Disclaimer: I don't own anything, all of it belongs to those who created 'The Vampire Diaries.'
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews everyone, I really appreciate it! Just a side note, there are some seriously adult themes ahead with some dark material, just be aware.
A month had gone by quickly what with the preparations for the wedding. Caroline spent most of her time either doing chores or helping Rebekah gather ribbons and flowers for the decorations.
"I can't let Nik get married in this," Rebekah said with a look of disdain on her face as she held up the old shirt for Caroline to see, "Let's use some of your dowry and go buy some material so we can make him a new outfit."
"Rebekah," Caroline said pointedly, "the wedding is tomorrow."
"Yes, and my brother will be gone all day and night out having a stag party with my brothers…he'll never find out, it will be a surprise." Rebekah told her with a bright smile as she jumped to her feet to grab her cloak. Caroline sighed and set down her sewing to go and get her cloak as well.
"We'll need something nicer then this…I bet we can surprise him with some nice cambric for his shirt and perhaps some new leather leggings too. I think his doublet is alright," Rebekah remarked casually as they walked towards the village, "but he'll need new lacings…"
Caroline nodded quietly and let Rebekah continue her tangent, smiling to herself because Rebekah truly loved doing this, and she was just as good as organizing a party as Caroline was. "Do you need a new chemise?" Rebekah asked thoughtfully as she glanced back at Caroline who was staring off into space thoughtfully.
"Caroline," she sang aloud, raising her eyebrows as she looked at her, "stop looking for Nik."
"I'm not," Caroline said with a scowl as her cheeks tinged pink, "I was just thinking.."
"About?" Rebekah asked as she held up a pretty linen chemise with flowers embroidered onto the sleeves.
"Just…you know…getting married." Caroline said with a shrug.
"Oh don't worry about the sex part," Rebekah said bluntly in hushed tones so that the elderly lady who worked at the vending stand they were at couldn't hear them, "You just have to let it happen…my friend Evynne said that when she got married and had her wedding night that it didn't take more than five minutes and he fell asleep afterwards."
Caroline chocked back the bought of laughter that nearly boiled up out of her at Rebekah's words, biting her lip as she stared hard at the ground. "Sounds…boring," Caroline said with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah, so I've heard. All you have to do is give him a son and you won't even have to bother with it anymore." Rebekah said with a shrug.
"Oh wow…" Caroline said with wide eyes and tried not to blush even brighter at her words.
"Ok," Rebekah said as she held up two different men's shirts, "Which one?"
"I like that one," Caroline said as she pointed towards the nice cambric one, "I thought we were going to make him something?"
"We haven't the time," Rebekah said with a dismissive wave, "You two are rich enough now that you can afford this."
Caroline rolled her eyes and overlooked the comment, seeing the Rebekah she remembered from Mystic Falls starting to surface. "We need to get back; we still have to get your house ready for the wedding."
"Yeah," Rebekah said with a nod as she paid for the clothes and folded them up before tucking them under her arm. "I want you to try on your wedding gown one more time; I want to make sure I got the bodice right."
"Seriously?" Caroline groaned aloud, "I've tried it on for you like four times already."
"I want you to be perfect for tomorrow," Rebekah insisted as they walked back to her family's hut, "The whole village is going to be there and I want everyone to see what a magnificent bride my brother has chosen."
"There's Elijah," Bonnie said quietly as she motioned towards the man standing next to a tree nearby.
Tyler turned his gaze towards Elijah and nodded, motioning for Bonnie to follow her. They walked towards him, Elijah's gaze firmly on the two approaching him. He was dressed impeccably in a black suit, a white rose in his hands.
"I take it that's for Caroline," Tyler said with a nod towards the rose, "Klaus just put one on her grave too."
"It is," he said causally as he glance down at it, "I thought I would show my respects…she was a very nice young lady if my memory serves me correctly."
"Thoughtful of you," Tyler said in a slightly sarcastic tone.
"I understand you have something of mine," Elijah said as his gaze met Klaus's from across the field.
"Yeah," Tyler said with a nod, "I want to make a deal."
"Follow me," Elijah said quietly, "We must discuss this in a more private setting."
He turned and walked off without waiting for a reply, Bonnie and Tyler following him towards a black town car that waited just outside the cemetery. They watched Elijah get in and after a moment's hesitation they followed suit. Elijah nodded to the driver and the car left the cemetery, driving circles through the town as they spoke.
"We have Rebekah," Tyler told him frankly, "and we can give her to you if you give us something in return."
"And what makes you think I won't just take her from you now and kill you both?" Elijah said with raised eyebrows.
"Because you have honor," Bonnie cut in before Tyler could speak, "You wouldn't do something like that."
