Later everyone gravitated towards the kitchen. Stefan was making risotto and Rebekah was drinking a glass of wine. Caroline showed up next and she began to clean and cut the mushrooms. Klaus went to the cellar to select the wines for dinner. Bonnie showed up next and began slicing the olives in half. As she was about halfway through the task she winced as she sliced her finger. She cried and clutched it against her as it began to bleed.
"Elena," Stefan worried as she began to vamp out. Kol appeared a moment later and glared at Elena quickly placing his body between her and Bonnie and vamping out as well.
"It's okay Kol," Elena said. "I won't move. I don't want to hurt her." Everyone in the room was feeling the tension and anxiously watching the situation. Bonnie looked semi-terrified as she continued to hold her finger. Elijah sped into the room and assessing the situation moved between Elena and Kol.
"Let me see," Kol worried over Bonnie. She moved her uninjured hand and Kol leaned in to suck the blood clean. He paused and slit his wrist. "Drink this please."
Knowing that he would only worry more if she didn't Bonnie took his blood. The wound healed quickly and she smiled at Kol. Elena's veins had receded and the tension left the room but everyone had witnessed the bonding effects in action.
"Are you okay Elena?" Bonnie worried.
"I'm fine Bonnie. I'm sorry if I worried you. It's a response I don't always have complete control over," Elena replied. "I was more worried about you than hoping I could have a bite." Bonnie smiled and soon everyone returned to helping prepare the meal. Kol finished the olives, Bonnie grated the cheese, Stefan continued to ladle the chicken broth slowly and Caroline had finished cleaning the mushrooms. Klaus reappeared with the wine and some of that along with the mushrooms joined the risotto. Next the feta cheese and artichoke hearts were added. Finally as it came off the heat the olives were added.
"He cooks," Caroline teased.
"Sometimes I like to," Stefan smiled remembering the first time he had cooked for Elena when Damon and Caroline had shown up and made a mess of everything.
"Well it smells fantastic and looks delicious," Rebekah smiled. They made their way to the table and Klaus poured the wine while Stefan plated the risotto.
"I want to go shopping tomorrow," Rebekah said.
"Shopping in New York City sounds great," Caroline enthused.
"I don't know," Kol worried.
"Please," Caroline pleaded, "it's not like you have to come. We'll have Rebekah with us and I'm sure we'll be fine."
The next morning the women stepped into the courtyard to find the men waiting for them. Klaus was standing next to the red Lamborghini that he had driven earlier in the week. He had on designer jeans and a vivid blue button up shirt and Caroline couldn't stop staring.
Stefan was borrowing a blue Porsche Boxster. He was waiting for Rebekah in khaki slacks and a cream shirt with his sunglasses on to diffuse the glare off the cars. Rebekah walked past the other girls and into his arms for a long loving kiss. It was obvious that they were further along in completing the bonding process.
Kol was leaned against the passenger side of a shiny, red Ferrari 458 Italia looking cocky with his designer shades pulled down to lock eyes with Bonnie. He was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt that fit like it had been designed just for him – and maybe it had been.
Elijah was, as usual in a custom tailored suit – this one was black with a white shirt and shades of blue diagonally striped silk tie. He was standing next to a sleek silver Porsche 918 Spyder. Elena didn't know too much about cars but she knew there was a small fortune parked in the driveway. She walked around the car to take it all in while Elijah silently watched her. As she reached him he opened the passenger door.
"You don't have to do this," Elena offered.
"I can't be that far away from you. What if something happened?" Elijah worried.
"I am a vampire in fact three of the four of us are vampires. There's not much we can't handle," Elena tried to reassure him.
"You're my vampire – my mate Elena and it's my duty and honor to protect you – whatever it takes," he replied gently.
"We're not even having that conversation," Klaus told Caroline. She smiled at him as he opened the door for her and then lowered it back down into place. Rebekah had already gotten into the Porsche with Stefan and put on her sunshades. Elena shrugged and settled into the passenger side of the Spyder putting on her seatbelt as Elijah closed her door and then sped around to his side. She put on her Wayfarers to shield her eyes from the sun and settled back against the seat. Bonnie settled into the Italia and Kol climbed behind the wheel revving the engine as he shifted the powerful automobile into drive.
Caroline let out a squeal of delight through the open windows as Klaus opened up the Lamborghini down the long drive. Not to be outdone Stefan and Kol followed suit. Elena laughed as she heard Bonnie squeal. Elijah gave her a sideways glance and then dropped the Spyder into gear and Elena yelped as the car sprang forward with precision. Elijah wore a small grin of satisfaction. All of the drivers handled the winding drive with masterful execution and slowed down as they approached the gate house.
