As Elena arrived at the hospital, Meredith caught up with her and told her what had happened to Bonnie. Zoe waited in front of Bonnie's room. 

"She is fine!"- Zoe informed Elena as she now met her. 

"Yes"- "Meredith told me that the vampire blood worked. You haven't told her about me?" 

"No"- Zoe replied. Elena nodded and before entering the room she knocked at the door. Leaving the door ajar, and so Zoe could see the two friends hug. All seemed right in the world for a moment. Soon the three women were on the way to Bonnie's house where Alicia was waiting for them, as she wanted to discuss what options they had left to take down Silas before the full moon passes and he stays on this side. As they all got in the house, Alicia sealed the house with a spell so that noone was able to hear them or disturb their talk. As they finished an hour later, Elena got out of the house and got into the SUV to drive back to the Lockwood mansion. sending Elijah a message that she was on her way. She willed herself not to think about the ritual. Her thoughts were directed on him holding her and taking some of the stress away. 

She found him as she walked into the Mansion watching a silent movie. He could see that she was agitated. 

"Hold me"- she said, and without questioning anything he did as she asked. He then enquired about Bonnie and Elena replied that everything was fine, the vampire blood stopped the hemorrhaging, but the plans had to change as Bonnie wasn't able to participate in the ritual.

"The vampire blood in Bonnie now interferes with the link, Alicia said that it soils witches blood... but I don't want to think about it now" 

"Come on"- he then said- "you need some rest"- and they both went to one of the bedrooms and layed down on the bed. She nestled up in his arms. 

"Sleep"- he said caressing her hair gently listening to her regular heartbeat as she was slowly falling asleep feeling secure and relaxed.  

'Love is not real unless it is returned' - those words were with him from the day Katerina had uttered them, and now he understood the full meaning of them. He placed a peck on the little corner of her eye, she moved a little making herself more comfortable.  

*

The following day Caroline went to visit Bonnie. They discussed Elena and her transformation. 

"Do you really believe that she is all right with this? Remember what happened to Alaric. You know what some witches are capable of. I mean Elena could kill us all " 

"This is different, Caroline"- Bonnie said- "unlike Esther, Alicia didn't use dark magic to create a hunter - she just triggered her existing gene. Elena was meant to be a hunter, same as us witches, we lose our powers if we become vampires, so Elena had to be human again, so the hunter in her could be brought forward" 

"And you just trust that Original witch, Esther was an Original witch. That didn't turn out good."-Caroline said. 

"And I am not messed up? Look at me Caroline!-I almost died" -she paused and then said -" my grandma was right - and my mum- just wouldn't listen- I thought I knew it all"- 

"So you trust that witch?" 

"We have nothing now. Since the Cure is taken and Silas will not let go until he gets it, and there is no Cure to get anymore- and the only chance to kill him is on Saturday- as it is the exact full moon on the exact same day the immortality spell was done, this is when we are able to reverse it and he will be an ordinary vampire and Elena can kill him." 

"Why did she keep Elena away from us, she must have manipulated Elena into doing so, or Elijah did, and all of a sudden she is in love with Elijah, I don't buy it?!" 

"Elena said she wanted to stay-and I get her. Too much had happened to her- and if she never came back I wouldn't blame her!"- Bonnie said - "She wants to make good and now she can actually do it". 

Caroline was miffed, but she didn't say anything anymore- she let things be, and waited to see how it all pans out.  

*

In the Lockwood mansion, Elena had just woken up with Elijah next to her wishing her good morning. 

"It's good for this part- "she said - "sorry about last night - I fell asleep on you." 

"Sh-Sh-"- he placed a peck on her lips, and she returned it.  

"You need all the peace you can get." 

"Peace. Yes., it really is peaceful here."- she sat up rubbing her eyes, then yawed a bit. 

"I'm sorry, I must look a mess." 

"A beautiful mess."- he teased her a bit. Then sat up himself, gently rubbing off some of her mascara that got smudged. She wanted to go to the bathroom, but he stopped her softly. He trailed with his thumb to her lips brushing over them sensually. She could see the amber in his eyes flicker with desire. She didn't want to wait for eventually, and from the moment when all her emotions were restored, she had dreamed about this whenever she recalled the kiss from Willoughby. He kissed her, and she responded fervently.  

"Love me"- she gasped. 

*

Alicia and Zoe revised the spell and how to override it just using Bonnie's blood that Meredith gave them from the blood bank she had stored. 

"This is the only way and this is how it will be done"- Alicia then said and closed the scroll. 

"What about the veil?"-Zoe asked -" Wth the sacrifices done it has already been disturbed". 

"One thing at the time." 

