Chapter 8 – THE REAPING

-Stefan-

I read her text from the driver's seat, leaning against the door with my head resting on my fist, then cut my eyes over to see her repressing a smile.

Elena: I'm still mad at you.

Elena is attentively looking at the line of parked cars in front of us as if it's incredibly interesting – like we haven't been sitting in this traffic jam for more than twenty minutes. I can't help but smile too. I mean, first of all, my wife is gorgeous in any light, but there's something about sunlight and the color of Elena's hair and skin that makes her look… well, unreal I guess. Elena is stunningly beautiful. The first time I really saw her, I mean truly got to look into her eyes and the first time I felt the frequency we share was in sunlight like this – the kind that reflects in the chestnut brown of her eyes and catches the auburn streaks in her hair. Just thinking about running into her in that graveyard makes me want to lean over and kiss her.

I woke up smiling – holding my wife against me. We went to breakfast with her friends and family, holding hands - we talked quietly with one another while the group was loud and, if you asked me, a bit annoying. I've not stopped grinning since I woke up this morning – it's been more than three hours, an hour of which I've spent driving and listening to her and Caroline hash out the wedding in November. Klaus adds his opinion here and there, but I've been mostly quiet, holding Elena's hand and just being happy.

If you know me at all, you understand how peculiar that is – being happy… smiling. Come to think of it, I've been smiling for two years now.

I'm just about to text back and tell her that the only reason everyone gave her such a hard time about her 'vocal abilities' as Bonnie called it, is because they're jealous that she's so hot, but she sends me a second, less flirty text before I can respond.

Elena: We don't have a song.

We've been over this already once today – when I argued that we do, she was somehow able to convince me that we indeed do not have a song. That Matt Nathanson song from the founders party – it was our first dance together. Elena said it didn't count because we ended up arguing about me being too secretive before the song was over. Fair point. So I bring up the first decade dance and a handful of songs from the 50's that we danced to – Someone was trying to kill me. Like every other dance we went to. So that cancels them all out. Again, I couldn't really disagree – Klaus was after her at her junior year dance, then Ester at the 20's era.

The Original's ball? Nope, we weren't even together. You were pretending to hate me, remember? True. But I was doing a terrible job… I can't tell you how badly I wanted to graze my fingertips against the side of her face, down the skin of her bare shoulders. It was such a strong desire I had to keep my hands shoved deep in my pockets for most of the night… my only relief came at the hand of a well-timed partner exchange during the waltz.

When Klaus brought her to Naples? Again, no. It was pretend and too sad knowing that the perfect weekend would be over way too soon.

It would've been horrible if she'd agreed, but I even brought up some of those disco songs we danced to in Charlottesville – luckily, Elena shot them down. We were sneaking around, Stefan…

That Ed Sheeran song from the music festival in Dallas? Elena said she wasn't herself. How can I disagree? Half of her memories had been stolen away… so okay, we don't have a song.

This morning, still half-asleep, she brought up the Neil Diamond song that Caroline likes so much. The instant Caroline said, "Remember this song, Stefan? It's our song!" I knew I was going to have trouble with Elena but that Everclear had me way too off kilter to properly react. Truth is, it's not our song. Like I told Elena this morning, it became our song by accident. Caroline and I were still in Italy and there was a relentless guy who wanted to date her. By relentless, I mean he just did not understand the word no, in any language. But he owned the only decent bar in the town we were staying in and since we didn't have any other options for alcohol - we were pretty much living off of liquor at that time, with both of us going through our own nightmare in relation to Elena and Klaus - we kept going to his place. One night when we showed up, the regular patrons that we were, the guy started playing this song over the surround sound and Caroline says, Oh thanks, that's mine and Stefan's song.

And that's it. That's the big story of how 'Sweet Caroline' became our song. Really, it's how we started pretend dating… then really dating. Ok. So maybe it is our song. But it's not a romantic thing in anyway – if anything, it's hilarious to think of that poor, middle-aged man trying so hard to get with a vampire who was so uninterested in him that she wouldn't even feed on him.

"Elena, tell Klaus that it's tradition that the groom not see the bride." Caroline is set on this… they've been bickering about it for a long while now. It's a good thing she didn't ask me because I happen to agree with Klaus – they're already married. What's the point? Elena seems to think it's a good tradition to follow and is explaining to Klaus as I text her back.

Stefan: We have a thousand songs. Every song, ever written.

I read it twice before sending.

It sounds like a line – maybe a bit too romantic for a playful texting session while waiting in traffic with a semi-argument going on in the backseat – but it's the truth. What we have is incredibly unique… it's what everyone dreams of having, what poets and song writers are hoping for. It sometimes bothers me that Elena doesn't seem to understand that, but I have to remind myself that this is all she's ever known… she was only seventeen when we met. Other than me, she's only had a couple other relationships. Elena doesn't have much to compare to. Just her high school boyfriend, Matt, and Damon.

"Klaus. Seriously." Caroline groans – I feel the SUV rock a bit and imagine she's most likely frustrated and turned away from him, pouting I'm sure. "This is non-negotiable."

"Everything is negotiable." Klaus responds, sounding just as peeved but speaking through a forced chuckle. "Do I even need to be there or are you planning on an understudy?"

In order to intervene, Elena has turned around in her seat, now facing Caroline and Klaus, but I feel her eyes graze over me when she reads my message. Despite the warmth of the frequency we share, I keep my eyes ahead of me.

"If you don't want to be there, I'm sure I could find someone else to wear the suit. He'd be as into the wedding as you are!"

Interrupting, Elena offers, "What if Stefan takes you out for a bachelor party, Klaus?", her hand finding its way to my shoulder – a silent apology for committing me to something she knows I will hate. "The ladies can have our night of spa treatments and wine while you guys go and do… guy things."

