Nothing Stays The Same


Warning: Use of language in this chapter, as well as a term that some may find offensive. I'm sorry but Caroline says it in the episode and I wanted to be as authentic to the source material as possible.


It was time. No more waiting, no more hiding, no last-moment escape efforts or faked laryngitis would cut it now. Judgement Day had befallen the town of Mystic Falls in the form of...a blonde teenage vampire and her clipboard. While she seemed non-threatening, she could cut you down and bend your will to hers with a few well-chosen words. Today was June 22nd, the day of Elena's birthday, and Caroline Forbes' greatest planning achievement to date, and everyone was in awe -and a little afraid- of everything she'd done to pull this together.

All, except one.

"I still don't get why we're throwing a party for someone who isn't even here, Blondie," Damon huffed as he navigated his way through the parade of people Caroline had roped into helping her set up for tonight's party.

Caroline narrowed her eyes, brandishing her clipboard as she raved passionately, "We celebrate Jesus' birthday every year, and yet I don't see him here. All I see is you asking stupid questions when you should be blowing up balloons. So, get a move on, Damon, or I'll make you wish Klaus had picked you to be his murder buddy rather than Stefan, got it?"

With a petulant -and slightly hurt?- glower Damon stalked off, but did in actual fact go blow up the balloons as she'd asked.

"Maybe you should think about avoiding the 'S' word for a while, Care," Tyler suggested as he came up behind her and dropped a box of water onto the dining room table.

Caroline cocked her head with a puzzled frown. "Stupid?

"Stefan," Tyler clarified with a grimace.

"Oh, right. That 'S' word." She banged her clipboard into her forehead. "Here's another for you: sorry. I know he's hurting and everything, but this party is for all of us, to let loose and have some wild, carefree, adolescent alcohol-fueled fun. You thought he could be at least a little more enthusiastic, especially since it's Elena's birthday we're celebrating and all."

"Just because a guy kisses a girl once doesn't automatically mean he's going to blow up balloons and string fairy lights, Care."

Jeremy stopped, a stolen cupcake halfway to his lips. "Since when has Damon kissed my sister?"

Caroline and Tyler both whirled around, one with a exasperated expression, the other covered in guilt. "Tyler! Just because I tell you these things doesn't mean you're allowed to know them! Look, Jeremy, it was when he was dying and Elena was really sad and -again, she thought he was going to die, in her arms like something out of movie- she swore me and Bonnie to secrecy over it; I'm sorry."

"So you told Tyler? That's not like you to break your sacred 'Girl Code.'"

"We all have our outlets, don't we? To make up for my indiscretion, I won't get mad at that cupcake you're trying to hide behind your back... shouldn't you be at The Grill, anyway? You know, where a certain quarterback is likely waiting after putting in a good word for you since you have zero job skills apart from killing vampires and getting killed by vampires?"

"Hey, friendly reminder, the last person to kill me was your mom, Caroline. And around here, killing vampires is pretty much a full-time job."

"And Elena will kill me if she finds out I let you skip work," she waved that damned clipboard in the direction of the front door. "The Grill. Go. Now."

Jeremy gave her a mock salute with his half-eaten cupcake case, passing Tyler, who was also making an exit for the door. "We still in for lunch in a bit, Care?" the werewolf asked her.

"Yeah sure, but I thought you were gonna help me organize the napkins?"

"Can't, gotta make sure my dates still in for tonight."

Caroline stopped in her tracks, eyes bugging out of her head. It was all a little cartoony for Jeremy's taste, but he knew Elena -and Bonnie- would never forgive him if he held back any developments on the Caroline/Tyler front, no matter how uninterested he was.

"You're bringing a date?" the blonde barked incredulously. "Who?"

"Sophie," Tyler shot back, daring her to comment.

It was Caroline, so of course she did. "Sophie? 'Slutty Sophie,' that's who you're bringing?"

"Well, things have been kinda slow in that department, alright?"

