Sorry, everyone! I've been working on my new Kol/Elena story and it's been taking up most of my time. It should be posted by Halloween though! I wanted to get a few chapters done first to make sure that I have a good muse/storyline.

But, seriously, the more you *demand* a chapter, the more my muse shrivels up and dies. So, be aware that I am trying to update as soon as possible. This story was more of a side project than anything.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter and thank you for being patient with me!

Chapter 4

The eve of Elena's eighteenth birthday had arrived all without a shred of evidence that the moonstone would be found.

Klaus had Elijah and Kol practically running ragged in his quest to become a hybrid and the castle was empty and quiet save for the murmurings and giggles coming from upstairs.

Finn and Elena had grown even closer during the years that they had been together, yet Finn always made sure not to cross the line with her. She was still young in so many ways, but tomorrow she would be a woman in the eyes of the law.

Yes, suitors had come and gone. But Finn would never allow a man other than himself to pursue her; he always chased them off when they began talking of marriage.

He had also yet to share the secret of his youth with her, thinking that she was still too innocent to have that thrust upon her.

"Finn, can we go on a walk in the gardens today?" She asked excitedly. She knew her birthday was tomorrow and she had hoped that Finn would give her something special for the occasion.

He looked up from his book, a smile coming across his face, "Of course, my love. Anything you want."

They had progressed from titles and were now more comfortably on a first name basis when they were alone with each other, which was more often it seemed. Finn couldn't help but notice that she was blooming into a beautiful young woman. Her hair had become longer and now curled in unruly spirals, her once innocent doe eyes were filled with mischief on occasion, and her body had adapted all the curves needed to please her future husband.

He would often find himself staring after her when she left a room, much to Klaus' chagrin. He was mesmerized by the sway of her hips and the curve of her pouty lips. She was the epitome of female beauty.

"Finn, what're you thinking about?" Elena asked softly, looking up from the roses she had been admiring.

He looked over at her, "You realize tomorrow is your birthday, correct?"

"Oh, yes," she said excitedly, standing up and clapping her hands together, "I cannot wait! Rebekah has decided to throw a ball in my honor. And she's even invited many of the suitors from around the kingdom!"

Finn gritted his teeth at this. He surely didn't want anyone else dancing with his Elena tomorrow night. He didn't even want another man looking at her.

"Elena," he started, wringing his hands slightly, "Do you wish to be courted?"

She blinked at him owlishly, "What do you mean?"

"You seem excited that Rebekah's inviting eligible men to your party. Is courting something you desire?"

"Well, whenever a man comes around wishing to court me, he always disappears before we can get too close," Elena admitted, looking down, "I've been here for a long time and I figured by now I would be married off or at the very least being courted. I've often wondered if the problem was me."

"What?" He gasped indignantly, "You're perfect Elena. Those men are simply blind-"

"Then why don't they stay, Finn?" She looked up at him with sad doe eyes, "If there's nothing wrong with me then why do they flee?"

"Perhaps that's my fault, my love. You see, the thought of you being with anyone else, but myself, makes me…very angry."

Elena stared at him, mouth agape as his words registered in her mind. Since she had arrived at the castle, the only person that she had been herself with was him. She knew as soon as he had happened upon her in the gardens on her first day there that she would grow to love him. And love in this time was rare and often abandoned in favor of more suitable marriages.

"Do you remember the talk we had the week before I turned ten and seven years?" She asked quietly.

He instantly recalled that conversation. He had been so close to spilling his true nature to her, but he wanted her to have a chance at a normal life. He didn't want to take away her human happiness.

Finn nodded slowly, "Of course, my love. I would remember it even if it happened centuries ago."

"I still feel the same," she whispered, "Those men that were here…they weren't what I wanted. Who I wanted. I know that it wasn't so long ago, but I'm hoping you've reconsidered your stance on a courtship with me."

He stilled before taking her hand in his, "Perhaps we have waited long enough. But there are certain things I cannot give you."

"What ever do you mean?" Elena asked, her brows furrowing together before she tugged him onto the bench next to the roses.

Finn sat next to her and sighed slightly, "I can marry you. I can provide for you and make sure that you never want for anything, but…as much as it would please me to do so, I cannot give you children. I…I don't want you to settle if that's something you truly want."

She blinked at him. Did she really want children? She wasn't sure. Her mother had always told her that she should be extremely careful should she become pregnant because she was so tiny in stature. Sometimes she thought that the risks outweighed the joy of becoming a parent.

