1861- Starts right where it left off.
Damon sighed. "I am sorry, Stefan." Stefan stifled the smirk that was growing on his face. Elena Gilbert would soon be his. "But I still cannot allow you to do this," Damon continued.
"What?" Stefan bit out. This was not how this was supposed to pan out. Damon usually succumbed to Stefan and his ideas.
"I was acquainted with Elena at the party last night. I am enraptured by her, Stefan. I will not allow you to destroy her."
"Your feelings will not stop me from going through with this." Stefan glared at his brother.
"And you, brother; your selfish idiocy will not hinder me from stopping you." Damon was not about to let Elena get hurt by his brother.
"So it is settled then, is it not?" Stefan raised an eyebrow.
"It is." His brother bit back in return. With those words, a civil war broke out between the Salvatore brothers. Damon walked by his brother and back into the parlor. Stefan kept his footing solid, not moving from his spot in the vacant hallway. What had gotten into Damon? He had never been known to fight back. Letting out a light growl in response, Stefan made his way back to the small gathering.
When both brothers returned to the group, Florence, Elena, Jonathan, and Giuseppe alike had looks of confusion and curiosity on their faces. Both brothers attempted to ignore their looks, and took their seats on either side of Elena. Damon found it amusing how their current positions mirrored the growing competition.
"Well," Florence began, "would anyone fancy tea at the moment?"
"No, thank you, ma'am," Damon said, smiling politely. Elena found this adorable. Seventeen year old Damon was too cute.
I'm still cute, you know. Elena heard a velvety voice say in her head.
Damon! What are you doing. I told you to stay out of my head.
You're right; you did say something like that, huh? Well, you know me, darlin'. Me and rules go together like jelly and vinegar.
Ugh. Well, if you weren't already aware, I'm kinda in the middle of something Damon.
Ah. So I noticed. My father's being an angle I'm sure? The sarcasm in Damon's voice was almost tangible.
Yeah, sure. Let's go with that. But Damon, is there some reason you're here? Because if not, you have to go.
Pushy today, aren't we? Is my younger self totally bewitching you?
Damon! Elena chastised.
Fine, fine, Miss Serious. I have an update on the sitch here in 2010. I ran into Rose yesterday… and Elijah.
You- you saw them?
Not only that. Rose and I made a deal with Elijah. He said that if we help him kill Klaus, he'd get Stefan out of the tomb and you out of 1861.
You told me Bonnie said there was a time limit on the spell. I was going to get out anyways. Elena was completely confused.
True. But Elijah said he'd get you out before the time limit is up. How the hell could Elijah do that? Again, Elena was puzzled. He has a warlock of his own, Damon added, reading Elena's confusion. His name is Scotty.
Like from Star Trek?
Ha! Glory! A sane person who agrees with me. Scotty claims it's not like the name in Star Trek.
Haha. Now is there anything else? Because I really need to go.
Aw, what's the rush?
"Elena," Florence prompted.
"Hmm?" Elena replied. Shit. Damn you, Damon. Damon simply chuckled in response.
"I was asking what it was like in New York," Giuseppe said flatly.
"Oh- uh, New York. Right. It is- nice. Cold, but nice." Wonderful response, genius, Damon taunted.
Shut up, she bit back in return. She was met with another chuckle from Damon.
"I see." Giuseppe deadpanned. Jonathan sensed the unease in the room.
"Well, Giuseppe, shall we retire to the drawing room?" Jonathan inquired.
"Ah, indeed," he turned to Elena and Florence. "Always a pleasure," he said, giving a tight smile. Both Gilbert women gave smiles in return. The two men then disappeared from the room.
"If it is alright with you, Florence, may I and the Salvatore brothers retire to the gardens?" Elena asked. In her walks to the lake, Elena had seen snippets of a garden. She was quite curious to see them.
"Of course," Florence responded, bowing her head. Elena supplied a warm smile, while getting up from her seat. Both Salvatore brothers rose quickly and followed her to the front door. Exiting the house, the trio was met with the warm southern breeze that was one of the many perks of springtime. The Salvatore brothers found their places on either side of Elena. The lone Gilbert couldn't help but notice how akin this situation was to the one back in present times. She found it humorous how so much could change, yet so little could alter in the 146 year time span. Elena felt a hand brush lightly on hers. She turned to her right, to find Damon fighting back a growing grin. Elena gave a smile of her own, brushing her hand across his. They continued this form of flirting until they reached the entrance to the gardens. Vampire Damon felt sick to his stomach. All the emotions he had felt the night before were returning. Wonderful.
