Again Peachie X has helped this chapter be better than it was...(if I seem to be repeating myself, there is a reason...)

Almost Done

"They never die," Elena said to Natalie. "Nathaniel will live forever."

"Elena," Sarah interrupted. "I saw two die today. If something happens to Nathaniel, we need to know what happens to the agreement."

"Elena," Katherine interrupted as she entered the room. Sylvia bristled, though Sarah and Natalie were calm as they turned to look at her. "It's 30 minutes to sunset. If we are to leave, we need to leave now."

"We're on the last issue," Elena said, turning to Katherine. "nearly done."

"I understand that," Katherine replied, standing behind Elena now. "however, it is time."

Katherine turned to Natalie. "We would prefer to stay here tonight. It would allow you to finish, then meet with Nathaniel tomorrow at a neutral location. However, if you will not permit us to stay, we need to leave now."

"You would stay as well with Elena?" Natalie asked.

"All five of us," Katherine replied.

"Vampires in our home." Sylvia said scowling.

"And outside," Katherine said, still looking at Natalie. "Not in the yard, as your agreement demands, but close, in case there is a problem."

Natalie looked at Sylvia, seeing the unhappy look on her face, though it had been there all day. When she turned to Sarah, Sarah nodded and said "We should finish if we can. Then we will have their help tomorrow."

Natalie turned back to Katherine. "I know you're concerned about Elena's safety. Would this bring her attackers here?"

"Her attackers are vampires," Katherine replied. "they would not be able to enter your home unless invited by one of you."

"That wouldn't happen, Mom," Sarah said quickly.

"You don't know who they are? You don't know who's after Elena?" Natalie asked.

Katherine shook her head. "Elena's protectors have not allowed any to live. I really don't know. Vampires could not enter your house uninvited, and though they have tried to use humans before, our vampires nearby should be able to intercept any who enter your yard before they reach your home."

Natalie hesitated, but finally nodded. "You can stay – one night."

"Thank you." Katherine said, turning to leave the room. "Bonnie, Mr. Saltzman, Elena – come and discuss the arrangements with me. Then you can finish here."

Katherine left the room and went to Sarah's bedroom, followed by the others.

Incalculable Value

"Arrangements?" Elena asked as she entered the room. Since she was last, she closed the door behind her.

"Yes, Elena, arrangements." Katherine said, meeting her eyes.

"We're guests. They will tell us where to sleep." Elena argued.

"I will dress the same as you. You will be in here with Bonnie. Damon, Sarah and I will be in the living room. Alaric will be between where you are and where we are so he can go either place if there is trouble."

Elena scowled, but understood. "You think they will assume I am with Damon, so if one of them attacks, they will attack you."

"And they will assume Sarah will be there to help you." Katherine clarified.

"But once they see you dressed the same as me, they would know it could be you." Elena said.

"They will not see us together, Elena. If they see me, I will speak as you would."

"Sarah would know." Elena continued to argue. "Bonnie knows when vampires are outside of her house."

"Not unless she touches her." Bonnie interjected, drawing the eyes of all. "They can't tell vampires without touching them – at least that's what Natalie told me."

"So Damon will stay between Sarah and me." Katherine said, turning back to Elena. "Will that look odd to them?"

Elena shook her head. "No. Damon said he will always be between me and witches."

"Then it is settled." Katherine said.

"Is Bonnie up to protecting Elena from witches?" Damon asked. He was next to Elena, leaning against the door. "She wasn't last time."

Bonnie glared at Damon. "If anything comes through the door, there will be a protection spell around us until I'm sure there's no danger to her."

"Also, Damon," Katherine said, "we will hear the door and be there instantly. But anyone seeking her should come to us instead."

"You don't want even Sarah to know?" Elena asked.

"No. I'm convinced she will protect you, but I'm not convinced she wouldn't tell her family. It's the other witches I'm concerned about. Vampires cannot enter, humans would be intercepted outside or easily dealt with if they enter. The danger to you is from the witches."

Katherine moved to stand next to Elena and studied her hair. "You really could do so much with your hair. Such possibilities, but it is always like this when I see you. Do you ever do anything different?"

