Answering questions time!

-I'm basing Finn off of Casper Zafer, NOT Yusef Gatewood. So think TVD not TO.

-Elena is stronger when she's fueled by rage. Being called Katherine a billion times is bound to make you want to tear people's throats out.

-The reason she couldn't escape from The Garden on her own is because she had died, therefor was weaker than usual. And, don't you guys remember how many vamps were down there and unable to get out?

-Klaus has no claim to Elena now that she's a vampire. He's just stuck in the habit of calling her his because he acts like a child at times. And Finn and Elijah would never allow him to hurt her.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy. And I hope I answered your questions. I'm still not sure if there will be a Finn/Elena relationship, but who knows?

Enjoy!

Chapter 5

"Has she woken yet?" Finn asked as he walked in the living room of the plantation house.

Elijah shook his head, looking up at his brother from his position on the couch, "No. It seems as if she's dead to the world. She didn't even stir at the smell of blood," he took a sip of the Scotch that sat in his hand, "How was your business with Marcel?"

Finn sighed, "Tedious. Nik is protecting him and it is truly infuriating. However, Thierry's body has been dealt with."

Elijah nodded, accepting his words, "Elena's upstairs if you'd like to check on her. I've left a few blood bags on my-er-her nightstand."

"Did you wash the blood off of her?" Finn asked suddenly, worried that it might traumatize her when she awoke.

Elijah looked down, flustered, "I, uh, didn't want to do anything without her consent."

"Understandable."

When Finn walked into Elena's room he was overwhelmed by the stench of her blood. He took a deep breath, reigning in his control of his vampire nature. He walked to her and swiftly picked her up, heading to the bathroom. He delicately slipped her out of her bloodied clothes and left her in her mostly unscathed lingerie. He set her in the warm water of the bath and methodically began scrubbing her olive skin free of the evidence of the past week.

Finn allowed his mind to wander as he took care of the beautiful girl in front of him. Elena was the most gorgeous creature he had ever laid eyes on. He enjoyed her compassion for others and her ability to reign in her darkness so flawlessly. His hands moved idly to her hair and he grimaced at how much blood had become matted in her chocolate tresses.

Once her skin sparkled clear of blood and her hair fell into straight locks once more, Finn picked her up and wrapped a towel around her. He dried her off and put a simple nightgown over her small form.

He picked up one of the blood bags and held it under her nose, worried when she didn't respond. Elena wouldn't heal if there wasn't enough blood in her system and she was too damaged to feed. She would end up desiccating before his eyes if he didn't do something soon.

Finn struggled with an internal debate before holding up his wrist and making a small cut with his nail. As blood began to flow, he held it to her lips, willing her to drink. He let out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding as her lips began to suckle at the small wound.

Elena's eyes shot open as she sat up, her hands rising to secure his wrist to her mouth as her fangs pierced his flesh. Her eyes slowly focused before turning black as she kept drinking.

When Finn felt she had enough, he forcefully pulled his wrist from her causing her to whine in protest. He stroked her damp hair back from her beautiful face and handed a blood bag to her, "I have to say that I'm more than relieved that you're awake."

Elena gave him a sheepish smile as she finished the blood bag, "I don't even remember being asleep."

"I suspected you wouldn't," he smiled sadly at her, "You were very…thirsty when we found you. I was so worried when you didn't come home. I should have kept a better eye on you. It's my fault," his voice caught at the end, making Elena's heart clench uncomfortably.

Elena shook her head fiercely as she reached for his hand, "It wasn't your fault, not even a little bit. Katherine really made a name for herself in this city and I just have the luxury of reaping the consequences for her actions."

"Well, it seems as if we need to find Katherine and make her pay for her own mistakes," Finn said bitterly.

Elena bit her lip, "That's kinda impossible at the moment," Finn gave her a questioning look and she added, "I killed her."

Suddenly there was a thump downstairs and the bedroom door flew open, threatening to be ripped off its hinges. Before Elena could blink she was held up against the opposite wall of the room by her throat.

"You killed her? Why?" Elijah roared in her face, black veins snaking beneath his eyes.

Finn stood behind Elijah, seething with anger, "Elijah. Let her go. Now."

"Not until she tells me why," Elijah shook her slightly, making her whimper in pain, "Tell me, Elena!"

"She killed my brother!" Elena screamed in his face as tears cascaded down her cheeks, "She killed Jeremy…"

Elijah dropped her in surprise, muttering, "She wouldn't do that…"

Elena collapsed into sobs, her entire body feeling every ounce of pain from her brother's death. Her arms wrapped themselves around her stomach as she drew her knees up to her chest, rocking back and forth.

Elijah looked at her in pity. He had unknowingly reduced the young vampire to tears and it tore at his undead heartstrings. He knelt beside her and tried to take her in his arms, "Elena, I'm so-"

"Get away from me!" She pushed him away, sending him nearly across the room as she stood up and glared at him, "All you care about is Katherine. That's the only reason you care about me. We share the same face and that's why you're still here, trying to help me."

