This is both inspired by Miranda's Lambert's 'White Liar' and this tumblr post I read; post/182564937523/the-biggest-dick-energy

This was a day she'd been waiting for since she was little. White lace dress, perfect weather, flowers, her hair down and a tiara where her little girls placed it. Caroline Elizabeth Forbes' name was going to change in a matter of minutes.

The people here she didn't know. They were compelled, all except for her girls waiting at the other end of the aisle for her, and Bonnie sitting in the front row. Bon was only there to support her, she loathed the man Caroline was marrying.

The flowers she held were as symbolic as the vervain necklace Damon had let her borrow, to remind her Elena would be there in spirit. Baby's breath, the colors symbolizing forever, love, devotion, friendship etc. It was beautiful, just like everything else.

She met Stefan at the end of the aisle, and Damon snuck her a congratulatory smile with a nod, before beginning.

"Dearly beloved, we're gathered here today..." She tuned the rest out until Stefan began his vows. This wasn't right. Everything was beautiful, but...

Her mother wasn't there. Her father's wasn't there, although how could they be? They were both dead.

Matt wasn't there, or Tyler. Or Alaric. Or about fifteen other people she was friends with in town, that none of her scooby gang knew.

"Caroline" Damon muttered to her. She looked at him and he gestured for her to begin her vows. She cleared her throat, and gestured for her bouquet back. Bonnie gave it in confusion, flashing a suspicious but happy expression. She didn't have room in her hands for Stefan.

"Stefan Salvatore. I'm not going to marry you." Caroline would've expected theatrical gasps if anyone here were in control of themselves. Stefan blinked, his brow furrowed. Damon followed suit, and Bonnie had to hide a smile.

"Caroline, what're you doing?" Damon asked in a low voice. Caroline looked at him with an eyebrow raised.

"I am not going to get married in order to bait a 500 year old vampire into killing me. I am not going to get married to a man who cheated on me, and abandoned me."

"I told you I was sorry for that, Caroline!" Stefan protested

"Oh, yes and that was enough? I was so stupid to believe you would actually mean those words." Caroline took a step back and smiled, then glanced out at the guests. They were being filed out row by row, a few people she actually knew taking their places.

"What's going on?" Stefan muttered, Caroline shook her head. She didn't know anymore than he did, but she was on a roll and needed to end this now.

"When I was still human, you would've let your brother kill me just as a distraction so he wouldn't go near Elena. And Damon was a terrible person for a long time. He redeemed himself. You on the other hand..." she laughed without humor. "The only things different about you are you're without the 'love of your life', and a few years older."

"Caroline, why are you doing this?" Stefan seethed

"Because I finally opened my eyes a few hours ago. My girls don't need to be in danger everytime your humanity is turned off, I don't need my 'future husband' choosing my brother in law over me everytime you're faced with a choice. You do not deserve me, and you never have."

Caroline turned to the guests who looked at one another in confusion.

"If you want to stay for what comes next, feel free." She turned back to Stefan. "You on the other hand, you're excused." She smiled at him and waved him off as he slowly trudged down the stairs, past the aisle and Damon followed for a moment.

"Honestly I've been saying for decades my brother needed his ass kicked. But if I do stay he won't speak to me for probably the rest of his life so I gotta go." Damon replied. Caroline nodded and took Elena's necklace off, handing it back. He looked at her questioningly.

"Thank you for apologizing for everything, Damon. And, I'm not sure what Elena would think of what happens next. I don't want to have a forced blessing from you guys."

Damon nodded again and smirked, taking it from her before trotting away to catch up with his brother.

Music began to play, and Caroline smiled.

give me love, like hers...

The guests rose, and Bonnie looked around, giving another confusing glance to her best friend.

Footsteps sounded in tune to the song, his hands behind his back the way he usually was, a grin on his face that she remembered clearly every morning.

"Klaus?" Bonnie asked.