So maybe I can use this story to comment on the show to date. Last chapter still fits in, this chapter begins near the end point of Season 2 Episode 4 (aka "Memory Lane") with the meeting of Elena and Stefan in her bedroom...

Loss

"All this, just to get you back?" Elena asked, trying to control herself.

"That's not why she's here, OK?" Stefan stroked her hair her as he tried to reassure her. "No matter what she says - I know her. Katherine doesn't care about anybody, but herself. She never has. She's incapable of love. She's here for another reason."

Elena shook her head and sat on the bed. "She's capable of wanting love – your love. She wanted it enough that she compelled you to get it."

"I don't think she was ever after my love." Stefan said sitting next to her on the bed.

"Does she lie, Stefan?" Elena asked as she turned to meet his eyes.

"She manipulates, she uses."

"But does she lie? Has anything she has said been a lie?" Elena repeated.

Stefan broke eye contact and shrugged.

"It's not so strange she came back for you." Elena said, still looking at him. "I'd go anywhere to get you."

"That's not why she's here." Stefan repeated meeting her eyes again.

Elena was starting to look desperate. "She said that's the reason. She doesn't lie. It makes sense to me that she wants you just like I want you. I think it is why she's here."

Stefan shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Even if true, which it's not, it would change nothing. Certainly nothing between us."

"She'll do anything, Stefan. She already made Caroline a vampire." Stefan could see the pain Elena felt as she looked down. "We saved Caroline from Damon, but you told me she would be dead anyway because of what Katherine did."

"Don't let Katherine get to you, Elena. We have a plan." Stefan put his arm around her.

"A plan based on her lying, which she doesn't. And she did get to me – she was standing right in front of me."

"I won't let that happen again, Elena."

"She said something about questions." Elena met his eyes again. "I asked her why we look alike, and she said it was the wrong question. What does that mean?"

"She's playing with you, Elena. What she says doesn't mean anything."

"She says that all she wants is you."

"That will never happen. You know that. I hate her, I love you, Elena." Stefan tried to kiss her, but she pulled back.

"Am I the only reason, Stefan. If I wasn't here, would you go back to her?"

Stefan shook his head. "Elena, no. I already told you I hate her."

"You didn't always hate her." Elena was trying to read his eyes.

"I was compelled!"

"Is that what she says? The vampire that doesn't lie. Does she admit she compelled you to love her?"

Stefan averted his eyes and did not answer.

"Please answer, Stefan,"

He turned back to her. "No. She says I loved her before she compelled me. She says she only compelled me so I wouldn't be afraid of her after I found out she's a vampire."

Elena nodded.

"I don't remember it like that, but it doesn't matter Elena. There's no question about who I love now – it's you. It will always be you. We can't let her screw that up – no matter what."

"No matter what," Elena repeated with a sigh. "So we follow the plan – public breakup, secret lovers, and we see what she does next. We see who gets hurt."

"Who gets hurt? That's not part of the plan."

"That's what will happen, Stefan. If not you or me, then someone else. Probably someone I love since she's so bent on getting to me."

Nothing Stefan said was working – Elena was still upset.

"I won't let that happen," he said, putting his hand under her chin and pulling her eyes to his.

"It already has. Caroline. Damon tried to kill her, she had to give up Matt, and she's being used by Katherine. Killing her is about all that's left. All so Katherin can get you back."

"We'll stop it before then." Stefan was getting desperate now.

"Of course we will, because we've stopped her every step of the way so far."

Stefan looked down as he asked the next question. "Is it not worth it? Am I not worth it?"

"Of course you are," Elena said. She looked at him but did not move to pull him towards her. "But Stefan, I can't lose anyone – not even Caroline."

Denial

Damon approached Elena, as she was leaving her home, and received the expected response.

"Leave me alone, Damon," Elena said, walking around him.

"You don't mean that," Damon said as he moved to catch her.

"Yes, I do," she said, walking faster.

"Pretend to be Katherine later. I need to tell you something."

Elena did not slow down. "Insulting me is not the way to get my attention."

Damon was in front of her instantly. "I know what happened between you and Stefan."

"Not something I'm going to talk about with you." Elena said, trying to walk around him again.

Damon grabbed her arm and held her in place.

Elena gasped. She didn't try to pull away, she scowled and said "Let me go."

"You need to know something," Damon insisted.

Elena shook her head and looked into his eyes. She spoke softly this time. "Please let me go. Then say what you want and leave me alone."

Damon released her arm. "Ok. I managed to get some silver into Mason Lockwood after Jenna's party."

Elena waited a minute before getting irritated again. "And?"

"And it turns out werewolf's aren't affected by silver. All I did was make him an enemy – like that changes anything."

Elena laughed. "And the club grows."

"Nothing to laugh at Elena. Sooner or later, he will try to hurt me."

Elena smirked. "I'm following Damon. What I'm not is caring."

"You should Elena. He can't hurt me – not physically. He would have to catch me unawares and, now that I am aware – not going to happen. And he can't break my heart – that was ripped out by you and Katherine. All he can do is hurt the only person who cares about me, the only person I care about."

Elena shook her head and gave him a unbelieving look. "No. You can't mean me, not after everything."

"Can't I, Elena? Denial – never healthy, mentally speaking. And right now, for you, not safe. Not safe at all. Be careful."

Damon moved quickly in the direction opposite Elena had been walking. She swallowed as she turned and watched him leave.

So I'm not so upset about where the show is now..give or take Damon's current state. I'm not sure whether it's worse that he tries to kill everyone and everything he meets or that he fails every time he tries. But much better than last time. Much. Liking what Katherine is becoming. Soon Elena will be pledging her loyalty...though apparently to save someone other than Bonnie...