"I have to say, you surprised me. Not many do. I'm almost impressed." Katherine says after speeding Elena to a house she most likely compelled.
"I aim to please." Elena counters with a smile.
"I got your message, 'game on'?" Katherine asks in her usual bitchy tone.
"Yes, a bit theatrical, I'll admit, but I just couldn't help myself. I mean, it's not everyday you get a step ahead of 'The Katherine Pierce.' I wanted to make an impression." Elena shrugs with a smirk walking over to the bar and pouring two glasses of red wine.
"I assume we have the same taste." Elena says placing the glass in her double's outstretched hand.
"Mmm, that we do. How are my Salvatores?" Katherine asks after taking a sip.
"Ah, of course. Well, I don't speak for them, but I believe they're doing good. Certainly better than the 1864." Elena says trying to get under her skin while making herself comfortable on the couch.
"I doubt that." Katherine scoffs accidentally letting emotion bleed through her voice.
"Careful, Kitty Kat. One might believe you care for the brothers." Elena says shaking her head, mock disapprovingly.
"I'm kidding, of course. You and I both know you only truly loved one." Katherine let's out a dry laugh.
"You and I know, huh? Do share, Elena. How is it you know that?" She asks walking closer to Elena.
"That is a long story, Beautiful. One I will only tell when you're ready. And I'm betting that will be sometime before I leave for school in the morning. Speaking of." Elena says pulling out her phone causing Katherine to raise a brow.
"Hello." Elena's adorable aunt Jenna greets through the phone.
"Hey, Jen. Just letting you know I'm crashing with a friend tonight. So please wake up Remy for school and remind him he has a biology quiz tomorrow." Elena says with a thoughtful expression.
"Okay, will do. Have fun. But not too much fun, but if you do use protection." Jenna parents making Elena laugh lightly and smile in amusement.
"Of course, Jen. Thank you . I love you, see you tomorrow." Elena says hanging up after Jenna says goodbye.
"Aww, how sweet." Katherine mocks attempting to hide her jealousy, taking a seat next to her.
"I'd say jealousy looks bad on you, but nothing looks bad on us."
"Jealous? Of you? Aren't you an orphan?" Katherine asks cruelly, becoming confused when Elena smiles at her smugly.
"On the subject of dead parents, how is Isobel?" Elena ask in a mock genuine tone making Katherine look to her surprised.
"What do you know, Elena?" Katherine asks threateningly, abandoning the banter.
"Countess Elizabeth Bathory was definitely a vampire, ornithology is the study of birds, there are 206 bones in the human body, and erotic asphyxiation gives the most intense orgasm known to man." Elena answers instantly while Katherine looks on with an expression seemingly crossed between amusement, confusion, and homicidal rage.
"About me." She demands sternly.
"Right. Well, you were born in Bulgaria in the 15th century to a traveler family. That's cool. You once loved the noble original, you killed yourself, your entire family was massacred, you stalked Stefan over the years, and you have killer taste in heels." Elena replies making Katherine lunge at her.
"How do you know all that?" Katherine asks threateningly after pinning Elena down by her throat while she tries to pry her hand off.
"Kinky." Elena breathes out when Katherine releases her.
"Threatening me or the people I love, won't get you anywhere, Katerina. Give me one night. Free of threats or secret agendas. Just one night to prove to you that I can be trusted." Elena says as Katherine looks to be considering it.
"You have until tomorrow. If I'm not sold by 7AM I will lock you away and kill anyone who tries to stop." Katherine tells her making Elena smile and bounce on her heel a little.
"Deal." Elena attempting to shake her hand.
"Come on." Elena says pulling Katherine towards the door.
"What are you doing?" Katherine asks stopping as Elena tries to pull her arm.
"Oh, come on, Katerina. What's the harm? It's not like I can hurt you." Noticing the hesitation on her doubles face Elena smirks.
"I dare you." Katherine huffs and leads a still smirking Elena out the door.
"This is where you wanted to come?" Katherine asks judgementally as a bell jingles over the diner entrance.
"Yep." Elena responds, walking towards the counter.
"Hey, Kitty." Elena greets her favorite waitress.
"Hello, dear. Have a seat I'll be right with you." Kitty replies without turning around from the blender.
Elena sits Katherine down opposite her in a booth in the back of the diner.
