A/N: Sheesh, another long update. I had even more planned for this chapter but it would've been too much so I'm saving it for the next update.
I want to say I appreciate every single review I get, negative or positive, and I love constructive criticism. I wanted to respond to a couple anon. reviews I got. I wasn't trying to portray Bonnie as weak when it came to the Jeremy/Julius situation (in the earlier chapters). She was trying to respect her boyfriend's feelings, who of course was not happy about a guy pretending to be his friend just to get to his girl. I personally don't think that makes a woman weak, I wouldn't want to continue to be around a guy (who was clearly interested in me) that my boyfriend hated either, and I am definitely not a weak person, lol. But if that's the way it came off, that wasn't my intention, and I'm sorry because I love Bonnie most when she's being strong (which doesn't happen a lot with the group, I'm sick of her so quickly being willing to sacrifice herself for them as if her life has no value, and I hope that changes this season). Doesn't matter now anyway, she broke up with Jeremy and now she can do what she wants without the guilt, lol.
Someone said the group was O.O.C. I felt writing Damon as a rational guy who liked to sit and talk things through first would've been OOC for him. Damon has always been a wild card, and in the space of time this fic is set, his relationship with Elena was brand new and he still had a lot of that in him. On the show, into season 5 he ran out and did stupid things when he and Elena had a fight. He's not rational, and he tends to try to get rid of a threat before it even becomes a threat (Mason, almost Shane) and sometimes he does horrible things like killing Jeremy for no reason at all, and Aaron, a completely innocent human for something his relatives did thirty years ago. He's a shoot first kind of guy, and it's not always just when someone is directly trying to kill him. Elena has quickly forgiven Damon for everything he's ever done. She and Caroline are Bonnie's best friends so it's natural for them to be nosy when it comes to her love life, especially if it includes a suspicious vampire. Maybe if this was all based around Elena, no one's behavior would seem so psychotic but typical, but I like Bonnie being front and center. Elena gets enough attention on the show, lol.
I thought it made sense for Damon not to trust Julius. He came out of nowhere, kept buzzing around the resident witch, tried to implant himself in their lives, tried to compel Damon's girlfriend, and was obviously keeping a secret. He tried to get information out of him in a non-violent way the second time around, it didn't work, then Bonnie's father was attacked. Damon predicted Julius would bring trouble to their doorstep and he was right (even though it wasn't intentional on Julius' part). Regardless, the crew is going to have to battle it out with these new guys, and it won't be pretty.
Anyway, done boring you with this A/N. Hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Song: Going Under by K. Michelle
Disclaimer: The only characters I own are the OCs. The Vampire Diaries belongs to The CW. No copyright infringement intended.
10 - Going Under
Bonnie couldn't fall asleep. Her eyes flitted open and she looked around the room as they adjusted to the darkness. She lay on one sofa, Elena and Caroline lay on the one across from her on opposite ends, Stefan was on the floor, his head against their sofa while Damon lay against Bonnie's. Once Julius left, Stefan let Damon out of the basement and he hungrily ripped into blood bags until he was back to full strength. They insisted Bonnie stay at the boardinghouse and she agreed to for the night. Nobody said much as they picked up the living-room as best they could before they all crashed.
Taking as much care as she could to be quiet, she flipped back the blankets she was under, and placed her foot to the floor. It didn't make a sound, no one stirred, so she lifted herself from the couch and swiftly made an exit, grabbing her shoes on the way out. She took a deep breath once she was in her car, making her way home.
When she reached the house, she took a moment before stepping out of the car. She felt a presence as soon as she did. She pretended not to notice it, although she felt eyes on her as she jogged up the porch steps seemingly nonchalant. She reached for the door knob then paused.
"You have a lot of nerve," she said boldly, before turning to face the uninvited guest. "You hurt my father, then you come back here so I can personally end you."
The vampire assessed her with dark eyes. "You're quite lovely," he complimented with a notable Russian accent. "I can see why Julius is so taken with you."
"Who are you?" Bonnie questioned through gritted teeth.
"The name is Anton, honey. You were warned," he said, calmly. "No one wanted to hurt that man, but you were sticking your nose where it didn't belong. You went and helped Julius anyway." He took a step forward. "Now you have to die."
Bonnie threw her hand up just as his fangs appeared, and he flew back, landing hard on the cold, dark street. In a flash he was up and running at Bonnie again. He slammed into the invisible barrier she'd put up right before her, and cried out in agony as he felt his clavicle bone, then his shoulder bone crack. He dropped down to his knee and looked up at her with fury in his red eyes as she broke his bones, one by one.
"Who attacked my father?" She continued to inquire. "It wasn't a vampire because they weren't invited in. Where are they?!"
"You really don't know who you're dealing with here!" He then cried out in pain again as one of his larger bones snapped like a twig. "Stop this!" It wasn't until he stopped squirming in pain that Bonnie realized that last plea wasn't directed at her. He kneeled, breathing heavily for a moment, then stood tall. Bonnie's eyes widened in surprise and confusion, then she narrowed them again. He leered at her, unaffected.
