Mystic Falls Hospital
Elena and Stefan are outside, walking away.
"Hey, I just have to swing by home to pick up Jenna and Jeremy so we can go to the Lockwoods'. How did you leave him there, John?" Elena asked.
"I...I asked him to leave town". Stefan answered.
They stop walking and look at each other.
"Asked? You threatened him".
"Yeah, I threatened him".
"Good. I want him gone, Stefan. I know that I shouldn't feel that way but I don't want someone like that in my life. Or Jeremy's life".
"I know".
She embraces him.
"So what now?"
"Now". They pull apart. "I need to go find Damon".
"Please Stefan, don't fight with him".
"No Elena, he tried to kiss you. I'm not okay with that".
"That's not the problem, Katherine is. She's already messing with both of your heads and Damon is not stable when it comes to her. The last thing we need is to make things worse".
Lockwood Mansion
Damon and Bonnie are talking. Damon had gotten Grace to eat something after a lot of debating.
"Did you know the Gilbert device affected Tyler Lockwood?" Bonnie asked.
"Well, I know it took the mayor down. It also took Grace down".
"Uncle Damon stop telling my business". Grace told him.
"Don't you want to know why?" Bonnie asked.
"Yes Bonnie, I would love to know why two non-vampires were tortured by the vampire torture device that you let John Gilbert use against us. And one was my niece. Speaking of your guilt, how's Caroline?" Damon replied.
"She's much better".
"You're welcome".
"No, you're welcome".
"Why am I welcome?"
"You live to see another day".
"He was going to anyway". Grace muttered.
"No good deal goes unpunished with you, does it?" Damon asked.
"Doesn't undo the bad. I know what you are Damon, you might have Elena and the sheriff and everybody else fooled but not me. One wrong move and I'm gonna take you out". Bonnie said.
"Now you need to stop with the witches' brew. You're starting to believe your own press".
She looks at Damon. Damon starts to hold his head in pain. Grace had noticed this.
"Bonnie please stop, please". Grace asked the teen witch.
Bonnie stops after a while.
"Oh, I'm sorry, you were saying?"
She walks out out to the front porch and over to Katherine, who Bonnie thinks is Elena.
"Oh my god! Damon drives me crazy. He's walking around like he's some kind of hero for healing Caroline when it's his fault all of this happened in the first place". Bonnie exclaimed.
"I'm sorry Bonnie. What Damon's done is just awful". Katherine said.
"Okay, better. Hateful Damon moment over".
Bonnie touches her arm and immediately senses that she is not Elena.
"I've got to find Tyler and pay my respects. I'll be back".
"Okay".
Bonnie walks away as Katherine watches her go. She walks into a room and immediately dials Elena on her phone.
-Hello? Elena answered.
-Elena? Where are you? Bonnie asked.
-Bonnie, I know I'm late. I'm getting in the car now. I'll be there in five. She hangs up.
Bonnie is shocked. She turns around to leave but sees Katherine behind her. She gasps.
"We haven't officially met. I'm Katherine".
"I know who you are".
"Of course you do. You're the best friend right? I've been putting all the pieces of Elena's life together. Isobel told me it was a bit of a puzzle. I do know who Jenna and Jeremy are and I met that delicious ex-boyfriend Matt, who's sweet on Caroline, and then there's you, the vampire-hating Bennett witch. Did I do good?"
Bonnie tries to leave the room, but Katherine super speeds around her and blocks her way out. Bonnie uses her migraine inducing spell on Katherine. Katherine feigns being hurt.
"I've been around a long time Bonnie; you're gonna have to do better than that".
She grabs Bonnie by the throat and pushes her against the wall. She vamps out. Bonnie open the doors with her powers to expose them to the other guests. Katherine's face goes back to normal.
"Nice".
Stefan is standing outside the doorway.
"Katherine". Stefan said.
"Stefan. Where's little Gracie?" Katherine replied.
"Leave her alone. And stay away from my niece"
"Okay".
She releases her and leaves the room. Katherine traces her finger across his chest as she walks past him. Bonnie and Stefan look at each other and Stefan follows Katherine out into the main room.
"What are you doing here?"
Katherine grabs a drink off a tray, "After the way you treated me last night, I thought that a public place would be less violent".
"You're taking this a little far, don't you think? Elena could walk in at any moment".
"Mmm, but that's part of the fun, Stefan". She picks up a cherry from the food table. "Damon's here, somewhere probably with little Gracie. I've been avoiding him"
Katherine puts the cherry in her mouth, but when she sees Matt, she takes it back out.
