Disclaimer: I do not own TVD or SOA

Author's Notes:

1. I'm sorry that it's taken me forever to update this. After all the problems I had with people sending me negative stuff, I had a hard time getting the urge to write. I'm trying now but it's still not easy. Please don't make me regret coming back.

2. Elena is in a bad way in this chapter. I want to write her post-Klaus/resurrection realistically. She'll begin healing after this when she realizes that there's something she needs to heal from.

3. Remember that John Gilbert isn't Elena's father in this fic and never was. He was only ever her uncle. She has no idea who her father is right now.

4. I know that this is the second chapter in a row with a Jax/Elena heart-to-heart but I needed something to fill it up. I promise the action gets started in the next chapter. And I know that this chapter isn't great and that Jax is a little out of character but it'll get better next chapter. I really just had to write this to ease us into the good parts. Like I said, it will get better.

5. Elena's outfits are on tvdcrossovers on tumblr.

Elena couldn't remember the last time that she read a newspaper. Yet here she was, sitting at Gemma and Clay's table and perusing the ads. Charming hadn't quite caught up to the twenty-first century and she was determined to get a job. It was fine lazing around for a few weeks but now she was just bored. The only problem was that her experience was minimal and her simple high school diploma didn't really give her many jobs to choose from.

"What are you doing?" Gemma asked, leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee cradled in her hands.

"I'm looking for a job," Elena said, crossing out yet another ad. "Well… I'm trying to look for a job. I need to start pulling my weight around here. I can't keep doing nothing forever."

"You're supposed to be staying under the radar," the older woman reminded her.

She lifted her head up with a sigh.

"Under the radar is one thing. Completely invisible is another."

Gemma gave her a curious, slightly confused look.

"This is a small town. Everyone already knows that I'm living with you and Clay," Elena explained as the man in question walked into the kitchen to fetch his breakfast. "The more I stay hidden away in your house, the more curious they will get and the more word will spread about me. That is not staying under the radar. If I show myself in public and actually attempt to live a normal life, no one will care. It's the mystery that will get people talking."

The other woman looked impressed and near convinced. Clay, however, looked like he hadn't followed a word of it.

"You can work at the garage," Gemma suggested.

"She can what?" her husband demanded.

Elena was just as surprised, a frown pulling at her lips.

"Sorry, I have no idea how to fix cars," she said with a confused look.

Gemma rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

"We need just as much help with the management of the place. Billing the customers, filing stuff, making phone calls, keeping up with repos. I could really use a second set of hands."

"You could always use-"

"The prospect can barely speak to Elena without stuttering over his words. I'm not using him to help run your business," Gemma interrupted Clay, already knowing exactly what he was going to say.

"I used to help with stuff in my dad's office," Elena said, sitting up straighter.

It wasn't exactly her dream job but it was better than cleaning public restrooms at the local grocery store.

"There, it's settled," Gemma said.

"Hang on," Clay said, still trying to wrap his head around it.

"I promise that I will make life much easier for you," Elena said with a sweet smile.

She fluttered her eyelashes a few times, staring at him hopefully. Gemma looked amused, knowing exactly what she was doing.

"I guess we can use you," Clay grumbled.

She winked at Gemma before standing up, tossing the newspaper in the trash and hurrying back to her room to get dressed for the day.

"We should call her," Caroline said softly, staring into her glass of water without drinking it.

"Elijah said that we shouldn't try to contact her too much. It could put her in danger," Jeremy said dully, staring at a wall.

Bonnie reached over, putting her hand over his.

"She would want to know," the witch said, squeezing his hand lightly.

"No she wouldn't," Alaric objected, swirling the bourbon in his glass. "But we should tell her anyway. She wouldn't be happy if we kept it from her."

"And if she wants to come back because of it?" Jeremy asked, looking up at the only parental figure he had left.

They all stayed silent for several moments.

"Elijah said that sending her away would protect us all," Caroline said, looking around at them. "He was wrong."

"This didn't happen because of Elena or Elijah," Jeremy cut in, shaking his head. "It was Damon. He wouldn't stop prying and now…"

He didn't finish, swallowing hard.

"Maybe Elena would be safer here after all," Bonnie suggested, sitting up straighter.

