I feel like this update took a tad longer than I wanted to and I'm still not sure I completely love this chapter but it's a lot of filler so I'll consider it acceptable. I had some requests for Kalijah and Stebekah so I started with them; I love them as couples, too, so I'll try to incorporate them more often. I've also had requests to add more Bonnie and I'll be real honest- I can't stand her. She's the only main character on the show I've absolutely never liked but for the sake of the story, I added a scene at the end that I think is necessary and I like it. (If Kol were alive, I'd have paired them and it would've made writing her a lot easier). As always, reviews and alerts of any kind are my anti-drug so take a minute and let me know what you think. I definitely try to add things people want to see so if there's something, you gotta tell me. I hate writing long A/N's so I apologize but I also wanted to add that "Turning Page" by Sleeping at Last will be the wedding song but others that were recommended will make their way in. Lots of people suggested "Give Me Love" by Ed Sheeran and that's natural because it's the first song they danced to but for some reason, in my head, I equate that song more to Elena and Damon than Caroline and Klaus so I just couldn't, even though I'm obsessed with that song and Ed Sheeran, in general. Keep sending ideas for wedding gifts though; the ideas I have myself are awful. Ha. Okay, I apologize for rambling. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.

"Caroline said that you're the one who found her wedding dress this afternoon," Elijah told Katherine as they prepared for bed.

"Don't make a big deal of it," she advised. "We'd been there for three hours, the consultant had no idea what she was doing, and I was starving. I did it out of purely selfish reasons."

"Really?" Elijah murmured. "It would be quite all right for you to like Caroline."

"No," Katherine denied. "She's too happy. It's irritating."

Elijah said nothing as he waited for her to climb into their bed beside him. "I've let it go for ten years, Katerina, that you make little effort with my family but if Caroline is going to be more welcoming, I'd like it if you would appreciate that gesture and do the same. I like our life in Paris but I do miss Rebekah and even Niklaus."

"What's to miss?" she scoffed, adjusting her pillow. "She's a petty bitch and he's a sociopathic murderer, which people have blindly overlooked now because of his love for Caroline. He spent 500 years chasing me, making it impossible for me to have a life. He slaughtered my entire family like cattle. But I should forgive him and be friends with his wife? I don't think so."

He turned to his side so he could cup her cheek in his hand. "I'm not asking you to forgive what he's done to you but things have changed, Katerina. I love you and will always put you first but I can't be away from my family like I've been, not after everything we've been through."

She sighed and reached up to cover his hand with hers. "I'm glad I got the good Mikaelson. So for that, I will not be so mean to Rebekah and I'll try with Caroline but I drawn the line at Stefan and Klaus right now."

"Okay," he agreed. "That's all I can ask for now."

Katherine snuggled into him. "I missed you today."

He wrapped his arms around her. "I missed you, as well, but it was nice to spend time with my brother."

"Ugh, she's horrible!" Rebekah cried as she threw the decorative pillows off her and Stefan's bed. "Just stomps into the back and returns with the perfect dress for Caroline? It's not fair. I'm the bloody maid of honor."

Stefan chuckled as he turned off the light in the bathroom. "I don't think Caroline is going to ask Katherine to be her maid of honor now, Bek. I just think Caroline is being Caroline. She knows Elijah is upset we've all been excluding Katherine and she's trying; it's what she does."

"It's infuriating," Rebekah grumbled, pulling her hair up into a messy bun as she climbed into the bed. "Katherine is the one who killed her. She's ruined lives. She drove a wedge between my brothers. Why should Caroline be nice to her? She doesn't deserve it."

"Does Klaus?" Stefan asked, crawling in next to her. "Caroline forgave him and is marrying him and he makes Katherine look like a saint." He saw the scowl on his wife's face. "I'm not saying I like Katherine any more than you do but I understand why Caroline does what she does; she's been my best friend for eleven years."

