Chapter 2

Elijah drove to his car that he had parked in a forest lane a few miles away from the farm.

"Ok, children, I want you to get in Elijah's car while I drive our car", said Laura in a business-like manner.

"Do you know a good place, where we can leave it so that it won't be found immediately and where there is no surveillance that can identify us?" asked Elijah. He didn't know his way around here and he couldn't use his usual disposal methods because of the children.

Laura smiled grimly. "I know the perfect place. If I drive into a driveway, please drive to the next driveway and wait there for me. Come on, children, get out!"

Lila and Cooper got out without protest. They knew that tone and knew that it was better not to contradict their mother if she used it.

Elijah got out and unlocked the car with the key. "Please get in the back!"

Elijah took the bags out of the car and put them in the trunk of his car before he got behind the wheel. In the rear-view mirror he saw that the children were already buckled up. They had put Nathaniel in the child seat that Elijah had wisely brought with him.

Laura had now slipped behind the wheel of her car. "Elijah, follow me!"

Elijah nodded seriously. They had been driving for a few minutes when they came to a junkyard and Laura turned into the driveway. As Laura had requested, Elijah just drove on until he came to the next driveway, where there was a small parking lot, where he simply parked.

Less than twenty minutes later Laura came and got in on the passenger side. "We can drive!"

Elijah started the car without another word.

Laura leaned back and closed her eyes. It took her a few minutes to process the events of the past hour. Finally she sighed, opened her eyes and turned to her children, who were looking at her seriously.

Laura smiled at them. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, Mom, we're fine", Cooper replied as the oldest. "Are you okay too?"

"Now, yes." Laura turned around and looked at Elijah. "How are we proceeding now?"

"We're going to my hiding place", Elijah replied calmly. "Just out of curiosity, what did you do with the car?"

Laura smirked. "I parked it with the cars that go into the scrap press. With a little luck, it will be scrapped before anyone comes up with the idea to check the junkyards."

"A brilliant idea! I'll definitely borrow it next time when I get the chance", Elijah said dryly.

Laura grinned slightly. She didn't want to ask on what occasions Elijah would do that. She turned around again and only then did she really notice the child seat. "Do you always have a child seat with you?"

Now it was Elijah's turn to grin. "No, I just borrowed Hope's."

Laura looked worried. "What if their parents need it?"

Elijah shrugged disinterested. "Then they will simply buy a new one."

Laura looked around the car. Like the Bentley she had last seen Elijah in, it clearly belonged to the higher price range. "You know you have to get rid of this car when this is over?"

"I am aware of that, but it is not a problem for me. After I have disposed of it, nobody will be able to trace it back to me or my family", Elijah replied calmly.

"I wouldn't underestimate Hydra or the government, Elijah", Laura said seriously.

"I don't", Elijah replied just as seriously. "But I have a lot of experience in covering up my tracks and those of my siblings, who are a little more hot-headed than me."

"Are you an agent like my dad?" asked Cooper, who was interested in this previously unknown friend of his father's.

"No, I'm more of a freelancer", Elijah replied kindly. "I met your father in New York and we were able to help each other out."

"He saved Clint's life", explained Laura, who wanted her children to trust Elijah.

"Oh", said Cooper, very impressed with this information.

"But your father also helped me. I owe him something too."

"And what happens with us if your debt is paid?" Cooper asked bluntly.

"Cooper!" Laura was appalled at this rudeness.

Elijah just laughed, amused and impressed by the boy's candour. "It's okay, Laura!" He looked at Cooper in the rear-view mirror. "Debts I owe or rather, promises I give are a very personal matter for me. Your father never asked me for anything. I will not let you down and leave you in the middle of everything because I consider my debt settled. Whatever I start, I will always finish it!"

"I can understand why my mother likes you", said Lila cheerfully.

Surprised by this statement, Elijah looked at Lila this time. "I like her too!"

Now it was Laura's turn to be surprised. She had previously assumed that Elijah had only stood by her because of Clint.

Elijah saw it at her and smiled slightly. "I rarely have only one reason for my actions. And I have a habit of developing attachments to certain people. Call it a by-product!"

Laura knew that Elijah was alluding to his age. She could understand that a thousand year old vampire was looking for ways to make the passing of the decades bearable for himself. And Elijah didn't give the impression that he was flighty in his attachments.

Now the ice between Elijah and her children was broken and they began to pester him with questions.

Laura was amused at how Elijah managed to strike the right balance between the truth and a desire not to tell her children too much. And she was impressed with the patience with which he answered the questions.

