▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

CHAPTER 15: THE JUNE WEDDING

❝ your happiness is my happiness. ❞

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

"HOW DO WE KILL THE QUEEN OF HELL?"

Enola made the journey back to Mystic Falls with Hope and Finn. She had promised them that she would never leave them alone again. She planned on keeping that promise for the remainder of their stay in Mystic Falls. Though she knew it would be difficult with the rise of Katherine Pierce.

"Are you sure Katherine is in our world?" Alaric questioned over the phone. He had stayed back at the armory with his children to do some research on the newest evil that would be faced.

"When Cade crossed planes after the eleventh ring of the bell, other souls could step through too. The same way Kai did." Bonnie explained. "Katherine would have jumped at the chance."

"Then why have we not seen her yet?" Caroline inquired skeptically. "I thought by now she would be strutting around making demands." She paused. "Or trying to get us all killed."

"Then you obviously do not know Katherine all that well." Enola nearly laughed at the absurdity. "She is literally a master manipulator. She will make her minions do the dirty work for her."

"Either way, you guys are going to need a weapon." A new voice entered the chat from the other side of the phone.

"Is that Dorian?" Stefan frowned, almost nervous for the answer.

"Yeah, I have asked Dorian to take point on our research front." Alaric informed.

"That doesn't mean you and I are cool," Dorian warned Stefan. "I still have those files on you, so I'm here to hold you accountable for the rest of your god given life."

"I hope that you do," Stefan responded.

Stefan was now human. And as a result, every single person he compelled suddenly remembered. He had killed Dorian's sister and father before setting fire to the house. During that time, he was not in control of his bloodlust. He was searching for werewolves with the original hybrid. Though that was no excuse for his actions. He still hurt hundreds of other people.

"So what have you guys come up with?" Caroline wondered, steering the conversation back on track.

"Cade was killed with a dagger that was made from his bones. It was fused into glass by white hot flame." Dorian explained. "So I don't suppose you know where Katherine's bones are?"

"Oh, who would have ever thought she would have done us a favor?" Damon smirked deviously. "We have got every last one of Katherine's bones in the cave, underneath the old church, left over from a traveler barbecue she had when she tried to possess Elena."

"But fusing the bones into glass—how do we make that kind of weapon?" Bonnie wondered.

"Would putting the bones in a metal dagger do the trick?" It was another new voice. Matt. He must have just arrived at the armory himself. "My parents are in town. I could ask my dad for help."

"Parents?" Enola echoed. "As in plural?

"Unexpected family reunion, so now I have got two nightmares to deal with." Matt sighed.

"Your mother still owes me fifty three bucks," Enola frowned. "Granted I was five when she borrowed it, but I was saving up for a new Barbie and I never forget when someone owes me money."

"I will be sure to remind her," Matt promised.

"Anyways," Damon huffed. "Stefan and I will go on bone fetching duty."

"Dorian and I will research an alternative to fight her," Alaric continued.

"If Katherine is back, that means hell still exists." Dorian continues. "We need to figure out a way to break her link to hell."

"These psychic dimensions are tied to emotional trauma. Cade created his when he burned at the stake. I created mine when I saw Enzo get murdered." Bonnie explained. "I am just saying maybe there is a way to destroy the dimension itself. Destroying hell destroys her."

"Great, you guys are on Hail Mary miracle duty, so how do the rest of us get Katherine to show herself?" Enola wondered.

"Easy. She has always been obsessed with Stefan and insanely jealous. She literally impersonated Elena to try and get back with him." Damon reminded. "If she sees anyone making him happy, she will not be able to control herself. So she will have no choice but to come out of hiding."

"Your point?" Caroline said slowly.

"My point is, we shove Stefan's happiness in Katherine's face." Damon hummed. "We throw the one party she would never miss. Who doesn't love a wedding?"

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Enola sat at the kitchen table of the Salvatore Boarding House with Bonnie while Caroline anxiously paced back and forth. This obviously wasn't her ideal wedding when the people she wanted to be here most were unable to. Or dealing with their own issues. Either way, wedding planning was not going how she envisioned.

