N: I know it has been a long time, but I'm back. This is the first update and there are more to come soon. The tons of assignments and tests took away my energy, but after two weeks of vacation I'm on the writing again. I hope you are still enjoying this story and you'll like the new chapter.

Something to do

At the Salvatore Ranch, under the protective cover of the night, there was only one completely awake person who was desperately trying to find a better explanation for Katherine's new and improved personality. Physically there weren't many changes. Yes, she lost some weight, but not too much, she kind of looked better. The scares on her face were less noticeable with every passing day. That doctor definitely did great work. She looked just like before the accident. What was suspicious was her behavior.

Maybe she changed the game. Maybe she knew something about Damon that no one else knew and the change of tactics was a necessity. There had been no contact even since she was hired, four years ago. It would've been an unnecessary risk and they've already established pretty much every move from the start. She was supposed to act as the perfect wife until the baby was born and Katherine seemed extremely happy to get on to the second part of the plan. Acting like a bitch, cheating, and doing everything in her power to make Damon's life a living hell was her job. That's what she'd been hired to do. So that when the day comes, that bullet would come as a relief for Damon.

Or was it possible that Katherine decided that she would be more comfortable as a senator's wife? Or maybe she figured out that the second bullet was destined for her. Whatever it was something had to be done. Katherine Pierce would not be the one ruining this!

***Lucky 13***

"Is Damon in?" Elena asked the chatty secretary. To visit Damon at his lawyer office had been a drastic measure, but she had done everything else. After two weeks of living at the Ranch, Elena had discovered where everything was, she had trained herself in private to write and eat with her right hand. She was still a little bit clumsy, but she was sure it would come easy and natural in less than a week for her to use her right hand.

She discovered that Katherine had no friends or family which came both as a shock and as a relief. Being honest, Elena had been afraid that some overwhelmed best friend of Katherine would be expecting her to pick it up where they left off, but no such thing happened.

Katherine was not working; she had no interests, no activities, and no hobbies. The only thing she knew Katherine liked to do was ride. Elena noticed the many costumes that had to do with that particular sport. Elena enjoyed riding herself, but she had no idea how good or bad Katherine was at it, so she decided it was too soon for her to do that. She should be happy that Katherine didn't seem interested by anything. What would she have done if Katherine was some kind of sculptor or painter? What if she would usually play piano or violin every Friday night? So, yes, Elena was grateful no such things would be expected from her, but she had nothing to do. Maybe Katherine was ok with the lack of activities, but Elena Gilbert was not. She was bored and restless.

Marry Beeline, Elena read the tag name on the secretary's desk, but she didn't want to make the same mistake twice, so she didn't make any friendly references towards the polite young woman.

"He's with a client," she answered.

"A client?"

"Well, it's Mr. Roily Ramton. He came in with a big donation for Mr. Salvatore's campaign, so he made time to see him."

"You think they'll be there in long. I came all this way…"

"If you wish to wait; they've been there for twenty minutes already, I don't think they'll take long." Elena nodded and took a seat in a chair nearby. "Can I get you anything? A coffee?" Marry asked politely.

"No thank you," Elena answered. She picked up one of the many magazines and started reading. The secretary resumed her typing and a comfortable silence took over the room.

Less than ten minutes later the door to Damon's office opened and the two men came out laughing. They seemed to be having a great time. Elena stood still for the time being, enjoying the view. Seeing Damon smile was a rare occasion, so she took the time and appreciated it. As soon as the secretary announced her presence, Elena had no choice but to stand up and make her way towards Damon and his client.

"Katherine my dear, you look astonishing," Roily said with a huge smile on his face. He bent over and kissed Elena on both cheeks, so she deduced that they've met before and they had some sort of friendship going on.

"Thank you, you too," she said. Safe enough, she thought.

"Oh, Damon, my boy, you and Katherine must come to dinner soon; my mother really wants to meet you."

"We will, I'd like to meet her as well," Damon said and Elena just nodded softly.

"He told me you are even prettier than before, but I mean, you know, he is a lawyer. Of course now that I take a good look at you, I say he was right," The man told Elena. She blushed slightly and looked in Damon's direction, but he avoided her gaze. She couldn't believe that Damon had actually told someone she was pretty. The thought made her feel hot inside, it gave her hope.

After they said their goodbyes, Damon told Marry to hold his call and literally dragged Elena in his office, closing the door behind them.

"What the hell are you doing here? This is where I work."

