Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Vampire Diaries. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and L.J. Smith. Thank you.
Writer's Notes: Thank you Moggy-chan, andrewpine, and Annie48 for your wonderful reviews! I want to apologize for not updating sooner. I've been terribly sick for the past week, and I'm just now trying to get myself out of bed to write, even though I'm still sick. (Just a cold/flu), but I'm trying. Keep letting me know what you think! The story is wrapping up soon with about 3 more chapters left!
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[November 28th, Thanksgiving Day]
~Salvatore Boarding House~
Caroline and Alice moved around the kitchen in unison prepping the dinner. It was nearly done. Stefan and Alice rolled in earlier the day before and she had been helping Caroline ever since her arrival. Even Elena was pitching in in the kitchen despite her lack of cooking skills.
Damon and Charlie set the massive table in the bigger dinning hall, so to speak. They had kept it closed for the most part, but with a gathering this big, they needed all the space. "It looks great," Bella said, as she entered the room holding Jaison on her hip.
"Thanks, Caroline gave us strict instructions, so we're trying to follow them exactly," Damon said with a raise of both of his brows. "I'm sure something will be off though."
Charlie laughed. "Well, we're hoping that Alice and Elena keep her occupied all the way up until the dinner, so we don't have to redo anything."
"I'm not that bad," Caroline said as she came into the room carrying some of the food. "Damon, can you help Jake carry in some of the food. Dad, can you swap the forks. One is a salad fork and the other for the entrée."
Charlie raised a brow and Caroline sighed. "Okay, you're right. I am that bad. But seriously, please swap the forks?" He smiled and started swapping the forks around for her.
Damon snickered and left the room before Caroline could smack at him. Bella smiled. "Well, you do it to yourself Care. You let the guys set the table. That was a disaster waiting to happen."
"You're right. Next time I'll just have to do it myself, or Alice." Caroline said and smirked, turning on her heel and walking back out to help bring more food out to the table.
Charlie laughed. "Liz says she's always like this, but I think it's refreshing. She cares about the smaller things in life."
Klaus was there now, Violet by his side, and the rest of the Mikaelson's shortly behind them. Violet went over to Charlie and kissed his cheek before realizing what he was doing and started automatically helping.
"Oh Violet, you sit down. Your old man can handle this," Charlie insisted.
"It's okay dad, I can help. I'm not about to go into labor or anything. It's good to be on my feet from time to time," Violet said, but Klaus was already going around the table with Elijah's help, fixing the forks so Violet and Charlie didn't have to do so much work.
It wasn't long before the dining hall was filled with family and friends. The only one missing was Tyler, Leah, and Freya because they were still in New Orleans, but the rest was there, even Matt.
The wolves ate most of the food considering a good majority were vampires, and they really didn't need to eat, but they made their best effort. Edward and Emmett had the hardest time trying to eat, but they managed it somehow. Jaison and Renesmee were loving the sweet potato casserole that Liz had put together, and they were messy from head to toe. Aira and Amaya were sleeping peacefully in their playpens, while everyone carried on with the light banter and jokes.
After dinner, Caroline insisted everyone stay seated for the big group photo. She set up the tripod and angled the camera, checked it a few times and then set the timer before taking her seat next to Jake. It was picture perfect and they truly were a great big family.
"I'm going to have it made into a canvas," Klaus said when he looked at the picture. "Everyone will get a copy," he insisted and that made Violet and Bella smile.
Bella stood now and looked around the table. "I can honestly say that I have the best family. I'm going to marry the love of my life next month, and I have four beautiful children that will one day call me mommy. I have my dad by my side and a stepmom, who is like my real mom. An uncle who is like a second father, a twin sister that knows me better than me, two older brothers that take care of me and a new sister, that I can turn to for anything. Not only are they my family, but each and every one of you are my family. You've fought for me, with me, and have dedicated yourselves to my safety, and my family's safety. I could never ask for anything else of you guys. You guys have made my life perfect. I am so thankful for every one of you all. Thank you for being a part of my family."
She sat down and Damon leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Beautiful. I love you." She smiled at him and nodded. "I love you too."
[December 17th- Jai & Ness 6 months old, Aira & Amaya 7 weeks, growth 6 months, Violet 26 weeks, Hope's growth- 32 weeks]
~Salvatore Boarding House~
"I can't believe you get married in a week!" Elena said, watching Caroline and Alice fit Bella into her wedding dress. It fit tight to her form, a shimmering white that twinkled as she moved. The sleeves were a simple lace that reached down to her wrists and left her back bare. The bodice was sweetheart, and was simple, yet elegant. It hugged at her hips and then flowed to her feet, sweeping out in a mermaid style, shimmering in a light ombre with a silver blue, like the bottom was dipped lightly into the moonlight itself. Her veil was simple, that hugged her bun and the shoes that Caroline were forcing her to wear were silver and plated in white rhinestones with at least a three-inch heel.
"Oh Bella…" Violet said as Bella twisted to face Elena and the dress glimmered. "you're beautiful," she finished.
Bella smiled. "Really? The dress isn't too much?"
"The dress is perfect," Alice and Caroline both said at the same time.
Elena nodded. "This dress looks absolutely amazing on you Bella. Damon is really not going to know what hit him. There was a slight knock at the door.
