Imagine Elijah telling you he's in love with you at the Mikaelson ball after hiding it since you met

   Jealousy. Eager behaviour. Overthinking. Seeking for attention. Smiling, blushing, shaking.

   Elijah loosened his collar as he felt uncomfortable reading common signs of having a crush on someone, feeling more and more convinced that he had fallen in love with you. He swallowed thickly, and continued to scroll down to read more symptoms as he considered them, licking his dry lips swiftly while imagining your beautiful smile in his head, which led into him breaking into a smile of his own.

   It had been a long, long while since he fell in love, and after a year of admiring you, he started to evaluate his feelings for you. And, now that times had changed and he could search all kinds of things up on the internet, the first thing he did, was google signs of having a crush. And the more he read them, the more he started to feel like he did indeed love you, more than as a friend.

   "Has the cupid targeted our dear Elijah?", Klaus's voice startled the eldest of the two, and Elijah quickly shut the laptop to stop Klaus from reading what he had searched up. The Original vampire scoffed, trying to play it cool, but he grew uncomfortable and nervous and Klaus could only laugh while crossing his arms and lifting an eyebrow at his brother. "Who is it?", Klaus continued, teasing Elijah with a smirk, before listing names to guess which of the Mystic Falls girls he had fallen for.

   "Christ, Niklaus. Please, control yourself", Elijah sighed, and rose from the chair, leaving behind the laptop he had been sitting at for the past hour or so. Fastening the buttons of his jacket, the fancier brother started to make his way out of the living room, but Klaus followed, and continued to guess names, and once he softly, smoothly pronounced your name, Elijah froze for only a split second. But it was enough.

   "Dear god, it's Y/N Y/L/N! You are in love with Y/N!", Klaus shouted, and began snickering like a little girl as Elijah turned to glare at his half-brother threateningly. Giggling and repeating your name, Klaus started to run around the mansion, which made Elijah rather irritated but he wasn't going to fall so low to chase the younger Original - at least not initially. But it led to that, anyway.

   If only Rebekah was there to see it.

   When they had finally settled their fight and calmed down, Klaus made it his mission to help his brother win the girl to himself. Klaus quite liked you, and in his opinion, you were perfect for Elijah, so together, they started to plan a way to make you fall for him - although that had already happened, but they didn't know, if anything, Elijah thought you'd never fall for him just because dating an Original and a vampire in general, was definitely problematic.

   "I plan on inviting Caroline to the ball we are having in a couple of days. I suggest you invite your darling Y/N", Klaus grinned, and left the room to let Elijah think about it, but he already knew what he'd do. He was going to do as Klaus advised, and invite you to the Mikaelson ball, where he would eventually confess his feelings to you, and perhaps, hopefully, you'd admit you felt the same way and the night would end with a big kiss.

///

   Three days before the ball you had heard of from Caroline, who had been invited by Klaus, you found a mysterious box on your porch. You took it in, and placed it in your bed, where it had been sitting for the past two hours, and you had been trying to do your homework but it was hard when the gift resided behind your back, waiting to be opened. A part of you was scared of lifting the lid, but inevitably you'd have to do it at some point, but you tried to push it further and further, although it was hard. Eventually, curiousity got the best of you, and you opened the gift, only to see the most beautiful dress ever, and on top of it, a letter.

   It reminded you of the way Caroline got invited to the Mikaelson ball, and you couldn't but think if you had been worthy of an invite yourself, as you took the letter in your hands and carefully opened it, after adoring the way your name had been written on it. You took the letter from the envelope, and bit your lower lip as your eyes started to roam the delicately written cursive words, your heart swelling in your chest while you read.

   "Dear Y/N Y/L/N,

I would love nothing more than to have your company on the 22nd of September at 7 pm at the ball arranged by my family, so hereby I invite you to attend the party with me. Also, I previously heard you speak with Ms. Forbes about how you don't have any dresses - I wasn't stalking or eavesdropping though, I promise - so I took the right to buy you one. Hope you like it, and I wish to see you at the ball xx

Elijah."

   You chuckled, pressing the letter against your chest while a sense of pure happiness washed over you. You had been crushing on the Original since you first saw him when you tried to save Elena from him, and although you gave him a taste of the back of your hand that day, he seemed to like you anyway. You would gladly attend the ball with him, and now, you could also brag to Caroline about how you got invited anyway. It was just great.

   You took the dress in your hands, smiling as the beautiful gown in your favorite colors unfolded in front of your eyes. While holding it up, you adored the details and the colors, the material and the mere thought of wearing it while dancing across the room with Elijah. You smiled, and while giggling, you fell on the bed, pulling the dress on top of you and starting to daydream of where the night could take you and Elijah. What could happen - the possibilities were endless, yet you only hoped for one.

///

   On the 22nd of September, you and Caroline arrived at the renovated Mikaelson mansion together, approaching the open doors while holding up your own dresses. You both looked stunning in the gowns that you had received from Klaus and Elijah, and many heads turned to your direction as you walked up the stairs and to the front doors that were held open for you. You glanced at Caroline, and she smiled at you which made you do the same as you entered the mansion, feeling warmth wrap around you while elegant, classic music filled your ears and your eyes started to look around hastily, seeking for your dates.

