Epilogue to Part III – Waiting Too Long

Elena was upset – and she had no one to talk to. She hadn't said anything that should have upset him, but Stefan had reverted to brooding insecurity. Had Bonnie said something to him? Surely she wouldn't.

She heard a knock on the front door and she was up from her bed - headed downstairs - in an instant. But would Katherine or Damon knock?

Jenna had just opened the door.

"May I see Elena?"

"Of course. Come on …" Jenna started.

"No!" Elena yelled as she reached the door. "Jenna, we'll just talk on the porch."

"Don't be ridiculous." Jenna said. She began again "Come …"

"On the porch!" Elena said forcefully.

"It's OK. The porch is fine," the visitor said.

"All right, can I get you anything … ?" Jenna asked, obviously waiting for the blank to be filled in.

"Isobel. And no thank you. I'm fine."

"Well OK, let me know if you change your mind," the aunt said as she closed the door.

Isobel nodded to Jenna as the door was closing and Elena was sitting down.

"Really, Elena. Your life has been in my hands more than once. Have I ever let you down?" Isobel asked.

"No. I have come to trust you with my life. But you did say you would kill Jeremy, and I believe you."

Isobel was wearing a fairly distant face – not pure ice, but nowhere near warm. "Well, I don't know you as well as Katherine. Perhaps she is right. Perhaps you are much smarter than her average assistant."

Elena looked at her mother, her desperation visible. "You haven't seen her or heard from her or Damon?"

Isobel shook her head.

"It's been 30 hours. They could have easily made it back, even if it was on foot."

The vampire nodded. "You could have made it back by now, even on foot - if that was your intention."

"What have I done?" Elena muttered under her breath.

"What happened with you and Damon. What's going on?"

Elena closed her eyes and shook her head. "Apparently nothing."

"There's something going on between Katherine and Damon. Did you see how they acted before we were invited to leave?"

"Yeah, I saw," the daughter replied.

"And now you have the Salvatore you want – or at least say you want." Isobel's expression had softened ever so slightly.

"I just wish they would come back. I'm worried about them." Elena was looking down now.

"No need." Katherine said as she stepped onto the porch. "We're fine." Damon was with her. Elena noted, to her horror, that they were walking hand in hand.

Katherine spoke to Isobel as Elena tried to control her expression. "I thought I might find you here, Isobel. Do you have my car? Need a ride?"

"Yes and please." Isobel said, starting to leave with Katherine.

"Wait," Elena said to Katherine as she was turning around a little relieved that she had dropped Damon's hand – it seemed he was remaining. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," Katherine said, turning back. "What do you need?"

"I need a way to be able to contact you. I've been thinking, and I know it could be abused, but I promise I won't. I would only use it for emergencies."

"You're smart, Elena. Innovative, self-reliant. It almost feels like you don't trust me now, and I can see why. Very well. I will provide you with a phone, and I will expect it to be used as you state. I expect it to be used to call for help when you are in danger."

"It will. I promise." Elena said.

"And I will also ask a favor of you, Elena."

Of course she would. The human sighed. "Ask away."

"I must insist you accept some additional protection."

Elena's expression was desperate again. "I told you what you did for me was fine. Here I am, so it must have worked out."

"Here you are because I happened to send the only two with you who would go to such extraordinary lengths to save you. I will not always have that option." Katherine shook her head. "Next time you'll be lucky if you're not surrounded by a legion of vampires. But it is not just when you work for me - you are in danger here as well."

"I told you Damon, Stefan, Bonnie and Mr. Saltzman are enough."

"You did. But you must give a little on this. Protection will be near, but unseen. Nothing dangerous will ever approach you again."

"They'll need to feed. Please Katherine, reconsider."

"There will be rules, Elena."

"Vampire rules," Elena argued.

"Yes, Elena. Vampire rules. The rules you play by now. I must insist on this. You will get your phone and your unseen protection. Your life needn't change."

Elena looked defeated. After all she had lost the last couple of days, now this.

Katherine softened slightly and added, "We'll do it for a week or two and then reconsider. If it interferes with you, we might change things up a bit."

"OK."

Katherine left with a "Later Damon." Elena realized he had not moved or spoken.

She looked at him. "Are you talking to me?"

Damon nodded. "If you're talking to me. But tomorrow. I have a lot to process right now."

Elena nodded and watched Damon leave, wondering if she had waited too long to choose.