A/N A long chapter I recommend getting some snacks. Lots of Bamon and Steroline ahead.
"Why do you feel the need to wake up at ungodly hours," Caroline mumbled from under her pillow.
"Nine am is ungodly hours?" Bonnie laughed from her place at the dresser vanity.
"Yes." Caroline groaned sitting up in bed. Her blonder hair was wild all over her head, from her tossing and turning in her sleep. She hasn't been sleeping so well lately.
"Just go back to sleep. I'm in the mood to shoot some stuff," Bonnie said playfully as she pulled her hair into a low bun with a middle part.
"You and your firearms," Caroline said.
She laughed "You need anything while I'm out?" Bonnie offered to her friend.
"Nope, I'm just gonna have Stefan escort me if I feel like going anywhere." She said, her tone laced with venom. Who do they think they are having to take us everywhere!?
"It's not that bad," Bonnie said as she began to look for some shoes to match her outfit. She had on olive-green jeans and long white knitted sweater with two slits on the sides. She added a pair of black booties.
"Yeah, we could be stuck with... I don't know evil kidnappers who murder people," Caroline joked.
"Right, we just have to stay positive," Bonnie said more to reassure herself than to Caroline. She went over to the bed to give Caroline a hug. Caroline embraced her friend then let go.
"Well, I'm trying to sleep until I'm tired of sleeping," Caroline said with a yawn as she slid under the covers. "Bye, love you." She mumbled from under the comforter.
"Love you too, later," Bonnie said as she exited the room.
-
Bonnie walked down the hall and turned a corner till she realized... she had no clue where the hell she was going. The tour only consisted of a few areas of the mansion. She just continued walking until she saw what she believes was a maid cleaning picture frames.
"Um... excuse me... where is Damon's room?" She asked.
"The easiest path would be through the kitchen up that flight of stairs and down the hall then a quick left," The middle-aged women responded.
"Thank you," Bonnie said. I'll try to remember that.
She made it past the kitchen and to the top of the stairs. Then... forgot everything. Bonnie opened the first door she came across and peered in. It has grey walls and a large wooden desk in the center. Behind where large bookshelf lined with both novels textbooks and binders. She was about to take to step in when-
"What are you doing?" A voice said from behind her.
"Shit- what the hell!?" Bonnie swore startled from the sudden noise.
"I'm, not the one snooping," Damon said in a singy - song voice.
"I wasn't snooping. I got lost in this big ass house looking for you," Bonnie defended herself.
"I was coming to your room," Damon explained.
"Oh," Bonnie said.
Damon crossed his arms and scanned her up and down his eyes lingering for a moment. "That's what you're wearing?" He asked.
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Bonnie shot back folding her arms.
"Nothing you look... nice," He said.
"Thanks," She quirked a brow and looked him up and down. He had on blue jeans, a black tee, and his signature leather jacket. He always looked good, she hated to admit it "You're not to bad yourself," She retorted.
"I know," He said with a smirk. Bonnie kissed her teeth.
They stared each other down for a moment stubbornness fighting stubbornness.
"Ready to go?" Damon asked.
"Yep," Bonnie replied.
-
The shooting range was at a private country club deep in Long Island. As they drove the scenery changed from large houses to highways, then open land. Completely different from the skyscrapers and coffee shops one would expect from New York City. The ride was mostly silent. Bonnie stared out the window at the changing scenery occasionally peering over at Damon. Damon focused on the road occasionally spearing a few glances her way.
"We're here," Damon said as he drove up to the metal gate. It took about an hour and a half to get there including a pit stop for some coffee and sandwiches. There was a security woman in the box beside the gate. Upon seeing the land rover she slid the glass window open and as if she has seen the driver a million times she immediately buzzed the gate open. He parked in a reserved spot just in front of a set of glass doors. There were very few other cars in the parking lot. From the outside, it looked kinda rustic. There was a large main building about two stories tall with two smaller one-story buildings to the right. To the left horse stables and a track.
Damon exited the car and Bonnie followed suit. They headed into the building and Damon walked up to the front desk.
"Good Morning, Mr. Salvatore," The man behind the desk greeted him and nodded to Bonnie.
"Morning, Jerry," Damon returned. Bonnie gave the man a small smile.
