A/N Ok so here's the deal...

I've got this fic and another one called Kingdom but i'm only going to continue one of them. You guys decide which one by reviewing! The story with most reviews by the 20th is the one i'll continue

This story is a Human AU featuring all our favourite characters in the Vampire Diaries Universe. It's full of mystery, drama, plot twists and a healthy dose of romance.

If you like it, then please do review and tell me why you like it/ what your thoughts on the plot are!

I (unfortunately) own nothing except the plot.

Chapter 1 – The Invitation

Caroline Forbes was a perfectionist. Unfortunately, as admirable as that trait was, it came with a lot of side effects – such as stress and worrying. She often fidgeted and stress baked, so when Niklaus Mikaelson walked into their condo and observed his fiancé's behaviour, he didn't find it odd at all.

"Hello Love" he smiled that dimpled smile of his and she felt a layer of her stress melt away into nothing.

"Nik" she sighed in relief, "You're home"

"I am" he hummed as he approached her in the kitchen and placed a kiss against her lips. He lingered, his arms wrapping around her and his hand resting on her hair.

"What's the matter love? Everything ok at work?"

She snuggled into his embrace and stayed silent for a moment, knowing that when she broke her silence, all hell would break loose.

"Caroline" he warned gently.

"Just…there's this letter….well, not a letter, an invitation and it's not just any invitation, it's actually …Wedding Invitation"

He pulled away and looked into his fiancé's stunning blue eyes, "You're rambling" he was amused, "Yet there's something you aren't telling me"

She looked worried more than anything else. Biting her lip, she blurted out, "Damon and Elena are getting married in Mystic Falls in a month's time and…they've requested close family and friends to come atleast 10 days before. Nik…they've invited everyone. Our parents will be there."

He was stunned. Taking a step back, he managed to walk to the breakfast bar before he semi collapsed onto a bar stool. Caroline allowed him a few moments to process this news before going over to him and resting her hands on his shoulders, coaxing him.

"So? How are you feeling?"

"How do you think I'm feeling love?" his reply was weak yet tense. She placed a kiss to the side of his head.

"I know. We haven't seen much of our friends in the last 5 years"

"And we haven't seen our parents at all" his tone was drab.

"Maybe this isn't all bad" she pulled away from him with a wide, unconvincing grin, "Maybe this can be a fresh start!"

"Maybe we don't have to go" he snapped, causing her face to drop.

"It's Elena, Nik. We're going" she was firm now, a frown on her face and he would have smirked had he not been so shaken up. He could argue this with her for days on end and while they were both stubborn and both won an equal share of arguments, after 6 years of being with her, he knew which battles to let her win.

"Fine" he resigned himself and Caroline was surprised at how little effort that had taken. She knew him well though, so she waited for the other shoe to drop.

"But we go 1 day before, not 10"

There it was.

She glared, "Fine" she agreed begrudgingly and so their argument was parked for the night– it was far from concluded.

"How was your day?" Caroline asked as Klaus helped her set the plates for dinner.

"Just finalising last minute details of the fund raising auction" he smiled warmly, a glow appearing in his eyes as he spoke of his beloved Art Gallery.

"And what about that new piece Lucien promised you? I like his style. It's so dark and chaotic"

"Should I be jealous, love?" he teased, his dimples on full show, making her heart flutter like it did 7 years ago when she first met him.

She teased him as she cleared away their empty dinner plates, "Hmm I mean, he is taller than you". Caroline giggled loudly as Nik grabbed her waist from behind and twisted her around.

"I'll show you who's the better man, love" he murmured as his mouth covered hers in a deep, rousing kiss. Her arms wound around his shoulders and her fingers waded through his hair as she stood on the very tips of her toes. She chuckled as he lifted her, wrapping her legs around his hips.

"Now ask me how my day was" she managed to speak as his lips splatted kisses across her collarbones.

"Who's head did you decapitate today love?" he nipped along her neck. He loved her fire.

"My assistant's" she breathed out, "but aside from that, I had a great day! I managed to get that billionaire prick Tristan D'Martel on the show and then-"

"You cut him off at his knees" he was smirking now as he entered their bedroom.

"You watched?" she blinked, surprised, "You had that shareholder meeting when my show was airing"

"I moved things around" he threw her onto their bed and crawled atop her, "I do love watching you ruin someone. Fighting the good fight" he teased, slowly undressing her.

