Elena was walking down the main street of town not sure where she wanted to go. She didn't really want to go home but had no destination in mind. It was nice just to be able to walk around town without the fear of some supernatural creature trying to kill her. She settled on the park and sat down on one of the benches and just watched people for a while. Her mind was going crazy and she felt a sour feeling in her gut. Voices were screaming inside her head and her entire body was going to explode. She had to get back up and walk to keep herself under control and followed one of the trails back into the woods. She walked a long time before sitting down on the ground to lean against a tree. She closed her eyes and listened to the birds chirping. It took her a few minutes but she focused on thoughts of Elijah and finally started to relax. She was about to drift off to sleep but was startled.
"Hey!" A hand was shaking her.
"What!?" Elena jumped up.
"What are you doing out here?" Caroline was giving her an odd look.
"I was just going for a walk. It's so relaxing out here." Elena said running her hands through her hair.
"Okay, seriously, what is wrong with you?" Caroline asked.
"Nothing, why?"
"You're lying." Caroline said and crossed her arms. "Look, Elijah is worried about you." A look of pure guilt emerged on Elena's face. She thought she had being careful to act as normal as she could but of course Elijah would notice.
"I just…I don't know. I feel terrible." Elena said feeling panicked again. "I feel like I'm going crazy. One minute I feel fine and the next I'm so angry and I can't control myself." Tears filled up her eyes and they streamed down her face. "I don't know what's wrong with me, I don't even know why I'm crying!" She was completely breaking down and Caroline hugged her.
"Hey, it's okay Elena. Everything is going to be fine." Caroline was trying to be assuring.
"How can it be fine when I don't even know what's wrong?" She asked through tears. "I sound like a crazy person!"
"Let's go on a trip." Caroline offered. "Girls only. Me, you, Bonnie and Rebekah. We can go away for a few days and take time to relax. You're just stressed out." Elena liked the idea.
"Yeah. That sounds like a good idea." She agreed and her tears were coming to an end. "Can we leave soon? I just need to get out of here." She asked.
"As soon as we're all ready." She smiled and made some phone calls. "Come on. Let's go." The two left together.
When Elijah and Klaus returned to the mansion they walked in on multiple bags across the floor. Caroline, Bonnie and Rebekah were standing in the living room chatting.
"What's going on?" Klaus asked.
"We're leaving for a little while." Caroline said.
"What?" Neither of the brothers looked happy about this.
"Oh relax, we'll only be gone a few days." She said as she handed one of the bags to Klaus. "Can you put this in the car?" She asked. She turned to get another bag but Klaus stopped her.
"We're going with you." Klaus insisted. Caroline set the bag she had in her hand down and faced him.
"Absolutely not." She told him.
"Did you just tell me no?" He was getting angry.
"Yes I did. This is a girls only trip and neither of you are invited." She insisted.
"You can't be serious. You girls can possibly go anywhere by yourselves. You're not going!" He argued and Caroline pushed him against the wall hard. He didn't try to fight her.
"Don't even think about telling me what I can and can't do." She was furious. "We will only be gone for a few days and I promise we'll be perfectly safe. Elena needs to take this trip." She said Klaus let out a low growl. He was still angry but he didn't argue with her and let him go. "Now, will you please go put this in the car?" She asked sweetly and kissed him lightly. This time he took her bag and obeyed muttering to himself the entire way. Caroline smiled satisfied. "Are you going to argue with me too?" She turned her attention to Elijah.
"I think that would be unwise." He said watching his brother out the door. "Do you really think this is a good idea?" He asked clearly not wanting Elena to go.
"Okay look. I tried to talk to Elena and she broke down in tears and practically had a panic attack. She didn't even know why she was upset. I honestly think she's just stressed out. I promise I'll let you know where we are and we won't be out of cell range. She just needs to take a few days to pull herself together." She explained. Elijah felt concerned.
"This doesn't feel right." He said.
"Two vampires and a witch. We'll be fine." She promised and Elijah nodded. "Getting away for a few days will be good for her." Elijah remembered Elena telling him about how she had run off with Damon. It was what she did, she ran for a few days but she always came back.
"Elijah?" Elena came down the stairs not quite running but quickly. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly. He was glad she was running with Caroline and Rebekah this time, he could at least deal with that.
"I see you're going somewhere." He noted as he held her tightly.
"I just need to get away for a little bit." She pulled herself back slightly and looked at him. He caressed her face.
"I understand. Are you sure you don't want us to go with you?" He asked. He wanted her to stay with him but if he made her stay he would be no better than Stefan and Damon. He had to let her go.
"It's not that I don't want you to come. I just need some time." She said and hugged him again. Finn appeared with Sage and eyed all the bags. Klaus returned and grabbed another bag still muttering angrily to himself.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Elena and the girls are apparently going away for a few days." Elijah didn't hide his displeasure with the situation. Finn stared at her hard and she became very uncomfortable and confused. Elijah looked back and forth between them looking concerned.
"Right. Have a good trip." He nodded and disappeared upstairs with Sage and Elena took a deep breath.
"I love you Elena." He told her and he lifted her chin so she would look at him. "You know you can tell me anything." Elena looked like she was going to cry.
"I know that, I love you too." She said smiling.
"Please be safe." He told her. "And come back to me."
"I will." She leaned up and kissed him deeply before Caroline pulled her away.
"Time to go!" She insisted and pushed Elena out the door. "See you in a few days!" She slammed the door behind her.
"What the bloody hell is wrong with us?" Klaus asked. "How did we just let that happen?" He was furious with himself.
"Those girls certainly are something." Elijah said. "We should get back to the Salvatore's. If possible, I want Alaric to be back to normal before Elena returns." Klaus nodded and they both left.