14.

Being back in New York was like a breath of fresh air to Caroline's tired lungs. She threw herself back into her work to the point that Sophie often had to send her home at the end of the day.

Taking any time off was not anywhere on her radar until Bekah forced a long weekend on her in early April. Caroline had gone to her sixteen-week check up with Dr. Gerard and per Bekah's instructions the ultrasound showing the sex of the baby was placed in an envelope and mailed directly down to Georgia.

Again getting clearance to fly, Caroline was headed down to Mystic Falls for what she could assume would be the first of many baby showers. It was exciting to be back in her hometown, but beyond finding out the gender of her baby, she was most looking forward to seeing her mother.

Staying in her girlhood room again was a whole different experience than the last time she had been here. Two years ago she still hid behind her pain and second-guessed her emotions. Now she knew who she was and lived with grace and confidence.

She slept well that night, exhausted from the flight but also excited about see all of her friends tomorrow.

The baby shower was being held at the Mikaelson manor and Caroline was surprised at how may cars were parked outside the home. Rebekah met Caroline by the front door. "Oh look at you and that beautiful belly!"

Caroline laughed and cradled her growing stomach. She walked with her friend into the home and to the living room at the back of the house. She beamed seeing some good friends from high school, her mother, father, and her father's husband. Sophie was even there. Children ran around the room and Esther ushered them all outside to play.

"Is Nik here?" Caroline asked her friend as she saw Lily and Henrik chase Liam outside.

"He's in the country, but off on business. Mum is watching the kids while he is away."

Caroline wasn't sure if she was relieved or sad that he wasn't here. But that had to fall to the back of her mind because her mother was approaching with outstretched arms and a smiles spread across her face.

"Oh sweetie, you are getting so big already, and I say that with the upmost love." Liz laughed as she wrapped her arms around her ever expanding daughter.

This was the first time that Liz had seen her daughter's pregnant belly in person. They had video chatted many nights and Caroline was always willing to show off her stomach and any updates from the doctor. While Liz was worried about Caroline going through this pregnancy alone, she had to admit that she has never seen her daughter more happy and glowing than she was now.

Caroline mingled with her friends. Two of her high school friends Bonnie and Elena had both flown in for the party.

"How is Dallas?" She asked politely to Bonnie.

After high school Bonnie had attended school in Florida and Texas before opening her own business in Dallas. "It's good. My firm is taking off and I think we will be adding another partner this coming summer." Bonnie took a drink from her wine glass. "You seem to be doing pretty well in New York."

The girls had remained in contact mostly through social media, seeing posts about major events in each other's lives. Bonnie had married a land developer and has one child, a 5 year old little girl named Sheila, who was running around the back yard with the rest of the children.

Elena attended med school in California and now worked as an ER doctor in Chicago. She was married to a restaurateur. She had just given birth to their second child just a few months ago and now had the raven haired baby boy cradled in her arms. Her other son Ric was trying desperately to impress Lily.

Caroline turned to Elena and cooed over the baby in her arms. "And this must be Jeremy. Can I hold him?" While Caroline had spent as much time as possible with Liam when he was growing up, she had not cared for a infant since her high school baby sitting days.

Baby Jeremy was placed in Caroline's arms and she felt all of the nerves wash away. It was like this was the most natural feeling in the world for her.

Elena and Bonnie started chatting about their birthing stories. "I decided to go natural with Sheila and I was so happy to have Enzo there with me. He believed in me and gave me strength when I just wanted to give up."

"I know what you mean. Damon was my rock through both pregnancies. I don't know how many nights I worked a long shift at the hospital and I would come home to dinner already on the table and Ric already taken care of. I don't know what I would have done without him."

Caroline shifted uncomfortably, still holding on to Jeremy.

Both Bonnie and Elena realized their mistake at the same time, "Not to say that you can't do this by yourself Care," Bonnie said, tripping over her words.

Just at that moment Rebekah swooped in and took Jeremy from Caroline's arms and placed him back with his mother. "I'm just going to barrow her for a moment," Bekah linked arms with her blonde friend and walked her out onto the back terrace.

They watched the children play for a long while. The four older kids ran around playing some kind of rescue the princess game, while Liam tried to keep up with his cousins.

"What if I'm making a mistake by doing this alone?" Caroline whispered to her friend.

