Title: Miles To Home

Summary: For Elena Gilbert life couldn't be more perfect. She has the perfect life, perfect boyfriend, and headed towards the perfect dream job. Everything is going, well, perfectly. There's just one catch… her twin sister Katherine. When Katherine disrupts Elena's perfect life, she runs away to New York. It was the perfect plan… until she has to return home and face everything she ran away from; including her ex-boyfriend Damon. Based off the amazing trailer of the same name by the extremely talented minds and video editing talents of ElePatro (noralsel) and Caro (_LightToMyDark).

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made from this work.

Several years later…

"Mr. Weatherly complains of chest pains and shortness of breath. Can anyone tell me what kind of tests we run?"

Dr. Laughlin's eyes slide over all of us, awaiting an answer. She's one of the toughest professionals in the internship and I feel all of my fellow classmates tense up beside me, tugging on their cobalt blue polo collars, averting their eyes, studying the patient. Everyone is scared that she'll call on one of us and put us on the spot. Clearly, they all haven't studied like I have.

I raise my hand and Dr. Laughlin gives me a nod to go ahead before simply saying, "Gilbert."

"A pulmonary angiogram provides a clear picture of the blood flow in the arteries and the lungs, which is what we look for in a pulmonary embolism; a condition in which Mr. Weatherly's symptoms are common."

Her eyes glare into mine, studying me but I don't break under her gaze. I know my answer is right. My father has been grilling this stuff into me since middle school, maybe earlier. The moment Dr. Laughlin read off his chart I knew the answer. Still, the way she's looking at me has me doubting myself. Even if it's just for a moment.

Finally, she speaks. "That's correct. Remember that. You'll be needing it in three years."

I break out in a huge smile and a few of the fellow interns send me proud smiles. But when I meet Dr. Laughlin's eyes again I can tell her tone from earlier wasn't praise. She turns around and reaches into a nearby cabinet and pulls out a bed pan.

She thrusts it in my direction. "Here's all you'll need to be worrying about today."

As I take hold of the bed pan, Dr. Laughlin turns and with a wave of her hand ushers the other interns from the room. Along with them is a man in suit, a member of the hospital board who is watching over our class. As he passes towards me, his hand brushes along my arms and catches my attention. "I was impressed."

I smile up at him, trying to keep myself from launching at him. Within these walls we do not know each other. I can't refer to him as Elijah, my boyfriend of a year and a half. At Langone Medical Center, the home of my internship, he is simply Elijah Mikaelson, the youngest member on the hospital board. A board he is only a part of because his entire family owns the hospital.

And he might know a thing or two.

Holding me in place with his gaze, he gives me a closed mouth smile and a nod before disappearing from the room and leaving me alone with Mr. Weatherly and the bed pan.

Just as I'm about to make my way out of Langone and head back to my home, my phone vibrates against my hip. I slip it free from the attachment that links it to my khaki pants and look at the screen to see my best friends face lighting up the screen. It's a photo of the two of us in time square with our hands in the air and a flare in our pose. With a smile, I press the screen to answer and bring the phone up to my ear.

"Did you mesmerize my schedule or something? Because you're always freakishly calling me right as I'm done. It's a little weird, Care."

Caroline's laugh sounds like bells in my ear. "I'm freaky like that."

"You are!" I laugh. "So what's up?"

I look out at the floor to ceiling glass wall in front of me, at the people coming and going through the revolving door. The sun is setting outside creating this beautiful coloring against the tall buildings beyond. Coming from such a small place like Mystic Falls made living in the big city difficult at first, but somewhere along the way I grew to love the skyscrapers and crowded sidewalks and constant vibrant life of New York City.

It doesn't mean I don't miss home. Or Caroline. Or….

"Well…" Caroline sings and I can just tell she is about to drop something big and amazing on me. It's the way she pauses for effect—something she has been doing since we were little girls. I sit reclined on one of the purple and grey benches as I wait to hear what it is. "I'm engaged!"

I have to remind myself not to scream and dance around like I want to. This is a place of business and a hospital. Lives are being fought and lost here. But the fact that my best friend is getting married has me squealing into the phone. "Congratulations! How did this happen? Tell me everything!"

