It's a beautiful day, as I walk through a meadow talking on my phone with Elena and Ric.
"So, you're prime suspect, huh?"
"She doesn't think I did it. She's just trying to find out why somebody used one of my family weapons to kill a council member," Elena replies.
"Well, why don't you just ask Ric if his dirty little doctor had access to the weapons," I say.
"You're on speaker phone, dick," Alaric interjects.
"I'm just saying first suspect she's the right one. Don't get so defensive," I explain.
"Brian Walters was killed days ago, right? I didn't show Meredith this stuff until last night!" Alaric says.
"It wasn't Meredith," Elena says.
"But Brian Walters was her ex-boyfriend and Ric saw them fighting that night," I reply.
"It's not Meredith! Okay? I refuse to believe that your luck with women is that tragic," Elena responds.
"Who else knows about your secret slayer stash?" I ask.
"A dozen. I got weapons everywhere, here, the school, my loft, your car."
"It's Klaus. It has to be. He's screwing with us," I reply.
"What if it was Stefan?" Elena asks. "He was crazy that night, and you know he was trying to get under Klaus' skin. He was capable of pretty much anything."
"Ahh, makes me nostalgic for the time Stefan was a bunny snacking pacifist. Anyway, go to go, tomorrow later."
"Hey, where are you?" Alaric asks me.
"Tea with an old friend," I reply.
I hang up.
"Elijah, my favorite Original, back from the dead. Clean up nice," I greet him, as he walks towards me.
We stop when we stand not far from one another.
"You left something in my jacket pocket," Elijah says, a piece of paper in hand.
"Oh, yeah. Dear Elijah, let's get together, thought of the destruction of your brother, XOXO."
"Damon."
"Was I right to undagger you or do we have a problem?"
"I'm here, let's talk."
"I'll start with an easy question. Any idea why Klaus' killing weapon would be magically sealed in a mystery coffin?"
Elijah opens the door to Klaus' house, me and Stefan with him.
"Niklaus, our guests have arrived," Elijah announces.
"Damon. Stefan. Elijah tells me you seek an audience. Very bold. Let's discuss the terms of our agreement like civilized men, shall we?"
"It's better to indulge him," Elijah tells us.
"I didn't come here to eat, Klaus. Fact, I didn't want to come here at all. But I was told I had to, 'cause you would hear our sound," Stefan tells Klaus.
"Well, we can sit and eat, or I can reach down your throats and pull out your insides. The choice is yours," Klaus replies.
Everyone except Stefan eat at the table.
"You lost your appetite," Klaus says.
"Eat. I thought we agreed to leave grumpy Stefan at home," I say.
"Isn't it nice? The four of us dining together? Is it that was you had in mind when you pulled the dagger from my brother," Klaus says.
"Oh no...I felt about you so...I figured the more the merrier!" I rejoinder.
"Elijah and I, we have our quarrels over the centuries, but we always make it through."
"Kinda like Rebekah, right? Where is she by the way? Last I checked she was daggered, because you were afraid to face her," Stefan retorts.
"If you are referring to the fact that Rebekah knows that I killed our mother, I've already come clean to Elijah."
"Hey Stef, remember when you killed dad? Might wanna doubt on the judgment desert," I tell my brother.
"We're here to make a deal, Damon. That doesn't mean we have to kiss his ass for seven courses."
"I'm just saying we have a long evening ahead of us, face yourself," I answer.
"Stefan, where is the lovely Elena tonight?" Elijah asks.
"I don't know. Ask Damon."
Klaus laughs.
Elijah looks surprised.
"I'm sorry. You missed so much. Ahh...trouble in paradise."
"One more word about Elena and this dinner is over," Stefan comments.
"You know what? Probably it's best just to keep Elena in the Do Not Discuss pile," I interject.
"You're probably right," Klaus agrees. "It's just the lure of the Petrova doppelgänger is still so strong. What do you say, brother? Should we tell them about Tatia?"
"No, why should we discuss matters long since resolved?"
"Oh, given them both a shared attraction for Elena and Katerina, I think they must be curious to learn about the original of the Petrova line."
"We're not going anywhere, Elijah. Please! Do tell," I rebut.
"When our family first settled here, there was a girl named Tatia. She was an exquisite beauty. Every boy her age desired to be her suitor. Even though she'd had a child by another man. And no one loved her more than Klaus," Elijah explains.
"Ah, I said there's one who loved her just as much."
"Wait a minute, so you both loved the same girl?" Stefan asks.
"Our mother was a very powerful witch," Elijah explains. "She saw our love for Tatia and she took her. Klaus and I would later learn that it was Tatia's blood that we consumed in the wine of the night when our mother performed a spell which turned us into vampires. Tatia wouldn't make a decision between the two of us so for a time Niklaus and I grew estranged harsh truth traded we even came to blows. Didn't we, brother?"
"But in the end, we recognized the secret bond of family."
"Family of paver," Elijah says, raising a glass.
"Family of paver," Klaus echoes.
"So, what do we say we move this evening along, and discuss the terms of this proposal," Elijah announces.
"That's very simple. Klaus gets his coffin back and in exchange he and the original extended family leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Stefan and Elena live happily ever after. No grudges," I reply.
"Sounds fair," Elijah comments.
"I don't think you understand. Elena's doppelgänger blood ensures that I will always have hybrids to fight those that abode me. I will never leave her behind. Well, say I do leave her and you protect her, and what then? How long until one of you turns her into a vampire? Or worse. How long before she dies? Count between you two. You see, each one of you believes that he is the one that can protect her. Nice simple illusion. Gentlemen, the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is the two of you."
"I'm gonna get some air," I say.
"I'll deal with this," Elijah responds.
"And this talk has made me thirsty. What do you say Stefan? Can I interest you with my love to do a drink?" Klaus asks, as Elijah and I step out.
"What's wrong?" Elijah asks.
"What do you think?" I reply.
"The sooner we resolve this, the sooner you two can leave here," he assures me.
"I know," I reply to him.
I sigh, before I walk back inside with him.
"What do you say, Klaus? I'm here to put something on the table. We've made our offer. Now, you count on," I say, coming back in with Elijah.
"Okay. I offer Elena's future happiness. You see, what she needs right now is to be rid of you lot, and to fall in love with a human. Maybe that football player."
"Matt Donovan? Really?" I say.
"Yeah. Why not? They marry, live a long life, and make a family."
"And continue the Petrova bloodline. Every few hundred years, you'll have a doppelganger for you to drain, and you never run out of hybrids, right Klaus?" Stefan says.
"Consider it a small return on my investment in her well-being. See, after you hand me back the coffin, I'll ensure her safety for the rest of her natural life. You know, it's what's best for her."
"So, what do you say, Stefan? Do we have a deal?"
They walk towards each other.
Klaus holds his hand out and Stefan takes it.
"Nice try, Klaus, but no deal."
Klaus grabs Stefan's arm and holds his hand in the fireplace in the fire and his hand starts to burn.
"What are you doing?" I ask Klaus.
"Bring me the coffin, or he dies."
Just then, Elijah comes back in the room with an undaggered Esther, Rebekah, and Kol.
Esther walks up to Klaus.
"Do you know why I'm here?" she asks him.
"To kill me," Klaus replies.
"You are my son, Niklaus. I'm here to forgive you," she answers him.
It's a dark night, as Stefan and I walk through the woods.
"You could've just left me to die there and you would've had Elena all to yourself. Why didn't you?" Stefan says.
"I didn't do it on your account."
"I love her, Damon."
"So do I."
I look at him and then walk away.