He can see how Elena adjusted to life as a vampire. He feels guilty for judging her and all of the other vampires in his life. He's sparring with Rebekah to get a grasp on his new strength.
He had protested at first, when she had told him to hit as hard as he could. He didn't want to hurt her. She had laughed, and told him she was centuries old. He couldn't do that much damage.
She's practically bouncing with excitement for a new fighting opponent. Kol almost always gets the advantage by pulling her hair until she can get him off her.
Elijah never completely spars, he's partially with Elena or in his thoughts. Elijah's too restrained to fight with her like she wants. Klaus is too busy with Caroline anymore, he used to be fun to fight. Finn wouldn't be up for it.
Sparring is different as a vampire, he hits the wall instead of Rebekah a few times. How she knows of a little abandoned building not too far away from where they live, he doesn't know. He can feel his ribs healing as he leans against the dusty brick. He aims for Rebekah's cheek and she avoids it easily.
Eat, sleep, repeat. Each of the Mikaelsons offer him something different. Elijah teaches restraint, Klaus teaches speed and Rebekah and Kol teach him how to deal with strength and they all deal with hunger.
Caroline teaches him how to hold on to humanity, although he sees that occasionally in the Mikaelsons. He doesn't know them well enough to find it as easily as Caroline, but he's working his ass off on other things.
While they all vary on techniques and methods, they all agree he can't visit Elena until he gets his emotions under control, and that Damon shouldn't visit until then either.
A day bleeds into a week into a few months. Alaric returns to Mystic falls for a while.
"Elijah. It's Christmas. You should be with your family."
"You're alone. They are not." He says simply.
"They need you." She says. She doesn't want the Mikaelsons to think she stole Elijah from them. Really, that's not what she wants, but it's how she thinks they feel.
You do too, he wants to say. The words stay in his throat.
"I'll be back later, after Caroline has deemed the festivities of the day to be over, if that is alright." He decides. She gives him a sad smile and nods. She tried to make it happy. Elijah leaves and she is alone. Jeremy and Bonnie are still pretending like whatever they're doing isn't happening, although it is.
Elena wonders if it's snowing somewhere. She just feels cold. She closes her eyes and dreams.