A/N: This author's note probably should have come sooner, but while some of the characters in this story are used from The Originals, I have personally never watched the show. All personalities in this story of those characters are based off my ideas, but overall owned by the TV Network and many others not me. Review and enjoy!

It had been days since Elijah had seen his family. Since the night his brother had found out about him and Hayley, Niklaus had not shown his face around. In addition, Kol could barely look at him, spending most of his time away from the house. And as for his baby sister, she kept to herself, mostly avoiding him.

Elijah had been utterly helpless.

He sat alone for days thinking about what he had done and what a colossal mistake it had been to allow for such a thing to happen. He wasn't sure why he had allowed Hayley to kiss him. He risked it all and lost. And for what? He had no real feelings towards the wolf girl.

At first, admittedly, he found her interesting. He was captivated by how she saw the challenges of New Orleans. And through that, they had gotten to know one another. She moved into the compound and he had more and more opportunities to get to know her. While he still had Elena in his life and he was happy and in love with her, he enjoyed having Hayley around with him.

And then she kissed him. He sat out on the Louisiana patio by himself enjoying the night view and she came up to him. They chatted and he discussed his past dreams he wished for and lost sight of, and then she kissed him. It took him by surprise and a deep part of him was comforted by the kiss. Here was a woman in front of him who fancied him. But then he thought of Elena and how her lips felt against his. And immediately he had pulled back and pushed her away from him.

Hayley was nothing in comparison to Elena. He wanted to be with Elena, not the wolf girl. And so, he rushed home to be with her, to correct his mistake and bask in her compassion. When he arrived back at Klaus's Mansion and she jumped in his arms, he knew he was home. She was his home. And now she was gone.

Having enough self-pity and brooding, Elijah got up. He had no idea where to find her but he knew how to track a person. He needed to find Elena and apologize. He'd vow to amend what he had done, but he had to find her to do that. It couldn't be too hard, could it?

Bonnie had completed the massacres without them even realizing. It had taken them a solid week to figure out what she had done from the time Elena called Caroline about her hunch and talking with Bonnie.

Their friend was sick. She was taken over by dark magic and planning to drop the veil as soon as she knew how. They weren't sure how to stop her. But then they didn't have to. Suddenly Bonnie's dad had come home and taken it from there. Both Elena and Caroline were weary of such, but they didn't seem to have a choice. Neither of them studied witchcraft.

"I still can't believe we missed it," Caroline said talking with Elena and Matt. "How could we have missed the signs? I mean, it was plastered all over the news for God sakes!" The mass killings that had been on the news were Bonnie's doing.

"How were we supposed to believe Bonnie was out killing people?" Matt asked. "She was fine at prom and it wasn't until now that she cracked."

"Yeah, killing going on mass killing sprees will do that to you," Caroline huffed.

Elena sat quietly in her chair playing with her straw. It was hard to believe Bonnie had done those things. She barely used to be able to kill a fly and now she was on a mass killing spree? It had gotten past all her friends and Elena didn't know when she stopped checking in on her bestie.

"Anyway," Matt sighed. They could argue until they were blue in the face but it wouldn't help anything. "Elena, how is the new place? I heard from Caroline you two put a lot a work into fixing the place up."

Snapping out her daze, Elena looked to Matt and smiled a smile that couldn't quite reach her eyes. "We did. And it's nice. Rebekah picked out some furniture that goes really well with everything."

"Have you heard from Klaus at all?" Caroline asked softly to her friend. While Caroline would say she didn't care, Elena knew otherwise. She was worried for her hybrid friend.

Elena shook her head.

"Elena," a voice called that send shivers down her spine. She froze in her seat. Elijah.

Seeing the look on Elena's face made Matt step into action. While he was only human, he couldn't let his friend get hurt again. "You should get out of here man," Matt said, stopping Elijah from taking a step closer to his friend.

Elijah had finally found her after days of tracing her. Her scent was all over the small town making it difficult to pinpoint. It had just so happened he tried inside the Grill. Glancing down to Matt's hand on his chest, Elijah narrowed his eyes. Normally he would be respectful and be courteous to Matt Donovan, but he needed to see Elena.

