I know, it's been a week, but anyway...

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! IT MEANS ALOT TO ME!

Please remember to review at the end! :)

Caroline felt the world begin to close in around her as she reached the wooded back yard of their small home. How could he do this? She lowered her eyes to the ring still in her hand, and a smile crept up on her face.

"Caroline"

She stiffened, and whirled around to face him head on. "What the hell, Klaus?" She shouted, stepping toward him. "If this is some kind of game you are playing at, let me tell you…"

"It's not a game, love." He replied, shaking his head. "It's real." He added, as she stopped directly in front of him.

Slowly, she shook her head. "If this is some kind of new way to get me not to turn you in or what have you, then you are in for a huge disappointment." She stated, waving the box in front of him, before placing it in his hands, and turning away.

Klaus sighed, but the smile lingered on his face. "Caroline, this is not a way to manipulate you, love." He replied, slowly.

Caroline threw her head back, and scoffed. "Ha!" She shouted, crossing her arms over her chest.

Klaus shook his head, and moved to stand behind her. "Love, I'm serious. I want you to be my wife. I want to spend the rest of my life lying beside you, and holding you, and loving you. I want to have a family with you." He whispered, near her ear, trying to get her to see the truth. "I love you, Caroline, and I want to marry you."

Caroline felt tears burn her eyes at his declaration. She wanted to marry him. She did, but there was one problem they still hadn't addressed, and she had to have the answer before she gave him hers. Slowly turning around, she found him extremely close to her person. Taking a step back, she stared into his eyes. "Are you asking me because a wife can't testify against her husband?" She asked, softly, watching his face contort in hurt and surprise.

"Caroline," He began, but she stopped him.

"Please, Klaus, just answer me." She whispered, tears beginning to fall down her face.

He sighed. "I won't lie, Caroline. The thought has crossed my mind, but," He paused, when she closed her eyes. Placing his right hand on her face, he gently wiped the tears from her cheek, and smiled when she opened her eyes once more. "That's not the reason I'm asking." He whispered, searching her eyes. He paused, licking his lips, trying to get the right words arranged in his mind. "These past few months since we started over, have been the best for me. I have watched you with our son, and it's made me love you even more than I ever thought possible." He paused, catching a few more tears falling down her face. "I don't know what the future hold for us, and I don't care, as long as I have you by my side." He whispered, searching her eyes.

Caroline heard her heart pound in her chest, and she knew she had to answer soon. "Please don't be lying to me." She whispered, after a moment.

Klaus smiled, and kissed her forehead gently. "I will never lie to you, Caroline, never again. I promise you." He whispered, firmly.

She felt her walls come crumbling down as his words struck chords deep within her. "If you had asked me months ago, I would have turned you down." She whispered, pulling her head back to look into his eyes. "But now…" She paused, having to swallow her nerves.

"Now?" He asked, hoping strongly that she would give him the answer he wanted more than anything.

She smiled faintly, and lifted her hand to caress his face, gently. "Now, I can't think of anything better for my life than spending it with you and Joey." She whispered, shaking her head, and shrugging her shoulders.

He smiled, and closed the distance between them a fraction. "Will you marry me, Caroline?" He asked, lowly, caressing each word from his lips.

Caroline shivered at the words, and lifted her left hand, slowly. "Of course, I will." She whispered, tears falling down her face, delicately.

Klaus smiled, and slowly pulled back enough to place the ring on her finger, and once it was placed, he lowered his head and kissed her soundly, and thoroughly, sending shivers through both of their bodies.

They slowly pulled back, and Caroline glanced down at the ring nestled on her finger, and smiled. "I never dreamed I would come this far." She whispered, moving her finger so the ring would catch the sunlight.

Klaus smiled, and brushed his left hand over her face, as his right grasped her hand, and brought it to his lips for a sweet kiss. "Neither did I." He whispered, holding her eyes as his lips brushed over her knuckles.

"Are you sure about this, Klaus?" Caroline whispered, as she placed her forehead on his.

Klaus smiled, and held her left hand firmly in his. "Positive, love." He whispered, rubbing his forehead, lightly on hers.

She smiled, and stepped closer to him with no space between their bodies. "My superiors are going to flip when they find out." She replied, softly with a small laugh, winding her right arm around his neck.

