A/N: This is not a new chapter, but I added a scene (sorry it's so short) at the beginning in which Klaus remembers the birth! I will try to get the next chapter up tonight or tomorrow! Enjoy~

Chapter 18

Mystic Falls, VA

-2012-

Klaus was lying in bed, wide awake as he seemed to do every night since Caroline left. But this time felt different. He had just remembered Ayana calling him into the room to be with Caroline when she had the baby, and he knew that it was only a matter of time before he remembered everything. His heart was pounding in anticipation. He knew that a nice cold drink would help calm his nerves, but he was afraid to stand because he felt like he might faint. He was also worried about Caroline. Childbirth was a risky business one thousand years ago. He knew that she was strong, but there was never a guarantee. Rousing him from his panicked thoughts, the memories came flooding in.

"Ah!" he groaned, shooting up in his bead and clutching his forehead. After a minute or two, a tear rolled down his cheek. "Twins?" he whispered, a dimpled grin spreading across his face.

He couldn't believe it. Not only did he and Caroline have one new baby to deal with, but two! While he was excited, he was also apprehensive. He knew that Caroline would be a great mother, but he was unsure about himself. He knew that when he was human he was more caring, more able to be gentle, but that didn't ease his mind.

Without another thought, he hopped out of bed and headed to the studio. He had three beautiful women to draw.

"Stefan?! Where are you? I have to tell you something!" Elena yelled as she entered the boarding house, desperately searching for her boyfriend. "Stef-," she began to shout before running into a hard chest with an "Oof."

"I'm right here, Elena," he said smiling, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "What's up?" He asked, pressing a kiss to her lips, making her grin. He pulled away from her expectantly, crossing his arms.

"Bonnie just texted. Caroline had the babies!" she squealed, throwing her arms around a very confused Stefan.

He pulled away from her again. "Wait, babies? You mean more than one?" He asked incredulously.

"I know! Isn't it great?!" She asked, unable to contain her excitement for her best friend.

Stefan laughed. "Since when are you so excited about Klaus and Caroline being together?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not. Not really. I mean, I've decided that if she's happy, I should try and support her, but the most important thing is that when she comes back, I will be an aunt!" She grinned at Stefan, who was still chuckling.

"Well, as much as I would love to stay here and take advantage of your wonderful mood, I should really go and find Klaus. You know, see how he's doing." He kissed her lips quickly, squeezing her shoulders and walked out.

As much as she disliked Klaus, Elena was glad that Stefan had someone that he could call a friend.

"Yes, Stefan?" Klaus said, picking up his phone.

"Hey, I was just trying to find you so that we could talk. Where are you?" He asked, knowing that his friend needed to talk.

"I am currently sitting in my studio. Come over if you wish," He said, hanging up the phone. Stefan sighed and headed towards the Mikaelson mansion.

When he arrived, he was glad to see that no one else was home. He didn't need any unwanted interruptions. He walked up the stairs and into Klaus's study, and stopped when he saw him.

He was focusing intently on his sketchpad as his hand worked furiously to portray the faces that he couldn't get out of his mind.

"Are you going to come in or just stand there staring like an imbecile?" Klaus asked without looking up. As Stefan took a seat beside him, he finally realized why Klaus was working so hard.

Klaus was drawing three people. The first, Caroline, was holding two beautiful babies in her arms. Even in the drawing, Stefan could see the resemblance that the girls shared with both of their parents.

"What are their names?" asked Stefan, slightly awed by his friend's talent.

"Klara Elizabeth and Carina Rebekah. I remembered late last night. They're all I can think about," He said absently, putting the finishing touches on his drawing.

As Stefan stood to look around the studio, he realized that his friend had not been lying. There were dozens of sketches of the babies, as well as the beginnings of a painting.

"How are you doing? You know, after remembering," He asked hesitantly, hoping that Klaus was not in an I'll-kill-you-and-everyone-you-know kind of mood.

