A/N: I'm back with another late update! I'm annoyed with myself, but I do my best. I'm really nervous about uploading this chapter and I'm not sure why, but I really hope you guys enjoy reading. I have to give a special thank you to leni18 for pointing out a glaring mistake in the last chapter that has since been fixed, thank you so much for helping me out. Sometimes I rush to put out updates as soon as I finish and don't properly edit so these things may go by unnoticed so please let me know if you notice any mistakes, guys. Also, I had said last chapter that Julius moved to the U.S. when he was fourteen but I changed it to seventeen, so don't be confused when it's mentioned this chapter.

Sidenote: Bamon shippers, if you haven't been watching TVD this season you must! It's the season of Bamon in my opinion, and the last episode proved that. My Bamon heart couldn't take the Bamon feels, lol, they love each other!

Anyway, hope you guys enjoy!

Song: To Love and Die by Jhene Aiko. Seriously, this song is perfect for this fic and TVD in general. I love it.

Disclaimer: The only characters I own are the OCs. The Vampire Diaries belongs to The CW. No copyright infringement intended.

9 - To Love and Die

Four Years Earlier...

Chris Hendrick wasn't an impressive young man. At twenty-two years old, he was unsure of what he wanted to be, going to community college only to appease his mother, more interested in hooking up with hot chicks and smoking weed than working or doing homework. He was handsome, but immature, and misguided according to his parents.

He left his Sociology class, which he'd managed to sleep through entirely, and headed toward his Dodge Charger in the student parking lot. He was walking fast, eager to get home and roll up a fattie, so he failed to notice he was being closely watched by two females members of the undead. The two had scouted him out nearly a week ago, and were now ready to initiate him into their coven.

"There's our potential," Akira whispered to Victoria.

"Not a potential, our definite," Victoria corrected as she stood. In a flash, she was at the Dodge Charger, startling Chris.

"Hello, handsome," she greeted with a sexy smirk. She stepped closer to him and her eyes dilated as she asked him one question he'd never thought would be asked of him. "How would you like to kill someone?"

His eyes took on a look of wonderment as he responded. "I would love to kill someone."

When Bonnie rose in the morning she had a strange feeling. She knew she'd been dreaming throughout the night but she couldn't remember the dream itself. All she could recall was two numbers. 8, 28.

"8, 28," Bonnie mumbled to herself as she climbed out of the bed. She had no idea what the numbers meant, but the last time she'd had a numerical vision it ended up being a hint to her history teacher's murder. Bonnie could never forget about those numbers (8 , 14, and 22), or that night. The house was still as her father had already left for work, and Julius had silently slipped away before sunrise.

As she was getting ready for the day she received a text from Caroline. Grill tonight w/ me and Elena?

Sure. She missed her girls. As she was typing a reply a call came through, throwing her off.

"Hello?"

"Rise and shine, beautiful," a sexy accent came through the phone. Bonnie smiled at the sound of Julius' voice.

"Good morning to ya mate," she responded in a horrible imitation of his accent, receiving a chuckle from him.

"Any plans today?"

"Depends on why you're asking," Bonnie snidely replied.

"I want to take you to the Falls," he responded. "I came across it the other day and thought it was a good place for us to spend some time together. Hopefully, with no interruptions this time."

"I think that's something we can work out."

"Okay, be there to get you soon. Is everything all right?"

"Yes. Why do you ask?"

"It seems like you've got your mind on something," he said. "I can hear it in your voice."

"It's just that...all night I was seeing these two numbers," Bonnie revealed. "8, 28."

"8, 28?" Julius repeated, thoughtfully. "Like August 28th?"

"I don't know," she replied. "Does that day mean something to you?"

"Yes," he said. "That was the day I became a vampire."

Four Years Earlier...

'We can just run away. Yes. I'll go to her, tell her everything, and we can take Vee and go. Maybe I'll take them back to Australia. Maybe Victoria will find someone else and move on. Maybe she won't come after us. Maybe...

Julius was deep in thought as he crossed the street of his home. Today was the day he was supposed to be leaving town with Victoria and her coven, and he was dreading it. He'd went to see April and Vee after a heated discussion with Victoria the day before, but he just couldn't bear to say goodbye. Vee was so happy to see him, April was smiling the whole time, and she didn't make one remark about how he'd hurt her in the past. It was only love between the three of them, it seemed April had finally forgiven him for leaving. If he left again, there would be no way she could ever find it in her heart to forgive him again.

All these thoughts were running through his mind as he crossed the street from his house to the house where Anton and Akira resided to retrieve some bags at Victoria's request. The door to his home had been left ajar, as he was only making a quick run, and he was still in Vic's line of vision. Even if he had been fully focused on his surroundings, he wouldn't have been prepared for the Charger speeding at him at nearly 90 mph.

The vehicle crashed into him on full impact. He slammed into the windshield then rolled over the top before hitting the ground hard. The car sped off, not even attempting to stop. Julius lay on the cold ground, broken and bleeding. He heard sounds of panic which started to grow fainter by the second. He couldn't move, could barely see through the red haze.

