Disclaimer: I do not own TVD or SOA, or any of the characters used in this fic.

Summary: After the sacrifice, Elena comes to realize that no one will be safe with her around. She allows Katherine and Elijah to take her out of Mystic Falls and across the country to Charming, California. As she tries to settle in the small town, she finds herself drawn to the resident motorcycle club, specifically Jax Teller, the charismatic vice-president of SAMCRO. Elena/Jax

A few things:

1. This is a rewrite of "There is a Fire Inside of This Heart". Your reaction will decide whether I continue with it. I wasn't happy with the other version so I'm trying to remake it into something that will be better.

2. Elena's outfits are on my profile.

3. Please let me know what you think. It will go a long way in convincing me to continue.

Elijah found her at the Gilbert family lake house. Alaric and Jeremy were the only two who knew where she was but Elena was aware that Elijah had his ways. Thankfully there was no appearing over her shoulder or high-speed vampire movements. He drove up in a car that cost more than her house and walked up the path as casually as if he belonged there. Elena was sitting on the porch, curled up in a rocking chair with a cup of tea and a book lying across her lap. She barely reacted as he approached her. With a sigh and a sweep of her hand, she gestured for him to sit with her. He did so, unbuttoning his suit jacket and sitting with the graceful ease of a thousand-year-old vampire.

"Why are you here?" Elena said hoarsely before taking a drink of her warm tea.

It was the first time she'd spoken in days. Any communication that she'd had with anyone was through text.

"I wanted to offer my congratulations and my condolences."

She closed her eyes and shook her head slightly, inhaling deeply.

"You're late on both accounts. The funerals were over a month ago and my graduation was last week," Elena reminded him.

"I'm afraid that I was unavailable for either event," Elijah admitted, staring out at the glittering lake.

She looked over at him with a frown, studying his profile.

"Were you off betraying someone else?" she said, her words and tone rather harsh.

Elijah didn't even flinch, returning her gaze with an even look. He knew he deserved her anger.

"That was not my intention, I assure you," he said calmly.

"Do you think that I give a damn about your intentions? Jenna and John are dead," Elena said, raising her voice as her anger built. "You were supposed to kill Klaus and you didn't. My aunt and uncle died for no reason. Damon was bitten and almost died for no reason."

He listened patiently as she ranted, something that frustrated her even more.

"Why?" she said, her eyes burning with tears and her voice breaking.

Elijah didn't answer right away, almost looking guilty in the moment before he turned away.

"My brother gave me reason to believe that our siblings are not as lost as I previously thought."

She stared at him with an incredulous look.

"You let him live because of what was probably a lie?" Elena said, disbelief in her voice.

"It was not a lie. I saw their preserved bodies for myself before I was forced to run" Elijah said, sounding almost frustrated.

"Run?" she questioned, the word stopping her anger in its tracks. "Why?"

Elijah looked at her once more, a sad smile on his face.

"I attempted to kill Niklaus. He does not forgive such actions. If I stayed, my body would be in a coffin only after he shoved a dagger into my heart," he explained, sounding too calm for a man who was discussing temporary fratricide.

"Is that how the rest of your siblings got that way? They wronged him?" Elena said, more interested than angry at this point.

"In his eyes, yes," Elijah said with a nod.

She considered that for a moment.

"I can offer you protection," Elijah replied.

Elena looked at him suspiciously.

"Why?"

"Because it is only a matter of time until my brother discovers that you are alive. He will focus his anger on Mystic Falls…unless you are no longer in Mystic Falls. If you leave, he will have a very hard time finding you, it can buy us time to research and destroy him. You and your remaining loved ones will finally be safe," he offered.

She remained quiet for a few moments, turning his words over in her mind.

"You've said all of this before," Elena reminded him. "Why should I believe you now?"

"If I can get rid of Niklaus, I can reunite my family."

Elena pressed her lips together, looking out at the lake.

"Leave Mystic Falls?" she asked.

"To keep everyone, including you, safe," he confirmed.

She didn't know exactly what to say. There was something about his offer that caught her interest. Something that tugged at her to see it through, to know what he had planned. With a sigh, she turned back to him, a wary expression on her face.

"I'll think about it," she said.

Elijah considered her words for a moment before nodding.

"That is all that I can ask."

They sat there for several more moments, neither speaking as the sound of nature went on around them. When he got up to leave, Elena watched him go out to his car and drive away, leaving her alone once more.

She was halfway through a bottle of wine when they showed up, not even caring about the fact that she was still technically not allowed to drink. There was music playing from the iPod dock on the counter, the sultry tones making her sway back and forth with a lazy smile.

"Elena?" Caroline's voice rang out.

"In the kitchen," she called back, setting the glass down before turning to the stove where she was making pasta.

They all entered in a train of people, Caroline followed by Jeremy and Bonnie with Alaric bringing up the lead.

"This looks…fun," Jeremy said, picking up the bottle to feel what was left. "Party?"

