Klaus & Caroline: The Longing Summer (Klaroline FanFic)

Chapter 27: Questions About Life And Death... And Love

Three days went by. A delivery guy had brought plenty of bloodbags to Caroline the day after she had arrived to Hayley's place, but no one else had visited her since. She had phoned her mom and Elena, left messages to Bonnie, Stefan and Matt. Nothing too specific though, since even she herself didn't know what was going to happen next and how long she would stay in New Orleans.

Caroline spent her time indoors for obvious reasons. So she tried her best to keep herself busy. Caroline did some cleaning, watched bunch of movies, did some more cleaning... And drank a lot of blood.

At nightfall, someone knocked the door. Caroline checked from the peephole who it was and opened the door.

”Hello, Caroline.” Sophie said calmly. ”I'm here to check upon you and the baby.”

”Ok, sure. Come in.” Caroline said and felt relieved to finally have company that could also talk to her back. Last three days she had been babbling to the baby so she wouldn't be sunked in her dark thoughts.

Sophie examined her as precisely as she could. ”Hmm.. Everything seems to be OK, but I'm just wondering... your baby bum is much smaller than Hayley's...”

”I thought the same.” Caroline called out. ”What's up with that? Is it safe for the baby?”

”It's probably because you're a vampire and your body wants to maintain the shape in which you turned. Plus, you don't gain any baby weight.” Sophie speculated. ”Nonetheless, the baby is fine.”

”How far was Hayley... How far am I?” Caroline questioned.

”You're about in 4-5 months now, I think, although it's hard to tell. You're babybum is much smaller but the baby seems bigger.” Sophie said. ”We need to keep an eye on that. How you've been feeling?”

”Fine, which is kinda weird.” Caroline breathed. ”But I've been very thirsty. I probably need to call Elijah to get some refilling...”

”No need to.” Sophie cut off. ”He'll be visiting you tonight.”

”Is Hayley's ok then?”

Sophie gave Caroline a sorrowful look. ”She died, Caroline.”

Caroline felt like she had a huge lump in her throat. Yes, she hadn't been very fond of Hayley but she did feel bad about her death. ”But how?” She finally got out.

”Firstly, Hayley wasn't able to carry a child for the full time. The fact that she couldn't bear this child was genetic rather than supernatural reason.. She would've had a miscarriage sooner or later no matter what. And probably died herself in the complications too.” Sophie explained quietly, ”She had been struggling for a long time, knowingly or not. She woke up this morning and asked for the baby. I told that we had saved the baby and she looked relieved. We thought that she might get better then... but I think that for her it meant that it was ok to let go. She fell unconsious and never woke up again.”

Caroline didn't know what to do or how to feel.

”You saved her baby. She's in peace now.” Sophie ensured but Caroline was cautious since there was also The Other Side you might end up to.. Sophie headed to the door and said: ”I must leave now but Elijah will be here soon.”

Caroline felt really chilly for some reason. She went to the bed to get a blanket and wrapped herself in it. Caroline looked out the window, thinking about all this. She felt sorry for Hayley, but extremely for the baby. Mother gone and father hating... It looked like Caroline was the only 'parent' the baby had by now. Caroline felt a stinging feeling in her heart. Luckily there was Elijah too. But she couldn't help wondering... what were her true motives for saving this child...

Caroline her a quiet knock from the door. Again, she checked the visitor from the peephole and let Elijah in.

”I assume that Sophie told you the sorrowful news?”

Caroline nodded.

”How unfortunate it was...” Elijah fell in his thoughts for a second. ”But without you the loss would be much greater.”

Caroline wrapped her tighter inside the blanket. She wasn't sure if she deserved the thanking.

”Like I said, I can't tell how much I appreciate your actions to save my nephew or niece. I know my brother doesn't feel the same way...” Elijah paused to see Caroline's reaction to the mention of Klaus, ”but I hope that one day he'll realize what an amazing act you did.”

”I don't know about that...” Caroline murmured.

”What do you mean, dear?”

”I don't know if that what I did is amazing or is it worth of thanking...” Caroline faced Elijah with regretful look. ”You make me sound like I was noble, but I think I was just selfish.”

”I'm not sure if I truly understand...”

Caroline thought for a moment. ”I've been thinking this for the past three days. I'm a bad person, Elijah.”

”Oh, I don't think someone is either good or bad. Only propotions of the features vary.”

”I mean... I think I saved this baby because... I was jealous.”

”Jealous about Niklaus? Dear, I've never seen him be more fond of anyone except you.”

Caroline blushed. ”I don't think he's fond of me anymore.”

”I doubt that.” Elijah said and gave Caroline one of his rare, genuine smiles which he intented to comforting. ”If he wasn't fond of you, you'd be dead by now.”

Caroline chuckled unwittingly. ”But that was not the entire case.” She said. ”I couldn't have babies on my own and now I'm wondering if I stole this one to the detriment of Hayley's emergency.”

”I see... Have you considered it this way? Your nobility, or selfisness as you said, saved that child inside you. The baby would have died along her mother if you hadn't take action to prevent it. And isn't that what counts the most? You gave that child a second chance.”

Caroline thought about Elijah's words a long time. Same time she caressed her stomach slowly. Elijah made a note of that.

”You love that child already, don't you?” He asked quietly.

”Yes.” Caroline whispered in a heartbeat. ”Yes I do.” She felt her eyes burning but she managed to fight against the tears.

”What about my brother?”

”I love him too.” Now she was crying.

”Then you have done two things my father couldn't do.” Elijah noted taking one of Caroline's hand in to his. ”Love a child that is not your own. Love Niklaus.”

Caroline looked at Elijah. ”Do you think that's why Klaus...” Her voice cracked a little when she said Klaus's name. ”... Klaus is so reluctant towards him?” She asked her other hand laying on her stomach.

”More likely so. There is probably many other reasons but I assume that this particular is one of the big ones.” Elijah pondered. ”He hadn't been loved by our father and because of that I think he doesn't know how to be a father to his own child. Deep down inside... who knows, maybe he is scared to death about this situation. However, he always tends to express his feelings through anger, to hide the original feeling. I beg you to have great amount of patience with him.” Elijah paused. ”Him?”

”I'm not sure but I have a feeling...” Caroline breathed. ”How come you're telling me all this?”

”Because I think it is safe to share this with you.” Elijah started. ”And I sense that you have the ability to help my brother to help himself.”

Caroline met Elijah's eyes. There was an understanding between them.

”Very well.” Elijah said formally. ”Now I must ask you, would you consider to be my guest and stay at my house from now on? I would be much cabable of providing yours and the baby's well-being and protecting you two there.”

”What about Klaus?” Caroline asked cautiosly.

”I don't tell him your whereabouts until he's ready.” Elijah assured.