A/N: So for 'Right Place Right Time' I decided to do an epilogue to In The Heart of the West; seeing as though it's set sometime in the past (although I can't quite decide when, oops).

Picks up a few weeks after the proposal.

Elena Gilbert just had to choose literally the hottest day of the year to get married, hadn't she? Additionally, she'd also picked out the most hideous looking bridesmaid's dresses known to man.

Caroline squinted and examined her appearance in the mirror, noting the considerable amount of resemblance she bared to a trifle.

She'd seen ugly dresses before but this awful.

No doubt this was a subtle, but devious manoeuvre on Elena's part to ensure she wasn't overshadowed on her big day. Hence the obnoxious shade of pink; big puffy sleeves; the over-abundance of lace and giant hoop skirt around the ankles. To top it off, Elena had the nerve to pair it with gloves, a parasol and a large pink bonnet to match.

The only consolation for Caroline was knowing that Bonnie and three of Elena's cousins, would spend the day looking just as ridiculous as she would.

Caroline reached over to her dresser and picked up a silver pendant. It was her mother's, passed down after she'd died in childbirth. As far as she knew, it was a very old family heirloom although it probably wasn't worth that much monetarily. But she didn't have many possessions belonging to her mother and so the little necklace meant a lot to her.

Caroline only took it out on special occasions and no matter what it was she was wearing; it always made her feel beautiful -and honestly she had to do something to take some attention away from that god-awful dress.

The only problem with decades old family relics was that they had clasps that were old and rusty and difficult to fasten.

As she struggled with this, she suddenly felt a warm pair of hands land on her waist as someone placed a kiss on the nape of her neck. She giggled softly as the scruff on Klaus' face tickled her.

"Here sweetheart," he murmured, taking the necklace from her. "Let me,"

Despite being considerably larger, Klaus deft fingers turned out to be far more capable than her own when it came to dealing with delicate things.

In a few seconds, the clasp was secure. Caroline moved to sweep the hair back into place on her neck but Klaus stopped her hands, and pushed it back onto her shoulder, leaning down and brushing his lips against her neck.

Caroline sighed contentedly as he did, resting her hands over his and tilting her neck to give him access. She began to feel light-headed as he ghosted his lips against a sensitive patch of skin behind her ear; although she couldn't be quite sure if it was Klaus' ministrations or the tight corset pressing against her ribcage that was causing the dizziness.

Reluctantly, she attempted to unwind herself from him as Klaus attached his lips to her pulse point and sucked at it; his tongue lavishing the spot slowly.

"Klaus, no." She complained "You'll leave a mark,"

"Good," he growled. "That will deter any eligible young men at Elena's wedding getting any ideas about stealing you away,"

"And the what makes you think I'll be so easily taken?" She hummed, turning to circle her arms around his neck.

Klaus grinned and leant down for a kiss, pulling her hips toward him but Caroline jerked her head back at the last minute, tilting her chin upwards and tapping it in a thoughtful manner.

"Well I suppose I could be persuaded only if he was very rich, though," she mused, glancing up to flashing Klaus a teasing smile.

Caroline screamed and let out a high-pitched giggle as Klaus dipped his head and began to attack her neck. Securing his arms firmly around her, making escape impossible.

At this rate, they weren't going to make it to the wedding on time.

And for once, Caroline couldn't bring herself to care.

They weren't attending together. Not on paper anyway. No, on paper they each had two separate, embossed invitations; one for herself and another for Klaus (Sheriff Mikaelson on the invite) handed over albeit slightly reluctantly on Elena's part.

Publicly Elena was reasonably polite to Klaus's face but privately Caroline knew that Elena secretly didn't care for him. As a quintessential southern bell, Elena strongly disapproved of any behaviour upstanding members of the community like herself considered commonly distasteful. This included: spitting on sidewalk corners, gunslinging and the heavy consumption of anything stronger than a mild, malt beer.

Klaus, being guilty of all these offences and more didn't rank high in Elena's good graces but for the sake of appearances - and Stefan - Elena had gritted her teeth and extended Klaus an invitation.

However, regardless of Elena's feeling on the matter, Caroline had resolved that she was going to disclose the truth about her relationship with Klaus to her and Bonnie as soon as today was over.

