Best Friend
Pt 25 - Agree to Disagree
R-M
Thanks for supporting, please Enjoy this chapter ;)
Damon woke up to her lips wrapped around him. He thought he was dreaming, but he was living in a dream, and she was deep throating him at seven in the morning. His hand slapped over his face, and he sucked his lip. The further she went, the more he wanted to puller by her hair and flip her on her back, and make her scream his name. "Baby girl... got damn!" He looked up and pulled the blanket off her, and saw at the top of her head before she batted those big green eyes at him. "Fuck." He whispered out and let his head fall back again. She pulled up and let the saliva drip from her lips as it built up in her jaws, and coat his cock, until she wrapped both hands around it, turning each hand gently in a circular motion, both going in opposite directions. She did that for a minute before putting her mouth back on top and doing both hands that way and going down on him. He about clenched his chest, as his body prepared for his release. "God, you know I love it when you do that." She sat up again and jerked him for about fifteen strokes before putting her mouth back on him and finishing him off.
...
When Bonnie came back from the bathroom, she sat back on the bed next to him. "Baby girl. I feel like I owe you. You've been spoiling me with those."
"But I love you."
"I know but... like, my broken leg, and I'm just. I feel helpless. And it's not my birthday, it's Dimitri's birthday. Is that why you are spoiling me? B'cos, I can't play with him today?"
"I'm spoiling you because I love you. Besides, now your arm cast is off, and now you can hold your son. I'm so happy. And I want you to start the day happy."
"I'm happy. Let's go wake our son up." He said. Since they'd been back he'd been sleeping in the second bedroom in Baylee's bed.
"Okay. Let's get you out of bed old man." She laughed, making him. Roll his eyes.
"Okay baby. Just wait until you're knocked off your ass. And I gotta take care of you. How about this, take me to the kitchen, I'll start breakfast. Just wheel me in there, and wake him up and bring him to me."
.x.
By the time, Dimitri was settled into his party, Damon had already rolled his way out to the barbecue grille and put some hamburgers and hot dogs on. It was a small get together with just family and friends, at the Salvatore's. Lily and G along with Bonnie and Stefan put out a lot of balloons. In the back yard, in the small portion of land before the ranch started. Right where Stefan's house was. There were few other children.
Zack brought his two sons. The new Pastor, Pastor Saltzman, and his wife brought their twins daughters. Then by surprise, Sarah brought her son. Stefan was in shock. He was nervous. They'd been dating a few months and he'd heard about the little boy so much, that at this point he was just nervous as to how the child reacted to him.
"Damn I never thought, I'd date a woman with children." Stefan said to his brother, when he brought out the buns for the hot dogs and burgers.
"Why? They're just like any other woman. 'Cept with children."
"I know, but me? Come on now. You know I just got my head outta my ass when we bought the damn bar. Like, I feel like a child still."
"Lil brother, you're a twenty-seven-year-old grown ass man. Almost twenty-eight."
"You know what I mean. I still live in the back house. And I ain't never took one woman seriously 'till Sarah. Then that didn't work, and there was Ginny. Then that didn't work. Now, I'm back to Sarah. I have no idea what I'm doin' at all." Stefan said, wiping his hands through the air in the form of confusion. He shook his head and glanced in Sarah's direction, feeling nervous.
"You're talkin' to a man, who married a woman when I was twenty-one, and then separated, and dated her acquaintance, and had sex with random women in between, and is now back with my wife. I'm not sure I qualify as someone who can give you advice about doin' the right thing." Damon, put the bottle of beer to his lips and smiled his swig down his throat. "I mean, I'm a mess. I think it's a Salvatore thing. Look at G and Lily."
"They're a got damn mess. More than thirty years, of a mess."
"Exactly. It's safe to say you and Sarah will get married, and separate one day, and you date someone in between and get back with your wife. It seems to be hereditary." Damon laughed at himself while Stefan wiped his sweaty palms, on his jeans. "Whatever you do, don't ask G for advice. He screwed me all up." He furrowed his brows, "Which probably means don't ask me either." He grinned from ear to ear.
"You and G are definitely screwed up examples."
"We really are." He turned to see his wife, playing with his son.
"So, how are you?"
Damon looked at him, pinching one eye at Stefan. "Fine."
"Yeah. Seems you and your wife have been on edge with each other." Stefan lifted his beer and drank, while Damon tried avoiding the statement.
"Naw. We good."
"Really? Because two days ago, she came to the bar to get paperwork, and she said, and I quote, "Maybe you should come by to see your brother sometime, and have a beer. I'll cook you two dinner, and go to the movies, so y'all can spend quality time together." He said mocking a feminine voice.
"Really?" Damon looked back at her and his brother who wanted to laugh. "Long as I can remember you and Bird are inseparable."
"She's tired and won't admit she needs a break. I'm trying to understand where she's coming from, but we start therapy together in a couple weeks. I guess I'll see how that goes."
"She sure that's a good idea?"
"In her mind, it's the only idea. I can't stop her. So, I have to let her idea crash and burn. She's stubborn as hell." He flipped the meat, and took another swig finishing his drink. "Hand me 'another beer, will ya?" Stefan grabbed another beer and handed it to Damon.
"Just, seems like a bit much to me."
"You and me, and the entire family. Includin' her own momma. But, I mean... a determined woman, is a woman you don't argue with. There's some advice from big bro. Do not argue with a woman who's set her mind to something. You will not win."
"Put your foot down." Stefan laughed.
"Boy you gotta lot to learn about modern day women. Listen, there's a time and a place to put your foot down. These are the times it's acceptable to put your foot down... When she's making a fool of herself. When she's about to hurt herself. And when she tries to say she loves a man who ain't no good for her. Then on occasion in the bedroom, you put your foot down. Other than that, leave that shit alone. Independent women want to learn for themselves."
