Chapter 9

A/N:

On the Bennett-Salvatore Family: YES, all three are back home. "she came crashing into his arms…"

This is real.

There weren't really any other thoughts in his head at the moment. For the first time in a long time he felt his inner hunger rise. Here was his wife, his wife, Bonnie Bennett-Salvatore in his arms. If he had needed to breathe he would have passed out a long time ago from how long he had been holding his breath, trying to separate this phantom from all the others.

But none of the other visions he had had of Bonnie had ever smelled so good, had never inspired his bloodlust, nor had he ever felt their tears.

"Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie"

It was all he could say. Her name over and over in his head, the chorus that had rang in his heart now spilled from his lips. Never before had he felt his praises rip so soundly through him.

She could feel him under her fingertips, this man, this monster to whom she had bid farewell so many years ago. This man whom she had adored, whom she feared had forgotten her, was now clutching her desperately as though his life depended on her every word.

Somehow the Latin words that she had used to dissolve their marriage when she first sent him back had lost their power. They were supposed to remove their feelings for one another, make it as though they never met. But they failed, nothing would ever part them.

Standing in the kitchen of the present day version of the mansion they had called home for all her life, Mina watched her as her parents greeted one another.

This was the man from her dreams, the man from the tape her mother had shown her. He looked so happy as he stood holding onto her mother for dear life, and she clung to him as well, legs bound around his waist, arms a vice around his neck.

Soon they were both laughing, and the air was filled with a third voice for the first time in her life.

Finally he let her down, not that he was tired from holding her, but because if he held her any longer, their little girl would become a big sister, and he wasn't ready for that just yet.

The moment her feet touched the ground, Bonnies face softened.

"You made it." He breathed, ready to kiss her senseless.

"Yeah, but… I'm not alone"

He looked in the direction her head had turned and saw their little girl staring back at the two of them.

"Mina, come here honey."

Damon watched as the small child made her way around the bench. She was utterly precious in her small sized jacket, stirrup leggings and saddle shoes. The 90's had not been a kind decade to fashion if he remembered correctly.

Coming to a halt before her mother and father, little Mina stood on chubby little legs fit for modeling adorable little clothing.

"Yes Mommy?" she said, innocent charm spilling from her shy glances up at them.

"Mommy wants you to meet someone, okay?" Bonnie asked bending down to eye level.

Mina nodded, keeping her eyes trained on her mother's face.

"Do you remember the man from the video I showed you?"

Again Mina nodded, watching as Bonnie motioned for Damon to kneel down a bit.

Although he knew what was coming, Damon still couldn't register what was happening, the moment was so surreal.

Damon knelt so that he was eye level with the little angel. She was beautiful from afar but up close… she was mesmerizing.

"Hello, what's your name?" he asked sincerely.

Her eyes went wide for a moment, as though she couldn't quite place what was happening to her.

"Mina"

"Hello Mina" he said with tears in his eyes.

The next morning, he pretended to be asleep as a small, toffee colored hand slipped quietly into the palm of his larger, porcelain one. Bonnie had left the two of them alone in the house while she went out to meet Elena and Caroline at the dorms.

He could already see his reflection in her eyes, she was so beautiful, this little human being the two of them had made. Damon could tell that there was something special about her, but he couldn't exactly put his finger on it.

"Daddy," her little voice was like water to his thirsty soul. How something so beautiful had anything to do with him was beyond his comprehension. He only hoped his side of the family wouldn't ruin her.

Speaking of his family, he needed to tell Stefan… eventually.

The little angel was turning on the charm, he could tell, but he fell prey to her every whim just like he did with her mother. They played all sorts of games, ate food and danced to music. He was careful to introduce her to too much of this decade. He and Bonnie had decided last night to let her find her place slowly. They didn't want to overwhelm her, even though they both knew how resilient children were.

That, combined with the fact that her parents were two of the strongest people (supernatural or otherwise) that had ever walked the planet (or planets if you count the prison world) she was bound to be fine.

Ding Dong

There was a knock at the door. Damon went to answer it…

It was Kai.

"Oh boy"

Back on campus, Bonnie walked into the dorm room she shared with the two girls she had called best friends back when she was alive the first time. Seven years (or seven months in this world) without them had made their time together seem like sweet memories from a bygone era. Still, they all had their parts to play, and rather than just walk in and buck against the machine, 7 years of patience had taught her to hold her peace.

Downing champagne because she hadn't had anything this strong since… well, she downed it, and then quickly held out her glass for more. In the back of her mind she heard a voice tick up in her ear saying that she should drink slowly, but time had taught her altogether too well, that things in this Mystic Falls can turn sour and/or dramatic too soon to do anything but have the best and more of it while things are calm.

Fifteen minutes later, she was glad she followed her instincts rather than that awful suggestion she had received from God knows where. Caroline really had switched of her humanity.

"It's weird, it's like she Caroline… but not"

The once sweet blonde was now wreaking havoc over Elena's ex (remind her to keep Caroline away from Damon… speaking of, how were those two doing?) and wiping memories left and right.

But of course, even humanity-less Caroline, still knew how to throw a party. She was having a rave tonight, as part of her one year of humanity-less life. Grrreeeaaattttt.

Just what Bonnie needed, coming back from years of isolation and instead of spending it wrapped up in her husband's arms, she was here, babysitting a twenty-something immortal with morality issues. Just peachy.

Checking a text she saw that Damon had shot her a message saying that he was going to take Mina to the lake house to see the fish. She replied that that was cool and she would see them both in a few.

Now that all the responsible adults in their lives were gone, Bonnie was really going to have to make a decision. She would either need to compel a permanent babysitter, or she and Damon were going to have to take a few steps back from the drama to properly raise Mina.

She really didn't want her around Elena, for obvious reasons (Daddy's ex-girlfriend) and Caroline… well, a year wasn't really all that long. She would have to think about Stefan, but Matt might be good, you know, after he got over his newly found hatred of all things supernatural.

Hmm, maybe Alaric. He and Jo were getting married and having a baby soon, maybe they'd like to get in some practice, she really hadn't seen Damon in a loooonngggg time.

A/N:

So, it's been a while, lol. I really want to take my time with the rave scene, and incorporating Mina into their lives, I literally loved the second half of this episode and I really want to see all the characters in this world.

Any suggestions?

Put it in DAH COMMENTS!

4GMK