Sorry for the wait, I have just been away for a great holiday. So this was meant to be the last chapter but I decided to split in two as it had grown. Thank you all so much for you kind words and for those of you that have added this to their favourites. I am still surprised. I have also just finished shadow souls. I won't post my thoughts on the book here just to say too much Damon and Elena not enough Damon and Bonnie for my liking.
Giuseppe and Maria Conti are my invention but if anyone would like to borrow them please feel free.
Translation from Italian to English in Bold I am also relying on an auto translator so if something is wrong I am so sorry but please correct me.
Radical Times – Chapter 15
The plane landed at Marco Polo airport. Damon and Bonnie were whisked through the airport to the jetty where Damon had arranged for them to be collected. The boat arrived and it seemed to be a luxury speed boat. Damon explained to Bonnie that it was the Salvatore private boat. He helped Bonnie on to the boat and the man at the wheel turned to face Damon and Bonnie.
"Ciao seignior Salvatore, Confido che ha avuto un buon viaggio? Chi e questa donna bella che avete con voi?"
Hello Mr Salvatore, I trust you had a good journey? Who is this beautiful woman that you have with you?
Damon laughed a truly affectionate laugh and hugged the man. The man was in his late 40's with salt and pepper grey hair. Not a tall man but a man who had presence. Bonnie instantly like him.
"Giuseppe. Cial il mio vecchio amico. Come sei stato? Questo g il mio fidanzato."
GiuseppeHello my old friend. How have you been? This is my fiancé.
Damon and Giuseppe then switched to English.
"Bonnie McCullough I would like you to meet Giuseppe Conti"
Giuseppe bowed and kissed Bonnie's hand. As he did he sniffed as well and raised an eyebrow at Damon. Damon sighed "Si lei e una" Yes she is one
"Pleasure to meet you Miss McCullough, my wife Maria is looking forward to meeting you. She has worried about Damon never finding love for centuries"
Bonnie gave a wide smiled. "Giuseppe, It is a pleasure to meet you to and I look forward to meeting your wife. I guess you have known Damon a while then?"
"The Conti's have worked for the Salvatore's for nearly 650 years. Maria and I have worked for Damon and Stefan for 500 years"
Bonnie's eyebrows shot up. Damon laughed.
"Cara I have explained to Giuseppe and Maria that you knew what we were and Giuseppe guessed that you were a witch. He could smell it in your blood. I am sure that Giuseppe and Maria will explain to you as it is not my place to do so. But they are the only people that Stefan and I trust apart from you and Elena to know our secret. Giuseppe let's head home and as this is Bonnie's first time please go via the lagoon"
Damon and Bonnie sat in the back of the boat as Giuseppe started the boat. Damon had his arms around Bonnie and she cuddled up close as they headed off.
Bonnie gasped as she caught her first sight of the Venice that she remembered from the TV they came in a saw Santa Maria Della Salute ahead of them. They passed St Marc's square on the right and headed up the Grand Canal. Giuseppe made a tight turn and they turned into a small side canal Giuseppe pressed a button on a remote control and ornate metal gates swung open and Giuseppe pulled the boat into what could only be describe as a boat garage.
Bonnie and Damon walked up the stairs from the boat and arrived in an ornate hall with high ceiling, stucco decorations designed by the famous Abbondo Stazio. Only the best was good enough for the Salvatore's. The rich deep colours and heavy brocade material was almost drowned by the vast size of the room. Damon smiled at Bonnie's reaction and whispered in her ear "wait until you see the rest" then Damon kissed her on the nose and turned at the loud exclamation that he had just heard. Damon let go of Bonnie just in time to catch a small woman no bigger in height than Bonnie that had hearled herself at Bonnie. Damon swung her around laughing; Bonnie had never seen Damon this way with other people. With her he was always loving but Bonnie had never seen the exuberance of life that he showed here. Damon was happy to be home. Though from Florence the time that he had spent in Venice had always been the happiest. The Salvatore's had built the house new. Damon and Stefan had chosen everything in here.
Damon turned to Bonnie "Bonnie this is Maria Conti"
"Maria, this is my beautiful Fiancée Bonnie McCullough"
Maria smiled at Bonnie than gathered her up in a hug being careful not to hug her to hard.
"I am so glad to meet you; I never thought that my little bambino here would fall in love" Bonnie raised an eyebrow at Damon being called little bambino. He did his smirk and kissed Maria's hair.
"Isn't my Bonnie beautiful Maria?"
