Disclaimer: Don't own anything you recognize

Elijah arrived at Dia's house an hour before the ball was to begin. He was dressed his tux and was anxious to spend time with the woman who had fascinated him so. He rang the doorbell and waited a few moments. He heard footsteps approach the door and the door opened to reveal Dia. Elijah was in awe when he saw her. She was wearing a burgundy colored ball gown with crystal detail around the bodice. The skirt was filled with ruffles and little studs throughout the dress and wore white gloves. Her hair was up in a curly knot with a diamond barrette holding it together and a few strands hanging along with her drop diamond earrings.

"Hi" she smiled.

"You look breathtaking" Elijah finally spoke.

"Thank you" Dia smiled. "You know how to pick a dress for me that's for sure." Elijah smiled at her comment and then looked at her neck. She was wearing the necklace. The necklace that he had given her. He didn't even know that she had gotten it.

"You're wearing the necklace I got for you" he stated.

"Yes. Thank you for it by the way" she said putting a hand up to it. "It's beautiful. I've actually barely taken it off, but I did for dinner because I didn't want Klaus tormenting me constantly about you and things were already tense between Damon and I...so I didn't."

"Well you're wearing it now" Elijah whispered. "And that's all that matters." Dia smiled at him and nodded.

"Shall we?" Elijah asked offering her an arm. Dia felt her heart beat slightly faster as she took her arm. She didn't know what she was feeling, but she was ready to find out.


Elijah led Dia through the doors on the mansion. Many servants were still busy preparing for the ball. No guest had arrived yet.

"I want you to meet my family" Elijah looked at her. "My mother especially is looking forward to meeting you."

Dia's eyes grew wide. "Your mother wants to meet? Are you sure that's such a good idea?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Elijah asked. "I am escorting you after all."

"Well considering that nearly 24 hours ago, your sister tried to kill me twice, what if they don't like me either" she said uncomfortably. Elijah smiled and quietly laughed.

"What's so funny?" Dia asked. "I'm nervous about meeting your family and you're standing there laughing at me."

"I do not care how my family feels about you. The only thing that matters is how I feel about you" Elijah told her. Dia looked at him curiously.

"Which is what?" she asked.

Elijah only smirked at her before taking her hand in his. "Come" he said. He led her down a hallway and into another room of the mansion. Inside the room stood Elijah's other brother Finn who Dia remembered from the previous night and standing beside him was a woman in a dark green evening gown with blonde hair. Dia assumed this was Esther.

"Ah Elijah" she said coming forward. "And you must be Dia. It's a pleasure to meet you. Elijah has told me so much about you."

"Pleasure to meet you as well" Dia smiled.

"And this is Elijah's brother Finn" Esther said.

"Pleasure" Finn only said.

"Hello again" Dia replied.

"Elijah you told me she was beautiful, but I didn't expect her to be this stunning" Esther smiled causing Dia to blush slightly. "Elijah tells me you're a gypsy. Such a rare thing I'm told."

"So I'm told as well" Dia said.

"Well I don't want to keep you two talking to me all night" Esther said. "I hope you enjoy the ball Dia. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other in the future."

"I would like that very much" Dia said. Elijah then took her hand again and led her out of the room.

"Now was that so uncomfortable?" Elijah smirked.

"She seems nice" Dia told him. Elijah turned to her and smiled. He took her hand and gently kissed it.


Damon arrived at the the ball and immediately saw Carol Lockwood standing by herself. He walked over to talk to her.

"Hello, Carol" he greeted.

"Hello" she responded.

"Hanging out with your new besties?" he smirked.

"I'm the mayor, Damon. When the oldest, deadliest family of vampires moves into your town, you welcome them with a smile" Carol told him.

"Well, at least you know who you're borrowing that cup of sugar from" Damon smiled.

"They've assured me they want peace, and I've assured them that I'd enforce it" she said. A young man joined the pair and took Carol's hand and gently kissed it.

"Mayor Lockwood. We haven't formally met. Kol Mikaelson. I hope your lovely town embraces us just as much as we plan to embrace it" Kol smiled.

"Damon Salvatore" Damon said offering his hand. "Have we met?"

"I've met a lot of people, And you don't particularly stand out" Kol looked at him and smirked. He then walked away. Damon watched him closely when he saw Elena arrive. She was in a black and gold ball gown. Her hair was curled and hung on one side of her neck. She nearly took Damon's breath away.

