Chapter 43 – Rest of Forever
Rebekah was excited as she packed her bags for her trip to Miami with her sisters for Elena's bachelorette party. It had been 4 years since Caroline's bachelorette party, and they really needed the girl time. Ever since she had gotten married, Caroline had not spent more than a few hours away from Klaus. It wasn't all Caroline's fault though. Bonnie spent most of her time with Kol, or with a witch coven that her mother had been a part of, they were helping her gain control of her magic again. Elena and Elijah remained in Mystic Falls, wanting their children to grow a bit before they left to travel the world as a family, which would happen after the honeymoon. And Rebekah, well she was enjoying her life with Stefan, which right now meant they were living in Rome.
"You do realize that you are only spending three days in Miami right?" Stefan asked as he watched her pack her third suitcase.
"We are heading right back to Mystic Falls afterwards to start preparing for the wedding." Rebekah reminded him, barely managing to close the suitcase as she did.
"You have an entire closet full of clothes there." Stefan pointed out in return, it was for that very reason that he had not packed anything at all. He was flying out to Mystic Falls early, he really didn't want to spend three days by himself if he didn't have to. Plus, there was the secret bachelor party to think about.
"There, I am done." Rebekah stated proudly as she placed the bag by her other two, all three looking like they were stretching the seams to their limit.
"Congratulations." He said dryly, and then added, "Now can I steal you away for dinner? It is already made and waiting. Nik and Caroline will be here in ten hours to pick us up and I would like to spend all that time with you. Especially since I won't see you for three days with all this wedding stuff."
"Dinner? That is what you want to do with our time?" Rebekah said seductively as she moved closer to him.
Stefan smirked at the blonde in front of him, "Yes, dinner is how I would like to start our evening, we can get to that after."
"This dinner better be special." Rebekah commented, a huff in her voice, and walked out the bedroom door, heading toward the dining room.
Stefan smiled as he followed Rebekah down the stairs and into the room, looking confused when she noticed the lack of food there. She turned and looked at Stefan, "Where is the food?"
"Out on the balcony." Stefan replied and opened the double doors, revealing an intimate table with two roses and four candles. The plates were covered and there was a bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket on the far side of the table.
"What is this?" Rebekah asked, the grin on her face revealing her pleasure at the sight as she turned to look at him. Her breath stalled when she saw him down on one knee, an open box sitting in his hand, and a beautiful ring shining up at her.
"Rebekah Mikaelson, I love you more than I ever thought was possible. These last years with you have been the happiest of my life, even with our disagreements." Rebekah let out a small giggle at that and tried to keep the tears from falling as he continued, "I want to spend the rest of our never ending lives together. Will you marry me?"
"Of course." Rebekah responded and finally left the tears fall as he slipped the ring onto her finger. The cut was classic princess, and the stones were of a size that fit her likes perfectly, it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
Stefan grinned as he rose to his feet and wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting and spinning her around in a circle. She giggled as they turned around, and smiled as he lowered back slowly to the ground. Rebekah quickly pressed her lips against his, and smiled as her spun her around again, this time their lips were never apart.
As they separated, Rebekah looked at the set table, "Did you really make dinner?"
Stefan laughed and lifted up one of the covers from a plate, revealing an empty plate, "I knew better than that." He teased and grabbed the champagne before the two of them raced back up the stairs. Both knowing exactly how they planned to the hours before Nik and Caroline arrived.
"They'd better be ready, you know how Bekah likes to leave things to the last minute." Nik commented as they walked up to the front door of the simple villa that Stefan and his sister called home.
"Even if she isn't, we will still be on time." Caroline commented, laughing at her husband.
He didn't respond and just rang the doorbell, even though they were expected, he had walked in on his sister and his best friend in the act too many times to ever risk it again. From the amount of time it was taking them to answer the door, he was glad that he had knocked. He sighed and said, "They knew we were coming."
"Like we haven't ever done the same to them." Caroline said, and blushed at the time in Sydney when Rebekah had walked in on them. The look of shock on the other girls face had been priceless when Caroline thought back on it, at the time she was so embarrassed that it had taken her days to be able to look Rebekah in the eye again.
Stefan quickly opened the door, the buttons on his shirt not done up the right way, "Hey, you guys are early."
"No, we aren't." Nik said as he walked into the house, smirking at his friend while he shook his head, "You were just distracted."
Stefan just glared at his friend's back until Caroline distracted him with a hug, "It is great to see you Stef. Is Bekah ready or do I need to go help her pack?"
"She will be down in a minute." Stefan replied and looped his arm around Caroline's waist as they went to follow Nik into the sitting room.
Nik was busy making them all a drink when Rebekah came running into the room, "Caroline! Caroline!" She was yelling and pulled her sister into a hug, "I am so happy you are here."
"Hey, why don't get that kind of greeting?" Nik asked jokingly as he handed Stefan his drink.
"She loves her more." Stefan teased and slapped Nik on the back, waiting for the moment when Rebekah would tell their news.
