A/N: I do not own The Vampire Diaries

"What are you doing here, Ryssa? I wasn't expecting to see you," Trent asked as they sat in the living room. He leaned back against the couch and studied his sister. It'd been a while since he'd been face to face with her, and she looked different. Happier.

"Neither was I, to come here I mean." She curled her legs under her and faced him. "Elijah and I were up this way but he had a business meeting to go to and said he had a surprise, next thing I know he's pulling up here."

"I'll have to thank him, I was beginning to think I'd never see my little sister again," he teased.

"Oh hush you," she stuck her tongue out at him impishly.

"So can you tell me what he needed your help for?"

"I would but I'm not sure if I should. I'd rather not tell anyone what's going on unless he gives the okay."

"Well then are you at least being careful? He is a vampire, Rys."

"I know and relax, he's been nothing less than a gentleman." Something must have shown on her face because his eyes widened comically.

"Are you sleeping with him?" he asked.

"Trent! I can't believe you!"

"Are you?" He was tempted to laugh if not for the absurdity of the situation.

"No!"

"Uh huh, I know that face. That's the same face you got when Peter Zane kissed you in the seventh grade." He looked at her closely and saw the blush. "You've kissed at the very least." She didn't deny it. "Ryssa," he scolded but couldn't stop the smile.

"Don't be like that, Elijah has been good to us, to me. He's been kind and charming and kept me out of danger. Is it any wonder that I might have feelings for him?" She whacked him with a pillow for making her blush and he laughed.

"Whatever, long as I don't get a call from you crying," he conceded, raising his hands in surrender.

"I doubt that he would take your brother speech well, he's over a thousand years old, Trent."

"Doesn't mean I won't try," he grinned. "Besides, he likes you too much to hurt me."

"Says you," she grumbled. "I should let him eat you just for picking on me."

"That's what I'm supposed to do." He ruffled her hair and she grabbed his arm and twisted but he just laughed again. "Okay, you win, let go." She released him and looked at him smugly. "For real though, this thing you're doing, you're not at risk?"

"No, I'm perfectly fine, I promise."

He eyed her and nodded, accepting her statement. "Did you look at the translation?"

"Oh no!" She covered her mouth and bolted off the couch. "I totally forgot!"

"It's fine, I have it in the study, come take a look." He led the way and she glanced around, taking in her brother's poor decorating skills. It was a typical bachelors pad with his signature touches: Bean bags, posters, random weapons that he's collected for their looks alone, neutral colors, a few pictures—mostly of her, Amanda, and Emma.

His study was different, he had turned one wall into a bookshelf and texts lined each shelf. There was a desk near the window with a blackboard, hieroglyphics written on it and crossed out words. He may have been studying mathematics but her brother shared her love of languages and worked with a nearby museum. He often sent her pictures of things he couldn't identify and she'd spend hours trying to find information on them. They were a team, always had been.

There were antique wall torches and dark drapes that covered the window. On the desk sat his laptop and nearby stood a globe. She loved this room, had been completely hypnotized by it when she'd first seen it.

He went behind the desk and pulled the translation up for her and stepped back, watching as she shifted into archeologist mode. He knew that once she was in her zone, nothing brought her out until she'd solved it and he turned the stereo on. He'd created a playlist with her specifically in mind because he knew that she worked best that way.

Elijah pulled up to Trent's house again and walked up to the porch, knocking on the door. It was pulled open by the other man who smiled at him in greeting. "Elijah, come on in."

Trent stepped out of the way as Elijah entered and listened for Ryssa. "Did you have a good visit?" he asked the younger man.

"Somewhat. How was your meeting?"

"Productive. Where is she?"

"In here." Trent led the way to the study and opened the door, leaning against the frame.

Elijah was met with the sight of Ryssa staring at the blackboard, a pencil between her teeth and glancing from it to the computer on the desk. She was completely unaware of them watching her, mind focused on something else entirely. He glanced beside him to Trent who also watched her with his arms folded and an affectionate smirk on his face.

"How long has she been at that?" he asked Trent.

"About a half hour after you left," Trent answered. "We talked and I mentioned it and I haven't been able to tear her away since."

"Hm," Elijah grunted. He'd been gone for quite awhile as it was now nighttime and he looked closer at her to see that she appeared rather flustered. She'd shed the vest and her hair looked as if she'd run her fingers through it repeatedly. He walked into the room and very deliberately plucked the chalk from her hand and shut the laptop. She scowled at him and he raised his eyebrows.

"You need to take a break, Ryssa."

"But…I'm nearly done!"

Elijah grabbed her and with a whip of air she was upstairs with him and he pushed her into a room and locked the door behind her.

"Elijah! That's not fair, I wasn't finished!" She beat on the door with her fists and tried the knob but it didn't open. "Let me out of here!"

Elijah walked slowly down the stairs to look at Trent who was on the verge of hysterical laughter. "Do you have any coffee or tea? I'm a bit thirsty."

"Right this way," Trent answered with a straight face and gestured for him to follow him into the kitchen. Both ignored the yells and pounding from upstairs.