What Now?

Chapter 27

The next morning was rough for everyone. Nobody really wanted to leave from their amazing vacation, so everyone moved a little slower than usual.

Caroline had been awake for a while, but she knew as soon as she left her bed she had to get back to reality. She was glad though that everything she set out to do on this trip had been accomplished. She was slightly nervous about her, Klaus and all the kids being on the plane together though. She was afraid with it just being them, it might get awkward. She turned her head to look at her suitcases sitting next to the door and thinking about how she still needed to get dressed and get ready, make sure the kids were dressed and ready, load everything up, and say their goodbyes.

A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. "Come in."

The door from the den that separated Klaus and Caroline's room opened and Klaus stepped in. He was already dressed and appeared to be ready to go. "Good morning, love." He smiled at her.

"Good morning," she responded quietly.

"Everything alright?"

"Yeah. I just don't want to leave today."

Klaus walked over and climbed into her bed pulling her over to him. She rested her head on his chest and he stroked her hair. "Want to talk about what needs to be done so we can start checking things off the list, and you don't have to carry it all in your beautiful head alone?"

She looked up at him and gave him a sweet smile. She appreciated that he wouldn't let things burden her alone. "Well, I need to get dressed and get ready, I need to make sure our kids are also dressed and ready, I have to load everything up, and we still have to say our goodbyes which I know will be really hard for us."

He kissed her forehead. "How about when I leave here, you get dressed and ready to go. I'll check on our daughters on my way to carry our things downstairs and when you are ready we can do our farewells together?"

She narrowed her eyes at him and gave him a grin then reached her head up to give him a kiss. "Sounds good."

A knock came from her other door and whoever knocked didn't wait for a response before entering causing them both to look towards the door. Suddenly they saw Lizzie standing in her doorway. "Oh sorry. I should have waited for you to answer. I'm just not used to mom... having... a guy... I'm gonna go." she turned around and as she was closing the door behind she added "At least your clothed." Which made Klaus and Caroline both chuckle.

"I have to ask you something." Caroline said looking back at Klaus.

Klaus raised his brow curiously at Caroline signaling her to proceed with her question. "So, Ric said the guy that went to look at my mom's house determined it was in worse shape than we thought. They basically want to gut the entire house, which makes sense since it's been vacant and hasn't been taken care of in like 2 almost 3 years and I was just wondering, if I could stay at the mansion with you until it's fixed?"

Klaus smiled because he found it cute when she babbled. He especially liked it when she babbled because she wasn't used to or comfortable asking people for things. He respected that about her because he was the same way. "Of course you can." he squeezed her tight one more time before letting her go so she could get ready.

They both got out of her bed at the same time. She walked over to the bench located at the end of her bed that had her clothes for today laid across it. She went into the restroom to change quickly and when she had put her new clothes on she walked out and stuffed her pjs in one of her bags. Klaus knew she was no where near ready so he walked towards the suitcases.

"Do you have your toiletries bag, love?"

"Yeah. I'll finish getting ready and I'll just carry it down with me. The rest of my things are ready to go. I'll see you in a bit?"