Kol had driven almost 14 hours straight and he knew Elena was restless, thankfully she had slept most of the way and had woken up about an hour from home. They hadn't spoken, both lost in thought on how to tell her friends about Tyler. Kol wish things had been different, but he reasoned with himself all the way from New Orleans that he did it to protect her. What had scared him more was afterwards imagining what she thought of him. Then relief had went through him when she started packing so they could leave...together.
Elena sat quietly thinking about what had happened and why Tyler came after her. She knew Kol had been upset with the fact she saw him kill Tyler and that he had to do it all. It broke her heart, him thinking that she would feel differently about him. She reached over putting her hand on top his that rested on the center console. Kol looked over at her as she looked at him and smiled. Their bond becoming stronger than either of them imagined.
Just as they had pulled up to the house Caroline had come bounding down the steps grabbing Elena in a hug. As she stepped back Caroline could tell something was wrong from the way Elena was trying to avoid looking at her, so was Kol.
"I know it's none of my business but did you two get in a fight on the way back home?" Caroline asked looking back and forth between the two.
"No, can we go inside there's something I need to tell you" Elena said finally making eye contact.
As they walked into the house Caroline had a sense of dread, because Elena had that same look when her parents had died. Cold seemed to wash over her as she sat down on the couch while Elena sat opposite of her on the love seat while Kol stood beside her. Elijah caught Kol's eye and motioned for him to come out into the hallway.
"I'll be right back" Kol said to Elena as she too saw his brother beckoning him.
"I'm starting to not want to know what happened down in New Orleans" Caroline said hesitantly.
"Trust me, I am not looking forward to this either" Elena said dreading how Matt and her were going to react.
"How are you holding up?" Elijah asked.
"It depends on how they take the news...I could have lost her Elijah. I have no idea what he planned to do to her and I couldn't let that happen. Then to make matters worse she saw the whole thing...I never wanted her to see that side of me again and yet...." Kol whispered.
"Yet she did and she stood by you, don't lose sight of that. Once they know why you did it I believe they will understand. Rebekah and I here to back you up along with Elena. Well our other guest has arrived" Elijah said in his usual calm manner as the door bell rang.
"Come in, and follow me...I don't bite" Rebebek said when she noticed Matt hesitate in the doorway.
"I'm only here because Elena and Caroline" he said following her to where everyone was sitting.
As the footsteps neared Elena's heart picked up speed dreading what had to be said. Elijah and Kol could hear her heart beating faster as did Caroline, but she was trying to ignore it. Rebekah and Matt entered the room.
"Ok, what is so important that I had to come into a house full of vampires?" Matt said uncomfortably making Rebekah smirk at his boldness.
"You might to sit down" Elena said as she stood up with a somber look on her face.
"From the look on your face it can't be good" he said as he sat down next to Caroline.
"While we were in New Orleans we had a problem...Tyler showed up" she said.
"Tyler is in New Orleans?" Caroline asked.
"What would he be doing there?" Matt asked confused.
"We assumed to find any family he had left, only we didn't know he was there until he showed up at Mikaelson house...he bit Kol and came after me...then the next thing I knew Tyler and Kol were falling off the balcony. Tyler got away from Kol and headed back towards me...and...Kol got the upperhand, there is no easy way to say this but Tyler's dead" Elena said looking back and forth at her two friends.
"So you killed him" Matt stated looking at Kol.
"He didn't leave me a choice when he went after Elena, I wish it hadn't come to that" Kol said.
"Tyler got himself killed Matt" Caroline said softly.
"I'm sorry...I'm just trying to wrap my head around the fact one of my friends is dead" Matt stampered not sure what to feel or think.
"Matt I'm so sorry" Elena said sadly.
"I know, I just need some time to process all of this. I'm glad you were there to protect Elena and I don't blame you for what you did...I need to go so I can think" Matt said as he stood up to leave.
"Will you be alright? If you need to talk call me" Caroline said.
"Yeah. I will, thank's for telling me. I know that it couldn't have been easy...for either of you" Matt said looking from Caroline over to Kol and Elena. He really didn't blame Kol, he only acted on instinct to protect what he loved.
"No it wasn't and thank you for coming. I know this isn't easy on you either" Elena said as Matt walked over and gave her a hug before shaking Kol's hand.
"Keep her safe" Matt said looking the vampire right in the eyes.
"I will" he said. Then Matt turned towards Caroline and gave her a hug before exiting the room.
"That went better than expected, and I am truly sorry on the loss of your friend" Elijah said.
"It's been a long night and this girl needs her beauty sleep...and I'm sorry too" Rebekah said as she headed to her room.
"Is it alright if I stay in the guest bedroom again?" asked Caroline.
"You are more than welcome Caroline, as our sister said it's been a long night. So goodnight everyone" Elijah said.
"Good night" they said in unison. Caroline got up, hugged Elena and hugged Kol surprising him.
"Good night you two, try to get some rest, we have school in the morning" Caroline said as she picked up her jacket and went upstairs to the guest room.
"That went better than I thought it would" Kol said wrapping Elena in his arms.
"It did, which I'm glad it did. I don't think I could handle it if either of them hated me or you" she said.
"Come on let's go to bed, it's late and tonight I want to hold you in my arms. Besides Caroline is right, you have school tomorrow" he said as they walked hand in hand to his bedroom.
