Love Is A Losing Game
It takes more effort than Elena had assumed would be needed, but she finally has Kit inside the house. She had to promise her pizza and horror movies that, for all Elena had seen in life, still make her squeamish. Blood splashes across the screen as the heroine discovers yet another friend slaughtered by the masked killer. It's not the gore, but the rising panic in the final girl's face and the tension of improbable odds that bother her. That the girl is alone is enough to get under her skin.
"That's too much blood," Elena mutters when the killer side-steps the teenage babysitter and cuts her off at the staircase, slashing into her stomach. "No one has that much blood."
Kit turns, mouth agape. "You are so much cooler than I thought you'd be."
"Turn around. I'm never going to get your hair brushed out if you keep moving." She sounds stern, but Elena glows inside with Kit's approval. She's over halfway finished. One section of Kit's hair is secured in a French braid tight to her scalp while Elena patiently works out the knots and matts on the other side of her head, a bowl of warm soapy water sits next to them in case of an emergency.
Elena contemplates insisting on the other children coming inside with their parents. She's sure that rooms could be converted though convincing their parents might be difficult if Kit was any indication. "Are you almost done?" She winces when Elena tugs at a particularly tough knot
"I can go slower if you like?" Elena asks, holding her palm pressed to Kit's head to soothe the pain. The teen grumbles, taking another bite of cold pizza. They'd been at this for approximately four movies in this particular never-ending slasher series. "We should go to the mall with Rebekah soon. You'll need new clothes for school."
"What? No! You never said anything about going to school. I won't go!" Kit shrieks and scrambles to her feet, outraged at the idea of high school. "What do I need with school anyway?"
"It's good for you. You need your diploma and education is important. Socializing with kids your own age." Oh god, why does she sound like her mom?
"Socialization? I'm a werewolf, Elena. I don't need to make friends. And it's not as if I'm going to go to college and get some desk job." Kit circles the room, looking a bit like a caged animal trapped in a corner.
"You don't know what you'll want until you try. You've only got a few years left. You don't want to look back and regret missing out on anything!" Her voice raises, she can't help but meet the challenge in Kit's eyes.
"A waste of my life!" The argument begins to feel like that first year with Jeremy after they lost their parents, but Elena has more experience now and isn't about to back down from a kid.
Klaus watches from outside the door of the guest room that Elena has now claimed for Kit. His smile widens when Elena slowly stands, using the new bed to help herself up. He's glad she hasn't seen him yet because he's sure she wouldn't appreciate how entertained he is by her attempt at an authoritative tone.
It's been a week since he found out about Hayley, not that he entirely believes the wolf or his gullible brother. Elijah's soft heart would be their family's downfall one day. A week filled with turning the hybrids and a week of avoiding Elijah. A week of Elena doing her best to bond with Kit and gaining inches with her while Klaus watches with pride over how she's established herself within the pack. A week of doing his best to will himself into a world where he didn't have to deal with Hayley's little timed bomb, one she'd conveniently left behind on her way out of town.
"When will you tell her, Nik?" Rebekah hasn't let any of this go, following him around all day pestering him ever since she found out. Wisely, they've all left Kol and Finn out of the secret.
"Soon, Rebekah. Soon, I promise. I can't do it now." Klaus turns, walking down the hall away from Kit's room in case Rebekah raises her voice.
"And why not? Because of the hybrids?" She tails him easily. Giving up was never something she did easily.
"No, not because of them. Because…she's happy. She's happy and who am I do ruin it?" He tries to shut her out of his room, but her foot wedges the door open.
"The man who slept with another woman and created this entire situation." Her face peaks through the opening. "I'm guessing this isn't exactly how Elena wanted to find out her son would be having a little brother or sister." Rebekah leans her weight against the door, and he gives up.
"Why are you hounding me!" He swings the door open again, pleased to see Rebekah stumbling past him.
"Because someone needs to, and Elijah is content to sweep this aside as long as he doesn't have to answer for his role in covering up this secret." She follows him down the stairs. "You need to tell her Nik before she finds out. It will only get worse the longer you wait." Down the hall. "That's a lesson you've taught me well." Past the library. "Over and over."
