AN: I do not own TVD or TO or The Princess Diaries.

Who doesn't love a garden party?

Jenna had explained to Elena that she needed to show the people that she knew them and cared for their well-being, so now Elena flitted from person to person. Charlotte moved with her between small groups whispering information into her ear. It was difficult keeping all of the names and faces straight, so Elena appreciated the help.

She stopped at an elderly couple to make cheerful small talk. Elena laid her hand gently on the older woman's shoulder and leaned down to chirp.

"How are your grandchildren: Lily, Charlotte and Sam?"

"They're wonderful," the woman smiled brightly, "thank you for remembering."

Elena flittered around chattering away about people's children, grandchildren, and pets.

"Elena's doing very well," Charlotte informed Jenna.

"Some major mingling," Jenna smiled.

"Elena?" Sophie Deveraux skipped up to whisper in a low voice. "Did you happen to see who's here?"

"Who?" Elena's eyes scanned those present at the royal garden party, but nobody stood out. She followed Sophie's gaze towards a man and woman walking along a manicured path.

"The king wannabe with Lady Camille."

"Oh," Elena felt a tight smile strain the muscles of her face. Her heart rate quickened as she watched the couple stroll through the crowds, "is she his … girlfriend?"

"Elijah doesn't have girlfriends," Joshua grinned at Elena, "he has dates… but attractive ones."

"Do you talk to him much?" Sophie glanced at Elijah as he gently brushed Camille's elbow.

"We acknowledge each other." Elena felt heat flood her chest when she watched the couple together. "Stefan?" She glanced over her shoulder at her fiancé.

"Yes, dear," Stefan hopped up from where he was adjusting the camera beside Caroline, "coming."

"Why don't we go this way?" Elena pointed in the opposite direction from Elijah and Camille. "No more mingling for me today."

"I think you did very well," Stefan fell into step beside her as they walked around the edge of the field. "You were very charming."

"Thank you," Elena smiled at his kind words. She looked around when he held out a hand for her to stop.

"Wait," Stefan raised the camera with a broad grin, "the light is perfect."

"What, no," Elena laughed and covered her face with her fan, "no more pictures Stefan. I'm certain you've used a whole roll of film on me. It's flattering, but no more."

"Oh come on Elena," Stefan laughed, "just one."

Elena shut her eyes tightly and laughed. She stepped forward blindly and collided with something solid.

"Sorry," she backed up and frowned when she realized she had collided with Elijah's date. "I'm so sorry."

"Oh no," she shook her head and smiled, "it's my fault. The princess is never wrong after all."

"While that is very sweet," Elena laughed, "I'm wrong about 90% of the time."

Stefan held out his hand to the unknown woman and introduced himself.

"I'm Lady Camille," she smiled politely.

"Pleasure," Stefan nodded politely to Elijah.

"Camille and I were just discussing her latest achievement," Elijah held his hands behind his back and smiled at them, "she's received a Rhodes Scholarship."

"Elijah," Camille blushed, "please?"

"Why not brag?" Elijah smirked. "You are an amazing woman."

"Congratulations Camille," Elena smiled brightly. She took a step forward and waved towards Stefan with her fan. "You know Stefan has a PhD in Anthropology from Oxford."

"That's wonderful," Elijah took a step towards her. He inclined his head to meet her eyes and smirked. "Camille was in the Peace Corps."

"Really?" Elena tilted her head. "Stefan spent four months in Papua New Guinea studying the bark of a vam tree."

"Stefan…" Camille was

"Camille single-handedly…"

"Camille is actually trying to say something," Elena held up her hand and smiled at Camille. "Yes, Lady Camille?"

"Stefan, would you like to get a drink?" Camille smiled politely at him while nodding to Elena and Elijah, "I have a feeling they're about to start a 'my horse is bigger than your horse' race."

"I would love to," Stefan offered her his arm and directed her towards the refreshments, "you know her horse is actually very huge?"

"Well…" Elena blushed. She watched them go before turning to face the hedge maze.

"Fantastic party," Elijah smiled in the direction of the maze.

"It is."

"You two make a lovely couple," he complimented.

"We do," Elena nodded quickly, "thanks."

"It's a shame you're not attracted to him." Elijah smirked when she continued to nod.

"I know, it's…" Elena trailed off when she realized what she had said. She watched as Elijah sauntered in the maze to disappear around the corner. "I… you… Come back here!" Elena stomped after him.

Every footfall sent a shock through her calves. Elena caught up with him towards the centre of the maze. She approached him by one of the fountains.

"Come back here," she felt her shoulders hunch forward as she started ranting several paces away from him. "You … you can't just say something like that and walk away." Elena followed as he continued towards the fountain. "I will have you know I am very attracted to Stefan." Elena tripped and righted herself.

"Obviously," Elijah turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"I am," Elena insisted. She held her head high as she approached him, "he's… we are perfect for each other. He understands me."

