AUTHOR'S NOTE: Playing catch up with my lack of posting the last two months. As some are aware, I've added another twist. Be prepared for a few more. Let the fun begin!

DISCLAIMER: No I don't own Elijah, Elena, or anything to do with that which is The Vampire Diaries series. This is just my version of it. ;-)

Bound By Blood

~Previously in Bound By Blood~

"Break the chain? The only way to do that is-," Abby stopped when she finally understood what they were saying. "Oh god."

Stefan sighed and nodded. "One of you has to die," he muttered.

At that point, Bonnie's world just stopped completely. "Oh."

Chapter 12 - Out Of Time

Standing there surrounded by her family and two vampires, Bonnie felt like she was going to be sick. "This can't be happening."

"It is, baby. I wish there was a way I could help you, but my hands are tied." Sheila Bennett was once again reminded of how being there as a spirit was both a blessing and a curse.

"It's not fair. How can the only way to save Elena be for one of us to die?!" Bonnie was being irrational and she knew it, but this moment, right now, horrified her.

Grasping her granddaughter's shoulders, Sheila could only offer wisdom. "It's all just give and take, Bonnie. You've learned our ways. I made sure of that. Sacrificing one life for another keeps it even tide."

"There must always be balance," Bonnie whispered weakly, the words engrained in her very soul. Inhaling shakily, Bonnie knew there was only one solution. "I'll do it," she bit out. "If it means my best friend comes out of this alive, then I'll do it." Walking closer to Damon, Bonnie held his gaze. "Keep her safe, Damon, or I swear to god I will burn you alive from the other side."

Waiting for his shaky nod, she took one last deep breath. "Do it."

"Wait!" Abby shouted, drawing their attention. Crossing his arms, Damon scowled while being both relieved and irritated at the interruption.

Furrowing her eyebrows, Bonnie was irritated. "It's the only way to save Elena. I won't let her die because of my mistake."

"You mean my mistake," Abby corrected her softly, grabbing Bonnie's hands. "I'm your mother, Bonnie. I'm the one that entombed Mikael all those years ago. I knew what he was capable of, and I should've known not to trust Esther Mikaelson to be any better than him. My mistake brought us here. My life will be the one to undo it."

"What? No! I can't lose you too! I only just got you back!" Bonnie cried, squeezing Abby's hands tightly.

Weakly smiling at her, Abby glanced at Stefan and Damon. She wouldn't let Elena die, but she didn't plan on leaving Bonnie to fend for herself either. "You won't lose me, honey." Keeping hold of one of Bonnie's hands, Abby sized up the Salvatores before choosing Damon as well. "You can kill me on the condition that you turn me into a vampire. I won't leave my daughter again." Bonnie went rigid next to her, but Abby was quick to assure her. "It's okay, Bonnie. This is the only way everyone comes out of this. This is the only way magic won't be wasted." Sensing the confusion, Abby turned to Sheila. "You didn't tell her, did you?"

Shrugging, Sheila shook her head in reply. "I never got the chance. Her powers had just started developing when I passed. That's a conversation I was planning to have later on."

"Tell me, what?" Bonnie inquired, feeling helpless for the first time since she came into her magic.

"There's a reason the Bennett witches are one of the most well known, Bonnie. When a witch bloodline such as ours occurs, if an elder witch passes, their magic transfers to the next oldest in the family," Sheila revealed, seeing shock register on Bonnie's face.

Continuing where Sheila left off, Abby had to make Bonnie understand. "Only if an older witch passes, Bonnie. If the children of the bloodline die early, their magic disappears. It's gone and there's no way to regain it. My death is the only way to preserve the magic Sheila and I were given." Touching her daughter's hair, Abby felt her eyes burning. "You're already so much more mature than I ever was at your age. You're stronger than I've ever been as a witch and as a person. Giving you my magic and Sheila's by default will make you one of the strongest in our line. Which will make you vulnerable, Bonnie. Not physically or mentally, but it will put you in more danger than you've ever been. People will want to use you, human, werewolf, and vampire alike."

"So you decide to become a vampire yourself?!" Bonnie wasn't ready to lose her mom, but that didn't mean she wanted Abby to turn herself into the one thing she claimed to despise above all else.

Clenching her jaw, Abby stood firm. "I won't leave you unprotected. Not if there's a way I can be here to help you." Seeing the acceptance fill Bonnie's eyes, Abby hugged her tightly. "I love you, Bonnie. Always have, always will," she whispered in her ear.

Sniffling weakly, Bonnie held on to Abby for dear life. "I love you too... Mom."

Forcing herself to let go, Abby turned to Sheila. "I know we've had our differences over the years, but I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for Bonnie. I love you, Mama."

