Title: Homecoming (Part 1)
Rating: Mature
Pairing: Bonnie/ Damon, Bonnie/ Jeremy
Disclaimer: This story is based on the The Vampire Diaries series, with which I am not affiliated in any way.
Summary: After four years of dating, Bonnie and Damon break up.
Warnings: Sexual Situations, Adult language, Bloodplay
Being supernatural doesn't come with instant knowledge of how everything works. Before, pre-witch years, she thought most of it was make believe. She used to wish it still was. It took a while but she's finally comfortable about who she is. She's a witch. She can run from it, or she can embrace it. Bonnie chooses to embrace it.
She's learned so much since the beginning. She's met other witches and warlocks. Studied her grams grimoire and lecture notes constantly. Reviewed all the reference materials she could get her hands on. Back then, she was full of herself and overconfident. Now she's got the abilities to back up her craft. But if killing Klaus (with Lucy's help of course) didn't give her the right to be a little self-assured, nothing would. You're cocky Bennett, no need to pretend. She's accomplished so much, it's okay to give credit where credit is due.
Bonnie's home for Christmas her sophomore year when Damon suggests it. They don't even celebrate anniversaries so it comes out of nowhere. But, things have been going amazingly well for them lately; she doesn't wait long to say yes.
"Yeah Damon, we can...just give me a couple days to research it. Okay?" As much as she loves Damon, this is kind of a big deal. Despite all of this new knowledge she's acquired, she really doesn't know much about this stuff. She just can't take his word for it. Damon doesn't think before he acts. He's started a little bit over the years, not enough for it to matter. Bonnie's never seen him really contemplate anything.
"It's not permanent, if that's what you're worried about."
"I know, but just give me a couple days."
She researches everything she can get her hands on. Books on claims, and while looking for those reads up on marking for Caroline (just in case she and Tyler make up their minds on what they're doing). Reads articles on blood bonds. Learns how to make them temporary or forever. How to make the ones that are permanent not that permanent; the ones that can only be broken by death. Finds multiple loopholes to breaking those. Makes sure she knows what makes them possessive and territorial. She doesn't own Damon, and he definitely doesn't own her. So those are a no. Each way causes a different outcome. Some leave marks, others are virtually invisible. So many options..
A small little blood bond is what they discuss. Small. Funny. Blood magic is always serious, but she's confident she's got this. All she has to do say a few words and there'll be no problems. And since she hasn't given into Damon's turning fantasy (he insists he's wearing her down), he isn't, she'll let him have this.
0
So far they've kept up with the tradition of spending the six days leading up to New Years alone. The last year they spent it at a hotel in Virginia Beach. They walked along the boardwalk at nights, looked at the lights. New Years they drove back to celebrate at the Grill, like she'd done every year her curfew extended past eleven. It was a pretty nice trip. This year Stefan's staying at the Gilbert's, so they've got the house to themselves.
Bonnie arrives at the house with her bag and knocks on the door. Bangs on it until she's tired of waiting. She doesn't know why she bothers; it's always open. Being virtually indestructible probably trumps the need to lock.
She opens the door and her boots crush the rose petals on that lead a trail up the staircase. Eyeroll. Way to be cliche. When she makes her way to his bedroom door, she's positive he's the corniest person ever. There are lit candles along the perimeter room. For someone who's flammable, he sure is brave. Then her eyes trail up from the flowers on the floor to Damon's naked form on the bed.
"You are ridiculous." He pats the comforter next to him.
"You love it. Come lay next to Big Daddy." Ugh.
"I'm not gonna do this if you keep talking like that." She begins taking off her clothes anyway. He smirks.
"And miss out on everything I've got planned."
"I"m not all that worried."
"First, I was gonna let you rub hot oils all over me." Please, stop talking.
"Who says I want to do that?"
"You should. I mean have you seen my body?" He waves a hand and Bonnie turns her attention to it. He takes the palm and runs it down his chest until he gets to his crotch. He fist himself and smiles. "I'm a work of art. I can't help it."
"You are the cockiest person I've ever met."
"When you look the way I do... the way you do... especially right now you, should be cocky too." He slows his strokes. "What am I saying, you're just as cocky as I am."
"About my magic."
"Your body is magical." Gag.
"Oh. Thanks."
"After I reciprocate," Of course. "we're going to sip some champagne. Get rid of those pesky little inhibitions."
"Spare me the details, okay. Let's just skip to the good parts."
"You said you'd let me have this."
"I wouldn't have if I knew it would be so lame."
"Shut up. You know nothing about romance."
She finally gets her bra off. "You skipped the fireplace and the bear skin rug."
"I'd thought about that, but the last time we were by one you threatened to "Hansel and Gretel" me."
"Sounds romantic enough. It's not like I would push you in and let you burn completely, just a little singe. I'd pat out the flames afterwards. Sounds pretty hot to me." Really hot.
"My Judgey Little Hot Cross Bon, I've missed seeing your face when you threaten me. It lacks spark over the phone."
