AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the delay! I'm glad everyone seems to have liked the last chapter. Elijah's finally back! ;-) I included part of one quote from the end of the ritual episode. It was fitting for the situation, and there will also be a few more... Alterations, on how the bond affects everyone compared to the show. Let the madness unfold.

Edit July 13, 2015: Made one teeny tiny addition near the end with Sage. Realized people don't just go poof from one moment to the next.

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~

Looking him over, relief ran through her as she finally had proof that he wasn't hurt. With the relief came the anger and pain as she schooled her expression into a blank mask, similar to the one he greeted her with.

"Hello, Elijah."

Chapter 20 - Save Them

Elijah stood silently watching her for what felt closer to an eternity, but knew it to be only a few minutes. Elena looked different. Frail. Yet that confused him as that was the last thing he ever expected to see in her. Perhaps his mind was simply playing tricks on him. Exhaling through his nose, he knew she wouldn't leave without him talking her into it.

"Hello, Elena. I wasn't expecting to see you here." His voice was stern, even a bit cold, but it was for the best.

Elena's lips twitched slightly in a frown before taking on a sarcastic look of shock. "Oh? Really? You weren't?" Dropping the sarcasm, her voice turned harsh. "That's funny, Elijah, seeing as according to your thoughtful and caring letter, you were skipping town and forgetting about everyone in it."

Swallowing hard, Elijah merely inclined his head. "That is one way of interpreting it, yes."

Shifting her weight to her right side, Elena crossed her arms. "So correct me if I'm wrong, but would that not mean that we shouldn't have been expecting to see you anywhere in this area? Let alone this particular house." Tapping her fingers of her left hand against her lips thoughtfully, she pretended to have an epiphany when in reality it was thinly concealed rage and hurt. "Oh, but wait, since you are here then that basically means you lied to me, right? As well as to Kol, Rebekah, Finn, and Klaus." Ticking their names off on her fingertips, she let her hands fall to her sides as she growled at him. "Your whole family, the people who you claim to be willing to do anything for, yet you leave them to their own devices when they need your support the most."

Hearing the almost imperceptible crack of her voice, Elijah crossed his arms over his chest as he forced himself to stay where he was. Indifference was safer than the alternative. "They have my support. They always will, even if they don't know it."

"Yet you keep yourself hidden from them?" Mouth opening and closing, Elena was at a loss for words. "Elijah, what... How is that support? You've been hidden by magic for six weeks to prevent your own flesh and blood from being able to find out if you were even okay. Do you have any idea how scared they've been? How worried they were for your well-being? Every single one of us could drop over dead at a moment's notice because of Esther's damn incantation, but their main worry has always been wanting to know what happened to their brother." Shaking her head in disbelief, she couldn't understand why he was behaving like this. "Support isn't keeping the people you love afraid that they'll never see you again. Elijah..." Taking a step closer to him, Elena tried to reach out, but he moved away. Hand helplessly falling to her side, she felt the anger rising stronger than before. "Why are you doing this? Why are you punishing them?"

Inhaling sharply at her accusation, he was quick to correct her. "I'm not punishing anyone, Elena. You don't know my past. What I've done to preserve my family's existence."

"I only know what I've seen and what you've told me of it, Elijah. I may not know everything, but I know enough to know that this is wrong," Elena tried to reason with him.

"Do you, Elena? Do you really know enough?" Elijah muttered almost to himself. "All my talk of virtue... And yet, when it suits my needs I kill, maim, and torment." Running a fingertip across his forehead in frustration, he was filled with self-loathing over the past and his present behavior. Letting it fall, he motioned to the room around them. "Don't you see, Elena? Don't you understand why I am here? I am trying to protect you." Looking to the window, Elijah saw his own reflection in the glass. So human and yet... Even in appearance there was always a shift for a vampire. There was always a reminder that they weren't the same as everyone else. "Esther didn't turn my family into monsters. We did that to ourselves and that is all we will ever be," he concluded, eyes shutting for a moment as he felt entirely world weary for the first time in decades. One day she'll understand.

"Stop it," Elena whispered, her voice shaking in restraint. Elijah continued on as if he hadn't heard her. When he finally returned his gaze to her from the window, she was struck by how empty his eyes were. No light, no love... Nothing. He was keeping her out. He was keeping everything out.

"I terrorized you that day for my own gain, Elena. I knowingly attempted to frighten you and your friends to protect my family. There is nothing honorable in that."

