Kaitlyn's POV

By the time we got home, it was already 10PM, meaning the kids should be done with the party decor by now.

As soon as I get out of Nik's car, I see the kids rush towards me.

"Hey there, Power Rangers," I greet them. 'Power Rangers' is a name I gave their group when they were all kids and dressed up as the Power Rangers for one Halloween. The nickname just stuck around since then.

"Mom, there you are! What took you so long?" Lizzie complains, "for a second, we thought you'd end up missing midnight."

"You thought that, Liz. We had faith in Miss K," Landon speaks up as the others laugh and Lizzie glares at him.

"It was my fault, I took her out for dinner and it got late," Nik says and it seems like the kids just realized he was here too.

"Oh okay," is all Lizzie says and I raise my brow at her.

"Okay? That's it?" I ask and she nods.

"It's alright, mom. You're here now," Josie says.

"Plus we can't complain if you were out on a date anyways," Hope chimes in as the other kids grin and I blush.

"It wasn't a date, it was just dinner," I correct her.

"Yes, the date is tomorrow. Today was just dinner," Nik chimes in and as the kids 'aww', I nudge him with my elbow to shut him up.

I don't think I'm still used to the kids knowing I'm seeing someone, and that too Nik, of all people. The kids, however, seem more okay with this than anyone else. I know Ryan isn't exactly fond of Nik but he's been trying to get along with him as well. The twins really do like Nik, specially Lizzie.

"Okay okay, let's head inside now," I say as I usher them inside the house.

"You wanna come in?" I ask as I turn to look back at Nik.

He hesitates a little and I think the kids notice it too because Josie speaks up, "yeah come on in, it's your daughter's birthday too. You should get to celebrate here," she says and the others nod. Nik gives her a grateful smile and steps into the house as well.

"Hey Bee, you're back! The kids were totally freaking out-" Alaric trails off as we walk into the kitchen and his eyes land on Nik.

"Yeah sorry. Where's Care?" I ask.

"She's still out and about. Said she'll be back before midnight," he replies.

"Alright, you guys chat. I need to go freshen up," I say as I walk out of the kitchen and upstairs to my room.

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00:00

2nd May, 2028

Midnight struck and the Lockwood Mansion was struck with celebrations. There was a homemade cake, a bunch of balloons, whole lot of gifts and multiple calls from friends and family who couldn't be there to celebrate in real.

"Okay okay, time to open the gifts!" Lizzie cheers along with the other kids.

Ryan, Landon and MG then bring out a stack on gift boxes attached to a bunch of big balloons.

"These are from Uncle Damon and Aunt Lena, Uncle Kol and Aunt Dav, Aunt Bekah and Marcel. Also something from Uncle Elijah for you, mom," Lizzie points to the different gifts.

"These have been showing up for the past three days and we've been hiding them in the attic so you or Hope wouldn't find them," Josie elaborates.

I open Elijah's gift first. It's a vintage copy of 'Pride and Prejudice'.

"Happy Birthday, Rose. I believe I gave you my word so here is a copy from my very own collection. Hope you like it," a letter inside the book read.

After we're done opening the rest of the gifts, I realize two people were missing.

"Where's Care and Freya? Don't tell me they actually missed midnight," I say and just then, we hear the front door open.

"You called and we're here!" Caroline struts into the living room with Freya following close behind. Frey had a big, blue basket in her hand, that she was cradling.

"You were out getting us gifts at midnight?" I ask as they settle in on one of the couches and Freya hands the basket to the kids.

"No, we were collecting for your kids so thank you very much," Caroline says and I frown.

"Collecting what?"

"This!" Lizzie springs up from her place and points to the basket, which was now in Hope's hands.

"What is it?" Alaric asks and the kids smirk.

"Why doesn't mom open it and find out?" Ryan says and Hope hands me the basket.

I exchange looks with Nik, who was sitting beside me all this time and he wears the same clueless look as Alaric while Freya, Caroline and the kids exchange knowing looks.

I open the basket lid and I swear my heart skips a beat at the sight of what's inside.

"Oh my god," I whisper, thunderstruck. I see Nik lean over my shoulder to get a good look inside the basket and as soon as he sees what's inside, he flinches and scoots a little away on the couch.

"You guys...got me a cat?" I ask them, shook.

"Yes we did! We found him at the shelter you used to volunteer at when we were little and we thought he was perfect, since you've always been such a cat person. Do you like it?" Lizzie asks, jumping up and down in excitement.

"Are you kidding me? I love him!" I exclaim as I gently pick up the kitten.

"Nik, look at how cute he is," I say as I hold the kitten out to him, causing him to back away even more.

"Don't tell me you're scared of cats, dad," Hope teases Nik as I cradle the kitten in my lap.

"I'm not scared. They're just...a little gross. Plus, I'm allergic to most cats," he speaks.

"You're a thousand year old hybrid. You can't be allergic to cats," Caroline speaks up and the kids nod.

"Just hold him once, I swear you'll help him," I request him with my puppy eyes.

He stares at me for a little before rolling his eyes, "bloody hell, alright. But if this backfires and we have to cancel the date tomorrow, you kids are in big trouble," he says as I place the kitten on his lap and the kids cheer.

"If Uncle Kol was here, he wouldn't shut up about how whipped you are over mom," Lizzie says and Nik rolls his eyes at her comment or the mention of Kol, it's all the same to him.

"Alright, if that was all the gifts, everyone out and off to sleep now. Or else we're cancelling tomorrow's party," I say and the kids groan in response.

"Maddy's staying over," Josie says and I nod, "so is Hope, if you don't mind," Lizzie turns to Nik and says.

