IV

"How about this?" Bonnie said as she pulled out a bright green dress that was very popular in the seventies. She looked at the tag. "It's vintage."

Katherine and Caroline exchanged looks before they both said. "Pass."

It was Tuesday afternoon and since Katherine had the day off the girls had decided to go shopping for the wedding.

"What's wrong with it?" Bonnie whined.

"For starters it's not a Halloween party." Katherine said flatly. "You're going to look like a green Martian wearing that dress."

Bonnie sighed as she put the dress back on the hanger. "Fine, what are you guys wearing?"

Katherine shrugged as she looked through the racks. "Hate it, hate it, ugly, disgusting," she sighed dramatically. "There's nothing I like, I might as well go in my hospital scrubs."

"Please, like you would ever go anywhere with a hair out of place."

Caroline looked at her watch. "Um, guys I don't mean to rush you guys, but I really should go back to the store." It was only the second opening day and Caroline had already left early, it wasn't good for business. She had, had her opening day last night and it was slightly better than it was expected, it wasn't great but hopefully the store would start gaining popularity.

Like good friends Bonnie and Katherine had come, Bonnie had bought a bright pink dress and Katherine a long, silver necklace.

Bonnie groaned. "Not again, Care don't you and Katherine talk about anything other than work?"

Katherine and Caroline exchanged grins. "Nope."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "It's hard being best friends with two workaholics."

Katherine stared at her reflection in the mirror and looked disgusted. This was her third day shift and it seemed that Katherine's body still wasn't used to working like a normal person and not like a vampire. It was a typical Wednesday, three days before the wedding and Katherine both looked and felt like a mess.

She had woken this morning with an upset stomach and as soon as she got into the bathroom she had thrown up her dinner from last night, now all she wanted to do was call in sick and crawl into bed. Not that she would, but it was a nice thought.

Katherine pressed a hand against her mouth and hurried towards the toilet when she felt the vomit coming up again. She heard a knock on the door. "Sweetie, are you all right?"

"Don't come in here!"

Elijah ignored her request as he opened the door and saw Katherine bend over the toilet. He immediately scooted down next to her and handed her a towel. "Are you ok? Are you feeling sick?"

Katherine nodded. "My stomach is upset, it's probably the stomach flu or something."

"Do you want me to call the hospital to tell them that you're sick?"

Katherine shook her head as she forced herself to stand up. "No, I'm fine. The hospital has been swamped recently and they need me-"

"Not if you're sick." Elijah scolded. "Katherine, you need rest."

Katherine shook her head. "Elijah, I've been through worst things than this, trust me, I can handle it."

Was this dress too sexy? Caroline cocked her head and looked at her reflection in the mirror, it definably wasn't the kind of dress she wore every day. She had ordered it online while she had been online shopping (something she really shouldn't do if her bills were any indication, but the temptation had been too great.)

Besides it hadn't been that expensive, it was a long black strapless silk dress that showed off her legs and a little cleavage. She had styled her blond hair into an elegant bun like Katherine had taught her to do and she was wearing long, gold earrings from the store.

Caroline felt a chill go down her spine. She felt like Jessica Rabbit wearing this dress: sexy, seductive, and one of a kind.

She glossed her lips and put the gloss in her little clutch purse. "Done."

So if she did run into Klaus at least she would look fabulous.

Rebekah and Stefan were getting married at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the same church where half of them had been baptized with the reception at the Rose Room in the Montville hotel. The ceremony was schedule for two o'clock that afternoon and everyone seemed to be in a frenzy and Katherine could hear Rebekah's screams and orders even as she and Elijah entered the church.

Katherine was wearing an old loose teal blue dress so that it wouldn't squeeze her stomach and her dark hair was in tight curls, she had forced herself to do her make up so that she at least look presentable even though she really just wanted to curl up and die.

"Your sister is going to scare poor Stefan away." Katherine said lightly.

Elijah smiled. "Believe me I think Stefan is stronger than that, if not he would have left a long time ago." He looked at her nervously. "Are you sure you're feeling better, if not we can leave after the ceremony, I'm sure everyone would-"

"Elijah," Katherine interrupted him as she put a reassuring hand on his arm. "I'm fine, honest, it was probably just the flu that has been going around. We are not going to miss the event of the season."

Klaus wasn't a very religious nor patient person, so sitting here for an hour and forced to sit through his baby sister and Stefan's wedding ceremony wasn't his idea of a fun time, especially when the people around him were more interesting.

