Best Friend

Pt 3 A Momma's Love

R-T (Thank you all for the reviews, follows, and favorites. Please enjoy this chapter)

Bonnie stumbled downs stairs late in the morning. After Dylan's bout of crying the day before, Bonnie fell asleep, putting him to sleep late in the afternoon and when she woke up, it was 2 am and everyone was asleep, so she warmed herself up a plate of leftovers and watched re-runs of I Love Lucy on TV Land for a few hours. By the time she went to bed and woke up the next day, Dylan was out of the bed and she looked over at the clock next the picture of her and Damon.

"11:59 am? Momma!" She stumbled out of bed and wandered down the stairs. "Momma!"

She yelled out and no one answered. She checked her phone and had a couple of messages. Ginny- farmers market with your mom, thought you needed the sleep:) then she saw another text from her mother. The one from her mother made her laugh because her mother was a terrible texter, on account she texts full sentences in the third person tense. Momma - Good morning sunshine. Momma has Dimitri and is going to be taking him to the farmer's market. She is also taking Ginny so that you can rest. She loves you. Bonnie rolled her eyes at her mom, calling Dylan Dimitri again, but had to laugh at her persistence. Bonnie rubbed her eyes and saw a note on the fridge. Leftovers in microwave. She opened the microwave and a plate wrapped in tinfoil sat there. She pulled it out and it was a plate with three big, fluffy, buttermilk pancakes. She did what she always did, after she warmed her hot cakes up. She took a tablespoon of butter, put it in a cup and microwaved it then poured it into her pancakes then after, she globed a heap of syrup onto the pancakes. She sat alone at the table of the festively decorated kitchen. Nothing like her kitchen back home.

California and Virginia were different. Her kitchen in California, was very modernized and contemporary with everything having come from target. Her mother's kitchen, was filled with things she'd had since Bonnie was young. She never got rid of things. The house in general was decorated, slightly tacky, slightly patriotic, and slightly, homey. She loved it. Everything her father brought her and her mom from overseas or other states. Pictures of them hanging up from every place she and her mother had visited him. But the kitchen, was so old fashioned, and Bonnie remembered how they ate in it every night, sitting around the tablet as a family. On Sunday's, Damon and his brother came over for Sunday dinners with them.

8 years ago

"Miss. Sheila, Miss Abby, this looks darn good. Thank you for havin' us over again. With G workin' on Sunday's now, it makes it harder for us to eat with him. He don't get home 'til late most days."

"You boys know, you are always welcome here. Not just Sunday's." Sheila said. She had a soft spot for them, because they were always gentlemen. They looked out for Bonnie, and they were all in all, good boys.

"So, what's new with work Damon? You like the factory?" Abby asked.

"Not really. I mean it's decent pay, but the labor messes with my back. Just last week I had to lift a two-hundred-pound package, without a back brace. I just about pulled something."

"Damon, why haven't you requested a back brace?" Bonnie bickered. "They are your place of work, they should provide that for you, with all of that strenuous lifting."

Stefan chimed in. "You know he's pig-headed, and stubborn. He won't ask nobody for nothin.', I think he gets that from pop." Damon didn't say anything. He just kept helping to set the table.

Bonnie looked at him. "I know, you know, he's right. You keep on Damon. One of these days, you gonna really get yourself hurt. I feel sorry for your future wife. She's gonna be adopting your ailments. Twenty-one years old with the problems of a fifty-year-old." She and Stefan laughed as he glared at her.

"You're one to talk. Your husband gonna deal with the fact that you can't even make corn bread, and you burn eggs." She stopped laughing causing both Abby and Sheila started to laugh.

"Yeah, well while that may be true, I can learn to cook. You can't just undo stubborn." She scowled at him and he walked up to her tapped her nose with his finger.

