"Stefan." Caroline said with a big smile as she moved into his open arms and gave him a hug. Stefan smiled and put his arms around her, squeezing her gently against him, mindful of her growing belly. It had been so long since Caroline had seen Stefan she was content just to keep hugging him. Ever since the whole incident with Klaus and Stefan having been run out of town, she appreciated the fact that she could visit him and just hug him anytime she wanted.

"I missed you." Caroline said with a smile when she pulled back from the hug. She took the moment to look him over, as she always did when she was worried about him. He looked healthy, his dark gray t-shirt fitting tightly across his chiseled chest, and dark pants hugging his legs.

"I can tell." Stefan said with a laugh as he opened his door wider and let Caroline in his apartment. Caroline was dressed simply in a forest green maxi dress with a dark blue cardigan and matching flats. It was pretty much her pregnancy uniform at this point.

Caroline's brows immediately furrowed as she took in the state of his usually immaculate living room. There was a suitcase on the floor, clothing littering every surface, blankets and a pillow on the couch, not to mention most of the bottles of liquor that normally sat on Stefan's side table were scattered around the room.

"I take it Damon isn't staying in a hotel?" Caroline said as she turned to Stefan who had pushed his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels.

"Nope. Since I took my 'sabbatical'" Stefan said, pulling his hands out of his pockets so he could provide air quotes "he has wanted to stay close."

Caroline sighed and shook her head in exasperation. "I guess it isn't really a surprise. I mean this was the second time you have taken off and gone radio silent on him. It is any wonder he wants to keep a close eye on you while he is here."

Stefan arched a brow at that, but eventually gave a nod of agreement. After all the only family they had was one another,

"Where is he anyway?" Caroline asked as she wandered over to the kitchen and opened the fridge inspecting its contents.

"He said he wanted to go out and sightsee, but I honestly think he went out looking for Katherine." Stefan said as he followed Caroline into the kitchen.

Caroline's brows drew together as she stood up, looking at Stefan over the fridge door.

"Why would he go looking for Kat? He hates her."

"Yeah, but he also likes to torment her." He answered.

"He is such a dick." Caroline said as she went back to inspecting the fridge. "And seriously, how do you have like no food?" Caroline frowned as she stood up and looked at Stefan who shrugged.

"It's a bachelor pad, what do you expect?"

Caroline nodded her head at that in reluctant agreement. After all she had never known Stefan to have anything more than an abundance of liquor at any given time.

"Since there is nothing to eat, I demand you take me out." Caroline said with a delicate sniff of her nose.

Stefan laughed and curled his arm around her hips and lead her to the front door.

"As if I would ever deny a pregnant woman anything. The way Klaus quivers in fear every time you mention you are hungry, I would be a fool not to get you fed as quickly as possible."

Caroline gave him a consperital smirk. "It isn't my hunger that makes him shake. Rather my appetite."

Stefan was confused about how her appetite could scare Klaus, and then it all became clear as they started their meal and Caroline was busy combining her food together in ways that would make even Anthony Bourdain and Bear Grylls queasy.

"Care, are you sure that is ….. healthy for the baby?" Stefan said braving a glance at her place before keeping his eyes carefully on his own, not wanting to get sick.

"Yeah. Why do you ask?" Caroline said with a confused look before taking a bite of what should have been a challenge on Fear Factor.

"No reason." Stefan said with a nonchalant air.

Caroline glared at Stefan suspiciously but was quickly distracted by her meal to pursue her suspicion any further.

It was only when the meal was finally over (a blessing from all the was holy) that Caroline and Stefan fell into an easy discussion.

"Seriously Stefan, how are you doing?" Caroline said with concern as she reached over and took his hand in hers, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Stefan gave her a reassuring smile. "I promise you I am not about to go over the deep end because Katherine and Damon are in town."

Caroline gave him a dubious look, Stefan shook his head and turned his hand so it was holding hers and gave it a squeeze as gentle as the one she had given him before releasing her hand.

"I promise you Care, I am fine. I have forgiven Kat and I am on good terms with my brother."

