The night had came and the area was covered in darkness; Klaus, Elena and Elijah had all arrived at the cemetery, waiting patiently for Leanna to join them. Elena was completely creeped out and terrified, nothing good ever came from being in a cemetery after dark.

Elijah had remained close to her, watching the surrounding area constantly for any potential threats; he tried to calm her nerves by talking casually with her, although casual to Elijah meant an in-depth conversation about history, usually that of his family's. He had gave her a few examples of times in the past they had worked with Leanna, the last being in the 1980s.

She had helped them escape Mikael and in return, Klaus had set her up with her new life and threatened anyone who brought her any harm, giving out the warning that she was untouchable.

"I had spent about a month or so here, ensuring that she was safe and able to live out the rest of her days in peace," Elijah finished the story, Elena was engrossed, "when I was certain no-one was going to attack, I left and a vampire hasn't stepped foot in this town since."

"That's incredible," she couldn't help but swoon, she stared into his eyes as he told the story, his voice bringing her a sense of calm, "very noble of you both."

"It was," a voice emerged from the distance, all eyes diverted to behind them, spotting Leanna emerge from the darkness, carrying a large bag on her shoulder, "but then they come back wanting more."

"That's us," Klaus mused.

"You know we wouldn't be here if we had any other option, Leanna," Elijah sympathised with her, she was happy and safe and they where dragging her back into the middle of it all.

"Let's just get it over with; she placed the bag on the grass, unzipping it and beginning to empty the contents: there was a large, brass bowl, a grimoire, a map, a few candles and a bag of bones and herbs, a lot of which Elena wasn't familiar with.

She began by placing the candles around her and placing the bowl in the centre; she sat in front of it and began pulling out several ingredients from the bag and placing them inside the bowl. There was a handful of small bones, Elena wasn't sure where they came from and thought it best not too ask, a twig from a tree and sage.

She took a knife out of the bag and pointed it towards the brothers, "I need blood from both of you, as much as a connection as I can get to the white oak."

Elijah nodded his head and took the knife, he pressed it against the palm of his hand and sliced, blood trickling into the bowl; Klaus done the same before she began chanting.

She closed her eyes and extended her arms outwards, her hands hovering over the bowl; the blood began to boil and smoke emitted from the items within it. Her chanting grew louder and more intense, the candles had lit and the wind in the area grew stronger.

She was drawing magic from the dead witches in the cemetery as well as the elements around her; she was powerful without these sources of magic but with this, her power was endless. She wasn't afraid of dark magic if it was for a good cause and to help end the tyranny of Mikael, the spirits would help.

She stopped chanting momentarily and went inside her bag one last time, pulling a ring from

a pocket inside the main part of the bag; she placed it inside the bowl and continued to chant, the ring began to melt, turning into liquid silver; as the spell was coming to an end, there a small explosion from within the bowl, a bright white light emitted from it and she ceased chanting.

"It is done," she reached into the bowl and took a long and untouched piece of sage from it, holding it towards Elijah, "when you want the stake to be untouchable by vampires, burn this. Wait until the right moment with Mikael, if you miss this chance then you won't get another one."

Elijah nodded his head at her instructions and tucked the sage away in his inside blazer pocket, "can I just ask, how did you do the spell? What was the ring for?"

"It was a daylight ring with a symbol of the white oak on it, I spelled it earlier; the sun burns a vampire, it was the only way I could figure out how to make the stake burn."

"Very clever," Elijah smirked, extremely impressed with her ingenuity.

"Indeed, very clever," Klaus nodded his head in agreement, "I never doubted you for a second, love."

"Now for locator spell," she pulled the map out and flattened it on the grass; once again, she required the blood of the original brothers, the closest connection to Mikael was his sons.

She starting chanting once again, as the blood drops trickled onto the map, they encircled a location on the map; the locator spell was simple enough, especially if the connection was strong, "it looks like he's in a town called Mystic Falls."

"He's still in Mystic Falls?" Elena exasperated, looking towards Elijah and Klaus, "why would he still be there?"

"He must be working with someone," Klaus suggested, his frustration heightening, "Damon was the one who released him along with Katerina, perhaps they thought we would return."

"Well, he's right, brother," Elijah commented, extending a hand towards Leanna and helping her from the ground, "thank you for everything you have done for us. Looks like we're going back to Mystic Falls."

-w-

The flight back home felt long and drawn out; Elena was lost in thought, unsure of how to react to returning home, she was scared of seeing everyone but also saddened by the thought of bringing more trouble back with her, they didn't deserve it.

