Elijah was the last to take a seat in the drawing room of the mansion, having just finished tidying up the final loose ends. The room was abuzz with a quiet energy, and Elijah's gaze landed on Finn, who was more relaxed and happier than Elijah had ever seen him. Pearl sat beside Finn, their hands casually intertwined, and Elijah felt a surge of satisfaction. It was a stark contrast to the turmoil of the past.

Finn had finally moved on from Sage, a change Elijah welcomed. Sage had never been right for Finn, and while his siblings had assumed Elijah's dislike stemmed from her lower social status when they were mortal, which was far from the truth. Finn likely believed the same, but Elijah's reasons were deeper. Sage had a knack for dragging Finn into actions that led to spirals of shame and regret. She couldn't accept Finn's true nature, always trying to mould him into someone more like her.

Pearl, on the other hand, was different. She fit with Finn effortlessly, like two pieces of a puzzle clicking into place. Watching them together, Elijah felt a sense of peace. This was how it was meant to be. Finn had found someone who accepted him wholly, and Elijah couldn't be happier for him.

Kol seated next to Aradia with a teasing grin on his face, his fingers gently trailed through her hair as the two of them conversed with Galen, appeared more settled than ever before. Their relationship was on firmer ground than Elijah had ever seen, as if they had finally accepted what he had known to be true from the moment he saw them together. While Elijah didn't believe in soulmates, he was convinced that Kol and Aradia were meant to be together. Now, it seemed they had finally embraced that truth as well.

Over the centuries, Kol had indulged in numerous flings, yet he always seemed to be drawn back into Aradia's orbit—or perhaps it was the other way around. Their connection was undeniable, a magnetic pull that neither could resist. Time and time again, Elijah had watched them come together, their sharp edges smoothing out in each other's presence. Aradia gave Kol something to cling to when the gaping chasm left by his lost magic threatened to drive him to madness. In turn, Kol drew Aradia into the world, transforming her from a remote observer into an active participant in life.

Their love, tested and reforged countless times, was a testament to their enduring bond. Watching them now, Elijah felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He'd always known they were meant to be together. Seeing them like this, having finally recognized what had always been obvious to the rest of the family, he no longer feared losing Kol to madness, knowing Aradia would always anchor him.

His contentment wavered slightly as his gaze shifted to Niklaus and Damon. The two were seated together, as had become their custom over the past few months, but a palpable tension now hung between them. Elijah couldn't pinpoint the cause, but it was clear something had happened.

Although he had refused to indulge in the family's bet on when Niklaus and Damon would finally get together, he privately agreed that it was inevitable. Just as Kol and Finn's new relationships had lifted a weight from his shoulders, so had the budding closeness between Niklaus and Damon. Damon provided the kind of support that Elijah and the rest of their siblings could not. He accepted Niklaus as he was, whilst being strong enough to stand up to him when necessary. In short, he was exactly the partner his brother required.

Though Niklaus and Damon hadn't begun a romantic relationship yet, they had developed a close partnership, which made this new distance all the more troubling. Elijah couldn't help but worry. Any discord between them would undoubtedly affect Maya the most and he could not allow that, however stepping in too soon could simply cause more conflict. For now, he would stay out of it, hopefully the two of them could work through whatever happened themselves, but if needed to, he would step in and mediate, for Maya's sake.

Rebekah sat alone, and Elijah could easily recognize the anxiety in her eyes, and he was well aware of what was causing it. His sister had acted to protect their family, and every vampire in the world, when she had killed Elena. He would have done exactly the same in her place and didn't fault her one bit for her actions. He just wished it hadn't been necessary.

Rebekah had always guarded her heart fiercely. While Nik and Kol seemed to think she gave it away too easily, Elijah knew better. She might have dabbled in love affairs and claimed to be in love with countless men over the centuries, but she had never truly let any of them in. Nor had she allowed herself to form real friendships, always keeping others at a distance to shield herself from hurt—until now.

Rebekah wasn't without her faults; bitchiness and a superior attitude were part of her persona. Some of it was genuine, but mostly it was a shield to keep the world at bay and protect her heart. Caroline and Bonnie were the first in centuries to penetrate that shield and accept Rebekah as she was, warts and all. She had opened her heart to them, and if Caroline and Bonnie couldn't accept what she'd done, Rebekah might never take that risk again.