Jerry reached into some compartment on the desk and pulled out a key. He held it out to Damon then withdrew it. They faced each other with questioning looks.
"Who's the lady friend?" He teased with a grin.
Bonnie narrowed her eyes in question at Damon's possible responses Damon sighed and reached over the desk and took the key. "Thanks, J," He called walking away Bonnie following behind.
"You kids have fun," Jerry said to them.
Damon led the way down the hall and after two turns stopped at a metal door. He used the key to unlock the door and held it open for Bonnie to enter. Her jaw dropped in awe but she quickly caught herself and closed her mouth.
It looked like one of those crazy weapons rooms straight out of an action movie where the main characters would suit up for the upcoming battle. The left and front walls housed a multitude of firearms on the racks. In the middle of the room sat glass cases full of throwing knives, daggers, even some swords.
"Handguns or Riffles?" Damon said. He preferred handguns. There was something about seeing your victim up close rather than shooting from an afar. That mindset kinda sounds like step one to becoming a serial killer... but who's to judge?
"Handguns," Bonnie said. Damon nodded. Mabey she had the same mindset.
He walked over to one of the left walls. "Pick your poison," Damon said gesturing to the racks of guns.
Bonnie looked at the wall of handguns ranging from semiautomatics to revolvers. "Any recommendations?" She asked slightly overwhelmed by the choices.
Damon reached up and grabbed a gun from a high shelf. "One of my favorites," he said as held it out to Bonnie. She took the gun in her hands and observed it for a minute. It was on the larger side, a Marksman 1010 Pistol with dual ammo.
"On second thought," He said as he reached for S&W 5906 9mm Stainless. He handed it to her and took back the pistol.
Bonnie took the smaller firearm in her hands. It was stainless steel but had black on the grip. "Thanks," she grinned.
"Great, let's start shooting stuff," Damon said as he began to get some magazines.
-
It was around noon when Caroline decided to roll out of bed. Literally. She rolled talking the white-colored comforter with her. Caroline then tiredly slumped to the bathroom for a shower. Once in a robe and a towel around her hair, she made the bed then flopped right back on it. As she stared at the high white cealing an idea popped in the blonde's head.
Caroline quickly threw on some blue skinny jeans, a white loose v neck blouse, and a blue and yellow blazer. She put on brown booties, the same ones that were confiscated along with their weapons by the Salvatores. Now dressed, Caroline pulled her slightly damp hair into a high ponytail. The bombshell blonde headed to the kitchen.
She went to the Keurig and put a cup to brew. While it brewed the blonde scoured through the fridge, freezer, and cabinets to see what they housed. Once the coffee was brewed she sipped on her coffee while looking over the kitchen overall. It was a petty large kitchen with white cabinets and a beige orange - granite counter. There was a massive island that housed a double sink. Furnished will all stainless steel appliances. It was any chef's dream. Wow, I can do some serious damage in here.
She went to the fridge to get some coffee creamer and a voice interrupted her train of thought.
"Hmm?" she mumbled, half her body still bend in the fridge.
"I said, Morning," Stefan said. Sanding at the doorway.
"Oh... good morning," Caroline said turning around with a vanilla creamer in hand. She poured some in her mug then closed the fridge.
"How'd you sleep?" Stefan asked as he made his way to the fridge.
"Well, and you?" Caroline returned. Stefan was now right in front of Caroline. Through the window were boundaries. He gave her the once over. Even in such a simple outfit, she looked great.
"Eh," Stefan said as he closed the fridge back, a water bottle in hand. "I had to deal with some business this morning." He told her.
"Oh," Caroline mumbled.
"Coffee after, noon?" Stefan teased as he took a sip of his water.
"I just woke up and I need caffeine to start my day, "Caroline explained He furrowed his brows. "Well, afternoon." She continued to nurse her coffee. After a couple of minutes of awkward silence.
"I need to go to the grocery," Caroline stated.
"Um... sure," Stefan said. Whenever Stefan and Damon stayed at the manor they would order take out or the chiefs would deal with the grocery shopping. But there is limited staff due to the circumstances so grocery shopping it is.
"When do you want to go?" Stefan inquired.
