A Little While Down the Road…

Klaus stands at the window, watching the people scurry inside. They toss their keys to the valets, cinch their coats a little tighter and dash for the weather worn wood doors. Everyone is still dressed to the nines, no matter the weather, just as the bride had requested. Although, a pair of solid boots would seem like a better idea than the three inch heels he's noticed the women still donning.

The old barn just outside of town, was the only venue large enough to host such an event, but Caroline has worked her magic and turned a hay-filled shack into a magical winter wonderland. He turns around to take in the reception area, which is covered in evergreen branches with white lights tangled among them and hanging delicately from the rafters. Bare trees are in the center of each table, crystals dangling from the branches, reflecting the light from above and twinkling all around the room. Gold and silver linens grace the tables, and each place setting has its own unique vintage look. Some solid gold, while others silver with gold etching. She really had outdone herself this time.

"There you are," Klaus hears a small voice behind him. "The boys are waiting for you in the back."

Klaus turns around to see Caroline quickly approaching. She shimmers as she walks, the long sleeved black gown snugging her curves, and draping like luminescent curtains down her legs. She looks more beautiful than the day he first met her, when she stepped into his comic book shop and changed his life forever. However, she still has that familiar frantic look in her eye, the one that says I'm trying to keep it together but I'm a neurotic mess inside. He can tell this because she's fiddling with the diamond infinity bracelet he got her for their one year anniversary, trying to get it clasped and getting more irritated by the second.

"Here, let me help you," he says calmly and grabs hold of her wrist to help her. When it's fastened he runs a hand up her arm and to her cheek. "You look stunning, love."

Caroline smiles up at him and laughs, "I feel like a bloated whale."

He shakes his head and chuckles, bringing his hand down to her belly and resting it there. "Don't you listen to your mother," he speaks to her stomach sternly. "Even with you cooking inside of her she's the most beautiful woman in this place."

Caroline rolls her eyes at her charming husband's nonsense. She looks down at her torso, six months pregnant, and showing plenty. When she tried to get out of wearing the slinky gown, Rebekah had put her foot down. She told her she looked beautiful and that the gown enhanced her motherly glow. Caroline is pretty sure that if there's any kind of glow coming from her, it's because she's stretched the sequins out to saucers and her stomach is simply reflecting more light than it should.

She can't really complain, however, the dress is gorgeous and Rebekah has made sure that each girls' is unique but uniformed. She got a long black gown, Kat in silver and Bonnie is donning a short gold dress with long sleeves like Caroline's. All similar in style, with shimmering sequins, just different lengths.

Caroline turns her head back up to her husband and asks, "Have I told you how much I love you?" She wraps her arms around his neck and runs her hands through his curls.

"Not today," he coos and puts a hand around her waist and holds her hand in the air. He sways to imaginary music, turning her in his arms and drawing her close again. She throws her head back and laughs as he spins her around, this time dipping her gently back and slowly raising her up.

"I love you," Caroline tells him and stands on her tip toes to brush her lips lightly against his. "Now, hurry up." She takes a step back from his embrace and points a finger at him in mock warning. "They can't start without you."

"Yes ma'am," he obliges and turns reluctantly on his heel and away from her.

\-[0]-[0]-/

"Daddy?"

"Yes, Milo?"

"When's the wedding going to start?"

"Soon, Son."

Elijah straightens his tie in the mirror, getting it just right. He feels completely in his element, while the other groomsmen strain at their collars and keep their jackets off until the moment they have to put them on. But not him and certainly not Milo. He stands in front of Elijah, looking in the mirror too and getting ready for the wedding.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, Milo?" Elijah says again.

"When the wedding's all done, can I keep the suit?"

Elijah looks down in the mirror at his son, who has his tongue hanging out to the side and his eyebrows furrowed as he uses every ounce of his four year old prowess to get his tie to look just like his dad's. Elijah swells with pride as he lowers himself to one knee and turns Milo around to face him. He helps adjust his tie and smiles, fluffing the unruly chestnut curls atop his son's head. "You can have as many suits as you'd like."

"Really?!" he says, his eyes lighting up in pure joy. "Did you hear that Uncle Kol?" he asks and runs off toward his uncle. "Daddy says I can have as many suits as I want!"

"Oh boy," Kol says with a hint of sarcasm. "You know what Uncle Kol's going to make sure you have plenty of?"

"What?" the four year old beams up at him.

"Girls."

"KOL!?" the room chastises him.

