Thank you for your response to the last bonus chapter! I love that you enjoyed it. Now for the final bonus chapter right in time for Christmas.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Friday, December 24th
Sunlight drifted into the guest room allowing a soft light to illuminate the room. Stefan shifted in bed as he returned a few emails from the managers running Revel and Adore. Leaving Yan's last night was a quiet affair. Bonnie slept in the passenger side of the car while Damon drove them home and Stefan sat with Bianca in the back of the car, quiet and not at all touching. As he finished up a reply, he heard a soft knock on his door.
Lowering his phone, he looked at the closed door, "Come in," he spoke as the door opened and Bianca stepped inside dressed in a tank top and pajama pants with small brown faced elves on them.
"My parents and Grams went to brunch with some of my mom's co-workers and Bonnie and Damon went out to get some last-minute gifts, so I thought we could use this time to talk," she shifted in the doorway looking everywhere but at him.
Stefan sat up in bed and nodded as she moved further into the room, "I've thought about what I said last night and what happened the other day and I wanted…" she breathed out, "I wanted to apologize to you. I know that we left things as all fun and games and bygones and I'm fine with that. I just didn't expect you to come here and start flirting almost immediately, I guess. It made me…I reacted badly," she looked at him, "and I'm sorry for doing that."
"I understand, it's ok," Stefan responded.
She nodded continuing, "Whatever is swirling around in my mind by being home and being around Bonnie and Damon and their sickening relationship," she rolled her eyes with a smirk, "I shouldn't take it out on you. I like you Stefan—for every reason that I hung out with you that night after the reopening and for every reason that I made the drunken decision to be a willing party that night with you and Elena."
Stefan looked at the vulnerability in Bianca's eyes and spoke up, "I get it…and for the record, what happened that night had nothing to do with my brother and his relationship with Bonnie. You, Bianca, are a force of your own."
She smiled and it was one that he hadn't seen before—it was genuine, light and soft, "How about we do something today, everyone else will be out and about until later this evening when we put the finishing touches on the tree," Bianca suggested.
"I think we should do a little more than stay in the house today," Stefan replied, "give me a few to get dressed?"
"Give me an hour," Bianca winked as she turned to leave the room leaving a wide smile on Stefan's face.
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"Here you two are…Egg Nog Lattes with a splash of vanilla," the barista sat the two mugs down with Christmas Tree art decorating the top of the latte.
"Thank you," Bonnie smiled as Damon nodded sitting across from her.
"Not exactly A Cup of Life is it?" Damon looked around at the quaint shop.
Rolling her eyes, Bonnie sipped her warm latte, "You are just being critical."
Damon shrugged, "I'm being truthful."
"Taste your latte," Bonnie gestured with her chin.
He picked up his cup and tasted the warm drink, "Ok…well…the latte is not too bad."
Bonnie laughed, "Right," she looked around, "but this is nice though."
"What being in this coffee shop?"
"Having you in Philly with me and my family, it just nice you know. And I noticed that my dad cut you some slack last night," Bonnie gave him a small smile sipping his latte.
Damon shrugged, "Well you know, I'm quite the charmer Bonnie," and his statement was rewarded with an eyeroll, "but we had a talk and I let him know how much I am truly and deeply in love with his daughter."
She beamed as he continued, "And he believed that I'm sincere. He couldn't disagree, he knows you are special, and I would be a fool to not love you as much as I do."
"You don't have to romance me," she shook her head as a blush came across her face as he reached across the table and took her hand.
"I think you have at least 50 years before I stop," he winked at her squeezing her hand.
Bonnie bit her lip for a few moments and looked around the coffee shop, "Let's finish our lattes, I think we should go home as soon as we do."
Damon raised an eyebrow, "I don't know Bonnie, your father trusts me and I don't know if I could…" his words were snatched from him as he felt Bonnie's foot delicately rub against his crotch, "well…umm…I will finish this latte and then we can definitely explore the uh…the basement apartment a little more."
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Twenty minutes later, Bonnie opened the front door to the house as Damon followed behind, "My parents usually spend the day at the brunch with my mother's co-workers who also happen to be some of my Grams' former colleagues, soo…Bianca! Stefan!" she called up the stairs to silence while Damon wrapped his arms around her waist while nibbling on her neck, "hmm…guess they're out, maybe Bianca decided to take pity on Stefan and show him around."
"So we have the place to ourselves?" Damon asked.
"I think we do until at least 5, then we start tree trimming," she turned to him.
"Oh really," he gazed down at her with bedroom eyes.
She nodded before wrapping her arms around his neck, "Yes, we have the house to ourselves for awhile," she grinned as Damon kneeled and lifted her legs causing her to wrap them around his waist as they kissed heading towards the basement door.
Within seconds, Bonnie felt her back hitting the soft mattress of the king-sized bed as Damon covered her with his body. Over the last couple of days, their lovemaking had been rushed and somewhat restrained, but now that they were alone…things would be able to progress a little more.
