This was nothing new. Leah St. Ann had been dying all her life.

She was born with a rope around her neck; the cord had wrapped itself around her in the womb as if some fate had tried to spare her the curse of ever being born. She was cut from her mother by a knife and by a knife, twenty-two years later, she was sent back into the dark.

But Leah St. Ann also knew how to live, and how to make the most of life, however long or little she had been given. Regret was nothing she had time for and if she gave herself over to pity she would have no time for anything else.

Even now as her hands grew cold she did not waste time regretting the risk she had taken to free them all from Mikael. She pulled at her hair in the mirror, imaging how they would always remember her. The dress Hope had brought her was white and it hung from her loosely like a sheet in the wind.

At least I'll make a beautiful ghost.

She could still hear the sounds of happiness from down the hall; all the way in the kitchen Hope was gushing her relief to her mother. At least her hybrid senses hadn't quite left her yet. She wondered if they would, if one by one everything that made her supernatural would fade away until even her immortality abandoned her.

Or would she simply and swiftly, like a light, go out.

Mustering a sad little smile, Leah said goodbye to herself in the mirror.

Hope ran up to her as she reappeared in the living room.

"Leah! Ah, you look so much better! Here, I got you that drink."

She didn't realize how much she needed it. Her courage was deserting her faster than the warmth from her body. Her fingers were already stiff as she accepted the glass from her friend.

Then promptly set it down before Hope could see it shake in her hand.

"Where's everyone?"

"Scattered. Mom went to see about cleaning up some of this mess and I think Sankar went to help Klaus with Philippe. He'll be glad to know you're okay though! He was really worried how you were; he wouldn't even leave until I swore you said you were fine."

"And Elijah?" she added briskly. "What's taking him so long?"

"He's on his way now. Stop worrying, Leah; I'm sure he'll be plenty glad to know you're okay too."

But she really wasn't - and Hope was so freaking oblivious that Leah realized she would never have the courage to destroy that blissful ignorance. She had even considered not saying goodbye, hiding out somewhere and letting them find her. If that made her a coward it was not her worst fault; she was already a hypocrite for what she'd left for Hope.

She just didn't want to be here to see her best friend cry.

"Maybe I'll just go wait for Elijah in his place."

"You're leaving?" Hope jumped. "Why? Just wait from him here."

"Because 'here' looks like a crime scene. It's depressing. If I can't be back home at least I can not be in this tomb of a room."

"Don't be ridiculous, Leah. We'll get it cleaned up. Better yet, Mikael's dead - we'll be all home tomorrow. But you'll come back to New Orleans with me, right? Just for a bit?"

Leah's eyes began to mist. Oh how she wanted to throw her arms around Hope and promise her the moon! But a cold weight now pressed on her chest and she wrapped her arms around herself so her friend wouldn't notice how she shivered.

"I guess I wouldn't mind that too much," was all she said.

"Well, it means the world to me. If Aidan's not waiting I don't know what I'll do."

Aidan. Of course. How did she forget? If her brother wasn't alive then she was leaving her best friend with no one.

The guilt was making her faint. Leah held herself tighter as she swayed on her feet.

"Actually, can I borrow a sweater?"

"Of course," Hope smiled. "Just stay right there. I'll grab you one."

"You're the best. You know I love you, right?"

"You can tell me again in a sec."

Though as soon as Hope vanished, Leah stumbled toward the couch; her legs didn't seem to want to work anymore. Catching her breath, she leaned against the armrest, revolted by the fact that it was covered in her blood. She really did hate this room; these cold, grey walls felt too much like a coffin.

She imagined them coming to visit her here, not here the hotel but somewhere pretty with a view - Hope and Elijah and maybe even Aidan, leaving lives around the world to share a bit of them with her. And her stone would be beautiful, elegant but simple, and they'd all come back to remember and to read what it would say:

Here lies Leah St. Ann, a few months shy of forever. Now stop crying, I love you, and move on with your life.

She knew they would need the reminder.