"My honor must be earned," Elijah informed her pointedly, "I will not make deals with people I can't trust."
"You can trust us, believe me," Tyler said firmly.
"Trust you?" Elijah scoffed, "You broke your sire bond and tried to get my brother killed on numerous occasions."
"Look," Tyler began in a frustrated tone, "We give you your sister and you tell us where Caroline is."
"I do believe you know where she is," Elijah said, feigning ignorance, "You were just at her memorial service."
"I don't believe you," Tyler said frankly, "Just like I don't believe your brother."
Elijah said tiredly and shifted his gaze between the two people sitting across from him, "I want to see Rebekah first."
"Fine," Tyler said with a nod, "Take us to the old house in the woods."
Elijah nodded towards the driver who turned the car in that direction. They rode in silence for a while until they pulled up in front of the house some distance away.
"She's in the basement where we hid the coffins before," Tyler explained as they got out of the car and walked towards the old house. When they entered the house and went down into the basement, Elijah immediately went to the coffin that was waiting there for them. He opened the lid reverently as he stared down at his sister with sad eyes. "My poor little sister," he said quietly as he then shut the lid and looked up at them. "What do you want to know?"
"Where is she?" Tyler asked expectantly, "we found the drawings…there were like twenty sketch books and all the pictures were of her."
Elijah nodded quietly, tapping his chin as he looked at them, "That's a very long story."
"We've got time," Bonnie said firmly.
"Where to begin…" Elijah said as he took a deep breath and began his story.
"I'm tired," Caroline said with a huff as they finished hanging the flower garlands from the ceiling of the hut.
"So am I," Rebekah said as she dropped down into a chair at the table.
"What next?" Caroline asked as she opened up a bottle of wine and poured them both a glass.
"Not much…you need to bath…and we need to get Kol to put away all the cleaning supplies outside…I don't want the guests having to walk around the drying racks or the clothing line outside."
"Agreed," Caroline said with a laugh as the two sipped from their goblets.
"I want you to try on your dress again too," Rebekah said casually as she stared at her glass, avoiding Caroline's annoyed gaze.
"Again?" Caroline said tiredly.
"Just want to be certain is all…" Rebekah said as she slowly turned her gaze up to Caroline.
"Fine," Caroline said with a huff and went to go put on her wedding gown again.
After another tedious hour of Rebekah meticulously working on her dress Caroline was allowed to take the dress off and change back into her clothes so that she could help Esther and Rebekah make dinner.
"It'll be just us and Aiyanna tonight," Esther told them as they cooked.
"Cool," Caroline said with a nod as she chopped carrots.
"No, it doesn't feel very cool tonight," Esther replied with a frown and a shake of her head.
Caroline rolled her eyes and smiled to herself as she worked, handing the finished carrots over to Rebekah so that she could wash them and hand them over to her mother for the stew they were making.
"I have a present for you," Esther told her with a warm smile, "For your wedding night."
"Oh?" Caroline asked curiously as they all went to the table and sit while the stew cooked. She watched Esther turn and disappear into her room, returning shortly after with a beautiful blue quilt with gold embroidery. "This quilt has been passed down to every bride of the Mikaelson family…and since you are the first, the quilt is yours."
"Wow…thank you," Caroline said with wide eyes as she took the quilt from Esther and unfolded it. It was beautiful, with intricate patterns weaved in gold all across the quilt.
"It's a fertility blanket," she explained easily, "On the wedding night of every Mikaelson bride the blanket is on the bed when you consummate your marriage."
"Oh," Caroline said as she sipped her wine, trying to push back the nervous feelings that were building in the pit of her stomach.
"When I get married mother will give me a necklace," Rebekah told her earnestly with a smile, "It's a family heirloom."
"I see," Caroline said with a nod, knowing exactly which necklace that Rebekah was referring too.
"I hope that I'm not late," Aiyanna said as she entered the hut.
"Not at all," Esther said with a smile, "Please, join us."
Much later, after several glasses of wine and a few gifts, the three women sat around the table giggling as they told stories of the men they'd known in their lives.
"There was this one man," Esther began with a half-smile, "Sweet as can be but he smelt like a pig," Esther said with disgust, "and it was so hard for me to smile when he brought me flowers because his aroma overpowered the flowers…"
"My late husband was a good man," Aiyanna said thoughtfully, "I miss him dearly."
"How is your daughter by the way?" Esther asked curiously, "She married that farmer and moved to another village didn't she?"
"Yes," Aiyanna said with a nod, "She's doing well…she has two sons now."
"They should come down to see us sometime, I would like to see her and meet her sons," Esther said with a nod as she finished her wine.
"You have children?" Caroline said, bewildered.
