By a weeks' time, tensions died down. Elijah no longer was hovering with distrust at Klaus for what had happened by the lake and Klaus got the rest of the memories out from Elena concerning Finn. It left the days to Klaus and Kol alternating in training her. On occasion, both would take charge. And it was those days Elena hated.

The two would constantly bicker with one another, never agreeing on how to fight or handle the training. It took five times as long to get through one move and even then, it was still argued over if the one had demonstrated the right way of teaching or the correct way to do the move. Elena finally had enough of them wasting her time. She yelled at them both, refusing to work with either one until they worked together. After Kol's neck was snapped, Klaus's arm broken, and both taking a tumble into the chilly lake water, they found a way to work together.

"Up, up," Klaus said, swiping at Elena, wanting her arms to react to his hits. Matching arm to arm, she surprised him with a jump kick, sending him flying into a tree. She knew Kol was coming up right behind her, and so she went down, attempting to swipe his feet from under him. He was quick though, catching the move by leaping in the air. And so, Elena turned, keeping low to the ground and grabbing his leg from behind so he fell flat on his face.

Klaus returned while she was preoccupied, this time grabbing her by the neck holding her in the air. Elena was no longer paralyzed in the fear though. Since working with Klaus, she learned to embrace the panic. Holding onto the hand that was at her neck, she kicked up her legs, used his chest as leverage, and flipped herself out from his grasp. She then broke his arm, blew out his knee and forced him to the ground with a hand on his neck for safe measure.

She felt a swell of satisfaction when she found both boys on the ground. She felt well-practiced and more well-versed in fighting. Klaus hadn't only explored hand to hand combat, but used objects as well. At first it had terrified her, but she understood the point. He was training her to be quick on her feet, to not underestimate an opponent and to take in the surroundings. At times, he had even used the moves that Finn had used. He took her memories and used them against her, trapping her with fear so that she could learn to get out of it. Any and every encounter she feared, she told Klaus about so that they could go over the moves together.

Klaus reassured her uncertainties and reinforced her skills over and over again, rehearsing the opponent's moves as if it were a dance. She had known four different ways to get out of each action. And in the end, with time, they learned and rehearsed Finn's fighting style together. With it they were able to gain better insight to their opponent.

"Elena!" Caroline's voice called from the top of the hill. Turning around, Elena smiled and waved to her friend. Ever since Jenna, she had tried to bring everyone together. And what better way than one big slumber party?

Gathering her things and thanking Klaus and Kol, Elena ran up the hill.

"Let me help you with those, Matt," Elena said coming over and grabbing a big cardboard box of food. Matt was gracious enough to pick up everyone's Grill order before he left his shift for the evening. Grabbing a box from his arms, she then hugged Bonnie and Caroline.

"Come on in," she told them, holding the door open.

Jeremy came over, taking the food from her arms and setting it on the island. It wasn't heavy for either of them – one with vampire strength and the other a hunter, but for humans, it was probably difficult.

"Wow," Bonnie said looking around at the windowed house. "I haven't been here since…"

She stopped herself and Elena put a hand on her shoulder. Since her parents died. "it's okay," Elena smiled softly.

"So where are we staying?" Caroline wondered glancing around. As far as she could tell, the Mikaelson family was living here too, and unless they happened to be double bunking…

"Elijah and I cleared out the attic for you guys," Elena said proudly to her female friends. "Matt, you have the option of sleeping in Jeremy's room with him or taking the couch."

Matt clapped Jeremy on the back. "As much as I love you bro, I need my own space. I'll take the couch," he smiled. All five of them chuckled.

"Oh food!" Rebekah said coming down the steps. Saying hello to the rest of the clan, they each grabbed their meals.

"Are you sure, Matt?" Jeremy wondered. "We have one of those pull-out cot things, if you want."

Matt shook his head, grabbing himself a drink from the fridge. "Nah, Jer. I'm good. The couch and I are good old friends."

Elena, Bonnie and Caroline all smiled at one another.

"What?" Elijah asked, interested after seeing the twinkle in their eyes.

"One summer, when I was beginning to be interested in Elena," Matt elaborated, cheeks starting to flame. "We had come up here with Bonnie, Caroline, Jeremy and Elena's parents. Well, obviously if you count, there are only two guest bedrooms, plus Elena and Jeremy's rooms."

Elijah didn't seem to catch how this was secretively funny.

