CHAPTER 16 – THE REAPING

-Elena-

"I don't get it, Elena." Bonnie sighs, frustrated with me and my still sour attitude, I'm sure. "He's your husband…" She's wrangling Lola into a cute cotton dress while I hold Liam, everyone nearly ready to leave for The Salvatore house. For the big 'we're pregnant' dinner.

I have that same feeling one gets when they're about to get in trouble, or fall off a bridge, or maybe when they're strapped to a seat in an airplane in full nose-dive – I mean, my stomach is in my throat and my gut is knotted like never before. It could be attributed to lots of things – I haven't ate all day. I haven't slept well now that I'm sleeping alone. The fact that everyone knows the truth but Damon… everyone has agreed to stay quiet about until Stefan can find out if he is the father or not, but I hate this for Damon and I'm terrified of any one of us slipping up and Katherine taking her revenge. So it could be lots of things… but I know the truth.

I'm scared to see Stefan. Terrified, maybe.

I'm scared to be placed right next to Katherine and for him to look at us and think, they aren't so different afterall.

I mean, it's true... I just hate to know that Stefan is now aware of my state of disgrace. For so many years I've prided myself in being the good one – the faithful one – the one Stefan could find solace with – the one to love him forever, for always… I cheated on him with his brother. I failed at loving him. I betrayed his trust. In front of everyone, I tore into him with his deepest regrets, with his darkest afflictions.

My kind, gallant, wonderful husband was cut to his knees by my running off at the mouth.

I haven't seen Stefan since the night he brought Allie back to Bonnie's… we've spoke on the phone – a few times a day he'll call to check on the kids, or I'll make-up some reason to call him – but it's all very distant, cold. He's got this wall up. It's been years since Stefan has been anything less than open with me and now, that mysterious, hard-to-read guy that I met in the graveyard when I was seventeen is back. When I try to talk about us, I get vague responses. If I attempt an apology, or even start to beg him to forgive me, Stefan finds a reason to get off the phone or change the subject.

I've hurt him – he doesn't trust me.

That depressing thought trails through me and quivers my voice as I say, "But it's been a week since I've seen him… eight days, actually." I swallow hard and adjust Liam on my lap to play off my odd tone of voice, "And he's so upset with me, Bon."

I'm not mad at her anymore – atleast I'm trying not to be – so when she rolls her eyes at me and gives me that you're being ridiculous look, I don't buck.

"This is Stefan we're talking about, Elena." Bonnie tries, "He loves you so much and he's an amazing guy. To be honest, I'm surprised he's held out for this long. I guarantee you, by the end of the night the two of you will be back to normal and making out in his old bedroom."

When she laughs, I give a laugh too, but in the back of my mind I'm wondering why it is that she thinks so highly of Stefan now, but eight days ago she was ready to inform me that he'd forced himself of Katherine. I know what she's told me – about the bruises and the way Katherine told the story, crying and sobbing and claiming to not want to push the issue because she knew Stefan didn't mean to hurt her. And I guess I can see how the finger marks around her neck could sell the tale… if it had been anyone other than Stefan… I mean, that is ridiculous. Stefan raping anyone…

"Please tell me you all about ready?" Jeremy calls from the living room just before I lose control of my tongue and ask her about her sudden change in opinion about Stefan.

Bonnie calls back as she slips the twins' diaper bag on one shoulder and sits Lola on the other hip.

"So, how do we look?" She asks, giving a little pose in her dark blue sweater dress that goes almost too well with the outfits she's put the twins in. "I mean, if we've got to celebrate their pregnancy, we can at least look amazing."

"You girls look great!" I give my best enthusiastic smile as I try not to lose my balance and fall to the floor.

Bonnie notices and takes my hand. My best friend. My oldest friend. But she had no idea what I'm going through...

Still, it helps when she says, "We'll go, we'll drink, we'll eat. And by the time that little skank serves dessert you'll have that ring back on his finger and you can walk out of the house knowing that you are, and always will be, Stefan's choice."

The ride is pretty silent less the twins and Grayson babbling and Allie singing along with the Taylor Swift playlist that Caroline downloaded for her before she and Klaus went back to Dallas last weekend. By the time Jeremy turns onto the highway that leads to the Salvatore Boarding house at the edge of town, the sun is low in the sky and my thumb is tapping away at a text message to Stefan.

Elena: Allie is excited to see you.

