Disclaimer: I DO NOT own the Vampire diaries or any of the characters. Nor do I seek to infringe any copyright laws. ALL RIGHTS belong to LJ smith & the CW network.

An: So I wanted Bonnie to be emotional and a bit stubborn this chapter because kids take things much harder and to heart. She completely forgives Damon next chapter but this one is him trying to make amends:)

Chapter 10: Romeo can't dance.

"Paint me! Paint me!" screeched Elena as she dropped poses like she was off a mini America's next top model.

"No I wanna paint something cute not a crazy monster!" Caroline chimed back poking out her tongue. Alaric rolled his eyes at the pair wondering where Stefan, Damon and Bonnie were.

Stefan found a secluded spot in the forest for himself and the little caramel beauty to have some peace. Bonnie wiped her wet eyelashes against Stefan's crisp, muddy shirt. Her soft whimpering made Stefan depressed for both Damon and the little baby in front of him. All he knew was that if these two didn't make up the world would be a sadder place. He mentally kicked himself for being as dramatic and girly as his older brother made him out to be.

"Hush little BB don't you cry, Stefan's gonna sing you this outta tune lullaby. And if you don't give me a shiny smile, Stefan's gonna sing for a long long while."

Bonnie let out a little hiccup as her face emerged from his chest. She rubbed her teary emerald orbs as Stefan dabbed them with a hanky.

"You funny." She gurgled pouting up at him, trying not to smile.

"And you're adorable?" And more sensitive than anyone realises. You put up this fierce front and that's why I thought you could handle anything that was thrown your way. But I forget you're just a 17 year old girl like Elena and Caroline. Damon and I were stupid to treat you differently, to underestimate your suffering. When your bigger again I'm gonna keep a better eye on you and be a better friend. He tapped her nose before continuing. "Look I know Dam..."

Stefan instantly shut his mouth as the tears began to flow again from her wide eyes, at the mere mention of the dreaded black haired boy. Her howls amplified into something ferocious, and for the first time he saw the fiery 17 year old Bonnie Bennet emerging.

"Me no want to talk about that beast! You keep him away from me pwease" she tried to stomp her feet but since she was cradled in the air she failed to look anything but cute.

"He a mean mean boy! All I did was be his friend and I liked him more than any other boy but what I get for my love? Nothing but yelling and pain. Me forget him just like daddy and we play with Lele and Care bear? And when I get home me tell Grams to voodoo him for sure." she nodded her head firmly, gasping back her tears. She could trust this boy. She didn't like him as much as she had Damon anyways, so if he hurt her it wouldn't be as bigger deal.

"Your dad doesn't know anything about who you really are Bonnie. You have no idea how important you are to our friendship group and as for Damon, sweet pea he's not normal. Believe me as his brother I know he's loopy, loco, loony. He feels one thing and says another. I grew up with him and believe me I wanted a manual to learn how he operates. Still have no clue."

"No reason to scream and hurt me! Why he no just tell me what bugs him? He left me clueless. Me still dunno what I did wrong. If he has ever been as mean to you as he has me you should wanna voodoo him too." She crossed her brows and sulked irritably.

"You didn't do anything wrong poppet. This is about Damon's internal demons."

When Bonnie looked at him confused he quickly corrected.

"I mean the problem is something that is in Damon's head. Something he has to work out for himself. Oh believe me I've had those days. Days I said I'd be happy if I never saw his pasty, arrogant face ever again. But when it came down to it, when the opportunity was there I could never do it. I could never cut myself off from him. He's like a verruca. He just kinda grows on you." Stefan laughed at Bonnie's disgusted face. "Just like I know when it comes down to it you love him too."

"You crazy me no love him no more!" She pointed at herself surprised at his accusation.

"I know you love him. You know how I know?"

"How? She asked sceptically."

"Because you wouldn't be so upset if he didn't matter to you."

"You too smart and he too stupid." she chimed bobbing her head from side to side, fisting his shirt with her little doll like hands.

