Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters familiar to TVD. I'm just borrowing them for my own pleasure.
Midnightmoonromantic: The part with the remedy was a spur of the moment thing. I added it into the chapter in my final review of it when I saw how much people were liking the other Elijah. I wanted to give the present form of Elejah moments too. He won't stay mad at Elena for very long, I promise. I wasn't sure how the reveal scene should go with Caroline, Stefan and Damon, but I'm glad you liked at. As for Caroline's line, as another reviewer pointed out, I used that, it was used in Buffy. I suppose I should have put a disclaimer in about it, but I honestly didn't think to.
Siberia21: Yes, I've been working on that. I have been wanting to include moments for both Elijahs and Elena. I'm glad it's paying off.
MusicalLover17: I am. Currently, I am writing the finishing touches on 15. Although I have to admit that I don't have a clear end in sight yet.
Dark Alana: Yeah, they frustrate me endlessly on the show. I would have avoided putting them in the story all together, but since I picked up in the middle of the season, I knew I couldn't.
Chiwi: I have been working on making more Elejah moments, so I'm glad you like it. Our time traveler won't be angry for very long, I can promise you that. As for Finn, I honestly don't know where I'm going with his character, but I know I don't want him willing to die like he was in the show. I figured that if he had more interaction with his siblings and other people, it would help him to change his mind.
Skabir33: Yes, I absolutely loved that episode. I loved the Spuffy (which I really hated the pairing when it became romantic later on in the series) scenes and all the little tidbits that were said around it or because of it. Can I be blind too? Too funny!
Kayli2509: I'm so glad that you're enjoying this. I still haven't figured out what to do with the past Elijah and Elena.
I Love All Books TVD Klaroline: Yes, I realized that after I posted the chapter, hence the reason why I had my author's note at the beginning of chapter 9. I ask that you let that small little fact go, because he won't stay that way for long. Hopefully the way I re-wrote it, it will make sense and ease the major blunder I made.
Chapter 9
"Well, that was fun," Caroline muttered when Elena walked back into the living room after showing the two obviously upset Salvatore brothers out. It had been a tense hour, and the questions never stopped; neither did the accusations.
Elena offered her friend an awkward smile. "I hate being at odds with them," she confessed. Since she'd learned about the supernatural world she always had one Salvatore brother or the other to lean on. She didn't like that she'd upset them, but at the time she felt it was the best course of action.
"You can't blame them for being upset, Elena. I mean you kept this crazy secret from them," Caroline spoke then, not in a harsh manner but matter of factly.
Elena nodded at her. "I know what I did," and she didn't plan on acting like a victim. "I'm just sorry it hurt them."
"Yeah," Kol said, looking between the two friends. "Are they always like that?"
Elena shook her head. "No."
At the same time as the brunette, Caroline nodded. "Yes."
Kol smirked as he looked between them. He was going to go out on a ledge and choose to believe the blonde over the brunette. She obviously didn't have the same loyalties Elena felt for the Salvatore brothers. "Tell me, when you have meetings, do they always end up ending like that?"
The human shrugged. "It depends," she excused, shrugging her shoulders. "I am sorry for Damon," Elena stopped to think back to the last hour and realized that it wasn't just Damon who acted out. "I'm sorry about the way they both acted."
"It is very obvious that they both care about you," Finn excused politely. He couldn't remember the last time he was so annoyed with another vampire. If he cared, which he supposed he didn't, he'd teach both younger vampires a lesson about respect and politeness. However, it was easy to see that they were both in love with the human before him.
Elena shook her head. "That's no excuse."
"So, I had an idea as Damon was going off on his tirade," Caroline began.
Before she continued, Kol snorted. "Which one?"
The blonde smiled at his question. "I know, right?" For some reason, she was digging the new vampire. There was something almost refreshing about his presence. "Elena, there's a party tonight. Let's go."
Kol's ears perked up at the word.
