A/N: Hey there, I've returned! This chapter was kind of a filler chapter and i had to make a few changes which was why it took a little bit longer to update. But it's finally here and it didn't take 3 months! So that's an accomplishment. I LOVED all the reviews for last chapter, they were amazing and really got me going and inspiring me to finish this off for you guys. I love you and thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate it. Also big thanks to Jay and Angela for beta-ing. Now without further ado, enjoy!
Chapter Eighteen
"Here's the agenda for today," Rebekah stated, standing up at the breakfast table and demanding everyone's attention.
Stefan made breakfast like old times, Rebekah joined in on the fun after she stayed over the night before. Nate was chewing quietly on his piece of crispy bacon, not bothering to pay attention, while Stefan and Caroline both set their forks down and stared up at the bossy blonde.
"We are meeting Bonnie and Katherine at the dress shop in approximately one hour. Stefan will take Nate to meet Kol and Klaus at the tux rental place for their fittings at the same time. Now I want you to make sure that everything fits properly because I will not have anyone looking poorly at my wedding!"
Stefan nodded, his face paling slightly at the demand. "And make sure that the vests all match and that your vest is the proper shade of cream. You tell them that it has to be exactly what we've asked for," Rebekah continued.
"Yes, dear," Stefan said, giving her a tight smile.
Caroline laughed under her breath. "You're going a little bridezilla on us here, Bex."
"Sorry," she blushed, sitting back down. "The wedding is in less than two weeks. If something goes wrong now, it'll be harder to fix! I do not want anything bad happening so we've all got to be on our A-game."
"Yes, dear," Stefan repeated, earning a light smack on the shoulder from his fiancé and a giggle from his nephew.
"I get to be best man, right, Uncle Stefan?" Nate asked.
"Yeah, buddy, you're gonna be my honorary best man but I think Auntie Bekah wants you as the ring bearer." Nate frowned at the answer but Stefan quickly recovered, making sure to cheer him up. "You'll still be in the wedding and stand beside me; you just get the extra role of walking Alexa down the aisle."
That cheered him up. "Okay!" He exclaimed as he resumed his eating.
"The wedding's going to be great," Caroline said, sending the other blonde a smile.
"It better be," Rebekah grumbled. "All this planning is stressing me out. I can't wait to be on the beach in Maui in two weeks."
"Same here," Stefan added, leaning over and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
Two hours later, Caroline stood at the bridal shop in her plum bridesmaid's dress, accompanied by Katherine, Bonnie and Esther, all trying to deal with a stressed out bride to be. Rebekah had locked herself in the changing room, refusing to come out, claiming that the dress didn't look right.
"Rebekah, dear, you just need to come out and show us what's wrong," Esther said, stepping up and trying to talk the bride down from the virtual ledge.
A sob came from the other side of the door, followed by heavy breathing. "I can't."
"Rebekah!" Caroline shouted, "You're being ridiculous."
"I am not!" Rebekah snapped, pushing the door open and revealing herself.
The four women gasped in surprise, taken back by the blonde. "Bekah-" Caroline started.
"You look beautiful," Esther finished.
Rebekah stepped up onto the small pedestal, eying herself in the mirrors. The white dress had intricate beading stitched into the bodice that was snug to her frame. It flared slightly off her body and swirled around her feet. A simple dress but the beadwork that decorated the fabric sparkled and added complexity.
"What's wrong with the dress?" Bonnie questioned, stepping forward as she studied the blonde.
Rebekah looked down at herself, swirling slightly and feeling the fabric sway against her skin. "I don't know." Then she looked up again at her reflection.
"You'll look nicer when you have your hair done up and the veil added. You're just a little overwhelmed at the moment, it's totally normal," Katherine added from the sidelines.
"I was just freaking out I guess, this makes it all final," the blonde confessed quietly, needing some reassurance that everything she was feeling was normal.
Esther stepped forward, tugging her daughter down off the pedestal and into her arms. "It's acceptable to be a little nervous, darling."
Rebekah nodded, whipping away a stray tear that had been shed. "Alright, freak out over. Now let's see how my bridesmaids look." She demanded, stepping back.
The three woman who all donned plum strapless dresses stepped beside each other, shifting slightly under Rebekah's intense gaze. Caroline was scared that she was going to hate the look, or the colour. Instead the bride-to-be broke out in a huge smile and clapped her hands. "This is perfect!"
The other four women in the room let out a breath in relief. "Although," Rebekah said, eyeing Katherine and her pregnant belly. "It would be nice if you weren't pregnant, but because that's my niece or nephew in there and I'm trying to be nice, I'll let it slide."
