Best Friend
Pt 8 - BAYLEE
R- M
(OMG OMG OMG! I JUST REALIZED THIS IS AN UDETTITED CHAPTER. I MUST HAVE TRASHED MY EDITTED ONE BY MISTAKE! WITH THAT SAID I APOLOGIZE FOR ERRORS AS I HAVE NOTICED QUITE A FEW... SHIT! I WILL LEAVE THIS ONE UP SINCE I ALREADY POSTED IT. PLEASE BE GENTLE)
* So this chapter is kind of long, because its all about BAYLEE! Another thing, the last chapter there was some discrepancies with my time line and her pregnancy. IT was supposed to be Sixteen weeks/four months. Not ten weeks/Two months. When I changed it originally, i started with two months, but that was a mistake. Because basic training for infantry is about sixteen weeks long. SO it was my mistake. the correct time line was sixteen weeks/four months. My apologies. Its been corrected. As has this chapter. I really hope you enjoy this emotional chapter about Baylee. This chapter is part of what leads to Bamon's downfall.
Thank you for following, favoring, and supporting me. Please Enjoy this chapter.
...Present Time...
"So, the cocky one with the gorgeous grin is your ex?" Ginny asked staring at Kol.
"Yes. He's cocky, but he's actually, really nice. Um, he means a lot to me. He was here for me through some tough times." Bonnie said.
"Okay, and the sister is Rebekah, who used to date Damon? But now dates your cousin, Marcel. Who by the way is fine as hell."
"Ginny, your incorrigible, you know that?"
"I do. He is foine!" She said watching the blonde, and her chocolate beau.
"Yeah, she's whatever. I don't hate or love her."
"So, am I supposed to be nice to her?"
"Yes, for the sake of the wedding." Bonnie said grinning. "And then there's Nik, he's my mom's fiancé. Before you say it, yes, he's gorgeous. He's a little younger, and no... I don't know anything about their sex life."
"Perve, I wasn't going to ask." She paused. "Okay yes I was. Sorry. Anyone else I should be meeting?'
"Not unless Kol, brings a girlfriend. Elijah, lives in Europe, he won't be here until the wedding, same with Nik's parents."
Just then Nik walks up to Bonnie and Ginny. He grabs her hands gently and kisses it. And repeats the gesture with Ginny. "Good evening ladies. You both look breathtaking."
"Thank you, Nik." Bonnie said, unsure of how to really take it in. Her mother was getting married in a few weeks to this man she'd known for years, and always suspected he had feelings for her mother.
"It's to my understanding, you prepared a lot of the food. This is a great surprise. I remember, you used to burn things." He said laughing, making Ginny laugh.
"Yes. I did, but then I got my act together." She grinned. She heard a knock at the door. "Who could that be?"
"Oh, surprise, my brother decided to surprise Abigail tonight. He came with my parents."
"No way. What?" Bonnie exclaimed.
"Yes, she will be thoroughly surprised, but happy, because my parents brought her gifts?"
"What?" She said walking the door to open it. "Hello. I'm Bonnie Bennett. Please come in, pleased to meet you."
"Hello dear. I'm Elijah, and this is my mother, Ester, and my father, Mikael." As they came in introducing themselves, an array of lavished gifts was being brought inside.
"Oh, my gosh, what is this?" Bonnie asked.
"Bridal shower gifts, and pre-wedding day pampering from some of the finest department stores. Where should we have, them put it all?"
Bonnie in thorough shock, umm, we can put it down the hall in the bedroom." She meant her grams bedroom, which she hadn't been in, in years. "Ginny, would you mind guiding them down there?"
"Sure, doll."
"Thanks. This is Ginny, but he way my best friend. Ginny this is Elijah, Ester, and Mikael." After introductions, she showed them to the dining room and headed upstairs to check on her mother. "Momma, what's going on, everyone is downstairs. Including, his parents and brother."
"What? Got damnit." Abby said, feeling more flustered than ever.
"What's wrong momma? You nervous?"
"I am. They have every reason to hate me. I'm older, I'm not nearly as accomplished as he is, I'm a widow. He's never been married. Let's not forget I'm a black woman."
"Momma, you are phenomenal. You raised me damn near alone. You supported a man for his entire career, and held down the home front. You took care of grams her last few years. You have no reason to be shamed. Why would you be shamed, so what your older. Your only forty-two. What's the big deal? And your black so what? They know the blacker the berry the sweeter he-"
"Hush your mouth."
Bonnie started laughing.
"I have something to tell you." Abby got serious. "I'm pregnant Bonnie."
"What?" She asked as if she'd seen a ghost. "How?"
"Um, well, when a man and a woman-"
"I know momma. Don't insult me. I mean, I thought you went through menopause."
"I thought I was going through menopause. Turns out I was actually pregnant."
"Oh, my gosh, momma, I don't know what to say. Congratulations, I think. You look terrified."
"I am Bonnie."
"Why?"
"Because, a few months back-"
"No. don't you say it momma. Don't you dare, say what I think you're gonna say."
"Baby, listen please. I slept with G, by mistake. Four months ago. We was drunk, and we were at the B.I. Celebrating My birthday. One thing lead to another, and we got carried away."
"Momma, how could you do that? Haven't you and G ruined enough?"
"Bonnie please?"
"No momma. You have a man down there that loves you. He's been there for you. Maybe I didn't think I could agree with this when I found out a couple of days ago, but its because I found out from someone else. You preach to me, my whole life, about Damon. But I knew it wasn't because of you and daddy. Be honest, you broke me and Damon up, so you could peruse G. That's why you did it. That's why you didn't let him say good bye to me. Haven't you learned momma, you and G had been selfish. You didn't care about me and Damon back then. You only cared about each other."
"Baby, keep your voice down."
"Momma, you better pray, that's that man's baby. Because if my son's uncle is his first cousin on both sides, that's all kinds of dysfunctional momma."
"Don't dare, take it there."
