Previously in "His Box of Letters", both Andrew and Theresa pass away, and Andrea is welcomed into the Mikaelson family by Christopher.

Chapter Fourteen

The Day of the Funeral

The church was filled with mourners for the memorial service for both Pastor Young and his wife, consisting of family and friends alike. Both of them were beloved by the community, hence the large turnout. Matt held April close to him as they sat in the pew near the altar, comforting her as best he could. He knew that her parents' loss was hitting her hard, and he also knew that he had to be her rock.

On the other side of his wife sat her sister and then Christopher next to Abigail, on her left. Matt knew that Abigail had seen her father's body shortly after arriving, and that it had devastated her beyond belief. Christopher was holding Abigail to him, comforting her in the same way Matt was comforting April. He hated seeing how utterly devastated his wife was upon seeing her father's body and truth be told, he was devastated himself, even if he was trying not to show it.

The truth was, to Christopher, at least, Andrew had treated him more like the son he never had, since Christopher's own father had disowned him the moment his son told him that he was marrying a preacher's illegitimate daughter. Just then, the priest they hired to do the service came in and stood at the pulpit, looking at all who gathered.

Abigail was the first to notice him and this started the tears all over again. She immediately stood and left through the door just to the left of the first pew, slamming it none too gently behind her. Christopher immediately rushed after her, finding her kneeling on the floor and sobbing in a hard, loud manner. "Abs, this isn't good for your health, love," he said in a soft murmur as he tried to get her to stand up.

"Don't! Don't you dare touch me, Christopher Mikaelson. You make me sick, you know that?" she growled at him.

"Abigail please, just listen to me. I had no idea who that man was when I hired him. The only thing I knew was he was friends with your father when they were in seminary together."

She growled again then stood up on shaky legs and grabbed him by the tie and then pulled him into the bathroom, where she turned the water on in the faucet. "I'm not talking about the person doing the services, Christopher! I'm talking about that woman you were with before we came down here. Were you ever going to tell me WHY?"

Christopher felt his heart pound wildly as he responded, "Abigail, do you think I'd betray you? You're my wife and the mother of my children! That woman meant nothing to me!"

"You're lying, Christopher. Remember, we're in the house of the Lord. He doesn't like liars! So, tell me the truth…were or were you NOT with her!?" Abigail ground out. She was pacing back and forth to keep him from touching her, even though the bathroom was kind of on the small side.

"What do you want me to do, Abigail; swear it to you on a stack of Bibles?" Christopher said. "I told you, she meant NOTHING to me! And do you think that I'd be unfaithful to my wife on the day of her father and stepmother's funeral? If that's the way you think of me, then you don't know me at all! I love you, Abigail, you have to believe me!"

"You're right. I don't know you, Christopher. I thought I did, when we first walked down THAT aisle, in there, but I guess I don't. So, as soon as this ceremony is over, I want you OUT of my life. For good," she said firmly before stopping her pacing then reaching out and turning off the water before stomping out of the bathroom and then back into the worship center.

Christopher followed soon after, seething externally and internally. Leaning toward her, he whispered in her ear, "This conversation isn't over."

"Yes. It is," she ground out from between her teeth. Before she could walk away, Christopher grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, kissing her lips fiercely and passionately, not caring if she was hitting him with her free hand. "Stop doing that!" she hissed, pushing him away from her and slapping him HARD across the face.

Her sister, brother-in-law and pretty much everyone in attendance gasped at Abigail's actions, but weren't surprised when she turned and stomped off once again, this time heading for the entrance to the church.

Later…

April cornered her sister as soon as she had a moment. "What was going on earlier at the church, between you and Christopher?"

Abigail growled. "I just found out that I don't know my husband at all! He was with another woman and when I confronted him about it, he lied!"

"What exactly did he lie about, Abs?" April asked quietly.

"He denied being with her, saying she meant nothing to him."

"Abs, maybe he was telling the truth," April said. "Christopher loves you. He would never do something like this."

"It's impossible to know that for sure, April! We've been together for so long, and were friends before that, so it's hard to know what's what for us. God! I just…I can't talk to him right now. You understand, don't you, April? Please don't make me talk to him…" Abigail pleaded with her younger sister.

"You can't just avoid him, Abigail," April said. "You're going to have to talk to him, maybe not for yourself, but for your children."

"Ugh, April, why are you making me do this? I don't want to!" Abigail begged.

