Thank you for the positive response and the reviews that I did get. I will be gone for a couple days so I wanted to post the next chapter before I go. Hopefully you continue to enjoy this story.

To keep it a little less complicated, The Originals timeline is set just BEFORE all the crazy stuff went down when Hayley had the baby.

Chapter 2 –

I Will Always Choose You

The Gilbert Lake House

Elena POV

"I saw him. Felt him. He was with me!"

I tried to explain what happened when I saw Damon to Alaric, Jer, and Caroline without sounding like I was completely losing my mind.

"I believe you Elena." Jeremy spoke as Caroline rolled her eyes. "Damon and Bonnie would do anything they possibly could to get back to us. Shouldn't we be doing the same for them?"

"That's what we have been doing Jer, but we need to try harder. What did you find at the library? Anything?"

"Actually yes. Outside of New Orleans I found a Coven that specializes in inter-dimensional magic. I'm guessing this "Nether World" that Damon spoke of might fit into their specialty?"

At the mention of New Orleans Caroline's mood noticeably changed. Her and Tyler have gotten to a good place as friends, and with Stefan gone it's been harder and harder for her to keep her mind off of the Original vampire who everyone knew had a hold on her heart. She joined in the conversation.

"New Orleans, huh? It is known to have some of the most powerful witches in the world."

I knew she would be on board with us after that. "Powerful witches that can help us get Damon and Bonnie back. Lets just hope they are willing to help us. Caroline do you think you can contact Klaus somehow and see if he can give you some background on this Coven? Maybe he can I hate to say…help us."

"Sure!" Caroline answered a little too eagerly. "I mean, I can try, but with Klaus you never know."

Ric finally spoke, "Guys this could be dangerous and I just want you all to think about what you are doing. We have no idea what to expect from these…witches or even Klaus for that matter."

Jeremy spoke first, "We've thought about it Ric. Now everyone pack. We leave for New Orleans in the morning."

The Nether World

Damon POV

Varro had just finished preparing the potion that helped bring me to the trance-like state that brought me to Elena.

"I added a stronger dose of Nightflower this time in the hopes that it will strengthen your connection and your hold on your love's location."

"Thanks Varro. When do we get to try again?"

"Tonight. If Elena is in a deep sleep already it should help the connection as well. Theoretically you should be able to spend more time with her during this cross-over."

Night could not come quickly enough. I just needed to see her again.

"Damon, um before we do this you should know something." There was a hint of concern and worry in Varro's voice. "We are using this magic to communicate with Elena but that is all it is. A way to talk, nothing more. For you and Bonnie to pass back through into your dimension it is going to take risk and sacrifice on your loved one's part."

A pit formed in my stomach. There was never a time when I wanted Elena to put herself at risk for my or anyone else's life. I put her life before all other's including my own.

"What kind of risk and sacrifice?"

"In order to pass back someone needs to completely cross over from your world first. Otherwise there is no trail for the magic to follow back…you could end up in a completely different dimension altogether. One of your friends is going to have to sacrifice themselves to make it here. "

No, no, no. This can't be the only way. I didn't want anyone else to end up here…especially not Elena. But if I know my Elena she will insist on being the one to come get us. Hell, she got into my car with me to blow up the Grill, what will stop her from doing this?

"I understand Varro. I will do my best to convince her not to come but if I know the girl I love, there isn't much I can do to stop her."

"I just wanted you to know the risks my friend. Are you ready to see her again?"

I thought he would never say those words. Finally.

"Hell yes."

The Gilbert Lake House

Elena POV

I finished packing for New Orleans and got ready for bed. I felt like I was one step closer to getting my best friend and boyfriend back from god knows where. Also, it didn't escape me that maybe tonight I would see Damon again in my dreams. I hoped that however he got to me the first time, that we would be able to do it again.

I got into bed, took a deep breath, and drifted off to sleep.

I woke again in the middle of the stone circle. I was alone though and couldn't see Damon.