I read it about five times before deciding to delete, retyping,

Elena: The kids are SO excited to see you.

I almost hit send – I mean, that's a good ice breaker, right?

Knowing Stefan, he'll love to hear that, then he'll respond with something sweet like, I can't wait to see them. I miss them. I miss you…

I want him to miss me. God you have no idea how badly I want to just send this and wait for his always-perfect responses, but I delete it and type out a much more truthful message.

Elena: I miss you and even though I know we aren't on the greatest terms right now, I can't wait to see you

I read it once and feel lighter immediately – hitting send as a smile comes across my face and that old saying about the truth setting you free comes to mind.It takes Stefan a few minutes to respond, and I read his text message just as I hear the tires begin into the gravel of the Salvatore driveway.

Stefan: Let's find some time to get away tonight. Just you and me, okay?

Like a school girl, my face flushes and a smile so wide that it aches my cheeks comes to my face as I hear Bonnie's silly premonition from earlier about Stefan and I making out in his old bedroom replay in my head.

-Damon-

This over-protective thing. It has nothing to do with Elena.

I guess what I mean is, it has nothing to do with how I used to feel for Elena – back when she was a girl up for grabs and not my brothers wife and the mother to my niece and nephew.

The overwhelming urge to punch Stefan in the face, more than once if I'm being honest, that urge is coming from how much I love Allie and Grayson, from the way I feel about my sister-in-law now, from the plans of having a big family between my brother and me… from the hundreds of times I can remember our father telling us about his expectations of us as men.

Make a good living for your family.
Take care of your responsibilities.
Do not go outside of your marriage.

Simple. Straight forward. Pretty fucking easy to follow. Yet, here I am, listening to Stefan tell me that he's been staying in a furnished apartment in town while Elena and the kids are at Bonnie's… all because he cheated on Elena.

It doesn't sit right – Stefan cheating… Stefan cheating on Elena!

He's being pretty tight-lipped, but he brought it up so I can't help but think he wants to talk about it.

"You did what?" I sound angry. I am angry – what in the hell was he thinking – but more than anything, I'm not fully believing what I'm hearing.

Repeating himself in the same dejected tone as before, "I slept with someone else."

I can't control my facial expression – my eyebrows wrinkling up as a hmph comes from my mouth, "With who?" I ask in a yell.

I watch Stefan shake his head, bit his lips, rub his forehead – really doing just about everything he can to avoid answering me, so I shove him once. Pretty hard, with just one arm… he takes a couple of steps back to steady himself and looks me over in the same way he always does – looking for an opening to strike back.

"With who, Stefan? Who was it that seemed so irresistible that you cheated on your wife?" I shove him again – harder this time.

"It doesn't matter." He says through a tightly closed mouth, glaring at me but not fighting back. Stefan's always been good at taking a beating when he knows he deserves one.

It doesn't matter… that's his answer. Something about his dull response pisses me off. It mattered enough for him to break the one fucking rule we weren't supposed to break! It mattered enough for Stefan to cheat on Elena after everything that he and I went through for us to get to this place –this life.

Before I can stop myself, I've grabbed him by his black shirt, "Oh it fucking matters, Stefan. Don't tell me you screwed up your entire life for nothing – for someone that doesn't matter!"

He can't even look at me! I'm inches infront of his broody face and Stefan's eyes are looking somewhere over my shoulder, his brow low and jaw clenched. I guess he can tell that I'm about to lay into him as he finally says, "It was no one – just a one night stand. A mistake…"

I can hear his regret in his voice – all thick with emotion and very Stefan from years past. His phone buzzes from his pocket at nearly the same time that Katherine steps into the den, nervously letting us know that everyone has just arrived.

"Everything okay in here, boys?" She asks as I release Stefan and toss back the rest of my whiskey.

I am incredibly pissed off, disappointed, hostile even, knowing what I know… maybe even a little proud that I'm no longer the worst of the Salvatore brothers – but more than anything, I don't fully believe it. I've heard it straight from his mouth, but Stefan cheating on Elena… I don't know, it's unbelievable – suspect, almost.

-Katherine-

I didn't even have to ask him, Stefan knew what I was glaring at him about as Damon went to get the door – with a quick shake of his head Stefan told me what I needed to know, that he did not tell Damon about us… about what I did. Still, I know his mind much too well and Stefan needs a reminder – when he leaves the dinner table to take Allie to his old bedroom to lay down, I wait a few minutes to make sure nothing looks suspicious, then begin collecting the plates and asking who all wants dessert.