"Well I don't disagree with that. But I promise you on my life he would move heaven and earth for you and that's what scares him. See it's a new discovery, the feelings he has for you and he's still adjusting. He has the mental capacity of a child most of the time too which doesn't help. He's grumpy, irritable, pouty and impatient, but he does not give his heart easily and when he does he gives his entire being. He's freaked out because it means people can hurt him or leave him for another. You see there was this girl named Katherine. He loved her very much and she didn't just break his heart, she corrupted it. He would have died for her. Did die for her, relinquished his humanity and gave up his brother for her. Sweetie he's not been the same since. In a way he's like you. When he gets hurt he shuts down."

"Yuck I hate this Katy girl! You want me to voodoo her? But Look steffie I'm not her. I'd never hurt him and that's why when he hurt me! It hurt steffie it really hurt!" She drawled and gasped, dragging the words cutely, heart break evident in her small voice, as she looked down at the grass fists clenched to the side.

"I know poppet. I also know he's kicking himself for doing so. I know you're not feeling great now and I wish I knew how to make you feel like the light and happy Bonnie again. You illuminate a person's day with that bright, glowing smile of yours. You could never be like her in your wildest nightmares. Elena on the other hand. But it's the pain he remembers that drives him to be a moron. It's so intense that to Damon all women are a potential knife to the heart. Klaus has been very mean to us too and he just felt panicked and hurt that you might have affection for Klaus as your saviour that night. Damon can mentally picture you choosing Klaus's side over his and it burns him."

"How can I trust you saying Klaus is bad? He hasn't harmed me but Damon has so it's hard to know what to trust is true. If Damon hadn't hurt me his word would mean more but nope no more. Klaus was nice to me and I have rules you know. If someone never hurts me then I can't have a problem with them. If I saw him I'd thank him. But that does not mean I'd have ever ever loved any boy more than I would have loved Damon. He was my number one but now he's less than zero." She said tone full of disappointment.

"I know things are confusing right now. But give it time and think about giving him a second chance please? You'll find new truths soon enough. Sweet pea he's really freaking out over the thought you don't like him anymore. "

"I don't."

"Please don't say that sweet BB. If he heard that he'd die. You're too young to understand right now poppet but you and Damon, I see it now you're the perfect match and you too are just too funny together for it to end. I know you have a kind little heart so I'm just saying maybe think about talking to him okay?"

"Well will me thinking about it make you hush hush?" She asked teasingly

"Haha you really have been spending way too much with my brother sweet pea. You're starting to sound just like him. How about we go get the paints out and make some masterpieces now huh? Artistic expression is a great way to get things off your chest."

"Hmm in a bit I just want some alone time, just to sit here a while and think."

"Okay but would you mind terribly if I sat with you and did a little thinking of my own? I'll be really quiet I swear."

"Course you can steffie." They both plunged themselves into the long grains of warm grass, taking in the tranquil scenery. Bonnie held Stefan's hand and twiddled his fingers in hers. He could still hear little short gulps of air and sobbing at points as she pulled the petals off a daisy mumbling something sweetly under her breath.

After a while her pulse seemed to calm and Stefan stroked her soft curls watching her drift in and out of sleep, long black eyelashes fluttering and lips open. He knew this was Damon's place but till she talked to him, Stefan knew Damon would want him to look after her. He tentatively tended to her grazed arm, massaging it softly. She was soon out like a light. She hadn't gotten her full sleep this morning which he now realised could have made her more tired and sensitive today. Her nap didn't last long however. 5 minutes later, Stefan jolted to alert mode when he felt Bonnies grip tighten on his hand, looking up he saw the source of the anxiety. Bonnie's breaths hastened and became short and heavy and her palms began to sweat. Stefan could clearly see she was a mixture of mad, sad and scared. Stefan quickly got up so he could talk to Damon.

Damon had lurked behind a bush not far from Stefan and Bonnie. He needed to know what she was feeling. She wouldn't open up to him right now so this was his only choice. He mentally kicked himself for not being able to just sit and explain things to Bonnie like Stefan did. No Damon Salvatore always flew off the handles instead. He wondered perhaps if that was another reason 17 year old Bonnie found it easier to talk to Stefan rather than her assigned protector.

