The next day, Elena was returned to full strength, she had awoken after a full nights rest, showered and removed all the evidence from the basement and the awakening ritual from her skin; she had spoken with the brothers about staying home for the whole day to get to know her new magic, she was dressed in her usual loungewear and her hair tied up in a long ponytail.

She entered the kitchen with a little bit more hop in her step than usual; as much as she was confused and way out of her depths with the magic stuff, she was happy.

Elijah was stood at the kitchen island with a whisk and a bowl in his hands, he was without his usual blazer and his nearly tucked in shirt had the sleeves rolled up and the top button open, she found this look on him quite endearing and she watched as he whisked away at the pancake mix in the bowl.

"Good morning," she spoke upon entering, a sheepish grin spread on her lips as she brushed past him to get to the coffee machine; she knew the others were in the house so they had to be subtle, she took the already brewed coffee pot and poured herself a mug, "I didn't know you could cook."

"I've been alive for a thousand years, Elena, you can't honestly believe I hadn't picked up a tip or two on cooking?" He smirked, forcing his eyes to remain on the bowl instead of her but he struggled to hold back the happiness he felt at seeing her.

"I just assumed you ate people," she shrugged her shoulders playfully, causing a small chuckle to escape their lips, "can you pass the sugar please, Elijah?"

He raised an eyebrow as he clocked the sugar jar next to the coffee machine that she was standing right next to; she rolled her eyes and nudged her head slightly, encouraging him to come to her, he felt stupid in that moment but he had never been used to sneaking around.

He used his speed and took a hold of her waist, pulling her into a forceful and passionate kiss; her arms slipped around his shoulders and smoothed onto his neck, her fingers entangling in the ends of his hair. Her whole body was on fire and she felt so much passion between them that she was saddened and confused by his sudden return to the bowl and whisk.

"Nik, I haven't even been back a day yet before you start with your bloody demands," Rebekah stormed into the kitchen, her voice loud and angry and Klaus followed in behind her, "I will not attend this stupid meeting with you, why can't Elijah go?"

"It benefits our family greatly, Bekah, we will be the reigning family in the Quarter and a show of force is necessary, Kol has already agreed to it, you're just being difficult," he snarled back at her, his displeasure obvious, "and Elijah is staying with Elena to help her with her training, he has access to all of Mothers grimoires."

"I didn't drop everything to come here and play vampire politics," she continued to argue whilst Elijah and Elena leaned back on the counter watching; even the press of his arm against hers was enough to distract her as she leaned on him slightly.

"Why did you come back then? So far, your motives only appear to be to drive me insane," Klaus barked.

"Are they always like this?" Elena whispered quietly to Elijah, her eyebrow raised.

"No!" Klaus and Rebekah shouted at her at the same time, an amused smirk appearing on Elena's lips at the amusement she found from them; she grabbed a bagel from the side that Elijah had set out earlier and nibbled at it, watching the fight unfold.

"I came back to be a family again, Nik," she was interrupted by his sudden argument back.

"So, be in this family, come with us today and secure our place here in this city, our safety should be your number one priority, not spending a day gallivanting along Bourbon Street!

A loud scoff burst from her lips and she pressed her hand to her forehead out of frustration, "Fine, I'll be there, you're bloody impossible, Nik," she barked back.

"I'll go with you, Rebekah," and all eyes shot onto Elena, she suddenly felt uneasy with a small mouthful of bagel and a bunch of vampires staring at her, she just lifted her shoulders and popped her eyebrows up, "what?"

"I thought you were staying home to practice your magic?" Rebekah asked, her voice softening towards the doppelgänger, she was quite taken aback by her offering of company.

"I am but we're starting soon and it's only early morning, the meeting isn't until tonight," she tossed the remainder of the bagel in the bin before standing beside Rebekah, "I should be there, if I don't go, who will play referee when Klaus starts attacking people?"

"Elena, as amusing as your jokes are-,"

"Who said I was joking?" Elena grinned playfully, her amusement only furthering, "this is the meeting with the werewolves, right? Your hybrids will be there, Marcels vampires and I'm not leaving Rebekah and Davina to deal with your temper on their own."

"Whose idea was it to make Elena a part of our family?" Rebekah spoke, a wide grin appearing on her lips.

"Mine, but I'm starting to regret that decision," Klaus spoke through clenched teeth causing Elena to tilt her head at him.

"Hands down, best decision you've ever bloody made, brother," Rebekah continued to taunt him and he was becoming stressed; a small sigh escaped her lips and she took a place in front of the hybrid.

"What is really bothering you, Klaus?" She asked, her voice filled with compassion.

"I don't think any of you are taking this seriously, there is going to be 5 of the Louisiana packs in attendance tonight and there is only 4 of us,-"

"5," Elena snuck that into his conversation and he shot her a look of impatience, "I'm all powerful now, right? Not exactly a sitting duck."

"You have no control of your magic, Elena and until you do, you have to stay here away from dangerous situations that could possibly lead to your death," he argued, "so if it isn't too much to ask, would you all ensure your attendance tonight so we don't die!"

