Previously in "Pages in Between", Ruby has reconstructive surgery on her eyes, which is a success. Liam and Carrie go see the church where his parents were married and agree that it will be their place too.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Rome, Italy – After Ruby's Surgery…

"Mommy will be home soon, Cooper, I promise," Ruby said with a smile as she talked to her son via the web-cam on the laptop computer Francesca had brought for her niece.

Cooper nodded. "Okay. I miss you, Mommy."

"I miss you too, big guy," Ruby said with a smile.

Before she ended the call, Ruby said, "When I get home, I'll have a big surprise for you. But, you won't get it unless you are a good boy, okay?"

"I promise I'll be good, Mommy, I really promise!" Cooper said with a grin, holding up two fingers together then pressing them to the screen. Ruby did the same before scrolling her index finger over the laptop's mouse and clicking EXIT on the webcam.

Ruby sighed as she sat back in the chair. She couldn't wait to go home and see her son, mostly because she missed the crap out of him.

In Virginia…

Cooper shut off his computer then turned to his great-grandma. "Thanks, Nana!" he said on his way out of the office.

Eleanor smiled. "You're welcome, sweetheart."

After he went upstairs to his grandpa's old room, Eleanor went to her own room to lie down in the bed she and Mikael had shared for such a long time, curling up with his pillow wrapped in her arms.

Eleanor sighed heavily as she clutched the pillow tighter. "I love you so much, Mikael. I miss you every day and I wish that you were here with me right now."

Cooper came back to check on his great-grandmother, finding her gone from the study, so he went to her bedroom and knocked gently, getting no response. He eased the door open and moved inside, going over to the bed and gently shaking her, backing away after feeling her cold skin. Cooper ran from the room and went back downstairs in a rush, encountering his great-uncle and great-aunt, Elijah and Katherine, just arriving. "Cooper, what's the matter?"

Cooper looked scared. "It's Nana. She won't wake up."

Elijah looked at Katherine and she gave him a nod, gently embracing Cooper as the young boy held onto her while Elijah went to check on his stepmother-in-law, checking for her pulse but finding none. He pulled out his phone and began sending out text messages to each of his siblings, including Sabrina and Olivier.

Tuscany, Italy…

Klaus heard his cell phone vibrate and picked it up. He saw that he had a text message from Elijah, his eyes going wide as he sat up on the couch. Caroline came in and saw him. "Nik, what's wrong? What happened?"

Klaus looked up at her, tears running down his face. "It's Eleanor. She…she died in her sleep."

Caroline immediately came around the couch and sat down next to him, embracing his head as he cried into her shirt. Her hands ran soothing over him as she let him cry.

Caroline felt her own tears fall down her cheeks as she comforted her husband. She loved Eleanor from the moment she met her when she and Klaus were dating. In fact, she became like another mother to her. It was hard to believe that Eleanor was gone and she was already missing her terribly.

Rome, Italy…

Sage was curled up on Finn's chest as they slept before rolling over to pick up his cell phone from the nightstand, shaking him until he finally opened his eyes and she handed the phone over to him. "That was Elijah; Eleanor passed away in her sleep," Finn said after a few minutes of silence.

Sage saw the sorrow in her husband's eyes and held him close to her. "She's with your father now."

Finn nodded, his expression still sad as he rolled over away from her, sitting up and tugging a little of the sheet away to cover himself up. "I just never thought it would be this soon, though," she heard him mutter.

Sage saw him turn away from her and cuddled up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I know it's soon, Finn, but I want you to know that I'm right here for you, like I always have."

Her husband nodded and turned his head a little to kiss her softly. "Do you know how much I love you, Sage?"

Sage smiled. "I do, and I love you just as much."

Meanwhile…

Rebekah glanced at the text message then turned when her only daughter came into the room. "Mum, what is it? What's the matter?" Alexis asked with a concerned tone.

"That was your Uncle Elijah sending me a text message. Alexis, sweetheart, Nana passed away earlier," Rebekah told her, attempting to reach out to comfort her daughter but Alexis scooted away then turned to run, going straight into her father's open arms.

