DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS OR COVER PAGE.

I stood back in the corner as I watched the awkward stare off between Stefan, Katherine, and Booth a.k.a Angelus.

"How did you find me?" Booth asked as he sipped on the whiskey he poured for himself as soon as he stepped foot in his apartment.

"I have my ways. How is your new life treating you?" Stefan replied, relaxing against the recliner.

Katherine pushed off the wall she was leaning against, arms crossed, and walked to a photo hanging up on the wall.

"The last time I saw you, you were dropping bodies all over Europe. I heard rumors about you and a gyspy clan, but never put much faith into it." Katherine said, turning to face the man.

Booth's frown deepened, anger yet guilt clouded his eyes. "I don't want to talk about it, especially not with you." Booth snapped, not taking his eyes off her.

Katherine trademarked smirk spread across her blood red lips. "And here I thought we had soo much fun." She purred.

"You and Angelus had fun, not me. Second, you left him to be killed after you escaped Spain. You were lucky he never found you or else you wouldn't be here to have this conversation." Booth said, looking away from the elder doppelganger.

I decided to take the initiative to question the situation. We didn't have time for reunions. "Stefan, I think it is best to get to the point we are here." I ordered, taking my stance against the wall.

Now, Booth's eyes laid on me, taking me in for the first time. "So, I'm guessing doppelgangers isn't just a folktale anymore." Booth's eyes moved to Stefan with determination.

"What brings you here, Salvatore? I don't need your kind of trouble here." Booth clearly stated, moving the couch, sliding his jacket off.

"We need your help. What can you tell me about Naturlis Elementis?" Stefan questioned, getting straight to the point.

"Never heard of it. What are they?" He asked, but was brought out of thought when his phone started to ring. He groaned with frustration. He picked up, stating which I can imagine is his standard greetings.

"Agent Booth." He simply stated, before getting up.

Seeing the opportunity, I turned to Stefan. "Stefan, who is this man? Why would he know anything about my situation?" I asked.

Stefan looked up to me, green eyes forever piercing. "The man you see before you haven't always been Agent Booth or human. He was once an infamous ripper, vampire." He said, looking away for a moment.

My frown deepened, looking back mystery man before me. It was confusing to me. There was no such thing as a cure vampirism, but yet proof stood before me. I had no reason to doubt Stefan, but I won't deny my lingering doubt.

"He was known as the 'Scourge of Europe'. If any man could match Klaus' brutality, you're looking at him." Katherine commented, eying the brunette.

I looked curiously at her. "How did you two meet?" I asked.

Katherine huffed, slamming back to sit against the chair. "Probably a few years after I became a vampire. Klaus was slowly catching up to me. I was hiding out in a brothel in Ireland. I learned Klaus was in a few towns over, so I was making plans of getting out of the country. So, I went back to the whorehouse to find people slaughtered everywhere. My heart dropped in my stomach, because I thought I was found."

I looked around with veiled terror as I tried to maneuvered my way out of this establishment. I made a move to run out the building before being blocked by a man. Blood coated his mouth, along with his clothes. His honey blonde hair was ruffled, eyes wild, predatory grin plastered on his face.

I staggered back, instantly freezing when I felt hands gripped my shoulders. His slender fingers brushed my bare shoulders. I felt a warm tickle brush against my neck as whoever breathe on me.

"Now, what is a pretty little lass like yourself doing in a place like this?" His Irish accent spoke through his words. My words clammed in my throat as I thought this was the end.

My thoughts were broken as I heard a childish giggle. My eyes snapped to a woman , no older than myself, stumbled down the hall. Her curls were dangling from her pin-up.

Just the like man in the door, she was covered in blood. The look on her face was euphoric, her stare was far off.

"Well Angelus, found yourself a pretty one. Lucky bastard!" The blonde sauntered out of the doorway as he pulled in the brunette into a lustful kiss.

The cold laughter behind startled me. "Look just as good from the back. Very… appetizing." The man said, hands travelling to my waist.

Feeling the familiar anger, I snatched away from him, turning to face him. For a fleeting moment, I found myself admiring his rugged looks. But the feeling bursted into oblivion when I seen the predatory smirk, one I was all too familiar with.

"If Niklaus sent you, do what you need to do, but keep your filthy hands off me." I snapped.

He raised his hands in mock surrender. I glared at him, mentally trying to find a way out.

"Daddy… the stars are sparkling quite bright tonight. She's a special one." The woman said, wide grin out there.

"And what do you see, doll face?" Blonde spoke as the man before, Angelus stared at curiosity.

"Travelled far across seas, escaping the devil in disguise. Howl, night creature, and doppelganger." My body tensed when she said that word.

"Yet the pretty doppelganger is quite the fleeting dove." The woman murmured.

"Interesting, but don't care." His hand shot with with incredible speed, but I was faster. My hand grabbed his wrist, before he could touch me.

His hand reversed, locking my wrist in his grip, pulling me into him. I felt the familiar feeling of lust cloud me, but I snapped back into focus. I stomped on his foot, then successfully headbutting him.

I heard bones snapped under the pressure. With my strength, I tossed him into his friends, then I vamp speed out the back door. I didn't care for my belongings, I just wanted to live.

I ran and ran until I came to the port, where nearby ships were preparing to leave. I made it to the edge of the forest, before I was pulled behind some trees. A forearm pressed against my neck.

"That wasn't very nice of you, lass." Angelus spoke in a whisper, eyes glaring down at me.

I smirked, refusing to show weakness in front of this man. "You going through a lot to get to this little lass." I mocked, hands around his forearm.