"Momma, you and G, are part of the reason Damon and I broke up. I forgave you, because you let that relationship go. But to find out, you and he slept together again. It's unfair, momma. No wonder you have guilt about me and Damon. I get it now. You realize, what you've done, how it was wrong and selfish."
"Bonnie, I'm sorry. Please. I need you right now. More than anyone. Please. Don't walk out on me."
Bonnie looked at Abby, and knew Abby didn't have anyone else to turn to. She felt incredibly sorry for her mother. Even though she had some years of anger built up, she knew she couldn't abandon her mother, for making a mistake. Even if Abby knew her and G needed to let one another go after Dylan was born. "I'm sorry momma. I shouldn't have yelled. I'm sorry." She hugged her mother. "We'll get through this, but now this means I can't tell Damon about Dylan. You're pushing my plans back momma. You're affecting my chance to be honest with Damon.
"I'm sorry. I didn't think I could get pregnant, baby."
"If Damon, don't find out about Dylan, by some freak accident. Everything should be okay. I'll wait to tell him after he wedding. But you can't marry Nik, without telling him. It's wrong."
"God, I'm such a screw up. Grams would really be disappointed in me."
Bonnie remained quiet. She was so hurt she couldn't even think straight. All it did, was remind her, of what she went through with Baylee.
Between 7-8 years ago
"I love you grams. Tell my momma, I'm sorry I disappointed her. But her not saying goodbye, is killin' me."
"She's pigheaded that woman. She'll come around. But you focus on that baby. Okay?"
"I will grams, and I'm sorry for letting you down, and not waiting until marriage."
"Bonnie, baby. You and Dimitri, just take care of each other and that baby. Send me pictures when your belly starts to show."
Bonnie smiled. "Okay, Grams. I will." Just hen Damon walks up.
"Ms. Sheila, I really appreciate your support. We need it. My daddy ain't too happy 'bout us moving in together, and you know Ms. Abby ain't to happy either, but I'm gone take care of Bonnie. I promise."
"I know you will. I love you both. Drive safely and call me when you make it."
"We will. Grams I'm gonna try one more time to say by to my momma. I'll be right back." Bonnie went into the house and tried to say goodbye as Damon spoke to Sheila. He pulled out a little box to show her.
"Ms. Sheila-"
"Just call me grams already." He smiled, and hugged her. He hadn't had a big family, but Sheila took care of him and Stefan and he really looked up to her.
"Thank you. Grams, that means everything to me. I umm, I got this for Bonnie last week after Airborne school. It ain't much, but when I saw it, I just wanted it for her." It was a simple solid gold ban, with a small round cut diamond on it. "I hope she like it."
"Dimitri, its beautiful. It's absolutely beautiful. She'll love it. Remember to call me she says yes."
"If she'll even have me. Her mind is fickle like her emotions these days with those pregnancy hormones."
Sheila was tickled by Damon's words, she knew it was only the beginning. "Im gone keep you both in my prayers. Y'all get acquainted with the community church. I know military posts have a church. So don't hide from Jesus. No excuses, that baby needs to be baptized. I'm gone buy plane tickets just to be there."
"I hear ya, grams. I'm on your side always." Damon told her. Just then he saw Bonnie walk out with a broken-hearted look on her face. "You alright, little bird?" He asked her.
"Let's just go. I'm ready." She said crying. "Grams, I'm eighteen, I'm not exactly ruining my life. Just remind her that I will do what it takes to make sure my child is okay." Bonnie hugged Sheila emotionally and hurried into Damon's truck.
"Alright, grams, we'll be in touch." Damon said, grabbing his favorite hat from the porch stoop and placing it back on his head. He kissed her cheek and helped Bonnie into his truck. "Ready sugar plum?"
"As I'll ever be." She waived at Sheila until she couldn't see her any more, and then she cried quietly. Damon, pulled her next to him, in his truck, and wrapped his arm around her. "She hates me."
"She don't hate you baby girl. She's just, scared for you. We'll show her that everything's gone be okay."
Bonnie nodded her head and rested it on his shoulder. "Why don't you take a nap baby girl. You'll feel better after a little rest." He kissed her forehead and she cried herself to sleep. She loved her mother, but she had a family to think bout. And she didn't want her child growing up without the Damon, like she grew up without her dad. In Bonnie's mind, if two people love each other, they should be together, not separated. Damon held her, and drove off into the sunset towards their new home.
..X..
"Why G, huh? Why are they so hard-headed?"
"Ain't it the child's job, to give the parents problems? Like we gave our parents."
"No. my child was supposed to do better. Be better than me." Abby said, leaning against his arm as they sat on his back porch out of Sheila's line of view.
"Well, let's just take a second to understand these two kids have loved each other all their lives. I ain't never seen Damon so happy as he is with Bonnie. The fact that his momma left them, Bonnie just brings this light to Damon, that I ain't seen since he was a boy. You know how most boys grow up, and you know what they wanna be? Police officer, pilot, football player? That ain't never been Damon. He always wanted to stay here in Virginia, and raise kids, and marry and love one woman. I believe that woman is Bonnie."
"Yeah, well, Bonnie ain't no small town girl. She don't need to be stuck here, waiting for life to pass her by."
"Abby what are you sayin'?"
"I'm sayin' they won't last. Bonnie's not gonna be stuck like me."
He leaned in to kiss her. "Let's look at the bright side, we can focus on us now. You and I have all the time in the world now. Stefan is dating Elena, and they're getting pretty serious. He ain't never home. Now it's me and you. You can stay every night here with me."
"You were my husband's friend G, I'm not sure if this is right to carry on in such a way."
"Do you love me Abby?"
"Very much G, but... we just can't... forget I was Lily's friend, and you were my husband's friend."
"Then he joined the military and left you alone for fifteen years. Lily walked out on me."
"It was a choice, I stayed so Bonnie would have stability."
"In doing that, she didn't have her father."
"Who's side are you on?"