Before Elijah could do anything he might regret, Elena pushed out her chair and got up. "It's okay, Matt" Elena said, sifting her hands through her hair. She looked a bit different. He couldn't tell what it was about her. Staring at her as she talked briefly with her friends, he got it. She wore her hair wavy.

Guiding Elijah outside, she stood outside the Grill and waited for him to talk.

"How have you been?" He asked her, clearing his throat. She looked beautiful, even in a simple white tee shirt and ripped jeans. He missed conversing with her.

She shook her head. He couldn't do this. He couldn't just demand for her and drag her out here to exchange pleasantries. Didn't he understand how much he had hurt her?

"Elijah, what do you want?" She leaned back against the restaurant's brick wall, unable to look at him for more than a few seconds. God, she missed him.

"Elena….I-…" He realized he hadn't planned on what to say to her, he just felt the need to find her.

She waited until the silence between them was overwhelming. Pushing herself off the wall she went to go walk back inside. He caught her arm as she tried to pass him. It stopped her. "Please…don't go."

It was the desperateness in her voice that made Elena break in her spot. Glancing at his hand that held her in his grasp, she slowly moved her eyes upward, seeing an unusual sight. He looked like an absolute wreck. His eyes were bloodshot and red, face unshaven so that a dark shadow of hair covered his cheeks. His hair was somewhat disheveled and out of place, and from what she could tell in the darkness, he was wearing a wrinkly black tee shirt and jeans, covered by a black overcoat.

"I miss you," he shuttered as his eyes were filling with tears. Slowly lessening his grip on her, he grazed the back of his hand down against her bare skin, ever so slowly, putting his hand in hers.

Her eyes watched as he caressed her fingers. It shot shockwaves up her belly and electrocuted her heart. She pulled back from him, her hand vanishing from his.

"Was it good?" she asked him softly. His eyebrows furrowed and he stared at her. Glancing to him, she held onto her anger, as tears spilled from her eyes. "The kiss with Hayley. Was it as good as you wanted it to be?"

Elijah shook his head, disturbed by her question. Why would she ask such a thing?

"I want to know," she pushed strongly. "I want to understand what it was that made you felt like you could go off and kiss her. What was it about her?" she asked angrily to Elijah. Tears fell harder and Elena was so tired of crying. Elijah stayed silent.

Elena tried to reel in her heartbreak. Stopping herself from lashing out further, she closed her eyes and tried to pull herself together. Inhaling a deep breath, she wiped the tears from her face.

"I keep telling myself it was just a kiss," she said in a gentler tone. "I tell myself that it was a kiss that meant nothing and it was an accident that it happened."

Elijah looked down at her, hoping that it was working. The kiss Hayley gave him really didn't mean anything to him.

"And I look at you and-" she sniffled. "I miss you so much." Tentatively, she reached her hand up and put it on his cheek. God, she even missed the feel of his skin. She took in everything about his face, every gorgeous inch.

Elijah brought his hand up to cover hers. He closed his eyes, savoring the feeling of her hand on his face. He missed being so close with her. His heart ached to be with her.

"And then I look at these," she said grazing her thumb over his lips. They were still so soft, so perfect. "and… I can't." With a tear, she dropped her hand and went to walk away.

The cold air hit his face and his body shivered for her. "Elena," he begged for her as she made it steps away.

"I kissed you, Elijah!" she yelled turning around to him. Tears were overflowing her eyes. "The night of the ball I kissed you and it changed everything for me. Our lips touched and it meant everything," she told him.

Elijah stood there with tears down his cheeks. He saw the hurt deep in her eyes.

"You don't just kiss a girl," Elena said to him. "Not her. Stay away from me."

Turning back around she walked back into the Grill with her friends.

The next time she saw Elijah it was a week later. They had all flown down to New Orleans support Klaus and Hayley in putting on a baby shower. Practically the entire community in New Orleans was invited to the party. Klaus had wanted to invite everyone, so that all would know he was expecting a child. The party was a perfect opportunity to personally acknowledge to each and every one of them, that if anyone ever were to go after his child, they'd suffer a death worse than hell.

