He's disposing what remains of his cellphone when he hears a loud thump from the second floor quickly followed by a strong rush of air resounding in his ears and he doesn't need to look to know who the intruder is. Only sighs in annoyance and waits for whatever the reason she has for being here.

"Is this a bad time?"

He halts his movements, his annoyance quickly traded in for curiosity and faint trace of excitement at being proved wrong as the airy accented voice floats into his ears.

"For you, it never is." Damon replies as he turns to face them. Watching as a smile breaks across Rebekah Mikaelson's face as she steps out of her place from the shadows.

"This just may be the exception." She refutes her smile slowly fading as a serious expression takes its place.

"If it has anything to do with what just happened then maybe not." He counters knowing that she at the very least caught the tale end of his little showdown with his younger brother.

Rebekah blinks in surprise, momentarily taken back seeing that he actually seems conflicted but remembers the last time she encountered Damon before her return to Mystic Falls. The bitterness and hostility that held weight like its own presence whenever he spoke of his brother. Surely that couldn't have gone away at Stefan finally reaching his seemingly never ending tolerance of his brother's pettiness.

"You can't possibly expect me to believe that a little outburst from Stefan has suddenly made you realize what an arse you've been." She states deciding against holding her tongue.

"No, but giving the fact that you have shown up, starting an actual conversation has."

Rebekah narrows her eyes.

"You're not much of a talker." He explains his comment noticing that she didn't appreciate the insinuation.

"No, you just never listen." she fires back, holding her hand up when his lips part "I'm not here for anything to do with your brother. Between you and Caroline, that's more than enough."

"Then what are you here for?"

"I need a favor."

Damon studies the blonde for a moment then nods, his eyes trained on the vampire as she turns and goes back to her brief hiding place and comes back into view with a box.

"Bonnie found Nik and returned Kol to us." she starts to explain "He hasn't fed since and I can't go to him because Bon won't tell me where you set her up." she looks at him waiting for a reaction only continuing when there is none "I need you to deliver this to him."

"Why not just ask me to tell you where she is?"

"If I show up he'll think that Nik sent me to do his bidding."

"I thought Kol was your favorite."

"I didn't exactly protest when Klaus daggered him. Klaus framed him for the death of the man I was seeing at the time. I didn't realize that it made no sense for Kol to have done it until Klaus was gone the next day. Now Kol is upset with me and Bonnie and Caroline don't want to take sides. I can't say I'm surprised, the only time they do is when Elijah" she stops and clears her throat "Can you please do this for me?"

He stares at Rebekah for a moment then slowly starts to approach her. Briefly meeting her eyes before he lifts the lid to the box to peek inside, his mouth watering as he takes in the sight feeling the beginnings of his fangs emerging from their prison. Remembering who the contents are meant for and who is asking him to deliver it, he forces himself to snap out of his trance. The fact alone that she's actually asking him being enough to make him close his eyes and takes a deep breath, looking back up to her in question when he finally regains control.

"I had a friend spell the box so it masks the scent. And it's his favorite so please exercise what little self control you have left." She says with a smile.

Damon makes a face at her though takes the box. Biting the inside of his cheek when she rests her hand on the side of his face before she blinks and abruptly turns her head to look towards the ceiling. Realizing that she must have heard or sensed something, he immediately goes on alert only to roll his eyes when he picks up the sound of his brother groaning. Making it clear to him that she snapped Stefan's neck prior to her visit. Normally he would be enraged at anyone aside himself doing that Stefan but he's ready to wave it off knowing that it was just insurance of wanting privacy. He starts to return his attention to the blonde vampire only to see that she has made use of his attention gone elsewhere to make her exit just as quickly as she came.

Letting out a frustrated breath he drops his gaze down to the box in his hands and starts to make his way to the basement, placing the contents into the deep freeze. Afterwards sauntering back up the stairs going straight to his bedroom. Spotting a notepad and a pen on his desk he strolls over to it and lets his hand scribble across the lines paper until it's done. Staring at the information for a moment before turning and starting to strip.