I have to give it to Elena, she's done really well tonight. She forced a believable smile when Damon made the announcement! I guess she's more focused on getting Stefan back… fine, whatever it takes to keep her mouth shut. Bonnie on the other hand has been a real bitch – very cold. I can't help but laugh inside when I consider how she would react if she knew about Jeremy's hand in all of this. Maybe one day I'll tell her just for the satisfaction of seeing her fall apart.

"Bon, do you want dessert?" I ask sweetly – one day I'll break her down, but not tonight.

When she gives me a very rude shake of her head, I catch Damon frowning at her and decide I'd better think up some reason I can tell him she and I are fighting.

"Do you want some help with anything, Kat?" Jeremy asks in a very polite tone and I move between him and Elena – from his easy tone no one would ever guess that as I pick up Elena's plate and Jeremy's empty beer bottle, his big Gilbert hand his slipping up between my knees.

I don't really give a damn about Jeremy… none of the Gilbert's really – but Jeremy is going to get me caught and himself killed if he doesn't back off, so with a light, "I've got it", I step away quickly, but not too quickly, and head into the kitchen.

-Stefan-

What I would give to be able to sleep like a child again… with the exception of Liam, the kids are all asleep and I've just tucked Allie into my old bed when my phone buzzes. I'm sure it's Elena – after our texts from earlier about slipping away sometime before dinner is over – but I wait until I'm in the hall before checking. It's good though, because when I see it's from Katherine, an unintentional groan escapes from my mouth.

Katherine: We need to talk. I'm in the kitchen… hurry.

I try to look nonchalant as I pass the dining room and I almost make it, but just before I'm out of sight I feel her eyes on me… and all over again I feel like I'm betraying Elena. Sneaking off to meet Katherine. Even with the gravity pulling me towards Elena, pushing me away from Katherine, I stay on course and when I step into the kitchen and find her waiting on me with her hand resting on her stomach – I feel resentment for Katherine and enchanted by my growing child inside of her.

I stop in my tracks. My eyes on her hand caressing her still-flat belly. I don't know how long I stand there, but by the time Katherine says, "I never meant for this to happen to you – to you and Elena." I'm light-headed from locking my knees for too long.

Inhaling deeply, I rest against the counter to steady myself. "You got what you wanted, Katherine." My voice sounds tired – I am tired. "What happens in the background has never mattered to you."

"Stefan," Katherine touches my arm with her free hand, a light, soft touch as I inhale that same lavender scent that both calms me and tortures me. "I care about you. I always have."

I wish I could tell you that I somehow know she's lying – Katherine is the best actress I've ever seen. In more than a century and half, Katherine Pierce still holds the title of greatest thespian of all time. Looking right into her eyes, even when she steps a bit closer to me, I can't see any sign of her not being honest.

After a long moment of me remembering things about her I should not be thinking about in this situation, my curiosity gets the best of me and I ask in a low whisper, "Is it mine?"

Giving me that smile – the one where she looks up at me through her lashes with her head tilted slightly down, I cannot tell you that the thought of tasting her shiny lips did not cross my mind. I can resist anything, everything… but at that moment, with Katherine's very familiar I have you right where I want you grin and that question hanging in the air, I do not think I would be able to resist her if she tried.

"Stefan," She giggles my name, sliding her touch down my arm, taking my hand in hers. "Do you want to touch it?"

-Elena-

Dinner actually went pretty well – who knew Katherine could cook a four course meal and still manage to look so perfectly put together! Ugh.

After just a few moments of being around Stefan, I began to feel really silly for being nervous about seeing him. I guess I was brave after my truthful text message, so as soon as I saw him I just walked right up and hugged him like it was no big deal. Just me, Elena, his wife, hugging her warm, handsome husband in the very same hallway that our first time together really picked up pace – God it felt so good to hold him. It felt SO good to surprise him! In a matter of seconds our frequency went from a strange, unnerved tension to that chest-pressure, slow, warm-water soothing feeling that I crave. After eight days away from him, from our gravity, even the smell of Stefan Salvatore seemed rare.

We talked a bit over dinner – shared a couple of smiles… Stefan never looks anything less than gorgeous. Sunlight, firelight, moon light… whatever, Stefan always has this soft glow to his perfect olive skin, mesmerizing nude pink lips, and what I can only describe as a confident-flirt in his beautiful emerald eyes. So even though we didn't get to talk much with the kids keeping most everyone's attention, I got to look at him from across the table – if you've ever been near my husband, the you know just how enjoyable having him in your sight is!

