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 Two

Damon sipped his 'red wine' and gazed over the village. It was a small town, and though he preferred the hum of the city he wasn't ready to face his future just yet. Not a future without her, without his sweet Bonnie. Instead of being off to the big cities and what awaits him, he was hidden away in his new château secreted within some mountain range just above a city he had forgotten the name of.

He was waiting for peace. But it didn't seem that he'd ever receive it. She had found a way into his heart, and there she would stay.

Damon hated to sleep anymore. In his dreams, she was in his arms and they weren't fighting for their lives. But, then he would wake to his empty bed and aching heart.

He could feel that she was going on in her life, but still longed for him deep inside. Two weeks after they parted was her birthday. Damon couldn't let it pass without celebrating and giving her tokens that showed how special she was in his eyes, but how deeply he longed to be with her that day.

He forced himself to remain in that château drinking to the love of his life. Damon wondered if Matt would become jealous of all the gifts Bonnie would soon receive. That brought a grin to his face. Out of character and yet still within his character.

****

Her eighteenth birthday had arrived at last. Bonnie was shocked to receive the four-dozen red roses first thing that morning.

The card was not signed, but she hoped that she read between the lines correctly. After all how many knew what Damon had written in that note he gave her as a goodbye – the one that was still hidden in her diary?

~~~~~~~~~

Bonnie,

Hopefully, these will find you well. Happy eighteenth birthday, little flame. Four down fourteen to go.

~~~~~~~~~

Bonnie giggled as tears came to her eyes. Oh, how that vampire had her heart! But her birthday had yet to end. What did he mean by fourteen to go?

Later that morning, Bonnie was at home alone working on her first college research paper when the doorbell rang. "Coming!" Looking through the peephole, she saw that it was a deliveryman. She opened the door to a shock.

"Ms. Bonnie McCullough? I've got five packages and a envelope for you … sign here please." He said as he reached out his clipboard.

He laid the packages in the living room and left. Bonnie opened up the envelope and chuckled happily, Damon had struck again.

~~~~~~~~~~

Ciao birthday lady,

Dress up and head off for some fun tonight. Only wish I was there to really show you a good time. But, you have the last of the group with you – so they will have to do. Those roses pale compare to you, fiamma. Nine to go.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Damon you are a sneaky wolf! Now what did you send me this time handsome?" Bonnie ripped the smallest box open first.

To her surprise there was a gorgeous dress, fringed shawl, attractive shoes, and jewelry. She giggled as she looked at the dress she held against her body. "Well, he said for me to dress up. I guess he wanted to make sure that I'd be able to do it in style."

The next box was a black leather jacket, just like the one Damon draped around Elena that night in the clearing. "Are you choosing me? I hope so. I love you."

Next came two new outfits, expensive and definitely Damon's taste – tight and showed all of Bonnie's best features. "Now if you were only here to see them on me! Oh Damon, I miss you so much!"

The fourth box held three books of magic! Damon somehow knew that Bonnie had not given up on her studies of magic or her powers. Finally, the fifth box had bath supplies. Salts, candles, soaps shaped in Celtic triangle knots, a mesh sponge, incense, a new very romantic and revealing gown, a lace robe, and another note.

~~~~~~~~~~

A little treat for the college student. School can be stressing, and we don't want you all stressed out on your night on the town. Enjoy it all beautiful; you certainly earned it well. And I saw the rest and knew it would look good on you.
~~~~~~~~~~

"Damon Salvatore! You are very – oooo! I think I'll wait until the next time I get you in bed with me to wear this. Why do I know for sure I'll be getting you back? I just hope that it's soon. I miss you so much." Bonnie felt like crying, but it was her birthday – Damon wanted her to celebrate, so she would.

Since Meredith and Alaric were still on their honeymoon and Caroline was out of town, so Bonnie invited Matt and Lydia out. Unfortunately, they had plans already. "Well, I can go over to St. Havers myself and have a good time."

****

Bonnie finally got her paper done and printed, as well as got some notes out of her book for her next class – two days away. Bonnie went to make herself something to eat before sneaking upstairs for a long soak. Another knock on the door brought another delivery. Three more boxes. In the first were a cell phone and a charm necklace Bonnie recognized as a Lancelot Crest - an amulet for capturing the lover you desire.

"The only lover I want is you Damon, I wish that you knew that." Bonnie whispered as she put the necklace on and thought of him and all that drew her to him.

The second box held a wonderful dream catcher. And the third had a teddy bear – not unlike the one in Bonnie's favorite movie. Of course another note came with it all.