Matt walks up to them, "Hey guys".
"Hey Matt. I heard that Caroline is doing much better. Her recovery was practically miraculous, you must be so relieved". Katherine said.
"I am. Thanks Elena". He leaves.
"Uh! His eyes are so blue!"
"You need to leave now".
"You're hurting my feelings, Stefan. Damon was much happier to see me, then again he thought I was your girlfriend so...too bad Gracie wasn't excited to see me".
"Katherine, I'm not doing this with you". He then gave her an icy cold stare. "And I'm not gonna tell you again to leave my niece alone".
"Okay, how about we don't have a couple's fight in front of all of your friends? Walk with me".
"Just tell me what you're doing here".
"Maybe I missed you. Is that an acceptable reason?"
"What game are you playing?"
"Why, you want to play with me?"
"I don't know. How can I play if I don't know the rules?"
"No rules, Stefan. Don't you remember? No rules".
Katherine walks out of the room and looks back at Stefan. Stefan looks at her. She holds her hand out for him. Stefan walks towards her. She smiles and turns around, still holding her hand out for Stefan to hold. Stefan walks right past her, ignoring her silent request to hold hands. Katherine drops her hand and follows Stefan.
Grace was with Damon which she felt something wasn't right in her stomach and Damon noticed.
"Something wrong Gracie?"
"I got a feeling something's not right".
Just then Elena, Jenna, and Jeremy arrived.
Elena sees Damon, "You guys go ahead, I'll be right there, okay?" She tells her aunt and brother. She goes toward Damon and Grace. "Hey, how are you doing?"
"Hi Elena". Grace said.
"Hi Grace". Elena says to the ten year old.
"Great Elena. Walking on the sunshine, thanks for asking". Damon said.
"Damon".
"Elena".
"We should be able to talk about this. Damon, we're close enough now. I really want to know how you are doing".
"I kissed you; I thought you kissed me back. Doppelgänger hijinks ensued. How do you think I'm doing?"
"Ok ew". Grace said.
"I think that you're hurt". Elena says.
"No, I don't get hurt, Elena".
"No, you don't admit that you get hurt. You get angry and cover it up and then you do something stupid".
"You're scared. You think Katherine is gonna send me off the deep end, don't you? I don't need her for that".
"No but I'm scared that the evil little witch will make you do that". Grace said.
"She's not gonna make me do anything sweetheart". Damon told her gently.
He begins to leave but stops.
"You know, why - why is it such a surprise that I would kiss you?" Damon asked Elena.
"That's not a surprise. I'm surprised that you thought I would kiss you back".
"Now I'm hurt".
"Ok this is boring me I'm gonna go find Uncle Stefan". Grace said.
"Be careful Gracie". Damon told his niece.
Damon turns to leave again, but Bonnie runs up to them. Grace had walked away from the group
"Elena!" Bonnie exclaimed.
"Bonnie, what happened?" Elena asked worriedly.
Grace was wondering around and made her way out to the back yard and seen the wide yard, the pond, she was still walking when she seen Stefan with Katherine. She had felt fear for Stefan because Katherine had already begun messing with not only her but Damon's as well. She then walked over but made sure to stay a little back so she doesn't get caught. 'What does she want with Uncle Stefan? Whatever it is it won't end well'.
Katherine and Stefan are outside, walking.
"The Lockwoods have a lot more land than they used to. The possessions from all the tomb vampires built them quite a fortune". Katherine said.
"Yeah, why did you want them dead? You're the one who turned most of them".
"There's nothing more annoying than a vengeful vampire, Stefan. Just ask John Gilbert".
They both stop walking.
"You haven't changed at all, have you?"
"But you have. You're stronger. Meaner. It's sexy".
Grace was still looking on in disgust at the scene. 'Who does this chick think she's talking too? Uncle Stefan won't fall for that crap'.
"Don't flirt with me Katherine. I'm not Damon; I haven't spent one hundred and forty five years obsessed with you". Stefan said.
"Yeah, based on your choice of women, I'd say otherwise. Although I'll admit it does bother me that you've falling in love with someone else". Katherine replied.
"I was never in love with you, Katherine. You compelled me. So none of my feelings were real".
"Believe what you want, Stefan, but I know the truth and deep down, so do you".
Katherine presses her finger against his chest. When Grace seen Katherine put her finger on her uncle's chest she growled as anger and rage started to build inside her.
