When Elena first came to live at Hale Manor, she thought there was no safer place in the world. High stone walls and the supernatural nature of it’s inhabitants made it feel … impenetrable. She knows it isn’t necessarily logical – homes can be penetrated without brute force, necessarily, but she still basked in the warmth that it offered. Between the billowing snow that rained down from above every winter and the solid construction of their home, she felt invincible.
And then Kali and Ennis happen. They force their way in, take Laura, take her daughter. Elena remembers all too clearly staring down the face of Ennis, and she knew that he would kill her if she gave him the opportunity. She didn’t, but it was far too close for her comfort. Despite the promise that Elijah had made her, suddenly she was back in the mindset that she will never be safe. Because despite how powerful they are, the Mikaelsons are not the only monsters in the world.
“Elena?”
Derek’s voice calls to her from the bed, and she closes her eyes, turning from the window where she can see the snow drifting down and offers him a small smile. “You are supposed to be resting.”
She can see the bandages from the wounds that are still healing as he pushes himself into a sitting position. He meets her smile with one of his own, before holding his hand out to her. “I will rest better with my wife next to me, resting as well.”
She sighs, but goes where he beckons her, shedding her robe before climbing into bed next to him. She doesn’t like seeing him weak like this. It reminds her that he’s mortal, just as she is, even if most of the time he can heal himself. She also remembers feeling through their bond the tear of claws dragging through him. The night has shaken her, more than she cares to let on, and despite knowing that he can feel everything she feels, she doesn’t want him to know all the same.
“Elena,” his voice is soft as he pulls her closer, letting her curl into his chest and pressing a kiss to her forehead. His lips continue to rest there as he murmurs his response. “I’m fine.”
“For a moment, you weren’t.” She knows it’s pointless to bury these things, and she’s never been one to suppress her feelings to begin with. “I felt how painful those blows were, remember?”
He’s quiet, his hand rubbing her arm gently. “We’re going to fix this.”
“I know. That … that’s not it.” She’s quiet again, before looking up at him. “Mystic Falls was always full of monsters. Some more easy to spot than others. But here ... here always felt safer.”
He pauses, before pulling away just enough that he can look in her eyes. “And now it doesn’t?”
He’s worried. Concerned, that his wife doesn’t feel safe with him. The feelings flood over her in waves and her guilt responds in kind, not wanting it to feel like she doesn’t trust him or doesn’t want to be with him. That isn’t the problem. She could already feel the breath leaving her body at the prospect of losing him at all.
“Now it’s … not as sturdy as it used to be. But not enough to scare me away, or feel like I’m not safe. I know you will do whatever it takes to protect me and protect our family.”
“Anything, Elena,” he murmurs softly, leaning in to kiss her. “You all are the most important things to me.”
“I know. And you to me.” She reaches over, brushing a hand against the side of his face gently. “Just promise me, when you go to retrieve your sister that you’ll be careful. And that you will wait until you’re fully healed.”
“I promise,” he whispers softly. “And I promise I will come home to you always.”
“Good.”
With that, she closes her eyes and tries to relax against him. It may not be a promise he’s able to keep forever, but she knows it’s a promise that he’ll strive to, and for now, that’s what matters.
to protect and to keep | regency | 699 | set 6
And then Kali and Ennis happen. They force their way in, take Laura, take her daughter. Elena remembers all too clearly staring down the face of Ennis, and she knew that he would kill her if she gave him the opportunity. She didn’t, but it was far too close for her comfort. Despite the promise that Elijah had made her, suddenly she was back in the mindset that she will never be safe. Because despite how powerful they are, the Mikaelsons are not the only monsters in the world.
“Elena?”
Derek’s voice calls to her from the bed, and she closes her eyes, turning from the window where she can see the snow drifting down and offers him a small smile. “You are supposed to be resting.”
She can see the bandages from the wounds that are still healing as he pushes himself into a sitting position. He meets her smile with one of his own, before holding his hand out to her. “I will rest better with my wife next to me, resting as well.”
She sighs, but goes where he beckons her, shedding her robe before climbing into bed next to him. She doesn’t like seeing him weak like this. It reminds her that he’s mortal, just as she is, even if most of the time he can heal himself. She also remembers feeling through their bond the tear of claws dragging through him. The night has shaken her, more than she cares to let on, and despite knowing that he can feel everything she feels, she doesn’t want him to know all the same.
“Elena,” his voice is soft as he pulls her closer, letting her curl into his chest and pressing a kiss to her forehead. His lips continue to rest there as he murmurs his response. “I’m fine.”
“For a moment, you weren’t.” She knows it’s pointless to bury these things, and she’s never been one to suppress her feelings to begin with. “I felt how painful those blows were, remember?”
He’s quiet, his hand rubbing her arm gently. “We’re going to fix this.”
“I know. That … that’s not it.” She’s quiet again, before looking up at him. “Mystic Falls was always full of monsters. Some more easy to spot than others. But here ... here always felt safer.”
He pauses, before pulling away just enough that he can look in her eyes. “And now it doesn’t?”
He’s worried. Concerned, that his wife doesn’t feel safe with him. The feelings flood over her in waves and her guilt responds in kind, not wanting it to feel like she doesn’t trust him or doesn’t want to be with him. That isn’t the problem. She could already feel the breath leaving her body at the prospect of losing him at all.
“Now it’s … not as sturdy as it used to be. But not enough to scare me away, or feel like I’m not safe. I know you will do whatever it takes to protect me and protect our family.”
“Anything, Elena,” he murmurs softly, leaning in to kiss her. “You all are the most important things to me.”
“I know. And you to me.” She reaches over, brushing a hand against the side of his face gently. “Just promise me, when you go to retrieve your sister that you’ll be careful. And that you will wait until you’re fully healed.”
“I promise,” he whispers softly. “And I promise I will come home to you always.”
“Good.”
With that, she closes her eyes and tries to relax against him. It may not be a promise he’s able to keep forever, but she knows it’s a promise that he’ll strive to, and for now, that’s what matters.