Disclaimer: not mine as much as I wish it. A/N: I'd like to say that this story is based on one of my favourite movies of all time. It is a request from Smritikapil on Twitter who provided the idea & a challenge - to create an alternate ending. I hope this satisfies your feels :) No ship wars please, written for fun! R&R x
Wishing & Hoping
Part I
"So if you're looking to find love, you can share... all you've got to do, is hold him, and kiss him and love him, and show him that you care" - My Best Friend's Wedding x
Caroline Forbes tasted a the string of caramelised onions which had been garnished atop her gourmet beef burger; her expression remained serious despite Enzo's raised eyebrow across the table. She chewed her mouthful, letting the flavour infuse to her tongue while the Mystic Falls' residents chatter around her. The owner of The Grill, Matt Donovan, waited with bated breath. She swallowed, wiping her mouth on a serviette. "Inventive and confidant," came her review as the staff whooped with glee. Enzo smiled, ripping into his own burger.
When left alone, Caroline sifted through her belongings for her ringing mobile. "It's my Stefan, Stefan Salvatore," she told Enzo. "Oh, the wandering sports writer? Remind me about that one?" Her fingers grazed over her wallet, a hairbrush, a box of tampons and her house keys as she told him about her best friend. The memories came to her like lyrics from her favourite song.
"Sophomore year at Whitemore, we had this one hot month. But, of course, you know me, I got restless. So, I get up the nerve to break his heart and he gives me this look, and then he says, 'the thing that makes me want cry is, I'm losing the best friend I ever had.' And at that moment, I knew, I felt the same way. So, I cried, for maybe the third time in my life, kissed him and we've been best friends ever since."
She eventually dug out her phone and sighed in relief. "We've seen each other through everything, losing jobs, losing parents, losing lovers...we've travelled all over. Had the best times of my life, drinking and talking, even if it's just over the phone."
Enzo smeared barbecue sauce up his left cheek. "God, this is so moving. Kindred spirits, eh?" He swallowed another bite. She remembered a fond memory. "He's nothing like me, he's like you actually. I remember this one night in Tuscany, like, six years ago, where he takes a razor, cuts his finger, takes my hand and does the same to me." She stares at her pointer, absently, the phone still ringing. Enzo fake-gagged into his napkin. "I'm going to be sick!"
She continued to reminisce. "He says 'swear, if we're 28, if we've never married, we'll marry each other'. We never talked about it again. I don't know what made me think of that," she sighed.
Enzo rolled his eyes. "You're about to be 28 in three weeks, right?" He rested his chin against his hand while Caroline answered her phone.
"I have to ask you something incredibly important. If you turn me down, I don't know what I'll do," Stefan said.
"I was thinking about you, and remembering this thing from a thousand years ago..." she began.
"I called because I met someone..." Caroline felt like someone had punched her in the gut. "I've never felt this way about anyone." Air escaped from her lungs like a vacuum had stolen it. "She's twenty...you're going to love her. I've always been uncomfortable around rich people but-"
Caroline gripped her phone against her ear. "You've met her parents?" she squeaked, eyes wide.
"We're getting married...this Sunday. It all starts tomorrow, it's one of those four day weddings... " She began to ramble, distracting Enzo from his remaining mouthful. "Aren't you working this weekend, I mean, is that responsible?" Enzo rolled his eyes. "Maybe we should talk about this?"
"Caroline, please come, I'm scared...I need you to hold my hand..." Stefan murmured in that sweet voice of his. What was she supposed to say to that?
Caroline dropped her phone inside her bag, gathering her breath. "Seriously?! He adored me for nine goddamn years. Me! She's known him for five seconds! She's rich, so she's apparently perfect!" She made a face, swinging her bag over her shoulder. "I can't lose him, Enzo. I'm going to bring him back." Enzo left some cash on the table and hurried after his friend, trying to distract her with another drink, but she was adamant she should take the earliest flight to Chicago.
They drove to the airport after Caroline packed a suitcase."I've got exactly four days to break up a wedding, steal the bride's fiancé, and I haven't a clue how." Enzo hugged her, wishing her luck, though he didn't have the heart to tell her things may not go according to plan but when Caroline set her mind to something, it was difficult to convince her otherwise.
"Caroline!" she heard Stefan call out. She looked up and saw him waiting near the baggage claim and she couldn't help but grin at the sight of his equally amazed expression. She ran through the crowd, bumping shoulders with strangers until colliding with him and bumping noses. She felt free and happy to see him, like old times. "Can you believe we are going to do this?" he beamed, releasing her from their hug and bringing her back to reality.