"Really, Bonnie?" Alaric said, scoffing. "All evidence to the contrary."

He gestured to the funeral programs that were scattered across the coffee table.

"Well we have to do something," Caroline said with determination. "Elijah isn't around and for all we know, one of us is next. Elena needs to know that the threat has returned to Mystic Falls."

"It's up to her. We'll tell Elena and then she can decide," Jeremy said.

They all silently agreed, each of them wondering what she would choose.

Elena could see the tension in Jax's shoulders even before she reached the garage. His low words were angry, curses coming out of his mouth before he snapped the phone in his hand shut. She hesitated in the doorway, unsure of whether or not to speak to him right now. She had never seen him like this, shoulders hunched and his hands balled into fists. Despite her instinct to just walk away, she pushed forward and took a deep breath.

"Rough day?"

He turned around, looking even wearier from the front.

"It ain't that bad," Jax shrugged, leaning back against the truck that he was supposed to be working on. "What're you doing here?"

Elena had the file for the truck in her hand. The customer just called to check on how the work was going so she was here to get the answer.

"Gemma put me to work," she told him, pressing the file to her chest. "I'm her assistant, or something like that."

Jax smiled though it didn't reach his eyes.

"Sounds like a fantasy come true," he joked.

Elena threw a nearby dirty rag at his face, laughing when he caught it with ease and tossed it away. Jax chuckled but it was half-hearted. Part of her knew that she should leave it alone. They'd only known each other for a couple of weeks. It wasn't as though they were confidants or anything, despite their late night talk on the roof a few days ago. But she couldn't help but let her concern bubble over, stepping forward.

"You wanna talk about it?"

Jax's face fell and he sighed, scrubbing his hands down his face.

"Crazy ex-wife is ignoring my phone calls."

Elena's eyebrows shot up and she almost had to sit down at the mention of that particular plot twist.

"You're married?" she asked, knowing that her surprise was clearing her voice.

"Divorced, almost," Jax corrected her.

She stared at him strangely for a long stretch of time, causing him to shift uncomfortably.

"What?"

"Nothing," she said, shaking her head. "It's just… you don't seem like the married, domestic type."

He laughed without humor, nodding his head.

"Why do you think we're not together anymore?"

Elena didn't reply, still trying to process it. When the image of him standing in a church with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and his leather cut on over a tuxedo, she couldn't stifle a laugh. Elena ignored the stab of annoyance at the woman with no face in her fluffy white dress. She definitely didn't have the emotional capacity for that confusing mix of feelings. When Jax gave her a questioning look, she waved it off.

"Why are you trying to get a hold of her anyway? Gotta split your possessions or what?" Elena asked.

"Nah. Just trying to get her to send me the doctor bills," Jax said, pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket.

"Doctor bills?"

He looked almost sheepish as he lit one up.

"She's pregnant."

If anything could surprise her even more, it was that.

"Wow," Elena said, her voice devoid of all emotion. "You're life is about as dramatic as mine."

"Yeah," he agreed with a scoff, avoiding her gaze.

Not knowing what else to say, she turned around to walk away. It was already awkward enough without her lingering.

"You got any advice for me?" he asked.

She paused, turning back around.

"Be there for your kid," Elena advised him, feeling a pang in her chest. "Their life is going to be hard enough without having an absent father."

She walked away, leaving him to consider her words. When she got back in the office, Gemma gave her an expectant look.

"Did you get the information on the truck?"

She sighed, remembering that was the reason she walked in there in the first place.

"I got distracted. Sorry," Elena apologized, sinking in a chair. "Jax told me he's married."

Gemma's face twisted into a look like she smelled something foul.

"Almost divorced," she corrected her just like he'd done. "And it was barely a marriage. Wendy was high most of the time and Jax was never around long enough to care."

"Sounds real loving," Elena said, frowning at the thought of a marriage like that.

"They didn't do it because of love," Gemma scoffed.

That confused her even more.

"Why get married if you don't love the person?" she asked.

"Boredom," the other woman shrugged.

Elena was taken aback by that. To her, marriage was always a commitment. It meant vows and rings and forever. Not boredom.

"Sounds really special," she muttered.