"Alright, hun. The usual-" Kitty cuts her self off when she catches sight of the vampire doppelganger.
"I never knew you had a twin." She says shocked, looking between the two.
"Neither did I. I was adopted." Elena informs, technically not lying.
"Kitty meet Kat." She introduces.
"Wow, this must be so exciting for you. Nice to meet you, sweetheart." Kitty shakes Katherine hand, who still looks shocked Elena would introduce her to someone she knows.
"It really is. Although, I feel like I've known about her, my whole life." Elena says with a secretive smile.
"You really don't look like any twins I've seen before. So similar." Kitty says shaking her head a pulling out her notepad.
"What would you like, dear?" She asks Katherine, causing her to smirk.
"Well everyone looks very delicious." Katherine holds in a grunt when Elena kicks her under the table.
"Don't you mean everything, twinsie?" Elena asks making Katherine smile.
"Of course. I'd like a double cheeseburger, no onions, extra pickles, with fries, and a chocolate shake, please." She making Elena eyes widen slightly and Kitty laugh.
"That's Betty's usual. Want that too?" She asks turning to Elena making her nod.
"Alrighty, I'll be right back." She says walking away from the doppelgangers.
"I was joking about the wine. So freaky." Elena mutters.
"Why are we here, Elena? Your clock is running out and you wanna waste time eating greasy diner food?" Katherine asks lowering her voice.
"They have the best milkshakes in the world. And we're not likely to run into anyone from town here. Also, call me Betty." Elena adds making the vampire roll her eyes.
"Let's talk about the Salvatores." Elena says out of the blue after Kitty brings their food.
"What about them?" Katherine asks faking nonchalance.
"Why do you love Stefan more than Damon?"
"I don't know." She says with a faraway look.
"Well I do." Elena smirks taking bite of her fry.
"Oh, do you?" Katherine asks mockingly.
"Yep, doppel-curse." Elena says pointing at her with a french fry.
"What?" Katherine asks confused.
"Way back when, the travelers placed a spell on doppelgangers to bring them together so it would be easier to find them and use their blood to break the travelers curse." Elena explains forgetting Katherine doesn't know Stefan's doppel-status.
"That doesn't make any sense. We show up in different lifetimes. We would never have met if I didn't turn." Katherine says.
"Right, you don't know about Silas and Amara. Okay, buckle in. This is a long story." Elena proceeds to explain the history of their ancestor and her terrible life decisions.
"So that's why I felt drawn to Stefan from the moment I saw him." Katherine realizes.
"Yep."
"Then why aren't you with him? Don't you feel this 'doppel-pull'?" Katherine asks.
"Yes and no. I don't feel romantic attraction so I just only wanted to jump him. I would have but, he's too sweet. Taking advantage felt really wrong." Elena explains making Katherine nod.
"But, very not cool of you, Kat. Playing with Damon's emotions like that. You're lucky you're cute or I would have killed you hours ago." Elena says as Katherine raises a brow.
"Really? I'm 500 years old. I could kill everyone in this room before you could blink." She says leaning in, threateningly.
"True. But I had the element of surprise. And I was trained by my bio dad/uncle John. I'm an excellent fighter." Elena says as Katherine tries to hide an impressed expression.
"On the subject of my birth parents could you not tell Isobel anything I tell you tonight? I really don't need her in my business." Elena says making Katherine smirk.
"Sure, if you tell me what you know about why I'm here." Elena raises a brow.
"I'm not stupid. You're obviously smart and prepared. And you don't seem like the type to believe I'm here for true love. You're also informed about the doppelganger history, even more than I, so it's safe to assume you know about other curses." Katherine shares.
"Yes, I know why you're here. And if you try to turn any of my friends I'll kill you regardless of how much I like you." Elena says sweetly with a shrug causing Katherine to glare at her.
"Why don't you hate me?" She asks angrily.
"Whatever do you mean, Katerina?" Elena asks innocently.
"You aren't scared of me. You aren't angry with me. After everything I've done. Toying with your precious Salvatores and killing anyone who gets in my way."
"I don't-" she cuts Elena off.
"Why not? I've killed hundreds, probably thousands of people. I manipulate, use, lie, steal, torture, and betray all for my own selfish gain. Why don't you hate me?" She asks frustrated.
