Week Later. . .

Damon was going to go back to his place, but nothing was waiting for him there. So he might as well stop for the parade. He stood their watching the band go back and all the happy faces smiling and waving with their kids. In that moment he felt more out of place their than anywhere else. He turned to go and saw Bonnie a couple people behind him. They locked eyes and Bonnie turned to leave.

"Wait," he yelled following her.

"What! What do you want?" she said regretting that she even ran into him.

"Thank You."

"For what," she asked calmly. It takes a lot for him to apologize she knew that. So when he did she felt obligated to stop and take notice. She wasn't going to let that sway her decision though. Mason was wrong she didn't want to be on this rocky roller coaster with Damon. So she was getting off the ride.

"When I try to change things go wrong. You didn't let that scare you. And I'm here in one piece because of you. Thank You," he said seriously. He took advantage of her and he realized that now. He also realized that she was the only good thing in his life.

"You're welcome," she said flashing him half a smile. "Take care of yourself okay," she said turning to leave.

He wanted to stop her. He wanted to say that for the first time since he died he felt something more than just sorrow and pain. He looked at her and saw hope. Back on Earth, he always felt like he had to make all the hard decisions and take care of the kids Stefan, Elena included. It had only been a week since the day she took care of him. His face flushed and sweating, breathing labored. The nightmares that wouldn't allow him to sleep. Taking all the phones out of the house so he wouldn't call Trina for his next fix. Locking him in the room as he banged on the door threatening her life so she would give up the bag in her pocket. He was the most vulnerable he had ever been in front of someone. She didn't throw it in his face and it didn't change the way she looked at him. No he did that on his own when he pushed her away time and time again.

He went home, took a shower and changed his clothes. He wasn't one to just sit on his hands. He had to see her again and he couldn't go on knowing she wouldn't talk to him. He decided to stop and see if she was at the bar before going to her place it was on the way walked in and spotted her getting up from a table.

She turned around to see him walking towards her. She knew this was a small town, but not twice in one day. She see's him at his favorite hang out no less the one he's supposed to be avoiding. "What are you doing in a bar?"

"I just came to see you. I need to talk to you."

"Well, I was just leaving," she said trying to get around him, but he blocked her path. "Get outta the way."

"Is everything all right," said Mason walking up from the bar where he had been watching their exchange.

"Everything's fine," said Damon not wanting to look away for fear that she'd slip away from him.

"I was asking, Bonnie!" said Mason arrogantly. Taking another step closer to the pair. As long as he was around he wasn't going to let Damon continue to be a douche to her in front of him.

Damon exhaled looking at Mason wearily. I guess he misjudged their relationship. They obviously were still together. Damon looked at Bonnie one last time and turned around to leave.

"Are you really okay?" said Mason concerned.

"What was all that about?" she asked annoyed. She hoped that he didn't think that little display of testosterone was going to do him any favors.

"We're not together and that's on me. That doesn't mean I want to see him hurt you," he said sincerely grabbing her forearms.

"I didn't need rescuing," she said brushing his hands aside.

"Yeah, but you didn't stop me either. Did you?" said Mason calling after her as she left before rejoining his buds at the bar.

She ignored Mason's obvious jab. She ended up at home kicking of her shoes and throwing her jacket across the chair. She didn't have much of an appetite either. She sat on the couch flipping through the tv channels with the remote. Her mind wandered to Damon and the intense exchange between the two of them. That look he gave her like he was waiting for her to say something. But she wasn't going to because the days of saving him were over for her. So why was her gut telling her that what she was saying wasn't true.

Damon paced the floor of his living room. The crackling of the fire seemed to drown out the rhythmic pounding of his feet. That run in didn't go the way he was expecting. He wasn't sure what he expected. He wanted them to be okay. What he wanted rarely mattered though. He went to the bar and poured himself a glass. He swolled the lump forming in his throat. He needed to unwind and forget all about her. He needed a drink. He put the glass up to his lips and paused throwing the glass into the fireplace. Watching it shatter to pieces as the fire roared. How could she not know that he only quit for her!

The phone's shrill ring broke through the silence. He stared for a moment no one ever calls him. He sat on the couch and picked up the phone. "Hello."

No response.

"Hellooooo," he said checking the caller ID. The number said unknown. He smiled to himself, "You missed me."

"Yes," said Bonnie smiling trying to play it cool so that he couldn't hear the hope in her voice.

"Are you still with Mason?"

"No," she said hoping he wouldnt press her for more details.

He nodded forgetting that she couldn't see his response over the phone. He laid their looking up at the ceiling. He made a rule that they weren't aloud to talk about their life from before and she agreed. He wanted to know who she was now. She told him about her life at the cafe which wasn't the best job, but she thought she was making new friends. Her taste in food hadn't changed either since she liked to sneak a few of the baked cookies fresh out of the oven. She didn't like going to the same hang outs as before. Too many memories so these days when she was off she went exploring. It was kinda neat finding new places to love. He made her laugh as he told one corny joke after the other. He loved that infectious laugh. He could just see her wide smile grinning back at him in his minds eye. He couldn't talk about his life here there wasn't much to tell, but maybe thanks to her there might be in the future.

"Can I see you tomorrow?"

She hesitated, "I don't think so. I have to work tomorrow."

"Bon-Bon."

"I'll call you later," she said hanging up in a hurry. She didnt want to jump back into being his friend. She didn't want to trust him again just to have him ignore her.