"This is too much information in one day. I won't remember none of this shit."
"It's okay, you're a man. It happens. Your mind, for some reason, is trained to remember three key things for your survival sex, food, and a hobby."
"Sex, or do you mean, love?"
"You know damn well, what I mean, sex. But if a woman asks, then, you tell, her love." They both laughed so hard it drew Bonnie's attention.
"That's complete bullshit, D!" Stefan said continuing to laugh.
"Hey! Don't ask me why. I don't make this shit up." He laughed more and took his hat off as his wife walked towards him with their son. "Hey baby girl."
"Why do I feel like, y'all are laughin' at my expense?"
"We surely are not. I'm just tryin' to teach Stefan about the facts of life."
"Well, are you gone teach him, it's rude to let his girlfriend, and her son, whom he's never met, sit there, without saying hello?"
"What?"
"Oh Stefan, don't play dumb. Go talk to her. I know your nervous, but... that's little boy so cute. And he's quiet. Go meet him, so you can introduce him to Dimitri!" She said.
"Stefan, you jack ass. Go." His brother said laughing at him.
"Alright, alright. Simmer down."
"Stefan Antonio Salvatore. Don't make me tell your momma."
"You can't tell Lily. The woman who ran away from her own kids and husband." He said laughing with his brother again.
"You ain't right. Your momma's back now. Dimitri loves his memaw." Both boys rolled their eyes and kept drinking. Bonnie gave Stefan a stink face. "AHEM. Sarah, and Oliver, are waiting."
"Bird, I'm nervous. What if he don't like me? What if, he screams when he sees me?"
"What if he loves you, and you love him?"
"Damn Stefan. Get your ass over there. Man up." Damon said. Stefan put his head down, and headed towards her slowly.
"Oh Stefan." Bonnie sighed. "He's such a daddy's boy."
"Ain't that the truth."
"So, I was thinking, I talk over the grille for a while, and you take Dimitri for a while?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. He wants da-da."
"We need to start teachin' him daddy." He looked at his son who reached for him. "Come on baby boy." Damon reached up for him. "Oh yeah, let's go see if we can find somethin sweet to eat."
"Baby. Not too much-"
"Sugar! I know Bird. Blah blah."
"Umm 'scuse me?"
"Just kiddin' baby girl. You know, I know better." He said winking at his son and shaking his head. She turned to catch him. "Baby, I'm just kidding." He laughed. "Come give big daddy a kiss. I love you." She hesitated. "Come on. Gimme some sugar. That's all the sweet I need." He said like a kiss ass. She leaned down and kissed him. To where he stole her lips in a heavier lip lock then she intended.
"Uh huh. Get out of my face, before a kick your ass, Doodle."
"I'm goin' I'm goin' baby girl. One more kiss for the road?" And his blue eyes, sucked her in. She leaned down again, and kissed him, before he rolled off with their son.
...
Damon rolled over to a small flower garden, and sat his son on his lap. "Baby boy do you know what these are?" Dimitri looked at his daddy. "Take a guess. Is it a flower? Or a cookie?"
"Cookie da-da." His son whined.
"Okay, bad example." He touched the colorful assortment of flowers. "These are called flowers son. Tulips, to be exact. Women, well... not all women, but some women love flowers. Can you say that? Flo-wer? Say it for daddy. Flo-wer!"
"Flarah!"
Damon laughed. "You tried. Not flahrah, but FLO-WER! Flower!"
"Flarah!"
"Okay, good enough." Damon smiled. "These tulips are your momma's favorite. I planted these for her, for prom one year, many moons ago. She went to prom with some, bozo. Seriously. He was a straight up clown. He didn't know her favorite flowers, or colors. But, I did. And I planted these for her. Now every year, I have to ask Unk to take extra care of 'em so they grow for me every spring time. I gave her the first flower in June eight years ago. And now, every time I think of these flowers I remember that night I gave it to her."
"Flarah."
"Yup, flarah." Damon laughed. "Your momma had on this gold colored dress. Or she always says it was champagne colored, but what kinda color is champagne? Good lord. Anyways, she wore her hair down. It was covered in curls and her dress was open in the back. I remember the first time I touched the skin of her back was that day. I knew, in that moment, I was gone make her mine, before the night ended. I just couldn't let anybody have her." He looked up at her by the grille, then back to his son. "I know, I'm selfish. She makes me that way." Damon looked and back at the flowers. Dimitri Dylan just sat quietly looking at and listening to his father. "She was so doggone beautiful, and I knew, I couldn't go another day without tellin' her, exactly, how I felt. They say men don't get sentimental. The truth is, we keep it all in. Few things are sentimental to us, and are marked in our memories. More like, ingrained and burned as some form of punishment. To keep us in line, I guess. But, I will always remember seein' your momma wrapped like a gift, and thinkin' she's was bein' gifted to another man. Then the skin of her back, I don't know, she was so soft, and so different than me, I just knew she was my better half."
His son looked up and smiled. Then he laid his head on his daddy's chest. Damon always told his son stories. Bonnie never understood how he was able to keep him so calm. But, it was because he never told him stories about pigs and wolves, and itsy bitsy spiders. He always told him stories about mommy and daddy, and even Baylee. And Dimitri just, sat quietly, listening. Damon knew his son understood more than he spoke of, which is why he was so attentive to his daddy when he told a story.
"Son, that night, daddy was a very bad boy, and he took momma's flower."
"Flarah." The boy said in a giggle.
"Yup, daddy took momma's flarah, and this little garden reminds me of that day, that night, and that moment, everytime I see it. Daddy took momma's tulip, and she's been mine since that night." Damon reached over and pulled a tulip out of the ground. "The very next time, I gave her one of these tulips, was at Grams funeral. Then we conceived you. These tulips are good luck I guess." He handed the flower to his son.