"And you are no longer being chased down by a crime lord." Caroline said ruefully and Stefan flashed her a smile and Caroline smiled back for a moment before becoming serious again.

"How are things between you and Nik?"

Stefan couldn't help but smile at the question, his grin almost smug. Caroline eyed him with suspicion.

"What?" And he didn't answer, only continued to look amused. "Stefan! What?!"

Stefan laughed and finally relented his teasing.

"He is very careful."

Caroline's brows drew together in confusion as she shook her head, sending her blonde curls bouncing around her shoulders.

"What does that even mean?" She asked.

"Caroline, he is doing everything in his power to get you to forgive him and give him another chance at a relationship with you." Stefan said as he raised his brows, waiting for her to get the point.

Caroline raised her own eyebrows as she threw out her arms.

"And?"

Stefan rolled his eyes at how dense she was being.

"And he would not do anything to jeopardize that and that includes keeping the peace between me and him."

"Oooohhhh." Caroline said, finally understanding, seeing as Stefan had to spell it out for her. Stefan smirked and received a smack on his arm as punishment for him having the audacity to find amusement at her inability to see his point.

"Hey! It's called pregnancy brain." Caroline said in a defensive voice.

"Sure it is." Stefan nodded his head in mock sympathy, his green eyes full of laughter.

Caroline scowled at him.

"You are having fun with this, aren't you?" She asked.

Stefan nodded his head, an easy smile still on his lips.

Caroline smiled suddenly, her hand reaching out to grasp his once more and squeezed it.

"I like seeing you like this."

"Like what?" Stefan asked, his brows pulling together in question, but the smile stayed.

"Just relaxed and happy." Caroline smiled. "Not that I don't mind your brooding." She added quickly, making Stefan laugh.

"Well, things are good. Like I said, its better between me, Kat and Damon. And I am back here with you."

Stefan opened his eyes and Caroline could almost see him mentally shifting gears as he directed the conversation in another direction.

"Speaking of Klaus, how are things between you and him?"

At the mention of Klaus and their relationship Caroline couldn't help but let out a huge sigh.

"Well that is a loaded sigh if I ever heard one." Stefan said with an arch of his brow.

"Everything is just so complicated! And not to mention my feelings are like in a kajillion places and lets not forget my hormones are completely out of whack. I go from wanting to punch him in his stupid handsome face to crying on his shoulder to wanting to tear off his clothes and ride him like a bronco -"

"Too much information." Stefan said with a wince, but Caroline kept talking as if he hadn't said a word as she normally did when she shared intimate information that he wanted no part of.

"And I am still so mad at him, but I understand why he did it because he is so emotionally unstable and he totally realizes that but I don't know what to do about it because I feel like maybe I am too soft if I forgive him but I want to forgive him and I still love him but I am afraid he will make up something in his head and leave me again and then what if it isn't even that? What if I am not enough to stay anyway? And -"

Caroline must have sounded overwrought because Stefan was suddenly in the chair next to her pulling her in his arms and rubbing her back soothingly. Caroline felt tears prick her eyes and she automatically wrapped her arms tightly around Stefan.

"Caroline?"

"Yeah?"

"You're rambling." Stefan said with a smile in his voice.

Caroline laughed in his arms, his humor pulling her back from the emotional vortex that was about to suck her down. Blinking rapidly to clear her eyes of the tears that had threatened just moments ago she gave herself a moment just to relax in her best friend's arms and accept the comfort Stefan was offering.

After a few minutes when Caroline felt like she wasn't going to burst into tears, an emotional habit she blamed entirely on Klaus as he was the one to get her pregnant and therefore threw her hormones into a tail spin and she was totally going to yell at him about that when she saw him next. She pulled back from Stefan's arms and gave him a wobbly smile. Stefan smiled back for a moment before becoming serious and took both of her hands in his.

"Remember back in Paris when we had dinner?"

"Yeah." Caroline answered, her voice slightly shaking from emotion.

"And we talked about forgiveness?"

Caroline gave a nod, causing her curls to tumble around her face.

"If you have truly forgiven Klaus and want a relationship with him, you are going to have to learn to trust him."

Caroline opened her mouth to protest but Stefan cut her off before she could say a word.

