Chapter 4

After several hours of meticulous planning, Stefan was finally allowed to return home. When it came to Caroline and her 'projects' the best thing to do was just to nod your head and agree. The blonde had a hard time allowing someone else to take the reins and luckily for her; Stefan was only too happy to let her take control. Especially since it had been her idea to go on this sudden road trip.

He wasn't happy that Klaus was involved in de activating of Damon's compulsion – but then again the original could just dagger his brother for all eternity until he needed a favor from Damon. Then hopefully by then Damon and Elena would be human and they could live out their little pretend fantasy. A fantasy that Stefan had longed for since the day he felt remorse for the crimes he had committed by being the ripper. He wanted a human life. It would come with its own challenges but at least then he could face those difficulties with the certainty that he would out live his life and he would be normal again. No longer would he be punished for being an immortal being forced to walk the road of life until the very end of time.

Surprisingly Stefan had opted against using his super speed to return to the boarding house and instead he had taken a long casual stroll. The good old fashioned way he thought, when he reached the front door. Just that small simple act of humanity pleased him and perhaps this trip would be an excellent way for him to get in touch with his human side again. However his joy was short lived when he happened upon Damon and Elena kissing passionately in the hall. Elena was wearing Damon's black T-shirt and nothing else, while Damon was shirtless wearing only a pair of black jeans that wasn't zipped all the way up to the top. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what they had just been doing or what they were about to do. The pair jumped when they saw Stefan's gloomy figure standing in the doorway.

"Stefan." Elena said breathlessly, as she looked down at her feet, embarrassed no doubt for getting caught in the act.

Stefan was glad that she felt some embarrassment. Damon however acted as if nothing had taken place, but his eyes revealed the truth and the small hint of shame that laid in his crystal clear grey eyes.

"Good to see you're not trying to kill her brother." Stefan scoffed as he proceeded to walk past them.

"Stefan, wait." Elena spoke to his back.

Stefan had longed for her to tell him to wait. To wait because she had made a terrible mistake for choosing Damon. That there wasn't anything between them except the sire bond. But it was pointless, because he knew she would never come to him with those words.

"What?" He asked out annoyed.

He turned and gave them both a death stare.

"Thank you for what you did for Damon. I don't know how you got Klaus to agree, but we're both grateful." She said softly.

Stefan scoffed.

"Yeah." He said bitterly.

Damon moved forward and wrapped his arms around Elena's waist.

"Perhaps you should get dressed into something more boring." Damon smirked.

Elena nodded and moved past the brothers and made her way up the stairs. Stefan couldn't help but chuckle at the blatant sire demand and gullible Elena didn't even realize it.

"Well brother this is an interesting turn of events. I thought for a moment that you would leave me in the basement to rot. But it turns out you're not so heartless," Damon said coyly.

Stefan remained silent.

"Nothing to say?" Damon probed again.

"No." Stefan said defiantly as he moved into the parlor. Damon followed suit and instantly went for his stash of alcohol. He poured himself a drink and eyed Stefan out. No doubt trying to process the inner workings of his brother's mind.

"Mature. Why don't you go write a whiny song and join the ranks of Taylor Swift? Although I'm not sure that your singing voice is up to par." Damon smirked as he tossed the amber liquid down his throat.

"Look I'm not in the mood for this brother banter or whatever the hell this is." Stefan growled out.

Damon poured himself another drink and took a seat on the brown leather couch. Stefan remained stock still.

"This isn't a banter, it's serious. We can't ignore the doppelganger in the room."

Stefan pinched the bridge of his nose with his hand, "I don't care about that anymore."

At that moment Elena walked in dressed at least, Stefan thought as she watched him with big wide brown eyes. Did she still expect him to want to care about her, why did he have to be the one to suffer while she got to move on with her life?

"Come on!" Damon shouted as he shot up from his seat. We both know you're mad. Why deny it?"

"What do you want me to be mad about? Huh? The fact that you're sleeping with my ex or the fact that you can't help but fall in love with the same woman that I love. Is that what you wanted to hear Damon?" Stefan snapped as he snarled angrily towards Damon.

Damon merely smirked.

"Let it all out little bro." He said.

Elena sensing trouble stepped in-between the two brothers.

"No." Stefan scoffed suddenly as he glared straight at Elena.

Elena looked puzzled, so did Damon.

"No what?" Damon asked.

"You're not my brother anymore. A brother doesn't do what you have done," Stefan bit out as he looked from Elena to Damon.

"And you." He said as he turned his glare towards Elena, "You are just like Katherine. You share the same filthy blood, I should have seen the signs long ago but I lied to myself. I thought you were nothing like her but I was wrong."

Damon looked as though he was about to pounce and Elena looked at him as if he had just shot Bambi.

"So why don't you do everyone a favor and you both get the hell out of Mystic Falls." Stefan said angrily.

"Stefan…" Elena whispered out as if she was heartbroken by his statement.

Stefan continued, "You know what? You stay, I'll leave"

With that Stefan left the room. Leaving the pair behind with doubt and shame placed in their hearts.