I wanted to try something new, I'll still be updating my first story "What if" I just wanted to try dabbling in a new story as well. I've had this idea for a while now and its truthfully a bit random, about what if Elena went back in time to visit Elijah when he was human. It begins in 3x22 when Matt and Elena are going off the bridge. Also doctor Fell never gave her Damon's blood so Elena doesn't have vampires blood in her system. Let me know what you think. Hope you enjoy.

I DO NOT OWN THE VAMPIRE DIARIES OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS...otherwise Elijah totally would have hooked up with Elena by now :)

Chapter One: Peril

"Matt look out", no sooner has the cry escaped Elena Gilbert's lips then Matt swerved off the road, barely leaving enough room so that Rebekah would walk away from the events unscathed. The deafening smack that followed shakes Elena to the core. This cannot be happening, not again. She hasn't even noticed she's been screaming until the lake's water is flooding her mouth, stifling any and all exclamations.

He is just floating, seemingly in a state of suspended animation—it is too eerie, and far too familiar; her mother had looked the same way almost two years ago. He was so pale and unmoving. The only thought she can muster at the sight of his body, swaying in the water unresisting to its powerful currents, is he is not dead. He CANNOT be dead. It's Mattie. The same Matt Donavan who had made mud pies with her, years ago in her front yard. They'd skipped their first class together, and were likewise grounded together. He'd been her best friend for as long as she can remember. He was her first crush, and her first regret. He is family, her family. And she cannot lose him…not him too. She's already lost so much, wasn't there supposed to be a limit as to how much one person could lose over two years?

Straining against her seatbelt she tries in vain to reach him, but all she can muster are a few quick shakes that don't seem to rouse him in anyway. Reluctantly retreating back to her side of the truck she attempts to assess the situation. They were trapped, at the bottom of the lake. A psychotic original had just driven them off Wickery Bridge with not even a flicker of remorse. The odds were against them that anyone knew what was going on, so it's unlikely that they are about to be rescued. Did Elijah plan this all along? Family above all else, if he did betray them she understood why. Though she wished they could end this pattern of lying and deceit between them.

Out of her peripheral vision she could see small bubbles escaping Matt's mouth. Regrettably, she breathed a sigh of relief that he was still alive at least, losing more of the precious remnants of air in conserved in her lungs. With renewed determination she furiously beat against the windows of the truck, mirroring the late Gilbert's efforts. Unfortunately, the results were the same. The glass did not budge.

A figure appeared beside the car, Stefan! He made to extract her, but shaking her head fervently she began motioning to save Matt. Save Matt and come back for her afterwards. He didn't resist her as much as she thought he would, but then again she had just called to tell him she chose neither of them. Damon and Stefan needed to work out their own issues and be brothers again, she wasn't about to follow in Katherine's footsteps and tear them apart—and choosing one would. It seemed like he was up there forever. Where is he? Stefan was a vampire, isn't he able to pull one guy out of the water a little quicker. A thought hit her and she shuddered; what if Matt isn't breathing and he is trying to revive him. Her entire body went numb, the coldness seeped through her every bone. The last thought she had was, 'please be okay Matt.'

There is no word for how livid he is at this moment. Anger did not encompass the depth of his fury. How could Rebekah do this, he knew she could be impulsive and vengeful, but she had never been cold blooded. He stands before her trembling, trying to contain his rage and grief. Rebekah had just told him of Nicklaus' demise, and now this. It was too much. In retrospect it made sense she had prefaced the news of Elena with tears of their brother's death, it earned her over whelming sympathy; she was his baby sister after all. But upon hearing that she has murdered Elena, all brotherly concern vacated the premises. She had crossed him. Made him a liar, and disgraced his word. More than all that she had killed an innocent, thinking her the superior of the two. Never before had he looked on Rebekah as a monster, but at this moment Esther's words rang in his ears making it impossible to ignore his family's inner demons.

"How?" he managed to get out after a few seconds.

"Elijah I…" Rebekah started, but is interrupted.

"Don't. How did you kill her Rebekah?" He's beginning to regain his calm again, reverting back to his business like persona.

