AN:Hello Guys! Thank you all for your support. Your kind reviews really alway make my day and I'm sp flattered by all the alerts and favs. I'm really glad so man of you seem to enjoy this storyand I hope this chapter won't disappoint. Again I apologize if some characters are too OOC.

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03: Driving Home For Christmas

"Driving home for Christmas

Oh, I can't wait to see those faces

I'm driving home for Christmas, yeah

Well, I'm moving down that line"

The bar was filled with drunk and lonely men and half naked girls. It smelled like smoke and three days old socks. The barman's clothes seemed like they hadn't seen a washing machine for years and his long black beard was probably the warm home of many little amebas. The music was something between 70's retro music and a weird mix of jazz and rap. Whenever someone new entered the bar, the biker gang in the back looked at them like they wanted nothing more than to punch them out again.

"Can I buy you another drink?" A tall, slouch guy who smelled like whiskey asked the beautiful brunette at the bar. She gave him a sweet smile and the most innocent look she had in store. "Of course, dear."

The guy gulped, he sure hoped she would accompany him home that night. "What do you want?" He asked a bit shy. She eyed him from head to toe and licked her lips hungrily. The guy gulped again. She leaned closer to him, to whisper into his ear. "I want you." She said seductively. The guy jumped from his barstool and offered her his hand. "Let's get out of here!" He said as she grabbed his sweaty hand. He opened the door for her and she walked outside. Her movements reminded him of a cat. Graceful, mysterious and nothing he had ever seen before. She led him into a dark corner. He couldn't believe how lucky he was meeting such a woman. She leaned against a dirty wall and purred. "Come here." She said and her eyes were sparkling. The guy put his hands around her waist. He leaned in, ready to kiss her. "Honey, not in this life." She suddenly said and her voice was icy. Before the guy knew what happened to him he felt a piercing pain at his neck. He tried to grab the place where it hurt, but all he got were long brown curls. The woman was sucking at him, drinking from him and he could do nothing. He tried to scream, but his voice failed him. He tried to get away from her but she was too strong. After what felt like an eternity for him she let go of him and threw him against the wall. He blacked out for a second and after he got all his conscious back he stared at her. She smiled satisfied, blood was tripping form her mouth. He touched his neck. It was his blood. "What…what did you do?" He asked in panic. She rolled her eyes and walked towards him. "Relax, you'll be fine. I didn't take that much." She said like it was the most normal thing in the world. "What are you?" he asked afraid. She looked even more annoyed. "Someone you'll forget in two seconds." She hissed and grabbed his shoulders. She stared directly into his eyes. "You don't remember meeting me and you don't remember that someone drank your blood. You're just a pure excuse of human being and no one cares for you." She said and left him sitting there.

She reached into her purse and searched for a hand mirror and some make up. "That was boring." She said to herself and pulled her phone out. "I wonder what's going on with Team Goody Good back home." She shook her head. Did she really consider that awful town as her home after all? "Hmm…." She walked around the corner and reached her car. "It's Christmas maybe I should pay a visit." She didn't even know why she wanted to do it. It just felt right.

"One…two….and ready to rumble!" Stefan said as he turned the Twister chart. The girls around him were giggling. "Mandy, it's another red for you!" he said and a girl with blonde curls smiled at him. "As you wish." She said obedient. Stefan watched satisfied. She wore a little pink cheerleading dress and he couldn't wait to taste her.

"Seriously?" Klaus said as he entered the room. Stefan looked innocently at him. "What's your problem? I'm just having fun."

Klaus rolled his eyes and sat down in an arm chair. "I just wonder where this love for Twister comes from." He said and grabbed one of the girl's arms. He pulled her on his lap and sank his teeth deep into her neck.

"Why just drink from them? Playing with them before is so much more fun. Don't be a buzz kill." Stefan said turned the Twister chart again. "Blue for you Laura."

Klaus was glad Stefan joined him on free will. He didn't know what happened to Rebekah and why she didn't join him, so he was happy that the only guy he really considered his friend did accompany him on his search for more werewolves. They where currently somewhere in Minnesota. He just found a new pack of wolves to join his hybrid army. He was making a great progress and he knew he would need more doppelganger blood soon.