"Cause your my fucking idol, Kat!" Elena yells surprising Katherine and earning looks from the other customers.
"I think you're awesome. I think you had a hard life and an even harder death, but through it all you managed to survive." Elena says sipping her milkshake.
"I dig it." She shrugs while Katherine still looks at her confused.
Katherine remains silent for a few minutes before Elena gets bored and decides to mess with her.
"You know, you're kinda shit at interrogation." She says as she dips a fry in her shake.
"What can I say? I'm better at emotional manipulation." Katherine shrugs making Elena giggle.
"That you are. Where is Mason? Still in Florida, Kathy?" Elena mocks teasingly as Katherine let's a a surprised snort.
"I'd asks you how you know that, but-" Elena interrupts.
"I'm not gonna tell you."
"Don't do that to Tyler." Elena says sternly as Katherine smirks.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Katherine says innocently.
"Sure you don't." Elena returns sarcastically.
"I have it." Elena says after a few moments of silence, Katherine raises a brow.
"The moonstone." Elena informs making the vampire stiffen.
"Let's get out of here. I'll explain my plan." Elena says before they pay and leave.
"So you are going to, contact Elijah, convince him not kill Klaus, turn a rapist and or pedophile, kidnap a werewolf, make Elijah call Klaus, then let him sacrifice you?" Katherine asks incredulously.
"Yep." Elena replies popping the 'p'
"Are you fucking insane?" Katherine asks seriously making Elena laugh.
"Generally, yes." She says as Katherine looks on, concerned for her mental stability.
"I don't understand you." She says throwing her hands up.
"You seem... well, like me. You have the Petrova fire. You're a survivor. Someone willing to do whatever it takes to get want they want." Elena tilts her had as Katherine continues,
"Why are you doing this? What aren't you running?" Katherine asks making Elena smile at her.
"If you knew what you know now, about having to live 500 years on the run and never getting fully attached to anyone, never finding a home, would you still run?" Elena asks as Katherine nods silently.
"Exactly. Because you're a survivor, whatever it takes. But, I don't want to survive, Kat. I wanna live." Elena says as Katherine stares at her in realization.
"And I can't live without my Scooby Gang." She adds trying to lighten the mood.
"If I didn't have them, I'd book it, for sure." She says making Katherine smile slightly.
"I know who he is, Kat. I have no illusions about my future. But I think if they can all live their lives freely, I'll be cool." She says with a shrug.
"I underestimated you." Katherine admits.
"Everyone does. It's because I'm so hot, no one expects me to be this smart." Elena says making Katherine smirk at her in amusement.
"But that's not all I want from him." Elena says after a few minutes of drinking in silence, Katherine raises a brow in question as Elena leans towards her.
"I'm gonna get your freedom." She punctuates by taking a sip of her wine, Katherine laughs.
"Are you now?" She mocks.
"Mmm hm." Elena smiles.
"Right. I just gonna leave, then your gonna negotiate with the 1000 year old psycho who's been hunting me for 500 years and what? Just call me up with a quick 'you're free now'." Katherine says in disbelief.
"Yep."
"And how can I trust that you're telling the truth?"
"Cause if I'm not you'll… kill Isobel." Elena says after thinking about it for a second.
"Darling, if you're anything like me, and you are. You couldn't care less what happens to the woman who abandoned you." Katherine finishes with a somewhat proud smile.
"You're right, Katerina." Elena says with an impressed expression.
"I don't care about her, I care about you." Elena shrugs as Katherine looks at her confused before schooling her expression.
"Forgive me if I don't believe you. I'm very familiar with what happens to people who trust our face. Why would you possibly care about me?" She asks.
"Like I said, I find your cockroach like, survival skills charming." Elena says with a teasing smile.
"Even if I did believe you, I want Klaus dead. Sooner or later he'll go back on his word and kill me. I'll never really be free from him." Katherine says seriously.
"He can't die, Kat." Elena says sternly.
"Yes, he can. I'm not certain how, but I know he's afraid of someone."
"I'm not talking about Mikael, Kat. I'm telling you, if he dies, you, everyone he turned, everyone they turned, and so on, will die with him. It's a sire line and every original has one. You and by extension, the Salvatores, are in Klaus's." Elena says.
