Okay, I know this is short, but I feel like it was a good place to end this chapter! Thanks for the reviews.

Katherine eyed her expectingly.

"Okay, let's talk."

Elena decided to jump right to it. "What's the game you're playing now, Katherine? Why are you not retaliating for Damon? And why haven't you called Klaus yet?"

Katherine shrugged. "None of that would grant me any favors. You said so yourself. I want Stefan. If you're with Damon, here and now, there is no Damon to pine after me, and no you for Stefan to fall in love with. Ergo, I get Stefan. Sending you off to Klaus would put me back in the same boat as before. However, you marrying Damon, means children, it means, the Petrova bloodline stays intact, and more Doppelganger's will come."

Elena was shocked by her honesty. "So you're just going to let us be?"

"Don't look so surprised, Elena, I'm not doing it for you," Katherine got up from her chair and moved to sit on the bed. "This way, everyone gets what they want."

"And how does your future pan out? And Stefan's," Elena asked, moving to sit next to the vampire.

"Simple, when I know everything is secured here, we'll leave. He already knows about me, he's expressed a willingness to be with me forever, so I'll turn him. He'll stay with me, and you can carry on however you please."

" So he did propose?" Elena wondered.

Katherine nodded. "I told him it would happen in due time, as I can't very well draw attention to myself to having our engagement announced. He understands, and we will agree to anything I say."

Elena wanted to roll her eyes at Katherine's self assurredness.

"Wait, you said you'll leave when you know things are secured. What do you mean by secured?" Elena asked.

Katherine gave her a wicked smile. "I mean secured, by knowing our bloodline is preserved. Secured, in knowing that I'm not leaving the only living doppelganger behind, defenseless."

Elena thought about that. "So you mean you wont leave until-"

"Until I am absolutely certain you and Damon are bedding each other at every possible chance, and you are with child, garunteeing our survival."

"Seems a bit crude," Elena commented grumpily, gaining a laugh from Katherine.

"Oh Elena, it's what you want anyway isn't it. A family, a normal life. I'll be around, but not in directly in your daily schedule. You can do what you want, be happy, it'll just be an extra benefit when you do get pregnant."

Elena gave her a skeptic look. "Careful Katherine," She warned the girl, "You almost sound like you care."

Katherine rolled her eyes. "Well you are my great-great-great-great-great ectedera, Grandaughter. Family, however distant. And despite what you seem to believe, I don't hate you, Elena. But I will make sure I am safe, no matter the cost."

"Love can't have guidelines Katherine." Elena told her. "It can't be selfish."

"You call it selfish, I call it survival." Katherine reasoned.

"Whatever," Elena shrugged, standing up. Damon would be expecting her soon anyway.

"It wasn't always that way you know." Katherine's voice sounded distancy. "I use to think that a life without love wasn't worth living...but living, that's the key, Elena."

Elena nodded before turning to the door, leaving Katherine alone in her thoughts.