A/N: This is for _true_

And holy hell is it long. Hope you like it. 

Warnings: Super long, feels and some making out. 

***

You leaned your head against the back of the couch and ran your hands down your face. You'd spent most of the day looking through grimoires, searching for spells and you were exhausted. Esther was out there somewhere, threatening your friends and you were looking for a way to stop her for good. 

"I think it's time for you to take a break, Darling," a smooth voice said and you cracked your eyes open to peer at Kol as he leaned against the door frame. 

"Yeah," you muttered. "On the plus side, I found the unlinking spell. It will be easy enough to do once we find Finn."

He grinned. "That is good news." He dropped onto the couch beside you and pressed a kiss to the side of your head. 

The gesture made you smile. Kol, despite his psychopathic tendencies, was your best friend. You let yourself lean against his side and he wrapped an arm around your shoulders to pull you closer. You were asleep within moments.

***

"What precisely is going on here?" a familiar, clipped voice asked. It was enough to pull you from your deep slumber but you kept your eyes closed hoping you'd find sleep once again. It had been in short supply as of late.

"She's resting, Elijah." You flinched from the anger in Kol's voice. He made comforting noises and ran his fingers through your hair. "Poor thing has worn herself ragged trying to find a way to stop Mother."

Elijah sighed. "I understand she is resting, Kol, but is it necessary she do so in your lap?"

"Necessary? Well, no but far be it for me to relocate her."

You blinked your eyes open when someone picked you up. Elijah was frowning at Kol. "Then allow me." Realizing you were awake, he smiled down at you, his eyes softening. "It is all right, Y/N. Go back to sleep."

You closed your eyes and nestled against his chest. His arms squeezed you closer as he carried you through the house. You could spend days just like this, but unfortunately it wasn't long before you were laid in a bed and covered with a warm, thick blanket. Elijah always remembered you liked the weight of a heavy blanket on you while you slept. 

You thought you heard the suited Original chuckle as you nuzzled your pillow and drifted back into a deep sleep.

***

It was dark. So dark. You stumbled and tripped as you ran through the forest. Over and over again you would have to swerve at the last moment to keep from running face first into a tree. You couldn't run anymore. Your lungs were on fire and you sucked in mouthfuls of air trying to get your heart to quit pounding. 

"You can't run from me, child. I don't know why you try." Esther's voice echoed in the distance. The Original witch. She found out you were trying to help your friends, her children, and  tried to kill you. You'd managed to escape her briefly but now she pursued you with a single minded intensity. 

"Do you honestly think you can hurt me? That you can beat me?" The voice came from right in front of you this time and you jerked your head up to find the witch bitch right in front of you.

She gripped your chin in her hand. "You chose the wrong side." A thin, cold finger pressed against the middle of your forehead and pain pierced through your brain. You began to scream, a wordless sound filled with agony and pleading. You began to shake and still the pain came. 

You sat up in the bed with a gasp as you realized the shaking was someone trying to wake you. Your head ached as you panted, trying to catch your breath. 

"Bloody hell, love," Klaus said, sounding relieved. "Never make that sound again. It was horrifying."

You ran a hand down your face. "Your mom was trying to melt my brain."

He blinked a couple of times and glanced to the door. You followed his gaze to see a worried Kol and Rebekah leaning in the opening. He waved them away. "Go. I have her."

He pushed a loose piece of hair behind your ear. "I believe I would have made a similar sound had Mother been melting my brain, as well. You're forgiven for scaring the lot of us."

"Oh, thank you. Because my main concern was how you all would react to my nightmare." You rolled your eyes.

He chuckled. "There's our Y/N. Back to sleep, little witch."

He waited for you to settle and fixed the blanket over the top of you again. "Where's Elijah?" you asked quietly before he could leave the room. You'd tried not to, but you needed to know.

You didn't miss the smirk he tried to hide before turning back to you. "He is at the Grill speaking with someone who claimed to have information on Finn."

