-Disclaimer- I don't own TVD or any of its characters. All rights belong to their respective owners; I only have the rights for my OCC's. AN: I know I haven't updated in a while, but school was keeping me extremely busy and to make matters worse, I had a huge blocking on this story. So I hope you'll like this chapter and please review!


*Last chapter*

The rising sun bathing the entire room into a red, orange and yellow light, before it blinded me for some seconds. I hadn't seen a sunrise in many years. The last time had seen one, was when I had went camping with Jeremy, mum and dad for my twelve birthday. It had been an amazing day and I would never forget it. Sighting heavily I picked up Ryan and walked to Elijah's study. I knocked once and when I heard my name, I opened it and went in.

*End of last chapter*

Elena's P.O.V.

Elijah was sitting at his desk, leaning and studying over an old manuscript. Although he had said my name just some seconds before, he did not seem to realize and or acknowledge my presence in his study. I did not know what to do and I started to get extremely nervous and agitated.

'Should I make my presence known? Should I clear my throat and show him that I'm waiting? Should I simply sit down and be quiet? Or should I leave again?' I asked myself while I looked nervously around, never moving from my spot.

Before I however had the time to make up my mind, Elijah looked up from his work and gave me one of his rare and genuine smiles. "Excuse me rudeness, Elena. I did not mean to make you wait or to not acknowledge you, but I recently discovered this manuscript and I'm completely mesmerized by it."

He explained and if you looked closely, you could see the passion he had for history shimmering in his eyes. There was a certain glint in his eyes and they seemed younger than usual.

Not that Elijah himself looked old, well he was maybe in his thirties when he was turned and in the ancient times you looked older faster, but that wasn't the point I wanted to get at. The point was that his eyes looked old.

They were tainted by all the years and horrors he had seen in his long, very long life. And from the little amount I knew of Elijah, I could tell that this little glint was something huge. It was something very rare and to be able to witness such a moment was precious to me.

"It's okay, Elijah." I said and felt even more nervous, because I was now standing like an idiot in the middle of his study. "May I sit down?" I asked tentatively and right away Elijah jumped up from his chair.

"Of course, dear Elena! I'm terribly sorry for my behavior. Have a seat, please." He smiled and got out a chair for me and pushed it back once I was seated, before he got back to his chair and sat down.

"Would you like to see the manuscript?" He suddenly asked and I was sure, that I had detected some joy or pride in his voice. 'That man sure loves history… On the other hand, it would be kind of problematic if he wouldn't… with all his years and all…' I thought and nodded at Elijah's question in response.

He then quickly turned the manuscript in my direction, so that I could easily read it from my seat. Of course I couldn't read it; it was an ancient language full of unknown symbols. The symbols seemed very complicated to my eyes, but I was sure that Elijah could read them fluently without any problem.

The manuscript himself didn't look so old like the ones in libraries and museums. It looked somehow newer, but it was probably older than the ones there. This one was simply in a much better state and had been taken care of.

"It looks beautiful." I automatically said and it was really the truth. I loved history, had always been one of my favorite subjects in school, but with all the problems I had gotten with Vampires and Co, it had rapidly changed into a subject which gave me the worst grades. I didn't fail history, but that was only thanks to Alaric's help.

"That it really is." Elijah confirmed and looked appreciably down on it. "It is nearly as old as I am. Only one or two years younger and the previous owners had taken immense care." He continued and chuckled when he saw my shocked face.

"But let's change to some more important things right now." Elijah continued on and quickly put the manuscript in the safeties of his wooden drawer.

"Do you know what you would need for Ryan? I don't know much about the new items one would need in this century with babies. In my time it was much easier, you needed a bed, some close and that's all. People in this century are very… well they need a lot of things." Elijah said furrowing once his eyebrows at the thought of what humans 'needed' in my century.

"Well, I don't think there's too much I need. Many diapers, a bottle or two, proper baby food, a proper baby bed and some clothes for him. Some toys would be great to, since it helps them being occupied and all. I think that's about all… Well, that's what my mother had for Jeremy and me." I explained and mentally made a list of all the stuff I needed for him.

"That can be arranged of course and what about you?" He asked and leaned forward staring into my eyes. "Me? What do you mean by that?" I asked him truly confused.

"What do you need for your comfort here? I'd say you're staying here for a while, since I certainly won't let you out of my sight before we haven't cached these criminals." Elijah explained and I had to fight back one or two comments.

