She Deserves Better

by CrazyGirl92

Everyone Caroline has ever known is gone, her life has not gone the way she expected at all. What happens when she is attacked on the full moon? What happens if she finds herself back into her past. What will she do with this unexpected chance? How did it happen? Will she make the same choices? Were those even the right ones?

39. Chapter 39

Chapter 39

As they made their way downstairs Katherine bellowed, "Matt! Get your adorable butt down here."

An amused but curious Matt met them near the door with his arms crossed, "You rang your majesty?" he bowed waving over at Caroline. "Hey Care."

"I sense a long story about your trip down south," Caroline mused as Katherine shushed her. "Do you want to alert the Mikaelson's? I just got free of a five hundred year running spree. I am not going on the run again because your baby daddy has a temper."

"What's going on?" Matt questioned looking between the three of them.

Bonnie sighed, "Caroline and Katherine have decided a Breaking and Entering crime spree is in our immediate futures. Care to join?"

"Tell me in the car." Matt sighed getting his car keys when Katherine snatched them. "Oh no. We are not using your crappy truck. No offense but we need speed."

"You want to hijack a Mikaelson car?" Bonnie questioned, warily stepping away from the brunette that looked so much like her childhood best friend. Yet when she opened her mouth Katherine proved how different they were.

Katherine turned towards Caroline, "You've been here the longest. Any suggestions?"

"The Audi S3," Caroline nodded, "Elijah apparently is the one with a thing for cars."

Katherine smirked. "A man after my own heart. Do you have the keys?"

Caroline rolled her eyes pointing to the list of keys in the cupboard by the door with a lock, "I have that key. They're rather paranoid for a bunch of super powerful beings."

Matt snorted, "I think they tried to Caroline proof the fast cars."

Caroline narrowed her eyes. "Don't you dare suggest that!"

"Why because it's so true?" Bonnie laughed, as her best friend crossed her arms pulling her lower lip out in a pout.

"Why are my loved ones always so damn mean!" Caroline whined.

Bonnie gently pushed the blonde out the door as Matt grabbed the key and picked up the right set of keys, with surprising accuracy. Katherine tutted looking up at the stairs before rushing the group out and closing the door just as the phone rang.

XXX

Camille sat in her plush chair lightly tapping her pencil against her notebook as Elena bit her lip and fidgeted with her hands. Leaning against her legs the dirty blonde smiled sweetly at Elena, "Tell me Elena how do you know Klaus Mikaelson?"

"What do you mean?" Elena evaded the question, pretending to misunderstand.

"I mean what does a man like Klaus Mikaelson have to do with you? It's funny I can't recall ever giving him my number but he has it. Then when I looked in my patient records, I saw that I had a session with you two weeks ago but can no longer remember it."

Elena blanched, "You remembered?"

Camille's eyes narrowed, "I'm not stupid, Elena. While I don't exactly understand what is going on I know something is happening to my memory. Now I'm going to ask you again, what do you have in common with Klaus Mikaelson?"

"He's dating one of my oldest friends, Caroline." Elena answered with the safest part of the truth. "We never really got along."

"Yet he recommends me to become your therapist? Helped me move across the country?" Camille asked skeptically.

"Caroline has him wrapped around her finger," Elena shrugged helplessly praying that her beloved therapist would stop with the questions. She wasn't supposed to know about the supernatural, she had never let on that she knew until now. While it was curious that the Salvatore's had suddenly found an acceptable therapist, Elena chose to ignore what her gut was telling her.

"Elena, the truth."

"You asked about the supernatural. My boy-roommate," Elena quickly corrected, "ran into the room and compelled you to forget."

"Compelled?"

"Think of it like a combination of Obliviate and the Imperious curse from Harry Potter, only it's used by vampires. Klaus Mikaelson is a vampire, which is why you cannot remember giving him your number. He wanted you to forget."

"Klaus Mikaelson compelled me to be your therapist." Camille stated in disbelief.

"To keep an eye on me, I didn't exactly leave on the best of terms" Elena admitted. "I would never hurt my friends but… in order to get the cure I had to."

"The Cure?"

