Sorry it's taken me so long to upload promise the next chapter won't take so long in between uploads. Here's chapter 6. Enjoy!

Chapter 6

Stefan POV

"Katherine?"

Keeping her sly smile in place she sauntered up towards me. I was frozen in place. I hadn't expected to ever see her again, however with Elena being her doppelganger I knew I was only hoping not to. She stopped within a few feet from me and looked me over. "God, you haven't changed a bit, have you?"

I was instantly on the defensive, all other thought train flown from my mind. "What are you doing here?" I could feel the low growl building as I spoke.

"Just dodging through, curiosity, etcetera, etcetera." Her words were vague but if I remember Katherine, she always had a few tricks up her sleeves.

Keeping myself on guard I eyed her wearily. Her back in town was not a good thing.

"Come on, Stefan. Didn't you miss me?" Her hand reached out to stroke my face.

I snatched her hand away and threw her far off into a tree. One of the best new enhancements of my blood was the strength it gave me. I was nowhere near as strong as Damon, but it was enough to through Katherine off guard.

She rolled with the force of the throw and landed in a couch by the trunk of the tree, her lips still holding the wicked grin as she looked up at me threw her brown locks. She straightened as if she had barely been touched and looked at me strangely. "You've changed."

I didn't respond. She had picked that up from one movement from me. I had underestimated her once again and I suddenly realised that I didn't have any clue as to how old she really was.

I heard voices behind me and I turned my head over my shoulder, accepting that she wouldn't do anything in front of a group of civilians. As I scanned the dispersing crowd outside the Lockwood residence Katherine purred close to my ear.

"See you soon, Stefan."

I spun back only to find an empty space of where she once stood. It was futile searching for her, she had evaded us all for a hundred and forty-five years. All I knew that Mystic Falls was about to play part to one of her schemes, and that Elena was in danger.

Elena POV

I drove myself to the boarding house utterly conflicted with myself on the afternoon's events. I kept repeating to myself that this was just one of Damon's ploys to win the tables on Stefan, and that Stefan wouldn't go down this road again. Could he? Wouldn't he? All the doubts flooded my mind causing me to clench the steering wheel hard enough to shoot pain up my arms and into my head, dismissing all thought of the blood thirsty Stefan from my mind.

I breathed deeply, but my thoughts were cruel and jumped straight onto the next thing I didn't want to address. As Damon and I danced at the Lockwood mansion, time seemed to stop... and everything seemed to disappear. There was nothing in the world but his eyes as we danced to the soft music. I felt static between our palms as we held them apart from one another, floating softly around the pavement. There was no barrier between us, his walls completely down as his eyes held mine and saw straight into my soul. I'd never felt that before, not even with Stefan... and it scared the hell out of me.

I pulled outside the boarding house, hoping to find Stefan inside. My doubt spiked once more as I thought back on where he could have been today. I had changed out of my gown into my jeans, but my hair still hung in waves down my back. Pushing open the door, I walked into the house, looking about around me to see if there were any signs of Stefan.

"Stefan?"

The furniture remained untouched and the air kept still, letting my voice echo out through the halls and high ceilings of the boarding house. Each time I walked into the Salvatore home I felt a sense of beauty and preservation all jumbled up into a timeless atmosphere. The two swords crossed over each other above the fire place, the old leather bound books covered in dust on the tall shelves, the head statue in the corner used as a paper weight, and the old high back black leather chair by the fireplace that stood out from the rest of the couches and smelt of cigars and brandy.

I felt eyes on me the moment I stepped into the open room near the foot of the stairs.

"Stefan?"

It was an eerie feeling that made the small hairs on my arms stick out and my breath spike.

The next moment I was pinned to the wall by my throat, the air in my lungs completely shut off. Stefan's blood hazed eyes glared down into mine and his mouth had contorted into a snarl.

"Stefan- Wh- what are you-

I couldn't form a coherent string of words; each word sacrificed my remaining air. My head began to spin as the oxygen was completely cut off from me. My eyes rolled up to the ceiling as I clawed at the iron strong hands that encased my neck.

