AN: Normally, I'd try to write the song lyrics out, but I can't make it work this time. I don't own the song in question - it is 'Endless Love' by Lionel Ritchie and Diana Ross, and all credit goes to its writers and composers and performers and whoever else may have rights to it.

It had been the summer of many weddings, and seven-year-old Elena Gilbert had been utterly fascinated by the whole thing.

At each event, she bombarded her parents with questions.

Why were all the brides dressed the same?

Why did her father walk her down the aisle?

What did the rings mean?

Why were they getting married?

Why did the bride throw her flowers during the reception?

Why did the bride's mother always cry?

After the last wedding, Elena had decided that it was high time she had one as well. Her parents weren't too concerned by her sudden announcement, especially since she seemed more focused on the wedding than actually having someone to marry and, since they had the day off, they were only too happy to indulge her childish imagination.

Her stuffed animals were set out on the lawn, making up the congregation, Elena had put on one of her dresses, and Grayson Gilbert had agreed to 'give his daughter away'.

"Wait a minute!" Elena's mother called, hurrying out of the house. "Every bride needs a veil, honey." She added, producing one.

It looked suspiciously like an old pillow-case, but Elena didn't care. She had to be reminded several times to hold still so her mother could fasten it on, and tuck her hair out of the way.

"You make a beautiful bride, Elena." Miranda whispered.

"Oh my God, here she is!" Caroline whispered, just avoiding a squeal.

Elena had just entered the church foyer on Jeremy's arm, one hand clutching a bouquet of white roses and dark green ivy. They had been the last to depart the Gilbert house, although her bridesmaids had stayed the night before to help her into her dress that morning.

The rest of the wedding party (bar Stefan and Damon) were gathered in the small atrium, waiting for her, the women dressed in identical dresses of fuchsia, their skirts sweeping the floor elegantly.

"Oh my God, Elena, you look so beautiful!" Caroline sighed.

Elena laughed. "You saw me twenty minutes ago, Care."

"I know." Caroline sighed. "But it doesn't stop being true."

"Okay." Bonnie said, checking the time, cutting off any further gushings. "Tyler, you take Katherine first, then Klaus and Rebekah, then Matt and Caroline, then me, then Jeremy and Elena."

It was a routine that they were all aware of, she knew, but a last minute reminder never hurt.

"One second." Katherine said, handing her own flowers to Tyler for a second. Pinning Elena's veil on more securely, she brushed a loose strand of hair away, and ran a quick eye over her. "You make a beautiful bride, Elena." She said softly, before nodding for Bonnie to start the music and allowing Tyler to lead her inside.

"Wasn't that what Mom …?" Jeremy began.

"Yeah." Elena swallowed the lump in her throat, determined not to cry. "I think she was keeping a closer eye on me than she lets on."

"You know it would normally be two people who gave you away." Jeremy told her hesitantly, as Klaus and Rebekah left them.

"I know." Elena admitted. "But I don't have two people."

"You could have asked Matt." Jeremy pointed out, watching the former quarterback offer Caroline his arm.

Elena shook her head. "I'd have found that too weird, Jer; he's my ex. Plus, who would walk Caroline in?" she added, as they were left alone with Bonnie.

"Damon?" Jeremy suggested, brushing a kiss against Bonnie's cheek as she passed.

"I thought about it." Elena admitted. "But I thought he might find it a bit …"

"All you had to do was ask."

Elena started, looking to her left to see Damon leaning against the wall. "Damon! You're the best man, you're supposed to be in there."
"Stefan knows where I am." Damon assured her. "But you need another escort."

Elena opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Jeremy had gently relieved her of her bouquet.

"Go on." He said quietly. "Ric's here too, but you can't see him. And he says the others are here. Mom and Dad, Jenna, Isobel. I can't see Isobel, but …"

"I know." Elena whispered. "I know they're here." She took Damon's offered arm, taking the bouquet back.

"Ready?" Jeremy asked, as the wedding march started.

Elena nodded, a beaming smile spreading on to her face. "Ready."

If someone had asked Elena which part of the day she was most nervous about, the answer would have surprised them, unless they happened to know the people involved.

But, as people reached the toying-with-dessert stage of their meal, and Jeremy's 'brother filling in for father-of-the-bride' speech came to a close, she found herself feeling increasingly apprehensive.

She had already cornered Damon three times over the past week, asking him to try and make sure his best man's speech didn't have any 'surprises' mixed in with it, but she still wasn't entirely reassured.

