~Recap from Part 7~

"That's great!" Faith says.

"There's just one thing…" Bonnie hesitates.

"What is it?" Faith asks worriedly.

"You might not make it."

~Part 8~

She walked nervously towards the house.

It had been a couple of days since Bonnie had visited her.

She had spent the time deciding what she had to do.

Should she tell Elijah?

She knew she should. If it happened to him, she would want to know. But Faith did not want to hurt him.

They were just beginning to reconcile and heal after everything and now there's a possibility of being separated?

She couldn't stand the thought of leaving him.

She knocked and Elijah opened the door.

"Oh good, you're here." Elijah smiled faintly and welcomed her in.

He led her into the library, and they sat facing each other.

"Do you need coffee? Tea?"

"No, I'm good. Listen, Elijah–"

"Faith," He cut her off abruptly. "I'm leaving for New Orleans."

Faith felt as if the wind got knocked out of her.

"There's something going on there that involves Niklaus. I have to go and see…see what it's about."

He looked at her sheepishly, but she kept her face blank.

"I know we have a lot to talk about. With what happened in the past…and now…and things…" He spoke uncertainly. "But I promise I will come back. We will talk."

Elijah waited for a response from Faith.

Finally, Faith began speaking in a quiet voice, "What if…what if we just let him be? I mean, he's Klaus, he'll figure it out eventually, he always does."

Her words surprised Elijah. She usually was the one looking out for his brother.

Faith ignored the slight surprise on his face and continued, "Stay. Stay here with me."

Elijah studied her. This was unlike her. She would always put family first.

"Faith, is there something wrong?"

"No, nothing. I just thought we could…" She left the sentence unfinished and shrugged.

Elijah leaned forward and took her hands in his.

"Faith. He's my brother, my family. You know I can't leave him."

Faith sighed and answered, "Yes, I do know. You were always faithful, never giving up on family."

"Yes, that's right and it was because of you," Elijah squeezed her hands lovingly and continued. "You always saw the best in me, even when I couldn't see it."

"Even when I thought you betrayed us…some part of me held on that."

Elijah kissed the back of her hand gently.

"I failed you…this I will never forgive myself. I do not want to fail a loved one again."

Faith pulled her hand away and touched his face.

"I understand." She replied as she stroked his face.

~TGITW~

Elijah heads to New Orleans and the events unfold as the backdoor pilot episode in Vampire Diaries.

"Family is power, Niklaus. Love, loyalty, that's power. This is what we swore to one another 1,000 years ago before life tore away what little humanity you had left. Before ego, before anger, before paranoia created in this person before me someone I can barely even recognize as my own brother. This is us, the Original family. And we remain together, always and forever."

After Elijah's conversation with Klaus, he spent some time to himself. He wandered the coast, and his thoughts went to Faith. If they were to take over the French quarter, to do everything that he had just promised Klaus, he would be putting her in danger.

They would face too many enemies in New Orleans. He wouldn't be able to protect her from everything. Elijah's heart ached as he made the decision. He would have to leave her behind for her protection.

~DIALOGUE~

Elijah comes back to the Mystic Falls and tells Faith the situation in New Orleans. He tells her he must leave her to protect her. The following dialogue is inspired by a scene in the movie Salt as well as lines from Elijah himself:

"Sounds like goodbye." Faith sunk into the chair. She couldn't believe what Elijah was telling her.

"There's no future for us. You're not safe with me." Elijah looked down on the floor as he explained, avoiding her eyes.

"Then you should stay." She insisted.

"The best thing I can do for you is disappear."

Faith sighed then said carefully, "I don't want to be safe." She continued, trying not to let her voice break. "I know you…and I wanna be with you…"

As she spoke, Faith reached out her hand to Elijah's face. She lifted his head and looked into his eyes, trying to convey all her love for him.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Elijah held the hand that held his face. He closed his eyes and whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too." Faith whispered back.

Elijah opened his eyes and looked at Faith. "I will always protect you"

He released her hand and she pulled away. His bittersweet expression told Faith everything she needed to know.

"I'll say this one last time." Faith stood up and turned her back to him. "I love you and you love me. We can be together. Don't throw it all away. Don't run from it. Don't push me away."

She held her arms trying to comfort herself. She could not face him. She knew if she did, she would just break down in tears.

"Faith…" She could hear the plea in his voice, but she had to be firm. She had to let him go.

So again, Faith gave him an ultimatum that she knew he would not accept.

"This is the last time I'll ask you. Do you love me? Will you stay? After this, I won't bother you anymore. I won't come running after you anymore. I'll just stop. You'll never see me again. And I'll…" She grinds her teeth and said the last words with great difficulty. "I'll stop loving you."

"Faith…please…" Elijah's voice quivered as he moved towards Faith. "Don't…"

With her back still turn to him, she raised her hand to stop him from coming any closer.

"No, Elijah. Don't come closer. I don't want to see you anymore." As soon as she said the words, she rushed out of the room without turning back for so much as a glance.

She left the house and ran aimlessly through the woods. When she had put enough distance between her and Elijah, she stopped and let herself break down in tears.

~TGITW~

(This scene happens a couple of weeks after Elijah and Faith separates.)

She can't believe she was back in New Orleans.

Her time was running out and she just needed to see him one more time.

Just a glance would do.

She had snuck into the Mikaelson mansion and was watching the family in the backyard from behind a tree.

Her eyes landed on the noble original. Her Elijah.

In that same moment, Elijah looked at her direction and met her eyes.

He immediately vamp speed to her.

Surprised, she pulled away from her hiding spot and nearly stumbles into his arms.

He helped steady her and they stood face to face. Her hands still holding his arms for support.

That was when Faith noticed how her hands were slowly becoming transparent.

Noticing her gaze, Elijah sees her hands and now her arms begin to disappear into nothing.

"What's happening?" He asked, fear in his voice. He tried to grab hold of her but ended up grasping thin air.

"Faith! Faith!" Elijah cried desperately. She was slowly fading into nothing.

"Elijah!" Faith screamed his name as Elijah started to fade from her sight.

Within minutes, she had drifted into nothingness.

The woman he loved had faded out of existence.

~TGITW~

2019. OUR WORLD.

Ever since the accident, their daughter had been in a coma with no signs of ever regaining consciousness.

Tonight, they had finally pulled the plug after a long and hard decision. That's when the miracle happened.

Faith's eyes fluttered then opened slowly. Her vision was blurry, and she saw what seemed to be like moving trees. As her vision cleared, she recognized the figures in front of her. "Mom? Dad?" Her voice sounding dry and raspy to her ears.

The couple looked at her with tears of joy before rushing to embrace her.

"Faith. Welcome back."