"My parents knew before I did that Matt had a crush on me," Elena answered for Elijah's confused face. "Usually growing up, they had no problem with Matt sleeping in my room or my friends and I all sharing a room upstairs."

"But being the overprotective parents they were," Jeremy chimed in remembering the time. "They had Caroline and Bonnie sleep in their own room and stuck Matt downstairs."

"They didn't even light the fireplace for him," Caroline said with a small pitiful laugh. "It was freezing that night!"

"I didn't want to ask," Matt confessed. "Greyson Gilbert could be a very intimidating man. Instead, I just grabbed the blanket on the couch, probably about the size of a small rug, and tried my hardest to fall asleep."

Everyone laughed in sympathy for Matt.

Elena smiled against Elijah's chest. This is how it should be. Her loved ones all around. Everyone happy. It was picture perfect to see her friends and family making small talk, eating, and laughing. For once it felt like her old world and current one was blending together.

Elijah noticed the growing smile on her face. With warmth and happiness, he leaned down, kissing her cheek. He was glad she was so happy.

Content in his arms, Elena stayed in her place for a long while. She watched as people finished their dinner and drinks were passed around. Laughter grew louder in the house, bringing her comfort.

"Knock, knock," a familiar voice called. Immediately the chatter and enjoyment of the evening died. "Tough crowd," Damon said, pulling back the house screen door and stepping inside with Stefan in tow.

Clearing her throat, Elena set down her drink and went over to the pair. "Hey, thanks for coming," she said nervously. All eyes were on her.

"you invited them?" Caroline asked Elena, saying what was on everyone's mind.

Elena met Stefan's sorrow filled eyes and gave a small smile. "I did," she told Caroline looking over to her. "They aren't sleeping over," she also clarified.

"Why are we here?" Damon asked in a sassy tone, glancing back to Stefan.

"Elena…." Stefan spoke, reaching for her.

Everyone immediately began moving forward to stop the action, on edge from the last encounter with them.

Backing down, Stefan stood back in his place. Sensing the discomfort, she swallowed hard. Maybe this was not as great of an idea as she thought.

"Look, I just wanted you guys here to clear the air. I was wrong about how I handled things and I'm sorry. Stefan, I'm sorry," she told him, looking around Damon to her ex. "I know I should have called you sooner. I just…after the Pastor's and Finn, I wasn't in a good space."

"And you are now?" Damon asked suspiciously.

"Yes, Damon," Elena sighed. "Can we please just bury the metaphorical hatchet and start clean?"

"Clean?" he repeated. With the tone of voice Damon was using, Elena knew what was coming.

"You want to start clean? Where was this when we came to the hospital room looking for you? Or how about when we called you about fifty billion times after the Pastor's house to talk to you? Oh, and let's not forget about when Kol compelled the Pastor and the entire council to off themselves and yet we were still the bad guys!"

Elena internally winced. Damon really wasn't going to make this easy. Elijah came walking up, standing behind her for good measure. Taking his hand, she wrapped it in his to keep him calm. The last thing they needed was a fight.

"I'm sorry, Damon," she spoke again. "All I can say is that I'm sorry. I'm sorry about how things were handled and how I made you both feel. It wasn't my intention and I want to fix things."

Damon stepped forward, making everyone stiffen. Elijah pulled Elena backwards so that her back was now touching his chest. Damon noticed. "Did you ever think that maybe we are tired of your apologies? Maybe things can't be fixed."

He stared at her long and hard, trying to use his height to make her feel inferior.

"If that were true, then you wouldn't be here," she told him softly. It wasn't meant to be challenging. It was just a statement of fact. He came when she called because he still cared. That didn't sound like he was ready to give up on their friendship just yet.

Damon backed off after hearing this, stepping away from the sight of her. "You talk to her Stefan!" And he stormed off.

Huffing, she went to go chase after him, only to be stopped by Elijah. He was ridged, his jaw set and he was attempting to hide his anger and impatience with Damon.

"Just give me a minute," she told Elijah gently. Removing her hand from his, she gave him a loving kiss before running out after him.

"Damon!" she called as she caught him walking back to his car.

"You know what, Elena, save it!" he yelled at her. "I don't even know who you are anymore," he said turning to face her. His face was disappointed.

"You don't know who I am anymore?" Elena asked, moving from the porch to go over to him. "That's to imply that you knew who I was from the beginning Damon. But you didn't. You only saw what you wanted to see and every time I was me, you tried to change that."