The farm truck in front of me starts to move, so I turn on the engine in hopes that we're actually going to get going and the radio starts up again.

Caroline is being extra crass, stopping her rant about Klaus not being invested in the wedding to complain about the music. "Ugh, Stefan. What is it with you and this old music?"

"It's the only English radio station out here, Car." Elena explains, now back in her seat and texting. "The Golden Oldies are our only choice until we get closer to town."

We don't move more than fifteen feet before we're completely stopped once again.

"Well it's horrible. I hate The Beatles."

Klaus gasps. Literally gasps – a big, unplanned, inhale of air – then a loud "What?!"

I can't help but laugh, though I try to cover my face with my hand like I'm frustrated with the traffic as the argument begins to pick up in the backseat – now they're discussing Paul McCartney and John Lennon. Caroline has no music history knowledge whatsoever. At one time, I had to explain to her that her favorite song was actually done by Dolly Parton before Whitney Houston was even old enough to drive… but she's pushing back at Klaus like she actually has an opinion on The Beatles.

Elena: I'm serious. I want to be able to say 'hey, that's our song.'

Klaus offers up a bargain – he'll agree to the night apart if he can pick the music for the reception. Of course, he says he wants The Beatles. "Paul McCartney sounds like a goat!" Caroline half yells, getting a quick response from Klaus.

"A goat? You've lost your mind!"

But she continues to speak over him. "I don't want a goat singing at our wedding!"

From the drivers side mirror, I catch Damon getting out of the SUV that Jeremy, Bonnie, he and Katherine are in, so I open my door as well – thankful for the escape. I've met him in the middle of the distance between our two parked trucks when I get another message from Elena.

Elena: Leaving me to deal with them? U owe me… ;)

I turn to see her looking at me through the open car windows with that smile on her face, the one that wrinkles up her nose a bit, and I can't wait to 'repay' her. I'm still not sure who to be pissed at, Damon or Klaus, but after one of them interrupted us last night, I had to go to sleep with that aching pressure while Elena slept like a rock. You'd think that there's some guy-code about that – beating on the wall and interfering.

"We're literally in the middle of nowhere and you find a traffic jam?" Damon asks, holding his hands up and shrugging. "We're going to miss our flights out of here, you know that right?"

I know. Trust me. I've been looking forward to everyone leaving this afternoon, but we got out of bed late, took way too much time during breakfast, and if this traffic doesn't start moving very soon, I'm going to be putting up with everyone for another night.

Still, I'm hopeful, and message Elena,

Stefan: After last night, I think you're in debt to me. When can I expect you to pay up?

"I'm not sure what's going on." I slip my phone back in my pocket and try rubbernecking a bit, hoping to catch some sort of sign of what's causing the hold up. "This is the only road up and down the coast, but it's not very well taken care of, so who knows what's causing the back up."

"And why is it you live here, again?" Damon sighs, leaning back against the fender of the SUV just as a man calls to us from a windowless box truck.

He's got the look of a farm hand – over worked, leathered skin, and dirty, permanently stained clothes, so I'm surprised by his decent English. "Is cows." Speaking loudly, the man points down the road ahead of us. "Cows. They break out. Cows everywhere."

Damon and I both nod, I wave a thank you. After a silent moment or two, I head back to let everyone know what's going on, with Damon in tow, groaning, "Cattle in the street? We might as well be back in 1864!"

The instant Damon and I step into Elena's view, her face turns to stone when she spots him and I'm reminded that she's planning on asking him about her mother soon. I guess the delay in everyone leaving is a good thing as far as that is concerned.

With Caroline and Klaus still bickering, and Elena giving Damon the cold-shoulder, my update about the traffic jam is quick and I get very little response – just a 'that's fine' from Elena before I turn around to face Damon.

He gives me a shrug, gesturing towards Elena, but I'm not touching that subject – not here at least, so I just shake my head like I don't know why she's acting cold towards him. We stand there quietly for a bit, listening to Klaus trying to barter with Caroline and the last bit of Stormy Weather by Etta James. After checking his phone, flipping through some app, Damon starts to go back to his SUV. I don't know why I pick now to talk to him about his money problems, but I haven't been able to get him alone so I figure I may as well take advantage of the opportunity.

"Hey, um," I don't usually 'um', but this is going to be an odd conversation and I'm not totally sure how to go about it. "How are things?" Nervous, I look down at my phone, then my shoes.

Damon must be able to feel the awkwardness too, but he's always been better at putting on and hardly reacts – just shifts his weight from one leg to the other and raises his eyebrows as he asks in a snarky tone, "How are… things?"

"How are you doing in school? And how are things at home?" I hate lying, but it comes out of my mouth before I can stop it, "You and Katherine seem to be doing well."

Shifting his weight again, Damon snarls at me, huffing loudly to let me know I'm annoying him. "What? Are you worried that we've turned your bedroom into a Red Room of Pain?" I give him a laugh on that one… of course, if Damon's ever going to read a book it would be Fifty Shades of Grey. Grabbing my shoulder, he says in a joking tone, "Don't worry, Stefan. You can always come home."

"Thanks, Damon. Really." I laugh, shrugging to get his hand off of me.

We're awkwardly silent for a long moment – at first I think it's because of my terrible segway, but then Damon says, "You know, it wouldn't be horrible… you moving back to Mystic Falls." He's staring over my shoulder out towards the ocean in the far distance, speaking in a somewhat odd octave. "I'd like to be able to see my niece and nephew more often, and having you around gives me a boost of confidence –my runt little brother is a constant reminder than I got the looks and the brains in the family."