"I was thinking." Stefan said and put the Twister chart aside. He walked towards the girls and grabbed Mandy, who giggled like a little girl. "Maybe we should do something special for Christmas." He pulled Mandy closer and sank his teeth into her arm. She didn't react. Of course she didn't, he compelled her that everything he does to her is for her own good. Klaus looked skeptical. "And what do you suggest?" He asked. Stefan turned the girl around and sank his teeth into her chest. He drank furiously and slowly he sucked the life out of her. When he finished he tossed her lifeless body away. "We could go to New York, watch the Christmas parade and eat Santa afterwards." He went back to the game and grabbed another girl, a redhead this time. He threw her on the sofa and grabbed her legs. "Or we go skiing in Aspen. I could use some ski bunnies; I haven't had a good bunny for ages." He sank his teeth into the girl's right leg. She jerked. Klaus folded his hands. He watched Stefan killing one girl after the other, but it didn't interest him that much.

"You heard anything from Rebekah?" He suddenly asked. Stefan looked up. "No, she's probably still daggered in my brother's basement…or she's still mad at you for killing mommy dearest." He said causally. Klaus flinched. It was the first time since they're left that Stefan said anything about Rebekah. "She was daggered?" He asked a bit shocked. Stefan leaned back on the sofa and looked more than comfortable and relaxed. "Yeah, Elena didn't trust her…but don't worry. I know her, she probably felt guilty and undaggered her as soon as the coast was clear."

"And what was that about me killing mommy dearest" Klaus asked. Stefan almost laughed. "Ahh….yeah….Elena found out you killed your mother and not Mikael and little Becky was…hmm….how do I break this to you? Mad. Yes, that's the word."

Klaus didn't know how to react. She knew it. It was his secret, the one secret that should've never come out and now she knew. He cursed the stupid doppelganger for finding it out.

"You look distressed." Stefan acknowledged. Klaus mind was working very fast. He needed to do something. He wanted to tear Elena apart for telling Rebekah. But more than that, he wanted to talk to his little sister to make things right. He maybe did bad things, but he still loved her more than anything. His lips formed a smile.

"What now?" Stefan asked. Klaus stood up and looked through the room. "You should clean your mess up, Stefan." He said and disappeared, leaving a confused Stefan alone.

Katherine was driving very fast. Speed limits never really interested her. She smiled. She knew Damon would be beyond annoyed if she would pop up and Elena would make her pouty face as long as she was staying. She turned the radio on. Christmas music was playing and Katherine decided to sing along a bit. She never told anyone, but Christmas was actually her favorite holiday. She liked the lights, the odors, the music and the calmness. It was the opposite of her otherwise turbulent life. Suddenly the music stopped for some very important Breaking News. "The Bodies of five girls where found near the Blackduck River. The Minnesota police is still clueless. For six weeks they are trying to hunt down the Minnesota ripper now. He appeared suddenly and left a trail of blood. He mostly goes after young women around 15 'til 25. He –" Katherine turned the radio off. She drove to the roadside and parked her car. She got outside to get some fresh air. She breathed heavily and shook her head. "What are you doing, Stefan?" she whispered to herself. She still couldn't belief he betrayed them. Damon had Klaus, Mikael had the hybrids under control and Elena was perfectly safe…but Stefan ruined it for them. Even she was surprised how loyal he was too Klaus. And now they were on a killing spree through the country and not even interested to hide the bodies. Katherine always thought a darker Stefan would be more fun and sexy, but she loathed what he'd become. She wanted the old Stefan back. She wanted her Stefan back.

She got back into the car and turned the radio on again. The program was back the gleeful Christmas songs. Katherine smiled softly. Even if they wouldn't want her there, she couldn't wait to be home for Christmas.

Stefan waited for three hours for Klaus to return. He got impatient. He felt the need for more blood. And just when he was about to leave the suite they stayed in, the door flung open and Klaus marched in. He grinned and Stefan knew, that never meant anything good. It usually was sign for another of Klaus's masterplans and that usually ended in more work for him.

"Why are you grinning?" He asked a bit uncomfortable. Klaus patted his back. "It told my new hybrids to stay here and wait for my return. I got us a brand new car and I'm ready to celebrate Christmas." He announced.

Stefan raised an eyebrow. "Celebrate Christmas where?" he asked suspicious. He had a feeling that Klaus's travel plans wouldn't cooperate with his own.

Klaus grabbed some of his stuff and threw it into a bag. "We're driving home."

Stefan needed some time to process his words. "Home? Like Mystic Falls home?" He asked in disbelief. He didn't plan on going back there anytime soon. He wasn't in the mood for a confrontation with his brother, Elena and their little Scooby Gang. He wasn't compelled anymore and he still chose to be with Klaus, because he allowed him to be himself with no limitations. But being uncompelled meant also he was able to feel and he wasn't sure what a reunion with Damon and Elena would mean.

