A/N: Here I am once again, with some Bamon goodness (I hope!). There can never be too much Bamon. Never. This chapter is a little filler, before getting to the good stuff. At this rate, we may have two more chapters to go, but let's see where the trail leads for our favorite campers. (In case you were wondering, I totally made up those book titles, except for the Kinsey, so I have no idea whether they really exist...) And oh, if you like it, or even if you don't so much, give it some review love. Thanks to those of you who have left comments for chapter 1!
When they arrived at the campsite Bonnie had chosen, dusk had already fallen. Bonnie was surprised to find that she wasn't more disappointed about missing the eclipse. Part of her wanted to see it from a different angle, but part of her was just glad for the change of scenery. To forget it was always the 10th of May, 1994.
In a moment of thoughtfulness, Damon used his vamp speed to set up the tents and gather firewood. Bonnie would have been happy to help, but sitting in the car for an extra three hours had worn her out, not to mention the drama Damon caused earlier. She figured he was just making up for the stress he caused her, and she appreciated this subtle show of apology.
With an exaggerated sigh, Damon swiped his hand across his forehead and plopped down by the fire pit. He had even started the fire, with one match, no less. Bonnie was impressed. She was terrible with starting non-magic fires, surprisingly. The other parts of camping she was good at. People were often shocked to learn that she was an experienced outdoorswoman. Even though she was in touch with nature as a witch, no one knew that she could survive for an extended period of time in the woods. So Bonnie took a little tour of Damon's work, assessing its quality. She was impressed.
"For someone who hates camping, you're quite skilled, Killer," she complimented the vampire, who smirked.
"Yeah, I said I hated camping, not that I didn't know how to do it well, Witchy." He crossed his legs at the ankles and cradled the back of his head in his hands. "Hey, so what's for din, Bon-bon?"
"Um, well, I thought we could go fishing, but all chance of that was lost when we took a two hour detour courtesy of Damon Salvatore." She shook her head. "But luckily for me, I am always prepared for the worst." She pulled a few cans of pork and beans from her bag, along with a set of camp pots. She set the largest pot on the grill over the fire and opened the cans. After dumping their contents into the pot, she produced a metal ladle and stirred.
Damon observed the whole process with an unexpected sense of pride. His witch was resourceful, planned ahead, and the light of the fire was making her skin glow and her green eyes shine. She was gorgeous, he had to admit. She wa-
"Wait, wait, wait." Damon broke into his own wayward thoughts with a little more enthusiasm than necessary. Wow, was I just thinking about how beautiful she is? "Where are the marshmallows?" He reached for her pack and started rummaging through it. He pulled out a couple of books. "'Woodsman's Guide to Identifying Mushrooms'? 'Fishing in Virginia's Ponds and Lakes'? 'The Forager's Handbook'? Are you serious, Bon-bon? Or should I call you Sylvan Friend?" Damon chuckled. Bonnie scowled in his direction but didn't deign to reply. And then he pulled out the last book in her bag. "'The Kinsey Report: Sexual Behavior in the Human Female'? What the actual fuck, Bonnie?"
"What, can't a girl catch up on her sex-ed?" Bonnie rushed up, trying valiantly to prevent a blush from darkening her brown cheeks. She was unsuccessful. She grabbed the book from the vampire. "Damon, I'm human. I have needs, most of which are definitely not getting satisfied. There's only so much solo work that can be done. And ain't nobody gonna help a girl with that around he-wait, don't say it. Just don't say it. Stop." Bonnie could see Damon's eyebrows waggle a bit, and the smirk form around his full lips. They were luscious, and she had to look away, so the blush wouldn't spread further.
"Oh, come on, Bon. We're both consenting adults around here, right? Some more adult than others but consenting nevertheless. And why would you bring that book along anyways, given the fact that, well, you know, me?"
"I actually forgot it was in my pack, Damon. And actually, there is such a thing as privacy. And that means that you don't go rummaging through a person's things without asking first." Bonnie hugged the offending book to her chest and stomped away.
"Don't be immature, Judgey." Damon got up and walked after her to the tent. "I promise I won't do it again. It's just been such a day and I wasn't really thinking." Damon touched her shoulder to turn her around. "Hey, do you want that foot rub now?"
Bonnie sighed, resigned to the inevitability that she'd have to forgive Damon yet again, just so that she could have a stress-free night. How many times had she done that? It wasn't just the sacrificing of magical energies that she made to help save her friends, it was the sacrifice of her anger and frustration. She could never just be angry and get over it in her own time. She always had to forgive so that she wouldn't feel guilty for feeling mad. And that was the hardest part. Sure, she was always taught to turn the other cheek, that to forgive was the best thing you could do for yourself. But really, all that forgiveness could weigh on a person's shoulders until they sagged irreversibly. But she straightened herself and turned around to face the vampire.
"Alright, alright. I could use a foot rub, but not now. I want to eat and go to sleep." Her eyes dared Damon to say anything snarky or smarmy. It seemed that he got the picture, because he nodded and went back to the fire pit. He pulled a tin plate from the kitchen bag and served up the pork and beans, which he handed to Bonnie with a spoon. She sat, quietly chewing, keeping her eyes on her plate. She ate methodically, taking a sip of water after every few bites. Her robotic behavior irritated Damon.
"Oh, come on, Judgey! I found a stupid book in your pack. I teased you a bit. Get over it. You're here, you're human, you're sexually frustrated. It happens to the best of us. How do you think I feel? Having to stare at the only woman on earth, the most beautiful woman on earth, day in and day out, knowing that she's too honorable to do anything but read sexy books and give herself relief? Knowing that I'm a jerk for even thinking that she could be anything more than just my best friend? God, you're so self-centered!" Damon's face turned red with frustration, and his icy blue eyes flashed fire.
Bonnie sat for a moment, surprised by his outburst. His words washed over her like a flash flood, and it took a beat for her to comprehend what he said. When she did, her jaw dropped a little bit, her lips parted slightly. She didn't know what to say or do. She decided it would be wise to take a breath before she replied. And as she breathed, she decided that she would ignore most of what Damon said.
"Damon, you're absolutely right. I was overly sensitive. I am overly sensitive. Being here, in this alternate universe, the same day over and over again, is exhausting. But I'm only thinking about how exhausting it is for me right now. Of course, I know it's hell on you as well. I promise I'll try to be more understanding and less judgmental about minor issues." She looked at him and then pointed at her pack. "The marshmallows are in the front pocket. Now what about that Hershey's Almond bar?" She smiled at him hopefully.
"Okay. I'm gonna make you the best, most chocolatey s'more you've ever had."
"Yeah, you mentioned that earlier today. I mean, I think you gave me the recipe several times." Bonnie laughed. Damon felt that all was right with the world when she did, like some balance had been reset.
In the back of his mind and the depth of his heart, he couldn't ignore the fact that she purposely didn't acknowledge his confession. He knew she heard it. He heard her heart speed up when he spoke, and it wasn't the pitter patter of fear, anger or irritation. Any vampire worth his salt could tell the difference easily. It was the lub dub of love.