"How could you possibly know that?" Katherine asks getting frustrated with her lack of information.
"I know everything." Elena says dryly, lacking her usual humor.
"I was born with knowledge of the future." She admits as Katherine looks surprised.
"It's why John trained me. Why I know about vampires, doppelgangers, werewolves, and the curse. My whole life I've known that if I make a mistake or forget something, the people I love would suffer. There's never been a moment where I didn't worry that all my planning and binders were for nothing." Elena as Katherine unconsciously moves closer to her.
"You can't wake Mikael. I can't watch them die, Katerina. I can't watch you die. I won't be able to handle it." Elena admits.
"So that's why you care for me. Were we friends in the future or something?" Katherine asks making Elena laugh.
"God, no. You absolutely hated OG Elena. To be fair, she was incredibly annoying."
"I care for you because, I didn't just see the future. I saw some of the past as well. I know why you want your freedom so badly and why you found yourself caring for Isobel. I know about Nadia." Elena says.
"I promise you, he will never hurt her." Elena assures in quieter tone.
"Why did you tell me this? Why trust me with this secret?" Katherine asks matching her volume.
"I saw it." Elena says as Katherine looks at her confused.
"When you found them. Your family. I saw the pain you felt and I understood that was the moment you decided to never trust anyone again." Elena says making Katherine stiffen.
"I don't just need you to trust me for the sake of my plans. I want you to trust me. I want you to have someone, just one person that you can count on without a doubt. One person to put your trust in.
So I'm gonna do everything in my power to prove to you that I'm that person.
First, by getting your freedom. Then I'm gonna find your daughter." Elena says as Katherine grabs her arm.
"No, you can't do that. I don't care what he agrees to. He will kill her to punish me." She says desperately trying to make Elena understand.
"Hey, I can do this. I know the future, remember? I know exactly what to do and offer to make him happy. He won't ever think about you again. I promise." Elena tries to assure.
"I… I can't be her mother." Katherine admits quietly making Elena's heart clench painfully.
"Are you kidding me? You already are. Look at you. Suffering for 500 years knowing she's out there and not being able to see her, hold her, talk to her, all for her safety. That's what a mother does. You're are her mother." Elena tells her.
"Do you feel that way about Isobel? Katherine asks trying to mask her hope.
"I didn't turn myself and search for her for 500 years." Elena says comfortingly.
"You know what I'm asking." Katherine rolls her eyes.
"I love my mom. Miranda Gilbert was a wonderful woman and an even better mother, but I've always felt a disconnect between myself and my parents. I thought it was because I was adopted, but I'd killing anyone for Remy.
I know Isobel loves me. I know everything she does, she does for my survival, but I just can't bring myself to love her. Maybe I don't want to get hurt again by losing another mother or maybe I just don't really know her. In the future I saw, she dies and we only talked on a few, less than maternal occasions. Usually while she was threatening me or the people I love." Elena adds with grimace.
"But this isn't about me. I need you to trust me. Which means I need to tell you something I've never told anyone, because I literally can't. My brain won't let me. But you can compel it out of me." She says grabbing the vampire's hand.
"You don't drink vervain?" Katherine asks accidentally letting her concern show.
"Normally, but sometimes I forget. I'm very busy." Elena defends herself childishly as Katherine rolls her eyes.
"How are you the person screwing with all my plans?" She mutters shaking her head making Elena laugh as she takes off her anklet, bracelet, necklace, and belly button ring filled with vervain.
"Can never be too careful." She says with a shrug when Katherine stares at her curiously.
"Okay. Do it. Compel me to spill."
"Elena, what is it that you want to tell me that you can't?" Katherine asks staring into her eyes.
Elena suddenly groans loudly and leans her head back on the couch.
"Seriously?" She says to herself as Katherine smirks.
"Which Salvatore do you find more attractive?" Katherine ask while looking in her eyes.
"I think they're equally hot in different ways." Elena answers instantly as Katherine shrugs.
"Fair enough, go get another bottle of wine." She compels making Elena scoff.
"I'm not your slave." She responds making Katherine stares at her until she realizes what happened.
"Holy shit!" Elena exclaims.
"Holy shit." Katherine mirrors.
"I can't be compelled." She says with wide eyes.
"You can't be compelled." Katherine agrees before Elena jumps up and pumps her fist.
