AN: This is unedited but I just had to get it up. See AN at end for more details! 3

14. In Fate's Hands

Caroline was settling in nicely at the Mikaelson Manor and while she missed having her own little cottage with just her, Nik, and the children, she also understood that so many things had changed.

One change that she was sure thankful for was indoor plumbing. She had been back in present time for a few months now, but still enjoyed long hot baths that soothed her strained back muscles.

"How is my beautiful wife feeling today?" Nik asked as he came up behind Caroline and wrapped his hands around her stomach.

Caroline hummed as her husband's lips pressed against her shoulder and up to her neck. "My feet are huge and my back is sore, but I am completely happy." She looked up at him through the mirror and let out a small gasp. The veins under Nik's eyes were dark blue and his eyes gleamed yellow. "I think you need to go eat."

It was strange for Caroline to be human while Nik was a vampire. She had to adjust to him needing to feed. Since she had moved in with him, he had barely left the house. She knew that he snuck out some nights, but never questioned where he was going.

Nik felt embarrassed. He was trying his hardest to sustain on blood bags, but every now and then he needed to pull from the vein. He hated to admit that Caroline's blood sang to him. He would never feed from his pregnant wife, but that didn't stop his vampire body from reacting to her sweet aroma.

He forced his eyes to change back to their normal stormy blue and kissed Caroline's shoulder one more time before promising to not be out long.

The house was quiet after Nik left and Caroline used this opportunity to feed as well. Growing two babies was hard work and she felt that half of her waking hours were spent eating. No one else appeared to be home and she went straight for the half gallon of cookies-n-cream ice cream.

"You really should be eating something with more protein."

The voice from behind her startled her and she almost dropper her spoon. "William, you scared me."

"Sorry, quiet walking is kind of a side effect of being a vampire."

Caroline just smiled and nodded her head, "Would you like a bowl?" she asked as she held out the ice cream.

William frowned and shook his head, "Not my flavor."

The silence between them was awkward. Caroline returned the container to the freezer. "What would you suggest I eat?"

"I'll whip you up something," William offered as he moved around the kitchen. First he filled a large glass with ice water and placed it on the kitchen island and motioned for his mother to sit at the bar. He pulled open the fridge and picked out a few items before moving over to the stove.

Caroline was amazed as she watched him start to heat a pan and season a piece of salmon like he had done it a million times. "Where did you learn to cook?"

"I attended the Florence Culinary Art School in Italy when I got tired of stuffy books at Oxford."

"That's marvelous Peanut!"

His back tensed at the use of his nickname. His mother had used it a few times since their fight out in the garden. He didn't believe that she used it to hurt him, but just out of instinct.

Caroline sensed her son's discomfort with her term of endearment. "I'm sorry," she looked down at the countertop, "William."

"It's alright. Aunt Beks says that it has been hard on you with adjusting to this time."

"That's kind of you," Caroline started. "Just a few months ago I was taking care of a farm, milking cows and goats every day…chasing after two small children." Her mind was taken back to that time and a happy smile graced her face.

"I remember," William said as he tossed some greens into the pan he just removed the salmon filet from.

Caroline became hopeful that she was able connect with her son, "Tell me what you remember from that time."

William plated Caroline's lunch and took the seat next to his mother. "I remember the smell of straw, wool, and soot. I remember Nana Nora always cooking, and father chopping firewood."

"Those are all wonderful memories William. I remember you collecting eggs from the chicken house and your father teaching you to draw using charcoal tipped sticks from the fire."

They were quiet for a moment, both lost in thoughts of the past. Caroline took a bit of her lunch and hummed at the taste. "This is delicious," she stated before taking a bite of the greens. "Do you remember the smell of Nana Nora cooking cabbage all day?" Caroline giggled remembering that both herself and her son hated the smell.

William paused before answering, his fist clenching underneath the granite counter top, "I remember that smell. I also remember the smell of the flowers that you wore in your hair and the leather bound journal that you were always carrying around. I remember the stew you would make when I was feeling ill…"

"One of Nora's old recipes…" Caroline started before she was interrupted.

"I also remember the day you disappeared," William stated harshly, not looking up as he was avoiding the hurt expression he knew his mother was wearing.

"I don't know if you will ever know how sorry I am."

"Father was never the same. The light was gone from his eyes, you were gone."

Caroline needed a way to make him understand, so as swiftly as she could move with her large stomach, she dismounted the bar stool. "Come with me," she stated before walked towards the stairs.