Her chuckles soon turned to moans, "You just love fights"

"Particularly ones with you" he groaned as she flipped them around and straddled him.

"Nik" she mumbled, her palms flat on his chest, "We're still talking about it" she was referring to their earlier…spat.

"Not if I can help it" his grin was devilish as he flipped them back over, caging her in his arms.

"Nik" she warned, softly, as she placed loving kisses along the column of his neck.

"Not tonight, Love" he murmured, his head dipping to kiss the valley of her breasts.

"Not tonight" she conceded because frankly, she could barely think when Nik kissed her, much less form coherent sentences.

They'd talk about it another night and she was sure that eventually she'd wear him down. He was good to her and she was good to him. She never had any doubts that he was the man for her, despite all the doubts both his and her family seemed to have about the two of them. The couple had endured a lot over the past 5 years, the main issue being their lack of family support and lack of financial support yet they had risen about it all and had come out of it stronger than before. They never gave up on their dreams and more importantly they never gave up on each other.

Caroline had always taken an interest in Nik's business. She had been fascinated by his paintings and poems in College – she still vowed, to this day, that it was his portrait of her, drawn on a paper napkin, that was the cause of her falling in love with him. She had encouraged him to pursue his dreams despite all obstacles – and there had been many, from his Father, hers, their lack of funds due to Klaus being disowned and Caroline being too stubborn to touch her Mother's money…

They were past that all now – they were successful in their individuals fields, they owned a penthouse in New York City and they were engaged. They were blissfully happy in their little bubble now, away from everything that bothered them, in Mystic Falls.

Caroline only prayed that one Wedding…one reunion, wouldn't ruin anything for them.

Finn Mikaelson was a troubled man of late. He was burdened with guilt from a secret he had kept dear to his heart for the past 10 years and it had been chipping away at him, slowly yet steadily. Even hi wife of 5 years, who was the spirit of his dull existence, wasn't able to ease his soul lately.

"You're still up" Sage rose on her elbows and leaned over her husband, in their bed.

He remained silent, his eyes choosing to simply stare at hers.

"You still think of that night" she surmised, her fingers grazing his cheekbones.

"How could I not, Sage?" he sighed, his own fingers playing with hers, "I singlehandedly ruined our family that night. All because of some stupid impulse to act honourably" he spat that word out like it was poison on his tongue.

"You did not ruin your family Finn" she was strong in her argument, "That was all your Father's doing".

"Father simply reacted-"

"Like a prick" she was deadpanned, disliking how still, to this day, Finn defended his father's actions.

"Can you blame him?" Finn questioned, pushing back a loose curl of her hair, red as rust, as his fingers stroked her cheek.

"He had every right to be angry, to be bitter…he had no right to take it out on Nik. We both know that…and to never even tell Nik why he suddenly was so cruel to him…it broke his heart, Finn"

"And I was the reason for it all coming to light" Finn's lips turned down, his eyes closing as he took in a deep breath.

"You thought you were exposing your mother's betrayal, Finn, darling, we've talked about this before"

"Just because you tell me I'm innocent, doesn't mean I am, Sage" he explained, for what seemed like the millionth time to his wife. This was always a sensitive topic they rarely dwelled on however the invitation that lay open on their bedside table had roused it again that night.

"And just because you feel you're guilty, doesn't me you are, Finn" she murmured into his ear, resigning to the fact that her husband would bear this burden till a reconciliation occurred. She hoped this Wedding..this reunion would cause just that – an end to all their troubles.

Oh how mistaken she had been.

"Mister Kol! Mister…Kol Sir"

Kol Mikaelson waved at Russo, the young hotel boy in the Mikaelson Resort he had been semi-residing in for the past 6 months in Rio de Janeiro.

"A package arrived for you Sir" the boy spoke in Portuguese. Kol had mastered the language in the first month of living in the city so he understood perfectly what the boy was conveying. What surprised him, however, was how anyone knew where he was in order to send him a package in the first place. His family knew which continent he was on and he suspected Rebekah, his sister, knew he was in Brazil, but he doubted she knew exactly which one of their family's Hotel's he had been staying at – especially when he barely stayed in it at all. Kol had bought a Villa in Copacabana by the waters of the Guanabara Bay the moment he stepped foot in Rio 6 months ago and had been spending his days sightseeing and his nights bar tending. He had recently found the underground street racing circuit of Rio and had been invited to race. It was very secretive, very expensive and very illegal – so naturally, Kol raced a '70 Charger through the streets of Rio and even won a couple of times.

