Disclaimer: One of the scenes here is inspired by a scene in the movie Salt. And I do not own The Vampire Diaries or The Originals. This is purely a work of Fanfiction.

~TGITW~

Chapter 32: Goodbye

"The worst day of loving someone is the day that you lose them." – Elena Gilbert, The Vampire Diaries

NEW ORLEANS. 2011 A.D.

Things in New Orleans had unfolded the way that Faith had described.

Elijah had arrived days ago and found the witches planning a rebellion against Marcel. They held a pregnant Haley captive and was using her life as leverage against his brother.

At first, Niklaus refused to act until Elijah talked to him.

"Family is power, Niklaus. Love, loyalty, that's power. This is what we swore to one another 1,000 years ago before life tore away what little humanity you had left. Before ego, before anger, before paranoia created in this person before me someone I can barely even recognize as my own brother. This is us, the Original family. And we remain together, always and forever."

After Elijah's conversation with Klaus, he spent some time to himself. He wandered the coast, and his thoughts went to Faith. If they were to take over the French quarter, to do everything that he had just promised Klaus, he would be putting her in danger.

They would face too many enemies in New Orleans. He wouldn't be able to protect her from everything. Elijah's heart ached as he made the decision. He would have to leave her behind for her protection.

~TGITW~

"Hello?"

Klaus froze upon hearing Faith's voice. He did not expect for her to pick up the phone.

"Hello?" She asked again.

"Hello love." Klaus smiled adoringly.

"Klaus?"

"Yes, love."

"Is everything ok? Did something happen?" Faith asked anxiously.

"Everything is fine." He smiled as he pictured her worried face. Sometimes, she had the habit of jumping to the worst conclusions. "I just wanted to hear you voice."

Faith smiled softly and answered, "It's good to hear your voice too."

Klaus paused and clutched his phone tightly.

"Look Faith, there's some things I have to do…things you would not approve…I…I have to become the monster that you hated." Klaus said quietly.

Faith became silent.

Do you hate me?

Klaus wanted to ask the question, but he was too afraid to hear the answer. He wasn't ready to hear it. He couldn't bear the thought that Faith might hate him.

Slowly, she began speaking: "We hate the villains in the story. We hate those selfish greedy characters that trample on everyone."

Klaus could feel his heart drop at her words. He waited nervously for her to finish.

"But…don't we hate them because the darkness we see in them is the same darkness we see in ourselves? How can I hate you when we're the same?"

Klaus closed his eyes in relief. Somehow, Faith always knew what to say to comfort him.

Again, Faith and Klaus became quiet. Then Klaus answered as he watched the streets around him.

"Faith, I am standing in one of my favorite places in the world. Surrounded by food, music, art, culture and all I can think about is how much I want to show it to you…Maybe one day you'll let me."

Although Faith knew that was unlikely, she reassured him.

"Yes, let's do that one day."

~TGITW~

MYSTIC FALLS. 2011 A.D.

Elijah had arrived back from New Orleans and had just finished telling Faith the situation in New Orleans. He told her that he must leave her to protect her.

"Sounds like goodbye." Faith sunk into the chair. She couldn't believe what Elijah was telling her.

"There's no future for us. You're not safe with me." Elijah looked down at the floor as he explained, avoiding her eyes.

"Then you should stay." She insisted.

"The best thing I can do for you is disappear."

Faith sighed then said carefully, "I don't want to be safe." She continued, trying not to let her voice break. "I know you…and I wanna be with you…"

As she spoke, Faith reached out her hand to Elijah's face. She lifted his head and looked into his eyes, trying to convey all her love for him.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Elijah held the hand that held his face. He closed his eyes and whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too." Faith whispered back.

Elijah opened his eyes and looked at Faith. "I will always protect you"

He released her hand and she pulled away. His bittersweet expression told Faith everything she needed to know.

"I'll say this one last time." Faith stood up and turned her back to him. "I love you and you love me. We can be together. Don't throw it all away. Don't run from it. Don't push me away."

She held her arms trying to comfort herself. She could not face him. She knew if she did, she would just break down in tears.

"Faith…" She could hear the plea in his voice, but she had to be firm. She had to let him go.

