Summary: How the meeting between Elijah and Elena could have gone. Elijah sniffs Elena and comes to an earth shattering conclusion. Starts like the series, ends (off course) differently.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and situations are property of L.J. Smith and The CW Television Network.

Last time: The inside of the house is magnificent. It is exactly how I would picture my dream house. I could live here, I thought to myself. However, it's time to face reality so I ask him why I'm here.

Chapter 2

"Elena, when Rose told me she had a human doppelganger in her possession I thought her crazy, the Petrova line had ended with Katarina. However, that fact seems to be false, it has to be false because here you are, standing right in front of me. I was ecstatic, I thought I could finally get back in my brother's good graces by presenting you to him for the sacrifice needed to break a curse put upon him a thousand years ago, and consequently kill him in the change. Don't be afraid, that intention left me as soon as I smelled your blood. When I smelled you, I felt something I never thought I would feel again since turning into a vampire. I felt home, safe, loved... worthy. That's when it hit me. Finally, after all these years, I've finally come face to face with my mate. Every vampire has a mate, some mates have already died before the turn and in that case the vampire would never know the difference. Others have to wait for centuries before their mate is even born and are always subconsciously searching for them. When a vampire meets his or her mate, the attraction is instant. You, Elena, are my mate. Born to be with me, to be mine. I will never let my brother sacrifice you, for your death would surely mean the end of my sanity. I've met you only 2 hours ago but already I cannot live without you anymore."

His confession startled me, but it also gave me a bit of clarity into what I was feeling at the moment. I, too, was feeling things I'd never felt when I was with Stefan. Although I loved Stefan very much, he never made me feel so completely at home as I currently feel with Elijah. It's like he said, the attraction was instant.

He was looking hesitantly at me, like he expected me to freak out or something. Well, that wasn't going to happen. I may not be ready to jump his bones just yet, but I have no intention to leave him hanging. I turned my body towards his and raised my hand to reach his face. My fingertips softly stroked from his temple to his jaw and this little piece of skin on skin contact caused shivers through my spine. The contact seems to have similar effects on Elijah because he closes his eyes and leans his face into my hand. He reaches for me and pulls me into a hug. I rest my head on his shoulder, the highest part of him I can reach, and he rests his cheek on the top of my head.

We stand like this for a good 5 minutes, before he pulls out of the embrace. He asks me to say something, to acknowledge what he's just told me.

"It's a bit much to process, to know that I'm someone's mate. To know that you have waited so long just for me to be born and then to meet me. But I can't deny the feelings you stir up in me, from the very first time I laid eyes on you. I thought you were handsome, and while Rose and Trevor seemed to shit seven colours in their pants I felt like I had nothing to be afraid of."

He looks pleased by my words and pulls me into another strong embrace. Hugging me to him like there's no tomorrow.

"So, you don't reject the mating pull?", he asks me. "No, Elijah. I don't". I couldn't, even if I wanted to. He makes me feel complete, so strongly I can feel it in the very core of my being.

With those words he grabs my face in his hands and slowly leans in. His lips are coming closer to mine and soon there is but an inch keeping them apart. He looks up into my eyes, searching for something. Apprehension? Hesitation? Approval? He must have found the latter one because suddenly he closes the distance and I can feel his soft lips on mine for the first time. If there was ever a moment for fireworks to start shooting in the air, this was it. His lips felt so good, I was in heaven. He kissed me forcefully but gentle at the same time, passionate and loving. His hands move into my hair and mine come up to his. I grab his hair into my hands and pull him even closer to me. It's all happening so fast and for a split second, Stefan passes through my thoughts. That makes me break the kiss.

He looks a bit hurt by my withdrawal, but when my hands stay in his hair and I lean my forehead against his, the look disappears. "I can't yet, Elijah. I have to speak with Stefan first".

"Stefan?", he asks. "My boyfriend. He's a vampire too, turned by Katherine in 1864. I have to speak with him, explain why I can't be with him anymore, before anything happens between us. It's the right thing to do. I'd feel guilty if I didn't, and I don't want to regret anything that happens between us".

"I take it a phone call will not diffuse your worries of guilt and regret?", he states more than asks.

"No, I don't think it will".

"Well then, I guess I'll have to return you to your hometown after all. It was not in my itinerary of the day but well, nothing what has happened so far is going as I had planned. Would you like to take the car this time around?"

"Yes, I think I would. It's slower than your vampire speed right? So the journey would take longer?". He nods. Great, I think to myself. I could stay in his presence with no worries for a little while longer.

He leads me to his car, a black Audi convertible. The weather is lovely, so he takes the top off and with that we start our long journey back to Mystic Falls, to face Stefan. I hope he'll understand why I can't be with him anymore but somehow I doubt that.