Once they were out on public streets they observed the speed limits – well pretty close. Elena took in the view as they drove out of Long Island and over into the city. She noticed that people in cars they passed were all staring at them. After all how often do you see four high-end luxury cars traveling in a caravan? They made their way to a private parking garage and delicately slipped the four cars into their designated spaces.
Kol was around the car quickly to open Bonnie's door for her. She gave him a quick smile and took his offered hand. As he closed the door she backed him against the car. He looked at her in confusion until he realized he was vamping out and she was apparently protecting him.
"Are you hungry?" she asked gently.
"Not exactly, this was triggered by emotions," Kol confessed. Bonnie stared at him for a long moment and then leaned in and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer as he savored the kiss. Finally he realized she was becoming quite literally breathless beneath him and he lifted his lips from hers. The veins on his face began to recede and she stepped back from him but he reached and took her hand.
"Control issues?" Klaus asked from where everyone had been waiting on them.
"I didn't take anyone's head off," Kol raised a brow. Through their joined hands he felt Bonnie shiver and realized that she was still afraid of him – two steps forward and one step back. Was he ever going to be able to make her truly his?
They stepped out into the sun and Elijah didn't miss Elena's careful check for her ring – which reminded him he needed to stop by and pick something up while they were here. His arm was wrapped around Elena's back as they walked along. She had on navy wedge heals and white shorts with a navy one-shoulder top. Caroline had her arm looped with Klaus' and she was sauntering along on her wedge sandals with varying sized crystals all over and a strap between the toes. She had on skinny jeans and an emerald dolman sleeve blouse. Bonnie was holding hands with Kol and cautiously watching people that passed by them – prepared to interfere if she had to. She was wearing a purple wrap dress that stopped just above her knees and purple suede wedges with a beautiful lace-looking laser cut-out pattern. Rebekah had her hair in a super high and model sleek ponytail with a black shirt dress and heels. Stefan couldn't take his eyes or his hands off her.
"Where are we going?" Elijah asked as he was checking his phone.
"Nordstroms?"
"Bloomies?"
"Macys?"
"Bergdorf?"
"Fifth Avenue," Rebekah said and then looked to Klaus. "Fifth is still the place to be right?" Klaus nodded as he had been to the city more recently than any of the rest of them. As they were already on fifth it was a quick walk to reach what they wanted. The guys watched in amusement as the girls took in the sights with such delight. Soon they were all in Bloomingdales and Elijah left Elena in the care of the other men as he had an errand to run. She worried about him the instant he left and only half concentrated on all the beautiful clothing before her.
Elijah caught back up with them at the next store and the couples spent the entire day looking at all the best designers New York City had to offer. The girls bought clothes, handbags and shoes to their heart's content. Klaus bought some new designer jeans and not to be outdone Kol did as well. Rebekah managed to talk Stefan into some and Elena was sitting there imagining the absurdity of even asking Elijah to do anything that wasn't a three piece suit when he walked up to her in a pair of semi-custom denim that had her doing a double-take. Obviously she wasn't the only one because all sound from the entire group came to a halt.
"OMG he does come out of the suit," Caroline couldn't contain her commentary. He saw Caroline and Rebekah's open appraisal, Klaus' raised brow commentary and even Bonnie's semi-averted blush. Elena was looking at him with undisguised surprise and open admiration. A small smile pulled at his lips as he realized how fast her heart was beating even for a vampire. Perhaps coming out of his comfort zone every once in a while was a good thing.
He grabbed Elena's hand and coaxed her from her chair. She followed him back to the dressing room and once he had the door closed she grabbed the collar of his shirt and took him utterly by surprise as she kissed him deeply. His arms gripped her waist and she forced him back against the wall. Her hands made their way into his hair and he felt himself losing control as the veins appeared on his face. As he opened his eyes he noticed Elena was also vamping out. They shared several heated kisses before he flipped them and she was against the wall. He gave her another gentle kiss and then pulled back from her. She was breathless and staring at him with confusion. He gave her a gentle smile.
"What was that?" she said but he wasn't exactly sure it was a real question.
"The truth," he supplied and she seemed to realize then that he was watching her.
"Elijah I…"
"Don't quite know what to do with this between us – yes I know," Elijah supplied. "How about you stop trying to fight it and just do what you feel Elena. I assure you I'm not going to reject you." With a sigh Elena sat in the chair in the dressing room.
"I've never…the way I'm feeling now…it scares me a little," she confessed and in that instant Elijah knew for certain that her relationship with Stefan Salvatore had been her first serious one and not as intimate as he had originally surmised. He pulled her up from the chair and pulled her into his arms holding her. She instantly felt safe and treasured – maybe even loved.
"Now since these met with your approval if you'll leave I'll get redressed so they can ring them up," Elijah said. "Just don't expect this attire to be an everyday occurrence."
"I've always liked the suits Elijah," Elena said from the other side of the dressing room door.