"I feel like I was just a seat filler, or a stand in until she finally came back." Elena Gilbert sighs finishing her recap of what her day entailed from her place lying in between her two best friends on her bed, each staring up at the ceiling still digesting her tale. A part of her wants to go and ask Stefan to erase every detail he shared about his past but knows that he wouldn't. And it wasn't as if it would solve anything being as though Caroline had made it clear that she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"You have to know that that's not true." Lucy Bennett attempts to assure her best friend as she carefully shifts to sit up and turn to face the brunette currently doing the same. Both mindful to not ruin the various snacks ranging from chips to a pint of ice cream scattered across the bed.

"If you honestly believe that then you didn't hear a word I just said." Elena says before scooping a spoon full of rocky road ice cream into her mouth.

"You let her get into your head. I love Caroline but she can be really petty and is really good at...well this."

"Well, it worked."

"I can see that," Lucy smiles at the pout on the brunette's face "but it doesn't mean that it's true."

"If it wasn't then I wouldn't be here telling you about this."

Lucy flinches.

"You know what I mean." Elena sighs seeing the way the witch recoiled into herself at her words "Caroline might have been just trying to get into my head but she's right. Bonnie isn't Katherine. Even worse she didn't even actively try to break us up like Katherine did. All she had to do was show up. At least if she tried I could hate her without coming off as a bitch."

"You still can." Gia Munshi comments under her breath, the first words she's said since she arrived at Elena's as requested by the doppelgänger's "911" text to meet her at her home. Lifting her shoulders when Lucy slights her with a look "I'm just saying that her hate is justifiable. Just because it wasn't Bonnie's intention doesn't excuse the fact that she is the reason behind it." She finishes her rationale, the corner of her lip briefly quirking upward when she sees the flash of gratitude in Elena's eyes before she quickly turns back to Lucy.

"I'm sorry Luce, I know this is weird, I shouldn't-"

Lucy cuts her off, shaking her head as she says "I'm your best friend, besides she said it herself that she didn't want me to feel as if I had to take a side."

Gia suppresses a laugh as she looks down.

"What?" Lucy frowns at the vampire annoyed at how she's actually the neutral party in between the three of them for once.

"Bonnie not wanting you to feel as if you had to take a side took away the horns that I imagined keeping her halo in place." Gia replies with a shrug, swiping a chip from the bowl in Lucy's lap.

"You remember that charm you made for Katherine?" Elena questions in an attempt to diffuse the tension that has engulfed the room.

Lucy stops her glaring at the vampire and turns back to Elena "What about it?"

"Can you reverse it?"


He walks into the Mystic Grill with the intent to enjoy a drink with the sounds of mindless ramblings and exchangings of town gossip to be the background instead of his own thoughts. Weaving through the tables to claim his usual spot at the bar but stops when he sees that Vicki girl manning the bar instead of his usual bartender and opts to sit at an empty table to wait until her shift ends. Waving off each waiter and waitress that approaches him. When his waiting time hits the thirty minute mark he starts to rise from his seat but is stopped when someone takes it upon themselves to make them self comfortable in the seat directly across from him.

He stares at them for a moment half waiting for them to say something and half to make sure that it's actually her and not his ex deciding to breeze back into town under the guise of Mystic Falls' favorite doppelgänger. Getting his confirmation when she raises those doe eyes to meet his waiting stare.

"I never said thank you," Elena starts, noting the question in his eyes "for that day with Caroline. I know that you didn't want to..."

"Go and make sure that my little brother didn't get himself killed by the arguably nicest of our Original Overlords?"

"Yeah," Elena breathes looking away trying not to scoff at that "So what exactly is your relationship to her?"

He'd like to think that her question is out of jealousy but he knows better, is fully aware where her outlook on Bonnie is stemmed from "We're friends."

"You never mentioned her before."

"Would you have believed me if I said that I had a friend?"

"Well no," Elena answers honestly "but…"

"But what?" He pushes.

Elena shifts in her seat having not expected the edge to his voice "You're not exactly the type that can just be friends with women. Especially ones that…"

"Stefan has been with?" He offers when she once again trails off, continuing when her eyes only lower in response "I know that I haven't been the best brother post Katherine, but Bon came before her, and while being with Bonnie would hurt him" he stops knowing that hurt wouldn't be accurate enough "crush him, really. I actually like Bonnie and despite Stefan being the reason behind why we know each other. She's quite literally the only person that likes me and doesn't feel as if they have to put up with me because of their relationship to Stefan."

"Besides Rebekah, you mean."

"Rebekah hasn't been with Stefan." He waves her proposal off.

