Best Friend
Pt 23 - You Saved Me
R- M
A/N This chapter has Religious and spiritual references. Thank you all for supporting this story. Please Enjoy this Chapter :)
Ms. Henley walked into Damon's room around six am to see Bonnie still curled up next to him. She thought to tell her it wasn't safe, but she didn't have the heart. Especially when she saw that Damon's are was tightly secured around his wife. He gripped her with intent to break anyone's arm that dared remove her from his grasp. In those moments, she realized he and his wife finally spoke. She wasn't sure how many words were spoken, but she'd never seen such a love. She even refrained from taking his vitals for the past six hours and thought to wait until right before she was coming off shift to even disturb them. Luckily, Bonnie's eyes opened at the slight crack of light that hit her face from the nurse's hallway.
Seeing Ms. Henley's face made Bonnie quickly adjust herself to slide off the bed. Her muscles hadn't moved in six hours, resting comfortably tucked into his body. The moment she tried to sit up he gripped her again, and spoke lowly. "Baby girl, please."
"Baby, I have to get up. The nurse is here."
"Got damnit." He whispered, making the nurse laugh.
"There he goes. I was waiting to see when I'd hear your voice. Sorry to break up you two love birds, but I'm almost off shift and I need to check your vitals. I let you guys sleep for six hours."
Bonnie smiled, and gently removed his iron clad finger grip. She slowly crept off the bed, and moved so the nurse could check him. "Ya'll 'bout done pokin' me?"
"Just about. You're almost outta here."
Still with his eyes closed, he squinted as she turned the light on. Even his lids could feel the brightness and though his eyes weren't opened, it burned.
"Wow. Your heart rate sure is regulated. Seems this woman brings you sudden calm."
"She's my sanity." He grinned with his shut eyes.
Bonnie smiled and shook her head. Nurse Henley blushed, in shock. She finished what she was doing and pulled Bonnie to the side. They spoke for a few minutes before the nurse left the room, and Damon lay unmoving, resting. Bonnie walked over to a tired Damon, whose eyes were trying to barely peak through his lids.
"Keep 'em closed."
"I need to see your face."
"No, stubborn man. The nurse said you should keep them shut. We'll be leavin' soon." She rubbed his forehead downward of his cheek, until she reached his bruised chin. She tilted it up slightly and kissed his lips. "I'm gone take you home."
2 Days later
Bonnie and Damon had been at the Georgia house for a day. She hadn't had a chance to do much but stay by his side. Once he'd rested at home in bed with her for a night. She woke him up the next day for a bird bath. The nurses sent him home with a medical chair for the shower. However, he still was unable to be submerged in a tub or even under the direct stream of shower water. Bonnie, sat him in the chair, and gently washed him down with soap and water, and took extra care, washing him. Washing him took her thirty minutes daily. As soar as he was, and as many casts and bandages as he had, she took her time, to make sure she cleaned him well.
"It's good Dimitri ain't here." She told him.
"I sure do miss him."
"Yeah. Me too." After drying him off, she pulled him off of the tub and out of the chair. Supporting all his body weight, she held him and walked very slowly into the bedroom. Boxes were everywhere. He was in the middle of packing before it all happened. Luckily, his bathroom was in the bedroom. She held him upright and laid him back in the bed. Gently, she scooted him onto the bed and put a pair of basketball shorts on him. It wasn't an easy task with his broken leg. She had to gently slide them up, and manage to keep from putting too much pressure on his muscles to move.
"Baby girl, you could've hired a nurse. My insurance would've covered it."
"No. Why? You're my husband. Apparently." She gave him a side eye, and grinned slightly.
"Oh." He sighed, and looked down.
"You have somethin' you need to tell me Doodle?" He paused feeling immense guilt. He knew she would've been disappointed to find out he'd lied. He looked around a few minutes and sighed.
"I was gone sign the papers, Bird. I brought them home, and... I looked at them for weeks. I just, stared at 'em."
"Starin" at the papers ain't how you sign papers."
"I know."
"Damon, I trusted you to sign those papers. I was out there in California. In a relationship. No... Two relationships. You made me an adulterer, Damon. I was out there committing the ultimate sin against our union." She said disappointingly. He didn't know what to say. He lied for years about their divorce. Or in his eyes, he withheld information, which wasn't necessarily a lie.
"I'm sorry. I just couldn't let you go." He said.
"It wasn't your choice to make."
"It was my choice. Because I knew... I knew we wasn't finished. Every time we saw each other, we made love. We kissed. We said I love you. We promised to come back to each other. Why would I grant you somethin' I knew you'd think was a mistake later down the line?"
"It was my mistake to make." She gave him a disappointed stare. "I was out there, in two serious relationships." She was still pulling his shorts up. "This may hurt some." She said, pulling the material past his thigh and up to his sore hips. "I just, can't understand why you'd keep it from me."
"Because Bird. I felt pathetic." He paused, licking his dry and cracking lips. "What should I have said...I'm madly in love with you and no matter the distance between us, I will never love another woman, the way I love you. Just because you need this separation, doesn't mean I do. You are breaking my heart. Choosing to leave me, broke my fuckin' heart. Tore my heart in two. Ripped me apart. Everything, I could ever want in this world, starts and ends with you." His chest was heaving as the depths of his heart were showing. "Baby girl, I couldn't do that. Sure, what I did was selfish. Not signing the papers. But it would've been selfish to hold you back with guilt. So, I let you go, because I do love you. And you need to see the world without me, I guess. I get it. But, I've always known, what and who I want. I didn't sign those papers, because I knew you'd find your way back to me."