"Sure, Caroline, get married. The day you have dreamt of your whole life, just throw it together like some shotgun Vegas wedding to lure out and murder your nemesis all before the vows are over." Caroline ranted bitterly.

"Sounds like a party to me," Enola muttered.

"Yeah, it is happening fast," Bonnie agreed.

Caroline looked at Enola and Bonnie with a deep frown. Both of them had their own reasons to be bitter about the situation. Both lost the love of their life to the unfairness of the world. But only one of them was killed at the hands of the groom. It made this situation all the more unfair to everyone involved.

"I never got to explain why I said yes to Stefan," Caroline began.

"I know why you said yes. You want to spend your life with him in spite of everything. I get it." Bonnie nodded in understanding. "But I can't watch you marry him. Can't watch him be happy. And it is really hard for me to say that I won't be there with you because you know I would do anything for you." She looked down with a clenched jaw. "But I can't do that to myself. I won't."

"You don't have to explain yourself," Enola said. "I have spent the entire day taking my bitterness out on both of you and it is not fair. You two have a reason to be upset. But me? Well, my husband has been missing from my life for years. I should not be taking it out on either of you just because I am unhappy." She looks down as if gathering up the courage. "Your happiness is my happiness."

"And your happiness is my happiness," Bonnie shot back. "You and I are currently in the same boat—missing someone that we were unable to save. You should not have to apologize for being sad about it. You should be allowed to mourn what could have been."

"I am such a horrible friend," Caroline blurts. "I have been so caught up in my own life that I never stopped to consider how miserable this was making the both of you. I am so sorry. I am so sorry in ways I never even knew existed. You two are the most important people in my life and I wish that I could do something to ease the pain of loss and betrayal." She paused to take a deep breath. "Just know that I am extremely grateful that you two are even sitting here being my friends right now. I love you guys so much. So much. Please know that."

"We do."

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Enola and Bonnie enter the Lockwood Mansion with Hope and Finn. It was strange how they continued to use this place as if the Lockwood line didn't die off completely. But it was the perfect space they would need to conduct this evening. And also where every great showdown would inevitably take place.

"You girls will go in front of me, and then I will just walk myself down the aisle, and it will all be fine." Caroline ranted, looking towards Lizzie and Josie hopefully.

"Or," Bonnie began. "We could walk you down the aisle."

"That is," Enola continued slowly. "If you don't mind."

"Oh my god!" Caroline breathed. "You guys came."

Caroline did not waste a moment before whisking both Enola and Bonnie into a bone crushing hug. They had come to the very same conclusion that today was not a day to mop around about what could have been. It was a day to celebrate their best friend finding happiness. And they wouldn't miss it for the world.

"Hope! Finn!" Josie and Lizzie grinned, embracing their friends excitedly.

"Lizzie! Josie!" Finn and Hope squealed, reciprocating the excited action.

"Of course we came," Bonnie said.

"Your happiness is our happiness," Enola reminded.

"Mommy, are you ready?" Lizzie questioned.

"Now I am," Caroline smiled warmly. "My best friends are here."

"Let's get this show on the road," Bonnie grinned.

Lizzie and Josie wore soft lavender dresses that matched with what Hope and Finn wore perfectly. The four flower girls led the way towards the foyer before stopping in front of the door that led to the backyard. It was the perfect day for a June wedding. And when the door was finally thrown open, they were bombarded by a warm summer breeze. Then the soft music began to play and everyone stood to watch as they began to walk down the aisle.

Stefan watched Caroline with bated breath. She was the most beautiful woman in the world to him and he could not wait to call her his wife. So when she finally reaches the end of the aisle, he cannot stop himself from smiling. His wife. It had a pretty good ring to it. He was only able to breathe the moment she stood in front of him. But the smile on his face quickly vanished when he caught sight of the necklace his wife to be wore around her neck.

"Where did you get that necklace?" Stefan demanded.

"You gave it to me," Caroline frowned in confusion.

"No. I didn't." Stefan confessed. "That belongs to Katherine."

"Seems she accepted our invitation," Bonnie realized.

"She snuck into our house?" Caroline scoffed.

