Hi Everyone! Thank you for your support and your continued encouragement. I had a very busy weekend and I promised to update my stories. So here is my newest update…it's Caleb's Birthday!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Three weeks after visiting Abby, things were increasingly better between Bonnie and Damon. There were moments when they moved into a friendly rhythm and then there were moments, when they would appear as if they were getting closer—but then the need to co-parent Caleb and they decided to deal with their stuff later would take over.
Since coming back from Abby's, the answer to Caleb's conception allowed Bonnie to relax a little, but there was still the question as to whether more supernaturals would be after him and what would they do to keep him safe. Damon was prepared to keep Caleb locked up in the house indefinitely; however, Bonnie was somewhat against it. Caleb was getting older and he needed to be with other children his age, Damon was less than enthused about the idea and made it known whenever broached the subject. Stefan decided to be Switzerland, much to Bonnie and Damon's annoyance.
"What do you think of Miss Molly's Daycare?" Bonnie asked scrolling down her laptop screen.
Damon put his blood bag down, "Bonnie, I thought we decided that it would be best for Caleb to stay in the house and just bring in a thoroughly vetted and compelled nanny".
"No, you just stated it and I stopped arguing with you. Damon, I get it…"
"Do you? Because I'm not sure you are getting it. If he is in a place full of other kids and not to mention, a bunch of teachers that can't protect him—anyone can come in and kidnap him".
"I know that, I just want him to have a normal childhood", Bonnie frowned, "it's not his fault that he's special and I can put protection spells around him. He will be ok, but we need to allow him to be a regular little boy".
"But he's not Bonnie", Damon argued.
"Ok…fine, we will keep him here with us during the day…but…"
"But what?" Damon asked.
"I'm signing him up for some activities so he can interact with some kids his own age and you're are going to take him", Bonnie smiled.
"Take him for what kind of activities?" Damon raised an eyebrow.
Bonnie just smiled as she slid off of one of the kitchen stools taking her laptop with her.
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Two weeks later, Damon found himself standing in a kids Gymboree watching a bunch of toddlers tumbling around. He rolled his eyes and sighed—what had his life become? Yeah, he loved Caleb and that little boy was probably the one thing in his life that he had done right. He would give his life for Caleb and there are very few people that he would do that for. He thought Bonnie was a little naïve to think that allowing Caleb to go out wouldn't put him at risk. She put a charm around him to ensure that those who mean him harm would be kept away, but Damon was still on edge.
"Which one is your son?" a redhead came up to him gesturing to the group of boys who were tumbling on the ground.
"The one with the Cars shirt on", Damon gestured towards Caleb.
"Oh that is so nice!" the woman cooed, "it's such a great thing that you chose adoption".
Damon looked down at the woman with a look of disgust, "He's my son".
"Oh I know…I know that once you adopt a child, it is yours…but…", she tripped over her words as Damon's eyes narrowed more and more, "oh my god…you meant that he's your bio…I'm so so sorry, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions".
"No…you shouldn't have", Damon snapped as he walked away from her before he tore her throat out.
He looked at Caleb tumbling with the other boys as his anger slowly subsided. He knew all about prejudice and bigotry, he lived through some of the worst times in America; however, he truly did not believe that he would have to deal with it with his son in this day and age.
"Daddy Damon…did you see me?" Caleb beamed running over to Damon.
"I did and you were better than everyone else", Damon winked.
Caleb laughed and that little boy's laugh could make any anger Damon felt dissipate.
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"So did Emily give anymore details, such as if you and Damon do it again that you will have another baby?" Caroline asked as she and Bonnie drank margaritas at a Happy Hour in town.
"No she didn't Caroline and that doesn't matter because 1) we're not doing it again ever and 2) even if there was a chance in hell that we did—I would be sure to have birth control of some kind", Bonnie answered, "but we're are not concentrating on that, we are focusing on our child now and protecting him from whomever may be after him. I put a charm around him to protect him, but other than that…I don't really know what else to do. We don't know who's after him or who knows about his abilities".
"But does anyone know about his abilities? Or is it they just know that he's a product of a witch and a vampire" Caroline whispered.
"I think it's the latter, there was no one in the park when he touched that bird".
"Hmm", Caroline frowned, "this must be hard".
