The next day was not what she expected. She woke up to a tray of breakfast foods perched by the foot of her large bed and a note on Elijah's pillow.
Wanted to let you sleep a little while longer. Always, E.
The gesture made Elena feel warm and loved inside. Elijah was a thoughtful man. Grazing on her breakfast in bed, she took her time getting ready, mentally noting to herself a list of things she would miss about the large mansion. The bed would be one of them.
After going through her routine, Elena grabbed her purse and other bag, leaving the bedroom and walking downstairs. She could hear echoes of voices bickering and curiously walked out the front door that was left open.
Kol stood arguing with Klaus in the driveway, yelling loudly. The hybrid in return, seemed to be getting red in the face with anger, as Elijah stood off to the side by the car, clearly stressed.
Elena wandered inquisitively outside to the group, wondering what could be going on. The trunk of their large SUV was open and a sports car now sat in front of that, the trunk open as well.
"It's not all going to fit!" Kol argued.
"We will make it fit!" Klaus yelled.
"It will be fine, Kol," Elijah said stepping in between the two of them.
"Oh, what? And so now we have to divvy up Bekah's belongings? You know how she gets when her things are not all together. And she is not driving with me!" Kol yelled.
"I am not leaving those cases in your hands," Klaus said venomously to Kol, getting close and in his face. "So if Rebekah has to go with you, then so be it."
Elijah pinched the bridge of his nose. "Klaus…" he warned.
Clearing her throat, Elena announced her presence. "Everything okay here?"
Immediately she saw Elijah's face light up. All the stress from his brothers disappeared and he came speeding over to her.
Dropping her bags, Elena smiled up at Elijah and they gave one another a slow, longing kiss.
"Oh great, more bags!" Kol yelled to no one in particular. The statement broke the pair apart and once more Elena's eyebrows furrowed in curiosity.
"What is going on?" Elena asked Elijah.
Grinding his teeth together, Elijah huffed. "We are having a bit of difficulty fitting everything in the cars. And Klaus has a few more things – particularly your donated blood which he won't separate from himself. Then Kol will not let anyone ride with him in his car."
"Okay," Elena replied trying not to laugh. Patting Elijah's chest, she walked over to the SUV and looked at how they packed the car. It was not all too strategic.
"Help me with this," Elena said grabbing a bag and passing it to Elijah.
It took them about 15 minutes before the car was re-packed and they were able to fit the rest of everyone's things.
Elena laughed at Elijah's face as she closed the trunk. "It's a learned skill." While he might have been over 1000 years old, he surely did not have the correct skills to pack a car compactly.
"Where did you learn that, then?" Elijah wondered, waiting in the driveway for his siblings.
"When we would take long road trips with my parents, my mom would always overpack things. Whether it was extra first aid supplies or fishing poles – even though we weren't going anywhere near a lake or place with fish – she'd always pack every possible thing she could think we'd need." Elena smiled at the memory. A twinge of sadness hit her and she tried to push it away.
"So," she said turning back to Elijah. "Every time, my dad would unpack the car and re-pack it so he could fit all of the miscellaneous things she decided to bring. I'd help him out from time to time since it always made us late to wherever we were going. But we'd get everything to fit every time."
Elijah smiled softly, reflecting Elena's face. Just as he was about to ask her questions about her past, Rebekah came stomping over with a sour look on her face.
"Are we ready yet?" A large bag was beside her, making Elena and Elijah internally groan.
"Actually, I was hoping I could take one last look around the house. Is that okay? We have time, right?" Elena looked at the two.
"We have time," Elijah replied, opening the trunk back up. "Did you want company?"
Elena debated it but then decided against it. "No, I'm okay. You've got Bekah's bag to fit in the car. I should only be a few moments."
Flashing them both a smile, Elena stuck her hands in her back pockets and walked her way up to the large house. She remembered how new everything felt to her. How scared she used to be. It was strange to her how things had changed.
