A.N. Hey all! I'm back with another update and you didn't have to wait a million years! Go me :)
I'm so glad that you enjoyed the last chapter and i enjoy reading comments about whats going on. I've got big things in store for this story. As always thank you for reading and replying. I'm glad you're still interested.
speical thanks to: Guest, freckled98, mikjenl08, jordanjanellejoy, smallpot8o, xbmo, bellavida0213, Saumaya77 and xbmo
xoxo
Chapter 23: All about us
Salvatore brothers
It had taken watching her walk away from the two of them with eyes that said that she might just never turn back around to change everything.
They had never really been good at this, the typical way to get over something was to not speak about it. That's how it had been for so long and it worked, it had always worked for them. But not today... not anymore.
For so long they had fought over everything. They were polar opposites, still brothers though. Over the years they had let everything get in the way, he had let everything get in the way, vengeance for Katherine, jealousy over Elena, love, lust and hatred. But they were still brothers.
It was different now. Invisible lines had been drawn in the sand. Stefan had so much hatred, probably built up from everything and though he is sitting right across from him, he can't reach him. It's like a ghost is in front of him . . . a hologram would be warmer than his brother right now.
Gone is the boy who had idolized him when they were human. Even more, gone is the vampire who had made excuses for his older brother. Now, Stefan looks at him with hatred that is hard to ignore.
This time though, the hatred isn't for Elena, no it's for Stefan and more importantly Bonnie. They are here fighting over Bonnie, fighting for Bonnie and that changes everything. This–this thing with Bonnie breaks the script they had stuck to for over a century and most importantly it's the scariest thing that they had ever faced, apart and together.
This has everything to do with Bonnie, sweet and loyal ever beautiful Bonnie. The love they have for her, will either bring them together or tear them further apart. Because once a girl like Bonnie gets in your system, everyone else pales in comparison.
He of course learned all that the hard way and now it appeared Stefan was realizing it too. They were afraid to lose her, to each other, her parents and any other person that could take her away from them.
In a twist of events they were once again loving the same girl and fighting a war for said girl. The difference was that Bonnie was in love with him this time around and he . . . well he loved her too.
ML-ML
Mason
He feels as if he had been hit with the biggest hangovers of all hangovers. His mouth is dry and his body aches from what, he can't remember. An overhead light is shining bright making him squint and then close blue-green eyes tight. His head pounds . . . mimicking that of a drum, louder and louder. He moves his hands to cradle his head and that's when he notices that somehow . . . someway he's gotten himself hooked up to machine.
Beep
Beep
Beep
He grits his teeth as the sound gets louder and louder by each second. The noisy machine beeps three times and then changes the pitch, as the sound it higher and higher causing him to want to climb the walls. The full moon is tonight causing his senses to go in overdrive. The smell of what is around him is something that makes his stomach drop and the sound of everything is overwhelming.
A sheen of sweat starts to pool on his arms, legs and chest as the anxiety starts to build. He starts to pray whispers of words that he prays all the time. And it's then that everything stops.
Whatever he was feeling, the pain in his head, from the noise, and blood vessels popping it's all gone. He opens his eyes again, this time seeing Grayson, Haley and someone else. For a moment when he makes eye contact with Haley she looks as frighten as he was only moments before. Just as he is about to say something, sleep overcomes him.
Flashback
He watches as Grayson sits in front of him, a look on his face that is similar to one of that mad scientist. "How far are you willing to go Mason?" the mad scientist asks with wide eyes. "What are you willing to do to have my daughter and her love?"
Briefly he shifts in his seat. The more Grayson speaks the more alarm spikes inside of him. What mattered most was not how freaking creepy Grayson was being at the moment but Bonnie. What was important was Bonnie. He wouldn't let a single person harm a hair on her head, not her father, not her ex-boyfriend and not anyone else. He had to save Bonnie, even if it were from herself.
He had declared this long before, but right now his declaration was strong and bold . . . even more true. He would save Bonnie from everything and everyone. And then he would take her away from all the pain that Mystic Falls brought her way. "I will do whatever I need to do for Bonnie, any means to protect her."
Grayson folds his hands together. "Good because you're going to need to." He sighs. "In order to save Bonnie, you might have to get your hands dirty, you might have to be let that animal instinct you keep tucked away out."
A question swirls in his head but before he can even form the words, Grayson stabs him with two syringes. A look of satisfaction cast along the warlocks face.
Adrenaline rushes through him. The wolf is awakening and he couldn't stop it if he wanted to. And right now he doesn't want to stop the wolf. Grayson attacked him and the warlock would never do it again. "Why?" He asked his voice comes out gruff as he snarls at the warlock. He is unable to move as the warlocks power is too strong. Far stronger than he had ever experienced. He watches with blurry eyes as Grayson smirks his way.
Grayson begins to talk though he cannot hear a single word. The pain in his temple continues to surge forward and with one last look in the sudden direction of a newcomer, Haley. Briefly they stare at one another, she looks almost as scared as he is. With one last blink, he drifts.
