Helloooo everyone! I don't have much introduction, just hope you guys enjoy the chapter. There's a lot of Kalijah in this chapter but Klaroline is on the horizon, I promise! I'm not completely sure until I'm writing but I'm thinking there's just one more chapter after this and then probably an epilogue. But who knows...that might change.

Thanks to my beautiful betas, livingdeadblondequeen, a-little-blonde-distraction, klarolineepiclove, approvesomuch, and hybridlovelies. You guys are the best!

\-[0]-[0]-/

"You have to tell him, Katherine."

"I'm aware, Caroline."

It's been over a week and Kat still hasn't told Elijah about the baby. It has taken every ounce of Caroline's being to not talk about it and let her friend figure it out on her own.

Kat finishes tidying up the display table before brushing past Caroline to head to the till. She busies herself there for awhile, counting the pennies and recounting them again. Caroline bustles around her, rearranging the petticoats and glancing over at Kat periodically. She opens her mouth to say something and closes it over and over again, not quite sure how to continue the discussion without her friend getting angry.

Caroline and Rebekah all but busted out of their skin when they found out. Caroline was so excited and Rebekah was beside herself. However, if she thinks she's got it bad, she can only imagine what Rebekah (future Auntie to the unborn child) must be going through. How do you keep a secret like this from family? She definitely has more gumption than Caroline, who has found herself avoiding the Mikaelsons even more than she was before.

Not being able to handle the silence anymore, Caroline finally speaks up again. She puts her hand over the pile of pennies, stopping Kat from counting and making her look up at her.

"It's not fair to keep this from him, Kat. You have to tell him."

"And what do I tell him?" Kat asks. "Hey, Elijah, you know how you hate kids? Well guess what?" Kat tilts her head and looks at her friend for a response.

Caroline shrinks back. "Well, I wouldn't put it exactly like that."

The till slams and Kat brushes past Caroline again and back toward the dressing room. Caroline follows, still trying to talk some sense into her friend.

"I just don't think he'll react as badly as you think he will."

"You don't know him like I do," Kat tells her. She starts to pick up the discarded lingerie in the dressing rooms and piling them on the ottoman in the center of the room. "He's going to freak out, Caroline," she blurts and tosses the handful of panties she's holding and looks squarely at Caroline. "He's going to freak out and I don't think I can handle-" Kat tapers off and takes a deep breath. It's a rare occasion for Kat to cry, and when Caroline notices a glimmer of moisture brimming her eyes, her protective nature takes over and she rushes to her side. She wraps her arms around her and soothes her by rubbing her back.

"You don't think you can handle what?" she whispers.

"The rejection." Kat backs away and lowers her hand and palms her stomach. "I'm not even sure I can handle being a mother myself, and I know that having a baby is the absolute last thing that Elijah would want. Have you seen him at the comic book store when a child asks him a question?"

Caroline tries to hold back a smile. She has witnessed Elijah's actions toward children.

"Excuse me, sir?"

"Yes, small person."

"Do you have any Pokemon cards?"

"Leave this establishment."

His interaction with them is brief, and awkward, and tends to leave them in tears and in the arms of a very disgruntled parent.

"Look, Kat, just because he's weird towards kids, doesn't mean he's going to be that way with his kid."

"Maybe." Kat lifts her chin and exhales, helping the tears to recede and calming her fluttering heartbeat. "We're seeing each other tonight. I can tell he's bothered by how little we've seen of each other. He's been acting even odder than usual."

"I don't think that's possible," Caroline deadpans, causing Kat to laugh against her will. She's in no mood for smiles, but Caroline always has a way of bringing her up when she feels down.

"Just try to remember that he cares about you, maybe even loves you."

"Oh, he loves me," Kat says matter of factly and dabs the remaining tears from under her eyes. "Just like Klaus loves you."

Caroline tilts her head and pouts. "We're not talking about me right now."

"Well I'm done talking about me, so it's your turn."

"There's nothing to talk about. I'm moving on," Caroline says and picks up the discarded lingerie and walks out of the dressing room, this time with Kat in tow.

"You are such a bad liar!"

Caroline ignores her and shuffles through the store, replacing items to their rightful place. She's not lying, she is trying to move on, it's just not working out the way it has in the past. It might have something to do with the fact that she knows he's right next door. She might not be able to see him through the walls, but she can imagine him sitting at his desk, and sketching in his notebook, looking as cute as ever while he pushes his black framed glasses back in place.

Although their break-up has been longer than their actual relationship, it still hurts, and she fears it always will. He was everything she thought she needed. Everyone says when you meet the person you're supposed to be with, you'll know.

She thought she had met him.