Rebekah must have decided that Klaus had enough because she leaves him alone, standing in front of his studio door. He knows what he has to do, sees it in the way the newly turned hybrids and the eager wolves look to him for leadership. Hears it in the way Elijah's voice pitches slightly higher when he sees Elena. Knows in his heart that Rebekah is right but desperately wants to avoid disappointing her.
He's infinitely worried that this will crack a fissure through them that is beyond repair.
His studio is lit in the soft blue light of the moon, inside this room is one of the few places he feels beyond reproach. One of the few places he can let the mask fall enough so he can comfortably breathe. Paintbrushes left out to dry litter his table. It's been too long since he was able to get enough time alone for this. Between the hybrids and Elijah's betrayal, he'd been neglecting his reinvention of the painting Elena had destroyed.
He'd chosen cool tones before but went with warmer colors now, a fiery palette. She'd been looking over her shoulder, off in the distance and not at anything in particular. Now, he was painting her head on, looking straight at him as he worked.
This way, he can't escape anything.
That night, Elena goes to bed without him. He works until the early morning hours, interrupted only when he hears Tyler waking the new hybrids up for more mandated training. Klaus staggers his way back to bed, grateful for Elena's newly formed habit of sleeping in until mid-morning. He curls himself up behind her, cradling her in his arms and burying his face in the crook of her neck. She smells like the vanilla of her shampoo but lately she's carried a hint of the forest on her. She moves against him; her leg wraps around his as she pulls him closer.
He trails slow kisses up her neck, hoping she might wake up. Praying, but her breathing remains deep and steady, so he settles into sleep, content with just being with her.
He refuses to live without this.
She's looked everywhere in their room, the kitchen, and the library. Even the backyard, but no matter how hard Elena searches, her laptop just won't show up. She paces in front of the only room she hasn't checked yet - Kit's room. She picks at the edges of her lips, caught in an argument between the girl she used to be and the present-day woman. Unfortunately for Kit, the teenage Elena's voice isn't as obstinate as it used to be, and she walks into her room.
She does her best not to open or move anything that seems too personal. Though curiosity is a siren song and she desperately wants to connect with Kit, she resists old compulsions. Finally, with some difficulty, she finds the laptop left haphazardly between the bedframe and an end table.
"What are you doing in here?" Elena nearly bumps her head against the sharp edge of the table when she swivels toward the open door. "You told me this was my room. You were the one who demanded I live inside."
"I'm not sure I'd use the word demanded. More like heavily insisted." Her confidence shatters by being caught.
"Whatever, you promised privacy. Told me I deserve it."
"And you do."
"Well, this is a fucking weird definition of privacy." Kit takes a certain, almost aggressive step into the room, stopped only by Klaus's hand firmly gripping her arm. "What the hell? Get off me!"
"Klaus," Elena reprimands, still stunned on the floor with her laptop forgotten in her hands. "It's fine. Let her go."
"Don't be fooled, Elena. Even small wolves have tempers." He holds her easily against his chest, unbothered by her struggles.
"Yeah! When someone is messing with my stuff!"
"Is this yours?" Elena holds up the laptop, slowly getting up to her feet.
Kit freezes in Klaus's grasp. "I wanted to watch videos. This TV doesn't have the internet."
"Look, I don't mind you using it and if you need one then I'm sure we can discuss that. But you can't take things that don't belong to you and also expect your privacy. Those two can't exist at the same time. If you need to borrow anything of mine, ask. That's all I expect. Just be honest with me and you'll have my respect, including your privacy. Deal?"
"Yeah, fine." Kit pushes past both of them, laying on the bed trying to look casual and not embarrassed. "You guys can go," she dismisses them with an impressive eye roll.
Klaus closes the door behind them, irritated and Elena turns to him, leaning her forehead against his chest. "I don't know when I turned into my mom," she mumbles into his shirt and then leans back in his arms to look up at him. "How am I supposed to do this?" She doesn't have to clarify for him, that anxiety of not feeling like enough already a shared feeling between them.
"You did admirably, Elena. Truly. Impressive." Her smile unravels his secret, hidden and locked away. "Though, I'd suggest securing your possessions to avoid unpleasant conversations in the future."
