A/N Little behind schedule, but I hope you like it. With my holiday job I don't have that much time to write but I try to stick with my weekly update.

Guest1: I'm glad you like it and that you love the story. It's always good to here that people like what I write.

geminigurl89: Thank you. Yes, even an original is not immune concerning jealousy ;)

Guest2: Good to know ;) And don't worry, Kat won't die... permanently.

ElijahsKaterina: Thank you. I guess filthy is kind of flexible. Generally I think I could go deeper, but I'm not used to writing smut. It's kind of difficult for me, but I'll try to fit in more of it.

Kalijah: Yes, I love them, too. Wished there had been more in the series, so don't thank me for writing, but thank you for reading and commenting ;)

"We are back!" Nadia announced while closing the door und pushing Maisie to the salon. Clattering sounds coming from the kitchen had her listening up. "You stay here and start reading those books. Better read fast." She didn't even notice the witch nodding as she started her way towards the sounds.

What she saw let her stop short. Elijah stood at the oven, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up, and handled a pan from which the smell of baked eggs arouse. He must have heard her steps for he turned around and nodded a greeting. "You were fast. Can I offer you a breakfast? I fear I am no chef, but the eggs look good enough. For the next days we should engage someone professional, so that Katerina and Maisie won't starve."

Nadia blinked a few times before she managed a response. "No, thank you." She didn't know why he suddenly acted nice towards her and she neither knew if she should like it or not. It made her slightly suspicious. "Where is Katerina?"

"Upstairs and still sleeping. I wanted to wake her when breakfast is ready." He put the spatula aside and looked at Nadia. "She told me who you are. I cannot imagine how the last days and weeks must have been for you and I am very sorry that I treated you that way. It was not my intention, but this whole situation… I am a little on edge. So I would like to ask your forgiveness."

"Wait, she… she told you? Why? Why now? Just yesterday she put me off, telling me she would talk to you someday." Nadia was only partly furious. She was scared, if and how her relationship to her mother would change and she also was kind of relieved, to finally be able to call her mother even in Elijah's presence.

Elijah shrugged ever so slightly, a movement which seems too leger for him. "Maybe she thought it the right time. Even if I fancy myself to know Katerina, she still manages to be a mystery for me. Either way, I know the both of us did not have the right start and I want you to know that your mother is very important to me. You clearly mean a lot to her and the relationship between parent and child is a very strong one. Still, I would like to share her life until she drives me away. You belong into her life and I would like to get along with you. Mostly to spare her the pain of watching us fight. So if there is anything you would like to know: ask me." It seemed a rather long speech and Elijah did look uncomfortable as he cleared his throat, turned to the eggs and changed down the oven.

Nadia stood baffled and looked at his back. This was not how she imagined it to be, but she wouldn't be a Petrova if she wouldn't use the chance. "Did you kill my family back then in Bulgaria after my mother fled? Did you help Klaus slaughter my grandparents and my aunt?"

"No." Elijah put the pan aside and again looked at Nadia. He couldn't believe he didn't see the similarities between the two of them. The hair, the face and especially the eyes. The way Nadia hold herself upright and the way she walked. But before he stared too much he remembered her question. "But I didn't hold him back, either. Niklaus did not know where Katerina's childhood home was, so he simply started at the beginning of the village. I stood aside, knowing that it wouldn't do anything good, if I tried to stop him. There was a girl. Younger than Katerina at that time but her face all the more familiar. It must have been her sister. I tried to bring her to safety, bring her away from slaughter and flames. But she screamed when I took her so Niklaus became aware of what I tried to do. He knocked me off and… killed her." The memory was far too vivid to forget even the tiniest detail. Niklaus ripping her heart out and drinking her blood in this chamber that had to be the parent's room.

Nadia's expression was blank as Elijah told his story. She was relieved that he did not help kill her family. A family she never learned to know. "What happened after that night?" Her voice was quiet but her eyes never left the older vampire. She wanted to know him as good as possible, since her mother decided to give him another chance.

"Niklaus kept me in a box several decades. A treatment he is still very fond of, if any of his siblings annoyes him. When he again released me, I tried to find Katerina. Not to bring her to my brother, of course. I wanted to help her. I knew very well how confusing everything could be when you just turned. But I was not able to find her. You cannot imagine what ways I tried to locate her but every time I had a valid hint and got there, she was already gone. It drove me mad." The ghost of a smile played around his lips. "But I cannot blame her. I just wish until today she had trusted me enough to be sure that I would not let her die in some ritual."

