I usually do a whole big intro before the chapter starts but I'm too tired. Lol! I don't even know how good or bad this chapter is but I needed to finish it and put it up. Just so everyone is aware that read my other stories, I am working on new chapters for both my chapter stories. Repose is not going great but I love it so I will work through it. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the vampire diaries, its characters, or concept. I only own the thoughts for my original stories.

Chapter 3

Red. There was bright red everywhere. Droplets and smears of red. The stone underneath her legs was cold and hard but she didn't notice. Light was barely making its way into the dwelling through the cracked door but the light that did touch her skin didn't burn her. Vines were taking over the room and seemed to be devouring it. The sound of sucking echoed off the walls and her lips drew the blood from the dusty colored neck. She pushed away the long dark hair so that she could get to the torn skin more easily. Once she finished the last drop she sat back and let out a contented sigh and smiled broadly as the blood dripped from her incisors.

The door of the mausoleum creaked open and a dark haired, blue eyed boy stepped in.

"What have you done, Bonnie?"

She looked down at the now dead face of her best friend and then back up to the blue eyed devil. "What I had to."

Bonnie jerked awake. She put her hand on her heart as it beat wildly in her tight chest and her eyes darted around the room in a craze. At first she wasn't sure where she was but she quickly remembered the previous night and realized she was in Damon's bed. The room was spotless, quiet, and empty besides herself. She took deep, cleansing breathes and tried to rationalize the dream she had just had. Seeing herself as a vampire had been a shock she still hadn't recovered from. Was the dream foreshadowing of things to come? Should she tell Damon? She knew she should but then she would be inclined to tell him about the rest of the dream. She would have to tell him about Elena and how in her dream she was draining her best friend alive. All of it was confusing but the most confusing part was what she said in response to Damon's question. Why did she have to kill Elena? What could be the reason for something so horrific? She decided to chalk it up as a bad dream brought on by last night's events.

She slid up in the bed and settled against the headboard. She rested there for a moment as she took in the room. The house was quiet and the room was dark because of the black-out curtains. A sliver of light lit up the bed from where the curtains were slightly parted. After a few seconds she pulled the comforter back and exited the bed. She walked into the bathroom, folded up the sleeves of Damon's black button up to her elbows, and washed and brushed her teeth. Damon kept an extra toothbrush under the sink for her. When she was done she finger combed her curls and pulled Damon's shirt fully into place so it hit her knees before exiting the room and walking down the stairs to find another person in the house.

She could hear the low beat of music coming from the kitchen. As she got closer she realized it was Kanye West's College dropout. Damon was in a simple dark green shirt and dark jeans and was pouring batter, with what looked like chocolate chips, into a waffle maker and rapping under his breath. He seemed oblivious to her so she watched him for a few seconds before entering the kitchen. It was shocking how drastically their relationship had changed. He was her safe port now.
Whenever something bad or scary happened now she instantly sought out Damon's comfort. She knew that no matter what happened he would save her. It was a new feeling…having someone care so much for her. She had always been the sidekick who was expected to save the day and now she had this big, bad vampire fighting for her every single day of her life. She was important to someone. It made her chest fill with warmth as she watched him; it didn't hurt that he wasn't too hard on the eyes. He really was gorgeous. She could admit that. He was her friend and he was beautiful just like Caroline. Her brow knotted together and she began thinking about the comment Brad had made. Why had he thought that she and Damon were more than friends or had been more than friends? Just as she was about to delve into the possible reasons, Damon spoke and pulled her out of her trance.

"How long exactly are you going to stand there staring at me? It's getting kind of creepy."

She shook her head to remove the fuzz of what she had been contemplating. "Sorry. I was thinking about something." She walked into the kitchen and sat on a stool at the island, readjusting so that his shirt covered all her parts nicely.

"Oh yeah. What about?" He removed a waffle and started pouring in batter for another.

"Nothing important. Are you actually making waffles?"