Bonnie sighed, "It is. I love Caleb, I would give my life for him…but this won't be easy as he gets older. We don't even understand his powers completely. If anyone finds out about it, he will spend his time trying to defend himself from people who wants to use him".
"Our Caleb Bear", Caroline frowned.
Bonnie smiled, "He definitely is".
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Caleb sat on Bonnie's lap later that evening as she read him a book, "Mommy?" he asked looking up at her with his big turquoise eyes.
"Yes Baby", she looked down at him.
"I love Daddy Damon", he smiled.
"Aww I'm happy that you do Caleb Bear".
"Do you love Daddy Damon?" Caleb asked.
Bonnie looked down at her little boy with his large eye looking up at her, "I love that you love him and that he loves you", she answered pinching his cheek causing him to giggle.
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"How did you make it through playing Mr. Mom all this time?" Damon asked Stefan downstairs in the kitchen.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, every time I take Caleb to one of those classes some thirsty mother is in my face asking me about playdates or I am fielding questions about Caleb being adopted. I have to remind myself that my 2-year-old son may not want to see me rip someone's throat out".
"Good idea", Stefan nodded, "you will adjust".
"I'm adjusting. I'm actually surprised at how well I am adjusting. Never in a million years did I think that this could be possible, but right now I can't imagine not having him in my life".
"Caleb is a good kid. He could change anyone, including one of the biggest baddest vampires around", Stefan winked.
"Ok…he finally went to sleep, so we can actually start talking about his birthday in 2 weeks", Bonnie entered the kitchen, "I was thinking that we could take him to the lake. He's been dying to go for awhile".
Stefan nodded, "Sounds like a plan".
"And you can bring your girlfriend, so we can all meet her", Bonnie smirked focusing on Stefan.
"What…what are you talking about?"
"Oh no Brother, don't pretend to have amnesia. We are all aware that you are not staying here on a nightly basis and we doubt you're hunting all night", Damon joined in.
"So bring her to Caleb's little party, the more the merrier", Bonnie smiled.
"I will…uh…ask her".
"Oh come on, you know we don't bite", Bonnie took Stefan's hand, "well not all of us", she glanced at Damon, "I want to meet the person who is making you so happy".
Stefan smiled, "Ok…I will bring her".
"Good, this is going to be so much fun and I will create some invitations and Damon, you can pass them out at Caleb's Gymboree class".
"Oh come on Bonnie, we don't need those kids or their parents at the party. This is the first birthday party that I get to share with him, I kind of want it to be just family and some of your friends, like Caroline and Matt", Damon frowned.
Bonnie bit her lip for a few moments, "Ok…fine…it will just be us. Let me go call Caroline and let her know".
"You do that", Damon grinned as Bonnie flounced out of the kitchen. He turned to Stefan who looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "what?"
"You kind of wanted it to be just family and some of Bonnie's friends?"
"Look, I have to deal with those Gymboree people three times a week, I don't want to deal with them at my son's birthday party".
Stefan chuckled.
"What?"
"Never change Damon".
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Two weeks later, Bonnie woke up to Caleb standing next to her bed patting her leg, "Mommy", he sung.
Bonnie opened one eye, "Yes Caleb Bear?"
"You know what day is?" he asked.
"What day is it?"
"My burfday!" he exclaimed throwing up his arms in joy.
Bonnie smiled, "Your birthday…no…it's not your birthday, it's my birthday", she pointed to herself.
Caleb shook his head with a wide smile, "No, it's my burfday Mommy!"
"So it is…how old are you?" she asked pulling him up on the bed with her.
"Tree", he said holding up four fingers and Bonnie put one down.
"Yes, you're three and you know what that means—you're a big boy".
"I am a big boy", he said puffing out his chest, "can we go lake?"
"We are going to the lake in a few hours, but don't you want your extra special breakfast?"
"My burfday breakfast?" Caleb asked with wide eyes.
"Yes…and I think it's being cooked right now", Bonnie said.
Caleb's eyes lit up as he slid off of Bonnie's bed and ran out of her room. She swung her legs over the other side of the bed and slipped on her slippers heading out of the room. As she crossed the threshold, she felt a coldness come over her that caused her to grasp onto the doorknob. The feeling covered her entire body and she couldn't shake it.
"Bonnie, you ok?" Stefan asked walking up the stairs.
