AN: Let's pretend that this is totally how sports scholarships work
He spends time around his siblings in the next few days, the farewells are only for a few months. Barely any time at all to any of them, but he says his farewells anyway. He wishes Rebekah good luck, as she and Caroline leave. His eyes catch Elena's for a few moments after they watch the plane leave their view. She smiles at him, and they go out for dinner that night. He hasn't planned their route yet, and Jenna, Alaric and Jeremy are gone for the night for a college visit for Jeremy. Elena had assured them she'd be fine, but it's nice to spend time with Elijah. She doesn't realize how empty her house is until she has to come home. The silence is a little deafening. If Elijah wasn't spending time with Kol and Klaus, she'd ask him to come over.
All of her childhood friends are gone already, Bonnie is happily with her mom, Matt is on a football scholarship on the West Coast with Tyler, and she watched Caroline go already, gave her one hard last hug.
She's already called the two vampire blondes, she misses them already. At the same time, she's grateful for the silence, it leaves her with her thoughts. She's been meaning to think it all out for a while anyway.
She wasn't always going to just stay in Mystic Falls, she convinces herself. Even as a child, she would have thought of leaving at some point, she tells herself.
But she's not sure. The what if's start to bother her and she doesn't realize it's late until she's waiting for Elijah to pick up the phone.
"Elena?" He asks, trying to conceal a yawn. It's 2AM.
"I'm so sorry I woke you up." She begins to apologize, but if she needed to talk, he wants to listen.
"What did you wish to speak about?" He asks, and she takes a deep breath and begins to explain. It's such an odd contrast from being on the phone with Caroline. Caroline always gives a sign that she's listening, and interrupts if she needs to. She's almost unsure Elijah's listening, he's so quiet. When Elijah's sure she's done talking, he speaks.
He does not mean to offend, he tells her first. Padded words for sharper ones yet to come. He says that it sounds like she keeps trying to go back to who she was before she learned about vampires.
She is who she is because of what she's gone through. She needs to make plans and think about the Elena Gilbert that has survived all of that. She is stronger because of what she's gone through. She needs to stop trying to return to being who she used to be and focus on who she is.
He asks if he interpreted her problem correctly. She admits he did, and that she's sorry for waking him up. Sensing that the end of the conversation is nearing, he offers to meet her for lunch after he sees Kol and Klaus off. She agrees, but tells him that she plans on spending the rest of the day with Jenna, Jeremy and Alaric.
That's agreeable to him, and when she yawns, he wishes her sweet dreams. She echoes his sentiment, and finally manages to close her eyes.
He wishes Kol and Klaus victory in taking over New Orleans. He reminds his brothers that they did not have to do anything alone. Just because their family is in different places doesn't mean it's divided. If his brothers call, they will come. Klaus nods, and Kol grins at him. He tells his younger siblings that he'll see them at Christmas no doubt. Klaus nods, in agreement. He does hug them, and then they're gone. Another plane. He's the last Mikaelson in Mystic Falls.