Kol simply laughs and ruffles up the boy's curls before turning back to his computer. The boys have turned their waiting room into a nerdy tech den, as they all hover around their computers frantically pushing buttons and screaming out commands. Their little brother Henrik sits in the corner, his tie askew and his shoes off, as he sits cross legged on his chair with his computer in his lap. His long brown hair falls forward and he shakes his head back to remove his bangs from his eyes. He's a sixteen year old boy in every way, he looks a lot like Kol but luckily takes more after Klaus. He's creative and smart, but unfortunately can also waste the day away like the rest of his family in the magnificent World of Warcraft.

Surprisingly enough, they've even coerced their father into playing, which is a sight to see all in itself. Mikael leans forward with his elbows on his knees, trying to figure out what button does what.

"I don't know how you boys play this game."

"Pour me a glass of that, will ya?" Klaus asks his older brother Finn when he enters the room, who is lingering over the others and watching them play. Finn and Elijah are two peas in a pod, both very serious, taking after their mother of course. However, Elijah in his suits, looks like a GQ model at all times, whereas Finn looks like he just stepped off the cover of "Bohemia Now". He's dressed in the traditional "monkey suit", as he would call it, but typically he's adorned in linen pants, an unbuttoned vest, and a number of necklaces that his domestic partner Sage made for him.

"Where the hell have you been, Klaus? We needed you." Kol chastises.

"I was doing best man duties, since you were otherwise engaged," he rolls his eyes and drops down into a chair beside his father.

"Please take over for me, I have no idea what I am doing."

"You're doing fine, Dad," Klaus tells him and pats him on the shoulder. "If all else fails, just run around in circles and try not to die."

Mikael gives an indignant snort, "I think I've spent more time dead than alive."

"You'll get the hang of it."

Mikael continues to hit buttons, not getting anywhere before his hit points are depleted and he's lost in the grey world of the dead. He turns to Klaus and asks, "How's the comic book business?"

"Really good," Klaus responds, his eyes lighting up as bright as Milo's were a moment ago. His father is quiet and reserved and it's always a nice surprise when he shows interest in their lives. He's a scholar so it took a bit of time for Mikael to get on board with their comic book store adventures. "Sales have gone up quite a bit since the latest issue of The Hybrid was released."

After the initial ten issues Klaus was pleasantly surprised to see the reaction of the comic book fandom. Dark Horse sold a proper amount of issues and was all too eager to extend his contract and request that he continue. Since the first issue, Nik and his beloved Candice have ransacked the vampire world, causing chaos together and revelling in the bloodshed that they leave in their wake. Caroline was ecstatic to see what shenanigans Klaus would have her get into. Candice is strong and beautiful but still level headed when it comes to keeping Nik in line, a parallel from their actual lives that he so perfectly worked into the story.

"Good for you," Mikael says sincerely before the prompt appears asking if he would like to resurrect. He clicks on it and the grey world becomes alive again with color.

"I've been invited to the San Diego Comic Con next year."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. It's kind of like the World Cup of Comic Cons," Klaus tells him in a way that he can understand. "Would you like to come?" he asks, hoping his father can take some time away from his classes and grading of papers.

"I'd like that very much," he tells him and returns to the game without another word.

Klaus smiles, trying to keep his giddiness to himself. He never thought in a million years his father would be on board, but he learned a long time ago to never underestimate Mikael.

His reverie is interrupted by a mop of brown hair and an excited four year old squeal.

"Uncle Klaus!"

"Hey Buddy, how's my favorite nephew doing?"

Milo giggles and hops onto Klaus' lap. "I'm your only nephew, Uncle Klaus," he corrects him.

"All the more reason that you're my favorite," Klaus laughs and tickles his tummy.

"Guess what?" Milo asks. "Daddy's going to get me suits and Uncle Kol's going to get me girls!"

"Really?" Klaus responds. He wants to tell the boy that he'd have better luck asking Bonnie how to get girls than Kol, but decides not to pop the bubble this early on. He'll figure it out on his own in time.

"Mmm-Hmm," the young boy nods and nestles back against Klaus' chest to watch his grandpa play. Klaus puts a hand on his head and tries to straighten out his hair, it's no use however, each curl has a mind of its own, much like his mother's.

"No, Grandpa, like this." The four year old hops off of Klaus' lap and proceeds to help Mikael with the quest at hand. He pushes buttons quickly and takes out the enemy that Mikael has yet to be able to defeat. He lets Milo take over and turns to look at Klaus and shakes his head in disbelief.

"Four years old," Mikael says feeling chagrined.

"They grow up fast these days," Klaus shrugs and takes a sip of his whiskey.

