Author's note: I didn't care for Katherine's last words to Damon before she got gakked by Stefan. The writers always had her going hot and cold toward him. Why did she turn him if she held him in so low regard? Opinions?
Damon sat on a railing of the side porch of the Lockwood mansion soaking up the sun. He leaned his head back against a pillar, one foot rested on the floor while the other was planted on the railing with his knee bent. After giving his condolences to Carole and Tyler, he discreetly snooped through the main level of the house looking for anything that might give him a clue as to why both father and son were affected by Emily's spell. Unfortunately, no dice. Finally giving up, he collected a drink till everyone else arrived. Swirling his drink with one hand, he played with his new ring on the other as he replayed the earliest part of the morning in his head.
Bonnie had tried not to wake him as she ducked completely under the blankets and he had to give her an A for effort but really he needed to teach her some things about stealth. Then all thought went out of his head as his girl went to the top of the class. The things she could do with her mouth were mind blowing. And of course, being raised as a gentleman, he just had to return the favor before she needed to clean up.
Sheila was arriving home from her weekend getaway in the mountains and Bonnie wanted to get her up to speed on everything that happened. Then by the time Bonnie was dressed, she received a text from her father, he was sorry he missed her call the night before and had rescheduled his business plans in order to come home for the mayor's funeral. His plane was arriving at lunchtime so Bonnie wanted to go check on Caroline before she had to go to the airport, leaving Damon to his own devices.
"New ring?" Stefan came up alongside his brother, breaking the elder out of his revelry.
"Bonnie thought the old one was too gaudy." Damon smiled up at the slightly taller man.
Stefan looked at the ring on his own hand that was nearly identical to Damon's first ring with the exception of the initial. Bonnie was right though, it was way too eye catching, maybe he could talk her into making something new for him.
"How'd things go with Gilbert?" Damon asked as he swung his leg off the railing.
Dusting off the spot where Damon's foot had been, Stefan sat down. He opened the can of coke he held and took a long swig of it before setting it down. After making sure no one was watching, he pulled a silver flask out of his jacket and poured a quantity of its amber contents into the coke. Before tucking away the flask, he took a long pull directly from it as well.
"That good, huh."
"Elena returned his ring to him and he went on to insult her. She left in a huff. Does that give you an idea of how things started?"
"Did he at least tell you anything of use?"
"After I threatened him, yeah." Stefan watched as members of the town's premier families mingled. "Did you really tell him that if you'd let me use him as my personal blood bag if he didn't leave?"
"Best I could come up with short notice." Damon shrugged.
"Not bad, but there is one thing that terrifies him more than pain."
"Do tell?" Damon leaned forward curious as to what his vanilla brother would have suggested.
"Oh, he has about 24 hours until the blood I forced on him leaves his system. Since he offered up the information I wanted, he has 23 hours to get out of town before I snap his neck."
"Very nice," Damon grinned. "You sure you aren't drinking any of the good stuff? Because that sounds a lot more like a ripper than my bunny munching baby brother."
"Not a drop." Stefan grimaced and pulled out his flask again and drained it.
"Cravings bad?"
"I've had worse."
"We could try ramping you up to bagged blood." Damon suggested. "Start you off with small doses while you develop control. We could even get Lexie back in town so you have some extra back up."
"Maybe," Stefan contemplated. "After we deal with Katherine."
"So what did you learn?"
"John was suppose to tell you and I about when the council planned to trap the other vampires. Katherine wanted the tomb vampires killed but we were not to be touched. She's also the reason John killed Annabel's mother."
"So what happened?"
"Elena." Stefan looked at his brother. "When John found out that Elena and I were together , he wanted me out of her life permanently. John knew he had to target both of us. He didn't think that Katherine would come to town and figured he could just lie to her and say things got beyond his control."
"And of course Katherine didn't believe a word of it."
"Nope."
"I take it though that John had no clue as to why Katherine was in town."
"Nope."
