A/N: Small amount of smut in this chapter!

The Scooby Doo Gang ended up deciding not to play charades. No one was really in the mood to play games while Elena and Jeremy were sulking so aggressively. Damon had also committed himself to getting very drunk. Playing a game with Drunk Damon could only end in disaster. However, Caroline had insisted that they all try to air out their grievances the following evening. She hoped that there was a way to mend their warped friendships before the roads were cleared. Caroline feared that if they left the boarding house with unresolved issues, their friendships might never recover. Everyone had agreed to her plan even if no one was particularly optimistic about the outcome.

Stefan knew that Bonnie loved Elena as if they were sisters. She was just tired of her 'sister' taking advantage of her kindness. She also wasn't thrilled that Elena had accused her of using magic to steal Stefan away from her. The major flaw in Caroline's plan was Elena's willingness to see the error in her ways. She still felt as if Bonnie had done something nefarious and unforgivable by dating him. Until Elena was willing to be reasonable there wasn't much hope for reconciliation. Bonnie had made it abundantly clear that she didn't plan to break up with Stefan just to appease her. He had more hope for Jeremy because Ric and Matt seemed to be getting through to him last night.

The vampire had been grateful when he and Bonnie finally retired to his bedroom for the evening. He had spent a couple hours watching her practice the spells that Lucy taught her. Stefan was especially impressed by her ability to construct a glamour effortlessly. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to maintain it for more than ten minutes at a time. It was easy to see that Bonnie was frustrated by this perceived failure. It didn't matter that Lucy had assured Bonnie that practicing would improve her ability to maintain the glamour for longer periods of time. Stefan distracted Bonnie from the sting of failure by challenging her to create increasingly elaborate glamours. It was easy enough to mimic a face that she already knew. However, constructing a glamour from scratch was more difficult. By the end of the night Bonnie was in a much better mood and more than a little tired from using so much magic.

Stefan could think of a million different ways he had awakened in his incredibly long life. However, none of them had been as pleasant as feeling Bonnie's soft lips around his manhood. Stefan tried to say something to her but he only ended up muttering a string of curses that were largely unintelligible. Instead, he sunk his fingers into her untamed curls and tried to keep his hips still. Unfortunately, their pleasant morning was interrupted by his phone ringing on the nightstand. Stefan ignored the first call because what Bonnie was doing was exceedingly more important than whoever was trying to disturb them.

However, the second, third, and fourth back-to-back-to-back calls were too much for them to ignore. Bonnie pulled away from Stefan and glared at him. She huffed, "Just call whoever it is back and get rid of them. Pretty please…"

Stefan groaned in frustration but said little else since all the blood from his brain had rushed south. It took a moment to gather his wits but eventually he picked up his phone with obvious reluctance. He checked his missed calls and saw that all four calls had been from Klaus. He rolled his eyes in exasperation and asked, "Do I have to? I can turn off the phone and we can get back to more interesting things."

"Who is it?" Bonnie asked curiously. She moved up the bed to peer at his phone. Bonnie looked somewhere between exasperated and amused. "I was wondering when we would hear from the big bad hybrid. I wonder what he's been up to while we have been stranded by the blizzard."

"Killing innocent werewolves and turning them into his own personal sired hybrid army," he replied sarcastically.

She collapsed beside him with a giggle. "Sounds like fun."

"It's really not," he said with months of experience for reference.

"Well, go ahead and call your boyfriend so that he will leave us alone. There is something I'd very much like to get back to doing," said Bonnie with a suggestive lick of her lips.

Stefan groaned and his eyes went black for a brief moment as he considered sinking his teeth into her neck. Instead, he pulled off Bonnie's shorts in a blink of an eye and dragged her on top of him.

Bonnie squealed in surprise at the sudden movement. She playfully exclaimed, "Stefan!"

He grinned at her reaction and suggested, "Maybe Klaus has given up for now and I can call him back later."

Just then his phone started ringing again.

She laughed at the thunderous look on Stefan's face. Bonnie commented, "He's very persistent. I wonder if he's like that in bed."

Stefan answered the phone with a growl, "What do you want, Klaus?"

Klaus chuckled heartily. "It's good to hear your voice, Stefan. How has the weather been treating you? I do hope you haven't been too bored trapped with your dull friends."

Stefan slowly repeated, " . .Klaus?"

"The same thing I have wanted for weeks, Stefan. I want my family back," he replied in a voice like steel.

"And why would I give them back to you? If you are just going to leave them daggered and stacked in the closet like luggage, they can stay right where they are. I promise that I've kept them very safe," Stefan replied in amusement.