"You think I don't know it's you, Katherine."

My struggles began to weaken until I had no strength left in my body, then my entire world turned to darkness.

Stefan POV

I looked at Katherine's form slumped unconscious in my grasp. It angered me further for her to think me stupid enough to fall for her human stunt. I clenched her throat harder and pulled her forward slightly, only to slam her with more force into the wood once again. No response.

A very weak, very slow pulse moved underneath my fingertips and with a powerful jolt of shock I dropped her form. This was not a vampire. This was not Katherine.

... It was Elena.

Her crumpled form lay at my feet, and there was no rise and fall of her chest to indicate breathing. Panicked out of my mind, I bent down in a blur and bundled her up into my arms.

"Elena... please, no."

I moved her from my lap and laid her on the floor, my hands positioned to perform CPR. The possibility of Elena turning if I gave her blood at this moment was a high chance, and I wasn't about to risk it. Pushing all thought train aside, I tilted her head back and opened her mouth.

I breathed oxygen into her and pumped her chest until I thought it was certain that I had crushed her ribs before her eyes opened and she gasped, gulping down as much air as possible. I tentatively laid my hand on her back as she rolled over and spluttered and coughed her lungs out.

"Well... that didn't quite go the way I expected," I snapped my head up to see Katherine standing there with a satisfied smile, "but it was definitely better than I could have hoped for."

I could feel Elena's fear and confusion exploding from her being as a low growl escaped my throat. "If you want to hurt Elena, you'll have to go through me first."

"I'm not the one who almost killed her, no longer than five minutes ago. However I was simply curious as to who's replaced me. You haven't strayed far from the tracks have you, Stefan. She's me in a meat suit."

"She's nothing like you." I felt my lips curl at my words. Elena was far from Katherine. She was never, nor could she ever be, as cruel and sinister as her.

"No? From what I've seen, it looks like history's repeating itself for both the Salvatore brothers. Both of you are in the midst of tug-o-war and she's ignorant to the choice that's to be made. Hopefully she won't have blood on her hands when that time comes around." She looked over my shoulder to Elena and let her lips curve into a twisted grin. "Nice to finally meet you Elena. I'll see you soon." With a blur of speed, Katherine fled the boarding house.

My breathing still heavy I checked to see that the stench of danger was gone before I turned to Elena, only to find she was crouched against the far wall away from me, with her arms wrapped around herself. Her eyes were locked on me with tears streaming down from the terror in her eyes.

Elena POV

I didn't speak from the moment I woke up on the floor of the boarding house; Stefan crouched over me with panic in his eyes. My mouth could not form words as I saw the mirror image of myself amused at Stefan's attack on me. I knew that Katherine looked identical to me but I'd never imagined myself in a calm state if I was to ever encounter her. Both of them had hurt me, one intentionally the other... I didn't know. I was petrified into utter silence as my entire body shook from fear of the both of them.

Stefan had attacked me. He had nearly pulverised the bones in my neck as he threw me against the wall and clenched hard on my throat. His eyes had glazed over in both rage and blood lust as he pinned me to the wall. Had Damon been right? Had Stefan really lost himself completely to human blood. Had he ever try to drink from me? Would he ever force it from me?

I barely heard Stefan's excuse and explanation of what had happened at the boarding house as he drove me home. He had seen Katherine earlier today but didn't expect her to ever wonder into his and Damon's house. She was a threat to me, and to the town, and she would do anything, be anything in order to accomplish her plans.

Stefan on human blood... he'll say anything, do anything... because he's not going to want to stop.

I shivered violently at the memory of Damon's words and my thoughts trailed back to the thoughts on the possibility of Stefan drinking human blood again. I continued to hear Stefan's words as they flowed without breath from his lips. I was to have all necessary means of protection, and that I was not safe anywhere. The only place that was safe for me was at home or with him.