"And that's my queue." Grabbing his backpack, Jeremy tossed it over his shoulder, as well as a quick, "I'll see you guys later."

They didn't even notice him leave, the suckers. Yeah, they were 'just friends' his ass.

He was halfway to The Grill when he heard her. "Looks like Little Gilbert's all grown up now, with a job and everything. Who'd have thought you'd ever abandon your stoner days and become a productive member of society?"

Jeremy turned around. "Vicki?"

"Come on, Jer. Don't want to be late for your amazing boss Mr Matty D, do we?" she said with a smile before she vanished into nothingness.


After being around so much glitter and girly stuff, Damon needed a bath. And some champagne. Luckily, he was never running low on the good stuff, and his claw-foot tub was the perfect place to relax and try and forget his sorrows -or at the very least drown them in expensive bubble bath.

But, like most things, the water got cold and the champagne was starting to run out, and if he was being honest with himself, all he wanted to do was hide out in his room like some damned coward until this miserable day was finally over. Was he a coward, though? No. He was a vampire, and a dark one at that, and he wouldn't be cowed by the prospect of another day without Elena. And it seemed the universe was more than willing to offer up a distraction, courtesy of a certain Channel Nine News Reporter.

"Want some?" he offered the woman with one of his most dashing smiles.

"I'm a normal person, I don't drink in the morning, unlike you."

Shrugging, Damon tipped back the bottle, annoyed to find it empty. Laying on the charm, he didn't even get to finish his sentence of "Would you be a dear-"

"I think you can get it yourself. I'm not your slave."

-before Andie interrupted him, which was fair enough; he knew he could, should be nicer to her, but then she might start to get comfortable around him, which wouldn't end well for her.

Rising out of the water with one great swoop, the raven-haired vampire completely ignored her baffled, "You're dripping all over..." as he made is way out of the bathroom. It was his house, after all: he could drip if he wanted to.

If Elena was still here, he thought as he made his way through the lower end of the Boarding House, gladdened to see that Queen Care-Bear and her hoard of Care-A-Lot worker bees were out of sight, or had hopefully left altogether, this would be the perfect moment for her to walk through the front door. I wouldn't let her know I was there, of course, and her eyes would get all wide and she'd blush like the sight of me without any clothes on was the most scandalous thing known to man, and she'd pretend to be upset with me, but I'd be able to tell she was smiling underneath.

That was the whole problem: she wasn't. This was her day, and he couldn't even spend it with her. He couldn't tell her how much he missed her, or say thank you for everything that she'd done, and was still doing, or that as much as he loved Stefan, his baby brother, the other side of his dark coin, the twin of his heart and all that stuff, he wouldn't feel so torn open if she hadn't left. He was like a pumpkin, minus the carved creepy face: someone had ripped out all his innards, leaving him a hollow, listless, lifeless shell that was simply going through the motions of survival.

And that survival required copious amounts of booze.

Locating a particularly good vintage -was he running low on Bourbon and Tequila? It looked like there was a few bottles missing- Damon padded back up the stairs and to his bedroom, accompanied by the occasional sound of a popping bubble. Chugging half in one go, he'd only just spun a towel around his waist when a text alert came up on his phone.

Sheriff Forbes had a new lead, another animal attack in Memphis, the third one this month.

Well, at least he wouldn't have to blow up any more balloons.


Elena had been laying in bed for the past fifteen minutes now, eyes closed, trying to figure out just what the hell Elijah was up to. He'd been in and out all week, taking care of 'business' -he informed her that he was involved in several lucrative real estate dealerships, as well as having multiple stocks and shares in various enterprises- which was all fine with her...to be completely honest, she'd been avoiding him a little. Ever since that afternoon with Marjorie, when she'd realized that her feelings for Stefan weren't what they had been -and neither were her feelings for Elijah- it was too confusing to maintain the level of closeness they'd cultivated, so she mainly stayed in their hotel room, scrolling through news websites, making notes, and catching up on some reading.

