One shot for now

Seattle

It was a cold and rainy day, people were carrying umbrellas and wrapping their jackets or scarves tighter around them. The freezing wind would have made anyone shiver. Anyone who wasn't dead. It didn't bother Klaus one bit. He looked at his brother who was in a coffee shop reading a newspaper and having a cup of tea. He had to admit that Elijah's posture really was admirable; he was sitting up his back straight like a statue. So far he had dropped in few stores and a barber's shop before heading into the coffee shop for his afternoon tea.

If there would be the most boring person in the world competition, Klaus was pretty sure that Elijah had excellent chances of winning the title. But then again, he was the one who had decided to follow him. Elijah had been hiding something from him ever since they had been reunited when he had broken his curse. Now it was time to find out what that something was.

So far Elijah hadn't done anything interesting after leaving Mystic Falls. Klaus' guess was that his brother would check into some nice classy hotel, maybe take a bubble bath and watch some TV before going to sleep. Elijah was seriously even more boring than he had thought. After finishing his paper, Elijah placed it neatly onto the table, leaving the waitress a generous tip. Then he held the door open for an elderly woman before heading out.

Klaus rolled his eyes. What next, was he going to buy some scout girl cookies or rescuing orphans from a burning building? Elijah walked calmly to his car and unlocked the doors. Klaus tried to decide what to do. Maybe he has had enough thrills for a one day. Or maybe not. No, he would see this through. He started his own car and followed his brother. It seemed that he wasn't heading to the downtown.

After a moment Klaus realized that Elijah was driving out of city. Where was he heading then? It took over an hour ride before he figured it out. Some pitiful backwater near the coast. What was Elijah doing here? This was finally starting to get interesting. Klaus kept his distance when Elijah stopped his car on a small sand road. There was woods all around it. Elijah stepped out of his car biting his lower lip. If Klaus wouldn't have known better, he would have thought that his brother looked a little nervous. Interesting indeed.

Klaus parked his car out of sight and tailed Elijah who was walking towards a small wooden house on the end of the sand road. Why had he left his car so far away? To Klaus' surprise, Elijah didn't go to the door. Instead he stayed behind the trees watching the house. It was getting dark but Klaus noticed a small well-kept garden and some laundry hanging on the clothesline.

Then he noticed someone inside. It was a young woman who had long dark hair. Klaus also noticed very visible scars on her face. Oddly they didn't make her any less beautiful. Apparently she was listening to some music and singing along. Then she lifted a black cat into her arms and started to dance. She looked happy. Elijah was staring at her closely. He kept staring at her when she moved into the kitchen and started to wash the dishes. She hadn't closed any curtains so it wasn't difficult to look at her.

Klaus smiled. Was his respectful big brother a voyeur? After finishing her chores in the kitchen, the girl headed to the bedroom. Then Elijah finally walked to the door and opened it silently. Klaus looked at him curiously when he stepped inside. Obviously he had been invited in. The girl was sitting at her dressing table brushing her hair. Apparently she hadn't heard Elijah coming in. Klaus saw him moving slowly across the living room, towards the bedroom. He couldn't wait to see where this was going. Suddenly he heard the girl screaming, Elijah had just grabbed her from behind.

"It's me, it's me," Elijah said.

The girl turned to him and slapped his hand.

"You scared me half to death!"

Elijah chuckled.

"Forgive me, my love."

The girl smiled and wrapped her arms around him.

"I forgive you. I'm just so happy that you're home."

Elijah caressed her cheek and kissed her.

"Me too. The only place where I want to be is here with my beautiful wife."

He glanced at the window and closed the curtains. Klaus tried to understand what he had just seen. And heard. It took a moment before those words sank in. This was very interesting.

"How was your trip?" Winnie asked.

"Same old, same old. You know how it is," Elijah replied, stroking his wife's hair. He loved to feel her warm body next to his. She was so beautiful. So perfect. He would have wanted to see all of her, but as always, she was wearing a t-shirt. Even after all this time, she didn't want him to see her upper body. She was convinced that her scars would repulse him. He leaned closer and kissed her neck.

"Actually I don't, Elijah, but we don't have to talk about your work. You deserve to rest when you're home."

"Thank you, my love. But you know I don't like to talk about my work because I don't want to bore you. Just numbers and calculations."

"Hmm. I wish you would have called, I would have made you some dinner…"

Elijah rolled her on her back and kissed her.

"I didn't mind skipping straight to my dessert."