As his mother mounted the stairs, William watcher her waver, and using his vampire speed, he caught her by the elbow and placed a hand at her back. Caroline just smiled softly before continuing up the stairs.

They entered Caroline and Klaus' bedroom and she walked over to her nightstand. William had not been into this room since his mother moved into the house and he was drawn to the painting of their hill side home from over a thousand years ago. He reached out and touched the figure of the young blonde boy in the picture.

"Here it is," Caroline spoke, drawing her son's attention from the painting. She walked to him and handed him her first journal, the one that she had written about her time in the future and a promise that if she was taken from them that she would return. In this journal there was also musing about how she fell in love with Niklaus and the joy she felt at the birth of her son.

William took the journal and turned it over in his hands. "I can't read this, it is your private thoughts."

"Yes, but I also think it is what you need to heal."

There was a sound in the door way and Caroline looked up to see Nik back from his hunt. "Everything alright in here?" He asked moving his eyes from his son to his wife. He had intentionally asked William to stay at the house with Caroline while he was out. He had hoped that by pushing them together, that his son would start down the road of forgiveness.

Caroline nodded her head softly as she watched her son hurry from the room. Nik moved towards her and took her face in his hands before placing a delicate but yearning kiss on her lips.

"You gave him the journal?" Nik asked between kisses.

"I did. He needs to know that even now, I would go back to him, to Lizzy, to you in the past."

Nik pulled his wife into an embrace and rested his chin on the top of her head. "Most of his anger should be with me. I was the one who changed for the worse after you left."

Caroline looked up at Nik, "You did want you had to do to survive. I don't know what I would have done if I had lost you."

"It's kind of you to try and make me feel better about all of the horrible things I have done." He kissed her forehead, "I'm going to go talk to our son."

William was in the study when his father walked in. He was already fifteen pages or so into the journal. He couldn't fathom how scared his mother had been, being pulled from her own world, away from her family and friends, and placed in a time with such uncertainty. But his mother had stayed, fallen in love with his father, and started their little family.

"One of these days you will need to forgive her," Nik walked over and poured two drinks, handing one to his son.

"How can everyone just act as if nothing happened? As if we weren't put through hell because she left."

"She didn't leave us, she was taken from us." Nik corrected his son, pointing a finger at him.

Will just shrugged and took a swig from his glass.

Nik paced the floor in front of the fireplace and tried to see this all from his son's perspective. Henrik would have still died, and he was sure that his mother would have still done the spell that would turn them into vampires. But Caroline would still have been alive and able to take their children and be safe from himself and his siblings while they controlled their blood lust. He shuttered at the thought of running from Mikael for hundreds of years with four children in tow. He was almost thankful that Caroline was not around for that time in their history.

"I can't say how our lives would be different if your mother had never been pulled from our time, but I have spent hundreds of years without her, and I'll be damned if I am going to squander any more time being petty."

Will scoffed, "You think I am being petty?"

"Yes," Nik said without a beat. "We both know that it is not Caroline that you are angry with."

"Do we?" William baited.

"Come now, Will. You have hated me for centuries!"

"I have not hated you," Will defended.

Nik sucked in a breath, "Just that monster I became."

"You were different when she left!"

"I was a young vampire, grieving for brother, my wife, and unborn child." Nik knew that this was a talk they should have had years ago. "I seem to remember when you were turned that Kol and yourself did your fair share of killing."

William couldn't meet his father's eyes. He was so young when his father has been turned and they were sent away with Nora. He needed his mother, he needed his father, and both were painfully absent from his life. He had always known that his father was turned against his will and now he had the knowledge that his mother was pulled from them against her will. So why was he still so angry?

Nik now walked over to his son and placed his hand on his shoulder, "We can't change the past Will. I am truly sorry and ashamed of the man…the monster that I became. I wish that I could have been there for you and Elizabeth when you needed me."

Will was trying to prevent the tears in his eyes from spilling. It took his father a thousand years to be able to say those words to him. He only let one tear fall as Nik drew him in for a hug, and not one of those one armed, pat on the back type of hugs, but a true embrace from a father to a son.

"Your mother is here, alive and in the flesh just up those stairs. She loves you just as fiercely as she did when you were small and only her kiss could fix your world. You would be a fool to continue to act as if your heart does not still belong to her." Nik crossed the room and picked up the journal and placed it back into his son's hands. With a knowing smile he left the room to go find the amazing mother of his children.

