It was 8am finally. Elena had barely gotten any sleep. Too much was on her mind Damon to what Rose had said and Liam, her amazingly perfect boyfriend. She could not believe she was back here in her childhood bed. Her and Damon has spent some days here during their summer vacations. He started sneaking in at night and leaving early in the morning so no one would see him. Apparently, they were not so good at this sneaking in thing since Jenna had known for a month and was simply to amused to let them know. Elena brought herself back to the present. She can't be reminiscing on the old days. It wasn't fair for herself or Liam or anyone. Those days were amazing but gone. She had a life now in New York, a simple successful life she liked.

Her phone message alert brought her to the present." Meet us at the Grill at 10am? We can see Damon at 1pm and hopefully post bail" Stefan. This message made it all a reality. She was going to see Damon today and all she really wanted to do was pack her bags and go back to her life away from here. But she knew she couldn't, so she mustered all the energy she had, confirmed to Stefan she will be there and got out of bed to get dressed and go down to see her aunt and Ric.

She could hear them talking in the kitchen so she headed that way. She really needed a coffee to kick off her day.

"Good morning"

Her aunt turned with a smile facing her" Hey sweetie. I was wondering when you were going to come down. There's coffee over there and I made pancakes"

"Thanks aunt Jenna. I'll have some coffee but I'm going to pass on the pancakes. I'm meeting Stefan, Caroline and Klaus at the grill in an hour for breakfast." She, then turned to Ric "Hey Ric, you think you can give me a ride there? If you're busy I can probably call Caroline to pick me up"

"Actually I was going to be there with you. I want to help any way I can. I already told Stefan I'm going to be there. I want to help clear Damon's name"

" I know Damon is your friend . But this world you were not in it. You don't know what Kol is capable of. We were all there. Me, Caroline Klaus. That was our life for years. You can support Damon all you can and be there for him but this. Just.. please"

Her aunt was confused in that moment" Wait what are you talking about? What world ? What is going on? How do you know so much about this Kol?"

"Aunt Jenna, I know you still see me as the little niece you want to protect but trust me I grew up a long time ago. Just let me do this. I know you're worried but I'll keep you informed and we are not the one doing anything wrong here. This is all on Kol."

" Elena, you're speaking in codes here and I really am worried. And I think Ric should be there. I know all of you are adults now. But you need all the help you can get and you would have me off your back. Please just let Ric help"

She thought it best to let her aunt win this one" Ok fine. We leave in 45 mins Ric?"

Ric nodded in her direction and she sat with her aunt discussing how her life was, how Jenna's work and marriage has been. Normal stuff. She realized in that moment how much she really missed being around family. She loved them so much but after all that happened and Damon staying in Mystic Falls, she just had to leave.

An hour later, they were at the door of the grill. Nothing had changed. The pool table, the bar and the tables were all still the same. She had made good memories here from her high school years and later on with Damon. She didn't know him before college since he lived in Chicago with his family even though they were originally from Mystic Falls. It isn't till after he graduated that he moved here to open his shop. She heard a loud shriek from her right and turned just in time to see Caroline wrapping her in a huge hug. She really had missed her best friend. She felt Klaus wrap both of them from behind and remembered what it felt like to be part of something, to belong.

" I missed you both so much. How are the wedding preps going?" She turned to Klaus" Is her bridzella under control or is she driving you crazy?"

"Hey I'm standing right here. It is my wedding and I want it to be perfect. I am so happy to see you Elena even if the circumstances are not perfect"

On that note Elena turned to Klaus to really know how bad it was. After all Kol was his brother. "How bad is it ?really ? Has your brother completely lost his mind?"

" He's been out of control. Once he started making money, things got worse. He started recruiting kids. They're just teenagers for God sake and now he's going against my best friend. This, all of it has to stop."

"We'll figure it out" Elena sighed and turned around looking to see where they are seated and where Stefan was when a voice from behind got her attention.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. I was just getting all the paper work and money needed to get Damon home today. Elena it's good to have you here" He came close and hugged her looking into her eyes as if he wanted to say something but then changed his mind. He turned to everyone and ushered them to sit on a table to their left. Ric joined them, too , and they all listened as Stefan relayed back the facts of the drugs, the anonymous call and all that had went down with Damon in the last week.

Elena couldn't help but feel tears prickle in her eyes, she pushed them down and went on to speak." So now what? How do we prove that Kol did this? We all know how careful he is. Years of racing, gambling and drug dealing and no one could pin anything on him. How do we do it now?"

Klaus spoke up in that moment "My brother has flaws his ego and anger. We need to use that to our advantage. I don't know how yet or where to start but I know this is the only way. Once Damon is out and Bonnie and Enzo are here. We can all regroup and figure out how to get Damon out of this mess"

Elena felt uneasy going into this without a plan. Kol was already ahead of them but she knew Klaus was right. They needed all of them for this.

In that moment, Caroline spoke up "There is nothing we can do about Kol before tomorrow noon. We can fix that when Bonnie and Enzo come in but until then, we need someone to handle Damon's shop, at least the maintenance and repair section and take care of those teenagers helping him out. Also, he's probably going to be hungry and need a good meal and a clean house. So how about, Klaus and Ric you handle the garage. I'll handle the food and the house. You and Stefan can handle Damon because we both know he is not going to be ok with all of us involved and he's a stubborn ass and that is your department. And before any of you say anything, let's order food I'm starving"

Elena wanted to push back and request another task. Damon had Rose now. Why can't she handle him? She would go with Caroline and help her make food or whatever. She knew deep down that he needed her and she would not allow anyone especially not another woman be there in times like these, even if she was not ready to face him.

An hour later, they had finished their food and split up promising to regroup at 4pm at Damon's house to welcome and support him. She was walking with Stefan towards his car and felt the need to break the awkward silence.

"Hey when you saw me today. I felt you wanted to say something but changed your mind? What did you need to say?"

Stefan looked at her chucking. " You haven't seen me in 3 years and this is the first thing you ask me? I'm fine. I 'm practicing law in Richmond. And I am dating Rebecca , Klaus's little sister. She was a freshman at college. You probably saw her around. As for earlier… I don't know. Seeing you here made it real that my brother is in trouble and you are here to save his ass after all that happened. I know I always liked you and I never understood the both of you. And seeing you here..You know he's lucky. He has that person that will never let him go no matter what happens and ironically that is all he wanted his entire life. Someone who never gave up on him. I guess I'm a bit jealous. Don't get me wrong I love Rebecca and I am beyond happy with her. But just your type of love, that dedication it's really really rare. Wow I just gave you a really long speech to a really easy question"

Elena was stunned but chuckled at his last comment. He was right about everything he said. No matter what she would kill for Damon if she had to, to save his life "I'm glad you're happy Stefan. I really am. It suits you being a lawyer and I remember Rebeeca she was a really sweet girl." He opened the door to his car and she got in and continued speaking "As for Damon, there is no use in denying it. I will always come back if his life is in danger. I can't help it. But me and him, there is no me and him. I am happy in New York and I have a life there."

Stefan was not convinced by here little speech but now was not the time for this. They had more urgent matters to address. " Are you ready to see him?"

She looked back at him "No but he needs me. I am not letting him face this without all of us here. So let's do this."

Her heart was going to jump out of her chest. In a few minutes, she was going to be face to face with the love of her life, the man who shattered he heart to pieces