Elijah's POV

Elena sat on the bed brushing her hair staring at the floor in a world of her own. I kept an eye on her to see how long she would be in a trace but it had been nearly an hour.

"Elena?" She hummed turning to look at me blinking a couple of times. She still looked exhausted, her eyes had soft dark circles under them "are you OK?" Smiling she tossed the brush on the floor and climbed over snuggling into my side.

Every nerve in my body buzzed as our skin touched, her happy sigh signaled she felt it too. The bond was weird, i knew things would feel different and other people have told me what it's like.

Nothing compared to actually feeling it. Those words couldn't even come close to the real thing "I could hear everything you know" I frowned pulling her chin up so I could look into her eyes.

"What do you mean?" She shrugged resting her leg on my thigh sending a wave of need straight to my stomach "Downstairs before you marked me. I heard what was going on, Stefan tried to hurt you and I couldn't make myself move. I didn't like feeling like that"

She went back to thinking deeply about something while I thought about what she said "Elena he can't hurt me" her head snapped up quickly"i know that Elijah but... still"

She was worried. The Salavatores had one option to get me out of the picture and they handed it over to us, they aren't as smart as they like to think they are.

"Elena? They can't hurt me, they won't hurt me now anyway because they both love you. Hurting me would only be hurting you now and they know that" she nodded but still didn't look convinced.

"ELENA?!" the sound of Jeremy's alarmed voice made her spring up. How was it possible for her to react quicker than me?

She was out the door as I jumped up. We both stopped dead at the top of the stairs, his face was covered in blood.

A loud groaning made my instincts kick in, Stefan. She was down the stairs looking him over in seconds.

"What the hell happened? What's going on!!" A drunk Stefan stumbled in the door laughing loudly still clutching a broken whiskey bottle with blood on it.

"Stefan?? What did you do!!!" She ran closer with complete rage in her eyes but I quickly grabbed her and pulled her behind me.

"Well, well, well!" He stumbled closer making Jeremy step away to keep the distance. I could practically taste the alcohol on his breath.

"Straight to your rescue!! You think she's in danger with me? You think I would hurt her!!" He stumbled again and I growled "you already have by hurting him! Leave before you get yourself hurt Stefan"

He laughed waving his arm around "you think I have anything else to lose?? You think I have anything waiting for me when I get home? I needed her and you took her! She's always going to be mine. I'll never let her go"

Before I could stop myself I had my hand around his throat seething "She was never yours.. you see this"

I pointed to my neck, enjoying a little smirk when his eyes got darker "this means she's mine. She always will be"

I squeezed a little tighter, taking a second to enjoy the feeling of overpowering this pathetic boy.

"If I ever see you within 5 feet of her again? It'll be the last threat I make to you. Stay the fuck away from her and Jeremy. I'm not going to tell you again"

Before he could answer I threw him out the door and ran out slamming him into the grass. He struggled under me but I pinned him still leaning closer to whisper"and don't for a second think I'll not kill you because she used to love you. I'll rip your heart out with my bare hands and present it to her on a silver fucking platter!!"

I took a second to collect myself before standing over him as he held his throat. I had a million things I wanted to say but instead I took a breath and stormed back in slamming the door closed.

Elena and Jeremy were at the table, she slowly dabbed away blood around the wound on his head looking sick with worry.

I walked over and placed a hand on her bare shoulder hoping it would calm her, luckily it did.

"I can't do this anymore"

Both Jeremy and I looked at her as a single tear rolled down her face, it felt like my heart was burning.

"I can't do this! I can't spend the rest of my life around these people!!! I can't.." she stopped to let out a sob that stabbed us both straight through the heart.

I could feel her emotion's fly through the roof and my presence alone isn't helping... she was at her wits-end.

"It'll get better soon Elena.." I nodded agreeing with Jeremy but she just shook her head looking drained "can't we just leave? Let's just pack a bag and leave! Bonnie can come with us!!"

He shook his head "we have nowhere to go Elena" I frowned staring into space, that might not actually be the case.

"Wait.."

I quickly pulled my phone out and texted Klaus to come over. They both looked confused but I just grinned "Klaus is leaving, he's going back to New Orleans" They both went to speak but I quickly jumped in.