"A magical antidote to vampirism. We had just found it and… I wasn't myself as a vampire. I was angry all the time…" Elena stopped once she noticed that Camille was looking at her in a new light.

"All those deaths…were they connected to Klaus?"

"Not all of them. My parents did die in a car crash, and it was Damon who ultimately was the one who killed Vicky. Klaus murdered my Aunt Jenna for his ritual and turned Tyler. Katherine killed and turned Caroline. I was turned because Klaus's sister forced me into a car accident."

Camille took a deep breath, "Okay that's a lot to take in. Not many supernaturally friendly therapists, I take it?"

Elena smiled weakly, "I imagine not. I assume you would have found out about the supernatural world eventually… if Klaus took notice of you. New Orleans is filled with Witches, Vampires and Werewolves or so I'm told."

"My hometown is a supernatural haven?"

"According to Stefan, the Mikaelson's built that very city." Elena's voice faded out as Camille shook her head.

"I'm a grad student. I don't believe in the supernatural." Camille gasped. "It's impossible!"

Elena frowned, "I want to show you something. If you're willing to trust me. I promise it will make believing in all of this so much easier."

Camille looked at the younger girl, "I don't want to be compelled again."

Elena shook her head, "It probably wouldn't work well on you anymore unless you're an original."

"An original?" Camille asked.

"Original vampire a.k.a a Mikaelson."

"You've got to be kidding me!" Camille laughed, "No way are the Mikaelson's-"

"Original vampires?" A familiar voice echoed from the doorway. The two turned to see an annoyed Damon Salvatore.

"Elena, you've been a very bad girl."

"The compulsion wore off!" The younger girl defended herself, "Besides, Klaus wants her to know and if I'm ever getting my friends back I have to at least sort of make nice with them!"

Damon rolled his eyes, "Fine. Fine, make nice with the wannabe Barbie. See what I care." The vampire said before stalking off. Elena offered Camille an apologetic look that the therapist shook off.

"We aren't going where he is are we?" Camille asked instead.

"Most likely not. Damon usually gets drunk when he is pissed off which he usually is these days" Elena sighed.

"Because you won't choose him?" Camille questioned.

Elena bit her lower lip, "It's just…now that I'm feeling myself again I don't want to lose it, you know? I lost myself in grief, then in teenage love, then grief again and it starts all over. It's not fair to either of them."

To be honest, Camille thought that Elena was in no way shape or form ready for a relationship. Her job as a therapist, however, was not to tell her client what to do but rather guide Elena into making a choice the brunette could live with and accept the consequences. "You happened to be my last client of the day. Where to?"

The trip didn't last very long, Elena just took her to the address in her client file. Elena reassured her that neither Salvatore's was currently at home and Camille followed the girl into the giant home. Camille followed until Elena took her to the library, "I want you to see this."

Elena searched one of the desks in the library and held up what looked like to be an old photograph. Camille carefully took it as to not ruin the photo, recognizing it as film from one of the oldest models of cameras in existence. Camille gasped when she saw that in a white hat, dressed in what looked like to be common within the Victorian Era, was Elena.

"Her name is Katherine, she's my ancestor. Now I want you to look at this photo." Elena handed her a much more recent photo of what looked like to be a group of friends. In the middle was a blonde, Camille assumed this to be Caroline, on one side was a another teenager with dark-skin, on the girl's other side was clearly Elena with her straight black hair and beside her was Stefan, one of the Salvatore Brothers.

Her eyes widened on what appeared to be a double of Elena, on the other side of the blonde. She appeared to be arguing with someone not in the lens range.

"I'm next to Stefan, Katherine is on Caroline's other side. This was taken during our senior year before graduation after we managed to get the cure without inflicting mass damage to the world as we knew it."

"Katherine?"

"The same woman in the other photo. We are what you could call carbon copies. Not twins as she is my ancestor but she was born over five hundred years ago."

XXX

Klaus answered his phone within seconds recognizing the ringtone as Camille's, "Hello, love." His siblings all quieted down, their vampire hearing allowing them to tune into the conversation.

"Klaus," Camille greeted, "I've just had an interesting meeting with Elena Gilbert recently. Perhaps you care to enlighten me?"

