Chapter Eleven

Donovan Photography Studio – Later…

Carrie stole glances at Liam as they returned home. He hadn't spoken since after they left his family's mansion and she wanted to ask what was troubling him, but she already knew. He was worried about Sabrina, and rightfully so, considering how close they were. Thinking that he needed his space, she went to the living room to sit down, turning the television on. No sooner did she do this than she saw Liam joining her. "I thought you needed your space?"

"No," he replied. "I'd rather not be alone at the moment."

Carrie nodded. "Okay. Well, what did you want to do?"

The answer to her question came in the form of Liam pulling her close to him and kissing her hotly and urgently. It was clear what he wanted. He wanted her to comfort him.

She returned his kiss and lowered her body until they were lying on the couch side by side before sitting up a little to lift her arms up over her head to remove her shirt. Liam sat up with her, his hands caressing up her arms until they had linked with her fingers.

Carrie smiled as she felt what he was doing, kissing him again. "I love you so much, Liam."

"I love you too, Carrie," he replied. "I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you with me. You know exactly what to do to make me feel better."

"I promised to be there for you and I intend to keep my promise," Carrie said. "We Salvatore family members always keep our promises."

Liam smiled and kissed her, reaching behind her to undo the clasps of her bra, moving down to kiss her breasts before taking one into his mouth, gently suckling on it.

Carrie let her fingers drift into his hair and hold his head in place while the fingers on the other hand move down his chest and tug on the hem of his shirt.

Liam smiled against her breast as he felt her tugging on the hem of his shirt and pulled back a bit, helping her pull it up over his head. Then, he gently pushed her down onto the couch, kissing down her body to her belly button, licking it playfully with his tongue and then gently undoing the button and zipper of her jeans, slowly pulling them and her panties down, kissing her thighs as he went.

Carrie felt what he was doing and moaned as a shiver went up her spine. "Liam, please don't…"

Liam looked up at her. "Don't what, sweetheart?"

"Don't tease me; you know I don't like it when you tease me."

"I know, baby," he said before coming back up to claim her lips.

Carrie moaned against Liam's mouth as she returned his kiss, moving her hands down to the button and zipper of his jeans, pulling them down and throwing them onto the floor, along with his boxers. Liam let out a muffled groan against her mouth and then pulled her jeans and panties down, throwing them onto the floor before driving his throbbing member into her core.

She wrapped her legs around his waist as she pushed him onto the cushions of the couch.

Several Hours Later…

Liam held Carrie close to him under the sheets of their bed. Sometime during their little escapade, they had moved from the couch to their room. Carrie gently kissed his chest, savoring the sweat that lingered there while Liam ran his fingers through her hair. As she continued to kiss his chest, Carrie looked up at him and smile. "Are you feeling better?"

"Much better, thank you," he replied. "It was as though the whole world melted away and there was only the two of us."

"You wanted me to comfort you and that's what I did," Carrie said. "You know, I really hope that everything works out for Sabrina. She's a great lady and she deserves better than what she was dealt."

"You're not the only one, love," Liam said. "But, knowing Grandfather, he'll figure out a way to help her, like he's done with all of his children."

She nodded and smiled and snuggled into him. Liam smiled as he kissed the top of her head. "I love you, Carrie."

Carrie sighed and said, "I love you too, Liam. I'll always love you."

He nodded then reached over to turn off the lamp beside him.

Back over at the Dorm Hall…

Andrea got up off of Dante and removed the reading glasses he had on as well as the book sitting on his chest.

Dante groaned and slowly opened his eyes, looking up at Andrea. "What time is it?"

Andrea looked at the clock on the wall and then back at Dante. "It's close to 7:30." She smiled at him. "You had fallen asleep and we kind of lost track of time."

"It's that late?" Dante said. "We must really have been studying." He gave her a playful glare. "Though, I think you were studying me while I studied the material. I don't think I'm going to be on the test."

She giggled then climbed back on top of him, kissing him passionately as his fingers stroked up and down her denim-covered thigh.

Andrea growled playfully against his lips as she felt what Dante was doing. She loved it when he was like this with her, and she was sure that he liked it when she was like this with him.