Caroline had decided that the next day she would venture out of the house and spend some time with her friends. She had been receiving calls from them nonstop and today she was feeling just well enough to go spend time with Bonnie and Elena.

They had agreed to meet at The Grill for lunch and then make plans from there. Caroline had to convince Nik that she still remembered how to drive and that being pregnant also didn't make her disabled.

"But what if a deer runs out on to the road!" Nik was still trying to convince Caroline that he needed to drive her into town.

Caroline rolled her eyes, but still smiled when she replied, "Then I will swerve or brake."

"But what if…"

"No more what ifs," Caroline said reaching up to kiss Nik on the lips. Before he could throw another protest her way, she grabbed her keys and walked out the front door of the manor.

The drive to The Grill was thankfully uneventful since she would have hated to call Nik and have to tell him that she had gotten into trouble. She also found a parking spot in front of the restaurant, grateful that she didn't want to walk a long distance.

Her friends were already seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant. They waved her over and she waddled around other patrons to their table. Caroline now remembered why she didn't leave the house much. She was already feeling her feet swelling and the waistband of her maternity jeans rubbing the wrong way.

"Hey Care!" Elena said energetically. She also stood from her seat to wrap her very pregnant friend in a hug. "You look so good!"

Caroline smiled and returned the hug, "Thank you 'Lena, you are being too kind." Next Bonnie stood and Caroline brought her into a hug as well.

They all sat and Caroline ordered an unsweetened tea. She was still adjusting to all of the sugar that is added to food in this time. "So what's new with you guys? I want to know everything."

Bonnie and Elena eyed each other. Officer Forbes had warned them to leave Caroline out of the vampire drama that Katherine was still spawning.

"Nothing much," Bonnie said, taking a sip of her Coke.

Caroline didn't believe them for a second. "Really? When I left we were trying to bring down Katherine. Has there been any word from her?"

Elena shook her head a little bit too dramatically. "Nope, nothing."

"Hmm," Caroline hummed. "I was hoping for some juicy drama. I've been bored to tears just sitting at home."

Both Bonnie and Elena looked down at the table, trying to come up with something to tell her that didn't involve fighting vampires. "Oh!" Elena exclaimed. "Tyler has a new girlfriend."

Caroline's eyes became wide with shock. She shouldn't care that her ex-boyfriend was now dating someone new, she was married for goodness sake, but for some reason she felt a pang of jealousy. "Really?" She tried to sound nonchalant, "Anyone I know?"

"No," Bonnie waved her hand as she started to explain. "She's just some new girl that rolled through town. Crazy thing is that she is a werewolf too."

"That is strange that another wolf would come to town and find the only other wolf in a hundred mile radius." Caroline tried to not think about the coincidence of it all. "Well good for him for finding one of his own kind." She tried to sound happy for her friend, but she was uneasy about this match. Supernaturals in Mystic Falls didn't come together by chance, there had to be more to it.

She thought about asking Nik about the match, but she didn't want him to think that she cared about Tyler. Behak had already told her about the strained relationship between Nik and Tyler during her absence.

Elena tried to change the subject again as she saw Caroline's brow still pinched together in worry, "So are you going to come back to school?"

Caroline had been thinking about this question for a while and had even discussed it with Nik. In this time she was still seen as a seventeen year old, but in the years that she had in the past she was now bordering on twenty-one and she was about to have two infants to care for. "I don't think so. I have more important things to attend to," she reached under the table and lovingly stroked her stomach.

"Of course," Bonnie said with a soft smile.

"What's school like? Is there talk?" Caroline asked, still holding her hand protectively over her stomach.

Again Elena and Bonnie eyed each other. "There are some rumors. We try squash the more outrageous ones."

"Outrageous ones?" Caroline asked in amusement.

"Shortly after you were sent back in time, Coach Miller also disappeared." Elena looked around to make sure no one else was listening. "We know that he was killed, most likely by Katherine, but people were talking about how he is the reason for your…situation."

Caroline had to laugh, "Coach Miller? That is insane…"

"Yeah," Bonnie mused. "Other stories are that the baby is Tyler's and my personal favorite, that you got knocked up by a rock star."

"Oh, I like that one!" Caroline took another drink from her tea. "So what is the real story that you are telling everyone?"

"As close to the truth as we can get. You met the new 'hot guy'," Elena used air quotes and rolled her eyes at having to say such a think about Klaus, "in town and he's the father of your baby."

