A/N: Please remember this is a made-up timeline and I've tweaked many facts to fit my story xx Alexis


I'm idly chatting to Elijah when I realise, dear God how have I never thought about it before? I thought I was observant, but geez I'm not! He's sitting in a ray of sunlight and there is no reaction, no sparkling like the Cold Ones! I thought he was like traditional vampires? Or am I mixing them up with Hollywood vampires?

"Elijah? A stupid question coming up! Why doesn't the sun affect you? I really never thought about it before but now I'm confused!" I say annoyed at myself,

"Ah, simple answer, it should, but this ring stops it happening. It's a daylight ring, our mother had them made for us all. Since then our offspring have gotten more friendly witches to make them some too. It's big money or a bargaining chip for them" he replies and I nod,

Yes, I've seen other's wearing rings or amulets with a similar blue stone, but some are elaborate and showy. Elijah's is simple and manly, it's not drawing attention to him or itself, it's subtle and refined like he is. That's what I like about him, his clothes are of the highest quality, yes, but they are subdued and not flashy. I know his watch is a Rolex, but it isn't slapping me in the face with its ostentatiousness. He is a man of good taste and knows quality speaks for itself, without being caked in diamonds or other precious gems. I like his way of life far better than the Cullens, not that all of them were like that, not Esme and Emmett anyway and definitely not Jasper.

Elijah rose from his seat and stepped into the shadow and removed his ring, I gasped out,

"Don't please; don't hurt yourself to show me!"

"It's alright Isabella, the sunlight can't kill an original, just burn us! But traditionals yes, they will disintegrate on contact" he assures me,

He holds his hand in the beam of sunlight for a moment and I see the burning begin. I can't stand it and jump to my feet pulling it clear and holding it tenderly as it just repairs itself. I'm shaking with anger, that he would purposely hurt himself just to show me!

"That was stupid, irresponsible and frightening!" I exclaim before bursting into tears,

Elijah pulled me into his arms; he was stroking my back and whispering how sorry he was over and over. But all I heard was that he called me sweetheart! It was so unexpected, but nice and kinda old-world like and I liked it. It was so him and not contrived at all, unlike Edward always calling me love. That was more for those who heard it than for me, one of his many false platitudes! I don't even mind Elijah calling me Isabella, because there is no censure or annoyance in his tone. In fact, it often sounds like a caress and I love it. He likes me just the way I am, he doesn't want me to change for him, he likes how I dress, how I speak and most importantly what I say.

As I calmed down I realised he was holding me so close I could hear his heart beating, slowly yes, but it was reassuring and calming to my frazzled nerves. God did he smell good too, I inhaled several times before I heard him chuckle. I didn't care and stuck my face in the crook of his neck and sniffed deeply. Now I could hear him growling, not in anger but pleasure and I shivered and felt myself getting aroused. This was new to me, yes I always wanted more from Edward, but in that High School girl type of way. This was so much more than that, this was more in a woman needs a man type of way. I knew in my heart even if my head had been slightly fighting it.

Elijah was it for me, no other man, vampire, shifter or werewolf could take his place in my heart and I was okay with it, really okay with it!

IOOH

I've been listenin' to Mary Alice make excuses for days now and it's wearin'. She seems to forget one small detail, we both have gifts. So her utter crap about bein' afraid I was tryin' to rule her life is just that, crap! The minute I made a decision way back in the beginnin', she'd have seen the result. I can also read her emotions and she's just lookin' for the easiest way out of this! So I decide to think about breakin' our bond and that does the trick, she's all over me beggin' my forgiveness. I walk away, my mind silent once again, we'll just keep doin' this until she finally gets it. But one thing she's not aware of is we will never be goin' back to how it was. Her days of limitless bank accounts are over. I have loads of money, that's not the point!

Peter has been keeping me abreast of things, thank God he told me to get a solar-powered charger for my cell. Elijah sounds like a good man, well vampire. Luckily he's not cocky like Damon, cause that would be all wrong for Bella. Damon is like Garrett, happy to play the field and not settle down or at least he was back then. It also looks like Edward's goose is finally cooked; he's no one to blame but himself. The cuttin' ties makes so much sense, how I didn't see it before is worryin'! But then how do you look for or understand somethin' you've never encountered before? But it will help me goin' forward, cause now I know what it feels like I'll recognise it again.

IOOH

Things at the house are strained, but not too bad. Carlisle was a little shocked about some of the changes, but they were Esme, his mate's changes. These are not mine, I'm more interested in the management of the coven and not the house and so should he be. But I am now beginning to see he doesn't actually know how to manage a coven and has never done it, that was Edward and then Alice and Edward together, using us to do the dirty works, especially Jasper. Rose is firmly on my side and it's time to take a stance, we can't let everything slide much longer. But I'm not doing it and letting him carry on pretending to be the leader; if I do the work, then I get the position.

