A Princess Bride
Klaus attends the wedding, but finds it hard to let her go. Future Canon.
'She makes for a lovely bride', he muses and sips on a flute of dry champagne. He uses the alcohol to wash down the feelings of melancholy watching her dance with Elijah evokes inside of him. She looks radiant, moving gracefully about the room, in the arms of his older brother.
Klaus' eyes momentarily stray to admire the surrounding decor. Everything looking perfect, down to the most minute detail. He is glad, of course, wanting the bride to experience the wedding of her dreams.
His eyes wander back to her again, a vision all in white. Her wedding dress is beautiful, befitting royalty, and flows flawlessly every time his sibling spins her. It flatters her figure without being too flashy or revealing. It's something he would have picked out for her, had he been given the option to.
Without meaning to, Klaus finds himself striding across the room until he stands in front of the dancing pair. "Mind if I cut in?" he asks, emotion straining his voice.
"Not at all," Elijah says, but makes sure to lift his dance partner's hand to his lips for a chaste kiss. "Your husband is a very lucky man," he comments with a meaningful glance towards them both.
"He is," Klaus grumbles, stepping in to take her up in his arms and lead her back into a waltz.
"I'm the one who is lucky," she says, a look of adoration in her eyes as she glances up at him. "You know that, right?"
He doesn't answer, simply turns them and stares off in order to avoid her gaze .
Her limbs flow effortlessly along side him and Klaus can't help but think that everything about her is perfect - and precious.
His mood dampens considerably as the song suddenly changes to something loud and upbeat. He begins pulling her off the dance floor, away from the throng of guests.
"Everything okay?" she asks, once he stops near a secluded set of stone pillars.
Klaus turns to face her and sees her waiting patiently for his response.
"Tell me this is what you want," he urges her, reaching out to hold both of her hands between his.
She observes him with a tilt of her head, her eyes searching his face for something.
"Tell me that you're happy," he repeats, squeezing her hands tighter this time.
"Dad," Hope sighs, squeezing his hands back, affectionately. "I've just married the man that I love. Seth is everything I could ever want and he makes me very happy." She pulls her fingers out of his desperate grasp so she can give him in a hug. "It's okay to let me go," she whispers.
"If he hurts you-"
"I know, I know," she laughs, "you'll tear out his liver."
"I want you to make sure that he knows it!" he admonishes, not satisfied with her response.
"Dad," she says, leaning back so he can see the exasperated look on her face. "You've been threatening Seth since our first date. Believe me, he knows."
Klaus feels moisture building behind his eyeballs, his daughter's image blurring before him.
"I love you so much," he says, pulling her back into a hug and petting her hair.
"I love you too, dad," she offers, patting his back.
The moment is an emotional one, so no one can really blame him for missing the sound of someone approaching them.
"Oh," Hope says, and he feels her shift in his arms to acknowledge someone behind him. "I hoped you hadn't left yet. I wanted to thank you again. Everything is wonderful!"
His daughter steps out of his embrace, and moves to his left side. He doesn't turn to look at the intruder just yet, feeling angry that the precious little time he has left with his daughter is slipping away.
"My pleasure," the voice sounds sincere, yet hesitant, Klaus recognizing it instantly. He's never forgotten it, or the image of the one it belongs to.
"Caroline," he breathes.
His eyes move sideways to meet those of his daughter, and he sees the mischievous twinkle in her eye and curling of her lip. Hope leans over to fix his tie and then places a kiss against his cheek. "I think I'll go find my husband now," she says, with a wink, before leaving the two vampires alone.
He gulps, licks his lips and turns around. "Hello, sweetheart," he says, the words tumbling from his lips as easy as the smile forming on his face.
"Klaus," she addresses him, shyly.
"Am I to understand you played a hand in planning my daughter's wedding?"
"Yeah," she offers, amused. "Apparently, her 'Auntie Bex' gave her my number." Caroline continues to explain as she walks slowly towards him. "Which I assume she got from Matt," she begins rambling, and somewhat awkwardly, but it makes the Original smile. "I guess your sister didn't totally hate my ideas for the Decade Dance, because she's the one that convinced your daughter I was the only one who could help plan this wedding."
"Oh, really?" he asks, equal parts shocked and amused by her confession.
"Yep," she responds, popping the 'p'.
Klaus continues to stand and stare at her with a goofy grin on his face until she can't take it anymore.
"Well, aren't you going to say I told you so?" Caroline asks, never one for awkward silences.
"Whatever do you mean, sweetheart?"
"It wasn't enough for me. Not the small town boy, not the small town life."
"Now," he asks, teasing her, "who could have predicted that?"
"Ah!" she exclaims with a smile, "there's the smug and sarcastic Klaus that I love."
He gapes at her, dumbstruck, and Caroline gasps at what she has just admitted to.
"Did I take too long?" she finally asks, biting her bottom lip.
"No," he tells her, "I daresay that your timing couldn't be more perfect."
Klaus closes the distance between them and his heart feels light as a hummingbird, when Caroline leans in and kisses him.