Bonnie felt her shirt being lifted over her head as Damon kissed a trail from the valley of her breasts, down her stomach to her navel. His hands made quick work of her belt and then her jeans throwing them casually on the floor, he placed kisses on the inside of both of thighs and looked up at her meeting the hooded eyes that she gave him, "You're going to scream my name in 5 minutes," he whispered.
"Sounds like a challenge," she purred.
"A promise," he stated and before she could formulate, she felt his finger slowly enter her.
Gripping the sheets, she looked down at him and then she felt his tongue and all coherent thoughts went out of her head.
"Da…Dam…" she panted as he pulled her closer to him causing her to brace herself against the headboard.
He paused for a moment looking up at her and licked his lips seductively, "Remember what I promised you Bonnie," he teased.
"Make good on your promise then," she whispered looking him directly in the eyes.
The words barely left Bonnie's mouth before Damon was shedding his clothes completely and his lips met hers pausing only for a moment to stare into her green eyes, "I guess I have to make you scream my name in another way, my impatient angel," he stroked her cheek.
"I'm pretty sure you will get your wish pretty…oh…," she began as she felt him slowly enter her, "you are going to get your wish…definitely going to get that wish," she moaned breathlessly with her fingernails drawing circles along his back as he pressed into her causing her to whisper his name in his ear.
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Bianca bent over in laughter as she watched Stefan skid to a stop on his butt across the ice, "I thought you were an athlete!" she snickered as he stood up shakily on his ice skates as little kids whizzed by him giggling and pointing.
"I played baseball, there is nothing in that description that indicates that I would be good at ice skating," Stefan retorted.
Bianca shook her head offering him a mittened hand guiding him slowly over to the benches surrounding the outside ice-skating rink where a server quickly took orders for hot chocolate and disappeared. "So this is what you do when you come home?" Stefan asked looking over at Bianca.
"Sometimes. Bonnie and I usually spend one day here, she hates it…so naturally I love it," she gave him a wicked grin.
"You and Bonnie have quite the relationship."
"I love my sister, I'm sure we are just like you and Damon in some ways."
"Probably…" Stefan replied as the server brought over their hot chocolates and they each took a cup, "so what made you come to my room this morning?"
Bianca sipped her hot chocolate, "You've been waiting to ask me that, haven't you?"
Stefan cracked a smile, "Maybe…"
"I've been mean to you and you didn't deserve it…well when you weren't giving me those tired lines, you didn't deserve it," she bumped his shoulder.
"They weren't lines…" he started to answer until she raised a well arched eyebrow at him, "ok…one may have been a line, but I meant what I said. I am attracted to you, Bianca."
Bianca clutched her cup, "Well I kind of figured that, believe it or not, glimpses of that night come back at times, and I remember some of the things that happened. I would say that I can say without a doubt that you found me attractive."
"I find you attractive," he corrected her leaning closer so she could catch a whiff of his cologne.
Rolling her eyes, she watched the children skating around and then brought her eyes back to Stefan, "What are you hoping to accomplish here?" she asked with a flirtatious smile.
"Well, I would like to at the very least hear whether or not you find me attractive," he teased.
Bianca shook her head quickly and then sighed with a sly smile, "I may find you a little attractive."
"A little?" Stefan asked moving closer to her.
"Ok, I think you're attractive…you're cute," she shrugged, "and you have a nice body and I may be filling in certain details, but I presume you know how to satisfy a woman."
Stefan laughed loudly, "Well ok then."
"So like I asked before, what are you hoping to get out of this flirtation. I can tell you right now that I don't do relationships, I travel too much…men get clingy, even though they claim they won't and I love my freedom…"
"Well I can't say that I was prepared to propose marriage or anything, but I think we could have a lot of fun together—since we are the odd ones out during this holiday," Stefan replied, "fun that we would both remember."
Bianca laughed, "I don't think so Stefan. But that does beg the question, why are you the single one? I know that Damon had quite a bachelorhood before he met my sissy, but you…you seem like you are letting the flag hang high."
Stefan shrugged, "Well before Damon came back to Mystic Falls, I ran Revel pretty much alone. He was a part of it, but from quite a distance and when you work most nights—women don't necessarily like that. Coming over at 3am and then leaving at around 5 so you can get more sleep at your own apartment doesn't exactly make them happy."
"Well now that Revel and Adore have managers, you know that you can take a step back."
Stefan looked out at a group of kids who tumbled down on the ice, "I'm not sure I want to take a step back and I'm not sure I want a girlfriend right now. I guess having a commitment doesn't appeal to me at this stage in my life. I'm happy now."
"So did your current flavor know that you were coming to Philadelphia for Christmas?"
"Current flavor…cute," Stefan replied.
She turned to him focusing completely on his face, "But you do see yourself settling down one day, don't you?" Bianca asked.
"Do you?" Stefan countered
She leaned back on the bench, "I'll leave that up to my sister."
"And at this point, I will leave it up to my brother," Stefan sipped his hot chocolate looking out at the skaters.