I didn't like for people to decide of things over my head, but in that case I really didn't have so much possibilities to say no. I had to look out for Ryan and I had promised him, that I wouldn't let him get harmed. "Oh, well… Just some clothes and some other small stuff." I said a bit awkwardly and looked down at Ryan, who was currently playing with a strand of my hair.

"Good, then if you want we could go and get this things right now or in some hours, it's up to you and the little Ryan." He said and smiled towards Ryan, who gave Elijah a big smile. "Well, I'm ready. We can go when you want to…" "Good let's go then." Elijah said and got up to help me get up.

Before Elijah could open the door of his office, I stopped him and scratched nervously my arm. "Thanks again, for everything you've already done. You don't know how much this means to me and of course I will repay you everything as soon as I can." I told him seriously, while looking in those beautiful eyes of his.

"Your most welcome, my dear Elena. And you don't have to repay anything, you are my guest here and it is my pleasure to have you both here." Elijah said and for a moment I was sure he wanted to say something else, but he held himself back and opened the door instead.

On our way to his car, we passed the living room, where Klaus and Rebekah were currently watching a new episode of Revenge. 'How matching… They sure know some tricks and more of Emily's books… But it's kind of sweet how they're spending time together… Like true siblings should… I miss Jeremy…' The thoughts suddenly came to my mind and I had to think of happier things as not to continue on this path. Elijah seemed to notice my discomfort and simple nodded towards his siblings, before he let me to a nearly hidden garage and opened the car door for me.

After some time of driving we arrived in front of a big mall. It was a really new one and everything was still shining and in a good state. The first stops in the mall were in the kids' store, where we bought some really cute clothes for Ryan.

While we were in that store, I nearly fell over I was laughing so hard. I had been holding Ryan, when Elijah suddenly called us over and when I turned around he was wearing a cute little giraffe bonnet and was making funny faces in Ryan's direction.

It was too much for me and I simply burst out laughing and couldn't seem to stop. Ryan was laughing too, but for me it was even funnier since you wouldn't imaging such an old and powerful Vampire wear such bonnets and pull faces at a little child. What I noticed too, was that all the patrons were exchanging chances and smiling in our direction. Even the seller was doing so and I couldn't help but wonder why.

It was truly confusing and in mostly every shop we went we got the same looks and smiles. But the best came, when we were in the furniture shops for children. We were just looking at a wooden crib, when an elderly woman came over to us.

"Oh, this is such a beautiful child! That smile and these eyes, truly the mother's." She said giving us all smiles and turned back towards Ryan. "Ah… and that precious little face, truly the father's! You know it's such a beautiful sight to see such a happy, young and beautiful couple… I'm sure you get to hear that often! Especially with such a peaceful child!" She continued and couldn't seem to stop admiring Ryan.

Of course I didn't miss to get her mention of Elijah and me being a couple, but for the time being I decided to ignore it, not wanting to make the old lady sad. I could see that Elijah didn't miss it either and when he heard it, he turned towards me and simply looked at me for some seconds before he turned back to the woman. He gave her a slight smile and thanked her, once she was finished, and we continued with our search.

But somehow I couldn't get back to concentrate on choosing a little crib for Ryan. The word couple kept coming back to the front of my mind and I couldn't help but wonder how it would be to be together with Elijah. He seemed to really like children, or he simple liked Ryan or he played as if he would like children, but anyway… I couldn't help but wonder if he had had children in his human life.

Of course there had been Tatia, but… thirty seemed to be already quite an age in that period and my curiosity only grew with every single thought I gave it. I decided to push that thought away for some time, but to ask him maybe once. "What do you think of this one?" Elijah suddenly asked and showed me a brown crib.

It was simple, had a touch of passed age, but I decided then and there that it was simply perfect. It would go great with the blue and white in Ryan's room. That was of course the official thought I told Elijah, but somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that I had wanted it for Ryan, because Elijah had chosen it.

Not that I'm completely smitten by him, no! Okay, I had some feelings for him, they were by now undeniable, but… that wasn't the reason why I wanted this crib and not another. I wanted this one; because we were allowed to stay in Elijah's mansion without any conditions without anything and so I decided that he had the right to choose something he liked. And at the end it wasn't such a bad idea, since I liked it myself.

So after three long hours in the mall, we had everything that we needed, even some groceries and we were walking back to the now fully packet car. It had been an amazing experience to spend the day with Elijah like this.

He seemed more carefree, not restricted like he always seemed when I had seen him in Mystic Falls. Also he was much more open then normally and had even told me stories from his past, like stories of his family, travels or simply of history.

