Guess I owe you all an apology, huh?

It was never my intention to wait THIS LONG to update…but between issues and RL…it was inevitable. Oh, and then my flash drive went MIA, and when I found it, it fried my USB hub on my computer…Yeah, it's been rough for me.

Anyway, let's get this show on the road, shall we?

25

Bonnie

Dear Diary,

Boy, it's been a while since I've written, hasn't it?

I cannot believe the turn my life has taken. It seems like just yesterday we were all graduating high school, and then Elena came back, and…well, it's been quite a ride.

Let me tell you where everyone is now. Meredith and Alaric are expecting their first baby. A little girl they're naming Jessa. I bet she'll be beautiful. Elena and Stefan finally got married too. It was the most romantic event I have ever witnessed. They said their vows just before midnight on New Year's Eve, and when the clock struck midnight, they kissed. It was breathtaking. Almost as gorgeous as my wedding. *smile*

Matt has a new girlfriend. Her name is Veronica. She's related to Vickie Bennett somehow, like a second cousin or something. They wound up at Ithaca together. I didn't even know Matt had applied there! Anyway, they hit it off instantly, and have been together about 6 months now. We don't talk much anymore, which I guess is just as well considering he hates the one thing that keeps me alive these days.

Damon.

What do you say about a god in man form? Ok, ok…he's not the God, but he's just as sacred to me. Every night since the run-in with Angelo over half a year ago, we've been joined in some way. Mostly physically, of course, since we're still newlyweds. But we use our Power on each other almost daily to strengthen each other. We will never be at a disadvantage again.

I have come to terms with the fact that Damon and I will never be parents. But we'll be Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Damon to Jessa, and that's good enough for me. Somehow I can't imagine Damon changing diapers! And eventually Jessa will notice that her parents and Elena get older, but Damon, Stefan, and I never age. Damon says we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I used to wonder what our babies would look like. I've never told him this, but I would've loved a little girl with Damon's eyes. I even had her named. Iliana Rose Salvatore. Isn't that pretty? Oh well, maybe I'll let Elena and Stefan use it when they have babies.

Before you ask, no, we are not sure Stefan can father a child. We assume he can, but the question never really came up, and Damon and I were careful when we were intimate while I was still human. No one really knows, though there are some interesting stories out there about rogue vampires fathering numerous children with unsuspecting women. I don't think anything was ever recorded about the children, or the mothers, for that matter. But I can't imagine both would have survived. One would probably have killed the other.

That said, I imagine we'll be moving from here pretty soon. People are starting to talk about the extraordinarily beautiful couple in the house on the hill. I guess in actuality, we could stay here forever if we wanted to and no one would say anything. As much as they admire us, they fear us as well. But I know Damon is getting restless. He's a wanderer, a nomad of sorts. Being in one place for too long makes him edgy.

We don't talk about that night the guys disappeared. Ever. Stefan says things happened in the cove that put him in a bad place. I remember falling into Damon's arms, and then nothing. I blacked out. I could feel him kissing me, caressing me, talking to me in Italian even though I had no clue what he was saying. But he won't talk about it with me. Maybe I can get Elena to talk to Stefan. Hell, maybe she'd get more out of Damon.

I put the diary down as I heard Damon approaching. He took my hair in his hand and moved it off one shoulder so he could kiss me there. "You didn't have to stop writing on my account, cara. I would've been content to just sit here and watch you."

I smiled for what felt like the first time in years. "I know, baby. But I would much rather cuddle with you." I looked over my shoulder at him and stood as he caught me in a searing kiss. "Mmm, that will never get old."

He chuckled against my temple. "Neither will we."

I smacked him playfully on the chest and turned to walk away from him. "Ha ha," I mumbled sarcastically. I caught his hand and walked us over to the bed. My leg automatically went under me and reminded me of when I was in high school all over again, having slumber parties with the girls. "Do you miss it?"

His eyebrows came together in confusion as he sat across from me. "Miss what?"

"Florence. Your life. All of it."

He chuckled again and pulled me so I was sitting across his lap. "Cara, when will you truly understand that my life didn't begin until I knew you loved me?"

"Yeah right."

Damon rolled his eyes at me and lay me down on top of him as he rested back against the pillows. "Sweet, naive Bonnie." He swept his fingers through my hair and looked deep into my eyes. At times like these I was sure he could see my very soul, and I had no problem with that whatsoever. I loved him more than I ever though possible. But I knew that there had been others before me.

"Yes, there were others, but I have loved only you."

Did I say that out loud?

No, came his silent reply. He smiled up at me. You forget how attuned we are to each other sometimes, I think. No one knows you quite like I do.