"I'm on our side. Come on baby, let's go back inside. This wine is at its peak, and I've missed you all week. Stefan won't be home tonight."
"Okay, love. Right behind you." She sang, walking behind him into the house."
... Present Time ...
Damon walked into his father's house. He rarely walked into Gs house since Lily's been back.
"Surprise, surprise. Nice to see you son. You rarely visit us." Lily said.
"Well, I ain't got no reason to be here. Except G asked me over." He said barely looking at her.
"Okay, well, I've missed you son. A lot. Hopefully we can have dinner together soon. I'll cook and we can-"
"I'll have to check my schedule. Been real busy lately. And umm, ain't really got no time for bullshit."
"Hey, son. Watch your mouth. That's your mother. No matter how you feel, she gave birth to you. You will respect her."
"I ain't disrespected her. I stated a fact, her taken offense ain't my problem."
"Damon-"
"No, sweetheart, it's quite alright. In his own time." Lily said patiently. "Your, step siblings will be here later."
"You ain't even married Julian. Why are his daughters, your children?"
"Because, they didn't know their mother. I'm all they knew."
"Which is a helluva lot more than me and my brother got."
Lily and Giuseppe looked at Damon as he walked passed them and out to the porch. He gave his mother no emotion, he had no emotion to give to her. G walked out behind him. "Son, you can't hate your momma forever. You only get one."
"But she gets multiple tries with Kids right. Even ones she ain't gave birth to?"
"It ain't right, but son... family is about forgiveness. We can't hold it against her forever. We ain't perfect. We all deserve forgiveness."
"Pops, I'm sure you called me over here for somethin' I'm just tryna figure out what?"
"Yeah, son, I know Birdie done come back. Just wonderin' if you spoke to her, or seen her?" G asked, knowing about Dylan.
"I have pops. Why?"
"I don't know son. I know you guys have a deep history, and with everything that's gone on, you miss her." He asked sitting on the porch steps, waiting for his son to sit next to him.
"What's goin' on G? You don't talk to me much about Birdie. Why all of a sudden now?"
"What do you mean? I support you and Birdie."
"Pops, you and I both know why this conversation, from you is a surprise. In the past, you had selfish reasons for not trying to help guide me in the best direction when it came to her."
"Now that ain't fair, son. I never wanted to come between you two. I just thought y'all were too young to be so serious. I wanted y'all to think things through is all."
"I get it G. The one woman, I loved more than anything in this whole world, and the one woman I wanted a happy ending with, just happen to be the daughter of the one woman you wanted the same things from. And well, because I'm the child, I had to deal with your half assed attempt to be supportive as my parent. I should've ran after my girl G! I should've went to my daughter's funeral. Why didn't you tell me to go after her? Why did you let me, make a huge mistake?" Damon was getting angrier, and trying his hardest to maintain composure while dealing with his father. "I was young. Sure, I was a man, and ultimately it was my fault, but as my father, you ain't even help me the way you should've. You knew I should've done better."
"Damon, it's not my fault."
"Damn right. It's my fault. I made a conscious decision to fuck up, twice. But as my father, you should've knocked some sense into me. I was scared. I was afraid."
"You're right. I should've been better." Giuseppe said trying to comfort his son.
"It is what is it, G. All I can do now, is pray, and invite her back into my life, and maybe, just maybe, she'll see the man I really am. I don't know. All I know, is I'm fighting for her, because after everything she's been through, I need her to know, I won't give up. I need her to know she's worth every ounce of fight."
"I'm here for you son. I'm here in whatever way you need me to be."
"I sure hope so, because the only person who fought harder for me and Birdie, is Sheila. And she ain't here, and since she's been gone, Birdie don't give two shits about me. But I'm gone make her see, what she's always known. Sheila believed in me and Birdie. And so, do I. She ain't just my best friend, she's my soul mate. Sheila knew it. I know it. Now I just need to remind her."
Damon stood up and began kicking dirt with his boots. He took his favorite hat off and rubbed his hands through his sweaty head.
"You ever think about Baylee?"
"Every got damn day of my life. And every day I remember how much of a coward I was."
"I'm just curious, you ever thought about havin' more kids?"
"Why?" He asked suspiciously.
"Have you?"
"Sometimes. I mean, with her, yeah. I ain't never wanted to have nobody else mother my children. But, right now, Bird, don't want no parts of me. So, one thing at a time. But yeah, I made her a promise, and I intend to keep it."
"You're a good man, son. She deserves a man like you, at your best. I'm sorry I couldn't be the father you needed back then, but if it means anything now, fight. Fight for her. Women need to feel fought for, and appreciated. Maybe, I coulda done better by your momma. If I'da done better, she probably wouldn't have left."
"Alright pops. I gotta go to church tomorrow. Matter fact, told Bird I was pickin' her up. Stefan, Ginny. Hell, maybe Abby'll go. You and Lily is more than welcome. Service starts at eleven and I'm pickin' her up at ten."
"Really? Has she mentioned anything to you about who's all at Abby's house, with her?"
"I know they're havin' some sort of dinner tonight."
"No, I mean, are you aware of who Birdie flew in with?"
"Her best friend. That's all know." Just then, he watched her house as a group of people walked out of Abby's house. It was around eight o'clock and he saw Kol, followed by his family, and Abby, Bonnie, and Ginny. Then he saw a little boy run out. The little boy was around two, picked up by Abby and spun around. "Hmm. I wonder who's kid that is?"
Damon stood up and looked more closely. Abby was awfully playful with him. It made Damon take notice. "I sure hope Kol ain't the fiancé?"
"Doubt it. Abby's marrying his brother, so... it would be weird for them to... ya know."
"You don't say. Abby and Nik. I can see it. They spent so much time together. Not to mention, he's always had a thing for her."
"You think so?" Giuseppe asked skeptically.
"Yeah. It was obvious pops. He'd paid for Sheila's funeral and he spends a lot of time there, I hear. Stefan told me. Anyway, my boy Mike is comin' up this week. He 'spose to have some time off."