"Of course child," Aiyanna laughed softly, "Did you think me an old hen?"
"No…I just…" Caroline stammered, her eyes wide as she spoke, "I just didn't realize…"
"I have one daughter," Aiyanna explained, "My husband died before we could ever have any more children."
"I'm sorry," Caroline said with a frown.
Aiyanna shrugged as she finished her wine and poured herself some more, "I miss him, but I am grateful for the daughter he gave me."
"I want to have many sons one day," Rebekah mused aloud, "Like you Mother."
"Oh I think you will make a wonderful mother one day Rebekah," Esther said with a soft laugh.
"I think Caroline will as well," Rebekah said with a grin towards Caroline.
"Oh I don't know about that…" Caroline said with a nervous laugh as she stared at her goblet.
"There's nothing to be frightened of," Esther reassured her, "The wedding night is always scary but when it's over you know there's nothing to be frightened of anymore."
Caroline stared at her cup, frowning as she wondered why everyone thought she was scared of her wedding night. It wasn't that, it was the fact that they expected her to start having children right away that scared her.
"I want to help name your first daughter," Rebekah told her pointedly, "and it's tradition…Father's name must be your first son's namesake."
"Really?" Caroline said with a frown, not really wanting to name her first son Mikael.
"Yes," Esther confirmed with a nod, "and I wouldn't mind if my granddaughter had my name for a middle name…" Esther said with a smirk.
Caroline grinned into her cup as she took a sip and then set it down on the table, leaning her back on the back of the chair, "I'm sooo drunk right now…" Caroline groaned aloud.
"I'll walk you home," Rebekah chuckled though as she stood and walked towards Caroline it was clear that she was no more sober then Caroline.
"I'd better walk her," Aiyanna chuckled as she got up and thanked Esther for the dinner before walking Caroline home. Caroline waved merrily to the other two women as Aiyanna helped to walk her out, smiling as she leaned her head against Aiyanna's shoulder. "I wish Bonnie was here…" she whispered sadly, tears burning her eyes all of a sudden as she thought of her friends, "My two best friends in the whole world aren't here for my wedding."
"Who's Bonnie?" Aiyanna asked curiously as they entered her hut and walked Caroline to her room.
"Your granddaughter," Caroline told her pointedly as she lay down on her bed still fully clothed.
"You know my granddaughter in the future?" Aiyanna said in surprise.
"Yep…Bonnie is her name…she's a really good witch too, my best friend in the whole world." Caroline told her with a nod and smile.
"I see," Aiyanna said with a nod as she helped Caroline get undressed and put her chemise on.
"You need to go to sleep now," Aiyanna told her firmly as she blew out the candle in Caroline's room, "You're getting married tomorrow."
"Mmm…" Caroline said as she curled up under her blankets as Aiyanna left the room. She fell asleep quickly, dreaming of Bonnie and Elena back in Mystic Falls.
"We were all young when my brother met Caroline," Elijah began slowly, "Still human."
"So Esther sent her back to your time…" Bonnie said with a nod, "We know where she is now."
"There's more to it than that," Elijah said firmly as he looked pointedly at them both, "You will let me finish."
"Sorry…" Bonnie said quietly and both she and Tyler waited for him to continue.
"Anyways…my brother was always very picky…he only favored one woman and that was Tatia…he and I both favored her actually…but nobody loved her more than my brother Niklaus," he told them as he paced the room, "that is until he met Caroline."
"Yeah, I remember…he was macking all over my girlfriend." Tyler said dryly.
"She was quite stunning as I recall," Elijah said, ignoring Tyler's comment, "Very smart…and strong…bold….full of light."
"Again…that's my girlfriend you're talking about," Tyler said with a scowl.
Elijah continued, ignoring Tyler's comment, "She evaded my brother's grasp for quite a while…he could hardly get a word from her and I found that rather amusing. Niklaus has never had trouble wooing a girl until he met her."
"So I take it she was there for a while…" Bonnie asked curiously.
"A very long while," Elijah chuckled lightly, "she married my brother."
"What?" Both Bonnie and Tyler said in unison, shock etched across both their faces.
"Yes…she married him…and they were quite a good match if I do say so myself. I do apologize for the terrible shock Mr. Lockwood…but your….girlfriend…was trapped in a time that was not her own with no way of getting home. Can you blame her for trying to move on with her life?"
"No…but not with…him!" Tyler said with gritted teeth.
"Why did Esther send her there?" Bonnie asked curiously, "I remember her face…she was surprised…and shocked."
"Yes…my Mother used all of the power that she intended to use against us…make us human again…and turned it against Caroline."
"But why?" Bonnie asked curiously.
"Because Caroline was the failsafe to her plan." Elijah said plainly.
