"Are you going to talk to me or are you going to keep giving me the silent treatment?" Claire asked coming into her room while drying her hair. She had just gotten out of the shower and Elijah was standing beside Madelyn's crib watching her sleep.

"I'm not giving you the silent treatment" He tells her calmly. Claire scoffs, rolling her eyes.

"You haven't said a word to me since you saw Henrik... That was last night." Claire said. Elijah sighed looking up at her. Despite the hard expression on her face he could see the hurt in her eyes causing his face to soften. He walks over to her and pulls her into a gentle hug. She nestles her head in his chest, he presses a gentle kiss on her head.

"I'm sorry" He whispers. "I've just been thinking a lot" He muttered.

"That's fine, Elijah." Claire whispered before pulling her head back. She grabs his face moving it so he was looking at her. "It's ok to think and to process things but it's not ok to just not talk to me" She told him. 

Elijah doesn't respond at first. Claire searches his eye for any clue to what he was thinking but she honestly didn't know. She wasn't used to it. She was used to being able to read people but she couldn't with Elijah, not yet at least.

"Tyler and I got together a while ago. I fell in love with him very quickly and the feelings were mutual... at first." She said stepping away from him. Elijah's hands slip off of her as she walks around the room, his eyes trained on her the entire time. "Obviously, Tyler has always had a temper, because of the curse" Elijah nods sitting on her bed not interrupting her. "And sometimes I can have a temper as well and it always seemed to come out when his came out. We had just as man fights as we had good times. Sometimes the fights were just screaming other times they were worse."

"How much worse?" Elijah questioned when she took a long pause. Claire sighed running a had through her hair. Elijah shifted in his seat.

"Sometimes the fights got... physical." She muttered but he heard it clear as day. His fists clenched and his eyes darkened. "Nothing too serious, to me at least. He has a couple of scars from when I got a little too crazy" She laughs nervously hoping she could lighten the mood. Elijah's face stays stone cold.

Elijah stands and paces in front of her. Claire shifts her weight from foot to foot. His silence made her anxiety spike higher and higher. Eventually, she couldn't take the silence anymore and she stepped in his pacing path forcing him to stop.

"Talk to me Elijah" She begs grabbing his hands but he pulls away from her. She pouts and takes a step away from him. He eyes soften but they harden as he remembers what she's told him.

Every atom in his being screamed at him to find Tyler Lockwood and rip him limb from limb. The only thing that was stopping him from doing that very thing was the beautiful woman in front of him. He knew she would be angry with him if he killed Tyler and every second that passed he struggled to stay in the room.

"When was the last time he touched you in such a way?" Elijah questioned in restrained anger. Claire sighed shaking her head.

"That's not important." Claire told him.

"Not impor-" Elijah growled and started to pace in a different direction. "Of course it's important, Claire." He snapped. "He dare lays a hand on you?" He growled to himself.

"It's not like I was a defenseless victim, Elijah. I fought back and I fucked him up sometimes. He never took it too far-"

"The second he laid a hand on you in a harmful way, he took it too far." Elijah spat. Claire sighs watching him get more worked up by the second. "I just want to find him and rip his throat out."

"You're not going to" Claire told him sternly. Elijah comes to a stop and he turns to her.

"Why do you protect him? Do you still love him?" Elijah questioned stalking towards her slowly. Claire takes a few steps back trying to not look intimidated. Her heart rate escalates. She knows he won't hurt her but she didn't like his anger directed towards her.

"Not in a romantic way, not anymore." Claire reassures him. He backs her into the wall and she jumps slightly startled. She takes a calming breath and looks into Elijah's eyes. "But he's Madelyn's father, she needs him." She stresses. "I'm not going to let you take him from her." She said pressing her finger on his chest firmly. She takes a few steps away from the wall forcing Elijah to walk backwards. "And don't walk all up on me like I'm going to submit to you like some bitch" She growled pushing him away from her. A burst of courage mixed with mild anger courses through her.  "I don't need you to fight my battles, I can handle myself just fine. I've been dealing with Tyler my entire life, I know how to handle him."

"If he ever touches you again, whether it is an innocent touch or one meant to harm you, I will tear out his vital organs." Elijah threatens.

"He's my baby daddy, my responsibility. If anyone if going to be ripping out any of his organs, it's going to be me. I'm dealing with Tyler, you're staying out of the way." She tells him going to press her finger to his chest but her grabs it gently.

"I make no promises" He whispers and kisses her hand softly. "You're mine, Elskan. I won't allow him to harm nor touch you." He said pulling her to him.