There was a commotion near the foyer as someone fumbled with the door. Leah had just enough time to brush the tears from her eyes before Elijah burst into the room.

For a second he didn't believe his eyes. There she stood, dressed in white, flawless and inviolate and alive, and she was not only safe, she was shining. And her face lit up when she saw him, and the distance between them was unbearable, and they met in the middle like the fusion of a star.

But when he kissed her the fire she felt burned cold, like the sputtering flame of a funeral torch, and the warmth in her heart quickly faded back to ice.

Her legs were now shaking. She had to grab onto Elijah to even hold herself up.

"I was so scared for you," she said breathless.

"I came back as fast as I could. Leah, I -,"

"You're here now. That's enough."

"Leah, what happened? You're trembling."

"Not now, Elijah. It doesn't matter. Just listen when I say that I love -"

She collapsed, simply dropped; he barely caught her.

Terror made his voice crack.

"What are you not telling me?"

She raised her eyes to him apologetically just as Hope came around the corner.

"Leah, did you put this bible on my bed? I don't remember - "

The book dropped from her open hands in horror. Her best friend was as pale as snow, her blue eyes frosted over as Elijah scooped her up and cradled her.

"This can't be happening," Hope rushed forward. "She was fine just a moment ago!"

"What did you let the witch do to her?" he demanded.

"Nothing! I mean, she wanted - she chose - "

"Then why didn't you stop her?"

"Elijah, please," Leah whispered. "Not her fault."

She was a dead weight in his arms. Her head lolled against his chest from the exertion of even talking

"Don't be mad at Sankar. It's not his fault either. I asked him to do it."

"Do what?" he cried. "Leah, what have you done?"

"Just trust me, Elijah, and take me somewhere, please. I don't want to die in this room."

/

Red

/

As the sunlight fell upon her hair, Elijah was mesmerized. Red was such a crude word to describe all the brilliance reflected in every perfect strand. He couldn't help but stare as he studied her across the pillow.

"We should get up soon," Leah whispered shyly.

"I was considering it," he smiled back.

It was their first morning waking up together and everything seemed to sparkle. If there was a world outside this bedroom neither one cared a lick; Elijah was content to simply gaze at Leah forever. Hours later she was still shining from the glow he had given her and he traced her cheek lightly with the gentle memories of their first night.

"You're radiant."

"I'm sure you say that to all your girls."

"If I did, I was certainly blind."

She hid her face in her pillow; her cheeks hurt from how much he made her smile. By the time she managed to pull herself together he had already set his feet on the floor.

When she saw his back turned to her, just for that second, Leah began to doubt.

"Do you regret it?" she asked cautiously. "Last night?"

"Do you?"

There was no need for her to reply; her ridiculous grin gave everything away.

"Then stay," Elijah chuckled. "I'll bring you breakfast."

"You're kidding," she gasped, sitting up suddenly. "Are you serious?"

"I most certainly am. What did you possibly expect?"

"I don't know. That you'd kick me out eventually with a bagel if I were lucky."

"Leah, why on earth would I do that?"

She shrugged a little sadly, but he thought he understood. Elijah leaned in to kiss her forehead before rising to throw on a robe.

"How would you like your eggs?" he asked cheerfully.

"What?"

"Any way you want them."

"They come in ways? I just thought you stirred them around until they were done."

He sat back down on the edge of the bed and cupping her face kissed her slowly.

"Let me come down with you," she laughed across his lips. "I can help…stir."

"Nonsense," he twinkled. "I'm not letting you out of that bed."

Leah bit her lip, turning her chin into her shoulder as she blushed bright red.

/

White

/

Leah was nearly blinded. Rebekah's wedding dress was the bright white one could only achieve in a lab. In her own bridesmaid's dress, she was fidgeting uncomfortably; the puff sleeves were only slightly more intolerable than the shade of green she'd been forced to endure.

From his spot on the groom's side, Elijah laughed.

"You're so dead," she mouthed across the aisle, trying not to laugh too hard and ruin the wedding photos. The photographer was taking his sweet time; another minute in these shoes and she was sure her feet would fall off.

