Stones in My Pathway

When she finally wakes up on the couch, the blue light of the pre-dawn morning streams through the window. The fire is still roaring strong and she quickly spots the reason why. Elijah is a sentry next to the fireplace, hands crossed in his lap, staring at her.

"You're back," she states simply, pushing herself up to sit. She grimaces and leans her head into her hands like a cradle. She swallows the uneasy feeling back down.

"Are you okay?" He stands and covers the space between them in a few short steps.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little sick to my stomach."

"Are you unwell?" She feels the couch shift with his weight, but she doesn't open her eyes just yet.

"I'm fine, Elijah. I only had coffee earlier. I forgot to eat so I probably just need to some food."

"What are you doing in the library alone? Where is Niklaus?"

"He's mad at me. I think he left. I looked but can't find him anywhere." She finally looks up at Elijah, eyes bright and shimmering.

"Likely blowing off some steam somewhere, on someone. What happened between you two?"

"I've been having these strange dreams with Stefan. I was trying to figure it out or forget about them. Both. They were freaking me out, Elijah. I didn't know what to think."

"I can see how that would bother him and yet, dreams are only dreams."

"I don't know that they were though. I think I was Tatia in one of them, watching my husband burn. The fjords were so familiar." He looks at her, stunned, and for once he doesn't even have a reassuring word to say. "It gets worse. Stefan showed up at the house before I could tell him what had been happening."

"I can see now why he left. How can he be the center of your attention with Stefan haunting you at night? How these dreams must be running through his head."

"Elijah, would Klaus ever force me to turn? Is that something he's capable of?"

His lips parted just barely as he looks at her like he's trying to gauge how earnest her question was. His hand comes to rest on her face and his eyes bore into hers. "What exactly makes you believe that's something he might do?"

"Something he said to me before he left, about me being human for now."

"It appears I now have two things to discuss with my brother."

"You think it's possible then?"

"Where he is concerned, anything is possible Elena."

"Wait. What's the other thing?"

"Niklaus sent me to talk to a witch he knows about anything that could aid us against the Travelers. She directed me to a vampire that had been obsessed with finding Katerina. She was quite useful."

"Did she help you?"

"Not willingly." He gestures towards an ornate knife sitting on the end table next to the chair. "But I have it now nonetheless should we need it."

Bonnie is walking down Main Street when she catches Matt getting out of his squad car. She rushes to catch up to him before he notices her coming. Elena had called her yesterday after her fight with Klaus and had mentioned Jeremy's suspicions. She was willing to give Matt the benefit of the doubt, but it didn't mean she was above probing to be certain.

"Hey Donovan."

"Bonnie. Hey. How's your morning?"

"Good. I'm on my way to Elena's to help out some more. You know our research is going so well. We think we might have a solution for the Travelers soon." Matt has never been a great liar. The right side of his mouth twitches and his eyebrows shoot up too far on his face.

"Are you sure going against them is a good idea? I mean for the town. Maybe sometimes it's best to stay out of the fight?"

"Matt, this is about Elena. If we don't stay in the fight, who knows what they'll do to her. Not to mention Damon's safety. Caroline? Stefan? I can't stay out of this."

"They just need her blood, Bonnie. Just a little."

"Jeremy was right." She laughs in disbelief. "He was actually right. When did they get you, Matt? How long have you been covering for them? Do you have any idea what they really want?"

"Look, Bonnie. The worst thing that will happen is you go back to being an ordinary person. But you won't need magic with the vampires gone. All that will go away and we can live the lives we were supposed to."

"What have they promised you Matt? What do you think is going to happen to Damon? Have you thought about that? Have you thought at all? You are messing with things you don't understand."

"The old ones will die, but Caroline is still young. She'll be fine. You, me, Caroline and even Elena. We will be fine. Tyler will get to be normal again too. This is the best outcome for all of us."

"You're talking about killing my boyfriend, Matt."

"We both know you deserve better, Bonnie. C'mon, we all do. Caroline drinks blood just to stay alive. You have almost died countless times to protect this town. Tyler goes through excruciating pain every month. Elena is shacking up with the monster she ran from in the first place. You are the ones who have this all backwards. I'm just trying to fix it all."

"I don't even know who you are right now."

"It's for the best Bonnie. You may as well accept it because their plan is inevitable. You can't stop this." He dismisses her so easily, walking away to leave her alone on the street. Fuming, she scrolls down her contact list to call Elena and confirm Jeremy's suspicions.

