-**Thanks for the reviews. This maybe my last chapter update for the year I have out town family coming to visit.**-

Chapter 7

Elena's POV

I opened the door to see Stefan standing there. My heart lurches at the sight of him. My life has changed so much since I met him.

"Hello Stefan."

He looks at me. "Can we talk?" He asks.

I look at him and then over my shoulder.

"You're with someone," he says looking hurt.

"Yes, I'm helping Elijah, he's a writer, I'm sure Caroline mentioned him last night, he's looking through my mom's historical records."

I realize my resentment at the secrets they've been keeping from have undermined our relationship. It will take a long time if ever for me to get over it. Then with a pang I realize I don't have a long time. I need to give Stefan closure, even if I still harbour anger towards him. It's not fair to leave him hanging considering what Katherine did.

"Look Stefan, " I begin, "I know you're all trying to do what's best and I really appreciate everything you've done for me."

He interrupts me, "why does it sound like you're saying good bye?"

I take a deep calming breath, I have to get this right, "well that's because I am, I love you Stefan, but you don't see me as an equal, you keep secrets from, you lie to me and I can't be in a relationship like that. I know you think you're doing what's best for me but the only person who gets to decide that is me."

Stefan looks stunned. I don't think he'd been expecting this.

"Elena," he begins.

This time I interrupt, "No Stefan, you can't change my mind and I know technically we've been broken up for over a month. I'm just telling you to let me go. You can't protect me by lying and keeping things from me."

I turn around and go back in the house, leaving him on the porch. I lean against the door tears streaming down my face and think that's 2 loose ends I've tied up.

"Are you alright?"

I look up to see Elijah staring at me with a look I can't quite decipher, not quite concerned maybe quizzical. I wipe my face quickly and smile weakly.

"I'm fine. Let's get back to work."

We spent the rest of the afternoon working and talking. I got a text from Bonnie asking if I wanted to hang out tonight at the grill. A band was playing. I text back telling her to pick me up at nine. I also said to make sure Caroline was there we needed to cut loose, so that would involve drinks.

Jenna came back at 5 and found us still at it.

"Hey guys," she said. "Still at it I see."

"Actually," Elijah replied, "we're finishing up."

"How'd it go?" She asked.

"Rather well," he replied. "I have found a few promising leads and I have a few files I wish to take to examine closer. But I think we're done for the day."

Jenna and Elijah exchanged a few more pleasantries before he headed for the door. I walked him out.

"Good bye Elena, thank you for all your help today and enjoy your evening tonight."

I smiled and went back in. Jenna and I had leftovers for dinner. We chatted and I teased her about her date asked her if they were going out again and it turned out she was going out again tonight. I was pleased. I told her about my plans for a girls' night out. Then we cleaned up and I went upstairs to get ready. Jenna left before I was ready and she yelled her goodbye. I had just finished when the door bell rang. I ran downstairs and opened it to find a stunned Bonnie and Caroline standing there. "Hi guys just let me grab my jacket." I grabbed my jacket and bag and turned back to them. They were still staring. "What?" I asked. "Let's go I want to find a table before they're all gone."

Elijah's POV

I had been watching her house for a while. Making sure I could not see into her bedroom. I knew she was getting ready for her night out and I did not want a repeat of last night. I heard Jenna leave. I saw her friends pull up to the house and go to the door. When Elena opened the door, I was stunned. She was a vision. She was a beautiful girl no question but tonight... words failed me. To say she was sexy was an understatement. I believe her friends were as stunned as I was. She had on blood red top made of silk with thin straps and a very short skirt revealing a generous length of her very long legs wearing impossibly high red heels. She had left her hair long and wavy. Her eyes looked large and innocent and her lips, oh her lips were the same blood red as her top, the things I could do with her lips. I once again had to stop that train of thought. When she moved said top revealed a beautifully taut stomach.

"What?" she asked. "Let's go I want to find a table before they're all gone."

Her friends followed.

"What's all this?" Caroline asked.

Elena paused and then said, "I need to have some fun, I've decided tomorrow doesn't exist and yesterday never happened. I only have tonight and I love you guys and I want to spend it with you."

There was a note in her voice as she said this. Sadness, despair I wasn't sure.

They hugged her and said, "We love you too Elena, and we would love to spend your only night with you."

Elena smiled and said, "Caroline we need lots of alcohol and dancing." The all giggled as they got into the car.