Elijah approaches the other groomsmen, shaking his head in disappointment. "You are all going to be in quite a bit of trouble if Rebekah catches you."

"Oh Elijah, lighten up. What Bridezilla doesn't know won't hurt her," Kol waves his older brother away.

"What about my beautiful Bridezilla?"

The guys turn around to see Jeremy saunter in, his usual scent of "herbal" cologne wafting in the air after him. He has a silver platter of wedding treats and a bottle of champagne swinging in the other. He holds them both up for the others to notice before placing them on the counter. "For after the ceremony," he tells them with a knowing lift of his eyebrows.

\-[0]-[0]-/

The girls are much quieter in the room down the hall. Caroline hovers around Rebekah, making sure everything is in place, while Kat lounges and appreciates her time away from Milo. She loves her son, but it's nice to just relax and let Elijah be the parent for awhile. Bonnie clicks away on her computer, a little bundle of her own nestled to her chest. She holds the baby in one hand and hides the screen from Rebekah while she discretely heals her guild.

After Kat and Elijah tied the knot, Bonnie and Kol quickly followed with an elopement the following year. They had raced off to the Atlantic City Comic Con and while they were there wandered into a tiny chapel and sealed the deal. They of course were forced to have a "real" ceremony and reception with the family when Rebekah all but lost it when she found out they didn't include them in the nuptials.

Klaus and Caroline took a little more time than the others to get hitched. They were actually engaged for a year before finally taking the plunge. It was a simple wedding, which took place in England. Klaus wanted to visit home and Caroline's family was small enough that getting them there was much easier than all of them coming to them.

Rebekah, on the other hand, didn't mind inconveniencing her family, but also didn't want to repeat their wedding. She wanted a winter wedding, since everyone got married in the summer, and winter in England is dreary, cold and wet. Snow this time of year was a given in their town, and Rebekah couldn't think of a better backdrop to the beginning of her and Jeremy's new life together.

"Are you sure everything looks alright?"

"Bekah you look perfect." Caroline turns to her mother in law, "Doesn't she look perfect, Esther?"

Esther strolls toward her daughter with that same glimmer of amusement that tends to never leave her lips. As if she's reached an enlightened state of mind that nobody else is privy to but her. She smiles at her daughter and grabs hold of her shoulders from behind, peering over Rebekah to take a look at her in the mirror.

"Well Rebekah, you do look a bit puffy under the eyes. Did you get enough sleep last night?"

Caroline slaps her forehead and covers her eyes, shaking her head in disbelief but then remembers that the Elijah apple doesn't fall far from the Esther tree. You would think she would be used to the bluntness that runs in the Mikaelson family.

"Oh no, really?" Rebekah whines, leaning in to dab gently at absolutely nothing. She has no circles under her eyes, no trace of a sleepless night.

"It's alright, dear, just put a bit more concealer under there and it'll be fine," she tells her and rests her hand gently on Rebekah's cheek. "Beyond that, I've never seen a more beautiful bride."

As ruthless and straightforward as Esther can be, she can also be very gentle and caring. Since meeting her the first time at Kat and Elijah's wedding, Caroline can honestly say that she's one of the most remarkable women that she's ever met. To not only receive multiple doctorates in her lifetime, but also be a full time professor and raise six children, it's no wonder the Mikaelson family falls in line when she is in their presence.

"Don't listen to your mother, Bekah, and stop dabbing at nothing. You look well rested and perfect."

Well most of the Mikaelson family has fallen in line. Kat will always be her own person, no matter what family she's married into.

Caroline supposes that's why she and Esther get along so well, not because Caroline is a doormat by any means, she's just tends to keep her opinions to herself. Kat's candor is a challenge to Esther, especially when Elijah is involved. Poor guy never knows who to listen to, and so more often than not he'll excuse himself with some form of a task that needs to be done at the comic book shop.

Esther rolls her eyes at Kat and returns to her seat. She leans over Bonnie and reaches her hands out to indicate that she would like to hold her granddaughter. Bonnie obliges, grateful for the use of her other hand. She's been jockeying motherhood and WoW like a pro, leveling her character while feeding Mary Jane at all hours of the night.

What? There's nothing else to do at three in the morning, might as well.

"Who's the prettiest grandbaby on the planet?" Esther stands up Mary Jane on her lap. MJ clings to her grandma's thumbs, bouncing up and down and letting out a gurgled laugh. Esther may be a bit bias, but there is certainly no prettier baby than MJ. She has Kol's eyes but is the spitting image of Bonnie, with her beautiful heart shaped face and mocha colored skin.