Caroline slumps her shoulders and turns back to Katherine, who hasn't stopped yammering on about Klaus.

"I'll make you a deal," Katherine tells her.

"And what's that?"

"I'll tell Elijah tonight, if you promise to talk to Klaus."

"Katherine-"

"No, hear me out." Kat takes the remaining clothes from Caroline's hand and sets them down on a nearby table. She grabs hold of her friends hands and says, "we both know that we have something special with those idiots next door." She flips her head in the direction of the comic book shop. "Do you really want to lose Klaus over a simple misunderstanding?"

Caroline sinks down into one of the display chairs and puts her hands in her lap. She mulls over what Katherine said before rolling her eyes and looking up at her. "It's not the same thing, Kat. You have to tell Elijah because it's the right thing to do. Klaus and I just didn't work out."

"Okay, you keep telling yourself that," she snaps back and walks away in a huff. She grabs her purse from behind the counter and makes her way to the door but turns on her heels to face Caroline one more time. "Just so you know...I'm going to hold up my part of the deal, even if you chicken out and let your pride get the better of you." She doesn't give Caroline a chance to respond, and she's out the door, a tuft of curls following in her wake.

\-[0]-[0]-/

Kat waits for Elijah in the comic book shop as he finishes his duties in the back. She looks around the room at the customers, most of them accustomed to her presence now and merely smile at her rather than gape at her. One portly young man, probably no later than twenty, eyes her from the corner of the room. She recognizes him as the guy they call Captain Sweatpants. She's no detective, but it's probably due to the Captain America t-shirt tucked into his gray sweatpants. He's pretending to be engaged with his comic book, but she notices the sideways glances and his shifting in place as a sign of discomfort. She smiles wickedly at the young man's arousal, and just for shits and giggles, pretends to adjust her boobs. She looks down at them, pushing one up and then the other before smooshing them together completely.

She's always had an appreciation for her breasts. They've served her well in the art of seduction, as well as the rest of her body. She works out, she eats well, and her figure is rockin' because of it. Her silliness quickly turns to sadness when she realizes in a few short months, her body will be as big as a house and she may as well ask Captain Sweatpants if she could borrow some of his wardrobe.

"What are you doing?"

Katherine stops and turns around to see Elijah standing behind her. "Hey! Oh you know...just giving the viewers something to gawk at." She turns around to see Captain Sweatpants fully hiding behind his comic book now.

Elijah only nods, which is a typical response when he's clueless to Kat's espièglerie. "Should we take our leave?"

"Sure," she responds but hesitates for a moment. "I know I never ask, but how's Klaus doing?"

Elijah and Katherine typically don't discuss Klaus and Caroline's relationship, mostly because Elijah is never quite sure how to respond and never truly understands the concept of 'fishing for information'.

"I'm not sure what you mean. Are you asking about his health?"

"What do you think?" she responds sarcastically and cocks her head to the side.

"I'm inclined to think no, from the tone in your voice, but I'll answer anyway. His health is fine."

"Elijah, I'm asking if he's doing okay since he and Caroline split."

"Oh, well why didn't you say that?"

Katherine bites her tongue. She wants to choke him, but she assumes that's the hormones talking and decides against it. Her shoulders slump and she crosses her arms in front of her. "Elijah, how is Klaus doing with the break up?" she says again with a bite in her words.

"He seems to spend an awful lot of time working at his desk in the back. We don't see him much up front anymore."

"Is that it?"

"I'm not sure what else there is to tell. However, it does seem like he is taking it harder than any of the other relationship that has come to its end. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious. Caroline's been pretending to not care, but every once in a while she brings him up in conversation. I can tell that she's hoping I have some insight as to how he's doing."

Before Elijah can respond they're interrupted by the office door swinging open.

"Speak of the devil."

Klaus walks to the till, opens it and retrieves the receipts hiding underneath. He doesn't notice them until Elijah pipes up.

"Hello Brother, impeccable timing."

Klaus' head snaps up and his eyes shift from side to side before he pushes his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. "What's impeccable timing?"

"Remember how you told me to relay to you any information that I learn from Katherine regarding Caroline? She only just informed me that Caroline has been asking about you."

"Elijah?!"

It's unclear as to whose voice is louder, as they both screech his name with indignation.

"Smooth, Elijah," Klaus says shifting his embarrassed gaze between the two of them. He slams the till shut and storms back into his office.

Katherine slaps Elijah on the shoulder and turns on her heels to leave. "We really need to work on your people skills."

\-[0]-[0]-/

"Elijah, where are we going?" Kat asks as she looks out the window at the unfamiliar terrain.

"It's not much further," he says from behind the wheel.