"Doesn't it?"
"After all these years, you still know how to turn my pages."
"I try. I've been reading up on how to spice it up in the bedroom." She had. Every time Caroline comes to her room, she leaves magazines like a trail of breadcrumbs. If you want to find Caro, follow the Cosmos. She would never use anything she read out of those.
Damon yanks her down onto the bed and covers her body with his. Puts all his weight on her the way she likes.
"What is this music?"
He scoffs. "It's Hall and Oates. Why? Don't you like it?"
"It's fine Damon, it's what you want. "
"You should want it too. I could change it. Perhaps some Billy Joel?" He leans down to her ear. "How about some Poison? Every Rose Has It's Thorn describes us perfectly."
"Isn't that a breakup song?"
"Yeah I'm the rose and you're the thorn." You're the thorn. Then she realizes he's nervous.
"Damon, you're nervous."
"I'm not." He is.
"You are."
"I'm excited, aren't you excited?" Bonnie leans up and presses her mouth to his. Moves her hands to the sides of his face. Nods and lightly knocks her forehead against his. "I'm ready. Let's do it."
"How do you want it?" He kisses both corners of her mouth.
"How we always do it..just bite me like you normally do...don't be nervous. If you're nervous. I'll be nervous."
Her eyes slam shut and her toes curl when she feels his breath on ear. She's right on the edge of coming when finally slides his teeth in a vein, smooth like a knife cutting through butter. He usually waits until she's finished to sink his fangs in. Wrings the orgasm out for fucking ever. This isn't too bad either. Somehow she's still able to say the incantation before she pushes her teeth into his neck.
Her first time biting him was one of the weirdest experiences she's ever had. Drinking blood is not a skill you're born with. "What if I hurt you?"
"Bonnie, just do it."
"Don't yell at me." She closed her eyes and he pushed her head into his neck. Grasped a small section of skin right over his jugular. "Fuck, Bonnie, hurry up." She bore down as hard as possible, felt the skin pop and her mouth fill with blood. It was cooler than she expected, but still pretty warm and thick. It's like nothing she ever tasted, but it has the consistency of thick Italian hot chocolate. You'll never be able to enjoy that again. She's guzzling it down when she realizes she likes it. How gross is that? According to Damon, it's thicker and more bitter than human. She doesn't have any personal experience to refute it, and doesn't want to any time soon.
She still can't really define the effects of taking vampire blood when you're completely healthy. It's rejuvenating. Maybe it's like those people that run seven miles and feel amazing afterwards. Like a runners high. Or lighting vampires on fire high because I never have and never will run seven miles.
They're laying there ten minutes afterwards staring at the ceiling.
"Can you feel it?"
"No. Can you?" She can feel him shake his head.
"Well that was anti-climatic."
"Think you did it wrong?" Excuse me.
"No Damon. I didn't. I know what I'm doing."
"Maybe we ought to do it again."
"Maybe we should just wait."
The next morning she wakes up to the smell of bacon. She throws on a shirt of Damon's and walks down stairs. She slides on the petals on the staircase.
"BE CAREFUL."
She walks into the kitchen and sits down at the table and sips at the milk already there. "You thought to put on an apron, but you can't put on pants."
"Have you seen this ass? And I've got to guard the goods." If I've still got crust in my eyes, it's too early to roll them.
He sets the plate of toast with strawberry jam and bacon on the table. "Sit with me."
He pulls a chair next to hers. Reaches over to feed her a slice of bacon and drops it in her lap.
There are no special effects. The floor doesn't shake and everything stays on it respective shelves. But they click. It feels like a click. It might be a clank.
"Witchy, it worked." He's grinning and she's grinning and bacon grease is dripping down her leg.
"I told you I knew what I was doing."
"How do you feel?" It's indescribable.
"Full... like there's more of something. I don't know...connected. You?"
"I can feel you... I know you're happy? You're happy right?" She smiles.
"I am, so are you."
"I am... so is that it? We'll feel each other. Can you hear what I'm thinking?"
"No. It'll probably come a little bit later I guess."
"Yeah, probably."
"It'll get stronger, so we don't know what'll happen. It's nice right?" It's a little overwhelming. She feels him feeling her feeling him.
"It's nice Babe. Now eat your breakfast so we can test it out completely."
Bonnie didn't think it would feel like this, all the time. It's not an overpowering feeling, just like this was how it's supposed to be. He was there, but it didn't feel like an intrusion. It didn't keep her from doing anything important. But it was a constant subconscious presence. She wouldn't even have to be thinking about him, but could feel him.
Over the past couple of days she would get a few words. Phrases. Stuff she doesn't think he'd want her to hear. Nothing too horrible, just bits of conversation with Stefan. Things he says to himself. He's apparently more funny when he's not talking to other people. It's only a few days and she doesn't remember what it was like before.
She and Elena are having dinner when she tells her.
"You did what?"
"A blood bond."
"What does that mean Bonnie? Are you married?"
"He's dead. We can't get married. We're just bonded."