"Umm…fine…", she said as the feeling slowly passed.
"Mommy!" Caleb screeched in glee from downstairs.
"I think Damon just gave him his birthday breakfast", Stefan commented with an amused smirk.
"I think so too", Bonnie laughed as she made her way downstairs with Stefan to the kitchen. Caleb was seated in his booster seat and Damon was standing behind the range.
"Mommy…they have funny faces", Caleb pointed to his plate and sure enough, the pancake in the middle of the plate had vampire fangs and all.
"Cute Caleb".
"Daddy Daymon made them", Caleb giggled.
"Well that means their extra good, your Daddy Daymon makes really good pancakes", Bonnie kissed Caleb on the cheek.
Damon met Bonnie's eyes at smiled back at her, "I also make beautiful babies", Damon commented winking at Bonnie.
She shook her head with a chuckle.
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Later that day, they trekked to the lake and by the time they got there—Caroline had laid out a Cars themed party for Caleb who shrieked with glee as he took in all of the balloons. Caroline also made sure that Matt and Tyler wore their birthday hats. Bonnie was impressed.
"Here's one for you Damon", Caroline handed him a cone.
"Not in any life Blondie", Damon walked away from her.
"Uncle Ty…Uncle Matt, you came to my pardee!" Caleb came over to them hugging them.
"Of course we would Buddy, we wouldn't miss it for the world", Matt smiled down at the little boy.
"And if we wanted our nether regions, we had to make it", Tyler mumbled.
"We appreciate it", Bonnie said putting on her birthday hat.
"Where's Stefan?" Caroline looked around.
"He's bringing his girlfriend, so he will be here soon", Bonnie answered as she placed some gifts down on a table.
"Mommy, I want to get in the water", Caleb patted Bonnie's leg.
"In a few minutes Baby", Bonnie stated.
"Is that Mom Mom's big boy?" Abby called as she walked towards the picnic tables.
"Mom mom", Caleb squealed as he ran over to Abby and Lucy.
"Look at this Big Boy", Lucy grinned picking him up.
Bonnie watched Caleb with her mother and it brought tears to her eyes. Her mother had walked out on her when she was Caleb's age and to see her mother with her son, was something that she never imagined would happen. "Nice sight huh?" Damon asked coming up beside her.
"He just loves everyone so unconditionally, there's no baggage…he just loves everyone with open arms", Bonnie shook her head.
"He gets that from his mother", Damon knocked his shoulder into hers, "she always sees the best in people".
Bonnie looked over at Damon and smiled.
"I can never thank you enough Bon".
"What do you mean?" she asked confused.
"I know you had many different choices when you found out you were pregnant and you realized that I left and you choose to have him. You knew there was always a chance that I would meet my son, even if you were no longer around".
"He's the best of both of us".
"That he is", Damon said as he watched Caleb go from person to person talking their ears off about Cars, "I've been thinking, I think I should take you out to celebrate".
"Celebrate?" Bonnie raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, apparently when your kid has a birthday…the mother gets to celebrate her Mommiversary. Well according to Joanne and Maya at Gymboree class".
Bonnie chuckled, "I'm going to pass".
"No, let me do this for you Bonnie, you deserve it".
Bonnie turned to look at Damon and he appeared sincere, "Ok, we can go out and celebrate".
"Uncle Stefan!" Caleb shouted waving as everyone turned around and watched Stefan walking towards the group with his date.
Bonnie and Caroline's mouths dropped, Damon mumbled a few expletives, Matt and Tyler stood up from their seats and looked less than happy.
Caleb walked over to Stefan his date and held out his small hand, "I'm Caleb, it's my burfday…are you Uncle Stefan fwend?"
The blond kneeled down with a smile on her face, "Yes, I'm your Uncle Stefan's friend Rebekah".
"Hi, you pretty", he said before hiding his face and running over to Damon.
Bonnie kept her eyes on Stefan as the tension could be cut with a knife.
"Well umm…Caleb, why don't we get you changed into your swim trunks so you can get in the water", Caroline broke the moment up as she scooped up Caleb and took her over to the tables as Stefan moved over to Bonnie and Damon with Rebekah next to him.
"Bonnie, you have a darling little boy", Rebekah beamed.
Bonnie narrowed her eyes, "Thank you", she managed to spit out, "umm…Stefan, can we talk for a moment?"