"Speaking of grandchildren, where's Milo?"

"He's with the boys," Caroline tells Bekah as she helps fasten her crystal laden birdcage to her hair.

"Yes, and he's currently kicking butt in this dungeon," Bonnie says with a small amount of awe at her nephew's accomplishments. The moment passes quickly, however, when her fingers freeze on the keyboard after realizing what she just blurted out.

"Wait? What dungeon?" Bekah says and whips her head around toward Bonnie.

Bonnie sits up and smiles widely at Rebekah. "Well, the boys are just...well...having some down time before...well they're just playing a little…"

"Bonnie! Are you playing World of Warcraft?"

"Maybe?" she shrinks back and bites her bottom lip, waiting for Bridezilla to go off her handle.

"Well," she says calmly, and takes a deep breath through her nose. "That just won't do." Rebekah picks up the train of her long form-fitted gown, and shuffles her way to the door.

Let's be honest, she's terrifying in this moment. Completely serene and seemingly put together but you know she's just the calm before the storm. It's quiet and still, but there's something in the air, something coming that no man wants to be apart of.

"Bekah, it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding."

"Oh poppycock!" Bekah responds.

"But Bekah," Caroline says hesitantly and reaches out her hand as if she's going to say more, but thinks it best to not trigger whatever emotion she's trying to suppress. Instead, she looks at the other girls with her palms in the air and whispers, "What should we do?"

"I don't know what you're going to do," Kat stands from her seat and straightens out her short silver sequined dress, "But I'm not going to miss this."

She takes off in Bekah's wake, living for moments like these. It's not a wedding without a little drama.

\-[0]-[0]-/

"Oh shit." Kol whispers.

"Watch your language in front of Milo," Elijah scolds.

"We need to close up shop! I just got a whisper from Bonnie, and the bride is on her way!"

Just as soon as the words are out of his mouth, the door swings open and a flurry of ivory lace storms inside. Not far behind is another wave of shimmering fabric following her.

Klaus is the first to reach her, putting his hands up in defense and trying to explain. "Listen Bekah, we were just trying-"

"Where's Jeremy?" she interrupts and peers over his shoulder to try and spot her groom.

"He's hiding," Bekah hears her nephew say and sees Milo pointing his finger behind the couch. Moments later Jeremy peeks his head up and looks down at Milo. "And I was going to give you the biggest piece of cake," he tells the little snitch.

Milo only shrugs his little shoulders and skips off to continue playing WoW with Henrik, who is obviously not intimidated by his older sister's crazy. He remains in the same position, lounged back against the couch in all his sixteen year old rebellion.

Rebekah shimmies past Klaus, and strides quickly toward Jeremy who turns his head side to side, scanning for a nearby exit. With no escape available to him he finally resorts to facing her straight on and the scolding that is soon to take place. He watches her storm toward him but for all intents and purposes he loses himself in the vision before him.

"I can't believe you would…" Jeremy hears Rebekah start in on him but he doesn't actually hear her say anything. He's mesmerized, living in this moment of seeing his bride for the very first time. He soon begins to smile, even though he knows he shouldn't, which in turn infuriates her even more. Rebekah throws her hands in the air, "I can't believe you're laughing! I can't believe you are-"

Her words are cut-off and her mouth is smothered. Jeremy draws her in the only way he knows how. All these years of Rebekah wooing him, because let's be honest, if anyone was wooing anyone it was Bekah wooing him, and he's learned from her the subtle art of distraction. Years of fooling around and suddenly one day he wakes up madly in love with her. A slight of hand by the ultimate trickster which resulted in his reality being altered because she orchestrated it that way.

And you know what? He loves her even more for it. If it wasn't for her, he'd still be on his parent's couch smoking weed, playing video games and just chugging through life. Okay, he still smokes too much weed and plays a ton of video games, but he also found a great job in computer software, building video games from the ground up. He also bought his very own condo in town and now he's getting married. She's everything to him and she's breathtaking and impossibly gorgeous in her wedding gown.

With his lips pressed against hers, she's also quiet, and when she blinks open her eyes she remains that way a hazy look glossed over her face and no reminisce of the bridezilla to be found. "You look," he starts and pulls away from her to rake his eyes over her body and really take her in. "You look more beautiful than I could've imagined."

"AWWWWW," the room says in unison, teasing the two love birds. Jeremy and Rebekah part, remembering that they have an audience. She looks back up at him and smiles, "I love you."

"I love you more."