I felt a tear slip down my cheek as I knew I could hardly ever feel safe with Stefan again. How did one bounce back from this? Stefan assumed it was from Katherine's chaos and continued into a string of words trying to reassure me that I was going to be okay, and that he wasn't going to rest until he'd hunted her down.

I didn't look at him, nor speak a word as I hopped out from his car out the front of my house. With quick speeds I headed up to the front door and closed it as soon as I was inside. Without glimpsing towards Jeremy and Jenna's figures in the kitchen at the end of the hallway, I dashed up the stairs into my room pressing my face into my door as I closed it.

A fresh wave of tears fell down my cheeks as I slumped to the carpet, my legs folding in as I curled myself around them. If Katherine could pretend to be enough for Stefan to attack me, what was to stop her from doing it again? What was to stop Stefan from killing me, if he believed I was her again?

My life was beginning to spin further out of control... and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Stefan POV

I had no idea where to start. The only thing I knew was that she was older, and far stronger than I was. I had to gather my strengths and the only solution I knew would work was to grab as many bags from the fridge down stairs and drain them. I may not be as old or strong as Katherine but I was going to damn well be prepared when I found her.

The power I felt as I drained the last bag from the fridge almost pulled me under. I could hear my blood vibrating within my veins and a soft ringing sounding in my ears as my senses heightened to a whole new level. All I had to do now was to find her.

In blurring speeds I was out the front door, acting before thinking. I could not find the patience to search through books and memories enough to link key ideas to where she may be. I reasoned that doing was better than thinking.

She had come into my house and threatened Elena; she almost had me kill her. Rage was winning the battle out of the blood within me as I flashed by each street scanning with each of my senses for anything that would point her out to me. Elena hadn't spoken a word after Katherine had left. The fear in her eyes was enough to send my mind into a twisted mess of pain as I spoke about keeping her out from Katherine's harm. Did she not believe I would keep her safe? How could she? I had almost crushed her with my own hands and left her unconscious. I hated that I had ever landed a finger on her perfect form. She was too pure to endure this much trauma of not only seeing herself in a dark and cruel projection, but to look back into the blazing red vampire eyes of her love and see him attempt to kill her.

I persisted with my thorough scan of the entire town before retreating to my room as the first rays of the sun rose over the horizon. I would eventually find her but settled on the fact that Katherine would not show herself so soon after a frontal attack. She was known not to be so hasty and would bide her time if she wanted to ever get a direct strike at Elena. The day I let my guard down was the day Hell froze over. Let her wait... she'll be in for one hell of a surprise.

Damon POV

Two days had passed and I had seen neither Elena nor Stefan since the Lockwood residence. I had heard Stefan coming and going at early hours of the morning but not once had he approached me or made himself known within the house. I hadn't known the exact reason for his disappearance on the day but my gut told me it was entirely involved with the rapid changes the blood had on him. Had he fed too much from a human? Whatever his reasons, it was tugging fiercely at my curiosity but I never seemed to catch him in time before he escaped the house and then again in the early hours of the morning. Was he going to see Elena? Had she ignored everything I'd said in the dressing room? How the hell could she be that naive? If it wasn't that, she was purposefully in denial.

I was scanning the streets below from the apartment building roof when I spotted Elena. There was something different about her that almost had me mesmerised. Her long brown locks were twisted into flowing curls down her back, her clothes were tight and emphasised each of her curves beautifully, and her hips were swaying as she walked the streets below.

Before I could let my mind wonder further I was slightly taken aback. Elena was one of the most modest people I had ever met, sure she had her fiery moments, but strutting dark alleys at night was not something I had ever imagined her doing.

I quietly crept along the roof top, keeping my eyes trained on her figure as she headed down the almost deserted road. I watched as she flipped her hair, and swayed her hips seductively at passersby and began to think that maybe she was drunk. As soon as the last person emptied from her path I swooped down behind her causing her to turn around and look me over head to toe.

I eyed her back curiously "What are you doing?"

The twist of her lips, the glint in her eyes and the way she sounded as she spoke was enough to drive all thought of Elena standing in front of me from my mind. "Damon."