~~~~~~~~~

Six to come, birthday fiamma.
~~~~~~~~~

After her bath, and she was fully dressed in her new outfit, Bonnie rushed down the stairs. Then she wondered what she could do on what little money she had. Paying for school made money tight, and she wasn't sure what she wanted to do now that she was on her own. Then there was another knock on the door, out the peephole she saw a man in fancy clothes.

"Hello, I'm here for Ms. Bonnie McCullough."

"Um, that's me." Bonnie wasn't sure what was happening.

The man smiled, "I've been asked to drive you wherever you wish and guard you this evening. I think this will explain everything."

He reached her another note.

~~~~~~~~~~

Mio piccolo fiamma,

I have entrusted your safety to an old friend this evening. Shawn will escort you in my place tonight. Oh and don't worry about paying, this is my gift to you fiamma. Have fun and tell the others hello for me. Five more surprises left; do you think that you can handle them?
~~~~~~~~~~

"Nice Damon. Sorry but we're going to be on our own tonight. No one was free, so I'm going out for fun. Just let me finish getting ready." Bonnie grabbed her shawl, slid on her shoes, and her purse. After locking up, she tossed the keys in her purse and walked off on the man's arm.

Bonnie felt a little like a princess as he shut her door on the viper. Once he was in and they were off she found the nerve to talk, "so Shawn, you and Damon know one another?"

"He saved me a long time ago, so I'm paying him back. Always thought it would be in battle, not babysitting his girl." Shawn huffed. "Sorry, I shouldn't put this on you, I feel under appreciated right now."

"Damon rarely trusts anyone. Believe me, you wouldn't imagine what we went through to get him to trust me." Bonnie felt low for the first time that day.

Shawn groaned. "He more than trusts you Ms. …"

Bonnie interrupted, "please call me Bonnie. Anything else would look out of place."

"Alright … Bonnie. Damon doesn't just trust you. I have known him for a long time, and have yet to see him act this way for any woman. You have a place in his heart no other has ever had. Look, I'm not saying that he's in love with you – it's just that I look up to him, so don't hurt him. He is the closest thing I had to a brother, maybe even a father in a strange way."

"I love him too. I almost lost him that last time. It's too painful to think about … especially tonight. So, did Damon give you any plans or are we to go and party freestyle." Bonnie changed the subject to keep the tears from her eyes.

Shawn smiled. "It's your night, and you are the boss. Oh yeah, gift number thirteen is in the glove compartment."

Bonnie opened the glove compartment to find tickets to her favorite movie and giggled. "Damon, are you part fey?"

"No he isn't, but he read your mind about what you like the last time the two of you were alone. Movie first then?"

"Movie first." Bonnie giggled.

Shawn was a good companion, but very jealous. A couple of guys eyed Bonnie and tried to hit on her at dinner when he went to the bar to get them some drinks. Shawn came back with a look that would have made Damon proud.

"Gentlemen, I suggest you leave my friend alone. She's here with me." The eyes he gave the two strangers made the guys back off.

Bonnie giggled as she took her drink "And I thought that Damon could be possessive. Well they say like father like son. Maybe it doesn't only count with blood and adoption."

"Maybe I should be calling you mom then?" Shawn shot with a smile that rivaled Damon's.

Bonnie took a sip of her drink between chuckles. "You think he holds me so highly. I don't know for sure myself."

"Mom, he does love you. After all, he's spoiling you today."

"Okay 'son'. Maybe I am a little important in his mind." Bonnie felt a small bit of excitement. Could this guy be right, and Damon really held feelings for her? How would she ever know for sure?

Shawn chuckled at that. "Mom, he would have been here tonight if it didn't hurt him to see you. He thinks that he can't give you all you deserve. That to be with you would put you in danger he doesn't want given to you. Along with the idea that you are probably married to someone name Matt. I saw no ring, and guessed that isn't how things are."

"Matt is my friend, nothing more. Why would Damon think that?" Bonnie worried.

Shawn shook his head. "Don't know mom, but I promise to set dad straight when I next see him."

****

After dinner, the last four gifts came out. A car to replace her's (which had decided to expire the day before her practice mid-terms). In fact it was the same black viper Damon had been driving the last time they were all together. At that shock Bonnie couldn't hold her tears back. Damon had to feel something towards her to do that.

School was paid for, because Damon sent the money for her tuition without saying a word. How he found out she was on the verge of quitting because of her finances was beyond her.