"But Stefan said that she likes you." Elena reveals, unaware of the salt she's pouring into a permanently open wound.

"Rebekah likes certain parts of me. She only tolerates me when we have clothes on."

"As most women do." A familiar voice comments as the owner breezes past the two before twirling around and coming to a stop at their table looking back and forth between the vampire and doppelgänger "I don't mean to interrupt but" they pause turning to look pointedly at the eldest Salvatore "Damon, it's been awhile since you were asked to do something that you have yet to do."

He slowly turns to look up to see Caroline staring down at him "I'm handling it."

"It doesn't look like it."

"I. Am. Handling. It." He repeats meeting her stare head on.

She looks at him for a moment before taking a step closer but stops suddenly and an accusatory look takes over her face.

"Talk to Rebekah." He states looking away from her just as she opens her mouth. Surprise flooding him when she merely presses her lips together and turns to leave but in true Caroline fashion she stops and leans down until her lips ghost his ear "Just to be clear, the only reason you still have your tongue is because Bonnie and Rebekah made me promise that I wouldn't touch you but we both know I can work around that. So tread lightly and don't let this get to your head."

Damon clenches his jaw and makes an effort to keep his face neutral even. Eyes straight ahead once she pulls away to look at him before she shifts her eyes to Elena.

"I'll let you two get back to your date." Caroline says in a light tone as she leaves the two free to go back to their own devices.

"She doesn't know." Damon assures when he sees Elena's eyes widen "Let's try to keep it that way." Afterwards shifting his eyes to the bar and immediately rises from his seat when he sees his usual bartender wiping down the counter and strolls over to his stool leaving Elena sitting there all by herself with a baffled look on her face.


Stefan Salvatore stares at the Ranch Style House with anxiousness coming off of him in waves. Everything inside him screaming at him to leave while he still could but the memory that led him to this point floats back into his mind.

He's walking out of his bathroom when he sees a box on his bed. Confused at its presence, he looks up to his door to see Damon leaning against the frame with a glass of bourbon in his hand, signature smirk on his lips "What is this?" Stefan asks, mentally preparing himself for whatever his brother has in store for him today.

"The beginning of you regretting saying that I should act like your brother." Damon answers with a serious look on his face.

Stefan frowns and returns his gaze to the box walking over to where it resides and picks up the paper lying on top of it reading the words in Damon's handwriting. His eyebrows knitting together when he realizes that it's an address, and swallows when it clicks. "I can't." he states staring at the information a little to long before coming to his senses and places it back down to its former place "Whatever this is it's not-"

"Do you want your girlfriend or not?" Damon cuts him off.

"She's not my" He starts to deny his brother's words but stops, realizing his mistake when Damon's lips curl up at the corners "I can't just-"

"Show up to my safe house with a box as requested in exchange of me not killing innocent people and framing you for them? I think she'll buy it all things considered. But since you can't keep a secret from her to save your life and it's probably not the best way to put this whole thing back on track," he pauses "that's exactly what you're doing. I'll even start with the Quarterback instead of Baby Gilbert. Kind of defeats the purpose if you do it to save your ex's last remaining relative." He points out casually bringing the glass to his lips to take a long drink.

Stefan only stares at him.

"Do you really think that this is the time to test my patience and reliable threats?"

"Why?"

"I don't like it when Bonnie is sad." Damon answers holding Stefan's stare so he knows he's being honest before turning on his heel to leave missing the quirk of Stefan's lips as he he mutters "And if anyone is going to make you miserable it's me."

With the threat looming over him in mind he reaches for the box at the feet of the passenger side and exits his car. Taking a deep breath before making his way towards the potential end to his life but otherwise normal appearing home.

He barely makes it through the door, finding the wind knocked out of him as his back meets a wall. But before he can react to the attack the assailant breaks all contact. Stepping away from him causing his body to drop to the floor.

"You really need to get back on the recommended diet. You were more durable as a human."

His eyes immediately open as soon as he puts a face to the voice. Watching warily as Kol Mikaelson's face swims into view, head tilted as the Original stares down at him before turning to walk away leaving him slumped against the wall.