"You're going to be okay, baby." Victoria's tears hit his face as she cradled his head.

"Jesus, he's still alive," Akira observed.

"I can fix this," Victoria sobbed. "Anton! Akira! Do not let anyone call 9-1-1!"

"I'm on it," Anton, along with his wife, got to work compelling the approaching neighbors

Victoria's fangs burst from her gums and she bit into her wrist as Julius was rapidly slipping away. She placed her bleeding wrist to his mouth. "Drink, baby, please drink it," she coaxed. "You're not dying on me today." The blood trickled down his throat and she watched as his wounds healed, and heard the sound of his heartbeat pick up.

"Thank goodness!" She cradled his head, lovingly.

"I'm okay, baby," Julius spoke clearly. She stood and pulled him up with her.

"Don't ever scare me like that again," she scolded, holding him so close their foreheads touched.

"It came out of nowhere," Julius said, breathlessly, still in shock. "You saved my life. I love you so much, Vic. You saved my life."

Victoria took him by the hand and pulled him along, past Anton and their newly compelled neighbors, and into the house.

They were instantly all over each other, Julius kissed her passionately, as if it could be the last time he'd ever get to, and she tore away his bloodied clothes with ease. They didn't even make it to the bedroom. The fell onto the hallway floor and took each other right there.

Victoria smiled to herself as Julius collapsed on top of her, whispering how much he loved her into her ear.

"I can't believe you're making me hike," Bonnie pouted as she followed Julius uphill. "Can't you just vamp speed us to the top?"

"Where's the fun in that?" Julius replied.

"I know you're not from here, but hiking in Virginia could never be fun, boo," Bonnie quipped.

Julius chuckled and shook his head. "You're cute when you pout," he observed. "What are you on about anyway? We're already here." He held out his hand for her to take and pulled her up the last bit of hill. She smiled at him and he walked her over to the edge, still holding onto her hand, so they could take in the view.

"It's not Los Angeles, but it'll do," he joked. Bonnie looked at him curiously.

"You used to live in LA?"

He nodded. "It's where I lived when I first came to the States," he revealed. "I was seventeen years old." Bonnie turned to face him.

"Tell me more," she requested.

"Okay," he said with a shrug. "I grew up in Melbourne, Australia. I have a really small family. One younger sister, she would be about twenty-seven now. We were raised by our grandmother who passed away which is why we moved to the States. We lived with her sister, but I moved almost as soon as I turned eighteen." He paused.

"And..."

Julius shrugged. "I guess there's one thing I should tell you," he said, uncertainly. "My real name isn't Julius."

Bonnie was taken aback. "Seriously?"

He nodded. "My real name is Jonathan. Jonathan Taylor."

"Wow...that is something I would never have guessed," Bonnie said in disbelief. "Jonathan. It's a nice name. Why do you call yourself Julius?"

"I'm not the same person I was six years ago," he explained. "I guess it represents how I've changed, which is why I kept the name. It was given to me by Victoria."

"Is she your daughter's mother?"

He shook his head, his expression now a grave one. "No, she's the woman I left my daughter's mother for." Julius gauged Bonnie's reaction then snatched his hand from hers. "Don't. Don't look at me with those little judgmental eyes." He started to walk away from her but she ran up behind him and grabbed his hand.

"Julius, I'm not judging you," she said, calmly. "You're being sensitive because you expect to be judged, but you're not going to get that from me. I already told you, you can share anything with me." She sat down on the grass and pulled him down with her. "Now, you brought me here for a reason. You want to open up to me. I've shared so much about myself with you, now it's your turn."

He sighed and nodded. "You're right. I don't know why it's so hard for me."

"You don't have to start with Julius," Bonnie compromised. "Start off with Jonathan. Tell me about Jonathan."

So he did. He told her about growing up in Australia without his parents, April being one of the first people he met in California and they were friends before they started dating. He explained how he hadn't spoken to his sister, Jacqueline, in years but last he'd heard she'd married and left Cali, but he had no clue where she now resided. He'd been cut off from everyone he knew when Victoria came into his life. His relationship with her was intense and passionate, even more so after he became a vampire. She taught him everything about being one of the undead, like compulsion, manipulating another's dreams, feeding without killing, and vervain. The last of which he'd known nothing about before being turned. After keeping him enslaved to darkness for over a year, an unspoken punishment for his betrayal, she had her warlock give him a daylight ring.

When he left her, he'd traveled back to Cali to check on his daughter to find she'd been taken from her home. He knew immediately Victoria was behind it. He did his best to track them down, and it hadn't been easy. Regardless, Julius was willing to do whatever it took to get Valerie to a safe place, away from vampires.

Bonnie noticed he skipped over the details of the day he'd been turned but she let it go. Maybe it just wasn't time yet. The hours passed and eventually their conversing turned into making out.

Julius was laying on the grass, Bonnie lay halfway on him, her leg slung over his as they tasted each other. The sun was getting lower in the sky and Bonnie knew they would have to go soon. It was best, because they were both getting hot as their kissing intensified.