They'd only had two new leads in all that time, a man who mysteriously vanished at a 'Concert in the Courtyard' show in Memphis, Tennessee. Trevor Stott had, according to reports, been at the concert on Friday then went to go and get his girlfriend her sweater from the car...and didn't come back, and another bizarre animal attack. After some digging -both in the literal and metaphorical sense- Elijah had found both bodies in the nearby woods and called in an anonymous tip to the authorities, so at least Trevor's girlfriend and his family, as well as that of the other victim could have some kind of closure. But apart from that, things had been strained between them, a bowstring pulled too taught, and she hated it. And above all, she hated that she was hurting him.

Peeling her eyelids apart with a groan, Elena blinked several times, determined that her vision would soon clear and the sight before her would dematerialize.

It didn't.

Elijah Mikaelson was standing on a step ladder, hanging up a banner on the opposite wall, a roll of tape clutched between his teeth as he got the angle just right. Likely hearing her increased heartbeat, the Original pivoted awkwardly on the ladder, removing the tape from his mouth and looking at a complete loss for words. The feeling was mutual. Jumping down, Elijah unrolled his sleeves, spinning the tape between his hands.

"Did you really think I'd forget what today is, Elena?" Elijah asked her tenderly.

"I didn't think you even knew," she replied honestly, her voice coming out a sleep-fogged croak.

"While I discovered long ago that doppelgängers have a tendency to be born on the same day, a fact I'm sure you abhor, it was actually your aunt Jenna that told me. During my time in Mystic Falls posing as a writer, we often spoke, and she mentioned once that she had to pick up a present for you because your birthday was coming up, and that she hoped you'd like it, that you deserved something nice after such a terrible year, and I couldn't agree more. Birthdays have always had a special importance with my family -it is the one day a year Niklaus will not commit violence upon anyone, on their birthday- but even as immortal beings, we still mark the passage of time, acknowledging the link to your humanity. So while I know this is likely the last scenario you'd have ever imagined for your eighteenth birthday, I still wanted you to know how special you are, and that you deserve celebrating...not just today, but always."

"Elijah?" Elena smiled in wonder.

"Yes?" he inquired delicately.

"Do you mind moving those scissors off the floor so I don't step on them when I throw myself at you and give you the biggest hug of your immortal life?" Elena said breathlessly.

"Of course," he smiled, "I wouldn't dream of ruining your birthday with my carelessness."

She kept out of the queen-sized bed, nearly knocking over the stack of presents -presents?- over as she flung herself at him, her arms going around him so tightly she was almost positive she heard ribs creaking somewhere, but he didn't seem to care.

If things had been different, she would have told him right then and there, she would have told him everything in her heart, everything that was for him. Yet that would only hurt him, and it wouldn't be fair to Stefan, either, so she clung to his shirt and let her tears soak the blue fabric as she cried, "I can't believe you did all this for me. It's perfect. You're perfect. It must have taken you ages to sort all this out..."

Elijah cupped her cheek, looking at her like only he could. "You're more than worth it, Elena." He was the first to pull away, absently straightening a pale pink streamer. "Breakfast first, or presents?"

"Since I'm eighteen now," Elena said, unable to keep her excitement from creeping into the edges of her voice, "I guess I should probably be sensible and say food, right?"

"Elena, its your day: you can do whatever you wish."

If that were the case, she'd yank him toward her and kiss him 'til the sun exploded, but that wasn't the smartest of ideas -but wouldn't it be incredible?-so she decided to indulge herself in another vice.

"Do you mind if I opened the presents you so kindly got me?"

"Of course not."

Beaming happily, Elena let her fingers skim over each shape as if she were in the library, scanning the shelves for her next story. She finally settled on a large silver one, decorated with a gorgeous gossamer bow. "Can I just...?"

Elijah grinned knowingly. "Go for it, sweetheart."

Elena tore into the present, tearing the paper with abandon. Inside, she was amazed to see a mesmerizing framed painting of...