   In no time, Klaus came to pick Caroline from the entrance, and you were left alone, standing in your dress while looking around the big mansion. Elijah was standing on the other side of the room in his tuxedo, though you couldn't see him, but he certainly saw you, and quite frankly, he was shocked by your beauty. He had always known you were gorgeous, but he had never seen you in a situation like this, and he was taken aback by the angel at the entrance, not sure how to cope with the fact you looked like a damn goddess in your dress. Your hair was wonderfully styled, the make-up completed your appearance, and all Elijah could think about, was how he wanted to be the Disney prince to your obvious Disney princess.

   Soon enough, before the moment got awkward for you, Elijah was standing in front of you and you couldn't help but smile at the sight of him in a gorgeous suit. He mirrored your smile, and offered you his arm, so you decided to link yours with it before he started to walk you further into the house. Elijah was quiet for a while, just because he didn't know what to say, there were so many thoughts racing in his mind, but eventually he managed to part his lips and let out something more than just an adoring sigh.

   "Y-You look breathtaking, Y/N. I'm glad you decided to come", Elijah spoke, his voice sending shivers down your spine as you forced a nod and licked your lips swiftly. Your hand collected sweat, but you tried to be calm, even if he smelled perfect, looked flawless, smiled so beautifully and treated you better than anyone ever. He was a true gentleman, one you wouldn't mind spending the rest of your days with, but you decided to keep that hidden for a bit longer.

   "Thank you. You look great too", you grinned, and nudged him with your elbow slightly, your relaxed manners breaking through the princess-like appearance, which made Elijah smile even wider. One of the reasons he fell in love with you, was your ability to lighten up the mood no matter what, find something worth smiling or laughing at, be so lovable. You were perfect from head to toe, from inside out, and as he looked at you tilt your head back while laughing, he grew more and more convinced of it being only true.

   "Would you like to dance?", Elijah asked, when a slow song came on, and you nodded your head, willing to do as he suggested. You felt nervous because of the slow song, but when couples moved to the dance floor and began waltzing together, you just couldn't resist and clasped your hand with Elijah's who led you amongst the others. Your hands went in their right places, and when you were in the traditional dancing position, you began moving smoothly together, as if you had been doing it for years, when in reality it was the first time.

   You avoided Elijah's eyes for a while, trying to look around to make it less awkward, but from the corner of your eye, you noticed him adoring you intently so eventually, you turned to do the same. Your bodies were quite close, and you could feel his warm breath on your lips while his sexy scent lingered in the air, making you dizzy because it was so damn attractive. His hand was tightly holding yours, like he never wanted to let go, and you kind of felt the same way, really. You never wanted the song to end.

   "I must confess something, Y/N", Elijah whispered in your ear, breaking the silence between you. You swallowed loudly, and your eyes flickered over to his nervously, but you gave him an encouraging nod so he'd proceed. "I invited you here, because you're a lovely person, you apparently look marvelous in a dress, and I needed a date - yes. But I also invited you, because I... I was hoping this could be the night I finally find the courage to tell you how I feel. About you", Elijah explained, your heart dropping in your chest as you listened to him speak so carefully and gently in your ear. You forgot all about the music, and your concentration was all on Elijah, yet somehow you managed to dance with him, not stumbling once during the long song.

   You remained quiet, and let Elijah take control of the conversation, making it more of a monologue, but you didn't mind. Your eyes were looking over his shoulder, while his lips were near your ear so he didn't have to yell through the song, and you felt like melting on his arms while your brain felt numb and your thoughts became a mess. Did Elijah like you - in the same way you liked him?

   "Ever since I met you, in that terribly built house where Elena Gilbert was held captive, you caught my eye. Even if you did stab me in the eye with your elbow when I tried to approach Elena, but nonetheless. I fancied you. I considered you the most intriguing person I have ever seen, and still do. I think, you are the most beatiful person in this entire mess of a world, and you have a wonderful personality, one that I would be happy to witness every single day for the rest of my eternal life", Elijah spoke softly, his hands sliding to your hips to slowly move you from side to side, back and forth, guiding you through the dance while the songs changed and the people vanished from around you. But you and him kept on dancing, while he kept on talking.

   "I cannot force you into feeling the same way, and I am aware that being together with a vampire, let alone an Original, would be difficult. But, I have fallen in love with you, since day one, and I need you to know. I love you, Y/N", Elijah finished his wonderful speech that had already made you emotional, although you managed to keep the tears away, but your heart was beating rapidly in your chest and your body shaking on his arms, your hands sweaty and your eyes wide. You were absolutely blissful to hear him say all those things, because you definitely felt the same way, and you wanted him to know, so you stopped dancing, let go of him and locked your eyes with his while a smile tugged up your lips.

   "I love you too, Elijah. Ever since I saw you. And punched you, and slapped you", you grinned, and made him laugh softly, before wrapping an arm around your waist. He gave you a questioning look, and you nodded, to give him the permission to place his lips on yours. He reached down, and your lips crashed together in an intense, fond first kiss that exceeded all your dreams and expectations and made your heart melt in your chest. His lips were soft and talented against yours, and your eyes were closed with pleasure, while his arm draped you closer under the many eyes, and as the slow songs continued to play.

   It was the perfect first kiss.

   "You did a good job hiding your feelings for a year", you smirked as your lips disconnected, and it made Elijah laugh fondly.

   "Well, so did you."