AN: Here's finally a new chapter! Thank you so much for your patience with my lazy ass. :D

I got some reviews like 'I still (have) hope that you'll update', just know that no matter how long it might take me to finish a new chapter, I will always update (until I say otherwise)! So don't be scared that I'll just stop updating and abandon my story. Won't happen! ;)

Although it's kinda sad because I feel like this story is coming to an end since I'm not really sure anymore where I'm actually going with this... So let me know if you have any ideas/wishes (as an answer to one of the reviews: I'm not sure if I'll add Nadia..) and we'll see how long this story will go on in the end..

I don't wanna seem like I'm greedy for reviews, but since it worked last time to motivate my lazy ass to finish the next chapter, let's say once I reach 450 reviews I have to post a new chapter! x) Although I really hope it will take you longer this time so I have more time than last time. :P

„So are you finally telling me what's going on?" Bonnie asked clearly annoyed from the passenger's seat.

„It's complicated Bonnie." Caroline spoke hastily. She was currently busy not getting into an accident as she was driving as fast as she could towards Elena's house while fumbling her phone out of her bag. She had to call Elena and warn her about the soon-to-be-there visitors.

„Damnit, Caroline!" Bonnie yelled as her friend suddenly jammed on the brakes in order to avoid crashing into the car in front of them. She reached over and yanked the bag out of Caroline's grasp, quickly finding the phone herself and handing it over.

„Sorry." Caroline grimaced and took the phone with a quick 'thanks'. She speed dialed Elena's number and waited impatiently for her to pick up.

.

Katherine and Elena were still busy making out when Elena's phone went off. Katherine groaned when she felt Elena pause on top of her. Her hand tangled in the younger girl's hair, holding her in place.

„No." She mumbled between kisses.

Elena giggled, but broke their kiss nevertheless.

„Maybe it's something important." She argued and reached over to her nightstand, grabbing her phone. Katherine sighed in defeat, but was pleased by the fact that Elena still stayed on top of her.

„It's Caroline." Elena said with a frown, glancing towards her girlfriend who was now running her hands up and down her back, creating pleasant sensations.

„What? Can't get enough of us?" Katherine smirked, although she was slightly annoyed by the blonde's call.

„Yeah sure." Elena snickered before answering the call. „Hey Care. What's up?"

„Elena?!" Caroline screeched into her ear.

„Yeah that's me." Elena grimaced, feeling half deaf from her outburst.

„Listen up! We have a problem. Or better you and Katherine." Elena's eyes automatically snapped towards Katherine, who narrowed her eyes.

„See, I was at the grill meeting up with Bonnie when Stefan and Damon showed up and of course they figured you'd be back as well so they're on their way to you right now!"

While Caroline was talking with super speed, both doppelgänger looked at each other with wide eyes.

Fuck.

.

Meanwhile Stefan and Damon were talking about Caroline's weird reaction to them wanting to see Elena and her attempt to stop them.

„Why would she freak out like that?" Stefan asked disbelievingly, replaying Caroline's outburst in his mind. Was it really because Elena still didn't want to see them or was there maybe something else? „I mean, do you think there might be another reason?"

„Another reason besides what?" Damon inquired.

„Besides not wanting to see us obviously." Stefan explained.

„Well, I don't know. But we are about to find out, brother." Damon declared as he pushed down the gas pedal, going a little faster.

.

After Caroline hung up she threw her phone back into her bag and a glance at Bonnie showed her that the other girl was staring at her in disbelief.

„What?" Caroline asked irritated. It totally slipped her mind that she mentioned Katherine in front of her.

„'you and Katherine'?!" Bonnie just repeated Caroline's words, emphasizing Katherine's name.

„Oh." Caroline swallowed nervously. „Did I say that?"

„Yes you did! Okay seriously now, where exactly have you been on this ‚roadtrip'?" Bonnie had enough and demanded an answer and her tone did not allow any excuses this time.

„Were you even on one?" Bonnie accused, before Caroline could get a word out.

„Yes, we were!" Caroline shouted defiantly. Why would they lie about that anyways?

„Where?"

„Italy."

„Why?"

Caroline kept silent, chewing on her bottom lip while trying to think of a good explanation that didn't sound too badly thought out. She didn't know how to tell Bonnie about the real reason behind their roadtrip nor had she any idea how Bonnie would take the news about Elena and Katherine.

„Caroline?" Bonnie asked suspiciously.

„It's really Elena's place to tell you. I'm sorry Bonnie." Caroline tried to drop the subject, but Bonnie was having none of it.