Stefan nodded as he and Bonnie left Damon and Rebekah standing awkwardly together. "Well just think if you would have continued to torture me all those years ago, you wouldn't be at this party", Damon commented.
"Imagine that", Rebekah agreed.
Stefan could tell by the way Bonnie's eyebrows had not relaxed that she was less than happy with his date, "Rebekah…really?" she hissed, "this is why you kept her a secret, isn't it?"
"Bonnie…"
"And you bring her to Caleb's party without giving me any warning".
"Bonnie…"
"What Stefan!" she snapped.
"She makes me happy", Stefan answered, "and whatever happened in the past, is just that the past. She has changed…I've changed and we make each other happy".
"How long has it been going on?" Bonnie asked.
"A couple of months, a little before I went after Damon. I was going to tell you about us, even though it was very new then, but then Caleb got kidnapped and things were kind of crazy".
Bonnie shook her head, "You are too good for her".
Stefan smiled, "I'm really not Bonnie, but thank you for saying it".
Bonnie shook her head in disbelief, "If she hurts you, I will set her on fire".
Stefan chuckled, "She won't and be nice…it's Caleb's birthday".
"Fine", Bonnie mumbled as Stefan hugged her.
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Damon and Stefan watched as Bonnie, Caroline, Tyler, Rebekah and Matt waded in the water with Caleb. For a few moments when Bonnie revealed her two piece, Damon was momentarily speechless. She wasn't wearing a skimpy bikini or anything, but it was enough to let him know that Bonnie Bennett had indeed gained a few pounds in all the right places after having Caleb. When she caught him staring at her she mouthed 'Perv' and he immediately shrugged his shoulders and winked. Hearing the squeals of Caleb as he played in the water with everyone made his heart swell.
"So let me hear it", Stefan broke through his thoughts.
"What?"
"About Rebekah".
Damon shrugged, "I'm not in the position to judge anyone on their romantic entanglements. Look, if you're happy…good for you…better not piss her off or you will have a gang of Original vampires after you".
"Thanks", Stefan deadpanned.
"It's the truth", Damon shrugged, "and hey, I'm just happy that I'm not in a triangle with you and Bonnie".
"Bonnie and I are only friends and that's all we've ever been".
"Good. Are you happy with Rebekah?" Damon turned to look his brother.
"I am", Stefan smiled.
"Then that's all that matters", Damon answered.
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Damon watched as Caleb blew out the candles on his cake and tore into his gifts with vigor. His excitement over every gift did something to Damon. Maybe it was the fact that Caleb was virtually the purest thing on earth to him. That little boy was a miracle and as much as he wanted to be mad at Emily for what she did—looking at Caleb, he couldn't be. Caleb was his one chance to give something back to a world that he had taken so much from.
"Daddy Daymon, I open your gift now?" Caleb asked walking over to him.
"Uh, sure", Damon said. He was a little worried. He wanted to get a good gift, but not go overboard. He rejected any help from Bonnie or Stefan. He wanted this gift to be all him and no one else.
Caleb walked over to the big box and stared at it. It was almost as big as him, "Whoa!" he exclaimed with his eyes widened as he tore the Cars theme wrapping paper away and when he uncovered the gift, he screamed in delight, "Daddy it's just like yours!"
Damon's smile widened as he watched Caleb hug the box that contained a small Camaro power wheels. "You did good", Bonnie walked over to him lacing her hand through his as Caleb went around to everyone at the party letting them know he had a car just like his Daddy.
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"Did you like your party Caleb?" Bonnie asked placing some of his gifts in a large bag.
"Mmm, hmm…it was the bestest Mommy!"
"I'm glad Baby".
"And Daddy and Uncle Stefan here…so it's even better!" Caleb grinned beaming at them.
Damon and Stefan looked at each other and smiled. They were both finding a place for themselves in Caleb's life and it was working out. Damon and Stefan walked towards the Bonnie's truck to load up the rest of gifts as Abby changed his clothes out of his swim wear. Caleb looked around the lake and then pointed towards the lake, "My ball", he cried for a few moments.
Bonnie turned to the lake and saw the ball that Matt bought him, in the middle of the lake, "I will get it", Bonnie stated as she slipped out of her jean shorts and started towards the lake. She swam out to the middle and retrieved the ball throwing it back towards the shore. When she began to swim back to shore, she felt something brush up against her leg in the water. She thought it was her imagination until she was violently pulled under.
