Author's Note: Hey y'all, I'm sorry it has taken me this long to get this chapter out. I have no idea why, but I just couldn't get this chapter the way I wanted it. I'm not sure if I'm completely happy with it, still. Let me know what you think.

I DO NOT OWN VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS.

Chapter Three:

I groaned when sunlight forced its way underneath my eyelids.

"It's too fucking early." I mumbled.

"Rise and shine, Bonnie!" Caroline sang. I moaned and stuck my head back underneath my pillow. "You have to get ready for your big date!" She squealed.

"What time is it?" I whined.

"It's almost noon."

"Care, I'm so tired." I complained. "Why are you even awake?" I asked her. She chuckled and lifted my pillow off of my face.

"Because I want to help you get ready and I am going to make you look drop-dead gorgeous." She exclaimed. I giggled. "Come on – you're burning daylight."

"I'm up." I told her, crawling out of bed. "But, you have to tell me what's going on with you and Klaus." I stared at her, expectantly. "Talk to me while I shower." I told her. She nodded. I pulled off my pajamas and turned on the water. Caroline waited outside, while I waited for the water to heat up. I hopped in the shower. "It's safe!" I yelled.

"There is nothing going on between us. I'm pining over Matt." She revealed.

"That's not what it looked like."

"Bonnie, that's just business. I'm not going to say 'no' to someone who is paying me good money to dance for them."She poked her head into the shower door. I snorted.

"As long as it stays that way."

"I don't plan on it changing. Matt is Matt. And I've known him forever, and he's who I want. I'm not the type to string along two guys. You know that."

"I'm not judging you or saying you have to pick Matt, but I just want you to be careful. Everything I've heard about Klaus makes him sound like a player. And from the sounds of it, Katherine is going to go after any Mikaelson she can get her hands on." I told her.

"I know that, Bon. And why doesn't that surprise me? She only wants a man whenever someone else is interested. Go figure. I'm going to go look through your closet. I'll be back." She disappeared. I washed my body and started on my hair. I zoned out, fantasizing about Elijah. "I'm back!" She announced.

I chuckled and finished shaving. I turned off the water and grabbed my towel. I pulled the shower door open and wrapped the towel around myself. I wrapped my hair with a towel and started drying off.

"You're going to love it." Caroline gushed. I laughed.

"I'm sure I will." I smiled at her.

"But first, I'm going to make coffee. I'll give you time to primp before I beautify you." She sang. I shook my head as she left. I went to grab my phone and went back into the bathroom. I pulled on my robe and took a seat at the big vanity that Care and I share. I plugged in my blow-dryer and started drying my hair. When my hair was nice and soft and started rubbing leave-in conditioner through it, helping the waves fall together. I jumped when my phone started to chime. I have a text from Elijah. I smiled and opened it.

'Good morning, beautiful. I trust you've slept well. I'm looking forward to spending the day with you.

All my affection,
Elijah'

I can feel butterflies going crazy in my stomach. Can he get any sweeter? He's so old-fashioned – I love it.

'Morning, handsome. :) I slept alright. I'm a little tired. So, I'm yours for the day?
-Bonnie'

I stood up and started to lather lotion on my body. I took extra time, making sure my body was silky smooth. I went back to my room and saw the outfit Caroline laid on top of my bed. It's perfect for the breezy, fall weather out. She set out a royal blue and black, three-quarter length blouse with a zipper accent on one of the shoulders, a black skirt with suspenders that falls just past mid-thigh, black stockings, black leather, flat-soled boots that come up just past my knee, a silver cuff bracelet, skull stud earrings, a black clutch and my leather jacket.

"Do you approve?" She asked me from the doorway, holding two mugs of coffee.

"I do. You're the best – thank you." I beamed.

"Of course, now get dressed and I'll finish your hair." She demanded. I can already see it; she's going to be an awesome mom one day. I discarded my robe and put on a matching black lace bra and boy shorts panties set. My phone started ringing. I glanced at the Caller ID and saw it was Elijah. I still have a little over an hour before he's due to pick me up. I hope he's not coming early. I'm not even dressed yet. I cleared my throat before answering.

"Hello Mr. Mikaelson," I breathed.

"Good afternoon, Miss Bennett," he responded in kind. I can just see the corners of his mouth turning up.

"What's up?" I asked, lamely. He chuckled.

"The sky, I should hope."

"Is that the reason you're calling?" I asked him. I set my phone on speaker and put it on my bed, so I could finish getting dressed.

"I was calling to make sure we are still planning on two o'clock." He sounds almost nervous. He's always being so self-assured.

"Of course," I smiled. "I'm actually in the middle of getting dressed, as we speak."

"Oh, pray tell."

"You'll just have to wait and see."

"Not even a picture of the finished product?"

"Where would be the fun in that?"

"You have a point, Bonnie." My name melted off of his tongue. Goddess, the things that man does to me… I swooned.

"I normally do." I teased. He chuckled.

"Very well, I will let you return to getting ready. Would you mind texting me your address?" He asked.