Elena thought it was an interesting way to go.

Klaus had seemingly collected himself better than Elena over the weeks. While he was not on great speaking terms with Elijah, he had sorted things out with Hayley. They didn't plan to stay together, rather he was there only for the child.

"Elena! Where are the balloons?" Rebekah called, setting up a table in the atrium. Grabbing the bundle, Elena went over to Rebekah and helped her continue to decorate. Every inch of the compound was somehow covered in decorations. From lights to lanterns, Rebekah had pulled out everything.

"Wow," a familiar voice said. Elena froze. It was her first-time seeing Hayley after the incident. She wasn't sure if she was ready to handle seeing her, or her and Elijah, in the same room, regardless of Klaus's presence.

"You guys really decorated the hell out of this place," Hayley commented with Klaus in tow. Elena wasn't sure if she should take that as a compliment.

"Guest should be arriving any minute," Rebekah spoke.

"Elena," a savior voice called. Over a distance was Kol who was by a banister of lights. "Excuse me," Elena said politely. Walking as casually as possible over to Kol, she thanked him telepathically for saving her.

"Did you need help?" she wondered when she saw the lights weren't on.

"No, I just needed to come up with an excuse for Bex to let you go," Kol said plugging the lights back in. It brightened the room a bit. Let the party begin.

"So, who are you?" a couple of girls with fancy drinks asked Elena. "How do you know the Mikaelson family?" They looked at her, waiting for answers but Elena wasn't sure what to say. "I'm…"

Was she still Elijah's girlfriend? Saying it felt wrong, but letting it go felt worse.

"Just a family friend," Elena settled on with her glass of champagne in her hand. Their looks of her were unimpressed. They stayed and chatted for a while, mostly talking near Elena, not with her. She listened as they gossiped about meaningless things – how good-looking each man was, how lucky Hayley was, how none of the men were taken, and on and on.

When Elena was finally able to part from them, she watched they stood a few feet away and talking about her behind her back.

"She's not even that pretty," one of the girls said, glancing to Elena.

"She looks too young to even be here. There is no way any of them could have interest in her."

It continued on for hours like this. Elena had to make her way through endless amounts of small chat, while avoiding Elijah, and pretending she was happy. She sat through a long threatening speech from Klaus, and then gift opening.

Whoever thought transitioning to a vampire was hard, should come to this, she grumbled to Kol in her mind. She was trapped sitting in the crowd of people while Hayley and Klaus went undyingly slow in opening their baby gifts. She could feel Elijah's eyes practically boring holes into her, as he stared at her from afar.

Kol tried to hold back a snort. Everyone sat watching and ooo-ing at the gifts being presented.

I remember you had a particularly hard transition, Kol noted.

In comparison to this? She asked Kol. Piece of cake.

After presents were finished, more socialization occurred. Elena stood around, trying hard to think of excuses to get her out of here. But she also lived in the compound. It made it a bit harder to leave the party when everyone was where you lived. Elena swallowed the rest of her glass of champagne in one gulp. She needed to get away from this place. If she had to introduce herself one more time and listen to the opinions of others on her presence, she was going to scream.

Pushing her way through crowd of guests, she grabbed another glass of champagne from the waiters trays and looked for an empty space. Her journey though the hurdles of judgy individuals was almost never-ending. It wasn't until she found a gap near some doors that she stepped inside.

Elena closed her eyes and sighed against the back of the door. Peace and quiet.

Hearing the sound of a toilet flushing, Elena immediately opened her eyes and put a hand over her face.

"Uh, I think you are in the wrong room," the man said with a laugh, adjusting his pants at the urinal.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry," Elena said shutting her eyes. She had pushed her way into the men's room. Could this get any worse right now?

"I don't blame you if you're looking for a place to hide," he told her, walking his way over to the sink. "The party and the people can get to be a bit much."

Elena opened her eyes and smiled with a tilted head at the black man. He was probably the first one here to believe that.

"Marcel," he introduced himself through the mirror with a nod, as he washed his hands.

"Elena," she smiled. The man was handsome. Tall and muscular with short black hair, he flashed her a pearly white grin.