I couldn't speak. All my existence had been spent on searching for this woman, my entire life spent destroying myself over her, everything I had lived for... everything I'd died for, was now standing directly in front of me.

She slowly strode towards me and trailed her slender finger across my lips. "My sweet, sweet, Damon." I couldn't stop the shiver that jolted through me at the first feel of her touch.

I wanted to ask her so much, the questions bubbled on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to know why she left me. Why she didn't look for me sooner. She had to have known I was searching for her. It wasn't as though I made it inconspicuous.

Then it struck me.

I gave my life for her.

I spent my life searching for her.

... I died for her.

And she knew exactly where I was, what I was doing... and didn't care.

I felt like kicking my own ass as I crushed the emotions she brought to the surface within me. After all this longing and all this pain she'd caused me, I welcomed the rush of hate that surged through me as her finger trailed from my lips down along my neck.

My eyes turned icy cold as I stared down at her angelic face. "What are you doing here?"

"Would you believe I missed you?" She batted her eye lashes up at me and pressed herself against me. I was shocked to find that the hate over rode the intensity of passion I used to feel from her.

I grabbed her shoulders hard and restrained her from me, shoving her back slightly as I let go. "No, I wouldn't believe that. Give me one good reason why I don't just kill you now?"

Her eyes turned catlike and her lips curled into a seductive smile as she purred, "I like the new you. Maybe I have missed you."

I couldn't stop the words as they surged out from his lips, "Then why didn't you come for me?" My guard had fallen and what I'd suppressed within myself for over one hundred and forty-five years came tumbling out in the open.

She was slightly taken aback at my sudden swift change of emotion and kept silent for a moment. I had rendered her speechless. If she never saw this coming how the hell could have I?

I steadied myself but my voice was still haunted by her betrayal. "Why didn't you come find me? You knew I was here... What am I to you?" My icy closure crept into my last words, and frustration and anger slammed into me like a ton of bricks. In blurring speeds I had her pinned to the gritted wall of the dark alley, glaring down into her brown orbs in search for answers.

"If it's tormented you so much, why don't you just kill me?" Her smirk had slid back in place knowing the effect she'd had on me being finally open to the world.

"Maybe I will."

She looked directly into my eyes and disbelief clouded her features, "Come on, Damon. You can't fool me. Kill me or kiss me... and we both know you're only capable of one."

My entire being began to shake with the force of the decision held above me like the weight of the world was resting on my shoulders. I could do it, I really could. I could end her. I could take revenge on the last century and a half of my seemingly worthless existence and end it all. Two moves and I could have the stake out at sticking out from her chest. However, she was right... and we both knew it.

I slammed my body into hers, pressing us up against the dank wall of the alley as my lips crushed down onto hers. She responded instantly, maybe even before I'd moved, she'd predicted my decision. Slamming one another into the walls, and cluttered ground in the alley, we both tried hastily to get at one another.

I'd dreamt for over a hundred years of having her back in my arms and the day had finally come. Her lips were fighting back, both of us locked in the battle for dominance and passion. She tore my shirt open and ran her hands down my chest before pulling me back to her. I threw our tangled bodies to the ground and held my weight above her, a new hunger circling my being other than bloodlust.

As her hands began to move over my body, the sickness of doubt flooded my mind. This wasn't a mutual feeling between us, or if it was, she was showing no hint of love that I held for her. I had to know. The unanswered questions dug their way into my head like jack hammers enough to force me to speak around our locked lips.

"Wait- wait, wait..." She let go, both of us breathing heavily as she silently questioned my pause in the moment. "Brief pause."

She was out from under me in a second; standing a few feet away from me as I pulled myself off the ground. Her clothing was torn in all different places from our moment but her eyes were fiercely alert as to why I had stopped.

"I have another question." My breathing was still erratic.

"I thought you were all out of questions."

I continued on as if she hadn't spoken, and could see on her features that this was more than the curiosity of her whereabouts. "Answer it and its back to the glares and ice... Answer it right, I'll forget the last hundred and forty-five years I've spent missing you. I'll forget how much I loved you. I'll forget everything and we can just start over."

