Eight years later.

Bonnie raised her head to look out of the huge windshield window,

God, why was it taking so long?

The bus had been delayed and now the journey felt much longer than usual or it was simply the pressure of the hour that made her become more impatient than necessary. Anyway, she and Sarah only had a few minutes to get to the next stop and take the next bus to their final destination.

Bonnie ran her hands over her mouth to relieve stress and stifle a scream that threatened to break out if the driver didn't speed up.

God, why didn't she take a taxi?

Her wry smile reminded her of her unhappy financial situation.

She did not take a taxi, because her inquisitive power was not very stable in these times and as the normal people whose income did not exceed the standards of the lower class, she had to continue using the slow public transport.

Yes for that!

Each time this odyssey of crossing the city from pole to pole became more difficult as the days passed. The enormous sacrifice Bonnie agreed to make was leaving her with huge debts to pay off. Literally, since her failed effort to ridiculously precede a time she couldn't control was reflected at the end of the month when it came time to cash her lousy salary check.

She didn't even want to imagine if she had to do this every day. surely she would already be broke or worse, without work, thank goodness it was only three days a week. And today was one of those days where she wishes she could yell at the driver to hit the goddamn gas harder.

Bonnie snorted.

She had to be patient and remember that whatever she was doing was worth it. There were no regrets after glancing at the little girl who was playing counting cars through the bus window. That sight was all she needed to release some tension.

Her focus, the one person who was worth every one of her sacrifices.

All the effort Bonnie was putting in was for the sole purpose of the little girl sitting next to her getting a good education at a new school.

Especially a decent school that could give Sarah better opportunities.

When the stop became visible, the anxiety within her subsided. Bonnie and her little companion got out holding hands, walking with extreme urgency to the other stop a few blocks from where they got off.

The little girl could barely keep up with the fast pace, her footsteps short compared to Bonnie's steps, not to mention that her new shoes weren't making the walk easy. The baggy shoes made her feet pop out and the two of them occasionally had to stop so Sarah could fit her tiny feet inside them.

"Wait, why are you walking so fast?" Sarah complained when her right foot slipped out of the shoe again.

Bonnie looked up at the sky impatiently as they stopped for the third time.

"Sarah. We're going to be late. Give me your foot." Bonnie knelt down and untied the laces of the little shoe, she tied them again more tightly, leaving little slack in the shoe and thus prevent the rebellious foot from coming off again.

A grimace formed on the little girl's lips.

"You mean, you will be late, because I am not." her eyes were raised to the towering buildings that surrounded the city center.

At just six years old, Sarah was very insightful, and although her reckless and witty tongue caused some amusement, at this time her opinion was justly ignored.

Bonnie didn't have time to deal with her jokes or sarcasms, she was completely worried about her delay so she just preferred to ignore the little girl's witty comments. If they didn't hurry, they, or rather, Bonnie would be late again and she couldn't afford that luxury, not again.

"Pass me the other foot." Bonnie ordered, tapping her right shoe to signal that she was ready.

With her laces properly tied and her shoes tight, they would no longer have any other reason to keep them late. Bonnie smiled at her work and got up.

"Ok let's go," she hurried to take the small hand in hers again to continue on their way.

Sarah had no choice but to match her steps as her arm reached up for Bonnie's grip. They had to take advantage of lost time, and that, they would only achieve by increasing the march.

Sometimes, Bonnie hated forcing Sarah to walk at a brisk pace, as if she was pulling her arm. what often happened unconsciously.

With a bit of regret, the proposal was always on the table, although Bonnie already knew what the response to her offer would be.

"Do you want me to carry you in my arms?"

Bonnie looked down to wait for some defensive comment, paying no attention to the front.

Her carelessness and mishap caused an inevitable collision along with Sarah's complaints.

I'm not a baby!

She vowed to hear the girl's refusal.

The blow stunned her senses.

Even if she had looked ahead a few seconds earlier, Bonnie would not have been able to avoid the distracted person talking on his cell phone who casually rushed in the middle of her path.

They both stumbled roughly.

The gestural movements Sarah made were enough to confirm the fall.

This was maybe the last thing that could happen to her...

Her body bounced back to fall, but the blow never came. Bonnie mentally thanked with her eyes closed the strong grip of whoever had taken her by the arms preventing her butt from hitting the hard concrete.

"you're OK?"

That voice... She knew that voice very well. Hell, it can't be. Never in a million years did she expect to hear that voice, least of all today. This really wasn't her day.

"Bonnie?"

Bonnie squeezed her eyes, Yes, it was him.

Swallowing hard. Bonnie lifted her face and with it her gaze.

The little evaluation was unintentional, she blinked at those beautiful sky blue eyes.

It was him... and he hadn't changed a thing in these years, maybe some maturity in his features, his haircut made him look more manly. And there it was... he still had the same stupid look of concern on his eyes.

The memories and feelings of eight years ago spilled out of the box where Bonnie had buried them and she had promised to forget.

Just like him, she was never good at keeping her promises.

With nothing else she could do and unable to help it, the nostalgia took hold of her heart.

"Damon..."

AN:

Yes, this was a surprise to me too. The idea I had for this chapter was very different, and halfway through the writing this just came up. I hope I have not confused you. And I'm crossing my fingers for a good reaction.

Please, let me know what your thoughts were on this unexpected turn of events. Thanks.