"Claire?" Elijah grumbles slowly waking up. The sound of crying had woken him up. He was about to fall back asleep when he felt an emptiness in his arms. His eyes slowly opened, it was struggle to keep them open.

"I'm right here" Claire whispers from beside the bed. "I'm feeding Madelyn, go back to sleep." She whispers. Elijah rolls onto his back releasing a long sigh and rubs his face. He glances at the clock noticing it was three in the morning. His head rolls back over to Claire, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. "Why are you staring? Hoping you'll get a sneak peak?" Claire teases.

Elijah grins and he lets out a tired laugh. He tucks his hands behind his head, his eyes still trained on her. She sways side to side slowly as she feeds Madelyn. She's humming a low tune he doesn't recognize.

"How is it that you're still the most beautiful woman in existence even at three in the morning?" He questions in a deep voice that sends pleasant shivers down Claire's spine.

"You should get your eyes checked." Claire jests. Elijah smirks and climbs out of the bed. Madelyn stops feeding from Claire and snuggles in her mothers arms.

"My eyes are as perfect as you are" He whispers in her ear. Claire blushes as Elijah envelopes her with his arms, his head burying in her neck easily as her hair is in a messy bun. She shivers at the feeling of his hot breath which causes him to tighten his grip.

"Flirt" Claire names. Elijah smirks against her skin and moves his head so that his chin rests on her shoulder. "I am going to love her so much more when she lets me sleep a whole night." Claire whispers and Elijah chuckles.

"That's not going to happen for a long time, Elskan" He whispers in her ear.

"What does that mean?" Claire questions, her eyes still trained on Madelyn.

"It can mean a number of things" He whispers to her. "Darling, sweetheart, love. It's Icelandic."

"Oo, fancy" She whispers and he chuckles reburying his nose in her neck. Claire hums pleasantly as she feels his lips kiss her skin softly.

"Madelyn's asleep" He whispers. Claire hums. "You need your sleep." He adds. Claire simply hums again too tired to really process what he's saying at the moment. "Elskan, put Madelyn back to bed please so you can get some sleep."

"I like holding her." Claire whispers.

"I know you do but you're exhausted." He mutters. Claire sighs but nods. She gently sets Madelyn down and allows Elijah to bring her back to bed. "You're a good mother, Claire" Elijah whispers but Claire is already asleep. Elijah smiles and presses his lips on her head before falling asleep as well.

It felt like seconds had passed before her alarm went off telling her it was time to get up for school. Claire whined and turned the alarm off. She cuddles deeper into Elijah's embrace.

Elijah knew he would be the happiest man in the world if he woke up like this every morning. With Claire in his arms, sleeping peacefully. He couldn't even remember a time when he slept so good.

"Do I have to get up?" Claire mumbles against his chest.

"You should go to school, Elskan" Elijah encourages. "And when you're done, we'll do something fun."

"Fun? Elijah, I'm a mother of a 4 month of child. I went to a dance a few days ago, I've had my fill on fun" Elijah smiled tilting his head to look at her.

"You can still have a life while being a mother" He tells her. She laughs. "It's not easy" He agrees. "But I'll help" He promises.

"Madelyn isn't your responsibility and if we do something then I have to get Sarah to watch her and I've practically taken over Sarah's life. She's a 35 year old woman looking after a 17 year old's baby. I can't keep relying on Sarah so much" Claire ranted.

"Claire" Elijah said getting her to look up at him. "A child is a lot of work. You're trying to balance it with school and work. It's ok to rely on other people. It's ok to have fun every once in a while. You have people who care for you. You're sister cares very much, I can already tell." Elijah says.

"I just feel like I keep dumping Madelyn on Sarah to do my own thing." Claire whispers.

"Your education is an important thing, Elskan. And if it's too much, quit your job" He said shrugging.

"And how exactly am I going to support Madelyn?" Claire asked raising her eyebrows at him.

"That's why I'm here, Elskan" He said smirking. "Money is not a problem and I can take care of you." Claire sighed. "What's wrong?" He asked frowning her eyebrows.

"I don't... I don't like the idea of not being in control." She said.

