This took a little longer to finish up than I had hoped, but anyway.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT! IT TRULY MEANS ALOT!

This chapter is dedicated to NikMik! I hope you approve! :)

Please remember to review at the end! :)

Nearly a Month Later

"You have to hold your hands like this." Caroline explained, holding her hands in the form of a 'c' close to her chest, and then slowly brought them out, closing her fists as she went. "And bring them out." She replied, watching Joey follow her movements carefully.

She nodded as he got the movement down pat, and smiled. "That's it. Great job!" She replied, watching his face light up at her words.

"What does it mean?" He asked, tilting his head to the side.

She smiled. "It means courage." She replied, leaning forward.

He nodded, and continued to practice the movements.

When Katherine had come over that morning with news about the shipment she had helped deliver for the Mikaelson's, she and Caroline had met in private, and making sure that no one could hear them, they had used sign language to discuss what had happened in detail. Of course, Joey had walked in on them, and asked them what they were doing.

When Caroline had explained that it was a form of communication, Joey immediately wanted to learn the process, so here they were, in the backyard, sitting on a big blanket with Caroline and Joey sitting face to face as she taught him the basics.

She smiled once more as she began to teach him other basics, and was proud to say that he was a natural.

"Okay, this means 'I'm hungry'." She replied, lifting her right hand in a cup form to her chin, and brought it down in slow motion to her stomach.

Joey nodded, and copied her movements with precision.

She nodded, and smiled. "That's it." She replied, with a proud tone.

Joey smiled, and sat straighter. "This is fun." He replied, excitedly.

Caroline smiled and bowed her head. "Yeah, it is." She replied, with a distant look in her eyes.

"Okay, here is another one." She began, folding her hands into fists, except her pointer fingers, and brought her right one down into the curve of her left, and then flipped the gesture. "It means friend." She explained, watching him copy the gesture.

He smiled, and bounced lightly on the ground, though he kept up with his movements.

Caroline laughed, and nodded. "You're doing great." She replied, nodding towards him.

He smiled brightly, and nodded. "Thank you." He replied, moving his right hand to his chin, and moved it towards her.

She smiled, and moved her right hand in a slight circle before bringing it up to her chin. "You're welcome."

"What's going on out here?"

Joey smiled brighter as he looked up at the man who had saved him. "Caroline is teaching me sign language." He replied, excitedly.

Klaus lifted his brows, and turned his gaze to Caroline, who was smiling. "Is she?" He replied, as he turned his gaze back to Joey.

Joey nodded, and turned back to Caroline. "I'm hungry." He replied, using his hands, watching her smile.

Caroline nodded, and smiled. She glanced at Klaus, and read his curious expression, and smiled brighter. "He just told me that he's hungry." She explained, watching Klaus nod in understanding.

He knelt down, and watched Joey beam more. "There some tuna in the kitchen that Rebekah made before she left if you want to go and make a sandwich." He replied, watching Joey nod ecstatically.

Joey turned to Caroline, and smiled. "Is it okay, mom?" He asked, calling her a name he had wanted to call her for a while now.

Caroline's eyes widened and her mouth opened in shock, as did Klaus'.

Joey bowed his head, and pulled his bottom lip in between his teeth. "I'm sorry." He whispered, shifting on the ground nervously.

Caroline moved to her knees, and lifted her hand to his chin, and lifted his head. "Why did you call me that?" She asked, watching him generate fear in his eyes.

"Because," He paused, taking a deep breathe. "You act like my mom, and even though you aren't her, you're closer to being my mom than anyone I know." He added, with more wisdom than a boy his age carried.

Caroline felt tears burn her eyes as she took in his words. She swallowed down her emotion, and slowly nodded.

Joey glanced at Klaus, who was smiling faintly. "Is it okay, if I call you mom?" He asked, turning his gaze back to Caroline.

Caroline smiled, and sniffed. "I would be honored." She replied, nodding her head.

Joey smiled, and leapt in her arms, as he wrapped his around neck. "Thank you." He whispered, pulling back and turned to Klaus. "Can I call you dad?" He asked, watching Klaus swallow.

