This is Us [ Elijah Mikaelson ] 2

thirty-eight

"Ever meet someone and just want to take care of their heart?"

-unknown

"Good morning," Penelope said with a smile as she walked into the kitchen, but the only people who were in there were Emily and Max. "...Have the others not come down?" She asked confused as she went into the cupboard to grab a class.

"I haven't seen them yet this morning," Emily answered awkwardly. "I only saw Elijah early this morning and he told us to help ourselves to anything in the kitchen."

"That sounds like him," Penelope smiled as she filled her glass with some water before going into the fridge. She smiled when she saw a bowl of yogurt, freshly cut fruit and some granola. Her smile grew when she saw that the fruit was apples, strawberries and raspberries, the three things she's been craving lately. "Where's dad?" Penelope asked nervously as she grabbed a spoon and began eating her breakfast.

"He went out for a jog," Emily answered before taking another sip of her coffee.

"He jogs?" Penelope asked, confused and Emily nodded slowly, then an awkward silent fell. It was just another thing she didn't know about her dad.

"What is on the agenda for today?" Emily asked with a smile and Penelope frowned in confusion. "Don't you have wedding things to take care of?"

"Oh," Penelope muttered then shook her head. "No, Elijah's been taking care of all of that. He's far more organized than I am, and the man loves to plan things," Penelope smiled as she leaned against the counter.

"Is that where he's at now?" Max asked once he was finished with his cereal.

"...I don't know," Penelope frowned. "I don't actually know what he does when he's not home."

"He doesn't tell you where he goes and what he's doing?" Emily asked, confused and Penelope shook her head.

"Nope. Sometimes I wonder what he's doing, and when I ask he'll tell me but it's usually something boring. I think the last time I asked him, he had said he was out doing something about confirming the authenticity of some kind of painting and I tuned him out after that and told him to have fun," She answered with a shrug.

"You aren't worried that he's out...." Emily's voice died down, not finishing her sentence but Penelope knew what she meant and she shook her head.

"No," She smiled. "Elijah loves me way too much to even think about anyone else," She started. "Not to mention, he's far too noble and a gentleman to do that," She finished before taking a bite of her breakfast.

"Then how come you moved here instead of staying in Richmond?" Emily asked carefully and Penelope paused mid chew, thinking over the womans words before she continued chewing her food. Max frowned in confusion as he went clean out his bowl in the sink.

"I wasn't worried about him meeting someone while he was here," Penelope started softly. "Not...really, I mean the thought crossed my mind for only a second but, he loves me too much. Besides, I've heard him talk about New Orleans and he loved it here. He's done so much for me already, and I needed to do this for him because I love him, and Elijah isn't selfish and he would've never asked me to come. Sometimes I just wish it happened at a different time," Penelope shrugged then took another bite of her yogurt. "But it doesn't make me upset anymore when I think about it."

"It doesn't?" Emily asked and Penelope shook her head.

"No... because even though there have been some...setbacks," She started carefully. "And...the mansion was beautiful, and apart of me still wishes we were having the wedding there because...that was where Elijah and I fell in love, it was the start of our love story; but this house," She continued, looking around her with a smile. "This is the house where we're going to raise our children in, and the beginning of our forever."