It's not petty, there are benefits to being the leader and he isn't utilising them at all.

"So Carlisle, have you spoken to Jenks about future plans for I D's, now that Jasper is no longer part of the coven? Plus what's the scuttlebutt from Conrad in Greenland and Eleazar in Alaska?" I ask one evening as we are all sitting in the lounge,

"I, not yet Emmett, I've been a little distracted and isn't Conrad just Jasper's friend?" he replies and I cringe,

"No, he's Peter's friend, but whenever we were this close in the past, Jasper always got in touch, he's a contact! You know another set of eyes and ears to any danger heading our way" I say slightly short with him,

"Oh! I never questioned Jasper about security matters" he says totally missing the point,

"You what? The coven's leader never asked about coven business! What exactly did you do Carlisle?" I asked tersely,

"Emmett!" Esme said now,

"No Esme, it's a valid question! If Jasper dealt with security and Alice the finances. Plus Edward deciding where we lived and you arranging the moves what exactly is left? Because we were never asked to do more than the grunt work or our opinions sought! What exactly did you do Carlisle?" Rose asked sternly,

"I dealt with family matters and concerns," he says indignantly,

"Which family members concerns Carlisle? Not mine or Roses that's for sure! Never once did you ever ask me about anything pertaining to our old coven!" I demanded refusing to call it a family,

"I..., Well..., Edward said you weren't interested!" he blurted out and the room was silent for several seconds and then chaos,

IOOH

Everything is going smoothly between Isabella and me, we've been working on her shield a lot and now I'm taking her out for the day on Saturday. She's not into flashy shows of wealth so I won't embarrass her by doing anything over the top. I was thinking about a farmers market as there are many outside of New Orleans. Then lunch out in the countryside, sort of, off the cuff and this will be new for me too. I make a point of getting casual clothes and like how comfortable they seem. She's changing me without doing anything, I feel more relaxed. I also don't feel the need to control every single aspect of what's going to happen. This is just as well because I know that's something she hates because of him.

Marcel's tail is still following me when I leave the safety of Elizabeth's. He won't know that Isabella and I are more than acquaintances until Saturday! I haven't been pushing her, God knows I want to, but she's still in High School. I do plan to talk to her about drinking my blood just in case someone gets overzealous and she's hurt or killed. I need her to know I can't be without her and how much I desperately want her to transition if anything happens to her. I sense she is starting to have feelings for me and I want them to develop naturally. But is that possible due to what and who I am? Also, my biggest fear is someone from the family will turn up before she's ready to meet them.

If it is Rebekah we could deal with her, but if it's Klaus, God alone knows how he'd react! He could love her or loathe her, if it's the latter he will try to kill her, he's done it before to the others! His idea of family is him first and us occasionally depending on how thrawn and volatile he's being at that given moment! I love my brother, but if he tries to hurt Isabella I will kill him. He thinks he's the only one that has access to the White Oak stakes that can kill us or the daggers that can subdue us. He's wrong we all do, I made sure of that, he just doesn't know it! Granted I also gave them the ability to kill me, but I was holding to our pact of 'Always and Forever'.

I sometimes have wondered if it's worth it, immortality I mean. Now I've met Isabella I know it is! Half the time I just want to scoop her up and run, run away from anyone who can hurt us or separate us!

IOOH

My two brothers and I were sitting in Aro's study, Caius is, of course, pacing. While across the room Aro is predictably frowning and I feel the most tiny amount of pleasure. Why? Well, I've been vindicated, I knew allowing Carlisle Cullen to infect other's with his insipid doctrine would come back to bite us and it has! That fool out there cares for no one but himself and he expects us his leaders to just let him go about his business. That will never happen I will order his death myself, even if I must face Aro's ire later. But I sense my brother has found something disquieting in the boy's mind and it will tip things over into Caius and myself's lap. I wait patiently, eyebrow raised in Aro's direction.

"The boy, his thoughts! He seemed oblivious to the fact I was reading him, after a few moments. It was almost as if he disassociated his arm as his! Can vampires have memory lapses due to venom loss? Can they disown body parts?

Meanwhile, he was making his plans to use Isabella as his personal blood bag for the rest of her life! First, he realised she was a shield and could protect him, but the lure of her blood was too strong. He plans to keep her alive, but unconscious and hooked up to an IV for as long as she lives.

