"I'll see you soon," Elena promises Bonnie before they hang up. She joins Elijah in the kitchen, and hands him the phone, their fingers brushing briefly as he takes it. Elena turns to the cabinet to get a glass, filling it with water from the tap, before turning back to face Elijah.

Elena leans against the counter as she drinks her water. She doesn't comment on the way he watches her, his eyes dark and searching. She wonders what he sees.

"Would you like me to drive you to your friend's house?" Elijah asks her softly, like she's a horse that might spook if he's too loud or makes too sudden movements. Elena would be insulted, but she isn't sure that it's a bad comparison, right now.

And she would love to go see Bonnie; of course she would. But it's getting late, and Elena is exhausted – and now that she isn't so thirsty, she realizes that she's istarving/i. It's been hours since they left the rest area.

"Where are we going to sleep tonight?" Elena asks him, putting her glass down and stepping around Stefan's body to get to the refrigerator. She takes out the milk, and then opens the pantry to grab some cereal.

"I do not require sleep tonight," Elijah tells her, matter-of-factly. Elena finds that a bit curious; she knows that Stefan sleeps, because she's slept beside him. "Do any vampires have an invitation to your Bonnie's house?"

"No," Elena responds, grabbing a bowl and spoon. "Do you want some?" she asks him, gesturing to the cereal. He shakes his head, clearly a bit bemused by her offer. A part of her idly wonders whether Elijah is hungry for something other than cereal, but she doesn't ask. Elena just shrugs and closes the cabinet, bringing everything to the kitchen table. (Not at the island, where Katherine forced her to listen to her life's story.)

"I believe Katerina will have fled Mystic Falls," Elijah says. "But as she now has an invitation, I would prefer that you not spend time in this house without me."

Elena shrugs. "Not a problem. I'll pack a suitcase, and then I'd be happy to never see this house again." This house, where her loved ones haunt her. This house, where she once felt safe; now it has a nightmare around every corner.

Elena doesn't tell Elijah that she has been sleeping downstairs on the sofa the past month. (She can barely stand to be in her room long enough to get changed; she can't sleep there, feet from where she failed her little brother.) Now the sofa is covered in shards of what was once her front door.

Even if it wasn't, it has a view of the front porch – and the swing where she found Aunt Jenna and Ric.

Elena wouldn't be able to sleep in this house, even if Katherine didn't have an invitation. (Besides, she thinks a little hysterically, she doesn't even have a front door right now.)

"If you would prefer, you may stay with your friend tonight," Elijah offers. Elena finishes her bowl of cereal while she considers her response. He waits, not a hint of impatience in his expression as he watches her fiddle with her spoon before she drops it into the empty bowl.

"I'd love to stay with Bonnie. But not if you're going to ask for an invitation to her house," Elena tells him firmly, staring straight into those dark eyes to convey just how serious she is. Elijah seems unsurprised.

"Do you not wish for my protection?" he asks her. His head tilts to the side slightly. His eyes never leave her face, watching her every expression. She wonders what he sees.

"I'll be safe at Bonnie's house," she responds, not quite answering his question.

Elijah pauses for a moment, but he doesn't call her on it. "Because your Bonnie is a witch," he says. He seems certain. Elena isn't sure how he came to the right conclusion (maybe Stefan told him?) but she doesn't see any point in lying. Elijah has already given his word to help protect Bonnie, and she's sure he'll see Bonnie's abilities for himself soon enough.

"Yes," she confirms.

Before Elijah can respond, Stefan gasps, apparently healed from his snapped neck. Before Stefan can even stand, Elijah is looming over him, staring into his eyes.

"Don't move," Elijah tells him. Stefan doesn't move.

"Elena," Stefan says, even as he continues to look up at Elijah. His tone is pleading. If he could look at her, Elena imagines his eyes would be, too.

"Quiet," Elijah orders. Stefan doesn't move, and he doesn't say another word.

