Elements of an Ill-fated Romance
Alternate Chapter Five: What if...
{This comes as a stand alone piece that will not tie into the rest of the story as it is strictly a 'what if' scenario of what might have happened had Damon made his presence known at the wedding. Babyshan21 and Starshipper I hope you enjoy! Let me know what you guys think as I love feedback!}
PS: It's a bit long... not what I anticipated but what came from the inner workings of an overactive imagination!
Playlist: Belle of the Boulevard by: Dashboard Confessional & How it Feels to Fly by: Alicia Keys {During the dance}
The Wedding...
After the ceremony the guests are ushered outside, seated and given hors d'oeuvres to tide them over until the bridal party is done with pictures. That was almost twenty minutes ago. As she moved to the rear of the church taking post beneath a stained glass window of the Virgin Mary she tried to ignore the ache in her feet from being in heels for the last forty-five minutes. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other all the while listening to the soft melodic chords of a piano playing on the other side of the oak doors. She looked back towards the newlywed couple as the bride's giggles echo throughout the church and realize this may still take a while. Instead she turned her attention back to the window, trying to make out the figures outside. Round tables covered with ivory lace linens are lined up beneath cream colored silk canopies. She can see kids running from table to table no doubt some of her own relatives grabbing the small chocolate treats that have been set out for the guests. There are Aunts and uncles she hasn't seen since her Grams' funeral…
…her father over by the bar…typical
…and there's Damon chatting up her Aunt Josephine and…
Wait!
What?
"What the hell?" She blinked once… twice because she just knows that her eyes must be deceiving her. But he's still there drink in hand, leaning intimately close to her Aunt Jo!
She didn't hesitate as she slipped out the front doors and made her way down the marble stone steps and out into the reception area. She ignores the curious glances that obviously know she shouldn't be out of the church and makes a beeline for the dark-haired, blue-eyed intruder looking as if he's going to devour her father's sister.
As she nears she can hear the older woman give off a peel of flirtatious laughter and can see Damon looking over her shoulder throwing her a wink as he continues the conversation. She stopped as her Aunt turned to her and Damon gestures to her with his free hand. "There she is now. I just knew that if I stayed here long enough she would come and find me." He remarked easily. His blue eyes dance with mischief at the sight of her bewilderment.
"What… what's going on?" She asked looking from her Aunt's flushed face to Damon's devious one.
"I was just filling in Aunt Josephine on who I really am."
"Who you really are?" She repeats trying to ignore the way he says "Aunt Josephine". He nods.
"Really Bon-Bon how long did you think you could keep this a secret?" The woman asks.
"Yes Bon-Bon; really?" He mockingly admonishes with a nod of disapproval.
Her eyes dart back and forth between the two. "I'm not sure what you mean."
"Did you really think we wouldn't find out?"
Her mouth opens... closes… opens again but no words are formed. "Huh?"
"I think you've left her speechless." Damon smirks and there is a tense moment between them that completely goes over her Aunt's head before the older woman finally speaks.
"Speechless; ha! This girl doesn't know the meaning of the word!" Turning her eyes to her niece she smiled. "Why didn't you tell the family that you had a boyfriend?"
"I… uh… what?" Her eyes shot back to Damon's and she glared because she's not sure what game he's playing. "A boyfriend?"
"I figured since I was coming to meet the family it would be a good idea to tell the truth about our relationship." He remarked coming to stand beside her. Slipping an arm around her waist with an ease that defies logic he smiled.
"Yes, Damon was just telling me how you've been seeing one another in secret for the past couple of months. Now you know I don't like to tell people how to run their lives," She began in that condescending way that obviously stated otherwise, "…but I have to tell you that keeping this young man a secret is just wrong. And taking separate cars because your father doesn't know about him...that's just childish!" She reprimanded lightly.
She furrowed her brow. "We what?…"
"Well yes that and because I had to work late of course" Damon spoke up. "… So I said that I would meet you here and we could tell him together. Isn't that right Bon-Bon?" He squeezed her lightly at the wait and the mirth in his voice was bordering on sickening.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were seeing someone?"