It's sickening; no it's disgusting even to a killer like me. He had no ties to her except her blood!" Aro huffs disheartened,

"Chelsea found nothing then, to use to tie him to us?" Caius asked and Aro shook his head,

"Then there is no recourse! He cannot leave and he cannot stay, he must die! Then you will inform Elijah it is done!" I say firmly and they both look at me and then slowly nod,

We return to the throne room after grabbing ourselves an aperitif. We were stunned to see that he, Edward is still lost in his own head, unaware he's dripping venom all over the floor. Therefore when Caius nods to Felix, he was able to tear Edward apart in just a couple seconds, due to no struggling. It was over so quickly and then his ashes were unceremoniously swept down the central drain. I feel as if it was all anticlimactic in the end. Thank God, another crisis averted! When will Aro learn? Never that's when!

IOOH

"Thierry, please inform Marcel that Elijah is on a date! A date with a human girl, who lives at Elizabeth's. I'll follow them as discreetly as I can, but I believe he knows I'm here. Oh, the witches are after the girl, but I don't know why!" said the guard I set to watch Elijah,

A date! A date with a human, why? What's he up to? I rush off to find Marcel, he's once again lurking around outside the witch's quarter!

"Marcel, Louis has contacted me. Elijah is on a date with a human!" I blurt out and he just stares at me,

"What? Why? Who is this girl, what do we know about her?" he demands now,

I explain all that Louis told me and he just shakes his head. So I walk back quietly with him, to the compound as he mulls this over and growls knowing that Elizabeth's is protected by old witch magic. We have been unable to search anywhere but the main floor of that place. Wards are in place in the basement and on the stairs that access the living quarters. Hell, we've had our own tame witches try and all have failed to break them. All Marcel remembers is this used to be Kol's hideout. So we can assume he would have had them use something unique and powerful. I've never known any of the Originals, but have had the full rundown about their treachery towards Marcel.

IOOH

"Is everything alright Elijah?" I ask concerned,

He seemed a little tense from the moment we left the confines of Elizabeth's. Are we being followed, watched? I have my shield up anyway; I want no surprise attacks to ruin our day.

"We have a vampire tail, one of Marcel's men I assume. He's been hanging around for a few days now" he says shaking his head and smiling at me,

"We're protected, so let's forget about them all and enjoy our day together," I say squeezing his hand as he helps me into a sleek dark car,

"Yes, you're quite right sweetheart" he replies visibly relaxing for me,

I had been so pleasantly surprised to see him in casual clothes this morning, not jeans of course, but slacks and a polo shirt. This showed off his arms and broad chest wonderfully and I was happy to see him more at ease. I was quite excited about our trip, where we were going I had no idea. But I wasn't upset or worried; it was a surprise, yes, but a planned surprise. That's the difference, I knew we were going out, just not where and I was content to wait and see. I assume it's all about the company you keep; Edward always annoyed me refusing to tell me anything or let me get ready myself. Whereas Elijah had said to wear something casual and comfortable.

I kind of guessed he wasn't a jeans type of guy, so I dressed in a classy casual manner and I was right. My tapered dress pants with flats and a colourful sleeveless silky top was the perfect choice. I felt good and managed it all by myself without any unwanted interference or caustic comments. I had on chunky beads and shades, with my hair up in a bun. Also carrying a big bag in case I bought anything. Elijah's eyes lit up when I met him at the top of the stairs and that was all the validation I needed. Teresa must have snapped our picture on her cell because it pinged when we were in the car with the photo. I smiled as I saw it and thought how good we looked together, not mismatched in the least.

I was beginning to see many things; it wasn't I didn't fit in with Edward, but that he and Alice kept me looking lacking. Making me wear things I wasn't comfortable in, it was cruel and unnecessary. But being with a man like Elijah was easy, he had dressed down and me up, meeting perfectly in the middle. I showed him the photo and he asked for a copy and that made my heart swell. Everything with him is so easy and I feel cherished, I feel important to him. Yes, that's the difference, Elijah wants to be with me, even needs to be. Whereas with Edward everything felt so forced and I often felt unwanted. He just kept me close so nobody else could get at me or should I say my blood!

The farmers market was great, I tasted cheeses, preserves, pieces of cooked beef on skewers and lots of barbeque sauce. We even found a small beer tent and had a small cupful. I bought a couple of jars of jam and marmalade. I was glad it was a Saturday as there would be no alcohol tomorrow. I was happily surprised nobody carded me, due to my new look and my companion. After an hour or so and a particularly juicy pear, we headed back to the car.