"Flarah."
"Anyway, the purpose of that story was because, I was always meant to share these moments with you? One of these flowers helped to conceive you. I love you so much son. Happy birthday!"
"Da-da. 'Ont coo-kie!"
"Is that all you heard in this meaningful moment? Cookie?"
"Yaah cooo-kie!" Dimitri smiled. Damon laughed at him.
"That's very manly of you. Just stick to the essential needs. Let's go get you a cookie Birthday boy."
"Flarah."
"Okay, and we'll take momma another flower for good luck!" He laughed. "You never know what these tulips bring. They got me your momma, then they got me you."
"Flarah to momma?"
"Yes, lil man. Flower to momma. And cookie to the birthday boy." Damon sat his son back in his lap, and rolled towards the house, where Lily had all the baked goods. Dimitri was no stranger to memaws cookies. She gave him a cookie every time she had him.
Damon strolled past his wife and handed her a tulip.
"Baby! My favorite. Thank you." She smiled big.
"Welcome."
"Last time you gave me one of these, was-"
"Grams funeral. Yeah. Well, it's summer time, they are all bloomed. They'll be gone soon. We can cut a bundle before we go home later and put 'me in a vase."
"Okay baby. The food is about done. Why don't you get baby boy washed up so we can get ready to eat, and sing."
"Alright. I was headed towards the house. I'll have him back out in about five ten minutes alright?"
"K, baby." She put her tulip in her ear, and started taking the meat from the grill.
Later that night
Bonnie walked into their room, and brought a vase and sat it by the window.
"Thought you was leavin' it in the living room."
"This is the second vase. We had enough flowers for two. Plus, how could I not, these tulips are perfect. I love 'em." He sat against the head board shirtless, and exhausted. She grinned. "You look tired baby."
"I am. I promise, I didn't realize how tiring it is, wheeling' myself around. My arms will be pretty big soon."
"Baby, I'm sorry it's tiring. But, it was beautiful watching you with our son today. He was so content sitting in your lap when he wasn't runnin' around. Which by the way, tired him out so good today."
"Thank God. I don't think I have the energy to put him to bed tonight."
"Yeah. Well, he also had enouh, cake, ice cream, and dare I say cookies. Thanks to you. Sneaky som'ma bi-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence. I'll have you know, both his memaw, and his nana, was feeding him sugar from the time he got there 'til the time he crashed. So, thank you very much... I think I played the part of careful daddy today." He said convincingly.
"Baby, stop. First of all, don't try to pacify his grandmother's doing what grandmother's do, for your sneaking off and eating cookies with him, when no one was watching. Thank you very much, I caught you, red-handed." He looked up to the ceiling, and grinned. "Exactly."
His boyish grin made her smile, and his naked torso, distracted her. "You see somethin' you like baby girl?" His stare was a matter-of-factish, and suggestive. "I mean, it's been a couple weeks since we... ya know."
"Yes, last time we had sex, I hurt you."
"It's okay. It's just a rib cage. I mean, I got so many ribs, I can spare a couple." He laughed.
"Stop. I'm not having sex with you again, 'till your leg is better."
"Four to six months about sex? Say what?! Baby, it was a mistake. I'm fine."
"No."
"Oh, come on. Look at those tulips. I planted that garden for you eight years ago. I think if you just, sit on my lap, I can do the rest."
She looked at her flowers. "Remember prom night?" She gave a subtle smile.
"I remember, I took your tulip."
"You did, you awful, bad boy."
"I was bad. I'll admit. But, I'll never regret bein' bad that night. I got the girl."
"You did."
"I think, we should just, consummate the memory." He pulled her onto his body. "Two weeks, is a long time."
"Can I just say, the fact that your naked under this cover, means, this was premeditated. I do not appreciate your plotting on me."
"Tulips baby girl. Tulips." He pulled her in for a kiss.
"So, you wanted to bring tulips home, so I would make love to you?"
He started removing her clothes, and handling her body. "Sit on big daddy."
"I hate you."
"I can live with that." He pulled a tulip out of the vace and put it in his mouth by the stem. "But, how can you hate a man with your favorite flower in his mouth?" He lifted her body and sat her on him. "Yeah?" He smiled when her eyes close. He looked at her naked body and put the tulip behind her ear and kissed her. She moaned, and he gripped her back. "You're always gone be my beautiful tulip." He whispered in her ear.
She connected them by mouth again, and lost herself in his words.
Three months after accident (Six weeks after Dimitri's birthday)
Damon's been doing physical therapy with his wife for a month. Most of what they've been doing is small movement, and rotation. He's also started strength building, with his muscles slowly but surely, he was feeling a little more secure in his recovery. His arm cast was off for over six weeks and he was working on strictly weight training with his arm. His leg was a different story. Most of his leg work required small bits of movement, and strength and weight training, but at a slower pace.
His personality was becoming challenging for her, trying to separate their relationship as husband and wife to their relationship as therapist and patient. Their son spent the three hours a day with family members, and they agreed Saturday's and Sunday's were strictly for their family time with their son.
Today was Saturday, and they were at home with Dimitri, getting ready onto leave for the day. "Baby, I'm gonna come get you out of the shower, just let me dry Dimitri up."
"It's alright. I got the crutches."
"I'm not sure, you should try getting out with those crutches. We just barely started using them, with your arm. It may cause some pain in your bad arm."
"My arm ain't bad."
"You know what I mean." She shouted from the other room.
"I'm fine. Can I please, use these crutches? I'm asking your professional opinion." He said through gritted teeth.
"How did you feel yesterday with the crutches? Did it cause pain in your tendons?" She asked drying her son's crazy head of hair while he sucked the wetness from his wrinkled lips.
