Holy crap! It's been a minute since I last updated. I didn't think I would ever get this damn chapter out. This chapter was a struggle. When I did have inspiration to write, life had me busy and when I had time to write there was not a drop of inspiration in me. But life is geared to slow down for me so I'll be able to focus more on writing. The next chapter shouldn't take so long (it seems like I might have said this before). I actually already started writing it. I want to get it knocked out so I can start ch. 16. I'm looking forward to write that chapter. Drama.

I want to thank you guys for the follows, faves & reviews.

I don't own the characters, they belong to L.J. Smith and the CW and whoever else but not me.

I do own all the mistakes and there is probably more than a few. I'm editing as my kids destroy my house around me.

Enjoy

Bonnie laughed as a drunk Stefan hugged her and sloppily kissed her cheek. For the past month, the two had slowly been working on repairing their friendship. They even hung out one night as Care and Damon watched over the kids. Bonnie truly started to believe not all was lost and they could be best friends again. They could be the brother and sister they were before everything went to hell in their relationship.

"Let's get you a drink. You need to catch up with me." Stefan said has he released Bonnie from his arms. He threw his arm around her shoulders and began to lead her to a group of picnic tables by the lake her friends were at.

"No can do." Bonnie said giving him a sad frown.

"It's Damon's weekend, let him be responsible. Come on B." Stefan whined. "This is our little get together. We got food, we got drinks and we got music you can shake your ass to."

Bonnie laughed. "You're so dumb. How much have you had to drink?"

"Just a tad." Stefan held up his index and thumb to Bonnie.

Bonnie cocked an eyebrow at him. "Yeah ok." she shrugged. "I got work tonight so I can't partake in the partying. Plus my kids don't need to see me sloppy drunk like you." Bonnie pushed him off of her.

Stefan laughed. "I'm not sloppy drunk."

"Ok sir."

"You still working at that high class bar and grill?" Stefan asked.

Bonnie cleared her throat and nodded her head. "Yeah."

"You have been there for awhile now. I guess let's get you a soda than." Stefan said and hip checked her.

"You know your man is here already. Damon is loving it." Stefan continued.

"He's making it completely awkward isn't he?" Bonnie rolled her eyes. Whenever Damon was around Elijah he made sly comments about Bonnie and their past relationship to try to rile up Elijah. With Elijah actually being mature, he never fell for it. The most Damon would receive back was a heavy eye roll and a sigh.

"Yup. He keeps making comments under his breath. Elijah looks so irritated." Stefan laughed.

"That's why he has a schedule of when he is allowed over. Plus it was too chaotic when he showed up." Bonnie sighed. "He has gotten better with the comments recently. Doesn't make them as much or at least not in my presence."

Stefan laughed. "Have anything to do with you slapping the taste out of his mouth?"

Bonnie stopped walking and pushed Stefan as a smile lite up her face. "It felt so good to do it. Orgasmic. I released all sorts of pent up frustration in that slap."

"Is that why you let him hold you? Cause you felt bad?" Stefan gave her a knowing look.

"He told you?"

"Yup. He was on cloud nine when he came home."

Bonnie looked away in embarrassment. "It had been a crazy night. The kids were already on one and he shows up, unannounced I might add. Than it became chaotic. Bathtime and bedtime was fucking hell. His ass is still in my house when i finally get them down talking about rubbing the knots out my back. That's when I slapped him and proceeded to burst into tears. In that moment of weakness I allowed him to comfort me."

Stefan shook his head as they continued to walk. Damon lived to push Bonnie buttons. Stefan was starting to think Damon got some type of sick thrill out of it.

They suddenly heard Faye scream out to Bonnie. "Hey little momma."

Bonnie looked over to Faye and waved her fingers to him.

Looking around the crowd. "Where is Damon and the kids anyways?"

"He and Klaus took the kids to the lake to do some fishing."

Bonnie rapidly blinked hearing that Damon was fishing. He might not had a lot of money but he still like the finer things in life. Outdoorsy he was not.

Stefan hugged Bonnie to him. "Yeah, it was weird. Damon is not an outdoor person at all. He used to always turn down our boys camping trips. I guess Ella has been talking about fishing so he stopped on the way up and got them these kid fishing poles."