"The Lady of Shallot," she exclaimed breathlessly, admiring the work of art. "Wait, is this the one-"

"Hanging in my library?" Elijah finished for her. "Yes, it is. Or, more accurately, it was. But I think you'll get far more enjoyment out of it, and work of art, an object of such talent as that should be admired, rather than gathering dust."

"I love it, thank you." She gave him another hug.

"Are you going to embrace me every time you open a present?"

Elena nodded.

"Darling, you'll be here all day."

"Don't care. I don't want you to think I'm taking your kindness or your generosity for granted. Plus, it's tradition: you give a present, you get a hug."

"My apologies," Elijah smiled sweetly into her hair, "I was unaware of that particular custom."

"Well, know you know." Diving back into the pile, she found a small envelope with her name on it. When she held it up to Elijah, he explained, "Ah, that one is from Miss Forbes. She -rather deftly, I must admit- interrogated our current location out of me when she learned of my contacting your brother. She threatened some rather creative torturous schemes if I didn't comply and make sure you received her gift. I believe one of them involved a curling iron and a pair of ten-inch heels."

Elena giggled, hopping up onto the plush bed. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

Inside the envelope was her old phone, as well as a letter that read,

Dear Elena,

Happy Birthday! You're eighteen now, which means you're older than me! Congratulations! (Getting any grey hairs yet, Grandma?) I'm sorry we can't all be together right now, but just know that we're thinking of you, and we all love you super much. So much, in fact, that I convinced Damon to let me throw a birthday party in your honour at the Boarding House.

I hope you appreciate the effort that took. I'm kidding; I know you do, you're you.

And I don't want you to hate me for saying this, but please, come home soon. I miss having you around, it's not the same without you and Bonnie. While it's obviously mega important you find Stefan, he was the one that did everything he could to save your life, he wanted you to live it, okay?

But, what do I know? You've got your very own Original hanging off your every word, according to Jeremy, so maybe you won't want to ever come back.

But you should. For Graduation. And Prom. And Senior Prank Night which you cannot miss!

Anyways, best wishes on your special day! I'm glad we're all still here, and that you're still my best friend.

Your favourite blonde bestie, Caroline.

PS: Hope you like my present. I thought it would be nice to have a piece of home on your special day. Plus, pictures!

"Are you alright?"

Elena felt her bottom lip tremble as she put down the letter. "Sorry, it's just..." she didn't need to explain; he already knew.

"I know. We can be there in a few hours, if that's what you wish," he offered once again.

"No. I'm eighteen now, an adult, and its time I start acting like one, first off by seeing this through."

"Very well." He handed her another present, this one slightly squishy. "Maybe this might cheer you up."

As soon as their hands brushed, Elijah's phone began ringing. "I'll just be a moment," he promised as he retrieved the device from the depths of his pocket and left the room.

By the time he'd returned, Elena had opened her present, her lastest gift sitting on her lap. She waved it's soft blue-jacketed arm in his direction, shocked beyond belief that he'd paid such attention to her, especially when she'd told him about this particular bunny toy at three in the morning, a few days ago when she woke up from a gruesome nightmare after their visit to the morgue.

"I can't believe you remembered this."

"Why?" Elijah asked of her. "You remember everything that I've said to you, of that I have no doubt. Why shouldn't that work both ways?"

"Because whatever you have to say is far more important than some childhood story, I'd wager," Elena explained as if it were obvious.

"But I like your stories; they make me smile. As does seeing you so happy."

"Do you know how long I've wanted one of these?"

Elijah sat down on the bed beside her, giving the Bunnykin's ears a gentle stroke. "I'd say about fifteen years, give or take?"

"Fourteen. I was so sad when I lost mine, I cried for a month straight. My parents got me other toys, but it never felt quite the same. I couldn't have asked for a better gift."

"Do I sense another hug directed my way?"

"You betcha, mister. Now, get over here."

