Elijah needed some air.
As he pulled on his suit jacket and walked down the hallway toward the main staircase of the mansion, he could hear his sibling's voices.
It was Rebekah and Kol. They were in Rebekah's room.
Elijah didn't like to eaves drop and the conversations between his siblings as they were usually of little consequence. He imagined that they were still catching each other up on the years they had missed.
Elijah was about to just walk past the door, but then he heard her name and it stopped him in his tracks.
"Then, after I lured Nik back here, Elena daggered me—"
"The human doppelganger daggered you?" Kol laughed as he plopped down on Rebekah's bed, with a tumbler in one hand and a nearly empty bottle of scotch in the other, "Oh, Bekah…that's priceless."
Rebekah rolled her eyes and turned on the chair in front of her vanity mirror to face her brother, her own drink in hand.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm frightfully angry about, but I probably had it coming" Rebekah sighed, looking down into her tumbler, "Truth be told, I can be kind of a bitch."
Kol sat up directly, staring at his younger sister.
"None of us, 'had it coming', do you understand?" he said bitterly, "Don't say that!"
Rebekah recoiled.
Kol was the one brother who vampirism had taken complete hold of.
The quiet, kind, warrior was gone and in his place for the last nine hundred years had been a young man desperate for his sadistic older brother's approval and had been put himself through the ringer to get it, several times.
He was now egotistic, masochistic and well, every kind of 'istic' there is.
But Rebekah still loved him.
Loved him and feared him.
"Well, you know what I would do?" Kol said, taking a drink as he fluffed up the pillows behind him on the bed with his free hand, "I'd kill her."
Rebekah smiled, "Kol. Be serious."
Kol said nothing, his face blank.
"I'll admit that I'd like to make her suffer...torture her a bit… but not enough to kill her." Rebekah continued, trying to deflect her brother, "Besides, I'm drunk and it would be messy."
Elijah breathed a silent sigh of relief.
"Well, Bekah, if you don't kill her, maybe I will." Kol smirked
Rebekah put her glass down hard on her vanity, "What the hell is your deal with killing the human, Kol?"
"Well," Kol shrugged, "It seems that the human is important to Nik. He wants her alive for something, but he won't say what. For over five hundred years, he's been looking for Liliya's doppelganger so that he could kill her and now he's convinced Mother that we should maintain peace with her—with all of them."
"And what's wrong with that?" Rebekah asked, pulling herself up and walking over to her brother, pulling the bottle of scotch out of his hand.
"It makes me sick… that's what's wrong. Something is up, sister. We should kill her. She's something that would hurt Nik—and whatever plan he's got up his sleeve."
"Careful, Kol. That's savors strongly of psychotic bitterness." Rebekah smirked then took a swig from the bottle, "Besides, I think you've been in the lock box too long and just want to kill something."
"Well, if I'm bitter, I have every right to be!" Kol cried, sitting up and throwing his glass against the wall, shattering it.
Rebekah jumped.
"This is our chance, Rebekah, to take something away from him! Don't chicken out on me now."
"But, what about Elijah?" Rebekah asked in an unsure voice
"What about him?" Kol countered, narrowing his eyes
"He would never let us hurt her—"
"Oh, this is just perfect!" Kol laughed sadistically then looked to his sister, "Do you think that he has feelings for her? I suppose I never thought about it before, but it could be true. I mean, don't get me wrong... I saw her picture. She's beautiful—looks just like Liliya, especially around the eyes."
Elijah's fists balled in anger at his sides behind the door.
Rebekah turned the bottle of scotch in her hand nervously, "Yes—well, no—I don't know, maybe. I haven't seen or heard anything either way. It's just that he's so honorable and I'm sure that's he made some kind of deal with the little wench to keep her safe from harm—that's what he does, Kol. He's done it before."
Kol rolled his shoulders, "Forget Elijah. We'll deal with him later."
Rebekah sighed, then smiled nervously, "Well, I suppose it would feel good. I haven't killed anyone in a while. And after all, she's just collateral damage."
Elijah's eyes widened and he shook his head in disbelief.
"Brilliant! That's the spirit," Kol smiled, then reached for the second bottle of scotch on the nearby night stand, "and we'll toast you a few more for the road."
Rebekah raised the empty scotch bottle and clanked it with her brother's full one...
