A/N So here you are next chapter, this is one of my favourites if I'm honest, thank you for the review Kay, and to everyone who has folloed and favourited this story.

P.S. I know this chapter is long but I didn't want to break it up


Chapter 8

"So Elena, what's the deal with you and the Salvatore's because after Damon's little outburst you really need to rethink going there" says Rebekah.

"I guess, in fact I plan on breaking things off with both him and Stefan, once and for all, things are to different now" replies Elena.

"Is that the whole story?" asks Rebekah.

"What else would there be? I'm not Katherine" says Elena.

"Oh you know someone else who has piqued your interest perhaps?" asks Rebekah with a smile.

Images of her and Elijah at the ball flash across her mind.

"No" replies Elena quickly trying to increase her speed, but Rebekah kept up easily.

"Come on Elena, you know I like Matt so who do you like if not the Salvatore boys, its not Tyler Lockwood is it?" asks Rebekah.

"No Ty and I are just friends at most, besides Caroline would eat me if I tried that" chuckles Elena.

"Then who, unless oh my god no" gasps Rebekah stopping dead.

"What?" asks Elena stopping as well.

"Its not Kol is it?" asks Rebekah.

"No god no, never" replies Elena.

"Oh thank god, wait if it's not Kol, who else are you around, it's not Alaric is it?" ask Rebekah.

"Eww god no he's like a father to me" swears Elena the thought making her feel a little sick.

"Its Elijah isn't it" says Rebekah.

"No" replies Elena but she can feel the blush creeping up her cheeks as a tell tale sign.

"You've got a thing for Elijah, you like him don't you?" asks Rebekah with a smile.

"Maybe a little" admits Elena.

"You sneaky bitch, of course it would be Elijah who else, you know I can actually see you two as a couple, its sort of gross but I can see it, guess it's a good thing I don't hate you anymore, so what are you going to do?" asks Rebekah as they resume jogging.

"I have no clue, can't see Klaus loving it can you, and I don't really even know if Elijah remotely feels the same way, I mean other than at the ball we've always been wrapped up in other stuff and should I even be talking to you about this he's your brother" points out Elena turning to her.

"Go ahead as long as I don't get the sordid details, besides very few people know Elijah like I do, it makes sense, he got super protective and kept defending your character to us last night when he filled us in on what you'd done, I think you should talk to him" smiles Rebekah.

"You do, you're condoning the idea of me being with your brother?" asks Elena; shocked.

"Why not he deserves to be happy, as long as you help me with Matt and you don't hurt my brother, of all my brothers I think Elijah is the one who could do with some happiness, he hasn't been the same since Katherine, scratch that he hasn't been the same since Tatia" muses Rebekah.

"Do you think I'm just a replacement?" asks Elena nervously.

Rebekah stops and turns to face Elena.

"No, if its one thing my brother would never do its try to replace them by using you, if he likes you Elena, he likes you for you, and don't worry you're secret is safe with me, I assume Caroline knows?" asks Rebekah.

"Yeah we were talking about it last night" nods Elena.

"Speaking of Caroline, how is she enjoying Nik's obsession with her?" asks Rebekah.

"Its complicated to say the least, thank you I actually feel better" smiles Elena.

They head back to Elena's house and are greeted to the sight of the three original brothers stood on the porch talking to Alaric.

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"Well hello ladies, Elena you look fabulous" smiles Kol as he gives her a once over and nods in approval.

Elijah whacks the back of his head.

"What did I say?" he asks,

"Sorry" mutters Kol rubbing the back of his head.

But he had to agree with his brother, she did look stunning, the shorts showing off her long toned legs, and the top did not leave much to the imagination, and the jog had brought a slight flush to her cheeks as well, her heart beating faster than normal.

Rebekah can see the slightly start struck look in Elijah's eye, but he hid it well, but not well enough from her trained eye and she smiles at it, the two of them were so alike with their morals and noble ideas, they're desire for family and their status as older siblings made them both protective.

"What's with the welcome wagon?" asks Rebekah to draw away attention from Elena and Elijah having some sort of eye sex.

"Well as it turns out mother is gone, she must've realised her spell failed and fled, Finn's gone too the traitorous bastard when I find him he's going back in his box" growls Klaus.

"So we don't know where Ester or Finn are or what they're planning?" asks Elena breaking her eyes from Elijah's.

"Pretty much, so from now it seems you've got some new body guards, Ester could try to get to you whether to use you, or to get back at you" explains Alaric.

"Body guards?" asks Elena.

"Yes, they're apparently going to keep an original around you at all times for your safety" replies Alaric.

"At all times?" asks Elena.

"Don't worry nothing untoward or stalker like lovely Elena, we simply wish to keep you safe, Rebekah can be with you at school, as will Kol who has decided he wants the high school experience as well" assures Elijah.

"We're not inviting Klaus into the house" says Elena.

"I'm offended love" he says with look of fake hurt.

"Tough, you're not getting an invitation, Finn doesn't have one either, but as Ester is a witch she can just waltz right on in" sighs Elena rubbing her eyes.

"Perhaps your witch friend Bonnie is it? Can help, put up some protection charms, I know a few good ones" suggests Kol.

"I guess I could call her, as long as I am not trapped in my house again" warns Elena.

"No I won't let them trap you in the house" assures Alaric.

"Good, because that drove me insane when Klaus here was hunting me" says Elena gesturing at him.

"I'm touched I warranted such an extreme action" he smirks.

"Nik don't be a dick" snaps Rebekah.

