"I know you're out there. I can feel you now. I know that you're afraid. You're afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world without you. A world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries. A world where anything is possible. Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you."

~The Matrix~

.X.

She gives him credit. Niklaus does not react like she thought he would. They usually didn't, as Marcella always seemed to forget the inherently human aspect of it all. Instead of the violent reaction she was expecting his whole demeanor turns cold. His brow cocks at her, his lips drawn into a thin line, his bright blue eyes seem to darken as he regards her.

But he doesn't lash out. Doesn't yell demands in heated anger. Just calm rage as he opens his mouth. It's a new side of his character. One she hadn't really been expecting.

"How similar sweetheart?" Marcella can hear the warning, the hopeful but guarded echo in his question. Not anger, just warning.

"Identical." The admittance is breathy on her tongue, light and airy but she knows the weight it bears. She realizes the significance it will have to him.

Damon gives her this look, that basically says he's not sure what she's doing and that he doesn't approve but he doesn't stop her. So Marcella takes it as the permissions it probably isn't and runs with her current plan. Including but not limited too.

Protect Caroline.

Save Damon.

Make Katerina pay.

In that order, always. Marcella knew that trying to keep the human doppelgänger a secret from her Hybrid would infringe upon the first too things. She'd seen the result of trying to keep secrets from Niklaus and knew better than to try.

"Impossible." He whispers, awestruck at the prospect she'd just presented him. His curse could finally be broken. Is what she's almost sure he's thinking.

Marcella smiles brightly at him. It's a reassuring and kind smile. She isn't playing some trick on him. She's not trying to pull his leg, or play games. Instead she was just trying her best to help her friends.

Niklaus was her friend, just like Damon is her friend. Maybe not yet to the same level but still. Marcella had already told them both she was a good friend to have. She'd do whatever needed to make her friends, family, and loved ones happy.

Katerina Petrova was not her friend. She'd upset Damon. Elena Gilbert was not her friend, Caroline's maybe. But Marcella didn't trust the brunette in the slightest. All doppelgängers were just bitches if you asked her. She had no love for any of them.

Marcella didn't really care about the consequences that would befall either of them because of her decision here. So long as it didn't hurt the people she loved in the long run. Katherine couldn't turn Caroline if she was too busy looking over her shoulder every step of the way. Elena couldn't break Damon's heart over and over if he never loved her. A winning scenario if you asked her.

"Not impossible, just highly improbable." He thought he'd killed her entire family ending the petrova bloodline forever. How could he have known that Katerina was nothing more than a two bit whore before she'd met them. Just like another doppelgänger he'd known.

Marcella knew the truth. Nature always righted itself. Nature needed to be balanced.

People like Marcella, they didn't tend to give a single care about the supposed balance of nature. Honestly for all she cared nature could suck it for all the dumb shit it would have done to her people. No one messed with the things that belonged to her.

Caroline, Damon, and Niklaus. They belonged to her. Their happiness mattered to her above everything and everyone else.

Everyone else were just pieces to be moved. To be manipulated and used. And she'd always had the perfect way to do that. Honey was a much better way to catch flies.

She was kind because kindness was a great manipulative. Being kind was the best defense, the best way. Marcella knew she wasn't a good person. Yet she found she didn't care as long as those she loved were protected and safe. Nothing else really mattered.

Deep down she'd always know what sort of story this was going to be.

…

After going back to Niklaus' penthouse and getting the full story of Katerina Petrova Marcella bids the blond goodbye with the promise of coffee later. She takes Damon by the crook of his elbow and shows him around to all of her favorite places in the city. To no surprise they are much different than the places he used to hang around last time he was there. Marcella's favorite places are charming and warm, bright and curious just like her.

She lets him stoop on what Niklaus told them, what she had already come to terms with. Again she'd known all of it already and had had actual time to process everything. Over half of her life really so it wasn't possibly fair for her to judge how long it takes Damon to come to his own.

"Stefan won't be pleased that you practically handed Elena over on a silver platter. You know my baby brother will try to save her." Damon eventually says, he's looking down at the top of her curly head. Marcella has been feeding some ducks in the park.

She snaps her head up to look at him. Regarding him carefully. This was what she'd been waiting on. How was he going to react? What would he do here?

This Damon, the one before bad writing changed him, her Damon didn't love Elena Gilbert. This Damon hadn't turned and then killed Vicki Donovan. This Damon argues with her over the morality of Batman, this Damon made cookies with her, this Damon stole her fries and called her princess; this was her Damon. Her Damon was a lot different than the character from the TV show. He was a real being with actual feelings and he mattered.

Marcella shrugged noncommittal shyly turning her attention back to the ducks. Damon rolls his eyes, snatched the bag of breadcrumbs from her hand practically demanding her attention. She looks at him nervously through thick eyelashes, hazel eyes shining with uncertainty. He digs into the bag and cast a few more crumbs to the needy birds.

"Not that I care or anything princess, you're a big girl you can handle yourself." He smirked at her flashing his teeth eyes shining mischievously. Marcella berms at him bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"So you're not mad?" She's hesitant to ask, hopefulness lingering on her tongue.

Damon just shakes his head. It wasn't like he cared what happened to the human doppelgänger. That was his brother's problem. Besides he knew it would be fun watching his princess set their world on fire. He couldn't wait to see her dance in the flames.

"No princess, I'm not mad."

The dance studio was the last stop on the impromptu trip to the Big Apple. Roman and Isadora has insisted on meeting Damon but were caught In an upcoming performance the rest of their company was putting on that this would be the only way for them to meet. Marcella decided they'd go after getting coffee with Niklaus the last day of their trip. Damon and Klaus weren't friends, they probably would never be, but they weren't enemies and honestly she could live with that.

Now she just needed these three to at least like each other. Her dance partners were a big part of her life, she wasn't exactly sure what she'd do if they didn't all get along. Honestly she'd probably die.

Damon watched as she took a running leap towards the tanned dark haired male. He suspected that this must be the 'Roman' she often told him about. Her dance partner of the last forever, her words not his, especially if the resigned sigh and the resigned manner in which he dealt with the small blonde. Anticipating her every step. Marcella crashed into him, but was somehow flipped over his shoulder and into a small spin. Giggling and smiling the whole time as her assault was turned into a mini tango.

"This always happens. Ella never tires of trying to catch Roman off guard, and he loves proving her wrong. He'll catch her every single time. " A voice to his left says, it's the first time he's noticed the dark haired, dark eyed, dark skinned girl. He raises his brow at her thinking that this must be Isadora. She offers him a knowing smirk in return and extends her hand politely.

"Isadora Knightley, and you must be Damon Salvatore. Marcella spoke very fondly of you the last time she was here." She tells him as he takes her hand offering him a small smile. It's not as friendly as Marcella's, not as bright and kind. There is something about the look that is off putting, something unsettling about it. A warning hidden in plain sight.

He'd regret if that ever changed.

XOXOX

OMG! Thank you guys so much for all the warm reception from the last chapter! It means so much to me, and honestly I can't really believe how much you all like this. So so so happy to see(read) all of your kind reviews. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know what you think, means the world.

I hope that you guys like this chapter and that you keep letting me know what you think and how you feel about the story!

Thank you for reading!

Have a great day, night, whatever!

Sincerely, La'Rae