"It was never gonna last," Gemma said, not sounding all that sad about it.

"Tell that to the kid who's never gonna see his parents together," Elena said bluntly.

Gemma looked surprised at the emotion in her voice.

"You know somethin' about that?" she asked.

"I was adopted. Never met my biological father. Mommy dearest turned out to be a disappointment," she said, averting her eyes. "Shit like that doesn't just go away."

"No it doesn't," Gemma agreed. "But Jax's kid is gonna have a good family. I'll make sure of that."

Elena looked up, realizing that she meant it.

"I'm sure you will," she said with a smile.

Before either of them could say another word, the phone on the desk rang. Gemma nodded at Elena to answer it before turning her attention to the computer.

"A toast to our new assistant!" Bobby said, raising his beer up high.

"Gemma's assistant," Elena laughed over the happy roar of the people crowded in the bar.

Jax was the only one missing from the group. She wasn't sure what to think about that. Part of her was glad not to see him after their awkward conversation. The other part wished that he was there to celebrate with them.

"Whatever you are, we're glad to have you hanging around," Chibs said, throwing his arm over her shoulder. "You up for a game of pool."

"Yeah, I'd love to kick your ass," she said with a grin, hopping off of the barstool while being careful not to spill her own beer.

Elena took a long drink before setting it aside. As she watched Chibs line up the balls, she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket.

"Gimme a minute. Then I'll kick your ass," she said, holding up a finger.

Elena escaped to a corner and held the phone to her ear without bother to check the ID.

"Hello?"

"Elena?" Caroline's voice came over the phone.

"Hey Care!"

At that moment, a loud cheer came from the corner where Juice and Tig were playing darts.

"Are you at a party?" her friend asked, sounding shocked.

"Sort of. It's a bar," Elena said, pushing the door open to step outside. "Is that better?"

"Yeah," Caroline said in a strange voice. "A bar, Elena? Really?"

She shrugged even though she knew that Caroline couldn't see it.

"I got a job. We were celebrating. What's up?" she asked, changing the subject.

The other end of the line was silent in a way that she knew something was wrong. Elena's smile fell and her good spirits all but disappeared.

"Caroline? What happened?"

"It's Stefan," the other girl said with a reluctant sigh. "He came back to Mystic Falls."

Elena's heart leapt in her chest and she pressed her hand to her fluttering stomach.

"Is he okay? How did he get away from Klaus? Did Elijah bring him back?"

"No, Elena," Caroline said, cutting her off from her questions. "He's still under Klaus's control. More than we thought, actually."

Her blood ran cold at the words.

"What is it?" she asked, already filling with dread.

"It was a warning. Damon was trying to track them down and he was using… he was using Andie to do it."

Elena frowned at the mention of the reporter. She didn't even know that Damon was still dating her, much less that they were working together to find Stefan and Klaus.

"Why isn't he just letting Elijah handle it? He promised that he would put an end to Klaus," she said, her breaths coming quickly.

"Damon doesn't trust Elijah. He thought it would be better if he did it himself," Caroline told her.

"And what? Stefan came to warn him off? Why would he do that?"

There was another long pause that only increased her panic.

"Caroline tell me what happened!"

"He killed Andie, Elena. Stefan killed her."

She felt her heart drop and her stomach lurch as if she would vomit right then and there.

"Why? Why would he do that?" she demanded, knowing she sounded more than a little hysterical.

"We think he's under Klaus's compulsion. That and…"

"And what?" Elena said, somehow knowing that it was even worse. "Tell me."

"Stefan turned it off, Elena. His emotions or whatever," Caroline said gently, though she couldn't quite sugar coat it. "He's not Stefan anymore."

Her eyes burned with tears as she staggered to sit down at one of the picnic tables.

"No," she whimpered, shaking her head.

Part of her knew that it was leading here. There was no way that Klaus would be satisfied with the Stefan that she knew. Even though he thought she was dead, he was punishing her by changing the man she loved.

"Elena, we think that you should-"

"I have to go," she interrupted, refusing to hear the rest of Caroline's words.

