A/N: I'm not quite happy with this chapter, but I thought if I don't leave it as it is, I will never upload it or finish the story.
Hope you enjoy it any way.
Thank you to those who reviewed. They keep me writing and I definitely have more ideas ready to be typed up :)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, they all belong to the creators and writers of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals.
Forever and Always
Part 4 - Life Without You
Elena had changed her routine a little. Since she had been given a wonderful gift on her daughters wedding, she now knew that Elijah was a constant in her life even if she weren't aware. She decides to tell him what is on her mind, knowing that he could hear her. It was actually nice to be able to reveal her deepest secrets, wishes and thoughts.
She had missed him as her confidant. He was always there and over the last twenty years, she had been on her own raising a child. She didn't even have Rebekah to distract her with shopping, or Kol pulling some kind of prank. She especially enjoyed watching him flirt with the witches and failing a few minutes later. She even missed listening to Klaus' diabolical plans, he always had a plan A, B, C, D and it probably continued to the rest of the alphabet.
Eliza was happy living her newly married life, which left Elena alone again. The only comfort she had was Elijah supporting her decision. The guilt that burrowed itself deep within her soul had only diminished when Elijah assured her otherwise. Elijah, the noble and moral Mikaelson had always given her a choice, but it wasn't just about one life, it was two. Sacrificing one for the other. She could have been selfish and had the love of her life, but her love for humanity is what caused her turmoil, though she would never regret her decision, she would still think of the what ifs...
~The Other Side~
I feel the beat of your heart on my skin
As I count all the breaths that I watched you breathe in
I can still taste the kiss that you left on my lips
In the silence, comes the sleep
Like the tide comes to the beach
~The Other Side~
Elena wasn't sure what Elijah could do while he was on the other side. When they reunited the elated couple didn't waste words on nonsense. They only spoke of their shared love and devotion to each other. It was a miracle that they even gone t that brief time together. The spirits had granted them a reunion because of the witch born child that had been saved.
Vampires were known for their bloodthirsty nature. Surviving on the blood of others, most were overtaken by bloodlust. Undead and against the balance of nature, the witches were the ones that had to maintain the balance. Even though Elena was part of the family that are known as the first vampires, she was rewarded for her compassion. Her love for humanity and keeping a fellow witch safe from harm, while she sacrificed her love. She may have gained something in return, but anyone that had fallen in love or were witness to it knew of the pain she suffered.
He was but a veil away from her. A thin cloak that separated them, but if she closed her eyes she could almost feel him. They were tied by their souls, intertwined for eternity. He was so close. When the night got so lonely as she lay in bed, she would close her eyes and could almost feel his touch on her skin. It was only a whisper against her skin, but that was all she needed. She needed him. She has waited for him, and she was yearning for more.
His presence was like a shadow. It followed her everywhere, but you couldn't interact with it. Elijah was her shadow. Forever witnessing and forever aching to wake up and be with her. The silence was still terrifying, but only when laying in the darkness, alone and silent did she feel a flicker of his presence beside her. They were made for each other and yet she had lived a life longer without him than with him. But her love for him never changed. Their love was transcendent.
The love for him grew as more time passed. Something suddenly dawned on her...she needed to see his family. She had hidden from them for so long, but Elijah deserved to see them, even if he couldn't be seen.
~The Other Side~
So darling I can't wait for you to wake up
I wanna be there when you open your eyes
Darling don't look back no need to worry
I'll be here waiting on the other side
On the other side
Yeah I'll be here waiting on the other side
On the other side
Yeah I'll be here waiting on the other side
~The Other Side~
Elena could only imagine how much Elijah missed his family. He had spent his cursed life tethered to her. She could grant him this, Eliza wasn't a child anymore. She could protect herself, Eliza even had a coven of witches to protect her. Her life was just as significant as their immortal lives. She stopped by her daughters house to let her know of the new plan. Elena was met with hugs and kisses and warnings of being careful. She slowly made her way to the car and left her human world, headed straight to the Supernatural capital, New Orleans.