"I like Bonnie"- Zoe said- "her heart is in the right place and she is loyal to her friends." 

"She is"- Alicia said- "but stubborn- and way too sure of herself, which is not a bad trait, but being misguided nearly cost her life. It will be hard to let go of Expression. It's like addiction-it will be calling her to use it again." 

"I am ready. Shall we go?" 

"Yes, let's go to the place where the point of the triangle is - call Elena, please." 

They collected all that was necessary and went to the woods. 

***************************************** 

Elena and Elijah now laid together in silence savouring the moments after having made love, caressing one another and purposely ignoring the world and the incisive buzzing of Elena's phone. 

"They will call me crazy for falling in love with you"- Elena said. 

"Do you care?"- he asked as he places a peck on her nose. 

"No, I don't! I only care about staying here forever!" 

He looked at her again in the manner as if she would disappear any second and he would be left with an empty space and a hollow pained heart. 

"Elijah"- she said as if calling him back to her from a different plane. " what is it?" 

"Nothing, my dear. There is a poem that reminded me of you" 

"A poem?"- Elena said. 

"Yes. It goes like this- 'I carry your heart with me' (by e.e. cummings)" he then recited- 

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

She put her head on his chest and they just lay there in silence. Soon they will have to go and face whatever is coming, but now none of it mattered, just them. 

**************

Sometime later that day Elena answered all her missed calls. 

"All is ready I gather"- Elijah said, as she put the phone aside. 

"All is ready"- she said- taking his hand- " I will see you later-and-whatever happens - I want you to know that  the letter- it meant a lot-" 

"Elena, I know!"- Elijah said and kissed her. 

With a heavy heart she left the Lockwood mansion. He didn't follow her, as Alicia requested he leaves the Falls. It was important that he would be away. First stop Elena had to make was Zoe's apartement, where she and Alicia had to discuss some small changes that would take place. The second stop was the Grill, where she arranged to meet Stefan. 

As soon as she walked into the Griill he could see the change in her and all that Matt had told him was so very obvious. She wasn't the helpless girl, who once needed his shoulder to lean on. Her confident walk reminded him of Katherine somewhat, but when she got to him, a little sweet smile said it was the same sweet Elena. 

"Hey, Stefan. What did you do with Damon?"- she joked a little. 

"Well, your witch intercepted us when we got back and helped me contain him in the house....as agreed." 

"I can imagine how furious he is, same as Caroline-but-thank you Stefan. I am sorry that you went behind his back-again." 

Stefan then suggested to go out of the Grill. They continued walking in no particular direction.. 

"He is my brother, and I love him "- Stefan then said -" but we know what he is really like, his selfishness comes first, and I get why you are doing all this- thank you for trusting me, and for all the e-mails!" 

"Thank you for keeping it to yourself anyway- and helping me" 

"I have told you before, I will always be there for you, no matter what. You were there for me too." - Stefan said dearly.

"So did Damon, but I just can't take the risk of him pulling some kind of a stun- and he always does." 

Stefan, well, as a vampire, you know- the bond and- it was all kind of a big mess " - Elena tried to make the past right.

"I know, you don't have to go there again. Where is Elijah?" - the vampire asked.

"He had to leave. His presence could mess with Silas."- Elena explained.  

Stefan knew about her transformation, as she had sent him e-mails, in which she explained all that had been happening, and that she was with Elijah. It cut him deep, but he understood, and being in love with That she had feelings for Elijah didn't surprise him in the slightest as he remembered vividly how fervently she had advocated that the Original didn't deserve to die. He knew back then that Elijah had already had a special place in her heart and it was clear to him that it was only the matter of time when Elijah would win all of her affections. 

"I want you to be happy. I really do!"- he said. 

"Happy?!- "-Elena repeated the word - "I will try. It's not the easiest thing to do- ah, Stefan" 

"You know you can always count on me. No matter what." 

" Thank you, Stefan."- Elena nodded a little giving the vampire a small smile and then said-" I got to go." 

"There is one thing I have to ask though. Why are you not killing us all then - like the Five?" 

"Well, it's called evolution, as Alicia explained, or maybe because I have that strange gift of compassion, or because I know you, and feel redemption in you - or I am not a robo-killer machine- same as humans, vampires-not all of them are monsters. Unless they let themselves become one, and it is not so straight forward-and there are far worse demonic creatures than vampires, and you think it is unbelievable, but it is true. Expression is the cause of it" 

"This is goodbye." - Stefan then said.

"Not forever." - she then turned away and he looked after her as she walked away.  

"Every end is some kind of a beginning'- he thought as he watched her leave.

Elena headed for the woods, where the witches were waiting for her. 

