When all of Elena's friends and family except Caroline finally left, she was able to breathe a sigh of relief. Sitting through her friends well-meaning, though thoroughly irritating, 'discussions' about how they should deal with her new found state was entirely painful at first. But then it gave way to the blinding numbness that she felt before…Elijah.

They talked as if the person who was going through the mess of an unwanted transition wasn't sitting right in front of them, as if Elena's opinion on the matter was irrelevant. As she had told Elijah, she was sick of all their attitudes regarding her. Well, she was sick of all but Caroline's, who was currently smiling at her sympathetically.

"Do you have extra clothes?" Caroline asked, absentmindedly.

"I don't need extra clothes, Caroline." Elena said, exasperatedly. Caroline raised her eyebrows in question and her sympathetic grin quickly turned in to a Cheshire cat smile at Elena's over-reaction.

"Well, actually you do. Just in case you don't make it home in time. You don't want to show up wearing yesterday's clothes and making everyone suspicious. Though from the way you reacted to the question, it makes me wonder what you thought you would need extra clothes for. Maybe…just maybe you're wondering if you would come home tomorrow smelling much like you did tonight. You know…more Elijah…and sex." she said, her grin only widening.

"I can't, Caroline."

"And why exactly not?" Caroline demanded.

"What if someone finds out?"

"Since when have you ever cared what someone else thought?"

"I know I shouldn't care what they think. And I don't,...not really, anyway." Elena added, when Caroline shot her a disbelieving look. "It's not so much caring what they think, as trying to make them happy. I don't want to upset anybody or lose any of my friends, Care. I've lost enough people...we all have."

"Well, you want me to tell you what I think?" Caroline asked.

"Yes, I do. Not that it really matters, you would have told me anyway." Elena said with soft chuckle. Caroline was never one to be afraid to say exactly what was on her mind.

"True." Care grinned sheepishly, before turning serious again and going on. "You need to stop trying to make other people happy, Elena. You need to do what makes you happy. If being with Elijah makes you happy, then I say go for it. If it makes you happy not telling anyone and just enjoying what you have with him, go for it. You go and you seduce that sexy original!" Caroline said, with a giggle.

Elena couldn't help but laugh as well. She couldn't believe this was happening and what she was sitting there planning, knowing she was about to have an affair with the gorgeous original Elijah.

She grinned at her friend before turning around to head upstairs; she wanted to go out the back so no one would take notice of her leaving. Before she could get very far though, Caroline grabbed her arm and spun her around, quickly embracing her in a tight hug.

"I want you to know that I will always be your best friend and I will always support you, no matter what. I love you, Elena." she murmured into Elena's hair.

"I love you too, Care." Elena pulled away a little and smiled at her. "I'll leave Elijah's a little early, around five-thirtyish, just as it starts to get dark. Come over and it'll give us a little girl talk time. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Caroline shot her another broad grin and let her leave. Elena jumped out the window and made a bee line for the Original mansion.

Sorry it's so short but I wanted to make sure I got something out for Christmas so here it is. Don't worry I have the next chapter all plotted out, just needs to be typed so it should be ready as a New Year's gift to you guys. Merry Christmas you guys!