Elena watched as hand in hand Katherine and her past self walked back down the stair to where they had left Caroline, "what do you mean you lost her?" they heard Damon shout "exactly what i said Damon, one second they were here then they were gone" Past Elena lead them back onto the street and they saw the bickering pair by the side of the road. Past Elena cleared her throat to get there attention, Damons eyes quickly found Katherine and without warning he launched himself at her. Katherine sidestepped the attack causing Damon to land painfully on the floor, before he could try again Past Elena planted herself between Katherine and her attacker "Damon calm down" she ordered, Elena could feel a rush of pride run through Katherine. Caroline walked over and helped Damon as he got to his feet and brushed the dirt off his clothes "Elena you better start explaining" he demanded not taking his eyes off of Katherine for a second, the amount of venom Elena saw coming from her friend scared her she had never seen so much hate. "I will, as long as you promise to be calm and handle this like a mature adult not like a century old child" Past Elena said her grip on Katherine's hand tightened, Katherine gave a reassuring squeeze and Elena saw a brief smile on her Past selfs lips. Damon folded his arms in a huff and waited for Past Elena to continue, "Okay, i know this is very confusing and a huge shock to both of you but there's a lot about this that you guys have no idea about, Katherine and I have been getting closer for a while now and we've grown really close". Caroline rolled her eyes "yes" she said "we can see that" she gestured at the couple's entwined hands, Damon nodded in agreement "so you have a little sleepover and suddenly you're two peas in a pod?" he said. As Elena watched these event playout before her she knew that she was feeling the same emotions as her past self, a conflicting mixture of her feelings for Katherine and her loyalty for her friends, the effects of the volatile mixture was plain to see on Past Elenas face. Why could they see that.
"This wasn't a sudden over night thing Damon" Past Elena insisted "we've been friendly for a long time and over that time emotions have grown and im sorry that this seems like it was done behind your backs or done to spite you but it wasn't it was just the way things had to be". Past Elena paused to look back at Katherine her face asking for confirmation, Katherine nodded, "but i'm not going to let them be like that anymore, I love her and i'm not going to let you or her or anything get in between us". She stopped waiting for a response, Caroline looked conflicted hate a sympathy evident in her eye, but Damons only held anger, without a word he turned and walked away.
Katherine sat on what the was planned to be her new bed, after leaving the bloodsoaked hotel, Stefan took them to a new hotel four miles away and after dumping Elenas clothes and books into a closet he went to sort out his own room. Caroline had insisted in sharing with Katherine despite protests, "the others went to Bulgaria" Caroline explained, she had been talking ever since Stefan left the room. Katherine had been paying little attention and instead stood by the window looking out and wondering how easy it would be to jump out without Caroline waking. Caroline continued to chat away unaware "Bonnies was doing locator spells but she wasn't having any luck, must have been something Nadia and her Traveler friends did". Katherines thoughts turned back to Elena, the thought of seeing her touching her of her just being back in the world again filled her with joy, the world seemed a brighter place and for the first time since she had arrived in Paris she felt excited for the future.
But there was a dark cloud on her beautiful horizon, Elena had no good memories of her before Katherine took over her body, the closer she came to bringing Elena back the more that idea took shape and became real. Katherine had tried to dismiss the idea but she could not get it out of her head, She could be without Elena again, she knew that much. If she had to actually kidnap her and force her to remember she would.
Stefan was glad they had found Elena but something was wrong, he couldn't put his finger on it but something about Elena wasn't right, she seemed different, she was uneasy and uncaring toward himself and Caroline. Rationally he knew that she was only just beginning to dealing with the kidnapping now that she was safe but a small part of him, at the back of his mind told him something wasn't right. He quickly unpacked and went back to the girls room, Caroline was was unpacking and sorting Elenas whilst Elena stood by the window staring out clearly deep in thought. And by her expression not pleasant thoughts, "I'm all unpacked" he announced walking over to the window "hey Elena, how you holding up?", Elena snapped out of whatever train of thought she was in "huh? Yeah i'm doing okay" she answered folding her arms around herself. "You know we don't have to stay?" Stefan asked "we can go back home and have nothing more to do with her?" Elena shook her head "she'd follow us back" she said beginning to stare off into space again. Stefan looked over at Caroline for assistance but she just urged him to continue "okay we won't go back but i can call the others tell them to come here and we can take down Nadia together" Elena shook her head again but there was more urgency "no Stefan" she insisted "if they come here then i'll just be putting more people i care about in danger".
Caroline gestured for Stefan to come over to her, Elena had already withdrawn into herself again so he complied "Why are you upsetting her Stefan?" she said slapping his arm "i'm not, i'm trying to help" he said rubbing his arm "well don't" Caroline ordered pushing the draw she was filling closed. "She's very fragile right now and what she doesn't need is you filling her head with images of people she loves being hurt by the women who hurt her" she slapped his arm again "it's basic psychology" she pushed past him and walked over to Elena. A faint buzzing in his pocket brought his attention away from their conversation, Damon was calling, the room had a balcony so Stefan stepped out there to take the call.
Damon hey
How is she Stefan? I swear if that bitch has has harmed one hair
She's fine Damon a little shaken but she's fine
Well i'll see for myself me and Bon-bon are getting on the next flight there
No Damon, she doesn't want anyone else getting hurt because of her just go back home
.A muffled argument erupted on the other end of the line as Bonnie took the phone from Damon
Stefan we are not just going home
I'm sorry Bonnie but she doesn't want anyone to get hurt
You two could get killed on your own she's older and more powerful than both of you, we are coming our plane should get there tonight we'll see you when we land.
Stefan sighed and shoved the phone back in his pocket, he looked through the window at Caroline and Elena, Caroline was comforting Elena who seemed to be barely paying attention. He was conflicted about telling Elena that the others were coming, did she really need more to worry about, she already obviously didn't feel safe she couldn't take her eyes off the exits, it was as if Nadia was going to burst through at any moment. He'd have to tell her.