Walking the halls, she glanced at the rooms smiling fondly at them. There were still parts of the large mansion that she had yet to explore. Suddenly crestfallen, she wished she had spent more time in the unknown areas. Walking the rest of the house, she stopped at the homiest room of all – the workout room. Maybe it felt more special than the rest because all of them designed the place together. She remembered how they all worked in clearing everything out and putting the gym mats up on the walls. There were some really great fights that were had in the room. She snickered to herself at how many times she had knocked Klaus on his ass.
"Are you ready, my lovely Elena?" Elijah asked, coming up behind her and bringing her to him.
"Almost," she smiled back to him as he set his chin on her shoulder and kissed it. "This is my favorite room of the whole house. I don't know what it is about it, but it feels like a bit like home to me."
Elijah hummed and watched her face. She was taking in every last detail, from the gym mats on the wall to the large windows looking out to a forest of trees.
"Let's go already!" Rebekah's voice called, bellowing through the house.
"Come on," Elena laughed. As much as she loved Rebekah, the original was very impatient. Dragging Elijah along with her, she rolled her eyes at the blonde when they got outside.
"Elijah's driving first," Rebekah said tossing the keys in the air for him.
Elijah went over to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for Elena. "My lady."
The gesture made Elena giggle as she ushered herself over to the seat.
"Oh, come off it," Rebekah complained when the pair's lips met for a kiss. "You two will be sitting right next to one another. You aren't going anywhere. Now stop snogging and let's get on with this. The sooner we get this road trip over with, the better."
Elena laughed and separated herself from Elijah. Tucking herself in the passenger side, Elijah shut her door and sped over to the driver's seat.
Mystic Falls, here we come.
The entire road trip was actually laughable. While Rebekah, Kol, and Klaus all rotated in driving the sports car, they still had to get used to riding in the cramped SUV together. Kol spent his time cracking dirty jokes or annoying everyone for something to do. Klaus spent much of his time complaining and making empty threats for being stuck in the backseat. And Rebekah would mostly just huff. Occasionally she would try to barter with Klaus to get the front seat back, but each time Klaus would say no and so Rebekah would swear at him and they would start a whole bickering fight. Elijah spent most of his time driving and being the big brother he was. He would step in between Klaus and Rebekah, and even sometimes Kol. The whole ordeal had Elena snickering from wherever she sat, struggling to contain her laughter at the entirety of the scene. They were so human.
"How far are we now, brother?" Klaus asked scooting up from the back seat. Elijah was back to driving, this time with Kol in the passenger seat.
"five miles," Elijah replied staring in his rearview mirror at Elena. Five miles until they hit Mystic Falls. Until they were to see everyone again. Until Ester would know they returned. Until a whole new beginning would take place.
Elena inhaled a deep breath and tried to appear calm. She nodded to a worried Elijah and went back to staring out the window. Her anxiety was making her heart race and blood feel as if were boiling. Her head was buzzing with so many thoughts, fears, hopes, possibilities that at times she swore she was close to passing out.
"I'll be okay," she muttered to herself. Realizing she was in a car with vampires that had super hearing, she noted how the air changed. Elijah was barely focused on the road, eyes staring intently at her instead of the traffic, while Klaus and Kol were trying to pretend as if they had not heard her.
Steeling herself, Elena put her hands in her lap and waited. It felt like an hour had passed by before the car came to an official stop and the Gilbert house now sat in front of her.
She stayed frozen for a while, with no one saying anything but continuing to stare at her. While she wanted to bring comfort to the originals, all she could think about was Jeremy, and some of Alaric.
You're a stranger now, Elena. An outsider. Klaus's voice kept repeating in her head.
She needed just a few moments to push away her excitement and love for her brother and remind herself that he may react differently than what she wanted from him. She had hurt him. She had left him. And she knew forgiveness for that would not come easily.
