She watched them from the shadows, her keen senses allowing her to see them clearly and hear every sound.
It gave her no pleasure.
They walked arm and arm down the street looking in the few undamaged storefront windows. There were hardly any new goods offered, but everyone had something to exchange for food.
A shabbily dressed man rushed up to the well dressed couple. "Sir, look, something beautiful for the beautiful lady."
They paused, Stefan slinging back the hair that brushed forward over his forehead. He looked at what was in the man's hand and said, "Wait here", leaving a hopeful seller and a bemused Katherine on the cracked sidewalk. He rushed into a nearby bakery and came out with three loaves of bread.
The thin man's eyes widened. "Thank you, sir, oh thank you, sir. This will feed my family."
Katherine looked at him under her eyelashes and pouted. "Are you going to tell me what you brought?"
Stefan looked down at her and said, "You always bring up the fact that I thought you were an angel when I first met you. So, I got you an angel. If you wear it maybe I'll remember without you reminding me every ten minutes." His smile robbed the words of any sting.
He opened his hand to reveal a delicate gold angel on a beautifully woven chain. The workmanship was exquisite, and Katherine's "ooooh" of delight pierced Elena's heart.
She pulled her hair up so he could fasten the necklace around her throat. He did it facing her so his hands rested against the back of her neck. She reached up and pulled him down into a deep kiss.
"I'll wear it always," she whispered.
'An angel! An angel?' An outraged Elena's clenched nails made red, crescent half-moons in her palms.
"You're wrong, Stefan. She's the devil, and she's going to hell."
~ X ~
The door opened and Stefan came over to greet her. "How'd the day go?"
"I need a hug." The reply was accompanied by a sultry smile.
He walked over to comply and wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her head with his chin. She lifted her mouth to his and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his.
Suddenly he growled and flung her from him. "Elena!" He hissed, veins darkening around his eyes.
"Now is that any way to say hello?" she replied, not the least bit discomposed.
"What are you doing here?" he fumed.
"Wanted to see how you were doing." She sauntered around the room, eying the furnishings. "You live pretty well for these times. Elijah must be responsible for the decorating. Katherine's taste is early tramp."
He stood stock still, eying her. "You don't belong here. Get out!"
"So inhospitable, Stefan. After all, I WAS the love of your life." She settled on the sofa and patted the cushion next to her. "Sit. Talk to me."
Stefan remained standing. "We have nothing to talk about. We parted ways a long time ago. I'm not interested in the past."
She twirled a curl on her close cropped head and said, "Me neither. Only in the future."
He sneered at her. "So, are you dumping Damon like you dumped me?"
"Of course, not." Seeing that she had stumped him she continued, "I want both of you."
He laughed sadly. "I am not what you want, Elena. I am not what you thought I was, what I thought I was." He spread his hands helplessly. "I rely on others for control. I've accepted that I am not the big, bad vampire. I don't want to fight anymore. I just want to live peacefully. I've come to terms with Rebekah and Katherine. I feel for them." He shrugged. "I might love them."
"You don't love them, Stefan, not like you loved me. You settled because it was easier than fighting. But, I don't settle. Not anymore. I fight for what I want."
'You could always read what Stefan was feeling on his face.' Elena thought. And now his face showed only sadness. Elena had to steel her heart against the pain in Stefan's green eyes.
He turned his back to her. "I loved you once, but love dies. It can be killed by betrayal, by indifference, by a lot of things. No going back, Elena, and we have no future together. You have Damon, and I have peace. Peace with my brother and my two lovers."
"Just two, Stefan? That's not what I heard?"
He swung around and looked at her uncertainly.
She met his gaze with a cruel little smile. "Things have been awfully dull around here. It might be time to shake things up a little bit."
"Elena, please! " Stefan pleaded.
She got up and sauntered over to him, swinging her hips. "Do you remember when Katherine came back and she claimed you? Do you remember how you swore you hated her? Well, what goes round, comes round, and you're mine, and I will have you back again."
He seized her by her arms, his eyes hard and his mouth set in a grim line, but she only blew a kiss at him. "What are you going to do, Stefan? Kill me? What would that do to you? To Damon?"
He grimaced in impotent rage. They both knew she was right. He couldn't kill her.
He pushed her from him. "Get out of my sight." She left, her mocking laugh ringing in his ears.
~ X ~
Stefan stormed into the library and immediately began ranting at Elijah. "Elena was here and she was threatening me."
Finn laughed softly, but didn't look up from his novel. Kol just tsked. "Hmmm. Those doppelgangers are always full of surprises."
Elijah never looked up from the two documents he was crosschecking, continuing to carefully look back and forth.
Stefan tried again. "She has no business here. Make her stay away."
Elijah sighed and looked up as if realizing that Stefan would not stop until he gave him his full attention. "Elena can do and say what she wants. That's part of the treaty that YOU negotiated, so put up with it."
Finn put his finger between the pages of the novel he was reading and got up and walked over. He poked Stefan in the back and whispered in his ear. "Vampires who want to be knights in shining armor for their lady loves, should really be careful that their lady love is actually worth it."
Stefan pushed his hand away and stomped out.
The three brothers chuckled as he left. Elijah then sighed and threw himself back against his chair. "There's going to be trouble. Do we take sides?"
Kol leaned back, hands behind his head. "I say let them fight it out. I've been bored lately, and this will be amusing to watch play out."
Finn thought and said, "Katerina is totally absorbed in Stefan. She has no time for me. I say give the other one a chance."
Elijah said, "I have always favored Elena. She has my respect and, well, she has my respect."
Finn gave him a sympathetic look. "You've suffered for that face brother."
Kol came over and laid a hand on Elijah's shoulder. "It was unkind of mother to choose whom she did. Why did she make you suffer along with Niklaus?"
Elijah just shook his head and went back to his books. His brothers respected his need for silence and returned to their own activities.