Jenna waited until she was certain her niece and nephew were in their rooms before continuing her conversation with Elijah. She didn't want them overhearing, even though she was fairly certain they all knew how this was going to end. As soon as Elijah had insisted that Elena and Jeremy be sent out of the room, she was sure of what he was going to tell her. He wasn't merely here to see what kind of home life Elena had. He wanted to take custody. "You're going to take her away from me, aren't you?"

Elijah sighed. "Jenna, the last thing I want is to separate Elena from the people she loves. That would hardly be fair to her or the rest of your family. She would only hate me for it, and rightfully so. I would not have chosen to give my child up for adoption, but it happened and I can't change it. However, Elena is my daughter and I want her with me."

"What exactly are you saying?" Jenna asked. She was confused. Elijah said he didn't want to take Elena from them, but at the same time, he was saying he wanted her with him. Exactly what was he planning on doing.

"I intend to find a place to live in Mystic Falls or very close to it. I would also like to spend as much time as possible with Elena over the next several weeks. After that, she will come and live with me," Elijah said firmly. He wanted it clear that there was no negotiation here. This was the way it would be. Honestly, he was uneasy even waiting a few weeks, but it was unfair to expect Elena to go live with someone she'd only met a few times.

"So, you are going to take her," Jenna said quietly.

"Yes, but as I said, I do not want to separate her from your family. You and your nephew are welcome to come and see her whenever you want, and she can do the same here," Elijah said.

"Can't we do it the other way around? Elena has spent her entire life in this house. Please don't take her away from her home! You could come here whenever you want. Our home would be open to you," Jenna said almost desperately.

Elijah sighed. Under different circumstances, he might agree to that. It would certainly be easier for Elena, which was what he wanted. However, the circumstances were what they were. He couldn't guarantee Elena's safety if she resided anywhere other than with him. She was in a lot of danger. There was Niklaus, obviously, but there was also anyone who discovered what she was. He couldn't be sure who would and wouldn't be a threat to her. Plus, her magic wouldn't stay blocked forever, it was better that she be under his roof when that happened. This was the way it had to be. "I'm sorry, but I have to do what I believe is best for my child. My instincts tell me that this is it."

Jenna pinched the bridge of her nose. She didn't know what to say or do. She had no recourse. The lawyer she spoke to said that the law was on Elijah's side, and that was before Jenna found out that Elena's adoption was even more illegal than she originally thought. "This isn't right."

"I agree with you. This entire situation is wrong, and quite frankly, it infuriates me. My daughter was kept from me. I told you I have no ill will towards your family, but the same cannot be said about this situation. It shouldn't have happened. I am merely trying the best I can to make the best of it. Jenna, let me ask you something. What would you do if it were your child taken from you?" Elijah asked.

Jenna didn't have an answer to that. She wanted to say that she would allow her child to live with the people who loved her, but she truly didn't know. She didn't know how she would react if she found out she was kept from knowing she had a child, and then her child was adopted without her consent. "I don't know. I can't imagine what it was like for you to find out you had a child you didn't know. You've actually been very kind about it when a lot of people wouldn't have. But Elena's lost so much. I don't want to see her lose anything else, especially Jeremy. Jeremy has been the only thing that has really kept her going, and he won't admit it, but the same is true for him."

"She's not going to lose him. Jeremy will be welcome in my home anytime he wants, as will you. I don't want to see Elena lose anything either, and she won't," Elijah promised.

"She won't see it that way. She's going to hate this," Jenna said.

"I know, and while I wish it could be different, I have to do what's right for her, even if it means she isn't happy with me. That's my job as her father," Elijah said.

Jenna reluctantly nodded. "Well, I can't stop you from taking her. If you can provide proof of what you've told me, there's nothing I can do, and I don't want to make things worse for Elena by trying."

"Thank you. I'm glad to hear that. I don't want us to be enemies, Jenna. I'd like us to work together to help those children with this. We're the adults. We have to find a way to make this okay for them," Elijah said.

"I don't know that there's any way for this to be made okay for them, but I can see where we could make it worse by fighting you. I can't pretend to be happy about your decision, but I can try to support it. I know that you said that you wanted to tell Elena your decision alone, but I think that I should be there," Jenna said.

"I agree. We should tell both of them together," Elijah said.

"Just give me a minute," Jenna said before getting up and leaving the room. She needed a few moments to collect herself before talking to Elena and Jeremy.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

When Elena got to her room, she had grabbed her phone and saw that she had about a dozen missed calls from Stefan. That was why she didn't want to tell him right away. She knew he was going to become extremely overprotective. She couldn't really deal with it right now. So much had changed in her life all at once, and it wasn't even over yet.

