So When I was a kid, I hated Bonnie! She was judgy, rude and just ugh... then I grew up, became a writer and a more well rounded person and... damn, what was kid me thinking?
Yeah she is judgmental... against the vampires butchering people left and right, responsible in part for her losing her one responsible loving relative and eventually most of her neglectful family.
Yes she is rude, when she is being used by everyone, constantly asked to sacrifice and being forced to use her magic for others and never herself... in the face of her selfish, abusive friends.
Bonnie was more plot device after she discovered her gifts... never allowed to have a healthy romance and when she got one it was taken away so she could sacrifice even more for her friends. She lost her father and Grams, she more or less lost her absentee mom who chose to raise another kid over her... all for her awful friends.
She went from Elena's main friend to a tool to be used when the plot demanded it...
She was asked, demanded to work with and accept Elena dating a murderous vampire, twice! Damon killed Jeremy, abused Caroline and so many other things... Had to watch as Caroline fawned over the man making them all miserable and murdered Jenna... and Carol Lockwood.
She was the only one of her freinds that didn't sleep with a monster simply cause they hot and redeemable. Her love of Enzo felt natural and like he was being pulled out of survival mode and into decent human mode... she loved the man he became not the badboy he was...
She was cheated on twice by Jeremy, left in the Prison world, tortured by Kai, died for Jeremy and no one noticed... abused by her anscestor, possesed by another relative, ignored by Lucy who should have been helping her master her powers...
Bonnie was a figure that was used and abused by everyone and she didn't even start to become her own person until she died and came back as the Anchor and even then it took until Elena left for her to entirely get a storyline that was her own as well as a decent love interest in Enzo!
So glad I grew up, smelled the coffee and took a far closer look at this amazing, sad, poorly used character played by a very gifted actress... sigh... age changes so much.
Do you have a charecter that you changed from hating like this? Matt would be my other change...
This is the chapter that things really start to change over all... from the main series and the previous incarnation of this story.
"To repeat, the animal terrorizing Mystic Falls has been caught."
Liam rolled his eyes at that, wondering which of the Salvatore brothers faked the catch of whatever the animal was. Rushing down the stairs, he managed to catch not only the end of the news but also Jenna looking with great loathing at the screen while saying several not so nice things.
"Scum ball. Scum bucket."
Elena walked by their aunt, holding an old familiar looking box. "Who are you talking to?"
"Him." Jenna pointed at the man talking on the TV local news.
"The news guy?"
Liam got a good look at the man, and recognized him well. "Logan Scum Fell, the man who broke your heart, right?" He said as he passed by, kissing his aunt's cheek softly. They were close so he heard all about Logan.
Elena seemed baffled. " Oh, no way. You and him? He's cute."
Jenna was offended. "He is not cute. There's nothing cute about him. What are you doing with that?"
"I went yesterday and got it from the safe deposit box. Mom had told Mrs. Lockwood she would loan it to the founder's council for their heritage display."
"I remember that..." Liam sighed. "Isn't the watch there, the one dad said went to the Oldest Male Gilbert... my watch?" He reached over and grabbed said watch from the box, shuddering the moment it touched his skin as something washed through him. 'Wow, that has a lot of magic in it... familiar magic, it feels like Sheila... so, I'm guessing it's Bennett Magic.' He smiled, ignoring the looks of his sister and aunt at his shudder. "I always wondered when I would get this thing but I never thought it would be now...sigh, how life changes."
Jenna nodded, a sigh on her lips just as Jeremy entered the room. "Yes it does... I haven't thought about half of this stuff in years."
Jeremy reached over, grabbing a ring. " How much do you think this stuff is worth? You know, like on eBay?" As if that was a smart thing to say in front of buzz kill Elena.
"You're not gonna find out."
Rolling his eyes, he turned to his brother. " A few grand, at least. Most of this is real silver and diamond, the Founders wasted no expense in crafting their stuff. I checked when I was younger." He shared a grin with his brother, desperate to maintain a little of the comfortability with his brother despite the recent punching of his face. To his joy Jeremy did in fact smile back, easy and comfortable, just as the door bell rang drawing Elena away as she rolled her eyes at them.
Ignoring her typical response, Liam walked back up the stairs with his watch. He examined it over and over, prodding it with his magic as best he could. He knew not nearly enough about magic to figure anything about it other then it feeling like Sheila's magic, at least a little. Still he knew enough about magic to know it was better to keep stuff like this, whatever it was, away from non magical people. And so he would hide it, under the veil cast by his grimoire.
The next thing he did was send a text to Sheila, asking her about the Compass and wondering what her family magic was doing near his family.