"Don't let what Bonnie and Elena said to you get you down. You go this! You are so much stronger than they will ever be. And when the time comes, you know that your mom and I will be right there at your side. "

Caroline smiled and laid her head on her friends shoulder. Just then the children noticed that the two woman were standing on the terrace. Lily started to run towards the house and the rest of the kids followed.

Liam came right to his mother and demanded to be picked up. Lily ran up to Caroline and while she was out of breath just stood with her hands clasped behind her back. "Hello Caroline!" the little girl beamed, "My daddy says you are having a baby."

"That's right, and today I get to find out if it's a girl or a boy."

Lily reached out but stopped her hand right before it came in contact with Caroline's stomach. She looked up at the blonde and asked permission with her eyes. Caroline nodded her head and Lily placed her little hand on Caroline's enlarged belly. "I hope it's a girl. I always wanted a sister."

Caroline didn't move, didn't dare breath. It was only when Bekah spoke to the young girl that she was pulled out of her trance. "You can think of Ms. Caroline's baby as a cousin, but not your sibling."

"But daddy says he's going to marry Caroline. I heard him yelling at Uncle 'Lijah about it." Lily pouted at her Aunt.

Bekah and Caroline exchanged looks, not knowing what to say to Lily. Caroline got down on Lily's level, "Your father and I are good friends but that doesn't mean that we will get married."

"But…" Lily started.

Bekah snapped her fingers, " That's enough Lily, go inside with your brother, we are going to be cutting the cake soon."

Caroline felt horrible as the young girl ran into the house with tears in her eyes.

"Wow, this party is turning into a shit show." Bekah laughed and downed the rest of her wine.

Caroline stayed out on the terrace as Bekah went into the house to prepare the gender reveal cake. During those few moments along, Caroline thought about all of the encounters with Nik over the past year. She remembered her conversion with Elijah and how they had talked about Nik's intention to join their two families. She had thought in the hotel room in London that he had talked about them getting back together as a knee jerk reaction to finding out that she was pregnant. Maybe it was his way of making up for how he reacted when they were teenagers.

She would be lying to herself if she still didn't feel the pull to him. In her hormone induced emotional state she also couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't attempt to bed him if he was here this weekend. There was definitely a part of her that still loved him as deeply as her sixteen year old self did. Through therapy she was able to forgive herself, but she had never come right out and forgiven Nik for his part in their tragedy.

Perhaps that is where she need to start, forgiveness.

Her attention was pulled when her name was called from the door way, "Sweetie we are ready for you." Liz came out to get her daughter.

Caroline walked back into the house with her mother and they walked to the kitchen. Just being back in this house was making her miss Nik. They had so many wonderful memories. Up those stairs and down the hall is where they made love for the first time. Down in the basement is where they shared so many tender moments. Through the two double doors into Mikael's office is where they had been together after graduation.

Shaking the memories from her mind, Caroline walked up to the kitchen island. All of her friends and family were gathered and there was a beautiful single tiered cake with white icing covering it, with no hits of what color would be on the inside.

Rebekah pulled out her phone and started to record. "Okay Care, lets see if we are going to have footballs or tutus!"

Nervously Caroline picked up the silver knife that looked more like something that was meant to cut into a wedding cake, and set the point into the middle of the cake. She made eye contact with her mother, who nodded in pride, before she sliced through the three layers of cake. One more quick slice and she pulled a large piece of cake out, revealing blue frosting.

"A boy!" Caroline cried as she took some of the blue frosting off of the knife with her finger before popping it into her mouth.

From the background somewhere, Caroline heard a disappointed little girls voices say, "Another brother?"

Everyone converged on Caroline and gave her hugs and offered congratulations. Both Rebekah and Elena offered words of wisdom on raising boys.

For some reason, now knowing that she was carrying a little boy, it made every thing so real. In just a few months she would have a little human, a son, who looked up to her and depended on her for everything. Caroline is a planner. She had already picked out the hospital she would give birth at, she has already planned out her maternity leave. Everything had be thought of but in this moment she started to panic.

She excused herself to the bathroom as her breathing started to pick up. Locking the bathroom door behind her, she sat on the closed toilet and tried to control her anxiety.

Before she know what she was doing, her phone was out and she has already dialed his number.

He picked up on the third ring, "Caroline…"

"Nik," her voice was broken.

She heard him cover the mouth piece and then some muffled voices. When the background was quiet, he spoke again, "What's the matter Caroline? Is it the baby?"

