The One That Got Away

"What the hell is happening to me?" Bonnie asked angrily, as she glared the blue-eyed man in the face, and he scrunched his brows in confusion.

"I'm sorry, love, but I don't know a deal of what you're going on about," Klaus replied, as a fuming Bonnie Bennett stood with her arms crossed, in his doorway. "But if you'd like me to help you figure something out-" he began, only to be pushed roughly out of the way, as she walked into his house, and he cocked his head in surprise.

"...Please, help yourself," Klaus added dryly, as Bonnie gazed at him lividly, with glowing green eyes.

The last time he saw her was at the Old Witch House, when she put his spirit back into his own body. He attempted to lure her with the idea of a hopeful tryst between the two, just because it was so obvious Caroline didn't give a shit about his life now that Tyler was back, and Bonnie had always been his idea of a "worthy challenge."

Even during the days that he was interested in the "Vampire Barbie," he kept Bonnie on his radar, simply because he knew her type; strong but vulnerable, helpful but unappreciated, beautiful but self-concious.

He knew how easy it could be to get into her head, but he also knew it'd be hard work, as well.

Was she really here, so quickly, to give in to his advances?

His guess was "no," as she sent a strong hand across his cheek, and the sound of the slap echoed throughout the hallway, successfully breaking the stifling silence.

Klaus' eyes flashed to yellow, but he kept his composure.

This little Witch Bitch saved his life, afterall, and the least he could do was not rip her to fucking shreds, just because his face stung, a little.

And to be honest? She could probably rip him to shreds, first.

"What's happening to me?" she asked again, firmly, and he peered into her erratic eyes, before raising both eyebrows, as well as his palms.

"Come again, Miss Bennett? Besides the fact that you've walked into my home and hit me, I haven't the slightest clue what your problem is. You witches are always so moody," he noted, as he walked off to the living room, and Bonnie regretfully followed him.

Klaus made his way over to his bar, and before she could object, he poured two glasses of straight Jameson, and offered her one.

"I don't drink," she said through her teeth, and he rolled his eyes.

"And I don't ruin the lives of innocent, unsuspecting people," he said blandly. "Loosen up, why don't you? We're bonding. I don't want to bond with a liar."

Bonnie inhaled a deep breath, and rolled her eyes before taking the whisky into her hand. Klaus grinned before settling down on the couch. She remained on her feet. She didn't want to get comfortable. Not around him.

"So, tell me, love-what's happened to you?" he asked, as he sat back comfortably, and took a long sip, before gazing back at her.

Bonnie folloowed suit, but almost gagged at the taste of the alcohol, as it burned all the way down.

Moments later, when it settled, however- it felt okay.

She almost felt calm. As calm as she could be in his presence, anyway.

"You said something, at the Old Witch House," she began, and he interrupted.

"About you and I? Have you come to your senses, yet?" he smirked, and she rolled her eyes in disgust.

"Fuck you, Klaus."

"You'd like to, wouldn't you?" he asked, and her mouth dropped.

It was obvious that being an asshole was like foreplay, to him.

"You know what? This was dumb. I'm leaving," Bonnie said, as she slammed her drink on the table, and made her way towards the exit.

Klaus was faster, though, as he blocked her immediately, and she scowled at the look of amusement on his face. He was taunting her.

"You wouldn't get so mad if it weren't true," he stated, and she scoffed. "I also wouldn't... tease you the way I do if I didn't care," Klaus added more gently, and Bonnie bit her lip. "Have a seat. I will help you, as you have helped me. You have my word."

Bonnie exhaled as she reluctantly made her way back over to the couch, and Klaus sat beside her, as he reached in and handed her the drink.

She accepted it silently, and took another sip before turning to face him. Her hands were shaking- that couldn't be a good thing.

"Go on, sweetheart; I'm listening."

The sincerity in his eyes was all-too-alarming; she didn't think she'd seen Klaus sincere, ever. He actually wanted to help her and she didn't even have to give him an aneurysm to do so.

Maybe things would be okay, afterall.

She tapped her foot nervously before she looked up into his curious eyes, and finally spoke.

"What you said, that day, at the house... about me being one spell away from losing it all... On a scale of 1 to 10, about how serious were you?"

Klaus gazed at her simply, as he recollected his words, and brainstormed an appropriate response.

"15," he said curtly, and her brows furrowed. "I was not being sly when I made my statement."

"So, what, there's a 'three strikes and you're out' rule?" she asked incredulously, and he didn't budge. "You have to be kidding me.. How do you even know any of this?"

"The witches are fickle, they make silly little rules like that," he informed. "And the reason I know that is because of your ancestor, Ayanna. Do you forget that she had close family ties with my own?"

Bonnie remained silent as Klaus paced the floor before her, drink in hand.

"She was the only adult in my life who cared about me, back then. Lord knows Mikael hated me, and Esther was ashamed of me. So I... spent a lot my time in her lair. I suppose you can say that my fascination with your kind began, back then. She... showed me all the magic that my mother was afraid to practice. She told me great tales of your ancestors, and the country she was born to. She... told me about dark magic, and the witches who engaged in it; the witches who lost their minds because of it."

Bonnie gulped involuntarily, as Klaus stopped before her.

"What have you done to lose your mind, Bonnie?"

The girl shrugged roughly, and tucked a strand behind her ear.

"I'm not losing my mind."

"Right, so, when you're done lying..."

"I... I am sane, okay? I just... I found a way to turn Elena back into a human. So, I did it. Elena is a human, again."