Klaus chuckled, "I assume you've had the talk with Elena Gilbert?"

"I will only say this once Klaus. Never I repeat never compel me again do you understand? I don't care if you're the bloody king of all vampires, werewolves or whatever the fuck you are."

Kol and Rebekah both stifled their laughter as the blonde continued to berate their brother over the phone. Even Elijah and Finn's lips twirled up a fraction of an inch. Ignoring his siblings enjoyment of this event, Klaus in his most soothing voice said, "Love, I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Bullshit! " Camille cursed at him, "I am not going to be your little spy on Elena Gilbert any longer. I'm on my way back to New Orleans where I never should have left."

"I realize you may be angry at me, love. But I'm afraid I'm not the only one whose been lying to you."

"Like who?"

"Marcel for instance. He was my protégé in his youth...oh around a hundred or so years ago? Also, your devoted Uncle the priest? He's part of the human faction in the know of our little supernaturally inclined secret."

"You can't just expect me to believe any of this."

Klaus chuckled, "I think all of the unique things about New Orleans have started to fall into place. You might be angry but I know you believe."

"I won't be your little spy, Klaus."

"Good thing I no longer need you to be one." Klaus said amusedly earning a questioning look from his elder brothers. Finn looked at his most volatile brother with suspicion. "All I need from you is to deliver one last message to Elena Gilbert. Then if you wish you may come back to the city. All expenses paid of course."

"What is it? I'll decide if I will give it to her." The vampire smirked at the stubbornness of the bartender on the phone. He did enjoy the lively ones, though no one could compare to his Caroline. Camille was just an extraordinary human and he found himself rooting for her survival. If nothing else, her constant rebuttal of Marcel was amusing. The fact that she had left enraged Marcel to the point of snapping at his minions.

Minions whose loyalty was not as steadfast as Marcel had thought.

"Tell her that Caroline is doing fine. If the cure can be reversed I may even feel so generous as to stop hunting her down in let's say, thirty years."

"You're disgusting!"

"I'm the big bad wolf, darling. Do make sure to tell her about her dear friend Caroline and that it would be in her best interest to choose a Salvatore brother already. Even my siblings are getting bored with that drama." Klaus ended the phone call.

"What was that?" Rebekah asked aghast, "Have you truly given up on revenge for what she has done?"

"Revenge is sweeter if their guard is down. Besides thanks to Katherine and Caroline's band of misfits we have a bunch of Traveler's in the city. I have a lifetime to ensure Elena pays for her naiveté and then drinking from Caroline just to become human again herself."

Kol swore turning towards his siblings. "Travelers. Are you certain brother?"

Klaus gave his youngest brother an annoyed look, "I'm quite certain. Our dear Katherine was quiet put out, after all you know her family history."

"Niklaus." Elijah warned.

"Elijah, I'm being on my best behavior." Niklaus grinned cheekily at his brother, enjoying the tick of his brother's eyebrow. Rebekah internally groaned knowing that this was their brother on his best behavior.

"Instead of yelling at Niklaus for being the ass that we all know he is. We should be focusing on the Traveler's. Those are the bastards obsessed with Silas, Kol?"

"Very apt sister," Kol winked at her,

"The travelers are a cursed sub group of witches. Their entire lives are spent on the move, unable to congregate together in large amounts. They…rather dislike other witches for the curse placed on them."

"What would their end goal be, Kol?" Finn asked, as Elijah nodded in agreement. The more information on the enemy that they have the better.

"To resurrect Silas would be my guess, but sweet Katherine is here. This makes me think that their plans have changed. Which means whoever her informant is, we need to know."

Klaus grumbled looking up at the door and frowned. The rests of his siblings narrowed their eyes focusing on their hearing. Kol's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree, "Oh do I sense trouble in paradise? The little blonde has done it again!"

"Kol!" Rebekah growled, "Have you forgotten the uneasy truce with Marcel? The fact that Caroline is very human and very pregnant with only a 500 year old vampire, a newly self-taught witch and a human for protection!"

Elijah held his hand to his nose breathing in, "I'm sure Caroline is fine. Katherine has survived for 500 years, and as I hear is on good terms with Marcellus." The noble brother turned towards his sibling to gauge their reactions.