Caroline launches into a story of how Stefan Avery, her boyfriend for over a year, brought her to his family's lake house for a weekend getaway and right as the sun set on their first night, dropped to one knee and asked her to marry him. The way she tells it is filled with romance and in depth details like the shade of his green eyes and the way the setting sun sparkled the diamond in his hand. I'm practically in tears when she's finished because I'm just that happy for her.

After being afraid of love for so long, she finally found someone with whom she felt safe enough to let herself fall.

"That sounds so romantic, Care! I'm just shocked you waited this long without telling me," I tease.

"We decided to stay for the rest of the week. Stefan didn't have to be back at the bar and there isn't much cell service there. I'm just on cloud nine, Elena. I'm so happy."

"And I'm so happy for you, Caroline. Seriously."

Even though I haven't met Stefan Avery in person, Caroline has talked about him enough to make me feel like I have. I've even managed to FaceTime with him a bit during times when I called Caroline and he was with her. He came into Mystic Falls not long after I left and though she hasn't told me much about his family except that his mother has Alzheimer's, but I know enough about him from my best friends stories to know he is a good guy for my girl. He's been taking business classes at Whitmore—where he and Caroline met—and seems to truly love Caroline and get her in a way few could. Just the fact that she let him past that wall of hers was enough to let me know he was the real deal.

Caroline has been incredibly happy ever since.

The changes Stefan brought out in Caroline had her visiting with her father more which meant lots of trips to see me and every time I've seen her she just seemed lighter and more happy. Which I didn't think was possible with how much sunlight she radiated before. But by finally letting go of the baggage of her past, Caroline found peace with her father and peace with herself.

"He's truly amazing, Elena. I can't wait for you to meet him."

"Are you two planning a visit up here soon?"

Caroline giggled. "Actually you'll probably meet him just before the wedding. We're planning a June wedding."

"This June?" It's less than two months away. That was way too soon. Right?

"June 18th to be exact."

I'm shaking my head in disbelief. It just all seems so fast. I always pictured my friend needing time to plan and get everything perfect. Like how I would be. But it seems that the details aren't as important to her, just as long as Stefan and her are together.

"I'm just speechless. Is two months enough time for you both to plan a wedding?"

She's quiet for a second. "It won't be just me and Stefan."

"It won't?" I question, confused. Did she hire a wedding planner or something? I figured Stefan's family came from money but I had no idea it was this much.

"So are you and Damon."

The sound of his name cracks open the stitched up, bandaged up parts of my heart. Who knew two syllables could drudge up so many memories or laughter, love…heartbreak? It all hits me and I'm thankful that I'm sitting down. When I left for New York, Caroline and I had a serious rule not to mention Damon Salvatore ever again. I didn't want to know what he was up to back home. Who he was with. I left for fresh start and I got it. Caroline hasn't brought it up once, with the exception of one time when she told me it was important but I just refused to hear her.

It's amazing how quickly everything hits. It's like I'm suddenly back at Mason Lockwood's house with Damon's broken face staring at me before I turn away. That was the last time I saw him. He tried to call but I blocked his number and unfriended him on every social media account I could. It allowed me to move on and focus on school, meet new people, open up to dates, find Elijah. I've been happy.

But something has always been missing. There's a weight on my life that is filled with all the what-if's of what would my life be like now if Damon were here. It's a part I've locked away—a future I stopped wishing for—but that doesn't mean the damage isn't still there. The fall out of our relationship ended whatever hope I had for me and my sister. And I haven't been able to step foot in Mystic Falls since. I can't handle the memories of what transpired between them, the connection that pushed us all apart. Sent me running as far away as I could.

My parents have had to fly up to visit or we meet for vacations in the Outer Banks and Miami, Disney World and Sea World. There's even my first trip to Europe all planned out for later this summer. All without my twin. They try to fill me in on Katherine how got into Whitmore a year later then everyone else or how she got a job at a new bar that opened up in town called the Mystic Grille—the same one Stefan works at. I took it all in but refused to let her back in.

I'm still not over what her actions caused. What her hatred for me brought out in all of us.

Caroline continues on as if she hasn't just tilted my world off its axis. "You're my maid of honor—of course!—and Damon is Stefan's best friends so he's the best man. There's just so much to do! And you can come home for the summer, right? You don't have summer classes and you're internship is almost done for the semester. If I'm going to be able to do this I need you."