Klaus' eyes widened, and he watched as Bonnie continued to look at the ground.

"And then?"

"And then..." she started, as she cracked her knuckles, and shook her head. "I started to feel weird, like... like there was something else growing inside of me- almost like-"

"Another soul," Klaus said, and Bonnie's eyes widened at the fact that he pin-pointed it perfectly. "The side of you who wants to do dark magic, Bonnie- it's manifesting. She's starting to grow."

"How do I stop her?" Bonnie asked desperately. "Is there a spell that I can do? How do I stop whatever the hell is going on inside of my head? I don't have time for this."

Klaus sat back down on the couch beside Bonnie, and she trembled when his fingers slid up the side of her neck, and turned her towards him. She could barely breathe when she looked at him.

"I'm afraid it's too late," he said, and Bonnie frowned. "This side of you, Bonnie... it's like a form of cancer. It develops with you. It multiplies, grows, conquers- it doesn't stop. It cannot stop, until it consumes you."

Bonnie tried to turn away, but she found herself melting against his hand, as it slid down from her neck to her chest, and he slid it slowly over her heart.

"Do you feel that?"

Bonnie nodded. She found herself panting at his touch.

Klaus smiled gently, before leaning his mouth to her ear, and she shook as his breath floated along her skin.

"You're in transition. Don't fight it, love," he said softly, as she fell into a daze, where the only person in world who could get through to her was him. "The more willing you are, the easier it will be. Everybody loves a rogue witch, Bonnie. It happens to be my favorite thing. You've already turned Elena back into a human, meaning, I can still make my hybrids. I think you're fantastic."

Bonnie felt herself grip onto his shoulders, and the look of amusement in his eyes only resurfaced as he ran a finger through her almost-black hair, and she stared at him desperately.

The change had already begun. And he was going to coach her through it. All she needed was an advocate-she was already on edge.

"You didn't want to be pushed around anymore, love, and here's your chance- here's your chance to embrace the darkness, and let it explode in your veins, like a drug. Here's your chance to push back; to take what is yours, Bonnie. Isn't this what you wanted? To feel alive?"

"I-I think I'm done here," Bonnie said, as she suddenly shot to her feet. "I need to go."

"So soon, love? But you haven't even gotten to the best part yet."

Almost immediately, Bonnie grabbed Klaus by the neck, and slammed him against the ground, as she straddled on top of him, and gazed directly his eyes. She was still breathing heavily, and the hybrid beneath her studied her as she didn't say a word.

She was obviously stronger, and a lot more aggressive, too, as she pushed his head so hard against the wooden floor, she cracked it. Her fingers wrapped tightly around his throat, and he bit his lip at the intensity that was floating behind her eyes.

"Atta girl," Klaus said softly, and she immediately felt a spark run through her when his hands rose to her waist, and gripped her hips tightly. "You want this, don't you?"

If he said he wasn't turned on by this, that'd be a lie. It'd been a long time since a girl roughed him around, and he was just dying for her to be the one to do so.

Bonnie huffed angrily, but finally released Klaus' neck and rose to her feet. In one smooth motion, as she dusted off her pants, and ran her fingers through her hair. Klaus watched her silently, as she adjusted herself, before he finally sat up.

"Going somewhere?" he asked, and Bonnie turned to face him with a serious glare that burned holes through him.

She stood before him, with her hands on her hips and her head cocked to the side, as he slowly rose to his feet, and looked at her.

She may have been so much smaller than he was, but she packed just as much fight.

Maybe even more.

"You think I wanna be a monster, Klaus? You think... want to become this thing that you sound so excited about?"

"I think that you want to take control of your life, sweetheart, and what better time than now?"

Bonnie inhaled deeply, when Klaus' face was suddenly before hers. She felt dizzy in an air of infactuation when his lips slowly and gently brushed against her own, and she felt him smile before he finally spoke.

"You know what you want, Bonnie. Come after it, already," he whispered. "Be the woman you've always known you could be."

He craved the idea of a queen by his side, and could not have been more sickened with the idea of a damsel in distress. He'd never understand the obsession with Elena Gilbert, to be quite honest, and now with his affections solely focused on Bonnie Bennett, he didn't want to.

He'd made it his mission to have her, and even with a little hard to get, he knew she wouldn't resist for long.

She couldn't.

"I have to go," Bonnie said, as she pushed him out of the way, and stumbled out of the living room, and his home, just as quickly as she had entered.

When she returned, she'd be his; he was quite sure of it.


Bonnie layed in bed the next morning, after her time spent with Damon, and she still couldn't believe what a turn her day had taken.

She went from believing that she was going on a blind date with some random dude Laila didn't want, to actually being set up with Damon.

From Shake Shack to some random bar on the LES, she begrudginngly had to admit that she had a good time with him, as they began to reminesce about their past lives in Mystic Falls. When somebody wasn't dying, it was a pretty nifty place to live in, despite the lameness of it all.

Mystic Falls, Virginia was home, and no matter how much she liked New York, it'd never be the same.

She'd never be the same.

"Hey, Witchy, remember that time I asked you to dance and you said no?" Damon asked snarkily, and Bonnie scoffed, as she took back another shot.

"That was every Decade Dance, Damon. You might wanna get specific."

Damon laughed as he sipped his beer, and laughed in disbelief.

"Don't be a liar, it wasn't every time... We danced at the one where Klaus nearly maimed you, when he was in Ric's body."