And even I had to admit, that I had been for the first time in a very long period, completely carefree. Not once did I think of these nasty people who were chasing me, not once did I think of the home I had had to leave in such a rush and not once did I think of my estranged brother and friends. Today I had been able to really be myself, the one I had to keep away since my parents' death.

"Elena, we've arrived back." Elijah said from suddenly from next to me. The car door was open and when I looked outside I realized we had indeed arrived. 'How did I not notice the car stop?' I wondered while I got out of the car and closed the door. I then went to take Ryan out of his seat and together we walked to the mansion.

Once we were inside an idea, well it was more a question, popped into my head. "Elijah? Can I ask you something?" I asked, while we were walking to my room and Ryan's. "Sure, what would you like to know?" Elijah questioned and I opened the door for him.

"Well… do you guys actually eat? I mean like normal human food? Because… Well Stefan and Damon used to it, but they're also much younger than you all are…" I wondered out loud and placed Ryan in his new little crib. It looked really beautiful in that little blue room and instantly it made me think back at my brother's first room.

"We do enjoy the taste of food. Of course the food you call, fast food, is … well there's no other word for that… It tastes disgusting for us. Other dishes, homemade for example, taste mostly delicious. Why did you ask?" Elijah then asked me, letting some of his curiosity slip for an instant.

"You know since I already have to cook for Ryan and me… and since you so generously invited us here… I thought I could maybe cook dinners or something?" I asked him nervously and hoped he wouldn't start laughing at my attempt at repaying him somehow.

"Elena, I already told you. You are free to stay as long as you wish, therefor feel free to do and make whatever you wish. Feel yourself like at home, since who knows how long will have to find… you know who. And your idea sounds wonderful! But you do not have to do anything if you not wish." Elijah explained and after putting the last clothes in the closet, he turned towards me again.

"But it would be my utmost honor to taste your cooking…" He said and then left the room, but I was sure he had intended to say something else too.

I turned to Ryan and sighted heavily. How easy things were at that age, everything was new to discover and your only problems were to have enough food, sleep and love. "What do you think Ryan?... What did Elijah want to say?..." I whispered, because Ryan was falling asleep.

Deciding to take a hot, relaxing bath, I quickly took the baby phone and let the warm water submerge the luxurious bathtub. Normally I wasn't the type of person who loves bathes, but today I it felt amazing.

I could close my eyes and still feel the sun on my skin, warming it in the same process. I quickly let my thoughts drift away and soon realized that all the random thoughts which suddenly popped up, where thoughts of Elijah.

How he looked, how he walked, simply everything. A part of me knew, that I was steadily falling more for him, but another, bigger part of me, kept fighting the new feelings. This part of me, said that it was completely ridiculous. That first of all he couldn't be interested in me and second, that I already had Damon and Stefan.

And the thought of these two made my happy mood fall considerably. Of course they care for me and tried to help me, but what they didn't realize was, that they were completely suffocating me. They were doing too much and their constant fighting over me, was really not amusing.

In fact it made me feel guilty as hell and somehow it made me sad. I really didn't wish for them to grow apart, to fight over me and all the other stuff. I only wanted for them to get closer, to regain this precious brotherly bond and to stop worrying over me.

They were far better off without me, in fact everyone was. All I ever succeeded was bringing pain, suffering and misery. My brother didn't miss to point that out before he left… And perhaps I was really better off if I wasn't here anymore. If I'd simply die once and for good. Every problem would be solved, but I knew this was the easy way out and truth be told I wasn't ready to end everything right now.

Especially with Ryan in the picture I wanted to be here for him. I wanted to help him grow up, have a family, protect him and I simply wanted to be sure no harm would happen to him. This little charmer was now m only reason to continue fighting and to not give up. And I intended to make that job good, damn well to be precise.

Once the water turned colder, I quickly got out of there and dressed. Just as I was finished and was about to go to the kitchen, to start cooking, Ryan woke up. He was hungry and let me clearly know that he wanted his food now. So I took him down with me and placed him in his new chair, before I prepared his dinner.

While Ryan was eating I started to cook an old family recipe, which my mother and Jenna had always loved to do. It was nothing special, just a gratin, but it was really special and precious in my eyes. The recipe was in our family since generations and had always been passed from mother to daughter.

"What are you doing?" I heard Rebekah asked from the fridge and when I turned around to greet her, she was sure enough holding a blood bag.

