Caroline finished her makeup, snapping another clip into her hair to keep it back.

"The socks?" Nick asked.

"It's a golf-themed bachelorette." She explained, the pink socks with black nets printed reached up to her knees. She wore brightly-colored clothes and strappy heels.

"Have you ever done a wedding before?" She asked as they walked out of the house.

"No. But I've done several funerals." He said.

"An escort to a funeral? Someone's dead." Caroline protested.

"Yeah, imagine facing that alone." Nick reasoned.

Arnold popped up from the side and called to them, tossing Nick the keys to his car. Caroline froze, wondering how much he'd heard.

"Make sure he stays on the right side of the road." He instructed Caroline.

"Which is of course the left." Nick assured him.

"Right!"

They drove down a very busy highway, luckily it was only them in the car. The past few times, the cab drivers have gotten too mouthy, either to him or to her. And Caroline couldn't wait to get out even if she didn't physically show it. She turned to him as he drove silently, his hands whispering over the leather of the steering wheel.

"Are you ever attracted to your clients?" Caroline asked over a length of talking about nothing. She hoped it didn't sound too obvious that she was forming a crush on him. But then again, Nick was probably used to this. He was so kind, respectful, and protective. It's a wonder he wasn't already married.

"I know you're curious about my business, but I can't discuss my clients. Both because of contracts and to protect their anonymity." He eyed her during his last word. Caroline blushed.

"Come on. How many of them want to sleep with you?" She asked genuinely.

They parked, and Nick got out.

"I swear love, it's not about sex. It's about understanding what people need." Nick replied as he went around the car to open the door for her. Caroline smirked playfully at him.

"You're like the Yoda of escorts." She noted as she got out, smiling at him while he closed the door silently after her. Nick smiled. "Getting you on the phone was harder than getting my job at the news station." She grinned wickedly. Nick shook his head at her tone.

"No, I don't play games. No stunts."

"Right."

"It's much more..."

"Subtle." She finished for him. Nick smiled again, both to himself and at her.

"It's not about me." He said, gesturing around as if he'd finally pulled the words from him. "It's about you."

"Then show me." Caroline challenged. His eyebrow rose.

"You've already seen it, love." Nick protested.

"Yes, but there were others around. I wanna see if you can pull it off with just a one-on-one." She replied. He simply shook his head, staring at her with the smirk still on his lips. She sighed and put her purse on the top of the car.

"Come on!" She coaxed. Nick got on the sidewalk and took a few steps, her eyes on him as always.

"Hmm, what's holding me back. Perhaps the words 'morally repugnant'?" He challenged. She laughed.

"Show me!" She insisted, flashing her eyes.

Nick looked off to the sidewalk behind the for other people, then pushed against her torso suddenly, and she was against the side of the car.

She wasn't expecting this. Caroline's smile vanished and she watched him worriedly.

Nick looked back at her in amusement and frustration, all at once.

"Close your eyes." He murmured a command, stepping closer and stroking the side of her face with the backs of his fingertips. Caroline stared back at him stubbornly. He merely stared back, unrelenting. She looked off to the sidewalk as he did, but also the other way. She jumped when his hand brushed her face again.

"Close. Your. Eyes." He repeated. She slid down the side of the car, almost trying to get away from him. But this was what she was asking him to do before, right.

She finally closed her eyes, the mixture of purple and pink overtaking her eyelids. She felt Nick press more against her and gulped.

Nick watched her tremble beneath him, and fought an urge to brush his lips against her face as well. This wasn't about him, as he'd just told her.

"You're safe. You can relax." He whispered, his breath on her mouth with inches of space between. "I'm not going to kiss you." He assured her. She felt both relief and disappointment, one as confusing a feeling to her as the other.

He placed his hand on her waist, and picked his head up, looking around again. A cab went by but no one spared them a glance. Caroline couldn't help herself from moaning softly at the feeling of his breath on her face.

"He's gonna be so sorry he lost you." Nick hushed as an affirmation. He didn't believe the words himself, but he put enough feeling into it that it sounded as though he did.

"So, stop worrying." His hand drifted up, and went to her neck. She pulled away from the hand, only trying to coax it back.

"Forget the past." Nick continued to murmur. He dipped his head to her neck, still not actually touching her.

"Forget the pain." He added, and Caroline breathed hard.

"And remember." His thumb was on the underside of her chin.