„I don't really care about that anymore, Caroline. Just tell me already!" Bonnie snapped, making Caroline wince at her harsh voice. To say Bonnie was pissed off was an understatement, she could easily tell by the way her eyes flashed with anger.

„Fine." Caroline snapped back. „We were there to find Rebekah so she could reverse a compulsion she put on Elena."

„Wait what? What compulsion?" Bonnie questioned surprised. She certainly didn't expect that.

„The one Stefan and Damon requested from her." Caroline told her quickly, knowing it wouldn't make any sense at all to Bonnie and almost sighed in relief as they finally turned into Elena's street. „Oh look, we're finally here!"

However, her relieved moment ended fast as she saw the Salvatore brother's getting out of their car, walking towards Elena's house. She pushed the gas pedal down harder, eventually coming to a screeching halt behind Damon's Camaro.

.

Elena and Katherine both had showered and got dressed in vampire speed and were now in the kitchen, contemplating what do to. Although it was mainly Katherine sitting at the table and watching Elena pace up and down.

„Babe, calm down. Everything's gonna be fine." Katherine tried to calm Elena down, but her girlfriend didn't seem to hear her.

Sighing Katherine stood up, putting herself into Elena's way.

„Hey! Hey Elena, stop! Look at me!" She grabbed Elena by the shoulders, shaking her lightly to snap her out of whatever anxious trance she was in.

„Look at me!" Elena's big brown eyes snapped up and found Katherine's staring right back at her, concern and love obvious in them. It made her heart skip a beat.

„It's gonna be fine, okay?" Katherine insisted, gently cupping Elena's face. Elena nodded, eyes never leaving Katherine's.

„Why are you so anxious anyways? You should be angry at them for making Rebekah compel you." Katherine wondered, furrowing her eyebrows.

„I know." The younger girl sighed. „You're right, it's just … I … Ugh, I don't know." Elena stuttered, her eyes darting aimlessly around the room not knowing why she felt this way or how to explain it.

„I mean, aren't you angry at all? After what they put us through they deserve some punishment." Katherine insisted.

„I know!" Elena shouted exasperatedly. „But I'm just afraid of what they'll do if they find out we're back together. What if they try to kill you this time?"

„They won't, okay Elena?" Katherine replied firmly. „I'm a lot older than they are, they can't get rid of me that easily."

Elena chuckled slightly at that.

„Besides, they would've find out eventually anyways, so we're just gonna make the best of it, alright?" Katherine smiled, suppressing her own nervousness for Elena's sake. Elena took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, relaxing into Katherine's soft hands that were still cupping her face.

„Yeah, you're right." Elena whispered. Then she leaned forward, capturing Katherine's lips in a soft kiss.

„Or we could run away through the backdoor." She joked as she pulled back.

Katherine laughed loudly and the sight made Elena grin. She watched the older female and couldn't help but think how beautiful she looked while laughing like that. As cheesy that sounded, seeing Katherine happy made her feel happy too, and it made her realize how deeply she had fallen for her doppelgänger. Something she surely would've been disgusted about only months ago, but now wouldn't want to miss. And it amazed her every time, knowing that Katherine obviously felt the same for her.

„I love you, Katherine." Elena declared, suddenly serious. „And no matter what they say, I won't leave you again. You're stuck with me now."

Katherine's lips formed into a smirk. „You mean you are stuck with me now."

Now it was Elena who laughed and Katherine's smirk eased into a wide smile. But her smile quickly dropped when she heard a car door closing in front of the house.

„Well, I guess our guests have arrived."

Elena's laughing died down and she hurried over to one of the windows that were facing the street. Indeed, there was Damon's Camaro and two all too familiar figures were walking towards her house.

Seeing them now for the first time in weeks, looking at them and their hopeful expressions worked like a switch in Elena's head.

Katherine's totally right. Why the hell was I so anxious and nervous about them coming over? Look at their hopeful faces, like I didn't find out what they did. Ugh, god, I just wanna punch them right in their faces.

To say that Elena was extremely pissed off now was an understatement. Katherine, who had walked up behind Elena, felt her tense up and wrapped her arms around her waist.

„Shh, don't worry." Katherine placed a soft kiss on her neck, not aware of Elena's change of feelings.

„I'm not worried anymore." Elena's angry tone caught Katherine off guard.

„You-You're not?" Katherine asked perplexed.

Elena turned around in their embrace and put her arms around Katherine's neck. There was a fire in her eyes that hadn't been there only minutes ago.

„You're right! They asked Rebekah to compel me to hate you. I shouldn't be the one to be afraid. They should! I just wanna punch them! I mean, how can I trust them ever again? I don't even know if I can forgive them for doing that." Elena explained angrily.

