Authors Note: HAPPY NEW YEAR. I just wanted to hop in and apologise in advance, for any missed spelling and grammar errors, that I may have missed. It is just me and Grammarly editing my story :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything familiar from this supernatural world of The Vampire Diaries. All recognisable content belongs to the author L. J. Smith who owns this lot :)

Aunt Jenna has taken us away to New Orleans at the end of Summer break before Mystic Falls High started up again. I needed some alone time and said I wanted to see the river at night and went out of our hotel, which isn't too far of a walk. It was also my first time back in a car since the crash happened and I had a tight grip on the seat the entire way here, and my eyes closed.

You'd think I'd be terrified of the water, after nearly dying in the lake, under Wickery Bridge, just outside of Mystic Falls. I managed to get out of the back door, before the car made impact with the water, thinking my parents would follow. I even remember calling out to them, just before I hit the dark water below. I managed to swim to shore and looked up, to see if the person my Dad had yelled at, was still there, but there was no one. My parents never made it out of the car, like I thought they would. Being close to water for some reason makes me feel close to them, even though their bodies were retrieved, and buried in Mystic Falls cemetery. I felt weirdly close and at peace near lakes and rivers. I think it's because the water was the last place I was closest to them… If I am making any sense at all.

"Hello there," a deep sexy voice said, beside me with an accent I couldn't quite place, as easily as you can some. That did things to my insides, just from his voice. I felt him lean on the rails next to me and copy my folded arms. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, and turned my head fully, to look directly at him, and I felt it! I couldn't even explain the feelings to you if I tried. I felt shocked and then a deep sense of peace, love and protectiveness that wasn't my own feelings, wash over me. My eyes widened, and he smiled, knowing I'd felt it.

"Hello," I said.

"What brings you out here, at this time of day?"

"I wanted to see the river one last time before we unfortunately have to go back home. New Orleans has been an escape, I didn't know I needed." Jealousy suddenly took over.

"Who are we?" He asked, glancing at my arms to find my hands, I am guessing and so I moved them to over the railing and put my left hand in his face, so he could see no ring. He relaxed and took hold of it. Again I couldn't even try to begin to describe the feeling of skin-to-skin for the first time, like when our eyes met, and he didn't let go of my hand, and I found I didn't want him to either. This is the first time I have felt truly safe since the car crash happened two to three months ago before summer.

"My Aunt and brother, it's been a difficult year, so she took us away, for a long weekend break, before all the craziness started up on Monday. What's your name? And why can I feel you all of a sudden?" I decided to be bold and ask him.

"That's a big boost in courage and confidence, sweetheart." I think my insides just melted when he called me that, and the asshole knew it.

"Eh, I was done waiting. I know you can feel it too." He laced their fingers together, and pulled me into his arm dangling his right hand, my left, over the railing, wrapping his left arm around my waist, I found myself snuggling in automatically. We both felt comfort and at peace. My head comes to level with his shoulder and so I rest my head comfortably on it.

"My name is Elijah, and you?"

"Elena."

"Well, it's nice to finally meet you, Elena. Do you believe in the supernatural?" He whispers, moving me slightly so his chin can rest easily on top of my shoulder, his arm tight around my waist. I melted back into him, I couldn't help it.

"Like… Shapeshifters, Fairies and Vampires?"

"Minus the Fairies…" I could feel how serious he is, and I was kinda gutted Tinker Bell didn't exist.

"What are you?" I ask.

"Before I say, Elena. You cannot tell anyone this. I am only saying this to you, because of how much you mean to me, sweetheart. I am one of the oldest, and most feared people walking on earth. I am over one thousand years old, and one of the first of my kind, The Originals my family is called. I'm more real, and dangerous if crossed the wrong way, than that fake fuck, you humans know as that creep Dracula."

"Vampire…" I whispered in awe, and I know my reaction has surprised him.

"You are not afraid?" The street lamps have come on now, surrounding them in a yellow glow, and the river is lit up in pretty lights.

"This is the safest and most at peace I have felt since I almost died a few months ago. I almost did not come, due to my fear of cars. I was lucky to escape when I did. Just before the car made an impact with the water. I thought my parents would follow when I called out to them when I managed to jump out of the back seat, I jumped out in the opposite direction, only they didn't make it. I haven't felt this way since before then. I also have this weird unexplainable deep attraction to you, that I've never felt with anyone else, and I can feel everything you do, and you feel the same way for me as well. I feel no fear." I explain to him, feeling a shit tone of emotions swirling around him, and he kissed my cheek and unlinked his fingers with mine, to wrap around my waist with his other arm. I rested my own on top of his suit jacket, and I just noticed he is wearing a fancy-looking gold watch.

"I haven't felt truly at peace my whole existence, Elena, until now. I have always felt like something is missing. Do you believe in soulmates? Love at first sight? Because that is basically what we are feeling, and have experienced tonight. You are my light in eternity and my soulmate. I have only ever heard of other supernatural creatures, like the shapeshifters and werewolves finding mates. I have not come across my own kind experiencing the gift of finding theirs. Unless they have just chosen not to say anything or didn't fully understand what was going on."

"After experiencing this with you, Elijah. My eyes have been opened, a little. It's not something that I had really thought about or a topic I was that interested in. The whole supernatural stuff. I just try and make it through each day, and not get any injuries from cheerleading or… dying."

"The simple life," he said.

"Something like that." My phone buzzed in my leather jacket pocket and, Elijah moved his arms slightly so I could get it. I turned in his arms and rested my head on his shoulder. I could tell he liked that, and his arms tightened around me.

"Hey, Aunt Jenna," I say.