"Excuse me Carol" he said.


Elena looked around at the party when Stefan rejoined her from behind.

"What are you doing here?" Stefan demanded.

"I could ask you the same thing" Elena shot back as Damon joined the two of them.

"Surprise, surprise. Nice tux" Damon said looking at Stefan then Elena. "You're not supposed to be here."

"Well, I am, And I'm not leaving until I find out what Esther wants, so shall we?" Elena told them. Stefan offered his arm to Elena and she looked at Damon who followed Stefan's suit. She took both of their arms and they walked into the ballroom. Damon looked around and saw Dia with Elijah. She was smiling and talking with him. Damon couldn't help but feel slightly jealous. She looked beautiful.


"You look beautiful" Elijah told Dia. Dia grabbed his hand, their fingers intertwined.

"You've told me that several times" Dia smiled at him.

"I speak nothing but the truth" Elijah whispered. "You are beautiful."

"Well clean up well yourself" Dia smiled. "I can't decide if I prefer you in a tux or a suit." Elijah let out a small chuckle and noticed his mother beckoning him.

"Would you excuse me for a moment my dear?" he asked.

"Of course. Do what you need to" Dia replied. Elijah took her hand and gently kissed it before walking away. Dia smiled and looked around and saw Damon staring at her. She smiled slightly at him as he gave her a small nod.


Elena stood at the bar when someone came up beside her.

"Elena Gilbert, I presume. I'm Finn Mikaelson. You're here to see my mother" Finn greeted.

"Is she here?" Elena asked.

"Her request did not include your friends" Finn replied.

"They're protecting me. You may not know, but your mother's already tried to kill me once" she explained.

"If you want to see my mother, you'll need to be alone" he told him.

"Uh, if everyone could gather, please" Elijah suddenly announced.

"Excuse me" Finn said before leaving.

Everyone gathered around the stairs in the hallway. The original family all stood together on the stairs.

"Welcome. Thank you for joining us. You know, whenever my mother brings our family together like this, it's tradition for us to commence the evening with a dance" Elijah spoke as Esther rejoined her family.

"Do you see who I see?" Damon asked looking at Esther.

"Oh, yeah" Stefan nodded.

"Tonight's pick is a centuries-old waltz, so if all of you could please find yourselves a partner, please join us in the ballroom" Elijah told everyone. Everyone in the ballroom began moving around. Elijah walked down the stairs towards Dia.

"May I have this dance?" he asked holding out his hand.

"You may" Dia smiled taking his hand.


Elena watched as Esther walked upstairs. She decided to follow her and walked towards the stairs.

"Don't even think about it" Damon said stopping her.

"She wants to see me alone, Damon" Elena told him.

"Well, it sucks to be her, then. Was I not clear this morning?" Damon looked at her.

"I was invited" Elena shot back.

"You have to tell me before you walk into a lion's den" Damon snapped.

"Why? So that you can stop me?" Elena asked.

"Yes" Damon paused and offered his hand. "It would be rude not to dance, you know."

"It is tradition" Elena said as she took his hand and he led her to the dance floor as Stefan watched.


Dia and Elijah waltzed together. His hand rested on her back while her own on his shoulder as they held each other hands with one another. Elijah couldn't help but smile. He couldn't recall the last time he had been this happy with someone else. He remembered how he felt with Marina, but with Dia it was different. Deeper and more intense.

"You're quite the dancer" Elijah commented.

"My best friend in New York is half Puerto Rican, so she dragged me to ballroom classes" Dia told him.

"Well they certainly were worth it" Elijah smiled. He spun her around as they switched partners. Dia found her way into no one other than Damon's arms. She stopped as he pulled her closer.

"You look beautiful" he said taking her hand and continuing the dance.

"I'm surprised you've had time to notice with Elena around" Dia said bitterly.

"Are you ever going to get over that?" Damon frowned.

"Who say's I'm not" Dia shot back.

"Elijah's just rebound for you" Damon told her.

"You're a pompous ass" Dia sneered. "Elijah's twice the man you'll ever be."

"Well not that it matters, but what I did to you will haunt me forever" Damon whispered looking at her. He spun her around again as everyone switched partners. This time Dia turned to face Elijah's other brother Kol.