Rushing forward in his moment of distraction, Elena slapped him across the face as the anger broke free causing him to stagger back. "I said... Stop it," she panted, glaring up at him as her hands clenched into fists. "You're not a monster, Elijah. I wish you could see that. I wish you knew just how much of a lie that is." Grabbing his shoulders tightly, Elena locked her eyes on his. "You were scared that night, Elijah. We all were! We all said and did things that night to stay alive." When he tensed like he was about to pull away, she refused to let go. She had to get through to him. "Your family was torn to pieces a thousand years ago by your parents and is just now getting back on track. Don't let Esther make it be for nothing. You. Are. Not. A. Monster!" Enunciating each word with a finger jab to his chest. "None of your siblings are monsters! If you think that, then you let her win all over again. Is that really what you want?"

"I'm trying to keep you safe," he ground out between his teeth, wanting her to understand.

"Safe?! You think you're protecting me, Elijah? You think you're protecting anyone with this ridiculous notion of keeping your distance from your family? That is such bullshit!" His eyes flashed briefly at her language and all that did was fan the flames. He could ignore her reason, but not her cursing?! Shoving him in the chest, she wouldn't back down. "We're all bound to each other, Elijah! Wake up! Any one of you could die at any moment and the instant that happens, we all die!"

Frowning at his stiff demeanor as he remained silent, she tried a different tactic. Crossing her arms protectively in front of her chest, she arched an eyebrow at him. "I get that my life doesn't matter now that I'm no longer bait, but my life isn't the only one at risk here. I would think you'd care if your siblings lived or died, especially if your death was the one causing it!"

Elijah's jaw ticked as she once again cut her own worth to nothing. Didn't she know she meant everything? "Of course I care. That's why I'm here in the first place! I'm trying to do the right thing, Elena. It's better this way. For everyone. Why can't you believe that?"

Backing away, Elena felt a brief slip in the bond and smiled bitterly at the irony of the situation as she held his gaze. "Because you're lying to me, Elijah. This isn't you doing what's right for everyone. Being ripped apart from your siblings isn't better. You're running away. From me, from your family, even from yourself."

Forcing herself to move back towards the door, she slid the letter out of her pocket, seeing the recognition of what it was pass across his face. Looking down at the delicate paper in her hands, her chin trembled as she remembered their final moment before he left. "You said there wasn't any honor in your actions that night. That you regretted what you did," she whispered, her voice raspy. Lifting her head, she stared in his eyes, trying to find some semblance of the man she knew. "You're wrong. You were the most honorable man I know, Elijah... Until today."

He flinched at her words, but forced his hands to remain at his sides. "I'm sorry, Elena. This is how it has to be."

Running her hand through her hair in agitation, she growled and shook her head. "I'm done, Elijah. I'm just... Done." Dropping the letter on the couch to her right, she let one final angry tear fall at the memory of their first meeting as she turned to leave. "There's no honor in this. There's no honor in being a coward." Yanking the door open, she rushed out into the hall, ignoring Kol and Rebekah as she ran outside.

Elijah fixed his tie and calmly greeted his siblings. "Hello, Kol. Rebekah. As I've already explained to Elena, it's better that I remain here until the bond is dissolved. For her safety, and our own."

Mouth hanging open at Elijah's stupidity of letting her walk away and ignorance of what was so clearly right in front of him, Kol was furious. Storming over to his brother, he grabbed Elijah's lapels in his fist. "Have you lost your goddamned mind?! Did she look better off to you, Elijah?" He growled, fists tightening as he was nose to nose with his normally rational sibling. "That girl has been through hell and back the last six weeks, scared to death that something had happened to you. She's barely eaten, she barely sleeps except for when she passes out from sheer exhaustion during the day. Elena didn't leave the bedroom for a full week after she learned that you'd left other than to wash up after Rebekah's insistent prodding."

Worry flashing through his eyes, Elijah thought back to his conversation with Elena moments before. She'd looked thinner... And far too pale compared to when he'd last seen her, but surely Kol was exaggerating. It's a trick.

"No, brother, it's not. He's telling the truth, Elijah. You're deluding yourself if you think any different, and hurting Elena as well as yourself even more in the process." Knowing her brother all to well, Rebekah didn't have to read his mind to know how Elijah's brain worked. For the first time since they were turned into vampires, Elijah was truly afraid of losing someone that wasn't his family and had let that fear control him even if his behavior was irrational. Resting her hand on Kol's shoulder, she pulled him back. "Let him go, Kol."

Shoving Elijah back, Kol's shoulders heaved in restrained anger even as he felt brief joy at the fact that he'd managed to damage one of Elijah's perfectly put together suits as he noticed the rip down the collar. Pity that.