I had to smile at that thought. He was right. Not even Elena and Meredith, whom I had known as long as I could remember knew me like Damon did. In essence, marriage was supposed to be that way. Then again, there were probably no other marriages as unconventional as ours.

Damon chuckled again, pulling me level with his face so I could kiss him. "Mrs. Salvatore, I think we need to feed."

Feeding…what a horrible ordeal. Knowing that the only thing to keep you strong had to be taken from a living, breathing, human being disgusted me to my core. I had only really fed twice, and both had been fairly unpleasant situations. "Do we have to?"

Damon smiled and I felt my heart crawl into my throat. I knew he would never cease to elicit that reaction in me. "Cara, I know how repulsive you find the act, but trust me. You need it just as much as I do."

"Ok, ok," I said, pushing myself up from his glorious chest. "Let me go put something decent on."

He eyed me as I sashayed to our closet. "I think you look just fine."

I raked my hand over my boy shorts and cami. "Um, and watch you maul some poor teenager for thinking he'd died and gone to Heaven while I drink from his neck? Yeah, I don't think so."

"What?" he asked, shrugging. "I know were it myself in the same situation I would welcome it. I get to have your lips on me before I meet my maker. Sounds like my perfect version of Heaven, cara."

His words sparked a question in me and I turned on my heel and sprinted back to the bed. "About that," I started slowly. "What do you think happens to us when we die? I mean, Elena and I were able to communicate fairly well. Do you think we'll be together?"

Damon sighed loudly and threw himself back across the bed. "Not this again, rossa. Haven't we discussed this enough?"

Enough? I hadn't remembered discussing it ever. "No, I don't recall ever having this conversation."

He sat up, rolling his eyes and breathing loudly out of his nose. "Ok, fine. Where do I think we go? That depends on what you did on Earth, I suppose. You? You'll probably go directly to the pearly gates. Me? Probably just the opposite."

I gasped and jumped onto him. "No! That can't be!"

Damon laughed humorlessly. "Bonnie, I've killed for the pure fun of it. Don't you think that kind of knocks me out of God's grace?"

"But…but…" I couldn't get the words out. A world without Damon was not where I wanted to be.

"Shh…," he whispered and put his finger to my lips. "Enough. We don't ever have to think about that, right?" He kissed my cheek, then my forehead, and into my hair. "We'll just never die. That way we won't ever have to be apart ever again."

"Sounds like a plan," I said breathlessly.

Feeding was going to have to wait.

Damon

The time was coming when I knew I would have to answer questions. What happened in the cove? Who had you there? How did you get there? How did you get out?

Neither of us wanted to answer them, though I knew they all deserved to know. Six months…we really couldn't put it off any longer.

I approached Stefan's door quietly, knowing he could hear me anyway. They were living in Hollywood, and although I could see the attraction for single people, my brother was obviously not, so it baffled me as to why they chose a house here. Elena had said something about the view of the famous "Hollywood sign" had driven her to make the decision. Whatever.

The door opened with a soft creak, and Stefan nodded at me. That was his way of ushering me inside, I supposed. Y'know, it does nothing for your sex appeal, brother. I don't find you attractive in the least.

Stefan smirked at me. Elena's asleep. I heard your thoughts from miles away.

So you know why I'm here then?

Stefan nodded again. You want to know how much, or how little to tell Bonnie.

It was my turn to nod. Oh yeah, I make that look good.

Stefan rolled his eyes and turned away from me, walking into the den. Don't kid yourself. Damn, even his thoughts came off smug.

I walked behind him and stopped when he reached the opposite end of the room. So?

So what? I still say we keep our mouths shut and tell them nothing.

I had to shake my head. That's not gonna work. You know my wife.

And you know mine. Elena will listen to whatever I tell her. She knows not to push for answers she really doesn't want.

I could feel my eyebrows hit my hairline. Oh really? Ha! I find that a little hard to believe. Miss 'determined-as-hell-to-get-Stefan-Salvatore'? She's just as stubborn as Bonnie. Maybe even more so. I can't keep something like this from her, and you know it.

Stefan sat on the arm of the couch and put his head in his hands. "I know," he said quietly. "I also know the vile, disgusting thoughts going through Cindy's head, which I can only assume mirrored Angelo's thoughts." He was quiet again for a moment, assessing my expression. "You heard them, too."

I nodded slowly. "Of course I did. I also know Angelo's not dead."

Stefan's body stiffened. "He's what? How do you know this?"

I chuckled low. "He called to me a few nights ago. Bonnie was sleeping soundly, and I heard him as clear as if he was standing right next to me. So I went to see him on the beach. He told me he would stay clear of this side of the country, but had no intention of staying away permanently. Once we leave, California's 'free again', as he put it."