"We'll be there, Klaus, of course," she spoke reassuringly but he still felt unheard.

"Not you, you're not going," he spoke and the volume in his voice lowering.

"Yes, I am."

"Fine," he just pursed his lips together and gave in, "that relentless stubbornness of yours is going to drive me straight into the ground."

And with that, he vanished, taking his frustrations out with a glass of scotch and taking some much needed space away from his family; Elena took a deep breath and spun on her heel, walking towards her mug of coffee on the side and taking a sip, she could feel eyes on the back of her head and she turned to look at the two remaining siblings, "why does everyone keep staring at me today?"

"How did you do that?" Rebekah asked, curious and taking mental notes.

"Do what?"

"Silence my brother, I have never seen that happen in a thousand years and it's strange," she just looked at her with shock and awe.

"Oh," she dipped her head and laughed slightly, before taking the last sip of coffee and pouring herself another one, "I guess once you understand him, it's easier to know what his actual motives and feelings are behind things, when you get it, you can kinda make him forget about the temper fuelled fight in the first place."

"If I start another fight with him, will you show me again?" Rebekah spoke far too excitedly and as much as Elena tried to deter her, she sped off into the living room to further annoy her brother.

"Feels like home," Elijah smirked before turning his attention back onto the pancakes; Elena went over to the sink and switched on the tap, letting the water run over her fingers for a moment before she began to rinse the several mugs in the sink, and her eyes averted to the garden through the window, it was so peaceful and bright and it brought a whole new meaning of calm to her.

She started to feel a trail of soft kisses along her neck and shoulders, Elijah had pressed his hands onto her hips and began smothering her in delicate but meaningful kisses; there wasn't a word spoke as she began to enjoy the intimacy between them, her body ached for him on levels it had never experienced before and it scared the hell out of her.

"Let me take you to dinner later," he spoke in a whisper, his lips remained grazing her skin, "after the meeting, I'd like you to accompany me to this quiet restaurant I discovered on the outskirts of town."

She broke her trance of pleasure and heat momentarily to consider his invitation and she became excited, "I would love that," she spoke softly.

"They're coming back," a low and unsophisticated growl escaped from his lips as he lowered his head onto her shoulder out of frustration, he pulled himself away from her and proceeded to make the pancakes, their eyes meeting in a deep gaze before the other two came back screaming.

"Why would you bring that up now, Bekah? It's been over 5 centuries!" He yelled at her from the hallway and she ran in, holding her thumb up and nodding.

"Now!" She mouthed at Elena and she simply rolled her eyes, a happy grin forming at the people she had decided to call family.

"Because Nik, I'm still angry with you," she argued back, even though she had moved past this particular event in there lives, she could still use it to rile up her brother, "you killed the man I loved!"

"Oh my," Klaus muttered as he pressed his head into his hands and scoffed, "he was an idiot and you very well knew, don't pretend to have-"

"Okay guys," Elena shouted over them, shifting her gaze between them both and encouraging them to sit at the table, "let's talk."

After an hour of discussions between siblings, Elena found herself sat in Elijah's office surrounded by grimoires and magical items she knew nothing about; she had read through at least 3 grimoires with him and managed to cast a few basic spells, she could make things float, move items across the room and make a single seed flourish into a sapling.

"Elijah, I'm grateful to you for taking a whole day to sit with me and go through your mother's grimoires but is there anything else in world we can do?" She was frustrated and above else, bored, "I'm determined to become a good witch but I'm not going to learn like this."

"Being a witch isn't just about being practical, casting spells and performing rituals is only part of it, the rest is knowledge and emotions, you won't be able to master them all at once, it takes time," he explained, staying behind his desk with his feet on it and a book in hand.

"I know, I get that but can we go outside? Natures important too, right?" She grinned innocently, practically begging.

"You have me at a disadvantage, I can't refuse you," he smirked slightly before putting his book down and walking around his desk to be nearer to her, "I am completely biased, you need a new trainer."

"I think it's kinda hot," she shrugged her shoulders before exiting the office, feeling his lustful stares on her back as she walked through the house and out into the garden.

She sat on the grass, smoothing her fingers between each shard and allowing her body to soak up every ray of sunshine; she could feel the plants and trees around her, they felt alive and as if they where trying to talk to her.

Her eyes where closed and she focused in on every small detail around her, the sound of the tree branches swaying in the wind, the birds chirping in the distance and the earth shaking beneath her; she felt connected to the earth, like it pumped life within her and she grew stronger from it with every passing second.

She felt Elijah kneel down beside her, his hand gently caressing her shoulder and she leaned her head on him, she was in a place of connection and she could feel all of him within her skin.

"Focus on the bush right beside the deck, see it in your mind, it's withering but has the potential to be beautiful," he spoke in a whisper, "picture its leaves a solid green and blossoming flowers within it and project that onto it."

She listened intently as he coached her through her first real projection spell but she could already feel the roots beneath the ground surge with the power she put into it; her mind pictured large white roses flourishing and the earth obliged, a small breath left her lips at the surge of energy emitting from her fingers and sending the signal to the plant.