"Hello" he smiled. "We weren't properly introduced last night. I'm Kol."

"Dia" she responded.

"Oh I know" Kol smirked. "Your Elijah's….well what are you to him?"

"I'm not anything to him" Dia looked at him.

"Hmm, I would say you are. He looks at you in a way I've never seen before" Kol told her."You smell different. What are you anyway?"

"I'm a gypsy" Dia replied simply.

"Oh very interesting" Kol smirked. The two of them danced in silence for a few moments.

"Thank you for getting your sister off of me last night" she said breaking the silence.

"Ah yes, Rebekah can be a bit…" he stopped. "Fiesty."

"I really did have nothing to do with her getting daggered. That was all Elena" she told him.

"Oh I believe you" Kol smiled. "It was wonderful talking with you. I hope we do it again this evening." He spun her around right back into Elijah's arms.

"Hello again" he smiled.

"Hi" she grinned.

"Another?" he asked.

"Absolutely" she said. The two of them danced in silence enjoying each other's company. One thing was bothering Dia though. She sighed and decided to speak.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course my dear" Elijah smiled.

"When you were daggered" Dia began. "Are you able to…I don't know how to say this, but can you communicate with others?"

The two of them stopped dancing as Elijah frowned at her.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, after you were dagger for a few months I began to have dreams or visions even about you getting daggered. There were a few times where you told me to help you" she explained. Elijah looked at her and frowned once more. It seemed as though he knew something.

"Come with me" Elijah said leading her off the dance floor. He led her to an empty room. The room was only lit by the outside light from the window and the hall. Elijah walked over the window silently and stared outside.

"Elijah what's wrong?" Dia asked walking over to him. "Do you know something?" Elijah turned around and looked at her in awe.

"You've bonded yourself to me" he whispered.

"I've what?" she asked confused.

"It's very rare, but sometimes one supernatural being can bond themselves to another" Elijah explained. "They can feel what they feel, know when they are in danger. Sometimes even relive the last moments of their life."

"How is that possible?" she asked.

"No one really knows. Besides the bond strong enough nor is it not complete unless I bond myself to you" Elijah spoke.

"And you do that how?"

"Blood exchange" Elijah replied. "We drink from each other at the same time. I know this a lot to process. I'm not going to force you into anything you don't want."

"Thank you" Dia looked at him. "It's just a lot to think about."

"You don't have to decide this now. I'll respect any choice you make" Elijah walked closer to her and rested his hand against her cheek. Dia raised her hand and put his hand in her own. She pulled his hand off her cheek, but their hands still holding one another's. The two of them walked out of the room into the hall. Elijah looked and saw Elena walking. He assumed she was going to his mother.

"Would you excuse me once again?" he looked at Dia. She nodded.

"I'll meet up with you later" she whispered before walking away from him.


"Where's your date?" Kol asked walking up to her.

"Flirting with his ex" Rekebah replied bored.

"You've changed, Bekah. You know, settling for mortals is the first sign of weakness" Kol replied. "You and Elijah both settling for mortals.

"Elijah's not settling for just any mortal" Rebekah said. "She's a gypsy."

"Well she can't live forever. She'll die eventually. So she's mortal" Kol replied. "What's so special about her to him anyway? Sure she's an exquisite beauty, but what else is there?"

"You have to ask Elijah" Rebekah looked at him. "Beside I'm not settling. I brought him here to kill him. He's Elena's friend. If he dies, she suffers. But I've already been scolded once, so I was hoping you'd help your baby sister out"

"And spit right in the face of mother's rules?" Kol smirked at his sister. "I'm in"

The two of them watched the guests. Dia walked over to Rebekah and smiled.

"Can we talk?" she asked.

"I have nothing to say to you" Rebekah snapped.

"Now, now Rebekah, give the girl a chance" Kol smirked.

"What do you want?" Rebekah sneered.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry" Dia began. "I didn't know Elena was going to dagger you, but I should have done something and I'm sorry I didn't. I hope that someday we can be friends again."

Rebekah looked at her in shock. No one had ever been that kind to her. Dia smiled slightly before turned and walking away from the pair.

"I can't decide if I like her or not" Kol commented.

"She has guts that's for sure" Rebekah said.


