Chapter 20

Motives

***Third Person's POV***

"I say we go to Pearl's, bust down the door, and annihilate the idiot that attacked us last night." Damon said as he finished boarding up the broken windows.

Even as the hard rain poured, and the roads sank beneath almost 3 inches of water, he was no less determined than he was last night to go after the vampire from before.

Stefan, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic for an attack so soon given the circumstances.

"Yeah. And then what?" He said sarcastically, "We turn to the rest of that house of vampires and say, 'Oops. Sorry'?"

"I can't believe you made a deal with her." Elena said to Damon, almost scolding.

She had shown up around a half hour after Damon and Katy, the latter of whom had reluctantly taken a hint to leave the three of them to discuss the matter.

"It was more like a helpful exchange of information. And it's not like I had a choice. She''s…" He paused dramatically, "Sorry. Besides, she's gonna help me get Katherine back."

Elena scoffed lightly, "Of course she is. Damon gets what he wants, as usual." then said more pointedly, "No matter who he hurts in the process."

"You don't have to be snarky about it."

"I woke up this morning to learn that all the vampires have been released from the tomb. I've earned snarky."

"How long are you going to blame me for turning your birth mother into a vampire?"

"I'm not blaming you, Damon." She said, though her voice was accusing, "I've accepted the fact that you're a self-serving psychopath with no redeeming qualities."

"Ouch." Damon replied robotically.

Before this became something violent-or just in the very least unnecessarily wrathful, Stefan decided to try and change the subject.

"This isn't being very productive." He reminded them, "We're gonna figure out a way to deal with Pearl and the vampires. Yeah? Hmm."

Damon did not respond and only left his seat, heading straight for the door, leaving the two of them behind.

After a short chat with Stefan, Elena wandered upstairs and knocked lightly on Katy's bedroom door.

"Katy? Can I come in?"

"At your own risk."

Confused, Elena entered, only to become increasingly baffled by the sight before her which consisted of several knives and daggers neatly surrounding Katy on her bed as she appeared to be sharpening a switchblade.

Katy looked up as Elena gasped quietly, and almost laughed at her expression as she replied,

"Damon got me a belated birthday present." She nodded to the kit in her lap, "I feel like I should be worried on how much I enjoy sharpening and maintaining instruments of torture-but I don't care." She shrugged.

The two girls laughed at the joke, "Plus," Katy held up a small vial of vervain, "I've vampire-proofed most of these."

Elena nodded in approval, "Good work." She looked back up at Katy with concern, "I heard you got hurt last night, are you okay?"

"Aside from the unpleasant aftertaste of vampire blood I'm fine." She said not even bothering to look up from polishing.

"Didn't your mother have a rule against vampire blood?"

"Yes, but considering how many of her rules I've broken-just on a supernatural basis, I figure I may as well adopt the 'Devil-May-Care' attitude and go for broke." She shrugged.

"Was it that bad?" Elena asked, now becoming more worried by the second.

"No, not really." She assured, "It was Damon's idea, however, I really didn't want to explain a bite mark at school."

Elena nodded, more to herself then Katy, then asked hesitantly, "How are you two anyway?"

"Better, I hope." She nodded, trying to keep herself from smiling.

The older of the two smiled at her attempts to hide enthusiasm, but it soon faded as she decided to tell her about Damon's deal.

"Katy." She waited briefly to get the girl's attention, "You know he made a deal with Pearl, right? To get Katherine back?"

Katy's face fell, and she paused before responding, "Yeah, I know."

"And you're okay with that?"

"I'm leaving in three months Elena." She sighed, "Even if I wasn't, I've known all along he wants Katherine back; More than anything."

"But that doesn't make it okay! He can't just leave you like that, aren't you mad at him?!"

"Not as much as you." She mumbled.

"What's that-"

"Elena come on." She said, "You blame him for your mother's turning."

"I don't blame him Katy." She replied, "I'm upset about how uncaring he is, how he's always been."

"Well, he can't be that bad or else he wouldn't have turned her."

That caused Elena to pause in slight shock, and then asked, "What?"

Katy put the switchblade and maintenance kit aside, then explained,

"Think about it; she comes along, going all vampire fan girl, ready and willing to do anything to become one herself. She goes to Damon, who traditionally compels or just kills anyone who knows his secret. And yet he turns her, with apparently no clause since he has no idea where she is-nor cares, when he really didn't have to."

She was only answered by silence, so Katy continued,

"Look Elena, even if he did know she had a kid at some point, or a husband with no idea of her wishes, that's exactly what this is; Her wish, her choices, and ultimately her consequences. You can't be mad at him for that."

"It's not just that he turned her Katy; it's how he treated Alaric, and how he's treating you now."

Before Katy could respond, the cell phone in her pocket -Damon's- went off. She looked at the text and smiled happily as she responded.

"Who's that?"

"Nate." Katy replied, her cheeks starting to blush.

"Nate again, huh? How often are you two talking?" She asked, appearing to have briefly forgotten the earlier subject.

"Almost every day, briefly but still, I like talking to him."

"Who texts who?"

"I do."

"Ooh Katy I'd hold off on that." She warned.

"Why?"

"Because you're making it easy for him." She said, "If you're always the one making contact first he'll think he just has you at his beck and call."

