Esmeralda, Toby and Jenna all sat at the dinner table while Klaus chopped up vegetables in the kitchen. Him having a knife made Esmeralda nervous.

"You know…" Klaus spoke up. "I find chopping… calming. The feel of the blade in the hand, maybe."

"I'm still waiting for someone to tell me what the hell is going on," Jenna told them.

"Well, would you like to tell her, Esmeralda, or should I?"

"Tell me what?"

"Jenna, listen to me," Esmeralda started to speak. "I promise you that I'll explain everything, but right now, we need to get out of here. You've gotta trust me."

"Oh, come on! I'm making lunch," Klaus said. "You're just gonna bail on me now?"

"Jenna, please," Esmeralda begged. Jenna looked between Esmeralda and Alaric, completely torn. She wanted to know what was happening right beneath her nose so badly, but right now, she was shaken up. Why was Esmeralda so on edge? What had Ric done? Now that she thought about it…. Alaric did seem a little… off. Speaking of Alaric, he was looking at her in a way that made her uncomfortable, like he was trying to intimidate her, almost.

Eventually, Jenna nodded her head. "Okay, Esmeralda. We'll leave."

"You're not going anywhere." Klaus gripped the knife in his hand tightly as he walked around the counter. Toby used his enhanced werewolf speed to shove Klaus roughly against the wall. The force Toby used caused Klaus to drop the knife. Jenna stood up in surprise.

"You're in a human body, which means I'm stronger than you," Toby all but snarled through clenched teeth. His hand was around Klaus's throat. "I'd be careful if I were you." Without taking his eyes off of Klaus, he addressed Esmeralda. "Take Jenna and go. Go!"

Esmeralda grabbed Jenna's arm and dragged her out of the house. Klaus laughed in Toby's face.

"What are you gonna do, wolf? Hmm? You won't kill me. Katherine told me you have a soft spot for the witch and I know for a fact that she'll be very upset with you if you go through with it. If you do, who's to say I won't choose you next?"

Toby's grip tightened on Klaus, who laughed again.

"Is that all you've got? Pathetic. No wonder the witch chose two vampire brothers over you."

This seemed to set Toby off. He decked Klaus in the jaw twice before Klaus fell to the ground, unconscious. To be on the safe side, Toby threw a kick to the stomach to make sure he was down, then took his leave.

xxxx

Elijah, Elena and Elowen were walking outside through the Lockwood property now.

"So, as you've seen, nothing can kill an Original," Elijah was telling them. "Not sun, not fire, not even a werewolf bite. Only the wood from one tree. A tree my family made sure burned."

"That's where the white ash for the dagger comes from," Elena guessed.

"Yes. The witches won't allow anything truly immortal to walk the earth. Every creature needs to have a weakness in order to maintain balance."

"So, the sun can't kill an Original. Why is Klaus so obsessed with breaking the sun and moon curse?"

Elowen shook her head. "No. It's not about the sun and the moon."

Elijah looked down at her in surprise. Elowen ignored him.

"Marisol said it wasn't."

Elijah's look of surprise morphed into one of mild confusion and intrigue.

"Marisol said it wasn't?" He echoed. "What do you mean by that?"

"Right. You don't know. Marisol has taken over my body twice now. The first time was when you were daggered at the lake house. The second time it was in front of Klaus and Katherine. It's like I go to sleep when it happens and she just… manifests herself. Stefan said that she said the curse didn't bind the sun and the moon, but I woke up before she could say anything else."

"Interesting," Elijah mumbled. "It would certainly support the reincarnation theory. And you mentioned you've been seeing her memories?"

Elowen nodded. Elijah hummed.

"Interesting," he muttered again.

"Okay, so it's not the curse of the sun and the moon," Elena cut in, putting the topic back on the right track. "What is it?"