"I'll give you my credit card, you can control it all you want." He says shrugging.

"Giving me your credit card is not a good idea" She warns him. "I tend to be a shopaholic, especially when Caroline gets involved."

"Elskan, I have been alive for a very long time. I haven't needed to spend money on very many things. So, the interest simply continues to build. You could spend as much as you want every day and you wouldn't put a dent in it for a couple lifetimes." He reassures her. "I want to take care of you and Madelyn. I want to take some stress off of your plate. You already have enough to worry about, let me help you."

"You're not going to let this go are you?" She asked. He smirks.

"I'm as persistent as I am patient." He tells her. "And I am a very patient man." Claire smiles and rolls on her back looking at the ceiling. Elijah watches her facial expression knowing something was still troubling her. "Talk to me" Elijah encourages. Claire sighs heavily and rolls her head back to him.

"I just.. I can't help but to think about all the stories I've heard about a woman depending on a man and suddenly he just disappears and she can't support herself. My mother has pounded those stories in my and Caroline's head." Elijah smiled and slowly climbed on top of Claire, supporting himself on his forearms.

"I don't think you quite understand how much you mean to me." Elijah whispers to her. "I also don't think you quiet understand the connection between us."

"Soulmates." Claire muttered and he nods.

"It means that we're connected. It means that there isn't another person in the world I would rather be with. That I would rather wake up beside, live my life beside and love for the rest of my life. There isn't a thing in the world I wouldn't do for you. The very thought of not being with you is agonizing. I will destroy anybody who brings you harm or even upsets you."

"That's a little excessive isn't it?" Claire asked.

"Elskan" He whispers. "I am being as vague as I can be about the harm I will cause the person or people who harm or upset you. Destroy is too kind of a word but I do not wish to frighten you."

"That's a lot to get my head around." She whispers. Elijah smiles and kisses her forehead before resting his weight on her. Claire smiles and wraps her arms around his body, rubbing his back slowly enjoying the feeling of his muscles under her hand. "About that credit card" Claire brought back up with a grin. Elijah smirks against her skin.

"It's yours whenever you want." He promises. One of Claire's hands go up to his hair, slowly combing through it.

"I could get used to that" Claire whispers. Elijah chuckles kissing her skin lightly.

"Claire!! I'm leaving soon!" Caroline shouted. Claire groaned hugging Elijah tighter. The Original rolls on his back, bringing Claire with him. She grins and moves to rest her head on his chest. Elijah plays with her blond hair while Claire just relaxes on top of him. "Claire! Sarah's here!" Caroline shouted.

"I love my sister but I really wish she would shut up" Claire grumbles. Elijah laughs quietly and kisses the top of her head.

"I think it's time we get up, Elskan" He whispers to her. She sighs but nods and yet doesn't move. He smiles in amusement down at her. Soon, Caroline is pounding on her door and Claire whines.

"Stop cuddling Mr. Perfect and come out, we need to go to school." Caroline snips through the door.

"If we don't get up, her next step is to break into the room and throw water" Claire whispers. "You call yourself a persistent man but you don't know my sister." She smirks at Elijah.

"I'm learning" Elijah mumbles. He sighs as she reluctantly climbs off of him. She stands up and stretches as he gets off the bed as well.

"Will you come back later?" She asked hopefully.

"Nothing could stop me." He promises before kissing her forehead. He then walks over to Madelyn and places a soft kiss on her forehead. Claire smiles as her heard swells at the sight. "Have a good day, I'll see you later" He reassures.

"I'll be waiting" She said. He grins before disappearing.

"You two are disgustingly cute" Caroline said from behind the door. Claire rolls her eyes and opens the door seeing Caroline standing there with a goofy grin on her face.

"Why are you eavesdropping?" Claire asks tilting her head and crossing her arms.

"Because, I want to make sure you're making good choices." Caroline defended herself.

"Or your being nosy" Claire corrected. Caroline shrugged.

"It's not like I got anything juicy" Caroline said coming into her room. "But I did hear the bit about the credit card, when are we getting our hands on that?" Caroline asked sitting on the couch.

