AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello all! Sooooo sorry for the delay. Life keeps throwing curveballs and halting the story progress. I'm still alive though and I promise I haven't abandoned this.

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~

Making his way to the balcony off his bedroom, he sank down into the chair and buried his head in his hands as his emotions came to the front once more. "Gods above, let this go better than last time." Running his hands through his hair, Kol tipped his head back and watched the starlit sky.

"Let this one have a good outcome. Please," he whispered, a tear running down his face as he remembered what he'd lost.

Chapter 14 - He's Gone

As she started to wake up, Elena heard voices whispering at the foot of the bed. She could tell it was Rebekah and Kol, but couldn't understand why they were so upset. Hadn't they stopped Esther? More importantly, where was Elijah?

Glancing at Elena's resting form in the bed, Kol wanted to do nothing more than throw Elijah into a couple hundred walls. How could his brother possibly think this was the right thing to do? Especially now that Elena was bonded to them. Looking at his sister perched on the opposite side of the bed, he knew she was furious, but more than that, she was worried. They had just put Elena through hell on Earth and they were being forced to hurt her even more. What are we going to do? She has a right to know, Rebekah. She'll find out soon enough anyways.

"Find out what?" Elena cut in sleepily, slowly pushing herself up with Kol rushing to help her lean back against the pillows and padded headboard. With his hand on her, she could feel his anxiety more fiercely and looking at Rebekah's guilt stricken face, Elena knew they were hiding something. "Find out what, Kol? What aren't you saying? We stopped Esther right?!"

Grasping Elena's hand, Rebekah nodded quickly. "Of course, Elena. Esther's not a problem anymore. Don't worry about her. You're safe."

Taking a deep breath, Elena nodded before suspicion started creeping in. "Then what's wrong? We're alive. Your family is alive, and yet you two look like someone died." Seeing their shared look, Elena knew something had happened. "Who was it?" When they stayed silent, she jerked on Kol's hand. Tell me. Now.

"Abby Bennett," Kol whispered, feeling guilty that his family's problems had cost someone else having a relatively normal life. Feeling Elena's grip go weak, he grasped her hand tightly to reassure her. "She's not gone, Elena. She's not a witch anymore, but she's not dead. Damon Salvatore turned her into a vampire."

Dropping her gaze to the bedspread in front of her, Elena couldn't believe it. "What? Why? Why would Damon do something like that?!"

"Because she told him to," Bonnie cut in from the doorway. Nodding at Rebekah and pausing when she met Kol's gaze, she shook it off and looked to her friend. "Abby told him to turn her because... When we found out what happened, and what would happen if we didn't stop Esther, I volunteered to be turned, Elena."

Eyes widening, Elena sat there slack jawed. "Bonnie?" It was all she could say, but her friend knew her just the same.

Expression stern, Bonnie tried to explain as best as she could. "I couldn't let you die, Elena. Not then, not ever, and sure as hell not from something I did. I couldn't let something else go wrong. What Esther had planned... It was mass genocide and would rip the whole path of history apart. In Nature, there must always be a balance. The witches are left with the task of ensuring the balance holds. Esther was breaking the fundamental rule and there was only one way to stop her. It was myself or Abby that had to die to break it. I volunteered, but Abby stopped me because if I died... The Bennett line would end with me. There wouldn't be any more magic. It would just.. Disappear. Whereas if Abby was the one to turn, her magic would pass to me. Crisis averted and the Bennett line still intact," Bonnie muttered sadly, feeling her eyes burn with tears.

Feeling guilt eating at her insides, Elena felt helpless. "Bonnie... I'm so sorry."

Shaking her head harshly, Bonnie semi-glared at Elena. "No, Elena. Don't you dare go blaming yourself for this. You were trying to do what was right this whole time. For everyone, whether you knew it or not. I was the one that didn't see it. I didn't see Esther for what she was. This one is on me. Not you." Stepping around Kol who backed up to give them some space, she pulled Elena into a tight hug. "You're my best friend, Elena. Always have been, always will be, and I'll be damned if I let something happen to you when I have a way to stop it. You have a good heart and good instincts. Never doubt that," she whispered in her ear before pulling back. Clearing her throat, she straightened her jacket and backed towards the door. "I have to go now though. Abby's been staying at her place and Caroline's keeping an eye on her so I could come check on you. I'll call you, okay?"

Knowing Bonnie was trying to stay strong, Elena could only nod. "Okay, stay safe, Bon. Say hi to Abby for me too... And tell her thank you. I know it wasn't easy. For either of you."

"I will," Bonnie chirped before waving and quickly stepping out in the hallway before her mask would crumble. Leaning against the wall for a minute, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before walking down the hallway. Head bowed, she should've looked up sooner or she would've known she was going to run straight into Kol. Jumping backwards, she stared at him in confusion. "What do you want? Why aren't you still in with Elena?"

Tilting his head slightly, Kol saw what Bonnie had been trying to hide. Before she could even squeak out a protest, he pulled her against his chest and held her tight. "I'm sorry, Miss Bennett. You have every right to hate my family for all the damage we've caused, but I am truly sorry. I'll do whatever I can to make it right." Feeling her start to shake, he stroked her hair. "Let it go... Bonnie... Let it out. Don't bury the pain. It's alright. Just let it go. I'm here."

Grasping his shirt tightly, Bonnie stopped fighting and cried. She cried for Elena, for Grams, for Abby, for herself, and even for the man holding her in his arms. She'd held it all in for so long that at times she couldn't breathe for fear of it breaking out. Her legs grew weak, but Kol only held her tighter and comforted her the best he could. When the tears finally started to slow down and her breathing returned to normal, she simply just stood there leaning against him, letting someone else be the strong one for once.

Reaching her hand up, she wiped at her eyes sheepishly before stepping back a bit. "Kol... I... Thank you."

Brushing her hair back from her face, and wiping the remaining tears away, he shook his head. "Don't thank me, Bonnie. Not for this. Just know that I'm here if you ever need someone to talk to. About anything." Studying her face, he felt relief seeing some of the sadness was gone. It wouldn't disappear right away, but it had faded slightly. Knowing she needed space and to go be with her mom, he let his hand fall as he stepped back. "Take care, Bonnie."

Smiling weakly at Kol, she was surprised at how easily he understood her. How he knew just what to say. Looking in his eyes, she realized why. He'd known the worst level of sadness before and was struggling with it... Just as much as she was.. Or had been until he came along. "Kol... You should know..."

"Yes?" He watched her, feeling slightly confused.

Biting her lip, she went with her gut. "I might not have been around for a millennia, but... If you ever need to talk. I'm here."

Swallowing hard in surprise, all Kol could do was nod. "Alright, see you later then, Miss Bennett." Smirking slightly at her blush, he bowed before she turned away and he walked back to Elijah's room where Rebekah and Elena were waiting for him. Elijah... Brother.. I want to kill you for doing this. Entering the room, he prepared himself for how he knew Elena would react to the news. Only upon seeing Elena's face, he realized she'd already figured it out. Looking to Rebekah, his sister only shook her head to say she hadn't said anything. Sighing, he made his way over and sat next to Elena on the bed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Leaning against Kol, Elena closed her eyes tightly against what she knew was coming. "He's gone, isn't he? Elijah's gone." Sensing the resounding anger and sadness from both Kol and Rebekah, all Elena could do was cry and let Kol and Rebekah be there for her.

Elijah had left her... Right when she needed him the most.