Xxxx

That night tensions were high and nobody said much as they all one way or another ended up in the living room in search of a drink and the comfort of the crackling fire.

Katherine was a few drinks ahead of everyone and lying on her back on the rug in front of the fire. She had placed a record in an old record player Elena had never noticed in the room before. It was a scratchy recording of classical music that Elena was not at all familiar with but it fit the mood and the others seemed to relax to it. It made her feel young and out of place at the realization that they were all probably alive when this music was first written.

Elena watched Katherine in a ways she hadn't before. She watched her in a way that she could commit to memory all of the little things Katherine did. She may have to pull off Katherine a time or two when Klaus arrived and she'd need to fool more than just him.

Katherine had a way about her that wasn't forced but on purpose. She oozed sexuality that was exuded but not because she pushed it. It was just there and she knew how to project it even when her mind wasn't aware. Like just now, she moved to take a sip from her glass and she did so with such fluidity that it looked more like a dance than a simple task.

Katherine's fingers moved along invisible piano keys by her sides with the music that popped and scratched under the record needle. She could see why men were so drawn to her even without compulsion or the lure of a micro mini dress. She just had a way about her that would even affect Elena if she let it.

"She's beautiful isn't she?" Damon murmured whisper-soft next to her, his voice as honey thick as the bourbon in her glass.

He must have been watching her as intently as she'd been examining Katherine. She knew he was just digging, just trying to get under her skin. He wanted more answers and she wasn't relenting. She couldn't.

"She's just taking things in Damon," Katherine answered for her, rolling onto her belly and crossing her ankles and the air. She was giving them both a healthy eyeful of cleavage beneath her borrowed black tank.

Elena took a sip from her glass and averted her eyes away from Katherine's body and towards Damon's inquisitive gaze.

"It's always interesting to see what you look like, I find myself staring at Elena sometimes wondering if I look the same way when I talk or walk. Then I remind myself that she's still a clumsy toddler compared to me so I shouldn't be worried…" Katherine added with a smirk.

Elena rolled her eyes and let her head drop to the back of the couch, only to lift it again when she realized Damon's arm was draped along it.

Stefan remained quiet in the chair next to the couch, swishing the ice noisily around in his empty glass. Elena tried to catch his eye but he was lost in his thoughts. She sighed heavily, wishing there was something they could all do to lighten the mood, just once. She wouldn't speak her mind though; she'd just end up with suggestive sneers from the half-drunken Damon and Katherine. They were really quite the pair when the alcohol cooled the animosity between them.

Another glass and she'd be feeling pretty good. The alcohol settled warm in her belly and caused her mood to lift a little anyhow. The music was nice and after another glass that Stefan refilled for her as soon as he filled his own, she was stepping over Katherine who was on her back again and holding her hand out to her.

Katherine scrunched her nose and muttered, "I'm not moving. And I can see up your shorts. You should really wear underwear Elena…"

Elena rolled her eyes and muttered to the brothers that she was in fact wearing underwear, earning her a cackle out of Katherine. Even so, Katherine reached up and placed her hand in Elena's and allowed her to pull her to her feet.

"Teach me to dance like you did to music like this," Elena asked, pushing away the oddity of the request. Her ulterior motive was to learn to move more like Katherine. She'd need to pull off a switch and she knew Katherine would understand her motives. Acting like drunken fools seemed the best way to go about it. Elena also hoped the sight of them together would be enough to side track the brothers from seeing their plans.

"Elena Gilbert, if I were wearing panties, you'd shock them straight off with your forward advances," Katherine stated in a british-like accent she must have sported long ago.

Elena allowed herself to relax and smile, even though her mind was in overdrive taking in everything there was to take in about Katherine's movements down to the way she blinked. She was sure Katherine was doing the same with her. She stiffened only a little as Katherine placed her hand on Elena's lower back and tucked her hand into hers, pulling her close to her body.

Elena blinked rapidly as Katherine tilted her chin up regally and slowly raised her hooded eyes to meet hers. It affected her as it shouldn't but she quickly realized Katherine was just showing her moves that weren't necessarily dance related that she could use later. It was different than seeing her memories from her point of view. There were still many things left to learn of Katherine Peirce…and Katarina Petrova. She wondered what mannerisms would be preferred around Klaus and Elijah. They were more important to fool.

She let Katherine sweep her around the room, only tripping over her feet a few times as the music sped and slowed it's dizzying runs of notes. When they finally stopped with flushed cheeks and glistening eyes in front of the couch, Katherine smiled a big smile that Elena had never seen but she tucked into memory immediately before she stated, "Well Elena, I think you may be a natural. I'd say you got it from me but we both got it from Tatia. We should really thank her for such superior genes, no?"

Elena smiled back, feeling a little lighter and a little more optimistic that things just may work out after all…

The smile faded from her face when a voice sliced through the pause between songs, "Well what did we walk into, love? Doing a little celebrating are we?"

Klaus.