"The curse of the sun and the moon is fake. It doesn't exist," Elijah started to explain as he walked away. Elowen kept up with him, but Elena was left scrambling after him. "Easiest way to discover the existence of a doppelganger or to get your hands on some long, lost moonstone is to have every single member of two warring species on the lookout. Klaus and I faked the sun and the moon curse dating back a thousand years. The real curse is much worse. It's a curse placed on Klaus. He's been trying to break it for the last thousand years."

Elena's phone started to buzz inside Elijah's jacket pocket. Elowen heard it vibrating against his chest and Elijah glanced down at it, too.

"What is this curse?" Elena asked as Elijah came to a stop. Ignoring her, he pulled her phone out of his pocket.

"Your phone will not stop its incessant buzzing. Answer it, please."

Elena took it and answered it. "Toby? What's wrong? No. No, no, no. Okay. I'll be right there." She hung up the line and glanced at Elijah. "Klaus went after Jenna. I have to go to her."

"I'm afraid that wasn't part of today's arrangement."

"She's my family, Elijah. I have to. I'll be back. You have my word."

"That doesn't mean anything to me until you live up to it."

"Thank you."

Elena ran off to her car, leaving Elijah and Elowen alone. He looked down at her.

"Shall we head back inside? It seems we have some time to kill."

Elowen nodded and the two of them started walking back towards the Lockwood mansion.

Elowen had settled back in the living room while Elijah started a fire.

"So," he spoke up. "Want to tell me more about what you've been experiencing with Marisol?"

Elowen shrugged. "There's not much else to tell. She's possessed me twice, I've been seeing her memories and Damon thinks it's reincarnation." She sighed. "It would explain why it felt like I knew you when I first met you that day, when Rose brought us to you. You just felt so… familiar, and it killed me to not know why. I can't explain it, but I want to be your friend, protect you. You make me feel safe. I don't think I can trust you, I know I can trust you. It's partially the reason I was so ready to leave with you before they killed you. I mean, yeah, I wanted answers, but I guess the Marisol in me wanted you more. It's the same with Klaus. Marisol must've cared a lot about him, too."

Elijah laughed softly. "Oh, she didn't just care about him. She was taken with him. I think she idolized him to some extent."

"Was she in love with him?"

"She might've been. It's not unlikely that maybe she harbored feelings for him and she just didn't know it."

Elijah finished starting the fire and came to sit across from Elowen. She tilted her head.

"But, what about Kol? He was obviously in love with her. How did she feel about him?"

"Ah, yes, Kol. He most certainly loved her. I never could quite figure out how she felt about him."

"He tried to save her, the morning of the sacrifice. He said she needed to run, but she refused. She said that she was meant to die."

"That she was. It was what she was created for, after all."

"And you were just okay with raising a little girl so she could die? You obviously cared for her, or else you wouldn't be projecting it onto me. She was like a daughter to you."

Elijah sighed. "This was during a time where I would've done anything for Klaus, and raising a little girl up so she could die was one of those things. It's one of my deepest regrets. She deserved to live."

Elowen gave a sad smile. "Well, look at it this way. If it really is reincarnation and I really am her reborn, then she's getting to live the life she deserved."

Elijah wore a smile identical to hers. "Yes, I suppose so."

A lapse of silence passed through them. It wasn't awkward or tense, in fact, it was comfortable. Elowen found herself standing up and walking over to Elijah. She took a seat next to him and crossed her legs on the couch. She hesitated for a moment before grabbing one of Elijah's hands and absentmindedly started playing with his fingers. He didn't seem to mind.

"... Did you love my mom?" She asked, finally breaking the silence. Elijah looked over at her to let her know she had his full attention. "Because she loved you. She might hate me for telling you this, but she still loves you even now. I think to her, you're the one that got away, the one that slipped through her fingers. She would've followed you anywhere had you not told her to stay. She said you kissed her, which had to have meant something, right?"

Elijah smiled fondly as he remembered his time with Esmeralda. It took his moment to answer and Elowen almost repeated herself because she thought he wasn't going to say anything.

