Here's Where I Belong

Chapter Nine

Elena stepped into the grill, her eyes scanning the crowd as she searched for the table where her friends were sitting. When she spotted them, she started their way.

She took the only available seat, which was conveniently located beside Elijah. Rebekah simply gave her a innocent grin before turning back to her conversation with Jeremy.

"Hello Elena," Elijah said, as she seated herself.

"Hey," She said, grinning as Ava noticed her from Elijah's arms.

The little girl grinned, kicking her arms and legs as Elena reached over to lift her from Elijah's arms. She placed a kiss to the girls head, situating her so the girl faced her. She braced her body with one hand as her other hand wrapped around the little girls fist. She bounced her gently on her knee, smiling as the girl giggled.

In the last month, she'd been watching Ava for Elijah whenever she wasn't working. The little girl had grown even closer to her, and would get excited whenever she saw the brunette.

"Hey Elena, remember that time that you needed to pay Damon two hundred dollars before the end of the night, or he was going to fire you. And you auctioned me off to the highest bidder while I danced on the bar?" Kol said conversationally, causing Elijah to choke on the drink he'd just swallowed.

Just as he finished his story, Damon slid a spare chair so it sat beside hers. In his hand, was a glass of bourbon. "I remember that. I also remembered the time that there was a crazy bar fight, nobody could make heads or tails of the place and our little Elena here climbed on the bar and started singing with the jukebox." He sighed, nostalgically.

Elena just started laughing, shaking her head at the two of them.

Elijah looked at her, eyebrows raised.

"They are both full of themselves. Those are both scenes from a movie. And most certainly did not happen." She shook her head, ignoring the way Kol pouted as she spoiled his fun.

"Elena, I picked you out a necklace for the wedding..." Caroline said, pulling her iPhone out and pulling up a picture.

Elena took the phone, freezing when she saw the necklace. It was a large gaudy statement necklace that would look ridiculous on her.

"Um Care, I'm not really one for jewelry...I mean that would look amazing on you, but I don't think I can pull it off..." The brunette hedged, casting a glance at Klaus who was rubbing his forehead.

"But you have to have a necklace of some sorts..." Caroline frowned, taking the phone back and looking at the picture.

"I can just pull something out of my jewelry box..." Elena suggested, praying that her friend wouldn't insist on her wearing that ridiculous thing.

"You don't really own anything necklaces." The blonde argued, but was silenced when Klaus put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head.

"Tell you what, I will dig out a couple things and you can take a look at them?" Elena suggested. She knew if worse came to worse, she could borrow something from Jenna or Rebekah.

"Fine," the blonde sighed dramatically.

Elena sighed inwardly in relief. One bullet dodged.

After everyone had gotten their food, they had settled into separate little conversations as they always seemed to do. Damon had excused himself to go make a couple phone calls, and Elijah couldn't say he was sorry to see him go.

The man had never given Elijah a reason not to like him, but there was just something in his cocky attitude that grated Elijah's nerves. Maybe if he knew the man better, he wouldn't feel that way. But as it was.

Elijah glanced over, watching as Elena lifted Ava, blowing raspberries on the little girls stomach, cause her to smile and giggle.

"So, the house is finally ready." Elijah said, smiling at the thought of finally moving in.

"That's awesome. When are Finn and Sage bringing you the furniture?" she asked, resituating Ava so the little girl sat in her lap, leaning back against her chest.

"This weekend, actually."

Elena nodded, taking another bite of her food. She'd helped Elijah paint his house two weeks ago, and she had to say, the rooms looked gorgeous.

"Would you mind to watch Ava while we get everything moved in? I'm hoping we can get everything moved in and the basic stuff put together and ready in one day." Elijah said, taking another bite of his sandwich.

"Sure thing," she said, leaning down and blowing raspberries on the little girl's shoulder.

Ava kicked her feet, grinning again as Elena did this. Most of the occupants of the table were so distracted, that they didn't notice when another person approached their table.

"Elena," the person said, coming to stand beside her.

Elijah watched as Elena stiffened beside him, and the entire table went quiet. He looked up at the man standing there. The man was tall, with shaggy brown hair, and scruff across his cheeks. He ignored everyone else at the table, as his attention was focused solely on Elena. Elijah heard Kol nearly growl as the man smirked at the brunette.

"Mason," Elena whispered. Elijah noticed how she slowly shifted closer to him, and her hands wrapped around Ava tighter.

"How have you been?" He asked, tilting his head to the side as he spoke.

"Fine," She said coldly, pulling Ava even closer still.

"And what a cute baby you've got there." He grinned, leaning down and tickling her stomach. Or at least, he attempted to. Before he could touch her, Elena had pulled her away from him, and situated her against her side closest to Elijah. As she did this, Klaus calmly stood up from his chair and started around the table towards the man.

"You know," Mason said, quickly glancing up at Klaus before looking back to Elena. "You almost look like a mother." He laughed as he said it, straightening up just in time for Klaus to swing his arm back and punch him across the face.

Everything after that was total and utter chaos. Jeremy had jumped up, but was halted by Rebekah who placed her hands on his chest as she attempted to stop him from going after the man. Kol too joined his sister, grabbing Jeremy from behind as he fought to escape.

Elijah turned to Elena, but froze when he saw her face. Her bottom lip was clenched between her teeth as a tear made it's way down her face. In that moment, everything made sense to him. The way she was so natural at caring for his daughter, the way she quickly avoided any talk of her being so good with kids, or any talk of the man that was now sitting up and wiping the blood from his lip as Klaus stood over him, hands clenched.

Elena was a mother.