AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello lovelies, here is your update.

I was glad to see that you guys liked meeting Bill and Stephen, they are fun to write. And you're right, Fathers do tend to pick up on little things that others might not, plus unlike the Mikaelsons, Bill and Stephen haven't spent time around Klaus and Caroline before they were together so their intimacy, which they had before they were together, is completely new. People who have been around them would probably just chalk their behavior up to normal while Bill and Stephen don't.

For those of you who didn't see my post on Tumblr, I picture Stephen looking like John Barrowman.

For the guest who asked what a Sharpie is, it's a type of permanent marker.

Thanks so much to klarolineepiclove, a-little-blonde-distraction, and approvesomuch for their help and CeceVolume for being my wonderful beta.

Part 38

"I don't think I could eat another bite if my life depended on it." Caroline exclaimed after swallowing the food in her mouth. To prove her point, she set down her fork and picked up her wineglass, taking a long drink.

The three of them had had a very pleasant evening. She thought that the visit at the house had gone by very well. Her father and Stephen had loved her room, thought it was very fitting for her and she had told them about how it had been redecorated before she had moved in. That fact seemed to impress the two of them especially after she had told them the way it had looked previously. She had noticed the two of them sharing an odd look before leaving, one that looked as if they were having a whole conversation without talking. She wasn't entirely sure what to think of it yet but had not asked about it.

The conversation on the way to the restaurant had focused mostly on their trip to Boston, and what her father's job had him doing while he was here. Sadly, they were only going to be there for two days and Bill was going to be working most of the time during the daylight hours. However, Stephen of course was free and he and Caroline had already made plans while the kids were in school.

"Considering that you just ate your weight in pasta, I'm not surprised." Stephen commented teasingly from his spot across from her. "You've always had a weakness for Italian food, hasn't she, Bill?"

Her father nodded from behind his own wine glass. "That she has, which is why I wouldn't even consider taking her to any other type of restaurant for dinner."

"Maybe if I didn't eat so much pasta, I wouldn't have to run almost every day." Caroline said. She couldn't help but smile. She was a grown up but she liked that her dad indulged her by taking her out for her favorite food. "We have this pasta dish at the house every couple of weeks that is so good that I always go back for seconds even if I promise myself that I won't. Why do carbs tastes so good and yet are so bad for you?"

"That is a mystery for the ages." Stephen replied, the tone in his voice expressing how much in agreement he was over their evaluation of carbs. "Thankfully, your father loves me for more than my girlish figure or I'd have had to give them up completely or risk losing him."

She watched as her father rolled his eyes at Stephen's statement. "You're being a bit overdramatic, don't you think?"

"Maybe." Stephen replied with a roguish smile. "Or maybe I just wanted to hear you say that I'm as handsome as I was when we met."

Bill smiled a little at him before speaking. "Then I'd be lying."

Stephen huffed at him before Bill added. "Because you have only grown more handsome over the years."

"Damn right, I'm aged to perfection." Stephen quipped, his smile growing even more, his eyes lighting up when Bill reached over and squeezed his hand.

Caroline watched the two of them from her spot and like always, it warmed her heart. True, she hadn't taken it well when her father and mother got divorced when she was younger but seeing her dad so happy with Stephen had made up for it. Her mind went to the twins and wondered what they would think when she and Klaus told them about their relationship. She thought they'd be happy about it. She cared so much about them and wanted them to be happy for her and their dad.

Stephen noticed the small grin on Caroline's face as well as the faraway look in her eyes and knew she wasn't with them anymore. He cleared his throat loudly before speaking. "So the dish you mentioned, is it something Klaus makes?"

Caroline shook her head. "No. He knows how to cook but this dish is one that comes from a catering service that specializes in frozen home-cooked meals for busy families."

"Interesting." Bill responded.

"Yeah, it's a service he was using before he hired me. It's for nights when neither of us do the cooking either because of time or whatever." She informed them.

"It sounds as if you have dinner with them quite often."