He growled back in a low manner then took his hands to the button of her jeans and released it before turning her until she was the one on the bed, pushing the hem of her top up over her head and kissing her stomach briefly before getting up to go and lock the door to her room in the dorm.

Dante smiled at Andrea. "You're so beautiful."

"Mm, mi amore," she replied, remembering the French that her grandma had taught her recently during a trip to France, where she and Andrew lived.

Meanwhile…

Caroline felt her heart hammer as she looked at the test strip. There it was, staring her right in face: two blue plus signs. She was pregnant again. But, why did it have to be now? She and Klaus were planning their big anniversary, as well as the renewal of their vows, Liam was engaged to Carrie, and she was going to be a grandmother. Not to mention the fact that she had already miscarried several times before this and it led to adopting Sebastian.

"Great," she whispered to herself. "I hope I don't miscarry again."

"Mom, where are you?" Ana's voice called out from outside the bedroom door and Caroline turned.

"Sweetheart, I'm in here," Caroline called out from the bathroom. She smiled gently at Ana once she had hidden the test behind her back before her oldest daughter could see it.

Ana raised an eyebrow at her mother. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," her mother replied. "Why would I not be fine?"

"Because you just avoided the real answer to my question," Ana stated firmly.

Caroline sighed. Ana was more like her father than she thought. The blonde brought her hand out from behind her back in slow motion and Ana gasped at the sight of the pregnancy test. "It's true, sweetheart. I just hope that I don't lose this one too," she told Ana.

Ana nodded in reply. "You still have to tell Father. He's going to want to know."

Caroline sighed. "I know, Ana. I just don't want to jinx it."

"Caroline, love, I'm home," they both heard Klaus call from downstairs.

"It's now or never, Mum, go for it!" Ana said as she tugged her mother's hand until she came out of the bathroom and pushed her toward the bedroom door.

Caroline went downstairs and smiled at her husband, going over to him and kissing him. "Hi, Nik, how is the gallery doing?"

Klaus returned her kiss. He noticed her facial expressions. "What's wrong, love? You look like you want to tell me something."

Caroline sighed. "I'm pregnant, Nik. I just found out."

"You are?" he asked, gripping onto the counter with both hands but still keeping his gaze on hers.

"Yes. I am," she said with a grin as she tugged on his arms to pull him to her so she could hug him gently.

Klaus hugged her and then gently placed his on her belly. Without looking at her, he said, "What if you miscarry again? I know how devastated you were the last several times."

"I'm hoping that it won't happen," she replied. "But, if it does, I know that you'll be there for me, just like you've always been." She kissed him softly. "The only thing we can do is hope for the best."

"And that will mean that Mum will be monitored by all of us, okay, Father," Ana said as she joined her parents, smiling at them both as she put a hand on both of their shoulders.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Caroline said as she pulled one arm away from Klaus so she could bring Ana in on the hug.

Klaus smiled as he hugged his wife and oldest daughter. Although it wasn't certain if this pregnancy would stick, he did take comfort in the fact that Caroline would be monitored by not only him, but the whole family. There was another silence until he cleared his throat and stepped back.

"We'll have to tell Liam about it," he said. "He's going to want to know that he's going to be a big brother."

Ana nodded in reply. "I'll tell him. After what happened with Aunt Sabrina, I have a feeling that good news is something he's going to need."

"Okay, sweetheart," Klaus said as he hugged his daughter to him a fierce embrace. She hugged him tighter back then stepped away to smile at him.

Klaus smiled at Ana. "Go on and call Liam, Ana. I'll take care of your mother."

Ana nodded and kissed his cheek, giggling at the feel of his stubble. It always tickled her, even when she was a baby. Then, after hugging her parents one more time, she went to call her brother to tell him the news.

Donovan Photography Studio…

Liam was startled out of a deep sleep by his phone ringing. When he looked at the ID screen and saw Ana's number, his blue eyes widened and, sitting up in bed (slowly so as not to disturb the sleeping Carrie, who had her arms wrapped around his waist), he answered it. "Ana? What's going on?"

His sister giggled on her end of the line. "Did I disturb you, brother?"

"Maybe a little," he replied. "Now, to reiterate my previous question, what's going on?"