"One woman fiesta," Elena nodded, stirring the sauce. "Unless, of course, you want to join."

She could practically feel them exchanging wary looks.

"Elena, we need to talk to you," Caroline said, sounding hesitant as she shut off the music.

"Yeah, I got that much," she said, turning around to face them. "You're worried about me but you don't have to be. I'm not starving myself or giving up on life. I'm fine."

None of them looked terribly convinced. Perhaps it was the wine.

"Elijah came here," Elena said, stunning them out of whatever intervention they had planned for her.

They all stared at her for several moments, clearly unsure of how to react to that at first.

"How did he know you were here?" Bonnie wondered with a frown.

"It's Elijah," she said simply, shrugging as she turned back to check on her pasta. "I think it's about time we get used to the fact that he knows more than us at any given time."

She turned the stove off and walked to the sink to drain the noodles.

"What did he want?" Alaric asked, voicing the curiosity that the rest were feeling.

"He told me that it's only a matter of time before Klaus figures out that I'm alive," she answered, rinsing the pot out before setting it in the sink.

"Yeah? And who's fault is that?" Jeremy muttered, leaning over the stove to sneak a taste of her sauce.

Elena bumped him out of the way with her hip.

"He knows that," she said, pouring the tomato sauce into a bowl.

Turning back, she saw that they were all watching her with various looks, ranging from angry to uncertain. Picking up her bottle of wine, she gestured for the others to eat what they wanted. She wasn't particularly hungry. The food was just for them. She made it when she knew they were coming. Before she could take a drink of the wine, Caroline lifted the bottle out of her hand.

"Maybe get some food in your stomach first," she suggested.

Elena scowled at her but didn't bother arguing. She knew that they were all just trying to help her.

"Did Elijah mention Stefan at all?" Bonnie asked, looking at her with concern.

She shook her head, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"I was too afraid to ask. Either he's dead or Klaus is doing something way worse to him. I don't really want to know which one," she admitted.

"You never know. Maybe he's okay," Caroline said, still trying to be the eternal optimist after everything that had happened.

Elena knew that it was Tyler's effect on her. His presence had given Caroline hope for the future.

"Maybe," she nodded, though she highly doubted it.

Alaric put his arm around her shoulder, giving her a quick but gentle squeeze. He knew what she was feeling, better than perhaps any of the others except for Jeremy.

"So what else did Elijah say?" her brother asked between large bites of pasta.

Elena hesitated, knowing that this may make them all protest angrily. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself for their reactions.

"He thinks that I should get out of Mystic Falls," she said, turning away to load up her own plate of food. "He even offered to help me."

She could feel their stares on her back.

"Well what did you say?" Alaric questioned.

"I told him I would think about it," Elena said, turning back around.

"Think about it?" Caroline scoffed, shaking her head.

She looked down at her pasta, mixing the sauce into the noodles half-heartedly.

"You aren't really though, right?" Bonnie asked.

She shrugged with out answering, spooning a small bite of noodles into her mouth.

"Elena you absolutely cannot do this. Elijah has given you no reason to trust anything he says," Caroline stressed, her eyes wideand her mouth fixed in a frown. "What makes you think that he won't deliver you straight to Klaus?"

"There's no perfect answer," Elena broke in, setting her plate down on the counter. "If I stay here, there is a good chance that Klaus will return and kill all of us."

"And if you go, he could return and kill all of us before hunting you down and killing you too," Bonnie said, her voice equally as loud as Caroline's.

She could feel her frustration rising at their refusal to listen to her.

"Just a side note, if I do decide to leave Mystic Falls, it won't be because you gave me your permission," she said heatedly, stepping towards them.

Snatching the bottle of wine away from Caroline, Elena walked past them and straight out of the house. She didn't stop until she got to the edge of the dock, taking a long drink from the bottle before looking out at the rich, colorful sunset. Several minutes passed before she heard the sound of footsteps approaching her from behind. They were too heavy to be either Caroline or Bonnie so it narrowed it down.

"Mind sharing that?"

She smiled, turning to look at Jeremy.

"Why not?"

Moments later, they were sitting on the edge of the dock and passing the bottle back and forth.

"What are you going to do?" Jeremy asked.

Elena sighed, shaking her head.

"I have no idea," she admitted.

"Can I tell you what I think?" he said, looking over at her.

"I welcome it," Elena sighed, looking back at him.

Jeremy took a long drink of the wine, hesitating before handing it back over.

"You should go," he said.

Elena looked over at him with wide, surprised eyes.

"Really?"

Jeremy nodded, returning her gaze.

"I think that you want to. You just can't tell them," he said, nodding back at the house. "So do it for me."

"Jer," she sighed, reaching out to touch his hand.

"Elena, we've had to put up with so much shit since Mom and Dad died. The second that Stefan and Damon stepped into your life, you've been in danger from one thing or another. If this gets you away from that, even for a while, I want you to go."

She felt tears springing up into her eyes and shook her head.