"She does trust you today", Nadia said and shrugging slightly. "Otherwise she would have you thrown right out of her sickroom. I wanted her to use a spell which would have transferred her spirit into another body. She refused. Allegedly it was because Stefan liked her body, but I rather think it was because of you. She wouldn't risk being turned down by you."

"Why should I turn her down? Because she would look different?" Elijah blinked in surprise. Even after nearly one thousand years, women still managed to baffle him. Katerina would still have been herself, wouldn't she? Of course he thought her body attractive but it was her personality that he had learned to love.

Nadia shrugged again. "I never said I really understand her. And even if I also would like to refrain from fighting, there is something you should know: I don't care about your history, but if you hurt my mother again – and I do not differ between physically and emotionally – I will hunt you down and kill you. Original vampire or no. Do we have an agreement?"

Elijah slightly bowed his head in respect. "You would have every right to do so. Even if I hope that it won't be necessary." He poured the eggs on a plate and put it on a tray, where a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice already waited. "I will tell Katerina that you returned. We will join you soon. Please help yourself if you need anything. If you do not want human breakfast, there should be several blood bags in the refrigerator." And with that he left her behind. Elijah did not intend to bring her into his room, where a still naked Katerina lied between the crumbled sheets. It was a world that belonged only to the two of them. Elijah opened the door quietly and instantly closed it behind him again. The tray he put on the bedside table and sat down on the mattress, before he stroked her hair.

With a groan Katerina opened her eyes and blinked against the lightness before she recognised Elijah. "Morning", she mumbled and smiled, reaching for his hand. "Why are you already awake?"

"I made breakfast. Don't worry, it will be the only time while we are staying here. I will look for a chef so you do not get a food poisoning. Besides, Nadia already returned with Maisie. I met her in the kitchen." Elijah intended to work on his relationship to Nadia so Katerina would not have to worry about them. Moreover it would make his time with Katerina much easier.

"You made breakfast?" Katerina struggled to sit up and eyed the eggs suspiciously until she shot Elijah an amused smile. "Well, as long as you say it is safe. Thank you."

"I also talked to Nadia about your relationship. She seemed surprised."

"Oh, you already had the weird talk of mother's lover to lover's daughter? How did it go?" Katerina asked curious while tasting the eggs. Not bad for someone who hadn't have to eat.

Elijah shrugged his shoulders. "She threatened me. After how she talked to Maisie yesterday I did not expect anything else. But we will get along, I hope. We barely know a thing of each other, so I guess we will take our time."

"Do that. Don't worry, Nadia won't kill you unless you give her a reason. She's my daughter after all." Katerina kissed Elijah reassuringly, after she put the empty plate aside. "It was good. I'm going to shower but you can join me, if you like. I do like you in a suit but naked you're all the more gorgeous."

"I'm honoured", Elijah answered with an amused smile. "But I fear that if I choose to accompany you, we will not make it downstairs anytime soon." He kissed her pout and stood up, holding out his hand to help her out of bed. "Shall I bring you some of your clothes? I do have a bathrobe here but I think it inappropriate to wander the floors half-naked."

"There are no other men who could see me like that", Katerina laughed, laid her arms around his neck and pressed her body flush against his. "And for the next time there will be no other men, either. But if you insist, you can of course bring me something decent to wear. Even if I would rather have you with me in the shower. And we still have tonight, don't we?" She smirked seductively, pulled Elijah in for a long, deep kiss and strutted towards the bathroom, where she left the door ajar.

Elijah smiled to himself and crossed the floor to enter Katerina's room, where he shuffled through her clothes. The clothes that were paid with his credit card. Though they were first-class still he thought about buying her some clothes that would be more fitting in New Orleans. For now, they would have to do. Elijah chose a pair of dark jeans and a berry-coloured blouse. It cost him quite an effort to take a look into the drawer with her underwear. It wasn't suitable for a man to rummage around in a ladies wardrobe. To take the smallclothes off of her body, yes. But this… Quickly Elijah picked something and brought everything back to his room. He seemed to have taken quite a while because Katerina already waited there, one towel slung around her slender body and one in her hands to dry her hair. The bite marks on her neck had started to heal at human pace but were still visible.

