"I'll miss you." Elijah kissed the side of her head and sighed.
"It'll only be for a little while, hopefully less than a week." Elena leaned back against him and closed her eyes.
"That's still far too long, especially when you're pregnant." His hands framed her stomach.
Elena turned around so she could look him in the eye.
"It's best this way, so we don't start a war on two fronts. We're the advance party. Marcel doesn't harm children and with Hayley and me being pregnant, he'll rethink things. Once we get Marcel to back down, it'll be easier for all of you to return to town."
"Marcel is stubborn."
"And he needs help from an outside witch for his little friend." Elena pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "I heard enough stories about Marcel to know that he'll do anything for her, possibly even make a deal that means getting involved with the Mikaelsons again."
"We left him, Elena."
"You believed that he was dead, Elijah. No one can fault you for that."
"But we didn't even look back."
"You were running from Mikael."
"But Marcel was family and we abandoned him. There's no excuse for that. He won't forgive that easily."
"Just because he won't fully forgive for a while, that doesn't mean he won't realize he needs you again. And with relearning to trust all of you will help him learn to forgive you." Elena cupped his cheek, tracing her thumb across his jaw.
"Always and forever should apply to the whole family, not just the ones that get along."
"Fortunately, he's still alive and we can fix this." Leaning close to Elijah, she continued, "It's time Rebekah found happiness with someone who's done nothing but love her, even when Klaus stood in the way."
"It would seem that you're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Healing this family."
"You're worth fighting for." With a smile, Elena turned back to her packing.
Elijah unzipped her garment bag, examining the dresses she'd put in there.
"If Marcel has an evening party planned, I want to be prepared." Elena shrugged when he gestured to the black, off the shoulder gown. "Before I forget, Jenna wants us to go to her place for dinner. Sort of a goodbye meal. She's scared of what we're about to do."
"After everything, this is what she's afraid of?"
"I'll be hundreds of miles from home, surrounded by threats on all sides, and you won't be able to be there until we clear a path for you, so yes, she's terrified."
Elena felt sorry for her aunt, a human, surrounded by the supernatural and not sure how to deal with what she felt was her responsibility to her niece and nephew. Jenna had no idea how to protect them from what they faced in the world they were now a part of, but refused to walk away and leave them alone.
"Will your biological parents be there?"
"I think so. Jenna isn't so happy about having Isobel in the house, but I told her that she can sign the house over to Jeremy and it'll rescind all invitations."
"I think Isobel will end up following you to New Orleans anyway, so she won't have to worry about that for very long."
"Still, she's the vampire ex-wife of her ex-boyfriend, and my mother. So yeah, Jenna is still gonna be worried until she's certain Isobel won't come after her."
"I think I can help with your aunt's peace of mind, by promising to keep Isobel away from her."
"Let her know over dinner."
Elena hadn't had much of a chance to get to know Isobel, but now that she'd flipped the switch back and found a way to balance who she'd been with who she'd become, Elena felt more willing to allow Isobel some leniency. But that didn't mean she trusted the woman who'd given birth to her just yet. It just meant she was willing to give her a chance.
"I will." Elijah smiled and kissed the side of her head.
Elena leaned into his touch for a moment.
"Promise me something?"
"What is it?"
"Promise me you'll be my wife before the twins are a year old." He brushed his thumb across her lower lip.
The thought of actually being his wife, she ached for it, to take his name, to be Mrs. Elijah Mikaelson. Yes, people might think she was bowing to the patriarchy by renouncing her own name, but it was what she wanted, to have everyone know that Elijah was hers, just as much as she was his. She was already carrying his children, so taking that next step and binding herself to him, it would be so easy.
"I'd marry you tonight if you wanted."
"I'm very tempted to take you up on that. But I don't think your father would like it if we forced him to miss your wedding." Elijah curled a lock of her hair around his fingers, his expression soft.
"John's not going to be happy as it is that he missed seeing me off. I won't make him miss my wedding too." Elena smiled, teasing now.
"When is Jenna expecting us?"
"At seven."
"Which means things will be ready by eight." He grinned.
"We'll be there at seven, because I told her we would be." Elena kissed Elijah's cheek.
When they walked through the door, they were greeted with a myriad of scents of cooking food.
"Since when does Jenna cook?" Elena muttered.
"Maybe she learned?" Ryan asked, one brow raised in skepticism.
"In two weeks?" Elena shook her head. "I doubt it."
This was met by snickers as they walked around the corner, to find John at the stove. He had a small towel thrown over his shoulder and he hummed
"Uncle John!" Elena all but ran to her biological father and hugged him tightly. "I didn't see your car in the drive."
"Jenna told me what you were planning. There's no way I wouldn't be here. And as for my car, Isobel needed it to run an errand."
"Don't try to talk me out of this. It needs to be done."
"I believe you. I just wanted to see you. You're still my daughter and I'm trying to accept that you're making your own decisions as a maturing adult, but that doesn't mean I'm ready to let go just yet."
"I'm not gonna die, at least not for a long time, I promise."
"Just be as safe as you can be." John tightened his grip on her, then stepped back.
