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Esther Mikaelson could be described as nothing if not intense.
In another world, Elena would have followed her orders and allowed the woman to kill her children; but in that world, she couldn't bring herself to do it, she cared too much for Elijah to condemn him to an untimely death, or, more precisely, one so cruel and cowardly.
Klaus deserved to die, but he hadn't been born cruel; he was the product of repeated and escalating abuse at the hands of his parents, the very people Elena truly loathed.
Finn might have chosen death, but his siblings didn't want that, and they weren't going to die.
After telling Elijah not to drink the champagne, Elena had stepped outside, weary and stressed from the evening's events, and fully aware of the enemy she had made by defying Esther.
It was only a matter of time before Esther sought revenge, and Elena would be the one to face her wrath, yet again.
“Elena,” Elijah said, joining her and smiling warmly, though his eyes narrowed when he noticed her arms trembling; he immediately draped his jacket over her shoulders.
“Thank you,” Elena smiled, happily clutching the jacket and the warmth it provided.
“It’s nothing,” Elijah said, brushing off her gratitude before offering his arm to escort her. “Tell me,” he continued once they were far enough away from the other vampires, “why was I denied the chance to enjoy the delicious champagne I’d picked out myself?”
“Your mother... she, uh...” Elena swallowed hard, searching for the right words to tell a man who valued family above all else that his mother wanted him and all his siblings dead. “We were told that whoever was in the coffin would serve as a weapon against Klaus.”
“Of course,” Elijah nodded, “but my mother wants peace in the family.”
“She asked for my blood, Elijah. To link all her children. If Finn, who is helping her, is killed, you’ll all die.” Elena blurted it out, deciding to just rip off the metaphorical Band-Aid.
Elijah had never looked more devastated than he did in that exact moment.
“I’m sorry,” Elena said, knowing the pain Elijah must be feeling. “She seemed rather… I mean, she convinced herself on the Other Side that she’d made a mistake, and…”
“You are not to blame, adorable Elena,” Elijah said. His gaze was warm as he looked at her. “You saved us, even though my siblings hurt you.”
“I don’t know Kol, and I blame Stefan, Damon, and your parents for what happened to Rebekah and Klaus,” Elena said, “but I wouldn’t have let you die, Elijah.”
The vampire smiled, stepping closer to Elena and kissing her cheek, a light, gentle touch. “Thank you, Elena,” Elijah whispered. “Your compassion is a gift. Cherish it and carry it with you, always and forever.”
Elena swallowed hard, then watched as Elijah walked toward the house, perhaps to kill his mother, or perhaps to warn his siblings of her plans and stop Klaus from killing her again. Or to join him, it could be either.
As she watched him, Elena realized she was still wearing his jacket.
Just as she was about to call out to him, Elena realized she didn’t want to give the jacket back to Elijah. Instead, she turned and walked home, hoping to avoid anyone who might speak to her and make her regret having made the right choice.
And Elijah’s jacket was very warm.