"Girls, it's just me," Liz called. Caroline moved to the door and snuck her mom in, quickly closing and locking the door behind her.
Liz gasped. "Bella, you're gorgeous."
"Thanks mom," Bella said with a bright smile. "I actually do feel…perfect. Like a princess."
Caroline smiled at Alice. "I told you this is the dress I saw you in my vision," Alice said matter of fact.
"Thank you, Alice," Bella said and then turned and looked over at Violet. "Okay, you girls try on your dresses. I want to see you in them." Bella said, stepping down off the little pedestal to take a seat.
"Bonnie and Rose should be here soon to try their dresses on. Angela won't be here until tomorrow, and Rebecca is downstairs right now. Oh, Lexi and Jazz are going to be here tomorrow too, so Lexi can try her dress on when Angela gets here," Alice said and flitted to the bathroom with Elena, Violet, and Caroline.
The girls emerged a while later wearing their maid dresses. Their dresses were silver on top with rhinestones covering the whole bodice, and the high-waisted skirts fell to the floor in a sapphire silk. The bodice was sweet-heart cut, dipping low in the front with a sheer peek-a-poo mesh and the straps were haltered at the neck, leaving the back exposed. Violet's dress was lower in the back than the front because of her bump, which is why the girls picked high-waisted gowns to match Violet.
"Oh, you girls look beautiful!" Liz said and Bella nodded, grinning wide.
"You all look like fairy princesses!" Bella said and clasped her hands together.
Rebecca, Bonnie and Rosalie knocked at the door and Caroline moved to the door to let them in. They were toting Aira, Amaya, and Renesmee with them.
"Oh, I have the girls' dresses prepared for the flower girls, and then Jai is going to wear a cute little tux and Seth is going to cart them all in a small carriage, strapped to him in his wolf form," Caroline said and then she was helping her mom and Alice fit the girls into their cute little dresses.
Their dresses were sapphire as well, but it was all floof as Caroline called it, with dabs of rhinestones in all the tulle. Their headbands had bright sapphire flowers, accented with silver flowers and rhinestones as well. Nessie's hair was a red-brown in color and was starting to curl at the bottoms, and the girls both had really thick, dark brown/black hair that was curling at the bottoms, but their hair brushed at their shoulders in the back, and they had a lot of it. Their eyes were a piercing blue like Damon's, but they showed bright tones of silver and grey. Nessie's eyes were a brilliant blue green, like the color of a lake with bronze specks glittered around the pupil. Jai's eyes had turned a lighter shade of blue, nearly grey/green in some lights. His hair was red brown like his twin sister, but his hair was not curling up like hers had.
"They look so adorable," Bella cooed over them, then she turned to look at Liz. "Are you going to try on your dress?"
"Oh, right!" She said and got up and disappeared in the bathroom. She came out wearing a beautiful sapphire, and silver dress that had a penciled skirt and cute matching jacket. The top of her dress shimmered with the silver, and her shoes were sapphire flats to match. Liz didn't dress up often, but Caroline insisted that she match the bridesmaids with her "mother of the bride" dress.
"Aw, mom you look really beautiful," Bella said and hugged her. "Everything is so perfect. I can't believe I'm getting married next week!"
Rebecca, Rose, and Bonnie appeared in their matching dresses and Liza got the girls altogether with Bella and took a picture for keepsake. "You can't let Damon see that picture until after the wedding," Caroline pointed out and Liz rolled her eyes. "I know. I'm not going to show him," Liz said and then hugged her daughters close together, Violet having to lean away some because of her growing belly. "I love you girls. You're all so beautiful, and Bella, your wedding is going to be absolutely perfect."
Downstairs, Damon, Enzo, and Alaric were sitting in the parlor drinking, like usual. Bonnie spelled the room upstairs so they couldn't hear what was going on upstairs. Damon was sure that Bella would look beautiful in anything, but Caroline and Alice were the ones that were running the entire show, which he gladly let them plan, and Bella just liked to watch her friends do their own thing. Caroline had taken his credit card the week before to get stuff for the wedding. She told him it was going to cost a lot, but he honestly didn't care, but he did know that Bella's dress did cost close to three grand by itself so far.
"You know, you're getting married next week, are we not going to do a bachelor party or something?" Alaric brought up.
Damon shrugged. "No. I'm beyond my partying days Ric, I am a father now," he said, raising his bourbon to his lips with a smile.
"Right, so you're going to skip the strippers and clubs and just chill at home the night before your wedding?" Enzo pointed out.
"Well, I'm going to try," Damon said, moving to throw another log onto the fire in the fireplace.
Alaric shook his head. "We could just go play pool at the Grille and drink a lot like usual."
"Ah, that sounds like a plan. Let's do that," Damon said, agreeing.
Enzo rolled his eyes. "My god mate, you've gotten all soft hearted on us."
"Father of four remember. I'm not going to go out and party hard with the kids at home. I have no desire to party really."
A little while later the girls came downstairs, Bella beaming brightly. Damon smiled and walked over and kissed her softly. "Love your dress?"
"Damon, you can't ask questions like that!" Caroline said before Bella could say anything. Bella only rolled her eyes and nodded. "I love it. Thank you," She said and kissed him again. "One more week and then I'm Mrs. Damon Salvatore," she said, and he kissed her forehead.
"One more week," he said and that was that.