Finally, as Jeremy took his seat again, Damon rose to his feet, commanding everyone's attention with a kind of easy grace.

"As the best man, I'm told it's customary for me to tell embarrassing stories." He began. "As the bride's best friend, I've been warned she has more than enough stories about me to make that a rather stupid thing to do …"
Matt and Tyler groaned in loud disappointment, sending a wave of chuckles through the marquee.

"But while you enjoy the cake," Damon continued, a glint in his eyes, "which, I can assure you, is delicious, given I was coerced into helping choose it …"

"Let it go, Damon." Katherine muttered in a stage-whisper.

Damon ignored her. "… I do have one or two things to say. I told Elena not long after I first met her that I hadn't seen my brother smile like that in a long time, and I hadn't. Stefan and I have had our disagreements, which I won't air here, but Elena has been wonderful at ignoring those differences and forcing us to confront them. I think I've cursed her more often than I've thanked her, but we both owe her a great deal. For some reason, she's very nervous about this speech, although I can't imagine why …"
Another wave of laughter passed through the people who knew him.

"… because it's her wedding day, and I wouldn't be that cruel to her." Damon finished, smirking at Elena. "Although I'll warn her this counts as her wedding present."

"I'll take it!" Elena said immediately, provoking more laughter.

"In all seriousness," Damon continued, his smirk softening into a genuine smile, "I couldn't have asked for a better sister-in-law – and since we're being honest, I couldn't ask for a better brother either. I love you both, however nauseating you tend to be when you're together, so congratulations. To Stefan and Elena."

Under the toast, Elena leaned over to hug him, blinking back tears. "Thank you."

Damon kissed her forehead. "Don't get used to it. And I meant what I said about the wedding present."

"No, he doesn't." Katherine refuted.

"It's fine." Elena said to both of them. "Caroline now has it on tape."

Katherine smiled. "Well, that makes it marginally better."

They hadn't planned for many speeches, partly because there weren't many people to make them, mostly because they both knew that people tended to tune out when there were too many (although they were both fairly sure there would be more during the course of the evening), but now Bonnie rose to her feet.

"This is more of an announcement than a speech." She said. "Mainly because Damon – amazingly – said a lot of what I was going to, and I don't want to bore you with repetition."

"And we thank you for it!" Matt put in.

Bonnie just spared him an eye-roll. "But Stefan has made Elena happier than I think I've ever seen her, and I wish them all the best. Now if our happy couple would like to make themselves the centre of attention once more, it's time for the first dance."

Obligingly, Stefan led Elena to the middle of the floor, swinging her round into his arms as the music began to play.

My love,
There's only you in my life
The only thing that's bright

"He dances." Elena murmured into his neck. "And I didn't even have to beg."

"Hey, it may not be my favourite pastime, but I'm not going to pass up the chance to hold you." Stefan responded, smiling at her. "Besides, it is tradition."

My first love,
You're every breath that I take
You're every step I make

"Did Elena choose this one?" Damon muttered to Katherine.

Katherine rolled her eyes. "Obviously."

And I - I want to share
All my love with you
No one else will do...
And your eyes
Your eyes, your eyes
They tell me how much you care
Ooh yes, you will always be
My endless love

Bonnie grasped Jeremy's hand under the table. "Alright?"

Jeremy nodded a little stiffly. "Ric says Mom and Jenna are crying."

"That's understandable." Bonnie said, resting her head on his shoulder. "You're about to join them."

"Am not." Jeremy muttered, wiping his eyes surreptitiously.

Two hearts,
Two hearts that beat as one
Our lives have just begun
Forever
I'll hold you close in my arms
I can't resist your charms
And love - Oh, love
I'll be a fool For you,
I'm sure

"They look good together, don't they?" Rebekah whispered.

"They really do." Klaus agreed absently.

"Never took you for the romantic type." Rebekah teased.

"It's hard to dispute a love like theirs." Klaus retorted. "And people can change, Bekah." He added, his eyes straying to Caroline.

You know I don't mind
Oh, you know I don't mind
'cause you,
You mean the world to me

"Well, you'll get your chance, brother." Rebekah murmured with a smirk. "You get to dance with her in a minute. She can hardly make a scene."

"I know." Klaus's brow creased slightly. It seemed like every time Caroline had danced with him was because 'she couldn't make a scene'.