He sounded so concerned. She could tell without a doubt that he cared about her. He cared about her baby even though he had no responsibility to her or her child.

"The baby is fine. It's a boy," Caroline was able to smile though her tears at this point.

"That's great Caroline, but why are you upset?" Nik was becoming more and more confused as to why he was her life line call. Not that he minded, he wanted to be the person that she turned to.

Caroline took in a calming breath, "I'm back in your house, with so many memories. Your children are here. Lily said something. It made me think…" She couldn't seem to get out a full thought.

Nik became concerned, "What did Lily say?"

"She touched my stomach and said she was hoping for a sister. She said that you argued with Elijah and that you wanted to marry me." She was crying again by this time. Still not knowing what to do with his information.

The other end of line was silent.

"Nik?"

"Sorry, love. I didn't know she was listening to the conversation I had with my brother."

"That's all you have to say about it?"

"I figured that after our interaction in London that you would know my intentions."

Caroline sobbed, "Nik I don't think I can do this by myself."

His heart broke in that moment. He wanted to be with her more than anything. He was currently in New York interviewing for a job. But he also wanted her to realize how strong she is, and that even if she never talked to him ever again, that she could do anything she set her mind to. He decided to tell her that, "Care, you are the strongest woman I know. You can do anything. That little boy is going to be so lucky to have you as his mother."

More sobs came from Caroline, "Nik I forgive you."

He was confused about the turn of the conversation. "It's okay love."

"No it's not. In London you said that I was making you suffer. I guess I never thought about how you were feeling. But I forgive you for your part in the loss of our child."

Just then there was a knock on the door. "Everything okay in there Care?" Bekah asked.

"Yeah Beks, I'll be right out."

He heard her blow her nose before she spoke again, "I'm sorry for calling Nik. It sounded like you were in the middle of a meeting. Thank you for listening though."

"Always Caroline, always." He replied before he heard the other end of the call click.

Caroline pulled herself together enough to rejoin the party. They opened gifts and ate dinner. She was able to relax some and just enjoy time with her friends and family.

The rest of the weekend she spent with her mother. They shopped and then boxed up all of her gifts to be shipped back to apartment in New York. She was parting ways with her mother on Sunday morning. Part of her was happy to be leaving Mystic Falls, a place that held so many conflicting memories that it was starting to overwhelm her.

She was back in her apartment by noon and she spent the time doing some laundry and going over the fashion blogs from over the weekend. She ordered in Greek food for dinner and decided to start to put together the crib that had arrived earlier that week.

Thirty minutes later there was a buzz at her intercom and she hit the button to open the door at the street. Living on the eighth floor, it took time for the delivery man to get to the door but she was waiting with cash for her meal.

Hearing the knock at the door, she called out, "Coming!" before swinging the door open.

Standing there was not the man from the Greek deli down the street, but it was Nik, holding a large arrangement of blue hydrangeas and white roses. "Hello, love."

Caroline had to shake her head to make sure she wasn't dreaming, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to congratulate you are on the little bugger," Nik held the floral arrangement out for her.

She took the flowers and eyed him up and down. He still looked good, but unlike their meeting in London, he was dressed in a suit. "What's up with the monkey suit?" She walked away from the door towards the kitchen to put the flowers in some water.

Nik took this a permission to enter her apartment, so he followed her and closed the door behind him. "I'm in the city for business and I came here right after my last interview."

"Interview?" She questioned.

"Yeah, I've been looking in to…"

There was another buzz at the door and Caroline guessed this was her dinner. A few minutes later she was thanking Dale, her usual delivery man. "You are lucky that I'm pregnant and always order extra food." She pulled down two plates and motioned for him to sit at the bar in the kitchen.

Never in a million years would he think that him showing up on her door step unannounced would have gone so well. Taking into account their past few interactions, he expected to be kicked to the curb right away.

They talked about Caroline's time back in Mystic Falls and Nik asked how Liz was doing. They talked about Nik's children and how much Liam had grown. Nik asked about her baby and if she was excited about having a boy.

"I am. I have heard from many friends how easy boys are."

Nik rolled his eyes and laughed, "Until they become teenagers."

