When Elijah stopped the car in front of the Lockwood Mansion, Elena froze when Elijah opened her car door.
"What is it?" he asked softly.
"People will see my bruises and they'll feel sorry for me and say things."
Her heart pounded and Elijah caught her hand, rubbing his thumb against the back of her hand slowly to sooth her.
"I can heal you, if you like."
"No. You can't. Not without making people suspicious. The Council knows I was hurt and how badly, so showing up injury free, they'll start to wonder/." Elena drew a deep breath. "I just needed to prepare myself for it."
He offered her is arm and together, they walked towards the receiving line.
"Elena!" Mrs. Lockwood rushed towards them when she saw her. "How are you today?"
"I'll be okay."
"If you remember anything else, don't be afraid to say something."
"I'm afraid I can't tell you anything more than what I did."
"Alright. Well, you two have fun and thank you for bringing Elijah out, he's been spending far too much time with his head in those books."
"He's been a good friend, so why not? Shall we?" Elena smiled up at Elijah and he inclined his head before leading her away.
Elijah suddenly jerked to a stop and looked around, his expression grim.
"What is it?"
"The Salvatores are here," Elijah murmured.
"Don't leave me alone, please."
"Not even for a moment."
He'd wished for a chance with Elena, for her to see that Damon wasn't worthy of her affections, but not like this, not at the expense of her sense of security and her shattered heart. Guilt ate at him and he wished he could make it better, but how? What could he do to help her in a way that she wouldn't take as him trying to worm his way in?
He could be there for her, the shoulder she could cry on. That's what he'd do. He already swore to be whatever she needed, so whatever she asked of him, he would try to comply.
"I used to think there was so much history here," Elena said as they perused the displays. "Now, I know it doesn't cover a fraction of what really happened."
Suddenly, she froze, unconsciously stepping towards the display.
"What is it?" He followed her gaze to the wedding bands on display and then looked back at her. "Your parents'?"
Elena nodded and Elijah handed her his handkerchief.
"Thanks." Elena dabbed her eyes and held the cloth back to him.
"Keep it. I have the feeling you may need it."
"Right." Elena nodded and twisted the handkerchief around between her hands. "I miss them."
"Elena."
Both turned to see Stefan standing there.
"I heard about what happened the other night and I wanted to see to it that you were okay."
"Lucky for me, I've got Elijah looking out for me, so I'll be fine." Let Stefan make of that what he would.
Elijah stepped closer and caught Elena's elbow in his hand. She hadn't been aware that she'd started swaying until he held her steady.
"I'm really sorry that it happened though."
"Not to worry, I just won't go anywhere Elijah can't get to me."
Stefan glanced from Elena to Elijah and back again, as if trying to figure something out.
"There you are!" Caroline ran up to them, tears in her eyes.
"Caroline, what's wrong?" Elena wrapped her arms around her friend.
"I feel awful, crying on you like this, especially after everything, but Damon doesn't want anything to do with me." Caroline's shoulders shook with her sobs and Elena rubbed her back.
"I'll um, I'll see you around, Elena." Stefan shuffled awkwardly.
"See you at school."
"Would you like me to leave as well?" Elijah asked.
"No!" Caroline shook her head and let go of Elena. "No. If you make Elena feel safe, after what happened the other night, you can stay, just anything we talk about, it doesn't leave us, okay?"
"I can keep a secret, Miss Forbes."
"So, what happened with Damon?"
"Just now, he said I was just all around boring and a waste of time, so don't bother trying to talk to him anymore."
"You, Caroline Forbes, are far from boring," Elena said, her voice firm. "Damon's just a dick who only wants something or someone as long as he can use them and when he can't use them anymore, he moves on."
"What did I do wrong?"
"Nothing." Elena tightened her hold around Caroline. "You didn't do a damn thing wrong. He's a user and an abuser. While he might have some redeeming qualities hidden way down deep, right now, he's just full on asshole who needs to grow up."
"Immature boys will do and say anything to try to control a girl who they know can become more powerful than they are when properly encouraged," Elijah added.
"You think so?" Caroline wiped away her tears.
"You have the makings of a woman who can take on the world. You just have to believe in yourself and not pay Damon Salvatore or anyone else like him another moment of attention. They don't deserve it."
"You're so sweet. Do you have a brother?"
"Caroline." Elena shook her head, smiling a little.
"What?"
"I have a few," Elijah chuckled, "but they're indisposed at the moment."
"But you really think that about me? That I'm strong?" Caroline hunched in on herself.
"You've got steel and fire that make me believe so."
"You promise you're not just saying that?"
"I swear I'm not, and I also promise that the only time I ever tell a lie, it's to protect the ones I love. Lying about you being strong does nothing for them or me."
"And you've got a strong mom who passed that strength on to her daughter," Elena added. "You might like your dad more, but you and your mom fight because you've got her best qualities." Why had she not been a more supportive friend the first time around?
Caroline fidgeted for a moment. "Do you mind if I stay with you guys?"
"Where's Bonnie?"
"She's um, weird tonight." Caroline looked around. "You want me to try to find her? I think I know where she is."