"I have a witch too, Bonnie," he revealed. She heard a man's voice chanting and looked around in a panic, though she could see no one.
"Where is he?" She cried. "Tell the coward to show himself." She gasped as the vampire suddenly flew at her, pinning her against the house. "Can't even take me without help? You're not much of a vampire."
"I'm going to enjoy this." He opened his mouth wide, fangs elongated, and angled his head toward Bonnie's neck. Before she could do anything, he stopped. She looked at him in confusion as his fangs retracted and his mouth dropped open in an "O".
"What the..." Bonnie started. He dropped to the ground, and an angry Damon stood in his place, a bloody heart in his hand.
"You snuck out...for this?" He breathed angrily.
"Anton!" The voice came from behind them. They turned to see a distraught young man dressed in all black, his hands to his head in a sign of distress. "You killed him!"
Who the hell are you?" Damon asked. The man looked at Damon and Damon immediately cried out in pain, holding his head. Bonnie narrowed her eyes at the witch and he fell to the ground as he felt a less severe pain in his own head. Damon's aneurysm instantly ceased and he rushed off the porch, pinning the man to the ground. He wrapped his hand around his throat.
"Stop fucking with my head!" Damon demanded as the guy tried to put up another witchy defense. Bonnie ran over to them.
"Hurt him again and I'll kill you!" Bonnie threatened the witch. He stopped trying to fight.
"Tell him...to stop...choking me..."
"Damon..." Bonnie said pointedly. Damon growled then tore his hand from his throat.
"Start talking," Damon demanded as he allowed him to stand.
"My name is Bryan. You already know everything else you need to know," the warlock breathed heavily. "You were told to leave Julius alone and not to help him. You did anyway, now Victoria wants you dead. Once Victoria wants something, she won't stop until she gets it. Now that your buddy here has killed her oldest companion, you both have a target on your heads. Bunch of fuck-ups!"
"Fuck you!" Damon spat.
"No, you're fucked," he promised.
Bonnie made a decision in that moment. She gave Damon a direct instruction. "Grab him." The words had barely left her mouth before Damon had Bryan on the ground again. Bonnie grabbed him by his head and started an incantation. He screamed furiously. Damon wasn't sure what she was doing but he continued to hold him down. When Bonnie pulled away, she felt newly empowered. "Release him."
Damon let him go and stood. Bryan jumped up and staggered back. "You bitch!" He spat at Bonnie. "You took my fucking powers!" He lunged at her and Damon quickly grabbed him, jacking him up with one hand.
"You touch her, you die," Damon warned him through clenched teeth. Bryan glowered at him but he didn't say a word. "You go back to wherever that bitch is hiding and tell her it'll be in her best interest for her and her minions to stay out of Mystic Falls," Damon told him before tossing him to the side.
"If she messes with any of my friends or family again, she's going to have a problem on her hands," Bonnie warned. Bryan glared at them both before backing away.
"It's your funerals," he said with a head shake before jetting off. Damon watched him go, and Bonnie already knew what he was thinking.
"Let him go," she said. "He's not a threat without his magic. We need Victoria to receive the message." Damon turned to her.
"Did you have to go looking for trouble?" He asked her. "I thought that was my thing."
"I knew they would be waiting for me, and I wanted to personally kill whoever was responsible for hurting my father," she told him. "What are you doing following me?"
"How about a thank you," he said. "That vampire could've taken you out."
"I had it under control."
Damon shook his head in disbelief. "Sure you did," he complied, sarcastically. "Do you get it now? Do you get why you need to be at the boardinghouse? It's not just your fight anymore."
Bonnie sighed then nodded. "I'll go get my stuff. You get rid of the dead body on my porch."
"I don't want you to go." Damon held Elena's face in his hands affectionately. "I feel like we've hardly been spending time together, just you and I."
"That's not true, we're always together," Elena disagreed. Damon leaned down to kiss her and with the sound of footsteps behind them, Elena lightly pushed him away. Damon sighed heavily as Stefan approached.
"Hey Stefan!" Elena greeted with more cheer than Damon appreciated. "Heading to the Bar-B-Q?"
"Yeah, I promised Caroline I would stop over there," he confirmed.
"Me too, I'll walk out with you," she volunteered. Stefan nodded and opened the door for her. She gave a small smile to Damon. "I'll talk to you later. Let me know if Bonnie decides to come out of the room." She started to step away but Damon gently grabbed her arm and pulled her back. Stefan caught the hint and walked out.
"Are you going to keep pushing me away every time he's around?" Damon questioned, clearly irritated.
"Just give it some time," Elena replied in a whisper. "I want him to get used to this. To us being together."
"How can he get used to it if we keep pretending there's nothing to get used to?"
"I just don't want to shove anything in his face, he's been hurt enough," she said. Damon glowered. She sighed, then gave him a kiss on the lips. "I love you, Damon." He released her and she was out the door. He shook his head and headed up the stairs, pausing at the top. He could hear the sound of vibrations coming from one of the guest bedrooms. He approached the room, where the door was open, and saw Bonnie lying on the bed, her back facing away from the door.