"Naw. I felt fine. I promise. I wouldn't lie." He sat impatiently freezing, since he turned the water off. His body was creating chills and he wanted to get his towel, which was on the bathroom countertop, five feet away from him. He could only get to it with the crutches. Bonnie sat thinking about it, while she dried off her son. "Baby, I'm freezing my ass off."
"Okay, but the second you think you feel pain, don't hesitate to call me."
"Okaaaay." He sang out sarcastically, causing her to roll her eyes. He reached for his crutches and used his arms to pull out of the tub, as he sat on the medical chair. It was somewhat of a struggle, but he made it after about three minutes to his towel. He leaned his crutches against the counter and grabbed his towel. Standing on one leg, he used his towel to dry his body, and then wrap it around his waist before he lost his balance, and reached for his crutches.
Bonnie heard her phone vibrate. She kept it on silent most days, because the therapy session, and Dimitri's naps. Today, was no different. The sounds of the cell phones also bothered Damon as often as Bonnie received phone calls. She lifted her phone from being face down on the bed, and saw Mason across the screen. He'd called her every day for the past two weeks. She answered the phone once, and let him know she'd be by to get her things before the end of the month. He was moving out of the apartment, and he wanted to give her the courtesy of getting her things. Otherwise the owner of the condo would be forced to sell it all. Which included the paper work from her business and clientele.
She ignored the call and put the phone face down again, not wanting to deal with Mason right before such a big day.
Damon noticed as he hobbled into the room. "Who was callin' baby girl?"
"Oh, don't worry 'bout it, it was nothin' really?"
"If it was nothin' why can't you tell me?"
She kissed her son's cold cheeks and wrapped him in the towel, and huffed before heading to grab a diaper and answer Damon. "It was Mase."
"What does he want?" He asked skeptically.
"Nothin' really. I just told him I'd be back by the end of the month to get my belongings. He's movin' out of the apartment. Probably just wants to know when I'm comin' to LA."
Damon looked at her strangely. "So, you were afraid to tell me about him. Why?"
"Just didn't want to create any more tension."
"More tension? What's that supposed mean?" He became irritated.
"Nothin' just..." it didn't take much these days to start an argument between them. Three months since the accident. They were butting heads, as much as they fell in love. It was difficult to not say the wrong thing.
"Baby girl, it is, what it is. Okay? So, he called. You need to get your shit. Fine. When do we go?"
"Oh no. No. No. You don't go anywhere. You stay put. I go."
"Baby, seriously. I got the crutches."
"And you can't help nobody with those. No offense baby, but, I can get in and out quicker."
"Wow. I mean, it makes no sense." He yelled, feeling yet another argument.
"Why?"
"Because. I don't trust him."
"But, you trust me, so it shouldn't matter."
"Hell, no. He put his hands on you."
"It wasn't a big deal. Literally, he grabbed me and pushed me against the car, one time. I'm not afraid of him, and he would never do that again. I know him. That, was a mistake, okay?"
He said nothing. He rolled his eyes and used the crutches all the way to the bed and sat himself back. He was happy having the use of his arms. His ribs healed, and other than his leg, he was doing much better. "Bring me his diaper, and lotion, I'll fix him up while you take a shower."
"Okay, baby? You want his clothes too?"
"Yes, ma'am." This was normal, they'd fight and stop just like that. But daily, and multiple times a day. They were barely able to heal their marriage when they were creating new wounds every day.
"You ready for me and Dimitri to go to a therapy session today?" Bonnie asked.
"I mean, it's about time, don't you think?"
"Yes, yes. Of course. I just... didn't want to intrude on your progress."
"Naw. The Doc says, you need to know what's goin' on, and I agree. I'm sure some of my mood swings and attitude has a lot to do with what the doc needs to tell you."
Bonnie furrowed her eye brows and became concerned. "Can't you tell me?"
"I will. Go ahead and shower. You worry too much."
"No, Damon, tell me."
"Damon? You only call me that when you're serious."
"I am. What should I know?"
"Baby girl, I promise. It's okay. Please get your shower. We're gone be late." She looked at him peculiarly and walked away before another argument started. With reluctance, she turned the shower water on and became insanely worried about what she would hear.
Damon sat on the bed with his son playing. "Hey baby boy. Look at that wild hair. Look at that head full of black hair on your head. Too much, maybe? Maybe we should start cutting it. It just falls over your eyes and you ant see a got damn thing. Pretty soon you gone be bumpin' into walls. I think, if I see you bump into somethin' I'm gone chop it off. But we'd have to do it when momma goes to LA, right? Like a secret. Shhh. Don't tell her okay?" Damon said, grinning big at his son who put his finger to his lips like his daddy and said "Shhh" too. He laughed at his daddy and fell backwards on the bed. Then, out of no where he started to shoot a stream of pee in the air. "Oh shit." Damon said, laughing, trying to find the diaper. Damon hurried and grabbed a diaper and put it on him. He looked at his son and rubbed his chin. "You peed on me."
Dimitri, covered his eyes, and peeked through a couple fingers. He was worried about what he did, until his daddy laughed. Then he let out a loud giggle, and Damon tickled his tummy. "Daddy." He screamed. Yes, he was saying Daddy now, and Damon had worked on it, since his second birthday a few weeks back.
"You don't pee on daddy."
"I Pee pee."
"No pee pee."
"I Pee pee." He laughed.
"No pee pee, on me." Damon laughed, and started putting lotion on his son. "Shh we won't tell momma, right away. Or she's gone take everything off the bed and wash it again. She just washed it last night. We will keep this secret between us boys. Okay? Shhh." Damon helped his fingers to his lips.
"Shhh." His sons repeated it. He finished getting his son ready, and keeping his pee mistake, from Bonnie.