"Well, yes and no. I mean, some nights I feed the kids when Klaus is working late, and then other nights they ask me to join them." Caroline faltered as she took another sip of her wine before picking up the small menu folder in the center of the table. "So is anyone else going to have dessert?"

"I thought you couldn't eat another bite?" Bill asked.

"Of dinner, I'm talking dessert, completely different matter." Caroline stated as if it was the most logical thing in the world. She glanced over the menu before speaking. "Now I just have to decide what treat to have; gelato, a canoli…"

"Why are you even acting as if you are going to choose anything other than the tiramisu?" Stephen baited.

"Actually I am considering something else." Caroline defended. "Well maybe. I thought I'd save the tiramisu for when we go to Disney, according to several reviews I've read, they have some of the best."

"I didn't realize you were going on another trip." Bill stated.

"I thought I told you." She answered. "For the twins' birthday Klaus decided to give into their demands and take them down to Orlando as their present."

"I remember you mentioning that you were going with them on a trip but I assumed it was another large family trip or business trip." Her father responded. "I'm surprised though, from what I saw earlier he is quite capable of taking care of his children on his own and not needing your help at all hours."

Caroline didn't like what her father was implying, that Klaus wasn't a competent father on his own, that he required her help. "Oh, he's perfectly capable of taking them on his own, they asked me to join them."

"It sounds like a fun trip." Stephen interceded. "I know you have always wanted to go and I'm sure that Lexi will appreciate having another female there, I can imagine Klaus isn't very keen on all of the girly princess and fairy stuff."

She couldn't help but smile. "No, he's not and yes, Lexi is very excited. She wanted to do the princess make over but her dad refuses to let her. He doesn't like the idea of all of the makeup and glitter put on her, he says she's too young even though in this case the salon caters to even younger little girls."

"I can't blame him." Bill acknowledged.

"Are you going to get a makeover Care?" Stephen asked teasingly. "I know you have always wanted to be a princess."

"I'm not the only one here with a bit of a Cinderella fetish." Caroline fired back. "Sadly however I can't. Disney doesn't allow adults to get princess makeovers or let them wear costumes in the park, only little girls. Something about confusing them with the real characters."

"How disappointing."

"Yeah, but I've got lots of other fun stuff planned." She explained. "I've been working on it a lot with the kids. It's going to be loads of fun, I think Klaus is even getting excited and that's saying something."

"I'm sure it is." Bill commented as he stared at his daughter for a moment before continuing. "How long have you been sleeping with him?"

"Daddy!" Caroline gasped in surprise at her father's question.

"Bill!" Stephen scolded. "And you say I'm the one who is the dramatic one here?"

"I'm not being dramatic, it's a simple question." Bill stated.

"Why would you ask something like that?" Caroline asked him.

"I notice you're not denying the subject, only objecting to my question." Her father acknowledged. "But to answer your question, I'm asking because I want to know how long my daughter has been sleeping with her boss."

"Bill…" Stephen said a warning sound in his voice. He knew that Bill was doing what he thought was best but he also knew that if his partner wasn't careful, he was going to severely piss his daughter off. Attacking her was not the best way to get Caroline to open up.

"It's not like that." Caroline declared.

"So you're not sleeping with him?" Bill asked.

Caroline opened her mouth to snap at her father but closed it just as quickly. She had to be smart about this, her dad was just being his normal overprotective self, which she understood even if she didn't like it. "I am..."

Bill's eyes closed at the his daughter's confirmation of what he feared. "Caroline, what on Earth would possess you to do something like this? To get into a physical relationship not just with someone you work with but your boss?."

"Because it's more than just sex, Dad." Caroline retorted. "Do you really think I would be that stupid?"

"No, I don't." He answered and was about to say more when the waitress appeared and asked them if they needed anything else.

"I think we are going to need you to get us another round of drinks." Stephen requested, giving her a large smile. "The sooner the better, I think."

As soon as the waitress left, Caroline spoke again. "How did you know? No one that I know of has figured it out yet."

"The two of you aren't as good at hiding it as you think you are." Bill explained.

