Her teeth were gritted, and her eyes were narrowed. Caroline had been correct; Katherine was absolutely seething. "What did you say?" She scowled at the blond human. Katherine's small, delicate hands were curled into fists at her side. "I really hope you were joking."

Caroline was sitting in a blue armchair; she was fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "I'm sorry, Katherine. There was nothing I could do- Damon wouldn't leave." Caroline wished for the ground to open up and swallow her.

Katherine sighed, looking- for the first time in a century- weary. "Fine, I will just have to change some plans around." She looked at Caroline, "Maybe I should punish you." Caroline became suddenly still. "Don't you remember how I saved your mother. You owe me, Caroline Forbes, and you will owe me forever."

Caroline nodded, "I know, I am so, so sorry, Katherine. I won't fail you like this again." She was crying, because she had seen Katherine punish someone before, and it was not a pretty sight.

"Yes, yes, fine." Katherine crossed her arms over her chest, "No punishment today, but if you fail me again, you will be wishing you were dead, understand?" Caroline nodded hurriedly, "Alright, well, I have a date to get to." Katherine's lips broke out in a grin, "Stefan is waiting for me."

Caroline nodded, and made a small curtsey; a show of respect.

Katherine left the Forbes' residence, still smiling. She pulled the hood of her jacket over her face as she walked through the town. There were far too many people in this town, looking for her. Perhaps she should leave, and this time, take Stefan with her.

Katherine saw Stefan straight away, and she couldn't control the smile on her face. Then she stopped. Stefan was not alone. Stefan was standing with a tall, dark haired man; Damon Salvatore. Katherine froze. She didn't want to see Damon. She wished Damon would just give up. She wanted Stefan, and she would always want Stefan.

Stefan looked nervous, and he kept looking around- for her. He knew that Katherine didn't want Damon to know she was in Mystic Falls- not yet, at least. He had only just gotten Katherine back; he didn't want to lose- or upset- her again. He saw her, standing still with a her hood pulled forward, covering her face. Stefan swallowed.

"Listen, Damon, I have to go. Can we talk about this later?" Stefan looked at Damon pleadingly.

Damon nodded slowly, "Fine, I just- I can't believe you don't remember her." Damon looked determined, "Elena Gilbert, she came to our home in 1864, and then she left, without telling us she was going."

Stefan grimaced, "I really need to go-"

"She had a bit of a thing for me, if I remember correctly." Damon smirked now.

"Okay, Damon," Stefan rolled his eyes, "I'll see at the Boarding house later."

Stefan turned away from his brother and walked towards Katherine. Her eyes widened in alarm; Damon would see if he stopped right in front of her. But he didn't; he smiled at her, and walked straight past her. She saw Damon shake his head and walk away, heading in the opposite direction to Stefan. The coast was clear, so Katherine turned, and Stefan was standing very close to her, "Hi," He said.

She almost melted; even Katherine Pierce had a melting point- and it was Stefan Salvatore. He was, sometimes, too adorable to handle. She smiled at him, "Hi," There wasn't any need to say any more, but she couldn't help herself, "Where are you taking me?"

Stefan laughed, "You make it sound like I'm taking you against your will."

Katherine smiled, and then took his hand, "Don't worry, sweetheart, no one can take me against my will." She smirked triumphantly, "I'm Katherine Pierce."

Stefan smiled again, nodding. They were soon at his car; Stefan opened her door and she got in.

+++AT KATHERINE'S HOUSE+++

Elena had a visitor the next day, and she was so surprised to hear Damon calling her name, she ignored him at first. Eventually, she followed his voice, and found him standing at her door. He was smiling crookedly, and in his hands was a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers. "Sorry," He said, holding the flowers out to her, "For not remembering you at first. You must think I'm horrible."

Elena smiled, "That's okay," She said- and she meant it too, because she couldn't really remember him either. Although, she was beginning to remember some things. She remembered being a young girl in 1853; she was seven years old, and her mother had gifted her with a beautiful pink dress on her birthday. She distinctly remembered embracing her mother, and thanking her a thousand times; Elena remembered how the maid had helped her get dressed in her new frock, and she remembered dancing in the Hall. Her parents had thrown a Ball- in celebration of their daughter's birthday- and Elena had never seen such splendour.

