I woke up in a dark place, I tried to move around but found that I was stuck. Confined. I didn't what I was in but I started to bang. The harder I banged the more freedom I got closer to. So I breathed in deep and banged my hardest on the walls of the place I was in. I sat up looking down to see the casket that I was trapped in "Hey babygirl" I looked up my heart jumped and I rushed over wrapping my mom in my arms. She held me tighter than I'd remembered and I let a single tear fall down my face. She smelled the same and everything, I pulled away from her to see that my father, Jenna and Isobel were here too. I stepped back a little confused by why Isobel was here "I came to say how sorry I am for the way I was when you met me. I had chosen a life I wanted but I didn't realize until too late that the cost was higher than I thought" I nodded understanding where she was coming from, vampirism changes everyone sometimes, most times not for the better.

"It's ok I forgave you a long time ago" she smiled and hugged me "Come on babygirl. Come with us we have so much to show you" I paused looking back for a second "Am I... Am I dead" no one looked me directly in the eye so I knew my answer. I was dead, that means Klaus would die too "Is there a way for me to go back" I asked "Why would you do that honey" my father asked "I left my family back there and I need to get back to them" he shook his head "You must not. You had to be at peace with your death to be here. Whatever happened you were ok with dying at the moment" I sighed "I know what I was but I have to get back. I have to get back" I said more to myself than to anyone else "Elena stay with us. At least let us show you what life could be if you stay" I nodded walking with them hesitantly and looking back at my casket.

"Everything here is so peaceful. It's everything we want it to be. Here I've made peace with hoping that one day we would be together again" my mom said wrapping her arms around me. I smiled looking around, the street we were walking down reminded me so much of my own. It was exactly like I remembered it only not what I remembered all at the same time. It was different, peaceful. I walked in my old home and hummed in content. I missed it here more than I thought I would. I didn't know how much until I sat there with my family. Jenna put on a movie and we sat there not a care in the world on our backs. I smiled more than I've smiled all year, the best part was I didn't have that nagging feeling the other shoe dad going to drop. Like something was coming, but it still wasn't right. I didn't feel complete, something was missing. I don't even know why I said something I knew exactly what was missing. Klaus.

No paradise or amount of peace felt right without having him next to me. Even now I felt a pulling to go back. I wanted to go back. I stood up smiling at my parents and hugging them "I love you guys so much" they stepped back giving me a look "But what Lena" Jenna asked "I wanna go back. I want to be with my family" my dad put his hand on my shoulders "You are with family" I shook my head "You are... but it's different now, a long time ago I would've given anything to have this. Now I just want my babies and Klaus" my mom smiled kissing my cheek "I know honey. I'll take you back" I hugged her even in this paradise she understood exactly what I needed. We walked back together, hand in hand my mother showed me back to my family.

When we got back to the coffin she sighed "If you get back in it will take you back. Elena be warned you won't be the same as when you left that world. If you go back you won't get to change your mind unless you really die" I frowned "Wait so I'm not dead" she shook her head "Not quite you're close had you stayed any longer you would be but you want to go back so here we are. I love you so much and I'm so proud of you" I smiled as she kissed my forehead then stepped back and watched me get in the casket. I closed it slowly giving my parents and Jenna one last look before shutting the door. As soon as it closed I felt the familiar jolt of waking up after a nightmare. I breathed heavily looking around trying to steady my rapidly beating heart. I looked around I hadn't moved from the space I was in when I was killed. The bed was slightly dried up with my blood. The smell making my mouth water slightly.

I sat up my head pounding hard and my ears ringing a little. The faint smell of blood made my stomach almost growl. I knew what was happening, I knew what I was. I stumbled toward the mirror and looked myself over. I jumped back my eyes a bright golden color, the color I thought only Klaus and his hybrids had. I touched my face the veins strange to see under my eyes. I put my hands on my stomach and the bump I remember was no longer there. I shoved my hunger into a corner and growled. Where are my babies?! The thought made my blood boil and I moved fast throughout the house looking for someone who would help me find them. I paused when I felt a presence behind me and quickly pressed that person against the wall "Elena" Rebekah asked more than confused about my sudden resurrection.

"Where did she go" she frowned for a moment "Who... what's the last thing you remember" I rolled my eyes "I remember that bitch ripping my babies out of my arms and killing me where is she!??" Rebekah grabbed my arms but I only shrugged them off "Elena calm down. Klaus went after her a little while ago he's not been back I don't know where they are" I growled punching the wall "Where's Esther" I asked "She's gone too. I'm sorry Elena but Klaus asked me to stay here and... clean up" my anger simmered down a little, he asked her to clean me and the room up. I sighed and took in a deep breath, a smell hit me that threw my entire train of thought off course. I ignored whatever Rebekah was saying and walked out following the smell. I turned corners and went down unfamiliar streets until I stood in the middle of a warehouse I knew little of.