She swallowed. Her brows drove inward, towards the bridge of her nose. But she couldn't be angry. Because deep down, when she realized they were still married, she was relieved. Part of belonging to him, made her feel protected.
"I was engaged, you know. The wedding could've been planned out and happening. What would you have done then?"
"I don't know. Luckily, fate intervened."
She shook her head and smiled sympathetically, she turned to head out of the door. He felt like crap. Knowing he'd lied to her for so long, affected the idea that they were in a better place. He didn't say much, out of fear, he'd just be putting his foot in his mouth. The sunlight, warmed the room. He felt it tickle his toes. He hardly had feeling in his left leg, or foot. But his right leg was happy to feel the light on his skin. He lay back, shutting his eyes in the warmth. Several minutes she was back to him. She had three pills in her hand. One for pain, one for infection, and stool softening tablet, which she had to insert herself, since he'd just come off the catheter. He was on a liquid diet for a week as per Dr. Parker's request. That, would serve to be an interesting situation when it was time for it.
"My throat hurts."
"You gotta take 'em. I made you some tea with lemon and honey. This tea is going to be good for your dry throat." Unfortunately, her and her son had passed their colds to Damon, which made the situation worse. She tried her best to keep the germs away from him, but it was impossible in the hospital. He showed no signs of feeling sickness until they left the hospital. "I have Dr. Parker's direct number. I called her this mornin' and she put in an order for another prescription. Unfortunately, we passed our virus to you. I'm sorry. It was irresponsible of me, to be at the hospital every day, forgetting how easily virus and bacteria spread in the hospital. I sent my momma home with Dimitri's antibiotics. Which is another reason he needed to leave."
"Yeah, well... I'd rather have you here with me, sick, than not at all. In sickness and in health, baby girl." He smirked, childishly.
"Okay, I need to go make some soup. You hungry?"
"Me, not much, but my stomach is growling."
"Okay." She put a small blanket over him, "Rest. I'll be back in a little while. I need to sort through your boxes find your cookware." She walked out of the room. He wasn't sure if she was angry at him, but he couldn't take the chance at them not being on good terms.
.x.
Ginny was at Bonnie's apartment, checking her mail, and opening windows to let air in. She had been there for maybe thirty minutes and was headed out after she let the apartment air out. As she was exiting Mason was coming in.
"Well, if it isn't the Benedict Arnold herself."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Seriously Mase. You know my loyalty is with my best friend. Whom, I introduced you to. You fucked things up yourself."
"Ginny, you and I both know I gave Bonnie everything. And Dylan... don't even get me started. He was mine, more than he was ever that fuckin' country bumpkins."
"You see, Mase. Your straight disrespectful. Come on. This is her life before you, and you made it appoint all of the time to talk down on her upbringing."
"No. I liked her mother. I didn't like the people around her, the way she lived. But her upbringing, I never spoke of."
"It's all the same Mason. She's a country girl. You used to correct her grammar, talk about the food she grew up eating. How she appreciated a simple life. You were trying to change her. I didn't realize it, until I went back home with her. And if, when you came you took a different approach to it, you might not be in the situation you're in now." Ginny turned to go towards the elevator.
"She won't be happy with him. He has nothing to offer her. Nothing. I gave her everything I could possibly give her."
Ginny turned to Mason. "Except, everything she's always wanted."
"Which is what?"
"Simplicity. Love. Support. Friendship."
He didn't know what the meant. As easy as it sounded, Mason, didn't live simply, or think simply. "Is she coming back?"
"I seriously don't know, Mason. But if I'm being honest, I hope she doesn't."
...
"How's everything going baby?"
"Fine momma. Well, if I'm bein' honest... things are a little harder than I thought they would be. Everything is boxed up. He was mid move. He's got another week before he finishes clearing. I have to do it all. I haven't been around in over four years' momma, so this is gone be tough. Not to mention, I'm responsible for his mobility. Neither of us are working for a while."
"Yeah. That sounds challenging. Listen, baby doll, I don't think bringing Dimitri Dylan back is a good idea. Y'all should be in Virginia in a week. Just let me keep him here."
"Momma, I miss him. He's been gone a few days already. Plus, he ain't seen his daddy in so long."
"Yes, but, imagine how much harder everything would be."
Bonnie thought a few minutes and sighed. "I suppose he could stay another week. You said he's cold was clearin' just fine. What about his appetite?"
"His appetite is fine. He's been asking for noodles every day."
"Momma, I told you I stopped feeding him those noodles."
"I know but it's all he'll eat. He don't want nothing but noodles and bananas."
"Has he been to the park?"
"Oh yes. Nik takes him to the park every day."
"So, is he sleeping in Baylee's bed?"
"Actually yeah. He sleeps in there alone, like a big boy."
"Momma-"
"Nope, I'm not gone let you change my mind. He's a big boy. He loves it. I put the deco lights on and he counts sheep on the ceiling until his eyes give up the fight. He loves it. I bought a monitor, so we can hear him."
"I'm just gone pretend I didn't hear that."
"Baby, I've been meaning to tell you... we are getting rid of the house."
"What!?"