Elijah's mind raced for the next hour.
Should he go in and stop them right then and there?
Yes, his heart told him.
No, said his head.
If he went in now and tried to talk them out of it or used force, he could anger them. And though it would stop them now, they might still attack Elena later and he couldn't risk that.
No, it was best to wait.
It was best to wait and follow them.
He would have to attack at the right moment.
They would have to actually move on Elena and he would have to be there to stop it once and for all. Otherwise, they might not take him seriously.
Around 8pm, Elijah followed Rebekah out of the mansion.
To his surprise, Kol stayed behind, passed out on her canopy bed from drink.
He would talk to her, he reasoned. He would set her straight. Without Kol near, he could bring her back to his side. Rebekah was always conflicted when it came to all of her brothers.
Elijah knew deep down, she was doing this for Kol, to impress him and to earn his acceptance just like she always did.
Sure she was angry, but Elijah had helped her control her anger before, he could do it again.
Elena wouldn't have to be in danger.
He had been thinking of Elena, where she would be and what she would be doing, when he looked up and realized that he had lost Rebekah.
His eyes narrowed and he immediately sniffed the air—her scent was fresh. He could track her that way.
A few minutes later, Elijah approached just as he saw Rebekah pounce on Elena, pinning her against the back of her SUV in the Mystic Falls hospital parking lot.
"Surprised? You drove a dagger through my back, Elena. It hurt," she spat venomously in Elena's face.
Elijah was amazed at how quickly he reacted when he saw Rebekah's face change, and within moments, the idea of talking her down, turned into physical violence.
He had always tried never to raise his hand to her—she was his sister.
But, as always, when it came to keeping Elena alive, the rules changed.
He was immediately at Elena's side, flinging Rebekah off of her and pinning his sister to the car, his hand at her throat.
"Elijah" Rebekah said in a resigned voice, the heaviness of the liquor still evident behind her eyes.
"Leave." Elijah said sternly, releasing his grip on her neck
Rebekah pushed herself off of the back passenger door and stood to face him, but did not move to leave.
"Are you challenging me?" he smirked
He knew she never would. He was older and stronger than her. He had trained her and protected her for over a thousand years.
All she had were her words.
"You're pathetic," she shot back before looking over to Elena, "Both of you."
She didn't seem surprised to see him and it made him wonder what she was thinking at that moment—perhaps something to do with what she and Kol had discussed earlier about him and Elena.
Without another word, she raced off into the night back to the mansion.
Elijah looked after her for a few moments before turning back to Elena, who looked more than a little relieved to see him.
"Well, I believe we have some catching up to do." Elijah said with a smile behind his eyes
It was a quiet ride to the Gilbert house.
Elena shot little glances his way every now and then as she drove, but Elijah tried not to look in her direction. He did everything he possibly could to keep his eyes fixed on the sights outside of the passenger side window.
When they pulled into the drive, Elena turned off the headlights, pulled the key out of the transmission and put it in her bag.
"Alaric isn't home tonight. You are welcome to come in so we can talk." She said, unfastening her seatbelt.
Elijah searched her face for a moment then nodded.
A few moments later, Elena unlocked the front door and stepped through the threshold, turning on the lights in the foyer and turned back to Elijah, who had stopped just short of the doorway.
"Come in, Elijah." She said
Elijah smirked and stepped through to her side as she shut the door behind them.
"Would you like a drink?" Elena asked as she removed her jacket and the bag from her shoulder and tossed them onto the stairway.
"No. I'm fine. But, thank you." Elijah said, watching her
Elena turned back to him and smiled, "Well, a vampire has just tried to kill me and I just invited her brother into my house…I need a drink."
Then she pivoted and headed down the hall toward the kitchen as Elijah smiled, noting the play on the words he had spoken to her when they last met in his apartment.
"I'm sorry about Rebekah," Elijah said, following her into the room and leaning against the side counter as he watched Elena pull a glass from the cabinet above the sink, then sit it down on the center island, and move to the refrigerator and open it, "She's been recently awoken—she angry, confused and a little emotional. Not to mention she's been drinking and the fact that things are in such a state of flux with the family right now, isn't helping."
"How so?" Elena asked, pulling a jug of tea from the top shelf and closing the door behind her.