Klaus only took a moment as he glanced at Caroline then at the little boy who was looking like he would break if he said the wrong thing. He smiled softly, and nodded. "Sure." He replied, feeling Joey leap into his arms like he did with Caroline.

Soon, Joey had pulled back, and nodded at the two he considered his parents, before he ran into the house for his lunch.

Klaus cleared his throat, and turned to Caroline who was dabbing her eyes with a small tissue she had found in her pocket. "That was something." He whispered, watching her smile and laugh.

"Yeah." She replied, lowering her hands to her lap. "I never thought that I would ever hear those words from a child." She added, lowering her head.

Klaus smiled. "Neither did I." He replied, moving to sit down on the blanket across from Caroline. "Where did you learn sign?" He asked, after a moment.

Caroline smiled, and lifted her head. "My mom." She answered, catching his eyes. "When I was ten, dad busted my mom's eardrums beyond repair, so she had to learn sign language and to read lips. I learned so I could talk to her, and I never stopped." She replied, shrugging her shoulders, though her voice held a sad note.

Klaus nodded in understanding. "Would you teach me?" He asked, watching her brighten slightly.

"You want to learn sign language?" She asked, in a light tone.

He nodded, and scooted closer to her. "If I get to kiss the teacher." He whispered his accent deep and full of sultry seduction.

She smiled and hummed as she closed the distance between them and kissed his lips. "Well, that would be a bonus." She whispered, against his lips.

He chuckled, and placed his hand on her face, as the kiss deepened.

"You know, you really should marry."

Klaus and Caroline paused, and pulled back to look at the little boy who had come back out with his arms full of plates and bread and the bowl of tuna.

Klaus smirked, secretly, and stood up to help Joey with the food in his arms. "What are you doing?" He asked, setting the stuff down on the ground.

Joey smiled, and straightened. "I figured, since, we are all out here, we could have a family picnic." He paused, looking at Caroline. "If that's alright." He added, hesitantly, watching her face become speculative.

Caroline snapped out of her mind palace, and smiled at Joey. "I think it's a wonderful idea." She remarked, watching Joey smile brightly.

He nodded enthusiastically, and turned back towards the house to get the rest of the stuff, leaving Klaus and Caroline alone once more.

"Are you alright, love?" Klaus asked, watching Caroline frown once the boy was out of sight.

Caroline smiled faintly, and nodded. "I'm fine." She replied, bowing her head, and began to spread the food out on the blanket.

Klaus watched her carefully, and sighed. Maybe she wasn't as open to marriage as he thought she was. He knew that she had been engaged, but he never knew the whole story. As he heard the door close, he made a note in his mind to ask her about it later, because if she wasn't up for it, then his plan was about to go downhill.

Not knowing what Klaus was planning, Caroline felt her heart twinge with guilt. She had to tell him, and very soon. She couldn't go on with this lie, and especially now that she had a little boy calling her mom, and a man who she was falling in love with. Or was she already in love with him? She didn't have to think about that.

Yes, she did love him. Despite everything, she loved him, and it was enough to make her decide that she needed to tell him the truth, and if he kills her, then so be it. She wouldn't hold it against him. She would still love him, and the thought of him hating her for the rest of her life because of this lie was worse than a bullet to the heart.

She had to tell him. She had to.

~XXX~

Katherine stood in front of the table in her hotel room, and slowly reached forward towards her treasure box. Slowly, she opened the lid of the box, and smiled at the few trinkets kept hidden. She always carried the box with her, no matter where she went. She smiled lightly, as she pulled out a medium thick chained necklace with a small charm on the chain.

She fingered it lightly, and everything from the past flooded her mind.

~Flashback~

She stood on the docks, and smiled as his arms wrapped around her, only to lift something in her line of sight.

She gasped, and smiled brightly. "Oh, Elijah, it's beautiful." She exclaimed, as he fastened it around her neck. "Where did you get it?" She asked, fingering the necklace around her neck.

He smiled, and shook his head as his fingers grazed her skin, lightly. "It's a gift, Katerina." He whispered, seductively. "I saw it, and thought of you, that's all you need to know." He added, kissing her cheek before she turned to face him with a smile on her face.

