A/N: Double chapter. You guys are great!

They made it to New Orleans by early evening. Hope had stayed awake most of the flight thanks to Elena and so they had a fairly peaceful time eating dinner and packing.

"Okay, I am getting out here," Elena said walking down to the atrium where the boys were packing. Donned in heavy makeup and a curly styled updo, she put in her other dangly earring and checked on Hope in her carrier still fast asleep. "Klaus, don't forget to use the diaper rash cream when she gets up and you change her."

"Where are you going?" He barked as Elena went looking around for phone. All three men tracked her with their eyes. Besides her choice of hair and makeup, she was wearing a tight, long sleeve black romper dress that covered just below her butt and plunged deeply in the chest.

"Out," she answered curtly. Looking around, she finally found her phone. Running back up to her room at vampire speed and back down the atrium, she unplugged the phone from its charger and stuffed it in her clutch.

"Like that?" Kol asked her. Every man was about to throw themselves at her with the way she looked. He had never seen her look so…sexy.

Elena looked at all of them with a raised eyebrow. Klaus looked pissed, Kol stunned, and Elijah a mix of jealousy and desire. "Yes, like this. If you have a problem with it, I suppose you keep it to yourself."

She checked her hair one last time and grabbed her shoes from the floor, holding herself up by a bunch of stacked boxes to put on her strappy black heels.

"I'll be home…sometime. Don't wait up. My phone is charged and I will have it on me. And I also can reach you all by Kol if need be," she told them. She thought having one brother was bad. It was like having 3 –or well, 2 and…Elijah.

Elijah cleared his throat. "Let Kol and I go with you. We can show you are the city."

"Thank you for the offer, but I'm going out with a friend who plans to show me that," Elena answered. She really didn't want the 50-question interrogation. Checking to make sure she had everything, she found she forgot her bracelets.

"Damn it," she swore. Slipping off her shoes, she ran back upstairs at vampire speed and came back to her shoes, securing her jewelry.

"Who is taking you?" Elijah wondered. He couldn't help himself. She looked…stunning. The outfit not only showed off her chest, but accentuated her long-toned legs.

Elena leaned against the table near Elijah, and he held back a groan. He could practically see down the front of her dress, not to mention smell the sweet scent of her hair products.

Ignoring his last question, she smiled down to Hope. "Take care of my girl," Elena told the men before turning on heel.

"Elena," Klaus growled. Giving the three of them a wave as she walked, she left the compound and set eyes on her guide. Smiling, Elena walked across the street, feeling the stares of the Mikaelson men on her, and dashed over to Marcel. Jogging up to him, she gave him a hug.

"Hey," he smiled with that smooth voice. Pulling away, his eyes scanned her gorgeous body. "You look absolutely amazing."

"Thank you," she smiled. He looked pretty handsome as well, dressed in a plain dark grey tee and black jacket. He wore a long leather strap necklace with a silver starling pendant, and had on dark blue jeans.

Hearing iron break, Elena guessed it was probably Elijah or Klaus.

If anyone so much as follows me, I will tear your limbs off, Elena threatened telepathically to Kol. Knowing they were about ready to grab her from Marcel, Elena quickly began their night. "So, ready to show me around?"

"Of course," he grinned. Holding out his arm for her she wrapped it in his and off they went.

"Marcellus?" Klaus asked surprised as three men stood around the atrium. Kol had passed along Elena's threat.

"I saw her at the party with him last time we were here, but I didn't think they had grown close," Elijah growled. Jealousy cursed through his veins.

Klaus gave a mad laugh. Marcellus. Of course, Elena would attract herself to the largest danger and his biggest problem of New Orleans. His doppelgänger was a danger magnet.

"We need to go after her, Niklaus. She could be in danger."

"I highly doubt that, Elijah," Kol answered. As much as he didn't like his best friend socializing with their enemy or making his brother jealous, Elena was pleased to live whatever life she wanted to live. "Let her be. She can spend her time how she pleases."

Elijah clenched his jaw.

It was around 6 in the morning when she returned back to the compound. Marcellus had taken her everywhere –from clubs to bars to little niches in the city. They danced, drank, and returned to their favorite B&B for more pancakes. The entire night never touched the Mikaelsons, Marcel's past, or anything dark and dangerous. Instead, they just enjoyed the company.

"I'm glad you came back," Marcel smiled to Elena as he walked her home. The girl was a lot of fun and knew how to party. She could hold her liquor too.