"Elena," he spoke her name so quietly and delicately that she opened her eyes just to look at him, just to see the way he stares at her with a face full of emotion when he said her name and it became intense, "you did it."

She reluctantly turned to look at the bush, what was once a dying plant, now alive and blossoming, it flourished, "oh my god."

She stood up onto her feet and wrapped her arms around him, feeling the beat of his heart against her when she pressed into him; she may not have vampiric hearing but she was connected to everything now, especially him, "I can't believe I did that."

"I thought you may perhaps be able to conjure one flower but it's full, you have some serious power, Elena," he was impressed but he knew how amazing she would be, "to perform such a powerful projection on your first attempt is impeccable, it takes fully practicing witches years to perfect that."

She could only smile kindly at his words, she never knew how to handle such deep compliments and it made her cheeks blush; she closed her eyes and held her closed hands in front of her, focusing her mind once again as she pictured a single seed within her palms, watching in her mind as it began to sprout and grow until it reached full bloom, the magical energy surged through her entire body, radiating from the earth beneath her until it reached her palms.

Elijah felt a light breeze of pure magic encircle them, she was glowing and her hair floating slightly around her as she finished the spell; she opened her hands and revealed a fully grown pink peony, an excited grin appeared on her lips when she opened her eyes and saw its beauty.

"Elena, that's remarkable, how did you-?"

"I can't explain it," she tilted her head slightly and stared deeply into the flower in her hand, a wave of emotion washed over her as she saw what she created with her very own mind; she didn't know how to explain but she could help him feel it. She slowly placed her hand on his chest, pressing into where his heart was beating beneath his skin, "it's like a feeling, I'm connected to it and I can feel everything."

He remained silent, watching as she closed her eyes again and focused her energy on him but this time she wasn't conjuring a bushel of flowers or creating one in the palm of her hands but allowing her emotions and feelings to surge through her body and flow into his; his heart was hammering against his chest as he became overwhelmed by her feelings, he smoothed his hands around her back and pulled her in, a small gasp escaping her lips at his sudden contact.

She broke the spell and looked into his eyes, seeing only a whirlwind of emotion within them; she could feel the intensity between them and her body was on fire, she cleared her throat and collected herself but she remained clinging to him for a moment longer, "I'm sorry, Elijah, I just kind of lost myself there for a minute."

"Don't apologise," he pressed his hand onto the side of her head and entangled his fingers in her hair, his thumb stroking along her cheek, "you never have to apologise."

"I didn't mean to make you feel like that, I just," she leaned her head further into his hold and she was starting to become entranced in him again, "I'm losing control of myself when I'm around you and that feeling-"

"It's powerful, all consuming," he finished her sentence, pressing his forehead onto hers and nearing his lips to hers.

"I don't want to confuse you, I shouldn't make you feel how I do," her words flowed uncontrollably and without even thinking about it, she revealed how she truly felt and it scared her to death.

"You could never confuse me," he froze in place for a long moment, realising how vulnerable they where and how much he had let her in, being completely honest with her was coming so naturally and he'd never experienced that in his entire existence, "I know how I feel about you, Elena and it's more consuming and intoxicating than you could possibly imagine."

She pulled him into her, forcing her lips onto his and letting her emotions pour into their kiss; she pulled at the ends of his hair and he pressed her body into his as much as he could without breaking her back. There was no space between them and Elena began to ignite, the more she poured into him, the harder it was to control and she started to lose herself again.

A powerful blast of energy surged through her, she felt the breeze swirl around them again and without even realising it, the garden surrounding them was starting to bloom; he was like a magnet and she couldn't pull herself away but she felt the magic and power build up within her and it was trying to take control.

She pulled herself away from him and clung onto his shirt, her breathing heavy and her heart was racing so fast, she thought she would faint, "I can't control myself with you."

"I am aware of the struggle," a small smile curled up on his lips as he went to kiss her once again but she pulled back slightly, resting her forehead on his chin.

"We should get ready for the meeting," she didn't mean to sound so distant or dismissive of him but she feared what her magic could do to him, "we're going to be late."

"Of course," he stroked her cheek gently for a long moment and she placed a soft and lingering kiss on his cheek; it took everything she had inside of her to separate from him, strength, will power and the urge to protect him.

Elena locked herself in her bedroom and stood with her back pressed against the door for a few minutes, she took deep breaths and tried to calm herself down but the power within her was strong and she was struggling, the emotions she usually had control over had been laid to bare for him to see and her power took over.

She headed for the bathroom and switched the tap on, splashing her face with cold water and leaning against the counter; she found her centre and her entire body returned to normal, she felt in control again and like her usual self.

Heading back into her room, she threw of her shorts and vest top and slipped into a pair of black skinny jeans, maroon coloured t-shirt and leather jacket before sliding her feet into a pair of black boot wedges.

"Elena, we have to go," Elijah called out as he climbed the stairs to her room, he knocked on the door and waited patiently, "we're late."

She grabbed her purse and opened the door, "I'm ready, let's go."