In the trunk of Shawn's car was a wicker basket filled with chocolate and sweets. Bonnie didn't know how he found out about her sweet tooth. She began to wonder how much of her mind Damon had gone through behind Vickie's house – or was it after that?

She and Shawn went in the house, and Bonnie rushed upstairs to see a brass 'fireplace' on her table! It really held candles, but it was sweeter than any of the other gifts. Damon knew she loved candles during wet rainy weather obviously. Without a second thought, she lit all of the candles. The glow made her happy and sad all at once. She loved how sweet Damon was being to her, but she longed to hold him in her arms and tell him how she felt.

Bonnie started to get sleepy after that. So much so that she completely forgot that Shawn was downstairs waiting for her.

She took off her shawl and carefully laid it across the chair of her vanity while sliding out of her shoes. Then she laid down, and was completely out of it the second her head touched the pillow. This was a birthday she wouldn't soon forget.

What Bonnie didn't know was that Shawn had influenced her into a deep sleep. He had not elaborated on how Damon had saved him. Ten years after Katherine's supposed suicide, Shawn was on the verge of death after battling another vampire to guard his baby sister's life. It intrigued Damon so that he turned that young man into a vampire.

Shawn did save his sister, only to be rejected by his entire family afterwards. Damon had become his family, and now he had paid his adopted father back for his grace centuries before.

Tucking Bonnie in, Shawn saw in her a new hope for his father. Damon had been alone for too long in his mind. This young woman could be the start of something for them all.

Ignoring the ache in his jaw telling him it was time to feed, Shawn kissed Bonnie on her cheek and smiled. "Goodnight mom. I'll tell dad just how much he missed out on tonight."

****

Bonnie woke to a beautiful sunny day. All of the grief she had suffered since the others left seemed to not be as bad as it had been. Still there was only one thing that could have made it all the better.

Grabbing her cell phone, she dialed the number he had left. No it wasn't an emergency, but it would be rude to get so much from him without giving a proper thank you in return.

Three rings later she got his answering service. Well, who knew where he was or what time it was. But, Bonnie couldn't help feeling a little disappointed for not being able to talk to him. She was happy that the message was in his own voice. "Ciao, if you have this number then it can only be a select few calling. Leave a message and see what happens."

A beep later, Bonnie was in the spotlight. "Damon, you are still such a tease. 'See what happens'… a lot would if I had my way. Did I just say that? Anyway, this isn't an emergency. I just wanted to thank you for everything. I had the best time last night, but one thing would have made it better – you being my escort. Shawn was a gentleman, so no picking on him. He really admires you. Oh speaking of, if you see our son, tell him that mom says hi and thanks for locking up. I miss you Damon. Matt is only a friend, and has a girlfriend named Lydia. Maybe you will come and see me someday now? Bye."

****

Bonnie didn't know that Damon was busy drilling Shawn for all the details of the evening. He didn't make it to the phone until after she had started recording her message. Once he listened to it, Damon cast a strange grin over at his protégé. "Mom said hello and thanked you for locking up. Is there anything you have forgotten to tell me son?"

"Well dad, mom didn't believe me when I told her that you weren't one to do such for just anyone. I told her that from my perspective you had to feel something deep for her. And I asked her to take care of you, because you are important to me. Why don't you go to her? That Matt guy is only her friend and I know she go away with you in a second …"

Damon shocked Shawn by letting out a shattering sigh. The boy had never heard Damon do such before – ever. "That is why I can never see her again unless she is in need of my help. She would throw her life away for a dangerous life with me. Bonnie deserves more than that, son. You saw how she is different than any other female on this planet."

"Yeah dad, she completely holds your heart." And with that Shawn went out hunting wondering how he could get his 'folks' back together.

****

Damon remained in his château, living in his memories of her. Bonnie had stolen away his heart, and until she was long past his touch forever he would hunger for her eyes looking at him. At the least he hoped that it would stop hurting after her death.

That girl had found the courage to look behind his mask. Why did he look to her in that moment of despair five years before? Because he needed a reason to believe … a reason to hope that they could defeat Klaus – a reason to continue fighting. Bonnie had become that reason, she who refused to think ill of him yet still had the smarts to fear him – until that night she got into his heart.

