The day of the parade arrived and Elena found herself in the Southern Belle costume Caroline had her heart set on. While she wished Elijah could be here with her, she didn't want him on the float with her, on up there for everyone to gawk at. For all his confidence, he didn't like being on display and powerless to stop the goings on around him. He liked being in control and, if possible, from behind the scenes.
"When will Elijah be back?" Jeremy grumbled as he fiddled with his clothes.
"Some time tomorrow. He had to steal a magical some something or other that can draw unwanted attention if he's not careful."
"Couldn't it have waited?"
"The sooner we have it, the better."
"I just wish it didn't mean I had to dress like this." Jeremy tugged at his collar.
"Come on. Let's get this over with. I've got a meeting with the bio mom after the parade, hopefully."
XXXX
"Well?" Elena crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at Isobel. "Where's the moonstone? Or shall I tell Elijah to cancel Katherine's clemency?"
"For God's sake, here." Isobel handed the small white stone to Elena.
Taking it from the vampire, Elena slid it into the small bag she'd carried along strictly for this purpose.
"Tell Katherine that as long as she stays out of the way and doesn't cause any more trouble for the Mikaelsons, she'll have her clemency."
"You really are willing to do this," Isobel said, a hint of wonder in her voice.
"I won't be like Katherine. I won't stand by and watch Klaus kill everyone I've ever met."
"When is it supposed to happen?"
"Whenever Klaus shows up. Now please, don't seek me out again until you've come back to yourself. You're my biological mother, and I'd like to get to know you, but not the way you are now. Find a way to embrace what you've become without suppressing your emotions, then come find me."
"I'm not suppressing."
"Yes, you are." Elena remembered all too clearly how it felt to be a humanity free vampire and how certain things tested the switch, threatening to allow it all back in.
"I suppose Elijah has filled you in on enough that I'm not going to argue with you over it."
"Something like that."
"You've got a hold over him." Isobel cocked her head and looked Elena over. "Not even Katherine could get him to go to the lengths he's gone through for you."
"Elijah knows I'm trying to save lives and he respects that. Now, get out of town so you don't get caught in the crossfire."
"Are you trying to save me too?" Isobel's brows rose in a mocking gesture.
"More like, I'm just trying get you out of town to keep you from screwing anything else up." Without a backward glance, Elena walked away. It hurt, talking to her biological mother that way, knowing that she wasn't always this way, but she had to keep her cool if she wanted Isobel to take her seriously.
Pulling out her phone, she texted Elijah.
I've got the moonstone.
Excellent. I'll be back in a few hours.
Good.
Will you come see me tonight? Please?
Is something wrong?
No. I've just missed you.
I've missed you too.
Catching her lower lip between her teeth, Elena smiled. Perhaps it was time to move forward, at least a little, with him, because now, hearing from him again, she realized just how much she missed him. Being so busy, she'd been able to focus on something else, but now, she was desperate to be with him again. She was hopelessly in love with the vampire she hadn't had time to explore her feelings for the last time around, there was no doubt about it.
XXXX
"Elena."
Elena sat up, her book falling to the floor and ran to Elijah, throwing her arms around him. As he drew her closer, Elena exhaled in relief, then stepped back just a little. Reaching up, she traced his lower lip with her fingertip and Elijah drew a sharp breath.
Cupping his cheek, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him softly. After a second's hesitation, he cradled the back of her head and deepened the kiss, just a little. There was just the faintest brush of his tongue against her lips before he pulled away to look at her.
"I didn't mean to," Elena whispered.
"Mean to what?" Elijah asked, his voice cracking on the last word.
"Fall in love with you."
"You're not the only one who never meant to feel far more than they do." Elijah rested his forehead against hers, then pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. "I love you, Elena Gilbert. I think I've been well on my way since the first time we met."
Elena pushed him back, guiding him to sit down on her bed. Straddling his thighs, she kissed him again, a faint sense of desperation curling low in her belly. As their lips caressed each other, Elijah's fingers slid along the strip of skin between her pajama top and pants.
"Maybe we should slow down a little," Elijah whispered against her jaw. "Because at this rate, your aunt will be cross with us."
Elijah helped her shift so that she was sitting beside him and then cradled her cheek in his hand.
Before she could kiss him again, her phone rang, with Bonnie's ringtone, something she'd only implemented a few days earlier.
"What's wrong?" Elijah registered Elena's concern before she was even aware she'd emoted.
"That's Bonnie. She'd never call at this time of night unless something's wrong." Reaching for her phone, she answered it.
"Elena?" Bonnie's broken voice had Elena's hair standing on end.
"What's going on?"
"There was a car accident. Matt's mom ran into the Lockwood car and now she, and Tyler's dad are dead and Caroline's in surgery." A whine escaped Bonnie's throat. "They don't think she'll make it. Please, don't let her die. Elijah has to save her. Tell him he has to!"
"Oh, my god, I'll be right there!"
"Tell Bonnie I'll do whatever I have to to make sure Caroline survives."
"Elijah's going to help. Be there in a few." Hanging up, Elena ran for her closet and pulled out a fresh shirt and pants.
She yanked on her shoes and then, she and Elijah darted down the stairs.
"Elena!" Jenna shouted after them.
"It's Caroline. She's dying, literally!" Elena slammed the door behind them and then headed for her car.
"Let me drive." Elijah took the keys from her and then guided her to the passenger side of the car.
Elena leaned against the door, tears trickling down her cheeks.
"I will save Caroline, I swear it."
"We saved Vickie, but did that cost Matt his mother?" Elena whispered.
"Do you know if Tyler was driving?"
"What?"
"Was Tyler driving the car?"
