AN: Thank you for reading. And to answer your question, they're all the same age, except for Damon who's a year older. In the last chapter they're 12. I know boys go through puberty after girls, but whatever, they're all gonna be awkward together. See you at the bottom.
Caroline sat in the treehouse looking out into the street. Damon and Stefan were talking to Elena. Stefan grew a foot or more and his voice changed. His hair was growing longer and he was playing with it more. Caroline heard someone climbing up to the treehouse. She turned and saw Klaus who was smiling at her.
"Hey" Klaus said
"Hey" Caroline said
Klaus moved to sit next to her.
"I got great news" Klaus said
"What?"
"Kat submitted some of my pictures to this art school in New York. They sent a letter today saying they wanted me to go there in the fall"
"You're leaving?!"
"I got into this great art school. I looked at the pictures of the school and it's great. They have so many art classes!"
"But, but you promised me"
Klaus's excitement was gone. He thought Caroline would be happy for him. He could see the tears form in her eyes.
"I thought you'd be happy for me" Klaus said
"You said you wouldn't leave!"
And just like that all his dreams of going to New York were gone. All his excitement of going to a fancy art school were gone. All he could see was the girl he knew as a child, crying in front of him. A girl he was hopelessly in love with, except he just didn't know it yet.
"I won't, I won't leave you" Klaus said
Caroline flew into his arms and cried on his shoulder. Klaus held her close and stroked her hair.
"I won't leave" Klaus said
Katherine was making dinner when Klaus walked in. He wasn't as excited and happy when he left earlier. She could tell something was wrong.
"What's wrong squirt?" Katherine asked
"I don't want to go to New York"
"Why not? You were so excited when you found out. What happened?"
"Nothing, I don't want to go"
Katherine placed the dish into the oven and walked closer to Klaus.
"What did Caroline say?"
Klaus looked up and wondered how she always knew.
"She changed your mind didn't she?"
"I promised her"
Katherine sighed.
"Look kid-"
"I'm not a kid"
"Whatever, you're not 18 so you're still a kid. Don't go changing your entire life for a girl. You have to live your life"
"I can't leave her"
"And what happens when she leaves you?"
Klaus looked at her. The realization, the fear appeared in his eyes.
"She won't"
"You're 12, life in this small town doesn't leave you much options. She will forgive you, eventually"
Elijah walked into the kitchen, completely flustered and disheveled. Katherine looked at him and knew something was wrong.
"What's wrong?" Katherine asked
"We need to talk" Elijah said
Katherine and Elijah were in his room talking with the door closed.
"Are you serious?" Katherine asked
"Yes, I found out today. My mother's lawyer called me from England of all places"
"What the hell is she doing there?"
"Hiding from my father"
"She did a crappy job"
Elijah glared at her, and Katherine gave him an apologetic look.
"Sorry" Katherine grumbled
"She fled after I took Niklaus. Mikael chased after her and lost her. That's why he came here to find Niklaus"
"What's wrong with your father?"
"He's a very cruel man. My mother hid in England for a number of years, hiding from him. But he didn't know who else she was hiding from him"
"What do you mean?"
"She gave birth to twins. They're 5 now."
"You have a brother and sister?"
"Yes, they're in England right now. I have to go"
"Of course, I'll watch Klaus while you're gone"
"No, you don't understand. I'm taking Klaus with me. I cannot risk bringing my baby brother and sister back here. Mikael will be aware of their existence, and the less he knows the better"
"Oh," Katherine said turning away, "Of course"
Realization sunk in, that Elijah was leaving, rather leaving her. He was taking Klaus with him to England to be with the rest of his family. A family that didn't include her. Holding back tears, because she wasn't one of those women that cried. No she was strong and independent.
"I'll pack his stuff" Katherine said leaving the room
"Wait!" Elijah chased after her
"What?!" Katherine yelled
Klaus heard them yelling and climbed out his window and headed towards the treehouse. He didn't like hearing people argue. It reminded him of when he was a child and was helpless. The way Mikael would yell at him, no matter what happened it was always his fault. He climbed up to the treehouse. He sat there looking out at the street.