"I know you don't, Abs, but you have to! Please, just go talk to him," April pleaded, giving her sister a gentle push out of the kitchen and into the living room, where she spotted Christopher talking to Matt.

Abigail almost chickened out, and eventually did, heading back into the kitchen and out the back door. She had just gotten outside and reached up to take down her hair before heading to the stables, where she changed into some riding clothes then got on one of her favorite horses, the one Andrew had first introduced her to when she was little and she'd visited the ranch for the first time. Putting the saddle on Horatio, Abigail cinched it loosely, but still tight enough for her to be able to put her feet in the stirrups.

Christopher saw Abigail getting up onto Horatio's back and, excusing himself from Matt, went out to the stable, where he grabbed Angel, the Palomino gelding that Andrew gave him before he and Abigail were married. Once he got him saddled, he took off after Abigail and Horatio, hoping to catch up with them.

When he finally did, he reached over and pulled Horatio to a stop. "Excuse you, but what the hell…?" Abigail demanded then stopped when she saw it was her husband. She ignored the look he gave her and simply climbed down from Horatio's back before stomping off toward the oak tree that provided a lot of shade. "You shouldn't have come after me, Chris." Her voice was soft as she called him by his nickname.

"Yes. I should've. Your attitude today wasn't like you, Abby," he said, his voice just as soft as hers as he moved over to stand behind her. "And you should know that I never wanted that woman. She forced herself on me, so I protected you and our children by allowing her to seduce me."

"You…you protected me? Why…why would you do that?" she asked, turning to look at him for the first time since that morning.

"Because she was going to kill you and our children in your sleep," he replied honestly.

Abigail felt tears in her eyes as she heard his reply. "Oh, Chris, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that."

"It's not your fault, Abs. You didn't know."

She saw his honest look and it made her step closer but then she was taking steps backward until her slender body made contact with the trunk of the oak tree as he then pinned her in place with his hard body, lowering his head to capture her lips in a kiss filled with demand, with passionate pleasure. Their tongues dueled in a tango that could only be described as daring and passionate, and when Christopher broke off the kiss to begin pressing open-mouthed kisses into her neck, Abigail saw the husband she'd always known hiding beneath the protective person.

"Chris…" she whimpered in a pleading tone.

Christopher smiled against her neck. "I'm here, Abby, and I'm never leaving you."

At first, she didn't respond. And then, she was pushing him away from her before letting her hands lift to the buttons of her shirt, ripping them open without actually unfastening them from their proper holes. Then she pushed it back over her shoulders and lowered her hands to the hem of her camisole tank, lifting it up and over her head. Through lashes barely lowered against her cheeks, Abigail watched as her husband did the same, exposing the broad, muscular chest with just a tiny bit of hair between his pectorals, making a T as it tapered down to the area below his jeans.

Abigail licked her lips. "Still as handsome as the day I married you."

Her head fell back when she felt his hands smoothing up the supple skin of her stomach until he had gently wrapped his hands around the tender, aching globes that made up most of her upper chest. "What about you?" he asked in a husky voice.

Abigail looked at him. "What about me?"

"You said I was just as handsome as the day we were married. What about you?"

"Oh, I think I'm just as beautiful as I was then," she replied. "Maybe even more beautiful…"

"Oh, hell yeah you are," he growled then began to kiss down the column of her neck.

Abigail moaned as she felt him kissing her neck. "Christopher, please…"

"Please what, love? Tell me."

"Don't tease me."

"Oh no, darling, whatever will I do?" he feigned being wounded by her words then gave her a teasing smile.

Abigail giggled when she saw his smile. "Oh, come here, you." She then captured his lips with hers in a deep and passionate kiss. He returned it then began to guide her down onto the grass beneath them, helping her in removing her riding clothes and then his own, gliding his member into her waiting core.

Abigail wrapped her legs around his waist, rocking her hips against him. "You're so beautiful, Abby," he ground out as he began to thrust in and out of her, his speed soon picking up.

Abigail moaned as she matched his speed. "I feel beautiful with you, Chris."

Two Hours Later

They returned to the stables where they got dressed once again into their clothes for the funeral and then headed back up to the house, hand in hand. April saw them coming in and, judging from the smiles on their faces, Christopher's decision to go after her was a good one. "So, I'm guessing you two made up?"

"We sure did," Christopher said. "I even told her the truth about that woman in the church."

"Oh? Well, that's good then. Come in before you catch a cold, okay?" April said, stepping to let them inside.