Katherine stepped forward, anger radiating but Caroline snatched an arm out, halting the pregnant woman in her tracks wanting to avoid any confrontations. Even though they were growing closer, somewhat, there were still the snide remarks that Rebekah couldn't hold in and Katherine wouldn't let slide.
"How chivalrous of you," the brunette snarled, backing off.
"Okay, well how about we get the seamstress in here to take the final measurements," Caroline said, trying to ease the tension.
"Good idea!" Esther agreed, already moving to grab the worker who had been waiting on the outskirts of the conversation waiting to be let in to do her work.
Across town at the same time, Stefan stood with his future brother-on-laws and his nephew, all donning tuxedo's that Rebekah had picked out. Klaus stood off to the side as Kol ranted to Stefan, he could briefly hear the conversation going on, shaking his head as Kol went off on a tangent. Elijah was on his phone in the corner doing some business, ignoring the happenings going on around him.
"This is purple. I do not look good in purple, Stefan. Do you see this?" Kol questions, holding the front of the vest that he's wearing up to his face, trying to show the comparison between the colour and his complexion. "Doesn't look good."
"It's what Rebekah wanted, and what Bekah wants goes," Stefan said.
"But-"
"Be thankful you aren't wearing a gold vest or peach because that's what she wanted to put you all in," Stefan said, interrupting an inevitable rant.
Kol pouted, "fine, but if I ever get married, I'll make sure to put you in a colour that doesn't match your complexion."
Klaus laughed from across the room. "I don't think that'll be any time soon, you have nothing to worry about, Stefan."
"Hey!" Kol yelled, horrified. "I'll probably get married before you."
Both Klaus and Stefan laughed at the accusation. "Doubtful, brother," Klaus said.
Stefan clapped Kol on the back, "you actually have to ask a woman to marry you first and she'll have to say yes."
"Bonnie will marry me," he said, before adding, "one day."
The conversation lulled as Kol returned to looking at himself in the mirror and Stefan was being seen to by the tailor. Klaus knocked on the door of the change room, the one that Nate was occupying stating he could get changed himself. "You alright in there, Mate?"
The door open revealing a clearly disheveled young boy. Nate looked up at him with shiny eyes, "I can't get this on," he said, holding up the pin on tie in his hand.
Klaus kneeled down, taking the tie from his hand and carefully pinning it to his shirt. He then buttoned up the cream vest that matched Stefan's and smoothed out the black jacket. "There you go."
"Thanks, Nik," he smiled.
Klaus ushered the boy towards Stefan, "so how do we look?"
"Good," the groom-to-be responded.
"That's it?" Kol questioned. "Good?"
Stefan shrugged, "What? I'm not Bekah."
Klaus laughed, "and that's a good thing."
"Well, I think I look smashing," Kol said, spinning around slowly to show off his new outfit. "And this little man, looks better than all of us." Nate smiled up at all of them when Kol gave him a little nudge, "show us what you've got."
The boy copied Kol, spinning slowly with his arms outstretched and showing off his outfit that was similar to the groom. "Very good, Mate," Kol laughed, ruffling his hair.
The four rotated as the tailored gave the finally measurements and finishing touches on all their tuxedos. There was still the matter of Finn's tux but as soon as he flew in from England, he was to get fitted and then before he made it to the wedding, pick up all the tuxedos.
"So do you have cold feet yet?" Kol asked Stefan as he stood in front of everyone while getting his measurements done. He was the last to go because he was off playing a game of tag with Nate.
Elijah perked up from his phone, just long enough to chaste his brother. "Kol!"
He just shrugged, "It's an honest question and I want to hear if our future brother in law is having any doubts."
"What's cold feet?" Nate questioned from his spot beside Elijah.
"Well, Nate, it's when the groom chickens out from marrying the bride," Kol answered honestly.
"Uncle Stefan isn't a chicken," the boy declared.
"I don't have cold feet. I'm excited to marry Rebekah and even more excited to start our life together," Stefan said.
Elijah slowly put down his phone and looked up at the man his sister was marrying. "And do you know where you're going to live? I haven't heard any details yet. From what I know, our mother lives with Rebekah and you live with Caroline and Nate."
The air got a little tense around them as Elijah took on the father role. Klaus got up, pulling Nate with him, whispering about getting changed so they can go home because things were wrapping up.
"I'll be moving in with her and from what I know, Esther has already found a condo to call her own," Stefan replied.
Kol was finished with the tailor and stepped forward, "our new brother has everything under control, let's not scare him away from the family now, Elijah, especially when we know how long it would take for our darling sister to find another suitor."