"Bonded makes it sound like a marriage."
"It's not Elena. I don't know how to explain it. It's like I get the Damon experience all the time. We're bonded." It's a weak explanation and it's like being married, but still that sounds so formal. Exchanging blood with someone and magically bonding with that person isn't a big deal at all.
"So how's school?"
"Oh it's good. I've been taking this creative writing class and I love it. I forgot how much I like writing things that aren't essays."
"I understand that. But you're good with all the other classes too?"
"Yeah, most of the stuff I need to read for class I've already read. If I haven't, Stefan has."
"That's always cool." She sips her drink.
"How's your dad?"
"He's good. Tami's moved all of her stuff in now."
"Isn't that weird having a stepmom? It's been the two of you guys forever."
"It probably would be if I lived there. She's cool. Travis though... I didn't even hate sixteen year old boys when I was sixteen, but now..ugh. I never wanted any siblings." Still don't.
Elena laughs. "Now you see what I went through."
"So how is Jere?"
"He's doing really good. You should come over to see him. It's like a frat house now. You know his friends Jin and Dominic moved in? They moved the bed out of my Jenna's room into the garage and put in two twin beds."
"Really?
"Are they cool? The boys?"
"They're boys. They eat everything; they're loud. Actually, they're kind of wild, but they pay rent." Elena shrugs.
"I thought artsy kids would be sitting around drinking coffee and drawing or something?"
"Not them.
"Bonnie."
"Jeremy." He pulls her into a hug.
"It's good to see you." She's seen Jeremy on numerous occasions since she went to school. And every occasion he looks different. The tattoos, the facial hair. The too small shirts.
"No more mustache huh?" That was a bad look.
He chuckles. "Let's just say... it didn't suit me."
"It didn't. Long hair does though." She runs her fingers through his fringe. Pushes it back from his eyes. "You look good like this."
"Thanks. You're looking good too."
"Thank you." Bonnie blushes. This is weird. Why is this weird? Thankfully, Jin and Dominic walk in.
Bonnie's introduced to the boys and they're not really what she expected. They're kind of boring. She sits on the couch and waits for Elena. She's sandwiched between Jeremy and Dominic while they elbow her and scream at the game their playing. She directs her attention to Jin.
"So..."
"So..."
"You and Elena been friends long?"
"Our whole lives." She does a half smile.
"Cool." Hurry up Elena.
"How long have you known Jeremy?" Dumb question Bonnie.
"Since freshman orientation."
"Cool. Cool."
Elena finally walks down the stairs and Bonnie jumps up. "Well it's been nice talking to you guys." They nod their heads, and Jeremy half-heartedly waves. Whatever.
"So you've met everybody?" Yeah.
"They're nice." Video games on a Saturday night, yeah those kids are wild. Party animals.
After a long day of hanging out with her new family, Bonnie comes home and collapses on the bed. Tami's perfect for her father, she's sweet and caring and everything you would want for someone you love. Travis on the other hand is annoying and crass and hates everything. She's making an effort to get along with him. It's not easy. She tried, but several times throughout dinner, she zoned out and listened to Damon.
It's gotten easier for her to hear him, but they've still got bad reception. Sometimes it's really clear, and other times it's barely perceptible. She reaches out for Damon, tries to hear him.
You pay... three tickets...one for Elena...you...your forehead.
A centuries worth of forehead jokes, that's pretty pitiful.
Actually, I've only been making them seventy years or so. Bonnie, gets an odd amount of joy of every time the line is clear.
Oh, that makes it that much better.
I got to keep Stefan on his toes. If I didn't, that bobble head of his would knock him over.
She shakes her head. I miss you.
Aww, Bon Bon. You've gotten sweet? I'd like to think that I had something to with that. Maybe the bond did.
Yeah, I'm gonna let you think that.
See sweet.
Months later, they work out most the kinks of the link. How proximity determines the comfort level. They learned by experience how uncomfortable it could get when she went back to school the first time. The first couple of days were inconvenient to say the least.
Communicating becomes easier though. They learn how to keep the lines open. How to close them. Bonnie has the most difficulty with this. Caroline thinks that it's probably because her magic interferes. Maybe it's because he's turned off his emotions before. She doesn't care why as long as she can figure it out and soon. She can only take Damon intruding on her during lectures so many times.
She and Caroline are supposed to be having a girls night, when Damon is opens the link to tell her a joke. She laughs.
"Sorry, Care."
"That's weird Bonnie. Why would you want him inside of your head all of the time? "
"That's not the reason I...we did it. I love him. " Caroline rolls her eyes.
"That doesn't make it any less weird. You sure he can't compel you?"
"I'm sure."
"Still sounds like a bad idea."
"Don't jinx it."
It took a while to learn how cut off Damon's random Gossip Girl commentary and keep his emotions from leaking her way. She had enough on her plate with school, no needed distractions from him.
It takes her even longer to learn how to keep things to herself.
