Chapter 30: No Good in Goodbye

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to the characters and references to scenes used will be mentioned as I do not take any credit for them whatsoever.

Stefan POV

What do you miss most about someone who is no longer with you?

Do you miss the way they made you feel, or was it the things they use to say? I like to think it was the little things in life that make each person special. The heart dies a slow painful death when you truly love someone and they're taken away from you.

My hunger escaped me and I had no appetite for weeks. I couldn't sleep well for the next few months because when I tried to sleep, flashbacks of Elena crept their way into the confines of my memory forcing me to stay awake. I had flashbacks of how we first met, the first time I asked her out, our spiritual growth, the times we spent with our friends, weekends away, birthday celebrations, dancing and our pillow fights.

Time and memories are some of the greatest gifts given to us. I've learned that we can't take time for granted because once your time is gone – you can never get it back. One of my greatest fears is that when I leave New Orleans, I will begin to forget details of Elena, or forget some cherished memories.

And in spite of the fact that leaving was because I wanted to forget her, I couldn't bring myself to forget.

November was a very big month for us. Significant in meaning to both myself and Elena individually. Her parents died in November, and even I had lost my mother in November years prior to hers. It was also the month I finally officially asked her out. Katherine and Elijah who had been engaged at the time already considered me as her boyfriend, but it wasn't official. I remember taking her to Gladys Knight Chicken and Waffles down in Atlanta. Elena had wings and fries and I had the smothered chicken with mash potatoes and gravy. As we were walking back to the car I worked up the courage to ask but couldn't exactly find the right words. It became frustrating to a point where I just grabbed her hand and asked, "Would you consider being my girlfriend?" Elena smiled at me and all my worries and insecurities had just vanished. She looked up at me through long lashes and answered "Finally... of course I will." I had this huge smile on my face and probably looked like a love-struck fool as I drove her home but I didn't care.

After we had made it official, not a day went by without us seeing each other even if it was only for a hour. Elena Pierce was everything I wanted in a woman and more. She had the sweetest spirit I had ever seen, she was kind-hearted, patient, caring, hardworking and I adored and loved her with all of my heart.

Sure we had our fights and bickering but what couple was perfect? What made me love her more was that no matter what happened, she would always be the first one to say "I was wrong, I'm sorry baby." And in turn, I would never let her stay mad at me, even if I was the one at fault.

"Stefan?"

"Hello? Stefan?"

He was ripped from his thoughts when a shot of pain etched on the skin of his arm making him wince. Suddenly he was back in the restaurant - with Katherine - who had just found out about his intentions to transfer. Stefan pinched the bridge of his nose sighing. "It's a great opportunity for me. And yeah I'm not going to sit here and pretend that what Elena did doesn't play a huge part in this because it does. In fact - I don't need to explain myself to you so I don't know why I even bothered to-"

"You're running away like a coward. This isn't you Stefan."

She made sure to emphasize the fact that he was a coward. And even though she might be right, he had no other explanation other than the hurt he felt."Katherine look, just let me live my life okay. I have to try and find a way to move on from her and what she did. I can't keep staying here. Every damned place here reminds me of her and I can't breathe..."

"You still love her don't you?"

He opened his mouth to protest but found himself at a loss for words. No matter how hard his mind wanted to him to not love her anymore, his heart was still hellbent on the mere idea of her so he remained silent. Katherine pressed her lips together in response to seeing his inner debate with himself to prove her wrong - but he couldn't. He still loved Elena.

"Elena still loves you Stefan and no matter what you say or where you run to, there is no way you can just erase that." The impending words of Elena's current condition wanted to fly out of Katherine's mouth like verbal diarrhea. As sure as she was that coming clean right now would definitely make Stefan think twice about New York, she knew Elena would never forgive her if she told him.

"That's news to me. I haven't heard a word from her in a months. I'm pretty sure she's over everything."

She had to - it was wrong but Katherine literally saw no other option here and she was desperate. "Look, something happened..."

