Epilogue to Part VII - Loser's Waltz

Stefan found himself alone in the woods again. He had been there fairly often since Elena had given him her final decision. He was sitting, his back against a tree, being a little dramatic. He was deciding what to do – stay or leave.

He heard her coming. He knew it was Katherine. Elena wouldn't be looking for him and couldn't have found him if she was. And she would certainly not be wandering in the woods alone.

He let her approach him and stand next to him before he spoke.

"What do you want, Katherine?"

"A moment is all, Stefan," Katherine replied.

"Why? Gloating?"

"I've suffered a loss as well, Stefan."

"You don't look all that upset about it."

"It was just a battle, Stefan. Not the war."

"You haven't seen the way Elena acts around me," Stefan said. "What little she is around me. She's different."

"Have you seen yourself around her, Stefan? Around everyone?"

"What are you saying? That she chose him because of me?"

"What do you think Stefan? You were all she wanted. Do you think Damon could have changed that?"

"I think he did. Or you did. Or circumstances did. Something changed."

"Anything but you? She changed. Maybe it was because Damon changed. Maybe it was because I came. But you changed too, and it wasn't for the better. You didn't keep up with her Stefan."

"Keep up with her? She left me"

"It doesn't always matter who moves Stefan. Sometimes, it matters who doesn't move. Elena did what she had to do. She always does what she has to do and she would have done it alone, if not for Damon. That wasn't me, or her, or Damon. That was you."

Stefan shook his head. "What does it matter? It's all in the past. Its over."

"It is if you think like that, Stefan. It is if you give up."

"She made her choice."

"Didn't you think that before – that she had chosen you? Things changed. You got behind. You can catch up."

"You're not suggesting I impose myself on her? I know her well enough to know how well that would go over."

"Is that what you think, Stefan? Impose yourself on her? Is that what Damon did?"

Stefan did not understand. "You want me act like Damon?"

Katherine laughed. "You can be dense. Part of the new Stefan, I suppose. Makes me wonder what I saw in you. Trying to copy him would be pathetic and unattractive."

"Then what?" Stefan asked.

"Go back to being you. You at your best - not a pathetic puppy who follows her everywhere, who agrees with her every word. Be you, the you I wanted so badly. The you she wanted. The you we both had."

"Even if I could go back, what if she didn't want me? What then?"

"Do you think Damon ever worried about that? If you go back to what you were, if you keep up with the changes, she'll at least have a choice again. She absolutely does not have one now."

Stefan glared at her. "Why are you telling me this, Katherine? What do you want?"

"I want you at your best. I've always wanted you at your best."

"What, you care about me now?"

"I've always cared about you, Stefan. And you have always cared about me."

"Don't be so sure," he muttered.

Katherine sighed. "Words Stefan. Just words. Your actions speak louder. You only sought out Elena because of me, because she looked like me. Because you loved me. You, me, Elena, Damon, we can all have a choice. But not now, not until you're back to yourself - your best self. Until then, you have nothing and all I have is Elena's pledge which comes with a reminder of who I've lost – twice."

Katherine turned to leave. "Please pull it together. We both need it."