Elijah wasn´t surprised to find Johnathan in the gym, furiously punching the training bag. He leaned against the wall, observing his nephew. Elijah had known Liliana and Johnathan for two months now, and during that time, he had learned that Johnathan had inherited his dad's looks and temper, but his personality was all his mom's.

"What are you doing here?" Johnathan asked, pausing his assault on the punching bag and turning around to face Elijah. His eyes were red, filled with frustration and anger.

"You've been ignoring my calls all week," Elijah told him, his voice tinged with concern.
"Me ignoring you should tell you that I don't want to talk to you," Johnathan replied, turning back to the pulsating bag and resuming his furious pummeling.

Elijah pushed himself off the wall and walked into the room. "Fight me," he said, placing a hand on each side of the bag, ready to confront Johnathan head-on.

"I don't know about that," Johnathan hesitated, throwing another powerful punch at the bag, the force causing Elijah to take a step back.

"Why?" Elijah questioned, pulling the training bag away from Johnathan. "Are you afraid?"

Johnathan laughed dismissively, but the laughter died in his throat when he saw the determined expression on Elijah's face. "I'm not afraid," he said coolly before turning to leave. However, before he could get very far, Elijah grabbed him by the arm and spun him around forcefully.

Johnathan looked down at Elijah's hand gripping his arm and smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You sure you wanna do this?" he challenged, trying to play it cool.

"Yeah," Elijah said, releasing his grip on Johnathan's arm. He then pushed him backward, making him stumble slightly. Elijah discarded his suit jacket, tossing it aside, and rolled up his sleeves. "Come on, I know you want to," he taunted, positioning himself to face Johnathan

Johnathan smiled, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes, as they both moved to the side and began circling each other. Elijah's heart raced as he anticipated the challenge ahead.

"Come at me," Elijah said confidently. Johnathan obliged, walking towards him and throwing a powerful punch. However, Elijah skillfully blocked it, unleashing a barrage of counterattacks. While Johnathan's blows were focused, they lacked finesse, so Elijah decided to add a few dirty tricks to throw him off balance.

Just as Johnathan looked up, he saw two fists flying at him. He managed to catch one of them, but the other connected with his face, stunning him. The impact sent him crashing to the floor, his body momentarily succumbing to the blow.

"You done?" Elijah asked, his voice firm yet understanding. Johnathan looked up at Elijah, anger simmering behind his eyes, his face bruised and bloodied. He spat blood onto the floor, a small splatter barely missing Elijah's shoe.

"Fuck you." Johnathan growled, his voice strained and full of defiance. "

than's rage burned like a fire within him, fueled by the words that Elijah had spoken. "You have so much hidden anger inside of you. Just like your father," Elijah taunted, his voice dripping with malice.

"I am nothing like him!" Johnathan shouted, his anger boiling over. He jabbed an accusing finger at Elijah, his eyes blazing.

"Not yet. But if you keep this up, you will become your father," Elijah replied calmly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Fury consumed Johnathan, and without thinking, he launched himself at his uncle. His elbow found its mark, connecting with Elijah's ribs, causing him to wince in pain. Grabbing a fistful of his hair, Johnathan forcefully flung his uncle towards the wall, pinning him against it. "Everything that has happened to mom is because of you and your family!" he seethed.

Just as he was about to inflict more harm, Johnathan abruptly halted, his eyes glinting with a mix of intensity and sorrow. "Dad would have been here with mom and me if it wasn't for you and that sicko of a brother of yours!" he spat, his voice tainted with anguish. The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, echoing the pain and resentment he had carried for years.

Taking advantage of Johnathan's momentary pause, Elijah swiftly retaliated. He struck him in the stomach with a powerful elbow, shattering one of his ribs. In a swift motion, he twisted Johnathan's arm, reversing their positions. Now, it was Elijah holding his nephew against the unforgiving wall.

"Your father did this to himself," Elijah hissed through gritted teeth, his grip tightening. "He should have thought about Liliana when he plotted against our brother. He knew what would happen if Niklaus ever found out."

Elijah's words cut through Johnathan like a blade, piercing his anger and revealing a truth he had long avoided. The pain in his broken rib humbled him, both physically and emotionally. Slowly, Elijah released his grip, allowing Johnathan to sink to the ground.

With great effort, Johnathan pushed himself up, his face a mask of determination. "I am going to make you pay," he growled, his finger pointed menacingly at Elijah. "And your brother. I will make you wish you had never been born."

As Johnathan closed his fist, a surge of primal energy coursed through him. He lashed out, striking Elijah with all his might. The force sent Elijah crashing to his knees, blood trickling from his injured nose. A cruel satisfaction crept across Johnathan's face as he watched Elija writhe in pain.

"You asked me before if I was afraid," Johnathan said, his voice cold and devoid of emotion. He slowly advanced towards Elijah, relishing in his uncle's vulnerability. "The answer is no."

But before Johnathan could inflict more harm, a voice rang out, cutting through the tension. His mom stood in the doorway, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and concern. "Enough!" she cried, her voice filled with desperation.

Johnathan turned his head to face his mom, his eyes locking with hers. He saw the pain etched on her face, a reflection of the battles she had fought silently. "Stay out of this, Mom!" he yelled, his voice tinged with frustration and anguish.

"I said enough!" Liliana yelled as she hurried towards Elijah and stood in front of him, casting a worried glance at her son. Her face was etched with sadness as she desperately tried to bridge the gap between them. "Johnathan, you have to let go of the anger you have towards Elijah. Please, baby."