"Well, my sister now has other people influencing her actions and behavior."
"What other people?"
"Well, my mother for one." Elijah said straightening
Elena's eyes widened and she dropped the glass pitcher in her hand.
Elijah quickly stepped forward and caught it before it could smash on the kitchen floor, setting it gently on the counter.
"Are you alright?" he asked, eyeing Elena
"What do you mean your mother 'for one'?" Elena asked, still frozen in fear
Elijah sighed and closed his eyes, "Last night, after our little dinner party with Damon and Stefan, I gave my brother a….well… a surprise."
"What?" Elena asked, finally snapping to and turning to him.
Elijah opened his eyes, "My family—I removed their daggers."
Elena put her hands on the island and leaned forward.
"Wow…" She whispered with a raised eyebrow, "And your mother?"
"Well, my siblings and I had a little reunion," Elijah said, a small smile in the corner of his mouth as he remembered the terror on his brother's face at seeing Kol and Finn, again, "Afterwards, we decided that since we were unable to kill Klaus, we would give him a taste of his own medicine. We were planning on going together and leaving him behind. But, before we could, our mother arrived…and believe me it was quite unexpected."
Elena shook her head, "How is that even possible?"
"I'm not sure," Elijah said, "And she won't say. As far as I knew she was long dead and buried. Now, it turns out that Niklaus had been keeping her body for centuries, seemingly knowing nothing of her ability to return—she was who was in the last coffin, Elena, the one that Stefan and Damon wanted to open to kill Klaus."
Elena straightened, "So, we let her out…"
Elijah nodded
Elena folded her arms across her chest and studied Elijah for a moment.
"So, what's it like?" she asked softly, leaning toward him
"What?"
"Seeing your brothers after all these years? Seeing Rebekah? Seeing your mother?" Elena continued, clearly concerned for him.
Elijah sighed, "I'm not sure what I'm feeling right now, Elena. It's definitely a lot to take in all at once, especially since I thought I would never see them again."
Elena unfolded her arms and stepped toward him, reaching a hand out to him and placing it on his arm.
His eyes met hers and she smiled.
"I think we both need a stronger drink than tea. What do you say?"
Elijah closed his eyes, "Please…"
Elijah sat on the sofa in the living room and watched as Elena poured him a drink from the liquor cabinet.
"Here," she said, handing the bourbon to him as she rounded the sofa with a drink of her own and sat down beside him.
She took a drink from her glass then placed it on the coffee table, rubbing her hands on her thighs as she watched him take a sip of his.
"Thanks," Elijah said as he cradled the drink in his hand and turned to her.
"So Damon told me that Klaus daggered you." Elena whispered, looking down, avoiding his gaze, "After you saved him during the ritual."
Elijah sat forward and placed his drink on the coffee table in front of him.
"I'm sorry…about that."
Elena looked up, "Why did you do it?"
"I thought Damon or Stefan would have told you—"
"I know what they told me, Elijah," Elena said, "But I want to hear it from you."
Elijah took a breath and nodded
"Before I could kill him, Klaus promised me that he would turn over my family and that we would all be re-united. He claimed he hadn't daggered them and buried them at sea as he had originally told me."
Elena eyes softened as his gaze moved to her.
"I see."
Their eyes met for a moment before Elijah shook his head.
"Still, I'm sorry. I gave you my word and I failed you, Elena. I—I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. I made a horrible mistake and I paid for it in more ways than one—I let my feelings for my family get in the way of my honor—"
Suddenly, Elena's hand was on his arm and Elijah froze.
"It's alright, Elijah." Elena said softly, "You don't have to say anymore. I understand. You've waited a long, long time to be with your family. I know what they mean to you—"
"I wouldn't have broken my word to you for anything else."
"I know." Elena smiled
There was a silence as Elijah searched her face for a moment and it didn't take long for him to find what he was looking for—her forgiveness.
"Thank You" he sighed
But, he realized in that moment, it wasn't just forgiveness he saw on her face, there was something else, something in her eyes.
Elijah recognized it immediately and it took his breath away—it was compassion.
Liliya had it once, too.
"Well, we do anything and everything for family, right?" Elena said softly as she turned away from Elijah, her face beginning crumble.
Elijah moved closer and put a hand on her shoulder as she buried the lower part of her face in her hands.