"Bambino, you are very lucky" Maria smiled at Damon and put her arm around his waist she then caught hold of Bonnie around the waist and smiled as she guided them forward Damon draped his arm casually around Maria's shoulders but his fingers brushed the skin of Bonnie's neck. He hated not being able to touch her at all times. "Let me show you the Palazzo, Giuseppe is bringing your cases to your rooms Bonnie you will be in the gold room and Damon you will be in your old room". Damon looked at Maria. "Maria, Bonnie and I share the same room" Maria looked up at Damon and Bonnie had to stiffel a giggle she had never seen Damon look so terrified. "Share a room; this is a good catholic house. You are not married!" exclaimed Maria. 500 years and certain changes she still hadn't adapted to. Damon grimaced but he knew that there was no arguing with Maria and the room that she had assigned Bonnie was in the west wing of the Palazzo and his room was in the east wing. It didn't help that Giuseppe and Maria's room's were in the middle and with their hearing there was no way Damon could sneak back to Bonnie during the night. Bonnie just smiled at Damon, she didn't realise the situation, Damon was a vampire surely he could just fly into her room at night and they wouldn't know. She didn't realise that Maria's hearing was even better than his.
Bonnie loved her room, the bed was the biggest that she had ever seen. It was a four poster bed with heavy ornate carving of flowers, leaves and birds, the details we picked out in gold leaf. The bed spread was of heavy gold velvet and the curtains around the bed were of heavy gold and cream brocade. The wall paper was hand painted with birds, flowers and other small animals. The furniture was heavy Italian rococo. The only way to describe the room was sumptuous. Bonnie turned to Maria and hugged her. "I love it" she told Maria. Maria smiled kindly at Bonnie "Giuseppe has put your bags in your room and you are welcome to take a nap before a Dinner"
"That is a great idea, all the travelling we have the last few weeks I am tired, a short nap would be good and it will give you time to catch up with Damon" Bonnie kissed Maria on both cheeks, Bonnie then turned towards Damon and stepped into the circle of his arms Damon held her to him and Maria turned away as the couple embraced and Damon gently kissed Bonnie. "Cara, I will come and wake you in a couple of hours ok? We will have dinner and then continue the tour of the Palazzo. We won't dress up for dinner we will just have a relaxed evening"
"Ok" Bonnie kissed Damon softly then yawned as she headed to the bed she laid on top of bed and Damon pulled the covers over here.
"I love you" Damon said as Bonnie's eye lids gently closed.
Maria and Giuseppe stood outside but could hear Damon and Bonnie's exchange. Giuseppe put his arm around his wife of over 500 years. Maria had tears in her eyes as she turned to her husband she looked up to him with the same look that Bonnie gave to Damon.
"Giuseppe, il nostro bambino ha trovato il amore questa volta" Giuseppe, our little boy has found real love this time. Maria reached to kiss her husband. Giuseppe chuckled "Si e solo lui ha 500 anni!" yes and it only took him 500 years!
Damon headed down to the kitchen and sat down at the table with his two old servants. Giuseppe and Maria had been more like parents than servants, Damon and Stefan had only ever agreed on that one thing and that was never to fight and always protect Giuseppe and Maria. It was the only time that the brothers didn't get jealous. They sat and had a glass of blood in beautiful amber Venetian wine glasses as Damon told them what had gone on and how Stefan was. He knew that Stefan had already called Maria and told her all about Elena; Maria was sceptical as she could remember the whole Katherine mess from 500 years ago. She would never forgive that woman for hurting her two boys. Giuseppe and Maria had also given permission for Damon to tell Bonnie their story, Giuseppe and Maria had also let Damon know how much they liked Bonnie and that everything had been put in place as he requested and everything was going to plan.
A few hours later Damon headed up to gold room to wake Bonnie. She had tossed and turned a lot in her sleep, this worried Damon as Bonnie normally slept very soundly and only ever moved in her sleep to bury herself deep into Damon embrace. This troubled Damon as he woke Bonnie by kissing her gently on the lips. Even though Bonnie was asleep her arms went around Damon's neck and pulled him to her to deepen the kiss. Damon smiled against Bonnie's lips.
"Cara, how could you tell it was me and not someone else had snuck in here" asked Damon still amused at Bonnie's reaction.
Bonnie's eyes gradually opened and Damon was overwhelmed by the love that he saw in them.
"I was asleep in a house with 3 very old vampires, who was going to get past?" she returned his smile as he laughed at her answer.
"Good point! Any way Cara it is time to get up and get ready for dinner. Maria loves to show off her cooking skills and she doesn't often have somebody to cook for! I will go and run you a bath while you wake up a bit, by the way how did you sleep?" Damon looked concerned as he said the last statement.
"Honestly? That's the worst sleep I have had in weeks" Bonnie sat up in the bed and her hair was everywhere.
"Bad dreams?" Damon knew that Bonnie had suffered bad dreams ever since she had come into her powers but it had been weeks since she had one.
"Sort of, I think the main reason was that you weren't with me. I haven't had a bad dream since we started to sleep together."
Damon had a mixture of emotions flashing across his face, worry that she should suffer these bad dreams, pride that she didn't have them when they were together and guilt that they weren't sleeping together. Damon leaned over and kissed Bonnie's forehead.
