Caroline hugged her friend tightly. She didn't expect to be invited to visit her ever again or at least for a few years but she immediately agreed when she was asked to support her for this Thanksgiving. She heard all about Stefan on the news and her first instinct was to call her but she honestly wasn't sure if she would make things worse. Not by what she would say but just by being who she is. Bonnie sees her as the horrible best friend who was sleeping with her boyfriend and having that person call and try to comfort you during an already stressful, sad, and possibly confusing time, she couldn't be sure if she could provide any comfort.
After hearing her friend vent to her about her fiancé's weird attraction to Elena, she knew that she had to be there and even if it wasn't for that she would've shown either way.
"How are you feeling?"
"I don't know, Caroline. It's like we get into this groove then all of a sudden he brings up Elena and it frustrates the hell out of me. If I didn't know any better I would think she and Franklin were in cahoots."
Caroline chuckled.
"What if I can't make him fall in love with me again? I wasn't even trying the first time so now that I'm actually trying I feel like I'm pushing him away. Maybe I should stop."
"Stop fighting for your fiancé? Bonnie, you can't do that,"
"I just don't know what else to do,"
She frowned. "We'll get through this. Just don't give up."
Bonnie nodded and together they left the airport.
…
Caroline forced a smile shaking his hand. She knew her friend still loved him with her heart so she wouldn't act cold towards him, not wanting to push him away. It was strange, when she met Stefan for the first time she doesn't think they even made contact at all nor does she think she ever really looked at him as she was now and it was as if she was the one with amnesia and meeting Stefan for the first time. It made her shiver a little on the inside.
"How's your head?"
"Healed, thanks,"
She let out a breath letting go of his hand. "I don't really know what else to say to you."
"Ditto."
"Good," she turned to face Bonnie who was holding back a laugh. "I guess I'll be off to my hotel, I'll get a ride there and you guys can pick me up?"
"Yeah, sounds good."
"Does she not like me?" He asked once she was out the door.
"Honestly, I don't know. When you both first met I don't even think you two talked but I kind of blame that on us not seeing each other for a while." She smiled. "You were a little jealous since I would spend more time with her than you."
He chuckled. "I see,"
"So what are you wearing tonight?"
"I don't know, Elena says I look good in blue so maybe a blue shirt, dark pants."
"You talked to Elena?"
"Well while you were out she called and somehow we talked about clothes." He chuckled. "I guess that's normal?"
"Maybe,"
He frowned. "You're upset again,"
"No, I'm not, I'm glad you have her to talk to."
"Why does me bringing her up make you upset all the time?"
She sighed. "Because Elena isn't- there are things that you obviously don't remember about her and if you did then you would understand."
"Then help me understand."
"I want to but then I feel like it would do more harm than good."
"Meaning what?"
"She's the only person who you remembered and I don't want to tarnish that by telling you the truth about her. I don't want your memories to be even more messed up by doing so."
He sighed. "Bonnie, I don't know what you want from me. I'm trying to be your fiancé by telling you things happening in my life and every time you get upset or sad and that makes me not want to tell you things anymore."
She looked away. "You're right. I'm sorry, I- I guess I haven't fully adjusted to this whole thing and the last thing that I want to do is push you away. I love you, Stefan and I really want us to work." She watched his eyes. "You know when we first started dating when it was still fake, we had this no-bullshit rule established. It was like our relationship can be fake to the public but that doesn't mean that we have to be to one another."
"So you promise to not freak out the next time I bring her up?"
"I promise. Or at least I won't let it show on my face."
He chuckled. "That's a start, I guess."
"I'm going to take a nice shower then get dressed."
He grabbed her arm before she got too far away. "I'll join you,"
She looked into his eyes and forced herself to not move her lips to ask him what is she to him. If she just a body that he could fuck, a body that cooks for him, a body that's just there. She did just re-establish their no-bullshit rule so it would be great to get an honest answer from him at this point in time. "Okay," she started walking towards the bedroom with his hand holding hers.