His most paranoid sibling had a hard look on his face as he spoke softly, "Elijah schedule a meeting with Marcel, perhaps there is a deal we can make after all."

"Nik," Kol glared, "just what are you thinking about doing?"

"According to you Kol, the witches believe in this so-called harvest so badly they risked my wrath to get our help. Perhaps it's time we help them, with a caveat of course."

"We have no idea if the Harvest will work." Kol argued. "Marcel was following the example you set."

"Only we do know it works, Caroline said so." Niklaus tisked softly. "There is of course, the whole werewolf problem to contend with as well."

"You want to what? Make the witches undo the curse on Hayley's family in exchange for help with completing the Harvest? You would never harm a child Nik." Rebekah balked.

"Caroline knew of the witch, knew who Davina was. The witch survives, that I am sure of." Niklaus frowned, " I say that in exchange for ensuring their power remains, they undo the werewolf curse as a whole in exchange the werewolves will promise to stay within the Bayou unless necessary."

"And Marcel?"

"I will remind Marcel you can't beat the best. And he will come to learn in time that you don't mess with the Mikaelson's. We will have the witches and the wolves on our side. Not to mention without us Marcel and his crew do not exist."

"The travelers," Kol reminded, "they won't wait while you unite the forces of New Orleans."

"That my siblings is the best part. The travelers will ensure everyone follows our lead because no one wants Silas to remain buried more than the supernatural world. They will have to come to us if they hope to do anything about the Traveler's. Now I do believe we have a wayward pregnant human to find." Niklaus stood up flashing out of the room, forcing his siblings to race after him in hopes of preventing a bloodbath if he did not find her soon enough.

XXX

Matt pulled up to the address frowning at what looked to be a well-kept home. Caroline shivered upon looking at the Victorian styled home, Greek columns showcasing the houses beauty. Beautiful it may be, Caroline still sensed something off about the place. The off-putting essence most likely coming from the fact that once someone enters the place, no one ever left.

"This is Dowager Fauline Asslym?" Bonnie looked at the house in awe, "It looks impressive. Except for that feeling of despair that stinks it up."

Katherine pouted, "I was rather hoping it would be more oppressive in appearance, you know? But the witches around here look after their own. Even the so-called crazy ones. Wealthy benefactors."

"If trapping them in a home where no one can escape from can be called looking after..."Caroline muttered something else under her breath.

"Excuse me for caring about myself enough not to get trapped in an ugly ass tomb for nearly 200 years."" Katherine scowled lightly, "You would have done anything to avoid that fate yourself."

"I wouldn't have left my friends!" Caroline snapped. Katherine shrugged because that was true. The blonde had zero self-preservation when it came to those she cared for. The doppelganger opened the passenger door and stepped out of the car looking over the mansion.

"Bonnie?" Matt questioned the witch who had a look of concentration on her face.

Katherine patiently waited knowing that showing her impatience would do no one any good. Well it would do her some good, but this little mission was not her idea.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" The vampire asked Caroline as the blonde looked over at the quiet building with some trepidation.

"Klaus will be mad."

Matt snorted, "The Mikaelson's are probably tearing the city apart looking for you. So I suggest we hurry this up, Bon?"

"As much as I enjoy hurrying witches to have my way, the Mikaelson's will most definitely be at their most destructive in let's say…five hours if Caroline is not found. Sorry Hon, you're carrying a bun in that oven. You know how the supernatural are about their own, the Mikaelson's are probably the worst of the lot."

"We need Freya before Dahlia comes. The traveler's I have no doubt we can handle." Caroline looked over to see her companion's shocked faces.

"Did you really think I didn't know you were dealing with the Traveler's?"

Katherine's eyes narrowed, "How?"

"Does it matter? I think I found a loophole in the blood requirement that locked the witches inside." Bonnie spoke up taking her spot between Matt and Caroline.

Katherine tossed a curious look over her shoulder, "Do I really need to ask? I thought better of you Bonnie-Boo."

Bonnie shot her a dirty look, giving Caroline a shake of her head, "The spell is concentrated outside the house. The house keeps anyone from leaving?"