Watching Elijah's face, Rebekah studied him carefully as she slowly took his hand. "One day you'll forgive me for this," she whispered, as she quickly pulled him into her memories of their lives since he'd left town. Holding Elena as she broke down when she'd learned that he'd gone. Finding her curled up and sobbing in the shower a week later. Elijah stiffened at that memory, but she kept going. He needed to understand. Klaus, Kol, and herself taking turns checking on Elena throughout the day and sitting with her at night the following five weeks. Begging Elena to eat, and eventually succeeding, but only in minuscule amounts. Finding Kol comforting her when she woke crying out from the nightmares that plagued her. Her conversation with Elena the other night on the balcony, questioning if she had ever really meant anything to Elijah or if it was all a lie. Elijah's hand started shaking after seeing that revelation. She wasn't done. Klaus and herself trying to get Elena to read Elijah's letter only to have her almost faint if not for Kol convincing her to rest. Finally, the moment this morning after Bonnie had read his letter to them at Elena's insistence when they'd all felt utterly betrayed at the possibility that he might never come back. Now you know the truth, brother.

Elijah jerked his hand out of Rebekah's as his eyes focused back on her face, Kol's glare, and the brightness of the surrounding room. Sagging into the chair behind him, he let his head fall into his hands. He didn't need Rebekah's memories to now recognize the obvious pain Elena was feeling. Pain she'd kept from him after he'd closed off his link to her. What have I done? "I'm sorry... I thought..."

Kneeling down, Rebekah set her hand on his knee. "I know. This isn't protecting us, Elijah. This isn't helping her."

Unable to stay silent any longer, Kol moved to stand next to the chair as he glared down at his older brother. "You will fix this, Elijah, or so help me god, I will make the rest of your eternal life a living hell. She doesn't deserve this, not after everything she's been through. She's suffered enough!"

"You're right," Elijah muttered, giving Kol pause as Elijah leaned back and ran his hands tiredly over his face. Pursing his lips, he looked at Kol and had possibly never been prouder of his little brother even if it was at his own expense. "You're right, Kol, and I'm truly sorry."

The rage dimming, Kol frowned as he regarded Elijah, who looked more worn out than he'd ever seen him. Elena clearly wasn't the only one that had been suffering. "You know what the bond can do to a human, Elijah. It's one thing for her to be linked to us from our blood healing her. It's another for her life to be tied to ours thanks to Esther. The bond she has with you is entirely different altogether and you damn well know that. You've been totally cut off from each other for six weeks and it's slowly destroying both of you." Past regret momentarily choking him, he grabbed Elijah's hand. "Don't make the same mistake I did, Elijah. Please."

Grasping the back of Kol's neck, Elijah pulled him forward until their foreheads were touching. "I know, Kol. I'll do whatever it takes to make this right again. For all of us." At his brother's nod, Elijah released him and stood up as Rebekah moved back to help Kol to his feet.

"Family sticks together or dies alone. Remember that, Elijah," she warned softly, as he hugged her lightly before crossing to the familiar red couch.

"I won't soon forget it. Believe me," he murmured as he scanned over the antique couch. The first place he had ever laid eyes on her. Leaning down to recover the precious paper left behind, Elijah straightened with his eyes fixed on the letter. Remembering Elena's face as she'd left made his chest ache. He'd hurt her so deeply, and all there was left to do was make amends. Or rather try to make amends. Her anger was the one thing she hadn't tried to hide from him, and he knew it wasn't likely to go away any time soon after the way he'd just treated her.

Slipping the paper into his suit pocket, he paused as he heard Elena speaking with Finn. So much had changed since he'd left. He'd missed her bonding with his family in ways he never would have thought possible. Glancing at his siblings, it was clear they too were listening in on what was meant to be a relatively private conversation. Motioning to the doors, they silently followed him, each of them solely focused on the conversation taking place outside.

Finn straightened up from leaning against the car the minute he heard Elena approach, and waited for her to reach him. Since Elijah had clearly been made aware of their presence, he'd made himself useful and brought the car around when Kol had tossed him the keys. He knew his siblings wouldn't let Elijah slip by them unnoticed. The yelling he could hear resonating from the house was proof of that. He hoped Sage was having better luck with retrieving the Donovan boy than they were with Elijah. Deciding to speculate on that later, Finn sighed to himself as he took in Elena's troubled appearance. He didn't pretend to be oblivious to what happened. He wouldn't insult the poor girl in such a way. "What is it, Elena?"

She couldn't bring herself to look at him so she focused on the ground. "Can you take me home? Please?"

"Of course, but given the circumstances I must ask which home you're referring to," he prodded gently, lips pressing in a thin line when he saw her go rigid.

"The Gilbert house so I can grab some things. Then, back to your family's place I guess..." Trailing off she frowned at the realization. "I don't really have a home anymore, Finn. What use is calling a house home if there's no one there with you? All you're left with is reminders of what it once was."

He'd heard enough from his siblings to know just how cruel the supernatural world had been to her family. Having to send her own brother, the only family she had left, away to protect him. To hear her describe her life in such a way should've stunned him, but it didn't. It saddened him greatly. "You are far too young to have had to experience such pain and loss, Elena. For that I am truly sorry."