Abigail nodded and walked into the house, Christopher following her. April closed the screen door after them and pulled the big door shut as well to keep the cold out before following her sister and brother-in-law into the living room, where a lot of family and friends were still gathered. Matt saw Abigail and Christopher return, smiling at them. "Well, look who made up."

The previously fighting couple either blushed or looked in a different direction as if to say, 'Who are you talking about?' They weren't exactly sure why Matt was even commenting, but silently, they knew. Matt continued to smile at them before looking toward the ceiling, thanking Theresa and Andrew for helping Abigail and Christopher find their way back to each other.

Meanwhile…

Colin lay beside Andrea as she rested in her mother's old bedroom in the upstairs part of the ranch house. Sighing, he kissed her forehead. "I know it was hard to see them laid out like that, Dee, but they're together in paradise."

She nodded at his words, turning her head toward him as she opened her eyes. "I know they are. And they're happy up there," she said softly.

Colin smiled. "I know too."

"And they're probably meeting your Aunt Tatiana, and congratulating her on becoming a great-aunt, while she does the same on becoming great-grandparents," she says with a smile.

Colin smiled as well. "Yes."

Picking up his hand, Andrea pressed his palm to her lips and gently kissed it then looked at him. "I love you, Colin Zachary Mikaelson," she said softly.

Colin smiled at her. "I love you too, Andrea Donovan."

She smiled again then scooted closer, as gently as she could with her pregnant belly and let her head come to rest on his chest, covered by the suit jacket and white shirt he'd worn for the service. Colin sighed as he ran his fingers through her hair, the sweet scent of it reaching his nose. He swore to himself that nothing would take him away from her, and vice versa.

Andrea knew she'd found the one she was meant to be with, and although a part of her would always love Dante, Colin was her soul mate. Andrea looked up at Colin and noticed how quiet he was. "Are you okay? You're so quiet."

"Yeah, I'm just thinking on some things," he replied.

Andrea nodded. "Like what?"

"Oh, just the usual," he replied. "You know…if I'm going to be as good a father to our child as mine or yours was."

"Colin, you're going to be a great father," Andrea said. "Our child is going to love you. In fact, it already does. So, I wouldn't worry about things like that. Granted, it won't be easy, but you'll be a wonderful father. If you're that worried, you can ask either your father or mine for advice, and they'll be more than willing to guide you."

"I will do that then," he said with a smile.

Andrea nodded and kissed him. "Good. I'll even ask my mother and your mother for their advice, since I'm going to need guidance to be a good mother."

"You kind of already are," he said with a smirk against her lips.

Andrea nodded. "But, it doesn't hurt to have expert advice. My mother and your mother have years of experience and knowledge. If I need them, they'll be there for me."

"Since we're putting the wedding plans on hold for now, why don't we try and come up with names for our baby and try to decide on where to put the nursery?" he suggested.

Andrea nodded. "That's a good idea."

"Good. But, for now, why don't we head back downstairs and see what your family is up to?"

Andrea nodded. "That sounds good to me. I'll be they're probably wondering what became of us."

He nodded then stood up from the bed, helping her up as well. As they made their way downstairs, Colin smiled at Andrea, even more in love with her than before and also looking forward to seeing their baby when he or she finally arrived. Once they got there, Colin immediately got pulled aside by his mother while Andrea got pulled away by her own mother. Colin gave Katherine a curious look. "Mother, what's going on? Why did you pull me aside like that? I'm not in trouble or anything, am I?"

"No. No, nothing like that, darling…I just wanted to finalize a few things about the wedding. Now, I know that you and Andrea have decided to hold it off for a bit because of the loss of your future grandparents-in-law, but I wanted to talk venues. Have you decided on any?" Katherine asked.

Colin shook his head. "No, we haven't gotten that far. We were going to discuss venues, but then Andrea's grandparents died and we never got to it."

"Alright, just let me know, okay?" she said, avoiding the embarrassment he obviously didn't need and scurried off to find Elijah.

On the other side, Andrea was talking to her mother. "What did you need to discuss, Mom?"

"I wanted to know where you were going to have the wedding," she replied. "I know that you and Colin are putting your plans on hold because your grandparents passed, but I just want to know what venue you're using."

"Oh, that," Andrea said. "Well, we haven't discussed that yet."

April nodded. "Okay, well, I was just curious. Let me when you do discuss it, okay?" Then, before her daughter could respond, she walked off to find Matt.

Her daughter then wandered over to her husband-to-be. "My mother just wanted to discuss places for a venue," they said in unison.