"Nik said that you weren't the same but this is pathetic." Kol continues, walking over to the box the younger vampire dropped in the midst of his attack. Eyebrows raising at the magick coming off of the box, practically begging for his attention he feels the beginnings of his fangs itching at his gums and opens the lid inspecting the contents. Licking his lips in anticipation at the blood bags filled to the brim. He glances at the younger Salvatore curious at how he didn't go through the whole supply knowing how long of a drive this place was from Mystic Falls but figures that that was the reason he felt magick coming from it in the first place. Pushing those thoughts to the side he rifles through the selection until he comes across one marked "B positive" popping it open and taking a long drink. "Bon said that this was the other one's hideout. She never lies to me, is there any particular reason that she starting now?"

"It's Damon's. She doesn't even want to be anywhere near me right now."

"So you've either finally grown a pair or you're suicidal." Kol comments.

"You do know that I was there, right?" Kol reminds when Stefan narrows his eyes at him "Or did Lijah take it upon himself to go and wipe your mind again?"

Stefan sighs and rises from his place on the floor and starts to make his way to the door.

"Oh come now, don't be like that. Please sit," Kol motions towards the empty armchair "join me. Bonnie won't be back for at least another hour or so. Something about ripping Nik a new one. Whatever that means." He mumbles. Aside from his brief trip back to check on Caroline wanting to see if the rumors of her being on the brink of breaking her curse were true, he hadn't been in the States since the early nineteen hundreds. So he was a bit dated on sayings here.

Stefan frowns in response. Both wary of the Original's request and Bonnie's absence.

"I slaughtered a small town official and framed Nik for it after he stole the little witch I was working on." Kol starts his explanation "He finally got the up on me and daggered me, but the twit couldn't help himself and called Caroline from my phone since she stopped talking to him for whatever reason it is this time. Now Bonnie is out for his blood because he told her that I had finally found this coven in Cape Town that I've been searching for for ages. I mean I was only out for a week or two but who am I to stop Bonnie if she wants to hurt the bastard that would have left me in a box for at least a century over something so trivial?"

Stefan opens and closes his mouth several times "I don't even know what to say. To any of that." He admits.

Kol smiles "Then I suppose that we can skip the part where we pretend that we give a damn about each other and come up with a plan to take Nik down." the original frowns when Stefan doesn't respond "Bekah told me about your run in back in the twenties. You can't say that there aren't at least a little hard feelings there."

"One bite is all it takes." Is Stefan's only response.

Kol snorts "Because Niklaus stands a fighting chance against Bekah, Caroline and Bonnie. She may have kept her nature hidden from you but you know as well as I do that in my family Klaus isn't the one that should be feared."

"Kol, I can't help you kill her brother."

"Unless it was Elijah," Kol counters. A smile gracing his face when Stefan doesn't respond. "Fair enough," the youngest Mikaelson brother concedes "Well you've done what you came to do, I believe you're capable of leaving on your own." Kol dismisses him.


She's strolling through the halls, a glass of wine in her hand, blue sundress sweeping the floor behind her as she makes her way to her office to start planning for her ball. When she passes her living room and sees a brunette sitting with their hands in their lap on the couch. She stops her stride, blue eyes narrowed into slits as the girl turns to meet her waiting gaze and wordlessly raises their hands to the back of their neck taking off a necklace. She's just about to eliminate the space between them when her ears suddenly pick up a steady heartbeat as soon as the charm is placed on her coffee table.

"You are one bold little tart." Caroline states staring at the doe eyed doppelgänger, careful to maintain the mask of indifference on her face despite the part of her that is impressed by Elena's move. When she had heard someone come in a few minutes ago while she was in the shower she had just assumed that it was Rebekah after not picking up a heartbeat.

"Thank you." Elena smiles even though she knows that it wasn't necessarily a compliment but it was probably the closest that she would ever get from the blonde.

Caroline rolls her eyes "Well I know you didn't come to see how I was doing so just get to the point of your little visit and be on your way before I lose my patience and snap your neck."

"You won't." Elena states confidently not a doubt in her mind that she's wrong.

"Excuse me?" Caroline narrows her eyes.

"I'm important to Lucy, who is important to Bonnie and despite how cold you can be it's clear that you care about the both of them."

"Bonnie doesn't care for you all that much. Lucy can always make new friends." Caroline comments.

"But you can't." Elena replies flippantly.

She's in Elena's face in a flash with her hand wrapped around the brunette's throat effortlessly lifting her from the floor. Delighting in the panic that takes over the young girl's features as her hands go to claw at her own.