It's really strange, Damon and I having a moment, as they've been very few and far between for close to two centuries now and I have to look down at the ground. It probably sounds like he's being a dick, but I know my brother and I get the very truthful tone of his statement, even if he did tie it in with a joking insult. Damon misses me.

Crossing my arms, I sniff harshly and scrunch up my face to wash away any sign of the extreme amount of joy his words give me before I look at him and tell him I miss him too, but in a way that only he would understand, "I know."

Damon does his own version of forcing a straight face – nodding, knitting his brow, slightly turning his head to the side.

Believe it or not, Damon and I have just had a very meaningful conversation in a language that only siblings, maybe only brothers, can.

After some time passes, enough that I feel like I can be straight-forward with him, I say, "But I mean, do you need anything? I know you weren't… prepared for this."

When he glares at me, I look down at my phone and read Elena's text – uncomfortable under his scrutinizing stare.

Elena: Gasp! I owe u? I think we need to compare notes. Last I remember, u turned me down this am.

I smile at Elena's flirty message and remember how I had to tear myself out of that squeaky bed this morning – she woke me up kissing my chest and her nails scrapping low on my stomach. It quickly turned into a pretty heated makeout session, but I heard the shower running in Klaus and Caroline's room and remembered the thin walls, and couldn't keep my mind in the game. Last thing I want to do is give Damon, or really any other guy within ear shot, any more reasons to want Elena.

"Are you asking me if I need money?" Damon frowns. "Because I don't need your money, baby bro."

Ah… baby bro. He only calls me that when he's getting pissed, which tells me that yes, he does need the money. "No. Of course not. I mean, um" I roll my eyes at the 'um'. "I mean, if you needed money I can give you money."

"Oh I know, Stefan. You've got plenty of money." Damon snaps sarcastically.

"Look, Katherine said" I'm about to tell him about what Katherine had told me about his books and the property taxes on the Salvatore house, but the crunching of gravel catches our attention and we both turn to see Bonnie making her way to us. Instead, I cut it short, "If you do… just tell me."

"Did that guy say there were cows loose?"

"Yep." Damon glares at me for a moment longer, then finally turns to Bonnie. "Are they still cackling?"

Bonnie rolls her eyes and crosses her arms, "Yes. I get Jeremy liking Adam Sandler, but I never would have expected Katherine."

I half listen to Bonnie and Damon complaining about Jeremy and Katherine, and Caroline and Klaus still squabbling as I text Elena back.

Stefan: You're right. How about I get back in the truck and we settle up? ;)

I give it a moment to make it to her phone, then lean over and peek in the window at her – she's giggling when she catches me watching her read the suggestive text. I nod, give her a how about it? shrug, but she just covers her laugh with her fingers and rolls her eyes at me before Caroline drags her back into the wedding debate and Klaus get out of the truck, slamming the door for good measure.

Some of the other people have gotten out of their cars – it's probably in the mid 80's, but there's a decent breeze so it's cooler to get out. Plus there's no sign of us moving any time soon. There's a couple of elderly folks sitting on the tailgate of an old rusted out Toyota pick-up, a few kids playing near these red flowered trees that line most of the eastern side of the road, and a handful of farm hands that appear to be trying to catch a nap in the back of the covered truck their riding in.

"Are they arguing?" Bonnie whispers to me.

I'm about to tell her no, not really, when Damon says, "Rich people problems."

And they both laugh – Bonnie even leans over and nudges Damon with her elbow – and that's when I realize, Damon and Bonnie have an inside joke. Given their history, that's even more odd that Katherine and Jeremy bonding over Adam Sandler.

I'm watching my brother joking with Elena's best friend, paying close attention to the way he lets his hand linger on her skin as he swipes a lady-bug off of her shoulder, when I get Elena's texts.

Elena: You're so bad! Or, iniquitous, right? :P

Elena: Lets pick a song… everything I can think of is tied to some sad memory.

-Elena-

Caroline is venting about Klaus even though he's standing right outside of her door and the window is down – it's funny how he's acting like he doesn't hear her. She's doing the same. Just completely ignoring him complaining about her and her control issues as if there is a sound proof wall between them.

I've been so sad thinking about everyone leaving this afternoon, but now that it looks like they're going to be staying for atleast another night, I'm kind of disappointed. Weird, huh?

It's just that I was looking forward to getting back to my regular life – my day to day with Stefan and the kids – and then with my big plans of getting some Stefan and Elena alone time shot all the hell with too much Everclear and too much 80's karaoke, I'm kind of feigning for his attention.

I'm like a child with candy, I know – I just can't get enough of him. The instant I met Stefan, or ran into him I guess, I knew he was something more. Different. And I don't mean vampire. It was just this feeling… it swelled up inside of me and, after just a few hours of getting to know him, I loved Stefan. Not like I'd ever loved anything before in my entire life… love that rooted itself into my soul. I guess that's why I am the way I am with him.

"Elena." Caroline says my name in way that tells me she's said it more than once before I caught it. "Are you even listening to me?"

To be honest, I've been text-flirting with my gorgeous husband for most of the time, and I'm more than a little distracted by the very sexy look he gave me after I read his last message. He's wearing this white, button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up and the collar open and, wow… seriously, he's just so incredibly hot with his muscular chest and those damn eyes of his. Ugh! Anyway, I'm about to say that I was listening to the radio, but I stop myself – it would be an obvious lie because it's on a commercial break and it's all in Thai. Trying to think of something to say, I start to turn around in my seat when Stefan opens the driver door.

"Come on, get out." He smiles, dropping his phone on the seat.

There's a mischievous look in his eyes, that grin of his is a bit coy, so I ask, "Why? What are you up to?"

Shutting the door, he says again, "Get out." through the open window.