"So we're flying blind."
"Seems that way." Stefan looked around. "I'm surprised that Bonnie isn't here."
"She's inside with her father and Sheila." Damon shook his head. "Her father can make it back to bury the town patriarch but can't re-arrange his schedule often enough to spend time with his own daughter. He ranks right up the with Giuseppe." When the Bennett clan arrived, Sheila had introduced Damon to her son as her favorite teaching assistant. The look in her eyes warned Damon not to bring up his and Bonnie's relationship. Damon shook the man's hand and exchanged pleasantries, giving Bonnie only a polite nod and a wink that only she caught. As the Bennetts passed into the house, he mouth to Bonnie that he would see her later.
"Elena will be by with Jenna and Jeremy." Stefan checked his watch and stood. "Think I'll go see about another drink. Want anything?" He stood.
Damon still had about two fingers of bourbon in his glass so he shook his head. "I'm good."
A few minutes later, he watched as Jenna, Jeremy, Anna, and Elena crossed the lawn to the porch. When Elena caught sight of Damon, she told her aunt that she would be right in. Jenna scowled at Damon but said nothing, leaving him to think that he seriously had to have a talk with the woman . But not before he had a chat with Elena.
"Hey Damon," Elena sat next to him where her boyfriend had just been.
"Stefan's in the house, probably compelling the bartender right about now." Damon took a sip of his drink.
"I'll go find him in a minute." She responded. "I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay. We vacated the house kinda early this morning."
"Well aside from nearly getting killed by your uncle, excuse me, your father, and then getting tossed around by your doppelganger, I think I'm doing pretty well but I hope you'll understand if I start treating you like an unlucky charm." Damon stood and walked a few paces away from the girl.
Thinking he was teasing her, Elena smiled. "I'd hope that isn't the case." She also stood and approached Damon again. "But really Damon, I wanted to check on you."
"Afraid that having mine and Stef's ex-girlfriend in town, might cause me to go homicidal on my brother?"
"A little," she looked as her feet for a moment before looking at him again. "We also haven't had a chance to talk about what Isabel said the other night."
"What?!" Damon felt his temper rising. "Your boyfriend got vervained and nearly burned to death last night. There's a psychotic bitch with your face walking around town and you're concerned about something the woman who abandoned you at birth said?" Unbelievable. "Mind you that same woman faked her own death so that she could leave her husband and become a vampire so why in hell would you take anything she said to heart." He fumed.
"You're right." Elena was now flustered. "I shouldn't have said anything."
"No, you shouldn't have said a lot of things lately." Damon lowered his voice. "Little flirtatious slips of the tongue and cow-eyed looks even when you aren't saying anything. Is it any wonder that I thought Katherine was you last night when she tried to kiss me."
"I...I..." Elena was interrupted when Bonnie ran out onto the porch.
"Katherine is here." the witch panted. "In the dining room with Stefan."
Damon placed a hand on Bonnie's shoulder. "Are you okay?" When the girl nodded, he shot a glance at Elena. "We'll finish this later." he menaced before striding into the house.
Five minute prior, Bonnie had been assisting in the restock of the hasty buffet for the mourners while her father spoke with several of the other founding family members and her grandmother was upstairs with Carole Lockwood trying to sober up the new widow.
For a moment Bonnie thought she heard Elena enter the room and flirt with Matt as he had been roped into moving around furniture to make space for everyone. The witch soon realized that it was not her childhood friend standing there.
Once the very confused Matt left the room, Bonnie turned on the vampire. "Why are you here?"
"Well to get a snack and to check out the competition." Katherine chose a strawberry from a platter and began to munch. "It didn't take you nearly as long as your boyfriend to figure out who I was."
Looking over Katherine Pierce, Bonnie's eyes narrowed. "You didn't make it difficult. Elena doesn't dress like a desperate ho."
"Well that was inappropriate." Katherine smoothed her skin tight pants. "And here I just wanted to give a bit of advice, woman to woman."