After they had finished dinner Nik picked up a bag up off the floor that Caroline had not even noticed he brought in. "Since I missed the official baby shower…"

In the bag was a painting, most likely one of his own works. "This is beautiful Nik. Thank you." The painting was of a hill side at dusk. There was a darken shape of a large oak tree and there was also a night sky painted into the picture. In his perfect script were the words, "To the Moon and Back".

"I've heard that phrase is common in nurseries."

Caroline had tears in her eyes and he could tell that she also recognized the scene. "This is the field, the one that we would go lay in."

"It is."

"It seems like a life time ago Nik. What a simple time to be in love." Caroline ran her fingers over the painting. Before Nik could reply she wiped her tears and moved around the kitchen island. "Well let's find a good place in the nursery for it."

He followed her across the living room to the second room in the apartment. He saw that it was originally set up as a guest room with a queen size bed pushed to one side. In the middle of the room was what he guessed was going to be a crib, but it was currently in about a hundred pieces.

As Caroline held the painting up in a few different places around the room, he removed his suit jacked and knelt down on the floor, picking up the directions for the crib and trying to see how far Caroline had got on her own.

"Oh Nik you don't have to do that, I was going to get to it."

"No worries, I've built plenty of these, it shouldn't take me any time." He was already piecing together the back and side of the crib.

Caroline smiled to herself and sat on the bed, "Do you think this is what it would have been like?"

He looked up at her, knowing that usually they ended most of these conversations with a fight, "Doubtful. I'm pretty sure your mum would have tried to shoot me before I had a change to build the crib."

She laughed, "Very true." She was thoughtful for a moment, "I went to go see Elijah when I was in London."

"I know. He wouldn't tell me what you two talked about, just that you had visited." He tightened two more screws into place. "Did you get the answers you were looking for?"

Caroline met his eyes, "Yes and no."

He didn't want to push his luck, so he did not probe for any more of an explanation. He stood and took the adjustable base of the crib and screwed that in to place, "When they are younger you can keep the mattress height higher, but as they grow you will need to lower it so they can't climb out of the crib."

Caroline was in awe. He put that crib together in less than thirty minutes, which it would have taken her hours! Also that fact that he was giving her parenting advice was not lost on her. She watched the muscles of his back move under his pressed dress shirt as he pushed the crib up against the far wall.

When he turned around from getting the crib in place he could only describe the look in her eyes as pure animalistic lust. He crossed the room without another thought and as soon as he was within her reach, Caroline had her hand tangled in his hair and she pulled his mouth down to hers.

He had never been intimate with Hayley when she was pregnant with their two children, so being with Caroline while she was in this condition was uncharted territory for him. He knew that he needed to be careful. So with swift but delicate movements, he picked her up from the bed by holding onto the back of her thighs. He in turn sat down on the bed and let her straddle his lap. He wanted anything that happened to be at her pace. She was totally and utterly in control.

Caroline was working the knot on his tie and then the buttons of his shirt. All the while they were kissing like their lives depended on it. He kissed down her neck as he ran his hands up the back of her shirt. Her skin was so warm and he just wanted to remember every new curve of her body.

Nik pulled at the hem of her shirt and he felt her hesitate. At first he thought that maybe she was rethinking the direction that their encounter was going, then he saw her cross her arms in front of her stomach. He thought how dare she feel embarrass. He slid her off his lap and while holding on to her hip, made her stand in front of him.

Caroline worried her lip, thinking that he wouldn't find her attractive once he saw her stomach. It was beyond the point where it looked like she had a big meal or put on a few extra pounds. As she stood between his knees, she locked eyes with him as she pulled her white cotton shirt over her head. She was left in her bra and a pair of yoga pants.

Nik thought that he had never seen her more beautiful. He only wished that the little boy growing inside his Caroline was of his own blood. He knew from this moment forward, if she would have him, that the child would be as good as his. Having gown up with questionable parentage, he never wanted this innocent life to ever feel unloved or unwanted.

He ran his hands over her hips and rested them on her rib cage just below her bra line. He pulled her closer to him and he placed a light kiss on her swollen stomach.

She reached down and cupped the side of his face, another tear sliding from her face. Caroline knew in this moment that Nik would love her and her child forever. She pulled his face up to hers and they kisses deeply. A fire lit within both of them and within minutes belts and pants were undone.

Caroline pushed him back on the bed and she crawled on to his lap. She loved the feeling of his hands on her body and he held her sensitive breasts in his hands. She lowered herself down on him without any warning.