Bonnie had moved completely on top of him, and he had his hands firmly placed just below her bottom, fighting the urge to move them up and grip the ass he loved to admire when she wasn't looking. Bonnie pulled away for a moment to look him in his eyes.

"You don't know how bad I want to have you right here and now," he told her in a whisper. She shifted her eyes down nervously. Nervous because she wanted the same thing.

"Julius..."

"I know you're not ready," he cut her off. "You're so sexy it's impossible not to want you. I am a patient man, and you're worth waiting for. I will be looking forward to the day you say yes." He moved her hair out of her face so he could really look in her eyes as he spoke. Bonnie gave a small smile before kissing him again softly.

"This isn't temporary," he declared, suddenly. She looked at him curiously. "Yes, my daughter is my first priority, but I accepted the fact, years ago, that I could never be a real father to her. I'm a vampire with supernatural enemies. It's way too dangerous for her to be with me. I just want to bring her to people who are going to love and care for her, keep her safe, and I'll continue to love her from afar. I will have to go and take care of that but I promise, I will come back for you."

Four Years Earlier...

Julius woke up in an empty bed. A piece of paper lay on the pillow beside him, and he picked it up to see Victoria's perfect calligraphy flowing across the page. 'Went with Akira to run some last minute errands. You looked so peaceful I didn't want to wake you. We should be back by 10, then we're hitting the road. I love you so much, Julius, and I can't wait to begin this new journey with you. Love, Victoria,' it read.

Julius looked at the clock that sat atop the nightstand. It was approaching 5:00. It took nearly two hours to get to April's and he wouldn't have a whole lot of time to explain the situation and tell her he was leaving, possibly forever. He jumped out of the bed and dressed in record time. He burned rubber all the way to his baby mother's home.

April was surprised to see Julius when he arrived but could immediately tell something was up. "What's wrong?" She asked as she let him inside.

"Where's Vee?" He asked instead of answering her question.

"She's upstairs taking a nap," she replied. "What's going on?"

"Can I see her?"

April nodded and led him up the stairs to the baby's room. Vee lay in her crib, looking peaceful and beautiful as ever. Julius gazed at her for a moment before April broke him out of his reverie.

"Jon, is there something wrong?"

"We need to talk," He walked out and April followed him into the bedroom they previously shared as a couple, as he didn't want to wake the slumbering child.

"You're really making me nervous. What's up?"

"I don't know how to say this so I'm just going to say it," he started. "I'm here to say goodbye."

"What?"

"Victoria and I are leaving Cali tonight," he told her. "I don't know when, if ever, we'll be back."

April shook her head in disbelief. "You cannot be serious," she said. "You are not doing this to us again."

"I hate that I'm doing this but..."

The sound of the door slamming downstairs interrupted Julius' sentiment. They both froze."What was that?" He asked her.

"I have no idea," she replied, her eyes wide. The sound of footsteps on the stairs was quickly followed by a man bursting into the bedroom.

"What the fuck is this?!" He bellowed.

"Who are you?!" Julius exclaimed.

He looked past him to April. "I knew you would do this to me," he said angrily. "I knew you would hurt me. You want to tell him who I am, April?"

"I have no idea who you are, or what's going on!" April cried

"You're going to deny me in front of him, you bitch!" He spat.

"Hey!" Julius shouted angrily, stepping in front of the guy and shoving him. "That's the mother of my child. Don't ever disrespect her! I don't know who the hell you are, but you're getting the fuck out of this house."

April gasped as the man pulled pulled a shotgun out of his jacket and pointed it right between Julius' eyes. "Want to say that again, tough guy?" He challenged.

Julius' heart rate accelerated but he didn't let it show on his face. He took a slow, tentative step backward. "That's not necessary, man..."

"You really shouldn't have come here," the guy told him. His hand was shaking as he kept the gun pointed at him, his heart racing just as fast as April's and Julius'. He didn't want to be doing this, but he had no choice.

"Why are you doing this?" April asked, her voice cracking

"He can't have you," he answered. He kept his eyes on Julius. "You can't have her."

Bryan heard the gunshot, followed by April's piercing scream, from outside and smiled to himself. Her screams soon ceased. Less than five minutes later, Chris Hendrick emerged from the house, slightly shaken, blood splattered on his clothes. He'd never thought at one point in his life he would murder someone he didn't even know.

"It's done, it's time for you to do the spell," he told Bryan as he stormed past him to the car. "I'm going to call Victoria and tell her Julius is dead."

"And this is where we part." Bonnie said with a heavy sigh. She and Julius lingered in front of her door, holding each other's hands.

"Not ready for me to meet the old man yet, huh?" Julius said.

"You're not ready, trust me," Bonnie replied. "Once he sees you it'll be non stop questions and disapproval. He barely even liked Jeremy." Julius nodded in understanding.

"I can come to your room once you get upstairs," he offered hopefully.

"I have to get ready to meet with Caroline and Elena, remember?" She reminded him. "You'll just distract me."

"I won't distract you. I won't even talk, I'll just watch you dress."

"Yeah, okay, you can wake up from that dream right now," Bonnie quipped. Julius groaned, causing her to giggle.

