Author's Note: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! I'm literally screaming in appreciation. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries...and so on...

Previously: …and he was almost certain that he loved her.

"Where am I?" Elena asked groggily. She leaned against Elijah for support as he unlocked the door and went inside.

He gently grasped her arm and drew her in. "One of the many pieces of land I own. I'll see to it that conditions here are better conditions than your previous stay."

Elena nodded tiredly, only partly paying attention.

Elijah blood had exhausted her out completely. The vampire Original's blood had typically the same effects as normal vampire blood, but much stronger and faster. His blood had a major impact on her.

He was about to carry her upstairs into the guest bedroom, but Elena placed a place on his chest to stop him. "Wait."

Elijah looked down at her. She needed sleep more than anything else.

But Elena was insistent. "I'm hungry."

He remembered that in the act of saving Elena, he'd left behind all that delicious food.

"How about," Elijah said, trying to reason with the sleepy girl, "I go get you in your room, and then I'll make you something, okay?"

"No," Elena rejected with a pout.

He was amused at her stubbornness. But she obviously needed rest. "Let's go."

Before Elena realized it, she was tucked into a bed. She accepted the soft plush pillows with satisfaction. "Actually," she said, cuddling into the blanket, "I think I can wait 'til tomorrow to eat." She yawned.

Elijah chuckled at her adorableness. "I'll go downstairs to make you something, okay?"

"Okay. Good night."

He hugged her briefly before tucking her underneath the wooly blankets again. "Goodnight Elena."

She was already fast asleep.

Without thinking, he hesitantly leaned down to softly graze her cheek.

Elijah went downstairs to start a homemade meal.

Thankfully, with Elena asleep, he had time to think.

Right now, his emotions were mixed up and he needed to sort them out.

He was still unsure about his feelings toward the young doppelganger. Did he really love her? Elijah knew he had very strong feelings toward Elena, but was it enough to be love and passion?

And what was he going to do about Klaus? He wasn't prepared to run into him so soon. Elijah was caught off guard.

When he saw that vampire, he had possessively taken Elena away.

Which was odd, because his original plan was to give Elena up to Klaus right on the spot.

Yes, there were some things he had preserved from Elena. Some secrets that he had kept, some lies in placement.

Elijah was planning on using her for the sacrifice. It was only after the sacrificial ritual that Klaus was killable.

Technically, he was planning for Elena to die to kill Klaus. He'd be completely vulnerable after the sacrifice.

Elijah was planning—the next time he saw Klaus—to give the doppelganger into him as soon as possible, so he could kill Klaus as soon as possible.

But that was before all that happened the past two days. He'd gotten to know Elena. She'd gotten to know him. She had gotten him to break his defensive walls down for her, and for her only.

Elijah was undecided and confused. What was he supposed to do?

Carry on with this plan of killing Elena? Distract her from it?

Run away with Elena in his arms?

Tell her the truth?

Absent-mindedly, Elijah poured a glass of water.

Two parts of him were debating violently.

Was he blind? He was planning on giving up his one-life ambition for a young teenage human girl?

Elijah got the peanut butter out. He took a kitchen knife and began to gracefully spread the butter onto a slice of bread.

Not just any human girl.

Her eyes were…indescribable. They lit up when she was content.

He took the honey out and spread a light coating of it over the peanut butter.

She had this perfect olive skin. Her chestnut hair seemed to glisten in the sunlight.

Elijah placed another piece of bread over it.

Her heart was pure. Her aura was genuine.

He cut the sandwich in half.

Elena was brave. She was selfless.

Elijah took the plate and glass upstairs, one step at a time.

She was absolutely mesmerizing. Elena was perfect.

It was when he stopped behind Elena's bedroom when he had made the final decision.

I love her. I'm going to fight for her.

No more sacrifice. The deal was off.

Elijah took the knob and opened the door.

Elena wasn't there. She was gone.

thank you so much for reading! Please review!

Haha, yes, I'm sorry. :( I added the detail that Elijah-just like the TV show-had intended to kill Elena in the sacrifice from the start. Sorry.

TOODLES!

~3m!2y

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