With shaky hands, Elena opened her car door. She carefully got out, knees weak and heart racing. She tucked her hands in her back pockets after shutting the car door. Her palms were so sweaty.
The originals had gotten out of the car as well, Rebekah walking from the sports car over to the group. Together the siblings moved slowly and cautiously as if they were trying not to spook a baby deer that was beside them.
Elena ended up taking the lead by walking up her front steps. It was slow and unsteady. She thought about how many times she had walked up and down the porch steps, and how many times she had been on this porch for conversations or vampire drama. It felt odd to be back, as if that girl was not her.
Standing at her front door, Elena brought her house key out of her pocket and inserted it in the lock. She made no move to turn it or attempt to open the door. Rather, she stood there. It took a few moments before she moved again. Clearing her throat and brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, she glanced over to Elijah on her left. Everything about him was once again calm. His posture and stance, every structure in him was mellow, but underneath that, Elena saw a mixture of concern and love in his eyes.
Elena looked back to the key and turned it in the lock. The door opened and slowly she stepped inside.
"Hello?" she called to a seemingly empty house.
It took a moment. There was a sound of fumbling and rushed footsteps came from the upstairs.
"Elena?!" Jeremy called from the top of the stairs. His face shocked, Elena nodded up at him.
Jeremy came racing down the stairs, skipping the last few before grabbing his sister up into a big hug. He twirled her around, lifting her off her feet.
Elena felt a rush of relief come over her as Jeremy held her. He just held her in the middle of their front room, strong arms not letting go.
She missed him. Missed him so much that her heart ached at just how much. When she was on the run, she'd push down all those feelings for him. She'd try not to miss him, to convince herself that contacting him and seeing him again would put him in danger and he would get hurt.
But now in returning home she could stop doing that. She could release those feelings and love and miss her brother all she wanted because he was here now.
"Elena," Jeremy breathed. Finally, after a few moments, he pulled away and took a step back. "You look-…"
Elena's eyebrows furrowed and she looked at herself. At first reaction she moved her hand to her neck to search for her magical necklace, but she encountered a bare neck. It took her a moment to realize it was the makeover she and Rebekah had done while she was away. She had forgotten all about it.
"You look different."
"I'm still me, Jer," she said to her brother. Nerves were starting to creep back in. Jeremy had now realized there were visitors, and he looked to her and the Originals behind her. She knew he had many questions, but she wanted to answer them after seeing everyone.
"…where's Ric?" Elena realized her stand-in guardian was nowhere to be found. She wondered if he had moved back to his old apartment after she left. Had Jeremy been alone in this house the whole time?
"…It's a long story…"
Worry then struck Elena. Long stories in Mystic Falls were never good. "What happened? Is he okay?"
Jeremy put a hand on his sister's shoulder to calm her growing panic. "He's okay. He is staying with Stefan and Damon for a while. He has been blacking out. Apparently, he's gotten himself an alter-ego from his ring – side effect from dying so many times."
Elena sucked in a breath and ran a hand through her hair.
"He's okay though. Damon and Stefan have him on lockdown and Bonnie has been giving him an herbal remedy which seems to also be helping. His – uh – alter-ego went on a bit of a homicidal killing spree, which is why it's safer he's kept in there, but he's alright. You can go see him."
It took a second for Elena to comprehend everything. While ready for every homecoming reaction, she had not been prepared for the battles they were potentially fighting here.
"Are you…staying? I mean, like,…"
"I'm home," Elena said, smiling at her nervous looking brother. "I'm home for good."
Jeremy nodded, relieved to hear such words. "Good."
Elijah cleared his throat and stepped forward, apologetically breaking up the sibling love. "Elena, do you want to unpack your bags before heading over to the Salvatore residence?"
She had forgotten the Mikaelsons were standing there. She was so stuck in her own head; it was as if she forgot just about everything. "Uh, no. Actually, do you think we could just head over there? I want to see Ric. I want to make sure he is okay."
