The morning sunlight spilled in through the window, illuminating the brunette hair of the witch sitting on the couch with a mug of steaming hot coffee in her hand. The atmosphere in the study was stilted from the events of the past night, not a sound could be heard other than the occasional muffled groan coming from the bedroom upstairs. It should have disturbed her, but she just leisurely sipped her coffee and nibbled on the artisanal raspberry and white chocolate muffin that she'd found in the kitchen earlier that morning.

It seemed as though the world was paused, but Imogen knew that wasn't the case.

The events of the last day filtered through her mind as she leaned back against the comfortable couch with her legs tucked underneath her body, her hands curled around the mug to keep it balanced on her knee. She had attempted to stay awake until everyone arrived back at the compound but she'd ended up surrendering to her exhaustion, curling up like a slumbering cat in the comfortable armchair in Elijah's office. She had woken up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting in from the kitchen and the sensation of somebody gently stroking her cheek with the back of their fingers, a feeling she thought she could've gotten used to if given the chance. Elijah had gone on to explain that he had saved Rebekah and Marcel from Klaus' wrath by stabbing him in the chest with the bone blade that was spelled by the witch Papa Tunde, who enchanted it using sacrificial magic gained by killing dozens of vampires.

"You seem to be at ease in my office. Are you acquisitioning it for yourself, darling?" Elijah asked teasingly as he strolled into the study with a faint smirk on his lips and Imogen lifted her head with a smile, loving the way the moniker flowed off of his tongue.

"Hm. Well, this couch is very comfy." She replied in the same light-hearted tone as she caressed the seat next to her fondly and he chuckled lowly as he came to a stop on the opposite side of the coffee table with his hands stuffed in his pants pockets. "Do you have a problem sharing with me?"

"Not at all. In fact, your presence seems to have brightened an otherwise dreary room."

The compliment caused a blush to spread across the witch's cheeks as she ducked her head in embarrassment with a small grin on her lips, not used to someone showing her genuine affection. She was used to people making outrageous declarations in hopes of gaining something from her, in hopes of taking advantage of her, thinking that a few kind words would manipulate her enough to give in to their demands. But the spark in Elijah's brown eyes or the faint upturn of his lips like he wasn't even aware that he was smiling, it made her believe in the sincerity of his words.

Elijah watched the slight reddening of her cheeks as she avoided his gaze with an adorable twitch of her lips and he tilted his head to the side in fascination as she tucked a strand of brunette hair behind her ear. He could remember running his fingers through the silky tresses when he kissed her other morning in the kitchen and he ached to be able to do it whenever he desired, to be able to express his feelings without censoring himself. The taste of her lips was lingering, a sweet torture he'd endure for the better part of a day, and he found his gaze drifting down to her mouth as she took a sip from the porcelain mug in her hand. Never before in his existence had he been envious of an inanimate object, but a severe envy built inside of him when he saw the way her lips curved around the edge of the coffee cup. Her expressive blue eyes lifted to meet his gaze, captivating his full attention as she tilted her head to the side curiously and he instantly diverted his gaze away from her when he realised he had been staring at her a moment too long to be considered polite. He cleared his throat discreetly as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly with a small downturn of his lips, feeling awkward under her questioning gaze and he knew that they'd have to discuss their kiss at some point in time but he wanted to live in a state of hope instead of facing reality.

"Perhaps we should talk." He stated apprehensively as he shifted his stance, appearing almost nervous about what he was about to do but he knew that he needed to make it clear where his attention had to lie.

"Elijah, I'm not some naïve little girl." Imogen reminded him with a soft laugh as she quirked an eyebrow at him and he couldn't help the dubious expression that flashed across his features because he wasn't used to dealing with someone so mature. "We don't need to have 'the talk'. I don't need an explanation. You thought I was dead, when you found I wasn't you were overcome with affection, relief, guilt? It was just a kiss. An amazing, phenomenal kiss, but just a kiss all the same."