He chuckled. "Are you going to tell them?" He asked, wrapping his left arm around her waist.

She exhaled slowly, and shook her head. "Not yet." She whispered, pulling back to look into his eyes. "Probably never." She added, searching his eyes.

He smiled, and lifted his right hand, still holding her left, and stroked her cheek, lightly. "That may have to happen, love." He replied, softly. "I mean, you do work for the government." He added, shrugging his shoulders.

She smiled, and nodded her head, but the smile faded slightly as she continued to think. "Not for long, remember." She whispered, searching his eyes.

He sighed, and stroked her face again. "You don't have to." He whispered, gazing into her eyes.

She nodded, and stroked the back of his neck. "Yes, I do." She returned, smiling. "I want you, and a life with you, and I can't have that if I stay a Marshal." She added, shaking her head, and lowering her eyes. "I have to make a choice, and that choice is you and Joey." She finished, with a certainty in her voice, which left no doubt in Klaus' mind.

"You would give up your job for me." He whispered, after a moment.

She smiled, and glanced at their hands still joined, and smiled. "A few months ago, I wouldn't have, but now…" She paused, lifting her eyes to his. "Hell yeah." She stated, smiling.

He smiled in returned and leaned forward to gently kiss her lips. "I would do the same for you, love." He whispered, as they pulled apart, slightly. "I want you to know that." He added, pulling back enough to gaze into her eyes.

She searched his eyes, calmly, and slowly nodded. She didn't say a word as she closed the distance between them, and kissed him, giving into the passion that she had suppressed for a few months, waiting for a moment like this.

Their lips fought with dominance, and their hands roamed over each other's bodies, trying to memorize each contour, every curve, every little thing about the other.

They parted slightly, trying to catch their breath, before attacking each other's lips once more. Caroline hummed against his lips, and her hands moved into his hair, as his moved over her hips, under her shirt.

Klaus moved his lips to her cheek, and placed panted kisses down her throat, relishing the sound of her hums and groans of satisfaction.

Neither cared that they were in the backyard, nor noticed the audience they had peering from the back window of the house.

Joey smiled brightly as he looked up to Rebekah, and tugged on her hand. "Does this mean I'll have a family?" He asked when she looked down at him.

Rebekah smiled, and brushed her fingers over his face. "You already have a family, Joey, but," She paused, glancing at her brother and future sister-in-law with a smile. "This means that you will have a 'true' family." She replied, using words, her brother had told her about after he had overheard Joey's conversation with Caroline days before.

Joey smiled brightly, and nodded. "Good." He stated, backing away, and headed towards the living room, leaving his parents alone to their celebration. He would join them later, but right now, he didn't have to be told that they needed this moment to themselves.

~X~

Bonnie sighed as she un-wrapped the cookies she had brought for the dinner, and shivered when she felt arms encircle her waist. "Weren't you supposed to be in the living room, picking at Klaus and Caroline?" She asked, knowing he enjoyed his little games with his brother.

Kol smiled, and dipped his head to kiss her cheek, lightly. "Yeah, but they aren't paying much attention to the rest of us." He replied, placing his chin on her shoulder.

"Do you blame them?" She asked, with a light laugh.

Kol smirked, and placed his hands on her stomach, clasping his hands to secure her to him. "Nope, but it does get sickening after a while." He whispered, moving his lips to her neck.

Bonnie smiled, and tilted her head to the side, giving him full access to her neck. "And this isn't?" She asked, lowly, feeling his lips turn upward in a smile on her skin.

"No way." He muttered, kissing her lightly.

She pulled away, and turned to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "When should we tell them?" She asked, searching his eyes.

Kol's smile brightened, slightly for a brief moment, before it faded. "I think we should wait until everything dies down." He whispered, softly.

Bonnie smiled, and nodded in agreement. "It's going to be hard, Kol." She whispered, moving her hands to his shoulders. "Especially when we move." She added, gently.

Kol sighed, and bowed his head. "We won't be moving too far, Bonnie." He replied, pulling her closer to him. "Just to the college." He added, shaking his head.

Bonnie sighed, and trailed her hands to his chest. "You're taking a big risk going back to college with everything that's happening." She whispered, lifting her eyes to his.