Bonnie's studying for an exam, more like stressing over it. She's been studying for what seems like forever. She knows the material, so there's no reason to stress but she can't relax. She's reviewing for the tenth time the night before the test when she hears Damon.
This dick won't let me in and I'm not compelling anybody so you can bitch about it later.
I don't bitch...Let you in where?
Downstairs.
Why are you here?
Are you gonna come down and let me in?
You're here why? She gets up and slides on her shoes.
Just let me in...nevermind our Caroline's gonna sign me in. Unlock your door. She goes to unlock the door and peeks out.
When did she become our Caroline?
We're one big incestuous supernatural family. She's one of our own.
Okay, Damon. I wouldn't go that far.
How far will you go? She can see the smirk in her head.
She hears him and Caroline talking before she can see them.
"The only game I'd play with you is pool, and that's to run you through with the stick when it's my turn."
"Harsh. Blondie."
"Car-o-line."
"No need to be so mean, we're friends Car-o-line. Family even. I was just telling Bonnie this."
"We are not friends. We are not family."
They turn the corner and Bonnie steps back because she knows he'll slam the door open. He does. Caroline waves and walks down the hall towards her room.
"I'm your daddy."
She whips around. "Are you talking to me?" She points to herself.
"Who else would I be talking to? You don't call the wolf Daddy, I hope."
Twin eye rolls. "I call my biological father Daddy."
"Yeah, well I wouldn't call him anything if he would've tortured me."
"That was years ago. And your dad killed you."
"Yeah and we stopped speaking after that." She crosses her arms.
"It's probably because he thought you were dead,,.then he died. You sure know how to hold a grudge."
"Duh. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Daughter. You should be over hating me, so pot meet kettle."
"I'm over this conversation. I will never like you. Ever." Caroline directs her attention to Bonnie. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay, good luck on your test."
"Thanks. If I pass, I'm taking you out for drinks."
"Yeah, and if you don't I'll take you." Bonnie laughs.
"Let's just hope I pass."
Damon pulls her into the room. Plops down on the bed and yanks her into his lap. She feels instantly better.
"Think you're gonna pass?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe? You've been studying for weeks. "
"I know it...I just get nervous."
"Performance anxiety... I have to ask my brother about that."
"What do you get out of making fun of Stefan when he's not around?"
"The thrill of knowing it's been said, probably like the joy you get when you complain when you know I'm not listening." Whatever.
"Just relax. You know the information... you just need a good nights sleep." He rubs his palm along her shirt sleeve.
"So why are you here?"
"To help you get it."
"I'm glad you have that much faith in your skills ."
"Don't pretend me being here doesn't make you calmer."
She puts her head in the crook of his neck. "It does."
"See. And I'll sit outside your class tomorrow during your test."
"That's kind of extra."
"I'm extra." Very. "It might help. Besides if you need a little push I can bring the book and feed you the info."
Bonnie laughs. "That's alright. You can come if you want, but I don't want to cheat."
"Always self righteous."
"Always acting like a child."
"If I started acting my age, people might think you're starting to influence me."
"Couldn't have that, could we?"
She can't read auras but Lucy has been doing it forever. "He's dead so his doesn't have that much of a color, it's like a muddy brown almost black. It's really close to his body. But you normally give off a lot of purple. Which makes no sense because purples tend to be less judgemental than you."
"I'm not that judgemental, I've calmed down a lot." Lucy rolls her eyes
"If you say so...but whenever ya'll are together yours leaks into his. And instead of him taking from yours, like black auras usually do, you share it. It's probably the bond."
"That sounds cute."
"It's like looking at Elena and Stefan all over each other... it's like aura PDA." Bonnie frowns.
"Sounds kinda gross."
"That's because it is."
When they're together she feels all the effects of the bond. That's when she's the happiest. They know each other better because they actually hear each other, they don't always listen, but they get each other. She still doesn't agree with everything he thinks, but she feels what he feels. Knows when to be comforting or when to call him on his crap. He can do the same. Their relationship is stronger because of it. Nobody but Stefan knows Damon more than she does.
He's having dinner with her family when she comes home one weekend. Tami walks over to her when she looks out the window for the third time. "Bonnie, calm down."
The first time she see him after stretch she can't control herself. If she concentrates hard enough she can feel how far away he is. The closer he gets the more giddy she does. Her hands shake and she can't sit still.
"I just missed him." She rubs her back. "Well he'll be here. Come help me in the kitchen." That distracts her for a few minutes until the doorbell makes her jump. Don't run. You're too cool to run. She skips. Stops grinning.
"Damon."
"Bonnie." She wraps the arms around him,and she's instantly calmed.
Damon does everything right. Says everything right. Flirts with Tami, which is cool except he's called her a MILF on more than a few occasions. Goes in the other room talks sports with her dad and Travis. She knows how important it is for him to be in good with her family. She just wants him to herself.
I know.
Come to my room.
They have a quickie against her bathroom door.
He buttons up his shirt. "Wham bam thank you ma'am."
She pulls up her pants. "You're welcome."