Her eyes still held their guard but I could see them slightly wavering with uncertainty as she realised what I was saying.

I took a slow step towards her, my eyes still locked on hers. "This can be our defining moment, because we have the time... that's the beauty of eternity. I just need the truth, just once."

It had begun to tear me to pieces inside as I spoke each word aloud. I didn't know if I could face the alternative answer, but it was better now than never.

"I don't want to hurt you, Damon." Her voice was a mere whisper as her eyes glistened. Her words almost struck me down but my hope was powerful enough to keep me standing. That wasn't an answer.

"You won't. Just... tell me."

"Damon, I- I can't- I don't feel that way. I don't love you."

It was the crushing blow that caused my eyes to glaze over and my feet stagger backwards.

Stefan POV

I couldn't do it anymore. It wasn't enough. The packaged blood, the stray humans who were unfortunate enough to stumble across my path, no longer seemed to create a dent in my thirst. If I didn't have something sustaining me soon, the vow for Katherine's defeat was lost.

I knew what I needed. I knew where to get it. But dare I? After all the reason for this mission had begun for the concern of her safety... but there was nothing on the face of this earth that was more tantalising than her essence. Whether she was an angel from heaven of demons come to punish me, Elena Gilberts blood was the only thing I sought out.

I could go back to the way it was, take only a few drops and control her dreams. She would remain safe, and I could control myself enough to not take anything that would affect her in the slightest. Before I'd even agreed to it, my feet had carried me up to the window sill of her bedroom. I was inside before I could object, and I was by her side before I could admit defeat.

My lips were at her throat as the last of my defences crashed down within me. Once again, I found myself fang deep in Elena, with the bloodlust having absolute control.

Elena POV

I was floating in Damon's arms, his tuxedo black as night and his eyes a piercing blue as he smiled mischievously down at me as we danced throughout the Lockwood terrace. It was the day of the Mystic Falls competition but there was no one else present except the two of us. I had dreamt nothing else but this dream since the day of the dance and I smothered myself in each detail of that perfect day enough to almost feel like I was reliving the moment countless times over in blissful happiness.

Damon spun me out from him and my eyes lifted to the ceiling, a laugh escaping my lips at the joy of what we were doing. As his hand twirled me back towards his chest I stumbled against him with a laugh. I looked up to see vibrant green eyes smiling back at me. I faltered slightly only to be moved gracefully into a dip, my partner leaning over me with a tender smile.

"I'm sorry I'm late."

I felt my lips smile weakly back at him as he pulled me upright again. Stefan led me in a soft and graceful waltz across the stone floor, his eyes locked on mine. I looked down and saw that my dress had changed from midnight blue to crimson red truffles. Something within me spoke softly, only sounding for my ears as Stefan kept his soft gaze on me, unfazed by the words. This isn't right. You can feel something changed. He's not who you want to be dancing with.

I ignored the soundless words and continued to be swept around the room in Stefan's arms, but I could feel that I was not entirely involved with the movements as I had been before.

Before with who?

Who had I been dancing with?

My memory clouded and all I could remember was Stefan spinning me about the room. Something tugged slightly trying to help me remember, but I was spun out from Stefan and back tightly to his chest that it scattered all thought but the present moment.

...

I awoke sluggishly and found the sun's rays on its final descend past the trees in the distance. Confused, I rolled over and checked the clock and saw five fifteen flashing in bright red. How had I slept so late? I'd missed the entire day.

I lifted the covers off and, with more effort exerted than usual, slung my legs off onto the floor. I received a harsh wake up as my legs crumpled under me as I attempted to stand and my shoulder and head crashed into the floor.

What had happened to me that had almost drained me completely?

Katherines back and she's working a completely different angle.

As you can see Stefan's conflicted with enjoying the blood and what's right when it comes to protecting Elena.

Chpt 7 should be up in the next coupke of days. Your reviews inspire me to continue write, so if you could Please Review, I'd gladly appreciate it!