"I don't think I can do this, Caroline." I already feel the panic rising inside of me. Seeing Damon, being around him, forced to walk down an aisle with him…it's all too much. "Coming to the wedding is one thing—I wouldn't miss it. But to be back there… planning…with him… I can't. I can't come home for the summer."

And why is this the first I'm hearing of Damon and Stefan's friendship? And they're close enough that Stefan considers him Best Man material? Even despite my rule to never mention Damon Salvatore again, this is something that surely should've been brought to my attention. Especially considering if Damon and Stefan are friends, it means my best friend has been hanging out with Damon and I had no idea.

"What do you mean you're not coming?"

"I started over. Just like you did."

I think of all the changes Caroline has made. How she opened up and let love and her father back into her life. How she's starting a new life where her focus is on her future, not her past. She's changed since graduation in the same way I have. I don't want to relive my past. I want to focus on my future. I just want to not step foot in Mystic Falls unless I absolutely have to.

As I wait for her to answer, I stand up from the bench and head over to the exit, my free hand on my face, in my hair. I can't deal with this here where any of my co-workers could see. Where Elijah could walk by and take one look at me and know something is wrong.

Caroline sighs. "I know you haven't been here since…Well, you know. But I also know a part of you must miss this place. Miss me. And I'm getting married, Elena. I need you!" I can practically picture here pacing, talking animatedly with her hands, freaking out because I'm a variable that could put a kink in her idea of what could be stress-free planning. "You know how I get with planning events and needing everything to be perfect. I'm your best friend. You have to be here."

Feeling my stress getting the better of me, I take a deep breath and push open the door and step into the spring breeze and the bustling street. "Can I just call you later? I need to think and I can't do it here. I'll call you when I get home."

"Okay. Please, just come. I can't do this without you."

"I'll call you in a bit. Congratulations again. Love you."

"Love you, too."

And I hang up. Crossing the street, I hail a cab once I reach the curb and direct the driver to my place. The whole ride home my thoughts are running wild. I try to distract myself but when I go on to Instagram the very first photo is of Caroline and Stefan announcing their engagement. I stare at the photo of the two of them, sunlight putting their faces in silhouette. Their foreheads are touching and as Stefan holds out the camera to snap the photo, Caroline's hand is resting on his chest and her ring finger has a beautiful pear shaped engagement ring.

I double tap the screen bring up a heart over their faces and "like" the photo before I join in on the already thirty comments and send my congratulations again. As I'm scrolling through the comments I spy a familiar username among them.

dsalvatore_69: Congratulations! Happy for you both! Thanks for asking me to be a part of your wedding as best man, bro. It's going to be a great time! stefgavery

Curiosity gets the better of me and I click both their usernames and even though I know this already, I find they're both private accounts. It's probably for the best. I know that after I meet Stefan I'll probably shoot him a friend request, but having access to Damon's account would be a bad thing. The last thing I need is to lose myself in picture after picture of his life without me.

I'd much rather focus on my life without him.

When I reach my brownstone, I slip over the fare plus tip to the driver and hop out of the cab and step onto the curb. I breathe in the smell of the flowers blossoming along the railings and at the base of the stairs. I live on a street of brownstones in a quiet section of the city. The black railing rests under my gliding hands and row after row of lush trees cast the staircase in shadow. I reach the ornate double door and slide my key inside and push open the door, hearing a popular song blasting from the stereo.

"Elena? Is that you?"

I close the door and kick off my shoes before moving out of the entryway and into the living room before heading towards kitchen where I find my roommate Rebekah cooking dinner. "It's me."

She studies me and gives me look before saying, "You look exhausted."

I collapse on one of the stools near the island where she's cutting up vegetables on. "I am. Had a bad day that became amazing and then somehow got even worse."

Rebekah tucks her wavy blonde hair behind her ear as she looks back up at me. "Eli said Josette Laughlin put you on bedpan duty after you showed off."

