A/N: Ok, so for the record I don't like this chapter. I'm not sure why, but I had a hard time writing it; it feelings disconnected. I pushed through and am postin it anyway. I promise the next chapter will be better! I tried something new with the ending of this one. It was just an idea and I can re-write it if it seems unbelievable.

Please review! I would like your feedback on how the characters are, and if you like where the story is going! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the vampire diaries universe… that honor goes to LJ Smith.

Stay With Me

Chapter 4

"My dealings? Care to elaborate?" Damon walked around both Pearl and Anna to the sofa next to the fireplace, crossing his legs leisurely.

"Of course. It has come to my attention that both you and Stefan have become quite close with this girl. A love triangle if you will. You never were the sharpest tack in the box, Damon. But I would have hoped that with 145 years of experience you still wouldn't be so dense. This human affair is very dangerous. And if we're going to succeed with our plan to take back the town, it has to end." Her tone had a certain finality to it that left no room for discussion. Damon knew Pearl liked to have control, and she most definitely did not like to be questioned or argued with. Unfortunately for her, arguing was one of Damon's favourite past times.

"Ahhh," Damon said, nodding knowingly. "The Gilberts. I had forgotten all about that little tidbit of history. The secret love and the even more secret betrayal. Lucky for all of us that Elena knows our little secret. She's been a great help until this point, you know?"

"My plan doesn't involve a love struck teenager. No matter where her loyalties lie now, once we own the town many will die, including members of the Gilbert family. I'm surprised at you Damon. I thought it was the other Salvatore brother who was smitten with her. I counted on you to be the voice of reason." Pearls tone had turned facetious, and Damon was fighting for control of his anger. He thought for a brief second about taking her on, but he hadn't fed directly from a human in far too long. And Pearl had been around a lot longer than he had. She had proved that to him by almost tearing his eyes out. He couldn't risk losing with Elena in the next room

"I trust you'll have no problems in eliminating her?" Pearl said making her way around the living room, pausing to inspect the antiques that lay on the mantle.

"Eliminate her? Pearl, we can use her. Compel her to do our dirty work. Who better to infiltrate the council and get to the other towns people than her? Not to mention the suspicion it will raise should she go missing. Hmmm?" He threw out the only argument he could think of that had merit, hoping it caught her attention.

Pearl was silent for a moment, letting the idea sink in. Finally she nodded. "Ok, I'll allow it. In the meantime, I assume you'll keep working on those lists? Don't keep me waiting Damon. Patience is not one of my virtues." Not leaving any time for Damon to respond, Pearl nodded at Anna and they both made they're way back to the door. Damon closed his eyes and sighed and upon opening them the scary woman and her daughter were gone.

For the first time in 48 hours Elena felt as though she finally had some time to herself to think. After Damon had left to grab the door, Elena had taken it upon herself to snoop through their kitchen. Surprisingly, she found a few items and with a loud growl from her stomach Elena whipped herself up some cheese, crackers and pickles. An odd combination to be found in a vampire's house but good nonetheless. She began running over and over in her mind what had happened with both Stefan and Damon. It was all one big blur and while just a few hours ago her feelings felt very clear, right now she felt muddled and foggy. She had never wanted to end up between both brothers, and she couldn't help but question Damon's intentions. She sighed audibly, and finishing her snack walked to the kitchen door and put her ear on the soft wood. I wonder who's out there? He's taking forever.

Elena put her ear to the kitchen door, in an attempt to eavesdrop on the conversation. It was muffled at first, but after a few seconds of listening she was able to discern a woman's voice. She sounded uptight and conservative, a threatening tone dominating the words she spoke. Elena couldn't make out everything, but she caught the words Gilbert girland eliminate her.

Elena sucked in a breath, the hair on the back of her neck and arms standing up. What do I have to do with anything? So many questions were buzzing around her head. Drawing her attention back to the conversation on the other side of the door, she heard Damon telling Pearl that he would compel her to do his dirty work. Her hand, once again came up to her neck as she remember her necklace was no longer with her.

Checking to make sure that the woman was gone; Elena slowly pushed open the large door, walking through the dining room until finally she saw Damon sitting on the couch. There was a look on his face that she couldn't quite name and as she sat on the couch next to him she had to resist the urge to touch him.

For several minutes neither one made a sound until finally Elena spoke, "Compel me to do your dirty work huh? I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that was a nicely rehearsed speech?"

He turned his head to look at her, then abruptly turned away. "So you heard. I didn't know what else to say. She was going to order me to kill you. Would you have preferred it if played along?" Damon said condescendingly. His voice betrayed none of the emotion that surged through his body at saying those words. Just a few months ago, Pearl's request would have been the highlight of his day. Now …

Elena sighed, with a sad look on her face. "I'm really getting tired of vampires trying to kill me. What are we going to do about Pearl? It's only a matter of time before she catches on that I'm not under any mind control."

"We need to shut her down. This has gone on long enough. She can't just walk into this town and act like she owns it." Damon got up from his spot on the couch and began pacing the room. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "We need a plan. And I hate to be the one to say this, but I think we're going to need Stefan on board. Maybe that annoying history teacher too. I can't take them all on."

Elena slowly began to nod her head. "Ok. Maybe we should give Stefan a few days of space before we unload this on him." She grimaced at the thought of facing Stefan again. She knew what he did was wrong, but what she did was not any better. Looking back, she thought to herself, I could have handled it differently.

"Nonsense. Saint Stefan will be thrilled to partake in this action packed activity." He gave her a dazzling smile. Elena rolled her eyes. And he's back. Gone was the previous concern for her, as Damon reverted back to his carefree self.

"Right. Ok." Steeling herself for the confrontation, she pulled her new blackberry out her pocket and hit the speed dial. "Hello?" Came Stefan's voice from the other end.

"Hi, Stefan? It's Elena." Obviously, Elena thought to herself. She suddenly felt very awkward.

"Elena, hi. How are you?" His voice was tinged with mixture of guilt and anger and Elena felt a twinge inside her.

"I'm doing ok. I know I probably don't have any right calling you, but something's happened with Pearl. She was just here and …" Before Elena could say anymore the door to the boarding house opened and Stefan walked through. He looked considerably better, Elena thought. He had changed his attire from earlier and was now wearing a pair of casual pants with a blue collared shirt and a light grey jacket. There were no signs on his face or otherwise of the monster that had been present only hours before.

"What happened?" His face was serious, as he directed his concern towards Elena only.

Elena cleared her throat. "Well I wasn't exactly part of the conversation. Maybe Damon should explain." And without waiting for consent, Damon jumped into how Pearl had wanted Elena dead and how Damon had given her a counter offer.

"I wouldn't have called you, brother, but if we're going to do this we need a fool proof plan with lots of back up. We've waited too long. It's time we dealt with this problem." Damon said seriously.

They both watched Stefan, waiting for a reaction. "I'll only help on one condition."

Damon rolled his eyes. "How positively juvenile of you. And that condition would be?"

"As you can imagine, it's not easy for me to see you two together. We all know how it's going to end, anyway. What with Damon being a self-serving psychopath with no redeeming qualities." He gave Elena a pointed look. "But if we're all going to work together, this can't be happening with you two." His eyes were still on Elena as he continued. "Elena I respect your right to make whatever choice you feel you have to. But I won't be a part of this … I can't."

He gave Elena an apologetic look as he turned to Damon, "I know you're using her and just because I can't be with her doesn't mean I'm going to let you tear her apart. So you either put a stop to whatever it is between you two, or you can continue without me."