"Well how about I give you some instead." Bonnie straightened her back and gave a mental push. "Get out. Leave this house and Mystic Falls, now."
Katherine clutched her head for a moment, nearly doubling over until a giggle bubbled from her lips. She fluffed her hair and she stood tall. "Really, is that all you've got. Parlor tricks don't work on me anymore, little girl." She stepped forward and clutched Bonnie's shoulder causing her to wince. "But I'm feeling generous today so I'll still give you that advice. Stay away from Damon." Leaning in she whispered , "You're Emily's descendent alright . You've got her fire but you're young. You aren't ready to play with the really big bad vampires yet." She squeezed Bonnie's shoulder again for emphasis. "You've had a taste of Damon, maybe even seen small sampling of his temper but he is not a lap dog. I witnessed his anger when he was human and believe me it was legendary." Katherine tilted her head has though she were remembering something that made her smile. "Have you ever had angry sex? No, of course not. " She shook her head gleefully as she made the girl uncomfortable. " I got to experience it once with Damon after he had a fight with his father. His rage wasn't even directed at me but had I been a younger vampire, I might have feared for my safety." The smile on her lips told Bonnie that Katherine had been anything but fearful during the experience. "I can imagine how his temper has magnified since the transition, and well, let's just say that he'd break you, witch."
"Let her go, Katherine."
Bonnie caught sight of someone standing in the doorway.
"Stefan, so glad you could join us." Katherine released the other girl and turned to the man as Bonnie ran from the room.
By the time Damon made it into the dining room, his maker had already vanished. "Where is she?" He asked his brother.
Stefan shook his head. "She took off, doubtful she'll stay that way."
"She say what she wants."
"Us." Stefan just looked at his brother. "Is Bonnie okay? Katherine was feeding her some line of bull shit when I found them."
"Elena's with her on the porch."
"The brothers headed back outside. And after assuring himself that Katherine had not done any physical damage to his friend, Stefan lead Elena away so that the other couple could have a few minutes of privacy.
"You want to tell me what she said to you?" Damon enfolded the smaller girl into his arms. "Stef thought she was trying to intimidate you."
Bonnie shook her head. "Don't really want to talk about it." The vampire had shaken her more than she was willing to admit yet. First she had been unable to defend herself and then the older woman's venomous words.
Damon lifted his head, listening for something. "Sounds like your father is looking for you." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Since a sleep over at the boarding house is out of the question tonight, how bout I sneak in after your father is asleep. We can talk then."
"Not tonight, Damon." Bonnie pushed out of his arms. "I think I need a night to myself to process the last few days. Elena, Isabel, the festival, and Katherine. I just need some alone time."
Damon could only nod. "If that's what you need, okay. But I'm only a call away." He couldn't help but feel like she was pulling away from him.
"Thank you." she reached out and squeezed his hand briefly before her father stepped outside.
"You ready to go home, sweetie?"
"Sure thing, Dad." Bonnie faked a smile. "It was good seeing you again, Damon." And she followed her father to the car.
Sheila had observed her granddaughter's stiffness. "What was that about?"
"I'll meet you at your place in an hour." Damon said as he kissed her cheek before letting his brother know that he was heading out.
It was well after dark when Damon let himself back into the boarding house. Upon leaving the Lockwoods, he texted Alaric to meet him for a drink at the Grille. He gave the history teacher a quick rundown of Katherine's appearance and everything the fair haired hunter had missed the night before. They then both commiserated about their respective exes.
He then went to see Sheila and fill her in on everything that Bonnie hadn't had time to and what had happened at the wake. Sheila promised to talk to Bonnie and let Damon know what was going on with the girl.
Damon didn't bother to raise his head as he poured himself a tumbler of bourbon. "I was wondering when you'd show." He said
"Been a long time, Damon." Katherine stepped into the room.
"And who's fault might that be?" Damon turned around to face her. His expression was stony and his eyes shuttered.
