Dream-like state

Confession

They all stared at us for a few minutes as I wound my fingers around Kol's. Obviously it was a complete shock to everyone that not only was their brother back from the dead, but that I was here with him. In one night, my life had completely changed. Yesterday, I was Damon's girlfriend, today, they find out I'm Kol's soul mate. It was completely understandable confusion. I think the only people it made any sense to were Kol and I.

"I don't think being bound is the only thing between them." I heard Rebekah mutter to Klaus, who, to my surprise, laughed.

"Would the two of you like to stay here?" Elijah asked with his impeccable manners. Kol almost growled at him. I would have to remember to ask him why he was so mad at Elijah, and he even seemed a little mad with Rebekah.

"No. We just wanted to stop by and say 'hello'. And I promised to take Elena home tonight." Kol replied quickly. Caroline looked at me with confusion.

"But Elena burned her house to the ground. She's been staying at the Salvatore boarding house. Right?" Caroline asked, clearly confused.

"I never said I was taking her to where she has been living. I said I was taking her home. As in our home." Kol clarified, smirking. The group of them looked even more shocked if it were possible.

"At least stay for dinner, so we can be a proper family for once?" Elijah cut in before Caroline could ask anymore questions for now. Kol looked at me, as if to ask me if it was okay. I nodded at him.

"Alright, brother, we will stay for dinner, but then we must be on our way. It's quite a long drive." Kol replied, looking away from Elijah, in fact he was looking at me the entire time. There was an awkward silence for a few minutes until Klaus spoke up.

"It seems that dinner is ready, shall we eat?" Klaus said, striding back into the silent room. We all stood up and retreated into the dining room, taking our places at the dinner table respectively. Klaus was at the head of the table, Caroline sitting next to him. I was next to Caroline and Kol sat next to me on the other side. I could tell something was off. The first course was served.

"So, Kol, tell us what the other side is like?" Klaus said looking at him curiously.

"I'd rather not. Although I will tell you that I could see each of your reactions to my death, though I wouldn't say some had any reaction at all. In fact, I could see everything that happened." Kol gritted his teeth, glaring at Elijah. Elijah had taken to hanging his head in shame.

"I see it's still a touchy subject. How about telling us how you got out of Mystic Falls without a search party out for young Elena here." Klaus said, trying to change the subject. Kol was still glaring daggers at Elijah (pun intended) and I sat my hand on his knee, snapping him out of it.

"Damon walked in at a rather bad time this morning, and clearly got very angry. He threw Elena into a wooden chair, breaking it, which would have killed her, had I not put a protective spell on her. I may have given him quite a few aneurisms before he kicked Elena and I out. Im sure that he has told the others by now, and they are most likely looking for her already. If they happen to stop by, do tell Damon I have my baseball bat waiting for him." I punched Kol in the arm, even if he did mean it seriously.

The rest of dinner, we talked about random things, mostly avoiding the topic of Kol's death. I was grateful because every time it was brought up, I felt nothing but guilt. It was my fault. All of it. Kol must have noticed something was off with me, I had barely touched my dinner.

"We should be going now, we have quite a long way to go." Kol said, holding his hand out for me take, getting out of the chair. We walked to the front door and turned to say goodbye.

"Thank you." I was completely surprised when Klaus whispered the words I had never thought he would say. I knew what he meant immediately. He was thanking me for bringing his brother back, even though it was my fault he had died in the first place. I turned away, staying quiet while Kol said goodbye to his siblings, though I didn't hear him say goodbye to Elijah.

When they were through, I had already flashed over to Kol's car and got in, not saying anything. Kol was there within seconds, getting in the car and turning it on. As we drove away, I could feel his gaze on me. I stared out the window at the scenery for what seemed like ages, my mind flashing back over what had transpired in the last few months.

"Darling, something is troubling you, what is it?" He asked with concern etched on his face. I didn't look over to him, I felt bad enough as it was.

"It's nothing." I mumbled before leaning my head against the head rest. I started looking around when I noticed he was pulling the car off to the side of the road. He put it in park and turned in his chair to look at me.

"Elena, please tell me what is wrong? Do you miss Mystic Falls, because we can go back immediately. Or is it me? Is this too much? I don't-"

"I killed you, Kol. I was the root to all of your problems to begin with. Everyone around me always ends up getting hurt or killed. Then Klaus thanks me for bringing you back and I realize that I wouldn't have had to bring you back if I hadn't put you there in the first place! You were DEAD, Kol. All because of my selfishness. I don't deserve this. I don't deserve to be with someone whom I used as collateral damage in my own game of life. I know I may not have been the one to drive the stake through your heart, but I enabled it, and I can't ever take that back." I said, sobbing uncontrollably by the end of it. It had felt good to get it off my shoulders, but it didn't make me feel any better knowing the words were true.

"So that's what this was about? You feel responsible for it? Let me tell you, darling, I had it coming. Whether it was in the form of a dagger or a stake, it was coming no matter who did it. I was a monster, and my time on the other side made me realize all of my mistakes. I do not blame you, Elena. We cannot change the past, we must move forward. Yes, I was dead for a couple months. I'm here now, I'm alive, and in much better condition than when I died. To be honest, I think it was the better route. If you hadn't had me killed, I would probably be in a box for another hundred years or so. I would have never woken up and smelled the roses, never had a chance with you, never gotten my powers back, a chance to actually live life. So if you want to feel responsible for something, feel responsible for the fact that you saved me, Elena. You kicked my bloody arse back into shape without even realizing it, and I am truly grateful. Now stop the tears, there's no need for them." I listened to his speech, allowing it to sink in. I flinched at the raw truth of his words. I didn't know what to say back to him, so i nodded slowly and after a few minutes, he started driving again.