"Why are you spoiling me?" She asked, watching him carefully.

He smiled, and brushed the back of his fingers over her skin. "Because you are special, Katerina." He answered, lightly.

She shook her head, and smiled. "You are such a sweet talker." She whispered, coyly.

He chuckled, and leaned forward. "Oh, you have no idea." He whispered, brushing his lips over hers.

She smiled, and became enveloped in his embrace, and everything that was Elijah Mikaelson. Her lips moved over his, and her right hand caressed his cheek lightly, as her left pushed into his hair. She let out a moan as his tongue penetrated into her mouth, and sighed as he finally pulled back.

"So, my dear, where would you like to go to dinner?" He asked, as their breaths intermingled.

She smiled, and stroked his cheek lightly. "Let's just order in. I have a few things I want to go over with you." She whispered, nibbling his bottom lip seductively.

Elijah chuckled, and held her tighter. "Oh, my dear, you have no idea what you do to me." He whispered, smiling.

She giggled, and smiled. "Show me." She whispered, pulling his head back down to hers.

~End~

Katherine jerked her head out of the memory, and frowned at the trinket. "I should have thrown you away years ago." She muttered, tossing the necklace down on the table.

"Why?"

Katherine stiffened, and closed her eyes for only a moment before turning to see him standing in the doorway of her hotel room.

"How did you get in?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

Elijah bowed his head, and slowly closed the door behind him. "I know the manager." He replied, locking the deadbolt behind him.

Katherine nodded, and rolled her eyes. "I should have known." She replied, coldly.

Elijah moved towards her. "I thought we should have a talk." He began, stopping a few feet away from her.

Katherine scoffed, and shook her head. "I've heard all I need to hear from you." She replied, glaring at him with daggers.

He sighed. "I'm sure you know that Marcel is threatening the organization." He stated, ignoring her words for the moment.

Katherine inhaled deeply, and nodded. "I may have heard it in passing." She replied, coldly.

He nodded. "Then I'm sure you know that Marcel is threatening Caroline as well." He continued, watching her eyes widen slowly.

She didn't say a word until she had regained composure. "Why?" She asked, glaring at him.

"Because she is close to Niklaus." He answered, firmly, moving his eyes to the table where the necklace from long ago lay. He lifted his eyes and concealed his hope as much as he could. "Obviously, neither one of us wants anything to happen to Caroline, so I propose a truce to protect her." He replied, watching Katherine stiffen.

"Why do you care? You know she's a Marshal. Shouldn't you be rejoicing to see her killed?" She asked, watching Elijah stiffen and his eyes flash with fire.

"I do not wish any harm to come to Caroline, Katerina, for the simple fact that she has become a part of our family, and she has Niklaus' heart in her hands. If anything were to happen to her, Niklaus would harden his heart, and his emotions would cease to exist." He replied, watching her eyes falter slightly. "I do not care that she is a Marshal, Katerina. I never did, not after I found out how Niklaus feels about her, and she for him." He finalized, firmly.

Katherine nodded, slowly. "So what do you want me to do?" She asked, after a moment.

Elijah stepped closer to her, and stared into her eyes. "I want you to watch her carefully. Protect her. I know that she can take care of herself, but for the sake of her relationship with Niklaus, please watch over her." He replied, watching Katherine's face become contemplative.

"I'll watch over her." Katherine remarked, watching Elijah nod slightly. "But not just for Klaus' sake or yours, for her sake." She added, lifting her head a fraction higher. "Caroline is my best friend, Elijah, and I don't want any harm to come to her." She concluded, with a defiant look in her eyes.

Elijah nodded, and smiled. "Then we have a truce." He remarked, searching Katherine's eyes.

Katherine, against the voice in her head, nodded. "A truce." She remarked, watching him smile.

His eyes moved to the table to the necklace still lying there, and smiled. "You never answered my question." He whispered, moving his eyes to hers once more.