"As excited as I am, I can't wait for this wedding to be over so Elijah and Katherine can return to France and we can see them once a year at Christmas," Rebekah yawned as she curled into his side.

"Liar," he muttered. "I know you miss Elijah, Bek. He's your sane brother."

She laughed. "That's true. I just wish he'd lose a certain appendage. He's too good for her."

"Can't explain love," Stefan shrugged. "It just happens."

"I suppose," she sighed. "But I'm never going to like her."

"I would expect nothing less," he grinned.

Klaus was finally heading to the guest room he was staying in for the night when he heard the balcony door open inside his and Caroline's room. He stuck his head inside and spotted her outside on a chaise lounge, wrapped in a thin blanket.

"Can't sleep?" he asked, walking towards her.

"No," she sighed. "I have too much on my mind. Was I crazy to think I could plan this wedding in eight weeks?"

"No," he shook his head, sitting down beside her. "I don't know much about planning weddings but I know you. You could put together a spectacular wedding in a week, love."

She frowned. "I don't know. We have to find a caterer, taste cakes, get a DJ, pick flowers, prepare the backyard. It's a lot. I'm not sure if Rebekah and I can do all this."

"So I'll help," he offered. "I'm pretty sure it's my wedding, too."

Relief crossed her face. "You don't mind helping?"

"No," he answered, scooting up the chair to lounge with her in his arms.

They sat in silence for a long moment before she spoke again.

"If I hadn't asked, do you think you ever would've proposed to me?" she asked him.

"No," he responded honestly. "I've lived for a thousand years and have seen plenty of people madly in love without marriage, even if I thought they were mad for succumbing to weakness. But while I never considered it, I'm certainly not opposed to having you as my wife, Caroline. You're the only woman I'd ever do this for and I'm happy to do it."

She smiled at his words. "I like seeing you happy."

"As long as I have you by my side for eternity, it's what you'll always see," he assured her.

"Not always," she chided gently. "You got pretty mad at me once in New Orleans."

"You kept arguing with Marcel and didn't understand how dangerous he can be," Klaus remembered.

"He's scared enough of you that he'd never actually do anything," she pointed out.

"But I don't want you putting yourself in a situation with him where he could lose control," he explained. "He won't be able to stop himself."

"We don't even see him anymore," she interrupted. "We haven't been around Marcel in six years. I don't even know why you're worried at this point."

"I always worry," he told her quietly. "I've seen the dangers of this world, love, and I don't want you to ever be witness to them."

She curled into his side. "Good thing I'm marrying the scariest guy on the planet then, huh?"

He rolled his eyes at her inability to take him seriously. "I'm glad you find this funny."

"I don't," she denied, "but I don't want to fight about this either. We're getting married in less than two months. Despite the stress, this should be the happiest time of our lives."

"It's hard to say that though," he reasoned. "Something could happen in another thousand years that makes you happier."

"Than marrying you?" she scoffed lightly. "Debatable."

Klaus could tell their talk had relaxed her and her breathing slowed as she started to nod off. He desperately wanted to fall asleep with her there on the lounge chair. It had been four nights since they'd slept in the same bed and it was agonizing. But as much as he enjoyed holding her in his arms, he enjoyed the thrill of winning a tad more at the moment.

So he scooped her into his arms and carried inside to the bed. He covered her with the duvet and kissed her forehead. "Sweet dreams, love."

Caroline pouted. "Goodnight, Nik."

He smirked. She only called him 'Nik' on certain occasions because she thought it was more special that way, even though she knew he preferred it. Caroline was playing dirty now.

"What time would you like me to be ready tomorrow for my part of the planning?" he asked, doing his best to ignore her not-so-subtle attempt to lure him into the bed.

She frowned, realizing he wasn't going to budge. "9:15. We're meeting the florist at 10."

"All right," he nodded. "Goodnight."

Once he was gone, Caroline groaned into her pillow in frustration. This bet was getting harder and harder every night and she knew there was no way they'd make it to their wedding without one of them caving.

