Hayley paced back and forth outside the door of the old forgotten room at the Abattoir. The room had large intimidating doors and was hidden away in one of the most secret places of the house. Hayley had lived at the compound for almost 3 years and didn't even know the room existed. Klaus had almost forgotten about it himself but memories of the ancient room came flooding back quickly as he pondered what would be the perfect location for what they were about to do.
Hayley didn't know why she was so nervous. She would venture to say that she even had butterflies in her stomach but she knew the culprit of that sensation was something else entirely. She nervously checked the mirror every five minutes to make sure her hair and makeup was perfect. She changed her jewelry 7 times thinking that every set wasn't the right one for the occasion. She questioned if Klaus would find her beautiful in her dress in her condition. As the minutes ticked off the clock nothing felt perfect to Hayley, she questioned everything, everything except one thing. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that the journey that she was about to embark on was exactly what she wanted. It's what she wanted the moment she realized she loved him, it's what she wanted right now as she paced on the other side of the doors he waited behind, and she knew that this was what she would want for all Eternity.
Hayley and Klaus had experienced their fair share of ups and downs but there was nothing else that could possibly make them happier other than each other and the family they built together. They haven't been a family for a very long time but it's what they both searched for the majority of their lives and it's what they accidentally found with each other. That's why when Klaus pulled her close to him one night in bed after they had made love and whispered those two words into her ear she didn't even have to think before responding, she merely kissed him and said okay. She wanted to spend an eternity with Klaus and he wanted to spend an eternity with her and that's all they both needed.
A swift kick in the stomach broke her from her memory of the night Klaus asked her to marry him. "Someone is just as excited about me marrying your father as I am." She said talking to the very active child that she was currently carrying. Hayley had found out she was pregnant again 2 months after Klaus asked her to marry him. They were apprehensive about having a second child after everything they survived while Hayley was pregnant with Hope, especially so soon after her birth since she was only two years old now, but eventually those fears disappeared. Now as Hayley entered her 5th month of pregnancy they were both excited about expanding their family and making all four of them an official family.
The clock in the halfway rang signaling that it was now midnight and time for her to enter the grand doors to meet Klaus and become his wife. She took a deep breath, rubbing her hand across her belly to calm her kicking child, and finally opened the door.
She gasped and tears immediately welled up in her eyes when she saw what waited for her. The room was lit only with what looked like 1000 candles. There were large candelabras everywhere and the room glowed a beautiful bronze color. Beautiful flowers filled the room. The floor was covered in beautiful red and white rose petals. The only part of the ground she could see was where the isle was. There were high ceilings and intricate crown molding throughout the room and beautiful paintings adorned the was absolutely breathtaking. The room must have been where he housed his artwork and his art collection. One in particular caught her eye as she continued to scan the room. Right at the end of the aisle was the painting she connected with a long time ago. The painting that gave her a glimpse into Klaus's soul and opened her eyes to how much his reflected hers. As she saw it and Klaus standing besides it with Hope at his side in a beautiful white dress and headband tears fell down her cheeks. His eyes met hers and they both nervously smiled at each other.
Klaus was left speechless by Hayley's beauty. She was glowing as loose curls framed her face. Her dress had a simple silhouette but it draped over her body and her growing baby bump perfectly. She wore a beaded headed band to compliment the dress and to give her look a little more glam. Klaus watched the woman he was about to marry stand at the other end of the aisle marvel at her surroundings and cry as she saw his face and it melted his heart. He never thought that he would ever elicit that type of response from anyone until Hayley came storming into his life. He too was nervous about what he was about to do but it was at that moment that it all disappeared and he knew that everything was perfect. The setting couldn't be any more perfect for them. The woman was perfect. His life was as close to perfect as it had ever been and would probably ever be.