Elena walked down one of the corridors of the mansion on her way to see Esther. She made Stefan snap Damon's neck to try and stop her. She thought about telling Dia what was going on, but decided to leave her out of it. She needed to enjoy her night.

"Elena" she heard a voice say. She turned and saw Elijah walking towards her.

" I understand my mother requested to see you" he stated.

"Uh, yeah. Why? Is something wrong?" she frowned.

"Well, her ability to forgive my brother after everything he's done to destroy this family strikes me as a little strange to say the least" Elijah told her.

"Do you think that it's an act?" Elena asked.

"It has me asking questions I never thought I'd ask. Can I depend on you to tell me what she says?" Elijah asked her.

Elena looked at him for a moment before speaking.

"You'll protect Dia no matter what right?"

"I will" Elijah replied.

"Then of course. I'll find you later, ok?" she asked. Elijah nodded before Elena walked away. He saw Dia walking towards him.

"Everything alright?" she asked him.

"Yes of course" Elijah said. "My mother has just requested to see Elena."

"What for?" Dia frowned.

"I'm not entirely sure" Elijah told her.

"You're worried" Dia stated. Elijah grabbed her hand and gently kissed the back of each.

"I have no reason to be worried now" he smiled.

"You're just trying to be Mr. Charming tonight aren't you" Dia smirked.

"How am I succeeding thus far?" Elijah asked.

"I'll let you know" Dia smiled.


Elena stood back in the ballroom after her meeting with Esther. She learned that Esther wasn't just planning on killing Klaus, but her entire family. She felt that they were an abomination. Esther had planned a spell that needed Elena's blood. The blood of the doppelganger. Elena knew that she was making a hard decision, but gave Esther her blood. She thought about Dia though and how happy she looked with Elijah tonight. Elijah. The one person who tried to save her and she had signed his death sentence.

"So how was my mother?" Elijah said snapping Elena out of her thoughts. She saw that Dia was with me.

"Intense" Elena replied.

"Yeah got that impression either too" Dia told her.

"And for what reason did she need to speak with you in private?" Elijah asked her. Elena looked over and saw Esther on the stairs staring at her. Esther met her eyes and smiled.

"Elena. Should I be concerned about my mother's intentions?" Elijah persisted.

"She just wanted to apologize for trying to have me killed" Elena replied looking at him.

"So it's true, then? She's forgiven Klaus?" Elijah asked.

"It's true" Elena told him.

"Thank you Elena" Elijah smiled. Elijah led Dia away from Elena. The two of them stopped when Elijah saw his mother standing on the stairs with a glass of champagne in her had.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Waiters are coming round with champagne." Esther began. Elijah took two glasses from one of the waiters and handed one of them to Dia. Sure she didn't drink, but there were times where she should. Elijah smiled at her causing her heart to beat faster. She didn't understand this effect he had on her.

"I invite you all to join me in raising a glass. It provides me with no greater joy than to see my family back together as one. I'd like to thank you all for being part of this spectacular evening. Cheers" Esther continued raising her glass. Everyone began to drink.

"Cheers" Elijah smiled at Dia. The two of them clinked glasses. Dia took a drink of her own while Elijah took a small sip neither of them realizing that Elena was watching them both with a concerned look on her face.


Elena had her shawl in her hand about ready to leave the party when Damon approached her.

"Elena. Did you get what you want?" Damon asked.

"Actually, yes" she replied.

"Good. Tell me on the ride home. We're leaving. Come on" he replied grabbing her arm.

"No, Damon. Let go of me. Look, I'm sorry that I had to, uh, cut you out of the plan" she looked at him.

"There shouldn't have been a plan. You shouldn't be here" Damon snapped.

"Do you think I like going behind your back?" she asked. "I don't. But if I hadn't asked Stefan to help, then you would have tried to be the hero, and you would have ruined everything."

"Sorry for trying to keep you alive. Clearly Stefan doesn't give a crap anymore" Damon sneered.

"Now you're mad at me for including Stefan?" she asked in disbelief.

"No, I'm mad at you because I love you!" Damon exclaimed.

"Well, maybe that's the problem" Elena said then her face fell regretting what she said. "No, that's not what I..."

"No, I got it, Elena. I care too much. I'm a liability. How ironic is that?" Damon cut her off. Elena looked behind his shoulder to see Caroline walking up to the pair.