Elijah nodded.
"So, what is this? Is this what it is now? Did you guys have something to do with Elena disappearing?" Jeremy wondered, looking from his sister to the Mikaelson family.
"No, Jer," Elena said turning around. "It wasn't them. It was me. I chose to leave. I'll explain everything to you when I can, I promise. Elijah and his siblings are protecting me."
"Protecting you?" Jeremy asked incredulous. "Do you not remember how we all wanted Klaus dead before you left?!"
The change from happiness from anger was whiplashing, but Elena was ready for it. "I know, I know. It- It's all changed now. It's all different. Jer. I promise I'll explain everything, but please, let me just go see Ric first."
It was quiet for a few moments, with Jeremy looking between them all before settling on a look of determination. "I'm coming with you." Grabbing his jacket, he stepped out of the house with the group and locked up.
"You're riding with me, mate," Kol called, swirling his keys on his finger. Winking at Elena, Kol got in the sports car and waited for Jeremy to do the same. To the Salvatore mansion they go.
Elena's nerves were worse than when she approached her own house. She imagined seeing both Stefan and Damon again, but she told herself she wanted that to happen after she saw her friends and maybe settled in a bit.
"Well, this shall be interesting," Klaus snickered when they all got out of the car. Everyone looked to him and Elijah gave his brother a slap up on the back of his head. It was a surprising gesture coming from Elijah, but it was so quick it was as if it didn't happen by the way that Elijah stood still completely composed.
"Ready?" Elijah asked Elena as she stood on the doorstep. She was fidgeting with the sleeves of her jacket, practically shaking like a bug.
"Y-Yeah." Elena took in a deep breath and put her hands down to her sides, trying to compose herself.
Elijah knocked on the door.
"What now Gil-" Damon stood speechless in his doorway. The cocky smirk wiped from his face. "Elena."
With that, a gust of wind whipped Elena's hair back and Stefan was there as well. "Elena."
It was as if there were an echo. "Ric…is he here? Jeremy said that-"
"Where have you been? What have you been doing? What are you doing with them?!" Damon asked, now noticing all of the Original siblings.
"It's a long story. Please, is Alaric here?"
"He's in the basement," Stefan said, still staring at Elena as if she were a ghost.
Waiting for the Salvatore brothers to move, they finally parted the way to either side so that Elena could step in and visit her parental figure. It made her feel a bit unsettled, feeling either Salvatore brother at her sides. It reminded her of Katherine.
"Alaric?" Elena called, shaking off her nerves as she rushed down the cellar steps. She ran to the familiar barred door and found Alaric laying with his back against the wall, sitting on a cot reading a book. "Elena?!"
Alaric tossed his book to the side and stood up. Was what he was seeing correct?
Elena quickly unlocked the door and went to Alaric, hugging him tight.
It was Elena, and Alaric had a hard time believing it. She had been gone for so long with so much happening, and he noticed with the quick glance to her she had changed.
Elena pushed Alaric back and checked him over for signs of injury or abuse or anything potentially damaging. "What are you doing in here? Are you okay? Jeremy said you have a homicidal alter-ego?"
"I-uh, yeah. It's the ring. It created some sort of alter-personality, which has a strong hatred for vampires."
"What?"
"I killed Caroline's dad," Alaric said rubbing the back of his head. "and I almost killed Meredith Fell. Damon, Stefan, and I all decided it would be best if I were kept here until we figure out what to do with me."
"How long have you been in here?" Elena wondered.
"Few days, maybe a week tops," he said. Alaric finally took a better look at his step-daughter (so to speak), and noticed how different she looked. From a hunter's perspective she was more toned, muscular and fit. As any other person, he noticed she had cut her hair, styled it differently, and wore clothes that displayed a sense of confidence to her.
"So, uh-…my turn. What- why - …. you're back." Alaric wasn't sure how to pose his questions without sounding offensive. He didn't know why she left – no one did really. And he wasn't sure if this was temporary or permanent or if something happened that brought her back.
