((Hello, Everyone! Got inspired for Valentine's Day! Short Klaroline moment, but mostly Elejah! Enjoy!:) And don't have a heart attack. ))
The door to the Mikaelson Mansion opened and Klaus stepped across the threshold, tossing his bag onto a nearby chair in the hallway, before stepping aside and holding the door open for Caroline.
She looked around as she entered, then turned back to Klaus as he closed the door behind them.
"Where is everyone?" Caroline asked, following Klaus as he started walking down the hallway
"Probably getting some much-deserved shut eye," Klaus said as he stepped down into the adjoining parlor, then Caroline watched as Klaus leaned down and picked up the empty scotch bottle on the floor at his feet.
"Ahh….and I see my siblings raided my stash…" he smiled as his eyes moved to the coffee table and the collection of more empty bottles, "All of it."
"Saving it for a special occasion?" Caroline asked playfully as she surveyed the room herself then bent down as a piece of paper on the floor nearby caught her eye.
"Maybe," Klaus replied with a smirk as he set the scotch bottle down next to the others, then watched her take the paper in her hands, "But now, you'll never know."
She studied ignored his comment and studied the paper for a moment before turning it out to show Klaus.
"'Jesus Christ'?" she chuckled with a raised eyebrow
"Oh, my God!" Klaus laughed as he quickly stepped forward and took the paper in his hand, "I can't believe they played without me! This used to be my favorite game. You see, each player chooses a famous person and writes it on a piece of paper, then you shuffle the stack and each player takes one. You lick the paper and stick it to your forehead then all the players take turns trying to guess who they are. We finally banned Elijah from playing sometime in the 1500's because he kept winning all the time."
"Well, he is the smartest in your family," Caroline winked playfully
"Debatable." Klaus smiled as he tossed the paper over his shoulder and stepped closer to her
There was a moment of silence as they searched eachother's eyes and Klaus took her hand gently.
"I'm suddenly finding myself incredibly hungry," he said in a low seductive voice, entwining her fingers in his, "I could make us some breakfast, if you like. I can cook, you know…it's one of my hidden talents… or is your Mother expecting you at home?"
"No," Caroline replied automatically, "She thinks I left town…."
Suddenly, she felt her heart flutter as she trailed off, but she realized it wasn't because Klaus was holding her hand.
She immediately felt emotionally overwhelmed when she also realized that she hadn't finished her sentence and mention his name.
Klaus sighed and stepped back, studying her with sad eyes, seemingly knowing exactly what she wasn't saying.
"She thinks you left town with Tyler," he finished for her
Caroline couldn't speak, she could only nod, her grief immediately resurfacing.
She had forgotten about it in the midst of Klaus' return and Elena in transition and the fight with Esther...
Tears immediately filled her eyes, seemingly against her will.
Tyler…
She thought she had put that to rest.
They had had their goodbye, their kiss…but it still hurt.
She turned away, trying to pull herself from Klaus' grasp, but found that he kept a tight grip with one hand as he stroked her face with the other, trying to make her look at him.
"Caroline," he said softly
"I'm sorry…" she whimpered, still trying to move away
"No, I'm sorry…" he said, trying to meet her eyes, "I was just so happy you came back to me—I should have considered that you haven't had time to deal with Tyler's passing. Forgive me."
"I don't know what's wrong with me…" Caroline mumbled, wiping her eyes as if she hadn't heard him
"You loved him," Klaus said matter-of-factually, pulling her to him again, "You loved him and he died, Caroline. It's alright to feel this way…"
"No. No, not now…and not with you…" she whispered, looking down at her feet
"Why? Because he died in my stead?" Klaus asked, his voice lowering in shame
"No." Caroline insisted, looking up to him now, "Because I think I'm falling in love with you… and you shouldn't have to see me like this—crying over my dead boyfriend."
Klaus took in a breath and leaned closer to her, taking her face in his hands, and forcing her to meet his gaze head on.
"Love, you can cry over anything with me…" Klaus whispered, "Even dead boyfriends."
Caroline smiled sadly at his words, then her face crumbled and she finally let him take her into his embrace, falling against his chest as he held her head, stroking her hair gently as she sobbed.
# # # # # #
"I thought you might like this one," Elijah said as he opened the bedroom door and stepped aside as Elena walked in, "It has the best view."
Elena looked around, her eyes taking in the antique furnished room, with its vaulted ceilings and violet colored walls with a Mother of Pearl border, for a moment before walking toward the large picture window that looked out over the side lawn and the ocean.
She turned back to Elijah, still standing in the doorway.
"It's perfect," she said
Elijah stepped through the threshold, gently placing her bag on the wooden hope chest at the end of the canopy bed.
"How do you know for sure until you test out the bed?" he asked with a smirk
Elena smiled, then with three bounding leaps, launched herself onto the bed, closing her eyes as she felt the softness of white comforter under her hands and arms and the springiness of the bed.
It was perfect.