"What an incredible, woman you are." He meant those last words. She tried to breathe in his breath. And then he pulled away, dropping his hands and merely staring at her. He had done something of a reasonable facsimile to this with another client, but one that meant nothing to him and it was for a completely different purpose. Seeing how Caroline reacted to him, he had goosebumps himself. He suddenly was a little sad that she wasn't his.

"If you do that, he'll realize what he lost."

Caroline's eyes slowly opened to him. And he could see that she finally saw him for what he was. He stared back at her.

"Holy crap." She stated. "You're worth every penny."

And then she put her foot in her mouth, and wished she could disappear into the street and never be seen again. His face showed how right she was to wish such a thing. Nick turned away from her, falling against the side of the car next to her.

"You should get going." He said. She nodded, wishing now she could have taken back what she said.

"Okay Yoda."

She slowly peeled herself from the side of the car, and shakily began walking right. Nick gently took her shoulders, and steered her to the left.

She was gonna need a lot of drinks to forget that debacle.

Luckily the first thing the bartender brought out was whiskey shots set aflame. The girls cheered, some already drunk by the time she'd arrived with red faces and frizzing hair.

Caroline took a shot, lifting it in the air as a toast.

"To Bex!" She called. The others whooped their agreement. Some blew out the flame first, others just downed it.

The door to the bar was a little rectangle only a small six year old would be able to walk through standing upright. Nick ducked in with Caroline's purse tucked under his arm, ignoring the others as they stared at him appreciatively. She held an apology in her eyes as he neared her.

"I thought you might need this." He said. She nodded, smiling and took it.

"Silly me. Where was my head." She asked rhetorically, to which he smirked. Maybe she could get him to forgive her then. Elena and the others were still staring at him. Rebekah, unfortunately, seemed to be staring at his pants.

"Bye." He murmured to Caroline.

As Nick turned to leave, Elena stepped up to him.

"Listen why don't you stay, and have a fiery drink with us?" She asked.

"Uh..." He began, then looked at Rebekah for the permission or rejection. She merely smiled at him, pretending to consider it.

"Yeah, that's fine." She told him.

As he relented, the ladies swarmed him, talking to each other and petting his suit, feeling his biceps and smelling his cologne. Luckily he was used to this, even with sober women. And sober men.

"Can you believe Care gets to sleep with this guy?" Elena asked Bex, Caroline laughing to herself. If you only knew...Elena patted Caroline's shoulder. "You should send God a...bottle of wine or a quiche or something." Caroline stared at Nick. Elena chuckled as her joke and nudged Caroline again, as she stepped towards Nick.

Stefan was out of her mind, and what she really, really wanted right then...was to kiss him in front of everyone, and claim him as her own. The girls were still smiling at him, sniffing petting and squeezing, when Caroline got really close to his ear.

"Must be really nice to get paid just for being you."

"Who says I'm being me?" He retorted. They locked eyes again, and there was something different in both now. She was in awe of who he was, grateful he was there, wishing he was actually hers. He was still slightly annoyed at her behavior, didn't count it against her, but wanted to flirt with her now. She wanted to play games, she practically said as much. And he wanted to play with her.

Rebekah got into the crowd and sidled up to them. Nick looked at her.

"Excuse me, Bex, thank you for granting me a glimpse into a timeless female ritual." The others were still paying all their attention to him, so he raised his glass to them. "Here's to the husbands who've won you, the losers who've lost you, and the lucky bastards who've yet to meet you." All the women in the place raised their glasses, cheering, and Caroline applauded his toast.

"And to the cock in the henhouse!" Rebekah added, earning a laugh from everyone. Caroline smiled, but her usual nervousness was sinking back in with her sister's words. Nick turned to leave and this time Caroline took his arm and went with him to the opening.

He watched her movements, and she let his arm go, kissing him brusquely. His hand brushed her waist. This was still an act to him, but now it was more enjoyable.

The girls whooped and Caroline grinned at them, then turned back to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him more deeply. She pushed them both against the wall, bracing against it with one hand. The girls cheered her on.

Caroline continued to kiss him, and he opened his eyes at her in surprise, before really, sincerely, kissing her back. Was...this still just for show?

She pulled back, and he saw how much she enjoyed those kisses. He'd have to go to the WC and wipe her lipstick from his mouth, but a smile was plastered on his lips. She pulled away, now self-conscious, Nick ducking through the entryway, but laughed and smiled to her friends who still whooped their support for her.

She traveled back to the bar.

