AN: HEY! I'm back! For now that is! Lol! So here's the next chap, sorry it's a little short! Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Chapter 25: Making plans

Stefan walked into the living room, instantly spotting Damon drinking in front of the fireplace.

"Happy hunting brother? Or did the squirrels and bunnies team up against you?" Damon asked, not facing Stefan.

"Ha ha." Stefan said, walking over to the couch, sitting next to Damon. He looked into the fire.

"What do you want Stefan?" Damon asked, knowing that Stefan had something on his mind.

"We need to talk."

"Stefan," Damon began, turning to face him. "Are you breaking up with me?" Stefan scoffed, causing Damon to chuckle.

"This is serious Damon, we need to talk about what we are going to do about Katherine."

"Easy," Damon shrugged. "Stake the bitch." Stefan shook his head.

"I'm serious Damon. We can't let her hurt anyone else."

"Who said I wasn't serious? We both know that the only way that we are going to get rid of Katherine is to kill her." Damon turned to face Stefan. "The question is, brother... Can you do it?"

"Can I do it?" Stefan asked, Damon nodded. "I'm not the one who's been pining over her for the last 145 years." Damon rolled his eyes. "Can you do it?"

"Yes." Stefan raised his brow. "I can."

"I'm serious Damon, we can't have anyone backing out at the last minute-"

"I won't!" Damon snapped, cutting Stefan off. "If she were here right now, I'd stake her before she could even blink!" Stefan chuckled, shaking his head.

"I believe you.".." Damon nodded. "Now, the question is, how are we going to do it?"

"So," Alexis began. "What are we doing tonight?" She asked Elena, who turned to face her.

"Umm... Nothing? Alaric's coming over to hang out with Jenna I guess."

"Isn't there a Masquerade ball tonight at the Lockwood mansion?" Alexis asked, a grin creeping onto her face. Elena looked at her.

"No, No way!" Alexis started bouncing up and down. "Lexi, no."

"Come on Lena! Please! I feel good today and I want to par-tay!" Elena looked at her and then quickly turned away... "Please!" Elena turned back to her and smiled.

"All right." She conceded.

"Yay!" Alexis yelled. She turned to head upstairs.

"Where are you going?"

"To get our outfits for tonight! Let's go!" Elena shook her head and followed Alexis upstairs.

"So it's decided." Stefan began, looking around the living room at Damon, Caroline, Bonnie and Jeremy. "Tonight at the Masquerade ball, we kill Katherine."