"Fuck yeah! That's what I'm talking about. Woo! Yes!" She cheers jumping up and down.
"Just when I think I can't get anymore awesome." She says sitting back down.
"Did you learn Bulgarian for me?" Katherine asks with a teasing smile after a few minutes of thoughtful silence.
"Yep. I thought we could speak it in public, like some kind of secret language. I also speak Spanish and French. I'm currently working on Russian." She finishes with a Russian accent.
"You're really something." Katherine says with a shake of the head.
After a few more hours of talking Elena's alarm for school goes off.
"Can I borrow some clothes?" Elena asks with her best puppy dog eyes making Katherine scoff.
"I have those too. They don't work on me." She says as Elena's eyes seem to get bigger and more innocent.
"Alright, jesus. We really shouldn't have those." She says making Elena squeal and run to Katherine's suitcases.
"I know right. We really lucked out, if you ignore the whole curse and sacrifice thing." Elena says digging through Katherine's clothes.
"How long have you been here?" Elena asks noticing the amount of laundry.
"A week give or take a few days. You spend a lot of time with Stefan and Damon. I assumed you were dating one or both of them." Katherine shrugs.
"If I did that, I totally would be. Those boys are ridiculously attractive, I mean, damn." Elena says staring off into space thinking about them.
"Agreed." Katherine says picking up the clothes Elena left lying around.
"I hate what you did to them." Elena says quietly.
"Yeah, well I kinda hate it too." Katherine admits handing Elena a pair of earrings.
"Here, where these with this jacket and these boots." She says while laying out a leather jacket and healed boots.
"I said you had killer taste in heels, meaning I would kill myself if I had to wear them. I don't care how good they make my ass look, I'm not wearing those." She says glaring at the heal.
"Put on the damn boots. You're a Petrova, we have a reputation to uphold." She says sternly.
"Ugh, I liked you better when you were trying to sacrifice me." Elena says making Katherine smirk at her.
"Come on, I'll drop you off." Katherine says grabbing her keys.
"Thanks." Elena says walking past her.
"Do you often go to school sleep deprived and wine drunk?" Katherine wonders out loud as they pull into the school parking lot.
"On occasion." Elena shrugs making Katherine shake her head with a small smile.
"Bye, Kitty Kat. Thanks for the ride. Here." She says handing Katherine her number.
Hours later, after school, Elena is sluggishly making her way to her front door after being dropped off my Vicki, when she's slammed, more gently than last time, into the side of the house by a smirking Katherine.
"Dramatic bitch." Elena mumbles as she walks back to the porch with a chuckling Katherine behind her.
"So is this part where you lock me in a dungeon?" Elena asks already knowing the answer.
"You know, I've decided to let you play out your plan. I've gotten quite bored over the years." Katherine shrugs as Elena smiles at her.
"I'm gonna get your freedom, Kat. Then I'm gonna reunite you when Nadia. It's in my offical plan." She says definitively.
"But I do need a favor." Elena admits making Katherine raise a brow.
"You know Brady? The hot guy from Mason's pack? I need you to have him delivered to me."
"He's your werewolf? Why?" She asks as Elena just smirks at her.
"We wouldn't be sentencing him to death for something he hasn't done yet, would we?" Katherine asks in mock disappointment with a smirk.
"That'd be despicable." Elena says playing along before yawning.
"I'm gonna go." Katherine says turning around before she stops and turns back to Elena.
"I'm trusting you, Elena." Katherine says with vulnerability and threatening undertones.
"I know and stop calling me Elena. It's Ellie or El." She finally corrects.
"Alright, Ellie. And this whole trusting thing, doesn't mean I like you." Katherine says removing all emotion from her face.
"I know." Elena smiles.
Katherine smiles a little and huffs out a sigh.
"Just, be careful. And just know if you get yourself killed, I will be taking over your identity." Katherine informs making Elena bark out a surprised laugh.
"I'd expect nothing less, Katerina." Elena says honestly.
After a few seconds of what seems to be Katherine talking herself out of it, she pulls Elena into a tight hug.
"Thank you." She whispers with emotion in her ear, disappearing before Elena can reply, leaving her standing on her porch with smile.
A.N: This chapter is extra long because this was the dynamic I was most excited about writing. Hope you like it. Thank you for reading.