"Me too," she smiled. "New Orleans was definitely better the second time around, I'll give you that," she laughed.

"See! I told you. We know how to have fun."

Elena agreed. When they got to the compound, he hugged her. "So, I'll see you tonight then?"

Elena furrowed her brows. "The party," Marcel chuckled. "Klaus is throwing his last big hurrah."

"You're going?" She wondered with bright eyes. She figured, considering he wasn't on Klaus's good list, he wouldn't be allowed in.

"Of course. I'm crashing," he smiled, which in return, made her smile and laugh as well.

Giving him a wave, Elena took a deep breath and crept back inside the compound. It was mostly empty and Elena was hoping everyone was all asleep.

"How was your time?" Elijah asked, waiting at the table in the atrium for her.

Damn.

"Uh, it was good." She felt like she was doing the walk of shame, seeing him with a pissed off look, staring at the table. Elena went to go walk up the staircase behind him.

"You say you are in love with me and then you go off with Marcellus. You don't return home until the next morning disheveled."

Elena twinged with anger. "You told me one night. 'One night, Elena' you said. And I gave that to you. And now you want to use that against me?" she asked marching back down the stairs. "I partied all night, Elijah. Marcel and I danced and drank and talked. I'm disheveled," she sneered, "because the clubs and the bars and all the dancing was hot and sweaty."

Elijah bit his tongue, imagining how she might have been dancing with Marcellus.

"I took my hair down, does that bother you too?" she pushed, making his eyes snapped to her. Her curly waves were now tousled around her face, her makeup still smokey eyed on her face. "My shoes are off too." She showed him, holding them up in her hands, and Elijah's eyes went to the deep-v of her outfit. "Marcel is my friend. He's been kind and nothing but an awesome tour guide around this city."

"He's completely against Niklaus!" Elijah shouted standing up.

"Who isn't?!" she yelled back.

Their echoed voices woke up Hope and they could hear her beginning to cry.

Spinning on heel, Elena went to go back upstairs to sleep. Klaus was going to be pissed at for waking his daughter.

"You love me, Elena," Elijah said softer. "You can't just bury that away."

Elena's shoulders dropped. "Why?" she asked.

"Because I love you too."

She closed her eyes, having a hard time dealing with that. They loved each other and yet, she made sure to keep herself apart from him. Maybe it wasn't fair, but she was starting to see him loving her and unable to let her be, wasn't either.

"Goodnight, Elijah," she spoke and climbed the stairs up to bed.

There was banging on her door, breaking her dead slumber. Groaning, she put a pillow over her head hoping the sound would stop. More rapping against her door made her huff.

"Go away, Elijah!"

She tucked herself further in the bed. More knocking.

She was going to kill him.

Swinging the door open, her eyes landed on Matt. "Matt?!"

"I'd go away, but I'm not Elijah," he smirked.

Elena gave a laugh and pulled him into a hug. He and Rebekah were supposed to be traveling Spain. "What are you doing here? Is Bex here too?"

"Yeah," he smiled. "We stopped back for this big party Klaus is having. I think Rebekah was going to surprise him?"

Elena was beyond happy to see Matt.

"Look, I'll let you get dressed and all. I figured we'd go explore the city, maybe find some coffee and food as well? I'll meet you downstairs. I'm sure Rebekah wants to see you as well."

Elena looked down to her tank top and shorts. Her hair was probably a mess from the earlier activities as well. "Yeah, that'd be great. I have to quickly shower and I'll be down in a bit."

Giving one last hug, Elena quickly got ready and went to spend time with her friend.

People were hanging up decorations and working on hanging things up around the atrium when Elena came downstairs. Walking over to Rebekah with a smile, she hugged her friend. "I've missed you so much," she sighed. It was never so nice to see Rebekah. The men in this family could get to be a bit much.

"Hey," Kol objected as he heard her thoughts.

"Sorry, but it's true," she told Kol as she pulled away from Rebekah.

"What? We're missing something," Matt said looking between her and Kol.

"Apparently Elena is happy to see Bex because of the men in this family," Kol reported.

"Too real," Rebekah agreed.

Everyone gave a chuckle.

"Ready?" Elena asked Matt. She didn't bother acknowledging Elijah at the table. She was sure he was probably having issue with her wearing jean shorts out around town.

"Uh, yeah, sure," he said, sensing some awkwardness between her and the vampire. Getting up, he grabbed his jacket and the two left to find a café.