After Elena hangs up with Bonnie, she rushes back to the bathroom. In between getting sick, she's nibbling on crackers just to get something down. The idea of eating a heavier food makes her stomach turn worse. She's breathing heavily and lays back on the bathroom tile, enjoying the cool feeling against her sweaty skin when Klaus finally shows up.

"You look terrible, sweetheart."

"I feel pretty terrible too. When did you get home?"

"Just now." She still has her eyes closed, but she can hear the faucet running. She looks up at him when he comes to sit next to her, resting against the bathtub. He helps her to sit up and she leans into him as he uses the wet washcloth to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

"Are you still angry?"

"Yes. I don't like that you are having dreams about Stefan."

"I don't either."

"And I especially didn't enjoy how that information came to light."

"Me either."

"So, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Have you ever just wanted to ignore something so badly and hoped that it went away on its own? I wanted this to go away on its own. I felt so weird having dreams about Stefan and I just wanted them to go away. There's so much going on right now and the last thing I wanted to worry about was us. I'm with you, Klaus. I chose you, every day."

"The dreams make you worry about us?"

Getting through to him sometimes feels like plants growing through cracks in the cement. It feels impossible but with enough effort and persistence, she'll find a way. "No, they don't. I'm certain about us, but I was concerned that you would be worried about them. It felt like something you would read into."

"Can you blame me? That you were sleeping next to me night after night filled with the visions of another man."

"Not for being worried, but I can for you leaving the way you did. I wouldn't be overjoyed it if it was you and someone from your past, but I also wouldn't disappear on you for a whole day."

"Perhaps not, but you would try to deal with it on your own."

"That's fair. I guess that's what we do."

"It's hard to feel comfortable relying on anyone outside of myself. I haven't had to do that in such a long time. It's tricky."

"We can count on each other, Klaus."

"And if something happens to you? What if I allow myself to rely on you and you die?"

"People die. That's always a possibility, human or vampire. It's not an excuse to close yourself off. You can't ask me open up to you and tell you everything unless I can trust that you won't run. You can't ask for that and not give me the same in return." She pulls up closer to her by his arm and she rests her head on his shoulder.

"You can trust me, Elena. I promise. I will show you, but I'd rather not think of you dying, love. I'd like spend an eternity with you."

"Me too."

"Truly?"

"Yes, after we deal with the Travelers and Jeremy, I'll do it. I'll let you turn me. But it has to be on my terms. You can't force me into this. You have to let me be the one who decides when. You have to promise me that. No more vague threats when you get mad or something doesn't go perfectly your way." She doesn't know if she acquiesces to his will because she wants to or because it is easier to pretend she has more control than she feels she actually does. Is it better to walk into the lions' den and tell yourself it was your decision than to be forced?

"Yes, on my honor." He stands up and offers her a hand, his mood noticeably better than when he arrived. "Come on, sweetheart. Brush your teeth and I'll make you breakfast."

"You're going to make breakfast?"

"Yes, Elena. I cook. I am skilled at many things. If you are lucky, I may even show you a thing or two in the kitchen."

As she watches him in the kitchen, cooking her eggs, she thinks to herself how each day brings them closer to the kind of relationship she's always wanted. At first, she'd been so concerned that lust was the only thing binding them together. Every day, she saw that passion could also come companionship. It was just something she had to work at. Stand firm against the torrent of him until she was heard.

Klaus brings her a plate of scrambled eggs and watches her take tiny, slow bites. Some days it's easy to forget how human she is and harder when she seems fragile like she is now. "You've been exerting yourself too much lately. You should take it easy."

"No one ever takes it easy in Mystic Falls. We should settle down somewhere else after all this is over."

"And leave this wonderful house I had built for you."

She smiles, knowing he'd like nothing more than to leave Mystic Falls forever. "I don't need a fancy house, Klaus."

He's about to ask her what she does need when Caroline and Stefan storm in through the front door. "Elena! We need your help." They both walk around the corner, looking harangued but in good condition.

"You lot always need her help." The annoyance in his voice is clear, particularly that Stefan is back in his house. She reaches across the counter to give his hand a squeeze.

"We were attacked," Stefan explains, "Travelers have obviously overwhelmed the town. There's more of them than we thought." His eyes dart down to her hand over Klaus's and back up to her face.

"They tried to take over our bodies. Well mine I guess," Caroline shivers. "Creepy. Anyway, Bonnie told us to get over here. She thinks its best if Stefan stays in the same house as Elena for now. With two Originals, there isn't much place safer. She'll be by later to spell the mansion, I think."