"There's this thing called a glamour spell, that you can secure with a charm for extra measure." Caroline begins, blue eyes briefly going to the charm on the table "No matter how powerful the witch, they will only see the face that the charm projects as only the wearer can remove it. I can compel any random brunette with split ends and a lanky build to believe that she is you. And no one will know the truth but me. You are overestimating your importance. Don't make it a habit." She suggests, releasing Elena from her grip watching as the doppelganger drops to the floor hands going to her neck as she desperately tries to return air to her lungs.

"You know how I feel about repeating myself." Caroline lilts as if she hadn't just been on the verge of committing a murder. Calmly taking a seat on the couch as soon as she sees that Elena has finally recovered from her attack. Raising her glass to her lips as she waits for the brunette to speak.

"Stefan told me about Bonnie." Elena rasps out, determined to not show the hybrid how much her outburst has unnerved her.

Caroline's eyebrows raise in surprise at the reveal and smiles when the reason behind Elena's visit clicks but she still wants the brunette to ask her. So she only nods and shifts so her feet are tucked underneath her body waiting patiently for the brunette to do so.

"Can you…" Elena lets her question trail off settling for a look that she knows that the hybrid gets her request loud and clear going by the amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Can I what?" Caroline feigns ignorance.

Elena sighs in annoyance and bites her bottom lip nodding her head, knowing that the Original is not going to make things easy for her "Caroline, please."

Caroline only grins at the young girl's reluctance, raising her glass to her lips as she waits.

"I want you to tell me about them."

"You don't trust that Stefan has told you everything?" Caroline questions surprised by the change in Elena's outlook on her own boyfriend.

"I trust that you will." Elena deflects.

Caroline tilts her head.

"You hate me."

"Hate suggests that I care about you in some way or another. So no, I do not hate you. I just enjoy antagonizing you and you're quite useful when I need to get things done that I don't feel like going through all the work that it requires because of the hold you have over the Salvatores. Now the Salvatores," Caroline pauses seeming to genuinely be mulling it over "that's debatable. And depends on the day."

Elena's lips quirk upward.

"Is there something on your mind, Elena?"

"He also told me about you and Damon."

"Of course he did." Caroline says tiredly before downing the remainder of her wine "Well, I do love to gossip, but unfortunately for you I know Stefan. When you ask, he tells. The things that you want to know are things that I have promised to both he and Bonnie will only stay between us. And I keep my promises. But if you do me a favor, I'll see if you can sit down with her and ask her yourself."

Elena shifts in her seat, not entirely comfortable with the prospect. Hearing about Bonnie was one thing but being face to face was a completely different ball park that she wasn't sure she wanted to go anywhere near just yet.

"You tower over her when she's in five inch heels. You started a relationship with an admitted serial killer. Dropped the girl next door act when Katherine breezed into town. You basically broke into my home. And play the man child like a violin on a daily basis." Caroline lists off the things the girl before her has done but didn't even hesitate despite being fully aware of the possible outcomes regarding her life "But you're afraid of Bonnie?" She stresses her sister's name.

"That's different." Elena defends herself.

"Why?" Caroline's eyebrows knit together "Because she deflowered your boyfriend?" Grinning when Elena cuts her eyes at her.

"He's different with you. Darker, kind of...sexy. With Bonnie there was this innocence. At least around us, all nice and polite, the perfect gentleman. But as soon as he thought we couldn't hear them…" she trails off with a smile "Gave Bekah, Kol and I material for weeks."

"What's the favor?" Elena nearly grits through her teeth.

"I want two blood bags of your blood."

Elena frowns, opening her mouth to ask why but is stopped when Caroline raises her hand asking,

"Do we have a deal or not?"

Elena closes her eyes as she nods out her agreement. Wondering if this was what Ariel felt like when she signed her contract with Ursula. She almost smiles at the comparison but finds that it's not that much of a stretch.

"Perfect," Caroline purrs "now get out." She dismisses the doppelgänger with a wave of her hand.

Just as Elena starts to rise from her seat to leave she stops dead in her tracks when she sees Bonnie walking into the room, Damon in tow with several shopping bags draping his arms. While several boxes are floating behind the two vampires, both of which are staring back at her in surprise.