Bianca followed his gaze out to the skaters, "You're not getting laid this holiday, Stefan…well at least not by me," she stated keeping her eyes on the kids.
Stefan snickered, "Right."
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The tunes of A Motown Christmas filled the living room as Bianca and Bonnie fought over where to put ornaments on the tree later that evening, "Princess Barbie should go here," Bonnie pointed to the top of the tree holding a brown Barbie ornament adorned in a red ballgown in her hands.
"No, she goes in the middle front! She always goes in the middle front!" Bianca argued placing the brown skinned Barbie ornament in the front of the tree.
Bonnie rolled her eyes stomping over to the ornament box and grabbing two pink balls.
"They go through this every year," Sheila mumbled as she splashed Southern Comfort in both Damon and Stefan's cups of egg nog, "Ever since they were little girls with ponytails, they would fight and claw about where to put ornaments. One year, they knocked over the tree completely!"
Damon and Stefan chuckled as they watched Bianca staring at Bonnie placing the two frosted pink round ornaments on the tree, "They look crooked," Bianca deadpanned.
"Your eyes are crooked," Bonnie snapped.
"Bonnie, Bianca…can we please decorate the tree without any bloodshed tonight?" Abby sighed.
"Bianca, Bonnie…the ornaments are fine and let's be nice in front of company," Rudy eyed the twins and then the two Salvatore brothers sitting on the couch on each side of Sheila.
"They might as well get used to this Dad, Damon's not going anywhere and that means Stefan will also be around…we always fight on Christmas Eve," Bianca turned to the couch, "get used to it."
"Well at least the tree is still standing," Abby mumbled as she began placing ornaments around the tree.
"Welcome to Christmas Eve!" Sheila toasted with Damon and Stefan.
"Do you always sit back and observe?" Stefan asked.
"Yes, you don't want to ever get in the middle of those two," Sheila replied, "so what did you two do today? Well, I know what Bonnie and Damon did, because when we got back from brunch they were casually watching television downstairs giving the appearance of two high school students that hadn't touched each other at all," Sheila pursed her lips in a distrustful smile as Damon shifted on the couch, "but I am more interested in what you and Bianca did this afternoon?" she raised an eyebrow.
Damon leaned forward to look at Stefan waiting for an answer as well.
"Bianca decided to show me part of Philly, we went to a place called Dilworth Park and we ice skated."
"You ice skate?" Damon asked in disbelief, "that's new."
"I still don't ice skate, I found myself sliding across the ice more than skating."
"Well that was nice. Very nice. You two spending some quality time together, that is lovely," Sheila sipped her egg nog.
"Yes, very lovely," Damon echoed sipping his egg nog.
"Well we were the odd ones out, so we had to find something to occupy our time," Stefan threw up his hands.
Sheila's eyes drifted from Stefan to Bianca back to Stefan, "I see," she replied.
"Stefan, Damon…can you go and get the cookies off of the kitchen island, it may help my mother soak up some of that egg nog," Abby looked over her shoulder as she and Rudy wrapped pink beads around the tree.
Damon and Stefan rose from the couch just as Bonnie and Bianca began arguing about what lights to put on first and immediately hurried towards the kitchen, "I think this may be one of the best Christmas Eves I've ever had," Stefan picked up one of the sugar cookies and taking a bite.
"Definitely, our mother wouldn't allow us to touch her tree at all," Damon agreed.
"Bonnie's family is pretty close and we arguably don't come from a close family, could you really see yourself in the midst of this every Christmas?" Stefan asked.
Damon listened to the bickering from the living room between Bonnie and Bianca, Abby and Rudy trying to keep the peace and Sheila adding gasoline to the fire asking if some of the light bulbs worked which set Rudy off about how he checked 'every bulb in November!', "I can- because Bonnie's here and I belong where she is and I gotta say, it's pretty damn nice to be part of a family like this, we grew up very…stiff, we almost didn't seem real. This is real to me or the real that I want," Damon confessed looking towards the living room.
"What happened to my brother?" Stefan asked shaking his head.
"Stalked by an older woman, run over by an SUV, went into a coma for a couple of days, got a dog, met the love of his life in a coffee shop…shall I go on?" Damon asked.
"Please don't," Stefan replied.
"Hey, GQ models…bring in the cookies!" Sheila called from the living room as Damon quickly snapped up the plate and briskly left the kitchen with Stefan following behind.
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After only one glass ornament casualty, Rudy finished setting up his camera tripod in front of the decorated tree, "Ok, everyone ready," he replied as Abby, Bonnie, Bianca and Sheila took their places in front of the tree.
"The annual picture, I thought we would get out of this year," Bianca mumbled.
"Bianca, remember to smile real wide for the camera, k," Rudy stared at his daughter.
She turned to him plastering the biggest fakest smile on her face, "Yup, just like that," he answered as he wrapped his arm around Abby.
Stefan and Damon watched the scene as the family posed with genuine smiles as the camera flashed multiple times.
"Ok, Damon and Stefan…come on over, get in…you're here and all," Rudy shrugged.