"A password," she giggles, more from exasperation than humor. "You're thinking of a password." She pats his chest before standing up on her toes to kiss his cheek. He watches her walk away, hating how he holds a truth that would come crashing down around her laughter if he were to tell her.
Her sleeping pattern has been off lately. When they met, she was an annoyingly early riser, but Klaus has noticed her increasingly frequent afternoon naps, sometimes lasting hours, and how often she creeps out of their bed as if he won't notice her absence. As if he isn't so attuned to her at this point that he can feel the air changing when she's gone. Tonight is no different. She's adjusted positions with a frustrated sigh for the last half hour and finally she swings her legs out from under the covers and sneaks out of the room.
The only thing different about tonight is eventually Klaus follows her.
He'd always left her alone before, not wanting to bother whatever it is she needs to do. It's only ever for a few hours and then, much in the same way she leaves, she comes back to him. But tonight, with Rebekah's voice buzzing in his head, he seeks her out.
He heads straight to the library though he's surprised to find her watching something instead of reading. Herr laptop is propped up on her legs precariously. "I'd wondered what it was you were doing at night." She fumbles the computer, alarmed to see him appear in the doorway. Before it can hit the ground, Klaus rushes to her side to grab it mid-fall. "Breaking this is one way to stop Kit from borrowing it, but I think your password idea is more practical."
She tilts her head to look at him and Klaus can imagine her giving his son a similar look, amused disapproval. He helps her to sit and then situates himself between her legs, his hands hold onto her waist as if she were a life raft. He's been drowning all week under the weight of Elijah's revelation. Rebekah pushing his head under water each time she berates him and holding her like this, a little desperate and a little too tight, he thinks he's ready to summon the courage.
A deep breath and then another and the words refuse to come out. His jaw clenches and lips part several times but the truth is stuck. "Klaus? What's going on?"
He leans his head down, whispering to her bump. "I'm afraid, love. It's not something I enjoy admitting especially to you. But I am."
"What are you afraid of?" He won't look at her, refuses when she tries guiding his chin to look at her. "Klaus, what the hell is going on?"
"I've been imagining my world without you in it all week and of all the enemies I've made, I've never known fear like this before."
"You don't need to worry about that, Klaus."
"I do. Elena love, I have been chasing after you long before you were born and never did I think I'd be the one when I should have been thrown back."
She runs her hands through his hair, needing to communicate to him the depth of her love. He's spiraling and she's worried that words aren't enough. "I won't get rid of you."
"You once told me that you loved old architecture in the city because you could know where you are just by looking. When I look at you, I know where I am. Firmly and unmistakably, you are my marker guiding me home and I'm afraid because I can't bear to be lost again."
"What is going on?" The worry has her face shaky no matter how hard she'd tries to sound forceful.
"Would you marry me, Elena? If I asked, would you? Would you stay with me forever?" The question isn't one she'd been expecting to have to answer when she snuck out of bed to watch re-runs until she fell asleep and she's too unprepared to do anything else besides gawk at him. He needs her to reassure him, often more than anyone else she'd ever met, but she can't help him tonight. She's too nervous, scared by the slightly deranged way he's holding onto her hips and thighs like she might disappear in front of him.
"Klaus…" It's the way his face trembles, the façade of control crumbling into tears he refuses to let fall, that scares her the most.
"I don't want to lose you and I don't want to lie to you, but if I tell you the truth then you'll have every reason to leave and I'm not sure I would let that happen." She's relieved when his face falls into her lap, she's no longer unnerved by the wild, uncontrollable look in his eyes. "You were right. Elijah was keeping secrets, but he alleviated himself of that burden and it's been mine to carry." His back shudders when she reaches out to him. "Hayley is pregnant. She'd promised Elijah to…resolve her situation if he found a way to convince me out of my hybrids."
She's silent for so long that Klaus chances a glance up at her, overwhelmed by his need to know what she's thinking. She's blank, impassive. He's afraid to speak, to break this spell on her because the closer she is to talking, the closer he might be to losing her. If he stays quiet, he thinks, maybe they can stay quiet together forever. But she clears her throat, and the magic of an undecided moment is gone.