Katerina noticed his gaze as he laid the clothes on the bed. "I'll explain it to Nadia before she can scratch your eyes out." She dropped the smaller towel and touched Elijah's arm. "You're not again blaming yourself for biting me, do you? I don't reproach you with it. We were both overwhelmed and-"

"Still. I should have been more careful now that you are human." Elijah gingerly laid his hand on her cheek. "I tend to forget even if I hear your human heartbeat. I hope it won't happen again."

"What? Should I keep a white oak stake at the bedside? Don't make a fool of yourself." Gently Katerina kissed him to reassure him that she was everything but mad at him. Then she turned away, peeled off the towel and grasped her underwear. "By the way, your phone rang. I just came out of the shower and I was too slow. Don't know if it was something important."

"I'll look into it", Elijah said while taking the tray and his phone, quickly checking the caller. "Nadia already awaits you in the salon. I will join you later."

"Don't make me wait too long, my lord", Katerina called after him just before he closed the door.

.

"You tried to call me?" Elijah simply said after he dialled the number. He was in the gardens, not wanting to have Katerina ear dropping on him.

"Yes. You just went away, Klaus rubbed it under my nose only tonight. Where are you and when are you coming back? You promised to protect the baby and me from the witches here", Hayley reminded him. Desperation was in her voice, but the anger overweight.

Elijah pinched the back of his nose and let out a sigh. "I know what I promised, Hayley. I will be true to my word, but at first I need to help someone whom I promised to protect many years ago. Within three weeks I will be back in New Orleans, if everything goes according to plan."

"But the witches-"

"Niklaus is able to protect his own child, he does not need my help with that", Elijah interrupted impatiently. "Diplomacy, yes, but not when it comes to fighting. And you are a strong, fierce woman. When I am back, I will take care of the witches, but for now you will have to take your chances with my brother and Rebekah." He raised an eyebrow when Hayley hung up without another word. He couldn't help it. Katerina had first priority. He liked Hayley and wanted to help her, but not if it meant to abandon Katerina to her fate.

With a sigh he turned around to make his way back to the castle only to face Nadia. She eyed him suspiciously and had her arms crossed. "Who is Hayley?" she finally asked.

"A friend. Former girlfriend of my brother, to be exact. She is in a rather precarious situation at the moment and fears some witches to cause her harm. I promised to protect her, but that was before I knew that Katerina was dying." Elijah saw no reason in lying to Nadia; he had to earn her trust and if she found out he had lied to her, everything would have been for naught.

"And how exactly did Klaus manage to knock someone up? He's a vampire after all."

"It seems to have to do with the fact that Niklaus is half werewolf." Elijah shrugged. "Since he is the only one of a kind, there are no reliable sources. Is Katerina already with Maisie?" He could sense that Nadia was not satisfied with the information given and he feared, she could ask more about Hayley. Not that he had anything to hide, but one never knew.

"Yeah. On our little journey I told her that she would regret it, if she killed mother. Won't care if deliberately or not." Nadia couldn't emphasize enough that she would do anything to protect Katerina and if she failed to do so she would go to any lengths to revenge her death.

Elijah smiled gently. "If Maisie is only half as good as her ancestor, it will work out. Otherwise I would not have asked for her help. If you want to, we could ask another witch. I know one in New Orleans. Still very young, but nevertheless able to handle powerful vampires. Come. Let's see if Maisie found something out." He led Nadia back to the castle, one hand gingerly lying on her lower back. Nadia shied away from his touch and quickened her pace. Elijah let her. He could only hope that someday she would believe him that he would neither hurt her nor Katerina. It only would make his life a lot easier if Nadia and he could get along.

In the salon Katerina and Maisie sat across from each other, looking at one another suspiciously while acting very busy. Katerina looked up as the French door creaked softly and patted the plush cushion of the sofa beside her. Elijah let Nadia enter first so she could choose where she wanted to sit. Not that he didn't want to be near Katerina, but it seemed more important that mother and daughter spend time with each other.

"Did you brought what you needed?" Elijah asked Maisie and took a seat in a chair at the long side of the coffee table.

Maisie shrugged. "I hope so. I'll see what I can do, but Joan's handwriting wasn't the most legible. She created a lot of potions and spells; it's fascinating. Don't worry, I won't be distracted. It's not like I read this the first time." She turned over some pages and nodded eventually. "This it could be. I will need some time to be sure what she wrote so you won't have to sit around and watch me."