Deep inside, Damon had to admit that Stefan was his only remaining family – that is until he and Elena wed two days after her return; now she was his sister-in-law, happily married to his brother, and living in Florence as they try to build a family together. That's why he had remained to watch out for the brat and the others. He wouldn't let Klaus tear away the last of his family.

No matter what he said, Damon cared for his little brother. That was why he left to become stronger, so that he could protect Stefan if he ever needed that protection. And why he had threatened the wimp – to get him to feed so he would be able to fend for himself.

That night, when Stefan had nearly killed him, Damon was proud of his little brother. That was the man that he had wanted to see for almost nine centuries. But the idea that Stefan had to lose the love of his life to do it … no, that was too much to ask.

And then there was Bonnie. Oh, how that little witch had him in her spell.

Damon had hoped that Matt would make her happy. But now he had a new love. Still Bonnie was better off without a vampire lover putting her life in danger every second of the day.

Looking over at his cell phone, Damon silently commanded it to ring – just as he had off and on for several years. His powers worked well on mortals, but not on inanimate objects.

Though her one message had remained on his phone, and had been played time and again, Damon needed to hear her voice. He didn't want any harm to come Bonnie; he just needed to hear her sweet voice again. He silently cursed himself for being so weak, but she was a force he had never faced in all of his centuries.

Early one afternoon, he could hear her mind reaching out for his – and it was as if she was in pain. It had to be his imagination – she wasn't hurting, he just wanted to hear her voice so bad that he was making up an excuse to call. At first he ignored it, but it got worse to the point that he could feel it in his own body and soul.

Finally, it became too much for him to handle. Damon grabbed his phone and dialed the number. No one was permitted to hurt his Bonnie! He only prayed – for the first time in so very long he prayed with all that was within him – that he really was only making it up to excuse calling her.

"Hello?" It was Matt. Maybe Damon had been wrong to hope that she wanted him back. If Matt was there, he could be dating Bonnie instead of that Lydia girl.

"It's been some time now, mio amico." Though it was harder than ever, Damon was able to put on his vocal mask.

"Thank God it's you Damon! I was just going to call you. Damon, it's Bonnie – she's being attacked, but no one is in the room! It looks like someone is trying to pull her heart right out of her chest! It's lifting her off of the bed! I just found that note you left her five years ago." Matt was frantic.

Damon released a feral growl. "Matt, can you go to her while remaining on the phone?"

"Yeah, no problem, hang on." After a few minutes, Damon could her his Bonnie gasping and crying out his name in the background. It tore at his heart.

Matt sounded like he was on the verge of breaking down. "Now what?"

"Hold you hand over her heart and tell me what you feel."

"It's like a string pulling through my hand tight. Like a fishing line with a big fish on it's end." Matt's description brought a grin to Damon's face, for his Bonnie indeed had a very big heart in her chest.

"Put the phone to her ear."

Damon heard Matt explain that he was on the phone to her, and the old vampire easily heard her gasp and sigh happily at the same time. Then came that sweet voice only tainted with her pain filled tears, "Damon? Please come back. I need you here … please."

"Oh, mio piccolo fiamma. Did you think I would stay away? Open your mind to me little flame. Let me feel that burning within my mind once more, Bonnie."

In his thoughts he could hear her wearily gasping, ~I never closed it to you. I miss you. Please come back … if only to give me a little more fuel to keep on burning.~

"Fiamma, you are the one that heats my fires. If you only knew the hungers you incite in my dreams." Damon's growl brought out a pleasurable ache in places within her that helped to knock away the pain in her chest.

Bonnie slowly rested back against her pillows as if she was the fish that had got away. Whatever Damon did or said it worked!

Matt guessed from the start that she would want privacy from the odd smile on her face. Once she was able to hold the phone, he left the room – but remained near if she screamed the way she had earlier to tell him that she was in trouble again.

Bonnie curled up as she giggled, a sound that Damon enjoyed. "Mio tenebroso fames. Io perdere vuoi, Damon."