Immediately, Elena began denying it. "Yeah, I don't think…"
"Oh, come on!" Caroline perked right up. "We've both been through hell the past few weeks. Let's just kick back. We'll go to the party, have a few drinks and relax."
The brunette shook her head. "Caroline-"
"Come on, Elena. Other than the party we threw for your birthday, when was the last time you went with one that wasn't because of vampires or hybrids?"
"Hey, I'm in," Kol interjected.
At his youngest brother's eager words, both Elijahs twitched; however it was only one that spoke up. He hadn't missed the way the longer haired version of himself reacted to Kol's words. "I don't think that's a wise idea, Kol. You'd get bored." He needed to dissuade his brother from attending. Kol tended to lose his patience relatively easily when it came to dealing with humans when they were sober; forget about the alcohol induced ones.
Kol shook his head. "You never let me have any fun," his mouth was drawn into a pout.
"Behaving like Rebekah now are we?" Finn broke in, looking to his youngest brother with an arched eyebrow.
The time traveler chimed in then. "Yes, it does not have the same effect as when Rebekah does it." It felt good to be reunited with his brothers once again. When he returned to his time, he knew he would hold on that moment. He would look to it when he grew lonely or felt like giving up on hope that they would ever be reunited, like he'd felt previously.
Elena smiled as she watched the three, well four, interact with each other. It was nice to see Elijah so relaxed for once. He always held himself so tall and severe when he was around anyone else. Even compared to his taut shoulders minutes ago before the Stefan and Damon left, he appeared completely at ease. Her gaze then moved to the alternate version of him. While the time traveler didn't seem to be as weary as the Elijah of her time, she didn't think she'd ever seen him smile so widely. It nearly took her breath away.
"We should probably get going and leave the ladies to their plans," Elijah observed when the laughter died down. "Elena, it was…interesting," he smiled politely at her as he headed towards the door.
Elena blushed at his words.
Finn and Kol offered Elena and Caroline awkward smiles as they rose to join Elijah. They bid their own goodbyes before walking out.
When Elena spotted the alternate version follow them out, she stepped forward. "Wait, you're going too?"
Slowly, he turned around to face her. "I think that would be best," he spoke softly.
"Please, Elijah. I know you're upset that I wasn't truthful, but could we at least talk and you try and see this from my point of view?" Her voice was just as gentle as his had been.
He pursed his lips as he considered her inquiry. He knew that he was going to disappoint her by his refusal, but he felt that it was needed. "I do not think so, Elena." The truth was, he was still very perturbed by her actions. He felt as though he may say something in anger, and he didn't want that. He knew that he was punishing her unfairly, probably because of Tatia's treatment of him and Katerina's manipulation. However, he truly had trusted her, and she'd lied to him.
Elena watched him sadly as he left without another look backwards. She stood near the front door, Elijah, the one of her time hung back.
"Elijah…" She trailed off, looking at him as though he held all the answers.
He offered her a small smile. "Just give him time, Elena. He doesn't understand our…relationship." Elijah found himself unable to come up with a word to describe whatever it was he and Elena shared. They weren't friends, they weren't enemies, they had been allies and partners; maybe the best term to use, would be a popular slang term he'd heard. Frenemies.
He already planned to speak to him. Again, while it wasn't exactly his memory, as soon as the conversation took place earlier in the Gilbert residence, it entered his memories as if it had happened to him. Even though the conversation happened hundreds of years ago in his mind, he could still remember feeling the betrayal and anger. Unfortunately, his younger self didn't understand their dynamics, so Elena's actions seemed even more heartless.
Elena nodded. "Thank you for coming over today. I don't think I could have handled Damon and Stefan alone." Or, she supposed she could have; but emotionally, she wasn't sure if she could have dealt with them.
