Stefan woke up to find Elena was not beside him. He looked around, and saw her talking to Damon outside on the balcony. She had spent many nights out their alone, and he wondered if maybe she had been out there with him.

Jealousy bit into him and he tried to push it aside. She had married him, not Damon. Surely that counted for something. But his thoughts were dark as he joined them outside. Elena smiled at him, giving him a hug. Stefan hugged back tightly. Damon barely glanced at him. He stared into the distance.

"Katherine is nearby." He told Stefan. Stefan looked around, and he did sense her presence. She was strong, but…

"You've been hunting." He said to Elena. Shame crossed her face. She didn't need to say anything. She had more Power than he had, which meant…. "And you killed." He finished. Elena hung her head. But Damon stepped in.

"Would you rather she had let the knife welding lunatic attempt to kill her, little brother?" Stefan sighed. So Damon was back to calling him little brother again. He met the black eyes full on.

"You took her out hunting? You took her into that neighbourhood?" He was angry. Thoughts on Katherine were gone.

"You deliberately took her hunting without asking me. MY WIFE? And you risked her life by taking her to that neighbourhood!"

Elena's hand softly touched his arm. "Stefan…."

"And you went along with this?" he asked, meeting her eyes, pleading for her to deny it. She nodded and Stefan slumped.

"I had a promise to keep." she told him, causing his anger to flare again.

"A promise? What about the promises you made to me?" he didn't understand why he was getting so worked up.

Don't be stupid little brother. You have your wife. I gained myself a hunting partner for the evening. And she's a pro. Stefan saw the look pass between them. He faced Elena.

"Would you rather hunt by his side? Take a human life? Is that what you want?" Elena's blue eyes filled with anger then.

"I made my choice Stefan! I chose you! Don't you dare fight over me again!" And she jumped over the balcony and was gone. Stefan looked over but he didn't see her.

"Nice going Stefan." Damon's voice was dark.

"Just leave." Stefan told his brother, equally dark. He turned his back to go back inside and heard a flurry of wings. Damon was gone. Stefan sat on the couch staring into space. Why was Elena doing this? He had felt the Power from her the second he had awoken. He could feel it now, out in the city, her fury and despair heavy on his heart. He wondered how long she would take before she returned home to him. He wanted to take her to the Estate.

Stefan sighed. He didn't know what to think of his brother anymore. And the whole business with Katherine was just going to have to wait. He hopped that she wasn't going to do anything tonight, while they were all separated.

Stefan heard her, but too late. He rose off the couch, but she growled and charged, ramming him into the wall. Stefan stood painfully.

"You have a real bad habit of turning up at the wrong time." He hissed. Katherine only grinned.

"It appears that Damon has a bigger piece of her heart then you do." she said. Stefan felt her Power well up, and felt his mind being overwhelmed. He hit the floor unconscious.