"Every time, Damon," she ground out as she got near him. Her anger was starting to build. "You don't get to tell me what to do anymore. You can't dictate my friends or my life. You are so focused on me fitting into this image…I'm not her, Damon. I'm not Katharine."

Damon furrowed his brows and shook his head. "What are you talking about? I didn't want you to be Katharine, Elena. What I wanted for you was to stop being so…stupid!" he yelled. "You risk your life time after time and for what? For the high school jock? Or the baby blonde vampire? And what did it cost you? You can't stop putting your life in danger for two seconds!"

"That's not my fault!" Elena yelled to him. "That's called love, Damon! That's caring! You do things - you risk your life for the people that matter to you!"

Damon disagreed. No, that was stupidity.

"How many times have you risked your life for me?" she asked him. "Because I can recall numerous times." She tried to reason with him as she lessened the volume of her voice. "I remember the time you and Stefan took a road trip to find me and save me from Rose handing me over to Elijah. Or when you tried to interfere with Klaus's sun and moon curse. You've tried to put yourself in between me and Esther," she added. Glancing to him, she softened her anger. "You care, Damon. And that's okay. It isn't stupid."

He looked helpless as he tried to come to terms with these facts.

"But you can't keep blaming me for every instance that you also care. You care about me and-."

"Of course, I care!" He shouted, cutting her off from wherever she was going next with her sentence. "I love you, Elena! No matter how many times you hurt me or push me away, I know what is best for you! I know how to keep you safe. If you would just listen to me for a second!-"

"-that's not love," Elena said calmly. "Damon, part of loving someone is respecting their choices even if they make the bad ones. I-" she sighed. She was going around in circles with him. "I need your help. I need you back in my life, not just because of Finn or whatever is going on, but because we were friends," she told him. "All I have left to give is my sorrows and apologies. I don't love you like you love me, Damon," she tried her best to gently break this to him.

"But you love him," Damon said staring at her, motioning with a head nod to behind her. Glancing over her shoulder, she found Elijah standing at the front porch, hands on the banister watching them both.

"You love the enemy," Damon spoke.

"He's not-"

"They are, Elena!" he said in a big outburst. "God, I could just shake you senseless. Of course, they are the enemy! Only you to be the one not to see it! Playing nice and playing house isn't going to work! They are vampires, Elena. Original freaking vampires. You think domestic life will stay like this forever?"

She tried not to let Damon rattle her. From her time training with Klaus, she's had chances to also figure out herself. While she may not have figured out her doppelgänger look alike issues, she had figured out her love for the Mikaelson family.

"I don't need it to stay like this forever," she answered to him. "They don't have to be perfect. I haven't asked them to. They've changed all on their own."

Damon let out a pathetic laugh.

"You're a special girl, Elena. But really?"

She felt slightly pathetic.

"How long do you think he is going to love you?" Damon asked in a dark tone, stepping closer to her. "How long do you think 'family' can last before Klaus goes back to daggering everyone and dragging them around in their boxes? Do you think that your love can really last? For eternity? Because that is what you are signing up for. You're dense for thinking that him or his could give a damn about you for more than a year. You're a play thing to him, Elena."

"Then what am I to you, Damon?" she asked with curiosity as he tried to walk off again. "If I'm not a reminder of Katharine and I'm something better to you than Elijah and his family …. then what am I?"

Damon hesitated.

"Maybe Elijah won't love me for eternity. Maybe now is all we have. But, as cheesy as it sounds, Damon…. I'm okay with that. I wouldn't go back. I wouldn't change a thing. Now is absolutely okay with me."

She gave a sad smile and backed away from Damon. "You're welcome to stay and have a drink. We have some of Alaric's old bourbon up here. You're welcome to it."

Damon watched as she tucked her hands in her back pockets and left him, walking up back to the house, back to Elijah's arms. And so there he was left, with them inside and him in the cold wondering just where to go from here.


The rest of the night wasn't ruined because of Damon and Stefan, rather it got better. When Elena came back from outside with Damon, she was able to clear the air with Stefan and they all sat around playing a board game. It was probably an odd sight to see because it felt so normal, and that nagged at Elena when she looked at the bigger picture. Damon's words did haunt her. But it didn't stop her from having fun. She vowed to herself that it wouldn't deter her from enjoying the moment.