"Oh wow, I forgot about that," she laughed. "Except, he didn't maim me, at all. I faked my death- that was a great plan-"

"My plan," Damon cut in, with a wink, and Bonnie pursed her lips to hide the grin that was behind them. "It was my plan, remember?"

"Yeah, your plan."

"That saved your guts, kiddo. We were kind of a badass team, I think. You sure you're done with all the witchy stuff? We could totally be the new Bonnie and Clyde. Molder and Scully... Angelina and Brad-"

"Don't get ahead of yourself," she nudged, and Damon's eyes twinkled, as he took back another gulp, and moved his stool in closer. "We were good, once, but it doesn't mean a thing. We hated each other most of the time, didn't we? "

Bonnie couldn't help but stare into his big blue eyes as they raked all over her, but she remained stonefaced in her expression.

It was all about the pokerface with Damon; it always was.

"Right," he nodded, with a gentle squint of the eyes. "I should be careful... If I talk about this too much... you might start to think I actually care," he said, and Bonnie bit her lip as she looked to ground, and then back up to his face.

Was she really playing this game, right now?

"We wouldn't want that," she said simply, and he flashed her a cool grin.

Absolutely. She was absolutely playing this game.

Bonnie was jolted out of her thoughts when her cell phone began ringing, loudly, and she sighed as she grabbed it off of her end table, positive about what the name on the display would read.

Laila.

She held down the answer key and pressed it to her ear tightly.

"I'm assuming that you're calling to apologize about being such a bitch yesterday," Bonnie said, and she heard Laila exhale longingly before she replied.

"Ouch. Good morning to you too, baby doll. Answer your doorbell, I've been buzzing for ten minutes."

"Maybe that serves you right," Bonnie said as she hopped out of bed, made her way out of the room and down the hall.

She let out a long sigh as she yanked the door open, and Laila strolled right in, and right past her with no sense of hesitation at all, with two cups of Stabrucks in her hands.

"What do you want?" Bonnie asked firmly, and Laila cleared her throat.

"To see how you're doing, obviously," the girl said, as she plopped down on the couch and crossed her legs, before placing the drinks before her. "How were things with Damon? I know I... kinda threw you to the wolves, last night."

"Wolves?" Bonnie thought. "More like one very bad vampire."

"Kinda?" Bonnie asked, with raised brows. "You set me up on a date with a guy you know nothing about-"

"Right... but he knows you, Bonnie. Pretty well, it seems. Excuse me if I thought somebody knowing who you really are is a good thing."

"You should have checked with me first, Laila-"

"I know, but honestly, would you have gone?" she asked, and Bonnie remained silent. "Listen, I don't know Damon from a hole in the wall, but... it seems like you two have unfinished business. He came all the way here, and you needed to face him, once and for all. If it were me, you would have done the same thing, right?"

Bonnie pursed her lips stubbornly before answering. Laila was right; if she had some weird situation with someone, that seemed to be left unsaid, she'd probably try to push her to fix it, too. She knew that, at the end of the day, Laila only had her best intentions in mind- she always did.

Should she really punish her best friend for being her only friend?

"I really hate you sometimes..." Bonnie said quietly, and she heard Laila sigh in relief.

"Oh, save it," Laila interrupted. "So... are you gonna spill, or not? Did you two work it out over Muga Aro?"

Bonnie bit her lip as she ran her fingers through her touseled hair, and contemplated her answer. Should she really tell Laila that things didnt go as badly as they could have?

That Damon was actually kind of... okay to be around?

"More like... peanut butter milkshakes," Bonnie said slowly, as she took a seat next to Laila on her couch. "And Jack Daniels. We... went to Shake Shack. And a bar."

"Oh, wow," Laila replied, in subtle astonishment. "So, Random Blue-Eyed Mystery Man from That Town You Never Talk About got you to not only get hammered on Jack, but eat a fatty burger in front of him? He must be real special, Bonnie. Explain everything. I demand it."

"I didn't get hammered," Bonnie shot back, as she crossed her arms over her chest. "And I eat burgers all the time. Why should that mean anything?"

"Because I jump to conclusions," Laila replied, and Bonnie scoffed, as she grabbed her cup of coffee, and took a sip. "Listen, I know the signs when I see them; old unrequited love is a bitch, Bonnie. I think that... you are Damon's 'Susan Glenn'- you are Damon's 'One That Got Away'."

Bonnie choked on her coffee immediately, and furrowed her brows.

"Are you kidding, Laila?"

"I don't know, am I? Should I just keep making assumptions until you tell me the truth?" she pressed, and Bonnie snorted.

"No. You should stop making assumptions altogether. Damon is... just a guy from back home. One that annoyed me, a lot, for a bunch of reasons I'd rather not talk about. But he... also helped me a lot, too. When I went through a really rough time. But that's all; I'm not his Susan Glenn. I don't even know what that means," she said, as she heard a knock on the door.

"Have you ever kissed him?" Laila asked, and Bonnie's face began to heat up, as she neared it and shook her head.

"I plead the fifth," Bonnie replied.

She barely heard a word the girl said in response though, as her senses were suddenly turned into a dizzy the moment she turned the knob, and pulled the door back, to reveal that familiar face that donned a gentle smirk, and piercing oceanic eyes.

Bonnie had no idea why, but she was taken aback- maybe because he was here, perhaps, or maybe just because.

All she knew was that she didn't like the way her stomach flopped and her heart raced as she opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

She was, quite literally, speechless.

