Chapter Ten

Suspended on Silver Wings

Elena was snapped out of her thoughts by Elijah's phone ringing.

Without taking his eyes off of her, he grabbed it quickly off the side table and stepped out of the room, disappearing down the stairs. She didn't try to listen, even though she was sure he was angry with her, he had left the room to give her privacy or to get both. In a way, she had hoped for both.

With a sigh and a feeling of complete failure, she began to organize the bedroom again. Luckily there was minimal blood, which meant that she ended up drinking most of it, and hardly anything out of place. While she was fixing the sheets on the bed, trying to distract herself, she could hear the Original begin to speak louder on the phone. It was mostly a mumble, but as she carried on with the mindless cleaning she heard his tone get louder.

"WHAT?" she heard his voice boom from the bottom of the stairs.

Frightened, the young vampire plastered herself against the wall and she could feel her muscles scream as she heard Elijah run up the stairs and back into the room with a panicked expression on his face.

"Elijah. The witches have demanded a kill order on Katherine Pierce. They are coming here to find her."

Elijah knew what that meant as he hung up the phone with Yasmine. The witch could never lie to her coven about seeing her, and hearing about her still being in the town. They would not stop until they found who they would think to be Katarina Petrova but really it was Elena Gilbert.

He had almost crushed his phone in his hands as he hung up.

Elena… he had to help her.

With their most recent experience placed I the back of his mind for now, he ran up the stairs with a blood bag in hand for her.

As he opened the door, he didn't expect to see Elena as she was, her body pressed against the wall. She was frightened.

He approached her slowly, with the blood bag in his hand, but she didn't seem to notice it.

"Elijah please!" she begged, "I don't know what happened!"

She thinks I'm angry with her… he realized.

"Elena…it's all right. Please stop this." It was his turn to beg now as he extended his hand to her in peace. She eyed him carefully as she accepted the bag, draining it without removing her eyes off of him once. Once she had finished, he noticed that she seemed more relaxed, but was still wary. It was as if they had gone back to stage one again.

"Elena I'm not angry." He soothed, "You've been keeping that part of you reined in after the Salvatores. Your body was most likely drained."

He took her hand and led her back over to the bed and sat next to her.

"How can you be so forgiving?" she began, "I…I kissed you."

He noticed she wouldn't look at him, as if she was ashamed.

"It's fine Elena, you had no control of your actions. Besides we have much more important matters to discuss."

Secretly, in the back of his mind, it wasn't okay. Not in the sense where he was angry with her for kissing him. He was angry at himself for allowing it to happen, and hurt by the fact that she looked so ashamed. He couldn't tell yet if she was ashamed of her kissing him, or of her loss of control in the first place.

"What happened?" she looked to him nervously.

"We need to get you out of here. It seems the witches have issued a kill order on you once they realized the Salvatores couldn't get the job done." He spoke with an odd sense of pride, knowing that once again he had prevented them from killing Elena Gilbert.

The young vampire's eyes widened in fear as she shot to her feet.

"What?" she cried out, beginning to panic.

Elijah nodded gravely, not wishing to upset her more.

"Please relax. You will be fine." He tried to get her to calm down, but even he wasn't confident. Witches could be ruthless, they wouldn't just stop with Elena. They would kill him too for protecting her and that would mean his entire bloodline would go with him.

He knew Elena didn't believe him when he told her it would be okay, she could see it all over his face that he had doubts of her survival.

"I'll just turn myself in." she decided, "That way they will never know you helped me either."

Damon had called Elijah five times without any luck.

"He's not answering! Can't he at least pick up the phone when we are trying to help him?" he was beginning to get aggravated.

"Stefan, how much longer until we are in Mystic Falls?"

"Just another hour Damon. We are going to have to have Bonnie get in touch with him through magic. He needs to get Elena out of there."

The brothers drove in silence for the rest of the hour long drive until they made it to Mystic Falls, both of them wondering exactly why Elijah wasn't answering his phone in the first place.

They went straight to Bonnie's home, not expecting to see a stranger sitting at her table when they approached the screen door.

"Uh…Bon?" Damon called for the witch, who hadn't invited them inside her home.

"She's been locked up in her room on the phone all day." The young man answered casually.

"Yeah uh…who are you?" Stefan spoke up, scanning him for a sign of threat. He had no reason to trust this human, but having not been invited into the witch's home made it nearly impossible to confront him.

"All right kid, come here." Damon summoned.

"My name is Corey." He mumbled as he stood.

Damon recognized the name. Bonnie had thrown it in his face the instant Elena began to date someone new.

"Yeah…I've heard of you." He waited until he was standing in front of him to continue.

"Now…Bring Bonnie downstairs please." He compelled Elena's ex-boyfriend.

Stefan rolled his eyes as he began to walk up the stairs to Bonnie's room, and set himself on the steps, expecting it to take a while. The witch wasn't one of the least stubborn people he knew.