"I know that. I came here to help. You know I can do more than sit, eat, and watch TV."

"Can you?" Damon asked in a sarcastic tone. He clearly didn't have a very good impression of his wife and Elena didn't really blame him. Apparently Katherine didn't even do her own bed.

"I thought you can use me here. I can be a volunteer. I could answer the phones, return mail, sharpen pencils or something…anything! Please, Damon, I'm going crazy at home all day," she complained.

"It didn't seem to bother you before," Damon replied. "What is it that you really want Kat?" he asked. Elena hated it even more that he was using that nickname. He was always using it to mock her, or so it seemed.

"I need something to do, Damon. My brain's turning to mush…"

"Ha, that's new. Since when are you concerned about your brain activity?" he didn't wait for Elena to answer as he went on. "Take an aerobics class or something," he suggested.

"I did, but it doesn't take much of my free time. The class is just one hour three times a week. I want to do something productive."

"Since when? For Christ's sake, Kat what's this all about? You want more money?"

"No, Damon, this is not about money. I went to the bank and got my new card. I explained the slight change in my handwriting, they were okay with it. I can sign checks and everything, I have money."

"Then what is it? Why?"

'Because Elena Gilbert cannot stay in one place for more than five seconds; because she performs better under pressure and because she's actually one of those people that enjoys doing something.'

"Let me work at the headquarters."

"No way."

"Then take me with you in the next campaign trip."

"No," he said with taut finality.

Elena was admiring the many pictures on the wall. There was one of Damon and Elijah when they were young. Then there was one with both Salvatore brothers and Caroline in the middle. They were from Stefan and Caroline's wedding from what Elena could tell. She moved a few steps to her right and found a war picture of a younger Giuseppe Salvatore and under the picture it was written 'South Korea 1951 – Majors Giuseppe Salvatore and Damon Fell. Elena thought the guy must've been a really good friend to Giuseppe if he named his son after him.

"I'm I'll behave," she murmured. Her attention still concentrated on the pictures.

"I said no Kat. Been there, done that, remember?"

"it will be different this time."

"You're not a team player Katherine and you know it. You will get bored after a day or two and just like last time you'll start complaining. I won't have time to entertain you. I'll be writing speeches, giving speeches and shaking hands all day and at night all I'll want to do is sleep. No one will have time for your whims Kat," Damon shouted as he got up from the chair behind the desk. He went around the other two chairs and stopped a few steps away from her.

"I want to help you, Damon."

"Why?"

"Because you're running for the Senator and it's my job as your wife to be there with you, helping with everything I can."

"That's bullshit Katherine and you know it."

"Hey. I thought you two might be in need of an arbitrator by now," Elijah said as he entered the room. "What are you doing here?" he asked looking at Elena.

"I'm here to see my husband if that's alright with you Elijah," Elena answered in a fake sweet voice.

"Wha, easy, I was just asking. So, what are you two so feistily fighting about?"

"She wants to come with us on the campaign trip," Damon answered.

"Oh, not again!"

"I'll be good this time, I promise. Now that I know what to expect and what's expected of me, it will go better," Elena explained and Elijah raised an eyebrow at Damon who just shrugged casually. A part of her still waited for that time when Damon will stand up and take her side, but that would be too much to expect seeing that he hated her. Ok, maybe not her personally, he didn't even know her, but he definitely hated his wife.

"What do you think, Elijah?" Damon asked.

"Well, don't take this the wrong way man, but a handsome couple is way easier to sell than a handsome man all by himself."

"Are you saying she should go?"

"Look, there's this welcome party Katherine's been invited to. I declined in her behalf, saying that she's not feeling up to a black-tie event yet, but I can call and accept. It's not really campaigning; it's going to be more like heavy socializing."

"So, it will be like a test for me?"

"Take it as you wish," Elijah answered casually.

"Thank you for your advice Elijah, now I would like to be alone with my wife if you don't mind," Damon said and Elijah nodded.

"Should I make the call?"

"Yes, tell them we'll be there."

"I'll do it right away."

"Thank you."

As soon as the door closed after Elijah, Damon turned to face Elena for the first time since they stepped into his office.

"We leave at seven, be ready or I go without you," he said and Elena smiled. She wouldn't let his lack of enthusiasm bring her down. Finally after all this time she had something to look forward to and be damned if she would allow anything or anyone to stop her from enjoying that.

N: Please don't forget to drop in a review and let me know you're still with me. J