Thanks for the reviews everyone - we're at 180! (I could cry) Sorry for not replying to all of you, I do try, but somethings...things happen. And this chapter is too short ^-^

A special mention to the reader who suggested Leah go naked... XD I'd love to take you up one that, but unfortunately it won't work well with what I've got planned. Love your enthusiam though!

"No, no,"

I sigh and drop my hands. Clenching my eyes shut as a means to stave off my irritation. "If I'm so bad at it, then do it yourself."

There's a resounding huff before hands descend on my head, gathering my hair in clumps and tugging it in various directions. "Honestly, did you grow up under a rock?"

My eyes slip open and I give the Elena in the mirror a condescending glare. "No." I snap and release a heavy breath. Although, I might be convinced otherwise if things continued like this, "I never needed to do this kind of stuff where I grew up. No one had fancy Christmas parties or strutted around in high heels. Things were so much simpler…"

"Is that why you ran away?"

My shoulders tense and I glare at the mirror. "I didn't 'run away',"

"That why you show up out of nowhere, afraid and lonely? Caught up in memories, loving people who you just left behind… That isn't moving, that's running away,"

"You don't know anything." I bite out, despite the stinging behind my eyes and the way my hands clench into fists on my lap.

"Oh," her eyes find mine in the mirror, and although her words feel harsh her eyes are filled with gentle understanding, "I've been through quite a bit too, Leah, you aren't the only one who's wanted to run away. But you are the only one in this room that succeeded."

I try to swallow around the forming lump in my throat; I break my gaze away from hers. "I know." I lick my lips and instead focus my eyes on the way she's manhandling my hair. "I know; I was lucky. To find Klaus, to be here even though at times I don't want to be," black stands are twisted and Elena takes a comb to the front partition. "Just because I'm lucky though, doesn't mean this hurts any less."

She hums softly, "Pain will go away eventually, but the scars it leaves won't. You need to be careful, Leah. I don't know what's going on between you and Klaus – honestly I don't want to know – but things can go sour real fast around here. There's more to everything, don't let your guard down, not to me, not to Klaus, hell, not even to yourself. Mystic Falls seems all bright and happy in the daytime, but that's when the shadows are thickest."

I mull over her words for a long minute, I get what she's saying, but I already knew that – not that I was really giving it much thought. I was already too exposed to Klaus; there was no way out of this now. "Have you ever thought about teaching literature?"

Elena snorts as she sets down the comb and scoops up a can of hairspray – where did that come from? "Me? No way, they'd eat me alive," her hands falter, "Or I'll eat them; either is likely."

Despite her aloof tone, I spot the tensing of her lips. "You like children." It isn't a question and Elena doesn't bother to interpret it as one. She gives a sharp nod in confirmation and continues with my hair. "I know…knew this vampire. Her name's Rosalie, a bitch if I've ever met one," Elena's mouth quirks, "She was turned long ago, don't ask me when, I didn't bother asking, raped and murdered by her fiancé. Now, I don't, still don't, like her, but when Bella fell pregnant, I've never seen someone's face look like that." Elena's hands stop their fussing and I can feel her watching me, "All she wanted was a baby. She'll never have one though, which is why she got so protective, so mean. Then Nessy came along and it's scary how happy she suddenly looked, like the cold bitch she was before was merely a mask she'd slip on to show everyone she'd be okay."

"Is she okay?"

I chew on the inside of my cheek, "Maybe, I never asked."

"Are you okay?"

I lower my eyes and snort, what kind of question was that? I might be lumped into the same category as Rosalie and Elena in regards to my child-bearing ability, but they still had a common denominator. They may not be able to have children, may live far longer than the humans that surround them, but at least they wouldn't have to bear that pain alone. "Are you?"

She smiles slightly and starts up her fidgeting again, "Probably not, I try not to think about it. I like to entertain the idea that we'll find a cure." She falls silent, her lips quivering, "I've asked you once, so I'm not going to do so again, but if you ever feel like it, urge Klaus to answer me, please."

Biting my inner cheek I don't bother answering, what is there to say?

After a minute and too much hairspray later, Elena steps away and admires her work; she meets my eyes in the mirror. "What do you think?"

I glance over myself, taking in the flamboyant bubble made out of hair and for a moment I think, maybe, I might be pretty. I stare at myself for several seconds; I look different with my hair like this. I feel different, not too much, but rather like there is a light pressure on my chest and my head feels lighter at the same time. It's strange, I might like it…

"It's…different, it's good," I say, gaze flickering so that I'm looking at Elena. She's left her hair loose and straight, natural. I don't feel envy for her cooperative hair tonight, because for the first time in too long I like mine the way it is. "Thank you,"

The vampire grins and places her hands on her hips, "It was my pleasure, now to get you dressed…hnn, maybe we can do a little make-up," when she sees my expression she laughs, "Just a little, don't have a conniption."

Next chapter is the Christmas Party :)))