They both let out groans of satisfaction. Caroline started to ride him, racing for her release.

"Slow down there love, I'm a little out of practice." Nik breathed out, trying his best to hold out.

Bringing her pace down a little Caroline looked down at him questioning his statement.

"The last time I was with anyone was you, two years ago."

Caroline let out a very unlady-like laugh, which in turn made Nik grab her around her back and flip their position. "I'm glad you find that so amusing." Nik smirked as he thrust into her, which earned him a loud moan and finger nails being dug into his back.

"Well if you don't count an insemination pipette then you were my last."

Nik had to chuckle into her shoulder, "I love when you talk dirty." In this position he made sure to keep himself up on his elbows and not put pressure on her stomach. He kissed her again and started to pick up the pace of his thrusting. While their banter was a good distraction to keep him form coming too soon, now he just wanted to see her fall apart.

The room was quite apart of the sounds of their love making. Through her moans Caroline whispered a frantic "Don't stop," and Nik knew that her release was coming soon. He shifted down, ensuring that his pelvic bone was rubbing her clit with every thrust. She wrapped her legs around his hips and then she was falling.

It felt like the whole world fell around her. Her body was weightless and all she could feel was the heat and pulsing of her orgasm. Nik followed close behind her, not being able to survive the milking movements that her climax invoked.

He was careful to not lay on top of her, even though he had never felt this spent. He pulled out of her and moved next to her on the bed, pulling her back to his chest.

"I came in you, I'm sorry I couldn't stop myself." He said drawing lazy circles on her abdomen with his finger tips.

Caroline snorted, "Well I can't get any more pregnant than I am now, so I think it's okay."

Nik tickled her sides and kissed her neck before saying playfully, "I was trying to be polite since there is another bloke in the picture that might mind."

"Oh my goodness Nik, I'm going to pee if you don't stop tickling me!" Caroline screamed in laughter.

He immediately stopped his fingers playing on her sides with a frightened look on his face.

"And as for the little guy barrowing my womb for the next four months…speaking as his mother…she didn't mind one bit."

They left the nursery a few minutes later and showered together where they made love again.

"Are you going to stay?" Caroline asked as they were drying off from the shower.

"Would you like me to?"

Caroline reached into the cabinet underneath her bathroom sick and pulled out a brand new tooth brush and set it down by the second sink on the vanity. "I would like for you to stay."

Nik went to retrieve his boxers from the other room and he laid out his suit so that it wouldn't be wrinkled when he had to wear it again tomorrow. When he came back in to Caroline's room, she was rubbing a thick cream on her stomach.

"Prevents stretch marks," she said without looking up. "When do you need to leave the city?"

Nik crawled in to the bed and came up behind her, kissing her shoulder before resting his hand on her belly. "I have to fly to Virginia tomorrow to pick up the kids and then back to London after that." He could feel Caroline's body slump at the news.

"Will your business bring you back to New York often?" Caroline looked down at her hands that rested in her lap.

He turned her face towards him and kissed her lips softly, "I sure hope so since I just signed a three year contact with Williams and Parker Investments down on Pearl."

Caroline now turned her whole body towards him, "You are moving to New York?"

"You told me that you would not give up anything else for me, so I decided to make the sacrifices this time."

"What about Hen and Lily?"

"They know that I have been interviewing in the states, but I have not told them why." Nik smiled and ran his thumb over the back of her left hand, "Even though after what Lily said at your party, I'm pretty sure she has an idea…"

Caroline placed her hands on either side of his face, "So you would give up your job, your home, your family in England…just to see if we could work?"

"Yes," he said without hesitation.

She kissed him with all the love that her sixteen year old self has once felt. "We will need to take this slow, ease into it…"

"Caroline, we just had sex, twice." Nik pointed out with a sly smile.

"Yes, but that was when I thought I might not see you for a while," she said as if it was an excuse.

"Well I do need to go back to Oxford and tell the kids, pack up the house, find a place here…there are still a lot of moving parts to this that I have not figured out." He laid her back in bed as he could see that she was getting tired. "I am due to start work here in New York the first of August."

"That's the same month the baby is due," Caroline seemed to panic again, thinking about going through labor alone.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close as they settled down in the bed, "I will be here sweetheart. If you will let me, I will be here forever."

The only rely he got from Caroline was a soft snore.

This was the most content he had felt in a very long time and he was going to try his hardest not to screw it up this time around.