I just wanted to thank everyone who has reviewed and given me support in finishing this story—again. The words of encouragement are appreciated. Thank you for sticking around! And I hope you're not tired of my updates yet. My workplace has been put out of commission for the foreseeable future and I suddenly have a lot of time on my hands. I'm thinking about the possibility of a sequel/story of one-shots based in this universe. I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on the matter!


~Chapter Fifteen~


Burning on just like a match you strike to incinerate

The lives of everyone you know

And what's the worst you take (worst you take)

From every heart you break (heart you break)

And like the blade you stain (blade you stain)

Well, I've been holding on tonight

~My Chemical Romance, Helena~


"You called me Bonnie!"

I slam my books on the lunch table. He is sitting there, picking at his lunch. He has been poking at the school's meatloaf for about ten minutes now. Sitting alone—no Tyler, Stefan, or Rebekah in sight.

"I mean, that is your name—last time I checked." Damon looks at me with a pointed expression. His blue eyes are smoldering.

I glare at him, hands on my hips. "What kind of bullshit is that?"

"Look, I know you're all hormonal and everything, but I think you're overreacting. Would you rather I call you Judgy?"

"Yes!"

He nods slowly. "I'll remember that for next time."

"Good. You can stop being sulky now." I sit down next to him. "Please?"

Damon gives me a halfhearted grin. "Look at you being polite for once!"

"So are you going to tell me what was going on in that pretty little head of yours last night?"

His expression darkens. "Nothing was going on. It was just late and I needed to finish my homework."

I burst into a fit of laughter. "No, seriously… tell me the truth."

"That is the truth." He insists, sounding like a petulant child.

I pretend to wave a white flag above my head. "My bad. I didn't know it was such a touchy subject."

"Out of everyone in this building, you should know the most about me."

This rubs me the wrong way. "When did I get upgraded to Elena status?" I don't mean to sound angry, but I do.

"Since you're having my baby!" he snaps under his breath.

I look down at my mid-section. It's protruding much more than I had realized. I feel like I'm wearing a giant neon sign that reads: Hey everyone! I'm pregnant! No one else has found out; at least that I know of. But I'm sure that will change soon enough. "That's why?" I fight to keep the hurt out of my voice. "That's the only reason you're putting up with me?"

Damon picks up on it, though, almost immediately. "That's not what l—"

"Save it! I got the message loud and clear."

"Bonnie…"

"Don't call me that!" I say through gritted teeth. I grab my things from the table and storm away. Part of me wants to turn around and try again, be a little less snarky. But I force myself to move forward. It looks like I will be spending another afternoon in the bathroom. Alone.

Why is that prospect so terrifying?

When I enter the bathroom, I make a beeline for the sink. I keep splashing water on my face, in hopes that I am able to ward off the tears.

"Bonnie?" I can see Elena standing in the entryway, unsure if she should venture further into the minefield that is my emotions.

"Don't worry, I was just leaving." I turn off the faucet and grab my books.

She steps completely into the bathroom. "Don't—I was actually looking for you."

"Why? Do you have more advice to give me?"

"No… I want to apologize. I shouldn't have said what I did. About the baby. And you're right, I was jealous. I don't know why, but I was."'

"You also told our entire friend group something that was mine to share."

She hangs her head in shame. "I was just trying to help. It wasn't supposed to happen the way it did."

I sigh. "It didn't help, though. It made everything worse."

"I know. I'm sorry." She peeks up at me, hope shining in her brown eyes. "Do you forgive me?"

"I did miss you." I admit, and she envelopes me in a large—and tight—hug.

When she pulls away, there is a huge smile on her face. "So, you'll fill me in, right?"

"Do you promise not to be a blabber mouth?" I ask cautiously, giving her a scrutinizing look.

"Cross my heart!" She swears. "Hope to die, stick a needle in my eye!"

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." I say, trying to sound menacing. "Because I will stick a needle in your eye."

Oh I know, I remember what you did to Damon in sixth grade."