"He in the army too?"
"He is. He was my Squad Leader the first tour I did in Iraq. He's been all over the place sense then but we keep in touch. He has property in Georgia, he's the one I rented from. But he just got offered an ROTC position at VT and he wanted to take a look at the college, b'cos, he's gone make the move to Virginia."
"That'll be good for you. After all that's happened. You need a good friend."
"Yeah, well... in all honesty, I need one thing right now." He kept staring at Abby and the little boy. Feeling an uncomfortable uncertainty.
... Between 7-8 years ago ...
"Ain't it kinda weird? Celebrating this day?"
"It's not necessarily a celebration baby girl. It's a memorial service. Afterwards, the church is gone have food and music. September eleventh still needs to be honored baby girl. By all of America. We lost people that day, and we lost people, because of that day, for years after that day." He was referring to her father whom she lost three years after 9/11 to the War.
"I know, doodle. I just don't like celebrating it."
"Baby girl, we are supposed to honor those we lost that day and those we lost following that day, because of that attack. I would be doin' your daddy a serious disservice, if I didn't make sure you understood what it meant to serve our country, and fight for the freedoms we have. I'm gone have to deploy eventually, baby girl. And I'm gone make you proud. Just like your daddy did."
"You are goin' over there Doodle? When?" She looked at him sadly.
"Baby girl, I don't know. At some point. But it's my job, and it's important you understand it. I'll fight for my country and my family. You and that baby are my world. I'm gone do my part, to make sure I'm fighting for what's right." He said looking at her sincerely. Her eyes watered. Uncontrollably. People were staring at her, and he pulled her into his chest. "Baby girl, I'm gone be alright, I promise. I'm gone do what I gotta do, to make it back to you. Stop crying, okay?"
"Sorry, its the hormones. This baby has me all tore up." He pulled her face up to his, and kissed her nose.
"I love, how our baby, makes you emotional. You spend so much time covering your emotions, I feel like I'm getting a part of you, I rarely see. I like it."
"I hate all this got damn cryin' it's like torture. Feeling emotions for no reason, and being sad for the smallest things. You know, one day, I was cryin' because this bang kept falling the wrong way in my face. I pushed it back several times, but it was as if it was laughing at me. Like haha I'm going to keep landing in your eye today and bother you. And it did. I kept falling right over my eye, and so even though it was a few measly strands, I got the scissors and cut it, then I cried because I had this short patch of hair. And I couldn't conceal it. So I've been coming my hair to the side instead of straight back to cover it."
"I never noticed. I'm a terrible fiancé."
"No, I've covered it well with he comb over, or I wear my hair curly so you can't tell."
"Gosh. It sounds like a big mind fuck."
"It is. Pregnancy is a big mind fuck. But... I'm so excited. I can't wait to meet our baby." He kissed her cheek and they walked hand in hand into to churches memorial service.
"Hey baby, here's my Squad leader, Sgt. Lawson. Sgt. Lawson, this is my wife, Bonnie, or Birdie, is what I call her."
"I've heard so much about his 'little bird' he speaks about you... often. And you don't have to call me Sgt. Lawson. Call me Mike, it's what my friends call me."
"Hello, it's nice to meet you."
"You sure are cute as a button."
"Aye, this cute little button is havin' my baby."
"You tell us everyday. How do you deal with this guy?" Mike asked Bonnie.
"I just grin and bear it." She said joking.
He laughed at her. "Ahh that's my kind of girl. You wanna know what we call Sal at work?"
"Sal?"
"Oh, Salvatore... yeah, we call him Sinatra."
"Really, why's that? B'cos he can't sing." She giggled.
"Nope, he can't sing a lick. It's because of those killer blue eyes."
"Makes sense he stole my heart with those."
"Wait, don't tell me, you've got green eyes? Wow. So, your kid is just going to have freakishly gorgeous eyes then. Lucky you. Beautiful woman, baby on the way, young and in love. It's the life. Cherish it. Life's too short. Love each other." He said. "Or you'll end up divorced and alone like me. Having one night stands with every shade of blonde you can imagine."
Bonnie stared at him like he was a crazy. She'd never met anyone like Mike in Mystic Falls. But as one of the first military people she'd met, she quickly became fond of him.
...
Bonnie lay against the bed in the doctor's office. Her appointment started twenty minutes ago, but because of the post over crowding, the doctors took forever to actually get to their patients. Bonnie sat alone, nervously. She was officially twenty weeks, and she and Damon were going to find out the sex of their baby today. Only she hadn't heard from Damon. He was supposed to meet her at the appointment, but still, she sat alone.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Salvatore."
"Good afternoon."
"Your husband couldn't make it today?"
"No. Duty calls."
"Soldier up. I get it. If you want we can wait, until next time to find out the sex."
"I don't come back for another month." She said worriedly.
"Okay, how about this, we still give you an ultrasound, and check the babies heart rate. If you change your mind, before you leave here today. I can tell you what the baby is. Otherwise, I seal it in an envelope for you."
Bonnie nodded her head, wiping tears. This is the third time she was supposed to meet up with him in the past two weeks and he was a no show. He'd be out training, and couldn't get reception on his phone. As she felt the gel spread over her lower abdomen, she bit back tears of frustration. "Wow. This baby is a tiny one. Healthy, but we should probably keep a monitor on the heart rate. It's a little slower than normal."
"Wait, is the baby okay?"
"Yes. The baby is okay. But it could be stress factors. We need to get you in a bed today, with some fluids, and maybe see if we can get you to relax, because your heart rate is kind of jumpy and your urine sample let's me know your pretty dehydrated." The Doctor said checking Bonnie. "Has there been any occurrences recently that may be contributing to your stress?"