Caroline bit at her bottom lip. She had yet told her friends that she was in fact carrying twins. A knowing smile crossed her lips and she looked up at them through her lashes, "Actually there are two of them."

"Two of what?" Elena asked with a confused expression.

"Two babies…I'm expecting twins."

Both girls sat there in stunned silence. Bonnie finally spoke after she shook the fog from her mind, "Oh my goodness! That is amazing Care!"

Elena's express was dark, "I still can't believe that you are married to that man."

Caroline was taken back by the changes in the conversation. "What do you mean?"

With a long exhale Elena gathered her thoughts, "He's a monster. All the hell he has put us through. You wouldn't understand."

"You're right," Caroline remarked, sitting taller in her seat and squaring her shoulders. "I wouldn't understand, because that is not the man I know." She relaxed some when she saw a tinge of remorse cross Elena's face. "It is my fault that he acted in such a way."

"How could what he did ever be your fault Care?" Bonnie asked.

"When I was pulled back to this time, it ruined him. He thought that I was killed by the wolves and felt that he had nothing else to live for."

"He had a choice to not be a monster." Elena had fire in her eyes.

Caroline decided to put an end to this line of conversation, "And who are you to judge who deserves redemption?" Caroline started to stand from her seat and gather her purse.

Bonnie stood as well, "Care don't leave, she didn't mean it like that."

"As I hear it, Stefan is off reeking havoc along the eastern seaboard. " Caroline shot back. "All the while you are cozying up to Damon of all people!"

Elena looked angry and embarrassed all at the same time. "I guess we both have poor taste in men then," she almost mumbled under her breath.

"Please, Care. Stay." Bonnie pleaded.

Caroline sat back down with a long sigh. "I'm hungry so I guess I will stay."

The three girls were quiet for a few awkward minutes before their waiter came back over to get their order.

Once Caroline had left the house, Nik set out to the other side of town to take care of some business.

The shoddy apartment building that he parked in front of had seen better days and he was sure that more than a few unsavory characters resided within its walls. He couldn't say much for himself, for to onlookers, it appeared that a married man was visiting his mistress.

He walked up to apartment C and knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Called a voice from within.

Nik found the door unlocked and walked into the dimly lit room. The one-bedroom apartment smelled of cheap perfume and spoiled milk. He adverted his eyes when the woman walked out from the back of the apartment wearing only panties. "Do you mind Hayley?"

"Nothing you haven't seen before Klaus," she fires back.

"Cover yourself or I am leaving."

Hayley moved over to the couch, rifled through a pile of clothing and finally pulled on a thin robe, "So your little woman comes back into town and you become a prude?"

"That is my wife," he seethed, "and what transpired between you and I will never happen again. Like I told you before, our interactions will only be concerning breaking my curse."

"If you say so, sweetheart." She drawled out the term of endearment that he had used the entire time he had courted her.

Klaus growled. When he had first found Hayley she was a means to an end, and also a pleasing distraction if he had to admit it to himself. The sexual relationship was almost accidental. A late night of drinking and a provocative wolf had caused him to slip.

Her tanned skin, dark hair, and fuller lips were almost polar opposites to his Caroline. Not that he preferred those traits over those of his wife, but he could acknowledge the differences.

"Watch it Klaus, you are staring to drool," Hayley teased.

Getting tired of her games Klaus decided to get to the point. "What is your progress on obtaining what I need for the sacrifice?"

Heyley stalked towards him, "You mean this?" She held up a smooth milky looking stone.

"The moon stone," Klaus held out his hand. "Give it to me."

"Come and get it," she purred, running her middle finger down the lapel of robe and pulling it open to expose more of her chest. She then took the stone, it's cool smoothness feelings wonderful against her warm skin, and dragged it down in between her breasts.

Klaus smirked and approached her. He reached up and tucked a wayward curl behind her ear, letting his fingertips graze along her neck.

Hayley thought that she had won. It wasn't that she practically like Klaus, the sex was some of the best she ever had, unloving and distant, but very good. But there was something about taking what belonged to another woman that set a fire within her.

As his fingers reached the base of Hayley's neck he tightened his grip. He saw the shock in her eyes as he lifted her feet from her floor, still holding her around the neck.

She choked and squirmed, trying to gasp for air. He plucked the stone from her hand that was desperately clawing at his fingers. Klaus released his grip, dropping her to the floor.

She rubbed at her neck, "You asshole!" she shrieked.

"I warned you Hayley!" His face wore a hard expression. "You have two weeks to gather the final pieces or I will never tell you anything about your real family." With that Klaus turned from the apartment and quickly paced to his vehicle.