His brow rose at her comment. "You know I'm sure I can put you on my plan if you want. I'll just claim you as my child…you're certainly young enough."

Her mouth drew up tight. "What?"

"You are clearly going blind so I'm offering to put you on my insurance to get you some glasses. I'm thinking bifocals."

She laughed openly at that. "Shut up! I can see that you're making waffles, I'm just shocked that you're not making your infamous pancakes."

"Not so infamous if I keep making them, are they?"

"True." She slid of the stool and started making a cup of coffee with his Keurig. She scratched the back of her calf with her toes and selected a flavor before putting it in the Keurig. Damon leaned back from the stove and watched as her toe slid up and down her calf.

"That shirt seems a lot shorter than it did last night….."

She turned from putting sugar in her cup. "Hmmm?"

He shook his head to clear it. "Nothing. So how are you feeling?"

She shrugged a small shoulder and sat back down at the island, as she sipped her hot beverage. "I have a few scratches and a bruise on my thigh but other than that I'm fine."

Damon turned off the waffle maker and began making her plate. "I didn't mean physically."

"I'm okay, really. I'm dealing with things. I know Kai messed me up; I just need some time to become normal again. Having a crazed blood thirsty animal chasing me probably didn't help the situation."

"Maybe you need to see somebody." He placed her plate in front of her and then sat down beside her at the island.

She shook her head in the negative and began eating her waffles with gusto. "I don't need to see a shrink, Damon. I need for my life to be normal again. I need to go to class and date and live and not be worried that I'm going to die for the millionth time. That's what I need."

He reached for her hand and squeezed it lightly. "I don't know if any of that is possible. You've never been normal, Bonnie. You're from the oldest line of witches; you can't be normal but you can go to class and as far as dying goes, that's not going to happen. I won't let it."

She squeezed his hand back and continued to eat her breakfast. "I know you won't. I guess I can have both. I can save the world and be a normal girl if I really want to. I can increase my course load and start looking at grad schools. I can even start the tedious process of dating again."

"Maybe not that part….."

"You mean because of my track record with men? You're right. I mean look at Brad. I lead him to his own death. I feel so bad."

He got up and started clearing off the island. "Don't. It wasn't your fault."

"He followed me, Damon and he died because of it. I did that. He was a really nice guy…he didn't deserve to die."

"A lot of people don't deserve to die but it happens. And if I'm being honest Brad wasn't that great of a loss."

"For some reason, I don't think his parents feel that way. How can you not feel bad for him?"

He shrugged. "Death doesn't phase me like it does most people. I've seen it too much and I've caused too many of them. It sucks that he was killed but the only person I cared about when I heard that scream was you. I needed to get to you and make sure you were safe. Once I knew you were I didn't care about anyone else, especially some random human that I had just met five minutes before."

She exhaled slowly. "You have to start caring about more people than just me and Stefan. You could lose us and then what are you going to do? Just be alone?"

"Stefan's not going anywhere and I'm not ready to talk about losing you. I know I will one day but I can't think about that right now. Right now we need to focus on our current situation."

"Which would be?"

"Finding my mother and 'her family,' and then killing them all."

"How are we going to do that exactly?"

"We are not going to do anything. Stefan and I are going to search all the dark and dank spots a nest of vampires would hide until we find them. You and Caroline are going to go back to Whitmore and stay there until we call you. Now let me see how bad that bruise is on your thigh."

She turned around on her stool so he could reach her better. He dropped down on his knee and lifted the shirt to her upper thigh so he could see the damage. "I'm not some damsel in distress Damon. I can take care of myself and had been for a while before you decided I was important. Owww!" She yelled as he poked at the black and red mass on her thigh. She smacked him hard on the back.

He laughed breathlessly. "Sorry! It's not exactly beautiful but it should heal pretty nicely in a few days. Do you want me to give you some of my blood?" He looked up at her as his fingertips ghosted back and forth over her thigh.

Her jaw became slightly slack. "No…no I'll be fine."