"Man, Birdie. It's easy to get you riled up. I mean... You just can't take a joke. Besides, your corn bread ain't that bad. But, I sure can help you with them eggs. I mean, even I don't burn eggs." She hit him on his shoulder while he laughed it off. "It's all love though. You know I love you. More than food." His remark made Sheila smile, and it made Abby squint her eyes at him. She always suspected something more between the two, but they sure wouldn't allude to anything. She watched them closely though. Damon was an older boy, and he had slight influence over her little girl. Bonnie was in fact, very influenced by her best friend. His opinion meant more to her than anybody else's. "Besides, your future husband is gonna have too go through me anyway. Screw the food. I'll be his problem." He said with a serious face, but by this point Bonnie was ignoring him. She was tired of him scaring all of the boys away from her. Abby, however, appreciated that Bonnie had Damon for that's. If she could she'd lock Bonnie away forever.

"So, Damon, when G comes home, what does he eat?" Abby asked.

"Umm, he tends to make a sandwich or he'll bring somethin' home from the 24-hour diner."

"Well, uh, why don't you take him a plate. I'll set one aside for him. Matter-of-fact, I'll just make him a plate for all the late nights he works. You boys feel free to come eat with us and take your daddy a plate, ya hear?"

"Yes ma'am." They spoke simultaneously.

"Alright, whose gone say grace?" Sheila's famous question every Sunday made the youngsters freeze with fear, and she always picked one randomly.

"Stefan, please do the honors."

"Sure thang Miss Sheila." They all sat down and gathered hands. Damon grabbed Bonnie's hand and squeezed it, making her laugh. Sheila looked up and shushed them. But still, Bonnie retaliated by kicking him and making him grunt silently to avoid Sheila's glare. She didn't mess around during prayers, and grace. Stefan softly spoke, as the other two teens tried to remain respectfully quiet, yet continuously played. "Heavenly father, we thank you for this food, may it nourish our bodies and souls. And thank you for friends, and family, and the abundance of love we have between us. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen."

"Amen." The table said all together.

They all sat down and Bonnie walked around the table pouring everyone's drinks. Everyone drank sweet tea, except she and Damon who loved to drink Sheila's homemade lemonade.

Bonnie sat across from Damon when she was finished, where her feet locked with the rest of dinner. They played footsies like nobody's business then just kept their feet locked sometimes.

After a while of eating, Sheila thought to find out more about Bonnie's prom plans. "So, Bonnie we were thinking, you have a date for prom, but does he have a car?"

She stopped chewing to think and Damon stopped eating, waiting for an answer, while Stefan inhaled a second plate of food by he time they got to prom talk.

"He has a car."

"His family is loaded, I hear." Stefan said.

"Wait, I thought you were going to prom with Jeremy Gilbert."

"No. He asked two girls, like an idiot. Thinking one of us would say no. So, when I found out about Anna, I just decided to say no."

"Who told you about Anna?" Stefan asked.

"The school talks, apparently, he and her are a couple, but nobody knew it. He kept her a secret."

"So he made you the other woman? Jackass!" Damon said.

"Language, Damon."

"Sorry Miss Sheila. That knuckle head ought to know better though." He looked to Bonnie, "Hey, you're better off. So, who are you going with?" He asked before taking a drink of lemonade.

"Kol Mikaelson." Her answer forced Damon to spit out his drink to the side luckily, so no one got spit on.

"Oh my gosh Miss Sheila I'm so sorry. I'll clean it up." He cleaned with his napkin and Abby got up to help him.

"Damon, everything okay? You reacted quick to that." Abby said.

"Yeah, I mean, Kol Mikaelson is older. He's my age. I'm surprised you guys have agreed to that, is all."

"He is older, but his brother, is my boss. He's a good man, and I've met his siblings a few times. They seem respectable and nice, and one day Bonnie was at work with me after cheer practice, and she and Kol got to talkin' and he asked her if he could escort her."

He looked at Bonnie in shock. Bonnie smirked, rolling her eyes at Damon

"To answer your question, he has a car grams."

Damon ate silently for the rest of supper and when everyone just about finished, he and Bonnie decided to tackle the dishes. Abby went upstairs and drew a bath, she'd had a long week and Sheila, was quickly showered and to bed. Stefan left to take a plate home to G, who got home a couple of hours earlier than expected.

"So, when were you gone tell me?" He asked disappointed in her omission.

"Tell you what?"

"Bout Kol Mikaelson. You know exactly what."

"I'm surprised his sister and ain't old you. I mean, ain't she your girlfriend, Damon?"