Klaus held Hope's hand a little tighter as Hayley finally started to make her way down the aisle of the room. There was no one else present except the officiate, a compelled photographer, and a violinist compelled to play one of his favorite classical pieces that made him think of Hayley. Klaus and Hayley had decided to make their wedding an extremely private function much to a lot of people's dismay. Rebekah and Elijah felt that they should be present since it's not everyday a member of the original family get's married and none of them ever thought it would be Klaus to do so. Marcel and Davina also felt like they should be at the nuptials and the wolves felt that they should make this official commitment to each other in front of their packs and family and friends since it did have implications for all the wolves. If it was up to all of them their wedding would have been the biggest celebration New Orleans had ever seen but Klaus and Hayley knew that wasn't them. They weren't the kinda people who let a lot of people in and they weren't big on pomp and circumstance during these kinda moments. Hayley also didn't see herself as the kinda girl to put on a big fancy dress and walk down the aisle with hundreds of admirers. They had grown to really love the fact that they were both castoffs, it was just the two of them and it bonded them during a very difficult time and from that bond their love formed and they created a unique family that was all their own and no one else's. That's why they decided to have their wedding in secret with just them and their daughter. Rebekah was gone for the weekend and Elijah was off handling some business for the next few days so the perfect opportunity presented itself and they took it.
Hayley took careful steps towards Klaus and the closer she got to him the more the felt his control over his emotion slip. When she finally made her way to the end of the aisle she smiled at him and wiped the tears that had streaked her cheeks. They both just stared at each other in silence as Hope stood besides them fidgeting with the bow on her dress. Klaus and Hayley were both in awe of the person they were about to marry.
"Are the both of you ready to proceed?" asked the officiate.
Klaus and Hayley both looked at each other and gave one more smile. "Yes we are ready" Klaus answered. He reached down for Hope and grabbed her hand. Hayley grabbed her other hand and they all turned and faced the officiate.
"You have come here tonight as you Klaus Mikaelson and you Hayley Marshall commit yourselves to one another for all eternity. There is no greater treasure to find in this world than love and tonight you celebrate that love and commit to never letting it fade for as long as you both live." He began.
"As you stand here tonight you dedicate yourselves to building a family with one another, a family not without it's own trials but with a love that can overcome even the greatest of trials. It is not something that is done lightly and I assume that since you are both here right now you have separately agreed that this commitment is a journey you wish to embark on with the person…well people…whose hand you hold"
Hayley looked at Klaus and Hope out of the side of her eye and let out a small chuckle as the officiate corrected his words to subtly include Hope.
"Please join hands as you exchange your personal vows"
They both let go of Hope's hand and Hayley handed her small bouquet of flowers to her to play with while they joined hands. Hayley looked Klaus deep in the eyes and took a deep breath, holding back tears, before she began her vows.
"Almost 3 years ago I was just a girl, a lost girl searching for something that was missing all my life. That journey led me to a lot of places where I met a lot of people and went through a lot of things. I never thought that I would end up here with you that day I met you but there isn't a single part of the journey I wouldn't take again if it meant that I would end up right where I am right now. We didn't plan this life but it's the best thing to ever happen to me because i've found a happiness that I didn't think was possible for someone like me, with my past, but it's all possible because of you, and Hope, and our new child who will be here soon. With you I've found something I've searched for all my life, a family, and I wouldn't trade it for anything."
As Hayley bore her soul to Klaus and looked at how her words affected him the gravity of her emotions started to overwhelm her. Tears began to stream down her cheeks as she continued.
"I love you Klaus." She said, voice cracking and hands shaking. "I love every part of you, every scar, every layer. I love it all and I…I want to spend the rest of my life in your arms, with you and our children. You are more than just the original hybrid to me, you are the family I've always wanted, you are my alpha, my friend, the perfect father to our children, my protector, and most of all the love of my life."
Klaus took in Hayley's words and tried his best to keep it together but hearing her call him the love of her life, hearing her call him her alpha and perfect father of her children made his heart explode with happiness and love. Tears welled up in his eyes as he gripped her hands tighter and got lost in her eyes. He picked up one of her hands and gently kissed it while a single tear escaped and went running down his cheek.
Hayley collected herself and continued her vows. "On this day, I promise to love you always, to be loyal to you and only you. I promise to stand at your side through the good days and the bad and build a life with you and our family. Tonight I promise to be your wife, your friend, and your lover. I promise to be the woman you can come home to every night and know without any doubt that I love you and there is nothing in the world that could tear me away from you. I promise to be the woman you never have to hide from, who will never deny you love and affection and who will love you unconditionally. I promise to always fight at your side for you and this family. I love you with all of my heart Klaus and I will love you forever as your wife."