"You can't have a relationship with someone if you don't trust them Caroline."

Stefan paused a moment to let that sink in before continuing.

"What kind of chance would you be giving Klaus if you are constantly worrying that he is going to hurt you again?"

And Stefan was right of course. Everytime she thought about giving Klaus a second chance at a romantic relationship with her she was besieged with constant thoughts about him leaving her again and breaking her heart.

"But what if he does hurt me again?" Caroline asked in a small voice.

"You have to take that chance if you want to be with him."

Caroline pressed her lips together and looked down at their clasped hands. If she really wanted to give Klaus a real second chance at a relationship with her she was going to have to trust him. Trust in the love he had for her. Trust that he would not deliberately set out to leave or hurt her again. After all she had asked of him, and all that he had given, it was only fair that if she was going to forgive him she was was also going to have to trust him.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Stefan let go of her hand and lifted her face so that they were once again eye to eye.

"Besides, if he does hurt you again I am pretty sure Kat will kill him."

Caroline smiled at that and nodded her head. "Yeah, she told me in detail what she planned to do to him and told me to repeat it word for word to Nik."

Stefan smiled and pulled her into another hug.

"Will you quit fidgeting?" Katherine snapped as tugged a lock of Caroline's hair, making the blonde wince in pain.

"I'm not fidgeting!" Caroline protested as she shifted once more, belying her statement that she was indeed not fidgeting. Caroline was seated on the floor, in front of her couch sitting in front of Katherine who was seated on the couch and fixing Caroline's hair for her date with Klaus. Which was a miracle in itself because if Katherine had it her way Caroline would be going on the date with her hair under a hat and wearing a grain sack. Of course Caroline managed to wheedle her friend into doing her hair and all she had to promise was not to eat in front of her until the baby was born.

"Yes you are." Katherine said as she tugged Caroline's hair once more.

"Will you stop that! I can't help that I fidget, you trying sitting on the floor when you are six months pregnant and find a comfortable spot." Caroline turned her head to glare at her best friend but Katherine put her hands on Caroline's head and faced her forward.

"I don't even know why the fuck you are bothering with the effort to look good. We both know he would be all over you if you were covered in dirt and smelled like a pig sty."

Caroline made a face at the image Katherine described and shook her head, earning her another tug of the hair.

"Ow. And I want to look nice because if I am giving him a second chance I should at least put the effort into it." Caroline explained patiently as she smoothed her emerald green shirt over her bulging belly. Klaus had told her the date was going to be casual so she was dressed simply in a t-shirt, dark wash jeans, yellow flats and a yellow cardigan.

"He should be the one putting all the effort in." Katherine said as she gave the blonde locks in her hand another tug.

"Hey, I didn't even move." Caroline said as she turned to glare at Katherine, who shrugged and then forcefully turned her head back, so she was facing front again.

Caroline grinded her teeth together as she looked forward and did her best to sit still.

Katherine cursed quietly as she worked Caroline's hair into the intricate style she had found online and demanded that Katherine recreate.

"Did you have to choose such a complicated hair style? Jesus, its like you're getting married."

"It is a wedding hairstyle. I found it on pinterest." Caroline informed her proudly, reaching back blindly to find the print out of the hairstyle that was sitting next to Katherine on the couch. Taking it in her hand she held it in front of her and gave a nod of approval, earning another sharp tug from Katherine. The hairstyle pictured was fat curls gathered into an intricate knot at the nape of the neck. The look it conveyed was effortless, but the time Katherine had already spent trying to recreate the look implied otherwise.

"Do you know how fussy it is going to look with your outfit?"

"No. It is not going to look fussy. It is classy and elegant just like my clothes." Caroline snapped as she straightened her yellow cardigan.

"Who here is a fashion correspondent for a magazine?" Caroline asked rhetorically.

Katherine rolled her eyes and snatched the paper out of Caroline's hands and put it back on the couch where she could see it clearly.

"I heard that."

"You heard what?" Katherine asked with a heavy sigh, already 100% done.

"You rolling your eyes." Caroline said as she nodded her head, earning yet another tug of her hair.