"What?" Tyler asked in confusion, "what's that supposed to mean?"
"It means," Elijah said thoughtfully, "That my Mother is going to try again to destroy like she did so many months ago…for the second time around….which technically would make her soon to be most recent attempt her third attempt…but you see what I mean."
"She's the failsafe to Esther's spell?" Bonnie asked in confusion.
"No," Elijah chuckled, "She's the fail safe that will protect us from Esther's spell."
"Why?" Bonnie asked suspiciously as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Let me finish my story and you will know why," Elijah told her pointedly before continuing, "Anyways…where was I …ah yes…well, Niklaus and Caroline got married…"
"Wake up Caroline!" Rebekah said as she jumped on her bed and giggled loudly, yanking back the covers off of Caroline. "Come on, get up…Aiyanna's made you a wonderful breakfast and I'm going to get your bath ready while you eat!"
"No…" Caroline moaned, her head still aching from a hangover, "I have such a headache…"
"A little breakfast and a hot bath will fix that," Rebekah said cheerfully as she took the blankets off of Caroline's bed and left with them out into the main room.
"Damnit Rebekah!" Caroline scowled at the retreating back of the other woman.
"Get up!" she called as she went to go and get Caroline's bath ready.
Caroline groaned and lay there in bed, not wanting to get up just yet. "I figured I'd just bring you your breakfast instead," Aiyanna chuckled as she came into her room with a bowl of what looked like oatmeal with strawberries in it. "Thank you," Caroline said with wide eyes as she took the bowl from her.
"It's not easy to come by," Aiyanna mused aloud, "but you're getting married and I wanted you to have a good breakfast before tonight."
Caroline gratefully ate it, closing her eyes in satisfaction at the familiar taste of the strawberries. "Mmm…" she said in approval as she licked her lips, "So good."
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Aiyanna laughed from the other room.
"Ok, enough eating, let's get you in that bath," Rebekah said as she burst into the room and took the bowl from Caroline's hands. "Hey!" Caroline cried out in protest as Rebekah motioned for Aiyanna to come and help her. The two women then proceeded to carry in the large copper basin that she recognized as the one Klaus had used. Then they poured buckets of hot water into it and layered the surface with sweet smelling oils and flower petals. "In," Rebekah said pointedly as she motioned towards the water, "I need to wash your hair."
"I can wash my own hair Rebekah," Caroline said irritably as she pulled off her chemise and stepped into the hot water. "Suit yourself," Rebekah said with a shrug and left the room. Caroline sank down into the water and closed her eyes, groaning in pleasure as the hot water soothed her aching muscles.
After a while she washed up, taking time to scrub her hair thoroughly before rinsing herself off and getting out of the tub. She dried herself off and then pulled on a clean dress and started to get ready for the day.
"Oh, hey…no…" Rebekah said as she stuck her head in, swatting away Caroline's hands as she tried to braid her hair. "Let me do that," Rebekah said insistently.
"Rebekah I can do it," Caroline said gently.
"I know…" Rebekah told her as she braided Caroline's hair, "I've just never had a sister before…I want to do it."
"Alright," Caroline said with a nod and let the other woman braid her hair, knowing how much it meant to her just by the look in Rebekah's eyes.
When Rebekah was finished they went over to her families hut to help set up for the wedding that night. Klaus was gone as was tradition; he wasn't allowed to see the bride until tonight. Kol was being bossed around by Rebekah as she had him lift and carry things around for her, telling him where to set down tables and chairs. Elijah was outside with Esther cleaning up around the hut outside, doing generally the same thing that Kol was doing. Finn and Henrik were out in the village with Klaus, as Rebekah had informed her, making sure that Klaus didn't get into trouble before tonight and that he kept his prying eyes away from the huts.
They spent most of the morning setting up and then the rest of the afternoon getting ready, Esther braiding Rebekah's hair and her own while Caroline got dressed and waited for Rebekah to come and braid her hair for her.
"You will make a beautiful bride," Elijah said from the doorway of Klaus's room where Caroline was getting ready.
"Thank you," Caroline said with a smile as she put the necklace Klaus had made her around her neck. The blue quilt that Esther had given her was spread out neatly over Klaus's bed, and Caroline admired it quietly while she waited for Elijah to speak.
"I trust that Rebekah isn't driving you mad with details is she?" he said with a soft smile.
"She's just a little over enthusiastic but I appreciate it…she's a good friend to have." Caroline told him with a smile.
"I understand that you have no family coming to the wedding…" Elijah said quietly, "If you would like…I can give you away."
"No," Caroline said with a soft smile as she gazed towards him, "Thank you though…but Aiyanna's going to give me away."