"I guess, to some degree, I did love your mother. Not in the same way that she loved me, but I did care strongly about her."

"But you weren't in love with her."

Elijah shook his head. "No. I don't believe in love anymore, at least not in that way."

"And you're sure?"

"I'm quite certain."

Another blanket of silence fell over them. Elowen had leaned into Elijah and rested her head against his shoulder as she continued to play with his hand. Her eyes fell closed and she felt herself beginning to fall asleep. In a sense, she did, because when she opened her eyes, she wasn't Elowen anymore.

Marisol sat up abruptly and Elijah looked down at her to make sure everything was okay. When her eyes found his, they immediately filled with tears as she flung herself into his arms.

"Oh, Elijah! You're alive!" Her heavily accented voice rang out loudly. "I thought you were dead! Those men killed you."

Elijah was still trying to process what was happening when she suddenly pulled back.

"Nik. Nik, he said that I'm dead. It can't be true. Why would he say that?"

Elijah furrowed his eyebrows as it slowly started to piece together in his head. "... Marisol?"

"Of course it's me! I'm right in front of you! Who else would I be?"

A smile slowly broke out on his face and he pulled her in for a long hug. "Oh, Marisol." He pulled away and the smile gradually fell away as he remembered this wasn't Marisol. Not exactly. "Marisol, what Niklaus told you is true. You've been dead for some time now."

Marisol pushed him away and jumped onto her feet. "But, that's not possible! I'm standing right in front of you!"

Elijah calmly stood up and walked over to her. He took her hands in his. "In a way, yes, you are. You're living in the body of a girl named Elowen."

Marisol shook her head and turned to look at the big mirror hanging on the wall. "I don't understand. I look like myself!"

"We believe that you've been reborn into this girl's body, which explains why she looks like you. Marisol, I was there the night you died. You are, without a doubt, dead."

Marisol shook her head, still in disbelief. "If I'm dead, does that mean the ritual worked? Did Nik break the curse?"

Elijah slowly shook his head. "No."

"So you mean… you mean I failed?"

"No. No, you didn't fail. It wasn't your fault."

"But… But…" Marisol trailed off. Her eyes went cloudy for a second and then suddenly, she ripped her hands away.

"... Elijah? What happened?" Elowen asked. "One second I'm asleep and now I'm standing in the middle of the room."

Elijah straightened his jacket and cleared his throat. He was doing his best to appear calm and collected. "I do believe you just had one of your Marisol episodes."

Elowen groaned and rubbed her hands over her face. "Oh, not again. I wish there was a way to stop that from happening. I'm getting tired of it."

"Well, I'm sure you'll figure something out." He gestured back towards the couch. "For now, let's just wait for Elena to come back."

Elowen sighed loudly. "I guess that's all we really can do."

She plopped back down on the couch and Elijah sat next to her. She resumed her earlier position, with her head situated on his shoulder, and closed her eyes again.

xxxx

"Is she gonna be okay?" Esmeralda asked as Elena exited the room her and Jenna had been in. Toby was there, too, and so was Stefan. They were all looking at her expectantly.

"She's in shock," Elena replied. "I tried to tell her as much as I could, but I barely scratched the surface."

"... How's Elowen?" Toby asked softly. He wasn't sure if it was such a good time to ask, but he had to know. He respected her request to not go look for her, but not knowing how she was doing was killing him.

"She's doing better. She looked… bad. She was throwing up blood and she looked so, well, dead. Using all that magic really took a toll on her. I think if she used any more, she wouldn't have made it. But, Elijah took care of her. It was weird… I think he cares about her."

"No, he thinks he does," Stefan finally spoke up. "She looks like Marisol. He's letting that cloud his judgement."

"Well, whatever his reason, can you tell him thank you?" Esmeralda asked. "Say it's from me."

Elena nodded her head. "I will."

"Wait, you mean you're going back?" Toby questioned.

"I promised him that I would return. I can't break that promise. I'll be okay."

