Hey Guys! You still out there? I have a gift for you :-)
Please keep in mind that although I do use a lot of references to the show, this is a story entirely my own so the rules as you know them may not apply here.
Please rate and review. Offer suggestions! I love feedback.
*Disclaimer: These beautiful people do no not belong to me.
They are all scattered in various places throughout the Salvatore living room listening to Stefan recap their trip to Charlotte.
Caroline is sitting cross legged on the big red cocktail ottoman in the center of the room with Tyler beside her while Stefan paces back and forth behind them.
Damon is hovering in the rooms entryway and Bonnie can feel his eyes burning holes in the side of her head while she purposefully ignores him where she's curled up on the armchair on the other side of the room trying her damndest to pay attention to what Stefan is saying.
She'd kissed Damon last night, well technically it was early this morning but that just makes it all the more clear in her mind.
The way his breath came out in short, shuddered bursts when he started to lean toward her and then the way his breathing stopped completely when he realized she was going to let him.
The confusion and lust and…something else just barely hidden behind the mischievous glint she'd seen in his eyes before they dropped to her lips and the way he was trembling when she slid her hands up to rest on his shoulders, guiding him to her mouth.
He was soft and tentative at first. Gentle in a way she'd never expect Damon to be with her. Slow and easy like he'd been asking for permission and when she'd slid her hands up to the sides of his neck and exhaled, he'd slipped his tongue in, deepening the kiss and explored her mouth greedily. Eating at her lips and making her moan.
The ride back to Mystic Falls had been nothing short of awkward. She'd sat in the passengers seat curled in on herself and faced out her window the entire time. He'd tried once to get her to talk about it and she'd refuted by simply turning up the volume on the radio before turning her gaze pointedly back toward the passing landscape. She'd heard him exhale loudly but thankfully he didn't try push the subject anymore.
So basically she's been pretending Damon doesn't exist in the hopes that he'll just forget the whole thing. Even though it's gonna be pretty hard for her to forget it herself.
They'd kissed.
She'd kissed Damon and it was all she could think about.
She still can't stop thinking about it now.
Her eyes jump to his involuntarily and sure enough his eyes are on hers. He's leaning against the wall, arms crossed and his gaze is heated, hungry. He absently licks his lips and she almost groans with the way they glisten in the wake of his tongue.
She runs her fingers roughly through her hair and slams her eyes back in Stefan's direction.
"There's some kind of relic or talisman that he's looking for." Stefan was saying. "It was supposedly buried with his mother, Esther, and if he gets his hands on it he doesn't need the full moon or the other sacrifices in order to complete the ritual."
Caroline and Tyler both grip each other tighter, Tyler rubbing Caroline's arm gently, no doubt remembering being chained up in the Lockwood cellar awaiting their deaths.
"Now from what we can tell, he didn't find whatever it was that he was looking for, which means we still have a shot at finding Elena alive." Stefan continued.
His eyes flick to Bonnies briefly, meaningfully, before he looks to the rest of the group and Bonnie frowns.
Wonder what that was about? She thinks.
"So.." Stefan claps his hands together, glancing at everyone in the room before continuing. "Everyone clear on the plan?"
"Yes." Caroline stands and straightens her skirt. "Tyler and I will scour every book, newspaper, and journal in the Lockwood library for anything hybrid curse related that his dad might have kept hidden."
"Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised if the man had a whole secret litter of wolf babies he never told us about." Tyler says as he rolls his eyes, standing with Caroline."
She levels him with an exhausted glare but makes no comment. She knows Tyler and his father never got along when he was alive and its really no use trying to change his mind about him now.
She laces their fingers together and looks to Bonnie. "You ready, Bon?"
"Yeah, let me just…" And as she moves to stand, Stefan cuts her off.
"Um…actually…Bonnie…?" And he actually sounds nervous.
This can't be good.
She pauses midway to grabbing her bag and turns back to Stefan in time to see him glance back at Damon where he's standing near the drink cart now, glass of bourbon hanging loosely between his fingers. He and Stefan share some secret conversation that only they understand and Bonnie cringes.
This really can't be good.
"I was hoping that we…"
Damon clears his throat behind Stefan and Stefan closes his eyes briefly before rewording his sentence and continuing.