"So, what was that back there?" Matt asked when they were far enough away.

Elena sighed. "I went out last night and Elijah took a fit."

Matt knew there was more to the story.

"There is this guy Marcel."

Matt's eyebrows shot up. He had no idea his best friend had moved on.

Reading his face, she shook his head. "It's not like that." Elena had to explain from the time she first met Marcel, to her one night with Elijah. and then her adventures last night, as they grabbed their food and coffee. She sighed. "I love Elijah, Matt. But…I don't know if I can ever trust him again."

"Are you ever going to give him a chance?" her childhood friend asked. "A real chance," he clarified as they sat outside of a café. "I mean, yeah, you guys were friends for a bit, but Elena, you even said it yourself. Being a friend is different than actually loving and dating someone."

Elena bit her lip.

"I don't know what to tell you. Maybe wait until your back home to figure it out. Enjoy yourself while you're here. That's what Rebekah and I have been doing."

Elena raised an eyebrow. Pushing Matt for details, he spilled everything that had happened on their trip and how he was really starting to fall for her.

"But I'm human, Elena," he sighed. "And it's not like I have any intention of being a vampire."

Elena shrugged. She had thought that too and then, well, she died. "Anything could happen Matt. It's not like you have to figure it out right now. You have years before you'd have to actually decide something like that."

"Do you miss being human?" he wondered as they walked home.

"Sometimes," she sighed. "But there is something that about being a vampire. I feel stronger. I'm faster. I'm not that fragile little girl that Damon and Stefan had to constantly save. I can take care of myself."

"You did some of that when you weren't a vampire," he noted, thinking when she saved Caroline from messed up Ric or saved everyone from the Pastor's ranch.

"But not completely," she argued. "When I was human, I was always a pawn in someone else's game. And since being a vampire, I've had enough power to take that back. I'm my own person and can save myself. I like that."

Matt did find it would be helpful not to be useless and incapable. Shaking it off, they were just about back. "So, this big ball thing…."

Elena told him all about her last experience to prepare her friend ahead of time for the even fancier party. "Now you just get to wear a tux," she said patting his shoulder.

Elena was running late for the party and Klaus was sure to kill her. After getting back with Matt, the hybrid handed his daughter off to her, finding Hope was cranky since her early morning wake up. And since it was her and Elijah's fault, she had to deal with it.

Hope been fine up until Elena had to get ready. The infant decided to take a fit in having to go with one of Klaus's hybrids, instead of staying in Elena's arms. She threw up on the fill-in caretaker and was only consolable when Elena had her. It made getting ready difficult and Elena had let the hybrid go change before trying to get Hope again.

It was Elijah who finally came to take baby. At first, Hope wasn't happy with the idea of being with Elijah, but she quickly got used to it as he walked her all around the atrium and showed her the pretty hanging lights.

So, Elena was racing around to get ready. Securing her black ankle wrap pump, she smoothed out her dress and let out a breath, walking out the bedroom door.

The party was already in swing. With drapes, fancy lights, and other decorations, the waitstaff and guests were all dressed in their formal wear. Elena stood at the second level banister, her eyes searching the crowd for a familiar face. She was hoping to stick by Matt or maybe Rebekah.

Glancing around, her eyes found Elijah. He stood waiting at the bar. With his attention catching hers, he stood with his body now facing her, eyes gazed in awe of her.

She was dressed more conservatively than when she went out with Marcel. She wore almost no makeup, this time keeping her face light and natural; and instead of a deep plunge line down her chest, she wore a simple high neck two-piece dress.

The back was open, exposing her skin, while the skirt was layers of tulle. It showed just enough of her toned abdomen while the olive-green color accentuated her skin nicely. She wore her hair wavy and tussled and didn't bother with earrings.

Breaking her eye contact from Elijah, Elena finished scanning the rest of the crowd familiar faces. Not finding any, she picked up her dress and slowly made her way down the stairs. It didn't seem like Marcel had showed up yet either.

"You're late," Klaus growled to her with a smile plastered to his face as soon as her feet hit the floor.

Smiling as people passed, she spoke angrily to him through her teeth. "Yes, well your daughter didn't want to leave my arms. Luckily, Elijah took her and I was able to get ready."

Elena grabbed a glass of champagne from a waiter. "Can I go now?"

Klaus glanced down at her and spoke quietly to her. "How was your time with Marcellus?" His fake smile faded.

