It’s Official: Candice King is on Maternity Leave! 

Ready for some bittersweet news? Candice King is officially on maternity leave!

Even though it feels like only yesterday the 28-year-old

star took to Instagram to announce that she and husband Joe King are expecting their first child together, the time has come to put her role as Caroline Forbes on hold so that she can enjoy some much-deserved rest and relaxation during her final stages of pregnancy.

However, before you start freaking out about saying goodbye to yet

beloved character, please note her break is a temporary one; she’ll be back sooner than you think.

“She hasn’t given birth yet. She’s due in a couple of weeks,” Julie Plec stated during an interview with

, adding that the timing couldn’t be more perfect in terms of Caroline’s storyline — aka magically carrying Alaric and Jo’s twin daughters to term — on the hit CW series. (

…. The second episode back will even feature a super-cute baby shower!)

Julie then revealed that Candice has already finished filming all necessary scenes for her character and will return to set towards the end of season 7 to shoot the remainder of her episodes. “She actually won’t be gone that long. 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!”

There’s no doubt we’ll miss seeing Candice’s bright smile in those specific installments, but we’re so excited for her! We wish her and her family a safe delivery, and can’t wait to see pics of their little one!

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - JUNE 17: (EDITORS NOTE: This image has been retouched at original source) (TABLOIDS & ONLINE OUT) Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco greet actress Kat Graham during the Monaco Palace cocktail party of the 55th Monte Carlo TV festival on June 17, 2015 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco (Photo by Olivier Huitel/ PLS Pool/Getty Images)

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - JUNE 16: Candice Accola attends the 55th Monte Carlo Beach anniversary as part of the 55th Monte Carlo TV Festival : Day 4 on June 16, 2015 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - JUNE 16: Katerina Graham attends the 55th Monte Carlo Beach anniversary as part of the 55th Monte Carlo TV Festival : Day 4 on June 16, 2015 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - JUNE 17: Actress Candice Accola from the TV series ?Vampire Diaries? attends a photocall during the 55th Monte Carlo TV Festival : Day 5 on June 17, 2015 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - JUNE 16: (L-R) Antonio Fargas, Lindsay Wagner, Katerina Graham, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, Lee Majors, Stepfanie Kramer and Clive Standen attend the 55th Monte Carlo Beach anniversary as part of Monte Carlo TV Festival on June 16, 2015 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - JUNE 16: Katerina Graham attends the 55th Monte Carlo Beach anniversary as part of Monte Carlo TV Festival on June 16, 2015 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Mark your calendar, fang fans: The Vampire Diaries mid-season premiere airs Friday, January, 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on the CW.

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