"Thanks for coming with me today," he said in a serious tone. "It's nice having someone I can just talk to."

"Thanks for bringing me," Bonne responded. "I have to say...I'm not happy about the reason you came to Mystic Falls, but I'm glad that you came regardless." They smiled at each other and Bonnie stood on her tippy toes and planted a kiss on him. She turned to open the door and he stepped back.

"I'll be seeing you later, beautiful," he promised and when she looked back to reply he was already gone.

She stepped inside and was a little surprised by how quiet it was. She expected to hear the TV going or her father on an important business call. "Dad!" She called. "Dad, I'm home!" There was no response so she jogged up the stairs and checked his bedroom. It was empty but it did look as if he'd recently occupied his desk. His car was in the driveway but he was nowhere to be found.

She headed to her own room and stopped short in the doorway. A trail of what looked like blood ran from the middle of her room to the wall where a message was written in red. Stay away from Julius. More blood trailed into the bathroom, where the door was slightly ajar. Her heart was racing as she burst into the bathroom. Another message awaited her on the mirror above the sink.

HELP HIM

YOU DIE

Blood was splattered all over the sink and the tile, and a bloody handprint smeared the edge of her bathtub. She snatched back the curtain of the shower and her eyes widened in horror before a bloodcurdling scream ripped from her throat.

Damon studied Stefan closely, as the younger Salvatore sat with a smirk on his face. "Really? That's your best poker face?" Damon quipped. Stefan shrugged.

"It's your move, big bro," he challenged. He felt his phone vibrating in the pocket of his jeans and held up a finger to Damon to put their poker game on hold. He pulled out the phone and, seeing it was Bonnie, put his cards down and got up to distance himself from the table. "Hey Bon, what's up?"

Damon's ear perked up at hearing Bonnie's name. He couldn't think of any possible reason why Bonnie would be calling Stefan. "What's wrong?" Stefan's tone instantly turned to one of concern. Damon got up and stood behind Stefan to better hear the conversation. He frowned at the sound of Bonnie sobbing on the other end. "Don't worry, I'll be right there. It'll be fine." He ended the call and turned to see Damon staring at him. "I have to go."

"I'm going with you," Damon stated firmly.

"Fine, but it has to be now," Stefan demanded and the two men quickly exited the boardinghouse. Stefan burned rubber all the way to the witch's abode, causing them to reach their destination in record time while miraculously avoiding getting pulled over by the police. They sped onto the porch and Stefan found that the door was unlocked. He rushed in, having been previously invited in months ago, but Damon was unable to put his foot through the door.

"She has to come invite me in!" Damon cried.

"No time!" Stefan cried back as he rushed up the stairs. "I'll be back in a minute!" Damon angrily cursed to himself as he could do nothing but wait there, and there was nothing he hated more than being inactive in an emergency situation.

Stefan quickly found Bonnie's room and burst into the bathroom. Her father lay in the tub, unconscious and bleeding. Bonnie sat beside the tub, holding his hand and her free hand was above his chest as she muttered an incantation.

"Bonnie..."

Her head snapped up at the sound of his voice and she jumped up at the sight of him. "His pulse is getting weaker," she explained. "I was trying to stop the bleeding...can you please give him some blood?" Stefan nodded and kneeled down next to Rudy. He bit into his wrist and forcibly opened Rudy's mouth to try to get him to swallow the blood. Bonnie watched with red-rimmed eyes. She sucked in a breath when her father began to stir. Stefan pulled his hand away and the man opened his eyes.

Ten minutes later, Stefan was still on his hands and knees, scrubbing the blood off the marble tub. Bonnie re-entered the bathroom, the tears now stained dry on her face. "It's done," she announced. She settled on the floor beside Stefan, picking up one of the sponges. "He will be flying back to Nevada tonight." Bonnie had decided to put a memory spell on him so he wouldn't remember the last few hours, after getting all the information she could out of him. "He couldn't tell me who attacked him, what they looked like. It wasn't vampires though, because they came in uninvited. When he came home, none of the lights were working. He was hit from behind, knocked unconscious. They did that to him while he was unconscious. Whoever is responsible for this is sick, Stefan."

"We will find out who's responsible, and they will pay for this," Stefan promised, looking her directly in the eye so she could see how serious he was. He moved toward her and put his arm around her, comfortingly. "Everything is going to be fine, okay?" Bonnie nodded sadly. He took the sponge out of her hand. "Don't worry about this, I'll take care of it. Come on, let's go downstairs. Damon is waiting outside."

"Damon is here?"

"Of course, he wouldn't let me leave without him," Stefan revealed as he stood, lifting her up with him.

Damon was still pacing the front porch impatiently when his brother came down with Bonnie. "Finally," he said as they approached. He frowned at the sight of their bloodied clothes. "What the hell is going on?"

"My father was attacked," she stated, gravelly. She held out her phone to Damon. "They wrote on my wall and my mirror in his blood." Damon looked at the pictures in her phone.

"Julius," he muttered. "Of course."