"I know, it's a lot. I know you have questions and I want to answer them, I do. I just, it's a really long story and I'd rather explain it all to everyone at once."
Alaric nodded in understanding.
"Jeremy is already here upstairs, same goes for Stefan and Damon. I want to call Bonnie, Caroline and Matt and get them all here to explain everything to you guys."
"Okay." Alaric looked back at his cell, somewhat hesitant to leave. It was only for a few hours though. Smiling reassuringly to Elena, he walked upstairs with her and adjusted to the large amount of company in the Salvatore parlor. Elena hadn't mentioned the originals were here as well.
"It's okay, they're here to help me. They've been helping me," Elena clarified, mostly to Damon and Stefan who were throwing daggers at the original family with their eyes.
Alaric had a confused expression on his face. "Didn't we want him dead?" Alaric pointed over to Klaus, who was looking alive and well with a smirk on his face.
Jeremy raised his arms in the air. "That's what I said!"
Their reactions made Klaus snicker with pride.
"Like I said, long story," Elena groaned to Klaus's reaction. "Now, let's give everyone else a call."
Matt, Bonnie, and Caroline all showed up together a while later. From the time of when she called to when they arrived, it had been tense to say the least. No one had said much to one another and most of her loved ones were glaring at the originals.
"Elena!" Caroline was the first one to wrap her in a tight hug. Next was Matt who gave her a warm Matt-like hug, and then came the ever knowing, slightly worried, looking Bonnie. "Are you okay? What happened? Why do you look like that? Where-"
"Okay," Elena said nervously. "Hold on, you have to slow down. I'm here to explain it to you all." She walked them into the parlor where everyone else was awaiting answers.
"Caroline," Klaus's voice called. While no one else would know, Elena could hear his voice contained a sliver of happiness.
"What are you doing here?" Caroline asked him, but then looked to Elena for answers.
"They've been helping me out. I-…" Elena took in a deep breath and felt overwhelmed. She didn't think this far in her head when she went through the scenarios of seeing everyone again.
She practiced what would happen if everyone was angry or upset. She even thought about if her returning presence made them uncomfortable. She didn't think that everyone would meet her with open and welcome arms. But they did. They were all happy. And it was great. But now she was stuck.
Elena stayed paused and silent. Her silence was putting everyone on edge. Kol looked back at his siblings and then to the doppelgänger. He had been instructed by Elijah before they left to not say or do anything – that Elena was to take the lead, but considering the entire room was waiting for her to make a move or say something, and she suddenly froze, he wondered if someone was going to do something. Being the closest to her, Kol reached forward moving to put his hand on her arm. "Elena?" Kol wondered in hopes of breaking the awkward silence.
It was less than a second before Kol's arm was removed from Elena's arm and he found himself flying into a wall. "Hands off!" Damon called. Kol got up and wiped away the dry wall from his clothes. Speeding over to Damon, he tossed him into the liquor bar. It only took a second for Damon to wipe the glass off from his shirt before charging after Kol again.
"Enough!" Elena called, running over at vampire speed and separating the two. She glared at both of them, keeping herself between them. Kol backed off but Damon stood there confused.
"Damon, sit down," Elena commanded while glaring a bit at Kol. Kol raised his arms up in surrender and stood near his siblings.
Elena waited for Damon to calm down and return to his own corner before beginning. "The night of the ball when I met with Esther, she needed some of my blood. She was intending to put it in the champagne toast."
Elena took in a deep breath. "She told me that she was planning to cast a spell that would magically bind all of her children together, so when you kill one, you kill them all. She was lying when she said she wanted peace. She feels her children and vampires are abominations, and wants to get rid of them." Elena shifted uncomfortably as she watched everyone try to take in the information. "I was able to warn Elijah in time and he didn't drink the champagne, but I knew Esther would be upset with me. She was likely to try something again, so I took off. I knew it wouldn't stop and I didn't want her hurting anyone I loved. I thought if I kept her focus on me, she wouldn't hurt you guys."