"Now?" Caroline suggests placing her mug down.
"Ok... let's go," Stefan said.
Both blondes made their way out.
-
The pair drove to a local Aldi's that was about two miles out. It was a little past Central Mall. Stefan had to drive around for a second until a parking spot to open up; then immediately pulled in. An angry-looking driver drove past. They too were eager for a spot.
Caroline climbed out of the car first and Stefan right after then looked the doors. They headed straight to the store.
"Oh can you grab a buggy," Caroline asked.
"A what?" Stefan looked at her in confusion.
"A buggy? You know what you use when you get groceries?"
"Oh, you mean shopping cart?" Stefan said as he grabbed one from the rest of the carts.
"Whatever, I'm from Virginia," Caroline said with a roll of her eyes.
"Virginia interesting," Stefan said at the newfound information.
"Crap," Caroline said under her breath when she realized what she just said. Stefan chuckled. They entered the store and met with the fruit/vegetable aisle.
"Ok, so I raided your kitchen and made a list of some basic groceries," Caroline said as she dug into her back pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper.
"Is... all that... necessary?" Stefan asked when he saw the size of the list.
Caroline turned to him. "Absolutely, I'm not eating takeout every day," She added. "How else do you think I keep my perfect figure?"
Stefan opened then closed his mouth and nodded. No point to argue. Stefan watched as Caroline grabbed hold of the cart and headed to the fresh produce. He loves a woman that takes charge.
-
She aimed for the head. Her right thumb pulled the trigger and the bullet went flying, striking right between the nose and left eye of the head. Well, prosthetic head.
Both Bonnie and Damon have been shooting at the targets for a while now. The range remained practically empty aside from a trio of middle-aged men who began practicing a few rows down from the pair about an hour after they arrived.
"You're a good shot," Damon said his voice raised because of the soundproof earmuffs they were wearing.
"You too," Bonnie returned. "I'd really prefer my own guns though," She added.
Damon removed his earmuffs and Bonnie did the same. "Okay," He said.
"They 're here?" Bonnie asked with risen eyebrows.
"Yeah, theirs a vault," He explained. The pair made their way to the same weapons room. Upon entering they turned the right, not left this time. Damon used the same set of keys to unlock a grey door. Behind that door stood a large black vault. Bonnie observed as Damon typed four numbers into a keypad on the right side of the vault. The handle automatically turned, a click, and the sound of compressed air being released were heard as the door opened.
Bonnie looked around the room and noted the array of drawers around the room. In the center sat two metal tables and five metal chairs. Damon pulled open one drawer on the right side of the room and pulled out the huge designer's duffle bag.
"Your arsenal," Damon said as he slid the bag along the table toward Bonnie who was standing opposite himself. She began to pull at the zipper.
"I thought you said we wouldn't get these back until we could be trusted," Bonnie said as she began taking some of the firearms out the duffle. Mabey it was her own experience with trusting others that would make her hesitant. But here they were.
"If we're going to be working together there has to be some level of trust." Damon began.
He knew he shouldn't be showing her the vault, much less bringing her inside and freely handing over a bag of possible murder weapons. But, there was something he saw in her. Something he has seen in himself. If his assumption was right he could one day trust her with his life. Or not trust her at all.
Bonnie looked up her green eyes meeting his blue ones in a sense of a silent mutual agreement. "And I trust you won't blow my head off with that handgun." He added with a grin. Bonnie gave a small smile and placed the small gun in her hand on the smooth table. The brunette then proceeds to turn the duffle bag upside down a few more weapons falling out the bag.
"Uh, whatcha doing?" Damon asked. Bonnie reached in and pulled down a zipper. Damon looked into the bag then back up at the young women in from of him. "That's a secret compartment." He said more of a statement than a question.
"Where else would I put my favorite guns." She quipped. "Oh, my baby!" Bonnie said excitely as she pulled out a revolving pistol.
"A revolver," Damon stated.
"For Russia roulette," Bonnie replied.
"You play?" He asked with a skeptical look.
Bonnie quirked a brow. "No." She set the gun down. "But it's fun during interrogations." She added.
"Well that's dark," Damon said.
"Said the mobster," Bonnie said with a sigh.
"To the thief," Damon returned.