"You should be thanking me. You were gagging for it."
"Your eloquence amazes me."
"I got that from Travis."
"Of course, the two of you would be best friends."
"He's a cool kid."
"He's annoying."
"He's funny. He's the one who told me you were gagging for it."
"WHAT?"
"He told me he watched you staring at me all dinner. That he watches you all the time. Because you're weird and you think you're a "witch."
"What?"
"He said you're room always smells weird after you leave. It's probably one of your "spells." He's written you off as a pothead." Bonnie can't stop laughing.
"He's a creep, that's why you get along the way you do."
"Probably. You know we got to stick together."
The bond brings a closeness they didn't have before, but it doesn't change their personalities. Bonnie still hates being wrong, and Damon still hates admitting it when he is.
That's where the negative of the link comes in. Knowing your significant other is angry, is completely different than feeling them upset. Considering both of their tempers, it's one of the worse things that could happen. That's incentive enough to learn how to shut it off. Bonnie figures it out the first time they have a big argument. They get through it, and end up closing the link for three days. Eventually she apologizes. She's relieved when he opens it back up.
A little disagreement on how to handle a witch that Damon's pissed off, tips the boat over. It's normal for him to annoy witches. He'd win a gold medal for that.
He knows that Bonnie won't kill humans but that's his first idea. Vetoed. He gives her some more ideas. Also vetoed.
"I'll just meet with her, talk it over."
"It won't work."
"I can't compel her. But you can work some of your juju; get her off my back."
"STOP CALLING IT JUJU. And if I don't want you compelling people because it takes away their free will, why would I do anything like that?"
Damon scoffs. "Help me out here."
"I'm trying. I said I'll talk to her."
"We could just scare her."
"That's a stupid idea."
"Why are all my ideas stupid?"
"I don't know you tell me. Maybe it's because they always fail."
"No. They don't. And so do yours." This is petty.
"I'm glad you forgot about Klaus." She's still proud about that.
That should be the end of it. But she's Bonnie and he's Damon. She's sarcastic and he's dramatic. So it escalates. He calls her judgemental and self righteous. The usual. Walks around the room throwing his hands around, looking big eyed. And she brings up Stefan because she knows how upset he gets. Throws in a few lines about being Katherine's bitch for good measure, it's a low blow but it gets the job done.
"If you learned anything while you were licking the dirt off her boots would be how to plan. She may be a crazy bitch, but she was cunning. What'd you do all that time you were following her around like a little puppy?"
"Look here Witch, you always take it to far. But this time I'm going to be the bigger person."
"For a change." He throws a glass into the fireplace.
"Waste your time if you want, she's not going to listen to you."
"You don't know that. She could."
"She hates me."
"Everybody hates you. I hated you. I'll talk to her."
"Whatever, she won't see reason...you really think a little witchy sister circle meeting is going to make her change her mind?"
"Maybe."
"She's a bitch." So am I.
"I'm sure. Your point?"
"Why won't you use your magic for good?"
"If that's what you call saving your ass, I do it all the time. Stop pissing witches off and you won't need my help." He ignores her.
"What's the point of having it if you don't use it? You might as well let her take them while you're there. "
The argument stops.
All Bonnie can picture is Jonas Martin's hand on her face while he took her powers. She'd never felt so violated. He was hurting, she gets that, but she never told anyone how much that hurt her. Nobody ever asked. That was when she had to be strong for them all.
She knows Damon's just talking out of the side of his neck. But it makes her heart ache.
"Hit a nerve."
"Goodbye Damon."
She's furious. She can't close the link fast enough. Feels his smug attitude before she can.
Caroline's got a summer job at the mall working at a sunglasses kiosk. Bonnie spends half of her days visiting her. She's trying on a pair of wayfayers while Caroline is finishing up with her customer.
It's been two weeks and she and Damon haven't spoken.
She's still waiting on Caroline when she finally feels him knocking on the link. Nobody's home. It was a petty argument, but they've argued for less and she's not apologizing first. She's like that sometimes. Is it too much to ask for a face to face apology? She doubts that's even what he wants to tell her.
"What's wrong Bon?"
She's tells her about the fight.
"I didn't know you felt like that when he took your powers. "
"It did. I was going through a lot then. He didn't care though. That's why I was mad... how do these look?"
"Gross. Try these." She hands her a pair of over-sized circular frames.
Bonnie takes a look in the mirror. Nods her head. "These are cute... But I haven't thought about it in years."
"That doesn't mean it still doesn't hurt."
"Yeah but I don't want to talk to him. He won't think it's a big deal until I explain it. I don't want to rehash it."
"If you don't talk about it you're just going to make matters worse."
"It's fine."
"Do you know her?"
"Yvonne's cool. She just doesn't like vampires. Can you blame her?"
"No. But do you really think we can work something out? I have to be here all summer. I can't deal with three months of making sure she doesn't kill him and then going back to school and worrying. We know he'll provoke her again or kill her if we don't do something. I wasted two years looking after Elena. I don't look forward to doing that for somebody who should be able to take care of themselves."