"We need as few people involved as possible, guys," she finally broke the silence, a wave of emotion washing over her, "Mikael is dangerous and I'm not putting anyone I love in harms way."

"We shouldn't need too, Elena," Elijah spoke reassuringly, "once we arrive there, Mikael will sense us and try to attack, we'll lure him away from everyone else and then continue with the plan as normal. I promise, everything will be okay."

Elena nodded her head, sceptical that the plan will go down without a hiccup but as long as everyone gets out alive, she'd see it as a win.

"How are you feeling about returning home?" Elijah asked, his head tilting to the side for a few seconds.

"I'm not really sure, haven't thought about it," she tried to lie but she was fooling no-one, she was never great at being deceitful, "I'm nervous, I don't really see anything about Mystic Falls as home anymore."

"That's just too sad to be true, Elena," Elijah spoke, his usual sophisticated and noble tone of voice crawling it's way into her heart, "your family are there."

"Exactly and it's not safe for them with me there; since I met Stefan and Damon, life hasn't really been the same for anyone and it's all my fault, they shouldn't have to suffer for me," Elena locked eyes with Elijah, the moment between them intensifying.

"Will you want to stay after Mikael is killed?" Klaus interrupted, causing them both to turn there gaze towards him.

"If you had asked me that question a week ago, I probably would have said yes," she admitted, Klaus remaining completely still and unreadable, "but now, I feel like I can never return there, even after Mikael is killed, there will always be another threat, the perk of being the doppelgänger, I guess."

"I'm truly sorry, Elena," Klaus responded, his perfect wall starting to crumble around him; Elena felt his softness when he spoke to her, his lips curling up in a kind smile.

"Looks like we're here," Elijah interrupted as the plane began to land; they all stood from there seats and starting gathering there things, Elena's case, jackets, etc.

Once they had left the plane and made there way through the airport, they jumped in a cab and headed for a secluded motel on the outskirts, they couldn't return to somewhere they where familiar with, Mikael would find them too easy.

They where all nervous, this was the first time either of the brothers had felt even a twinge of hope and it all fell to Elena not to betray them.

She felt the pressure of having to face the original vampire hunter, she wouldn't be completely alone but she still felt defenceless; anything could happen in a moment but she knew what she had to do.

She stepped out of the room for a few minutes to clear her head, she was back in Mystic Falls and she was starting to feel the guilt from avoiding her family but she couldn't bring them back into it, she just couldn't.

She heard the door open behind her, she spun on her heel and saw Klaus emerge from the room: he stood beside her, both of them looking up to the night sky, "if you're having any second thoughts, love, tell me."

"I'm not," her voice clear and stern, "just a bit nervous."

"I understand," Klaus gestured his hand towards the step in the floor from the motels wooden deck to the ground, urging her to sit beside him; she obliged and they both sat together for a long moment, there eyes still gazing upwards, "I just wanted you to know that I'm going to make sure nothing happens to you tonight."

"Need more hybrids, huh?" She turned to look at him, a wide grin appearing on her lips, followed by a quick wink.

Klaus chuckled, his lips settling on his usual smirk, the smirk that appealed to her more than it should, "actually no, if we survive this, I'll never make another hybrid again."

"Why?" She sounded stunned, this was a big deal for Klaus, he'd always felt that he needed his hybrids, he spent a thousand years trying to break the curse.

"I have everything I need right here," her heart began to flutter at his words, she'd never seen this side of Klaus, the one he kept buried beneath his violence and bloodlust, "I have my family, although they will be quite angry with me when I remove the daggers."

"I'll use my doppelgänger charm to calm them down," she mused, once again enjoying a conversation with him that didn't involve anything evil or violent, "they won't be able to resist."

"You'll still be here when I release them?" He asked, his gaze shifting to hers; as she stared into his blue hues, she felt like they where getting closer, in those moments, all the bad seemed to vanish.

"If you want me to be," her throat felt like it was closing over from nerves, her heart was racing just that little bit faster with every word that escaped his mouth.

"I have this unshakeable desire to protect and be near you, I'd never send you away."

Her head tilted slightly as she stared further into his eyes, although it was impossible to truly know the original hybrid, he was wrapped up in a thick layer of dark secrets and a generation of history he would never reveal but she liked being near him, she didn't know why but she did.

"I can hear your heartbeat," he spoke softly, his hearing focusing on the pounding in her chest; to him, it was loud and becoming more intense by the minute, he couldn't help but feel everything inside him soften.