"She is a villain. What did you expect?" Enola chastised.

"No, no, no. Keep it on." Stefan whispered when Caroline went to remove the necklace. "We want her to see you wearing it."

"You think she is already here?" Caroline questioned in exasperation.

"Probably. Now let's get this show on the road." Damon hummed. "Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to witness the joining of these two epic lovebirds in official matrimony. Stefan has found the woman of his dreams and he is going to share the rest of his human life with her." He continued before pausing to look out into the crowd. "But before we begin, if anyone has any objections to this union, please speak now or forever hold your peace." He earned nothing but silence. His eyes flickered around for a familiar face only to come up empty handed. "Yup. Speak right now. Anyone? As in . . . now. Right now." Kelly Donnovan suddenly stood before storming away, prompting Matt to quickly follow. "Well, it seems like no one is objecting, so we will continue with the ceremony."

"We will?" Caroline echoed with surprise.

"You betcha," Damon gritted out, eyes still searching for Katherine. "Do you, Stefan, take this lovely woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do," Stefan nodded.

"And do you, Caroline, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" Damon recited.

"I do," Caroline smiled.

"I believe the bride and groom have chosen to write their own vows," Damon informed.

"We haven't," Stefan whispered in confusion.

"Oh, well, just wing it." Damon shrugged.

"Caroline—you have been my friend, my conscience, my sounding board." Stefan began. "You saw light in me when all I saw was darkness. You saved me from despair. You told me once that I would fall madly in love without realizing it. And that is what happened." His eyes were ablaze with all the love in the world. "Day by day, bit by bit, year by year. With you."

"I remember saying that to you. We were dancing at my prom. It is funny the things we remember out of all the years that go by." Caroline whispered. "I remember how you told me that when I was ready for you, you would be ready for me. I am ready now. I think a part of me has been ready for this day since the moment I first saw you. The new mystery guy in the hallways at school. I will always remember this moment. A hundred years from now, I will remember this moment for the both of us."

"Wow," Damon whistled before nodding to Lizzie and Josie. "Munchkins. Rings."

"With this ring," Stefan began sliding the ring supplied by Josie onto Caroline's finger. "I thee wed."

"With this ring, I thee wed." Caroline repeated, sliding the ring from Lizzie onto Stefan's finger.

"With the power recently vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia I now pronounce you husband and wife." Damon smiled. "You may kiss the bride, little brother."

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Enola was standing on the sidelines as Stefan and Caroline glided across the dance floor elegantly. That is when Bonnie decided to take the children inside for a bathroom break. Enola felt the sudden urge to follow. Just to empty her guts in the nearest toilet. She felt like throwing up. It reminded her of her very own wedding day. Things were much simpler back then.

"We should start a club," Damon hummed. "Bonnie, you, and I."

"What kind of club did you have in mind?" Enola hummed.

"The Broken Hearts Association," Damon grinned teasingly. "The love of her life was murdered by the groom, the love of your life is being held prisoner in some dingy dungeon miles away, and the love of my life is married to another man—what a group we make!"

"Damon," Enola warned. "I do not want to talk about this. Especially here."

"I know," Damon smiled almost sadly. "Just listen. For five minutes."

Enola was silent for a few long moments as Damon patiently waited. This is a conversation she has had with him hundreds of times. And she was tired. Tired of rejecting him. Tired of leaving him. Tired of hurting him. But he kept coming back like clockwork, hoping she would change her mind. She never would. Perhaps it was time he came to terms with that.

"Fine," Enola conceded. "Five minutes."

"Letting go sounds easy," Damon muttered. "But as human beings, it is probably one of the hardest things we will ever have to do."

"You and I—we are not human beings," Enola reminded.

"No. We are not. We are monsters." Damon agreed. "It takes an immense amount of courage for us to be able to say goodbye to something or someone who meant a lot to you."

"But you cannot keep holding on to things that make you sad, and, Damon, I make you sad." Enola said. "If you keep holding on to me, the misery will build up in your heart and start running through your veins until it inevitably consumes you." Her eyes turn desperate. "Do not let that happen. It is time for you to let me go."

