New Familiarity

Astra stood toward the back of the room, keeping an ear on Elijah as he spoke with Carol. She found herself wrapped in a conversation with another founding family member, speaking to her about romantic weddings that were bringing her mood to a boiling point. She didn't want to hear about weddings, considering she had been nearly married twice and was now in a fake marriage that didn't even consist of a wedding or proper proposal. She digressed, however.

"You must be so lucky, travelling around as you do for your husband's research," the woman said, her name going completely over the blonde's head as she did her best to simply survive the conversation.

"It is very exciting, but it can sometimes become strenuous; what with plane tickets, cars, places to stay. It's an organizational nightmare sometimes," Astra replied with the same smile that she had used with Carol when they first met, placing her empty tea cup on a platter that a woman was holding as she walked by, serving and collecting cups. The woman laughed along with her, sounding just as fake as Astra felt.

"How long have you and Elijah been married?" Another woman asked, whose name she at least remembered to be Laura.

Astra smiled more shyly at this question, trying to seem modest. "Just over a year now," she answered, remembering the number that they had agreed on. "It's been a wonderful thirteen months and I hope it's the same for many more to come." The woman seemed to swoon at the answer and Astra fought against rolling her eyes. In her time, arranged marriages rarely ended well so she was trying her best to make up what she could from knowing others who had married through her many years of existence.

"Is Elijah your first husband?" Laura asked, not noticing the sudden constriction of Astra's pupils as she asked this. Not only because of the question, but because of the voice that she heard enter the conversation that Elijah had been having with Carol. She didn't let her mask break though and acted naturally.

"Yes, and I intend to make him my last," she answered back. In all technicalities, she wasn't lying. Elijah had planned to marry her centuries before Damon's existence. "Please, excuse me while I run to the powder room." Astra said quietly to the two woman before she turned to head off, all intent in her to actually move to the washroom and make sure that she wasn't about to fall apart.

"So you're Astra," a familiar male voice said from the side of her. Astra stopped easily and turned to see who had spoken. Damon's little helper.

"Mr. Saltzman, I was wondering when we'd run into one another again," she greeted in a calm tone. "How's Jenna? I hear that you're staying with her," she said quietly, her tone warning him that she knew exactly how to play the game that he had entered. Alaric looked uncomfortable under her violet stare but refused to back down.

"Let's just keep Jenna out of this one, shall we?" he answered back, his blue eyes darkening slightly. She smiled, then, and nodded her head. If anything, he could have sworn he saw sympathy colouring her features as she looked into his eyes.

"Of course."

A touch to her shoulder had Astra's entire body tensing, for she did not know this touch. She looked over at them from the corner of her eye, locking eyes with one person that she had hoped she would not have to deal with. John Gilbert; the biological father to Elena Gilbert and a serious pain in her ass now that he was back in town. "Hi, I don't believe that we have met. I'm-"

"Touching me," Astra growled out as he looked down at his hand on her shoulder, fighting the impulse to break it for penance. He withdrew his hand slowly running his fingers along the back of her arm to show that he was not afraid of her. Of course he would know that she was with Elijah, he was just too stupid to think anything of it. "John Gilbert, one of the many on the list. Sadly."

"Astra Smith, correct? Although, that probably isn't real, is it?" he asked in a light tone, remaining close to her even if he was not allowed to touch her.

"No, where I come from last names did not exist," she answered back truthfully, seeing the smile falter on his face for a moment. She smiled, proud of herself, and glanced back over her shoulder briefly to see that Damon and Elijah were stepping into a room for privacy. More than likely it had been Damon's idea and in the end his downfall. Her eyes snapped back to John when he reached an arm to wrap it around her shoulders, drawing her close to his side. She felt a distinct prick in her shoulder before a burning sensation rippled under her skin. He was injecting her with vervain? Really?

"Now, Astra, how about we talk?" he asked calmly, more than likely sure that she was weakened enough for him to seem a threat. She looked at him in irritation before glancing over to Alaric, whose eyes were wide as he watched the confrontation. He wasn't precisely fearful for John Gilbert's safety, but he also more than likely wanted him to remain alive.

"Actually," she started, reaching up to take his jaw in her hand. She squeezed the bone just enough to bruise but not break, before her other hand shot out to his throat and slammed into his trachea, leaving him breathless and he sputtered and quickly stepped away from him. Astra took a hold of his arm and guided him around to make it looked like she was helping him lean against the door frame when she was actually pinning him there with two fingers above his heart. "I don't like you, so I don't really want to talk to you. However, when Elijah smells the vervain in my blood and finds the blood drop on my shoulder, I'm sure that he'll just love to have a nice, long, chat." She accentuated the last three words by pressing harder and harder against his chest, slowly beginning to crush his sternum into his lungs, before she abruptly released him. "Alas, you're on the list."

