Thanks everyone for sticking with the story I promise things will start to heat up in another two chapters I will deliver on my Delena promise.
Stefan POV
It is killing me not to go running to Elena right now but I know if I push her I'll lose any hope of having her come back to me.
Knock, Knock
I lunge towards the door "Elena!"
"Sorry to disappoint brother" Of course it's him… like this day hasn't been torturous enough.
"What do you want Damon?"
"I came to tell you not to worry about Elena… I'll leave her alone." Please, how much of a sucker do think I am? I swallow the scoff that so badly wants to escape my body.
"Really just like that? You'll understand if I don't believe you." I go to close the door but he rushes to say, "she saved my life." This has my attention and I let the door stay open waiting for Damon to explain further.
"I was dying and she was just an innocent little girl who took pity on me and saved my life… I am not going to hurt her Stefan, she may look like Katherine but she is not… she is pretty much the exact opposite."
"I know she's not its why I am in love with her." By the way my brother looks and sounds anyone else would think he was being genuine but I know better, he is up to something he has to be. He seems to get the message that I am not going to play into his act and starts to shuffle back turning to leave but of course that would make my life too easy…
"How much?" He says with his back still to me.
"How much what?" I need to hunt after this I have forgotten how exhausting my brother can be.
"How much do you love her?" Is he fucking kidding me?
"Where the hell do you get off…"?
"…Because maybe not being with her is the best thing if you love her. She is good Stefan! Her life should be bake sales or cheer practice or whatever the hell the kids do nowadays not vampires and darkness." He actually has me thinking with that one but before I can form a retort because even if he does have a point Elena and I are meant to be I know we are… he continues to lecture me.
"She's so good she wants to play counselor to two feuding vampires! That's how unlike Katherine she is; she wants us to be okay with each other! Even with all the shit on her plate she cares about both of us enough to want that for us, for you and me to have what she and Jeremy have!" I am stunned that even after seeing what she saw today she is concerned about me it would be touching if she weren't also showing concern for Damon… I won't let him pull the wool over her eyes, she is too trusting, he might care about her in this moment but my brother lost his humanity ages ago and could just as easily wake up tomorrow and be completely over this role of playing the decent guy. I decide I need play this smart and get him on side. I shout for Zach leaving Damon confused.
"Invite him in," he looks as me unsure, I glance a Damon his also apparently unsure.
"Stefan?" he squints his beady little eyes at me.
"One condition, you tell me why you are really here." I study him to gauge whether he is going to take the bait. I suppress the smile that desperately wants to creep across my face because it is right there that I see him soften… I got him.
"I am here to get Katherine out of the tomb."
"Can that even be done?"
"Well I am sure as hell gonna try brother." This has me thinking…
"I'll help." I state plainly.
"What! Why?" He says talking out of the side of his mouth, I forgot about that annoying habit of his.
"The sooner you get what you want the sooner you're out of Mystic Falls." His lips press together and he rolls his eyes…
"…And away from Elena, right?" I shrug.
"You get what you want I get what I want." He studies me for a moment before agreeing.
"Alright you got yourself deal."
I nod to Zach and he invites Damon in. Controlling my disdain towards my brother is going to be a struggle but I'll do whatever necessary to stay close… I can't let him succeed, Katherine can never get out. As much as I want to protect Elena from Damon I know Katherine would be the bigger risk to her, that takes priority.