Elijah returned to his house and wasn't sure what to think or if it had been a good idea to leave Elena alone with his sister but Rebekah had insisted. He smiled when he opened the door and heard laughter. He listened to the conversation they were having and was pleasantly surprised by both their attitudes. They were getting along and he liked that.
"Hello Elijah." Rebekah greeted when he walked into his living room. They were both sitting on the couch and there were movies and food sprawled out all over his coffee table.
"Good afternoon." He responded noticing Elena was wearing his bathrobe. He liked that too. "I'm sorry I was gone so long. I had some things that needed to be taken care of."
"It's okay. Rebekah and I were just hanging out." Elena smiled. Good, he thought. He wanted them to get along, it would make his life much easier.
"I brought the things from your hotel and took the liberty to check you out."
"You didn't have to do that." Elena insisted.
"I know." He smirked. He sped quickly and handed her the suitcase full of clothes. "I figured you at least wanted something to wear." She could walk around naked for all he cared, he just needed her to stay. Elena rifled through the bag and Rebekah leaned over to look.
"These are your clothes?" She asked picking up a shirt with disgust.
"What's wrong with them?" Elena asked suddenly feeling concerned.
"Oh nothing if you want to look like a homeless bag lady." She snapped. "We're going shopping." She insisted.
"I can't." Elena waved her hands in protest.
"Why not? These are terrible. If you're going to be seen with me you have to dress better." Elena shifted uncomfortably in her seat and Elijah eyed her carefully. "What? What's wrong with you?"
"I don't have any money." She finally admitted and rubbed her arms nervously.
"Oh please Elena. Don't even worry about that." She insisted and Elijah began calculating how much of his money Rebekah intended to spend. He supposed it didn't really matter. It was a small price to pay to ensure their friendship and to keep Elena here. The thought of being without her now that he had been with her was not an option.
"I can't let you pay for me Rebekah." Elena said.
"I'm not. Elijah is." She smirked and sped to Elijah holding out her hand. Elijah immediately pulled out his wallet and handed over one of his credit cards.
"What!? No Elijah, I can't." She stood trying to argue. He sped to her and held her face.
"Get whatever you want Elena." He said quietly and she just stood their staring at him.
"This is going to be great!" Rebekah squealed. "I'll come back in the morning!"
"Rebekah wait! I can't!" She called and sped towards the door but his sister was already gone. She didn't realize the sun was still up and when she opened the door was hit with one of its rays. Her skin burned instantly and she yelled. Elijah raced to slam the door shut and inspected her hand and face carefully.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"Yeah." She rubbed her arm lightly and watched her herself slowly heal. "That really hurts." She complained.
"Well that was another chore I completed today. Here." He pulled out a small box and handed it to her. She opened it slowly and just stared for a moment. He wasn't sure if she liked it or not.
"Elijah." She looked up at him now. "It's beautiful but I can't accept this." She tried to hand it back but he gracefully removed the bracelet he had spelled for her and clasped it around her wrist. It was silver with small diamonds and it looked lovely on her. Elijah grabbed her and led her back to the front door and threw it open. Elena flinched and turned herself into Elijah's chest before she realized it didn't hurt. She turned slowly and reached out to put her hand in the light and only felt warmth. It had been weeks since she had experienced it and she hadn't realized just how much she missed it.
"I don't understand why you're so stubborn." He laughed and pulled her back into him. "Why don't you ever just accept what you are offered?" He asked tapping her nose like a child.
"I don't want you to feel obligated. You don't have to take care of me." Elijah lifted her back into the house letting the door close behind him.
"I have always wanted to be the one to take care of you Elena. Please just let me do it." He insisted setting her down.
"But…" He caressed her face wondering why she was still arguing with him. "I can't repay you." Elijah pressed a gentle kiss against her lips to make her stop arguing.
"Elena. You hardly owe me a life debt for a bracelet and some new clothes. I assure you that it is not a problem. I have been alive for a thousand years, money is not an issue. Besides, it's nice to have someone to spend it on." It was underhanded but he used the bond to help her relax, she was far too tense. "I also got you this." He pulled out a chain and handed it to her. "I broke yours last night. I presume you still wish to wear your necklace."