(You mean that my momma hasn't called me in over a month, nor answered my calls. I married the love of my life behind her back, and she doesn't know, because she refused my calls, when I tried inviting her here. My husband just found out he's deploying in three months, and I won't be at full term. He'll be gone for a year, and I may have to have my baby alone. Maybe the fact that my grams' cancer is no longer in remission, and she is in beginning stages of Alzheimer's. Or the anniversary of my daddy's death is today, the day I find out the sex of my baby, and my husband was supposed to be here, but he's not.)
Bonnie cried. The doctor handed her some tissue. "I'm fine. I'm just, emotional. No reason, really." She lied hard.
"It's normal during pregnancy. Let's just keep you a few hours, call your husband. Trust me, Mrs. Salvatore, it can be a lot for a young wife, first time mother, without her family. I see it all the time in the military. It was my life too. If I can offer you any words of comfort, while it never just goes away, we deal with it much better as the years go. We become very strong, and we are incredibly self sufficient. I put myself through medical school and stayed home with my children for ten years. I didn't start my residency until my youngest child was ten. Life is always going to be hard. But we get tougher, and it gets easier. You are doing a great job, if you haven't heard it lately."
Bonnie broke down at the words. "Thank you." She used her tissue to wipe her eyes. Just as she calmed down, there he was. He was slightly frantic, and stressed, but he made it. Just as she was wiping gel off her stomach.
"Oh, my God, baby. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I was in the field, and the Humvee that was bringing' me in got a flat, and I had no reception out there. Baby I'm so sorry. Are you okay? You've been cryin'? What'd I miss? Is the baby okay?" He asked paranoid.
"I'm okay baby. I just need to get some fluids."
Some medics came in and wheeled Bonnie into the OB clinic upstairs, from the family practice clinic. "What's happening? Is she okay?"
"Yes. SPC (Specialist) Salvafore, she's going to be fine. But she's very dehydrated and her stress levels are pretty high. We need to keep her here a couple of hours to regulate both hers and the baby's heart."
"The baby?" He shook his head "My baby?"
"They'll be okay, SPC Salvatore. Feel free to follow your wife and medics." He walked with them, and took over wheeling her. When they got up to the room, he helped her get into a gown. And onto the bed. The doctor came back up to the room about an hour later. She printed pictures of the ultrasound, and took it to them. "Here you go. Twenty weeks gestational, you have a beautiful, healthy little lady in there."
Damon's eyes watered. His lip began to shake and he cried into his hand, until Bonnie grabbed his head and laid it on her lap. "A girl?" Bonnie aisles again.
"Yes ma'am. A healthy little girl. We just need to keep her heart beating strong, okay. So, relax a little, and we'll bring you some jello soon. I'll give you two some privacy." When the doctor left the room, Damon's sobs got, just a little bit louder. She smiled and lifted his face up.
"Baby. It's a she." He said.
"I know. You were right. It's a girl. She's our little angel."
"Damn right. I love you baby girl. Oh, my God. I love you, more than anything." He said. He hoped onto the bed and laid with her. Holding her belly. Hugging his baby girl. "I love our daughter. You know I'm gone spoil her, right?"
"She's going to have you wrapped around her pinky, Doodle. She's going to own that heart of yours."
"She can't own, what don't belong to me. But I tell you what... she sure will have to share it with you. Daddy's girls. Both of y'all." He continued to lay with her, holding her belly.
... 6 moths pregnant ...
Bonnie was brushing her teeth before bed one night, when Damon walked into their room looking at more boxes from online shopping.
"Birdie, you spendin' every pay check on the baby. If you ain't careful, we ain't go have no food to eat."
"Good, then I can stop gaining weight."
"Naw, lil mama. I like these hips. And these meaty thighs." He said grabbing her from behind.
"And my cankles?" She asked sarcastically.
"And your stretch marks, and your boobies, oh baby, them boobies are juicy." He began walking her towards their bed, and laying her down, as he pulled her tank top up.
"Doodle, stop." She said laughing. "Doodle, put my shirt down."
"No. I need to love on you while I can. Pretty soon the baby's gone take all of your time, and body from me."
"No one could ever take my body from you, but I guess if anyone did, I suppose it would be Baylee Raye."
Damon started kissing around Bonnie's belly and began going lower no lower. When he started removing her panties, she quickly became excited. "Baby girl, you get wet, just by me touching your panties." He kept kissing her stomach until he reached her pubic area, and once he tickled Bonnie with his soft tongue, he cringed when she held her stomach and winced in pain.
"Ahhh. Mmmm."
"What? What'd I do," he asked worriedly.
"Nothing, just a sharp pain."
Maybe we should go to the hospital." He asked paranoid.
"No. I've been reading lately about Braxton-Hicks contractions. I'm pretty sure, it's what it is. Ahhhh." She yelled again.
"Are you sure baby?"
"Yes. It feels exactly the way I read about it." She said gripping her stomach, hoping it was mere symptom of faux contractions.
"Well, let me finish what I started. The baby probably just needs mommy to be relaxed." He kept his movements focused on relaxing his young wife. "Talk to me baby. Tell me what I like to hear."
"Do me big daddy. Do that thing with your tongue I like."
"I ain't heard the magic words."
"Pretty please." Bonnie yearned for his touches. Her pregnancy, raged for his touch.
…. 26 weeks pregnant ...
Bonnie was shopping for some last-minute things to cook for Damon before she left. Her grams called her at the last minute, and told her Abby had a surprise for her. She was excited having not spoken to her mother in almost three months. "Baby, I'll be back before you know it. Me and Baylee. I can't be without you too long. Four days in Virginia and then I'm back here, in Georgia. My home with you and our baby."
"So, I can make you... cornbread casserole. That'll last you two days. I can make you spaghetti, which you can even have some for lunch also. Then the last night, I figure, I'll get you some freshly, thin-sliced, cold cuts, and veggies, so you can make sandwiches."
"Baby girl, please don't leave me." He pleaded with her.
"Doodle, I need to see my momma. It's been months. She owes me an explanation. I need this, maybe it'll help with my stress. Okay. I just don't want to leave any stones unturned before the baby is born. I need to be at peace with my momma."