She could see herself getting a really good night's sleep on this mattress.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Elijah standing at the end of the bed, studying her with soft eyes.
"Wanna try it?" she smirked as she sat up on her elbows and pulled one of the large fluffy pillows to her chest, hugging the softness.
"No, Thank You," Elijah chuckled, holding up a hand, "I picked the mattresses in all five rooms myself…I know how comfortable they are."
"You have excellent taste," Elena commended, falling back again and taking in a sigh, "I think this room will perfect."
"I'm glad," Elijah said, shoving his hands in his pockets and crossing the room, "So…there is blood in the refrigerator downstairs in the kitchen—you should probably feed again, soon," he stopped next to one of the two other doors in the bedroom besides the entrance and pushed it open, turning on the light, "and this is your bathroom. I imagine you will probably want to freshen up after the trip and change your clothes from last night."
"Is that a Whirlpool tub in there?" Elena asked in amazement, turning on her side and taking in the features of the bathroom from where she lay on the bed.
Elijah nodded and stepped back from the door.
"Why…yes it is." he smiled
"Then this room is perfect." Elena sighed happily, falling back on the pillows again
"Well, my room is the last one on the right, just down the hall, if you need anything. I'm going to go change myself. See you in an hour or so?"
Elena nodded with a smile, "Thanks."
Elijah moved toward the bedroom door and crossed the threshold.
"Enjoy the room," he winked back at her, then closed the door behind him.
# # # # # # #
Elena was pretty sure she had never taken a longer bath in her entire life.
But, the tub was so glorious…
However, she hated the idea the Elijah might be waiting for her.
After all, it was still morning and they could accomplish a lesson or two in being a vampire before lunch time.
That's why they were here after all.
When she was dressed, Elena stepped in front of the large rosewood vanity, taking in her reflection in the mirror.
She brushed her hair slowly and put her jewelry back on, then sat on the bed and slid on her sneakers before grabbing a sweater from her overnight bag and throwing it over her shoulders.
Walking out into the hallway, she turned and started toward Elijah's room.
When she reached it, she knocked, but there was no answer.
Elena gently pushed the door open and looked inside.
"Elijah?" she called
No answer.
Not wishing to pry in his room, she closed the door again and made her way back down the hallway to the main staircase and headed downstairs.
"Elijah?" she called when she reached the bottom landing, looking casually into a couple of rooms on the first floor.
No answer.
Narrowing her eyebrows, Elena walked down the hall toward the kitchen.
It was empty, too.
Circling the island, she made her way to the large fridge and pulled open the left side.
Human food.
Frowning, she closed it gently and pulled opened the right side.
Jackpot.
Hundreds of blood bags of all different types now lay neatly stacked in front of Elena—there were even blood bags in the shelves of the door.
Not being a blood connoisseur as of yet, Elena randomly selected a bag and pulled the top, bringing it to her lips as she closed the refrigerator door.
As she leaned back against the counter and fed, she realized that Elijah had been right.
The blood tasted different than the blood bag she had had at the Salvatore Mansion the night she had turned.
The types did taste different.
The one she had had from the Salvatore freezer had been better, not that this one was exactly horrible.
If only she could remember the type she had had that night.
She finished the blood bag and tossed its empty shell in the nearby trash can, but then decided that she wasn't exactly full.
Sighing, she returned to the refrigerator and selected another bag.
And as she brought it to her lips, her eyes immediately rolled back in her head.
Oh, My God…she thought as the blood washed down her throat.
She released the bag as she felt her face change and fangs extend at the overwhelming sensation.
This blood tasted like heaven.
She turned the bag and looked down at the type listed on the front—Type O.
She would remember that for future reference.
As she brought the blood bag back to her lips and continued to feed, she crossed the kitchen to the French doors that led out onto the back veranda.
It was then, as she looked across the back lawn, that she saw Elijah.
Elena sucked down the rest of the blood bag and felt her features recede as she took him in, standing near the edge of the tree line to what Elena assumed was the wild life sanctuary he had spoken of in the car earlier.
Elena tossed the blood bag over her shoulder toward the trash can from where she was standing, then smiled to herself when she saw that she had made it from so far away.
# # # # # #
Elena pulled her sweater tighter around herself as she closed the French doors behind her and crossed the painted Victorian-era veranda, before descending down the steps to cross the back lawn.
As she approached the original vampire, she realized that he still hadn't moved from the position he had been standing in when she first saw him from the kitchen—his back was to her and he was facing the woods, his feet shoulder length apart and his posture straight and square with his arms at rest at his sides, his palms downward toward the earth.
He had changed his clothes since they had parted, abandoning the more casual look of the white t-shirt and jeans for a blue dress shirt with rolled up sleeves and black dress pants.
Elena couldn't help but smirk.
This was more like the Elijah she knew...the classy dresser.
As she came within a few feet of him, she finally saw him move.
He raised his hands slowly up to his chest then brought them back out, his breathing slow and deliberate as he turned to his side, bending his knees and pushing his hands away from himself.