"I'm assuming with your baby if you're bothering to tell me all this." He nods ever so slightly, enough for her. "And he made a deal with Hayley? Why?" He'd been expecting anger, outrage, and tears. Her questions have him looking up at her, baffled.
"I cannot fathom his reasons for conspiring with her behind my back."
"Why did he tell you now? Was it before or after you got rid of her?"
"After. He wants my help. Hayley went to New Orleans and while my enemies are plentiful, they are especially numerous in the Crescent City. Elijah received word that the Quarter witches are holding Hayley hostage and Elijah came to me then."
"So, he only told you once Hayley was in trouble."
"And the child."
"No…if he cared about that, he would have told you sooner." She's contemplating, plotting and this is why he loves her. At their core, they are more similar than they are different. "But he didn't. He waited until he needed a favor from you."
"You aren't angry?"
"About the baby?" She's lost again, looking not at him but at a point somewhere between them. He likes her face better when she's working out a puzzle or putting together a strategy. "No, not angry. Devastated. Destroyed. And still, I can't help but think about Bonnie forcing you to stay in wolf form for three days and Damon compelling me not to reach out for you. To stay away from you. You found my notes and saw me. You came to Paris. And then Elijah hiding me away in London when you caught us in Venice. You've always sought me out no matter how absurd the situation. No matter who was in your way, you always look for me. Only when you get in your own way do you stop seeing me."
"What are you saying, Elena."
"That this might be the most ordinary problem we've ever had. And that says a lot about us, but people deal with issues like this more often than living your life on the run from a homicidal hybrid and falling in love with him instead. I've always had an unconventional family. I guess, our son will too, and I have to be okay with that. White picket fences and PTA meetings were never in my future. I stopped dreaming of that a long time ago."
"Then you're alright with it all?"
"No. I hate it. I hate that she's also having your kid. I hate that I have to share you in this way that you can never take back. I hate you for not being careful and tying her to us forever. As much as I hate it all, I'll be damned if I let it destroy my family. Not even you have the power to do that." He's relieved, resting his arms on her knees and looking up at her in the moonlight in admiration. "We should turn the rest of the wolves before the full moon. Accelerate the plans and get them up to speed. Send the wolves first with Tyler and Elijah."
"I can go with Elijah alone."
"No, I don't trust him anymore. I trust Tyler and I trust the wolves. We will send them together, so Elijah still thinks we have faith in him. And then, when they've set themselves up, we will go to the city together."
"No, love, I will not allow you to put yourself in harm's way for Hayley."
"Not her, for my son's brother or sister. For him, I'd do anything."
"We can rescue her and the child without you being there. The Quarter witches harbor ill intent for me and those I love, and I can't allow you to get hurt."
"Then don't." He's never seen this steely resolve of hers, he shivers thinking what she might do if that look ever got turned towards him. "I love you, but you won't do this without me. I don't trust Hayley and I can't trust Elijah's judgement right now. You can't go to New Orleans without me looking out for you."
"It used to be my city, but I was forced to abandon it. I'm worried that the years haven't been kind to my reputation there. My absence may have emboldened my enemies against me. I can only promise you uncertainty and danger." The prospect of danger brings a healthy flush to her cheeks, and he bites his lip, eyeing his mark on her neck.
"You and I will take back the city together. We will rescue Hayley and the baby. We will knock some sense into Elijah. For our son."
"Are you still making considerations for his name?"
Throughout the conversation she'd given him many looks; sad, vengeful, calculating, hateful, confused, enraged. But she smiles at him now for the first time since he caught her laptop, now forgotten on the floor. "It's kind of silly, but I was thinking Henry Jeremiah. The middle name is old-fashioned, but people hardly use those anyway and I was thinking it would be a perfect way to honor both of our brothers."
She's talking in that anxious way of hers, words spilling over into one another. He leaps up to hover above her, kissing her into silence. "You honor me," he tells her, lips brushing against hers, "in ways I do not deserve."
No one can escape the family dinner Klaus insists on the next day. Not even Finn and when he pivots and tries to invite Bonnie, Klaus firmly objects to the notion. "Family, Finn. Family," he scowls as if his brother should have known. Elena pulls him away from Finn to relax with her on the couch, a move that eases the tension between both brothers. Relax being a relative term as he makes call after call to organize last minute but necessary arrangements, he tells her in between frustrated requests to faceless people.
