"Than maybe you should invite her to the party," Elena said finishing Kat's hair.
Katherine was waiting by the base of the staircase. Rebekah was chatting with Elena about the goings on in Mystic Falls while the bride anxiously awaited the music that would cue her to begin her long, terrifying descent down the aisle.
'This is what you wanted,' she told herself. 'Granted, you didn't want to be weak or vulnerable, or under Klaus's thumb, but this is it. You'll have Elijah near and dear. You know you can bring him around, you've done it before. And if Klaus takes you up on your offer than the strongest, most feared vampire in history will be your personal body guard,' Katherine told herself as she bit her lip. She had a death grip on the base of her bouquet and she looked back at her doppelgänger.
She despised her and probably always would. Elena Gilbert was everything she wasn't. Kind, genuine, guileless; well, that was over rated, but the friends and family that were willing to constantly sacrifice themselves for her well being were worth gold. That's all she had ever wanted from the moment her father had exiled her. It just came so easy to the girl who grew up sheltered in her parents' love.
Katherine touched the pendant at the base of her throat and thought of her daughter. She wondered about her; always had. Had her daughter ever married? Elena was right in that her daughter must have survived at least long enough to continue their line.
The music began and Rebekah pushed Elena towards the double doors, turning to inspect the bride as the ushers opened the doors for the procession. "If you hurt him again," Rebekah's voice started in a sickeningly sweet voice, "I will kill you regardless of what Niklaus desires." Rebekah lowered Katherine's veil.
Before Elena placed one foot in front of the other, Katherine finally felt like herself and hauled her mirror twin back, leaving her bridesmaid to follow behind her. This was her day. This was the picture perfect wedding that Katherine always knew Elena would one day have and it was hers.
Screw the Originals. Screw the Petrova curse. "And screw you," she told Klaus as she passed him on the way to the aisle.
Elijah hated small talk but understood that it was polite among company. He did not care for frivolous traditions but understood that rituals bound people together. But what Elijah could not stand was the idea of being forced into a binding contract without any say, but as his bride told his little brother "screw you," Elijah smiled for the first time that day without realizing it was happening.
A year ago this was exactly what he wanted. So why wasn't he excited now? He knew the answer; Katherine didn't really want him. He had thought she had. She was an incredible actress but it wasn't the conniving seductress he wanted. It was the girl in the green gown, heart still beating that he wanted but that girl had been vanquished. Now the only reason for this union was for his brother's satisfaction but if Elijah was put in a place where he could protect the vision of the girl he had once loved then he must see to it that she is protected.
He met her before the altar and escorted her up. He wished that this was what he wanted.
Elena left the reception and closed the doors to his den before turning to appraise him.
All mighty Niklaus Mikaelson was brooding, imagine that.
"You know," Elena began, "one of the things you promised me was that you weren't going to begin repopulating the Petrova community until Katherine was ready for it. So how come I've heard a second heartbeat when I was with her?"
"My dear Elena, the terms of our agreement are still standing. Katherine was the one who came to me asking for a second chance to be a mother and lead the life that ended for her five hundred years ago. I only obliged her."
"And does your brother know? How is it I'm the only vampire that noticed her condition?"
"Well dear, it seems you're the only one who cares enough to pay attention. As for Elijah, he will come to learn the truth soon enough. I dare say he'll be grateful for this opportunity to be a father. We have long since accepted that we would never be able to produce future generations of Mikaelson's yet there has always been a yearning."
"And who exactly is the father?" Elena waited as Klaus poured himself a drink. He sipped it before sparing her a glance and returning to his seat.
"That is a secret I can't quite divulge just yet as I believe it only right to settle matters between Katherine and Elijah first but don't fret. All shall be revealed soon."