"I was hoping that I…could talk to you for a sec."
She motions for Caroline and Tyler to go ahead without her, and by the way Caroline's eyes have gone suspiciously guarded, she's in on it.
"Okay." Caroline says quietly, skepticism coloring her tone. "Text me and let me know you made it home."
Bonnie smiles warmly at her best friend as Caroline gives one last suspicious look to Stefan and Damon before tugging Tyler toward the door.
When she hears the front door close, Bonnie exhales and reclaims her seat in the armchair. "Uh…yeah. Sure. What's up?"
And though she's looking at Stefan, Damon has at least part of her attention and she notices when he quietly tops off his glass and heads out of the room toward the stairs.
Stefan has a seat on the edge of the coffee table in front of Bonnie, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees so he can look her directly in the eyes.
Stefan has the most gentle emerald green eyes and his face is so angelic that you almost forget he's one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet. It's kinda creepy in a way.
He licks his lips before he continues. "Well. As you already know, Klaus is looking for a relic…one that would help him break his hybrid curse without the sacrifices."
He pauses while she takes it in.
She nods. He continues.
"As with anything involving the supernatural, magic is involved. And when magic is involved that means witches are involved."
Stefan has never been one to beat around the bush like this when he wanted to ask her for a favor. She knows that's where this is leading. She just doesn't know why he's acting so weird about it.
"Okay…so you need me to do some kind of spell for you or something?" She questions, just trying to hurry this along because she's really tired and feels the beginnings of a headache coming on.
Also, she can freaking feel Damon listening in on her even though she can't see him.
Stefan looks down at his shoes and then glances back up at her through impossibly long lashes.
"Not…exactly…"
He stands and pulls a folded piece of paper from his back pocket before taking a half step closer to her and crouching down in front of her.
She's sure he hears her heartbeat pick up a notch because she notices his eyes grow impossibly softer like he's sad that she still gets nervous around him.
She thinks Stefan forgets that he's a vampire sometimes too.
He balances the piece of paper on her knee and patiently waits as she stares down at it.
"What is this?"
"Open it." He says and stands again, crossing his arms over his chest but not moving away.
She can feel his eyes boring into her as she slowly unfolds the wrinkled white piece of paper and when she reads the contents she lets out a small, shocked breath and looks up at Stefan, whose eyes have gone guarded and a little guilty.
"What the hell is this, Stefan?! She whispers harshly.
Written in Stefan's big block handwriting was her mothers name, Abigail Bennett, and an address in Atlanta scribbled underneath.
Now for all she knew, her mother was dead.
Her father had told her that she'd overworked herself and become so consumed by her own magic that it had killed her. Similar to what had happened to her Gram's last year.
Her dad had told her that her mothers death was the reason he hadn't wanted her to start practicing. It was why he'd always made it seem like her grandmother was spouting some crazy drunk old lady babble when she'd tell Bonnie stories about her witch ancestors as a child.
But this?
Is this some kind of joke? She thinks as she stares angrily down at the name on the paper.
Why on Earth would her father lie to her about her mother being dead? No man would do anything like that to his own daughter…would he?
She's trembling now and her slight headache has turned into a full-blown migraine. She closes her eyes and crumbles the piece of paper and lets it drop to the floor.
Using her will, the ball catches fire and burns to dust on the floor next to her bag. She hears Stefan inhale a breath he doesn't need.
Before she realizes it, she has angry tears streaming down her face as she stands from the couch so fast that Stefan has to take a full step backwards to give her some space.
"What is this, Stefan?" She asks again, her voice slightly above a whisper. Tears are still falling and she hates it.
"Okay, Bonnie…I know…just. Sit down please." He's stuttering as he motions for her to sit.
His eyes are pleading and sad and she knows he doesn't know the whole story.
He doesn't know her dad lied to her. He doesn't know how much this rips her up inside.
She's not even mad at Stefan. Well…maybe a little.
But for the most part, the balled-up emotions in her chest are geared toward her father and its probably a good thing that he's out of town…again…on a business trip because she's truly afraid of what would happen if he was in front of her right now.
Her mother is alive?…
And just like that, every ounce of energy seeps from her body and she feels herself crumbling.
Stefan is there in a flash to catch her before she hits the floor, gripping her around her waist and guiding her over to the sofa and sits down with her.