"Look Care." Rebekah said as she pulled away, showing off her left hand to her sister.
Caroline lifted up Rebekah's hand and smiled, "About damn time." She said before pulling Rebekah into another hug.
Nik laughed at his wife and sister as they began talking about all the details under which Stefan proposed. He turned to look at Stefan, "Come on mate. Let's have a celebratory drink between brothers."
Elena laughed as Rebekah threw Caroline into the pool again, the Original easily able to overpower her sister-in-law. Katherine shook her head as she laughed and joined Elena and Bonnie on the side of the pool, placing her feet in the water instead of sitting in the empty chair, "So, our first drinks of the day will be arriving shortly."
"What did you order Kat?" Elena asked, sometimes it surprised her how much she had come to accept Katherine as a part of her life.
"That is a surprise." She said with a lift of her eyebrows before she disappeared over the edge of the pool with a little shriek. Rebekah and Caroline popped up a few feet away laughing as Katherine emerged above the surface of the water, "What was that for?" She asked, her voice in a place between angry and laughter.
Caroline looked at Rebekah before looking back at Katherine and saying, "Because I could."
Katherine's eyes flashed before she smirked and dove at Caroline. The three vampires chased and swam after each other in the pool while the three humans remained lounging on their chairs.
April turned and looked at Elena, "Are you ready to be married?"
Elena smiled at April, glad that her and Jeremy were still together after all of this time, and answered, "I am more than ready to be married, it is what else that it implies that I am a little unsure about still." She paused and looked back at the pool, and those that are in it, "I just never wanted to be a vampire, but I could never leave Elijah, and this is the only way for us to remain together."
"I think you'll be a great vampire Elena, especially with Elijah there to guide you." Bonnie said, she had been thinking about her future too. There was only so long that she could use magic to prevent her from aging, and it was a choice she was going to have to make sooner rather than later. But there was still something she wanted in life before she gave it all up to be a vampire.
"I agree." Caroline called from across the way, "And who ever got us this private house with servants, you rock."
"You are most welcome for the hospitality." Katherine bowed as she got out of the pool and sat back down in her chair, drying off as she did. She smiled as two men walked over carrying the trays of shots, "Come along Blondies, time to start this party right!"
Caroline and Rebekah were quick to take their places, and each were thankful for the shot of tequila that they were handed.
Caroline took charge, "Before we celebrate the true meaning of us being here, I suggest that this first shot should be in congratulations of Rebekah, and her engagement."
"Agreed." Elena said and held up her shot, "To Rebekah!"
"Congratulations!" The five women cheered as Rebekah blushed before they all downed their tiny glasses.
Elijah could tell that something was up the second he walked into the house with Klaus and Stefan after picking them up from the air strip. The most obvious missing sound was that of his children, who were always happy to greet him with hugs when he came home. He turned and looked at his brother, "Up to your old tricks Niklaus?"
"I do not know what you are talking about dear brother." Klaus replied, sharing a knowing smirk with Stefan before the three of them walked into one of the many sitting rooms.
"Really, then where are my children?" Elijah asked, not too concerned as he trusted Kol and Jeremy with them, but he was still curious.
"They are with Alaric and Meredith." Kol commented as he walked into the room, a bottle of scotch in his right hand, "They have nicely agreed to watch them for the night as we celebrate your upcoming end of singleness."
"I haven't been a single man for five years Kol." Elijah told him, not liking the idea of having a bachelor party. He remembered Klaus' clearly, and was not in the mood for a repeat performance of the night.
"Don't worry, we are having a guy's night in. We know you aren't into the party, party scenes." Damon replied as he and Jeremy wondered in from the kitchen. He had a second bottle of scotch in his hand, "The table is all set."
"Cool, I don't remember the last time we had a chance to do this." Stefan said, and followed his brother out of the room.
"That is because the last time you ended up disappearing for days." Damon pointed out, receiving confusing looks from the Mikaelsons and Jeremy. He sighed and explained, "In the sixties Stefan and I ran into each other in Atlantic City. I am not exactly sure what happened that night, but I found Stefan two days later naked under a bridge on the water front."
"I am not even sure what happened." Stefan admitted as they walked into the game room.
Where the chairs in front of the fireplace once were was now a poker table, already set up for the six of them. Elijah smiled at the sight, "Poker and drinking?"
"And cigars!" Kol announced pointing at a box that sitting a nearby table, "But those are for later. For now, deal the cards Salvatore."
Damon smirked and started to deal out the first hand.
As Damon handed out the cards, Stefan cleared his throat and said, "Before we begin, there is something that I want to share with all of you." He waited a moment to make sure that he had their attention before saying, "I asked Rebekah to marry me, and she agreed."
Everyone smiled and Kol said, "Awesome, now you will truly be a part of the family."