"Now don't be mean." she pouted. "I've missed you."
"Let's just cut to the chase, shall we?." Damon set his glass on the drink cart. "Why are you here?"
"Like I told Stefan earlier, I'm here for you."
"Me?"
"And Stefan."
"Why?"
"Everything is finally falling into place, so I've come to collect you so we can be together as we planned."
"Planned?" Damon sneered. "I don't recall planning a threesome with my brother. And I'm pretty sure he didn't either."
"Well I certainly couldn't give up one for the other so I planned for all of us."
"And I planned for this, " he charged at her knocking her to the floor with both hand at her neck. Unfortunately her extra 400 years gave her the advantage as she managed to throw him off.
Landing against the bookcases, Damon found himself being held in place by his throat. "There's the Damon I remember." Katherine purred at him.
"Why both of us? Answer me that much." he tried to demand despite the pressure against his vocal chords.
"Very simple. " she loosened her grip slightly. "When I met Stefan, he was so innocent, so sweet so afraid to do anything that would be disapproved of.. I knew I had to be the one to corrupt him." She smiled up at the dark haired man. "And then you come home. You were defiant yet charming. You sought no one's approval and more importantly you readily accepted everything I showed you. How could I let you slip away. When I couldn't decide which of you I wanted more, I decided I'd have you both."
As Damon stared mutely at her, she continued. "Stefan, of course, need to be compelled at the beginning but don't let him kid you, he wanted everything he claimed he was so afraid of." She cocked here head. "None of it frightened you, did you? I knew from the beginning that you'd thrive as a vampire. You surprised me in so many ways, especially the bedroom. For a time of such prudish beliefs, you were extremely creative. I can't wait to see what you think of these days."
Damon stared at her . "Like I'd touch you ever again."
Katherine released his throat and ran her hand down to his collar and began to tease open the buttons of his shirt. "Tell me Damon, do you still enjoy watching the reflection of your partner in the mirror while you pleasure her from behind." She watched his face and noticed the tightening of his jaw. "So I see. And have you shared any of your other ...shall we say kinks with your little witch? Or are you afraid that you'd frighten her away if you told her of those dark fantasies you once so easily confessed to me?" She slid her small hand into his now open shirt to rest near his dormant heart. "We can be together now, you, me and Stefan. No rules, no boundaries."
Damon lifted his hand and stiffly pulled hers away from his chest. " I'm not into sharing."
Katherine giggled. "Oh now that's not true. I did check on you over the years and I know what you've been up to. The sorority house parties, a night with several Radio City Rockettes. You share just fine when in the proper mood. And if you are good, I might be convinced to allow you invite your witch to the party." She shook her head. "No she'd never accept. Elena perhaps. She obviously finds you attractive given her reactions around you. Must be in the blood. She just can't seem to stay away from you."
"Katherine." Damon shut his eyes for a moment and he grimaced as if he was pained. He folded his fingers over hers. "There was a time when I believed myself to be totally in love with you." His voice now soft and filled with regret.
"So love me now." She gave him a hopeful look.
"I was willing to die for you," he continued sadly, his blue eyes half lidded and emotion filled, staring into hers. "And ironically I did. Had you been there at the quarry when I awoke in transition and declared your love for me and me alone, I would probably still be under your spell, an ever faithful slave to your whims." He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a lingering kiss against her knuckles. "But" He tossed her hand away from him as if he'd been burned. "Your deceit and manipulation destroyed any notions of love that I may have convinced myself of." the sneer returned to his face as his eyes hardened to icy flint. "I have no idea why you came back but I'll be damned if I believe any of that drivel you just tried to feed me."
Katherine took a step back, shocked at his reaction but he continued. "You should have been staked the moment you set foot in Mystic Falls. Now get out of this house before I do the job." The last words were shouted .
Katherine just looked at him for a moment before she squared her shoulders. "This isn't over Damon. Your witch won't satisfy you for long and you'll remember how good it was between us. " She then sped away.
