There wasn't enough hours in the day, the time for Klaus to arrive was nearing. Elijah had spoke to him earlier in the day, he was arriving at 6pm, they had 5 hours of normality left before the horror in her life was to continue.

They spent it just being together; talking about themselves and there lives, the things they enjoy, some of the darker parts to there existence. Elena was really enjoying getting to know Elijah, every story or fact about himself intrigued her more, built her trust up and there wasn't a part of him that she didn't admire.

Elijah felt the same, he was beginning to understand how difficult life was for her since her parents died, the guilt she had for the sacrifice and Jenna, the fear she felt when vampires where introduced into life. They where really coming together, it was instantaneous.

And before they knew it, it was 5pm; nerves where at an all time high and they where dreading leaving all this behind. The last 2 days where perfect to her.

"Elijah, I'm not ready," She rested her head on his shoulder, sadness overcame her, "I'm not ready to leave, I can't face Klaus and I don't want to lose what we have."

"I have the deepest regret about the situation you're in, you don't deserve it." He moved his hand to her head and ran his fingers through her hair, calming her as best as he could, "And you could never lose me, why do you think that?"

"I know I made the deal and I will honour the arrangement, I'll do anything that is required of me but I'm scared that it will come between us, I've now experienced a glimmer of the life we could have together, the past 2 days have been the happiest of my life."

"Elena, it will never come between us, it can only strengthen us. The past 2 days have been the only time in my existence I've felt any kind of wholeness, you give me purpose and I will be here for as long as you want me to remain." He placed a small kiss on her forehead, his fingers still stroking her hair. "We need a plan."

"What kind of plan?" She asked, as she lifted her head from his shoulder and sat up, her legs crossed beneath her on the sofa.

"An end to all this, my brother, your arrangement, we need to do something, I want this life with you." He sat in thought for a long moment, his mind racing with potential escape plans, Elena too.

"I think I have an idea." Elena smiled at the thought.

"Do tell."

-w-

The clock read 6pm and not even a minute late, Klaus arrived; he didn't knock, just entered.

"Elijah," He nodded his head towards his brother, "And Elena, how good it is to see you both. I trust you're fed and well rested?"

"Yes, Niklaus, we're ready to leave." Elijah spoke in his usual intelligent and noble tone of voice; his entire demeanour had changed, he stood with a straight back, a smirk on his face that almost seemed cocky and next to no emotion available within him. Elena knew he had too but she was already missing the Elijah she had come to know in there time spent together in the house.

"And Elena, are you ready?" Asked Klaus.

"Yep, all ready to go." Her bags where next to the front door and she had everything she needed.

"Then let's not dilly dally, we have places to be." Klaus smirked, radiating nothing but a sinister agenda, "We're meeting our siblings at the church to go over everything we have learned over the last 2 days."

"Fine, let's go." Spoke Elijah and the three of them left the house, packed the bags into the boot and began there journey.

-w-

When they arrived, Rebekah and Kol seemed annoyed, they had been waiting for them the entire time and they grew restless.

"It's about time," The blonde vampire spat at them when they walked through the door.

"Rebekah, how lovely to see you too; you have all the time in the world, yet you still will not acquire patience," Elijah smirked.

"Shut up, Elijah, it's been hours."

"Nothing in comparison to eternity."

"That's enough dear brother and sister," Niklaus interjected, gesturing towards Elena, "We have company."

They all snickered out of amusement, all except Elijah.

"Right, let's get down to business, time is a wasting," Niklaus stood ahead of the group, giving off a leadership vibe that hardly any of them responded too but they dealt with it, "We still have no information in regards to the demon king, I had an idea that may mean we have to split up for a few days."

Elijah was suddenly not liking this, he shot a glance towards Elena, she returned his look almost in agreement that this wasn't going to end well.

"I pondered what you and Elijah said the other day about needing good intent with the monks and I would like for Elena to go with me, they might speak to you,"

Yep, didn't end well.

"Is that necessary?" Elijah spoke without thought, "Surely if they where going to reveal anything they would have done so when you visited last."

"They revealed the book to Elena, this is the best chance we have to find out what they know. We're limited on time, if the demon king is resurfacing now, he is surely plotting something and I don't like being unprepared," He spat back at his brother, wondering why he objected to this, "This also gives me the chance to take the blood you promised to me for my hybrids."

"It's fine, I'll go with you," She said as she saw Elijah take a step towards his brother, she felt sick to her stomach at the thought of spending time with Klaus and giving him her blood but she needed to protect Elijah and this deal, "When do we leave?"

"Once we are done here." He shot a smile at her, one she didn't trust, "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe, Elena."

She believed that, all for the sake of her blood.

"Elijah, I need to speak with you." Niklaus walked away from the group, Elijah sighed and followed him, they left the church and and closed the door behind them. Elena was suddenly fearful for Elijah's life, was he suspicious about what had happened between them? She just stared at the door, waiting.

"I need you to go Mystic Falls, brother," He said, noting the confused expression on Elijah's face, "We spoke to a witch that lived deep within the forest, very powerful, she told us about how the monks came to write this book; they did so with a Bennett witch, they are connected."

"And you want me to take this to Bonnie Bennett for translation?"

"Exactly." Elijah didn't like the idea of leaving Elena completely alone, he didn't know what could happen in her absence. "I don't want Elena aware of this, you'll tell her you're running an errand for my hybrid plight."

"Why not tell her?"

"If she was to know, she may want to do it herself and the second she is home, she may not want to leave again and I can't risk them plotting against us."

As much as Elijah disagreed with keeping it secret from Elena, he somewhat agreed with Klaus; he didn't want to lose Elena, especially if she saw Stefan or Damon again. Family was everything to her, it may be too hard for her to leave again and wasn't ready to risk that.

"I'll do this." He agreed, taking the book that Klaus had in front of him; he tucked it in the inside pocket of his blazer and they both returned inside the castle.

A sigh of relief escaped Elena's lips at the sight of him, glad he was safe; at least there was no suspicion surrounding them.

"Rebekah, Kol, you're to stay here and keep working on the talisman, return to the witch and see if she can figure out its magic." Klaus demanded, he was met with eye rolling and tutting. "Everyone clear on the plan? Great!"

With that, Elijah and Elena left the church and stood by the car together, Klaus hung back for a second to confer with his other siblings.

They where locked onto each others eyes, Elijah's filled with sorrow about how he had to leave and keep it from her, he reached out to touch her face, caressing her cheek.

"Elena-" His sentence was cut short by her placing her finger over his mouth, once she was sure he wasn't going to speak, she pointed towards the church and then to her ear, Elijah nodded in understanding.

She stepped towards him, her hands placed on his waist, his still holding her face and she kissed him softly on the lips, her heart pounding and her body screaming for more; she just wanted to leave with him and never come back.

He suddenly broke there kiss and created distance between them, Elena was momentarily confused but was clear when Niklaus exited the church and joined them.

"See you soon, brother," Klaus tapped his hand on Elijahs arm "Come, Elena."

He walked round to the drivers side of the car and climbed in, Elena just looked at Elijah with pure love before following Klaus into the car. They drove off, leaving Elijah very nervous, all he could do was distract himself by leaving for Mystic falls.