"Me and Caroline are not thieves we... are... collecters," She said matter of factly.
"Collectors," Damon pursed his lips and nodded.
"Yep, we collect expensive things that we happen to see and want to collect," Bonnie said then proceeds to riffle through the array weapons.
"Mmhm," Damon nods some more. "So collecting things is your official occupation."
Bonnie looks up at him and folds her arms defensively.
"Do you collect things for other people?" he inquires.
"If the payment has six or more digits yes, " Bonnie stated.
"How long have you been collecting things? " He asked.
She rolled her eyes at the further interrogation."What the mob couldn't figure that out. I thought you could figure out what I named my third-grade goldfish." She snarked.
"Well, I know your father is a lawyer..." Her eyebrows shot up. Damon continued "...and your grandmother a college professor at Wigton College was it? No, Washington," Damon pondered.
"Whittmore," She filled in for him.
"Yeah, that. Where you enrolled?"
"No, I'm not a college dropout. I'm nineteen and on the run. I'm a high school dropout." She joked. Earning a grin from Damon.
"You haven't answered my question. How long have you been collecting?" He asked again.
Bonnie sighed. "How long have you been in the mob?" She asked directing a question of her own.
"Since diapers. Well officially initiated at fifteen" He added on to his originally vague answer.
"Wow, did they make shoot an innocent man in a dark empty room?" Bonnie asked. Damon was caught off guard with that question. "Seriously?!" She exclaimed.
"No, no!" Damon said quickly realizing she mistaken his silence. "I was born into the family I got off easy. And no, regular initiations are... different," He knew he couldn't say much. Omertá must be upheld.
"Right,"
"And you," He asked referring to his original inquiry.
"I guess I've always had sticky fingers when I was young. My dad thought I was a kleptomaniac at one point." She said with a roll of her eyes "And my ways rubbed off on Caroline a little bit. So we put our skills to work."
"A klepto huh. Wouldn't put it past you." Damon added.
"Hey," Bonnie said.
"So you're telling me the entire time we've been here you haven't stolen anything from this room," Damon asked slowly.
She chewed on her bottom lip in silence. "If we're being honest..." Damon motioned for her to continue. Bonnie reached behind her back and picked a leather pouch tucked into the back of her jeans and placed it in Damon's hand.
He opened the case and looked up at her with a questionable expression. "Throwing knives?" He deadpanned.
"Caroline would like those. They're much better than her old ones." Bonnie explained.
"Keep it," Damon said handing the pouch back to her.
"Thanks," She said taking the pouch back and placing it in the duffle bag.
"Is that all the little klepto took?" Damon asked.
"One, not a klepto, and two, as far as you're concerned," Bonnie says with a smile. Damon gave her a look.
Bonnie rolls her eyes. "I'll use this one," She said holding up a cherry red Glock 19 with white lettering on the slide.
"You have a red gun?" Damon said
"I like the color. What's wrong with a red gun?" Bonnie replies.
"Yes I love red because it reminds me of the color of my victim's blood," Damon says impersonating her and motioning his arms for dramatics.
"I just really like the color," Bonnie retorted.
"What's that written on the side mean," Damon asked referring to the word clearly another language on the handgun.
Bonnie looks at the gun. An unreadable expression glazed over her eyes as if in deep thought. Quickly she cleared her throat. "Loyalty," she states. He nods.
"Ready?" Damon asks.
"Yep,"
Back at the manor
"Are you just gonna watch me?" Caroline asked without looking behind her. Stefan was standing in the right doorway across from the counter Caroline just finished flipping the baked chicken.
"If that's ok with you," Stefan replied. He looked around the kitchen there were pots on all the flames of the stove. Something in the over and an organized mess of veggies and seasonings on the kitchen island. Caroline began cooking about an hour after they returned from the grocery store. The young women exchanged her boots for some slip-ons and had a white and grey apron that she found in the pantry wrapped around her.
"Ha, start cutting up the onions, chive, and garlic," Caroline directed motioning towards the veggies laid out on a cutting board.
Stefan moved towards the sink and washed his hands. He then moved to the cutting board.
"Where'd you learn to cook?" Stefan asked.
"My grams well Bonnie's grandmother," Caroline said with a smile. She moved towards the stove and put the chicken back in the oven.
