Elena, Stefan, Jeremy and Matt left before New Year's. Although everything went fine after Christmas Party, things were still a bit tense. Matt had to work on New Year's, and Jeremy used him as excuse to go home with him, claiming he didn't want to stay alone with couples. Elena and Stefan didn't even give a reason, they just said they should go as well, when Jeremy and Matt were getting ready to leave. Damon gave Stefan our apartment keys, so I guessed they would probably enjoy Paris during New Year's. Rebekah and Jacob stayed, and she and Klaus were back in good graces. Caroline was happy to have me there, considering Rebekah couldn't exactly be considered her friend, even though she wasn't giving Caroline a hard time. It just that to tease Klaus, she used Caroline, because that was a great way to get under his skin.

New Year's went a lot like Christmas, maybe even better now that there wasn't tension.

The next day, Damon and I were lounging by the pool, relaxing, and watching Klaus nurse Caroline out of her hangover. She was curled in a ball in one of the puffs, sunglasses even though we were inside, and moaning and complaining about vampires having hangover. It didn't matter that Klaus and Damon told her she was lucky. If she had a hangover as vampire, she probably would have alcohol poisoning as human. Rebekah and Jacob had gone for a walk, which meant he was probably on his wolf form, checking in with the pack, and she was accompanying him on a run through the forest.

I slid in the warm water beside Damon, and he pulled me to him, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist, and I wrapped my legs around his hips. He smirked as he turned around, pushing me against the edge of the pool, and grinded against me. I smirked, feeling my eyes change. He let his hands rest on my knees, and they slid up my thighs.

"God, you two are infuriatingly in love right now" Caroline grumbled.

I chuckled and Damon kissed the crook of my neck, playing with the waistband of my bikini bottom.

"Don't you dare" I whispered in his ear, my lips brushing against his earlobe.

"Hm… I like that challenge" he hummed, tugging on the fabric.

"I'm sure Klaus won't mind the show then" I whispered leaning back and playing with my strapless top.

He frowned, sighed and embraced me.

"Are you frustrated, baby?" I asked amusedly as I ran my fingers through his hair.

"Yes" he grumbled.

I chuckled and grinded against him, making him hiss and pull back to glare at me. I pulled myself out of the pool, grabbed a towel, and looked over my shoulder at him.

"I think I'm going for a walk" I said cocking an eyebrow at him.

He bit his lip, and smirked, rushing to follow me. I giggled as his arms wrapped around me from behind as we got to the door. I heard Caroline laughing, but I didn't care. It's not like Klaus wasn't as desperate to get alone with her as Damon was.

Damon had gone to get us blankets. I didn't mind the snow, even though I was in a bikini, but he did. I looked out at the frozen lake and wondered if the ice would bother me like the snow couldn't. I wasn't as ice cold as the Cullens, but until now I hadn't felt any temperature bother me. I had dropped boiling water on my hand once, and although it bothered a bit, and the skin blistered, in less than a minute it was healed. I stood up, wiping the snow from my ass and thighs, and carefully stepped on the ice. It did make my feet sting a bit, and I even shivered, but my instincts didn't tell me to pull away from it. Warm arms wrapped around me, and Damon's lips trailed down my neck. He was wearing a shirt now, and had changed out of his wet board shorts. His skin had a thrilling, amazing contrast with the ice beneath my feet and I shivered, moaning as his hands roamed over my body. His hand had just slipped inside my bikini bottom, igniting fire inside me when I grabbed him, and pulled him around me. He smirked, but slipped on the ice and fell. I giggled, and he grabbed my hand, pulling me down with him, which made us slid a bit further.

"Fucking hell" he grumbled shivering, trying to stand up.

I chuckled as I stood up quite easily, and after steadying myself on the ice, I extended my hand to him. He grabbed it and I had just started to pull him up, when we heard a crack. I looked at him, and as he stared at the ice, I lost my smile.

"Let me get you out of here" I said.

"Wait" he snapped. "If you move it will crack…"

"I'm fast…"

"Not enough for me to stand up before the ice shatters"

"I can carry you" I rolled my eyes at him.

"I don't need to be carried" he frowned at me.

"Damon"

"Bella" he mocked my tone.