"Ladies! The bride," She gestured to Rebekah who laughed at the whooping "Has made the foolhardy and perhaps fatal request that we play pub golf tonight." She held up the first shot. "There is a two stroke penalty for failing to finish a hole, and a three stroke penalty for throwing up." The girls laughed. "Yell 'fore' before you barf, and it'll only be two strokes." She held up two fingers. The girls nodded. "We have eight more holes, waiting at eight more bars. So pace yourselves."

"To Rebekah!" Caroline called, downing her shot.

Stefan poured Marcel another drink of gin as the man coughed and scrunched his nose.

"You remember when we took the girls hiking in the Lake District?" He asked him. Marcel leaned against the counter, shaking his head.

"You do. Blistering heat in the morning, rained all afternoon." Stefan laughed.

"No."

"You backed your car over a cop's bicycle!"

"Nope, sorry." He began to down his gin.

"The Rat and Gerkhin!" Stefan added. Marcel gulped and nodded, finally remembering.

"Real good cider." Marcel affirmed.

"Mm."

"Bex wore that little bikini." Stefan noted, grinning at the memory. Marcel was too drunk to notice.

"Yet somehow Care was the one stung by the nettles."

"And she never said a word until Bex caught her scratching her ass in the bathroom."

"And you very sweetly rubbed it with a dock leaf to bring down the swelling." Marcel laughed.

Stefan shook his head at himself. "I didn't deserve her back then."

Marcel picked his head up and watched him. "And you do now?"

Nick came into the party, not sure if he actually needed to be there. Maybe Stefan needed some final coaxing, he should make sure. He laughed at the other drunken men playing around with an ice sculpture of a naked woman's torso, her nipple and the left side of her upper chest and neck melting. One man came in and suckled.

Stefan caught a glimpse of Nick and groaned. He nodded a greeting to him as the man noticed him in return, unbuttoning his $600 cuff links and rolling up his sleeves.

"What is his problem?" Stefan demanded. Marcel looked at him incredulously.

"What?!"

"There's something about him I don't like."

"Yeah, he's bigger than you and sleeping with your ex fiance." Marcel chuckled, downing the rest of his drink.

"That is not it! Look at him...he's walking around like he owns the place. Arrogant bastard."

They watched Nick as he leaned closer to the bookshelf near him, trying to read the cover. And completely ignoring most of the entertainment the rest of the men were steadfastly enjoying.

Then, raunchy music started and a grinning blonde and brunette looked out around the corner of the room. One wore a college cap. They slunk back behind the wall as the whistling began, and the blonde came out in a sheer white shirt and black tie, beginning to loosen both. Her grin grew wider, and the brunette came out with her, dressed in a fluffy pink boa scarf, sheer striped black top and short skirt.

"Ohhh, no!" Marcel protested sloppily, Stefan pulling on him and others helping.

"Come on, this is your last chance!" Someone called.

No one knew why Stefan had really hired the strippers.

Nick smiled after Marcel, feeling much more respect for the man that he had before. Maybe Marcel was a sloppy drunk, but he still had his morals. He went back to reading the covers of the books on the shelf.

Caroline watched a bartender working to give three shots of gin, whiskey and tequila to two girls who were mean drunks.

"Hurry up!" One snapped at him. He gave them the side eye, and she got a closer look at him. The man noticed her eyes and she finally connected the dots.

"Woody?" She greeted.

"Not yet, but - "

"It's getting there!" they both said together. He hugged her over the bar as she cackled.

"I thought you were in San Fransico! Or was it Nepal?" She asked.

"Close, Sydney. But it turns out I missed the rain."

Suddenly Rebekah crashed into her, laughing, and grinned at Woody.

"Did she tell you she dumped you because of your stinky breath?" She continued to laugh. The man's smile faded and he shrunk back a little.

Caroline shook her head, holding her little sister up before she fell onto the side of the stool. Rebekah clung to her, hugging her from behind with her blonde hair unraveling from the hair clip and her makeup smudged just like Caroline's.

"She's drunk." Caroline excused her. She gave Woody a sympathetic look. "I didn't really dump you though, right?" She mocked the last words.

"Hard." Woody countered. Her smiled vanished. "But it's understandable, you were one of the hottest girls in school."

"And we know that Care was one of the hottest ex pats in school too." Rebekah interrupted, beginning to pet Caroline's hair. "Because she was voted Best Eyes, and Brightest Smile," she tipped Caroline's face to hers. "And Most Likely to Age Well..."

She noticed Caroline's eyes weren't dancing with laughter or any hint of happiness, and the dam broke.