As Hayley completed her vows she gave Klaus a tender smile and let his hand go to wipe a way the tears that had been streaming down her cheeks. Klaus smiled back at her and grabbed her hand again when she was done. He nervously lowered his head and took a deep breath preparing to say his vows to Hayley. The officiate gave him his cue to speak but he froze and couldn't find any words to say as he looked on at Hayley who waited with tears already welling up in her eyes again. He had never ever in all of his 1000 years been in this kinda position where he basically emptied his heart out to a woman he loved and who loved him in return and made a promise of a future together with her. The gravity of the commitment and terror of being that vulnerable caused him to clam up. His palms got sweaty and he couldn't speak.
" are you okay?"
"Uhhh yes I uhhh…I uhhh I'm fine I just…" It was all he could mange to get out as his eyes fixated on Hayley and how beautiful she looked in her wedding gown, and how happy she looked to be standing there becoming his wife. Everything about her in that moment entranced him, from the way her hair fell perfectly to frame her face, the way her skin glowed from the pregnancy, the way her dress draped her body and how the delicate fabric clung to her swollen belly, how her lips were the perfect shade of pink, how her makeup brought out her beautiful eyes, even how her necklace draped in her neck perfectly. She looked exquisite to him and for a split second he felt as if he was in a dream because surely someone like him was unworthy of such a woman. It was in that moment that he realized that he was really marrying his little wolf, the love of his life that he never thought he would ever find. At that moment of realization his nervousness disappeared and was replaced with astonishment and joy.
"You can proceed with your vows whenever you are ready Mr. Mikaelson." The officiate said, breaking him from his thoughts finally.
Klaus took Hayley's hand and kissed that back of it lightly before starting.
"Hayley…I have lived on this earth for over 1000 years. I've experienced almost everything known to man. I've traveled the world; I've met millions of people. I've experienced almost every human, and non-human emotion possible. By the time I met you in Mystic Falls I had lived several lives and experienced things most people could only dream about, only there were two things missing in my life then, two very important things. I was completely and utterly alone and I had never experienced the thing that most people spend their entire short lifetime searching for and craving, love. It is not an great exaggeration when I say that I have never known love, real love, until our daughter was born and I have never loved a woman, in all my years, until you came storming into my life. Hayley you are my first love, my greatest love, and my only love. Through loving you and our daughter I have learned the true meaning of love and family."
"I have felt alone in this world for as long as I can remember." He continued. " I have never felt understood or loved or accepted for who I truly am, that is until I met you. You have given me the greatest two gifts one can receive during a lifetime, love and family."
Klaus began to clam up again as he watched the tears streak Hayley's cheeks. He nervously put his head down again, unable to look her in the eyes because his feelings were overwhelming him and if he did he would be unable to speak again.
"With you and Hope my life has meaning again. I no longer have to be sentenced to the bleak and miserable life those who wished to see me ruined left me to. Now I have the things I have searched for my entire life, a family who loves me and sees me, a family who wants me. That's why I have this painting here as we make this commitment to each other, because that night I knew that you truly saw me in a way no one else possibly could or ever cared to. I knew that night that I could love you Hayley even if I had no intention of doing so at that moment and although our journey from that moment to this moment has been completely unexpected and quite tumultuous I want you to know that I indeed love you Hayley, unconditionally, and with every fiber of my immortal being. There is no other woman walking this earth at this present moment, in the past, nor in the future who will ever be more perfect for me and there are no other experiences in my past that could possibly surpass the happiness and satisfaction that I have felt in this short time with you and our family, the family that we created together, that is all our own, and everything we've both ever wanted."
He squeezed her hand a little bit harder and finally found the nerve to look her in the eyes again. He took another deep breath, this time closing his eyes briefly and when he opened them he let a smile from across his face and another tear escape his eyes.