End of flashback
He wakes up to a warm hand gliding across his forehead, and another sunken in the curls on his head. "Mason," comes a soft voice. "Mason wake up."
Turning his head into the warmth, he opened his eyes to see that of one Haley Marshall. She placed her hand on his cheek and just looked at him, tears staining her eyes. "You okay." She ask in her raspy voice. Her hazel eyes are searching for answers for questions that have not yet been asked.
He swallows hard at the sound of her heartbeat that is beating so loudly in his ears. "I'm." He pauses and then grabs a hold of her hand. "Haley what is going on here and why are you with him, what did he do to you?" he asks.
She licks her lips and puts her hair behind her ears. "What's going on with me is not important. You know me, so you know how I get." She says walking away to stand by the window. "But I'm gonna make this right, I promise you this Mason."
He grunts and sits up. "No you tell me now. One minute I was talking to Grayson instead of meeting you and then I wake up here . . . I'm in a hospital!" He reminds his temper flaring.
She shakes her head. "I am aware of that." She whispers. "Look, Mason however you ended up here just know that I care about you so much."
He closes his eyes. "Haley you already know . . . "
She wipes a stray tear. "I know." Pause. "You love her right?" she asked her voice breaking at the end.
He flexes his hands because seeing Haley upset had always tugged at his heartstrings. He's always loved her. He would always love her. But Bonnie was his future. She was everything he wanted. Bonnie was different from Katherine, she was not someone who was out for themselves. Nor was she Haley . . . who had a wild streak that had made the one inside of him come out far too often.
"I love her Hales, I do and it's scary but it's true. She could break my heart one day and I don't know what I would do. But I know that when I'm with her, I feel like the man I'm supposed to be."
The brunette beauty smiles and then sits back down in her chair. "Good for you Mason." She says a hand running through his hair yet again. "Then . . . all of this will be worth it since you love her."
He sits up in the bed and gazes at her. She can barely hold eye contact with him. Briefly he wonders if it is because he hurt her feelings. "You never answered my questions about Grayson and you?"
She licks her teeth. "It doesn't matter."
He watches as the warmth that once reached her eyes was fading away. Haley runs her hands through her hair and soon ties it up. He watches as the line of her neck and then moves his eyes up to her lips.
"Grayson will do anything to get Bonnie away from the leeches of her life. He'll do anything to assure she won't be turned against him." Haley says causing him to look up at her. "And you will do anything to get her away from her vampire." Pause. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay that you would have a fighting chance."
He furrows his brows at the words what are you talking about, poised on his lips when Grayson walks in.
"Good you're awake." Grayson says as he walks into the room drawing all attention his way. He motions for Haley to come to his side and she does as she asked and stands beside him.
"YOU!" Mason growls.
Grayson smiles and shakes his head. "Ah, ah, ah. This is about Bonnie and her safety." He speaks causing Mason to back down. "My daughter has been compromised and I refuse to let that vampire sickness destroy her the way it destroyed her mother!"
He stares hard at the older man. "Haley come back over here" He says eyes on Grayson. When Haley refuses to move he lets out a grunt. He didn't trust Grayson, not after what he didn't and certainly after the way he spoke to Haley. Not to mention the crap he put Alexandria through. HE was sneaky. The only redeeming quality about him was his daughter.
"Are you finished? You just told the girl that is clearly still in love with you that you love my daughter so act like it."
Mason growled again. "My love for Bonnie was never in question. You however are in question!" he adjusts in the small bed. "You knocked me out."
Grayson rolls his sleeves up to his elbows. "I'm not denying it. But if you think you are going to save my daughter you're gonna have to endure much more."
He crosses his arms in front of his chest. "What are you going to do?"
Grayson takes a seat at the stool by the bed. "I've taken the venom of many strong and bold werewolfs and with my magic and you, we can make you one of the strongest to ever live."
Eyes wide he looks to Haley. "Did you know about this?"
She pinched her lips together. "Yeah. It's the only thing that can save you." she trails off because really, she believed Bonnie was the problem, well Bonnie and Damon were the problem. Grayson had told her what would happen if Mason had refused to take part of this, and she wouldn't lose him.
"Vampires and werewolves have always had a sorted past, trying to start a new future with someone who has been embraced by vampires."
Bonnie and Damon, she had heard stories. And if the way Tyler had been ranting was half of it then Mason was going to need to do this.
"The venom will give you control of your wolf. It will also give you the power to change at any moment, without pain." Grayson speaks.
"If you're worried about Bonnie going back to Damon, it's not happening." He says cooly.
He can see the conflict in the young mans eyes and decides to go in. "I've been where you are before, you love her but that sickness it's in her veins. She can't help herself but to be drawn to him." Pause. Grayson looks down at his own wedding ring. Everything he did was for his family and he would stop at nothing till his girls were free from the sickness that was vampires.