"I'm sorry, it sounded strangely like you were telling me who would be staying in my house."

"Ultimately, it's the best thing for Elena. Don't you want that?" There's an edge in her voice that makes Elena look twice at her friend. Klaus's booming voice pulls her attention back to him.

"Of course I want what's best for her! Never question me on that. I like you, Caroline. Don't make me regret that decision."

"I have to go. Is Stefan good with you two?" Before anyone has a chance to respond though, Caroline is already gone leaving Stefan alone in the kitchen with them.

"There are plenty of rooms. Find one. Stay out of my way. And do your best to keep inside your own head." He hovers over Elena, kissing her on her forehead while glaring at Stefan. "I'll be in my studio, love. Should you need me. For anything."

"He's not exactly thrilled about the dreams, but it's a good sign that he's letting you stay here."

"Oh yeah, he's a great host."

"You wouldn't be happy either, Stefan. If you were in his shoes." She does show Stefan around the upper floors. Up until now, Klaus had been insistent that anyone visiting remain on the ground floor. She finds herself in a unique situation of wanting so desperately to talk to Stefan about the dreams, investigate them further and knowing that by bringing it up she's crossing a line. He's the only other person she can compare notes with, but she worries what it would mean to him if she does broach the subject. She knows him too well, any opening she gives no matter how small and he'll bound through the open door.

She finds Klaus later where he promised her he'd be; in his studio. He'd clearly finished painting a while ago and is enjoying music with a glass of wine. He puts down his glass as she curls up in his lap. "Thank you for letting him stay. I do appreciate you being understanding."

"How appreciative?" he asks, pushing her hair away from her face.

"Several lifetimes' worth."

Klaus laughs, deep and masculine, as he picks her up to bring her to bed. After their conversation this morning, he finally feels like he's close to getting everything he's wanted from her. He won't let her backtrack on him. They are both too busy and preoccupied with each other to notice that Bonnie never comes over like Caroline said she would.

The music starts and her dad holds out his arm for her. John is on her other side extending his own arm. She smiles and takes them both as the walk down the aisle. Jenna, Caroline, and Bonnie smile at her from the altar. She spots her mom in the pew, already crying.

Damon, Ric, and Jeremy stand on the other side. Stefan's side. He fidgets, doing his best not to turn around until he's supposed to. She grins. He's always fighting his impulses with her.

Her two dads bow away when they make it to the altar and finally Stefan can turn around to look at her. She's never seen him smile so wide before. The way he looks at her makes her want to cry too. But she holds it back. Jenna did such a good job with her make-up that morning. It would be a shame to ruin her aunt's efforts.

When he lifts her veil, he rubs his thumb along her cheek and mouths an 'I love you'.

She's about to do the same when movement catches in the corner of her eye. She turns to look, confused, but there's nothing there.

"Elena Gilbert, ten years ago we were just two kids in love. Somehow, that love has grown every day I've spent with you. Your endless compassion, willingness and ability to be completely selfless for those you love inspire me every day. I vow to make you feel as cared for and loved as you've made me feel. I love you. I'll always love you."

She's about to begin her own vows when she gets distracted again by movement. This time when she looks, she sees a man in black leaning against the entrance to the church. His burgundy shirt is unbuttoned low enough to show off his collection of necklaces. He looks at her, amused.

"Elena?"

"Sorry," she looks back again and he's gone. "I thought I saw someone." When she turns back to Stefan, he's gone and she's in the woods, surrounded by fire and blood. Glowing eyes close in on her and she shuts her own tight.

"Elena? Are you okay?" She looks around and she's back in the church, standing in front of Stefan.

She clears her throat and then jumps when she feels a hand at her waist. She looks around wildly to see who it is, but no one is there. When she looks back at Stefan, he's frozen. Everyone is immobile, stuck in time.

She turns around and runs into his chest. "You should watch where you're going, sweetheart." For a moment, they are surrounded by old stone buildings. It seems familiar but it shouldn't because she's never left Mystic Falls.

"Who are you?" She's back in the church and discovers her mom, dad and John are gone. Stefan's eyes have gone black. He's frozen like the rest of them, but she can feel him staring at her.

"None of this is real, love. I'm real. He is your past. I am your here and now. Your future. Wake up, Wolf-Kissed." He leans down and brings her face to meet his, his hand firm at the back of her neck. It feels so natural and familiar, his hand at her throat. His yellow eyes sear into her brain and instead of running, she lets him gather her in his arms. When he descends on her, protruding fangs and intent to devour, she welcomes it.