Bowing her head slightly in acceptance, Elena was touched by his concern. "Thank you, Finn, but as I've said before, it isn't your fault." Staring back at the house, she shook her head as she focused on the window where Elijah had been and sighed. "The only person I blame is Esther. No one else." Turning back to Finn, she offered a sad smile. "Your true family isn't responsible for this... Okay Klaus could've handled things a lot differently than he did with what happened to my dad John, my mother Isobel, and my Aunt Jenna, but... I don't blame him anymore. I don't hate him anymore. I don't hate any of you. You're all just trying to protect your family. I can accept that."

Eyebrow lifting, Finn was skeptical. "Even at the cost of what Niklaus did to your own?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Elena let her hands fall to her sides. "What's done is in the past, Finn. I can't change it. Klaus can't change it either. All we can do is make amends. He's been trying. Especially these last few weeks. He has been trying so hard to help me any way possible while respecting my privacy. I can't hold a grudge against him for something he can't undo or change. All I can do is forgive him and move on."

"Have you? Forgiven him I mean," Finn questioned, keeping his voice soft, well aware his siblings were listening.

Chewing on her lip as she took a moment to think it over, she exhaled in relief as she nodded her head. "Yes, I have. Honestly... I forgave him a while ago. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have stayed in the manor with all of you despite everything else going on. I would've gone back to the Gilbert residence." Smirking, she laughed as she said, "Even if Kol would've hit the roof over it."

Chuckling in agreement at that mental image, Finn felt humbled by Elena. Barely alive for 18 years yet she had more compassion and kindness than anyone he'd met in all his existence. Even if he had been in a coffin for nine hundred years. Mentally shaking himself, Finn now understood why Elijah was so attached to her. She was good for him no matter how he tried to fight it. If only his brother could see that. "Very well, I see your point. Let's go get your things, shall we?" Grasping the handle, he stepped back as he held the car door open and motioned for her to get inside.

Hearing Finn mention they were leaving, Elijah carefully eased the door open, wanting to give her some time to herself. She'd mentioned making amends with Niklaus, similar to what he intended to do with her and the rest of his family, but he wasn't naive enough to even hope she would speak to him again yet. She thought he'd been using her... That he didn't care at all. It couldn't be farther from the truth. He wouldn't press her on it right now though. Rebekah and Kol would just have to walk back with him. They'd still arrive by the time Finn returned with Elena in tow.

Looking back at the abandoned house one last time, Elena saw the door sliding open as she quickly decided to leave it to Kol and Rebekah to handle Elijah. She couldn't take much more of anything today. "Alright, let's go." Turning she paused as she saw something move to her left, stumbling back against the car as Finn lunged in front of her.

"Elena, watch out!" Finn threw Stefan back across the field, but wasn't fast enough to fight off the person charging at him from behind.

Slamming the door open at Finn's shout, they attempted to go assist their brother and Elena only to hit a barrier at the edge of the porch.

"What the hell is this..." Kol snarled as he ran his hand along the barrier. "This absolutely reeks of Esther's magic." They knew it to be true without any proof. This was too thought out to be the Salvatore's acting alone. Feeling utterly helpless, all they could do was watch as it unfolded.

"Finn, behind you!" Rebekah screamed as she pounded her fists on the invisible wall. "No no no no NO!"

Elena tried to warn Finn, but it was too late. The minute he was hit over the head with the white oak, pain exploded in her and she collapsed. As her vision went dark, she felt someone pick her up and looked into the face of Finn's attacker. "Damon... Why?"

"It's for your own good, Elena," Damon sighed, feeling bristly all over as he waited for Stefan to grab the fallen eldest Mikaelson. "We're going to help you." His mind felt like it was vibrating straight out of his head, but he shook it off. They were doing the right thing.

Falling to his knees, Elijah reached out to the barrier as his eyesight faded to black. Feeling Rebekah and Kol falter, he struggled to stay conscious, but as each of his siblings fell, the darkness pulling him under became stronger. Forgive me, Elena... I have failed you... Slumping to his side, his eyes slowly closed as his last thoughts were of her. I'm sorry.

Hearing Elijah's voice, her head rolled to the side to see all of them growing weaker on the porch. This can't be happening. Please no! The last thing she saw as her head fell back was Finn crumpled on the ground with Stefan kneeling over his body. "No... Don't hurt him! Let him go!" Feeling the pain build through the bond as the rest of them blacked out, Elena was too weak to fight it. Rebekah... Kol... Elijah... No!

Sensing Klaus staggering even from this distance, Elena felt the slightest comfort that he would know something had happened. Focusing on the ties linking her to him, she sent one final plea praying that he would hear her. Save them, Klaus. Even if you can't save me. Save your family.

Going limp as Damon shoved her into the back of the car, she let the darkness take her away and knew no more.