He smiled, and trailed a finger over her cheek. "I took an even bigger risk marrying you when I should be keeping you safe." He whispered, lowering his head to kiss her lips, gently.

Bonnie smiled, and returned his kiss, softly. "I love you, Kol Mikaelson." She whispered, as they parted.

Kol smiled, and kissed her forehead before placing it on hers. "I love you too, Bonnie Mikaelson." He whispered, rubbing his forehead on hers.

Bonnie giggled, and lifted her shoulders. "I love the sound of that." She whispered, moving her arms to around his neck.

He chuckled, and gazed into her eyes. "So do I." He whispered, leaning forward to kiss her lips, gently.

She leaned into him, deepening the kiss just a fraction, and smiled contently when he pulled back. "We should get back to the others." She whispered, as his lips grazed over hers.

He nodded, and kissed her lightly. "We should." He agreed, but made no movement to move away.

Bonnie shook her head, and gently pushed him away, and sent him a playful glare. "We have tonight, Kol, but right now, we need to spend Christmas with the family." She replied, kissing his cheek before stepping to the side.

Kol sighed, and grasped her hand before she moved out of his reach. "Fine, but I don't like it." He stated, kissing her temple, causing her to laugh, lightly.

"I didn't say we had to like it, Kol." She whispered, leaning into his side as they walked out of the kitchen to the where the family was sitting in the living room.

Kol groaned, wishing he could just take his new bride away from here, and make love to her until they could neither walk.

He smiled as they sat down on one of the love seats in the living room, and remembered the proposal he had made a few days before, and how he had told Bonnie that Damon could marry them on Christmas Eve, so they could bring in the Christmas spirit in each other's arms. It had brought tears to her eyes when he had brought Sheila to give her away, even though he had to beg Klaus for such a moment.

Yes, Klaus was the only one who knew, and Kol knew his brother would keep the secret until the right moment. It was risky with what the family did, but Kol had given it too much thought, and realized that the only thing he wanted more than anything else in his life was to have Bonnie Bennett be his wife for the rest of his. So he had asked her, and she had said yes without a moment's thought, and they had married on Christmas Eve with only Damon and his wife, Rose, and Sheila as their witness, and it was enough.

The one thing Klaus didn't know was the thought of Kol going back to college to finish up his degree. Years before, Kol had attended college, but had dropped out when the family needed him, and he never wanted to return, until now. With Bonnie's encouragement, Kol applied and received word that he had been accepted back into the law program. Yes, he was going to be a lawyer, and he was happy about it.

Looking around at his family, he knew he made the right decision, and when he glanced at his bride, he realized that he was wrong. He hadn't made the right decision. They had made the decision, together.

~Hours Later~

Katherine fingered the papers in front of her, and placed her head in her right hand. She sniffed, as she read the information contained in the documents before her.

"Katerina"

Katherine looked up to her left, and smiled at Elijah. "Our son is in New Orleans." She whispered, holding the paper up to Elijah.

Elijah took the paper, and quickly read over the contents, and tears sprang to his eyes. "Our son." He whispered, lowering the paper, to find Katherine crying before him. "Oh, Katerina." He whispered, scooping her up, quickly into his arms.

Katherine let out a small cry, and wrapped her arms around his neck, as she held onto him as if nothing would come between them. "He's so close." She whispered, pulling back to look into his eyes.

Elijah smiled, and stroked her face, pushing a strand of her curly hair behind her hair. "Then let's go get him, my Katerina." He whispered, searching her brown eyes.

She smiled, and touched his cheek with her right hand, before cupping his face. "Are you sure?" She asked, searching his eyes.

He smiled, and leaned forward. "I love you, Katerina, and I love our son." He whispered, lowly, yet firmly. "That makes me sure." He added, watching her smile brighter.

"I love you, Elijah." She whispered, slowly, placing her lips on his.

The kiss quickly became inflamed and soon, they were making their way towards the bed in the hotel room they were renting, falling on top of the covers, removing the restrictive clothing, leaving them scattered along the floor to the bed.

Elijah pulled up, and gazed down at her with a soft expression on his face. Without a single word, he lowered his face, and softly kissed her breasts, before taking the nipples in his mouth, to gently suck on them.