"You do realize I know next-to-nothing about flowers, right?" Klaus asked the following morning as Caroline led him and Rebekah into the florist.

"Well, you at least know what you like," Caroline replied. "I know I want my bouquet to be all white roses and the girls will carry white and yellow roses. Their bouquets will be smaller than mine. Centerpieces are what I'm conflicted about. We need to integrate gray but there aren't gray flowers."

"You can have them dyed," Rebekah spoke up. "It's a ridiculous process but it works."

"No, I don't want that because it won't look natural," Caroline muttered. "Maybe we should do white and yellow centerpieces and somehow use gray? I don't know."

"That's what a florist is for, sweetheart," Klaus assured her comfortingly, placing a hand on the small of her back. "I'm sure he or she will have plenty of suggestions."

"Right," she breathed.

Initially, Caroline had worried a bit that inviting Rebekah would give the Original female reason to take control of the appointment but as it worked out, Caroline was thrilled to have her there. She was direct with the florist and made sure Caroline and Klaus knew what was being offered. After an hour at the florist and decisions about all floral arrangements, Rebekah bid the couple goodbye to meet up with Stefan for lunch with Damon.

Klaus took Caroline's hand and led her outside to the sidewalk. "That wasn't so horrible. It wouldn't be my first choice for a fun activity but I didn't mind it."

She beamed. "I'm glad you were there. Just think, if you hadn't been there, Rebekah and I would've gone with tulips instead of lilies."

He chuckled. "That was the only thing I had to say."

Caroline tightened her hold of his hand and wrapped her other hand around his arm as they walked through the town. She was perfectly content in Mystic Falls, even after nine years away, and she knew a lot if that was because of the person she was with.

Suddenly, she felt Klaus tense up. Caroline looked ahead and saw Tyler walking out of the hardware store, carrying two cans of paint.

"Please, don't," she begged, clutching his hand in desperation. "It's fine now, okay? I love you and I'm marrying you."

"I will be civil so long as he is," Klaus growled.

Tyler looked up then and spotted Caroline and Klaus approaching him; Caroline wore a bright smile, Klaus was scowling.

"Hey, Tyler," Caroline greeted him cautiously.

"Care," he nodded at her.

She looked to the paint. "Are you staying with Matt?"

"Yeah," he confirmed. "The paint in the foyer is cracking so I said I'd take care of it while I'm here."

"How long are you staying?" she asked. "At least until the wedding, right? It's June 30th."

Tyler eyed Klaus. "Uh, yeah, I guess so. I mean, if you want me there."

"I do!" Caroline assured him. "We do," she corrected herself.

"No, actually, we don't, but I'm overruled on this one," Klaus spoke up.

"I didn't ask to come," Tyler told him.

Klaus stepped to stand in front of him. "Then don't."

"You know, under most circumstances, I would skip it but to piss you off, I'll be there, right in the front row," Tyler threatened.

"Good," Klaus replied, a menacing tone in his voice. "That means you'll have the best view of me marrying the girl you once loved."

Caroline could see the tension mounting so she grabbed Klaus' arm and without a word, dragged him away down the sidewalk. When they reached his car near the florist, she climbed in angrily and fumed the entire way back to the house.

"You're mad," he noticed as they walked into the Mikaelson foyer.

"Mad?" she snapped, whipping around to face him. "No, Klaus, I'm not mad, I'm furious! You embarrassed me back there with him. You killed his mother. You ran him out of town and broke us up. And now, ten years later, I'm marrying you and you're still asserting your alpha male status over him? It's pathetic. Grow up, Klaus. I love you and I'm spending forever with you but I'm going to be friends with Tyler and if you can't accept that, then we've got bigger problems."

Before Klaus could respond, she flashed upstairs and slammed the door to their bedroom.

"That didn't sound good," Katherine said as she emerged from Elijah's study. "Trouble in paradise?"