"Everybody hates Damon though, and witches stick together, once she realizes she can trust you, she can trust Damon."
"WHY WOULD SHE TRUST HIM? I don't trust vampires. If she was smart she would've killed him from the beginning. I wouldn't have blamed her for that. But vampires aren't our friends... I'm not trying to change her mind about it. She may not change her mind about Damon. If she doesn't what's gonna happen? Are you gonna make sure he's alright?"
Lucy ignores her. "What's crawled up your ass?"
"Nothing. I'm just saying I just don't want her trying to kill him. I don't care what else is happening. They're bound to see each other. I don't want it to be a showdown every time."
"How'd you deal with him?"
"I threw him around. Set him on fire. But that's only because I had a reason not to kill him."
"We'll give her reason. At the least, let her know she can ignore Damon, like everybody else. She sees that he's a vamp on a leash she'll be less inclined to kill him."
"He's not on a leash."
"Whatever. Witches and Vamps don't have to hate each other."
"Oh I know. Elijah and the Martins. Klaus and Greta. You and Katherine."
"I owed her."
"Well he doesn't owe her anything. She has no reason to keep him around."
"Bonnie. Just meet her alright."
Bonnie and Yvonne click. She's a few years older than Lucy. She looks like a sterotypical witch. Wild hair and lots of earth tones. Bonnie would love to pick her brain if she wasn't trying to kill her boyfriend.
"I know you care about your boyfriend, just want to make sure this town's safe for my kids."
"I get that but Damon won't cause any trouble."
"Can you guarantee that?"
"I can. Please." Bonnie takes Yvonne's hand into her. Yvonne lifts her eyebrows.
"You've bonded with him. You trust him that much."
"I do. I hated him too, believe me. I get it. I just don't want you to kill him."
"I know I can trust you, but it's on you if he does something. I won't hesitate to hurt him."
"I won't hold it against you. All I ask is to be fair. Hurt him if you need to, but please don't kill him. I'll do it if I have to, but I won't have to because he'll behave." Yvonne nods.
When they're in the car she turns to Lucy, "you can tell Damon."
She's laying in her bed reading a magazine when she hears a knock on her door. "It's open."
Damon walks through the door and Bonnie rolls her eyes. I should've known, nobody knocks in this house. "You're gonna tell me whats wrong with you?"
"I'm mad at you."
"You're ignoring me. I hate it when you do that."
"I was mad. I needed time to cool off. It's not like you didn't hurt my feelings or anything."
"I hurt little Bonnie Bennett's feelings." Asshole.
"Don't be an ass. You did."
"What did I do?"
"You told me that you hoped Yvonne took my powers."
"Yvonne. You're on a first name basis now?"
"Whatever Damon. This is why I didn't want to tell you."
"That's why you won't talk to me?"
"I know you hated me back then, but when Dr. Martin took my powers that was horrible for me. I never want that to happen again. It's not a joke to me." He shrugs.
"That's all you're gonna do? You can leave, then."
"Seriously? You've been ignoring the bond for weeks, because of that? You might as well break it if that's all it takes."
"Is that what you want? Because I've got the spell to break it." He opens his eyes wider then usual.
"So you've planned for it?"
"I researched it...that was it. I like to be prepared. You're the one who stressed it not being permanent. And why would I do it, if I didn't think it'll last?
"You were "prepared." Prepared to break it. Well lets do it."
"Damon."
"BREAK IT."
"Whatever." He jumps across the bed to pull her grimiore off the chair. Plops down next to her. Shoves the book in her hand.
"Do it."
"You sure about this?"She doesn't want to and she knows he doesn't either.
"I'm sure." She flips through the book to the spell. His face is open, like it always is. He doesn't want this.
"Damon..."
"Do it."
"One little fight—"
"DO IT."
"Fine."She reads the spell slowly, tries to give him time to stop her. He doesn't.
Then it's gone. Instantly.
They just sit hurts.
She speaks first. "It's gone." Tries to blink away the tears in her eyes.
"Yeah, it's gone. Good."
"You don't mean that." He waits a few seconds, enough seconds to know he didn't.
"I don't. Bonnie..."
"Are we still together?
He rubs her back. "Yeah Babe. We can always redo it." She wants the link back just to see what he's thinking.
"Yeah."
Bonnie's lookout while they're moving into their apartment. Caroline keeps lifting furniture one handed and it's going to be a problem if anyone sees.
"What's taking you so long?"
"IT'S TWO FLIGHTS BONNIE."
"You're not even winded."
"I'm not winded because I don't have to breathe. I'm tired though."
"We can take a break."
"I love how you say take a break like you're doing something."
"The deal was you bring it in, and I'll put it up."
"Whatever."
0
The first thing they unpack is the box of mugs. "Wine?"
"God...yes."
Caroline props her feet up on the table. "Ms. Bennett, we've got great taste."
"Ms. Forbes, we do." They click their mugs.
