❛ ACT I ❜
-ˋˏ chapter seven ˎˊ-

SOFIA GILBERT'S mind was never at rest, or at least the girl never lets it.

How did her quiet and normal life come crashing down? Her parents' death, her death, her new diet, the supernatural, being in constant danger - her brain can't take it sometimes.

Doing things she always did when she was human helps her mind wind down and remember what it was like to be alive. Some would call it depressing, thinking over what you could have had, but Sofia liked to remind herself of what she did have.

Walking at a human pace through a park near her house was one of the human things she used to do. The duck pond a few yards away from the girl glistened under the sun of the small town. Her blue daylight ring twinkled, gifting Sofia with the pleasure of the sun.

She remembers when she was ten, Elena was nine and Jeremy was seven, they would have a rock skipping contest and whoever won got to choose what desert they would have that night. Sofia always won and chose cake, letting her siblings pick the flavor. And then her and Jeremy would sneak an extra piece to her bedroom to eat while Elena slept.

She smiled at the memory, missing the time when she was human and their lives revoled around arts and craft school projects and play dates with friends.

Her ankle boots clicked against the paved pathway that swirled around the quiet park. Not many were there, just her and a few elderly people and dog walkers. She was wearing her favorite light blue short dress with red flowers because it was a warm day. Besides, she always wears jeans so it was nice to wear a pretty dress.

Sofia didn't realize how much she needed this break. She was constantly fussing over everyone's safety and problems and as much as Sofia loved to help, it got too much sometimes.

Her mind went to Rose and how much she missed her. It's only been two days since her friend's passing and herself and Damon were handling it differently. Her best friend pretended Rose never existed or that he never cried to Sofia about how hard it was to kill her. He moved on quickly, not wanting to dwell.

Sofia on the other hand grieved. She's learnt from her parent's death that denial and anger only hurt you more and she needed to accept that Rose was gone. The vampire's death didn't hurt as much as her parent's death obviously so Sofia was able to move past the sadness and jump right on to acceptance.

Then her mind moved to days prior her friend's death, Elijah's deal. He offered to make sure all Elena's friends and family stay protected by the help of his witches in exchange for Elena to stop putting herself in harms way. He wanted to use her to lure Klaus here and then kill him before he could finish the sacrifice. Sofia wasn't in on the deal, only observing but she was at the top of Elena's list. Not like Elijah wouldn't prioritize her safely over her friends'.

Elijah

Gosh, Sofia didn't know how to feel towards him. She definitely doesn't feel as guarded towards him as before since they are working together but Sofia didn't trust him fully either. But there was this pull that tugged her towards him, it was strange. Sofia never felt it before. Of course, when she revealed this to Caroline the blonde concluded that it was just plain sexual attraction.

Sofia never talks about Elijah to Caroline anymore after that blunt statement. Sure, Sofia was attracted to Elijah but she can control herself, especially since he's just a stranger helping them.

If he's just that then why does Sofia feel a bit disappointed that he hasn't popped up in the last four days?

The eldest Gilbert didn't notice when the ground beneath her turned soft or the tickling sensation of the grass brushing against her ankles, too deep in thought. She was walking off the path with her arms crossed, still thinking over things that came across her mind. Therefore, she didn't take note that she was walking straight into a tree.

Sofia let out an 'oof' as her body came in contact with a hard surface, taking a step back and blinking rapidity. Her eyes focused again and looked up. It was indeed not a tree.

Elijah looked down at her in concern, wearing his usual suit with his hair parted nicely. Sofia really liked his hair - oh my God, Sofia shut up!

"Are you alright?" He asked her, hands leaving her elbows where he stabilized her. She didn't even notice they were there, still shocked.

"Oh, yes I'm fine." She blinked a few times and let out a small but nervous laugh. "Thank you, for saving me from..." She looked behind him and wanted to die from embarrassment. ".... a tree."

Elijah chuckled at her sheepish state, finding it quite cute how the tough vampire that threatened him against his car is now looking as flustered as ever."It was my pleasure, Miss Gilbert."

She titled her head. "Why do you speak so formally?" She asked without thinking before quickly apologizing. "I'm sorry, that came out of nowhere."

Elijah smiled at her, it was charming, she thought. "It's alright. Well I've been alive for centuries and I picked up different languages and ways of speech along the way. My way of speaking just stuck after the earlier years where everyone spoke like this."

As he explained, the two started to walk side by side along the pathway. Sofia listened intently, she was so captivated by his voice she that didn't look where she stepped, and her foot went into a wide hole in the ground making her yelp in surprise.

Are you kidding me?!

Elijah caught her by her waist and lifted her up and back on the even ground, not noticing how mortified she was. "Are you okay?" He asked for the second time in five minutes. Gosh, the universe hates her.

Sofia huffed quietly. "Stop being such a gentleman, it makes it harder to hate you."

She didn't hate him, but he didn't need to know that.

Elijah smirked, a knowing glint in his dark eyes. "I don't think you have the heart to hate me, Miss Gilbert.

Desperate to change the subject she spoke quickly while successfully stepping around the stupid hole that embarrassed her for the second time. "What are you doing here Elijah?"

"Is this not a public place?"

Sofia's eyes widen. "Yes of course, I didn't mean it like that -"

Elijah laughed, laughed. She's never heard him laugh. It sounded rare, like he hasn't for years. But it was a warm laugh and made her want to laugh along.

