We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes, and the flashback starts
I'm standing there
On a balcony in summer air
See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say, "Hello"
Little did I know...
Elena stands on the balcony outside her bedroom, in the apartment Kol and she had bought after their wedding. She looks out at the city she now calls home and can't help but smile thinking about how she came to be here.
She remembers when she first saw Kol Mikaelson, it was at the Ball. She had just walked inside and been activated by Stefan and Damon, demanding why she had come when they had expressly forbidden her not to. All of a sudden she heard a honeyed voice from next to her, "hello darling, I'm so glad you could make it. You must be Elena Gilbert, my brother's newest doppelganger."
Blushing but also slightly annoyed by the way he called her a doppelganger, she replied, "ah so you're one of the newly un-daggered brothers, is it Kol or Finn?"
With a slight laugh and a smirk plastered on his face, he answered, "oh please, I'm not that stick in the mud. I'm Kol darling, at your service."
That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you, "Please don't go," and I said
Elena remembers when he showed up at her house two days later, throwing rocks at her window to get her attention without alerting everyone else in the house. The way she had told him she was done leading the Salvatore brother on, that she was over them both completely. She remembers the way he asked her on a date, acting as if he thought she would say no. She said yes, of course.
She remembers the way people inside the Mystic Grill reacted when the two of them walked in together. The shock, the horror, the envy. The way Caroline had come strong over with Damon in tow, demanding an explanation and for Elena to leave. She remembers telling them to stay out of it and leave her alone. She remembers Klaus finding out, and ordering both her and Kol to stay away from each other and the way they had stood their ground. She remembers Kol telling her Klaus wanted him to go on a mission for him and her begging him, "please don't go, don't let him tear us apart."
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story, baby, just say "Yes"
Elena remembers the first time she begged him to take her and run away. She remembers telling him she had always wanted to explore the world and that she couldn't think of a better person to do it with.
She remembers one night where they laid in bed while he told her of his adventures, and her wishing she could be a part of it. She remembers Rebekah and her revenge. How she had wanted both playback and her away from Kol. So she had turned Elena into a vampire. Elena remembers the way it had the opposite effect, that it had brought them closer.
So I sneak out to the garden to see you
We keep quiet, 'cause we're dead if they knew
So close your eyes
Escape this town for a little while, oh, oh
Elena remembers after she turned into a vampire, Kol had finally relented and they decided to go to New York for a few weeks. She remembers packing her stuff in the middle of the night and meeting him in her garden at the break of dawn. She remembers never feeling as free as she had those few weeks. The way they could just be themselves, not have to worry about anyone else.
She remembers the look in his eyes the first time she told him, "I love you." How he had pulled her flush against him and kissed her until they had both run out of air, before telling her he would love her, "always and forever."
'Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter
And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet"
But you were everything to me
I was begging you, "Please don't go," and I said
Elena remembers when it all came crashing down. When they realised they couldn't stay away forever. She remembers the threatening phone call from Elijah, telling them to get back now or have everyone hunt them down. She remembers feeling lost like this would be the end of everything. She remembers how the car trip home was eerily quiet as if they both knew it was all about to come crashing down around them.
Elena remembers the feeling of oppression that hit her like a punch to the chest, the moment they crossed the border into "Mystic Falls". She remembers turning into her street and seeing the whole gang in her front yard. They were all there: Jeremy, Bonnie, Caroline, Matt, Stefan, Damon, Alaric, Rebekah, Elijah and Kalus. She remembers them all looking at her and Kol, murderous expressions on their faces. She remembers the way the Originals had surrounded Kol the moment he got out of the car, grabbing him and vamping away. But not before Rebekah slapped her hard across the face. The way each of her friends and family stood with their arms crossed, looking like they were ready to pounce on her at any moment.
Elena remembers the way Matt shook his head in disgust before turning and walking away. The way Stefan looked at her with disappointment and maybe a little regret. How Damon looked at her with his pleading Blue eyes, as if he was asking for her to tell him it was all a joke. She remembers the snarl Bonnie sent her way before telling her not to ever come crawling to her for help. The way Alaric refused to look at her at all, instead just walking past her, without a word. The hurt on Jeremy's face as she told them that no matter what any of them said, Kol made her happy, made her feel more alive than she had before. Even as a human. Elena remembers looking at Caroline and seeing the conflict in her eyes like she knew she should be worried or angry but instead understood Elena.
She remembers how worried she was when she didn't hear from Kol for the next few days. How she sent him over a hundred messages, without getting one in return. She remembers the knock on her window in the middle of the night, and the relief she felt when she saw Kol there with his trademark grin. She remembers how that grin fell away as he asked if he could come inside and talk. She remembers how he gently took her hand in his and told her he had to leave for a while, how Klaus needed him in New Orleans.