"Damon, don't be silly… You could freeze to death. Well, temporary death" I said eyeing the ice.

He ignored me, looking around for an escape. I sighed, and raised my foot.

"Stop" he said.

"Damon, I'm fast enough!"

"Who will freeze to death here?" he said cocking an eyebrow at me, "So, stand still and let me think"

I rolled my eyes and put my foot down. The ice cracked once more and I wasn't fast enough to grab him before the ice gave in. Cold engulfed me, making me freeze in shock. It was painful a bit, something could hurt me… The water was dark, and my eyes stung as I looked at Damon. He was thrashing, trying to swim up, but the solid ice stopped him. I grabbed him, broke the ice and pulled him out. He was freezing and an unhealthy pale. I rubbed his arms and cupped his face after sitting him on solid ground. He was shivering, and his eyes clenched shut.

"Come on, let's get you inside" I said frowning.

I helped him up and we walked slowly to the house. I could have carried him, but the situation was proof of how prideful he could be. When we entered the house, I called for Caroline as I got towels and blankets. She came and frowned at our sopping wet forms.

"Get a warm bath ready, please" I asked her.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Yeah…" I said looking at Damon with worry.

"Really? You should've known fooling around on a frozen lake wasn't a nice idea" she said amusedly and ran upstairs to get the bath ready.

Damon opened his eyes to glare at me.

"It's your fault, you know" he choked out.

"My fault?" I asked frowning. "It's yours… If I had moved before nothing would've happened. You told me to stand still, so I put my foot down!"

"Your feet shouldn't have left the ice at all" he retorted. "And it would only make it happen sooner"

"Fine, believe whatever you want, Damon" I grumbled, wrapping another towel around his shoulder. "Go take a bath before you get a hypothermia and I have to watch you slowly die tonight"

"You owe me" he grumbled. "Cockblocked and frozen"

I smiled at his back and walked to join him in that warm bath.

"Why can't we go faster?" Klaus complained.

"Yes, we've been doing this for two hours already" Damon said.

Caroline and I stopped and frowned at them. It was the first day after Rebekah and Jacob and we decided to go hiking, and they had grumbled all the way.

"Because humans can't hike so fast in the snow" Caroline said.

"But there aren't humans in the region, love" Klaus retorted.

"Yes, but we won't be able to truly enjoy the scenery if we go faster" I said.

"We took a lot of pictures, and I'm sure we can you can come back some other time" Damon said and turned to Klaus with a hopeful expression. "Right?"

"Right!" Klaus agreed.

"Klaus" Caroline whined.

"Love" he retorted smiling.

"My phone just got out of signal" Damon said looking at his phone and frowned at him. "Can I go back?"

"Who are you expecting to call?" I cocked an eyebrow.

Klaus fished his phone out of his pocket, and frowned at the screen. Caroline sighed.

"Go" she said with a small smile.

"But… you?"

"I'll continue the hike with Bella for another hour then we'll head back, vampire-speed" she promised.

He kissed her gently, and rushed down the mountain. I rolled my eyes at Damon's pout.

"Go" I said.

He smirked and walked to me.

"When you get back, there will be a warm bath, with flower petals, champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries" he promised.

"There better be" I smiled.

He kissed me passionately and when Caroline cleared her throat, we broke apart. He rushed down the mountain to catch up with Klaus.

"So…" I said quietly as we turned to continue our hike. "What was that?"

"Klaus gets antsy if his phone isn't working" she shrugged and gave me a small smile. "Elijah could call warning Hayley is going into labor any time at this point"

"I imagine that this vacation isn't soothing his nerves much" I frowned.

"He's anxious even though he doesn't admit it"

"What about you?" I questioned.

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"The more he gets excited the more… dread fills me" she said quietly. "He's so excited about this baby, and… It doesn't matter that he tries to get me involved. It doesn't matter that I helped decorate the nursery; that I explained a few things to him that he didn't understood by the books I gave him… It doesn't matter, because I'm not the mother, and I won't ever be. And what if he wants another baby?"

She huffed and we fell into silence for the next few minutes, before she stopped and sat on the snow, looking at the horizon. I sat beside her and fidgeted with the laces of my white snow boots.

"This sucks" she murmured.