Mason licks his lips. "Bonnie is stronger than you think. If you had dared to spend time with her maybe you would know that." He spits out.
Grayson smiles. "Fine, go. It's obvious you don't love my daughter like you say you do."
He cracks his neck. "I never said I wouldn't do it. I just want to know everything you plan. If you want me to do something we are partners in this, one doesn't hold more power than the other."
Grayson gets to his feet. "I knew you would see it my way." He motions for a doctor to enter the room. "You and I are alike, we both do whatever we need to do to keep with the women we love." Pause. "With my help, you will be the one to save her, from herself . . . but most importantly from Damon Salvatore."
Salvatore- DS-SS- Salvatore
Damon
The hotel bar isn't the typical place you would find either one of them, it's their style . . . yet stranger things had happened. It's funny how things. Feelings change on a whim. The one thing that stayed the same was that, they were always willing to go the extra mile for a girl. If it hadn't been for the first girl they both loved, maybe they wouldn't have had a fractured relationship. It took another girl, more than a hundred years later one that resembled the first girl to claim their hearts collectively to finally sever what was left of the Salvatore brothers. And now, yet another girl was the very reason they were sitting next to each other, a bottle of bourbon for him and vodka for his brother.
This had been a long time coming, they both knew it had to be done if not for them but for the girl with the green apple eyes.
"We can't keep doing this Stefan." He says finally breaking the chilled silence that had fallen between the two of them. Honestly he was tired of this, tired of fighting this and tired of tip toeing around everything. Stefan was hurt, he got it, he understood it but he couldn't take it back.
The younger flexed his hands into a fist quietly as he took a slow drag from his cigarette. He blows out the smoke and finally speaks."You don't think I know that, this is killing her." The grey eyed vampire replies.
He mutters a curse. "We're the problem."
Stefan sighs. "No, you're the problem, what you did—" He pauses and looks around before lowering his voice. "What you did to me . . . to her is the problem!" He licks his lips. "You can't stand the fact that I'm not giving into you because that is what I usually do, I make excuses and blame other people for your actions but this is on you!"
He nods his head. "I'm a screw up you know that, and that doesn't excuse what I did. If the tables were turned around and you did what I did, with her . . . " He averts his eyes. The thought of Bonnie and Stefan together it makes him sick to his stomach. "I'd lose my mind." He says widening his blue eyes.
Silence falls, offering reflection.
"I wanted to," Stefan bites his lip. "I wanted you to know how it felt to feel like to have your world ripped apart." He flicks his eyes up into blue eyes. "Most days I still want you to know what it really feels like . . . but I always stop myself from making that move." Sigh. "Old habits die hard."
The glass that was once filled with bourbon is now drained as he listens to Stefan talk. He's torn between being proud that his little brother actually had it in him, and being displeased that this was the result of his actions. "She needs us, both of us." Is all he manages to say, his words coming out choppy.
Stefan stands. "And it is because of her that I will keep my opinion to myself. I may not have much faith in you but she does." Pause. "And unlike you my love will never hurt her."
He too stands. This talk has only established that they are willing to put aside what is brewing between the two of them for her. It's not much, but it's enough and he'll take it. "What do you say, truce Stefan Salvatore?" he asks his hand held out to his brother.
Stefan for the most part looks at the offending hand for all of ten seconds before finally agreeing.
After the hand shake is over, his has about three seconds to speak before Stefan is walking away. He wanted to tell his brother about the unfortunate run in with dear old dead dad, but it looks like that is going to have to wait for another time. This trip was for Bonnie and he would do everything to make her happy.
BB-BB-BB
When I got out of the shower, I found Katherine with two glasses of wine relaxing on me bed.
I don't think she got the memo, but I was not in the mood for anything she was about to pull.
"What are you doing?" I asked arching a brow.
Katherine tilts her hair to the side and grins. "Relax" she says patting the bed. "I bought some wine thought we could drink it together."
I glare in her direction. "I'm not in the mood to deal with you and all of this." I say pointing to her.
Sitting up, the brunette vixen fluffs out her hair. "Well maybe this will get you in the mood." She says grinning. "Stefan and Damon are talking, like adults."
"That's, that's wow!" I say as Katherine hands me a glass of wine.
Katherine gives me a look. "You can be more enthusiastic." The brunette calls as she pats the bed.
I glared her way.
"You read them for being childish and holding onto an issue that has been dead for years in my part." She admits. "The whole thing may have been over if it hadn't been for the slip up with your former bff."
Her words still rung in my ears as I finished my first glass of wine. I had never really expected the Salvatore brothers to act like brothers or even like talk, so hearing about this big talk had made me happy for them . . . if this was what they wanted. This "talk" or whatever it was had been a long time coming so if it helped heal or at least release bottled up emotions then more power to them.
"This is good for them." I say causing Katherine to grin at me.
"You think, they've been holding onto this baggage for so long I'm tired of it."