"Oh," was all you said. You were close with the whole family, but Elijah was the one you sought out when you needed comforting or were feeling lonely. You glanced at the clock surprised to find it only a little after midnight. 

"Would you like me to summon him? He will return home if you wish it, little witch," Klaus offered, a hint of teasing in his tone. They all knew you liked Elijah and, while they didn't outright make fun of you for it, they certainly found it amusing. "Or I could stay with you until you go back to sleep?"

Sleep was the last thing you wanted to do right now. "Actually, I think I'm going out," you said and tossed back the blanket. 

He didn't even try to hide his smile this time. "While the bedhead is sexy, you may wish to freshen up the rest of you, love. You look as if you've been sleeping in your clothes."

You threw a pillow in his direction causing him to laugh as he walked out the door, shutting it behind him. 

It didn't take you long to change your clothes and 'freshen up' as Klaus put it. Your hair actually didn't look half bad, surprisingly. You found keys and some money on the table by the front door. 

"Have fun. Don't be home too late," Klaus called from the living room. Rebekah and Kol both chuckled causing you to roll your eyes. You didn't live there, they just liked to think you did. And they were probably laughing because as far as they were concerned you were chasing after Elijah. And maybe you were a little, but you weren't getting back to sleep without seeing him.

***

When you arrived at the Grill, you spotted Elijah immediately. His eyes came to you as if he'd felt your presence and he frowned, a question in his eyes. You shook your head and held up a hand letting him know you were fine. He nodded when you gestured to the bar. He could come find you when he finished. You didn't want to interrupt his business. And you could really use a drink.

You sat at the bar and ordered your usual. The bartender handed you your drink and you took a bracing sip. Closing your eyes, you sighed in relief. 

"Long day?" a familiar voice asked from beside you. 

"Hello, Damon," you said with a small smile before you opened your eyes to glance at him. 

He, of course, was smirking at you. "Hello, Y/N. You know, it seems to me your life would be much simpler if you quit hanging out with the Originals."

You hummed and nodded slightly. "I suppose that is true. You know, though, it seems to me your life would be much simpler if you quit drooling over Elena."

He narrowed his eyes. "I do not drool."

You shrugged one shoulder, but didn't address it further. You went to take another sip of your drink and he took the glass from your hand, setting it on the bar. You scowled at him. Giving you grief about your relationship with the Originals was one thing. Taking your drink was quite another.

"I'm serious, Y/N. Why do you hang out with them? You're smart, pretty, surely you can get some more mentally stable friends." His eyes looked over you as if he sincerely wanted an answer.

"Damon, there are times when I think, Damon's not so bad. He's a nice guy, he's funny, why is everyone always giving him shit?" You leaned toward him as you spoke and his smirk was back full force. He leaned toward you slightly. You looked between his eyes and his lips making him think you were going to kiss him. Then you sat up and grabbed your glass to down your drink.  "And then we have a conversation like this and I think, Oh, yeah. That's why." 

"Mr. Salvatore," Elijah said from behind you as he placed his hands on your shoulders. "Thank you for keeping Y/N company while I tended to my business."

Damon tilted his head and narrowed his gaze. "If you don't mind, Elijah. Y/N and I were having a moment. You're interrupting."

You signaled for another drink. At this rate you were going to need it. 

Elijah squeezed your shoulders lightly. You knew that signal. That meant he was about to say or do something he was fairly certain you wouldn't like and he didn't want you to react to it. You counted to ten slowly in your head and took a sip from your newly refilled glass. "I find that unlikely, Damon. Contrary to your experience with other women, Y/N isn't the sort to have moments with other men when she has a boyfriend."

Damon snorted. "Boyfriend? Since when?"

You weren't certain whether to share in Damon's curiosity or be annoyed he seemed unable to believe you had one. 

"Since now," Elijah snapped and grabbed your glass to carry it over to the table he'd been at before. 