"I'll be there. They can't kill me unless they hurt her," Ryan assured him.
John nodded once, his mouth thinning a little. He hadn't taken her adopting Ryan very well when she told him, but he was trying to accept that this ancient being was also his daughter's son. Ryan's gentleness and fierce protection of Elena was winning him over though.
"What's for dinner?" Ryan asked.
"Chicken Parmesan."
"My favorite." Elena smiled widely.
"I know. I figured a goodbye dinner should be things you like." John's lips pulled up and he returned his focus to the task of putting the finishing touches on the meal—chopping vegetables for a salad—clearly pleased that he'd gotten this right. "And don't worry, Ryan, I made plenty."
Ryan ducked his head a little, embarrassed by this one trait that remained of his former life.
"You can certainly put it away, but you're a tall guy, so it's a good thing to have a healthy appetite."
Having John try to soothe her son was a bit of a shock. Had he finally come around to him being family? Elena bit her tongue to keep from asking the question out loud, for fear of making John backpedal, but the hope blooming within her breast made that difficult.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Elijah asked suddenly.
Him squeezing her hand told Elena that he knew what was going on inside her and was doing what he could to help the situation.
"I think it's mostly finished, if you don't mind putting it on the table."
"Will Isobel be joining us?" Elijah picked up two platters of chicken parm and set them on the table.
"I don't think so. She's getting ready to move to Louisiana."
"She never said anything directly, but we thought that's what she might be planning," Elena commented.
"She's your mother and she's worried."
"It has to be done. Hayley's pregnant and needs her family and because her baby is my children's cousin, that makes her my family too."
"I know, Elena. I just wish there was something I could do to help."
"Just make sure Jenna and Jeremy are okay so I don't have to worry so much about them."
"I can do that." Tension drained from him with his relief that he had a task to make things better for his daughter.
"Especially Jenna. She's not taking me leaving very well."
"I'll make sure they're taken care of, Elena. I promise." He then rolled his eyes, as he added, "Even if Jenna hates me."
"Uncle John." Elena scolded lightly.
"Take her out to dinner sometimes and keep her up to date on me, since Isobel will be around and will probably keep you informed."
"What are you planning behind my back?" Jenna breezed into the kitchen, the effort she made to appear unaffected falling flat.
"Just trying to make sure I don't have to worry about you and Jeremy, and John has agreed to be around since I won't be," Elena said quickly, raising an eyebrow in John's direction.
He ducked his head, a rueful smile on his face. He tossed the vegetables one more time and set the bowl on the table.
"Jeremy, dinner's ready!" John called.
Moments later, he appeared, a slightly concerned expression on his face that faded when he saw that things were semi-peaceful with the people near the table.
They sat around the table and John started passing food around.
"Ryan, don't be shy, that platter next to you, I made it especially for you."
"I don't-"
"Ryan, Elena has made you her son, and I'm trying to wrap my head around that, but don't think I'm not trying to be mindful that you're not human and you don't need to be ashamed of that."
"Thank you." Ryan relaxed considerably then and filled his plate with several pieces of sauce covered chicken breasts.
"Having a grandson who's almost as old as the oldest vampires on the planet is a hard thing for a human to wrap their head around, but Elena loves you and you're a part of her now, so I'm getting there."
Taking advantage of John's seeming willingness to be a bit more open about Ryan's place in Elena's life, she said, "He's my son, created of my blood and my desire to save him. You told me how you felt the first time you saw me."
John nodded.
"Well, that's how I felt, the first time I saw him after I created his new body. Like I'd just given birth and I was seeing my newborn baby that I'd carried for months for the first time." Elena caught Ryan's eye and smiled as she spoke.
John stayed silent for a long moment, focusing on cutting his chicken, and Elena started to worry that she'd pushed things too far. Ryan was her son, her grown up boy, and she ached for John to accept him as such.
When John finally spoke, his voice was thick with emotions, "That makes it much easier to accept him as your son. Thank you for telling me."
"Does this mean you're gonna call me Uncle Jeremy?" Jeremy snickered.
"If you want."
"Later, once I look older than you do."
"I can live with that." Ryan relaxed even more, becoming more boyish, closer to the person he was with Elena.
"You actually are Elena's son," John said quietly.
"I am now, yes. And I love her the way a natural born son would love a good mother."
"Just don't call me 'Grandpa.' I'm not old enough for that." John chuckled.
"You don't have a choice. Even if Elena hadn't adopted Ryan, you'd still be a grandfather, since she's pregnant, so you may as well get used to it," Jenna remarked.
John's mouth opened and closed a few times, then he exhaled, one side of his mouth curling up.
"You're right," he finally admitted.
"Why don't I just call you 'Uncle'?" Ryan suggested. "Since Mama calls you 'Uncle,' it would make sense that her children would call you that as well."
"I'd like that."
John gave Ryan the first real smile that he'd ever given her son and Elena's heart squeezed with happiness. For a brief moment, all was perfect in her life and she allowed herself to revel in it. This made everything worth it, these brief moments of heaven in the midst of the madness that was her life.
This was the perfect farewell to her life in Mystic Falls.