He felt the stink of her in his clothes and on his skin. He hoped that he could make it home before Caroline and wash this whole interaction from his being.

Nik breathed a sigh of relief when he pulled up at the house and Caroline's car was absent from the courtyard. He raced up the stairs and stripped in their room, throwing his clothing into the fireplace and striking a match.

The glass-enclosed shower was steam filled by the time he stepped in. The water cleansed him to his soul. He knew that he had done nothing wrong by meeting with Hayley, but he was also sure that Caroline would not approve. He had tried to keep her from the planning revolving around his curse. While having her home was enough for him, he was too close to becoming what he had always wanted to be. As a hybrid he could better protect his family.

He was too lost in thought to hear the car pull up, the front door open, and the heavier footsteps of his beloved.

Caroline had called out for him when she entered the house, but received no answer. She went up to their room with the intent to take a nap; then she heard the water running in the bathroom.

The heavy steam in the tiled room was welcoming and she pulled at her clothing. It has been a very long time since she was able to sneak up on Nik, his vampire hearing usually ruined her games, but he must have been very lost in thought to not hear her.

Nik only noticed that his wife had joined him when she snaked her arms around his middle. Caroline loved the feel of her soft fingers over the hard plains of his abdomen.

"Well hello sweetheart," he whispered as he turned in her arms and took her face in both of his hands, laying a gentle kiss on her waiting lips.

He took a step back and brought his wife under the warm fall of the water. The heat was heavenly on her sore muscles and she moaned into the kiss. Caroline's hormones were making her bordering on insatiable and she let her hands gravitate lower, happy to find her husband ready for her.

Nik was aroused any time she was near him in his state and he had learned long ago that a pregnant Caroline couldn't get enough of their lovemaking. With her growing belly not allowing them to get too creative with their positions, he spun her back around, keeping her under the spray of water.

Starting at her neck, he kissed down her back, reaching around her hips and running his fingers along the apex of her thighs. She moaned out again and looked over her shoulder at him. Her eyes were alight with a passion that he had only known from her.

How dense had he been, thinking that any other woman would ever give him what his Caroline does? He had strayed, many times over the years thinking that she had been gone from him forever, but none of those women could ever add up to her.

As he felt her breathing get shorter and faster he entered her. The sigh that escaped her as was if she was feeling it for the first time. Nik was taken back to the first time that they had joined after their marriage. How every part of her had felt perfect and fit to him like a missing puzzle piece that he had never known he desperately needed.

"Nik," Caroline panted, her legs getting weak.

He wrapped his arm around her bust, just above her bump to provide support as he continued to thrust into her. The water that fell between their bodies made sloppy sounds that were all but ignored.

Caroline gripped at the tile wall trying to get as much leverage to push against him. Every part of her skin that was in contact with is was set ablaze. The tightening in her core was building.

Nik held one of her swollen breasts in his hand, pinching Caroline's nipple between his ring and middle finger. She sucked in a breath at the new painful stimuli, her core tightened further.

"Faster," she commanded.

Wrapping his other arm across her hips, under the bump, he pulled her towards him with each thrust. Caroline threw her head back, resting it on Nik's shoulder, "Please," she begged.

He would give anything to this woman. Go to the ends of the earth for her, but in this moment all she wanted was release.

Letting go of her hip, he moved his hand back down between her thighs. He pushed against her nub, making slight back and forth motions until he felt her body start to tighten with anticipated climax.

A few thrusts later and she was falling, physically and intimately. She pulsed around him and within seconds of her release Nik found his, deep in her warmth.

When Caroline was able to stand again, Nik pulled her from the shower, dried her off the best he could and then carried her to their bed. She was asleep in his arms before he was able to lay her down. Pulling the thick comforter over his beautiful sleeping wife, he certain now more than ever that he needed to break his curse to protect her and their two innocent children growing in her womb.

AN: You all asked for some interact between Caroline and William. I hope you enjoyed it! I also ended it with a little lemon. What do you all think of Hayley? Leave me some love and feedback, I always enjoy your reviews!

ALSO! I have two new stories that I have started. I am so team Reylo since watching the new Star Wars movies and have been reading a lot of Reylo fics. I have a strictly Reylo story called Compass and then I have a Star Wars / TVD cross over with my two favorite couples called The Rise. I would love for you all to check out those stories and let me know what you think of them.

LOVE ALL OF YOU!