"Oh touchy sister, sorry love, fine I will not push for an invitation, though since my brother and sister already have one I feel a little left out, and I'll look like a stalker stood outside of your house" chuckles Klaus.

"We could always just have Elena at the mansion with us, we'd all be there to protect her, sign the dead over to her name and she can keep Finn out" suggests Kol with a smile.

"We all know why you want that, so no, besides Elena is probably safer in her own house" says Rebekah.

"Spoilsport" pouts Kol.

"Toad" retorts Rebekah.

"Strumpet" snipes Kol.

"Asshole" snaps Rebekah.

"Enough both of you, Elena is better off in her own house, Rebekah and I at present are the only ones with an invitation, Caroline I am sure will help, as will the Salvatore's" says Elijah.

"I don't really think leaving Elena alone with Damon is the smartest option right now" says Rebekah.

"Why?" asks Elijah becoming concerned.

"He didn't take it very well I didn't help Ester kill you and he got rather annoyed and is probably drowning is sorrows in bourbon" sighs Elena.

"And with what you're going to be telling him it'll only get worse" mutters Rebekah.

Elena elbows her in the stomach.

"Oh does this mean we finally find out the end of the feud, which Salvatore you've chosen love, really it's kept us in suspense" smirks Klaus.

"Screw you Klaus, sort yourselves out or whatever, I'm going to shower and no Kol before you ask you can't join me, Rebekah I'll call you later" says Elena walking past.

"So is that a no to my question then?" calls Klaus.

She turns around and throws a bottle of water at him.

He catches it with a smirk, "thanks for the drink love, though not my usual preference, as I recall you taste rather divine yourself" smiles Klaus.

Alaric pulls out a stake and throws it at Klaus.

"Alright too soon understood" says Klaus holding up his hands in surrender and throws the stake back to Alaric.

"I would like to speak with Mr Saltzman actually, Niklaus given how your presence seems to only aggravate and upset the lovely Elena I think you should return to the mansion, why not make use of your hybrids and send them out looking for mother and our brother, Rebekah and Kol do as you will for now" says Elijah.

"I need a shower too" says Rebekah.

"Well I definitely don't want to join you, I think I'll hang around until this witch shows up I rather like witches" smiles Kol.

"Man whore" mutters Rebekah.
"Strumpet" retorts Kol.

"Enough" sighs Elijah.

"Am I expected to wait out here looking like a lemon then?" asks Kol with a pout as Klaus and Rebekah leave.

"I don't trust him not to do something pervvy like sneak in while Elena's sleeping or something" says Alaric.

"I assure you he will do no such thing, will you brother?" demands Elijah turning his stare onto his younger sibling.

"No, I give my word, hands to myself, no snooping in personal things, no sneaking in while anyone is sleeping, unless strictly invited to do so" promises Kol.

"Fine come in" sighs Alaric.

"Thanks mate" smiles Kol as he walks inside.

"I may need Bonnie to revoke that invitation" says Alaric as they walk into the living room.

"Yes you may, but as my brother has given his word he will keep it, Elena is off limits" warns Elijah.

"Sorry yes alright you've staked your claim loud and clear brother, I don't mean anything by it" assures Kol.

Alaric raises his eyebrows, "excuse me?" he asks.

"Kol kindly go wait elsewhere please this is not a discussion for children and that is exactly what you are being right now" says Elijah feeling his annoyance at his brother sky rocket.

He gets up and wanders off.

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"I would like to discuss my feelings and my relationship with Elena, and as her parental figure I felt it best I dealt with you" says Elijah.

"Hold on I'm going to need a drink for this" says Alaric as he gets up and grabs a bottle of Jack Daniels from the kitchen along with two glasses and pours them both one, taking a healthy swig of his.

"Okay continue" says Alaric.

"I want you to know that my intentions are strictly honourable and while it is not so much the done thing nowadays to speak with the parents or guardians of someone with whom you wish to enter a relationship, and Elena may well not desire to follow this anyone, but I want you know that I will not hurt, and I will do everything in my power to keep her safe, from any and all threats, on that you have my word" swears Elijah.

"Does that include your brother?" asks Alaric.

"Yes both of them, though I feel Kol will simply be more of nuisance than an actual danger, but I do want to stress to you Mr Saltzman that I do care deeply for Elena, and not simply for her resemblance to her ancestors, whom as I am sure you have heard I had relationships with, it is simply because of who she is, despite her identical looks, she is one of a kind, I have met many people in my long life and I have not met anyone quite like Elena, her heart is pure, and I do not want to change that" smiles Elijah as he thinks of Elena.

Alaric looks at him, this was a weird conversation to be having with a man who was over 1000 years old and yet wanted to date his 18 year old ward, but he could see from the look on Elijah's face and hear in his voice, he cared about Elena, maybe even loved her, and as much as Damon was his friend after yesterdays outburst he didn't really think Damon was her best option, but Elijah was not a boy in any sense of the word, he was by far the most mature of the four originals that Alaric had met, and he couldn't help but feel a sort of respect for the man.

"Well as long as Elena wants it and you make her happy then I guess I can't really say anything against it" nods Alaric finishing off his drink.

"Thank you Mr Saltzman" smiles Elijah.

"If you're going to be dating Elena, you may as well start calling me Alaric or Ric" he says.

"Very well Alaric" nods Elijah.

At that moment there was a scream from upstairs.


A/N Ah the bonds of family and friendship, let me know if you liked this chapter, I think I've captured the Originals rather well, I hope you agree.

Elijah so noble and protective, and Kol well I just love playing with his character :)

Follow, fav and review as always darlings