"I don't mind. She's always here anyways," he says as he too gets up to leave.

"I'll see you soon, love," he says, kissing my cheek and then walking out of the front door with Freya.

༆☼︎☾︎ꨄ︎☽︎☼︎༆

"Okay, spill!" Caroline says as she barges into my room a little while later.

"What?" I ask her as I sit on my bed, brushing my hair.

"You know what. Something must've happened!" she inquires.

"We're not teenagers anymore, Care," I reply and without even looking at her, I can practically feel her roll her eyes at me.

"Just spill already. All this stalling is confirming my suspicions of something happening," she says and I sigh.

"Alright, we had dinner. Then we danced for a while before...he kissed me. Well, I guess we both kissed each other but he made the first move," I say and Caroline gasps, covering her face with her hands, trying to hide her excitement.

"Why're you so happy about this?" I narrow my eyes at her and ask as she smiles at me.

"Because you deserve this! True love with your soulmate and whatnot and after years, you're finally getting to have it! Forgive me for being excited," she says sarcastically and I laugh.

"I don't know how to deal with the kids and this," I tell her.

"The kids like him, or at least are trying to. They just want your happiness, we all do. And it's clear how happy he makes you because you're practically glowing today. So I think you're just paranoid and they're fine with everything that's happening," she says as Hope walks into the room with Oreo in her arms. Yes, I named my cat Oreo, what about it?

"Hey, thought you'd want to have him with you," she says as she hands Oreo to me.

"Thanks. But why aren't you asleep yet?" I ask as I narrow my eyes at her.

"We might or might not be having a movie night in the guest room," Hope replies sheepishly and I roll my eyes at her comment.

"You kids have no fear, do you?"

"Just this once, please?" she requests me with her puppy eyes that remind me of Nik's.

"Alright, just this once," I say as the twins storm into the room.

"Told you she wouldn't be able to say no to your puppy eyes!" Lizzie exclaims.

"Now, out, all of you or no movie night and no party," I threaten.

"You know mom, these empty threats are getting kinda old," Ryan says from the doorway.

"They're more than just empty threats, mister. Now out, all of you!" I say as I usher the kids out of my room and Caroline follows closely behind.

Just as I get into bed with my new copy of 'Pride and Prejudice' that Elijah got me, my phone starts ringing to a Facetime call from Kol.

"Hey Koala Bear!" I greet as I answer the call.

"Hey Sunshine. Happy birthday and- oh my god, what is that?" he says as he notices Oreo lying on the bed's headboard.

"Oh the kids didn't tell you? They got me a kitten for my birthday. Meet Oreo," I reply.

"Aw he's so cute," Davina coos as she comes into view as well.

"I know right? I love him so much already."

"Girls are so weird. Who knew it only took an alive, gross kitten to please you guys," Kol comments and Davina smacks him on the back of his head.

"There's no doubt you're Nik's brother. He called Oreo gross too," I scoff and he laughs.

"He wasn't wrong, anyways well, happy birthday once again, Sunshine. We love you. Talk to you later," Kol says.

"Love you guys too, bye," I say as I hang up the call and turn to Oreo.

"Hi baby. You're so adorable, I love you so much already!" I coo in a baby-voice as he snuggles into my arms.

"Are you seriously baby-talking to a cat?" I hear a voice from my bedroom couch and immediately sit up, letting Oreo down as he struts out of the room.

"Oh my god, you scared me!" I hiss as I turn around to see it was Nik, "what're you doing here? When you said 'soon', I thought you meant tomorrow."

"I just came to give you your birthday gift right after I finished it," he says as he motions towards a big board covered by a cloth while he walks to shut the room's door.

I slowly get up to see what it was. I pull the cover off to reveal a big canvas with a beautiful painting on it. A beautiful painting of...me.

"It's beautiful," I say as I run my hand over the pain strokes on it.

Nik comes up and hugs me from the back, "you're beautiful," he mumbles into my neck.

I turn around to face him and wrap my arms around his neck, "thank you for this," I say as I motion towards the painting.

"Anything for you, love," he says as he leans down and gently kisses me. As I go to pull away, he slides his hand around my waist and pulls me even closer, deepening the kiss.

"The kids are downstairs," I mumble into the kiss but he doesn't react as he keeps on hungrily kissing me.

"Nik," I whisper and he finally pulls away, both of us now gasping for air.

"Spell the room," he whispers before leaning in and capturing my lips with his again.

He leaned forward and kissed me again and I kissed him back with more fervor than I had before, and we stood there kissing and kissing as my hands ran slowly up into his curly hair and down over his thick shoulders and along his strong arms and around to his brawny back. His hands were on my hips, and he lifted me up as if I were made of air. My legs wrapped around his waist, and we moved to the right, knocking into a floor lamp. It toppled over, slightly snapping us out of our daze.

"Slow down, Nik," I say and he only groans in response.

"I want you," he whispers as he sets me down on the bed and leans down, kissing my neck hungrily. He gives me just enough time to murmur a privacy spell on the room. And then he was kissing me again. The deep kind of kisses that left little room for thought. There was only feeling and wanting. That was all. I wrapped my legs around his hips, pulling him closer, telling him what I wanted with my soft moans.

Our kisses slowed, becoming tender and infinitely more. It was like we were getting to know each other on an intimate level, all over again. I was breathless and dazed, unprepared for all of this, but my body ached for more than just kisses and touching-for more of him. And I knew he did, too. His powerful body shook like mine. It was easy to get lost in him, lost in this connection between us. There was no stopping us now. The world-the universe-ceased to exist.