Chapter 10: Growing Closer
*****Where We Left Off*****
Buffy returned Elijah's kiss with equal fervor. Her body felt alive like it hadn't in a long time. She wished that it could continue, but she heard a car honk and recalled they were on the street. They slowly pulled apart but kept their eyes locked on each other.
"That was very nice," Buffy said, smiling at him.
He returned her smile. "Yes, it was," he said.
"Maybe we should do it again sometime," Buffy said.
"I would like that," he said. He held out his arm. "How about I take you to get a coffee or something?"
"Or a snack," Buffy said with a grin. "I burned off my breakfast."
Elijah chuckled. Her appetite was impressive. Kissing her made him realize that she wasn't just passionate for food. He wanted very much to uncover everything about her. However, he also didn't want to rush things. Unlike Niklaus, he rarely rushed heedlessly into anything.
He led her down the street to Cami's bar. Cami was behind the bar talking to a dark-skinned man Buffy hadn't met yet.
"Hello," Cami said, smiling brightly. She looked at the man she was talking to. "Vincent, have you met Buffy yet?"
Vincent looked at the petite woman with Elijah with interest. Elijah was rarely with anyone that wasn't related to him. "No, I haven't had the pleasure," he said, giving Buffy a welcoming smile.
Buffy stepped forward and extended her hand to greet him. "I'm Buffy Summers. I'm staying with the Mikaelsons for the summer," she said.
When Vincent took her hand, his eyes widened. He felt a rush of tremendous power and got a vision—something that rarely ever happened to him. He saw her leading an army of women and in her hand was a red scythe that she held raised up high. She and her army were surrounded by a legion of demonic looking creatures. They faced the creatures fearlessly.
Vincent blinked and pulled back his hand. He gave her an apologetic smile. Surely, Elijah knew how powerful this woman was. Why would a woman that fought evil be staying with the biggest evil in town? "I-I-well, that was unexpected," he said a bit rattled.
"What's wrong?" Cami asked, always sensitive to the moods of others.
"Did you sense something?" Elijah asked in concern.
"Huh?" Buffy asked, confused.
"Vincent is a very powerful witch," Elijah explained. "One that refuses to practice magic."
"That is true, but I cannot control what I see," Vincent said, giving them a rueful smile.
"Did you sense what I am?" Buffy asked.
"You're a leader of warriors. You fight evil creatures," Vincent said.
Buffy smiled and nodded. "Yes. I'm a vampire slayer. I used to be the only one until a witch like yourself changed the world for all time," she said.
"Really?" Vincent asked. "How fascinating."
"Did you want something to drink?" Cami asked them.
"Yes. Two mocha lattes," Buffy said. Grinning, she added, "And some blueberry scones!" She sat on the stool next to Vincent while Elijah sat on her other side. "So how does a witch just refuse to practice magic? That doesn't always work out so well from what I've seen."
"You know a lot of witches?" Vincent asked.
"Yes. My best friend is the most powerful one I've ever known," Buffy said.
"Is she the one who gave you an army of slayers?" Vincent asked with interest.
"Yes," Buffy said.
"Does she know you're hanging out with a family that has done more harm and evil than any in creation?" Vincent asked.
"Well, since she almost destroyed the world that one time, I doubt she'd be all judgy," Buffy said with a shrug.
Elijah bit back a smile. Buffy was unlike any other, and the witches of New Orleans would be hard pressed to figure her out. However, he knew Vincent would try.
"So Klaus hurting his entire family doesn't bother you?" Vincent asked.
"I didn't say that," Buffy said. "But he's impulsive and regrets what he did. He has a soul. I don't normally waste my powers killing guys who make mistakes. We all do."
Vincent laughed. "You're calling cursing his baby's mother, killing his brother's lover, and biting Cami a mistake?" Vincent asked, unable to believe she was serious.
Buffy was finding the witch tiresome. She lost her air of gentility and turned toward him. "I'm going to go sit and enjoy my coffee and scones at a table with Elijah. The Mikaelsons are flawed like me, so I will forgive them when they make mistakes," Buffy said, hopping of the stool. "If you and your witch friends have a problem with Klaus, you have a problem with me. I suggest you begin practicing forgiveness."
She led Elijah to a table. Vincent watched her walk away with a frown.
"Don't bother straining your brain. Buffy is special," Cami said with a laugh.
"I have never felt such power," Vincent said, turning to face Cami. "How can a woman that powerful with that type of calling align herself with Klaus? Elijah I can understand but not Klaus."
Cami debated how to answer. Vincent, though, had become her friend. He also could cause trouble if he decided that Buffy was a new threat. "Yeah, well, I wouldn't worry too much about her actually," she said.
"Why not? A woman that powerful aligning with Klaus is a very dangerous thing," Vincent said in disapproval.