"So, who are you hiding from Elena?" Marcel asked.

"Just about everyone, I think," she answered. They both laughed. "I'm a family friend, how about you?" she wondered. She wanted to get the dire question everyone seemed to want to know, out of the way.

"Same," Marcel said turning off the faucets and grabbing some paper towels. He faced her then, with his back to the sink. There was something about him that reminded her of the Mikaelsons.

"Well, I better get out there," Elena told him with a small blush.

Marcel chuckled. "Right. Well I'll give you a head start so no one jumps to any conclusions."

She smiled graciously at him before slipping out of the men's room.

"Did you just come out from the men's room?" Kol asked catching her a few moments after she walked through more people. He had been looking for her since the gifts ended. Each time he swore he found her; someone had come up to talk with him.

"It's a long story," she sighed to Kol. Sipping her champagne, she glanced around. Food, cake and gifts were all done. Weren't people going to leave soon?

Kol excused himself from Elena as he was called away. She was back to being alone.

"In New Orleans, parties don't tend to end quickly," a familiar voice told her. Smiling, she turned around and met Marcel.

"Good to know," she grinned.

"Bored?" he wondered next to her.

"Slowly dying," she assured him. He gave a hearty laugh, as she sipped some more of her champagne. Elena watched from a distance as a small crowd of girls began talking and looking over at her. Was it ever going to end?

"Not all the parties in New Orleans are this lame," he murmured to Elena as they stood next to one another.

"Do they include this much gossip?" Elena wondered to him. When she looked around, it seemed to be the only thing people could do.

He shrugged. "Only if it deals with the Mikaelsons."

Elena nodded. Of course. Klaus would have it no other way.

"Elena," Elijah's voice called to her. Elena stiffened and Marcel took note of it.

"There you are," he huffed, having to make his way through dozens of people. Turning to see who she had been talking to, he raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing here Marcellus?" Elijah asked in a deep voice.

"Can't I wish the happy couple best wishes?" he asked Elijah. They glared at one another and Elena stood there confused.

"How do you two know each other?" she wondered.

Elijah's jaw clenched. "Marcellus is the adoptive and former protégé of Niklaus," he answered.

Elena's eyebrows shot up to her forehead. "Family friend?" she echoed, with an interested look.

He gave a shoulder shrug and quick wink to her.

Elijah growled. "Leave."

Marcel pretending to think about it and then shook his head. Crossing his arms to flex his muscles he glanced around. "No, I don't think I will. I'm the king here. I'll go wherever I damn well please. You're in my territory, Elijah," he said darkly.

Elena glanced to the confused. Is this what Klaus and Elijah have been dealing with while in New Orleans? Marcel?

Ignoring the macho man battle that was occurring, Elena tossed back the rest of her champagne in her mouth once more, set it on the waiter's tray that was passing by, and walked off.

"Elena. Elena, stop," Elijah called. Ignoring him, she pushed her way past all the people and went to leave the compound. She'd find a hotel if she had to. She couldn't stand to be here any longer. An arm reached out and grabbed hers.

"Where are you running off to?" he asked. He was concerned. She could see it in his eyes. Goosebumps formed on her arms, as she felt him lightly graze her skin with his fingertips. It brought flashbacks to when he caught her at the ball going to find Esther.

Pulling away from him, she shook herself out of the fog he was putting her under. "I need to get out of here. I just…" She looked up to him with sorrow filled eyes. She was dying inside and she wished she could talk to him, like really talk with him, but she couldn't.

Closing her eyes, she wished her tears away. "Please, let me go," she spoke softly. Neither of them was sure if it was truly what she wanted, but he did. Dropping his hand, he let her walk off and further into the city.

She found herself at a bar of all places. She was never really one to drown her sorrows in alcohol or at least she didn't think she was, but here she was, ordering shots of tequila. Apparently, she looked old enough.

Tossing back the alcohol, she licked the salt from her hand and ate the lime.

"So, from what I hear. You and Elijah have some sort of romantic history," Marcel's voice called. It was accusatory, but in a light and friendly way. "Family friend, huh?"

