A/N: Wow! I truly apologize. I didn't realize it had been over a year since I updated this story. I got super busy and had no time to write. Also, I kind of lost my inspiration for writing this story. I have rewatched many Bamon season 6 clips to give me some inspiration. It definitely gave me hope for a real Bamon friendship. Hopefully, that will be enough to conclude this story satisfactorily.
As always, I do not own the characters. They are the property of L.J. Smith and the CW.
Chapter 17
"You can't hear them, you know?" Stefan nudged his brother as he stood beside him.
"Whatever are you talking about?" Damon shrugged.
"You're desperately trying to hear Bonnie, the new love of your life and Elena, the old love of your life arguing over you."
"New love of my life versus old love of my life? Please, Stefan, don't be so dramatic. Besides, how do you even know what's going on between me and Bonnie?"
Choosing to ignore his insulting tone, Stefan answered, "I am not your keeper Damon, but, word does travel…especially if you're a vampire with vampire hearing…living in the same house where people were making out."
"Whatever," Damon scoffed. "Vampire Barbie told you. She probably couldn't wait to tell you."
"Even if she did tell me, I still know. We should talk about what's going on instead of you desperately trying to overhear an argument about you."
"Please. I am not desperate."
"Are you sure?" Stefan asked. He couldn't help but notice Damon's ears perk up when he heard a sound, but quickly dismissed it as a bird chirping in a nearby tree.
"Maybe I'm a little curious."
"Why don't we have a drink and you can tell me what's going on with you and Bonnie?"
Turning to face his brother, Damon was almost amused by his brother's simple distraction techniques. Although, he really wanted to know what Bonnie and Elena were saying to each other, he knew that he truly wouldn't be able to hear anything from his porch nor would Bonnie appreciate his spying on them. And he truly did not want to piss Bonnie off. Well, at least, not right this minute ,he amended silently.
"Bourbon, little brother?" Damon queried as he walked in the house and toward the decanter.
"Sure, Damon."
Picking up two glasses, Damon poured a drink for himself and one for his brother. "Anything in particular you want to know?"
"I thought you and her could barely be in the same room together without you angering her and ending up clutching your head in pain. Then for the sake of the group, you were going to learn to tolerate each other. Maybe even become friends."
"I was trying to become her friend. I hardly ever threaten her anymore. But, you know how women get around me. What starts as friends…sometimes, becomes more. And now I can definitely say we are more." Damon answered while handing a drink to Stefan and sitting on the couch.
"More than friends?" Stefan inquired.
"You already seem to know the answer."
"I want to hear it from you."
"Maybe I don't want to answer you."
"Damon," Stefan hedged. He wanted to tread lightly. He knew how unpredictable Damon could be when he was being stubborn. "Bonnie is my friend. She is also Elena's and Caroline's best friend. She's a good person and will grow to be a strong witch. She's not someone who's going to take your relationship lightly."
"I didn't realize you were training to be the next Dr. Phil."
"I'm being serious Damon."
"Yeah, I can tell. You have your serious brooding face on instead of the slightly less serious and brooding face."
Stefan rose to leave. There was no point in talking to Damon, he was going to do what he wanted. Stefan just hoped the collateral damage would not spill out over the town.
"I like her, okay?" Damon whispered to his brother's retreating back.
"And does she like you?" Stefan turned to face his brother. Maybe he wanted to talk after all.
"She says she does. She acts like she does."
"But you're not sure?"
"I have been wrong in the past. But, it doesn't feel the same. It's different with Bonnie. It's like she understands me."
"I thought Elena understood you?" Stefan could've kicked himself for that last statement when Damon's eyes snapped up to meet his and they were filled with rage and resentment. Arms raised in silent surrender, Stefan quickly added, "I'm just trying to understand this situation."
Releasing a breath, Damon continued, "I can't really describe it. Elena accepted me for who I am. She saw something special in me. I was always better around her because I wanted her for myself. I was never that way with Bonnie. She got all of my anger over Katherine. In truth, she was always a means to an end. Someone necessary to keep Elena safe. And yet, she made me be a better person. Not for her, but for everyone else. And when I finally saw her for her, she liked me. All of me."
"That simple, huh?" Stefan concluded.
"It's as simple and as complicated as that."
"Where does that leave you and Elena?"
"Honestly," Damon began staring at his brother, wanting him to understand the truth, "Just friends."
"And you're okay with being just friends with Elena."
"I just said that." Damon remarked, irritated that his brother didn't believe him.
"I just want to be sure. I know Bonnie can take care of herself, but I worry."
"Part of being Saint Stefan, I guess."
"Guess so." Stefan agreed ruefully.
A/N: I know this is not a long chapter. But, I wanted to post a little something to say that I do plan to finish this story. I truly love the Damon and Stefan friendship and brother bond. I hope they continue to show that love between them. I know a lot of people were disappointed about the talk between Elena and Bonnie. I think I was channeling my dislike of confrontations. But, I also believe that Bonnie never said anything about how she was feeling to Elena. Everyone always took the consequences of Elena's decisions with a shrug. At least that was my impression of the situation. Also, I don't want to write an Elena bashing story. I may dislike her character, but Nina did an amazing job playing her. That being said, I do plan on re-writing their discussion at the end. This time with Bonnie being a little more opinionated.