A low and untamed growl rattled in his throat as Damon got out of his car at the small local airport. He had wasted no time in moving to get to his love, but her words stopped him in his tracks. His eyes glittered more than ever at the sound of those heated words in his native tongue coming from her sweet, sweet mouth. "You miss your dark hunger, my little flame? Since when do you speak Italiano?"

"I looked it up online. I figured that if I am truly you piccolo fiamma, then I had to describe you in my eyes. A darkness I still hunger for …" Bonnie was scared that she had said the right thing far too soon. She wanted him back so badly that it was a near physical pain.

Into her mind, Damon buried himself. Wanting to be with her mind to mind for so long as he was not there holding her body in his arms. ~Bonnie. You may seek to illuminate and explore the darkness, but one can never know what is hidden within these shadows that you seemingly long to conquer.~

~Could it be one extremely gorgeous crow? Or maybe even a wolf? Unless you have a new form to tell me about.~ Bonnie mentally laughed.

It was heavenly music in his mind. Damon boarded the plane and found his seat in first class as fast as he could. Thankfully he was the last to board, so there should have been no waiting for the plane to take off – except for the damn fog, which he was slowly working on to not gain any more attention than possible. Damon made like he was going to sleep the flight away, but in truth he was going to remain in contact with her – mind to mind. Whatever was hurting his Bonnie was thrown off by his superior vampire powers … at least for now it was.

"I will be there soon. Can you have someone meet me at the airport?" Damon only spoke to avoid any unnecessary attention drawn towards himself. ~I'll remain with you by this mental link, but I have to end our phone conversation first.~

Bonnie was so happy that she almost missed his voice coming over the receiver. "Matt said that he and Lydia would. Just call before your plane lands. I love you my dark hunger."

Damon could tell by her soft whisper that she had wanted those word to be for his own ears, but she felt a need to say them with her own lips rather than their mental link. "Ti amore mio amore. Noi unirsi fra poco. Comprendere, mio piccolo fiamma?"

"Ci. Ti amore su tutto mio cuore." Bonnie muttered, not fully understanding the words. Yet she knew full well what she had wanted to say, Damon simply gave her the words to say it with. That she loved him with all of her heart and understood (with Damon's aid) that he said they would be together again soon and that he loved her. Then they both ended their phone connection, though Damon could hear through Bonnie's ears as she explained the plan of his calling before the plane would land to Matt as she gave the young man the phone.

The next hour and a half they would have mostly alone. Bonnie explained that Stefan and Elena had come to visit Ms. Flowers for the week, and that luckily the pair decided to stay an extra day when Elena had a bad feeling of being needed. Damon smiled in his state that the other passengers put off as sleep. The circle was coming back together for one of its own.

Meredith and Alaric were also flying in, and would have arrived near the same time as him if there hadn't been that damn fog – now they would arrive about an hour before him. Damon wondered how much of a change had happened in the five years that he had been gone.

~Would you like to see how I've changed, my love?~ Bonnie sent out timidly.

Damon couldn't hide the sly smile that curled up on one side of his face. ~I won't stop you, my Bonnie.~

Shakily, Bonnie dragged herself out of bed and hobbled to her vanity. She was worried of how he would react to her looks. Sitting down in front of the mirror gave her a sense of shock – one that came from him.

Damon could hardly believe what was before him! How did she get so much lovelier? Her face had thinned and her hair straightened to soft waves of copper surrounding that sweet heart shaped face. Though he saw that she had not slept well in some time, Damon could see her glowing as he gazed on her through her own eyes.

~Tu sei bellissima, mio angelo (You are very beautiful, my angel). How did you become all the more lovely my flame?~

Bonnie blushed. ~Thinking about having you back. Can I ask you something, my sweet hunger?~

~Of course, ask me what you will.~ Damon could feel that Bonnie was nervous about her question. He wondered if it would be a question he might rather not answer.

~In Vicki's backyard, you had me under your influence. Was it only to feed off of me?~

Damon took a breath, it was a question he had posed himself many times since that night. ~I'm not certain. A part of me wanted to know you sweetness, to bond with your mind closer than we are now. Mostly, I wanted to taste those petal soft lips I barely got to know that first night.~

~What about the morning after we all defeated Klaus? I remember a sweet dream I had of you being there in my room with me, and then woke to find that my family had forgotten all about how I looked when I got home. Was it your doing or did I dream it?~