"It does" I said sighing. "Damon… Every time the subject is raised, he keeps watching me, with those apologetic eyes, waiting for me to break down. As if he had done something wrong. He doesn't understand that I'm wrong too" she frowned at me. "I'm happy for you and Klaus… I think this baby will be good to you, but I can't help but be jealous. And then I remember of the cure we've lost… Well, I lost it…"

I trailed off and laid back. Caroline let out a mirthless chuckle.

"Vampires are screwed up" she said.

"We are" I chuckled.

We entered the house, and took off the snow covered boots, before rushing upstairs where it was warmer to be barefoot – at least to Caroline. Damon and Klaus were in a history discussion, discussing their first-hand views on World War II and the Cold War. When Klaus saw Caroline and I entered, he gave her a smile and shook his head. She relaxed a bit, even though it had been obvious that nothing had happened while we continued our hike.

Caroline and I decided to cuddle in with them, drinking hot chocolate and searching for something to watch on TV while they continued their discussion. Caroline had just settled in show about fashion, making the men groan, when her phone rang. She rushed to get it and when she came back, from the conversation, it seemed it was Bonnie. She frowned confusedly, pulled the phone away from her ear and tapped the screen.

"Okay, you're on speakerphone, Bon" she said.

"Bella?" Bonnie asked.

"Hey, Bon, how were the holidays?"

"Great" she giggled. "Edward proposed"

"What?" Caroline screeched.

"Of course… Cullen" Damon grumbled as he and Klaus exchanged a look.

"Congratulations, Bonnie" I said smiling. "And Edward"

"He said thanks" Bonnie answered.

"Can I plan it? Can I be bridesmaid? Oooh, I know the perfect flowers…" Caroline rambled.

"Care!" Bonnie interrupted with a laugh. "I'm calling exactly for that… I would like you and Bella to be bridesmaids"

"Of course!" Caroline said excitedly.

"Bella?" Bonnie asked nervously.

"Yes, Bonnie" I chuckled.

"Okay… Alice is planning a engagement party for the end of the month, and I expect you here"

Caroline tensed, and frowned.

"Okay" I answered.

"I gotta go. Edward is talking to their cousins" she said quickly. "Can't wait to see you guys! Bye!"

Caroline mumbled goodbye, and hung up.

"Caroline, what's wrong?" I asked worriedly.

"I still didn't tell Bonnie… About Klaus" she said looking at him. "And by the end of the month..."

"The baby will be here" Klaus muttered clenching his jaw. "You can go alone, if you wish"

"Of course not!" she said. "I just… don't know how…"

"Oh , for Christ's sake! I got your mother's permission, but I should be worried about Elena... and now Bonnie!" he scoffed.

"No… I just don't want to stress her on her engagement party" Caroline said quietly. "We'll go, us three and… everything will be fine"

She seemed to be assuring more herself than him.

I opened the door and Caroline followed me, dropping one of her bags, and walking to the couch. As Damon and Klaus entered, dropping down the luggage, Caroline laid down on the couch, and sighed. I sat on an armchair, and smiled as I looked around.

"Home sweet home" I sighed.

"I have some bourbon" Damon said guiding Klaus to the bar.

"I doubt you have anything good enough to please me, but let's see" Klaus said following him.

"We have to go shopping" Caroline said. "Last time, I wasn't able to"

"Yes, Klaus came, swept you off your feet and you immediately left" I said teasingly and took off my coat. "We could go right now"

"Aren't you tired?" she frowned at me. "It was a seven hours car ride"

"It's really difficult for me to get tired" I shrugged. "Cold one thing"

"Which is good for me" Damon said, plopping down beside me with a smirk. "She never runs out of stamina"

"Ugh!" Caroline scrunched her nose at us, as I rolled my eyes at him, but smiled as he pulled me closer to him.

"It has been some time since I visited Paris" Klaus said sitting beside her and looking at the window. He was sipping a glass of Damon's bourbon. "How about a tour through the museums? I'm sure you'll love the Louvre, love" he smiled at her.

"Alright" she said. "We can do that today, relax, and tomorrow, Bella and I will go shopping"

"Well, then we should get going, so there is time to see everything" I said.

