This is Us [ Elijah Mikaelson ] 2

twenty-five

"Because the right kind of love feels easy, even in its most trying hour."

-Heidi Priebe

As they were waiting for the check, Penelope sighed happily as she looked out at the water, enjoying the nice, cool, ocean breeze. Elijah thanked their waiter when he returned with his card. After signing the receipt and leaving a hefty tip in cash, Elijah stood up and held his hand out for Penelope. She smiled and took it, leaning into his side when his hand rested on the small of her back.

The drive back to the rental was just as short as it was to the restaurant, and when Elijah turned off the ignition, he helped her out of the car, walked her to the front door and then she unlocked it. It was then that his hand had left her body and they stood in front of the door in silence. Penelope bit the inside of her bottom lip as she looked up at him shyly, flashbacks of their first date came to her mind. She remembered their first kiss on the balcony of his hotel room, the drive home, and him walking to her front door. Her heart sank at the thought of him having to leave.

"Do you have to go back home now?" She whispered, looking at him shyly and he shook his head.

"Not if you don't want me too," He replied softly. "Do you want me to stay?" He asked her and she paused, then began biting the inside of her cheek. She did want him to stay the night, she wanted to sleep beside him again, she wanted to remember what it felt like to have his arms wrapped around her while they laid in bed together. 

"I want you to stay the night..." She told him and he smiled.

"Alright, I'll stay the night," He told her. He was glad she said yes because he packed an overnight bag and it was currently on the couch in the living room. Penelope smiled as she opened up the door behind her and took a step back, and Elijah followed her. He shut the door and locked it behind him. He stayed there, waiting for her to make the next move.

Penelope felt nervous. Her hands felt weak as if they were shaking even though she knew they weren't. She had no reason to be nervous, this was Elijah. Her Elijah, who was her fiancé, who was also her soul mate. Her heart mate. She had no reason to be nervous. However this was also the first time she's been alone with him in almost three weeks. She was nervous and afraid of her coming back to her mind. She knew that Celeste had photo shopped her memories, that 90% of what she saw was fake, but there was still some truth to what she had seen. There was still some truth in the way he touched her in those visions. There was once a time that Elijah loved Celeste and he showed that.

Elijah frowned as he watched her, he heard her heart begin to race and he noticed her fidgeting and the biting of the inside of her cheek. Two of her nervous habits. He realized she had no idea what to do next, and that while she had been doing so well and getting better... this was the first time she's been around him. Elijah walked to her, and took her purse from her shoulder and placed it on the kitchen counter. Penelope let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding and closed her eyes. She felt defeated. She didn't want Celeste to ruin this night, and while wasn't seeing flashes of the woman, Penelope was still frozen on what to do and how to act with her own fiancé.

She heard soft opening music of a familiar song begin to play as she felt Elijah's hands run down her arms, he laced his fingers with hers as he wrapped their arms around her. "This is my love song to you," Elijah whispered in her ear over the lyrics of the song. Penelope held her breath, tears filled her eyes and it felt like a ball was stuck in her throat. "Let every woman know I'm yours, so you can fall asleep each night," He continued as he began to sway back and forth. "And know I'm dreaming of you more," He whispered and kissed the spot below her ear.