whoops I also forgot to mention this is a soulmate au where only your soulmate can heal you from deadly injuries and the one where you form a telepathic/empathetic link until/after you find them-and in the vein of once upon a time (which only vaguely affected this), the soulmate stuff only works if you find your soulmate and believe you're soulmates! Stay tuned!

She sees the car headed for her for a split second before she feels firm arms around her and the feeling of vampire speed, she's on the pavement next to Caroline's car, wrapped up in someone. She tries to calm her breathing, and she doesn't expect the face she sees.

"Kol?" She asks, his arms immediately returning to his sides as she does-

"I was just around, darling. Don't think too much about it. My brother would be very upset if you became just a blood splatter." He tells her, and disappears. She stares at the space he occupied for a few seconds.

Of course. Klaus would be upset. But with Elijah dying, it had been peaceful. No threats or deaths and for a brief moment, she wonders if he'll do something after Elijah is dead. If it was a spell, the only thing that could have him would be his soulmate. Whoever that person was, Elijah hadn't met yet. Thoughts of Elijah disappear as someone else holds her tightly.

"OhmygodElenaareyouokayI'msosorryIwasn'tfastenough!" Caroline blurts and it takes Elena a second to register what the blonde had said. She tucks away the idea that vampire speed can be used to talk.

"Can you just take me home? I need to have a talk with you and Bonnie." Elena says, tiredly, hugging Caroline back before letting go.

"Is it the Salvatores? Do I need to tell Bonnie to get the ice cream and sleeping bags?" Caroline asks as she opens her door. Elena does the same, and almost laughs. The Salvatores hadn't been on her mind in weeks. After she had met Lexi, who had called her by the wrong name, she stopped all romantic thoughts about the Salvatores. Stefan was currently off somewhere with Katherine, and she hadn't heard from Damon in ages. She didn't want to be a replacement. She wanted her soulmate.

"No to the first question, yes to the second." Elena tells her, as she sinks into the passenger seat, with the slam of a door.

Caroline's already sent the texts before Elena buckles her seat belt.

"Are you okay, Elena?" Concerned blue eyes meet brown.

"No." Elena decides. She isn't.