Caroline interjects in a pouty tone, "Stefan, we're having girl talk here." But neither of us look back at her. I'm too caught up by his leaf-green eyes and he's trying to will me to exit the vehicle.

After a long moment of looking at one another, smiling, he shrugs, "Fine, I'll come get you then." and is quickly coming around to my side of the car and opening the door. "Come on, get out."

I laugh and roll my eyes at him, "Why?"

"You want a song? Okay. Let's have a song." Extending his left hand to me, Stefan speaks in a silly, proper tone of voice, "Elena Salvatore, please, may I have this dance?" bowing just a bit for good measure.

Through a giggle I say, "First of all, Stefan Salvatore does not dance unless absolutely begged to do so, and second, there's no music." Even as I'm partially denying him, I'm turning in my seat and my feet are moving to the ground.

Leaning into the car, Stefan turns up the commercial very loud – Caroline gives a Jeez, Stefan before quickly exiting. "Oh I dance." He laughs, "That was just my way of getting you to ask me. Don't you know how adorable you are when you beg?" Kissing my forehead he adds, "and there is no music now, but there will be."

-Bonnie-

"What's going on?" Klaus asks, but Caroline doesn't seem to know either, so we're all watching Stefan and Elena – moving to the front of truck with a very loud, high pitched voice speaking in what I assume is Thai blaring through the radio.

"Stefan, what are you doing?" Elena giggles that same giggle she's always had - putty in his hands, or maybe the other way around. He stands in front of her, his hands finding hers, bringing one up to his smiling mouth and kissing her fingers.

I don't know why, but I look up at Damon and at the same time, he looks down at me.

"We'll leave it up to the radio Gods." Stefan laughs, looking up to the blue sky like that's an actual deity. "Whatever comes on is our song. We'll even have a story to tell about a bunch of cows!"

"Yea, Stefan asked me to dance with him in the middle of a traffic jam when any other time I'd have to beg him." Elena says, pressing her body up against his and punctuating her sentence with a kiss on his lips. Again, Damon looks down at me, but I keep my eyes on Elena and Stefan.

A few notes start and I'm sorry I have just got to laugh – I mean I nearly double over, instead I lean my head over on Damon's arm and hold his shoulder.

"This is perfect." Stefan laughs, "Perfect song." Slipping his arm around her waist, they actually start dancing in the middle of the road, with everyone watching.

Stefan even sings the first line to her "I been really tryin' baby…" as they sway back forth in a very Dirty Dancing-esque way.

Caroline and Klaus, Damon and I stand there a bit and watch them, dancing much too close for two sober people in the early afternoon, but they're laughing and being goofy, and it's almost contagious.

"You and I are going to have to step up our game if we continue to hang around him." Klaus says to Damon, gesturing to Stefan. Then in some silent communication between the two of them, Caroline and Klaus are holding hands and going to dance next to Elena and Stefan – their argument overwith, totally forgotten.

I swear to you I don't know why we keep doing this, but I look up and Damon and he looks down at me. Thing is, now that we've been widdled down to the two of us being alone, it suddenly feels… strange. It takes a second, but eventually I look away from Damon's really really blue eyes and I'm pretending to watch a third couple – two elderly people – coming to the mock dance floor.

"Come on, witch," Damon says, taking my hand just as the last 'Let's Get It On' of the chorus is sang and Stefan dips a laughing Elena back. "You and I are the only people in a twenty mile radius with any rhythm."

-Stefan-

When I pull up and see Bonnie and Klaus waiting to help with the kids, for some reason I get the urge to just carry both of mine myself. I mean, I know Bonnie will get one of the twins, so that leaves either Lola or Liam or Grayson or Allie for Klaus. I'm sure it's ridiculous – but the way he dismissed Grayson the other day is still not sitting well with me, especially now that I know Klaus is going to be a father.

I throw the transmission in park and do everything but run to get Grayson, whispering loudly to wake up Allie just as Bonnie comes to her side of the car. Allie is a champion sleeper, get her in the car and she's out like a light, but this way she can walk and I'll carry Grayson and Klaus won't need to handle either of my children.

Old habits die hard… and I guess, same goes with grudges.

"Daddy, I need to take a minute." Allie yawns, slowly moving out of her carseat with Bonnie's assistance. Much like my brother, my daughter is a natural comedian - something about the way she phrases things and the timing of the words she uses is just hilarious when coming out of her adolescent mouth. I guess I'm more used to it than Bonnie and Klaus because they both nearly crack up but restrain because Lola and Grayson are still sleeping.

Adjusting my son on my shoulder, I take Allie's hand as she rubs her eyes with the other. "Come on, we'll go lay your brother down then tuck you in for a nap, okay?"

She doesn't respond, still groggy I guess. Instead she looks up at me and nods, as we start into the house. We're both quiet while putting Grayson to bed. As we are going into her room, Klaus and Bonnie pass - going back into the living room after dropping the twins in their cribs. When she finally does talk again, I'm confused and almost pass it off as just sleepy mumbling – but she asks the same question again when I'm on my way out of her room.

"What color is your flower, Daddy?" She's curled up on her side, hugging an old American Girl doll that I'd bought her years ago when we were in Wilmington. Without being able to see my green eyes on her face, she's an exact replica of the little girl I used to imagine – back when I believed I'd lost Elena to Damon.

"What do you mean?" I ask in a low whisper, not sure if she's even still awake.

Through an adorable, Elena-like yawn that wrinkles up her nose, she adds "On your arm…"

"Oh, my tattoo?" My left hand grabs my right shoulder without me even thinking about it. I've had this rose on my shoulder for going on sixty years now – honestly, I hardly even remember it's there. "It's black, er –" remembering the way the ink has faded into a less bold color, I correct myself, "more green now, I guess."