"Wait-"

Elena hung up the phone before Caroline could say another word, letting it hang loosely from her hands until it clattered to the ground loudly. Music thumped from inside the clubhouse but she had no desire to go back in. She stared forward numbly, tears slipping down her cheeks as she tried to come to grips with what she just heard. Then, suddenly, everything came down and crushed her all at once beneath its weight. Stefan was gone. Andie was dead. He killed Andie. He was a killer. A murderer. A monster.

Before she knew it, heaving sobs were escaping from her chest and she could barely catch a breath. Her vision blurred with the tears that poured out of her eyes and her entire body was shaking. Distantly, she heard someone saying her name. It wasn't until she felt hands on her cheeks that she realized he was right in front of her. Blue eyes and a concerned face swam in front of her but she couldn't bring herself to say anything, her chest feeling tighter and tighter. Then he was gathering her in his arms and holding her close and she was crying into his chest.

Another hand came down on her shoulder and Elena distantly heard Gemma ask what happened. Jax had no idea. Elena couldn't get herself under control to explain. When she closed her eyes, she saw Jenna's heart being ripped out. Blood running down Klaus's chin. A sadistic look in his eyes. Then the scene changed and it was Andie lying dead, her eyes lifeless and her chest torn open. Stefan was grinning at her, stained in blood and looking like death itself. Then it was Elena lying there, watching as Stefan's face came closer, his mouth smeared with blood.

Elena wrenched her eyes open with a panicked cry and realized that they were pulling her to stand. She walked on unfeeling legs. A door opened and she was being shuffled through a suddenly silent crowd. Someone else asked what was wrong. Clay told them to keep partying. They went into a hallway and then she was being sat down on a bed. Elena reached out, gripping Jax's hand so that he wouldn't leave her. She didn't want him to leave. The monsters would haunt her if she was alone.

"Elena, sweetheart, you have to breathe, okay?" Gemma said from somewhere to her left.

She shook her head, gasping and sobbing and trying not to scream herself hoarse. Jax looked freaked out and Clay was hovering by the door with a stressed look on his face. Gemma dabbed at her face with a wet cloth, trying to hush her cries.

"They'll find me here," she choked out, panic rising in her chest. "He'll kill me. He will."

"No one is going to find you here," Gemma said, taking her face in her hands. "You're safe."

She trembled, digging her nails into her palms.

"I'm so scared," Elena whimpered, realizing that for the first time.

She was terrified of Klaus in a way that she hadn't been before. That was why she left Mystic Falls, why she followed Elijah even though every instinct screamed at her not to. Elena couldn't face him again. She knew that she would die if he found her. And this time, it might be Stefan delivering the final blow.

"Who the hell did this to her?" she heard Jax murmur.

"Someone worse than you've ever met," Gemma answered, pulling Elena in for a tight embrace.

Elena shuddered, praying desperately that Elijah would keep Klaus from ever casting his shadow over Charming. She felt her heart rate slowing and managed to get her tears under control. She didn't know how much time passed before she finally pulled away from Gemma. Jax was sitting on the edge of the bed, his hand on her knee and a deeply concerned look on his face. Clay was hovering by the door, looking relieved that whatever happened was over.

"I don't know what that was," Elena said quietly, looking down at her lap.

"I think it was a panic attack, baby," Gemma said, wiping her face down again.

It made sense. Elena didn't have much energy to process it. She felt weary, like her limbs were all weighed down with concrete blocks.

"I'm tired," she sighed, leaning back against the headboard.

"That's understandable," Gemma said, rubbing her hand up and down her arm. "You can lay down here and sleep."

Elena didn't even protest, kicking her shoes off and lying back. She felt Gemma stroking her hair and vaguely remembered mumbling Jax's name and reaching her hand out again. It was strange and out of character but she didn't care at the moment. When his large, warm hand closed around hers, she relaxed and sighed lightly. Sleep came quickly but before she slipped away, Elena briefly wondered if Klaus and Stefan would haunt her nightmares too.

It was completely dark when she woke up. Elena felt slightly disoriented and aware of a throbbing pain in her head that came from crying. Pushing herself up, she quickly realized where she was and that she wasn't alone.

"You didn't have to stay with me," she said in a hoarse voice, rubbing at her forehead in hopes that it would make her headache go away.