He saw his parents stiffly watching the priest, as still as wax figures. Elijah had a worried expression on his face as he continuously looked at Katherine as if she were going to roll over and die at any second now while Katherine seemed more interested in the color of her nail polish.

Damon Salvatore, Stefan's older brother and the family black sheep was standing in the front pew with his arms around a dark hair girl. Damon was such a womanizer that he was with a new girl every week.

After inspecting the guests for several minutes, Klaus eyes landed on her. He blinked a few times to make sure that his eyes weren't deceiving him, but they weren't. Little Caroline Forbes.

All grown up and wearing the sexiest black dress that Klaus had ever seen that showed off her legs and chest. Her blond hair was tucked away in a low bun while long gold earrings fell from her delicate earlobes.

She looked pretty sexy.

Klaus saw that Caroline looked at him from the corner of her eye, but then immediately turned back towards the priest. A slow smirk appeared on Klaus' face. Perhaps this wedding wouldn't be a waste of time after all.

"One vodka tonic." Caroline said to the bar tender as she placed her beaded clutch on the bar. The reception was already filling up with Stefan and Rebekah's guests keeping them occupied. Katherine and Elijah were at a table with the rest of Elijah's family and Bonnie was flirting with a new guy name Marcel, who she knew was Klaus' best friend from college and since Caroline didn't want to be the rejected third wheel she went to where all singles went: the bar.

The bar tended nodded as he placed the drink in front of her, Caroline nodded her thanks as she took a sip. She wasn't used to drinking so the alcohol burned her tongue. This was one of the things that Caroline hated about being single, especially when her friends all had significant others, she always ended up alone. Not that, that was a bad thing, Caroline like being independent, but at social events she always felt like a loser.

And of course misery loves company.

"Drinking so soon?" a sarcastic voice said behind her as its expensive clad figure slid in the bar stool next to her. "Dinner hasn't even been served yet."

"I was under the impression that this was the cocktail hour," Caroline said smoothly as she raised an eyebrow in Klaus' direction. In amazed her that she and Klaus could spend years without talking, but the minute he showed up, she could feel her anger returning. "And it's a wedding, it is the social custom to have fun."

Klaus smirked. "I'm aware." He saw the way that Caroline was drinking furiously like there was no tomorrow. "Though maybe you would want to suggest something less strong, like maybe a Shirley Temple or apple juice."

"I can handle what I drink, Klaus." She snapped. "Though for future reference it is none of your business."

Klaus shrugged. "I just don't want you to make a spectacle in front of the bride and groom and ruin my sister's perfect wedding."

"Don't you have any other friends you can hang out with?"

"I do." He said. "But he is currently charming your little friend, Benny."

"Bonnie." Caroline corrected. "Seriously, Klaus what do you want?"

"No need to get so riled up, love." Klaus said smirking, his blue eyes glancing slightly at her slightly exposed cleavage before returning to her own blue eyes. "I just want to enjoy the pleasure of your company. How long has it been seven years?"

"Nine." Caroline corrected as she took a sip of her drink so that she didn't have to talk anymore.

The bartender approach Klaus. "Can I offer you something to drink, sir?"

"Whisky." Klaus looked towards Caroline. "And perhaps the lady would like to join me for a drink as well?"

Caroline nodded, she would not let Klaus intimidate her. She put her glass down firmly. "Another vodka tonic."

"I'm sorry." The words slipped out of Katherine's mouth before she could help it. She and Elijah were in the middle of dancing at the reception when she had blurted out the words. She didn't know why, especially since apologies didn't come easily to her, forgiveness was more of Elijah's thing,

Elijah was surprise too. He raised an eyebrow. "Whatever for?"

Katherine sighed as she tried to speak up over Whitney Houston. "For how I acted a few days ago. I was being rude and insensitive, and I didn't want to hurt your feelings . . . it's just you know how I feel about children and I know how you feel . . . my point is that I shouldn't have been so insensitive."

"And I shouldn't have been so persistent." Elijah admitted. "So I guess we're both at fault."

"So are we ok?" Katherine gulped she really didn't want to talk about children or futures. She only wanted to think about the now.

Elijah kissed her forehead. "We're ok." He glanced at the back of Katherine's head and saw Rebekah and Stefan dancing looking very much in love. Elijah sighed, he couldn't help but envy them he wished that he and Katherine could have that type of relationship.

-End of Chapter Four-