The cell rang again; Katy looked at the text and her face began to look flushed, and she replied in a disappointed voice, "Well, doesn't matter. When I asked about his weekend he responded, 'I baked cookies with my girlfriend'."

About an hour after Elena left, Damon returned, somewhat drenched from the storm outside. He came in without a sound, almost walking passed Stefan in the hallway.

"Where've you been?"

"Why do you ask?" Damon sneered, starting to walk up the stairs.

"Cheryl from Marshall Family & Property Law called." Damon stopped in his tracks, and so Stefan was able to continue, "Wanted to know if she should reschedule an appointment you made since you missed the last one."

The older brother turned around, a somewhat sarcastic look on his face, but he said nothing.

"Planning on getting rid of Katy so soon?"

"Weren't you just begging me to kick her out a while ago?"

"In so many words, but I don't think that's your plan."

"How do you mean?" Damon sneered again.

Stefan no longer felt the need for subtly in this conversation and laid out his concern,

"Does this have anything to do with getting Katherine back?"

Damon rolled his eyes, "Now how would I do that?"

"I don't know." He shrugged, "That's what I'm trying to figure out."

The two of them stared each other down, Stefan waiting patiently for a response. After a minute, his brother smirked and replied, "One week."

"What?" He asked, slightly stunned by the simple response.

"One week." The he shrugged, sitting down on the couch, "Maybe two, tops."

"For what?"

"For the adoption papers to arrive. Normally it would take six months to a year-but, a little compulsion here and there, skinny-dipping into the savings account and…" He smirked again, clapping his hands together briefly, "Welcome home Baby Girl Salvatore.

If someone described Stefan's expression as 'shocked', they would be making the understatement of the year.

When he returned to his senses, Stefan shook his head responding, "You've lost it. You've officially lost it! You're no better qualified to be a parent then-" he shook his head again, "No, there is no comparison."

"Ouch Stefan, now that really hurt."

"Damon this is serious, you can't just adopt a child. This isn't just a way to get over Katherine-"

"That's what you think this is about? Some girl breaks my heart and I think 'Raising children, there's a great relaxation method'." He remarked as he walked up to face his brother, practically spitting out slowly, "I'm not stupid Stefan."

"Fine then, if you're not stupid, and have all the answers, answer me this: Are you still looking for Katherine? How will she react when she finds out you adopted a kid?" He took a moment to pause, "You're a vampire Damon! Katy's a human girl, what are you going to do about that?"

Damon only stared at his brother without a word.

Eventually, Damon dodged his way out of the conversation for a while, and went on repairing a few things that were damaged from last night.

Later, while he wound up the grandfather clock, Damon saw Stefan heading out towards the door.

"Hunting party?"

"That guy did a number on me last night when he stabbed me." Stefan explained, "I gotta get my strength back up."

"I've got 2 liters of soccer mom in the fridge." He was only answered with a look, "No?"

"We'll talk when I get back?"

"Alright." he agreed nonchalantly, and then called after him, "Give my regards to the squirrels."

As soon as Stefan left, Damon went to the bottom of the stairs and called Katy down, who come down with his cell in hand.

"Up for a chat?"

She stopped and gave a look of concern, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just sit down, it's important."

She nodded, still nervous, but she sat down anyway. And when she did, Damon told her everything.

Once he told her, Katy looked positively dumbstruck; Damon could tell she didn't believe what he was saying, so it came as no surprise when she asked if she heard right and if he meant it.

He nodded, "I know it's important to you; you want a say in where you go. So whatever you choose, if you want to stay with me or go, I'll accept it."

She nodded quickly, still trying to digest this information, "Would I have to call you Dad?"

Given slightly different circumstances, he might've laughed, but Damon suppressed the urge and replied no.

"Can I keep my own last name?"

"If you want."

"Do I have to turn?"

Damon paused, "You don't have to. But when you're older, and you've really thought about it, I won't object."

Katy gave a small smile, but it faded back to shock and confusion.

"So are you saying you want to?"

"I don't know." She breathed, then said quickly, "I mean-I want to think about it Damon-This is all really weird-and new-and I want to think hard about it for a few days… Maybe, more."

She looked reluctant to hear his answer, but he replied,

"That's fair. Okay, you take your time, it's your choice."

She smiled lightly, "Thank you." Katy got up and almost went in for a hug, but instead decided to give him a playful buddy-slap, "Really, thank you."

She hopped upstairs shortly after to her room, leaving Damon phone downstairs. He started to try and call Stefan to check in, but he got no answer.

He tried a dozen more times over the next hour, but nothing came of it, except the realization that trouble had come like he'd thought.

A/N: Hey guys, sorry about last week I just had no energy. BUT EVERYONE IT'S THE 20TH CHAPTER! AND I KNOW I SAID I'LL GIVE A PREVIEW AND SPOILERS FOR NEXT SEASON IF I GET 100 REVIEWS BEFORE THE SEASON FINALE CHAPTER, BUT SINCE IT'S NOW THE 20TH I'LL GIVE YOU JUST A SMALL TID BIT FOR SEASON 3! HERE YOU GO!

Rebekah has been talking about Stefan and Katy is there right now listening somewhat annoyed.

Rebekah-I can't believe he doesn't love me.

Katy-Girlfriend he NEVER loved you! Just be thankful nothing's changed!

END SCENE

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THAT!