N: Here you go guys, anther update. More of a filter chapter, but it was needed. Why am I updating already? I was blown away by all your reviews, if so many of you took the time to write me a word of encouragement, the least I can do is honour it with a faster update.

Not beta-ed again, sorry for the mistakes!

Ties and knots

"Come in, it's opened," Elijah yelled from the tiny bathroom of the hotel room. He called for room-service about thirty minutes ago, so he thought they had arrived. About time too, he was starving.

Rebekah pushed the door opened, got inside and whistled before telling the door close. "If I knew you're wearing just a towel, I would've dressed less formal," she said.

"Less than that?" Elijah asked, undisturbed by her presence. He didn't even have to look at her to know she won't be wearing much, she never did. When he finally put on some pants, he got out of the bathroom. Rebekah was already in the middle of the bed. Just as he expected, she was wearing a tight, red dress that was barely covering her generous curves. He thought about it and he came to the conclusion that not only Rebekah was just a child compared to him, but also, he would be betraying his best friend. Damon had always been there for him, they've been friends since college, and he wouldn't want to risk the friendship and the trust that had been built between them. And there was Stefan too. Rebekah was his daughter and he understood what that meant.

"Like my dress?" she asked in a fake shy voice.

"Aren't you a little too far from home young lady?"

"Home's boring, I came to see you."

"Well, you saw me, now you can go back."

"Now you're just being rude –" she was interrupted by the soft knock on the door. This time it was room-service. A young man came inside the room placing a big tray on the table.

"Anything else sir?" he asked and Elijah gave him a twenty dollar bill telling him that, that will be all for today.

"You tip well," Rebekah commented. She stood up, walked towards the table and took a long look at Elijah's tray. She picked up the apple that was besides the plate and took a big bite from it, chewing it slowly.

"Rebekah," Elijah snapped catching her hand before she managed to take anything else from the plate. "What is that you want from me? Your uncle Damon might just kill me if he finds you here."

"Isn't that exciting?" Rebekah asked, her eyes sparking like she had just hit the Jackpot. She smiled seductively when he looked her in the eyes.

"No, Rebekah, it's not excited. I actually like my job and I like your uncle and your dad –"

"What about my Auntie?" she interrupted him. "Do you like Katherine? Is that why you don't want to sleep with me, because you want her? Well, I think you're out of luck coz' she seems to like Uncle Damon again since she came back from the hospital. She's all over him, really. You don't have to say it, I know you like her, I saw the way you look at her, but she's in love with her husband so I'm here…"

"Go home kid," he said softly. Suddenly he had lost his appetite so he put down the fork and pushed the table out of its way.

"I don't have gas money. My dad cut me off."

"Here, that's enough to get you back home and buy you a burger on the way," he said giving her two fifty dollar bills.

Rebekah took the money and stuffed it in her bra. "Thanks," she said quickly and got out of the room, leaving Elijah alone with his thoughts.

***Lucky 13***

They made a few more stops for just a day before they arrived in El Paso where they will be spending two days and one night. Elena had been shocked to see Jeremy following them with his camera everywhere they went. She even risked herself and called Alaric to ask what was going on. The old man simply told her that he wanted her to have someone she knew close in case something happened.

The Hispanic people loved Damon and seemed to support him. They had been welcomed with opened arms. A few people approached them as they came out of the plane and a young man handed Elena a big bouquet of roses. "Senora Salvatore, como esta?" he asked shyly.

"Bien, grancias," Elena said smiling; she took the flowers for him. "Y usted como esta? Son hermosas," she said looking at the blooming roses. The young man told her the people were happy to receive them and then turned around to join the rest of the group. Elena caught a glance at Damon who looked shocked.

"Since when do you speak Spanish?" he asked skeptically. For a few seconds Elena was lost, she couldn't think of a lie in any language. She took Spanish in College and continued in University. Also, she spent one month in Chile with Alaric when he was following a story there. She was pretty comfortable with the language and he never occurred to her that Katherine might not be since Damon was speaking it really well.

"I thought…I'll surprise you," she mumbled.

"Well, I'm surprised. The Hispanic vote means a lot."

"I know, that's why I decided it wouldn't hurt to know a few words." For the first time in a long time Elena was glad they were surrounded by people otherwise Damon might've had more questions that she wouldn't have had answers for.

