"So where's Stefan?" Caroline asked, sipping her drink and scanning the room full of tipsy adults.

Elena dreaded the question. Here she was at another Mystic Falls founder's day events. Only she was alone. Not that she minded that much that she had no date. In fact it was kind of nice for once not to be worrying about anyone but herself. But because everyone was so used to seeing her with Stefan, Caroline had not been the first to ask about his absence. Anyway, Elena had expected to see him whether or not he was her date. After all he was a founding family and even at times where they weren't getting along so well he always turned up.

"We broke up." Elena stated.

The answer took Caroline by complete surprise, that Elena could tell. Caroline's mouth dropped and she placed her glass on the nearby table.

"What!?" Caroline questioned.

"I broke up with him last week. I need some time to myself. Plus, he's been acting really strange lately haven't you noticed?" Elena said.

"Elena…don't you think this was information you could have shared with me…I don't know before we got here? I was at your house getting ready for over an hour." Caroline complained.

Elena was mildly annoyed at Caroline's complaint. It wasn't that she didn't want anyone to know, it was more that she didn't feel like talking about it. Most people thought Stefan and her were meant to be and that was fine. But Caroline was absolutely sure Stefan and Elena were meant to be, that meant she was more than willing to play match maker even when it wasn't needed. The news of their breakup was of course going to upset Caroline and that would bring questions of why which Elena had answers to but didn't feel like explaining.

"I didn't think it was that important." Elena shrugged.

"You didn't think it was that important? Elena you and Stefan are soul mates. When my best friend and her boyfriend who also happens to be my friend break up, I need to know." Caroline told her.

If there was ever a time Elena wanted something to interrupt a conversation it was right then. She had no obligation to anyone about her break up but especially Caroline. She was extremely one-sided when it came to Elena's love life. Stefan or no one. Especially not Damon. It wasn't like Elena was considering Damon as a potential lover, or at least not right now but if in the future she wanted the option she wanted a friend who wasn't so pro-Stefan. She loved Stefan, she really did. Maybe she wasn't in love with him anymore but that didn't mean she didn't care for him. But she felt like Stefan wasn't her right now…maybe a later on or a in the future but that was something she was going to figure out…in time.

Aside from Matt, Elena had only ever dated Stefan. She was 18 years old and had only ever had two boyfriends. Didn't she deserve some sort of life? What if she went off to college and fell in love with a completely normal guy? That was possible wasn't it? It was a possibility and that's all Elena was asking for. Stefan didn't feel right at that moment and Elena didn't want to be obliged to be with someone because everyone else thought that's what should be.

"Is this a sire bond thing?" Caroline asked, grabbing Elena's arm and turning her to face her.

"What? Are you insane?" Elena scoffed. "I'm not sired anymore."

"Are you sure? You've been acting kind of weird." Caroline argued.

"Care, from the moment I turned I was not in control of myself. Every thought and action was marred by my bond to Damon. I'm free of that now. I'm going to be different. I'm not human anymore. You changed when you turned didn't you? Am I not allowed to change? I'm just trying to find myself and I think I need to do that without Stefan…for now. If at some point I want to be with Stefan and he still wants to be with me then it'll happen." Elena told Caroline.

Elena watched as Caroline processed the information. After a few silent moments Caroline shrugged her shoulders and picked her drink back up. Elena was glad the conversation was over. She had no idea what else she could say to convince Caroline that she wasn't sired. In the corner of her eye Elena spotted Klaus chatting to a party guest, she could see Caroline's posture change the moment she noticed too. As much as Caroline denied it Elena knew she was attracted to Klaus.

Klaus was dressed in an impeccable suit, dashing as always. His charm and wit seemed to entrance every lady in the room, including Caroline. It was funny to Elena how Caroline continuously disapproved of her once friendship/relationship with Damon but acted like her flirting with the prince of darkness wasn't an issue. Truth be told Elena didn't have that big of a problem with Caroline's secret affections for Klaus. He was an evil, manipulative, arrogant jerk who had killed people that Elena and Caroline both knew and loved but Elena knew that if it came down to it he would never hurt Caroline. Of course Elena would not hope for them to be together, Tyler made a wonderful boyfriend who took care of Caroline but if by some miracle Caroline admitted to herself how she felt about Klaus and they ended up together Elena wouldn't be the giant scowling friend in the corner disapproving of the relationship. She guessed she was more flexible then her friends.