"But what about you?" Elena asked, her voice breaking. "We're all that we have left."

Jeremy reached out, putting his arm around her. She leaned into him, putting her head on his shoulder.

"I'm going to stay put for now. Matt just got me a job at the Grill and Alaric…well he needs someone too. Maybe in a few months when you're settled wherever Elijah has planned for you I can come too, yeah?"

Elena considered that idea, knowing that it wasn't the worst.

"When did you get so mature and grown up?" she said, a tear falling down her cheek.

"I think I always had it in me," he said with a shrug and a grin.

She laughed, nodding in agreement.

"I know you did," she said, reaching up to ruffle his hair.

Jeremy smiled at her, sadness and hope both lingering in his eyes. They sat there for a long time, neither speaking as they watched the sun set below the horizon, finishing off the bottle of wine together.

Elena stood on the sidewalk, a duffel bag in her hand and an uncertain look on her face. As Elijah's sleek car pulled up to the curb, she glanced back at the house where she'd grown up. Jeremy was inside with Alaric, not wanting to watch her leave. They'd already said their goodbyes, along with the others. Damon didn't know about it. They all knew he would try to stop it. They weren't going to tell him until she was gone for a whole day, that way he couldn't track her down. Caroline and Bonnie, though still wary of this plan, had come to say goodbye as well, both promising to visit if they could. Elena knew it was unlikely. They were dealing with their own shit and going off to college in a few months.

Elijah climbed out of the car, walking around to help her with the bag. She watched as he put it in the trunk before opening the passenger door to climb in. Elena had already shed tears over her departure and was unwilling to let anymore fall. She didn't even give her house a last look, knowing that it would only hurt more. She let out a heavy sigh as he started the car and pulled away, making his way down the street slowly.

"I am surprised that you came," Elijah said once they merged onto the main road that led out of Mystic Falls.

She glanced over at him.

"Jeremy said I should, Alaric too."

Elijah looked even more surprised, an expression that she never thought she'd see on the vampire's face.

"What happened to Stefan?" Elena asked, changing the subject.

Part of her still didn't want to know but she knew that she had to. She wouldn't be satisfied until she did.

"He's paying dearly for the werewolf bite cure. Klaus desires his companionship and only used Damon's life as a way to barter with Stefan to keep him by his side," he answered.

She looked over at him with a frown.

"Why Stefan? What does Klaus want with him?"

"A friend, I think. Someone to travel, drink, and murder with," Elijah said.

Elena shook her head.

"Stefan doesn't do that," she insisted.

"I think you'll find that Stefan is not the same vampire you know when he's around Klaus. My brother has a way of bringing the worst out of him," Elijah said quietly.

She felt confusion at his words.

"You say that as if Stefan has done this with Klaus before. But they never met before your brother came to Mystic Falls," she reminded him.

"Didn't they?" Elijah said, glancing over at her as they neared the city limit. "Have you forgotten that even vampires can be compelled to forget things?"

She felt her heart drop as she realized what he was trying to say.

"So Stefan is going to be a ripper again?" Elena said, dreading his answer.

"I'm afraid that he's going to be much worse than that. He's going to be a ripper partnered with the deadliest of creatures, the one thing that no one knows how to kill, at his side. Klaus and Stefan are not going to be easy to stop, though it will be necessary. And it will be made easier with you hidden away. The one weakness that could stop Stefan from doing any of this is you, so you are the one thing that we need to keep safe from Klaus. You need to keep yourself safe and hidden. We'll deal with the rest of it."

She hated feeling helpless, though she knew that it was necessary. Elena had obviously proved that she was useless, watching Jenna die in front of her eyes without being able to help her. John also gave his life for her, something that she couldn't stop even if she wanted to. It was because of her that everything was happening, so she couldn't help but wonder if it was just better for her to get out of the way.

"Where are you taking me?" Elena asked.

"Somewhere far away from Klaus and his plans. Somewhere I know you will be safe," Elijah answered cryptically.

She knew that it was unlikely that she would get anything else out of him, so she remained quiet, laying her head against the window. Before she knew it, Elena was falling into a troubled sleep, barely hearing the sound of Elijah making a call as she did so.

Clay glanced up from a car that he was working on as Gemma walked into the garage, her eyes wide.

"What is it?" he asked warily, straightening up.

"I just got a call from a very old friend," she said, holding up her cell phone.

He glanced around before walking towards her, ducking his head. There was only one person that she could be referring to with that look on her face.

"What does he want?" Clay said in a low voice, knowing that the very old friend wouldn't be calling to catch up.

"He's coming to Charming and he won't be alone," Gemma said, looking up at him. "Isobel Flemming's daughter got into some trouble. He's bringing her here for protection, invoking that favor we owe him."

The president of Sam Crow exhaled sharply, looking around the garage.

"It is about to get interesting around here," he predicted.

"Yeah," Gemma agreed with a nod. "Very interesting."

I would love to hear what you think!