She let it go to warm up the water then met him back in their room seeing him now shirtless. She removed her top then pants before walking to the closest to pick out something to wear. She decided on wearing a dress...which so happened to be blue and black. Her eyes closed feeling his arms move around her body and his lips on her neck. She turns in his arms and their lips meet, his hands run up her back and undoes her bra then lifts her legs around his waist, walking them into the bathroom. She clenched her ass as he sat her on the countertop, stepping between her legs. His hands ran up her thighs before tugging on her underwear, forcing it down until she could kick them off. He lifted her again, stepping into the tub.
...
Bonnie held his hand after knocking on the door and silently let out a breath. They smiled as Lily opened the door and hugged them at the same time before hugging Caroline glad to see that she was able to come. She stepped to the side allowing them to come in. Bonnie's smile grew seeing her parents and let go of his hand to hug them before introducing them to Stefan. She was glad when her father had introduced his girlfriend and her daughter because she still for the life of her couldn't remember their names but now she's repeating Shayla and Natalie in her head repeatedly in hopes that it would stick. She looked over her shoulder feeling a tapping and threw her arms around Mason who hugged her back tightly.
"How's everything going?" He asked her quietly.
"Um-" she paused hearing the doorbell and tried to stop her eye roll once the door opened and it was Elena.
"What is she doing here?"
"To somewhat answer both questions, Stefan asked me to invite her over so that he'll, and I quote, have a "familiar face around" like we haven't been living together."
"I'm sorry, Bon."
"It's okay," she watched them smile and hug. "Anyway, um, this is Caroline, Caroline, Mason,"
"Nice to finally meet you,"
"You too. I hear you write good scripts,"
He smiled. "Something like that. You act?"
"Oh no way, I'll leave that up to Bonnie."
"Oh come on, I'm sure there's a drama queen in there somewhere."
She smiled. "If you were to ask me in high school I wouldn't even hesitate."
"Is that right,"
Bonnie smiled then slowly backed away leaving the two be. Maybe Stefan was right about them hitting it off and she almost went to tell him but remembered that he wouldn't remember so there's no point at all. Besides, he seems to be having a close conversation with her right now, so she went looking for her mother. "So, mom, where's this mystery guy you've been seeing?"
"It's no mystery,"
"You didn't even tell me his name,"
"That may be because I'm a woman."
Bonnie's eyes widened before turning on her heels coming faced with a rather gorgeous looking woman. Her hair shiny, her skin matching hers, her eyes deep brown. "Wow."
She chuckled. "I'm Karen,"
"Bonnie, nice to meet you. Sorry, I uh-"
"It's fine, don't worry about it." She moved her arm around Abby who had just stepped beside her.
"So how did you two meet?"
"Yoga,"
"Mom, you do yoga? Since when?"
"She doesn't do it very well,"
Abby pokes her side causing Karen to throw her hips back. "I'm getting there. Anyway, I started a little after you and Stefan came to visit. Kay placed her mat right next to mine and we just said your typical greetings but then it turned into something more."
Bonnie smiled. "That's great, mom, really. I'm so happy for both of you." She hugged them.
"So how're things with Stefan?"
She looked over at him and smiled as their eyes locked before returning her eyes to the women in front of her. "Pardon me, but we're just having sex a lot."
"Well, that's good,"
"No, I mean, maybe, but I feel like that's all I am to him now. We barely talk and every time we do he—"
They narrowed their eyes. "What?"
"He- he brings up Elena. That girl he's talking to now." The woman looked past her and watched the two talking closely. "They had a thing before we met and when he was in the hospital, she walked in and he goes "Elena" and my heart- I don't think I ever felt that kind of pain. He didn't remember me or his mom or dad, but he remembered her." Bonnie closed her eyes for a brief moment feeling the stinging. "Now it's like he's in love with her and I'm just a woman he can fuck for the time being."