Elijah hoped they were sensible enough to understand Rebekah's reasoning and not let it ruin their friendship. Watching his sister now, alone and anxious, he silently wished for a resolution that would allow Rebekah to keep the rare and precious connections she had finally made.

His eyes turned to Esther, their mother. He wasn't sure how to feel about her being alive once more. He couldn't hold the events of the last few weeks against her; she had been just as much a victim of Lillith and John Gilbert's machinations as anyone. Her actions a thousand years ago were another matter entirely.

Since her return, Elijah had been too busy trying to keep his family alive to sort through his feelings on the matter. Too busy, and too conflicted. He knew his siblings felt the same turmoil. But for better or worse, she was alive, and they would have to deal with that however they could. It wouldn't be easy, and for the first time, he seriously considered Dr Acesco's offer to suggest some therapists they might talk to, individually and as a family. He was wary of sharing their secrets with a stranger, but he had to admit, psychology had come a long way since Freud, and if anyone needed the help of a therapist, it was his family.

Elijah couldn't ignore the irony of the situation. For centuries, they had been the most formidable and dysfunctional family, bound by blood and plagued by a thousand years of trauma. Now, the possibility of seeking help, of unravelling their deeply embedded issues with the guidance of a professional, seemed both daunting and necessary. As he watched Esther, he wondered if they could ever truly reconcile the past, or if they were doomed to repeat the same cycles of conflict and pain.

His gaze flickered to the last members of their meeting. Liz, neatly dressed in her sheriff's uniform, had a mix of sadness and relief in her eyes. The deaths of people she had known for years weighed heavily on her, perhaps even more so because she was relieved that her daughter, Caroline, was not among them. She was happy that Caroline had not suddenly dropped dead, as she would have if John Gilbert had been successful.

Liz was seated across from Selene, two wildly different women who had found common ground in their chosen professions. Both were dedicated to law enforcement, justice, and protecting those they deemed to be under their care.

Elijah's gaze returned to Damon for a moment. Damon was the one who had brought all of them together. The fierce love and tight-knit bond that held the Salvatores, the St. Johns, and the Bransons together had drawn the rest of them in. If it weren't for Damon, for his willingness to take in, protect, and love Maya, and to bring the rest of them together with that in mind, Elijah was certain everything would have turned out completely different. Perhaps even to the point where he and his siblings might not have survived.

Damon's influence had woven a web of connections and alliances that had ultimately saved them all. The room, filled with a diverse mix of individuals, was a testament to the strength of those bonds. Elijah felt a deep appreciation for the way Damon had united them, creating a makeshift family out of disparate parts. It was this unity that had given them the strength to face their enemies and emerge victorious.

As Elijah looked around the room, he saw not just allies, but a family forged in the crucible of shared struggles and mutual support. It was a fragile peace, but a peace nonetheless, and for the first time in a long while, Elijah allowed himself to believe in the possibility of a brighter future for them all.

Selene cleared her throat gently, silencing the quiet conversations that had been occurring and drawing Elijah out of his contemplation and turning everyone's attention her way.

"First of all, thank you all for making the time for this meeting, I know the last week has been difficult for many of you."

Elijah's lips twitches at the polite and unassuming way of classifying what had been one of the most fraught weeks of his existence. Considering that he had been alive for a millennium now, that really was saying something.

"There are several matters to address, and I'd like to take them in order. If you feel I've missed anything once I'm done, then please speak up." Selene glanced around and waited for everyone to nod before continuing. "Okay then, number one on the agenda is Lillith, she was delivered to the ICW, and her sentence was carried out; she was executed, and her soul sealed from this world forever."

Despite already knowing the outcome, he couldn't help but feel relief to know that she had been dealt with permanently. She had been a dangerous threat to her family, her actions nearly resulting in their deaths, and he was glad to know that they would not need to fear her coming after them ever again.

"John Gilberts body was destroyed by way of Fiendfyre, and his ashes were separated out and buried in several undisclosed locations. Whilst this doesn't make it impossible for someone of immense talent and power to resurrect him it does make it much more improbable that they would be able to do so. His family have been informed of these actions and the reasons for them."

Elijah wasn't sure if there was anyone in the world who would want to resurrect John Gilbert, but he was pleased by the precautions that had been taken to ensure it was unlikely to happen anyway.

"It took some doing, but the stake he had in his possession was also rendered to a fine ash, which was then cast into the sea."