"None of your business, Katerina," he replied, heading towards his studio.

She followed. "Maybe I can help? What did you do?"

"I proved, once and for all, that I'm the alpha male and Tyler Lockwood is nothing but a small town boy with too much testosterone and not enough common sense," Klaus said.

Katherine laughed. "You really are an idiot, you know that?"

"Aren't you supposed to be afraid of me?" he demanded.

"Not anymore," she shook her head. "Elijah would never let you hurt me and Caroline would only get angrier at you if you tried. Now, about this situation with Tyler. Can you understand why she's upset?"

"Why do you care?" he wanted to know. "You've made it your life's mission to make me and everyone around me, save for Elijah, completely miserable."

"Well, as it turns out, Elijah doesn't hate being around you all like I do so I said I would attempt to be nicer to Blondie," Katherine explained. "I don't care if you're miserable for all time because you deserve that but she loves you for some unknown reason so consider this me helping her. Answer my question: do you understand why she's upset about what you did with Tyler?"

He sighed and set his paintbrush down, knowing she wouldn't go away until he played along. "Yes, I understand. I understand that she wants to be friends with a boy whose love for her kept her from being with me much sooner than she should've been."

"Oh, God," she rolled her eyes. "You're a real piece of work, Klaus. I have no idea why someone so perky and pleasant likes you, let alone wants to marry you."

"I know a Klaus that no one else does," Caroline spoke up from behind her. "He's stubborn and temperamental and slightly sociopathic but he can also be sweet and funny and...other things." She eyed him pointedly. "But he messed up today and while I appreciate your unexpected efforts, Katherine, Klaus has to fix this on his own."

"Can I watch?" Katherine asked.

"No," Caroline denied, "but you can listen from Elijah's study if you want."

Katherine just chuckled as she flashed away.

Caroline stepped into the room. "He didn't deserve that today. You've taken enough from him already."

"So you've told me," Klaus murmured. "I don't like Tyler Lockwood and I never will. If you, however, wish to be his friend, I will not stop you from that. But I'm also not going to invite him over for tea parties and backyard barbecues."

"You don't have to," Caroline scoffed. "He lives out west now, Klaus. This is his first time being home in ten years and he has to have you rub it in that you what, got the girl? You're happy now so why can't he be?"

"It's a character flaw," he shrugged in defense. "You know exactly who I am and exactly how I feel about him, Caroline, so why would you expect any differently?"

"Because I expect more of you!" she cried. "Is that so wrong? After ten years together—and an implied eternity—I expect you to behave like a man, not a teenage boy."

"Stop defending him!" Klaus yelled. "Do you know how that makes me feel? I fought for you when he gave up on your relationship and yet, you still take his side over this. Part of me wonders if I'll ever live up to the pedestal you had him on. I wonder if he had come back sooner, before I'd been given the opportunity to show you that side to me that only you know, if we would even be standing here today. Will you ever truly accept who I am?"

"Klaus," she breathed, stepping towards him, her anger dissipating at this sight of him. "You can't think I ever compare you to Tyler. You're apples and oranges. Was I in love with him? Yes, once upon a time, I was. But the love I felt for him is nothing compared to the love I feel for you. I don't hold Tyler on a pedestal but he's one of my oldest friends and I want him to be happy." She took his hand. "As for whether or not I think we would be standing here if Tyler had come back sooner, I'm not sure. We might be in Paris or Rome or Tokyo. I always knew, deep down, that I would eventually take you up on your offer to see the world someday, regardless of Tyler's presence in my life. So we might not be at the marriage stage yet but we'd be together; that I know for sure." She raised an eyebrow. "But no more competing with Tyler. It's stupid and pointless, Nik, because I'm going to marry you on June 30th and that's that."

"As long as that remains true, then nothing else matters," he replied, reaching up to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "I am sorry if I upset you today."