Elijah didn't say anything in response to her, he was still curious about the new (or at least to him) dynamics of the three. Once upon a time, it was easy to see the love and adoration that Elena held for Stefan. Now, it wasn't nearly adoring, only hurt and forced acceptance. As for Damon, even back then, he'd been able to see the attraction that the elder sibling had for Elena. She didn't return it, and he never acted on it. However, Damon no longer hid it from her, which Elijah assumed meant that something took place between the two. Yet, he saw the way Elena treated both of them while they'd been there. While they were concerned for her, she'd only had eyes for his alternate version and worry over his reaction.
"Go enjoy your night with your friends," he said, changing the subject. He took a moment to really study her, and honestly, it looked as though she needed to get out a hand some fun. She seemed weary and annoyed and angry, perhaps some down time would help her feel better?
A few hours later, the car came to a stop. "Caroline, we don't have to stay a long time do we?" Elena asked, looking at her driver. Yes, she was worked up, and needed to unwind; but she wasn't sure that hanging out with a bunch of drunk people would improve her mood.
"No, but I do hope you'll begin to relax now," Caroline returned as they stepped out of her car. The music was thumping and already she could hear the laughter and conversations.
As soon as they walked inside, a crowd of giggly cheerleaders surrounded the two. Unable to deal with the high voices, which were magnified by the alcohol they'd already consumed, Elena excused herself.
As she walked through the crowded house to find the keg, she wrinkled her nose at all the intoxicated people around her. Vaguely, she wondered when it was that her view had changed. Once upon a time, she lived for parties. She, Caroline and Bonnie always had open invitations, and they almost always made sure to attend. She hardly had such time to spend so frivolously. After all the times that she'd been threatened and died or friends had died, they learned to spend their time how and with who really counted. Getting drunk every weekend wasn't high on their lists of priorities.
Pouring herself a cup and then one for Caroline, she began sipping it as she made her way back to Caroline, who was still standing near the front door; though she was oddly alone.
"Hey, thanks," Caroline smiled when Elena handed her the cup.
"Where'd the others go to?"
"They wanted to dance," Caroline excused with a shrug of her shoulder, raising the red plastic cup to her mouth.
Elena mock gasped. "And you didn't join them?" She watched Caroline take a long swig of her drink.
The reaction was instantaneous. She choked, gasping at the burning in her throat. The skin around her eyes became vainy and translucent. Quickly, she hid her reaction from the people around her, turning around and opening the front door.
Elena followed behind her. "Caroline, what?"
"Vervain…in the beer…"
"What? But how?" The brunette frowned, following Caroline outside.
"I don't know, but…" she couldn't even finish her statement before an arrow sailed through her stomach.
As the blonde fell to the ground in a heap, Elena tried to grab her cell phone to call someone. Before she could even pull it out though, she felt a slight pressure on her neck before the world around her began to darken.
"I must say, Elijah, you sure know how to pick them," Kol said, shaking his head as they sat together in the living room.
As soon as they returned to the house, Finn excused himself and the alternate version of Elijah holed himself up in the guest room he'd been showed to. "I beg your pardon?" Elijah asked. The expression on his face remained neutral, but his eyes hardened slightly.
"First there was Tatia, who couldn't choose between you and Klaus. Then there was Katerina who also seemed to be torn between you two. And now Elena? Only this time, the doppelganger is wrapped up with two other brothers," Kol smirked into the glass of bourbon that Elijah had poured for him.
"Kol, you better choose your words wisely," he suggested. "I have no interest in Elena whatsoever. We are merely allies." In the beginning, she was nothing more than another doppelganger, a means to an end. Yet, somehow, she wormed her way through the wall he erected. While he would not admit it to another soul, he wanted her closer. He found her current situation with the Salvatore brothers amusing, and he felt smug that she was no longer tied to Stefan. Despite that, he wouldn't allow himself to think on that, he couldn't afford to, there were more important matters to deal with.
