Unsurprisingly, Frankie and Elijah didn't exactly talk about the night before when they both woke up, Elijah had considered bringing it up but when she rolled over to face him with a lazy smile on her face he didn't have the heart to make it disappear.

They both had big days ahead. For Elijah, Klaus was away leaving him with the keys to his kingdom and he had full intentions of running it much more diplomatically than his brother.

Frankie's plans were slightly less altruistic, she'd been texted the address for a party late last night and she fully intended on taking advantage of the opportunity to tune out for an evening. The party started late giving her a little time to actually eat a proper meal as well as clean her apartment that had been half abandoned since the day she'd been kidnapped and pulled back into the Mikaelson's world.

She'd texted Josh and Cami to come with her but neither were free. Cami was working and sounded a little off but Frankie presumed it was more the kind of party that it was and that it wasn't her particular vibe. Josh however she'd expected to have been in but despite the four texts she'd sent she hadn't heard from him after she'd told him what happened to Davina. In the end, she went alone, it was what was easiest and she was no stranger to a little solo boogie, especially as she would surely make friends there.

By the time she arrived, it was nearing six and she was three drinks deep with her molly just about to kick in. It was a tough choice for her, waiting till it kicked in and having to make her way to the woods high as a kite or heading early and having to deal with the dip at the party where she didn't really know anyone aside from some kids from the skate park.

The party too was less of a small gathering and more of a literal rave in the woods complete with glow sticks, neon, and a lot of body paint. Regardless, an hour in and she was delighted by any decision she'd ever made, all thoughts of Davina or some diabolical Klaus plan nonexistent.

Molly wasn't an unfamiliar drug to Frankie but it also wasn't something she did with such regularity that she could predict its effects which was why when she started feeling at the peak of a high and Elijah's name appeared on her phone an hour in, she pulled it to her ear with a grin.

"Elijah!" she yelled, laughter bubbling from her lips as a couple beside her pretended to cheer at her joy, "It's you!"

"It's me," he chuckled, "Are you-"

"Do you remember when I went to that ball with you?" she cut him off, ignoring the reason he'd called with the memory flooding into view, "When I made you promise to do something that I liked since I had to wear a dress and heels?"

"I do."

Though Frankie couldn't see him she knew he had a grin of amusement on his face and more laughter bubbled from her lips before she remembered why she was asking. She'd made Elijah promise to join her for an event of her choosing when he'd invited her to a ball where she needed to wear a fancy dress and heels.

"It's time to pay the piper," she demanded, delighted by her plan, "But you're not allowed to wear a suit!"

Without giving Elijah a chance to respond, her phone was hung up and she'd sent him her location, turning her phone to silent before tucking it away.

It was an impulsive move inviting him here when she was higher than a kite but when she heard his voice and pictured having him here with her she was so excited by the prospect that she didn't think further forward.

What exactly Elijah had been calling for remained a mystery to Frankie and minutes after the phone had been turned silent she'd begun to dance with a stranger and completely pushed him from her thoughts. She enjoyed feeling this way, happy and free, being able to forget her fears seconds after they appeared in her head.

Despite knowing about vampires for nearly a year now, Frankie was still elated by the speed they seemed to possess which constantly slipped her mind. Now as she spun around and saw Elijah standing with amusement on his face her jaw practically fell to the floor in surprise. He hadn't quite known what to expect after she'd left their call but when she'd sent him her location he figured he had nothing to lose by checking in on her.

"'Lijah!" Frankie yelled, diving towards him and wrapping her arms around his neck, oblivious to the dancing couples surrounding them that she bumped into along the way, "What are you doing here?"

"I called you and you told me to come," he reminded her, wrapping an arm around her back to stop her slipping, "Are we at a rave?"

"Did I call you?" she asked, sliding from his grip and tugging her hands to her mouth to stop the giggles breathing forth, "Really?"

"Really," he nodded, "Are you alright?"

"Oh yes," she nodded, laughter tumbling from her lips again as she grabbed his hand and tugged him along with her through the crowd to a place where they could dance, "I'm so so happy."

"Did you take something?" he asked, finally placing together her excessive joy and the speed of her heart that he could hear was racing and erratic.

"Dance with me," she replied, ignoring his questions and releasing his hand to dance to the music.

This was good and easy and exactly what she needed after the shitshow of the past days. With her eyes shut she could feel the beat pulsing through her, she had a lazy grin on her face as she bumped a little out of pace. Elijah was dancing along too despite his concern though he was sure to keep his eyes on her.