"I'm cooking." I simply stated and turned back to my gratin, I was really not in the mood to get myself annoyed by Rebekah. "I can see and smell that, Elena. But what exactly are you cooking?" She asked annoyed and sat down in front of Ryan.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see her making funny faces at Ryan and giving smiles. 'Ah… So Elijah really was right… She loves babies…' "An old family recipe, it's a gratin." I said my mood a bit more lifted, since I was able to see that little secret exchange.

After that she simply stayed quiet and continued to make Ryan laugh, it seemed that she had completely forgotten that I was in the same room, until I had to get Ryan's, now finished, dinner. Instantly she shot up and quickly put the blood bag in the trash.

She was about to exit the kitchen, but before she could I called her. "Rebekah… You know if… you want to play with Ryan… I'm sure he would love to. He really seems to like you." I said and stood my ground. If I was to stay here, I could as well try to get along with her. Even if that was only one sided.

"You would simply leave the child under my watch? You do realize that I don't like you and that I could use the child against you…" She said suspiciously and raised an eyebrow.

"I know that, yes. But I do know, that Ryan seemed to really enjoy pulling faces with you and right now my only concern is Ryan. Besides if you do anything to him, I will make you pay. And I have resources you don't even know of." I said completely serious and trying to get a menacing cold voice, while I smiled at the same time.

"You know you have some similarities with Katherine and Klaus… Always up to 'protect' the family… Well, then. I'll be around the house with, what was his name? Rain? Ryan? Ah, yes… Ryan." She said and was out of the room, before I even got the chance to say something else.

Her last comment, didn't leave me cold. Klaus really wanted to have his family protected, but he often went to extreme length and these were often backfiring. Even if I didn't like him and even if I didn't like his action concerning his family, I still had some really, really small respect for him. He would go to no cost to save his family and even if I would never admit it out loud,…. well that was something I admired.

Katherine… well, I didn't really know her. She seemed to be someone who really cared for her family, but she was always her first priority. Of course with all the enemies she made over the years, she wouldn't have survived that long without that priority.

Deciding to keep these thoughts in mind for another time, I turned back to the dinner and finished it. Twenty minutes later the dinner was ready and served. I was about to call them, well trying to get myself to call them, when Klaus entered the kitchen spotting the dinner on the table.

He gave me a questioning glance, but said nothing and simply sat down. Not wanting to stand awkwardly in the middle of the kitchen, I sat down as well and nearly jumped out of my skin, when some wine was poured into my glass from behind me.

I had been so lost in my thoughts, that I had missed Klaus getting up and pouring some wine in every glass. After I had found my voice again, I said a small thank you and simply stared at my plate. 'Can we start or are we waiting for the others to come?' I wondered, but before I could think some more about it Klaus stood up and walked to the entrance of the kitchen. "DINNER!" He shouted and sat back down.

Seconds later Elijah entered the room and sat down next to me, then came Rebekah with the happy looking Ryan. He was playing with one of his new toys and talked nonstop in his baby language. She put Ryan in his chair before she sat down as well.

"First of all, thank you Elena for that wonderful smelling dinner and…" Elijah started, but was interrupted by the slamming of the door. For the second time that evening I nearly jumped out of my skin, when Kol suddenly appeared in the kitchen.

"Fucking idiots! They think they can mess around with originals?! I swear I'm going to…" He rambled but stopped when his eyes landed on me. "What is she doing here?" He asked Klaus and gave him a strange look. "It's not one of my moves, ask Elijah." Klaus simply smirked and Kol turned to Elijah with a shocked face.

Turning to Elijah, Kol however noticed the playing Ryan at the table and his mouth nearly hit the floor. "What the hell happened? Why does she have a baby? Why is the baby here?" Kol continued rambling and continued staring at Ryan.

Out of instinct I leaned closer to Ryan, which gave me around of curious stares from the entire table, including Kol. "Kol, if you would please sit down… I'll explain you everything after dinner." Elijah said and motioned to the empty chair in front of me.

Before Kol however sat down, he went to the stove and took himself a plate and came back to the table. During the entire dinner, which was dead silent except for Ryan gurgling and laughing, Kol kept staring at Elijah, Ryan or me. 'That's so going to be another long night…'


Thank you so much for reading this chapter! I know it was a lot of explaining and that kind of stuff, but the next chapter should be different. I'll try to update sooner, but I won't make any promises yet, as I'm not sure that I will be able to hold them. Anyway hope you liked this chapter and please review to let me know what you thought! :D