"Honestly? I feel the most alive that I have for weeks," He said, finally looking up at Stefan. "I thought that remembering them would make me more upset, but I'm actually… at ease."

"Good. It was not fun watching you mope around for so long. It's not what Caroline or the girls would have wanted," Stefan said, as he sat down across from Klaus.

"I know. I've just realized that no matter if or when they do come back, I am their father, and I will remember them," He said contentedly, flipping the page of his sketchpad and starting another.

Stefan huffed and stood up. "Not to sound like Caroline, but seriously?! We have all been desperately been trying to get you to realize that since Caroline left! You are so annoying." Stefan plopped back down on the couch, not noticing Klaus's smirk. He had intentionally said it like that to irk Stefan. He was definitely back.

-994-

"Nik, could you grab Carina? Klara will not let me put her down!" She shouted at her husband, exasperated. She could hardly believe that her girls were already a year old.

"Sure, love. Come here, sweetheart!" He said happily, swinging the crawling blonde into his arms and placing a kiss on her cheek, making her giggle. He then walked over to his frustrated wife, kissing her sweetly on the temple, as he tickled the little one in her arms until she giggled. He used his free arm to steal Klara from Caroline and brought both girls to the floor to play with the blocks that their uncles had made for them.

As much as Caroline hated to admit it, she was jealous. It wasn't that she didn't have relationships with her girls, she was a good mother, but Nik seemed to click with them faster than she had. He always knew what to do to keep them happy, and they almost always preferred to be with him than her. This shocked her, since she could not even imagine future Klaus acting this way around children.

Even though she was slightly annoyed, she couldn't help but smile as she watched Nik with the girls. He was so excited to be with them, and vice versa. She had to be careful how often and how thoroughly she thought about this, because she knew that there was a possibility that they would have to leave him, and she couldn't bear to imagine how he would feel after such a huge loss. So for now, she went to the kitchen to prepare some lunch for the three loves of her life, knowing that every single moment that she and Nik had with their girls was precious.

"Where are my precious little girls?" Rebekah cooed as she entered the guest house, looking for her nieces.

"They're sleeping, Bekah," Caroline said quietly, as Rebekah's face fell.

"Why is it that every time I come to see them, they're always asleep?" She whined, plopping down in a chair in the kitchen.

"Maybe because you always come here at exactly the same time, after they've had lunch?" Caroline answered with a smirk. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to go spend some time with my husband. I promise we will bring the girls over tonight when they are awake," Caroline said smiling, opening the door for her sister-in-law.

"Fine. Leave me all alone with my insufferable brothers. I guess I will manage," she said dramatically, as Caroline rolled her eyes.

"Goodbye Rebekah!" She called softly, smirking when she saw Rebekah's glare.

She shut the door quietly and walked towards their bedroom. With the girls being mobile, they rarely had time to themselves, except when the girls were down for their nap. Today she was particularly excited, because her and Nik had not had time for intimacy recently, and she felt so frustrated that she was about to explode.

When she reached the room, she peered around the corner and her shoulders slumped.

"Oh, come on!" She whispered when she noticed that instead of taking the girls to their own room, Nik had fallen asleep with them both on his chest, which was adorable, but oh so annoying. Caroline walked childishly into the room and snuggled into bed, a pout on her face. All of a sudden she felt little arms on her back and rolled over to find Klara's outstretched arms and sleepy face. She smiled at her baby and pulled her close. As she pressed a kiss to Klara's forehead she used her other hand to comb through Carina's golden curls. Pouting: finished.

SHAMELESS PLUG: I have another new video, to Demi Lovato's 'Give Your Heart a Break.' It IS available on mobile devices :) Please check it out and let me know what you think!

Sorry for another long wait! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'm sorry that I am moving so fast in 992. I'm also sorry that there aren't many 2012 Klaus scenes. I am running out of emotions for him, so unless you would like me to have him bringing home sorority girls, I'm going to keep his scenes brief… for now. So how was it? Until next time~