Bonnie laughed. That was sight she would love to see. Damon with a fishing pole trying to catch some damn fish.

"Don't you think it's time to loosen up the reins a little." Stefan suddenly said.

Bonnie looked up to Stefan and rolled her eye all the while keeping a smile on her face. "Yeah." Bonnie replied slowly.

"You're such a control freak." Stefan laughed.

"Whatever. Let me go say hi to Elijah. Take your drunk ass to your woman."

"Well bye punk." Stefan shoved her towards her guy before making his way to the grill to monitor Faye. He didn't want him to get too distracted with his new boy and burn the food.

Bonnie walked up to Elijah who was talking to his brother, Kol and wrapped her arm around his neck. Looking into his deep brown eyes, she softly kissed him on the lips.

"Hi." Bonnie smiled up at him.

"Hello." Elijah wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her tightly.

Kol rolled his eyes at the display, clearing his throat. "B.B, you ready to trade in for a younger Mikaelson?"

Bonnie didn't bother looking at him as she flipped him off over her shoulder.

"I missed you. It's been a long week without you." Bonnie told Elijah.

"I missed you as well."

"So...how was NOLA?" Bonnie said with contempt coloring her voice.

"Love." Elijah cupped her cheek. "I was only getting acquainted with the school and the area. When the time comes, you'll be involved with the decision."

"Alright."

"How long do you have before you need to leave for work?" Elijah dryly asked.

"I have a few hours before I need to leave."

"Mmmhh."

Bonnie sighed but kept quiet. After him being away for the week there was no need to start a pointless arguement. Nothing was going to change. She had a family to support and she would continue to do what she need to do.

"Let's make the most of our time together." Bonnie smiled up at him before kissing him sweetly on the lips.

Elijah held her tightly to him as he narrowed his eyes at Kol who was staring at them.

While in Elijah's embrace, Bonnie heard giggles come from the other side. Looking up she saw Damon holding hands with their kids who were animatedly talking and laughing.

Each time she saw Damon interact with the kids, the ice around her heart melted a little. No matter how much she still wanted to hate him for the pain he caused her, she could never really fully hate him. He was such an amazing father, surpassing her expectations. In all honesty, she should have never doubted him. When little Antonella was born, he took the utmost care of her. Bonnie had to fight for alone time with her baby girl. Damon hated to part with her.

Bonnie stood in Elijah's arms smiling as she watched the kids and their father.

"Don't say anything." Klaus suddenly said to Damon.

Damon jerked his head towards Klaus with narrowed eyes. "What?"

Klaus looked at Damon before looking off to the distance.

Following his lead, Damon caught sight of Bonnie staring at him with a smile gracing her face. Making eye contact with her, Damon smirked.

Bonnie's eyes widen at being caught staring. Turning her head, she snuggled closer to Elijah.

Damon's jaw tightened at seeing Bonnie cuddle up to Elijah. The sight sicken him.

No matter how nice he played with Bonnie, she never really gave him the time of day. She kept their conversations about the kids only. There was absolutely no talks about their former relationship allowed.

Damon rolled his eyes at her little display.

Klaus looked over at Damon and smiled.

Feeling eyes on him Damon turned to Klaus. "What?" He questioned.

"Nothing mate, I just figured you would abandon your kids to fly over there to rip them apart."

Letting go of Ella's hand Damon flipped off Klaus. "It's not the first time seeing them together and with the way things are going it won't be the last."

"With the way things are going, they'll be walking down the aisle soon." Klaus hollered out a laugh.

If it weren't for his children walking with them, Damon's fisted would have slammed into the other man's jaw. Friendship be damned. He didn't need a reminder on how serious Bonnie and Elijah's relationship was.

Damon rolled his eyes at Klaus as he stopped walking. Squatting down to his kids, Damon gathered the two close to him.

"Guess who's here?" Damon asked them.

Klaus looked on shaking his head. Of course Damon would use his kids as cockblocks.

"Who?" Ella asked with wide blue eyes looking into his own blue eyes.

"Mommy!" Damon said in fake excitement. "She right over there." He pointed to Bonnie.

When the kids saw their mother, they took off.