He briefly smiled at how well his brother really did know him and what he was going through. He also chuckled when Bonnie got Katherine's name wrong and asked to voodoo her. She had no idea how different she was from Katherine. She made Katherine look like a troll. He couldn't bare the devastated tone of Bonnie's voice though, as she vented her frustration. He hoped she didn't mean it when she said she didn't care anymore. He'd racked his brain on how to make it up to her. But so far the pain he'd seen in her eyes was making it so difficult to ever see what he could do to put things right. He slowly came out of the bushes as Bonnies emeralds fluttered open.

"Hey Damon maybe it's not the best time, she's still a little fragile."

"But I need to make things right. She needs to know how important she is to me and I was only snappy because I don't think before I open my stupid mouth."

"I know I just think right now you won't get through to her. It'll just upset both of you more. After her father's rejection and feeling like third best with Elena and Caroline, she finally found someone she felt special with. She began to feel like things were looking up, so the negative response from you was just a huge hit. She's so young that there's no quick or easy fix to this trauma. We have to be patient."

"I do think she's special. I think she's amazing. I can't bare a long absence from her. What do I do Stefan?" Damon grabbed is brothers shoulders desperately.

Stefan had no idea but apparently being patient was off the agenda. He had as much experience with kid's emotions as Damon did. Before he could open his mouth however...

"Go away is what you should do" came a now firm voice, just like the 17 year old Bennet who greeted him with authority.

"Bonnie please..."

She held out a hand in protest.

"Back off! You used to make me laugh but now you make me scared. You are not my friend. Step closer and I'll scream." The words echoed in his head reminding him of the time he tried to corner Bonnie at school over Emily's necklace.

"Okay I'm backing away honey now see. I mean you no harm. I just wanna protect you Bonnie. I just wish you knew how sorry I am and how much I love you." He took a few steps back but could still see her arm. It looked a little sore. She was tiny and he'd done that. He felt tears prick his eyes and in a blink of Bonnie's emeralds he was gone. She quickly padded over to Stefan and took his hands tightly, looking up at him with a scared, tiny face.

Damon smashed his decanter into the fire place, biting back the tears. He had never ran home so fast in his life but to see her hurt face a moment longer would have killed him. He reiterated her words in his head over and over again.

You used to make me laugh now you make me scared. You are not my friend.

Damon sulked into his leather chair and flicked through his happy pictures of him and Bonnie.

I should have known it wouldn't last. I ruin all that is good in my life.

Soon Damon's eyes connected with the bag of costumes Stefan had bought for the girls to play in later. Never had an idea hit Damon so speedily and he marched over to the bag and began to rummage through it.

Maybe if I make her laugh she'll warm to me again. I mean it's never gonna be enough to erase the damage I caused her but my humour is what made her like me in the first place. It's a start to get her talking to me again. Damon groaned as he pulled out the horrifying costume he could ever imagine wearing. Yuck this is such a Stefan thing to choose. Lame as! This is going to be humiliating but you little Bonnie are worth it, even if I have to see a shit eating grin on Stefan's face. It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

Bonnie was still in no mood to be artistic so she sat on a rock while Elena tried to paint her.

"It's too windy!" Elena howled as her paper flew away. "This was such a stupid idea!" Elena's ranting was cut short as Caroline gasped and pointed into the tree enveloped distance, mouth fully open in awe.

"What is that? It's beautiful" she said tone full of surprise.

Alaric soon followed suit locking eyes on a dark figure. His dishevelled hair swaggered in the wind along with his blue velvet cape. His silver sapphire bejewelled crown, white ruffled shirt and blue velvet blazer that had vertical burgundy stripes made him look old world. His skinny fit trousers also made him very demure but his shield and sword made him look like a warrior on a mission. He held a red rose between his teeth and a black box dangled out of his pocket.

"Holy shit man that is surreal. I haven't seen anything like that since I was tripping back in halls at duke. It's like batman if he were royalty" said Alaric holding back laughter as Stefan hit him over the head.

Yes Stefan just witnessed hell freeze over. As much as he wanted to tease his brother, considering he always referred to him as Romeo, he knew why he was doing it. So he'd let it slide.

"Bend over" Stefan said crossing his arms and looking at Alaric amused.

"Excuse you?" Alaric looked at Stefan like he wanted to punch him.

"Bend so you're like a chair."

"Huh?"

Stefan soon pushed the man down. He picked up Bonnie and put her to sit on Alaric's back.

"Hey what's happening?" she said looking confused yet intrigued.