"Please."
"Don't go too far! I'll be right back!" Caroline slipped through the crowds with the ease of someone who'd grown up around these parties.
"When she does remember, I hope what you've said will be enough to sustain her," Elena whispered.
"You seem to think it's a for sure thing that she becomes a vampire," Elijah said as he guided them away from the antiques and towards a counter where they served alcohol. "Bourbon neat."
The bartender poured out the drink and handed it to Elijah.
"She became exactly the sort of woman she's trying to be now, so turning was a good thing for her. I won't take that away."
"I'm not going to force it, nor should you try to either. If it's meant to be, it will happen. I'd rather it not be my my blood that turns her since there will be certain expectations placed on her right away by the rest of those I've turned and it wouldn't be fair to subject her to that sort of pressure."
"Yeah, except she might thrive and show them all up."
"True.
"Really though, I just want her to be happy. But, I know I can't push things into being what I know they could be, especially after what happened." Elena traced her fingers along the nearby table, wishing she could forget that she'd ever had any feelings for Damon. Maybe then, the attack wouldn't cut quite so deep.
"Okay, Bonnie, spill!" Caroline pushed their friend towards Elena.
"I'm fine!" Bonnie took a few steps back to catch herself.
"Is something wrong?"
"Bonnie was freaking out about something and now she won't tell me what it was."
"As much as I hate to say this, she'll tell us when she's ready. Not before."
Bonnie had discovered her powers, she realized. And soon, she'd have one more person who knew the truth about her, at least enough to know that she'd lived and died once already. Her heart stuttered at the thought of not being alone among the people she'd grown up with.
"Thanks." Bonnie gave a rueful smile and sat down. "Stefan seemed upset earlier."
"Elena shot him down and he sees how close Elena and Elijah are getting so he knows there's like no chance."
"Caroline. Elijah's a friend and standing right there." Elena glanced at the ancient vampire, trying to get a read on his face, but his expression remained completely neutral.
She wasn't sure why the realization that he didn't react to Caroline's comment disappointed her, but she pushed it away. She wasn't ready to get involved with anyone right now. If she did, she risked a repeat of the Salvatores. She'd met both of them during vulnerable times in her life and here she was again, in trouble and broken, with an ancient, understanding man by her side.
"Hmm." Caroline grabbed a glass of champagne from a nearby waiter's tray as she passed.
"What if your mom sees you drinking that?"
"Keep an eye out for her and she won't." Caroline pasted a smile on her face, but Elena saw the cracks in her armor.
"Are you okay?" Elena asked.
"With friends like the two of you and Elijah as my motivational coach, I couldn't be better." Caroline sniffed.
"What happened?" Bonnie looked from Elena to Caroline.
"Damon broke up with her, not that that's a bad thing, considering he's a first rate jackass, but he did it in the worst possible way and said some horrible things, which is."
"'It's not me, it's how boring you are,'" Caroline quoted, tears filling her eyes.
"That's awful. Want me to kick his ass?"
"I vote we tell her mom and let her use him for target practice," Elena said.
"I second that," Elijah murmured as he took another sip of his drink.
"Or, better yet, Elijah can kick his ass and string him up by his thumbs from the ceiling." Which is what he'd already done, not that Caroline needed to know that. Once she turned, they'd tell her, but until then, she'd just have to think they were coming up with ridiculous ways to hurt someone.
"Take a knife to his- ahem, anyway. I guess it's a good thing he's out of my life since he showed me just what an uncaring jackass he is, so I'm gonna just try to move on and be happy."
"Excuse me for a moment." Elijah inclined his head and strode away.
Grabbing the arrogant young vampire by the arm, he dragged him into a nearby room.
"You again," Damon scoffed.
"Good evening Mr. Salvatore."
"What do you want now?"
"To remind you exactly what will happen should you harm Elena or use her friends the way you used Caroline."
"I get it, you're older than I am, so you feel like you've got to push me around, but get this straight," Damon wrapped his hand around Elijah's neck and tried to push, but Elijah pushed it away, as easily as anything.
"I'm an Original. Show a little respect."
"You haven't killed me yet," Damon muttered.
"Only because your brother saved Elena's life. Once that debt is repaid, your life is forfeit, unless you change your ways. And since I'm actively searching for a way to pay him back, I suggest you get started."
Picking up a nearby pencil, he launched it into Damon's neck, then brushed off his jacket and returned to Elena's side.
Several hours later, Elena noticed that Elijah seemed preoccupied by something.
"What is it?"
"They're conspiring to get the watch. Logan Fell says that he's got an in since he's going on a date with your aunt."
"He's using her lingering affections for him to try to get into the house to steal the last item needed for the device. But, if those vampires in the tomb get out, we're going to need it."
"Only a few are worth saving. May I suggest a team up between the Bennett witches and the Martin witches, then Anna and I go through and she saves her mother and I kill anyone I know to be a trouble maker?"
"You'd know, considering," she tapped her temple, indicating her memories
"Exactly."
"Poor Jenna. She wants to give the guy a chance, but he's just using her, again."
"She knew the risks of getting involved with an ex. That rarely ends well."