"I'm not quite sure if having children would be the right path for me," Elena said, fiddling with the lace edge of her bodice, "The women in my family have an extremely hard time bearing children because of our size. I wouldn't be giving anything up if I chose to be with you."

"You'd be willing to forego children? You wouldn't feel as if something were missing?" He asked, trying not to let his hope rise too much in case she changed her mind.

Elena shrugged delicately, "If I feel as if we're missing something, we could simply take a child in. There's so many woman who die in childbirth and the children are simply left behind."

"That's perfectly acceptable," he nodded, a small smile coming across his face as he cupped her olive cheek in his hand, "I would very much like to spend the rest of forever with you."

"Forever sounds like an awfully long time," she observed, smiling back.

He sighed, "But not nearly enough time with you, my love."

"Niklaus, I need to speak with you," Finn announced himself as he strode in to his brother's study.

Klaus looked up from the parchment he was holding and pursed his lips, "About what, dear brother? It wouldn't happen to involve a certain doppelganger, would it?"

The brunet's eyes narrowed slightly, "What are you implying?"

"If you think for a moment that anything that happens in my palace is under my radar, then you are sorely mistaken," Klaus boasted, sitting back in his chair and crossing his hands over his chest, "I know all about your excursions to the gardens, the late nights in the library. I know that you care for her, the only question is why?"

"I more than care for her, Niklaus," he admitted in a whisper, "I love her and I want to be with her. I know-"

Klaus stood abruptly, his fangs threatening to cut through his gums, "You love her? Are you insane?" He roared, "She's going to die as soon as the moonstone is found, or have you forgotten that little tidbit? You're a vampire and she's a human; you couldn't give her what she wanted even if I wasn't trying to break my curse."

"I want to turn her," Finn said firmly, "I want to feed her my blood before you do the ritual so she will come back."

Klaus paused at this. Finn had never sired anyone; he didn't want to push this lifestyle on anyone in the past five hundred years. The blond swallowed his pride and sat back down as he spoke calmly, "Finn…you've never expressed any interest in siring a line before."

"I don't want to sire a line, I simply want one girl and one girl only," Finn smiled, "I want her by my side for as long as I live and I will protect her with my life."

"Have you told her? Does she know what we are? What she will become?"

The eldest shook his head, "I have not. Kol has been trying to convince me to do so, but she's still so innocent and fragile. I don't want to destroy her view of the world quite yet-"

"So, she thinks she's simply in love with a human?" Klaus asked, distain evident in his voice.

"No," Finn shook his head, "But I have disclosed the fact that I could never give her a child and she understands that. It was truly what I was most worried about. She had even suggested taking a child in should she feel the need to nurture."

Klaus sighed, "And you're sure you want to do this? You want to spend the rest of eternity with her?"

"I've never been so sure of anything in my life."

"What did Lord Klaus say?" Elena asked nervously as Finn joined her in the library. She had been a wreck when he suggested it and she was scared that Klaus would never approve.

Finn smiled and took a seat next to her on the divan, "He gave me his blessing. I can court you in public and not worry about getting caught."

She squealed in delight and nearly jumped into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, "Oh, thank heavens! I was so worried!"

He was not used to such displays of affection and it took him a moment to gingerly return her embrace. He hadn't truly been this close to a female in so long and he relished in it. Burying his nose in her hair, he inhaled deeply and savored all that was Elena. He knew that he wanted her, but he hadn't truly realized that he needed her.

She pulled back slightly and kissed his cheek softly before she spoke, "Finn…what if I want to skip all of the courting business?"

His brows furrowed together, "What do you mean, my love?"

"Well, technically it's as if we've spent almost a year courting," she said softly, returning to her place beside him, "What if I want to spend my life with you now and not wait?"

"You want to be married? Now?"

"I want to be yours in every way possible," she asserted, a smile tugging at her full lips, "I want to love and be loved in return. Is that too much to ask?"

Finn smiled and gathered her into his arms, "I've wanted that from the first time I laid eyes on you. You are more than I could ever dream of having."

"What if we marry the day after tomorrow?" She suggested, "Your family are coming tomorrow for my birthday; I'm sure Lords Kol and Elijah could spare another day away from business."

He chuckled, "You have everything planned out, don't you, my love?"

She blushed and looked down before coyly saying, "It's not my fault that I'm eager to share a bed with you."

"And I with you, my darling."

Be sure to leave a review!

~Grace