"I see," Elijah said with a nod, "I look forward to having you as a sister."
"I would be honored to have you as a brother Elijah," Caroline beamed at him, "I've never had siblings before."
"Believe, sometimes I think you're lucky…" Elijah said with a groan as he heard Kol and Finn bickering out in the main room, "If you'll excuse me…I need to go and break up another fight."
"Ok," Caroline said and smiled at him as he left, turning away again to stare down at the quilt on Klaus's bed. It was nearly time to get married, she thought quietly to herself. She'd been here for over a year now, and it was amazing how much had happened in so little time.
Caroline sat down on his bed and wondered quietly how they were supposed to fit on it considering it was about the same size as hers was. She waited patiently for Rebekah to come and braid her hair, the sound of guests filling the hut out in the main room only making her more nervous.
"Sorry!" Rebekah said as she burst into the room, her hair twisted in intricate braids with flowers and ribbons weaved in, "My hair just took a bit…but yours…" she grinned at her, "Yours will be a work of art!"
Caroline sat patiently while Rebekah braided her hair, weaving it into complicated patterns that nestled down just above the nap of her neck, leaving tiny gold curls out of it to frame her face. She then pinned it in place with a blue and gold hair pin. After that she carefully placed blue irises in just above the braided bun, and when she was finished she smiled brightly, "all done…you look beautiful."
Caroline grinned and stood up, looking down at her wedding gown. It was made of soft wool with silver embroidery on the sleeves and hem of the dress. The train wasn't very long, but it was covered in the same embroidery as well. "Alright, flowers…" Rebekah said and handed her a bouquet of blue irises that were tied together with a beige leather string. "Now…smile pretty, remember your lines…walk carefully…mind the guests…please don't trip…" Rebekah said as she went over the list of things Caroline needed to remember.
Caroline nodded and took a deep breath before following Rebekah to the door, who waited for the signal from her Mother before motioning for Caroline to follow her out into the main room.
There was no music like a normal wedding, but there were many people to come and see it happen. The hut was filled to the brim with villagers; her wore their finest clothes and smiled at her as she passed by. She met Aiyanna just outside the door to Klaus's room, Aiyanna taking her hand as they walked towards the center of the room where the lord of the village waited to perform the marriage.
Klaus's brothers were all lined up on the left side, dressed in clean clothes with their hair neatly combed out, on the right stood Esther and Rebekah, smiling brightly at her. Klaus stood at the center next to the lord of the village, watching Caroline expectantly with a smile on his lips as they approached. Aiyanna stood before Klaus before she spoke, staring up at him seriously, "I give thee my daughter's hand along with my blessing."
"Thank you," Klaus said as he met her gaze and took Caroline's hand, leading her over to stand before the lord of the village. She stood on his right side and stared ahead of her nervously, trying to keep still and not fidget under the gaze of so many people.
The village lord began his speech about marriage, all the while Klaus and Caroline stood still and listened, her hand resting over his as they held their arms outstretched between each other. Caroline swallowed nervously, trying to keep her breathing steady despite how nervous she was. When it came time for the vows they turned to face each other, Caroline raising her gaze to meet his as they spoke to each other.
"I take thee Caroline as my wedded wife, I swear to protect you and be faithful, always." He told her firmly as he stared at her.
"I take thee Niklaus as my wedded husband, I swear to protect you, and be faithful, always," she replied just as firmly.
"As lord of this village," the man who was marrying them said, "I pronounce this man and this woman, man and wife, you may kiss the bride."
Caroline took a deep breath as he leaned forward and chastely pressed his lips against hers, a soft feather like kiss before pulling away. The room erupted in cheers and applause as music began to play in the background and Klaus led Caroline away from the village lord and back down the ail towards his room. When they were safely in his room he let out a sigh and grinned at her.
"I thought I was going to trip walking down the ail," Caroline said with a nervous laugh as she set her bouquet down on his bed.
"I was afraid you might run out of the hut," he chuckled lightly as he took off his outer coat and tossed it on the bed, "You looked terribly nervous."
"There are a lot of people here," Caroline told him as she bit her lip nervously.
"My Father has many friends, you'll do fine. Now come wife," he told her with a wicked grin as he offered her his arm, "We must go to the wedding feast."
They sat at the center of the table while the family all sat down on either side of them, the guests all sitting around tables that were scattered all around the hut.
"Thank you all for coming," Mikael said as he stood up to make a toast, "You honor us with your presence," he said as he held up his glass, "Here, here!"
The crowd echoed his words and drank to the toast before Mikael continued his speech, "It isn't every day one of my son's gets married, and he couldn't have chosen a more lovely bride don't you think?"