Allie doesn't move, doesn't respond at all, and I assume she's asleep though I stay and watch her for a bit longer – those memories of how gutted I was when Elena wasn't mine and my mind was filled with images of a little girl I thought I'd never have are tugging at my heart.

I stand there a long while - long enough that my legs actually feel a little tired as I turn and leave. Just before the door shuts behind me Allie mumbles, "That's the same as the scorpio, Daddy." And I chuckle at my daughter's fear of an imaginary scorpion, before I tense from a touch much too high up on my leg.

Katherine.

I turn to face her – she's so close I have to look all the down – her hands finding their way to my sides, just at the waist of my jeans, thumbs slipping under my belt.

"Just stop, Katherine." I frown, speaking quietly and taking her by the wrists, removing her touch.

Smirking as if she likes that I've forcefully grabbed her, she whispers, "Come on, Stefan, you enjoyed that little show yesterday and you know it." Leaning in against me, she adds in a cute tone of voice, "Stood around much too long to deny it."

Guilt is tightening my throat, so when I swallow, it's hard and I pray she didn't catch the sound of it – "That was nothing, Katherine." I try, but even I'm not convinced…

"Haven't seen a man look that hungry since Klaus made you binge on blood bags. Is the doppelganger not cutting it? Guess she missed out on the Petrova spirit… those Gilberts are quite boring in bed."

I pause for a moment – lost in a million thoughts of blood, the way it would coat my burning throat as I sucked it into my mouth. I only have register that she's just told me she slept with one of the Gilbert founders back in 1864 – I'm not surprised.

Strangely thirsty, my voice is more raw than I'd hoped, "I was hungry then and I was horny yesterday – don't flatter yourself, Katherine." Taking her by her small shoulders, I move her back a few inches as I say, "You look just like Elena… there's nothing more to it."

"Hmph," Katherine rolls her eyes – very bratty. "She. Looks like me."

"Oh so you're going on a technicality of who I met first?" Her hand is moving towards my chest, but I move back. "Now you're just grasping at straws."

When she steps forward I think she's moving with me, but luckily Katherine keeps going, running her hand slowly down my arm and tossing over her shoulder, "I always get what I want, Stefan… no matter what." as she leaves me in the hallway.

Angry, I stand there for a long while before deciding I need to talk to Elena, tell her about my brief-pause when I was in the extra-bedroom with Katherine. Walking to the master bedroom, Elena and I catch eyes for a moment and her smile resonates in me, but she's talking with Bonnie and Caroline so I don't interrupt. Caroline was holding that red journal so I figure they must be discussing confronting Damon.

Entering the living room, Klaus and Damon are in the kitchen working on a some cheap bottle of Gin that Damon picked up in town, and for a second I think Katherine is looking at me when she glances back before going out to the deck – she's doing that head down, looking through her lashes, siren-like allure look that she gives when she knows she's got you wrapped around her finger and it really pisses me off… but then I realize she's not looking at me.

Following her gaze, she was looking at Jeremy.

While I'm watching my brother-in-law nod at Katherine's very sexy gaze, my mind is off the rails… I'm still trying to process when Jeremy looks over at me. The wide grin that he had, the kind that a man gets when he feels indestructible, it quickly falls from his mouth and an expression I know much too well takes it's place.

It's guilt. From the slightly raised, pursed eye brows to the way his shoulders tense – I recognize the look of contrite.

All weekend they've been talking, laughing… now that I think of it, they've been standing much too closely, spending a lot of time alone on the deck, dancing together at that karaoke bar… Katherine and Adam Sandler? No. That doesn't fit her personality, at all… it's suddenly very clear to me that Katherine was not talking about a Gilbert in 1864.

Before I can stop myself I'm charging at Jeremy and he's backing up just as quickly. I see him open his mouth to say something so I take a wide stride and grab the back of his head with one hand and press tightly over his mouth with the other – If I've figured this out, Klaus and Damon can't be too far behind. The last thing he needs is to draw attention to this confrontation.

I keep my grip on him very tight until we've walked through the open French doors, turned, and I'm holding him against the wall of the house – now with my forearm pressed against his throat.

"What are you doing?!" I hiss. Hell I'm probably spitting on him. "She's dangerous, Jeremy! You're married!" He tries to turn his face, but I hold him in place with my hand still on his mouth, shoving my arm into his neck a bit harder. "Tell me I'm wrong about this, Jeremy! Tell me I'm wrong!" I'm about to ask him why he's not answering me when I realize he can't speak – he can barely breath with my arm pressing his windpipe and my hand over his mouth – so I back up and tell myself not to punch him for being such a dumbass. He's doubled over, catching his breath, and I want to hit him so badly that I have to put both of my hands behind my head, lacing my fingers together as I pace in a short half circle – keeping an eye out for anyone who may be within earshot.

Through a cough, Jeremy croaks, "It's not what you think."

"It's not? So you aren't cheating on Bonnie with my brother's girlfriend?" My phrasing surprises me… I hadn't realized that not only am I worried for Jeremy's safety and his marriage, I'm also pretty pissed off that he's messing with Damon's girl. I think, more than anything, that's why I want to punch him.

Instead of saying something – denying it – Jeremy just looks up at me with that guilty look and I shove him back against the wall, gritting my teeth as I say, "She looks just like your sister!"

Jeremy is bigger than me – let's face it, on a scale he probably outweighs me by atleast twenty pounds – and I think that he's confusing our size difference for him having an upper hand. Not happy with how I'm handling him, Jeremy moves to hit me – yea, he throws a punch at me! – but I've been fighting for as long as I can remember and I'm much more fit than he is. I think he's surprised when I block his fist and grab his throat in a motion just shy of being too quick for him to follow. I'm not a vampire and it's been a few years, but if there is one thing being Damon's little brother has taught me, it's how to put a fight when you're on the wrong end of a size difference - always go for the throat.