She giggled.

"Yes, it seemed that you were very glad to see me."

He caressed her lips with his index finger.

"Always."

She smiled and snuggled up against him.

"Oh, I almost forgot, the Finchers invited us to dinner."

"Who are the Finchers?" Elijah asked.

Winnie looked at him and smiled innocently.

"Surely you remember, sweetie. Mr. Fincher didn't talk about anything except hunting and Mrs. Fincher tried to hit on you after her third glass of wine."

Unfortunately Elijah remembered that.

"You didn't do much to help," he stated.

Winnie laughed.

"I had a great time. Especially when she told you that she's not wearing any underwear."

Elijah rolled his eyes.

"Very amusing. I don't think that I want a rerun."

"I understand. I'll think of some excuse."

Winnie was quiet for a while.

"You don't like spending time with people, do you?"

"I like spending time with you," Elijah replied. "You're the only person in this world I can call mine. I never want that to change."

Winnie smiled.

"Me neither. Till death do us part."

Elijah didn't say anything. He had tried his best to dodge this subject, but he knew that he would eventually have to tell her the truth about him. She deserved to know everything. Eventually but not tonight. Elijah closed his eyes and held her tightly. He just wanted to keep her.

Winnie Smith considered herself a lucky woman. Three years ago she had prepared to spend her life alone and she had been fine with it. She has had her friends, her job and a small place to call her own. She loved that little house. Winnie had always been an outgoing and positive person, even if she was very self-conscious about her scars. She hadn't thought that she could ever let anyone too close to her. But then this man had appeared.

Winnie had seen something familiar about him. A person who was carrying some huge burden. He had been polite but also very reserved. Winnie had felt that she was drawn to him. There had been some mysterious force in his deep brown eyes. She could have never imagined that he would show any interest toward her. A man like him could have anyone he wanted. And yet, here she was, lying on the bed in his arms.

She couldn't have asked for a better husband. He was kind and thoughtful and she never had to be afraid of him. She couldn't imagine that Elijah could ever hurt anyone. Yet she wasn't a fool, she knew that he had secrets but so did she. Winnie thought that he had every right to keep his secrets; she wasn't going to pressure him. Elijah smiled when she caressed his cheek.

"Good morning," Winnie hummed and kissed him.

He opened his eyes and rolled her on her back.

"You know what would make this morning perfect?"

"I can imagine," she giggled.

Elijah looked at her like some kind of riddle he was trying to solve. It seemed like he would have tried to memorize every little detail about her face. He touched her chin and ran his thumb over her moist lips. Slowly he leaned towards her and tasted her lips. She touched his neck and kissed him back with the same passion. He was an amazing kisser.

She smiled at him and turned them around so she was on top of him. He was only wearing his boxers so she had an access to his muscular chest. She traced kisses down his neck. He groaned and grabbed her hair. It looked like he was really trying to control himself, like he would be afraid that he would break her. She had told him many times that she wasn't some delicate porcelain doll, he didn't have to hold back. He grabbed her hips and turned them around. He liked to be in control. She was about to help him to remove her panties when she felt his hands under her t-shirt.

"Elijah…" she mumbled. "Sweetie, no."

He continued kissing her neck.

"We've been married for almost a year," he said. "You can trust me."

Winnie bit her bottom lip.

"I do trust you but…I can't, I'm sorry."

Elijah raised his head and touched her cheek.

"You are beautiful, my love. Nothing is going to make me think otherwise."

Winnie didn't know what to say. She wanted to trust him, but she couldn't bear the thought of seeing the disgust in his eyes. She had carried her shame since she had been 15. Almost 9 years.

"Trust me," Elijah hummed reassuringly and kissed her before lifting her t-shirt.

Winnie wanted to stop him, but she didn't. She held still and let him remove her shirt, although she had never felt so exposed in her life. The feeling was terrifying; she couldn't even look at him. She flinched when he gently touched the big ugly scars on her stomach. The silence lasted forever; she was praying that he would say something. Finally he lifted her chin and kissed her.

"You are beautiful," he said gently. "So very beautiful."

Cautiously she looked at him, trying to see the disgust in his eyes. It wasn't there.

"Now," he continued smiling. "Where were we?"

"I didn't spoil your mood?" Winnie asked disbelievingly.

Elijah smiled.

"That's impossible. I want you my sweet Winnie. Every part of you."

She felt happier than ever before. This man was like an angel. Her very own angel. She couldn't believe how lucky she was.