"The blonde boy, Matt, and she were driving over Wickery Bridge. I was so mad at her, so mad at Alaric Saltzman for killing Nick. I had to Elijah it was the only way to keep us safe…" Rebekah broke off in sobs but Elijah is already gone, running, sprinting as fast as his legs will carry him to the bridge. Maybe there is still time, maybe she is still alive.

The snapping of his bones back into place was a less than pleasant experience on any occasion, but after being pummeled to a pulp countless times by Ric in the past hour…needless to say he could have thought of more enjoyable activities. Why is alter ego Ric even giving him time to recover, it doesn't fit. Suddenly Damon receives his answer as he catches Ric's confused form kneeling on the ground, greying. No. No no no no no. She is not dead. She is not dead.

"Wh- what's happening?" sputtered a now almost desiccated Ric.

Reaching the bridge, he saw the form of the Donavan boy on the pavement with Stefan hovering over him preparing to reenter the water. Strange that he had not pulled Elena out first, but he had long ago stopped questioning the Salvatores' stupidity. Before the young vampire could dive into the water he's tackled to the ground. Rebekah. It appears she's recovered quickly from her emotional turmoil. Snarling Elijah dives into the water, forsaking the luxury of undressing in his haste. He has to save her, he just has to. It was arguably the most selfish moment of his life, he could not allow her to die; she represents too much to him to ever allow it. He's unsure he could describe his feelings as 'love'; he had never experienced it at its purest so he consequently had nothing to compare it to. No experience in the matter. But the fact is he admires Elena Gilbert a great deal; she possesses all the characteristics he valued before his transition. The little detail that he managed to stumble on such a creature, after over a thousand years of searching, is nothing short of a miracle in his eyes. For that reason, he cannot let her go, not yet. With that sole thought in mind he rips the Donavan boy's door off the truck to find the lovely Elena. Her face is peaceful, possessing an almost angelic quality, with hair splayed through the water dancing about the frame of her face. It would almost look otherworldly were it not for her eyes, they are half open lazily staring off into space—carrying none of their usual spark he has grown so accustomed to. His heart sinks at the sight of her, shattering into a million different shards. If Tatia had brought him the beginnings of heartache, Katarina disappointment, Elena had surely brought him hope. It is not until seeing her there; hovering in her seat, that he realizes how much Elena Gilbert has affected him. She forced him to feel again, to open himself to trust, to care. Seeing the corpse of Elena there is simply devastating. He cannot give up though, he still has to try.

Tearing the damned seatbelt that had been restraining her away, he gently lifts her from the seat, beginning the quick ascent to the surface.

Laying her down on the ground he immediately senses that something is off, but he doesn't give himself time to contemplate it. Instead, Elijah begins the only thing he knows to do, he starts compressions and every thirtieth pump he gives her a breath. It was agonizing how slow it is taking Elena to respond to treatment, making his dread only increase. The next moment, however, Elena rolls her head to the side spluttering as she coughs the water from her lungs.

Elijah lets out an audible sigh of relief that mid-way completion turns into a sob. He had never been one to show emotion, but right now he couldn't stop sobbing, from exhaustion and joy and a whole whirlwind of emotion he doesn't dare touch with a ten foot pole. He doesn't want to either, right now Elijah for the first time in what seemed like eternity, is content; content to just cry and hold Elena to his chest. Stroking her hair he is so desperate to touch her, to just have tangible evidence that she is truly here. That she is alive.

"El-ijahh?" She's having difficulty speaking due to the water she had just dislodged.

Sensing this Elijah immediately awakens from his stupor to comfort her, "Shhhh shhh, Elena do not try to speak just yet." Not caring to stop, and needing to take some sort of action he continues, "rest now, you are safe, just rest. I promise I will stay with you. Just try to focus on your breathing. That's it, in and out, in and out." He is blubbering and he knows it, but it doesn't matter. Nothing matters except that she is safe. Elena is safe.

Hearing voices in the distance, it is then that Elijah begins to take head of their surroundings. They are on the muddied ground next to where Wickery Bridge should be…The forest looks different, the trees are thicker and taller…the sky is clearer, in fact there are no lights invading his vision save the stars. It could not be, Mystic Falls had once been as such; but it was too many lifetimes ago to matter.