I bite my lip. Her words had been true. Stefan had been ticked off like really ticked off and Damon had been just as angry. Which meant one thing . . . they were doing this for me. "Well it is about you."
Katherine tilts her head to the side. "Shouldn't you be happier they did this for you?"
She had said the words I had been dreading. "I'm glad that they are talking but this shouldn't be about me!" I say combing through my hair. "I shouldn't be the catalyst for two old vampires to talk about their feelings."
Katherine frowns. "This is the second time you've spoken about age, are you trying to tell me something?"
I wave her off. "They should've done this for them not for me." I say finally.
Katherine nods her head. She gets it Bonnie wants someone in her life to grow the heck up and why not her low-key vampire boyfriends. But at the heart of everything, she is focusing on this Salvatore brother thing other than what is probably really bothering her.
"Okay, lets talk because obviously this issue about the Stefan and Damon talking is really about you being scared and telling them to hit the road."
I stop combing my hair. "I don't need them funking up my plans anyway."
Katherine cracks her knuckles. "You don't want them funking up your plans then don't let them. You're second guessing yourself which is the problem. Use whatever anger you have left over for every single thing you've ever held inside and channel that, use it." She pauses. "Don't let anyone get in the way of what you want . . . even if you love them."
I finished my second glass and put it down. Katherine was right. She didn't need to know it though. "Sound advice. Especially from someone who has probably screwed over everyone you've ever come in contact with." I say with a quirk of a smile.
Katherine grins. "Bonnie, you flatter me. I haven't screwed over everyone, your still here."
I frown at her the little buzz I was beginning to feel fading quickly. "Well, that ruined my buzz."
The brunette giggled. "I'm totally good for it. You could ask Stefan or Emily."
I covered my ears while she then decided to explain the way she hooked Stefan. Girl was all kinds of freaky. Who knew Stefan was into half the stuff they did.
Katherine crosses her legs. "You can stop being a baby now. I won't tell you any more dirty details. I can say out of the Salvatore brothers Stefan has to be the better in bed."
I gag.
"Damon is a close second though. Homeboy is super clingy though. He does aim to please though." Katherine continues.
"Katherine!" I shriek again. "Once was enough you don't need to tell me about any more of your escapades."
The vampire shrugs her shoulders. "Whatever. The way they listen to you– one would be inclined to think they were sired by you green eyes." Katherine says looking me up and down.
I can't help but be amused by her sudden change in everything. "Is that jealousy I hear?" I ask raising a skeptical eyebrow. I then look over to see that Katherine is indeed pouting. "What is this? Are you actually pouting?" I ask not being able to hide my amusement.
Katherine drains her the rest of the bottle. "No!" she says placing the bottle on the night stand. "Stefan never listened to me anyway." She says honestly. "I just realized the power you weld over them."
At her serious voice my humor has literally drained from me. I find myself sitting next to her. She looks kind of sad. "For what its worth, they never listen to me and if by any chance it's because I've issued threats."
After a long while.
Katherine looks over at me. "You underestimate yourself."
I continue to get myself ready but still remain talking to her.
"I think you forget the power you have as a woman and a witch." Katherine continues on. "As a woman, a woman the Salvatore brothers love you hold their hearts in the palm of your hand."
I stop applying eyeliner to look up at her. "I don't want to wield some power over them. I just want them to be happy."
Katherine takes a moment to look thoughtful. "Doppelganger and I may be their greatest weakness, but you, loving you will be their greatest strength."
I furrow my brows. "How so, you just said that I have their hearts in the palm of my hands–I don't know how that is a good thing."
Katherine smiles. Oh to be so human. She can see why the Salvatore brothers are so drawn to the very human Bonnie Bennett.
"Well," Katherine says walking over to me. "They are out talking because the thought of hurting you, terrifies them."
BB-BB-BB
Bonnie
I had made the decision that after speaking with grandfather I would send the Salvatore brothers packing with each other. I was glad that they were talking but that didn't mean, I had forgotten what had gone down. I loved them like I loved chocolate chip cookies but they were a distraction that was not needed.
Arriving back to the living area, I was not surprised to see that both Damon and Stefan were both preoccupied with something other than each other. Stefan was flicking the channel looking for something interesting while Damon was flicking through a magazine about classic cars. They both stopped what they were doing when Katherine and I walked in.
I had chosen to wear my hair in its natural curls today opting for a fresh look. My face was bare with just a hint of color on my cheeks curtsey of Katherine. As for my lips, they were a juicy shade of pink. My attire for our reunion was a summer dress that hit my ankles, brown sandals and a plethora of bracelets. Toady I had decided to dress rather bohemian chic. I just wanted to be light and airy and my clothes represented what I wanted to feel like on the inside.
"Wow" Stefan says standing up. "You look amazing." He says standing in the middle of me and Katherine. "Both of you." He says looking from Katherine to me.
I decide to move away in case shirts start to fly across the room, and limbs get entangled.