"Bring her back to our house," Stefan instructed, gently guiding Bonnie toward Damon. "Call Caroline and Elena, she doesn't need to be alone tonight. I'm going to finish cleaning up here and make sure her dad gets on the plane safely. I'll be home as soon as I can."

Damon nodded, placing his hands on Bonnie's shoulders and leading her off the porch to Stefan's car. He stopped at the passenger side to look Bonnie in the eyes as he spoke. "I am sorry this happened, Bonnie," he told her, and for what felt like the first time, she could see the genuineness in his eyes. "I swear, I am not going to let anything or anyone hurt you. They will pay for this."

Bonnie sat in the armchair in the living-room of the boardinghouse, still visibly shaken. The Salvatores, along with Caroline and Elena, paced the floor while discussing what should be done. Bonnie was barely even listening.

"I almost lost him," she mumbled to herself. "If I'd come home any later..."

"Bon, none of this is your fault," Caroline assured, having overheard the witch's sentiment.

"She's right, it's that Australian asshole you've been hanging around's fault," Damon quipped.

"Damon..." Stefan's tone was disapproving,

"It's the truth," Damon's face was twisted in annoyance.

"We have no clue who was behind the attack," Elena chimed in. "Just that it wasn't vampires. We need to find out what Julius knows."

"I know one thing," Damon started. "Bonnie can't stay at that house anymore."

"Excuse me?" Said the witch with a raised eyebrow.

"He's right," Stefan agreed. "It's too dangerous. You're better off here, where we can easily protect you."

"I don't need protection," Bonnie stated. "My father was the one who I was worried about. Now he's gone. I can take care of myself."

"Bonnie, it's not a bad idea," Elena said. "I've had them as bodyguards before. It's not the worst. Care and I will come keep you company as much as possible."

"Look at that, problem solved," Damon declared. "They can go with you back to the house to get your stuff."

"No," Bonnie said, firmly. "I don't need to be babysat. It's not happening." Everyone's heads turned at the sound of banging at the front door. Stefan looked to Damon.

"Expecting anyone?" He asked. Damon shook his head and Stefan was at the door two seconds later. Bonnie could hear the familiar accented voice when the door was opened. She then remembered she had texted him when she had arrived at the Salvatore house.

"Where's Bonnie? What the hell happened?" He was suddenly in the room, looking at all of them, worry etched on his face. Bonnie stood up and locked eyes with him.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Damon exclaimed. "You're the reason this happened!" Ignoring Damon, Julius sped over to Bonnie, looking down at her with apologetic eyes.

"I'm so sorry," he said, softly. Everyone studied them closely. He brought his hand to her face, moving her hair, so he could get a good look at her. "Are you hurt? What happened?"

Bonnie suddenly felt herself being pushed back. She fell into Caroline, who swiftly caught her and righted her. Damon was in front of her, glaring at Julius with a look that could kill. "Don't you fucking touch her," Damon hissed at the younger vampire. "I told her you were not to be trusted from the very beginning. You came and interfered in her relationship, caused her to fight with her friends, then she finds a threatening message written in her father's blood because of you. Don't you ever fucking touch her again."

"Damon-"

"I don't want to hear it, Bonnie," Damon quickly cut the witch off, eyes still piercing into Julius. "You're staying here, and this guy isn't allowed within five hundred feet of you or this house."

"You don't get to decide that for me," Bonnie argued. Damon looked back at her incredulously.

"What the hell is the matter with you?" He asked her. "All the trouble he's caused you, you should want him dead."

"Maybe we can all sit down and try to discuss this rationally," Caroline suggested, trying to cut the heavy tension in the room. Damon's blue eyes flicked to hers.

"No," he said. "Rationality has gotten us nowhere. I'm ridding us of this problem once and for all."

Shouts erupted in the room as Damon flew at Julius, quickly pinning him to the wall as he snatched up the fire poker that was resting next to the fireplace. "Damon, don't!" Bonnie screeched but he was already driving it through Julius' chest. Julius cried out in pain as did Damon as he staggered back, his hands to his head as he felt his brain cells popping. Julius pulled the poker out of his chest and Bonnie ran over to him as he keeled over.

"You are so damn lucky that wasn't a stake!" Damon hurled angrily at Julius. "I told you before, I'm going to fucking kill you, and I meant it!"

"You're not!" Bonnie screamed at him. "You're not doing anything but making the situation worse!"

"We don't need to be turning on each other," Stefan offered, calmly. "We all need to work together on this."

"He's not one of us, Stefan!" Damon exclaimed. "He's an outsider who's shaking the foundation. If we let him in, he'll bring us down from the inside."

"I am an outsider," Julius agreed, holding his bleeding chest as his wound slowly healed. "The only person in this room I care about is Bonnie, unlike the lot of you who have never put any value in her life." There was a stir in the room and Julius, now healed, stood tall. "That's right. She's told me about the countless times you've put Elena's, or everyone's, life before hers, despite the number times she's saved all your pathetic asses! You've all been willing to sacrifice her for your own selfish reasons. Especially you, Damon. Now all of a sudden you want to play her knight in shining armor and act like you care about her?"

