The next day, Elena found herself in the kitchen with Elijah. She'd waited for both Jenna and Jeremy to be gone and then called and asked him to meet with her. She was kind of reluctant to go to him for help. She didn't know him very well, and he had tried to kidnap her once, but he was the only she could think of that might be able to help her. "Thanks for meeting me."

"Certainly. I trust we are alone?" Elijah questioned.

"Yeah. My aunt and brother have left for the next few hours at least," Elena said.

"Ah, yes, I met your brother last night. I would normally not care enough to mention this, but I did promise to make sure your loved ones came to no harm, and that includes from themselves. Your brother appeared under the influence of drugs and alcohol when I met him," Elijah told her.

Elena sighed. She'd thought that those days were behind them. Jeremy had been doing better lately. Of course, that was before the whole thing with Sheila Bennett taking their memories away happened. Jeremy had been very rattled by what Jenna had told them. Elena just didn't think he'd been rattled enough to start using drugs again. "Thanks for telling me."

"Of course. What is it you wished to discuss today?" Elijah asked.

"I need you to do something for me," Elena said.

Elijah gave her a slightly amused look. "Now, Elena, I believe we've already made our agreement. It's too late for more negotiations."

"Then let's make another other deal. I need a favor," Elena said.

"And what would you be able to offer in return?" Elijah asked.

"Whatever you want," Elena said.

Elijah raised an eyebrow. "That's a dangerous offer to make."

"I don't care. I need this, and I'm willing to pay whatever it costs," Elena said.

"And what if the cost is too high. What if it costs, say your friend, Damon, his life. After all, he did attempt to kill me the first night we met," Elijah said. He didn't intend to kill the young vampire just yet, but he wanted to see just how much the young doppelganger was willing to go.

Elena snorted. "That's not a price. That's me owing you another favor."

"Really? That is how you treat someone who tried to protect you, even if he is a loose cannon?" Elijah asked.

"That's how I treat the asshole who broke my little brother's neck because I rejected him," Elena said coldly.

"I see. Where I'm from, he'd already be dead," Elijah said.

"I'd love nothing more. He's alive because of Stefan and because I might need him at some point. But if you want to kill him, I certainly won't stop you," Elena said.

"I'll file that away for later. What is it you need, Elena?" Elijah asked.

"You told me that you have witch friends. I need a witch," Elena said.

"If I'm not mistaken, you have one of those," Elijah pointed out.

Elena shook her head. "Bonnie can't help me. She's only been practicing witchcraft for a few months. I need someone who can reverse a memory spell."

"A memory spell? On you?" Elijah asked intrigued.

"And possibly my brother, but I would be first," Elena said. She wouldn't even consider letting Jeremy be subjected to any spell without it being tried on her first. She also wasn't sure he'd want to remember. She couldn't force it on him.

"May I ask why you would need that?" he asked.

"A spell was put on me when I was a child to make me forget things, important things. It affected the bond I had with Jeremy. Apparently, my parents believed I was too close to him. It made them uncomfortable, so they decided to 'fix' it," Elena said with a sneer. She decided not to mention anything about reincarnation or past lives just yet. She wasn't even a hundred percent sure that that was what happened.

"Undoing another witch's spell is a tall order," Elijah said.

"But not impossible," Elena said. If it were impossible, he would've said so. Elijah didn't mince words.

"No, not impossible. I know a couple of witches that could probably get it done. How long with you have this house to yourself?" Elijah asked.

"Hours. Jeremy hasn't been coming home until late, and Jenna will actually be gone for the night," Elena said. She'd known what she was doing. She knew that if she could get Elijah's help, she'd need the house to herself. She'd suggested that her aunt take a day for herself and spend the night with Ric. It took some persuading, but she managed it.

"Very well. I'll make a phone call," Elijah said.

"And what will you want in return?" Elena asked.

"I will let you know at a later date," Elijah said with a smirk before taking out his phone to make the call.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

About an hour later, Elijah showed Jonas Martin and his son into the Gilbert home. He led them to the living room, where Elena was waiting. "Elena, this is Jonas and his son Luka."

Elena frowned a little at the boy who looked around her age. "Luka? You're Bonnie's friend. I'm guessing she doesn't know you work for Elijah."

"Yes, that will be part of the price for my help. Ms. Bennett is not to know about the Martins," Elijah said firmly.

Elena didn't like it, but she couldn't exactly say no. She'd promised Elijah whatever he wanted for his help. "Alright, but you have to promise that she won't get hurt."

"That is part of our previous agreement. Luka is there merely to ensure that your friends behave themselves," Elijah said.

Elena reluctantly nodded.

"So, Elijah tells me you've been affected by a memory spell," Jonas said.

"Yes. My brother and I were both affected. Our memories were altered, and our bond was damaged. I need it fixed," Elena said.

"Can you tell me exactly what happened?" Jonas asked.