"I am pulling your leg, Miss Gilbert." He looked at her with a humor, she didn't know he had, in his eyes and she scoffed a laugh of disbelief.

"You made me feel bad!" She shook her head and gently nudged Elijah away from her as they walked.

Elijah couldn't hide the wide smile on his face at seeing his soulmate being playful with him. He truly wishes things could stay as they are at this moment.

"To answer your question." He paused to glance at the side of her face as she looked ahead at the hills of green. She really is the most stunning being he has ever met. "I was walking by, and I saw you about to walk into that tree."

Actually, what really happened was he went to her house to see if she's home in hopes of spending some time with his soulmate. But he knew from the moment he stepped in her driveway that she wasn't there. So, Elijah walked down her street, thinking of places the brunette could be when he caught her scent and found her in the park.

She shrugged. "Oh, I just never saw you as the 'walk in the park type.'"

Elijah looked at her, confused. "What type do you see me as Miss Gilbert?"

"The 'go into an expensive suit store' type." She said honestly, feeling less guarded around him. "Which makes me sound presumptuous seeing as I barely know you." She timidly glanced at him only to catch him already staring at her.

Elijah stopped walking, causing her to stop too, before turning his body fully towards her with his hand out. "Well, let's fix that shall we? A do-over now that we're allies." He smiled at her.

Elijah didn't want to just be allies with the Gilbert, he wanted to have a much deeper and more intimate relationship with her. But he needed to build trust between them. Sofia seeing him as a friend in 'business' will have to do, for now.

Sofia smiled widely, liking the idea of starting over the with Elijah. He's seen her protective side, now she can show him the side she prefers. She slipped her hand in his and didn't bother shaking knowing what Elijah would do.

Elijah felt his dead heart leap at the breathtaking smile she gave him. Like it was made just to show him and make him want to see it every second of everyday of his eternity. Elijah would do anything and everything to make her smile.

As expected, not that Sofia minds, (she secretly loved it), Elijah swiftly brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, the noble original taking pleasure in the reaction he always got from her. "I'm Elijah Mikaelson." He introduced himself again.

"It's nice to meet you Mr Mikaelson." Elijah's already dark eyes darkened further at her words. "I'm Sofia Gilbert, but you can call me Sofia now." She said with an almost shy smile, her soft hand still in his grip.

Elijah was glad he could now call her by her name and not her last name, he didn't understand why he couldn't in the first place but he didn't question her. "Pleasure to meet you, Sofia.

She was hit by a sudden déjà vu and removed her hand from his, laughing softly."You know this is our third time introducing ourselves to each other?"

Elijah titled his head, the divert expression still present on his overly attractive features. "Yes well, the first time we met was in an abandoned mansion and you were kidnapped, and the second time was a few days ago when I entered your house and you looked like you wanted to kill me." He chuckled. "How friendly."

Sofia laughed and before she could continue, her phone rang. "Excuse me for a second." She said apologetically to him before taking a few steps away from him.

"Hey, Care." She greeted her blonde friend.

"Sof, I need you to come over to my house, Stefan's already on his way. It's important!" Caroline's usual bubbly voice was laced with stress on the other end of the call.

"What? Are you okay?"

"Tyler knows! He knows about Mason and he's pissed. He has every right to be but I'm scared he'll te-"

"Caroline!" Sofia firmly cut her friend off from talking too fast. "I'm coming over and you better tell Stefan and I the full story alright?" She sighed, running a hand through her dark locks.

If Damon found out, Tyler is dead and most likely Caroline too for telling Tyler about vampires. Not that Sofia would let him harm Caroline.

"Okay, I'll see you soon."

Sofia hung up and groaned quietly in her hand, so much for a break.

Meanwhile, behind her, Elijah stood with his hands his pockets elegantly, gaze fixed on the woman a few feet away from him. He didn't get a chance to take in her attire, too busy saving her from nature and talking to her. But, God, Elijah wishes he had sooner.

She wore a blue dress that complimented her skin and hugged her body in all the right places. The fabric become tight around her waist and around her chest and Elijah had to force his eyes from not lingering too long at places they shouldn't be. The dress came up to her mid-thigh and her tone legs were on full display to anyone to gaze at.

Elijah didn't like that thought, the idea of others hungrily staring at his gorgeous soulmate. Sofia was free to wear whatever she pleased, it's her body after all, Elijah knows he can kill anyone who dares to stare too long.

He cleared his throat and smiled at Sofia when she walked to stand with him again. "Everything alright?" His voice seemed deeper.

Sofia sighed. "I need to go help Caroline."

He nodded, disappointed that their time was cut short but he knew her loved ones meant everything to her. "I understand Sofia." He lifted her hand again to kiss her knuckles. "I enjoyed our walk." he smiled.

Sofia returned the smile, feeling a ridiculous number of butterflies in her stomach flutter about. "Me too Elijah." She stepped away and waved at him, almost tripping over a rock but luckily, she didn't fall. "Uh - bye!" She said sheepishly before rushing to the exit of the park.

Elijah chuckled fondly, watching Sofia bump into an elderly man and apologize before disappearing from his sight.

Progress, he smiled to himself.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this chapter so much. I love how comfortable Sofia is getting around him.

What do you think? I love to hear your thoughts!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter because in the next, Sofia is going through shit

Please vote!