Elena left and headed for the front door just as Damon entered the room.

"Where do you think you're going?" He asked.

"Back to Elijah."

"Are you crazy? No." Damon stepped in front of Elena's way and blocked the path towards the front door.

"Get out of my way, Damon. Elijah is giving me answers and if it weren't for Elowen, I don't think he'd be so open. The opportunity is there and I'm taking it. You can't stop me."

"Oh, yes I can."

"Let her go." Stefan stepped forward and tightly grabbed his arm. "I said let her go."

Damon glared at his brother, but let Elena go nonetheless. Elena moved passed them and left. There was a tense silence in the room before Esmeralda broke it.

"I'm gonna make sure Jenna gets home safely. I'll stay and keep an eye on her to make sure Klaus doesn't come back." She took a step back towards the room Jenna was in. "Toby?"

"I'm gonna stay here. Elowen might stop here first when she comes back."

"And why would she do that?" Damon snapped. "She's not welcome here."

"Because whether or not you want to believe it, you still have a common goal of wanting Klaus dead. It's not her fault she has a connection to Marisol. It's not fair of you to hold her accountable for something out of her hands."

Damon scoffed. "Whatever."

He turned and left the room, leaving Esmeralda, Toby and Stefan on their own.

xxxx

The sound of the front door to the Lockwood mansion opening and closing echoed throughout the house. Elowen and Elijah looked at each other and then over at the doorway to the room, where Elena appeared a second later.

"Welcome back," Elijah greeted.

"Tell me. What is Klaus's curse?" Elena asked immediately.

"Please." Elijah gestured to the empty couch that was across from him and Elowen, who was still curled up against Elijah's side. Elena took note of this but didn't say anything. Instead, she walked over and took a seat. Only then did Elijah continue.

"My family was quite close, but Klaus and my father did not get on too well. When we became vampires, we discovered the truth. Klaus was not my father's son. My mother had been unfaithful many years before. This was her darkest secret. Klaus is from a different bloodline. Of course, when my father discovered this, he hunted down and he killed my mother's lover and his entire family, not realizing, of course, that he was igniting a war between species that rages until this day."

"Vampires and werewolves," Elowen elaborated at Elena's confused face. Elijah had made sure to tell her nothing of the story until Elena returned, but it wasn't that hard to figure out what he was talking about. Elijah nodded.

"So, Klaus's real father was from a werewolf bloodline?" Elena asked in both disbelief and confusion. "What does that make Klaus? A werewolf, or a vampire?"

"He's both," Elijah replied. "A hybrid would be deadlier than any werewolf or vampire. Nature would not stand for such an imbalance of power. Therefore, the witches, servants of nature, saw to it that my brother's werewolf side would become dormant."

"That's the curse Klaus wants to break?"

"He wants to trigger the part of him that's a werewolf. If allowed, Klaus would sire his own bloodline. He'd build his own race, endangering not just vampires, but everyone."

"But, you helped him."

"I helped him because I loved him. That's changed. Now he must die."

"We have the dagger now. We can stop him."

Elowen shook her head. "It doesn't work that way. Silver doesn't hurt werewolves and the dagger is made of silver."

Elijah nodded. "She's right. An Original can't be killed by anything but white oak ash on a silver dagger. It does not work."

"What, are you saying that Klaus can't be killed?" Elena questioned with wide eyes.

"There's only one way to kill any supernatural species. At the hands of the servants of nature themselves."

"Witches," Elena realized.

"Elijah said once before that Klaus would be his weakest after the ritual," Elowen started to explain. "It's why I was going to lure him out with you and the moonstone. I was working on finding a spell that would save you, but we haven't come across anything useful. Bringing someone back from the dead just isn't part of the nature Elijah speaks of."

"Funny you should bring that up," Elijah said. "Back when Katerina was still human, before the ritual was set to happen, I found a coven of witches who believed they found a way to spare the doppelganger. A potion which you would drink and when you died, it would bring you back unharmed."