Colin sighed. "I guess there's no use putting it off any longer. We're going to have to discuss venues eventually, you know."

Andrea nodded, placing a hand on her belly. "I know. Our mothers are getting restless, and when my mother gets restless, there's no denying her."

"Same goes for mine," Colin said. "When she gets restless, it's impossible to say no to her. Just ask my father. He has experience in the matter."

"So does my father," she said.

Colin nodded. "Then, you realize what we have to do, right?"

"Elope," was all she responded with. Colin grinned then reached for her hand. Andrea put hers into his then allowed him to guide her out of the house and out to their car, where they got in.

Andrea smiled at him once they were in the car. "Where should we elope to?"

"Well, I hear Las Vegas is nice, either that or Niagara Falls."

"Colin…" she said and he glanced over at her then down at her pregnant stomach.

"Oh. Right, I forgot about that," he said.

Andrea nodded and kissed him. "Which brings me back to my question, where should we elope to?"

"Let's go for somewhere closer. Like, maybe Florida?" Colin suggested.

"Florida sounds great to me," Andrea said. "All right, Florida it is."

Starting the engine, Colin eased the car out of the driveway, his eyes catching sight of both of their mothers on the front steps and obviously wondering where they were going. Sticking his hand out the window, Colin waved at them in a backward way then gently eased the car forward so as not to cause an accident. Katherine looked at April as soon as the car pulled away. "Where do you think they're going?"

"I'd hate to say it, but I believe they're eloping."

"Good for them," Katherine said with a grin. "They're taking the easy route out of having to plan so much with our help."

April sighed. "Ah, young love. It's a beautiful thing."

"I couldn't agree more," Katherine said. April turned to smile at her then linked arms with the curly-haired brunette that shared looks with her best friend as they walked back into the ranch house.

Elijah saw his wife and April returning and gave them a curious look. "What's going on? Where are Colin and Andrea?"

Katherine smiled at him. "They've eloped. I guess all of the pressure we were putting on them trying to get us help plan their wedding got to them and they decided to escape."

"Why didn't they invite us along? I am sure that Matthew would have loved to be there to give his daughter away," Elijah said.

Katherine nodded. "I know, but this is something they wanted to do."

"But…" Elijah protested, but Katherine shook her head.

"They're not children anymore, Elijah. This is no longer pretend, it's the real thing for them," his wife said.

Elijah wanted to protest again, but knew she was right. "Very well, if this is what they want, then we'll let them do it."

"Good husband," Katherine said with a grin up at him.

Elijah smiled and kissed her. "I love you, Katerina."

"I love you too, Elijah," Katherine said, grinning against his lips.

April smiled at them and went to find Matt. She didn't have to look far, because she found him in the parlor. "Hey, sweetheart, just thought I'd let you know that Colin and Andrea have eloped."

"I heard." Matt's response was low, and April could sense that he'd been crying, so she went over and stood in front of him, immediately noticing the red around his eyes.

She placed her hands on his face. "Matty, I know you're disappointed that you're not going to be able to give Andrea away, but this was their decision."

"I know, and she'll always be my little girl. But, she once told me that she had always wanted that gigantic wedding, and for me to be the one walking her down the aisle," he said softly.

April nodded. "I remember, but the funny thing about plans is that they have a tendency to change."

"Why, though?" he asked his wife. "Why is it that, whenever we plan something out in our life, it always changes if something unexpected happens?"

"That's the way life is, Matt," April said. "It changes whether we want it to or not."

He nodded then wrapped his arms around her. "What would I do without you?"

April returned his hug. "Try not to think about it, okay? It'll only be depressing."

"I love you, April Young Donovan. Best thing that ever happened to me," he said in a soft murmur into her hair.

"I love you too, Matt Donovan," his wife replied. "I've always loved you and I'll never stop."

"Do you remember the first time we met?" he asked, pulling back to look at her.

April smiled. "I do. I believe you told me that you saw me skinny dipping."

"Actually, I think it was a lot earlier than that. There was a time that my mom told me it was you, me, Elena and her sisters, Vicki, the Salvatore brothers, and some other kids," Matt said.

April giggled. "Oh, right, how could I forget that? Then again, we were kids at the time."

"Yeah, it was a long time ago. But, I think my mom has photographic proof. I'll have to give her a call later," he said.

April nodded. "Yeah, that's a good idea. She'd remember it better than we can."

Author's Note: So, here is an update. I hope you enjoyed it!