Bonnie held out her hand for Damon to take it as he moved next to her and Stefan moved between Sheila and Bianca, "I'm so very lucky," Stefan smiled looking at Sheila.
"You absolutely are," Sheila answered as she moved Stefan's hand to her waist just as the camera flashed capturing the perfect family Christmas Eve shot.
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"So your dad's fine with you spending Christmas Eve down here tonight?" Damon asked as Bonnie cuddled up next to him under the comforter.
"He decided to give you a Christmas present," she looked up at him with a grin.
Damon pulled her body closer to his as Miracle on 34th Street played on the television on the wall, "Oh really?" he looked down at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Or he just decided to look the other way, it's Christmas Eve. As long as we're quiet and pretend that we are sleeping down here fully clothed—he won't have a heart attack, so it's all good," she drew a circle on one of Damon's pecs.
"Fully clothed, well I think we've already failed that test," he looked under the covers to Bonnie dressed in a lacey red bra and panties that she'd surprised him with under the flannel pajamas she wore to meet him in the basement.
After a Christmas Eve lasagna dinner, plenty of red wine followed by cups of hot cocoa and more sugar cookies shaped like snowmen, the family placed their wrapped gifts under the tree and retired to their rooms. It was only 20 minutes from the time that everyone departed that Damon found Bonnie in his temporary living space and only 5 minutes later, her Christmas flannel pajamas were shed, and they found themselves under the very soft bedding of the king-sized bed.
"So tell me, this visit wasn't too bad right?" Bonnie looked up meeting Damon's eyes.
"Once your dad stopped hating me?"
"He never hated you," Bonnie laughed.
Damon squeezed her closer to him, "Bonnie, your family is normal. You love each other. You tease each other, you laugh, you argue…it's like something that I've never witnessed before and I actually love it. My family…" he picked up her hand and laced his fingers through hers, "we were a good family when my father was alive, very structured and I liked who we were well enough—but being here, what you guys have is deeper and I'm happy to be a part of it."
Bonnie smiled, "I'm glad that you're having a good time and I was hoping that you felt like you were a part of us," she gently coaxed his head down to deliver a soft kiss to his lips.
Damon's hands softly caressed her torso as he pulled her closer to him allowing her legs to entangle in his as their lips danced together, "I love you so much Bon," he whispered between kisses.
"I love you too," she whispered back as she slowly positioned her body to straddle him.
"Is this my Christmas gift?" he licked his lips looking up at her.
She bent down kissing, "Maybe a part of it, Merry Christmas Damon," she whispered as he lifted one of the cups of her bra up and took her nipple in his mouth.
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Bianca listened to the clock on her wall tick softly. She'd been lying in bed for at least an hour tapping her fingers on her stomach replaying the day over and over in her head. The apology to Stefan, the ice skating, the conversation about their lives and opening up more with each other. Catching his eyes on her as they decorated the tree, laughing together as her father argued why The Miracle on 34th Street is the best Christmas movie and Sheila challenging him with Die Hard, which sent Rudy into hysterics. Then finishing up their spiked hot chocolate and everyone retiring to bed. She heard Bonnie tip toe downstairs at least 45 minutes previously and she could hear Grams' tv playing old episodes of A Different World.
Her mind raced as she thought of what she wanted to do but was hesitant to take the step. If she did, it would mean something right? Did it have to mean something? "Well Bianca, only one way to know," she sat up in bed and slipped her feet in her fuzzy pink slippers, opening up the door to her bedroom quickly. Her stomach twisted as she looked down the hallway towards her parents' room where the light of the television could be seen under the door. Grams' television was unnaturally loud, which made her question exactly what her grandmother was doing in that room and then there was Stefan's room directly across from hers. She didn't hear anything. She took a couple of steps towards his door with her heart beating rapidly in her chest.
Reaching the door, she swallowed raising her hand to knock quick and soft. There were a few moments of silence and she turned to look back at her closed bedroom door before the door opened and Stefan stood in front of her in a black tank and grey pajama pants hanging loose on his waist. He looked into his eyes and her tongue shot out of her mouth to wet her bottom lip. She felt his hand take hers pulling her into the room and closing the door.
"I…" she began to speak but was cut off by Stefan taking her face in his hands and kissing her…deeply…passionately…breathlessly. She immediately closed her eyes opening her mouth to allow his tongue entry.
Before she could take a breath, Stefan reached down lifting her up in the air, leaning her up against the wall as she moved her lips away from his allowing him access to her neck which he quickly turned his attention to with open mouth kisses as she braced herself with her hands on his broad shoulders.
Stopping only for a few seconds, Stefan looked up into her eyes as his grip tightened on her hips, "I want you," he whispered with so much intensity and determination that it made Bianca's entire body physically react to him.
"It's Christmas, we should all get what we want," she answered in a low tone she gripped his tank top in her hands.
A smile came across his face as he moved them over to the bed and sat her down gently before turning to his bag to remove a foil package, "I hope you're not always so gentle," she licked her lips staring into his eyes.