"You mean you found a way to save the life of the doppelganger?" Elena asked in surprise.

"Yes, Elena, I did. But, unfortunately, Katerina took matters in her own hands first. I believe you already know how that played out." Elijah glanced down at Elowen. "And since you already have a witch on your side who can channel the power she needs, you already have all the pieces of the puzzle."

"... You cared about her, didn't you?" Elena questioned. "Katherine, I mean."

Elijah stood up from his spot on the couch and walked over to the doorway of the room. Elowen sent Elena a look that screamed, 'Why would you ask that?!' and she quickly averted her eyes.

"It's a common mistake, I'm told," Elijah responded at last. "And it's one I won't make again."

He left the room and Elowen hastily got up to follow him. Elena was right behind her. He was opening up the front door when she caught up.

"I do believe we have two vampire brothers, a werewolf and a family of witches to consult."

"About that," Elena's voice was rushed, as if she were afraid he'd leave before she could speak. "Esmeralda said thank you for taking care of Elowen."

A fond smile briefly crossed Elijah's face before it disappeared. Elowen narrowed his eyes. Something in her didn't believe him not being in love with her mom.

"We should take our leave," he said at last before exiting the house.

xxxx

"You really don't need to be here," Damon told Toby, who was seated stubbornly on the couch in the library.

"Considering you're convinced Elowen betrayed you and Stefan partially believes that, I think I do. She needs to know somebody is on her side."

Damon rolled his eyes. "Oh, give me a break. Just finally admit that you're in love with her and leave."

"There you go again with the jealousy act." Toby stood up. "For the last time, I'm not in love with her."

Damon scoffed. "Sure, wolf boy. Whatever you say."

"God, what is your problem? You act like you're upset with her, yet you act like the green eyed monster. Make up your mind."

"Oh, I don't care if you're in love with her. You can have her. She's just a double crossing bitch who could rival Katherine's greatest hits."

Toby's eyes darkened and he started towards Damon. "You're gonna want to take that back."

"Funny, you're the second person to say that to me today. What are you gonna do? Without a full moon, you can't hurt me."

"That doesn't mean I can't try."

Before Toby could make it all the way towards Damon, Damon sped forward and punched him hard enough to send him flying across the room. He crashed into the bookshelf and it broke when he made contact with it. Toby got up and picked up a piece of the now broken shelf as a makeshift stake and threw it at Damon. A fun fact about Toby is that he knew how to throw knives; it was something he picked up when he was 15 and it ended up being a bonding point for him and Mason. It's exactly why the stake easily embedded itself in Damon's stomach.

Damon clenched his teeth through the pain and ripped the stake out. He growled and, with the stake in hand, started advancing on Toby. Stefan, having heard the commotion, ran into the room and immediately went towards Damon to hold him back.

"Hey! Knock it off!"

"Get out of my way, Stefan," Damon growled. "It's time I finally put the mutt in his spot."

"No."

"No?" Damon laughed humorlessly. He stabbed Stefan in the side, who groaned, but kept his grip on Damon as he pulled it out. "Move, Stefan."

"Make me."

Damon shrugged. "Alright, then."

He swiftly grabbed onto Stefan's throat, who in turn grabbed Damon's neck, and they struggled around for a minute or two. They didn't hear the front door open and close and didn't notice Elijah, Elena and Elowen enter the room.

"Stop!" Elowen shouted when she saw the scene in front of her. Stefan and Damon released each other and Damon rushed at Elowen and pinned her against the wall behind her by her shoulders.

"You have a lot of nerve coming here."

With in the blink of an eye, Elijah had Damon lifted into the air by his throat. "I suggest you keep your hands to yourself. Are we clear?"

Damon nodded his head and Elijah promptly dropped him. He hit the ground with a dull thud. During this time, Elowen had fast walked down the stairs towards Toby. He'd just wiped his bleeding nose with the back of his hand when she reached him.