Kol Mikaelson was all about the fast life. Fast cars, fast women, fast money and no responsibilities. He hadn't always been that way however. He had been a better man in his youth but one woman and one tragedy had changed him forever. He had been a better man then, but that's not to say he was a bad man now…he was simply more reckless, more free and more temperamental. No place and no woman held his attention for long. He was a vagabond, moving from place to place every few months and in his wake he left a trail of broken hearts. He never quite understood how though, for he never made any promises to anyone…anyone except her…but she was different. Yes, he had broken her heart, but she had broken his right back. Still, Kol Mikaelson had made Bonnie Bennett a promise and a Mikaelson never broke his promises.

So when Kol opened the letter the Hotel boy handed to him and read through the invitation, he grew even more determined in his resolve to fulfil the promise he had made years ago to a sobbing Bonnie.

He would come back for her whether she wanted him to or not and he would make her his, whether she wanted for it to happen or not.

Elijah Mikaelson was a patient man. So patient, that he simply chose to wait on despite his sister being 20 minutes late for their lunch date. He didn't look the slightest bit phased as he sipped on his Americano and continued typing away on his laptop. He was growing irritated with the waitress that kept appearing at his table every 5 minutes, asking him if he needed anything so he shot her a glare when she next walked his way. The girl never returned. Elijah Mikaelson was a patient man…but he could not tolerate stupidity, nor naïvety. How could he, when he grew up with such a dysfunctional family?

Sometimes he thought it was only himself and Finn that had any sense in the family…and other times he was sure. He watched with amusement as his sister waltz through the restaurant in her search for him. She had once been a spoilt child. Being the only girl in the family meant that she had been constantly doted on throughout her childhood by her Father and all her elder brothers so naturally she had been spoiled rotten. Elijah remembered her High School days where her biggest problems were stealing Elena Petrova's boyfriend or was it the other way round? Elijah never paid much attention to her vapid gossips. He had loved his sister dearly back then but he simply had no time for her childishness when he could sense his Father's behaviour changing towards Niklaus. Now however, 5 years on, his sister was very much a different person. She was confident, self assured, independent and keenly perceptive but most of all, she was loyal. She still had her bursts of childishness and petulance but her heart was good and strong. It was something Elijah was especially proud of, along with her successful endeavour into the Fashion Industry. She was fast becoming a force to be reckoned with, as all Mikaelsons should be…but she was still late.

"Half an Hour" Elijah pursed his lips as he stared down at his sister. She gulped, then forced a rather large and fake smile onto her face.

"Yes Brother…I am and I apologise but if you knew why, you would understand" she sat opposite him, her hand waving for a waitress to approach their table. On not receiving instant service, her eyes narrowed in on a waiting girl and she glared coldly at her as if her very existence was offending her. The waitress scurried to their table and Elijah rolled his eyes as he realised it was the same one he had previously scared away. (Really, he had no time for childish crushes)

"Would I now?" he closed his laptop, giving his sister his full attention.

Rebekah ordered for the both of them. Elijah was as predictable as ever so she knew his meal of choice. They visited this restaurant often as it was a go between for his office and her boutique.

Without speaking, she pushed the opened envelope towards him. She watched her brother with keen eyes as he read the invitation. Elijah gave little away, as always. His face was impassive. Rebekah sometimes wondered if he was born that way but she had seen him heartbroken once. She had been young herself but she would never forget the look of utter pain on his face. It was forever etched in her memory and she hoped to never see it again. She wondered if his heartbreak some 15 years ago, was the reason why he chose to not have any…attachments now.

"Interesting" Elijah murmured, his eyes glancing to hers..

"It's Elena" she stressed and he understood the implication. It meant Caroline was attending and they both knew that where Caroline went, Klaus followed.

"That's not all" Rebekah seemed cheery now and Elijah grew weary. It never did bode well when Rebekah was this pleased about something.

"Kol emailed me. He's coming too"

Elijah felt faint. He had kept in contact with both his brothers. Not regularly, but enough to know they were safe, well looked after and happy. He knew 'happy' was relative in terms of Kol, which was also why he knew Kol returning could only mean one thing – the boy was finally ready to pursue his first and only love. He also regularly met with Finn and he knew his brother was struggling. Elijah had a very bad feeling in the deepest pit of his stomach. Something bad would happen. Something bad always happened at every family reunion but this one in particular, where they were all under the same roof, could spell utter disaster for them all.