"The truth? Well the truth is, you're the same lying, selfish, manipulative bitch that you've always been. So, whatever it is that brought you here, why don't you just get on with it and leave town? Because if you don't, I will hunt you down and I will rip your heart out".
"You want to know why I'm here Stefan? I came back for you. Plus if you're nice I might give you some information that you might want to know".
"Well the problem, Katherine, is that I hate you".
She takes an iron stem from the ground and stabs him in the stomach with it. When Grace had seen it she looked in horror and ran over to them.
"Uncle Stefan!" Grace cried in horror.
"Gracie get out of here". Stefan told her weakly.
The ten year old gave Katherine an icy cold stare. "You bitch!" Grace yelled.
"Grace!" Stefan scolded.
Katherine then looked at the ten year old, "Well hello Gracie nice to see you again. You know I bet you didn't tell your dear uncles your little secret have you".
Grace held her breath for a moment. 'How does she know?' "I don't know what your talking about".
"I bet you don't, you know I was gonna give you the information but now I won't". She then turned her attention to Stefan.
"You hate me, huh? That sound like the beginning of a love story, Stefan, not the end of one".
She removes the iron stem and flees. Grace then began helping Stefan.
"Are you alright Uncle Stefan?" Grace asked.
"I'll be alright. Gracie what was she talking about? What secret haven't you told us?"
Grace sighed, 'Thanks a lot you evil witch'.
"Sweetheart what is it".
"I don't want you or Uncle Damon to hate me or get rid of me".
"Honey why would you think we would hate you or get rid of you?"
"Because I...I...I don't know how but I think I could be a witch".
Later, Elena and Stefan are sitting on a bench on the Lockwood grounds. Elena is wiping Stefan's wound with a cloth. Grace was sitting by Stefan ever since telling her secret she held onto his arm.
"You gonna be okay?" Elena asked.
"Yeah, it will heal". Stefan answered.
"That's not what I meant".
"I was trying to figure her out. I was playing along and I let her get to me".
Damon arrives. When Grace had since her other uncle approaching she glanced up at Stefan who gave her a reassuring smile.
"I tried to track her but she's gone. Oooh, cover up, Fabio". Stefan pulls his shirt down. "We got a crazy ex on the loose". He looks at Elena. "You better watch out, looks like Katherine is trying to steal your guy". He then looked at Grace. "Are you alright Gracie?"
Grace nodded, 'Now I gotta tell Uncle Damon'.
"That's not what's happening". Stefan said.
"Isn't it? I mean it's only fair since I went after your girl". Damon replies.
"I'm gonna go check on Jenna and Jeremy. Let me know when you guys are done". Elena said.
Elena leaves.
"So what's it gonna be huh? Fight to the death?" He gets into a boxing pose and pretends to punch with his fists as Stefan snorts. "Go ahead, make your threats, stake your claim". Damon said.
"I'm not gonna fight you". Stefan replied.
"Please don't fight I hate it when you two fight". Grace said.
"Why?! I'd fight me". Damon said.
"Katherine is gonna try to play us against each other, you do know that right?" Stefan says.
"Brother, don't you worry, our bond is unbreakable".
"We need to stay united against her. So yes, as much as I would like to kill you, I'm not gonna fight you".
"Can you guys like not fight or kill each other I like to keep both my uncles intact". Grace said.
"I kissed Elena". Damon said.
"Because you feel something for her, because you actually care and I'm not gonna let Katherine come in here and destroy that part of you that is finally, after all of this time, willing to feel something. She will try to break you, she will try to break us and how we respond to that will define us. It's our choice. So no, I'm not gonna fight you". Stefan says.
He looks at Damon and leaves. Grace had kept looking at the ground, 'Well here goes nothing'.
"Uncle Damon". Grace said.
"What is it sweetheart". He replied.
"If I tell you something you wouldn't hate me or get rid of me, would you?"
"Sweetie why would you say or think that?"
"Because I think I could be a witch".
Damon was completely in shock, How could Grace be a witch? When did she start noticing the signs? How did she start noticing? Many things have roamed his mind.
"I didn't know how to tell you Uncle Damon and I know you don't like witches so I thought it be better if I didn't tell you also because if you found out I didn't want you to get rid of me". Grace rambled.
"Hey hey Gracie calm down sweetheart".
"I don't want you to get rid of me".
"Hey I would never get rid of my favorite niece and I don't care that you could be a witch, I'll find a way to help you".
"Really?"
"Of course, sweetie you are the most important person in my life and I don't care that you're a witch or not I'll still love you no matter what".
"I love you too Uncle Damon". She threw her arms around his neck as he lifted her up hugging her.