She's trying to force air into her lungs but there's not enough oxygen in here.
Distantly she hears Stefan shushing her. She can tell he's recently fed because she can feel the slight warmth bleeding through her shirt where he's got his hand on her back rubbing in gentle circles.
"Breathe, Bonnie…shhhh. Just breathe."
She forces her brain to focus on the sound of Stefan's voice and follow the direction of his words.
In…out…in…out…
"That's it…That's good." He exhales.
And she can't help noticing the relief in his tone.
He sits there quietly, waiting for her to gather herself. He's no longer rubbing her back but he's still just a touch inside her personal space. Sitting so that his knee brushes against her leg as he watches her closely. No doubt gauging her heartbeat.
She knows he'll sit there as long as it takes. The same way he had done when he'd come to her house and found her crying after her Grams had died. She will always appreciate him for that.
She and Stefan have never been friends, per se, but his compassion for others and his ability to see outside of himself and his own needs has gained him a bit of a soft spot in her heart.
"Would you like a drink?"
And he's standing by the drink cart now. Had she spaced out? She didn't even notice him get up.
"Uh. Yeah…make it a double."
He smirks.
"It has been that kinda day, yeah?" He says, doubling up on both their glasses before taking his seat next to her and hands her the glass.
She tips it to her mouth and winces as she feels the burn in her throat and all the way down to the pit of her stomach as the amber liquid settles.
She's never really been a bourbon girl but this will have to do for now.
She continues to sip until her body starts to tingle and buzz as the effects of the alcohol take over.
To say this has been a hell of a day is the understatement of the century but she's not certain there's a word to describe what she feels right now.
Her life is full of lies and secrets.
The town she calls home is full of lies and secrets.
She's sitting on the couch having a drink with one of the biggest kept secrets in Mystic Falls right now.
That almost makes her want to break out in hysterical laughter which means she's probably had enough.
She exhales and puts the glass down on the table in front of her before turning, bending one leg up on the couch so that she's facing Stefan fully.
His eyes have gone guarded again as he waits for her to speak.
She really doesn't know what to say. She's stuck between blurting everything out at once and saying nothing at all.
"Have…have you seen her?"
Stefan's shoulders relax and his face smooths out and he puts his glass on the table next to hers.
She guesses he probably thought she was gonna tear into his ass for doing this to her. Which…yeah, she kinda wants to. But it's like… number 50 on her list of Shit Storm Revelations for the day, so he's safe for now.
"Other than the photographs Caroline found online? No. I uh…I kinda figured you should know before we go digging up your relatives, you know?"
She looks down, chewing on her lip and picking at one of her fingernails.
She has pictures of her mom put away in a box under her bed.
Her father keeps a framed picture next to his bed of their wedding day.
She's always thought she looks more like her father. They both share the widows peak where their hairline dips just a little further down in the middle. The big almond shaped eyes and rounded face. The slightly crooked smile that she's always been just a little self-conscious about all came from her dad.
But her impossibly thick hair and green eyes? Those were a gift from her mother.
"And you're sure she's alive?" She says to her lap, eyes still downcast.
She hears Stefan exhale before he stands, grabbing their empty glasses and putting them on the tray underneath the drink cart.
"Well, that address in Atlanta is only two months old so yeah. It's a safe bet."
Her mother has been alive all this time and didn't even try to reach out to her.
She shakes her head and she can feel tears start to fill her eyes again. She turns to face forward, both feet dropping to the floor again and she buries her face in the palms of her hands.
Why can't she stop crying!
"Hey, hey, Bonnie."
She hears the creak and groan of the coffee table as Stefan sits on it in front of her, placing his hands on her knees.
"Look. I know you thought your mom died a long time ago…and I. I don't really know the whole story and you don't have to explain that to me if you don't want to but…I can't imagine what this feels like and I can't pretend to…I…"
He cuts himself off when she finally brushes her hands roughly across her face to get rid of the tears before dropping them to her lap and looking him in the eyes. Her face feels overheated and her eyes feel puffy but she takes a deep breath and nods.
"It's fine, Stefan. I'm fine."
She knows she just told the biggest, fattest lie ever, and so does he. His face almost crumbles but he catches himself.