"I know. I just want you to be happy. Even if it is not with me. You have been through enough. You deserve all the happiness that this world has to offer." Damon smiled sadly. His eyes seemed to burn through her skull as he memorized every inch of her like this was the last time he would lay his eyes upon her. "Goodbye, Enola."

"Goodbye, Damon." Enola nodded.

Enola watched as Damon walked away with soft eyes. She felt as if a giant weight had just been lifted off her chest. He had been in love with her for nearly a decade. It was like a shackle that held her back. Held both of them back. And as he sauntered over towards the stage she decided that letting someone go was easy if you loved them enough.

"Paging the bride and groom. It is now time for your favorite best man to make a little toast." Damon announced. He stood in the middle of the dance floor with a microphone to his lips that were curled in a small but genuine smile. "Little brother, I have waited a hundred and . . . well, a whole lot of years to make this speech. And today, I finally get to tell my little brother—"

"I will take it from here, gorgeous." Kelly Donovan hummed, snatching the mic away from Damon with ease before addressing the crowd. "He and I made out once. Super hot."

"Drunken toast from Kelly Donovan. Perfect. Now it is a wedding." Caroline huffed in amusement.

"I have known Stefan Salvatore for years, but I can honestly say I am not sure what all the fuss is about." Kelly said, eyeing Stefan in distaste before turning to Caroline. "And then there is little Mrs. Perfect. Awe. Too bad your mother is dead. Maybe if you hadn't tried to cure cancer, she might've lived to see this."

"Okay, yeah, yeah, that is enough." Damon stepped in, attempting to compel Kelly to go away. "Now go find the open bar."

"No, Damon." Kelly declined. "You are worse than either of them. What you did to Vicki? Shame on you. She did not hurt anyone ever. She might have turned her life around, but you didn't give her the chance." She turned to address the crowd once more. "Then again, I never had a chance either. No. This town made up its mind about me a long time ago. You all looked right through me for years. Treated me like a joke. Sent me packing without a second thought." Her eyes landed on her son. "Maybe if you hadn't forgotten all about me, you would have known that I had a bad fall two years ago. And you never knew I was dead. No. The only one who gave a damn about me was Katherine. She saw how I was suffering in hell and—"

"Where is she?" Damon demanded, grabbing Kelly by the throat.

Kelly just smiled. It was then that blood began to pour from her eyes and nose. And it was not long before she began to choke on it. But she did not seem alarmed in the slightest. She simply spat it on the ground before answering the question with a cocky smile.

"I have no idea," Kelly grinned. "I was too busy causing a gas leak in the house."

Enola felt the world still for a brief moment. Then she turned on her heels before rushing towards the estate. Her enhanced speed did all of the work and she was able to make it up the porch with ease. But before she could even attempt the enter, she was knocked back by a large blast that left her reeling.

"No!" Enola screamed out.

Caroline was there in an instant to help Enola up. They ignored the worried calls from their friends as they rushed for the door. They only stopped at the bottom of the stairs when the fire suddenly flared upward through the chimney. They waited with bated breath for Bonnie to step out of the house with the children in tow.

"Mom!" Hope cried.

"Mommy!" Finn sobbed.

Enola met Hope and Finn in the middle for a bone crushing hug as Bonnie watched with a soft smile. Then she took a small step back into the scorched house. She stood there for a long moment as if soaking it all up. Then she turned at the feeling of a gaze burning into her back.

"You okay?" Enola asked softly.

"I will be," Bonnie smiled.

Enola noticed it first. The blood. It trickled down Bonnie's upper lip before finally dropping to the group. She froze before lifting a hand to wipe the warm thick substance away with ease in an attempt to appear stronger than she is at the moment. She did not want to be a burden.

"You sure?" Enola pressed.

Bonnie went to respond. But her hands were too busy clutching her ears in pain when the familiar ring of a bell sounded across town. Her eyes widened a moment before she dropped to the ground. Dead.

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

AUTHORS NOTE.
i have just decided to upload the last two chapters and the intro to act two which will take place in season four of the originals. i am so excited for you all to read on. until next time, my loves!!!