"I'm not!" She fired back instantly causing the woman to eye her strangely and Damon's brow to rise in amusement.
"What I mean is… what I'm saying is…" Why couldn't she find the words and why was he grinning at her like that?
"She's still nervous about telling her father." He remarked in a stage whisper as though it were some damn secret and she tried very hard not to roll her eyes.
"Yes… well we know how your father can be… stubborn as the day is long. Well I'll leave you to it but please make sure to bring him by my table after you talk to your father." She smiled widely as her eyes landed on Damon. Reaching out she gently patted his cheek affectionately. "You are too handsome for words!" She remarked and then bustled off back to her table to fill in the ogling onlookers that made up part of her family.
"I think she likes me."
Stepping out of his hold she eyed him with suspicion. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Shrugging absently he took a long sip of what she assumed must be champagne as he glanced lazily around. "I was in the neighborhood."
Nodding but not believing him for a moment she crossed her arms over her chest and stared him down. "You were in the neighborhood; We're over sixty miles out of Mystic Falls."
"Okay I'm busted... I'm a wedding crasher! Born and raised; I just can't help myself. It started around nineteen seventy-two and it's been an unbreakable habit ever since."
"Do you think this is funny? Coming here, chatting up my Aunt, posing as my boyfriend; I mean really does that amuse you?" She asked truly offended by what he'd done.
"Oh trust me you could do a lot worst in the boyfriend department... you're definitely dealing with some slim pickings if I do say so myself. I mean did you see that guy sporting that polyester 80's jacket?" He asked indignantly
"Damon; I'm serious." She cut in. She exhaled deeply before speaking seriously. "I don't want you here... around my family, where you might arbitrarily decide to try and make one of my cousins a mid-afternoon snack!"
He looked down at her and stared for a moment before rolling his eyes and turning away from her slightly to scan the crowd. "I'm not here to feed... well maybe on some of those hors d'eouvres... but you're family is safe."
She scoffed in indignation. "You expect me to take you at your word?"
"That's all I've got right now... I left my bible at home." He shot back flippantly.
Again there is a moment of silence that is filled with tension until he meets her eyes. "Look if I wanted to feed I would have done it already. Obviously I'm not here to munch on your stupid relatives so get off your damn high horse and relax!"
"Then why are you here; and spare me the whole 'being in the neighborhood' BS!"
He's silent… as if holding out… holding back. "You know you're kind of cute when you're being all demanding!" He smirked.
She rolled her eyes.
"Forget it… Just leave before I decide to make you leave." She warned beginning to make the walk back to the church when his arm shoots out, falling across the front of her waist to stop her in her tracks. His fingers slightly curl around her side and he looks down into her eyes.
"I came to watch you… I wanted to see how you did." He states and the way his words come forth almost as if they hurt to say she realizes that he's telling the truth.
She stepped back slightly putting a small gap between his arm and her torso. "You came… to watch me dance?" Her brow furrowed with suspicion and perhaps just a little amusement.
It was his turn to roll his eyes at the slight smile that came to her lips. "I just wanted to make sure you didn't fuck it up. There are a lot of people out here and you know one wrong move and it could be another collision course for you again. How is your ankle by the way?"
"Asshole!" She mumbled softly. Exhaling a deep breath she stood beside him leaning into the refreshment table with the backs of her palms. Glancing to the side she gave him the once over and noticed for the first time that he dressed up. The black on black suit fits as if it were made for him. Accented with a dark navy blue tie that brings out the color in his eyes; His dark tousled locks shine in the bright sunlight against his pale flawless skin. "Well don't you clean up nice?" She notes.
He shrugged slightly as though indifferent to her observation but there is a slight curve in his lips that shows his appreciation. "I try." He replied allowing his eyes to take her in. His peruses her slowly, taking in the contours of the strapless dress. The way the material falls on her body reminds him momentarily of water cascading over rocks. The royal purple sets off the green in her eyes and enhances the richness of her skin tone. And he can't help but think that purple is definitely Bonnie's color.{Picture of Bonnie's dress:
/bmz_.}
He doesn't bother to voice his observation simply admires with silence before steering the conversation into another direction. "Better than the guy in the 80's ensemble?" He asked pointing to her far left.