"Oh man I'm so glad its Bonnie not the hefty ones right now." Alaric moaned in his usual deep husky voice.

Damon pranced around like something out of a pantomime theatre act, hands flying about dramatically. Yes he would make a good actor indeed thought Alaric, laughing so hard Bonnie could feel the vibrations and the sudden snorts.

"Well good evening sweet little princess. It is an honour to be in your presence. What a lovely thrown you have there, although I was not aware a seat could talk. May I have an audience with your royal self?" Damon said in a thick Italian accent, gently approaching her.

All that could be heard in the background was Elena. "Omg omg it's a prince it's a prince. He's come for my hand in marriage and to shower me with gifts." she grabbed him turning him to face her.

"Oh it's just your icky self! Do not fool me like that again!" She yelped "yuck he is the worst prince ever."

"I don't know Elena I think he's quite cute and quite a match for my brave, beautiful baby Bonnie." chimed Caroline who curtsied for him. Damon bowed his head in a thank you. She was trying to help him and Damon wouldn't forget to repay her for that.

"Oi what you doing?" screech whispered Elena directly into Caroline's poor ear. "He made BB cry. We swore to destroy him if he upset her again."

"Shut up for one second Elena. I know what I said about kicking him if he so much as touched her again, but that's before I saw him looking funny to make her feel better. Can't you see he's trying to make things right."

Stefan was surprised Bonnie hadn't jumped from her human chair at the sight of Damon but he had a feeling she couldn't find him scary in his current attire.

Damon held out the rose hoping she'd take it "for you my gorgeous girl to show my affectations." When she didn't he put it on her lap. He bowed trying to move his cape out of the way which made him clumsily fall over, face hitting the grass. Fighting the redness in his cheeks he continued.

"And every princess needs a crown right?" he planted the pink and lilac flowery headdress he'd made in the boarding house garden on her bushy head. He felt a tatty silver tiara was more Elena's thing.

"I fear I have upset my young caramel lady recently and I have come to make amends. I am just a humble prince asking forgiveness from the girl that owns my heart. The girl I unintentionally hurt today. If she would pardon my bad behaviour I'd be the happiest man ever and if she can't I'll have to fall on my sword."

He held out his toy sword, tapping her nose ever so timidly with its rubber tip. Bonnie laughed on the inside. He looked like the ridiculously cute Damon she'd first met. He was trying and it was duly noted but she wasn't ready to forgive. One moment didn't make the bad memories fade away.

"Now as my princess is there anything I could do for you, anything my love?" when Bonnie just looked down sadly he turned to the gremlins.

"ah chamber maids. Do you have orders on my special ladies behalf?"

"Yeah lick my shoe and kiss my..." Elena didn't get to finish her sentence as Stefan gently put his hand over her mouth. "Be a good girl and I'll give you ice cream."

Damon could not have been more relieved that he wouldn't have to lick her sticky shoes. Instead he pretended as if she hadn't said a thing.

"No requests? Shame well little princess I know you wanted me to kiss Stefan the other day. I could do that if it still pleases me lady. Now you know how much this disgusts me so I obviously love you a lot little Bennet."

Bonnie's interests were peeked at his words. She wanted to believe he loved her, truly she did. And she knew kissing Stefan was not something Damon would do lightly. But would he really kiss Stefan for her? Nah she couldn't believe it. He hated being affectionate. Bonnie put her little fingers to her chin pensively, a little more amusement scratching to come to the surface.

She inwardly felt butterflies as Damon groped his fighting brother into a loving embrace and pecked him on the lips.

"Hey that was highly unnecessary" the younger Salvatore complained, trying to struggle his way free of his brothers leather clad arms.

"What you have a problem with a man who is in touch with his more feminine side? Care to challenge me to a dual" Damon took out his toy foam shield and slapped Stefan on the head with it. "Oh and btw your hair makes you look stupid when it's spiky. Damon stuck out his tongue.

Hey he told him, he told him. Bonnie inwardly cheered, her cheeks getting rosy with warmth and happiness.

"Well dear big brother I cannot let such an insult go unnoticed." Stefan said getting into a boxing stance before leaping and taking Damon down as they rolled on the ground.

"Wow I have no adult friend's" Alaric noted in good humour.