"Cool, I enjoy being in the kitchen too," Stefan said.
"Oh really. Even though grams taught us both well-attempted on Bonnie's part. The girl can't deal with anything that involves an open flame. We grew up together. I was a year older so I was like a big sister to her when we first met. Anyways I always loved being in the kitchen with grams. She taught me everything I know," Caroline rambled on with a bright grin. She didn't know why but it felt so easy and natural to talk to Stefan. Something she hasn't had with a guy in a long time.
Stefan listened as Caroline went on explaining the different recipes she learned. He loved the ways here eyes light up when talking about something she was passionate about. He's noticed it a few times.
"My mom taught me and Damon a few dishes. I didn't like it at first but I'm grateful now cause take out gets annoying after a while." Stefan said when Caroline was finished talking.
"Oh tell me about it. It's one of the reasons I like moving from place to place so often. When you come from a small-town anything too repetitive is not worth it." Caroline said.
"Where did you grow up?" Stefan asked.
Caroline noticeably tensed up. And twisted the silver ring on her finger. "Um, a small town in Virginia," Caroline mumbled.
"Sorry didn't mean to pry," Stefan said quickly when he noticed Caroline's reaction to his question.
"It's fine," Caroline said. She moved to stand beside Stefan. "Make sure to dice it small," She said.
"Got it,"
Caroline began to chop the potatoes and yams."Where did you and your brother grow up? If you don't mind me asking ." Caroline inquired,
"A city upstate. A few hours drive actually." Stefan said.
"You are done with those?" Caroline asked picking up the cutting board, "Yeah," Stefan nodded.
"Hm, so fancy private school or homeschool tutors?" Caroline asked with a sly grin.
"Actually we went to public school," Stefan said. He turned to lean his back against the counter.
"Mobsters letting their kids go to public school. Wouldn't that put a target on your back?"
"No, if anything it earned us a lot of favoritism from those who knew how..." He searched for a word "...influential, our parents were."
"Well damn," Caroline replied.
"Yep, Damon actually insisted. He went to private school for a few years but hated it and encouraged our parents to put us both in public school." Stefan explained.
"Interesting," Caroline said. "Can you pass a stick of butter please,"
"Sure," Stefan said moving towards the fridge.
"Thanks, this kitchen is huge," Caroline said upon receiving the butter. The kitchen was rectangular shaped. Two doors left and right. The large stainless steel fridge and stove aligned but separated by feet of light granite counter space. Parallel was an island with a double sink and stools on the other side. Whitewood cupboards with dark brown handles lined the cream-colored walls.
"It's the side kitchen you should see the staff kitchen," Stefan said. Caroline gives a look of interest.
"Did you get everything you need?" Stefan asked. The shopping trip was more like an expedition. The scoured every aisle and Caroline inspected each piece of fruit/vegetable in the produce aisle before placing it in the cart.
"More than enough, I didn't know what to make," Caroline said.
Stefan moved to sit on the stool behind the middle island. "So what did you decide?"He asked.
"Barbeque chicken and baked salmon," Caroline pointed to the oven. "Steamed veggies, white rice and beans" she pointed to the pot and pan on the stove. "Potatoes and yams," She motioned to a tray in front of her holding the cut-up vegetables. Stefan's eyes jumped around the kitchen trying to keep up as Caroline explained her many dishes. She moved down the counter "...and cinnamon cake she said holding up one Betty Crockers cinnamon cake mix box and another box of jiffy corn muffin mix.
"Wow, that's-" Stefan began.
"I know it's not a lot but, it's only the four of us so I didn't want there to be to much leftovers," Caroline explained. Stefan was thoroughly confused. How much food did they usually eat cause from her description it was enough to feed a small village. And who even cooks for people they barely know? Caroline Forbes was certainly interesting.
"You know you don't have to cook for me and my brother. We have people for that," Stefan said.
"It's common courtesy, we are the guest, despite the whole kidnapping debacle" She trailed off on that last part.
"Yeah sorry about that," He said. Caroline gave him a weak smile.
There was a beat.
"No need to apologize," Caroline said "We did kick you guys' asses" she said in a singy-song voice.