"Bonnie, don't say that," her mother hugged her.
"It's true, mom. I can't force him to love me and I don't want to either. I show him places where we shared great memories and nothing. I cook his favorites of mine and nothing. I talk about our past conversations and nothing. Nothing. What does that say about how he viewed our relationship?"
"Bonnie, you can't do that," Abby held her face, looking into her eyes. "He was shot in the back of the head, and maybe the memories you two shared were damaged more from the bullet, but Stefan loved you. Anyone seeing you two together could tell. His face would glow up every time he would look at you. He proposed to you and wanted your father's permission. Don't allow yourself to forget that."
Bonnie nodded.
...
"Hey," Stefan smiled then hugged Elena once she was close enough.
"Hey, Stef," she hugged him back. "How are you adjusting?"
"I can't say exactly. My memories are still foggy but living with Bonnie is pretty cool. She's sweet and she cooks."
"That's one thing she could do that I just can't."
He chuckled. "Oh come on, I'm sure if you try, you'll be good."
"I did try and you spit it out."
He laughed. "Oh come on, really?"
"Yeah. That hurt my feelings by the way,"
"Sorry,"
"It's okay, you made up for it." She glanced down and returned her eyes to normal hearing him chuckle. "We had some pretty good times, Stefan,"
"Were we actually dating?"
"Not officially, but it was official to us, you know. We both had just gotten out of relationships and we were there for each other afterward and it just happened. We didn't put a label on it because we were scared of getting hurt again."
He frowned noticing her sad eyes then reached his hand out to grab hers offering a smile. She smiled back. "I remember your face and the way I felt about you. It was almost love and then it just ended, why?"
"The movie we were filming wrapped." She shrugged. "We made no commitments to each other I guess a part of me didn't want to seem desperate so I never reached out. I regret that every day, especially after seeing you with Bonnie."
"Do you two not get along or something, every time I bring you up she gets upset."
"We were friends at one point but the thing about Bonnie is that she's never consistent. One minute we're friends the next we're not, I think we're cool, she straight up ignores me like she's doing now."
"She told me that I'm not remembering something you either did or said to make her upset by me remembering you. She said that she didn't want to tell me because she didn't want to make my memories tarnish more than they already are."
"She's lying, Stefan. She just hates that there's a possibility that you cared more for me than you did her. She will say anything to make you not believe me or like me scared that you'll leave her like you've thought about a couple of times already. That's just the type of person she is, a liar."
He frowned slightly then turned his head only to force a smile when their eyes locked before turning back to Elena. "I don't really get that impression of her," he remembers earlier when she told him about their no-bullshit rule but now all he knows, that could've been bullshit itself.
"Wait a little longer then you'll see. It's not like she does this instantly, it's once you get close. She even kept a lot of things from you so much so that you had to ask me to get her to spill her secrets so I could report back to you. I mean I'm glad that you trusted me but you should never have to do that in a relationship. Especially when you're engaged."
"Wow,"
"I'm sorry to be piling this on to you,"
"No, it's okay, I need to know. I just don't see how I would want to marry someone like that,"
She held back her smile.
"Hey, Stef," Mason walked up to the two. "Could you give us a moment, Elena?"
"Sure," she leaned in and kissed Stefan near his mouth before slipping her hand out of his hold. "I'll see you later,"
"Sit next to me?"
She smiled. "Of course,"
He smiled back then watched her walk away.
"Stefan, what the fuck are you doing?"
"What are you talking about, man?"
"You're with Bonnie and you're over here holding hands with Elena. The friend I knew would never do that."
"Well, maybe I'm not the friend you knew. Maybe I was given a second chance to do things the right way this time."
"Meaning what?"
"Elena told me about Bonnie. How she kept secrets from me and probably would've forever if I didn't reach out to her for help."