"What? Who told you that?" He said letting the dish in his hand fall back into the water.

"Really? So, it's true? Wow. Well, you know Damon, you hypocrite. I just think friends shouldn't expect more than they give. You ain't told me bout you and Rebekah. I had to hear from a boy a barely know."

"Yet, you're letting him take you to prom?"

"I mean, I didn't think it mattered to you anyway." She kept drying dishes and he still stood next to her glaring.

He yanked her little body to his, "It always matters Bonbon."

"It doesn't though. You know you don't have to pretend to keep caring about me. The little knuckle head next door, okay. I'm grown up now, I can take care of myself."

"No you can't. You can't make an egg."

"You can't make a sandwich."

"I'm a man, that's what my wife will be for."

"And that, Damon Salvatore, is why you and your pig-headed ways will always be alone." He was face to face with her. Well, he towered her, but he always got these intense stare downs with the pint-sized young woman.

"I can't believe you. He's a pretty boy. Who flaunts his money around like it's the thing to do."

"So what, and Rebekah is a spoiled brat. Yet you manage to find your trousers unbuttoned in her bedroom."

"WHAT?"

"Yeah, well, Kol and I have been hanging out. One day he picked me up from school to bring me home, and he told me you were at his house, visiting his sister. The trouser part I just figured, knowing your style. You're probably already having sex with her."

"Birdie, it's not what you think, she and I-"

"Who cares what I think. I'm just the kid that hangs out with the two neighbor boys. No biggie. It's not like I need to know the dirty details of your relationships."

"She and I haven't had sex." He told her trying to be convincing. But she clapped back.

"Yet."

"Maybe I should go home." He said to her when he realized she was done giving him any eye contact the rest of the night.

"I think, that's a good idea." She took over washing dishes and pushed him out of her way.

... Present Day ...

Bonnie finished half of her stack of pancakes an hour ago, and just sat here letting her food digest while she reflected on their relationship, and then realized she had to quit thinking about Damon. She went upstairs and threw her running clothes on. She put her cordless headphones on her head and started her running playlist, putting the phone in her arm band, locking it, and leaving it in there for the duration of her run.

Her California residency was reflected in today's run. She had on a bright neon yellow sports bra and some teeny tiny shorts. Her bright shoes were some other odd multi-neon color and she had her hair in a ponytail. Bonnie used to keep her hair long, growing it like her mother and grandmother, but moving to LA forced her to fall into trendy fads and she was rocking shoulder length hair with waves and she preferred it over the long hair. Not to mention, it helped with the humidity in her hometown. It wasn't hard to spot her running the long open, gravely roads. In fact, everyone who drove by her nearly crashed watching her.

She not only had an amazing body, but when she looked so determined and focused. She stopped at a small park and started to stretch in the middle of her run. To keep her joints loose. And then a perfect stranger walks up to her tapping her shoulder.

"Ahh." She jumped.

"Bonnie? Bonnie Bennett?" Her eyes lit up.

"Kol!" She smiled and wrapped her arms around him. "What are you doing in town. I thought you were getting ready to play professional baseball. How is mystic falls being graced with your presence?"

"Oh gosh, not the pros. I played college. I graduated, went to a single A team near LA for the Dodgers, which is when I ran into you, I was there a while and moved to Oklahoma to a AA for about six months and quickly to AAA for the Oklahoma City, Dodgers. Then I had a horrible rookie year with my old injury acting up. I decided to work the management side instead. I love the sport, but I love my body more. I just like being behind the scenes. I still get to practice with some of my favorite players but once I messed my knee up, I decided to stop. Cowardly, right?"

"Not at all. Some of these guys retire with the most damage I've ever seen. I mean, I know this because I'm a physical therapist in LA. I Work with all types of athletes, collegiate and pros and I gotta say, it's an ugly life on the body. But... Fulfilling. I'm surprised you quit."

"I know right. It's kind of the reason you and I stopped dating. I think."

"Uhh, yeah, partially. But I don't regret it. We had some fun Kol."

"Yeah. As soon as your best friend was out of the picture, we had a lot of fun."

They looked at one another in a flirty way. She blushed, like old times. "So uh, you never answered my question. I've seen you around LA, what brings you to Mystic Falls?"