"Imogen, I apolg –"

"I don't need an apology either, but thank you for the consideration."

"I feel as though I've misled you. That was not my intention, I assure you."

"I know that." she told him soothingly with a gentle smile as she set the empty coffee mug down on the table next to the couch, noticing how troubled he seemed to be over what he felt was an injustice towards her and she curled one leg underneath her body as she tilted her head to the side compassionately. The witch bit down on the corner of her lower lip contemplatively as she regarded him thoughtfully and he raised an eyebrow at her in amusement as she released a sigh with a small grin appearing on her lips, "I like you, Elijah. You're intelligent, and funny, compassionate. Loyal to your family to a fault, and I'm saying that as a positive attribute. You wear a suit better than anyone I've ever met. I like spending time with you. I know how I feel about you. I don't think I'm the one who's having difficulty accepting their feelings, and that's okay. I'm fine with that. Because if we're just friends, at least I get some of you. I still get to talk to you, and see you. And if that's all you can offer, I understand. Your main concern is your family, and I know you have a lot going on right now. And my main concern is my family, and I'm going to do whatever in my power to get Davina resurrected. I don't need anything from you, Elijah. But I do want you in my life. Even if it's just doing what we've been doing the past few months."

Imogen shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly like she hadn't just made the most nerve-wracking speech of her entire life even though her stomach felt heavy with dread, the fear of rejection eating away at her insides. She could feel her heart racing, trying escape the confines of her chest as she took a deep breath and attempted to appear calm under the Original's burdened stare.

"The extent of your understanding in astonishing." Elijah whispered in an awed tone of voice as he tilted his head to the side with a soft smile touching his lips and she couldn't help the chuckle that escaped her as she shook her head in denial but he quickly interrupted whatever she was about to say with small grin, "No, it's the truth. I'm constantly amazed by the way your mind functions. It's one of the things I admire most about you. I've spent the last thousand years expecting the unexpected but yet, somehow, you always manage to surprise me with what comes out of your mouth."

"Thank you." she said in a with a touch of a grin on her lips, a slight blush spreading over her cheeks at the flattering remark because she could hear the honesty threaded through his words.

"There's no need to thank me. I've always been truthful with you, and I'll continue to be." He stated nonchalantly as he strolled around the coffee table separating them and she turned her body slightly to face him as he gracefully sat down beside her on the couch. "Imogen, I...I enjoy your company. Far more than I care to admit. I'm aware that both of our current familial obligations place a strain on even attempting to develop a relationship, but I don't wish to lose what little relationship we've established."

"So, then we just continue how we were before the kiss. Being around you just feels so natural to me, like I don't have to be anything other than myself and I don't want things to be awkward between us. I was happy getting to know you gradually and being friends, with a little flirting."

"Yes, I agree. It seems as though you're the only one I can be assured isn't working against me. You've always been quite clear where your loyalties lie. And because of that, you are the only one I can fully trust." Elijah murmured thoughtfully as he draped his arm over the back of the couch with a slightly troubled expression and Imogen knew that his mind was no longer on the topic of their non-existent relationship but on the latest Mikaelson family dilemma.

Betrayal was a hard thing to process, especially when it came from someone you trusted explicitly and that was the saddest thing about treachery, it never came from your enemies. Imogen could see the hurt that both of the male Originals were going through, could see the torment Rebekah's past actions had caused for her brothers but she didn't know what she could do to ease their pain except be there to witness it.

"Are you okay, Elijah?" the witch asked softly in concern as she reached out to place a hand on his knee, a small gesture of comfort in an otherwise helpless situation.

"I'm concerned I will not be able to contain my brother's wrath like have in the past. This situation is utterly unique and I'm not entirely certain how to go about lessening his ire towards our sister." He answered her question carefully after a moment of contemplation, choosing his words in a thoughtful voice as displeasure dripped from his tone and his forehead furrowed slightly as his lips turned downward at the corners.

