The next time he hears from her, after she negotiates with him for his brother's body, is seven years later.
She had negotiated that if she ever called, he had to help. She had never specified if it was one call or any call, but he had waited. She hadn't called until now.
He had kept track of her for a while, he knew she graduated as a human, and moved out of Mystic Falls. After that, she had disappeared.
He didn't bother to keep tabs on her, if she wanted to be found by him, she'd call. She had a right to privacy and anonymity.
He's more than a little surprised on the rainy Tuesday morning her name graces his phone's screen. He answers her call immediately. He sets his cup of tea on his coffee table, and waits a few moments.
"Elijah." She says, and he notes how her voice has a changed. It's subtle, a little deeper. He wonders if anything else has changed.
"Elena." He sounds the same, she notes. She wonders if he'll help her with her rather petty problem. She's sure he could send someone to help her, if he felt so inclined. He's got other things to do, no doubt.
"I need your help." She says, and he finds himself asking what she needs.
She needs him to kill a vampire that's been giving her grief. She explains that she kills vampires that she knows have been doing the killing sprees in her city, but she's not strong enough for this one. He's too old, and once she takes him down, she can take down the others. She just needs a little help. He's more than qualified, being the second oldest Original on the planet. She wonders if he knows his birthday.
He asks for an address, and she gives one. He tells her that he'll see her in a few hours. He wonders if she started watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, when she made the transition from loving vampires to killing them.