"We have no choice. I'm moving in with Nik. You are gone. Grams is gone. Daddy is gone. It's just me, and the memories of the most important people in my life who are no longer around. It's quite depressing, and-"
"All my memories are there momma."
"I know. So, when you get here, take whatever you want. Matter of fact, I can wait until you and Damon get situated, and let you two stay here while you're helping him. It'll be cost efficient."
"Wow, I don't know what to say."
"The house is paid off so you can save money. Especially since you won't be making any money, while you're helping Damon. And then, you can take your time, to figure out what you want to and your husband, want to do."
"I guess that is a good idea. I don't know, but I'll talk to Doodle. Well, I gotta go momma. Can I talk to Dylan?"
"He left with Nik to grab some food. I don't feel like cookin' tonight, and Dylan asked for pancakes today."
"Momma, its way past breakfast time."
"My baby wants pancakes, he gets pancakes. They went to the diner."
"Oh gosh. Not Oscar's, homemade buttermilk pancakes."
"Yes."
"That's it. I'm getting off the phone while my mouth waters, I'll call him before bed. Or you can call me, before he goes to bed."
"Okay baby. I'll talk to you in a bit."
"Kay, momma. Love you."
"Love you too baby."
...
Bonnie makes chicken soup with plenty of vegetable and roasted chicken. She cooked for a couple of hours while Damon rested. She tries to give it some heartiness and flavor, because she can only let him eat the broth. She wasn't too hungry, and her loss of appetite, probably had to do with everything else that was on her mind.
Once the soup cooked adequately enough, she sifted some into a small bowl for him. Finding his dishes wasn't so hard. Damon didn't have a lot of craziness in his house. He kept things simple, and none decorative. He always left it up to Bonnie to decorate their place. She had a way of making their home feel a little like Virginia, no matter where she was.
She grabbed a lemon and sliced it and squeezed a little into his broth, then took the bowl into the room. He lay there in the same position she left him a couple of hours prior. "Why aren't you asleep?"
"You left me and told me to rest, so I did. You didn't tell me to sleep."
"I thought that was indicated in the gesture."
"I slept for damn near five days. I'm good. I'll sleep, when you're next to me." He said sweetly.
She shook her head at his words. "You're very stubborn, you know that?"
"I do." He smiled, forcing her to smile and she crawled onto the other side of the bed next to him and scooted as close as she could. She had some cold lemonade, his favorite, that she made herself, and his soup. She sat everything on the side table and then carefully began sitting his body up.
"Doddle?" She looked at him quizzically. "Stop using your muscles to help me. I can handle your body weight."
"I'm heavy-"
She looked him in his eyes. "It's okay. I got you. I promise." She tried to be soft yet believable. "Now relax and let me do this." She was on her knees on the bed and sat his body up. She put several pillows under and around his body to make him comfortable. He's left leg was elevated and his left arm was in a sling. "Thank you. You know the more you fight me, the more you will lose. I'm taking care of you, now let me."
What could he do, but understand her? She was taking care of him. He sat there and just smelled her skin while she used her body adjust his. Her hair, and the smell of coconut infiltrated his nose. He just sat still, and absorbed her smells. He watched her as she adjusted him and got him comfortable. Then she readjusted herself to facing him, crossing her legs like a pretzel. Then she reached for her chap stick, "Pucker up." He formed his lips to a pucker and she put the cherry flavored chap stick on his lips. "Since Dimitri ain't here, I bought flavored."
"Flavored don't mean shit, if you ain't got nobody to kiss." She looked at him coy, while he looked like he wanted to eat her. She bit her lip and he puckered again. Coming in for his lips, and she stopped when she reached his face. He slowly kissed her lips and smiled. "So, a fella, gotta be broken, to get some sugar?"
"There ain't much you gotta do to get a kiss outta me."
"What if I want to make love to you?"
"Doodle? Now you know, the doctor said no sex for two weeks."
"No, she said, no strenuous activity. I think if I just laid here, and you just-"
"Damon Dimitri Salvatore..." she giggled, "I'm gone feed you this broth, and this lemonade." Then he looked at his crotch area, and looked at her and back at it. "Doodle!"
"You can't just dress like that, and not expect to get a rise out of me."
"I'm wearin' a flannel and some leggings."
"That flannel is unbuttoned up top. I can see your neck and the beginning of your chest, you ain't wearin' no bra. Those leggings, show the shape of your butt. Are you wearin' panties?"
"I plead the fifth."
"Baby girl, gimme some cookie."
"No. I gotta feed you."
"But first... "
"Baby, I can't."
"That broth is steamin' hot. I'd say it needs a good few minutes to cool off." He was so convincing, and so hard to say no to. He wouldn't take his blue eyes off of her. She tried avoiding eye contact, but he followed her everywhere she moved. "I haven't felt you in almost two weeks."
"I'm here, I'm not going anywhere." She assured him.
"Neither is this." He looked down at his crotch again. "I just want to feel you."
"Baby, the doctor said-"
"The doctor said extra, TLC for the broken man on bed rest."
"She did not." Bonnie giggled.
"I'm getting blue balls." He looked at her with desperation.
"I'm gone hurt you. We can't have sex." She tried convincing herself not to break the doctor's orders.
"No, you won't. What, you weigh a buck twenty? Just sit on my lap, and-"
"How 'bout this... I feed you. And after that... maybe I'll-"
"Don't waste any more time. Feed me." He tried rushing her.