Without another word to either man she turned on her heel and headed toward the power room, dead set on scrubbing her shoulder where he had touched her. Alaric stared after her in shock, unsure of what to make of what just happened. He had listened to Stefan tell him about this cool headed woman this morning, and now he knew that he was telling the exact truth. She had been seconds away from killing John and hadn't even appeared to have the thought in her head.

Astra suddenly felt incredibly drained as fell to lean against the door of the powder room, leaning her head back. She could feel her body getting tired and her blood burning as the vervain made its way through her system. It wasn't as bad as it would have been hundreds of years ago, but it wasn't easy, either. The effects made her feel as though she was drunk; weakened and stumbling about. It only worsened the fact that she had been going through much the same thing because of the wolves and her body had only just recovered. Healing from several injuries and vervain all at one time slowed the process greatly. This was just another setback.

"Astraea?" Elijah's voice called through the door quietly. Without a moment of hesitation, she opened the door and allowed him to enter the small space. There was barely enough room for the both of them, the room not meant to fit more than one person as it was. "I could smell your blood, what happened?"

"John Gilbert is a very rude man," she answered back irritably. "He stabbed me with a needle of vervain," she elaborated. Having spent so much time with him, she didn't miss the subtle twitch of his jaw in anger and quickly stepped up to wrap her arms around his waist and press against him, resting her chin on his shoulder. "I'm alright; but I hate that man."

"Being on the list does not mean we must save him immediately. That is, should something happen; such as his fingers getting cut off again," Elijah rumbled, causing Astra to smile as she tried not to laugh at his words. In saying that, he showed such protective and possessive nature that it made her stomach tingle in excitement. There was no human man that could ever make her feel the way that this vampire did.

"Elena may just throw a fit. Although, I hear that she hates him, as well," she pondered. "Maybe she's willing to negotiate?"

Elijah nearly growled, the vibrations running from his chest into hers and making her shiver. She jumped in surprise when she suddenly felt the warm, wet sensation of his tongue run along her shoulder, collecting the blood that had yet to dry. There was no repressing the shiver the travelled up her body as he pulled away from her and began removing his suit jacket and pulling up his sleeve just enough to bare his wrist.

"Take some of my blood, it will help."

Astra wanted to decline, but he was right. She was tired from the vervain and she didn't want to be stumbling about like a drunk for the remainder of the party, so drinking his blood would assist enough to keep her alert. He plucked a hand towel from the shelf just encase of a mess and offered her his wrist. She smiled up at him and pressed a kiss against the skin over his vein before he watched her eyes redden and her fangs elongate, bared above his wrist. He fisted his hand to draw the veins forth and repressed a flinch at the sharp, short pain when her fangs drove down into his flesh. He was old and he was strong, but that did not mean he didn't feel pain.

Not a single drop was wasted as she took deep, long pulls from his wrist until she was no longer slouching against the counter, her tongue laving over the injuring that she had created. The wound healed up quickly, but she continued to lick until there was no trace of blood left on his skin. As soon as she was sure that her mess was cleaned, she straightened up and licked her lips of blood. Elijah watched the red stained appendage dart along her along her bottom lip before he inhaled deeply. The smell of vervain was quickly being burned away, allowing his worry to fade.

"Thank you so much," she whispered and leaned up to kiss his lips chastely. "Now, before they believe there is a scandal occurring in the powder room, we should return."

They were rushed as soon as they entered the main room again, guided along to talk with different people. Unlike before, Elijah kept her firmly at his side. He was touching her in some way at every moment, his eyes catching John Gilbert's from across the room and offering a blank stare before looking away again. Astra had once told him that his calm is what scared people so much; she often preferred him glaring at her than just starting at her with a stoic expression. She didn't comment on Elijah touch as he alternated between having arm linked with his, as though he were escorting her; his arm around her waist, pressing her against him; his hand on the small of her back in a show of claim to everyone that saw it.

She rather enjoyed the attentions, especially when she saw Damon lingering along the corners of her vision.

Before long, Jenna appeared.

"Hello again, you two!" she greeted happily, offering her hand to shake. Elijah was kind toward the other woman and took her hand to shake gently. Astra moved first and hugged the woman in greeting, startling the other woman but gaining a pleasant smile and laugh. "How are you? Bored of Mystic Falls yet?"

Elijah laughed at her words, drawing many swooning glances their way from the women in the room. "Not just yet; thank you again for your help."

"It's absolutely no trouble, I'm glad I met you. Actually, I was wondering if I could steal Astra away for like five minutes; there's something that's just dying to meet her," Jenna said quietly, leaning forward as though it were a secret. Astra looked over to Elijah for permission, understand his uncertainty, and Jenna didn't miss the gesture. "Don't worry, I promise to keep her safe until I return her to you," she jested, unaware of just what she was promising in truth.

"That's just fine, I feel that I'm boring her with all of this novel talk, anyway. Have fun," Elijah smiled, leaning down to press a kiss against her temple. "Be careful," he whispered so quietly and quickly that no one else would have even noticed; not even a vampire. She acknowledged his words by returning a kiss against his cheek before she departed with the gushing blonde.