.x.
Bonnie and Damon sat patiently in the doctor's office. He'd, since being there, been referred to a specialist. Dylan played with some toys on the floor, while Bonnie and Damon sat in the chairs holding hands. They waited about ten minutes before a good looking blond-haired man walked out of his office and called them in. "Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore." He smiled. "And little Salvatore, come on in." He pushed the door open and walked out until they walked in and he walked behind them. "Good afternoon." He said as Bonnie helped Damon to sit in a chair.
"Good afternoon Sir." They both said.
"Well, Mrs. Salvatore, I'm sure you're wondering why suddenly, I'm asking you to come to the session, and it's because, your husband, and myself included, figured it's time, you get an idea of the functioning of your husband during this transition. The mental functioning, of a soldier in transition, is difficult. The lifestyle change from Army life to civilian life, can be some shock. Especially when entering the work force, which is something your husband will have some ease, being a business owner. So, today we won't get into great depth f things, just, enough for me to tell you what's going on. His transition, has been, okay so far. With the exception of few things, he's in decent condition, in terms of having goals in mind. But, there's much to deal with. And, in Damon's case, after many sessions and discussions, I've been able to evaluate your husband as suffering from PTSD."
"PTSD? Are you serious?"
"I am Mrs. Salvatore. Are you familiar with PTSD?"
"Yes I am. I have clients that suffer from PTSD. Sir… Is this from his accidents?" Bonnie's face dropped and she squeezed her husband's hand as she spoke to the doctor.
"Well, his accidents are certainly a major cause of his PTSD. Yes. But, apparently, he also suffers from anxiety, dealing with the loss of your Sheila, and your first child."
"Anxiety?"
"Yes. He's, overwhelmed with the thoughts of the significant impact these moments had on him. When I asked him countless questions, about when he started feeling inadequate, it stemmed from the loss of his child."
"This has to be a mistake. He started feeling this way when his mother left."
"This could be a possibility. He rarely speaks about those moments when his mother left. He felt like family he grew up with, is the family that helped shape him. He has no complaints about, you, Sheila, Abby, Stefan, and Giuseppe. He also said, that, when he lost his child, then lost Sheila, he couldn't figure out who to be after that. This put a stain on your marriage, because he lost his way."
Bonnie grabbed and held her mouth in shock. She had never seen Damon deal with the loss of either Sheila or Baylee in a way that she would need to show cause for concern. In her mind, Damon, seemed okay. "How could I not know this?"
"He didn't tell you. He didn't want to let you down." The Doctor said. She looked at Damon.
"Is this true, Doodle? You couldn't tell me? You can tell me anything." He nodded his head. "I was there, I mean, how could you... I would not have judged you." The Doctor took a seat and proceeded to let Damon speak.
"I don't know, baby. I just, didn't want to let you down. When Baylee died, I broke down. I damn near lost my mind. I wanted to give my life, just to bring her back. I don't know, how she died, or why. We don't know, and if only God could've just taken me, instead, our daughter would be here. You know. I'm a fuck up. I grew up a fuck up, 'til grams helped me, 'til you loved me. And I don't think I deserve to be here."
"Oh, my God. Stop. Damon Salvatore. Stop right now." Bonnie's emotions were immediately deepening upon listening.
"Why? I can't even be who I promised. I said I'd take care of you and my son. I said I'd be the man you needed, and to this day, I have not lived up to that baby girl. You always, manage to look past my imperfections. But, my life means nothin' without you and my daughter deserved to be here more than me." He tried biting back tears.
"Stop that. Don't say that. Why would you ever say that?" Bonnie looked at the doctor feeling helpless. "Doc, I don't know what to say. All of what he's sayin.' Simply is not true. He's always so hard on himself. He's been this way since he was younger. I don't get it. He's amazing. He's beautiful. Why can't he see, what I see?"
"It's not that simple Bonnie. Damon, sees his worth, in the people he loves. And if you seem or feel broken, he feels like a failure. The loss of Sheila, the loss of his child, made him feel like a failure."
"But it ain't right. He's not a failure to me."
"I know that, and you know that, but Damon, is trained in this way of thinking. So, aside from his dealing with PTSD, he also suffers from generalized anxiety as well as separation anxiety.
"Really? Separation?"
"Yes, from you."
"Oh, my gosh. Dr. Fell, I had no idea."
"You couldn't know, he won't tell you. He will try his hardest to keep from stressing you out. Listen, Mrs. Salvatore. This meeting today is not just to give you an idea of what Damon deals with, but the fact that in my professional opinion, I believe from what he's told me, that, you too, should seek therapy. I believe both individual counseling, and couples counseling, will really help you both. Not only do soldiers have to deal with the years of things they've dealt with being in the military, but spouses deal with their own issues as well as their soldiers issues, when they don't realize it. Spouses, need just as much understanding. I'm a former Sergeant First Class in the Army. Retired. I get it. I understand this. I had been married for half of my military career. I understand what you both may need, and this is why I want to see how you feel about this Mrs. Salvatore. There's no pressure. Everyone is different and ultimately, it's your decision. But today was just scratching surface. I truly believe I can help you both."
Bonnie bit her lip in nervousness and looked at her husband who'd been just sitting quietly staring at his son. "Baby. I don't want you to feel this way." She wanted to cry, she felt helpless.
"I don't wanna feel this way."
"I'm sorry."
"It ain't your fault."
"But, maybe if I knew, I could've-"
"Stop. Baby girl, please. It's not your fault." He grabbed her hands and held them. "I have never blamed you. If anything, I just wanna make you happy."
"But you do."
"No. Not the way I want to."
"You're bein' too hard on yourself." She looked at him with tears in her eyes and back to the Doctor. "I don't want him to feel this way."