"Calm down." I growl at him, my mouth right against his ear. He struggles a bit, but losing oxygen is usually a pretty quick way of getting someone to conform – after a few seconds he's still, grabbing my wrist with both of his hands. "I'm going to let go… but I swear Jeremy, if you try that again."

I don't know what… if he tries to hit me, I don't know what I'll do… let's just hope it doesn't get to that point. I'll never admit it, but I like to fight. And worse, I like to win.

Stepping away, I let him catch his breath – waiting with my hands on my waist, still trying to keep myself from punching him.

"You…" Jeremy sighs, standing straight, "of all people," he rubs his throat, his voice scratchy and still short of breath, "should know that after you get past there looks… Elena and Katherine… are nothing alike."

Okay, True.

"You're married, Jeremy!" I shake my hands in front of him. "Katherine is dangerous, don't you get that?"

He shakes his head no, like I'm wrong, like I haven't spent nearly a century paying for the nights she spent in my bed. "But-"

I interrupt, "What? But what? You love her?" I'm give a crazy sounding laugh, take his head in my hands the way Damon has done to me. Holding it hard and making him look at me. "OK, so she's tricked you into believing she's something that she's not. But you can atleast agree that Damon will kill you, right? Jeremy, you've got to end this – now, today. If Damon finds out about this, you're dead."

"You act like you're all still vampires and like killing is just something you do!"

"It is!" I say through a tight jaw. "Once you kill – after that first time, the second time, the third time, the hundredth time… it's easy! There's nothing to it!" I step back, realizing how true those words are not just for Katherine and Damon, but for me too. "It changes you… and no matter what, nothing can reverse it."

Jeremy starts to say something, but the gravity that I have with Elena it's suddenly different – sharp, almost cold… it's hard to explain, but I know something is wrong and leave Jeremy for later.

-Bonnie-

With Jeremy trying to rework our flights, I've spent the last few minutes trying to talk Elena out of this… they don't know how hard things have been for Damon and Katherine. She and Stefan have been tucked away in a little paradise while the rest of us have had to live real life, with bills and mortgages and health problems, and credit scores, and I don't know when it happened… or how, but Damon and Katherine are my friends.

I'm sitting at the desk in Elena's bedroom, trying to think of another angle when I catch Elena giving a smile to the door behind me. I don't need to turn around, I know it's Stefan… she doesn't smile like that for anyone but him. Her fairytale knight in shining armor… ugh.

"You two." Caroline giggles, standing from the end of the bed and stretching. "I should be really pissed about you keeping me up last night."

I roll my eyes – again with the teasing. Yes, we get it, Stefan and Elena have great, mind blowing sex – shut up about it already.

Elena blushes, pushing her hair behind her ears and giving a light-hearted, giggling, "Stop it, Caroline."

"Never ever, will I let you live that down. Oh Stefan, I love you. OH God, yes Stefan." She mocks Elena, who playfully tosses a blanket at Caroline to shut up her.

I laugh when Elena quips, "If you want, I'll have Stefan give Klaus a 101 so you don't have to be so jealous."

Caroline hugs Elena from the side, laying her head on her shoulder, Elena resting her head on Caroline's. "Seriously, I am so happy that you and Stefan are together… you're so great together. I mean, who would have thought that you and I would end up married to best friends?"

Best Friends? Stefan and Klaus? Uh… no. Surely, Caroline is joking.

Elena and I share a quick, knowing look regarding Caroline's odd observation of Stefan and Klaus. When no one makes a comment to agree, Caroline continues, "but you've got to tell me what Stefan did?"

Laughing, shocked, Elena says, "What?"

Caroline has always been a bit nosey, but even I'm surprised by her question. We aren't kids anymore – they weren't just hooking up. Why in the world does she think Elena would give her details?

"Oh gawd, no!" Caroline giggles, releasing Elena and moving to the mirror, adjusting her ponytail. "I mean, what did he do wrong?"

Caroline turns to us and I think Elena and I are both looking at her with confused expressions as she gives us a big eyed look of annoyance before continuing in a sly tone, "From one girl married to an ex-vamp to another, it's one of the many pluses of being with a guy who has an eternally guilty conscience… they live to please."

I'm still lost – trying to figure out if Caroline is actually trying to tell us that Klaus has any sense of remorse in his body, but I lose my train of disbelieving thoughts when I see the way Elena's shoulder fall a bit. I know Caroline thinks she and Elena are 'besties' – but, let's be honest here… Elena and I have always been closer and I know Elena better than anyone. I can see the weight of that sentence has hit Elena like a ton of bricks; her already low-self esteem is probably turning that guilty conscience comment into something way bigger than it should be.

In an effort to get her mind on something else and tired of delaying the inevitable, I say, "Come on, let's go deal with Damon."

-Damon-

"Hey, evil genius?" I guess it should worry me that I'm already slurring. It's going on three in the afternoon and I'm basically wasted. But what the hell – I'm on vacation at my girlfriends expense. Woo. Fucking. Who. When he doesn't answer me, flipping through something on his Ipad, I thump the glass of gin in front of him and call him Nikki. Katherine has told me about the time she spent with Lord Niklaus. His staff would call him Nikki behind his back just because they hated him. I feel the same about the dick that I always have, but if we've got to mingle, then so be it – besides, Stefan is back to being good and I don't have anyone else to drink with.

