AN: Okay, I'm sorry for the long wait but I wanted to get chapters 6&7 written before posting this one. And I also kept rethinking the entire plot line and every chapter that I've written so far. I'm my worst and hardest critic. Been going through a writing funk lately, so if this isn't up to par; I'm sorry. On to other important matters: tonight's episode was so wonderful, nerve-wrecking, emotionally draining, and just pure bad-ass than any of the previous. And Bonnie, my God; she was the most bad ass witch there. Filled with awesome!
So, I've predicted this fic to be roughly 10 to 12 chapters; not sure yet, though. There are so many things that I want to do, but the characters won't let me. They're dictators, I tell ya! They don't let me sleep, eat, do anything without shouting at me and driving me crazy (good crazy, though.)
Anyway, thank you all for sticking with me this long. So here's chapter 5, technically it's a two-parter. Chapter six will be part two, which I should get up in a few days. So for now; enjoy, my sweets!
I almost jumped from the car as we pulled into the driveway of my house, but the doors were locked and Damon gave his don't you dare look as my hand grazed the handle. My thoughts were racing with possibilities of what I was going to walk in on. Would Jenna and Ric have already found Jeremy? Would he be alive? I prayed the he'd be tucked away in his room, listening to music, generally ignoring the world. As Damon stopped the car, I jumped from the passenger seat, grabbing my bag. But, as I ran towards the porch, I had an odd feeling. Something was off, shouldn't the sheriff be here if he was missing? That's when my worst thought settled in; oh God, no. I bolted to the door, yanking it open.
"Jenna!" I screamed into the house. My head snapped up as I heard something fall on the floor upstairs. I dropped all of my stuff onto the floor and ran up the stairs. I was met by a very naked Ric at the top landing. I spun around quickly and covered my eyes.
"Where's Jenna?" I asked, embarrassed.
"Uh, Jenna," he called. "It's Elena. I'm just gonna... yeah."
I turned around slowly as he stepped back into Jenna's room. Jenna appeared in the hallway, tying a robe across her waist, with a surprised look on her face.
"Elena," she said, confused. "What're you doing home? I thought you were staying at the lake house until the end of summer." Okay, now I'm confused.
"You called me, Jenna," I clarified. "You said that Jeremy was missing and that I needed to come home."
Her forehead creased as her brow knitted together. "No, I didn't," she said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Yeah, you did," I retorted. This was becoming too wierd. "Don't you remember? It was like, three hours ago."
She shook her head and frowned. "I didn't call you, Elena. And Jeremy's in his room... I think."
Her eyes widened as we both ran for Jeremy's room. Jenna flung the door open, showing Jeremy sleeping in his bed. Relief washed over me at the sight of my brother sleeping peacefully. She quietly pulled the door shut and said, "see? He's fine. Are you sure you're okay?" She laughed as she walked back to her room. Was I okay? Did I imagine that phonecall? I walked downstairs slowly as I questioned my sanity.
"Everything okay?" My head snapped up as Damon stepped forward. I nodded and pulled my phone from my purse, checking my recent calls. Sure enough, I had gotten a call from Jenna hours ago.
"Yeah, it's just," I said, shaking my head in disbelief. "She doesn't remember calling me; swears that she didn't." He cocked his head to the side.
"Sounds like she was compelled," he said.
That couldn't be true. Stefan and Damon were the only vampires - living vampires anyway - invited into this house and Damon was with me. That left Stefan. I shook my head; that was stupid. Stefan would never do that. He and Damon both promised that they wouldn't. Then again, Damon broke that promise to find me, so why couldn't Stefan? But Stefan wasn't Damon; he would compel Jenna.
"I don't think so," I muttered. "Maybe I'm just going crazy." He rolled his eyes as a chuckle escaped his throat.
"You're not crazy," he said as he held my hands in his. "I'll find out what's going on, okay?" I nodded as he kissed my cheek softly and walked back outside. I turned quickly as Jenna and Ric coughed loudly.
"So that's the we?" Jenna asked. Alaric folded his arms across his now clothed chest and shook his head disapprovingly.
"Elena," he said, "are you sure about this?"
"'Cause it's Damon, honey," Jenna said. "He's not really a knight-in-shining-armor, ya know?"
Picking up my bags, I nodded.
"Yes, I know Jenna, but he's changing," I said. "He has a good heart and he's kind. I know that he's done things that he isn't proud of, but who hasn't? And for your question, Ric; I know what I'm doing. Trust me, okay?" I nodded and squeazed her hand reassurringly. She smiled and pulled me into a hug.