That was the biggest relief of all. After the fight in the Grill, they had tried everything they could think of to destroy the White Oak Stake, and nothing had worked. Their mother had been unable to tell them what spells Lillith had cast upon it to make it indestructible, and at Kol's suggestion they had passed it on to Lady Aradia and Galen so that they could attempt to decipher them, and thus reverse them. It hadn't been a certainty and knowing that it had worked and there was one less item in the world that could kill him, and his siblings was a weight off his shoulders.

"The explosion at Pastor Young's ranch was caused by a broken gas line." Selene's eyes turned to Liz, heavy with sympathy. "I'm aware that you considered the man a friend and it may be difficult to accept, but this letter was found in the oven." She passed it across to Liz as she continued, "given the content of the letter, our conclusion was that the explosion was a deliberate act on the part of Pastor Young, we just don't have any answers as to why."

Elijah had already read the letter that Liz was now reading and had been as stumped by it as the rest of them. None of them were sure what he meant by any of it, beyond concluding that he had been the one to break the gas line to the cooker and ignite an explosion. Selene had promised to have people continue to investigate what this 'greater evil' might be, but he knew as well as anyone that there might not be any answers to be had.

"I'll speak to Carol, but I feel she'll agree that we should keep up the story of it being an accidental gas explosion." Liz said decisively after reading the letter.

"Are you sure that's what's best?" Finn queried carefully.

"Pastor Young was a good man, and he deserves to be remembered as such, not as a murderer."

Elijah would have objected to her referring to the Pastor as a 'good man' considering he'd been attempting to wipe out the vampire race, but Liz's next words silenced any retort he could have made.

"His daughter April, she's only fourteen, she should be allowed to mourn the father she loves, not have the whole town looking at him as a monster who killed eleven people."

He met Finn's eyes and they both nodded in agreement, neither of them would oppose Liz's decision, and they would ensure their siblings didn't either.

"Understood." Selene affirmed with a nod, "I will ensure none of my people will dispute that but given the 'greater evil' and the 'war' mentioned in the letter, we will keep investigating the matter. I'll ensure you're kept apprised of anything we discover."

"Thank you." Liz replied stiffly.

"All the council members who weren't at the cattle ranch, were visited and questioned under truth serum. We obliviated their memories of the supernatural, and the memories of anyone who they indicated as being in the know. All the records that mentioned vampires were recovered and replaced with copies that didn't contain any evidence of the supernatural. I have teams currently tracking down those who were named who don't live in town, and whilst we can't be a hundred percent certain we've obliviated everyone who needed it, we're confident that we got enough."

Selene had explained why they hadn't just done so before and Elijah had understood their reasonings. But the ease with which they'd accomplished the matter in the past few days, made him feel there might be more to it than Selene had mentioned. Or possibly he was getting to be as paranoid as Niklaus.

"Which brings us to the final matter," Selene's gaze turned to Elijah, "the Gilberts."

Elijah nodded; he'd been dealing with the fallout of Rebekah's actions for the past few days. He understood why his sister had acted as she had. Killing Elena had killed John and saved all their lives. He just wished that Elena hadn't had vampire blood in her system when she had done so.

"Esther confirmed that John Gilbert's immortality was bound to Elena Gilbert. As long as she was alive, John Gilbert could not be killed. Rebekah killed her as cleanly and painlessly as she could in order to save the lives of millions of vampires across the globe."

Elijah's words weren't strictly necessary; everyone already knew Rebekah's reasoning. However, he felt it was best to reiterate just what had been at stake, mostly for the benefit of Liz and Sheila. They were the two who knew Elena, had watched her grow up, and had a child and grandchild who were best friends with Elena.

Liz's eyes softened with understanding, though the pain was still evident. Sheila nodded, her expression one of resigned acceptance. Elijah took a deep breath, continuing,

"What Rebekah was unaware of at the time was that Elena had vampire blood in her system."

"Did you find out how that came to happen?" Liz asked.

Elijah nodded, his face drawing into a tight and angry expression.

"Dr Meredith Fell was responsible."

It had taken all of Elijah's control not to kill the woman where she had stood when he had finally confronted her. He'd hoped her giving Elena vampire blood had been a one-off, unfortunately it hadn't been so. The woman had got into the habit of giving vampire blood to patients who otherwise wouldn't make it. The sheer recklessness of her actions was inexcusable in his eyes, who knew how many vampires she could have potentially created, people who would have had no idea what was happening to them.

