...
There was going to be another wedding.
But before, there was travel. Enzo told her he wanted to see the world with her, and then always return to their homebase.
He wanted to visit the most beautiful places. Kenya, Iceland, Tasmania…
She chuckled and grinned at him. "Kenya, Iceland, Tasmania?!" She asked. "That's quite the random eclectic list."
He smirked and cocked his head, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Well, love, it's merely a selection. I want to go on an excursion with you, map the world anew. Show James the beauty of this earth, that will be his to conquer."
She suddenly looked at him with concern, her hands fidgeting a bit as she played with their son's little feet.
"What is it, love?" He asked gently, but his face mirrored her expression.
"Do you think… with what we are, and what he is…" She paused, averting her gaze as if in shame, but he took her chin in his hand and made her look at him again. She continued, her voice just a whisper, "I'm just so worried that we will get him in danger. And that he'll hate us for who we are…"
She looked so sad, so upset that it broke his heart. He had done this to her. He had turned her into a vampire. Was it forever going to haunt them, to hover over their relationship?
"I'm so sorry, love," he apologized for the hundredth time, even though she always told him he didn't have to. "It's my fault that you even have to worry about that. I..."
"No!" She was quick to interrupt him, stop him from continuing on in that vein. "No, babe. It's not what I meant. I told you before and I won't tire to do so again until it'll finally sink into your stubborn beautiful head," he smirked at her then, awkwardly, while she continued, "I love you for what you did. And I've come to terms with being a vampire. In fact, I'm kinda excited to be living this life with you, not needing to worry what age will do to us. But…"
She leaned forward to cup his face, rest her forehead against his.
"Vampires and humans… they don't have a great history of getting along. You of all people know that... And our son is human. There's so much to worry about. We will have so many adversaries. - What if we die and he'll be left alone? What if he'll turn against us. Or what if he just simply ages and ages till he dies of old age, and I'll have to watch that? I'll have to go on without him?"
She'd started crying by then, she couldn't help it, and James' fingers came up to touch her face. His little face grew concerned, too, his momma crying was unsettling to his small world.
"Bonnie. All parents have those fears," Enzo whispered, " If we die - and we won't - Damon and Elena will take care of James for us. They're his godparents. - He'll be surrounded by people that have either experienced both, being human and a vampire, or people that know about the nuances of life. That there's more than good and bad, on either side. If you want, we can let him choose - later down the road - whether he wants to remain human or… become what we are. And if he dies, no matter when that may be, you'll survive that, too. It won't be easy. It will hurt, but he will always be in our hearts. He is our heart."
And with that he pulled them both against his chest and held them there for a long time.
...
Until James grew too restless and poked them both in their nostrils.
...
It was a small affair. Just a handful of guests. And a priest.
A quaint little chapel by the Atlantic Ocean, somewhere in the French countryside.
A small bouquet of wildflowers they had picked themselves.
A gorgeous, if simple, white dress, accentuating every curve of her body.
A nice black suit, a bow tie.
And a few wide smiles.
It was the smallest little wedding, only witnessed by their son and their two best friends, Damon and Elena. It was all they needed. It was perfect.
Enzo smiled at Bonnie as he put the ring on her finger and kissed her before the priest had given the official permission. They all laughed when the man wagged a finger and scolded him, "Not just yet, young man."
"I love you, Bonnie Bennett," Enzo muttered, suddenly deeply moved, and his voice broke. Tears welled in his eyes. He couldn't believe this was really happening. That his pain was finally over. He wasn't so much her guardian angel, she had always rather been his.
"I love you, Lorenzo St. John." Bonnie was cry-laughing, acutely aware of her tears smudging her eye makeup. This was her moment. Theirs. For the first time, she was doing something completely selfish, just for herself. Getting married to the love of her life, far away from Mystic Falls, not caring who was or wasn't upset that they weren't invited. This was their day, and their day only.
And it was perfect.
"You may now kiss the bride," the priest finally mildly said and gave a chuckle, and Enzo kissed his wife; a hand against the back of her neck, one resting on the side of her face, he kissed her, passionately, long.
Until they eventually heard Damon clear his throat.
"Let's get you two out of here now," he muttered under his breath, grinning wide.
And they did.
Elena placed James back in his mother's arm, and together they all strolled out of the chapel, the guys swaggering, cocky and so sure of themselves, the two women proud and erect, holding their husbands' hands.
...
The End.
...
This story is dedicated to all those that love Bonenzo (I'm open for story recommendations btw...) and especially to all you guys that gave me some form of feedback at some point. I didn't get a single review for the first chapter. Just a first story follower. And it kept me going. So: even the smallest thing can help a writer find the courage to post more. :)
Thank you for giving me courage, then. This is all for you. It's been a fun ride, and now it's over. I'm happy I got to finish this story.