It was a very nice memory, and she was glad to have it back. It had come to her like blinding light, and she had laid down and slept for hours, wondering if it was even possible for a vampire to be struck with a common headache. And then she had opened her eyes, and she had been able to remember being a seven year old girl. It had been shocking in it's suddenness, but wonderful, nevertheless.

But, still, she didn't really know this man. He obviously saw her confusion, so he smiled pleasantly, "You don't remember me either, do you?" He laughed embarrassedly, "I'm Damon Salvatore, and we knew each other in 1864." He grinned, "We were quite good friends at a time, if I do remember correctly."

"Ah," Elena acknowledged, "Damon Salvatore. I shall do my best to remember that name." She smiled and took the radiant flowers from her, "And do I owe you a bouquet now- for forgetting you?" She laughed.

Damon's grin widened, "You can get me roses some other time." He said simply, and Elena laughed again.

"Forgive me," Elena said uncomfortably, "But how on earth can you stand the sun that way?" Elena's forehead creased with worry, "I burn, something dreadful, in the sun- but it doesn't seem to bother you at all."

Damon's eyes went wide, "Oh yes, of course, that is actually why I am here!" He dug into the pocket of his dark, denim jeans, and then he was hiding something in his hand. "I wear this ring, and it protects me from the sun. I call it my daylight ring." He held his palm out to Elena, and she saw the delicate ring there. It was a thin silver band, with a large sapphire gem. It was beautiful, and looked awfully expensive.

He took her hand without asking, and then he slipped the ring onto her index finder. The stone shone beautifully, even out of the sun, and the silver band glimmered too. She watched it with growing adoration, "Damon, it's beautiful-" She looked up at him, and he was smiling kindly; happily. Elena remembered, right that moment, her mother, and how her mother would have shaken her head was kind, but she could not accept expensive jewellery from a man I do not remember- no matter the magical qualities of said jewellery. "But I can't take this."

His smile drops, "What?"

I removed the ring, "Take it." He wouldn't. "Please."

Damon shakes his head, "Look, Elena, it will protect you from sunlight. Please accept the ring." He smirked, "It really isn't my style anyway."

Elena looked at the ring dumbly, "Then return it. It looks expensive."

Damon shook his head again, "No, it's a family heirloom. It was my mother's- but don't worry, she had so many rings, this one will not be missed." Damon made her put the ring on again, and unsurely, she did. She admired it carefully. "And besides, if you don't wear the ring, how can I show you around town?"

Elena looked up at Damon quickly, and smiled. "Okay." Elena said, "When are we going?" She was actually rather excited. Elena hadn't seen anyone other than Caroline in days, and she was getting boring. Also, she hadn't left Katherine's house since Katherine had brought her there.

"As soon as possible?" Damon suggested.

"Okay, just give me a second." Elena was wearing a dark blue pyjama set that Katherine had brought for her. Elena turned away from the door, and then- from the top of the staircase- she looked back, and saw that he was just standing there awkwardly. "You can come in, you know." She laughed, and Damon did come in.

Elena had never been told about the rules of vampirism, or the way to live. She had been thrown in a tomb immediately. She had never lived this way, so she didn't know that she had to invite Damon inside, in the first place. Nor did Elena know, that there would be repercussions for inviting Damon Salvatore into the home of Katherine Pierce's house.

Upstairs, Elena changed into a pair of light blue denim jeans and a dark red, long sleeved jumper. She looked nice, she thought. She brushed her hair, and let it drape neatly over one shoulder. Caroline had done Elena's make-up a few days before, so she knew how to apply a layer of mascara and some lipgloss. She pulled on some black pumps, and then she walked downstairs. She couldn't stop petting the ring. It was so nice, and it had been so, so nice of Damon to give it to her.

Damon was standing in the living room. He looked at her when she stopped in the doorway, and he smiled, "Ready to go?" He asked.

Elena smiled, "Ready to go."

A/N: Hi. Thanks for reading, guys. I know I'm bad with updating… sorry… I'll try to write chapter 15 as soon as possible, but I'm not gonna make any promises…

I would love it if you could review? Thanks, bye, Kate xxx