Stefan raised an eyebrow, "I am aware of where we are," he answered, "but trust me, gentle has many positives," he replied before taking the bottom of her camisole and lifting it over her head and lowering her down on the bed covering her with his body.
Bianca closed her eyes as she felt Stefan slowly drag his tongue between her breasts and then settling on circling one of her nipples with his tongue as she inhaled deeply as his fingers softly played with the other.
She wasn't sure when he removed her pajama shorts or her panties, but when she felt her bare skin on the silkiness of the sheets, she looked down as he kissed a trail down her stomach causing her to giggle as she covered her mouth just as she felt his tongue lick her and she had to slap both of her hands over her mouth. She was sure that it took every bit of will power she had not to yell out as Stefan held onto her thighs as he made himself at home never allowing his tongue to break its stride.
"Please…" she whispered drawing his eyes back up to her.
He gave her a smirk as he left kisses on her thighs, her stomach, her breasts and then he hovered over her for a few moments, "This is just about Christmas Eve, right?" he asked.
"Happy Holidays," she grinned kissing him while she felt him slowly enter her.
Stefan moved at a slow pace while he allowed Bianca to adjust to him while also tapering his need to go faster, savoring every bit of her and causing some very rated X sound to come from the room. She was soft in the right places and tight in all the right places. Seeing how she reacted to him, made him want to devour her. Gripping her left leg, he brought it to rest on his shoulder to deepen their connection and he heard Bianca moan a little louder than he expected. He looked down at her with a raised an amused eyebrow, "Sorry…but…that…feels so good," she whispered.
Stefan released her leg and slowly moved in and out of her to allow these moments between them to continue. Their kisses became gentler and slower, as he laced his fingers through hers.
"You are so fucking beautiful," Stefan whispered in her ear before flipping them over allowing Bianca to straddle him. Gazing up at her body, watching how slowly she moved—almost made him come undone. Stefan wanted to savor every second of this, but when Bianca began to quicken her moments…he knew that she was close and there was no point in him pretending that he wasn't either. He sat up to control their movements and he felt her tighten her grip on him while biting into his shoulder. Within seconds they both let go and collapsed onto the bed trying to catch their breaths.
"How often does Christmas Eve come? Every year, right?" Bianca asked breathless, "because we may need to negotiate New Year Eve, President's Day and a couple of other holidays."
Stefan chuckled kissing her bare shoulder as her body continued to lie on top of him.
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"Sooo, I will definitely remember all of that," Bianca commented lying next to Stefan in his bed after a stealth trip to Bianca and Bonnie's shared bathroom where they managed to avoid waking the entire house. His hand found it's way onto her thigh slowly caressing it as they looked into each other's eyes.
"I should hope so…you have no idea how much I held back," Stefan commented studying her eyes.
"Oh really?" she looked up at him.
"I had to keep in mind that your Grandmother is next door and your parents are down the hallway, we're not as fortunate as Damon and Bonnie," he gave her a coy smile.
"Well, I guess I should give you a chance to not hold back," she teased settling deeper into the space next to him, allowing his body heat to keep her warm.
Stefan looked down at her with raise eyebrows.
"I'm not proposing a relationship, calm down," Bianca rolled her eyes, "I just think we have chemistry and if you just so happen to find yourself in Detroit or any of the various cities that I may visit during the basketball season, you can feel free to join me in my hotel room and maybe a dinner or two."
Stefan grinned, "You like me," he touched the tip of her nose.
Bianca rolled her eyes, "I like your dick, but your personality's not too bad either…your looks…eh…so so," she grinned.
"Oh is that what you think?" he gasped in mock offense.
She chuckled, "Oh come on Stefan, you know part of the reason why this is fun is because in a way—these are stolen moments. I think we are more alike than we would ever like to admit."
"I think you may be right," Stefan agreed.
"And because we're too much alike, a relationship would never work…especially not now," she argued.
"True."
"But…" Bianca climbed on top of him, "in the meantime, we can have some really hot sex a couple of times a year."
"A couple of times a year, huh?" Stefan raised an eyebrow.
She slowly began to move, Stefan breathed out, "What do you say Salvatore?" she whispered in his ear.
Stefan guided her movements and closed his eyes allowing his head to rest on the headboard, "I…think…I think that can be accomplished," he answered with his eyes.
"I thought you would see it my way," she sucked on his earlobe.
Saturday, December 25th
The sunlight drifted into the guest room allowing a soft light to illuminate the room and Stefan opened his eyes, expecting to feel the weight of Bianca next to him and only found an empty space next to him. He hadn't felt her leave the room, but then again—after what she did to him hours before, he wasn't surprised that he didn't hear or feel her leave his side. The smile that spread across his face at the mere memory needed to be wiped off before he headed down the stairs with the rest of the family.