"That's not true," Stefan declared. "We all care about Bonnie, including Damon."

"I can guarantee that I care more about her well-being than all of you combined," Julius argued, angrily. "Which is a shame, seeing as I haven't known her for half the time you all have."

"You know nothing," Damon bit out through gritted teeth.

Julius narrowed his hazel eyes at Damon. "Why do you hate me so much? Because I let her know her worth, because one day she may finally put herself first, and I may be the one behind her, or beside her, wherever she wants me to be, fully in support of her not giving a damn if you live or die." The room was dead silent. Damon looked like he was two seconds from ripping Julius' heart out, but he didn't want to catch another aneurysm. "I want Bonnie safe. I could give a fuck less if any of you like me! We now all have a common enemy, which means we're on the same side."

"Which means we're just postponing me killing you," Damon added.

Julius studied him for a moment, then his face contorted into one of rage. He flew at Damon and landed a punch on him so hard it sent the vampire flying across the room. Julius went after him again but Damon quickly steeled himself, and the two clashed. Damon growled angrily as he threw Julius off of him, causing him to crash into the wall. In less than a second, Julius had the same poker Damon had stabbed him with, and it was flying toward Damon's head. Damon ducked at the last second, causing it to impale right through an unprepared Elena's forehead. A collective gasp went through the room as the raven-haired vampire toppled back onto the floor.

"Elena!" Damon sped over to her, along with everyone else, as Julius stood rooted to his spot, his eyes wide as saucers. Caroline quickly yanked the poker from her friend's head.

"Elena, are you okay?" Bonnie asked, hysterically. Elena's eyes were shut, and she wasn't responding. If they didn't know better, they would assume she was dead. Her wound was still bleeding. Bonnie yanked up the sleeve of her shirt, and held her wrist to Elena's mouth. "She needs to drink so she can heal."

"Come on, baby, drink it and you'll be okay," Damon coaxed. Caroline gently moved Elena's head up. She groaned and she soon latched onto Bonnie's wrist, sucking down her blood until the hole in her head completely closed. She opened her doe brown eyes and looked up at everyone crowding her.

"You guys are suffocating me," she rasped, "Back up, please. Aside from a killer headache, I'm fine."

"Thank God." Caroline released a deep breath and stepped back to give Elena space. Damon and Stefan helped her off the floor. Damon felt the rage quickly building up again. He turned to face a relieved Julius, wanting nothing more than to separate his head from his shoulders.

Julius knew it was coming before it even happened. Obscenities flew from Damon's mouth as he pushed him into the brick above the fireplace, his fingers wrapped around his neck. Julius could feel him trying to take his head off as he crushed his trachea. Julius pressed his thumbs into Damon's sockets, pushing his eyes toward the back of his skull. Damon growled in pain before being yanked away. He furiously fought to get out of Stefan's grip. Julius tried to tell him he hadn't meant to hurt Elena but Damon wasn't listening. He burst away from Stefan and went after him again. Punch after punch was exchanged between the two. The living-room was obliterated before everyone's eyes as they crashed into the walls, used furniture as weapons and a defense mechanisms, and tossed each other around relentlessly. Bonnie had never seen anything quite like it. They were moving so fast it was hard to register the damage they were inflicting on each other, and concentrate long enough to give an aneurysm to just the two of them and not every vampire in the room.

Caroline and Stefan tried to get in between them, but only ended up on the receiving end of their wrath. Damon soon got the upper hand, pinning Julius to the floor, crushing his jaw in his hand, looking upon him with the deadliest of expressions. He was going to enjoy snapping his neck, then ripping him apart, limb for limb.

"STOOOPPP!" Bonnie shrieked at the top of her lungs. She concentrated and dealt an aneurysm of incredible strength. The two of them writhed on the floor, in more pain than anything they'd ever felt before. Bonnie didn't end it, despite the fact that the vampires had long rolled away from each other and were begging her to stop. She felt herself getting light-headed but couldn't stop. Someone's hands were on her. There was a loud ringing noise in her ears, drowning out the cries of pain, and someone calling her name. She was being shaken, blood poured from her nose, but she did not relent. Caroline's face appeared before her, blocking her view of Julius and Damon, her face twisted in panic as her mouth moved in a way that suggested she was screaming.

"Boooonnnnieee!" The surrounding sounds all came rushing back in loud and clear, flooding Bonnie's senses. She snapped back. She looked up into Caroline's worried blue eyes, then down at the two men laid out on the floor, unmoving. Stefan still held her by the shoulders.

"Oh." The word escaped Bonnie in a whisper. Then her eyes involuntarily rolled into the back of her head, and she fell back into Stefan's arms. She heard the shouts of panic above her head before being engulfed in darkness.

When Bonnie came to, she was greeted with a pounding headache. She could hear two people having a hushed conversation but she couldn't even begin to sort out who the voices belonged to. She groaned as she tried to sit up. Someone was instantly upon her.

"Bonnie? Are you okay?"

