AN: This is my first ever Bamon centric fanfiction, so I'm really looking forward to seeing what you think. I know I have no business starting a new story when I have three on the go already, but I couldn't resist lol :). I will still be paying attention to the other stories, don't worry, but I just had to get a couple of these out of my system! I have a couple already written, and more already planned out. If you have a song suggestion, leave me a review with the name of the song and artist and if I'm inspired by it, I'll dedicate the chapter to you! Please review, they are very much appreciated! - Vanessa

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1. Can We Start Over?

Summary: Season 2 - Damon tries to prove to Bonnie that he's willing to change, and a tentative friendship begins to grow.

Song Inspiration: Have a Little Faith in Me - John Hiatt

When your secret heart
Cannot speak so easily
Come here darlin'
From a whisper start
To have a little faith in me

When your backs against the wall
Just turn around and you, you will see
I will catch ya, I will catch your fall
Just have a little faith in me

…

Damon spotted her sitting at a corner booth be herself, nursing an iced tea with a far away look in her eyes. Only three days ago, she'd set him on fire in the parking lot of the carnival. What he should be doing is staying the hell away from her, but he couldn't stop himself from walking over.

Bonnie glanced up, her glare firmly in place as he slid into the booth in front of her. "What do you want?"

"You don't like me very much." He commented with a lopsided smirk.

Her eyes narrowed; her words laced with venom. "Was that not obvious?" Damon held her stare unflinchingly. "What are you doing here, Damon?"

His face turned more serious and when he blinked twice, she saw something genuine reflect in them. "I wanted to say something…" the words slipped from his lips lowly and strained with an uncomfortable lit that she wasn't used to seeing with him. He was always confident with everything he did, but this was different. "I'm…I'm sorry, Bonnie." he swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing in his throat, and his blue eyes clashed with her green ones. "We didn't get off to a very good start and…I wanted to apologize."

Bonnie was taken aback, her mouth dropping open in shock before she snapped it shut. "Apologize for what?" she demanded.

"Everything." he whispered, guilt seeping through. "Your grams, trying to kill you…Caroline. I was selfish, and more times than not, you paid the price."

The witch blinked in surprise, staring at the vampire with a wide, disbelieving stare. This was the last thing she had expected when Damon sat down in front of her; perhaps a snarky comment, a scathing threat, or at least a hateful glare, but not this. "Why? Why even bother with an apology? You don't like me, and I don't like you. Don't blur the lines by trying to pretend you care." She moved to stand but Damon reached out and stopped her with a gently hold on her wrist. "Let go of me." she hissed.

"Okay…but please just stay." he started, releasing her, holding his hands up in surrender. "Don't set me on fire again, okay?" he joked with a weak laugh. She didn't so much as crack a smile, but she slowly sat back down. "I wasn't always a monster, you know."

She leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms. "Could have fooled me."

Damon didn't blame her; he wasn't exactly the poster boy for good behavior, but something changed for him on Founder's night. Whether she did it for Stefan or Elena, Bonnie saved him from a certain death and it made him realize that maybe he could be someone worth saving. Maybe he could prove himself to be someone who was worth fighting for. He never understood Stefan's need to connect to human life, repeat high school again and again, surround himself those lesser than him; Damon would much rather be a lone wolf, trusting no one but himself…but as human as this group of misfits were, they fought like hell for each other, and he found a part of himself wanting that. "I have a big secret, Bonnie." He told her in a quiet rumble. "But I've never said it out loud. I miss being human; that part of myself that was good. I miss having someone to care about…something to live for. But that doesn't come natural to me anymore, so the second I feel it I lash out, and someone dies, because I can handle the guilt. I can deal with the consequences; it's easy, you just turn it off." he snapped his fingers simply. "But letting people in, letting people see me for who I really am…that's the scary part." he finished in a strained whisper. His blue eyes were swimming with unshed tears, finally voicing all the emotions that had threatened to undo him for the last few days.

Bonnie's chested heaved with her heavy breathing. She couldn't understand why he was sharing this with her but part of her was inclined to believe him. After stopping him from killing a newly turned Caroline, she thought there was no way he'd be able to redeem himself. Damon Salvatore was a lost cause; but now she wondered if that was the case. "That's what being human is, Damon. It's facing the scary parts head on, because what other choice do we have? If there is good in you…then you have to prove it. And not just because you care about Elena…but because you want to." Bonnie gathered her bag, and stood from the booth, looking down at Damon who was lost in thought, staring straight ahead. Taking a deep breath, she tentatively put a hand on his shoulder. "I accept your apology. But you have a lot of work to do to gain my trust." She rushed out of there as quickly as she could, trying to process what had just happened.