Katherine managed to keep a leash on her temper, not really wanting to have a throw down with her pregnant best friend. As the worst case scenario was Caroline falling apart and crying, something Katherine desperately wanted to avoid.

20 minutes and 3 arguments later Caroline's hair was finally done.

"There. Done." Katherine said as she shoved Caroline to the side and got up, stretching her stiff limbs as she walked around the apartment.

Caroline grunted as she was shoved aside, but allowed the transgression to pass as she was eager to look in the mirror to see the finished product. Twisting around Caroline tried to pull herself up to her feet but found she couldn't manage it.

"I need some help."

Katherine turned on her heel and looked at her best friend, her dark eyebrows pulling together in puzzlement. "Need help with what?"

"Getting up." Caroline grounded out. "What does it look like?"

Katherine smirked as she watched her friend continue to struggle to stand, making no move to help her up.

"Are you going to help me or just stand there?"

"Just stand here. Its like watching a turtle try and flip itself over while on its back." Katherine said, amusement evident in her husky voice.

"Damn it Kat - " Caroline hissed as her face went red with annoyance.

"Take a chill pill Caroline. I swear you have been on the edge of being a huge meltdown for the past three days." Katherine complained as she moved to help her friend stand up.

Caroline frowned as she nodded her thanks as she came to her feet with the help of Katherine.

"I mean you are normally a neurotic control freak, except now you are a neurotic control freak on crack." Katherine waved her hand at Caroline, gesturing towards her stomach, suggesting the baby was the cause of the change.

"I know, I know." Caroline said as she fought down the emotions that had threatened to overwhelm her the past few days. Apparently she wasn't doing too good of a job of it because Katherine pointed at her and yelled, "Don't you dare start crying! We spent to fucking long on your make up for you to mess it up by crying." And then said as an afterthought, "Plus you're ugly when you cry."

"I am not ugly when I cry!" Caroline bit out, going from about to cry to fighting mad, Katherine's outburst having done the trick in keeping Caroline from ruining all their work on her makeup.

Katherine rolled her eyes at that statement. "Yeah you are. You get all splotchy, your eyes get bloodshot with snot and tears running down your face. Ugh." Katherine made a disgusted face as she waved her hand around Caroline's face.

Caroline slapped Katherine's hand away and gave her a disgruntled frown.

"Now that you are no longer on the edge of edge of ruining your makeup and looking ugly, tell me why you have been such a crazy bitch the last couple of days." Katherine demanded as she swept her chestnut curls over her shoulder before crossing her arms and and giving Caroline an expectant look.

Caroline pressed her hands to her stomach as she looked up and met Katherine's gaze.

"I'm nervous."

Katherine waited for Caroline to continue, but when there was no more of an explanation she exploded.

"You're telling me you have been a total nut case for the past few days because you are nervous!? Are you fucking kidding me?!"

Which only set off Caroline's temper.

"What did you expect Kat? I pregnant. I'm a mess! You even said so yourself." Caroline said as she glared at her friend, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yeah, but I thought there would be a better reason behind it. Not 'I'm nervous'".

Before Caroline could reply there was a knock at the door. Katherine gave Caroline a hard look as she went to open the door.

"When you get back we are finishing this conversation."

"What conversation?" Caroline said as she lifted her hands in the air. "This isn't a conversation, it's just you yelling at me."

"And you are yelling back so that is what I call a conversation." Katherine said as she answered the door.

Klaus stood in the doorway holding a hold what could only be called a bushel of dark pink peonies and a bottle of expensive tequila. He was dressed in dark jeans and a dark gray dress shirt with the sleeves rolled back on his forearms, his dirty blonde curls seemingly tamed for the evening, although he hadn't bothered to shave, leaving his face covered in scruff.

Katherine glared at him hard for a moment, not saying anything before turning away from the front door and retreating further into the flat. Klaus smirked at the greeting, the fact she hadn't attacked him, shut the door in his face or threatened bodily harm was a pretty decent greeting from Caroline's best friend.

Caroline shot Katherine an exasperated look as she came forward but managed to shake off her irritation by the time she reached the front door and had a welcoming smile for Klaus.