Sitting up slowly, he looked around the room and turned to get out of the bed. Slipping on his pajama pants, a knock on the door snapped him out of his mental replay of the early morning hours with Bianca, "Coming," he answered walking over to the door and opening it to a petite brunette with emerald eyes—but not the one who he expected, "Bonnie?" he croaked out while blinking for a few moments.
She raised an eyebrow, "We're waiting on you for breakfast, didn't think you would sleep in so late," she replied, "was the spiked hot cocoa too much for you?"
"That's exactly it, I will be down in a minute—let me hop in the shower," Stefan replied.
Bonnie watched him for a few beats with suspicious eyes, "Ok…hurry up because we're waiting on you to eat breakfast and then open presents," she replied turning around and heading down the stairs.
Stefan shook his head before picking up towel and heading into the bathroom.
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When Bonnie entered the dining room, everyone's eyes turned to her, "He was sleep, he's taking a shower," Bonnie shrugged.
"I didn't take your brother for a late riser," Sheila turned to Damon with a raised eyebrow.
"They do own lounges Grams, they work at night," Bonnie spoke up taking her seat next to Damon.
"And you were a little heavy handed with the Bailey's last nights, Grams," Bianca added.
Sheila scoffed, "You said it yourself, these men are no strangers to a little alcohol…now are you, Damon?"
"Oh definitely not," Damon answered, "but my brother does cherish his sleep and between us, I think you all have provided him with way more excitement than he's used to."
"I am sure we have," Sheila commented, "well Abigail, Rudy…we should start eating, I'm sure Stefan will be down as soon as he's done upstairs."
"It's Christmas morning Mother, you know we all eat together," Abby said sitting down at the table.
Sheila rolled her eyes taking a sip of her Mimosa.
"Bianca, I'm surprised you didn't wake Stefan up before you joined us," Bonnie replied looking across the table at her sister flipping through her phone.
"I woke up extra early, why would I do that to a house guest? I think that's more your thing," Bianca smiled sweetly, "besides, you could have knocked on his door before you came downstairs this morning."
Bonnie smiled slyly at her sister taking a sip of her mimosa while Damon chuckled into his champagne flute.
"Sorry to keep everyone waiting," Stefan entered the dining room dressed for the day with a grin.
Bianca looked up from her phone and met Stefan's eyes and the events of the previous night came flooding back. She could literally feel the touch of his hands on her body as she clutched her phone tightly as he took a seat next to her and she caught a whiff of his cologne. She looked over at him and their eyes locked for a few beats until Sheila broke through the moment, "Ok! We can finally eat, right?" she replied.
"We can!" Abby grinned as she and Rudy rose from the table heading into the kitchen.
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After breakfast, the family gathered in the living room to distribute gifts from under the tree. The sound of ripping wrapping paper, excited shrieks from the twins for the gifts that their parents and Sheila gave them filled the air as Stefan and Damon watched.
"It's almost like they are children again," Rudy commented as Bonnie and Bianca modeled the two parkas that Abby and Rudy brought them, "but we did not leave you two out," he gestured with his chin to Abby who lifted two perfectly wrapped gifts from under the tree. She handed one to Damon and the other to Stefan.
"Oh we weren't expecting anything…" Damon began.
"Well you did buy us that rather extravagant espresso machine that we've wanted for months, so it's the least we could do," Rudy shrugged.
"What my husband means to say," Abby slid her arm through her husband's, "is that you are a part of the family, and we get family members gifts."
Bonnie and Bianca looked over from their places on the floor wearing smiles as Stefan and Damon opened their gifts.
"Wow…," Damon gazed down at the cherrywood cigar case that contained his last name engraved in the glass top.
"Bonnie said you like to smoke a Cuban every now and then recently, so we thought it would be a nice gift for you," Abby spoke up with a slightly nervous smile.
"No, no…this is perfect," Damon replied in awe at the thoughtful gift, "thank you, thank you a lot."
"You're welcome," Rudy replied.
Stefan looked down at the gift in front of him, it was the same cherrywood case but for watches with the name Salvatore engraved on the top.
"And Bonnie told us that you like to change your watches frequently, so we thought this would be a nice gift for you," Abby answered gesturing to the box on Stefan's lap.
"Thank you both. I am grateful for this," Stefan smiled.
Abby looked around the room, "Well I guess that's it for family gifts, Rudy, Mother…how about we clean up and let the kids exchange gifts without us," Abby replied.
"Why?" Rudy asked.
"Because I think my mother's gift of virtual 'Make Her Feel' classes were personal enough for us all," Abby said pushing Rudy towards the kitchen with Sheila following behind giving the remaining four a wink.
Bonnie shook her head as her parents and Sheila disappeared into the kitchen.
"What my mom actually meant is she wants to leave Bonnie and Damon here alone to exchange gifts in case they contain items that may send my dad into hysterics, so Stefan let's leave the darling couple to their gift exchange," Bianca pulled Stefan up from the couch and pulled him towards the stairs, "remember you two are in the living room," she commented heading up the stairs with Stefan following.
Bonnie shook her head as Bianca disappeared up the stairs with Stefan, "Something about them," she turned back towards Damon who was standing directly behind her with a square box.