"Are you okay?" She asked worriedly, looking him over. Her hands were cradling his face as she looked into his eyes. Toby also took her face in his hands and did the same with her.

"Don't worry about me. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Don't worry, I'm…" She trailed off and then started shaking her head. "No. I'm not okay."

Toby pulled her into a hug and Stefan had to stop himself from feeling envious as he watched on. It was supposed to be him in Toby's place. This was his job. Except now, almost all trust had gone out the window and while once upon a time, Stefan would always side with Elowen, recently it was hard to say that. She was so willing to team up with the enemy to get what she wanted, but that didn't mean he didn't still love her. He just needed some time alone with her to talk. Elowen and Toby pulled apart when Elena started to talk.

"Elijah and I have renewed the terms of our deal."

Elijah stepped forward. "The three of you will come to no harm at my hands. I only ask for one thing in return. An apology."

"A what?" Damon asked as if he hadn't heard him right. Toby took hold of Elowen's hand and walked over to Elijah.

"I'm sorry for daggering you that night at the lake house. I was doing what I thought was best for Elowen. I realize now that that was a mistake."

Elijah nodded his head in acknowledgment. Toby started pulling Elowen up the stairs and towards the door.

"We should get you home," he told her lowly.

"If you two don't mind," Elijah spoke up before they left the room, "I'd feel much more at ease if I escorted you, with Klaus on the loose."

Elowen nodded at Toby to let him know it was okay. His hand tightened around hers, but he complied. It was Stefan's turn to step up to Elijah.

"I'm also sorry for the part I played in your death. I was protecting Elowen." His eyes flickered over to her. "I will always protect Elowen."

"I understand."

Everyone's eyes turned onto Damon. He'd gotten up from the ground awhile ago and had walked over to pour himself a drink. He took a sip and didn't say anything. They were all looking at him expectantly and he rolled his eyes.

"If you think I'm giving an apology, you're wrong. You can all go to hell." His eyes found Elowen's. "Especially you." He took his drink and left the room. Elowen cast her eyes at the ground and Toby squeezed her hand in reassurance.

"He's angry with me," she spoke up softly. "I don't know if he'll come around."

Elijah looked over and saw how crushed she looked and felt a twinge of sympathy for her. He quickly looked away and cleared his throat. "Well, if that's all, then I suppose we should take our leave."

He walked over to Elowen and held his arm out. She took it with her free hand and her, Elijah and Toby left.

xxxx

Elijah, Toby and Elowen climbed the steps to her house. The front door flung open to reveal a worried Esmeralda, but she stopped short when she saw Elijah.

"Elijah. What are you doing here?"

Elowen and Toby glanced at each other with knowing looks.

"We'll leave you to it, mom," Elowen said as her and Toby started to walk around her. "We can talk later."

They disappeared into the house and the front door closed with a soft click behind her. Elijah took a step towards Esmeralda and closed the gap between them. Esmeralda felt her heartbeat pick up and her breath hitched in her throat. Elijah gave a small smile of fondness and raised a hand to cup her face. Esmeralda closed her eyes and leaned into his touch.

"Your lovely little daughter tells me you still have feelings for me," Elijah said softly. "Is that true?"

Esmeralda's eyes flew open. "She what? Why would she- I mean-" She sighed deeply and nodded her head. "I guess I do."

Elijah hummed in response. "You know, if we're being truthful, part of me regrets telling you to stay with your husband all those years ago. It's selfish of me. Some might call me a homewrecker for it."

"Things would've been so different if you hadn't. Maybe my life would've been happier."

Elijah tilted his head in curiosity. "Happier? Forgive me if I'm intruding, but was your marriage not a happy one? I guess not, since you divorced."

Esmeralda smiled sadly. "No, it wasn't. I wasted almost 20 years of my life with him. I met him when I was 15, in '91. We divorced in 2007. I just wish I'd left him sooner."

"And why didn't you?"

