SEE DISCLAIMER (CHAPTER ONE)

I owe a few people a HUGE apology. Between my OT at work and my sporadic internet access, I'm insanely behind on emails! Thankfully, my (home) internet connection has finally stopped throwing a hissy fit. I'll be replying to everyone (and catching up on my fanfic. reading) within the next few days.

Without question, this was the most painful chapter to write. I made the mistake of trying to incorporate a few (very small) plot points - threw me completely off my game. Plot is HARD!

FYI, in this chapter, I reference a (baby octopus event) ...that will be thoroughly explained in the next one shot. I'm about half-way done with that piece. Teaser: The Originals...Australia...swim wear...near-death experience...

2nd FYI (for those who have expressed interest), I'm almost done with (part 2) of 'Paid In Full'. Gotta say...it's a dark little cream puff.

PREVIOUSLY:

He can't stop touching her. He's so afraid this might be the last chance he ever gets. He tries to focus on what she's saying but her torn, bruised skin is impossible to ignore.

She refused the offer of his blood...wouldn't allow him to heal her. What if she's changed her mind ...about everything?

I'm so sorry, Elijah."

The insecurity and regret - they don't belong to him. The bruising is normal...nothing that a human male couldn't inflict during a vigorous (glorious) bout of sex. She doesn't need blood. Elena was just as desperate - her own marks (briefly) left to commemorate the event. He quickly pushes the foreign feelings away...compartmentalizes them. Apparently, the game now has dual controls.

This is the first time that the subject of his interest has gained any type of power during Immersion. Elena's mind - it's not equipped to handle this experience. If their emotions are now bleeding together...indistinguishable - panic - this one belongs to him. How will he balance the seesaw when Elena's feelings are so much heavier...so undisciplined?

They're not going to make any progress this way. They're both stripped...emotionally and physically. Not that he has any complaints as to the latter. Even now, after having finally claimed her - he can barely concentrate on anything but her skin. The injections - a necessary but extremely unpleasant measure - one he had hoped to avoid.

He cups her face. The slight pressure - tilting up...enough to ensure eye contact. "Elena, before you continue, there is something I need to do. Please, just give me a few minutes."

He retrieves his dress shirt from the floor. He pulls the fabric around her frame but seems incredibly reluctant to fasten the buttons. His fingers fumbling...his forehead pressing against her own...

His lips move to her ear. "It feels so wrong to cover your body." A husky whisper...resentment coating each word.

She places her hands over his - a guiding force. She shivers as his fingers move down her neck. It's not enough. She almost sighs in relief as he squeezes her breasts. She loves the rough pressure on her already-raw flesh. She loves his weight pressing her to the floor.

He allowed her to lead (exactly where he wanted to go)...all her soft places...

Their scents...mixed so deliciously - he wants to taste it. There was something he was supposed to remember...

The weight of Elijah's body - suddenly too much.

They don't notice his entrance. Not surprising...they are both clearly in the zone. The dart enters his brother's back - enough sedative to fell a rhinoceros. It should keep him under for about ten minutes.

His brother collapses towards Elena. She wiggles - tries to dislodge Elijah's dead weight. He watches as she pushes up with her heels. Her labored breathing...the way her hips shift. The pulse pounding in his groin...fuck. If it was anyone else, he'd assume she was intentionally baiting him.

She offers him a (very rare) smile of gratitude as he repositions his brother's body. She's obviously completely unaware of her southern exposure.

"Thank you. I was starting to panic."

"Trust me...the pleasure was all mine." His eyes immediately target her naked thighs. She's dripping...it would be so easy ...

She quickly covers her essentials. "Don't even think about it. I just had vervain." Her tone is even. It's been a long time since she's allowed herself to demonstrate fear while in his presence. She (temporarily) forgot her near nudity but she never forgets which arteries are the most vulnerable.

He rewards her with a genuine smile. Five years of domestic bliss - she's never completely lowered her guard around him.

Reality has the habit of issuing inopportune bitch slaps. It hasn't even been five minutes since Elijah went under but he's already starting to groan. The scent - residual arousal...it's a powerful stimulant. It would be extremely bad if Elijah woke up to this particular scene.

He loads another dart and begins preparing the syringes.

"Are you planning to keep him sedated for the next five days?"

It might be possible to remain sedated through Immersion but one has to be conscious to break the fever. If he had a truck load of sedatives and the desire to (permanently) kill his brother, yes - it would be an option. He can either lie to her, evade the subject or drop the final bomb. Best two out of three?

Evasion first..."Why did you decide to turn?" He slaughtered her aunt, terrorized her family and friends and has spent years siphoning her blood for his own purposes. Will she admit that her love for his family is stronger than her hatred of him?

