Chapter 8: Pleasant Valley Sunday

A/N: Continuing thanks for the faves and follows! Sweeten the pot with reviews, and you win not only my gratitude, but also further inspire me! Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own or operate The Vampire Diaries,


Elena got home from church quickly and changed her clothes.

"You and Damon must be going to the craft fair today," Jenna said, seeing her rush around.

"We are, but Caroline and Bonnie and Damon's brother, Stefan, are going, too. Maybe even Zach."

"You eating there?"

Elena nodded. "Yeah, they have food trucks all over the place."

"I have an open house at two, so I'll be staying here. Is Jeremy going?"

"He said something about maybe going with Matt and Kenny. I'm fine with that as long as Tyler Lockwood isn't with them. He just looks for trouble."

"And usually finds it, if he's anything like his jerk of a dad. OK. Well, since I know your schedules, that's fine. Home by nine, please, since tomorrow is Monday."

"I know. See you, Aunt Jenna. Good luck with the open house!"

Elena picked up Caroline and Bonnie; they were meeting Damon and Stefan at the fair. She found a parking place and they got out of the car and walked to the entrance set up at the park. "Wonder if the guys are here, yet," Elena said.

"I think they just showed up," Bonnie said, pointing to the blue Camaro rounding the corner of the Square. The top was down, Stefan was driving and every eye was on the car as they pulled into a vacant spot.

"That's Damon's brother?" Caroline said.

"That would be one Stefan Salvatore," Elena replied.

"Nice. Very nice." That was Bonnie.

"Nice? Nice? OMG! How do you get two gorgeous men like that in one family?" Caroline squealed, and then turned to Elena and whispered, "Wouldn't you like to be the filling in a Salvatore sandwich?"

"Shut up!" Elena said, giving Caroline a push. "You're awful!" She fervently hoped the crowd noise obscured what Caroline said, and that Stefan's vampire hearing didn't catch it.

"Just being honest," she replied.

"What? What did she say?" Bonnie asked. Elena whispered it into her ear and Bonnie burst out laughing. "Caroline! Really!" Then she paused. "Not that there isn't some tiny bit of merit to the idea." She grinned at Elena.

"Not you too! You two are twisted," Elena said.

Bonnie just shrugged.

Elena rolled her eyes. "Get it together, ladies. Here they come."

The two men approached them, smiling. "Hey Elena," Stefan said.

"Hi Stefan. Let me introduce you to my friends. This is Caroline Forbes and Bonnie Bennett. Ladies, Stefan and Damon Salvatore."

"Hey. Good to meet you," Stefan said, shaking hands with them.

"Miss Caroline, Miss Bonnie," Damon said, also taking their hands. "It's a pleasure to meet Miss Elena's friends."

Elena was enjoying the expressions on her friends' faces. "Nice to meet you guys, too," Bonnie siad.

"We have heard so much about you!" Caroline squeaked.

"Don't believe everything you hear," Stefan replied, with his best ladykiller grin. It worked. Caroline was completely starstruck. Elena and Damon looked at each other and hid their smiles. Damon clicked a slow wink at Elena and she felt it clear to her toes.

"So, what's first on the agenda?" Stefan asked.

"Food," Damon said. "I could smell the cooking as soon as we rounded the corner."

Stefan laughed. "Yeah, OK. C'mon, ladies. Let's find some lunch. On us."

"Thanks, Stefan. That's really nice of you," Bonnie said.

"Our pleasure, Miss Bonnie," Damon answered.

They reached the line of food vendors and were looking at everything on offer. "Why don't you ladies tell us what you want, then you can go find a table for us and we'll get the food?" Stefan said.

"Sounds like a plan," Elena said. "Get me some of those fries with brown gravy and cheese curds, a roast turkey leg and a Diet Coke. I know, I'm a glutton, but I don't care."

Damon grinned at her. "I like a girl with a healthy appetite" and was rewarded with a smile.