"I don't like sleeping without you. I had to do it for months. I need you in the bed with me every night. You're my sanity, my reason, the one person I love to see when I wake up no when I go to bed." He said as they walked through the commissary.
"I love you, Baylee loves you. Let's finish grocery shopping. I need to make you these very simple dishes, since lord knows I can't cook a whole lot, just yet."
"You probably can't cook a whole lot, but what you make, I love. It's like you put your love into it. You're my favorite cook. Even if you're a beginner, and you still burn eggs." She hit his shoulder and he pulled her in for a hug, feeling her belly against his. "I love hugging you guys." He said. "I feel so loved."
"You are so loved. Immeasurably. And you should know, that no matter how Far away I am from you. No matter how big, a fight we have... I will never stop loving you. It will always be you. No matter what I ever say, it will always be you doodle. Don't give me a reason, to feel otherwise."
"Never."
Damon and Bonnie went home that night and made love. He held her naked body against his, feeling her belly close to him. He kept his promise the night he found out about the baby. He wanted the baby to feel how much they loved each other. He took care of her, every night. Massaged her feet, rubbed her belly and read to the baby. Tonight, was no different. Only before they made love he did all those things in the bathtub. Then he laid with her holding her until she fell asleep. The next morning, he drove her to the airport.
... 5 days later ...
"So, that's it. Miss Abby decorated a nursery at the house for the baby? How does that make sense? You live here?" Amon asked becoming aggravated.
"Well, baby, you leave in six weeks and I'm gone be eight months pregnant. It'll help me to be round my momma and grams the last two months, not to mention to help me when the baby comes. When your done in Iraq, the baby will be ten months old. It may help me to be with family."
"Then tell her she can come here. We have house on post. Our own space. We started a nursery of our own. When I come back for the baby's birth, I don't want to come back to Abby's house, in Mystic Falls, baby. I want to come back to our house in Georgia. Where we've lived for months, building our foundation and fixing up our house."
"Doodle, she can't just leave grams. Grams ain't gettin' no better."
"Baby, I know what this turns into. It turned into you stayin' in Mystic Falls, the baby bein' attached to family, therefore breaking her heart when we gotta move you back home. It's not stable baby. You deserve, to be in your house. Your momma can come here."
"Baby?"
"No! Bird, it ain't happening! You're my wife, and this is our home. We talked about this, we said we wasn't separating."
"But your deploying, you're already leaving me."
"Yeah, and that's what the FRG is for. That's the network of support you need. Your family ain't gone understand what this kind of separation is gone do to us. But these other spouses, they get it. They'll be able to help you."
"Better than my momma and grams?"
"Baby, it's just a different life altogether. They don't get it." He said.
"My momma was married to my daddy almost twenty years Damon, and he's was in the military."
"Yeah, but your momma didn't believe in her marriage enough to be with her husband." He spoke angrily, but out of the heat of the moment. Bonnie took it as an insinuation that her mother didn't love her father.
"What are you tryna say, doodle?"
"Nothin' baby. It's your choice. I obviously ain't got no choice in the manner, right? Damn bird, you've been an adult for four months. The minute you go home, you're runnin' back to be babied.
They walked away from one another, and for the first time, went to bed angry.
Four hours later, Damon woke up and rolled over towards her. "Baby. You sleep?"
"Can't sleep." She whispered. He could tell she had laid there, crying silently. He pulled her to him.
"I'm sorry. I just hate the idea of you leavin' me. I know it's not fair of me. I just hate the thought of you goin' back." He said, lying in the dark holding her.
"I won't stay gone. Okay? It'll be temporarily. Then I'll come back home and be waiting for you. Just let me go, for the first three months the baby is born, then after that, I'll come home with Baylee. And we'll have the house ready for your homecoming when the time comes." She put their noses together and they fell asleep.
... 2 days later ...
Bonnie was on the phone with Abby arguing about how she would visit her mother, but only for a few months. She wanted to be home well before her husband got back home, and she wanted to keep building, memories, with their daughter, in their home. She told Abby how she was more than welcome to come visit her and Damon's home, and help out in Georgia. But Abby refused.
Bonnie didn't understand why. It could've been jealousy, or maybe it was just watching her daughter succeed in a way she didn't want her to succeed, by following her husband. "Momma, Doodle is gone support me when I decide to go back to school. He said whenever I'm ready. But we don't talk about it right now. You know why? I have a baby to focus on. The doctor doesn't want me stressing over unnecessary things. But suddenly, your putting pressure on me. I need your support, not your pressure." She said yelling at her mother as she stood in the kitchen cooking dinner.
"No momma. I'm goin' back. Stop doubting me, and have faith in me momma. Is it too much to ask? I'll go back to school when Baylee is old enough to be in daycare. In the meantime, I make money helping retired vets get to and from their VA appointments. I used Damon's truck, and I get paid weekly, momma. I'm okay." She couldn't get through to Abby. She just spent the whole afternoon arguing, with her impossible mother.
When she hangs up the phone she was abnormally irritated, and angered. When Damon made it home, he found his wife passed out on their kitchen floor with the kitchen heavily smoking. He turned everything off and ran to his wife's body. He checked her body and saw her losing blood from her groin area. "No." he yelled, and in pure paranoia he grabbed kitchen towels and proceeded to clean her not thinking clearly, just feeling paranoid.
"Baby? Baby, wake up..." he checked her pulse and she was breathing but he could tell she was barely getting the needed oxygen. He felt her shortness of breath. So, he performed CPR after dialing 911 and it was the longest seven minutes of his life. He watched as they placed her body onto the stretcher and he jumped into the ambulance with her.
At almost twenty-eight weeks, Bonnie went into premature labor, which was triggered by an anxiety attack. She had a hard time catching her breath as she overheated in the kitchen she was cooking in. When Damon came home the oven and stove were both on. He caught it in time, because any longer, and he could've walked into a fire, as the kitchen was heavily smoking with the burning ingredients inside of the oven. When she was taken to the hospital, the doctors had to perform an Emergancy Caesarian.
