She jerked awake, soaked in sweat, chilled to the bone. A tear slipped from her eye and she reached up to find that she'd been crying.

Glancing out the window, she saw that it was still dark. But after her dream, there was no way she'd be able to sleep any more, so she out of bed and headed for the shower.

As she headed out for school, Elena found herself pleasantly surprised when she peeked in on Jeremy to see him with his sketch pad out. Smiling, she headed down the stairs. It was nice to see something good after the nightmare she'd had.

"Jeremy has his sketch pad out, but don't say anything. As soon as we encourage him, he'll put it away."

"Psychology major, check that."

Elena checked her phone and frowned when she saw no messages from Elijah. She'd told him about Bonnie's nightmares, yet he hadn't responded yet.

"Your boyfriend giving you the brushoff?"

"Elijah's probably busy and he's not my boyfriend." Elena opened the door and the pair headed outside.

"Keep telling yourself that. Anyway, yours gets busy and mine comes back."

"Logan?" Elena whispered

"I didn't let him past the front door."

"I hope you slammed it in his face."

"Medium slam."

"Don't let him back in, at all. Not even watching the news, if he makes in in front of the camera after the way he ran off."

"No more Logan Scumfell."

If Logan was back, it meant that the bodies would start piling up.

Did Logan do something?

He killed a jogger last night and several people at the Ramada haven't clocked out or reported for work in the last few days.

Anna. She's the one who turned him.

I'll find her and see about making a deal to get her to stop this.

When they arrived at school, Elena sighed heavily. Career Fair day.

"What were you, I mean, before?" Bonnie asked.

"I was a family doctor."

"Doctor Elena Gilbert. Or whoever you married."

"I'm not marrying that guy this time around, trust me." She shuddered at the thought. She couldn't. Not after what she dreamed. Because her dream was real, at least for her.

"What'd he do?"

"Nothing you need to worry about. I just saw his true colors."

When they walked into the building, Elena found herself greeted by the sight of Caroline and Matt talking.

"I'm guessing she and Matt worked things out enough to be 'closer'?"

"She needs someone nice, as opposed to a homicidal vampire like Damon." Grabbing Elena's arm, Bonnie pushed her against a locker and asked, "Just how many of our conversations are like how they were before?"

"They're close enough that I'm in a constant state of deja vu, aside from where we've been able to change things." Elena ducked under Bonnie's arm before people noticed them. "Speaking of, any luck on the necklace destroying front?

"Um, I did something."

"What?"

"A seance, on my own. And I think Emily destroyed it for me."

"Bonnie!" Elena gasped. "Are you okay? I mean, you are Bonnie, right?"

"Relax. She left me as soon as the necklace was destroyed. Anyway, I remembered what you said about Emily possessing me the first time, so I invited her in. She's aware of you and your mission. She said it was my mission to help you, but I needed to set boundaries."

"Of course. You're not a machine people can go up to and insert quarter out pops spell." Elena felt guilty as the memories of all the times she'd used Bonnie in her past.

"That's a good way of looking at it."

"Did anyone hurt you?"

"No. Once she let me go, I was fine and I went home."

"Good."

"I got hurt last time, didn't I?"

"Yes," Elena said slowly, "The how isn't important, because it didn't happen this time."

"Hello, Bonnie." Elena froze when she heard Damon's voice.

"Are you even supposed to be here?" Bonnie challenged.

"Where's my crystal."

"Emily destroyed it," Elena said.

"Newsflash, Elena, she's been dead for over a hundred years."

"And she decided to possess Bonnie and destroy the necklace, by using a spell Bonnie doesn't have the power or the knowledge of yet. So if you're pissed, go blame her, but not Bonnie for being used by her."

As she spoke, Elena realized just how often she'd been forced to step in to play peacemaker between Damon and the rest of her friends. Why had she put that stress on herself for a guy who clearly only wanted Katherine?

People didn't fall out of love after a hundred and fifty years at the drop of the hat and fall in love with someone else just as deeply immediately afterwards. The heart needed to heal and Damon never let himself heal from Katherine. He just projected his feelings for Katherine onto someone who looked exactly like her and who loved him like he wanted Katherine to love him.

"Perhaps you should leave, before Elijah finds out that you were here, bothering us?" Bonnie asked sweetly and Damon cussed under his breath before storming away.

At the career fair, Elena looked around, unsure of herself for once. What was she supposed to do with her future, now that she'd already lived one life? Should she go back to being a doctor? Or had she done that because it was expected of her?

She smiled when she saw Matt and walked up to him.

"Still wanna be an astronaut? I remember the tinfoil you wore on your head."

"I was eight!"

"I know I know. I just couldn't resist," Elena teased, then sobered. "How's Vickie doing? Have you heard from her?"