He neared his face to hers, feeling her warm breath graze across his skin; her heart was beating faster and he was obsessed with hearing it. He brought his lips closer, his eyes scanning over Elena's facial expressions, she wasn't fighting him and her cheeks had turned a shade of red.

There noses touched and Elena felt as though her whole body was on fire the closer he became; she didn't know what she was doing but she didn't want it to stop, something inside her was screaming for him and he could hear it, her desire given away by her heart about to pound through her chest.

There bodies where becoming closer as they edged towards each other, Klaus had raised his hand towards her cheek, his finger trailing along her skin and catching a loose piece of hair, moving it behind her ear; he couldn't take the temptation any longer, he placed his hand on the back of her head and pushed his lips onto hers.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer as they indulged in a heated and passionate kiss, every touch sent a spark through her entire body, igniting a heat within her, she wanted more. She needed more.

She brought her body as close to him as she could, there kiss becoming more heated by the second; her heart was banging against her chest, ready to rip through.

There moment had come to a sudden end when they heard the motel door open, they quickly separated and looked towards Elijah standing in the door way; she'd suddenly become very nervous he had saw them.

"It's time," he announced, his demeanour cold and distant. He knew, he had too.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Klaus had never thought this moment between them to be possible and he was afraid of losing her, he felt more fear than he before in his entire existence.

Elena cleared her throat and attempted to collect herself but her whole body was still igniting, she had no idea what this meant for them or why she wanted to do it again but she did, her feelings for him had grown over the past week but she hadn't expected this.

"I do," she spoke, locking eyes with Klaus, "let's just get it over with so we can leave."

He reluctantly nodded his head and stood from the ground, extending his arm to offer his hand, she took it and he helped pull her to her feet; even the touch of his hand made her heart flutter, "be safe, I need you to come back to me."

"I will, I'm not going anywhere," it took every ounce of strength she had to let go of his hand and turn away from him; she approached Elijah, a look of remorse on her face, "the sage?"

He reached into his pocket and handed the sage to her along with a lighter, "the second you have the opportunity, light the sage and grab the stake, we'll be right behind you to stop him from hurting you. If anything happens that isn't planned or you're in danger, run!"

Elena nodded her head and turned to face Klaus one last time before she left the motel, jumping into a car they had stolen when they first arrived.

The one thing she shouldn't be thinking about now was Klaus, she had to stay focused if she wanted to win tonight but her mind kept wandering to there relationship and what could potentially come from there kiss. She wanted to talk to him, figure it all out p, she just hoped she got the chance.

She pulled into the mansion and parked, stepping out of the car; she had the sage and the lighter in her jacket pocket. She pulled out the key Klaus gave her and opened the front door, she walked inside and let the door slam shut behind her; she took a quick glance around the rooms, no sign of anyone here but it wouldn't be long until someone was.

She went into the kitchen and rummaged through the drawers until she found a knife, she quickly pressed it to her skin and cut a small wound into her palm, letting her blood drop to the ground; with the smell of her blood and the scent of Klaus all over her, it wouldn't be long until Mikael sensed her.

A little while had passed and she had sat herself down on the sofa in the living room; she had the knife on the cabinet beside the sofa and she was ready for him to arrive. Elijah and Klaus where nearby but not close enough to confuse him.

The front door suddenly burst open and like a blur, he appeared in the living room; Elena jumped to her feet and stepped away, she'd be lying to herself if she said she wasn't scared, a lot was riding on this very moment.

"Where is my son?" He asked, his voice ancient and strong.

"Not here," she replied, folding her arms across her chest; she had to get a rise out of him, make angry so he would reveal the stake, this was a one-time spell and would be pointless if it was hidden away from here.

"Do you know where he is?" He asked, still trying to remain calm.

"Maybe," she shrugged her shoulders, edging away from him and towards the cabinet, "but then again, maybe I don't."

"If you know where he is, I suggest you tell me, I could kill you in less than a second," he smirked, finding amusement in her behaviour, she was human but still felt like she could protect his children.

"I'm not going to tell you anything," she swallowed a lump in her throat, forming from fear, "so get out!"

She saw his face change, the veins beneath his eyes darkening and his fangs retracting; she parted her lips, a small gasp escaping.

She reached for the knife as he sped towards her, his hand gripping her neck; she used the knife to slash at his arm, his grip had loosened slightly but he hadn't completely let get go. She plunged the knife into his stomach, causing him to groan loudly and release her.

