AN: For the record, the reason why Elena doesn't like the darkness is because there is simply nothing to see. There's nothing at all except for what she puts there, same for Elijah. The wager and Klaus/Caroline will be in this chapter as well.
She moves first, giving a gentle tug on his hand for him to do the same. They stand. He created this. All of it, he can't help but marvel. She carefully leads him to the door. She wonders if hers will ever change, if she sees more. It's set of doors, she can tell, but perfect condition. He's the only one who can open them. He looks to her for a moment before he lets go of her hand. She nods, an encouragement. His palm is carefully placed against the door, he can feel the age of the wood, the grain under his hands, and pushes gently. The door opens, and he takes a look inside. Elena follows, and asks him if he wants them to see in the dark or if he wants to have light. He closes his eyes, light bursts in front of his eyes. He opens them on instinct. He looks at Elena, and then notices the air, he almost wants to stop breathing. There's mist around them, it fills all space that it's occupied by more solid things. He doesn't understand how she looks so completely calm, he feels a thread of alarm start in his chest.
"They're your memories." She tells him.
She helps him, and he wonders how much time she spent discovering these things by herself.
He hears Kol sigh as he hands Caroline a tissue.
Rebekah is victorious on the wager. He hears her demand Kol pay up. She moves her head from his shoulder when her phone rings.
He shifts to move and her eyes widen. She mouths the word please as she answers the call. He nods. He'll stay until she wants him to leave.
"Care?" It's the voice of the Bennett witch.
"Yeah?" She answers, her voice is a little rough from not speaking and crying too hard.
"I think I have a way for anyone to talk to Elena. Not just vampires. I could be in a few days." Bonnie says and she's so hopeful that Caroline feels absolutely terrible.
"No." Her voice doesn't come out how she wants it to, like how she needs it to be. She wants it to be be firm and strong. Instead, it's hasty and harsh.
"Care-" Bonnie begins, carefully.
"There's a war going on here. You can't do magic in the city without it being tracked. People leave the city to do magic. And there's going to be a big fight in five days. I can't let you come here. I promise as soon as it's safe, we can totally spend time with Elena." Caroline begins. She can tell her best friend wants to interrupt, but doesn't let her.
"But it's not safe for you right now. It's not safe for anyone at all. But the Originals are keeping us out of view, so we should be okay. When the dust settles, and the fighting is over, I promise to call you and tell you." She finishes and Bonnie sighs.
"Okay. Have you been able to talk to Elena?" She asks.
"Yeah. She misses you guys like crazy. She misses everything. Elijah and I are doing our best to keep her mind sharp." Another fear they all three share. Elena's worried too much time in her head will make her reclusive and unsocial, that she might lose her sanity by spending so much time alone. She can practically hear Bonnie nod.
They talk, about quiet little updates from Mystic Falls. She leans back into the deadly Original sitting next to her.
Her mom is doing okay, Jeremy and Alaric are trying to get used to having a house by themselves. Damon and Stefan are still gone.
Mystic Falls doesn't feel like home anymore, not since Caroline and Elena left, Bonnie admits.
Caroline's eyes are shiny with tears, and she still tries to assure Bonnie that it'll all work out.
Klaus admires her strength.