"Damon told me about Jeremy. I'm so sorry, Elena."
Elena pulled her hands back and took a trembled breath, her eyes glistening as she turned to Elijah.
"At least he's alive somewhere and living a normal life now. That's all I can hope for, right? I just want him to be safe."
"For what it's worth, I think you did the right thing. But, sometimes it can be hard to let go." Elijah said with a tinge of bitterness in his voice, taking the glass of bourbon in his hand again and throwing it back.
"What's wrong?" Elena asked, wiping under her eyes as Elijah put the empty glass back down on the table.
"Nothing," Elijah breathed, biting his lip, "It's just..."
"What?" Elena asked, confused
Elijah scanned his eyes over her for a moment then answered.
"When Niklaus daggered me, I dreamed. It's not the first time, either. It's happened before. The last time, though, it was a memory. It was of Mikael and myself when I was a young boy," Elijah smiled at the memory, "He was showing me how to hold a sword for the first time, putting his hands over mine on the hilt as he stood behind me and moved my arms in guided motions." Then the smile faded, "This time, I was lying in a clearing in the forest under the trees. And Liliya was there."
"The original doppelganger?" Elena breathed
"She told me that I that I let my feelings for my family—for my siblings—cloud my judgment. She questioned my motives when it came to my brother. And then she said—"
Elijah stopped and closed his eyes, shaking his head.
"Then she said…what?" Elena encouraged in a soothing voice
Elijah opened his eyes and turned to her, "Then she said that the real reason I have been unable to kill Klaus all these years, was that I was afraid to be alone without him—that I had been so wrapped up in duty, honor and family that forgotten to live. That if he died, even if I was reunited with the rest of my family, I would have nothing left. I wouldn't have a purpose—a reason for living."
There was a moment of silence as Elena considered this.
"Do you think what she said is true?" she asked finally
Elijah studied her face for a moment then answered.
"Yes, partly. I lost my reason for living once—Liliya. Then, when I made my promise to my father to watch over my siblings and keep Niklaus from breaking the curse, I found a purpose again. Once that's over—once he's gone—I'll have nothing, again. It's true. Perhaps I have wasted my immortality."
"You have your siblings." Elena pointed out
"I refuse to keep them like pets." Elijah scoffed, "Klaus did that for centuries, changing them around—keeping them checked by keeping two daggered and two awake at a time. They deserve to be free, free to live the life they are meant to, do anything and go anywhere they please."
"And what about your life?"
"What about it?"
"You say you want everyone else to live, but are you ever going to? It's not too late. You have to be brave and be ready to move on and live without him."
"I don't know…perhaps." Elijah smiled.
Elena took a breath and straightened before standing up off the couch.
"Well, then. I think that we should get started."
"What?" Elijah asked, furrowing his brow as he looked up to her
"Tonight, you are going to forget about your mother and your siblings and your hybrid brother and live a little and I'm going to help you," she smiled
"Elena, it's fine, really, I didn't tell you this to—"
"Elijah, if you think what she said is true and you want to change it, then why won't you let me help you?" Elena asked, raising an eyebrow
"Alright," Elijah sighed
"Alright," Elena nodded and twirled around, walking over toward the fireplace, where a large oak cabinet stood
She flung open the doors to reveal a record player on the center shelf of the cabinet, surrounded by rows and rows of vinyl records.
She pulled a record out and spun around again to face Elijah, waving it in her hand.
"First lesson. You, my friend, are going to dance."
"Here?"
"Oh, yeah...just because you can." Elena smiled
"No." Elijah said shaking his head
Elena lowered the record and sighed, "Come on. You're always so serious."
"But, I like being serious." Elijah countered with a smirk
"That's exactly the point, Elijah. Come on..."
When he didn't move, she continued, dancing the record in front of her.
"Do it for Liliya? And for me?"
Elijah eyed Elena for a moment before he reluctantly removed his suit jacket and laid it over the back of the couch.
"Very well," he said, using vampire speed to appear immediately at her side, rolling up his dress shirt sleeves as he began to peruse the record collection, "But, I get to choose."
"That's fair," Elena smiled as she put the record she was holding back in its proper place
"This one." Elijah said, pulling a record out and holding it up to her.
"The Best of Muddy Waters? Uh…no." Elena countered, making an x with her two index fingers over the record.