"Well," Elena started once the trio was seated on a stone bench which looked out at the gardens. "This is pretty." Wow. This was awkward.
"And so are you, Elena," Stefan said. He gave a flirtatious smile. Elena gave a polite smile and a soft 'thank you', but felt- disgusted at his comment. No. That couldn't be right. She was fucking dating Stefan in the future. But this man next to her was certainly not her boyfriend. This was some evil clone. Elena had always prided herself in being able to read people. And when she read fifteen year old Stefan Salvatore, he screamed scumbag, cold, calculating- a miniature version of his father. The thought felt almost tragic to Elena. The man she was supposed to love, she could only look at in disgust.
"So, Elena," Damon said breaking her from her complex thoughts, "how are you liking Mystic Falls, thus far?" he gave a kind smile. Elena could feel herself falling for him even more. Fuck. This was not good.
"It's beautiful here. So warm, and elegant. I can safety say that I am most pleased that I came here."
"That is wonderful, Elena," Stefan said with a smile. Though his words came out as sweet, Elena couldn't deny the underlying slimyness that tainted his words. Damon shot his brother an agitated look.
"Indeed, Elena, it is quite wonderful that you are enjoying yourself here. Have you met anyone yet?"
"Aside from you and your family? No, I have not. Oh, well, other than the dressmaker Mary."
"Yes, Mary is a sweet woman." Damon smiled. Elena nodded in agreement.
"Sweet?" Stefan scoffed. "I have always found her to be quite bothersome and petty." His face twisted into a look of revulsion. Elena tried to stifle the look of utter shock that was swiftly finding its way onto her face. Stefan, her Stefan, would never speak so ill of a person. This Stefan certainly was a wretch. Elena's face finally contoured into a polite smile, and she gave a slight nod. She hated to think this, but Stefan really was a damper on Elena's time with Damon.
"I must admit- I am not that well acquainted with you, Stefan."
"And I am not with you." Stefan gave a puzzled look to Elena.
"Indeed. So, tell me about yourself, Stefan," Elena said with a smile. She had to give fifteen year old Stefan a shot- it was the least she could do.
"As you wish," he said flirtatiously. Elena got that nauseating feeling again. Shit. Why does she feel like this! She was supposed to love this man. Before Stefan went on to describe himself, his brother shot him another glare. This was not supposed to happen. Stefan was not supposed to be in Damon's way, and Elena certainly was not supposed to be accommodating Stefan. But alas, that was the way the chips fell. So again, for the umpteenth time, Stefan was stealing everything from Damon.
2010 (yeah, I know its 2011 now, but it's not in the story yet. Haha)
Rose stood alone in the living room. She couldn't wrap her head around the idea of going up against Klaus. It was a fucking suicide mission. Stress built up in the vampire until her stomach was clenched so tightly she felt sick. Wrapping her arms around herself, she stared into the fire. A melancholy vibe radiated off of Rose. Her ears perked up when she heard footsteps coming closer. She turned, to find Stefan entering the room. Her heart fell at this- she had hoped it was Elijah.
"Rose," Stefan said, "I wanted to talk to you about something." When Rose didn't respond, Stefan continued. "I don't trust Elijah. He was friends with Klaus, and who's to say he still isn't? He could be a spy or something." Stefan stared at Rose in anticipation. Trying to stifle her defensive words, Rose said:
"I trust him. Yes, he had a dark past, but haven't we all?" She gave Stefan a look.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Damon told us the story of Caroline Hale, Stefan. How could you do it?" Rose's voice lowered.
"I- I," Stefan stumbled, "I was a dumb fifteen year old." Stefan crossed his arms defensively.
"No," Rose replied shaking her head, "no. People don't just kill because they're a stupid fifteen year old. And according to how Damon told the story, you seemed to have this whole plan made up at least a day or two before you killed Jameson. That's premeditated murder, Stefan! Dumb fifteen year olds don't commit deliberate executions." Rose mimicked Stefan's stance and crossed her arms over her chest.
"Look, it was stupid. And for that matter, a very long time ago. That's not me anymore."
"That may very well be, Stefan, but time doesn't compensate for taking the life of a human being. "
"Why are you lecturing me? You kidnapped Elena. You're no better than I am."