So, they both lied. Seeing him sit down next to her, she wondered how he had found him.

"I'm king of this city," he told her, calling the bartender over and ordering himself a shot of tequila. "I know things."

Elena glanced around and wondered who had told Marcel she was here. Was it really true he ran the city? What had happened between him in Klaus that they were now at odds with one another?

"So, what is it?" Marcel asked, downing a shot of his own. "He broke your heart or something?" he wondered glancing at her two other shots of tequila awaiting next to her.

Reaching for one of the glasses, she tossed back the liquor, licked the salt and ate the lime. "What was so bad that made you hate Klaus so much?" He wanted to talk deep and stab at her fresh wounds, she would gladly do the same.

Marcel smirked and shut up. Touché.

"Don't get me wrong," said, sucking on the lime "Klaus has done enough harm to everyone's lives that I'm sure there is a long list of bad things he's done to you. But to hate him, well, that means at one point you truly cared for him."

Marcel was interested in this girl. It still wasn't exactly clear how Elena fit in with the Mikaelson family, but it worked out perfectly to know she held some meaning to them. She was fascinating and maybe, just maybe, he could use her to his advantage. "Sounds like you have quite a few Klaus stories then," he smiled.

She gulped her last shot down, her face puckering from the taste of the alcohol. "You have no idea," she stated darkly. She was sure to regret all of this alcohol consumption in the morning. Her hangover was going to be killer.

Marcel took her out around town. Elena knew to keep her guard up around him, but in spending time with him, she saw something in him. There was a façade, and then the real Marcel. The more time she spent with him the more she began to see it.

They ended the night at some small bed and breakfast away from the chaos of downtown. It was quieter, calmer.

"This is one of my favorite places," Marcel told her as they sipped their coffees. They had ordered food in the quaint little restaurant attached the B&B. "I don't know how they do it -maybe there's some soundproof foam in the drywall, but they shield out the city's noise. I sit here sometimes and it just feels…"

"peaceful," she filled in for him glancing all around.

"Exactly," he agreed. Glancing at his coffee, he tried to strike conversation. "Are you staying in town long?"

Elena shook her head. If she had any say about it, she'd be leaving tomorrow. While Rebekah had planned for them all to stay the months until Hayley and Klaus's child was born, there was no way in hell she could stay here. "I plan to fly out tomorrow if I can sneak past Klaus." She knew that he would disprove of the idea. He wanted her around for his miracle baby.

"I'm from a small town," she explained. "and while New Orleans is great, I don't think I'm cut out for all the parties and chaos."

"Ah," he said with a small laugh. "What you mean to say is you aren't cut out for Mikaelson parties."

She looked at him again, this time with furrowed brows. It was his second time notioning to this.

"Klaus doesn't know how to party," Marcel answered. "He may think he does, but when you're ready to see a real New Orleans party, let me know."

Elena tried to hide an interested smirk. Klaus would be utterly pissed to hear this right now.

They continued to chat for hours. With plates of pancakes devoured between them, they chatted about all sorts of random things. Elena got to learn about Marcel's background, while he heard about the town of Mystic Falls. She had told him about her life, and he, in turn, shared his. Each of them learned that, while they were quite different from one another, they shared many things in common –including their relationship with a certain hybrid.

"Thank you for tonight," she told Marcel as he walked her back to the compound. She didn't see him as an enemy as Klaus and his family did, and she told him that. She meant it because no matter the beef they had with him, she did not. She didn't want any part of that drama, and he liked that about her.

"Thank you, Elena," Marcel said. By the end of the night, he no longer wanted to use her as a pawn against Klaus. He found he didn't want to stoop low like his own father had. He wanted to be better. Like the Mikaelson he was though, he reached for her hand and kissed the back of it. "Have a safe flight home."

She had slipped quietly through the compound and almost to her room when Klaus's voice stopped her.

"I thought you would've had the decency to stick around," he called to her.

She sighed. She knew she shouldn't have taken the pathway through the study to get to her room. Spinning on heel, she turned around to face him.

"Where have you been?" he asked darkly.

Elena suddenly felt like a teenager who had snuck out and got caught by her dad. She didn't like the feeling. "I don't have to answer to you."