Stefan hugged Alexis to him. "I know, baby, I know. I miss her too."

Meanwhile…

Liam and Carrie returned from the church and noticed that Klaus and Caroline were crying. Curiously, Liam asked, "Mum, what's wrong?"

Caroline looked at her eldest son. "We got a text message from Uncle Elijah. Liam, Nana Ellie died in her sleep."

Liam began backing away, but Carrie tugged on his hand. "No. You deserve to grieve with your parents, Liam. Go ahead, its okay," she told him softly before turning and leaving the room.

Caroline motioned for her son to approach her. "Come here, baby, its okay."

Liam walked over to the couch and his parents made room for him, hugging him after he sat down.

Meanwhile, Carrie found her parents sitting outside with a half-eaten tray of apples, grapes, all kinds of fruits. Damon noticed her sad expression first and Elena untangled herself from her husband after seeing it too so Damon could get up and open his arms out to Carrie, who ran into them immediately.

Damon rubbed his daughter's back soothingly as she began to sob. "She was a great lady, Eleanor. She will be missed."

"Yes, she will," Elena said as she joined in on the hug, giving Carrie a comforting smile as she stroked her daughter's hair.

Carrie sighed. "But, she'll never get to see her great-great-granddaughter, or see Liam and I get married."

Damon pulled back then. "Wait, say that again."

"Say what again?"

"That first part," Damon said. "Are you saying that you're having a baby girl?"

Carrie nodded. "Yes, Daddy, I am. Liam and I talked about naming her Alexandria. Her full name will be Alexandria Eleanor Mikaelson."

"I think that's a beautiful name, sweetheart," Elena said as she hugged her daughter completely.

Carrie smiled through her tears. "And later, when Liam is feeling up to it, I'll tell him what I told you. For right now, I'll just let him grieve with his parents."

In Bangkok…

Sabrina sat up in bed as she red the text message from Elijah and she turned her head when her companion sat up next to her. "What is it, sweetheart?"

"It's a text message from my brother, Elijah. My mother passed away earlier," she replies.

Sabrina's companion saw the sad look on her face and pulled her into his arms, rubbing her back consolingly. "I'm so sorry, love."

Sabrina nodded. "Thank you." She sighed. "It just seems so soon. I mean, we just buried my father not even a month ago, and now, my mother is gone."

"Perhaps she couldn't go on without him."

"Maybe," she said, sighing again. "I want to go back for her funeral. You know, say good-bye to her and see my family."

Wyatt nodded in response, staying quiet as he kissed her shoulder. Sabrina felt Wyatt kissing her shoulder and sighed, a tear rolling down her cheek. Although she was grateful that Wyatt was here with her, she already missed her mother terribly and wished that she didn't have to go so suddenly. Of course, perhaps Wyatt was right about Eleanor not being able to go on without Mikael. After all, the two of them had been soul mates, and their love was eternal.

In Rome…

Francesca checked her voice mail messages then listened to one from her husband, gripping onto the edge of the nurses' station at the hospital where she'd performed her niece's surgery.

Francesca then dialed Ruby's number, hoping to tell her what she heard. After several rings, her niece picked up. "Hello?"

"Ruby, it's Aunt Francesca," she replied. "I just got a message from your Uncle Henrik. I have some terrible news."

Ruby could hear how nervous her aunt was on her end. "What is it?"

"It's Nana Ellie, sweetheart," Francesca said. "She…she passed away earlier. Your Uncle Elijah has been sending text messages to everyone in the family, telling them the news."

Ruby was shocked. She had seen a glimpse of her Nana earlier while she was on the web phone with her son and Eleanor seemed to look fine to her. Ruby blinked. "I don't understand. I thought she was fine?"

"Well, she died shortly after you got off the phone with Cooper," Francesca said. "Believe me, I'm just as shocked."

"Yeah," Ruby said before ending the call when her parents came in, eyes both red.

Finn looked at his eldest daughter. "I suppose your Aunt Francesca already told you?"

Ruby nodded. "She did. She said Uncle Elijah sent Uncle Henrik a text message about Nana Ellie. I just don't understand it. She was just fine when I was talking to Cooper earlier."