"Is that it?" Kol shook his head at Elijah's denial. "You may tell yourself that if that's what you want, but it's more than that." Elijah had never been one for feelings. Other than Tatia and the first doppelganger, he'd never seen his brother emotionally invested in a woman. "Not only do you treat her differently than you do anyone else, I have seen the way she looks at you…him." She could hardly keep her eyes off the younger version of his brother. "She wouldn't have bothered to help your…other self if she didn't feel some sort of something for you in return."
He too had seen the keen interest she'd had on his alternate version. Based on the hazy memories he himself held, he knew that there was an attachment that had started to form on his end. Again, it was not something he would allow himself to think on. "Kol, your imagination is running away from you. There is nothing there. After Katerina, I swore I would never put myself in a similar position, and I fully intend to keep it." He didn't want to leave himself vulnerable for another woman, he'd been there. He knew where it led; and aside from the disappointment, attachments made people weak. He couldn't afford to be weak.
Kol pursed his lips at the finality of Elijah's tone. "She is a pretty little thing, isn't she?" While she didn't have the drop dead gorgeous features that he usually found attractive in women, Elena had a classic beauty to her.
Elijah didn't say anything in response; instead, he knocked back the drink in his hand.
When he noticed Elijah's eye twitch slightly as he swallowed, Kol smirked. "Well, since you aren't interested in her, do you mind if I partake? Because I'm thinking she might be quite a little firecracker in bed." When Elijah growled at him before taking a threatening step forward, Kol's features brightened. He held his hands up in surrender. "Yes, with a reaction like that, I can see…you're nothing more than allies," he tossed the word back at Elijah.
"Kol," the name ended in a growl.
Laughing at his reaction, Kol refilled his drink before leaving the room, and Elijah to his thoughts.
Standing at the fireplace, Elijah stared into the crackling fire not really seeing anything.
"Do you mind if I partake? Because I'm thinking she might be quite a little firecracker in bed."
Why did those words make him want to hurt Kol? Even now, his grip tightened on the wooden mantle above the fireplace, the wood creaking under his hold. When he realized what he was doing, he removed his hand as though the wood burned him. Logically, he knew he had no claim on anything Elena did, but the idea that his brother would actually bed her, unnerved him. He'd seen his brother's conquests and he was relentless. When he wanted something, he took it.
"It has been quite a while since I have spent time in such close quarters with Kol. How did I forget how much he annoyed me?"
Elijah turned to see his younger self standing there.
"Am I interrupting your solitude?"
Elijah shook his head. "Not at all," he denied. "I was meaning to speak to you. Please. Make yourself comfortable," he greeted, gesturing towards a chair.
Claiming a seat, the long haired gentleman turned to his companion. How odd it was, to see one's self while not as a reflection.
Elijah remained quiet as he poured another drink for himself and for the other man.
Accepting the drink, the out of time man took a sip; the burning sensation soothed his frayed nerves. "What did you wish to speak about?"
"Elena."
"It is not necessary," he denied stiffly.
Elijah shook his head and looked at his younger self. It was such an odd thing, to see himself, how he looked hundreds of years ago. Every time they were in the same room, he felt uncomfortable. He wasn't sure if it was because of all the new memories, or if it was a reminder that every minute he was out of place, the future was being irreparably changed.
"You two have grown rather close since your arrival."
The longer haired man shook his head. "We were thrown together by this situation; that is all."
"Did Elena tell you that she daggered me once?"
"It was mentioned." Though he did not know the particulars, Elena tended to gloss over some facts, and he had not inquired further. She seemed uncomfortable, if not regretful about some things.
"The two of us came to an agreement. She would help me lure Klaus here so I could kill him. The plan, I knew, would most likely cause her death. I didn't tell her, yet, she just knew. She agreed because she thought that it would save her friends and family. She would do anything for them, not unlike the things we've done for ours."
Elijah listened to his older version recount the past. He tried to follow along with him, yet he didn't understand how it pertained to the matter at hand.
