fateandfortune | If Things Had Been Different... [For Elijah]

After her parents died, Elena Gilbert's life changed.

That was the easiest point to trace it back to, the place where she could say it had all started. Where she had changed from an innocent teenager to someone who knew what true pain felt like. But at least she'd had Jeremy. And Jenna. And eventually John had come back into her life and secrets had been revealed... So many secrets. Perhaps not enough though, and not revealed the way they should have been. Her birth turned out to be the least startling in the end, despite it being so shocking in the moment, but at least she'd understood then why John had come back into her life.

Learning of the existence of vampires had changed her life even further, and in no ways for the better. Strange things happened sometimes in Mystic Falls, but she'd never felt unsafe in the town where she'd grown up. It was heartbreaking to learn that she was a danger to everyone she cared about, that for some reason a group of vampires wanted her and the only way she could keep her loved ones safe was to leave.

College had been the perfect excuse. As much as she'd dreamed of going to the same college as Caroline and Bonnie, of sharing a dorm room and having those normal college experiences with her best friends, she couldn't put them at risk. If someone found her... She believed John when he told her that if vampires wanted her, they would have no problem going through her family and friends. If it had only been her own life at stake, she would have stayed and fought, stood her ground and tried to find some way around all of this -- but she couldn't risk the lives of others like that.

It was in her sophomore year that the animal attacks started around campus. Elena had been told about what to watch for, and the four dead bodies screamed vampires. She'd claimed family emergency and left, finishing the last weeks of classes on her own thanks to the kindness of her professors, and then she'd transferred to a school on the other side of the country. There was no way for her to know if those attacks were anything more than coincidence, but she didn't take chances.

Med school went by without any major incidents, miraculously. She completed her internship at a small hospital in the middle of nowhere, and was matched to a residency program also in the middle of nowhere. Staying away from bigger cities felt safer, with fewer people who might recognize her. Whether that worked she would never really know, because during her third year another series of attacked happened, and again she ran. It took a great deal of time and effort to find another program that would take her, but eventually one did and she was able to complete her training as a general surgeon.

Working in the ER wasn't the life she would have wanted, exactly, but it was the easiest thing to get when she might need to leave at the drop of a hat. Unfortunately there was usually quite a bit of turnover in the area, and as much as she hated to think that she would eventually just add to that problem, it was her only choice. The safest choice, the one that would let her at least try to live her life as much as she could.

The downfall of moving around so much and constantly being steadily focused on her career? An aching loneliness. As often as she spoke with her family, on the phone or via Skype, it just wasn't the same when she couldn't have one of Jeremy's solid hugs or lean her head on Jenna's shoulder. Going home for major events like weddings helped, but it wasn't enough, and three months into her new job saw nothing change except for a higher tally of Really Bad First Dates. But at least she was trying... Right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, that was a relief, at least. It wouldn't have been the first time she'd spilled coffee on someone, but none of her victims had ever been anywhere near as nice as he was being about it.

Taking the offered handkerchief, she shook her head with a smile. "No, it's alright," she assured him, blotting at her jeans where she could. "This is my fourth cup already today, I probably don't really need the extra caffeine. But thank you, I appreciate the offer."

"Maybe next time then." Elijah at least smiles briefly before picking up his own cup and turning back to her.

"Keep the handkerchief, I have plenty more where that one came from."

She glanced at the piece of fabric in her hand and her expression turned to one of amusement. "You know, I don't know that I've ever met someone who actually used these," she commented, taking a moment to dry off her hand as well. There, good as new.

Elijah's gaze dropped to her hand for a moment before returning to her face. "They come in handy for moments like this."

"They really do," she agreed with a quiet laugh, folding the handkerchief carefully before stowing it in her pocket. "They're also charmingly old-fashioned."

Was she flirting? Did Elena Gilbert even know how to flirt anymore? It's a tossup, but it was quite possible.

"I find the classics never really go out of style." His lips quirk into a smile briefly.