She had no intention of stealing Elena's thunder from her at her own wedding. Caroline could only hope that once Elena had enjoyed an entire day centred around herself, then the swelling on her head would go down on her head a bit and everyone could stop hearing about the conjugal bliss she and Stefan were sharing together.

Caroline's stomach began to clench as she and Klaus arrived at the church. Arriving together could have happened by chance; sitting in the same pew, next to one another merely a coincidence but what about at the reception. What if Klaus wanted to dance? She'd promised him no more secrets and she'd meant it; but what if people started to talk? If word got back to Elena…

Perhaps Klaus could sense her discomfort, or maybe the the upcoming upcoming nuptials had him feeling sentimental. Either way, Caroline felt his hand slip covertly into hers and give it a soft squeeze. She breathed a sigh of relief, a wave of calm washing over her.

"I'm worried about Care,"

Bonnie sighed longsuffering and gave one of Elena's cousins a sympathetic look, as she attempted to adjust her wedding dress, despite Elena's constant fidgeting.

"I'm sure Caroline's fine Elena," Bonnie replied, sparing a quick glance at her reflection over Elena's shoulder.

"I just feel so bad for her Bon, having to come to my wedding with no date. I mean how awful for her!" she lamented.

Bonnie turned her back to Elena and rolled her eyes stooping down to adjusted the skirt on her dress. Elena had to be the only person in Mystic Falls who didn't have a clue about the relationship between Caroline and the Sheriff. Whether they were just friends of something more, Bonnie had no idea. Caroline had chosen not to confide in either of them so Bonnie hadn't attempted to pry.

All she knew is that was an awful lot of sexual tension for two people who were only polite 'acquaintances'.

"I didn't bring a date either 'Lena," she reminded her.

Elena spun around abruptly and gave Bonnie a disbelieving look. Meanwhile, her cousin shot her a dirty look from where she was kneeling, as the pins she'd carefully put in flew out.

"Bonnie Bennett, we are standing in a church! I can believe you would tell me such a bold face lie!" Elena exclaimed.

"I'm not lying Elena what are you talking about!?" Bonnie scoffed incredulously.

Elena raised a perfectly arched eyebrow and stared pointedly in her best friend's direction.

"Kol Mikaelson. Didn't he escort you here?" She asked with a coy smile.

"Ugh please," Bonnie scoffed. "He didn't escort me. He gave me a ride here in his carriage, it's no big deal,"

"Uh, it is too. That boy is sweet on you Bonnie!" Elena insisted.

"Yeah me and half the other women in town," Bonnie murmured, scowling.

Not that she cared how many women Kol Mikaelson went after. Why should she? Sure he was handsome but…

"Trust me, sweetie, for the right lady, even the most womanising scoundrel can find it in them to settle down," Elena said, turning back to the mirror to admire herself.

Bonnie was tempted to make a comment concerning Damon and Elena's little finger but she bit her tongue instead.

Caroline beamed as she circled her arms around Elena's tiny waist and squeezed as hard as possible.

"I can't believe it!" She squealed. "I cannot believe that you're actually married!"

Caroline turned and looked at Bonnie who returned her look of excitement.

"I know, isn't amazing!" Elena exclaimed holding her diamond ring up in the light of the chandelier above her head.

"Careful love, we wouldn't want to blind anyone with that, now would we?" A accented voice quipped from behind them.

"Sheriff!" Elena called out, plastering a large fake smile as she turned to face him. "So glad you could make it,"

She extended her hand to him and he took it politely.

"I think I saw Stefan just a second ago, he's greeting one of his mother's relatives- oh! There he is. Stefan! Stefan!"

As Elena looked away from them, Klaus gave Caroline as conspiratorial wink which she returned with an unimpressed glare out of the corner of her eye, before turning her attention back to the bride and groom as Stefan wandered over.

"Klaus, thanks for coming buddy," Stefan grinned pulling his arms around Klaus' shoulders.

"Wouldn't've missed it for the world," he returned.

"Caroline, Bonnie how are you?" Stefan asked, nodding in their direction.

Neither of them got the chance to answer, Caroline watched Elena's cheeks turning an angry shade of red as in the next minute the small group were joined by two others.

"Good afternoon everyone, God's rich blessings to all of you."

Elijah Mikaelson came ambling over to where they stood with none other than Katherine Pierce on his arm. Wearing a white dress of all things.

"Brother good to see you. Miss Bennett, Miss Forbes. Elena, Stefan allow me to offer you my congratulations-"

"-Katherine," Elena said sharply, disregarding Elijah completely. "I had no idea you were coming, what an interesting surprise."

The practised smile remained on Elena's face but she barely managed to conceal the vitriol in her tone as she eyed Katherine seethingly.

Katherine, flashed her an innocent look in return, although it was clear she was relishing in Elena and everyone else's obvious discomfort.

"I invited Katherina, as my companion this evening. I do hope I haven't caused any inconvenience."

"Not at all," Stefan interjected. Before Elena could answer with what Caroline was sure would've been nothing nice.

"Katherine, I wasn't aware you and my brother had been spending so much time together," Klaus commented, giving Elijah a pointed look.

"Oh yes!" She exclaimed with false enthusiasm. "Elijah's been taking me with him to church for Bible study and morning mass."

"Katerina is an extremely enthusiastic student," Elijah beamed.

"I never pegged you for a church goer Katherine," Caroline said, squinting her eyes sceptically at her.

"I've been every day this week Caroline," Katherine replied. "Honestly, you wouldn't believe how often I'm on my knees these days."

Stefan's drink went down the wrong way and he began to splutter.

"What kind of person wears white to somebody else's wedding," Bonnie demanded bluntly.

"Oh, this?" Katherine said glancing down at her gown as if she'd just noticed it. "You'll have to forgive me, Elena, this is the only formal gown I had in my closet and I did want to look pretty on your special day."

"Besides, the colour white always makes me feel closer to God," she said batting her eyelashes.

If looks could kill Katherine would be a small pile of dust beneath Elena's heels.

"Stefan, will you take me to get a drink please," Elena said stiffly.

Stefan dutifully offered Elena his arm and steered her away from Katherine before she had the chance to wrap her hands around her neck.

"I think I'll get one too," Bonnie grumbled, flashing Katherine one last reproachful glance before stalking after Elena and Stefan.

"Walk with me Elijah," Klaus hummed, casually throwing Caroline an amused look over his shoulder as went; leaving Caroline alone with Katherine.

"Katerina? Seriously!?" Caroline asked as soon as they were out of earshot.

She shrugged.

"Elijah prefers the way the name sounds in my native tongue,"

"I'm not just talking about that. Who the hell are you? What is this act you're trying to pull off, Katherine?"

Katherine turned and smiled deviously at her.

"I'm not just trying Caroline, in fact, I think I'm succeeding rather considerably, wouldn't you agree?"

Caroline scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on, Katherine. Elijah's a nice man and clearly, he's not your type, so what on Earth do you want with him?" Caroline implored.

"I want what every girl wants," she answered simply.

"And what's that?" Caroline asked narrowing her eyes.

"A ring of course. A nice big house, security; everything perfect little Elena managed to get her hands on."

"Are you serious!?" Caroline asked incredulously.

"As much as I hate to admit it, I'm jealous, the Salvatores are filthy rich. I'd marry the other brother if he wasn't such a pig," Katherine said, shooting a disgusted look at Damon who was propped up by the bar shamelessly guzzling down a bottle of scotch.

"So this is all about money for you!?" Caroline asked, "I hate to break this to you Katherine but Elijah and his family aren't all that wealthy."

Katherine tittered softly and gave Caroline a condescending smile.

"Do you think I'm an idiot? I know that."

"So why-"

"-Have you Ever lived in a whorehouse Caroline!?"

"Um no, no I can't say that I have," she stammered.

"It's hell. It's cramped up and dirty and there are fights all the time and that's because, everywhere you turn there's always someone trying to steal your clothes, or your money or your customers."

"When my father first brought us to this country I was five. 'America' he said, 'The land of opportunity'. What a crock that was. He told us we were going to have a big house and live well and never have to worry for the rest of our lives. You know what happened? People took one look at us and all they saw was a bunch of dirty gypsy travellers. We ended up dirt poor in some cramped little hovel, worse off than we were back home,"

Caroline gaped at Katherine in shock and shook her head.

"Katherine, I'm sorry I had no-"

"Don't." She snapped, glaring coldly at her. "I don't want or need your pity Forbes. The minute I was old enough I got out of there and never looked back. I swore that from then on, I'd never be poor another day in my life, whatever it took. But as of now I'm done surviving, I want to live."

"And I guess that's where Elijah comes in," Caroline said dryly.