"When she told the others the plan, they were…upset at the terms. Stefan and Damon devised a plan for me to be lured at the lake house. Elena and I spoke," he shook his head. "Argued, really," he amended. "She threatened to stab herself. When I called her bluff, she actually did stab herself. When she fell into my arms, she daggered me."
The other man frowned. "You are very cavalier about this."
"A few days later, she undaggered me without their knowledge. Left with me, and we spoke, came to an agreement," Elijah continued with his own frown. "Elena is a level headed person. She is good and mature…reasonable. However, she easily manipulated and persuaded. Her first thought wasn't to dagger me, just like it wasn't her idea to dagger Rebekah. I don't know what it is about those Salvatores, but she allows them to make her decisions for her, or to…push her to making a decision."
"She did not strike me as such."
Elijah offered his younger self a pointed look. "Hence the reason why I said she can be easily manipulated. Please do not mistake my words, she is not weak minded, not by any means. She cares a great deal about those that matter to her, and others can control her by acting on her fears."
The younger man shook his head. "This time is so confusing, this situation is baffling. When I first met Elena, I was taken by surprise-"
"By just her mere presence alone," Elijah finished. "I felt the same way once."
"Is it not amazing how people can influence us?" The man out of time mused. "Katerina's betrayal happened so long ago, even by my standards, yet, I carry it with me."
"And you will be good to keep doing so," Elijah hinted without giving so much away. "However, there are always exceptions, and Elena is one of them. She will not betray you…us. She would be stupid to do so, and she is most aware," his mind went back to the afternoon that she undaggered him. He replayed her phoned conversation with Stefan as he sat next to her, her words were spoken to Stefan, yet they were pointed at him.
"I think I was reaching that observation," the younger Elijah admitted.
"I never thought any differently," the older one replied with confidence. Before either one could say another word, there was a pounding at the front door. "Stay here." He wasn't sure what or who would knock so forcefully at the door, but it could not be friendly…
Cautiously, Elijah moved to the door. Out of his peripheral vision, he was able to see his brothers edge near the door as well. They both stood tall, their shoulders squared as if prepared for whatever fight waited for them at the door.
Elijah moved to open the door, preparing himself for an attack. He had not been expecting a heap of bloodied clothing and a note on the ground before him. Leaning down, while still keeping an eye out for the area around him, he grabbed both items before shutting the door.
Judging by the rapidly darkening look in his brother's eyes, Finn stepped closer. "What is that?"
"Is that a shirt?" Kol chimed in as his gaze focused on the material in Elijah's hands.
Elijah held the article of clothing to his nose. The blue material was stained in dark red blood. The scent had been easy to deduce, he knew it was Elena's the moment he opened the door. As he held it against his nose, he knew there was no doubt. "It's Elena's."
"And the paper?" Kol asked.
"Klaus' hybrids know that something is wrong with him. They want our assurance that he's fine, or they'll hurt Elena," Elijah ground out, focusing on the blood.
Finn frowned and Kol shook his head. The younger one spoke up. "Let's say for arguments sake that Klaus was fine, wouldn't he be pissed that they spilled Elena's blood? I mean isn't she the key for creating more hybrids?"
"They're Klaus' minions, whoever said they were smart?" Elijah asked. "Kol, follow the scent."
Kol nodded as he left the house.
Having heard the conversation, the man out of time stepped in the room. "What can I do?" As soon as 'Elena' and 'blood' was mentioned in the same sentence, his concern and regret were the two front emotions behind a slew of others that went unnamed.
Elijah looked at his alternate version with a shake of his head, regret at knowing there was nothing he could do. "Nothing. We can't afford for anything to happen to you. We'll wait for Kol to come back, and I'll handle it." It wouldn't be the first time he'd dealt with a hybrid and he was ready to work out his festering anger.
"Do you think this is gonna work?"
The red head shook his head. "I don't know. Klaus told us if he didn't contact us that something probably happened."