"She's doing alright. Except last night she called me, crying because she'd relapsed. She kept saying, 'I'm so sorry. I'm trying to get clean so I can see you again.' I told her I loved her and that the fact that she's trying is enough for me."

"Love is the most powerful motivator in the world, so having that, it will help her."

"I hope so, Before she hung up, she promised me she'd do better and that her sobriety coach is really understanding. She had her talk through what made her lose it like that and is helping her see the triggers."

"That's good. Tell her I'm thinking about her and I'm happy she's doing better." Elena smiled and walked away, only to run into Stefan.

"What does Elijah know?" Stefan asked. "Did he turn someone?"

"Elijah's not stupid. He wouldn't turn an idiot like Logan Fell if his life depended on it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. He's tracking the one who turned him now. He thinks he might know who it is."

"Who?"

"Let Elijah handle the creator. You and Damon can clean up the mess. Because if this person has been around as long as this person seems to have been, and you didn't know about them being in the area, that makes them a hell of a lot smarter than you are."

"Did Elijah know?"

"He's been a little preoccupied with keeping your brother's messes contained, but yes, he figured it out after the staff at the Ramada turned up missing."

Heels clicking on the floor drew Elena's attention.

"Hide me," Jenna begged.

"What's going on?"

"The Scumfell has landed."

"Logan Fell, that jackass." Elena glanced at Stefan, eyes wide, and he nodded, darting away.

Jenna and Elena walked down the hall, only to run smack into none other than Logan.

"Jenna. Are you dodging me?" Logan smiled.

"You should be dodging her," Elena said, "since Elijah's heard all about your antics and takes insult when someone I care about is hurt."

"Elijah?" Logan scoffed. "The writer?"

"He's more than he seems," Stefan said.

"Seriously? Him too? How?"

"Maybe you should leave my aunt alone before I tell Elijah about how you've been harassing her. I'm sure he'd love to go old school on your ass. Now, come on." Elena grabbed Jenna's arm and led her away.

"Threatening him with Elijah?" Jenna asked, confused.

"He's not Logan Fell's biggest fan, so would happily wipe that smirk off his face. Just promise me that you'll never speak to him again." Someone walking up behind them caught Elena's eye. "Hey, Mr. Saltzman."

"Elena." He nodded, then smiled when he turned to Jenna. "I was hoping I'd see you again."

"Career night is the new bowling."

"You two kids have fun." Elena waved and headed away to try to find Logan.

Logan's here. Causing trouble. Please hurry.

I'm on my way.

"Liz?" Elena caught the rattled sheriff's arm. "Are you okay?"

"Be careful."

"The body the other day?"

"Logan Fell. He's a vampire. And he's looking for revenge."

Elena flipped through the memories she had of Logan, then whispered, "Caroline."

"What?"

"What better way to get back at you than to target your daughter?"

Pulling out her cellphone, Liz said, "Get a backup team to the school. V 5." To Elena, Liz said, "Where is she?"

"She came with Bonnie, but I'll text her."

911! Stay away from Logan Fell!

"What does Caroline know?"

"To wear vervain at all times and to stay away from people if I warn her to."

Why?

Trust me. He's dangerous, like super dangerous.

Parki

"She's in the parking lot, I think!" Elena ran towards the door.

They got there just in time to see Logan drive away and Liz ran for her patrol car.

As Liz peeled out of the parking lot, sirens blaring, Elena pulled out her phone and texted Elijah.

Logan Fell has Caroline. He's driving a silver SUV.

I think I see it.

Just get Caroline away from him if you can. Let the others handle Logan.

I'll text you when she's safe.

Elena paced for a moment, before her phone buzzed again.

She's safe. The Salvatores were dealing with Logan, last I saw.

And Anna?

She's agreed to meet, to negotiate.

The Martin witches and Bonnie should be enough to open it without harming any of them.

I told her we had the fire power necessary.

Elena slid her phone back into her pocket and headed out to her car.

Elijah found her sitting on the swing on her front porch, rocking slowly and he sat down beside her.

"Alaric Saltzman killed Logan Fell. I was on my way to do it when I realized Damon let Logan get away and I saw it happen."

"So, Jenna's safe from him." Elena sagged in relief.

"So it would seem."

"Why Logan? Why did the spirits spare him earlier, only to let him him be killed tonight?"

"Possibly to bring Anna out into the open. It gave me the excuse I needed to seek her out and speak to her without making her suspicious that I had any foreknowledge of her plan." He leaned forward, bracing his wrist on his knee and examined her face. "What is it?"

"It's stupid." Elena hung her head, feeling guilty for even considering it to be an issue in the grand scope of things. What right did she have to think things like that when she had a mission from the spirits of nature that needed to be completed?