Caroline blushed and smiled while the crowd laughed and applauded before Mikael continued, "I ask that you celebrate with us tonight, please enjoy the food and wine…dance and rejoice for my family has a new edition to it!"
With that the part began and they all passed around plates of meat and vegetables, wine and sweet cake were scattered around on the tables while people kept approaching the table with gifts for Klaus and Caroline. They accepted them graciously and piled them behind the table before continuing with their food and wine. They watched the people dance by the fire as the music played loud and merry, Klaus occasionally taking Caroline's hand and leading her out onto the floor where the people admired them as they danced.
"A dance perhaps?" Tatia asked politely as she and Klaus left the dance floor with their arms intertwined.
"Of course lady," Klaus said politely with a look towards Caroline who smiled with a nod of approval. She wouldn't fear Tatia anymore; she wouldn't let her jealousy cloud her judgment when it came to the other woman. Tatia was more than what people saw on the surface; Caroline had learned that first hand. Caroline took up a dance with Kol while Klaus danced with Tatia, Kol amusedly whirling her around the dance with mirth in his eyes.
"You don't seem bothered, I'm surprised" he told her as they danced.
"Tatia isn't as bad as she seems after all," Caroline explained easily.
"I remember a certain woman who didn't say that the first time she met Tatia." Kol said with a grin.
"Yes well, that was before I really sat down and talked to her," Caroline told him frankly as they clapped and turned in a circle before switching sides.
"Are you suggesting I should sit down and have a talk with the fair maiden?" he chuckled lightly.
"No," Caroline said with a roll of her eyes, "I just think you shouldn't judge her so harshly before you get to know her."
"You are truly a remarkable creature," Kol said with wide eyes as they finished the dance and bowed to each other.
"Why thank you brother," Caroline told him with a smile. He returned it and offered his arm, walking her towards Rebekah who was standing in front of the room, "You're quite welcome sister."
"It's time to throw the bouquet!" Rebekah called allowed as the music stopped, Caroline's new sister waving her over to the front of the room. Caroline hurried over from Kol's side to join Rebekah with the bouquet in her hand. Caroline turned her back to the crowd of women behind her and closed her eyes, throwing the bouquet over her head. She opened her eyes and turned around to see a girl she didn't recognize laughing excitedly with the bouquet in her hands. Caroline smiled politely at her and then returned to Kol's side, weaving her arm into his. He smiled down at her and proceeded to walk her over to the table.
When they reached the table she met Klaus there who smiled at her fondly and kissed her gently on the lips. She then stood beside him as Mikael spoke, smiling cheerfully at the guests, "It is that time of the night," he announced to them all, "the hour is late and we must bid farewell to the bride and groom as they venture forth on their path as man and wife."
The crowd cheered and raised their goblets to Klaus and Caroline who did the same, everyone drinking the wine all together before setting their goblets down. They all watched as Klaus led Caroline towards his room, Caroline smiling politely along with Klaus as she kept her arm tightly weaved with his. Once they'd entered his room he closed the leather flap of the door and they both listened to the sound of everyone returning to the party.
"How long till they leave?" Caroline asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No telling," He said with a shrug, "Hours, maybe."
"So…" Caroline said nervously as she fiddled with the hem of her gown, "What now?"
Klaus grinned down at her wickedly, "Well, sense you insist that we do not consummate our marriage with my family around, we can always sneak off to the falls again."
"There's to many people out there, they'll see us," Caroline said with a shake of her head.
"I've got that already figured out," he told her with a grin as he retrieved a leather pouch from a nearby table, "it's full of pig blood…I need people to think you were a virgin…" he explained in a whisper so nobody would overhear them, "They must see that the sheets are bloody in the morning."
Caroline nodded and watched as he pulled back the blankets on his bed and poured the blood on the sheets, mussing up the blankets afterwards. "Now we wait," he told her quietly as he sat on the edge of the bed.
Caroline nodded and blew the candle out and sat next to him so that everyone thought they were going to bed.
"Do we make this believable?" Caroline asked curiously as they sat there listening to the party.
"Oh I don't need to pretend to please you," he chuckled lightly as he looked at her with hooded eyes.
"You know what I mean," Caroline laughed lightly as she smacked his arm playfully.
"I have a few ideas to pass the time," he told her quietly with hungry eyes.
"Oh?" she asked as she watched the door to his room.
"Undress for me." He told her seriously.
"Nik…" Caroline said quietly, "Somebody will see…" she whispered softly.
"Nobody will see…nobody is paying attention…" he insisted as he reached for the lacings of her gown and unlaced them, helping her out of her wedding dress.
Caroline stood up and let him help her, the feel of his fingertips grazing the bare skin of her back making her gasp. "No need to make it believable when you make such tempting sounds..." he murmured as he kissed his way down her lower back, the feel of his warm lips on her skin making her moan softly.
