afford it and neither of us want to deal with her passing out like she did the last time," Katherine pointed out before leading Italy over to pick which color of giraffe she would prefer.
"Nicely done, brother," Klaus commented from the side where he stood with the nearly full shopping cart of baby supplies. Elijah didn't need to see him to know that his brother was smirking, the taunting amusement in his tone said it all for him.
"We'll see if you do any better when that one is her age," Katherine remarked with a scowl before pointing out which giraffe Elijah needed to bring to the register.
Klaus chuckled as Elijah headed off with an excited Italy, Katherine looking back over her shoulder at him with an intense amount of disdain. "You are never going to get like that," Klaus murmured to the baby in his arms. Henrik was sucking happily on his pacifier as he looked around the store. "I promise you."
Caroline headed over with a bag of diapers and deposited them in the cart before looking around for the others. "What happened?"
"Italy wanted a toy. Elijah tried to explain why she couldn't have it. Katherine came up with a way for her to get it," Klaus replied with a smirk. "The usual that happens with those three."
"Oh! We need some toys!" Caroline pulled out her phone to check the list she'd made for toys that were appropriate for Henrik to use. "Not a lot. But a few to get us started. Apparently a playmat that has some things hanging from it for something that's called 'tummy time'. Do you have any idea what that is?"
"I'd wager its him spending time on his stomach," Klaus replied as he handed Henrik to her so that he could start pushing the cart again.
"I am going to need to learn a whole new set of lingo," Caroline mumbled as she took a deep breath before smiling at the baby boy. Henrik grinned around his pacifier, nearly dropping it from his mouth before she started walking. Every so often his hand would tighten in her coat because of some loud noise or because a parent or child was yelling for the other. But he didn't cry, he didn't press into her when she grinned at him in reassurance that he was okay, seeming to truly start to accept that.
"You'll do fine," Klaus assured her as they headed to the toy aisle and looked over the various playmats that were on display. "I'm sure you'll find a few books on parenting for that kindle app of yours soon enough."
"It's just figuring out which one I want to actually read since they're different styles of parenting," Caroline informed him as they picked out a mat that had a variety of zoo animals hanging from it.
"We'll figure it out, love," Klaus promised. It would take time for them to really come into their own with it but he had complete faith that they would find their way. "Is there anything else?"
"Diapers, wipes, more clothes, a few more bottles, formula, bibs, towels, one of those bathtub things, bath stuff, travel crib, pacifiers, carrier, stroller, monitor, and we've got a playmat. So nope. I think we're good," Caroline murmured as she went through her list. "We'll get the actual furniture when we're in the city and can really look around for what we want. Plus you still need to paint the room for him before we put the stuff in there. So he'll use the travel crib in our room until we get that done."
"And when we go to Virginia to see your mother," Klaus pointed out and Caroline nodded.
"I need to call her once we get on the road." That was going to be an interesting conversation. At least her mother and Klaus got along far better than when Caroline had first started dating him.
"It will be fine," Klaus told her again and she arched a brow at him. "Yes, I am going to keep saying that to you until you get it into your head."
"He thinks he's so funny, doesn't he?" Caroline murmured as she looked down at Henrik who was curiously watching the two of them.
"I don't think, love, I know I am," Klaus amended for her with a grin as she rolled her eyes at him.
The baby let out a yawn before resting his head against Caroline's chest. "And I think that's the signal that we're done shopping for the day," Caroline advised and they headed toward the front, finding Elijah and his family there waiting for them.
"Why does the baby get so much stuff and I only get a giraffe?" Italy asked with a frown.
"Because he doesn't have anything," Caroline informed her as Klaus steered the cart toward a cashier.
"Nothing?" Italy asked, her eyes widening incredulously.
Caroline shook her head. "Nope, nothing. So we had to buy him a bed and food he can eat since he can't eat big kid food like you do, plus clothes because he needs to be warm in this cold weather."
Italy stared at Henrik for a long moment before looking back at her parents. "Can we give Auntie Caroline and Uncle Klaus the giraffe so that Henrik will have a toy too?" the little girl asked, worry evident in her voice.