Standing back up with a smile on his face, Damon winked at Klaus before following after his little minions.

Hearing little screams, Bonnie looked towards her running babies. Stepping outside Elijah's embrace, she squated down to catch the excited toddlers.

"Hey mommy's little monsters." Bonnie wrapped her arms around the kids.

"Mommy...mommy!" The kids screamed.

"Look at my fish pole!" Ella waved the pole in the air.

"Daddy got you a princess fishing pole?"

"Yeah!"

Turning towards her little boy, she asked "What kind did you get?"

"Superhero." Damien smiled.

Damon looked on with a smile on his face as he watched them interacted. He didn't bother to knowledge the other man standing there also watching the scene.

Bonnie stood up with Antonella in her arms as Damien showed Elijah his new pole.

"Fishing? Do you even know how to fish?" Bonnie questioned Damon with a smirk on her face.

"They wanted to fish and who am I to say no to them. And to answer your question, I do know how to fish. It just not my thing." Damon rolled his eyes.

"Did you catch anything?"

"No." Ella answered for him.

Bonnie laughed.

"Daddy said bad word." Damien said in Elijah arms.

"Really?" Bonnie cocked an eyebrow at Damon trying to hide her smile.

Damon ignored Bonnie's comment and narrowed his eyes at the sight of Elijah holding his son. In the back of his mind he knew that Elijah was apart of the kids lives but it still made him uncomfortable. No matter what Bonnie said, this man played daddy to his kids while he was locked away. It was a tough pill to swallow knowing it was his fault.

Elijah raised an eyebrow at the look he was receiving from Damon.

Damon huffed "Give me my kids back." He walked up to Bonnie taking Ella from her placing her on the ground before snatching Damien from Elijah.

"Come on little snitches, let's get you fed." Damon walked off with the kids.

Bonnie looked over to Elijah then back to a retreating Damon. "Well bye, I guess."

Turning back to Elijah, Bonnie shrugged. "The was weird. I wasn't pissed he cussed. I figured it was an accident."

Elijah pulled Bonnie closed to him. "That was not the issue. I don't believe Damon likes the fact that I'm apart on the kids and your lives. He feels threaten given his absence from their lives, which is understandable. At the end of the day, I do not care. I love you and I love them."

Bonnie swooned.

"I love you." Bonnie kissed him.

Pulling away from the kiss, Elijah glanced at his watch. "Let's go say hi to your friends real quick. Katherine keeps trying to get your attention. Then I want to take you for a walk around the lake to view the sunset before you have to leave."

Bonnie nodded. "She wants to gossip about Faye's new boo but she can wait. I missed you for week."

Elijah kissed her forehead taking her hand in his and led her to the lake.

Damon watched with narrow eyes as Bonnie and Elijah walked off.

With a grin on her face, Bonnie looked around the gathering trying to locate Damon and/or the kids. She wanted to say goodbye to them before she left for work. Plus, she needed to lock their smiling face in her mind to help get her through the night.

When she finally located Damon, her fist balled up. Sitting next to him was none other than the man that wrecked havoc on her life, Enzo.

Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, Bonnie walked up to them. She made sure to keep her eyes off of Enzo. "Hey. I wanted to let you know that I'm heading out."

Damon looked over to Bonnie and nodded. "Alright."

"Hello Bonnie." Enzo waved his fingers at her taking delight in her discomfort.

Bonnie narrowed her eyes at him before looking around. "Where are the kids?" She questioned Damon completely ignoring Enzo.

Damon glanced from Enzo to Bonnie. A weird vibe passed between the two. Damon chalked up to the fact the two never really cared for each other and Enzo being the one to let Bonnie in on the fact he cheated on her. But Kol's comment from his welcome home party nagged at him. He glared at Enzo who had his eyes on Bonnie.

"Damon." Bonnie called out trying to get his attention.

Damon turned to her. "Sorry what did you say, BB?"

"Where are the kids?"

"Blondie took them home with Arianna. We looked for you but you were… a little preoccupied." Damon said with disdain.

"Oh. Sorry. Well I...I guess..I'll see you tomorrow. I got to get to work." Bonnie glanced quickly to Enzo who was smirking at her.