"You're not going to answer that?" He asked in reference to her vibrating phone.
"There's no point," she answered.
"A.K.A. it's not who you want to talk to," he corrected. He knew between little Gilbert, Caroline, even Matt, her phone had been ringing off the hook over the past two days, but she hadn't really been picking up for anyone. Even when Blondie decided to come over and force her presence on the little witch, she remained damn near unresponsive. The past couple nights Damon could hear her talking to herself in another language, late at night, and figured she was practicing spells with her new surge of power. A couple times she'd went out into the backyard with her grimoire to study up on some new things, but she didn't really leave the room for much else. Magic seemed to be the only thing she was interested in now. In light of the almost-tragedy and having to send away her father whom she'd just gotten back, losing two relationships, one of them that was just starting to fill the emptiness in her heart, and not even being able to sleep in her own bed, Bonnie felt devastatingly alone. Even in a house full of vampires. Despite himself, Damon couldn't help but feel just a bit bad for her.
Damon stepped further into the room. "Is there something that you want?" Bonnie asked, still facing away from him.
"I don't need to explain why I step anywhere in my own house," the vampire instinctively snapped. He heard her exhale and he sighed. "Laying around isn't going to make you feel any better. I was thinking about heading to the Grill for a drink, so no one's going to be here. Not that I revel in your company, but you can come."
"No."
"Come on, you know you want a drink," he pressed. "I'll compel the bartender to give you shots on the house."
"That's not what I want," she stated coldly.
"Well, what can I do to make you less mopey and boring?"
Bonnie exhaled and sat up in the bed to glare at him. "You can remove yourself from this room," she suggested. "I don't want to be bothered. All I want is to read a book that isn't a hundred years old, or listen to music, or watch some damn TV! You would think a house this size would have at least one! Seriously, I get you were literally born in the 1800s but it's time for you and Stefan to come into the 21st century."
"I have a TV."
"What?"
"In my room," Damon revealed. "You should've asked." Bonnie rolled her eyes. "If you stop being so bratty, I might even let you use it."
"I have no interest in being in your room," Bonnie quipped. It was Damon's turn to roll his eyes.
"Okay, obviously you must be difficult about everything. I'll leave the bedroom door open for you if you decide to venture in there. I'll be downstairs, nowhere near you, drowning my sorrows away in the finest bourbon." He turned on his heel and started to head out.
"I thought you were going out."
"I will once Stefan gets back."
"I'll be okay by myself for a little while," she informed him. "You guys don't have to stay with me 24/7."
"That's the whole point of you being here, sunshine. This isn't fun for me either." He disappeared from the room. The phone was vibrating again. Jeremy was calling. Again.
She sighed then silenced the phone before sliding off the bed. When she walked out of the room, she heard the sounds of a televisions spilling out into the hall. She walked in the direction of the noise until she came upon Damon's room. The door was left wide open, as he'd promised. She gaped at the large flat screen TV taking up half of the wall across from his monstrosity of a bed before stepping into his room for the first time.
He had it turned to the news, which was covering some town-wide barbeque taking place at Mystic Park. Caroline had practically begged her to attend it with her but Bonnie had politely declined. Having no interest in watching coverage of another of these overrated events, Bonnie quickly crossed the room and grabbed the remote from the bedside table. Flicking through channels, she settled onto the bed. She placed her phone on the drawer and saw Jeremy had left her a long text.
I miss you, B. Would you please just pick up the phone and talk to me. I hate the way we left off. I can come see you. Elena told me ur at the boardinghouse but she won't tell me anything else. Is something goin on? R u ok? I just want to be here for you. I'm sorry for not doing that enuf when we were together. Please call me. I love you.
Bonnie deliberated for a moment, before finally hitting the call button.
Stefan arrived at Mystic Park right behind Elena, and they climbed out of their respective vehicles, simultaneously. "Ready for a day filled with fun, food, and friends?" Elena asked him teasingly as they walked through various groupings of children, teens, and parents stuffing their faces or playing the various games set up throughout the park.
"You know I'm not really into this stuff, but I don't want to catch the wrath of Caroline," he joked. "I promised her I would make an appearance, so I will appear then be on my way."
"Speaking of..." Elena pointed and they both spotted Caroline near one of the grills, handing a hot dog to a small child. She beamed at them as they approached.
"You guys came!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms around the both of them. She frowned at the notable absence of another person. "Still couldn't convince Bonnie to come, huh?"
"Not this time," Elena said with a sigh. "Just give her a little more time."
Caroline quickly became cheerful again. "Well, I'm glad you guys could make it!" She gushed. "Wait until you see all the stuff I have set up. Come on." They allow Caroline to take them around, talking a mile a minute, and practically force feeding them the salsa and chips she'd made. They eventually came upon Matt, whom Elena was happy to see.
"Is my brother here?" She questioned during their light conversation.