"Why aren't you trying to stop me?"

"Two for the price of one. I'll answer yours if you answer mine."

She normally wouldn't share her innermost thoughts with Klaus but he does have a vested interest in this subject. Her turning will create a bond - a permanent connection between herself and his family. He has a certain right to the information...at least the edited version. Their agreement is a large object to navigate around. She'll have to be very careful.

Though there is more than one, she'll stick with the simplest - an answer his ego will be inclined to believe. "I know it's what most of my friends and family would want." In the last few years, her family has grown. The ratio of humans to vampires has changed. Klaus won't grasp the subtext of that statement but that doesn't negate its truth.

"So...you're finally admitting that we're your family."

As she hoped, he jumped to the obvious conclusion. He assumed she had tallied up her loved ones (including his siblings) - vamps vs. humans - majority rules. If he knew the truth (if they all knew the truth)...Bonnie might be the only one who encourages her to choose the alternative.

"You aren't my family. If you'd had the decency to occupy a different uterus, I'd be FedExing my blood from another continent."

"Seeing as you've finally popped my brother's cherry, I'll share a little secret with you. If Elijah and I hadn't occupied the same uterus, you would've spent the last five years strapped to a bed." He doesn't bother to specify if it would've been a hospital bed or his own. He'll let her imagine the worst (or the best...depending on one's point of view).

"As his brother, I kindly provided a luxurious cage for his lovely pet. Admit it, Elena...I've given you a family."

The sheer fucking nerve! She isn't a puppy that Elijah adopted!

She's still such an easy target. Her boiling face - almost as appealing as the heat coming from between her legs. He has to work very hard to keep a straight face. He's a bastard but he isn't delusional. He knows he's doesn t deserve any credit for the relationships she's built with his siblings. He craves her fear. He'll accept her fury as a consolation prize.

She represses her inner fish wife when she notices the mirth dancing in his eyes. She's not going to provide another show. "You owe me two answers."

Damn...she battened down the hatches. He really thought he had her. "I'm not answering anything until you explain the flaw in your own logic. If you're not willing to admit that we're your true family, you need to explain how being turned is going to improve your other relationships." She didn't disavow his siblings but that doesn't mean she's faced all those hard truths. Allowing herself to be turned...choosing Elijah - both are guaranteed to alienate the humans and the Salvatores.

She regards him with disgust. "Don't pretend you actually care about me or the other people in my life."

"Are you feeling a little confused? Allow me to clarify...it wouldn't be physically possible for me to give less of a fuck about your friends. I was just trying to point out that this decision may set fire to some bridges. Becoming a vampire means losing your excuse for being here. Even if they gracefully accept your turning (which is about as likely as Kol joining the Peace Corps), what makes you think they'll accept your decision to stay?"

"What makes you think I'm staying?"

Now she's just playing with him. Well...two can play... "Have you told my siblings you want to move back to Mystic Falls? I suppose the town is big enough for all of us." If she thinks she can outbluff him...

"Your brother and the witch will openly resent your new status. The Salvatores will be thrilled to hear that you've turned but they probably won't enjoy the daily reminder of who did the deed." This is his favorite part. It will be stuck in their craw for decades (at least) - Elena's choice. Elena...willingly choosing to become a vampire ...staying with Elijah (with them).

He's right...but he's still jumping to all the wrong conclusions. Once Bonnie confirms the full scope of the spell, no one will question why she agreed to be turned.

"Lets dispense with playtime. We both know you'll be delivering this news through the safety of a phone line. Once you turn, there's no reason for any of us to go back to Mystic Falls. It's a shame really...I'd love to see their faces."

"I have to go back to break the bond." Steady breaths - steady heartbeat.

"No, you don't. The witch is free from the effects of the bond. Your death won't harm her."

How the hell did Klaus find out? What else does he know? Did he just roll his eyes at her?

"Did you think I would just take your word for it? I've known about that little fail-safe for years. Relax, Elena...as far as I'm concerned, it just saves us a trip."

Klaus shouldn't be trusted near any human, animal...or even some forms of plant life. She's not too thrilled by the idea of Kol and Damon sharing a sandbox either. She has to keep them away from Mystic Falls while she explains (everything - in person) to her other family. She's not going to argue the point though...not until she has Elijah and Finn as back up.

"Just out of curiosity, do you plan to tell them that the nasty Originals forced your hand?" He doesn't add that Rebekah and Kol have already threatened to turn her (several times) within the last few years. Elena's recent death scare (from a baby octopus of all fucking things) was the final straw. It's really her own fault. If she'd planned to stay human, she shouldn't have allowed his siblings to become attached. Vampires are not exactly known for their altruistic natures.