"It's not like there would be much to do else, right?" Katerina chipped in. "The earlier you've finished, the earlier I'm gonna sleep well again."

"Yeah, last night you seem to have gotten quite a little amount of sleep. Surely it doesn't has to do something with those bite marks", Nadia muttered quietly enough for only Elijah to hear without looking at him. The original at least seemed to redden at her words, but otherwise his face remained stoic. Katerina looked him over suspiciously but said nothing.

"Well, I'm sure the three of you will find something to do while I try to save your life." Maisie scrambled up, packing her thinks together and looking at Elijah when she said: "I'm going to the library. Pretty sure somewhere in this castle has to be one. If I find something, I'll let you know." With those words she left the room.

Katerina scoffed. "I really don't like her. She's the worst and I met a lot of witches. More than enough for the rest of my lifetime."

"Do not forget that technically you are a witch yourself, my dear", Elijah reminded her and managed a half-smile.

"Travellers are some kind of subculture; I don't think they count as real witches. Besides, I never learnt to discover or even use my skills. Maybe, the gene skipped my generation."

"You know it's not true", Nadia said sternly. "You could have already saved yourself. I told you what to do and what to say; it's one of the most basic spells. The one why we are called Traveller."

Katerina stood up and started walking around. "Not this again, Nadia, don't you dare. I made my choice. Live with it."

"And you're gonna die with it, that's it." Nadia grew louder and Elijah tried to calm her by laying on hand gently on her shoulder. This time she didn't shook it off. "You could already be in someone else's body. For all I care even Elena's body, if your appearance means so much to you. We wouldn't have to bother with some witch. But you didn't because you were scared. Of what, I ask? That Elijah wouldn't look at you again, when you look different?"

Instead of answering Katerina started to redden.

Elijah raised an eyebrow. "That was your reason for not to seize a chance to live on? The fear that I couldn't love you anymore? That's ridiculous, Katerina."

"Well, maybe I is ridiculous." Katerina chose attack rather than defence. "But admit it or not, you only grew attentive of me because I looked like Tatia. If I had looked completely different you would never have noticed me. If I-"

"But you did look different", Elijah interrupted, taking his hand from Nadia's shoulder and slowly started walking towards Katerina, hands raised as if showing that he was unarmed. "Let me talk out. It may be that Tatia also had brown hair and brown eyes and a similar face. But you look different. The way you walk, the way you talk and the way you are: that's you, Katerina. No one else does those things like you do. Neither Tatia nor Elena. Do you understand me?" He tentatively reached for her but made no attempt to touch her.

"Remember, you yourself always call Elena the boring doppelgänger. If she's not like you, why should Tatia?" Nadia's voice was quiet. It hurt her to see her mother torn apart between her love to Elijah and the thought to never be enough. Not for the Salvatores and not for Elijah.

Katerina tried to look serious but a little smile managed its way on his lips. "Since when are you allowed to use my words against me?" A sigh barely audible escaped her. "I was stupid thinking like that, right? But both of you have to admit that it wasn't that far-fetched."

"You have no reason at all to be self-conscious, Katerina", Elijah reassured her with a smile and gently touched her cheek. "You are one of a kind, even as a doppelgänger. You have a wonderful daughter who would even try to kill an original. And you have an original wrapped around your little finger."

"It wouldn't remain an attempt, Elijah." Nadia winked playfully at Elijah and joined the pair in front of the French doors. "Look, why don't the two of you go in for something and I try to find someone who can actually cook. Tonight we could sit here together. And talk. If Elijah is about to spend the rest of your life with you, I better learn to know him. If only to know how to persuade him. Although I can do without knowing why he bit you."

Elijah gave her a look that was more caring than it might should have been at this point, but it was absolutely honest. "You would only have to ask, Nadia. As Katerina's daughter, why should I deny you anything? But I am in. It has to be centuries since the last evening I truly spent quality time with someone. And no, last night does not count, Katerina", he added quickly as Katerina opened her mouth.

"Maybe I can persuade you to consider our time as quality time, too, while Nadia is searching for a chef." Katerina grinned at him and tucked at his collar to pull him in for a soft kiss. "Then until tonight for some quality time. And we are going back to your chamber, my lord."

Since those who commented seemed to be quite satisfied with the smut part I probably won't skip it. Still, it is not the main part of this story, so do not expect smut in every chapter. Although in the next there could again appear some... ;)