"I want to get married," Caroline announced suddenly whilst rolling on top of him, resting her head on his shoulder and winding her arm around his waist. She had been woken by the morning light from the balcony windows, the Costa Rican summer sunrise making it hard for her to fall back asleep. Her thoughts had begun to break through her sleepy haze. Klaus was almost always awake by the crack of dawn if they weren't only just coming home or going to sleep. As usual, he hadn't disturbed her even as she had lain awake with her mind racing.

His hold on her simply tightened, the hand that held her close to him stroking her back absentmindedly. "Ok."

Raising an eyebrow in surprise at his lack of reaction, Caroline pushed herself up slightly so she could look at him, propping herself on her elbow with a hand on his bare chest. "Wait, that's it?" she asked incredulously.

"What were you expecting, sweetheart?" he replied softly, staring back at her with unguarded eyes (it had taken time before they had become so open for her), mussed hair (courtesy of her fingers) and still sleep-warm (a comfort she adored snuggling up to).

"Something along the lines of a laugh, roll of the eyes and listing all the reasons why us vampires have no need for such human frivolity," she mocked in her version of his accent, not having quite mastered it, and jabbed at him with a finger with the last three words. He chuckled, pushing her hair out of her eyes and behind her ears.

"Yes, well, as true as that may be, if you wish to get married, we can get married. Regardless, you will still be mine, as I am yours." Klaus shrugged, fingers gently playing with her hair. The rush his words sent through her, causing the butterflies to flutter in her stomach and her undead heart to race, should be long gone. After the years they had been together, the thought of him living up to his words to be her last love shouldn't make her feel like a teenager, which she guessed she eternally was. Even worse, when she recalled how he confessed to her she was his last too (granted there had only been one before her), her feelings were overwhelming. The confirmation that she finally had someone who wanted nothing or no one else other than her was all she needed.

"Let's do it soon," she insisted, the tips of her fingers subtly fidgeting with his necklaces before hooking around them.

"We can be married by nightfall if you'd like," Klaus murmured.

A grin spread on her lips slowly, thinking through the possibility of her musings becoming reality so soon. She was used to planning and arranging things in advance, but being with Klaus allowed her to let go and be a bit more impromptu, such as this vacation. They had already been down for two weeks, randomly having flown down one evening for some alone time. It was a good thing her friends and mother and his siblings were used to them jetting off spontaneously. With him in New Orleans and her splitting time between the Big Easy and Mystic Falls, time alone together was needed. Though she guessed it was something they would have to get use to. At 28, there wasn't much time left until the residents of Mystic Falls who didn't know about their supernatural community would start questioned why she still looked the same as she had whilst in high school.

"Can we? Like at twilight or something? Down by the gazebo on the beach! I only want it to be a small and simple ceremony. I'll need a dress and most definitely an engagement ring… And wedding bands for us both," Caroline rattled off, excitement overtaking her previous drowsiness as she began to sit up in the middle of their bed, bed covers covering her haphazardly.

"Sounds like you've got this all planned out," Klaus laughed, lounging against the headboard. If she wasn't already singularly focused, there was no doubt she would have taken advantage of his sexy form (not that he would have fought her) there and then.

"I may have been thinking about this for a while," Caroline told him.

It had actually been longer than just a while, more like since they had first gotten together 8 years ago. She knew his superior stance against human traditions so she kept quiet and pushed it to the back of her mind, because at least they were together. She didn't know what had changed and brought the thought up again, but it had been there for at least a few weeks. She had hoped to eventually convince him that perhaps marriage wasn't so useless after all.

"Plus, I managed to plan my wedding to Stefan by, like, lunchtime the day I first saw him. Hadn't even met him yet, so I think I have an advantage here," she added toying with the sheets.

Klaus raised an eyebrow at the information. "Considering that marriage never went forward, thankfully, I reckon you should perhaps alter some of your methods," he told her, pursing his lips. She'd be lying if she said that the small hints of jealousy he was prone to didn't make her smile. Who wouldn't want a man like Niklaus Mikaelson getting possessive over them? Besides, she hated to admit it at times, but she could give as good as she got.

