A few hours before the wedding, Caroline and Liz sat in a beauty parlor getting their hair done. They both had thin curlers in their hair and were waiting for the next step.

"I'm fine." Caroline repeated for the fifth time, not meaning it anymore than she had the first.

"I don't believe you." Liz replied sternly.

"I'm fine, really." She protested. "Nothing a bottle of whiskey and a straight razor couldn't fix." She forced a smile for half a second, to which Liz smiled in relief.

"Anyway it doesn't matter. It's Bex's day."

They were all running late, luckily including Marcel. But Caroline kept trying to coax the little flower girl to the car and the girl was feeling too tired and cranky to oblige.

"I want my bear." The girl protested.

"Honey, there's no room for it in the car."

"Then I want it in the church!"

"You're only supposed to carry the basket of flowers, I'm sorry. Your mom can bring your bear after the wedding, how's that?"

"No, I want it now!"

Elena ignored the conversation and scooped the little girl up. The little boy ring bearer ran circles around the car, making his aunt chase him. Caroline should've known Stefan was trying to sabotage things when he offered to make the little ones breakfast. He must've dumped sugar in their cereal.

Caroline watched the chaos, Elena handing Rebekah her bouquet with a cold stare. The driver got out to help wrangle the children, and luckily swept up the boy before the child did another lap around his car. The adults piled in, Rebekah in the middle next to Caroline. Elena plunked the now crying flower girl into the passenger's seat and they headed off.

They got to the church, and now all they had to do was wait for Marcel to show up. God knew what was keeping him.

So Caroline had time to wallow, and she did so behind the church on old steps leading to the rectory. She just fiddled with her aesthetically pleasing bouquet, and saw a man walking casually up to her. He leaned down and she turned to him. Arnold.

"Hello." He greeted, as if she was still that little five year old he'd just met. Heartwarming smile that beamed with unconditional love.

He knew why she was back here. Arnold took his large grey top hat off and sat next to her.

"So, why did you let him go?" Arnold asked plainly. Caroline fiddled with her flowers, trying not to pick the petals off and perfecting the already gorgeous silk wrapping the stems all together. She grinned, laughing at herself.

Because I fell in love with an escort I hired to fool you guys and he left because I drove him off.

"It's complicated, Dad."

"Ah, right." Arnold nodded. "It probably wouldn't have worked out anyway, huh?" He added. She knew from his tone he was coaxing her. She looked out at the picturesque landscape of the ancient church. Babbling brook, trees just small enough that the foliage came to the shoulder of an average build person of today. Well taken care of grass and flowers littering the ground.

"I remember reading a fascinating article in the New York Times Magazine once, where this guy said 'Every woman has the exact love life she wants."

Caroline stared at him in surprise.

"You know what? I agree with him. But I refuse to believe that this is what you want, Care. Ever since you were little you always cared about what everyone else thought. Now come on, what do you think? Is he the guy for you?"

Caroline sniffed back tears and nodded with a smile. Arnold smiled back.

"Then go get him."

She grinned and stood up, hugging him around the shoulders. Before he could hug her back, she ran off, taking the bouquet to drop it with Elena. She needed either a ride to the lake house, or the keys to a car. Keys would require less explanation. So she took the car Marcel and Rebekah would drive off in once they'd gotten married, empty aluminum cans tied to the back in preponed celebration.

Rebekah waited nervously in the little coat room of the church for Marcel. Caroline's words had gotten to her, badly. She was gonna tell Marcel the truth after their first year anniversary at least, maybe then the wound would be so old that he wouldn't care. But now she didn't want to hurt him any more than she already had. And if Stefan knew that Rebekah still hadn't told him, maybe he'd think he still had a shot.

Marcel stumbled into the room with his hands glued to his eyes.

"Honey, your mother said you wanted a quick word."

Rebekah pulled on his hands and he protested gently until he got a peek at her small, worried face.

"There's something you should know before you marry me." Rebekah said plainly.

"What is it?" He asked. Was she pregnant? Was she dying? Whatever it was, it wouldn't matter to him.

Stefan and the priest shuffled about the front of the church. The priest began praying to himself.

Caroline burst through the lake house doors, happy they were unlocked, before she realized why they'd be unlocked.

On the bed where Klaus had slept, was Caroline's full envelope of cash she'd given to him in the coat room at the beginning of the weekend. Now it had a note on it.

"It's all there. Trust me."

Caroline closed her eyes sadly, not knowing where else to look. She was too late.

Klaus drove down a country lane, having heard this was a quick way to the airport. He'd send the keys back to Marcel by bike messenger or envelope, however it worked here. He just had to leave.