"I don't mind," Jax said, leaning forward in the chair that he was sitting on. "Someone's gotta make sure you're okay. Gemma left a while ago."

Elena leaned back against the headboard as everything came rushing back. She felt humiliated that they saw her go through that but knew that it wasn't her fault. It wasn't like she wanted to have a panic attack. Elena just hated that they saw her at such a weak moment.

"That's never happened to me before," she said, combing her tangled hair out with her fingers. "Not even after my parents…"

She trailed off, swallowing hard.

"Scared the shit out of me," Jax admitted.

Elena shuddered at the memory of her gasping sobs and the fear that clawed at her chest. Drawing her knees to her chest, she peered at him through the darkness.

"His name is Klaus," she said softly.

There was a lot that she couldn't tell Jax but she could tell him this.

"He hurt you?" Jax asked.

"He killed my aunt in front of me. He threatened everyone that I love and then he almost killed me," Elena said, watching him for any reaction. "He thinks I'm dead. That's why I ran. If he knew that I was alive, he'd kill my brother and my friends. Then he'd find me and kill me."

"We won't let that happen," he promised, leaning forward with a determined look. "We'll keep you safe."

She gave him a sad smile, wishing that she could tell him not to bother. That he had no chance against the likes of Klaus. Jax might have been crass and rough and more than likely a criminal, but the lack of hesitation in promising to protect her proved that he was more than just any of that. Pushing herself up, she scooted towards the edge of the bed to sit closer to him, curling her legs beneath her. Jax watched her silently as she did so. Once she was settled, he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and looked into her eyes.

"I don't know how I fit in here," Elena said, wanting desperately to change the subject. "Part of me feels like… like I'm on the outside looking in. Like a stranger who just doesn't belong."

"And the other part of you?" Jax asked, knowing there was more.

She didn't answer right away, trying to find a way to put her feelings into words.

"The other part of me feels like I belong here. Like I was somehow always going to end up here, no matter what happened. And not just in Charming. I mean here, with you and Gemma and the guys. I can't really explain it but… it's like everything that's happened has led me here."

Elena waited for him to tell her that it was crazy. That she was just a passerby that didn't belong anywhere near his club.

"Maybe it has," Jax said instead.

She stared at him with surprise.

"You believe in fate?" Elena questioned.

"I believe in signs. I think that people end up where they're supposed to be at that time. Whether that's fate or God or something else, I don't know," Jax shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "All I know is that trying to figure it all out is just a waste of time. All you can do is live life and see where it takes you."

Elena thought about it for several moments, trying to reconcile his words with what she knew about her life. She was born of a line that was always destined to end with Klaus. Only she cheated the system, lived when she wasn't supposed to. We're Petrovas. Survivors, a voice that sounded suspiciously like Katherine's echoed through her head. We cheat death and give destiny the middle finger. Quit trying to figure it all out and just live your damn life. Get drunk and dance on tables. Drive too fast. Wear that slutty dress. Let yourself fall in love, and not just with men. Fall in love with life. Don't let fear rule you. Quit being boring old Mystic Falls Elena Gilbert. She sucks. This is your second chance at life. Don't fuck it up because you're scared. Taking a deep breath, she sat up a little straighter and looked Jax in the eye.

"I wanna get out of here."

He stared at her with surprise for several moments before a grin broke out on his face. Before she knew it, Elena was tugging her boots on and accepting one of Jax's hoodies before running out into the parking lot where he waited for her. He climbed on his bike first before patting the seat behind him, just like before. This time, she didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around him and press her cheek between his shoulder blades.

"Where to?" Jax asked before turning on the bike.

"Somewhere new," Elena answered simply.

He didn't protest her vague answer, starting the motorcycle before taking off out of the parking lot. The streets of Charming were basically empty, minus a few stragglers here and there. It didn't take long before they passed the city limit sign. Elena didn't even question where they were going, somehow trusting that Jax would take care of her. The wind whipped around them as they hurtled down the highway and she was glad that Jax had given her his jacket.

When they finally came to a stop, she looked around to see that they were in the middle of a canyon, rocky cliffs and steep hills surrounding them. Climbing off of the bike, Elena stepped off of the road and made her way towards the edge of a cliff. Before she got there, she stopped and looked up at the night sky, admiring the millions of stars that stretched across the immense darkness. As she turned in a circle, Elena staggered straight into Jax. He caught her with ease. Lowering her head, she looked at him and smiled slightly.