He looked at her in shock, as if she didn't know. She took out her water bottle, from her small, athletic back pack. "Princess, I'm here for the same reason you are. The family dinner this weekend." She still looked confused, "Your mother and my brother's wedding."

"Pft." Bonnie spit her water all over Kol. "Oh my gosh I'm so sorry. Kol." She proceeded to wipe him off.

"Wow. Okay." He laughed. "Uhh, I forgive you, because I realize, you had no idea. Your mother never told you?"

"No, I mean, it's been what? A couple of months?"

"No. They've been seeing each other the past year, quietly. You know the town talks. They seem happy. Besides, they've been friends for years. I'm just shocked you didn't know. He's the one who paid for Sheila's funeral."

"My mom has money. Why would he do that?"

"Sheila was a pastor at the church. He helped organize the car wash and he told Abby whatever the car wash made he'd match it and double for the service. Your mom shouldn't have had to pay to bury her mother. That woman was a pillar of the community. We all took part."

"I mean, I remember doing the car wash, and I remember your brother being very active but, I had no idea they were together."

"They weren't together then. They were friends still. I think it brought them even closer though. Listen, your mother, is the best thing that's happened to my brother. I've never seen him so happy."

"Yeah, same with her. Well, I came home and was supposed to be meeting Mr. Perfect this weekend. Thanks for telling me." She put her head bands back in her ears. He could read the irritation in her body language now.

"Uh, I know it seems lazy, me driving by in my car and getting out and stopping you, but if you're up for it, I'd love to get some runs in with you, call me sometime. I'll be in town until Monday."

"Of course, Kol. I'll be in touch." She said hugging him. He still smelled delicious, like expensive cologne. "Gosh I'm all sweaty, sorry."

"It's okay, your sweat never bothered me." He winked with an insinuative notion and headed back to his car, making her bite her lip. She was on her way back home, because Abby was about to hear an earful. She jogged another thirty minutes before arriving back to her mom's porch to see her sitting playing with Dylan.

Bonnie just looked with her arms crossed, and Abby rolled her eyes. "What now? You have that, Momma how could you? Face."

"Yes. momma, how could you not tell me that you are getting married to your boyfriend of a year, Nik Mikaelson?"

"How did you find out?"

"I ran into Kol. You know, my Ex and all. Who's here for the same reason. The guy I keep in contact with once in a while. How could you not have expected me to find out?"

"You said you rarely come across Kol in LA, and when you do, you guys are in business professional settings."

"Yes, but God knows it would eventually come up. Momma, he's younger than you."

"So what. Seven years, big deal. He knows what he wants. I know what I want, and we want it with each other. You should be happy for me, Bonnie. I'm happy."

"I'm happy for you momma, but... You know..." She hesitated with her thoughts and hurt feelings. "It's wrong to keep me in the dark. I need to shower and get myself ready. I told Ginny I would take her and Dylan to the mall today and get something to wear for this dinner on Saturday." She kissed her son on the forehead and proceeded into the house.

"Okay. I had a good morning and afternoon by the way. Thanks for asking." Abby said as Bonnie walked back in the house and up the stairs. "Hope you enjoyed sleeping in. You're welcome, by the way." She sighed. "Kids." She exhaled, picking up Dylan. "One day Dimitri, when your old enough to give your momma the hell she gave me, she's gonna say, momma you were right.' That'll be the day, that being a mom will all be worth the hair pulling, and it'll all make sense, nana's lil man." She knew it would be hard for Bonnie to watch her move on. No matter how much Bonnie spoke of her mother moving on, she knew, when it happened, it would be hard on her. Let alone, with a man like Nikklaus Mikaelson.

She was so lost in her thought sitting on the porch she didn't realize when her neighbor walked up. "Did I hear Bonnie, right? You're getting married? Wow, how could you not tell me, after everything?" The man looked broken hearted.

"Giuseppe? Um, I-"

"Owe me an explanation. Yes, you do." How was she going to explain to the love of her life, that she was marrying, another man, whom she also loved with all her heart. "Come on sweetness, let's go for a drive."

"Bonnie's leaving in about an hour. Can you come back? She shouldn't see us together."