Stefan regarded Katherine carefully. He could see that there was something on her mind. And judging by her tone, it was serious. He fought the instinct that had instantly kicked in to protect Elena even though he had no idea what it was.

"What happened?"

"It's not my place to say-"

"Katherine."

He knew Elena hadn't taken well to the break up. He remembered Kol's birthday dinner and how she acted like a completely different person. Dressing provocatively and flirting shamelessly. Other than the fact that he called off the wedding, he tried to wreck his brain into thinking what it was that Katherine was talking about. She couldn't be - pregnant. It's been months since they've spoken let alone seen one another.

"Elena is in a really really bad place right now, and not just because of you." She looked down to her half eaten plate of chicken ceaser salad. "Just promise me you'll go and see her, and if you still want to leave after that.. I won't stop you."

A rare occasion;

Defined in the English dictionary as an uncommon occasion; a rare event or an infrequent occasion. Something that does not happen very often and in this case, it happened to be the four Mikaelson siblings stationed around a table for a late afternoon lunch at Galatoire's down on Bourbon Street.

With months having flown by, it seemed each sibling had settled quite well into their new lives here in the Big Easy. The feeling of change had arrived and they welcomed it with open arms. As the present eldest, Elijah felt that it was his duty to keep the rest of his siblings close now that their parents and older brother Finn had officially written them off given their choice to stand with Niklaus over them. One drastic change that had definitely came to a shock was Elijah leaving Mikaelson Inc. He guessed it had been a matter of time. As much as he wanted his family to flourish in the reaping of their hard work, his heart just wasn't in it anymore. Not if it meant he would have to choose between his parents and brother. He had resigned with immediate effect leaving a baffled board of directors including his father. It was a huge shock for everyone but not as shocking as nearly half of Mikaelson Inc investors withdrawing funds, deciding to follow Elijah wherever he went.

Elijah was pleased that with just good business ethics and well-versed prospects he presented to their stakeholders, it could inspire such loyalty. The idea of having the funding required to start something on his own was a little scary but with the help of his brothers, sister and wife, he dove into the proposal. It was still early stages but the potential profits looked good. An added bonus was the feeling of not being tied to his father anymore - It was indescribable.

Rebekah had taken up her studies once more, deciding to finish this year rather than to put it off any longer. Elijah had obviously persuaded her a great deal. Now that they had a business, it was his wish for it to be family-run. Rebekah was big in the fashion industry but at the end of the day it was not something she could fall back on in the future if she decided to take some time off. Public relations was a critical function in the business and so they decided it would become Rebekah and Katherine's forte given the immense amount of international contacts they had. In addition to that, Rebekah had welcomed the new venture as a means to keep busy, especially since she had recently chosen to keep a safe distance from her friends. Elijah knew her reason being that Caroline had chosen not to be with Niklaus after all. As disheartening as it was to hear, he was rather disappointed in his sister's decision to 'choose sides'. Caroline was still a very great part of their family whether she was with Niklaus or not, she was the mother to Henry and Charlotte and she would always be a part of their lives.

Domestic lifestyle was not something Elijah had ever thought could co-exist with Kol's reckless personality and yet under the influence of Bonnie, he had surprised everyone. Since he had taken a great deal of pleasure in furbishing their new home, he took it upon himself to help Bonnie out now and then with her clients. Nothing was permanent, he was more like a glorified assistant. Besides, having helped Elijah and Katerina run the new business was enough and he had his work cut out for him. Seeing his little brother finally take some responsibility and not waste his life drinking and partying through the town was indeed a pleasure to witness. He figured Miss Bennett played a large influential role in it and for that he was grateful.

