A/N: I had hoped to get this up yesterday but I've been at London MCM and the combination of heat, uncomfortable costumes (Unity from Rick and Morty Friday and Coraline today!), lack of food, water and sleep wiped me out. But now I've got back from today's outing and my legs are too sore to move. Which means I'm stuck in bed writing fanfiction. Yay!

I lay awake for hours. Every slight sound made me tense, every whimper on the wind made me bolt upright, wanting to rush out and wrap my arms around my baby girl. Eventually though, and despite my best efforts to remain awake, sleep overtook me.

Bright sunlight filtering through the thin curtains stirred me from my rest. I opened my eyes, stretching out. I wasn't sure what drew my focus but I found my head turning to the furthest corner of the room, where a chair had been placed. It was empty but a suit jacket had been draped over the back of it. I got to my feet and approached the chair, picking up the jacket. A familiar smell reached my nostrils, a warm cologne that brought thoughts of home to the forefront of my mind.

I heard the door open and close behind me. I turned slowly, hardly daring to believe it.

"Elijah…"

"Elena..."

We stared at each other for a moment, both of us afraid to make the first move. Then, simultaneously, we ran to each other and threw our arms around one another, clinging to each other. Neither of us spoke, just held each other, hands roaming flesh as though trying to memorize the body in front of us for fear it would be snatched away.

Slowly, reluctantly, we pulled apart.

"What are you doing here?" I asked softly. I didn't want to speak, I didn't want to bring us back to reality.

"Jackson called me. A few hours ago. I've been waiting for you to wake up." He touched my cheek, hardly daring to believe I was really there. "How are you here? Did you escape?"

"No… Lucien is New Orleans. And when Lilah started turning last night… I threatened him… and it worked. It's just a reprieve, I'm still very much his prisoner."

"Not for any longer Elena." He rested a hand on my shoulder. "I'm taking you home."

"No. You can't. Blair is with him. If I don't go back, he'll slaughter her before we can get to her. He's a monster Elijah…" My voice broke slightly and I found I could no longer meet Elijah's eye. I felt tainted. Elijah didn't know what had happened… if he found out… they wouldn't want me anymore… I was damaged goods… ruined… unfit for them…

I pulled back, turning away from him and closed my eyes, trying to silence the voices in my head. They quietened but didn't disappear.

"Is Lilah okay?" I asked, finally.

"She's fine… a bit shaken up but the wolves are taking care of her. How did this happen?"

"Tristan's house – "

"You've been with Tristan?" he snapped. I flinched unconsciously and took a step back.

"Yeah… Lucien took us to him, he wanted to use Tristan's witches… he's been helping me out."

"He failed to mention that…"

"Well, anyway… when his house burned down, we got attacked in the halls on our way out. Lilah did magic… I think. She threw a man down the stairs, broke his neck… I didn't think… I didn't realise…"

"It's okay, you didn't know. You couldn't have done anything." He touched my arm again. "For now we just need to focus on getting all three of you home."

"There's nothing you can do Elijah. You make a move, he'll run off to the other end of the world with me and the girls. He's already on high alert being back."

"I can't just step back and let you walk back to him!"

"Good thing I'm driving."

I sidestepped him and went outside. Lilah was sitting by the water with Jackson. She looked up as I approached and smiled brightly.

"Mama!"

I blinked, shocked. She ran over to me and held her arms up. I scooped her up and held her close, struggling to speak.

"A…are you okay?"

"Yes mama!"

She smiled. I'd seen her smile a few times but it never quite reached her eyes, like there was a shadow across them. This smile radiated light from every part of her.

Jackson got to his feet and came over.

"Thank you Jackson." I smiled, grateful.

"Anytime. Your majesty." His eyes moved to something over my shoulder. He nodded slightly and retreated. I sighed and turned. As I'd suspected, Elijah had followed me out.

"We need to talk about this Elena."

"No, we really don't."

"I have to do something."

"No. Elijah, listen to me. Every second of the past five years has been torture. I'm not going to pretend that I'm the only one who felt that way. But, I'm not prepared to risk either of my children. If I get an opportunity to get them both out safely, I will. But until that time, you should pretend that you never saw me. Please, don't do anything."

He sighed softly.

"I can't promise you that."

I bit my lip and nodded. I needed to leave. There were so many things I wanted to say but I knew that if I stayed any longer, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to leave.

I carried Lilah out of the bayou. I half expected Elijah to follow us but he didn't. After a while I found Tristan's car. He was dozing in the front and he jerked up as I climbed in.

"Everything alright?" he asked, sleepily. "Is she okay?"

"She'll be fine."

"Lucien's been blowing up my phone. He wants you back home."

"Of course he does." I closed my eyes. "Go on then."