~It was not a dream; I did return to you and guarded you from what your family might have done. I wanted to give you and Matt a chance, so I made you believe that it was all a dream. You knew that I would not see harm come to you little flame.~ Damon relaxed for a moment and Bonnie took full advantage of it (as he hoped that she would).

As she recovered the foggy areas of her memory (that made her believe it had only been a dream), she smiled and chuckled to herself. Damon raised an eyebrow at this. ~What is so funny my little flame?~

~When I first met up with Elena after the funeral at Meredith's, and Elena told us what she was and the entire story – well, let's just say that I was a little put off by the idea of drinking blood.~

Now it was Damon's turn to chuckle. ~Oh Bonnie, you were past being a little put off by such, as I remember it. I sat there watching and listening to the three of you from the moment you came in on. You intrigued me then, and now …~

~And now … what?~ Bonnie asked

~Let's just say you would be shock by what you do in my sweetest dreams.~ Damon grinned

Bonnie was feeling almost her old self by this time, and she showed it in her face as she purred with her mind. ~If you could only see what I con you into doing when I'm dreaming, my Damon.~

~How is it you have changed so drastically my sweet? I'm not complaining, but you are treading into dark territories that I'm not sure you fully know the consequences of. Yet, you seemingly have no fear about what is before you on this path of conquering Me.~

~I maybe heading into that darkness without any idea of what lies ahead, Damon. But as long as I have you with me, I know that I don't need to be afraid.~

The next several hours they spent sending their words and thoughts of love back and forth, along with planning for their shared future. Bonnie vowed that once this new evil was defeated, she would accompany Damon far away from Fell's Church. They decided together that she needed and richly deserved a vacation from the dark and often-unnatural forces that normally loved to gather in that Virginia small town.

Neither had been so happy since that day he left her five years earlier. Bonnie heard the door open and shut, talking, and then the door again opening and closing. A few minutes later Elena and Stefan came into the room, smiling at the sight of Bonnie grinning at them from her vanity. "Well, obviously you're feeling better. Matt has left for the airport, so we'll hang around until everyone gets here."

Stefan had an odd look on his face that Bonnie interpreted as his knowing about the mental link. "We heard that Damon called none too soon. Is there anything the two of you would like to tell us, Bonnie?"

Damon growled with his mind ~It is none of your business, little brother.~

~Damon, Stefan is only worried about Bonnie. So, how much longer until all of you are back?~ Elena sent without thinking.

~Alaric and Meredith should be landing within the next ten minutes. My flight had delays that I had to remove without drawing suspicions, so I'll be another hour yet. I've told Matt to bring those two there and that I would follow soon as possible. So, do I see that the two of you have something to tell Bonnie and I? How long have you had your strength back, dear sister-in-law?~

"Yeah Elena, you didn't say anything about that during the visit we had before this all started." Bonnie grinned triumphantly. It was scary how alike she and Damon were, even after all those years apart. It was as if they were meant for one another.

Stefan folded his arms across his chest, "that is none of you two's business either, Bonnie. Unless you two feel like sharing …"

~I can't believe him, mio …~ Bonnie stopped just before saying the wrong thing.

Stefan wore a superior grin at that, "your what, Bonnie?" ~It appears that we will have to be careful now when we are speaking privately, Damon.~

~Leave Bonnie alone little brother! Or I will put you in your place!~ Damon growled.

Elena chuckled. ~Damon, he's only teasing the two of you. I'm happy for you both. But, if you ever hurt Bonnie, pray that I never ever find you.~

A sly smirk grew across Damon's features and one eyebrow rose in defiance. ~Elena, believe me that it will never be I who would bring harm to her. Though I will assuredly bring harm on whoever has been and might ever hurt my Bonnie!~

Bonnie's face flushed red and her eyes bulged in a combination of embarrassment and shock. Elena barely held back her laughter, and Stefan held a look of mock displeasure. "Take good care of him Bonnie, or you'll deal with me."

Damon didn't like that Stefan had turned the tables on him. ~I can take care of Bonnie and myself both quite well little brother.~

~He's just kidding, Damon! But I wasn't earlier.~ Elena sent out without any uncertainty in her mind.

~Neither am I, my little sister.~

The front door slammed open and shut hard as a screaming voice rang up to them. "Bonnie! Matt! Lydia! Brat number one is at it again! She's aiming for your heart Bonnie!"