Neither Elijah nor Stefan laughed at the comment but the tension eased remarkably. "I love your sister and I think you should know that by now I'm not going to hurt her," Stefan declared.
Elijah nodded, "I'm just making sure we have all our bases covered."
"Welcome to the family, brother!" Kol bolstered, slapping Stefan on the back before he followed the direction of Klaus to get unchanged.
Twenty minutes later the men were back into their normal clothes and exciting the store, Elijah and Kol already on their way to meet up with the women after the dress fitting. Nate was following close behind Klaus as they stepped out of the store and onto the busy street when Stefan went to grab his hand.
Nate protested, "Uncle Stefan, I want to go with Nik."
"I'm going to the studio to do some work," Klaus said, smiling sadly down at the little boy. "It won't be much fun."
Nate pouted and looked up at the two men with sad eyes, "but I want to go with you. I want to see where you work!"
Klaus looked from the boy to Stefan, who seemed to be slightly hurt but covered it immediately. "If it's alright with Stefan than I guess you can come."
"But Caroline," Stefan said, hesitating on giving in to the demands of a five year old.
"She's meeting me there and then we were going for dinner but Nate can join us. I'm sure she won't mind. I'll even give her a call," Klaus replied.
"Please, Uncle Stefan?"
How could he say no to those eyes and that face? "Fine but when you get home tonight, you're all mine. I haven't seen you in days!"
"Okay!" Nate exclaimed, quickly giving his uncle a hug before grabbing hold of Klaus' hand.
Caroline entered Original Designs through the back door; she had directions given by Klaus himself with the store being closed on the Saturday afternoon. The door led into the back room which also was Klaus' art room and office and revealed Klaus working on a new painting, as well as, Nate sitting at the desk and creating a painting of his own.
She sat on the edge of the room, watching as Klaus paused what he was doing to check on Nate. The boy had his tongue between his teeth, hanging out of his mouth in pure concentration. The paintbrush moved carefully over the piece of paper, each stroke smooth and calculated.
From where she stood, Caroline couldn't see what he was working on but was able to see the bright smile that overtook her sons' face when he finally put the brush down and looked up at Klaus. "I'm finished!" He exclaimed.
Klaus moved off his stool at his easel and walked towards his desk which had been cleared and only supported a few low end paints and paintbrushes, along with paper. "Hold it up for me to see, Mate."
Nate held up his paper, eyed bright and his smile wide. There was a standard picture of a house and three stick figures beside it. The sun was painted in yellow and the clouds blue. "That's me," he said pointing to the smallest figure on the paper. "And that's you and mommy," he added, pointing to the other two figures.
Klaus gasped, "that's beautiful, a real masterpiece!"
"Really?" Nate questioned, his voice rising an octave with excitement.
Klaus nodded furiously, "the best one I've seen ever painted by a five year old. I think we should frame it and give it to your mother for a birthday present."
Caroline's heart swelled at the scene that unfolded before her. She couldn't stand it any longer and stepped forward, smiling as she said, "too late, I've already seen it."
"It was supposed to be a surprise!" Nate yelled, tugging the painting back from Klaus and trying to hide it from her view.
"I'll pretend I didn't see it," she offered, laughing a little at his over dramatics.
"Good idea," Klaus said, taking the painting and moving it to an attached room to dry. When he returned seconds later, he gave Caroline a quick kiss in welcome.
Her hand interlocked with his and pulled him to the front of the store, "show me around, Mr. Artist."
Klaus laughed, following her. He quickly looked back to Nate who was already working on another painting. "You'll be alright back here?"
"Mhmm," the boy answered, distracted and in the zone.
"We'll be just outside if you need us," Klaus said but received no reply.
"I have no idea where he got his love of drawing and painting from," Caroline stated once they were at the front of the store.
"I like to think I've been a good influence on him, "Klaus joked.
Caroline paused, "you have been."
Klaus halted beside her, he meant it as a joke but she was looking at him seriously, eyes burning. "Caroline…"
"I know he has Stefan but he understand that Stefan is his uncle. You're the closest thing he has to a father figure, and you've been an amazing role model to him," she said, her voice soft. Her heart was beating furiously with her admission, meaning every words she said.
"I want the best for him," he admitted.
"I want the best for him too," she agreed, "and having you in his life is the best thing."
Caroline leaned forward, kissing him and trying to convey every emotion she was feeling into that one gesture. It wasn't enough. When she pulled back, Klaus just stared down at her, the same seriousness in his eyes that reflected from her own.
She gave him a quick kiss before pulling away fully, "so show me around, what piece is your favourite?"