"Hey" Caroline said
Klaus turned around and saw Caroline.
"Hey" Klaus said
Caroline moved closer and sat next to him.
"What's wrong?" Caroline asked
"Kat and Elijah are arguing"
"About what?"
"I don't know, I didn't want to hear"
"Maybe they're just talking really loud"
"They're arguing"
Caroline put her arm around him and placed her head on his shoulder. Klaus reached up and touched her hand on his shoulder.
"Nik?" Caroline asked
"What?" Klaus asked
Caroline turned to face him and Klaus turned as well.
"It was really selfish of me to ask you to stay. You got a great chance to go to art school in New York of all places. I'm not holding you to your promise"
"Caroline, I want to stay, for you"
"No, don't. I want you to go, to find your dreams, to do great things, and not forget me"
"I couldn't ever forget you"
"You're gonna be a famous artist Nik, and I'll still be here waiting for you"
"I don't want to go"
"But you need to go, you're gonna do great things"
"Why are you so nice to me?"
"Because you're nice to me"
Caroline hugged Klaus and she felt his arms wrap around her. She lifted her head and and without thinking she brushed her lips against his. Klaus froze for a second when her lips touched his. She was nervous and trembling in his arms. She started to pull away, but Klaus pulled her back and kissed her. He was nervous as his lips touched hers. When he felt her kiss him back he relaxed.
"Oh, hey!" Stefan's head popped into the treehouse, "The treehouse isn't for that!" Stefan yelled
Caroline and Klaus immediately pulled apart.
"This is why girls aren't allowed in here!" Stefan said
"What do you want?" Klaus asked
"Your brother's looking for you" Stefan said
"Ok, thanks" Klaus said
Stefan climbed down the tree and went back into the house. Klaus and Caroline climbed down the treehouse. She reached out for his hand. He held her hand as they walked back to his house.
"It'll be ok" Caroline said
"I hope so"
"You don't have to go to New York yet anyways"
"I don't go till the fall"
"So we have some time"
"Yeah" Klaus said lifting their hands up and kissing hers
"And you can come back and take me to prom like you promised"
"Of course"
Klaus's front door opened and Elijah stood there. He saw the two holding hands. He knew this was going to be harder than he had thought.
"Niklaus it's late, come inside" Elijah said
"Ok, see you later Caroline" Klaus said
"See you later" Caroline said letting of of his hand
Caroline gave him a quick kiss on his cheek and ran back home. Klaus smiled and walked towards the door.
Caroline lay in her bed staring up at the ceiling. She smiled and then touched her lips. She had just had her first kiss, her first real kiss with Nik. She sat up and looked at the picture of the two of them at Halloween. She smiled and realized they needed a new picture, an updated picture of them together. She reached into her jewelry box and dug out the snowflake Klaus had given to her as a child. It still hung on the necklace, it was a bit worn and scratched but it was still there. She held it close to her chest and smiled.
Klaus sat on the couch confused as he looked both at Katherine and Elijah.
"You're saying we have a brother and sister?" Klaus said
"Yes, they're twins actually" Elijah said
"Do they look alike?"
"No, the boy Kol has dark brown hair and eyes, the girl Rebekah is a blonde and has blue eyes"
"Where are they?"
"They're in England, our mother went there to hide from father"
Klaus flinched at the mention of him.
"Are they ok?"
"Yes, for now, Niklaus, the reason I found out is because, because our mother has died"
"What?"
"She died. That's why her lawyer called me. She didn't want father to find them, ever"
"We have to go get them!"
"We will, of course we will. We will not abandon them"
"They need us! They need to know they're not alone! Father can't have them!"
"No, he doesn't know about them. And we can't ever let him know"
"What are we waiting for?"
"Niklaus I have to explain something to you. We will go get them. We will protect them. But we cannot bring them back here"
"Why not?"