"I don't know. I forgot to ask. Why?"
"I'm just thinking that perhaps, if he was driving, Tyler was meant to be a werewolf, and since all the changes we've made might have prevented it from happening how it did last time, nature insisted on having it's way."
"So it's our fault?"
"No. What we're changing, it's saving more lives than it's costing. But the spirits will do what they will when it comes to a person's species."
Elijah shut the car off in the parking lot and raced around the car to help Elena out of the car.
"Breathe, Elena." He kissed the top of her head. "This isn't your fault. Tyler's father was supposed to die and Matt's mother was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"Matt's just been through so much. I can't have it be my fault that he lost his mother," Elena whispered.
"From what I gathered, this was his mother's fault. You can't take responsibility for what other people do that mess up what you knew to happen."
They made their way quickly to where Matt and Bonnie sat, waiting for news about Caroline. Matt's face was streaked with tears and Elena ran over to hug him.
"She's gone. Lena. Mom's dead." Matt shuddered with his sobs.
"I'm so sorry, Matt." Elena stroked his hair. "I'm so sorry."
Her phone buzzed once, alerting her to a text, but she ignored it in favor of comforting her friend.
"We were arguing because I caught her messing around with Damon Salvatore. Now she's dead and my girlfriend is in surgery, and all I've got to show for it is a few bruises."
"It's not your fault, Matt. I swear, it's not your fault."
"Is she going to die?" Matt whispered.
"No, Matt. Caroline will live, I swear it."
"It's my mom, Lena! And my last words to her were awful!"
"Listen to me, Matt. Your mom knew you loved her and that you argued with her because you loved her and were trying to save her. She died knowing she was loved, even if you were angry with her at the time."
Tyler was escorted into the waiting room a few minutes later, and he sat down a few chairs away from Matt.
Elena glanced over at him and as she studied him, she realized that she could feel a difference in his energy. Not the death energy of a vampire, but something wild, animalistic. So this was how a werewolf felt.
"Tyler? Are you okay?" Elena asked.
Tyler shook his head and then jumped to his feet, pacing. He gripped the back of his head and growled. When he looked up, his eyes were yellow.
"Tyler, breathe. You'll be okay. Alright? Deep breaths." Elena didn't let go of Matt as he cried into her shoulder.
"Something's wrong with me."
"No. Nothing's wrong. You'll be fine. I promise. I'll explain once Caroline is out of danger, but for now, just breathe and know that what's happening to you has happened thousands upon thousands of times over a thousand years."
"What's happening?"
"Breathe, Tyler. I do know what's going on with you, and I'll do what I can to help you. But you need to keep your heart rate down until we know Caroline is okay. Keeping calm will help you regulate what you're going through." Elena rubbed Matt's back.
"Elena?" Matt whispered. "Do you think she knew I love her?"
"She knew you wouldn't fight with her over her poor decisions if you didn't care. So yes, she knew you loved her."
Sheriff Forbes walked into the room and collapsed into a nearby chair.
"Has anyone called Vickie?" Liz asked. "I don't have a number for her."
"I haven't." Matt shook his head.
"I'll call her now." Elena pulled away from Matt and took out her phone.
Heading outside, Elena dialed Vickie's number.
"Hello?" Vickie answered.
"Vickie, it's Elena. I have some bad news about your mom. She was killed tonight in a car accident."
"Mom's dead?" Vickie's voice cracked.
"Yes. I'm so sorry."
"Oh, my god. I'm on my way." Vickie hung up the phone and Elena made her way back inside.
Elijah caught her arm in the hallway leading to the waiting room and tugged her into a small alcove near the vending machines.
"Caroline?"
"Out of surgery and I gave her a little of my blood so she's already healing."
"Thank you." Elena pressed her face into his neck and kissed him, tasting his skin with a small brush of her tongue. "Thank you so much."
"You know I'd do anything for you." Elijah cupped her cheek and guided her mouth to his, then kissed her softly.
When Elena tried to deepen the kiss, Elijah stepped back.
"I want you, Elena, desperately, but to give in, it would disrespect your aunt and in turn, you, since you've lost so much for her to have a good life." Elijah exhaled harshly and made a small sound in the back of his throat.
"Yeah. That, and Caroline is just down the hallway and Matt's mom's in the morgue." Guilt ate through her at her loss of control over her hormones.
"You're in a teenage body all over again, Elena, and feeling things from me too, since you're a witch this time around. So it's even more intense." Elijah ran the side of his pointer finger knuckle down her cheek.
"It's a long time to June," Elena sighed.
"How fortunate then that we've got a list of things that need doing to focus on."
A nurse passed by them on her rounds, but Elena wasn't ready to leave this spot, so she didn't look away from Elijah's face.
All at once, Elijah snapped his head around, his brows furrowed.
"What is it?"
"Alarms, from Caroline's room."
Elijah and Elena ran down the hallway, stopping just outside the door as two doctors and a nurse attempted to resuscitate a very still Caroline.
"What happened?" Elena whispered.
"I don't know."
The heart monitor emitted a solid beep and Elena exhaled sharply.
"She's in transition," Elijah murmured.
"The staff, they need to be compelled," Elena said, snapping into action.
"I'll handle it."
"I'll text Bonnie. Matt can't be alone and Caroline needs someone with her when she wakes up. It's gonna be hard when she remembers everything Damon did to her." Elena pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Bonnie. Her hands shook with white hot rage at the memories of what Damon had done to Caroline flashed through her mind, accompanied by guilt at the knowledge that she'd married her friend's attacker in her other life.
Taking a deep breath to try to focus her thoughts, Elena sat down beside the still girl on the bed and held her hand, waiting.