"You're staying?" An excited voice breaks the silence and effectively cuts through the tension that has suddenly blanketed the room.

"Yeah," Bonnie confirms, her green eyes still on Elena despite her arms going around the blonde that has jumped on her tiny frame nearly knocking her over.

"She wants to know about you and Stefan." Caroline says into Bonnie's hair still hanging on to her.

"Care, I'm not going to-"

"Please, it's the last thing I'll ask you for the remainder of the century. Promise."

Bonnie remains silent.

"For the next century and a half." Caroline bargains.

"It's not my place." Bonnie states knowing that that's the best that she's going to get out of the blonde.

"Stefan already started. She just wants the full story. Speaking of Stefan…" Caroline says after a brief pause, her blue eyes going to the elder Salvatore who is now staring back at her "how is he?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Damon replies.

"Because you're right here to tell me."

Bonnie lets out a deep sigh at the beginnings of the argument that always happens whenever the two are in the other's vicinity.

"Lucy has been trying to reach you." Damon says shifting his gaze to Elena who blinks, releasing the air in her lungs that she wasn't aware she was holding until that moment "She thought that I had kidnapped you again."

Caroline snorts but then reluctantly releases her grasp onto Bonnie at the words that pass the hybrid's lips.

"I know that you already have a room waiting for me so can you and Damon play nice long enough to put my bags there?"

Caroline and Damon eye each other but do as Bonnie asks. The former leaving the latter the majority of Bonnie's things.

As soon as they're out of the room Bonnie waves her hand and turns to Elena who swallows yet stands to her full height "What did she ask you for in return?"

"My blood."

Bonnie runs a hand through her hair letting out a deep breath then turns back to Elena "How much?"

"Two blood bags." She answers, feeling her hackles rise watching as the witch starts to pace back and forth in silence.

"Go to Lucy's and don't tell her anything about this."

Elena opens her mouth but stops when Bonnie lifts her hand,

"It was not a question," Her green eyes go towards the door then turns on her heel to leave the room after putting a stop to the silencing spell leaving Elena standing there with a dumbfounded look on her face.

"Wait,"

Bonnie stops mid step and turns to face Elena looking at her impatiently when she has yet to say a word.

"Do we have a deal?" Elena asks shakily.

"I know Stefan," Bonnie starts, ignoring the sour look on Elena's face at her remark "if you asked him to tell you about our past then he told you everything that you want to know."

"He told me what he thought I could handle."

"Did he tell you that I was his first?"

Elena presses her lips together, not wanting to be reminded of that particular bit of information.

"Then he told you everything that you want and or need to know. It's easy to get your first confused with your first love. Sex brings in feelings unless it's with some random. If it weren't for Elijah then I doubt that I'd be someone that you felt as if you need to worry about...which you don't. It was never my intention to cause a rift between you and Stefan and I apologize for doing so. But what you want to know is what will cause him to not be able stand the thought of me and I told him everything that I did up until I met him, whatever I did or did not do afterwards is none of his concern―or yours―and it never will be unless there is a change on where we stand with each other. Which I have no plans on doing."

"Now as for Damon, we're just friends. There's nothing between us, I could never even bring myself to even consider going there. Not because I don't think he's attractive but being with brothers is tacky and disgusting. Call me a prude, or old fashioned but I couldn't. Nothing against women that do, or have no problem with it, it's just not for me. And even if I didn't...as much as I love him, he's Damon. I've never compelled either of them. Avoided them? Yes, especially Stefan. I never even asked Damon to not tell Stefan that he had any contact with me. Not because I wanted him to tell Stefan but because I trusted him not to until I said otherwise. Stefan hates Katherine but Petrovas are hard to shake. And by the time that I was ready to go anywhere near him…" she motions towards Elena who looks down "Salvatores aren't the type to have a wandering eye, and yes that includes Damon through all his bravado. So no, I am not a threat to you, neither is anyone else for that matter."

Elena nearly laughs when she sees that the hybrid is honestly believes that "Did you know that Katherine was never in the tomb?"

"No, but I should have. Back when Katerina was human, she had this thing with Elijah. Elijah is very serious and uptight but whenever he would leave from an encounter with her, he had this goofy grin. He loves the holidays but the extra pep in his step should have clued me in. Add in how charming she can be, she can get herself out of anything. But she knows that no matter how much I may like her my loyalty lies with Caroline. So I was kept out of the loop until Lucy filled me in on what was going on here. I tracked her down, and was going to kill her but decided against it. If anyone should have the pleasure it is Caroline, Stefan or Damon."