"Understands you?" Elijah gasped. "Wow, I was unaware I was in the presence of such a passionate relationship. I didn't hear you mention anything about love."

Elena watched him. She didn't miss the way he didn't quite meet her eyes.

"You are so jealous," she realized. A small laugh escaped her lips.

"Why would I be jealous of Andrew?" Elijah found he couldn't say that he wasn't. "He's got to spend the rest of his life married to you."

Elijah stopped moving by the side of the fountain. He tilted his head slightly to meet her fury filled eyes. Even in heels she was a tad shorter than him.

Elena's hand clenched the edge of her fan tightly. She didn't realize what she was doing until she brought the thing up and hit his arm with it.

"I loathe you!" She thrust her chin up towards him.

"I loathe you," Elijah used his fan to return her slap. The resounding gasp from Elena was full of fury. He couldn't recall ever seeing such passion in her eyes.

"I loathed you first," she stepped towards him and glared.

Elena inhaled sharply when Elijah's hand grasped the back of her neck. He crashed his lips to hers in a rough kiss that soon turned passionate. Elena felt tendrils of fire pool in her belly and spread through her limbs. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and returned the kiss.

Elijah's free hand went around her waist pulling her closer. Elena's eyes popped open when his tongue ran along her lower lip. She pushed his chest roughly and took a step back.

"What was that?" Elena backed up quickly. "You can't just go around kissing people," she started circling the fountain to put space between them, "particularly not engaged people." Her lips tingled from the kiss.

"You enjoyed it," Elijah smiled and followed her path. "You want to kiss again?" Elijah grinned when she spun on her heel.

"Well, I…" she spun again and continued walking away. "Stop trying to confuse me."

"What's confusing about a kiss?" Elijah tilted his head down when she stopped walking and advanced on him.

"You're just trying to make me like you," her eyes grew wide with the realization, "so that I won't want to marry Stefan, and then you'll get the crown. Oh!" Elena smiled and shook her head from side to side.

"Maybe I am," Elijah conceded with a small smile. He reached for her arm to pull her closer, "or maybe I just like kissing you."

"You stay away…" Elena tried to pull away from him. Her sudden movement knocked them both off balance, and they tumbled into the fountain.

Elena shrieked as she fell. Water soaked through her light blue sundress and plastered her hair to her head. The sunhat she had been wearing floated along the surface of the water.

She shook her hair back from her face and grasped her hat in her hand when Elijah popped up and wiped his wet hair back from his face. She ignored the way his shirt clung to his broad chest and glared.

"Elena…"

"You know what?" She raised herself onto her knees unaware that her dress was now semi-transparent. "I have a wonderful, amazing idea. It's brilliant: you go underwater, and I'll count to a million." She slapped her drooping hat onto her head and stepped out of the fountain.

Her dress clung to her legs, and Elijah was treated to the outline of her lace underwear beneath the material.

"Elena," he called after her, "Elena be careful," he tripped climbing out of the fountain and as a result was unable to catch up with her. He saw her approach her grandmother with hunched shoulders. A shiver passed down her spine. He could just make out the whispered conversation.

"Do I want to know?" Jenna glanced over Elena's shoulder to catch sight of Elijah also dripping wet.

"I don't think so," Elena shook her head and accepted a thin towel from Elizabeth.

"She's going to be a handful, isn't she?" Stefan joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"You'll never be bored, Stefan."

Jenna stormed around her bed chamber. Her loud voice carried out into the corridor where maids were certain to be eavesdropping.

"When are you going to start acting responsibly?"

Elena curled into the couch. Her grandmother's voice was making her feel like a child.

"Hiding in a closet with a man who is not your betrothed?" Jenna leaned over the back of the couch. "Coming out of a fountain with the same man, who is not your betrothed?"

"Do you think I plan for these things to happen?" Elena felt anger rising in her chest. "I lost it grandma. Sometimes people lose it." She covered her face with her hands. She needed to talk to Caroline about this, about how much she had enjoyed that moment of lost control.

"You can't afford to lost it." Jenna paced around the couch to sit in an armchair. "Other people lose it. We're supposed to find it. People look up to us, and we're held to higher standards of behaviour. Can you try to grasp that concept?"

"The concept is grasped, grandma. The execution is a little elusive." Elena flopped onto her back and thought about how unfair it was. Sometimes she just wanted to be a normal girl, and do what her heart told her.

"I would say so," Jenna agreed roughly. "Try and get some sleep. You'll want to be well rested for the parade tomorrow."

Elena glared at Jenna as she jumped to her feet in a huff. She stopped at the door when her grandmother called out.

"Goodnight," the tone was pointed.

Elena smoothed out her features and spun on her heel.

"Goodnight, grandmother," her tone was overly formal. She pushed open the doors and stomped all the way to her suite; grumbling as she walked.

Reviews?

The next chapter will feature some Elena and Caroline. And answer any questions people may have about Klaus.