"Is that from last night?" They both jumped and looked to the doorway where Stefan stood watching them intently.

Damon stood slowly but his hand lingered on the bruise for a few more seconds before falling away. Bonnie immediately pulled the shirt down once his hand fell away.

"Yeah. I fell and must have landed on something."

Stefan nodded slowly. "Are you going to be okay?"

Damon took her mug and walked to the sink to dump it. "She'll be fine. She needs to go change and get on the road to Whitmore though. Big test tomorrow."

Bonnie rolled her eyes and jumped off the stool. "Yes, daddy."

"Say it again." He said with a sexy smile.

She chuckled and continued to make her way upstairs.

DBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDB

Stefan stared at Damon from the doorway. Damon finished loading the dishwasher, closed the door, and then turned to Stefan with a heavy sigh. "Why are you staring at me? Is this about to be another heart to heart about blondie?"

"Damon…how close are you and Bonnie exactly?"

Damon placed his hands on his hips and stared at his brother. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I just walked in on you caressing her thigh."

Damon laughed openly. "Caressing?"

"You know what I mean. I've seen the small intimate touches, the lingering looks, and the whispered conversations. I just feel like you two are a little closer than you're admitting. Did something happen in 1994 that you want to share?"

"I'm not discussing this with you. She's my friend. My best friend and that's all she is."

"And the touches and whispered conversations that no one is allowed to hear?"

"Stefan I need you to drop this before you make me angry. What happens between Bonnie and I is our business but it's all platonic. Now get dressed so we can start looking for Mommy Dearest."

Damon walked past his brother, bumping his shoulder slightly. Stefan looked at his retreating back with a sigh. He was starting to wonder if Damon knew exactly what was happening between himself and Bonnie.

DBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDB

The library was eerily quiet which was understandable seeing that it was 1 in the morning. Bonnie had been in the same hard wooden seat for the past three hours studying for the last two fall finals she had to take the next afternoon. Her eyes had begun drooping a little over 30 minutes ago but she kept waking with a start every time. She was not going to fail this test. She was currently sporting a 4.0 and wanted to keep it. She turned yet another page and began studying the highlighted sections. Delta Rae was singing about a cold day in heaven through the headphones connected to her phone and she basically had the library all to herself.

Her phone buzzed, cutting into the song briefly. Caroline's name shown on the screen with one text message.

"Are you still at the library, Bonnie? It's almost 2 in the morning."

"I just need another hour or so and I'll be good."

"You need to stop this crazy pursuit of perfection and just live."

"You wanted perfection too. How about the party?"

"I wanted to be normal for a night not perfect. You are acing everything. Give yourself a break and come get some sleep. And tomorrow after our finals we can go out and celebrate. What do you say?"

"Club and tequila shots?"

"You know it! And I'll even be nice and invite the boys. They could probably use the break after searching for their horrible excuse of a mother for weeks."

"Ok but you don't have to invite the boys if you don't want. I wouldn't want to inconvenience you."

"I can actually hear the sarcasm in your voice! Ok so I might want to be around Stefan just a little bit but that's it. I miss our friendship and tomorrow could be a free pass."

"Just for the friendship or for something more?"

"I'm not ready to even think about that right now. I'm still getting used to being parentless, I can't add the stress of trying to fix my broken relationship with Stefan to it."

"It gets easier….."

"?"

"Being parentless…it gets easier. Ok well enough sad talk. I'm packing up my bag and coming home. Be there soon."

"Ok!"

Bonnie slipped her books into her one shoulder, mint flower printed bag, slipped her phone in her back pocket and made her way outside. Their apartment wasn't very far away so she had walked there but she was now slightly regretting her decision. It was darker now and no one was walking around the campus. She practically choked the strap of her bag when she heard a stick snap. She turned her head frantically around her but saw nothing. Her phone went off in her back pocket and she let out a small shriek before wrenching it from her pocket. She answered without looking at the name, assuming it was Caroline.

"Caroline you scared the hell out of me!"

