I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Please review at the end! I love reading them, especially the ones that are really encouraging! Please keep the reviews kind! :)

~1863~

Damon Salvatore walked through the grounds of his father's plantation, and inhaled deeply as he continued through the tree lines towards the lake on his father's land.

He paused, and leaned casually against the tree as he surveyed the lake before him. The sun glistened off the water, and gave it a peaceful setting, spreading peace to the young man of only twenty-three years of age.

He smiled as he watched the swans on the lake move over like they were gliding on air, and dip their curved head into the water for a drink. He bowed his head, and turned to lean with his back completely against the tree.

Leaning his head against the tree, he peered up at the sky, and noticed puffy white clouds glided across blue sky. It was a beautiful day, and he couldn't imagine being anywhere else at the moment.

He had just returned from town that morning, to get some herbs for his friend, who worked as a healer on the plantation, when his father had ridiculed him for even thinking of helping that…

Damon shuddered as he remembered the word his father used to describe the woman. He hated the way his father treated the slaves. In his mind, he saw them as human beings who had a right to be free; of course his friend was actually his surrogate mother.

After his mother died when he was sixteen, he looked up to Mayme, who treated him like the son she never had in her thirty-five years. He loved her, and he knew she loved him. She was the first person to every see him, and believed he could be anything he wanted to be, with the exception his real mother.

Even his brother took his father's side at times, leaving Damon on the outside looking in, even though he was the eldest son.

Damon sighed, and moved his head back to the lake; he straightened as he saw someone, whom he had never seen before approach the water, and began pull her tan skirts up to her knees.

"Excuse me." He called out, causing her to jump, and drop her skirts. She whirled around, and her long dark brown hair twirled behind her, showing her face as he approached her, though she bowed it immediately.

"Oh, excuse me, sir, I…I…I didn't know anyone was here. Please pardon my intrusion." She began, stuttering.

Damon smiled, and casually waved his right hand. "It's okay, ma'am." He replied, stopping a few feet away from her. "I just didn't want to be improper and see a lady show more than she needs to." He added, watching her smile with her head still bowed. "I'm Damon. Damon Salvatore." He replied, bowing his body.

She swallowed, and kept her head bowed. She kept silent, and nervously moved on her feet.

Damon smiled once more, and tried to look at her bowed head. "And you are?" He asked, waiting for her to answer.

"Bonnie." She answered, finally lifting her head just a little. "Bonnie Bennett." She answered, catching his eyes with hers.

Damon felt his heart tighten in his chest as he gazed at the dark beauty in front of him. Her skin wasn't dark, nor was it light. Her face was oval shaped, and her eyes…

He blinked as he searched her green eyes, which to him reminded him of a spring day. He noticed her tongue lick her lips quickly, and he began to feel his mouth turn dry at the sight.

He quickly snapped out of his trance, and cleared his throat lightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Bennett." He replied, watching a light blush appear on her cheeks.

She dipped her head, but didn't lose contact with his eyes. "Likewise, Mr. Salvatore." She whispered, nervously.

He shook his head quickly, and pointed to the lake with his right hand. "Um…you can use the lake if you need to." He replied, slowly backing away from her. "I must caution you, though, this is my father's lake, and if he found you in here…" He trailed off, watching her smile lightly.

"Would you like to stay?" She asked, moving her body slightly.

Damon swallowed nervously, and wanted to say no, for he was never any good with talking to women. He wasn't a smooth talker like his brother, Stefan. He was a gentleman, who respected them, and treated them with decency. He never tried to seduce them or even belittle them.

His mother taught him better than that.

But all those instructions were leaving his mind, as he stood on the north bank of the lake with a beautiful woman, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Slowly, he nodded his head, and approached her.

"I'll stay for a spell." He answered, watching her smile in gratitude.

She waited until he stood beside her, and slowly she gather up her skirts, and moved to sit down.

Damon noticed she wobbled slightly, and moved his hand to grasp her securely so she wouldn't fall. As he touched her bare arm with his right hand, and his left on her back, he felt his heart skip a beat, and his blood began to run hot.