Just once, he wanted it to be her choice.

Oh I know, I know
I've found in you
My endless love

None of the whispered conversations was very loud, but even if they had been, Stefan and Elena probably wouldn't have noticed them.

They almost seemed to float around the floor, eyes only for each other.

Oh, and love
Oh, love
I'll be that fool
For you, I'm sure

A soft kiss brushed Elena's hairline, and she lifted her head with a smile. She knew Stefan wasn't overly comfortable with public displays of affection, probably because when he died he still craved his father's affection and respect, and his father disapproved of them entirely.

Damon had long since given up on gaining either of them, so he had no trouble with the concept, as he and Katherine regularly demonstrated.

But Stefan had always been much more reserved, leaving her pleasantly surprised when he dipped his head to kiss her softly.

You know I don't mind
Oh you know I don't mind

"I love you." She murmured when they parted.

"I love you too." Stefan whispered, spinning her round.

And, yes
You'll be the only one
'cause no one can deny
This love I have inside
And I'll give it all to you
My love, my love, my love
My endless love

The music shifted effortlessly into another song, and Katherine kicked Damon's chair. "You ..."

"I'm going, Kitten." Damon said, rolling his eyes. "This is the last thing I have to do, right?"

Katherine sighed. "Yes, this is the last thing you have to do."

"Alright, Sabrina, let's get it over with."

Bonne shook her head, taking his offered hand. "He's such a gentleman."

"I'll have you know, I am a perfect gentleman." Damon retorted, twirling her into a waltz.

"I'll believe that when I see it." Bonnie muttered.

"Look, Bonnie, this is the only time you ever have to be near me this evening." Damon said flippantly. "And at least we knew who we'd end up with on the floor."

"That's true." Bonnie conceded, glancing towards the bridal party.

"I'm surprised Bonnie didn't argue." Caroline murmured.

Matt shrugged, getting to his feet. "I'm not." He moved along the table and extended a hand to Rebekah. "Dance with me?"

Rebekah's face lit up with a surprised smile, and she accepted immediately, following him out on to the floor, her hand resting on his shoulder as his settled on her waist.

"Why me?" She asked quietly. "Katherine's Katherine and Caroline's your ex?"

"Yeah, that too." Matt shrugged. "But mainly because I've come to the conclusion that you're pretty amazing."

"Well, I should have seen that one coming." Caroline murmured, seeing Klaus get to his feet out of the corner of her eye.

Tyler must have seen it too, because he squeezed her arm under the table. "Just remember it's Elena's wedding …"

"I'm not going to …" Caroline began, but her protest died on her lips as Klaus stopped by Katherine's chair and said something to her, too quietly even for them to hear.

If Katherine was startled, she did a good job of hiding it, accepting his invitation with good grace.

"That, I wasn't expecting." Caroline said numbly.

Tyler shrugged. "Looks like it's you and me, Care." He got to his feet and sketched her a small bow. "Miss Forbes?"

Caroline smiled, standing and dipping a small curtsey in return. "Mr Lockwood."

As they joined the others, Caroline pushed her surprise at Klaus's actions to the back of her head. Why would he dance with Katherine?

Had he given up on her?

And why was that thought almost … disappointing?

As the second song came to a close, Bonnie stepped away from Damon, but found his grip just a little too strong. "Damon …"

"Relax." Damon said breezily, spinning her into Jeremy's arms. "Have a little faith for once." He hadn't missed Klaus's actions, and stepped over to them, as the Original released Katherine. "Mind if I cut in?"

"She's all yours." Klaus said, almost absently, his eyes fixed on Caroline, who had surrendered Tyler to Hayley and was moving back towards the table.

Other people were joining them on the dance floor now, and Katherine stepped into Damon's arms, a smile gracing her face.

"Alright?"

Damon smirked at her. "Fine. What was that about?"

"I'm not entirely sure." Katherine admitted. Her eyes travelled over Damon's shoulder to where Elijah was talking to Kol. His attention may have been on his youngest brother, but his eyes hadn't left her since the dance began. "Stay with me?"

"Always." Damon brushed a kiss against her neck, spinning them to see what she was worrying about. "Alright?"

"Fine." Katherine assured him. "Just … not ready to deal with him." She tightened her grip on him. "Don't."

"Don't what?" Damon asked innocently. "You think I'd go and start something with an Original when I could be dancing with you?"

Katherine laughed. "Ever the charmer."