After she'd given him his obligatory hug, she was still close enough to detect the hints of dismay flecking his dark eyes. "I truly hate to darken your day, but..."

She'd never get just one day, would she? "Hit me."

"Another attack, not far from here."

Elena hugged her new toy to her chest, finding a sense of comfort and strength, not just from the present itself, but the care that had gone into picking it. "I'll be ready in ten."


When Elijah and Elena pulled up to the address, the house was already on fire. Billowing plumes of smoke and violent flames engulfed half the house, obscuring Elena's vision as she got out of the car, using the hem of her red tank top to cover her mouth. However, it wasn't thick enough to hide the silver car speeding away, a car she knew for a fact belonged to a certain History teacher...with no doubt a dark-haired, blue-eyed vampire in the passenger seat.

"Damn it, Damon!" she cried in frustration, kicking at the dirt under her sneakers. "This was our best lead."

"It's alright," Elijah reassured her, placing a comforting hand on her bare shoulder. "The structural integrity of the house hasn't been too greatly compromised. I can be in and out within moments."

It took her a few painfully long seconds to realize what he'd just said. "You want to go in there? Into the burning house that may or may not collapse at any given second? Elijah, no! It's too dangerous. It's not worth it." It's not worth you getting hurt.

"While your concern is most touching, sweetheart," Elijah drawled with nothing in that house can kill me. I'll be quiet safe."

"But what if there's a beam and it crashes on you and it stakes you and I have to pull you out and then die of smoke inhalation, not to mention the fact that there's no way I'm strong enough to carry you..." the birthday girl rambled as she thought of all the ways this insane plan of his could go wrong.

The feather-light brush of his lips against her cheek were extremely effective in getting her to shut up.

"You worry to much, Elskede. I promise, I'll be back before you know it."

As he made his way up the burning steps, Elena protested, "I know it!"

He simply grinned at her as the flames swallowed him whole.


In all honesty, he may have been down-playing the deterioration of the house for Elena's sake, and while what he'd said to her way true, none of the burning debris could injure him greatly, it still wasn't what one would deem a pleasant experience, walking through the still-burning wreckage of what Elijah was sure had once been a lovely home.

Despite the noxious fumes of melting plastic and burning wood, the coppery tang of blood was unmistakable, for it littered every available surface even more than the flames. Stefan had made quite the mess, it seemed, likely at Niklaus' request. Elijah found the two women in the living room, propped up like gruesome dolls, and even for him the sight made him wince in sympathy. These poor women hadn't deserved such a fate, had done nothing wrong, hadn't been killed out of necessity or a threat or even hunger, but only because his brother didn't like loose ends.

Therefore, he'd be particularly enraged to find that someone -likely Damon, he'd wager- had left the door in the floor wide open, chains glinting like burnt fireflies.

Werewolves.

They'd been right. This was all about making more hybrids.

Having learnt all he could, Elijah sped out of the house, narrowly avoiding the collapse of a load-bearing support beam. Coughing clean air into his lungs, Elijah had no time to brace himself as Elena descended on him, fussing at a hundred miles an hour.

"Oh my God, Elijah, you're a mess! You've got soot all over your suit, and your hair. Are you okay? You didn't get hurt or anything?"

"Elena." He enclosed her wrists lightly, stopping the fluttering birds of anxiety from taking flight. "I'm perfectly fine, there's no need to worry."

"You look like an extra from Backdraft, Elijah," the brunette retorted, "there's plenty to worry about. Come on, let me get you cleaned up." Dragging him to the car, she opened the glove compartment and urged him to take a seat. Retrieving the bottle of water from the cup holder, she doused a handkerchief with it's contents and began swiping at his face, the white cloth coming away with charcoal streaks instantly as she began her ministrations. Not one to make a fuss, Elijah simply lent back against the fabric of the seat as she worked -he'd never admit it aloud, of course, but it felt gloriously intimate to have her take care of him like this, for it to be such a natural reaction, an instinct, the same as it was for him when he looked after her.