"It was… complicated. He ended up not being a nice person. That's all I'm going to say."

Elijah suddenly remembered Elowen telling him that her father had attacked her and felt one question burning at the tip of his tongue.

"Dear Esmeralda… did he hurt you?"

Esmeralda stayed quiet and Elijah knew the answer.

"I see. Well, stay rest assured that if I ever find him, he won't last long."

A comfortable silence fell over them and Esmeralda couldn't help herself any longer. She tugged on his tie, brought him down towards her and crashed her lips against his. Elijah immediately reciprocated and placed one hand on her hip and the other on the small of her back. Esmeralda kissed him hard and fierce, like her life depended on it, like she would never get the chance to do this again, and it was likely she wouldn't.

They kissed for a few moments before the front door opened.

"Hey, mom-" Josiah cut himself off at the sight in front of him. A dumbfounded look crossed his face and his mouth dropped open. Esmeralda pushed Elijah off of her and wiped her mouth. Elijah straightened up and fixed his suit jacket.

"I guess this is my cue to leave."

Esmeralda loudly cleared her throat as Elijah walked down the porch steps and disappeared. She walked passed Josiah like nothing had happened and it took him a few seconds to catch up with what was going on. He blinked and shut the front door.

What the hell just happened?

Upstairs, Toby and Elowen had just entered Elowen's room. His hand was still interlaced with hers. She walked over to her bed and took a seat, bringing Toby down with her.

"How are you holding up?" He asked her quietly. Elowen shrugged.

"Damon hates me, nobody will tell me what happened to Bonnie, Stefan doubts my every move and I almost died. How do you think?"

"I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do."

"You just being here is enough. Knowing that you still believe me is enough. You're enough."

Elowen suddenly remembered Damon's words from the night before.

"Oh, wake up and smell the flowers, mutt. You're only siding with her right now because you're in love with her and so far up her ass that you can't see what's right in front of you."

Followed by what he told her the night Rose died….

"Just because you never loved him doesn't mean he never loved you."

Combined with what Toby told her at the lake house….

"... I miss us," he said quietly after a pause. His hand slowly creeped over to hers and interlaced their fingers together. "If I could do it again, I wouldn't have let you go. I would've held onto you like my life depended on it."

Elowen just knew she had to ask.

"Are you in love with me?"

Toby blinked and released her hand in surprise. "What?" He asked dumbly.

"Are you in love with me?" She repeated. "I won't be mad at you if you are. It's just, you're my best friend, Toby, and I don't want anything to come between us. Especially not something like this. I just want you to be honest with me, with yourself."

Toby was quiet for a long moment. His eyes were trained on his shoes and he was chewing on his bottom lip. Finally, he opened his mouth to speak.

"I first fell in love with you when we were 12. Y'know, puberty was happening, our bodies were changing, hormones were all over the place, and I guess I just couldn't help myself. I think I finally came to terms with it when we started dating. I was over the moon when it happened. I mean, yeah, we only went out because everyone already thought we were together and we felt like we had to, because apparently guys and girls can't just be friends, but I was secretly hoping that maybe it would make you realize you loved me, too. I never told anymore, not even my mom, because I was afraid that if I admitted it out loud, it would all become too real and I'd have to face the facts, so I kept it to myself."

Toby shrugged one shoulder and kept his eyes away from hers. Elowen gently grabbed onto his face and made him look at her.

"Do you still love me even now?"

"I don't know," Toby answered honestly. "I thought I was over you, but now you're here in my life again and I'm just so confused. Am I still in love with you or am I just happy to have you back?"

Toby slowly brought his hand up and cupped Elowen's cheek. They sat in silence for a moment before he started to carefully lean forward. He paused briefly halfway through when Elowen didn't move and was surprised when she closed the gap. Their lips met in a soft kiss and Toby knew. He was still in love with her.

However, they were both unaware of Stefan sitting just outside the window, watching the whole thing go down.