Damon groaned and I pulled him up, and wrapped my arms around his waist. He kissed me softly, playing with the hem of my long-sleeved shirt.

"Home sweet home" he whispered happily.

"Oh, your face when you saw the escargot" I teased Caroline as we walked out of the restaurant.

"Shut up" she scowled at me.

Klaus laughed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, and the scowl disappeared. We talked and laughed as we walked back to the apartment, the snowy Paris scenery making everything more soothing, nicer, and perfect. It had been so long since we didn't have to stress, that we could hang out without some tension. And the fact that Klaus was now included on the list of friends was a nice surprise.

"The wine was divine" Caroline commented.

"Yes, I had drunk that wine before but a younger one… It was nice but not as much as this one" I said.

"How about we get a bottle to bring home?" Klaus suggested to her.

"We have it at home, we just never opened it" Damon said. "There's a cellar on the outskirts of town, that is great on champagnes and wines"

"We could go there tomorrow while the girls shop" Klaus said.

He was interrupted by his phone, and he answered it without pausing to check who was it.

"Hello"

His smile slowly fell as whoever was calling spoke. We all stopped walking, and Caroline watched him with worry, as he squeezed her hand.

"Fine. Yes. Of course, Elijah!" he snapped. "Alright. Bye"

He hung up and gripped his hair as he resumed our walk, his pace much faster than before.

"Klaus, wait!" Caroline called as we rushed to catch up.

"Hayley is having in labor and I'm across the world" he growled looking at her. "I told you this wasn't a good idea"

"Everything will be fine, she had it all planned and Elijah and Kol are with her" she said soothingly reaching for his hand.

"It's not enough!" he snapped. "I should be there to make sure everything will be fine"

"Klaus" I said calmly and he scowled at me. "I'm sure that is something went even remotely wrong, Elijah would have told you. You'll see, you might be there before the baby is born. This things take time. You have to keep calm"

He rolled his eyes and turned away, bursting in through the doors of our building's lobby. A couple and the doorman jumped a bit in fright at the sudden entrance, and Damon smiled at them apologetically. Klaus was typing furiously on his phone as the elevator rode up, and Caroline watched him, tense.

"I'll call the airport to set up a private flight departure" Damon said as we walked into the apartment.

Klaus nodded, already on the phone as well.

"Come on, Care, I'll help you organize your things" I said quietly, guiding her to the guest room.

When I closed the door, she sat on the edge of the bed, gripping her hair tightly. I crouched in front of her, my hands resting on her knees and she looked up at me, her hands falling from her hair to twist nervously on her lap.

"I'm fine" she gave me a shaky smile.

"No, you're not" I said softly.

"Yeah, but I'm not the one going into labor, and it would be silly to freak out considering I'm feeling fine"

"It's okay to freak out. Your life is about to change drastically"

"I already knew that for a few months, so… Why am I freaking out?" she said with tears in her eyes.

"Because it doesn't matter how many times people try to tell you and Klaus that everything will be fine. Something might go wrong, and… Your boyfriend will be a dad in a few hours" I frowned. "Sorry, I'm really going in the dark here, I have no idea why you're freaking out. I have as much experience with this as you" I shrugged.

She smiled, wiping at her eyes.

"No, you're… you're right" she mumbled. "I'm scared, and Klaus is freaking out, which isn't soothing at all"

"Do you wanna call Alice to see if she can sooth you a bit about the future?"

"No" she shook her head. "She must be with Bonnie, with wedding plans and all, and I don't want to bother her over something so silly"

"What can I do to help then?"

She shrugged, smiling a bit at me and then her eyes shone.

"Go with us" she said quietly. "Please! As much as Elijah is nice to me, I don't have any friends there, and I could really use some right now"

"I don't know…" I said uncertainly.

"Please, Bella. I can't ask Elena, or Bonnie… And the town is full of vampires, I can't call my mom…"

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, while listening to Damon and Klaus on the phone.

"Fine, just let me get ready and warn Damon" I said.

She hugged me tightly, thanking me and I just hoped this wouldn't freak Damon out.

