A/N - Hey guys This was a really fun chapter to write. I just really love getting into the mind of Katherine and giving her a believable but interesting back story.

I hope you enjoy reading about her as much as I do writing her!

December 25th 1920:

Klaus had been using the relive-and-destroy-old-memories torture for over three years and Katherine was tired of it. She had hoped that she would build up an immunity over time, learning to keep Klaus out of her head, or at least have enough control to remember that what she was seeing was just a dream, a manipulation.

Katherine Pierce, however, was not that lucky. It was Christmas night and she clung to the hope that perhaps Klaus would take a break from the torture for one night, if only for the benefit of spending time with his beloved sister. But every year it was the same. Rebekah begged him to take a break for a day and Klaus refused.

The door grinned open, making the familiar grind and click sound that Katherine had come to loath. It was the sound of the beginning of another fun time with Klaus session.

"How is my little vampire doing today?" He didn't wait for an answer. "I wonder what it must be like," he said, "to be able to hear all the Christmas Time Cheer from your little cell down here, but not be able to participate."

Katherine rolled her eyes. "I actually find it quite annoying. What could they possibly have to be that cheerful about?"

Klaus nodded, smiling. "I have no idea."

Rebekah appeared at the door. "Brother?" Klaus huffed with annoyance and turned to his sister. She continued, "Klaus, I will ask you every year to give this up. Only for one day. We are a family and it is Christmas."

"And I will tell you every year," he replied, "that I will not take a break." He turned back toward Katherine, a wicked smile on his face. "I am having too much fun."

Rebekah shook her head and pulled away from the door. "Fine. Have fun with your toy."

"Now." Klaus said, his full attention back on Katherine. "What memory should we explore today?"

He reached out and she shrank back, not wanting to have to go through his torture again. He rolled his eyes, quickly grabbing her hand before she could pull it away again and she was gone, back in time. The date was May 7th 1854. She was eight at the time.

"Kat! Kat come back here!" Called Elena as she ran after her twin sister. The girls' laughter rang out across the courtyard. It had been perfect weather that day. The sun shown brightly in the sky, highlighting a puffy cloud here or there. The temperature was warm enough that they hadn't needed coats. The birds chirped in the green trees and the newly planted flowers in the front lawn gave brilliant color to the scene.

Katherine had always loved those flowers, despite the fact that they made both of the sisters sneeze like crazy.

As Elena finally caught up Katherine felt her pull at her dress. "I got you!" She said, excited that she had won the game. "Now it's your turn. You have to get me." Katherine watched Elena take off in the other direction.

Katherine barely hesitated a second before following after her sister. She couldn't help but laughing. It was the type of day that even a gust of wind in your hair could make you feel like you were soaring.

The two sisters played in their yard, yelling and giggling whenever one of them won. Katherine had never felt so free, so much at home. She was with her sister, who loved her, and they were playing childish games together.

Suddenly there was a chill. It was much colder and sharper than the light breeze that had been blowing all day. Katherine felt her arms bristle with goosebumps and she gave an involuntary shiver. She started to panic as she watched her sister, still lighthearted, disappear around the corner of the house. A sinking feeling started to pull at Katherine's gut. She broke into a full sprint.

A blood curling scream rang through the air just as Katherine reached the corner and turned to see her twin sister, covered in blood. Klaus stood, the young Elena in his hands, his fangs out and the corners of his mouth dripping with her blood. Elena's hands flew to her neck to hold the wound and she slowly turned around to face her sister. She looked scared and startled at first, but as Katherine watched, Elena's face began to change. She grew angry and the veins on her face popped out. Her eyes were red and when she opened her mouth to talk, she now had fangs.

"You did this to me." she said, her voice no longer full of laughter and delight, but hatred and despair. It didn't seem right to Katherine. To see this sight of such a young innocent face angry and distorted by

Katherine shook her head. "No. I didn't mean to."

Eight year old Elena took a firm step towards Katherine, lifting a steady finger to point at her. "You dragged me into this world and then you let me die and become a monster."

"No, Elena, Please." Katherine felt a tear run down her face. "I never wanted this for you. I was selfish with Elijah and because of it you . . ." She couldn't even finish her sentence. She fell to the ground, crushed with the weight of her guilt, trying to get her bearings on what was reality and what was a dream.

Her eyes flew open and she was meet with the face of a very amused Klaus. She pulled back her hand and slapped him as hard as she could before leaning back and facing the wall, blinking rapidly to keep her tears at bay.

"Looks like my work for today is done." he said, standing up and heading to the door. "Merry Christmas, Katherine."