I cringe. "He totally deserved the knee in the groin." I remember the day clearly. I had a pimple in the middle of my forehead on picture day. Damon called me crater face and I ended up in the principal's office. Sheer luck had kept him from calling home to my parents.

"I agree,"

"I guess some things will never improve."

She frowns "… he's not being a dick again, is he?"

"Honestly… I think it may have been me. He was just acting weird… weirder than usual and I may… have flown off the handle."

"How so?" She questions, "you two seemed to be… well, really close."

I raise an eyebrow. I hadn't thought Elena had been paying any attention to me, but I guess because Damon is involved she just couldn't help herself. "Well, we were having a good conversation, or so I thought, and then he's just been… not himself."

She nods. "What did you guys talk about?"

I shift my weight uncomfortably. I'm not sure if I should confide in Elena. Just because I've accepted her apology doesn't mean I trust her again. "Our… situation."

"Ah." She tries to be discreet when she glances at my stomach, but it's painfully obvious to see that she wants to confirm whether or not I've taken her suggestion.

"I'm still pregnant."

"… well, then, he's probably just nervous he won't live up to your expectations.Your one of the only people to hold him to a higher standard."

"He's more than capable of doing it. He's not that bad. Well, not all of the time." I pause, "He did kind of say that last night—I told him what we… it's a girl." I finally say. And I leave it at that. I don't want to delve into what happened after that—the forehead kiss, how I secretly wanted far more than that.

"Well, congratulations Bon. That's so cool!"

"…You mean that?"

"It's a little weird, but if this is what you want… then, I guess you can call me Aunt Elena."

"Okay… Aunt Elena."

When the bell rings, Elena loops her arm under mine. I feel lighter now. One less problem to solve. Sure, I have to tell Damon I did overreact, but I guess it won't be that bad. I just pray he listens to me.


Never in my life did I think I would be actively pursuing Damon Salvatore—but, here I am. Sitting in my car, in front of his house, ready to ask him for forgiveness Oh, how the tables have turned. The irony is killing me.

I can never get over how elaborate the Salvatore home is. Mr. Salvatore has a surprisingly flashy style. The house is constructed from gray bricks—the kind you might see within the pages of some old fairytale. Golden curtains hang in each and every window. When the sunlight hits them, the amount of shimmering they produce is both eye-catching and blinding. The driveway is paved in brick and from where I sit, the different shades create an elegant pattern. The porch is covered in fancy lawn ornaments and the windows on the front doors are stained glass.

I notice some movement in my side-view mirror. Here comes Damon, walking briskly toward the walkway… and here goes nothing, I think. I take a deep breath and scramble for something to say. You'd think I would have had that all figured out by now, but our moment from last night has gotten me tongue -tied.

When he appears at my window, I roll it down and give him a sheepish smile.

"This behavior isn't creepy at all."

"Maybe just a bit…" I look down at my lap, "I just wanted to say sorry for lunchtime… I went overboard."

He cracks a smug smile. Then he comes around and plops himself right inside my car. "That you did."

"I guess you're just as emotional as I am."

Damon scoffs, "I wouldn't go that far."

"Eh. Well, then, you won't be all weird when I tell you that I think you'll be a great dad. You don't need to worry about that…"

"Is that so?" He asks. "Do you really mean that?"

I lean closer to him. "I do. You've really surprised me—in a good way. Who would have thought?"

"Definitely not me."

And I blame my increased hormones on my next actions

I kiss him.

And then I pull away. "I'm sorry. Rebekah…"

"Isn't a problem anymore."

"Thank—" I'm cut off abruptly by Damon's lips crushing into mine.

I wrap my arms around his neck and he pulls me even closer, which I didn't know was possible. He begin sliding out of his leather jacket. I'm exhilarated. And then I'm not, because I feel somebody's eyes on me. I shift away from Damon as I realize why I feel as though we are being watched. Because we are, by someone who I knew we were going to have to talk to sooner or later.

"What's wrong?"

I point.

Damon turns around and comes face to face with his father.