"Yeah, I think I do. At least out in public." Elijah nodded. He didn't want her to wear it at all. The Alpha in him wanted everyone to know that they were together but also understood why she wanted to hide, for now.
"That's fine. I do request that you do not wear it in the house." He wanted to be with her, not some other body.
"I'll agree to that." She responded.
It was amazing how quickly Elena adjusted to her new life. She was nervous at first and spent the first couple months walking on egg shells but by the sixth month she had dropped her guard and finally started to truly enjoy herself. She still wore her necklace whenever she went out and Elijah hated that but she always took it off when they were alone. Elijah had helped her through her transition in ways her friends could not but she still kept herself guarded. He had even managed to convince her that blood sharing was a good thing and their emotional bond had deepened greatly. He hadn't felt this connected to anyone in longer than he could remember. They were both physically and emotionally bonded together and Elijah loved the way it felt.
She formed good relationships with Rebekah and Kol but still went out of her way to avoid Klaus. They didn't bother each other but they didn't get along, they behaved for him and he knew it.
Elena had taken a job at a bookstore so she had something to do while Elijah took care of things he needed to do alone. Some things were far too dangerous to include Elena.
Elijah was wiping some blood off his hands when his phone went off. It was Rebekah asking him to come get her and Elena. He became worried. Rebekah had taken Elena out tonight while he was dealing with the now dead vampire lying on the ground next to him. His sister was more than capable of handling herself so it was strange she was requesting his presence.
He took off immediately and found the high class bar Rebekah had brought Elena too. He looked around carefully and noticed both his sister and Elena. They were both standing across the room and while Elena seemed calm on the outside Elijah could feel her distress. Their bond had become quite strong and he could feel her raging emotions.
Elijah sped to her and wrapped his arms around her waist just as she was taking a drink. She jumped and the liquid splashed down her face and onto her dress.
"What's wrong?" Elena turned towards him covering her mouth with one hand and trying to wipe off her dress.
"I just dumped my drink on myself." She said and Elijah watched as she got more worked up. She wiped frantically until he grabbed her wrists. She looked into his eyes and hers were red and he could feel how upset she was.
"Are you alright?" Elena nodded and wrapped her arms around him so her face was pressed against this chest.
"Stefan and Damon are here." Rebekah said very quietly and Elijah smirked. "They were harassing me asking about Elena. Those idiots didn't even recognize her."
"Not here Rebekah." Elijah snapped realizing this was why she still wore her necklace. She knew Stefan and Damon were bound to catch up with her sooner or later. "You're going to be fine." Elijah whispered. He grabbed her face and lifted it to his. He kissed her passionately and he felt himself spinning. Elena let him kiss her for what seemed like forever and when he finally pulled back her face was beaming and she was relaxed. Elijah's eyes flashed up and he saw Stefan and Damon glaring at him. Elena tried to turn to look but Elijah pulled her in and held her head against his chest.
"Well if it isn't my favorite Original." Damon greeted.
"Stefan, Damon." He nodded. "What can I do for you?"
"See now, I told my brother here that it was crazy but I know better. She's here isn't she?" Damon asked.
"I'm not sure who you're referring to. I am awfully busy and I just came to pick up my sister. We really must be going." Elijah tried to lead Elena away but both Stefan and Damon moved in front of them. He just smiled.
"Elena. She's here somewhere in this city isn't she? You know exactly where she is and I'm not leaving here until we find her!" He yelled.
"She really left you? I find that difficult to believe." He smirked and could feel Elena's disappointment in him. She may not be in love with either of these men now but she still cared for them. Elijah decided he didn't care. He just wanted them to leave, Elena belonged to him now and he would never let her go. "Damon, I assure you I have no idea where Elena is. I am the last person she would seek out."
"That's bull shit, I always saw the way you looked at her! You're in love with her too. What are you doing, compelling her? Do you have her locked up somewhere? I bet she didn't runaway, you came and took her didn't you?"
"As tempting as the thought of kidnapping a teenaged girl sounds, I had nothing to do with Elena's disappearance." Damon shoved Elijah forcing him to let go of Elena who gasped. Damon glared at her intently as Rebekah stepped up behind her. "Who's your girlfriend?"