"And we are working on it." The Doctor said and she nodded.
"If you think you can help us. Doctor, then I'm gone go home, and talk to my husband about this. I want us to be better. I really do." She leaned over and hugged her husband, who had the hardest time looking her in the eyes. "Look at me, please." She noticed his eyes were watery. "Damon."
She held his face until he looked at her. She kissed him. "I love you, baby girl. I just love you so much." She wiped his tears and hugged him again.
"I love you, baby. So much. I love you. You're an amazing man. Do you understand me? If you want me to do this, I'll do it. I will. Okay?"
"Baby girl, I don't want you to do anythang you don't want. I just wanted the doctor to tell you about the PTSD and the anxiety. But, everything else, is just-"
"No. I'll do it. I want to." She looked at their son. "For all of us, and especially for him, okay. He needs us to be able to deal with the past and be able to move on. I'm supportive of whatever you want."
"Okay, baby girl."
Dr. fell looked at both of them, "With that being said, and all things in account, Mrs. Bennett, my professional opinion, is that you discontinue, being your husband's physical therapist."
"Seriously? But, I know what I'm doing doc. I'm good at my job."
"I understand that, but, with the complications, and fragile nature of the marriage, it just offers another opportunity for difficulty in working through current issues. You will be adding unnecessary strain to the relationship."
She looked so disappointed. It broke her heart to hear it. When Damon grabbed her hand again and held it, she looked at him, while he agreed with the doctor. "I'm sorry baby girl. But I agree with Dr. Fell. I honestly believe we should separate the two. I've spoken about this with him, and it was my idea to mention it to you today."
"But baby, I'm-" she stopped she almost felt defeated at this point. "Never mind. I see. Well, I should go and let you finish your session. I'm gonna take our son to the car."
"Bird- Baby girl now, wait a minute, please-"
"No, seriously, I get it. I heard your peace and the doctor's, and I just need to go sit in the truck for the remainder of this session. I'm not angry okay. But I just want to be alone." She spoke quietly, and reached for their son, picking him up, she kissed Damon's cheek and walked out. He watched her until the door closed.
"See Doc. That's how it's been all month. She's so sensitive. It affects our relationship. And it makes it hard to talk about anything because all we talk about is my recovery, and I feel like, my life is just this accident. We rarely, act like a couple. I just wanna get back to that. What we were."
"Mr. Salvatore. It's a lot for her to process today. Your struggle, your diagnosis, her taking a step down from treating you. From what you tell me, she's used to looking out for you. So, this may make her feel, as if you don't need her."
"But that ain't true. It just ain't true. I need her more than anything, just not in the way, she wants to be there. I need my wife. Not my physical therapist. I need her, just to wake up to. To take care of our son. To talk to."
"Let her know that. And allow her time to process things. I'm ready to help you both, just as soon as your both ready. But as much as you need her for moral support, she needs you for emotional support."
"Okay Doc."
.x.
After the meeting was over, Bonnie walked back upstairs, into the large clinical building, and helped her husband back downstairs. When they got into the elevator, their son sat on Damon's lap, and it was a quiet elevator ride down. And a quiet walk through the parking lot. But, what took the cake, was the silence in the car on the way home. Damon watched his wife stare out into the road, and not say a thing. He looked at her, and back at the road, and back at her. Then he glanced at their son, and back at the road. He let his fingers twiddle in his hair. He'd been out of the Army for three months, and for the first time, in almost ten years, he let his hair grow out. So he just let his fingers dangle in it, nervously, before putting his hand back in his lap and twiddling with his thumbs.
His thumb twiddling was getting to her. She could see it from her periphery. Just thumb wrestling himself. She got her body and turned it slightly towards the window and leaned onto her left hand with her hand in her hair. She'd also let her hair grow out some. Not by choice. She'd been so busy with her husband and son, she hadn't gone and gotten it cut again. She hadn't had long hair since they were married. Her mother made her not want to keep long hair, as a girl. It was so tedious trying to take care of it. Now, its growing again, and she hasn't even given thought to it.
Damon battles with himself on whether or not to speak. She looked like she had a lot on her mind, and from the looks of it, she had probably cried when she sat in the car alone. The untrained eye wouldn't know, but he had a way of figuring it out, since Bonnie never liked anyone to see her cry. She chose to cry alone. And this, was the reason she left the therapy session, and wanted to go to her car to "be alone."
He decided to finally say something. "Baby girl, I-"
"Do you want to try somethin' in town for dinner tonight? I don't really feel like cookin' today?"
"Uh..." they hadn't gone out to dinner since he visited her in LA. She looked at him with those big green eyes, and he basically lost his train of thought. "Well..."
"I was thinking of the barbecue spot that opened last year. It's kind of popular. I hear they play live music."
Damon, new she was simply upset, and didn't want to focus on talking much about what happened. "Sounds fun, maybe you go with your momma, and Dimitri, and I just stay home."
"What, why?"
"I just don't think it's smart for me to be in a crowded place, in a wheelchair."
"Damon, come on. You're a person too. They accommodate."
"Damon?" He asked confused.
"What?"
"You just called me Damon."
"I did. I didn't notice."
"You're upset with me."
"Oh stop. I'm not. I didn't notice. Okay. I'm sorry. I just, thought it would be nice to get out of the damn house." She snapped.
"I get it. But, the only thing, is it makes sense for you to maybe go with your momma. Get out for a bit. From me, and this wheel chair, and being stuck taking care of me." They pulled up to their place, just as he said that. She gave him a look of both hurt and anger.
"Seriously? After all that just happened, you feel like that is what you needed to say?"