"I think I'm gonna have to do that roast turkey leg, too. And a roasted ear of corn. And Diet Coke," Bonnie said."

"I don't see anyone with a salad," Caroline fretted.

Elena elbowed her. "C'mon Care. It's fair food! Drop the diet for one day!"

"O.K. The fries, and one of those Krusty Pup corn dogs and definitely, a Diet Coke. Please. I have to have one healthy thing today."

Stefan grinned widely, but kept from laughing. "Coming right up. Come on, brother. We've got a boatload of food to order." Damon followed his brother to the trucks.

The girls found a table and Elena knew the first quarter analysis was about to start.

"They are both like, so hot! How do you pick just one? Eenie-minie-moe?" Caroline said.

Elena laughed. "Stefan is gorgeous, but it's Damon. I can't explain it."

"I'll bet those two broke hearts all over the county. Good thing they're not in high school today," Bonnie mused. "Their parents would have to build a barbed-wire fence in front of the house."

"And every girl in school would have a shovel to dig under it," Elena deadpanned. All three burst out laughing.

"How did the driving lesson go yesterday?" Bonnie asked.

"Not bad for someone who saw his first car a week ago. It's weird having to explain everything. You take it for granted that an adult knows what a dimmer switch is." The girls nodded again.

Caroline looked at the crowd. "Looks like Jeremy made it. Matt and Kenny are with him." She made a face. "And that d-bag Tyler Lockwood. If you could buy him for what he's worth and sell him for what he thinks he's worth..."

"We could go to Tahiti," Bonnie finished her sentence.

"Seriously. Do you know Tyler has hit on me nearly every day for the past month? Cannot take 'no' for an answer. As if."

Elena laughed. "He'd better not do it today. Today, he has the Salvatores to deal with."

"I wish he'd say something! I'd love to see Stefan roll him up into a little ball and throw him in the garbage can!" The girls glanced over and saw Tyler looking at Caroline. She gave him her best cold stare and turned her head.

"Cut him dead," said Bonnie.

"Well, he'd better stop looking at me. Nothing here for him."

"I think I need to remind you two that you have to be really careful what you say when Stefan's around. He has this supernatural hearing. He can hear everything. So watch it when when you want to say something you don't want him to hear," Elena said. They nodded.

The guys returned shortly after and put down all the food. Damon surveyed it. "There's enough here to feed Lee's army. And I should know," he joked.

"Thanks for getting it," Elena said. "Did you remember napkins?"

Stefan held up a brown paper bag full of napkins. "Help yourself."

"Thanks."

Silence reigned for several minutes as everyone ate. "I'd forgotten how messy turkey legs are," Elena said, as she reached for another napkin. "I think I just need a whole roll of paper towels all to myself."

Damon leaned over and whispered in her ear. "I'll lick your fingers clean for you." She said nothing, but reached under the table and pinched his thigh- hard. He jumped and looked hurt.

"Fire ants must be starting early this year," Elena said, giving Damon an innocent look.

Stefan, of course, heard what Damon said, grinned at his brother and shook his head. "Anybody up for funnel cakes? C'mon, Damon."

He got up and followed Stefan. As they stood in line, Stefan said, "Damon, really. If you had been alone, yeah, but that comment was kind of- you know - coming on a little strong."

"You're right. But something about Elena makes me want to pick at her a little."

"I understand. That friend of hers – Caroline? Same thing. I want to shock her just to see the explosion." He laughed.

Funnel cakes eaten, they started a tour around the grounds, looking at all the crafts on sale.


Katherine stood across the street from the park, watching the brothers with those girls, and seething. She couldn't believe they would be interested in those simpering little virgins. She had taught both of them to please her in bed, and knew Stefan had probably only improved. Damon was an apt pupil, too, though. How could any of those girls please two fully matured men?

"Katerina, thank you for not making me have to track you down." Elijah's smooth voice came from behind her and she started.