"He was a lot of fun," Elena answered honestly as she sipped her drink. She knew the real reason why he was asking. "I think he misses you too."

Elena glanced around the crowd and smiled. And there he was. "But maybe you should ask him yourself." Giving him a look, she picked up her dress and went to go greet her friend.

"Well, look at you," she teased, accepting the kiss he placed on her cheek.

"I could say the same about you," his eyes glittered. "You look beautiful."

"Exquisite, I'd say, but that's just me."

Elena turned around to face Elijah, who hid a smile behind his pursed lips.

Turning back to Marcel, his manner shifted. "What are you doing here, Marcellus?"

"Crashing," he answered blatantly. Elena tried to hide her smile but Marcel had caught it and winked at her.

Elijah narrowed his eyes at the man.

"Uh… -and, I guess someone else is too," Marcel said looking over their shoulders. Turning to see who he was talking about, Elijah and Elena both laid eyes on Hayley.

All of the happiness drained from Elena's face. Hayley wore a bright red, off the shoulder princess gown with her hair curled and swept to one side. With matching bright red lipstick to draw attention to her lips, Elena looked away feeling sick.

Go to your left and walk towards the back Kol told her in her head.

"Um, if you'll both excuse me," Elena said with a forced smile. Following Kol's directions, she went walking towards the back of the atrium, almost running into him.

"Are you alright?" he asked grabbing onto her shoulders after seeing Hayley here. Klaus was already walking towards the former mother, pissed as could be.

"Great," Elena breathed as nausea overtook her. She thought she was never going to see the woman again after the baby shower and split from Klaus, let alone be in the same room with her and Elijah again. "Can we just get out of here for a moment?"

"Of course," he said. Taking her drink and setting it down on a waiter's tray, he slipped his hand in hers and brought her out back.

"I really hate your parties," she told Kol when they got outside. The air was a bit colder and it felt good on her skin. Kol telepathically pushed some calm her way and she gladly took it.

"I have no idea why she is here," he muttered angrily. "she knows she is no longer welcome."

Elena shrugged and looked at her feet. "She's Hope's mother. She'll always be a part of your family somehow."

And it was that, Elena realized a big reason why she was afraid to ever be a part of the Mikaelson family again. Hayley. She'd somehow always be around, even if it was coming and going out of Hope's life. She would be a constant figure in all of their lives.

And it was why she couldn't trust being with Elijah. Because with Hayley always around, the reminder of the together would never truly ever fade. Elena would always have a reminder of that.

"Elena?" Kol wondered. Kol took off his jacket and put it around her.

"I don't think I can do this," she told Kol honestly as she leaned back against the wall and hiked her foot up against the brick. All the feelings and mixed emotions of love and lust, desire, sadness, happiness, and heartbreak; everything that surrounded Elijah, she was too overcome to deal with anymore.

"Elena!" Elijah's voice called. Rushing over to her, he put a hand on her face and brought his forehead to lay on hers. Elena gave shaky breaths, feeling sparks from his touch.

Kol slipped away quietly, giving them a moment. He had to help Niklaus deal with Hayley anyway.

"I can't Elijah," she told him, turning her face. He knew exactly what she was referring to. She couldn't love him anymore. She couldn't be in love with anymore. She had to be done.

"Elena-"

Her heart ached. "She's here, Elijah. Here." It was different than the baby shower. Back then, she was still under Klaus. She was carrying his child and forever off limits. But now, Hayley was back to Hayley, and she wasn't looking for attention from the crowd, she was looking for attention from a man. A particular man, Elena was sure.

"I know," he breathed, inching closer to Elena. He brought her hand up to his lips. "I know."

"She loves you, you know," Elena told him gently. "I really think she does."

Elijah shook his head, setting her hand down and placing his on her waist. "Hayley wants every man to lust after her. She'd love nothing more than to have Niklaus and I at her side. It's very much…. Katharine."

Elijah rubbed circles on the bare skin of her torso. "You look absolutely exquisite tonight, Elena."

She gave a small smile, one which he returned wholeheartedly. He brought her hand back up, embracing it with his and kissing it softly.

"Elena!" Matt called running out of the compound. Catching the intimate sight of her with Elijah, he looked back to the door. "Uh…I-"

"It's okay Matt," Elena laughed, pushing off the wall. Elijah stepped back, but continued to hold onto her hand.