"Baby girl-"
"Damon, fucking Dimitri, fucking Salvatore! There you go again." She yelled. He hadn't heard her yell in a while. She got out of the truck and slammed the door, making him jump and waking up their sleeping son. Who began to cry. Bonnie walked around the truck and grabbed their crying son, and calmed him down. Damon sat in the truck, baffled. Her emotions were all over the place the past few weeks. He placed his thumb and his index on the bridge of his nose, and lowered his head rubbing the space aggressively. She walked into the house and laid him back into his crib as he fell back asleep. She stomped back outside to see him standing on one leg outside of the truck. Attempting to get himself back to the house. "So, you gone be a super hero, or you gone let me help you out?" She asked with an attitude.
He furrowed his brows, and looked down and back up with a confused look, then he bit his lip. "I don't know. I could very easily try and hop over there. It may hurt a bit or take a minute..." as he spoke she walked over to the truck and grabbed the wheel chair and sat him down, "... I wouldn't want to-"
"Shut up Damon."
"Damon? Again?"
"Doodle. Okay. Shut up Doodle!" She barked. He grinned under the palm of his hand for a minute. He had a hard time not finding her anger sexy. Even, if the last thing she wanted to feel right now, was sexy. He couldn't help but to love her little temper. He stayed quiet for a couple of minutes and when he got into the house, she rolled him into the bedroom and began taking his sweatpants off. It's all he could wear over his cast. But he got hot quickly. So she grabbed some basketball shorts and helped put them on him.
He stood there, on one leg as she pulled them up, he leaned slightly on the bed. It was rather uncomfortable pulling his pants up over his naked body. So, she turned her head to the side, and slowly pulled up as she stood up. When she was fully standing, he grabbed her by her sides, and held her in front of him. "Thank you, baby girl."
She rolled her eyes, and said, "You're welcome." Attempting to walk away, he pulled her back.
"I'm serious. Thank you for everything. You do everything for me. And I don't ever want you to feel like I'm not grateful." He fought her body language for attention, while she looked off to the side. "Look at me, baby girl." She refused. "Look at me." He grabbed her by her chin and turned her face to him. "Thank you. For everything. I am not me, without you. But I think this is best for us. Please understand that."
"Would it make a difference if I understood your logic or not? Would that change your mind, and let me still be your physical therapist, huh?"
He exhaled and paused a second before answering. "No, baby girl. I wouldn't change my mind, because this process is tough for me, and you of all people don't deserve the brunt end of my anger. And if you're my physical therapist, and wife, and mother to my son, and chauffeur, and everything else, that's what will happen. I'm doing this for you, for us."
"Maybe so. But, I left my job, my life, no, my career, and everything, in LA to help you, and now, you just want me to stop, doing what I'm good at. You just want me to sit down, like a good wife, like back in Georgia. Which is why I left Georgia. Because I was supposed to be doing more. You're asking me to go back to that. Understand, how it makes me feel."
"I didn't think about it that way. Honestly. I just didn't want all this pressure and stress on you or us, it ain't good for our son."
"Did you ever stop to think, I thrive under pressure? This is how I work best. I was doing great in LA. Don't sit me back in a corner! I'm not that woman."
"I would never want you in a corner. That ain't my goal. But, therapist...? It ain't good for our marriage, baby girl."
"I get it, what more can I say? You've made up your mind. It is what it is." She started to walk away.
"You know what? Go back to LA!" He called out. Bonnie stopped in her tracks, turned to him and was as puzzled as she could be.
"What did you just say?"
"I said, maybe, you should go back to LA. While I recover. It's better for us both, and-"
"Better for who? We have a son, Damon. He just turned two. He's attached to his daddy at the hip. He loves you, like he's never loved anything. And Puppy. He loves puppy."
"I'll always be here. Puppy will always be here. We can keep our plans about buying a beach house in LA. It's just gone take longer. A year or so."
"A year? A got damn year! Were just supposed to be separated for a year. Me in LA with our son, and you here? What sense..."
"Perfect sense baby girl. You deserve the life you built. Here I come setting you back again. It ain't right. You don't need to be here."
"Doodle, stop." She became emotional.
"No. I'm serious. I think you need to go back to LA. I'll save money and move in with Lily and G."
"We can stay at my momma's house. She moved out. It's paid off." Bonnie said.
"Then, what? You just wait on me to heal. At least, in California, you don't have to be waiting. You'll be working, and staying busy. Our son will be in..." his eyes became ready, "he can be in that day care you wanted him in. And I'll be there, before you know it, I'll be there."
"No!"
"Bird, I'm not askin' you. I'm tellin' you. This was temporary anyways. I want you to go back and-"
"No!" She stormed out of the room and left. He heard her slamming things around, then she walked back in the room, looked at him and pointed her finger as if to say something then instead grunting, "Hmmmm." She made a prominent growling noise and walked back out. He stood there, feeling lost, because he thought he was doing what was best, and he realized, he may have said the wrong thing. She walked back into the room. "You..." she yelled, and walked back out, not completing a sentence. She went to the bathroom and slammed the door shut. He still stood there listening to her talking to herself in the bathroom. He sat down on the edge of the bed, and waited for her to calm down. It took about five minutes, and she walked out. No longer wearing her other clothes. This time wearing some little house shorts, and faded, old Prince t-shirt and her hair in a bun. He just watched her move around, and sat there, being a mixture of turned on, and sad. He couldn't figure out which feeling was more prominent. He didn't want them to leave. But he knew they needed a plan.
She walked out of the room again, and walked back in five minutes later with a sandwich and a drink for him. He sat it down on the table next to the bed.
"You need to eat." She demanded, softly.
"I don't want no damn sandwich right now."
"Fine." She reached for it as to take it back, and he grabbed her wrist. "Let go." She said quietly, biting her tongue.
"No." he pulled her onto the bed.
"Seriously... let go." He turned his body so he was lying next to her.