I sighed as Caroline's head rested on my shoulder and she fidgeted. It had been a long flight, Klaus was not in a good mood, Caroline didn't know what to do about it and was still freaking out. I looked at my left, at Damon, my hand still rubbing Caroline's upper arm. He had a deep frown, and his arms were crossed as he stared at Elijah, sitting across from us with Kol. The Mikaelson youngest brother seemed amused by the tension between Damon and Elijah. I crossed my legs, my ankle bootie hitting Damon's leg, and his eyes shot to mine.

"Stop it" I mouthed.

He scowled at me, and Kol chuckled, bringing Elijah's attention to us. He put away the magazine he was reading, cocking an eyebrow at me and smiling.

"I'm gonna get coffee" Damon said standing up suddenly.

"Damon…"

"What?" he snapped and I glared at him. "Sorry, waiting is maddening" he lied.

"Get me some and a water bottle for Caroline" I said.

He nodded and was just a few feet away, when Klaus turned around the corner of the hall and crashed into him.

"Watch it" Klaus snapped.

"Jeez, it seems someone is getting contractions" Damon teased.

Elijah blurred to Klaus, grabbing his arm before he could attack Damon. Caroline sat straight up and I stood up.

"Brother" Elijah said warningly.

"I don't need your help" Damon said. "I can defend myself"

Klaus ripped his arm off Elijah's hold and sighed.

"Sorry" Klaus said but it didn't seem he meant it.

"I'll go get that coffee" Damon said and cocked an eyebrow at Klaus. "Black for you? As your soul?"

"Yes" Klaus answered walking to sit on Caroline's right.

"I want a latte" Kol said.

"Get it yourself" Damon said before walking away.

"How is Hayley?" Elijah asked Klaus going back to his seat.

"She threw me out" Klaus grumbled.

Kol chuckled and we glared at him.

"Apparently I can't compel nurses on my own child's birth"

"I'm sure she's just stressed" I said. "They say woman in labor can go crazy"

"I'll check on her" Kol said standing up.

We were silent until he was out of sight, and I checked on his footsteps to see if he was out of earshot. I cocked an eyebrow at Caroline and she shrugged.

"He and Hayley became friends" Elijah said and shrugged when I frowned at him. "Apparently his jokes could get her in a good mood"

"Great, I go on a trip for the holidays and you let Kol get closer to the mother of my child" Klaus said. "If she runs away, I'll blame him and you, brother"

"How long before the baby is born?" Caroline asked quietly.

"I don't know" Klaus sighed, leaning back.

"It's been almost twelve hours" I frowned. "How much is she dilated?"

He turned to me with a scowl.

"I think six and I don't want to remember or think about it" he said.

"Men" I rolled my eyes and reached for a magazine. "How did you expect the baby to come out…"

"Ah, shut up!" Klaus cut me off. "Just… don't"

We chuckled, and soon the mood in the room was much lighter.

"Is everything ready?" Klaus asked Elijah.

"Yes, the rooms are ready for their return and I improved security" Elijah said.

"Improved security?" I asked frowning.

"Compelled vampires" Elijah answered.

"I thought Marcel had them on vervain" Caroline frowned in confusion.

"Not the new ones" Elijah shrugged.

"New ones?!" Caroline exclaimed and scowled at Klaus. "Klaus? What the hell?"

"You didn't really think I would bring the baby back home to a town where vampires don't answer to me, did you, love?" Klaus said.

Kol showed up interrupting the conversation.

"Ahn, Hayley is with eight centimeters or whatever, and she wants to discuss names with you" Kol said to Klaus awkwardly.

"Alright" Klaus sighed.

He kissed Caroline's cheek, and left. Kol and Elijah started a conversation and Damon came back with our coffees. He sat beside me and held my hand, his thumb rubbing soft circles. I sipped the coffee, looking at the Original brothers, and looked back at Caroline.

"She's moving in with you?" I asked quietly frowning.

"I… I wasn't aware" she mumbled and sighed. "I guess so, Klaus will want the baby home, and the baby needs her…"

I nodded, taking her hand in mine, sensing how much the subject bothered her.