Abby looked towards the lake and stood up, "Bonnie!" she screamed catching the attention of Damon, Stefan and Rebekah.
Bonnie felt like a million arms were pulling her under the water as she tried to swim, but she couldn't see anything but vines that she was sure were never in the water before. She tried to think of a spell, but for some reason her mind was blank, "Something is pulling me", she managed to scream out before she was taken under again.
"Mommy!" Caleb called starting to run to the water, but he was grabbed by Abby as both Damon and Stefan sped past her.
They tried to get to Bonnie, but there was a force stopping them from getting to her. Lucy dropped the gifts she was carrying and began to chant, but couldn't bring down the forcefield.
Bonnie held her breath as she was pulled under the water and she prayed that someone would reach her and stop whatever was happening. She tried her best to untangle herself, but the more she tried—the more she was brought under. As she began to take in water, she felt her chest start to burn and she began to panic. She was drowning and there was no one to help her. She would leave her son. She would leave him alone. She closed her eyes and prayed, but there was no loosening of the grip under water that kept her below the water. She slowly felt herself losing consciousness and she wanted to cry. She wanted to weep…her little boy.
"Lucy help us!" Damon called back to her as he and Stefan continued to try to fight through the invisible wall keeping them away from Bonnie. He could hear her faint heartbeat and he could hear Caleb shouting in the distance, but he had to get to Bonnie. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he had to save her.
After a few minutes, there was a stillness in the air with just Caleb's screams as he hit the invisible wall again and suddenly he was able to pass it. He immediately dove under the water and began searching for Bonnie. When he found her, she was floating and he knew then—but his heart refused to believe it. Damon emerged from the water soaked and laid Bonnie on the ground. She wasn't moving and her lips were blue.
"Bonnie, don't do this…not today…not ever!" he said looking around as Lucy dropped to her knees next to him and started CPR.
Damon sat watching as he felt Stefan drop down next to him. As much as Lucy did compressions and as much as she tried to breathe life into Bonnie, there was no heartbeat. He couldn't hear it. He had become so accustomed to knowing so many things by listening Bonnie's heartbeat, not hearing it shocked him to the core.
"Mommy!" he heard Caleb cry.
Caleb fought to get out of Abby's grip as Damon felt the air change around him and he turned around to see vampires and a witch surrounding them. The witch must've been the one who cast the spell to keep Bonnie under the water and keep him and Stefan away from her while they drowned her.
"Give us the little boy and the rest of you will live", the witch stepped forward.
Damon wasn't sure what happened but his entire eyesight went red and he stood up from his space next to Bonnie's body. He could hear Lucy crying as she continued to do CPR on Bonnie to no avail. Stefan stood up next to him and Rebekah joined them. He didn't notice Abby come up next to them either as he went straight for the witch who smiled at him with a knowing smirk. He didn't feel anything as he ripped her head from her body and from there, there was a collision between Damon, Stefan, Abby and Rebekah. Lucy stopped CPR and stood up setting vampires on fire as fast as she could while setting up a protection circle around Caleb and Bonnie's body.
Caleb looked around at everyone fighting around him and crawled over to Bonnie and placed his hands on her cheeks, "Mommy", he whispered as tears fell from his eyes onto her pale face, "wake up Mommy…pwease…wake up…", he pleaded with her, "wake up for your Caleb Bear please Mommy", he cried holding onto her as carnage happened around them and a yellow light began to glow around Bonnie and Caleb.
Damon dropped the last vampire to the ground as he realized he was covered in blood from head to toe. He turned around to see a yellow light surrounding Caleb and Bonnie's body and he began to run over. He knew what was happening. Caleb let Bonnie go as Damon heard coughing and suddenly he heard Bonnie's heart began to beat again. Damon put his hand to his mouth as he heard Bonnie take a breath and Caleb slump down beside her onto the ground.
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Over 300 miles away, brown eyes shot open as the person who those eyes belonged to took a breath, "Damon?" she whispered.
So much happened in this chapter, but it's time to move onto the next phase. Whomever was after Caleb was taught a lesson and anyone else who comes for him will learn the same lesson. But at this point—there's someone else that is about to come and shake everything up.
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