"Nothing is going on. We were doing nothing." Katherine responded, hypnotically. Stefan, dressed in his white shirt and suspenders with formal brown pants, had just found Katherine and Damon in the alley, nearly making out. Katherine had now placed her hands on her hips, not exactly happy nor angry at being interrupted. Her green dress attire was void of any dirt or grime. Not a string out of place on her corset. Damon was a little hurt by Katherine's words. They could have a double meaning, but he stowed the feeling away. Katherine loved him. His heart kickstarted like a super-powered motorcycle each time she repeated those words to him-and when he repeated them even more in his head. She was only playing with Stefan to make him-Damon-jealous. Katherine loved how protective Damon became when he was that way. It made for an all the sweeter kisses and better, more romping sex.

Stefan repeated what Katherine said. Damon rolled his eyes and smoothed down his somewhat curly hair. His brother just had to ruin everything. Couldn't he ever stay out of other people's business? He thought he would have Katherine alone with him in town for the entire day. They weren't in Mystic Falls-he could imagine the disgusted look on his father's face if he found out how affectionate Katherine and he were in public here-but the town nearby. He had arrived back home this morning from quitting the Confederacy and wanted to spend it with Katherine. His father was going to be angry when he got home again. For when he had left with Katherine in such a rush this morning, he only had time to tell his father he was back and going to town. Stefan had glimpsed him and spoken briefly with him while waiting for the carriage to arrive before he left. Father didn't know about how he had discharged himself yet.

"What're you doing here, brother?" Damon asked, politely-for Katherine's sake. "How did you manage a ride?"

"Hello, Stefan." Katherine smiled sweetly, picking up dress and giving a slight bow.

"Katherine." Stefan breathed, smiling. He took her hand and kissed it and reluctantly turned to Damon. "Father sent me. He needs to speak with you. More importantly, the town discovered a vampire-" Stefan whispered, glancing at Katherine, "-and he wants you to witness how to kill one. He says you're going to have to learn soon enough."

Damon scoffed, then intertwined his fingers with Katherine's. She looked down at it, smiled, then shook it off. "Not in front of your brother. It's rude." she chasted, giggling. Damon couldn't not be angry with her and joined in her contagious laughter. Damon brushed off the flirty glances she was giving Stefan every so often.

"You won't mind if your brother joins us, do you?" Katherine asked Damon. She fluttered her eye lids pleadingly. "There's still much of the town left that we haven't visited today, and it's quite large. And you two can catch up."

Damon was about to object when Stefan interjected, "That is generous of you Katherine, but I'm afraid I will have to decline. Father wants us all back." Stefan informed them. Damon didn't miss the emphasis on 'all.' "He's worried about us, with all these 'vampires running ragged through the towns.' He's concerned for you, Damon." Stefan added softly, looking at Damon hard. "He says he missed you."

Damon snorted. "Father worrying over me? Missing me? Highly doubtful. Will you please inform him to stop 'worrying' about me as if I am still in my teens?" Damon sneered. The last part was meant to insult Stefan, but he didn't take the blow.

Damon was outraged. Stefan just had to come and ruin his whole day, he repeated bitterly to himself. Stefan didn't even take an insult properly. Damon gave Stefan a murderous look. He just had to bring up the most touchy subjects.

"Damon," Katherine purred, laying a hand on his chest to calm him. She had been looking back and forth at the brothers. Damon looked from her to Stefan to her again. His face fell and he looked down, ashamed. "I'm sorry, Katherine."

"Damon, if it's any consolation, I don't find Father's treatment fair." Stefan sounded extremely sincere. Katherine gave him a warm smile before Damon looked up.

"No, no," Damon said, holding a hand up to stop him, "I understand." He sighed. "And I so thought the dress was going to beat us home." Katherine laughed. Stefan stared, frozen.

"You bought her a dress?" Stefan asked, shocked. "Where did you get the money?"

Damon gave Stefan a brotherly smile, "Does it matter? It's my money."