Caroline knocked on the door and we heard Klaus tell to come in. She glanced at me, and opened the door slowly. The room was big, big enough to be clear that Klaus had paid or compelled someone. We all walked in, and Klaus looked over his shoulder, with the biggest smile I had ever seen his wear. He was sitting on the edge of the hospital, bed, leaning over Hayley, but pulled back a bit so we could look. She look drained, but happy. She was smiling down at the bundle in her arms, a tiny little hand peaking out, grabbing her finger. The blanket the baby was wrapped in was blue, but that was not a surprise. She pulled her eyes away from the baby long enough to smile at us, but soon was smiling at him again.

"Lucas" Klaus said proudly.

"Congratulations, brother" Elijah said smiling.

Kol stepped forward, and patted Klaus on the shoulder, giving him the bouquet of flowers he had gotten.

"Thanks" Klaus said and turned to Hayley. "I asked him to get it for you"

She looked at the red roses entwined with lilies, and smiled at him.

"Thank you. That's sweet" she said softly.

"Where should I put them?" he asked.

"There" she said nodding to a table by the window. "So they can get some sun"

"Here, I'll put them" I said stepping forward.

Klaus thanked me as he gave me the bouquet, but immediately went back to fussing over the newborn baby. I put the bouquet on an empty vase that was in another table and took it to the table Hayley had said. Caroline was standing close to it, leaning against the wall, watching everything with tearful eyes. I glanced back at the group; Kol and Elijah sat on armchairs across the room, and Damon was leaning against the wall, by the door, watching everything. He didn't seem comfortable at all. I looked at Caroline and touched her arm softly. She flinched and her eyes snapped to mine.

"Are you alright?" I mouthed.

She nodded, swallowing hard as the new-parents laughed quietly about something. Klaus finger had replaced Hayley's and he was playing with the gripping little fingers.

"Yeah" she whispered as a tear ran down her cheek.

"Care…" I whispered.

"No, no" Klaus said.

"Come on, Klaus" Hayley chuckled.

I turned again and saw he was reluctant as she tried to make him hold the baby. He was awkward as she passed him the baby, but as the bundle was settled on his arms, he relaxed and was a natural at it. Hayley leaned back and they talked quietly as Klaus rocked the baby slowly. Caroline brushed past me, rushing out the door and as I followed her, I noticed only Elijah, Kol and Damon had noticed her leaving. I found her at the end of the hall, sitting on the ground, against the wall, crying. I slid down to the ground beside her and sighed, stretching my legs in front of me.

"I'm fine" she said wiping her eyes.

"Okay"

"I am" she said rolling her watery eyes. "I'm just… emotional"

"Hm"

"Stop with that" she said scowling at me.

"What?"

"The short answers!"

I shrugged and we stared at one another for a long moment, and eventually her tears fell faster.

"They have a baby. And he's gushing over not only Lucas, but her too. He gave her flowers. He invited her to live with us, and didn't tell me. He's happy, and I'm… jealous, and this makes me a bad person. I should be happy with him, for him. But no, I'm here, outside, crying, envying and he didn't even noticed it"

"I don't know what to say" I mumbled.

"Don't say anything… Just… Stay a bit, please?"

I nodded and she closed her eyes, leaning back, and a few more tears trailed down, but soon exhaustion took her and she fell asleep. I quietly stood up and walked back into the room. Hayley was asleep, the baby was in the glass bassinet, and Klaus was watching him sleep.

"Caroline fell asleep, help me?" I asked Damon quietly.

Klaus turned to me and cocked an eyebrow.

"Where is she?"

"Ahn, we were outside so we could talk without bothering…" I lied. "Can I take her to your house?"

"Yes, of course" he looked at Elijah and Kol. "Can you take them to our home? I'll stay, and tomorrow I'll pass by"

Elijah nodded and they said goodbye to Klaus before following Damon and I out. Damon picked her up from the floor and she groaned, resting her head on his shoulder. We passed by the living room to gather out stuff, and slowly walked out of the hospital.

"She's… upset" Elijah said softly to me as we watched Damon put her in the car.

I shrugged and got in the car with Damon. He looked at Caroline in the backseat and sighed, turning on the engine and waiting for Elijah and Kol's car to lead the way.

"This is one messed up family" he said quietly.

"This is strange" Damon said frowning as he folded the piece of clothing for the hundredth time.

"Because you don't know how to fold clothes, you can't learn or because it's baby clothes?" I asked as I folded a little shirt.

