The next week went by slowly. I was quarantined to the house for my own protection, which I absolutely hated. Elijah and Klaus spent most of the week berating me for joining Tristan's 'cult'. It got to the point that if one of them mentioned it, I'd leave the room.

The only good thing about my forced sequestering was that I was able to make things ready for Christmas. The boys had put a huge tree in the courtyard and I spent a day decorating it with Rebekah, Freya and the girls. The twins were very excited about the idea of Christmas. Their lessons had been halted for the week and instead I'd been working on crafts with them. We'd made cookies, cards, invites, decorations. We were having a family meal on Christmas day but we had also arranged a larger meal on Christmas Eve. It wasn't Mikaelson levels of big (Freya had told me that they used to throw huge Christmas parties) but I still wasn't ready to face quite that many people. We'd settled on sixteen, including the family. The list had included Tristan and Aya but he'd sent a card politely declining, which I understood. Even though he'd helped me, I knew the siblings didn't like him and he was probably trying to avoid unnecessary conflict. He did send gifts for the girls which I tucked away under the tree. I didn't know if any of the others would come and I was starting to get nervous about it. My record of parties and large meals was not great. I decided to try and bury my anxieties. As long as no one died, I was happy.

I woke up the morning of the meal with a churning sensation in my stomach. I closed my eyes, taking a few deep breaths to clear my head. I couldn't afford to lose my mind, I had too much to do. The guests weren't arriving until the evening but I still had quite a bit to do to prepare everything.

My eyes went to the clock on my bedside table.

I'd overslept. Shit.

I dashed out of bed, pulling on some clothes. I hurried downstairs to find Elijah and Klaus hard at work, putting up the last of the decorations. Rebekah was by the tree with the girls, neatly arranging presents. Finn was carrying a large brazier, followed by Freya who had a bag of coal.

"Elena, did you sleep well?" Elijah asked.

"I… you…"

"Rebekah pointed out we had been overly harsh on you. We have no idea what you went through and what led you to join the Strix. We were being unfair," said Elijah.

"We know that this is important to you, so as way of an apology we're helping to make it as special as we can," said Klaus. "The caterers are in the kitchen getting everything ready for tonight. We've got the list of names, we've divided up everything that needs doing. You can relax."

I blinked, startled. Rebekah glanced up and gave me a knowing smile.

"Thank you," I smiled brightly. "Wait, where's Kol?"

"He went out to pick up some last minute things."

"Okay… so there's nothing you need me to do?"

"You can run to Jardin Gris with me," said Freya. "I need to pick up some herbs."

"Sounds good, let's go."

We headed out towards the Jardin Gris. My nerves had evaporated and I felt relaxed.

"What are the herbs for?" I asked as we walked.

"To promote a peaceful atmosphere. It's probably not necessary but I felt that with Klaus, Jackson, Marcel and Sophie in a room together it was better to be safe than sorry."

I nodded. I'd struggled when I'd been writing my invites about whether to include Jackson after Klaus' reaction to him last time. But he was a friend and he'd helped Lilah with the full moons, twice now. In the end I had to invite him, but to try and prevent fighting I'd extended the invite to his fiancé Hayley.

"Maybe I should give them plastic cutlery so no one gets stabbed," I suggested. Freya grinned.

We reached Jardin Gris and went in. I browsed the displays while Freya went to the counter to collect her package. I recognized the cashier vaguely and she gave me a shy, somewhat guilty smile. It was a look I was used to receiving from the witches. Sophie said a lot of them felt bad for not helping to find me. The rest, she said, were just hoping that I wouldn't hurt them for it by acting like they felt guilty. I knew, and Klaus was fond of reminding me, at some point I'd have to assume control again and deal with the witches but I wasn't looking forward to it.

We went back to the house, where the boys were arranging tables. There was still no sign of Kol. Before I could say anything, Rebekah had banished me upstairs to take some time to relax. Mildly bemused, I went up and ran myself a hot bath. I sank into the water and let myself relax. It had been ages since I'd been able to actually unwind and clear my head. Christmas… I'd not been able to really enjoy a Christmas, not just since I'd been taken but since my parents had died. Jenna had tried to make it special but it was just a reminder of what I'd lost.

Not anymore. This was my first Christmas with the Mikaelsons. It was a fresh start.

I heard the clock strike and got out of the bath, I dried my hair and put on a dress that Rebekah had chosen for me. It was pretty and made me look like I was dressed in icicles.

I headed downstairs. The others had got changed too and were putting the final touches to the table. My eyes swept over the table and I frowned.

"You put out too many places."

"No, we didn't," said Klaus. My frown grew and I counted the seats again. Me, the girls, Mikaelsons, Marcel, Jackson and Hayley, Sophie, Cami. Fourteen. I counted the seats a third time. Twenty one. They knew Tristan and Aya weren't coming but even if they had set places for them, that would still leave four extra seats.

