Jeremy sat across from his father at the Grill. The was weird to even think still. He'd thought his father had died. He still loved Grayson like a father, although he had lost a lot of respect for him. The man had altered his and Elena's memories because they weren't the way he wanted them to be. He'd altered their bond and the course of their lives. That made him angry.

Jeremy looked around the restaurant. There were many people staring at him and Elijah. It didn't take much for Jeremy to figure out why. Elijah was the only person there wearing a suit and tie. It made him smile a little.

"What's so funny?" Elijah asked his son.

"Nothing," Jeremy said.

"Now, Jeremy, I can appreciate a good joke," Elijah said.

Jeremy raised an eyebrow. He wasn't so sure about that. Elijah didn't strike him as a big joker. "It's just that you stand out like a sore thumb."

"And how's that?" Elijah asked while smirking.

"Look around, man. Everyone's dressed in work or school clothes. You look like you belong in a fancy French restaurant. Can you at least lose the blazer?" Jeremy asked.

"If that would make you happy," Elijah said before standing up and removing his blazer and hanging it on the back of the chair. "Although, there is nothing wrong with looking your best."

"There is when it gets you laughed at," Jeremy said.

"So, how are you doing with everything?" Elijah asked.

"Okay, I guess. It's actually easier now that I know I'm not going crazy and you and El… You and…" He trailed off, not really knowing what to call either of them anymore.

"It's okay, Jeremy. There's no pressure here. Elena is your mother and I'm your father, but we understand that it's going to take time for you to see us that way. You can call us whatever you're comfortable with," Elijah told him.

Jeremy sighed in relief. "She said the same thing. Anyway, it's easier knowing that you both know."

"I'm glad to hear that. So, I can trust that you're staying away from drugs and alcohol then?" Elijah asked.

Jeremy blushed a little. "Yeah, although, I wouldn't get the chance. Elena has me on a tight leash."

"She's concerned for you. Illegal substances are not a good way of coping," Elijah said.

"It worked for a little while," Jeremy said.

"But it didn't solve anything, did it?" he countered.

Jeremy shook his head before taking a sip of his soda.

"Would you tell me a little more about yourself? I'd like to get to know my son. What do you like to do? Do you play sports?" Elijah asked.

Jeremy stiffened slightly. He knew that some dads could be weird when it came to sports. Some expected their kids to be athletes. Tyler's father was like that. Evern Jeremy's dad… Grayson, seemed disappointed that he never took much interest in sports, or at least wasn't a top student. "Um, not really. I like to draw."

Elijah smiled in response. "That's nice. I'm glad you have a hobby that you enjoy. My brother is an artist too."

"You must have another brother, right? You can't possibly mean Klaus," Jeremy said.

Elijah chuckled. "I have many brothers, but I actually was speaking of Niklaus. He loved art. He still does. Contrary to stereotypes, not all artists have to be good, sensitive people, although Niklaus used to be. He was very sensitive. It was a point of contention between him and my father, one of many."

"Your dad sounds like an asshole," Jeremy said.

"That would be putting it mildly," Elijah said.

Elena said that Klaus was her friend," Jeremy commented.

"Yes. Niklaus loved your mother very much. We vied for her affection for a while, but Niklaus eventually realized that she was meant to be his friend," Elijah said.

"Do you think if he found out the truth about her, he'd still try to hurt her?" Jeremy asked. Elena didn't think he would. She believed Klaus was still her friend, but Jeremy wanted to know what Elijah thought.

"I'm not sure. Niklaus and I have grown estranged. It is difficult for me say what he'd do, however, I will never allow anyone to harm your mother, Jeremy. You have my word, son. I will protect her with my life," Elijah promised.

Jeremy nodded. He believed him. He knew that Elijah loved Elena. It was evident with the way they spoke even that first day he'd seen them together. "Did he like me? Klaus?"

"Niklaus loved you. All of my siblings loved you, and you loved them. It was my brother, Henrik, you used to follow around the most. I think it was because he was closer to your age than the rest of my siblings," Elijah said.

"Is he a vampire too?" Jeremy asked.

Elijah shook his head sadly. "No. He died not long after I thought you had. His death is the reason my parents made us what we are. They wanted us to be stronger."

"What about Elena?" Jeremy asked.

"She wasn't there when it happened. She was with her sister and yours. Did she tell you about your sister?" Elijah asked.

Jeremy nodded. "She said that she had another child before me. It was mentioned when I was in Ayana's memories too."

"Anyway, I don't think my mother would've made her a vampire even if she was there when it happened. My mother and yours didn't get on very well. Your mother is very vocal about the way she feels about people. She didn't consider my mother worthy of her children, and she was not shy about saying so," Elijah said with a fond smile. He loved his wife so much. He loved her boldness. He loved how she stood up for her loved ones.

"She was mostly like that even without her memories too. The only difference was when the Salvatore's came to town. They always talked down to her and tried to control her, especially Damon, and she let it happen. I don't know why that happened," he said.

"I think I do. She was a human thrust into a new world, with creatures much more powerful than her. I think she thought that they knew best because they were so much powerful than her. That is until one of them hurt you. Than all bets were off," Elijah explained.

Jeremy nodded. "I guess that makes sense. She was really pissed when Damon killed me, even before she knew I was her son."

"She may not have known on the surface, but she knew deep down. That is why her first instinct has always been to protect you. She had a connection to you. I felt that too the second I met you," Elijah told him.

"What happens next? Are we going to live with you?" Jeremy asked.

"So, we have discussed that. That is the plan in the long run, but our first priority is making this as easy as possible for you, so we're going to take it slowly. I was hoping you and I could start spending a little more time together. Maybe we can do things like what we're going a little more, and the three of us can spend more time as a family. Little by little, I'd like it if you and your mother spent more time in my home, but we can go at your pace. Would that be alright?" Elijah asked.

Jeremy nodded after a minute. "Yeah, I think I'd like that."

Just then, Elena made her way over. "Hey."

"Hi. How did it go?" Elijah asked.

Elena pulled a chair over to the table and joined them. "About as well as I could've expected. Jenna is overwhelmed, but I think she'll be okay. Ric's with her."

"Did you tell her everything?" Jeremy asked.

"Everything that was important. I might have omitted a few details, but I told her most of it," Elena said. She hadn't told Jenna about the sacrifice coming up or what she needed to protect Jeremy from, but she knew the major things.

"So, she knows about me?" Jeremy asked.

"Yeah. Like I said, she's a bit overwhelmed. She needs time to process, so I was thinking we'd spend the night with your father. However, if you're not comfortable with it yet, you spend the night with a friend, as long as that person is responsible, like Matt," Elena said. Her plan was for them both to stay with Elijah, but on the drive over, she realized that her son might not be ready yet.

Jeremy smiled mischievously. "So, not Tyler then?"