"Mother hid in England so father would not find her. If we were to bring them here, he would know about them."
"No Elijah, no..."
"I'm sorry Niklaus, we have to leave this town and never come back"
"No!"
"To protect them, we have to. Mikael found us here because he couldn't find mother"
"But you said he'd never come back! You said he wouldn't!"
"I did, but if he knows about Kol and Rebekah he won't stop until he has them. They're around your age when I found you"
Between the parts of his heart, he could feel one part breaking, and he could feel another one swell with hope. Between choosing between Caroline and his family he knew what the choice would be. Caroline had accepted, encouraged him to go to art school in New York, in the hopes that he would return to her. Now the realization that he was leaving, never to return was eating him up inside. Unable to contain himself any longer he ran to his room, wiping away the tears. He took out the shoe box of things he had collected, things that made him happy and he looked at them. Inside Caroline's pink ribbon was faded as it sat there among various other things.
"You know most boys your age hide dirty magazines under the bed" Katherine said from the doorway
Klaus put the lid on the shoebox and hid it from her view.
"Relax kid, I'm not here for that" Katherine said walking into the room
Klaus wiped his face with his sleeve.
"You were dealt a crappy hand Klaus. As a kid with your parents, and now this. But you did luck out with your brother. And now you have another brother and sister, who need you, the same way you needed him"
"I know, I just, I don't want to leave"
"You don't want to leave her"
"She wanted me to go, she wanted me to go to that art school. I didn't have to go till the fall and she was ok with that"
"I don't know what to say to you about Caroline, except that you play the hand you're dealt. You do what you can and if it works out it does. I'm not going to give you some sappy hallmark saying that hope conquers all or that if you love something set it free and it should come back like a boomerang. It is what it is. It sucks sometimes kid, but you have to accept it and move on. Whatever time you have left with her, don't waste it"
"When do we leave?"
"As soon as Elijah can get the tickets"
"How soon is that?"
"I won't tell him you climbed out your window"
Klaus climbed onto his bed and opened his window and started climbing out. Katherine smiled at him and walked out of his room closing his door. Klaus ran towards Caroline's window. He jumped and hit the window a few times trying to get her to wake up. Caroline heard the noise and walked over to her window. She saw Klaus standing there waving his arms at her. She opened her window.
"What are you doing?" Caroline whispered
"Let me in!"
Klaus jumped up and Caroline pulled him into her room.
"What are you doing?" Caroline asked
"I have to talk to you"
"It couldn't wait till morning? My mom will freak out if she finds you here"
"I don't care"
"What's wrong?"
"I'm not going to New York, not anymore"
"What happened?"
"I have a baby brother and sister. They're twins"
"That's great, aren't you happy?"
"Yeah, I am, but they're in England and we have to go get them"
"Ok, so you'll be gone for a while"
Klaus placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Not for a while Caroline, forever"
"What? No, you're coming back"
"We can't, my father doesn't know about them, my mom was hiding from him. My mom's dead. If we bring them here he'll know. He found me here, he'll find them. Lijah says we're not coming back"
"No, you have to come back, you have to"
"I'm sorry Caroline"
"You promised me, you said you would take me to prom"
"I'm sorry"
"No, you promised me! You promised me" Caroline started to cry
Klaus pulled her closer and felt her crying on his shoulder. He didn't want to hurt her but he had to tell her the truth.
"I know, but I have to go. I can't let my father find them"
"When do you leave?"
"Soon, I don't know"
Caroline lifted her head up and wiped her tears away. She launched herself at Klaus and kissed him. He fell back onto the floor.
Caroline and Klaus were asleep in her bed. His arm was around her waist as she curled into his chest. Their clothes were still on from the night before. Klaus started to stir as he realized he wasn't sleeping in his bed. The pillow was too soft and it smelled of Caroline. He slowly opened his eyes and looked down and saw Caroline. His hand moved to touch her hair and she moved closer to him. His fingers glided along her face, studying her face.
