AN: One more chapter, like the name suggests.
He sees her as she's leaving a bakery, coffee in one hand, a paper bag sticking out of her purse. Elena's alone, looking at her phone and back to the street as she walks.
"Elena," he says quietly as he begins to walk next to her.
"Elijah! I thought you were still in New Orleans, what are you doing here?" Elena asks and looks at him, it's been a while.
"Here to do some business and get away for a while," Elijah admits and she smiles.
"I'm walking home, do you want to share some of these with me?" Elena gestures to the paper bag in her purse with a grin.
"I probably shouldn't have bought so many baked goods but they all smelled so good and I haven't had anything but coffee yet," Elena says and Elijah smiles, thankful for the light conversation topic.
"If I'm not intruding," Elijah begins and Elena shakes her head.
"You aren't, I promise," Elena smiles again and it's a comfortable feeling, walking next to Elijah through the streets. His hand finds hers and she takes it as she leads the way to her apartment.
They end up on her loveseat drinking coffee with a few baked goods split in half. Elena's closer than she needs to be, leaning against him like she might not ever leave. Elijah wouldn't mind if she stayed, but Elena's chewing her half of the strudel, quiet with her thoughts and feelings.
"When do you have to do business?" Elena asks quietly as he takes a sip of the coffee she made, cooled enough to stop giving off steam.
"Not for a few days," Elijah admits lightly and she looks at him. He can smell warm vanilla, the candle burning in the kitchen mingles with the smell of Elena's new perfume and the smell of warm baked goods. It'd be so easy to slip into it, not leave for a few days, even as he begins to weigh the risks. Elena kisses him and he stops thinking at all.
Being with Elena, living with Elena is just easy, the few days they spend together begin a routine quietly, without very much discussion. The last night, Elena knows he'll probably leave her in the morning, it's an early meeting, she might be sleeping. Elena's hands find his and he looks at her curiously.
"Next time," she vows and he understands. The next time she sees him, they'll stay together, she won't leave and neither will he.
"I'll be back in New Orleans when summer begins," Elijah informs her and she kisses him. She just wants a little more time and he seems happy to give it. There hasn't been anyone else for him like there hasn't been anyone else for her. There have been interested men, but Elena only wants Elijah. It works out well that he only wants to be with her too.
"Wake me up before you go?" Elena asks and he nods as he moves the comforter to cover them both.
"You have my word," Elijah promises as her eyelids grow heavy. He presses a kiss to her forehead.
"Sleep," he murmurs and she does.