I check my phone and see that I have a few minutes to spare and decided to head to the door and walk down to the restaurant. Everyone already knows what they are supposed to do, so it makes no sense for me to hover.
"I'll walk you down." Damon says catching up with me. He hands me my bag and I nod at him. We don't have to look behind us to know that Stefan is watching us.
"Bon," Stefan says coming over to me. "Come on, I need to talk to you." Stefan says motioning toward the balcony.
I watch as the brothers stare at each other without speaking. Normally I would fear that a fight or argument would break out but just by looking at the two of them, I see that they were able to air out of few things. I knew that it would be a long road for the Salvatore brothers but at least they weren't sending death glares and metaphorical jabs.
I looked between everyone and soon followed Stefan to the balcony. Though he and Damon were on better terms, our argument still lingered in my mind.
I rest my hand on the rail as Stefan looks out at the greenery that surrounds us. We almost never fight, we never really have to so this . . . this is different.
"I'm sorry for being hard on you." Stefan finally says. His head is ducked down while his hands are buried in stone washed jeans. "I'm just . . . " He pauses and turns to look my way. "I'm just trying to keep you safe." He admits and then chuckles. "Last night scared me. We could've lost you." He says causing me to look his way. "You're my best friend Bon. I truly don't know what I would do without you." Stefan says finally looking my way.
I watch as he fidgets with his glasses and realize that like his brother he too, has gotten into character. Stefan is dressed like a hipster. He has on rectangled glasses, a white v-neck shirt and stone washed jeans, to finish off his look his paired his outfit selection with brown worn in boots.
"Stefan." I call out but he shakes his head.
"I love you Bonnie." Stefan says his face etched with pain. "And we could have lost you. And that scared me. And then I saw you with Damon today and I thought, here we go again, if I don't lose you death, I'm gonna lose you to Damon."
I let out a breath. This was the first time Stefan had really spoken about last night. He had been silent about everything. Caroline, however had been the emotional one. And the only reason he had really spoken about anything was because he had agreed with my blond friend about me taking blood as a precaution.
I move over a bit closer to him and wrap my arm around his waist. "I am fine Stefan. Nothing is going to happen to me." I say looking into forest green eyes.
He lets out a huff. "It's not just that, its you and Damon."
Despite myself I look behind and catch eyes with Damon who is wearing a cold expression. "Stefan, I already told you nothing happen."
He nods his head showing that he understands me but I know better. "I just don't want you to get hurt Bonnie," He looks down. "You may bounce back and fix yourself back together but I've seen you broken and I don't want that to happen again."
I smile over at him and rest my head on his chest. "It won't." I lick my lips. "Everything is fine." I say looking at my watch. I wasn't comfortable doing this right now, especially with Damon and Katherine within hearing distance. I could only hope that the noise from outside had prevented the two of them to hear most of the conversation.
When we pull back Stefan, has a small smile on his lips. "Does this mean I'm forgiven?"
I wrinkle my nose at him. "Yeah I forgive you Stefan, but that still means the first chance I get," I say looking up at him. "You and your brother are on your way back to Mystic Falls."
Stefan starts to talk and I hold my hand up stopping him. "My mind is made up." I say finally.
Stefan nods his head. " I love you Bon and I'll help you any way I can."
I brighten up, glad for the shift in conversation. "Good because you are on library duty." I say causing Stefan to wrinkle his nose. "And after that once I get everything settled with grandfather you'll be in Mystic Falls."
Whine. "Why couldn't I get the fun assignment like Katherine?" he asked as we both leaned against the railing.
I pretend to think. "Because your girlfriend won't hesitate to scalp anyone for you."
He chuckles. "Yeah, you might be right." Pause. "Be carful."
"I will." I say heading to the sliding glass doors of the balcony. "Oh and Stefan, I love you too."
He nods his head in understanding.
"And you, best friend, will never lose me." I say blowing a kiss to him and disappearing through the sliding doors.
DS-KP-DS
Damon
He can't keep his eyes off of the two of them. Its like knives are being thrown into his back every single time Stefan. Perfect freaking Stefan speaks. He knows his brother cares for Bonnie, but this overprotective crap is starting to grate on his nerves. Not to mention the jabs he keeps sending his way. Yeah, he screwed up by screwing Elena. It wasn't his best moment but he was trying to be better. For instance, he could've told Stefan every which way he had Elena, but that would only hurt Bonnie and more over ruin any chance he had with regaining any relationship with his brother.
"Oohs, broody Damon, want me to guess what's gotten you so upset?"
He glares at her. "Maybe you can put your mouth to good use and get your boyfriend to back the eff off of me." He snarls.
Katherine raises her brows. "He's jet lagged, and scared that he could possibly lose his best friend."
He walks over to the drink cart and pours himself a shot of bourbon. "You know that's not all of it," Pause. "He doesn't think I'm good enough for her. He never did." He admits. "The mere sight of Bonnie and me, close made him lose his shit."