"Hey, hey, hey... manners."
"Pretty please." He puckered his lips like a baby. She kissed him and tried to give him some favor.
She grabbed the bowl of broth, and started to blow on it so she could feed him. "I never understood why men, ignore doctor's orders."
"B'cos, we know what we need, the doctors don't. Men are simple, creatures of habit. We need, food, love, and a hobby."
"Love or sex?"
"Well, sex is part of love."
"And you lied to me. What makes you think..." she blew a spoon full of broth for him and edged it towards his lips, "you deserve the cookie?"
As he took in his spoonful, he squared his eyes at her. "Mmmm." He sounded, tasting her broth. "That's good baby girl."
"Don't you avoid my question."
"Well, I don't always deserve it. I just, love it so damn much..." he put her hand to his lips and kissed it. "I just, think it'll help me get better quicker."
"Oh, stop Doodle. You ain't right." She huffed.
"Bird, I'm sorry okay. I should've signed those papers. It was your freedom. I'll admit. But, a part of me, couldn't handle the idea of another man ever making you take that ring from around your neck. I kept up with you. All your pictures, you never took it off. But, had I seen you start taking it off, maybe, just maybe... I'd consider signing. But I'm glad I didn't. B'cos, it brought you to me. The doctor called you." Bonnie put her head down.
"Damon-"
"And another thang, when I deployed, I knew, if something happened to me, everything would go to you. Regardless of your anger... rightfully as my wife, I've signed my life over to you. I wouldn't trust another person. There's ways around that, but stubbornly, you were Mrs. Damon Salvatore... you still belonged to me."
"I'd have been a widow." She started to cry. She hated thinking about death.
"I know you hate thoughts of death, but it's there. And if I died-"
"Stop, Damon. Stop it. You almost died twice. Twice. Do you have any idea how it feels? My greatest fear, is getting a phone call, that you've... ya know, and-"
"No, I don't know. What Bird? Tell me."
"A phone call tellin' me you were dead." She couldn't even say it without her lips shaking and her eyes watering like crazy. "Everyone I love, on this Earth can die, and I imagine, the immanent pain I'd feel, and how it would affect me in a terrible way. But you, I can't imagine my life, without you. Yes, we were divorced, or I thought we were. Separated, whatever. But, I knew deep down you were there. And I knew deep down, you were my life. So, the thought of you not being there, makes me weak. I can't do it."
He used his right arm and pulled her face to his. "That's how I felt, signin' those divorce papers. Like death. A life without you, wasn't a life for me. So, you always bein' Mrs. Damon Salvatore, was my life. And I'm not goin' nowhere. Quit thinkin' that way. You're my wife. 'Til death do us part. And I'm gone make it my life's goal to not let that happen for a very, very long time. You hear me?"
Bonnie nodded her head.
"I love you. When I'm healed, I'm gone, give you the life you deserve." He kissed her.
"Baby, I almost lost you. Why were you drivin' when you should'a been home sleep? You got behind the wheel, knowin' you shouldn't have."
"My soldiers were drunk. They called me from the bar they were at, to pick pick 'em up, so they wouldn't get a Dooey."
"A Dooey?"
"Yeah, baby girl, another name for DUI. Anyway, I called one of those damn, cars you told me 'bout..."
"Über?"
"Right. Still had the app in my phone, from when I visited you. Anyway, I had the driver take me to the bar, and I went it got the kid's keys and proceeded to drive them back to the barracks. If they get a DUI, not only is it bad on the battalion, its bad on the brigade. These guys could've died."
"I get it. You were keeping your soldiers safe."
"Knuckled heads should'a had a DD, trust me, I'm angry. But, the commander got word, and those soldiers are bein' dealt with. I hear they bein' discharged, b'cos of the severity of injuries we sustained. But they could've easily died."
"I'm sorry this happened to you. I can only imagine what went through your mind when the accident was happening."
"You wanna know what went through my mind?" She wasn't sure she wanted to know, because she was afraid for him. "I saw you and Dimitri. I saw my life, that I've lived, and the life I had yet to see. With you and my son. I wasn't gone let the Lord take me that day. B'sides he wasn't ready for me. He knew YOU, needed me. And you saved me, Baby Girl. You did. I fought for you and my son. This ain't the first time you've saved me. Every time, I'm afraid, I see your face. And I'm brave again." She let out a few tears, and kissed his cheek.
He rubbed his hand over his face and she grabbed it with her own. "You're such a a fighter. And a hero. You saved those boys.
"No, baby girl. I'm a regular man. I just did what was right. Everyone should do the right thing." She spoon fed him some more broth."
"You did save lives, didn't you?" She smiled. Giving him more.
"Damn. I know it's just broth, but what the hell did you do to it? It's good baby. Man, remember when you used to burn eggs?"
"Oh gosh, shut up. We're talkin' talking literal years ago, baby."
"But I mean, brown eggs?" She smacked his good arm. "I'm sorry. I just, can't help but remember the old days. When you were so innocent."
She kept spoon feeding him, with a face of disdain. "Not a girl no more."
"I know. If you were, I'd be some type of pervert, thinkin' the things I'm thinkin' right now."
"Technically, you perve. I was seventeen when you got me pregnant. So, you are a pervert."
"Stop. I wasn't twenty-one."
"You awful man, takin my flower on prom night, and ignoring that I had a prom date."