"Already ahead of you there, baby. I asked you, didn't I?" she teased, leaning in to press a kiss to his mouth, pulling back only when she felt his lips curve against hers.

"That you did," he nodded, licking his lips and brushing a hand over her bare knee, sending shivers down her spine. "Would you like me to do anything?"

Shaking her head clear, Caroline grinned and made a mental list of the shops she could recall being in the town center. There wasn't a big collection but there were definitely the ones they would need.

"If you get me a ring, I would be very grateful, because I want an engagement ring even if we're engaged for less than a day. I trust your taste in jewelry. Actually, get the wedding rings too. I'll get the rest," she decided, already knowing what dress she would wear (she had spotted it in a store a few days ago) and the casual smart outfit for him.

"Of course, my love," Klaus replied simply and Caroline began shuffling off the bed. It might have only been 6 in the morning but there was no way she could keep still now. Her mind was already in a whirlwind, planning her very own wedding within the limited amount of time. "Does this mean we're getting up now?" he groaned as she headed towards the bathroom with an extra bounce in her step.

"If we want to be married in 12 hours, we are."

Klaus found her in the bedroom of the beach house later that afternoon, having run the errands she asked of him. He spotted a shirt, formal pants and a suit jacket laying carefully on the bed. From what he could see, there was a zipped up garment bag hanging in the walk in closet. He smiled at the fact that it would contain the dress Caroline intended to wear.

"Hey, did you manage to do everything?" she asked brightly, standing up from the stool in front of the vanity where she had been brushing out her wet hair. There was over an hour until the sun began to set, but Caroline started to get ready if her state of undress (a simple silky robe that left her long, smooth legs bare) was anything to go by.

"Yes love, as I told you not 15 minutes ago when you called and beckoned me," Klaus informed her with a roll of the eyes, gently toeing the sandals she had kicked off and left laying around. Her messiness was an annoyance, having been used to to his own way for over a millennia, but he couldn't say that he didn't welcome her presence in every single way. She often left his bedroom a mess until she developed a bout of stress that resulted in cleaning the room from top to bottom.

"Just making sure, sheesh," Caroline huffed, throwing her hairbrush at him. It bounced harmlessly off his chest to join the shoe. Crossing his arms, he eyed both items with a raised eyebrow. "Everything has to be perfect and considering I took care of the rest, you were the only thing stopping it," she pointed out with a finger aimed at him.

"It will be perfect. Mostly because there hasn't been enough time for things to go wrong, nor is there anyone else here to interfere," Klaus informed her with a sly grin. He would be the first to admit how much her little band of friends annoyed the crap out of him, even when they weren't actively trying to kill him. He was sure that if they had been there right then, being the pesky people that they were, there was no way that they could have this wedding in such a short time nor without any issues. Somehow, trouble seemed to follow them even if they weren't doing anything and Klaus, for one, was sick of it. It was bad enough that Caroline was a trouble magnet at times, but he would gladly deal with her. The rest he would gladly end (except for Stefan; he did still have a soft spot for the Ripper).

"Do you think they'll be mad? Everyone back at home? We are kind of eloping," Caroline asked, gnawing on her bottom lip as the thought was only just coming to her. "And I'm not good making rash decisions, you know that. It takes me an hour to pick out my clothes in the morning on most days and that's-"

Klaus cut her off before she could get carried away, reaching out to restrain her flailing arms with a hand on each. "Caroline, calm down. They won't be mad because they have no right to be mad. And if they are then we will tell them that it was better without them here," he told her matter-of-factly.

"That's rude," she glared at him.

"It's also true," he pointed out nonchalantly. Tugging on her, he brought her closer, laying her hands on his chest, covering them with one of his own. "Sweetheart, are you sure about this? If you have any doubts then I won't be offended if you want to postpone or simply back out," Klaus told her, softly caressing the side of her face.