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess
It's a love story, baby, just say "Yes"
Romeo, save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel
This love is difficult, but it's real
Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess
It's a love story, baby, just say "Yes"
Elena remembers how she begged him, that might, to take her with him. She remembers him telling her that it would be too dangerous, that they will undoubtedly be walking into enemy territory. She remembers the worry and concern in his eyes, after all, it's what eventually made her cave and agree. She remembers telling her how her friends and family all hate her, how they keep telling her she can't be in love with him. She remembers making one last-ditch effort again, asking him to just run away with her, and the way he reminded her that they would not be able to run forever.
Elena remembers him telling her she should try and fix the relationships she had with her friends and family. She remembers the way she reminded him that although their relationship has been difficult, it's the most real thing she has ever felt. The way he told her he would find them a way out of the mess they had found themselves in. She remembers him telling her he wants her to be happy and how he promised he would come back for her. She remembers the way she cried herself to sleep on his chest. How she woke up to an empty bed, no note, no sign he had been there in the first place.
I got tired of waiting
Wondering if you were ever coming around
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town
Elena remembers how months passed, without a word from Kol, or any of the other Original siblings. How for those months she had tried to rekindle her old relationships with her friends and family. She remembers the day she saw Damon and Bonnie making out, and the day they and Stefan decided to leave Mystic Falls forever. Without any of them telling her. She remembers when Ric moved out of the house stating he "couldn't be around her for a moment longer." She remembers how every time she would try and talk to Matt he would practically run in the opposite direction. She remembers the way she and Jeremy tentatively started to rebuild their relationship, at first avoiding all talk of the supernatural. However, over the months they had completely opened up to one another and gained a new and better understanding of each other. She remembers how Caroline had come over one day, about a month after the Originals had left, and confided how she had started to fall for Kalus before their departure. How she was scared to tell anyone, especially after seeing the reaction to Elena and Kol. She remembers how close they eventually became as if they had been sisters from the start.
Elena remembers the moment she realised she wasn't sure if he was ever going to come back for her. She remembers the hopeless feeling that enveloped her. The way she stopped taking care of herself, and how both Jer and Care started to fret. She remembers the terrifying moment when she started to believe he might not have ever loved her. She remembers the night she received the call. How she had been sitting on her bed in a tank top and a pair of sweatpants eating from a tub of chocolate chip ice cream. She remembers the lightning-like jolt that went through her when she was the caller ID said 'Kol'. She remembers the sound of his honeyed voice asking her to "meet me at the Mikaelson Manor on the outskirts of town".
And I said, "Romeo, save me, I've been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for you but you never come
Is this in my head? I don't know what to think"
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring, and said
Elena remembers the moment she saw him again, standing there leaning against the hood of his car, hands in his jean pockets and trademark grin back on his face. She remembers running, jumping onto him and wrapping her legs around his waist. The way he immediately held her in place. She remembers telling him how lonely she had been without him, how she tried to take his advice and tried to make it up to get friends. The way only Jeremy and Caroline were still a part of her life. She remembers explaining to him that she had started to believe that she had made up their feelings in her head. How she thought he had left her forever and maybe didn't even love her in the first place.
Elena remembers him telling her about New Orleans and how Klaus was to become a father. She remembers how he had gently put her back on the ground, and told her to close her eyes. How scared she was that he would leave her again. She remembers feeling him let go of her hands and starting to open her eyes only to hear him tell her to keep them closed. She remembers finally opening her eyes and finding him kneeling on the ground in front of her.
Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone
I love you, and that's all I really know
I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress
It's a love story, baby, just say 'Yes'"
Elena remembers the way her heart started beating rapidly, the amount of love she could see shining in his eyes. His speech. She remembers it word for word. She remembers his honeyed voice saying "Elena Marie Gilbert, from the moment I saw you standing just inside those doors, in that beautiful ball gown, I had eyes for no one else. You have lit a fire in my heart, the same way you lit up that ballroom. I want you to be my wife, always and forever. I want you to never feel alone again, I want to show you the world, the way you have always wanted to see it. If I have known nothing else in my long life, I know that I love you more than anything or anyone. You are the most compassionate, honourable and beautiful woman I have ever met. Before you say anything, I have spoken to Jeremy and he has given us his blessing. In fact, he said, " I've never seen her happier than when she was with you, or sadder than when you were gone. You belong together." I also spoke to Caroline, she has demanded that she go with you to pick the "perfect white dress". So what do you say baby, will you continue this love story with me?"
Elena remembers the feeling of tears streaming down her face, her throat closed from emotion. She remembers nodding her head feverishly and how he chuckled at her, wiping away her tears and gelling her to "just say yes." She remembers finally getting her words back, throwing her arms around his neck and screaming, YES.
'Cause we were both young when I first saw you
Yes, Elena remembers it all. And as she turns back around, back now towards the city, she sees her eternally youthful husband walking towards her, a broad grin on his face and love shining in his eyes. She knows that no matter what they face now or in the future, they will do so together. Always and forever.
THE END