"I did take your flower, huh? Can I have your flower right now?"
"Baby, you need to-"
"Don't finish that sentence. Put that bowl down." He softly, demanded.
"No."
"Yes." He said. "Right now." Something about the way he said it, made her put it down. "Take your panties off."
"No." She spoke sternly. Then she watched him move his basketball short down, painfully. "Stop before you hurt yourself." She tried stopping him. He clenched her wrist.
"Don't do that. Take your panties off."
She watched the hold he had on her wrists. "Doodle, no." He whispered something into her ear, and it made her bite her lip. "You're an ass."
"Well, I did save their lives. You said it. Not me." Bonnie pulled her panties off and crawled over top of him, freeing him from his shorts, the straddling him. "Nurse Bonnie."
"Tell me where it hurts."
"Right here." He pointed to his ribcage. She placed a soft kiss. "And here." He pointed to his arm. "Oh, gosh, this here, really hurts." He pointed to his shoulder. Her kisses were so tender and soft, he melted.
"What about here?" She kissed his neck." Softly her lips spread on aphis skin and her tongue began caressing his neck. "And here?" She said kissing his bruised cheek and eye.
"Yes. And 'specially, here." He touched his lips with his finger. She gently placed her lips on his and allowed them to connect. He used his right arm and lifted her placing her directly over his member. Slowly he pushed her down, and her lip went into her mouth, and a humming sound came out. "Oh, baby girl, this is my medicine. You feel so damn good. Open your shirt for me."
She began unbuttoning slowly, and ripped the buttons off. She giggled and he watched her breasts giggle when she laughed. He pulled them to his mouth and began caressing the skin with his tongue. Giving her the French treatment. "Oh baby. Yes. You're making me so wet." She started rolling her hips into him and grinding onto him.
"Oh fuck." He moaned.
"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" She stopped.
"No. It's been a couple weeks. Just... I can't think straight. Kiss me." He wrapped his arm around her and caressed her skin gently, and once in a while squeezed the meat of her ass, and made her moan loud. Her naked body made him almost forget, he was hurt. He moved her body grippingly, and she put her arms onto the head board, behind him, gripping it. He watched her stomach roll while rode him. She moved like a belly dancer, and he couldn't help but to see her beautiful stomach and remember how it looked when she was pregnant with Baylee. "Good God, I wanna put a baby inside of you."
She looked down at him and stopped.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean... right now, I just... fuck I'm sorry. Didn't mean to put your mind in that place again."
"It's okay. Just surprised me is all." She went back to rolling her hips. He lost his train of thought into the rainbows behind his eyelids. It didn't take much longer before they both hit an emotional peak, and before Damon could comfort her, Bonnie got up and left the room, crying.
.x. Grams (13 years ago) .x.
Her mind raced with nerves. She was about to sing in church, and her grams had been with her for a couple weeks now. She waited at the church for them to show up.
Ms. Sheila was the new gospel pastor, and today Bonnie was debuting her solo performance for the entire church. She usually sang with the whole choir, but today, the lead vocalist was sick and didn't come to church. Today, was the day, the Salvatore's came to church. Bonnie's nerves had her jittery.
"Y'all are late." Ms. Sheila said to Stefan and his brother. "Where's your daddy?"
"That's why we're late ma'am. G, done got called into work early. He, uh... he won't make it." She looked at both boys in their jeans and flannels. At least Stefan tucked his in, and slicked his hair down. Damon's shirt was untucked and he didn't bother with his hair. He had his favorite hat on, along with his attitude.
"That's what y'all decided was proper attire for the lord? You know Jesus is your savior. Do you think he died on a cross, for your sins, so you could go to church, like you're about to round up some bulls? Or like your goin' to see your probation officer?" She looked at Damon. "Least the little one tried. Albeit, he needs help, but you... you ain't even button the shirt to the top." She yanked his hat off his head. "What on God's green earth?"
Damon began clenching his jaws, and she grabbed his face gently. "Don't-"
"Now, listen here... you clench these jaws at me, like you're a bull ready to charge, and you're not gonna like what you get. Ya hear me?"
"But-"
"But nothin' young man. I'm your elder. We respect elders. Abigail, bring me a brush and some gel." She let his face go, and looked at him sweetly. "I'm not your enemy, I'm your friend. Whether you like it or not you and I are gone get real acquainted. I'm gone straighten you out. You got me? You're gone be a proper gentleman. You and the young one. You hear me?"
"You ain't my momma?"
"You're right. But, I'm the closest damn thing you got."
Damon pulled away from her and started tucking his shirt in. He worked on the buttons and before he knew it she was sitting him down, brushing and feeling his hair. "I can brush my own hair."
"You sure? 'Cos you didn't do it."
"I ain't never been to church b'fore."
"Oh. Well why didn't you say so?" She laughed.
"You believe in God?"
"I don't know. Would God make a woman, walk out on her family?"
She felt so hurt for him. "Listen, God puts us in all kinds of situations, to test our strength. You just ain't supposed give up on life, b'cos of one set back. Now, we are gone see my little angel sing. Okay. She's nervous. So, you gone be dressed your best. And I'm preachin' so you gone be front row on your first day. Don't that sound fun?"
"Naw. Not at all." He said, and Sheila narrowed her car eyes at him. He realized then Bonnie had her gram's eye shape. That familiar cat look, hit him.