"Elijah. I wasn't expecting you so soon."

"The element of surprise is a vital advantage," he said. "So is that the doppelganger?"

"Stefan Salvatore said she's not the doppelganger," Katherine answered, knowing she couldn't lie to Elijah.

"And how does he know this?"

"He said the doppelganger has to descend through the female line. Is that true?"

"I've always heard that's the way it was," Elijah said.

"Well, she's not descended through the female line."

Elijah grabbed Katherine's arm. "What are you saying?"

She flinched. "I was raped when I was 12. I got pregnant and I had a boy. Of course, it was taken away from me. That's Elena's ancestor, not the baby girl I had two years later."

Elijah looked into Katherine's eyes. "Is this the truth? I demand you be truthful."

"Yes, it's the truth. At least, that's what Stefan told me."

"Looks like I'll need to speak to him, then. Did you tell him why you wanted the doppelganger?"

"I had to," Katherine pouted. "It was the only way he would tell me anything. So tell Klaus I tried. I had it ready to go. It's not my fault if she's not what we thought she was."

"No, but neither does my brother like to be thwarted in his goals. I will definitely need to have a conference with Stefan. And his brother's return – how did that happen?"

"Damned if I know," Katherine growled, giving her feelings away.

"Come now, Katerina. You're a beautiful woman. Surely you have no need for either of them. If Damon is human, allow him to live his life. You owe him that much."

"Stefan said the same thing."

Elijah nodded. "Then he's a very wise man. Too bad you completely alienated him. I'll speak to Stefan. Depending on what he says, I'll plead your case with Klaus. I agree it's been too long. He needs to find something else to occupy his time. I'll be in touch. And Katerina, leave them all alone, at least for the time being. That's an order." And like that, he was gone. Katherine sighed. Damn.


"Do you see anything you like, Elena?" Damon asked her.

Only everything," she replied and smiled at him. "I've seen so many things here. They always have wonderful stuff to buy at these fairs."

"Choose something," he said.

"I don't really need anything," she protested.

"Please. Find something you like. For me."

She slipped her arm around his waist and his arm naturally fell across her shoulders. "Maybe that man making the hand-carved jewelry boxes?"'

"All right." They walked over to the man's booth and Elena pointed out Stefan playing escort to Bonnie and Caroline.

"He's such a player. I mean, I know he's just being nice to them, but he's had a lot of practice," Elena said.

"So I gathered from some of the things he's told me. I'm glad I didn't have to see him for some of those years. I don't believe I would have been able to watch what he became. I still can't believe it."

"So, Stefan had a dark period, I take it?"

"You could say that. Apparently, he had a friend who helped him, though. He said her name is – was – Lexi. I'd like to thank her. It's quite wonderful what having a good woman in your life will do for you. I speak from experience." His arm tightened around her shoulder.

"You give me way too much credit," she answered.

"Not possible." They reached the booth. "Now then. Pick whatever box you like. Any of them."

Elena smiled and looked at all the boxes. Each was unique. She saw a medium-sized box with dogwood blossoms carved into the top and along the sides. It was lined in cobalt velvet and had places for rings and tiny hooks for necklaces.

"Now on those, I can put a music box insert," the artisan said.

"Can you do it today?" Damon asked.

"Sure. Takes fifteen minutes. I put it on this side, and put in a glass insert so you can see the works moving. What tune would you like?" He gave Elena a printed list of songs.

She looked it over. "How about 'Yesterday'?"

"All right. Come back in fifteen or twenty minutes and I'll have it done for you."

"Thank you," Elena said.

Damon said, "Your friends might want to see his work, if they haven't. Want to go tell them?"

"OK. I will."

Once she was out of earshot, Damon pulled out his wallet. "Now then. How much do I owe you?"

The man smiled. "How much do I have marked on there?"

Damon turned the box over. "Two hundred dollars. It's worth every penny. I can see the fine work you do."