Bonnie made a cute baby noise, bouncing lightly on Alaric in amusement. The corners of her mouth twitched in a gleeful smile, wet tongue poking out slightly. It was a sight that didn't go unnoticed. But Stefan didn't want to bring it to her attention in case she recoiled back into herself. She laughed so loud, the sound was magic to everyone around but when Damon's blue eyes connected with hers and she saw him smiling at her, Stefan's worries were realised. She paused. No this not enough to make up for breaking my heart. Her mouth shut and she looked despondent once again.

Damon's heart immediately sank. For a moment it had been how it should have been before he opened his angry mouth.

Yes he made her laugh but making her cry had done more damage than a little giggle could had been too he couldn't just give up. He was persistent with Katherine for 145 years. Bonnie would be crazy if she thought he was just gonna let her go and give up on what they could be together. He took her crown.

"See I'll even where flowers in my hair."Damon then opened the box he had containing a bracelet. "Know it doesn't make up for all the crap I've done but I got you this. It's a promise know like a friendship necklace. We both have one and it's my promise to you that I'll always be here for you. I'll never neglect you again Bonnie.

I wanna believe you more than anything in the world.

Bonnie soon got off her thrown. She took Damon's sword and placed the tip near his heart."But you cut my heart out" she said sorrowfully, before giving him the bracelet and moving away.

"Bonnie wait. What else can I do to show you? You have to trust me please?" he screamed and quicker than her eyes could register he was high up in a tree serenading her.

"Please little Bonnie your love I don't wanna blow it

God knows I don't show my feelings enough I know it

You have no idea how much I care

But give me another chance I'll show it I swear.

I can be a freak, every day of every week.
But please let me be your freak OKAY? "

On his last move Damon's cloak got caught on a twig, causing him to plummet out of the tree with a massive splat sound. Bonnie's heart began to beat faster and faster and she filled with dread when Damon didn't move. He just lay there long eyes lashes closed.

"DAAAAAAAMON" Bonnie screamed and sprinted like an athlete towards him. She jumped on his chest and began to pound on it.

"Wake up! wake up! please Damon. Don't leave. Damon?" She kissed his lips over and over, thinking that's how you resuscitate someone. She then buried her face in his neck mumbling his name.

"Damon come back."

With a groan and a moan Damon stirred, brows crossed. "No more tree dancing for moi man" his heart soon lifted like a song was beating through his chest when he saw green eyes peering down at him above quivering lips.

"Hey hey I'm okay. I'm okay sweet heart. I'm just glad you still care." He cuddled her tightly before she began to fidget and squirm.

She leapt off him.

"I don't care." she said stubbornly, just like 17 year old Bonnie would. She tried to make the words sound true. "You stupid! "

She soon marched away, brows furrowed, gesturing Stefan come down to hear eye level.

"Can we go paint now somewhere not windy so I can express what I'm feeling right now?"

"I know the perfect place. I just need to help the big yeti up. Oh and Bonnie. You sure you don't care?"

Bonnie scrunched her face at him in an as if gesture, before skipping over to hold Caroline and Elena's hand as Elena dragged Alaric along with them.

Holding out his hand for Damon, Stefan chuckled hard "well Romeo nice moves."

"She still cares Stefan and that's all that matters. Hey you think 17 year old Bonnie secretly cares about me but has learnt how to hide it better then baby Bonnie?"

"Let's not get a head of ourselves Damon." Stefan said rolling his eyes. "Oh and you know what else matters? You getting some dancing lessons."

"For your first attempt at humour, it weren't half bad" Damon chimed holding onto his brothers shoulder for support.

"Btw I heard Alaric giggling at my chivalry. I say you can be involved in my plan to get him back."

"Like old times." Stefan stated excitedly.

"Yeah real old old times." they smiled at echoer before walking towards the caves.

There's still hope Damon thought gleefully before smirking. Oooh Katherine here we come...

An: Hope I didn't humiliate Damon too much lol. Finally the Katherine stuff I've been envisaging from the start will come next chapter. Was trying to get it in this update but the pace writes itself. Katy as Bonnie likes to call her will unintentionally make Bonnie completely forgive Damon next chap too. Find out soon how ;) Also I hate Bonnie's mum so far.