"D-Damon, hey," she stumbled, and he smiled gently at her, before casting his eyes into his apartment, and waving at Laila.

"Damon!" the girl exclaimed. "Awesome to see you. Bonnie and I were just talking about you."

"Oh, were you? All great things, I hope?" he asked with a wink, as he leaned against the door, and Bonnie gulped.

"You know I never have anything great to say about you, Damon," Bonnie replied gently, and he bit his lip.

"I figured. But you know I'm always trying to change that, anyway."

Bonnie didn't reply, as she and Damon went into a silent stand-off between each other, that she wasn't even entirely sure how it began, in the first place. He continuously stared at her, with some sort of subtle fascination, and she was obviously the one to look away first.

She always hated the way he looked at her. She hated the way she looked at him, even more.

"So, you don't know who Susan Glenn is?" Damon asked with a raised brow. "She's in all those Old Spice commercials," he added, and she licked her teeth.

"Wow, you could hear that from all the way out in the hallway, Damon? That's impressive," Laila said, and Damon smirked.

"What can I say? I've always been told that my abilities are a little... supernatural. I can hear a lot from out here," he winked, and Bonnie rolled her eyes.

He really was a douchebag, sometimes.

"Speaking of, why are you still out there? Bonnie, invite the guy in already, why don't ya?"

Bonnie immediately felt a shock run down her spine as she glanced back at Damon, and he was straightening up before.

If only Laila had known the weight of her words.

"Yeah, Bonnie," he challenged, with a simple smirk behind his voice. "Why don't you invite me in?"

He was standing on the other side of the invisible threshold, but this wasn't comfortable, by any means. She'd have to remind herself that it was entirely stupid of her to share a cab with him last night, because unfortunately enough, now he knew where she lived.

"You're probably way too busy for that," she countered, and he feigned a frown.

"I'm never too busy for you, Judgey. Haven't I proven that?"

Bonnie groaned, as she heard Laila sigh in admiration.

"And you've got a nickname for her, too? What's that about?"

"Bonnie... really hasn't told you much, has she?" he asked, and when Laila shook her head, he grinned. "Well, funny story. I just so happen to call her Judgey because there was this one time-"

"Damon, come in," Bonnie interrupted quickly, and she watched the obvious illumination in his eyes, as he stuffed his hands into his pockets, and slowly strolled in.

He stopped right in front of her, and his mouth moved dangerously close to her ear, as he spoke in a nearly inaudible tone.

"Truthfully speaking, I don't remember when I gave you that nickname," he said, before moving past her, and to the couch.

She was fuming, to be quite honest, but she decided to keep her cool; at least in front of Laila. Who knew what else this vampire bastard was planning on saying.

"Nice place, Bon," Damon commented, as he surveyed the area in close observation. "I expect I'll get the full tour, soon?" he asked.

"Or now," Laila said, and Bonnie shot her a glance. "I totally forgot-I have a paper to write for my feminism class, and it's probably going to take me all day," she continued, as she neared the door.

"You're leaving?" Bonnie asked incredulously, and Laila quickly yanked the door open. "I thought we were going to the park today."

"Ooh, yeah, sorry. Change of plans... But maybe Damon will wanna go, instead?" Laila asked as she eyed them both with a smile. "Later, guys. Have fun."

And with that, the door slammed shut behind her. Bonnie's patience and tact went right along with her.

She stalked right over to the couch, and pushed Damon's shoulder, hard, garnering a long howl from his lips.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she asked angrily, and the vampire hopped to his feet to face her, as she continued to pummel away at his arms.

He easily grabbed her by the hands and stopped her, with little effort at all.

"Whoa, you been hittin' the gym lately?"

"I'm serious," she said between her teeth. "What do you want, Damon?"

"Nothing, jeez," he replied, and she huffed as she listened. "I was in the neighborhood." Damon said, and her brows scrunched.

"Is that so? Doing what, exactly?"

"Whoa, didn't realize you were actually my mom, and I gave you the go-ahead to know all of my business," he winked, and Bonnie pursed her lips.

"And I didn't realize you were a stalker, and I gave you permission to just pop up here," she snapped back, and Damon rolled his eyes.

"I don't know what to tell you, honey; get a restraining order," he said flatly. "Though, in my experience, those do not work..."

"Damon," she interrupted, and he smiled. "What do want, really? I thought I appeased you by hanging out, last night."

"Wrong move, Bonnie- you're never supposed to appease your enemies. You'll end up with a Hitler on your hands. Didn't Ric teach you anything in that history class of his?"

"When he was sober, I guess," Bonnie answered, and she watched as a faint look appeared in his, for his long lost friend.

Bonnie remained silent, for a moment, as she now realized it had been over one year since Ric had died- since that one fateful night that changed everything.

Elena drowned and became a vampire, Bonnie switched Klaus into Tyler's body, and Damon was left without the only person he could have ever truly considered a friend, in over one hundred years on this earth.

She sometimes forgot that she wasn't the only one to lose something. She sometimes forgot that Damon was just as lousy as shoving away his emotions as she was.

He kept his pokerface, though, as did she. They always had their pokerfaces.

"I didn't mean to bother you, Bonnie," Damon finally said in a softer tone, as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"Then why are you? Do you realize I just invited you in?"

"Oh, calm down. It's not like I'm sticking around here, anyway," he said, and she pursed her lips. "I just... figured I'd stop by, say hello... Maybe ask if you were interested in grabbing breakfast, like you humans do, to bid my farewell... the usual anti-climatic sort of thing that I'm so good at."