Damon slumped against the drink cart. What was she playing at? She wanted something more than just getting him or his brother back into her bed. As a human, he'd wanted everything that Katherine's lying mouth offered him. It was only a need for revenge and his promise to Emily that kept him together in the beginning. He couldn't count on his brother back then. Hell he wasn't even completely sure he could count on him now. It had taken decades to get back on an even keel. And now Katherine could tear it all apart. e remem H
He hurled his nearly full tumbler at the wall in frustration. The sound of glass shattering calmed him a little as he grabbed the liquor bottle and made for the couch. As he drank, he allowed himself to remember those last months of his human life.
Elena stepped out of the bathroom she shared with her brother. Stefan had dropped her off a short time ago in order to go hunt. The vision of Damon sitting in the dark on the edge of her bed made her stop in her tracks.
"Damon, what are you doing here?" she stuttered.
"We need to finish our conversation." he slurred.
"Are you drunk." How much alcohol does it take to get a vampire intoxicated, she wondered.
"Just a little," he responded holding up his index finger and thumb about a half inch apart.
"Listen, you were right." she began "I did get too flirtatious with you. I started liking you the first time we met. You're fun and wild where Stefan gets way to serious. And the way you are around Bonnie when I see you together. I love Stef, I do but I guess part of me wanted you too. I'm sorry."
Damon stood up, wavering a bit. "You are a lot like Katherine. Look alike, sound alike and even act a bit alike. She wanted both Stefan and me too. But I don't share. Do you share?"
When Elena shook her head not knowing how to respond to Damon, he continued. "She actually said that I could invite you play with us if I went back to her. Would you like that, Elena?"
"Is that what you want Damon?" Elena was starting to get fearful of the vampire in front of her.
"I used to want Katherine so badly, and you are so much like her. You and me, we could be together. We could have a lot of fun"
"I'm not Katherine." Elena backed herself against a wall. "And what about Stefan."
"What about him? She can have Stefan. She likes his broody side and would teach him to have fun." Damon staggered forward in front of her and placed his hands on either side of the girl's face. He leaned to kiss her.
"But I love Stefan, I only want Stefan." she cried pushing at him.
"About fucking time ." Damon asserted before placing a soft kiss on her forehead and stepping away from her. His speech now clear and his movements precise.
"You're sober?" Elena questioned.
"Maybe not quite as a judge, but close enough."
"Then why did you scare me like that?"
"You know why." Damon took her by the shoulders. "You aren't Katherine. I don't know why the connection between you but you aren't her and I won't let you become her. Got it?"
Elena nodded.
"Elena, is everything okay?" Jeremy was standing in the doorway to the hall. Anna was just behind him.
"Everything is fine now, Baby Gilbert. " Damon brushed passed the pair as he prepared to leave. As he notice that Anna was only wearing one of Jeremy's t-shirts, he couldn't help but smirk. "Cute jammies."
"Damon?" Elena shook herself. "Is what you just said about Katherine, is that really what she told you?"
"Yeah," Damon confirmed. "She says she came back for Stef and me but I don't believe it so watch your back."
Damon stood outside Bonnie's house for a moment. All the windows were dark. Quickly he scaled the tree outside her room and eased open the window to let himself in. He tugged off his boots before touching the floor so that they couldn't clatter. After removing his jacket, he slid into the bed behind his witch.
"Damon?" She moaned softly as she turned to burrow against him.
"Shhhh. Go back to sleep." he whispered. "I know you wanted space but I couldn't sleep without you in my arms." This was true but he wasn't going to explain that he hadn't even tried to sleep yet but knew he wouldn't sleep until he was there with her to protect her.
"Good night Damon. Love you." she said softly as she drifted off.
"Love you too, Bonnie. " tightening his arms around her.
Across town a brunette figure snuck past the night nurse and entered Caroline Forbes' hospital room. "I want you to give a message to Damon and Stefan."