Elena saw that his eyes were closed and his face placid and not wishing to sneak up on him or distract him from whatever it was that he was doing, she stopped dead in her tracks and just watched silently.
After a few moments, he straightened his posture and pulled his arms back to his chest, then up and back down toward the earth.
"Hello, Elena," he said, then opened his eyes as he turned to face her.
"How did you-?" Elena started, stunned
"How did I know you were standing there?" Elijah smirked as he stepped toward her, looking her up and down, "I'm a special vampire, remember."
"Elijah…" Elena chided with a chuckle
"Alright," Elijah lamented, "I felt the disturbance in the earth while I was meditating. And since there probably isn't another person for a good ten miles in every direction, I knew it had to be you."
Elena thought for a moment, then smirked.
"I think I like the 'special vampire' explanation better," she said
Elijah laughed as he took another step closer, "So, did you like the bathtub?"
"Oh, yes," Elena replied with a content sigh, "It was heaven. I didn't want to get out."
"Well, I feel honored that you extricated yourself away to spend time with me," Elijah smiled, "Have you fed?"
"Yes," Elena confirmed
"Excellent," Elijah said, coming to her side, "Then would you like to resume your lessons?"
Elena nodded
"Alright," he said, "Lesson Two was controlling bloodlust, so... Lesson Three—movement and senses."
Elena turned and studied him intently as he spoke.
"Everything is heightened when you are a vampire," Elijah said, circling her, "You've already experienced bloodlust—but, that's only one part of what your body is capable of experiencing."
He stopped in front of her, holding up the fingers on his right hand as he listed them one by one.
"There is sight—your vision will always be better than 20/20…night and day. There is hearing—you can hear everything long and short distance and even through electronics—metals like coins can help enhance voices and sound through buildings. I'll show you that trick later. There is smell—you can track anything and smell blood from miles away. That will take longest to adjust to and will take time and discipline to master and control. And there is touch—"
"Wait," Elena said automatically, "What do you mean exactly by 'touch'?"
Her mind immediately moved to the times Elijah touched her since she became a vampire. Was that her heightened senses or was it their connection? She suddenly found herself needing to know.
"I mean," Elijah said, moving to stand behind her, "that you will feel everything—heat, cold, rain, even the wind blowing against your skin... and feel it like you never did before."
"What about…you know, touching… other people, other vampires?" Elena asked softly, looking back over her shoulder to him
Elijah cocked his head curiously at her then smirked, "I don't understand..."
"Touch me." Elena insisted, taking off her sweater to reveal her tank top, exposing the skin of her neck, shoulders and arms to Elijah.
Then she closed her eyes as she faced forward again and braced herself
"What?" Elijah asked, studying her
"Just humor me, Please?" Elena said
A few silent moments passed, then she felt it…
Elijah's hand brushed down her right arm and her breath caught, her eyes closing tighter as her senses opened and she felt her skin tingle and a fire arise in her stomach.
Caught in the moment, Elena felt her head fall back on Elijah's shoulder and his left arm instinctively wrap around her waist to hold her and keep her steady.
Elena opened her eyes as she felt Elijah's hand still on her arm at her elbow, grasping it gently.
When she heard his breath hitch next to her neck, she knew she had made her point.
"Have you felt this every time I've touched you since you became a vampire?" he asked in a low voice
Elena nodded, "Yes. Haven't you felt it, too?"
Elijah didn't answer, but by the way he was still breathing, slow and unsteady, Elena sensed that he had experienced everything she had, he just either didn't know what to say or didn't want to admit it to himself or her.
"I'm sorry," Elijah said, slowly removing his hand from her waist and arm, stepping back and helping her straighten to her original position.
Elena immediately turned around to face him.
"I'm not," she confessed, her eyes meeting his
They studied each other for a moment before Elijah spoke
"I've never felt anything like that before," he said in a low voice, still seemingly stunned, "Not with a vampire or a human. All I can think of is that it's some sort of physical manifestation of the connection we had before."
"What exactly does it feel like to you?" Elena asked, swallowing, "Because, for me, it feels like my skin is alive—dancing and tingling-and I feel this fire inside me that I never want to go out."
Elijah narrowed his eyes for a moment, taking in what she said before he took a measured step closer and Elena watched in anticipation as he slowly raised his right hand to the side of her face, his face reflecting a mixture of both fear and something that looked like uncontrollable need.
When his fingers connected gently with her left cheek, Elena tensed and closed her eyes, feeling the sensations wash over her once more.
Soon, she finally willed herself to open her eyes and she saw that Elijah's face was now inches from hers, his vampire features prominent as both pleasure and pain crossed his face.
Finally, he pulled his hand away and his features receded, his dark eyes still boring into hers intently.
Elena took in a breath when the connection broke and Elijah did the same.
"Well?" Elena asked in a low, unsteady voice
After a moment of silence, Elijah responded
"I don't exactly know how to explain it," he said with a small smile, "All I know is that it…it feels like home."