Bonnie remained quiet, as she slowly let her hands drop, and she relaxed her stance. When her green eyes met his, he didn't look away.

He never did.

"Y-You're leaving? You're... leaving New York?" she asked, trying her best to hide the surprise in her tone, and he shrugged nonchalantly.

"Don't sound so sad, Bonnie," he eased, and she scoffed.

"I'm not," she snapped. "I'm just... surprised, is all. I... figured you'd wanna stick around, a bit longer. NYC is just kind of a big party- I know that's your thing and all."

His brow rose, as he opened his mouth to respond, but he stopped. Bonnie's eyes widened expectingly, and Damon cleared his throat.

"You really think that's all I'm about, huh? Still?" he asked, and Bonnie bit her lip as his blue eyes melted against hers so fast, she had to shake her head to clear the image.

"You're Damon," she said, in a defiant tone. "I don't even think you know what you're all about."

"Amen to that," he replied. "So, what'll it be, Judgey? One last hangout, for old times sake?"

Bonnie gently tapped her foot against the hardwood floor as he stared at her, and she contemplated her answer.

It was all that she could do to keep from drowning in the deafening silence, honestly, as he seemed to study her in that amazingly complex way that he did. It was subtle, yes, but it was something constant that she'd noticed, ever since the day she'd met Damon.

He liked to stare at her, and for whatever reason, she always took the bait and gazed right back.

Whether they were glaring in anger, agreement, admiration, or mutual assurance, the way his eyes met hers was something that she'd always remember; it was something that constantly burned in the back of her mind.

She'd be burned at the stake before she ever began to explain why.

"Do I get to pick the place?" she asked.

"If there are hot waitresses, sure. I'd enjoy a little snack, and the airplane food just doesn't quite do it for me."

"Right, because you're more of an A-positive type of guy, as opposed to in-flight peanuts... We're getting take-out."

Damon grinned at that, as Bonnie stood fiercely, and placed her hands on her hips.

This girl; she had been through a lot- probably the worst era of her life, the last time he saw here-but here she was. She still stood strong, she still snapped at him, and she still thrived on putting him in his place.

Bonnie Bennett may have changed, but she also didn't- she didn't change, at all.

"Suit yourself," Damon winked, as he glanced at his watch, before stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Shall we?"

"You think I'm going out like this?" Bonnie asked, as she pointed to her pajamas. "Not gonna happen. Gimme a few," she added. "I've gotta shower. And no, you can't join me."

"You know me so well," Damon grinned, as he plopped down on the couch, once more. "Take your time. My flight leaves at 3."

"Ten minutes, max" Bonnie said, and Damon rolled his eyes.

Ten minutes really meant thirty, because although Bonnie was a witch, she was still a woman, too.

A woman that he cared enough about to say goodbye to.

"I'll be waiting," he answered, and he listened at Bonnie let out a frustrated sigh, before walking off to her bathroom, and shutting the door behind her.

It wasn't long before he heard the water running, and he was to his feet, glancing at all there was to see, around him.

Damon approached Bonnie's bookcase, and looked at the contents of it, in silence.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Great Gatsby, The Alchemist.

He wondered if they were all books that she had read for pleasure, or for her classes.

Twilight.

He guessed all the previous ones weren't her choice.

He walked back over to her end table, where he noticed a picture frame that was facing down. He took it into his hands, and felt a bout of curiousity running through him when he saw the faces on it.

Bonnie, Elena, and Caroline.

The picture had to have been before the girls discovered the supernatural, for, their smiles were actually genuine. They really looked stress-free and happy, and he was sure that level of content could no longer be duplicated within any of them, anymore.

The supernatural world took their innocence away.

Damon placed the picture down; this time, upright, before finally abandoning the living room, and making his way down the hallway, as he observed Bonnie's choice of decor.

All paintings and fancy photographs, but much to his surprise, no more pictures of anyone from back home.

At all.

He expected to at least see another one of she, Elena, and Caroline, but the familiar faces were nowhere to be found, the longer he followed the stretch down towards her bedroom.

Had she done that accidentally? Or was she really just completely over Mystic Falls, and everyone in it?

That strange lack of pictures could never be an accident. Isn't that what people did when they moved away; decorated their new space with memories from the past?

He wandered into her bedroom, finally, and he wasn't the least bit surprised with the decoration. She had completely embraced the New York lifestyle when it came down to it.

Her bedroom walls were a simple maroon color, that contrasted quite well with the black and white comforter set that swallowed her bed. Everything from the candles, to the lone vase with the flowers- it all looked incredibly sophisticated. Bonnie had grown up, and it would be apparent to anyone who ever stepped foot into this room.

He was about to make his way out, when his eyes caught sight of leatherbound book sitting on her end table, and he was immediately intrigued by it. Damon picked it up, and flipped through a page or two, before realizing it was her journal.

In all the years that he had known Bonnie, getting hold of the ideas that really plagued her mind had been his most difficult task, of all. She was just like him, in a way, where she was just always on the defensive, and scared shitless to truly express the worries on her mind.

She never wanted to be seen as weak.

Damon shut the book, and let out a heavy sigh.

He'd already seen her at her weakest.

"What are you doing in here?" Damon heard, and he spun around to see a wide-eyed Bonnie with a towel wrapped around her body, frozen in her stance as he glared at her openly.

She seemed to be glowing in a way that he couldn't really describe, as her arms were wrapped tightly around her chest, and her damp hair sat square on her bare shoulders.