Stefan laughed. "I did get a few throws in," He defended himself.
"Yeah a few," Caroline laughed.
"Well, I gotta give you two props, definitely held your own. Where'd you learn to fight so well?" Stefan inquired. How those two women took down two grown men is beyond him.
"When you become a runaway at fifteen you pick up a lot of useful skills along the way," Caroline explained.
"Fifteen?!" Stefan repeated with furrowed brows.
Caroline stops her movement in the kitchen and turns to face Stefan. "Back home," she begins, "My life and Bonnies life... was total shit. We weren't in the best situation," She took a breath, "so we took it upon ourselves to leave,"
"What about you guys' parents?" Stefan inquired. Surely two runaway teens would be noticed.
"It took about a week for my dad to realize I was gone about two for Bonnie's parents." Caroline turned around and went back to cutting the potatoes. She scoffed "Hilarious right," She began to laugh "The pillars of the community's perfect daughters run away. What a scandal. But nope, no headlines no missing posters. Our own parents passed it off as us transferring to some fancy boarding school and hired these annoying PI's to track us down. Let's just say it didn't end well for those assholes." She said as the knife slammed down on the cutting board.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Stefan said in a gentle tone.
"Thanks but don't feel sorry for me. My life is great where it's at. I can finally go anywhere, do anything. Whoever said money can't buy happiness must have not had enough money." Caroline moves to the stove to put the potatoes in the oven.
"I think there is a deeper meaning to that phrase, " Stefan said.
Caroline shrugged.
"Brother blonde, lady blonde," Damon addresses the pair in as he enters the kitchen earning him a scoff and smile from Caroline and eye-roll from his brother.
"Something smells good," Damon said lifting the lid off of one of the pots which earned him a smack on the hand from Caroline.
"Hey guys," Bonnie calls entering the kitchen afterward.
Caroline begins, "Food will be done in an hour. So wash up and be in the dining room by..." she looks at the clock on the stove "... 7"
"Don't mind if I do," Damon said strolling out of the kitchen.
"And you need to make some batter," Caroline directs at Bonnie and motions towards the boxes of batter. Bonnie moves toward the sink to wash her hands.
"I thought you said Bonnie can't cook," Stefan asked.
"Hey," Bonnie said giving both of them a frown from her place at the sink. "I can cook," Caroline gave her a look. "Ok maybe, I dont work well with open flames," Bonnie shrugged and began to start on the batter.
"Oh she can't cook," Caroline said to Stefan, "But she is weirdly amazing at baking," Caroline added giving Bonnie a smile. The brunette stuck her tongue out at her friend in return.
The dining room was down the hall from the kitchen and how magnificent it was. The vintage brown dining table sat in the middle of the room with matching chairs that could seat up to twelve. There were red curtains draped by the windows. With a grand radiant crystal chandelier in the middle of the high ceilings.
When the house staff asked Caroline if she wanted the dining room prepared she did not expect them to go all out for four people. A delicate white table runner ran through the middle of the table. Garnished with fresh flowers and lit candles on both on the table and around the room. The slightly dimmed lights alongside the candle created the ambiance of an elegant restaurant.
Stefan and Damon were already seated when Bonnie and Caroline entered the Dinning room. Caroline took the seat closest from the door across from Damon and Bonnie next to her across from Stefan.
"The food looks good," Stefan complemented, admiring the spread of food and drinks (courtesy of the Salvatore wine cellar and the charitable house staff).
"Thank you, I love to cook," Caroline said.
"And I love to eat," Damon said.
"Well I'm glad I could bring some southern comfort food your way," Caroline said.
"Do you always dress up for dinner?" Stefan asked referring to their outfits.
"What do you mean?" Bonnie asked. She wore a blue sheath dress with a patterned belt around the waist and Caroline wore a grey button-up denim dress with puffed shoulders.
"That," Stefan he's motioned with his hand.
"Oh this is nothing," Caroline said. It really was nothing. The two fashionistas would not have worn something simple like jeans and a tee in a dining hall like such.
"Do you guys own a piece by of clothing that isn't designer," Damon asked.
The girls in question exchanged looks "Nope, " they said in unison.
