Elijah Mikaelson had simply always been too good a dream to be true and permanent. From the moment he had saved her from the clutches of Victoria, Bella had known that while something drew her to him, it was fragile, easily broken. She had waited for it, scared and wishing it never would but resigned with its inevitability. Bella/Elijah. Rated M. OS.

Turning around to survey the ballroom, hoping to catch a glimpse of her date, Meredith's gaze collided with that of the one person she wanted to avoid. Elijah Mikaelson, in all his glory, was staring at her.