Katherine arched her back, and let out a low moan as he continued to place open mouth kisses over her chest, as his left hand moved down in between her legs, caressing her.

She smiled after he lifted his head to gaze into her eyes. "It's been too long, Elijah." She whispered, caressing his face.

He smiled, and nodded, needing no other words as he pushed inside her, causing them both to groan in satisfaction.

They started rocking slow, with the sound of the bed creaking beneath them, but with one look in each other's eyes, they could no longer contain the passion they contained for the other.

Elijah placed his palms on either side of Katherine's head and thrusted deeper within her. He moaned as her fingers raked against his bare back, and her legs wrapped around his waist, taking him further inside her, giving them the feeling of euphoria with each movement.

"Oh, Katerina," He whispered, with a low moan. He wanted to say more, but the pleasure surging through his body, took over his mind, and he couldn't control his desire or thrusts.

Katherine let out a moan, and nearly screamed his name as his thrusts hit her at the perfect angle. Sweat dripped down her face and his as they reached the height of their passion.

Elijah collapsed on top of her, exhausted from the passion they had shared. Lifting his head, he pushed her sweat drenched hair from her face, and gently caressed her face. "I've missed you." He whispered, huskily.

She smiled, touching his face with her right hand. "I missed you." She whispered, pulling him down to kiss his lips.

Soon, they were feeling the effects of the time spent apart, and soon, they began the dance anew, this time, pulling the covers over them.

And once they were done, Elijah held his love in his arms all night, silently promising himself, and her, that he would never let her go again, and that he would do whatever it took to find their son, so they could become the family they both wanted.

~Later that Night~

Caroline fingered the ring on her finger, and smiled. She was engaged. She couldn't believe it. She was really engaged.

She lifted her eyes to gaze at the tree, still lit, and sighed. Joey was sleeping in his room, exhausted from the day's events. Klaus had excused himself after they had put Joey to bed, and she knew that he had a lot on his mind.

Truth was she had a lot on her mind as well. She knew that the days ahead were going to be filled with tension, and the thought of Lorenzo still out there, trying to find them, scared her.

She knew Lorenzo, and she knew he didn't give up easily. Which was why, she had taken every precaution, when she had talked to him that afternoon, after the dinner.

"Now, is not a good time, Lorenzo." She whispered, in her phone, glancing at Klaus, who was frowning at the phone.

"Then, I'll be quick, gorgeous." He mocked, though she knew he was trying to get a rile out of her, and keep her on the phone. "Give up the Hybrid, and that family will be spared." He replied, causing Caroline's body to stiffen.

"Leave the family out of this, Lorenzo." She stated, glaring at Klaus, whose jaw had clenched.

"You brought them in this, Caroline." He stated, in a satisfactory tone.

Caroline clamped her eyes shut, and shook her head. "Lorenzo, I want you to listen to me, and listen to me good," She began, in a dark tone. "You come within a mile of this family, and I'll personally destroy you and your career." She paused, opening her eyes. "Both of them!" She shouted, ending the call.

"Caroline?"

She slowly turned around, and smiled. "I'm fine, Klaus." She replied, when he sent her a look of concern.

He approached her carefully, and pulled her into his arms. "Are you sure?" He asked, searching her eyes.

She nodded, and smiled. "I'm sure." She whispered, kissing his lips quickly.

He nodded, and sighed, after she pulled back. "Well, you won't be for long, love." He whispered, causing her tilt her head to the side. "I've thought about this all day, and I think I have a solution to protect this family." He began, watching her nod. "From Bill. From Lorenzo." He added, moving his head with each word.

"What is it?" She asked, shrugging her shoulders.

He sighed, and clenched his jaw. "I want you to turn me in."

Please be kind!

I know another cliffhanger! I would apologize, but... LOL! I hope you enjoyed the present between Kol and Bonnie! And Caroline's gift to Katherine and Elijah, which most of you had guessed!

I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can! I'm in the process of studying for a Chemistry exam this week, so it's going to be tight. Please bear with me! ONLY SIX CHAPTERS TO GO! REMEMEBER THE NEXT PRESENT CHAPTER IS ALREADY WRITTEN! AND THE SEQUEL WILL BE SET! :)

Until Next Time...