"If only compulsion worked through the phone. My life would be infinitely easier. Modern technology saves humanity in ways they don't even realize." Elena responds only by leaning her head against his shoulder and turning the page of her paperback novel.
The only person in the house more anxious about the dinner than Klaus is Elijah. He's already tried to interrupt Klaus on the phone three times since he gathered the family in the foyer and requested, they show up on time and in their finest clothes. "Rebekah do try to find something appropriate for Finn," he'd looked his oldest brother up and down scathingly.
Each time he walks in the room, Klaus holds up a finger while he finishes up the call and Elena takes a moment to observe Elijah's tight posture and his anxious eyes, flitting from Klaus to her and then back again. She enjoys knowing more than Elijah thinks she does and even more so when he's clearly stressed about the importance of the gathering tonight. Klaus never makes these sorts of plans without an announcement or worse, a power move, behind the evening.
Still, no matter how often Elijah tries to pry the reason for the family dinner out of Klaus, he never gets a satisfactory answer.
"Isn't it enough to want quality time with my siblings?" That has never been enough, Niklaus.
"Can't I merely want to have a simple meal with my family?" You've never merely wanted anything so simple.
"Would it please you greatly to know my plans for the evening?" You know it would.
Klaus stares at him long enough, an unreadable yet delighted expression on his face, until finally Elijah leaves for the eighth time that day.
"You're enjoying taunting him."
Klaus looks away from the open door to Elena. "As are you, love." He smiles at the small way her chin tilts up and her mouth curls into a quick smile before she settles back into a neutral expression. Quick, but it's all of an answer he needs to know he is right.
How he managed it, she'll never know but their dining room has been transformed with elaborate table settings, gold lined china that makes her nervous to eat off of. Antique candle holders circle the outside of the room, lit and glowing. They make it all feel more intimate, like a confessional. She used to think that he orchestrated all these moments guided only by the flair for the dramatic but has since come to appreciate how controlling the room begins for him long before he steps foot in the space. She appreciates even more what a lack of control for him looks like now.
"Good evening, I'm pleased you were all able to join us for dinner on such short notice." Klaus leads Elena down to a seat to his left. For the first time in so long, she actually feels close to elegant. Her hair done up in tight curls pulled away from her face. Klaus had laid a lacy burgundy gown on their bed that showed off her growing bump, plump breasts, and exposed shoulders. When she questioned him on when he'd bought this, he waved his hand and muttered, "Always be prepared, love."
"You didn't exactly give us much of a choice." Despite his words, Kol doesn't seem nearly as sour though Finn more than makes up for Kol's lack of commitment with the displeasure written all over his face.
To his credit, Klaus ignores the jab. Elena squeezes his hand and exchanges a glance to show her appreciation.
Dinner itself is delicious though tense as his siblings wait for the announcement in varying degrees of annoyance. The only one who seems content with not knowing is Rebekah, who keeps the conversation light with stories from school and her ruminations on where she'd like to go during winter break. Kol snipes occasionally but it is Elijah that has most of Elena's focus. She's never seen him so uncomfortable, adjusting his suit every so often even when it lays perfect on his body.
Finally, Elijah snaps out of his inner turmoil when Klaus stands up holding a stemless wine glass. For drama yes, but also to draw focus.
"I'm sure you are wondering why I asked for this dinner."
"Demanded," Kol corrects between sips.
"There is no delicate way to put this, and I regret even having to speak these words aloud." He gestures to Elena with the glass in hand. Elijah's eyes follow the movement and their eyes lock. "I never wanted to keep secrets. And as desperately as I want this problem to go away, it won't. Hayley is carrying my child as well it seems, according to Elijah who has been the wolf's confidant."
Again, he points with the wine glass, this time to Elijah. Their siblings' gazes follow suit and then slowly back to Klaus.
Rebekah is the only one mildly pleased, happy that she no longer has to hound her brother into telling Elena. Kol's eyes bounce from each of his brothers, endlessly amused by this bomb. Finn is the most disgusted and overwhelmed, stammering his disapproval into half-formed phrases.