After waiting for two hours at the hospital, the doctors finally came out to him, and made an announcement privately for him to come back to the hospital room where Bonnie was. He immediately hugged her and held her, caressing her face, asking how she was doing. Bonnie could barely speak, she'd just woke up from her surgery. It was like a movie playing in slow motion. Anyone watching it from a few feet away, would've seen the heartbreak as the doctor, tried to be very careful with his words. As Damon and Bonnie heard the doctor's words, they each reacted painfully. Bonnie's head fell back until the pillow padded her panic. She cupped her face with her hands and gut-wrenching sobs left her throats in the form of cries, and Damon's head fell to his wife's lap, and he cried into the blankets of the bed she lay in. When the doctor left the room, after his gentle admittance, the couple held each other on the hospital bed and cried.
They cried into each other's arms, and things from that day on were pretty grim.
...
Two days had gone by and Damon and Bonnie hadn't spoken to one another. Bonnie finally had to begin making funeral arrangements. She had no doubt in her mind that Baylee would be buried at home in Mystic Falls and that Sheila would perform the service. She'd let Damon know, and he agreed to everything, and told her he'd drive up for the funeral the day before. When she flew back home, the funeral three days later. She'd been in contact with Damon every day. Everyday he sounded fine. Everyday he seemed okay. Neither of them had cried since they left the hospital. Bonnie remained strong. The entire town knew she was pregnant. When she came home to visit, everyone at church congratulated her, under their breath whispering how they were surprised she wasn't married still. That was only because, she, Damon, and and Sheila agreed to keep it hush hush, so people didn't think she had a shot gun wedding. Then when she went back home he bought her a gold necklace to put her ring on, since she wouldn't be wearing it around her ring finger.
"The funeral is in eight hours. He hasn't called. He should've been here." Bonnie said at two in the morning, the day of the funeral as she stressed over his homecoming.
"Let's give it time, okay. He may be stuck in traffic or driving with a dead phone."
"Momma, stop. Don't make an excuse. He's doing what he wants to do." Abby said.
"He wouldn't just not come, momma. He wanted this baby just as much as me. He's just as heart-broken as I am."
"He's abandoning you again, Bonnie. When you gonna see that? He's not ready to be a man. He's too busy for the mother of his child. He really needs to do some more growing up Bonnie."
Bonnie didn't have the energy or emotion to argue. "I'm tired. I will see you in the morning, because I just need to get rest. Good night." She felt dead inside. One day she had a rounded stomach, with a baby, the next day she was left with the extra weight and no baby.
Bonnie stared blankly, then got up and went upstairs holding her belly, which was no longer the same belly, it was a week ago. She kept every tear in and let her mind be overtaken by the darkness. At five am she received a phone call from Damon, five hours before Baylee's service.
"Baby. I'm sorry. You're not going to believe this, but I can't get the time off work. I tried all day yesterday. I was trying to meet with my commander. Everybody's been busy getting ready for this deployment, and no one is tracking that I was supposed to leave yesterday. So, I spent the day re-submitting my four day pass and leave form. This is a crock of shit!" He yelled. "Baby, I'm sorry, I wish I could be with you. My heart is breaking. Baby. Are you listening?" He asked when she didn't say anything. "Bird, baby... say something please. What are you thinking? Say something. Please baby. My heart is broken, I'm fucking devastated. This is unfair. I can't even be at my baby girl's service."
"Okay, doodle." Was all she said.
"Bird. That's all you gotta say? I just told you I can't make it back to the see my baby be buried, and all you have to say is okay? I'm hurtin' here baby."
"I'm sorry. I'm tired. Exhausted really. I've spent the entire week letting people ask far too many questions, and get way too personal with me. I had no idea they made caskets so tiny, did you? Or that calling a floral shop, entailed talking for thirty minute about what type of baby roses along with baby's breath I want at my child's burial." She bit back tears. "I had no ideas baby roses were a thing. But I gotem.' They're teeny tiny, miniature roses. Her casket is white, did you realize this? Oh, that's right, you haven't called me at all, to see what I've had to go through to plan this funeral. I had to buy my baby a dress. The only thing she'll ever wear, and it's to her to her funeral. It was a size premature, ivory christening dress. Oh wait, my grams is going to anoint her, and do a special ceremonial baptism for the close relatives. I'm dying here. I'm literally dying, so I'm sorry, that I seem out of it. The one person I needed here more than anyone, just told me, he can't fight tooth and nail to come to his child's burial." She wiped several stray tears, and paused to keep from letting him here her, cry. "I just need to lay and not think right now. Okay? Please don't make this about you. I'm not angry with you baby okay. I love you."
He said nothing back to her. He was angry, and felt like she had no concern for him. "I'll call you tomorrow baby." Was all he said, then he hung up. He didn't say I love you. He just got off the phone. When Bonnie hung up, she held her pillow and tried to fight the burning desire to cry. He didn't say I love you. He always said it, but he didn't say it back to her. Her heart was breaking more and more.
Bonnie need to speak to God and her daddy, who sometimes almost felt one and the same.
"God, Daddy, I'm back where I started. In my bedroom, alone. Momma just wants to play the blame game, and grams keeps pacifying Damon. I'm not sure who to trust right now. I'm alone. I feel the way I felt the day he left. I feel the way I felt, the day you died. I feel the way I felt, when my momma refused to take my calls. I'm angry. I'm so angry. Maybe no one deserves this anger. I'm probably just directing my anger at the wrong people. I should be angry at myself, because now, my baby girl is gone, and she ain't coming back. She ain't even get the chance to breath air for more than five minutes. She's gone. She's absolutely gone, and nothing, or no one can ever bring her back to me. No matter how hard I cry, or how angry I get. And now, Damon can't even be here. I thought things like this are a priority for the military. How can I do this? How can I be married to a man, who can't even be around for the most important moments? Lord help me. I'm alone daddy. I'm all alone. This is my life. I hate that you did this to me. I hate that you set the standard, which really ruined me in every way imaginable. But no matter what, I'll always love you daddy. I wish you were here to hold me. I hate myself."