It wasn't long before Klaus noticed both the girls and came sauntering over. Caroline quickly flitted her hair over her shoulder and replaced her smiling face with a bored one. She liked to pretend Klaus didn't do things to her insides but Elena knew different. He took Elena's hand and kissed the top of it, his lips grazing her perfect olive skin. Then he took Caroline's and repeated the action only he lingered longer on her skin.

"Evening ladies. You both look radiant." Klaus greeted them.

"And you look like a murderous asshole." Caroline chimed.

Klaus gritted his teeth and flashed Caroline a tight smile.

"Always so charming." Klaus said. "Elena, I see Stefan is missing from tonight's event."

"Yes." Elena replied.

"Things not well between you two I'm guessing?" Klaus mused.

"Not that you care but we broke up." Elena responded.

"Mutually?" Klaus questioned.

"No. I broke up with him." Elena told him.

Klaus gave a knowing smirk that Elena couldn't decipher. She knew something was up but could not place whatever it was. Klaus obviously knew something she did not but there was no point trying to get it out of him.

As the conversation between the three of them died their attentions shifted towards the entrance where Damon stood with Heather. Elena looked her up and down and couldn't deny she was breathtaking in the off the shoulder royal blue chiffon gown. But what was Damon doing here with her? This was the third time Elena was seeing Damon with this woman. Was he dating her now? Damon didn't date. He had casual hook ups, woman who he used for blood and sex. Maybe Heather was just sex, she was after all another vampire. Elena couldn't imagine Damon being monogamous to anyone, especially some woman he barely knew.

"Who's the blonde skank with Damon?" Caroline asked.

"Her name is Heather…I met her a few weeks ago at the boarding house." Elena revealed.

"So Damon's finally replaced Andy Starr." Caroline said, cocking an eyebrow.

"Actually, she's a vampire." Elena replied.

Klaus seemed amused by Elena's revelation. Damon entered the room with Heather on his arm, gliding across the floor like they were floating. Elena felt a pang of jealousy coarse through her body as everyone took in the glorious couple. They were a bit like night and day Elena thought to herself. Damon with his dark hair and his dangerous eyes and Heather with her blonde bob and friendly demeanour. Of course Elena didn't know Damon's companion from a bar of soap but she had some theories. She was probably sexually adventurous, that was definitely Damon's type. A woman who flirted a lot and drank a lot. Elena had to wonder why she had put so much thought into that.

"Hello." Damon greeted the three of them. Heather this is Caroline, Klaus and of course you know Elena."

Elena wasn't sure but she felt like he enunciated her name more than Caroline's or Klaus'. Heather and Damon seemed to share a private moment at the expense of her name.

"Pleasure to meet you both." Heather smiled.

"The pleasure is all mine." Klaus charmed.

Elena watched Caroline take more than a little interest as Klaus placed a kiss on Heather's hand. It was clear to everyone at the party that Heather was here with Damon and Damon alone but Caroline had clearly not gotten the memo. Elena could just imagine the internal commentary running through Caroline's head.

"So where do you hail from, Heather? Not from around here, I can tell." Klaus asked.

Damon snatched two champagne glasses from a passing tray and gave one to his date and reserved one for his self. Elena found herself annoyed that he hadn't offered her one also. Was that now a thing of the past?

"New York actually. I've travelled a bit. But I was originally from New York." Heather replied, sipping her champagne.

Elena caught Damon's eyes as she lifted her gaze from the floor, he was looking at her like he was questioning something. He glanced around the room a few times searching for something, Elena had no idea.

"Elena, where is my delightful brother tonight?" Damon asked.

Both Klaus and Caroline gave each other a knowing glance.

"I broke up with him." Elena said, so matter-of-factly that it seemed to take her companions by surprise.

She had no idea why before when asked about Stefan she had answered 'we broke up' but now, when asked by Damon she felt the need to say 'I broke up with him'. It seemed odd to her that she needed for him to hear that and her tone wasn't all that familiar to her either.

