Author's Note: This is an idea I've had for a little while, and after the disappointing absence of any Beremy scenes in the mid-season finale, I decided to post this little one-shot. This takes place the morning after 'The Sacrifice'. Enjoy!

"Hello?" Bonnie stepped inside her friend's house and shut the door quietly. "Elena?"

"She's not here."

She turned towards the kitchen, watching Jeremy as he walked over to her, carrying a bowl of cereal in one hand. "Is she still at the tomb?"

He shook his head and leaned tiredly against the banister of the stairwell. "Damon thinks she'll do something reckless; and after what happened yesterday, I can't say I blame him. Anyway, he took Elena back to the boarding house, so he could keep on eye on her."

"Oh," Bonnie replied, a little unsure of what to do next.

"He said they'd be back by eight though," Jeremy added helpfully. "I'm heading out soon, but you can wait here for them if you want."

She started to shake her head no, before noticing the crimson, bloodied gauze tapped to his neck. "You got any coffee?"

.

Bonnie watched amusedly from the dining room as Jeremy banged around the kitchen to make her a cup of coffee.

"How are you feeling?" She asked, taking the steaming drink from his outstretched hand.

"Well, my neck's a little sore," he grinned and picked up his breakfast. "I'm fine; just a little woozy. Thank goodness Jenna has Mr. Saltzman to distract her, or else there's no way I'd be able to explain this to her. I don't know how Vicki and Caroline hid all their bites from their family."

Vicki. Bonnie was surprised at how easily Jeremy mentioned his deceased ex-girlfriend's name. Six months ago, she'd been all he could think about, and now...now she probably barely crossed his mind. She realized, it was all just more evidence to the stunning fact that Elena's little brother was now a man. "I'm sorry about last night, Jeremy."

Jeremy paused for a split-second, a little surprised at Bonnie's candid, sincere apology. "It's alright Bonnie," he smiled wistfully at her. "What we had-or what I thought we had-is over, I get it. Don't worry though, I'm pretty much an expert at one-sided relationships, so I won't get in the way of you and Luka."

"Jeremy," Bonnie chided, trying not to cry at the agony in his words. "It's not like that with Luka; he's just someone who I need right now. But, the thing is, I need you too right now."

"No offense, Bonnie," he interrupted softly. "But I really don't feel like playing the best friend role anymore. I like you too much to be able to do it well enough."

"That's fine," she rehashed with a small smile. "Because, what I'm trying to say is, I don't want you to be my friend. Every since the masquerade ball, I've wanted to be more than friends. But, I've told you before; it never ends good for Bennett witches, and with you I could see a good ending for myself...and that scared me, because I didn't want to be wrong."

"I don't think you're wrong," he whispered, leaning closer to her.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, frozen by the smell of his deodorant. She moved closer towards him, almost tasting his lips...

"Jeremy, I'm back!"

"That's Elena," he replied, his breath hot against her face. Jeremy moved away from Bonnie and walked over to greet his sister.

Jeremy was a man, Bonnie remembered. A man that knew how to leave a girl wanting more...