You and I

"Elena, what the hell are you doing here?" a familiar voice said, and she jumped as she turned around, and saw Caroline standing in the shadows of the trees in front of the house that the directions led her to.

Elena gulped silently and Caroline folded her arms and tapped her foot, as she waited for a response.

"I-I couldn't stay there, Care. What if somebody got hurt and-"

"You realize shit will hit the fan if Klaus sees you, right?" Caroline whispered angrily and Elena sighed.

"I honestly don't care, Caroline. I just... I needed to-"

"See Damon?" Caroline asked and Elena stood there quietly, as she stared into Caroline's scowling blue eyes. "Okay, good thing Elijah left me here to keep an eye out, because if he didn't... you'd be making a big mistake. Can I be honest? Damon... is not good for you, Elena, and you know it. I don't know why you're suddenly into him, but-"

"Did you know about this?" Elena asked, as she pulled the folded note out of her pocket and handed it to Caroline.

The blonde sighed as she opened it, and read the contents before she handed it back to her. To Elena's shock, she didn't look surprised.

"No Elena, I didn't know about this specific note but... I do know about Bonnie and Damon. They... they really like each other."

Elena sighed as she crossed her arms.

"So, the feeling is mutual?" she asked.

Caroline huffed as she stared at her friend.

"You came all the way here and put yourself in danger just to ask me that question? Are you insane, Elena?"

"I need to know, Caroline! I need to know if I'm wasting my feelings-"

"You are, Elena! God, how much clearer could it be? You can't have Stefan today and Damon tomorrow, or whatever it is you're trying to do! Why can't you see that?" Caroline finally yelled, and Elena stood there, taken aback by the words, and Caroline sighed. "Elena, listen- I'm saying this because I'm your friend, and I don't want to see you get hurt or hurt somebody else because of lapse of judgement. You have to leave Damon alone," she said with a softer voice.

Elena trembled as she bit her bottom lip, as she stood there, feeling let down by the news of this. Could it really be possible that she'd lost not only Stefan, but Damon as well?

"Elijah," Damon said simply, and the Original sent him an unhappy glare before he pulled the dagger out of Klaus's stomach, and stood up, leaving him gasping for air on the ground.

Klaus looked up at Damon as he quickly steadied his breathing, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't. Instead, he slowly got to his feet, and dusted off his pants, still with his eyes on Damon's all the while. He finally broke his gaze, and walked towards the house, without a word. When he slammed the door behind him, Bonnie immediately turned to Damon and grabbed his arm.

"Can I have a word with you?" she asked, and Damon sighed, as she pulled him away from Stefan and Elijah, into a different area of the yard.

When they finally got away, she stared at him angrily and he immediately balled up his fists.

"Oh, goodie, lecture time- I've been waiting all night-" he began and she cut him off.

"Are you serious, Damon? Just letting Klaus off of the hook like that? You do realize he's going to come after every single one of us and kill us off, one by one-"

"Why do you always assume the worst, Bonnie?"

"I'm not assuming, this is a murderer we're talking about! He doesn't care about us, he doesn't care about you. Why are you giving him another chance when he doesn't deserve one?"

"Because you gave me one, Bonnie!" he finally yelled back and she sighed.

"That wasn't the same thing-"

"It wasn't? I wasn't a serial killing vampire when you met me? I didn't try to kill you when I didn't get what I want? I didn't kill a bunch of innocent people for no goddamn reason? I didn't cause you all massive amounts of pain or suffering for anything that I did?" he asked angrily and Bonnie shook her head.

"But you're different, Damon. And this is Klaus-"

"And he's my brother-"

"He's not! I mean he is, by blood, but what he does- he's showing that he doesn't care! He will kill anyone to get his way, Damon. He's slaughtered thousands of witches for not helping him. I'll be damned if I let him get away with that!" Bonnie said angrily and Damon began to walk away, but she grabbed his arm and turned him back around. "We need to find another way... we have to get rid of him," she said with a lower voice and his blue eyes stared into her strongly and intensely.

"No, we don't. Can't you see? He's doing all of this-he's done all of this- because he wants a family. He's been alone, all these years, without anyone, Bonnie. I will be damned if I don't at least try to give that to him," Damon said and Bonnie shook her head angrily as she let go of his arm.

"Since when did you become Mr. Morality, Damon?"

"I don't know, right now-"

"Right now? You know what else you're doing, right now? You're telling me that I killed Angela for nothing," she replied softly and he sighed. "I guess that's the way it always goes, right, Damon? You'll do anything- you'll say anything- just as long as you get your way. I hope the end justifies the means, because I'm done-"

"What are you done with, Bonnie?" he interrupted, glaring into her fiery green eyes.