Finally he looks up at me, "Hm, sorry mate." Klaus gives a quick look around the room, then says, "I thought you were speaking to your wife – er, girlfriend." Adding with a coy smile, "I can't quite figure out what you two are. Lovers? Pals? Roommates?"

Ouch. See. He's a dick.

But I guess I deserved that – I respond with the only thing I have to hold over his head, raising my eyebrows and lifting my glass to my mouth as I say, "You know, the only lover I've had in Thailand happens to be your bride-to-be, so…" After a long drawl of gin, I look right in his face and get the impression that this is news to him. That smile has been replaced by a grimace, a shocked look in his beady eyes. "Guess you, didn't know about that?" I laugh.

He starts to bow up and for a moment – maybe a half of a second – I'm a little worried. But then I remember that he's human. No special strength, no powers of compulsion. The realization makes me stand straighter and I have to hold back my excitement when I think of how badly I want to fight Klaus.

I think he's about to say something, or maybe lunge over the bar at me, but Elena and Bonnie come into the kitchen and after a moment longer of staring one another down, we both look to them. Caroline is a bit further behind and I immediately regret selling her out to Klaus like that – but whatever, can't change it now. They're too fucking happy and too fucking rich – a little bit of drama will be good for them. Get a feeling of how the rest of us live.

"Can I talk with you?" Elena asks me as she watches Bonnie walk past Klaus and I.

I follow Bonnie with my eyes until she's behind me – I hear a cabinet door open, then the tap water as I nod, yes.

Kneading her fingers into a red notebook in her hand, Elena gestures with her head for me to come with her and I toss back the rest of my gin before going with her. I don't know where I thought she was leading us, but we stop just outside of the kitchen, half in the dining area and half in the empty living room.

I'll remind you that I'm drunk… you should remember that because I start off with a really terrible joke. "Here, Elena?" I ask, leaning over to her a bit, "I knew we'd sneak off together at some point," I make a crude head nod at Caroline who is leaning against the wide doorframe, "but I thought we'd atleast get a little privacy."

Like she doesn't register, Elena starts in, "I need to ask you something, Damon. And I need you to be honest with me…"

She's looking up at me like she does – huge, round, brown eyes that radiate innocence. It's pretty fucking obvious that my brother got the best of the doppelgangers.

I'm mentally reminding myself that I shouldn't have been such a dick my 180 some odd years and maybe thing would have panned out a bit better for me when Elena rests her hand against my forearm. "Please, Damon?"

I look down at her small hand on my arm, slowly trail up her body, enjoying the way she looks in a pair of worn out blue jeans and what I guess is my brothers button down shirt – collar open, sleeves rolled up. Finally reaching her face, I nod.

"Tell me about my mother."

The way she says it, very flat and emotionless, I immediately think she's talking about Isobel and roll my eyes at the thought of that bitch. "Isobel was a lunatic, Elena. What is there to say?"

She looks down, blinks slowly, then looks back into my eyes and I know what she's asking… I see something in her eyes change. It's been so many years, but that teenager who was drowning in grief at the loss of her parents is still very close to the surface. "Not Isobel, Damon." Holding the notebook out to me, Elena says, "my mother."

Like so many times in my life, I'm filled with regret for something I've done in the past. At the time, it seemed like it was nothing, my little fling with a teenaged Miranda Sommers, but looking at Elena as she looks up at me, I wish I could take it all back… all of it.

It's a natural reaction for me to go into a defensive mode and I regret my words as they come out of my mouth, "Oh, Miranda." I give a huff, like this is no big deal and she's over reacting. Raising my eyebrows, I try to joke, "Look, Elena, what I know about her, you probably don't want to know."

She purses her lips at me, narrowing her eyes a bit and swallowing hard. I realize now that she's stepped back, removed the gentle resting of her hand on my arm – both of her hands now at her sides. "You slept with my mom, Damon."

Her accusing tone irritates me – or makes me feel worse, maybe. "Both of your mom's, Elena." I laugh, "Both."

"Oh I haven't forgot, Damon." She says my name like it's a curse word. She's speaking louder now, Klaus and Bonnie come to the door frame next to Caroline to watch. "But I'm not surprised you'd sleep with a lunatic, given that you're not exactly hard to get."

"Oh, so now I'm the loose one?" I flinch when she slaps me – it's harder than I remember her slaps to be and my eye stings terribly, but I play it off the best I can, giving her a snarl of a grin. "What do you want me to say, Elena? That I fucked your mom? Yea okay. I did it. She loved it!"

Seething now, Elena's voice is even and firm when she asks, "No, Damon. I want you to tell me what happened when you met her at The Grille the day she died."

I should have taken that fucking book. If I would have taken the journal and atleast looked through it, I wouldn't be standing her surprised. Totally caught off guard. I should have known Miranda kept a damn journal…

"What's going on?" Katherine's voice tingles through me and I'm actually glad she's made her way back into the house. She's the only other person in the world that knows about that day… that night, and I may need her to help me think of a way around telling Elena about it.

"Just a lil history lesson is all, Katerina." Klaus' voice is beaming with excitement and I glare at him, pissed that he's enjoying my public hanging. "Now let's not interfere."

I finally think of a response, moving my eyes back to Elena who's still staring at me – her eyes much less innocent, full of anger. "Tell me what you know, and I'll fill in the missing pieces. Minus the good stuff, of course." I tease and wish I could just be serious for one fucking second. Making light, trying to put the other person on the defensive, it's just how I react when I'm guilty. Stefan broods and cries and begs and acts like a starved puppy while I turn into a full throttle ass.

"Damon." She says my name and it's a question and a statement in one.

Rolling my eyes, I take a step away from her, back towards the kitchen. "What Elena? I was at the bar, she was there to pick up something for that God awful comet thing." I'm scrounging for a lie and give more detail than I should. "Candles or something, hell, I don't know."