She looked up as she moved her skirts to sit securely on the bank, and smiled gratefully. "Thank you." She whispered, watching him lower himself on the bank beside her.

Damon nodded, and brought his knees up to his chest, and slowly wrapped his arms around them. "You're welcome." He replied, looking out across the lake.

They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, until Bonnie began to speak. "How long have you lived in Mystic Falls?"

Damon turned his head, and lowered his eyes for a moment. "All my life." He answered, lifting his eyes. "You?" He asked, watching her shake her head.

"I just moved here with my aunt, but I don't imagine we will be staying very long." She added, casually.

Damon's brow furrowed. "Why not?" He asked, shrugging his shoulders.

Bonnie's smile diminished, and she turned her head. "It doesn't seem that accepting of…" She trailed off, not wanting to go into detail.

Damon nodded in understanding. "Of skin color." He whispered, looking away from her.

Bonnie sighed, but didn't say a word. She knew better.

He turned his head, and studied her with appreciative eyes. "They're foolish not to accept you." He whispered, off-handily.

Bonnie whipped her head around, and watched his eyes widen in embarrassment.

"Forgive me, I…I didn't mean to…" He began, stuttering. This was why he was never good at conversing with ladies.

Bonnie let a smile form on her lips, and she nodded towards him. "It's okay, and thank you." She replied, leaning back on her hands, letting the sun beat down on her skin. She let out a sigh, and closed her eyes. "This feels wonderful." She whispered, more to herself.

He smiled and once again, his eyes traced her body. The dress she was wearing cut right above her breasts, and the tanned color accentuated her skin tone. The sleeves ended mid bicep with small ruffles at the end down towards her wrists. The waist of the dress showed off her hourglass figure, and the skirt trailed all the way down to her ankles, where her feet were…bare.

"Where are your shoes?" He asked, absently.

Bonnie opened her eyes, and smiled as she moved her feet back and forth. "I left them in my room a few miles out." She replied, with a small blush. "I didn't expect to meet anyone today." She added, dipping her head.

Damon smiled and nodded. "Well, I won't tell anyone." He replied, watching her smile, and let out a small giggle.

"Thank you." She returned, watching him smile. She found herself staring at his smile as if it was the most captivating sight she had ever seen.

His smile slowly disappeared, and his eyes caught hers when her eyes left his lips and moved upwards. The tension in the air became overpowering, and he felt his heart hammer in his chest, and he thought for a moment that she could hear it.

Clearing his throat, he stood up, and dusted his pants off with is hands, giving her ample time to examine him in return.

He was tall, she discovered, but not too tall. His hair was curly and almost black. His eyes were blue as the sky above them. He was wearing a long-sleeved white button down shirt with tan slacks and brown suspenders. He was handsome, breathtakingly so, and his touch made her heart flip inside her chest.

She nodded, and moved to stand up, when he offered his hand. A true gentleman. She thought, placing her hand in his, and standing up in front of him.

She smiled, shyly, and stepped back, pushing her hair behind her ear as she lowered her gaze. "I should be going." She replied, continuing to back up. "Thank you for your company, Mr. Salvatore." She added, stopping when he held up his hand.

"Call me Damon, please." He requested, hoping not to sound too forward.

She dipped her head, and smiled. "Damon." She said, loving the way her tongue made it roll out of her mouth.

Damon fought the urge to drink in her voice, and took a step towards her. "When will I see you again?" He asked, wishing she would answer with soon.

Bonnie smiled, and bowed her head. "Do you wish to see me again?" She asked, shyly.

Damon smiled and he nodded. "Very much."

She looked behind her, and thought quickly. "If you wish, we can meet here tomorrow afternoon." She replied after a moment.

Damon fought the urge to laugh with glee; instead he bowed his head, and smiled. "Until then, Bonnie." He replied, in a gentlemanly manner.

Bonnie nodded, and felt so much like a lady at that moment. With another smile on her face, she turned and quickly ran away from the lake, leaving the man she had just met behind.