Elijah stood up, livid at her words, "Is that what you think? That you're a replacement for Katerina?"

She wiped angry tears away from her eyes, "I don't think, I know! You never cared about me, just my face."
Elijah advanced on her just to be thrown aside by Finn, "You will not touch her again, Elijah. I'm tired of you thinking you can lay your hands on her any time that she seems to anger you. You were raised a better man than that."

Elijah composed himself and took a deep breath as he stood up and looked at Elena, "I'm sorry. Finn is right, as always."

Elena squared her shoulders, "Leave, Elijah."

Elijah slammed the door to his room at the Compound so hard that it shook the very foundation of the building. He had tried so hard not to let his emotions get the better of him, but he had lost.

The thought of Katherine being dead had pushed him right over the edge. He would never get to make amends with the woman he fell for all those centuries ago.

But, Elena was still here. He could try to talk to her. Perhaps she would even forgive him for what he'd done in anger.

"What the hell is your problem?" Rebekah growled as she shoved the bedroom door open and glared at him, "Do you have to cause such a ruckus every time you come home?"

Elijah sighed, "Rebekah, this doesn't concern you in the slightest. Now, would you please go about your day and leave me in peace?"

"Get that stick out of your arse, Elijah," she said flippantly, sitting on the edge of his bed and looking up at him, "We're going to watch the execution of a witch today. Marcel deemed it mandatory that we attend. Something about establishing dominance or something to that effect."

"Must we go?"

Rebekah smirked, "Nik said he would very much like us to, which translates to: if we don't want a dagger in our hearts, we will be there at seven."

"What time is it now?"

"Just half past noon," she smiled, jumping up and heading to the door, "So you have enough time to brood over the doppelganger before you see her tonight. I assume Finn's bringing her anyway. They seem like a much better pair than the Salvatores if you ask me."

Elijah's jaw ticked with jealousy, "They're not together, merely friendly is all."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, Elijah. Even a blind person could see their spark."

"How are you feeling?" Finn asked as he sat next to Elena on her bed.

Elena pinched the bridge of her nose and let out an exhausted sigh, "I don't know. I mean, physically I'm fine. But mentally I just want to rip my brain out and throw it in the fireplace."

"I could've used a less explicit description, but thank you nonetheless," Finn said, his lips quirking into a charming smile, "Will you be alright alone for a few hours tonight?"

"What's tonight?"

Finn sighed, "Marcel has requested the presence of the Original family at the execution of a witch," his face showed his disgust as he said the words, "Now, it's not something I normally participate in, but it's important to my family."

"Do you want me to go with you?" Elena asked hesitantly, not sure she wanted to see a witch die, but definitely not wanting to be alone.

He shook his head, "I would never ask such a thing from you, but you are more than welcome to accompany me if you choose. It starts at seven tonight."

"I'd like to go," Elena said softly, "I don't want to be alone tonight…"

Finn smiled at her, "I understand, Elena."

The drive to the cemetery was uneventful. Finn drove and Elena idly stared out the window, wondering what tonight would bring.

"Are you sure you're ready to see Elijah?" Finn asked worriedly as he looked over at her.

Elena shrugged, "I don't really have a choice. I'll have to see him sometime and I'd much rather you be there when I do."

"I won't let him hurt you. I give you my word," he said as he reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it lightly.

"I know," she whispered, mainly to herself.

The car came to a stop outside of a large cemetery and Finn turned off the car. He whooshed to Elena's side and opened the door, holding out his hand to her.

"Such a gentleman," Elena smiled as she took his hand.

"I was raised in a time where women were considered precious," he smiled back, leading her through the gates of the Cities of the Dead, "I think those rules should still apply today."

Elena blushed, letting her hand remain intertwined with his. She didn't feel awkward about it. She knew it was a friendly gesture and it seemed to put her at ease more than anything else.

They approached the Coven of witches, surprised that the other Mikaelson siblings were already there. Elena held Finn's hand tighter as Elijah looked over at her, an unreadable expression on his face.

"Nice of you to finally join us, brother," Klaus called from his place near the witches.

Finn looked down at his watch and pursed his lips, "It's not even seven yet; we're early."

"And we were earlier," Rebekah scoffed as she crossed her arms and looked Elena over, "You were probably just distracted anyway."

Elena turned to survey the scene, letting the siblings engage in useless banter. There were at least a dozen witches formed in a circle with Marcel speaking to their leader. The cemetery seemed creepier than usual to Elena, but she shrugged it off as an ominous feeling of what was about to happen.

"What has she done, Marcel?" Kol called to the dark skinned vampire.

Marcel grimaced as he turned towards the youngest male Original, "She blew through town a few days ago using all sorts of magic. Witches aren't allowed to use magic in the Quarter; everyone knows that."

"Where is she?" Klaus spoke up, looking at the witches, "All of you seem peachy keen. Where's the girl who should be shaking in her pointed shoes?"

"There's bringing her up now, sire."