"You know, you don't have to keep dancing with me." Rebekah said softly, a few feet away.

"I want to." Matt said honestly. "Unless you don't …"

"No." Rebekah interrupted hastily. "I do."

Matt grinned at her. "Good. So what was your favourite century?"

"This one." Rebekah answered immediately. "I've never felt more alive than I do now. Although," she added, realising how many ways that could be interpreted, "I did love the fashion in the twenties."

"I would never have guessed." Matt remarked, his voice laden with sarcasm. "Given that you went against Caroline – something most people wouldn't dare do, vampire or not – to change the decade dance."

Rebekah laughed as he spun her, catching sight of her brother moving towards Caroline. Her smile grew a little. Maybe, just maybe, they'd both get what they wanted.

"Caroline."

Caroline looked up sharply, relaxing slightly when she realised it was Klaus. "Hi."

"It doesn't seem like you to sit on the side-lines." He commented.

Caroline's lips twitched in a smile. "Well, at the moment, I seem to lack a dancing partner."

Surprise showed in his eyes for a second, before it smoothed into a charming smile. "Well, allow me to remedy that."

The smile that was threatening her broke on to her face, and Caroline took his hand, finding herself spun into his arms immediately. "I was expecting this earlier." She murmured.

"Well, it seems like every time we've danced you've felt somewhat threatened or obliged to do so." Klaus said quietly, voicing his earlier thoughts. "I wanted it to be your choice."

Caroline sighed quietly, automatically resting her head on his shoulder as the music slowed. Over the last eight months or so, it had become increasingly difficult to remember why she didn't want him. His humanity was more prevalent, when dealing with them, at least, and she found it hard to remember that, when dealing with anyone else, he was probably still the same man she had once hated.

She found it hard to remember that that was a bad thing.

"Never judge a man by how he treats his friends." Her father had once told her. "Judge him by how he treats his enemies."

Violently, and with no mercy.

Her father would never approve.

Then again, her father hadn't approved of her.

"What are you thinking about, sweetheart?"

Caroline lifted her head. "Oh, nothing. My mind wandered for a moment or two."

"Do you have anything planned for this summer?" Klaus asked.

Caroline smiled. "Well, the Miss Mystic Falls contest got pushed back from February to August this year, and I have to help organise it. And I still need to reply to my college acceptance letter."

"Congratulations." Klaus said. "Which college?"

"Whitmore." Caroline answered, her brow creasing slightly. "It's like my life plan is coming together."

"But …?" Klaus prompted.

"But I'm not alive anymore." Caroline finished softly. "College seems … hasty. Like, if I only had sixty years, then going to college now and taking a risk on a degree I didn't really know what to do with would be worth it, because I wouldn't have time to make my mind up, but …"

"Well, love, you don't have to settle with one degree." Klaus pointed out. "Give it a try, if it's not what you expect, drop out, wait a while, and then try something else."

"How many degrees do you have?" Caroline asked.

Klaus thought for a second. "Eighteen."

"Eighteen?" Caroline repeated. "Wow. What's the strangest thing you've majored in?"

"I'm afraid there's nothing too strange there." Klaus said with a rueful smile. "But I did study medicine after losing a bet with Elijah."

"You were a doctor?" Caroline asked.

Klaus shook his head. "I was qualified as one. Although this was in the 1800s, so I doubt the procedures have remained the same. What about you? What are you planning on majoring in?"

"Public relations and events managing." Caroline answered, a little self-consciously.

Klaus chuckled. "Sounds like a dream come true, sweetheart."

Caroline's smile grew. "What are you doing this summer?"

Klaus didn't answer for a few seconds, his face growing pensive. "Unfortunately, I have need to leave Mystic Falls for a while."
"Oh." Caroline said quietly, inwardly scolding her stomach for turning over at his words. "Why?"

"Over a century ago, my father forced me to leave my home in New Orleans." Klaus answered. "It was the last time my siblings and I were together peacefully …"

"And when you daggered Kol." Caroline finished. "Rebekah told me the story. You blamed Kol's actions for luring your father there in the first place."

"It was my city, Caroline." Klaus continued, neither confirming nor denying his sister's words. "I ruled it."

"Knowing you, you still do." Caroline said slowly. "So … rebellion?"

Klaus smiled, almost coldly, although she knew that wasn't aimed at her. "Smart girl. There are a few witches plotting against me. I need to … deal with them."