"Nik…" she breathed as he pushed the dress down over her hips till it pooled on the floor around her feet, leaving her naked save for the same pink underwear she had on.
He hooked his fingers into either side of the slim scrap of lace and pulled them down as well, letting them pool at her feet as well. She took a deep breath as his hands fanned over her backside and then up her back, trailing soft kisses along her spine. He pulled her down onto the bed with him where he turned her over onto her stomach, so he could admire her back some more. "Such beautiful curves," he murmured against her skin as he let his fingers explore her body, "I wonder what music I would make with you."
She heard him pull away after a few moments and listened to him undress, the sound was intoxicating. Moments later he lay down beside her and she shifted her weight so that he could lie down fully on the bed beside her, both of them sitting on top of the blue quilt. "Look at me," he asked her gently as he caught her chin gently in his hand and turned her gaze towards him.
In the dark she could barely make out his face save for the faint light that flickered in between the leather flap of his door. Something in her sparked to life as she looked at him, the heat pooling in her womb driving her to press her lips against his as she leaned over and ran her hands across his chest. His hand caught her hair and pulled the pin out of it, letting the many braids fall free around her face. He chuckled and caught each braid in his hand, carefully removing the band that fastened each one until her hair was loose and cascading down her back and front in soft golden waves.
"Beautiful," he murmured as he curled his fingers into her hair and pulled her down to him, his tongue sliding across her lips before tempting exploring her mouth. Caroline was surprised by this, for he might have kissed her before but never with such rough passion. She ran her tongue along his, kissing him back with the same fever.
"If you kiss me like that," he breathed softly into the darkness, "I will not be able to stop," he said, his eyes dark and hungry.
"I don't care," she whispered back and kissed him again, a groan of pleasure leaving his lips as he did so. He looked as pleased with her answer as she did his kisses hungry and passionate as he rose up and pushed her down into the blankets. His hands searched her body and discovered all of her most intimate secrets.
His hands she decided were the most beautiful hands she'd ever seen.
He elicited soft gasps and moans of pleasure as he played her body like a violin, his warm lips trailing kisses across her stomach. Then he leaned back to admire his work, his burning gaze taking in every inch of her body. "Nik…" she breathed, sweat beating on her forehead as his dark eyes met hers. He ran his hands down her thighs before lifting them up and shifting his weight so that he sat between them, his hooded gaze watching her face as he rested her legs on his hips and tipped his hips forward, uniting their bodies. She sucked in a sharp gasp as he filled her, closing her eyes to the pleasure as they're bodies moved as one, rough and passionate.
The world around them fell away until there were only them, until all she knew was the feel of his hands on her skin and the touch of his lips against hers. She was vaguely aware of him raising her legs up over his shoulders as he angled deeper, as if he was trying to drive the memory of any other man out of her mind, making it so that she would only ever belong to him. That she would only ever want him and no other could make her as happy as he could.
He was getting rough, she noticed, his movements sharp and fast and she adjusted her hips to further the pleasure, a low moan escaping her lips as bliss washed over both of them and he stilled, his movement slowly coming to a stop heat rushed through her body. He collapsed on top of her, their breathing heavy as he lay his head down on her chest and pressed kisses against her skin.
"My beloved…" he whispered against her skin.
"Yours," Caroline agreed quietly into the dark as she reached down and pulled the blue quilt up over them.
"Forever." He whispered as he closed his eyes, sleep overtaking him.
"Forever," she agreed with a nod as she too closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
He really had no idea of how right he was.
In the morning she felt him lift his weight off of her and roll over to his side, grunting as he made contact with the wall of the hut. "Wrong way," Caroline muttered without opening her eyes as she turned over and curled deeper into the blankets.
"I noticed," he grumbled sleepily and turned to his other side, wrapping his arms around Caroline and pulling her back against him.
"He should have been up already," Mikael told Esther from somewhere out in the main room.
"It is there first morning as man and wife Mikael," Esther told him frankly, "Let them sleep in."
"Alright my dear," he said quietly after a moment, "I'll get Kol to do his chores."
Klaus grunted from behind her and she knew that he'd heard what his Father had said. "I need to get up."
"I'm warm," Caroline groaned into his pillow.
"I know… so am I," he chuckled lightly.
"I guess we do need to get up," Caroline said softly.
"Yes, we do," Klaus said with a sigh as he pressed kisses against the back of her neck.
"Oh alright," Caroline said sleepily as she turned over to look at him, "We need a bigger bed."
"I'll make us one," he told her with a grin.