"New school year. New apartment. New start. Hopefully a new man."
"Yeah." Bonnie crosses her legs and leans back against the sofa.
"What's wrong?"
"I miss it."
"Damon? We calling him it now? I could be down with that." Bonnie chuckles.
"The bond."
"Does it still hurt?" The few days after the link were horrible. She could still had phantom pains where it was supposed to be. It hurt more when then were together; it lasted a week before they stopped. The day after they broke up, they were gone. It was stupid to think that things would have gotten back to normal, just like that. They didn't really give it a chance.
She spent the rest of the summer avoiding him. She was fine when she went to Florida for vacation with her family. She missed him, but she didn't spend time obsessing over him. Gratefully it was nothing like the Jeremy breakup, she honestly couldn't go through that again.
Bonnie spent her days sunbathing at the beach. Tried not to think about him. At night, she hit up the bar with a friend she'd met at the hotel and let guys buy her drinks, thanks Caro for all the practice, let her stepmom buy her drinks in the afternoon, thanks Tami, and bought her own drinks whenever no one else would, thanks Bonnie, you know what's best for you. That makes no sense, maybe you should lay off the booze, you lush. That's probably why he's not on your mind.
When she came back, she didn't even see him. When she said goodbye to Stefan she did it at Elena's. They never had a formal goodbye.
"It's fine."
"Well you know my motto, the best way to get over a man is to get another man."
"And have lots of S-E-K-S."
"Oh my god, I can't believe I used to say that."
"Me either." She takes another sip of her wine.
"It works though, you were together for four years."
"It was a good run. But I miss him, a little."
"It would be weird if you didn't."
"I know. I don't know protocols for breakups. When should I be over it?'
"I can't tell you that. It depends on you."
"How long did it take you to get over Tyler?
"I don't know. We're on again off again. It's not the same. But me and Tyler... we still talk. You haven't talked to Damon since you broke up."
"We have nothing to discuss."
"If you say so...if you need to cry and complain and set fire to his stuff when we go back, we can do that." Always with the fire.
"I know."
"Or drinking. We could that."
"We will."
"I'm also here if you want to go man hunting. It's the first time we've both been single, in forever."
She sighs, "I know Care.'"
Bonnie doesn't know how normal people get over breakups, and she definitely doesn't know how to do so healthily. She could uproat trees, and break windows but that was all she knew.
She tries all the cliche stuff. Listens to sad, whiny music. It just ends up annoying her more than anything. Cries until she can't cry anymore. Reminisces a lot. She also decides she won't ask about him. If anyone brings him up, she changes the subject or leaves the room. Needs to keep him off her mind as much as possible and since he's always on her mind it doesn't help that much.
She's throws herself into school. Considering it's her senior year, she has plenty of work. Plus she's got a month until midterms. But until she starts studying again, she's left sitting around twiddling her thumbs. Working on magic is always an option but even that gets boring after a while. So she takes up cleaning, does it whenever she has free time.
The bathroom and kitchen are never messy, so those don't ever take long. The living room is clean besides the magazines strewn across the coffee table. But her room only stays tidy until she picks out what she needs to wear. She can hear Damon's criticisms in her head. She's smiling before she can stop herself. "Wouldn't kill you take a Hoover to the rug." So after tackling all the clothes, she goes over the floor. Next thing she knows she's humming songs from his stupid 80s cd's. She misses him. Wishes she could get reach through the link to talk to him. She could just pick up the phone. Not gonna happen.
Next, she tries a new look. You're in your prime. Her style hasn't changed completely since she's left Mystic Falls for school. But she stopped wearing the super modest clothes. She's twenty two, not seventeen. Buys stuff she never would have before.
She's in the bathroom cutting her hair when Caroline busts in the bathroom. "What are you doing?" She slides the shears asymmetrically inches above her shoulder.
"Dammit, Care." You should've just went to the hairdressers. She covers her head with her hands. Good job covering it up.
"You should've told me what you were doing. Turn around and let me see."
"No. Get out until I finish."
"I'll help you."
"Oh, no you won't."
"I've been cutting hair since I was eight."
"Not well. I guess I'm the only one who remembers looking like a poodle."
"Just let me help you. Sit on the toilet."
When she's done there's scraps of hair all over the floor. Bonnie's got bangs now, they're cut better than before, and it's short . A bit choppy.
It's cute.
"I told you that I knew what I was doing. We can dye strips if you want a complete different change. A bright color maybe pink.'
"No."
"A red? a dark blue? Something you can still cover up if we ever get respectable jobs that aren't at the mall."
"Maybe." She runs her finger through her bangs and pushes them to the side. I look good.
"We should go out tonight."
They go to the bar and have a few drinks. Caroline is always the designated driver because it takes her a truckload of liquor to get drunk. Bonnie could always drink more than her before she was turned, but it's no competition now.
First five minutes they're there, these guys come over to chat them up, and Bonnie's pretty sure this night is going to be a bust. They're corny and she doesn't even pretend to laugh. They either going to buy them a drink, or move on. They move on.