"You are walking a dangerous path Damon." Elijah warned focusing Damon's attention back on him. "If Elena has decided to leave you I am not responsible for it. You have pushed her away yourselves and I will not be blamed for whatever damage you have caused."
"Elijah look." Stefan stepped in between them. "We're just worried about her. She's still a new vampire and she must be having trouble with her control. We just want to help her."
"I understand that Stefan but it would appear she does not wish you to help her. Give her space and I'm sure she'll come around." Stefan shook his head. "Now if you'll excuse me I have some things I need to take care of. We must be going." He wrapped his arm around Elena and motioned for Rebekah to follow. Once they were far enough away Rebekah finally exploded.
"God I hate those two. I'm sorry I called you like that I just didn't know what to do."
"It's quite alright. I'm glad you did but we can finish this discussion later." He said. He could hear Stefan and Damon were following them. They reached his house quickly and Elena tossed herself down on the couch.
"Don't worry about it Elena. They can't do anything and they didn't even know who you were." Rebekah sat beside her resting a hand on her shoulder.
"I don't know if I'm happy or upset about that." She laughed miserably.
"Rebekah. Can I speak to Elena alone please?" It was a demand, not a question. Without a word his sister disappeared into the night. The Salvatore's wouldn't dare bother her. Elena sat up and her blonde hair draped around her shoulders. She was nervous like she was when he had first found her. "Elena." He said quietly.
"I'm sorry." She said quickly sensing his feelings. "I know I shouldn't be acting like this. It's just the first time I've seen them since I left." She ran a hand through her hair and he wanted to rip the necklace off and destroy it. He hated she felt the need to hide herself.
"You don't have to apologize for what you feel Elena." He paced around the floor feeling himself grow anxious. He wanted nothing more than to claim her in front of Stefan and Damon. To show them they had no chance with her because Elena belonged to him. She was upset now but she wouldn't be for long if she would just accept it. He sat down next to her and brushed her hair back. She was shaking and he knew she was reacting to his emotions. He didn't know where this possessiveness was coming from but he knew he was frightening her and he needed to calm down.
"I don't love them." She stated getting up and walking into the bedroom. Elijah could feel her getting worked up and followed her. "I honestly don't think I ever did. God. I don't know what's wrong with me." She pulled her dress over her head and tossed it into the hamper without care. "I just don't want to do this. I can't do this." She pulled off her heels throwing them angrily in the closet.
"What can't you do?" He asked leaning in the doorway taking full advantage of the now naked Elena traipsing around his bedroom. If only it really was Elena.
"I can't be what they want me to be." She pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a tank top and tossed herself across the bed.
"So tell them." He offered. "Tell them how you really feel then you can be free."
"I'll never be free." She argued. "Even if I somehow managed to convince Stefan and Damon I'm not in love with either of them I will always have my face. I'm just a shadow of someone else." She curled herself up and turned away from him. Elijah was next to her in a second suddenly feeling furious. He grabbed her a bit harder then he meant to and pulled her up so she had to look at him. Fear filled her eyes.
"Elena! I will not allow you to sit here feeling sorry for yourself. You are an amazing person despite what you look like. Can't you understand that it doesn't matter?" He insisted.
"If it doesn't matter why does it bother you so much?" She asked and he felt stunned.
"It's not your face that bothers me. I don't want you to have to hide." He reached out to touch it but Elena backed away, she was hurt. "You are not a shadow of anyone. If anything you emit your own light and give a beautiful shine to the world. I want you to be comfortable just being you Elena because you are amazing just as you are." She looked away from him and he wasn't sure why but it made him angry when she didn't respond. "Please just take it off. You do not need it." He begged and he felt her anger bubbling.
"Why can't you just let it go?" She asked desperately.
"Just listen to me!" He raised his voice for the first time and she was startled.
"I can make my own decisions! Don't try to control me!" Before Elijah realized what had happened she was gone. He sped to the front door that was now wide open but Elena was long gone and he couldn't believe she had slipped right by him.
"Dammit!"