Chapter 20

Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries. I'm just borrowing. Only the story is mine.

Note: Previously, in "When You Least Expect It," Caroline gives birth to Liam.

Hey, guys! I just got an idea for this chapter and I wanted to share. No spoilers.

ON WITH THE SHOW!

Mystic Falls Medical Center – 2 Days Later…

Caroline took some deep breaths as Klaus wheeled her to the NICU. She was anxious to see Liam and now that she was strong enough, she was going to get an opportunity to bond with her son. Klaus was just as anxious, since seeing her going into labor earlier than expected had scared the living daylights out of him. Thankfully, both of them came away unscathed, which had eased his fears.

As they got closer to the NICU, Klaus saw someone standing by the door. At first, he thought it was the doctor he had spoken to the other day. Then, as they got even closer, he saw that it wasn't the doctor at all, but…

"Ansel? What are you doing here?"

The older man smiled at his son. "I'm sorry if I startled you. I told them I was Liam's grandfather and that I was here to see him." He then looked at Caroline and smiled at her. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, my dear. I'm Ansel Bradbury."

"Likewise," she replied. "I'm just sorry we didn't get to meet until now."

"Don't be," said Ansel. "None of this was your fault. If anyone is to be blamed, it's Esther. This whole thing was her idea, as I told your husband the other day." He sighed. "But, that's not important right now. The important thing is for us to visit the newest member of the family."

Caroline nodded. "You're right, this is about my son, not that nasty woman who tried to tear this family apart because she wanted to get revenge on her ex-husband."

Klaus nodded as well. He couldn't have said better himself. The three of them then went into the NICU, passing the plastic cribs until they reached the one Liam was in. He wasn't crying, but laying on his back in a peaceful state, attached to a heart monitor and several other machines. Caroline felt her heart skip a beat at how tiny he was, which was to be expected at three months premature. She carefully got out of her wheelchair, Klaus and Ansel helping her up as she stood. She reached into the crib and picked her baby up, holding him in her arms and kissing his forehead.

Klaus watched they bonded, a smile appearing on his face. He made a mental note to commemorate the moment with a drawing later, adding it to the ones he had done to document Caroline's pregnancy.

Caroline looked up to see him looking at her and smiled in his direction. "Would you like to hold him? Bonding with me is important, but bonding with his father is just as important."

Klaus nodded and went over to her, taking Liam into his arms and holding him. Ansel watched them and in that moment, he felt jealous that Mikael had gotten to hold Klaus as a baby and not him. Of course, it wasn't him he blamed for that. No, it was all Esther's fault for depriving him of knowing his son throughout his infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. True, he had gotten photos from those times, but it wasn't the same as being there.

Caroline noticed that Ansel wasn't saying anything and, excusing herself from her husband, went over to him. "Are you okay? You're awfully quiet."

"I'd be lying if I said I was, so I won't," he replied. "Seeing you with your son makes me wish I could've held my own son as a baby. But, Esther deprived me of that. She deprived me of everything. I loved that woman and yet, she wouldn't even let me have a chance to know my son. Don't get me wrong, Caroline, I'm not blaming Mikael for raising Klaus as his, far from it. The one I am blaming is Esther. Her and her selfish pride."

"Have you told her about it?"

"I've tried, many times, but nothing I say ever got through," said Ansel. "Well, you'll be pleased to know that I've ended things with Esther. She can find some other fool to string along and fill his head with her lies."

"That's good to know," said Caroline. "I didn't like her at all when I met her at the courthouse the day Mikael got sole custody of Nik and his siblings. She was horrible, so horrible in fact, she made Cruella de Vil look like Cinderella's Fairy Godmother."

Ansel smiled. "I'm glad I met you, Caroline. You and Klaus are good together. I saw from the look in his eyes that he loves you very much, and you him. I couldn't imagine my son with anyone else but you." He looked over at Klaus, who was cradling Liam in his arms. "I even see it as he looks into your son's eyes. His birth may not have been smooth and it came before either of us were ready, but he's a fighter, just like his parents in spite of the challenges your relationship faced from the beginning."

"It was a bit of a rocky start, wasn't it?" said Caroline. "You see, before I met your son, I thought I'd never love again. My ex-boyfriend sexually assaulted me, leaving me scarred and broken. I gave up on the male species altogether, thinking that if I let myself get too close, I'd get hurt just as badly as I was by him."

"My God, I had no idea," said Ansel. "I'm so sorry you went through that, Caroline."

"Thank you," said Caroline. "But, Nik helped me heal from the pain I suffered and taught me that not all men are as evil as Tyler. I don't know what I would've done if he hadn't come into my life the way he did. Meeting him was the best thing that ever happened to me and I owe him more than he can ever know."

Ansel saw that she was starting to cry as she was speaking and gently hugged her to him. He felt closer to her now that he knew more about her. Caroline returned his hug, appreciating the comfort. Although she was glad that he was going to be part of Liam's life, she wondered how Mikael would feel about it, given his animosity toward Esther.

She was about to say something to that effect when Klaus said, "Ansel, would you like to hold your grandson?"

Ansel stepped back, breaking the hug. "Nothing would make me happier."

He kissed Caroline's forehead before going over to Klaus and gently took the baby from him. Once the exchange was made, Klaus went over to Caroline and embraced her.

Note: I think I'll end Chapter 20 here before I repeat anything I already said. Inspiration was a bitch, hence the long delay. Stay tuned for more!

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