"Caroline! Get up you're going to be late again!" Liz yelled from the hallway
Caroline's eyes flew open and she saw Klaus laying next to her.
"My mom! Hide!" Caroline pushed Klaus off the bed
Klaus fell onto the floor with the thud and Caroline jumped up out of bed. Her mother opened the door to her room and Caroline stood there in her pajamas.
"Get dressed already, I have to drop you off before I go to work" Liz said
"I'll catch a ride with Nik, I kinda want to talk to him, Kat will be there"
"Alright, as long as you two aren't alone. And he's never allowed in your room again"
"Ok Mom"
"Don't be late" Liz said closing the door and leaving
Caroline turned around and saw Klaus pop his head up from behind her bed.
"Did you have to do that?" Klaus asked
"Did you want my mom to find you?"
Klaus stood up and sat on the bed. Caroline reached into her drawers to get changed. She didn't think about Klaus being in the room, and started to take her pajamas off. Klaus's eyes went wide and he felt his face flush red. His eyes looked at her legs, then her breasts and he pressed his hands into his lap to stop it from coming up. Caroline looked over and saw Klaus looking down. She walked over to him.
"Hey" she held his face in her hands
Klaus looked up and her breasts were right in front of his face. He jumped off the bed and ran to the other side of the bed.
"What's wrong?" Caroline asked
"Nothing, nothing's wrong" Klaus said not looking at her
Caroline wondered why he was acting strange. She walked up to him and he scrambled onto her bed to the other side. She followed him and grabbed onto his arm.
"Hey, it's me" Caroline said
"I know it's you"
"Then why won't you look at me?" Caroline said as she turned him around
"I don't, I don't want to be like the people who stare at you"
"You're not, you're Nik, my Nik"
"Caroline..." Klaus said as his eyes went down to her chest
Caroline looked down at her chest to see what he was looking at.
"You guys act like you've never seen them before" Caroline said
"I haven't"
"Kat has them"
"Kat's Kat. Yours looks so much nicer, and look soft, and..."
"Do you want to touch them?"
Caroline took his hand and placed it on her breast. Klaus wasn't able to say anything, his mouth opened but nothing came out. His hand didn't move it just stayed there.
"They're just so big, and they won't stop growing either" Caroline said
Klaus couldn't believe what was happening. His hand was touching her chest. She was so soft. She looked up at him the same way she did.
"They're beautiful, you're beautiful."
"Really?"
"If you only knew, the power you have over everyone"
"Really? With these? You guys are so easily amused"
Caroline lifted his other hand and placed it on her other breast. She pressed her body against his and felt something poking her leg. Klaus immediately backed away from her. He turned away from her, his back facing her.
"Nik?"
Klaus closed his eyes, trying to calm down and hope that it would go down and stop embarrassing him.
"Hey, it's ok"
"No it's not, can you just put your clothes on?"
"Ok"
Caroline moved around behind him and got dressed.
"You can turn around now"
Klaus turned around and saw that Caroline was dressed and wore the snowflake necklace he had given to her as a child. He smiled and she jumped on him, kissing him. He fell back, bumping into her dresser.
"Stop Caroline" Klaus said
"Why Nik? Cause you're poking me?"
Klaus's face turned red as he pushed her away.
"I can't control it, especially around you"
"It's ok Nik," Caroline wrapped her arms around him from behind, "You're still Nik"
Caroline sat in the treehouse waiting for Nik. She looked out and saw Elena talking to Damon and Stefan, twirling her hair in her fingers. Strange how they picked on her and called her a cry baby and now they were following her around. Gone were the green sour patch kids that she used to give Stefan. Now she just smiled at them and they both came running.
Caroline sat there, leaning on the window of the treehouse when she felt someone behind her. She turned around and it was Klaus smiling at her. She smiled back. He sat down next to her and she hugged him.
"I got you something" Caroline said
"Really?"