"Yeah, you have. I only invited seven people. Tristan and Aya said no. Five, plus all of us, fourteen."

Klaus paused and contemplated the table.

"Well now… that is a problem. We'll have to rectify it."

"Quick, help me clear the extra places." I moved forward to do exactly that but Klaus stopped me.

"That's not what I meant."

He nodded towards the courtyard gate. I followed his gaze. The gate swung open and Kol came in.

"Room for a few more?" He stepped aside. My eyes widened as I took in the people behind him.

"Jeremy!"

I let out an excited cry and ran over to him, throwing my arms around his neck. He'd got so big, not just tall but muscular. He held me tight and I felt so warm and safe. I'd spoken to him once since I'd got out but seeing him… it was so much better.

"Don't mind us," came Damon's voice and I reluctantly released my brother to acknowledge the others. Caroline, Bonnie, Tyler, Matt, Alaric, Damon… all my friends from home.

"What… how are you guys here?"

"Kol invited us," said Bonnie. "And sent us plane tickets so we could get here in time." I looked at Kol.

"Come on Elena. It's Christmas. You really thought we'd keep you from your family?"

I felt so touched.

"Besides, we're dying to see the little ones," added Caroline.

It hit me than that I'd not seen them since I'd announced my pregnancy.

"They're upstairs getting changed. Make yourself comfortable in the meantime," said Elijah.

I hugged all of my friends as they shrugged of their jacket, stacked gifts beneath the tree and sat down. I chatted with my friends, falling into easy conversation that came from a long term friendship. It was like I'd never left Mystic Falls.

Cami arrived, accompanied by Marcel and Sophie. I did the introductions, a little concerned that my old and new friends wouldn't connect well. I shouldn't have worried. Cami began to chat with Alaric, while Sophie, Freya and Bonnie grouped together.

Rebekah came down with the girls. Caroline immediately moved towards them, excited. I intercepted and took my children, who seemed a little wary of the group, and introduced them to everyone, letting them adjust and get comfortable before releasing their hands. Lilah situated herself near Tyler and Jeremy, while Blair clambered up onto Caroline's lab and babbled away in her sweet bird-like chirp.

Jackson and Hayley arrived not long after. I was worried Jackson's presence would provoke some hostility from Klaus but he seemed content to talk with Marcel.

"Sorry we're late," said Jackson. "But we had an unexpected visitor."

He nodded behind him. I looked down and saw Ansel at his feet.

"Ansel!" I knelt down and hugged him happily, ruffling his fur.

"Does it upset you that she got more excited by the wolf being here than you?" Damon teased Jeremy.

"It's hardly a competition," I said with a grin. "Ansel has saved my life way more times than Jeremy."

I returned to the table. All but one of the seats were filled. I frowned.

"You got anymore surprise visitors coming?" I asked.

"No… Kol invited Stefan with your other friends but… clearly he decided not to accept," Klaus explained.

"He feels really bad about everything he did," said Caroline.

I made a face and looked away. Elijah, noticing my discomfort, signalled for the caterers to bring out the first course. The presence of food and wine helped to spike the conversation. Everyone was in good spirits and catching up with everything that had happened over the past five years was fun.

We had just finished our starter when there was a noise from the gate, an uncertain clearing of the throat. I got up and went to the gate. Detective Kinney was behind it and he gave me a shy smile. I opened the gate and stepped back to let him in.

"Detective Kinney."

"Elena." He glanced over my shoulder at the table. "Bad time?"

"That depends. Are you here to arrest me?"

The table had fallen quiet and everything was watching. Blair looked up.

"Are you going to take my mama away again?" she said.

"Elena, you got arrested?" Caroline asked.

"No Caroline, I did not."

"She just loves those handcuffs, Caroline," Kol laughed.

"Oh god…" I pinched the bridge of my nose and took a deep breath. "Please excuse them. They are very drunk."

"I get it. And I left my handcuffs in the car, sorry to disappoint." He grinned. "I just… I wanted to give you this." He held up a Christmas card.

"You came all this way just to drop off a card?"

"I was in the area."

"Oh?"

"Maybe… I was hoping to take you out for a drink, since… you didn't call."

"You are very persistent."

"And you are clearly busy so I'll be on my way."

I bit my lip and glanced at the table. Caroline and Rebekah gave me a look, a look I'd seen on Caroline's face whenever I talked to a guy she approved of. Her 'shipping' face, I called it.

"Do you want to join us Detective?" I asked.

"I… I would like that."

I smiled and returned to the table. The detective took the empty seat and gave an awkward smile. The boys were watching me with a mixture of expressions. Kol and Finn both seemed amused, Elijah looked slightly perplexed and Klaus looked like he was ready to disembowel the detective. I wondered if it was too late to break out the plastic cutlery.