"Alright, little B. See you tomorrow." Damon smiled watching her turn and walk away.

When she was near her car, Damon called out to her. "Wait up, B!" he jogged up to.

Bonnie turned around and faced him. "What's up?"

"I um…" Damon stopped feeling suddenly nervous. "Sorry. I'll talk to you tomorrow about it."

For the life of him, he didn't know why he was going to bring Damien's birth certificate up now. If he really thought about it he knew why. Seeing Elijah's interactions with his children brought out insecurities. Elijah was damn near daddy to his kids. The man had actually been in the kid's lives longer than Damon had. Damon wanted one hundred percent claim of his kids.

"You already stopped me. Just say what you need to." Bonnie rolled her eyes at him.

"I want to have my name added to Damien's birth certificate." he rushed out.

Bonnie blinked taken back. She was not expecting that. "What….?"

Damon looked around before meeting her eyes. "I want my name on his birth certificate."

Bonnie's smiled as her eyes instantly began to water. "Oh."

Damon wanted to reach out to her but knew he couldn't. "Sorry."

Bonnie gave him a sad smile. "No, you just caught me off guard. Wasn't expecting that."

"Yeah, I've been thinking about everything we went through together with Antonella. Watching you grow her in your belly. Us being nervous and excited during her birth. I missed all of that with Damien. I guess, I want to feel included...you know in spirit. I missed it all with him. I probably don't deserve it."

She wiped the few tears the fell down her cheeks off. "You do."

Damon eyes widened at her admission.

"You love them and they love you. You're their daddy. All our bullshit aside, you are the father that I hoped for my kids would have. It have been amazing watching you three together. If want to do it, we can."

"Thank you, Bonnie." Damon said looking deep into her eyes.

Bonnie looked away from him feeling an unwelcome feeling hit her. A feeling she hadn't felt in years. "We'll talk more about it tomorrow. Bye." She turned around and rushed to her car.

Damon watched her walk away from him before turning back to join Enzo. His eyes caught Enzo staring at Bonnie's retreating form.

When Enzo felt eyes on him, he quickly looked away from Bonnie and downed his beer.

With her leg bouncing nervously, Bonnie sat on the hood of her car waiting. She hated this exchange but the end was in sight.

A car pulled up next to her's and Bonnie hopped off her car making her way over. Opening the door, Bonnie sat in the passenger side seat. Wordlessly, she pulled out a bundle of money from her purse and handed it over.

"Well hello to you too, Bonster." Kai greeted Bonnie.

Bonnie took a deep breath and continued to ignore him. The faster this went, the better. She hated being around the man.

"Bonnie." Kai called out. "Hello." he repeated. Kai hated being ignored.

Bonnie looked over at him with contempt shining in her eyes. "Hi."

Kai bursted out laughing.

"I don't know why you hate me so much. I didn't do this to you. That was your boo." Kai said as he counted the money Bonnie handed him.

"Yeah cause you're so blameless in this." she snorted out. "You knew I had nothing to do with Damon's shit but you still came bang on my door demanding money."

Kai snorted reaching over her to put his now money in the glove box. Once closed, he placed his hand on her thigh. "And you had options for repayment."

Bonnie slapped his hand off her.

Leaning back in his seat with a smile gracing his face, he continued. "Enzo was more than willing to pay most of your debt for you. Mind you with some conditions." Kai winked at her.

Bonnie felt disgusted. "I hate him and I hate you. Who goes after a single mother cause of her ex. I could have been left out of this shit!"

"Well ex boo did what he did because of you. So I think it fair for you pull your weight too." Kai pointed at her.

"I didn't ask him to."

"True. Guess that your guys thing...secrets."

"What?" Bonnie questioned.

"I've been waiting for him to knock my head off. So why? Why are you doing this for him? He got himself locked up and stuck his dick in a whore."

Officially done with the conversation, Bonnie grab the door handle.

"Say it ain't so, Bonsters. You still love him, don't you?"

Bonnie swung her head toward Kai. "No."

"Liar." Kai laughed. "You grind on men to pay his debt. If that isn't love then I don't know what is. You're still in love with him." Kai sung out.