Then there was Klaus. Career-wise, Klaus had been doing great. With collection after collection being showcased, it came as no surprise that he was on the verge of securing a major deal with the MMA Institute in New York. Elijah couldn't be more proud. He couldn't deny that they had quite a unique bond compared to the others. It was no secret that Elijah had always carried Klaus in the sense that he always cleaned up his messes, advised him on his endeavors and always supported his every decision even when he disagreed. To the average person it might have seemed like he was just being a protective and loving brother and he was, the reasons as to why just ran way more deeper than one would actually think. Kol and Rebekah were merely babies during the time Klaus had suffered under Mikael's wrath so they could hardly remember. Elijah on the other hand, took in every harsh word and lashing that was given to Niklaus from Mikael. And the worst part about it was that he stood idly by and watched it happen. He often wondered if he intervened perhaps - perhaps he could have altered Niklaus; course. Maybe it was guilt or maybe he was just protective. Whatever it was, Elijah wanted to help Klaus and secure his happiness.

"How is your Bonne-Femme?" Elijah asked Klaus who had been eating rather too slowly for his brother's liking. His mind had of course been on other things.

"Quite splendid." Klaus replied, taking a forkful of food.

"But we didn't come here to discuss the Chef's catch of the day Elijah.. Out with it already." Rebekah sighed

Klaus swallowed hard before meeting his brothers gaze. He knew that look all too well. He strongly felt a lecture coming on and he didn't have to think twice as to what the topic of conversation was about, as per usual.

"Hayley Marshall."

"She's just a curator interested in my work Elijah." Klaus sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. Sure it had become evident that Elijah had been routing for Caroline and Klaus from the beginning of time but he was a grown man and quite frankly he owed no one an explanation

"Who's Hayley?" Rebekah frowned and Kol piqued up in interest.

"Just a curator interested in your work or is there something more?"

"So we met up for a few drinks time and again so what? I'm a grown man and I can make my own decisions when it comes to my love life thank you."

"Love life? So you're seeing this woman then?" Kol asked

"What's wrong with it even if he is? Caroline doesn't want him. She just wants to play with his head every time so I say good riddance."

"Rebekah.." All three men warned lightly at her remarks.

"Fair enough. You make your own decisions. But need I remind you that who you decide to warm your bed with does not affect you alone. You have children now, and like it or not you have to involve Caroline in your intentions with Hayley if she's going to be around your children because Caroline is their mother." Elijah replied after shooting a brief look of disappointment at Rebekah making her avert her gaze.

"Christ! Elijah I barely know the woman. We went out for a drink a few times. There was no bed warming and there is certainly no need to involve Caroline because Hayley is just a friend. That's it." Klaus ran a hand through his disheveled hair.

"What's a Mikaelson family get together without an argument huh? As fun as this has been to watch - truly - I believe there is a beautiful woman waiting for me at home so I will take my leave brothers.." Kol stated as he got up to leave

"Drop me off will you? I am so over talking about Caroline. We all know she doesn't deserve him anyway." Rebekah added and left the table without so much as a glance at Elijah nor Klaus.

The waiter came to collect their plates but Elijah sent him off saying that they needed a moment and Klaus hardly waited for his older brother to start dishing out the lecture before he said "Elijah look... I understand that you're worried about me but I assure you, I am fine. Me and Caroline are fine and we both understand that we're better at being parents than being together. That is what she wants so who am I to object?" Elijah opened his mouth to reply but Klaus didn't allow him the chance "Elijah have you ever thought that I don't know- Caroline deserves more than I can give her? She was at home pregnant, scared and alone and I was out shirking my responsibilities. She deserves better than that, better than me. So yes Elijah, I have given up on the idea of fighting for her because frankly, I'm quite tired of being rejected."

"For once I am going to put the needs of her and my children above my own. I am going to put them first." Klaus added in a distracted voice

After what felt like a long time of trying to regain composure, Elijah's eyes - although transfixed on the table - he could see that his older brother had a look of sadness etched across his face. He really appreciated his brother's agility in all of this, but he was tired. In a literal and figurative sense.

"I don't know what to do to make her see how sorry I am and I don't know if I can wait forever." Klaus clarifies. He could not wait forever. How could he live his life pining after a woman who would never look at him the same way again...