"Have you guys seen Matt?" she asked.


Matt walked through one of the hallways of the mansion. He thought he heard his name whispered from the balcony. He walked outside and saw no one. He turned around and saw Kol.

"Good evening. You're Rebekah's friend. We haven't met" Kol said raising his hand.

"Matt Donovan" Matt said.

"Kol Mikaelson" Kol smirked. He began to squeeze Matt's hand hard to the point breaking when Damon arrived.

"Easy on the hand. Guy's a quarterback" Damon spoke. He rushed over to Kol and threw him off the balcony. Damon then jumped off the balcony and grabbed Kol and began to punch him before snapping his neck. Stefan rushed over and intervened.

"Damon! Are you crazy?" Stefan exclaimed. He looked around and saw the other original siblings, Elena, and Dia rushing outside.

"Maybe a little" Damon smirked and then looked at Elena. "Far be it from me to cause a problem." He got out and left while everyone watched.


"No violence. That was all I asked." Esther said walking into the study with Elijah close behind. "Rebekah and Kol disgraced our family tonight!"

"It won't happen again, mother. I'll deal with them" Elijah told her. Esther smiled gently and walked placed her hand on his cheek.

"Thank you, Elijah. I wish the others were more like you" she told him. He grabbed her hand gently squeezing hand before removing it.

"I like her" Esther began. "Dia. She seems like a lovely girl. You care a great deal about her don't you?"

"I love her" Elijah said simply.

"You are my son and I want nothing more than for you to be happy" Esther told him. "If you are happy, you have my blessing." Elijah looked at his mother one last time before leaving. As he left Finn entered the room and closed the doors.

"Are we all right to speak freely?" Finn asked his mother.

"Yes. The sage still burns" Esther said sitting at her desk. She took out a piece of paper and began to write on it.

"You're not having second thoughts, are you?" Finn asked her.

"Of course not. It's just Elijah... he's so moral" she said looking up. "And that gypsy. She's powerful. He'll do anything to protect her."

"You're doing the right thing, mother" Finn told her.

"You understand what this means, don't you? This spell I'm casting tonight will bind you all together as one" she looked at him.

"I understand. When it is time, I will be ready to die" he replied.

"Then we must complete the link" she said standing up. She took Finn's hand and sliced it with a knife. The blood dripped on the paper where Esther had written each of her children's names. She began to chant and as she did the blood went from name to name covering each of the names linking all the siblings together in the shape of a tree.

"The link is complete." Esther said once she finished. "You are one." The paper suddenly burst into flames.


Elijah found Dia sitting in the hallway on a bench. He was surprised to see she was still here, but pleased nevertheless. He was having a wonderful evening with her until Rebekah and Kol had to ruin it all.

"You're still here" he said.

She stood up and smiled. "Well I couldn't leave without saying goodbye."

"I'm sorry if what happened ruined your night" Elijah apologized.

"You have nothing to apologize for" Dia frowned. "I had a wonderful time tonight regardless of what happened. I had a wonderful time with you." Dia looked at him and smiled. Elijah gently began to stroke her cheek and smiled at her. He walked closer to her.

"I had a wonderful time with you as well this evening" Elijah whispered. He slowly leaned forward before his lips gently touched Dia's. She didn't return the kiss, her lips staying stiff. He pulled away and saw that she looked uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry" he said quietly turning to leave. Dia grabbed his arm pulling him back before his lips crashed against his own. Elijah put his arm around her waist pulling her closer. The two of them finally pulled away and gazed at each other.

"I wish you had gotten the chance to do that last night" she breathed. Elijah smirked at her and kissed her again. She wrapped her hands around neck and pulled away gently stroking his jaw line. Elijah pressed his forehead to her own, both holding each other with no intention of letting the other go.

There you have it! As requested, a link to Dia's dress has been posted in my profile! Thanks to all the reviews, your enthusiasm has been fantastic. I just want to give you guys heads up I might put this story on hiatus until the show comes back on. My biggest concern is that what I have planned won't fit in with the show and I want to see where the show is going to take us next. My plan is to get All My Children Pt 1 up either tomorrow or during the weekend. Then I'm thinking about going on hiatus till the show comes back on. I hope you all won't be too disappointed with me, but I think that doing this will be best for the story. You guys are amazing and thank you again for your love and support. Read and review!