Klaus sat back in his desk chair, a glass of bourbon clutched tightly in his hand.

Caroline had left him.

She admitted to being in love with him and then she had left him. He had expected it, especially after telling her about Katherine and yet it was the deepest hurt he had ever felt.

She left him.

She was gone and here he was; in his office with a drink in his hand while everyone else buzzed around the governor's mansion in preparation for the day's festivities. Rebecca, although begrudgingly, was overseeing the planning for today's nuptials and the staff was working themselves ragged under her watchful gaze.

Everything would be perfect today if only for outside appearances. After all, it wouldn't do well to have his subjects gossiping about today's wedding ceremony or Klaus's intentions for the happy couple.

He tossed back his drink and rose, buttoning his single breasted jacket.

No, it wouldn't do at all.

Katherine had woken up for the first time in weeks without having to donate blood. Instead, she woke up to servants hanging a garment bag in her closet and preparing her bath for her while she was served breakfast in bed. It wasn't long before she found the staff of a nearby spa setting up at her vanity in order to do her nails and Katherine was especially pleased by the green tea spa pedicure she received.

If only she had struck a deal with Klaus 500 years ago she could have been enjoying the fruits of mutual friendship a lot sooner. Of course, 500 years ago he had no way of knowing he needed to keep her around in order to make his mutant army of hybrid monsters.

All's well that ends well, she thought and reached for a flute of champagne that was offered. "God," she spat it out, "what is this; cider?"

"The master was insistent that nobody imbibes any alcohol before the reception," one of the staff told her. "He wants everything to run smoothly."

"Yes, well, I guess it's also easier for him to marry us off quickly and while his guests are all still in town," Katherine's voice dripped with disdain as she pushed her champagne flute back at the staff.

"Well," a hauntingly identical voice replied, "Klaus has a reason for everything he does. Of course, if only to further his own plans," Elena said and handed her ancestor a gift.

Noticing Katherine's frown as well as her hesitance, Elena sat on the bed and crossed her legs. "That's for you," she said.

"I'm just wondering if it's ticking," Katherine held it up to her ear. "Of course, I don't have my handy dandy vampire hearing anymore so I can't really tell through all of the gift wrap."

"I'm not trying to kill you," Elena promised her.

"Funny, I could have sworn you were the one who shoved the cure down my throat."

"And you were the one who procured me for Klaus's sacrificial ritual but that's all over," Elena told her. "It's a wedding gift."

Katherine eyed Elena and ripped in to the wrapping paper, opening the box to find a platinum pendant with a cluster of pearls, alexandrite and moonstone. "What's this?"

"Our birthstones," Elena told her and grabbed the pendant, fastening it behind her neck.

Katherine released her long locks and felt the pendant, unsure of what she was feeling. It was…well, it wasn't murderous which was her usual feeling toward the knockoff who wore her face.

She touched the pendant with a slight frown and nodded at the other doppelganger. It was the best that she could muster.

"We didn't know if there was anyone you'd want here," Elena began. "I mean, I for one don't know who you run with. You're kind of this giant mystery to us all," Elena scratched her head. "I put in a call to everyone in Mystic Falls but—"

"—but they're not coming," Katherine answered. "So the only people I'll have to stand up with me are you, Caroline and Rebekah."

"Actually, Caroline's already left," Elena told her ancestor. "She said something about not feeling right being in a den full of rabid mutts. I think she's still scared from the last time a werewolf bit her."

"Or something," Katherine muttered. "So you and Rebekah; joy to the festivities."

"So how do you want to do this?" Elena took the curling iron from one of the maids and started fixing Katherine's hair. "Klaus is under the impression that he's giving you away."

"Is there another option?" Katherine doubted it. Klaus would never relinquish an opportunity to demonstrate his complete dominance over her.

"Damon?" Elena suggested.

"I'll pass."

"Or," Elena began, "you can do this Katherine Pierce style."

"Oh, and what exactly would that entail?"

"A big, flashy entrance where you give yourself away. Tell Klaus to go screw himself and then saunter up the aisle to your future husband, all seductive smiles and a sway in your strut."

"That was the old Katherine."

"Than maybe you should invite her to the party," Elena said finishing Kat's hair.