"Hayley Marshall you are strong and stubborn, and cunning, and fearless but above all you are perfect. Your qualities and your beauty are more exquisite and rare that even the world's rarest jewel. You are a queen, my queen, my little wolf, and tonight I promise to be more than just your last love, I promise to be your husband, your partner, your lover, for all eternity. I promise to protect you always, to love you unconditionally. I can't promise to be perfect, or even close to perfect but I promise to try to be the best man that I can be. I promise to never abandon you, no matter how difficult or terrifying things may get. I promise to continue to build this city and a home for you and our two daughters. I promise to cherish you and our littlest wolves every day and to never let a day go by where you don't know how much I love you and our family. Tonight, as I stand here I promise to never love another for all my days. This is my promise to you, and this shall always be my promise to you just as sure as I walk this earth."
Hayley mouthed I love you as she wiped tears from her eyes again. Klaus responded by cracking a small nervous smile while lowering his head once again.
The officiate gave them a few moments to pull themselves together after their heartfelt vows before moving on to the next part of the ceremony. "Now we will have the rings."
They had both decided to pick out each other's wedding rings instead of getting a matching set. They felt it would be more meaningful and personal that way and if they were going to be wearing these rings forever they wanted them to remind them of their love and commitment to each other every time they saw it. They looked down at Hope who held a cute little bag clasped around her wrist that held their rings.
"Hope, sweetheart would you mind giving mommy and daddy that special bag we told you about?" Hayley asked Hope.
Hope, who was now sitting on the floor pulling apart the roses that once made up Hayley's bouquet, shook her head yes and gleefully raised her arm up to them so that they could untie the bag and retrieve the rings. Klaus bent down and got the rings, gently placing a kiss or Hope's forehead before standing up again and facing Hayley. He handed her the box holding the ring she had picked out for him and clutched the tiny box that housed his ring for her tightly in his hand.
"Mr. Mikaelson informed me that you two have also written your own words to say as you exchange rings together. It us customary for the groom to go first so Mr. Mikaelson, whenever you are ready you may begin."
Klaus slowly opened the box finally revealing the beautiful ring he had fashioned for her. Hayley gasped when she saw it and covered her mouth with her hand as tears welled up in her eyes again. The focal point of the ring was a deep purple gemstone. Its color was unlike any purple she had ever seen before. She had no idea what kind of gemstone it was but it was breathtakingly beautiful. The stone was flanked on both sides by two other beautiful stones and all three stones were set in a bed of diamond like stones that weaved an intricate pattern down to the band. The band that held the ring looked like it was made of white gold and it was covered in more diamond like gems. Her reaction to the ring sent a smile to Klaus's face. He wanted the ring to be perfect for her. She never got an engagement ring since his proposal wasn't planned in advance.
He was laying in bed with her naked body pressed against his one night and as he admired the way her chest moved up and down as she breathed and they way her hair fell across her bare back and shoulders, it suddenly hit him. Hayley was it for him, she was his match, his perfect companion, and the only woman he wanted to spend eternity with. He could barely even wrap his mind around the words before they slipped out of his mouth. "Marry me" was all he whispered. His proposal was completely impulsive but it felt right and the fact that Hayley said okay without even the slightest hesitation confirmed that feeling. After the impromptu engagement he tried to take her ring shopping but Hayley insisted that she didn't need some big fancy diamond ring. Still he never felt right not giving her something special to represent the love he holds for her and the commitment he was willing to make for her. That's why he took special care when picking out the gemstones for her ring and designing the setting. Throughout the entire process he couldn't wait for her to see it and for the day he would slide it on her finger and now that moment was here and it was every bit of magical as he imagined.
"I think I might need that hand little wolf" Klaus quipped as Hayley still stood shocked at the ring that Klaus held in his hand. She slowly brought her hand from her mouth and Klaus gently held it in his hand, lightly rubbing his thumb across the back of her hand.
"Before I actually give you the ring I would like to tell you a little bit about it. You see Hayley every ring I looked at around here didn't seem to suit you. I had actually almost given up until I remembered learning about these two incredibly rare gemstones, it was then that I knew exactly what I wanted you to have as a symbol and reminder of my love and commitment to you. This large purple stone here is a tanzanite, it's incredibly rare and can experience dramatic shifts in color and it reacts dramatically to certain types of light. I thought that property was fitting considering our nature. These two smaller stones here are colorless Taaffeite stones, they are also incredibly rare and I felt they fit your beauty, which is rare and unlike any I've ever encountered before, much like how this particular stone resembles a diamond but it's much more rare and brilliant than it's common counterpart."