She laughs slightly as she spots the older gentleman by an ivory pillar until something else catches her eye. "Or what about that woman; what is that exactly… pink chiffon?"
"I think it might be taffeta."
"How do you even know what taffeta is?" She asked because it's just too strange… the whole scenario is a bit strange if she allowed herself to stop and think about it. Hanging out at her cousin's wedding with a homicidal vampire is not one of the things she ever thought might happen today… but here they were.
"I lived through the eighties remember? Taffeta had its time… thankfully that time is over and done with." He remarked even as he scans the crowd. His eyes widening as he finds their next target. "Oh wait… this guy takes the cake right here… dead ahead with the thick black rimmed glasses and high-top fade." He chuckled darkly.
She looked up at his description and groaned. "Oh no…" She remarked ducking her head slightly.
"What; you know that guy?"
"Yeah… his name is Snoop."
"Snoop; what kind of stupid name is that?" He's never been one to hold punches… and he's not about to start now.
She rolled her eyes. "His real name is Sam; it's a nickname from when we were little that sort of just stuck."
"Kind of like Bon-Bon?" He asked with amusement.
"Yeah; You need to stop using that by the way. That's reserved for family only!" She warned.
"I'll think about it." He stated derisively clearly not meaning it. "So tell me more about Snoopy!"
She exhaled. "He's my second cousin removed or something… and he's my waltz partner." Running a hand down her face she groaned when she realized she'd been spotted and the man in question was making a beeline straight for them.
"What's wrong with him; I mean other than the dumbass name?"
Her shoulders rise and fall uncomfortably. "He's just a little… grabby… that's all." She sighed.
"You know I could put a stop to that for you." He offered.
"Could you?" She asked hopefully before coming to her senses. "Wait; what am I saying… I can't have you tinkering around in my cousin's mind! God you're such a bad influence on me." She remarked with slight shake of her head.
Before he can reply Sam is there looking at the other man as though Damon is every bit the intruder that he actually is. "Bonnie, I've been looking everywhere for you! You know we aren't supposed to leave the church until after the dance." He reprimanded.
"I had to uh… get some air. I was on my way back inside so…" She replied already taking a few steps away from Damon.
"So who's your friend?" Sam asked meeting the man's eyes boldly.
"No one… He's my plus one." She replied evasively and annoyed. "We should go." She tried again without success.
"I didn't know we were allowed to have a plus one." He stated throwing a look to Damon before turning back to her.
Damon sipped his champagne remaining silent not bothering to offer an introduction and there is an amusement dancing in his eyes as he continues to stare at her cousin before laughing softly. "What?" The boy asked looking to Damon feeling his inscrutable stare. "Is something funny?" He steps in his direction, obviously looking for a fight that he's no doubt bound to lose.
The vampire cocked his head to one side and smirked but made no move to back up or move forward. "You really want to do some dirty things to her don't you?" He asked instead.
"I'm sorry." Sam looks to him confused.
"Wow… bondage and everything!" He chuckled darkly reading the young man's thoughts without shame. Turning to Bonnie he shook his head. "You better watch yourself Bon-Bon…"
"What is he talking about?" Sam asked but there is a redness to his dark brown cheeks that can't be denied and it makes Bonnie cringe.
"Stop it!" She warned Damon.
"I'm just being honest." He replied with a shrug.
"Honest about what?" The boy asked clenching his hands in what can only be seen as a pre-tantrum.
"Honest about all the nasty things you want to do your cousin you sick freak!" Andin the blink of an eye Damon is in the young man's personal space.
"I… you… I don't know…" He stuttered, swallowing hard as he looked from Bonnie to Damon and then back to Bonnie retreating back ever so slightly.
And suddenly there is a charge in the air that makes the hair on her neck stand on end. Something is about to happen… something bad. The lazy playfulness in Damon's eyes has vanished. And the way he's watching Sam is almost predatory. She swallowed hard.