But Caroline's happy smile, her kiss, and the way they'd danced flashed through his mind. She was a beautiful, incredible woman. And an even better dancer.

He slowed the car to a stop on the empty road, not bothering to glance in the mirrors to see if he could be holding anyone up in a minute or two.

With a grumble, he made a U-turn.

"I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid you would never forgive and I just..." Marcel pulled his hands free of Rebekah, backing away and staring at her incredulously. "I love you so much." Bex finished in defeat, her hands falling away.

"I'm sorry." She finished with tears streaking her face.

"I knew you were seeing someone when we first got together, but not...not Stefan." Marcel replied in shock. His gaze turned cold towards her. "Does. Caroline. Know?"

"Stefan told her last night."

Marcel scoffed at her and walked back towards her. She stared at him in worry.

"Excuse me." He replied coldly, reaching for the door behind her.

There was the front of the church, Stefan caught his eye and nodded with a smile. Then he noticed Marcel's steel glare. He began to speed walk down the aisle, Marcel chasing him. Elena noticed that Marcel nearly had him but Stefan was getting faster, so she stuck a foot out.

Stefan stumbled, but didn't fall.

"ELENA?!" She pointed innocently at the tired little flower girl before the two men kept running. Marcel nearly caught him, grabbing his coat tails and pulling. But Stefan threw his jacket off. Marcel discarded it and kept running, all the while stunned and confused guests watched from inside the church.

They ran down the sidewalks towards the hotel, both of them were pretty healthy so they would be able to make it there if they tried.

"Marc, calm down! She wants to be with you, it's all figured out! I've given up! What's the problem?!"

Klaus was driving to the hotel to put his stuff down and heard shouting.

"You backstabbing jackass!" Marcel roared. Klaus smirked. The guy knows now.

"That's not fair! It was before you guys were even dating?!" Stefan yelled back. Klaus made another U-turn to watch the scene unfold.

"But you were engaged to her sister!" Marcel screamed.

"Marc, calm down!" Stefan yelled again. "We can talk about this like civilized human beings!"

"You miss the part where he said you're a jackass, Stefan?" Klaus added to the conversation.

"You shut the fuck up, you're not even with Care anymore, what do you care?!" Stefan screamed.

"Leave him alone, at least he treated Care better in one weekend that you've done the past seven damn years!"

They still ran, and Stefan proved to be in way better shape, because he got the lead back and Klaus slowed down to keep in pace with Marcel.

"I look like a total idiot don't I?" Marcel yelled.

"Yeah, kind of."

Marcel slipped on the grass beside the road and fell to one knee, staining the fabric. Then he got back up and tried to run again. Stefan was far enough away and wasn't slowing down.

"Get in the car, Marc. He's halfway to France by now."

They heard Stefan slip down a hill he was running along and they couldn't see him anymore.

Caroline went for the bouquet she'd left in the passenger seat of the wedding car, and found it, getting to her feet and fixing her hair.

"You know I felt sorry for you last night." Marcel admitted, fingering the framing of the car in the passenger seat. They were parked against the side of the road, still halfway out of it but no one would be coming for a long while. "I was just sittin' there like some smug ass, thinking 'aren't I a lucky son of a bitch?' I forgave her when I thought it was a random guy. But not...not Stefan."

Marcel looked up at the sky. "I've had her up on a pedestal ever since..." he sighed when he realized it, and Klaus looked at him. "Ever since I put her up there."

Caroline reached for the kleenex box next to Bex's hands, her fingers writhing over themselves in worry. She was both glad that Marcel knew now...and sad for Rebekah. This may have ended up being a total bust of a weekend for both of them. They weren't sure Marcel was coming back.

Rebekah sniffed and took a tissue gratefully.

"What a mess I've made, huh?" Rebekah joked, dabbing at her eyes, trying to fix her makeup. Caroline tried not to show sympathy for her, but it was hard. This could've been her if Bex hadn't slept with Stefan. He would've just cheated on her with someone else, and ten years into their engagement would've told her and shattered her like she'd been just a day ago.

Then Klaus...

"I'm so sorry." Rebekah repeated for the tenth time. Caroline wouldn't be forgiving her for this for a while now. But at least she knew Bex was genuinely sorry.

Klaus bounced his fist against the steering wheel, trying to think of consolation words or anything at all to make Marcel decide on what to do. Would they go to the airport together? Would they go to a pub? Or would he be driving the groom back to the chapel before Rebekah gave up hope?

"You know the hardest thing in love is having the courage to, let them love you back." He spouted. Marcel rightfully just rolled his eyes and scoffed. The next thing that Klaus thought of actually rang with him.