"She's actually not aligned with Klaus but with Elijah. He called in a favor to bring her in," Cami explained. "She's here to help keep Klaus in line."
"Seriously? Elijah brought in a vampire slayer to keep his own brother in line?" Vincent asked incredulously. "That family has issues!"
"Yes, it does, but Elijah doesn't want his brother dead. Nor does he want more harm to come to his family," Cami explained. "Buffy is just trying to keep the peace."
"Why did she defend Klaus then?" Vincent asked.
Cami grinned. "Klaus can be very charming," she reminded him. "I think she genuinely likes him."
Vincent turned and looked at the woman in bemusement. She was carrying on animated conversation with Elijah. "Does the coven know about her?" he asked.
"Davina's met her. Buffy invited her and Josh over to watch movies with them. I was there," Cami shared.
Vincent was surprised. "Davina went willingly over to the Mikaelsons?" he asked.
"Don't share that with the coven. She told me they'd be very unhappy," Cami said.
"She's right," Vincent said.
"We watched Pride and Prejudice," Cami shared.
"I don't understand why Davina would agree to spend time with Klaus," Vincent said, shaking his head.
"Yea, well, you try saying no to Buffy and see how you fare," Cami said with a smile.
Vincent looked concern. "I don't think the covens are going to like her presence in the city. Things are already unbalanced enough," he said.
"I don't recommend you say anything. Davina's the head, and she knows. Buffy isn't looking to cause trouble," Cami said.
Vincent nodded. Somehow, though, he couldn't see a woman with that much power not causing trouble.
*****Two Weeks Later*****
Buffy couldn't believe how fast time really did fly when you were having fun. It seemed way too long since she'd had much fun. When she and the gang first went to Europe, she'd had some fun. However, it never lasted long. Responsibilities always interrupted the fun time—normally Dawn. Now Dawn was grown up and married to a very capable man that had no trouble keeping her safe. The slayers were doing fine led by Giles, Xander, Willow, and Faith. For the first time, she was free. Free to make her own way.
The past two weeks had been so great as she and Elijah spent almost all their time together. Sometimes it was just the two of them. Other times, his siblings joined them. Once, they'd went out to dinner with Cami. Buffy could tell that there was something between Cami and Klaus, but Cami was still keeping her distance. Klaus didn't seem to push the issue. When Buffy inquired why, he shrugged and said, "She's a frail human. I'm an immortal monster." It made Buffy kind of sad.
There hadn't been anymore kissing between her and Elijah, however. Instead, there had been a lot of flirting. The flirting did little to mask the growing sexual attraction between them.
On day after dinner, she and Freya left to go to the movies with Cami and Davina. After the women left, Klaus glared at his brother. "If I have to have one more dinner with the two of you flirting with one another, I'm going to puke!" Klaus complained.
Elijah chuckled. "Now, brother, how many women have I had to watch you play with right in front of me?" Elijah asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Those were trifling distractions. I don't think the slayer is such a thing to you, is she?" Klaus asked.
"She is distracting," Elijah acknowledged.
"Has she made you forget about your wolf?" Klaus asked with a smirk.
Elijah frowned. "Nothing is going to make me forget that you still have Hope's mother cursed," Elijah said sourly.
"That wasn't what I was talking about and you know it," Klaus said crossly.
Elijah got up from the chair and turned away from Klaus. He wasn't really sure how to answer. "I have grown to care deeply for Buffy. She is unlike anyone I've ever met," he admitted. He turned and faced his brother.
"Yes, she is special. I would be happy to call her sister," Klaus said meaningfully. To have such strength in their family would make them indestructible. Buffy literally had her own army. An army that would follow her to the gates of hell, not out of fear but out of love. Klaus envied her as much as he admired her.
"Buffy deserves someone that can give her his whole heart. I am not sure that can ever be me," Elijah admitted.
Klaus wasn't surprised to hear his brother's confession, but it did frustrate him. "You know Hayley is not the woman for you, brother. She will never be," Klaus said. "Wolves mate for life. As much as it pains me to admit it, Jackson is a good man."
"I know," Elijah acknowledged.
"You have a very long life in which to get to know and maybe love the slayer," Klaus reminded him. "I see no reason to expect that you won't find her the most perfect person for you."
Elijah nodded. "Isn't it odd that a human can expect to live as long as we do?"
"And get as strong as we are," Klaus reminded him.
"Or stronger," Elijah said with a smile.
Klaus frowned. He wasn't sure that was something to look forward to.
*****The Next Day*****
The Mikaelsons were in the den the following afternoon when Buffy came in. She was obviously preoccupied.
"Is everything okay?" Freya asked her.
"No, not exactly. I have to leave," she shared.
Klaus jumped up. "What? Why?" he demanded.