Lastly, he stuffed it away in his drawer, entirely forgetting the magic hiding his magical artifacts...
"""
Liam walked to the door, box in hand, just as Tyler Lockwood knocked at it. His face was red and his nose was swollen, he looked a little afraid and pissed when Liam of all people answered the door. In a weak voice, he almost squeaked out. "I'm here for my mom. I was supposed to pick up a box of stuff."
Liam felt his idiot brother Jeremy behind him, ready to run his mouth. "Tell your mom I'm not giving out the Watch. My mom had no right giving that away, nor did my dad. It belongs to Jeremy or I, depending on who lives the longest. She can call me and ask for it all she wants but she isn't getting it."
Jeremy sneered. "Yeah, she's not getting it."
Slapping Jeremy's head, Liam turned to him. " Try me and I'll hit you again. Today is important for a lot of people, your ego and attitude isn't ruining it for anyone. Are we clear?
Tyler sneered back. "He's just being a punk."
"I got your punk." Jeremy lamely said.
"Enough!I will beat both of you bloody and you know I'll do it and still have time to look good at that Party." Both boys flinched at his rage, making him feel at least a little bad. "Tyler, go home and get dressed. I expect you to look dapper and handsome, I need some eye candy tonight since my date is a girl. Jeremy, you will behave yourself and not be a dick and stay off of booze or drugs while in this house. Both of you will behave. I am sure the mayor would applaud my beating your asses."
Tyler sighed. " Hey. Would it make a difference if I told you I actually like Vicki?"
Jeremy didn't buy it. "Not even if you meant it."
"He does Jer." He turned to his brother, raising a hand to stop him. " She likes him too, so let it be. She isn't good for you anyway, but she might be better for him and he for her. If you really like her you'll realize your not great for her either. Now, let's get dressed. See you Tyler... and I am sorry about your nose. Are you okay?"
Tyler, who he knew respected strength, nodded. "How are you so strong? I mean your tiny but you hit harder then any football player I've been tackled by."
"My dad had me take Self defense lessons for two years when I came out. He didn't want me to get my ass beaten for being a small mildly effeminate, very affectionate gay boy. After he died I got back into self defense and started working out like crazy, lost like twenty pounds of fat, gained like 12 pounds of muscle. Now go, give me something nice to look at."
To his shock, Tyler didn't move. "Would you really find me that nice to look at?" He wasn't smirking, his voice was soft, almost pained.
A little confused, Liam nodded. "Your a far cry from Ugly Tyler. A dick yes, but ugly no..."
Tyler nodded, turning to leave, a look of uncertanity in his eyes as he hurried away.
'The fuck was that?'
:::
In the dinning room, Bonnie was playing with her friend's makeup. " Delicate flower vs. naughty vixen."
Elena smirked a little. "Tough call. Can we mix them?"
"Look at you, getting all pretty for your date. You seem happy-ish."
"I am...ish. Tonight's going to be a good night. But don't let that stop you from telling me whatever it is you wanted to tell me as soon as you walked in the door."
The Bennett girl felt a rush of shame and pain, but put on a warm smile. "What if I tell you in the morning? I don't want to ruin the night."
"Bonnie, out with it."
"Okay, but it has to go in the vault, because Caroline will kill me if it gets back to Damon that she squealed. Apparently Stefan has a very interesting back story."
"Uh-huh."
"Do you know what happened with his ex-girlfriend Katherine?" She said this just as Liam walked into the room, a smile on his very pretty face/
"I know that they both dated her and that's why they have issues."
"Who has issues?" Liam said as he walked by, kissing his sister and Bonnie softly. "Oh and Elena, I'm keeping the Watch in that box, It belongs to Jer and I, Mom had no right to loan it out without talking to us."
Elena sighed, then nodded with a genuine smile he appreciated. "Fine, if anyone asks I'll let them know."
"Good girl, now what's this gossip I am missing?"
Bonnie sighed. "Damon and Stefan and their relationship with a girl named Katherine. Yeah, they both dated her, only she chose Damon. And that drove Stefan mad, so he did horrible things to try and break them up. He manipulated Katherine. He filled her head with all these lies until finally it worked, and she turned against Damon."
Elena snarked out. "That sounds like one person's side of the story, meaning Damon's."
Bonnie put her hands up. I just wanted you to know.
"Anyway, his past relationships are none of my business."
Bonnie wasn't having it. "Unless he's a calculating, manipulative liar. That is your business."
"Stefan is none of those things."