Elena smiled as she looked at her appearance in the full length mirror. Her curve hugging dress fit her like a glove before it flared out gently at her hips. She had gone for something much simpler than Caroline had, the only real details coming from a jeweled belt around her waist, and the slight ruching of her sweetheart bodice. She had her hair curled and then pulled the front section back, forming a small pinned tail at the base of her neck. The veil settled in perfecting above the knot, or it would once she put it on.
Caroline appeared in the mirror behind her, the lilac bridesmaid dress flowing down her body until it reached the floor. Her blonde locks were curled perfectly around her face, cascading down her back. She smiled at her friend, "You look stunning. Do you want me to put the veil on?"
"Yes please." Elena replied and let out a deep breath. Her eyes locked on Caroline's as the blonde placed the last remaining piece of her outfit, "I wish my mom was here to see this."
"I am sure she is watching it and smiling, so is your dad and Jenna and John. They would be so proud of you Elena." Caroline told her best friend and pulled her in for a hug.
There was a knock on the door and before either could answer Miranda and Henrik came running in, Rebekah close on their heels. She was wearing the exact same dress as Caroline, and she couldn't help but think that two truly looked like sisters. Rebekah smiled at them, "Sorry, they got away from me."
"It is fine." Elena said and knelt down so she was at eye level with her five year olds, "Are you two ready to watch mommy and daddy get married?"
"Yes." Miranda answered, shaking her hips back and forth causing the skirt of her pink dress to twirl around her.
Henrik nodded and fidgeted with his tie, "Do I have to wear this?"
Elena smiled at her son and fixed the tie, "Yes, you have to wear it."
Caroline laughed, "I guess he is more like Kol than Elijah when it comes to a suit."
Rebekah giggled in response, "Let's hope he grows out of it." She commented before looking back down at the twins, "Come on, we have to get the two of you into position. We are almost ready to start."
Elena nodded as Rebekah led her children away, Caroline turned at looked at Elena, "Are you ready to become a Mikaelson Miss Gilbert?"
The brunette couldn't help but laugh, which she was sure was Caroline's plan, "I have been ready for a long time Care."
"Then what else are you waiting…" She started to say when a throat cleared and the two of them turned to look at the door.
Alaric smiled at them, "You girls ready?"
"We are." Elena replied and nodded at Caroline, "Tell them to start."
"Will do." Caroline answered with a smile and walked briskly out of the room.
Elena took one last look at herself in the mirror and pulled the veil up to cover her face, "I'm ready."
"You look beautiful." Alaric said as Elena placed her hand on the crook of his arm.
Elena blushed at the compliment, "Thank you, and thank you for agreeing to give me away."
"You know I think of you as a daughter Elena, this is my honor." He replied honestly, and smiled down at her, tears in his eyes.
"Maybe one day you and Meredith will have kids of your own." She suggested the two of them had gotten married in a small ceremony at city hall two years earlier.
"We will see. Today, my darling girl, is all about you." He reminded her, a twinkle in his eye as the bride's song began.
Elena took a deep breath and looked down the long aisle of the church, her eyes landing on Elijah at the end of it, and all of her nerves just floated away.
Elena smiled as she sipped at the glass of wine in her hand as she stared out over the ocean, watching the sun slowly dip below the horizon. This was their second day in Hawaii, the tropical island was the location of both her honeymoon and the beginning of her new life, or unlife.
She heard Elijah approach her, and tried to get her breathing under control. Elena had never been this nervous around Elijah before, because today was truly going to ensure that they spent the rest of forever together. What she and Elijah were going to experience tonight was so much different than anything they had done before.
"You are completely sure you are ready for this? I have no problem waiting a few more years if that is what you would like." He told her as he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder.
"I don't want to get any older." Elena replied. She knew he was about 28 and that she could have a few more years if she liked before she got older than him, "I love you, and I am ready to be a vampire. I trust you to make sure that I don't do anything that I will regret or not be able to handle."
"Your compassionate soul is what I first fell in love with, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that you never lose it." Elijah promised her, and he glanced at her hand, "You should finish the wine."
Elena nodded, she had guessed that he had laced with his blood. Truthfully, she was pretty sure that he had been lacing drinks with his blood for years, just in case something beyond his control happened to her. Elena threw back her head and downed the rest of the wine. She took a deep breath and placed the glass on a nearby table before looking back out to the ocean, "I am ready whenever you are."
Elijah turned her around and gave her a strong kiss. He gave her a small smile and said, "I will be right here when you wake up." Before she had a chance to respond he did a quick twist of his hands and snapped her neck. Elijah carefully caught her falling body and lifted her in his arms, he was gentle as he laid her down on the bed, "I love you Elena." He whispered into her ear before he moved so he could lie down beside her.
AN: So, so, so SORRY for the how long to took for me to update this story. I really had planned to have this up last week, but so many things got in the way of being able to write this. I apologize and hope this was worth the wait, and I will try to better with the next chapter, which is the last, besides a short epilogue.
Make sure to tell me if there is anything that you want in the next chapter, this is your last chance in a way.
Please, let me know what you thought of this chapter. Again, so sorry it took me so long to update.