Eyes misty, Sheila quickly pulled her daughter into a hug. "This isn't the end, honey. You'll see me again," she assured her, squeezing Abby tightly. "I love you so much, and you gave me the greatest gift when you had Bonnie. We will keep her safe." Letting her go, Sheila wrapped an arm around Bonnie's shoulders. "It'll be okay, baby." Bonnie jumped when Stefan appeared next to her and grabbed her left hand tightly in support. Biting her lip, she could only squeeze it back.

Stomping up the hill, Klaus felt pain shoot through him seeing Esther and Finn, his own brother, standing united against them. Like Kol, he couldn't really comprehend that their lives had come to this.

Standing in the circle, Esther held Finn's hand tightly. "Welcome, children. Come forward."

A scowl crossing his face, Klaus glared at his supposed mother, but wouldn't acknowledge her. "Hello again, Finn. Sad to see we're still alive?" He sniped bitterly.

Lunging at the circle, Kol hissed when he hit the barrier and couldn't cross. "Oh that's lovely," he growled. "We're stuck out here while the favorite son plays sacrificial lamb. Tell me, Finn, do you get a kick out of murdering your own flesh and blood family?"

"This is for your own good, brother. One day you will understand," Finn countered, not taking Kol's bait. "All any of us have done is bring violence to this world for a millennia. Our death is the only way to fix it. Please try to be reasonable."

Walking out of the shadows, Rebekah tilted her head in thought. "Think what you will of your own existence and logic, Finn, but what about the whole part of killing an innocent?" She snapped angrily, moving as close to the circle as she dared. "What happened to protecting life rather than destroying it, or are you that desperate to end your life that you no longer care about the humans?"

Faltering slightly at the fury flashing in his little sister's eyes, Finn wouldn't be fooled so easily. "That's why I'm doing this, Rebekah! We are the ones who have destroyed lives. I won't be a part of hurting anyone else!"

"Yet there you stand, brother," Elijah pointed out as he stepped forward, cradling Elena close to his chest. "Beside the woman who's going to kill the innocent girl I hold in my arms." Walking into the light cast by the flames, Elijah saw Finn's disbelief when he recognized Elena for who she was. "Can you really let her die for your own gain after everything our family has already done to her loved ones? After all the pain we've caused her? What reason can you give to commit such cruelty on her life?"

Stepping closer to Elijah, Finn took in Elena Gilbert's disheveled and bloody appearance. "What happened to her?"

"Esther is what happened," Rebekah bit out, resting her hand on Elijah's shoulder. "When that spell was cast, Elena's life was bound to ours, Finn. This ritual would erase her entire life!" Pointing to Kol, she tried to knock some sense into Finn before it was too late. "He was attacked earlier and when we went down, Elena experienced the real life threatening version of being stabbed in the chest. The injury would've killed her if I hadn't been there!"

Jaw dropping slightly, Finn's shock was replaced by outrage. "You gave her your blood! Are you mad?!"

Snorting, Kol grinned viciously and stood beside his sister. "Old news, Finn, or did you not hear the part about how it was the only way to save Miss Gilbert's life?"

Disturbed by all the noise surrounding her, Elena slowly cracked open her eyes. "What... Elijah?" She called weakly, causing him to glance down. "What's going on?"

Quickly moving forward, Rebekah forced her emotions to be calm. "It's alright, Elena, just relax. We'll handle this," she assured her softly, partly shielding her from the view of the circle.

Creasing her eyebrows, Elena glanced around her, eyes widening as she finally understood where they were. "Elijah, put me down."

Knowing she was still weak, Elijah had to protest. "Elena, it's too soon. You could barely stand on you own two feet a few minutes ago." Seeing her frown in irritation, he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Elena, but I won't do it."

Grumbling to herself about damn chivalrous vampires, Elena was struck by a strange feeling of utter confusion. Knowing now it wasn't coming from herself, she glanced around. Kol, Klaus, and Rebekah were all standing close by looking relatively amused at her behavior even with the dire situation and the anger she could just barely feel running through them. Biting her lip, she forced herself to look up at Elijah. All she could get off him was concern, amusement, and like his siblings, rage. "Then where...?"

Noting how only Elijah twitched slightly, besides herself, Rebekah knew the others hadn't heard Elena. Strange. "Where what, Elena?" she asked quietly, feeling her brothers' eyes snap to her in shock. Waving off the inquisition she knew they were going to throw at her, she kept her attention on Elena.

Looking up at Rebekah, Elena realized that it was coming from behind her. Leaning forward slightly, she looked over Rebekah's shoulder and right at Finn Mikaelson's stunned face. "It's you," she muttered, causing his eyes to lock with hers in confusion. Watching the way he was looking at her, it clicked into place. "You didn't know, did you?"