"The significant word in that sentence being 'our'. How are you, Elijah?" she asked firmly with an eyebrow quirked in question as she squeezed his knee gently in reprimand, knowing that he was deflecting in hopes that she wouldn't pursue that line of questioning.

The indecision was evident in his oak brown eyes, even as his expression remained neutral and Imogen couldn't help the small swell of disappointment in her stomach but she ignored the sensation as she bit the corner of her lower lip.

"You know what? Don't worry about it." Imogen stated with a defeated sigh as she pulled herself up from the couch, her shoulders slumped slightly as she avoided looking in his direction. She didn't want him to see the hurt in her blue eyes, the wounded glint that his obvious hesitation had caused.

"Imogen..."

"It's fine. Really, Elijah, it's fine."

"I was under the impression we didn't divulge in half-truths." Elijah said in a light manner as he stood up from the couch with an enviable grace and the witch tilted her head to the side as she looked over at him with a small smile on her lips. He raised an eyebrow in question as he stuffed his hands in his pants pockets and she couldn't help sighing in defeat as she took a small step forward, looking up at him earnestly.

"That night in my apartment, after Davina died? I can count on one hand the number of times I've felt that vulnerable. Marcel is the only other person that has seen me breakdown like that, the only other person I trust enough to let my walls down around." She told him honestly with a delicate shrug of her shoulders as she tucked a strand of brunette behind her ear almost sheepishly. "It's just – I know you've had a thousand years of not trusting your own shadow, but I want you to be able to tell me how you're feeling. I want you to feel comfortable letting your walls down around me."

The Original's forehead furrowed in what appeared to be confusion as she stepped towards him until she was right in front of him and she curled her hands around his biceps with a small smile on her lips, "Like we said before, we're still getting to know one another. It's okay. I can tell that you're slowly starting to relax around me, and I'm so glad about that."

"Well, I am glad that you're glad about that." he admitted softly with a half-grin spreading across his lips as he carefully placed his hands on her waist, as though he was afraid that he had overstepped their newly established boundaries.

"I'm glad that you're glad that I'm glad about that."

"This may go on for a long while. Perhaps we should stop before we get too committed to the cause."

"Good self-preservation instinct."

"Thank you. Now, tell me," he started to say coyly with a roguish smirk on his lips as he tightened his hold on her waist and she sucked in a sharp breath at the mischievous glint in his oak brown eyes, "These new regulations on our relationships, do they prohibit me from mentioning how stunning you look this morning?"

"No, no, that's always allowed," she assured him with a slight blush reddening her cheeks and her smile widened in pleasure, showing him that his comment was taken the way he intended. A shot of realisation went through her as she scrutinised his expression with narrowed blue eyes and she quirked an eyebrow at him as she tilted her head to the side, "But why do I get the feeling you're buttering me up to ask for a favour?"

"Because you're very perceptive." He teased quietly as he gently tugged her closer so that he could feel the heat radiating off of her body and he was rewarded with the melodious sound of her startled giggle. "I was hoping you would do a quick locator spell for me. It seems Hayley has vanished from the compound and with Celeste still causing a ruckus in the Quarter, I'd rather know exactly where she is at all times. Celeste has already tried to harm Hayley in an arson attempt, and gone after you when I put a stop to her plans, I shudder to think what she'd do to get her hands on Hayley. And Niklaus' child."

"Absolutely. I'll just need to grab something from Hayley's bedroom." Imogen said nonchalantly with a nod of her head as she tightened her hold on his upper arms and he hummed in acknowledgement as she bit her lower lip in hesitation before meeting his gaze solemnly, "Elijah, I'm really sorry that you're going through this. If I had known that Celeste made you choose who to help– "

"You were going to die in that fire, Imogen. There was no choice."