"No, I haven't seen him in a couple days," he revealed. "I keep offering to hang out, but he keeps blowing me off. Hopefully, he'll show up to work and I can get me him to quit being so bummed."
"He will," Elena stated confidently. "I'll talk to him." She relocated Caroline and Stefan. "Hey guys, I think I'm going to head home, check on my brother."
"Yeah, I'll probably be going soon too," Stefan said.
"You are?" Asked a disappointed Caroline. "You haven't even tried my white chocolate chip cookies, or played any of the games."
"I guess I can play one but you have to play with me," Stefan compromised, causing her face to light up with a smile. Elena frowned as she took in their body language. They giggled at each other and she didn't fail to notice how closely they were sitting to each other. If she didn't know any better she would think they were flirting. Elena bid them both goodbye and headed home. When she arrived, Jeremy was holed up in his room. She knocked softly before opening the door.
"Jeremy?" She stepped in and he stood up as she entered. She could immediately tell something was wrong. "You okay?"
"I just got off the phone with Bonnie," he said.
"What did she say?"
"I need you to be honest with me, Elena," he said, seriously. "She just told me I'm going to have to move on, basically that she's not ever going to take me back. She gave me the whole it's not you, it's me, but in different words, which is total bullshit! She's going to keep telling me it doesn't, but can you honestly stand there, look me in the face, and tell me this all has nothing to do with that jackass, Julius?!" Elena took a deep breath. She was hoping to never have this conversation with her little brother.
"Jeremy, the best thing you can do right now is what she says," she advised. "Try to move on, think about other things. Dwelling on this or on Julius is only going to make you feel worse."
"Elena, don't beat around the bush!" Jeremy cried angrily. "We were fine! We weren't perfect, but we were fine until him."
"Honestly, I think she loves you, there was just something she wasn't getting from you," she told him.
"We agreed to work on it," he responded. "It doesn't make any sense for her to just end what we had after two years on a whim like this. Answer the question. Can you stand there and tell me this has nothing to do with him?" She couldn't answer, just gave him a sad look. Cursing loudly, he slammed his phone onto the ground. She quickly crossed the room to him, wrapping her arms around his shoulder.
"Just leave me alone," he requested, bitterly.
"No, I want to be here for you," she stated, boldly. "I understand what you're going through."
"How?!" He exclaimed. "You've never had the love of your life leave you for someone so undeserving. You're usually the one breaking hearts." Elena felt the sting of that statement but she wasn't going to let him chase her away with harsh words. She sat on his bed and patted the space next to her.
"I'm staying here with you and we're going to talk," she told him and he knew he had no choice in the matter.
My haunted lungs, ghost in the sheets
I know if I'm haunting you
You must be haunting me
Stefan could hear the Beyonce song coming loudly from the living-room as he entered his home. His brow furrowed as he walked in the room to find his older brother swaying in front of the fireplace, bottle of bourbon in hand. Stefan shook his head, laughing to himself. He watched him for a moment before speaking up.
"Having fun?"
Damon whirled around and glowered at the sight of him. "I was," he muttered. He looked down at the grocery bag in his hand. "Brought me something?"
"It's for Bonnie," Stefan corrected. "Chocolate chip cookie dough ice-cream. According to Caroline it's her favorite. It's not much, but it might make her feel a little better. Where is she?"
"Upstairs?"
"Has she come down at all?"
"Temporarily, to make a sandwich she didn't even finish."
"She's barely eaten anything for the past two days," Stefan said with concern. "Why didn't you make sure she had a proper meal?"
"She's an adult! I'm not going to monitor her every move!" Damon cried.
"She's going through a tough time."
"I understand that," Damon said, settling into an armchair and taking a sip from the bottle. "Elena and Blondie have been trying to be there for her. She needs to stop pushing away her friends."
"So, they'll keep trying," Stefan offered. "We all will. I know you two have your history of annoying each other at every chance, but for now can you just try to be a friend to her?" Damon's expression hardened and he took another drink. "Whatever, I'm heading up. Is she in her room."
"My room, watching TV."
Stefan nodded approvingly. "That's a good start." He left the room. Damon was finishing up the bottle when he received a text from Elena. Sorry, baby, won't make it over there tonight. I need to be here with Jeremy. See you tomorrow, love you. Damon sneered at his phone, then grabbed his car keys and made a quick exit from the boardinghouse.
Bonnie was lounging on Damon's bed, feet kicked up, watching television intently. Stefan knocked gently on the open door before entering. "Hey Bon," he greeted. "What are you watching?"
"The Walking Dead," she replied, keeping her eyes glued to the screen. "This Michonne chick is bad ass, and for some reason I really want her to get with Rick."
"Zombies. Not my thing."
"That's how I used to feel," she said.
He pulled the ice-cream from the bag and placed it on the night stand. "Got you something I think you'll like."
Her eyes widened at the sight of the ice-cream and she quickly took it from him. "Oh my God, you're the greatest," she gushed as she beamed at him. "This is just what I need right now."
"Glad I put a smile on your face," he said as she opened it up, spoon in hand.