Stefan stood and walked over to the French doors leading out to the balcony. "What do you make of that?"

I shrugged. "Who knows? Who cares? So long as my family is safe, he could drain the entire West coast and I wouldn't bat an eyelash."

Stefan turned to look at me then, and I could swear his eyes were about to fall out of their sockets. "Of course Damon Salvatore would only think of himself."

"Be realistic, brother," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. "Would you really care if he sought out the entire freshman class at the local university? Or are you out to protect your bride?"

I had a point, and he knew it. "Here's what you don't understand, brother," he said disdainfully. "My family is more than just myself and my wife. I have a responsibility to protect those around me…even you."

My eyes shot to meet his gaze and I saw something there I hadn't seen from him in almost a lifetime. Compassion covered his expression and I had to look away. Being with Bonnie has totally made me soft, I groaned internally. "Ok, fine," I sighed in resignation, "what's the plan?"

"Nothing," he said and shrugged as he turned away from me again. "So long as we are all safe, we stay out of it. But we keep our eyes and ears open. If any of us hears anything, we tell the group. Agreed?"

I nodded as a thought occurred to me. "Out of curiosity, brother, what do you intend to do with your wife?"

Stefan's brows furrowed as he turned to look me up and down. "I'm not sure I understand what you mean."

I started to walk slowly around him until we were standing next to each other overlooking the cityscape below. "Well, Bonnie and I are together for eternity. You already went that route, remember?"

I saw him stiffen beside me and he cleared his throat. "What's your point?"

"You do know that you can't Change her again, right? It's too risky."

"Damon, really, what does this have to do with our conversation?" His fists clenched and I knew I had to get to my point quickly.

"I think we should take a trip. Maybe go see the elders in Florence. Wouldn't you want to know what happens in the end?"

I turned to face him just as his eyes narrowed. "That's not the only reason you want to leave." It was not a question.

"No."

"Then? Why else would you want to go?" Realization hit him then and he smirked. "You want to know what's next for Bonnie." I didn't speak, and he took it as confirmation. "There's no shame in that, Damon. You want to protect your wife as much as I want to protect mine. But I think she has more of a chance than…" He trailed off, obviously not wanting to finish his statement.

We heard footsteps approaching and decided to table this conversation until we were again alone. Elena rounded the corner, clutching the sides of her robe and pulling them tightly around her as the wind picked up. "What are you two doing out here?"

"Damon was just leaving," Stefan whispered as he looked into her eyes. Elena looked over at me and I nodded.

"Wait," she said as I walked past her. "Is everything ok?"

"Everything's fine. Why would you ask that?" I tried to keep my face as normal as possible, but I knew from past experience that the only person who could read me as well as my wife was standing in front of me.

"It's three o'clock in the morning, Damon. Not exactly a normal hour for a social visit." Elena put her hands on her hips and waited for me to speak. When I shrugged she threw her hands in the air in exasperation. "Fine," she said as she turned away from me. "But one of you will tell me what's going on, and why the reason for such secrecy."

Stefan remained quiet as well, and I walked to the front door, Stefan closely on my heels. "Remember," he whispered low and directly to me. "Not a word of this to anyone. No one needs a re-hashing of the night in the cove."

If only he knew how powerful my wife was when she wanted something.

Bonnie

I heard Damon's Ferrari as it pulled into the driveway from where I was on our balcony. The week had gone by quickly, and today was decision day. If we were going to stay in this house, we needed to come up with a game plan. Our neighbors were starting to pick up on things again. Like the fact that we never went to work, but we could afford this house and everything in it. Still, no one said anything to either of us, but I could hear the questions in their minds.

Damon sauntered into the bedroom, as only he could, with two dozen long-stemmed red roses. "Mia moglie bellissima," he purred as he embraced me from behind. The roses came around me and shone in the sunlight. When I didn't turn, he stiffened and brought his face around to where he could see me. "Cara? What's wrong?"

"I need to know, Damon."

I felt his forehead hit my shoulder and he sighed. "Of course you do." He walked around me and my eyes followed him into the sitting area of our room. "What did Stefan tell you?"

My expression must've clued him in; I had no idea what he was talking about. "What do you mean, what did Stefan tell me?"

His eyes went wide for a split second before he recovered. "You mean that wasn't his car I saw leaving here?"

Now it was my turn to be wide-eyed. "Car? What car?"