Elena then went into detail of how Bonnie helped her and gave her powers and generalized her trips. "And then Elijah found me." She thought back to their encounters together. The kiss. Their feelings. Skipping over that part, Elena cleared her throat and brushed her hair back. "He found me and so I ran. But he found me again, this time with Klaus. They convinced me to let them help me. And I've been on the run with them since."
"So why come back now?" Alaric wondered. "Not that I'm not happy to see you-"
"My bracelet fell off one afternoon," Elena said instinctively rubbing her wrist where the jewelry no longer stayed. "And moments after that I got a note from Esther telling me that she would spare her children if I were to return to Mystic Falls."
"And so you listened?!" Damon stood incredulous. "What about your life Elena?!"
"Of course, I listened, Damon," Elena scolded loudly to her friend while narrowing her eyes at him. "I believe Esther's words to be true. I'm not to let them die, Damon."
"Do you know what Esther has planned next?" Stefan interjected through Damon's groans.
"I don't," Elena sighed.
"But we intend to find out," Elijah interrupted determinedly.
"And put a stop to mother once and for all," Rebekah added.
"So, let me get this straight," Damon said to Elena. "You pissed of the original witch, all for these guys" he said pointing to the originals, "so you could be running for your life. You've then later teamed up with said 'team originals' – who by the way have pretty much all wanted to kill you or have double crossed you at one time or another – only to now return with a lingering death sentence. This though, is worth it, because it spares– who I've now decided to dub as the 'Elena killers', so they can live and let you die?!"
It was harsh. It slapped the originals and Elena in the face. Taking a moment, Elena soon steeled herself and went to scold Damon once more. "Things are different now, Damon. It's not about Klaus and his hybrids or killing him. We all have a common enemy now. One that wants all vampires dead."
"Sounds to me it's more just like you all," Damon said motioning to the original family.
"Well, Esther needs me to do that," Elena argued. "so, if you care about me, you'll also care about them."
"What is your plan then?" Jeremy wondered trying to ease the growing tension.
"Figure out what Esther is up to. Hopefully put a stop to it before it goes anywhere." The looks on everyone's faces were full of doubt and gloom. Elena wished in that moment to be back at the mansion in her room, in her bubble of a world she created.
"Look I'm not a defenseless little girl anymore. I know what I'm doing. I know how to fight and I can do this."
Everyone stayed silent and doubt still casted upon the room.
"I'm not the Elena you once knew." It was quiet but everyone heard it. And it was the truest thing she ever admitted out loud.
"We know," Caroline said, getting up and giving her friend a hug. "I think we all just need some time to adjust and get used to things."
"We can come up with a plan tomorrow or later this week," Bonnie chimed in while reading the room.
"I should get back down there," Alaric announced getting up from the couch to head to the cellar.
Elena could see how his face was full of disappointment and sadness. And it made her heart clench, thinking that she let him down. "Ric, wait."
"Elena," Alaric sighed turning back towards her. "I'm happy you're back. I am. But I can't help you. I can't be a part of whatever you are planning to do. My alter self wants to kill…pretty much all of you," he winced. "I-it's just best if I don't know anything and am not around this."
Alaric came over and wrapped her in a hug, kissing her head before walking off towards to confine himself once more.
"I'll go lock him up," Stefan announced, leaving the room as well.
Elena was deflated at her ex's lack of response to what she had to say. She expected some sort of reaction from Stefan.
Everyone began taking their exits then. Matt, Bonnie, and Caroline left, with Damon walking out of the room soon after.
"Come on, let's get home," Jeremy said slinging his arm over his sister's shoulders. Nodding, Elena was relieved she still had her brother. Laying her head on his shoulder, she walked out with Jeremy and the originals in tow