"Everything okay?' Elijah whispered in her ear, catching small frown lines run across her forehead. She was thinking too hard, and for what reason he wasn't sure.

"Yeah," she said trying to pass it off with a smile. Kissing his cheek, she went back to the game, watching her friends bicker and fight with one another.

The night ended with Matt winning the board game, with Caroline and Kol tying for second place. Rebekah had won the game for making the tallest card tower and Bonnie won the game of spoons.

"Here, let me help you get that," Matt said, coming to Elena, grabbing the stack of plates in her arms. Everyone was getting ready for bed as Elijah grabbed more firewood to heat the house.

"This was fun," he told her as they began cleaning up.

"It was," she smiled in agreement. Grabbing some empty beer bottles, she rinsed them out and placed them by the sink.

"Hey…are you okay after what Damon said earlier?" Matt wondered, trying not to make things awkward. While he could tell she had enjoyed herself during their game night, there were moments she was quiet.

"You both were shouting at one another pretty loud at one another. And I heard some of the things he said to you –Rebekah relayed them to me."

Elena shook her head, frowning.

"I know it's none of my business," he said stepping towards her. "but I want to make sure you're okay."

Shuffling her feet as she leaned back against the sink she sighed. Was she okay? "I looked back at today when we were all playing games and it felt right. It was perfect. Everyone was having fun and we were all getting along together. But…something Damon said did stop me," she answered truthfully.

Matt waited patiently.

"Suddenly I'm starting to question how long this could last. I mean, look at us Matt. When have we ever really had happy? Every time we get even close to it…"

"Something happens," he filled in knowingly.

"Or someone dies," Elena pointed out. Throwing a dish towel on the kitchen island, she sighed in frustration. The thing was, she didn't want Damon to be right.

"Elena, life comes with all sorts of ups and downs. You're going to feel happy and you'll be sad. That is just the way it goes. I don't think it was what Damon said that bothered you, it was how he made you feel." Matt came to stand next to her, crossing his arms in front of him. "Tell me this. What did you want from him? I mean, you had to have known that he wasn't going to be happy with any of this."

Did she?

"I know this is going to sound strange, but…I missed him," she told her friend with truth. "I miss being around Damon. I missed spending time with him and having him around. Whatever we had…I just…"

"Elena, do you know how I know Elijah is the right one for you?" Matt asked her.

Curiously, she looked to him.

"Even after everything that has happened – Damon and Stefan being upset with you, you pissing off Esther, saving Klaus from a crazy Alaric…you know what those have in common?"

Elena stood thoughtful, not sure where he was going with this.

"I've never seen you so adamant about someone or something - not since…well, probably the freshman year ski trip. You just had to go," he chuckled, bumping sides with her as she gave a smile. She didn't even know how to ski. She dragged Matt along with her so he would be able to teach her.

"You've stuck up for Elijah and his entire family before you even ran away," Matt told her. "You believed in them and continue to do so, against all odd and against everyone else's opinions. See, you say you miss Damon, but I don't think its Damon you've missed. I think you've missed the stability that he brought. He was a constant in your life Elena, and since going out on a limb for Elijah and his family, Damon has been left behind. He's trying to shake you into thinking they can't be a constant, so that it seems like only he can be."

Elena was dumbfounded. She had never really given much thought to Damon's angle, let alone seen much of this.

"This has been the biggest risk you've taken since sticking it to your parents and forging their signature for your ski slip," he said with a smile. He missed those old times when things were so much simpler. After a moment's passing, his tone changed back to being more serious. "And it's scary. But it doesn't mean you are doing the wrong thing."

Elena rested her head on Matt's shoulder. Maybe Matt was right.

"Thanks Matt," she sighed tiredly.

Glancing down to her, he rested his head on hers. "Any time Elena. Any time."


Elena tossed and turned in the night. Flashes of her and Damon bounced in her brain.

"What is it?" Elijah's asked in the quiet darkness.

The voice scared her, making her jump. Turning to face him, she saw concern in his features. "I didn't know you were awake."

He waited patiently for her to answer his question. He knew her tactics in trying to change the subject.

"I know after all of this is over, you want me to transition," she said softly. "But…."

Elijah waited, tried reading her face as she struggled. "Could I love you forever?" he asked attempting to fill in the unspoken gaps. Her eyes snapped to his. Exactly.