Bonnie slowly opened her eyes to see Caroline's big blues regarding her worriedly. "I'm okay," she said, sitting up more. Caroline sighed with relief. Bonnie looked up to see Elena gazing down at her as well.

"Are you okay, Elena?" She asked.

"Yep. The beauty of being a vampire is that I was always going to be okay," she said. "Your blood helped speed the process along, so thank you for that."

"I am so sorry for what Julius did to you," Bonnie said.

"It's okay, I've forgiven him," Elena said. "For that at least. He apologized profusely, I know he didn't mean it. Damon did attack him first."

"Where are they?" Bonnie questioned, looking around at the destroyed living-room.

"Damon is downstairs with Stefan," Caroline explained. "That doozy of a spell you did really took a lot out of them. And you. We pumped Damon with a little vervain and locked him in the basement. It's only temporary. He really, really wants to kill Julius and that was the only way to ensure he won't. We didn't want you to wake up to that."

"Bonnie, I have to ask," Elena moved to sit beside Caroline. "Are you and Julius like, a thing now?" Bonnie was nowhere ready to answer this question, but after what had just taken place, she had no choice.

"We haven't exactly defined what we are," she answered, truthfully. "But I guess you could say we're a little more than friends." Both girls looked a little taken aback at her honesty.

"I knew it," Caroline said. "I could see it in the way he looks at you. He's totally in love with you, Bonnie."

"I wouldn't say that," Bonnie countered. "We were just seeing where it was going to go."

"I've seen it too," Elena said. "He loves you."

"Elena, when I was with your brother, Julius and I were strictly platonic," Bonnie assured her friend. "I still care very much for Jeremy, and I wish nothing but the best for him. I know he kind of hates me right now, and I hate to ask anything of you, but..."

"I won't say anything," Elena promised. "Jer is still pretty upset and this would be the last thing he needs to hear. And I'm not mad at you either, Bonnie. I get it. I've been in this exact situation."

Bonnie sighed. "Given what's happened today, a relationship is the last thing I'm worried about. Where's Julius?"

"Outside," Caroline replied. "Stefan was very upset and made him leave the house after you passed out and he was able to get up. He seems to feel really bad about everything."

Bonnie nodded and stood up. "Can you do me a favor and get me the map and a razor. I'll be outside." Elena nodded and the girls silently watched her go. When Bonnie stepped out onto the porch she spotted Julius sitting on the banister, studying something on his cell phone, with a sullen expression. His head lifted as she approached him.

"You're up," he said, swinging his legs over the banister to stand up. "I'm so glad you're okay." He gave her a hug but both held back and it was a little awkward. He wasn't sure how angry she still was, and didn't want to catch yet another brain-fry for daring to touch her after his behavior.

"I'm glad you're okay," Bonnie said softly, sitting on the banister along with him. "What were you looking at?"

"Just some pictures."

"Of Valerie?" She posed it as a question but with a knowing tone. He nodded. "Can I see?" He held out his phone and she studied the picture. The first time she'd seen them it had only been for a second before Julius caught her. Now, she could see how beautiful the little girl really was and how much she resembled her father. Bonnie could only imagine how much those pretty hazel eyes were a reminder of Julius to April everyday she had woken up without him. "She is so beautiful. She has your eyes."

Julius smiled. "Thank you. I miss her so much. It's been years since I've seen her. Those pictures are all I have of her."

"Which is why getting this phone back from Damon was so important to you," Bonne realized. She sighed. "With that spell, I didn't mean for it to go on that long. Something came over me, I was feeling so many different emotions, especially anger, and I just couldn't stop."

Julius nodded in understanding. "For a second, I thought you were going to kill me," he confessed. "I would've deserved it." Bonnie reached out and took his hand. He looked at her with uncertain eyes.

"I had a moment, but I could never kill you," she told him. She then narrowed her eyes at him. "But don't you ever hurt Elena again."

Julius put his hands up in a vow of obedience. "Never again."

"Bonnie?" Bonnie looked back to see Elena with the map in her hand. She walked over and handed it to her uncertainly. "You're not doing another spell, are you?"

"Just a quick locater spell," Bonnie said.

"I really don't think you need to be doing anymore magic today," a concerned Elena said. "Not after what just happened."

"I'll be fine."

"She may be right, Bon-" Julius started to say.

"I said I'm fine," Bonnie snapped and both vampires shut up. Bonnie stood up and spread the map out on the wicker table. "Give me your hand, Julius."

"What are you doing?" He asked as he held it out

"We are going to locate Valerie," she told him as she split his palm open with the razor. "And you're going to go get her." His blood spilled onto the map. Bonnie began muttering an incantation and Elena and Julius watched as his blood pooled around a certain area. "North Carolina."

"North Carolina?" Julius' brow furrowed. "Why the hell would she bring her to North Carolina?"

"So this isn't the same person who attacked Bonnie's father?" Elena questioned.

Julius shook his head. "Victoria has a group of people ready to do anything she demands," he said. "I doubt she'd do her own dirty work."

"Victoria? I'm so confused, who is that and who is Valerie?" Elena asked. Julius looked to Bonnie who nodded.