"The only reason why she kept it from you is because she loves you. I know how that may sound but it's the truth. And Elena didn't tell you shit but lies. She can't be trusted."
"That's not how I feel." He shook his head. "I feel like she's the only one who's been telling me the truth."
"So Bonnie is just nothing to you now?"
"Who says she was anything to me after I woke up?"
Mason's eyes narrowed in shock before he just had to walk away and distance himself from the situation or else he would've grabbed him by the collar and shook him until he could remember.
"Alright, everyone, the food is ready, let's make way toward the dining room," Lily announced with a smile.
"I hope there's seasoning," Abby commented lowly.
"Mom," Bonnie chuckled. She looked back and waited for Stefan. "I feel like I haven't talked to you all day,"
"Yeah,"
She paused but he continued walking towards the table. She held back her tears then forced her feet to move again and sat beside him and Caroline.
"Firstly, I want to thank each and every one of you for coming, especially Bonnie's side of the family for they had to travel. It's really nice getting to meet the parents of such an amazing, kind and sweet woman and I'm lucky to be calling her my daughter-in-law next month."
Bonnie forced a smile, stopping herself from saying that there more than likely won't be a wedding.
"I'm thankful that my son is alive and well and I ask God for his constant protection. I pray that the food is good and that it nourishes our minds, bodies, and souls. Enjoy,"
People raised their glasses in a cheer then drank before reaching for spoons to get their portions.
"So when is the wedding anyway?" Karen wondered.
"Um, it's not very clear right now, I mean it was supposed to be December thirty-first, but with everything that's happened, and memories lost, I'm not sure if it's the best thing right now."
"That's too bad, Stefan when you asked me about the date, you were really excited," Lily frowned.
"The thirty-first, that's um, that's you and dad's wedding anniversary,"
"That's right," Lily smiled. "Who knows maybe your memories would kick in just in time."
"Maybe,"
"It still may be a little too late, with all the planning and arrangements a wedding requires, I mean unless you two already had everything planned out?" Elena chimed in.
Caroline noticed stiffness in her friend so she decided to change the subject. "Are these yams a secret recipe because if not, I would love to have it."
Lily smiled. "I'll write it down,"
"Yeah, Ms. S, this food is really great, thank you for having me over," Mason added on.
"Of course, you're always welcomed here." She smiled again.
Bonnie looked up from her plate as a foot kicked her lightly and she locked eyes with her dad who gave her a look which symbolizes asking her if she was okay. He frowned when her head slightly shook and wished he was closer to her so he could offer his support. He's noticed that the two have been very distant since they entered the house and he figured that they just wanted to mingle separately which was fine but not once has he seen them sneak a kiss or even smile at one another. He thought he was overreacting but now he knows he's not and that's truly the opposite of what he wanted to be fact.
He glanced over, seeing Stefan and the girl from the movie and they seemed to be quite friendly. He wonders if that's what's been going on. He noticed that his eyes weren't the only one on the couple as Stefan whispered into her ear causing Elena to laugh then conceal it with the back of her hand. A phone rang and Bonnie didn't even check to see who it was from before excusing herself from the table so she could answer it. The second she closed the door, she felt as if she couldn't breathe and started crying into her hands. Never would she think something like this would happen. She knew she shouldn't have invested her feelings into something that wasn't meant to be real. Knew that she should've made them stick to the contract and none of this would've happened.
She felt arms move around her and not knowing who it was, she wrapped her arms around them causing them to hold her tighter.
"Shh, it's okay," her father soothed.
Bonnie hugged him tightly letting her tears out on his shoulder and wasn't sure when she would let go.