"Founder's Day activities," Damon said. "but I heard she hates it."

"You are not doing my hair and makeup – not part of the job," Elena said, scowling.

"You're right," Katherine, almost laughing. "I know exactly what to do to get my hair to match yours. But really, Elena, so many possibilities."

Elena was getting visibly irritated. "Do you want me to stay here while you change so you can go out and finish this?" she asked.

"No. You go and finish your work. I will stay, do my hair and change. They will not see both of us together again."

Elena turned to leave, but had another thought, so turned back to Katherine. "Nathaniel will be here tomorrow to finish this?"

"Nathaniel is very close now." Katherine said. "With other vampires in what he considers his town, his people are close. He's not happy about the attacks on you from vampires or witches. He will honor your agreement with the witches, but if there is any more trouble, he will be personally involved."

"The Proctors would not be happy to hear that." Elena said.

"That is a concern for tomorrow, when this is done. Tonight it's about keeping you safe, Elena. He is here to help with that."

Elena nodded. "So we're done here? I don't want to keep them waiting."

"Yes. Go on, all of you." Katherine said, waving her hand towards the door to tell them to leave.

Elena, Bonnie and Alaric left. Damon held the door open for them, then closed it, but remained in the room.

"Staying, Damon?" Katherine asked, smiling a little.

"This is not your dream or your fantasy, Katherine." Damon said, a hard look on his face. "Why are you separating Elena and me?"

"I told you."

"Not good enough. You're leaving her without protection. The witch is not up to this." Damon was still standing by the door, still glaring at her.

"You heard her. Bonnie is up to this, and we will be close. The ruse won't work if you are not next to me."

"This sounds like a chance to get rid of her." Damon insisted.

"And why would I do that. To get you? I'm smarter than that, Damon." Katherine's face was showing irritation now as well.

"You know the only way is if she is gone…"

"Damon!" Katherine interrupted. "Yes, I love you and you love her, but that does not mean she is not valuable to me. Do you know what she is doing for me?"

"Paying a debt you owe Nathaniel, returning the favor he did for you when he sent some of his to help protect her."

"True, Damon, but not complete," Katherine said, her face normal now. "That was not the only debt I owed Nathaniel. I have a much older, much greater debt to him, one that I thought I could never repay. I could do small favors for him, but nothing that matched what I owed."

Damon did not respond, so Katherine continued. "Nathaniel has assured me that when this arrangement is completed, both debts to him will be considered repaid. Damon, if Elena can do this, she will never know what she has done for me. Her value to me is incalculable. I'm doing all I can to protect her."

"You're using her." Damon said, still scowling.

"She's keeping her promises to me. I keep mine to her. She will always do this, and so will I. You know that, Damon. The only thing that can possibly change in all of this is you. Will you still help her, protect her, knowing she will always do what I ask of her?"

"Don't give me a reason to protect her from you." Damon growled as he left the bedroom.

Done

It was just after sundown when Elena looked up from the paper she had been writing on.

"We're really done. We did it!" Elena said, smiling.

Natalie was smiling as well.

"Yeah," Sarah said, smiling and nodding her head. "We should go out to celebrate, but that's probably not allowed."

"Probably." Elena said, holding the pages with the final agreement. "We'll need copies."

"Easy." Sarah said, "I can make as many as you want." She chanted a few words, wiggled her fingers and said "look at the last pages of your notebook."

The entire agreement was now in Elena's notebook as well as in her hand.

"Wow. I usually have to pay 20 cents per page for this."

"I can send you a bill." Sarah laughed.

Bonnie was smiling. Even Alaric seemed to be enjoying the banter when Bonnie sat up straight suddenly.

"Damn! Elena, Isobel and other vampires are coming here - fast!"

That was all Elena heard Bonnie say before she heard the crash of glass on both sides of her. She turned to one side and saw figures coming through the window. She instinctively leaned back as if to move away from noise. It seemed that all at once she heard someone screaming, Alaric cursing as he reached for his bag, and at least two women chanting. As she tried to process all of this commotion, she felt herself being lifted into familiar arms. She was being carried out of the Proctor library by Damon.