"Let's head home".
Salvatore Boarding House
Damon and Grace had arrived home and the ten year old was close to falling to sleep so Damon had carried her up to her room, she had quickly changed for bed she tiredly crawled into her bed just as Damon pulled the covers back and tucked them around her.
"G'night Uncle Damon". Grace said sleepily.
"Sleep tight sweetheart".
He kissed her head just as she drifted off to sleep he quietly slipped out of her room closing the door behind him.
Damon walks into the living room and pours himself a drink. He starts to walk out but stops.
"Very brave of you to come here". Damon says.
He turns his head. Katherine is sitting on the couch.
"I wanted to say goodbye". Katherine said.
"Leaving so soon?"
"I know where I'm not wanted".
"Don't pout. It's not attractive on a woman your age".
Katherine scoffs, "Ouch".
Damon drinks his drink and starts to walk out of the room. Katherine super speeds in front of him.
"What, no goodbye kiss?"
"Why don't I kill you instead? What are you doing here?"
"Nostalgia, curiosity, et cetera. I also can give you some information that you will find interesting".
"I'm better at the enigmatic one-liners, Katherine. What are you up to?" He then raised his eyebrow. "What information do you have?"
"Trust me Damon, when I'm up to something, you'll know it. Come on. Kiss me. Or kill me. Which will it be, Damon? We both know that you're only capable of one. I got the kind you want, you help me when the time comes and I'll tell you".
She inches closer towards his lips. He turns and walks away. She rushes in front of him again and grabs him by the throat. She pushes him down to the floor and lies on top of him.
"My sweet, innocent Damon".
He turns himself on top of her and grabs her by the throat. After a few seconds of hesitation, he kisses her.
"That's more like it".
They continue to kiss. Katherine super speeds Damon against the wall. She rips his shirt open. They continue kissing. Damon knocks books off a nearby table and pushes Katherine down onto the table. He continues kissing her neck, then pauses.
"Okay, wait, brief pause. I usually don't do this with Grace here".
Katherine casually pushes him off of her and stands up.
"I have a question. Answer it and it's back to fireworks and rockets red glare. Answer it right and I'll forget the last one hundred and forty five years that I've spent missing you. I'll forget how much I loved you, I'll forget everything and we can start over. This could be our defining moment because we have the time. That's the beauty of eternity".
He gently caresses her face.
"I just need the truth, just once".
"Stop. I already know your question and its answer. The truth is...I've never loved you. It was always Stefan".
She takes his hands off her face and leaves an upset Damon standing there. By this time Grace had heard the last part of the conversation, her heart ached for Damon he deserved happiness in his life she wished that he could have it.
Gilbert Residence
Elena exits her bathroom and goes into her bedroom. Damon is sitting on her bed. She is startled by his appearance.
"Oh god, you scared me". Elena said startled.
"Just doing my part in the neighborhood watch".
"Thanks. For, um, for looking out for us. For me".
"That's me, your trusty bodyguard. Calm in crisis".
"Have you been drinking?"
Damon holds his forefinger and thumb a small distance apart, indicating that he has been drinking a little.
"And you're upset. That's not a good combination".
"No, I'm not upset. Upset is an emotion specific to those who care".
"Come on, Damon. That's a lie. You care".
Damon looks up at her.
"You're surprised that I thought you would kiss me back? You can't imagine that I believed that you would want to?"
"Damon..."
"That what we've been doing here means something? You're the liar, Elena. There is something going on between the two of us and you know it".
He gets up and walks towards her.
"And you're lying to me, and you're lying to Stefan, and, most of all, you're lying to yourself. I can prove it".
"No".
He quickly grabs her face in his hands and kisses her hard but soft and intensely with passion. Elena is clearly uncomfortable and not wanting the kiss to happen. She pulls away from him.
"Damon, don't! What's wrong with you?"
"Lie about this" He looks like he wants to get closer then through her in her bed and have his way with her.
"Stop it! You're better than this, come on".
"That's where you're wrong".
Damon tries to kiss her again quickly, but Elena is prepared this time and pushes him back.
"No, no, no, Damon! I care about you. Listen to me, I care about you". Damon smiles slightly and entwines his hands with hers hoping to hear that he loves him back. "I do but...I love Stefan, it's always gonna be Stefan". Damon looks really hurt and angry by this and tightens his grip on her arms.
Jeremy hears the commotion and looks in the doorway.
"Elena, what's going on in here?" Jeremy asked.