"Will Damon be coming up to kick me out soon?"
"Actually, I heard him leave so I think you have some time."
"Cool. Another episode of Walking Dead it is."
Stefan smiled. "Enjoy. Have a good night, Bonnie."
"You too, Stef," she said and he dismissed himself.
It was well after midnight when Damon made his way back home from the bar. He was still a little buzzed and was ready to crash out. However, when he reached his room, it was still being occupied. Bonnie's sleeping form was atop the covers, the TV was still going, and a half empty carton of ice-cream sat on his night stand. His initial instinct was to shove her off the bed and lay down in her spot. When he walked over to the bed and looked upon her face, he paused. She looked so peaceful. He hadn't seen such a look of peace on her face in a very long time, if ever.
He sighed and went over to his closet, pulling out a spare blanket. He draped it over her body, shut off the TV and the light, and left the room, softly closing the door behind him.
When Bonnie rose in the morning, she was a little confused. It took her a moment to take in her surroundings and realize she was still in Damon's room, with a blanket wrapped around her that she hadn't had when she'd accidentally fallen asleep. She wandered out into the hall but the house was still.
She walked over to her room where the door was slightly ajar. She silently pushed it open to see Damon laying on the bed, fast asleep. She gazed at him for a moment. She had never seen him with such a look of peace on his face. It was nice.
"Morning, Bonnie."
Bonnie nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of a voice behind her. She whirled around to face a newly woken Stefan. She sucked in a breath. "Jesus, Stefan!" She quickly closed the door she'd been peeking through.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he said. "Did you sleep okay?"
"I did, though I certainly didn't mean to fall asleep in Damon's bed," she said, She never in a million years imagined that happening for any reason. "I'm surprised he didn't kick me out of the bed. Literally."
Stefan smiled. "He's going to be on his best behavior," he promised. "Were you going to head down and have some breakfast?"
"I was actually going to shower then head to the store," she said.
"Cool. I'll do the same and go with you."
"That's not necessary..."
"It's really not a problem," he insisted, heading off. "I'll meet you downstairs."
Bonnie sighed then headed to one of the three bathrooms the second floor alone held. These people weren't going to let her be anywhere alone, and were not so subtly forcing their presence on her.
Once she was dressed, she went downstairs to grab a quick bowl of cereal. Realizing, Stefan still wasn't down there, she decided to skip the cereal for now if she wanted to make a hasty exit before he appeared. They never had the good stuff anyway. Maybe she would grab some while she was out.
She quickly stepped out of the house and jogged down the steps. She stopped at the driveway as a crushing realization sank in. "Those mother-"
"Now, you wouldn't be trying to sneak off without me, would you?" Said Stefan from behind her.
"Where is my car?!" Bonnie cried. Stefan raised his eyebrows. "Seriously, you guys are hiding my car from me?"
"Our objective here is to keep you safe," he said, now serious, as he approached her. "You have a tendency to get in your own way when it comes to that. Damon told me you were almost killed when you went looking for revenge the other night."
"I was not!" She exclaimed. "I was caught off guard because I didn't know the fucker had a witch with him, but I wouldn't have let him kill me. Now I have twice the power and twice the awareness. I don't need Salvatores shadowing me."
"Regardless, this is how it's going to be for now."
"Fine! You can come," Bonnie reluctantly conceded. "But I'm driving." She snatched his car keys from his hand. If he wanted to come on her "shopping" trip, fine, but he wasn't going to enjoy it. She started toward his red Porsche and he quickly followed her.
"Whoa! I don't really let anyone-"
Bonnie turned and gave him a death glare so intense he felt it in his bones. "Fine. You can drive."
Stefan felt weird in the passenger seat, but he allowed Bonnie to take the wheel. It didn't take him long to realize they were passing all the nearby stores. "Where are you going?" He questioned.
"You'll see."
They came upon Fell's Church. Bonnie got out of the car and Stefan reluctantly followed. "Why are we here?" He questioned her. She walked on until she found the spot she was most comfortable with. She then whirled around, threw her hand up, and sent Stefan flying until he hit a nearby tree with a loud thud.
"Wow, that didn't take much at all," she said with a smirk.
"What the hell, Bonnie!" Stefan growled, shooting to his feet.
"Something is coming. I can feel it," she informed him. "We can't sit on our hands anymore. I wanted to come here and practice some spells alone, but I guess having a vampire to practice on isn't such a bad idea."
"Wait, I never agreed to-" His sentence was lost as he felt his feet leave the ground. His eyes widened as he looked down at Bonnie, who had her arm raised in his direction, focused intently as she chanted in Latin. He was lifted higher in the air. "Bonnie!" Then he was sailing again toward a large oak. Right before he made impact, he was being pulled in the other direction. She was playing with him, pulling him in different directions, while keeping him uncomfortably high in the air. The wind was blowing furiously around them, a side affect of her immense power. He cracked into the oak tree and she approached him, not through yet.
"Stop!" He screamed, furiously.