Her best friend was getting married...to someone else.
Stefan looked up over his shoulder, and waved a slim, brown haired beauty over. His fiancé wore a pretty dress and pushed a baggage trolley for Caroline's suitcase. How considerate. Caroline gritted her teeth. "This is Katherine," Stefan explained, smiling when Caroline disappeared behind the brunette's sudden hug. "I'm so excited to meet you...!" Caroline forced a smile, grateful to be rid of her once Katherine had reattached herself to Stefan.
Caroline pushed her suitcase on the trolley thinking of ways to destroy Stefan's new girlfriend, distracted when Katherine looked up from her event calendar. "Will you be my maid of honour, Caroline? I promised Stefan only the best for his best friend. We have a dress fitting in a few hours so it's lucky your flight came in earlier than expected!" Caroline smiled sweetly, and tried not to look bothered when Katherine entwined her fingers with Stefan's. "And now I have four days to make you my new best friend," Katherine grinned over her shoulder while Caroline gripped the trolley.
She couldn't wait to call Enzo and rant to him about the 'goody-two-shoes.' But when they got to the car, Stefan offered to take her suitcase to the Pierce's and encouraged her to spend time with his fiancé. Caroline had no choice. She found herself staring at a body length mirror while a tailor pinned the hem of her dress. "I thought the bridesmaids all wore the same dress?" she asked Katherine, at the bridal shop. Katherine rolled her eyes. "Not you, you wouldn't be comfortable unless you were distinctive..." she said, discussing the frills with the tailor and leaving Caroline feeling betrayed...
"Wow, Stefan told you everything... you know, we were the 'wrong fit right from the start," she fake laughed, catching Katherine's curious eye and mentally slapping herself for rambling. Besides why wasn't she being honest? They were the perfect fit, that's what she had come there to say.
"How dare she, with her long brown locks and rosy cheeks! I tell you Enzo, he's under some kind of spell. I swear, I am going to figure out how to stop this wedding...somehow!" Caroline pressed her phone against her shoulder as she changed out of her new bridesmaid's 'mess', and stood bent over her bed, sorting out her change of clothes from her open suitcase.
Hearing the bedroom door creak, she tossed her phone onto the bed, and yelped, covering her underwear with her hands. Stefan smirked at her, his eyes bright and suggestive. "I've seen you a lot more naked than that, Caroline!" she blushed, sliding into her jeans. She threw her head into her t-shirt. "Well, things are... different now," came her muffled reply.
Stefan turned around. "You look really good... without your clothes on." He took in Elena's room, the stuffed toys and cushions on the bed and the cheerleading trophies on her desk. "I just wanted to see if you were settling in okay." He put his hands in his suit pockets. "Come down to dinner when you've cleaned up, I want you to meet the rest of Katherine's family, okay?" He pulled the door shut and Caroline heard Enzo calling her name. She answered, suddenly with an idea. "Enzo, she's toast!"
Caroline took a few minutes to make sure her outfit looked sexier than normal in the mirror before she walked downstairs and across the foyer to the courtyard where she saw Stefan and Katherine hand in hand and her stomach churned. Katherine had just placed a very suggestive kiss against his cheek, while her parents poured flutes of champagne beside a smoking barbecue. She noticed Stefan's brother, Damon, wearing a baseball cap and turning the sausages. She cleared her throat.
"Oh, my God, it's the woman she'll never live up to!" Katherine's mother announced to the rest of the guests. Caroline smiled, though she pictured Enzo rolling his eyes, and was dragged into the mix, like she had no choice. Damon seemed pleased to see her, and if she hadn't been trying to plot ways to steal Stefan back, she may have noticed that Katherine's family home was quite impressive. It had been a while since she'd felt at 'home' anywhere, since her mother's death.
Caroline had escaped to the kitchen for a moment of sanity and reflection, and a few gulps or champagne from the bottle, when Katherine walked in. "I know how you feel, my family can be a bit full on. Can I?" Caroline hesitated, passing her what was left. Katherine drank some and sighed, kicking off her black and white stilettos and massaging her heels on a bar stool.
"I don't mean to pry, but you and Stefan, seem so-" Caroline began. Katherine raised her hand.
