Chapter 7 Forgiveness

"Good night Elena." He says with his hands in his jean's pockets. The faint light outlines his face, the Salvatore brother's have a pronounced jaw line. I like it.

"Stefan," I give him a tight smile. "Good night. What brings you here?"

"I know I have no right to ask, but can we talk?"

"Um. Sure. Come in." I open the door wider for him to enter. I gesture towards the living room and we sit. When we are settled he speaks.

"Elena," He pauses and looks around my blue, black, and white living room. "First I would like to apologize, I know it's overdue, but I really am sorry. What happened with Katherine… I didn't plan it. It just did. You two are so alike, yet so different. I don't know when it happened, but I started feeling something for her."

I try to follow Dr. Fell's recommendations. Everyone deserves forgiveness right?

"I get it Stefan. Believe me, I do. I just wish you would've told me."

"I know. I just didn't want to hurt you. I loved you, Elena. In a strange way, I cared for both of you."

"You did hurt me though. You lied and betrayed me, but I think it's time to let this go"

"I think so too. I'm so sorry."

"Thank you. It might take sometime for me to get passed this, but maybe one day we can be friends."

"Your compassion is one of your greatest qualities, Elena. Thank you."

"It can also be my greatest weakness." I look down at my hands. "Stefan, if you and Katherine are going to be together, do it the right way."

"I will."

"Well then, thank you for the apology Stefan. Take care of her."

"Thank you, Elena." We stand and make our way to the door. "Goodbye." He says as I open the door.

"Bye Stefan." I say closing the door.

I push my back to the door and slide down. I can quite put my finger on it, but I feel sentimental. I put my hands on my face, and start crying. These two years I never realized that I was holding on to Stefan and avoiding closure, and I just got it. This is it. I can try to find a way out this abyss. I wipe my face and get up. I have something to look forward to.

I put on comfy pajamas and lie on my bed. I take a minute to appreciate my room. It's painted gray with black and white furnishings, like most of my house. It's simple, but I like it. My queen bed is comfortable, but my left side is always empty. I don't give it much thought, and arrange my pillow to go to sleep. I plan to see the world with different eyes when I wake tomorrow.

"Hello Brother." I say as I enter the Boarding House. Stefan is sitting in the living room facing looking at the fireplace.

"Damon." He nods at my direction. He is drinking. Something must be going on.

"The word that the Ripper was back in town must've gone 'round the bunnies." I smirk.

"Hmm." He tastes his drink.

"Everything okay?"

"I apologized to Elena today. You know, closure." He said looking at the flames.

"Oh." I haven't mentioned to him that I've met her. "Did it go well?"

"Too well. She's avoided me for two years, Damon. Now she's understanding and forgiving? I can't help to wonder if there is someone."

"And you are brooding because…? Didn't you want the sister?"

"Yes, but… I don't know." He sighs. "I just want her to be happy, I guess."

I pat my brother on the back. "She will."

"She is a piece of work though." He gives me a tight smile.

"Yeah. She seems like it."

"I'm sorry, have you met her?" He is now looking at me, frowning.

"I mean, I can imagine. From what you've told me."

"Damon. Did you meet her?"

I can feel Stefan's gaze burning down on me. I guess there is no corner where I can hide this now.

"Yes. I can see why you are so broody. She's a dead ringer for Katherine, the old one at least. Although, I can imagine this Katherine must've inherited some Petrova charms too." I tried to sidetrack Stefan with their family history.

"I don't know who is her doppelgänger though. They are both too similar. Who would've thought a Petrova Doppelgänger would ever cross with a Gilbert."

"I'm sorry, what? Do they have a another sibling?" Could it be?

"A brother." He says. If I had a beating heart, it would be in my throat.

"Does that mean?" I pause.

"They all are." He confirms.

The first woman I've truly been interested in after Katerina Petrova could not only be her doppelgänger, but is also a werewolf. I'm screwed.

I look at Stefan's picture of her. Katerina Petrova came to Mystic Falls in the 1800's. She was beautiful and flirtatious, my brother and I fell in love with her madly. Katerina was running from Niklaus Mikaelson, a vampire original. She went by the name Katherine Pierce. She is a Petrova Doppelgänger, the same required to break the sun and the moon curse. She decided to turn to a vampire in order to escape from him. I thought she loved me, and I did everything in power to save her, but it was inevitable. Our family was part of the local council against vampires. Our father was ashamed of his sons, who sympathized vampires, and killed us both with vampire blood on our systems. Katherine wasn't killed though, we thought she was trapped underneath the Fell's Church. Until recently, she came back and told us she was never in the tomb, and declared her eternal love for Stefan. 'It's always gonna be Stefan' were her exact words. She might not be dead, but she is to me. She promised Klaus to deliver him a doppelgänger in exchange of his forgiveness. Elena and her sister are related to her on their maternal side, but only one of them is the doppelgänger. We just don't know which one.

I do not understand why, but I have to protect Elena from Klaus and Katerina if she is the one. Even if crossing paths with her during a full moon can literally be deadly.

AN: I hoped you enjoyed the chapter. So, Katherine Gilbert is not Katerina Petrova! Who should be the doppelgänger? Will they be able to break the curse with a Petrova Doppelgänger that is a werewolf? Review if you would like to weigh in. Thank you!