Just watching Rebekah made Caroline want to vomit. But then again, most things made her want to vomit these days, so her friend didn't take it personally. The morning sun was beautiful and highlighted the tropical oasis that masqueraded as their patio. She'd valiantly hopped on her favorite Ursula pool float, but the second she started bobbing in the water, her stomach turned. Instead, she sat on the edge of the pool and dangled her feet, while Rebekah floated along the swirling current of the jets.

She poked her toe at the giant red claws and asked, "Tell me again why Sebastian is your favorite character from The Little Mermaid?"

"He was a devoted minion of the king," Rebekah replied, tugging down her large sunglasses to wink at her. "Never underestimate the value of a loyal minion, Caroline."

She rolled her eyes at her friend's imperious tone. "Oh yes, I have mine beheaded if they misbehave."

Rebekah snorted, playfully kicking water at Caroline as she said, "Amateur. Beheadings are a bloody mess. There's far more sanitary methods of disposing of incompetent minions."

Rebekah was so weird. It was awesome. She smiled at her friend, remembering the fun, albeit bizarre conversation they had one night while marathoning the Hellraiser movies. Rebekah kept getting hilariously offended by the special effects, pointing out various inaccuracies in the torture methods and blood sprays. She could appreciate a woman who took her torture porn seriously.

"Speaking of incompetent minions, do you know Enzo managed to muck up the overnight tasks at the Cookie Bar? He ran the hood filters through the dishwasher and now they're ruined."

Caroline rolled her eyes. "Poor Matt. Enzo's a good guy, just not big on thinking." Her voice took on a teasing tone as she said, "Good thing Matt has you to keep him distracted from work bullshit."

Rebekah turned over on the cheerful red float, and Caroline once again was struck by how graceful she was. Even when she wasn't pregnant, Caroline was prone to clumsiness, and now her belly made gravity even more of an enemy than before. "Does he often go on picnics," Rebekah asked shyly, determinedly staring at the sparkling water.

It still amazed Caroline how insecure her beautiful friend was. She seemed so confident until it came to men. "No," she said reassuringly, "actually, he kept trying to get a reservation at Flemming's, but I told him that you deserved something more creative than a fancy steakhouse."

"And it was perfect," she beamed. "He was adorably flustered when he realized I'd worn

my Rosza spring collection strappy heels and was worried I'd twist an ankle traipsing around that farm. I told him as a child I went about barefoot all the time and he seemed almost shocked when I tossed the heels and raced him to that blackberry patch. I won, of course."

Caroline giggled, picturing the look of horror that must have been on Matt's face to see Rebekah carelessly throw around shoes that probably cost more than the cafe's rent for next quarter. "Every time you talk about your hippie, Viking-wannabe childhood, I keep picturing you twirling on top of green hills with your hair in braids while you sing songs from the Sound of Music."

"Oh, well-spotted. Our lives were just like that. But without the nuns and Nazis," Rebekah said dryly, paddling back to the side of the pool. She favored Caroline with a sly grin as she asked, "And what about your date with Nik? From the looks of your rumpled states last night, I dare say things are progressing?"

Caroline readjusted her wide-brimmed hat and scrunched her nose. "Ugh, seriously?! I'm not discussing that with Klaus' sister." A small smile touched her lips as she recalled his protectiveness. 'There's nothing to criticize when it comes to you, sweetheart.' "But I can tell you he was very sweet and surprised me with a drink recipe to help with my nausea. And I like how he listens to me ramble."

And the way he makes me feel. She furiously fought back the blush that threatened to stain her cheeks at that thought. And then there was his anger when he learned about Tyler's behavior. 'I'll extend mercy — for you.' "He's passionate and fiercely loyal. I've never met anyone like him."

"You're not wrong," came a cheerful voice, and the girls looked up to see Kol casually stroll through the double patio doors, holding up a champagne bottle in one fist and orange juice in the other. "Breakfast?"

Rebekah narrowed her eyes, her tone accusing as she said, "The front was locked."

"But not in a complicated manner." He happily flopped down beside Caroline, a silly grin on his face as he pointed at Rebekah's float. "I believe there's an ointment for that, dear sister."

"You're such an irritating little shit," Rebekah replied, lashing out with her foot to send a spray of water at him.

Caroline rolled her eyes at the siblings' antics while Kol poured a generous serving of champagne into a flute and topped it off with a splash of orange juice. He handed it to her with a smile and said, "Here you go, pet."