Elijah and Katherine looked at one another, clearly startled by her request before nodding vigorously. "I think that would be a wonderful idea," Elijah replied.
"That is so sweet of you, darling," Katherine pulled her daughter into a hug. "We'll just go tell them we want to change the address to where we want it sent."
"Okay!" Italy grinned before squirming out of her mother's arms to stand by Caroline again. "Do you think he'll like it?"
"I think he's going to love that you thought of him," Caroline assured Italy, watching as the girl's smile brightened before heading off to help her mother at customer service. Maybe they would do a zoo theme for the nursery.
Elijah shook his head as he watched his daughter head off before coming over to Caroline and Henrik. "It seems he's already having a hand in miracles in this family," he murmured before brushing his fingers along the baby's cheek before moving on toward Katherine and Italy.
Caroline pressed a kiss to Henrik's head and walked over to where Klaus was paying for their purchase. "So Italy just gave Henrik her giraffe that she apparently couldn't live without five minutes ago," she told him, grinning as Klaus arched a brow at that, surprised by the outcome. "I think a zoo theme for the nursery would work really well with it." And really, who didn't like lions and monkeys and elephants? It would be adorable.
"You're already plotting out what I'll be painting on the walls," Klaus mused as he collected the last bag into the cart and headed toward the exit. "Cute little zoo animals aren't exactly my forte, Caroline."
She shrugged. "It'll be fine," she told him with a grin, echoing his words from before as he laughed while they waited for Elijah's family to join them so they could say their goodbyes.
Saying goodbye to Elijah, Katherine and Italy didn't take long. They had plans to see the three in London at the end of January anyway so there was no sense in lingering. Once all of the bags were stowed away in the trunk and Henrik was safely fastened into his car seat in the backseat Klaus and Caroline were ready to start the hour or so trek back into the city.
Rebekah had Caroline's car to use for the next day or so while she visited a few friends in the area. Caroline had been hesitant to hand the keys over but Klaus' explorer was a much better option for them to take back to the city with the amount of space it had in the back. Usually it would be full of canvases and other art supplies but now it was nearly overflowing with things for the baby.
Caroline just tried to remind herself that if Rebekah managed to damage her car that Elijah would be able to get it fixed with the girl's trust fund inheritance. Something that Klaus had made a point to ensure Rebekah knew before she had left that morning. Caroline didn't think there would be an issue. Rebekah wasn't the one in the family known for wrecking cars. That went to Kol.
Wherever he was. She couldn't believe they still hadn't managed to get hold of him yet. Though that was typical behavior. When he decided to fall of the grid for a while he could be impossible to reach for a month or more. Considering the holidays were coming up, something that Kol usually tried to avoid, it wasn't too surprising that he'd disappeared.
"Do you want to call your mother now? Or when we're back in the city?" Klaus asked as he steered the car onto the highway.
Caroline glanced back at Henrik who was sleeping away and weighed her options. "It's probably best to just get it done with now," she reasoned. "I think her biggest thing is going to be to make sure I'll still be completing school."
"Of course you're going to complete school," Klaus replied, confused as to why that would be an issue. "You only have nine more credits to do for this last semester." The years of overloaded credits during fall and spring semester plus a class or two during the summer had helped make her senior year a breeze. He couldn't help but be proud of her for that.
"Though I'm doing that extra class to ensure I'm a fulltime student." Pesky 'at least twelve credits' rule.
"Didn't you work it so you're only attending classes Tuesday and Thursday?" He was pretty sure that was what she had done. And nothing too early and she'd be back in the early afternoon on both days.
"Yep!" Caroline had to admit she was quite fond of this upcoming semester's schedule. It definitely beat out her freshman year when she'd had seven am classes pretty much every day and a night class or two. Without coffee she wasn't sure she'd have survived those few months.
"So your mother has nothing to worry about," Klaus pointed out. "We'll figure out how we'll make sure he's always supervised and it won't impede with your education." He wouldn't work on his art on those days, making sure that he was spending time with Henrik, that the baby was loved and safe while she was at school and doing her classwork or studying. And when he needed to be in his studio to work on paintings or to head out to meetings for the gallery Klaus knew that Caroline would ensure Henrik was happy and loved.
