Elena and Elijah had separated from Bonnie once they left the mansion, she figured they would want some alone time; they had gone into the woods, not too far in, just enough to be hidden away from anything.

Elijah had barely spoke and she didn't want to pry, she knew he would talk to her when he was ready, all she could do was just be there for him. He would often stop and just touch things, the trees, the flowers, the earth beneath him, he sometimes seemed either saddened or enraged by what he had felt.

They eventually sat down in front of a small stream that spread throughout the entire woods, he just picked up a handful of stones and began tossing them into the water, once again, his reaction being a saddened look on his face.

"I can't believe this," He finally spoke to her, his voice low and filled with sorrow, "My entire existence I have wanted to be mortal and now that this has happened, I don't know how to feel."

"Why are you so sad?" She held onto his hand, ready to listen to him and be there for him.

"Even though I've never wanted anything as much as this, I feel like this a cruel and malevolent joke," He squeezed her hand slightly, partly through his frustration but mostly because she was his only comfort, "If this is a permanent change, then I have left us completely defenceless against all of my families enemies, leaving you vulnerable and if it's not permanent, then the life I've always wanted will be taken away from me."

She hadn't saw it that way and she didn't know to comfort him this time, it was an impossible situation to be in, all she could do was try, "We're not defenceless, Elijah, maybe because of this we could finally get away from it all."

"Is this what you want? For me to be human?" He asked, his gaze finally locking onto hers; she could see the sadness and confusion in his eyes.

"I just want you; vampire or human, I don't care," She placed a soft kiss on his hand, "You could turn into a leprechaun and I'd still love you."

He actually cracked a laugh at her words; he came to the sudden realisation that no matter who or what he was, he would still have her and that would always be enough, "I love you."

"We'll get through this, I promise," She wrapped her arms around his neck and gently brought him into her for a long embrace, "Just know, I could never be disappointed by you and I'll always support you, no matter what."

"You're everything to me, I don't know how I could ever be without you."

"You never have to know."

They remained in the woods just talking about everything; what they would do if he was to stay human or return to being a vampire, neither of them had any preference.

Elijah's phone began to ring, breaking there conversation and bringing them back to reality; he pulled the phone out of his pocket and saw that it was Klaus, he answered, "Yes, brother?"

"The demon king has bested Rebekah and took our mothers body, the ritual is upon us, brother."

Elijah just hung up the phone and Elena saw the look of fear and dread spread across his face, "We have to go."

-w-

They had raced back to the mansion; it took them a little while longer than usual due to Elijah's lack of vampire speed but they got there.

Klaus, Rebekah and Bonnie where all there, trying to figure out what to do next.

"Finally," Klaus muttered as they entered the mansion.

"When is the ritual taking place?" Elijah spoke, out of breath from the running back to the mansion.

"We think tomorrow night; now that he has her body, there will be preparations he needs to complete before attempting the ritual, he'll want to do it as soon as possible so our best guess is tomorrow." Bonnie answered.

"Do we have any idea as to where it will be performed?" Elijah felt slight relief that it wasn't tonight, there was still a chance he may return to his previous vampire state and if so, he was going to need his strength.

"The woods." Bonnie spoke.

"We where just there and we saw nothing." Elena interjected.

"At least that confirms our theory about tomorrow." Klaus spoke in relief.

"It'll be performed right in the very centre of the woods; there is a field there and there is an ancient and mystical energy buried beneath it, he'll channel that and open the ground, returning life to your mothers body and raising hell... Literally." Bonnie explained.

"We have 24 hours to prepare." Klaus was extremely nervous, he often wasn't scared of his enemies, there had been very few he had shown any sort of emotion towards but this was one that he couldn't just take lightly.

"I'm gonna head out, let the others know and we'll start our preparations."

"We don't expect anyone else to fight with us, Bonnie, we can't ask this of them." Elena didn't like the sound of her loved ones becoming involved in a fight that would risk there lives.

"Elena, we're family and we're not just going to leave you alone, we can do this together." Bonnie gave her a quick and reassuring hug before exiting the mansion.

"Can I speak with you for a moment before you and Elijah retire for the evening?" Klaus asked, his voice soft and flooded with guilt.

"No," Elijah instantly spat, placing his hand on Elena's lower back; human or not, he'd protect her until his last breath.

"It's okay," She looked towards Elijah and nodded her head once; he reluctantly left the room and went to there bedroom, "What is it, Klaus? I'm not in the mood for your games."

"No games, I promise," He spoke as he approached her, taking her hand in his; in that moment, he didn't care that she was with Elijah, he only wanted to feel her, "I'm ashamed of my actions last night, I should never have harmed you; I've never took the truth well and it wasn't fair that I took it out on you."

"It's fine," She gently tried to remove her hand from his but he only held on tighter.

"You're my family now and I'm trying to change, I should show you the love and respect you deserve and I promise, I'll do better by you."

She could see he truly meant it but that didn't mean she was going to trust him right away, "It'll take time for us to be as close as we were but I do forgive you and I hope we can move past this, it's just the next time something like this happens, I'll be done trying to get through to you and show you that I never say or do anything without good reason, it's because I care about you."

"I understand, I wouldn't want you to give up on me, I'll know I'm beyond reason and help at that point." He reluctantly released her hand and stepped back from her slightly, "Goodnight, Elena."

"Goodnight." She shot a small smile at him and continued to climb the stairs and enter there bedroom.

Elijah was already in bed, he had buried himself in a good book whilst he waited for her to return, "For the first time, you'll have to tell me what happened, I couldn't hear."

"He just wanted to apologise for yesterday, I gave him one last chance," She spoke as she removed her jacket and kicked off her shoes.

"He doesn't deserve it," Elijah had closed his book and placed it on the nightstand, "You're far too good to him."

"He may not deserve it but he needs it," She opened one of her bags, she still hadn't unpacked yet and all her clothes where still away, "He's my family now, I'm not just gonna give up on him; he's also your brother and as much as you hate to admit it, you care for him and want to change him too, I'm going to help."

"He's not your responsibility, Elena, he's mine." Elijah didn't want this burden to fall onto her, this was something he had struggled with for a thousand years and it was no easy task.

"I'm to be your wife soon, your responsibilities are mine also and like I said, he's family," She pulled a nightgown out of her bag as she spoke, removing all her clothes and slipping into it, she pulled back the blanket and climbed in next to Elijah, her head rested on his chest.

"We've got a big day tomorrow, you should rest."