"You're my half sister but I whole love you!" She swooped in and clutched Caroline in a tight hug. Caroline just bore it, not bothering to hold her back. She instead smiled at Woody sympathetically.

"Why don't you get my half sister a..." She struggled for a moment to remember the number they were on. "Seventh Hole?" Caroline offered.

"Tequila!" Bex affirmed. Woody nodded with the excuse to run away. Caroline watched him and wished she could throttle Rebekah. She was as bad of a drunk as their mother was.

When she turned back to her sister, almost ready to scold her, she saw the panic, sadness, and fear in Bex's eyes. Bex looked away just as quickly, seeming to struggle not to cry, and glances back at her.

"Are you alright?" Caroline asked.

"I don't know if I can do this." Bex admitted. Caroline took her hand.

"The Seventh Hole?" She inquired.

"No, the wedding!" Rebekah protested, luckily not loud enough for the others to hear. The music and continued whooping was too loud for Rebekah to have been heard over all of it anyhow. Caroline stared at her worriedly. "I shouldn't be allowed to get married."

"What are you talking about?" Caroline demanded. Rebekah considered telling her for a moment, looking like a scared ten year old that was ready to admit she'd stolen Arnold's car and crashed it.

The music changed to a disco song, and the girls began dancing to the beat. Rebekah's demeanor drastically changed and she grinned.

"Elena!" She exclaimed. She hopped off her stool, looking almost sober save for her disheveled hair, and eyed Woody as if she hadn't brought up an old wound.

Caroline inwardly groaned to herself. Rebekah hadn't been honest with her for years upon years now. This was no exception. Now she knew something was wrong. But it was possible she wouldn't know what until Rebekah and Marcel's friggin' tenth anniversary.

Elena coaxed both of her cousins off their stools, flirtatiously eyeing a bartender in the corner who'd just joined the help Woody. The tall, dark and handsome man eyed her back with a sly grin and piercing blue eyes.

Nick helped Marcel to the front door of his flat. They had their arms looped over the other's shoulder, Nick to support him and Marcel in a kind of half-hug.

"What's wrong with Stefan? Like I'm about to sleep with a damn stripper, I'm about to get married!" He protested. Marcel had lost his jacket before Nick had gotten him in the car with him, and so Nick was the only one who didn't shiver.

"You have to..." Marcel began again, gesticulating wildly. He felt like he had to explain why he didn't want to cheat on his fiance to Nick.

"You know,-"

"In my experience a man in love doesn't want a prostitute." Nick explained for him, calmly. Marcel stumbled on his feet, trying to keep his ground. He considered Nick's words, realizing that's exactly what he'd wanted to say.

"Marcel, you did the right thing." Nick told him. Marcel nodded. He grinned at him and Nick returned it.

"How...do you know, so much...about sooo much?" Marcel asked him genuinely. Nick watched him.

"I'm a hooker." Nick admitted freely. He knew Marcel was too drunk to remember this, and even then he'd use that excuse if the man tried to bring it up later.

Marcel broke down cackling, leaning on him for support again. Nick clapped his arm, grinning and pushing on him as leverage to get to his door.

"I like that."

The limousine for the bachelorette party parked on the corner next to an ATM. Caroline opened the door and tried to get out, and felt arms around her pulling her back in. She clawed harder and then realized she'd just forgotten to unbuckle herself. She did so and hopped out, stumbling to the ATM.

The most she could withdraw in one transaction at this one was 250 pounds. One of the girls shrieked and she hushed her, the girl crawling back into the warmth of the car. Caroline bit the money she'd taken out between her teeth. She did the transaction ritual four times, then went back to the car. Elena got out before she could get in, and they drunkenly exchanged a cheek kiss. Caroline got into the car, and Elena turned back to the girls slipping out from the windows and moon roof.

"Ladies, this was a great night. Great Night!"

Some girls cheered. Caroline screamed. Everyone's fists were raised in cheer. Elena walked away to her apartment on steady feet.

The limousine pulled away, and drove as instructed, up busy roads and deserted ones alike. Caroline and Rebekah standing out of the moon roof for the hour or two they did had sobered her up. After a while, Caroline and Rebekah were the ones popping out of the moon roof. Caroline saw a couple they were nearing and pointed to her sister.

"She's getting married!" Caroline called to them. As they passed, the couple yelled their congratulations.

The limousine then dropped all the women off at their respective destinations. Rebekah went to a flat by herself, and Caroline went back to her house. Hopefully her parents hadn't decided to stay up.

