AFS Chapter 8 – Connecting the Pieces
Elijah was nervous as he waited for darkness to fully take its grasp on Mystic Falls. He still was unsure on what would happen with Elena tonight, and he was unused to such uncertainties. He took another sip of his glass of scotch and tried to return to the papers he was given earlier that day. The town council had asked for him to join them, he would have no official title but he would privy to all of the town's secrets and decisions. He had agreed and now he had dozens of different reports to read all describing a different aspect of the town. His thoughts just kept going back to Elena, and it was making it harder to focus on the already dull papers.
He was given another distraction when the door opened and Rebekah walked into this study, "Hello brother."
"Rebekah, what can do for you?" Elijah asked, finally giving up altogether on the papers on his desk.
Rebekah gave him a small smile, "I just thought that I should let you know that I talked with Elena this afternoon. I told her how we became vampires."
"I can't believe she took that every well." Elijah commented, hating himself for not being the one to tell her about everything the night before.
"As well as could be expected, the Tatia of it all not as well as the rest." Rebekah admitted as her fingers played with the back of an armchair in front of his desk, "I thought you would have told her about that already."
"I didn't want to overwhelm, I thought one doppelgänger was enough for the first night. I was going to tell her about Tatia when I spoke with her tonight." Elijah told her as he got up from his desk.
"I just don't want you to do anything that might ruin this. I think Elena could finally be that one person to make you happy, and I think she would be a great addition to our family." Rebekah said, looking up to watch her brother walk around his study.
Elijah took a deep breath before turning to look at his little sister, "I just don't want you, or anyone else, getting your hopes up. There is no way to be sure what choice Elena will make, and even if she does choose to give me a chance now, there is no guarantee it will be forever."
"But there is also the chance it could be." Rebekah pointed out before she walked out of the room, leaving Elijah to thoughts once again.
Elena felt strangely nervous as she waited for Elijah to arrive. Learning of yet another doppelganger that Elijah had loved in the past had really thrown her for a loop. It made her question, yet again, if was really her that he carried for. Rebekah had promised that it was her personality, not her looks, that Elijah found attractive, and as comforting as those words were, believing the truth in them was difficult. She turned to look at the house behind her, her brother was still out with his friends, and her father had left again to go see her grandfather, or maybe it really was to go see that widowed neighbor that she had heard mention of. Elena looked back out at the darkened path in front of her porch, she wasn't sure needed, or even wanted a stepmother, but she did know her father deserved some happiness and if this woman made her father happy than she would accept whatever he decided.
"Good evening Elena." Elijah said, his voice bringing Elena's attention back to the moment, as he approached the porch steps and came into the light shed by the lantern's lining the porch.
"Hello Elijah. You may join me up here if you like." Elena replied and moved to create more room on the swing she was sitting on, a smile coming to her lips immediately.
Elijah slowly climbed the stairs, "Rebekah informed me about the talk you two had this afternoon. I am sure you have a great many questions."
"Yes I do." Elena replied and got to her feet before asking, "Shall we go for another walk? Though, no one but the help is home." She also didn't want to be interrupted by her brother if he finally chose to come home.
Elijah nodded and turned his body while offering his arm for her to take. Elena used her other hand to grab a lantern for light.
Elena gave him a smile as she accepted his offer and they started their short walk from the house, they stopped at the same spot as the night before. As they came to stop she couldn't help but wonder where the end of this night would leave them.
"Where do you want to begin?" Elijah asked, giving her a small smile.
Elena returned the smile, "I'd like to hear more about the first doppelganger, Rebekah had mentioned you were in love with her." She tried to keep her voice unemotional but she wasn't sure if she was successful.
Elijah had been expecting her to ask that question but that didn't make talking about it any easier. He took a deep breath and then began his tale, "When I first met Tatia she was something I had never met before. She was beautiful , which was nothing new, but was rebellious, after all she had child out of wedlock, that was something even more scandalous back then than it is now. My parents instantly disapproved, so that of course made her even more desirable, and, as I learned later, I wasn't the only one who felt that way. Klaus was having an affair with Tatia as well, but neither of us knew about the other. It was Rebekah who finally learned the truth about the game Tatia was playing with us, she just didn't know how to tell us." Elijah paused, he wasn't sure how he wanted to tell the next part of the story, "Did Rebekah tell you what happened to our youngest brother?"