"We should stop blocking the counter though, if you want to continue this conversation."

He was right about, well, both those things. Looking mildly embarrassed, Elena nodded and stepped quickly to the side, allowing another woman to pass with an apologetic glance. "Right, of course."

Looking around the shop for a moment, she finally gestured toward the door. "I think there are some tables outside, if you..."

"Would you like a pastry as well? I'll buy since I did make you spill your coffee and you can find us a table." Elijah glanced towards the doors.

"I'm Elijah, by the way."

She hesitated for a moment, wanting to decline on principle, but... He was clearly trying to make up for things, and she'd already declined his offer of a fresh drink. "That would be nice, thank you."

She took a few steps toward the door before turning back to him with a smile. "I'm Elena, and it's very nice to meet you, Elijah." Politeness and manners, always important.

He hears it but doesn't respond until they're settled at the table and he's sliding a pastry across the table.

"It's nice to meet you too, Elena."

There was a smile for him at that, and a murmured "Thank you" for the pastry, which looked delicious. Taking a sip of her coffee, she thought over what to say before settling on something that seemed easier than everything else. "So, Elijah, where are you from originally? That accent doesn't sound exactly local."

"I was born in Europe, but my family moved just about every year." Elijah sipped his coffee.

"And once I was on my own, I followed the same routine, more or less." Close enough to the truth. "What about you?"

Europe. Well, that explained the accent. She couldn't imagine haven't moved so often growing up, though; it was something that was beyond her realm of personal experience, though she'd certainly been catching up in her adult life.

"I grew up in Virginia," she answered truthfully. "But I've moved around a lot myself lately. Trying to find the right fit for my career." It wasn't a lie, though there was certainly more to it than just that.

"I've been through Virginia a time or two myself. There's a lot of history there." Elijah takes a bite of his own pastry before sipping his coffee.

"Your career?"

She was mid-sip of her coffee when he asked, and she rolled her eyes at herself as she finished. Right, of course he didn't know. "I'm a doctor," she explained. "A surgeon, specifically. I work in the ER over at the hospital."

"Well that does make it easier to find work wherever you end up." Elijah set his cup down, glancing across the table.

"It certainly doesn't hurt," she agreed, not getting into the fact that she'd only recently finished her residency and so she did have to be careful to not move too much in too short a time. Some hospitals could afford to be choosy in their hires and they tended to want someone who would commit for longer than six months.

"I'm on a sabbatical from work myself." It was a reasonable enough excuse for him traveling.

"Have you considered trying Doctors without Borders if you like traveling?"

A sabbatical. It sounded nice, but at the same time she couldn't even imagine what she might so with all that time. Perhaps he was working on personal projects during this time, though - she'd known quite a few people to do such.

"I have, actually, a lot. I think it's something I'd really like to do, I just wanted to be certain of my own abilities before I took a leap like that." It was one of thing to be under the supervision of much more experienced people in her field, and another to be on her own. After her time in the ER, though, she was fairly certain that a program like Doctors Without Borders would be within her capabilities.

"That does make sense, yes. It's always better to know your own limits." Elijah finished his coffee, sliding the cup aside as he watched her. She reminded him f Katerina a little but decidedly more independent than Katerina had been when they'd first met.

"So you've always wanted to work as an ER surgeon?"

Shaking her head, she explained, "When I was younger, I wanted to be a writer. My mother really wanted it for me, and she encouraged me at every turn. But after my parents passed away... I needed to do something for me. I needed something that would give me a purpose, and this is it. I enjoy being able to help people."

She looked down, taking a moment to pick up the pastry he'd purchased for her, but paused before taking a bite. "My father was a doctor; I suppose that influenced my decision."

"And there's nothing wrong with that." Elijah lifted his cup to his lips as he shifted in his chair, gaze still focused on Elena.

"What kind of things did you write?"

If Things Had Been Different... [For Elijah]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject