I'm very very sorry about the lack of updates recently. I now work is a lame excuse, but in my case it's true. Too many weeks of 60 hours = lacks in the updates. THANK YOU so much for the overwhelming incoming reviews, I am so grateful to each and everyone of you. I've received some amazing advice and I do my best to put it to good use. I will try to treat you better and update more often ;)

2003 – Mystic Falls.

The radio was blasting in the changing room, while Elana and Caroline were dancing around, giggling. Bonnie was sitting at the mirror, pulling and twisting the bun on her head. Her hair had to be exactly right. Today, the ballet class was performing a few short scenes from the Swan Lake and she was determined that every single detail was going to be perfect. Bonnie was in love with that story, the beauty and sadness of this tragedy, but she also loved the music. And since she had always loved to dance, ballet had been the perfect fit for her.

Convincing Elana to take the classes with her had been a bit tricky, but it turned out that her friend had a perfect balance and enjoyed the exercise. And then they had met Caroline Forbes and their duo had become a trio. They were the best of friends. As Caroline liked to say "We are going to rule High School one day, you'll see, we are all going to be cheerleaders, so ballet is good practice." Somehow, although different, the three of them made total sense as friends.

There had been a little drama when Bonnie was chosen to play Odette, some said that she was not a conventional choice, but none of the girls had cared. None of that mattered. What mattered was that everything had to be perfect. Who knows, maybe he would show up. She had wished for him so hard, and Grams always said that nothing was impossible, as long as you believed. She wished for her prince, pretended she was Odette and that Derek would come sweep her off her feet. (She didn't like the name Siegfried, ever since watching the animated version a few months back; she had agreed that Derek was a more suitable name for a Prince.)

She tried to convince herself that she wasn't nervous. That was a lie. She was very nervous. Dancing in the class was nothing, even performing in a small recital for the parents was not too bad, but this? Dancing in front of the whole town as part of the Founder's Day celebration? That was more than she could take. But Grams would be there and her friends were there too. She would be ok.

Elana stopped twirling long enough to her friend frown.

"Come on Bonnie, this is going to be fun. Stop being so serious all the time!"

She turned around and seeing her friends making faces at her, she giggled and joined in the twirling, even if only for a few minutes.

But soon enough, their teacher was back, telling all the girls to follow her to the stage. Bonnie straightened up and hummed under her breath the beginning of her favorite song:

"I say one, two, three
Take my hand and come with me
Because you look so fine
That I really wanna make you mine"

It always made her smile and helped her breathe. She liked to imagine her Prince coming for her. But she had to focus on the show now. She was going to be perfect, and then he would show up, just like it was all supposed to be.

Damon leaned in the shadow of a tree, daylight ring or not, he was still a vampire, and his eyes were sensitive to sunlight. Since he was in Mystic Falls and that it happened to be Founder's Day (or whatever the Council decided to call it), he might as well stay and observe. See if there was anything new and/or interesting.

Even to him, everything seemed normal. It was always a relief when there were no other vampires in town; it made it easier for him to blend in. He knew that one day he would probably have to move back here, at least for a while, while he got Katherine out of the tomb. It wouldn't do for anyone to remember him. The only exception was the Bennett witches, but he was staying clear of them. He didn't want anything to do with magic. He didn't trust it. If there was one thing Damon loved, it was to be in control. He liked to think ahead, to make sure he was always in the advantage of a situation, or person.

He looked around the happy people around him, BBQ'ing, playing games, just having fun. He was getting bored, all the speeches, from the Historical Society, the Mayor, the Sheriff blah blah blah. Then a few inspired high school students were to read some crap. He'd had enough. The last thing he needed now was to watch a bunch of toddlers dance around. He was Damon Salvatore! He had no interest and no business here.

He turned around and started to walk away. He heard the announcement, that the Beginner's Class of Ballet would next be performing a mini-recital. He didn't care, didn't slow down. Kids, toddlers, what difference really?

He had no choice but to stop when the music started though. Swan Lake. Kids or not, he did love this tale and the music. He didn't intend to stay and watch, but he could slow them and enjoy the music. The back of his hair was tingling though; he could feel eyes on him.

He sighed. When he found himself at the Mystic Falls exit against his will on the highway, he should have known he was no longer in control. A little witch had drawn him here. It was one thing to acknowledge it; he still didn't have to like it. He refused to have a witch, no matter how young and adorable she was, have any pull on him. He was going to turn around and glance at the stage, but he was going to do it on his own terms. He went back to the shade of the tree, pretending to look through the crowd. He still had that tingling feeling, he knew she wasn't fooled; she was watching him.

He was amazed that even though he was standing all the way at the very back of the crowd, as soon as he lifted his eyes, he made eye-contact with her. Beautiful little Bonnie, completely focused on her dancing, but somehow able to spot him right away. You couldn't deny the magic in this child, she was almost sparkling. Her delighted smile demanded that you smiled back. He didn't have a choice; he smiled and nodded at her in return.

While he watched her perform, with all the clumsiness of a beginner, he also noticed that her friend Elana was there too. She still reminded him of Katherine, but Bonnie was the one he couldn't take his eyes off of. She was going to be really dangerous when she grew up. He didn't join everyone else cheering and clapping when the little girls took a final bow; there were limits to what this child could make him do. He did send a small smile her way and then he left, unnoticed by anyone else. Or so he thought…..

This time around, he was going to be more careful, he was going to stay away from Mystic falls for years. This witch was dangerous. But why did danger had to be so seductive to Damon?

Thank you SO much for reading :)