"You filthy bastard…" "How could you dare…" "Ungrateful, careless…"
"I'll wait for you to compose yourself, Finn, before I listen to your criticism." Klaus holds his hand out for Elena, who takes it in full view of the rest. "I've apologized and we've discussed this already. On this matter, we present a united front."
Together, they look down the length of the table to Elijah, whose expression makes it abundantly clear this isn't how he'd thought events would unfold. Neither brother ever did well with being out of control, but they display it in such different ways. Elijah would hide as much of himself as possible and present a calculated face, though Elena had known him far too long to be fooled.
"How fortunate for us all that Elena is so understanding," he begins, picking his words carefully.
"Are you speaking for Klaus or yourself?" She hadn't spoken as much during dinner, too upset at the idea of Elijah keeping a secret for Hayley at her expense to engage in light conversation.
"For us all, Elena. For our family."
"Is that all?" Kol interjects, not understanding the fire simmering beneath Elena's question. "You called us all here to announce that you got the wolf pregnant?"
"Thank you, Kol, for bringing me back to the point. Hayley seems to have gotten herself into some trouble in New Orleans. Elena and I see an advantageous move in saving the Little Wolf."
"Let her get herself out of trouble," Kol snorts and Finn subtly nods in agreement.
"While I'd love nothing more than to ignore this issue, I cannot. You've accepted me as your brother, despite the ugly truth of my paternity rearing its head so long ago. I can't sit by and let misfortunate fall upon any child of mine regardless of their mother. I will raise them as full siblings as you've all regarded me."
"We are ramping up turning the wolves. Elijah and Tyler will take half of them and will disperse in the city," Elena begins to explain the plan they'd worked up the night before.
"I can go alone." Elijah is overeager to exclude them, the hybrids. Her.
"No, Elijah. Tyler and the hybrids will go with you. We care too much about you to let you go alone. Klaus and I will follow shortly with the rest of the hybrids." He'd never seen brown fire before but could see it in her eyes now. "I've been thinking for a while about relocating and while I don't like the situation, I do think it's opportunity to set sights on making a city our own and New Orleans seems just a good place as any."
"It was our city once and it will be ours again." Klaus raises his glass in a toast.
"Wait! You want us to move? Just as soon as I got settled in! I have friends, Nik!"
"You can make friends in New Orleans, Rebekah. There will be so much more for you do in the city. This is a gift. For all of you. It's my gift to you and I expect you all to accept it. Including you, Finn."
They finish dinner with a decadent chocolate cake and sporadic discussions of the move. Klaus continues to offer Rebekah advantages that New Orleans has over Mystic Falls. Kol shocks everyone by being generally congenial to the idea. Elena had assumed he'd be contrary to the idea just for the sake of it. Finn is lost between being pleased by the invitation and horrified by it.
With dinner over, successful considering no one stormed off, Elijah tries to pull Elena aside. His earnest, ardent expression almost works on her. It always had in the past, but she brushes him aside with an excuse of exhaustion and an empty promise to speak later. Klaus chases her heels with a triumphant, smug look to Elijah.
She'd expected Kol to put up the show of a fight and she was pleased that Rebekah was already coming around to the idea. Finn was quiet about the situation, though Elena wasn't worried about him. It was Elijah that concerns her.
Elena lived her life collecting few people along the way, being particular about who she loved. Her heart had claimed Elijah those early days in New York City when he brought her back to his penthouse and talked hours into the night. Even though the nature of their relationship had shifted understandably when she chose Klaus, she never thought she'd lose Elijah.
But the way he conspired with Hayley against Klaus, against their plan for the hybrids, against her had proved her wrong. She'd assumed Klaus would be the fissure in their foundation, not Elijah.
He'd said goodnight to her hours ago, promising to come to bed soon but soon was relative for a vampire. Soon stretched out too look for her human sensibilities. She'd waited patiently, listening to music, and scouring real estate around New Orleans. She'd written in her journal, done her best to expel her feelings, but it wasn't enough. Nights had begun to invigorate her in ways they hadn't before, and her patience had waned.
So, she wanders.