"I'm sorry, Bonnie…I'm so, so sorry." His fingers tighten on her knees, fingertips pressing little dents into the denim covering her legs.
"It was incredibly selfish of me to bring this to you all because I needed a favor. I know I allow my love for Elena to overshadow almost everything…your feelings included… and I can't apologize enough for that... Just say the word and we'll find another way."
And she knows it's true. She knows Stefan acts without thinking sometimes when love is involved. Mainly because she's been on the receiving end of that thoughtlessness most of the time.
But she also knows that he will respect her wishes. If she wants him to forget he ever found her mother and never bring her up again. He'll do just that.
She also knows that if she asks him to do that, she'd be giving in to her cowardice. She'd be asking him to do that because she doesn't want to know that her mother chose not to come back to her. She wants to be able to make up some elaborate story in her mind about how her mother tried so hard every single day to make it back home but due to some impossible circumstances it couldn't be done.
She's afraid that if she knows the truth that she'll hate her mother and her father forever and then she'd be left with nothing.
She's sad.
She's afraid.
She's angry.
But she's no coward.
She's going to do this. Not for Stefan. But for her own sanity. And if it will help save her best friend on the way. Then all the more reason to see this through.
And right then and there, she makes up her mind.
"No. If this is our best lead then let's do it."
Stefan studies her. Doubt in his eyes.
"Bonnie…are you sure?"
She chuckles, sad and low. "No, actually. I'm confused and I'm terrified, and I'm angry and a mess of other emotions that I'm still struggling to sort out right now." She pauses, wipes the sleeve of her shirt over her cheek to catch another traitorous tear. "But I don't think I will be able to sort all that out without doing this."
Stefan bites his lip, squinting at her. Still unsure.
She covers his hands with her own where they're still resting on her knees.
"Stefan, I'll be fine okay? …now tell me the plan."
Back in the 10TH century Esther had become friends with a young witch named Ayana Bennett who was also known as The Healer and Esther's mentor at the time. She'd taught Esther how to use her magic and eventually Esther became one of the most powerful witches on the planet.
Ayana and Esther became so close, in fact, that she traveled with the family when they left Europe for America and settled in a little town that would eventually be known as Mystic Falls.
Their neighbors were werewolf warriors and Mikael, Esther's husband, would frequently help them in battle while Esther and Ayana stayed behind and tended to the village.
Esther grew lonely with her husband being away for such long periods of time and eventually took a liking to a young werewolf named Ansel and the two began an affair.
Apart from Esther and Ansel, Ayana was the only other person to know about Esther's infidelity and when Esther became pregnant with Ansel's child, it was Ayana who'd helped keep Esther's secret.
To keep Mikael from finding out about her transgressions, when Klaus was born Esther gave him a cursed pendant to wear around his neck to weaken him and prevent him from triggering his curse and for a time this worked.
Klaus had gotten through most of his childhood without a hitch until he and his little brother, Henrik, went sneaking through the woods one night during the full moon to watch the wolves turn.
Sadly, Henrik was killed by one of the werewolves and this sent Mikael and Esther into a panic and out of fear of losing her other children, Esther begged Ayana to turn them into indestructible beings.
Ayana, already familiar with the consequences of turning into one of these cold, undead beings, initially refused Esther. She'd tried to warn Esther and tried to make her understand that Nature would completely disown her and her family if she were to go through with this spell but Esther could not be persuaded.
And against her better judgement, Ayana completed the spell, creating the worlds first vampires.
She'd called on the power of the sun for life, the ancient white oak tree for immortality, and the power of her own blood to allow them to be reborn into this powerful new species.
The entire family, Mikael, Elijah, Klaus, and Rebekah, were all turned, apart from Esther who remained a witch.
They were stronger and faster than the wolves now but with every new strength, they were plagued with a new weakness.
The sun that granted them life would also burn them, forcing them to remain in hiding until nightfall. The vervain flower that grew at the base of the white oak tree prevented their mind compulsion, and the blood that had rebirthed them had also become the thing they'd be cursed to crave the most.
Their overwhelming bloodlust caused them to go on a murderous killing spree where they killed almost half of their werewolf neighbors.
This effectively started the lifelong feud between werewolves and vampires.