You hopped off the barstool and gave Damon a little wave as he stared after the Original. "Bye Damon. Tell Stefan to give me a call." He nodded at you but kept his eyes glued to Elijah.

Elijah was already scowling at the drink in his hand by the time you made it to his table. Your glass sat across from him. You looked at him for a long moment, but he didn't even glance up. You snatched your glass from the table and slid onto the bench next to him. You bumped him with your hip. "Scoot."

He glanced at you in surprise. "Are we expecting someone else?" he asked even as he slid over. 

"Nope. I just want to sit next to my boyfriend."

His mouth opened and closed several times as he stared at you with wide eyes. 

You smirked as you sipped at your drink. You couldn't help the thread of disappointment you felt knowing he wasn't interested in you that way, but damned if you'd let it show. Finally deciding to put him out of his misery, you patted Elijah's thigh. "It's okay, Elijah. I was just teasing. Thank you for rescuing me."

He turned slightly in the seat so he was facing you and put his arm on the back of the bench. "Why are you here?"

You held up your glass without looking at him.

"Nice try. We have alcohol at home. Unless Niklaus and Kol have drunk it all, which I suppose is possible."

There it was. That word. Home. "You do know that I have an apartment, right?"

"What?" It was obvious from his tone that your statement confused him. 

"You all keep calling your house my home. And I realize I do practically live there, but I don't remember when that happened." You turned your glass in your hand. "Or when I became content to let it."

But that was a lie. You knew exactly when you quit protesting and practically moved into one of the guest rooms. It was the day you realized you loved the elegant Original sitting next to you. God, you were a fool. Maybe it was time for you to go to your own home for a change. Maybe it would give your poor heart a break.

"I should go, Elijah," you said after you downed the rest of your drink.

He snagged an arm around your hip and pulled you back against his side. "Not so fast, Y/N. We're not finished here."

You glanced up at him and found him looking at you much the way you had Damon earlier when you were teasing. You swallowed past the lump in your throat and sucked in a much needed breath. 

"What is it you need, Damon?" Elijah was clearly irritated but his eyes didn't leave yours as he spoke to the other vampire. 

A quick glance, showed Damon was indeed standing beside your table looking between the two of you. "The lady said she wanted to go. I suggest you let her."

Elijah pursed his lips and looked down briefly between turning all of his furious attention on your sometimes friend. "Mr. Salvatore, I have until this point, been tolerant of your interference in affairs that do not concern you. Y/N however is the exception. I assure you that your interference is neither necessary nor welcome. Now, might I suggest you leave in the most expedient manner available before I show you your own heart."

Damon gulped but to his credit he didn't immediately leave. Instead he looked at you. "Are you okay here?"

Elijah started to stand and you pulled him back down. You grabbed his face in your hands and slammed your lips into his before you could lose your nerve. He froze for just a moment. Just long enough to have panic flooding through you. As you were about to pull away, his hands grasped your head and his fingers wove into your hair. He turned your head slightly and took control of the kiss, deepening it. 

Your heart raced and you concentrated on savoring every moment, on remembering every detail of this kiss in case it never happened again. It wasn't until Elijah pulled back that you realized you had shifted so you straddled his lap. You were undoubtedly giving the rest of the Grill quite a show. Your cheeks heated and you pressed your forehead to Elijah's. 

"I believe we scared off your rescuer," he said with a chuckle and kissed your forehead. "Let's go home." 

The two of you untangled yourselves and stood. Elijah pulled some money from his pocket and tossed it on the table. Placing a hand on your back, he steered you out the door and into the crisp night air. He led you to his car and opened the passenger door for you. "We'll get the other car tomorrow."

You nodded but didn't say anything. You kept your gaze focused out of your window, occasionally sneaking glances at Elijah from the corner of your eye. What did all of this mean? He certainly wasn't saying anything, or even touching you anymore. Both of his hands were on the wheel as he drove you home.

You followed him into the house only to be met with the sounds of his siblings laughing. Normally the sound brought you joy, but for some reason, you had a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. The two of you exchanged a frown then walked into the living room.