One thing that Frankie always forgot about the drug was the way it affected her, going up and coming down from the high in waves that sometimes brought such lows the anxiety was overwhelming. Elijah noticed as her dancing slowed and her eyebrows furrowed, her hand rising to place itself on her chest over her heart while his arm reached out to touch her shoulder gently.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, noting the fear in her eyes as her lids fluttered open to meet him.

"Air," she spat out softly, relief flooding her when his arm wrapped around her and he sped them to a quiet place to breathe.

Elijahs arms loosened around her when they were in a quiet place but while Frankie stepped back, it didn't seem to help. Her heart was still racing frantically as he watched the panic continue to bubble up within her as she distracted herself with her stress.

"It's too quick," she muttered, crossing her arms around her as she clutched her shoulders, "My hearts going too quickly."

"Listen to mine," Elijah told her, reaching out and pulling her towards him, ensuring he was gentle enough she could pull back if she didn't want it, "Remember? Listen to the pace of my heart and count the beats."

Pressing her ear against Elijah's chest as he held her against him was the solution. She was grateful he was there with her as she listened to the sound of his heart pacing steadily, his hand rubbing slow circles across her back while she forced air into her lungs. Eventually her anxiety began to lessen and she tugged herself back, the dazed smile returning to her face as she gave him a once over.

"How did you get here with me?"

"I called to check in with you," he explained, "You were rather insistent on me recouping on a promise I made when you came to my mothers ball."

"Oh," she grinned sheepishly, the memories returning to her, "That was like hours ago I didn't think you'd really come."

Elijah chuckled at her, tugging his phone out to show the time stamp of the call at barely an hour earlier. She remembered now how delighted she'd been by the speed of his appearance and more laughter bubbled from her lips realising she was much more gone than she'd predicted. They were still standing away from the rave and now that she was coming up again the faint beat of the music was starting to pulse through her body and she began to shuffle in her place, desperate to dance again.

"What now?" Elijah asked, noting the grin returning to her face and the shuffling of her feet, "Do you want me to take you home?"

"Let's keep dancing!" she laughed, tugging his hand and pulling them towards the crowd before she stopped, turning to face him and examine his outfit, "Wait, didn't I say no suit?"

"I didn't bring a jacket," he pointed out, "You weren't particularly coherent on the phone."

"That's rude," she frowned teasingly, "I was coherent enough to get you here wasn't I? Well I had to wear heels so I'm not sure this quite equals my compromise."

"Oh my dear, please forgive me," he replied, an amused lilt to his voice, "I hope I can redeem your trust."

"Thin ice," she replied, turning back to the crowd and calling over her shoulder, "I get a do over taking you somewhere I like I think.

That, Elijah thought, was the most delightful punishment he could imagine. Not only would he get to spend more time with her, but with it being her choice he'd likely get to watch her lips twitch into a grin and listen to the laughter tumble from her lips. Elijah would take any opportunity to be alone with her but to be with her doing something that bought her joy was like a dream come to life.

Laughter tumbled out again when Elijah sped them through the crowd and pulled her to dance with him, his arms surrounding her as he spun her in her place. He enjoyed hearing her laugh so freely and he wanted to do what he could to make it continue. Even knowing it was a result of whatever she'd taken, he'd like her to at least ride it out while she could, to enjoy this brief moment before reality returned to shatter their world again.

"'Lijah," she yelled, louder than necessary even in the din of the dance music surrounding them.

"Mhm," he replied, leaning over as her arms linked around his neck sloppily and pulled him towards her. She stumbled a little and his arm instinctively wrapped around her waist, pulling her close and allowing her to stretch up and whisper in his ear.

"'Lijah, I'm really, really happy."

Elijah pulled back a little to look her in the eyes and his free hand instinctively rose to brush her hair from her face. His hand passed over her head and her eyes fluttered shut, the sensitivity in her skin exploding with joy as his fingers brushed her face.

Though it was more than clear that this was an act of escapism, the party, the drugs and the dancing, it was an act he was more than happy to indulge. Elijah knew it was bad she kept all her pain inside but he couldn't bear to see the tears stream down her face again so soon and if she wanted to distract herself from the girl she'd befriended who he'd helped kill then who was he to blame her. If this night brought even a slight respite from the pain he and his family had incidentally inflicted he'd help her have a thousand more just the same.