But not only that, upon Klaus making his first human kill, his werewolf curse was triggered, revealing his mothers secret.
Mikael grew so enraged at his wifes betrayal that he forced Ayana to suppress Klaus' werewolf gene by using a powerful binding spell and the blood of a Petrova Doppelganger to bind his wolf powers to a moonstone. Mikael then killed Ayana and Esther and whisked them off to bury them and the moonstone in a place where his bastard son would never find them.
Klaus and his siblings left their village shortly after that and from then on, Klaus had been trying to find a way to break the curse binding his wolf side so that he would be strong enough to hunt his father down and kill him to avenge his mothers death.
Eventually, Klaus got his hands on a spell similar to the one Ayana had bound him with over four centuries ago and then through manipulation and murder and six more centuries, he was able to procure the reversal spell to match.
Roughly, the spell translates to:
God of the immortal
God of the beast
The sacrifice of both and so shall it be
Two become one, it is what they have made
As the hybrid is born, humanity shall fade.
So naturally, when he'd caught wind of Elena, the next Petrova doppelganger to be born after Katherine Pierce, all bets were off and now they're all knee deep in supernatural drama.
Not only does everything supernatural tie back to witches…but it seems that it ties back to Bennett witches, specifically. Bonnie isn't surprised to find out that her ancestral line has been slave to vampires since the beginning of time.
Maybe it's some sort of Bennett family curse. She should really look into that.
"So how does my mother tie into all of this?"
"Well, as far as we knew, you were the only Bennett witch left of your line until we talked to the connect in Charlotte and he let slip that it was a Bennett witch who had helped Klaus' mother spell the relic that bound Klaus' curse. On a hunch, Caroline and I did some digging and found your mother."
So now Caroline's suspicious eyebrows make sense.
"We were hoping that with your mother's help…and yours, of course, if you're willing." Stefan continues. "Maybe we can find the moonstone and destroy it before Klaus can get his hands on it."
If they destroy the moonstone, Klaus will have to wait until the next full moon to perform his original spell and that will at least give them another 30 days to find a way to kill him.
"Well…how do you know my mom is willing to help? Apparently, she doesn't even give a crap about me, and I'm her daughter. What makes you think she gives a crap about a bunch of supernatural strangers?" She tries for careless sarcasm but fails miserably.
Stefan exhales and eyes Bonnie knowingly, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
"Bonnie. I know this hurts and I know you're trying to put on a brave face but for once. Be selfish. You deserve to be selfish."
He's standing at the drink cart pouring his third?...fourth drink, taking a sip before turning back to face her.
"None of us will hold it against you if you tell us all to go to hell."
She rolls her eyes and stands from the couch, making her way over to him. "Believe me, I have a few…choice…words for all of you…" She plucks the glass tumbler from his fingers and finishes his drink for him before handing the glass back. "…but I'll get to that after we get my best friend back."
He smirks, looking down at the empty glass before placing it on the drink cart and grabs her wrist, tugging her into a hug, rocking her back and forth.
"Bonnie Bennett...we don't deserve you."
She smiles against his neck, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. "Damn right."
She hears him chuckle before he leans back to catch her eyes. "Thank you."
Her answering smile makes his eyes soften. "Let's get you home, yeah?"
When they pull up to her house she sees Damon casually sprawled out on her porch swing. Eyes still closed like he hadn't heard them coming from miles away. Her heartbeat stutters.
"You okay? Stefan asks, ducking to peer at his brother from Bonnie's passenger side. "Want me to drag him back home?"
"I'll be fine." She says, still not looking at him so he can't see the lie in her eyes.
He snorts and she turns to glare at him.
"Your heartbeat is telling a different story."
She groans. "Ugh, I really hate that you guys do that."
"Gift and a curse." He shrugs.
She looks back over to Damon who still hasn't moved an inch. "But really though. I'll be fine."
"Your call."
She moves to take her seatbelt off and pops the door open. "Thanks for the ride."
He smiles. "Have a good night, Bonnie." He glances at his brother again. "Tell my brother not to forget he has a curfew."
She chuckles and gets out of the car. He gives her a wink before he pulls away from the curb.
After Stefan's headlights disappear around the corner she exhales and tells her heart to calm the hell down before she heads up to the porch.