Elena nodded, "She said that he was killed and that his death is what prompted your parents to turn you into vampires."
"That is true. He was killed by werewolves and Klaus has always blamed himself for giving into Henrick's wishes and taking him to see the men turn. He went to see Tatia after the accident for comfort, and so did I, only I got to her first. Klaus found us in an embrace, nothing overly intimate, just a simple hug, but Klaus must have noticed that was something more beneath the simple gesture. He confronted me about it later in the day, and in our anger, we didn't blame her, only each other. Our mother managed to prevent us from killing one another but it was Rebekah that finally got us to put the blame in the right direction. Before either of us could confront Tatia about her lies, our mother used her blood in the curse that turned all of us into vampires. I never loved Tatia, I only believed I did because love works both ways. In my almost nine hundred years of life I have never felt the way about a woman the way my brothers feel about their wives, or had a woman feel for me what I know they feel for them. You have not meet my older brother, but for a long time he was kept…isolated from the world. The woman he turned, the first person to be turned actually, was named Sage, and she fought for nearly two hundred years to finally see my brother again. Caroline would sacrifice her life for Klaus in a moment, she almost has quite a few times." He paused and looked Elena directly in the eyes, "You not need to fear that they only reason I have chosen to court you is because of your appearance, because I never loved either of them. From what I know about you Elena is that would not play with emotions just for the thrill of it, you are a kind, accepting person and that is why I am here, because I enjoy you. If anything your looks should have prevented me from coming anywhere near you."
"Then why did you?" Elena asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.
"I've told you before, but I will gladly tell you again. You are a gentle, loving soul Elena. That is why my sisters took an instant liking to you, and with their encouragement, it was impossible for me to stay away from you." Elijah replied and smiled loving at her.
"You keep saying such wonderful words, but I am still just finding it so hard to believe." Elena told him, turning away and looking back at still lit home.
"Elena, I cannot force you to believe me, just as I will not force you into a relationship with me. I only want to be with you, if you want to be with me, I have been in too many one sided relationships to go through one yet again. I also do not believe that a woman as gentle as you should be with a monster such as myself but that is also a decision you must make for yourself. I will respect whatever you choose." Elijah assured her and grabbed one of her hands and started rubbing small circles over the top of it with his thumb.
"Do you truly see yourself as a monster Elijah? For I have never seen you, or your family, behave as such a creature." Elena responded and squeezed her hand against his, the other keeping a firm grip on the lantern at her side.
Elijah dropped her hand and turned around, "Lift that lantern higher Elena", she did has he requested and he turned to face her, "This is the monster I am."
Elena let out an involuntary gasp when the light danced over his elongated fangs and the blood flushed veins around his eyes. She had seen Caroline's face, so she had known what it would look like, but she somehow found Elijah's even more fascinating. "That doesn't scare me, if that was what you were going for." Elena told him and returned the lantern to her side, "Caroline already showed me what a vampire truly looks like, when she first told me who you all really were. Why do you keep trying to push me away, while at the same time telling me you want to be with me? I want the truth Elijah."
Elijah opened his mouth to speak but no words came out, for he was afraid that anything he said would make him seem weak and he was anything but weak.
Elena could see his hesitation and asked another question as well, "Are you more afraid of hurting me or of me hurting you?"
Before Elijah could form an answer both of them heard a loud crash come from the direction of Elena's house. Elijah could hear what Elena couldn't, and he heard, "James, you are a lightweight. Now, I can't leave you here on the porch, so you need to wake up and invite me in so I can take you to your room."
Elijah grabbed Elena's hand and quickly started them back toward the house, he wasn't exactly sure what Kol was up too and why he was with Elena's brother.
Elena, understandably confused, asked, "Elijah, what is going on?"
Elijah didn't respond, instead he waited until they were in sight of the two figures on the porch and yelled, "Kol!"
The standing figure turned, "Oh Elijah, what are you doing here?"
"I think the important question is what are you doing here Kol?" Elijah asked as he and Elena climbed the porch steps.
"I made some new friends. This one," Kol pointed to the man leaning up against the door frame, "Cannot hold his liquor very well, so I brought him home, but he passed out before he could invite me in. Now, why are…" His eyes drifted to the figure behind Elijah and his eyes went wide.