For moment he actually thought Elijah would for once and all leave the subject alone. It was bad enough that he had to be reminded by his siblings everyday that him and Caroline were still not together. The silence was short-lived when Elijah suddenly bangs the fork onto the table with a loud bang "For fucks sake Niklaus. Stop with this 'I don't deserve forgiveness' bullshit. You're just using your issues as an excuse to hide from the guilt you're feeling. Face it, work through it and get Caroline back! If you don't then not only will you have to live with regret for the rest of your life, but our family will forever be incomplete."

His brothers words had stung. Klaus barley ever got to see this side to Elijah, let alone hear him cuss.. Elijah had always been the noble, proper and more put together sibling out of the whole bunch actually. But in these mere moments, it was - albeit refreshing - frightening to see Elijah like this.

"Caroline made me a better person. She trusted me and I broke her heart. I told her to get an abortion Elijah... how can we make it back from, something as shattering as that?" Klaus threw his head into his hands. The mere thought that he had actually told Caroline to abort their babies made him sick to his stomach. He could not believe that there was actually a dark time of his life when he didn't want them. They are honestly the best thing that's ever happened to him and he would honestly give anything to take back what he said to Caroline.

The vulnerability in his younger brother's voice had seem to calm him to some extent. "You will make it Niklaus, you will." His words of assurance had seem to soften the earlier blow as Klaus looked up at him with doe eyes

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because you belong together."

There is a magic about Fifth Avenue at this hour. An emptiness. A quiet moment of limbo as the street lamps fade in the face of the purple onrush of dawn.

Presently, on this morning in early September, a lone taxi-cab speeds up the Avenue. It slows down briefly as it passes the International Building with its many air-line windows, then picks up speed again and continues on to the corner of 57th Street where it pulls to the curb and stops.

The cab door opens and Caroline gets out. She wears a backless evening dress and carries, in addition to her purse, a brown paper bag. The camera is angled in such a way that we only see her slim, straight back. She pays the driver and the cab pulls away. As she stands there, alone on the empty sidewalk, the street lamps go out. She notices this and waves a small goodnight to the lamp on the corner.

From her paper bag she takes a container of coffee and a piece of Danish pastry. Caroline moves from the curb toward the imposing store, on the corner. Now we can see that it's Tiffany's. As Caroline sips her coffee and munches on her pastry, she gazes with deep absorption into Tiffany's windows.

Still munching and swallowing, Caroline gazes with deep absorption into Tiffany's windows.

Suddenly she spots Hayley inside the windows on display. She is wrapped and cocooned in gems and jewels and she is laughing. The pleasant tune suddenly changes to an awfully horrid one and with that, Caroline's mood. She's not so sure this is a good dream anymore. She is very annoyed to a point where she's about to march inside and give Hayley a piece of her mind.

She tucks her purse underneath her arm and walks off but is stopped by a door guard who regards her with distaste. "I'm sorry, but you're not on the list." He tells her

"Of course I am – this is my dream!" Caroline exclaims

And they all laugh at her – she screams and wakes up with a start.

"Thanks for keeping me company. I miss my babies when they're with Klaus." Caroline sighs as she steps into the confines of Bonnie's house. She takes off her huge sunglasses and Bonnie frowns at the little baggies underneath her eyes. "Sure - you look exhausted."

"Yeah. Didn't get much sleep." Caroline mumbles out thinking about the weird dream she had earlier. "I was just about to watch a rerun of Grey's, so you're timing is perfect." Bonnie grinned pulling her toward the lounge. Sinking into the comfort of Bonnie's new Sloane Leather corner sofa, is what makes Caroline realize how tired she actually is. She had never had a dream like that before and wondered if her true, most inner fears were manifesting into nightmares.

"Okay. That's it." Bonnie says at about 20 minutes into the episode and clicks off the television turning to Caroline expectantly. "What's on your mind?"