"Well, well, well, what are you doing here Ms. Gilbert I thought I killed you" my senses sharpened and I could hear the faint cries of my babies not far from here. Overtop of them I could hear Freya attempt to keep them quiet. The sound of her voice and Freya's at the same time tipped me over the edge. It was like the time in the woods but different Dahlia had power and she wasn't going to go down easy. I clawed at her but she threw me into walls my teeth would graze her skin but she would hit me with a aneurysm. All this seemed to do was make it worse I got angrier and angrier until I had just started to shift. My bones cracked and grew until I was a wolf. I had rushed off in the darkness waiting for her to let her guard down. She looked around the room and narrowed her eyes at the spaces she thought I'd hidden. I knew she could find me if I stood close so instead I was out of building and I would rush up behind her.

I dug my paws in the ground beneath me and closed my eyes readying myself for attack. I waited a moment and just as I was about to take off and attack her I'd heard another voice "You think... you can come into my home take from me, kill my mate, and live. No. You will pay greatly for underestimating my thirst for revenge" she chuckled "No I think you've greatly underestimated your power" I listened closely hearing several more feet walk in "No sister. You have overestimated yours. I have created a dead zone here in this space so you have no power here" Esther spoke "You think a simple spell can negate my power" I could hear her struggle to make a spell "No but it will slow you down" I smirked deciding I would take my chance. I pushed off the ground running faster than I ever have through the wall into her body. She screamed out as I knawed on her shoulder tearing at the muscle. I bit down as hard as I could before dropping her and clamping my jaw instead around her neck.

"Tell me Dahlia. How will you get out of this one" Esther said "Back away child I will finish her" I pulled off of her ripping the skin of her neck a little as I did. My wolf backed away a little growling at the woman. Dahlia got up slowly stumbling over her own feet. Her blood dripped from my jaws and I licked my lips completing my transformation. I watched as Esther cut her hand and shoved the same knife into Dahlia's stomach. Dahlia watched her sister with wide eyes and Esther watched Dahlia with tear filled ones. Dahlia whimpered as she wilted and turned to ash before our eyes. All the anger rushing through me never stopped and I pushed through everyone to get to Freya. Freya stood beyond frightened holding my daughter. I changed into human form my claws leftover and I grabbed her pushing into the wall.

"Elena please! I was trying to save my family! Dahlia said she would kill through everyone to get to the babies I figured if she took them you'd have more time to figure out how to defeat her" her cries fell on deaf ears "Elena the baby!" I heard Esther say in the distance and briefly my eyes flickered to Hope in her arms. Seeing her hold my baby only made me more angry "ELENA! LET HER GO BEFORE SHE DROPS HOPE" that voice cut through all the others and instantly I let go. Stepping back from Freya and breathing heavily. Esther rushed over and took Hope from Freya as Klaus walked over to the two of us. He wrapped his arms around me and threw his jacket on my arms before kissing my head "And you talk about me having a temper" I laughed a little laying my head against him exhaustion taking over me.

"As for you you've done more than enough to be killed here and now but because mother would probably never let me I'm going to let you go. I don't wanna see you anywhere near my home or any of us again but rest assured if I ever do.... I promise I will take a great deal of pleasure and time in torturing you and killing you" he said looking Freya dead in the eye before turning away, picking up Henry, and leaving. I brought my babies back to the Mikealson compound and felt my body relax at the feeling of being back home. We headed to the nursery where we put the now sleeping twins in their crib. Klaus wrapped his arms around me again "Why does the world keep trying to take you from me" I shook my head "I don't know but you shouldn't worry because every time it tries I always come back" he smiled putting his forehead against mine and making a sound of content.

"I have never seen family as a strength or really any power in trusting my family but when it comes to you and the babies... I can't convince myself to care. Whether you make me stronger or prove to be another target I wouldn't change a thing in my life if it meant not having you" hearing him say that about the babies only made my heart jump "You've got us and family always and forever Nik" he paused for a moment and pulled me closer "Say it again" I bit my lip wrapping my arms around his neck "Say it again" he said a little louder squeezing my hips making me squeal "Nik" I said kissing him softly, it was like I was back in paradise again. I could feel the same peace surrounding me, and this I didn't ever want to leave I was truly at peace. Whether the other shoe dropped or not I would be fine as long as I spent eternity with my family.

•the end•