"I saw Hayley," he said coming towards them. "Are you okay?"

Was she? "Yeah," she said taking in a deep breath. "I'm fine." Realizing Elijah still had her hand in his, she looked down, smiling at it.

"Klaus is taking a fit," Matt told her. "Rebekah moved them into the library so they wouldn't make a scene but-"

Elena sighed. Turning to Elijah, she gave him a knowing look. "You should go."

Immediately went to object.

"Elijah, it's your family. Hayley is a part of that too now. You have to go diffuse the situation." Elena hated being so compassionate sometimes. Realizing what she was saying and doing -pushing the one she was madly in love with to the woman that kissed him and his brother, she felt how much it sucked. But it was the right thing to do.

"Matt-"

"I got her," Matt said told Elijah, giving Elena a nod.

When Elijah left, Matt put his arm around his friend and guided her inside. "You know, you are a way better person than me."

"I highly doubt that," she told him laying her head against his shoulder.

The night couldn't end quick enough. Hayley had refused to leave until she saw her daughter and Klaus wouldn't let that happen until after the guests had left. So, Hayley stayed for the entire party, attempting to socialize and have fun. At one point during a traditional dance, where partners were continually swapped, she found herself paired to Elijah. Elena thought she was going to be sick at the sight of them in each other's arms, but Elijah quickly left Hayley on the dance floor and went to find his brother.

"You weren't kidding about these parties," Matt said standing around with Elena and Marcel. "They are boring."

The pair laughed, sneaking glances to one another. "Not all parties in New Orleans are this lame," Marcel said with familiarity to the conversation, slipping his drink with a smile.

"He knows how to have a good time," Elena told Matt, nodding to Marcel.

"So, does she," Marcel nodded back. The three of them chuckled.

"Well then I'll definitely need to come back then," the quarterback muttered before choking down the rest of his own drink.

The party was soon over after that. Elena walked Marcel out from the compound, not wanting to watch as Hayley held the child, she had been taking care of for months now.

"Don't be a stranger, okay?" Marcel told her, turning to face her. "Come back any time –maybe just not with the other guys," he said winking at her. Elena gave a small laugh. Giving him one last hug, she said her goodbyes and walked back in the house.

"She's so big," Elena heard Hayley marvel at Hope as she had her in her arms. Hope was fussing.

"Yes, well, children do grow up," Klaus said picking his daughter back up and setting her in his arms. She began to settle.

"Hope, it's your mommy, baby," Hayley cooed.

Elena wanted to throw up. Making her way up the stairs, she quickly walked into her room.

"What are you doing here?" Elena asked finding Elijah sitting on the edge of her bed waiting for her.

"Waiting for you," he answered simply.

Getting up from the mattress, he walked towards her. Pulling her to him, he grabbed one of her hands in his, caressing her knuckles and fingers with his thumb, and holding it to his chest. He leaned in and kissed her long and hard. If there was any time that Elena needed her fears calmed, it was now.

"I'm here," he assured her. "Right here."

Elena looked at him and leaned in, kissing him softly.

They laid in bed with their formal wear still on. Her head lay on his chest as his arm snaked around her waist. He laid back comfortably against the headboard, with one of his hands playing with hers. Every so often he'd bring her fingers up to his lips, kissing each one of them, before leaning down and kissing her lips.

"Tell me it will be alright," she said in a small frightened voice. Elijah looked down at her. Rolling her on her back, he hovered above her and stared deeply in her eyes. "It will be alright."

"Klaus! She is my child! You can't just take her from her home!" Hayley yelled.

Elijah and Elena broke from one another. Sitting up, they listened as Hope screamed and cried and Klaus yelled back. "You are a poor excuse for a mother! I am her father! I have taken care of her!"

Opening her door, Elena glanced out at the fight occurring in the atrium. Kol, Rebekah, and Matt had gone out around the town, so it was just the four of them.

With the rings around her eyes turning a bright purple, Elena showed Kol the scene down below them telepathically.

"Elena?" Elijah wondered softly with concern. Her eyes had changed.

"You will not just take her!" Hayley screamed.

Hope continued to wail, screaming at the top of her lungs for someone to comfort her.

Unable to let the scene continue, Elena sped down the stairs and stopped Klaus from doing anything else. Hayley was pushing his alpha status. Easing him down from his flaring temper, Elena put her hands on his chest.