She attempted to run for the door but he was faster, he caught up to her and grabbed her arm, throwing her back into the centre of the room, she landed on the wooden coffee table with a thud, the word splitting beneath her. She winced as she attempted to sit up, a sharp pain shooting up her back.

"Father!" Elijah roared as he appeared in the living room, his glance turning to Elena; he walked towards her and helped her onto her feet, "what are you doing here?"

"Looking for your brother, Elijah, I'm not here for you," Mikael had stood unfathomed by his actions and intention to kill his own son, his lack of emotion still remained a shock to him, "hand him over, son, end his thousand years of murder and violence."

"You'll have to kill me, father," Elijah stood bravely, Elena just behind me and as he protected those he loved; his nobility and honour was endearing to Elena, she felt completely safe.

A deep sign escaped the hunters lips as he reached inside his blazer pocket, removing the white oak stake and holding it close, "as you wish, son."

Without a second thought, Elena ran and hid behind the sofa whilst Elijah held back Mikael, she pulled the sage and the lighter from her pocket and sparked the flame, setting it to the sage and she watched as it burned away.

She stood up and watched them battle, Mikael had Elijah, he was pinned to the ground with the stake pointing towards his heart; Elena was terrified the spell wasn't going to work and she couldn't just leave Elijah, her eyes scoured the floor, looking for the knife she had dropped earlier.

She ran towards it, grabbed it and plunged it into Mikael's back, he growled out in pain but he did not budge, he only raised his hand to Elena and knocked her back, landing on the floor.

Suddenly, the hand that held the white oak stake began to smoke; Mikael stood up and released Elijah from his hold, he watched as the smoke thickened and his skin began to burn; they both watched as the spell began to work, Mikael dropped the stake, Elijah used his speed to hold back Mikael and Elena ran for it.

She held the stake in her hand, she had no second thoughts, no doubts about her life and the choices she made, she couldn't hurt Klaus or Elijah.

"Hello, father," Elena heard Klaus' voice emerge from behind her; she turned to see him entering the house and joining them in the living room, Mikael had instantly smirked, "seems you're out of weapons, Mikael."

"I don't need weapons to beat you, boy," Mikael had used his speed to crash into Niklaus, he flew back into the wall but was back on his feet in no time; for the first time in his existence, Elijah joined to protect his brother, they had always been fearful of Mikael's temper and his beatings but they had the upper hand now.

"We should leave," Elena tried to call out, the three of them still battling; she knew this couldn't carry on, it was insanity to fight with no end, "guys, let's go."

Mikael used his speed once again to appear behind Elena, his entire arm wrapping around her neck and holding her tightly; she still had hold of the white oak stake but was unable to move.

"Listen to your human blood-bag, Niklaus, leave," he hated the way his father tormented him, even more so when he involved Elena, "return the stake to me and I'll let her live."

"Don't touch her!" Niklaus growled, his voice loud and fierce; emotion began to cloud his better judgement but he couldn't stand seeing her in harms way.

"Here," Elena tossed the stake towards Mikael, he seen it fly up into the air and instantly released her, Klaus sped towards her and brought her away from him, leaving her by Elijah's side.

Klaus ran towards his father and tackled him to the ground, pinning him down with all the strength he could muster; Elena watched as Mikael had the upper hand, he flung Niklaus of him and caught his body mid-air, slamming him into the ground with force, his fingers gripping his neck as he pinned him to the floor.

Elena's gaze shot between Klaus and the white oak stake on the floor; against her better judgement, she ran towards it, Mikael was distracted and Elijah was watching her, she grabbed the stake and plunged it into the original hunters back, she forced it in further until it reached his heart.

He was screaming as he went up in flames, the stake burning with him; she took a deep breath and took a few steps back away from the fire. Klaus and Elijah stood in disbelief, watching as there father was no more, there live completely changing within seconds.

Klaus used his speed to pull himself back onto his feet and stand in front of Elena; his hands cupping her face and his eyes scanning her over, "are you okay, love?"

"Yeah, I think I'm fine," she smiled at his kindness, the touch of his hands against her skin causing a whirlwind of emotion, she was so enamoured with him that she almost forgot Elijah was in the room; her gaze flickered towards him before she placed her hands over Klaus' and slowly lowered them, "are you both okay?"

"For the first time in a thousand years, I'm actually somewhat happy," Elijah spoke, his hands smoothing over his blazer, returning to his moral and noble demeanour.

"As am I, brother," Klaus spoke, "what shall we do now?"