~XXX~

They met in secret for weeks after that eventful afternoon. Damon found himself finding more than just a woman, who became his friend, but also found that he was falling in love with her. Bonnie found herself in the same situation. Damon was more than her friend, he was her best friend, and her heart was becoming his with each passing day.

She ran, and let out a laugh as she felt arms encircle her waist, and twirl her around for a moment before pulling her against a firm, familiar chest.

"Why, sir, unhand me this instant." She replied, in a deep southern tone.

Damon chuckled, and bent his head to her ear. "I don't think I can, my lady." He whispered, feeling her shiver against his body.

"And why ever not, sir?" She asked her tone changing as she panted lightly.

He smiled, and gently turned her around. "Because, you are bewitching me." He answered in a serious tone, with his blue eyes searching her green.

Bonnie swallowed, and bit down her fear. She placed her hands on his chest, and wanted to push him away, but she couldn't.

He lifted his right hand to her face, and stroked it gently. "Bonnie…" He whispered, lowering his head to hers.

Bonnie held her breathe, and waited. She opened her mouth slightly as his mouth landed on hers with soft precision. She felt her knees begin to shake and weaken as his left hand pulled her closer to his body and his right moved through her brown hair.

Her hands moved up his chest around his neck, and into his curly hair.

Damon felt his world begin to spin and lighten as his lips moved over hers. He felt his heart quicken, and slowly he pulled back, only to bring her bottom lip between his with a soft suck.

Never had he kissed a woman like this, and somehow it felt like a natural thing to do, especially with her.

He panted slightly, and watched her eyes open, only to catch his. He moved his thumb over her cheek, and suddenly felt bolder. "I'm in love with you, Bonnie." He whispered, watching her eyes brighten with emotion and joy.

"Damon…" She whispered, shaking her head. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew this was wrong. She knew they could never be, and that's what broke her heart. "I'm in love with you." She replied, moving her hands to his chest and finally pushing away, trying not to look at the joy on his face. "But we can't." She added, tears stinging her eyes.

He narrowed his eyes, and shook his head. "Why not?" He asked, approaching her.

She turned away from him, and wiped her face with her hands. "We just can't." She answered, lifting her eyes to the sky.

Damon opened his mouth, and approached her. Firmly, he grasped her arms, and turned her around to look at him. "Bonnie, I don't care." He replied, figuring out why. "I don't care about our skin color. I don't care. I love you, and I want to be with you." He concluded watching tears spill out of her eyes.

She shook her head, and bit her bottom lip. "I can't, Damon." She whispered, trying to escape his touch. "I can't put you through that. I can't put you through the ridicule and the shame." She cried her voice breaking. "I won't destroy your life." She finished, slamming her hands, palm down onto his chest.

Damon shook his head, and shook her slightly. He wasn't going to lose her now. "Bonnie…" He moved to look into her eyes, but she closed them. "Bonnie, please look at me." He replied, hoping she would open her eyes. "Bonnie, you haven't destroyed me life, if anything you have saved it." He added, smiling as she finally opened her eyes. "You save me by being here, and showing me there is more to life than listening to my father about what I should or should not do." He finished, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. "You showed me that I can be whatever I want to be, and pursue anything I want." He paused, grasping her face between his hands. "And one of the things I want, Bonnie, is you." He concluded, watching more tears fall down her face as his words hit her heart.

"Oh, Damon…" She cried, closing her eyes.

Damon sighed, and pulled her into his arms, and held her close to him, as he listened to her cry into his chest.

Bonnie held onto the back of his shirt, and let the pain of what she was feeling echo into her tears. She hated that they couldn't be, and it wasn't just the skin difference. There was something more. Something darker, and more dangerous.

Something that could make him despise her if he knew.

She felt his lips touch the top of her head, and she cried harder. Now, he loved her, but when he learned the truth, he would stop.

And that would kill her.

I know their romance is rushed, slightly, but there is a reason, and I hope you will all stick with this story!

This is my first time writing for these two, since I'm mainly a Kennett fan, though I do route for these two! I hope you enjoyed it!

I'm working on the next chapter, and on other chapters for other stories. I know, so many stories, so little time... but are they worth it?

Until Next Time...