Klaus despised anyone having the upper hand against him. Stefan's decision to steal his family was certainly a trump card. He threatened his one-time friend, "You know this will not end well for you. You're playing a game that you have no experience in playing. In the very near future, the protection our friendship once provided will wear off."

Stefan hummed in agreement, "You're right. Normally, you're the one pulling the strings. You are the one that calls all the shots in our friendship...relationship."

Bonnie bit back a smile when she realized that Stefan was about to reveal he knew the truth about their past. She could almost imagine how furious and off-kilter Klaus would be. A wicked idea surfaced in her mind, she slowly moved back down the bed and took Stefan in hand.

Klaus seemed to pause at the word relationship. However, he quickly sidestepped the land mine. There was no way that Stefan knew the truth of their past. He said, "I like to think of it as seniority. Besides, you have been known to lose control of yourself. We can hardly trust your judgment, Ripper of Monterey."

Klaus' verbal jab completely missed the mark because Stefan was distracted by Bonnie. He lifted an eyebrow at the mischievous witchpire and bit back a groan as she took him into her mouth once more. He glared at her before his eyes fell closed.

"Stefan?" Klaus asked impatiently when the line went quiet.

"I'm still here. I was just distracted for a moment. You call it seniority, I call it being a controlling boyfriend. I don't like being controlled, Klaus. I certainly didn't give you permission to compel false memories to hide what you'd rather me not know," Stefan replied as he gripped Bonnie's hair once more.

Klaus nearly stumbled over the term 'boyfriend. However, he quickly sidestepped it and replied, "You already knew that I compelled you to forget our friendship in the 20's."

Stefan snapped, "Don't lie to me. You're smarter than that, Klaus. You know that we wouldn't be having this conversation unless I remembered something more than my relationship with Rebekah. I am talking about you and me walking along the Seine. Did you dagger your beloved sister so that you could have me all to yourself?"

"That's not possible. You shouldn't...what have you done?" he asked in a strangled voice. Klaus knew of only one way for vampires to retrieve compelled memories. However, that couldn't be the case since he was very alive and he had not been daggered for any length of time.

Stefan bit his lip to keep from moaning into the phone. He said, "You should know just how much is possible when you have a powerful witch at your side. I have to tell you, Bonnie was quite motivated to get me out from under your thumb after your somewhat successful attempt on her life."

"Somewhat successful? The little witch survived...what a pity. I'll have to try again. She has meddled in something that she shouldn't have," he growled. Stefan knowing the truth completely changed the dynamics of their relationship and he didn't like it.

Stefan stopped being amused and said, "You aren't going to touch a hair on Bonnie's head. She's mine now. If anything happens to her I'll drop your family in the Marianas Trench and you will never get them back!"

Klaus went quiet again. It took a moment for him to comprehend the magnitude of what Stefan just said. Incredulously, he asked, "She's yours?"

Bonnie increased the intensity of her ministrations when Stefan threatened to drop the coffins into the Marianas Trench. Angry Stefan was incredibly attractive to her.

"There's no need to be jealous, Klaus. Bonnie has a very generous heart and she's quite willing to share me with you. In fact, you have become an interesting part of our nights together. She's very interested in learning just how soft your lips are," Stefan said with a moan.

Klaus swallowed thickly and tentatively asked, "What are you doing...right now?"

Stefan licked his lips and drawled, "Well, you interrupted what was a very pleasant morning in bed with my girlfriend. Fortunately, Bonnie has what I'd call an intrepid spirit. She decided not to let a little thing like you calling incessantly stop our fun."

Klaus' throat suddenly felt very dry. "What about Elena? I thought that you were in love with her…"

Stefan moaned louder this time as he tried to stave off his climax. He wasn't ready for it to end just yet. He said, "Circumstances conspired against us and now that relationship is a thing of the past. Bonnie is my future and I have to say the future is very bright. Do you know how rare it is for a witch to not only retain their magic after being turned but to become more powerful? I think life will be very interesting going forward."

The Original Hybrid didn't know which burning question to ask first. He wondered which vampire had turned the annoying little witch. If Stefan was her sire then he might be able to work this in his favor. However, he was also curious about what Bonnie was doing to make him moan like that. Finally, he asked, "What is she doing to you?"

Stefan almost laughed at Klaus' strangled voice. He said, "I wouldn't be much of a gentleman if I told you that. Bonnie is a lady of the highest order and she has my utmost respect."

Klaus cleared his throat but stopped short when he heard a familiar sound from Stefan. They had been together enough times for him to easily recognize what the shuddering breath meant. The hybrid found himself somewhere between jealous and curious.

He went quiet for several long minutes while he tried to recover. He said, "Well, this was a great conversation. And we should definitely continue it later but for now I have other things to do."

