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a/n: a bit busy, so just drabbles for now_

_thank you for reading. 🥰⚘

I so appreciate it. 😘

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For the first time in a very long while, Elijah felt that life finally had real meaning.

Having touched down in Spain, he had a call from Kol.

"I applaude you, brother," Kol said,"finally, you saw sense."

"Well, thank you. I must say that I never thought you'd be the one that made me see that Love is above all." Elijah said.

"It's Sophie that I actually got to give the credit to. She made me see that it's the only thing that makes sense in this life. And it doesn't mean you love your family less and that you're giving it up. You're allowed to live your own life, too. Keep in touch."

"I will. Takkarer, smár bróðir." Elijah said in old norse.

Putting his phone in the blazer pocket he slipped into the Porsche Panamera waiting for him.

There comes a moment in one's life that feels like Epiphany descends on them like thousand stars dispersing at once.

And Elijah came to realize that the greatest trap in his life was not the excuse that his life was his family, his siblings, but self-rejection.

All the voices within made him constantly fall back into an old trap, before he was even fully aware of. Without realizing it, he'd find himself brooding, and then sweeping all of it under the carpet of the oath, the infamous 'always and forever'.

Parking up, a few minutes away from the Hotel, that was in the dead center of the old city, he poised himself. Taking a second.

Adjusting the sleeves of his Ralph Lauren navy blue blazer, he made his way to the hotel.

In her room, Elena checked herself out in the mirror, running her hands through her flattering brown to golden ombre hair.

She was getting ready to spend another day wondering around and exploring the most picturesque city in the world.

The reflection of the woman looking back at her in the mirror, though a vampire now, was no different than the human she once was. She had come a long way. The magic of the vampire blood Meredith had injected in her had caused her to make dubious judgments.

Flashback
Months ago

"Erasing my memories of Damon and then bringing them back put so much in perspective." Elena said to Bonnie.

"I thought it was when Kai siphoned the magic out of you?"

"That absolutely. But before that - I just felt I had to question my feelings - all of them. And - I admit I was attracted to Damon, but there was nothing that could make me fall in love with him." Elena said.

"How about Elijah?" Bonnie asked.

"Can we not talk about him."

"Why?"

"Though we kissed - well he thought he kissed Katherine in Willoughby. And that says it all. He will never be interested in me."

Elena applied a sheer lightweight matt lipstick.

Happy with her look, she strolled out of her room and sped up to catch the lift.

To forget about Elijah for at least half a day.

But it was not to be as she had planned, because, there he was. In the hotel lobby talking to the receptionist.

She stopped dead. Seeing him standing there in the hotel lobby felt like thunderbolt hit her.

Her breath caught in her throat and her heart jumped, her whole being responding to the sight of him as it always had done.

"Elijah" she slipped unintentionally in a half-whisper.

"Elena" Elijah muttered turning away from the receptionist.

Caroline! Elena sighed inwardly. Who else would tell him where she was.

Composing herself rashly, she walked to him.

"What are you doing here? How did you -?"

"Can we please talk?" Elijah cut straight to the point, his soft earthy brown eyes supplicated.

Though he was one man incredibly sure of himself, this time he stood in front of her completely tensed up.

Elena nodded. Refusing him was ludicrous, because she knew that he was listening to her heart.

She gestured to the lift and he followed her.

Both kept quiet till they got into her room.

"What is it? Why are you here?" Elena licked her lips annoyed somewhat.

"I've come-" Elijah paused for a second, his face softening, and yet, a serious streak transpired. "I've come to tell you that - from the moment I met you, you have stirred me, my feelings up in a way I had never expected it could ever be again."

"Elijah" Elena cut in, but he raised his hand slightly, asking her politely to let him finish.

"All right" Elena uttered.

"In my heart, I felt unworthy of you. And so I dimmed my feelings. Denied myself to hope that you could feel something for me. And I know what I've said in Manosque - but the truth is different. The truth is that I've loved you - all this time - I loved you. I wanted you. There. I don't want to run away from it. No more. You are everything I've ever wanted. Everything."

_to be continued