Here's Where I Belong

Chapter Twelve

It had been a couple days since the whole Mason ordeal, and Elena was getting by best she could. Seeing him, and rehashing her story to Elijah had reopened old wounds. So she threw herself into work, trying to get over the tightness in her chest and throat she'd been dealing with ever since that day.

Grabbing a wet rag from the bucket behind the counter, Elena wiped down the bar before grabbing the busboy tote and heading for the recently emptied table. She started cleaning up the dishes, before she wiped down the table and moved onto the next.

She was working on her third table when the door of the Grill opened, and Elijah walked in followed by a man who looked strikingly similar to him, only slightly taller and slightly older. Beside the two, was a woman with fiery red hair, who was carrying Ava's car seat, and diaper bag. Elijah caught her eye before smiling.

Elena returned the gesture, grabbing the tote and taking it to the kitchen. She then stepped back into the dining area, finding Elijah and the other two already seated at a booth. Ava had been placed on the seat beside Elijah, and he was making quick work of unbuckling her.

Elena stepped up to the table, smiling somewhat shyly at the two strangers before Ava saw her and started kicking her legs excitedly. Elena grinned, reaching down and lifting her from the seat. She blew raspberries on the girls tummy, laughing when she giggled happily.

"Aren't you about finished with your shift?" Elijah asked, glancing at his watch.

"Yeah, you guys will be my last table." She said smiling as Ava reached for face.

"Why don't you give the table to someone else, and join us?" Elijah suggested, oblivious to the look shared between the couple opposite him.

Elena thought about it for a minute before she nodded. "Okay, let me find April, she was just talking about how she needed to pick up more shifts."

Elena handed Ava back to her father before she turned and headed towards the kitchen.

"So, this is the babysitter?" Sage asked, raising her eyebrow in amusement.

"Yes," Elijah said slowly, looking between his brother and sister in law.

"She's cute." Sage grinned, teasing him.

"And Ava seems to adore her," Finn added.

"Behave," Elijah said sternly, trying to keep his mouth from lifting upwards.

Sage grinned before looking at the kitchen doors as they opened. Elena strode out, her long ponytail moving as she walked. Behind her came a short, dark haired girl who looked to maybe be of legal age.

Elijah watched as Elena grabbed Ava's now empty car seat and placed it on the table behind them. She then slid into the booth, smiling when Elijah handed Ava back to her.

Ava cooed and once again reached for Elena's face. Elena placed a kiss on Ava's forehead before sitting her on her lap, with her back against Elena's stomach. The brunette held each of Ava's hands in her own as she bounced the little girl gently on her legs.

After April had taken their orders, Sage turned to Elena.

"So Elena, I have heard a great deal about you." Sage said, leaning back in the booth.

"Well, depending on who you heard it from, should I be concerned?" Elena joked, moving so one leg was crossed over the other, elevating Ava slightly.

"It's all been good," Sage laughed, deciding she liked what she saw of the girl, already.

"When are you guys going to start moving stuff?" Elena asked, glancing at Elijah.

"We are hoping to start on the larger stuff tomorrow morning. Hopefully between Nicklaus, Finn, Kol, and I we can get it down in a timely manner." He said, watching as April brought them their drinks.