"What? Nothing-"

"Well then where is your head at Care? It's clearly not on Dr McDreamy." Bonnie sits up and as she does this, folds her legs, tucking them beneath her. Clearly she's trying to show Caroline that she is ready to listen to whatever it is that's bothering her.

Eventually, she caves. "Do you think I'm a horrible person?"

"What? Of course not. Wait- where is this coming from exactly?"

"I just. I feel horrible." Caroline groaned perching herself up like Bonnie had. "I told him to move on and when he finally does I can't even take it."

Bonnie shoots her a brief knowing smile "Ah.."

"Don't ah me. I'm seriously terrible. I need to be slapped." Caroline shakes her head "Why, because you're human?" Bonnie throws back

"Caroline. You loved Klaus, and his the father of your children. It's completely normal for you to be feeling territorial. If anything its a must - you need to know these things if his planning on keeping her around your kids." Caroline just nodded slowly at her friend's comment. "But... that's not all it is, is it?"

Caroline shamefully shook her head.

"You still love him."

Caroline nodded

"And seeing him with someone else is killing you inside?"

She nodded again.

"I forgave the minute he asked me to. I just needed some time because what he did was pretty big, although I guess it could have been bigger. I'm working on it..." Caroline sighed "He's always been pretty frank with me and yes there are a lot of things we need to work on but after not being with him for so long..." she trailed off "I thought that with time it'd get better, that I would forget about the feelings I have for him but it only got more and more intense... And seeing him with that woman-" She hated how insecure she sounded.

"I think that after everything that's happened, after everything he put you and his family through, maybe his just trying to do what he thinks is best for you Caroline, and maybe right now he thinks that his not what's best for you." Bonnie said and what she said had seem to make sense in Caroline's mind. "The only reason his doing this is because you told him to. If seeing him with someone else makes you uncomfortable then you obviously still want to be with him."

"The truth is I miss him," she said. "But I'll swallow poison before I admit it." "And I can hardly stand the silence between us... But that doesn't mean I'll be the first to speak." She was scared of being rejected by him. Scared of being told that he was tired of waiting for her and that he had moved on with his life. Scared that the only place in his life for her would be as the mother of his children and nothing more. How exactly does one bounce back from everything that transpired?

"If not for you, then do it for your kids." Bonnie offered placing her hand over hers'.

"You want to know something really funny?" Caroline smile cruelly as she stared off into oblivion "Growing up, my mom and dad were never there for anything. They were together not because of love but because of circumstance and I grew up hating them for it. I promised myself that when I was a mother, I would never be like them. That I would never put my children through that vulnerability and confusion but look at me now.. doing just that. I'm such a hypocrite."

"Your not a hypocrite Caroline. Look at yourself! Your a single mom of twins with a full-time job and a place of your own. Sure Klaus and you have problems but what relationship was ever perfect? His a hands-on father and if you ask me, everyone expected him to run away as soon as they came, but he didn't. He stayed and his not going anywhere. Your kids are loved Caroline and I know there isn't anything on this earth that you wouldn't do for them. That's the difference between you and your parents."

"So, what are you going to do?"

"It won't be fair to him. I can't just tell him to move on the one minute and then when he does, take it back."

"Yeah but Caroline, that was almost a year ago. Surely that must change a few things.." Bonnie replied

"You know Rebekah hates me now?" Caroline snorted smiled sadly "I don't want to lose anymore people over this."

"You won't ever lose me." Bonnie smiled and hugged her.

"Why, where are you going?" Kol asked coming into the lounge, having heard the last bit of their conversation. "No where stupid." Bonnie grinned and hopped off the couch to kiss him.

"Good. Because if you leave me. I will come after you." Kol whispered in her ear making her laugh. Caroline observed the scene with a warm smile. In the midst of a relationship crisis of her own, she was glad there were still people like Bonnie and Kol who were hopelessly in love.