He was a bit enamored by seeing her like this, but Bonnie? Not so much.

The scolding stare she was sending him was enough to let him know that she was not pleased.

"Damon, seriously? Why are you in my bedroom?" she asked, as she tapped her foot, and he rolled his eyes nonchalantly.

"Well, you wouldn't give me the grand tour, so I had to take it upon myself. Nice curtains, by the way-"

"Get out, please. I need to get dressed," she shot back, and he let out a long whistle before he slowly began to approach her.

Bonnie remained firm, though on the inside, she was shaking, as Damon's eyes met hers, and he walked over towards her.

She looked down, but he immediately captured her chin with his fingers. She felt something ignite inside of her the minute he touched her skin, and she hated it.

She hated that after all of this time, she could still feel this way.

"This," she began slowly, as she pushed his hand away. "... is not exactly my idea of 'appropriate,' Damon," Bonnie finished, and he squinted his eyes, while never taking them off of her.

"Why's that? You know," he began, as he inched in closer, and Bonnie felt herself moving backwards with his movement. "It's not like you have anything going on that I haven't seen before."

Bonnie felt her back press against the wall, and his eyes never dropped from hers, as she remained silent, and he rose a hand to her, again.

This time, Damon's thumb slowly brushed against her lip, before she reluctantly batted it away, and looked up at him.

"So, you came all the way here for sex... The fact that you're not getting any from me must be disappointing," Bonnie muttered, and Damon's expression soured as the words passed her lips.

"I came here because I care about you," he said, and she rolled her eyes. "But if you asked me for sex, I guess I wouldn't turn you down," Damon countered, and she finally pushed past him in annoyance.

"How sweet of you," she said sarcastically, as she made her way over to her dresser, and began taking out a pair of jeans and a shirt. "Good to know that if I'm ever uncharacteristically horny, I can call you, and you'll come running to New York to help me out."

"Just looking out," Damon winked, and Bonnie sighed in frustration. "How have you been in that department, anyway?"

"Really, Damon? You're asking about my sex life?"

"I'm just curious," he said honestly, as he plopped down on her bed, and covered his eyes graciously, so Bonnie could get dressed. "How many guys have you been with since... you know?"

"Just stop, Damon, seriously. We're not even gonna go there."

"Fine. We won't go there."

"Good. Because I don't wanna remember any of it."

"That many guys, huh?"

"You sound jealous," she replied, and he bit his lip.

"Maybe I am," he answered, and Bonnie stopped abruptly, as she turned around and looked at him. "Maybe... Laila was right; you really just might be the one that got away."

There was a long silence between them as Bonnie laid her hairbrush down, and Damon looked down at his hands, as the air of awkwardness floated between them. She was just waiting for him to burst out in laughter, or send her a wink, like he always did, but she was awarded no such luck.

There was no hint of joking in his eyes as he looked back at her- and she exhaled longingly as she picked up her eyeliner, and began to apply it silently. His eyes were burning through her, and the harder she tried to ignore it, the more difficult it became to evade him.

He'd always gotten under her skin.

"Ready to go?" she asked, quickly changing the subject, and Damon hopped out of her bed, with a nod, as he followed the girl to the door; trying his absolute best to keep from bursting at the seams.

"You know it, Judgey," he shot back. "I'm always ready."

Truth was, he was never ready.


"So, what do you actually do here, in New York?" Damon asked, as he looked up at Bonnie. "Considering you don't talk to anyone from back home?"

Bonnie bit her lip as she looked up from her bacon, egg white, and swiss sandwich that she lay before her, and into his question eyes that seemed to illuminate with the morning sun.

They were sitting on the rocks at Central Park; one of her all-time favorite places to go in the city, when it came to enjoying the scenery and soaking in the nice weather.

The park buzzed with life, as the other patrons were either jogging, walking their dogs, or simply occupied by the conversations going on between them.

She was used to coming here alone, most days, just to think. Other times, she got Laila to join, though the girl hated anything to do with the outdoors. Today? It was Damon's turn oo be her company, and call her crazy, but she actually thought he kind of liked it.

There was something about being outside in a place like this that reminded her of Virginia, and she was sure he shared the same sentiment as well- the leaves, the trees, the air- this was one of the few places in the city where they could actually breathe all of that in.

It was one of the only places that reminded her of how things could have been.

"I work, at the bar with Laila... I go to NYU... I just- I kind of do whatever I want now, Damon. Without the pressure of being everybody's superhero. It's refreshing," she said softly, and Damon nodded.

"Understandable. But do you ever get lonely?"

Bonnie remained silent as she continued chewing, until she finally shrugged, and looked into his eyes.

"Being lonely isn't so bad, sometimes."

"Right, but it can't always be good either, Bennett," he said, and Bonnie cleared her throat. "I would know. I've done a lot of crazy shit in the name of being lonely," Damon added.

Bonnie sipped her drink, and looked up.

"Like... helping me when I lost it?" she asked, and Damon looked into her curious eyes. "Being there for the crazy witch who almost killed the love of your life... that was a desperate act of loneliness, wasn't it?"

"Maybe," Damon answered, as he looked up at the sky, and then back down at her. "Or maybe the real plot twist is that I did it because I... actually cared about said crazy witch. And I knew that a lot of what was happening to her... was kind of my fault. I knew that, no matter how much she claimed to hate me, she actually saved my life a few times, and I owed her. I still do."