Klaus chuckled as the mood lightened significantly and lead her in the direction of his favourite section by a young artist. "This is new to me, I'm sponsoring photography and this new up and coming artist. We're having an exhibit full of her work here this weekend, she's amazing," Klaus notes as he brings her to the first picture.
The wall is lined with black and white photographs of varying sizes. The first one they stopped at is of a small child, their facing the camera but instead is focused on the water fountain they were playing in. There is pure bliss on the child's face as they're laughing in the water.
They move to the next one and it's of a girl in the park reading with her surroundings blurred behind her. It feels like she's in her own world, a look of determination etched on her features as her eyes scan the pages in front of her.
"She takes pictures of people while they're not looking, when they're in their completely themselves and unchanged by the world around them," he explained, moving her towards the next picture.
"They're beautiful," Caroline said, eyeing the new picture in front of her. She was loving the different photographs and the feelings they evoked within her, she was definitely going to have to buy one of these later.
Klaus led her around the room, pointing out the different photographs and what they meant and how he felt. She just tried to take everything he was saying in but couldn't help but love the way he talked about art. He was energetic and smiling, his eyes lit up with excitement with each photograph he talked about. Caroline could tell he really loved his job and the passion he had for it was admirable.
Between pieces of work, he told her about his day and the fitting while she told him about her session, including the Rebekah freak out. She laughed when she heard Elijah tried to give Stefan the big brother talk. Klaus admitted that he had already given the talk months ago after the proposal but it was the thought that counted.
When they reached the end of the line, Caroline tugged on his hand to pull his attention to her. "Will you show me one of your pieces?"
Before Klaus could answer a clatter sounded in the other room followed by shrieks and yelling. The two rushed forward towards the sound, into the back room, and found the paint Nate had been using spilled all over the table and the painting he was working on.
Klaus moved around the room, setting into action, and began to clean up the mess. Caroline just grabbed Nate away from the table hoping to spare a pit stop home to change before dinner. Thankfully, he came out clean, the paint only being on his hands.
"There's a washroom behind that door to clean him up," Klaus said, pointing to a door behind them.
Caroline smiled, relieved that it was an easy clean up, and took Nate to the bathroom to wash off. The boy rattled on about his day, even though she had already heard the day's events from Klaus, it was interesting to hear it from the eyes of a five year old.
When they returned to the back room with a clean Nate the area which was covered in paint moments ago appeared spotless. Klaus frowned at the ruined picture in his hand, one which was covered in splotches of blue and red, was unsalvageable. Nate didn't seem too bothered, especially when Klaus promised another painting session with him after the wedding.
"Ready for dinner?" Caroline asked Nate once everything in the workshop was settled. The boy just nodded, a little tiredly from his busy day.
Klaus was just about to lead them out the back door, ready to pack in for the night when the phone began to ring. "We'll just wait outside," Caroline said, taking hold of Nate's hand and exiting out the back door.
Klaus answered the phone, slightly annoyed at the interruption. He just wanted to go to dinner and spend time with Caroline and Nate, not be stuck on a business call.
"Hello?" He answered, bringing his work phone up to his ear.
"Hello, Mr. Mikaelson?" Came an unknown voice on the other end.
"Yes, speaking?"
"This is Marcel Gerrard, I own a little gallery in London and a few others scattered across Europe. I have a wonderful business opportunity for you here," the man said.
Klaus' brow crinkled in confusion. He was not familiar with the man. "Business opportunity" He echoed.
"Yes, I was hoping to showcase your work in my galleries. We would need you to come out here and go on a small tour around these galleries, it would be sixth months and a great way to show your work. I am a huge fan and know others would love to get a look at it."
"That is amazing. I would have to think about it but thank you for the offer," Klaus replied, excitement growing at the opportunity.
"Take all the time you need. I really do hope you take it. This could be a good way to boost your career." Marcel quickly added, "I look forward to hearing from you soon, I'll e-mail you the details."
"Thank you very much."
Pleasantries and emails were exchanged and soon Klaus was hanging up the phone, staring at it in shock. His excitement grew but was quickly squashed when he thought of his girlfriend who was waiting for him outside. How was he supposed to leave her? This was a brilliant work opportunity but he couldn't fathom the idea of leaving Caroline or Nate.
Klaus pushed away the growing pit in his stomach. He would tell her later once he had gotten more details on the matter. Right now he had a beautiful blonde whom he loved and a boy whom he loved just as much waiting for him.
A/N: What's Klaus going to do? Is he going to take the job? What about Caroline and Nate? Let me know what you think!