Katherine swallows hard. "He loves her," She admits. "And he knows that with our track record you and I will disappoint him. We might even hurt him." She wipes at her eye. "It would be unintentional of course. We are self-destructive individuals Damon," She says taking a gulp of air. "And sometimes, most times, we drag everyone down with us. Because that is what we do." Pause. "He knows Bonnie will never hurt him as bad as you and I could." She says finally joining him at the liquor cart. "And that is why he's holding on so tight to her."
He looks out to see Bonnie and Stefan still talking. He can't hear them but he knows how they are together. Bonnie is leaning close to Stefan with his arm thrown around her shoulders. To anyone else, this would be romantic but for the two of them, it was normal.
He looks down. "Its probably why she holds on just as tight." He muses.
Katherine finishes her drink. "Probably but she loves you, everyone can see it even Stefan. He just wants to save her from impending heartbreak."
He lets out a huff. "It's a wonder he lets you back into his bed, his good graces but I'm still treated like a parasite."
She pats him on the shoulder. "He loves you too Damon. He's just afraid to let you back in."
He looks back at the terrace again as Bonnie is about to come through the sliding doors. "We'll they are stuck with me, till the end."
"Good" Katherine says proudly. "We don't let go of the people we love, even if it takes hundreds of years." She says thinking of Stefan. She had never let him go, even through all the men she had gone through. Stefan was her heart, he was the only part of it that mattered. Without him her heart was covered it tar but with him, she had fighting chance.
BB-BB
Bonnie
I leave Stefan to ponder outside on the terrace.
Once back into the room, I notice that Katherine and Damon look worst for wear.
"Did I interrupt something?" I ask looking between the two of them.
Katherine grins. "Not in the least." She says walking over to me. She places her hands on my shoulders causing me to look at Damon briefly. "Now I don't do this often but you look like you need this," pause.
"Katherine I don't know what you are about to do but I pray you don't hit on me again." I say causing her to roll her eyes.
"I could hit on you but what's the point when it's obvious you only have green eyes for blue eyes." She says dryly causing me to look back at her and not at Damon. "You are a good girl no matter what you think," She says causing Damon to snap his head in our direction. "This mission to save your mother is important to you– the only way you are gonna get through it, is if you do what I would do in every situation. Your heart can't be on your sleeve this time. You have to play the game, before you get played by it."
I bite my lip and hold back a grin. I guess this was her way of helping. "Thanks Katherine, I'll keep that in mind if the occasion calls for it."
She flounces back to the couch. "Good it's work for me, for more than five hundred years–lets hope it works for you as well." She says eyes on Stefan.
I turn to Damon, who just nods at me as we walk to the door. I can vaguely hear Katherine yell at us to not do anything she wouldn't do.
Once alone Damon and I walk over to the elevator. He pushes the button while I fix my dress. It's a beautiful cranberry color maxi that makes my bronze skin pop.
When the elevator dings I walk in followed by Damon who still hasn't said a word.
"Listen about Stefan,"
He holds up his hand halting my words. "He doesn't trust me, I know that– my question is do you trust me Bonnie?"
The way he's looking down at me has my words stuck in my throat. Do I trust him, of course especially when it comes to a mission. Damon was always my go to whenever we had to get something done, he was my tag team partner when it came to any kind of mission.
"I trust you, you wouldn't be here unless you wanted to help." I say causing him to nod. "I know you'll fight just like I will and pull me back when I need it." I further lament.
Damon smiles a genuine smile. "Good." he reaches his hand out to take mine and soon we walk into the elevator lift.
"Just so you know, you and Stefan will be out of here as soon as I can rally with grandfather about our current situation.
I say as the elevator door closes.
B-D-B-D
I could feel the tension the very moment Damon had dared to lay his hand on my lower back. The mere touch of his hand had my body vibrating. More importantly this was not the time to vibrate. I sucked in air as the elevator door closed.
Slowly I looked over at him. He wore a face of determination, maybe even aggressiveness . . . but it looked good on him. It made me remember that I needed to put on a similar face, my game face– even if it was only mentally.
"I'm surprised he let you leave with me?" Damon calls causing me to suddenly become alert.
When I looked up, Damon was already looking at me. His blue eyes alight with something akin a methane flame. If he had caught me checking him out, he had the decency to keep it to himself. Which was good because the smell of him after being freshly showered and the little room in the elevator was fogging up my senses.
"Katherine said you guys talked," Pause. "So if everything is cool why would Stefan object to an elevator ride?" I asked raising my brows.
He mentally weighs his options, and then just tosses caution into the wind.
"We did." He says trying not to get lost into big green eyes. "It appears our love for each other outweighs our . . . issues."
I can see that this hurt him but like I said before all of this takes time. You can't just snap your fingers and change. It's a gradual thing. Change is a beautiful transformation, one that begins inward and then blossoms outward.
"Damon." I call my hand itching to touch his, to comfort him.