"And?"

"And nothing. I saw her, we said hello… I wanted to talk to her about the grimoire and Emily's necklace." I step back again, doing my best to appear nonchalant. "But you're Gilbert daddy had turned her into a vampire hater and she wouldn't say anything – she was scared of me then. And ya know what, it kinda hurt."

Like she's contemplating my words, Elena looks down at the closed journal in her hands and I imagine she's comparing my side of the story to what she's read. It's basically the truth… basically.

"You threatened her." I'm not sure if it's a question or if she knows that I did and is pointing it out, so just to be safe, I don't deny it.

"Um, yea I did." I laugh, kind of like, of course I threatened her. "She was married to Gilbert, on the council! Look, all I wanted was to get Katherine out of the tomb and-"

Standing next to me, Klaus interrupts, "Which she conveniently was not in."

I glare at over at him, then continue with my suedo-truth. "and leave. I didn't want any trouble Elena…"

Everyone is quiet for a long while – I think I hear Stefan talking but it's quiet so I can't make it out, but get the feeling he's pissed. I guess I'm paying attention to my brothers angry tone instead of my surroundings and before I know it, Klaus as made a quick step behind me and has looped his arms through mine, restraining me.

I look to Katherine – my only ally – and she's moving quick to come to me, but Caroline steps in front of her, blocking my view of her, and gives a whispered threat, "Leave it, Katherine."

"What the fuck, Klaus?" I struggle, but his clasp fists are pressing into my back and bowing my chest out, bending my shoulders backwards to an almost painful degree. "Elena!?"

"You're lying, Damon… something isn't right…" She sighs, then nods to Bonnie.

-Elena-

Damon is staring at me with a look of disbelief on his face, anger maybe. Fine. I'm angry too…

It only takes a few seconds for Bonnie to do her spell – a gentle touch of her finger tips to each of his temples, a couple of sentences spoken in the deep, monotone Latin, and she's done – stepping back from him.

I swear I hear her whisper an apology to him as Klaus releases his restrained arms, but I ignore it and ignore Katherine telling me to leave him alone.

"Why did you threaten my mother, Damon? Where you looking for me? The doppelganger?" It's all I want to know. Was all of the time I spent with him a lie? It makes sense, right? Damon wanted Katherine back – he didn't want her to have to run anymore. If he knew my mother, he might have also known about me and my connection to Katherine and the curse… it's been eating me alive, thinking that all of the hell I put Stefan through when I thought I had feelings for Damon may be been just a big con on his side. When Katherine wasn't in the tomb, he was enraged – keeping me safe from Klaus was a way to ensure Katherine would always have to run from Klaus… a great way to pay someone back for breaking your heart.

"What?!" Damon basically yells at me, shoving Klaus away from him. "No!"

In her slow, cruel tone, Katherine tosses in, "You think you're so superior, don't you Elena?" I turn to her, just as I sense Stefan entering the living room. "You're so quick to condemn him, but you give Stefan a free-pass when he's the worst of us all…"

I turn to Stefan, reach out for him. Without hesitation, Stefan continues across the room and takes my hand, a guilty look in his beautiful, telling green eyes. I know her words hurt him, I know how he feels about his past. I give him my best smile and hope he can feel that I love him, then turn back to Katherine and say, "All thanks to you."

Damon starts again, stepping up to me in an almost threatening stance – I'm not frightened by him, but Stefan, quickly moves between us, placing a hand flat on Damon's chest. They glare at each other for a long while, long enough for Damon to lose a bit of his aggression. Finally, he says, "I swear Elena, I had no idea."

There's no way he could lie… Bonnie's spell made it so he had to be truthful. I exhale, relieved, I guess. I don't know what I was thinking. Damon is a lot of things, but I know he cares for me. I know that he really believed he loved me back then. But still, something feels wrong – I don't feel like I've got the information I'm wanting

I haven't moved – I'm still processing everything I've learned from my mother's journals versus what Damon has just said.

Bonnie touches Damon's shoulder as she heads out to the deck, taking Katherine by the hand and pulling her along. Caroline moves closer to Klaus now that she's not acting as guard against Katherine, and Stefan slips his hand down my hair and pulls me into a hug – kissing my forehead softly as I nuzzle against him.

When he starts out to the deck with Katherine and Bonnie, Damon gives a quick look and I feel terrible for confronting him like that – for suspecting that he may have done something to my mother, or conned Stefan and I. There's a sadness in his eyes that I've seen before… years and years ago, the first time I crossed him. Pulling away from Stefan, I call out to him, and he stops, pivoting towards me with his brow low and lips pursed.

"What?" He asks, feigning irritation to cover his hurt.

What can I say? How can I apologize? I hate it, but there is still a shadow of doubt in my mind and I know that if he'll just say it, I'll be able to let my fears go.

"In her journals, she talked about how sweet and kind you were to her." Stefan releases me from his arms and I step towards Damon. "And I'm sorry that I had to ask you that, but I just needed to know that all of the darkness that followed me for so long had nothing to do with my parents dying. I've ruined so many lives, Damon, I can't be responsible for theirs too."

Pursing his lips together, he nods, then looks at Stefan, then to me. Damon starts to walk off, but I grab his hand in both of mine. Giving a sad, sorrowful smile, I add, "It was wrong of me to even suspect you, but, Damon, I just need to you hear you say it." For a second, I think I've imagined it – the sudden tension in Damon's neck, the shift of his eyes. "For me, for my peace of mind, just tell me you had nothing to do with her death."

But when he turns his head to the side and opens his mouth to speak, he's silent.

**MORE TO COME**

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