"Get used to it. This is what's gone happen goin' to church with me." She finished his hair. "Wow, ya know, when you push all that hair outta your eyes, you got these beautiful crystal blue eyes. And such a handsome face." He cleared his throats uncomfortably. He felt embarrassed and looked down. "You really have a handsome face. So, stop frownin' so much. It ain't gone get you a wife."
"I ain't never gettin' married no way."
"Oh boy. You're a handful. I see we gotta lot to work on. By the time, I'm done with you, your gone be the best man a girl could ever wanna be tied to." She grinned for the first time. Her harsh face softened, and he realized how pretty she was. She beamed with glee at his eyes, and it made him give a centimeter sized smirk. Small, but she noticed it. "Now, you say yes ma'am, no ma'am. Please and thank you, whenever you speak to me. Understand?"
"Yes ma'am."
"See, I ain't so bad."
"No ma'am."
"Good. You boys ready to go?"
"Where's Birdie?"
"Birdie?"
"My nickname for her. Short for little Bird. She sings, and she's very emotionally fragile. A little bossy thang, 'bout yay big." He said making a petite figure with his hands.
"Bonnie?" Shiela laughed.
"Yes."
"Church. Warmin' up her vocals. We better get goin' now." Grams noticed his concern for Bonnie and always kept that mental note. He looked worried for her.
He walked to the door and held it open for she and Abby and they left.
...
As they pulled into the church grounds, Damon and Stefan started walking towards the church with Sheila and Abby. Damon felt very self-conscious, and awkward the way she combed his hair and made him dress. He and Stefan turned sideways when the boys from just weeks earlier had gotten into it with Damon, were hanging out on the corner being no good.
"Damn shame them boys need to get their tails in church."
"Momma, them boys ain't no good. They stay in trouble and keep startin' trouble."
The boys kept whistling inappropriately at women and girls. One of them even cat called to Abby. Young Abby, looked towards them and rolled her eyes. Damon's fist balled up. Sheila turned to look at him when she heard his boots pivot in the sand grains of the concrete. She turned quickly and grabbed him, catching him by the elbow. "They ain't worth it."
His jaws clenched and he bit back words of anger. "They ain't bein' respectful."
"It don't matter. Turn your cheek. You're better than that."
He pulled back and followed this woman. Her words hit him like a Bonnie's just a couple of weeks ago. No one cared about Damon. No one thought he was better than a trouble maker, but Bonnie. And now this woman who didn't know him. He followed suit.
"That's right church boy! Follow your mammy." One of the trouble making boys said. But before Sheila could get a good grip on him, he ran towards the boys and started attacking them with every fist of fury, he swung and hit until he was double-teamed. Stefan ran towards him and started fighting too, when his brother got hit in the face.
"Lord have mercy." Sheila's first day at the church to preach, and she brought to neighborhood boys, who began fighting. "Fixit Jesus." She ran towards Damon and Stefan. Damon's face was red, and he was damn near slobbering of murderous rage.
"Don't you ever, talk to these two women that way again." Sheila grabbed him by his color, because he was too strong to jump in front of.
"Damon. Damon!" He stopped suddenly. "Come on, young man." She looked at Stefan. "You too." They walked into the church and both boy's hair, which was gelled up, was now standing on end. Their collars were pulled and Damon's face was bloody.
"It wasn't right." Damon said looking at her.
She used her handkerchief and wiped Stefan's face. But it wasn't enough to help Damon. Bonnie came running out in her choir robe to see her grams.
"Grams. I'm so nervous. I don't know what I'm gone do. I think I need to-" she stopped and saw Damon, who was too embarrassed to look at her, then Stefan. "Goodness gracious. What happened?"
"Nothin' just some shit bags-"
"AHEM!" Grams interrupted.
"I'm sorry. Some nasty boys were outside making inappropriate comments."
"Stefan? Damon, I thought, I told you 'bout that fighting. You're so much better than that." She pulled him towards the bathrooms of the church hallway.
"Bird, they jumped my brother. I had to help. But you should've seen Damon, kickin' their asses! Woohoo." Young Stefan said, with the biggest smile on his face.
"You boys have awful mouths." Sheila said. Bonnie pulled Damon roughly to the bathroom.
"Bird, stop. You need to get ready to sang. I'm fine."
"No. you're not. Wait here." She walked into the bathroom and wet a paper towel. When she walked out, he was standing with his thumping foot. "Doodle, why? Why can't you stop fighting?"
"Where else am I gone channel my anger, huh?"
"A sport. Football. What happened to football?"
"Season's over."
"Ridin'? You got them horses."
"Maybe so."
"Yeah, and you can, maybe take me on a ride this week. I think it could help you. Keep you calm."
"Bird, you can't-" she calmly interrupted him.
"You know, I notice, whenever you teach, you get his real, calmness about you." She grinned sweetly as she wiped his face. "You're very good at training and teaching." She interrupted his trying to be pessimistic about himself, and gave him some positive reinforcement. Sheila just stood watching them interact. What a way Bonnie had with him. She realized then, Damon was a lost boy. He had all the tools in the world to be successful, but he didn't believe in himself. And the way she scolded him earlier, much like Bonnie, he somehow took to that kind of interaction. People who didn't let him feel sorry for himself, and pointed out the good in him. She saw he was broken, and he held on to the care, that Bonnie delivered him. She just watched carefully, before interrupting them.