He picks lint off his shirt. "It's true, but I'm okay with that." Sigh. We love you." He says drawing closer to her. "He loves you." He continues. "But I" he pauses to look at me. "I'm in love with you Bonnie."
Our eyes meet as he says the last sentence. My breath expels from my lungs loud and heavy. My heart is a steady drum that is even loud to my own ears.
When he takes a step closer, I know in my head I should take a step back. However, I watch as he inches closer in the tiny elevator and wait for him. I'm drawn to him just as he is drawn to me. I've always been drawn to him, even when he was just a stranger.
I swallow hard. "You don't have to."
He's closer now, his forehead leaning against mine. "But I do Bonnie."
His hand finds it's way to mine as he speaks yet again.
"I love you Bonnie. I'm in love with you Bonnie." He whispers between the two of us like a love song. "The truth is, I couldn't shut that off even if I wanted to." He says placing the other hand on my cheek. "And I wanted to, I wanted to shut it off but I couldn't Bon, and that is why I will do everything to help you." He whispers.
I knew what the smart thing would be, I knew I should have told Damon that though his words were sweet now was not the time for romantic speeches. I'd even go as far as to remind him that I was sticking to my decision to be single, which was still true. However, I did none of that. No, instead I launched myself onto him.
The moment our bodies collided, our lips did the same. Damon had easily lifted me up and pinned me against the wall. His lips never leave mine.
My hands run through his hair, which was its usual mess, once, twice my hand glided through before I tugged his head back. He grins my way and I do the same before properly kissing him again.
Heat floods from me to him as he pushed against me. Hopefully my dress isn't wrinkled later. His Jeans scrape against my skin causing a mew to escape my lips. His skillful tongue dances in my mouth signing promises of what could be if only I had agreed to it.
His tangled and very skilled tongue is telling me "We could be everything together." If only I was ready for it.
I'm in a daze when the kiss finally ends. And Damon, well he is looking at me with cotton candy blue eyes, expectantly.
"Bon," He calls. "What- what was that?" he asked noticing for the first time that the lights were beginning to flicker.
She opens her mouth and before a single word is uttered he quickly placed her onto her feet. When she goes to question him, he quickly places her behind him as the elevator opens.
The elevator door opens a couple walks in. The man looks apologetic while the female seems to be enjoying this. It looks like they are married if the rings are any indication. The man is insanely tall and wears a suit. The woman, a blond with leggings, boots and it appears to be her husband's shirt.
"Wow, get a whiff of that." The woman says as she finds a place to stand.
"Samantha darling." An accented voice calls though you can tell he's just about gritting his teeth.
Samantha shrugs. "What James? I'm just saying that, if you're going to stop the lift then be prepared for someone to talk about it."
When Samantha looks his way, he clenches his fist. "Gotta problem?"
The taller man holds onto his girlfriend who looks as if she might explode. "She doesn't have a problem."
Outraged the blond speaks. "Yes I do! You and your witch,"
I had been silent long enough. Damon was not about to get into a fight here and in this tiny elevator. Not on my freaking watch. "Damon!" I called, tugging on the back of his shirt.
"I most certainly have a problem with you," Samantha says pointing. " And your witch funking up the elevator!"
I let out a gasp. Why did I think she wanted to call me another name other than witch? "Excuse me." I say pushing past Damon.
Once I get past Damon and now stand in front of the couple, the two of them look almost as white as a sheet. "First of all, I'm nobody's witch and secondly,"
"You!" Samantha says pointing a shaking hand at me.
I take a measured step back right into Damon. "What is your problem?"
"How?" Samantha questions before looking at her male counterpart and then looking my way again. "You look just like my best friend!" She cries. "My best friend who has gone missing, how do you look like her?"
Damon pushes Samantha hand out of my face causing a low growl to be heard. "Put your hand in her face again and watch what will happen!" Damon says as his vampire veins begin to show.
If James is affected, he says nothing. Instead he turns to his wife. "Samantha we've talked about this. Alexandria is living her life!"
Samantha throws her hands up in the air. "For love of my cell phone, how many times do I have to tell you Allie would never just drop off the face of the earth."
James rubs his temples as if a headache is on its way. "She can't just be your bestfriend. She's a Bennett witch who has a life outside of all of this."
"Bennett?" I ask though my words are unheard. Damon though draws me closer to him.
"So what being a Bennett never made her drop off the face of the earth!" Samantha shouts. "This has shady Grayson all over it." She laments. "Which means you're his witch?"
Quick as I don't know what, Samantha latches her hands onto mine. On instinct I burn her.
"What do you know about my mother and father?" I demand.
Wide eyes blink back at me.
"You're Bonnie, her daughter with Grayson?"
I nod my head matter of fact. "Answer me!" I say through gritted teeth.
Wide eyes flicker down to my wrist. "You and your vampire are here to see Weston?"
I look over to Damon who shakes his head as if to tell me no. "Yes. Now it's time you answer my questions."