"Yes, I knew that. Stefan and I had…an altercation last week because of it. I haven't seen him since. I had assumed you two made up and he was staying with you." Damon said.

"You had a fight with Stefan?" Elena asked.

"I wouldn't say that. Not so much as I would say that Stefan attacked me." Damon revealed.

Caroline scoffed loudly but both Elena and Damon ignored her.

"Why would he attack you?" Elena questioned, not wanting to believe Stefan would do that.

"He seems to be under the impression that his misery is because of me. All I know is one minute I'm enjoying an intimate bath with Heather," Damon gave his companion a smirk, "and the next my dear brother is trying to stake me with a tree branch."

No one had noticed but Klaus had disappeared. It wasn't that big a deal Elena thought to herself, this didn't concern him.

"I don't believe you." Elena firmly said.

Heather placed a hand on Elena's bare arm and with an annoyingly sickly sweet voice said, "Oh honey, believe it. I had to pull them apart."

It annoyed Elena to no end that this woman who barely knew Damon let alone Stefan thought she had a right to not only break apart a fight between the two always warring brothers but also interrupt a conversation she was not in on. Elena tried to rationalise the fight in her head, they always fought. Proclaiming to kill the other only to spare their life. It happened all the time.

"Anyway, he disappeared after Heather pulled him off of me." Damon shrugged.

"And you didn't think to call around and see where he was after he didn't come home?" Elena retorted, growing angry.

"Elena, he's a hundred and sixty something years old. I think he can take care of himself." Damon laughed.

Damon's attitude was unacceptable to Elena. Stefan hadn't been seen for over a week. No one knew where he was. Elena wanted answers and usually Damon did too.

"We need to look for him." Elena said, looking to Caroline for help.

"Elena, listen! Stefan is fine. He's off being broody somewhere. He'll come home when he's stopped sooking." Damon told her.

"And what if he's not, Damon? What if he's hurt or worse…can you live with yourself if that happens?" Elena asked.

Heather scoffed and shook her head. Elena tried not to notice but it was hard considering how much noise she was making. But she was adamant on not letting Heather join in the conversation. This was a thing between her and Damon and Caroline. Klaus, Tyler, Bonnie, Matt…hell even Rebekah would be more welcome to this conversation then Damon's new sex toy. But despite what Elena thought and wanted Heather still had an opinion.

"You broke his heart. The guy probably just wants some time to himself. And I'm sure that you're probably the very last person on Earth he wants to see right now." Heather told Elena.

"Excuse me? You know nothing about either of the Salvatore's so why don't you shut your mouth." Elena responded.

"I know enough!" Heather said. "I know that both of them have gone above and beyond to keep you alive and you play them like a piano."

Elena was almost at her breaking point. She knew she would not be able to take a vampire much older than her but it wouldn't stop her from trying, after all Damon and at the very least Caroline would not let anything happen to her.

"You don't know anything! You think you know Damon because you're fucking him? Let me tell you something you monstrous bitch, you're just another boredom buster for Damon. A way to pass time." Elena spat.

They were making a scene and both Caroline and Damon knew. People were starting to stare. Heather took a few close steps to Elena, her vampire eyes showing. Elena was fearful but was grateful for Caroline's presence.

"I'd be careful. I'm not so consumed by keeping you alive." Heather whispered.

"You're threatening me? In a room full of vampires and werewolves who will protect me. Including an original." Elena said smugly.

It was at this time that Damon decided to interject. "Oookaay. Elena, could I speak with you upstairs?"

Damon forcefully grabbed Elena's arm and led her towards the staircase. People had started returning to their mundane conversations and their cheap wine.

A/N: Hello all you lovely readers! I actually had quite a good response from the last chapter and that put me in good spirits. So hopefully for this chapter I'll get just as good of a reaction! I'm glad most of you are starting to enjoy Heather, I tried to make her likeable and a strong character.

Regarding the end of this story, I've had a question or two about the two-endings possibility. Now that I've finished this I can safely say there is ONE ending. Although You could easily stop reading after the second last chapter if that ending would suit you more. I guess in a way it is kind of a double ending, but for me there was only one way I wanted to finish this story. But, you will all have to wait and see what happens when it happens.

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