Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Diaries and most likely never will.

A/N: This is in honor of the new season starting tomorrow and it's another excuse not to go back to my regular writing schedule. I'm a very avid excuse maker ;)

"We were right. Katherine got to her. She was hanging on to every single word." Elena breathed, grateful to be in Stefan's arms after the horrible fight. She couldn't believe that Katherine had gotten to Caroline so quickly.

Stefan sighed. "It won't be long before Katherine gets a play by play."

"I wish she was wrong but I know Caroline too well." Elena said. "It was so obvious that something was up today." She hoped Katherine wouldn't hurt Caroline.

"You're not wrong. It's pure Katherine." In his mind Stefan saw Damon and himself, young, innocent, and alive. "She's always finding somebody to do her dirty work."

"I think Damon was listening to us fight too." Elena admitted. "Are you gonna tell him that it wasn't real?

"The only way Katherine is going believe it is if everybody believes it. That's the best way to make her think she's getting what she wants." Plus Stefan knew it would drive Damon crazy if he thought he had a chance at getting Elena.

"All this…just to get you back." All the people suffering and in pain, the ones already dead…all of it to take away one of things that mattered to her more than anything.

"It's not why she's here, okay? No matter what she says, I know her." Stefan said. "Katherine doesn't care about anybody but herself, she never has. She's incapable of love. She's here for another reason."

Outside, far away from the two, Katherine paced the ground of an open field, gazing at a place where an old dirt road used to be.

Mystic Falls, 1864

Katherine looked back at the two Salvatore brothers longingly, sorrow lining her eyes. They would wake eventually, but she wouldn't be there, and she never could. It was time to hide again.

She whipped around as soon as she heard the wolf's feet rustling in the leaves behind her."George."

"Your car is just waiting."He said, emotionless. He cast a glance at the two bodies.

Katherine took her eyes off them. "All done, George. Thank you."

"Now it's your part of the deal."

Katherine knew fully what he was talking about and drew the moonstone from her sleeve. "If anyone learns of my escape, I will find you and I will kill you." She waved the stone within his grasp and snatched it away with a warning look. "Don't think that I won't." Finally she surrendered the rock that had cost her so much.

"We should take each other secrets to the grave." He gave the stone an appraising look and his it in his coat. "Now, you must hurry."

She knew how bad his hearing was compared to hers, and when George had his back turned she only took a few steps before she ran back and knelt next to Stefan. She stoked his cold face with gloved hands. The stench of death was all around him, but he would be back soon.

"I love you, Stefan." A fraction of a whisper. "We will be together again, I promise."

She leaned down, kissing him. It was the first thing she had ever really meant since becoming a vampire.

Maybe there were something things you couldn't turn off.

Katherine stared at the empty grass, a smile creeping across her face. She touched her lips softly, letting the memory linger as she turned and walked away.

A/N: Too angsty? I had to write something, so there you go :)