Bonnie squealed when he dragged her on top of him without warning again. She giggled, "Stefan!"

He pulled Bonnie up the length of his chest and rumbled, "It's only right that I return the favor. C'mere..."

"Stefan," she gasped in surprise.

"So wet for me," he murmured appreciatively.

Klaus listened to Bonnie's breathy moans in disbelief until the call abruptly ended.

Stefan and Bonnie ignored the phone when Klaus called back.

Caroline tried to ignore the anxiety that threatened to overwhelm her. Prior to last night, she could have never imagined Elena and Bonnie getting into a physical altercation. However, it had nearly happened in the boarding house's living room of all places. Caroline had no doubt that a fight would have ensued if she hadn't gotten Elena out of the house quickly. She found herself in a weird position playing peacemaker. Bonnie was usually the one to talk sense into everyone. She knew better than to expect that this time around. Bonnie had made it clear that she was done sacrificing her own happiness in favor of everyone else.

It was apparent that Stefan was integral to her happiness right now. Part of Caroline worried that this was only a temporary situation. Bonnie was still recovering from dying and being turned into a vampire. She was no longer the hedonistic baby vampire that had ripped Coach Thompson apart during her transition phase. Neither was she the person she had been before becoming a vampire. Caroline wasn't sure that Bonnie would ever become that person again. Frankly, she would be happy if Bonnie found some combination of old and new. Either way, Caroline planned to be supportive because it was what she deserved.

Caroline felt sorry for Elena in some small way. She knew that her friend had anticipated reuniting with Stefan once he turned on his humanity. She even believed that Elena truly loved him. Caroline had always been able to tell when her friends were in love. Bonnie and Elena both wore their hearts on their sleeves. Unfortunately, that meant she knew that Elena's feelings for Damon were no passing fancy. Somehow, Elena had found herself in love with both Salvatore brothers. The smart decision would be to focus on Damon while Bonnie was unwilling to give him the time of day. Instead, Elena was behaving like a selfish child who saw someone else playing with her previously discarded toy.

Last night, she had proposed airing their grievances in a group setting. However, she had more time to think about it today and decided to change course. She wasn't particularly interested in Damon and Stefan's brotherly drama. They had been butting heads for over 100 years. Eventually, they would find a way to settle their differences. Jeremy even seemed to be in a more positive place after speaking to Alaric and Matt. He seemed to understand that reuniting with Bonnie was never really an option. She might have forgiven him for cheating on her with Anna, but she would never trust him enough to date again.

Caroline's new plan was a girls walk in the woods. It would give the three friends the opportunity to speak openly and honestly. She hoped the privacy of the woods would prevent eavesdroppers or interruptions. She stood outside waiting for Bonnie and Elena to join her.

Bonnie emerged from the house first. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt that obviously belonged to Stefan. She wasn't sure if this walk in the woods would do any good. However, she was willing to try for Caroline's sake. Her bubbly friend had been supportive and hadn't even complained about having her neck snapped. "Hey, Care."

Caroline hugged her. "Thank you for agreeing to do this."

"I'm doing this for you," Bonnie emphasized.

"I know and I am grateful."

They only had to wait for a few minutes for Elena to join them. She said, "Sorry I'm late. I needed to find my coat."

The two vampires nodded in understanding. It was probably very cold for humans. Caroline said, "It's fine. We weren't waiting long. Let's go."

They started walking along a path that Caroline had scouted out herself this morning.

Elena cleared her throat and glanced uncertainly at Bonnie said, "I feel like I owe you an apology, Bon. You are one of my best friends. The three of us are sisters in all but blood. I never should have tried to hit you last night. I lost my head and I am sorry."

Bonnie was surprised that Elena apologized at all. In the spirit of reconciliation, she decided to accept the apology. "Thank you for apologizing, Elena. I accept it. I know none of this has been easy on you."

"No, it hasn't but it doesn't excuse my behavior. I am also sorry for accusing you of using magic on Stefan without his permission. No matter what changes you might be going through...I know that isn't who you are. I guess I am just having trouble trying to figure out who you are because you seem so different to me," she said with genuine confusion.

A sarcastic remark was on the tip of Bonnie's tongue but she held back. She said, "I hope you know that I am not trying to hurt you or spite you. I genuinely want to be with Stefan."

Elena tensed but decided to push forward. "That's the part I don't understand. You've never had any interest in him before."

"When would I have had the chance? Stefan set his eyes on you from the moment he arrived in Mystic Falls. It was obvious that you returned his interest. So I did what a good friend does and I didn't try to pursue him."

Caroline nodded and said, "It was the same for me. Honestly, that's how I got caught up with Damon. I was jealous that Stefan seemed so into you."