Caroline nodded silently. She knew that meant that the witches would probably end up dead, but she was surprised to realise that the thought didn't bother her.

"I wonder who they're working for." She murmured.

"Sorry, love?"

Caroline blushed slightly. "I was just thinking aloud. If you haven't been in New Orleans for over a century, then it's not like you've done anything that would warrant them rebelling against you, which means it's out of some kind of lust for power. In general, witches aren't that way inclined, ergo there's someone else involved."

"My thoughts exactly." Klaus remarked, smiling at her.

"Well," Caroline said matter-of-factly, "you'll have to keep me up-to-date, or it'll drive me mad. And be careful."

She meant to keep her tone casual, but she could hear the treacherous catch of her voice, the way her words trembled and broke ever so slightly on the last syllable.

And she knew he heart it too.

They laughed and danced and celebrated late into the night, and, very early the next morning, Stefan stepped through the door of the honeymoon suite in a hotel near the airport.

"I can walk, you know." Elena said lazily, making no attempt to extract herself from his arms.

"I thought I was supposed to carry you over the threshold." Stefan said. "It's bad luck otherwise."

"Of our house, not the hotel suite." Elena giggled. "And it's not bad luck."

"I'm not taking any chances." Stefan told her, lowering her to the floor. "Hi."

"Hi." Elena rested her forehead against his, taking a deep breath. "I can't believe we're here. I'm still waiting for reality to set in."

"All of this is reality." Stefan quoted softly. "Right here."

Elena felt her smile grow as he kissed her softly. It seemed like a lifetime ago he had said those same words, just before their very first kiss.

He was thinking the same thing, she realised when they parted. "No regrets?" He asked softly.

"Just one." Elena admitted, her fingers playing with his collar. "I wish I'd turned on my own time, and with your blood, rather than accidentally."

"Would you have turned?" Stefan asked curiously, no heat in his voice. "You said you never wanted to be a vampire."

"There's a difference between not wanting to be a vampire and not wanting to be with you for eternity." Elena said gently. "I told you after I first turned that I never meant that I wouldn't feel differently one day, and honestly, I would have turned. Living without you was never going to be an option."

"There was a third way." Stefan pointed out, only half paying attention, since he was a little more occupied with the lacing on her bodice.

Elena rolled her eyes. "Yeah, grow old while you didn't. No offence, honey, but I never want to be a situation where I have to keep a straight face and say "It's alright, he's my grandson.""

Stefan's hands stilled and he rested his head on her shoulder with a groan. "Well, that's effectively ruined the mood."
Elena laughed, rolling her eyes, and turned away from him. "We'll see about that. In the meantime, Mr Salvatore, would you kindly get me out of this dress.

Stefan pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, continuing his work unlacing her corset. "My pleasure, Mrs Salvatore."

Elena made a soft noise as her bodice loosened and he chuckled. "It wasn't that tight."

"It's not that." Elena whispered, turning to face him again. "I'm Mrs Salvatore now."

Stefan caressed her cheek. "Regrets?"

Elena laughed. "Don't be ridiculous. I get to be with you for eternity, Stefan – how could I ever regret that?"

Stefan smiled. "You're crying."

"They're happy tears." Elena assured him, kissing him softly. "How's the mood now?"

"I don't know …" Stefan said, his eyes glinting teasingly. "I think it might need a bit more help."

Smirking, Elena stepped back out of his embrace and pushed gently on the shoulder straps of her gown. Now the lacing had been loosened, it slipped easily from her body, pooling on the floor at her bare feet – she had lost her shoes several hours ago, since they had been chosen for form over function. "Better?"

Stefan's eyes darkened as they swept over his new wife's nearly-naked form, and he stepped forward to take her in his arms again.

With a giggle, she willingly succumbed to his advances, stumbling back towards the large bed that they would never actually get to sleep in.

The next morning, they would fly out to Europe to spend six weeks visiting different countries and experiencing different cultures and doing new things.

There was no doubt the summer would bring new experiences for everyone, some obvious, some not so, but for the moment, the only thing that mattered to Stefan and Elena Salvatore was themselves.

Eternity stretched out ahead of them, with endless possibilities, and they couldn't wait.

AN: That's it for Traditions, but stay tuned for the sequel (under construction at the moment), in which Damon and Katherine have to entertain themselves while Stelena are out of the country, and Caroline learns a few concerning things about the events in New Orleans and has a decision to make.