N: I suck, yeah I know. I am terribly sorry for making you guys wait for so long. School is terrible and well, life's busy, you know. Anyway, here's the next chapter, hope you guys like it.

Thank you Dez2sweet for looking over this so fast, you're great.

Reporters, reporters, reporters

Damon placed the bottle of scotch on the table just as the door flew open. Elijah made his way towards him and took a seat on the old fashion couch.

"You look like shit," he said casually and Damon rolled his eyes at him.

"Thank you."

"You went to see Katherine?"

"Yes."

"What happened? Is it about the speech I gave her to read for tomorrow?"

Damon drank the rest of his scotch in one gulp and placed the empty glass beside the bottle. "She told me people would think she's gone crazy if she says what you wrote."

"I thought she might, but it's for her own good. The press won't go gentle on her, Damon. You know how they are."

"I know how they are…tell that to her!"

"We can't afford another Austin incident."

"I know and she knows that too, she says she can handle it and she won't make the same mistakes."

"Do you think she can handle it?"

"I think it's possible," Damon took a deep breath. "She…she's changed…don't you think?"

"I don't know, Damon, I only saw her twice since the accident, you're the one that's been by her side every single day."

"It's like…even if she looks younger, she acts more mature. You think I'm crazy don't you? To think that the accident actually changed her," Damon asked. If there was one person that would give it straight to him without sugar-coating it, it would be Elijah.

"Everything's possible. Katherine had suddenly realized that she's not immortal. She almost lost Anna, of course it affected her. How are…uh…things between you two?"

"None of your business!" Damon shouted as soon as he realized what his old friend was actually asking. Private life should stay private.

"I know, but man, you're cranky and on edge. You also have that tightness in the corner of your mouth. I know you well enough to know you're not getting any. And I know about the red-head from last week."

"What? What red-head?"

"The one in the front raw that gave you her number."

"Oh," was all Damon found fit to say. "I didn't call her, if that's what you're asking," he continued.

"Maybe you should have," Elijah suggested and Damon raised an eyebrow at him.

"Excuse me?"

"You need to get it out of your system. Maybe not the red-head if you don't like her. I can find you another girl. Younger, blonde, brunette, you say it, I'll find her."

"I can't believe you're being serous about this. I can't risk my career for a few minutes of pleasure, Elijah."

"I know, but you'll be careful. Look, I love you and I respect you for wanting to be loyal, but your wife's been incapacitated for months and even before that, things were not good, everyone knows that. No one would blame you."

"I will."

"Damon, I know you want to do the right thing, but sometimes we have to listen to our bodies. I know you, you're a player, a lover and old habits don't die that easy. Your mind might know it, but little Damon doesn't and he wants to get laid."

"First of all, there's nothing 'little' about that part of my anatomy and second, I am not cheating on my wife and putting my future at risk."

"As you wish," Elijah said softly. He knew when he was time to give up. Damon was sweet, loyal, polite and kind, but if you're going into an argument with him…he becomes a real predator, ready to take you down.

"Look, I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine. If I ever find myself in need of a woman, I'll let you know."

"Fine, I'm going to my room. Be ready a few minutes early to go over your speech before going for Katherine at the hospital.

***lucky 13***

Elena let out a deep breath. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Jeremy in the mass of cameramen and reporters. He looked bad, even worse than she remembered…he looked sick. She wondered if he missed her and about Alaric. She missed them so much. Poor Alaric, thinking she was dead. Now he had no one to take care of him, to remind him of his medicines, he always forgot to take them.

"You did good Katherine," she heard the calm, collected voice of Elijah. They were in the back of a long, black limo, on their way to the headquarters. "I liked the last part you added and you taking Damon's hand, you both had your rings, it was perfect. Wasn't she great Damon?" Elijah asked and Elena turned her head towards him. Her heart picked up pace as she was anxiously waiting for his answer.

"Yeah. Look, I didn't like the questions about Anna," he said and Elijah let out a sigh.

"They're reporters, they live to ask questions. Of course they asked about her, she is a big part of your life and they want to know everything."

"I am not telling them anything," Damon shouted.

"Maybe you should."

Elena's voice came as a shock to both Damon and Elijah. Damon's eyes looked ready to pop out of his head and Elijah raised one perfect eyebrow at her, clearly intrigued.

"They've been curious about me, now that you told them what happened and they saw me, they are trying to get to Anna. If you tell them about her too, maybe even let them shoot at the house, they'll stop asking about her and focusing on your actual career," Elena explained. After all, she was a reporter, she knew how it worked. It wasn't because reporters were bad people, most of them didn't care about a politician's private life or even his career, but they had to deliver the news. They had to have fresh information and they had to have it before anyone else. Not because they wanted the information for themselves, but because that was what the public was expecting.