... Present Time ...
Bonnie was in her room with Dylan. She'd just put him to sleep. It was a long day, and when Abby admitted to her earlier she was pregnant, she debated telling Damon about Dylan, hoping her mother would get her life altering news first. Bonnie was going to have a little brother or sister, so regardless of who the father was, she was going to love the baby.
She sat in her bed, in the dark looking at her son's face, and how much he looked like Damon. She needed to tell him, but she feared her mother's child was Giuseppe's.
"God, and daddy, it's been a while right? Yeah, well, I'm just needing you both right now. I don't know how to deal with momma's news. I mean, on the one hand I was shocked. Then I was hurt. Now I'm scared, because I need to talk to Damon about Dylan, but I must put it on hold for her. I feel like, momma does things and doesn't think them through, and I end up having to alter my life because of it. What should I do? Huh? I need a sign. I really need a sign. I'm utterly lost, sitting here, in this dark room, staring at my son, having regrets for not telling his daddy about him. How did I become what I hate most? I liar."
Just as she said it, she heard a knock at her bedroom window. A knock she hadn't heard at that window in years. She thought she was hallucinating. So she got up and walked to the window, opening it slowly. Low and behold, it wasn't a hallucination, "Doodle? What are you doing here?"
"I'm Doodle again?"
"No. I mean, Damon. What do you want?"
"Can I come in, please. I was at my parents' house, and it got kind of late. Maybe I can stay a couple hours." She looked at him, and back at her son nod back at him. "Umm, or I guess I can leave."
It was do or die. Bonnie needed to make a decision for once, without her mother's influence. She needed to tell Damon about his son.
"Damon, come in. But please, be quiet."
"Duh, baby girl. You act like I don't remember your crazy momma." He said stepping into her room from the tree."
"It's not that. My momma left with Nik after dinner. I'm surprised you can still climb that tree old man."
"I'm build better than I was a decade ago. Don't you remember the last night?" He said trying to hug her. When she tried to push him off her smiled. "We still gone act like, you don't like when I touch you." He walked her to her bed and gently pushed her down. When he climbed over her, she stopped him.
"Damon, this isn't a good idea. I need to tell you some thing." She said grabbing his face and looking at him. "Look at me, please. This is important, and when I tell you this, you may really, feel some type of way towards me."
Damon wiggled off her, and accidentally ended up squishing a little body, that made him jump when he heard. "Ahh, maaa."
After he stumbled around falling off he bed he stood up quickly. "What the hell was that?" He asked turning the light on. Then a little dark haired boy sat up rubbing his eyes. The little child he saw earlier. "Birdie... who is that child?"
"Damon... umm...?" She looked at her hands and began fidgeting with her fingers.
"Is that why you told me you were engaged? You had a baby with another man?" He grabbed her by her arms and looked her in the eye. Then he lifted her shirt and looked at her Caesarian scar from Baylee. "There's only one scar. Birdie why did you make love to me, knowing you were... damn you. How could you do this baby girl? I thought, you would wait for me. So, I fucked up. But why, would you-" Damon stopped talking when he saw the cutest child he'd ever seen staring at him. He looked at his flushed cheeks and blue eyes. He himself had flushed cheeks whenever he got angry, or over heated. He had to do a double take.
Damon looked at her and she remained quiet. He walked back to the little boy. He stooped down, and stared at him. "Birdie? Why the hell, does this little boy look just like me?" He kept looking at him, while talking to her. The little boy looked at Damon and began to cry.
"Ma ma!" He reached for her. When she picked him up, she pulled out the ultrasound pictures she was looking at the night before, and handed it to Damon, while she began singing her crying son to sleep.
"You made me love you, I didn't want to do it, I didn't want to do it
You made me love you, and all the time you knew it, I guess you really knew it."
He stood in disbelief, reading the dates of her ultrasound. He didn't get it, he was still confused.
"Gimme gimme gimme gimme, what I cry for
You know you've got the kind of kisses that I die for."
"Baby girl, who is this little boy you're singing our song to, and why does he look like me?" He asked as his frustration and confusion grew.
"This is my son, Damon."
"Wow! Okay." He said wiping the palm of his hand over his mouth, in a stressful manner. "What's his name?" He asked bracing himself.
"Well, most people call him Dylan." She said holding in her emotions. Then suddenly a small wave of tears filled her face as the boy was rocking back to sleep in her arms. He witnessed her eyes gloss over, turn to tears, and streamline down her cheek. "But his name on his birth certificate is, Dimitri." Damon's lip begins to shake the same as when he found out about Baylee, and his eyes glossed over, and his cheeks flushed, bright, cherry red. "Dimitri... Dylan... Bennett-Salvatore."
Excerpt from Pt 9:
"Does it matter. He didn't go to his daughters FUNERAL. I dealt with every detail alone. I can remember how I felt every second of every minute of the entire thing. Did create her alone? No. I stopped my life, when we became us. My life became our life. I devoted my time to being his wife for three years. I focused on us. I did all of the things, I thought I was supposed to. Moved to Georgia. Stayed alone for a year, when he deployed. An eighteen-year-old wife. Alone."
* Agh. This chapter was emotional, for Bonnie and Damon. But I wanted you to get an idea of everything Bonnie was dealing with mentally which starts the build up, of her issues with not just Damon, but Abby too. At the age she was, she was going through a lot that she was suppressing, and the two most important people in her life, were not supporting her, because they were each, just focused on having her be there for them. In Damon's defense he was young, and his dad wasn't guiding him the best way he should have when it came to Bonnie. But Bonnie and Damon learn the hard way. Hope you felt the emotions of this chapter. Thanks for reading.