"With you! I am done with you," she said sternly and he stood there silently. "I should've known better than to fall for a vampire, because you're the most selfish beings on the face of this planet! Emily was right... I don't need a vampire in my life, so you should just get over this crush that you have on me," she said beginning to walk away, but Damon grabbed her wrist.

Damon instantly remembered what Emily said to him a few days ago, and his brows furrowed.

"You heard that?" he asked softly.

"Yeah, I guess I did," she said, as she yanked her wrist out of Damon's grasp, and continued to walk away. "It doesn't matter much, though. You've made yourself crystal clear tonight, Damon."

Damon watched as Bonnie walked back towards Elijah and Stefan, who was now free, and said a few words, before she grabbed her grimoire, and exited the backyard. He sighed as he watched her leaving, feeling hopeless and helpless about everything that'd happened.

All he was trying to do was the right thing, as opposed to the vindictive thing, for once. He thought Bonnie would be proud of him reaching this turning point. He thought Stefan would admire him for taking the higher road. He even thought Elijah would applaud him for his bravery and being able to put family above all else.

But it backfired.

Bonnie hated him, again, Elijah was pissed, Stefan was confused, and Klaus was still alive. How did this happen?

And where was Klaus? The hybrid disappeared without so much as a nasty remark, and left them all wondering whether they were safe or not.

Damon was pissed.

He stormed off towards the house, and only to get stopped when he felt Stefan's hand grab him.

"What are you doing?" his younger brother asked, and Damon pulled himself away.

"I'm going to settle this, once and for all," he began and Stefan shook his head.

"Damon, you don't know what's going on in head right now, we should just leave. Now, while we still can-"

"I'm not afraid of him," Damon replied simply.

"Then let me come in with you, Damon."

"No. I want to do this myself," Damon answered.

Stefan sighed as he turned to Elijah who hadn't said a word in the past few minutes, and Damon walked into the house alone.

"Maybe we should go in with him," Stefan started, and Elijah stopped him.

"Let him do this one, on his own."

"Klaus," Damon called, when he walked in through the back door of the beautiful Victorian home, and he winced when he finally realized the splinters were still in his shoulders.

He'd get to that later. Right now, he needed to deal with this, head on.

Damon made his way into a room that seemed like a study, as it was complete with a shelf full of books, and a fireplace. He saw Klaus sitting in front of it, with his feet kicked up, as he reclined in the big chair. Damon watched him for a moment, unsure about what he actually was going to say, as he watched him sipping what smelled like alcohol from a glass, while he tapped his fingers against the arm of the chair.

"Johnnie Walker? Never pegged you as a scotch whisky fan," Damon finally said, and Klaus didn't flinch, as he continued drinking. "You know, Stefan's the only person who ever gives me the silent treatment- you are a lot like him," Damon added, as he walked over, and sat down in the seat next to Klaus'.

They sat next to each other in silence for a few minutes, until Klaus finally spoke.

"Do you want a glass?" he asked and Damon shook his head.

"No thanks, I've had enough for the century," he replied, and the hybrid continued staring at the flames.

"Why did you save me?" he finally asked. "Why didn't you let me die?"

"Are you complaining?"

"It's just a question. The question of the decade, I'm sure," Klaus said, as he swirled his drink and Damon sighed.

"You didn't let me die," Damon replied.

"Don't be so naive, it was only because I needed Stefan on my side-"

"It was more than that, I know it," Damon cut in, and Klaus shrugged.

"It might have been."

There was another long silence as Klaus continued to drink and Damon glanced over at him, studying his blonde waves that glowed against the light of the fire, and his blue eyes that seemed a bit glossed over already from too much whisky.

"Bonnie hates me, Elijah is mad, and Stefan- who knows what the hell he's thinking,"

"You care about them."

"I need to know that I didn't make a mistake," Damon said sternly, but with pleading eyes.

"You made a huge mistake, the biggest one of your life," Klaus replied and Damon's heart dropped. "I don't deserve it."

"Listen, Klaus- I'm not all about this heart-to-heart, melodramatic shit. Actually, I hate it, and could do completely without it. But seriously- I don't think it's right for you to feel that way. You've done horrible things to me, to everyone, but I have too, and I sadly know what it's like and I get it. You care too much even when you pretend you don't care at all- you're a lot like me. And the self-loathing, and brooding? The resemblance to Stefan is uncanny."