"Well, thank you. Tell you what. I'll let it go for one-fifty, with the movement."

"Sir, I can't do that. This is your work," Damon protested.

He held up a hand. "My stuff. My prices. I'll sell it for what I want to. I know young love when I see it. I'm old as dirt, but I can still appreciate a pretty girl, and what a young man is willing to do for the lady he loves. You hang on to that one, you hear me?"

Damon grinned. "I'll do my best."

"You'd better. If I were fifty years younger, I'd give you some competition, too," the man chuckled.

Damon laughed out loud. "Yes sir. Back in a little while."

"I'll have it ready."

"So what have you ladies found this afternoon?" Damon asked as he approached the group.

"I got a pair of turquoise earrings for me and a pretty amethyst crystal for Grams," Bonnie said.

"Star sapphire ring," Caroline answered, holding up her hand. "What about you, Elena? What did you find?"

"A pretty jewelry box. I need one. I've had that one with the little ballerina on it since third grade. It was time I upgraded. That man does beautiful work. You should go see what he has."

Stefan and Bonnie had turned to look at quilts for sale and Damon was checking out hand-tooled leather belts. "How do you like Stefan?" Elena asked Caroline softly.

"He's too much. It's like every woman here is looking at him, and I'm with him. What a head rush!"

Elena laughed. "I know the feeling."

"Miss Elena, I'd like your opinion on something. Yours too, Miss Caroline," Damon called to them.

They walked over. "Wow. This is beautiful stuff," Caroline said, looking at a small leather purse.

Damon nodded. "It is. How do you like this? As a gift for Stefan?" He showed her them a belt in cordovan leather with an antiqued brass buckle. It was unadorned, but the workmanship showed in every stitch."

"Ooooh. That's nice, Damon," Caroline said.

"I like it. I think it's beautiful," Elena concurred.

"Fine. That settles it then." Damon bought the belt and an identical one in black with a pewter buckle for Zach. "To thank them for all they've done for me," he said.

"That's a really nice thing to do," said Caroline. He just smiled at her and she looked at Elena the second his back was turned and mouthed, "Wow" at her.

Elena grinned and pulled Caroline over to the booth, once Damon was looking at another stall featuring knives and cutlery. "I want to get him something," she said.

"Like what?"

"Did you see him looking at that braided leather belt? That. It's gorgeous."

Caroline looked at the piece in question. "It is. I love it."

"So do I." She bought the belt and stowed it in her purse. She wanted to surprise Damon with it.

Bonnie walked over to them. "Hey. Grams texted me and asked if we could come by the house this afternoon after we leave here. Is that a problem?"

"Not for me," Elena said.

"If you don't mind, I'll skip it. I know your Grams is a nice lady, but…" Caroline's voice trailed off.

Bonnie grinned. "I know she gives you the creeps, Caroline. It's OK."

"Grams creeps you out, but Stefan doesn't?" Elena teased.

"Stefan has other – attributes," Caroline primly replied, much to her friends' amusement.

"Yeah. Big, soulful eyes," Bonnie said. "I totally get it."

Elena chuckled. "It's fine. I'll take you home, Caroline, and then I'll meet you at Grams' house, Bonnie. How about that?"

"Sounds good," Bonnie said.

"I think things are beginning to wind down," Stefan said, as he and Damon approached the girls. Damon handed Elena a package she knew was her music box and she smiled at him.

"Looks that way," she answered Stefan. "Are we ready to go?"

"I think so," Caroline said. "But I have really enjoyed this afternoon and it was so nice to meet you guys!" She looked mostly at Stefan.

"It was our pleasure to be here with you ladies," Damon said. He was really turning on the charm. But Lord knows, he had plenty to spare.

"We'll see you soon, I know," Stefan added, smiling.

"Looking forward to it," Caroline said as she batted her eyes at him.