Spinning around at Elena's question, Rebekah stared at Finn, truly taking in his appearance. "No," she whispered as she saw the pain he was feeling from knowing he was the cause of Elena's injuries. "He didn't have a clue." Eyes burning with tears, she flashed to the edge of the circle. "How cruel can you possibly be?!" She screamed at Esther, whose face remained indifferent. "He is your son! We are your children for god's sake and you would lie to him so terribly even when he is willing to die just to make you happy!"

"My children died a thousand years ago," Esther responded in clipped tones. "You all may carry their features, but what you are is an abomination that must be destroyed."

Back going rigid, Finn moved away from the woman he used to believe was his mother. "And what of the girl's life? What about Elena Gilbert? I was a warlock once, Esther, and I too know the rules. Taking the life of an innocent is forbidden!"

Lip curling slightly, Esther glared at Elena with so much hatred that it caused Elijah to hold her that much closer. "That girl is no innocent. The life of the Doppelgänger girl is irrelevant and was only created by Ayana and myself, as a way to rid the world of monsters such as the whole lot of you. Monsters that include the atrocity that is her entire bloodline."

Recoiling at her words, Finn could only look at Esther in disgust. "Doppelgänger or not, she is still human, and as such, an innocent mortal life. One to be protected. The servants of Nature don't get to create life and take it away at their leisure. You do not deserve such a title."

Shrinking back into Elijah's chest at the way Esther was looking at her, Elena squeezed the lapels of his jacket in her hands. "What did I ever do to you? What did I ever do to your family?"

Leveling her with the coldest gaze Elena had ever seen, Esther acted like it was obvious. "Your ancestors tore my family apart, little girl."

"That warrants taking her life?" Elijah demanded, fury coursing through him. "Elena hasn't done anything wrong!"

Elena's fear fanning the flames through the bond, Rebekah was seeing red. "Elena is not Tatia! You have no right to do this to her!"

"It matters not what you think. The girl will die as will you all," Esther announced dismissively.

Moving to the edge of the circle, Finn felt self-loathing fill his body at what he'd almost done, but was once more replaced by disgust at the woman in front of him. "I want no part in this." Moving to step over the line of salt, he reached out to take Rebekah's waiting hand, but was thrown backwards. Stumbling to his feet, he shook his head to clear it and looked furious. "Let me pass, Esther. You no longer have a willing sacrifice."

Raising her eyebrows, Esther remained unaffected. "Foolish boy. Willing or not, the sacrifice is all the same. I'm afraid it's too late for you to be allowed to leave."

"No. It's not the same." Pushing himself off a tree, Kol strode forward. "Finn is right. You are delusional if you think that your precious spell to kill us is going to work when the main requirement is no longer willing to, what is it they say now? Ah yes, 'die for the cause.' The spell is now faulty. The spirits will never allow it."

"The spirits don't have to allow it. I've been to the other side and back. I'm beyond their control now." At her words, they all felt a chill run through their dead and undead veins. Whoever, whatever, this woman was, she wasn't their mother.

Looking at the sky, the worry started to set in when Elijah saw the position of the moon. They'd run out of time. The moon was reaching its peak and whether the spell would still work or not, they were about to find out. Bringing his gaze down to the girl in his arms, Elijah couldn't breathe. He'd sworn that it wouldn't come to this and yet here he was, failing yet another person.

Feeling his eyes on her, Elena turned her head up to look at him. Seeing the turmoil he was feeling, she just knew. "It's time... Isn't it?"

"Elena, I am so sorry." Words didn't suffice for the guilt he felt, but they were all he had.

Nervously reaching up, Elena rested her hand on his face. "Don't be. I mean it, Elijah, you did everything you possibly could." Not willing to let his self-loathing continue, she had to say it while she could. "You're here now, Elijah. With me. With your family. You didn't run away and leave us all to die. You tried to fix this. That's all any of us could ask of you, of anyone."

"She's right, brother." Breaking his stare with Elena, Elijah looked up to see Kol, Rebekah, and Klaus, standing together between where Finn was stuck in the circle and where he stood holding Elena. It was Finn who had spoken.

"Elijah, you've always been taking care of us ever since we were kids. Even now, a millennia later, you're still watching out for us. I'm the one who should be sorry. To all of you. If I'd known what it would cost, I never would have agreed to this. I just... Wanted to end what I thought was the evil we were creating." Staring emotionlessly at Esther, Finn directed his next words at the entity that had his mother's features, but not her soul. "I know now what true evil is and it's standing right in front of me." Turning his gaze back to his siblings, he reached his hand out as close to the barrier as he dared. "You're my family and I should have stood by you."