"I know," she nodded. "I know that's never your intent but it happens and I don't like it. I haven't spent ten years working on your impulsive temper for you to relapse like this."

"My impulsive temper?" he smirked, turning her around so her backside was pressed to him. "If I recall correctly, Rebekah had to stop you from snapping Camille's neck once in New Orleans."

"She was trying to come between us," Caroline reminded him. "I didn't care for that."

"You know I'd never let anyone come between us," he whispered in her ear. "Not after it took me so long to win your affections."

"So long?" she repeated. "It took you just over a year. That's nothing, especially considering you're immortal."

"It's a very long time when you're used to getting what you want, when you want it," he shrugged casually.

Caroline made a face. "You and that massive ego. Isn't it exhausting?"

"I can think of something a bit more fun that could exhaust me," he grinned wolfishly.

"I bet you can," she rolled her eyes, backing away from him. "As soon as Rebekah gets here, we're blocking off the backyard for the ceremony. I was thinking the reception could be in the ballroom."

"Okay," Klaus agreed.

"Now, what should we do about who will actually marry us?" she wondered. "I'm not religious and the only god you believe in is yourself so I don't know that a pastor is the best idea. Justice of the peace?"

"That's up to you, love," he answered. "I don't care who marries us."

"We also have to figure out what we're going to do about explaining Elena and Katherine," she suddenly realized. "It was easy to get away with in D.C., but it won't be here. People know Elena doesn't have a twin." She frowned. "We should've just done this in London and invited only the necessary people over."

"No," Klaus shook his head. "You deserve a beautiful wedding in your hometown and we will find ways around our obstacles. Katherine will alter her appearance on that day so not to draw too much attention to their similarities. Perhaps we can pass her off as a cousin?"

"An unknown Gilbert cousin?" Caroline scoffed. "Please. The Gilbert's are royalty in this town, just like the Lockwood's, in terms of Founding Families. Maybe Bonnie can work a little magic or something?"

"I'm sure," Klaus nodded.

"Speaking of Bonnie," Caroline went on, "if you refuse to make much effort with Tyler, I would like you to talk to her. She's one of my oldest friends and I hate that you can barely stand to be around each other."

"That is of her volition," he reminded his fiancée. "The Bennett witch does not like me for the destruction I caused when I first came to town and she's very stubborn." He noticed the look on Caroline's face. "But I will consider speaking to her if that's what you want."

"It is," she grinned triumphantly.

"I do have a request of you, as well," he went on as she started to leave the room. "I would like you to make the call to New Orleans to invite our friends there."

"Okay," she shrugged. "Marcel and Sophie and Davina, I assume? I'll call them tonight."

"Yes, the three of them," he confirmed, "and Camille, of course."

Caroline, who'd turned away from him, slowly spun back around. "What?"

"I don't have the issues with Camille that you do so I'd like to invite her," he smiled, knowing he had her. "You get to invite Tyler so I get to invite Camille."

"You're only doing this to piss me off," she said knowingly.

"Indeed," he chuckled. "But it's working so I'd say mission accomplished."

Caroline looked at him with a gleam in her eye before flashing to tackle him to the ground. She straddled him and leaned down to whisper in his ear. "I'll invite her if that's what you want but you're gonna owe me so big."

He ran his hands up her thighs tauntingly. "I can think of one way to repay you right now."

"Tempting," she breathed, nibbling on his earlobe, "but I have something else in mind."

Twenty minutes later, Klaus followed Caroline into the Grill and spotted Bonnie sitting at a table alone. "I said I'd consider this."

"Oh, I considered it for you and you agreed," Caroline replied smugly. "Now, she's expecting me and I'm never late so hurry along. I'll be back at the house with Rebekah if you need me." She kissed his cheek and left the restaurant before he could protest.

With a defeated sigh, Klaus walked to Bonnie's booth and sat down across from her.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded. "Where's Caroline?"

"Caroline seems to believe you and I have some things to discuss," he explained, leaning back in the booth. "Apparently she would like for us to get along."