"Relax, Elijah" Claire whispers rubbing his chest with her free hand. "He's not going to hurt me, he's not going to touch me. I don't love him romantically anymore. He's Madelyn's father and a friend, that's it." She reassures. "Now, take a deep breath, calm down, and cuddle with me." Claire pouted in a puppy dog face. Elijah smiles relaxing.

"Anything for you" Elijah tells her and presses her lips to her forehead. He leads her to the bed, the pair of them laying down.

"Don't give me the silent treatment again.. If you start using it then I won't be able to use it when I get mad at you." She mutters. He smiles and tightens his grip on her. She moves so that she was laying on top of him, her chin resting on his chest. He rests his hand under his head and looks at her.

"How close are you to bringing my brother back?" Elijah questions.

"Bonnie and I have been working on it. We're either very close or completely off" Claire told him honestly. "We're technically two armature witches... I just try to be positive."

"Well, I know a few very powerful witches that can help you." Claire lifted her head and smiles.

"Really?" She asked and he nodded.

"I want to bring my bother back just as much as you do." He tells her. "And I will help in anyway possible."

"Thank you" She whispers.

"Of course" He whispers back. Claire moves up his body more so her face hovers over his.

"Elijah" She whispers. He hums his eyes relaxed as they pour into hers. "I know we're technically soulmates but the last thing I want to do is assume anything. I don't know... I don't know how this works, where you stand with.. us." 

Elijah gently rolls Claire onto her back and props himself up on his elbows while hovering over her. Claire's heart races slightly as she waits for his response. Without being able to help it, Claire slides a hand from her side up to his hair. She combs through it slowly, he leans into her touch.

"I stand wherever you stand" He whispers. "I will go as fast or as slow as you wish." Claire's hand moves from his hair down his cheek. Her thumb glides against his skin softly.

"I want to go a little faster small talk" She whispers in response. He smirks slightly and presses his forehead on hers.

"How much faster, Elskan" He mutters their lips barely a centimeter apart. Claire grins softly, her eyes searching Elijah's. He doesn't move any closer, just waits for her.

"Just a little bit faster" She whispers edging closer to him. He smiles at her hesitance. He brushes their lips together fighting to control himself. The light brush seems to give her the confidence she needs to press their lips together more firmly. Elijah responds instantly, pressing her further into the mattress.

Their lips mold together. Claire wraps an arm around his neck while gripping his shirt with the other hand. Elijah's hand grips the bedding tight enough to have broken Claire's bones. Elijah fights against his instincts, against his primal desire to claim his mate, to completely devour her, to cherish every inch of her skin.

"About that much faster" She breathes after pulling away. He smiles brushing his knuckles against the side of her face. He lowers his head and kisses her gently. He pulls away and slides off of her but keeps her close. He nuzzles his head into her neck his body completely relaxed.

Claire lifts her hand and plays with his hair. She knew she was obsessed with it but she couldn't help it. She loves the feeling of his hair. Of soft it is, how it never seems to tangle. Elijah hums pleasurably. He loves the feeling of her fingers through his hair, he honestly loved anything she did, specifically to him.

"Stay with me forever" Claire whispers to him. He smiles and presses his lips against her skin. His lips linger there for a few moments before they retract.

"There's no place I'd rather be" He whispers to her. She smile while leaning her head against his. His arms tighten instinctively at her movement.

"I never thanked you" Claire says out of the blue. Elijah hums questionably. "For saving my life the first time we met." Elijah tenses as he thinks about the first time he saw her.

"I should have dragged his death out" Elijah growls. His grip tightens tightly.

"Easy, Elijah" Claire whispers. He pulls his head from her neck and loosens his grip on her.

"I'm sorry, Elskan" He apologizes. She smiles and turns her head towards him. Their heads rest on the pillow, facing each other. "You don't have to thank me" He whispers to her. He rests his hand on the side of her face. She lifts her hand and covers his. She moves his hand to kiss his palm softly. "I'll always look out for you, protect you, have your back. Whatever you need." 

Claire smiles and shuffles closer to him. She places a soft kiss on his lips. He grips her waist eliminating any space that could have been there before. She pulled away a short time later. She snuggles up to him comfortably before attempting to fall asleep.

It was amazing how easy it was. Being with Elijah. Acting around him. She trusted him completely and felt like she could tell him anything. He didn't judge her for being a Siphoner. He protected her before he even knew her. He promises forever after just a few days. She knew she could rely on him.

"Stop thinking so hard, Elskan. Go to sleep" He whispers. She smiles and snuggles closer to him. He presses a kiss on the top of her head before she fell asleep.

*Oh my fucking God this took me FOREVER to write!! I'm so sorry it's shorter than normal but I hope it's just as good. I love you all! Thank you so much for liking this story, it means so much to me!!*