Caroline nodded, "From what I was able to gather is that eventually Rebekah ended up trapped here when Kol felt like having some revenge. She met her sister Freya here, so I know she must be inside. It was Freya who helped them make their escape."

Bonnie smiled, "So all we need to do is find whatever remains of what is locking the spell in place."

Katherine looked around the front of the house then her eyes narrowed around the fence. Of bloody course he would do that. "I believe a locating spell will be in order. As I have a feeling the item in question as disintegrated over the years and has blended into the ground."

Bonnie bit the inside of her lip, "Let me guess, plastic?"

Katherine shrugged, "When used with a spell it can easily disintegrate without destroying the spell it's been tied to. Especially if it was… let's say spiked onto a fence?"

"The item would become part of the fence and therefore no matter what happens to the item as long as the fence stand-"

"So does the spell." Bonnie and Katherine said together.

Matt outwardly groaned, "How do I get myself into these things? I'm not the supernatural magnet of the group!"

Katherine smirked, "If it helps, all you have to do is sit in the car and have it ready. Caroline, however, I'm afraid is needed as she does have Mikaelson blood in her womb at least."

"You think they set it to Mikaelson blood?"

"It was meant to keep Kol in originally, " Katherine shrugged, "even if the witches changed the spell. Mikaelson blood being part of the original trap should help us undo the boundary spell."

Bonnie took a small dagger Katherine had pulled from- actually Caroline did not want to think about where Katherine kept her daggers. The witch gently poked her hand, explaining as both her and the babies shared a blood supply that their Mikaelson blood at the very least will be sensed by the sentient magic in the spell. Caroline truly couldn't care less, magic was always something beyond her understanding. It took dedication that even the blonde could admit was not her strong suit.

Bonnie began to chant as Katherine wrapped the small wound with a band aid, murmuring that until they understood if the cure would still negate vampire blood on her the brunette would rather not risk it. Matt was safely in the car with keys at the ready when a powerful wave went straight through them.

Caroline looked straight at the house as the magic appeared to pulsate before a large blast of wind blew their way. Bonnie quietly stopped chanting as Katherine carefully opened the front gate. The old fence gave way as Katherine stepped right through then stepped right back.

"I highly doubt that proves anything." Bonnie shook her head.

Katherine shrugged, "It does prove we can step on and off property lines."

"Let's go see if Freya Mikaelson is awake, shall we?" Caroline intervened before either woman could start another fight. If Matts shiver was anything to go by the drive was not a pleasant one for her human friend.

XXX

Marcel had insisted that they meet at Rousseau's most likely in an ill-advised attempt to get Klaus talking about Camille. If only his young protégé knew where his sweet Camille was and what she knew.

Oh, how he would enjoy being invited in on that conversation. While keeping Camille away from Marcel it proved both amusing and informative on Elena's mental state. Which according to Camille was suppressed due to the large amounts of loss and little grieving time the girl went through.

If Klaus was a kind man, he would admit that perhaps he had a part to blame in Elena's downward spiral. Using the young woman's Aunt as a part of the sacrifice was rather petty of him. The Mikaelson shrugged off his thoughts as Marcel stood from a reclusive table in the back. Looking around the restaurant, Klaus noticed how sparse the establishment was.

"Caring for the welfare of the human residence now are we?" Elijah commented with his usual amount of disdain and boredom.

"I thought it would be best if our human residence were out of the danger zone. When the Mikaelson's come to town it's rarely peaceful now is it? Rebekah, lovely to see you again." Marcel stood in front of the group taking Rebekah's hand in his pressing a kiss to her hand.

"Marcellus. " Rebekah replied cordially as she held back both the positive and negative emotions from showing upon her face.

"Marcellus, I've heard much about you." Finn said greeting his brother's adopted son.

"Finn, I still can't believe they let you out!" Marcel laughed, smirking at the glower of irritation that showed on the original's face.

"Marcel, you do have a handle on those vampires of yours don't you?" Elijah asks as Klaus shot his brother a firm but warning glare. Elijah offered a close lipped smile as Marcel chuckled in a low baritone.