Liam sighed and looked at both girls. "Elena and Bonnie, you both have a point. Elena you know him better then we do and I trust your judgement, plus we don't know Damon so he could very well be lying. However Bonnie has a point too, and you don't know Stefan super well... so let's just keep it in mind and keep yourself open okay Elena. Be cautious and wary, but not judgmental. Can you do that for me, sis?"
Elena smiled. "I am glad your not being overly protective."
"I want to be, but I love you and I am not blind to how happy you are. Plus I already threatened Stefan. He knows he'll go missing if he hurts you. They both do actually, I threatened both of them."
''' At the Salvatore Boarding House""
Damon walked by Stefan, shirtless. "Do they still wear ties at this thing?"
Stefan felt a rush of annoyance as he got ready. "Why are you even going?"
"It's only fitting. We were at the very first one, remember?"
"I think it's better if we don't draw attention to ourselves. Besides, you heard Liam's threat, he will out us in a heartbeat. In case you weren't paying attention to his actual heartbeat, he wasn't lying."
"So you should stay here. I'll see to it Elena has a good time. And I was listening, but I know how to deal with a newbie witch, not too worried." Stefan took a sip of whiskey. "My goodness, I've driven you to drink."
"Can't seem to rid myself of you. What else am I supposed to do, besides go about living my life?"
"Go about living my life. See, therein lies your eternal struggle. You're dead, dude. Get over it. What do you think?" He held up a tie to his chest, trying to show off.
'''
"So what do you think it is?" Liam asked Sheila, having stopping at her house before he went to the party. "I should have brought it, but I didn't want to risk losing it at the party."
She frowned. "Whatever it is, if my family magic was used in it's creation... what do you know about it?"
"Just that it was from the civil war era and it's been in the family line since."
Her frown deepened. "Emily Bennet, one of the most powerful Witches in my line was around back then. She made many objects from what little I know. It is most likely she had a part in it's creation... I would be very careful with the watch, she was not one to be trifled with. Can you do more research on it or get me it to do my own research?
"Sure, why not. I'll tell my family that you are researching it's origins."
"Wonderful."
"So... anything else, any warnings you have before we go to the Founder's party?"
"Have fun, baby." She kissed Liam's cheek. "And don't drink too much. If you do come here and sleep it off... be careful though. If what you told me about Damon and Stefan is true, there is something going between them that could make a serious problem for everyone."
"That's my thought. I think another warning is needed to get them to behave... and I still owe Damon for hurting Caroline... sigh..."
Turning on heel, Liam marched out of Sheila's house and hurried to the Founder's party, not at all expecting to have a good time but knowing he had to watch over the vampires threateneing his family.
"""
Elena and Liam were standing together, looking at their late parents rings. They said nothing, sharing a mixed sadness as they stared at them. The history, the pain, the loss behind the metal bands was intense for the two of them, though Liam suspected it was worse for Elena given how much closer she had been to their parents. He leaned against her a little, smiling up at her when she turned to him
"Your parents?" A voice, Stefan's, drew them from their melancholy.
Elena nodded. " There's a lot of history here."
"Yeah." Liam said.
They shared a warm look before Elena started to read off something. "The founding families in Mystic Falls welcomes you to the inaugural founder's council celebration." Wow, look, it's the original guest registry. Look at all these familiar names—Sheriff William Forbes, Mayor Benjamin Lockwood. Is that Damon Salvatore? And, Stefan Salvatore?"
Liam froze, fear overtaking him for a moment. 'The fuck are they doing here, when they could so easily be recognized from just that little piece alone. This town is not unaware of them too. Idiots could have at least changed their names.'
"The original Salvatore brothers." Damon's voice saved him from his annoyance, weaving a semi believable tale as he walked into the room. " Our ancestors. Tragic story, actually."
Stefan was displeased. "We don't need to bore them with stories of the past."
Elena didn't seem to notice, naturally. "It's not boring, Stefan. I'd love to hear more about your family."
Caroline, who had joined Damon, huffed. "Well, I'm bored. I want to dance. And Damon won't dance with me."
"Mm-hmm." Damon said.
"Could I just borrow your date?"
Elena looked to her lover, unsure. "Oh, uh..."
Stefan frowned more then normal. " I don't really dance."
Damon smirked deeply, looking extremely amused. "Oh, sure he does. You should see him. Waltz, the jitterbug, the moonwalk. He does it all."
Caroline perked up considerably. "You wouldn't mind, would you, Elena?"
"It's up to Stefan."
"Well sorry, but I'm not going to take no for an answer." Caroline then took Stefan out to dance, leaving them without Stefan to keep Damon in check. Liam moved a hand towards the Stake he had stuffed in his tux, trying to not be obvious but willing to kill Damon at a moments notice.