"It's the blues, Elena. It's mellow."
"Mellow? Oh, God, why couldn't Stefan and Damon be here to listen to you right now?" Elena chuckled to herself, then grabbed the record from Elijah's hand, "Put your harmonic away, Soul Man."
Elijah turned back to the cabinet and scanned the records again, as Elena replaced the one she had taken from him.
"What about…this one?" he asked as he presented his next choice to her
Elena put her hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter.
"It's Mozart." Elijah countered
"I'm sorry, but now you're really just showing your age!" Elena laughed
Elijah scoffed and replaced the record, resuming his search as her laughter subsided.
It didn't take long before he found exactly what he was looking for and a huge smile came across his face as he slipped the record out of the sleeve without even consulting her.
"Perfect," he said, as Elena watched him toss the sleeve on the top of the cabinet and lift the lid of the record player, placing the record on the turntable before moving the arm.
"What did you pick?" she asked amused, her eyes following him as he moved back toward the center of the living room as the record started to play.
The second the overture started, Elena smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Seriously?" she asked, "I have a closet Van Morrison fan in my presence?"
"Avalon Sunset is a classic record…you're parents had excellent taste."
"Alright, well, I guess the Soul Man lives," Elena teased, putting her hands on her hips as she watched him, "Get dancing, Soul Man."
Elijah stared at her for a moment, then stepped toward her, holding out his arms.
"This is not the kind of song you dance to alone," he said softly, studying her
Elena pulled back nervously, "Oh, no. I'm not a very good dance partner, Elijah—"
"If you don't dance with me, Elena, you'll force me to do the hand-jive," Elijah teased, still holding his arms out to her, "and I warn you now…it won't be pretty."
Elena smiled with a sigh and nodded, relenting.
She placed her hands in his and he reversed his steps, leading her back to the center of the living room with him.
He could feel her heart beat quicken, but it wasn't out of fear.
He had been a vampire long enough to tell the difference.
"You can come closer," he whispered as he pulled her into a standard dance frame, "I don't bite."
Elena smirked nervously as she stepped in closer until their chests almost met and placed her hand in his as his right arm come around her back.
Then looking into her eyes, he began to lead her around the room in a slow waltz.
These are the days of the endless summer
These are the days, the time is now
There is no past, there's only future
There's only here, there's only now…
"You're really good at this," Elena said, looking down to their feet as they moved
"When you're a thousand year-old vampire, you tend to have a lot of free time, Elena. Let's just say that I've taken dance lessons for many years," Elijah said, "I even convinced Niklaus to go with me once or twice, but nothing really stuck. He's still a horrible dancer!" then he lowered his voice as he leaned into her, "But don't say anything about it to him or he'll dagger you…"
Elena laughed
Oh your smiling face, your gracious presence
The fires of spring are kindling bright
Oh the radiant heart and the song of glory
Crying freedom in the night…
"We're going to try something… Are you ready?" Elijah asked with a chuckle
Elena's eyes widened, "What—"
But before she could finish, Elijah spun her out with one arm.
These are the days by the sparkling river
His timely grace and our treasured find
"Come back…come back…" he smiled at her as she struggled to maintain her balance while he tried to twirl her back to him.
Finally, she made it, stumbling back into his arms and falling against his chest laughing.
This is the love of the one magician
Who turned the water into wine…
"Oh, I'm terrible!" Elena cried, "I'm sorry! I'm sure that I stepped on your feet."
"I'll polish my shoes later…I have no life." Elijah replied and Elena laughed, again.
"Well," Elena said, tossing her dark hair and catching her breath as Elijah continued moving them around the room once more, "let it be said that I gave you fair warning that I wouldn't be a very good dance partner."
"I think I'll survive. You know if you really wanted to learn, though, I could teach you. I'm a good teacher. I taught Rebekah and Henrik how to fight, I taught Kol how to hunt, Finn how to handle a bow and Ferrier horses and Niklaus…" he trailed off, closing his eyes.
Elena's face softened, "Elijah?"
"It's so different now," Elijah said in a low voice, shaking his head, trying not to meet her gaze, "I'm not the same and they're not the same. My mother forgave Niklaus, did I tell you that? She has told the others that you and your friends are not to be harmed—she wants peace. And I give you my word that I will do everything in my power to see that it is maintained."