Before Katherine could answer, there was a screeching sound and Elena turned around to see Caroline's car coming to a halt only inches from Damon's. The blonde girl immediately jumped out of her car, running towards the boys.

„There comes our knight in shining armor." Katherine joked, as they watched Caroline trying to stop the Salvatores from coming any closer to the house. Elena chuckled and nudged her with her elbow, her rage momentarily forgotten.

They could hear Damon getting angry at Caroline for almost crushing into his precious car. Then Elena saw Bonnie getting out of Caroline's car.

„Great." She sighed. „They're all here apparently."

„Well, now we can at least tell them all at once and no one feels left out." Katherine quipped with fake enthusiasm, smiling when she got another laugh out of Elena.

„How are we gonna do this?" Elena asked without taking her eyes of the scene outside.

„What do you mean?"

„I mean, how are we going to tell them?"

„How about opening your mouth and saying the words?" Katherine teased playfully.

„Katherine!" Elena chided her and turned around to slap her lightly on her arm.

„Hey, that was just an idea." Katherine defended herself, while rubbing her arm and sporting a fake pout.

Elena just shook her head at her, not able to stop a huge grin spreading over her face. Katherine grinned back at her, when a thought entered her mind.

„Y'know, we could always just wait and see where things are going or we could take matters in our own hands." Katherine smirked as she suddenly walked towards the front door.

„Wait! Katherine, what are you doing?" Elena shouted slightly panicked.

What the hell is Katherine planning? She isn't about to go outside, right?

The younger girl quickly followed her only to see that Katherine was indeed about to open the door.

„Katherine no! Wai…" But it was too late. She cut herself off when Katherine pushed down the handle and yanked the door open.

.

Damon's and Caroline's angry banter stopped abruptly when they heard the front door fly open. Both Salvatore's eyes widened when they saw who walked out with long confident steps, while Elena stumbled behind to keep up.

„Well well, what do we have here? Could you two please take your fight elsewhere? You're quite loud and thus ruining our peaceful morning." Katherine drawled with mock politeness.

The elder female stood there with a hand resting on her hip, smirking at the shocked faces staring back at her. Of course except a certain blonde, who actually had trouble containing her grin at Katherine's amusing words.

„Katherine?" Damon asked, face scrunched up in disbelief.

„The one and only." Katherine smiled, then tilted her head in thought. „Sort of."

„Wh-what are you doing here?" Stefan asked in the same confused tone. He couldn't believe that she was actually here, at Elena's house of all places. His eyes were wandering between her and Elena who stood next to the other brunette, glaring at him. But he could also tell that she was slightly nervous.

Katherine opened her mouth to say something, but was beat to it when Elena suddenly stepped forward and slapped Stefan right across the face. Then she proceeded to do the same to Damon, leaving everyone gasping at her in shock, even Katherine at first, but then her eyes quickly filled with a certain pride.

„Ele…" Stefan began, rubbing his stinging cheek, but Elena cut him off.

„Did you two really think I wouldn't find out?" She snapped angrily. „That I wouldn't found out that you two asked Rebekah to compel me to hate Katherine?"

„Elena, I'm so…" Stefan tried to apologize, but Elena wasn't letting him any words get out.

„No, Stefan! I never thought you of all people would be capable of doing that to me." Elena's voice was harsh, yet contained also a certain amount of hurt.

Coming face to face with them now, was like finally the full impact of what they've done to her hit her full force. She felt angry tears coming up, but swallowed them down, not wanting to cry in front of the brothers.

Bonnie was standing some steps behind Caroline, intently watching the scene. She still had no idea what was going on and the fact that Elena apparently was compelled to hate Katherine made no sense to her. Why would they compel her to hate Katherine? She already does that without compulsion just fine, doesn't she?

But there was also the fact that Katherine had just come out of Elena's house and that Elena slapped both brothers. And as the witch took a glance at the older vampire she was shocked to see that Katherine was currently carefully watching over Elena with, dare she say it, concern and love in her dark eyes. What the hell?

Bonnie was silently mulling about everything she found out until now and suddenly it hit her like a tidal wave.

„Oh my god." She spoke, realizing she said that out loud when all eyes snapped towards her.

„Bonnie?" Elena spoke carefully.

„You and … Katherine?" Bonnie asked incredulous, pointing between the both doppelgängers.

Elena only stared at her for a few seconds, before biting her bottom lip and nodding her head shortly, almost bashfully.

„I-I… seriously? How did that happen?" Bonnie asked, clearly overwhelmed by the news that her best friend hooked up with her evil doppelgänger.

„I don't know. It just did." Elena responded calmly, shrugging her shoulders.