"I have good news for you, Liam," Ana said. "Mother found out that she's pregnant again. She just told Father about it a few minutes ago."

Liam bit his lip. He wanted to be excited, but he was hesitant. "What if it doesn't stick this time? I don't think I need to remind you of the several times Mother miscarried."

"Father was worried about that too," Ana said. "But, we're going to be monitoring her."

"I think that sounds like a fine idea, dear sister," Liam said as he smiled down at Carrie, who had woken up to the sound of his voice.

"Who is it?" she mouthed to him, and he replied back, "Ana…" She nodded and snuggled into him again.

Liam smiled. "Well, sister, tell Mother and Father that I'll be glad to help out in any way I can."

"I will," she replied. "And tell Carrie I said hello."

"I'll be sure to do that," Liam said. "I love you, Anastasia Rose."

Ana giggled once again. "I love you too, Liam Niklaus."

They both ended the call at the same time and Liam rolled onto his side to meet the eyes of his beautiful bride to be. "And good morning to you, love," he said with a grin as he cupped her cheek then pulled her closer to kiss her softly.

Carrie smiled against his lips and returned his kiss. "So, what did Ana have to say?"

"Well, our mother is pregnant again."

"Aw, really, she is?" Carrie said. "That's great!" She raised an eyebrow when she saw his smile fade. "What's with the long face?"

"She's miscarried several times before this, and she fell into a deep depression. In fact, it got to the point where she nearly committed suicide," Liam said. "Father managed to talk her out of it, but it was a very dark time for all of us." He sighed. "Anyway, Ana said that although there is concern, Mother is going to be monitored."

"That's good," Carrie said. "I'd hate for you to go through that dark time again."

Liam nodded and stroked her arm softly then picked up her hand to gently kiss the knuckles. "Why don't we go get dressed and see what Andrea and Dante are up to, okay?" he asked and waited for her reply, grinning when she smiled and leaped out of the bed to go to the closet to pick out some clothes.

Liam dressed first and when he was finished, he left the room so that Carrie could have her privacy. He had just reached the living room when he saw the door opening and in walked Dante and Andrea, laughing and kissing. Liam rolled his eyes at this. It wasn't that he disapproved of them being affectionate, which he didn't, but it reminded him of when he accidentally walked in on his Uncle Finn and Aunt Sage while they were making out during their Christmas visit. He was five years old then, but he remembered it vividly.

Then, teasingly, he said, "All right, knock it off, Uncle Finn and Aunt Sage."

Dante stopped kissing Andrea and looked at Liam. "Wait, did you just call us Uncle Finn and Aunt Sage?"

"Yes, because seeing you two making out like teenagers reminded me of them. Or do I need to tell the story of when I walked in on them when I was five years old?"

"I think I kind of remember this. Wasn't it at Christmas or some other holiday?" Dante asked as he watched Andrea go over to Carrie, who had come downstairs finally.

Liam nodded. "It was Christmas, one of the worst Christmases of my young life, to be exact. They didn't even notice me until I screamed bloody murder and ran to Mother, telling them what I had seen."

Carrie smiled at Andrea and then looked over at the guys. "What are they talking about?"

"Oh, Liam saw me and Dante making out and it reminded him of when he walked in on Finn and Sage doing the same thing when he was five years old."

"I remember that," Carrie said. "It was Christmas and I was at a party that was being thrown at Liam's parents' house. I even remember hearing Liam scream bloody murder as I was playing with the new toys I had gotten. I then saw him run to the kitchen and followed after him to see what was wrong. I don't remember much after that, but I do know that Liam and I hugged after he came out of the kitchen."

Andrea giggled as she tried to picture her best friend and Liam hugging as little kids during their family's Christmas parties.

Liam heard Andrea giggling and looked in the girls' direction. "Carrie, what is Andrea giggling about over there?"

Carrie smiled. "She was picturing us hugging after what happened at the Christmas party at your parents' house when you were five. You know, where you saw Finn and Sage making out?"

"And that was funny?"

"Actually, I was giggling at how cute it must've been," Andrea said. "With the two of you, as five-year-olds, hugging each other; I'm surprised none of the other adults took a picture of it."

