Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed and thrown this story on their alerts list. I really appreciate all your kind and encouraging words. Fingers crossed, I hope I won't disappoint. We'll catch up with Eric and Pam in Chapter 2. For now, Bonnie's tying up a few loose ends in Mystic Falls.
Solemn Goodbyes
Bonnie heard Damon's steps and accompanying grunts as he took on the stairs three at a time. She wasn't surprised when he threw open her father's bedroom door. Nor did she jump when he stood in the same entryway, arms open wide as he declared in typical and obnoxious Damon fashion, "Honey, I'm home."
The corners of her mouth curved into a wry grin but Bonnie worked diligently, continuing to pack away books, photos, and other inconsequential items as he stood waiting for a reaction.
She swallowed her amusement and greeted her uninvited guest, "Good evening Damon."
He pressed further, spurring her on, in the hopes of provoking a moment of rage by way of her irritation. The eldest Salvatore referred to their exchanges as hate – sex foreplay.
"Halliwell, you really need to learn how to answer when I call." He wiped his mud covered boots on the plush white carpeting in the bedroom, "Also try locking your front door. Seriously someone is going to drain you dry one day."
Bonnie turned arms folded across her chest, with a perfect smile lighting her face. Her tone dripping with honey, "What have I done to deserve the pleasure of your visit?"
"No snark? No attitude? Eye rolls…deep breaths? How about what are you doing here god of hotness and desire?" Bonnie stood unmoved by his taunts, "You're boring me Bennett." Damon mocked her, hands on hips, and twirling the strands of his hair around a finger
"Death of the homeowner," Her voice faltered but she quickly recovered, "grants you free reign, no need for an invite…even I know that."
Something in Damon's eyes changed; a flicker of concern, a momentary lapse into the genuine love he felt for Bonnie. He stepped closer, hands shoved into his front pockets, "I'm worried about you." His gaze penetrated the hard exterior masking the tumultuous emotions concealed under the strong face she wore daily.
The energy in the room shifted, and Bonnie's mood was the obvious controlling factor. The air grew heavier, thicker; it reeked of her anger and unbridled passion. Her jaw tightened as she spoke, "You lost that right Damon."
The power flickered as a pop of thunder crashed and lightining danced across the night sky.
He threw his hands up in the air, unafraid of her side show antics, and hurt girlfriend visage. "Enough already Bonnie, I've apologized. Hell, I've even admitted that what I did was beyond fucked up. When are you going to forgive me?"
The witch moved closer, craning her neck as she stood on her tip toes to meet his eyes, "Forgive you?" For once she read the fear burdening his features, her laugh unnerved him and the vampire took a half step back. "Damon you slept with my best friend - your brother's wife. I forgave you, but I'll never forget."
Despite his better judgment, Damon reached for Bonnie, hesitantly placing his hands against her skin, testing for a flame to match the fire burning behind the witch's glare. Gently, he cupped her face, before he allowed the tips of his finger to skim the smooth lines of her neck, tracing the barely visible scars along her jugular. Finally his hands rested on her shoulders, his beautiful eyes shielded by thick black lashes, "Bonnie…please."
She shuddered, melting under the velvet lining his voice. She wanted nothing more than to give in to the sensations created by his touch and consent to his offer of comfort during her difficult time. Instead she remained obstinate, "You need to leave, Tyler's on his way."
Bonnie felt Damon's grip tighten, "You don't want Fido; he will never be me."
"Whatever gets you through the night Salvatore?"
She regained control of her body and eased from his hold, returning her attention to the open boxes littering the floor.
"You get me through the night. I remember how you taste, just before…"
Bonnie interrupted his trip down memory lane. "Not tonight Damon. My father died." Her voice escalated, "Do you understand that, for once this is not about you. I have nothing…I lose everything I love…"
It was as close as Bonnie would ever come to admitting what she still felt for him. She collapsed against his chest when he embraced her, fighting with the tears threatening to spill from her eyes, "You've got me. You've always got me." She hated that his words soothed her. Silently Bonnie cursed her body for responding to the cool lips that met hers. He whispered his plea into her mouth, "Anything you need, just ask."
"Let me go."
The phrase held literal and figurative meaning and Damon understood it clearly. He released her and stood with his back turned and his hand pressed against the wall. Damon kept his eyes trained on the gloss covered walls, attempting to hide the hurt registered on his face from her rejection.
Softly, Bonnie began, "I need to go away for a while." His back remained turned, "Keep everybody safe. Take care of yourself." She paused in lieu of a sarcasm filled answer only to watch Damon Salvatore walk from the room and down the stairs. The house shook at its core when the demon slammed the door.
-Solemn Goodbyes-
Bonnie recognized the hum of Tyler's engine when he pulled into the garage. The man wasted no time padding through the laundry room and kitchen to find her curled up by the fireplace in her father's leather recliner. Warmth radiated off of him in waves and Bonnie didn't protest when he scooped her up, cradling her against his chest, and returned both their bodies to the chair.
"Hey."
She loved how his voice fluctuated between tenor and bass.
"Hey yourself."
The full moon had passed, but Bonnie could still smell the moonlight and woods on his skin. She inhaled, cataloging his scent, recording it to memory, for the nights they would spend apart.
"Movers are coming tomorrow, the storage space for your dad's stuff is covered for a year, and I just picked up two one – way tickets to Jamaica."
Bonnie never had to ask with Tyler, he anticipated her every need. The reputation as the town brat, bad boy, and neighborhood dick still held merit, but he reserved the real Tyler Lockwood just for her.
"Ty…"
"Before you say no, Mason will look after my mom, and Ric promised to keep Jeremy and his favorite bag of stakes in line and off the streets." He ran his fingers through her hair, "You need to get away. We need…"
Bonnie stood, distancing herself from the calm he created within her. "I've got a lead on my mom. She needs to know about dad."
He was behind her in two steps, arms wrapped around her waist, and his chin resting on her shoulder, "Okay, so we find your mom, and then we get away."
"No we...I have to do this alone."
She felt him stiffen. He had more in common with Damon then he would ever know; neither of them took rejection well. She braced herself for the emotional firestorm.
"Bullshit, Bonnie." His voice echoed off the barren walls.
Damon and Tyler were wired for two settings only, calm and furious.
"What is this about...the bloodsucker? Are you confused again?"
Tyler spun her around, a mixture of anger and sadness playing about his face. She pushed aside her frustration and worked to reassure him.
"No, this is about me." She grabbed his face. "I need answers."
"Bon, you don't have to do this alone. I'm here."
"I know babe, but I need to do this alone. Just try and understand. Nothing is going to change. Damon and I are over."
She hoped he missed the way her face contorted with the painful admission. Bonnie was trying, her relationship with Tyler was better, healthier, but…
"I love you."
She wasn't there yet and the urgency that accompanied those three little words expelled from his mouth frightened the shit out of her.
Bonnie chose not to answer and offered a kiss that led to a moment of physical abandonment.
She watched him sleeping quietly by the light of the fire as she dressed, praying that her movements wouldn't awaken him. There was no courage in her goodbye. By morning Bonnie Bennett would be one step closer to finding her mother and ending the secrecy that had surrounded one side of her family tree for twenty – one years.