Katherine's face contorted pityingly. "He's very sweet. So desperate to cleanse me of my sinful ways"

"What is wrong with you!? What you're doing Katherine, it's cruel. Using him like that and pretending to be someone you're not." Caroline said, her brow creasing disapprovingly.

Katherine's head snapped toward her and she suddenly came very close and leant in to whisper something to her. "The world wasn't made for us, dearest Caroline. Girls gotta do what a girls gotta do,"

Katherine smirked and glanced over Caroline's shoulder. "Good luck with what you're doing."

Caroline frowned and turned to follow Katherine's line of sight, seeing Klaus coming back towards them with Elijah in tow.

"Bye bye, Caroline," Katherine purred, taking Elijah's arm and flouncing away.

This was humiliating. Rebekah sighed despondently. Here she was, easily the prettiest woman in the room (if she did say so herself) and not a single man wanted her hand for a dance.

Honestly, she hadn't even wanted to go to the bloody wedding. The last thing she'd wanted to do was watch the man she'd been pining for over a year get married to his sweetheart, in a big romantic, over gratuitous, ceremony. The whole thing only served as a reminder of how alone she was.

Tired of watching happy couples waltzing gaily around the dance floor, with giddy smiles on their faces; Rebekah let out another resigned sigh and rose from her chair, deciding she might as well make her way to the bar and spend the remainder of the evening, drowning her sorrows with the rest of the spinsters and sad-sacks.

Except as soon she got up she ended colliding head first with a man who was walking past. He managed to catch her around her waist just before she flew backwards. As she caught her breath, Rebekah couldn't help but notice how attractive the stranger was. He had a handsome face, with very chiseled features; light blond hair and possibly the bluest pair of eyes she'd ever seen in her life.

"Pardon me ma'am, didn't see you there," he apologised with a sincere expression.

Rebekah's eyes bulged, nearly out of their sockets and gave the man's chest a hard shove, writhing free of his grip on her waist.

"What did you just say to me!?" She demanded in a shrill voice.

"I said I was sorry…?" The man answered, his cerulean eyes growing wide in confusion.

"You called me ma'am! Do I look like some sort of old maid to you!?"

"I… was just trying to be polite. I'm sorry if somehow I offended you," the stranger explained raising his arms in defence.

"Guess that explains it then," he murmured under his breath as he turned to leave.

"That explains what!?" Rebekah asked whipping around to face him.

"Well just a minute ago I was across the room, wondering why a beautiful girl like you didn't have anyone to dance with; now I guess I have my answer," he stated with a slight raise of his eyebrows.

Rebekah's mouth fell open in disbelief.

"Excuse me!? You can't speak to me like that, you barely know me."

"Well you barely know me and you had no problem with screaming at me just now," the man pointed out. "Being kind and showing a little respect for others doesn't cost anything y'know,"

"-Wait!" Rebekah called out suddenly as the man turned to walk away again. "Just a minute, I- I'm sorry. That was rude of me, I'm just… not having the most amazing of evenings," she explained her cheeks colouring with embarrassment.

"I mean I'm suffering a girl's worst nightmare. Sitting alone at a party, in a pretty dress, with no one to dance with. Everyone here either came with a date or managed fine one... and then there's little old me," she said softly, shrugging and giving him a half-hearted smile.

"Anyhow, I won't keep you away from the party any longer. Again I'm sorry for being so rude,"

Rebekah picked up her skirt and moved to walk around him, when she felt him gently take a hold of her wrist.

"You didn't tell me your name," he murmured, giving her a lopsided grin.

Rebekah smoothed back her hair and blushed.

"It's Rebekah, Rebekah Mikaelson,"

"Ah, you guys are the new family in town, right?"

"Well we've been living here for a little while now," Rebekah answered.

"Yeah well, it's a small town; it's not like we get new comers here every other day,"

"So Rebekah Mikaelson. Instead of waiting around for someone else, have you ever considered just getting up and dancing by yourself?"

Rebekah blinked wondering if she'd heard right, staring up at the man as if he'd grown a second head.

"You are joking, aren't you?" she asked him.

"Why not?"

"Get up and dance all by myself? Are you crazy!? I'd look like a fool," she bristled.

"If you spent your whole life caring about what other people think of you, you'd never do anything,"

Rebekah narrowed her eyes at him.

"You're a real budding philosopher aren't you?"