"What magic is this?" Not realizing the loudness with which he speaks, he is surprised when Elena responds.

"Elijah, wha-t what's wrong?" It is obvious that she is frightened, who wouldn't be after nearly drowning to death in the same manor your parents had, but there is something else in her voice that forces Elijah to pause, concern; for him, or for her? He is not sure. Instead he chooses to answer her, for it is the easiest route.

"I do not know dear Elena, but we are not in the Mystic Falls you know."

"Who's there? Show yourself!" a very familiar voice calls, it is not until Elijah looks up that his suspicions are confirmed.

"Nicklaus…" it was his younger brother, but not as he had left him just moments ago. No, this Nicklaus was standing before him with youthful innocence, scruffy blond hair extending over shoulders, torch in hand. This was his brother in his truest form.

"Elijah. What madness is this? The moon is at its apex and you are simply lying here on the ground with—", stopping at this he looks at his brother once more, "What has happened? Is Tatia alright? Why are you both in such strange garbs and what have you done to your hair?"

"Whoa there Nicklaus, I promise to explain everything but first we need to go to a more safe location, and possibly get a few blankets along the way—she is freezing", Elena has been shivering throughout the entire mind boggling exchange, the wind that has picked up in its ferocity is not helping the issue, cutting through her and being held in place by wet clothes.

Nodding Klaus helps the two up, but not before stroking a strand of hair that had fallen in front of Elena's face behind her ear; giving him time to assess her face. Her eyes are different, like they had seen far too much evil to ever fully regain their innocence. Illuminated by the moonlight, her hair seems lighter and silkier than he remembered it being. Even her cheeks are sharper, indicating that she has lost a few pounds since they had last met only hours ago—perhaps this is related to the pain in her eyes, but he knows no amount of stress which would cause it in such a short time.

"Nicklaus! Did you find out who is out of the tunnels?" the man who has entered onto the scene mirrors the one holding her except his hair is longer, longer than hers even. The shock of it all catalyzes her heart into overdrive; which does not go unnoticed by the Elijah holding her, for he tightens his grip around her to reassure her.

It feels like everyone remains frozen in astonishment for an eternity, no one quite sure how to react. It is Klaus who breaks the silence first, "What is the meaning of this?!"

"Calm yourself, Nicklaus," the young Elijah begins, "I am sure there is a logical explanation for all of this. Let us move into the tunnels before we figure out the situation." Finishing with an extended arm in the direction of the woods where Elijah had once shown her the caves he had played in as a boy.

Inclining his head Elijah starts the journey to the tunnels, Elena still in arms, being sure to keep his pace to that of a human. Klaus keeps tossing them curious stares over his shoulder, not caring if he is caught. Elijah remains stoic, however curious he may be of the Elijah and Tatia that has just appeared he needs to remain calm and level-headed, it will do no good for both he and his brother to fly into hysterics. Besides the woman in the other's arms looks very pale and is in need of shelter, the quicker the better.

Once in an isolated section of caves, he turns to the girl, and undoing the clasp on his cloak, puts it around her shivering form. Needing to regain a remnant of control over the situation he asks his brother to start a fire, at least it would keep him from doing anything rash.

"I think it is about time you explain who you are and what you are doing here." He does not want to be rude; nevertheless answers are needed before he can begin to fix this peculiarity.

"I am unsure of exactly what has brought us here, however, it appears that we have landed in the distant past—implying, of course, that we are from the future." Finishing, he pauses to gauge the reactions of his younger self and Nicklaus, who has paused over a bundle of kenneling to listen.

"If that is true, which witch is it that has done this?" Indulging the other's story would produce more answers than would hostility, besides he observes no hint of dishonesty in his tone or stance.

"Yes that's all well and good but, when are you from?" Nicklaus interjects with unquenched curiosity.

"I do not know whose magic is responsible for this" Elena's heartbeat changed at this, she couldn't be sure but she thought she's figured it all out. Her look of contemplation did not go unnoticed by either Elijah, as both attention zeroed in on her.