"Oh good, are you okay? I thought I'd check in, as it's been a little while. I know you like to be Miss Independent, Elena. But this isn't Mystic Falls." I feel Elijah's curiosity as Jenna said, Mystic Falls.

"I know. I was just going to start heading back. Do you want any food? I was going to stop by Mc D's on the way back, as it's not far from the hotel."

"Jer is happy with that. So that's cool with me. I'll send you forty over. I'll see you within the hour and if you're not back, by this exact minute of the hour in an hour's time, I'm calling the police."

"I'll see you in a bit, Aunt Jenna." We hang up the phone and neither myself nor Elijah likes the idea of separating. In fact, it almost feels painful.

"I forgot to ask, how old are you, Elena?" I felt a little bit embarrassed considering his own age is, is way more higher than mine.

"Almost seventeen. How old were you, when you became a Vampire?" I ask him. Feeling his shock at the mention of my age.

"Twenty-two."

"So I have an old, old man then?" I teased him. I felt his amusement and dislike at the mention of old, old, as they started walking back into the main city central area. His arm is now around my shoulders. He pressed his lips to my ear and whispered in a low tone, so passers-by couldn't hear him speak, like back at the river.

"I'd show you, just how old I'm not if we had time to truly ravish you from head to toe, and claim you as mine." Heat flooded through me, and he tightened his hold around my shoulders.

"Mystic Falls. My brother was talking about it recently, but wouldn't say why he was interested in that area." They walked inside Mcdonald's, and I felt his disgust for it, the smells I'm guessing.

"It's a tiny town in the countryside, that has a church, three schools for different age groups, a community hall, bar and grill, library, café, and a bakery, and one small corner convenience store. There's not a lot there. It's one of those places where everyone knows everyone, and the gossip spreads like wildfire when the tiniest of little things happen! Escaping to here has been a breath of fresh air, to be honest with you."

I glanced at my phone remembering it had gone off and opened it. I gave mine, Jenna and Jer's orders. I asked Elijah if he wanted anything and he internally cringed at the thought. I felt rather amused by his reaction. This bond thing is going to be rather fun, I hope I can still feel him back home. I felt a little fear, and I felt Elijah become on edge and glanced around. I open a blank text box up and text him what I can't say out loud.

Will I still be able to feel you when I am home?

He takes my phone and then hands me it back. I feel a bit disappointed to see he has come off the text bit and then I get a text from a new number, and I realise it is him and that made me happy.

Yes. The bond is always going to be here between us. I'm not sure how much we will feel, but I will be able to tell if you're intimate with another, even a kiss on the lips and vice versa. You won't ever have to feel heartbreak.

E xx

That's reassuring. Already have, unfortunately. I'm over it obviously. As I had other things to recover from, other than a pair of cheaters. I caught my best friend and boyfriend at the time, fucking at a party just before the summer started. I haven't spoken to either of them since! And to make it worse, it all happened on the same night of the crash. I had phoned my Dad for a lift home, being too upset to stay, and my Mum came with him. It was when my dad swerved to avoid hitting a random person who he cursed, for suddenly appearing in the middle of our side of the road… and that's how we ended up going over. It's an old wooden bridge that was no match for a car.

E xx

I felt a tornado of emotions again, whirl around the bond from him, when I mentioned the crash, as he read it. While I paid for and collected the food, he took hold of my hand as we left.

For someone so young, you've been through a lot of shit, one shouldn't have to go through. I'm not a very nice man, Elena. I am basically an elusive, mysterious Mafia Boss. It's taken me decades to perfect it, and nobody knows I'm coming, who have crossed me and mine. I'm selfish and overprotective of my family. You are now top of my list. Whoever hurts you, hurts me. Whoever dares try to take you from me, will have their hearts ripped out, literally and heads will roll. I'm not going to lose you, now I have you, sweetheart.

Exx

Why did that turn me on? He wrapped his arm back around my shoulders, as we left and he whispered in my ear, so only I could hear him.

"You truly are my mate, if you get turned on by that. If you were older, I would push you up against the wall, and bury my cock deep in your ass, that's all mine. You'll see me in action one day… and you may not like what you see, then."

I turn around and take him by surprise, as I grab hold of his tie, and bring his lips to mine. Sparks fly, and I know if we don't break apart now, he'll probably take me in front of everyone. I found myself thinking, I really didn't care either, if he did.

"You don't play fair." People were watching, and I still had hold of his tie, neither of us cared. Lost in our own little bubble, and I loved it.

"Don't talk dirty then! I'm full of surprises. I might not have as much experience old man, but I have a few tricks up my sleeve, and I'm not completely innocent." He narrowed his eyes as I teased him with the old man's comment again, loving his reaction, and I took hold of his hand and started walking to the hotel, a few stores down. Is it weird how I feel this comfortable with him already?

"It's not weird, sweetheart. It's all part of the bond and bond-building process! And yes, you did say it out loud, it's refreshing hearing it honestly."

"It gets me into trouble sometimes," I say. He pulls me into his arms, and rests his forehead against my own, moving his nose up and down mine.

"People don't like hearing the truth, and that isn't your fault, it's theirs, sweetheart. I should let you get going before your Aunt calls again."

"When will I see you again? Why do I feel panic?"

"Shh! We're fine. I'll see you sooner than soon. You have my number and we have the bond. This should help with the distance. I'm not sure how Vampire bonds work, it's new for me too."

He kissed me softly and was gone before I could say anything else. Fucking Vampire perks!

Hehe, love these two :)

Hope you all have had a fab Christmas and have an even better 2025 and beyond :)

P.S. The number of times I've deleted chapters and re-written them isn't even funny, lol. I've been writing this since around October/November time when the idea got stuck in my head and it wouldn't leave me alone, and it finally flowed at some point.