"Bonnie, the last couple of months have been unbelievable and when I thought about what to get you for Christmas, I thought that there would be very few items that could capture how much you mean to me and how I am so grateful and honored to have you in my life," he handed her the square box.
She opened the box with shaky hands. It was too big to be a ring box, so she was safe from a proposal at that very moment. She removed the wrapping paper and flipped open the blue velvet box to reveal a silver key, "Bonnie, I've never wanted to share my life with someone as deeply and as wholly before I met you. You brought the light in a world that was dark. My day could be utter shit and one smile from you and everything in my world is right again. You bring me so much joy and I wanted to ask you to move in with me…I want to officially start to build our life together in every way," Damon replied.
"Damon," she breathed out looking down at the key, "of course!" she beamed wrapping her arms around him tightly and kissing him on the cheek.
"Oh there's just one last thing…" he replied reaching into his jeans pocket, "will you move into the townhouse with me and Sandy…as my fiancé?"
Bonnie watched in slow motion as Damon pulled out a white gold ring with a set of small diamonds around the band and a rather large square diamond placed in the middle (Bonnie could get her Bianca to guess the size of the diamond later), "Bonnie, I love you. I want to wake up beside you every day and go to sleep next to you every night. From the moment I walked in the coffee shop and laid eyes on you, my world stopped spinning. There was no one else and nothing else in that moment but you. I want you to be my wife, will you move in with me and will you marry me?" he asked holding the ring up.
Bonnie's voice was snatched from her as tears appeared in her eyes.
Damon laughed, "Bonnie, I asked both of your parents, Sheila and Bianca before I did this," he spoke up.
Bonnie looked at him, "Yes…yes…I will marry you," she choked out as her hands shook while he slid the ring on her finger before he pulled her into a hug lifting her up off the floor and swinging her around.
BDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBD
"I got you a gift card to Tom Ford," Bianca stated between breathless kisses as Stefan pushed her into the wall with his hands trailing up her shirt.
"I got you perfume," he mumbled while slipping his hand in her unbuckled jeans.
Feeling his fingers caress her sensitive nub, she threw her head back, "You know we only have a few moments," she replied reaching for his pants and unbuttoning them causing them to drop to the floor.
"I know, so let me get you off," Stefan whispered as her soft hands worked his boxer briefs down his legs.
"Oh no, I'm in control today," Bianca kneeled in front of him and gave him a sneaky look from her place below him.
"You don't have enough time," Stefan looked down at her.
"Oh Mr. Salvatore, you have no idea how much little time I need," she replied before taking him in her mouth and he braced himself against the wall.
BDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBD
"So its done?" Abby asked coming in the living room.
Bonnie and Damon broke apart from their hug as Bonnie held out her left hand.
"Yesss!" Abby squealed clapping her hands, "Rudy, Mother…bring the champagne, he did it!"
"I can't believe you all knew," Bonnie shook her head.
"Damon had a conversation with us right before you all went out the other night," Abby grinned admiring the engagement ring on Bonnie's hand.
"I have to say, he had a great speech," Rudy replied walking in with a tray of flutes filled with champagne, "wish I recorded it."
"That's a nice ring Mr. Salvatore," Sheila nodded in appreciation, "my granddaughter must be doing everything right."
"God Sheila," Rudy scoffed.
"Bianca, Stefan…come on down! He asked her!" Abby called up the stairs.
"I can't believe you did this!" Bonnie covered her face.
"Of course, I wouldn't just ask you to move in with me without asking you to marry me," Damon kissed her temple.
"I will go get those other two," Sheila stated heading for the stairs as Abby and Bonnie squealed over the ring and Rudy shook Damon's hand tightly.
Shelia reached the landing as she heard the whisper of Stefan's voice saying Damn Bianca. The older woman smiled and then knocked on Stefan's door, "If you two would like to join us downstairs, we are ready to toast to the couple downstairs," Sheila called through the door.
She immediately heard bodies shifting inside the room and the door opened suddenly to Bianca on the other side, "We were just exchanging gifts Grams," she replied.
"Is that what we're calling it now, nice," Sheila replied as she watched Bianca and Stefan walk past her in the hallway.
When Bianca, Stefan and Sheila reached the living room, Abby handed them glasses of champagne. Bianca went over to Bonnie and hugged her tightly, "You deserve this Sissy," she whispered in her ear.
Stefan shook Damon's hand, "Well done Brother."
"Thank you, Brother," Damon grinned bringing Stefan into a hug.
"I want to make a toast…Christmas is always a special time for our family. When Bianca and Bonnie were younger, it was a time for us to spend time together as a family decorating the tree, watching Christmas movies and then opening gifts that were tokens of our love for each other. Over the last couple of days, we've had the pleasure to share our traditions with our new family members…Damon and Stefan. Now, that we are one step to making it official…I want to toast to Bonnie and Damon and their engagement. As much I gave you a hard time when you first showed up Damon, I know that you will love and protect my daughter with everything that you have and that's all I could ever ask for. I…we as a family wish you two nothing but the best," Rudy held up his glass as everyone clinked their glasses together as Bonnie leaned up kissing Damon on the cheek.