"I would never try to pit the people I love against each other!" Not intentionally ...but her other family will definitely blame the Originals for the decision she made five years ago. Will Elijah understand why she decided to take the risk?

Of course not. It wouldn't be honorable to blame the Originals. Never mind that it's actually true - they are forcing her hand. If Elena had tried to run - to avoid Immersion... Elijah is going to wake up soon. He supposes it's time to satisfy her curiosity.

"Your turning has been a foregone conclusion for quite a while."

"That's not an answer." Not even close.

"If you must know, I was outvoted." It's so anticlimactic. All the lives he destroyed - reduced to nothing more than a nonchalant shrug from a psychopath.

"You're stronger than Rebekah and Kol." She taunts him...bullied by his siblings - so pathetic. She wants his rage...needs it. She needs a reminder...she had been so afraid of becoming a prisoner. This soulless animal wouldn't have honored the agreement...she had been so sure.

He thinks she would welcome a few broken bones - proof that he actually cared about keeping the prize he had fought so hard to obtain. If he doesn't care anymore...all that blood and pain - rendered meaningless. It would be kind to lie. There has never been kindness between them...only truth. One of the only humans he's ever respected...she deserves the truth.

"The daggers are gone." His threat is gone. The means (and desire) to kill his siblings - completely gone.

"Are you admitting that Rebekah and Kol can kick your ass?"

"No, I'm admitting that I wouldn't win in a fight against all four of them."

She just lit up like a Christmas tree. He doubts she'll gain as much pleasure from his second answer.

"Of course, I could keep Elijah sedated. In a week, I would have one less sibling to contend with."

She didn't look this pale when he drained her. "Are you saying he'll die if you keep him sedated?"

"Elijah didn't tell you what happens if Immersion isn't completed?" There's the fear he's missed so much. She looks so helpless. She stares at his brother - willing him to wake up...to explain.

He really wishes he had more time. He should've brought more sedative. At least he has the satisfaction of knowing that he's created one hell of a mess for Elijah to clean up. As he injects the cocktail of vervain and tetrodotoxin into his brother's carotid artery, he waits for the fog to lift.

The pain is intense but manageable. As Elena looks back at him with clear eyes, he knows he was right to insist on the injections. They both need the break.

"You can leave now, Niklaus."

"I think he should stay. Your brother and I were having such a fascinating conversion regarding your condition. I gotta say, you have impressive stamina for someone who's on death's door."

He should've known it was just a matter of time before Klaus twisted the knife. Her reference to their sex life (completely unconcerned that Klaus is present) - his girl has definitely regained full use of her faculties. Her hands are positioned on her hips. His little warrior - ready to do battle. The poison flowing through his system - far less distracting than a furious, half-dressed Elena.

"Stop ogling me and explain!" That demand would carry a lot more weight if she wasn't currently sporting his dress shirt...not to mention his bite marks.

"This long-overdue ogling is an explanation in itself. After all, you were so convinced that my condition was causing the lust. Do you have any new excuses?"

"It's over?" Her ruffled feathers immediately settle...her relief stronger than her anger.

He drops the flirty tone. For these next words, she needs something gentler. "We're both free...temporarily. My body believes that it has to purge the poison before it can resume the process of Immersion. In essence, I fooled my body into thinking that the poison is a greater threat."

"You poisoned yourself?" Now she sounds incredulous.

"Stalling Immersion is almost impossible. Poison works the best. Our bodies adapt too quickly for the same poison to be used more than once but new varieties are always discovered over the span of a century."

"Will you know when it's worn off?"

"We both will. Don't you notice the difference?"

Now that he's mentioned it...yes, she does. Sybil has left the building. That doesn't mean she's lost the urge to climb him like a jungle gym. It's helping her focus though...on some important topics.

"Why didn't you tell me you were in danger?"

"As opposed to just endangering the life of my victim?" She looks away - ashamed. He wasn't try to induce guilt. He was just trying to point out that there is more than one life at stake - namely her own.

"Do you really want to continue with my brother present?" She'd completely forgotten that Klaus was still in the room.

His unsolicited opinion effectively halts their discussion. "You two should move this little chat to a room that doesn't reek of sex. I would suggest the kitchen but it's clear that neither of you can be trusted near linoleum."

"Shut up, Niklaus." Elijah's words lack conviction. His smirk doesn't help either. Traitor.

They agree to meet in the library. In every place they've inhabited, he knows this is the room where she always feels the safest. It's their room ...he can't wait to christen it.

He's amused by the outfit (armor) she chose - loose sweat pants and a looser sweater. She covered herself (head to toe)...a desperate attempt to eliminate distractions. He wonders what she thinks of his choice.

"I never would've pegged you as an exhibitionist." She's wavering between exasperation and embarrassment. That doesn't stop her from gaping. Clothing may be optional in a dungeon but she didn't think he'd continue the trend once they moved upstairs.