Johnathan clenched his fists tightly, his face contorted with rage. Veins began to snake across his temples and up to his cheeks, betraying the storm that raged within him. Elijah stood calmly beside Liliana, his eyes filled with understanding.

"Elijah is right, Johnathan," Liliana continued, her voice wavering. "You need to let go of all the anger because it's going to eat away at everything that makes you who you are. I can't lose you."

Johnathan's anger lingered, the dark clouds refusing to dissipate. He turned his gaze towards Elijah, his eyes now burning with a mixture of fury and hurt. "You want to kill him?" Johnathan asked, his voice choked.

Elijah's expression remained unwavering, his resolve unshaken. "Yes," he replied simply, his voice laced with determination.

Johnathan paused for a moment, the weight of his emotions causing his arms to tremble. He took a deep breath, struggling to release the pent-up frustration that had consumed him for so long. "Then I will help you do so," he finally said, surprising even himself with the words that escaped his lips. "But first, we need to find Dad."

Liliana's eyes widened, a flicker of hope dancing within them. She glanced between her son and Elijah, her heart racing. "Then we can kill him. Deal?" Johnathan asked, extending his hand hesitantly towards Elijah.

Elijah met Johnathan's gaze, understanding passing between them. He clasped Johnathan's hand firmly, sealing their newfound bond. "Deal," he said resolutely.

As they stood there, Liliana couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions: relief, worry, and confusion. Before she realized what had happened, Johnathan and Elijah had vanished, leaving her standing alone and bewildered.

Later that same night, as the stars sparkled above and the city lights illuminated the streets below, Liliana found solace on the balcony, gazing at the majestic Eiffel Tower. With a cup of warm tea in her hands, she contemplated the events of the day.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps interrupted her thoughts, and she turned her head to see Elijah standing in the doorway, a somber expression on his face.

"I apologize for what happened earlier today," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Liliana sighed and turned her body to face him fully. Tears welled up in her eyes as she asked the question that had been haunting her all evening, "Am I a bad mother?"

Elijah, pushing himself away from the doorway, walked out onto the balcony and took a seat beside her on the couch. He gently took her hands into his, his touch offering both comfort and reassurance. "Why would you ask such a question?" he murmured.

"I never knew he kept so much anger inside of him," Liliana confessed, her voice trembling. "I am his mother, I should have seen that he was hurting just as much as I am."

A tender smile graced Elijah's lips as he listened, his eyes filled with understanding. "You are a wonderful mother," he declared. "You would do anything to keep him safe, and I know that from the short time I have known you. So, I never want to hear you ask me that again because my answer will always be the same."

His words pierced through Liliana's doubts, and she nodded, a small smile appearing on her face. "Okay," she whispered, feeling a weight lifted off her shoulders.

Elijah echoed her response, his own smile mirroring hers. "Okay," he affirmed.

But before they could fully embrace the newfound peace between them, Elijah shifted the conversation to a different matter. He released her hands and reached into the pocket of his suit jacket. Retrieving a small black box, he extended it towards her.

Liliana looked at the box, curiosity mixed with anticipation. "What is it?" she inquired, her heart fluttering with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.

However, the moment froze as she heard Elijah speak Kol's name. Her breath hitched, and she paused, unsure of what she was about to discover.

"Kol had it on him that night," Elijah revealed, his voice tinged with remorse. "A part of me felt guilty for what we had done."

Drawing in a deep breath, Liliana closed her mouth, allowing Elijah to continue. Words of profound significance hung in the air between them.

"He loved you," Elijah confessed, his voice filled with regret. "And I am deeply sorry for all the pain that Niklaus and I caused you. Now, you may open it."

Liliana's hands trembled ever so slightly as she lifted the lid of the box. A locked necklace lay nestled inside, its secrets waiting to be revealed. But she paused as she heard Elijah's voice again, speaking Kol's words.

"Please forgive me," Elijah uttered softly.

Her heart pounding, Liliana locked eyes with Elijah. The necklace, when finally opened, revealed a small photograph of Kol. Her tears flowed freely as she lovingly traced his features with her finger.

And then, Elijah's voice urged her to turn the locket around, to uncover the hidden words engraved on its back. With a mixture of trepidation and excitement, Liliana obliged.

"To the darling who guards my soul," she read aloud, her voice barely above a whisper. The words touched her heart, reminding her of the deep love she and Kol had shared.

"Please find him," Liliana implored, her eyes filled with compassion and determination.

"I promise."

Liliana's heart swelled with a myriad of emotions. Gently, Elijah took the locket from her trembling hands and fastened it around her neck. The weight of its significance pressed against her chest, a constant reminder of the love she had lost.

"And protect my son," Liliana added, surprising Elijah with her words. As he furrowed his brow in confusion, she continued, "I know he is leaving with you."

A mixture of awe and gratitude flickered across Elijah's face. "I will protect him with my life," he vowed solemnly, leaning forward to place a tender kiss on Liliana's forehead.

Before she could utter another word, Elijah vanished into the night, leaving Liliana alone with her thoughts and the future that lay before her.

As the hours passed, Liliana held onto the memories of the past and the hope that the future held. With the necklace resting against her heart, she knew that her journey to find Kol had only just begun. And in the midst of searching for her lost love, she had found an unexpected ally in Elijah.