"So, how was my mother?" Elijah asked.

"Intense." Elena replied, still shaking a bit from her talk with Ester.

"And for what reason did she need to speak with you in private?" Elijah asked.

Elena looked up to see the woman in question walking down the stairs. Ester gave Elena a small, trusting smile.

"Elena?" Elijah pushed. "Should I be concerned about my mother's intentions?"

"She just wanted to apologize," Elena said, casting her eyes downward. "For trying to have me killed."

"So, it's true then? She's forgiven Klaus?"

"It's true." Elena replied, mustering up fake happiness.

Elijah threw a half smile upon his face, disbelief still coloring his eyes. Ester tapped the side of her glass to get everyone's attention. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen." Ester said atop the staircase. "Waiters are coming with Champaign, I invite everyone with me to raise a glass.

It provides me with no greater joy, than to see my family back together as one. I'd like to thank you all for being apart of this spectacular evening. Cheers!" Ester said, raising a glass.

Elijah held his glass to drink, and Ester' s eyes roamed the crowd, seeing that gesture and moving on. Before he drank a single drip, Elena grabbed onto his wrist that held his champagne. He looked over immediately, hearing her heart beating almost out of her chest, but Elena's eyes were fixed on Ester. Elena, making sure Ester wasn't looking at them, swiftly plucked the champagne from his hand and dumped the entire glass into the plant behind them.

Elena quickly handed him back the glass, and he schooled his features right before Ester looked upon them. Elena drank hers quickly, and smiled as Ester looked upon them, even going so far as to give a small nod. Once Ester went on to look upon Klaus, Elena let the breath out she didn't know she was holding. Before Elijah could ask and Elena could avoid, Damon came up to her and dragged her from Elijah.

"Did you get what you want?" Damon asked, his ticked but fake jovial voice making it's appearance.

"Yes, actually." Elena replied cooly.

"Good, tell me on the way home. We're leaving. Come on." Damon looked for Stefan over the crowd with a tight grip on her arm.

Elena looked toward Ester, and pursed her lips,"Yeah, let's go." Elena said, no sarcasm included.

Both Damon and the oldest Original sibling listening to the conversation rose their eyebrows, then furrowed them almost perfectly synced. Damon took the yes as sign from God, and rush out the front door. Elijah, however, had the growing suspicion that his lovely Elena had risked her life for him, and was in danger as long as she was in the Michaelson Mansion.

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"NO!"Ester screamed, still hidden by sage.

Finn looked up to his mother with questioning eyes. "Someone didn't drink the champagne! The spell requires all participants to be connected for it to work, and since my fifth child didn't drink, there is no bond!" Ester raged.

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"Where did your little crush flee to?" Came Klaus's cold and taunting voice beside him.

Elijah furrowed his brow fit her and looked toward Klaus. Klaus chuckled at the sight of Elijah.

"Little Elena?"Klaus said fit her, half smirking.

Elijah stood a bit straighter at the mention of his lovely Elena, and said,"And where is your little crush? Caroline?" Elijah replied, raising an eyebrow.

Klaus snorted,"At least I'm trying to catch the woman I love. You stand across the room, just staring."

Elijah pursed his lips, knowing every word was true. "And how is that working out for you?" Elijah looked over at his younger brother.

Klaus took a drink of champagne, different from the one earlier. "Point taken."

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Elena arrived home alone, checked on Jeremy whom fell asleep on the couch watching TV, and released a sigh of relief. Elena stripped of her dress, and took a shower. She prepared for bed, including turning off the TV and carrying Jeremy and taking him up to his bed. Once he was fully situated in his bed, Elena walked into her room with fingers attached to the bridge of her nose. She fell into bed, literally, and was asleep before her body hit the bed.

She was so exhausted she didn't notice the eldest Original sitting on the seat directly below her window. His eyes widened in slight surprise, hearing her heart rate and knowing she was genuinely asleep. He stood up, and moved her so she was more comfortably placed under her blankets, head atop pillow. He sat on the edge of her bed, and admired her. He rose out of his stupor, and kissed her forehead lightly, flicking the light off and securing her window as he left.

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Should I leave it off here or continue?

If I should continue, how long?

Review please :)

-CB