It wouldn't be as simple as that, nothing ever was, but Klaus didn't see the point in stressing about it. Plus he had a feeling Caroline would have a schedule formed for the two of them before they even reached Manhattan.
Or at least a list.
She was very fond of making both of those things.
"What if she asks what we're having him call us?" Caroline murmured, because she could see her mother doing that too. It was something they needed to hash out. "Do we want to go with Caroline and Klaus, that you're his brother? Which you are, but..."
It kind of rubbed her wrong though.
They were going to be Henrik's parents and most kids wanted normal. Most kids didn't go around calling their parents by their first names even if they did learn them for safety reasons. But it meant something to have a mom and a dad or even two moms and two dads. Or even just one parent. But none? None was hard and hadn't the first three months of his life been difficult enough?
"I've been contemplating it as well," Klaus sighed. He remembered those first few weeks after he'd been kicked out, when he'd suddenly not had a father anymore. Back when he'd turned to calling the man Mikael and even calling his mother Esther at times. He also remembered how elated he'd been (among other emotions) to find Ansel and for that man to accept him as his son. They would need to explain it all to Henrik as best they could when he was older but for all intents and purposes they were his parents now. "I think mom and dad would be best."
"Well, mommy and daddy," Caroline pointed out. "Because mom and dad is for when he is older. Mommy and daddy is for now." She looked back at the sleeping baby and smiled. "Are you sure though?"
Klaus glanced over at her and nodded. "Very sure. Are you?" Because he didn't want her to be uncomfortable with any of this.
"Oh I had an entire list of why we should be mommy and daddy ready to go and give to you if you didn't think we should do that," Caroline admitted with a laugh.
Klaus shook his head and chuckled. That did sound like his Caroline. "Now that we've got that settled…"
"Alright, alright, I'm calling her," Caroline replied as she fished her phone out of her purse to scroll through her contacts for her mom's number. Liz would most likely be at the station still. Though really, if she wasn't even scheduled to be there nine times out of ten Liz Forbes could be found there. Caroline knew that her mother would say it was because a small town sheriff's job never ended but she knew it was because her mother simply didn't know when to stop working. Liz lived and breathed the police force ever since divorcing Caroline's father.
"Is everything alright, Caroline?" Liz answered causing Caroline's lips to quirk in amusement at that greeting.
No matter how many times Caroline called to just talk to her mom anymore, to simply catch up, the woman still answered with that phrase. It was an old habit, probably because there had been a few hectic years when the only time Caroline would call or text her mother was because she did need something. Those middle school years when they adjusted to the single family household had been hard.
"Everything is good, mom. Do you have a minute to talk?" Caroline asked, knowing her mother could need to be in a meeting or something else at the moment.
"I'm eating a late lunch from the Grill so you've got me for at least twenty minutes," Liz informed her. "Did you give Klaus my condolences?"
"I did," Caroline assured her, even though they both knew there was little love lost between Klaus and his parents. "Thanks for that. But well, I kind of have big news for you."
"Tell me you're not pregnant," Liz replied, her voice tense.
Caroline bit her lip at that, glancing over at Klaus and then back at Henrik asleep in the backseat. "No, I'm not pregnant." She really couldn't look at Klaus right then with his quirked brow and amused expression.
Liz' sigh of relief was so not promising for what Caroline needed to tell her. "Oh thank god. You're already going to be stressed enough as it is with the wedding coming up and finishing off college this next semester. I still don't understand why you two didn't put the wedding for after you graduate. It's only a few weeks later."
"We wanted the anniversary of our first official date for the wedding," Caroline reminded. In Central Park like they had done for their official first date. "But anyway, you remember how Esther and Mikael had another baby? Like just a few months ago?"
"Henry or something like that, yes," her mother confirmed.
"Well, apparently they never got around to doing the will and Finn and Sage couldn't take Henrik because their house is like a kid war zone and he doesn't react well to loud noises. And then Elijah and Katherine wouldn't do it either. And Klaus and I have been watching him since we picked him up from the hospital when we got up here and…" Caroline took a deep breath. He'd stolen their hearts in a matter of seconds. "Klaus is his guardian now. I'll be officially his too once we're married."