"It's for your own protection, Stefan-"
"I said stop!" He sped at her and grabbed her by the shoulders, his red eyes filled with anger. She yelped, her eyes wide as she looked at him. The wind settled and all was quiet in Fell's Church. Stefan released her and she turned on her heel and hurried away. He was blocking her path before she got too far.
"I'm sorry. Just give me a minute to myself, just one minute." He watched her walk away, keeping in his line of vision, and settle onto the ground, her back slightly hunched, as she looked down. Stefan kept his eyes on her until he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. He pulled it out to see Damon's name displayed on the screen. "What?" He answered by way of greeting.
"Where are you?"
"Out. What do you want?"
"Well, are you aware that Judgy is nowhere to be found? I think she made a prison break." Stefan smiled to himself at the presented opportunity to mess with his brother.
"What?!" He exclaimed with faux anger. "You let her leave?"
"I was passed out!" Damon cried. "Why would you leave the house without telling me? You know she can't be trusted to stay her ass still!"
"And you can't be trusted with anything," Stefan retorted. "You had one job."
"We need to find her."
"Sure you could be trusted with that?" Stefan replied, sarcastically. "Wait...I think...oh, there she is."
"What?"
"Yeah, see, I've done my job of keeping an eye on her."
"She's with you?"
"I'm looking right at her as we speak."
"Fuck you, Stefan." There was no humor in Damon's tone. Stefan laughed.
"You deserved that."
"Where the hell are you guys?"
"Fell's Church," Stefan answered. "I thought she needed to go shopping. She wanted to practice her spells in case of an attack. I was brought here under false pretenses and I've been an unwilling participant in her witch games."
"I hope she wipes the floor with you," Damon quipped before hanging up. Stefan laughed to himself as he put his phone away, then approached Bonnie. She was whispering and the leaves around her had started to levitate. Stefan sat on the ground before her and she opened her eyes and they dropped.
"You all right?" Stefan questioned.
"I'm fine."
"It's okay Bonnie, you've dealt with a lot," he said. "You can talk to me."
She shook her head. "Losing my Grams was the worst thing that could've happened to me," she began slowly. "Sometimes, I just really need her. She was the one I could turn to when I felt I had no one else. At least no one else who could understand. She always understood, she always helped me through it. It's been two years since she passed and it's still so damn hard."
"I've had to watch everyone I've ever cared about die," Stefan said in relation. "Damon is literally the only person I have left. As crazy as he drives me..."
"You love him to death," Bonnie finished for him. "It's good you guys have each other."
"You have us too," he added. "A lot of your frustration has to do with your friend, Julius, doesn't it?" Bonnie sighed.
"I've never had anything like what I had with Julius," she said. "I've never felt so strongly about a guy so quickly, especially someone I held such contempt for at first. Jeremy was just Elena's little brother for years who grew into this hot guy that I fell for way later. I cared for him so much that even when he hurt me, I was able to forgive him, because I wanted him in my life. Jamie just came at the right time. He was nice, he was cute, and he helped fill a void, before I totally blew him off. And Julius...I just feel this burning desire for him. The way he looks at me, with such intensity, I get these butterflies. He makes me feel like I'm the only one that matters. Aside from his daughter, of course. I'm not used to that. I just want to grab him, I want to love him...I want him here, but..."
"You're talking as if you've lost him," Stefan observed. "He seems to really care for you, Bonnie. I'm sure he'll come back."
"I practically sent him back into the arms of his crazy vampire ex-lover," she refuted. "I encouraged him to do whatever was necessary for his daughter, even being with Victoria. She wants Julius more than anything. As long as she's around, as long as she has Valerie, he's not coming back to me."
"If he has half a brain to realize what he has here waiting for him, he'll find a way," Stefan assured her. She responded with a half-smile. "Jeremy, Jamie, and Julius. That's interesting."
"Yeah, apparently I have a type. Your name has to start with a J." They both chuckled. "Kind of like your penchant for falling for women with the same face."
"A mold I'm really hoping to break."
"I think you will," Bonnie said. "Maybe in the form of a perky blonde with impeccable fashion sense."
"What?"
"I came here for a reason," Bonnie continued on. "Let's not waste any more time." The next hour consisted of small talk, practicing spells, and formulating defenses. As Bonnie was about to practice her freezing spell on Stefan, with his consent, they both heard what sounded like someone stepping on a twig. They both looked to each other.
"Someone's here," they said simultaneously. They caught a quick glimpse of someone speeding by in their periphery. They both stood with their defenses up.
"Who's there?" Stefan called out. "Show yourself! We don't want to have to hurt anybody."
Something was suddenly coming straight for Bonnie at top speed. Then they were sailing through the air, hitting the small, stone building that lay on Fell's Church property. It took the dark-haired, Italian vampire a moment to gather himself but he managed to rise to his feet.
"Good to see all this bonding time with my brother hasn't weakened your defenses," Damon quipped.
"What are you doing here?" Stefan asked as they walked over to him.
"You said you guys were preparing for a possible attack," Damon said. "You didn't think I should be a part of that?"