The intensity of his gaze caused a shiver to run down her spine, the emotion and honesty in his eyes shone through and her breath caught in her throat as she started to feel weak in the knees. She was aware that his main concern had to be for Hayley and his niece but the sentiment was appreciated greatly and the part of her brain that was flooding with oxytocin didn't care about the semantics. All she cared about was the fact that he was looking down at her in a manner she had never experienced and she was suffering a longing in her chest that was both pleasurable and painful all at once.

Imogen breathed out a laugh as she slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning into his muscular chest and he instinctively curled his arms around her waist as he drew her into an embrace. He could feel her body pressed up against his, sending a lightning bolt of lust through his core but he kept his hands respectfully on the small of her back and he inhaled the intoxicating scent of vanilla that emanated from her skin.

"There's always a choice. And I'm sorry you were put in the position where you had to make one." The witch whispered earnestly as she tightened her hold on the Original, placing her gratitude and empathy into the gesture.

Elijah turned his head into the crook of her neck as he inhaled sharply while his eyes fluttered closed and some of the tension that he had been eating away at him since the night of the plantation fire eased under her soothing touch. He had felt such guilt over his decision but here was this mere human girl who understood the responsibility of being the head of the family and who empathised with the burden that had been thrust upon him, who could alleviate the weight resting on his shoulders with a few supportive words.

Imogen pulled back from the embrace slowly without removing herself from the circle of his arms and pushed herself up on her toes as she pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips, lingering momentarily to appreciate the pressure before taking a step backwards out of his arms, "By the way, that wasn't a kiss. Because we're friends. And friends don't kiss."

"Oh, Imogen..." he murmured in an almost condescending tone of voice as he reached up to cup one side of her face and his leaned forward so that she could feel his warm breath on her lips, "When I kiss you, there won't be any question."

Lust erupted in the witch's stomach when his words reached her clouded mind, a sharp spark through her veins forced her spine straighter and her blue eyes widened in surprise at the dominance in his voice. It was such a drastic change from the usual kindness he displayed that it shocked her body and she shivered at his sudden drop in timbre as her breathing became shallow, quickening in a way that made it hard to catch her breath. A swarm of butterflies went wild in her stomach as she studied the desire and promise written plainly in his oak brown eyes and she was almost positive that the emotions were replicated in her own.

The smouldering stare he gave her as he strolled passed her while maintaining eye contact made him look like the phrase 'tall, dark and handsome' personified. Her gaze followed his retreating form until he had disappeared from sight and she fought the heat that had risen to her cheeks during the intense encounter.

Imogen exhaled slowly in an effort to regulate her breathing as she placed a shaky hand on her flushed cheek and a small startled laugh escaped her as she grinned uncontrollably. It was a strange sensation, the insane desire to completely submit to someone and for her, it was completely unprecedented.

Sex had always been something Imogen could control, something that made sense to her when everything else in her life had been absolutely unknowable. Whenever her parents harsh treatment made her feel weak or inadequate in every aspect of her life, she needed a release where she had total control over herself. Whenever the stress of raising a child became too much to handle or the pressure placed on her by the coven and her mother made her feel as though she was suffocating, she needed an escape from the mind-numbing routine of her life. There was a part of her that was terrified of letting herself be that vulnerable was another person, of being metaphorically stark naked in front of another person and not caring that they could see deep within her soul to the dark crevices she kept hidden from the entire world.

It was startling that someone could make her actually want to surrender her body or that someone could make her feel comfortable enough in their presence that she was actually eager to hand over control. There was something about the way the Original looked at her with such intensity and desire, with such longing and hunger that she had no doubt she would be safe in his skilled hands.

Imogen chuckled softly to herself as she tried to stifle her grin by biting down on the corner of her lower lip and she dropped her hand from her cheek to her side as she spun around on her heel. She practically skipped in the direction that Elijah had exited, somehow her subconscious knew exactly which room he had headed towards when he'd left the office.