"it's only an option.. I was in favor of leaving this town anyway but I couldn't leave you, so I just forgot about that idea. if you are willing, this could work. We have a house already that's big enough, Klaus likes you"

I smiled at her and she returned it. Jeremy stood and pulled his phone out sending a quick text before he wandered off and came back with a glass.

"you mind?" I frowned but he bobbed his head at my wrist and I realized "oh! yes, of course " I bit into my arm, squeezing it over the glass till it was half full and stopped to let it heal.

"thanks man" he patted my shoulder and kissed Elena's cheek "give me an hour" he threw back the blood and gagged as the wound healed.

"I'll be back" he ran out the back door and he was gone.

"you think Klaus will mind? it's unlikely Bonnie will leave.." she thought for a second before I pulled her up wiping a stray bit of blood off her cheek.

as I went to speak the doors swung open and Klaus stood grinning "how may I be of service to dear Elena"

she grinned as I rolled my eyes "4 of us actually" he frowned now wandering in.

"what are you talking about?" he leaned against the stairs with the look of 50 human egos on his face. "we want to come with you, to New Orleans" his face went serious instantly.

"I told you not to tell anyone about that" I shrugged and Elena stepped closer "we might not even want to come we don't know yet, but if we're going to leave then.. why can't we keep our family together?"

we both raised our eyebrows at her "what? we're a family now! all I have is you 5!!" I pulled her closer to my side kissing her forehead making her sigh in content.

"aughh! why do you have to be so sincere, love?" she beamed at him making him groan in defeat.

"fine! but you owe me one, and it's going to be a wing woman special!" he grinned happily while she laughed. "deal! I'll be your wing woman, you let us come with you" he nodded holding his hand out to shake hers, I growled deep in my chest making him snort dropping his hand.

"gentleman's agreement?" she nodded firmly "gentleman's agreement" they both nodded and I laughed shaking my head. Who knew they would get along so well?

"Elena" we all turned to Jeremy who was uncontrollablysweating. "I'm in" she squealed running over to hug him tight. Klaus just pointed in shock.

"how?! how can he touch her and I can't! he's not even her real brother" I frowned at him. After all these years on earth he still doesn't understand the idea of loving another person with every fiber of your being, the way I did him... I shook my head averting my gaze "he's her brother"

he slumped a little giving in and Elena clapped excited "so where is Bonnie?" he scratched the back of his head chuckling awkwardly "well.. she's not coming"

she frowned at him in confusion but he jumped in before she could ask a million questions.

"I know, I love her... But this is her home, I can't make her leave and I can't stay so" he shrugged trying not to show how much it hurt.

she shook her head moving to stand directly in front of him "no! I won't make you leave, we can stay!" he shook his head holder her shoulders.

"Elena.. I don't want to stay here, I love her but I need to leave. Not just for you, for me too. I have to move on and if we're supposed to be together then we'll meet again"

she smiled a little but I could feel the guilt rolling off of her. She nodded and exhaled turning to face us.

"so this is happening?" Klaus nodded looking at me before he smiled "I'm glad" I smiled back and looked at Elena who was smiling at me. I winked and walked to the bottom of the stairs "we better get packing!"

Elena's POV

"so this is everything?" I nodded at Elijah who was stuffing the last of our things into the back of a small van.

"yes. I'm glad to be leaving but I'll miss this house" I looked up at it and swallowed the lump I'm my throat when his arm wrapped around my waist.

"this will always be your home Elena, you can come back any time" I shook my head turning to face him with a soft smile that I had trouble keeping off my face whenever he was around.

"I thought this was my home but I know now that my home is wherever you guys are. You are the only people I need and a building doesn't even come close"

"and anyway, I have just as many bad memories of this house as I do good. I'm happy to be moving on"

"me too" we both spun at the sound of Bonnie's voice. She had 3 suitcases and looked relived.

"I'm ready to move on with my life. I have nothing here if you two leave" she looked away from us as Jeremy walked out the door mumbling something to himself.

the look in his eyes when he looked up and saw her with the suitcases made my heart swell.

"you changed your mind?" She nodded with pure love in her eyes, he dropped his bag and ran over lifting her in the air as she squealed happily.