…
Bonnie kept her eyes out the window as he drove them home. Mason decided to give Caroline a ride back to her hotel and if things were different, that would be the only thing on her mind right now, the only thing she would be talking about. Making Stefan laugh and shake his head at her and tell her that he told her so. She wouldn't give him the credit, not to his face, but he would be okay with that and still shower her with kisses once they stepped foot in their place. She would smile and giggle and he would stop and just hold her face and tell her how much he loves her. So much, he would say caressing her face, boring his eyes into hers. She would feel like the luckiest woman on the entire planet to have someone like him and tell him just how much she loves him back before kissing him only once. She would feel as if she were floating and her stomach would flutter with butterflies. He'd call her his Mrs. Salvatore as he lifted her legs around his waist, walking them back into their room. Make love to her hard and slow, just as she likes. Euphoria would strike causing her back to arch and her warmth from inside would flow out, coating him. The look on his face once it hits, like he just took some of her power only to replace it with some of his later on. Each and every time she thinks only for a moment that she's pregnant but it hasn't happened yet. One day, she would've hoped and turned on her side to face him. Kiss him some more, maybe she would straddle him or decide to just go to bed. Whatever the case may be, she would be happy.
"Stefan?"
"Yeah?" He unlocked their door and immediately kicked off his shoes, moving them to the side.
"I feel like we should figure some things out."
"Meaning?"
"You don't love me. I love you with my entire heart and soul, but I never want you to feel forced to love me or to be with me. If you want to be with Elena then be with Elena. I won't stop you."
"Really?"
"Yes. But if there's a slither of a chance of you in there who wants to work it out with me then please, let's work through this." She watched his eyes.
"I… I think I want to be with Elena."
"Okay. I'll pack just a few of my things and I'll stay with Caroline in her hotel until I can figure something out."
"Sounds good,"
She nodded then walked past him into the room. She forced herself not to cry as she packed some clothes into a duffle bag. She's cried too much, especially today. She deserves to be with someone who wants to be with her and that's what she'll tell herself until she doesn't have to anymore. Until she could get over not being chosen by the love of her life whose last words to her were "sounds good".
She knocked on Caroline's hotel door and took a deep breath.
"Bonnie?" She opened it and frowned, seeing that a bag had been packed.
"Can I stay with you until you have to leave, please?"
She sighed before wrapping her arms around her as tears flowed, walking them inside. "What happened?"
"I gave him a choice and he chose Elena."
Caroline shook her head. "I wish there was something I could do,"
"You're here for me, that's what matters."
"Of course,"
"Is Mason here? If so I'll leave and come back."
Caroline chuckled, "No, he's not here."
"Okay,"
"Men ain't shit."
Bonnie laughed and allowed herself to do so. "You're stupid,"
"I knew that would make you smile."
"Thanks, Care,"
"What are friends for?"
Bonnie released her from her hold then Caroline decided to show her their room.
…
Elena smiles as her eyes opened and her vision was filled with Stefan. Someone who she thought she would never wake up to again and she's glad that she was wrong about that. When he called her over last night, she felt a lot of things, the forefront being excited but she was also nervous because he always makes her nervous. There's something about Stefan that makes her body shake, with anyone else it wouldn't be that way, but with Stefan, that's how it always is. She values him that much that her body shakes and her pupils dilate whenever she's near him. She's not sure how good that actually is but it's just the way things are.
Her smile widened as his eyes opened and a smile formed onto his face. Stefan moves in to kiss her lips, keeping them connected for a few seconds before opening his mouth to hers. He pulled her body closer to his and hugged her tight. They pull away out of breath and connect their foreheads.
"You have no idea how happy I am right now." Elena voiced.
He smiles "I'm happy too."
"Really?"
He chuckled. "Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I don't know, it's just- the truth is that you always made me nervous."
"Why?"
"Because I like you so much. You're so pretty." She smiled hearing him laugh.
"You don't have to be nervous. I like you too and think you're equally as pretty."
"I know you were trying to make me feel better but you made it a little worse by calling me pretty."
He shook his head. "Babe, come here," he moves his hand to the side of her face and leaned in to meet their lips. "You have nothing to worry about. This is my second chance to do things right and I trust you the most out of everyone."