"We thought the same thing, sweetie," Sage said. "We just buried your grandfather. Now, not even a month later, this happens."

A Few Days Later – Virginia…

Elijah, Henrik, Kol and Lexi and Olivier all waited at the two gates, side by side, that would bring all their siblings and nieces and nephews and in-laws home from Europe and Asia.

Klaus and Caroline emerged from the gate first, hand in hand, somber looks on their faces. They were both still numb from the news, and from the redness of their eyes, they appeared to have been crying on the plane. Elijah saw them and went to greet them. Klaus let go of Caroline's hand and embraced his brother. Elijah rubbed his back consolingly and said, "I know, Niklaus, Eleanor's loss has been felt greatly by all of us."

Klaus nodded tearfully. "It just isn't fair. We just buried Father not even a month ago and now, Eleanor is gone."

Sage and Finn were the next to emerge with Ruby between them. Everyone turned to the couple and their eldest daughter, shock embedded on their faces as Ruby nodded tearfully as well. "I can see!" she told them all with soft enthusiasm.

Caroline smiled at her niece and went to hug her. "That's wonderful, sweetheart."

She was still hugging her when Liam and Carrie emerged, hand in hand. Ruby turned to them, saying, "I can see, guys!"

"OH MY GOD, RUBY, YOU CAN!" Carrie shrieks as she hugs the redhead, jumping up and down with her.

Liam smiled for the first time in days when he heard his cousin's announcement. "Ruby, love, that's wonderful news!" He looked at Carrie. "In fact, it's just as wonderful as when my bride-to-be told me we're having a baby girl."

"That's so great!" Ruby said, squealing again with Carrie as she jumped up and down with the brunette.

Maria was the next to come out, following behind Rebekah and Stefan. She saw Carrie, Liam, and Ruby celebrating and scowled curiously. "Okay, what did I miss?"

Ruby smiled at her cousin. "Ria, I can see again! Isn't it wonderful?"

Maria saw that Ruby wasn't lying and smiled as well. "Oh, Ruby, that's great!"

"That's not all," said Ruby. "Liam and Carrie's baby is going to be a girl!"

Maria smiled and went over to the couple, hugging them tight.

The next out of the gate was Stefan, Rebekah and Alexis. Alexis' eyes were still puffy and Katherine moved over to hug her, knowing she would need comfort.

Katherine ran her fingers through her niece's hair. "I know, sweetheart. We all miss her."

A Few Days Later…

Every one of the grandchildren, and even Cooper, had had a good relationship with Eleanor, and they all loved her like a second mother.

Finn tried not to cry as he went through the will that Eleanor had drawn up several years ago, making edits along the way. At the time, it seemed trivial for her to have a will, but now, it didn't matter, because she had gotten one should the inevitable come.

Gathering up the will, Finn left his father's office at the mansion he loved and took well care of during the month that his father had been gone.

Sage was waiting for Finn as he walked out of the mansion. It was quiet until she said, "Did you find it?"

Finn nodded. "Yes, right where Father kept it." He sniffed as tears finally poured down his face. "I just...keep hoping that she's on vacation somewhere and she'll be back in a few days. I don't want to think that she's gone."

Her tears matched his as she embraced him tightly to her. His hand still held the papers in one hand while both arms embraced her back. Finn nodded and handed her the papers. "Here."

Before Sage left, he pulled to him and kissed her softly. She kissed him softly back before stepping back. "We don't want to be late, do we?" she whispered.

Finn nodded. "No, we don't." He took her hand. "Come on, let's go."

They got into their SUV then drove to Elijah and Katherine's place, where the family was meeting for the reading of the will. All of the siblings, Sabrina and Olivier included, hadn't wanted to do the reading at their childhood home, agreeing that it held too many memories of watching Mikael and Eleanor grow old together, as well as all the events that had taken place there.

Finn could feel the tension in the air as he and Sage arrived at Elijah and Katherine's house. He had no idea how this was going to go, even though it was part of the process.