Within seconds of saying what she did, he ran to her, grabbing her by the neck and holding her up. Elena wasn't afraid. Instead she was pissed. Using the moves he had taught her; she escaped his hold and they fought. Knowing one another's moves, they quickly stood deadlocked in one another's grasp.

"I needed you today," he told her in a whisper as they stood face to face. His eyes showed vulnerability.

Her grasp lightened.

"You looked fine on your own and with Hayley. Plus, you had your family around." She let go of him.

Klaus's eye twitched and he turned away from her to build up his emotional walls from her. He truly had been worried when the party was over and Elijah told her she disappeared. "And you were supposed to be there. You told me you'd be there."

"I was there," she said strongly. She wasn't going to let him guilt her for leaving. "I stayed and chatted and watched as you opened gifts. I was there, Klaus. But…" she looked away shamefully. There was only so much she could take and she wished she was strong enough to handle it. "I don't belong here anymore," she told him. "As much as I think I'm a part of this family, I'm not. I can't stay here and pretend this is my life."

He looked over his shoulder at her. How could she think that she didn't belong?

"I have to go, and you have to let me. You are doing just fine here."

"You are my doppelgänger," he said darkly. "Mine. You go when I say you can."

Possessiveness was something she was not in the mood for right now, and apparently, the gentle approach wasn't right for him.

"Was," she corrected with anger. "I was your doppelgänger, but even that changed. I don't carry the blood to change your hybrids anymore, Klaus. I gave you what I had left before I got turned. I am no use to you anymore."

She went to leave, tired of his ridiculous attitude. One minute he was emotional, and the next a total asshole. She was done with this tonight.

"Elena!" he barked. She stopped and waited.

"Stop defining yourself by Elijah. It is not because of your romantic relations you stayed in this family."

She only glanced over her shoulder at him. "Then why?"

She didn't think he was going to answer, he was silent for so long. "Because you saved us all," he said softly. "You became a Mikaelson the night you pledged your allegiance to us all and saved us from being bonded by our blood. It was our own mother who wanted to destroy us, and here you were doing all you could to save us. I would not be here if it weren't for you."

She shook her head and turned around. "You would have found a way around it, Klaus. And just because I did what I did, doesn't mean that you or your family owe me one. You've done enough for me, as it is. My choices are my own."

With one last glance to him, she departed from the room and packed her bags to leave New Orleans.

The earliest flight out of New Orleans departed at 7am. Elena made sure to get up extra early and be as quiet as possible to sneak out of the compound. She was sure Rebekah would be mad at her and Kol probably worried, but she needed to do what was best for her, and New Orleans was not it. Just as she was packing her makeup bag in her duffle, a light knock on her door came.

She didn't know who it was but she had a feeling. Walking to her door, she opened it slowly and peeked out. Elijah. He stood there dressed in one of his usual suits with an uncertain look on his face, one hand tucked in his pocket. "May I come in?" he wondered.

Part of her wanted to say no. She wanted to shut the door on his face, grab her bag and run to the airport. But she couldn't. Opening the door wider, she let him in.

Elijah's eyes immediately settled on the bag that sat on her bed. "You're leaving." He said it more as a matter of fact than a question, as she shut the door behind him.

Trying not to be rattled by his presence, Elena pushed off from the back of the doorknob. "What do you need, Elijah?"

"You," he answered simply. They both knew that wasn't what she was asking, but he didn't care. She was trying to leave. So, instead, he pushed her. He pushed at her feelings for him. He couldn't let her leave with so much unsaid between them. She couldn't just leave him.

Elena hesitated, trying to calm her racing heart. No, he would not get under her skin. He couldn't come in here and do this.

"I'd like for us to talk, to actually have a conversation with one another about what happened."

Her body went ridged. He wanted to talk about how he kissed Hayley. No thanks.

"There isn't really much to say," she muttered. Walking back to her bathroom, she grabbed her last few things –curling iron, necklace, daylight ring. Pausing, she played with the ring and its inscription before slipping it on her finger. She really needed to get a new one.