They were now on the freeway, which made Laura a little uncomfortable. Clint had always said that if she wanted to go into hiding, she should stick to the back streets. "How much longer are we on the freeway?" She finally asked nervously.

"Not long, in a few miles we come to a large motorway junction, after that no one will be able to follow us", answered Elijah, who had always remained vigilant despite the children's questions. Another advantage of his age, he was very good at multitasking.

"Good", Laura muttered.

"Children, there is a small refrigerator between you, there are drinks in there", said Elijah suddenly. Laura looked at him worried, but Elijah just grinned and gently shook his head. "Unfortunately there is only water and soft drinks in it. I didn't think of bringing milk." Elijah looked a little embarrassed but he was amused by the relief on Laura's face. She had feared that there was blood in the refrigerator too.

Laura just laughed. "Good to see that you forget things too", she teased him amicably. "Do not worry! Everything I need for him is in Nathaniel's emergency bag." She hesitated. "But if we have to go underground for longer, it won't be enough."

"Everything is taken care of, you'll see", Elijah simply replied.

Cooper handed a bottle water to his mother. "What do you want to drink, Elijah?"

"Water, please", answered Elijah.

Cooper gave his mother another bottle of water, which Laura opened for Elijah.

"My Thanks." Elijah emptied the water with long gulps.

They were now back on the back streets, but the street signs told Laura that Elijah didn't take a direct route to whatever their destination was.

What Laura noticed, however, was that the estates were getting bigger and more posh. She looked questioningly at Elijah, who just grinned again.

Finally they turned into a driveway that was closed by a large gate. Elijah stopped and rolled down the window. A few seconds later the gate opened and Elijah drove on.

Lila was excited when she saw that there were horses standing in paddocks. "Horses", she said delightedly.

"I think I can organize riding lessons for you", Elijah said amused.

After fifteen minutes they arrived at a large mansion. The front door was open and an elderly lady was standing on the stairs.

"This is Shana, she is my housekeeper. Just tell her what you need. She will get you everything without causing a stir", Elijah explained.

Elijah stopped in front of the door and got out. "Give me a moment so I can see that everything is okay", he said quietly.

Before Laura could answer Elijah had closed the car door.

"Is everything prepared, Shana?" Elijah asked the witch who worked for him and looked after this property.

"As you ordered, my Lord", replied Shana respectfully.

"Thank you. Is the security of my guests guaranteed?"

Shana smiled grimly. "Anyone who enters this property without my permission will meet some very unpleasant surprises, my Lord."

"Very good! And please don't call me 'My Lord' in front of the children! That could raise questions that I don't want to answer. Laura knows who and what I am, so you can speak freely in her presence. She has also rudimentary knowledge of the supernatural. What you want to tell her, is your decision."

"That's good to know!" Shana hesitated for a moment. "What if there is an attack?"

Elijah smiled grimly. "The safety of Laura and the children is my top priority. If something happens to them, you'd better have a damn good explanation for it."

Shana swallowed hard, the implicit threat clearly recognizable to her. "I hear and understand, Mylord!"

Elijah saw that Shana understood his message and turned to the car. He waved encouragingly and the doors opened.

Laura got Nathaniel out of the car and was pleased to see that the children had lined up properly and were patiently waiting.

Elijah took over the introduction. "This is Shana. Shana, may I introduce Laura Barton and her youngest son, Nathaniel to you. This is Cooper and Lila, her other children. They will be living here for the next future."

"Welcome to Sunnydale Manor", Shana greeted her guests politely.

Laura's mouth twitched amused at the name. "Really, Elijah?"

Elijah smiled boyishly. "It seemed fitting to me!"

Laura shook her head in amused disbelief.

"Go in, children. Rooms have been prepared for you on the first floor", Elijah said in a friendly manner. The children rushed into the house excitedly and the adults heard them pounding up the stairs.

"I'm afraid, Shana, that the next few months will be a little louder for you than you are used to." Elijah looked ruefully at her.

"I'm looking forward to it", Shana said truthfully. It was a little lonely out here at times. She held out her hand to Laura. "I am a witch and I work for Elijah. I am also responsible for your safety."

"Glad to meet you", Laura replied without batting an eye at this revelation and took her hand to shake it.

The two women had checked each other out and decided to like each other, which reassured Elijah.

Elijah smiled kindly. "Let's go inside! As I know Shana, she has already prepared a meal for you. We can eat and then we can figure out how to free your husband and Wanda out of jail."

Laura noticed that Shana remained completely unbothered by this statement. "That sounds like a good idea to me."

The three adults entered the mansion.