Elena watched as the stranger looked at her with the expression of a man who had seen a ghost, and a ghost he didn't practically like.
Kol looked her over carefully, not saying a word until he turned his eyes back to Elijah. He sighed and said, "You have such a type Elijah." Kol then put on a smirk, stepped forward, held out his hand and said to Elena, "I'm Kol, the youngest, best looking, member of the family."
Elena took the offered hand, figuring there was nothing to fear, and replied, "I am Elena Gilbert. It is a pleasure to meet you Kol."
Kol turned her hand and placed a kiss to the back of it, "Oh I assure you, the pleasure is truly all mine."
Elena could tell that Elijah was about to say something when her own brother reminded them of his presence as he let out a moan before sitting up. He looked around with confusion and asked, "Why am I out on the porch?"
"Because you should not be allowed to drink dear brother." Elena commented as she helped her brother stand.
James smiled at his little sister, in both age and frame, as he leaned against her, trying to help keep some of his weight off her. He then looked at Kol, "You sure know how to handle your liquor."
Kol laughed, "I have had more practice than you have, just sleep it off, you will feel better in the morning."
James rolled his head and his eyes landed on Elijah, his eyes became slightly more narrowed, and he said, "Don't make my sister sad anymore, you won't like what I do if you do."
"I promise to do my best to try and make sure that never happens." Elijah assured the intoxicated James Gilbert.
Elena smiled at Elijah's words, and responded, "I'm just going to make sure he gets to bed without falling down the stairs. I'll be back down after that."
Elijah nodded and held open the door for her, "I'll be right here when you get back so we can finish our conversation."
Kol waited until he was sure Elena was far enough into the house to be out of earshot before saying, "Are you really getting involved with another doppelganger? Especially after what happened with the last one."
"Elena is different." Was all Elijah answered, listening as Elena put her brother to bed.
"That's what you thought about Katherine as well, and look at what happened there." Kol commented as he watched his brother.
"Caroline, Rebekah, and Niklaus are all supportive of this. Ask them if you have any questions." Elijah said with a sigh.
Kol narrowed his eyes at his older brother, "Are you really going to go through all of this again?"
"Yes Kol, I am." Elijah replied as they heard Elena's steps coming toward them.
Kol nodded and whispered, "Then I won't interfere."
"Thank you." Elijah whispered in return as Elena opened the door and joined them on the porch.
Kol smiled at the young woman as well, "It was great meeting you Elena. I am sure we will see each other again soon."
"I am sure we will." She replied before he turned and disappeared into the darkness outside the lantern's range.
Elijah smiled and led her over to the porch swing, after they've been comfortable for a few moments he asked, "What else do you want to know Elena?"
Elena took a moment to consider her answer, not sure if she wanted repeat a previous question or ask a new one. She decided to go for a new one, "If I do choose to continue with what we've started, how would our future look? Would you insist on turning me into a vampire, or would you watch me grow into an old woman?"
Elijah took a moment to get the words right before answering, "I would never forcibly turn you into a vampire. If you choose to become a vampire, then yes, that is what one possible future could be. I can't claim to know what is coming, but I can promise that I would try to make any amount of time we spend together will be happy and loving." He paused, and decided there was one more thing she needed to be aware of before making her decision, "My siblings and I are dangerous to be around, and not only because of what we are, but because we are being hunted. My father is hunting us and he has been for the last nine hundred years. He is a very dangerous man and his one goal in life is to destroy Niklaus, not just kill, but completely destroy. In the 14th century, while Caroline was still human, he tried to force her into betraying Klaus, but he was unsuccessful and it solidified her decision to become a vampire."
"She didn't want to be a liability." Elena commented, she could understand that reason.
"Yes." Elijah confirmed and then continued with this warning, "We most recently ran into him when we lived in New Orleans, Caroline and Rebekah barely escaped with their lives. We fled to New York, it was someplace we could easily hide and then I made the plans for us to come here. We are hoping this is the last place Mikael would ever think we would go."
"What will you do if he finds you again?" Elena asked, amazed that there was anyone that would hate their children enough to hunt them for centuries.
Elijah gave her a small smile, "We have a plan. We are going to attempt to fight this time, but there is no guarantee that will succeed and we could just be forced to run again."
