A/N: Alright second to last chapter everyone! We finally see the Salvatores! Also, quick note, I was asked if I was planning to do a sequel to this story. Honestly, I would say that anything is possible, but I have some other stories that need finishing before I could write a sequel. I'm planning to leave the ending relatively open ended, so I could write one later, if I get inspired to do so. :)

I DO NOT OWN THE VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS.

Chapter Twenty-One:

I was shaking, when we pulled up the Gilbert-Saltzman-Sommers residence. I'm nervous. I don't know what they will say. I asked Stefan and Damon to meet us here. It'll be easier to stop here, first. I saw Damon and Stefan waiting outside for us. As soon as the car stopped, I jumped out and ran over to them.

Stefan was mid-conversation with 'Ric, but he turned to smile at me. Damon caught up with me first and caught me, when I jumped to hug him. I wrapped my arms and legs around him and buried my face in his neck.

"I missed you, so much." I whispered, as tears burned my eyes. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you guys." I apologized.

"Hey, hey, none of that. We don't blame you for Klaus being an idiot. That's clearly nothing new. And if there is any doubt in that sexy mind of yours, you better believe that I missed you, so much." Damon breathed, squeezing me tighter. I whimpered as tears began to fall. It took me a second, but I got my emotions under control. They're happy tears, but I don't want to be crying, right now. I've cried enough during my lifetime.

"She just gets back and you're hogging her already? Really brother?" Stefan teased. I gave Damon another squeeze, before trying to move out of his embrace. Damon held on a minute longer than I did, before he let me go. I moved into Stefan's arms and hugged him, like my life depended on it. My arms were wrapped behind his neck and he lifted me off of the ground. I kissed him and burrowed my face into his neck, just like I did with Damon. "I'm so glad you're home." Stefan whispered. I smiled against his skin.

"I missed you, Stef." I breathed.

"Not as much as we missed you," he retorted. I kissed his neck. "I love you, Bonnie." He told me, before pulling back, just enough to bring his lips to mine. I kissed him back.

"I love you."

"I see how it is. If you're not a Salvatore, you don't get any love." 'Ric said from behind us. I laughed, as Stefan put me down. I walked over to 'Ric and hugged him.

"It's good to see you. It's good to be back." I told him. He grinned.

"I'm just happy that you're safe, Bonnie. We were all worried about you."

"How are Jenna and Jeremy?" I asked him.

"They're good. They're waiting for you inside." 'Ric gestured to the front door. I nodded and let go of him, to go inside and see them.

"Play nice." I told them all. I stopped before I got to the front door and went and hugged Elijah. "Thank you, for everything. Really, it means a lot."

"Anytime, Bonnie, it was my pleasure." Elijah said, sincerely. "You can call me anytime. I'm no stranger to sending text messages, either. Don't lose touch. I have some grimoires that could be beneficial to you."

"I'll keep in touch. I promise. I'd love to see them. I'm sure that I'll see you again, soon. I'll track you down, before too long." I promised him.

"I'll hold you to that, Bonnie. Take care."

"Same to you." I smiled at him, before heading inside. I saw Jeremy as soon as I opened the door.

"Bonnie! You're back!" Jeremy exclaimed. I beamed and hugged him.

"Hey, killer!" I greeted him.

"You've changed." He said, quietly, before letting me go. I struggled to meet his eyes.

"But I'm alive and that has to count for something, right?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood. "It is really so unheard of that people change, Jere? I mean, everyone has to evolve at some point. Right? I've been through hell. It finally feels like things are starting to get better for me. I didn't know what this trip would mean for me, but at some point, things got a little easier. Things happened, Jere, life-altering things. I know that you don't like it and I'm not asking you to. I'm just asking you to respect it."

"You can't possibly think that I'd actually ever be okay with you dating two guys, who are brothers; do you?!" Jeremy yelled. I flinched and took a step back from him. "You know how I feel about you! You've known!"

"I know Jere, but I made it clear before I left that I didn't feel that way about you…" I whispered. He looks furious.

"Two guys? Really?" He asked, sounding like he was starting to calm down. I shrugged my shoulders, meekly.

"We're all okay with it. Why is it really so weird?" I asked him. He didn't say anything. "I'm not living my life to hurt you, Jere. This is for me. I'm doing this for me… just like I took this trip for me. I met my aunt and I found out that I still have some family out there. At the very least, you can be happy for me, because of that."

"I am, Bonnie. I really am. I think that it's great that you still have family out there. I know that you're not doing this to hurt me. It's just hard to deal with."

"I get that, Jere, but you can still be civil to me."

"You're right. I'm sorry. I'm glad you're okay. I'm glad you're home. It'll be nice to have you back here." He smiled. I bit my lip.

"About that… there's something we should talk about. Can you get Jenna?"

"You're moving in with them?" Jenna asked me, dumbfounded. I nodded. "You haven't even been together that long." She pressed.

"It's her decision, Jenna." 'Ric reminded her. She really was taking this better than I thought she would.

When I talked to Damon and Stefan this morning, before the trip to Mystic Falls, they suggested that I move in with them. I don't have a good reason not to. I love living with Jenna and Alaric and Jeremy… but I think that living with Stefan and Damon will be good for me. This trip has made me feel more human than I've felt in longer than I can remember.

I know that things won't be good forever and I don't expect them to be. I keep hearing the bodies fall, when I close my eyes. I can't shake that feeling. I know that I'm responsible for their deaths. Their blood will forever be on my hands and there's nothing I can do to change that. I just… I'm going to try my damnedest never to hurt anyone, again. I know that it was me and my family or them, but that doesn't make dealing with that any easier. I know that I won't be able to deal with that, while I'm living here. It's something that Jenna and Jeremy could never understand. I think that 'Ric could… but I feel like… being with Damon and Stefan would be best for me.

"I know that. It's just hard. We just got you back, Bon. I don't wanna lose you." Jenna admitted, as she got teary. I rushed forward and hugged her.

"You won't lose me Jenna. I'm not going anywhere outside of Mystic Falls, this time. I'm still going to be around. You'll get tired of looking at me." I promised.

"We're keeping your room. You're welcome anytime. You can stay her for girls' nights." Jenna decided. I nodded.

"Of course," I agreed.

After an hour of convincing Jenna that I'd be fine, she finally let me pack a bag and head to the boarding house.

"Ready to head home?" Damon asked me. I smiled.

"I'm ready." I told him.

"Let's go." Stefan said, before he took my hand and led me to Damon's car. Home, that's nice word to hear.