The only sounds that passed between them were the noise of the children playing down below, and the wrapper on Bonnie's breakfast sandwich, before she spoke.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were apologizing," she stated, and Damon continued to look up at the sky.

"Take it or leave it. It's very rare that I show gratitude."

"I've noticed," she replied, and Damon flashed a simple smile as she took another bite. "So, did you and Elena..."

"Ever amount to anything? No," he stated bluntly. "I mean, she remembered all those pesky things I told her to forget when she transitioned into a vampire, and that sucked... but when you did that spell for her to become a human again, it was... right back to the 'it's always gonna be Stefan,' spiel."

"And is it still Stefan?" Bonnie asked, and Damon scoffed.

"More like Matt Donovan," he said, and Bonnie's eyebrows rose. "She finally realized that... after such a long time of being between Stefan and I, that she didn't really want either of us, anyway; she wanted to live a normal 'human' life with a normal human boyfriend. I guess it's a good thing Stefan saved him from drowning, right?" Damon said bitterly, and Bonnie remained silent.

She'd really missed a lot.

"How's Caroline?" she asked, and Damon furrowed his brows.

"I don't know, Bonnie. Maybe you should answer Barbie's emails, every once in a while. She told me that she tries to reach out, but you ignore her. Kind of rude, actually."

"I... I don't do it on purpose, Damon. I just... I'm not the same person that I was back then, and I don't wanna disappoint her."

"You're kidding, right? You do know that the only real way to disappoint Caroline is to tell her that the mall is closed? She was your best friend, Bonnie- even if you thought it was Elena. It was Blondie- it always has been. And I think she'd like to hear from you one of these days."

Bonnie sighed, but nodded in agreement. It wasn't really fair the way she cut Caroline off, when the girl had done nothing but let her know that things didn't have to change between them, just because they had with she and Elena.

Caroline Forbes was somebody that she never wanted to disappear from her life, but she had, unfortunately, because of Bonnie's desire to push her away.

Maybe she would stop pushing.

"She hates me, I'm sure," Bonnie responded. "She has every reason to."

"Just like you had every reason to hate me, but you didn't" Damon replied, and she didn't respond. "Don't be so sure that she does, Judgey. People may surprise you sometimes."

"I surprised you?" she asked, and Damon layed back comfortably on the flat rock, with his eyes shut, and his palms behind his head.

"Only as much as I surprised you."


"You didn't have to walk me all the way back to my door, Damon. I could have made it up the elevator just fine," Bonnie said, and Damon stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets when they stopped at her door.

"But what if there was a crazed witch hunter waiting for you when you got back?"

"Crazed witch hunter? We're in New York, Damon. Not Mystic Falls. I think I'm okay," she replied, and he smiled.

"Just looking out, Bennett."

"I know," she answered, before she inhaled deeply. "Thank you."

The two stood in a comfortable silence for a moment, as she let the memories between them infiltrate her mind, as she was sure it did to his. It'd been a long time since she'd seen Damon, but that didn't exactly mean that she forgot everything.

And though his time here was short, she would regretfully miss him; much more than she would ever allow herself to say.

Those blue eyes, that raven hair- it all bred such a familiarity to her, and it was a bit painful knowing that after today, it'd probably be a very long time before she saw him again.

Damon would go back home; back to everything he knew, and she wouldn't even be a second thought.

He'd have his girls, his bourbon, his blood, and his brother- he never really needed much else, when it came down to it.

He never really needed her.

"I think that's my cue to go," he said slowly, as he looked down at his watch, and then back at her. "I've gotta get back to my hotel and pack. Maybe hit up the local hospital for a blood bag, or five," he winked, and Bonnie nodded.

"Or five... Typical, Damon."

"You're judging again," he sang, and she cracked a smile. "So... I'll see you around?"

Bonnie nodded, and her breath stopped when Damon's hand rose to her face, again, and tucked the loose strand of hair that threatened to fly away, behind her ear. His eyes lingered on hers; perhaps a bit longer than they needed to, and she slowly began to drown in her thoughts, as the blinking of her lids became heavy.

Damon searched her eyes for the strength to say something-anything- more, but he was at a loss, for the first time in his life.

What did you say when goodbye was the only thing you had left?

His hand dropped slowly, and without another word, he turned on his heel to walk away.

Bonnie swallowed hard as she watched him make his way down the hallway, and she ran her fingers through her hair silently. With Damon's return, she remembered just why the two had forged such a bond back then, and she ached for the feeling of closeness that she felt when she was near to him.

Damon made her feel normal. Damon made her feel okay with who she was.

Damon made her remember what it was like not to feel so alone. If she was the misery, Damon was her company. Damon was capable of being anything.

With Damon's exit, she remembered all of the reasons she had left Mystic Falls in the first place; her fear of facing everyone, after the monster she had undoubtedly become. Her fright when it came to never being able to live up to their expectations, ever again- it haunted her, down to her core.

So, as she watched him, making his way into the elevator, she did something she never imagined she would do- something she never dreamed she was capable of doing.

She went after him.

"Damon!" Bonnie called, as she ran down the hallway, and she quickly made her way to the elevator where his hand expertly stopped the door from closing, just as she appeared before him.

Damon was staring at her curiously, as his palm still halted the elevator from leaving, and she breathed in deeply, as she tried to regain her composure.

"You okay, Bonnie?" he asked simply. "Did the crazed witch hunter actually appear?"

