A/N: And again, guess this is jsut another update for y'all. :) Enjoy and please review for us. :P

Chapter 23: I'm Not Leaving.

Love could do funny, strange and nevertheless horrible things to people. In Stefan's case, it had offered him years of heartache, along with Damon over the vampire that was now; I guess you could say performing an act of torture upon Elena? Love for Elena was something that had never once been negative. She loved her family, there was a time when she thought she couldn't love Jeremy, her mum, her dad and Jenna less than any other person or sets of people, but she was wrong. It was different to what she felt for both of the Salvatore's. She should've known the moment she'd set eyes upon them both that this would happen, her and Damon had always had a connection and she loved Stefan for the prince Charming that he was. Her son on the other hand was a different story altogether. Romeo Luciano Salvatore was someone Elena would risk everything for; saying she loved that child more than anything in the world was indeed a great understatement. No-one really understood the love of a mother for her child. And she knew if she didn't make it through this night then at least Romeo would be safe.

Elena wasn't sure of any details, or where exactly she was right now, but somewhere deep down inside of her, Elena knew that her beautiful boy was safe. If worst came to worst and he ended up growing up without her, without Damon and without Stefan, then she hoped she'd at least had the smallest impact upon the baby's life. Even a tiny bit would be enough for her. But, as Elena looked up at Katherine now, she really looked at the woman simply radiating with pure evil. Katherine wasn't capable of love of any sort. She didn't love Stefan and she never had. For if she ha loved Stefan, she would want him to be happy no matter what; yes, maybe she was selfish, but in reality... Elena was selfish too. But if she loved Stefan as much as Katherine claimed that she did then she'd let him go. (Of course, she knew it would be hard) but if it was for the best, then she would do it. She hoped though, that the love the Salvatore's felt for her had redeemed then rather than condemned them as their infatuation with Katherine had.

"If you've harmed my baby.. Then I swear," Elena rasped.

Katherine threw her head back and chuckled a dark chuckle that made Elena's skin crawl. And with a neat smack, her hand struck Elena's face and she could feel the mark, she knew for sure it was bleeding. Elena tried desperately to yank herself out of the belts that held her down, but all they became of it was even more chaffing of her wrists. They were bleeding as well as several aspects of her body.

"Your baby? I have nothing against little Romeo, Elena. Just you my dear. And don't worry, I won't harm your dearly beloveds either. Seeing you cry and bleed in front of their eyes is punishment enough," she murmured before looking to the door and grinning "Oh, Elena. Isn't that nice? It seems we have guests." She stopped speaking for a moment and looked down the hall. "Oh, boys. we're in Elena's bedroom.. Wouldn't want you to miss the funniest part now would I?" she smiled before resting her gaze upon Elena.

Elena couldn't move; she didn't dare.

It all happened very quickly although those few seconds seemed to drag on forever. Both the Salvatore brothers heard Katherine and set off running upstairs with the speed of light, yet it seemed they were moving at the speed of a snail. Both Damon and Stefan had time to think about ..everything really, during those few seconds. Words and memories flashed through their head, reminding them of the past, the very very past, back in Renaissance Italy and then the years they've hated each other, then coming to Mystic Falls, meeting Elena and finally the past year, spent with Elena, and then Romeo being born. The last memories were the one to make you smile, however The Salvatore's were in no mood to smile, remembering their goodbye with Romeo. They wouldn't handle it if it were their last goodbye.

They ran into the room Katherine and Elena were in and stopped in the doorway. Both speechless for mere seconds scanning the scene that was in front of them. Heartache, that's what they have been feeling for the whole day today. Finding out it was Katherine, getting Romeo to safety, pretending to love Katherine and betraying Elena, talking to Bonnie and Ric, asking them a huge favour, goodbye with Romeo and the way to the Gilbert's house, and then the look they exchanged before walking in. And now, here they were. This was it. Stefan spoke.

"Why would you do this Katherine? You had me back at the house... Just take me." Damon felt anger building up inside.

His brother was trying to sacrifice himself, to be the fucking victim of guilt once again.

"Stop it Stefan! Stop it ! " Stefan turned around to face Damon.

"Stop what.?" He asked quietly.

Damon gritted his teeth before speaking. "Acting like the hero. For once, stop it." He put his hands on Stefan's shoulders. "If we survive, we survive, but all three of us together, if we die, then we die. But let us do it with some dignity Stefan. We're in this shit together, let's get out together . Whatever that means. Face it with your head high, little brother." He put his hand under Stefan chin and lifted it to emphasize his point, before turning the face the scene again. He looked at Elena, a look filled with all the emotions really, then to Katherine. "Go on. Do what you want. You can't tear us apart."

Elena looked to the two men in front of her and shook he head. She had no fight left inside of her. It was obvious what Katherine wanted and she would stop at nothing until she got it. Elena swallowed hard but just as she opened her mouth, Katherine turned to face the two brothers.

"How nice to see you both again after last night's and this morning's events," Katherine mused, her eyes scanning the tortured faces of the brothers up and down.

Elena's brows furrowed together, she might be tired and bleeding and completely distraught, but that didn't mean she was deaf. Elena caught Stefan's eye, but she didn't hold it. The curiosity was killing her more than anything right now, she had to know what the hell Katherine was talking about! Last night? If they'd known she was in known last night then why hadn't they informed Elena of it? And why.. Why damn it was Katherine smiling!