"Have they left?"- Alicia asked Elena referring to Stefan and Elijah. She nodded. As the three witches got ready to prepare the ritual, Elena thought of what Alicia told her earlier '"He wants revenge on Qetsiyah- and we will create an illusion that she had actually crossed the veil to this side- realizing him from where Bonnie contained him. He will most probably try to take a form of someone you loved- so, remember what I taught you- where to focus your emotions in that very moment- an evil like him will stop at nothing to get what he wants or reverse the situation to his benefit.' 

Bonnie looked at her friend taking a most unusual sword out of the SUV. It was a sword tha t by the prohecy only the female member of the Gilbert family who has the hunter's mark could use it. It bore the name Ray of Light, written in runic alphabet. Alicia gave it to Elena on the day they left the Plantation for the Falls.-This is your sword and it does not bear your name by chance, you are the weakness of every immortal being that does not respect the law of nature, Elena. 

Bonnie feared for her friend, yet swore that she will trust her and the witch that is now commanding the ritual. 

Alicia looked at the moon that was nearing the zenith. The three witches formed the triangle, and although Bonnie's powers were limited at that time, she still was essential in creating the illusion, as she was Qetsiyah's descendant. Elena waited in Alicia's shadow- so Silas would not see her. 

And so it came to pass. Elena didn't hesitate for a second when she had to strike and behead Silas, then ripping his heart out. And, as Alicia had told her she found the strength within her character. It came natural to her. Seeing the ancient vampire's body shrivel, she felt an unusual notion of energy streaming through her whole body. 

"Elena- "Alicia then called her aside- as Zoe and Bonnie started purifying the ground with a spell- "here is someone you wanted to say goodbye to!" 

Elena looked around and all of a sudden Jeremy stood there - "Jer-"she uttered her eyes tearing up- she wanted to hug him but she couldn't. Although the veil was not put down-Alicia created a visible area between the two worlds. 

Elena could hear him- "Hey- "he said -" I missed you so much!" 

"Oh,Jeremy, me too, every day. I'm so sorry"- she said- "all this was because of me." 

"You look so different"- he said.- " but I like it. This suits you- you have some cool new friends- I don't know how I feel about Elijah, but you know what you are doing big sis" 

"How do you" 

"I can see you...some time I follow you... I was there at the house yesterday..... I love you!" 

"I love you too"- and then the opening vanished. She stood there for a moment tears streaming down her eyes. 

Bonnie came up to her and the two women hugged." I will be all right"- she uttered wiping them off. This was an extraordinary gift Alicia prepared for her. 

"Elena, it's so crazy how things go!"- Bonnie said- "what you did there- wow! You really kicked some ass!" 

"Elena Gilbert, the hunter!"- Elena joked now. 

"You're staying?" 

"Yeah, I have to meet Elijah!" 

"Ok, I get it! See you then." 

Elena  went to her SUV. She took her phone and dialed Elijah's number. 

"Elijah- Yes, I am fine. It's done. I will stay at the Boarding House. Then I need to say goodbye to Matt and Caroline properly. I will see you there- I love you."

When she arrived at the Boarding House she met a very unwelcoming Damon, who wasn't happy since he had been kept out of the whole thing.  

"Huntress, ha!? You had some great time, I hear"- he snarked. 

"Damon! It isn't like that. I could snap your neck right now, but-I am not like that. I came here to say goodbye-and thank you for all that you have done for me." 

"But now you have a new vampire in shining armour! Of the Original kind?!" 

"I knew it would be this. That's why I kept it from you." 

"What is it with what we had?"- he then threw the emotional card at her. 

"You were never in love with me"- Elena said calmly - "you always wanted Katherine, and you tried to make me be her." 

"And you think that Elijah doesn't want the same?"- he said stroppily referring to Elijah. Stefan stood aside. 

She gave him a look saying that she will not dignify it with an answer and walked out of the Boarding House. 

At the Grill, her friends waited for her to have one last drink together. They revisited some good and some bad times, memories of school and all they've been through together growing up. 

"I will forgive you for locking me in Bonnie's house"- Caroline said- "I guess I deserved it, but guys- Elena is not going to be here for the Graduation." 

"I guess I graduated tonight... I will do the formal thing too....and the college that is waiting for me is not something I am looking forward to. Alicia can really be super strict!"- Elena said referring to the witch's relentless nature. 

They talked a little while longer. The goodbye was very tearful, but each one of them had to follow their yellow brick road. They promised that they will always be there for one another no matter what. 

Having changed the rendezvous point, Elena arrived at the Wickery bridge, where Elijah was waiting for her. As he got into the SUV, she smiled at him and greeted him warmly. 

" Home?"- she said- 

"Yes."- he replied- and she drove over the bridge.