Damon stood next to Elena. "Are you coming to the house this afternoon?" he asked.

"Later, but I'll be there." He nodded and ran one finger down her back. She shivered and they looked at each other.

"I'll see you then," he said.

When the guys left, Caroline turned to Elena. "You and Damon were having like, such obvious eye sex. It wasn't even funny."

Elena's mouth dropped open. "Like you have room to talk! If you could have undressed Stefan with a look, he would've walked out of here butt naked!"

Bonnie laughed out loud while Caroline spluttered for a reply and finally said, "O.K. I give. You're right. If Stefan's clothes spontaneously just - fell off – it wouldn't have bothered me. I admit it."

"I doubt it would have bothered any woman here if that had happened," Bonnie said slyly.

"Not a one," Elena agreed.


When Elena and Bonnie reached Grams' house, she answered the door. "Come in, girls. Glad you could come by. What's this, Bonnie?"

"An amethyst crystal I got from the fair. Thought you might like it," she answered.

"It's beautiful! I can use it. Thank you." She motioned for them to be seated. "All right. I've been digging around and found out some things. First, Phyllis bound Damon's life to the girl who brought him back to life, so to speak. That's you, Elena. What that means is, if something happens to you, he goes back to the Other Side, until another girl comes along who would be his soulmate."

"So, if we break up, he goes back into limbo?" Elena was shocked.

"I'm not sure about that. I only know what happens if something happens directly to you. Unless you have a really good reason, though, I wouldn't break up with him. Phyllis is a powerful witch and you don't want her coming for you from the Other Side. And she loves that Damon Salvatore."

"What if he breaks up with me?"

"Again, I'm not sure. You would probably be safe – probably."

Elena shook her head. "This is so weird, Ms. Bennett. I can't believe a woman who lived 150 years ago is controlling my life, now, and if I don't do what she wants me to, that she could come after me!"

"Can the bond be broken?" Bonnie asked.

"That was the other thing I wanted to tell you. I did talk to several other witches, all of whom are much more experienced, and they said trying to break that bond, even with Phyllis' grimoire, could be fatal to Damon. Possibly to you." Sheila shook her head.

"Grams, that's just not fair to Damon or Elena. Say they do break up and Damon goes back into limbo. How long would it take for someone to come into the world who would be right for him?"

"That's just it. I don't know. And I agree it wasn't fair for her to construct the spell in such a way. But love for a child will blind you to practicalities, sometimes. You want that child's happiness above all things." She sighed, but then gave a small smile. "I suspect she was thinking no girl in her right mind wouldn't want a relationship with her Young Sir. She couldn't imagine a situation where a girl wouldn't fall in love with him once and for all."

"I see her point," Elena said with a smile. "He is pretty much irresistible."

"And there's something else," Sheila continued. "You two must be compatible in a lot of ways for you to be the one to bring him home. There has to be something fundamental about you that builds the foundation for a successful relationship."

Elena shook her head. "But why now? I'm only 17, Ms. Bennett! I wasn't thinking of marriage until my mid-20s maybe. How can I know if who I want now is who I'll want in ten years? I have some living to do before I decide on someone permanently!"

Sheila patted her hand. "That's a sensible way to look at this. But I have a strong message from the spirits that Damon coming home just at this time was for you as much as him."

"How's that, Grams?" Bonnie asked.

"Elena, has anyone told you how much you look like Katherine Pierce?" Sheila asked.

She nodded. "They all have. How is that possible?"

"Well, you're a distant descendant of hers, through your mother's line. There are some very powerful vampires who are looking for a doppelganger, who is a supernatural creature. The whys are too detailed to explain right now, but the theory was you are Katherine Pierce's doppelganger. Katherine was herself a doppelganger until she was turned into a vampire. Can't be both," Sheila explained.

"So how do you know I'm not?"