"Mmm…" Caroline said with a grin as she pressed kisses against his chest, "and then we could sprawl out."
"And I wouldn't roll into the wall," he added with a laugh.
"Nope," Caroline giggled as she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes with a yawn. She slid out of bed and rummaged through her clothes on the floor till she found her chemise and slipped it on over her head. "All my clothes are back in Aiyanna's hut," she told him with a grin.
"You'll have to move your things in here until I finish building our home." He told her as he sat up, running a hand through his hair.
"You're building us a home?" Caroline asked curiously.
He laughed at her words, mirth in his eyes as he spoke, "What do you think my brother's and I have been out doing all day for the last couple of months love?" he asked her gently with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh…" Caroline said in realization as she recalled when Rebekah was throwing snowballs at them and they'd been gathering wood. Then she realized he called her 'love' and she wondered if that was the first time he'd ever used the word like that.
"Where is it?" she asked him curiously.
"That's a surprise," he grinned at her, "You'll see it when it's finished."
"Nik!" Caroline said with a bright grin as she jumped onto the bed and threw her arms around his neck, "Your building me a house?" she asked him excitedly as he fell back onto the bed and laughed. She peppered kisses all over his face and he steadied her with his hips as her legs rested on either side of him. "I should make you things more often if this is how you'll thank me," he chuckled lightly as he kissed her.
"Well," Caroline said with amusement, "You know…we'll need tables and chairs…and windows…and a fire pit…drying racks…" Caroline grinned at his shocked face that slowly changed into a grin to match her own, "You'll wear me out with your gratitude," he laughed; his hands sliding up her sides in a soothing caress.
"If you two are quiet done…coupling…I need help with the chores," Kol said from behind the leather flap. Caroline yelped and jumped off of Klaus, who was still very naked.
"Nik…" Kol scowled as he turned his gaze away, "Put some clothes on."
"Stop prying and avert your gaze," Klaus snapped darkly, "Keep your eyes off of my wife."
"She's got clothes on, there's nothing to see…she was hiding your modesty."
"Oh shut it," Klaus snapped irritably and pulled his breeches on along with his shirt quickly. He turned to kiss Caroline quickly before grabbing his boots and rushing out the door.
Caroline let out a sigh and lay back on the bed with a sigh. "Caroline," Esther called from outside the door, "We'll need to wash those sheets now."
"I know," Caroline said quietly as she stood up and stripped Klaus's bed down, pulling the linens off of them and piling them on the floor. She then turned to finish getting dressed herself, pulling her wedding gown back on before going out into the main room. "I need to go get changed and I'll come help with the wash."
Esther nodded and took the sheets, eyeing the blood stained linen with an approving nod. She glanced back at Mikael who nodded as well and went back to his breakfast, Caroline's cheeks already flaming red as she left the hut.
Back in Aiyanna's hut she quickly cleaned herself up and changed into a clean gown, combing her hair out neatly before braiding it back and fastening it with a leather tie.
"Good Morning," Caroline beamed at Aiyanna who was eating her breakfast, "Ah…I see your up…come to get your things then?" Aiyanna asked with raised eyebrows.
"Yes," Caroline said with a nod and a smile, "Thank you Aiyanna…for everything."
"It is my pleasure," she said with a smile, "Anything for my granddaughter's best friend."
Caroline smiled and went to go and pack her things. Once she was done she carried it all back to Klaus's room and left it neatly stacked in a corner before going to tend to the house chores with Esther and Rebekah.
"Good Morning!" Rebekah said brightly as they gathered the buckets to go and get water from the creek.
"Good morning," Caroline said with a smile as they started out through the village towards the creek.
"So…" Rebekah said timidly after a long pause, "Did you like the wedding?"
"Yes," Caroline beamed at her, "It was wonderful, thank you."
"You're welcome," Rebekah said with a grin.
They spent the rest of the day doing chores as usual, except this time Caroline's chores were aimed towards keeping Klaus's clothes clean and making sure his room was put back in order before he got home. She helped Esther and Rebekah with the cooking and cleaning before all three women sat down exhausted at the dinner table while they waited for the others to get home.
"If you're sore," Esther said quietly while Rebekah had gotten up to go and get a pitcher for the wine, "I can make you a soothing balm."
"No it's alright," Caroline said with a polite smile, "I'll be alright."
Esther nodded quietly and smiled up at her daughter when Rebekah returned with the pitcher. "Our first night as a family," Rebekah said brightly as she glanced down at Caroline.
"Yep," Caroline said with a grin as she looked up at Rebekah.
This wasn't so bad after all, Caroline thought that night at dinner. She had siblings now and a husband too.
She found that she didn't ache so much for her family back in Mystic Falls anymore, now that she had Klaus and his family.
