Chapter 14:

He stood up and left to go to Rousseau's and sat down on a stool, calling Cami over.

The blonde barmaid looked and pushed a glass in front of him before filling it up for him and smiled at him.

"What's wrong today?" She asked once she saw the depressed look on his face.

"Have you ever truly fallen in love?" he asked her and at the shake of her head, he smiled. "When you do, don't break them like I did." He drained the whole glass and she filled it up for him once more. "I fell in love with this one girl and because of a few horrible things-I found her and realized that I broke her." He shook his head. "I remember telling my sister that our mother didn't make us into monsters, we did that ourselves." He shared a bitter smile at the woman who knew all about the supernatural. "I was right-we are monsters."

"Have you tried making it up to her?" Cami asked and at his nod, she winced.

"She won't talk to you at all?" At his nod, she shook her head. "Wow. You really did do a number on her."

"I did the world a disservice. She was so beautifully innocent and full of compassion; she was full of life," Elijah waxed on as he motioned for Cami to keep them coming. "If you ever find something that beautiful and rare hold on with both hands and don't let anyone or anything get in the way."

"You really do love her." Cami was amazed. "Maybe try being her friend again?" When he was silent, she went to go serve some people when she saw a brunette eighteen year old with a red strand in her hair and she saw Elijah stare at the girl before going back to his drink.

Making her way back to Elijah, she took his glass away and gave him a look before nodding her head in the girl's direction.

"Ask to see if you could be her friend. If she says no, I'll give you back your drink." Cami ordered him in a pleading tone.

Elijah felt like reminding her that he was an original. He didn't take orders. Furthermore he could compel her or simply take the drink back by force. He did none of those things. Instead he walked over to Elena and sat next to her.

"I heard you really annihilated some guy today. I have to say I'm impressed. Can I buy you a drink?"

Elena snorted at him. "Pick up lines now?" she looked at him and he looked like hell. "Why are you even here Elijah?"

"I was hoping that you and I could be friends or even allies again." He gave her a rue smile. "It's okay if you don't want to."

Seriously? The oldest living original vampire was asking to be her friend? She thought for a second about refusing him but he looked like she felt all these months and a little voice deep inside her stopped the thought. Instead she put on her best Elijah impersonation.

"Your word means nothing until you follow through. Trust has to be earned. I'll let you buy me that drink though." She gave him the barest of smiles before settling back in her seat.

He smiled and went over to Cami and ordered a scotch for her.

"Buying a drink is a start," Cami smiled. "Everything starts somewhere."

Elijah turned to look at Elena and then back to Cami. "Yes well wish me luck."

"Luck"

Elijah returned to Elena and handed her the scotch as he sat properly next to her.

"So...what have you been up to while here in the city?" he asked casually. She looked at him and snorted.

"Browsing through the French Quarter with bodyguards-that day we spoke was the day I was able to get rid of them." He tried not to wince but it was seen a bit.

"That man you were with..." he looked at her. "What happened to him?"

"He's in Mexico now." She smirked. "He was just some poor passerby and I followed him. I also had never been to a House of Voodoo so I went inside."

"Was it to your liking?" Elijah asked. "This is a fascinating city. I have always enjoyed my time here. Perhaps I could recommend some attractions."

"That would be lovely." She looked over at him and her eyes went cold. He could feel his heart deflating until she stood up and found a witch.

"I've been meaning to have a word with you about hexing me Sabine." Elena's cold voice made the dark skinned woman shiver.

"I'm sorry!" She shouted at her. Elena dropped her and looked at Elijah.

"Do you want to kill her or should I?" she asked him.

"I'll do it," Elijah said. "You don't need any more blood on your hands. My body count is already too high for any redemption. Let me be clear though. What did she do to warrant death?"

"She placed a hex on me and Caroline and tried killing Davina one too many times already." Elena answered him as she smirked at him. "The hex would have killed Caroline and I but because Davina undid the hex, it tried killing her until Sophie decided to even the playing field and placed the hex on a cat."

Elijah gave Sabine a look that made her wish that it was Elena killing her.

"I abhor dark magic," Elijah said in a low voice as he walked the witch out behind the bar.

"No one messes with my family," Elijah said firmly. His eyes never left Elena's as he decapitated the witch with a sweep of his hand. Afterwards he calmly pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his hands clean.

"Interesting technique though I prefer the ripping out hearts bit myself." She told him as she walked calmly to stand beside him. "Less messy."

"Only you." He chuckled lightly and lowly to her. "Only you." She flashed him a smile that was reminiscent of her before he broke her.

It was uplifting to see it again.

He wasn't going to screw it up again.

"I had actually thought of going that route but you did mention the beheading the other night so I thought perhaps you'd like another look," Elijah commented.

She laughed. "Oh of course." She shook her head. "You should have gone through with ripping out the heart." He gave her a low chuckle.

"Next time I kill someone, I'll go that route."

She wanted to tell him she had missed this-missed him but she couldn't. It was too soon; the hurt was still too fresh. Instead she led the way out of the alley and soon they were on the river walk strolling along casually.

"It's a nice evening," Elena broke the companionable silence and instantly felt stupid for such a comment.

"It is indeed." He told her.

"I can't believe I caught Jeremy and Davina scoring second base," Elena made a face as she remembered encountering that. "Oh you probably have no idea what that is..."

"I don't think that I want to know." He told her with a smirk.

"If we were on friendlier terms you would..." Elena teased, "you see first base is French kissing, second base is under the shirt, third base is fingering and other things and a home run...well you can work that one out I'm sure."

He had a little grin on his face. "I'm pretty sure that you've experienced all three."

She shook her head. "Only three bases with Matt, Stefan and Damon. Not one of them was that great."

"Obviously they didn't know what they were doing," Elijah replied evenly. "Would you like an ice cream?" He asked as they passed a stand.

"Yes please," she smiled. They both ended up with a scoop of chocolate and a scoop of vanilla.

"So how long do you plan on staying?" He asked hoping that she didn't plan to leave the city now that everyone else was here. He felt obligated to stay with Kol and Bekah right now.

"I'm planning on living here." She admitted to him in between licks of her ice cream. She looked up at him. "Why? Are you leaving?"

"I had planned to but then Kol used his youngest brother tactics. He's going through something important and he talked me into helping," Elijah sighed, "this is a relatively large city though. There's no reason our paths have to cross overly much. I will try to keep my siblings reined in." He paused to look out over the Mississippi River.

She gave a curt nod. "Keep Klaus and Rebekah reined in for us and no trouble with go after you and yours. I give you my word." He laughed.

"I will honor our agreement then."

Elijah walked her to the compound that his family used to call home.

"Thank you for a pleasant evening, Elena," he said and he kissed her knuckles before he watched her walk away.

When he returned to the house he heard noise in the study. Through the open door he was shocked to see Bonnie staring in the mirror at a set of fangs! Had Kol turned her? He had to admit there was something almost sensual about watching the young witch finger the delicate fangs. Kol came in from the other door and settled on the couch pulling Bonnie down with him before she sank her fangs into his neck and Kol groaned.

"Is there something I should know?" He asked them with a raised eyebrow.

Kol let out a low groan.

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