It didn't take long for Corey to come back down the stairs, Bonnie not far behind him.

"You guys can come in." she invited them in as she went to sit in her living room. She seemed completely distracted by her thoughts, making the brothers uneasy. They needed a witch with full concentration in order for her to cast any magic.

"I see you two met Corey. Corey, this is Stefan, and Damon."

Corey's expression changed the instant the brief introduction was made, instantly with distaste he replied, "Yeah? I've heard of you two." He crossed his arms over his chest, making both brothers wonder what Elena had told him.

"Yeah? I'm sure it was all good things." Damon sneered, passing a grin towards Bonnie.

"Let's just leave it that she didn't exactly speak highly of you two." He retorted, "In fact, she said the only person she missed besides her two best friends was some dude Elijah."

Bonnie's expression changed, as she raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

"Okay!" she clapped her hands, preparing to have to break up a fight that she could see all over the vampires' expression, was about to happen. "Corey, why don't you give us a minute?"

He nodded, not taking his eyes off the two brothers, and walked outside to go sit in his car.

"He insists on helping find her. Apparently he is staying with family, don't ask…because I really don't know." Bonnie quickly explained the situation. "Now...you two tell me what the hell happened to Elena!"

Stefan took the liberties of retelling the story of Elena being attacked, how they thought they were going after Katherine, how they weren't sure how she went Ripper just yet and then ended with finding her in Elijah's home.

"Elijah?" Bonnie questioned, remembering Corey's remark. "He's helping her?"

Damon could tell the witch didn't like that arrangement one bit.

"We don't understand it either." He explained, "If you want my opinion, he's getting a little something on the side if you know what I mean, but anyway. You need to get a message to him. He's not answering his phone and we need to warn him about the witches."

Bonnie nodded, quickly grabbing a box she kept under her coffee table to prepare the spell.

"After this, I am going to keep trying to get in contact with Isla. Maybe she will listen if I can get through to her."

"Elena…I am not about to let you do that." Elijah spoke sternly, he had put in as much as he had to help her get through her blood lust, he wasn't about to lose her now.

"Do you have any better ideas?" she asked, crossing her arms.

The Original hated that look she would get. It was a look she would give whenever she thought she had the upper hand, he had seen it one too many times while they would negotiate terms of their agreements.

"I do actually." He smiled at her defeated reaction, "You see, the witches will want to kill me as well…like you said. I'm an Original so it goes to say that I have connections where it matters. Besides…I will simply have to negotiate with them for your life, in return, they will get the man who is doing this. I am sure you are not the only one."

Elena's eyes widened in surprise as she placed a comforting hand over his, the contact at first, had even surprised herself. She had already figured out she cared for the Original, but she hadn't realized the extent until that moment, his forgiving eyes and instead of scolding her for what she had done he simply…understood.

He understood her.

"You really thought this ahead didn't you?" she pointed out, her hand tightening around his own.

Elijah nodded,

"I had a feeling they would catch up eventually. It was only a matter of time. There is, however…one thing."

Elena raised her eyebrows, now wondering if she should question her decision.

"We need to return to Mystic Falls."

"Why?" That was the last place Elena wanted to go to. After everything that happened to her, she doubted she would ever want to return again.

"My sources have told me that Alexander is there, and if the Salvatores fail to find him, I need you to recognize him." Elena nodded in understanding. She didn't like the idea of returning to her home town, but she trusted Elijah's judgment, sometimes over her own.

"Elijah…why are you insisting on helping me? I came into your town and turned your entire world upside down. I am putting your life at risk!" she looked deep into his eyes, as if searching for the answer he wouldn't speak aloud.

He only smirked, bringing her hand to his lips, where he placed a gentle kiss on her knuckle. The gesture startled Elena, but not in a bad way. She knew Elijah was always a gentleman, this form of contact was casual for him.

It's not like he was courting her.

"Sometimes, my lovely Elena, someone's world needs to be turned upside down in order for them to see the light."

The young vampire smiled warmly, hoping to forget everything that had happened between them not long before, even though a part of her wanted to remember as well.

"So…when do we leave?" It had been six years since she had seen Elijah before these past few months, and when she should be questioning his decision, she knew what he had done for her. He had saved her life once against all odds, and six years later he took her in without any question or thoughts about his own well being. How could she not trust him?

Elijah always had a plan, and this time was no different. He hadn't expected everything to fall into place so soon, but it was fine. He could work under pressure.

"We leave in an hour." He told her, he made it a point to sound confident this time. There was no need to stress out the young vampire.

"Oh and we are going to fly." He stating, watching her reaction, "It's much faster."

"But more people…" Elena argued looking away. After her last blackout, he was sure she didn't trust her own self control.

"Don't worry, I'm not about to let anything happen. I'll be prepared this time around. Promise." He passed her a half smile as he stood, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Even if I have to tie you to the seat."