Damon let out a sigh when he felt her hand trail off his shoulder. It wasn't much, but it was progress. He didn't know why, but Bonnie's approval somehow meant more to him than anyone else's. She was the glue that held their group together, and she was always going to bat for them; deep down he wanted to be one of those people.

…

Damon fucked up. He just couldn't leave it alone, and now Mason's heart was laying on the other side of the room. He felt justified for his actions, especially after the wolf outed him and Stefan to the Sheriff, but it was bringing him no closer to Bonnie's good graces. That's why when she stormed back in his house after finding out what he'd done, he felt a wave of guilt wash over him.

"Damon! Please tell me you didn't." she glared down at him as he was rolling plastic wrap, he'd laid down earlier. Realization dawned on her as she saw Damon's bloody hands and the fire poker that was still dripping with blood. "Oh my God."

"Bonnie…" he stood, slowly walking towards her. "I had to; he was going to expose us to the council."

She narrowed her eyes, taking a step away from him as he approached. "So, you murder him?!"

"He was working with Katherine! Stefan and I almost died today because of him. I did what I had to, Bon. So, you can be mad at me and add this the long list of things I need to make up for, but this was the only choice we had! You and Elena and Stefan are all the same…you will look for every way around it before making that life-or-death choice, but I'm not like you. I'm selfish, I'm impatient! I'm willing to make that choice for you and do what needs to be done. I'll gladly be the bad guy…but at least we'd all be alive."

She averted her eyes, suddenly feeling lost in the crashing waves of blue he pinned on her. Damon said one thing with his words and another with his eyes, she'd come to notice. "So now what?"

Damon swallowed. "Now I find out what the hell Katherine wants with this moonstone." She nodded demurely, looking everywhere but at him. "You're mad."

"I'm disappointed. These last few days you've been tolerable; I was actually starting to think there was hope for you, after what you did for Caroline's mom, working on the council. But this…" she gestured to the mess around her. "This is just classic Damon. You told me things were going to change. And I was stupid enough to believe you." She levelled him with a scathing glare, turning to walk away.

"Bonnie…" he whispered; his words laced with…hurt? For some reason hearing her say she was disappointed felt like a hand was gripping his heart. "I'm trying." he swallowed through the knot in his throat.

"Then try harder!" she snapped back, spinning back around. With a heavy sigh, she collected herself. "Look, I don't know what brought this on, or why all of a sudden you're trying to turn over a new leaf…but I'm glad that you want to. And I'll help you get there, but you have to do better." she pushed passionately.

Damon took a couple of cautious steps closer to her, holding his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. Just…have a little faith in me. Please?"

Bonnie sucked on her lower lip contemplatively. "Why? Why does my opinion matter so much to you? You hate me."

Damon shook his head as he stepped closer. "I don't hate you, Bonnie; in fact, I respect you." His lips curled up when she reeled back, stunned. "Yeah, that surprised me too. The truth is, out of all of us, you're the one everyone can trust…the one everyone counts on."

She blinked, turning her head away with a scoff. "Right…Bonnie Bennett; town witch. Everybody's plan A." she uttered bitterly.

He winced, knowing he was guilty of assuming the same thing. "I used to think that way, I'll admit. But you know why your opinion matters more to me than everyone else's? It's because you're loyal, and brave, and you call me on my shit. You put me in my place better than anyone I've known."

"Someone has to." Bonnie retorted quickly with a little smirk. She cocked her hip and crossed her arms. "You get one more chance. One, Damon! I'm serious, if I hear that you've killed someone or put anyone in danger…I'm done." she finished on a tense whisper. For some reason, the thought of putting him down, as she'd threatened so many times before didn't sit well with her anymore.

Damon graced her with a grateful smile, before it faded and he nodded with sincerity. There was an awkwardness that hung between them for a moment as they stared at each other. "So, what happens now?" he rocked on his heels. "Is this the part where we hug it out?" he joked.

Bonnie snorted loudly with a roll of her eyes. "God no!" When she fixed her eyes on him again, she felt a genuine smile creep up her cheeks. "Just…don't let me down, okay." She added softly.

"I won't." He vowed.

…

Bonnie walked the dark streets with concern. Elena had told her about Rose, and how Damon left afterwards looking…deranged and disconnected. Now, after a quick locator spell, she followed his tracks, ending up at the long road to the edge of town. It was secluded except for the figure laying in the middle of the road. She stopped, letting out a relieved sigh, canting her head with a sad slant of her brows.

