I know I have about a billion open stories, but they will all be continued.

This just popped into my head..it is a twist in the ball episode in season three.

Hope you enjoy!

She was going to that ball. No ifs ands or buts. Damon would just have to suck it up. But how to do it, that was the problem.

There was no convincing Damon, he would agree to her face then find some way to keep her home. And Stefan probably could be convinced, but then he and Damon would be fighting each other, and that would ruin a good week or two. So she went to the next person she knew would be on her side. Elijah.

She could always count on Elijah, no matter what. The night of the sacrifice he was perfect until tempted with his family. That is one thing Elena could sympathize with. Family was the most important thing to her, that is why she was willing to send Jeremy away, and why she didn't think twice when she killed Ric, thankful for once that she was a supernatural doppelganger.

So she pulled out her phone and dialed Elijah's number she got from him yesterday. Vampires and their phones, she thought to herself, they are alive for a couple days and they already have phones.

'Hello, Elena. Is everything alright?' She smiled without really thinking about it, his voice was so calming and had an odd mix of accents.

"Uhm, yea. It's just." She paused wondering who all would be listening. "Can you meet me at the Grill?"

'Yes, of course, see you soon Elena'

"Alright, thanks Elijah."

When she arrived at the Grill she only had to wait about two minutes before Elijah walked in with his usual grace that the rest of his family, strangely, didn't have.

She waved slightly from her table and he smiled and nodded at her. Her heart stuttered and she got butterflies in her stomach. She just coughed and shook her head, she was already between Damon and Stefan, she didn't need any more drama. Her body's reaction was stupid. Or at least she tried to tell herself that.

He walked over and sat down in front of her and she smiled and said, "Thanks for coming Elijah."

"Of course Elena, anything you need. And I hope you will be attending the ball tonight." He smiled back and Elena had to focus her attention on her drink so she could remember what she called him here for. What was going on with her today? Wait, she knew, it was his new haircut, away from the face, very sexy.

She looked up from her drink and said, "That is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. I want to go, but Damon and Stefan have agreed it isn't safe for me there." She rolled her eyes, she was sick and tired of all the babying, "So I come to you, will you help me get to the ball, and stay in the ball, because I'm pretty positive Damon would drag me out by my hair if he had to. I'm sorry to drag you into all this again but I am so desperate right now I would probably pay you." She said with a smile.

Elijah smiled back and said, "It would be my pleasure, and having you on my arm for the night is payment enough."

Elena blushed slightly, he was completely charming, but could be completely lethal. That was a sexy combination. God! Why did she think that so much? Crap. She took another long sip of her drink to try to snap herself back in reality.

"Thank you again. But now the hard part." She smiled and sighed jokingly, "I have to get ready without anyone noticing, and shop for a dress and I have a total of.." She checked her phone,"...seven hours to do so."

"Well how about this." He paused for a moment then continued, "The drive to Richmond is about forty five minutes. Would you like me to spoil you for a day forty five minutes away from anyone who could interrupt?"

She looked at him confused, "What do you mean?" She asked him.

"Well we go to Richmond and I get you anything you need to get ready for the ball." He replied like it was nothing more than a walk in the park, and she had always wanted to be spoiled Pretty Woman style, but no.

"I couldn't possibly accept that, I don't feel comfortable stealing, or compelling, if it is any different." Damon had already tried to take her on a 'shopping' spree over the summer, but she always felt guilty when he compels the cashiers to give it to them for free so she never agreed.

"No, no, we wouldn't compel anyone, I understand how you feel concerning that, and a thousand years here gives our family a chance to make money." He smiled his perfectly charming smile, "So how about it Elena."

Elena again shook her head, but she smiled slightly, she would really love to go, "You would be bored out of your mind! Why would you want to do this?"

"I highly doubt that, and I would do this because you still trust me after all that happened, and all I have done to you. For a person so young you have had to deal with great pain, and you are the toughest and strongest human I have met in a very, very long time. It is my opinion that you should have a day to not worry about who is coming to kill you."

Elena was speechless at the high praise he gave her. And smiled at the end of his statement. He was right, that would be nice. She smiled across at him and nodded, "Okay Elijah, but you have to help me choose the perfect dress! No escaping now."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

End of chapter one!

I know it's barely over a thousand words..but there will be longer chapters! I swear!

Tell me how you like it! Reviews speed me along and make my muse speak up.

I am writing chapter two as of right after I upload this, so you shouldn't be waiting long!

I love Elijah, normally I am a Delena fan, but Elijah just has that old world grace.