As they were flying across the country Elena was determined to learn more about the people close to Damon that were there: Stefan and Elijah. One morning she approached Stefan asking him if he came to see her one morning in the hospital. She mumbled something about being confused. Stefan told her he only visited with Damon and that happened just a few times. He was either a great liar or innocent because Elena believed him.

Elijah got a bit defensive when she approached him. "What would I be doing there? I'm not family," he asked and for good reason. Elena knew that only family members were supposed to be allowed there.

"I'm sorry, I just thought…my memories from that time are fuzzy, I am just trying to put the pieces together," she excused herself and Elijah told her that there is no problem, but he never visited while she was there, just after she was moved.

From El Paso they flew to Odessa. Elijah wanted Damon to listen to some oil men try to talk them into voting. Damon didn't seem too excited about it.

"I don't think they are important, most of those people don't vote, they don't believe in change," he argued.

"Because no one changed anything for them, even if a lot of times they were promised better working conditions and better technology. Look, people are like sheep, they need to be told what to do. You tell them to vote for you and those that vote would do it."

"You are such a pessimist, Elijah," Damon teased.

"And you are an idealist, what does it matter? I will help you win this with my pessimistic nature while people will like you for your idealistic one."

"I just believe in people, what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. Hey, next time you talk with the Hispanic people, tell them more about how they should keep their costumes and traditions."

"I did talk about that," Damon mumbled.

"Talk more about it; they are proud of their heritage."

"And they should be, didn't I say that?"

"He did," Elena whispered, but Elijah ignored her completely just like he always did every time she would say something. Did he believe she was just a stupid pretty girl? Maybe Katherine had been. She had so many questions about Katherine's past. What kind of education she had, what happened to all her family, why didn't she have any friends and why would she want to kill Damon?

"If they want to be citizens of this country and be part of the society, they need to accommodate here though. Learn the language and this country's culture. It's only fair."

"And I agree with you, but hold that part to yourself until you actually become senator." Elijah took put his usual note-book. "Now about that speech with the oil men," he said flipping through the pages. "One more thing, please make sure you're not late again."

"It happened only once and I explained to you why. Katherine and I wanted to talk to Anna. It took a while to make the connection and then mom and dad wanted to know everything."

"Yeah well, don't do it again," he mumbled.

"I agree, it doesn't look good when you're late," Stefan said taking Elijah's side. Elena wondered if he would be acting the same way if he knew his daughter was after him. Damon trusted his friend to do the right thing, but Elena was not going to trust Elijah that easily. She didn't know Damon's best friend, but she knew men and when it came to young women ready to seduce them, they were all the same.

"I'll do my best," Damon said on an annoyed tone. Elena could sense him lose his patience.

"Oh and that tie, take it off," Elijah said and Damon raised an eyebrow at him.

"He can take mine," Stefan offered.

"No, yours it's not much better, I'll give him mine."

"I'll keep my own tie and if you guys don't like it, you can both go to hell. Now leave me alone," he snapped. He let himself fall on the comfortable arm chair of the private plane and closed his eyes. Elena loved and envied his ability to fall asleep in seconds and pretty much anywhere. She adored watching him sleep and she often did so on the nights she was too excited, preoccupied or frustrated to sleep. Even since the night they almost slept together they were avoiding each other even more. It wasn't easy considering the fact that they would often share a tiny room and an even smaller bathroom. They were both doing extraordinary things to make sure they won't see each other without clothes on. It was ridiculous, if they were touching, sparks were visible between them because of the build-up frustration.

"I suggest you do something about that," Stefan said looking at Elena.

"About his tie?"

"No, not about his fucking tie, about his mood. You got him in this mod, you get him out of it and I think we both know what you have to do," he said. Elena could not believe her ears. Was Stefan telling her to sleep with Damon to release the tension?

When they got out of the plane, Elena made sure she had a smile on her face, but her smile dropped once she saw a tall man in his late forties wearing a white shirt and a big, brown cowboy hat. She was sure she had seen him in the crown on every place Damon and the other had been. Also, the man seemed to be hiding in the crown, which was not easy considering the fact that he was pretty tall.

N: Please review!