"This is all well and good, but I do believe it's time for the ceremony to begin." Esther chimes in with her orders, passing Mary Jane to her father before heading to the couch to scoot her youngest and her grandson away from their computers.

"Hello my gorgeous girl," Kol says and lifts MJ above his head before bringing her down to smother her with kisses. The baby giggles, and all but dances in her father's arms, a daddy's girl since the day she was born.

"If you gentlemen would please take your leave and head to the altar, the ladies will prepare themselves for the processional." Esther continues with her orders, herding her children to their proper places. "Mr. Mikaelson, if you could please escort me to our seats, I believe they're waiting for us as well." She looks at her ex husband, who sighs with an enormous amount of gentlemanly composure and offers Esther his elbow.

"Still bossing me around and we're not even married anymore."

"Old habits," she chuckles and the two exit bickering like they always have and reminiscing of times long ago.

Soon the rest follow. Kol passes MJ back to his mother and pulls on his jacket. He leans in and kisses Bonnie. "You look so hot," he tells her.

Bonnie rolls her eyes but plays along, "I'm so hot for you," she teases.

"I'll remember that when you're three glasses of wine in and you can't control yourself on the dance floor." He grabs her hand and with MJ balancing on Bonnie's hip he pulls her close and kisses her again. "See you out there."

"Yes you will," she tells him and grabs hold of MJ's hand and waves goodbye to her daddy.

The room begins to empty, everyone listening to Esther and taking their rightful places. MJ and Milo leave with Bonnie, who is getting them both ready to head down the aisle - Milo pushing MJ in a tiny rose petal filled wagon. The Mikaelson clan spreads out and all that's left in the room is Katherine, Elijah, Caroline and Klaus. Kat stands in front of Elijah straightening his tie some more and Klaus steals kisses from Caroline before heading out the door.

"I can't believe they're finally tying the knot," Caroline says in disbelief.

"I know. Jeremy's a brave man."

"He's also incredibly lucky," Katherine pipes up when she overhears Klaus' commentary. "Trust me, it was touch and go there for awhile on whether or not Jeremy would get his shit together long enough for this to happen."

"Well, that I don't know, but I do know that he makes Bekah happy," Klaus says before excusing himself to join his brother across the room.

"Could you imagine if you hadn't made that phone call so long ago, Care?" Kat asks, as she and Caroline stand side by side and gaze across the room at their husbands.

"What phone call?"

"The call to the real estate agent about the office space? The little space that was just going to be a grand adventure between the two of us but landed us smack in the middle of the Mikaelson craziness?"

Caroline watches Klaus as he brings his finger to the center of his glasses and pushes them back into place. She thinks fondly on their first meeting, how cute he was standing there in his comic book shop trying to get her to understand what Manga is. Who knew that day she would meet her very own Clark Kent?

"I can't imagine our life without them," she sighs.

"Me either."

They take a moment longer before Caroline turns to Kat breaking her out of her reverie from her own husband. "You ready to go watch your brother get hitched?"

"Sure am."

They walk across the room, beckoning their husbands to come. Klaus grabs Caroline's hand and Kat grabs Elijah's, they almost make it through the door when Kat stops to brush a crumb from Elijah's jacket.

"What is that?"

"Oh," Elijah says and brushes away the remainder. "How foolish of me. I just had one of the brownies from the tray Jeremy brought in earlier."

Kat places her hands on her mouth, trying to suppress the laughter that is straining to come out. She bites her lip and lightly chuckles.

"Hey guys, come on," Caroline says when she and Klaus pop their heads back in the room. "What's going on?" she asks when she sees Kat shaking her head and trying not to laugh.

"I have no idea," Elijah says stoically. "My wife seems to be amused about something but I have no clue as to what it could be."

"Elijah ate one of Jeremy's brownies," Kat bursts out into laughter.

"Oh no," Caroline begins to giggle.

"What is wrong with eating a brownie? It was very tasty." Elijah does not understand what all the fuss is about. It was just a brownie. And then it hits him.

A brownie that Jeremy made.

He turns to his younger brother and swallows the lump rising in his throat. "Oh dear. Klaus I'm afraid I've made a rather large mistake."

"Come on brother," Klaus tells him and guides him through the door. "We'll get through this together."

Katherine and Caroline continue to laugh in their wake.

"Hey Caroline, look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's my husband about to be high as kite!"

\-[0]-[0]-/

The end.

I even changed the story to completed and everything! AKSDFLSDKJF! I can't believe it's done. Did you like it? Were you happy with the ending?