"Because Phyllis did one very good thing in her spell," Sheila continued. "She said specifically that the girl who brought Damon home must be fully human, and not supernatural, period. At all. So, even though you may look like Katherine, you are not her doppelganger. But if Damon hadn't showed up when he did, you might have been targeted, and if something had happened to you, then he would have remained in limbo for who knows how long. Because he came back now, we know this about you, and can prove you are not the doppelganger, and he found you without having to be in limbo another 150 years."

"So how am I related to Katherine?"

"Stefan did some research in the archives. He's pretty certain you descended from a baby boy Katherine had at age 12, after she had been raped. A female doppelganger must descend through the female line. A male through the male line. So, you got Katherine's looks, but not the supernatural aspect. Thank God."

"Tell me about it. I don't want that kind of specialness," Elena said.

"No one does, believe me," Sheila replied.

"So now what, Grams?"

Sheila smiled. "Well, I'd say, in the short term at least, enjoy what you have with Damon. I can tell by the look on your face that you care a lot about him. You're crazy about him, and he's crazy about you. You're young, yes, but you are mature, Elena. Facing death head on like you did will have that effect. I can also tell you that, as long as you and Damon are together, you have a powerful witch on the Other Side working for you."

"What is the Other Side, Ms. Bennett? Is it Heaven?"

Sheila thought about it. "N-no, not exactly. From what I gather, those on the Other Side haven't found peace yet. They still have unfinished business, and have to hope people give them a conduit to finish it."

"More like Purgatory, then?" Bonnie said.

"That's a closer parallel, but still not quite. People from the Other Side can come to this side, if the veil is lifted, and some people like mediums can speak with them. But from what I gather, it's a very, very lonely place. Those in that place are always hoping they do that one thing that sends them to final peace."

"Sounds depressing," said Bonnie, with a grimace.

"Best way to avoid it is to make sure you finish what you need to finish on this side, as much as it depends on you to do it." Sheila sounded very certain on that. "Well, that's what I have for you right now. If anything else comes to me, I'll let you know."

"Thanks, Ms. Bennett. I appreciate you looking into this."

"I like a puzzle," she said, smiling. "Thank you again for the amethyst, sweet pea."

"You're welcome, Grams."

As they drove back to Bonnie's house, she said, "So what are you going to do?"

Elena shrugged. "Right now, exactly what Grams suggested. I'm going to enjoy being with Damon. No reason to do anything else at the moment." Bonnie nodded in understanding.


The bell at the boarding house rang and Damon looked up. "Relax. It's not Elena," Stefan said and looked at Zach. "Pavlov's dog." Zach laughed and Damon looked puzzled.

Stefan went to answer the door. "Can I help you?"

The man standing on the stoop was medium-height, and had short dark hair. He was clean shaven, with fine aristocratic features. Something about him made the hair on Stefan's arms prickle.

"I am Elijah – Mikaelson. May I come in?"

Stefan was shocked to his bones, and not a little frightened. The last thing Zach needed was this particular vampire with carte blanche to come in the house. "I don't have the say-so to invite you in. But we can certainly talk outside."

"That will be fine. I don't intend to take up too much of your time."

"Not at all. Let's just step over here to the gazebo and sit down." The last thing Stefan wanted to do was antagonize this man.

When they were seated, Elijah said, "Thank you for agreeing to speak with me." His voice was soft, his accent clipped and refined.

"Courtesy due to an Original," Stefan said.

"Still, I appreciate it. I have been speaking with Katherine Pierce. You know her."

"I do. She came to see me this week, in fact."

"I knew she did. She also said you had some interesting information about the girl we assumed was the doppelganger. Can you tell me more?"

Stefan knew Elijah would not hesitate to use compulsion, so he might as well tell the vampire everything. "Obviously, when I saw Elena, I wondered about the doppelganger issue. So, I did some research and also talked to a witch here in town. She's a Bennett witch."

"Really? That is interesting. Please continue."

"My main purpose was asking if she knew how my brother Damon reappeared after a 150-year absence."