Caroline shook her head at him and smiled. "No, I'm sure. I'm the one who suggested it. Are you sure?"

"I just spent the day buying jewelry and compelling the only man nearby who could officiate our marriage in English without making it public. I also obtained a certificate, as per your request," he pointed out dryly. It had been the first time he had run errands by himself in a long, long time. Without his vampires or hybrids, there were no minions to do his bidding for him. The jewelry part wasn't too much of a hardship, but having to track someone down and compelling them to do exactly what they wanted was not how he imagined spending the day. Nevertheless, the benefits would outweigh the cost of a single day doing her bidding when he was forever tied to the woman in front of him.

"I just thought it would be a nice keepsake. I didn't say you had to compel them," Caroline muttered as her fingers played with the unfastened buttons of his henley.

"I'm sure, my love," he chuckled, tilting her face up with a finger under her chin before leaning in to steal a kiss, followed by a peppering of chaste ones when he couldn't pull himself away.

She pushed him away. "Then go get ready and meet me by the gazebo. It'll take me longer, obviously, but I don't want you to see me in my dress. It's bad luck!" Caroline chastised, stepping back.

"Nonsense, that's a mere superstition from the olden days," Klaus said with a dismissive tone, reaching for her once again only to be disappointed when she slapped his hands away. A small pout formed on his lips, eyes lowering in a stance that usually won her over. However, when she let out a bark of laughter at it, he knew that he wouldn't get this way this time.

"Don't care," she told him with a shake of the head. "Besides doesn't that make you feel more comfortable?"

"Your jokes are getting worse, love," he growled playfully at her teasing about his age, a smile pulling at his lips with her laughter. "I have something I want to do before I go get ready," he added seriously, recalling the reason why he had initially sought her out.

Caroline quirked an eyebrow at him, eyes not so subtly jumping between him and the rather large bed they had shared for the past fortnight. "I don't think we have the time."

"Oh, we would definitely have the time, but that's not what I meant," he teased, causing her to blush faintly and smile sheepishly at her presumptions.

Taking her hand, he led her to sit back down on the stool before kneeling down in front of her on one knee. Klaus licked his lips to hide his smirk when Caroline's eyes widened in surprise, a gasp following when he retrieved the ring box from his jeans' pocket. "I know this is a bit late, but Caroline, will you marry me?"

There was a pause of silence after he opened the box to reveal a diamond solitaire engagement ring. He watched her gaze at it in awe before the smile on her face started to lessen. His confidence began to falter when Caroline's expression became serious. A sudden bout of uncertainty whirled up inside of him.

"I, uh- I mean, well, I dunno…" she stuttered, and for a moment, Klaus almost believed that she had begun to backtrack on her own request to get married. Fortunately for his ego, he caught the glimmer of playfulness in her eyes before the corners of her mouth began to tug upwards slowly.

"Caroline," he all but growled out, unimpressed at her games. What else did he expect from her if not to challenge him even when he least expected it? In fact, her delayed response only served to let him know how much he actually wanted to marry her; something he had barely thought about or cared about before that morning.

"Of course I will!" she laughed, pulling her hand out to grip his neck and leaning in to kiss him.

"Sweetheart," he breathed when they broke apart, pressing his forehead to hers to get his bearings straight when she refused to let him go. "Would you like your ring?"

Caroline nodded, pulling away to hold out her left hand expectantly. Klaus gladly plucked the precious piece of jewelry out of its plush pillowing in the box. The ring was more valuable than its cost. It was a sign of his undying love and devotion to this woman who had stolen his heart. He tossed the empty case onto the vanity behind her and slipped the ring onto her finger (a perfect fit in every way possible, if he didn't say so himself.) He brought her hand up to press his lips against it. Caroline gently stroked his jawline before retracting her hand away and holding it up to examine the ring properly. The diamond gleamed in the sunlight filling the room, but Klaus was much more enticed by the pure, unadulterated happiness that graced her features. He would fight for her to look that way every single moment of his existence.