It was only minutes after Elena got to her room that her phone rang again. Knowing it wouldn't stop until she picked it up, Elena answered the phone. "Stefan, you need to stop blowing up my phone. I'm fine."

Elena listened to Stefan talk on the other end before speaking again. "Yes, he's still here, which I'm sure you already know, since you're probably close by." She knew Stefan well enough to know he hadn't gone home. He would've stayed a good distance away so that Elijah would think he was gone, but he wouldn't have gone far.

"Stefan, I can't have this conversation with you right now. I will come by tomorrow and explain. Right now, you need to go home," Elena said. She once again listened to him talk. "Fine, I'll call you after Elijah leaves, but only to let you know we're all still alive."

"Elena, Jeremy, come down to the living room!" Elena heard her aunt call out.

"I have to go," Elena said before hanging up the phone. She then took a deep breath and walked out of her room. She met Jeremy in the hallway. They both looked at each other for a minute before walking downstairs and into the living room. Elijah was standing in the doorway while Jenna sat on the couch.

Elena and Jeremy both joined their aunt on the couch.

"Jenna, are you okay?" Elena asked. Her aunt was putting on a brave face, but she looked very somber.

"Yeah. Everything is going to be okay. Elijah and I have come to an understanding," Jenna said.

"What understanding?" Jeremy asked suspiciously.

"Well, Elijah's going to move to the area, so we can all be close by. When he gets settled, Elena's going to live with him," Jenna said.

"No!" Jeremy said before jumping up angrily and glaring at Elijah. "You're not taking my sister!"

"Jeremy, calm down," Jenna said before getting up and taking his arm.

Elijah approached them. "Jeremy, I would never keep you and Elena apart. I know how much the two of you matter to each other. You'll be able to see each other any time you want. That's why I intend to be close to town, if not in Mystic Falls."

"Jeremy, I know it's not ideal, but it's not going to be so bad. Elijah promises that Elena can visit anytime she wants, and we can go see her," Jenna said.

"No! This is screwed up! She doesn't even know him!" Jeremy yelled.

"Jeremy, that's not his fault," Jenna said. She wasn't happy with the situation, but the truth was that Elijah was just as much a victim of this situation as the rest of them.

"No," Elena finally spoke. "There has to be another way to do this. Elijah, don't do this."

Elijah turned to Jenna. "May I have a word with Elena in private please?"

Jenna nodded before pulling a resisting Jeremy from the room.

Elijah waited to make sure that both humans were far enough away that they couldn't hear before addressing his daughter. "Elena, I'm sorry. I wish the situation was different than it is, but it's not. My first responsibility is to make sure that you are safe, and I can only do that if you're with me."

"This is about Klaus? I'm useless to him. I'm not a doppelganger. My death wouldn't help him," Elena reminded him.

"That hasn't stopped him in the past, and that's only part of the problem. Your lineage itself will put you in danger. There will be those that will want to hurt you simply because they can't understand what you are, and others that will use you for their own purposes. I won't allow any of that," Elijah explained.

"I'll be fine. I've been in danger before. It wouldn't be the first time a supernatural creature came after me. Mystic Falls is pretty much riddled with Vampires," Elena said.

Elijah was fairly certain his daughter didn't understand what she just said to him. Her argument to his worry about her safety was that her life had been on the line before. It would almost be funny if it weren't so alarming. "Elena, you're making my point right now."

"I was fine though. Everything turned out okay," Elena said. Sure, that was mostly because of Stefan and Damon, but she would still be okay.

"Because of luck and an adolescent vampire. I will not risk your safety on those odds," Elijah said firmly.

"This is my home. This is my family. You may be my father, but I barely know you," Elena said.

"I recognize all of that, which is why I am not requiring you to leave right away, as I would like to. You and I are going to take the next few weeks to get to know each other, and as I said, your aunt and brother are more than welcome to see you whenever you or they wish," Elijah said.

"What if I refuse?" Elena asked defiantly.

Elijah looked at her sternly. He did not want things to go this way so quickly, but Elena would need to understand quickly that this was not a request and his word was final. "Then you make this more difficult for yourself. I am being as patient as I can here because, as you said, you don't know me very well, but my decision is final and you will abide by it.

Elena glared at him. "Do you want me to hate you?"

"Of course not, but I'm willing to accept it if it means you're safe. I know you're upset right now, so I'm going to go and allow you to think about things. I will come by again in a day or two, and we'll talk again," Elijah told her. When she said nothing else, he headed out of the room. He hated that she was unhappy, but he meant what he said. He was going to do what was best for Elena, even if it meant she wasn't happy with him.