*Episodes Skipped - A Few Good Men, There Goes the Neighborhood, Let the Right One In, and Under Control. This chapter begins a few days before Miss Mystic Falls.
Does this help at all? Me telling you what episode we're in, what episodes were missed? Does it help you guys understand where we are in the TV Show or not? I'm just curious.*

Jeremy wondered through the woods, a blanket tucked under his arm, both his hands shoved in his pockets. His eyes scanned the area as he wondered around to the popular hang out spots. The first few spots were deserted but like they say, third times a charm.

Jeremy sighed as he saw her laying on the cold ground completely passed out. At least a case of empty beer littered the ground. Her hair rests all over the place, a few leaves woven in the locks of blond. He walked over to her and knelt down. He moved some hair out of her face, sighing when his fingers touched her frozen skin.

"Claire" Jeremy said trying to wake her. "Claire" He said louder. She groaned and moved away from him. He sighed and wrapped a blanket around her body before picking her up. Claire shivered and snuggled into his chest soaking up his body heat.

"Thank you, Jeremy" Caroline said sincerely as he walked over to her car with Claire in his arms.

"No problem." He said setting Claire down in the back seat. "I heard that Madelyn is coming home today" He said after closing the door. Caroline smiled slightly.

"My moms picking her up now" Caroline said excitedly.

"Has she seen her yet?" Jeremy asked looking at a still sleeping Claire. Caroline sighed crossing her arms also looking at her sister.

"Not since she was born" Caroline muttered. "She's completely heartbroken after losing Aaron and she's terrified of Madelyn. I tried getting her to talk about it or to at least see Madelyn but she just won't. All she does is party and drink."

"I can't even imagine losing a kid like she has." Jeremy said. Caroline sighed.

"Doesn't help that Bonnie is still being... Bonnie" Caroline grumbled. "Thank you for finding her, I should get her home." Jeremy nodded watching Caroline get into the car and drive home. Caroline sighed looking at Claire in the rear view mirror as she drove. "What are you doing, Baby?" She whispered to herself.

When they arrived home, she saw her mother was home which meant Madelyn is home as well. Caroline put the car in park and turned around to look at her sister. She knew that Claire turned to partying and drinking as a way to coop over Aaron's death but Madelyn needed her mother.

"Ok! Time to wake up!" Caroline shouted before getting out of the car. Claire whined shoving her face into the car seat. Caroline opened the door and Claire covered her face with the blanket. "Oh, no, you're getting up" Caroline gripped the blanket and tried to rip it off.

Claire whined loudly and held onto the blanket as tightly as she could. Caroline glared at her sister and continued to pull. Claire's face scrunched up as she held on with all of her might.

"Let. Go. Of. The. Blanket!" Caroline shouted getting looks from her neighbors but didn't care.

"Never!" Claire shouted back giving a rough tug causing Caroline to stumble forward. Caroline growled and regripped the blanket. "Jesus!" Claire shouted as Caroline pulled on the blanket so hard, Claire was pulled halfway out of the car.

Claire quickly let go of the blanket and put her hands on the ground to prevent her from hitting her head. Soon, the rest of her body slid of of the car and she was laying on the ground grumpily. Caroline rolled the blanket up and smirked at her sister victoriously.

"Morning, Baby Face" Caroline said, her voice far too smug. Claire flipped her off and curled in a ball. "Are you... Going back to sleep? Claire!" She shouted grabbing her sister pulling her up. Claire whined and shoved her sister away, stumbling back into the car.

"What do you want Caroline?" Claire snapped. 

"I want you to wake up!" Caroline snapped and slammed the car door shut.

"Well congrats! I'm awake!" Claire snapped before burping.

"Classy" Caroline commented scrunching her face up. Claire rolled her eyes. "Do you even know what today is?"

"Tuesday?" Claire guessed. Caroline rolled her eyes shaking her head.

"First off, it's Friday genius. Secondly, Madelyn's home." Caroline reminded her. Claire tensed more than Caroline thought a person could. Caroline's face softened as she saw the heartbroken look on her sisters face and the tears building in her eyes.

Claire slowly turned her head towards the house. Caroline was right, today was the day Madelyn was supposed to come home. It's why she had gone overboard last night. The thought of her baby home sent her over the edge.

"I know you're grieving Aar-"

"Don't" Claire snapped with so much venom Caroline winced. Claire continued to glare at her sister but Caroline just gave her a soft smile.

"Madelyn needs her mother" Caroline told her softly.

"She needs someone better than me" Claire told her. "I'm not mother material, Caroline. She needs someone better than me."

"You're her mother, Claire. There is no one who can love or look after her like you can." Caroline said.

"I'm only 17, Caroline!" Claire snapped. "I have no idea what I'm doing! I don't know how to be a mother. I don't know how to take care of Madelyn, I don't even know how to change a diaper!" Claire shouted a few tears slipping down her face. "I already failed her brother-"

"It wasn't your fault, Claire" Caroline whispered.

"I should have gone to the doctor earlier. I shouldn't have let myself get that sick, I should have-" Caroline quickly pulls her into a tight hug. Claire sobs against her shoulder making Caroline hug her even tighter.