When they were walking up to the front door, they heard raised voices from inside and knew a verbal fight had broken out between his siblings.

The verbal fighting increased as Finn and Sage walked inside. He found them in Elijah's study and loudly shouted, "THAT'S ENOUGH, ALL OF YOU!" Everyone immediately shut up at his yelling and they all turned to look at him as he continued, "Do you really act like this in the presence of young children?"

Kol looked guilty. "You're right, Finn, this is a dishonor to Eleanor's memory."

"And Father's as well," Elijah chimed in from where he stood behind Katherine. He hadn't been amongst the ones arguing, but had stood silently behind his wife as they talked amongst themselves.

Liam, who also hadn't been amongst the ones arguing, said, "I agree with Uncle Elijah. Grandfather and Nana Elli would be disgraced if they saw how you lot are behaving."

Klaus looked guilty as he listened to his son. "Indeed. They'd chastise us for our behavior."

Everyone glanced toward the soft whimper that came from the corner of the study and Finn ventured over to see that it was coming from his own grandson. "Cooper, hey, are you alright, son?"

Cooper's lip quivered as he replied, "Everyone was yelling and it scared me."

His mother sighed from her spot beside Liam before she opened her arms to him. He went over to her and settled into her lap as she stroked his auburn hair and comforted him with soft, soothing words. "Mommy loves you, and she knows you don't like it when people fight. So, for your benefit, EVERYONE who was fighting is going to say they're sorry, right?" she asked, looking around at her aunts and uncles and giving them a stern look.

"We're sorry, Cooper," Kol, Lexi, Rebekah, Stefan, Sabrina and Olivier echoed in unison.

Klaus nodded. "Yes, Cooper, we are sorry for scaring you. We knew you don't like fighting, and we did it anyway."

Cooper nodded, his head still nestled in the crook of his mother's neck as she rocked him a little. Finn nodded. "All right, now that everyone is finally acting maturely, let's get down to business, shall we?"

Getting out his glasses, Finn opened the papers, which had been folded in a tri-fold before he began to read aloud: "I, Mikael Victor Mikaelson, hereby decree this to be my final will of testament…"

Everyone in the room listened as Finn read from Mikael's will. They paid special attention to the items that he had left for each member of the family. Liam was especially surprised when he heard that he had inherited the Mikaelson family mansion. Of course, he knew that his grandfather had wanted him to have it, especially now that he was going to be having a family of his own.

After the reading of the will, Finn removed his glasses and looked at everyone around him then paid a special look of attention to his wife sitting next to him on the arm of the chair he sat in. She reached down and clasped his hand in hers to let him know she was there and Finn looked back at his siblings while he said, "I know you all know that we all loved Eleanor as much as our own mother, even when Mum fought tooth and nail to make sure that she was still a part of our lives. So, later, we are going to gather at the mansion and give Father and Eleanor one final celebration, okay?"

Elijah nodded. "That's a splendid idea, Finn."

"I think so too," Klaus said. "Father and Eleanor deserve a send-off and what better way to do that than to give them a celebration?"

Finn nodded again then looked at Sage, who gazed back at him. "I think we'll host two different ones then combine them before we all give the keys over to Liam. Will that work for you all?" he asked his younger siblings.

Klaus nodded. "That works for me." He looked at Caroline. "How about you, love?"

"If it works for him, it works for me."

That being said, she gave her husband a look before walking out of the room. Klaus excused himself and went after her, not sure why she was upset all of a sudden, even though in the back of his mind, he thought she was having a mood swing. He caught up to her in the garden, gently grabbing her arm. "Caroline, talk to me. What's wrong?"

Caroline looked at him, tears streaming down her face. "You're not the only one who lost family members, Nik. Before we left to came here, I got a call from my father. My mom was in a car accident. She…she didn't make it."

Klaus gave her a sympathetic look before pulling her into his arms, running his fingers through her hair. "I'm so sorry, Caroline. I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything," his wife whispered. "Just hold me, okay?"

Author's Note: Time for an update! Yes, this chapter is slightly sad, but I hope the next one will lift your spirits because … IT'S PARTY TIME!