Chapter 4

They arrived at the mall and Elijah opened her car door and the entrance doors for her. Soon they were wandering around the mall while Elijah looked for stores that would meet his requirements.

"So what have we missed in Mystic Falls since we've been away?" He asked conversationally. Mostly he just hoped to find out whether the girls were still single before they walked into a hornet's nest.

"Oh you know-the usual drama." She said with an eye roll. "That and Stefan brooding far more than anyone I know." Turning her eyes back to him, she cocked her head. "All of us are single. Before I made my choice of who to be with, I took a step back and realize that Stefan and I were never going to last as he's still in love with Rebekah and any romantic relationship I could have with Damon would be toxic."

"What about your friends?" He asked.

"Caroline has been having kind of a rough time lately. She's been pretty lonely and no matter how much Bonnie and I try to cheer her up it doesn't seem to be working. Of course with all that she's got ahead of her it's not surprising. I still can't believe it happened," Elena sighed. "Bonnie on the other hand is happier than I have seen her in years. Something happened about three months ago and even though she swears nothing has changed I just know it has."

Elijah smiled at her, grateful that she's still compassionate. It was one of the things that he loved about her.

"Who's gift did you want to get first?" She asked.

"Rebekah's actually." He said as he pulled her into a jewelry store. "There is a charm bracelet that she had seen here and I wanted to get it."

"Is Rebekah coming too?" Elena asked with a smile.

"She got in yesterday actually," Elijah replied as he looked at the charms.

"I can't wait to see her again!" Elena grinned. "I should buy her something. I guess my shopping isn't done after all!"

"What are you going to buy my sister for Christmas?" Elijah asked.

"A few charms for the bracelet that you're getting her." She answered with a smile.

They picked out the charm bracelet and charms and each of the boxes was wrapped for them. Elijah bought Kol a laptop and some iTunes cards. For Klaus he bought painting supplies. Elena also bought him painting supplies and bought Kol an iTunes card.

"You're all coming back then?" She asked as they were walking to the next shop. "For how long?"

He didn't know how to answer that. How long were they going to stay here in Mystic Falls? Another year or five years?

"Okay...none of my business...moving on then," Elena said. "Who else do you have on your list to buy for?"

"You, Miss Forbes and Miss Bennett."

"Okay well let me know what I can do to help," Elena smiled.

"Would you mind telling me what Miss Forbes and Miss Bennett would like?" He asked. "Oh and Stefan." He added.

"Stefan's a bit like you-that is, if you journal." She said. "He has been hinting that he needs a new one as well as some better pens. Caroline likes the princess like things as well as shiny things like jewels and whatnot. Bonnie is an avid reader though she has been wanting an e-reader like the Kindle or an iPad to get the Kindle App."

Elijah sent a quick text to Kol about Bonnie's gift and then bought some accessories to go with it while Elena was occupied finding a princess like thing for Elijah to give to Caroline. Once she returned they walked to a leather store that also sold Mont Blanc pens and Elijah picked out an exquisite navy one. He had one just like it and really enjoyed the way that it wrote so smoothly.

"Did you find everything?" She asked.

"I still need to get yours, lovely Elena." He said.

"You already sort of did," Elena blushed. He raised a brow as he studied her. "All I want for Christmas is you…"

He grinned and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She blushed scarlet until he pointed to above her where a little thing of mistletoe hung.