Samantha nods her head. "Not here. How about you meet us later."
Before I get a chance to give them an answer, James is presenting a card my way.
Damon now steps out in front of me. "Why would we believe you? Minutes ago you were ready to fight."
Samantha and James share and look where he nods. "I know I came off a bit rough around the edges but. You can trust me. I know both your mother and father very well."
James crosses his arms and now blocks Samantha. "Now, Bonnie if you want to get more answers then call the number on that card and we can set up a meeting place."
The elevator is silent after the sudden exchange and when we reach their destination Samantha and James bid us adieu leaving Damon and I alone to ponder everything.
BB-DS-BD-DB
As soon as we are, alone Damon is all over me. "You can't possibly be considering meeting up with them." He whispers harshly as we make our way to the dining hall.
I send him a look over my shoulder. "Why not? They know my mom!?" I say continuing to walk. "In addition they can be of help if we need it." I mutter lowering my voice. When Damon does nothing but give me the classic I don't get what your saying look, I decide the truth is the way to go."They know my mom," I say finally.
Blue eyes roll. "You of all people should know that looks are deceiving." He says looking around the hotel. He saw people everywhere, and knew from first hand that not everyone was as truthful as Bonnie was. She was a good person. She almost always did the right thing when most people didn't have the same moral.
Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. I folded my arms in front of my chest. "I'm not as naive as you think I am." I remind him. "I know life isn't full of hearts, stars and flowers. People all over the world lie, and cheat . . . and some people hurt others wether it's intently or not."
He studies me, his ice blue eyes look me up and down, as his jaw clenches. "If this is a dig at me,"
I hold my hand up interrupting him."My dad hurt my mom, my mom hurt my dad, you've hurt Stefan and I've hurt Mason. People hurt other people not on purpose not all the time, but it happens." I sigh and wipe above my brow.
"The list goes on if you think about it."
"I trust them," I say pleading with him to just follow my lead. "They might be able to shed some light on things that my grandfather may not want to divulge." I say quietly. "They might even know how to break the curse." I say looking down. "I trust them Damon, and I believe they are good people, who just want to talk."
He nods his head. "Your optimism is astounding and your ability to believe in complete strangers, to hope for the best in complete strangers is going to make me an alcoholic and only serve to bring out my natural disposition."
It's my turn to look him up and down as I tap my foot. "Well your pessimism is not needed here."
"And your optimism can lead you to an early grave." He grits his teeth. "I'm trying to protect you here." A hand falls on her butterscotch-covered shoulder. Tiny tingles radiate throughout his hand as he levels ice blue eyes with bright green. Her parted lips tell him she feels it too.
My lips are parted as sudden sensation falls over me. I get it, I see it, and I feel it. He's worried about me, but– but I know what I'm doing. "Everything is going to be okay," I say reaching out to stroke his hand. "Have a little faith in me, and my choices." A weary smile forms on my lips.
He nods his head and grimaces before speaking. "Okay, I'll try not to, second guess every move you make." He laces his hand through hers. "Bonnie, you know what I would do if anything happened to you?" he asks drawing closer.
I tilt my head up and look at him. "What?"
He lent down and whispers. "I'd burn everything to the ground."
When he pulls back, I'm shocked speechlessly and just as I am about to reply, I get a text that grandfather is ready for me. He gives me the instructions as to where to meet him in the massive hotel. I look back up to see something flicker behind eyes blue eyes.
"Are you ready for this?" Damon asks his mood changing on a whim.
I nod my head and lick my lips. "Yeah. It's just lunch!" I say brightly. I can tell be the way his eyes blaze that he wants to say something and incline my head for him to just say what he wants to say.
He steps closer. "Bonnie, if you start to panic, or get uneasy, call me and I will be here as fast as I can." He says as fingers brush against smooth skin.
I smile up at him. "I promise. Now go." I say shooing him. "You have to get over to the museum." I remind him. "I'm positive Katherine and Stefan have already left."
He points behind me where Katherine and Stefan are just now going down the escalator. We all catch eyes and then the two of them disappear in the sea of people out the hotel entrance.
"Damon." I call fixing him with a stern look.
"Bonnie." He says with the same look.
Neither of us breaks our stare, until the sound of my phone draws my attention.
"Be careful." Is all I hear as I put my phone away. When I look up he's gone.
BB-BB
The restaurant was easy to find. I had followed the instructions and soon found myself directed to an empty room. The server was nice enough to show me the way.
"Here you are Ms. Dupres." The woman says brightly opening the door for me.
"Thanks." I say walking through the doors.
The room itself is one that is super calming. The blue, white and khaki colors serve as a calming mechanism. The white furniture stands out against the room.
From afar, I see two glasses sat down and surge forward. "Grandfather, I am so happy to," the words die in my throat and I get closer. "What are you doing here?" I asked looking into the very eyes of none other than my grandfathers apprentice.
Dean stands to his full height. "I needed to talk to you . . . alone."