"There's a situation in Miami. Some witch foolishly decided it was a good idea to encourage some type of alligator demon to rise. We have a slayer house there, but they're fairly inexperienced," she explained.
"How long will you be gone? You are returning?" Klaus asked.
"Oh, it shouldn't take but a few days," Buffy said with a shrug. She looked at Elijah nervously. "Do you want to come?"
Elijah was caught off guard by her request. However, he could think of no reason to refuse her request. He knew that not only did he desire to see her in battle, but he wasn't ready to be away from her either. "It has been some time since I've been to Miami," he said, smiling at her. "I'd be happy to accompany you."
Freya gave her an eager look. "You said a witch was involved. Do you need a witch? I can come help, too," she offered.
"Another witch is always useful in these situations. Willow is tied up in Cleveland right now and can't come," Buffy said.
Klaus did not like being left out, but he knew that he could not leave New Orleans. "I hate missing a good fight," he complained.
"Yes, it sucks being a single parent, huh?" Buffy said with sympathy. "Willow needs to figure out that curse, so Hope can have her mother back. I'll email her before we leave."
"Have you made arrangements for your flight already?" Elijah asked her.
"Not yet. I'll do that now," she said.
"Why don't you allow me? You can help my sister pack. If she's anything like Rebekah, she'll need all the help she can get," Elijah said, smiling.
"Oh, do you have a bathing suit? We totally have to hit the beach while we're there!" Buffy said excitedly.
An hour later, Klaus brought Hope out of her nursery so that they could say goodbye to them. Elijah kissed his niece as did Freya. Buffy can downstairs holding a very strange weapon.
"What is that?" Klaus asked in awe.
"It's my scythe that I King Arthur'd out of this rock," Buffy said proudly. "It's ancient but was meant for the slayer."
"May I?" Elijah asked, looking at the red weapon.
Buffy handed it to him, and Klaus stepped closer to examine it, too. "It can kill in more than one way," he remarked, intrigued.
"The pointy end works well with vampires. The blade usually works with anything. I cut a man in two once with it," Buffy shared. "It went through him like butter."
Freya was startled at her casual confession while Klaus was amused.
Buffy gave them a sheepish smile. "Don't worry. He was evil. Killed a bunch of potential slayers—young girls before becoming the embodiment of evil," she said.
"Good to know," Freya said, shaking her head. She shouldn't be surprised by what Buffy said anymore, but she still was.
Klaus found a woman that could talk so easily about slicing a man in two someone to be admired and maybe a bit feared. His brother better not break her heart because he thought that the family might not survive such an experience. "How will you get that through security?" he asked.
"Willow has a spell on it. No one who doesn't know what it is to begin with will see it as anything but an umbrella," Buffy shared. "I've gotten through security before."
"Really?" Freya asked, intrigued. "This should be interesting." She held out her hand to examine the weapon and awe filled her as she felt a rush of power. She gasped.
"What is wrong?" Elijah asked in concern.
"This weapon. It contains tremendous power," Freya said, handing it carefully back to Buffy.
"Yes, it does. Willow used it in her spell to unleash all potential slayers. Each slayer that holds it feels it belongs to them," Buffy shared.
"But it's yours?" Freya asked.
Buffy nodded. "Yeah. I offered to give it to Faith, but she refused. Whenever there's an apocalypse, I share it with the others," Buffy shared.
The three siblings had gotten to know Buffy well enough to know she meant that. To Freya, her revelation was proof of how incorruptible she was. To Klaus, her words made him shake his head at her foolishness. Why would she ever give another her power?
Elijah, though, heard her words with approval. Buffy had no desire to conquer or wield her power over others. Everything she revealed about herself made him admire her more and more. The three siblings refrained from commenting.
"Will you tell Cami that I had to go out of town. I'll call her when I return," Buffy told him.
"Not a problem. Have fun killing your demon," Klaus said with a smirk. He had thought he was the most violent person on earth, but now he knew better. This woman sought battles, and Klaus could tell she was excited to do battle. It made him amused and wary. She had been so normal and carefree the past few weeks that he had almost forgotten who she really was.
"Oh, they'll be more than one. If there was just one, they wouldn't need me," she said matter-of-factually.
Klaus laughed and gave his brother a knowing look. "You might get your suit dirty, brother," he said to Elijah.
"I packed extra," Elijah said easily.
"Don't let our sister get hurt. Rebekah will be very cross with you," Klaus warned.
"I'll miss you, too, Niklaus," Freya said, smiling at her brother.
They all said their goodbyes. Klaus watched them leave. Then he looked down at his daughter. "It's just you and me, sweetheart," he said to her. "Let's hope Uncle Elijah knows what he's doing with the slayer. A woman who carries such a weapon is not to be trifled with." Klaus had a feeling that this trip would change things between Buffy and his brother. He just wished he could be there to join in on all the fun.
******Chapter End******