Previously in "A Soldier's Coming Home", Klaus proposes to Caroline during her birthday party and Sage tells Finn that she's pregnant and they get married with his family surrounding them.
Authors' Notes: In the next chapter, we'll see a couple make love for their first time but I'm not going to give away who it is until I'm completely ready!
Chapter Ten
The Governor's Ball – A Few Nights Later…
The emcee gestured for everyone to have a seat, and the entire group of Mystic Falls' residents sat down at their reserved table. Once everyone was seated the emcee said, "Good evening, everyone. On behalf of the Governor of the great state of Virginia, I'd like to welcome each and every one of you to this year's Governor's Ball. I'm sure that everyone has brought their dancing shoes because the band will be playing songs that you'll want to get out on the floor and dance to. There will also be plenty of food, so don't be shy. Well, with that being said, I invite you all to relax and enjoy the evening."
Elena pulled her chair closer to April's and Caroline's. "I wanted to ask you both something," she started and they both nodded for her to continue. "I want you to both be my maids of honor."
April and Caroline smiled at what Elena said. In unison, they replied, "We'd love to be your maids of honor, Elena!"
Then a hand appeared out of nowhere and all three girls turned to find that the hand belonged to Matt Donovan. April felt tears brimming at the corners of her eyes at the sight of her husband and she stood up to accept his hand, waiting until he had pulled her gently into his arms to ask him, "What happened? I thought you were going to Japan to keep an eye on Tyler."
"I was but I got to the train station and I couldn't bear to be parted from my new bride, so I told the colonel to go on without me and got off the train before hitching a ride all the way back here," he told her softly.
April smiled through her tears. "I'm glad you're back. I missed you."
"Well, you won't have to miss me ever again because I don't plan on going anywhere," he vowed softly to her, reaching up to stroke a tendril of her hair out of her face.
"I'm glad you're back, Matt," April said. "You can be my date for tonight and for Elena's wedding."
Across the room, Meghan was dancing with a complete stranger while her sister danced with Brady and her brother danced with Hayley, who he'd brought as his date when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Her brown eyes sparkled upon seeing Tyler and she left the arms of her dance partner then leaped into his. "Oh, how I've missed those beautiful arms around me," he said in a low voice, speaking in her ear and she let a shiver escape her as she tightened her arms around him.
Meghan smiled. "I missed you too, Tyler. I thought you left."
"I changed my mind," he replied. "I told the colonel that I didn't want to leave the woman I love and he let me go, wishing me luck as I went."
"Now you'll get the better opportunity to meet your son, for good," she said with another smile. He nodded and pulled her close, kissing her in a soft, passionate manner.
Tyler stepped back, breaking the kiss. "I'm definitely looking forward to seeing my son. I'll be he takes after his father."
"He does," Meghan said. "In fact, he plays tricks on us, especially Logan. It's cute."
Tyler chuckles again. "He sounds like me when I was that age," he says as he clasps her fingers and twirls her around then brings her back into him.
Meghan smiled. "Yeah, it does and I could just imagine the things you'll teach him."
He smiled some more then got an idea. "Let's go somewhere private. I have something I want to give to you, something I should have given you a long time ago," he said as he pulled her with him and she followed along with him, not knowing what he was up to.
Meghan followed Tyler upstairs to a private room, not sure what this was about. "Why did you bring us here, Tyler? What are you planning?"
He finally stopped and got down on one knee, taking her left hand in his.
Before Meghan could say anything, he said, "Meghan, I loved you from the moment I first saw you. You give me a reason for getting out of bed in the morning and I find myself falling more and more in love with you every day. I want to be there for you every day of the rest of my life and I want to be in our son's life, teach him what he needs to know to become a great man like his father. Meghan Rita Fell, I come before you today as a man, nothing more and nothing less, to ask you this very important question." He took out a box from his pocket with his free hand and, letting go of her hand momentarily, he opened the box and revealed a diamond ring that sparkled in the light. "Will you marry me?"
Meghan couldn't breathe as she looked at the ring, tears welling up in her eyes and flowing down her face. "Oh, Tyler, it's beautiful. I love you so much and…yes."
Tyler smiled. "Yes?"
"Yes, yes, a thousand times yes, I will marry you, Tyler Mason Lockwood."
Tyler then placed the ring on her finger, kissing it before getting to his feet and kissing her tears away before moving to her lips. "I love you, Meghan, and I can't wait for the day that I can call you Meghan Lockwood."
"Why should we wait? Let's go make me Mrs. Tyler Lockwood now," she demanded as she pulled him back downstairs and they found Pastor Young, who was talking to his daughter and son in law.
Pastor Young saw Meghan and Tyler approaching him. "Meghan, Tyler, I was wondering where you two wondered off to."
"Pastor Young, we have a question to ask," Tyler said. "Meghan and I wish to be married as soon as possible and the question we have is: would you be interested in performing the ceremony?"
Meghan nodded and then looked at April and Matt. "I'd like April to be my maid of honor and Tyler wants Matt to be his best man."