"He isn't anything like me. You are not even half the monster than I am-"

"But I could be, and I'd like to think I've changed for the better. Somewhere along the way, I decided it was time to be different, and hey, it's not so bad," Damon confessed, even surprising himself.

"Why are you here, Damon? You know that I could kill you in an instant. I could kill Bonnie, Stefan-"

"You can't. You won't. At least I don't think you will. I'm not stupid enough to put my trust in you, but if you're looking for somebody to have faith in you... well, that can be arranged," Damon said with slight hope in his voice.

Klaus finished off his drink and placed it on the table silently before he spoke.

"I don't know if I'm ready for all of the 7th Heaven togetherness bullshit, yet. You know what I am, and it's nothing short of maniacal. I've never needed anyone."

"We all need someone, Klaus, whether you want to admit it or not. And about the maniacal part? Well, I'd say you've finally met you match," Damon replied, as he stood up. "I can't convince you to care, Klaus, or even consider this to be real; we're all only connected because of Esther. But I can promise you that as much as I hate being anyone's shoulder to cry on, you've got mine, if you need it."

Klaus sighed and continued looking at the fire.

"I know Elena's alive," he finally said and Damon's eyebrow rose, as he waited for Klaus to continue. "I figured killing her once was damaging enough to you and Stefan," he said and Damon felt a laugh escape his lips as Klaus' expression softened a bit, but not by much. "You're all free to go. The doppelganger included," he said and Damon nodded, as he began to walk towards the door to exit.

"Klaus?" he asked, and the hybrid turned to look at him blankly. "Thanks," he added, and Klaus nodded before he replied.

"Perhaps I'll be in touch."

"Elena, what are you doing here?" Bonnie asked, as she walked into the front yard, to see her best friends standing there, and Caroline sighed as she looked at the brunette.

"Bonnie! Is Klaus dead?" Caroline interrupted, and Bonnie sighed.

"No," she said shortly, and Caroline's mouth dropped.

"Wait, what?"

"I'll explain on the way back. Can we go now? Like, can we get the hell out of this place?" Bonnie asked, and Caroline sent her a confused look.

"Where's Damon?" Elena asked and Bonnie sighed.

"Couldn't care less," she replied, as she began to walk off.

"Wait, Bon-" Caroline started, and Elena stayed behind.

"I'll meet up with you back at the house," she said and though Caroline sent her a skeptical look, she sighed, and walked away.

Elena began to walk more towards the house, when she suddenly stopped, as Damon approached and she exhaled.

He immediately noticed her, and he sped over, in her direction. His eyes didn't really say much about how he was feeling, so she looked at him curiously.

"Elena, how the hell did you get here?" he asked and she sent a small smile.

"Does it matter? I'm here, aren't I?" she asked and he folded his arms. "I found this," she said, holding up the note, and Damon's eyebrow rose as he took it and read it.

"What is this?" he asked and she shrugged.

"I don't know, I was in Bonnie's room looking for the remote and it was there."

Damon couldn't think as the words on the letter swirled through his mind. Who wrote it? And why didn't Bonnie say anything about it? Did she really not like him as much as he'd hoped?

"Are you okay?" Elena asked and Damon shrugged as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You know I'm here for you, Damon. Always," she said gently, and he stood there as she wrapped her arms around him and into a hug.

"Stefan's here, Elena. You should talk to him-" he began.

"I want to talk to you, Damon. That's why I'm here. We have to talk about us, about the kiss-" she started.

"Elena, there is no us. And that kiss? Let's be honest. You only did it because you felt bad-"

"I did it because I like you!" she suddenly yelled and he stood there silently, as she stared into his eyes. "I might... I could love you, Damon," she said softly.

Before he could respond, he heard footsteps approaching and they both turned around to see Elijah, Stefan, and a Tara approaching in their direction.

Elena inhaled, and Stefan sent her a look that seemed a bit sullen.

Damon was positive he heard Elena's confession.

Tara looked like she was studying Elena, but she didn't say a word and Elijah looked disinterested, as usual.

"Goodnight to you all," Elijah nodded politely, and then he walked off, disappearing into the night.

They all stood there in an awkward silence until Stefan finally spoke up.

"Hi, Elena," he said and she turned to him.

"Hi Stefan... Tara," she acknowledged, and the girl vampire grinned, but didn't respond, as she watched Elena's nervous face, with amusement.

"Let's go," was all Damon said, trying to break the tension, and Stefan stopped in his tracks.

