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Chapter 9

Elijah and Elena headed back home sometime later as the sunset approached on the horizon. Elena couldn't stop thinking about what Elijah had said and she held on to some small hope that Anna Gilbert was still around. They had arrived home just as dark had set in and Elena didn't really want to be leaving Elijah after their amazing day. He had opened up to her so much that she knew more about him than most. She felt safe with him something she hadn't felt in sometime. Elijah pulled the car in front of the Gilbert house and put it in park. He climbed out and opened Elena's door for her. He held her close as they walked to her front door.

"Elijah today was amazing" Elena said meeting his eyes.

"I'm glad you approved, I enjoyed my time with you as well." He smiled as he pulled her body close to his.

She smiled and lifted her lips to his as he claimed them as his own. This kiss was soft and held so much more to it than the other kisses she shared with him. After a moment they pulled away and said their goodbyes. Elena watched as Elijah pulled away from the house and headed to town. She touched her lips softly as she opened the front door. The house was busy as Alaric, Damon, and Stefan looked over paperwork at the table. Elena was going to say hello but thought better for it. She made her way up to her room and changed cloths. She took a moment to check herself before making her way down stairs to the kitchen of gloom. She smiled at herself for the thought .She finally reached the kitchen and everyone's heads snapped up.

"Hi" Elena said as she went to the kitchen to look for something to eat. She busied herself in the fridge.

"So… How's the boyfriend?" Damon teased as he sat his chin in his hand like a school girl.

Elena shot him a warning glance.

"What? I'm just so curious about my bestie" he mocked. Elena opened her mouth to say something but snapped it shut as the doorbell rang. She sat her food on the counter and went to open it. Caroline stood on her porch in her leather jacket and matching knee high boots. She met Elena's eyes.

"Oh my god Elena really?" she asked as she walked in. Elena rolled her eyes and shut the door behind her.

"Hi Caroline, so good to see you" Elena said sarcastically as she walked into the kitchen and decided to put her food back in the fridge. The conversation with Caroline was bound to take all night she thought. Caroline looked to all the guys sitting in the kitchen then back to Elena.

"What's the party?" Caroline said as she glanced at the papers that Damon, Stefan, and Alaric were reading.

"Nothing," Stefan snapped.

Caroline looked from Stefan to Elena. Elena motioned with her eyes to her room. Caroline nodded and followed Elena upstairs. Once the girls were up stairs Elena shut her door. Not that it would matter anyways with Damon and Stefan sitting down stairs with Alaric.

"So I heard from Bonnie that you and Elijah are a thing?" Caroline questioned as she took a seat on the window bench in Elena's room. Elena took a breath and sat down next to her. She brushed her hair aside.

"Bonnie is kind of right" Elena said absently.

"Wait, what do you mean kind of?" Caroline asked.

"We haven't really talked about it. We've been a little busy" Elena said blushing.

"Oh my god you slept together?" she accused.

"No, we haven't. We've been taking time to get to know each other. We have been on dates and dealing with other things." Elena flashed back to the kisses.

"So no sex? Just talking?" she asked.

"Well, we have kissed" Elena admitted.

"Plural or single?" carline asked smiling.

"Plural" Elena laughed.

"Well Elena Gilbert, I'm shocked to say the least" she said placing her hand over her heart in a mocking fashion. Elena smiled and laughed at her, Caroline joined in.

"So I'm guessing the news didn't go so well downstairs?" Caroline asked.

"NO, not at all. Truth is Caroline I have feelings for Elijah. I haven't sorted them out yet but that's not the part that sent them all in to a spin" Elena said as she tried to tell Caroline about the bond.

"I already know about the bond" Caroline said casually.

"Bonnie?" Elena questioned.

"Yes, I hope you're not mad she told me." Caroline said in a soft voice.

"No of course not. There aren't very many who know." Elena said smiling softly.

"Does Klaus or any of the others know?" Caroline asked.

Elena's head snapped up. She hadn't even thought about it. Rebecca already hated her and this was even more of a reason for Rebecca to see her dead.

"Honestly Caroline I don't know." Elena said as a wave of concern hit her.

Caroline could see Elena's concern.

"Hey it's okay. I'm sure he has told them." She said taking Elena's hand into hers.

"How was your visit with Tyler?" Elena asked smiling at Caroline.

If vampires could blush then Caroline would have been redder than a beet.

"It was amazing Elena. I've missed him so much" Caroline said softly.

"When is he coming back?" Elena asked.

"He hasn't decided yet. He's been working on breaking his sire bond to Klaus. He's been able to shift on his own which is a great thing, yet he is still concerned about Klaus's sire bond." Caroline said as she glanced out the window. Something caught her eye and she smiled before turning to Elena.

"I believe you have company" she smiled wide.

"What? Elena asked confused.

Caroline stood up and pulled Elena up from her seat and drug her downstairs to the front door. Caroline opened the door before Elijah had a chance to knock. He was shocked when he saw Elena and Caroline standing together.

"Elijah it's nice to see you again." Caroline said smiling.

"Caroline it's nice to see you as well" he said smiling.

Caroline turned to Elena and hugged her.

"Call me later" she smiled and then left with one last smile at Elijah.

Elena stared at Elijah in surprise.

"I wasn't expecting you" Elena said as she stepped outside. The air was warm and comfortable.

Elijah smiled softly at her before crushing his lips to hers. Elena melted against him as he wrapped his arms around her tightly. Something clicked in her mind as he held her close. She could feel his emotions. They were like a vast ocean tide that was pulling her under. She gripped him closer as she let the wave sweep her into the unknown. After a moment he pulled away and met her eyes. He touched her cheek in the softest way.

"Elijah are you okay?" Elena whispered her voice creaked.

"Yes, I'm fantastic. I came here to tell you something. Something I wanted to tell you earlier." He said softly as he gazed into her eyes. Elena waited patiently.

"My fair Elena" he whispered. Elena held fast.

"I love you" he whispered as he gazed into her eyes. Elena took a second before she crushed her lips to his passionately. He kissed her back just the same. Elena broke the kiss and met his eyes as a soft sweet smile formed on her lips.

"I love you too" she whispered.

Elijah was about to reply when there was a crash from inside the house and Elena froze her eyes going to the door.