"Klaus it's beautiful, I…I don't know what to-"
"Shhhh, you don't have to say anything love."
Hayley nodded her head. It was a good thing she wore waterproof mascara tonight she thought to herself. Klaus cleared his throat and placed the ring at Hayley's fingertip before looking deep into her hazel eyes.
"With this ring, I promise to be your husband until the end of time, your lover for all eternity, your protector as long as I live, and your friend as long as I breathe. With this ring I give all of my love to you, fully and completely, forever and always." He said before slowly sliding the ring onto Hayley's finger. Hayley stretched her fingers out to admire the ring that was now on gracing her finger. It looked even more beautiful against her skin. She admired it for a while, looking up ever few seconds to smile at Klaus before reaching for the box that held Klaus's ring.
"Well I don't have a fancy explanation for the ring I chose for you since I don't have a thousand years of knowledge but I picked this black gold and black diamond band for you because well, first I just could not picture you with one of those cheesy generic gold bands most guys wear and because this one just said strong and powerful when I saw it which are two things that come to mind when I think of you. There's also something a little twisted about it that I liked." She playfully smiled at him and Klaus smirked in return. The officiate looked on in confusion since he didn't think twisted was really a compliment and it was definitely not something that would be brought up at a wedding ceremony.
"You have excellent tastes sweetheart, I'm relieved since I don't think I could have married you otherwise" He said with a devilish grin. Hayley rolled her eyes.
"I'm glad you think so since I'm redecorating the compound after this wedding." That quickly made Klaus's grin disappear which caused Hayley to let out a light laugh. "As I was saying…" Hayley started.
"With this ring I promise to be your wife until the end of time, your lover for all eternity, your protector as long as I live, and your friend as long as I breathe. With this ring I give all of my love to you, fully and completely, forever and always" She recited as she slipped the ring onto Klaus's finger.
Their wedding was almost over, they were basically Mr. and Mrs. Mikaelson already and they could both feel the excitement bubbling up to the surface. Hayley nervously played in her hair and Klaus rubbed the back of his neck as they both realized just how close to official this all was, it was almost overwhelming for both of them.
"Now that you have exchanged vows and rings we will move on to the final part of the ceremony. Follow me please."
Klaus reached down to help Hope stand to her feet. Hayley grabbed her hand and the three of them followed the officiate to a table farther back in the room that was covered in roses and had three candles on it, two smaller candles and one larger candle in the middle. One small candle had an H on it and the other had a K. The middle large candle had the letter M on it.
"Would you both please light your individual candles then hold hands."
They both lit their candles then held hands just as the officiate asked.
"Repeat these words after me…."
"Tonight we are forever joined as husband and wife. Tonight we become one, one beating heart, one mind, one soul, for as long as we both shall live, " they recited.
"Now take your candles and light the large one in the middle, the new flame symbolizes the start of your new joint life. Blow out the old one to symbolize the end of your old individual lives."
Klaus and Hayley each picked up their candles. They glanced at each other before lighting the large candle with the M on it and blew out their small candles. They stood in front of the table with the single lit candle and joined hands one last time. Hope began to get anxious so she latched on to her father's leg. Klaus thought it was fitting to have her latched on to him that way right as he and Hayley were finally about to be pronounced husband and wife. It was his love for her that allowed him to open up to the love he has with Hayley. She latched on to his heart the moment he heard her little heart beat and that made him latch on to her mother's heart. Hayley smiled at the sight. Klaus and Hope and their unborn daughter have brought her such immense joy she almost at times she felt it was too good to be true. "This is really my family," she thought to herself.
"Klaus and Hayley, you have both stood here tonight and exchanged sacred vows to unite yourselves in matrimony. I hope you always remember the words you have said to each other here as you continue your lives together. Without further adieu…by the power vested in me my the state of Louisiana I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your bride."