She pauses when she reaches the landing and just stares while he still has his eyes closed.
He's dressed in a black t-shirt, stretched tight across his chest and loosening at the bottom where his waist tapers. He's got one arm resting behind his head so the shirt has risen just enough to expose a slither of smooth pale skin near the waistband of his black jeans which were definitely tailored just for him because they leave nothing to the imagination.
She bites her bottom lip.
He's got on his favorite pair of black leather boots, crossed at the ankles where he's lying down flat on his back looking like a contradiction against her purple and pink flowered porch swing, swaying lightly under his weight.
"The view is even better over here." He drawls, smirking when she startles at the sound of his voice.
He's finally opened his eyes and he's looking into her with an intensity that is entirely Damon.
"How long have you been here?" She tries to sound irritated to hide the embarrassment of being caught ogling him…again.
"I left right before Stefan revealed the big news." He does that thing with is eyes that has always made him seem slightly off kilter. "Figured I didn't wanna be around when you leveled the Boarding House."
His eyes rake her body slowly, possessively, and she shivers.
"But seeing as my brother is still undead…things didn't go the way I expected them to." He pauses and squints at her. "You okay?"
"I'm fine, Damon. I just want to go inside and…" She's already digging her keys from her bag.
"Hold on, Bonnie, wait." He sits up, dropping one foot to the ground to stop the swing from moving. "What's the rush?"
She concentrates on the keys fumbling in her fingers. "Huh? No. Nothing."
Jesus, Bonnie. She rolls her eyes inwardly. Exhales and looks at Damon.
"There's no rush, Damon. I'm just tired. That's all."
He tilts his head, lips pulling down slightly at the corners. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were avoiding me."
"Well you do know better so you know that's not true."
"Good." He blinds her with a sudden, bright smile. Patting the space he'd made on the swing when he dropped his foot to the ground. "Have a seat. Let's catch up."
She hesitates. All she wants is a bath and a bed but if she denies him then she'll be proving him right. Yeah, she is avoiding him.
She eyes him from under her lashes and he's chewing on his bottom lip, masking a devious grin and tapping his long fingers slowly against the soft cushion.
She exhales, dropping her keys back into her bag and makes her way over to him.
She catalogs the way his eyes grow darker as the space between them dwindles and when she's standing directly in front of him, dropping her bag at his foot before taking a seat in the space he'd made for her, she notices he's got a white knuckled grip on the back of the chair.
She's staring out at the night before her and twiddling her fingers in her lap, thankful for the curtain of hair that has fallen over her shoulder, blocking him from view.
"Hmmmm…" he hums low in his throat. "So I was right…" and she can hear the smile in his voice though she still refuses to look at him. "You are being an avoidy avoider."
She rolls her eyes. He is such an idiot.
"Damon…"
"So we kissed, Bon?" He cuts her off. "Get over the shock of it already so we can do it again."
And he's practically whining.
Her eyes snap to his, the pure shock of his words making her forget her "no eye contact" rule.
"What?" She whispers.
His eyes drop to her lips and he licks his own.
"Damon…look…" and she waits until his eyes meet hers before continuing. "I know that what happened that night was one of those stupid almost death bed things that people tend to do because they don't think they'll have another chance to do it.
He tilts his head. Eyebrows crumpling, humor fading from his eyes and being replaced with confusion and barely restrained…anger?
"Seriously, Damon. Let's just forget it happened, okay?
His mouth is parted slightly and he's looking at her like she's the biggest moron on the planet and she's just done with this whole night.
She bends down and scoops her bag off the ground. "Goodnight Damon."
Before she can get too far he finds his voice again. "Bonnie, wait."
He jumps up from the swing and wraps one hand around her wrist and turns her before she reaches the door and she jerks her arm from his grip like he'd burned her. She steps back and runs rough fingers through her hair.
"Bonnie, what is this? Huh? Did I cross a line or something? Because I gave you plenty of time to stop me if you didn't want it."
She cuts her hand though the air, begging him to just…shut up.
"Damon, please. I just. I can't deal with this right now, okay?"
Damon scoffs. Shakes his head.
"You know what? I really don't get you. You laugh in the face of any monster, ghost, or ghoul thrown your way. You have a solution to every problem." He pauses. "But when it comes to your love life you shrivel up like a scared kitten."