The young vampire that held the face of a nineteen year old, drove at a steady speed towards a place she once called home. She had left with goodbyes and a burden that only she could carry. A single note to those that had become her family, she was sure that they wouldn't let her back easily. To the remaining Mikaelson's she had betrayed them, abandoned them...left Elijah. They knew nothing and that was on the doppelgänger, but she was doing this for the man she loved. She had come to fix her broken family, even if parts of it weren't there.
It took eleven hours to get to 'The Big Easy', everything looked exactly the same. Maybe a few different shops, but the feel of the place and the Jazz music still filled the air. Elena didn't fail to notice the daywalkers on the rooftops, it seems that nothing changed. Her in-laws would all know of her return soon enough, if the vampires watching had anything to do with it. Elijah was once King, and by being with Elijah it made her Queen. Although she hadn't used that title in quite a while. The Queen had returned, she only hoped that her family would listen first before taking action...but who was she kidding, of course they wouldn't, they were the Original Family.
She had one more stop to make before facing the devil himself. He would find her, she was sure of it.
~The Other Side~
So go make your way through the dreams that you dream
Darling you can take all of the time that you need
You know you're not alone as you swim through the deep
Like a ship calls through the fog
You won't hear me 'till you're gone
~The Other Side~
She felt his presence long before she saw him. Niklaus Mikaelson had arrived and he wasn't alone, along for the reunion was the rest of the Mikaelson's. Elijah would be smiling she was certain of it, at least he wouldn't have to dream to conjure up their presence. No one said a word to each other, when Elena turned around she received different reactions.
Although she tried to hide it, Elena could tell her sister was surprised with her return. She was expecting the blonde to be angry, she had essentially abandoned her and yet...no anger filled her eyes. She could understand anger for leaving without word and all she could assume was knowing the need to be free after losing your love.
Kol just seemed happy.. They had always been close, their friendship stemmed from the fact that Kol reminded Elena of Jeremy. He was another little brother and when they could, they would play on the Xbox when no one was raising hell in the quarter. She hadn't realised how much she missed them until they were look back at her now.
Lastly Klaus, his rage could easily be seen. She was once Queen with her King by her side, but that had changed. It seemed that Klaus had become (as impossible as it sounds) even more bloodthirsty. His fists clenched at the silence and he only glared back at the doppelgänger. She once had his respect, his promise of protection, but just like his siblings...if you betray the hybrid, you suffer the consequences and for once she didn't know what that was. Would he really kill her? A dagger would kill her permanently, so the only real punishment would be torture.
"The traitorous Queen returns..." The growl wasn't much of a surprise, but Elena remained stock still.
"Klaus..." Elena didn't want to plead, it would only show weakness and right now she was just livestock waiting for slaughter.
"So! What does my dear brothers wife have to say?! How she abandoned her family, even after pledging 'Always and Forever' or how she's been protecting witches." Now Elena expected for Klaus to have some knowledge of where she was, but his words said a lot more. His slow pacing was unnerving.
Both Kol and Rebekah looked confused at the their brothers statement. Elena wanted to say something...anything. But what could she say? It was the truth. She had the daunting feeling that he knew. And if he knew...then Eliza wasn't safe. She shouldn't have she couldn't keep Elijah away any longer, he had suffered the most, the least she could do was visit their family.
"That's right! Sweet Elena here has been hiding the answer to our problems for years. You know at first I thought you'd lost hope of getting Elijah back. So I let it be. You'd return soon enough. But then...I find that not only were there witches at the ritual, but a child and the little compassionate doppelgänger did a disappeared soon after. Coincidence..." Klaus was talking calmly, his normal theatrics were in play and everyone was waiting for the final act. Using vampire speed, Klaus grabbed Elena by the throat.
"Imagine my surprise when I hear news of 'Katherine' playing happy families. Only it wasn't. Our dear Elena was holding the key to Elijah's resurrection." Elena remained in his death grip while he spoke to an audience, though it was only his siblings.
"Before I could find you, you disappeared...again. But no matter...I expect our guest should be arriving shortly." Before Elena could say anything or even struggle, the hand that firmly gripped her neck swiftly moved a little higher. Now holding her chin Klaus easily snapped her neck.