Klaus quickly pulled Hayley close and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Woah careful Klaus, baby on board remember" Hayley Joked as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He chuckled before crashing his lips into hers. He kissed her passionately, running his hands up and down her back gently pulling her even closer to him. Hayley closed her eyes and a single tear streaked her face as she savored Klaus's lips on hers. She wasn't just kissing Klaus, she was now kissing her husband. They finally pulled away from each other and Klaus rested his head on Hayley's forehead. He was about to whisper something to Hayley when he felt a light tap on his leg. He looked down and saw Hope's worried eyes staring back up at them. "What's wrong sweetheart?"
"Daddy why mommy cry?" The two year old was on the verge of tears as she looked up at her parents.
Klaus bent down and picked her up to comfort her. "Your mother is okay Hope no need to get upset sweetheart, I promise" He said to her as she put her head on his shoulder. Hayley leaned in and kissed her forehead gently. "Mommy is crying because she's happy baby girl, she's really really happy."
The smile on Hayley's face made her calm down and she smiled back at her mother. "Okay mommy"
Klaus laughed and watched Hayley tuck Hope's hair behind her ears. He lightly kissed Hope on her forehead and smiled at his three girls, his family, feeling a sense of peace come over him that he's never felt before. "This is really my family," he thought to himself.
Hayley laid in bed lost in thought as she recalled the night she and Klaus got married. She felt his skin suddenly come into contact with her naked back. The sensation elicited a smile from her.
"Everything okay sweetheart? You seem to be lost in thought" he said as he trailed kisses along her shoulder blade and up her neck.
Hayley didn't' answer right away. She turned around and cupped Klaus's face with her palm, smiling at him as he ran his hand across her growing stomach.
"It's not the baby is it? Her heartbeat tells me she's strong as ever, I hope she isn't causing you too much discomfort, especially during our extremely pleasurable extracurricular activities."
"No it's not the baby, I'm fine"
"You don't appear fine love."
"Klaus trust me, everything is perfect" She said before she kissed his chest and nuzzled her head into it.
"I was thinking about our wedding, it was better than I dreamed it would be." Hayley extended her hand and admired her beautiful ring; she had been doing that a lot since he put it on her finger.
"Ahh the wedding. I quite enjoyed it myself; especially since it was there I coined a new name for you. It doesn't have quite the ring of little wolf but it's my favorite to date."
"And what name might that be?" Hayley questioned.
Klaus leaned over her so that he could look her in the eyes smiling. "Mrs. Mikaelson"
"I might like that name a little," She teased.
"Just a little?"
"Maybe more than a little…I might actually love it."
He stared down at her as he also recalled that night. He didn't think it was possible for her to be more stunning than she was that night, but as he held her in his arms with her hair wild and her face bare and her skin sweaty he reconsidered that thought. He had a feeling he would be doing that a lot as he fell more in love with her everyday. "And I might actually love you" he said.
"Just might?" She teased again, playfully peering at him from under her eyelashes
"I love you Hayley Mikaelson" He said as he leaned down and tenderly placed his lips on hers.
"Could you say that one more time, I like the way it sounded on your lips."
"I…" He said returning his lips to her shoulder. "Love….you…" His lips were now ticking her neck. "Hayley Mikaelson" He said finally reaching her lips again. Before he could kiss her she grabbed his face and held it in her hands.
"And I love you Klaus Mikaelson."
Klaus came crashing down on top of her. He kissed her hungrily and passionately and before they knew it their bodies were completely entangled in one other's as they sunk down into their bed. They truly were one. Forever and always.
AN: so this was written for klayley week on tumblr (you can follow me at hopepeacelovejoymikaelson) but I didn't finish it in time. I still wanted to finish it so here it is. Hope you guys enjoy my take on what a klayley wedding would be like. I also wanted to point out that the candle lighting thing is something done at weddings a lot where i'm from. It's called a unity candle ceremony. I thought it was fitting for klaus and hayley because I see them as too people full of fire who've burned away all alone until they met each other. In this one shot they decided to burn together, as one, hence the unity candle. Drop me a review and let me know what you think about it! :)