"Caroline.." Kol smiled and pecked her on her forehead before turning to the bar "Can I get you ladies a drink?"

"Some white wine if you have please.." Caroline said

"Can't help you there darling."

"So basically you have...?"

"Jim, Jack, Johnny Red, Johnny Black, and Jose; all of Bonnie's favorite men aside from me. You can have it any way you like it, as long as its in a shot glass." Kol smirked and Bonnie laughed "If it's the fancy expensive stuff you want, might I suggest Elijah and Katerina's house?"

Caroline rolled her eyes

"Bourbon it is then."

The room had been ransacked, the bureau drawers emptied on the bed, the jewelry boxes opened, the books pulled from the bookcase. Grandma Pierce's hope chest was open and all the old, delicate handmade doilies she'd inherited from her mother were flung aside in piles. Her wedding veil was lying on the floor and a picture framed on the night table of her parents had been turned face down.

"Where is it?!" Katherine groaned as she ransacked through the closet. Her head and her heart having both been full on the edge of bursting with the immense pain she had felt. Pain for the unknown and fear for the effect it would have on her sister.

"Greta!"

"Have you seen my hair broach? I know I put it in here and now it's suddenly gone."

"No Ma'am. I'm afraid I haven't. Greta looked down to her feet. Her hands had been knotted together as she stood before Katherine. Wondering exactly what had pissed her off so much to put her in this mood.

"Greta..."

"Mr Elijah sir?" Greta breathed a sigh of relief seeing Elijah enter the bedroom with Emily in his arms.

"Why don't you take Emily up for her nap and then take the rest of the day off." He offered her an apologetic smile obviously having heard all the commotion his little wife had caused. "Yes sir." Greta nodded taking Emily from him and making her way out of the kitchen and out the firing line as quickly as she could.

"The help these days.." Katherine muttered under her breath as she plopped out two little pills and downed them with some water.

"What are you looking for?"

"My sapphire hair broach." Katherine's voice was raw with emotion but it was hard to tell from afar so he etched closer toward her. "The one you wore on our wedding?"

Watching Katherine rub her temples in a circular motion with that cute little frown line still creased in her forehead, he knew she had been very upset. It was very unlike her to go off at Greta like that over something as simple as a hair broach. Without a word – he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her close to him. Elijah didn't know what had made her this upset, only he hoped that she would calm down and that she was okay. Katherine sighed, allowing herself to relax into his arms. Allowing herself to be held for a couple of minutes in silence, she couldn't help but breath in her husband musky scent she had loved so much.

"It was my Mom's."

It was only when Elijah had felt his shirt begin to cling to his chest caused by a dampness that he realized Katherine had been silently crying against his chest. He retreated back just a few inches to kiss her head and started rubbing her back in a soothing circular motion – much like he had done when she was pregnant.

"Want to talk about it?" He murmured above her ear

"Everything hurts."

"What happened?" He asked as she began to sob. All of this had to be over something much more than a missing broach.

Katherine swallowed trying to keep her emotions in check. She hated looking as vulnerable as she did in front of her husband. From the age of 17 she had taken on the responsibilities of a guardian to her sister and brother so this should always come easy to her. "For the first time in years I have no idea what to do when it comes to Elena – I – I don't know how to help her, how to make it better," She wanted to give the broach to Elena, not in the sense that it would make everything okay but she knew that Elena would feel closer to Miranda in some way.

"Is she alright? Is it Stefan?" Elijah frowned. He had come to know about his sister-in-law's little pregnancy stunt. And although he found it highly unethical, his heart went out to her when her wedding had been called off as a result.

"It's everything Elijah. First we lost our parents, Jeremy moved away, Stefan called off the wedding and now –" Katherine started sobbing "Now some fucking doctor told her that she can never have a baby."

