Today, Freya and Keelin were getting married. Rebekah was maid of honor. Klaus was doing things to secure the venue. Elijah was going to walk Freya down the aisle. And Freya wanted me to be best man, since Vincent was leaving town.

In Rousseau's, I was sitting at the bar with a memorial picture of Josh, drinking with Declan.

"Josh'd kill me if he saw me pouring the good stuff like water," Declan admitted. "You had to earn a shot of this."

I raised my glass. "To Josh. He fought the good fight."

"Well, I wouldn't call getting stabbed in a mugging fighting the good fight," Declan told me.

"Yeah, well, you know, it all happened too fast," I told him.

Declan took out a journal. "Hard to believe. Given Josh being immortal and all. You know, I used to think I was going crazy, just like my cousin and uncle did. But then I read my Uncle Kieran's journals." I sighed heavily, knowing this was not going to end well. "Turns out it's less about them going off their nut, more about you being a vampire, Noah. Just like Josh."

*****

I turned to look at Declan. "You really want to do this today?"

Declan scoffed. "I'm sorry, did I pick an inconvenient time to learn I live in a demon town and that your friend Marcel runs this city like a fascist before my uncle died?"

"You know, Kieran understood the value of keeping order in this town," I told him. "We worked together. He was my friend."

"You sure about that?" Declan asked. "From what I read, he was terrified of Marcel. Not so much of you, Noah, but he thought Marcel's rules were killing this city."

"Are you just trying to piss me off today?" I asked. "Or do you want something?"

"Justice," Declan answered. "Humans are not pawns. We're not food. We have a right to know what's going on."

I stood. "I'm trying to protect you. You're better off not knowing."

"Well, that's not your decision to make," Declan pointed out.

"And you are too naive to think that you can do anything about it," I replied.

"Not by myself," Declan agreed. "But later tonight, when I meet with the archbishop, the city council, the mayor, and the police chief, the Human Faction is gonna start having a say again."

I took the journal from him, trying to compel him. "You're gonna call off this meeting and you're gonna forget everything you read in Kieran's journals. You're just a chef living a normal life."

Declan was unaffected. "That's the other thing my uncle mentioned. Vervain. Sorry, Noah. If you want to shut me up, you're gonna have to kill me."

Sighing, still trying to protect him, I knocked Declan out so I could tie him up until the vervain passed out of his system and could be compelled to forget.

*****

At the venue for Freya and Keelin's wedding, I met up with Marcel and Davina. "So, now I got Declan cooling his heels at Rousseau's, but I don't know what to do with him."

"How about letting him go?" Davina asked. "And why doesn't Declan get to know about what's going on around here?"

"Because he's hell bent on riling up the humans, and that is the last thing that we need right now," I answered.

"Seriously, Noah?" Davina asked. "It never ends. No battle's ever won here."

"Davina, New Orleans has been at war with itself since before we were both born," Marcel told her. "It's not gonna go all kumbaya just because we want it to."

"Not if the ones in power don't do anything about it," Davina told us. "People like you need to make a change around here. Otherwise, people like Josh are just gonna keep dying for nothing."

"No, Josh didn't die for nothing," I told her. "He died for this city."

"And bringing it back to glory is how we honor him," Marcel told her.

"Marcel, Noah, you want to honor him after he's dead," Davina told us. "I'm talking about a way that could have kept him alive. Which one do you think he would have wanted?"

*****

Almost everyone was here for the wedding, after Klaus had left to get Elijah, but returned. We still didn't see Elijah.

Rebekah looked at Freya. "I'm sure he would be here if he could."

"Yeah," Freya agreed sadly. "Maybe we were expecting too much."

"Well, it's time," Rebekah told her. "No one deserves this more than you."

Rebekah walked away to get to her seat next to Hope.

Klaus walked toward Freya. "If it's not too presumptuous, perhaps I might escort you."

Elijah arrived. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

Klaus gave him an amused look. "You're late."

"Fashionably so," Elijah agreed. "Well, then, looks like you're stuck with both of us."

"You ready?" Klaus asked.

"I am now," Freya answered.

Klaus and Elijah both walked Freya down the aisle while everyone smiled as they handed her off at the alter next to Keelin, in front of Kol.

Freya whispered to Keelin. "What happened to your dress?"

"Are you kidding, girl?" Keelin asked. "I'm not taking any chances."

They both chuckled.

Kol started the ceremony. "Dearly beloved, now, not to make this all about me, but we know how families work. Sometimes it's dinners." He gave Klaus a sarcastic look. "And sometimes it's daggers. Now, I don't know why it takes something as special as this to wake us up, to make us aware of the beauty in the moment, during the moment, or to be grateful for what we have, while we have it. Now, I, for one, am grateful for today, and I'm grateful for all of you. Keelin, when I first met you, I would have never predicted that you would become my sister. Now you're strong and beautiful and deserve nothing but the best in life." While Freya and Keelin got their rings from Rebekah and me, the maid of honor and best man, they placed them on each other's fingers. Kol finished the ceremony. "Now by the power vested in me by a Franciscan monk in the 13 century, and by the Internet a few hours ago just to be on the safe side, I now pronounce you, married. You may both kiss the bride."

When Freya and Keelin kissed, everyone applauded.

Hope cast a spell on the flowers. "Tomar lento namaz amor."

The flowers burst into petals that rained down around everyone, causing everyone to smile and laugh happily.

*****

After dark Davina and Kol were dancing, as well as Freya and Keelin. Hope and I were dancing, smiling.

Rebekah looked at Marcel. "The last time we said goodbye, did you ever think that the next time we would meet would be at a wedding?"

"No," Marcel answered. "But then it's never really over for us. For any of us."

Rebekah looked at Hope. "I sincerely hope not."

I handed Hope a wine glass. "Here you go."

Hope smiled. "Oh, thank you."

Freya looked at Klaus as he watched Hope. "Oh, boy. What are you gonna be like when she goes to prom?"

When Hope nearly fell, I caught her worriedly. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa."

Everyone walked closer worriedly.

"Is she all right?" Klaus asked.

"I'm fine," Hope answered. "I'm fine."

I chuckled. "Yeah, medical diagnosis is too much champagne."

Hope raised her glass. "Oh, yeah. Speaking of, I would like to make a toast. This has been the best day ever. And you know what? You guys got a thousand years of moments like this one. And being a part of this one really made me feel like I'm part of always and forever, too. So cheers."

Everyone repeated. "Cheers."

*****

I walked back into Rousseau's after the wedding to talk to Declan, untying him. "You're gonna call this meeting off."

"Why the hell would I do that?" Declan asked.

"'Cause I'm gonna make you a deal," I answered. "Now, you put an end to this wake up rally and let the humans live in peace for now, and I'll teach you how to do this right. Now, because you cause mass hysteria, you need to understand everything. The inter-dynamics of the factions, history of grievances, not to mention rules, spells, celestial events, and how to fight whatever kind of creature comes to take your head. Because if you're gonna lead the Human Faction, believe me, they will."

I offered a hand to help Declan up.

Declan hesitated for only a moment before he took it and stood. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

"I listened," I answered. "I really listened to everyone who's been trying to talk some kind of sense into me. And now I know how Josh would want me to honor him. For everyone who's ever been forced to live by somebody else's rules... Cami, Kieran, you... saving this city means change."