A/N: Welcome to the first of two fanfics that I plan to do for TVD relating to the cure. I'll be pulling info from from all four seasons (although somethings will be altered to fit the story) up to the last epiosode that aired. The Sire Bond is very much present in this story, but it will have a much different meaning and impact, and will be quite shocking for everyone involved. We will meet or hear about people from the past, including Damon and Stefan's mother, and how decisions made long ago are shaping future events. This is a Delena fic with a full cast ensemble, and plenty of twists and turns. There will be other pairings, one in particular that will change the lives and future decisions of alomst every character.

Please leave a review if you can. There is nothing like feedback (positive or negative) to keep a writer motivated. Thanks for dropping by and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter One: Lend Me Your Ear

The Mystic Falls town square was silent, and still shrouded in darkness, the laughter and gaiety of the Winter Wonderland Festival a distant memory, her citizens all tucked safely away, behind closed, and securely locked doors. Well most of the town's citizens anyway, but not all. Most certainly not the two, black cloaked figures that separated themselves from the shadows, to look down on the body of Mayor Lockwood, floating face down in the fountain.

Her death would be ruled an accident, some may even hint at suicide; but no one, not even the county coroner would say she had been murdered. And why would they? With her husband not dead a year yet, almost losing her son at the hands of a vampire hunter, and the town council going down in a blaze of glory, people would understand that she might have just said, "Fuck it all," got drunk, and went swimming face down in the town fountain.

The two dark cloaked figures gazed dispassionately at the body of the Mayor, each seeming lost in their own thoughts. The minutes ticked by slowly, the silence around them profound and absolute. No living creature dared to make themselves known, or even dared breathe, not so long as two such as these two were anywhere in the vicinity. Creatures smarter than men knew when they were in the presence of power, and unlike men, knew not to draw their attention.

"He is devolving," the smaller of the two figures stated.

"That he is," the other replied. "And yet, he may not be the more immediate threat that needs to be addressed."

"Is he beyond redemption?" Asks the smaller figure.

"Is anyone?" The larger of the two asks.

"You know what I ask," comes the reply, with the barest hint of exasperation in the tone.

"Yes, I do," the larger figure replies. "Even after all he has done, and all he will yet do; he is not beyond redemption."

The smaller figure nods once in understanding, as the two of them continue to stare dispassionately at the body of Mayor Lockwood. For long moments, neither speaks; they have very little need or desire for verbal communication. In fact, they have very few desires, almost no needs, and a disdain for emotions. Emotions are messy, tedious, and they consider them to be the most destructive force among mankind.

"The Raven," the smaller one says into the lengthening silence. "Do you think he is ready?"

"It doesn't matter, time has run out," was the soft reply. "None of us have the luxury of time any longer."

"They under estimate him, and don't trust him."

"That was necessary," the larger figure explained. "Having a secret weapon matters little if everyone knows that you have it. Even still, he has friends, he has support, he has some one who loves him."

"In other words," the smaller one clarified. "He has some one who will die for him; if it comes to that."

"And it may very well come to that," the larger of the two said, he voice quiet, haunted. "We have tarried far longer than necessary. Break the seal, we have much to do before the coming of the sun."

There was no one, nor anything to witness their actions; that was how they wanted, how they planned it. Even if there had been, no one would have believed the stories a witness would have recounted. No one would believe a witness who said they saw a dark cloaked figure walk on the water of the town's fountain. No one would believe a witness who repeated words, not heard by any living creature for over a millennium, in a language dead, and long forgotten. No one would believe a witness who swore the sky opened, allowing two blood red lightening bolts to issue forth, striking the open palms of the dark cloaked figure. No one would believe a witness who claimed the force of the lightening was so strong, it created a sonic boom that knocked him clear off his feet. No one would believe a witness who claimed two dark cloaked individuals disappeared within the blink of an eye, almost as if they had never been there to begin with.