"My love life? Damon...we shared one kiss. There is nothing to talk about."
"Well maybe you didn't have anything to say." He says jamming a finger in her direction. "But did you ever think that maybe I did?"
Well…no… she didn't, actually.
She exhales. "Okay, fine. What do you have to say?"
He steps back into her personal bubble, crowding her and searching her eyes.
"Look. I meant what I said Bonnie. What you did for me is something I've never had before. I've had more people risk their lives to try and kill me than to try and save me." He chuckles, soft and sad. "But you…" and he searches her face, committing it to memory. "…despite everything I've done…you did that for me."
He steps impossibly closer to her, placing his palms on either side of her face. His long fingers slide into the hair at the back of her head and she shivers.
"Maybe your intentions with me were self-serving. Maybe it was something else entirely. But whatever it may be…I'm alive right now because of you."
His eyes keep dropping to her mouth and her breath is hitching in her throat.
"I know I've done nothing to deserve this, I mean. I…I don't deserve you"
That's the second time a Salvatore has said that to her tonight. She's gonna get spoiled.
"Just…stop running away from me. Stop avoiding me. Give me a chance to earn your friendship."
"Friendship?" Bonnie repeats skeptically.
Damon drops his hands from her face, his humor returned as he smirks.
"Well…I was hoping for a few benefits as well" He says, waggling his eyebrows.
She can't help the small surprised laugh that escapes her. "You're such a pig."
"Naturally." He smiles. "Now come on, Bennett…" He grabs her hand, laces his fingers with her own and guides her back to the swing. "…tell me about your day."
He reclaims his seat, mirroring the position he had earlier and pulling her down to sit between his legs, her back to his chest.
She's stiff and tense against him and he runs his hands up and down her arms slowly. "Come on. Relax, Bon. Just a couple of buds hangin' out." He whispers against the shell of her ear.
She bites her lip against a grin. "Yeah…that's exactly what this feels like." But she relaxes against him anyway, allowing her back to relax against his chest as she leans her head against his shoulder.
"See. It's a lot easier when you stop fighting it." He says, still caressing her arms with his fingertips.
She snorts but stays quiet, closing her eyes and allowing herself to enjoy the warm night air. The firmness of his chest against her. His cool breath brushing against the sensitive part of her neck. The feel of goosebumps prickling on her arms where his fingers leave burning cold trails.
"I was against the whole thing, you know?" He says low against her ear.
She hums in question.
"The whole…digging up dead beat mom thing."
She exhales heavy. "Damon…"
"I know, I know…you don't wanna talk about it." He says. "But I know a little something about Abandoned Child syndrome myself." He exhales and chuckles. "Being brother to Saint Stefan will drive a man crazy."
"Yeah right." She turns her head so that her forehead is pressed against his cool throat making her shiver. "You're no angel."
"Hey!" Then he pauses. "Okay fine…but I could be."
"Yeah…maybe…" She says quietly. Her breath is coming out slower now, even, and he can tell she's minutes from drooling on his John Varvatos t-shirt.
He almost wants to just keep her here on the porch.
Although it's only been a few hours since he's been able to be this close to her, touch her…it feels like ages.
He should have known she would freak out after the kiss. He can't deny that he'd even freaked just a little bit after. He hadn't even planned it. He had just been sitting there in bed, watching her stir up his life saving concoction and couldn't help the wave of affection that had fallen over him.
She'd been exhausted and frustrated but she never stopped.
And then she'd sat down on the bed next to him and handed him the rest of his life in a plastic motel cup and his fingertips brushed against hers as he grabbed the cup from her and a rush of desire hit him like a train.
She smelled like cinnamon and honey and…and sex because they hadn't showered since he'd pinned her against Ric's living room wall and he'd wanted nothing more in that moment than to live and then it hit him.
What if he hadn't lived? He'd gotten a whiff of her heat and he'd tasted her blood and he was greedy. He wanted to taste her lips too.
And so he did.
And she'd let him
And he wanted more.
He looked down at her and she's snoring lightly, head tipped away from him now so that the long line of her neck is visible to him now.
He drops his nose to the crook of her neck and just inhales and she moans low from the throws of sleep.
He's so fucked…