"I know what you're going to say, just like my parents and Damon, they thought the same, that we rushed into this because I'm only twenty, well, I love Stefan with all my heart, we might be young, but I know him, I'm supportive of his career, and sure, it's only been a few months, but I feel like he completes me, you know? I've loved him since the moment I met him, and-" Katherine's hand squeezed Caroline's arm. "I swear, you will always be his best friend. I'm not going to take him away from you." Katherine slipped back in her shoes and un-creased her dress with her hands.
Caroline ignored her guilt. She tried another tactic, by listing all the annoying things about Stefan which drove her nuts when they dated, as though one or more things, could end their engagement. Katherine took the bait and dove straight in, unfortunately for Caroline, despite Katherine agreeing with every topic - from cigars in bed; action movies; karaoke; sucking soup through his front teeth - she argued these were the things she loved most.
"He's great in bed." Katherine's eyes lit up, and she smirked. Caroline could barely remember what it felt like to be held by Stefan Salvatore. What his lips tasted like or how his kisses broke against the nape of her neck or how it felt to lie naked beside him in front of the fire. "It's been a while, I'm just going to take your word for it," she eventually admitted.
Katherine picked at the strawberries on a fruit platter for desert. "I threw his flaws list away in the end. Loving him, means loving all of him. Nothing ever could stop me from this marriage - except, you. You'll always be there." Katherine sighed. "You win, Caroline Forbes." Caroline raised her eyebrows, had she heard correctly? "I've missed a step?" she said, taking another sip of champagne.
Katherine sighed. "He's got you in his heart, and me in his arms. The woman I'll never live up to."
Caroline didn't know what to say, but then Damon's voice called them from the courtyard to say lunch was ready and both girls left behind the empty bottle of champagne and returned to the party.
After dinner, Stefan announced that his boss, Katherine's father, had given him tickets to see the Chicago Cubs that night. Caroline looked across at Katherine's twin sister, Elena who propped her elbows on the table and seemed more subdued compared to her livelier twin. Caroline caught Stefan's eye, remembering the many, many nights they used to share wrapped together in an oversized rain-jacket while they watched in the stands.
"It's a pre-wedding gift." Katherine stated, kissing her beau on the lips. Caroline picked up the plates to clear the table, wearing her fake-smile, and wishing she was anywhere but there. "You're coming too, right?" Damon caught her around her middle. She leaned into him, half on purpose, maybe she could make Stefan jealous. "I wouldn't miss it, besides it's bringing back college memories." She spun out of his grasp, still balancing the plates while Katherine and Elena cheered. "Remember, it's the duty of the best man to dance with the maid of honour. Don't let me down." She was happy to see Stefan frowning in the corner of her eye.
Damon declared. "I've got moves you've never seen," and he removed Caroline's empty plates, giving Elena a nod to help him in the kitchen. Katherine went to help her parents put away the fold-up chairs, leaving Stefan alone with Caroline. She continued to clear the table, avoiding his gaze but aware of how he made her nervous. This was the first time they'd really been alone. "You're an imposter, what did you do with my best friend?" he demanded, staring at her from across the table. Caroline flirted back, wondering how best to query his love for Katherine - did he truly love the brunette, or just think so?
"How can you like someone that perfect?" Caroline whispered, looking up at Katherine laughing with her parents, and every minute sent looks of adoration Stefan's way. It made her sick. Of Jealousy, she heard Enzo say in her head. Stefan sighed. "I know, I used to ask myself the same question. But then, she has so many good traits, like when I hug her, even in public, she lets me hold her as long as I want." Stefan eyed her, looking away, and she felt a wave of sadness and guilt wash over her.
"When we were...together, well, did I?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes, you pulled away, whenever we did any PDA, you pulled away." He was still watching Katherine.
"Yeah, well, I'm not the girl I once was. I'm comfortable with the icky love stuff, now." Stefan smiled like he didn't believe her, and she knew she'd have to prove it. "Karaoke, after the game. Why not celebrate your engagement with style?" She knew Stefan would never back down from a karaoke challenge and she hid a smile, knowing how much Katherine hated it.
Stefan kissed Katherine when she greeted them, and they walked arm in arm to the garage. Damon caught up, his hand snaked around Caroline's waist. "Are you trying to get me killed?" she hissed. His blue eyes glinted. "You're already drop dead gorgeous, Caroline," he grinned. She rolled her eyes, but didn't mind the feel of his arm around her neck. "It's not going to happen, just so you know."
Damon pulled her closer. "Doesn't mean we can't make Steffy a little jealous, right?"
She sighed. "He seems happy," she noticed, watching him open the car door for Katherine.
"Yeah, because you're here." How was it Damon could always read her mind?