An emotion pushed over her like a wave, and her eyes clouded over. "I didn't throw it away because I wanted something for our child to remember you by." She replied, watching Elijah's face contort in slight pain. "Afterwards, I didn't because it was a reminder to never trust men again." She added, firmly.

"Katerina…" He began, only to stop when Katherine turned her back, and walked over to her window.

"Don't, Elijah." She replied, shaking her curly head. "I've shed my tears, and I've said my peace, so leave me alone." She added, looking out of the window, waiting for the door to close once more.

Elijah sighed, and bowed his head. He opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it. One day, he was going to get through to her. One day he was going to tell her the truth, but that was not going to be today.

Not today.

~XXX~

Caroline groaned as she lifted her phone in her hands. Glancing around her, she slid the acceptance on, and held the phone to her ear.

"Yeah."

"Caroline," Tyler's voice rang through on the other end. "How's it going?" He asked, in a cheerful tone.

Caroline rolled her eyes. To think that just a few months ago, his voice made her smile in recognition. Now, she dreaded the sound of his voice.

"Fine." She replied, stiffly.

Tyler sighed. "Alaric wants to know when you are going to bring in the Hybrid." He replied, in aggravation.

Caroline clamped her eyes shut, and raised her left hand to the bridge of her nose. "You tell Alaric that I'm close to getting the Hybrid, and if he complains about the time, you tell him that I don't give a…" She cut off, when the door opened, and Klaus walked into their bedroom.

She ended her call, and slammed her phone down on the table.

"Problem, love?" He asked, approaching her with raised brows.

She ran her right hand through her hair, and shook her head. "Nothing, I can't handle." She answered, dropping her hand, and sighed. "What's up?" She asked, trying to be happier.

Klaus smiled, and caressed her face with his right hand. "How would you like to take a short walk? There are a few things I wish to talk about." He asked, watching her smile genuinely as she nodded.

"Sure." She answered, lightly.

He smiled, and took her left hand in his right. "Let's go."

They walked until they made it to a small room, Caroline had never been in before.

"What is this room?" She asked, looking around the room, which held books and folders, she realized this was an office.

Klaus smiled, and looked around the room. "This is the office of the Hybrid." He answered, carefully.

Caroline's eyes widened slightly. "The Hybrid?" She asked, looking around her more carefully, fearful that a man with a gun would jump out from a hiding place in the room.

Klaus smirked, and leaned against the desk, and crossed his legs at the ankles and folded his arms over his chest. He slowly nodded, and smiled wider.

She swallowed and moved her head around once more. "Where is he?" She asked, swallowing hard.

Klaus smiled and bowed his head. "He's here." He answered, lifting his head to study her.

Caroline nervously shifted on her feet, though she knew she needed to keep her emotions intact. "Where?" She asked, folding her arms over her chest.

Klaus bowed his head, and lifted a brow as he lifted his eyes to look at her with a smirk on his face.

Caroline read the look on his face, and slowly felt her heart break and her blood run cold. "Y..you…" She struggled to get out.

Klaus nodded, and dropped his hands to his desk. "Yes, Caroline, I am the Hybrid." He replied, satisfactory.

Caroline felt her world end at that moment. Turning around, she ran her fingers through her hair. "It had to be you." She whispered, tears forming behind her closed eyes.

"Caroline…" Klaus began, moving towards her.

Caroline shook her head, and rubbed her right hand over her nose. She had to tell him the truth. She had to.

"Love…"

She listened to his words, and knew when she told him, it would be the end of whatever they had.

Turning on her heel, she faced him, and saw his eyes widened at the look on her face.

"Caroline…" He began, stepping closer to her, but stopped when she held up her hands, and backed away.

She gasped, and shook her head. "It had to be you." She whispered, biting her bottom lip.

Klaus narrowed his eyes, and watched as tears fell from her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Klaus." She began, biting back a sob. "I'm very sorry." She continued, pausing for only a moment. "I'm a United States Marshal, and I was sent to bring you in."

The only sound that could be heard in the room was two hearts breaking, together.

I hope you like it!

Next Chapter is the Present chapter! And then we see Klaus' reaction! I think you will be pleased at his reaction.

Until Next Time...