"You like Katherine?" Elena asks, looking at Bonnie as if she's lost her mind.

"She's fun," Bonnie shrugs "and one of the very few people who can actually surprise me. As messed up as the tomb thing was, you have to admit that it was genius. Making the person that you're running from think that you're suffering when really you're out and living your life counting down the years until your carbon copy pops up and you can attempt to right what you did and possibly get on their good side? Not many people could pull that off let alone think of it."

"But…" Elena starts but lets it trail off giving Bonnie a knowing look.

"She didn't know about Stefan and I. By the time that she found out…" Bonnie sighs "Katherine is to me what that Hayley girl is to you. Someone that you like, someone that you could see yourself being friends with if your current situation was not what it is right now. Your loyalties lie with someone who does not like them or vice versa." Bonnie says before turning on her heel.

"Where are you going?" Elena questions taking a step to follow after her but stops and quickly takes a step back.

"It's too quiet, which means that one or both of them have killed the other. So I need to get Damon and put him in your car so you can have Stefan put him in his bed before he does something stupid."

Elena starts to stop her but doesn't get the chance too, Bonnie appearing a minute later with an unconscious Damon Salvatore over her shoulder motioning for Elena to go first. For a moment she finds that she can only stare at the sight. She was fully aware of Bonnie's dual nature and yet it was still unsettling to see the hybrid with someone at least twice her weight over her shoulder as if they were nothing but a paperweight.

"Caroline was filing her nails, eavesdropping. Wants you to come by tomorrow after school." Bonnie says after placing Damon's dead weight in the backseat of Elena's truck.

Elena opens her mouth only to have it close on it's own volition, looking at Bonnie eyes wide in horror to see the hybrid shaking her head "Tell Lucy I'll be calling her later." Giving the brunette a look who nods in response before sliding behind the wheel of her car.


Stefan is just about to head into the woods when he sees Elena's truck pull into the driveway and he stares at her watching as she wordlessly gets out of her idling vehicle and open the door to the backseat, stepping backwards waiting for him to take the hint.

"What happened?" He smiles when he sees his brother half sprawled out on the floor.

"Stefan, it's not funny…" She attempts to scold but stops and trails off when she feels a small tug at the corner of her mouth. Stefan smiling was a rare sight which makes the urge grow until Damon groans and makes her remember why she's here. Taking a step away from her ex and forcing herself to look away so she can get to the point of her visit and leave "Caroline snapped his neck."

Stefan frowns.

"I went to see her and Damon and Bonnie showed up. I talked to her for a while but then she said that she couldn't hear them. When she found them, Caroline was filing her nails while he was on the floor. Bonnie put him in my car and told me to bring him here."

"Why were you at Caroline's?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Wait, he willingly left you alone with Bonnie?"

"She's made it clear that she's not going to hurt me. If there's anyone that needs to be worried about that it's you."

Stefan mentally concedes that she has a point but before he can respond he sees Damon getting out of the car on his own.

"You look like shit," the elder Salvatore comments staring at his brother "when was the last time you fed?"

"I was about to go out but I was stopped by Elena delivering your corpse to me. How many times are you going to provoke her before you realize that you'll never be able to take her?"

"Probably the same amount of times you'll try to talk to Bon before you realize that you don't have a chance." Damon retorts offhandedly, not being able to stop himself from falling back to old habits. Standing to his full height when he sees the flash of rage in Stefan's eyes.

"Or the amount of times you'll get turned down by Elena before you realize that you can't wear her down." A familiar voice states with a noticeable edge in their voice, gaining different reactions from the two vampires and the doppelgänger. Bonnie watches as they all turn to see her standing a few feet away with her arms folded over her chest, a frown on her face as she stares at Damon in particular who sighs. "One day, that's all I asked for and you get your neck snapped by Caroline and come home to start a fight with" she stops and lets out a breath "You should go." She says turning to Elena who scowls at her but nods remembering their conversation. The doppelgänger's brown eyes going to Stefan then to Damon before turning and climbing into her truck. All three vampires watching until she's turned the corner before turning to each other.