"Well, you three are certainly enjoying each other's company," Elijah said as he straightened the cuffs on his jacket. 

Klaus grinned. "I see our little witch found you. But then I already knew that."

Your face burned. Surely he wasn't going to make fun of you now. Not here, in front of Elijah.

Elijah sighed. "What are you talking about, Niklaus?"

Rebekah grinned and tossed her phone to him. "Matt was working tonight." 

You glanced over to see a picture of you and Elijah kissing with you on his lap. You glanced up to his face only to find he wouldn't even look at you as he stared at the picture. Tears flooded your eyes and you dropped your head before they could see. "Good night," was all you said before hurrying away, the siblings laughter trailing behind you.

What a fool you were to think even for a minute he might want you the same way you wanted him. And to think the others were your friends. You were here because you served a purpose. They wanted you in the  house so they could keep an eye on you. That was all. You grabbed your duffle bag and filled it with your things. You couldn't fit it all, but you got the most important bits. The rest you could replace. 

You wiped away the tears that had leaked to run down your cheeks and took a breath before opening the door. If luck was with you, you could get out the front door without them noticing. Luck was apparently not with you. Elijah was leaning on the wall across from your room with his hands in his pockets and his head down. It jerked up when he heard your door open. He smiled when he saw you, then frowned when he saw the bag in your hand. "Where are you going?"

"Home." Your voice cracked as you said it. You tightened your grip on your bag as if it would give you some sort of confidence. Not likely.

He stepped forward until he was only inches away. You kept your eyes on his chest, not wanting to meet his eyes. "You are home," he said simply.

You shook your head. "My apartment."

"I see," he said. There was a long stretch of silence until he said, "Then let me come with you."

You looked up in surprise. "Why would you want to come with me?" You didn't want his pity but you couldn't seem to voice the thought. 

His hand hooked around the side of your neck as he looked into your eyes. "Haven't you guessed by now, Y/N? My home is wherever you are. If you want to live in your tiny apartment or this lovely, elegant home with my siblings, I want to be there with you."

"But you don't love me. You can't possibly," you insisted, trying to understand what he was telling you. 

"I've loved you since the moment you stood your ground with Niklaus. Your beauty attracted me, but your spirit captured me, Y/N." His eyes searched yours again. "In my thousand years, I have never been as terrified as I am right now. Please tell me that you'll be mine." He brushed his lips softly back and forth against yours. "Be my home."

Your bag fell to the floor with a thud and you wrapped your arms around his neck. You held him to you as you continued where you'd left off at the bar. His hands gripped your thighs as he lifted and you jumped up to wrap your legs around his waist. He sped you to his room, slamming the door behind you and locking it. You grinned against his lips and cast a silence spell. 

***

Kol scratched his head as he padded down the hall. He'd managed to pull on a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt but that was as fashion forward as he was getting. He still felt bad about hurting Y/N's feelings. Their teasing had been directed more at Elijah than her but she hadn't known that. His elegant brother had not spared his opinion on the matter the night before. Kol winced remembering the rather brutal chastisement they had all received. 

He tripped over something and scowled. A look back showed Y/N's duffle bag laying on the floor in the middle of the hallway. He frowned and peeked into her room to find it empty. He placed the bag inside the room and headed down to see if his siblings knew what was going on.

As he reached the foot of the stairs his phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out. He grinned when he saw the text message. 

"What's got you so happy this morning?" Rebekah snapped.

"I thought after Elijah's lecture last night you'd be as foul-tempered as the rest of us," Klaus said and sipped his coffee.

Kol tossed his phone to his brother and headed into the kitchen as the other two read the text. 

Y/N requests your pancakes and a large coffee. And blood for me. Apparently I'm bitey. She says all is forgiven if you deliver to my door in the next thirty minutes.

The siblings shared a grin knowing their favorite witch was now part of the family. Always and forever.