Rose sighed. "You're right- what I did was wrong. But the difference between you and me is that I have the strength to actually admit that what I did was wrong. You seem to be in denial."
"Rose," Stefan said lightly, "I'm not in denial. You don't think I feel remorse for what I did? I haunts me every day. It's the reason I am the way I am."
A look of sympathy came over Rose's face. 'Stefan, I know. I merely mentioned it to show you that you have to have faith in people- no matter how they've wronged. You're doing it with me, with yourself; you're beginning to with Elijah. But also, if I may, you might want to start having faith in Damon again. Yes, he has done awful things, yet so have you. You and your brother are more alike than you think. He's your brother, Stefan."
Stefan's eyes grew dark. "Yes, Damon is my brother. But we are nothing alike. Damon was born to be bad."
"And who told you that," Rose deadpanned. She knew better. Damon could be good- an angel, even. Stefan looked uneasily at the elder vampire.
"M- my father." Stefan looked down. It sounded so insane, coming from his mouth.
'You're father," Rose said flatly. "Look, I get that that idea has probably been engraved in your head from sometime, but Stefan," she looked at the Salvatore pleadingly. "People change. Damon is a fine example of that. It is you, Stefan, who hasn't changed."
Stefan replied with a shaking of his head and a look of mistrust and denial on his face.
"Look. I know what you and Katherine were doing in that tomb." Rose raised an eyebrow.
"Wh- what are you talking about?" Stefan stuttered nervously.
"Oh, come on. I am over five hundred years old. I can hear from pretty far away. Mend things with your brother, or I'll tell him what you were doing with Katherine."
"You wouldn't," he said utterly shocked.
"Want to bet? I'm sure Elijah knows too. So, fix things with Damon, and tell him what transpired between you and Katherine, or me and Elijah will." She glared at the younger vampire.
"Fair enough," Stefan whispered with a sigh, and set off to find Damon.
1861
Elena nodded politely as Stefan told her of his love for horseback riding. He had droned on with the subject for at least ten minutes, Elena assumed. Finally, the subject of Stefan's words changed.
"You know, I very much enjoy your company. Perhaps, we could arrange a get-together at some point. There is a very nice restaurant in town." He gave a brazen smile. Looking over Elena's head, his eyes made contact with Damon's. Stefan's eyes were an ocean of tease and taunts, directed to his older brother. Damon glared darkly in return. This was unfair. That should be Damon asking Elena to dinner. Yet as always, Stefan stole his thunder and everything he cared about. Elena turned to Stefan to reply.
"Well," she began tentatively…
2010
Stefan found Damon in his study, buried in an old book. Stefan lingered in the doorway.
"Well, don't just stand there," Damon said, not looking up from his reading, "what do you want?"
"Damon," Stefan begun, "there's something I need to tell you."
"Oh?" Damon replied dryly, marking his page, and closing the book.
"When I was in the tomb," Stefan said slowly.
"Jesus, Stefan! What is it! I don't have forever. Okay, well technically I do, but spit it out, brother." He crossed his arms and leaned them on his desk.
"When I was in the tomb," Stefan began again, "I-," he sighed. "I slept with Katherine." His words came out as a whisper, and he dropped his head.
Damon's eyes slowly came up from their downward gaze, until they locked with Stefan's hesitant features.
"You what?" he bit out in reply. "You slept with that fucking bitch? What the hell possessed you to do that?" he shook his head. "What happened to the 'I love Elena, not Katherine' crusade? How could you do that to yourself, to me, to Elena, Stefan? How the fuck could you do that to Elena?" Damon's eyes were a fury of fire by the end of his sentence.
Stefan had never seen Damon quite like this. He wasn't angered about how this affected him. No, Damon Salvatore was angered about how this affected Stefan and Elena. Yes, the Damon Salvatore- the bad boy, the narcissist- was being selfless…
"I- I don't know," Stefan whispered in timid response. Maybe, just maybe, Rose was right- Stefan and Damon Salvatore were very alike…
~Okay, so there is chapter ten! I'm sorry it's short, but I wanted to have a few cliffhangers in this chapter. Haha. Next chapter, the plot will thicken, cliffhangers will be revealed, and new alliances and trusts will be made. Also, please check out my new one-shot 'Coming to Terms'! I'd love to know what you think of it! Anyway, happy holidays new year, and so long until next time! Xoxo
Remember, reviews are love, people! ;)