The house is quiet and dark save for the light peaking out from behind the cracks of the studio door, like a lighthouse beacon guiding her in a storm.
"Couldn't sleep love?" The paint on his fingertips could be blood. Might be. It's not anything she ruminates too hard on anymore. Elijah was the one who hid his true nature to protect her sensibilities, but Klaus never hid anything about himself from her. Brazenly, almost daring her to turn away from the horrors of who he is. Strangely, it comforts her.
"I have a lot on my mind."
"Come. Sit." He pulls a chair close to his and she leans into him, careful to match a line down their bodies. He nods toward his work in progress. "When I'm stuck, like I am now, I find it immensely helpful to take a step back to look at the issue as a whole."
"Is that supposed to be a metaphor?"
"Depends. Was it effective?" She rests her head on his shoulder, taking in the reds and deep purples of the canvas. "Perhaps I could be more helpful if you told me exactly what was plaguing your mind."
"I'm worried about Elijah. We were on the right track and Hayley is like rot in the roots."
"Are you implying that Elijah has been infected?"
"Hasn't he?" Her question doesn't need an answer. They hold a knowing look together and it's enough of a response.
"Do you blame me?"
"It's not about fault, Klaus. I'm worried about the future and Elijah's loyalty. I don't know that I can trust him, and I never thought he'd be someone I couldn't trust."
"You've known Elijah for ten years, but I've known him for hundreds. Occasionally, he may stray with some bad decision or another, yet he always comes home. He knows what's important and that's family. Always." He musses her hair, leaning in to kiss the side of her head. "Let me worry about casting doubt and unraveling in suspicions from every dark corner. You continue to open your heart. Don't let this change your nature."
They sit for a while without words, washed in the artificial light and watching how their hands fit together. Elena, absorbed in the progress of his painting, and Klaus in her. It's entirely different than the one she'd set on fire months ago though the subject is the same. She's the one ablaze in his latest rendition of her. Still at the beach but she isn't coyly looking away. She's facing him head on, flames licking off her skin as the sun sets behind her.
The depths of his feelings have her head swimming. His singular focus on her occasionally unsettling. "We never really had a chance to talk about what you asked me last night." A blank expression, slightly questioning, settles over his face. "When you asked if I would marry you. It didn't feel exactly like a proposal, but I still feel like we should talk about it."
"What exactly do you need to talk about?" She'd admire how easily he closes himself off to topics he'd rather ignore except she's the one trying to reach him.
"That it's an eventual yes, but not right now."
"Is it because of Hayley? Because I made this mistake?" His jaw clenches and she can hear his front teeth tapping against the bottom row. It purses in a way she finds appealing, but she can't kiss him yet.
"No, even if that weren't happening my answer would be the same. I would want more time regardless." He tries to withdraw his hand from hers, but she clings to him. Refusing to let him go. "I like where we're at and so much has been rushed already. You and I? We shouldn't be rushed. We deserve to take our time and I want to enjoy the time with you."
"You brought this up to tell me no?"
"I brought this up because you deserve to know where I'm at and I'm saying eventually forever." He tries to look away from her, but she stands to move in front of him. Giving him no way out.
"Eventually. Doesn't quite have the same ring as always and forever."
"Eventually is just another word for inevitable." Her arms wrap around his neck as she leans down and he responds with his hands gliding across her thighs to her waist, pulling her possessively in even as he pouts. "Both just require time and a little patience."
"I can be patient." He licks his bottom lip, his voice sinfully low and the word takes on a delightfully seductive connotation.
"Can you?" She dares him, balancing on tiptoes against his chest with her face just above his.
"For you," he promises with his hands exploring the curve of her ass. He finds her hot and wet, pulling her closer and bending over in the same motion, "It will become a virtue." Between his breathe warm on her neck and his hand between her legs, her eyes flutter, and her pulse races.
Afterwards, they lay under the rough tarp he lays down to protect the wood floor and she makes a mental note to make sure every room of their new home at least has a couch.
A/N: This chapter is basically that joke about writing Happy Birthday on a banner and running out of room but in reverse. I thought these last two chapters would be smaller than the rest and now I'm worried about the last one. I guess I just had a lot to say/wrap up/set up. Thanks for reading!