„She killed Jeremy!" The dark skinned girl pointed at Katherine, her voice getting high at the end. She gaped at her best friend who now visibly squirmed underneath her intense gaze and avoided eye contact.

„I know." Elena mumbled under her breath, glancing towards Katherine who casted her eyes downwards in shame. Against all odds, the action let a small smile appear on Elena's lips and she shuffled closer to her girlfriend, gently taking her hand and giving her a reassuring squeeze. The short smile Katherine shot her made her heart skip a beat.

Bonnie had watched on in disbelief. But before she could say more, Damon interrupted.

„So you're back together?" He inquired, grimly looking at them. The vampire was still trying to figure out how the hell the girls managed to do that despite the compulsion.

„Yes." Elena snapped towards him. „And you wasted the cure for nothing."

„And you can be glad I won't kill you for doing this to her. To us." Katherine sneered, crossing her arms across her chest and shooting daggers at the Salvatore's with her eyes. All she wanted to do was rip their hearts out, but she refrained for Elena's sake.

Damon scoffed at her while Stefan hung his head in shame before looking back up at Elena.

„I'm sorry Elena. I really am. And I want you to know that we both deeply regret doing that to you." He took a deep breath, as Elena eyed him suspiciously, yet curious to see what he would say next. „We had talked about it and sort of accepted that you fell for Katherine and we had actually planned on undoing this once you would have returned of your roadtrip and…" Stefan stopped mid-sentence. Meanwhile Elena's eyes widened slightly and she repeated his words over and over in her head. Is he serious? Did they really accept us together? Damon doesn't really make that impression on me.

Stefan seemed to think about something before he eventually continued. „That was the whole reason for the roadtrip, wasn't it?" He gestured towards Caroline and the doppelgängers. „You three went together to find Rebekah and make her reverse the compulsion, right?"

Elena didn't know how to react to his words. He sounded honest, yes, but was he really? It pretty much sounded like some lame apology and she hugged herself and looked away. Stefan sighed and glanced towards Caroline, who looked not that happy with him either, but gave him a small nod, confirming his thoughts. The girls expected them to bombard them with questions on how they managed to make Rebekah actually do it, but both boys stayed silent, seemingly trying to process this new information.

Damon stood there with a grim look while his insides were churning with feelings, mostly pain and regret, but also still deep affection for Elena. His brother was right after all, but he could see that Elena had trouble believing them. And who could blame her? The handsome vampire had no idea how to convince her that they were serious, nor how to make her forgive them. And he hated himself for it. He had always wanted just the best for Elena, but he realized he fucked up this time. Because the fact that the best was supposed to be Katherine was hard to believe for him. Yet as he now glanced at his former love, he could actually see the change in her. The Katherine who stood there next to Elena was different. Granted she could still be one hell of a sassy bitch, but never once in his life he thought that the usual cold and evil vampire would look at her doppelgänger the way she looked at her right now. Nor did he think she could actually be ‚saved' by Elena. But on the other side, Elena also somehow managed to ‚save' him and that had to mean something, right? It seemed like Elena just had a way to handle evil vampires who were supposedly damaged beyond repair.

„So, are we really gonna keep discussing this on the street or do we maybe want to move the party inside?" Katherine drawled, raising her brow.

Elena didn't know if she really wanted to continue this talk. The news about them were out, so was there really a reason to keep talking?

„Is this even necessary? I think they should leave now." She spoke, her voice coming out harsher than she had intended.

Katherine threw her a quick worried glance, wondering if Elena was alright or just pretending and this was actually too much for her. Her eyes found an angry Elena standing next to her, obviously not in the mood to tolerate more of the Salvatore's presence.

„Well the news are out, so we're done anyways." Katherine declared and shrugged her shoulders like she didn't care whether or not they continued. Which she of course didn't. The elder vampire wanted to be alone again with Elena as soon as possible.

„Good. Bye then." Elena said coldly. She was about to turn around and walk back to the house when her eyes landed on Caroline and Bonnie. Her brown does turned soft and she allowed herself to show them a small smile. „We gonna talk another time, okay?"

„Of course." Caroline agreed, smiling widely. To Elena's dismay, Bonnie just rolled her eyes and mumbled something under her breath that Elena couldn't catch. Not even with her vampire hearing. Then the witch strutted back over to Caroline's car without so much as looking at Elena.

The younger brunette sighed and then looked at Katherine. „You coming?"

Katherine only nodded at her. She glared at the Salvatore's brothers, who stood there slightly lost, one last time. When she turned around her eyes met Caroline's and a smirk appeared on her lips.

„Bye Caroline." She winked playfully and then followed Elena back into the house, slamming the door behind them.