Elena stood gripping the kitchen counter, fighting the tears that were threatening to fall, the dishes in the sink long forgotten.
This house held so much pain. The people she had cared about had died trying to protect her. Her mom, dad, Jenna, Alaric even John, they were all gone, and it hurt so much she could barely breath.
And now, even more people where ready to face death so she could live. Was it worth it? Wouldn't it be easier if she just died? No more Elena meant no more danger, no one would hunt the doppelganger if she was dead, no one would threaten the ones she loved to get to her.
Right now she wished she had never been born. Maybe her parents would still be alive, Jeremy would be happy, Caroline wouldn't be a vampire and everyone would be alive.
She sank to the floor, no longer trying to keep her crying quiet, she sobbed loudly.
It was heartbreaking to watch. Someone so pure and good coming undone from all the pain and evil she had to endure.
He stood outside in the garden watching her through the window. All he wanted to do was go inside and comfort her, tell her that he would take her far away, where she didn't have to constantly worry about everyone who tried to kill her, and everyone that would die in the process, where she would be free, with him. But he couldn't. It wasn't his place. So he waited.
He waited until she finally went upstairs to her room, grabbing the railing for support as she stumbled up the steps. He waited until he saw the light to her bedroom turn off. He waited until he was sure she was asleep. Then he slowly walked up the front steps and opened the door.
It was quiet. Jeremy was out somewhere so she was left all alone to wallow in her misery. He felt immense sorrow for her. Now at her most vulnerable when she needed someone the most, no one was here to comfort her.
He closed the door behind him and quietly walked up the stairs to her room.
He stopped for a second, just watching her sleep.
She looked so much like Katerina. It was remarkable how they were so alike, but at the same time so different. Where Katerina only cared for her own safety, Elena set everyone else before herself. Where Katerina was manipulative, Elena was open and honest, always carrying her heart on her sleeve. Elena was everything he wished Katerina had been.
He walked closer to her bed and sat down beside her. She looked so broken, even when she was asleep. He moved a strand of hair from her face and kissed her forehead gently.
He wondered to himself how he got himself where he was now. After Katerina and Tatia, he swore to never love a doppelganger again. But he couldn't help himself. She was such a remarkable person. She caught him off guard, and he let his feelings for her blossom for each time they met. But she was taken by the Salvatore brothers, just like Katerina had been once. He knew it meant doom for her.
He froze when he felt her shift and looked down on her when she slowly opened her eyes.
"Elijah?" she whispered, barely audible.
"Shh, I apologize for intruding, but I needed to see how you were doing." He said it so quietly she could barely make out the words.
Silent tears slid down her cheeks and before he could think about what he was doing he had his arms wrapped around her, her head buried in his chest.
They stayed like that until her tears seized. He slowly unwound his arms from around her and laid her back down on the bed.
"Sleep Elena."
She closed her eyes, and he stood up slowly walking to the door, but stopped and turned around surprised when she uttered the words "Stay with me."