The months were flying by and baby Hope was growing so much, Nik and the others fighting the war in New Orleans were missing her first moments. Nik called every once in a while to check in on us but the conversations never lasted very long and not much was really said. Rebekah took up the spare bedroom here in the house so she could remain close to her niece, although she spent most of her time away from us and with Matt.

"Bex where are you? You said you would be home by 8 and I need to talk to you." I practically barked into the phone leaving the older, taller blonde a voicemail. I pulled the phone from my ear just as a message from Bonnie flashed on my screen.

B*someone new in town

I read over the words multiple times as fear gripped my heart. Was today the day something came to take away the precious one year old who was left in my care.

C*TY

I typed to her as I ran at full speed to the nursery and held Hope to my chest tightly. She was still fast asleep as I paced around the house hoping the spell Bonnie placed on it would hold against other witches. A loud knock on the door startled me. I crept slowly to the hall and kept a distance so I couldn't be seen or heard.

"Caroline? It's Nik. Are you in there?" I pulled my phone from my pocket and moved into the closet. I couldn't be sure that the man on my front porch was really my long lost love. I had to call to be sure. "Hello?"

"Nik, where are you?" I whispered furiously into the phone as my grip on the baby tightened slightly. He chuckled down the other end.

"I am on your porch dear."

"Stay there and don't move. I need to do a test to be sure this is not some witch trick." He sighed a little but told me he would wait. It was then I remembered he wasn't the most patient of people. "Bonnie I need you to come over right away. Yes. I need you to use magic and see if the man on my porch is really there and really who he says he is. I don't care if I sound paranoid." I hung up quickly after that, sticking to the closet with a still sleeping Hope I prayed that it truly was him.

B*He is hot and I so wish I didn't think that

My phone buzzed signaling a message from Bonnie.

C*It's really him?

B*Yes not a witch in hiding. So come out now

I pushed open the door and walked briskly to the front door. "Nik." I breathed out as I opened the main door to find him leaning against the post.

"Hello Caroline." He replied, his voice husky and soft. His accent always could make me go weak in the knees.

"I'm sorry to keep you waiting it's just..."

"I understand, I am glad you did."

"Please come in. Bonnie I'll see ya later and if you see Bex can you please tell her to answer her damn phone next time."

"Will do, but you know she is probably at Matt's." Bonnie said back.

"Yeah, she is supposed to be here tonight, I can't believe she ditched Hope to sleep with Matt." I said sounding a little bitchy. Bonnie turned to leave as Nik followed me into the house and into the living room.

"What a beautiful home you have here." He said sounding as proper as ever.

"Thank you. I will be sure to let Liz know you think so."

"Liz she is the ancestor you mentioned?"

"Yes, I call her mom." I told him as I shifted Hope onto my other hip. His eyes travelled to the small sleeping child, the hardness in his gaze dissipated as he looked down at his small one year old daughter.

"May I?" He asked reaching for her, gently I handed her over to him as he cooed slightly. It was a sight I never thought I would see and it was breathtaking.

"She is really a sweet child. She can walk a little now and she babbles a lot. It's good your blonde." I giggled. He looked up at me with his impossibly blue eyes. "What?"

"Why is that good?" He said with humor in his voice.

"She doesn't like brunettes." I laughed a little remembering her reactions to Elena and Bonnie. He smiled down at her and then back up at me, his teeth flashing slightly in the light of the living room. I moved to sit on the sofa as he walked in circles for the first time with his baby girl. "Not that I am not happy to see you here but what are you doing here?"

"The war has ended."

"Oh." I said a little too sadly. I was happy that he could visit and I could see him again but the thought of losing the life with Hope was suddenly too much to bear.

"It's a good thing Care." He said sitting next to me on the sofa and using my old nickname. "It means Hope can come home now."

"I know what it means Nik." I said sharply.

"It also means if you wish to return to New Orleans you are free to do so."

"Technically I could return anytime." I said a little bitterly.

"Caroline what is really bothering you?" He asked reading me like a book.

