He texts Elena when he arrives in Mystic Falls, he settles into his room in the now empty house Klaus had spent so much time on.
He's not going to deprive Elena of her last hours with her loved ones.
He just needs to know where she is the next day, he doesn't know when she'll fall into the coma. She tells him she's at home, and Jeremy and Alaric are asleep. She's already said her goodbyes to the Salvatores, Stefan had dragged Damon to Italy with him a week before. He asks if he can come over, the disappearance of the Salvatores is of interest to him. She agrees.
He doesn't knock, she opens the door when he steps onto her porch.
"Can we go somewhere to talk? I don't want to wake up Jeremy or Ric." She says and he nods.
"Of course." His voice is quiet. She likes his tie. A splash of color in his usually dark wardrobe. She had almost forgotten how good he looked in a suit. Almost.
They're in the park, Elena's choice.
She begins to explain everything. Someone had threatened Bonnie's family, one of her cousins. So she had accompanied her to take care of it, and they pissed off the wrong witch. Bonnie's cousin was fine. She and Bonnie weren't. The Salvatores had left because she wasn't interested in either of them. Stefan had changed and so had she. She didn't want him anymore, she hadn't for a long time. Damon had wanted too much from her. She could have fallen in love with him, but he was too fiery, too reckless. There was a difference between heat of the moment things and killing someone every time things went wrong. She couldn't do it. According to Caroline, who had seen them off, Stefan wanted to return to their roots. The Salvatores had family history in Italy. Caroline was packing, and had promised to stay with her as much as possible. While living her own life. She made Caroline promise to visit her mom, and live. Just because Elena will be stuck in New Orleans doesn't mean her friend has to be.
She admits, while moving to a park swing, that she can't sleep. She's scared that she's wasting time. She barely has any left. She's written letters and letters and even more letters to everyone. Especially Bonnie, she's arranged for almost everyone's birthdays for a few decades, she tells him. She frowns when she tells him that she didn't know if he celebrated his birthday. He sits on the swing next to her. He tells her that he doesn't. She looks sad instead of relieved.
"Do they all just fade together? After so long?" She can't imagine birthdays not being important. His eyes are open as she stares into them.
"Only if you let them." He answers honestly. He hadn't seen the point to it. They're quiet for a moment.
"It's just a little crazy. I mean, I'll probably be in a coma for longer than I've been alive. I mean, I hope Bonnie has a long life, but that sounds a little terrifying." She tells him. She tries to downplay it. But being stuck in her head, unable to move or feel or experience anything is too scary.
She swings a little bit, her converse pushing against the dirt. The silence is comfortable, he remembers a few times before where it had been like this. She lets the swing stop of its own accord. A warm night breeze comes through, moving her hair, but not her thoughts.
"You can enter dreams." She says. It's not a statement, she's seen him do it before, he had taught her. She had let him into her head, and it had been very personal. They have a higher level of trust because of it. He wonders if she's thinking the same thing he is.
"If you can, I'd like you to try and see if you can talk to me. While I'm not awake." She takes a deep breath to steady herself.
"I trust you with my head. I always have. Just, I'd like you in there. If I can talk to you guys, I would want to. At least, manipulate a dream or two." She tries to be lighthearted. This isn't lighthearted, not by a long shot, but he nods.
"I give you my word that if I am sure I can do so without harming you, I will." He says and she relaxes.
"Do you want to go get ice cream?" He asks, and she nods.
"And maybe coffee. Not in that order." She says and he nods. She looks like she could use some. He remembers nights where they'd go out for ice cream to celebrate victories and accomplishments when she had been brand new. She had always seemed happier, and there was a place that was open twenty four hours. She picked a new flavor almost every time.
"I still have a few flavors to try." She says, and grins.