"Damon? Are you here?" I called out to him. "Damon?"

"Elena! Where are you?" I heard him call back buy still couldn't see him. The wind was wild and whipping my hair in my face.

"Damon I'm in the center!" That's when I felt him behind me. His strong arms encircling my waist and his lips kiss the back of my head. I turned to face him and looked into his gorgeous eyes. I had a smile from ear to ear and so did he. As we held each other he spoke first.

"We should have more time this time. How are you? I've missed you so much."

"Oh Damon I missed you too. More than you could ever know. And how am I? You left me Damon." I paused and hesitated before continuing but wanted him to hear exactly how I felt. "I wanted to follow you, be with you and then you were just…gone. Forever…" I was crying now and felt bad that I sounded like I was accusing him of leaving me on purpose.

"I didn't have a choice, baby. I'm so sorry."

"I know you didn't have a choice," I said as I hugged him even tighter. "And you died a hero…I was so proud of you."

Without giving him a chance to speak I looked into his eyes and said everything I wanted to say that night he left me.

"Damon, I'm so sorry. I wasted so much time fighting my feelings for you. And I hurt you so many times in the process. Do you know when I knew I loved you? It's shameful really. When we danced together at the first Miss Mystic Falls pageant. The way you swooped in and caught me and stared into my soul with those eyes. I knew it then. And fought it so long. Even after we were together I wasted so much time in the weeks before your death. That night by the car when you kissed me, it took my breath away. All I wanted to do was follow you into that house and tell you how much I love you. Then the travelers came. I wanted you. Wanted to be with you I was just…"

"Shh, Shh, Shh" Damon interrupted me when he saw my tears flowing so heavily. He kissed my forehead "It's okay Elena you don't have to apologize. I understand why you fought your feelings for so long. I didn't exactly make it easy for you. "

"We will have our new beginning Damon. We are leaving tomorrow for New Orleans. Jeremy found a Coven that specializes in inter-dimensional magic. We will find a way to bring you guys back. Wait…Bonnie. Where's Bonnie?"

"Bonnie is fine…she is just not strong enough to cross over like me. She says hi," Damon said with a smile. The smile quickly faded leading me to think he was leaving again.

"Elena you need to know something. What you are about to discover in New Orleans will put you all at great risk. I know you will do whatever it takes to get us back but I am worried about you. I don' t want you to end up here or worse…"

I understood his concern but interrupted him anyway, "Damon. Let me be clear about something. If it comes down to me or you and Bonnie again I will gladly risk everything because…I will always choose you."

Damon knew that this time I was using his own words against him. "That was a low blow", Damon said with a smile.

I smiled back and continued, "I will do whatever it takes to get you back to me. Is that clear?"

"Yes Elena, it's clear."

After Damon said that he kissed me. Deeply, passionately. As if he would never be able to kiss me again.

"Good. How much more time do we have?"

"I don't know Elena but I want to spend the rest of it holding you. I will try and come to you every night, okay? You keep me posted about what you find in New Orleans and Bonnie and I will do whatever we need to do here to make it make to you. Oh no…I can feel the connection slipping Elena."

"It's okay Damon, I know you will be back. I love you."

And then I was awake again. The sun shone through my window overlooking the lake and for the first time in a long time I felt like it was going to be a good day.

New Orleans

Elena POV

The drive to New Orleans was long and tense. We all want to find a way to get Damon and Bonnie back so badly that everyone was a little on edge. Plus, to make matters worse Caroline is extra edgy in preparation for seeing Klaus again after…well lets just call it their "rendezvous" in the woods.

We arrived at the Mikaelson compound on Bourbon Street around 9:00pm that night. Alaric knocked on the door hoping that Klaus would understand that he is himself again and not the vampire hunter that staked him in his coffin. The door opened slowly. It was Hayley. Everyone was awkwardly staring at her giant pregnant belly.