His head cocked to the side. "It's been a long time since someone overpowered me. I won't let this pretty face distract me again." He leaned in.

'"Keep telling yourself that." I said, looking up to him. His face was smooth, angelic, but I wasn't a fool. Something sinister was just beneath the surface. I just wish I spotted it with Niklaus.

"If you're going to kill me, then do it. Just to let you know, a very dangerous man is looking for me. That's nothing you should get caught in." I stated simply.

He smirked. "No, you entertain me too much. Plus, that Niklaus character pissed me off a while ago, so I'm going to train you." Angelus said, backing away.

My hand rubbed my neck, watching the man suspiciously. "Train me?" My eyebrow quirked at that.

He strolled out the forest, making his way to the port. Without looking, he said "Are you coming?"

Logically, I knew I should try escape this man. He was reeked of death, but my survival instincts was kicking in. I knew this man could teach how to survive.

I listened to Katherine as she spoke about her first encounter with 'Angelus'. I sighed as I stood up. I grabbed my jacket, heading towards the door.

I felt a hand slip around my arm. I looked to Stefan. "I'm fine. I just need to be alone for a moment." I said.

"Okay. Just be careful." He said, his hand slipping away. I couldn't help but ignore the scathing look I received from Katherine. I took my leave, exiting out the building.

I took a quiet walk around the block, noticing a park up ahead. I sat on the nearest bench, noticing all the children running around.

I smiled inwardly, but felt that all too familiar swelling pit of loneliness, guilt, and separation from my children.

I looked at all the mothers who tended to the little, hearing the squeals of laughter or cries. I willed my tears away as I took my phone out of my pocket.

I dialed a number I haven't used in months, but never forgot it. It was a few rings, before someone picked up.

"Hello, this is Bonnie." She said

I cleared my throat before speaking. "Bonnie, it's Elena." I said, knowing she recognize without my name.

"Elle, how are you? We haven't heard from you!" Bonnie asked.

I cuffed my hair behind my ear. "I'm doing well as you expect in this situation. Stefan led us to lead to find more info about Naturalis Elementis. But I don't want to talk about that. How are you and Caroline doing?" I said, leaning against the bench.

"Well, everything is calm for now, but we suspect that Esther is gathering another allegiance of witches. Hayley is off with the wolves. Kol is still annoyingly adorable. Klaus and Caroline's relationship is growing quite fast. You are missing a side of this new Klaus, doesn't still isn't an asshole from time to time." Bonnie chattered, noticing shuffling from the background.

I nodded, even though she couldn't see me. I want to be grateful for her not mentioning Elijah, but I needed to know. I tossed and turned every night trying justify what I did, to ease the guilt, but in the end, I did him wrong.

I sighed, counting down in my head. "And Elijah? How is he?" I asked the question.

Silence filled the call, giving my answer. It was bad. "I need to know, Bonnie." I said.

"It was bad in the beginning to the point that Kol had to daggered him. He was causing too much attention. Last month, they finally removed the dagger. Elijah retreated back to his home, cutting off contact. We haven't seen him since. Well, the siblings go check on him everyday, but Kol said he hasn't said anything. He finds him in the nursery everyday he goes." Bonnie explained softly.

I swallowed, rubbing my irritable eyes. "If I could take away his pain away, I would." I sniffled, shaking my leg to control my emotions.

"Sweety, you have your own pain to deal with. You made the best decision at the time. Don't feel sorry for protecting your children, Elena. In time, Elijah will see that."

"It wasn't just that, but Elijah and I… we were in the beginning stages of a relationship. I betrayed him like the rest. I should have came to him and talked to him." I sighed.

"And do you think he would have went with this plan of yours?" Bonnie asked me.

"I never gave him a chance to, Bon. I should have trusted him." My head snapped up when I saw a figure stopped before me. I looked up to see Katherine looking down to me. With hesitation, she took a seat next to me, remaining quiet.

"Bonnie, I have to go. Something came up." I said, looking away from Katherine.

"Okay, talk to you later." Bonnie replied, hanging up promptly.

I slipped my phone into my pocket, not looking back at Katherine. We sat in silence as we watched people running around.

"You shouldn't apologize." Katherine said out of the blue.

"What?" I responded, staring at a particular brown haired boy. He was laughing happily while his father pushed him on the swing gently.

"You can't second guess every decision you make, Elena. That will lead you down a path you don't want to visit." Katherine said as eyed a particular handsome man as he walked by.

"I can't just not think about how my decisions don't affect people. We may share the same face, but I'm not you." I snapped as if she knew how I felt.

"When I came back home to find my dead parents, I found out where my daughter was. Just like I found myself in a situation like yourself. I left her behind, because not only she would be used or killed by Klaus, but wasn't a life she deserved. Trust when I say I know how you feel. It was rare that I got close to anyone. They were another burden or guilt to be added to my conscious. I'm not an all saint, but I shouldn't be judged for trying to survive." Katherine said, closing her arms over herself.

"True, but when I look at you or myself, I see myself finding Jeremy dead. Any good I thought you had died that day. He didn't have to die." I stated, anger simmering low.

"You're right, but we are not talking about him. If you are adamant dragging me along, then you are going to have to learn to separate your emotions from your decisions. You think the people after us won't step over thousands, friends, family to get to us?" Katherine scolded.

"I dealt with Klaus, didn't I? My family is long gone, but trust and believe I would burn down this world to save my children. I don't need to be told twice." I snapped. We sat back in silence without another word.