Sorry – Excuse my rambling about Stefan. I'm just feeling so hopeful, you know… Anyway, Allie's presence kept the conversation pretty light and everyone managed to dote on the kids long enough to get through the salad, the soup, and chicken cordon bleu – but now that the babies are all asleep, it's beginning to feel awkward.

I'm probably being paranoid, but I felt a strange sensation between Stefan and I when he passed by earlier. At first, I thought it was nothing, but the longer I sat there and listened to Bonnie and Jeremy trying to make small talk while I did my best to avoid making eye contact with Damon, I decided I should check it out. He's been in the kitchen with Katherine for a few minutes now – maybe he needs some back up and I could definitely use some space from Damon.

-Stefan-

"Just answer me, Katherine." I pull my hand from hers, step back a bit. This woman and her head games… "Is the baby mine?"

Like a façade falling from her, Katherine rolls her eyes and tosses her long curls back – that sweet smile on her face and the beckoning from her eyes disappears and the real Katherine Pierce can be seen, all because I resisted her. Stepping back, moving away, taking my hand from hers – she expected me to give in and when I didn't she lost her poker face.

I feel Elena – our frequency – before I hear her voice say my name, "Is everything okay?"

She's so beautiful – I can't explain to you how she and Katherine can be so similar in appearance and yet, Katherine's beauty affects me in a superficial way – only tied to memories of when I believed she was something different. While the sight of Elena actually makes me ache inside – when her dark, endless brown eyes find mine, I feel this rush of love for her… for a long moment we stand there looking at one another while Katherine clatters around with some of the china, but the silence between Elena and I is the kind of silence that means everything… a wordless communication shared by only those have a connection like we share.

I love her.

Just as I feel my legs begin to flex – our gravity pulling me, pushing me to Elena –Katherine's timing is perfect, or terrible – I'm not sure which. "He was just asking me if the baby is his."

Her coolly delivered words steal Elena's eyes from mine – she watches Katherine, but not her face. As Katherine collects a dish from the refrigerator, gathers a few small plates, Elena's gaze is directly on her stomach – her child… possibly my child. When Katherine notices, that smirk comes to her face and I hate her more than I ever have.

"Don't stare, Elena. Didn't one of your mother's teach you manners?" Katherine's voice is simply infuriating me and as I watch her shove the plates into Elena's torso as she passes, my fists tighten at my sides as I remind myself that I cannot hurt her. She's human. I cannot hurt her. She's pregnant…

My entire body is tensed, flexed, my jaw hurting from the gritting of my teeth – "Stefan," Elena says my name and just like that, instantly, I begin to calm. "Let it go. I'm fine." She smiles and I start breathing again even though I can sense Elena is not fine. She's scared and she's upset – and like me, she's terrified to believe that Katherine and I may be connected forever.

Elena knows the power she has over me – both physically and emotionally, it's one of the reasons I am so hurt by what she put me through last weekend – but in this moment, her smile, her voice, the gentle shrug she gives when she looks down at the plates in her hands and tells me to come back to the dining table… right now is one of those hundreds of times that I am so glad that Elena knows what she does to me.

Times like these, she's the only person in the world who can save me from myself.

Elena leaves me in the kitchen and I take a moment to get myself back together – gulping a glass of water, then a glass of bourbon to ease me back down a bit quicker. By time I make it to the table, taking my seat across from Elena and next to Bonnie, Katherine is handing Elena a plate of some kind of cake.

"Here, Stef…" Bonnie smiles, passing a fresh glass of wine my way.

I don't know I just cannot let this one go – believing that I raped Katherine. I could understand why Bonnie ruined me in Elena's compelled memories… I even understood back when they were in high school and she basically shunned Elena for being with me – a vampire. But this, this is different. So when I smile back, I can feel it not really reaching my eyes even though I try to put it off as a genuine grin.

I am no actor by any means.

"Stefan didn't get any." Damon nods towards me as he cuts into the cake and shovels a large piece into his mouth.

I shake my head, "I'm fine." Picking up my wine glass, I try a joke, "this is plenty dessert for me."

"That one's for him." Jeremy points to a piece sitting in the middle of the table.