"That's a great idea," April said. "I'd love to be your maid of honor, Meghan."
Meghan nodded again and tugged on the expectant girl's arm, pulling her out of the ballroom of the governor's mansion, pulling her into a private bathroom. "I'm nervous. What do I do?" Meghan asked April as she had a panicked look on her face.
April gently placed her hands on Meghan's shoulders. "You're going to be fine, Meghan. Just breathe."
Meghan nodded and took some deep breaths in and out to calm down her nerves while April watched her, smiling at her. Once she was calm down, she looked at April. "I don't have a wedding dress," she mentioned before looking down at her dress and shrugging. "I guess this one will work."
April nodded. "It doesn't matter what you're wearing, Meghan. You look beautiful."
The other brunette nodded and smiled. "I love Tyler. He won't care what I'm wearing, because his eyes will be on mine the entire time," she said as she smiled again.
"Good," April said. "That's the most important thing."
"So, I heard that you and Matthew are having a baby. Have you given any thought about who the godmother will be?" Meghan asked as she fixed her hair.
April nodded. "Yes, I have. And I wish that you be my baby's godmother."
"Me," Meghan said with a shocked voice and April nodded again, giving her a smile that confirmed it. "I'd be happy to do it, April, but why me?"
"You're a doctor and a mom, and that alone is a tough job," April said with another smile.
Meghan smiled. "That's true. Well, I guess I'll add godmother to that list."
April hugged her. "Thank you, Meghan."
The other brunette smiled and hugged her back before she tugged on April's hand to pull her back into the ballroom, where she spotted Tyler and Matt talking. They parted when their significant women came up to them to reveal T.J. "I couldn't not include him," Tyler whispered in Meghan's ear and she grinned at him, kissing him soundly.
"He's welcome to be a part of this," Meghan said. "This is his day as well as ours."
T.J. smiled as he glanced between his parents. "Are you two getting married?" he asked and Meghan smiled as she ran her hands through his hair.
"Yes, sweetie, your Daddy and I are finally getting married," she replied.
T.J. smiled again and hugged them both. Tyler tried to hold back the tears of joy as he felt his little boy's arms around him. He made a silent vow to be there for him, as well as any other children that he and Meghan might have.
Later – The Lockwood Mansion…
Meghan squeals with laughter as Tyler sweeps her into his arms, carrying her into the entryway of his their new home. "I can walk, you know," she reminded him as he continued toward the bedroom just past the living room.
Tyler smiled. "I know you can walk. But, I wanted to be romantic."
She giggles then jumps down from his arms, her smile playful as she ran back toward the living room. And the chase was on. Tyler went after her and finally caught her in the kitchen of his 'house', cornering her in the space between the fridge and the cabinets on the other side. Meghan could hardly breathe at the look in his eyes and then couldn't speak when he captured her mouth with his, his tongue invading immediately and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer until there was no space separating them at all.
Tyler growled against her lips. "Are you ready to consummate our union, Mrs. Lockwood?"
Meghan nibbled on his bottom lip. "You bet I am, Mr. Lockwood."
"Good, because you're mine for the rest of the night," he said with another growl when he felt her loosening the belt of his pants, his hands lifting until they were above her head and watched her remove his pants entirely.
Tyler then felt her playing with the waistband of his boxers, licking his lips. "Do you want me, Meghan?"
She nodded in reply as she shoved them down before grabbing his hands and lifting them to the zipper at the back of her dress. Tyler took the hint and lowered the zipper, watching with passion-darkened eyes as it fell away from her glorious body then claimed her lips once more as he picked her up in his arms and carried her toward the bedroom for the second time and placing her gently on the bed, following her onto it once her arms found their way around his neck and refused to let go.
Tyler growled playfully at her. "I love you, Meghan."
Meghan growled back. "I love you too, Tyler."
He smiles at her then sweeps her hair out of her face and leans down to capture her lips once again then rolling them over until she was on top, his hands caressing the cheeks of her rear end before squeezing them a little.
Meghan felt Tyler squeezing her butt cheeks and let out a muffled scream against his lips, letting him know that she was enjoying what he was doing.
He growled against her lips at her muffled scream then pulled away to attack her breasts with his mouth, sucking fervently on her nipples until she was grinding her hips against his. "Tyler, don't make me hurt you," he heard her say and he chuckled against her breasts before pulling back.
"Well, I can't have you doing that, Mrs. Lockwood," he said before he took him self in his hand then thrust gently into her before picking up speed.
Meghan gyrated in time with his thrusts, keeping in sync with him.
After they were finished, Tyler rolled her gently until he could turn on his side to look at her, his hand stroking up her bare arm and around the curve of her breast. "You're so beautiful like this," he told her with a smile.
"What, naked as the day as I was born?" she said teasingly as she smiled back at him. Her slim fingers traced over his chest before going up to his face to stroke over his cheek.
Tyler smiled. "Well, yeah, but you're also beautiful in general." He sighed. "You know, I'd like T.J. to have siblings. Somehow, I don't want him being an only child, like I was."