"Mm. Don't worry, Stefan, it didn't come to Damon by any ill means." Katherine comforted. She pushed some of her hair behind her ears. "Now, I suppose you two wouldn't want to encounter your father's wrath if he is to be kept waiting any longer so we should be going."

"Will you ride with me, Katherine?" offered Stefan, extending his hand. He was eager to steal Katherine away.

"I would love to, Stefan," smiled Katherine, "but I'll stay with Damon, thank you."

Damon felt badly for leaving his brother alone, yet his joy of Katherine choosing him over Stefan put him in an excellentmood.

"Shall we then?" asked Damon, offering his arm, which she took. They started walking along. Katherine-unbeknownst to Damon-reached out with her other hand and caressed Stefan's neck as she passed. Stefan, though hurt, felt he and Katherine had something special. She had snubbed Damon in front of him, gave him (Stefan) smiles, and even when she was with Damon, she still touched him (Stefan).

...

Stefan stared out the window of his black carriage. Alone. He was surprised to find he beat Katherine and Damon home, then suspicious. They had been right behind him! Stefan should've known better.

"Driver!" Stefan hollered, "Didn't my brother's carriage follow us?"

"Yes, indeed, Mister Salvatore," promptly replied the driver. "but they turned off a ways. I'd bet they're still in Mystic Falls." Seeing Stefan's face, he added, "Mister Salvatore is perfectly able to protect Miss Pierce. It's still daylight. None of them-" he stopped to whisper "vampires," then spoke normally, "-will get t' her."

Stefan internally groaned, but hid it as he thanked the driver and sent him on his way. He kicked a nearby rock, shoved his hands into his pockets and strode off into the woods.

...

"Do you know who it is they've captured?" Damon asked Katherine inside the carriage. The unkept, wild terrain rolled slowly by out of the

windows. Neither seemed to care, though, being that they lived on such a grassy and beautiful estate which was grander in comparison to these petty views.

"I'm fairly certain it's no one of concern to us if it happened this morning. Emily's jewelry work perfectly." Katherine answered tiredly. She and Damon sat on opposite sides of the carriage as was customary. Damon had often noted how they could be seated together as he was courting her, but Katherine declined, not wanting to draw any attention just yet.

Damon was relaxed, but only because he was in the presence of Katherine. He ran a hand through his hair, combing it.

"How about we let the dress beat us home?" Katherine suddenly inquired in a seductive tone, a glint in her eyes. Damon smiled at her tone. She gave him no time to answer as she pulled him into a passionate kiss.

...

Damon had told the driver to turn off and take the long way home as soon as Katherine broke apart their quick kiss. Katherine smiled as she remembered it. She had guided Damon's mouth forward to her's. Their tongues dancing with the other's. The taste of Katherine was out of this world. There was no name for her unique fragrance. Then, way too soon, Katherine pulled away and sighed. Damon continued kissing her face, her neck, but then Katherine stopped him from going down too far and told him they should have more time together. Damon did not argue.

Katherine was mulling over how she was going to compel Stefan to forget their encounter in town. She didn't want Stefan to remember seeing Damon for the first time in many weeks as a battle concerning their father and rivalry...and her. She smiled to herself. Damon had been in such a mood, but he had succumbed to her touch so easily. He had come quicker than a fat child at a free chocolate booth.

Damon appeared in the carriage again, smiling. She told Damon what she was going to do to Stefan, and Damon agreed. In his mind, she was still just using Stefan.

"The Founder's Ball is fast approaching..." Damon stated. Katherine ignored him. She moved over to sit by him on his side of the carriage. He froze as she snuggled up to him. His face was a mix of surprise and shock, but he was touched and humbled. He was scared that someone might see...but this was Katherine. The angel. The beauty of the world. She was special. He looked to her to see her reaction. Her face had become demonic which Damon understood as he slackened his uncomfortable posture. He relaxed as he gracefully extended his neck.

They were approaching town and had yet to draw the curtains.

AN: Some of you guessed right!

Any comments or constructive criticism please?