Without hesitation, Bonnie takes the plate from near the spring-flower centerpiece. "I'll eat it too!" She giggles. "Screw the diet."

"Oh no you don't!" Katherine laughs with everyone, making her way around the table, taking the plate from Bonnie before she can start her second piece. "We've worked way too hard to get that baby weight off of you, Bon."

"You've got to try it, brother." Damon mumbles through a full mouth. "It's one of mother's old recipes. She would make it during the holidays, remember?"

Okay. I'm not one for sweets, but it's been more than a hundred and seventy years since I've ate anything made from a recipe of my mother's. I give in immediately – saddened from missing her like I used to when I was a boy and excited about trying the cake. I wish I could say I remember, but I was hardly six years old when she died and the memories I have of her are very broken – more like photographs.

Nodding to Damon, I agree, but say, "Let Bonnie have that one. I can get another." And start to ask Elena to cut a piece for me since she's nearest the dish. Before I can even open my mouth I feel Katherine's fingernails scratch against the back of my neck and her hand slip between my shoulder blades – the sensations run through me and straighten my spine and posture.

"Oh no, Stefan, it's fine." She says as she sits the plate in front of me, "eat this one…" Something about her voice brings my eyes to meet hers and I immediately regret it. There's that look, that victorious grin on her ruthless, beautiful face as she delivers two duplictic words in a sweet, cruel tone, "…it's yours."

-Elena-

Stefan looks at me just as her words settle into my ears, just as their meaning really rings in my head.

I know what I should do here – I know what the loving, caring, no-matter-what-happens wife would do. I should smile at him. I should reach across this table and take his now trembling fingers in my hand and look him in the eyes and silently say it's okay. We'll make it through this. I love you, Stefan.

Why then do I ignore what my brain is telling me to do and stare at the chocolate cake instead? I can feel Stefan's eyes on me, I can feel our frequency and sense his need to know that I am okay… why can I not look up at him? Why am I feeling so angry at him all over again!?

I cannot believe this! I knew it was possible – for weeks now I've known – but hearing said in such a coy tone infront of my entire family, I'm so embarrassed! I'm mortified that everyone knows that Stefan had sex with Katherine! I'm disgusted by the thoughts in my head of how their child will look like a sibling to our children! It takes all the self-control I have not to stand up from the table and leave all together! He should be thankful I'm still sitting here! Stefan should be thanking God that I haven't sold him out to his brother! Do you know what Damon will do when he finds out? When he finds out that not only did his brother sleep with Katherine and get her pregnant, he also went along with keeping it a secret! Damon is going to flip!

I'm lost in my own thoughts – this nightmare come to life night is finally winding down and Katherine uses the pregnant card to get out of cleaning up. She's too tired to clean up… she's going to bathe and get some rest for their growing baby! Oh God just shut up! Just shut up, Katherine! I'm screaming at her in my head but smiling at her as she tells everyone goodnight and Stefan's heavy green gaze is still on me – weighing me down.

I can see him typing on his phone so when my cell buzzes more than six times, I know it its messages from him but I ignore them. I just can't right now. Not tonight.

I make it all the way to the car without speaking again – finally opening my mouth to tell Damon which carseat is Grayson's as he is carrying my sleeping son while Stefan has Allie, Bonnie has Liam, Jeremy has Lola, and I have all the bags of take-alongs.

I've almost escaped – nearly free of him and that damn gravity – but just as I move to get in the SUV, I feel him come close and hear that voice of his say my name.

"What, Stefan?" I scowl back, turning to face him but looking at his shirt collar.

In my periphial vision I see his lips – their red and calling to me to kiss them as I know he's been biting on them like he does when he's upset.

"Elena, stay here. I'd like to talk for awh-"

I cut him off, his voice is too much for me and I don't want to not be mad at him just yet. "I can't push the kids off on Bonnie and Jeremy, Stefan… I can't just run off like you do."

Something about my vile words gives me a false sense of strength and I look up at him, right into his angry eyes looking down at me.

"We need to talk, Elena." Stefan's voice is quiet, low, but flaring with anger. You have no idea how badly I want to kiss him now… twenty times worse than before. I hate when he's angry with me even though I'm mad at him!

I give a heavy sigh and move into my seat, "You know where to find me, Stefan." I say with a somewhat bitchy smile on my face, then close the door and pretend like I'm not watching him out of the corner of my eye as Jeremy puts the car in drive and he's left watching me leave this time.

***MORE TO COME***

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