Caroline found his answer amusing, considering he had been around them for under an hour and figured them out yet they had been able to keep it from those that saw them all of the time. However now was not the time to laugh, it would not be a good way to have this conversation with her father and Stephen. She took a quick sip from her glass before replying. "I didn't intend for this to happen, neither of us did."

"Are you sure about that?" Her father asked. "I mean, don't get me wrong Klaus seemed like a good guy and father. However, he is a young single father, one who hired a young beautiful woman who is great with kids that can move in and act like a substitute wife in every way…"

"It's not like that, he's not like that." Caroline argued. "If it wasn't, he wouldn't still be with me even after I told him everything about my past and how it affects my future."

Bill's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Everything?"

She nodded. "As Mom would say, 'Full disclosure."

Her response silenced both her father and Stephen, and she took the opportunity to continue. "When I first met him, I thought he was insanely attractive."

"Well who can blame you for that?" Stephen exclaimed causing both of them to frown at him. "What? The man is gorgeous and that accent of his is like liquid sex."

"But…" Caroline continued. "I pushed it aside and we became friends, very good friends. I tried to fight the feelings I developed for him, knowing it was wrong for me to fall for my boss. I wasn't aware that he was doing the same thing until one night when it all came out. Even then, I fought pursuing a relationship with him until I realized I didn't want to anymore. I have feelings, very intense feelings for him and I want to be with him and the twins."

She reached across the table and squeezed her father's hand. "Listen, I know you are just trying to be a protective dad but you have to trust me on this."

Once again, the waitress's timing was impeccable, showing up at that moment to bring them the round of drinks that Stephen had ordered. After she was done, Caroline watched her father for any sign of what he was thinking; unfortunately, he was too good of a poker player to give away anything. She glanced over at Stephen to see what he thought and received a wink in return, which right away made her feel better.

Bill contemplated what his daughter had told him, not just her words but also the emotion in her voice and face. He could see that she did really care about Klaus and his children and knew that she had most likely tortured herself over that fact during the time she had been fighting her feelings. He knew from experience. "I do, I do trust you. I can see in your eyes that you care about him and you wouldn't start things with him if you weren't sure about it."

"As much as I can be." Caroline replied before asking. "So you are okay with it?"

"As long as he makes you happy and doesn't hurt you? Yes." Bill answered. "Besides, I'm the last person to tell you not to love someone other people say you shouldn't."

Caroline' s face exploded in a huge smile as her eyes welled up with tears. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that."

She reached over and gave him a hug, squeezing him as tightly as she could. If he hadn't been okay with her relationship with Klaus, she wouldn't have ended things but she would have been extremely upset. Now she felt a huge sense of relief knowing he accepted it.

Bill returned his daughter's hug before pulling back and picked up his own drink. "Well now that the cat has been out of the bag, why don't we enjoy these drinks while you tell us more about this family that has captured your heart."

Laughter bubbled out of Caroline before she began doing exactly what her father asked her to do.

/

"Klaus, I know you asked not to be disturbed but there's someone here to see you." He heard Mindy say from behind him. When he turned to tell her that he didn't care who was there to see him, he had given her specific instructions that he be left alone, she added. "He said his name is Bill Forbes."

Mindy's words halted any argument that Klaus could come up with instead, he just nodded. "It's okay, Mindy, please show him in."

"Considering the last name, I'm assuming that he's Caroline's father?" Mindy asked curiously.

"That would be a very accurate assumption." Klaus replied. His assistant only nodded before retreating to retrieve his visitor. He had to admit, he wasn't completely surprised at the visit, not after the other night when Caroline had returned from her dinner and told him that her father and his partner had guessed at the complete truth behind their relationship. However, just because he was expecting it, didn't mean he was prepared for it.

As he waited, Klaus grabbed a rag in an attempt to clean off his hands. He was just contemplating going to the washroom to clean up when Mindy returned with Bill Forbes.

"Can I get you something to drink, Mr. Forbes? Water? Coffee or Soda?" Mindy asked.

"No, I'm good." He replied.

"Then I will make sure the two of you and make sure that you aren't disturbed." She stated before heading out of the room.

"Thank you, Mindy." Klaus stated before she shut the doors. Once she did, he turned back to his guest who was looking around Klaus' area. He felt a brief sense of déjà vu as he remembered Caroline doing something similar on her first trip to the office.

"So this is your office." Bill declared as he looked around the large space. The room looked to actually be two rooms, one that was more for an office with a desk and a table while the other was definitely a studio. "Caroline mentioned about your families' business and how you are head of the art department."

"Yes, art has always been a passion of mine." Klaus replied. "When you do something you are passionate about, it doesn't seem like work."

"You sound very much like my daughter; she has said something similar about her own career."

Klaus couldn't help but smile a little bit at the statement. "I take that as a compliment. I know how much Caroline loves her job."

"Yes she does, which makes me very curious about you since she has decided to put her career at risk to have a relationship with you." Bill declared.

The older man watched him curiously after his bold declaration. Klaus knew he was waiting for a reaction of some kind, possibly defensive, or apologetic even but he kept his face calm and gave no indication of the nervousness he did indeed feel inside. Caroline was very close to her father and he didn't want Bill to dislike him because it would create issues but he also wasn't going to appear weak willed either. If the situation was reversed, he would not want his daughter's beau to appear cowardly, he could not respect him then.

"As soon as Caroline told me the other night that she had come clean to you about the two of us, I expected to see you." Klaus stated.

"So you aren't surprised by my visit?"

"I didn't expect it to be here, I thought you might show up at the house when you knew Caroline was gone or possibly call me to meet you." He answered.

"Really?"

"Yes, because I would have done the same thing in your place if it was my daughter." Klaus declared honestly. He moved forward so that he could look Bill in the eye before he spoke again. "I could stand here and try to defend myself and my actions, but I won't."

"The only thing I can tell you is that I'm not the kind of man or father who treads into relationships lightly, as a matter of fact I haven't been involved with anyone since my divorce. My focus since has been my children, I didn't want them to get hurt by my dating. But when Caroline came into our lives, and I spent time with her, I found my resolve crumbling."

"The fact that she works for you wasn't enough of a deterrent?"

"Not with Caroline. I'm sure she said the same thing but I was aware that I was attracted to her from the beginning but pushed it away. It was spending time with her, getting to know her that was my weakness. Once I found out that she felt the same, the wall crumbled and I did whatever I could to convince her to give us a chance. It took some time but I managed to do it and I don't regret it a bit." Klaus acknowledged. "I know that our relationship is not something you would want for her, but I promise you as one father to another that I have nothing but honorable intentions with her. This isn't about me taking advantage of our living situation; this is about her and my caring for her."

Bill stared at him for several moments, his blue eyes that looked very much like Caroline's, studying him and absorbing what Klaus told him before he spoke. "I can tell that she is happy here, that you and your children are primarily responsible for that, so as long as it stays that way, then I have no problem with the two of you."

Bill stuck out his hand to shake Klaus', which Klaus did, and he used it to pull him closer. "However if you hurt her, and ruin her life, you will really see a protective father. She has been through too much to get hurt again."

Klaus nodded at the threat. "I will do my best to make sure that doesn't happen."

"I certainly hope so." Bill replied sternly. "Now that all of that business is out of the way, could I interest you in going out and having a drink with me? I really would like to get to know you more."

"It would be my pleasure, I know just the place." Klaus agreed.

"Oh, and one more thing." Bill interjected. "Caroline doesn't need to know about this part of my visit, we'll just keep it between us."

Klaus knew exactly why Bill wanted to keep it between them, Caroline would not be happy if she knew that her father had visited him with the intention of protecting his daughter's heart. She was extremely independent and would see it as Bill treating her as a child. He smirked at the other man's statement before agreeing. "I see no reason to tell her."

Bill smiled back at him, "Good answer."

Haha, what did you guys think?

Next part will start their trip to Disney but of course nothing ever goes to plan.