"Try me."

"The career fair tonight, it got me thinking. I've already been a doctor. Should I be one again? Was I a doctor because it was expected of me? Or did I do it because I wanted it? What if I'm not meant to be one this time around"

"First of all, that's not stupid, and secondly, did you enjoy what you did and find it rewarding?"

"Yes."

"Then, I think you could be one if you wanted to be one again, or you could chart a whole new path. The choices are endless."

"What about the people I save the last time around?"

Elijah leaned back and stretched his long legs out in front of him before replying, "You've seen how the spirits operate. If someone is meant to live, they will live. So whoever you saved last time, if it's meant to be, the spirits will see to it that they survive."

"But I have to take a proactive role in at least some of their survival. I can't just sit back and let things fall where they may."

"So, will you become a doctor again?"

"I think, for now, I'll pursue that path, and see what changes come my way. I mean, with everything we've been doing to change things, who knows what's in store for me? My love life has changed, people around me, their lives have changed. It's all just so different now." Elena pushed the swing with her toe and certain events that happened last time, but not this time came to mind, but the edges of the memories were no longer crisp. "Everything that's not important to changing people's lives for the better from my past life, it's becoming hazy, like a dream of a dream."

"What's not important?"

"My relationships with the brothers. It's getting to where it doesn't feel like I was ever involved with either of them."

"Because this body, it wasn't. It didn't experience those things, even if your soul did, so the neurons in your brain haven't created pathways for these experiences even if you know they happened to you at one point and time."

"But because I've focused on saving lives and changing everything for the better, those events still feel real?"

"From what I understand of the brain, yes."

"And if I don't get involved with them this time, it truly will be nothing but an extremely vivid dream. Because I'll be the only one with those memories, besides you, but I don't think you'll be mulling over certain events in my life." Elena elbowed him and laughed.

"I'm not in the habit of perusing people's journals, particularly their most private thoughts. What you shared with me, I only focus on the things that matter to saving the lives of the people we care about. The rest isn't my business since it didn't involve me."

"So, it'll be a shared vivid dream that we won't speak of much?"

"What brought this on?" Elijah asked, curious.

"I just realized that last time around, tonight would have been the first time I slept with Stefan. And this time, I never even kissed him."

"Instead, you're spending your evening with me."

"And I couldn't have asked for better company." Elena rested her head on his shoulder and sighed. Things were coming together much better than she had ever imagined, at least on the body count list, if not in her romantic life. But there was still time, and hope, that she would find love again.

"Something else is bothering you."

"People are wrong, you know."

"About what?"

Elena drew a deep breath, terrified of what she was about to say.

"Elena?"

"Sire bonds. They're not formed out of just love or affection. They're formed because they're so used to being controlled by the other person and feel like they owe their sire something." Her voice cracked at the end.

"I can see that and it's not something I've ever thought of before, but hearing it from your perspective is informative."

"Think about it. Have you ever had a sire bond form?"

"No."

"So why did he have two? At least in my other life? It's because I'm right."

"Maybe so. And that's disturbing, because it means that so many have been hurt by our misunderstanding of it." Elijah remained silent for a long moment before he asked, "What brought this on?"

"I had a nightmare last night," Elena admitted.

"What about?"

"How I actually felt, beneath the sire bond. I was bound and I couldn't escape, forced to love someone I wasn't in love with when I died. Yes, I cared about him, and I found him attractive, but not love. When I woke up in transition, I was trapped in this life and I couldn't escape it. I couldn't escape him. Being humanity free was the best thing ever, because I was free of him too."

"You married him in this other life, after all that?" he asked, confused.

"When I regained my humanity, I went back to him, because it was the only way I felt like I had control of my life without facing the pain of being trapped in a relationship where I had no choice." Elena wiped tears from her face. "Honestly, I can't help but wonder if the sire bond was always there, even after becoming a human again."

Elijah remained silent, but placed one hand on her leg and squeezed it gently.

After a long moment, she leaped to her feet and raked her hands through her hair as she screamed, "I hate him! I thought he loved me and he only wanted Katherine! He used me! He used me to get what he wanted from her because she couldn't be bothered! And I was so stupid that I didn't see what he was doing! I hate him!"

Elijah stood up and wrapped his arms around her, letting her sob and mumble her pain into his chest.

"You're safe. He can't hurt you, ever. You're a powerful woman, far more powerful than you know, and it would take someone much stronger than him to even get close to getting the better of you."

"You promise?"

"I swear it."

Guiding her back to the swing, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

As she sat there beside him, with his arms around her, holding her safe, she realized that she needed to get Elijah a Christmas present, but what?

He was helping her change everything, to rewrite the story, and to not only save her family, but herself as well. With that, an idea came to her. She knew what she was going to get him.