"What.. What is she talking about? Last night's events?" Her eyes flashed from each Salvatore brother, but neither seemed to be willing to share the information with her. Elena felt completely shut out. But, Katherine on the other hand seemed to be more than happy to let Elena in on the secret of what happened last night.

Katherine looked back to Elena as a cunning smile swept over her facial features. Katherine motioned over to Elena, and despite herself, she flinched as far back as she could get from the vampire. (Which was, surprisingly not very far) The vampire's eyes remained on Damon and Stefan as she spoke.

"I'd say you were one for faithfulness, Elena? No. Yes? Well, It seemed Damon doesn't share that feeling," she flashed a beautifully evil smile at Damon before continuing "Damon and I slept together, on the same bed I believe you too do.."

Elena's entire body froze as she stared wide-eyed at Damon. It couldn't be true, it just.. It couldn't be. Katherine noticed Elena's reaction and that only spurred her on further.

"Oh, and I almost forgot.. Stefan and I had a brief but very passionate session not too long ago," Katherine thought for a moment then added "And that's when he knew it was me. Damon of course, thought it was you.. But could you imagine.. A man who didn't even recognise his own girlfriend while making love to another?" Katherine teased before leaning back, but keeping close to Elena nevertheless.

Elena blinked finally and her eyes flashed red.

"You! You! WHAT THE F*CK! Why would you.. You know what no, I don't even want to hear it," she looked down, tearing her eyes from the two of them; she wanted to be left alone.

Damon opened his mouth, but closed it again. Stefan was standing still. He was tense and feeling guilty. Damon frowned, he was even angrier than before. It was as if everything suddenly was behind a red fog which was his frustration and anger put together.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU PLAYING AT? I DID NOT, I REPEAT, I DID NOT SLEEP WITH YOU! I WAS DRUNK, HENCE WHY I DIDN'T RECOGNISE YOU! AND STEFAN!"
He turned to face his brother. "SAY HOW IT REALLY WAS! COME ON! "

Stefan just stood there. He looked up at Damon, before swallowing hard and looking away.
Playing the fucking hero again! Elena would hardly see him as a hero if he didn't speak!

"HE HAD TO ELENA! HE HAD TO!" He screamed frustrated, before throwing himself at the bed, and grabbing her hand. His voice changing drastically. "Elena, love," He locked his eyes on hers.

He didn't know what else to say, he had screamed everything. He let his head drop to the bed, and tried to hide the fact that he was sobbing. All the anger turned into that, and he hated weakness.
Stefan meanwhile decided to look at Elena, then at Katherine and finally away at the wall. Damon said everything. Why bother explaining himself? It was clear that he didn't want to do what he had done. He felt guilty once again. He hated that feeling, more than any other one. Frustration, desperation, anger, you name it. He didn't care about these, above all he despised guilt.

Katherine merely stood there with her arms folded as she watched the three of them, it was so amusing, but almost sad. That is.. if Katherine could feel. Katherine raised her eyebrows at Damon but didn't comment simply flashed him that angelic smile from so long ago. But Stefan on the other hand, he wasn't saying anything. And when his eye met hers, there was something hidden deep within them that she couldn't quite recognise. She did love Stefan, but right now, her concentration was fixed upon Elena.

Elena shook her head, her eyes refusing to meet Damon's or Stefan's, even as Damon fought with her to make her believe him. She frowned, only looking at him when she felt his hand on top of hers. She wrenched her hand away from him and looked to him with narrowed eyes.

"Don't you dare f*cking lie to me Damon Salvatore! You didn't even recognise that it wasn't me? I must've really made an impact of you, you couldn't even tell me apart from that," Elena looked at Katherine "That f*cking bitch."

Katherine's eyes narrowed, she didn't have much patience and she swiped Elena around the face once again, causing some more cuts to appear. Stefan inched forward and Katherine shot him a glance that stopped him in his tracks. Elena looked to Stefan now and frowned.

"And YOU! Why Stefan? I.. I thought.. I thought that you loved me. I don't care that you had to do it or what other crap. At least one of the three of you has the guts to tell me the truth. Go. Go and be with Romeo. Katherine wants to hurt me, not you. Go."

Damon was frustrated. She didn't believe him. Well, great. He looked up at her, of course, right after wiping away the tears that had made their way down his cheeks.

"I'm not going anywhere. If she doesn't kill me, I'll do it myself." He said the last part he spoke quietly.

Stefan sighed, listening to Elena, he moved to the other side of the bed, that wasn't occupied by Damon, before like Damon kneeling down, and trying to take Elena's hand.

"I wanted Damon to get Romeo to safety. Now, if I could take it back I would. " He locked his eyes on Elena and Elena alone, as did Damon.

Damon knew what Stefan was playing at. He wanted to spend the last few minutes of his life looking at Elena, speaking to Elena, being close to Elena and just focusing all his attention to Elena. In fact, Damon had the same plan. He didn't even acknowledge Katherine's presence in the room anymore. She didn't matter, whereas Elena did. She was everything.

Danny+Jackie x3