"Aren't you going to put on a shirt?" No. He is on fire (and not in a good way). His temperature raised even further...the fever and the poison - his mind is free but his body...the furnace still has plenty of fuel.

"You're the one who suggested that I adopt a more casual look." Letting her believe that this will be a regular occurrence - much more fun than the actual truth.

"I meant when you're lounging around the house. That's not what I meant by casual either."

"The library happens to be inside the house. If you don't appreciate my interpretation of casual...perhaps we should go to my room and you can choose something more to your liking."

She's well aware that they wouldn't be discussing his wardrobe choices if they went anywhere near his room. What is he trying to accomplish? She doesn't need to be reminded of how good it felt ...how good he felt. "We have more important things to talk about."

"My desire for you affects my condition. Neither of us have the luxury of ignoring this particular subject."

"We did the dirty...in a dungeon...I'd say the subject has been addressed."

That sassy mouth...it can never resist biting back. If only she was right. "Elena, I remember the emotions you were experiencing when I offered you my blood." ...insecurity ...regret.

Instant shame...she almost forgot. "Elijah, I'm so sorry..."

"Elena, I don't want an apology. I know it was a hollow threat. I just think we need to discuss why you intentionally taunted me."

"I was angry. That's not an excuse...I just..." What more can she offer? She didn't have an underlying motive for saying what she did.

"Do you understand why you were angry?"

She had felt so vulnerable. He was so calm...always so controlled. Sometimes, she really resents his control. "You seemed to be getting off scot-free. Maybe I just wanted you to be angry too."

"No, you wanted me to be jealous." She's getting angry again. She doesn't like being backed into a corner. Tough.

"You used my anger as a barometer for my jealousy."

"That's not true! I would never try to manipulate you like that!"

"I don't think you did it consciously. You still don't understand my condition." He sounds frustrated. He's not the only one.

"Please take a seat." He motions towards the leather couch. Oh no...hell no... she's not sharing that leather couch with a bare-chested Elijah.

The way her eyes bounce from him to the couch - she has the same look on her face when she refuses chocolate ice cream. He starts grinning as soon as she moves towards the (strictly decorative) French Provincial chair. Louis XVI antique - lovely to behold...no cushioning to speak of.

"Comfy?" She's not fooled by his innocent tone. She usually reserves that glare for Niklaus.

"I'm fine. Please continue." Her gritted teeth are a warning - no more stalling.

He sits on the edge of his desk. He needs to be close to her when he explains. "The first thing you should know about Immersion is that every experience is unique. The rules can change...depending on the ultimate goal."

"What goal?"

"Precisely. The trick is to figure out which desire needs to be satisfied in order to complete Immersion. The force that animates our bodies will generally target our greatest unfulfilled desires because those are usually the strongest. It's like a spoiled child demanding the treat it's been denied. We scream the loudest for the things we feel we can't have."

"I thought it just forced you to find a mate."

"Not exactly. It depends on the nature of the repressed emotion. If that emotion is love, yes - Immersion will result in sex. Sex is the most direct way of declaring love."

"Wanting to have sex with someone doesn't mean you're in love."

"True. In regards to repressed lust, sex is the only goal. In those cases, the fever breaks as soon as the deed is done."

"Does that mean that if the repressed emotion is love or lust, the fever breaks as soon as you have sex with the person that you want?"

"In most cases, yes." She stiffens immediately. He refused to lie...even knowing what conclusion she'd draw from that answer.

She doesn't resist when he retrieves her from the chair. She curves her arms around his neck...fuses their chests together. He allows himself a few moments to savor the feeling - her body pressed against his own.

"Immersion doesn't create any emotion. All it does is remove your ability to hide whatever emotions already exist. If all I felt for you was lust, you'd have been killed as soon as we'd finished having sex. The love I feel for you complicates the situation."

"You said that..." He doesn't allow her to finish. The harsh pressure of his lips - meant to silence them both.

He briefly closes his eyes before beginning again. "What is the most selfish desire that results from loving someone? The emotion that should be repressed...no matter what form of love you hold for another?"

She must look as lost as she feels.

"Why did Damon force you to drink his blood before the sacrifice?"

"He couldn't let me go." He looks so fierce...so satisfied. She knows she just stumbled across the right answer.

"Exactly - he couldn't let you go. He was more concerned with keeping you than with honoring your choice. Remember Elena, Immersion targets the strongest, repressed emotion."

She thinks she finally understands. If he loved another vampire, sex would be enough of a declaration. Loving a human - his desire to keep her trumps his need for her body or her heart.

"I had chosen to die rather than to force you to turn."

TO BE CONTINUED