"I... promised Tara I'd stay for a few days... help her get a handle on things," Stefan said and Damon's eyebrow rose, and Elena folded her arms quietly.

He probably meant help Tara adopt a steady blood diet, since it no longer seemed like he was planning on killing the girl, but he didn't look into Elena's eyes to offer any clarification.

"I'll be home in a few days," Stefan added and Damon nodded, as he gave Stefan a gentle pat on the back.

"See you later, brother," Damon said.

"Absolutely. See you soon," Stefan said ambigiously, and he glanced at Elena one more time before he walked away.

Damon was left standing there with Elena, and she was expressionless.

"He's just helping her, Elena. You know it," Damon said and she shrugged.

"How is Klaus still alive?" she asked, changing the subject, and he exhaled.

"I'll explain on the way home."

Damon walked into the house with Elena behind him, and he heard rustling and bustling coming from upstairs. Suddenly, Caroline was at the top of the staircase with bags in her hands, easily bringing them down.

"Leaving so soon?" Damon asked dryly, and the bubbly blonde smiled empathetically.

"I know, crazy right? Who can resist you charm?" she asked and as Damon was about to speak, she raised a finger. "Don't answer that."

Elena looked at the bags, and noticed Caroline had hers.

"Care, I was uh, actually planning on driving back with Damon," Elena said slowly and Caroline's eyebrow rose.

"Yeah, considering my roadtrip partner ditched me," Damon said loudly enough for Bonnie to hear.

He heard the clicking of her heels approaching the steps, and she too had her bags in hand, but didn't answer him, as she walked down alone. She wasn't wearing the red dress anymore, and instead was clad in a pair of blue jeans, with a soft cotton shirt, and her hair tied into a ponytail.

He still thought she looked beautiful.

"Are we ready to go?" she asked Caroline and the blonde sighed as she looked between Bonnie and Damon.

She couldn't let everything end this way. She knew that despite what happened tonight, Damon really liked her, and Bonnie liked him. Caroline figured it was time to play cupid and fix this, the only way she knew how- by meddling.

"Bonnie, you know, my car's kind of cramped between me and Elena, and our stuff- I think you should just go with Damon," Caroline offered casually and Bonnie's eyes narrowed.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Bonnie said, well aware of what Caroline was doing.

"Yeah, and Damon and I kind of decided it'd be cool to take one last trip together," and Caroline rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"I think it's better if you stay with me," Caroline said shortly and Elena scoffed, but her friend picked up her bags and approached the door. "Plus, I need your advice about that thing with Tyler."

"What thing with Tyler?"

"Oh, you forgot? I will gladly refresh your memory. We're leaving, now. Damon, Bon- see you guys back home," she said brightly as Elena begrudgingly walked behind her.

"Guess we'll continue that talk at home," Elena said glancing at Damon, and he nodded quietly as they walked to the door.

"See ya," he waved, and Bonnie gave them both quick hugs before they walked out.

As soon as the door locked, she rolled her eyes at him.

"Don't expect me to talk to you the entire ride home," she said, and he crossed his arms.

"Why wait for the ride home? Your silence would be golden right now," he said, a bit nastier than he intended, and she shook her head in disbelief.

"I'm gonna go see if Caroline can 'make room' in her car for me. I don't need this," she said angrily, as she walked towards the door, and Damon stopped her by getting to the door first, and holding it shut.

"Just because I don't want you to lecture me doesn't mean I want you to leave," he offered and she stared at him silently. "Don't leave, Bonnie. This vampire, who does not beg, is begging."

Bonnie finally sighed and dropped her bags.

"Fine. I'll stay," she said shortly and he nodded, as he continued looking into her eyes. "When are we leaving, Damon?"

"After we do two things- first, we've gotta get these splinters out of my shoulder," he said. "And then, we have to talk about this," Damon added, pulling the folded note out of his pocket.

Bonnie eyed him carefully as he rolled up the sleeve of his shirt to expose his shoulder, and he began pulling the wood out slowly, and a bit painfully, as he winced each time his fingers touched his skin.

"Here," Bonnie said, as she moved in closer, and stopped his hands.

She shut her eyes mumbled a few words to herself he watched as the splinters gently ejected themselves from his skin, and he sighed when they hit the floor.

"Thanks. I'm surprised you didn't want that to be as hurtful as possible," he commented, and Bonnie exhaled as she reopened her eyes.

"I don't, Damon. I don't want you to ever get hurt. Why do you think I was so upset back there?"