"Shake out your hair," Elena ordered as she shook out the handkerchief.

"I beg your pardon?"

"There's soot all in your hair, Elijah," she clarified running her fingers through the strands, fingertips indeed coming away with dark streaks of ash. "I can't get to it all. So, unless you want me to dunk your head in the nearest stream, you better do a wet dog impression."

While it was most ungentlemanly, Elijah conceded to her wishes, a crooked grin finding it's way onto his face when she got some of the soot on her face.

"I guess I should have seen that coming," Elena mused dryly. "Okay, you're sufficiently de-sooted."

As she bent her arm around him so she could put the virtually empty bottle of water back, Elijah couldn't help himself from saying, "Aren't you going to ask me what I saw?"

"Making sure that you were okay took priority: you can tell me on the drive."

She really was a marvel.

"As you wish, birthday girl."


The party was just as Damon had expected it to be: loud, wild and super-crazy, and completely not what Elena would have wanted. She'd have wanted something small, family and close friends, exchanging presents and watching movies on the couch, while maybe having a drink or two.

Speaking of which...

Damon plucked a bottle of alcohol from a kid's hands as he compelled her, "You don't want that. You want the cheap, young stuff by the cheap young people," as he took a hearty swig.

Wherever Elena was, he hoped she was having a better time than him.

Caroline was off pretending like she wasn't jealous of Wolfboy and his date, Matt was avoiding Miss Party Planner with Jeremy, and Ric looked like he had a list of a million places he'd rather be, Number One being Hell, Number Two the desert getting eaten by lions. He could definitely do with some cheering up.

Taking a seat on the wall beside him, Damon surveyed the crowded Boarding House.

"She would have hated this, wouldn't she?" Ric asked beside him.

"Absolutely."

"She'd act like she wasn't, would let Caroline drag her around, would likely call out Jeremy on whatever he's doing that I'm sure as chaperone I do *not want to know about but will likely be sorting out within the hour, fake it for a bit and then go hide out in your room."

Damon arched a brow. "My room? Why not Stefan's?"

"Because it's too hard, dumbass. It's why I'm still sleeping on the couch, waiting for Jeremy to kick me out."

"You know he'd never do that," the vampire argued heatedly, "that kid loves you. They both do."

Ric smirked, taking a drink from his glass. "Jealous, are we?"

"As if I'd ever want to sleep on the Gilbert couch, that things a death trap, even for someone that's already dead," Damon scoffed theatrically.

"Uh, uh, sure. I know you, Damon: you'd rather be on that couch with her in the house than cooped up here without her. I'm your best friend; the tough-guy act isn't gonna work on me."

"I'm not tough, am I? I've spent half the summer trying to put out fires-"

"And starting them," Alaric interjected with another smirk.

"And now look. Jeremy's smoking again -I can smell that joint from here, the idiot- half her friends aren't speaking to each other while the other half are acting as if they don't want to rip each other's clothes off and get it on..."

The History teacher grimaced like he'd swallowed a lemon. "Woah, TMI pal. Waay TMI."

"Come on, Ric. You're a guy, you have eyes. But you also know that we'd be a lot less miserable if she was here. Everyone would be. She's the life of this place, the glue that keeps us all together. And without her...we ain't doing so hot."

"I know. Which is why you're gonna go back in there and sort it all out, aren't you?"

Damon grinned, a sharp flash of teeth. "You bet. Damon Salvatore, Vampire Troubleshooter to the rescue. Or not," he added as his phone buzzed. "It's Andie, she wants me to pick her up."

"You mean your fake compelled girlfriend wants you to be a chivalrous boyfriend?" Alaric snarked reproachfully.

"Its a complicated dynamic," Damon admitted begrudgingly. "I better go put on my helmet and saddle up my white horse, then." He finished off his drink, then Alaric's, before declaring, "Hold down the fort, will you? But be careful: these drunk dragons can get nasty," as he got down from the wall.

"The fort full of my drunk History students?" the teacher needlessly clarified.

