Klaus preferred to leave River with Elijah rather than with Rebekah when he took a night off, and usually Elijah didn't have anything against it. But when one night River uses her most effective weapon against him, he isn't sure will he ever want to be a babysitter again.
They sat on the couch and watched a movie – River had picked out something which told a lovely story about friendship between a boy and an old man. After the movie had ended and Elijah was just about to ask if River wanted something for supper, the little girl frowned and stared at her uncle.
"I'm kinda like the boy from the movie – aren't I?" she asked with a bitter voice. Elijah raised his eyebrow, and pursed his lips.
"I don't think so. The boy was way more clumsy, and he made foolish decisions. Also you're a girl – that makes a huge difference doesn't it?" he gave her a teasing smile, but River just scorned.
"The boy had no friends of his own ages. I never even meet kids my own age – not if you wont let me start in a real school next year."
Now it was Elijah's turn to frown, and he sighted: "You know what your father thinks about it – and you have to admit it wouldn't be wise. There would be no one to protect you."
"Why would I need protection? I'm stronger, faster and way more – competent than any other six years old. I would be more than fine in school – and you know I've been working so hard on my writing and reading", she moaned, and Elijah bit his lip. River looked miserable. "I want more friends like... like Stephanie! You remember the girl from next door?"
Elijah most certainly remembered. Stephanie had been two years older than River, but the two had been almost inseparable until last May when one of the local vampires had killed her mother, and she had to move away with his father. River had been sad for weeks, but they thought she was over it.
"River, you know your father has a..." Elijah tried to find a synonym for a lot," - numerous amount of..." this time he looked for a synonym for enemies, "people who don't like him. Mean people. And you know how it would break your father if anything happened to you."
River nodded looking to her hands intensely. Oh no, Elijah thought, Oh no, please don't be crying. But her eyes were getting wet from the tears.
"I know I'd be fine in school, uncle Elijah... So please, could you talk to my father about it?" She begged turning her big blue eyes to stare him,"Please, please, please?"
Elijah sighted and he felt older than he had ever felt. "Sure. But I don't promise anything."
But he knew he was screwed. River wouldn't let that go – it was a promise for her, and Klaus denied those kind of conversations very fiercely. But as the little girl hugged him with a big bright smile on her face, Elijah couldn't help but to wonder, if she had this much of power over him, maybe there was a chance to get Klaus's mind changed.
