"I can't fly out- there is so much work- and Jenna-"- Elena said. 
                          
"I know- I will send you all the notes and pics and the last three dresses- I probably will choose the Carolina Herrera one"- Caroline said.
                          
"Send it now"- Elena said.
                          
And they continued exchanging opinions about the wedding and Caroline's input.
                          
*********************
                          
It was november and the Christmas city lights were already been lit and everyone counted days to Christmas. Elena managed to do some last minute shopping as she needed to get two different presents-one was a wedding present and the other was a Christmas present for her best friend.
                          
Elena's phone rang and she answered-
                          
"Caroline?!... I just got into the cab...no, my flight is day after tomorrow- I know...I will be there on time!!"- she adsured her friend.
                          
"Can't wait to see you... I wish you came a day before!!"- Caroline moaned a bit.
                          
"Everything will be fine. There are no blizzards forecast, just a bit of frost and it's because you are getting married!"- Elena joked with her friend.
                          
"Very funny... I really don't know which of the three dresses I am going to wear and you are not here to see it!
                          
"I think the empire cut one is the best!!"- Elena said.
                          
They talked some more about Jenna and soon wrapped up the conversation.
                          
Elena had not been in New Orleans at all since left for Toronto. Caroline had been visiting her on a regular basis and they had vacations in different places like the French Riviera, Spain, Italy. And Caroline was Jenna's godmother and totally involved into everything that was going on with her. The women shared the good and the bad, like all best friends did, but there was one topic that was not mentioned, not even once in all those years. It was the topic of Elijah. Elena had banned it. And Caroline had respected it. But the day arrived when she had to talk about Elena being her maid of honour, and the fact that Elijah would be Klaus' best man. And so it was awkward and Caroline just skipped it, thinking that maybe it was a good idea to confront Elena and Elijah head on. 
                          
One evening she had discussed it with Bonnie.
                          
"You have to tell her about Elijah - OMG-it's like this crazy madness that you have not brought it up- It's insane! It's like teenage stuff. Even if she loved him- now she  must be so over him- what the hell happened? "- Bonnie said. 
                          
"You know how complicated Elena is with her emotions - I have never seen her so cut- and I know Elena since we were five!"- Caroline said- "it's like he was the one-  I only know that they kissed!"
                          
"They kissed?! Right- and nothing more?"- Bonnie questioned.
                          
"Nothing more"- Caroline said.
                          
"I know it's not ok- but hey- it was just a harmless kiss- he married Aurora- she just should have gotten over it"
                          
"There are some loves you never get over! I know- it's crazy- "- Caroline said.
                          
"Or something more happened and she won't say- "
                          
********
                          
And, so Elena kissed her daughter goodbye and flew away to New York for a long weekend of elaborate parties surrounding Caroline and Klaus' wedding.
                          
Straight from the airport, she was taken to the Bachelorette party and so the fun began. And it was a girly extravaganza. Everyone knew that Caroline's parties were to be remembered for centuries if not millenia.
                          
The next morning, Elena woke up with a big hangover. A song still banging in her head from the night before. She realized she was in Caroline's new house, but at that moment all she wanted to have a shower and check her messages and coffee. A double mokkachino.
                          
As she got ready and made sure all was fine with her daughter, she ventured down to find the kitchen. She could hear someone shuffling some papers and as she got in the kitchen, she stood still as if she got trapped in some strange vacuum space.
                          
"Elijah?!"- she let out in a half breath.
                          
"Elena! Hello there!"- he said giving her a little smile.
                          
Back of the room

                          
Looking at you
Counting the steps
Between us

A hundred and five
Little blades in a line
From your skin to mine
And I feel it

Eyes on the ground
But I can't look up now
Don't wanna give it away
My secret

In another life,
My teeth and tongue
Would speak aloud what until now
I've only sung

Cause I would die to make you mine
Bleed me dry each and every time
I don't mind, no I don't mind it
I would come back 1000 times

You can make me wait forever
Push me away and tell me never
I don't mind, no I don't mind it
I would come back 1000 times
Hey hey

Kiss me goodnight
Like a good friend might
I'll do the same
But won't mean it

Cause love is a cage
These words on a page
Carry the pain
They don't free it


                          
Elena stood like someone had completely taken her whole being from this plane and entered it somewhere in a hazy dream world, and yet it was a reality that kicked her like the ice storm. And if she was to come back a 1000 times and it would always be the same. 
                          
"Hello"- she uttered.
                          
***