"Breathe," she commanded softly. His chest was vibrating in anger. Waiting until he could get rein over himself, she looked to Hope. "Let me take her," Elena said softly, not making a move yet.

Klaus stiffened and growled again.

"Klaus," Elena said more sternly. She knew he didn't want anyone touching his child as part of his werewolf alpha persona –Hope was his daughter and pack; but she was also a baby who needed attention and Klaus was not in a position to do that. Moving slowly, Elena went to take Hope gently from him.

"Don't. touch. My. baby," Hayley ground out, about ready to jump at Elena.

"Watch yourself," Klaus growled protectively, as he felt his arms now free. Elijah sped down and stood beside his brother, shielding Elena and Hope from any potential harm.

"Elijah, she is my child," Hayley said softer trying to get through to him. The wolf watched as Elena bounced the child up and down in her arms. "I carried her. I held her. I pushed her out of my damn body! Not her!" Hayley said pointing to Elena. Hope had now stopped crying, playing with the doppelgänger's hair and face. "I'm the one that gave you both a chance at fatherhood."

"You signed away your rights," Kol pointed out coming through the door with Rebekah and Matt in tow. "You are no mother."

Walking over to stand by his brothers, niece and best friend, Kol watched Hayley with dark and dangerous eyes. No one would hurt his family, and Hayley was not family.

Rebekah and Matt followed, standing protectively around Hope.

"Da."

A simple syllable from Hope's little mouth put all the attention on her. With her little baby fist pulling on Elena's hair, she smiled and giggled happily. "Da."

Everyone smiled brightly, turning their attention to Hope. Klaus went to his daughter and Elena set him in his arms. As Hayley went to her go to Hope as well, Kol, Elijah, and Rebekah turned and gave her fierce looks.

"She is mine," Hayley growled.

"She is not a possession," Elijah snapped.

"Get out," Klaus growled. "and do not come back. I have no problem sending my army of hybrids after you, Hayley Marshall."

Hayley narrowed her eyes, debating on calling his bluff. She, too, was a hybrid.

"Leave," Rebekah told her. While she was not as fierce in saying it as her brothers, her voice was much colder.

Finding it to be her only option, Hayley sped out from the Mikaelson compound, while Hope slapped at Klaus's cheeks. "Da. Da. Da. Da."

It was entirely too early to be awake. After Hayley had left, Klaus had changed the plans around. They were to leave at 5am the next morning, so they could get Hope home and safe and away from her mother. While Elena didn't argue the idea, getting to the air strip by 5am was rough.

"Oh my god," Elena groaned, as Elijah brought her a coffee to her seat. "Thank you." She fostered the warm beverage in her hand, sipping the liquid.

Elijah sat down next to her, a coffee of his own in hand. "I thought it'd be a bit too early for you."

Elena glanced to Klaus and Hope, seeing they were seated and fast asleep. "Is he okay?" she wondered back to Elijah. Hayley and her desire to be back in Hope's life had shaken Klaus. He was torn in trying to figure out what was best for Hope –have a mother who was shit, or none at all.

Elijah sighed. It took much convincing last night to settle his brother down and not send his hybrid army on Hayley. While he did not enjoy the woman or her company as he once did, it was not a smart move to use the resources on such a figure.

"I'm sure when we return to Mystic Falls, he'll return back to his normal self," Elijah stated, staring at his coffee. The idea of returning made him wonder what was in store for himself and Elena. Before Hayley intruded on their moment, there was something between them. And before that, when he kissed her, she kissed him back. What did that mean? Had she forgiven him?

"Brother," Kol spoke grumpily. "Move."

Elijah debated on challenging his younger sibling so that he could sit next to Elena, but by the look on Kol's face, he too, was in no mood to be up this early. Moving from the seat, Elijah turned and sat in the spot he had on their way down to New Orleans. Glancing to Elena, he saw her attention was on Kol.

Sometimes he hated having siblings.

When the plane landed early afternoon, she had 6 missed calls from Caroline and 2 texts. Immediately it had put Elena on edge, believing something could be wrong. Quickly going to listen to the voicemails, Elena groaned. "You gotta be kidding me."

Caroline called begging for help with the Miss Mystic Falls pageant. There was a lesson at the school to teach the kids how to dance and she needed back up.

"Elena?" Elijah wondered with worry as Elena focused on her phone. "Is everything okay?"

Deleting the voicemail, Elena let Caroline know she landed. "Yeah, sorry. It's just Caroline," Elena explained distractedly.