"No, but my common sense did," she replied, and his brows furrowed in confusion. "I... I remembered what you said, earlier; about it not always being so good to be alone, and I don't even know what I'm thinking, or even saying- if I make any sense-"

"Spit it out, then. I can handle it," Damon promised, and she breathed evenly, though her heart was racing out of her chest.

Was she really going to do this?

"Do you wanna just... stay in New York with me? I guess you can stay in my apartment?" she asked impulsively, and Damon's face seemed to change to a ghostly white as she said that. "If you wanted... until you wanted to leave or find your own place?"

Did she really just stay that?

Damon finally walked back out of the elevator, and he let the door close behind him, as he stared at her, like she had five heads.

Bonnie felt like her heart was leaping into her throat, at this point, as Damon didn't utter so much as a sound in return. She sighed as she pressed her eyes shut, and shook her head quickly.

Bad idea. Terrible fucking idea.

"You know what? I don't why I said that, but I take it back," Bonnie said swiftly, and Damon still stood paralyzed. "I guess.. it just felt nice to have someone that I really know around, for a change. Even if it was you. Forget I said anything. Have a safe flight," Bonnie added, as she turned around and began to speedwalk away from him.

What the hell in her right mind had possessed her to ask Damon to move in with her?

She must have caught a case of hysteria if she thought that situation would even be a viable option.

She must have lost her damn mind, again.

Damon raised a finger to speak, but Bonnie was already off, like a bat into the night and he was pretty speechless when it came down to it, anyway.

Was he even ready or willing to pick up and leave everything back home to stay in New York semi-permanently with a girl who was kind of, sort of, the best frenemy he had ever had?

He found himself in front of her door, pounding away, though, as he called her loudly, and she responded from the other side.

"Go away, I was kidding!" Bonnie yelled, and Damon growled in frustration.

She was still annoying as hell; at least that hadn't changed.

"You can't just say all of that stuff, Judgey, and then take it all back. You didn't even give me a chance to give you an answer!" he yelled back.

"Because your answer should be no! Your answer should be that you have a life back home in Mystic Falls."

"Like, what? Playing darts at the Grill? That's bullshit, Bonnie. What if my answer is yes?" Damon stood there quietly, as he didn't hear a sound escape from the other side of the door. "Remember that time you invited me in, Bonnie? I'm actually being a nice guy by waiting out here," he mentioned.

The door suddenly opened, and Bonnie was standing there with an unamused expression on her face, as she folded her arms, and he cocked his head in return.

"I don't know what I was thinking," she confessed, as he listened. "That was the most ridiculous thing I've ever thought of-"

"Fine, but that doesn't make it wrong, does it?" Damon answered. Bonnie didn't respond as he took a step in closer. "Is it utterly ridiculous if I... say that I actually like that idea, too? I mean, we did spend all that quality time in the Salvatore Dungeon together. I think we'd be great as roomies. Don't you agree?"

Bonnie breathed a heavy sigh, and placed both hands on her hips. She hated that he was even making her reconsider this.

"What about Stefan, Damon? You're gonna just leave him there?"

"Trust me, Judgey, when I say that my brother isn't as lonely or brooding as he seems. Especially not while I'm away. He might actually love this idea-he'll love you, even more, for having it."

Bonnie tightened her grip on her skin, and Damon stepped in even closer, and exhaled longingly. This was going to take a bit more work. He hardly even believed it was her idea in the first place.

"If it makes you feel better... this won't be a set in stone thing. I'll... find my own apartment, eventually, so we don't have any reason to kill each other. A little while will not hurt you, Bonnie. It'll be fun- I promise. What do you say?"

She felt her nervous foot tapping against the floor, as every voice inside of her head screamed anxiously that this was a bad idea, and she had no clue just what the hell she was getting herself into.

She could agree; making the committment to allow Damon to take up residency in her apartment was a bad idea- probably the worst she'd ever had. They were bound to argue, fight, grate each other's last nerves, and step on each other's toes.

It was going to be quite possibly the most predictable scenario she'd ever put herself in, in her entire life.

But somehow, she wanted that- she wanted something to feel the same, in the sea of differences that had engulfed her. She wanted something that would remind her of who she really was, not what she was pushing herself so hard to be.

She wanted to feel normal; and she felt like her most normal, judgey, stubborn, hard-headed, and determined around him; it was always him.

Bonnie pursed her lips, and looked once more into his hopeful eyes.

Did he really want this as much as she did? Were they both just insane, by a landslide, at this point?

Yes; yes they were.

"Okay, Damon," she nodded, and the vampire glanced back in astonishment as the words passed her lips. "You can... move in with me. Let's just hope we don't regret this."

Damon smiled as he rose his eyebrows, and glanced back at her with a victorious expression on his face. She bit her lip and looked away when she realized that a small smile of her own was forming at her mouth, and just like clockwork, he had seen it.

He had always seen it.

She was fully expecting to regret this.

A/N: Hey, everyone! So, I hope I didn't make you wait too long with this update, I've just been super busy trying to make it good and I hope I delivered! What did you all think of the chapter? First off-Damon moving into Bonnie's apartment, how do we all think that's gonna go? They will deff be in for some interesting times as they begin to realize that maybeeee it wasn't such a wise idea. Also, what do you think about the past that these two shared? I purposely didn't get into that much because I plan on exploring that more later on. Do you think whatever happened will complicate things? What about the dream about Klaus, & the updates Damon gave Bonnie on everyone back home? Expect some more people to be popping up into Bonnie's current life as the story goes on. :) As always, thank you so much for reading. i love every single one of you. Until next time? R&R!