Caroline reached behind her. She took out a picture of the two of them, a recent one. She handed it to him.
"So you won't forget me" Caroline said
"I could never forget you"
Caroline smiled and kissed him on his cheek.
"I made you something" Klaus said as he took out the folded paper from his pocket
Caroline watched him as he handed it to her. She opened it and smiled. He had drawn a picture of her. His artistic skills were showing.
"You drew me?"
"Of course, you're beautiful"
"I'm gonna miss you so much!" Caroline said hugging him
"Me too" Klaus said hugging her back
"Hey! What are you two doing?" Damon yelled as he climbed into the treehouse
Caroline wiped her tears as she pulled away from Klaus.
"Go away Damon" Caroline said
"Why are you crying? What did you do?" Damon asked
"Nik's leaving" Caroline said
"Where are you going?" Damon asked
"England" Klaus answered
"Why are you going there?" Damon asked
"My mom died" Klaus said
"Oh, that sucks" Damon said
"Yeah, and I have a little brother and sister there. We have to go get them before my father finds them" Klaus said
"Yeah your dad was a jerk. When do you leave? Are you coming back?"
"No, we're going there forever"
"Forever? What about Blondie, you can't leave her"
"Shut up Damon!" Caroline yelled
"You can't leave, who's gonna be our look out? Who's gonna help us toliet paper the teacher's house? This sucks"
"I know" Klaus said
Damon moved to the window and saw Stefan and Elena still talking.
"Hey you two! Get up here! It's important!" Damon yelled
The kids sat in the treehouse looking at each other. The treehouse felt smaller now that they were older. Klaus held Caroline's hand as they looked down.
"Will you write to us?" Elena asked
"Yes, of course" Klaus said
"How old are they?" Elena asked
"They're 5, they're twins" Klaus said
Stefan looked over at Caroline who seemed so lost. He knew that Caroline loved Nik since the first time they met. He knew that part of her was breaking on the inside having to say goodbye to Nik. He placed his hand on her shoulder. He gave her a reassuring smile as she looked up.
"You'll be ok, don't worry Nik, we'll take care of Caroline" Stefan said
"We all will" Elena said
"I don't want to go" Klaus said
"Is Kat going with you?" Elena asked
"I don't know" Klaus said
"I have to go" Elena said getting up and leaving the treehouse
Caroline wiped her face again, she was crying again. She leaned into Klaus.
"You never cry blondie, so don't start now" Damon said
"Shut up Damon!" Caroline yelled
"It's one of the reasons why we like you, cause you weren't a crybaby" Damon said
"Yeah well you like Elena, and she's a crybaby!" Caroline yelled
Stefan laughed and looked at Damon.
"She has a point" Stefan said
"This coming from the guy who ran away from her when she tried to give you candy" Damon said
"Hey! Not the time!" Klaus yelled
Damon and Stefan both looked down and then back at each other.
"We should do something fun, before Nik leaves" Damon said
"We should!" Stefan said
The week came to an end. They spent all their time together. Stefan managed to break his arm while trying to bike off a ramp they found at the construction site for the new Wickery Bridge. Damon was blamed for it even though it was Stefan who rode the bike off it. Elena ended up spending more time with Katherine.
Caroline and Klaus were in their own world as the week came to an end. He didn't want to leave her, she was the girl that he was in love with since he was a child. She was his light, his sunshine, his everything. And now he was leaving her.
Caroline and the others stood in front of Klaus's house as Elijah packed up the car. He watched as the children he knew years ago grew up and were waiting for Klaus. Katherine came out handing Elijah the last bag. She looked over and saw the kids standing there.
"Firing squad?" Katherine asked
"No, they're saying goodbye" Elijah said
Klaus came out holding the shoebox when he saw them all standing there. He walked towards them and stopped.
"You didn't sign my cast Nik" Stefan said
Klaus took the marker from Stefan and wrote his name on the cast and handed it back to him.