"I forgot the mess the extra room was" Caroline said as she folded quickly. "Or that I had gotten so much stuff"

"It's alright, we'll get everything done in time"

The front door opened and two vampires passed carrying a huge dresser, with Kol following.

"Where should I have them put it?" Kol asked Caroline.

"In the nursery of course…"

"Where in the nursery?" he rolled his eyes.

"Anywhere, just soon so I can put all this stuff away, before Lucas comes home" she said gathering an armful of clothes.

I followed her, carrying the clothes I had folded and the two Damon had. As I entered the room, I was impressed. There was nothing normal about this baby, not even his room. Instead of the common blue walls, the walls had been painted, no doubt, by Klaus, one mashing into another, creating a beautiful piece of art. A beautiful landscape filled them, hills of green grass and trees on one wall; the dark starry sky on another, the full moon pictured perfectly; on the last wall, the night turned into the skyline of a city, and although there wasn't tell signs of it being New York, the lights of the buildings reminded me of it. The furniture was all in mahogany and the floor-to-ceiling window that took an entire wall had curtains that were dark blue and green dyed. The soft, dark brown carpet muted our steps as Caroline and I moved around the room, she organizing stuff and I taking in everything. The vampires left and Kol stood in the middle of the room, looking around.

"I think it's perfect" Kol said.

"Hm…" Caroline looked around looking for a flaw.

"It's perfect" I said smiling at her.

She rushed to the window, pulling the curtains open, revealing that it wasn't a window, but sliding doors that led to a balcony. She opened them a bit, and the fresh air filled the room, just enough to refresh, but not enough to cool the room with the winter weather. She took a deep breath and gave us a small smile.

"Done" she said quietly.

"Let's put the bottles you got on the kitchen" I said.

We were just getting to the ground floor when we the door opened. Klaus walked in, carrying two bags and a baby carrier, and held the door open to Hayley that was carrying in the baby in her arms. She thanked him and turned to go to the living room. Klaus looked up as he closed the door and smiled at us, or at Caroline.

"We're home" he said.

She smiled at him and we followed him to the living room. Hayley had taken a seat in one of the couches, and was talking to Elijah about the medical check the baby went through. I had asked Caroline why they had taken her to the hospital, considering something about the baby could out them. She had told me Hayley had wanted it, and the witches had said it was okay. Klaus dropped the things on the floor, and sat beside her, dropping an arm on the back of the couch, behind her, as he leaned in to see the baby. I saw once again what had been bothering Caroline. It was as if she didn't exist, Klaus wasn't desperate for her attention anymore, and while that was okay, the baby had brought him and Hayley much closer. Close enough to make Caroline worry.

"I need to sleep. The hospital room was very nice, thank you, but it was still a hospital with nurses checking in during the night" Hayley said and passed the baby to Klaus. "You've got him, right?"

"Yeah" he said waving her off.

"Wake me when he gets hungry" she said.

She slowly went upstairs and we continue to watch Klaus being a dad. It was freaky how gentle, delicate he was with Lucas.

"I'll go put the bottles away and unpack the hospital bags" Caroline said quietly.

"Leave it" Klaus said and grinned at her. "Come on, you should get to know each other"

She looked at me, and back at him. He looked at her expectantly, and she stepped forward hesitantly. She slowly sat beside him and he moved the baby so she could see him. She stared at the baby and he smiled looking between his girlfriend and son.

"Lucas, meet Caroline" he said and the baby gurgled, his arms waving around madly. "Yeah, she's beautiful isn't she?" Caroline smiled shakily. "But, she's mine, so eyes off, and hopefully, by the time you turn into a hormone-crazed teenager, she'll be your official stepmom, and you'll consider her disgusting to date"

Caroline chuckled, and reached an hesitant hand to the baby. His little hand hit hers, and he stopped moving so much, grabbing her thumb in his fingers and his other hand balled up in a fist and he sucked on it, staring at her.

"He has your eyes" Caroline whispered.

"And nose" Elijah chuckled.

"He's beautiful" she said quietly.

The baby made an unintelligible sound and Caroline chuckled.

"Here, hold him" Klaus said.

"What?!" she panicked. "No, no!"

I chuckled at her panic as I sat beside Damon across from them.