Kat stews in place, trying to keep her cool but fails miserably. She's nervous and out of control, which is not a typical feeling for her. She's usually every bit in control, and always one step ahead of everyone around her. Right now she feels as though she's the butt of a joke, and everything she says and does, just makes the universe laugh louder.

She shifts her gaze to Elijah, who seems poised and confident, like he always does. As crazy as he seems to others, his genuine disinterest in things that don't have anything to do with him, is a common trait they share. He's also calm, and cool, and he's got his shit together, and somehow knowing that about him makes her feel a little better. Maybe other men she's dated in the past would have been destructive and angry over the predicament she finds herself in, but not Elijah...not her Elijah.

She peers down at the speedometer and chuckles at the speed he's decided is appropriate. Not one mile lower and not one mile higher, he keeps the car in cruise control and strolls down the road at a healthy 40 mph.

"Here we are," he suddenly says, and pulls into an empty parking lot, made of grass and broken cement, with a run down building in front of her. Kat's not sure what to think but doesn't say a word until after Elijah gets out of his seat and lightly jogs to the other side of the car to let her out.

"Elijah, seriously, what's going on? What is this place?"

He doesn't respond, but offers her his hand to help her out of the car. When she finally emerges and glances around, she notices where he's brought her. With the sun playing peek-a-boo on the horizon and dusk settling around them, once again the hormones start to arise and the ambience becomes overwhelmingly beautiful. She starts to tear up as the lightning bugs twinkle around her and he takes her arm to lead her down the path, which is overgrown with shrubbery and wild flowers, and lined with small lanterns that illuminate the walkway toward an abandoned barn.

The large oak trees that stand guard in the front yard have also played a part in the decorations. They are strewn with white lights, twinkling along with the lightning bugs and brightening the path as the sun continues to sink.

"Are you okay?" Elijah stops and tilts her chin up at him to look her in the eye.

She shakes her head and tries to hold back her tears. "Yes, I'm fine," she assures him. "It's just really pretty, and I'm still a little confused on why you've taken me all the way out here."

He smiles down at her, and still holding onto her chin, he leans down and kisses her. When he pulls back he brushes a stray hair from her face and kisses her forehead. "Katerina, before we walk through that door, there's something that I want you to know."

"Okay, there's something that I really need you to know too."

This took Elijah by surprise, and although he seems cool as an uptight cucumber, he's sweating on the inside. He's remained silent this entire time, not wanting to screw anything up with his usual antics. Everything has to be perfect, but now that Kat has her own something to tell him, he starts to panic.

"By all means, you go first."

"No no, it can wait, you first." She grabs hold of his hand, distracting him from her news and shifting the attention back to him.

"Alright." He steps back and lets go of her hand so she's standing in front of him. "This isn't easy to say. All relationships are difficult but even more so when you're in one with a person who struggles with everyday social interactions, and frankly can strike some people as slightly off putting."

"Oh Elijah, who cares what people think about you," Kat tells him sincerely, and places a hand on his arm.

Elijah nods. "Well, that's nice of you to say, but I was actually talking about you."

"Excuse me?" Kat snaps her head back because she knows she didn't just hear him say that.

"No, no," Elijah falters, and tries to regain balance in the Force before Cat Woman appears and the evening is done. "What I mean is, we both have our quirks, we both say things that we do not mean. We both have been living everyday, wandering around this lonely world and wondering if there was anyone out there that we were meant for. Someone who would understand us, and take us just as we are. I was starting to believe that that person didn't exist, until I met you."

Kat can hardly believe what's happening. With the twinkle lights, the romantic words, the freaking lightning bugs, she knows exactly why Elijah brought her out here. And just as she suspects, Elijah lowers himself to one knee and reaches inside his jacket. The entire situation has already been so unlike Elijah, but seeing him in his Armani and kneeling in the dirt, Kat is certain that he's the one. If he can sacrifice one of his favorite suits for a grand gesture, then this is definitely true love.

"Katherine, we're a couple and I- I love you, for who you are, quirks and all. So, would you do me the honor of being my wife?" He opens a little box and what sits inside of it is more than she could ever imagine. The diamond sparkles in the twilight and as he slips it on her finger she covers her mouth in surprise.

It is useless now to try and stop the tears. Katherine Petrova is a tough bitch, but when you have someone like Elijah kneeling in front of you and saying the most romantic things you've ever heard in your life, and asking you to marry him, you're gonna cry. She tries to compose herself but it's too much. "I love you so much, Elijah, for all of your quirks. Every single one of them." She falls to the ground and throws her arms around him and hugs him tightly.

He grabs her hands and stands them up, "You didn't answer the question," he says in all seriousness.