"Yea. I'll be back after she's gone." She tilted her head at him and felt incredible guilt. Giuseppe expressed hurt on his face and headed back for his house, all the while inside of the Bennett household, Ginny stood in the hallway near the door accidentally hearing the whole thing, shocked at everything that just happened. She didn't realize who Giuseppe was, but she realized he was a man that Abby seemed to have feelings for, that wasn't her fiancé.

.X.

Bonnie was watching Ginny put on a fashion show. They just got back from the mall, and Ginny wanted to try on outfits for Thursday night. Bonnie told her she'd take her line dancing, and they'd be able to have a girl's night, just the two of them. Ginny was too excited to wait, so she began trying on her new clothes.

"Ginny, that skirt will get you more than attention. You must want free drinks too."

"The plan, is to find a cute country boy to flirt with the all night, and maybe exchange numbers with. Someone to hang out with over the next month." She said winking. "Dylan is actually going I be babysat on Thursday. I almost can't believe it." Ginny said kneeling down to play with him while he played with toys.

"Yeah. I'm looking forward to some free time. My mom really wants to spend time with Dylan, so... I guess I need to eat it up while I can. Once I'm back in Cali. It'll be all work and no play again."

"Not really, huh widdo man?" Ginny spoke in a baby voice to Dylan. "Auntie Ginny is going to have some free time in the off season so, mommy and daddy can go on dates."

"Ahh, it's not that simple. I can't just leave him, he's temperamental. I'd hate to stick you with dealing with what my mom dealt with yesterday."

"It's a good thing I'm your best friend, and that's what I'm here for. Remember when you were pregnant, the day I met you?"

"Ugh, yes. Don't remind me. I was going off on someone for stealing my parking space, and they called me a fat balloon and you..."

"I punched him in the face. No one talks to a pregnant woman like that, after they wrongfully steal her parking space." She laughed as did Bonnie. "So, if I met you while you were pregnant, and hanging out with you in your grumpiest stage in life, I'm sure I can handle taking care of my God son. Alone." She looked at the baby. "Because I love you. Titi GiGi loves her widdo man." She kissed him. "Okay cutie pie, titi needs to go find a cute pair of panties."

"For what?"

"I mean, all of my panties are cute, but you know... Just in case." Bonnie looked at Ginny with a stiff face. "Just kidding. Girl! Remind me to get some tequila in you. We need Bonnie fun fun Thursday night."

"What's your obsession with Bonnie fun fun? Huh?"

"That girl can partay." She giggled at a rolling eye Bonnie and headed to her guest room.

Bonnie grabbed Dylan and hugged him. "Mommy is going to miss you. So much. I'll stay home if you want me too, on Thursday."

She gave him an Eskimo kiss and he giggled. "Nana." He said whining.

"How did that lady get you spoiled on her already? Is it those millions of hugs, and raspberries she gives? Huh?" Her tone changed to a playful one as she laid her son on his back and pulled his shirt up. "Baby boy want a raspberry? Huh? You want mommy to blow on your belly like this... Pppllllllp. Ppppllllllllp." She blew on his stomach and his contagious laughter spread to her and she started tickling him like crazy.

"Momma, top it. Top it momma." He said trying to stop her and she peppered him with more kisses than he could handle.

She sighed and took a deep breath. "Ahh, Demitri Dylan, what will I do with you?" At that point her head bumped he dresser and the picture of she and Damon fell onto her head. She looked at it, hating herself at the moment. Her son, and his bright blue eyes and dark hair looked at her and she smiled, then she looked at the picture of the first blue-eyed man with dark hair she loved.

"God forgive me. I am not perfect. But everything I do is for him." She said referring to Dylan. "All I can do, is make sure, I don't let him down. He doesn't deserve to be hurt, and neither do I." Tears fell down her cheeks. "I know, my daddy is listening. Daddy, I know you don't understand me, and why I'm doing what I'm doing. But it is for Dylan. It's always been, for Dylan. He deserves two parents, who want to be present and around and love him, and love each other. Not like you and momma, who were never living in the same house. I love you daddy, but you weren't there when I needed you. I can't put Dylan through that. I won't." A knock on her door, as her mother entered.

"Baby, what's going on?"