"Fuck off Kai." Bonnie opened the door stepping out into the fresh air. Slamming the door, Bonnie made her way back to her car with tears in her eyes.

"Poor Enzo." Kai mumbled to himself as he speed off.

The lights from the flashing sign danced across her tear streak face as Bonnie sat in her car. Every time she thought about how her life turned out, she was overcome with a deep sorrow. Not at the fact that she had two children at a very young age but of the secret struggle that she was to afraid to share.

It was a burden she wouldn't share.

She was always the strong dependable one. The one that didn't crumble under the weight. So she carried it for others that would crumble.

A pain ripped through her as she glanced at the building.

Getting out of the car, she wiped her eyes and plastered on a smile. It was time for her to play a part, a disgusting part, a needed part for survival.

As the kids napped, Damon had left the kids with Caroline to sneak out to meet up with Rose. The older woman had been nagging him to spend more time together.

Propped up against the headboard with only a sheet to cover his nude body, Damon check the time on his phone. It was getting close for him to head back. The kids should be up soon and he needed to get them ready for Bonnie's arrival.

Hopping off the bed, Damon slipped on his jeans.

"In a hurry, love?" Rose questioned with a raised eyebrow as she entered the room for the ensuite bathroom.

Damon looked over her nude form and smiled. He didn't know what he felt for the woman but he knew it wasn't love. No where close to it. His heart still belonged to a spit-fire with green eyes. However, Rose did provide a nice distraction. And the two did have fun together when they were able to chill. But he was starting to get the sense the older women was looking for more. Damon was no where close to even give half of himself to her.

"As much as I would like to stay, I got the kids." Damon shrugged.

Rose huffed out a laugh. "Of course."

He rolled his eyes at her. There went his post-coital bliss.

"You know I have my children every weekend."

Rose slipped on her robe tying it closed.

"I know."

"Then why am I getting a sense there is an issue with me leaving? You knew what this was when we started this." Damon said. He was in no mood for bullshit. No one was going to give him a hard time for spending all the time he could with his kids.

"I did but you can't deny that our relationship has progressed. At this point, we are more than fuck buddies. I'll dare say we are dating. We go to the movies, out to dinner or even just hang around being lazy."

"Buddies hang out too."

Rose rolled her eyes at him. "We are more than buddies, love."

"I don't know what you want me to say. Yes, we do more than just fuck. We go out on little dates here and there. And it's fun but I can't commit. My focus is on my children."

"Just your children?" Rose questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Damon stopped pulling down his shirt and stared at her. He knew what she was getting at.

"What?"

"Don't play dumb. Is your focus only on the children or their mother as well?"

"You want a commitment because you're jealous?" Damon snorted as he pulled his shirt down the rest of the way.

"No, I want the truth. You have no problem sneaking off to see me when you have the kids but the moment you see her, you don't have the time of day for me. You start shying away. It always a back and forth with you."

"I don't need this. I have enough stress in my life as it is. My focus is on my kids." Damon yelled.

Rose laughed. "Still not denying that it also includes your ex."

"What if it does? She is the mother of my children. I left her to raise two babies by herself for a couple of years. I owe her a lot. I'm going to look out for her. But my focus is on my children, a hundred percent. I missed too much. Time and memories I will never get back. I want to be there as much as I can."

She looked him in the eyes and saw the pain there. Maybe she was reading too much into the situation. He did miss the first few years of his children's lives including the birth of his son. It had to hurt him everytime he looked at his kids. But there was a festering feeling that he was still in love with his ex and would give anything to be a family again.

"I'm sorry." she gave Damon a sad smile. "I really like you, love. When we are together, I have fun."

Damon cupped her cheek. "I do too. I'm not there yet tho. But when I am, you'll be the first to know.

He leaned down kissing her forehead before walking out of the room to leave.

Deep inside he felt bad for Rose. After a few months of hanging out, she was looking to become more serious. She wanted an actual relationship with him, understandably. He was not on the same page as her. His life was devoted to his kids at the moment. That was not going to change. If he had it his way, he would be with his children twenty-four seven. He will be with his kids and their mother as a family. Another reason he couldn't give Rose the relationship she was looking for, he was hopelessly still in love with Bonnie Bennett. With no end in sight.

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