After the base ball game, where Caroline had spent most of it spying on Stefan and Katherine a few seats down, and barely joined in on Damon and Elena's conversation, they made their way to Gloria's karaoke bar. Katherine and Elena caught up, discussing what was left to do with the wedding and Caroline and Stefan reminisced about the past. Damon went straight to the bar, giving her a wink, and she said. "Look - there's a table in the middle!"
Katherine sat awkwardly in the chair between them, clearly uncomfortable while Caroline and Stefan talked about Tuscany. "Pier is for fishing!" "French kissing?" He shook his head. "Fishing!" Caroline laughed, causing Stefan to grin even more. Stefan ordered margaritas. Damon and Elena watched them from the bar, drinks in hand, chatting. She had an idea.
"Who's next?" Gloria called to the excited crowd. Caroline caught her eye, glancing at the bride to be, who was rubbing her nose against Stefan's. As payback for her PDA, Caroline took the mic. The locals erupted in cheers. "This is a special occasion, my best friend is getting married," more cheers. "Please welcome the dazzling vocal styles of Miss Katherine Pierce!"
Caroline felt satisfied to see abject horror in Katherine's expression. She held tightly onto her chair, refusing to get up, even when Stefan encouraged her. The bar wolf-whistled, led by Damon and Caroline could see Elena looking surprised. Caroline thrusted the mic in Katherine's hands gleefully.
Katherine's voice was 'terrible', even Stefan said so, but she won over the hearts of the audience with her off pitch notes, and determination to enjoy herself, singing: 'I don't know what to do with myself,' her tears glistening to her cheeks. Stefan greeting her with a kiss, and Caroline narrowed her eyes, leaning back in her chair even more jealous than before. She was running out of time.
It was after midnight by the time they left, Caroline needed more drinks if she was to put up with Katherine's personality and when Katherine admitted she and Elena had a few things to get done early the next morning, Caroline offered to 'look after' Stefan. Damon gave her an all knowing look from the taxi's passenger seat and hopped inside. Stefan kicked a loose stone down the path, thinking about the wedding and about Caroline's initial reaction.
"You were pretty shocked when I told you, hey?" he asked, bumping against her shoulder.
Caroline whispered the affirmative. "You like her don't you?" Again, what could she say without hurting his feelings? "Yeah, I do." Stefan shook his head, glancing at a closed Laundromat. "You don't sound enthusiastic." She tried not to blurt out everything she hated about Katherine, but she had been dying to tell him why Katherine was all wrong for him. "She's great. Seriously. Can't sing a note but," Stefan laughed. "I mean, putting her career on hold for you, that's a really big ask. Are you sure it's what she wants, though?" Maybe planting seeds of doubt was her best bet, she thought.
Stefan gave her an odd look, and she changed the subject. He asked her about her job and if she had dated anyone over the years. She refrained from saying 'nobody was ever as good as you' and he walked her to the hotel she had booked last minute, making up some excuse about how she wanted to give them their space. He kissed her forehead, and held her hand for the longest time, then he was gone. Caroline closed the door after an exhausting day, and thought of things to say to Katherine that could ultimately change her mind about marrying Stefan.
It was just the three of them, and they were having breakfast at a lovely cafe. Caroline had ordered a coffee, it's aromas reminding her of the time she and Stefan, had travelled through Paris. She wondered if Stefan remembered. Stefan had gone to pay for the bill, and Caroline began with her plan. "I've been thinking, maybe you should ask your father about giving Stefan a promotion? I mean he works so hard at his job and it's time, you know? Even if it's just for six months, that way, you could still do what you want, and the time apart could really make your relationship stronger."
"No, he loves his job," Katherine said, taking a bite into a croissant.
"It's just six months. Do it for him, don't you want the best for him?"
"Of course I do." Caroline sipped her coffee, and felt a rush of adrenaline, this was surely going to cause a rift between the two. Then they'd break up and she and Stefan could live happily ever after.
Caroline encouraged Katherine to ask the right thing of her father, listening to the conversation over the phone. Then, when Stefan returned to the table she gave Katherine the nod, to ask him. Crossing her fingers beneath the table, and waiting for the fireworks to erupt.
"Well, it's really my father... you see he's reorganizing some divisions in the company, PR etc. And he thought that maybe..." Caroline hid her smile behind her coffee cup, seeing Stefan's realization and sudden betrayal arise in his eyes. "What are you saying? That I'm not good enough for you? That being married to a sports writer is beneath you? I love my job, Katherine. You knew about this?"