There was silence on the other end of the call for a few moments. "What about school?"
Caroline rolled her eyes and looked over at Klaus, mouthing 'told you'. "It doesn't change anything with school."
"Caroline, juggling a baby, school and planning a wedding are all huge tasks by themselves, add them all together and you can overwhelm yourself," Liz pointed out, her worry evident.
"Klaus and I will work through all three of those as a team," Caroline tried to reassure her. "We'll figure out how to make sure that we're successful in all of them plus his art gallery."
"There's so much that goes along with raising a child. More sleepless nights than you're expecting. He'll depend on you two for everything," Liz continued. "You didn't have children in your 10 year plan for at least four more years."
"Plans change, mom." Which was a huge thing for Caroline to say. She was a stickler for them, tried to keep to them as best she could, but as Klaus had shown her before, certain things could help her alter the course she'd set out on.
Liz sighed, not speaking again for a moment. "I know how impossible it is to try and talk you out of something once you've got your mind set on it."
"I wonder where I got that stubbornness from?" Caroline teased, pleased that she heard her mother chuckle.
"I'm just worried," Liz murmured.
"I know. And it's okay to be worried," Caroline replied with a shrug as she turned her gaze toward the houses they were driving by. "But I wanted you to know. It's kind of a big deal."
"I'd say so," her mother affirmed. "Will you still be coming down here for Christmas?"
Caroline glanced over at Klaus at that and placed her hand over her phone for a second. "Christmas?"
"Of course," Klaus assured her. It was tradition for Caroline to spend it in Mystic Falls with her mother, a tradition that Klaus had been part of since they started dating, and now Henrik would be added to that as well.
"Yeah, we're still planning on coming down. Is that okay? We're obviously going to be bringing Henrik with us." Caroline looked back at the sleeping baby again with a smile. "We have a travel crib for him to use so you don't need to worry about that."
"Of course its okay. I was only wondering if you wanted me to come up instead?" Liz asked but Caroline wrinkled her nose at that.
"Oh no. We love going to you." The holidays in New York city were nice for a while, the city alive with festive cheer, but getting away for a week or so to relax in her small town was a breath of fresh air. It was a nice reminder of family and that was something Klaus and her both needed. The thought of that also reminded her of Rebekah. She had no idea what the girl's plans were for the holiday. "We may be bringing one more with us."
"Just email me a list of who's coming before you get here," Liz told her and Caroline could hear someone calling her mother's name. "Care, I have to go. Call me if you need anything. It's been awhile since I had a baby in this house but some things you don't forget."
"Thanks, mom. I will. I love you."
"I love you too," her mother replied before hanging up.
Caroline put her cell back in her purse and sighed happily. "That went so much better than I thought it might."
"She worries about you," Klaus replied. Like good mothers did. Like his mother never seemed to do. Or maybe she had in her own way worried about her children. It just hadn't been enough. He knew the statistics for a woman leaving her abuser, how that was when they were more vulnerable to be killed, but that knowledge didn't quiet the voice that wailed inside of him against her for not doing so. For letting the abuse carry on for years. It didn't help the boy in him who had ached for his mother, watching her turn her back on him time and again. It was a constant battle in his head, moving between blaming her and not doing so.
Caroline reached over and gently squeezed his thigh. "I know."
Klaus grasped her hand for a moment, needing that physical connection as he continued to drive. He brought Caroline's hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles before finally letting go. "Alright, let's start figuring out precisely which animals you are going to paint all cutely for this nursery," she started to break up the silence that had fallen between them. "Definitely an elephant…"
An hour later and Klaus was driving by their brownstone, trying to scope out a parking spot near it. Instead he spotted Enzo sitting on the stairs, big bright smile on his face and Klaus furrowed his brow at that. "I may have texted him to come help with the whole unloading thing," Caroline admitted with a sheepish grin. "Because you and I both know you're going to drop me and Henrik off at the door, put the flashers on to get everything out of here and then drive this monstrosity over to the garage before making your way back here."