Damon and Elena look at him. Elena pulls her wrists out of Damon's grasp.
"Nothing, Jeremy. It's okay, just go back to bed".She tells her brother.
"No, it's not okay, Elena". Damon starts. He looks at Jeremy and then at Elena. "He wants to be a vampire".
He rushes at Jeremy and pushes him against the wall.
"No, Damon, stop it!" Elena cried.
Damon is choking Jeremy.
"You want to shut out the pain? It's the easiest thing in the world. The part of you that cares just goes away, all you have to do is flip the switch and snap!"
He snaps Jeremy's neck. Jeremy falls to the floor, dead.
"Damon! NO!"
She rushes over to Jeremy and cries. Damon looks at her and leaves. Elena clutches Jeremy in horror and then she notices John's magical ring on Jeremy's finger. She realises he isn't permanently dead.
Elena is on the floor, cradling Jeremy in her arms. Stefan is standing behind her.
"He saw the ring, that's why he did it. He knew". Stefan said.
"He didn't see the ring". Elena cried.
"It's Katherine. She got under his skin. She undid everything that was good about him".
"There's nothing good about him. Stefan, not anymore. He's decided what he wants. He doesn't want to feel, he wants to be hated, it's just easier that way. He got his wish".
Damon is at the Salvatore boarding house. She throws his jacket onto a chair and pours himself a drink. He throws the glass into the fireplace. Grace had kept watching her uncle till she decided to make her presence known. Damon was still looking at the fire when he felt arms wrap around his waist he looked down to see his niece.
"I won't ever leave you Uncle Damon, I'll always be here and I'll always love you". She said.
Elena cries, "I hate him, Stefan".
Stefan kneels down next to her and comforts her.
"I know. I know".
He kisses her on the shoulder. Jeremy suddenly wakes up gasping. Stefan takes his face and looks in his eyes.
"Is he okay? Stefan, is he okay?"
"He's okay. Shhh, you're okay".
"He killed me! Damon killed me!" Jeremy exclaimed.
Elena embraces him and smiles, "It's okay. Oh God".
Stefan and Elena are both relieved.
Mystic Falls Hospital
Caroline is in bed, sleeping. She wakes up and sees Katherine.
"Elena?" Caroline asked confused.
"Hey Caroline". Katherine said.
"What are you doing here?"
"My name is Katherine. I was hoping you could give the Salvatore brothers a message for me".
"What are you talking about? What message?"
"Game on".
"What?"
Katherine grabs one of Caroline's pillows and pushes it down over her face and smothers her. Caroline screams and struggles until she dies. Katherine takes the pillow off and places it next to Caroline. She casually walks out of the room.
Salvatore Boarding House
Grace had fallen back asleep on the couch so Damon had brought her back to her room just as Stefan came in, he looked in the study and didn't find his brother until he seen him coming down the stairs.
"Gracie asleep?" Stefan asked.
"Yeah". Damon answered.
Damon went to go pour another drink when his brother followed him. "What do you want?"
"Damon if you go crazy because of Katherine and her drama you'll leave me with no choice".
"What choice? What the hell are you talking about?"
"If you won't be able to control yourself because of Katherine...I'm gonna take Gracie back to Lexi until you can control yourself".
"The hell you will!"
"I will do it, there are many things she shouldn't see and one of them is to see you lose it".
"You're not taking her from me in case you didn't know by I was named her guardian".
"No we both were named her guardians and I have to protect her at all cost even if it means protecting her from you".
Damon looked in disbelief at his brother. "You would really think I would hurt Gracie?"
"I didn't say that I just don't want you losing control while she's around and if you do I'll have no choice but to give her back to Lexi until you can get a hang of yourself".
"I would never lose control in front of Gracie ever".
"Damon I'm only giving you one warning you do anything crazy or you lose control Grace goes back to Lexi".
"Alright fine".
The brothers had stayed quiet for a moment when Damon spoke up again. "Let me ask you a question".
"What".
"When were you gonna tell me that the vampire device affected Gracie?"
Stefan sighed and knew he forgot to tell Damon something, "She told you?"
"Yeah I thought you would tell me instead of her".
"I was gonna tell you but all the crap with Katherine happened".
"But something doesn't make sense".
"What do you mean".
"Gracie said she thinks she's a witch right".
"Right".
"Bonnie's a witch and the device didn't affect her".
"Yeah".
"If Gracie's a witch what else caused her to be affected by the device?"
"What if she's part witch and something else?"
"What else could she be? More importantly what is she?"
"I don't know but we need to find out. And fast".