"I'm glad you're home," she sighed. I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a small squeeze. I missed Jenna so much. She was the only "mother" figure that I had left. I felt comfortable and safe in her embrace. She pulled away and let go of me. I nodded at Ric and walked upstairs to my room. Walking through the door, I inhaled the sweet, familiar scent of my room. Everything was exactly how I'd left it. As my eyes landed on my empty bed, I felt sluggishly tired and sleepy. This had been a super long morning and it was still technically night, so I slid - almost dove - under my covers and drifted back into sleep.
I drifted aimlessly into a rather large, open field; much like the one at the lake house. But this was different. I couldn't pinpoint how, but I felt a familiarness with this place, but it was tinged with uneasiness, as well. Something bad was going to happen; I just knew it. That was when he came into view. He was of medium height, not much taller than Damon; dark, wavy hair covering his head above dark, brown eyes. His clothers were disheveled and dirty, blood stained most of his shirt. His was dressed oddly, too. It seemed to be very, very retro; like, 19th century or something (I didn't really pay attention in history; Ric's kinda boring sometimes.) But there was something about his eyes, something familiar; they eminated terror to the extreme. But it was a calm, collected kind of terror; like, he could kill you without a second thought. Apart from his eyes and clothes, nothing seemed to be different. I felt a familiar twinge under this man's eyes and - by the way he was looking at me - he seemed to know me, too. He stepped into the clearing, gracefully - almost cat-like in his movements.
"Hello, my dear," he said as he stopped in front of me, extending his hand. I met his hand with mine and he brought it to his lips, kissing my knuckles softly. As I watched him kiss my hand, I noted the silk glove encasing my hand and most of my forearm. He peered under his lashes at me as a devious grin lit his features.
"I have been looking everywhere for you, Katerina," he said. Katerina? Did he think that I was Katherine? I mean yeah, we looked alike, but couldn't he tell that I was human? I slid my hand from his and clasped it with mine behind my back. No matter how much I should've been afraid of his gaze, it only seemed to make me enamoured with him. My mind and body was reacting strangely to his presence, as if it knew him and I was a little slow to catch up.
"There is no need to fear me, Katerina," he said softly. "You are perfectly safe with me, love." He stepped forward and caressed my cheek with is his outstretched hand, brushing his thumb against my cheek.
"No fear," he repeated.
I smiled whole-heartedly at him and unfolded my hands, bringing them in front of me. He released my cheek and took my hand in his and nestled it into the crook of his elbow.
"I have something I want to show you," he said. He pulled us deeper into the woods, never once telling me where we were going. Trees and brush passed us on both sides, hindering my view to only what was directly in front of me. All the while, his hand was soft and gentle against mine. I didn't fear him; on the contrary, it seemed as though I... cared for him. If only I knew who he was...
I was dragged from my sleep by a knocking on my window. I silently prayed that they'd take a hint and leave, so I could finish out my odd dream. I rolled over away from the window and snapped my eyes shut again. Tap. Tap. Tap. I opened my eyes and rolled them in frustration, swinging my legs around and onto the floor. I walked slowly to the window, still tired and weak from lack of a good nights rest. I kneeled onto the window seat and moved the curtain aside. The face I saw wasn't the one that I was expecting.
"Stefan," I said, quietly; my forehead creasing in confusion. "What're you doing here?"
He smiled and tapped on the window again. "Let me in and I'll tell you," he quipped. I turned the lock and edged the window open, quietly. He stepped inside with an occomadated ease and took a seat on the window seat, closing the window behind him. I returned to the edge of my bed and sat down, folding my hands together in my lap.
"So?" I asked, looking down at my intertwined fingers..
"I'm here to see you," he said, a bewildered look crossing his face. "You've been gone for a while and I wanted to see you."
I sighed heavily, but forced a tired smile.
"And you woke me up for that?" I asked, laughing.
He stood from the window seat and walked gingerly to sit next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
"Oh, don't be so pouty," he joked, as he rubbed my shoulder with his hand gently. "I wanted to make sure you were doing okay."
"Thank you for you concern, Stefan," I said, "but I'm fine."
He nudged me into his side. "You sure?" He asked, his voice laced with concern. I turned to meet his gaze and smiled.
"I wouldn't lie to you, Stefan," I said, honestly. "I'm okay, really. You don't have to be worried about me."
Stefan rolled his eyes. "I love you, Elena. I'll always worry about you," he said as he tipped my chin up with him free hand.
"Stefan," I said as I removed my chin from his hand. "W-we need to talk about something."
My stomach clenched sickeningly as I ran over my impending speech; it was dreadful, but I needed to do it.