"Well I'm famished," Damon said as he reached for a serving spoon to dig into the baked chicken that was calling his name. But was met with another swat to the hands from Caroline.
"Hey," He said.
Both Bonnie and Stefan exchanged glances and held let out a chuckle at the situation before them.
"We haven't said grace yet," Caroline said.
"My bad" He said.
"Is it ok with you guys? We usually say grace before we eat," Caroline asked.
"No it's fine," Stefan said
"It's ok," Damon said.
The group held hands and Caroline uttered a quick prayer that ended in scattered amen.
"Now we eat," Bonnie said as she clasped her hands together.
They filled their glasses and passed the food around with light conversation in between. There were definitely not many leftovers at the end of the night.
Later that night Stefan was getting ready for bed and Damon was lounging around in Stefan's bedroom like usual.
"They are surprisingly-" Damon began.
"Really generous and kind," Stefan filled in for him.
"Who knew the little assassins had hearts," Damon quipped.
"Caroline," Stefan began "She reminds me of Lexi,"
"Brother, you just have a thing for blondes," Damon said.
"Oh fuck off," Stefan said with a bland expression. Damon smiled. "How was the shooting range?" He asked.
Stefan knew just how... difficult his brother could be. So it did cross his mind if his brother would return from the range all those hours with Bonnie, sporting a bullet wound.
"She has a favorite gun," Damon said.
"Huh," Stefan said being broken from his thoughts not entirely hearing Damon.
"What women you know has a favorite gun?" Damon asked.
"You have a favorite gun," Stefan said.
"Of course I do. But that's beside the point; she's better than me," Damon whines.
Damon couldn't help but chuckle at his older brother's mini masculinity crisis. He's certainly a talented marksman but can't always expect to be the best.
"They had training," Stefan reminds him.
"Yeah whatever, "Damon said. "How was the little shopping trip?" He asked.
"Interesting," Stefan said. He was meet with a look from his brother so elaborated.
"When was the last time either of us stepped foot in a grocery store," Stefan said. Damon shrugged.
"Exactly, " Stefan said. "An we ended up with two carts. Yep, two!" Stefan emphasized his point by holding up two fingers.
It was now Damon's turn to laugh.
"At least they're easy to get along with." Stefan said "Caroline and Bonnie," he added. "It'll make this whole thing ten times easier to accomplish."
"Easier for you," Damon said, "Pop chewed my ass out because of you. But, I guess its all worth it in the end," Damon said standing up about to retire to his own quarters.
"I can't wait to take elegen down," Stefan said.
The Salvatores have a long history with that organization. The things Elegen was responsible for, were horrible atrocities.
"We will. All of us. Don't worry little brother they will pay,"
"Today was a long day," Caroline said flopping on her back on the king-sized mattress.
"You did cook up a feast," Bonnie said as she hopped on the bed laying on her stomach beside Caroline.
"Well I love the kitchen, it has everything a chef could dream of. And you know what they say a way to a ma's heart is through his stomach," Caroline said with a smile.
Both giggle like the innocent girls they once were. Once were. It seemed like ages ago. Their worst problems were if they passed their math test or got invited to Cindy Beck's birthday party. But it's impossible to stay innocent when the world forces you to grow up so fast.
"This is nice," Caroline said with a smile.
"What?" Bonnie asked with a smile of her own.
"Being all domesticy," Caroline explained.
"Domesticy," Bonnie asked with a smile of her own.
"Yeah, when was the last time I cooked? Or we had dinner with other people that didn't end in some sort of bloodshed?" Caroline asked.
"I don't know," Bonnie shrugged.
"But I don't forget about her," Caroline said looking back at the ceiling. She could feel the water pooling in her eyes.
"Elena," Bonnie said in a voice that was almost a whisper. Even years later they were still affected by it. Losing their best friend, their sister. It took a great toll on Bonnie and Caroline. But like anyone else grieving, they have learned to live with it.
"Yeah," Caroline said.
"Care, we are in this together," Bonnie said wrapping an arm around her friend to comfort her.
"I know. And elegen will pay," she said as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
How are you guys feeling the rewrites? I tried not to change the plot to much because I know a lot of you were enjoying the story. Anyways, thank you for reading. Next chapter will be up by tommorow. Till next time my lovley readers.