"So detective, you arrested Elena? What was she doing?" Caroline asked.

"Please tell me it involved her being drunk? She's fun when she's drunk," said Damon.

"I was not arrested!"

"Elena, I'd really prefer to hear that you were arrested then have the idea that you have a handcuff fetish put into my head," said Jeremy.

"I second that," added Alaric.

"I did not arrest Elena. She was just helping me with some questions around an ongoing investigation," the Detective explained.

"Thank you!"

"And you decided that drinks was the next logical step following interrogation?" Klaus asked. "Is that professional?"

"Strictly speaking, probably not. But… some rules are meant to be broken occasionally… and I think Elena might be worth breaking them for."

"Please forgive my brother, detective. We're protective of Elena. But you're here to enjoy a meal, not be interrogated," said Elijah.

"I understand entirely. I've got a sister myself."

"I bet you don't drive her crazy like this lot do," said Freya.

"Oh… I'm sure I had my moments when we were growing up," he laughed.

I wasn't sure if it was the herbs Freya had burned or the wine, but we were able to slowly slip back into the relaxed atmosphere. Matt, having got a job on the Mystic Falls police force, chatted with Detective Kinney which meant that Klaus couldn't pester him. I knew that after everyone was gone, he'd probably flip his lid but I was trying to forget that. I talked to Hayley, who seemed pretty nice if a little guarded.

We finished our dessert and I noticed the girls were starting to flag. They weren't used to being up so late and all the excitement was getting to them.

"I should put them to bed," I said, getting up.

"No wait!" said Rebekah. "We need to do something first."

"What's that?"

"Well Elena, everyone, it's been a Mikaelson family tradition that during the winter bonfire season, we would write down wishes for the year and burn them. And since, for the past five years, all we've wanted is you home safely, I would really like it if we could do that tonight."

"Alright then, bust out the paper and pens." If it was a Mikaelson tradition, I wanted to embrace it.

Rebekah grinned and fetched some scraps of paper for everyone. I took mine and considered for a moment what to write. There was really only one wish I could think of, something I desperately hoped for.

I wish that this year brings me a chance to be happy.

"I wish Elena stops bringing home strays. First dogs, now police officers. What's next?" Klaus said, getting up and throwing his scrap into the fire.

"And I wish that Klaus catches something that makes his tongue fall off so he can't make any more smart ass comments," I said, going over and tossing my own wish in.

"Can I change my wish? I like Elena's," said Damon.

One by one everyone came over and threw their wishes away. We stood around the brazier, watching the hungry flames consume the paper. Marcel and Rebekah held hands. I wondered what they had wished for.

After a few minutes, I took the girls upstairs and put them to bed. I felt eyes on me and looked up to see Klaus watching. I kissed the girls heads and tucked them in before heading over to the door.

"Please, don't yell. I know you're mad but can the anger wait until Christmas is over? I just want one good memory. Please?" I asked, coming out into the hall and pulling the door shut behind me.

"I'm not going to yell." He looked down and he seemed to be struggling to form words. "When Rebekah told me and Elijah off, she pointed out that we… we commandeered your life. We took you from your home, we expected you to change to fit in with us with very little compromise on our part. And… we'll have eternity to be with you. I know how I feel about you and I know how the others do too, but we can wait. We're just happy to be in your life, in whatever capacity you want. So… we should let you enjoy being human, while you still can. And if what you want is a human relationship… well… I don't like it but I'll keep my opinion to myself." He touched my cheek. "I'm not giving up on you, but I'll wait. However long it takes."

"Thank you." I touched his hand. "I don't know what I want. Everything is overwhelming at the moment. I thought I could just slip back into where I left off but I've changed… and… I don't know where I'm heading. But then… I've never really had a chance to try different things…"

"I understand. And we'll still be here when you make up your mind."

We went back downstairs. Everyone was relaxed, having a few last drinks. Detective Kinney looked up as we entered and came over to me.

"I should get going."

"I'll walk you out."

We headed out of the courtyard onto the street. I knew that the vampires assembled could still hear whatever we said but the walls gave the illusion of privacy.

"Thank you for a lovely evening Elena," he said.

"I am… very sorry, for anything and everything my friends and family said."

"Don't be. I had a good night. Different. But good." He leaned down and kissed my cheek lightly. "Have a good Christmas Elena."

"And you, detective."

"Please, call me Will."

"Will."

Our hands brushed against one another. He smiled and headed to his car. I watched him go and I felt… so confused.

A/N: Serious question. Do you guys think I could write as a profession? Because I'm on the verge of finishing uni and I have no idea whether to abandon writing as an option in favour of just finding a job that pays, or if I should try and one that gives me time to write.