Elena doesn't reach for her necklace, but she's gladder than ever for the protection and comfort of it. Stefan is little more than a puppet, under Elijah's compulsion. She can't help but find it eerie, even if Elena knows that it's necessary to get as much information about Katherine from Stefan as possible. She wonders if Elijah will let her ask her own questions – get the answers she desires and fears in equal measure.

Elena stands up, drawing Elijah's attention back to her. She doesn't look at Stefan as she brings her bowl and spoon to the sink, rinsing them and then putting them on the drying rack.

"You may sleep at your friend's house tonight," Elijah tells her, once she turns to face him again. "I will not request an invitation inside. I iwill/i request that you call me if you perceive even a hint of danger."

"Before we leave, I'd like to take a quick shower and pack a bag," Elena responds.

"Are you negotiating with me?" Elijah asks – his tone warm and clearly teasing. Elena very intentionally looks down at her "Virginia Is For Lovers" sweat suit, and then back up at Elijah, silently raising an eyebrow. "Point taken," he says with a small smile. "I will wait down here; please call if you have need of me."

After her shower, Elena dresses quickly in her pajamas, and then packs a suitcase. She throws in some clothes and toiletries, her diary, and some of her and her mom's jewelry that she can't bear to leave behind. Elena isn't sure the next time she'll be back.

A part of her just wants to sell the house and be done with it. A small part just wants to burn it to the ground, in the vain hope that it will exorcise the ghosts haunting her. It isn't like she'll need the money – or like Elena has any family left to inherit the house, once she dies.

She rolls her suitcase to the top of the stairs. When she tries to lift it, she wonders if she over packed a bit – or maybe it's just her exhaustion making every step seem like a struggle.

"Elijah?" Elena says softly, knowing that she doesn't need to yell. He immediately materializes at the bottom of the stairs.

She stumbles a bit, startled. Luckily, he's there to catch her before she falls.

Elijah grabs her suitcase with one hand and sweeps her into his arms, all in the same movement. Elena should tell him that she can walk down the stairs on her own, but she doesn't have the energy to fight. She just thanks him, resting her head on his shoulder as he walks – human speed – down the stairs, with Elena cradled in his arms.

Elijah gently puts her down once they reach the bottom of the steps. Elena notices that the living room has been cleaned – the only evidence remaining of Elijah blasting open her front door is the missing door, itself.

"The door will be replaced within the hour," Elijah tells her, as they walk onto the front porch. Elena thanks him quietly. "Where's Stefan?" she asks curiously.

"I sent him to confirm that your Tyler returned home unharmed," Elijah replies, opening the passenger door of his car for her, before putting her suitcase in the trunk and getting into the driver's seat. Elena nods, yawning a bit as she gives him directions to Bonnie's house.

"Elena!" Bonnie yells, rushing outside to greet her when Elijah pulls into the driveway. Elena jumps out of the car, her exhaustion all but forgotten, as Bonnie pulls her into a crushing hug. Elena throws her arms around Bonnie in return, holding her tightly, burying her face in Bonnie's shoulder. "Let's get you inside," Bonnie murmurs to her softly.

Elena refuses to let go, so they do an odd sort of shuffle to the door. Elijah follows with Elena's suitcase – but, true to his word, he does not ask for an invitation inside.

"Please call me if she needs anything," Elijah tells Bonnie over Elena's head. Elena can feel Bonnie nod back. Then Bonnie closes her front door, and guides Elena into her room and onto her bed, pulling the blanket over them both.

There, safe in her friend's embrace, Elena finally breaks down.

Elena wakes up the next morning to light shining through Bonnie's window, the two of them still tangled together. She realizes that Bonnie is already awake, but her friend doesn't say anything. She just continues to hold Elena tightly. To be there for her.

Elena feels the tears come again. Tears of grief, and pain – but also tears of relief, that Bonnie is ialive/i, and isafe/i, and ihere/i.

Eventually, Elena collects herself enough to tell Bonnie the entire story – starting from Matt interrupting Elena and Tyler in the study during the Ball, and ending with Elijah driving Elena to Bonnie's house. Bonnie lies next to her and listens intently, holding her hand and occasionally asking questions.

(Well, Elena doesn't tell Bonnie the ientire/i story.)