Damon ignored him entirely. "I want to apologize to you for being trying to split you and Stefan up when you came over, When I first told you about Katherine. There's no excuse. My therapist says I'm...Acting out, trying to punish Stefan.
Elena frowned. "For what?"
"It's all in the past. I don't even want to bring it up. Let's just say that the men in the Salvatore family have been cursed with sibling rivalry. And it all started with the original Salvatore brothers. The Salvatore name was practically royalty in this town. Until the war. There was a battle here—
"The Battle of Willow Creek." Liam said, "Mom told me about it a few years ago,... " He turned to Elena, smiling at his sister who gave him a curious look. "Mom loved History, you know that. Boring as I found it, she loved talking about it so much it was hard to not listen in." He walked over to her, moving between her and Damon ever so slightly. "Confederate soldiers fired on a church with civilians inside, that part always stuck with me... I wasn't too shocked, a lot of hypocrites in this area. Wouldn't be shocked if it was genetic.'
Damon nodded. "What the history books left out was the people that were killed. They weren't there by accident. They were believed to be union sympathizers. So some of the founders on the confederacy side back then wanted them rounded up and burned alive. Stefan and Damon had someone they loved very much in that church. And when they went to rescue them, they were shot. Murdered in cold blood."
Elena sighed. "Who was in the church that they wanted to save?"
Damon looked right at Elena, with those soulful blue eyes and Liam just knew he was trying to start shit. "A woman, I guess. Doesn't it always come down to the love of a woman?"
"Look, I'm sorry that you and Stefan have this thing between you, but I can't get in the middle of it, Damon. I just...I hope you two can work it out."
"I hope so, too."
"No you don't." Liam said, not at all afraid when Damon turned to him. "Your trying to cause problems between you and your brother, everything you've done just makes that more clear. I warned you, no shit with my family Damon. I will follow through, trust me."
The man almost snarled, but seemingly realized his company, so he let out a long sigh. "I remember well enough." Then he left, alone, hopefully to go far away.
Elena, with a confused and mildly afraid look, turned towards them. "What was that about?"
"That was your dear brother putting Damon in his place. I smelled the manipulation and douchery a mile away, sis." Liam smirked at his sister. "So I decided to stop it. I can't say much about Stefan, he's still basically a stranger, but I will say that Damon is a douche with massive issues. I told him and Stefan that if they mess with my family, they won't love to regret it.. He told that stuff to Caroline, knowing she couldn't keep it to herself. He told you about Katherine twice, trying to pit you against Stefan. Really it's clear he's got a serious issue, one that isn't your job to deal with. You deserve better, sis. Now go to your date and remind him my deal remains."
Elena smiled at him. "Your a good brother, Liam... you really are." She kissed his cheek softly before rushing off to Stefan, a smile on her face as she left.
As Elena left, Liam all but collasped, terrified as the thrill of threatening a vampire overtook him. 'I can't keep doing this. One of these days he is going to kill me. I need to be better prepared and have the means to actually protect myself and my family with more then just threats.'
''''
In the living room Bonnie, who was grabbing a drink, watched as Mrs. Lockwood generally mistreated a memeber of the catering staff.
" Look around. What's missing? The flames, the candles. Why aren't they lit? There's matches in the kitchen." Annoyed, the rude women walked away, smiling at Bonnie as she walked to the kitchen.
Bonnie barely managed to keep herself together, hating the behavior. " Bitch." Annoyed, she leaned in towards the Candles and glared, focusing herself entirely before realizing how odd it was to do what she was doing. Shaking her head, she turned around... only to pause as a single candle flickered with flames not present before. Turning back around, she saw all the candles were lit... dozens of them...
"Your strong." She jumped, turning to see the warm face of Liam as he approached her. "I wondered when your gifts would surface. Your way stronger then I am... I couldn't manage all of that."
Shaking her head, she desperately denied him. "I have no idea what your talking about."
"You just made the candles light up, I felt it and saw it. There's no shame." he opened up his hand, and a single small flame flickered in his palm before it snuffed out. "I can't do much, I am from a weak, cursed bloodline...but you Bonnie... talk to Sheila, there is so much she can share with you. You have no idea how utterly amazing you are."
"I don't want to be amazing."
"But you are... just... don't deny it. Embrace it Bonnie, it is a part of what makes us amazing, and will give you the strength to fight back. Come on... I'll walk with you to Sheila's if you want. You shouldn't be alone right now."
To Bonnie's amazement, the boy who did not like her, smiled at her with impossible kindness and led her away as she hurried to her grandma's house, terrifed but somewhat excited to finally know the truth.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was so much fun... I loved writing it.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.