She realised exactly now that she wanted to kiss him, it was almost all she could think of and the moment her eyes flickered open they slipped down to focus on his lips. With the ecstasy that coursed through her body at just the warmth of his arm around her she knew that the feeling of his lips on hers would be mind blowing but in a superb act of sobriety she closed her eyes pressing her forehead against his chest instead.

"I'm glad you're happy," he replied, holding her close.

Elijah wanted just as badly to kiss her too but for now he'd content himself with each moment she leant against him and with the grin on her face as she pulled back and began to dance again.

When she began to falter again he was the one who caught her arm asking if she needed air and then sped them away. Now they were leaning against a tree as she pressed her head back to his chest with his arms wrapped tightly around her waist and head, holding her steady.

Things felt different between them, she knew it was her who'd changed and she was sure too that the drug was altering her feelings. She knew that when she took ecstasy she was happier and felt more deeply and full of love but it didn't feel like it was only because of the drug. Elijah had been what she needed ever since the first day they'd met, he'd never pushed her too far or forced her into things like she'd expected he would. She actually felt safe beside him even with the chaos of the world they lived in and she felt happy as they teased each other, his affectionate grin making her warm with joy rather than uncomfortable.

"Do you want to dance again?" he asked her when her feet began to shuffle in their place again, Frankie grinned and he sped them back to the middle of the rave.

If dancing felt good, having Elijah speed her around felt fantastic and she was grateful for the intoxication of the crowd that allowed him to do it over and over without any consequences.

"Is it late?" she asked, tugging him down to reach her several hours later. Though her feet certainly weren't feeling as tired as they should be, she was feeling a little more lethargic and though the anxiety hadn't returned she felt more ready to relax than to dance now.

"It's past three."

"Lets go home."

The farther along she stumbled the more exhausted she felt so she was relieved when Elijah wrapped an arm around her waist, speeding her from the woods and back to town. He slowed down when they reached the centre of town, deliberately stopping halfway between both the compound and Frankie's house so she could choose where she wanted to stay.

Elijah didn't let the disappointment show up on his face as she took a left, turning down the alleyway to reach her apartment though he was pleased at least at how she'd taken his hand to steady herself as she walked, uncertain in her steps.

"Do you want to come in?" she asked when they reached the door. Frankie hadn't even attempted to get the key in the lock, instead handing over her keychain with the golden front door key out, pleased when pushed it open for her to enter.

"Do you want me to?" Elijah asked politely, returning her keys and stepping tentatively over the doorstep.

"That's why I invited you, idiot," she laughed, "Come on. I need water so I don't die and then I want to sleep, you will stay, won't you?"

Elijah felt his smile grow at this and he followed her to the kitchen, filling her a glass and watching as she downed it desperately. Elijah was fairly certain that the grin she gave him when their eyes met he'd start wars for, he would let her lead him anywhere if she continued to look at him like that.

They were settled in bed together when she spoke again, she'd pressed herself towards him and her voice was quiet as she whispered to him. Elijah's arms were around her though tonight her head lay against his chest as she faced him with his arms pulling her into a tight hug.

"Do you think about her a lot?"

"Who?"

"Her," Frankie mumbled, "Francesca."

"Not much," he confessed almost a little guilty at the revelation, "Not anymore."

She was silent for a moment, mulling this over as his fingers spun circles on her back, tickling her ever so gently as he traced along her skin. There was something niggling at her ever so slightly as she felt herself approach another sip of anxiety. A question plaguing her after her near breakdown the day before and then drug infused haze today, whether he thought her more trouble than she was worth.

"Do you think I'm a head case?"

Considering everything she'd been through, quite honestly Elijah was surprised she was still standing at times. From her mother to her brother to Mitch and then everything Klaus and he had put her through, he was surprised at her resilience, her constant recovery and persistance. It almost concerned him how well she coped sometimes. Certainly she sometimes bubbled over with anxiety, but it was a more than understandable reaction with what she'd been put through.

"Not even nearly," he said honestly, "You're far from it."

Frankie wasn't sure if she believed him, she considered pressing it further but she left it, allowing the warmth that bubbled in her chest to comfort her. Something had changed with her and Elijah, whether it was the night before when he'd held her close, his fingers tracing circles on her arm as she lay awake for hours with the image of Davina's slit throat on her mind, or whether it was the grin on her face as he watched her dance, the gentle reassurance that he was here for her, always here for her.

"I'm glad I know you."

"I'm glad I know you too," he told her, his fingers brushing gently through the ends of her hair, "very glad."

🙄