"It's beautiful," she murmured, still mesmerised by the ring. "You didn't have to propose. I am the one who suggested all this in the first place," Caroline added when she shifted her gaze to his.

Klaus smiled softly, placing both his hands upon her bare knees. "Yes I remember, but I know you, Caroline, and I know you would rather have a proposal story to tell over what happened this morning."

"I always knew you were a hopeless romantic," she all but squealed, tugging the hair at his nape to get him up and closer to her. Switching his position to rest on both his knees, he lifted up so he was face to face when he claimed her lips for one final time.

"No such thing," he said before pulling away. "I'm still the King of New Orleans and you're about to become my Queen."

The sun was almost on the horizon by the time she made it down to the beach. With the excitement of the day (she smiled as she caught sight of her ring once again), Caroline had almost ruined her own wedding by being late. Thankfully, she was an expert on perfection so styling her hair into loose curls with the front pinned back with a diamante slide and applying natural make up took next to no time. No, what had kept her was slipping on the new white lace lingerie she had just bought (which she knew wouldn't last any longer than the wedding night), before stepping into the dress she was getting married in.

All zipped up, she paused in front of the full length mirror to make sure everything was alright when it all caught up to her. The engagement ring on her finger, the simple yet elegant knee length halterneck white dress, the fake bouquet of calla lilies in her hands and her bare feet where she painted her nails silver to match her single drop diamond earrings and tennis bracelet. The only thing missing was the necklace as the final touch. As she closed the clasp behind her neck, pulling out her hair from under it, she realised she was finally, finally, a bride. Something she had thought had been lost along with her human life when Katherine killed her.

Caroline Forbes was a fighter and when someone told her she couldn't do something, she managed to do it anyway.

Couldn't survive as a vampire? Look at her now. Couldn't be with Klaus? Actually, yes, she could. Couldn't be a good friend whilst doing so? She had helped both Elena and Bonnie through college whilst graduating top of her class. Couldn't make a long distance relationship work? It seemed to work just fine for them.

Couldn't get married? Well, she'd show them!

After snapping a couple of pictures with her phone to show her friends, she tucked it away. There would be no need for it the rest of the evening. She noted the time glaring brightly back at her on the screen, causing her to curse and do a final sweep of her outfit (perfect), before rushing out towards the beach that was the backyard.

The sand was soft against her feet as she made her way over to the small gazebo not 500 meters away. There, in the middle of it, stood Klaus in the black dress shirt and dark parts. The suit jacket that she had bought to go with it had been forgone, just as she had expected. He looked like the epitome of handsome and rugged all in one.

Caroline noticed the moment he saw her, taking her in as she did him. She noted the way he left the top few buttons of his shirt open (which she appreciated) to reveal the necklaces he never took off. His bare feet were clean of sand (he probably didn't have to rush and take the shortcut she did instead of the boardwalk that led to it). His sleeves were rolled to his elbows and his hands were tucked into his pants' pockets as if he had not been anxiously waiting for her. She could tell by his relieved expression that had not been the case. Had he truly been worried she wouldn't show? Or was he like any other groom who was nervous before his wedding?

Ignoring the celebrant of their wedding for a moment, she accepted Klaus' hand to help her climb the five steps up to him. He led her into the middle of the gazebo without taking his eyes off of her and somehow that expression alone (filled with awe, love and a hint of pride) was enough for her to feel more beautiful than ever before.

"Hi," Caroline whispered, clutching the fake flowers in one hand when he refused to drop the other. The blood was racing in her ears from both the journey she had just made and the excitement of the moment. She wondered if he could hear it too.

"You look absolutely gorgeous," Klaus told her in the same low tone, his accent thick in the quiet, sending thrills through her.

"You look just how I imagined you would," she confessed, raking her eyes over him. This was the exact ensemble she had imagined when he had agreed to the wedding that morning in bed.

He chuckled softly, dimples breaking out with the boyish grin he shot her. "I will take that as a compliment."

