I DO NOT OWN TEEN WOLF, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, OR THE CHARACTERS.

Chapter Nine:

I had changed my clothes three times. I couldn't relax. I was supposed to meet Laura today. I have been walking on eggshells, since Damon attacked me. He hasn't been around or done anything since, but I'm not naïve enough to think that he's actually gone. I have years of experience to know better. What if Laura hates me? I wouldn't blame her. How could I? I hate me.

"Hey, come on. We should get going." Care poked her head into the room we were sharing. I looked up and bit my lip. I want to go, but then again, I don't. It'll just be one more person to disappoint. It's not just anyone. She's Derek's sister – Derek of all people. He's… I wouldn't even know how to describe him. He's quickly become so much – he means so much. I remember what my life was like without him in it, and now… I can't picture him not in it anymore. It's crazy. I'm a mess, more than that, I'm a disaster. The last thing I should be doing is adding someone else to the equation, but that's exactly what I did.

He's in my heart and I don't see that changing anytime soon. I'm terrified of what Damon would do. I know that he'll go after the people I care about, if I don't go back to him. I just can't… I don't want to die. I really don't. It took me a long time to be able to say that to myself, but it's true. I don't want Damon to be what kills me. He has already taken so much from me. I'd rather die, than let him take my life.

Every single day, I wake up wondering if I'm strong enough to do this. I wonder if I'm actually worthy of being saved. I just took it for so long. I know that if push comes to shove… that if he catches me alone, that he could easily kill me. That's what I'm terrified of. He takes what he wants from me. He always has. That is never going to change, as long as he's around.

It's hard trying to let go of the things that I can't control. I have so many people going out on a limb for me. They're putting their lives on hold, trying to protect me and for what? It's not worth it. I'm not worth it. If I was less selfish of a person, I would just go back to him to keep everyone else safe. I'm terrified that when everything is said and done, that's exactly what I'll end up doing. If he hurts them, it'll kill me. I won't have a reason to live anymore. He knows exactly where to cut, to hurt me to deepest. I know that it's only a matter of time. My freedom isn't free. That's what I'm terrified of.

I hiccupped and tears blazed down my cheeks. Caroline rushed over to me and wrapped her arms around me. She didn't say anything. I love her for it. She just held me and let me fall apart. I don't even remember what it's like to have good days. God, I'm such a fucking mess. I couldn't be more pathetic if I tried.

"Hey, are you about ready? Derek just texted me and said that dinner is ready. So we can head over there, whenever you're ready." Stefan said, coming into the room. I froze and pulled away from Caroline. I mopped off my face with the back of my hand. "If it's too much, we don't have to go today. You don't have to do anything you're not ready for." He reminded me.

"I know." I breathed. I took a deep breath and tried to convince myself that I needed to do this. This will be good for me. Derek said that after Laura was finally safe… talking to people who had went through similar things… that really helped me. Maybe it's what I need to? I don't want to let him down. He's been so patient and he's always been there for me. He's never asked me for anything else, just to meet his sister. I can do this for him. I have to. I owe him that much. "We can go." I said loud enough for them both to hear me.

I left the room and waited by the door for them. I didn't say anything else. I didn't want to. I slipped on a pair of flats and followed them both to the car. Stefan put an arm around me and I stiffened, before forcing myself to relax. I know that he isn't his brother, but sometimes, it still puts me on edge.

We didn't say anything on the ride over. Caroline played music quietly. I just looked out the window and tried not to think of worst case scenarios. Call it intuition or gut instinct or whatever, but I know that something bad is coming. It's just a matter of time. And I absolutely fucking hate it.

I took a deep breath, as Caroline knocked on Derek's front door. He opened the door with an easy smile. His eyes found mine and I tried to force myself to be strong.

"I'm so glad you could make it." He breathed. I nodded and clutched my hands together, not trusting my voice. He stepped aside, so Care and Stefan could go inside. He lingered in the doorway, while I tried to muster up the courage to go inside. She's going to hate me. I just know it. "Bonnie, if this is too much too fast, I get it. I probably shouldn't have asked, not with everything that has been going on. I just… I wanted the two most important women in my life to meet each other." He apologized. My jaw dropped and I tried to hide my surprise, as I looked up at him. "Is it really so surprising?" He asked me. I didn't say anything. I couldn't.

