‘Vampire Diaries’ Actress Candice King Goes On Maternity Leave, TVD Showrunner Promises She Won’t Be Gone Long

“The Vampire Diaries” actress Candice King has officially gone on maternity leave from the hit CW show and the series’ showrunner revealed the timing turned out to be perfect.

Julie Plec, co-creator of “The Vampire Diaries,” told E!News that King has taken a break from the series to prepare for the birth of her baby. "She hasn't given birth yet. She's due in a couple of weeks,” she stated. Plec also shared that King, who portrays the character Caroline, has already completed filming her scenes in “The Vampire Diaries” season 7. However, the actress’ break would not be long one since she is expected to return towards the end of season.

“She actually won't be gone that long,” Plec shared with E!News. “I think [episode] 16 to 20, maybe. Actually, it's the same contracted amount she's in every year, it's just all in one stretch. It turned out to work out okay!"

King announced that she was pregnant with her and husband Joe’s child prior the start of “The Vampire Diaries” season 7. At that time, fans were wondering if King being pregnant would be added to the season’s storyline. Writers eventually incorporated it into season 7, with King becoming magically pregnant with Alaric’s (Matt Davis) twin babies, E!News reported.

Meanwhile, an upcoming episode of “The Vampire Diaries” season 7 will feature the return of a person from Caroline’s past. According to TVOverMind, the episode titled “Things We Lost in the Fire” will have King’s character meeting a former boyfriend. In the official synopsis for the episode, the character Tyler will return to Mystic Falls to attend the baby shower of Caroline and Alaric twins. The actor Michael Trevino is set to reprise his Tyler role as a guest star in “The Vampire Diaries” season 7. Tyler and Caroline became a couple, but broke up in earlier seasons of the show.

Apart from Tyler’s return, they said episode will also have Caroline making an “upsetting discovery” about Alaric and his plans for the twin babies. Paul Wesley, who portrays Stefan Salvatore in “The Vampire Diaries,” is set to direct the episode which will be shown on Feb. 5.

The second half of “The Vampire Diaires” season 7 will air on Friday, Jan. 29 on the CW.