"Okay, y'all. Service is about to start." Damon stood towards the alter as he walked in, and felt awful. He didn't move to the front of church like Sheila told him to. He was too embarrassed. He stood in back, and watched the service. Biting his lip and tapping his feet and not listening to the pastor at all. He hadn't seen Sheila speak yet. He considered leaving the church, bored out of his mind, and antsy to fight again. So, he walked outside and sat on the church stairs. He rubbed his hands through his hair, and put his head down. He was sick of being a fuck up, but he also didn't want to change, if it meant he would have to hold onto anger.
After a few minutes, he heard Sheila's voice. He stood up and walked towards the main chapel. He stood in the hallway, outside of the doors. She was speaking about forgiveness and how God forgives, and we are not pure of sin, and how we may never be free of sin, but he forgives us. "No one is perfect. I'm not perfect. You're not perfect." She kept speaking. "No matter what, we are imperfect but he forgives us." Tears weld in his eyes.
Sheila was powerful. She spoke passionately. She spoke with sympathy and compassion.
"As Isaiah 43:25 states, 'I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.' Do you understand congregation? He loves us selflessly. He forgives. He says, 'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.' And this my children, is how he will hold you. This is how he will walk with you. Let him carry your burdens. If you believe, you shall never walk alone, I tell you."
Still at the back of the church he stepped into the alter and listened to this woman speak. Every word hit his heart. He believed he needed someone to love him, protect him, walk with him. He felt so alone. So, this is what the Almighty does? He wondered. Whether it was real or not, he needed something to believe in. He stepped a little closer and the church was up and clapping and "Amen-congregations" and praising the lord. "Hallelujah" rang through.
"You may not be perfect, but you are loved." Sheila said, and she looked directly at Damon. At that moment, this woman, whom he'd known for a mere two hours, had stolen his heart. Then towards the end of her sermon, the organ playing behind her was beginning to slow down, and the choir that was singing, was quieting. Everyone in church robes, began humming very low and until they were no longer singing. He just watched. "Now, any of you, who want to be saved in his name today, please step forward." She looked at him again, then looked at the congregation. "Step forward, and let him forgive you."
Damon watched as several people walked forward. Other members of the church stood before them and started praying with these individuals. He became nervous, not wanting anyone to come near him. He backed away towards the back of the church again. And a small voice in a cappella hit his ear drums, and stroked his heart strings. The entire church, hushed, as she walked forward.
"Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost
And now I'm found
Was blind but now I see"
His eyes watered watching her sing his pain. He was watching Bonnie sinig her heart so gently out and reaching for his.
''Twas grace that taught
My heart to fear
And grace, my fears relieved"
Bonnie reached for Damon's hand. Watching him cry hurt her. But made her happy he was opening his heart. He shook his head, and backed away. But Bonnie stepped off the stage. The congregation didn't expect it. She kept singing and walked towards this crying young man. His red eyes, and shaky lips, broke her. She made contact with his eyes, and all of his pain was too real.
"How precious did
That grace appear
The hour I first believed"
Her hand reached for his, in a pleading way. As if to offer him peace. He continued shaking his head, and she nodded hers, as if to tell him, it's okay. She grabbed his hand and pulled him back towards the front of the church. Steadily singing, she walked beside him and then lead him to the front, where she finished singing to him, and she turned to him, wiping his tears. What beautiful blue eyes he had. This broken, bruised, and bloody young man, knelt before the congregation, and bowed his head, and after Bonnie wiped his tears, Sheila walked before him and knelt with him and prayed with him, and for him. He broke down and gave his life to God that day. After Sheila and Bonnie stole his heart.
He never believed he was worth loving, until this day. When Bonnie and Sheila Bennett, loved him in his darkest days. When he didn't believe, he was worth loving, they loved him. He was given another chance that day. He wasn't a nobody. He was somebody, to them.
...
"You were very brave today." Bonnie said sitting under the large tree in front of the Bennett house.
Damon sat next to her and they were eating bright red apples. "I'm not brave. I'm lost Bird. Literally, lost. Today, I felt like a person. Not a fuck up."
"Grams has that effect on people."
"Yes. She does. That woman, scared me outta my jeans today."
"Yeah. She is scary. But she's very, loving." He looked at her eating her apple and smiled.
"Today, you were the brave one. You sang in front of the church, and you sang alone. You even sang to me. Why? Why me?"
"I don't know Doodle. You just, you are very special to me. I can't explain it. You know, how in life, we are just drawn to certain people. Certain people always, make you see a purpose?"
"Naw, I don't get it." He shook his head eating the apple.
"Certain people, just give us a purpose, and will always be there."
"You think I give you a purpose?"
"I think, you and I will always be friends. You're like my best friend. Best friends are forever."
"Maybe, Bird... I need to stop hangin' 'round you. I'm older and, I don't think it's smart. The church folk, and townspeople gone start to get the wrong impression."
"What? Stop, your family."
"I mean, but, you know it's family right. I hope it ain't like a crush, b'cos-"
"Really Doodle?" She said angrily. "Who knows that you draw the way you do, but me? Who knows that spray-painted building by the church was all you?" She said angrily. "Who knows you like to be sang to, and you ride horses, and are the best teacher I've ever had. Who knows you're an amazing horse trainer? And you love animals? Who knows your cheeks get red when your angry? Me. I'm your best friend. Who cares of my age."