"I'm sorry, Bonnie- I am. I put everyone else in danger, and I wasn't thinking," he said slowly and she nodded. "But to be honest, I haven't been thinking straight for a while, and it's not only when it comes to Klaus," he said and Bonnie remained quiet, as he opened up the letter and handed it to her. "I think you know what I mean."

"Damon, I know I should of told you about this... but I couldn't."

"Why not?"

"Because it's embarrassing. Marla gave me that when I was at her house and I didn't know what to make of it."

"You can make of it that you like me, and... the feeling is mutual," he said and she shook her head as she began to walk away again.

"This is crazy-"

"Bonnie," he said, grabbing her hand, and stopping her. "You said you wouldn't leave."

She inhaled and stopped in her tracks, not turning around to face him. Bonnie knew he could hear her heart beating quickly, and she didn't have to look him in the eyes to know it intrigued him.

"I'm putting it all out on the line here, Bonnie. I like you- in all your witchy, bitchy, craziness- I like everything about you. You don't tell me what I want to hear, and you don't put up with the dumb stunts that I pull, like tonight. You get me, Bonnie, and I get you. I'm not gonna let this go."

Bonnie turned around to face him, and he stood there with anxious eyes, as if he'd just revealed the world's biggest secret, and she held the fate of it all in her hands.

"This is insane, Damon-"

"But you like it, Bonnie. You like me... you want me as much as I want you," Damon said firmly and she didn't respond to that.

He moved in closer and smoothed back a loose strand that hung next to her right ear, gently with his finger, and she shut her eyes as she breathed.

Bonnie felt him move in even closer, and his soft lips touched her neck, while she stood there motionless. She shivered when he grabbed around her waist, and pressed his lips in harder, and gently kissed towards her ear.

"Tell me to stop if this isn't okay," he whispered and Bonnie boldly pushed him back a little, and her eyes met his, as he waited for what he believed would be her obvious answer.

I can't do this. I don't want this. I don't want you.

"Don't stop, Damon," she said breathlessly, and his eyebrows raised in surprise, but he brought a hand to her cheek, and stroked it with a thumb.

Damon drew her in again, and his mouth kissed hers softly, as Bonnie ran her fingers through his hair. He continued placing gentle kisses until Bonnie couldn't take it anymore, and pulled him in closer by his collar, and kissed him longingly.

Damon took that as a sign that she meant it- don't stop.

He pushed her against the wall in the living room and kissed her harder, and Bonnie breathed quickly when he peeled his lips away, and stared into his eyes intently.

"I didn't mean what I said about not giving a fuck about any witches," he said impulsively.

"And I didn't mean what I said about you being a blood-sucking piece of shit," she replied, breathlessly and he smiled, as his hand ran up to her hair, and pulled out the elastic band holding her ponytail.

Bonnie's smile spread to her lips, and Damon leaned his forehead against hers, as his hands ran along the back of her jeans. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him passionately, leaving Damon with no breath this time, as her tongue caressed his. The kisses were becoming longer, harder, better as the minutes passed by, and Damon savored the sounds of Bonnie's gentle moaning against his lips.

He wanted more.

Damon ran his hands up the back of her shirt, and he slowly pulled it above her head, and tossed it behind them, exposing her black bra. He lowered his lips to her collarbone, and her hands found their way beneath his black t-shirt, as her nails scraped along his pale skin. Their lips seperated long enough for her to pull it off and drop it on the ground, right next to hers.

"Just to be fair," she said, and he grinned as his lips made their way up to her ear.

"Bonnie Bennett, you don't know what you're doing to me," he whispered and she smiled softly as she found his eyes, and looked into them strongly.

"Why don't you show me?" she suggested.

Damon smirked and they met in another fiery kiss. His skin pressed against hers, and his fingers fumbled with the button on her jeans. He seemed to rip them off in one motion, and his were gone within seconds as well. He lifted her into his arms with ease, and slammed her against the wall, while Bonnie wrapped her legs around his torso, and he felt her warm skin heating up against his.

Her hands gripped his raven locks as he kissed her wildly. He walked them over to the couch, and as soon as he set her down, Bonnie pulled him on top of her, and her hands explored all over his body.

"Are you sure about this? I wouldn't want your witchy ancestors to banish you from the family," he asked, as his thumb ran slowly across her skin, and she caught his hand, gently intertwining her fingers with his.

"If I'm going to hell for this, Damon, I might as well go all out."

A/N: Again, THANK YOU ALL, SO MUCH FOR THE COMPLIMENTS. I really think you're all amazing for giving me feedback and I hope this chapter had enough shock, surprise, and BAMON for you all! R&R loves! :)