Me and Elijah both laughed, they looked so happy as he set her back on her feet and held her face in his hands "are you sure?" she nodded and he crushed her in another hug.

"I'll get the bag" I let go of him and walked over lifting Jeremy's bag. I heard them say something and as I turned back Elijah had Damon by the throat against the car.

he had his hands up in surrender and I ran down pulling on Elijah's arm "what are you doing?!"

he growled before he stepped back pulling me closer. the contact had him calm in seconds.

"what do you want Damon?" he looked at me with a broken expression before he turned to Jeremy.

"I'm.. I'm so sorry! Stefan has been spiraling for weeks and.. Nothing can excuse what he's done" he turned to me again and dropped his head "a little bird told me you were leaving"

my heart squeezed and I looked at Elijah "please?" he understood, looking unsure but nodded a little. I smiled in thanks and walked over to him stopping a few steps away.

"Sorry I didn't tell you, Damon. It's just time for us to leave here now, too much water under the bridge"

he nodded and I smiled taking a step closer "you've done so much for me, I'll never forgot you. I'm glad we got to best friends for so long"

He met my eye and smiled a little looking over my shoulder to smile at Elijah quickly "I was gonna say stay safe but.. your as safe as you've ever been. You deserve a happy life Elena and I'm glad your finally getting it" he sweeped me up in a tight hug that I returned happily.

when let me go he cleared his throat a little trying to pull himself together. "Jeremy" he bobbed his head at him but Jeremy walked closer to shake his hand.

"Weird but I think I'll actually miss you" Damon chuckled nodding "I'll miss you too, kid" he looked over my shoulder to Elijah "I never got to say thank you for changing her life. I'm glad she has you around now"

Elijah walking over to my side and held his hand out to shake Damon's. It made me happy.

"sorry about before, your brother had us on alert" he nodded dropping his hand "I'll deal with him myself" he looked at me again smiling a little trying to hide the hurt in his eyes.

"Goodbye Elena" I hugged him again as he backed off, squeezing as hard as I could before letting him go smiling "Bye, Damon"

He smiled around and he darted off, leaving us just standing there in silence. It was surreal, us saying goodbye. We were actually leaving!

"let's get the last of these in" Elijah kissed my head and went to grab Bonnie's suitcases as Jeremy smiled down at her.

"were really doing this" he looked excited but also nervous at the same time, I felt the same. With one last glance at the house I took a breath and closed the van door.

"where is Klaus?" Elijah had a small frown as he looked down the street "he told me he would meet us here" I took a step closer and took his hand letting my body relax, he was the source of any kind of relief.

"I could here you bitching from miles away" I grinned at the sight of Klaus but frowned at his single bag "that's all your bringing?" he nodded tossing it in the back.

"yep, the essentials" Bonnie giggled behind us "yeah I done that too.. just the essentials" I laughed with her and Klaus shook his head pointing to the car and van "where am I going?"

Jeremy done something making Bonnie giggle and Klaus just nodded and opened the van door. "lady's first?"

"we'll follow then" They climbed into the car and Elijah got in the drivers seat. Klaus bowed as he held the door open for me.

"why thank you, sir" I sat in the middle of them both and clicked my seat belt in place "you know I can react quicker than any seat belt" Elijah winked and started the van up leaving me biting into my lip.

"don't you two start now" Klaus slouched down resting his head on the window looking exhausted before closing his eyes making me laugh.

"are you really sure about this? we don't have to leave?" Elijah looked at me curiously before looking back to the road "I'm sure" I squeezed his thigh grinning as he let out a quiet groan.

"OK" I giggled looking out at mysticfalls pass us, I looked at this stuff everyday and could probably walk it with my eyes closed. Not know though, everything seemed different.

I was glad to be leaving, just us. No more drama and petty ex's, no more putting on a smile and pretending I was happy to be here.

This is how it was supposed to happen. I felt like it was time to move on, I'm just happy Jeremy and Elijah agreed.

as we passed the bridge my parents died at I just smiled softly, for the first in forever. They would be happy for us, they would be proud.

Elijah took my hand smiling at me with pity in his eyes but I just squeezed his hand and took a breath.

our new life, begins.

xxxxx

i hope this isnt a terrible ending, thanks for reading!