Jaw trembling, Rebekah felt a tear slip down her face. "Finn, you're our brother. It's-"

"Enough!" Raising her hands, Esther made the flames double in size. "The time for your family bonding is over. Soon enough, you all won't be anything but a children's bedtime horror story."

As Esther started chanting, Elijah took in his siblings faces for one last time. Committing this moment to memory, he closed his eyes tightly before opening them to Elena's touch on his face. Trailing his gaze over her features, he couldn't believe this was their final moment. It was too soon to say goodbye.

"I'm ready, Elijah. Thank you for everything you've done for me," Elena whispered, having already come to terms with what was going to happen.

Shifting his grip slightly, he let her stand on her own in front of him. If this was the end, she'd go out his equal. Caressing her face, he smiled at the slight blush that appeared. "You never have to thank me for anything, Elena. You helped me get my family back. Thank you." Stepping closer, her eyes locked on his, Elijah felt his eyes slip closed as he gently pressed his lips to hers. Elena froze before relaxing and leaning into his touch. It was the barest of touches and over before it even began, but she would never forget it. She would never forget Elijah.

Pulling back, he swallowed hard and carefully slid his hands up her arms, pausing at her shoulders. "I could never forget you, Miss Gilbert."

Taking a deep breath, she smiled affectionately. "Nor I you, Mr. Mikaelson." Biting her lip, she tilted her head. "Be strong, Elijah. Perhaps we'll meet again one day."

"In another time and place." Elijah knew she would figure out the telepathy and was grateful for her hope. Her faith in the impossible never ceased to amaze him. Squeezing her shoulders, he moved his hands up to rest lightly against her neck for a moment. "Farewell... Elena."

Swallowing hard, Abby stood in front of Damon once more. "So do we have a deal?"

Respect for her filling his body, Damon could only agree. "I made a promise to your ancestor once. I won't break it."

"Good," Abby replied, stepping closer to him and preparing herself. "Let's get this over with then, shall we?"

Cutting his wrist, Damon gently brought it up to her mouth for her to drink. Making sure she swallowed a fair amount he gripped the sides of her head.

Closing her eyes, Elena knew it was over. Goodbye everyone. She felt Elijah's hands shift into her hair and shakily tighten around her head, preparing to move.

"It will only hurt for a moment," Damon swore and, not giving Abby a moment to feel scared, snapped her neck.

"Noooo! My sisters! Do not abandon me!" Esther cried out, vanishing before Finn's eyes.

Eyes snapping open at Esther's scream, Elena felt Elijah's grip slacken and looked towards the circle only to be blinded by a flash of light before being ripped from Elijah's hands and thrown back by the vortex of magic.

Catching Abby's body as she fell, Damon carefully lowered her to the ground and rested a pillow under her head.

"Damon," Bonnie called weakly, stepping forward to kneel next to her mom. When he looked up at her, she gave him a watery smile. "Thank you. Thank you for helping me keep my mom and my best friend."

Nodding, he slowly eased himself up to his feet. "Don't mention it, Bonnie. Really. Don't," he insisted, and knew she understood as she saw his face.

"Okay," she promised, before squealing as Damon jumped over her to shield them when the windows exploded into shards of glass.

Slamming into the ground, the wind knocked out of her, Elena struggled to lift her head. Blearily looking around, the darkness creeping in, she could see the Originals scattered around the area. All of them were unconscious and unmoving. "Elijah," she called out, but he didn't respond. His prone body was the last thing she saw as her head slumped to the ground and darkness claimed her once more.

Choking slightly from the dust, Bonnie slowly lifted her head and pushed herself up, cautious of the glass scattered across the floor. Hearing Damon groan, she turned around to see him shaking the glass off himself as the cuts across his face and neck gradually disappeared. "Damon, wha-"

"You okay, Bonnie?" He asked, effectively cutting her off, not wanting to think about that just yet. Seeing her nod, he cleared his throat. "Good." Moving over, he helped lift the splintered shelving off of Stefan. "How about you, little bro?"

Stretching his back, Stefan just sighed like it was nothing new. Which, well with them, it really wasn't any different from any other day for them. "I'm fine. What was that?"

"That's what I'd like to know!" Damon huffed, getting irritated at the never ending loop of crazy that their lives seemed to be in.

Running a hand through her hair, Bonnie placed a blanket over Abby before standing up. "I can answer that... The ritual is over."

"As in..." Stefan trailed off, not daring to hope.

Grinning bright enough to light the room, she laughed at the stunned looks on their faces. "Esther failed."