"Nothing. Just talking to daddy is all."

"You alright though? Is this about Dylan?" She leaned down to wipe her tears, and Dylan sat between the two women.

"I'm good. Just needed to get some things off my chest. I'm okay. And yes, everything is about Dylan, I just want to do what's right by him, ya know?"

"As his momma, you're gonna feel this need to protect him, from everybody. Even his father at times. This need to keep him from hurting, because that is how we are as mothers, just naturally protective. And no, you won't always make the right decision, but you will try to make the best decisions. Sometimes we don't know what's right, right away. But I promise, it'll come to you, and it'll make sense. Just open your heart, and allow yourself to see things not justify from a mother's point of view, baby, but from the future Dylan's point of view."

"I can't make a mistake. I can't when it comes to him. He's young enough now, to where I can make things better for him, and we won't have to deal with pain later." Abby put her hand on Bonnie's back and rubbed her back gently.

"Bonnie, I think you coming home, will help you. Just open up, okay. It will come to you."

Bonnie shook her head trying to figure herself out, but to no avail, tonight wasn't the night to think so hard. "I'm gonna give Dylan a bath now. Was that G, that I saw earlier? How's he?"

"He's good. You know Lily came back couple years ago. She keeps him busy as heck." Abby laughed.

"Yeah, she's crazy."

"Yeah." Abby rolled her eyes at Lily's mention. "Anyway, just came to check on you. I'm heading to bed. I have an early day tomorrow. You and Ginny feel free to use the car. Nik is picking me up. We are going to check in some things for the wedding." Abby kissed Bonnie's head.

"Gosh, hearing you say his name like that, and knowing you two are together... It just... It's weird that's all."

"Well, better you know now. So, Saturday isn't such a blow."

"Okay, momma. You know, you and I have come along way, since my teen years."

"Well, when Dylan becomes a daddy, he'll appreciate you more. He'll have more compassion for the decisions you make, that are going to drive him crazy. Because let me tell you, he's cute now, 'til he turns twelve, and you will be the one thing between him and freedom and he's going to rebel. And you gonna be calling, crying to who?"

"My momma." Bonnie spat out lazily, smiling.

"That's right, your momma. And your momma will never turn her back on you or this little boy, you hear me?"

"Yes momma. I love you."

"I love you too baby. Nite. Make sure your dry that babies head thoroughly so he don't catch a cold after that bath." Bonnie laughed at her old-fashioned mom.

"Will do momma. Nite." Bonnie smiled as her mother left her to her motherly devices. She sighed looking at her son, whose face, reminded her of everything that was once unshaken in her world.

Excerpt from Pt 4:

"Why wait til next week?" He said making her pause in her motions. His hand wrapped itself around her bare stomach and she trembled, because he touched her in a way that sent chills up her spine. He let his fingers crawl to her belly button, and he clutched her skin in his fist, scratching her gently, and she exhaled, like she was stuck in a memory of them. Ginny was really enjoying watching Bonnie feeling uneasy between two gorgeous men. Wondering what all she needed to learn about her best friend and all these southern boys. At the same time, she had to have Bonnie's back so she intervened.

"Hey, are all southern boys so touchy feely?" Ginny asked as she watched Damon's possessive grasp on Bonnie. Damon looked up and smirked.

A/N- slowly things are being uncovered about Bonnie and even Abby. As you know this story takes place in present day and over eight years of flashbacks. Which when you see how things are now, you may not get answers right away, because some of them will come over time in flashbacks. But as you can see, Bonnie is being protective of Dylan for some reason, and Abby has obviously changed, from when Bonnie was younger. It'll come up why as the story goes on. But obviously, their relationship has gotten better over the years. Baylee will come back up in the story again, because it's important to the way Bonnie is with Dylan. Ginny and Bonnie's development will come up as well. This story is filled with secrets, and every emotion. From sad to angry, to happy. Hoping your liking development as well as the excerpts from up and coming chapters. Drop a thought if you can. Thanks for reading:)

Ps. thanks for the note on the name correction last chapter ElevatedJewel :)

Kat's name was definitely a mistake, I changed the characters so I could add another WOC into the story. Kat will make her way into the story at some point.