"You know that isn't true," he told her strongly. "You can't just leave without saying something, Elena. We are in a relationship. There is two of us here."

He talked to her like a child and it burned her with anger. "Relationship?" she questioned to him with narrowed eyes. "No, we are not in a relationship Elijah. A relationship requires trust and honesty. It's a vow of loyalty. Our relationship died the moment you and Hayley kissed."

He didn't get to talk to her like this. Zipping up her bag, she swung it over her shoulder and went to leave for the airport.

Elijah sped over and put himself in between her and the door. He knew she'd back up from his proximity.

"You told everyone here you were a family friend," he noted. "Is that why?" He didn't want to believe that things were over between them. He couldn't process that he had screwed up things so unbelievably horrible, that they couldn't go back. He needed to show her that they could make it through this. He needed to make this right.

She said looking away from him. They were no longer a couple. She was not his girlfriend. And now he was holding her hostage in her room.

"But you still came here," he said motioning to the compound. No. There had to be more. He had thought about it all night. There was always more to Elena, one just had to chip away at it until she'd let someone in and show them. "You stayed here and did all of this for Hayley. You put an entire baby shower on for her."

She was quiet.

"You can't just tell me it was all for her," he alleged. Taking a risk, he took a few small steps towards her. He'd still be quick enough to catch her at the door if she tried to leave.

"You're right," she breathed. Sniffling her tears away, she bit her lip to try and compose herself. She couldn't do this anymore. She had to say goodbye and let him go. Wasn't that why she was leaving to begin with? "I didn't do it for Hayley. I can barely look at her without thinking about..."

He turned away ashamed for a minute.

Elena wiped some tears away and Elijah's heart thumped. He had her. There was more to say and he stared at her longing with hope. She had come to New Orleans with him and his family. She had stuck around and had put on this outrageous party. She didn't do it for the good of Hayley. So why? She had to have still loved him to do all this. Somewhere inside Elena still loved Elijah, and he vowed to find that and remind her of it.

"I did it for Klaus," she answered. The words enraged him to hear and he balled his fist in his pocket.

"Niklaus?" he echoed with a questioning tone, trying to keep his voice level.

Elena met his eyes. "I'm done, Elijah. I thought I could do this, but I can't. This party has showed me I am not cut out for this."

He furrowed his brows, lost at what she was saying.

"I thought I could be a part of your family. I tried convincing myself that even though we were not together, I was still a part of something. But I'm not. I came here to show my support for Klaus and now that I've done that, I'm gone. I can't stay for Hayley and I can't be around for this baby. You-…"

Her throat constricted with tears. "I can't be around you. I can't love you and hate you at the same time. It's exhausting."

His heart dropped. "Elena…" He took a few more steps towards her, slowly coming to stand in front of her. He tucked his hand in hers and touched his head to hers.

Tears fell down Elena's face. She ached at his proximity; at the way she could smell his cologne as he stayed in front of her.

"I don't want to love you anymore; can't you see that?" she asked him, slipping her hand away from his and backing up. She on the verge of hysterics. The tape she put around her heart to mend what he broke, started to become undone. "I can't look at you or be in the same room with you. I can't know what it's like to be in your arms, or to smell your scent and be reminded of how it comforts me."

His chest was burning.

"I-I c-can't-…" she tried taking in deep breaths. She covered her face with her hands and tried to compose herself. She needed to get this out and say goodbye. She needed to get and give closure for the two of them. Wiping her tears, she shook her head.

"We are done, Elijah. I didn't come here for you; I came to support and say goodbye to you and your family." With that, she walked past him and to the door.

"What about Kol?" he asked before she could leave. He stood with his back to her. "You two are connected. You can't just leave him."

Elena wiped a tear. He was right about that. "Kol has become one of my best friends," she said with passion. "And that's how it will stay. But I can't be a Mikaelson. I can't let myself think I can be a part of your family." She took in a deep breath and stared at his back. "Klaus believes I belong because I saved you all, but it isn't true. I may have made that choice, but that doesn't mean I am family. It's not 'always and forever' with me. You broke my belief in that." she murmured her last sentence softly.

With one last look to Elijah's backside, she left the compound and never looked back.