As the hour passed, Elijah packed a few things and noticed his phone on the end table where he had almost crushed it. Opening it he saw eight new messages, all from the Salvatores. Before even getting to listen to the voicemails, and as if on cue, he felt a piece of paper scrunch up in his pocket, which he rarely used. Opening the crumpled parchment slowly, he read;

The witches are on their way to you. Get out.

-Bonnie

The Original rolled his eyes as he began to dial Damon's number. He had always made it a point to save it in case something like this were to happen.

"What perfect timing Elijah. I see you got Bonnie's message? Sorry if we…interrupted anything by calling."

Of course that's how Damon would answer the phone, so naturally Elijah had to go back at him. He was in no mood to defend his actions…or inactions.

"If only you knew Damon. It seems you two are late to the party, my witch already let me in on their visit. We are leaving shortly for Mystic Falls. I'm sure you will have Alexander by then?"

Damon grunted something inaudible on the other end and then cleared his throat.

"I guess that means we should clear a room?"

"Oh god no. I wouldn't put Elena through that. I will be taking her to a hotel outside of town." He replied quickly, sounded offended that would ever need their hospitality.

Damon grunted again, and hung up the phone.

Elena couldn't deny she was frightened. After all, she had just lost control not long before and Elijah was already taking her out in public, on a plane nonetheless. People can't run from a crazy murderous vampire on an airplane.

Elijah is never reckless she told herself, now beginning to feel the pressure. When she was growing up she never had to worry about disappointing anyone, now the thought of disappointing the Original broke her apart more than anything.

"Are you all right?"

She had been so deep in thought, Elena hadn't noticed he had returned, with more blood in hand.

"Yes, just thinking." She smiled as he handed her one of the two bags.

The Original sat down next to her, watching her intently as if trying to read her mind.

"I don't think I need to tell you think again, but in case I do…I give you my word that you will be fine."

"Elijah, it's not just that. What I did to you…I know you said it could happen but…" she trailed off.

Why did it have to happen like that?

Was what she wanted to say, but in her own strange terms, she couldn't put words to how she felt about him yet. What had happened between them had thrown her a curve ball that she wasn't prepared for. It was painfully obvious that she cared for him, after all, that was probably the reason it happened in the first place. Evert since the first night he appeared in her home to negotiate with her she knew. No one had ever done that for her before, she was never trusted to make her own decisions.

It was that night that she realized she was stuck in a bad place between the Salvatores, he had shown her that at least, even though she never got out until it was too late. She had become selfish and refused to decide between the two brothers.

Elijah had given her that option again, to get out while she still could. There was no doubt in her mind, she cared for him deeply and that feeling was growing rapidly which scared her the most.

"…But what Elena?" Elijah had tapped her on her shoulder to snap her out of her thoughts.

"But…" she couldn't find the words to say.

I think it was more than that. She had wanted to say again, but she couldn't. Instead, she found herself wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him close. At first, she had expected him to back away, after all, how could he want her close to him after what she had done? Surprisingly enough, however, she could feel him relax into her embrace and gently place his hand on the small of her back.

"Thank you Elijah." She whispered, "I know I have said it many times, but I don't think I could possibly say it enough. You have done so much, and for that I owe you everything I have." The young vampire could feel him smile as he pulled her even closer than before.

"Elena… the only thing I want in this life is for you to be safe, and to live to the best of your abilities."

She broke from him for a second, looking him in the eyes. Had this been yesterday, the contact between them could have worried her, it would have made her feel awkward. For some reason, it was as if they were comfortable with each other now, as if they had been there…and done that.

She could have kissed him then, in a way, she wanted to, but she couldn't build the courage.

Only time will tell.

They needed to leave in order to make their flight on time. Elena had found it amusing that with only an hour to spare, the Original was able to get two plane tickets seated together, a rental car to pick them up, and a hotel room.

Elijah did his best to keep the young vampire calm when they got on the plane. She swore she hated being up miles in the air, but he knew she was wary about being around people again.

"You'll be fine." He whispered as she plopped herself at the window seat.

"I really hate flying." She grumbled, sinking into her seat.

"I'm sure that's all it is" he joked, but he caught her jumping as the plane began to take off.

"Why don't you close your eyes, and breathe? It's only about an hour and a half flight." He offered, luckily for them, the seat next to Elijah was empty, he bought a third ticket just in case, but he didn't tell Elena that.

"Next time, I'll get first class, a lot more room." He smiled, looking over to Elena, who had her head rested back and her eyes closed.

"Next time?" she laughed, which instantly made Elijah want to take his words back, she had never said anything about staying with him, or if she would even fly back with him after this is over with. There were no promises of a future between them after all.

However, he relaxed the instant she continued.

"Next time…we drive."

I want to thank everyone for their reviews and to all of you anons out there thank you as well!

Next chapter you may or may not see some Elena/Elijah close up scenes ;)

After this chapter there are only two more, and then the epilogue so I hope everyone enjoys this! Please review!