*Katherine's POV

"So what do you say?" the perky blonde asks but I cant take my eyes off Stefan who seems to be mulling over the whole situation as if it were life or death.

"Stef?" I move to sit on the hotel bed next to him causing him to furrow his brows before giving me his full attention.

"You've never been to prom or had a life," he says grabbing my hand. "Weren't those your words?"

My heart would've skipped a beat if it wasn't stopped still from the curse of being a vampire.

"My only concern is figuring out how to handle Dulena," he glances back to Caroline who snickers at the choice way of combining the two's name.

"Well I'll handle Damon," Caroline says sweetly. "You two can take out Elena!"

"When you say 'take out' are we talking murder or…?" I try to ease the mood which causes the pair to turn and look at me in shock before doubling over in laughter.

"At least then we wouldn't be on this stupid journey for a cure!" Stefan finally states before giving me a small smile. "But I think we're talking more locking them up."

"Ooo I think I can convince a certain original hybrid to compel them to the tombs!" Caroline cheers jumping up and standing in front of us as I had previously. I sigh not wanting to have to even step foot near those dark tombs again and in response Stefan slides and arm around me, giving me a comforting squeeze.

"If Klaus is helping why don't you two just worry about dresses and he and I can handle making sure our evening isn't interrupted?" always the noble brother I cant help but look at the side of his face in complete adoration.

"Done! Let's hit the road!" Caroline says grabbing my hand and physically dragging me away from Stefan.

I couldn't help but notice her demeanor change whenever Stefan went out of his way for me. She was jealous and I guess rightfully so for once she thought she didn't have any competition for the younger Salvatore's heart. I couldn't help the way I was drawn to him. I couldn't help that I had loved him and probably always would. As I sat in the back of the Porsche deep in thought over my feelings I hadn't noticed the blonde fall asleep and green eyes peering at me through the rearview mirror.

"I never asked you," he says breaking the silence, an unsureness in his voice I had never heard. "What did Damon have that I didn't? Like why both of us?"

I had never expected this question, had never even thought about it myself much, and unexpectedly I found myself laughing as he gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.

"Nothing," I say calming down a little. "He had absolutely nothing more than you. He couldn't even compare to you really. I think you were so scared of what I truly was and he was absolutely infatuated with it that I kind of just … allowed it to happen?"

He furrowed his brows focusing back on the road allowing my words to linger.

"You were always the better man, Stefan," I say delicately reaching forward and placing a hand on his tense shoulder. "I was- I was afraid I'd make you a monster like me and well Damon… Damon does what Damon wants… he was already monstrous."

Stefan seems to loosen up, a tension no one knew he had was being released, all from a conversation that we should've had a century ago.

"She'll regret it one day," I say boldly leaning forward and giving him a lingering kiss on the cheek. "I know I do."

*Stefan's POV

"Rippah!" Klaus greets eagerly causing me to roll my eyes. How had I been best friends with this guy?

"Let's just plan this out Mikaelson," I huff sitting down at the bar stool next to him.

"First, we drink," he commands sliding me a glass of bourbon. "I want you to remember I am always team Stefan."

One drink turns into 3 bottled of bourbon and the original hybrid and I are absolutely shit faced and have no viable plan at all.

"I got it," he says as we've gone back and forth like this for hours, "You walk in shirtless. Elena is like 'Damn he's fine!' and we snap her neck and drag her to the tombs. Then-"

"And clearly you're too drunk to realize that plan is completely. Ridiculous," Caroline says coming up behind Klaus with Katherine who immediately walks towards me. I grab her by the waist pulling her into my side causing a smirk to arise on Klaus's face as Caroline seemingly responds to my gesture by grabbing his arm and pulling him up with her.

"Here's what's going to happen," the blonde states bluntly. "Stefan, you are going to call Damon and say you heard there was a lead to the cure in the tombs, he'll meet you there. Klaus, you are going to use your uncanny ability to annoy people to goad Elena into going to the tombs as well. Elijah is going to be there waiting and he and Klaus will compel them to stay in the tombs, Stefan is there for extra muscle incase either of them try to bolt, feel free to snap some necks. Got it?"

"You're hot when you're bossy," Klaus says making me laugh and nod in agreement.

"And both of you are drunk so let's get you some rest," Katherine says with a hum of agreement that came from Caroline.

Everything blurred before I knew Katherine was leading me into the bead and breakfast on the outskirts of town.

"Why do I wear so many shirts with buttons?!" I huff frustratedly before ripping the article of clothing causing Katherine to laugh a sound I realized still made me smile in response.

"You're an idiot," she says rolling her eyes before shoving me into the bed and taking off my shoes.

"And you're really beautiful," I slur letting the exhaustion hit me. "I'm glad you came back with us."

She doesn't say anything but slides into the bed next to me and snuggles into my awaiting arms. This feels like home.