"I admit, I am so jealous of you right now," she said once they were what she assumed was out of earshot from Elijah, even though he could hear the entire house. Astra actually felt surprise as she looked over to the woman, wondering just what is was that she could be jealous of. "You and Elijah look so perfect and comfortable together; I wish I had that."

"Oh, Jenna, I'm sorry," Astra said softly, feeling true guilt. She didn't want to make the other woman feel bad. "I thought that you were with Alaric Saltzman. I met him earlier; he's a very nice man," she continued, watching Jenna's face carefully. She looked pained for a moment, the subject clearly very delicate for her. "Is…something wrong?"

"We're going through a bit of a rough patch right now. I feel…like he's hiding something from me," she explained, looking over to Astra. "I don't know, it's just a feeling. And then John goes and starts talking about Ric's deceased wife, and it's just getting way more complicated than I thought it would. He's a history teacher, he's supposed to be considered boring to other people."

"Trust me, that's not always true. Elijah's a writer; he's far from boring," Astra grinned, getting a blush and grin back from the other woman.

"Oh, this is who I want you to meet. Andy, this is Astra Smith. Astra, this is Andy Star and…Damon," Jenna sneered as she spoke Damon's name and Astra felt a new likeness for the woman. Her amethyst eyes looked to Damon's bright blue ones and she was surprised when she didn't feel the need to either beat him to death or flee back to Elijah. She was numb. For once, she was blissfully numb to the man that had crushed her heart in his fist. "What are you doing here, Damon?"

"What, am I not allowed to hang around my girlfriend?" Damon asked smartly, wrapping an arm around Andy's waist. Astra fought against the urge to roll her eyes at his blatant show but instead put on a smile and looked to Andy.

"Oh my god, it's true. You have the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen," Andy gushed as she leaned forward to look more closely at the abnormal colour of iris. Astra just smiled patiently. "I imagine that gets you a lot of attention; was that one of the reason's Elijah approached you?" she asked, completely forgoing any kind of conversation and jumping right into whatever Damon had ordered her to do.

"Yes, actually."

"How long have you been married?"

"It feels like centuries and days all at once," she answered back, her eyes flicking over to Damon. He wouldn't miss the message within the words. He was scowling already, having been hoping that she would not be so calm when she was faced with him and a new girlfriend in his life. "I've never met anyone better than him."

"Well I hope that's a good thing," Andy smiled, leaning against Damon. He didn't seem to notice the movement at all and instead was scowling over Astra's shoulder. She knew that Elijah was standing on the other side of the room, watching them. She could smell the blood that clung to Damon and was able to pinpoint a well hidden stain on the collar of his shirt. "Do you also work with Elijah?"

"I keep things organized, yes," she answered back blandly, waving her hand as though the topic bored her and she was motioning for Andy to move along to her next topic of conversation. Andy looked slyly over to Damon for a moment before stepping right up into Jenna's and Astra's faces, startling the women into trying to step back.

"Personal question—just girl gossip—how's the sex?"

Jenna looked embarrassed and appalled at her friend's behaviour, "Andy-"

"Come on, just between us girls. I mean, he's always very polite and gentlemanly. Does that account for the sex, too?" she asked curiously, looking directly into Astra's eyes. She repressed the urge to compel her to step back and shut up but instead smiled a teasing smile. Damon was listening carefully, even though he was acting oblivious. Elijah would also be listening in carefully as well, and she wanted to play with them both a little. "What's he like?"

"He's…a demon," she whispered back, getting a giddy laugh from Andy as she stepped back away.

"Well, before this continues on to worse topics, I'm going to return Astra to her husband. I think that the other women are trying to steal him," Jenna interfered before the interrogation could continue. Astra needed no further prompt and turned on her heel to head back over to the other side of the room. Jenna was chanting apologies the entire way but Astra just softly assured her that it was all okay. Not the first time she had been asked that; and that was the truth. "See, returned just as I promised," Jenna greeted Elijah, nudging Astra directly into his arms.

"As I see, thank you Jenna," Elijah replied with a smile, nodding his head and wrapping an arm around Astra's waist and keeping her locked against his chest. His dark eyes shot back to where Damon was scowling, Andy standing close to him as she whispered to him in a fairly loud voice. Elijah made a show of pressing a kiss to Astra's head, keeping eye-contact with the younger vampire as he did so. Astra tipped her head back, unaware of Elijah's challenge with Damon, and met his lips with hers instead. Elijah was pleased by the shift in events and kissed back softly, keeping in mind where they were, before he pulled back to allow them to continue with their socializing.

I'm sorry for the inability to update, I've been trying but it for some reason didn't work. I was getting really irritated with the site because of it. One minute it works, another it does not. Fanfiction has PMS or something, I swear…

Please review! I'll have the next chapter out much sooner, of that I assure!