"Eleanor did," Liam said. "She saw us hugging and thought it would make a good picture, so she took out her camera and snapped the picture. It's in a frame mounted on the mantel, directly underneath the wedding portrait of her and Grandfather."

"That is precious!" Andrea said as she smiled at Dante when he pulled her into him. "I think Aunt Vicki or Nana Kelly did the same, but I can't remember which one. But, they caught Dante and I hugging and took the photo."

Carrie smiled as well as she went over to Liam, who pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently. Liam then looked at Andrea. "Well, whichever one it was, I'm sure you two made quite the pair, like you do now."

Andrea nodded and turned in Dante's arms to kiss him quickly. They both looked over when a flash went off and glared at Liam. "I don't think that was fair. Neither of us had been ready," Dante said with a frown.

Liam smiled at the frowning Dante. "Oh, come on, mate, I was only trying to take a candid photo of you and Andrea. It was just too adorable to resist."

Carrie buried her face in the crook of Liam's neck to muffle a laugh, but Dante heard her anyway. "It's not that funny."

Andrea stroked Dante's face with her hand. "Aw, don't be like that, Dante. It's all in fun."

He still frowned but it eased off of his face as he looked down into Andrea's eyes. "I have an idea. I would like to introduce Aunt Sabrina to a friend of ours. Do you remember that divorced single father that hired us for his sister's wedding? I was thinking they could bond over something," Dante said as he looked to Liam.

"I think that's a fine idea. Why don't you give him a call, and I'll call Aunt Sabrina, okay?" Liam suggested and Dante nodded.

A Few Days Later…

Sabrina Mikaelson didn't particularly like blind dates, and the one her nephews had persuaded her to go on was no exception. She was supposed to meet a Wyatt Griffith, but it seemed that he was running late.

Sabrina was about to give up when she saw Wyatt coming toward her. She had to admit, he was quite handsome. Hell, he was so handsome, he made Greg look like an anorexic teenager. Wyatt smiled at her as he got closer, admiring just how beautiful she was.

"Are you Sabrina Mikaelson?"

Sabrina nodded. "That's me. And you're Wyatt Griffith? The one my nephews told me about?"

"Guilty as charged," Wyatt said. "You'll have to forgive me. I'm kind of rusty when it comes to dating. I was kind of out of it after my wife left me, and I devoted most of my time to either my job or my kids, sometimes both."

"I guess we have that in common then," Sabrina said. "I'm kind of rusty too. My boyfriend left me for another woman, who just so happened to be my best friend." She shook her head. "But, that's in the past. I can't cry over it forever."

Wyatt nodded. "So, what do you do for a living?" he asked.

"I'm a teacher. I might know your children. Um, Samantha and Thomas, right? I might have taught them," she replied with a smile.

"Oh! You're that Sabrina. I knew I recognized you. Samantha calls you her inspiration. She said you were so patient with her when she got frustrated," he said with a smile.

Sabrina smiled. "That's the mark of a good teacher, knowing that you've inspired at least one student to do well."

He nodded again, smiling at her as he picked up her hand. "I think my evening wants to be cut short. How about we go back to my place and I'll fix you a somewhat decent meal?" he asked her while waiting for an answer.

In response, she leaned closer and let her lips move over his in a fleeting kiss but he pulled her close, deepening the kiss. Sabrina moaned as their tongues collided and moved around the table until she was in his lap.

Sabrina looked into Wyatt's eyes as they broke the kiss. She'd say this for him; he was a better kisser than Greg. For the next few minutes, there was a silence between them as they both searched for something to say. Finally, Sabrina decided to speak. "How about we go back to your place before we make a scene in front of these nice people?"

Wyatt nodded. "I think that's a good idea." He waited until she was out of his lap before standing up and extending his hand to her. "Shall we?"

Sabrina smiled and took his hand. "Yes, we shall."

Then, kissing her one more time, Wyatt escorted her out of the restaurant.

Author's Note: I hoped you enjoyed seeing Sabrina getting a new romance. Next, you'll get to see the glimpse of her twin brother, Olivier, and what he's been up to. For now, you'll be kept in the dark about it!