Caroline kept biting her lip in anticipation, remembering how good it'd felt earlier to kiss Nick. He'd told her he'd come back to her house and try to wait up for her after the bachelor party.

This was it. She had the cash if like he'd said, they were to talk money first. She still very much wanted him, and she knew where to get the most privacy, as the walls inside her house were thin.

Arnold had the boat parked in the driveway.

But first, the other stabilizer. She got herself a cup of water, really thinking hard. Did she really want to have sex with Nick, or was she still drunk? Did she hope in some perverted way the girls would find them right as it was happening to cheer them on like earlier in the pub?

No, she had wanted privacy for a reason. The boat was quiet, and the bedroom in it was pretty large considering its housing.

She wanted Nick's mouth on hers again. And wanted to sleep with a man that made her feel safe and valued for once.

Caroline chugged the water and hid the glass, knowing Liz could easily have put two and two together if she just left it in the sink. Then she went upstairs.

Nick being asleep half naked with an open book before his hands, pointing to her side of the bed, made her excitement grow. She didn't even need to be loud to rouse him. He turned under the sheets, and looked her up and down, wondering why she had greeted by just standing behind him.

"You okay?" He asked, and she noticed he must not've been asleep very long being as awake as he was. She merely leaned over and took his hand, stepping backwards and beginning to walk out of her room. He had to stop her for half a minute to throw some clothes on. She didn't protest.

When Caroline had led Nick out of her house, and climbed the two steps to be on her stepdad's boat, she turned around and tried to slowly...sexily, scoot backwards, keeping her eyes on him. He had already worked out what she'd wanted, and just watched her in amusement.

Then she fell onto the floor, legs flying up, and she cackled at her clumsiness. Nick got on the boat quickly to quiet her and help her back up. She quickly got there, pressing into him with a smile before continuing to lead him to the bedroom.

Caroline turned Nick around, the two staring into each other. She set him on the foot of the bed, and used just the tips of her fingers to push his ill-gotten shirt back off his shoulders. Then she gently pressed him back against the pillows, and he watched her. Both with worry, and interest. One of his feet was propping his leg up on the bed and he seemed to be gazing only in interest now.

Her bachelorette golf scarf was still tied around her neck, so she worked it off with her eyes still boring into his, and a big strand of hair that had fallen over her face. Taking it off, she held it up in the air, dropping it.

This was a show put on just for him. She'd wondered if any women he'd slept with since he'd started this job had put in any effort, or had treated him like the whore he probably let all the women he was with believe him to be. Right now, he was a regular joe, getting a stripper for his own private party.

Hell, she'd been planning about this for hours.

She pulled her shirt off, her hair getting caught in her face, and kept her eyes on him. Her skirt went next, and she went to her bra. The straps were already falling down her arms.

Caroline slowly crawled over him, and rested on him. His face remained neutral, but she felt his heart beating harder under her own. And just like the full stripper experience, she didn't kiss him. She hovering her mouth over his, pulling away only slightly when he went for it. Then he flipped him over.

Her arm went over his neck, and she traced a finger from the bottom of his spine up. Nick's mouth hovered over hers, still holding her eyes, until she pulled him tighter around her and he dove in for a deep kiss.

Caroline traced her fingers along his neck and rolled them back over.

The morning came, and a small blanket had been pulled haphazardly over both of their naked bodies. Nick held Caroline to her in his sleep. The sound of garbage trucks loudly banging aluminum bins against the edge of the main garbage disposal woke him fully. Then cold air hit him.

He pulled back and sat up, looking at Caroline's naked sleeping form. She looked peaceful, and stronger, in her sleep. Like the strength she'd pretended was part of her again. Maybe he'd see a whole new side of her. He smiled at the thought of how this all came about, and got out of bed, putting his clothes back on.

He stepped out of the boat, calling a good morning to the garbage men that noticed him.

That was enough to wake Caroline. She stretched her arms above her head, and turned over in the bed. Pulling the sheet against her as she sat up, the sunlight bathing her bare back, she remembered last night.

It wasn't a mistake, and she loved it. But would Nick think the same.

Quickly she got dressed, ignoring her bra and scarf but taking them with her as she left the boat.

Arnold quickly tapped the window of the kitchen, startling her.

"Ahoy!" He called. Caroline smiled sheepishly, and fluttered her hand in a wave, before hurrying inside to the warmth of the house.