"We're all gonna miss you. Take care of yourself" Stefan said
"I will, thanks" Klaus said
"Don't come back talking funny" Damon said
"I'll try" Klaus said
"Don't be a stranger, a postcard would be nice"
"Got it"
"And don't go hitting people in the head with plastic pumpkins"
"Stay out of trouble"
"Take care of Kat for me" Elena said
"She takes care of me"
"I know, but you're taking my sister with you"
"I know, I'll take care of her"
"Thanks"
"I'll miss you" Caroline said
"I'll miss you too" Klaus said
Caroline wiped the tears from her face. She had been crying since she woke up. Klaus hated seeing her cry, he hugged her and whispered into her ear.
"Don't cry, I don't want to remember you like this" Klaus said
"I can't help it"
"I know, but you look like a red tomato about to be smashed into the wall"
"Nik!" Caroline hit him in the shoulder
"I'm sorry"
"Don't forget me" Caroline said
"I can't ever forget you. You made me a better person Caroline. And you'll do great things without me here."
"Don't say that"
"It's true, you're a good person Caroline, you see the good in everything, you're so full of light. I know we'll meet again someday"
Caroline kissed him, and everyone around was staring wide eyed. Katherine hit Elijah in the elbow to distract him.
"Stop staring" Katherine said
"She's kissing my brother" Elijah said
"But she's not using tongue" Katherine said
"Niklaus, it's time" Elijah said
Caroline pulled away slightly to look at him. She ended up hugging him.
"I wish this was just a really bad dream, and when I wake you'll still be here" Caroline said
"Me too" Klaus said
Elena tried not to cry but she was a crybaby deep down. She joined in on the hug and Stefan tried to as well awkwardly with his one arm.
"I do not do group hugs" Damon said
Stefan and Elena looked at him, and he sighed.
"Fine" Damon joined in on the hug
They all stood there for a moment, hugging, knowing the moment they let go, Nik would be gone. And slowly, they let go, knowing that they couldn't stay there forever, until it was just Nik and Caroline. Klaus inhaled the scent of her hair to remember her. She smelled like peaches. And he would forever remember her this way.
Klaus let go of her and felt her arms fall to her sides. He reached out for her hand and they walked to the car. Klaus was still holding the shoe box and Caroline looked at it.
"What is that?" Caroline asked
"Something important to me. One day I'll show you"
"One day. Bye Nik"
"Bye Caroline"
"Bye Nik!" Stefan yelled
"Bye Stefan! Bye Damon! Bye Elena! Bye everyone!" Klaus yelled
Klaus turned to get into the car and stopped. He turned around and kissed Caroline on her cheek. He got into the car and closed the door. Elijah got in and started the car. Caroline stood there frozen, unable to move. Klaus climbed up on the seat in the back and waved to her. He watched her, along with the others that had joined her. They waved to him and Caroline stood there, trying not to cry. Klaus watched as they got smaller and smaller, and finally Elijah made the turn and she was gone. Klaus sat back down in his seat and opened the shoebox. He looked inside at all the things that made him smile. He held the faded pink ribbon in his hands.
Caroline stood there and watched the car disappear. Nik was gone. She cried. Elena placed her arm around her.
"Hey, we're here" Elena said
"I know, but he's not" Caroline cried
Damon moved and let Caroline cry on him.
"This sucks" Caroline said
"Yeah it does" Damon said
Don't get angry and send me hate mail! Leave me a review. I'm more angry that there's no Klausy tonight on the show, wtf? He needs to leave Nola and come and get his woman already! anyways, how else do you think Klaus gets his accent? I mean cmon mystic falls accent is lame. british accent mystic falls accent. you know it. reach me on tumblr if you have burning questions. i see 1 or 2 more chapters left to this story.
When I started this fic, a bunch of you wanted me to age them quickly, now that I have aged them you all want them to be younger again. XD well now they're 12 and awkward with zits and they're all elbows and knees and lanky. but don't worry, they'll meet up again...