Now to let Bonnie's family in on the secret.

Disclaimer: Characters, places, and the like from the Vampire Diaries are the property of LJ Smith. I'm just borrowing them to create this tale. All other characters that have no ties to any other fics belong to me!

Chapter Five

Damon took a breath. He couldn't wait to see how they took this. "Where would you have me begin? Where I and my brother became as we are, or where we came into the story?"

"What are you?" Mary asked unnervingly.

Damon grinned as he settled into a chair, showing his fangs. "Do I really need to say the word?"

"A vampire!"  Rachel shrieked in fear.

"Sit down Mrs. McCullough. If I were here to feed on your family I would have done so already." Damon said with little interest.

Nathan wondered if he could reach the fire poker before Damon could stop him. "Then why are you here?"

"Before I go any further I should tell you that you could not make it to that poker even if you tried. Bonnie is a remarkable witch who saved not only my life but the life of my little brother."

Damon began with his and Stefan's rivalry with Katherine. How she turned them only to fake her death, which sent them to their swords and deaths. How she pulled them to this town, and they both fell for Elena Gilbert. That eventually he only wanted to hurt his brother for a red head had caught his eye – though he brushed off that Bonnie still meant nothing to him.

Then he explained the truth behind Elena's death – how his and Stefan's blood had turned her. Then of how she gave her life to save the ungrateful town. How he took care of his brother to honor the girl who made Damon see that he and Stefan were all that they had left.

Then Damon told the entire truth about that night of Meredith's birthday party, Vicki's death, and their fight against Klaus.

Damon had to admit that the three humans before him probably would have thrown him out if he hadn't showed them what he was. Then he explained that he received a strong vision from his mother, but not how many or often.

"I don't believe that Bonnie is nothing to you, but I guess that is something you have to figure out for yourself. Can you extend Bonnie's life?" Mary sighed as she remembered the pain her sister was going through. The idea of losing Bonnie so close to the holidays was painful.

"I already have. She would only allow me to if I agreed to explain the story to the three of you." Damon said.

Nathan sighed. "If you hadn't showed us what you are, I would have believed all of this. But, right now you are my daughter's only chance."

"She needs a few hours to change, and then she will need blood and a three days to finish." Damon explained as he looked into the flames.

Rachel slowly realized the truth. "She won't die from the cancer! Oh, thank you! I don't care what you are or what she will be as long as I still have my baby!"

Damon was stunned when Bonnie's mother leapt into his arms. "She is dead Mrs. McCullough, but will be here long after you and your husband are gone. We need to find her some blood."

"I can get some from the blood bank the moment it is taken, will that be good enough? Or will blood borne illnesses hurt her?" Mary offered.

"Vampires are not affected by illnesses that humans are – not even this HIV or AIDS. And yes, the fresher you can get it the better." Damon glanced around the home. "Why is it that her room is so jolly while the rest of your home hasn't a single holiday decoration."

Nathan finally accepted that this monster had guarded his baby and once again saved her – this time from cancer. "We weren't in a holiday mood."

"Now I am. I'm going to start some dinner. Can you eat with us?" Rachel looked over at Damon.

He smiled at her. "Yes, it just doesn't satisfy as blood does."

Rachel bounced as she started for the kitchen. And then the doorbell rang.

Who could be at the door? So, was that bad and out of character?