"Pregnant, remember?"

"I thought that just meant you're drinking for two," Kol said with a shrug, handing her a tall glass of juice instead. "Is it true you have to avoid spicy foods unless you fancy making a ginger?" He cocked his head, studying her intently as he added flippantly, "Although with your coloring, red hair might suit your baby."

"Seriously?!" Caroline glanced at her friend and was gratified to see she was wearing the same look of exasperation. "Why would you believe that?"

He handed Rebekah another mimosa as she paddled over, explaining with a wink, "I was reading online and came across some fascinating articles. Which reminds me — mind where you scratch because it will cause birthmarks."

"You wanker, just because it's online doesn't make it true!"

Caroline giggled as she listened to Rebekah argue with her brother as he started recounting something he read about Atlantis being found underneath a Burger King in Arkansas. She took a sip of the orange juice, her stomach turning and bile rising in her throat. "Fuck."

Leaping to his feet apprehensively, Kol shouted, "Bollocks, it's time? The baby's coming?!"

She allowed Kol to help her stand up, waving off Rebekah's concerned face as she mumbled, "Calm down, it's just morning sickness." Racing back inside, she inwardly thanked Rebekah for buying such an obnoxiously large house that seemed to have a gigantic bathroom around every corner. With a groan, she knelt down on the cool tile and emptied her stomach. Gasping for breath, she realized her hair was being held back with a gentle touch. "Thanks," she muttered, diving back in as her stomach heaved.

Finally able to sit back against the wall, Caroline was surprised to see Kol with her rather than Rebekah. She grimaced as he sprayed heavy lavender air freshener, but the baby decided to make her stomach clench rather than heave, so she considered it a victory. "I take it you're not as squeamish as Rebekah?"

"It's rather shocking to see Bex look peaky when you consider..." he trailed off in amusement, running a hand towel under the faucet before gently placing it on her forehead.

Caroline was touched at the concern she saw in his face, his obvious discomfort telling her that this wasn't normal behavior for the troublemaking Mikaelson.

He pointed vaguely at her belly, awkwardly asking, "So, uh...is the sea monkey uh...ok now? I mean, you look knackered."

"Thanks," she said sarcastically. She rubbed her forehead, mumbling, "I've got to get my shit together for my shift tonight."

"Call in sick. You can bring me one of those delectable desserts you promised another time. And remember — I enjoy all manner of custards but toffees are a particular weakness."

Caroline removed the towel, toying with one edge as she mumbled, "It's um...not actually at the Cookie Bar. I may have taken some shifts at the Dramatic Fog."

Kol frowned. "That's quite the dodgy pub. Not the sort of place I'd expect to see someone like you frequenting."

"It's fine. Enzo, my coworker, actually set it up for me and he'll be there." At his perplexed expression, she pointed out, "I need to set aside some extra money for the baby while I still can. Besides, I don't want to prove Elijah right by mooching off your family any more than I already do."

He shrewdly looked at her, a hint of anger in his voice as he commented, "I noticed some tension with you lot and Elijah. Ah, that's it, isn't it? He said some judgmental rubbish because of his stodgy old beliefs." At her uncomfortable silence, he pressed on, telling her, "But you shouldn't work at that dodgy place just because my elder brother is a wanker."

Caroline shakily stood up, tossing the damp towel in the sink. "It's no big deal, Kol. But I need you to promise me you won't tell Rebekah or Klaus."

Kol frowned, opening and closing his mouth for a moment before finally agreeing with a sigh. "Fine. I promise I won't tell Bex or Nik."

Spreading dirt across the cracked bar top with an even dirtier rag was making her queasy. Apparently, the patrons of Dramatic Fog weren't too concerned with cleanliness. Caroline grimaced as she recalled the dirt-crusted nails of the meaty biker who pinched her ass earlier. She'd just finished cutting the foam off a pitcher of beer when she could hear two more barstools scraping the peanut shell-littered floor.

"I'll be right with you," she called out cheerfully.

She slid the pitcher down to the group shouting at the football game on TV. Turning around, she started to ask for the new customers' drink orders, but the words caught in her throat.

Klaus and Elijah sat on the barstools, looking decidedly out of place and wearing twin angry scowls.

Caroline let out an exasperated sigh. Rebekah was right — Kol really was an irritating little shit.