"Elijah gave his word to help me save you from Katherine, and to protect you, and in return, I promised to help him lure Klaus to Mystic Falls," Elena says, leaving out her agreement to sacrifice herself to break Klaus's curse.

"Because Elijah wants to kill Klaus in revenge," Bonnie finishes, repeating what Elena told her earlier. Elena nods. "Do you trust Elijah?" Bonnie asks her, an odd expression on her face that Elena can't quite place.

Elena pauses, seriously thinking about it. "I haven't known him long. But there's a certain nobility to him. I think he'll keep his word," Elena replies.

"He didn't kill Katherine," her friend points out. "Even after you lived up to your end of the bargain."

Elena shrugs. "He tried. But Stefan staked him in the woods, and I might have died if he left me alone in the house to chase after her. I can't blame him for choosing to protect me, instead of killing her."

Bonnie seems convinced by that answer. "So what do we do next?" she asks.

"iWe/i don't do anything," Elena replies. "Elijah has the moonstone now. When he's ready, I'll help him lure Klaus to Mystic Falls, just like I promised. But I need you to stay out of this, Bonnie. To stay isafe/i. I couldn't bear it, if anything happened to you."

Bonnie raises an eyebrow. "You think I could stand it if anything happened to you?" she asks, rhetorically. "What if you need a witch?"

"I'm sure Elijah knows other witches," Elena tells her. "I love you – and because I love you, I need you to stay out of it." Bonnie just stares at her.

God, she's so istubborn/i.

Elena can't help but start crying again. Tears of grief, and frustration – and yet more, anticipated grief.

"I've lost everyone but you," Elena whispers. "I haven't even planned Aunt Jenna's funeral yet. Please don't make me go to yours too."

"I won't," Bonnie reassures her, pulling Elena into a hug. "We'll protect each other."

Elena clutches Bonnie closer. "No. I won't – I won't survive it, if you die protecting me. I won't iwant/i to. If you aren't going to let me and Elijah keep you safe, just let me know now – I'll surrender to Klaus and be done with it," Elena whispers.

Bonnie pulls back to look into Elena's tear-filled eyes. "Elena…" she starts, seemingly at a loss for words.

"You're the only thing between me and insanity," Elena admits. "I know that's a terrible thing to say – it's not fair to you, to put that on you. But as unfair as it is, it's true. I lost my parents, and Uncle John, and Jeremy, and Caroline, and Aunt Jenna, and even Ric – deaths in twos and threes, with barely any time to breathe in between. You're my touchstone, Bonnie. The most important thing you can do to protect me is stay alive, stay safe, and stay far, far away from this mess."

Bonnie looks at her for a minute, tears in her deep green eyes. Elena stares back, for once not hiding any of the pain that has been her one constant since her parents drowned, and Elena didn't.

Elena isn't fine, and she needs Bonnie to know that. It's the only thing that may convince Bonnie to not get involved.

Death follows Elena – but she refuses to let it get Bonnie.

Even if Elena has to lie to Bonnie, to make sure of it.

Later that morning, Elena calls Elijah from Bonnie's phone. Not ten minutes later, he knocks on Bonnie's front door. Again, he does not request an invitation inside.

"Take care of her," Bonnie practically orders, as Elena walks out the door.

Elijah just nods in response.

As they pull out of Bonnie's driveway, he comments: "You didn't tell her about our deal." It isn't a question.

"I told her that you agreed to protect her, and in exchange I would help you get Klaus here," Elena tells him, seeing no reason to lie. It's better that Elijah know what she told Bonnie, so he doesn't contradict it.

"Why didn't you tell her that you agreed to the sacrifice?" Elijah asks, clearly puzzled by her decision.

"Because if Bonnie knew that I traded my life for hers, she'd try to stop me," Elena responds. "I don't want to be stopped."

Silence falls between the two of them. Eventually, Elijah pulls up to a house not far from the high school. Elena follows him to the front door.

"Jonas," Elijah greets the man who opens the door.

"I see you found her," the man – Jonas – responds. "Please come in."