The next morning, Elena was doing a final inspection of her luggage, making sure she had everything.
"I don't think even Caroline checked her bags that much," Elijah teased, wrapping his arms around her.
Elena turned in his embrace so that she was facing him. Even though he was smiling, there was a tightness around his eyes and in his muscles beneath her palms.
"We're going into a war zone that I don't have any actual memories of, only whispers and rumors and whatever the Spirits see fit to tell me."
"They haven't led you wrong yet and you already know more than the rest of us do."
Someone knocked on the door frame and they looked up to find Caroline in the hallway.
"Are you ready? We need to get on the road if we're going to get there in time for us to help Hayley's pack this month. Our stuff is already in the car."
"Give me a few minutes."
Elijah sighed heavily, then helped her zip up the last bag.
"We'll keep her safe," Caroline promised.
"I know."
"Come on, it's time to go." Elena stood on her tiptoes and kissed him again.
He picked up her bags and led the way down the stairs.
Hayley was in the front seat and Ryan stood at the open door behind her.
"Are we sure there's room for my stuff?" Elena raised an eyebrow at the already full back.
"We'll make it fit, as long as you don't have anything breakable in there." Caroline took the bags from Elijah and marched around the back of the SUV.
If she had a plan to get them all to New Orleans in one vehicle, Elena wasn't one to argue with her.
Elijah cupped her jaw, tracing his thumb across her cheekbone.
"We'll be okay. Hopefully, we'll be together again in a week."
"If it takes longer, I'll head to Baton Rouge until it's safe for you for me to join you."
"You might need to bring Klaus with you. I don't think he'll be able to stay away."
As if summoned, Klaus appeared at the front of the car just then.
"Your daughter will be fine, Klaus. We'll make sure of it," Elena promised, stepping away from Elijah.
"She'd better be."
"I'll do everything I can to stay safe. She's my baby too." Even though Hayley's words could have been taken as confrontational, her tone was anything but, and just a little of the tension released from his shoulders.
"We're giving Hayley her family, and in the process, we'll hopefully be able to give you back your first son," Elena assured him.
Klaus's throat bobbed and his voice cracked when he said, "If you do manage to make Marcel listen, will you give him a message for me?"
"Of course." Elena met his gaze.
"Tell him that I know I failed him, but if he'll give me a chance, I'll do right by him this time and should they still want it, they'll have my blessing."
"I'll tell him."
He nodded once, his mouth set in a firm line that Elena now knew meant he was fighting his emotions and was terrified.
"Alright, we're loaded."
Caroline and Klaus stared at each other for a long moment, then Caroline walked up to him and hugged him tightly.
"I'll join you as soon as you say the word."
"Hopefully, it won't be too long," Caroline replied. "We've got Elena and she's got a plan."
Elena slid into the car and Ryan closed the door behind her before walking quickly around the car and getting in on the other side.
"Her plan is sound. Marcel will do anything to protect this girl, so if it takes longer than a week, I'll be tempted to head down anyway. I won't have my daughter, her mother, and you in harm's way longer than that." Klaus was but growling by the end.
Caroline kissed him then, soft and sweet.
"Elijah got the old Governor's mansion ready, so you'll have a place to stay." Klaus softened then, something about him becoming almost desperate, as if trying to assure himself that they'd thought of everything.
"Stop worrying. Yes, it'll be dangerous, but we have two very powerful witches and they've got tricks up their sleeves." Caroline kissed him again.
Elena and Ryan exchanged glances and smiled. They did have plans and if the direction that the Spirits were leading her were right, which they always were, at least up until now, then the Mikaelsons would be moved out of Mystic Falls within a month.
"I expect an update at least once a day."
"Between me and Hayley, we'll have that covered." Caroline started walking towards the driver's side door, Klaus following close behind.
"You'd better. I need to know you're safe."
"We'll do everything we can to stay safe." Caroline climbed into the vehicle and started the engine.
Klaus kissed Caroline then, hard and fierce, desperate, then rested his forehead against hers, his breathing ragged. Caroline carded her fingers into his hair, and his breathing started evening out.
Finally, he straightened and closed Caroline's door.
Coming around to the other side he stood beside Hayley's door, his expression tight.
"Like Caroline said, we've got two powerful witches on our side. She'll be safe." Hayley placed her hand over her belly where the fetus that would one day be Hope Andrea Mikalson grew.
"Call me if you need anything. I don't care what it is. If I can't do it myself, I'll make sure someone else gets it done."
"Thanks. And thank you for not fighting me on this." Hayley looked down, her brows furrowed, then she looked up at Klaus.
"I know what it's like to be cut off from my pack. I won't have my daughter know that pain." Tapping his hand against the roof of the SUV, he stepped back.
"Alright, let's go," Caroline said.
Caroline put the car into gear and they headed down the lane towards the road.
Elena looked back to see all the siblings standing on the porch, Finn with one hand on Elijah's shoulder and the other on Klaus's. They would be fine while they waited for their call, there was no doubt in her mind. So she could focus entirely on the war they were walking into, and not worrying about what they were doing.