I held Lilah close to me as Tristan started the car. I kept my eyes closed for most of the journey, fighting tears. I didn't want to go back there. I wanted to tell Tristan to stop the car, run back to Elijah and let me take him home. But I couldn't save on child and condemn the other. And I didn't think Lucien would buy any excuse I could think of for not bringing Lilah back.

I opened my eyes and looked down at Lilah. Her happy expression had vanished, her face had taken on its shadowed, pinched look once more. I was a bad mother. I couldn't do the one thing I was meant to, protect my children.

We returned to the apartment. Lucien was pacing. Aurora was sitting nearby, sipping blood out of a wine glass. I ignored them both and took Lilah to her room. Blair was inside, which relieved me. I'd been worried that Lucien might have done something to her for my impromptu exit the night before. I told them both to stay in the room until I came to collect them and advised Lilah to rest after the night she'd had.

I reluctantly returned to the main room, steeling myself for Lucien's wrath. He didn't speak at first, just looked at me with the silent fury that I'd come to fear more than when he shouted.

"Do you want to explain your behaviour last to me?" he said finally.

"My daughter needed help urgently and I did what I needed to do to get it for her. If you want me to apologize for that, you can forget it. Do whatever you want to me, but I stand by my actions last night."

"You said that she was 'shifting'. That's impossible."

"You're a vampire, I'm a doppelganger. On the list of impossibilities, my hybrid daughter turning into a wolf doesn't even feature."

"Werewolves have to kill to activate their curse, everyone knows that. She's five."

"And? Children kill. It's rare, but it happens."

He stalked towards me, teeth gritted.

"How. Did. This. Happen."

I looked over at Tristan. He looked curious as well. I sighed.

"It was the night the house burned down. One of the crazy villagers cornered us and she…" I hesitated. Did I want to speak about Lilah's magic? "Knocked him down the stairs. He must have broken his neck."

"And you didn't think to mention it a little sooner?"

"I was a little preoccupied with ESCAPING FROM A BURNING HOUSE!"

Quick as a striking snake, Lucien's hand shot out and slapped me. Tristan was on his feet in an instant. Lucien twisted to glare at him and gave him a look of warning.

"Don't you dare get involved." Lucien turned back to me. "Your attitude is getting out of hand Elena."

He gripped my hair, pulling roughly. I glared at him.

"I thought you liked my mouth Lucien," I snarled.

"That doesn't mean I won't cut out that pretty tongue of yours," he hissed.

"Lucien, you're out of line. Let her go." Tristan stepped closer. "I will not let you continue to treat Elena like this. It's cruel and unnecessary. She was only trying to look after her daughter."

"She should have told me."

"I didn't realise!" I protested. "And to be honest, you should have considered that this might happen. Side effect of kidnapping the daughter of a wolf hybrid, she might actually turn into a werewolf at some point!"

There was the sound of splintering glass. All our heads turned over to where Aurora had been sitting. All that remained was a deep red stain and broken glass on the carpet. I frowned. Lucien and Tristan returned their focus to one another, either side of me in a stand off.

"She is my wife and I will treat her how I see fit!"

Lucien moved forward to grab me again and Tristan seized hold of his wrist.

"Not while I'm around. You will not lay another finger on her. If you do, I swear that I will kill you." His face was deadly serious, rigid like it had been carved from stone. "I've stood by and let you abuse that poor girl for long enough. If you make one more move towards her, it will be your last."

Lucien's eyes moved from Tristan to me and I could tell he was weighing up his options, trying to determine how serious the other man was. His leg twitched, the floorboards creaking underneath. Tristan moved immediately between us. Lucien scowled and backed away, clearly deciding that Tristan meant business.

"Fine. You win. For now." He locked eyes with me. "But this isn't over Elena. You are still my wife. My property. You may feel nice and safe with your little lap dog but he won't be around forever and then you're mine again. And I will remember all of this."

He walked off, disappearing into one of the rooms. I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Tristan turned to me.

"Are you alright?" His hand rested on my arm, his other going to my cheek. I felt a rush of warmth and I looked up into his eyes. All my built up emotions from my encounter with Elijah bubbled up and I kissed him.

He pulled back, his hand stroking my cheek.

"It's not a good idea… I want to, believe me, but maybe not now."

"I understand… I shouldn't have done it… I'm just… my mind is all over the place.

"Well, rest your head. I'll take care of everything, you don't have to worry about anything anymore. You trust me?"

"Yes." There was no hesitation in my voice.

"You'll do what I ask of you?"

"I'll do anything." The words came automatically, without thinking.

"You promise?"

"I promise."

He was my protector, my hero. I knew in that moment, that I'd do anything for him, all he had to do was ask.

He smiled at me.

"Good girl."

He gave me a brief, chaste kiss, sealing our pact.