"Come on, my rippah!" Klaus said enthusiastic. "We don't want to miss the cozy family Christmas, do we?" His lips formed mischievous grin.

"I still think Aspen would be a better idea." Stefan said and grabbed his bag.

Damon half lay on the couch in the living room. A glass of bourbon was on the table next to him, in his hands he held a book. Alaric borrowed him the book with the stupid title 'How to make History on your own' and said it was a must read. Damon thought it was plain silly and it was the eggnog speaking through Alaric. With one eye he watched Elena and Caroline decorating the Christmas tree they bought the day before. Since Fuzzy, the squirrel decided to move into the Salvatore backyard, the tree was safe again. Rebekah still refused to go near it.

"We're almost done." Elena said happily. Caroline eyed their work. "Something is missing." She said thoughtful. Damon rolled his eyes. He wanted them to finish and Caroline to leave so he could have his Elena-time, but no once Barbie decided to stay, she would stay forever.

"I think we need some more red tinsel." She said and Elena nodded. She checked one of the boxes with decorations but couldn't find more. "We're out of tinsel." She said. Caroline crossed her arms. She carefully looked over to Damon. "Damooon…." She said slowly. He raised his eyebrow. "Whatever you want me to do, the answer is no."

Caroline looked over to Elena. She knew that Damon would never say no to her. Elena shrugged and kneed down in front of him. "Can you please go to the grocery store?" she said sweetly. Damon put the book aside. "Why should I?"

"We need some more tinsel and they have some, I saw it when I got here." She softly grabbed his arm and fluttered with her eyelashes. "Please?"

Damon stood up. How could he say no to that look? He hated how whipped he was, but he couldn't help it. He would fly to Paris and steal the Eiffel Tower if she wished for it.

"Fine." He said annoyed. Elena and Caroline squeaked like little girls. "We also need more hot chocolate." Caroline said. "And gingerbread." Elena added.

"You want some lollipops too, kids?" He asked and felt like a babysitter for two three year olds.

"No thanks, Mr. Salvatore." They said in unison and giggled. Damon grabbed his jacket and walked towards the door, when his phone suddenly rang. "Hello?" He said not wanting to talk to anyone that moment.

"Hello, lover."

He rolled his eyes. "What do you want?" He asked, not expecting her to say anything useful.

"Miss me?"

He quickly looked at Caroline who was listening to their conversation. "Let me think about it…nope, not a bit." She laughed on the other side of the line.

"Liar."

Damon wanted to throw his phone away, but there was a slight possibility she may had some news from Stefan and Klaus and even if he promised Elena not to run after them, news wouldn't hurt.

"Who is it?" Elena asked Caroline curiously. "The bitch from hell." Caroline replied dryly.

Elena rolled her eyes. She wanted a normal Christmas and Katherine drama didn't belong to that category.

"Just say what you want." Damon said.

"Relax. I just wanted to tell you I'm driving home for Christmas."

Damon almost dropped the phone. "You what?" She laughed again.

"And I'm there in three….two…"

She hung up and Damon heard a car pulling into the driveway. He opened the door, not believing she was really there. "Don't give me that angry look." Katherine said amused and tossed her bag into his arms. "Can you take it to my room, you know which one I like most."

Damon threw the bag back to her. "You don't think I let you stay, do you?"

Katherine smiled sweetly. "You always let me stay." She said causally and walked inside. Elena and Caroline glared at her. "Barbie and Doppelganger, how are you." She asked. "Nice tree."

"What do you want, bitch?" Caroline snapped. Katherine said down next to them. "Just a cozy little Christmas." She said. Elena raised her eyebrows. "Seriously, what do you want?"

Katherine rolled her eyes. "I was bored. It's Christmas time and you guys basically the only real….allies I've got."

Caroline crossed her legs. "We're not your allies."

Katherine ignored her. "I've been on the run for months. I'm tired and I just want some peaceful days at home, hot chocolate and gingerbread."

Elena looked into her eyes. There was no dishonest spark, no ambiguous smirk. She saw vulnerability and a fear to be rejected. Sure it was still Katherine, but wasn't Christmas a time of forgiveness?

"We're out of hot chocolate and gingerbread." She finally said. Caroline shot her a surprised glance, but Elena just gave her a nod.

Katherine needed a moment to understand what Elena meant, but then she turned Damon. His eyes were on Elena. "Seriously?" he asked. She smiled.

"Damon…" Katherine said. He knew whatever was to come it would just annoy him more. "Go shopping!" the three girls said in unison.

"It's official." He said as he walked outside, "I'm the only sane person here."