He had been afraid of this question. It wasn't that he was afraid to answer it, no. Elijah would say yes in a heartbeat. He was afraid of if Elena would believe it. Damon posed this question to plant seeds of doubt in their relationship. It worried Elijah on what Elena would end up believing and how it would impact them.

"Elena, I wouldn't hesitate to say yes, but I don't think that is what you are looking for. I can't say that I know anything for certain, but I know what I feel for you is real. You're who I choose to be with and to wake up next to, every day if I could. I wouldn't trade that for anything."

"Forever is a long time," she spoke softly with doubt. The break in eye contact made him wonder if this had been on her mind since the very first time they spoke about transitioning.

"it is," he assured her. "But that doesn't mean my love for you would change."

Elena sighed. Was she really ready to live an eternal life? Yet, on the other hand, could she leave everyone she loved behind?

Holding her in his arms, he wrapped the blankets around them tighter and laid in bed, kissing the top of her head. "talk to me," he coaxed.

Staring out into the dark space of the bedroom, she listened to his heart beat. That was still so odd to her, a vampire with a beating heart…

"I'm not afraid to die," she answered him with honesty. It had been a long time coming. "but I don't know if I could leave everyone I loved behind."

He waited for the gears to continue to turn in her head.

"But to live forever…" Living forever opened up so many possibilities. She could be anything or anyone she wanted to be. She could reinvent herself whenever she pleased if she so desired.

And it was that, that it made her feel so wrong. She was Elena Gilbert. She was meant to live a life, but this one life. How could she be more than that? How could she live and live and live? Wouldn't it get boring? Wouldn't it be scary?

"Elena?" he wondered softly. He knew she wasn't asleep by the patterns of her breathing, but he wasn't sure what was turning about in her head.

It was funny to Elena, to think she was laying here with a man who had lived for over thousands of years, through multiple time periods, and still, was here, lying in her bed with her.

"Elena," Elijah said again, this time moving so he could face her. Brushing her hair from her face, he wondered to her. "What has you so deep in thought?"

She stared at him – really stared. It was as if she was trying to look deep inside his soul to find her answers.

"Were you ever afraid?" she asked him. His face became puzzled. "To live forever," she clarified. "did it ever scare you to know you'd never die?"

For most, it'd be the opposite. Most are afraid to die. But over the months of being the doppelgänger she had become close with death, almost comfortable with it. There were so many close encounters with it in her life that it wasn't fear of death itself she shied away from; it was leaving her loved ones behind.

"I did a few years after being turned," Elijah admitted. "I don't remember where I was exactly, but I remember I hadn't controlled my lust for blood yet. Bodies were slayed all around me in a room and I had drained them like they were nothing."

Elena watched him in surprise. He had rarely discussed his tragic history with her, and it was rare to see him talk about such a form.

"I feared that the life I had ahead of me would only be that. The deaths of my victims had somehow swallowed me and I was struck with fear I would never be able to escape my monstrous lust for human blood. I was the beast my mother created and it was an inescapable fate I were to live forever."

Elijah glanced down to Elena. "But with time came perspective and control. Looking back on it now, after learning to control my blood lust and living on this earth, I chose to live a life of solitude. Most of my time, for years, was spent searching for Klaus and seeking revenge for our family. And in meeting you… things changed. I gained a reason to become a better man, Elena. I can't say that I've gotten the entire picture sorted, but I look at the future as an opportunity to do better and to be more than the man I am today."

Elijah shifted to lie face to face Elena. "See, that is the great thing about being a vampire, Elena," he said with a small smile. "You live for so many years that society's pressure to do things at a certain time or age no longer apply to you if you don't want it to. You can be whomever you want to be."

"I think that's what scares me," she spoke softly. "I barely know who I am as Elena Gilbert. How can I be Elena in 2082?"

"If you think that far out in the future, my dear, you're bound to run into issues," he spoke with a small smile. He found it cute she was trying to look so far ahead. No wonder why vampirism was such an issue.

"You take it one day at a time. A lot can change in a day. You don't have to know who you are – not now or even in 2082. In being a vampire, you get all the time in the world to decide that and figure out who you want to be."

She was comforted by how he put it. It made it seem less scary and as if it were in her control. Leaning forward, she gave him a long sweet kiss. It had felt like ages since her lips had touched his.

"I love you, Elijah."

"I love you too, Elena. Get some sleep."