"I'd like that too," Meghan said. "It would be nice if he had a brother, or a sister. I come from a large family, so why not?"
"Why don't we try to expand our family…right now?" he said with a smirk as he rolled her back over and began to make love to her all over again.
Meanwhile…
Logan approached Hayley with two glasses of wine that he'd found among his sisters' stash in the wine cellar and handed one to her. "Here you are, Ms. Gardner," he said with a smile as he sat down next to her while putting a little bit of space between them.
Hayley smiled back and took the glass from him. "Thank you, Mr. Fell."
Before she could drink it, Logan interrupted her. "First, I'd like to make a toast." He stood up. "First, I'd like to toast to the happy couple. May they have many happy and wonderful years together. I would also like to toast to the lovely woman beside me, the lovely Hayley Gardner. You've changed my life the minute I met you at the park; may tonight be the start of something new for the both of us."
Hayley nodded and stood up as well, clanging her glass against his. Then, before she could stop herself, she leaned in and kissed him. Logan returned her kiss after the initial shock wore off. Even though he wasn't expecting this to happen, he was glad that it did, since he had been waiting to kiss her since that day in the park, but wasn't sure when the right time would be.
His hand came up and he caressed her cheek before going into the dark tresses of her hair and pulling her closer until there was no space separating them at all. He lowered her into the cushions of the couch and was about to reach up behind her back when the door to the apartment burst open and his sister Meredith came in, her lips locked with those of Brady Garrison's.
Logan looked toward Meredith and Brady. Obviously, he wasn't expecting them to be here, especially not tonight. "Meredith, what the hell are you doing here?"
Meredith pulled away from Brady, facing her brother, scowling at him. "I could be asking that same thing, Logan. Brady and I were hoping to have a very intimate evening."
"That's funny, really," Logan said. "That's the same thing I was hoping for with Hayley."
Hayley got up then, taking his arm. "Logan, we don't have to do this here. We can go to my place if you think we're going to be interfering with what your sister is doing."
Logan looked at Hayley, then back at Meredith. He shook his head and decided that it wasn't worth getting into a dispute, so he walked out of the apartment, taking Hayley with him and leaving the other couple to their business.
Over at the Donovan House…
Vicki finished setting Riley down in the bassinet and smiled at her mom as Kelly stood in the doorway. She turned when she heard a knock on the front door downstairs and Vicki went to answer it, knowing Kelly would stay with Riley. When Vicki opened the door, she immediately ran into her husband's arms, their mouths meeting in a hungry, demanding kiss. "Oh, how I've missed you," she said with soft enthusiasm as she hugged him tightly to her once the kiss was over.
"I've missed you more," Zane said as he whirled her around in a brief circle and she giggled and squealed and claimed his lips once more with hers.
Zane returned her kiss and ran his hands up and down her body. He missed being like this with her, and he was glad to be home. When he pulled back, he noticed that Vicki wasn't pregnant anymore, which meant that she had recently given birth. "I see you've had the baby while I was gone."
Vicki nodded. "Yes, I did. Riley looks just like you." She tugged at his hand. "Come on, I'll show him to you."
Zane let her lead him upstairs, where Kelly was standing in the doorway of the nursery. When she saw Zane, she smiled at him. "Welcome home, Zane. Vicki missed you terribly, and so did I."
"I could tell from the way she kissed me before," Zane said. "Thank you for looking after her for me." He nodded toward the bassinet. "Mind if I look in on my son?"
Kelly nodded and let the couple walk in and when he saw little Riley, Zane's smile widened with pride.
Vicki stood beside her mother to give the father and son a few moments of privacy. "Are you happy to have him home?" Kelly asked as she put her arms around her daughter and gave her forehead a gentle kiss.
Her daughter nodded as she accepted her mother's hug. "I am. And I'm ready to have some time alone with him," she said with a smile.
"Oh, I think that has been well-deserved, Victoria, and I think you should go to the boardinghouse as soon as you get him out of here," Kelly said with a knowing smile.
Vicki nodded and then peeked over into the nursery, where she saw Zane sitting in the rocking chair, cradling Riley in his arms. "It's amazing. He just met his son, and he already knows what to do."
"It shows you that he's going to be a good father to him," Kelly said. "He'll be devoted to his son as much as he is to you."
Later, Zane nuzzled Vicki's neck as they ascended the stairs at the boardinghouse, grateful for Elizabetta Salvatore letting them in so quickly and Vicki melted at her husband's touch, her fingernails nearly scratching into the skin of his arms around her waist.
Zane growled playfully at Vicki. "I love you so much, Victoria. You were all I thought about while I was gone."
She turned in his arms and framed his face with her hands. "I am happy to have you home and to have you all to myself until tomorrow, when we spend the day with our son as well as each other," she told him before kissing him gently.
"I'd like that very much," Zane said. "I want to spend as much time with my son as possible."
Author's Note: I'm ending it here so I can update again. I hoped you enjoyed seeing Vicki and Zane's reunion, because there will be many others to come!