N: Hey guys, I want to thank you for all your reviews and kind words, they mean so much to me and seeing how many people have waited for an update on this story made me…inspired. Here is the next chapter, hope you'll enjoy.

Old ways

Elena was pretty sure that Damon could hear her heart beating its way out of her chest. It wasn't often that Elena Gilbert was lost for words, but at this moment she couldn't think of one single thing to say that didn't sound like a cheap excuse.

"I was getting a midnight snack when Katherine came in for a glass of milk because she couldn't sleep. If you ask me it's only normal she'll be too nervous to sleep before a flight." Stefan's voice sounded casual and confident but Elena notice his fingers curl into fists.

Damon's eyes were still on Elena and she could tell he had trouble trusting his brother. She could understand why Damon will always jump to the most outrageous conclusions, but it always bothered her that he had such little trust in her. After all, she, Elena Gilbert gave him no reason to act this way. She hated the fact that he had such little faith in her and such little confidence in what they had.

"I'll escort you to your room," Damon hissed at Elena. She nodded, told Stefan good night and followed Damon up the stairs. He didn't say a word until they reached her bedroom. He opened the door and waited for her to get inside before following and closing the door behind him.

"Damon I –"

"I swore I would never let myself feel that way again. Feel you slip through my fingers and hating myself for not being enough for you," he took in a deep breath and Elena jumped at the opportunity to say something.

"Please tell me you are not feeling that way now! Damon, you have no reason to feel that way."

"I know, but Katherine, there are too many things I just can't forget. I am not the most forgiving person in the world, gaining my trust once you've lost it it's almost impossible and yet I find myself wanting…needing to trust you again."

"Then trust me," she said softly, not sure it was what he wanted to hear. If she was being honest, she had no idea what she could say to him to make him trust her, to make him believe her. She tried, but it seemed that no matter what Elena did or said, Damon just couldn't let go of all the things Katherine did to him and their daughter.

"Did –" Damon stopped and looked away, as if he was having a difficult time saying what he was about to say. "Was there anything between you and my brother? Please be honest with me, you awe me that much."

"No," Elena answered almost immediately. "There was never anything between us."

"I believe you," he said turning towards the door. "Oh and," he turned back towards Elena. "You have milk on your chin," he said then he got out of the room.

Elena made her way towards the mirror and predictable enough she noticed a white stain on her chin. She whipped it away with a smile. So Damon had actually believed her.

***Lucky 13***

Before they had to go to the airport Elena told Damon she has to do some last minute shopping so she'll be able to see Alaric and Jeremy.

"Where's Jeremy?" she asked as soon as she got inside.

"Late, as usual. Are you alright?" Alaric asked. "You look…spooked."

"I think I was followed."

"Are you sure? Could it be that you are just getting paranoid because the Election Day is tomorrow and you still have no idea who the killer in the family is?"

"No, there was a black Nissan behind me, from the moment I entered the city and I only managed to lose him a few blocks away."

Alaric poured a glass of water and handed it to Elena. She grabbed the glass automatically taking a few sips. She was a hundred percent sure she had been followed. Alaric was right about one thing: she was running out of time. She had one more day to figure out who was planning on killing the man she loved and she was no closer to discovering that than she had been months ago when she first realized he was in danger.

"What am I going to do Ric?" she asked. Once Alaric's arms closed around her, she started crying. "What if I won't be able to save him?"

"Shhh, it will be ok. Maybe he changed his mind now that he knows you're on to something."

"Damon is vulnerable, he would never in a million years suspect someone in his family would hurt him. He will never see it coming."

"It's not too late. I have a friend in the FBI, he can be discreet; no one besides you has to know the FBI is there."

"We talked about this Ric; I don't want the police involved; I want the feds involved even less. Anything I do out of the ordinary can tip the killer off and make him rush."

"I just hoped you changed your mind," Alaric whispered sadly. He had lost her once when he thought she was dead and he sure as hell wasn't ready to lose her again.

"Stefan knows."

"The brother?"

"Yes."

"How? Did you tell him?"

"No, he and Katherine had been intimate. He walked on me and Damon and he noticed my birthmark, he knew I wasn't Kathrine because she had no birthmarks."

"How did he react?"

"As expected, asking me who I was, threatening to expose me. I explained everything and he gave me two days to come clean. I don't think he believes my conspiracy theory but at least he is willing to give me some time. I am sure that if I don't say something by Friday, he will tell Damon." Elena took another sip from her glass and whipped her face with a blue handkerchief.

"I'll send Jeremy and Trevor, in case anything happens at least you have friends out there and I will be near as well."

"Thank you Ric, it means a lost having you guys watching over me. I have to go, but if there's anything new just call at the hotel, I left you the numbers on the fridge. Just tell them you are my trainer or my nutritionist or something." Elena kissed Alaric on both cheeks and gave him an extra tight hug before grabbing her purse and storming out of the house. She looked around, but the black Nissan was parked too far for her to see. She only noticed the car after she passed the first traffic light.

Only after she was sure she lost her tail, Elena finally pulled in the store's parking lot. She told everyone she's going out for a last minute shopping spree; she had to buy something to justify her absence. After buying a hand cream, two pairs of socks and one pair of stockings, Elena came out of the store. She placed her shopping bag on the passenger seat and climbed in the car without a second look around. She did not see the back Nissan coming towards her until it was too late. The last thing Elena remembered was the sound of her own screams.

***Lucky 13***

Damon got at the hospital in record time. He let the car at the entrance, not carrying that it might get taken away and he will definitely get a ticket, all he cared about was getting inside as soon as possible. He got past two sets of doors before one of the nurses stopped him.

"I am sorry sir, but you can't go through these doors," the nurse said calmly.

"They just called to tell me that –"

"I am sorry sir, but this area is for personal only."

"I just need to know she's okay, please," Damon begged.

"Are you a doctor, or a nurse?" she paused for a few moments, waiting for Damon's answer that didn't come. "I thought so. Now please take a seat in the waiting area before I call security."

"You don't understand, it's my wife in there!" Damon shouted. "I don't care who you're calling, I am going to see if my wife's alright."