"No, because I don't know exactly what happened. That's sort of the problem. I have no memory of it. But Bonnie was able to get a glimpse of it inside my head," Elena said.

"That's a good sign. It means the memories are still there. They're just not accessible to you," Luka said.

"Bonnie's grandmother seemed to believe that there was another person inside me. I guess she called it reincarnation," Elena said.

Jonas raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Reincarnation? There are those that believe that it happens, but it's rare, and they usually don't remember the experience, except for witches, and that's even more rare. Witches typically do not want to be reborn."

"You did not mention this when we spoke, Elena," Elijah commented.

"I thought you would think I was crazy. It certainly seems crazy," Elena said.

"Honestly, I'm not sure myself. As I said, there are witches that believe in it, but there's never been any proof," Jonas said.

"My mother was a witch that believed in it. She believed that it only happened within families, meaning that the person is reborn into their same bloodline. What are your thoughts, Jonas?" Elijah asked. If that was true, this situation became very interesting to Elijah, given that his wife was a Petrova, and looked exactly like Elena. However, he didn't dare hope. The chances were almost nonexistent. This wife was enjoying a peaceful afterlife their children. Tatia's daughter was not technically his, but he loved her no different than his little boy. Their all being together was what got him up each morning.

"I've heard that as well, but it's all guesswork. I don't know anything for sure," Jonas said.

"I'm suddenly very grateful that Katherine is not dead," Elena said. God help her if she had been Katerine in previous life. "Can you help me?"

"We can try. Sit down," Jonas said as he pointed to the couch.

Elena did what he said and sat.

Jonas sat on the coffee table in front of her. "First, I want to get a feel for the magic cast on you. I'll need you to take my hand."

Elena nodded before putting her hand in his.

Jonas closed his eyes and uttered an incantation. "There's more than one spell on you. The memory spell is definitely there, but there's more. Some of the magic is very old and I don't recognize it."

"How old?" Elijah asked.

"It's older than the memory spell, much older, so I'd go with at least several decades, probably longer. For that matter, Elena's soul itself seems much older than it should be. It fits the reincarnation theory," Jonas explained.

"Can you remove the memory spell?" Elena asked.

"Yes, but it's going to be very painful and extremely overwhelming," he warned.

"Do it," Elena said. She didn't care how painful it was. She couldn't live with altered memories. She needed the truth, both for herself and Jeremy.

"Luka, I'm going to need your help. I won't be able to undo this alone. I need you to take one of her hands and one of mine. Then you'll repeat after me," Jonas told his son.

Luka nodded before sitting down on the couch. He took one of Elena's hands and one of his father's.

Jonas held Elena's other hand. "Elena, listen to me. You cannot break physical contact with us no matter what happens. Do you understand?"

"Yes. Do it please," Elena pleaded.

Jonas began the incantation with his son repeating after him. Soon, they both repeated the spell in unison.

Elena soon felt like her head was on fire, and she let out a blood curdling scream. It felt like her brain was being ripped in two. Then the memories came. She remembered being a little girl. She remembered her first marriage and the birth of her daughter. She remembered the despair she felt when her husband died. Then she remembered meeting Elijah and his brother Niklaus. She remembered how much she loved Elijah. She remembered their wedding, followed by the birth of their son. She remembered the heartbreak of having to send her son away. She remembered her death and being reborn as she was now. Memories just came one after another until her memory of her mind being ripped apart by Sheila Bennett. She also remembered the witch doing the same thing to her young son.

Elena screamed in agony, both physical and mental agony. "Jarik!"

Elijah's eyes widened as he heard the name of his dead son. "What did you just say, Elena."

"Don't touch him!" Elena screamed.

"Let her go, now!' Elijah demanded.

Jonas did as instructed. The spell was complete anyway.

Elijah pushed him away from her before getting on the couch with her and taking her face in his hands. "Elena? Elena, can you hear me?"

Elena wasn't able to respond. The pain was too great, and the memories were overwhelming.

"Tatia, is it you?" Elijah asked in a broken tone. It seemed impossible, but at the same time, he didn't know who it could be anything else. She had uttered the name of his son. She wouldn't know that name if she was anyone else but his Tatia.

Elena looked at him. She was barely able to think coherently, but the part of her that could, remembered what she'd taken from him. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

Elijah tuned and glared at the two other occupants of the room. "Leave, now."

Jonas didn't need to be told twice. He didn't know what was going on, but he knew how dangerous Elijah was. He motioned for Luka to come before getting up and heading out of the room.

"Please forgive me," Elena pleaded a second time, but she no longer seemed to be talking to anyone in particular.

Elijah pulled her into his arms and held her as tight as he could without hurting her. He never thought he'd hold her in his arms again. "Shh. It's going to be okay, my love. I'm right here.

Elena's eyes rolled back into her head, and she passed out from the pain.