"So… how's the weather in Mystic Falls?" Elijah asked, his phone pressed to his ear as he watched the short line of people in front of him move steadily.
Misha chuckled and shared a look with Kaspar, who now sat next to him on the bed in one of the guest bedrooms in the Mikaelson Mansion.
"Well, let's just say that it's been raining like a bitch since you and Elena left town," Misha replied into the speaker phone
"Yeah and 'Hurricane Salvatore' has already reared its ugly head," Kaspar added as he fell back onto the comforter, "Luckily, it was only at a category two, mostly from the initial shock of it all, but I'm sure it will pick up momentum eventually…" he turned his gaze to Misha, "so that should be fun."
Elijah furrowed his brow as he stepped forward along the sidewalk, following the line as it moved, "And what about the siblings?"
"Surprisingly, even in their drunken state, Kol and Bekah have been your meteorologists. They've been tracking, legitimizing and quieting the storm since you left. I think they've seen it coming for a while, Elijah, and they have your back. Now, I'm not sure what Nik is going to think of it all or if he even knows since he's been out with the blonde for most of the night."
"He's going to think that I'm completely out of my gull for letting my thousand year-old still grieving heart cause me to leave with Elena, therefor jeopardizing the already unstable relations we have with the Salvatores and the other inhabitants of Mystic Falls," Elijah answered bluntly
"That sounds eerily like something he would say," Misha agreed in amazement
"Actually, just add a 'mate' in there somewhere," Kaspar pointed out, "And it's exactly what he would say!"
Misha laughed and smacked Kaspar playfully
"Don't worry, Elijah," Misha continued, "I'll talk to him when he gets back, try to smooth things over, alright?"
Elijah smirked then sighed, closing his eyes to steady himself.
"Do you think I'm crazy for doing this?" he suddenly asked in a low voice, directly addressing his best friend
There were a few moments of silence on the end of the phone as Misha composed himself and took Elijah off speaker, pulling the phone to his ear so that it was just him and the original talking.
"You know, Elijah, I didn't get to actually meet Elena last night, but when I saw her… I couldn't believe it," Misha said in a reverent tone, "Her resemblance to Liliya was startling—"
"But, she's not Liliya," Elijah replied, looking over his shoulder, back to the parking lot and Elena still sleeping in the car, "She's Elena …and she is her own wonderful, beautiful entity."
"And that's exactly it, Elijah," Misha emphasized then smiled, "You obviously care for her –the real her—and her well-being. And not for the reasons everyone thinks—not just because of Liliya— and more so than you ever did for Katherine. You have grown to care for her –Elena Gilbert. That is why you're doing what you're doing—why you took her away from all of this when she asked you to…And that is why I don't think what you're doing is crazy."
"Thanks, Misha," Elijah said softly, still eying Elena
"Call us later to let us know how it's going," the warlock replied
"Will do." Elijah said, turning back to face the line again, "Watch out for the siblings while I'm gone?"
"Will do," Misha replied, before cheerily adding, "Happy Road Trip!"
"Thanks," Elijah smiled
When he hung up the phone, Elijah realized that the woman ahead of him had stepped aside and he was next in line.
"So, what'll it be, Fabio?" the silver haired, apron clad, older man behind the calzone stand asked, his hands on the counter as he eyed Elijah's muscular frame up and down.
Elijah eyed the menu, then responded
"May I have two number threes, please?"
"You eatin' here with the peasants, Fabio, or are you hitting the road?" the older man smiled, clearly pleased with his little jab
"I'm hitting the road," Elijah smirked, playing along
"You got it," the older man answered automatically before shouting the order over his shoulder at the three people in the back.
He then turned back to the original and leaned across the counter, "You know, son, you probably shouldn't eat what you're about to with a white t-shirt on…" he teased in a low voice and winked, "just a little free advice."
"Thank You, I will take that under advisement," Elijah said, reaching into his jean pocket to remove his money clip as his phone started to vibrate, again.
He handed the man a twenty and when he received his change, Elijah stepped away from the counter and pulled his phone from his pocket to view the name on the caller ID.
"Lovely," he sighed before hitting the answer button.
Elijah looked down at his watch—it had only been three hours since they had left town—how had he found out so soon? So much for Misha talking to him first and smoothing things over.
"Hello, Niklaus," Elijah answered the phone
"Hello, Elijah…" Klaus said calmly, "So sorry to bother, but can I just ask you two questions?"
"Go right ahead..." Elijah replied, a little confused
"Is it true that you've left town with the lovely Elena Gilbert in tow?" Klaus asked
"Yes," Elijah answered, "She asked for my help in learning to be a vampire and she wanted to do it away from Mystic Falls and the Salvatore Brothers."
"I see…" Klaus responded, "Alright then, can I ask you my second question?"
"Yes."
There was a moment of silence before Klaus continued
"Are you completely out of your gull, mate?!" his brother suddenly cried on the other end of the line, more out of shock and exasperation than actual anger.
"Uh…sorry, brother, you're breaking up…" Elijah said quickly, immediately regretting picking up the phone. He pulled the phone away from his ear, waving it in his hand to create static, "I can't hear you!"
"Yes, you can!" he heard Klaus shout through the speaker
"It must be a tunnel or something!" Elijah cried, still waving the phone
"No it isn't!" Klaus laughed, "Elijah, stop it!"
"Oh, dear God, there is an elephant in the road! I'll call you back later, Nik!"
"No, you won't!" Klaus shouted as Elijah immediately hung up.
"Here you go, Fabio!" the older man called through the small crowd, beckoning to Elijah as he sat the paper to-go bag on the end of the counter, "Two number threes…and I put extra napkins in there to protect your pretty white t-shirt."
"Thanks," Elijah said, eyeing his phone one last time before turning back to pick up the food.
"You know, I heard you just now," the older man pointed out, nodding to the phone in Elijah's hand as the original slipped it back into his pocket, "You got an annoying brother?"
Elijah smiled, stepping toward the counter, "Yes…yes, I do."
"Ahh…brothers—can't live with 'em, but you find you can't live without 'em, either…because they won't let you! " the older man scoffed before jerking his head back over his shoulder toward another older man working behind him, "That one's my brother. He followed me here all the way from Jersey and I still can't shake him. Been driving me crazy for sixty-seven years!"
"Oh, shut your greasy pie hole, Mario!" the brother now shouted from where he stood near the oven in the back, waving his spatula menacingly
"I love you, too!" the older man screamed over his shoulder and the brother smiled as he flipped him off.
The older man turned back to Elijah and leaned forward on the counter.
"So how long has your brother been driving you crazy, son?" he asked in an empathetical tone
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Elijah smirked as he grabbed the food and headed back to the car.