"Hello Sweetheart." Klaus said as he came forward to press a kiss against her pale pink cheek. "How glorious you look this afternoon." As he paused to take in her, his eyes going from the tips of her bare feet to the top of her curls in a hot sweep before meeting her gaze making her blush. Damn her hormones, she should be rolling her eyes at him, instead she was seriously contemplating throwing Katherine out and having her way with him.

"Uh, thanks." In a nervous gesture she went to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear, having forgotten her hair was in an updo and swiped at the air.

Klaus of course noticed she was a little off, but chocked it up to the fact he and Katherine were in a very small space together.

"These are for you, love." Klaus said as he handed her the flowers, the sheer amount of them engulfing her small frame as she took them into her arms.

Caroline smiled as she practically face planted herself into the blooms taking in their sweet fragrance.

"Thank you, they are beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you are." Klaus said with a wink.

That line seemed to shake a bit of the nervousness away.

"Seriously?" Tilting her head as she gave him the look.

Klaus shrugged a shoulder and came into the flat, shutting the door behind him. He then caught Katherine's dark look and second guessed himself at shutting the only means of escape from Caroline's best friend.

"Nik, you know pregnant women aren't supposed to drink, right?" Caroline asked as she arched her brows at the bottle of tequila in his hand.

Klaus chuckled. "Yes, I am well aware pregnant women should not drink. This gift is not for you, but for Katherine. A peace offering." Klaus said as he bravely walked up to Katherine and handed her the bottle of expensive liquor.

Katherine glared at him and then looked suspiciously at the tequila. It was only when she caught Caroline's threatening look that she graciously (as gracious as anyone can be with a clenched jaw can be) accepted the tequila.

And it was only with another look from Caroline that Katherine bit out a hard "Thank you."

Katherine eye'd the tequila suspiciously, it was her favorite brand, and considering the question Caroline had posed to Klaus upon seeing it she had to suspect it was Elijah who was helping his brother butter her up. Next to Klaus, he was the second most determined person to see Caroline and Klaus back together.

While Klaus and Katherine eyed each other like two cowboys about to have a shoot out at the O.K. Corral, Caroline went into the kitchen and started to put the flowers into vases, as she had more than enough from when Klaus had flower bombed her in his bid to beg for forgiveness for his three weeks of silence when she had laid her ultimatum on the table and when he had tried to beg for forgiveness for when he had left her after sleeping together. It seemed they had come full circle with this newest round of flowers, remembering how he had brought them for her for their first date.

Although she had told Katherine and Stefan, she had yet to tell Klaus she had forgiven him and was ready to try again. He still thought this date was all blackmail. That bit alone was the reason behind her nervousness. Would he change? Act different once he knew she had forgiven him and was willing to try again?

Chewing on her bottom lip she considered the risks once more, for the bajillionth time, as she filled the vases with water and flowers. She hated not knowing how things were going to turn out, which caused the control freak in to become a neurotic raging nut case. And her pregnancy hormones made things that much worse. It was probably the fact that she was pregnant that had kept Katherine from putting her into a choke hold until she passed out so she could get a few hours of peace.

Besides, after all the hell that she had put Katharine through this week, she was pretty sure Katherine would beat her black and blue if she didn't tell Klaus about her decision to not only forgive him, but that she was willing to give a second chance at their relationship. Plus she had a plan on how to tell him, because she would not be Caroline Forbes if she didn't have a plan.

Finishing up the flowers, she took a deep breath and turned around and came into to the living room. Klaus was sitting on the couch, his face neutral as he kept a careful eye on Katherine, while Katherine was still perched against the wall alternately looking suspiciously at the tequila and giving Klaus death glares. Klaus jumped to his feet when Caroline came back into the room.

"Shall be we be on our way, sweetheart?"

Caroline nodded as she gave Katherine her own death glare to cut it out before turning away, grabbing her dark blue cross body purse and slipping it on as she walked through the front door that Klaus was holding open for her. Just as he was closing it he caught Katherine's warning look as she dragged her finger across her throat in the universal threat that she was going to kill him. Klaus popped an eyebrow at that and shut the door firmly.