She smiled.
…
Mason looked down at his phone and smiled seeing that Caroline was calling. "Hey,"
"Hey, is this a good time?"
"Uh, yeah, everything okay?"
"Not really, no. Bonnie gave Stefan the decision to be with either her or Elena and he chose Elena and Bonnie packed a bag and is now at the hotel with me but I'm not staying here much longer so I was—"
"Of course she can stay with me, no problem."
She exhaled. "Thank you, I know she'll appreciate it. Maybe you can get through to her better than I can. A part of me doesn't want to bring it up at all, but I think avoiding the topic is foolish at this point."
He exhaled. "Yeah, I'll see what I can do."
"Checkout is at twelve, do you think you can get here close to then? If you're working, I'll just take her out to lunch."
"I'll leave now and should be there by then. I'll see you later,"
"Okay, bye." Caroline ended the call then looked over at her friend. "Mason said you can live with him until you figure something out or until Stefan comes to his senses."
"Thanks, Care." She didn't want to ask him herself because she thought given their past, it would be a little awkward to request such a thing so she just asked Caroline to do it on her behalf and pretended to be too sad to do it herself. As she was listening to the conversation play out, she started to wonder if this was actually a good idea. Should she be living with Mason alone? What if something happens and then Stefan remembers her and then she'll have to explain that she had some activity with Mason. If she thought she lost him now, she knows he would be even more gone if that were to happen. "You can't stay, Care?"
She frowned. "I really want to, Bonnie but I can't. What I will do though is cash in some unused sick days and fly back out here to keep you company with Mason. You feel comfortable with him, right?"
"Yeah I do, it's just going to be a little strange because we have never hung out without Stefan,"
"Well let's hope that awkwardness won't last long. But even if it does, I'll be there soon to break the ice."
The friends hugged and Bonnie helped her pack and clean the room some before they headed downstairs to the lobby. As they walked out the automatic double doors, Mason's car pulled up in front of them. He got out and put their bags on the truck after hugging them. He stopped at a drive-thru to get them food before dropping Caroline off at the airport. He sighed looking in his rearview seeing Bonnie looking out the window and he was going to comment but decided to save it until he reached home.
When that time came, he showed her her temporary room which was his room since he only lived in a one-bedroom apartment and told her that he'd just sleep on the couch.
"Mase, you really don't—"
"It's fine, Bon, I swear. I have a second bathroom so I don't have to interrupt you that much except for every night when I shower." He smiled as she chuckled. "Let me be here for you, okay?"
"Okay." She sat on the bed and he joined her.
"So tell me how you're really feeling,"
"Honestly, I'm very accepting of this. I told myself that all I cared about was that Stefan was alive and he is and even though he doesn't love me, he's breathing right now and that makes me happy. That's what truly matters."
"But he's with Elena, queen of all evil deeds."
"I know but he's happy with her and therefore I have to be happy for him. I can't force him to love me or to be with me if that's something he's not interested in or something he doesn't want to do. I would be doing nothing but pushing him away so I had to let him go. Maybe one day we can love each other again, but for right now he needs Elena."
Mason sighed but understood. "You're right. I just- and I know that you say you're okay, but I hate seeing you upset. Anyone would be, you don't have to pretend with me, Bon. You love him probably more than you have anyone else and he's not yours anymore and that hurts." He held her face. "I'm here for you whatever you need, whenever you need it."
She watched his eyes before softly nodding, moving her head back from his hold, causing his hands to drop. They watched each other's eyes a little while longer before Mason stood and offered to cook dinner. Bonnie stood to protest, saying that she'll cook for them instead.
"It's not an issue, I got it." He moved hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead. "Go unpack and rest a little." He caresses her cheek with his thumb.
Bonnie nods then turns to sit back on his bed. She softly closed the door behind her and took deep breaths, in and out, in and out, several times before starting to unpack.
