AN: This is the final chapter of this story. I have started another story entitled A Very Elejah Christmas. It takes place the Christmas after the events of this story.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to review this story.


June

Elena sat behind a pile of unmarked exams. She had ninety-six papers to grade before Monday morning: 3 days from now. With a sigh she pulled the first exam onto the table. Clicking open her pen she mentally slapped herself for not using scantron's on the multiple choice questions; it would have saved her hours of work.

An hour later she had managed to finish two of the paper. There was a crick beginning to form in the back of her neck. She stood up to stretch before starting on the third paper.

"It may go faster if you complete the multiple choice sections first," Elijah came silently into the room to place a cup of coffee in front of her.

Elena had to take a minute to recover from the miniature heart attack. His voice had made her jump when it disrupted the silence of the classroom.

"I didn't think to set up the scantron cards," Elena pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and looked up at him. "Thank you for the coffee," she sighed when the caffeine entered her system.

"Do you have an answer key?" Elijah pulled a chair up to the other side of her desk and picked up a stack of papers.

"Yes," she reached for the same stack that he had taken, "but I am not letting you help me. You have your own exams to mark." She attempted to reclaim her stolen exams.

Elijah's reflexes proved to be faster as he moved them out of her reach. With the exams above her head he snatched the answer key sitting on her desk. "I remembered the scantron," he chuckled when she jumped for the papers over her head. "I finished marking an hour ago. Please let me help you," Elijah pleaded and then added in a hushed whisper, "Caroline will never forgive me if I allow her maid of honour to exhaust herself the night before the wedding."

"Of course not," Elena teased. "She would never forgive you for allowing me to mentally tire myself out." She slumped back into her desk chair. "Fine," she huffed, "you can help me. Just promise not to mock me later for failing to use Scantron."

"Deal," Elijah grinned and returned the papers to the desk. "You grade the essay sections, and I'll handle the multiple choice sections. You'll be finished twice as fast." He took a seat and smirked across at her. "Since I've kept you from mentally tiring yourself out does that mean that I can physically tire you out later?"

"That depends on how long this takes," Elena grinned before she started to grade her papers.

They quickly fell into a comfortable silence. Their system worked well; it wasn't long before they had finished.

"That only took three hours," Elijah glanced at his watch with a smirk. "Can I tire you out now?"

"How about dinner first?" Elena suggested with a grin when their stomachs growled.


"Kat?" Elena stepped inside her house. She was quickly followed by Elijah. "I'm home. Kat?"

Elijah came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I don't think she's here, darling." He rested his chin on her shoulder and nuzzled her neck.

"It would seem so," Elena giggled and led him to the couch in the living room. "She'll probably be back soon though."

"Not a lot of time to waste," Elijah pulled her to straddle him before giving her a searing kiss. His hands were pushing up her blouse when the ringing phone took her attention. "Ignore it," he murmured and pulled the blouse over her head and trailed his lips from her chest to her ear. She shivered when he nipped on her ear lobe.

"What if it's important?" Elena whispered rocking her hips against him. She bent down to unbutton his shirt with her teeth.

"They'll leave a message," Elijah growled and hiked her skirt higher on her waist. He grasped her chin and tilted her head up to kiss her again. Their teeth clacked together as Elena tore his shirt down his arms to toss it across the room onto a packed box.

Elijah bit her lip and Elena opened her mouth to give him access to her mouth. His tongue darted in and out of her mouth before massaging her tongue. He paused when her hips dipped lower to rub against him. Their lips were barely touching when the voice mail kicked in.

"Elena," she splayed her hands across his chest and blocked out Caroline's voice. "When you get home call me back please." Elijah bit her collarbone and reached to unhook her bra. His hands rested on her lower back to guide her hips.

"Katherine's in labour. Nik brought her to the hospital and then called me when he couldn't reach you."

Elena's forehead pressed against his as her hands stroked him with a newfound sense of urgency. "You were right,"she shuddered when his hand came up between her legs. "We don't have much time."

An hour later found Elena and Elijah rushing into the hospital only to have Nik point out the missed buttons on Elijah's shirt.


June 22, 1:32 AM

Miranda Gilbert was born at 12:47 AM on Saturday June 22.

Katherine gently stroked a finger down her daughter's cheek. A single tear escaped her eyes as she gazed on the tiny face.

"She's beautiful," Elena leaned over the side of the bed to stroke her nieces head. "Looks just like you."

"I don't know," Katherine hiccupped holding the baby closer, "I think she looks more like her auntie Elena."

"Nah," Caroline waved dismissively, "She definitely looks like her mom."

They all gazed at the little girl for a few moments. Caroline stifled a yawn before looking at the clock.

"You two should go home," Elena suggested placing her niece in the hospital bassinet. "You're getting married in 12 hours, Care."

"The maid of honor needs some sleep too," Katherine giggled giving her a sister an amused look. "You need to go home too Elena." She motioned to Caroline, "Take her home, get married and then come and pick me up when I'm discharged."