She's rusty when it comes to flirting. Flirting as a teenager and flirting as an adult is a different ballgame. It's not like she had that much skill at it then. I'll let you take me to the dance...if you want to... I mean.. you don't have to. And flirting with Damon was usually a combination of threatening and insulting him, and not everybody is cool with that.
Three drinks later, Bonnie's as happy as she can be. She's danced with a few guys, refrained from saying anything too weird, but none caught her interest. She met one guy that she was going to take home, but he started talking about his music taste and that ended that.
"You're ready to go home?
"Yeah." Bonnie guzzles down the rest of her drink and grabs her clutch. Then she grabs Caroline's hand for balance.
She stumbles a little but Caroline helps her in the car.
"Caroline?"
"Yes?"
"How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Not have a boyfriend. Like I don't understand it."
"Yeah, I don't understand it either. I'm hot." Bonnie laughs. Loud.
"No. I mean." Bonnie drops her voice, she doesn't know why. "I'm like super horny. I don't know if I miss Damon or sex more." Probably sex.
"Probably sex." BFF's.
"Speaking of sex, Tyler's coming down next weekend." Kinda don't care.
"Getting back together?" Caroline smirks.
"For the weekend... I could tell him to bring somebody for you."
"Whatever."
"I'll make sure that he's cute."
Brown skin. Brown eyes. Tall. He's attractive, but he's not her type at all. They have nothing in common, and if you could clone Tyler's personality, that's his. But it's the the same as the twenty two year old Tyler, and not fourteen year old Tyler. So that's a plus. Despite that, she ends up in bed with him. Caroline's good at finding men for her to sleep with. "That's what friends are for." What kind of friendship is this? It's like senior year all over again.
Victor's sweet. She doesn't expect for him to be but he is. It's not different from being with anybody else she's been with. The motions are the same. There's a lot of kissing and touching and nudity. Nudity makes it seem classy. Not like it matters, because you weren't gonna stop if it wasn't.
His skin is warmer, naturally. He's bulkier than anyone she's been with. It's pleasant. He's a bit quiet, but not eerily quiet. She doesn't really talk back, because what's the protocol with a one night stand. Is there correct etiquette for dirty talk? No need to come on too strong and creep him out. She already knows Caroline and Tyler are listening. Make sure her it's so goods are a little bit louder. She's not faking it, so that makes it alright.
0
Caroline's off at her sororities car wash when she wakes up. She tiptoes out of bed and into the living room with Tyler. He's sitting on the floor in front of the tv eating cereal.
"I hope you don't mind."
"Nope. I'm surprised you found anything." She walks into the kitchen, looks in the refrigerator. Caroline must have went shopping. Makes sense since she eats everything.
"We've got bacon. And eggs. I'll make the bacon if you fix the eggs. I can make toast too. We've got enough for Victor. Should I wake him up?"
"You don't have to. We're going to lunch when Care gets back." So is that a no to bacon, or?
"So you only want a few slices of bacon?"
"Yeah." He laughs. She takes all the stuff out. Puts pans on the stove.
"Have fun last night?"
"Yeah. It was...fun."
"Yeah, fun."
"I know you and Care were listening. You've got supersonic hearing."
"I didn't tell you I liked the hair yet. It looks good." Smooth.
" was a non sequitur if I've ever heard one...you and Caroline have fun?" This is almost as bad as the Salvatore's 'Brother.' "I didn't have the chance to put a glass up to the wall and listen like I usually do."
He stops scrambling his eggs.
"You don't do that do you?" Yes, Tyler. Nothing amuses me more than the acoustic sex sounds of the Wanton Hussy and her Husky.
"I'm surprised you haven't heard me cheering. I know she's loud, but with your hearing.."
"Ha ha. Have you always been this sarcastic?"
"Yep." She pulls the bread out of the toaster. Slathers both pieces in butter. Adds a little jam on his, a lot on hers. Plates them with bacon and he adds his eggs. They sit back on the floor in front of the tv.
"Have you been back home?"
"No. Not since the summer. I didn't even go home for Thanksgiving. Me and Care just got drunk and skyped ?"
"I went to Mom's for Thanksgiving. She's all alone, but I can't lie, I missed it."
"Sometimes I do, more when I haven't been there in a while."
"I get that. It's just so quiet everywhere else. I don't know, there's always something happening in Mystic Falls." That's exactly why I like to stay away.
"I miss my family though. I won't even get to see them until after New Years."
"Where are they going?" He crunches into a piece of toast.
"They leave for Jamaica the week of finals. Tami has family there."
"That sucks."
"We'll I spent summer vacation with them, that was enough. My dad's reached the age where he think his jokes are comedic gold. They aren't, and Tami's cool but Travis... no. "
"I don't have any brothers so I don't know what you're going through.'
"I wish I didn't. But I even miss him. And Elena and Lucy. Jeremy a little. Everybody." She can't even say Damon's name but she misses him too.