The man let out a hearty chuckle and shook his head.

"I don't know about all that,"

"You still haven't told me your name," Rebekah prompted.

"Matt, Matt Donovan." he smiled, placing a kiss on the back of Rebekah's hand. She giggled softly and felt her skin began to heat beneath her gown.

"Well Matt, are you going to ask me to dance?" she asked with a playful smile.

Matt frowned slightly and released her hand.

"Well I wasn't planning on it…" he said hesitantly.

Rebekah's heart dropped in her chest and she backed away from him.

"Right of course… sorry. How stupid of me-"

Suddenly, Matt's smile grew, and he grabbed Rebekah's arm again, this time spinning her toward him till she was flush against his chest.

"I was only teasing you," he chuckled.

Rebekah pulled her full, pink lips into a pout and scowled.

"That was cruel," she complained.

"I'll make it up to you," he promised, giving her a wink before whisking her out onto the dancefloor.

"Interesting conversation with Katerina?" Klaus chuckled, coming toward Caroline with a glass in either hand. He extended one to her and she accepted it and took a large swig.

"Interesting is one way of putting it; insightful is another," she replied. "How was your conversation with Elijah?"

"Very much the same," he shrugged.

"Are you aware that your brother is courting the she-devil incarnate?" Caroline asked.

Klaus laughed.

"Yes and from what I gathered from my conversation with Elijah, so is he,"

Caroline nearly spat out her drink in shock.

"He knows!? You mean he's willingly going into this with open eyes?"

"What can I say? Far be it for me to understand the inner workings of my brother's heart. He always was a hopeless romantic. And you have to understand sweetheart; he's lonely. Finn was lucky, he met Sage before we left home but then we began travelling and over the years Elijah still hasn't managed to find his coveted soul mate, as of yet," Klaus explained.

"So he's settling for Katherine!?"

"Perhaps he isn't settling at all. Maybe his love for Katherine is truly genuine," he mused.

"Yeah, but it's not as if the same can be said for her. Katherine just wants a better roof over her head and a large stone on her finger." Caroline huffed.

"Maybe but even if Elijah knows that deep down, I doubt it will deter him."

"He doesn't honestly think he can like to save her or something, Does he?"

"Never underestimate my brother's capacity for believing in lost causes, love. After all, he's been attempting to 'save' me for the majority of our adult lives," Klaus said knocking back some of his cider.

"Oh, and has he succeeded or are you still very much a lost cause?" Caroline asked humouredly.

Klaus turned toward her with a strange look on his face.

"What?" she blinked at him.

"Who knows, maybe I've already been saved," he murmured, stepping closer towards her so that their faces were only inches apart.

With the two of them so wrapped up in their own world, they barely noticed all the madness ensuing around them. Across the room, all Elena's female guests rushed to gather around her, squealing and chattering excitedly.

Caroline didn't even see the bouquet hurtling toward her, until it fell unceremoniously into her unsuspecting arms, knocking the drink clean out of her hands.

"Oh look Caroline caught it," one of the women called out loudly.

Caroline flushed in embarrassment, sparing a brief look at Klaus, who had the most infuriatingly smug look plastered across his face.

"Honestly, Caroline what are the odds that the flowers would land right where you were standing?" Bonnie said excitedly, as her, Caroline and Elena huddled together near the table where the cake was.

"I know right. Insane," Caroline mumbled, taking a slow sip of her drink and hoping Bonnie was too buzzed to notice how jittery she was.

"Ugh, it's destiny," Elena gushed. "And I have, to be honest Care, I am so relieved it was you who caught the bouquet in the end."

"Here we go…" Bonnie muttered into her drink.

"What do you mean relieved, Elena?" Caroline asked.

"Well, it's just that Bonnie and I were starting to get so worried about you-"

"Oh, please don't drag me into this," Bonnie pleaded.

"What does that mean!?" Caroline persisted, her eyes darting between her best friends.

"Well, you been seeing anyone and you insist that Enzo fellow is just your friend-"

"He is!"

"-I would just hate it if you were to end up old and alone with only a bunch of books for company." Elena finished, smiling at Caroline as if she was being charitable by merely offering her two cents.

Caroline shut eyes attempting to calm herself down.

Screw it. Screw Elena and her big day.

She asked for this.

"It's so funny you should say that Elena," Caroline said taking her hand and smiling sweetly.

"I have something to tell you."