"Well if it isn't the Mystic Falls gang….minus a few Salvatore brothers," she said with a giggle and couldn't understand the frowns on everyone's faces. "What? Did I miss something?"

Caroline broke the awkward silence first, "Klaus doesn't tell you anything does he?" Hayley shook her head confused. Caroline continued, "Stefan is off on a spirit finding quest and Damon is dea…Damon is…"

"It's okay Caroline." I jumped in. "Hayley, Damon is dead. So is Bonnie. That is why we are here."

"Oh my god I am so sorry. I have pregnant lady brain…which means, no brain…." She just decided to stop talking.

We all walked into the courtyard of their French Quarter Palace and stood in awe of how grand it was.

"Hello love. I thought you never wanted to hear from me again?"

We heard Klaus' dashing accent from a balcony the floor above us. Of course he was talking directly to Caroline who was blushing wildly.

"Well desperate times call for desperate measures, isn't that what people always say?" She tried to toss back the same amount of sass that he gave her.

Klaus gracefully descended the stairs with a wicked smile and approached Caroline to give her a light, almost sweet kiss on the cheek. "Well nevertheless, I am glad that you are here. Professor Saltzman? Back in the land of the living I see. Why don't you all join Elijah and I in the library and we can discuss the matter at hand."

We all followed him into a room where we saw Elijah and Hayley talking intimately. It seemed to me that something must be going on between the two of them because there was some intimate touching going on as well. I was happy to see Elijah moving on from Katherine.

"Hello Elena," Elijah said with a smile, "I'm so sorry to hear about Damon and Bonnie. I know how much he loved you, and what a great friend Bonnie was."

"Thank you Elijah. Hopefully after this trip we will have an idea of how to get them both back."

"I sincerely hope so too." Elijah replied as he rubbed Hayley's back gently.

Klaus then addressed the group once more, "I was able to contact the Coven's leader, Margaret Fillmore. Being the King of New Orleans definitely has its bright spots and being able to get in contact with her so quickly is one of them. You can thank me later." He threw Caroline another mischievous look. "They are based in a small town outside of the city, here is an address where you can meet her. She is expecting you."

Klaus handed the piece of paper to Alaric. "Thank you Klaus," Alaric said as he handed the paper to Jeremy who stared at it with wild hope in his eyes. "Are these witched to be trusted?" Alaric asked cautiously.

"Haha well, I make a habit of never trusting witches. It seems though that if you want your loved ones back you really don't have a choice do you?"

"No we don't" Jeremy said confidently. He seemed more determined then ever to get Bonnie back. Both of us fighting together side by side to get back our true loves.

"Klaus thank you so much for your help. Really, it means a lot." I said genuinely meaning it.

"Elena don't think for one moment that I did this for you but, you are welcome."

Klaus walked everyone to the door and Caroline was the last to leave. She stopped and looked up at Klaus with a slight smile. "Thank you for helping my friends. This is the Klaus that I thought I saw a few times when I looked at you in your unguarded moments. I hope to see more of him. Goodnight Klaus."

"Goodnight love." He replied as he closed the door behind her.

I felt bad listening in on her conversation but I was curious and I want Caroline to be happy, even if it is with Klaus. Maybe we are more alike than I thought, both of us falling for the bad boys with hearts of gold.

We all piled into the car and started heading towards the address on the piece of paper. It was getting late but Klaus assured us that this particular Coven of witches were creatures of night. We continued down the dark road until there was nothing but an old cemetery on our left.

"This is the address," said Jeremy.

"Of course it is." Alaric said sarcastically as we carefully got out of the car.

We walked as a group slowly towards the large crypt where we saw some candles flickering. It was like the dark, gothic version of "The Wizard of Oz" and we were off to see the people who would hopefully help us get to Damon and Bonnie. We approached the opening to the crypt and heard an old woman speak.

"Come in please. We've been expecting you."

That's it for now guys! Next chapter will be up by Tuesday sometime. Please keep reviewing. It's good for inspiration and motivation!