"But if you know her baggage and she knows yours...and you'd still rather give up, nothing's ever gonna be worth it." He sighed at his words, knowing they meant more to him right then than to Marcel. He put a finger on the steering wheel.

"Look at it this way," Klaus added, looking at the man. "If you turn back now, you have an entire lifetime of really great makeup sex."

Caroline was waiting outside the church at the flowered arch when she saw Marcel running back to the church.

"Marc?" She called as he passed her.

"Gotta run!" He called back.

Nick jogged up to Caroline, staring at her dress. Blue was a good color on her.

"Hey." He greeted. She spun around and stared in happy shock at him. They stood very close now.

"Hi." She whispered back. His heart fluttered.

She opened her mouth to apologize, and he nodded to already forgive her, all without speaking. He knew she didn't mean anything she'd said. He'd just gotten too close, and thought it was better to walk away rather than try and work this out.

"Last night, when we were fighting, I thought this was over." He admitted. "I was about to go get on a plane, but then. Then I realized." He stared at her and smiled. "I'd rather fight with you than make love with anyone else."

She stared back at him in wonder, her long strand of hair covering half of her face until he brushed it aside and cupped her cheek. She closed her eyes at the feeling. Nick stared at her beautiful face, and took an unnecessary step in to kiss her. His other hand went to her neck, tangling in her hair, and kissed her again.

Suddenly he broke it off. "I should get going."

"What no no, you can't!" She softly protested.

"I have to." He asserted. "I'm the best man." He grinned at her and went towards the church. Caroline smiled at the development, and turned to him as he offered a hand to her. She trotted down the lane to catch up to him, hoping wordlessly that he'd explain things to her.

He told her what had happened five or ten miles or so away, and how Stefan probably was clearing his things from the hotel and changing his name to go dark in Burma or something.

The flower girl and ring bearer were whisper-told to start walking, and after half an hour of waiting, they did without protest. Luckily the flower girl had had a few minutes with her bear before all the adults had come back. Elena and another of Marcel's friends Malcolm walked down the aisle together, smiling at the guests.

Caroline hurriedly helped Klaus to fix a tie he borrowed from Arnold around his neck as they walked down the aisle. Marcel stood at the altar smiling at the new development and was grateful Klaus had decided to stay. He'd helped so much.

Caroline and Klaus walked arm in arm down the aisle together, taking their places next to the other bridesmaids and best men.

"Let's get married, kid." Marcel said. Bex grinned wider and nodded.

Caroline faced the guests, and turned to look at Klaus, who was already staring back at her with a lopsided grin on his face. She giggled and grinned back at him.

Rebekah and Marcel turned to the priest, and the guests sat down.

Her sister was now Rebekah Forbes-Gerard, and holding Marcel's arm, practically sitting in his lap. Marcel smile at Caroline as she stood up with a microphone while the others clapped at the other tables.

Klaus sat at another table, since he had only been a plus one, someone had to find a chair for him. But he had a good view of Caroline in that dress, and he kept seeing his girlfriend. His girlfriend, Caroline. He hadn't had an actual relationship for ten years now.

"Marc, no one in the world knows how to love my baby sister better than you. Be good to one another." She eyed Rebekah. Picking her drink up, she raised it gracefully to the others in a toast.

"To Marcel and Rebekah!"

"Marcel and Rebekah!" the guests called back, cheering.

Rebekah's hands still around Marcel's arm, they kissed and she turned to Caroline, Marcel stroked the side of her face with one finger. Rebekah mouthed 'I love you'. Caroline just blinked at her.

The first dance wasn't all that graceful, but they had gone to the paid-for lesson and that was the best Arnold could hope for. Others soon joined in to help the newlyweds save face, including Caroline and Klaus. They didn't try to dance too hard, just swaying with hands clasped and arms looped around one another. But they were smiling and happy. That was the most Arnold had wanted for Caroline.

After the wedding, Elena sought the blue-eyed bartender out and they immediately fell in love, marrying three months later.

Klaus, Marcel, Rebekah and Caroline started to become a closer circle of friends, just as they'd been when Stefan was their friend.

Klaus quit the business, dedicating fully to his education and taking Professor Arnold's classes. He took Caroline on their first real date. After two years, Klaus graduated and Caroline proposed. Their wedding dance was elegant and beautiful without even needing a single lesson. And there was no hidden secrets unearthed during that time, thankfully.

Rebekah and Marcel learned makeup sex was worth fighting for. On their third anniversary, they announced they were pregnant and Rebekah had insisted their daughter would be named Caroline-Elizabeth.

Meanwhile, Stefan learned absolutely nothing. He did meet Katherine officially however, and they started dating.