AN: sorry about the lack of updates lately, college sucks and my computer died a while back, so a lot of my files and outlines are gone. A lot of fic ideas are gone too and it's been hard to get back into writing. I wrote this as the last chapter and I've rewritten and messed with it for a month and I know it's not as great as my original finale I had-but here it is.

Elena wakes up in her own room the next morning, looking around for a minute. She's back, finally.

You up? Elena sends the text to Elijah. If he doesn't respond in a few minutes, she'll go back to sleep. Her phone vibrates and she yawns. He is, and she asks if he wants to grab breakfast.

It's so easy to do anything with Elijah, she can't help but give him a peck on the cheek before they're seated. Elijah has a slight grin on his lips but they don't press it as their waitress tells them about daily specials and gets their drink orders.

"I love you," Elena says after their waitress leaves them so they can look at the menu. She knows he must know why that's significant, she hasn't exactly said the words since she got back.

"I love you too," he says and she can't keep the smile off her face. Elena looks at him, sitting across from her in a black suit with a similar look on his face.

"Oh my god," Elena laughs, and he raises an eyebrow.

"What is it?" Elijah asks, and Elena laughs harder, not louder.

"I haven't said I love you, like the three words since 2009. That's so weird," Elena tells him between bursts of laughter and he laughs too. He wouldn't trade what they have for anything.

It feels like they haven't been together for three hours-not that Elena watches the clock.

"It's so weird to get used to using a phone again. I would have killed for one the first week," Elena admits and Elijah just grins, he remembers.

"My family wants to see you," Elijah says, after a quick glance at his phone.

"Then let's go. It feels like it's been forever since I've seen them," Elena tells him and he sends a quick text to Rebekah.

"Elena!" Rebekah shouts, and Elena's really not expecting to be crowded as she gets out of the car, but she doesn't mind.

"Get in here, Elijah," Rebekah demands and Elena gets crushed in a group hug, in a good way. It's nice to be back but knowing she doesn't have to leave is better.

"Okay, the human is a little too crushed," Elena says and the hug ends. Klaus has a mischievous look on his face.

"How do you feel about visiting New Orleans again?" Klaus asks, throwing an arm over Elena's shoulder. They're still outside, still haven't bothered to actually get into their sprawling mansion. Klaus seems too impatient to hear her answer but she doesn't care.

"What does Caroline think about it?" Elena asks instead, a teasing tone to her voice because two can play at that game-and Rebekah laughs.

"She said she'd go if you want to go," Klaus says, shifting slightly. Elena looks to Elijah who looks as amused as she feels.

"Sounds fun," Elena says and Klaus grins.

"Thank you, love," Klaus says and Elena shrieks as he picks her up and spins her around.

"Don't break our sister-in-law," Rebekah chides and Elena is set down, leaning on Elijah. Elijah helps her find her center of balance again and Elena responds before he does.

"We're not married," Elena says carefully, looking to Rebekah. Elijah won't find offense to that, they were close for the time periods she visited, but they aren't married. Elena thinks about that, all the times they could have gotten married. Someday, they'll cross that bridge, but definitely not her first day back.

"You're basically married," Klaus dismisses. Elena looks at the others, Kol shrugs and Klaus and Rebekah grin. Finn and Elijah watch her carefully.

"We kind of are," Elena muses, after a moment. Elijah waits to see if she'll say anything more or if that's all.

"I love it," Elena finishes and Elijah smiles, it's so easy to smile with Elena around.

"I don't want to leave for a while, I just got back, but I do want to go back to New Orleans," Elena tells Klaus.

"Good to hear," Klaus grins. Elijah slips an arm around her waist as they move the discussion to the living room. Elena can relax, there are no secrets to keep, she doesn't have to bite her tongue or worry about ruining the future ever again. In a few hours, she'll go home and spend time with her family, she'll have a girls night with Bonnie, Caroline and Rebekah soon, and do everything she needs to. Elena will turn someday, but she's back where she should be, and no one is trying to kill the people she loves. She and Elijah have nothing but time, and she's going to take advantage of that.

finis