"Margaret! She can't see me!" Elena gasped.

Bonnie grabbed her friend's arm. "She over heard Matt and I talking about Klaus with Lydia yesterday, and forced us to tell her everything. She is definitely your sister, Elena – always forcing out the truth, even if it could be scary. She only knows that Matt was going to call you and Stefan to ask the two of you to come. She needs to see you, because all that Robert and your Aunt Judith has put her through lately."

Before anyone could say a word, Margaret stormed into the room. "Bonnie are you o…kay? Elena, you're back! I missed you sissy!"

The two sisters clutched at one another as they both broke down into sobs of joy and relief. Now at the age of nine, Margaret stood at her sister's shoulder in height. Still, they were so similar in looks and personalities that it was scary. In fact that was the main problem for the girl. Judith and Robert had begun comparing her to Elena so much as of late that they would call her by her undead sister's name. That sent Margaret into rebelling. Which normally made Judith panic into grounding the child for the least abnormality in the woman's eyes – at least every other day. 'Don't want her turning into her sister. That one was always such trouble. Not little Elena … oh, I mean Margaret.'

Elena was enraged. "She will not do it when I am through with her, Margaret. I'll make sure of that."

"I knew that you would sissy!" Margaret had yet to release Elena.

After a few moments they all went downstairs and talked, catching up on their lives. Bonnie called Aunt Judith to give Margaret the night with Elena and Stefan by saying that the girl was helping her sister, Mary. Then she got them all something to drink.

"Where have you two been all of these years?" Margaret smiled as she sat between Elena and Stefan.

"Well let's see … the first year we spent in Paris. Second year we were in London." Elena chuckled.

Margaret looked shocked at that. "Did you go to the Eiffel tower and Baker Street?"

"Yes, and other places like Lock Ness, Stonehenge, and Notre Dame Cathedral as well." Stefan grinned at the little girl who was so much like his wife.

Elena had missed her baby sister deeper than he had suspected over those long five years. Now they were cuddling and giggling as if they were a mother and daughter. That's when it pained him – knowing that he might not be able to give Elena the children she once dreamed of having.

He remembered a story, but it had been so long since he even thought of it and he figured that it had only been a myth. A part of him still wished that it could be true, but he was too afraid to try – afraid of the disappointment failing would bring them both. Honestly, he too wanted to be a father.

Elena had went on explaining that they ended up moving into what had once been Stefan and Damon's home in Florence, Italy. Margaret looked up at him with those amazing blue eyes that nearly matched his dear wife's and asked with a fluttering of her lashes, "can I come for a visit someday … please?"

Stefan chuckled, "someday, we will have to find a way to make that happen. That is if you keep doing good in school, and behave better than your sister did her senior year."

That put the vampire in the doghouse with his wife. "Hey mister! I was behaving as well as could be expected given all I lived through. In fact the worse thing I did in Aunt Judith and Robert's eyes was dating you – unless you count when I embarrassed them by shouting out our engagement announcement at the Founder's day celebration."

"I stand corrected! Will I be sleeping on the couch or by you tonight?"

Elena gave him a sly grin. "Let's say if you want to sleep in the bed with me then you have some massive making up to do."

Before Stefan could say a word, the door opened to reveal Matt, Meredith, and Alaric. The girls all giggled as they hugged each other, as if it had only been a few weeks since they had last seen one another. The men simply shook hands and watched their ladies carrying on.

A few minutes later, Matt's girlfriend, Lydia came in and found herself warmly accepted into the group's selective circle. Lydia seemed shy and nervous at first, but as soon as she quickly got to know the people she now called her friends she warmed up to where it seemed she had always been among them.

The group settled down into talking as they waited for Damon – holding back the explanations of what had happened to Bonnie in that year of grief and torment. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be an easy wait. Twenty minutes into their visit, Bonnie dropped to the floor screaming and clutching her chest. She started gasping and tears fell from her eyes. The attack had once again found a way to hit their friend.

Oh, poor Bonnie! What's happening to her? Well, if I get a few more reviews I might be tempted to reveal it too you. *massive hint hint!* LOL

Hope you all like the rewrite!!!