"And why would I use his money on you?"

"Because we're a package deal" Caroline said in an obvious tone. Claire nodded dramatically. "Wear something cute so you'll look amazing when you come home to Mr. Perfect."

"Mr. Perfect has a name." Claire reminded her as she looked through her drawers for clothes.

"Don't ruin my fantasy" Caroline hummed. Claire turned her head.

"Don't be fantasizing about Elijah" Claire pointed at her. "He's mine Blondie" Caroline grinned and laughed at her sister. Claire looked back at her clothes and groaned.

"What's wrong?" Caroline asked standing up.

"None of my cute clothes fit, I still have pregnancy fat." Claire whined.

"You don't exercise anymore" Caroline reminded her.

"Have a 4 month old on top of school and work, tell me when you can exercise" Claire snips.

"Alright, don't bite my head off" Caroline said holding her hands up.

"I'm sorry. I'm not used to this. I'm usually extremely active with Track and Cheerleading plus I used to do things on the side but now I just never have the time. My body is suffering because of it. Then there's Elijah who looks like he was sculpted by the gods and here I am!" Claire grumbles in frustration.

"Relax, it's ok. You're quitting you're job right?" Caroline asked. Claire shrugs. "The hottest man in existance says his unlimited credit card is yours for multiple life times and you're gonna continue to work in a stupid grocery store?" Caroline asked resting her hands on her hips.

"Point taken" Claire mumbled.

"Exactly. So, you go to school and you work out on your free time. There's probably a bunch of stuff you can do with Madelyn so you'll be bonding with her and losing weight." Caroline told her. "And you'll be back in your regular body before you know it."

"Thanks Caroline." Claire said looking at her gratefully.

"Of course" Caroline said giving her a quick hug. "Now get changed, no sweatpants, and meet me in the car." Claire gives her a salute before getting dressed in her jeans.

The entire day Claire looked forward to seeing Elijah again. She missed him. Even when she was talking to her friends, which they had noticed the change in her mood, she had her mind on Elijah.

"I told Tyler I'm a vampire" That's what brought Claire out of her Elijah-induced daze.

"You did what?" Claire asked her sister slowly.

"He was so scared about being a werewolf. He thought that I was one as well and he is very persistent" Caroline said defensively. "He thinks he's alone in this and I felt bad for him. So I told him I'm a vampire and that I would help him through this."

"Caroline, a werewolf bite could kill you" Claire said. "This isn't safe."

"It's safer than you doing it." Caroline said. "And no one else was going to help him. I'm being a good friend."

"You taking a very big risk. One mistake, one bite and I could lose you, Caroline" Claire snapped.

"He wouldn't hurt me." Caroline told her.

"What makes you so sure?" Claire snapped. "Not like Mason could control himself, Tyler won't be able to do it either."

"I'm going to be fine, Claire. I'm just helping him. I promise, I'll be careful." Claire sighed worriedly.

"I can't lose you, Caroline" Claire whispers. Caroline sighs and hugs her sister tightly. Claire groans. "Little lighter there, Care-bear"

"Oh! Sorry" Caroline quickly released her. Claire gives her a reassuring smile. "Just.. trust me" Caroline tells her. "I know what I'm doing."

"You better because if he so much as even scratches you, I'm draining him of his supernatural energy until his heart stops beating." Claire threatens.

"I'll hold him down for you." Caroline promises. Claire smirks as Caroline raises her pinkie. "BTBFF?" She asks innocently. Claire sighs but grins as she wraps her pinkie around her sisters.

"BTBFF" Claire responds pressing her forehead on her sisters.

*Ok, so I know she's a bit obsessive about her figure but that's just who she is if you haven't noticed. She cares a LOT about how she looks and she has a very stereotypical version of a 'perfect' body. THIS IS NOT MY OPINION IN REAL LIFE. I am no where near the stereotypical version of the 'perfect' body. However, both her and Caroline care about stuff like that so that's why I make her a bit obsessive. This isn't the first time she's gone on about her figure and it won't be the last so I thought that I should say something so people don't get mad and if you still do well then have fun being mad at a fictional character, happens to me all the time.*