This follows right after season 2, episode 11 (By the light of the Moon).

Here is a quick synopsis of episode 11:

Tyler encounters his first transformation with Caroline along side him the whole time until he morphs into a wolf. Stefan and Katherine play mind games in the cave. Elena on the other hand is frustrated being locked in her own house and at her friends who try to protect her. Elijah appears and offers Elena a deal where all her friends will be kept safe only if she keeps her end of the bargain- to be normal, and stay safe…at least until Klaus appears into the picture. While this happens, Damon and Alaric approach Jules with wolfs bain only to agitate Jules. Damon has been marked by Jules and later in the night, a Jules breaks into the Salvatore boarding house and tries to attack Damon only to bite Rose. Rose's wound heals only to reopen later on…

This story will begin with a few snippets from this episode…

Chapter 1: Damned Thoughts

The Salvatore boarding house flickered in the candle light.

"Talked to Caroline. She said Tyler was all locked up." Damon slurred casually while sipping his luxurious alcohol. The ticking of the clock across the room could be heard echoing off the walls of the bookshelves.

Rose, wearing her purple silk bathrobe, approached him casually and took a seat next to Damon, "So it was Jules, the other werewolf, the one that attacked you." Damon looked at Rose, searching for what she was trying to say. Rose just looked back patiently, waiting for a reply.

"Ya… I'm sorry, I picked a fight with her." Damon replied remorsefully wrinkling his forehead while pouring Rose a drink. "She was coming after me, not you. You all healed?"

Rose thought for a second and replied, "Ya… it seems that way."

Damon slowly articulated his words unsure of how to express himself, "Rose… ugh… I'm happy that the legend was fake… Maybe werewolves made it up to keep vampires away."

"Lucky me" Rose replied with a smile. Damon smiled back and smoothly started to trace his fingers along her exposed thigh. "I'm going to stay and help you Damon."

Amused and surprised, Damon questioned, "Help me do what?"

"Save Elena, protect Elena, everything Elena." Rose explained openly.

Damon gave her a look of surprise, "Why?"

Rose looked into his grey/blue eyes and said, "Because I like you. I believe in friendship and I happen to notice you are lacking in that department and you could use all the friends you can get."

A genuine smile spread across Damon's face and Rose mirrored an equivalent smile. Just as quickly as she smiled, suddenly Rose frowned and lightly touched her right shoulder. "Ow… something's wrong with my shoulder. It's starting to sting." She readjusted her robe to have a closer look at her shoulder. Damon simultaneously leaned in closer for a glance.

"There's something wrong with your wolf bite. I thought you healed already?" Damon asked completely confused and aw-struck at the situation. Rose speechlessly looked into Damon's eyes seeking any sort of comfort. Both of them with mixed expressions. Anything. Anything that can provide comfort or push away the anxiety building up. As they stood there without a sound, the clock continues to tick-tick-tick into the early morning.

The sun shone through Elena's room as she and Stefan lay comfortably on the queen sized bed. Stefan had been stuck in the cave with Katherine for 3 days and all he could think of was Elena and her safety. He looked down at Elena's sleeping form with the rise and fall of her chest against him. Elena stirred a little and continued to sleep soundly. Worry-free. Peaceful.

Stefan on the other hand was deep in thought about his last conversation with a person he thought he would never ever think about after meeting Elena Gilbert… Katerina Petrova, his first love that changed his life in every way imaginable.

-*Flashback*-

Katherine leaned casually against the stone wall across the little space in the cave. "Are we seriously not going to talk at all?"

"We can talk about how you regret all you've done to make my life miserable." Stefan replied back unenthusiastically.

"What do you want me to say Stefan? That I'm sorry for everything I've done? Well, it's called self preservation." Katherine replied sarcastically. "I've been looking after myself for 500 years."

Stefan smirked at her remark and simply replied coldy, "Look where it's gotten you."

Katherine slowly made her way towards Stefan explaining, "Yes I know I've done terrible things, but I do love you stefan." Stefan just nodded casually without much thought. Katherine's expression softened, "even if you don't believe it."

"You want me to believe you?" Stefan signaled at Katherine and explained, "show me. Prove to me that someone in there is actually worth trusting." Stefan coaxed.

"And then what? hm? You're still going to hate me." Katherine replied, slowly sitting down on a bench a few feet away. Stefan looked down towards the ground and a glimpse of conflicted emotions flickered in his eyes.

"Well maybe." Stefan paused and looked into Katherine's eyes. "or maybe there is still hope for you after all." A brief look of surprise shot through Katherine's face as she looked into Stefan's kind eyes.

Katherine recovered fast and questioned, "You're playing me."

Stefan, who was still looking into Katherine's eyes, replied, "Am I?" Katherine glanced away from Stefan's stare and showed a brief moment of struggle with her thoughts.

"You want to find Klaus? Kill him so you can protect your precious Elena?" Katherine said in a bitter tone.

Stefan immediately tensed and demanded politely, "You know where he is?"

"No I don't… but I can help you find him." Katherine said.

"For a price, I'm sure." Stefan answered sarcastically expecting her to state her verdict on the situation.

Katherine looked at him with hurt quickly flashing across her porcelain face like lightning. He automatically assumed she wanted something back, unable to see her real intentions. There was a long pause before anyone made any movement. "Start with Isabel, Elena's mother, she was a research expert. She found me." Katherine genuinely explained maintaining eye contact with Stefan.

Tension was thick in the air with uncertainty and mixed feelings as both occupants of the underground cave looked into each other's eyes. Stefan who was still looking at Katherine intently, nodded in approval at her suggestion.

"Your welcome." Katherine whispered, still looking into Stefan's eyes. Almost as if she was looking for approval from him that she wasn't what she seemed.

-*End of flashback*-

Stefan gave a small sigh and turned his head towards the window, looking out as if he was searching for answers or anything that would purge his thoughts of Katherine. Ever so slowly Elena's eyes fluttered open and the first thing she saw was Stefan's pale neck with his head turned towards the window. She noticed his eyelashes flicker when he blinked indicating that he was awake and just deep in thought. Elena's smiled then moved her hand from Stefan's chest and gracefully caressed his neck bringing him back towards her. "I love you Stefan."

Stefan pulled Elena in closer for an embrace with his cheek against Elena's head, "And I love you too, Kather-." As soon as those last two syllables slipped off his tongue, he froze with his eyes widening in surprise, then panic consumed him.

Thanks for reading! This is my first shot at a fanfic. Hope you've enjoyed the twist at the end... what do you think will happen next? :) Any thoughts? Suggestions? comments?