"If you keep dwelling in the 'What ifs' and the 'should's' you're going to lose your mind" Caroline whispered in her ear. "Claire, there's nothing you could have done. Yes, you could have gone to the doctors sooner but Aar-" Claire pulled away abruptly and glared at her sister. Caroline sighed. "It was just nature, Claire. There was nothing you could have done to save him."

"I can't do this, Caroline" Claire cries. "I can't handle it if I let her down, if I fail her."

"The only way you can fail her is if you don't try. If you give up on her. I know you love her, Claire. I know you do so show her. It's going to be hard, the hardest thing you ever do probably. But just be there for her, protect her, love her and never give up on her." Caroline encouraged. "You're not in this alone, Claire. Mom is here, I'm here, our friends are here for you and Madelyn. Everything is going to be fine."

"I'm scared, no, I'm fucking terrified." Claire said running a hand through her hair as she started to pace.

"It's ok to be scared, Claire. But don't let your fear stop you." Claire sighed and looked at her. "Your daughter is in there waiting for you. She loves you, Claire. You haven't seen her in a month. Go. Go see your daughter, hold her." Claire sighed deeply and looked towards the house. "Take your time, we don't have to rush." Caroline said.

"It's cold out, you should head inside." Claire said and Caroline grinned.

"I've got a blanket" She said wrapping the blanket around her making it clear she wasn't going anywhere. "Besides, it's warming up, won't need the blanket for much longer."

Caroline then move closer to her sister, taking all the leaves out of her hair. Claire smiled and let her sister do it, trying to ignore her pounding head ache. She knew she probably looked like complete shit, though she doubts Madelyn would mind.

"There, now you're a little more presentable." Caroline said. "Still could use a shower" She added.

"Yeah, I guess I could" Claire said nodding.

"After you see your daughter." Caroline said. Claire sighed rubbing her forehead.

"I guess I can't put it off forever." Claire muttered taking slow and hesitant steps towards the house. Caroline followed her, not rushing her in the slightest.

"Mom?" Caroline called out as the two of them enter the room. Liz comes towards the front door and smiles at Claire. Claire gives her a small, hesitant one in return.

"She's resting in her crib" Liz told her.

"I don't want to disrupt her" Claire said instantly.

"Oh no, you're going" Caroline said pushing her towards the room. "She's been waiting to be held by her mother for long enough." Claire sighed but stopped at the threshold not allowing Caroline to push her any further.

Claire could feel her heart hammering in her chest. Her palms began to sweat and her hands shook. Caroline rubbed her back gently. 

"I've never been so nervous" Claire whispered. Caroline smiled at her softly. Claire took a deep breath and slowly moved forward. She stops just outside the crib. "She's sleeping" She whispered.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Caroline asked. Claire nodded releasing a soft laugh. Caroline moved forward so she could see Claire's face. It was completely filled with love and adortion. Caroline knew Claire would be a great mother, maybe not at first but she would be. "Why don't you hold her?" Caroline suggested.

"She's sleeping" Claire whispered.

"She sleeps all day" Caroline reminded her. "She would love it if you held her."

"How do you know?" Claire asked looking at her. Her eyes are only off of Madelyn for a moment before returning to her daughter. Caroline smiled noticing this.

"Babies are big on touch. Especially their mothers... and your voice. She'll recognize it." Caroline told her. Claire sighed looking at Madelyn softer. "You're not going to hurt her."

Finally, Claire gave into her desires. Slowly, she tucked her hands under Madelyn waking the baby up. Claire's heart clinched as Madelyn cried. But she couldn't help but to smile as well thinking she looked adorable with her face scrunched up.

"Shh, shh" Claire whispers instinctively holding Madelyn close to her. "It's alright baby girl, it's alright. Mommy's here" She whispered swaying slowly. "She's so small" Claire whispered.

"Doctor says she's about 5 pounds" Claire sighs and presses her lips on Madelyn's forehead.

"Mommy loves you" Claire whispers. "Mommy will protect you." She promises. "Mommy loves you so much" Caroline smiles and ducks out of the room letting them have some time to themselves.

"How is she doing?" Liz asked Caroline quietly.

"She's going to be just fine" Caroline told her confidently. The two of them smiled towards Claire's bed room as they heard her singing softly.

"Baby mine, don't you cry... Baby mine, dry your eyes... Rest your head close to my heart. Never to part... Baby of mine." Claire whispers to her beautiful little Madelyn.

Claire smiled at Madelyn as she glided through the room in a soothing pace. She bounced up and down slowly as she moved, cradling Madelyn in her arms. The baby shuffled around as if to cuddle more into her mother making Claire's heart swell.

"Little one, when you play... Don't you mind what they say... Let those eyes sparkle and shine... Never a tear. Baby of mine." Claire sings softly her head close to Madelyn's.

Caroline couldn't help but to move to the threshold of the room. She leaned against the door way with a soft smile on her face. She watched Claire sing to Madelyn and thought it was the cutest thing in the world.

"From your head to your toes... You're so sweet, goodness knows... You are so precious to me... Cute as can be. Baby of mine."