"I want to meet her – I want to meet your sister. I just… I have this terrible feeling… Damon won't stop with me. He won't even start with me. He'll do what hurts me the most. He knows that hurting the people I care about would be so much worse. I just… he will hurt you. Not just you… he'll go after everyone and if something…" my voice broke. And I cursed myself for being so fucking weak. "I can't. I just can't. I won't be able to stop it. I've never been able to stop him. I'm not strong enough. And he'll just keep coming. That's what he does. We shouldn't. We shouldn't do this. I just… I'm being selfish and I shouldn't be. I should just go." The words were out of my mouth, before I could stop them. I turned around and started walking back to the car. I can't do this to him. I can't do this to them. I can't sign their death sentences, just to save myself. It's not fair. I won't. I can't be that person.

"Bonnie stop." Derek grabbed my arm and spun me around and pinned me gently to the car. "I'm not scared of him. I'm only scared of what he will do to you. I can handle myself. We can handle ourselves. I don't need anyone to protect me from him. I can handle myself. He is the one who will need protecting. I don't care who he is. Any man who thinks it's okay to degrade someone and beat the living shit out of them, just for control and manipulation, doesn't deserve to live. You deserve to be happy, just as much as anyone else does. He hasn't even tried to come after anyone else. If that happens, we'll deal with it. Okay? I will not just watch you give up and go back to him, because you're worried about what he might do. If you do that, then he wins. You'll be telling him that it's okay to put his hands on you and to dictate your life. He doesn't even treat you like you're human. You're better than that. You deserve so much better than that. Okay? Just don't leave. You asked me the same thing once. You asked me to just stay and I have. You're worth staying for. I'm just… I'm asking you to stay now. I need you, Bonnie. As much as you think you need me, I promise you that I need you more. We don't know everything about each other. And that's okay. We aren't to that point yet. I'm not going to dump all of my demons on you, while you're still trying to survive your own. I don't want anyone else. I don't want to be with anyone else. I don't even look at anyone else. We're friends. I'm fine with that. I don't want to be more, until you're ready to be. But if doubt for one second that I don't care about you or that you aren't worth my time, then you're wrong. I've never wanted anyone else to meet my family before, let alone my sister, after everything that she's been through. You matter. You matter so much to me. Just, please, don't go." He begged me.

I sniffled. I couldn't even hide the tears that were coating my face. I reached up and touched his shoulder. I didn't trust my voice. I didn't know what to say. How can I say no to that? How could I want to? He wrapped his arms around me and just held me. I sobbed, against him. When my tears slowed, he let go. He brushed them away, with his thumb.

"I'll stay." I promised. He nodded. He didn't move, but neither did I. He leaned down and let his lips hover mine. This was his way of asking me permission. I took a deep breath and stood taller. I touched my lips to his, before moving away. It was short and if he had blinked, he would have missed it, but it happened. It's a big step for me. "I'm terrified of losing you, Derek. I just found you. I didn't even know that things could feel this way. I never knew it was supposed to be this way. If he hurts the guy I'm falling for, it'll kill me." I whispered, determined not to cry anymore.

"What we are, what we have, he can't take this from us. We won't let him."

Dinner went surprisingly well, especially after my breakdown. Laura was nice. I felt comfortable around her. I was surprised, but I probably shouldn't be, considering she is Derek's sister. Stefan and Derek left to go pick up dessert. Caroline was bustling around the kitchen cleaning up. Laura and I had both tried to help her, but she had kicked both of us out of the kitchen.

"My brother loves you, you know." Laura told me. I looked over at her and nodded. I knew that he did. He didn't have to tell me, for it to be true.

"And I love him. I'm just not ready to tell him that yet. It would make losing him that much harder." I admitted. This was more than I thought we would ever talk about today. She hugged me to her side and we didn't talk anymore. We watched some sitcom that was on TV. We stayed like that, until the guys got back with dessert. They didn't say anything or ask any questions.

"You should stay tonight. I like having you around." Laura told me. I nodded, agreeing.

"Okay," I gave in. She smiled softly, at me.

"Anyway, I think you're good for my little brother." She kissed my cheek and left the room, leaving me alone with Derek.

"You don't have to, if you don't want to." He reminded me.

"I want to."

A/N: SO Bonnie met Laura. Sorry about taking forever and a day to update! I haven't forgotten about this story.

Reviews are always appreciated.
Xo,
Anneryn