I groan, remembering. Rebekah is Elijah's younger sister so of course he filled her in on my little show off this morning. When we met at college, I had no idea who she was or more importantly, who her family was. She was using her boyfriend's last name and going by Bex Gerard back then and it wasn't until we started hanging out more and she asked if I wanted to move into her family's brownstone that I really found out the truth. A little while into the two of us living together I met Elijah and after fighting against it at first because of his position at the hospital and his connection to my roommate and friend, we decided to start dating. It required being completely upfront about it with his family and gaining their approval in order to make sure my future and his wouldn't be in jeopardy.

And my relationship with Rebekah.

Thankfully, Rebekah was over the moon. As was his family.

And mine. Naturally.

Elijah is exactly the kind of man they always imagined me with. He's successful and has a bright future ahead of him. Not to mention he comes from a well-known family and comes from good money. He was at the top of his class and has no scandals in his past. He's as perfect a match as they could imagine.

When in fact it has me questioning whether I can even measure up. But he loves me and his family has welcomed me with open arms so for now I put my own insecurities aside and focus on the facts. Elijah loves me and I have my own accolades and upbringing. And I'm completely kicking butt in my internship.

Except for when Dr. Laughlin punishes me for showing off.

"That wasn't even the worst part of my day," I tell Rebekah. And then I launch into the story of Caroline's phone call and my wariness over returning to Mystic Falls to help her plan. Thankfully Rebekah knows the whole story with Damon and Katherine and all my reasons for my aversion to my home town. She shares her excitement for Caroline's engagement having met my best friend multiple times and my anxiety over retuning home.

"I have to ask something," Rebekah says and at my open expression she continues. "Do you not want to return home purely because of your sister or does your ex-boyfriend play a part in this?"

I can tell she's trying to keep her voice neutral; walking that fine line between my friend and my boyfriend's sister. She wants to protect her brother and I completely understand that. But as far as I'm concerned Elijah has nothing to worry about. Damon and I haven't seen or talked to each other in years. Whatever we have is in the past.

"Only in a way that I don't want it effecting Caroline's wedding." And it's the truth. Though I feel apprehension about seeing Damon and what emotions that will stir up, I know Damon is a chapter in my past. A chapter that's closed. I'm happy here. With Elijah. Following the path my parents set for me.

She sighs in relief, her shoulders relaxing as she turns down the stovetop. "Thank goodness."

Rebekah turns and grabs a single plate from the cabinet. She's eating dinner alone tonight because I have plans with Elijah in a bit. I know I need to shower but I need to bounce my thoughts on someone before I open up to Elijah and Caroline about what I'm going to do.

"I just don't know if I'm ready to see either of them again. But it's Caroline's wedding and she needs me. How can I not?"

I look up and see her staring at me, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I think you should go. If you put off seeing Damon and Katherine for the wedding it's only going to be more awkward. At least this way you can see them and clear the air in a place that won't affect Caroline's big day."

"You think?"

She nods. "Planning a wedding in two months is going to be hard even for a perfect planner like Caroline. Plus, you've missed so much. You'll regret missing this."

I bite my lip, knowing she's right. Deep down I already knew I'd have to go. It's for Caroline after all. But having Rebekah lay it out so simple for me proves just how inevitable my return to Mystic Falls really was. It had to happen at some point. I couldn't avoid it forever.

"I guess I'm headed home in a couple weeks."

Rebekah smiles at the nervousness in my voice. "You got this."

"I know." I groan, pushing back from the island. "I guess I better shower and get ready for my date with your brother. I feel gross."

She gives me a wink as she heads over to the living room. "You smell gross, too."

With a light shoulder bump, I leave her to eat and head up the stairs to shower. Now that my mind is made up on my return to Mystic Falls I just have to figure out a way to tell Elijah. And figure out a way to get used to the idea myself.

Elijah's hand brushes back my hair as he stares deeply into my eyes. He's always commented how much he loves my hair like this; natural, scrunched up into loose wavy curls. We've been walking down the street after an amazing dinner at one of his favorite laid back restaurants and he can't seem to keep his hands off of my hair. He's in my favorite look. My boyfriend is still in his suit but the tie has been removed and the top few buttons of his dress shirt are undone.

My hands slide down his neck, my back pressed up against a stone wall. We had to stop on our walk because he couldn't stand another second without kissing me. And as he looks down at me, my eyes drop to his mouth, lips swollen from my kisses and his tongue peaks out to lick them. I lean forward for another kiss and he more than happily obliges.