In an instant Damon was off the loveseat, down the stairs, and out the front door. I saw him shift into his crow form, something I had never witnessed before, and fly off into the distance. My feet finally caught up to my brain and I called out to Stefan with my mind as I reached for my phone. Elena answered on the first ring. "Bonnie, what's wrong?"

"Elena, where's Stefan?"

"He just left. He's on his way to you right now." Her voice was shaky.

"Did he take the car?"

"No."

"Good. Get in the car, drive slowly and carefully, and meet us at my house. Take your time and be careful. Everything's fine. But I have a feeling…a very bad feeling, and I don't want you to be alone right now. Ok?" I had to calm her before she got in the car. The last time she was frazzled and got near a car…

She took a deep breath and I could picture her putting her hand over her eyes in an attempt to slow her breathing. "Bonnie, I'm scared."

I was, too, but I couldn't let her know that. "I know. But you know that those husbands of ours would never let anything happen to us. Just trust that they know what they're doing." Who am I trying to convince here?

I hung up with her and decided to try another approach.

I was going to Trance.

Damon

Dammit!

How did I not know that Angelo was near? How could I have missed that?

I flew through trees at a rocket's speed, zeroing in on the car below that had left my house just before my arrival. As far as I was away from Bonnie, I could hear her conversation with Elena clearly.

"Bonnie, what's wrong?"

"Elena, where's Stefan?"

"He just left. He's on his way to you right now."

"Did he take the car?"

"No."

"Good. Get in the car, drive slowly and carefully, and meet us at my house. Take your time and be careful. Everything's fine. But I have a feeling…a very bad feeling, and I don't want you to be alone right now. Ok?" Bonnie was trying to calm her, thoughts of the last time Elena had been in a vehicle in this state flooded her mind.

Elena took a deep breath. "Bonnie, I'm scared."

I could feel Bonnie's fear as well, and I willed her not to clue Elena in. "I know. But you know that those husbands of ours would never let anything happen to us. Just trust that they know what they're doing." I had to applaud my wife internally. She was doing a great job.

And then the one thought I knew would come up, but I had hoped desperately would not.

Bonnie was going to Trance.

Alone.

I stopped mid-flight and warred with myself as to what to do next. Did I go after the car that I knew held my oldest enemy? Did I race home to stop my wife from inviting more forces to us?

My mind was set before I realized it, and I found myself propelling back to stop my wife from making things infinitely worse.

I got there at the same time as Stefan and we passed each other a look before walking into a dark house with candles illuminating every corner. In the middle of the living room, my bride lay very still, sprawled across the carpet. I ran to her side and picked her up as I heard her take a deep breath and then scream before she fell limp in my arms. Her eyes popped open and she whispered, "Elena".

Elena

Hard as I tried, I could not get the feeling of dread to calm. Bonnie was scared. As much as she tried to hide it, something was going on. Something bigger than either of us realized, and I had the distinct feeling I was headed right into it.

I stopped at a light and started to roll up my windows when the biggest hawk I had ever seen caught my attention from across the street. It was headed up into the hills and I could've sworn it said my name.

I shook my head; obviously the lack of sleep was catching up to me. But I heard it a second time, and it was distinctly my name.

"Elena…"

I turned the car in the direction the bird had flown in and sped after it, running red lights left and right. I had no idea why, but I knew I had to follow this bird. I could hear Stefan's voice now. Where do you think you're going? Following a bird, Elena? Really? But I knew this bird was important to me somehow.

I turned the car onto a private road that led up to the biggest house I think I had ever seen. It was bigger than Damon & Bonnie's, if that was even possible. The hawk stopped at the front porch, and as I drove around to stop, I could see the front door was open. I walked up to the door and knocked softly on the frame. "Hello? Is anyone home?" I called inside, peeking my head around to peer inside.

I could hear soft music coming from the back of the house and I followed it. Smells of what had to be Italian food wafted in from the kitchen and I found myself sidetracked. My nose led me to the massive kitchen, decorated in the richest blues and greens, pots hanging from the grid above the stove. A small woman was hovered over the stove, whistling to whatever song was in her head, and stirring a huge pot. She didn't turn as she spoke. "Welcome, Elena."

I jumped at the sound of my name from her lips, in perfect English, but with the thickest Italian accent. She still hadn't turned to look at me, which was curious in itself. But the fact that she knew my name was even more confusing.

She laughed lightly but still did not turn. "You're wondering how I know you."

"Uh…yeah," I stammered. "And I'm wondering-"

"Who I am. I know." Finally she turned and I was met with a face I knew well.

"You…look just like…"

The woman smiled. "They're my sons."

Yeah, I know you hate cliffys…I do too.

But I promise to update quicker next time. I think things are starting to slow down a little for me. *Knocking on wood*