"I'm not sure I like what you are suggesting my friend." Marcel replied in effort to allow Elijah to backtrack. Klaus wanted to laugh a Mikaelson always meant what they said.

"What my normally well-behaved brother is asking is if we perhaps could trade some information. " Klaus knew that he looked positively wolfish.

"How the tables have turned. You need something!" Marcel clapped in glee. "What happened did one of your siblings get cursed? Perhaps they are holding the little human you mentioned?"

"You walked in on a witch ritual. The harvest, while vile and revolting, was non-vampire business and you left with a girl, " Rebekah snapped, " a girl who by now has enough magic of all the other souls those vile witches killed! Am I right?"

"Rebekah." Klaus warned before purring, "My apologies Marcel. You know how Rebekah can get."

"She's under my protection, the girl is a child." Marcel said, "I learned that rule from you, my friend."

"The girl is in over her head with the amount of power in her system. Marcel do you know what happens to witches with far too much power? It does not end well." Klaus shook his head almost in pity. He could see how his young protégé felt about the witch in his care. Marcel saw a girl abandoned by those sworn to protect her, if he had seen what Marcel saw. Klaus was sure he would feel exactly the same way.

"We have a Bennett witch in town, a friend of a friend if you will," Ignoring Marcel's scoff Klaus continued. "The Bennett witch could be persuaded to help your young friend without her going back to her coven."

"On what grounds?" Marcel growled.

"Your witch helps ours undo your curse on the werewolf clan. They've suffered enough don't you think?"

"The vampires-"

"Are under your control are they not?" Finn butted in with a smirk of his own. "Or did you learn the same exaggeration as my brother?"

"Why should I allow this?"

"Untrained witches especially ones with the amount of power in your friend, tend to die nasty deaths." Rebekah answered crossing her arms as her head tilted examining Marcel. "You saved her from her own coven because she was afraid. Imagine when that power overwhelms her and it will. What my idiotic brothers aren't saying is that your witch won't survive all that extra power surging inside of her. Eventually it will kill her unless the Harvest is completed."

Marcel growled, "You want me to hand her over to die? That's hardly a fair exchange."

"We happen to know the Harvest will work," Kol butted in, "It's rather messy but that's the type of witches we are dealing with. They need to renew their connection, as long as it's done before the time limit your witchling will be fine. We can guarantee it."

"How do you know?"

"Let's say we have a friend whose seen this done before," Finn shrugged, it was not completely a lie. "What we suggest is allowing your friend and the Bennett witch to talk, to train her powers before it gets too overwhelming, allow her to get answers on the Harvest from the ancestors herself. In exchange for the expertise of not only the Bennett witch but our own Brother who dabbled in magic himself, we request you allow the werewolves freedom from the curse."

"Feeling sorry for the wolves now Klaus? Didn't you have to murder a ton to get even with some hybrids?" Marcel questioned.

"I knew you heard of some of my most recent exploits." Klaus grinned.

"I just have trouble seeing why you'd help them?" Marcel sneered.

"New Orleans used to be a haven for all supernaturals. I happen to think the city runs best when that is true. You've turned my city into a dingy club. My reputation is at stake you understand."

Marcel scoffed, "It's my city now, you're in my kingdom."

"Fine, it's your city. Without my help your witch friend will suffer before she dies, without resurrecting as is her due for her part in the Harvest. With the werewolves on your side from releasing the curse and the witches magic protected from the Harvest who do you think they will side with? You did this to all of them, while my family has done nothing but help them since our return. I'm not a cruel man, I'm offering you a slice of the pie. "

Rebekah had to hold back a laugh.

"You ran away from daddy. You left what you've built. I've put every other faction in their place. My friend will be fine, she's strong. I know all your tricks Klaus Mikaelson, no one will trust you long enough to work with you. And you will need them if you want to take the city back. You have nothing I want." Marcel laughed, elbowing his cronies.

"But for my thanks for turning me, for making me what I am. I am willing to throw you a bone. Why is it that you tried to sell me this idea of a united New Orleans for?"

XXX

"You have got to be kidding me, Damon," Elena growled watching as the vampire flitted around the room packing her clothes into suitcases. Occasionally he would yell out instructions to his brother.