Because there was never parking on the street. Which was why they Klaus' car was kept in the garage a block or so away. It was only ever pulled out to pick up supplies, or move canvases to his gallery, and whenever they needed to drive out of Manhattan. Otherwise public transportation and taxis were the way to go.
"Did it have to be Enzo?" Klaus could practically feel the start of a headache forming.
Caroline arched a brow at him as he pulled in front of their place, pushing the hazard lights button. "Would you rather it have been Elena and Bonnie?"
Oh god no. The two of them wouldn't have even bothered to help. They would have gushed all over Henrik and left him to do all of the heavy carrying. But while he and Enzo had finally struck up a reluctant friendship because of Caroline didn't mean that Klaus enjoyed spending time with the man unless it was absolutely necessary.
Henrik woke and started fussing in his car seat, little hands balling into fists as he started to cry. "I'll get him," Caroline murmured as she got out of the car and Klaus did the same, popping open the back so he could start grabbing bags.
Caroline unbuckled and then lifted Henrik from the seat before covering him with the blanket she had in the back to keep him a bit warmer as she headed toward the door. "I don't know if I'm ready to see you playing the part of mother, gorgeous," Enzo greeted with a kiss to her cheek before she motioned for him to help Klaus as she turned back toward the door.
"She's not playing a part," Klaus bit out as he shoved a few bags into Enzo's hands. This wasn't a game. This was their life. And he really hated that nickname Enzo had for her, especially because he knew that Enzo sometimes threw it out there to annoy him.
"I didn't mean it like that," Enzo assured, though he was still entirely too amused for Klaus' patience. "Just didn't think I'd see her with a baby in her arms for a few more years. Though considering how the two of you go at it like rabbits I'm also surprised it hasn't happened yet."
"Stop teasing Klaus and help with the bags, Enzo!" Caroline called out before disappearing into the house.
Klaus smirked at that, feeling a bit vindicated. "Heart of gold, that one," Enzo laughed, shaking his head slightly as they brought in the first set of bags before heading out again.
There was no denying how big Caroline's heart was, it was one of the things that Klaus loved the most about her. While she could snap to judgement fairly quickly, her compassion was overwhelming at times. "Sorry about your parents, mate," Enzo added as the two of them worked to carry the boxes that held the playmat and crib out of the car and toward the stairs.
"It's over and done with," Klaus replied, not really wanting to discuss it with him.
They entered into the entryway, finding Caroline a few feet further in and talking quietly to Henrik as she fed him his bottle. Klaus had seen the exact same scenario a few times before, but no matter how many times he might see the two of them together, he couldn't quite stop the way the image took his breath away. Nor could he stop the almost dopey smile from forming on his face as he watched them.
"Definitely not ready for this," Enzo sighed and placed the boxes before heading back out to get the others.
Maybe they weren't either, really. Neither he nor Caroline truly knew the first thing about raising a child, but Klaus couldn't help but watch her with Henrik and think that the scene was just right, that all of the sleepless nights and diapers would be more than worth it.
"Should we invite him to stay for dinner as a thank you?" Caroline asked as she looked over at Klaus, unsurprised to see him frown at that.
It was their first night with Henrik in their place and he really didn't want Enzo there as well. But the man had been useful. "Not to worry, Klaus," Enzo told them as he placed the last of the bags down on the couch. "I have a date tonight, gorgeous. Can't be staying. We'll do lunch later this week."
"Pity that," Klaus replied with a grin, ignoring the look Caroline gave him. "Thank you for your assistance. I need to take the car back. I'll return shortly." Caroline nodded toward Enzo. "And I suppose I could drop Enzo off at his place as well." It was on the way to the garage at least.
"Thanks, Klaus," Enzo winked at Caroline, still entirely too amused for Klaus' liking.
"I'll pick up dinner for us on my way back," Klaus told her as he ushered Enzo out after Enzo had kissed Caroline's cheek again. "What would you like?"
"Your pick this time," Caroline beamed at him before gently kissing him. "We'll be here waiting."
Klaus brushed a few stray curls off her shoulder before smiling down at Henrik and then heading after Enzo. "Daddy will be back soon," he heard Caroline assure the baby and Klaus couldn't seem to stop grinning no matter how hard he tried.