"I'll text it as soon as we hang up." I promised.

"Thank you. I will see you soon. Goodbye."

"Bye." I hung up. Even over the phone, he gives me butterflies. I don't know how I'm going to be able to contain myself while we're out. I pulled on my stockings and boots, followed by my shirt and skirt. I put in my earrings and slipped the bracelet over my hand. I grabbed my phone and sent him my address.

"Ready?" Caroline asked me, handing me coffee. I nodded and followed her into the bathroom. I sat down in front of the vanity and Caroline started putting loose curls into my hair. She pinned most of it back and to the side. It's an up-do that I would never be able to pull off of my own.

"Thank you." I sang.

"Don't mention it. That's what I'm here for." She smiled. She sat next to me and we drank our coffee. I blotted my face with foundation and played up my eyes, opting for minimal make up. He's already seen me practically naked with makeup caked on my face. It's time to show him normal Bonnie, not stripper Bonnie. I looked over at Caroline when I finished, seeking her approval. She nodded and spritzed me with body spray.

"What would I do without you?"

"Cry and probably die from boredom?" She suggested. We snickered and headed downstairs. I grabbed my purse and phone. I slipped on my jacket. He should be here any minute. Right on cue, the doorbell rang. I faced Caroline for a last minute once over.

"How do I look?" I asked her.

"I'd do you." She shrugged. I giggled. "You look gorgeous." She assured me, before unlocking and opening the front door. I stood behind her. Elijah looks amazing. He's in a black suit with a midnight purple button-down shirt. Mm. I couldn't help biting my lip. "You must be Elijah. Please come in." Caroline gushed. "I'm Caroline." She introduced after he came to stand next to me.

"Lovely to meet you, Caroline." Elijah kissed her hand. She blushed. "Bonnie has told me good things about you."

"I'm sure she has." She shot me a look. "What are your intentions with my best friend?" She asked. He looked over at me.

"I intend to take her to lunch, a walk around the park, and getting to know her – that is, if it's alright with you, of course." He answered.

"I'm fine with that." She gave the okay.

"You look beautiful." Elijah breathed in my ear. He leaned down and kissed my cheek.

"You don't look bad, yourself." I teased. He smiled.

"Shall we go?" He asked. I nodded.

"No curfew, text me if you're gonna be late." Caroline ordered.

"Okay 'Mom'." I tossed my house keys into my purse. Elijah opened the door for me.

"Have fun!" Caroline called from behind us.

"You have a lovely home." Elijah commented, as he helped me into his car.

"Thank you – it was Grams' place. I've renovated a lot of it the past couple of years." I told him. "Mostly the bathrooms and the bedrooms."

"When did she pass?" He asked.

"Almost three years ago, she had a heart attack. She died in her sleep." I told him.

"That must have been awful for you."

"It wasn't easy, but I doubt death ever is."

"Were you close?" He asked me. I looked over at him and nodded.

"My mom split when I was really young. After that, my dad wasn't around much. He kind of buried himself in his work. He'd be away for weeks at a time, barely home for the weekend before he would turn around and leave again. I would stay with my Grams while he gone, but after awhile I just moved in with her."

"How did your father take it?"

"He couldn't deal with it. He didn't even come home for the funeral. She left me the house."

"Why the renovations?"

"I needed a fresh start. I would be in her room and see her dead in her bed. I couldn't do that every day. It became easier after we renovated the rooms. We modernized the bathrooms and I asked Caroline to move in with me. She and mom get along great, but she wanted to spread her wings. Grams paid off her house a long time ago, so we only had to worry about utilities and groceries."

"You don't have to answer my questions if they make you uncomfortable." Elijah told me.

"How else will you get to know me?"

"Touché." He smiled.

"Where are we going?" I asked him.

"It's a surprise."

My eyes widened when we pulled up to a lavish looking restaurant in the middle of a forest, completely hidden away from the world. How do you even find a place like this?

"What is this place?"

"This is the restaurant." Elijah smirked.

"Such a smart-ass," I shook my head. He laughed.

"It's a lovely Mediterranean bistro."

"It looks really upscale."

"Is that a problem?" He asked, pulling into a parking space. I'm not surprised he opted not to use valet parking. He seems like the do-it-yourself type.

"Not at all – just hope I'm not underdressed." I admitted.

"You're a vision. If anyone says otherwise, I'll deal with them." He promised. I blushed. "Shall we?"

"We shall." I nodded. Elijah turned off his vehicle and got out of the car. I started to open my door when he shook he head. I dropped my hand and I let him take care of that. He offered me his hand and helped me to my feet. I smoothed my skirt and took his arm. This feels right. Every cliché feeling you yearn to feel on the ideal date, is what's coursing through my body.

I looked around and gasped. It's beautiful out here. I can see the trees in the background. The bistro itself looks over a lake. There's a garden that surrounds the restaurant and the lake.

"What are you thinking? Your face is lighting up – it's enchanting."

"It's gorgeous out here." I told him, softly.