Feeling the unsettling part of a specimen underneath a microscope Elena felt obligated to share her musings, "I think I may know," pausing to gather her thoughts, "Esther, she…well she needs me alive for her plan B to work, and since I nearly died in our time…maybe this is her idea as a protection spell, I mean it makes sense I could never truly be safe in my time, or any time where the original family can hunt me. And since you're all human now I am not threatened and Esther is around to keep an eye on me…"

"Human?" It's a strange term to use thought Klaus.

Elena looks to Elijah for assistance, unsure of how to continue and realizing she has said more than she should have.

"Please, if you will answer Nicklaus' previous question; when are you from?"

Elijah looks at her with a face that communicates 'you've gotten yourself this far might as well continue…'

Sighing, Elena says "the year 2012."

"How is tha—"

Klaus is interrupted by his brother, "you said we aren't human. I see I haven't aged a day, does our lack of humanity have something to do with this?"

This time Elijah stepped in for Elena, since the question involved him more so, "We are vampires." Confronted with confused stares he decided to elaborate a bit, "Our mother, to protect us from the wolves cast a spell that changed us into vampires. She, uh, she didn't anticipate the consequences; the blood lust. We scoured the Earth for many years, a plague, siring more like us—a new species. Tatia's blood was used to create us, Elena is her doppelgänger. Please there is more but for now we should rest, it is late."

Acknowledging that he would be unable to extract anymore information from them for the time being, he agreed, inclining his head in recognition—similar in manner to the other Elijah just moments ago. It was all so unnerving, he needs time to process the information he's been given.

"Rest. I am unsure if you require it, but you Miss…" Elijah trailed off realizing his lack of manners that he had not even bothered to inquire the young woman's name.

"Elena. Elena Gilbert." Elena finished for him between chattering teeth.

"Ms. Gilbert, I apologize for my rudeness in not inquiring sooner, this is all a bit much for me…" trailing off in a gentler tone that only accentuated his already prominent accent, "you should rest by the fire and try to warm up. I have a spare shirt that you are welcome to borrow if your wet clothes are a nuisance."

"Thank you." She softly replies.

After changing into his shirt she gingerly sits down in front of the fire Klaus had built next to her Elijah. Tugging at the ends of the shirt to bring the shirt down to cover a little bit more of her olive toned thigh. The shirt was long, but not long enough. It was dry though, which was a step above her soggy clothes. Besides with the additional cloak it isn't too revealing, she thinks. Judging from the other Elijah's blushed face in reaction to her and his diverting glances, she thought wrong. Great, just great in addition to being freezing, in the wrong time and recently drowned she now had to worry about propriety. It's almost comical that propriety even made it on her list of worries at all. Her Elijah took her silence as a result of coldness though, wrapping the younger one's cloak around her tighter. It's sweet how tender he is with me she thinks absently, and finds herself frowning when he stops rubbing her shoulders.

"Thank you, for saving me. How did you know?" with all the excitement she hadn't had time to talk to him before.

"You are welcome lovely Elena." He answered in a hushed tone, not particularly wanting the others to hear their conversation, "Rebekah told me, she thought she had already succeeded. Obviously she was mistaken."

Nodding she is hesitant to ask the one question weighing on her mind. She doesn't want to offend him after he saved her, however that doesn't change the fact that she's dying to know.

Sensing the unasked question Elijah blunders forward with a half truth, "I am a man of my word, Elena. I promised you that you would remain unharmed, I will notgo back on that, ever." There is no use in telling her the other part of the reason he saved her, she has enough on her mind already and this is neither the time nor place. He doubts it ever will be, but this is especially not the time.

She makes a mental note of shock that he had just promised to protect her forever, that was not part of their original deal, and Elijah is always so careful with his choice of words meaning he meant it. Not deciding on a verbal response she rests her head on his shoulder. The closeness in proximity felt right, and eventually she drifts into a deep sleep.

End of chapter:

Ok so I know it's different but I kind of like it, let me know what you think. I'll be explaining more in the next chapter and they'll definitely be more Elijah/ Elena interatctions. I don't think I'll introduce Tatia until chapter three, but that may change. Hope you enjoyed and I'll be sure and update my other story "What if" soon. Thanks guys.