"It seems she is in the habit of slipping vampire blood to patients who are in danger of dying. When Elena didn't wake up after we returned her to her family, Miranda called Dr Fell to come and check on her. When she couldn't find anything wrong with Elena, Dr Fell injected her with vampire blood in the hopes that it would fix whatever was wrong and wake her."

Looks of disgust passed across the faces of everyone present, Elijah wasn't the only one to find the Dr's actions abhorrent. The woman had chosen to play God, rather than accept that some patients couldn't be saved, as far as he was concerned, they would be lucky if Elena was the only accidental turn. The fact remained that they would need to track down every patient Meredith Fell had ever given blood to just to ensure there weren't any others.

"You've dealt with her?" Finn asked.

"Her supply of vampire blood has been destroyed, and she has been handed over to the Aurors for questioning," Elijah replied.

"The Aurors are compiling a list of all the patients she gave vampire blood to," Selene added. "We'll track them down and check if there have been any other accidental turnings due to her recklessness."

"And if there have?" Liz queried.

"We'll help any we find who require it," Selene replied. "Once we have the list, Dr Fell will be obliviated and then handed over to the police, so she can be charged and prosecuted."

"On what grounds?" Liz pressed. "What she did is awful, but I don't think the laws cover giving vampire blood to patients."

"Not precisely, but we can present it as a case of administering untested drugs to patients. At the very least, she'll have her medical license revoked. Fines and jail time are potential outcomes as well. We've done the same in similar cases before. Our laws only allow us to prosecute wixen and supernatural's. As a no-maj, we can't legally charge her, but she shouldn't go unpunished for her actions."

Liz nodded, accepting Selene's point. Elijah could see in her eyes that she agreed with the notion that Dr Fell shouldn't be let off scot-free after what she had done.

"Elena woke up in transition and made the choice to complete it." Elijah waited out the surprised exclamations that followed his words before continuing. "After discussions with Jenna, Jeremy, and Miranda, the decision was made to compel Elena to forget about what has happened over the past year."

"Won't that make her dangerous? If she doesn't know what happened to her?" Sheila asked, a worried frown on her face.

"I replaced those memories with others," Niklaus replied. "Leaving the doppelganger under the impression that she chose to transition, as well as to leave town."

"Miranda decided it would be best for Elena to leave Mystic Falls," Elijah added. "I've arranged for a vampire I know and trust to help her through her transition. Miranda chose to also be compelled to believe the same story as Elena and will go with her. Jenna and Jeremy have chosen to remain in Mystic Falls, with Jenna as Jeremy's guardian."

There was a brief silence as everyone digested this information. Elijah had taken control of handling the situation, knowing that Niklaus, Kol, and Rebekah would simply choose to kill Elena. He preferred to think more long-term, agreeing with Miranda's proposal meant there would be no ill-feeling towards them from Jeremy and Jenna. Given Jeremy's relationship with Anna and his intention to transition in a few years, it had been important to Finn, and therefore to Elijah, that the situation be resolved as peacefully as possible.

"It sounds like Miranda made the decision she thought was best given the circumstances," Liz accepted with a sigh, "Is there a story we need to know if anyone questions it?"

"Elena wasn't coping as well with the loss of her father as everyone thought, and the recent death of John Gilbert caused a breakdown. Miranda decided to take her away from Mystic Falls so she can get the help she needs." Selene answered promptly, used to having to provide mundane explanations for people who couldn't be allowed to know the truth.

"They left town with my associate today," Elijah added, ensuring everyone understood the timeline.

Liz nodded.

"I'll speak with Carol and make sure that story is consistent if anyone asks."

"Excellent." Selene's smile was a blend of satisfaction and relief as she leaned back in her chair. "Is there anything else that needs discussing?"

A round of headshakes followed her question, a silent consensus that they'd covered all the loose ends they'd spent the last few days painstakingly tying up. The air in the room seemed lighter, the tension easing as they reached this point of closure. Elijah glanced around the room his heart heavy yet hopeful. He only hoped that they could now put it all behind them and finally find some peace. It was all he wanted for his family; all he had ever wanted.

He'd believed they'd finally attained it as the summer had passed without incident. Excepting the Quidditch World Cup issue, which hadn't been specifically aimed at his family and could be disregarded. Their return to Mystic Falls afterward had been anything but peaceful. However, with Lillith and John Gilbert dealt with, and Elena finally out of the picture, maybe his hope of a safe and peaceful home for his family could finally be realized. The thought lingered in his mind like a fragile dream, one that he dared to believe in despite the tumultuous past.