I decided I needed to be at the grill tonight. Elena drinking and looking so very delicious was a recipe for trouble. I would have to be there protect her. So I went home to get my car. I arrived there quickly. I decided to do a little work before I followed her she could not get into too much trouble this early plus she was with a witch and a vampire. I quickly turned on my laptop and checked my email. There was nothing pressing. I turned it off. It was time to go I reached for my keys and I looked in the mirror. I would have to change a suit was not the most appropriate attire for where I was to go. I was perplexed as to what should I wear. I looked in my closet and discarded many of the options. This is ridiculous I thought to myself and finally decided the dark blue button down shirt with gray dress pants was as casual as I would get. I was surprised at the passage of time I had been home for over an hour.

I arrived at the grill to find it very full and very loud. There was a band playing what some might call music. I went to the corner of the bar and ordered a drink. I began scanning the crowd looking for Elena. As I was searching for her I was thinking about her strange behaviour all day. Something was different about her and I could not place it. The band finally stopped playing. They were taking a break thank god. But then some other music came on and people were dancing when I finally caught sight of her. She was dancing. I was mesmerized watching her. There was something very sensual about how she moved. It was downright sinful. For the next hour I watched her dance and drink.

One of her friends whispered in her ear and she looked up at me and smiled. She waved me over, I believe to dance. I shook my head. So instead she came to me. I was stupefied by the desire I felt for her as she walked towards me. However, I could not help but notice the many stares that followed her. I did not like the way those men were looking at her. She stood in front of me and smiled. She had been drinking her eyes were glazed and I could smell the alcohol.

"Hi Elijah, she breathed, wanna dance with me."

Just the music changed tempo, it slowed down.

I offered my hand, "I would be honoured."

She giggled and took it.

"You look to be enjoying yourself?" I enquire.

"Yes I am," she yelled not realizing I could hear her merest whisper.

Once on the dance floor she wrapped her arms around my neck and laid her head on my shoulder. I put my hands around her waist and came into contact with her skin. We did not speak for the rest of the dance when the song was over the music picked up again and I moved to leave the dance floor and took her with me.

I took her back to the corner where I had been sitting. I was not quite ready to lose her company. We sat down on a couple of stools.

She looked up at me with an alcohol infused gaze touched my collar, "is this you in casual clothes Elijah?"

"Yes."

"You really need to let loose Elijah, too bad I don't have time to show you how," she grinned seductively.

"Although I must say you're still pretty sexy either way, oops," she laughed seductively, "did I say that out loud."

I was shocked and pleased by her drunken compliment.

"Oops," she giggled again, "Elijah did I just surprise you into silence."

Her fingers had begun trailing down my chest making me feel all sorts of things. She leaned in closer to me.

"Still nothing to say," her hands climbed back up to my neck and she leaned in and kissed me.

I was stunned. It took a second and then I kissed her back. She leaned into me and promptly fell off her stool I barely caught her.

"Oops," she giggled again. She really was very drunk.

She got up a bit unsteadily. "Wow Elijah, you're hot and a good kisser."

I was quite amused by this drunken Elena. It seemed she had no inhibitions and whatever thought crossed her mind came out of her mouth.

"You did pretty well yourself," I said.

"Well I'll see you later."

I grabbed her hand, "Where are you going?"

"To find the girls," she said simply.

"There's no yesterday and no tomorrow I only live tonight," and with that she melted into the crowd I saw her dancing with her friends.

I heard her say to Caroline "Pay up, I kissed him."

"You didn't Elena."

"I did so Caroline, when have I ever been able to turn down a dare," she giggled, "and let me tell you thaaat was a kiss."

Then they continued to dance. I saw her head to the bathroom a little later. When she didn't return after a bit I got a little concerned. Was she sick? Humans who consume too much alcohol can become ill. I went to the bathrooms and I didn't hear her or smell her. Then I saw the front door. Maybe she went out for some air. I headed for the door.

"No, get your hands off me," she said.

"Come on baby; give us a taste," jeered one man.

There were two men manhandling her. They had her pressed against the wall in the alley her shirt was torn revealing undergarments. Her lipstick was smeared. One man's hand was sliding up Elena's leg as struggled to get free. She looked terrified.

"Let her go!" I bellowed.

They immediately turned to me. "Hey man join the fun or mind you own business."

I was on him in a flash I threw him away from her.

"Elijah, she whispered."

The other man had let her go and was backing away quickly. But I was not done yet. I would have went for him expect she reached for me. She looked at me with such relief.

"Thank you, you saved me."

Then she fainted. I caught her in my arms. I debated what to do and then decided to take her to my house. I carried her quickly to my car.

She came to as soon as I laid her down on the bed.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"At my home," I replied softly.