"Sounds like a difficult life." Elena commented and reached over to take one of his hands.
Elijah smiled at her, "It hasn't been an easy one, but I have enjoyed many of the adventures that I have had with my family. I look forward to experiencing many more in the coming future. I also hope some of those will include you."
"I am not sure I am ready to commit to a future yet Elijah." Elena told him, and smiled to add, "But I am willing to see where this could led."
Elijah gave her a questioning look, "Does that mean you aren't going to tell me never to see you again?"
Elena shook her head, "No. I want to spend more time with you, get to know you and your family much better."
"I am very happy to hear that." Elijah replied and took the hand that was still in his and brought it to his lips, placing a gentle kiss along the back of it.
Elena got to her feet, her hand pulling Elijah up with her, "I should head in, check in on James and get some rest."
"Yes, of course." Elijah said as they took the few steps to the door, "Shall I come by tomorrow evening?"
Elena shook her head and smirked at him, "No, I'll come to you."
Elijah nodded and gave her a brilliant smile, "How about dinner then, at six o'clock? You are welcome to bring James along, he and Kol seemed to have made quick friends."
"Sounds like a proper family meal." Elena joked and placed her hand the door, "We will be there."
"I look forward to it." Elijah said and made a move as to kiss her but stopped himself and instead took a step back.
Elena smiled at him and leaned up, placing a quick kiss to his cheek before turning into the house.
Elijah couldn't stop the large grin that graced his face as he began the walk back to his estate.
Caroline was quiet as she sat on the small balcony that extended from the rooms she shared with Klaus. It held two chairs and a table, the only light that touched her was that of the almost full moon that drifted high above her. More light flooded the balcony as she heard the door behind her open and sensed the figure that filled the void before moving to sit into the chair on her right. Caroline kept her eyes on the clear summer sky, she loved how peaceful everything appeared on nights like these. Silence sat between the two, something that had occurred many times before in the last five hundred years.
Klaus reached out and took one of her hands, his thumb massaged the back of it, and said, "I apologize for my actions earlier. We are a team, and I should remember all the times I have forgotten that which almost led to our ruin."
Caroline turned her head to look at him, "I think 'ruin' might be a bit dramatic, but you are right to apologize." She squeezed his hand, "I know how much you hate not being in control, and that your were to be an alpha, but this is not the way to go about expressing your frustration. I do not believe that George is the kind of leader that would force you to submit him."
Klaus let out an audible breath, "We cannot be sure of that. That was the point for my display, I needed to assert my position in the pack."
"You should have told me about your plan and we could have come up with another option." Caroline paused, "And that was why you didn't tell me, you didn't want me to come up with another plan.
Klaus dropped her hand and rose to his feet, he leaned against the railing and said, "You are right, I only wanted to do this this way. It was the best way to demonstrate my power over George in front of the whole pack. I am sorry to have used you to further my own goals, but it was the best way."
Caroline sighed as looked at his back, he was getting defensive and that only led to violent outbursts. The first time it had happened she had been afraid at the sudden change in his mood but she knew he would never hurt her, so she was never afraid of him again. Caroline rose from her seat but made no move to touch him, "Just remember dear husband, all actions have consequences, be sure that this one doesn't start the path to your ruin." She mimicked the dire words he had spoken earlier and went back into their quarters.
Klaus knew she was right, he should have found a less blatant way but he had done things the way he liked best and he could care less about the consequences. And that attitude had nearly cost him everything in New Orleans, he already hated to think about what he had lost in that grand city. He looked up at the moon, only a barely visible piece keeping it from being full, and wished he could blame his behavior on the spell it cast over him. Klaus turned and followed his wife into the room. He found the woman in question sitting at her vanity, her slender fingers braiding the golden locks of her hair. He leaned against the banister of their large bed and asked, "Why do you continue to put up with me?"
Caroline didn't stop in her movements as she answered him, "Because I love you with my whole being, even when you are being a stubborn control freak."
Klaus let a smile grace his lips at the ease of which she gave her reply, it was if she didn't even need to think about the answer. He continued to watch her as he told her, "I love you Caroline."
Caroline tied of the end of her braid and turned in her seat to look at him, "I love you too Niklaus and there is nothing that could ever be done that could change that."