"Okay that's enough!" Coming to stand between the two men she pushed slightly on her cousin because she realizes that he will actually budge and moves him back a few steps. Turning to him she catches his attention with a slight snap of her fingers. "Go inside…I'm right behind you." She encouraged him with another slight push and he didn't hesitate as he turned and hurried away.
"Chicken-shit!" Damon stated darkly watching with distaste as the younger man fled the scene back to the church.
Exhaling a breath she didn't realize she was holding she turned back to Damon. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"Nothing as perverted as that guy I can tell you that!"
"What if he goes back and tells someone?" She questioned truly concerned but for whom she wasn't willing to acknowledge.
"What's he going to say; that you're 'plus one' is psychic? Please! He's more freaked out by what I said... and he should be… you should be! There's something not right about that guy."
There was a moment of silence as she stared at him before shaking her head. "That's almost funny coming from you!"
"Hey… I don't have thoughts of me and Stefan running around the boarding house covered in whipped cream." He remarked revealing just a little of what he had seen.
She shuddered at the imagery. "I have to go… and you're going to stand right here and try very hard not to cause trouble, right?" His answer was a slight shrug. She exhaled a frustrated breath before turning away from him. She got only a step before whirling back and grabbing the champagne glass from his fingertips. She swallowed it one smooth gulp, handed it back to him and shook off the slight buzz that raced through her body. "Let's get this over with." She remarked mainly to herself as made her way towards the church. And if she had bothered to turn back… even once she would have seen that Damon was no longer there.
Meanwhile…
He waited until her back was turned before moving with speed well beyond human capabilities to the church. He found his intended target heading to the restroom, no doubt to relieve himself before pissing his pants in fear. The distaste for her relative just kept growing. Following him inside he waited silently, because sometimes… just sometimes… patience paid off.
Turning from the urinal the young man stopped in his tracks at the sight before him and the look of utter fear makes the waiting all worth it. Damon leaned against the door, arms folded lazily across his chest, smirk upon his lips. "Snoop…we meet again." He remarked noting the way the young man shivered slightly.
"You're not supposed to be in here."
"Are we really going to talk about all the things we aren't supposed to be doing?" He asked pushing himself off the door. His steps are slow, like predator stalking prey. "I mean I'm not sure you're supposed to be thinking of Bonnie in her skivvies on her hands and knees but you're doing it." He plaintively remarked.
Sam blinked once and suddenly Damon was in his face. "I'm not…"
"Oh Snoop!" He whispered putting just the slightest emphasis on his nickname. "You wouldn't lie to me would you? I mean it's just the two of us here… two guys… shooting the breeze… right?"
"I have to get back…" He stuttered softly finding it hard to look at Damon but unable to look away.
Damon nodded condescendingly. "Right… right…" Taking a large step aside he motioned for him to pass. "Don't let me keep you."
Sam hesitated only for a moment as if he didn't trust him and Damon smiled because really… he shouldn't. But he gives a nod toward the exit as if granting permission and Sam doesn't need any further encouragement making it as far as the door, hand wrapped around the brass knob when he feels the rush of wind at his back. And then there's a searing pain as his head hits the wooden door with such force that he's sure his skull must be cracked and then all is dark.
Damon stands over him, staring down at the lifeless body if only for a moment before exhaling a tired sigh and bending down to check if he has a pulse; because he's pretty sure Bonnie wouldn't be too happy if he killed her cousin… pervert or not. When he feels the steady beat of blood running through his vein he stands and straightens his clothing. "Well you're not dead… but you're going to have a nasty headache when you wake up. Not a bad price to pay you sick bastard!" He muttered just barely stepping over his body and exiting the bathroom.
Meanwhile…
She stood in line watching the rest of the bridal party take their positions but Sam was nowhere in sight. Turning to stare behind her, she exhaled a deep breath. And then the double front doors were opening and the sun is almost blinding as it falls into the church. Raising a palm to shield her eyes she feels a hand wrap around her fingers and begin to lead her out. And it's not until they are actually outside where her eyes have adjusted to the light that she turned to her partner and stopped cold.