"No one was meant to be a part of it but me," Bonnie spoke up. "I wanted to practice alone, your brother wouldn't let me. I still don't appreciate you guys taking away my car, by the way. But if you want me to kick your ass all through Fell's Church, I'd be glad to."
"I'm prepared for whatever happens," he said. "You just need to remember to never let your guard down." He shot away. Bonnie turned around and was not surprised to see him coming at her from behind. She froze him on the spot.
"Nice," said an impressed Stefan.
"Thanks," Bonnie said with a smile.
"Are you going to unfreeze him?" Stefan asked uncertainly.
"I don't know," she said, thoughtfully. "I kind of like him better like this. Quiet." She tickled his nose and laughed, knowing he was fuming inside, before finally releasing the spell.
"You're not funny," Damon told her.
"I disagree," Stefan said.
"The girls are on the way to the house," Damon told her, "They want to spend time with you. We can continue this later." The trio headed back to their parked cars, Bonnie hopping in Stefan's Porsche, this time in the passenger seat.
Bonnie admittedly felt better. Caroline managed to make her laugh, Elena managed to make her a lasagna that was more edible than Bonnie expected from her non-cook of a friend, and both girls successfully distracted her from being bummed out. She was sad to see them go at the end of the night, though both left with the promise to have a slumber party with her soon, just like old times. Damon was not happy Elena wasn't staying the night and let it be known. She didn't say it in so many words, but it was obvious she didn't want to sleep with Damon while Stefan and his super-hearing were in the other room.
Bonnie was laying on her bed, wearing her favorite pair of pajamas, immersed in a novel she'd recently acquired. She was interrupted by a voice near the door.
"What you got there?"
"Nothing!" Bonnie quickly shoved the book under her pillow as Damon entered the room. Damon smirked and was suddenly right in front of her, pulling the book from under the pillow. "Don't!" She panicked
"Fifty Shades of Grey?" He read the title incredulously. "Really? When you said you wanted to read newer books I didn't know you meant crap like this."
"Caroline lent it to me," explained an embarrassed Bonnie.
Damon opened the book and started reading a passage in a teasing, not-so-sexy voice. "'Come for me, Ana," he whispers, breathlessly, and I unravel at his word, exploding around him as I-" Bonnie snatched the book from his hands, causing him to laugh loudly. "Would never think you were that type, Judgy."
"I'm not," she said, shifting her eyes away, making him laugh again. "Did you want something or are you just in here to bother me?"
"I came to be nice and let you know you can use the TV again if you want," he informed her. "I'm heading out for the night."
"Where are you going?"
"Elena's," he replied. "I refuse to spend another night away from her."
Bonnie nodded. "Okay. Thanks."
"Of course, if you'd rather I shut the door and leave you here to your porn..."
"I'll watch TV, thank you!" a quickly irritated Bonnie said as she moved past him and out the door. Damon followed behind her as she went into his room and grabbed the remote, sitting onto his bed. He pulled some clothes from his drawer and checked out the TV as she put on her new favorite show.
"Is this The Walking Dead?" He inquired. "I've seen a couple episodes of this before. It's pretty good."
"It's so addicting," Bonnie gushed. "I've never been into zombies, but this show is intense."
"You want good television, watch Game of Thrones," Damon suggested.
"Maybe I will after I finish with this," she replied. The episode started and Damon found himself stuck as The Governer set fire to Woodberry.
"Wait, what happened to everyone that was in Woodberry?" Damon questioned.
"Sshh!" Bonnie shushed him as she turned up the volume of the television. Damon shut his mouth as she'd demanded and sat on the edge of the bed. By the episode's end, he still hadn't moved.
"What did I tell you?" Bonnie bragged.
"Play the next episode," he demanded.
"I thought you were going to Elena's?" She reminded him.
"I will after this next one," he said.
"All right, just let me run to the bathroom," she requested, sliding off the bed and quickly exiting the room. Damon had no problem with Bonnie not wanting to use his bathroom. There was no door and he had no interest in hearing her pee.
When she returned she was surprised to find him lounging comfortably on the bed, two bowls in his hands. He held one out to her as she approached the bed. "Chocolate chip cookie dough," he clarified. "I got you more earlier today. I figure if we keep it in the freezer you'll keep your paws off my sugar cookies."
"That was the only decent snack I could find, get over it already," Bonnie defended herself as she took the bowl and settled beside him on the bed. "Thanks. How very kind, and unlike you of you."
"It seems like good TV is the only way we'll be able to tolerate each other's presence, so why not do it the right way," Damon suggested. He held up his bowl and Bonnie tapped her own against it jokingly as a way of cheers. A few minutes later they were engrossed in another epic episode of the post-apocalyptic series.
"This guy, Darryl, will literally eat anything," Damon pointed out in disgust.
"Shh!"
"That's going to have to stop," he said, irritated.
"I don't want to miss anything because you can't shut your mouth!"
"They're standing and talking, what are we going to miss?" Damon retaliated.