"Take him" Klaus said smiling.

"No! Klaus, I never … I don't have any experience with this. I'll drop him" she said nervously. "Seriously, no. You're good with him, stay with him. Besides, I have to put the bottles away and unpack…"

He put the baby in her arms and she froze with it, looking at him with wide eyes.

"I'll do that, and you stay with him a bit" Klaus said and shrugged. "Besides, it can be tiring holding him…"

He went to the kitchen and Kol followed him. Caroline looked down at the baby and at me with panic.

"I… I told my mother she didn't have to come, but I'm reconsidering" she said nervously. "I should have asked her some things…"

"You're fine, Care, you just need to relax" I said as Elijah and Damon chuckled.

"No… I think it's better if he goes with Uncle Eli" she said looking at Elijah with hopeful eyes.

"I think you should get used to it… As Klaus said, hopefully, you'll be his stepmom so you have to learn" Elijah said amusedly.

"Just lean back, relax and enjoy it, Caroline" Damon said rolling his eyes at her.

She did as he said, leaning back on the couch, but didn't relax. It took a few minutes before she gave up. She stood up carefully and moved around the coffee table to me.

"Here, take him" she told me bending to give him.

"Caroline" I frowned.

"Please" she said softly.

I could tell she wasn't worried she wasn't getting the hangs off it. The baby was getting to her, too much. Her eyes were watery once again, and I saw sadness in them. I smiled at her, and took the baby from her. I settled him on my chest, and he squirmed a bit in my arms but as his right hand wrapped around a lock of hair, he calmed down. I took his other hand in my fingers, playing with it as I hummed a song to see if he fell asleep and we could put him down. He gurgled happily, and his hand escaped my fingers to pull at the neckline of my short-sleeved sweater.

"No, no" I chuckled quietly as I pulled his hand away. "You little perverted boy"

I settled my cheek softly against the side of his face and caressed his back.

"Are you drooling on me?" I asked amusedly and Caroline handed me a box of wipes that had been on the hospital bag, smiling at me. "I won't be mad at you. Only because you're too cute for your own good"

"You look great with him" Damon said quietly and smiled at me. "You're great"

"Yeah, a natural" Caroline agreed.

"Maybe motherhood would have fitted you, Bella" Elijah said. "A shame… I'm sure Lucas will enjoy having you as aunt though"

"What?" Damon snapped scowling at him.

"Damon" I said quietly.

"You should stop worrying so much, Salvatore. I didn't mean anything by it" Elijah said rolling his eyes and stood up. "I think that if Bella had ever thought of leaving you, she would have. You don't deserve her, but…"

He shrugged and walked out of the room. I put my hand on Damon's thigh, and he looked back at me. He relaxed, his fingers entwining with mine, and I gave him a small smile.

"Let me take a picture" Caroline said going to get her phone.

"Well, I think dinner is canceled, right?" Kol sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"What is wrong with him?" Klaus asked angrily as he rocked Lucas back and forth.

"I'm trying to find out, calm down" Caroline said flipping through a book.

"Meredith said it might a gastric problem, colic is the most probable" I said putting away my phone.

"We already massaged his tummy" Caroline sighed.

"Maybe you should try feeding him again" Klaus said, extending the baby to Hayley.

"I already did" she said, with her head in her hands.

"That's why I said again" Klaus snapped.

"He's already fed, changed, burped, rocked, massaged!" she snapped back. "He's crying without a motive!"

Caroline took the baby from Klaus and shushed it, as she walked out of the room.

I followed her and saw her rocking him gently as she took deep breaths.

"Klaus needs to get his temper under control" she said quietly. "What will he do when Lucas drives him mad?"

"I think he already did today" I chuckled. "Better to snap at Hayley than at Lucas" I looked at the crying baby, and played with his hand. "Hey, hey, don't cry…"

He ignored the request, all of us tried but Luke just wouldn't stop crying. Hayley and Klaus were the most stressed out ones of us, and wouldn't stop fighting above anything and everything. So it wasn't a surprise when Hayley, stressed out and impatient, walked out of the house, slamming the door behind her. I watched as Caroline looked at Klaus with worry. We knew, this was just another way her life was going to change drastically.