Rehersal starts 3. Be there with me, please? -C

Sighing, Elena texted back saying she'd be there to help.

"Is Caroline alright?" Klaus asked worriedly with Hope in his arms.

"She's fine," Elena said putting her phone away. "No supernatural crisis. Just Caroline being Caroline. She needs help with the Mystic Falls contestants."

Running her hands over her face, Elena knew she wouldn't be catching up on sleep anytime soon. From the airport she'd have to go help Caroline, and with her friend she knew it would be more than rehersal. Elena had a feeling she was going to be roped into helping for set up too.

"Caroline was Miss Mystic, yes?" Elijah asked.

"Beat out Elena," Klaus boasted. Elena rolled her eyes and turned to Elijah to answer his question. "Yes, she is."

"Why didn't you win?" Kol wondered.

Elena shrugged. "Caroline was more than qualified for the position. She had been working up her resume since…the sixth grade maybe?" Elena laughed. "I was more than okay with her taking the crown."

Elijah sat interested in hearing that. If Elena didn't want to win, why had she joined?

Kol had graciously dropped her off at the school to help Caroline. When Elena arrived to the empty cafeteria, the training was already in session.

"They look good," Elena said to Caroline as her friend watched and critiqued them.

"Heads stay up!" Caroline scolded to the group. "Yeah, well, they better."

Continuing to watch them, Caroline stopped the music to berate some of the guys, before having them do it again. "I can't believe I forgot all about this thing," she told Elena, still keeping her eyes trained on the dancers. "Classes have me so twisted up I almost forgot it was here!"

Elena shrugged and watched the teens go through the traditional dance. It felt like so long ago she was here doing this with Stefan. "I doubt you missed much, right? I mean, Mayor Lockwood usually picks the judges anyway, and invitations are mailed out to the same people every year…"

"Yeah," Caroline sighed and looked at her clipboard. Elena analyzed her friend. Caroline wasn't usually one to go quiet. Usually there is a lot more berating herself and freaking out. There was something else going on that was putting her friend in the dumps. Putting her hand on her Caroline's shoulder, Elena made her face her.

"What is it, Care?" Elena asked.

Caroline was holding back tears, shaking her head. "Everyone take a break," she told the group of teens, waving them off from sight. When the room finally emptied, Caroline sat down in a chair and let it all out.

"Tyler is coming back into town."

Elena furrowed her brows, not understanding why that was making her friend upset. Tyler had fled Mystic Falls because he was deemed a traitor by Klaus for breaking the sire bond. He had been running for months and it had put a huge strain on the couple's relationship. "Isn't that something to be happy about, Caroline?" Elena wondered.

Caroline sniffled and shook her head. "He left me a voicemail earlier today, not only letting me know he was coming back in town, but also that he met someone while he was gone."

The blow was surprising to Elena and she could only imagine how her friend had taken it. Going to her side, Elena wrapped her arms around her. "He told me he still loved me in the message, but," she sniffled. "he also mentioned having feelings for this new woman. She 'really got him', apparently."

"Another hybrid?" Elena wondered, as she rubbed her friend's back.

Caroline shrugged. "He wants to talk when we see each other next. He said his mom was making him go to the Miss Mystic dance and so we'd talk there." Caroline broke down. "How could he do this to me, Elena? How could he find someone else?"

Elena held her sobbing friend. "I don't know, Care," she sighed. Elena held Caroline until she calmed down and was well enough to call the group back in.

"I don't even want to see him," Caroline snapped angrily when practice was over with. Instead of going to set up at the Mayor's house like Caroline had planned, her and Elena went out for dinner. "Ugh, and now I don't even have a date to the Miss Mystic ceremony," she whined.

"Why don't you ask Matt?" Elena wondered, taking a sip of her drink.

"He's coming back from his trip with Rebekah to go with April as her escort," she muttered, picking at her salad.

Elena didn't know how her next suggestion would go. "Klaus?"

Caroline set down her fork and stared at Elena. "Be serious."

"I am," Elena justified. "I'm sure that Klaus could find a sitter for Hope so that he could attend the dance with you and be your escort."

Caroline sat thoughtful. It would also make Tyler extremely jealous…

"Just think about it," Elena pitched. While Klaus wasn't exactly pining after Caroline since his fatherhood journey, Elena knew she still held a place in his heart.

A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews! I have so many plans for this storyline and the series. Stay tuned!