He didn't move as she approached, and silently, Bonnie laid down opposite him, her head by his, just watching the upside-down view of his profile. it was a long few minutes before he acknowledged her. "How'd you fine me?"

She offered a little smile. "Magic. I wanted to make sure you were okay." She added softly. He hummed in response. "Are you?"

Damon scoffed, glancing at her with a dart of his eyes. "Just peachy."

"Damon…you can be honest with me." She waited until he turned his head to look at her again. "Tell me."

With a long insufferable sigh, Damon stared back up at the sky like it held the answers. He'd already done this with Elena, but for some reason he felt like he could open up to Bonnie in ways he couldn't with Elena. "I'm lost; metaphorically…existentially. It takes a lot of effort to keep up this front. To pretend like I don't care about the people that I care about or love the people that I love." he trailed off softly.

Bonnie rolled on her side. "Then why do you?"

He lolled his head to side, his eyes reading her face. He was surprised by her genuine curiosity. "It's easier to walk away when I ultimately disappoint them...because I always do."

Bonnie's lips pulled in a tight smile. "Well…" she started, pushing herself to her feet and brushing the dirt off her jeans. "Maybe it's time we change that." she held out a hand for him, and he stared at it before glancing up at her. "Come on." she coaxed, her lips twisting in a smirk. "You really want to lay in the street all night?"

"That was the plan." he grumbled, despite grabbing her hand and raising to his feet. "What was your plan, Bon-bon? Did Elena send you over here to keep an eye on me? Make sure I don't fly off the handle?" his eyes floated around, avoiding hers.

She tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she read his flat expression. He was still putting this mask up. "Nooo…I came because I was worried about you. You're my friend." His gaze snapped to her in blinking astonishment. "I know Rose was your friend too…" she trailed off.

For a moment she thought he wasn't going to respond at all. "I staked her…put her out of her misery. I just didn't want to her be in pain anymore; I couldn't bare it. When she fell asleep, I got in her head, and I took her home. I wanted her last moments to be peaceful…" he choked out, tensing his jaw when his eyes rimmed with tears.

Bonnie's mouth dropped open, unsure what to say. She'd never seen him cry before and it was the most human he'd ever looked. She realized that Damon held more pain behind those eyes than he'd let on. "I'm sure it was." she whispered; her voice strained by her own emotions. "What you did for Rose…was the kindest thing you could have done for her. You saved her, Damon."

Damon rolled his eyes with a sneer. "Saved her? I damned her, Bonnie! I'm the reason she's dead!" He turned to walk down the street, but she was hot on his heels.

"If it wasn't her, it would have been someone else!" she had to keep a quick pace to follow his long strides.

He looked over his shoulder. "Yeah, me!" He pointed a finger into his own chest. "I picked a fight with Jules; I was the one she was after and Rose paid the price! I should be the one lay in a shallow grave right now, and trust me, everyone would be better for it!"

She could tell by the finality in his tone, he truly meant that. "Damon!" She grabbed his arm and he turned back to glare at her. "I'm sorry that Rose is dead…" she swallowed thickly. "But I'm glad you're not."

He rounded on her, getting within inches of her. "Why? Of all the people I've hurt, you've probably got the worst of it. Why do think so highly of me now?" he ground out spitefully.

"Because you've changed! You've earned my trust, Damon…I think deep down you want to be good." She reached for him but he stepped back with a wild look in his eyes.

"It doesn't matter what I want. It doesn't change who I am." he exclaimed, throwing an arm out in a grand gesture.

"It doesn't mean you can't fight for your humanity!" she yelled back.

He shook his head, his eyes shining with tears that he could barely hold back. "But I'm not human, Bonnie!" he stepped closer to her, but she held her ground, staring up at him as her chin trembled with her own tears. "And I miss it." Damon admitted sadly, words just above a whisper, his face crumbling. "I miss it more than anything in the world." She swiped at a tear that rolled down her cheek, but held his gaze as he basically bared his soul to her. "But I can't be what everyone wants me to be. What Elena wants me to be. I mean, I try…" his voice cracked painfully. "But there's only s-so much hurt a man can take."

Bonnie let out a sob, and pulled him into her arms, giving him a comforting embrace. He didn't move for a second, probably shocked by the gesture, and then he was clutching her like a lifeline, burying his head in her shoulder. She knew what he was feeling; she'd felt it herself many times. Feeling like she could never be enough…never being worthy of the kind of love – that epic, world encompassing love, that Elena had. Bonnie had her fair share of hurt; she'd been on the outside looking in seeing everything you want sit just out of reach, and for Damon it must be like torture. Having Elena so close but not having her. "I have faith in you, Damon."