So again, Faith gave him an ultimatum that she knew he would not accept.

"This is the last time I'll ask you. Do you love me? Will you stay? After this, I won't bother you anymore. I won't come running after you anymore. I'll just stop. You'll never see me again. And I'll…" She grinded her teeth and said the last words with great difficulty. "I'll stop loving you."

"Faith…please…" Elijah's voice quivered as he moved towards Faith. "Don't…"

With her back still turn to him, she raised her hand to stop him from coming any closer.

"No, Elijah. Don't come closer. I don't want to see you anymore." As soon as she said the words, she rushed out of the room without turning back for so much as a glance.

She left the house and ran aimlessly through the woods. When she had put enough distance between her and Elijah, she stopped and let herself break down in tears.

"Goodbye Elijah."

~TGITW~

NEW ORLEANS. 2011 A.D.

She can't believe she was back in New Orleans.

It had been a couple of weeks since Faith and Elijah had separate and if she was being honest, the wounds still hurt.

She bit her lips as she thought about it and kept driving.

She loved Elijah.

That much was true. She loved the man that he was but if she was being honest, he can be exasperating at times.

She thought about so many things she wanted to throw at him.

"Where does this unfailing loyalty to your family come from anyways?! Elijah, for all you're talk about being a man of honor, a man of your word. You failed me! You promised faithful and true. And you failed me! You failed me!"

Faith screamed into the air at an imaginary Elijah.

She could feel her eyes water in frustration. She hated it when it does that. It made her look sad and weak instead of angry which she was.

Maybe it was because she knew her time was running out. Maybe she was just being emotional and not thinking rationally

She just wanted someone to blame. To throw his mistakes at his face. The rage gave her unexpected strength. And that was better than succumbing to the sadness.

She didn't even know what she would say to him. Her emotions were all over the place. She was hurt and she was angry.

She finally arrived at her destination. The Mikaelson mansion. Anxiety started creeping in. What was she doing here?

She got out of the car and snuck in. It was there that she found the family in the backyard. She immediately hid behind a tree so they won't see her.

Her time was running out and she just needed to see him one more time.

Just a glance would do.

Her eyes landed on the noble original. Her Elijah.

In that same moment, Elijah looked at her direction and met her eyes.

He immediately vamp speed to her.

Surprised, she pulled away from her hiding spot and nearly stumbled into his arms.

He helped steady her and they stood face to face. Her hands still holding his arms for support.

In that moment, all the anger vanished. All the words she had wanted to scream at him went out the window. Only three words fell out of her mouth.

"I love you."

Elijah felt a mix of guilt and affection. Her words reminded him that he had broken his promise to her.

"Why?" Elijah asked seriously. "Why do you still love me? It's been so many years. We've become different people now. I've hurt you and left you…"

Faith pondered for a moment. Even before she had arrived in this world, she had already been drawn to the character of Elijah.

"That may be so. But I can still see glimpses of who you truly are. Your character has not change. You are still my Elijah."

Faith leaned in and gave him a peck on the lips. For Faith, it was always Elijah.

"And I will never stop loving you."

That was when Elijah noticed how her hands were slowly becoming transparent.

Noticing his gaze, Faith looked at her hands and now her arms begin to disappear into nothing.

"What's happening?" He asked, fear in his voice. He tried to grab hold of her but ended up grasping thin air.

"Faith! Faith!" Elijah cried desperately. She was slowly fading into nothing.

"Elijah!" Faith screamed his name as Elijah started to fade from her sight.

Within minutes, she had drifted into nothingness.

The woman he loved had faded out of existence.

~TGITW~

OUR WORLD. 2019.

Ever since the accident, their daughter had been in a coma with no signs of ever regaining consciousness.

Tonight, they had finally pulled the plug after a long and hard decision. That's when the miracle happened.

Faith's eyes fluttered then opened slowly. Her vision was blurry, and she saw what seemed to be like moving trees. As her vision cleared, she recognized the figures in front of her. "Mom? Dad?" Her voice sounding dry and raspy to her ears.

The couple looked at her with tears of joy before rushing to embrace her.

"Faith. Welcome back."