Elena watched as a girl was led to the circle from one of the surrounding crypts. Her hair was a tangle of blonde and her skin as pale as moonlight. One of Marcel's men threw her on the ground and she looked up, her blue eyes darting wildly around until they settled on Elena.

"Elena? Elena, don't let them do this!" The girl yelled from the ground.

Elena stared at her before everything clicked. The memories she had tried so hard to repress from her time in Mystic Falls broke through enough that she recognized the poor girl. She let go of Finn's hand and walked to the girl, kneeling at her side, "Liv, what's wrong? Why did you do this?"

"I had to!" The blonde cried, her blue eyes glistening with tears, "I've been trying to find Luke. Our birthday was a few weeks ago and we need to merge or else the Gemini Coven will be extinct. I didn't know I wasn't allowed to do magic here. I'm just trying to find my brother!"

Elena's heart clenched at her heartfelt words, "Where's Jo? Couldn't she help?"

"Jo died when we killed Kai," the blonde looked down, "It's just me and Luke now. We're the last ones."

Elena felt tears gather in her eyes at the thought of Jo being dead. She was always such a sweet woman and she didn't deserve what fate had dealt her. Elena gathered her courage as she stood up to face Marcel, "I thought you only executed witches in the Quarter that did magic. She doesn't belong to their Coven."

Marcel waved his hand in dismissal, "It doesn't matter. She broke the rules, she dies."

"She didn't know of the rules!" Elena shouted, her anger fueling her boldness, "If she doesn't find her brother than a whole Coven of witches are going to die out. She had no choice."

"There's always a choice, baby vampire. You'd do well to know your place in this town." Marcel snapped his fingers and Liv was dragged away screaming. She was in the center of the circle as the witches began chanting.

Elena went to run after her, but suddenly there were arms around her waist keeping her in place as she struggled to get free.

The chanting got louder as Liv held her hand against her throat, choking on something that was unseen. Her eyes turned white before she collapsed onto the ground, not breathing.

"No, no, NO!" Elena screamed. Watching someone she knew die in front of her was probably the most terrible thing that had ever happened to her. Her mind drifted back to Jenna the night of the sacrifice and her body was wracked by inconsolable sobs.

Finn was in front of her as she looked up through teary eyes. He reached his arms out to her and the arms around her waist disappeared as if they were never there. Finn pulled her into his arms and held her as she cried into his chest.

"It's done. Her magic has been consecrated back into the earth," a woman's voice said, but Elena was too busy mourning to bother to look.

"Take this as a lesson, witches," Marcel's voice boomed behind her, "Any of you that defy my rules will meet the same fate. Except you'll be killed by my hand."

Finn placed a gentle kiss to the top of Elena's hair as he held her tighter, "I'm taking Elena home. Thank you for your assistance, Elijah."

Elijah nodded, feeling slightly ashamed that he held Elena back from rescuing her friend. But he couldn't risk her death as well. He watched Elena shake in Finn's arms and he couldn't help but think that she should be in his arms instead.

Elijah sat in his study, a bottle of Scotch in his hand. He was far too angry to bother with a glass at the moment. He cursed internally as he heard the telltale click of his sister's heels walking into his study.

"I don't know why you let yourself get so attached," she chided as she sat across from him in a chair, "I told you there was something more to that doppelganger and Finn. And, it looks like I was right."

Elijah's mind flashed back to watching the couple walk into the cemetery hand in hand. It was enough to make his blood boil. But seeing Elena curled in his brother's arms as he soothingly kissed her hair was something that made him want to snap.

"Come on, Elijah. You can do better any way. You've already had two of the Petrovas. What's this one got that the others didn't?"

"It's not about that, Rebekah," he hissed, angered by her words.

"Then what the bloody hell is it then?"

"She's more than just a copy. She's always been more," Elijah said softly.

Rebekah's head tilted to the side as a knowing smile crept onto her face, "You love her, don't you?"

Elijah stilled. Did he love Elena? Or was it just residual feelings from the doppelgangers before her? He pursed his lips, trying to decipher his feelings.

"Not saying anything is saying everything, Elijah," Rebekah said quietly, "You do love her. Otherwise you wouldn't be upset with how close she and Finn have become."

He stared at his Scotch sadly, "She'll never love me."

"Perhaps," she shrugged her shoulders in indifference, "Or perhaps she just needs to know you're interested."

Finn laid Elena down on her bed, carefully pulling the covers over her after he removed her shoes. He gazed down at her, creasing his brows as he still saw tears on her face. He reached down and gently brushed them away.

Finn turned to leave the room when she grabbed his hand, "Please…stay with me?"

He nodded, unable to do anything else. He kicked off his shoes and hesitantly settled into bed next to her. She curled up to him instantly, laying her head against his chest and he settled an arm around her waist.

Finn stayed completely still until he heard her breathing even out, confirming that she was asleep. He looked down at her, smiling at how peaceful she finally looked. Tears still clung to her lashes, but she had ceased crying.

He placed a soft kiss to her forehead before joining her in sleep.

Please be sure to leave a review!

~Grace