"You are here to take her are you not. Take Hope back to the city." I questioned already knowing the answer and knowing that my heart was about to break into a million tiny pieces at the idea of losing the little girl I have grown to love and cherish above all else.

"No, I am not. Haley was a casualty of this war. The wolves didn't make it very far and she sadly died alongside Elijah."

"Oh god, Nik I am so sorry to hear about your brother."

"Yes well he died trying to protect her." He explained. He moved his hand to rest on my jean covered knee, his fingers tracing light patterns on my clothed skin making tingles rise up my spine. "Caroline, I want you to come back to the city with me."

"Without your brother what else is there?"

"It's home."

"I thought home was where your family is." I questioned.

"Are you saying you don't want to come back with me?" He asked a little hurt.

"No I want to be with you more now than I did a hundred years ago, what I am saying is why don't you come here?" I broached the subject. The front door flung open and slammed shut as Bex made her way into the room.

"Care I am so so so sorry I am late. I know it's her birthday and I should have been here earlier..." She stopped short at seeing her brother sat on the sofa holding his tiny daughter. "Oh. Nik."

"Rebekah." He said nodding his head a little.

"The war is over then." She said a little defiantly.

"Yes it is. Elijah is gone as is Haley and many others on all sides." He told her. The shock at hearing her brother was dead had her sitting down instantly.

"I'm going back to Matt's." She said finally and walked out the front door.

"Well that was quieter than expected." He said in a low voice. "Who is this Matt?"

"Her boyfriend. My ex-boyfriend. He's a good guy and I think he loves her."

"Human?"

"Very human." I replied.

"She's happy?" He questioned. I could see the hesitancy in his face as he thought about his sister. He looked down at the sleeping child once again, his face going into the mask he always wore.

"Very happy Nik."

"Are you happy?"

"I am happy here yes. If you chose to stay here though with me. With all of us then I can tell you how much happier I'll be." I told him leaning closer to him, my lips grazing his cheek as my soft warm breath spread over his face.

"Then Hope and I shall stay here with you." He replied turning his head so our lips would meet in a soft kiss. The first kiss after so many years spent apart.

"You can't kill anyone here though. You have to go out of town for that."

"Alright my dear. As you wish."

.

.

.

The little girl in the arms of the big bad wolf began to stir as she woke up from her nap. "Mama?" She asked looking around the room. I rushed forward from the kitchen and swooped her up in my arms.

"Hi baby." I kissed her cheek feverously as she giggled away.

"Caroline, why do you always rush in like that. Can I not comfort our child?" Nik asked me from his spot still on the sofa in our beautiful Victorian style house in Mystic Falls.

"Because Hope here needs mama's touch not papa's. Right baby girl?"

"Right mama." She agreed laughing. Nik sprung from his spot on the sofa and engulfed his two favorite women in a hug. "PAPAAAA." She giggled madly. "Can I get down mama please?" She asked. I placed my beautiful 5 year old step daughter on the floor as she took off running to her room to grab some toy.

"You are amazing Lady Caroline you know that." Nik smirked as he kissed me.

"Oh it's lady Caroline again is it?"

"You aren't really much of a lady now are you?"

"I guess not." I said reaching over and kissing him again. The door banged open as Rebekah burst in with Matt in tow.

"Will you ever knock little sister." Nik questioned the other blonde.

"We are getting MARRIED." She shouted throwing her arms around both our necks in excitement.

"Good job mate." Nik said shaking Matt's hand. Matt stood off to the side looking awkward as Bex celebrated. Showing off her ring.

"Aunty Bex aunty Bex." Hope yelled running into the room and hugging her aunts legs before launching herself at Matt. "I love you." She said to both of them.

.

.

.

After a few hours of chit chat and dinner Matt and Rebekah took off for their small three bedroom house, leaving Nik, Hope and I alone. "This is true happiness " I said smiling to him as Hope lay between us watching a movie on the TV.

"True love never dies." came his near silent response.

Okay okay I know this took forever and it probably seems like I rushed it but I have lost all momentum with this story but I didn't wanna just give it up. Time jumps happened twice in this chapter and no flashbacks.

Let me know what you think. Perhaps one day I'll pick it up again.