All he whispered back was a grateful 'thank you'.

…

He couldn't remember the last time he was this anxious. Only hours ago, he and Bonnie plotted behind Stefan and Elena's back to fool Klaus into believing the witch was dead; and it worked. It worked so well that Stefan, Elena and even Damon himself was starting to believe it. He sat beside her in the witch house, on a spread of blankets and candles on the hard floor, studying her face for any sign of life.

"Come on, Bon-bon." he whispered, brushing the stray hairs off her face, and using the pad of his thumb to wipe away the blood that had dripped from her nose. "Don't give up on me now."

The last few months, after the night in the middle of the road, Damon had kept his promise to her, and they had built a strong friendship. He found himself seeking her presence when he felt he was teetering on the edge, and she was always there to keep him grounded. And when she was in trouble, he was there to help her. It didn't go unnoticed to the rest of them, and for the first time since arriving back in Mystic Falls, Damon felt like he was a part of a team…a family. He realized that somewhere along the way, his respect turned into something more; he cared about her, he valued her in his life, and the thought of losing her scared him more than he was willing to admit. Damon could feel his phone buzzing in his pocket incessantly; the rest of the group wonder what the hell was going on, no doubt. He'd taken Bonnie away from a sobbing Elena, telling his brother he was going to 'deal with her'. He was sure they were ready to blame this on him, and he wanted nothing more than to prove them wrong and walk back through the door with Bonnie…alive.

He pulled her to him, resting her head in his lap, running his knuckles gently down the curve of her face. "I promise you…if you make it through this, I'll do anything you want. You name it, I'll do it. If you want spend the rest of your life traveling the world, I'll foot the bill…just wake up, Bonnie. Please?" he added in a miserably strained voice. He wasn't beneath begging at this point. It had been too long…

The young witch's eyes fluttered open, hooded and exhausted, and a sigh of relief escaped him. "Damon?" she groaned, trying to focus her gaze on him.

He broke out into a face splitting smile, grabbing her hand in his. "I'm here…you're okay."

"Did we do it?" She asked hopefully.

"Yeah." He couldn't resist bringing that hand to his lips. "You did it, Bon." She tried to get up, but he held her in place. "Don't try to move; you're still weak."

She shot him a concerned look. "What about everyone else? Is Elena okay?"

"She's fine. Everyone is fine." he reassured her.

Bonnie's stare pierced through him curiously, canting her head. "Are you okay?" The deep creases in his brow giving her cause for concern.

He almost answered with a classic Damon retort; something sarcastic and witty, something that would make her roll her eyes and slap him hard on his chest…but instead, he settled on the truth. Not only because he needed to say it, but because she needed to hear it. "I was worried about you."

She grinned, her eyes narrowing, mirth glinting in them. "Careful Damon…I might start to think you actually care." she repeated her words from earlier tonight. He'd responded with a devilish smirk and a 'wouldn't want that', but now he held her gaze with seriousness reflecting in his bright blue eyes.

"I do." She let out a happy sigh, blinking away tears. They had come a long way; from enemies to reluctant acquaintances to friends. "Bonnie, I know I've done a lot of things to hurt you…and I know you might never forgive me for them and I don't expect you to…" he started genuinely. "But can we start over?" Damon swallowed painfully, the anxiousness bubbling in his throat at her rejection.

Bonnie slowly forced herself into a sitting position. "No…" he released a dejected sigh, casting his gaze down to his now empty lap. "I don't want to start over…I want to start right here." his head shot up to meet her and her lips pulled in a tight smile. "Starting over means forgetting all the progress it took to get to this point; all the good you've done, all the trust you've earned." she gave a little shake of her head as she reached out and grabbed his hands, squeezing them. "I don't want to forget those things…" Damon nodded with stunned appreciation. "I'm proud of you, Damon."

His mouth twitched. He couldn't remember the last time he'd heard those words directed at him. Was it in the last hundred years? Before? Was he human? It didn't matter anymore. Bonnie's words filled him with warmth. He pulled her into his side, and she rested her head on his shoulder. The steady beating of her heart lulled him into a blissful state of peace he hadn't felt in a long time. He had no idea how long they stayed that way, but the sun started to come up and create beams of light that shone through the window.

They had come a long way…and they had a long way to go, but he was ready to fulfill the promise he made to never let her down.