After checking up on Emily, Elijah headed to the study to get some much needed work done. He had yet to see Katherine after her little melt-down in the kitchen earlier, and the news of his sister-in-laws' abnormalities had left his mood rather dampened. Taking the corner, he was surprised to see that the door to his study had been ajar. Upon his entrance, he was even more surprised to see Elena curled up by the fire place under a thin knitted blanket. She seemed lost in the flames and barely even noticed him come in. From this angle he could see that her eyes had been red and swollen and she had a look of otherness about her - as if her mind had been on a completely different place.

"Elena." He smiled as he took a seat next to her. She immediately perked up and rubbed her eyes. "Elijah, sorry. I thought you were out for the day." She muttered out getting ready to leave and let him get back to his work.

"No please." He motioned for her to sit and she did, reluctantly. "You cut your hair..." Elijah noted as he gave his sister-in-law a once over. There was no point in denying that she was not coping. The break up with Stefan and then the news about her uteral abnormalities had definitely taken its toll on her. She looked completely broken.

"Yeah, needed a change."

"It suits you." He smiles and she offers a barely audible 'thanks' in return. He allowed the silence to stretch between them in an attempt for her to adjust to his presence, before he spoke "I cannot imagine how traumatic the news of your -abnormalities - must have been. Even more since Stefan was not there with you."

"I guess I'll get over it eventually. As for Stefan - he hates me and I'm pretty sure he'd rejoice in the fact that I can't get pregnant." Her voice was raspy with emotion. Elijah could see that she was trying to convince herself more than him.

"Elena you know that is not true. Regardless of all that has transpired, Stefan loves you. I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hate so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain." Elijah says "I believe you both need each other now more than ever." Elijah's words ever so sincere and honest, had brought on a new set of tears. Only this time it seemed to take over her whole body as she began to silently shake with every broken sob.

"Your sister loves you very much and it's killing her, seeing you like this." Elijah put his arm around her shoulder and let her cry against him. She cried and cried and cried until she had nothing left. Elena looked up at Elijah's soaked jacket and apologized profusely for letting her emotions get the better of her.

"It's alright." He chuckled

"Da-deee?"

Both Elena and Elijah turned around to see a little figure emerge from the door and walked toward them. "Ah. Looks like someone is up from their nap." Elijah smiled as he watched Emily sleepily tread toward him with her blanket and teddy-bear in hand. She eventually appeared before her dad and aunt and lifted her arms up into the air, wanting to be picked up

After being put on her father's lap under the secure lock of his arms had Emily turned her head to smile sleepily at Elena who ran a hand through her nieces' curls

"'Lena." Emily grinned shoving her dad's arm out the way and moved over to her aunt's lap. It had been apparent that Emily was able to differentiate between her mother and her aunt despite them being identical. It helped that Elena and Katherine's hair was always styled differently as well as their clothing. Emily looked up at her aunt and frowned taking in her obvious distress, babies could always sense your uneasiness even if they were too young too understand. She placed her open palmed hands on Elena's cheeks as if she knew that her Aunt had been crying.

The little gesture from her niece was more than enough to make Elena smile. A little part of her broke every time she saw Emily and knew that she would never have an experience like this with her own children because she could not have any. Nevertheless she was grateful that having Emily around to experience these little things had seemed to suffice.

Elena pressed her lips against Emily's little hands making a smooching sound causing the little girl to giggle.

"If your mother finds you out of bed she's going to be very upset Emily." Elijah chastised his daughter in an amused tone. Emily in turn puckered up her lips - much like her mother did when she wanted to get her way with Elijah - the funny thing was that it always worked.

"Come on, let's get you to bed." Elena said and picked her up. She waved at her daddy and he chuckled. He was glad that despite Elena's circumstances, she would always have Emily in her life and that would never change.

"Hello Caroline." Klaus smiled briefly as he side-stepped allowing her to enter. "Hi." She smiled back and walked inside. The house was warm and the air had been filled with the sweet scent of Elizabeth Arden's baby wash.