"I'm sorry cara" Bonnie smiled at Damon "don't be silly there is nothing to be sorry about"
Damon got of the bed and headed to the bathroom to run a bath for Bonnie. Bonnie stretched in bed and then followed Damon into the bathroom. Damon knew the moment Bonnie had entered the bathroom by the little gasp that escaped her. The bathroom wasn't big but the white marble floors and large claw footed bath, gold taps and the gilded ceiling created a stunning room. The bath was nearly big enough for Bonnie to swim in and at this moment had hot water pouring in with Damon adding Mrs Flower's special bath oil, the scent and the warmth of the room overwhelmed Bonnie's senses.
Damon finished running the bath and kissed Bonnie, "I will leave you alone so you can enjoy your bath and I will see you in an hour" Bonnie wound her arms around Damon's neck and tried to tempt him into stay and joining her in the bath. Damon could tell what she was doing and he whispered in her ear. "cara, I want to join you in that bath more than anything, but you heard Maria and she is very strict about these things" Bonnie pouted and Damon found it very difficult to say no to her when she had that look on her face, in fact as Bonnie had started to play with the button's on his shirt and they had started to come open one by one Damon's resolve was nearly gone and he was reaching to start lifting Bonnie's top
"I thought I told you two none of that under my roof!" Maria's voice cut through the air but she had a smile on her face. Damon jumped back and Bonnie had to hold back a laugh at the look on Damon's face.
"Technically Maria this is my house" Damon looked up a little afraid.
"And I run it!" Maria said
Damon couldn't come up with an answer, he kissed Bonnie whispered in her ear and sulked out of the room, as he went past Maria, she winked at Bonnie and smiled she closed the door as she left.
Bonnie sunk into the deep bubbles and sighed. She had really struggled to sleep without Damon this afternoon. She brought her hand out of the water and looked at her engagement ring as it sparkled where the bubbles and water cascaded down her arm. Bonnie smiled to herself and wondered how long it would be before she became Mrs Damon Salvatore. Then Bonnie started thinking about when she was going to be turned, university and experiences that she wanted to have before she was changed. The main thing she wanted was her wedding.
The bubbles grew cold and she knew that Damon would be there soon to take her down to dinner. She got out of the bath and dried herself on one of the huge fluffy pure white towels. She used some body cream that again Mrs Flower's had given her and she brushed her hair until the curls shone the vibrant red that Damon loved so much. Bonnie dressed in simple jeans and a purple top in a soft jersey material that clung to her curves. She added a dab of her favourite perfume and then added the necklace that had belonged to Damon's mother. Just as she finished getting ready she heard a soft tap at the door. "Come in sweetheart" Bonnie said quietly and Damon entered as Bonnie stood up from the seat near the window. The last rays of the evening sun caught her and the glow that it cast took Damon's breath away. Damon held a hand out for her and Bonnie's small hand gently slid into Damon's and his cool fingers encase the delicate hand as he helped her up and brought her into a tight embrace. His let go of her hand and his arms encased her waist. His head was buried in her neck and he held her close. Bonnie felt the waves of love coming of him and she felt complete. Damon lifted his head to say something but the sound of Maria's voice carried though telling them to get down stairs, they smiled to each other and headed hand in hand out of the bedroom.
Down stairs in the sumptuous dining room Bonnie was glad that Maria had sat them sitting next to each other. She would have never been able to talk to him if she had sat the other end of the magnificent table and she wouldn't have been able to see him either1.
The dining room had in it a large marble fire place. The walls were again decorated with hand painted wall paper this time showing scenes of decadence and mythology. The ceiling was painted with beautiful fresco's, the furniture was all heavy carved oak and the table was long enough to seat 24 people. The chandelier was of Murano glass and the candelabras were guilt. The dining room was only lit by candles and they cast amazing patterns on the wall. Damon was sat at the head of the table Bonnie was sat to the right of him. The table was set with fine porcelain that Damon told Bonnie had come from France and had been made for them the porcelain was edged in gold with the Salvatore crest and motto on them.
Maria served them a beautiful meal consisting of 6 courses, coffee and great wines with each course. Damon and Bonnie talked and laughed and looked at each other across the table. Maria had noticed that Bonnie wore the necklace that had belonged to Damon's mother and winked and nodded to Giuseppe.
After they had finished they moved to the sitting room. Maria kept smiling at Giuseppe in a knowing way as they watched Damon and Bonnie move hand in hand to the sofa. Damon sat down on the sofa in front of the fire, Bonnie sat down next to him Damon's arm was around Bonnie's shoulder and his fingers were gently playing with her soft curls, the only light in the room was from the fire. Maria and Giuseppe gently closed the door and left the couple alone.
Hope you enjoyed this and i will start with the second part soon. This might also be my last fic for a while as I seem to be lacking ideas at the mo. The only idea I have is for a song fic and I can't write them so if anyone wants to give a shot. I think that the song by Billy Joel – Always a woman to me would be great.