When she got back to her room, she searched for Nick for half a second, before her eyes landed on her wallet full of cash. She threw her other clothes aside and picked it up, shaking her head at it. Then shoes tapped on the floor and she quickly pulled it and her clothes under her sheets, pretending to make the bed.

Nick was there with a full tray of breakfast, and already fully dressed.

She sat on her bed and grinned appreciatively at him.

"Don't know what your preferences are; but I brought you some black coffee, some really stale crackers, egg and cheese sandwich and a Bloody Mary."

"That's really sweet of you." She complimented.

He put the tray down, and leaned in to kiss her.

She pulled away.

"But I need to ask you something."

Nick froze and stood upright, staring at her with a small smile shining on his face.

"What happened last night?"

His face fell, and he looked away.

"Nothing."

Caroline sat in shock, her happy eyes still on her but the rest of her falling inside, and Nick backed up with his usual smile.

She nodded and took the black coffee. He looked back at her, and smiled awkwardly, putting his hands in his pockets. She grinned back.

Caroline pushed herself off the bed and lifted the cup in thanks, turning to the bathroom.

He looked at her bed, and waves of hurt washed over him. Was that all an act last night? His lip curled and he pulled back the covers to see what she'd hid.

A wallet full of money.

He stormed in the bathroom and yanked the shower curtains back, Caroline gasped and tried to cover herself, water from her hair flying at him.

He held up the wallet.

"Is this for last night?" He accused.

"No! How could it be? Nothing happened!"

"If I was gonna charge you, I said I'd tell you first. I thought I explained that!"

Caroline stood shivering and still very much naked, her eyes getting sad, scared and sober.

"I didn't want to you to think that I was expecting anything for free. Or that I was expecting anything at all." She laughed, and dropped her eyes. "I mean, obviously I was expecting something otherwise I wouldn't have stopped at that ATM on the way home..." She added in a mutter. He scoffed.

"Just so you know, you're short $300." He snapped back. Then he closed the door behind him, throwing the money on the bed. It spread out like cards on a gambling table.

Caroline ripped the door back open now in a towel with a hurt and shocked look on her face that mirrored his own.

"Wait! Wait, are you saying that IF, anything happened last night, I would've had to pay $1,700? That's a down payment on a new car!"

"Not dollars, pounds." Nick replied with a disinterested sneer to her incredulous one. "Besides that included...you know." She nearly gasped. "That's the extra $300."

Caroline's eyes closed in deep embarrassment, and Nick went to the kitchen downstairs.

He and Arnold sat down to breakfast at the small table, reading papers and drinking orange juice. Arnold closed his.

"Are you a boats man, my boy?" He asked.

"I am now, sir." Nick replied honestly. Arnold nodded with his eyes averted.

"Thank God someone's making use of her at last." Arnold said. Nick dropped his drink.

Of all the underhanded, slimy, disrespectful and disgusting things a father could say-

"The boat, I mean." Arnold added quickly. Nick nodded with purse lips.

Soon Caroline came downstairs in a mint green dress, breezing through the hallway and kissing her father good morning.

Nick ignored her and went past to go to the fridge. She caught him and kept the door open as a shield.

"What if I didn't want you to do that to me?" She challenged, nearly nose to nose with him.

"The 300's for you doing it to me." He replied.

"What?!"

"Well if anything HAD happened it would've been one of the highlights. For you." He sneered again. She glared at him.

"But nothing did." She quipped.

"Yup, that's why you get to keep your money!"

He left the fridge and Caroline considered her next move.

Then, Rebekah came in, closing the door. She kissed their father good morning.

"How much do I love all this fuss? I am getting married and divorced over and over again so it lasts forever." She joked, Arnold smiling back at her. He hoped she wasn't serious.

She turned to Caroline.

"Oh, Care, could you get the rings? Stefan would never get it right." She blew a kiss to her sister and left the room.

"You're welcome." Caroline called sarcastically after her. Nick glanced at her over the newspaper. She stood up and took her food with her.

"I guess I will see you at the dance thing with Marcel. See you later, sweetie." She said, eyeing him.

"Bye, honey." Nick called back sardonically.

Caroline stared at the rings in the display case. Stefan nearly wore one of these for her two years ago.

"The ring I made for you is still my favorite." The man said, walking out with Rebekah's ready made. She turned to him.

"I could give it back then." She joked.

"Nonsense. It's a memory for you, one that maybe not be a good one but an important one."

"It's great to see you." The man replied. They exchanged a cheek kiss as she left.