"Lunch first and then a craft fair afterwards, if you'd like Isabella?" Elijah enquired and I agreed that that sounded wonderful,

We occasionally caught sight of our tail; he was also enjoying the food. I also felt the pulse of my shield once. But it wasn't an attack and when I looked up the witch in question just nodded to me and carried on about her business. So it was true not all we bad or involved in the destruction of anything they didn't like or understand. Once outside of the city everything and everyone was much more relaxed. Lunch was absolutely amazing, we sat outside and enjoyed the sunlight and people watching, Elijah seems to be like me and enjoyed it. By the time we reached the craft fair, I had never felt more relaxed than I did right then. I was going to buy myself a shawl to protect my shoulders from any more sun.

"Let me, sweetheart, as a thank you for this perfect day!" he murmured in my ear,

How could I refuse after that, he knew just what to say to disarm me immediately. We stayed for a couple of hours and I was in heaven, walking along hand in hand with Elijah and feeling like a part of a couple for the first time ever. Elijah received a phone call after an hour or so and although he stepped away it wasn't far. He looked a cross between pleased and pissed off, but I heard nothing. That was until he thanked Aro for his call and I knew it was about Edward. I knew in my heart it could mean only one thing, his demise and felt bad, that I didn't care. Had I become heartless or was it more I was so relieved I wouldn't have to deal with him anymore.

"You okay sweetheart, I know you guessed what that was about?" Elijah asked talking my hand,

"Yes and no! I felt bad, that I don't feel bad and I am also so relieved that it's all over. But I don't want to leave New Orleans; I have no intention of going home to stay!" I said with conviction and he smiled widely at me,

"Would you join me in a glass of wine by the river, so we can talk?" he asked taking my hand and leading me back to the car,

I had seen him buying wine and cheese earlier at the farmers market and thought they were for himself later. Once we parked at the edge of the river he brought a cool box in from the trunk and opened the wine. Serving me a small glass, with some cheese, crackers and grapes. He was so thoughtful and even had serviettes too. It was perfect and I waited for him to gather his thoughts and start talking.

"I'll be blunt, you were correct Edward is dead. He had plans for you, that even Aro couldn't stomach! They could not keep him or let him go and truthfully you are safer off with him gone" he said taking my hand once again and rubbing his thumb back and forwards over my skin,

"What else Elijah? Somehow this was not meant to be about Edward, so what is it you want to tell me?" I asked and she smiled,

"Yes, my perceptive one. I want to talk to you about the future, our future!" he said glancing up at me through his lashes and my heart did a little flutter, "I want, no I need you to start consuming my blood! I can't promise to always keep you safe, only a fool could think that they would be there every hour of every day!

But if you drink my blood you will return to me. Is this selfish of me? Hell yes! But I just found you and I refuse to lose you to something as onerous as death! You can have it in your food or in your drinks. You could also drink it straight from the source, me!

I am begging you, sweetheart, please don't leave me. I need you, but mostly because I love you!" he said with such conviction I could do anything but believe him,

I was just staring at Elijah, taking in every nuance, everything that made him, him. I knew I loved him and I knew I would drink from him. The thought of doing it from the source actually made me feel aroused. I could see us together intimately, sweat covering our bodies and pants and grunts leaving our mouths before we both started drinking from each other as we climaxed together. I saw he was at first worried by my silence, but as my thoughts raced to the gutter he could tell I was beyond turned on and a smile started to grace his face.

"Yes, I love you too Elijah. I have for a while now and yes, I will drink your blood. I want...," My words failed me there, but he knew,

"You want us to drink together, while I make love to you! You want us to orgasm with each other's blood on our lips. You want to bury your teeth in my neck as I bury myself in your willing body!" he growls as he pulls me across the car into his lap,

I'm straddling his lap and feel exactly what the thought of this does to him as his lips crash into mine. I can't help but grind down on him and feel him push up into me. The kiss deepens as his hands run across my skin under my top and I moan loudly. He's kissing, nipping licking my skin and I grind down again, chasing that elusive feeling coursing through my body. I watch in fascination as he draws a line with his nail on his neck and the blood rushes to the surface. I lean in a lick it quickly and moan even louder at the pure essence of him on my tongue. Elijah guides my head to the cut and while I suck the skin into my mouth he pushes his erection upwards and I feel his fingers pull don't the zip of my pants.

I'm groaning and seeking relief as his hand slips inside and his finger swipes some of my juices up and his thumb starts rubbing small circles on my clit, he's also groaning and pushing himself harder and faster against me. The second his teeth pierce the skin behind my ear I explode into a million pieces slamming myself down on him and take him with me. That was intense and beyond my wildest dreams. Jesus, we hadn't even taken our clothes off, I can only imagine how much better this will get when we're naked. I sigh happily and it's only as I calm down I realise how wet I am and he is too. I feel embarrassed for a moment until he lifts my chin and kisses me gently saying,

"Thank you, that was amazing and you have never looked more beautiful than when you fell apart in my arms!"