"She actually makes sense, Damon," Elijah started carefully. "I can arrange something, it won't take long and it won't hurt Anna, Katherine, or you."

"I'll think about it," Damon said.

"Please do it fast," Elijah exclaimed as soon as they reached their destination and another mass of reporters were waiting for them. "Pull in the underground parking, the last level, no one will be there," he told the driver. The man nodded and did as he was told.

***lucky 13***

Once inside the large building, everyone – from employees to volunteers – were there to welcome Katherine and wish her their best. She was moved by the affection she saw on some of their faces. After all, to her, they were all strangers and she was pretty sure they were no more than strangers to Katherine as well. She didn't seem like a woman who would get involved too much with employees.

"Hello Mrs. Salvatore, you're looking extremely well," a young man said to her.

"Thank you," she answered with a polite smile.

"Mr. Salvatore, the governor called and wished Mrs. Salvatore the best, but made a public speech about how sympathy shouldn't play a part in their votes, how should I respond to it?"

"Don't. That pompous son of a bitch wants to provoke me. I will think about it later. Oh and Will, 'pompous son of a bitch' is off the record."

"Of course," the young man answered laughing softly.

"Hi Uncle Damon, hi Aunt Katherine."

"Hello Rebekah," Damon answered.

The girl's face lighted with a smile, but there was something about that smile that Elena couldn't yet put her finger on. Pretty much, the girl looked like an angel ready to turn heaven into hell. Elena remembered seeing her at the hospital a few days after her bandages came off. The girl didn't hesitate to point out every little scar that was still visible at that point. In the end Giuseppe had been so irritated by her comments that he sent her away and prohibited her to come back. She didn't seem to mind at all. Actually, she seemed to hate Katherine for some reason.

"A new wedding ring," she pointed towards Elena's left hand and she nodded.

"Yes, Damon just gave it to me," she said proudly.

"Not so many diamonds on it this time," the girl commented.

If she were about ten years younger, Elena would've suggested a good spanking was in need. Before anything else got to come out of Rebekah's mouth, Elijah joined them. "I have a job for you," he said and the girl nodded. They made their way through the mass of people, leaving Damon and Elena alone.

"Wonderful girl," Elena said sarcastically.

"If you ask me, she's in need of a good spanking."

"I agree," Elena said.

"Hello Mrs. Salvatore, how are you feeling?" a middle-aged lady asked and Elena's eyes immediately looked for her name-tag.

"I'm fine Ms. Pearl, nice to see you again," Elena answered and the lady's eyes opened wide like Elena had just informed her she might die of cancer.

"I made a mistake didn't I?" Elena asked as soon as the woman left.

"Come on, we have to go," he said taking her hand into his and dragging her towards one of the back exits. There was a simple, gray Range Rover waiting for them. Damon helped her into the passenger seat and closed the door, making his way to the driver's seat.

"No limo this time."

"Nope, we're just regular folks now."

"Damon, about the woman, what did I say wrong?"

"Pearl's new with us. She's been working as a receptionist for only three weeks, you never met her before."

"Oh…I'm sorry."

"It's ok, I'm sure she understands."

"I just…I get confused since the accident. I know the doctor said it might happen, but not remembering some things and confusing others makes me look like a crazy person. Maybe Elijah had a point with that speech."

"Do you think you'll be able to fly again?" he asked in a low voice, like he was he was asking her something indecent.

"I don't know. I guess. The first time will sure be hell."

"What about Anna…?"

"I don't know, Damon. It was a bad experience that's for sure, but sometimes it's easier for a child to get over something like this. How is she by the way?"

"Better, I think…she's growing."

"Growing?"

"Yes. I had her on my knees the other day and her head almost reached my chin."

They shared a warm mother-to-father smile before Damon had to look away and pay attention to the road.

"Katherine, I have to tell you something," Damon said in a serious tone that scared Elena for a second. "About the problems you've been having with recognizing people. I actually talked about it with the neurologist. He said it might be bad. Looks like parts of your memory had been erased."

"Forever?"

Damon shrugged, "he couldn't say."

Elena couldn't help the relief she felt. She was actually glad of the neurologist's prognosis. That meant she had a reason for doing mistakes like the one with Ms. Pearl and people wouldn't suspect she's not actually Katherine Salvatore. She had an excuse.

"We're home," Damon announced about thirty minutes later. Elena looked outside the window as the car was approaching a huge mansion. She soon remembered reading about the Salvatore Ranch. They lived there as a family, in different wings of the house. The countryside was beautiful and Elena couldn't help but smile like a child reaching Disneyland. But soon, it hit her…they were home, no more changing her mind. Her chance to back away had just reach breaking point. She would walk into the house as Katherine Salvatore and everyone will be expecting her to behave like her.

N: Did you like? Review and let me know.