"They've just had a bath." Klaus explains as he leads her to the nursery where she finds both her children wide awake, in the play pen with an assortment of stuffed animals. They throw their arms up and kick their legs in excitement when they see her and she can't help the giggle that escapes her. "Hi babies.." she walks over to them and kisses them both, trying not to laugh when Charlotte hooks her arms around her neck trying to get Caroline to pick her up, so she does.

"Is that code for 'I missed you Mommy?'" Caroline asks Charlotte who gurgles back happily. Henry stands in the play pen and rattles the bars obviously wanting to be picked up as well. So Klaus comes over and gets him. "How were they today?"

"They were fine. Got a little cranky when I picked them up after lunch but Greta gave them some gripe water which they love by the way. Put that on the grocery list." He snickers and she laughs as well.

"Have you eaten?" He suddenly asks and she takes a minute to think about the question before she shakes her head. "I made lasagna?"

"I'd love some."

"Cool." He goes to the kitchen, with Henry on his arm and Caroline tags along behind him. "So gripe water huh?" Caroline tries to keep the casual conversation going. With the talk she and Bonnie had still fresh in her mind, she was afraid her feelings would surface. She was very transparent like that.

"Apparently so. They loved it and they stopped crying so in my book, that's a win." He replied putting Henry in his high chair and Caroline does the same with Charlotte. She keeps close to the twins, afraid that once she's left alone with Klaus she'll go crazy. "Here you go." He puts a warmed plate of food in front of her and she mumbles a 'thanks'. She feels really tense and she is sure he can see it radiating off her in waves. She takes a bite and she has to keep herself from moaning. The food is delicious, not that she expected anything less from Klaus, he was amazing... At cooking. Caroline perks up and gives herself a scolding not to let her mind run away from her again.

"Are you okay?"

Her eyes find his and he looks worried. She nods, a little to quickly.

"You look a little flushed." He frowns

"Er yeah. It's just the heat in here."

"Oh sorry." He gets up to turn the thermostat down. "I always warm it up when I bath the twins." Caroline nods and mentally gives herself a pat on the back for her quick thinking.

"Have you seen Stefan lately?" Klaus asks taking another forkful of food and she shakes her head. "No, although I try. After the whole Elena thing he hasn't been very social lately."

"Yeah I get that. I just thought they'd work it out by now. Seems like such a shame to let something so important go over something so dumb." He says and she pauses. Are they still talking about Elena and Stefan?

"Do you think that they'll ever be able to work it out?" She asks and he looks up and locks her gaze with his. Caroline doesn't know if he catches on, but his stare is intense.

"I think if two people are really meant to be together, they will always find their way back. No matter what." She stares at him and he stares right back. She notices how his Adam's apple bobs as he swallows and she tucks a curl behind her ear.

A shrilling ring of a cellphone breaks up their moment of intensity and she's almost glad, when she hears him greet the caller... "Hayley."

Her heart falls and she is reminded he has moved on. It is what she wanted him to do and so getting upset now is very hypocritical. "Yes. They're eating." Caroline hears him say. She's obviously asking about the twins. "I have to go, I'll see you tomorrow. Okay - Bye." He ends the call.

Caroline finishes her dinner quietly and lulls over the fact that his seeing Hayley tomorrow. "Sorry about that." He apologizes and she shakes her head.

"It's fine. Thanks for dinner, but I think I should get going."

"Oh.."

"Yeah I don't want to upset their routine. They should be in bed soon."

"Right." She almost thinks for a minute that she sees disappointment etched across his face but then decides against it. She shouldn't over analyze things, shouldn't see things that are no longer there.

He watches her get the twins ready and he helps her take them to the car and buckles them in before waving her off and going inside.

AN: Two updates in one week? I must be loosing my mind.

A big thank you to everyone that followed, favorite and reviewed. I love Breakfast at Tiffany's and couldn't resist to stem that in here based on an opening scene from Gossip Girl lol

Have a beautiful and awesome weekend guys xx

#OneWeekTillChristmas