Elena looked between her two friends in shock. How had she not known that they were both interested in Stefan? She could understand their interest. He was handsome, sweet, and smart. "Oh."

They all went quiet for a few minutes as they walked.

"Can I ask what changed? Why are you with him now? You know that my feelings for him haven't changed," Elena said quietly.

Bonnie stopped walking and said, "Because Stefan makes me feel safe and I haven't felt safe since...Grams died. Magic turned me into an ignored and unappreciated servant for my so-called friends. My life has been one chaotic horror story after the next and I have carried that burden alone. I even died alone in the middle of the street like a stray dog. And it wasn't a quick death, Elena. I laid there in the freezing snow and felt my life slip away like water through my fingers. And I felt relief, because at least I would be safe now. At least I wouldn't have to fight and struggle all alone anymore. Then Grams told me that I couldn't stay with her...I had to come back. I had to come back not just because it wasn't my time to die but because I was needed to save the rest of you again. Even in death my life wasn't my own. So here I was freshly made into a thing I never wanted to be. My body was different. My mind felt like it wasn't my own. And I was supposed to trust a vampire that had nearly killed me once upon a time. It was all too much and I tried to run away but Stefan found me. He promised to take care of me and he has kept that promise. I feel safe with him, Elena. I won't give that up for anyone...not even you."

Caroline and Elena both looked horrified by Bonnie's confession.

The blonde vampire said, "I am sorry that you felt so alone and unappreciated. I guess we all got so used to you saving us that we stopped considering what it cost you."

Elena shook her head as she thought about the times Bonnie had been attacked or hurt. She considered how her friend more often than not went home to a empty house. "Why didn't you say anything, Bon? If you felt unsafe we could have tried to help protect you. You could have come stay with me and Jer."

"Or you could have stayed with me and my mom. You know how much she likes you. And I would have loved having someone to hang out with," Caroline offered.

She said, "I guess I could have told someone that I felt unsafe and unappreciated. But there was always this lingering doubt in the back of my mind that maybe no one would care. Ultimately, I decided it was better that I didn't know. If I could pretend that you all cared it was better than the alternative. Because without all of you, I would have been truly alone. You know my dad only makes it home one or two weekends a month. Anyway, dying made me decide to put myself first. I won't try to hurt anyone else but my happiness and safety comes first."

Elena said, "I am so sorry that you have suffered through so much alone. I know the right thing would be to let Stefan go but I can't do that. I love him, Bonnie."

"I understand that and I won't pretend that I speak for him. He planned to speak to you privately and I am sure he still will," Bonnie said.

Elena nodded sadly.

Suddenly, they heard Damon and Stefan's voices closer to the boarding house. It quickly became apparent that the two vampires weren't just arguing. The girls raced back to the house to see what was happening.

Bonnie's eyes widened when she saw Stefan and Damon brawling in front of the house. She had seen the brothers fight before but this felt different...more dangerous.

Elena screeched, "What are you two doing?"

Ric had his crossbow ready with with a steel stake. It wouldn't kill either vampire but it would bring the fight to an end. However, he hoped that they would stop on their own.

Matt, Jeremy, and Tyler were watching from the sidelines, too. Lucy seemed to be the only one not interested in the fight since she remained in the house.

Caroline looked at Ric and asked, "How did this even start?"

"They tried airing out their grievances and this was the result," he explained with a helpless shrug.

Elena asked, "Why aren't you more upset?!"

Bonnie shrugged, "It doesn't seem like they are trying to kill one another. They're just hitting each other. Might be just what the doctor ordered. Brothers fight, right?"

Ric conceded, "They do. That's why I haven't stopped it yet."

Damon threw a particularly vicious punch to the face that sent Stefan staggering.

Bonnie said, "Come on, Stefan. Knock him out!"

Elena and Caroline looked at her with disapproval.

She asked, "What? He's my boyfriend. I'm allowed to root for him."

Stefan picked up Damon and slammed him onto the ground.

Bonnie clapped happily.

The fight raged for a full twenty minutes before both vampires collapsed from exhaustion and injuries.

Damon laid on his back and laughed. He could feel a few broken ribs. He said, "We will call the fight a draw."

Stefan groaned in pain as he tried to sit up. "I knocked you down first. I won."

Ric said, "He broke your arm first. Sort of feels like a draw."

Stefan chuckled and said, "Fine."

Damon looked at Stefan and said, "I'm sorry, brother. I was wrong."

"Apology accepted, brother," Stefan said sincerely.

The girls looked on curiously. They didn't know what the apology was for and the brothers didn't seem as if they would be forthcoming.