After the toast and sipping on the champagne, Bianca and Stefan offered to take the empty the glasses into the kitchen, "Well we will officially be family pretty soon," Bianca breathed out as she placed the glasses in the dishwasher.
"That we will be, but I hope that doesn't change anything between us," Stefan stood beside her helping to fill the dishwasher, "I do want to spend time with you after this."
Bianca gave him a seductive smile, "Oh don't worry Stefan, I think we made some promises about what we plan to do when we are completely alone. I would never go back on a promise."
Stefan matched her smile, "I should hope not. Beautiful, smart and keeps promises…it doesn't get any better than that."
She winked at him.
Sunday, December 26th
After an eventful Christmas with dinner, toasts, laughs, talks and planning of a future wedding, the next afternoon, Bonnie sat on the edge of the bed admiring her ring as Damon finished packing the rest of his clothes, "I wish you could stay longer," she frowned as he placed his bag on the couch.
"Well, you will be home in two days and we will be together again," he said bending down and capturing her lips in a kiss.
"I know and you know what, I can properly thank you for picking out such a beautiful ring…since my Christmas gift pales in comparison," Bonnie gave him a small smile.
"You gave me a framed picture of me and my brother on the opening night of Adore, you have no idea how much that picture means to me," Damon stated looking over at the silver framed 8x10 black and white picture of he and Stefan hugging each other with huge smiles celebrating amongst falling balloons. The picture captured their pride and brotherly love all in one shot. The frame included a silver plate with the engraved quote 'When brothers agree, no fortress is so strong as their common life. Antisthenes'.
"You just hurry home so we can celebrate our engagement…loudly," Damon widened his eyes causing Bonnie to giggle.
"I will," she placed her hand on his cheek kissing him, "I love you Damon Salvatore," she whispered.
"Love you too soon to be Bonnie Salvatore," he whispered into their kiss.
BDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBD
"Well…" Stefan replied as Bianca followed him out to the Camaro parked on the street to load his bag inside.
"Well," Bianca raised an eyebrow.
"Don't give me that look, I think you've tried to kill me at least 6 times since Christmas Eve," he wagged his finger at her causing her to burst out in laughter.
"I was about to say that we will see each other soon," she replied.
"Yes, you're coming to Mystic Falls for New Year's Eve, right?"
"Yes, I'm flying back with Bonnie in two days…so I will be staying in Mystic Falls for a couple of days," she replied.
He looked towards the house, "I hope I will see you during that time…" he gave her a small smile.
"Oh you will, my sister will be firmly at the townhome with Damon and that gives me some time to play elsewhere," Bianca answered touching his chest lightly.
"Well then it will be a very good new year then," Stefan flirted.
Bianca shook her head, "Be careful Stefan, I may think that you really, really, really like me outside of the bedroom."
Stefan moved closer to her, "I do like you. How could someone not like you? With those looks and personality, Bianca Bennett you can break down all of a man's defenses."
Bianca looked into Stefan's large light brown eyes and for a moment she was tempted, "Well Mr. Stefan Salvatore, I think we have come to an understanding…"
"Oh yes," he replied leaning over, kissing her on the cheek and then whispering in her ear, "until next time Miss Bianca."
As he drew his lips away from her cheek, she heard the front door open and she backed away from Stefan a few spaces.
"Ok, we need to get on the road," Damon announced walking out of the house with Bonnie.
"Yes, let's do that…no telling how many free drinks Alaric's given out since we left," Stefan shook his head giving Bonnie a hug.
"You two be safe driving back and we will see you in two days," Bonnie squeezed him.
"Oh this guy will do nothing but talk about you and seeing you again, we will have the safest drive ever," Stefan joked patting Damon on the back.
"Hey, don't be jealous of the love I have for my fiancée," Damon answered.
Stefan rolled his eyes.
"Oh God, I'm about to gag, please drive safe," Bianca hugged Damon.
"Of course, see you two in a few days," Damon kissed Bonnie on the lips before heading towards the driver side.
"The Bennett twins," Stefan shook his head with a smile of awe on his face.
"Goodbye Stefan," Bonnie rolled her eyes.
He laughed as he got in the car as Bonnie and Bianca stood on the sidewalk waiting for them to drive off.
When the Camaro left the curb and the car disappeared around the corner, Bonnie sighed, "I'm going to miss him tonight," she commented turning and heading into the house.
"Me too," Bianca whispered before following Bonnie into the house…but she was confident, she wouldn't have to worry about missing him for long…
Fin…
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate and Happy New Year to Everyone!
This was my gift to my faithful readers. Stefan and Bianca are embarking on a Friends with Benefits relationship that is sooo them.
I snuck in an engagement as well for Bonnie and Damon.
Thank you for your interest, encouragement and love for this fic. Take care of yourselves!