AN: This is chronologically set as the same time as chapter 20, just focused on Elena and Elijah.
He has to deal with a few things after Klaus tells him of the nearing arrival of Caroline, including a shower and setting a few things in order. He needs to return to Elena, needs to explain what's going on.
He talks to her, asking her to lower her walls. He's coming in. It's becoming easier to match her, breath and heartbeat, and frame of mind.
The walls are down, and the door is actually open, she's waiting. She asks him questions before he's even in.
"Caroline's coming today? Can you teach her like you taught me? Is everything okay? Do you have updates on the plan to take down Marcel? What time is it?"
"Yes, she is. She's got a long drive ahead, it's still a few hours until lunch time. I can teach her, when she gets here. And I do have details on that plan, actually." Elijah says and she grins and lets him in. They have a lot to talk about.
She asks him to show her a happy memory of his, and he asks her to give a little control to him. She takes his hand and ignores the butterflies, she'll think about it later, and brings up a wall, with a door. The door is open and she pulls him through before it shuts.
She does give him power, it's an odd feeling. It's like the feeling of losing control, like it's slipping, but the power isn't leaving her mind. She's still powerful here, and Elijah is the one taking the power. So it's okay. She takes a deep breath, and for the first time in a few days, she wonders if she needs it. She decides not to find out. She likes breathing anyway, and when she's almost given enough, he asks her to close her eyes. So she does. She trusts Elijah. Almost more than she trusts herself. Her mind is empty when she feels the shift, the air isn't as hot as New Orleans. His fingers squeeze hers, and she asks if she can open her eyes. They're on a grassy ridge of land, they're high up. It's dark out, but she can see so many stars that it takes her breath away. There's a blanket in his other hand, and he reminds her to breathe. She does, forcing air into her lungs at the reminder.
"I wasn't sure if you wanted to see the night sky since the darkness is what you see if you uncover a window, but I thought you might miss the stars." He says simply, and she's careful with her footing, but she hugs him. He drops the blanket, it brushes against her skin for a moment before he does.
"Thank you." The words are a grateful whisper, she wonders how he knows exactly what she misses, but remembers the amount of time he spent in her head before her magical coma. He knows her well. She realizes that she never feels as safe as she does when she's with Elijah. Even before this. Once he began to help her with her transition, she thinks that he began to trust her too. She can't bring herself to feel anything but grateful and happy that she made that phone call with shaking fingers and tears she wouldn't let fall, and the hunger that was threatening to destroy her from the inside out. She wants to tell him this, but she doesn't say anything. He already knows. She's not sure what she feels for him, she'll deal with it while he's off teaching Caroline tomorrow. When she lets go, he spreads the blanket over a nearly flat part of the ridge, and he sits down. He waits for her to join him, and she's on her back as he points out constellations, and he rests his back against the blanket after what feels like an hour. He can never tell time with Elena. Not even before the coma. She doesn't ask, but he does offer that this is a memory he's adjusted for their use. They watch the stars, and he adjusts the light and stars accordingly with his perception of time. Elena's head moves to his shoulder, and he can't bring himself to mind, he never can mind it when Elena's touching him. It's almost dawn, and Elena has been quiet, absorbing the knowledge of stars that he gives, and then they hear something. They both focus in on it, neither notice the sky returning to darkness as they do.
"-someone's head with physical contact. You haven't missed anything, love." It's Klaus's voice. They wait to hear something else, but there isn't anything else to hear.
"Caroline's here." Elena says and Elijah wonders if she wants him to leave so he waits for her to to continue.
"She's probably tired from driving, she might be up a little later than you. Care loves her sleep." Elena tells him, and he asks if she wants him to leave. She tells him no as soon as he lets her.
'This is nice. And one of the nicest things anyone's ever done for me. If you don't mind, I'd like to stay here a little longer." She says and he tells her of course he can stay. It's nighttime, no one needs him right now. If they do, they can wait. She's beginning to think she likes the night more than the day. No one wants him out of her head when the sky is dark and the stars are out. He resumes telling her of his knowledge of stars and their stories.