"Fatto!" he finally announced in Italian. "All done!"

"The damage is certainly done." Leah grumbled, yanking off her heels to rub her feet. She tossed the shoes aside as Elijah approached with chuff amusement.

"You survived."

"Barely."

Leah tossed herself at him without warning but he was always ready to catch her. He caught her hand gracefully and spun her around with an elegant twirl.

"Amazing," he teased her, "the way your hair just clashes with that dress - truly a crime against anything with eyes."

"Okay, Mr. Wisecrack. You asked for it."

Grabbing at the hem with both hands, she lifted the dress over her head before Elijah felt any need to stop her. He too preferred her like this, barefoot and unadorned in just the white silk of her slip.

"Leah!" Rebekah shouted over the pews. "If you ruin that dress before tomorrow..."

"I won't!" she promised, grabbing Elijah's hand. With the other she tossed her bridesmaid's dress to Hope, ignoring the disappointment on her friend's face.

"You're leaving?"

"Breaking free."

She tugged Elijah along as they raced down the aisle and out the front doors of the lovely little church. They found themselves in a tiny piazza, a romantic little square all to themselves. Hand-in-hand Leah stood with him before the marble fountain and just watched the water sparkle as it trickled from the angel's pitcher.

Elijah, of course, was looking only at her; no Renaissance sculptor could have ever come close to capturing her beauty. There was a fire in Leah that the angels themselves would praise, one he would fight heaven itself to hold and keep as his own. Just standing here with her made his heart ready to burst; if joy was truly more than a word, then this was what it felt like.

And if he wasn't already at a wedding God knows what foolishness he'd be tempted to do in that moment to prove how much he loved her.

"Scusi, Signore," the peddler approached him, "per la vostra bella sposa."

"What did he say?" Leah wondered as Elijah accepted the rose.

"For you," he presented it, kissing her cheek. "He agrees you look beautiful in white."

/

And Blue

/

Cradled in his arms, Leah turned her blue eyes toward the sky. Elijah had taken her to the roof like she wanted, so high up it was quiet and the night was not so dark. Dawn, however, was still hours away, but of the two of them only one would see it.

She could hear him calling her name, but he sounded so far away.

"Elijah? Where are you?"

"I'm here. Leah, I'm here. Hold on for me."

She shivered as he touched her face, trying to bring her back just long enough to say goodbye. Even her breath felt chilled across his face as he placed his lips on her forehead.

"I can't lose you again like this," he quavered.

"Guess it's no easier the second time around."

He sobbed to see her smile, to see the spirit that refused to go so gently into the night.

"Oh, Leah - all the days that I have wasted..."

"Don't do that," she begged him. "Don't start with the regrets."

"But the promises I have made -"

"You made me happy, that's enough. And we were good - you and I. We were the best."

"The way I treated you, Leah. The things I said - I was afraid -"

"I know," she said softly. "Elijah, I know. You don't have to apologize. There's nothing that needs to be forgiven. If anything, I'm sorry I was so stubborn, that I didn't always want the things you wanted for me in life, but none of that meant I didn't love you."

"Leah..."

"Because I do. I really, really do."

"Leah, please."

His tears begin to wet her hair and it broke her heart to see him cry. It took all of Leah's strength to raise her hand to his face.

"Tell Hope I'm sorry. Make her understand."

"Stay for her. Stay for me."

"I can't Elijah. You have to let me go..."

"But if you leave, what will I be? I am yours. I cannot do this alone."

"You are Elijah Mikaelson," she smiled. "You will never be alone."

Her hand went limp, falling to her chest, but he caught it, and kissed it, and held it to his lips.

Then the silence stole upon her and she closed her eyes at last.

He called her name but she did not answer; he listened to her heart but it did not beat.

She was gone.

He was alone.

And it felt to Elijah in the darkness of that moment, that the stars had all gone out, and that the future was hopelessly endless without her, and that the sky itself would crash to the ground and drown him in its mournful sea of blue.