Elena stifled a yawn and attempted to go back to sleep. She snuggled further under the blankets and raised her hand with the intention of grabbing the pillow. Her eyes snapped open when her hand collided with a broad chest.

Not my pillow, Elena flattened her hand against the warm expanse. It took a second before her memory of the previous night came flooding back in. Much better than my pillow, she decided.

She took a moment to study Elijah's features. He was more relaxed in sleep. Her eyes roamed down to his bare chest; more specifically to the tattoo that sat over his heart. She had glossed over it the night before in favour of more carnal activities, but now she took the time to really look at it. The fingers of her right hand came up to trace the lines of the eight pointed star. The thin lines ended in some sort of symbol. Elena thought they looked vaguely rune-like.

"Good morning," Elijah mumbled raising his head to watch the way her hand traced his tattoo. "It's called a vegvisir."

"What's that?" Elena continued to trace the mark. She followed the path of her fingers with her eyes.

"It's similar to a compass," he explained trapping her hand under his forcing her to look up at him. "Vikings would mark themselves with a vegvisir. It was said to guide the bearer through rough weather to safety."

"An early morning history lecture," Elena teased tracing the mark again. She propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at him. "Has it helped you find your way?"

"It did lead me to you," Elijah smirked reaching up to kiss her forehead.

"That is the cheesiest thing that you have ever said," Elena declared kissing his lips. She giggled when his hand inched up her side to gently tickle her ribs.

"It's still early, lovely Elena," Elijah nipped her jawline. "I'm sure I can come up with something cheesier."


Elijah stepped out of his car and sauntered toward his front door. He had stayed at Elena's for breakfast before leaving to change clothes and finish his lesson plans for the week. His mind strayed to the good-bye kiss Elena had given him. He wouldn't categorize it as passionate, but something infinitely better. She had pulled him back when he reached the door and risen up to give him a quick peck on the cheek. It was quick – a habit; it was something that she would do every day. The thought made him grin.

"Elijah Mikealson," the voice crowed from his left making Elijah jump a mile high as his heart leapt into his throat. "I never thought I'd see you completing a walk of shame."

"Kol," Elijah swallowed his heart willing it back into his chest. "This is not a walk of shame."

"Oh but it is big brother," Kol sang motioning to Elijah's rumpled appearance. "Wouldn't you agree Nik? Our brother has clearly spent the night somewhere else, and now he is coming home to change. I think it qualifies as a walk of shame."

"Calling it a walk of shame implies that there is something to be ashamed of." Elijah shook his head and walked into his bedroom to change into fresh clothes.

"No shame?" Kol quipped turning into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of water. "I thought I was the shameless brother."

"No, no Kol," Nik perched on one of the stools at the island. "That title definitely goes to me."

Kol mock glared at Nik over the rim of his glass. Draining the water he put down the cup and prepared to respond.

"Can we just agree that you are both shameless?" Elijah grimaced and put Kol's empty glass in the dishwasher. Nik and Kol nodded before turning to grin at their big brother.

"So what kept you out all night?" Kol surveyed Elijah critically and cheered internally when he blushed.

"Leave him be Kol," Nik scolded taking pity on Elijah. He gently pulled his little brother onto a stool. "He clearly spent the night with Elena."

"Who's Elena?"

"El-"

"She's the woman Elijah's been seeing," Nik interrupted leaning over to whisper in Kol's ear. "She's Caroline's best friend, and she works with Elijah at the high school."

"Scandalous," Kol declared in mock outrage, "a torrid workplace affair. Who knew you could be so interesting?"

"Shut up Kol." Elijah finished loading the rest of the dishes and turned on the dishwasher. "There is nothing torrid about my relationship with Elena."

"Really?"

"Really," Elijah agreed. "Sorry to disappoint you."

"Shame," Kol tapped his fingers against the counter. "I suppose that's good for you though. So what's she like?"

Elijah thought about the way Elena chewed on the end of her pen when editing her students work. He thought about the way she smiled when she talked to her friend, and the way she called her little brother every few days to check in. He thought about how she had found it in herself to all but forgive her sister for what should have been an unforgivable act because family meant everything to her.

He thought about how he couldn't wait to see her smile every day, and hear her talk about her classes; and the way he wanted to tell her about his own. He thought of all of this, but could only find a few words to describe the woman who had become an integral part of his life.

"She is amazing," Elijah straightened to look at his brother, "Elena is smart and funny, intelligent and kind and strong. She's wonderful."

"You really like her, don't you?" Kol mused. He didn't fail to notice the way that Elijah had failed to mention her physical appearance, or the way he grinned when he said her name.

"He's smitten," Niklaus pulled out his phone to read an incoming text.

CAROLINE: I need you help

NIK: What's wrong, love?

"Smitten is definitely the right word," Kol agreed.

CAROLINE: I have to go to the hospital, I can't drive.

"I have to go," Nik jumped to his feet and rushed past his gaping brothers for the door. "I'll see you later." Elijah and Kol watched him go.

"What do you think that's about?"

"No idea."


Elena placed the beaded dress on its wooden hanger and went in search of her hand bag. The dress had been easy to find after last night's activities; it was pooled on the floor just outside the bedroom door a few feet from Elijah's shirt. The matching bag was likely to be downstairs. She hadn't seen it when she and Elijah were eating breakfast so it was probably in the living room.

She walked into the large room and spotted the bag lying on the floor under Elijah's tie that they had searched for earlier. Elena made a point to fold the tie and slip it into her coat pocket. She then sprinted up the stairs and dumped the contents of the vintage bag on her bed before adding it to the hanger and placing the costume in its place at the back of her closet.

She was about to leave her bedroom again when a spot of red caught her eye. Elena sat down on the side of her bed and picked up the small package. She weighed Katherine's gift in her hand and almost put it away before she opened it. Inside, under a folded piece of paper, was a small charm: a heart formed by two clasped hands. It would attach to the charm bracelet Katherine had given her years ago; every birthday and Christmas Katherine would give her a new charm.

Elena reached into her bedside table for the bracelet. She attached the charm before restoring it to her rightful place on her wrist. Only when it was secure on her arm did she turn to the paper.

Elena,

I miss you so much. Mere words cannot express how sorry I am. You are my sister and my actions were a complete betrayal of your trust. I am deeply ashamed of the way I behaved. I know I don't deserve it, but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me one day.

I probably deserve everything that has happened to me since last June. I understand if you choose not to forgive me; Damon says you never could, that nobody could.

I love you sister,

Katherine.

Tears threatened to spill over as Elena finished the letter. Damon had driven a wedge between them and as a result she had pushed aside her emotions. Only now that she was reading the familiar handwriting did she realize just how much she missed her sister.

Shaking her head Elena tucked the paper into her jeans. I have to see Katherine now. She sprang from the bed and raced to the stairs.