I know I'm stalling. All of dinner I kept the conversation about him and now that we've grown quiet I'm preventing more conversation by pressing my mouth to his over and over again. As we kiss I think back to when I first met Elijah. Rebekah had invited me to her house for Thanksgiving and the moment I laid eyes on her elder brother I was completely enamored. He eluded confidence, sophistication, class and, holy hell, sex appeal.

He's tall and thin with strong muscles and sun kissed skin. With brown hair and beautiful hazel eyes set above high cheekbones and a straight nose. His jaw is strong and pronounced and covered with just the right amount of stubble that it comes off sexy rather than lazy. I couldn't keep my eyes off him then and it hasn't lessened now.

Despite the crowded table that Thanksgiving, we somehow ended up beside one another and found a shared love of photography and classic movies and Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. It amazed me that despite our five year age difference we have so much in common. When he asked for my number that night, I happily gave it to him. The weeks that followed were filled with constant texts and phone calls and when he finally asked me out on a date I was overjoyed.

When it became more serious and I had applied for an internship with his family's hospital we opened up to everyone and after precautions were taken, we finally became official. Elijah has always appeared very serious and stoic but around me he lights up and smiles and becomes carefree. He's open and honest and loyal to a fault and this past year and a half has been the most adult relationship I've ever been in.

After a deep, slow kiss Elijah pulls back and stares at me and very quietly says, "Why do I have the feeling you're putting off telling me something."

"Because you're annoyingly observant."

He smiles openly. "Talk to me."

I sigh. "My best friend, Caroline, is engaged."

"That doesn't exactly seem like something to put off telling me."

My eyes drop down. "She's getting married in June and I'm her maid of honor. She wants me to come home once the semester is done in a couple weeks to help her."

"That's seems amazing, Elena. If anyone could help her it's you."

His hand reaches for my own and I squeeze hold. "It's just I haven't been there since what happened with my sister and ex-boyfriend and I'm not sure I'm ready."

"You have to face it at some time."

"I know."

"And I can't think of a better excuse to force you to."

I nod my head, knowing he's right. I can't let this past hang over me. "I guess you're right. Why are you Mikaelson's so clear headed?"

He smiles at me, tapping my bottom lip with his finger. "We're bred that way." I kiss him quickly. "So, when do we leave?"

This jolts me. "We?"

"You want me to come with you, don't you? I'd have to maneuver a few things with the board and I'd have to fly back and forth…"

I'm already shaking my head. "I love you for wanting to but I think this is something I have to face alone. Plus, I'll be busy with Caroline and…"

"… And?"

"I'd lose you. And I don't want that to happen," I finally say. He looks at me curiously, confused. And I can't blame him. He doesn't know just how cruel my sister is. He's heard the stories but hearing about it and witnessing and being a pawn in her cruelty is a whole other thing entirely. "Elijah, I need to face my sister. I haven't spoken to her since I left for the city and I have no idea if she's changed or what. I don't want her to use you to torture me."

He stares at me and his quiet just long enough for me to wonder if I've finally made him see just how crazy my life in Mystic Falls is. Is he finally running for the hills. Instead he caresses my face and says, "I love you, Elena. Your sister nor any other temptation could tear me away from you. But if you feel like this is something you need to face alone than I won't stand in your way. But just know that I will be a plane ride away shall you need me."

"Thank you for that. I know you will."

"And," he says, leaning in close, "I hope I can be your date to the wedding."

"I wouldn't want anyone else."

And I kiss him.

But just for a moment I thought of someone else. As the words left my mouth and in the time it took to bring my mouth to his… I thought of Damon.

A/N: Whew! That was a long one and it was definitely missing an appearance by a certain blue eyed raven haired ex-boyfriend. I know Damon was missing from this chapter but no worries...he'll make an appearance in the next one. A lot of you who haven't seen the trailer by Ele and Caro (and come on watch it!) have been asking about whether Stefan would be appearing in this story and as you've read… here he is! And as I keep saying, you need to seriously check out the trailer this is based from! If you want to avoid spoilers we're at minute 2:38 so you can watch until there ;)

Any guesses on Damon's secret? Now that we know Caroline knows and Elena is returning home it's only a matter of time before it comes out…

Thank you so much for reading and feel free to leave a review and let me know what you think :)