"Victoria is my ex-girlfriend," he explained. "She's a vampire, and I was turned from her blood. Valerie is my daughter born from a relationship previous to Victoria. I didn't tell you guys who Valerie was because my main priority is to keep her safe, and the fewer people who know of her existence the better."

"I understand," Elena said. "You didn't have to keep the secret from us. I would never hurt a child. Damon hasn't shown you his best side since you've been here, but he wouldn't hurt a child either, even if it meant hurting you. I want to do what I can to help."

"Thank you. I appreciate that," Julius told her, genuinely.

"How dangerous is Victoria?" Elena inquired. "Will she hurt Valerie?" Julius sighed. Trying to explain the thoughts and actions of a woman like Victoria was not an easy task.

"Victoria and I were together for six years," he began. "She had compelled me to leave my girlfriend, April, which I didn't realize until after I was turned but I was able to forgive her, especially after all she'd done for me and how she'd forgiven me after my indiscretions. I found out about Valerie well after I'd left April for Victoria, and I never told her about it. I started sneaking away to spend time with April and Vee. She told me later on that if I had just told her about Vee she would've been understanding, since the pregnancy happened before we ever met. I felt stupid then, but a part of me knows I kept it from her because I was hoping one day April would take me back.

I was turned in the most horrifying way. The memories of that day still haunt me. I was a broken man, and Victoria was there to pick up the pieces. She helped me to not spiral out of control during my transition. She loved me. I loved her too, but I started to feel empty again. I never told her how I was feeling, just let her think everything was fine. I took the coward's way out of the relationship and left while she was out hunting.

She knew I would check on Vee, so she kidnapped her out of anger and to pay me back for what I did to her. She wanted me to suffer, to feel what it was like to lose a piece of your heart. She wanted me to chase them. I think more than anything she wants me back. If she were to bring any harm to Vee, she knows that will never happen."

"So why would she come here?" Bonnie asked. "Why would she hide from you if that's what she wants?"

"I've made her angry again," he replied. "I realize that she's been having me watched, and she isn't happy about my bonding with you, which explains the attack on your dad and the death threats. She's already been hiding her for months and has been sending me on a wild goose chase. I'm not a tracker, I'm not good at this. The idea to come here struck me one night when I remembered her mentioning moving here about four years ago. When I got turned we ended up traveling to a lot of different places with our coven."

"So, what's your plan?" Elena asked, outright.

"I'm going to go to her and apologize for everything I've done," he said. "I haven't been taking the right approach. There's no way I can take Vee back by force or stealth. I have to get her to forgive me."

"And if she tells you in order to get Vee back you have to be with her?" Bonnie questioned. Julius turned to face Bonnie.

"The last thing I want is to be with her," he said. "I will exhaust every other option."

"Elena, can we have a moment?" Bonnie asked her friend, politely. Elena nodded then disappeared back into the house. Bonnie gingerly took Julius' hand once they were alone. "Being around me is only making things worse for your situation. You need to do whatever it takes to get your daughter," she said. She stepped closer to him, placing her hand to the side of his face to ensure he looked at her when she spoke. "If that entails letting Victoria back in, or just telling her what she needs to hear, than I understand. Regardless, you need to go."

"I can't leave knowing you're in danger," he said, a slight waver in his voice.

"I can protect myself," she promised. "Even if I couldn't, I'm going to be with my friends. Together, we're a force to be reckoned with. We can take Victoria's coven."

Julius gave a half-smile. "You're a force all your own, but I wouldn't underestimate them."

"If I were them, I wouldn't underestimate me," she quipped. He smiled then quickly grew serious again.

"I want to kill them myself," he said. "I will get Valerie, and I will kill every last being in Victoria's coven. Everyone who's responsible for doing this and threatening you."

"One thing at a time. Valerie is what's important."

He placed a soft kiss on her forehead, letting his lips linger there for a moment.

"I hate to say goodbye."

"It's not forever," Bonnie said, reassuringly. "Do what you have to do, then come back to me." Julius cupped her face with both of his hands, lifting her head toward him, then brought his lips to hers. He kissed her softly, and Bonnie's eyes were still closed when she felt him back away. She felt a slight wind pick up around her, and slowly opened her eyes to see she was alone. It took only a moment for the first tear to drop.

"Bonnie." She heard Caroline's voice behind her but she didn't turn. She wasn't surprised or angry that her friends had been listening. She just wanted to be comforted in that moment.

Elena and Caroline did just that, enveloping the little witch in a group hug, allowing her to let out her emotions. About Julius, about her father, it all came rushing to the surface and she sobbed in their arms. They didn't say it aloud, but a knowing look exchanged between Caroline and Elena confirmed to the other what they already knew. Bonnie was in love with Julius as well.

A/N: So Julius is leaving, and Damon is going to work on convincing Bonnie to stay with him and Stefan. Our girl is going through a tough time right now, but she's a soldier! Julius still doesn't know that Victoria orchestrated his being turned into a vampire, and it may get ugly when he finds out...

Leave your thoughts, and I'll be back with another update! Hopefully sooner than later :)