2 years later…

~Bonnie~

He's walked away that night. He didn't say anything; he just walked away and left me there. I hadn't seen him since that night. Mary didn't even know a thing. She had no idea who Stefan Salvatore was let alone that her little sister was a witch. As far as Mary was concerned her little sister had never made a reappearance and vampires didn't exist. As for how I became human? I was stumped. I went through hundreds of books and there was nothing about it let alone what an ancient was. It must've been my lucky break and Damon's unlucky break.

"Bon?"

I bolted out of my daze and looked at Matt.

"Sorry, what did you say?" I asked

"I was saying that you should come stay with me on campus." He said

"No offense Matt, but with everything I've been through I think I can take care of myself. Plus I doubt that I can live with you in a dorm room." I laughed

"I live in an apartment now." He corrected

"Still." I said "I need to use my own feet for a change. It'll be god for me."

"I just don't want anyone coming in and ruining your life." He said

He meant Damon. He still thought he'd come bounding in and intentionally screw things over like he always did even though he was now human. I didn't think so though. I thought that maybe, just maybe, he was trying to find his own peace. I could always hope.

"Hey, I gotta go." I said

Today was special. I had to be somewhere.

"So soon?" he asked

"I'm sorry, but it's important." I said

"It's fine. Go, we'll talk more another time."

I smiled then grabbed my bag and dashed out the door. As I did, I bumped right into someone.

"Sorry!" I called as I kept going

I was always feeling like I was in a rush now. I had a lot important things going on. I even had an job interview coming, and surprisingly I was really looking forward to it. I actually didn't hate the idea of this job being I would actually be helping people.

I unlocked my car and tossed my bag into the passenger's side. Starting the car, I quickly pulled out and headed down the road. I tapped my fingers on the steering as the song 'Set Me Free' by Michelle Branch played loudly. I couldn't help smiling. I was actually happy to go see him, and I knew he'd be happy too.

I walked through the gate and hugged my bag onto my shoulder. I smiled even more when I got there.

"Hey Stefan." I said quietly

I looked at the stone figure. To anyone passing through after visiting a loved one, they'd see a statue, but I knew different.

"I brought something today. I hadn't realized it before."

Reaching into my bag I fumbled with finding the small object.

"Ah, got it." I mumbled

I pulled out a ring. It was Caleb's then mine. Then it became useless. I looked down at the ring then placed it on his finger.

"There, now you're not missing it." I said

I felt proud of that for some reason. I felt like I had found something he'd lost that seemed important. I had found something important to him. Then again maybe to him it wasn't so important since he hadn't been wearing the ring when he'd turned into…this. The stone was his shield from the sun though.

"Did you think that would do anything?"

I turned quickly at the voice. My eyes went a little wider than I thought possible.

"Well-I figured he might want it." I said quietly

Damon scoffed.

"Yeah, and you think you know my brother better than me? Because, I highly doubt he wanted this." Damon said venomously at me

I wasn't angry though; just surprised that he'd make an appearance. It was rather strange being I thought I'd never see him and there was the slight possibility that I had wondered about him every once a while.

"I know that he wouldn't have wanted the people he cared about to end up dead. He cared about you believe it or not."

"Pfft, he wanted me dead and so did you, but I guess you got what you wanted because in a few decades I will die and probably alone."

I rolled my eyes at his complaining.

"Oh, do stop whining. It's rather annoying." I said

He looked at me somewhat appalled. I just crossed my arms.

"Don't give me that look. If you want something then fight for it and if you don't fight for it then it must not be worth it." I said simply "That's my advice for the day."

He tilted his head at me.

"You're in a good mood." He said trailing off

"I was happy to see him." She said "I missed him."

"Do-do you think he'll ever come back?" he asked

I looked at Stefan in wonder.

"He's here. He's just…sleeping." I said "He'll be back some day, and he'll be able to start over. I think that's something he would like."

"What about me?" Damon asked sarcastically

I smirked.

"It's not always about you Damon."

Turning, I started down the path I had followed up to get here. I heard footsteps behind me.

"So, um, what are you up to lately?" he asked

"Why would you care? You're the great Damon Salvatore and you don't care about anyone." I said in a macho voice

I giggled at myself. It was weird to have so much confidence now. It felt good.

"Since when did you back talk?" he asked

"Since I realized that I can actually intimidate people." I said

"Intimidate?" he scoffed "Like who would be intimidated of you?"

"You."

"Why?"

"Because you're a puny human, and I'm still a witch."

"And when was the last time you used any power eh?" he challenged

Damn it. I forgot that he was good at calling bluffs. And it had only been a year…and a half. Not a big deal or at least that's what I thought. Ever since I had stopped using things had gotten better, a lot better.

"Shut up." I hissed

He now laughed at me and I just sped up my walking. Walking out through the gate, I got into my car. Starting the car, I now looked up at the idiot who stood in front of my car.

"Move dumbass! You're not exactly immortal." I yelled

"Give me a ride." He called

"Get your own 'I'm so hot I can get anybody'!" I yelled

He crossed his arms now. I huffed and shifted into drive. He didn't move. He didn't even seem fazed.

"Fine!" I exclaimed

He got in on the passenger side and tossed my bag to the floor recklessly. It was always nice of him to treat my things with respect. I didn't say anything on my way back into the town. I did however catch him looking at me every once in a while.

"So, you're doing well?" he asked

"Does it surprise you that you're not in my mind 24/7?" I countered

I was suddenly annoyed with him. He turned my visit into something hideous.

"Well…"

Could he not think of anything?

"I missed you is all. I was just wondering if by any chance you missed me…" he trailed off "I don't have anyone else."

I shut myself up right there. I didn't know what to even say let alone think. Pulling into a parking lot I shut off the car. The rumbling engine was silenced and made me feel even more awkward. I opened my mouth then shut it.

"Bonnie," he started "I don't want to be alone. Don't force me."

In that moment I slammed my forehead down on the steering wheel. I sighed then sat back up. I was sure that he was staring at me like I was a total retard with a dur factor.

"You don't need to be alone. Go out and pick someone you could see spending the rest of your life with and get to know them." I said

"I did then I did horrible things to her, which made things even more complicated." He explained "I don't know what more to do."

I looked over at him. There was a flood of emotion in his face. Was he scared? He looked scared. He was even flushed.

"How do you feel about coffee?" I asked

"What?" a look of confusion now coming over him

"Coffee?"

"I don't drink it." he said

"Me either." She smiled "Let's go get some."

I got out, and a few seconds later I heard his footsteps behind me trying to catch up. It was okay. Things would be okay. They always started out somewhere. It was just a long bumpy freaking detour is all. There were sacrifices and losses, but there was still us. It would always be us, because we fought for it, not we. He.