"We shouldn't have hurt her…" a blonde man said, staring at the unconscious young woman. "Klaus won't be very happy with us."
"Hey, we did what we had to," another hybrid denied. He looked at the half naked young woman. They'd cut her up enough to bleed her, rubbing the blood on her shirt before removing it and sending it to Klaus' address to send a message. Don shook his head, at their apparent regret at the action. How pathetic!
"Do you think they got it?" Another one spoke up, standing behind the others.
When one of their comrades fell to the ground, the three remaining hybrids backed up upon seeing a very angry Original standing where Don once stood, holding Don's heart in his hand.
Elijah dropped the heart, not even casting it a look as it dropped on the body that was on the ground. His eyes flickered to the top half nearly naked Elena passed out on the couch. His eyes hardened as he looked at the three remaining hybrids. This couldn't be all of Klaus' creations. Elijah was certain that there were more out there, however, he needed to send a message to them.
"I think they got it," one of them muttered, backing up even further at the intimidating sight.
Next to him, the red head stepped forward, not bowing down to Elijah. "Yeah, it's easy to kill someone when they aren't expecting you."
Elijah smirked at the one that spoke. "Please, by all means," he beckoned him forward with his hand. "If you think you take me, don't hold back."
The hybrid narrowed his eyes as he considered the best move to make. Klaus had told them that as a hybrid, they were stronger than both werewolves and vampires. He assumed that the Oirginals held greater strength than other vampires, but that didn't mean they were stronger than him. He made the decision to charge forward, using all the speed he possessed, sure that Elijah wouldn't be able to stop him.
Elijah squared his shoulders and smirked at the annoyingly self-assured being before him. "If you think you can beat me, I assure you, you cannot. Just let me take Elena, and I'll spare your lives."
"Where is Klaus?"
"Safe," Elijah shrugged.
The cocky hybrid shook his head. "It doesn't work like that. We want to talk to him, not you."
"You won't be. You have my word that Klaus is safe and…unharmed at the moment. Now, let me take Elena, and I will let you live." His voice was firm and unwavering as he repeated his demand.
"That won't be happening. You'd be lucky to get out of here alive." With that said, he charged forward.
Elijah shook his head, expecting a move like that from the hybrid. He easily met the attack, throwing him into the wall. He watched the being get up, either from lack of self-preservation or adrenaline, he charged again. His arms swung around, but Elijah was prepared and dodged every blow aimed towards him.
"You can't best me," Elijah ground out, pushing the hybrid away from him once again. From behind him, he felt another person attack him. Easily, he flipped the form over his shoulder. He looked at the two beings on the floor and glared at them.
"Are you ready to admit defeat? I was going to let you go before, but now, you've just made me angry." And that had been the first plan, with the intention that they would warn away any other hybrids who attempted to act out against him and his family.
"Not even close," spoke the one that attacked him first. He ran for Elijah again.
Finished with trying to play nice, Elijah's hand shot out, the hybrid collapsed on the ground. Elijah dropped the heart while staring at the second hybrid that had attacked him from behind. Never removing his eyes from his opponent, he grabbed a cloth from his pocket and wiped off his hands. "Now, you will listen to me. I will be taking Elena with me and you will return to wherever you came from. When more of your hybrid friends decide to come mess with things they have no business in, you'll tell them about this."
"No, I won't." He didn't charge at Elijah, but held his ground. "I won't say anything. Our allegiance is to Klaus, not you."
"Then you're a fool," Elijah said approaching the man. He narrowed his eyes at him. Letting go of his patience, he put all of his strength in his arm, swinging it across the length of the hybrid's neck. He watched with satisfaction as the head rolled around and the decapitated body fell to the ground.
AN: So, I'm sure you'll noticed I twisted a few facts for my story, nothing too major. Also, as for the vervain and the reason why Caroline didn't smell it; I was under the impression that it was only older vampires who could detect it, so that is why she didn't know about it before she ingested it. I hope you guys enjoyed it!