"You heard your therapist, Elena. She's been in contact with Klaus, Stefan allowed his trusting soul to block his judgement. Klaus has been watching us the entire time and now he's done. Which means he could be on his way or he wants us to run."

"Then why are you packing my things if that's what he wants?" Elena hissed at him, placing herself between the suitcase and the irritated vampire.

"Because running is better than allowing him to catch up to us. I knew better than to think he won't find us again but I am betting he wants a chase. It will give us a chance to come up with a new game plan."

"Camille is going back to New Orleans, she could give him a false lead!" Elena offered grabbing Damon's hand. His eyes softened when her hand touched his.

"It's no longer safe here for you. Jeremy is almost eighteen. He can stay with your extended family until he decides what he wants to do. Live that normal life you're obsessed with," Damon shot her a teasing grin. "But we have to leave."

"Stefan," Elena tried her ex-boyfriend who finally managed to be in the same room as the two of them. Stefan offered her a sad smile, "I'm afraid I agree with Damon."

"That's it? We are just going to be like Katherine and run away from Klaus?"

"We don't have another plan," Stefan pleaded with her, "we're just trying to protect you. You are human now with the cure in your system. You're in more danger now than ever."

Damon snorts, "Yeah according to Blondie, the cure will mean that if your mortally wounded not even vampire blood will save you now. Elena Gilbert the danger magnet."

"I won't leave Jeremy." Elena held on as the urge to stomp her foot in a child-like manner surged, as Damon looked down at her. His frustration was palpable.

"Klaus knows where we are. If we leave now then we can put more distance between the two of you. Have you forgotten you sucked your childhood friend dry to get the fucking cure!" Damon growled as he held the woman at arm's length. "Klaus is not a vampire to take lightly. He hunted Katherine for 500 years, imagine what he will do to you because of Caroline."

"Caroline is my best friend. She is doing the best she can to help calm him down. It's not like I could get the two of you to get along easily," Elena snapped, "and Damon you did far worse to her! "

Damon gave her a hard look before letting her go, "You are right Elena. I am a bad man, I've gotten so used to getting what I want that." Damon shot her a dark look, "Once I saw enough to determine I could get what I wanted…I stopped looking. I ignored every other sign or attempt to get away."

"Damon." Stefan called out to his brother in warning. Stefan could see the dark cloud hovering over Damon's head. Ever since the altercation with Caroline, his brother had been shoving down his feelings. Damon didn't do well with feelings like guilt, that he took his view of being a predator a leg too far.

"She needs to know what she is getting into!" Damon snarled at his younger brother. "Elena, I'm a horrible man. I've never hid that from you, hell you knew about Caroline from the beginning. Yet that didn't stop you from developing feelings for me now did it?"

"Damon!" Stefan hissed his brother's name as Elena pulled away from the elder Salvatore. Stefan took the remaining steps that separated the two. "He's in a bad mood, Elena."

"I understand that Damon acts out when people call him out on his bullshit." Elena looked over at Damon with sad eyes. "I hate what you did to Caroline. I couldn't imagine the extent of what happened between you two. A part of me didn't want to know. But she would never allow Klaus to hurt me in the end. She is not like that."

"Yet you still ran away?" Damon countered crossing his arms looking smug.

"I was scared, She allowed me to bite her but seeing her shocked face…. Maybe it was a test… one I failed. I don't know but I was afraid but I have to believe the only reason we aren't in a Mikaelson dungeon right now is because of her."

"Do you really want to take that chance? Do you want Stefan to take that chance? Because neither of us will leave you alone." Damon asked her, pushing her to come to terms with his plan. It was the only way to guarantee her safety at least until they had something to bargain with. Bloody hell, Klaus didn't murder the hybrids when it became clear they were breaking the sire bond. Her human blood either could be Elena's salvation or the cure could mean it's useless.

Either way until they knew what Klaus wanted… they were fucked.

"Where are we going?" Elena sighed.

Damon grinned, "Atlanta Georgia."

XXX

Thank you so much for your lovely reviews. They really do push me to keep going! Once again thanks to my wonderful beta!