"I couldn't agree more." He said, his eyes gazing into mine. How does he always make me feel so naked? I never blushed this much before I met him. I bit my lip and looked away. I focused on the restaurant.

It has a rustic chic feel. I wouldn't have guessed Mediterranean from the outside. It's a massive, but stunning. There are a bunch of cars out here, but it's surprisingly quiet out here. We reached the door and stepped inside. God, it smells good.

"Good afternoon Sir, do you have a reservation?" The hostess smiled politely.

"It should be under Elijah Mikaelson, table for two." Elijah told her. She looked up his name in her computer and she nodded.

"We have your table ready. It will be right this way." She led the way. We followed her to a secluded table that looked out the garden and the lake. Elijah pulled out my chair for me. After we sat down, she handed us our menus. "Can I offer either of you a glass of wine?" She asked.

"Two glasses of Pinot Nior would be fantastic." Elijah requested.

"Of course, I have that right out." She excused herself.

"Tell me about yourself." Elijah requested. I made a face.

"I believe it's your turn to share." I told him. He smiled. "You should do that more often."

"Talk about myself?"

"Smile."

"It seems to occur naturally when I'm around you."

"You still have to talk about yourself. Dazzling me with your good-looks will only get you so far." I warned. He chuckled.

"You're something else, Miss Bennett."

"Something good, I hope."

"Something extraordinary," he breathed.

"Mr. Mikaelson, I believe you owe me a story."

"What would you like to know?"

"Do you have any siblings?" I asked.

"I had six siblings. My parents gave birth to my brother, but he died shortly afterwards. He was very ill and at the time, there wasn't a cure for his illness." Elijah explained. I nodded. "Finn is the oldest of the rest of us. I have two younger brothers Niklaus and Kol, and sister Rebekah."

"I thought you said there were six?"

"My youngest brother Henrick – he was in a terrible accident with Niklaus."

"I'm so sorry." I squeezed his hand. He gave me a sad smile.

"It's alright. I've made my peace with it long ago."

"What do you do for a living?"

"I work as a curator for the Metropolitan Museum of Art."

"You work at the Met?"

"I do."

"Why are you in Virginia?"

"My brother is a fellow art-lover. Klaus convinced me to come down and help a new museum get on their feet. He's handling most of the business effects. He's asked me to help purchase the pieces until he finds someone else. Truth be told, it's nice to get out of the busy city for awhile."

"You prefer Virginia over New York?" I asked in disbelief.

"I find it refreshing." He brushed his thumb over my hand. I smiled. Our waiter showed up with a bottle of wine and two glasses. Elijah ordered and we were alone again. "Perhaps you would like to join me in New York for the weekend, sometime?" He offered. I beamed.

"I would love to."

Dinner flew by much faster than I liked. We talked about his childhood and how he enjoyed growing up with so many siblings. I told him that I would have enjoyed having a sibling growing up. We're not so different, in some ways.

"Would you like to take a stroll with me?" He asked.

"There's nothing I'd rather do." I smiled. We finished our wine and headed outside. He makes me feel pampered, pretty and protected. I feel like a woman. We didn't say anything, just walked. It's nice to be in his company. Eventually we came to a gazebo that had ivy and flowers growing through the structure. We sat down on the bench inside. I leaned my head on his shoulder and cuddled up next to him. He put his arm around me and held me close.

"I purchased a house here." Elijah spoke softly.

"In the woods?"

"In Virginia, it's about twenty minutes outside of Mystic Falls, and about thirty minutes away from the museum."

"Does that mean that you're moving here?"

"It means that after I'm finished helping my brother with his museum, and I've gone back to New York, that I will be visiting frequently." He whispered.

"So… What are you proposing?"

"I'm proposing that we give this a chance to turn into something more. I want to get to know you, Bonnie. I enjoy spending time with you. Why prevent the possibility?"

"I'd be open to that – to dating you." I confessed. "I've never met anyone like you, before."

"That makes two of us." He looked over at me, then my lips. He inched closer and brought a hand to my hair. I closed the distance between us and fused my mouth with his. I felt the spark electrocute my lips. I smiled and slipped my tongue into his mouth. He's being surprisingly compliant. As soon as I fell into a comfortable groove with things, he changed them up on me. Elijah took control, easily. He slipped his hands underneath me and moved me onto his lap. I put an arm behind his neck and held my body tightly against his. I can feel him getting hard underneath my weight. I pulled away, trying to catch my breath. "I doubt I will ever tire of kissing you." He whispered. I enjoyed the moment, knowing that I'd have to go back to reality soon enough.

"It's not going to be easy."

"The best things in life aren't easy."

"Especially with my profession… Can you handle seeing me dance with other guys?" I asked him, flat out. He was quiet for a minute.

"I can try to be. I respect that it's your decision and I don't expect you to change because I want to court you. That wouldn't be fair to ask."

"Thank you." He's more honest than any man I've dated.

"You shouldn't thank me for that."

"I want to."

A/N: Alright, there it is. Thoughts? Comments?