Klaus walked toward her and offered his hand. Caroline accepted it with a smile and he pulled her to her feet. He then changed their positions into that of couples reading to dance before the music plays, "Do you remember that wedding of the Pope's daughter we attended in Rome?"
"Of course, she was a very pretty bride." Caroline responded as he began to move them to a rhythm in his head.
"I don't remember that but I do remember how absolutely enchanting you were." Klaus informed her and placed his forehead against hers.
Caroline closed her eyes and opened up her mind to him to allow him to paint the picture for them both.
Klaus spun her real body and the one in their heads danced as well, "I felt like we were the only two people in the world that night. It was the first time I had felt like that since the night of our own wedding."
Caroline could only left her smile deepen as he mentioned their wedding and decided to throw her own thoughts into the mix, "I remember being so nervous the morning of our wedding. I had nearly convinced myself that at the last moment you were to change your mind. But the moment I saw you waiting for me at the end of that aisle, I knew you were the one for me. I knew that I would spend the rest of my life with you and that you were the person I was always meant to be with. I have never once regretting any of the choices that led me to you."
Klaus pulled her into a warm, loving embrace, "I hate to think about the man I could have become if the fates had never brought you into my life."
"You never have to let those troubled thoughts invade your mind. For I did come into your life and I have no intention to ever leave it." Caroline replied before she pulled away slightly so she could look up at him and give him a long, loving kiss.
Jonathan Gilbert was finally able to relax now that his father had fallen asleep. His health had decreased dramatically since he had visited with James only the week earlier. He was debating on whether or not to send for Elena and James to join him, so they could have a chance to say their goodbyes. He was thankful for his father's lovely neighbor for Elizabeth had been a true gift in this hard time. She was comforting to have around and he was grateful for the help she was so willing to provide.
Jonathan was distracted from these thoughts by the sound of voices drifting in from the kitchen. He recognized one as Elizabeth but he was confused as to why the other sounded so much like that of his daughter's. Jonathon did not think it could possibly truly be her and he got out of his chair to investigate.
"Do you think you'll be able to convince him to do it?" His daughter's voice asked.
"I think if we waited another month I would not even need to compel him." Elizabeth replied, a laugh trailing at the end of her statement.
"If only our benefactor was of a patient nature." Elena's voice said with a chuckle as Jonathan rounded the corner.
"Elena?" Jonathan asked as his eyes fell on the young woman on the other side of the threshold that was the spitting image of his beloved daughter.
The woman with his daughter's face smiled, and it was a wicked smile he knew Elena would incapable of making, before saying, "No, my name is Katherine."
Elizabeth sighed and flashed to stand in front of Jonathan, her green eyes dilated and she said, "You will remember none of the conversation you just heard or remember seeing Katherine this evening. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I will remember nothing." Jonathan replied, his face dazed and his voice low.
Elizabeth turned and smiled at Katherine before turning to Jonathon again, "First thing in the morning you will send a letter to your children to come to Richmond at once. You fear that your father is reaching the end and want him to have a chance to say goodbye to his grandchildren."
"I will write the letter right away." Jonathan responded and rushed into the adjoining study.
Katherine smiled at her fellow burnette, "I guess that means I should start my journey to Mystic Falls."
"Do you think you've watched her enough to fool her friends?" Elizabeth asked, still not thinking the girl could pull it off, the Mikaelson's were not idiots.
"We will just have to hope that I'm better than you give me credit for." Katherine replied with a tilt of her head, "It is such a shame I'll have to miss the wedding."
Elizabeth rolled her eyes, and deadpanned, "It will be the event of the century."
"I'll be there to see the after effects." Katherine said with a wink before she turned and disappeared into the shadows.
AN: So so so so sorry! I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to update this story, I hope there are still some of you out there wanting to read this. I've just gotten really busy and I was suffering from some writer's block. But I sure do hope you like wait I've given you here.
Please, please review. What do you think Katherine will do? I know a lot of you were wondering when she would be arriving. What role do you think Elizabeth has with all of this? Who is their Benefactor? I'd love to know that you are still reading, and that you're curious to see what is going to happen next.
Thank you to everyone that is sticking with this story. I promise to try and get a more regular with my updates, and reviews are great motivations. Thank you again :)