She looked around for a moment; then she looked at herself and gasped. She tried to pull her shirt together to cover herself. But that was a hopeless endeavour.

Her eyes filled with tears and she asked, "Can I use your shower."

"Certainly, I replied."

I lead her to the bathroom and gave her extra towels and left her to it. I heard the shower turn on and then she began to cry quietly. I felt quiet helpless. So I went downstairs and brewed some coffee to make myself useless. I brought the coffee back upstairs and waited. She spent more than hour in the shower. I had to re-brew fresh coffee before I heard the water turn off. But when she came out she was wearing my bath robe which totally dwarfed her. Her skin was very red like she'd rubbed it raw. She did not look at me.

"I'm sorry I didn't want put my clothes back on..." her voice trailed off.

"Don't fret its fine. I brought you some coffee."

She took the coffee.

"Are you all right?" I finally ask.

She nods, still avoiding my gaze.

"Can I get you anything, should we call the police do you want me to call your aunt?" All this comes out in a rush.

I reach out to touch her and she flinches away from me. She is afraid. I who am always in control am at a loss as to what to do next.

"No please don't," her eyes filling with tears. "I don't want them to know. It was my fault anyways. I don't know what I was thinking. It's always my fault," she said her voice cracking. She turned her back to me and I could tell she was crying. I was again dumbfounded. I was out of my depth.

"Elena," I began softly, you were attacked. The fault lies completely with those men."

"It doesn't matter," she said her back still turned to me.

But I could still hear the tears in her voice.

"I'm tired can I just lay down for a bit before I go home."

"Yes of course," I reply. "If you need anything I'll be downstairs."

With that I took my leave. I went downstairs to my office and stood looking out the window. I heard Elena lay down. She fell asleep quickly. After her breathing got deeper I decided I could safely peek in on her. I went upstairs to check on her. She was asleep on her side in my bed. Her hair was splayed across my pillow and on her face. And even in sleep she looked unhappy. She murmured and then rolled over and then I saw them.

The rage that I felt was overwhelming. Her cheek was bruised and the robe had opened up to reveal the bruising along her neck and collar. I could also see bruises on her thighs where they must have grabbed her. And in that moment I decided they would have to pay. It was not about what they had done to Elena, I said to myself, it was that they could have derailed all my carefully laid plans. I returned to the previous vantage point at the window and wondered when I would seek those animals out.

She had been sleeping over an hour, when she began to stir. I was immediately at the door, except she was not awake she was dreaming, or from the thrashing she was having a nightmare.

"No don't, please stop," she said as her heart rate accelerated.

I decided it would be best to wake her. I reach her side in blur, and began to gently shake her,

"Elena, wake up. Elena."

She opened her eyes looking confused and much like a wounded bird. She flinches from my touch and closes the robe tightly around her neck, then she realizes where she is, and says apologetically.

"I'm sorry Elijah," she whispers looking down.

"Think nothing of it," I reply smoothly.

The attack has really shaken her up.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep. I'm sorry. I'd better get home. Could I ask you to take me?"

"Of course, whenever you're ready."

She looked down and the she said, "I'm sorry, Elijah but could I borrow your bath robe to wear I just can't... her whisper trailing off." She still will not look at me. It finally dawned on me why she was behaving this way and I realized what an idiot I had been. For someone with as much knowledge of humans and their reactions he had missed the obvious. Elena was feeling ashamed, guilty and responsible for what had happened to her tonight.

"Elena," I began, "you have nothing to feel bad about, you did nothing wrong. You were attacked..."

She interrupted. "It's ok Elijah. It doesn't matter. I just want to go home. Will you please take me home?"

"Elena," I began again but I notice her body tremble and her hands clenched into fists and I change my mind. "Are you ready?"

I drive her home. When I open the car door for her I notice that she's keeping her distance from me. I walk her to her door. She says a quick good night and lets herself. I drive away and then think better of it. I park around the corner and quickly head back to my perch in her tree. I decide to watch her until she goes to sleep. I look in her window she's not there. She's in the shower again. When she finally comes out she's still wearing my bath robe. She lies down and begins to sob. She sobs for what seems like an eternity before she falls asleep. As I watch her some emotion I don't recognize begins to show itself but I quickly stamp it out.

The men who did this would pay. Not so much because they hurt Elena I told myself but because they jeopardized my plan. I watched until she cried herself to sleep. Then I turned and left. I would be hunting tonight.

-** I still didn't hear anything about the changes in style. Please review I'm aiming for 5-10 by the new year. I have the next chapter almost done. But like I said I have company arriving and I need incentive. Thanks happy holidays**-