"Baby girl..."
"What?!"
"You done? Throwin' a tantrum now?" He looked at her face, and while she didn't want to look back at him, she did. "B'cos let me tell you. You need to knock it off. Or I promise, I'm gone make you regret it." He pinned her arms above her head. Then laid his heavy casted leg across her body.
"Doodle. Get your leg of me!"
"You tryna hurt me? Remember, I'm in this cast, and my arm just healed, be careful." He laughed.
"I'm not laughin' with you." She growled.
"I know, which makes this funny. Just relax." She finally calmed down. "You done?"
"Yes. I mean No. I mean whatever."
"Listen to me." He looked her in her eyes. "Maybe, I spoke too soon. Okay."
"You're damn right, Damon Dimitri Salva-"
"Not my government. Please, Bonnie Sheila Bennett." He laughed at her.
"Don't you dare, Damon Dimitri Sa-"
"Stop. You know I hate you callin me anything other than, Doodle, Baby, or Big Daddy. Don't do it, Baby girl. Don't dare do it, I promise, I'll fuckin' hurt you somethin' awful." He kept gripping her wrists. "Are you listenin' to me?"
"No. The minute you told me to go back to LA, I stopped listening to you." She turned her face away again.
"I said I'm sorry. I spoke prematurely, baby girl. I- I just don't want you here, regretful. Like in Georgia."
"I'm not, regretful. Okay. I never was. I just can't sit still Damon. I like to work, and be busy. And, you saying you don't need me... hurts my feelings." She cried. "What will I do if you don't need me?"
"Oh, my God, baby girl." He whipped her tears. "Do you hear yourself? I've always needed you. Always. And you need a break from me needing anything more from you, than just being my wife, and mother of my son. That's all I need from you. I made you a promise, some years ago. I said, I would make somethin' of myself and take care of you. I'm not rich. But, I have a plan for us, and if you let me, I will take care of you. Just be my wife. Be Dimitri's momma, and you know, do your independent thing. Since I can't stop you from just stayin' home and raisin' my kids." He laughed. "Since I can't just, be the sole provider, then just be my wife. Do what you want as your career, but, don't be my therapist. Okay?"
"But Damon, I-"
"Damon? Got damnit Bird!"
"I mean, baby, No one wants you healed more than me, and I just want to show you how good I am."
"You're amazin' you are. I've seen you first hand for the past few weeks. And I know, you would do what it takes to get me back to being as healthy as I can be. But I also, know we've argued countless times, and we can't handle it right now. If we're bein' smart, we'll keep it separate." He continued to wipe her tears, then he kissed her lips. She didn't kiss him back. But he kept kissing her hoping she'd repeated his gesture. "Kiss me baby girl." He kissed her repeatedly, and she was being stubborn. So, he moved to her neck, offering soft kisses. Moving from her chin, to cheek, to jaw line. Then he moved his left hand underneath her shorts. "You know, I don't want you to leave me. I need you both, but I want you to be happy."
"Don't force my anger."
"I'm sorry, baby girl." He kept working his fingers.
"No. Doodle, get from between my legs."
"Don't squeeze them thighs shut, you gone hurt my arm. It just healed." He teased.
"Doodle..."
"You are so backwards today, you know not to call me Doodle, when we're being frisky."
"We aren't bein' frisky. You're trying to." He muscled his way, between her legs. "Stop it. I hate you."
She whined, as he smiled, moving his lips towards hers again. "Say it again."
"I hate you."
"Oh yeah. You hate me? You hate big daddy?" His lips found hers neck again, and worked their way slowly to her lips. He went back and forth, until he softened her. "Open up for me. Baby girl." She fought him for as long as she could, but he won. He always won. He forced his fingers inside of her until she was moaning. "I didn't mean it okay. Don't leave me. I don't want you goin' back to LA. I just, I want what's best okay?"
"Mmm. Okay." She caught herself. "No. seriously, I'm angry baby. Get off me." His two fingers made their way while his thumb rubbed her sensuous pleasure zone. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she tried gripping his wrist, but he forced her pleasure. "You're awful."
"I know I am. I'm always gone be awful."
"You asshole."
"Yeah, but I'm your asshole."
He continued to pleasure her, until she peaked, and lost her breath. After a few minutes she opened he eyes, "You ain't right."
"But I'm right for you. I love you, tell me you love me."
"No."
"Please?"
"You know what's unfair?"
"What?
She started to sing. "You made me love you. I didn't want to do it. I didn't want to do it."
He sang the next line. "You made me love you and all the time you knew it. I guess you always knew it." He smiled at her, letting his blue eyes glisten in the light. "Now… tell me, the right way." He whispered.
"I love you." He stared at her until she cracked, and smiled again. He lived for that smile.
Excerpt Pt 26:
"S'okay daddy. S'okay." He put his small hands on his daddy's cheeks, and Damon couldn't help but to smile through his almost falling tears. "S'okay daddy." He held Damon's cheeks and immediately melded into his father's emotions. His little face, just held onto Damon's gaze, and when he realized he controlled his father's emotions at that point, he grinned from ear to ear, with Bonnie's chapstick shining on his cheeks, and mouth. Then, Damon laughed, and his tears never fell from his eyes. "Better daddy?" Damon nodded his head, in shock. Then Dimitri kissed his father's mouth, and Damon knew, he could get through the next three days.
So, this chapter had a time jump in the middle,. Bonnie and Damon are dealing with this together, and Bonnie becomes emotional finding out things about him she had no idea about. But, they have to learn to trust each other dealing with the others emotions to invest on working on their marriage. Bonnie and Damon try to deal with things as individuals, as opposed to as a couple. They are learning to lean on each other as HUSBAND and WIFE, for their sons sake. Thanks for reading!