Elijah actually smiled at that. "I'd be interested in hearing that, myself."

"Well, turns out the woman who took care of us after our mother died, Phyllis, put a spell on Damon after Katherine left and I was turned. She sent him into some kind of limbo until the girl should exist who would truly love him. Phyllis loved us like her sons. She was the one who got Emily Bennett to make my daylight ring. And so, when Damon turned up, Elena found him in the woods, and it's been hearts and flowers ever since."

"I see, but how does this disqualify her from being the doppelganger?"

"Because, Phyllis bound him specifically to a human being, not a supernatural creature. She was very, very detailed in her spell."

"And how do you know his true love is Elena Gilbert?"

"The other half of the spell is that if his lady love rejected him in any way, and I'm guessing that includes if he doesn't find her, he goes back to limbo. And he's still here."

"The logic is excellent, but Katherine also mentioned something about the male line."

"That too. You can go to the archives and look it up yourself. You know, these people in this town are fanatics about history and genealogy. Elena's mother, Meredith, and people before her, researched her line back to the Domesday Book. According to their research, Meredith is descended from the male child Katherine had when she was 12. And a female doppelganger can only descend from the female line. Plus, the chain is broken in a dozen more places. There are many generations where only boys were sired by her ancestors, so it's not Elena, for sure," Stefan explained.

Elijah tapped his fingers on the arm of the wicker chair. "And what if I told you we had information that Elena was not Meredith Gilbert's biological child?"

"I found that, too. Isobel, Elena's biological mother, is Meredith's first cousin. Same line, and the line breaks there, too, because she's the daughter of Meredith's uncle by blood, not her aunt. And Isobel's ancestors are a completely separate line, as far back as you can take it. It's all in the archives if you'd like to take written proof back to Klaus."

The older vampire actually looked impressed. "Stefan, I'd heard you were a reckless sort with a very checkered past."

"I was and I have one. I don't deny it," he replied evenly.

Elijah nodded slowly and sat, thinking. Stefan tried to breathe evenly and slowly, willing his heart not to race in fear while Elijah pondered and came to a conclusion. Finally, Elijah stood. "Stefan, I believe our business here is concluded. I will visit the archives – out of personal curiosity as much as anything – but I know you were truthful. In spite of her looks, I find it highly unlikely Miss Gilbert is who my brother is looking for."

"I'm glad."

"Between us? So am I. I don't like what Klaus has planned. I do not support it."

"That's a relief. But Elijah? As much as I despise Katherine Pierce, she is what she is, in part, due to Klaus. It's time for him to stop chasing her. I have no claim on her. I don't want her. But I feel pity for anyone who has run from Klaus for as long as she has, with no way to appease him except by making a deal with the devil. He doesn't need her." Stefan was careful to keep his tone absolutely free of judgment or anger.

"Once again, Stefan, we are in agreement," Elijah said. "I have done things over the centuries I have found abhorrent because it was easier to keep peace with Klaus than to defy him. I am immortal and I will despise myself forever for doing those things. I deserve it."

"No one deserves to bear that guilt forever, Elijah. But if you will do one single thing for me, I'd say you've earned the right to drop some of it, anyway."

Elijah smiled at Stefan. "And what would that single thing be?"

"Tell Katherine to leave Mystic Falls and never come back. This is not her place. She left it in shambles 150 years ago. She did a hundred times the damage the Yankees did. She doesn't need to come back."

"I thought surely you would ask for something more difficult, but I will pass your request along." His smile told Stefan it would be passed with compulsion behind it.

"Thank you, Elijah. It was a pleasure meeting you." He held out his hand.

Elijah took it in a firm shake. "And you, Stefan Salvatore. Take care."

"You too."

When Elijah's car left the drive, Stefan collapsed on the bench, sweating bullets. He felt as if he had just pulled off the supernatural Mystic Falls version of the Dayton Accords.