"Okay," he said, warily. I took a deep breath and gathered my wits about me, looking him dead in the eyes.
"You know that I'll always love you, right?" I asked, but didn't wait for an answer. "I will, but it's a different kind of love now, Stefan. It's more... platonic, I guess is the word."
I took another deep breath and prepared for what would be the hardest thing for him to hear.
"And now," I began slowly, "things have changed. I have changed. Okay, I'm getting way off track here. When we broke up, it wasn't because of anything either of us did. We drifted apart; wanted different things. And, then I went to the lake house and everything changed. I had time to think about things that I wanted and the things that I," I swallowed thickly, "the things that didn't want." I spit the last sentence out quietly, as if speaking louder would've brought my entire house down. Stefan slipped his arm off my shoulders and turned his body towards me.
"So you're saying that you and I, we aren't together anymore?" He asked. I saw pain flicker in his green eyes and my heart ached.
Yes, Stefan, that's exactly what I meant. I simply nodded.
"Okay," he said quietly, "I know you have more to say, so go on."
"You're gonna hate me if I do," I said softly as I looked at the floor. He covered my cheek with his hand and brought me to face him.
"I could never hate you, Elena," he said, nodding to make his point.
"Uh, okay," I started, "When we ended, it was a rough couple of months for me and I needed to get away from everything." I generally - for Stefan's sanity - left out the part about it being mostly about Damon and I having sex, and not so much about our break-up. But, still, it added to the whole pot boiling over.
"So, I went to the lake house. I tried so hard to keep it from everyone except Jenna, Jeremy, and Bonnie that I was there; I couldn't deal with anyone else coming to find me. But, so typical of him, but Damon came to the lake house while I was there. He had compelled Jenna to tell him where I was and then he found me. I was angry at him for what he'd done, so I didn't invite him in and he sat on the porch for hours while I slept inside. I was so furious with him, but then... it went away, Stefan. It just left. I didn't know why or how, but it had."
I continued to ramble on about mine and Damon's fight and then heart-to-heart talk - I left out the amount of sex that we'd had, though. Stefan simply nodded and listened the entire time and I felt ashamed for what I was doing to him. I was undoubtedly hurting more than he was letting on, but I couldn't just deny my feelings for Damon; especially to Stefan.
"So, in short, Damon and I are... well, I'm not really sure what we are right now. But, we're in a good place right now and I'm sorry if you hate me, Stefan. It has nothing to do with you; anything you did or didn't do, it's all me. I can't help how I feel. You and I had something that was truly wonderful and I wouldn't give it back for the world, but people change; I've changed."
Stefan stood from my bed and paced the floor slowly, rubbing a hand over his face.
"You and Damon?" He asked as he rubbed the back of his neck. I had a feeling he wasn't actually talking to me; more of letting it settle within himself.
"I don't know what to say, Elena," he said. "Are you certain it's what you want?"
I gave him a determined nod.
He stopped pacing and stood in front of me, taking my hands in his.
"I will always love you and if this is what you want, then who am I to stand in your way," he said. I stood up and threw my arms around his neck, hugging him tightly.
"Thank you," I whispered into his neck. "Thank you." He rubbed my side, gently and then we separated.
He nodded and smiled. As I looked into his glistening eyes, he dipped his head slowly, his lips landing on mine. This kiss didn't hold much; it was goodbye. I could feel it and I knew that he could, too. It was chaste and simple; it wasn't romantic; there were no fireworks or bursts of light; it was honest and pure. It was our final tribute to our relationship. A simple kiss to end it all.
"You had me fooled, ya know that?" I detached my lips from Stefan's and turned towards my doorway. Damon leaned casually against the doorframe, his arms folded across his chest, his jaw ridged. He clenched his jaw and tipped his head to the side.
"Well, don't stop on my account," he quipped, his lips set into a hard line. I opened my mouth to speak, but my mouth wouldn't form words.
"I believed it all, Elena," he said as he pushed himself away from the doorframe. "Every single word, Elena. You're just like her, you know that?" He sneered and shook his head. Damon straightened himself and looked directly into my eyes. Tears were forming in my eyes as his stare never left me. I could see pain all over his face and in his eyes and my heart cried out.
"You can both go to hell," he said as he turned and left. I could hear his boots against the hardwood floor of the stairs, but I couldn't move. Every part of me wanted to make him see that this wasn't what it looked like. As I heard the door creaking open, I bolted for the stairs, pouring every bit of energy that I had left into my legs. The door was wide open, raining was falling hard against the ground, and I could see Damon's back as he stood on the steps; his shoulders slumped in defeat. Raining drenching his shaking body.
God, what have I done?