"Where's Sam?"
"Oh you mean Snoopy; he got a headache. He had to sit this one out." Damon remarked beginning to lead her down the steps. One hand behind his back the other holds her by the fingertips and he looks every bit the gentleman that he is not.
She furrowed her brow.
"Damon…"
"I didn't do anything." They stop in the courtyard and turn to one another. Still keeping up the pretense he bows to her. She doesn't move. He realizes that she's waiting and it makes him quirk an eyebrow. "I didn't kill him… I promise."
She blinked once finding reassurance in those two little words. It doesn't make sense and she's not even sure why she believes him… but she does.
Her curtsy is slower than the others but it comes and it is every bit as smooth as if she had done it all her life. The first chords of the piano are struck, and she is jolted ever so slightly as if they are bell chimes waking her from sleep. Stepping into her space, he raised his arms just like he did in the Salvatore library and she followed suit.
His arm encircled her at the waist and comes to rest at her back. His fingers are cool against her flesh and she can't help the shiver that passes through her body when she looks up and he's staring down into her eyes. There's an intensity that's so overpowering that it practically knocks her off her feet. Swallowing hard as he intertwines his other hand with hers, she moves her head back ever so slightly and it causes her body to arch into his.
He smiles.
And then they are moving.
Her heart beats rapidly against her ribcage and she can barely catch her breath. His scent fills her senses. It's a mixture of aftershave, cologne and something all new to her… and she realizes in an instant that it's Damon… his scent… all male…all him. She tries to focus on anything but the way it invades her train of thought. She makes a gallant attempt to count the steps in her head instead.
"Stop thinking so much." He whispers softly and she looks up to see him smirking at her. The hand at her back pushes just a little and brings her closer. "I've got you…" He promises. "Just let go."
And she does…
Bodies pressed together at the waist, fingers intertwined, breaths mingling with each step; it's like sensory overload. She feels absolutely weightless in his embrace and she wonders if it is the same for him. His stare is intense but unreadable.
His eyes move from hers to her lips and back again. And she's almost certain that he's thinking about kissing her… she can almost hear his thoughts… or maybe their her own… who the hell knows anymore? She's not even certain she would stop him if he tried. And none of this makes sense… and somewhere in the back of her mind there is a voice telling her that it doesn't have to. Something quietly urging her to simply go with the moment…enjoy it… and ask questions later.
To simply act without thought…do whatever you want… live in the moment… and suffer the consequences later…
Perhaps that's what it's like to be with Damon Salvatore… it's as tempting as it is frightening… much like him.
And she thinks maybe this is what it feels like to fly.
That maybe... just maybe... to be Damon... is to be free to fly...
How do you give that up?
And before she knows it the dance is over and they are turning to bow...returning to the ground from their phantasmal flight. He holds her by the fingertips as she lifts from her knelt position and brushes his lips across her knuckles never once breaking eye contact. They are cool against her heated flesh and it sends a shiver right to her very core and for just a brief insane moment she feels an urge to reach for him... wrap her arms around him and beg for him to take her away... to fly. Instead she is silent and swallows hard as he leads her off to the side. The newlywed couple take center. They watch them for a moment.
Looking over at him ventured a smile that never quite reached her eyes. "Not bad huh?" She asked needing to slow the rapid beating of her heart.
"By far… better than the rest." He whispered never taking his eyes off the couple. "Lucky for you I'm a great teacher!"
Laughing softly she turns to him about to comment when there is a slight commotion coming from the church.
"Someone come quick; Someone's passed out in the men's room!" Came the call from the top of the stairs. "Angie I think it might be your boy." And suddenly there were quite a few people making their way up the steps weaving through the bridal party.
"Angie's boy… but that's Sam." She acknowledged turning to Damon for answers. The space beside her is now vacant… as though he had never been there… but his scent lingers in the air. Running a hand down the front of her face tiredly she exhales a deep breath and begins making her way up to the church with the rest of the spectators.
"At least he didn't kill him."