While I finished eating Elijah went upstairs to shower, so I took the time while cleaning up the gigantic mess I'd made of the kitchen to think about everything again. Not zoning out this time, nothing for me to ruin even if I did. I think..

How on earth am I supposed to survive now? I made quite a few allies, but almost if not more enemies as well. Not only that, even if I like to cook I still can't cook. I mean I found that out this morning after not trying to cook for five hundred freaking years; I didn't need to before.

I'm beginning to feel panicked and back myself away from the counter and land up nearly tripping backwards into a chair by the island counter where I'd just eaten breakfast. My hand covers my mouth as I concentrate on trying to keep my breathing calm. I'm quickly failing as I am near hyperventilating and my eyes are filling with water.

Suddenly Elijah is in front of me again, already dressed in a suit. "Katerina." His hands are cupping my cheeks are forcing me to look at him. "What's wrong?"

"I'm gonna die. Do you know how many people hate me? Your brother is at the top of that very long list." I choke out only a fraction of my problems. "Shhh.." He pulls me into his arms and calmly brushes his hand along the back of my head in a soothing motion. "Katerina I will do everything in my power to protect you. I will not anyone, let alone my brother harm you."

Slowly my breathing returns to normal and I am no longer panicking. However, I am nervous about something else entirely.

"Elijah.."

"Yes?" He pulls back, but intertwines one of his hands with mine.

I look down and stare at our hands. "What are we uh, am I to you? You said you want to be with me, but you also left me." He opens his mouth in surprise, about to respond but I cut him off a tear already rolling down my cheek. " I know all about Tatia, and the witch Celeste. Do you actually want me or am I some kind of replacement in a sick and twisted fantasy? Do you love me, Katerina Petrova?" my voice is thick and I'm barely holding myself together so soon after having what I am pretty sure was a panic attack. I don't think I've had one in years. His hand grasps my chin and forces me to look up at him, through my tear filled eyes I see the way his is looking at me. He is clearly upset, love shines in his eyes and something else I can't quite identify.

"I love you Katerina Petrova, It was long ago that I stopped loving Tatia and Celeste. It was another lifetime, one I want to leave in the past. You are the one I love, and you are nothing like them. You are beautiful, full of fight and you care about more than just yourself."

"How can you say that? I've killed so many people just so I didn't die."

"It's only natural to protect yourself, most of what you did you did because my brother wanted you hunted down. Many would do the same in your position."

He stops to wipe away the few stray tears I didn't realize had even fallen before he continues. " I love you, I always have. And I want to be with you."

"But how long will that last? I'm human and eventually I'm going to die, I don't want to hurt you like that." My sarcastic nature creeps in a bit.

"I don't care about that. I can have every witch we know look for something to help you, to keep you from dying. But for the time being, you will need to relax. Please Katerina, trust me."

I nod and he wraps his arms around me once more, he seems to almost always know what to say.