"New enough for you?" he asked.

"It's beautiful."

Elena could feel his surprise when she wound her arms around his neck and tucked her face in his shoulder. Jax Teller clearly did not get enough hugs. She held her ground until his arms slowly wrapped around her, his large hands splaying over her back and his face burying in her hair. Pulling away after a few moments, Elena gave him a brilliant smile before carefully making her way to the edge of a cliff. As soon as she sat down, her legs dangling over the edge, Jax was seated beside her. He offered her a cigarette and she accepted. Neither of them spoke for a while, watching their smoke curl into the night air and disappear.

"I don't want to go home," Elena said, breaking the silence.

He looked over at her.

"You gonna live in the wilderness?" he asked, gesturing over the expanse of trees and fields beyond where they sat.

"Smartass," Elena said, shoving at his shoulder. "I mean my home. Mystic Falls. Virginia. I couldn't admit it before now but…I don't want to go back. Too many bad things have happened there. I can't look at it the same. It's not safe for me anymore."

Jax didn't answer for a while.

"I get that," he finally said. "You need a new start."

She nodded, relieved that he could understand her. Most of the people back in Mystic Falls would never get it.

"Think you can have that new start here?" Jax asked.

"I haven't decided yet," Elena said, looking over at him. "But it's looking pretty good."

"Good," he said simply.

They lapsed into silence once more, both enjoying the peace that their spot offered. It wasn't until a while later that Jax stood and offered Elena his hand. She let him pull her up and knew that it was about time they got back to Charming. As they drove into town, Jax stopped at a gas station instead of going straight to the garage.

"You need anything?" he asked, cutting off the engine.

Elena shrugged, following him inside.

"You never know," she said simply.

As she wandered, she heard Jax having a conversation with a cashier. Elena pressed her lips together to keep from laughing when she saw the young woman pull her shirt down to show off her cleavage. She met Jax at a display of books, watching when he picked up a childrens' story and looked at the cover.

"Get it," she encouraged.

Jax looked at her with a questioning look.

"You can read it to your kid one day," she shrugged.

He grinned and nodded, picking up the book before going to the cash register. Elena didn't miss the dirty look that 'Louise' sent her as she walked towards the front of the store. When she heard a distant noise, Elena turned around and looked through the windows, her eyes widening when she saw a fiery explosion lifting into the dark night.

"What the hell is that?" she said loudly.

Jax turned to see what she was talking about, his eyes widening at the sight.

"Oh, shit!" he cursed, leaving his purchases behind as he grasped her arm and pulled her outside.

Elena watched as he climbed on the bike quickly, barely taking time to buckle his helmet in place. She knew that he was in a hurry, climbing on behind him before holding on tight. Jax sped to the garage and cut the engine before he even pulled into his usual spot.

"What is that?" Elena questioned, looking back where she could still see the smoke rising in the air.

"Nothing," he answered, obviously distracted as he made his way towards the clubhouse.

She glowered at the back of his head, knowing that he was lying. It was getting easier to figure out that everyone was keeping something big from her. They all seemed to think that they were protecting her. Or maybe they were trying to protect themselves. But she'd figured out that Stefan was a vampire all by herself and she would figure this out too.

"I deserve to know," Elena called out.

Jax stopped, turning around a warning look. He didn't look like the guy that held her while she cried or teased her about living in the wilderness of California. He looked almost dangerous but it didn't scare her. He didn't scare her.

"Trust me, you don't want to know," Jax said simply before turning back around.

Elena stopped short, crossing her arms over her chest. He didn't even glance back at her, rushing inside. Glancing over her shoulder once more, she decided not to let his words stop her. If she was going to try to make a home here, she was going to have to know what she was getting into. Hell, she deserved to know, whether Jax and Gemma and Clay liked it or not. Elena was determined now and when she was determined, nothing could stop her. She would figure out what was going on. It was her new mission, if only to distract her from the memories that haunted her.

I would love to hear what you think. Please leave a review.

Updated: 4/11/21