Damon thrust a bottle in his direction, "Drink more, it'll feel less weird," before heading in the direction of the sitting room.

Grabbing Jeremy by the collar of his t-shirt, he hauled him out of there and pushed him out the front door with a grumbled, "Go talk to Papa Saltzman about whatever's eating you up, Jer."

Mission accomplished, he got in his car and headed for the station.

And when he came back, he just slumped to the floor of his bedroom and stared into space.


"I can't quite comprehend how quickly you've been able to get through all those presents," Elijah admitted as they sat side by side on the long couch in their hotel room, both freshly showered. Elena looked lovely in her white dress with her hair curled, but for him it was her smile that was the most beautiful thing of all.

"It's a teenage superpower, likely formed due to today's materialism and disregard for the art of present-wrapping."

"Most likely." He pulled her from the couch, her chest brushing against his as he murmured in her ear, "Close you eyed."

Elena squinted, suspicious. "Why?"

"Because your next gift works better with the lights off."

With an indignant huff, Elena closed her eyes. And when she opened them, she gasped, "Oh, that's so sweet. Way better than any birthday cake."

"I thought you might like something a little more...you," Elijah confessed as he lit the candle on her birthday cupcake, careful not to smear the frosting that looked like flowers.

"I love it, thank you."

"Would you like me to sing 'Happy Birthday'?" Elijah offered kindly.

Elena peered up at him. "You'd do that for me?"

"Of course."

With anyone else, he wouldn't have. With anyone else, he would have felt utterly ridiculous singing it, but not her. With her...he only wished he could be there to sing it for her every year after.

When he was done, he encouraged her, "Make a wish, Elena. I think you've more than earned it."

Closing her eyes once again, Elena puffed a breath and blew out the flame.

"What did you wish for?"

"I can't tell you that!" she exclaimed. "Then it won't come true. But I will say it was a good one, a happy one."

"I hope it comes true for you."

She smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. "Me, too." Taking out the candle, she discarded it on the coffee table. "Do you want to share this? It seems only fair," Elena continued as she reached out and took the handkerchief from his pocket, "considering what you had to do today, and what you have done for me, every day. It's only right you get something out of it, too."

Couldn't she see that he had? For the past three weeks, he'd lived more, laughed more, felt more than he had in over a thousand years? That while he was still a vampire, a monster beyond human imagining, she made him feel like it didn't define him, that with her he wasn't as lost as he'd once thought? Couldn't she tell, that every glance and every touch, felt so precious to him, and earned, borne out of trust and respect and friendship? Things he'd never expected to have again, and certainly never from a Petrova?

Was he not that obvious?

Elijah was saved from the possibility of blurting out his recent internal monologue by the ringing of his phone. Another one of his informants with information.

"I should take this," he apologized swiftly, but not before asking her to save some cake for him as he exited the room.


Elena had saved some cupcake for him, sitting on his handkerchief looking incredibly lonely, if it was possible for a mix of butter, sugar, flour and frosting to look as such. After five minutes, she grew restless, so she went back to her pile of gifts and picked up her old phone from Caroline. Turning on the bedside lamp to combat the shadows growing against the dark red wallpaper, Elena scrolled through all her photos, laughing at all the silky selfies, smiling at the tender, quieter moments captured by those she loved. She was in the middle of looking at a hilariously awful picture of her from Bonnie's last birthday when her screen went blank, 'Caller Unknown' flashing across the top.

She answered it without thinking.

"Hello? Hello?"

Then something in her sparked, a flare going off in a forest, a feeling of certainty sweeping through her, and suddenly, she just knew. She knew who it was.

Because really, on her birthday of all days, who else could it be but...

"Stefan?"


End of Part One


Author's Note: So, that's it. Goodbye, part one. Hello, part two. More on the way! As always, please feel free to leave a review and share your thoughts, I love hearing from you. Thank you for sticking with me, it means the world!

All my love, Temperance Cain.