"Bird that's not what I meant."
"No, you confuse my crying for you, for having a crush on you. And right now, I want to smack you silly."
"Damn, I wasn't trying to-"
"Doodle, I thought that today, you saw that I cared about you. That's all. But maybe it was a mistake." Bonnie stood up, and walked away from him. Damon stood up and went after her. He sat her back down, and sat with her again,
"I'm sorry. Okay. I like you Bonnie. You're right. You're my best friend okay. I just don't want to ever make you feel uncomfortable. You're a gorgeous girl, and I know, your momma, and grams, might not let us hang out, b'cos, our age difference."
"If I make you uncomfortable, I'll won't bother you so much."
"You never make me uncomfortable. That's the problem. You always make me feel comfortable. You always accept me, and b'cos of that. I really like that I can consider you family. Since all I got is G and Stefan." He tickled her neck, and smiled.
"Whatever!" Her eyes lit up. He touched her skin and she got chills. "Now, let's go eat. It's about time for supper." He stood up first and helped her up. There was something about Bonnie Bennett. Her unconditional care, was more than he thought he ever deserved. As well as her forgiveness. But somehow, she showed him what unconditional was, and since the day he'd realized, he felt spoiled by her presence in his life. Not everyone had Bonnie Bennett. But he knew she was his blessing.
Present Day
After Bonnie had a sometime alone, she walked back into the bedroom. He sat there with his shorts somehow pulled back up. She shook her head in his direction and spoke to him. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I got up, like that and left. I just- pregnancy is hard on me. And, with the first two pregnancies I didn't... carry to term. Then, I dealt with Dimitri alone for the most part. I want kids, but I'm afraid. Doodle, I'm scared."
He stared at her as she spoke, and sympathized with her. "Baby, come on. Lay with me." He patted the area of the bed next to him, and gave her a welcomed smile. Bonnie walked slowly towards him. He could tell she'd been crying a little. As she shuffled closer, and climbed next to him, he wrapped his arm around her. "I get it. And, I don't know why I said that at that moment. I just watched your stomach, while we were making love. Then, I remembered how beautiful your stomach was with Baylee. Then, I remembered I wasn't there for Dimitri. And, I imagined doing it all again. Because, I know, we'll do everything differently this time. But, I get it. And I'm sorry. Baby, I'm sorry, I can't fix it." Her head leaned onto his chest, as his arm wrapped around her shoulder.
"It's not your fault."
"We're both a little screwed up, huh? Two broken kids from Mystic Falls, Virginia." They lay in bed and spoke about the past.
"Remember when you thought I was crushin' on you? And you basically said, we weren't gonna happen?" She laughed.
"That ain't what I said." He laughed with her. "At that time, I was in high school, you were in middle school. I didn't want people bein' upset by our friendship, b'cos then they'd take you from me. Not let us hang out. I looked forward to your smile every day. You really were my best friend. I respected you. I needed you to know that."
"Yeah. I guess. I was the skinny, knock-kneed girl. With the big curly hair. A few freckles, and always wore knee length church dresses."
"You were beautiful."
"So, what, did you have a crush?" She giggled unknowingly.
"I think, I loved you like a friend, but deep down, I knew you were always gone be a part of my life."
"Who would'a thought?" She spoke, turning towards him and wrapping her arm around him.
"You always knew. And, so did I. It just, took us realizing we both loved each other so much, we let each other do our own thing when we thought we needed to. Which means, were grown now, now, we have so much room to grow together."
"Yeah." She yawned while he kissed her fingers.
"Six more days until we're back in Mystic Falls." He looked at her and she was fast asleep. "Back to our stomping grounds. It's gone be different this time 'round. Can't wait to see Dimitri." He just smiled when he heard silence. Looking at her, he kissed her forehead. She was sound asleep. Her beautiful face, gave him peace. "Baby girl?" He whispered. She said nothing, just slept. "I'm gone let you in on a little secret." He licked his lips. "I fell in love with you that day in church. The day you saved my life. The day you sang to me, and stole my heart. That day in church, I was a sixteen-year-old hot mess, and you were a thirteen-year-old, angel. You, were so, giving, and forgiving. When I told you, you couldn't have a crush on me, it was b'cos I was afraid of how you made me question myself that day. And I knew deep down, I'd rather be your best friend than anything. I couldn't jeopardize you. And we both know Grams and Abby was crazy. That day, was the day, I fell for you. You broke me down, and stole my heart, and I ain't been the same man since. Thank you, Bonnie Sheila Bennett, for saving my life, countless times. You are my reason to live, and making you happy is all I want to do."
Excerpt Pt 24:
"That's my wife, and my son, sitting in the middle of the bar I own. In my home town. The woman, I watched get on my nerves since she was a little girl. My neighbor. The daughter, of the War hero next door. The girl, with the crazy momma and Grams, who didn't take no shit. The girl with the heart of gold. And... Me, a knucklehead, fighting everybody, ditching school, and failing most of my classes. I'm here b'cos of her. I'm alive, and I may look like shit today, but I'm here b'cos of her. She keeps me goin' every day. She always, and I mean always, makes me fight to be a better man. And I sit here and this got damn wheel chair, unable to be the man she needs. The man, I promised her just weeks ago I'd be. I'm so fuckin' angry I can't stand it."
A/N Hope you like this semi-emotional, yet, reminiscent chapter. Thanks for Reading!