Elena boarded a plane, and as she sat down in her seat, she closed her eyes, feeling Elijah's lips on hers, transporting her to the morning they had spent together.

Flashback

💕She melted against Elijah, feeling as if every breath she took came from him. She placed sweet tingling kisses down his jaw. She continued her exploration down his neck,making him moan softly, tangling his hands in her long hair and moaning her name, which inflamed her even more. She caressed him gently, feeling his body quiver pressing against her. His body molded to hers and he now slipped inside her, thrusting deeper.

A wave of sweet pleasure rushed through them bringing a hoarse gasp out of their throats, lips now melting together as their pleasure brought them even higher. Elena now dug her hands in his hair, clenching her body around his as they came.

Elijah held her against his chest, both catching their breath back. His hands stroked her back gently, showering her with tiny pecks on the lips.

Whispers of I-love-yous intermingled more sweet kisses.

And they would have stayed like this forever. Never to face reality. But the reality bit back. Harshly.

As Elijah put his phone down, he took Elena back into his arms,"This was the lawyer- Laney Boggs-Siller."

"I don't know that one?! Elena said.

"She is a criminal law attorney. A friend from childhood. I asked her to look into Stefan Salvatore's case."

"Yeah? Whoa"

"Before I went down to Mexico, I have asked her to take the case. And she has got great news."

"What?"

"She moved the motion and Stefan will be released."

"What? Just like that? How is that possible?" Elena couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"She has found irregularities in the trial. Something in the timeline of Stefan's wherabouts and Katherine's testimony does not match, as well as those of Vicky Donovan. She can explain that better."

"OMG. No." Elena jumped up as if she was struck by a lightning.

"What's wrong, Elena?"

"No, oh, no. This will break his heart."

"Elena,what are talking? Whose heart will be broken?"

"Matt's." Elena said.

"What - Oh-" Elijah clicked on."Vicky Donovan killed Damon!? But why would she do that? "

"OMG-how could it dawn to me now - after all these years-"

"Elena?"

"I didn't want to believe this, but now - it came together- huh-Katherine and Vicky were - together - I should have clicked on - "

"You mean they had a - secret relationship?" Elijah raised an eyebrow poignantly.

"Yeah- Vicky would often sleep over at our house. I told you that their mom had a drink problem. And even in High School they would hang around together, even though Vicky was nearly two years older than us. Once, when we were in college, I found her in Katherine's bed, sleeping together, but just sleeping, you know, though Vicky had her arm around Katherine - but I didn't think anything of it."

"They were lovers, but I guess, Katherine never wanted to make it public?! " Elijah said.

"Looks like it. And Vicky dated a woman later - for a while. But, she broke up with her." Elena said. "Katherine was hooking up with Damon. I found that out after. Huh - God-I guess, she didn't like it. HUH- I-"

"Vicky died in a drunk-drive car crash, right?" Elijah recalled.

"Yes."

"I have a terrible feeling Katherine caused it, hasn't she?"

Elena sighed now and tears flooded in her eyes, overwhelmed by the realization and she could not stop herself from crying.

Elijah embraced the brunette, holding her tight, letting her cry it all out.

Hours later, as Elena calmed down, and Elijah returned to the hotel after seeing his brother, they sat down to talk some more.

"I have thought about everything" - Elena said - "and - I don't want to continue with this -"

"Yes" Elijah said interjected, taking her hands in his, adding-"I spoke to Laney about it all. And this is what we should do- You go back to Mystic Falls, or rather New York. We will make out that you, Elena, were in New York all this time. Everyone knows that - uhm - after 'your' memory returned, 'our' relationship was strained again. I - will assume whole responsibility and - like we agreed - say that we had - a relationship. And, well, then, you can come back as yourself. What do you think? I know it's not ideal, but, we can't go on like - we were, and I don't want to."

"What about your - reputation-and - oh, everything will be ruined because of us, me and Katherine!"

"Work is not everything. And - I have enough money if I wish to retire now. I can do it."

"But, you love working. Making deals." Elena said.

"I can always act from the shadows. Family is what means everything to me. I lost already, my parents, my sister. Nearly my brother. I want to be there to see this baby born, be with you. Marry you - one day. After I - divorce her."

"Marry me?" Elena slipped like in a dazed daydream.

"I am sorry this came out - so unromantic -" Elijah said.

Elena shook her head slightly now. "It's ok. First you have to divorce her, and knowing Katherine, she will not like it."

"I do not care whether she likes it or not! After everything she has done, she has no say!" Elijah stressed out somewhat angered.

"She mentioned that you had no prenuptial agreement" Elena reminded him.

"True. The silly fool-me was so in love that - huh- nevermind- all my property and all that I have got is being
signed over into Klaus' name. I will have nothing. Well, until I get the divorce. So,the first thing when I return to New Orleans, I will petition for divorce. Maybe this will smoke her out."✨

On the plane now, the air-hostess brought Elena back from her thoughts.

"Would you like a drink?"

"Club-soda." Elena said to the woman."Thank you."

Elena took the drink and gazed out of the window into the dark night.

🎇

On the private Mikaelson jet on the way to New Orleans, Elijah explained in detail what was went on in the last few months to his brother and his wife. Caroline and Klaus listened to this fantastic story like it was something from the books.

"All this time, it was Katherine's sister Elena?" Caroline looked wide-eyed at her husband. "Wow!"

"You have to promise me that you will keep it to yourself. Please. If not for me, for my child."

"You are - seriously in love with Katherine's sister? She played you, too. I don't get it how you could fall for her?!" Caroline said.

"She was blackmailed into it. A man's life was at stake, innocent life- and - if - I was in the exact same position - I think I would do the same."

"Cheat and lie? That's not you, Elijah" Caroline said.

"I think that we are not many things until we get cornered and - are in that particular situation." Elijah said.

"He is right." Klaus said."You don't know until you are in a no win situation - you can't know what you would do. You saved my life. We will save yours, so to speak."

Klaus looked at his wife poignantly, and Caroline nodded. Still angry by being played, "Don't expect me to be friends with - her - Elena. Nor Katherine for that matter. I am done."

Elijah nodded sighing a little now. "Thank you"

"We are brothers. Always and Forever." Klaus said.

"Always and Forever" Elijah said remembering their childhoid oath they gave to one another.

Elijah now turned to the window, looking into the darkness. His thoughts floating to Elena now.

Elena arrived in the Mikaelson New York penthouse apartment, and put the bag down on the side chair.

She took a moment now. There was immense happines in her, as well as deep sadness. Elijah loved her, there was a baby on the way, Stefan will be released, but then there was Matt and the revelation that his sister killed her boyfriend Damon. And her sister, who obviously got rid of Vicky, like Matt had said. Her sister, who will come blazing at her door when she returns. And she will return. Elena knew Katherine all too well. And she knew that she was capable of anything. A strange kind of fear now crept inside her.

And then, like a devil got into her, she now took her bag and walked out of the apartment.

Elena, what are you doing? Have faith. In yourself, in Elijah. Stop. Go back! No. I can't. You don't know what she is like and what she can do. And she can do the unthinkable. You don't know her like I do. And I can't have anything happen to the baby. I can't.

Drawing a big amount of cash now, Elena got a taxi and said to the driver.

"JFK Airport."

An hour later, just as she was about to board the plane, she sent this message to Elijah before she tossed the phone away in the garbage bin.

"I love you like I never loved anyone ever before. You are the most wonderful man I have ever met, and I will always remember what we had together. Forever. ♥️ Elena."