"Who is Caroline?"

She jerked the phone from her ear and stared at it for a couple of seconds before answering. "I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong number."

"I don't believe so. This is Bonnie correct?"

"Yes….I'm sorry who is this?"

"Just a fan."

"A fan?"

"Of your magic. There aren't many witches that can do what you can. I've heard all about you and I thought it was only proper to introduce myself."

"Who is this?"

"A friend of a friend. You may know her as Lily."

Bonnie stopped dead in her tracks and started to panic slightly. She was out in the open, exposed. It was dark, late, and there was no one around.

"What do you want?"

"Like I said all I want to do is introduce myself and offer some advice."

She started walking faster, trying not to draw attention to herself. She didn't want to appear to be running in case this man, whoever he was, was watching her. "And that advice would be?"

"In the end, he will always pick the brunette."

"Excuse me?"

"I have heard about the curse that his love is under and though he saved you before does not mean he will save you again. Lily will give him his options and he will pick her. When he does, we welcome you to join us."

"I am done with this conversation."

"Very well. Then I believe it is time to meet in person." The line went dead and just as she lowered it from her ear she heard heavy footsteps coming for her. She turned and saw a man with the same yellow eyes and sharp teeth but a different build coming at her.

She began running as fast as her legs could carry her. She had a death grip on her bag and her phone and she was panting heavily. She turned and swung her arm in the air which sent him flying several feet away from her, just as she saw her building. She made it and typed in the door code frantically and managed to get inside the building just before he reached her. He slammed his hands on the door and she jumped back from the door. The door was steel and several panes of hard glass so she felt slightly safe. The overhead light had started to fade from overuse so she could only make out the shadows of his face, yellow eyes, and sharp teeth pulled into a tight grin.

She put a protection spell around the building and ran up the stairs, feeling his eyes follow her until she was out of sight. She slammed the door behind her and bolted it before dropping her bag to the floor and letting her head fall back to connect with the hard surface. Caroline came rushing out of her bedroom.

"Bonnie, oh my god, are you okay?"

Bonnie shook her head in the negative as she tried to catch her breath.

"What happened?"

"One of them chased me….." She explained in between breaths.

"One of? One of the vitches?!"

Bonnie dragged herself to the couch and fell down on it. "Yeah. He had my number, Care. He knew who I was and who Damon is and even what happened to Elena. He told me that one day Damon would have to choose between me and Elena again and that he would pick her and when he did, that they wanted me to join them. They want me to be one of them. And a part of me already knew it but I kept telling myself that I was wrong."

Caroline sat down beside her with a dumbfounded look and put a hand on Bonnie's knee. "What do you mean you already knew it? What aren't you telling us?"

Bonnie kept her eyes down and on the hand on her knee. "In the woods when it was chasing me, it seemed like it was playing with me. I don't think it was going to actually kill me. And then there was the dream I had a few weeks ago….."

"What dream?"

"I was a vampire and I was draining….."

Caroline scooted closer to her. "Draining who?"

"Elena." She whispered. "And I seemed convinced that I had to do it. I told Damon it was something I had to do."

"Damon? He knows about all this and is letting you walk around late at night by yourself? What a piece of shit!"

"He doesn't know any of this. He was in my dream and I told him it was something I had to do…killing Elena. You can't tell him about any of this, Care."

"Bonnie, his mother wants to turn you into a hybrid. I think he deserves to know."

"He's already dealing with so much. He's consumed with finding her and on top of that I don't think he's handling the loss of Elena all that well. He's been really distant for the past few weeks. I don't want to add to his stress."

"And what about your stress? Hmmm? What about the stress you're carrying from being terrified that one of those things is going to be faster than you one day?"

"I can take care of myself and if things get worse I'll let you know, ok?" She leaned in and kissed Caroline on the cheek. "Night, Care." She walked into her bedroom and shut the door behind her before Caroline could say anything. She flipped off the light and slid down the door until her butt hit the floor. She wrapped her arms around her legs and let tears fall silently down her face. Once again her life was being threatened. When was it going to stop? Would it ever stop? Sometimes she wondered if it would have been easier to have died on that cement floor back in 1994.

DBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDB

"So I'm thinking the green dress. What do you think?" Caroline turned to Bonnie and held up the dress in front of her.

"That's always been a favorite of mine so definitely."

"Good! You wear it." Caroline threw it at her and Bonnie managed to catch it before it slapped her in the face.

"It's a little too sexy for my taste….."

"That's the precise reason why you need to wear it. We'll straighten your hair and fluff it out a little and add some smoky eye. Glam you up."

"Care, this seems like a lot for a dark club that we'll be in for all of two hours."

"Look, you need this. You've been stressed out about finals which you passed with flying colors, just like I said you would. You're constantly worried about me…and Damon for some undiscernible reason. You're like a mother hen. And then on top of that you're constantly looking over your shoulder for Lily and her family. A sexy short dress and a few shots is just what the doctor ordered. Now get dressed! We're leaving in 30."

She sped out of the room and Bonnie held up the barely there dress with a look of apprehension before shrugging a small shoulder and getting up to get dressed.

DBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDB

"One, two, three, go!" Caroline yelled over the loud, booming beat of the music. Caroline and Bonnie threw back the shots and then slammed them down on the counter before shouting in triumph. They had lost count of the number of shots they had practically inhaled but they were feeling pretty good.

Bonnie grasped Caroline's hand and started pulling her through the crowd towards the bathroom. "Come on, I gotta pee!"

Caroline bobbed her head along to the beat and leaned on Bonnie as they walked into the bathroom. They both stumbled into their own stalls and relieved themselves. Bonnie sat on the seat and leaned back until her back touched the ice cold porcelain and she breathed in a cleansing breath as she stared at the flickering light full of dead bugs on the ceiling.

"Caroline?"

"Yeah?" Caroline stopped rolling the toilet paper in her hand and listened for Bonnie's response.

"I love you."

Caroline's face split into a wide, sloppy grin. "I love you too, honey."

Bonnie sighed heavily and stared hard at the bright light until she saw twinkling lights dancing in her eyes. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I'm sorry you lost your Mom, I'm sorry you lost your dad, I'm sorry you lost your chance at 18 because you died at 17…I'm sorry that life has been so bad for you but you were still expected to keep a smile on your face and suck it up while Elena was allowed to mourn any and everything. I'm sorry I wasn't always there and I'm sorry if it seems like I'm not now. I am. You are one of the most important people in my life and I don't know what I would do without you."

Someone knocked on the door of the stall that Bonnie was in and she lowered her eyes until they rested on the door. "Come out," Caroline said. Bonnie finished up and straightened her clothing before flushing the toilet and opening the door. Caroline stared at her with eyes filled with tears. "Thank you." She pulled Bonnie in for a tight hug. Bonnie rubbed her hand up and down Caroline's back as the blond cried silently into her shoulder.

"I'm sorry too. Your life hasn't exactly been a bag of rainbows. But I'm determined to make it better. You're going to have your happily ever after, Bon."

Bonnie laughed a watery little laugh and removed herself from the hug to check her makeup which was slightly runny now. She made a sound between disgust and a laugh. "I look like a mess."

"Yeah well you're not the only one. Luckily I brought my fix-it kit." Caroline pulled a little bag off the inside of her thigh that was stuck underneath her garter. Bonnie raised a judging eyebrow. "What? I don't have pockets and I hate carrying a purse."

Bonnie laughed and shook her head as she dug her hands into her hair and fluffed it out. "You are something special, Care."

"Well, you're not wrong. Now turn around so I can make you even more beautiful than you are."

Once they were done returning themselves to their former glory, Caroline started heading for the door. Bonnie waved her on. "Go ahead. I'll be right behind you."

"Ok. I'll order more shots."