"See! Something's happening!" Bonnie increased the volume again and Damon quieted himself. Before they knew it, they had watched nearly three whole episodes. Bonnie felt her eyelids drooping near the end of the third one. She really wanted to continue, but had to admit to herself that she was beat, and it was well past midnight. She looked over and saw Damon had already drifted off. She smiled at the sight of him, back against the wall, slightly leaned to the side, head tilted to the right. She fought the urge to mess with him and take a picture, laughing to herself knowing he would not be happy to awake in the morning with his face painted in her best MAC make-up.
Her silly thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of her phone. She picked it up from the night stand and her heart skipped a beat at the name on the Caller ID. Julius. She hopped off the bed and rushed out of the room and into the hall, closing Damon's door behind her.
"Hello?" She greeted breathlessly.
"I can't stop thinking about you..."
"Julius..." She leaned against the wall, the phone pressed firmly to her ear. "I'm so happy you called."
"I needed to hear your voice," he said. She reveled in the sound of that familiar accent. "I miss you like hell, Bonnie."
"I miss you too," she said. "I didn't know when I would hear your voice again, if I ever would."
"You should've never doubted that," he replied. "I'm sorry if I woke you..."
"No, it's fine. I was awake."
"Where are you?"
"The boardinghouse," she replied. There was a pause.
"At 1:00 in the morning?"
"Yes, I'm staying here for now, remember?" Bonnie reminded him.
"I think I remember Damon mentioning it," Julius said. "I was under the impression you weren't going to do it." There was another pause. "Why are you doing it, exactly?"
"Basically to appease my friends," she explained. "They didn't want me staying at my house alone. They're afraid Victoria's people will come for me. They want me here to better protect me if another attack happens. I was against it at first, but if they do come for us, we'll have a stronger defense if we're all together. Her people did try to come for me the night you left. They knew I helped you locate Valerie."
"They came for you?" There was an instant worry in Julius' voice. "What happened? Did they hurt you? Who was it?!"
"Relax, I'm perfectly fine," Bonnie assured him. "It was this guy, a vampire, I think he was Russian or something, and a witch."
"Anton and Bryan."
"Yes, Anton and Bryan," Bonnie recalled. "I didn't know Anton had a witch with him, so I was taken by surprise when my spells were being blocked, but I could've finished him off. Damon came and ripped his heart out before I had the chance. We were able to pin down Bryan and I took his powers."
"Damon killed Anton?" Julius' tone was one of disbelief. "And you stole Bryan's magic. Shit."
"I told you, we're not to be messed with."
"Neither is Victoria when she is pissed off and she is definitely going to be pissed off," he said, worriedly. "Shit! I should've never left!"
"You had no choice!" Bonnie argued. "Don't worry about us, Julius! We can take care of it. You have a mission. How is that been working out?"
"I definitely think I'm getting closer to pinning down exactly where Vic and Vee are," he revealed. "I know it's somewhere in Charlotte. I'm almost positive they'll be staying in a house owned by humans. The humans will be compelled not to invite me in, so I won't be able to get in without Vic granting them permission to let me. Unless I kill whoever owns the house."
"I don't want you to harm any humans."
"I don't want to either. Maybe when I see Victoria again, I can convince her not to go after you."
"Or my friends."
"That's a stretch," he said. "It'll be hard enough getting her to let you off the hook, but I'll beg like a bitch if I have to. I need to get her to trust me again. I want to get her into a vulnerable position, then I'll kill her. I swear I will."
"By getting back with her?" Bonnie asked. "Convincing her you're still in love with her? Reigniting that passionate relationship you guys had before so she will let her guard down around you. That's the only way to get her in a vulnerable position, right? She's nearly three hundred years old, you won't be able to beat her in a fight, and she has back-up that you don't have with you right now. Even with two of them down. I know that's going to be the only way, and I can't pretend I don't hate it. She may take you back, she may release your daughter, but she won't let her guard down, and she'll never allow me to be a part of your life."
"My heart is with you, Bonnie," Julius promised. "The thought of being with Victoria again makes me literally sick to my stomach. I will find a way to do this without having to go down that road."
"Would you even be able to kill her?" Bonnie questioned. "You really loved her at one point. It wasn't that long ago that you guys parted. If you hadn't met me, who's to say you wouldn't have gone back to her by now."
"I wouldn't have," he stated confidently. "I was done with Victoria way before I met you. I can only see myself with you. I told you I was coming back for you, and I meant it." Bonnie exhaled deeply. Julius listened to the sound of her breathing for a moment. "I don't want to lose you."
"Then don't."
He sighed. "I have to go," he said. "I'll call you again soon as I can. Please, be safe."
"The same goes for you."
He sighed again. "Goodnight, Bonnie."
"Goodnight, Julius." Her heart felt heavy as she ended the call. She went into her own room and fell onto the bed haphazardly. She fell asleep with the image of hazel eyes and a pearly white smile in her brain. That night she didn't have any dreams, but a stream of visions. The most prominent one was of two numbers.
8, 28.
A/N: I know there's still questions to be answered. Don't worry, they will be.
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