Double Trouble

15

Elle pulled her sister discreetly out of the way as their parents slowly approached one another, both unable to take their eyes off each other. When he was standing only inches away from his daughters' mother, Elijah slowly lifted a hand and tugged a strand of chestnut hair behind Elena's ear. His moves were pure instinct, old habits that had branded themselves into his bones years ago and now came out again after a long time of not seeing her. And Elena, just as instinctively, reached for his hand with her own.

Elijah felt her warm fingers on his and looked at their hands. Somehow, her touch helped him pull himself out of his trance. He lightly shook his head, cleared his throat and politely took a step back from his ex-wife. She blinked a couple of times, collecting herself.

"It's- nice to see you again, Elijah! How- have you been?" Elena awkwardly attempted to talk to her ex-husband. In truth, she didn't know what to say. All those feelings she had buried deep inside of her came bubbling to the surface at the sight of him. He was in his fourties now and more handsome than ever. Her heart fluttered in her chest.

Elijah draw a deep breath and smiled at her, just as awkward. "It's good to see you too. And I've-"

Before he could finish his sentence, the sound of a curtain being pushed away interrupted them. A tall brunette woman wearing a black dress entered the stage, an angry expression on her face.

"Elijah! Would you please have the decency to explain what's going on here!?!" Hayley asked, her voice as sharp and cold as an icicle.

The dark-haired man pursed his lips and nodded. "Hayley, this is Elena, my ex-wife. And Elena, this is Hayley."

"His future wife!!" she emphasized, glaring at the other woman and purposefully holding her left hand in an angle where Elena could clearly see the diamond ring on her finger.

Elena made a mental gulp. She was wearing an old coat and jeans. Her hair was swept up in a simple ponytail and she was wearing no makeup. Next to the elegant model before her, she felt like a plump, mediocre woman, pale in comparison.

Hayley's gaze wandered to the twins. "And who on earth is that girl? Elijah, you never said anything about your daughter having a twin! I'm your fianceé, you should have told me!"

***

There are situations in life in which you would want someone to come and give the adults in the room a good lecture about how to behave. But, unfortunately, that rarely ever happens. The situation with Elena, Elijah, Hayley and the twins was no different. Instead of trying to find a solution that would benefit the children the most, it was quickly and simply decided that Lena - the real Lena this time - would go back to New Orleans with her father while Elle was to stay with her mother. Noone asked the girls about their thought in this matter.

When Elle and Elena reached home in Mystic Falls, both of them were silent, hurting. Elle thought of her sister, not sure when - or if - she would see her again. Tears welled up in her eyes. Elena thought of Elijah and Lena. After six years, she finally had the chance to see her other daughter again and then it ended so quickly. And her ex-husband was getting married again. In her head, she scolded herself for thinking he might have still been single. There was a reason she was all starry eyed at him since she was a teenager. He was a gorgeous, rich and successful man; he could have any woman he wanted.

Elle went directly to her room amd laid down on her bed, tears in her eyes. After a few minutes, her mother joined her. No words were said. Elena knew there was nothing she could say to make her baby feel better at the moment. So, she simply laid down beside her and let the little girl snuggle into her, holding her close. This was their way of comforting each other.

Lena was different. Throughout the entire flight, she kept her eyes sternly fixed at the window, refusing to talk to or even look at her father or his fianceé. When he asked if she wanted something from the snack bar, she stubbornly told the steward to tell her father she wasn't speaking to him. Hayley just rolled her eyes at the girl's behaviour and took Elijah's hand. Elijah barely noticed her; he was busy with his own thoughts and feelings. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw his ex-wife in front of him and couldn't help to admire her like he did all those years ago. She hadn't changed much. She was still Elena. His Elena. That's what she was back then. His heart ached when he thought of her, knowing she was no longer his wife.

As soon as they reached home in New Orleans, Lena stormed into her room and locked the door behind her.