Bonnie let out a heavy sigh as the door closed behind Caroline. She had been feeling out of sorts all night. She had been hiding it quite well but the truth was she felt like something bad was going to happen. And typically she wasn't wrong about those telling gut feelings. She fluffed her hair out a little more, smoothed down the stray wisps of eyebrow hair, and swiped her finger back and forth over her teeth to make herself presentable. She smiled at her appearance and then looked down at her phone when it dinged. It was a text from Caroline. It read: Boys are here. Hurry up!

"You wear green quite well, Bonnie."

Bonnie eyes shot up quickly and collided with Lily's in the mirror. She turned around slowly and faced her, as Lily lingered by the bathroom door.

"What are you doing here?"

Lily took a step towards her and Bonnie shot her hand out and shook her head no. Lily nodded and stopped in her tracks. "I came to apologize."

"For what exactly? Stabbing me in the neck, or letting out my abuser, or could it be for letting that so called family of yours treat me like their next meal?"

"I am actually sorry for all of those things but I wanted to apologize for the behavior of some of the members of my family. They got slightly excited and overreacted."

"Overreacted?! One of them ripped out a guy's throat and another one of them chased me into my building after making it known that he had basically been stalking me."

"They are not bad people. They are still learning and they have not been stalking you. I have told them many things of this world and you happen to be one of them. They are intrigued by you, Bonnie."

"Good for them. Would you excuse me?" Bonnie tried to walk around Lily but she moved swiftly, cutting off her path.

"Bonnie, I would like to offer you a spot in my family. We could use your strength and your type of loyalty." Lily plastered on a sweet smile with the added plus of patient eyes. Bonnie simple laughed in her face.

"You are joking, right? I would never join you. Because of you one of my best friends is in a coma until I die. I will never see her again. You ruined so many lives and for what? Some make-shift family you barely know? Meanwhile, your sons, one of which I am extremely close to, are suffering. I don't want anything to do with you or your family. I already have one, thank you." She brushed past Lily but stopped short when Lily spoke.

"For how long?"

Bonnie looked back at her. "What?"

"How long do you think you will have that family? From what I can infer you are not the person everyone fights for. You are the one everyone sacrifices. So, exactly, how long will they be your family? Bonnie, one day all of them will finally understand that without you around they can have Elena back and that includes Damon." She approached Bonnie and Bonnie backed up until her back touched the door. Lily stopped just shy of her and brushed hair from her face. "I know you believe that you are important to him, mostly because he chose to save you over having Elena but he will regret that decision, if he doesn't already. Tell me has he started pulling away?"

Bonnie thought about how distant Damon had been for the past few weeks and lowered her eyes.

"It's obvious that he has started to doubt his decision. He chose you and now he's realizing that, that was a mistake. That must be painful…to realize that you are not important to anyone. That you have no one but Bonnie you could have us. Because one day Damon will have the option to choose between you and her again and he will not pick you the second time. He is in love with her and you are just his confidant. A confidant is not hard to find but a soul mate only comes around once in a lifetime. You are not suited to be a soul mate. You are not the one everyone fights for. Just remember this, when Caroline and Stefan become so engrossed in each other that they don't notice you, when Matt finds his place as a warrior with a badge, and when Damon turns his back on you for the olive skinned beauty, I will be here. You know how to find me." Lily kissed Bonnie on the forehead, in the same spot that Damon always placed his lips and then walked out of the bathroom.

Bonnie's shoulders shook slightly and she brushed the tears from her face as she stared at herself in the mirror. She jumped slightly when her phone beeped once again.

"Where are you? Are you still in the bathroom? Are you getting sick? Do I need to hold your hair?"

Bonnie didn't answer Caroline. She walked out of the bathroom and disappeared into the sea of people. She stood in the middle of the dance floor surrounded by people and practically invisible and moved her body to the music. She had gone numb to the life surrounding her and though she could hear the music, she couldn't feel it. She could feel her phone vibrating in her hand but she ignored it. She needed a minute to get back to herself before she faced her friends. She didn't want to tip them off to the possibility that something could be wrong. After a few more seconds of swaying to the bass, am arm encircled her waist and pulled her into a hard chest that belonged to a stranger. She didn't turn around…she didn't want to know his face. She leaned against him and followed the lead of his body.

DBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDB

"I don't know where she is." Caroline chewed at her bottom lip with a look of nervousness on her face.

"I'm sure she's fine, Caroline." Stefan wrapped his hand around her smaller one and gave it a small squeeze. "She's probably just taking her time before coming back out."

"Yeah….." Caroline's eyes scoured the dance floor yet again, anyway.

"Found her." Damon said from his perch against the bar. It was the first thing he had said since he had entered the club 10 minutes prior. His eyes traveled up the long, exposed legs of one, Bonnie Bennett and focused on the hand of the random guy, which now rested on her thigh. She grinded her backside into his pelvis and closed her eyes as she leaned her head back and rested it on mystery guy's shoulder.

"Where?" Caroline followed the direction of the finger Damon pointed with and saw Bonnie.

"Well, I guess those shots finally caught up with her." Caroline giggled and then turned around to ask the bartender for another shot for herself.

Stefan slid closer to Damon and put his hand on his brother's shoulder before squeezing slightly to get his attention. Damon grunted in response but continued to watch Bonnie and that guy. "She seems to be having a good time."

"Yep." Damon gulped down more of his bourbon.

"Guy is a little more friendly than he should be, don't you think?"

Caroline threw back her shot and answered before Damon could say anything. "Hell no! It's probably the most action Bonnie's gotten in months. She deserves it. Ooohhh maybe I'll have to stay at boardinghouse tonight and give her some privacy."

Damon turned around and placed his glass on the bar before entering the crowd to get to Bonnie.

Stefan stared at Caroline with agitation on his face.

"What?"

"You just don't get it do you?"

Caroline shook her head and swayed a little on her heels. "Get what?"

"Nothing. You wanna dance?"

"Yes!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him out to the dancefloor.

DBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDB

Damon stopped beside the gyrating couple and tapped the boy on his shoulder. "Do you mind?"

Bonnie opened her eyes and turned her head to look at Damon before removing the clueless boy's hands. She still hadn't looked at him and didn't care to. She slipped her hands around Damon's neck and fit her body against his.

"Hi."

"Hey. Who's your friend?"

"I don't know. I didn't actually get his name. I didn't think you would come."

"Damon Salvatore never passes up the chance to drink and dance with a beautiful woman."

Bonnie chuckled and wrapped her arms around his middle before placing her ear against his chest. He lowered his head until his nose got lost in her hair and then they began to sway effortlessly together, oblivious to the song banging over the speakers. Bonnie's eyes swept over the faces of the other dancers but stopped when she spotted Damon's eyes in a female face. Lily stared back at her with a knowing smile before turning and walking out of the club. Bonnie closed her eyes and settled into Damon.

"What's going on, Bonnie?"

"I've just been thinking."

"You seem to be doing that a lot. Something I can help with?"

She looked up at him. "No. I've just been thinking about what my life would be if I had made different choices, if I had been a little more selfish."

Damon mouth turned up in a sideways smile. "I get that. I wonder that all the time."

"You do?"

"Hey, I have deeper thoughts then where my next meal is coming from. Sometimes I wonder if I would be so volatile, so damaged if I had just made one turn to the left instead of the right but there's no point."

"Why?"

"We've already made our choices. We have to live with those and hopefully make better ones in the future. Plus all my choices weren't that bad. One of those choices led to having you in my life." He twirled her away from him and then swung her back into his arms.

She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck again. "Careful, I might start to think you actually care."

"We wouldn't want that." He dipped her and she let out a childish squeal.

DBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDBDB

Caroline stopped dancing and looked up at Stefan. "I think I'm starting to get it."

Stefan nodded and they both turned to look at Bonnie and Damon as they danced. "Yeah, me too."