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English
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Part 1 of See You Later
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ʚ tvdu ɞ
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Published:
2023-10-21
Words:
1,102
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1/1
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I'll Be Here

Summary:

Elijah comes to say goodbye to Elena when she goes into her coma.

(Replacing the Delena goodbye with an Elejah one instead)

Notes:

Just a bittersweet little thing that came to me while I was listening to "see you later(ten years)" by Jenna Raine. I highly recommend listening to the song as you read!

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

Her heart is heavy with the goodbyes that she has endured; Jeremy and Ric, Bonnie and Caroline, Matt and even Tyler. It is hard to breathe as she thinks about the tears that cascaded down her baby brother's face and her chest aches at the thought of feathers floating around her bedroom with Bonnie and Caroline. But just as she says her final goodbye to her friends and family, Elena turns and inhales sharply at the man standing before her. For all his perfect composure, he looks absolutely wrecked.

"Elena," her name on his lips is a soft plea that makes her eyes sting with more tears. How he found out about this she has no idea, but her heart flutters in her chest at the fact that he is here.

"Elijah," she murmurs as she steps towards him, doing her best to smile. He mirrors her actions and when they are a breath apart, he lifts his hand to brush a strand of her hair behind her ear. His fingers trail softly down her face in a soft caress and she lets her eyelids flutter closed at the touch. Her tears escape despite her closed eyes and Elena feels him wipe them away with a gentle brush of his fingers and when she opens her eyes again, she is surprised by the anguish in his own dark gaze.

"I am so sorry, Elena," he murmurs and she knows he means it, despite the fact that for once his family has nothing to do with what's happening to her.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Elijah," she replies softly, "not this time," she adds, her lips turning up in bittersweet amusement. His lips twitch upwards as well and her smile grows as she stares up at him, still in a state of disbelief at his presence. "How…?" How did you know? For one reason or another, Elena can't force the words to make it past her lips, but he understands the question all the same.

"Miss Forbes," he tells her easily and she smiles. Of course it was Caroline. But then her smile falters as she thinks about how long it will be until she sees her again and that she will most likely never see Bonnie, Jer, Ric or Matt again. She feels Elijah's hand on her cheek again as his fingers brush away more of her tears. "We will find a way to stop this. I give you my word, Elena," he says it so surely, but she can't help the doubt she feels. The man before her must see it in her face though, because he continues. "Kol is on his way to Europe as we speak to reclaim all of the grimoires he has left scattered across the continents," he tells her firmly and she is slightly shocked that the youngest Mikaelson brother would ever agree to help her.

"Kai said-"

"Malachai Parker is a child in the world of witchcraft, Elena. I assure you, Kol and Freya will find a way to fix this," Elijah's tone brooks no argument and Elena just bites her lip, unwilling to argue when all her heart wants to do is believe him.

"Thank you," she says quietly, watching the harsh determination in his eyes soften to something more delicate as he looks at her. Then he holds out a hand to her and she can tell he is doing his best to keep himself together. Without a word, she slips her hand into his and lets him pull her close, his other hand finding her hip as hers finds his shoulder. Her heart flutters in her chest as he moves, leading her in a delicate waltz across the forest floor.

There is no music, but it doesn't matter to either of them, she knows. She lets him guide her through the dance, and she's not sure if it is her mind or his that brings the rain; she thinks perhaps a combination, their emotions manifesting physically in a temporary world that is shared only by the two of them. Her eyes don't ever leave his as they dance, raindrops mixing with the tears on her cheeks -on his too, though she is content to let him pretend they are not. He twirls her around their imaginary dance floor of soft dirt and rainwater, spinning her out to the end of his reach before pulling her back in against his chest.

They are both soaked by the time their dancing slows, and Elena finds herself held tightly against his chest with her arms looped around his neck, his forehead pressed to hers. Their feet still move to a silent melody, bodies swaying together as the rain pours down around them. At some point, Elena's eyes had closed, but she opens them now, gazing up at the man before her to find that he is staring at her just the same. Her lips tilt up just a touch as she lets her fingers slip up into his hair, finally allowing herself to do what she's wanted to for years.

Elena watches the surprise flash across his face at the feeling of her hands in his hair. His eyes close, his face softening, and she smiles. She lets her fingers run through his hair for another moment as she builds up her courage. Then with a gentle grip in his hair, the brunette pulls him down towards her and presses her lips to his. Elijah's body goes still for a moment, but then he's kissing her back and his hands on her hips pull her closer. Her fingers tighten in his hair and she feels his hands slide from her hips up over her back until one comes up to cradle her head. The kiss tastes like raindrops and salt and promises, and when it ends, both of them have fresh tears trickling down their cheeks with the rain.

Elijah's forehead rests against hers for a long moment as they stand there in each other's arms, unwilling to let go. But time is not in their favor, and eventually he lifts his head and presses his lips to her forehead in a soft gesture. She opens her mouth to say goodbye, but Elijah manages to speak first. "I will see you later, lovely Elena," he murmurs against her skin before he steps back, caressing her cheek once more. This is not goodbye, his eyes say as he gazes down at her. Elena chooses to believe him as she leans up to give him one last soft, chaste kiss.

"See you later, Elijah," she whispers.

Notes:

As always, comments and feedback feed my soul!

Love you all <3

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