He had always prided himself on his ability to keep his loved ones safe, but he can't do anything for Elena. He can't remember a time he was ever this concerned for her.
"I'm sorry." He murmurs into her hair. She just releases a shaky breath and he begins to try and fix what he can.
He tells her that things coming in and out of existence is natural. Vampires especially were prone to miss things.
He still misses a bookshop that used to exist in Prague a few centuries ago, until the owner died and it closed. There's a restaurant there now, he tells her. He had loved that bookshop, and he asks her if she's okay with him showing her something. She nods against his shoulder. He moves them into one of his memory rooms, and asks her to look at it. She looks over her shoulder to see a smiling man, with a few wrinkles in a kind face. There are bookshelves all around and she realizes he never forgot about this place. The thought makes her want to cry again, and a few escape. It's only in his mind now, the man who owned the shop is dead and gone.
He tells her that there is beauty in things of the past, and that life is constantly changing. It's always moving, no matter how much one tries to stop it. Just because it's gone doesn't mean he can't remember it, doesn't mean it's not beautiful anymore. The fact it doesn't exist anymore doesn't diminish the fact that it once did and it was wonderful.
There will be change, and she will have to exist with it being present in her life. It's okay to hold onto things, it's okay to worry and it's okay to miss things. But as much as they want to, they can't live in memories forever. She's going to change like the outside world will and that's okay. It's going to be okay, and if it isn't, they'll wait it out until it is, and make it okay.
He promises to stay and visit her as long as she wants him to, and that he won't let Ric or Jeremy die. He revises that last statement, and tells her he won't let them die a permanent death, they do have those handy rings to keep them alive after all.
He offers solutions to the problems he thinks he can help with and asks what she wants him to do for the others.
She thanks him and tries to think logically.
It hurts, growing up hurts, and she had never thought any part of her life would be like this. But she remembers that this is her life and she just has to keep living it. She thanks Elijah for his help, and she admits she wants his help with her problems, and for the ones he can't fix, she just wants him to listen to her talk about them when she asks.
It's more than agreeable, he'll do anything for her. All she has to do is ask. She moves away from him and spends a few minutes exploring the shop he loved so much and asks him questions about it, about life.
They end up in the movie room, sitting together. Her eyes are closed and her head is against his shoulder. He doesn't leave her for a long time.