This is a short story that takes place after season 3.

New York, present day

A moment of peace. That was all Elijah wanted. He needed to mourn for his mother and Finn, even though he would never admit it to anyone. He had even mourned for Niklaus, before he had heard that his brother was still alive. Getting his family back certainly hadn't been what he had expected. Thankfully there weren't many people at the hotel bar, only few couples having a dinner and a group of businessmen. Elijah was sitting at the counter having his first and probably only drink. He wanted to get to his suite and take a shower, not to mention he wasn't feeling very social this evening. He was just about to stand up and leave when something made him froze. That scent… He didn't move when someone sat on the barstool next to him, tapping her yellow painted nails on the counter.

"Hello, Elijah."

Her voice sent shivers up his spine; it took a moment before he managed to turn to look at her. Dear Lord, she hadn't changed at all, her hair was still long and sandy blonde, just how he remembered. Her eyes were big and green, deep like ponds. She was wearing a floral print skirt and a coral tank top, although the autumn was already far.

"Helene," he murmured.

She smiled and turned to look at the bartender.

"A glass of wine, please," she said.

The bartender, who was a bored looking middle-aged man, glanced at her and frowned.

"Sure, as soon as I see some ID."

She continued smiling and took something from her small purse.

"Here you are."

The man took the laminated card and looked at it.

"25, huh?"

"Yes…"

"Sorry, but I can recognize a cheap fake when I see one. All I can get you is a coke…"

Elijah turned to look at the man, his pupils dilating.

"You will get the lady what ever she wants."

Helene seemed surprised.

"A glass of red wine, please."

The bartender poured her a glass without saying a word.

"Thank you," she said. "That was the third time this week, but it's really my own fault, I bought a cheap ID…"

"Is that really what you want to talk about?" Elijah interrupted her callously.

She bit her bottom lip and tilted her head towards an empty corner table.

"I… If you have a moment?"

If he had a moment? Elijah's mind was so full of mixed feelings that he needed a moment in order to pull himself together. After all these years she was here, looking exactly the same than the day he had last seen her. That was impossible, unless… She stood up and picked up her glass before heading towards the corner table. Something didn't add up here. Her scent… She wasn't a vampire. Impossible. Somehow he managed to follow her and sat down opposite her. She smiled and he took her hand, inhaling her scent.

"I like your new haircut…" she started.

"You're not a vampire," he interrupted her.

She shook her head.

"No, but that's a good thing, if you recall I don't really fancy blood."

"What are you then?" he asked, trying to keep his voice free from emotions. She wasn't a witch, that he was sure. When he had last seen her, she had been a completely normal human.

"That's a good question," she muttered. "I would give you an answer if I would have one."

He stared at her intensively.

"What do you mean?"

She tensed and took a sip out of her glass.

"Back in England… I know you must think that I left you, but I didn't. Your brother found out about us."

Elijah was unable to move or make a sound; all he could do was staring at her. Niklaus had known… how was that possible, his brother had never said a word about it.

"What did he do?" Elijah finally managed to ask.

Helene's face turned blank.

"Let us put it this way, he certainly wasn't pleased with me. He was very creative with my…punishment."

Elijah clenched his fists; he had to struggle in order to look calm.

"What did he do?"

Helene shook her head.

"That is not why I'm here. I'm aware that I have absolutely no right to ask anything from you, but I could really use some help."

She blinked her big eyes, looking at him insecurely. Obviously she was expecting a rejection. For centuries he had missed her and now she thought that he would reject her? He pressed his lips together, this was too much to handle.

"Elijah?" she asked cautiously and touched his hand. Her touch burned him like a flame; he closed his eyes and brought her hand to his lips.

"Helene…"

Neither of them said anything else, she stood up and moved next to him. Slowly he ran his fingers over her cheek and caressed her soft lips with his thumb. It was really her, she was here. He had a million questions he wanted to ask, but that could all wait, she wasn't going anywhere. He would never let her go again.