On the other side of Mystic Falls, on a lonely stretch of darkened road, two more figures walked through the night, their hands, and hearts entwined. If anyone were to stumble upon the pair, they'd be shocked to see them together, and then stunned when they realized that these two were together. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't be on the same continent together, much less the same city, and most assuredly not Mystic Falls. But time waits for no man, alive or dead, and they were all running short on time.

As they step onto Wickery Bridge, the man stops, tugging his companion's slight body into his own. He wraps her in the safe haven of his embrace, a contented sigh rumbling through him as she settles against his chest. He rest his cheek against the silky softness of her hair, drawing in a lungful of her scent; a scent that at times haunts him, and at others remind him that he loves. He smiles at the thought of how much he loves this woman in his arms, and chuckles with the knowledge that she loves him just as deeply. Who would have thought it? They were, are the most unlikely of pairings the world over.

"What do you find so amusing?" She asks, pulling back slightly to look into his dark eyes.

"This," he replies, as his mouth settles gently against her's.

It never fails, and never ceases to amaze him, this flash of white hot desire he feels every time he touches her, but the real rush always came whenever she capitulated, and kissed him back, like she was doing now. He felt her slide her small hands up his shoulders, past the corded muscles of his neck, and tangle in his hair so she could deepen the kiss. The feeling of her sharp teeth nipping at his lips caused a small gasp to escape him, and she took full advantage of the opportunity, slipping her tongue into his mouth.

Desire rushed through him, and his blood turned to molten lava as she deepened the kiss even more. All rational thought left him in blinding flash of lust, and he hauled her small body closer, his hands pushing aside clothing until he found skin. As he let his fingers glide along her ribcage, he began to contemplate taking her right here, right now on the bridge, when a flash of lightening ripped through the night sky.

As one, they looked back towards the center of town to see the sky bathed in an eerie, pearlescent gray, as two blood red lightening bolts streak down from the heavens. They glance at each other briefly, as knowledge coalesced between them; they were out of time. With realization came urgency, there were things they needed to do, more importantly, there were people they had to get to. One wrong step at this point would have the world bathed in blood, and would herald Pastor Young's "greater evil."

He tightened his grip on her for one moment longer, savoring the feel of her against him. They may never get another moment like this, just the two of them not having to hide, not having to be secret. He gathered her close, wanting to absorb her into him, when they were tossed through the air like rag dolls, landing on the far side of Wickery Bridge.

"Damn!" He gasped, his lungs struggling to take in air. "We know, we know. Life changing events, apocalyptic possibilities, you could give a guy a minute to get one good kiss in."

"Don't tempt them, they might make it your last kiss," she replied to his sarcasm.

"I'd be OK with that," he said solemnly, pulling her down for a hard, possessive kiss. They were both breathing hard when they broke apart. He had them both back on their feet, and was running his hands over body, checking for any broken bones, cuts or abrasions.

'I'm fine," she said gently caressing his cheek. "We need to get moving though."

"I'll round up the girls," he said, turning to look back across the bridge.

"Not by the bridge," she said chuckling. "Unless you feel like a swim."

"I hate that damn bridge," he grumbled. "You sure you want to do it this way?"

"Yes," she answered on a heavy sigh. "There are things that need to be said, things they need to hear, and they need to hear them from me."

"No matter what you need to say or do; don't let them kill each other," he said. "As many problems as it would solve now, it would only bring us to ruin in the long run."

"I know what to do, I know what I have to do," she replied. "I won't screw it up this time."

"Be careful Katerina; as I would have no reservations about killing either or both of them should you come to any harm." And with those words, she watched her friend and lover disappear into the night.

So Katherine is back (again), but who is her mystery man, and does she really love him? With Katherine you never really know. And our cryptic pair from the beginning, who are they really and what kind of power do they have that allows them to call lightening and walk on water? Please share you thoughts and opinions. I'd love to hear from you!