AN: Hello to any of my readers who are still with me! It's been a while and for that I apologize. It took a lot longer for me and my kids to get acclimated to this school year than I had anticipated. But here is the next chapter and pretty much the final chapter. I hope to include an epilogue, but I cannot make any promises to when I will be able to actually get it written. Thank you so much for all the follows, favs and reviews. You guys are the reasons that I didn't just leave this story abandoned. I really hope you all enjoy this rather short, but hopefully fulfilling chapter.

Caroline shakes her head as she and Klaus find Lizzie and Enzo standing in front of the wolf habitat. "It all makes sense." Caroline mumbles to herself.

"Come again?" Klaus stops his movements and pulls Caroline to his side by her hand, that he hasn't let go of since Caroline agreed to stay with him and Lizzie.

"Whenever we would visit the zoo near us, Lizzie would whine the entire time, until we got to the wolves. Then she would just sit there and watch them. The wolves would always flock to her and lay down as close to the fence as possible." Caroline points where Lizzie is sitting on Enzo's shoulders, in front of the wolf cage. Sure enough, four wolves are all laying down, just a few feet away from Lizzie.

"They are not just laying down." Klaus explains. "They are submitting. They can sense the Alpha in Lizzie and they are submitting to it." The smile on Klaus' face is more prideful than predatory for once.

"I shouldn't be surprised that your one and only child is a natural born Alpha." Caroline's smile fades quickly. "Wait, Lizzie is your only child, right? I love you, Klaus, but I can't take any surprises like that." Caroline stabs her finger into Klaus' chest to make her point.

Klaus ignores Caroline's words and her tone and just wraps his fingers around Caroline's hand and uses it
to pull her body flush with his. "Lizzie is my one and only miracle child. But more importantly, you love me?" Klaus raises one eyebrow and fixes his stare on Caroline.

Caroline swallows thickly and tries to look away from Klaus' all-encompassing stare. For a rare moment, Caroline is speechless. She doesn't want to lie to Klaus, but she is afraid that admitting her feelings will push him away. Caroline goes to pull away, until Klaus wraps his arms around her slim waist, holding her against his body. Klaus lowers his head and places sweet and gentle kisses against Caroline's lips. "Please don't run from your feelings, Caroline. Don't run from me." Klaus pulls his hands up Caroline's body to cup her face. "You know that I love you Caroline. I have loved you for years. I have waited for too long to hear you admit your feelings to let you hide them now." Klaus fuses his lips with Caroline, running his tongue along the seam of her mouth. Caroline lets out a gentle sigh and opens her mouth to Klaus' searching tongue. Caroline's hands fly up to thread her fingers in his hair. One of Klaus' hands fans out on Caroline's upper back, holding her body to his. His other hand lowers to her hip and teases the skin on display due to her shirt riding up a few inches.

Caroline pulls back after nearly a minute of her tongue dueling with Klaus'. Caroline locks her eyes on Klaus' and waits for him to open them. "I do love you, Klaus. I regret holding back those feelings for so long. I'm sorry for taking so long." Caroline repeats the words "I love you" as she places kisses on Klaus' cheeks and along his jawline.

"Caroline, love." Klaus pulls back a little, trying to remain gentle with the blonde vampire in his arms. "We should probably just grab Lizzie and get back to your place, because your words are stirring an appetite in me, that I don't want our daughter to witness."

Caroline tosses her head back in laughter and pulls away from Klaus. She won't admit it, but she is also feeling the need for Klaus. A part of her almost wants to just ask Enzo to keep Lizzie occupied for a little longer, so her and Klaus can sneak away. But this moment deserves more than just some quick romp in the bathrooms at the zoo. Caroline smiles as Klaus and kisses his scruffy cheek. "Later. I promise."

Klaus nods and wraps his arm around Caroline as they make their way to Lizzie and Enzo. Lizzie takes notice of her parents and smiles, wiggling to get down from Enzo's shoulders. Enzo helps Lizzie get down and watches as she run to Klaus and Caroline. Lizzie hugs both of her parents and then takes a step back. Klaus' arm immediately wraps around Caroline's waist. Lizzie looks from her mom to her dad to his arm around Caroline. "So, does this mean we are a family?" Lizzie asks, her eyes bright and hopeful.

