Paths rewritten (Tvd)

(2) The meeting

(Stefan's perspective)
I walk to clear my head after just arriving in this town I know but too much. Many memories good as bad come to mind as I don't pay attention to where I go or where I'll end up. ''I know this town like the back of my hand'' I think as I keep walking, hands in my pockets and eyes straight ahead.

Many thoughts consume me, as I now wonder why I even came back here in the first place. And then I remember the promise I made to myself : come back every 15 years, live a normal life while you can, make the most of it, embarass teacher during they're class, disappear after a year or three when everyone leaves for college. But most important rule: TRY AT ALL COST TO AVOID DAMON!!! But it seems the more I try, the more likely he is to come back to haunt me.

It has been 15 years since I talked to him, I wonder if his humanity is still off? Will he also come back? Or did he finally get enough and decided that my loneliness was a far greater misery than his? I feel guilty about Zach, I shouldn't have come back, I can't even look at him without remembering Gale. I still can't believe Damon killed Zach's pregnant girlfriend. I know I did far worse than him, but I just can't shake that memory when I look at him.

"I gotta make it right," I tell myself, find him a girlfriend, get him a better job, those things. He's my nephew, after all. I should have been a better uncle.
Still walking, I see myself getting closer to the Wickery Bridge. I hear a party in the distance, probably the kids at mystic falls high getting one last chance at freedom before the weight of school crushes them.

(Damon's perspective)
"What a town!" I tell myself as I walk around like I own the place. I just arrived a few hours ago and the woman who was taking a walk around the forest was very kind to give me some food. I smirk, remembering her screams and her delicious taste.

It has been 15 years since I last came here, feel so long.
I wonder how Stefan is doing. Oh, wait? No, I don't care, actually.

It's already dark out, I wonder if someone was dumb enough to get out this late.
I feel happy, no exhilarated. After 145 long years, I will be reunited with Katherine. I hope that witch didn't lie to me, I'll kill her whole bloodline if she did.

As Katherine keeps consuming my thoughts, I end up near the Wickery Bridge. There is a long road and no car in sight. Smirking, I lay down on the ground like Katherine teached me and wait for a car to come around. I feel weirdly nostalgic, I didn't think I would ever see her again, I had lost hope. Even with my humanity off, I can't help the love I feel for her.

I really, really, really want to be reunited with her.
But... I dont love her enough right now, I'm not myself.
I need to feel again. Otherwise, how could I ever show her my love or trust myself to keep going with the plan?
I can turn it off again once we're reunited. Yes, yes, that's it!

I get up determined to turn it back on after so many years.

"Katherine, this is for you." I whisper.
I picture myself turning on a switch, and everything finally hits me.
"Aaaaah." I scream in pain, clutching my head. Every bad thing I've ever done while my humanity was off finally hits me. Leaving Enzo to die, trapping Lexi on that roof, all those people I killed. Stefan... I was horrible to him.
"No, no, no, come on. Forget about that.Stop!" I whisper shout. A few tears leaving my eyes, because of all the emotions that I felt.

After a few minutes, I calm down and accept it. Accept the pain. I get up and wipe my tears away. I am determined to keep up my plan. I fetch the necklace Emily gave me and look at it.
"It's really ugly." I think to myself. "This is for you, Katherine, only you."I say out loud.
I sigh and put it back in my pocket, walking back to where I came from.

(Third person perspective)
Meanwhile, that happened. Stefan stopped in his track hearing a cry of pain, he recognizes it and rushes to the person.
He stops when he sees that no one is around except for Damon. He's crying, real tears, practically sobbing.
Stefan hides behind a tree watching him. He didn't see him too focused on his pain.