"Yes, but I need to tell you something first," she says and looks down at her feet. "This is probably going to come as a shock to you and I completely understand if this changes your mind about wanting to get married but…"

"What is it?" Elijah is starting to worry as he reaches forward once more to tilt her tear streaked face up to his.

"I'm pregnant, Elijah."

She blurts it out, feeling a rush of relief that it's finally out there but also anxiety as she watches his face go from concern for her, to confusion, to shock, back to confusion until the color in his face drains, his eyes roll back and he crumples to the ground. Kat rushes to his side and braces his shoulders. She knows it's inappropriate timing but she can't help the giggle that blurts out. "Oh Elijah, are you okay?"

"I'm- I'm- I'm," he stutters.

This isn't looking good.

"I'm...fine," he tells her as if he's shocked the words are coming out of his mouth. He really is fine. Kids are horrible, but when he looks at Katerina, he's not scared, he's not worried, he just sees...his Katerina. He looks down at her stomach and smiles. "Really?"

She looks down too and back up at him, "Yes. Really."

He grabs hold of her and they remain there for a moment. She doesn't hold back the tears as her head cradles into his neck. He grips her tightly before palming her face and kissing her. She relaxes into his embrace as all of the fear dissipates and she kisses him back.

She breaks from him and peers behind him at the run down barn. They haven't even made it inside yet and she's curious as to what other surprise he could have up his sleeve. "So, what's inside?"

"Dinner," he simply states. "I was going to propose to you afterward, but the timing felt right to ask you now."

He opens the doors for her and she peers inside of the abandoned barn. A small table is in the center, bails of hay surround the room and there are white lights hanging from the rafters. Standing next to the table is a familiar face. She smiles and waves at Ana, who has taken up the role of waitress. She waves back and pulls out Kat's chair for her to take a seat.

As Elijah takes the seat across from her, he reaches forward and grabs her hand. Ana excuses herself but not before pouring each of them a glass of champagne. "Congratulations," she tells them. "I'll give you a moment."

Elijah reaches forward and grabs the champagne glass from Kat. "If I'd had known beforehand, I would have brought you cider."

"Water's good," she tells him and once again the tears and giggles come bubbling forward. The moment couldn't get any better as she looks across the table at her future husband. Six months ago, she was happy but alone. Being single was never a problem for Katherine, but now that she has Elijah and a baby on the way, she doesn't know how she lived her life before them.

\-[0]-[0]-/

Klaus storms back into his office after Elijah and Katherine leave, embarrassed by his brother's outburst. He's annoyed, which is typical when it comes to Elijah, but he also finds himself pleased with the new information. Lord knows Klaus hasn't been able to think about anything but Caroline, and the work he put into his latest edition of his comic book is testament to that. He sits down at his desk once again and picks up a slim white envelope addressed to him and sent from Dark Horse Comics.

He's been staring at it for two days now, afraid to open it. He's been down this path with so many publisher's envelopes and they all have disappointed him. The rejections have taken their toll and have left him questioning his own abilities. The continual feedback has always been, "it's too dark", "it doesn't have meaning", "what's Nik's purpose?", et cetera. He all but gave up, but after Caroline, his inspiration returned and he gave it another go.

He sent the final copy to Dark Horse after he and Caroline broke up. It was already a work in progress, and he felt he owed it to himself and his beautiful muse, to try one more time. So he shipped it off, crossing his fingers and waiting patiently since. Now that he has it in front of him, he's too afraid to open it.

Klaus glances across the room at the far wall, wondering if his muse is still at work. He can see her now, tidying up each display table until they look perfect, singing to herself as she loses herself in her work. He misses her, and he knows he's a fool for so easily jumping to the wrong conclusions. It doesn't matter what has happened to him in the past, or if he thinks he's learned from his mistakes, his insecurities will always get the better of him.

The worst part is that there isn't anyone else on the planet that he would want more to open this letter with. Having her calm presence next to him as he faces the inevitable, would be ideal, and knowing that whatever the letter says, it wouldn't matter as long as he had her.

With this thought, he comes to a quick conclusion. He shifts the chair back and stands to his feet, gripping the envelope tightly in his hands. He marches out of his office, across the shop and out the door. She may not want to see him, but he's not going to give her an option. He needs her and he's going to go get her.

He's going to get his girl! Yaaaay! And so much Kalijah, I was all over the board with my feels! I hope you guys liked it. We're at the end of the story guys...it's sad but exciting! I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

You can follow me on tumblr at jomosgobblegobbles, although I'm only going to be that url for another week. After Thanksgiving I'm moving to my christmas url, which is jomosjinglebells. Hope you find me!

Reviews are the absolute best! Let me know what you think!