"Never gonna happen," Bonnie denied. "I know that she loves you and you make her happy but I'm never going to like you. I will just respect her decision to marry you."

"I can appreciate that," he nodded. "I know that my past actions were not exactly pleasant for you. I know that I did things that put you in grave danger multiple times and for that, I apologize." He sighed. "Bonnie, I'll be honest and tell you that I don't care if we're never friends because I think that you're judgmental and condescending but Caroline wants us to at least be civil so for her, I will do whatever it takes for you to not see me as a complete monster. Her happiness is the most important thing to me so I'll go above and beyond my own desires for her."

"Why Caroline?" Bonnie asked. "You could essentially have any girl in the world so why a small town girl from Mystic Falls?"

"I didn't intend for it to happen," he assured her. "I came here to sacrifice Elena and use her blood to make my hybrids. At first, Caroline was just another pretty blonde I thought I might pass time with, but as I got to know her, I started to see that she was so much more than that. She's beautiful, of course, but warm and strong and fiercely loyal. She's a calming force for anyone around her and she can make even the darkest of creatures see the light. Caroline certainly makes me a better person, whether I wanted her to or not. Look at what she did for you. No offense but both Stefan and I were going to let those twelve witches kill you in favor of ruining Silas' chances to open the gate to the Other Side but without a second thought, Caroline completed the triangle to save your life. There are days I wake up with her next to me and worry that she'll leave because I don't deserve her but then night falls and she's there to sleep beside me once more." He looked her in the eyes. "I owe you my life, you know. I was on the brink of death when you came along and performed the spell to save me from Silas' stake. I will never forget that, Bonnie. I am sorry for the pain I've caused you and I hope someday you can believe that. But know this, I love Caroline and I will always, always put her first. You've always been a good friend to her so I'm sure you can at least respect that."

Bonnie was quiet for a long time as she turned over his words. The Klaus she remembered was cold and calculating. Everything was done with purpose and that purpose was usually to hurt others for his personal gain. But now, sitting here across from him, the Klaus she saw was different. There was still a determination in his eyes that surely made him as dangerous as ever but also a softness that was no doubt of Caroline's doing; that was the effect she had on others. Klaus was and always would be a monster of epic proportions but maybe having Caroline with him for eternity would curb his psychotic tendencies.

"All right," Bonnie finally spoke up. "I can see that you've changed; I sense it. Caroline has been good for you and I suppose you've been good for her, too. And that's why I saved your life ten years ago. She loved you then and while she couldn't voice it, she couldn't hide it either. I wanted her to be happy and if that was going to be with you, you couldn't exactly be dead for it, could you?"

He chuckled. "No, I suppose not. But thank you, nonetheless."

"Again, I did it for her, not you," Bonnie reminded him, "but if you happen to benefit from that, so be it. I love Caroline and she loves you so I guess that means I have to at least accept you because I won't be around forever like you two will. I have to trust that she'll be taken care of and I'm finally beginning to believe that."

A silence settled over them as a waitress approached the table. "Are you ready to order?"

Two hours later, Caroline was just opening the door to the Grill when Klaus and Bonnie emerged, both lightly laughing at something.

"What's all this?" she wondered.

"The Bennett witch and I have come to an understanding," Klaus explained.

"Yes," Bonnie confirmed, offering him her hand. "Klaus, it's been almost a pleasure but I have to get back to the office. Care, I'll call you later."

Caroline watched in confusion as her friend walked away to her car. "Seriously? I would've been happy if you both made it out alive and you come out all...chummy?"

"No," Klaus denied, taking her hand in his, "Bonnie and I will never be 'chums,' but we have one goal in common and we can get along on that alone."

"What goal?" she scoffed.

"Your eternal happiness," he answered quietly.

Caroline blushed and kissed him before laughing once. "God, wouldn't life be so much better if that was everyone's goal?"