~The Other Side~
So darling I can't wait for you to wake up
I wanna be there when you open your eyes
Darling don't look back no need to worry
I'll be here waiting on the other side
~The Other Side~
She should have known this would have happened. It was inevitable really. As the pieces of her broken neck sew themselves back together, Elena was left to nurse a dull ache. Her vampirism allowing her another chance at awakening, although she guessed this is how Klaus would make her suffer. For she wouldn't die due to his love for his elder brother, but he could kill her temporarily.
Her dazed state was slowly lifting. The darkness that shrouded her mind was slowly disappearing. A voice was calling her name and for a moment of brief happiness she thought that in death she could hear Elijah. Maybe it wouldn't be torture after all. She would gladly welcome death if it meant spending it with the noble Mikaelson.
The nudging of her shoulder and a teasing voice greeted her, when the stench of death left her body.
"Wakey Wakey love!" Came the voice that was not of her husband, but Klaus.
Elena groaned as her eyes finally opened. Taking a look around they were in the courtyard of the compound. It seemed night walkers and day walkers had come to watch the spectacle. After blinking a few more times and taking in the faces that stare at her...one stood out. One face shouldn't be there.
"No!" The terror was instantaneous as Elena took in the young woman that she'd viewed as her own. Klaus had found her and what came next was nothing that she could prevent.
"Mom! What's happening? Who are these people?" Eliza looked tired and disheveled, tear stained cheeks as she was held by a vampire that had signed his death certificate.
"Ah! How sweet...you see love, mommy dearest here has kept you hidden from us. It seems her compassion knows no bounds. While my brother lays in a coffin, a witch no less lives in his stead." Klaus walks up close to Eliza, taking in every detail and sneering when he reveals her witch heritage. Elena was being held back by two Unknown vampires, stopping her from attacking anyone.
"She deserves to live! Your siblings have spent longer in their coffins by your hand. What is a lifetime of a young woman. She has as much right to walk this earth as you do!" Motherly instincts kicked in it seemed, because no matter how threatening Klaus was, Elena didn't care. She loved Eliza and she would protect her even from the devil himself. Consequences be damned, this was what both her and Elijah wanted.
"She deserves to die...my siblings lie in coffins when they don't listen, and maybe I should just kill you. I'm sure poor Elijah would understand. After all you did abandon him. His estranged wife traded his life for someone as insignificant as her" She had to admit, he was in his element. His vampire army was watching as he claimed superiority. He looked like a King fighting for his family, while punishing the traitor. It was all coming to the finally, but Elena remained helpless.
"You can't do this! This isn't what Elijah wants! You'll be killing his child, he loves her like his own!" Elena shouted although the words were ignored as Klaus laughed.
"My brother is rotting in a coffin because of you! And now you get to watch her die. You get to live with the guilt that her death was at your hand" a single tear ran down Elena's cheek as Klaus glared back at her. The grip on her arms got tighter as Eliza began to shout and wrangle herself free.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Elena's scream filled the compound as Klaus drained her precious daughters blood. I guess Klaus chose irony. Killing her daughter in the same way he once killed her. He let go of the body and used no gentleness in letting it fall to the ground. Elena fought her way free, sobbing as she went.
Her child was dead. Her dear Eliza was gone and Klaus was right. It was her fault. Her husband was back, but at what cost. She was innocent, she didn't choose any of this and yet she still suffered.
~The Other Side~
So darling I can't wait for you to wake up
I wanna be there when you open your eyes
Darling don't look back no need to worry
I'll be here waiting on the other side
On the other side
Yeah I'll be here waiting on the other side
On the other side
Yeah I'll be here waiting on the other side
~The Other Side~
In the darkness of the basement, the lone body lay slumbered. The black veins covering the body began to retreat and the pinkness of life began to spread across Elijah Mikaelson's body.
He was returning. The curse was over, but what life would he now have with his wife ripped to pieces by loss and a now broken family.
The King had returned. He was finally home.