Elena nodded, "Thank You."
"It's just—she thinks that our family can be together again like we once were, but we aren't human anymore, Elena. It will never be the same."
These are the days of the endless dancing and the
Long walks on the summer night
These are the days of the true romancing
When I'm holding you oh, so tight…
"That's not true. There's something human left inside all of you." Elena said softly, "The only thing that matters is what you do with it. Use it? Or let it go?"
"Niklaus and Kol, I fear are too far gone. Rebekah there is always hope for…but I don't know about Finn. He's always resented what we are. "
These are the days by the sparkling river
His timely grace and our treasured find
This is the love of the one great magician
Who turned the water into wine…
"And what about you?" Elena finally asked, "Do you think that there is hope for you?"
Elijah smirked shaking his head, "I've been too moral and cared too much my whole life, Elena. Niklaus calls me the 'immortal human'. He thinks me weak."
Elena pulled out of the dance frame and took his face in her hands.
"Look at me," she said softly, "Caring—caring about your family-and having honor and morals—that doesn't make you weak, Elijah. You're not weak. Don't ever say that."
And suddenly, as his dark eyes met her chocolate ones in that moment, it was there again—the connection.
But this time, he didn't see Liliya, he saw her—he saw Elena.
Elijah opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
He brought his hand down to stroke her cheek and she closed her eyes at his touch.
These are the days now that we must savor
And we must enjoy as we can
These are the days that will last forever
You've got to hold them in your heart…
He leaned in closer to her as she brought her hands to rest on his chest.
The air between them was electric as their foreheads touched, then her nose rested against his cheek, waiting for him to kiss her.
Her warmth and the sound of the blood rushing under her skin—it was intoxicating.
She was there, close to him, letting him come close to her.
Forget the Salvatore Brothers—forget Niklaus—it was just the two of them.
She wanted him in that moment.
But would his heart rule over his head this time?
No. He was too moral for that.
You're a thousand year-old vampire and she's an eighteen year-old human girl…
You don't deserve her…
You loved and lost a human girl once—and once was enough…
Elijah took a deep breath and pulled his hand away from her cheek, releasing her from their embrace.
"I'm sorry…" he said in a soft, trembling voice, "I—I just can't…"
Elena opened her eyes and exhaled.
Then she watched as Elijah turned and, grabbing his suit jacket from the couch, bolted for the front door, leaving it open in his wake with Elena standing in the living room with the ghost of Liliya...
To avoid running into any of the family on his return, Elijah leaped from the main drive to the second story roof of the mansion, then walked along the shingles to his bedroom window. It was unlocked and he slid it open with no resistance.
He sighed and tossed his jacket in first, letting it land softly on the hardwood floor, then followed.
He closed the window behind him and drew the curtains, then turned around, his mind clouded with a thousand emotions all at once.
He let his eyes close, but when he did, all he saw was Elena—all he could feel was the heat off her skin—all he could smell was the blood rushing in her veins.
He drew in a sharp breath and his eyes flew open.
He shook his head and ran his hands through his hair.
No! He shouldn't feel like this.
It was wrong.
He had to make it go away.
Why did she have to do that—make him feel?
And why did he let her?
Maybe Niklaus was right.
Maybe he was weak.
Or was he only weak when it came to her?
Elijah cried out in anger and grabbed the antique vase from his bedside table and threw it against the wall hard, letting the vase smash into a million pieces, flowers and water going everywhere.
It made him feel instant gratification, but he knew that violence would not make these feelings for Elena go away, only his frustration.
"Elijah? Are you alright?"
Elijah turned and saw Finn in his bedroom doorway. He must have been in the hallway and heard the vase smash.
"Please, Finn... Not now." Elijah said, looking away and bringing the thumb and index fingers of his right hand to the bridge of his nose.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Finn asked, stepping forward, his eyes softening in concern.
But Elijah didn't need his brother's concern, he needed to be alone.
"Finn, please just leave me be!" Elijah cried, trying hard to keep the emotion from his voice as he quickly stood and with vampire speed moved to the doorway.
He hit his brother square in the chest with his right hand, pushing him back through the threshold before slamming the bedroom door hard in his face.
Then, with his back against the walnut, Elijah slid down to the floor and let himself crumble.