Caroline lowered her cup. "You should listen to her, it's her life too." Katherine reached out for Stefan's hand, and Caroline was pleased to see him recoil. "Be honest, Kat, tell me what this is really about." He was fuming. Katherine sent Caroline a pleading look across the table. "It sounds like a great opportunity, Stefan." Stefan gave her a withering look, which surprised her. "It's not me."
"If that's how you feel..." Katherine began, her voice wavering and tears in plain sight.
Stefan slammed his fist onto the table, making their plates rattle. "Say it, my job's not good enough, I'm not good enough..." Katherine looked aghast. "But I never said that!" she cried. Caroline was aware of the looks they were getting from the other customers. "Fine, I'm an asshole, I'm a sexist, asshole... you're better off without me," Stefan pushed his chair back to leave. Katherine lunged for his hand. "Forget this ever happened. Please forgive me, or I'll just die..." The forgiveness in his eyes, and their reunited hug and make out session, left Caroline plotting both their murders.
"ENZO, ANSWER THIS, DAMMIT. THE BITCH DOUBLE CROSSED ME. WE DESERVE EACH OTHER, I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME. ENZO, YOU'VE GOT TO THINK OF SOMETHING!" She heard the answering machine beep, and slammed the receiver down. "SERIOUSLY?!" Caroline was back at her hotel room, dressed in a fluffy white robe, with a face-mask to calm her down, and several empty vodka bottles from her mini fridge. She was so mad at Stefan she could barely even think.
Back in Mystic Falls, Enzo sat listening to the message, surrounded by family and friends. Maggie, his wife, raised her eyebrows opposite him and lowered her book. Her blonde wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders, and he was instantly reminded of Caroline, when he'd first met her. "Go, I can manage the Book Club on my own, just promise me you won't get arrested, drug tested or killed."
"Judging by Caroline's insanity, I can't promise you I won't be subjected to any of these things."
"Just bring her back safely, or at least, remind her she's not alone in the world?" Enzo left behind his coffee, and wondered how in the world he had been lucky enough to deserve Maggie's love.
"I'll be back soon, gorgeous." Enzo kissed her as though it may be his last kiss, and pressed his hand against her stomach. "Look out for your mum while I'm away, son." He left the room, hearing Maggie telling everyone to turn to page 55 of their books.
Enzo let himself into Caroline's room, the door had not been locked, though it had taken a few shoves with his shoulder to dislodged it from behind a mountain of clothes. Caroline was lying face down on her bed, her head camouflaged by a bunch of pillows. "My god, death by mini bar," he murmured. She was obviously drunk off her face, and had passed out. The curtains were drawn, making the room like a cave, and Enzo heard voices coming from the TV. He switched it off, sighing, and stamped his feet, loudly. "CAROLINE!"
She sat up, rubbing her head, her face smudged green, and her eyes opened slowly. He leaned against the bed, waiting for her to realize how much she owed him for this. She tossed her legs out of bed, tripping over her shoes and screamed. "You flew all the way over here? You hate to fly!" He screamed back, only making her even more excited. He encouraged her to have a shower, and checked his phone messages, in-case Maggie called about her pregnancy.
"You do realize my wife could go in labour any minute, and I flew all the way over here so you wouldn't do anything stupid. What happened with Stefan? Did you tell him you loved him?"
Caroline sighed, and turned on the shower. She kept talking, and Enzo sat on her bed, listening.
"Not yet, I mean, Katherine's very affectionate, vulnerable and endearing. I hate her and adore her but Stefan was in love with me for nine years, so I'm doing her a gigantic favour," she rambled.
Enzo sighed, trying to sort out the matter as quickly as possible, for his sake. "Do you really love him, or is this about revenge?" Her voice came out muffled, like she had stepped beneath the water.
"In the beginning it was this prior claim - he belonged to me. He's just so wonderful. How come I never knew that when I had him?" she called out. Enzo studied the empty vodka bottles.
"It's amazing what comes with alcohol and jealousy..." He had been there many times before.
Caroline emerged from the shower, her blond hair sleeked down her neck. She wore her bathroom robe and flopped onto the bed beside him. She turned her head to see his understanding look.
"Just tell him you love him. Tell him, you loved him for nine years, and you were afraid, that you know it's the worst timing ever, but you couldn't let him go, without knowing." Enzo reached for her hand, squeezed it, and hoped that she could find clarity and acceptance. "I'll come with you."
A/N: Please review, and point out any typos, thank you!