Who: Elijah and Jen What: discussing Jen moving in with him (relationship confusion) Where: Empress of China When: relationship confusion plot Warnings: low Status: g-doc
Elijah picked up Jen after work and decided a meal at the Empress of China sounded delicious. The Original could go for congee and some peking duck. He made sure to text Clawdeen he’d be home later, but right now wanted to focus on his girlfriend. Really, he planned on asking Jen to move in with him.
“I hope you had a good day, Jen,” he greeted his beautiful girlfriend with a hug, lips finding hers in a light and brief kiss. “You look lovely.” Of course, Elijah always thought Jen looked great. “How do you feel about the Empress of China for dinner?”
Returning the kiss and hug, Jen smiled and absently ran a hand through her dark curls as she leaned into him. “I did, nothing too strenuous at the office right now.” She’d even gotten off on time, for once.
“I think that sounds like a great idea. Are we going straight there?”
He breathed in the scent of Jen and grinned. “Why don’t we go straight to dinner? Something tells me if we take a detour we might not make it to dinner.” And Elijah might not need human food, but Jen did.
Watching her run a hand through her dark curls brought a grin to his face. “Well, I’m glad your day wasn’t too strenuous. I have to admit only teaching one summer class makes me feel a little less like I’m constantly chasing ducks, hoping they’ll stay in the same room, let alone in a row.” Mostly the original joked.
When they got to the restaurant, Elijah parked and then helped Jen out of the car. “You look great, by the way.”
Jen gave a laugh at his words, though she knew all too well how true that was. “I doubt your students are that bad - and at least having only the one class gives you a lot of free time, right?”
Jen relaxed happily in the passenger seat on the drive, though she did perk up when they got to the restaurant, and she waited for him to open the door since she knew she liked doing that kind of thing. “Thanks. So do you, as always.” Honestly, there were days when Jen felt sort of palin and sloppy, but whenever Elijah looked at her with those deep chocolate brown eyes of his, she felt like a million bucks - and didn’t need to be green to feel that way.
Elijah loved Jen in whatever form she chose to present herself. And he’d tell her just how beautiful he found her all of the time, because he did.
“They’re mostly fine. I just like joking about them.” Although, sometimes Elijah wondered if teaching was really what he should be doing, given how much patience he had to use in regards to his family.
“Why thank you.” Elijah took his girlfriend’s hand in his and then held open the door for her. Once the hostess showed them to their table, Elijah pulled out Jen’s chair for her.
Once seated, Elijah’s eyes took in Jen and asked the question he meant to ask a little later in the evening. “Would you consider moving in with Clawdeen and me? I’d love to live with you.” Words he never expected to speak to anyone again, but Kol had been right. He deserved a chance at happiness.
“I know,” she replied with a grin.
After they’d sat, Jen was just reaching for the menu when Elijah dropped a question she hadn’t quite expected - though why she hadn’t, she wasn’t really sure. Lowering her hand to the table as she met his eyes, she studied him for a long moment, then smiled.
“I’d love that, too. So yeah, I will consider it.” WHAT ARE YOU DOING, it’s like the third date. That weird inner voice was ignored, and instead she just reached out with her hand to touch his softly.
“I never thought you’d ask.”
Elijah watched Jen’s reaction, and while he couldn’t be sure why he felt afraid she’d say no, he couldn’t deny the relief he felt. Yes, like a weight lifted off his shoulders, but also like a rainbow appeared after a storm. The Original didn’t blink when she studied him of course.
“I’m glad.” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I wanted to make sure Clawdeen was more settled before I asked.” Elijah found he cared for his ward, but sometimes she overwhelmed him. Not that he’d say so out loud, because the original did not wish to hurt her. “On a totally different note, a friend of mine is getting married Saturday to the love of her life. Want to be my date?” Elijah looked forward to the wedding, even if he’d promised Caroline he would not wear a mask of either Bonnie’s or Elena’s face.
“Yeah, of course. I understand - and, um, are you sure she’s okay with me moving in? I know Clawdeen and I haven’t really spent a lot of time together, and now I’ll be living there, too…” She didn’t want to crowd the girl, and she wasn’t really sure how she’d take it.
“A wedding - I’d love to go. I’m great at weddings.” At least this time, she wouldn’t be one of the bridesmaids, and there wouldn’t be a Titania showing up to start a fight.
Elijah’s brain tried to focus on something niggling in his brain, but he brushed off the feeling for a moment. “Why don’t we do a few family dinners so you get to know each other better? But Clawdeen is such a sweet kid.” Like a second niece to Elijah.
“Oh good. I think it’ll be fun.” The server came by and Elijah placed his order after Jen. “I’m pretty sure my sister and her boyfriend will attend, but the rest of my siblings probably won’t bother.” Kol and Caroline didn’t get along and given what Klaus said to the blonde, Elijah didn’t imagine Klaus and Cami making an appearance. He didn’t know about his older sister either, given how much she missed her wife and their son.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Jen replied. She hadn’t been around a lot of kids in her past, but was willing to get to know Clawdeen if it meant she and Elijah could be together.
After their orders were placed, she picked up her drink for a sip, then nodded her understanding. “I get it, past history and all. But maybe they’ll surprise you?”
“Perhaps. I could see Kol and Allison going and enjoying themselves.” Klaus? His brother could be a wild-card on his best days, but watching a woman he once loved marry someone else might be a bit much.
Odd that she and Clawdeen hadn’t spent a lot of time together. “How do you feel about…dogs and dog adjacent pets?”
“I’ve never had a dog, but I like them. Love them, even.” Jen was pretty sure she wasn’t allergic, and it was a little strange that he was asking about them, but she was fine if he had one or planned to get one.
Further conversation was interrupted by their appetizer arriving, and Jen reached out to squeeze Elijah’s hand again, then set to eating.