Caroline reaches out and grabs Lizzie's hand. "Even if Klaus and I weren't together, we would still be a family. But you now have a mom and dad who love you and each other." Caroline explains, her face in a blinding smile.

Lizzie purses her lips for a second and then gets a mischievous gleam in her eyes. "So does this mean I can get a little brother or sister now?"

Thanks to his super natural hearing, Enzo barks out a laugh at Lizzie's request. Caroline glares at her friend and he tries to hide his laughter as he walks away. "Lizzie, I don't know about that." Caroline offers gently. Both Klaus and Caroline are painfully aware that Klaus could probably have more children, but they wouldn't be with Caroline. And neither the hybrid nor the vampire like that idea. "Didn't I explain that I can't have children?" Caroline asks, confused, hoping she didn't skip over a big part of vampire life.

"Well, yeah. But you can adopt another kid. Like you adopted me?"

Klaus looks to Caroline. "I think we still have some things we need to work out before we can consider bringing another child into this family." Lizzie nods slowly. "Now, how about we take a look at some more animals and then we can have dinner together, as a family?" Lizzie nods enthusiastically and grabs Klaus' hand and Caroline's hand and drags them to the next animal cage.

After a busy day of sightseeing and just spending time together, Caroline, Klaus and Lizzie retire to an apartment that Klaus owns in Boston. Lizzie relents easy enough and goes to bed after being tucked in by her parents, happy to have the family she never realized she wanted. As soon as Caroline closes the door, Klaus grabs her around the waist and pushes her back up against the wall. Klaus leans in close to Caroline and whispers in her ear. "I was promised 'later'."

Caroline wraps her arms around Klaus' neck and presses a kiss to his cheek. "What about later?" She asks, a teasing twinkle in her blue eyes.

Klaus begins to gently nip at Caroline's neck. "I need you, Caroline." Klaus pins Caroline's hips to the wall with his own, his arousal pushing into her stomach. Caroline pulls Klaus' face up to hers and kisses him, slowly and seductively. Their lips part and their tongues dance around each other. Klaus' hands grip Caroline's waist and his leg parts her legs, putting pressure on her core. Caroline pulls away slightly to let out a moan and Klaus quickly removes her shirt, leaving Caroline in her bra and a pair of jeans. Caroline's hands fist into Klaus' hair pulling his mouth back down onto hers. Klaus slides his hands from her waist to her butt and lifts her to wrap her legs around his waist. They both groan at the friction of their lower bodies coming together.

Caroline closes her eyes and lets out a small grunt. "Wait, Klaus." Klaus freezes, with his hand at the middle of Caroline's back, ready to unlatch her bra. "I need to make sure one last time that you are serious about this. You, me and Lizzie. I won't survive if you cast us away for any reason. I won't survive without you." Caroline says softly, her eyes cast downward.

Klaus lifts Caroline's chin to look him in the eyes. "I have loved you for many years, Caroline. I know what it's like to live without out and now I am learning what it's like to live with you. With our daughter. I don't want to lose to this. I would give anything to keep you and Lizzie by my side forever."

Caroline closes her eyes and lets Klaus place a few soft kisses on her cheeks and forehead. "Would you be willing to give up New Orleans? To give up being king?"

Klaus gently unhooks Caroline's legs from around his waist and puts her back on her own two feet. Klaus' hands cup Caroline's cheeks. "Caroline, I would give up New Orleans for you and Lizzie. I've been King of the City and it doesn't compare to the feeling I get from being with you and Lizzie."

Caroline lets a small smile stretch on her lips. "Would you be happy if you weren't a king?"

Klaus pulls Caroline into his arms and whispers into her ear. "As long as I can be your king."

Caroline smiles into Klaus' chest. "Take me to bed, Klaus. Treat me like your queen."

Klaus scoops Caroline up and carries her to his bedroom. They spend the night learning and worshiping each other's bodies.