The sun was gradually lowering behind them as the officiate began the ceremony. Without guests or witnesses, it was short and simple, and if Caroline ever had repeat what was said before the vows, she wouldn't be able to.

She remembered the way Klaus' hand squeezed back when she unintentionally squeezed his at the words 'joining in marriage'.

She remembered the way they glanced at each other (him with a quirked eyebrow and her with her bottom lip between her teeth) when the officiate spoke about an eternal love, fictitious to him, but reality to them.

She remembered the way her heart skipped a beat when it came to the vows. "Do you, Niklaus, take Caroline, to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

"Do you, Caroline, take Niklaus, to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," she repeated, breaking out in a smile when Klaus did the same, his eyes filled with a look of wonder. Was he still that amazed by the fact that she loved him, wanted him and needed him to the point that she had wanted to officially claim him as hers?

Then again, standing there watching him pull out a pouch from his pocket, wasn't she still that amazed that this man, this worldly, passionate and fearless man, had chosen to love her?

The wedding bands shone against the black pouch as the officiate placed them in his palm. Caroline had to admit she had made the right choice by leaving the jewelry up to Klaus. One was a simple silver coloured band with tiny black stones dotted intermittently along the centre. The other ring had two small bands of white diamonds on either side of black stone flowers fashioned in between with white centres. They both looked extravagant but elegant, perfect for them.

Handing the more feminine ring to Klaus (she doubted he picked out one with flowers for himself), the officiate spoke the words he expected them to repeat whilst exchanging the wedding bands. They hadn't discussed their vows beforehand, but Klaus obviously made arrangements. Caroline was still amazed by the amount of thought that Klaus had clearly put into the small amount of responsibility she had given him.

Klaus took her left hand in his before slipping the ring on and reciting the words. "I give this ring as my gift to you. Wear it and think of me and know that I love you." Like the engagement ring, it was a perfect fit. Only with the promise he made with this ring, speaking the words that she knew he would hold true for as long as she was on this earth, it was much more special.

Caroline took the wedding band meant for Klaus, exchanging it with the flowers she was holding to free up both her hands. She caught the smirk on his face at her actions but she dismissed it with a faux-glare that didn't hold a smidgen of seriousness due to her smile. The ring was heavy and cool in her palm. As she fiddled with it to hold it properly, she managed to catch the calligraphic engraving on the inside with the date. It almost made her want to take hers off to see if it held the same numbering. She knew it would, but simply seeing it made her breath hitch, because, damn, she loved this man who somehow managed to take her menial, human request and turn it into the most beautiful wedding she couldn't even organise herself.

"I give this ring as my gift to you. Wear it and think of me and know that I love you," she repeated, taking hold of his left hand in hers and carefully slipping on the ring.

His fingers curled around hers as the officiate spoke the closing words. Their rings were clearly on show for the whole world to see. Her eyes lingered on their joined hands, thoughts running away on how surreal that moment seemed to her and how, though brand new, their rings looked as if they had been a part of them for years.

"...I now pronounce you husband and wife," the officiate stated, breaking Caroline out of her thoughts. Averting her gaze to Klaus', she was glad to see that he looked to be in the same predicament. They shared a secret smile, a silent conversation about how they caught the other thinking the same thing, when the officiate spoke the final words. "You may now kiss."

Beneath the twilight skies, just as she had envisioned, they shared their first kiss as husband and wife. The rest of eternity had a lot to live up to.

x

So that's the prologue done! What did you all think? Hope everyone enjoyed it :)

Just as an FYI, this fic is set in an universe where Klaus never slaughtered his hybrids, so Kol isn't dead, he never slept with Hayley, there was no baby and I guess Katherine is still a vampire because Silas never rose without the sacrifice of the 12 hybrids.

I'm thinking of turning this into a collection of snapshots, each chapter portraying a time in their marriage as they live one of their vows. Next would be 'For Better', if people are interested in it.

Also, many thanks to ssklarolinewrites for motivating me to actually pursue this and write it, and for beta'ing it! You are a star :)