A/n: Hey guys, didn't expect chapter two to come so soon! I said slow updates as I am doing exams, but it's my last week at school right now so I have a few free periods, which allowed me to write this. Not a lot happens in this chapter, other than the obvious, but it really paves the way for what's to come. Enjoy!

Midnight Return.

Chapter Two.

For a few minutes after Bonnie's prophecy if that was the way to describe it Damon was in utter shock, something that was fairly rare for the vampire, but seemed to be happening more and more lately, especially around the redhead nestled in his arms.

Eventually though, he came to his senses, remembering what it had been like in the Dark Dimension, when she'd predicted the Last Midnight. She had not been in a good state, and he didn't particularly have a desire to relive that again.

A hand went to her forehead, and Damon was glad to feel that she was normal temperature. Last time, she'd been so cold, so lifeless, that one might have thought she were dead, had he not have been able to hear her heartbeat. It had scared the hell out of him last time, and it wasn't something he wanted to happen again. He couldn't lose her. Even when she was hurt physically or mentally he felt her pain, even if, in the case of emotionally, he'd been the one to cause it.

The girl's complexion was even paler than usual, but she seemed to be warm enough. She began to stir, eyes flickering open. "D-Damon? W-what happened?" The redhead tried to sit up suddenly, before letting out a small groan and falling back into his arms.

The vampire acted upon instinct, cradling her in his arms, smoothing her cheek with the back of his hand. "Calm down. Don't try to move yet," Damon murmured, black obsidian eyes scanning her face, an expression that was about as worried as he ever dared to show.

Bonnie looked up at him, blinking and giving the impression of a startled bunny in headlamps. She was quite adorable really, Damon decided. "What's going on? What…did I…Damon?" Her voice was hoarse and squeaky, yet he could hear the worry interlaced in her tone. "What did I say?" she asked, looking up at him.

The vampire sighed, looking away for a second. He didn't want to worry her, but at the same time, she had to know. And besides, she was the one who'd predicted it after all she did have a right. He just couldn't bring himself to deliver the news that everything was about to go even worse than it already was, possibly worse than everything they'd faced thus far.

"What is it? Tell me, Damon! What did I say?" People were used to Bonnie being hysterical at times, but this was different. Under the hysteria and demanding tone which was most unlike the girl, therefore marking just how much of a dire situation this was was a fear that Damon had never heard; and it scared him, it really did. More than the thought of Klaus rising again.

With a sigh, he ran a hand through his fairly long hair. "Redbird...," he began, fully intending upon telling her it was fine, to just keep out of it, that he'd sort it. But just looking at her, so scared yet fierce at the same time, he knew he couldn't keep her in the dark. Elena and Meredith might still treat her much like a child, but that wouldn't be the same for them. Damon decided then and there, that he had to tell her. "You said he would return," the vampire stated. "You said the most pure, holy one would be sacrificed, and he would return."

A small frown creased Bonnie's forehead, as she digested the information, trying to take it all in. Her eyes met Damon's deep, murky pools for eyes, as she bit down on her lip. "I don't understand. Who will be sacrificed? And who will return?"

Again, Damon gave her that desperate look, as though silently begging her not to ask questions, just to trust him and let him keep her safe. But he knew that wasn't an option, as much as he wished it was. Then again, he couldn't keep her shielded forever. After everything that had happened, everything they'd gone through, she deserved to know everything. "Isn't it obvious, Redbird? You do know, you do. You know who'll return. Think about it."

The redhead shut her eyes, beginning to shake slightly. She took a few moments, before looking up, biting down so hard on her lip, it was a wonder she wasn't bleeding. "It's him, isn't it? Oh god, I knew it. What are we going to do? W-we can't fight him again. Last time we lost Elena, but we were lucky it was only one. This time it could be Meredith, or, or…you! And I've already lost you once, and we won't get you back a second time, and…and…I can't!"

Damon shook his head, putting his hands either side of her cheeks, cupping her face. "Hey. Calm down. We will be fine, okay? I promise you that. We'll get through this. We'll survive like normal, just like we always will. I will protect you and your friends whatever the cost. Because if they get hurt, so do you. And Elena. I won't have that. You won't be hurt, in any way. I promise you. I will protect you all, just like normal. Even Mutt and Meredith. We'll be fine, okay? I promise."

Even though his words had no definite promise behind that they wouldn't be hurt, or worse, die, the vampire had to say them. And of course, the part about protecting them was true. He would most definitely be doing his best, for the reasons said. Even if it was no secret that Meredith and he did not exactly get on, or that Mutt was often just an inconvenience to him, he would protect them.

Bonnie closed her eyes as he spoke, a few stray tears sparkling like rain drops on a spider web caught on her eyelashes. She placed one of her hands on top of his on her cheek, savouring the touch. Finally, her eyelids gave way to reveal sparkling hazel orbs, the moisture in them strangely complementary. "I…" She trailed off, not sure what to say. What should she? Okay? No, too little. I love you? The girl was alarmed at her own thoughts, then. Had she really been about to say she loved him? Really? But…did she?

Yes, was the immediate answer. But that didn't mean she had the confidence to say it out loud to him yet. What if he didn't say it back? What if he really, really didn't feel the same? But then, the girl reminded herself that there were more important things going on at hand like a centuries old vampire known as the ever powerful 'Old One', who was returning from the dead and would probably want just one thing; revenge from those who killed him in the first place.

"Thank you," Bonnie said eventually, settling on simple things. "I…I don't know where we'd be without you.I don't know where I'd be without you. Well, I do, because I was, but…you know what I mean. I'm just really, really glad you're here." She blushed, biting down on her lip, and Damon's lips formed his trademark, dazzling smile.

"You're welcome. You know I'll be here. Always." With nothing left to say, the vampire leant in and kissed her, one hand leaving her cheek to wrap around her waist, pulling her closer to him. His mouth explored hers, as he breathed in her scent, a small noise leaving the back of his throat. Bonnie was the same, a small moan leaving her lips, as she allowed herself to be carried away to paradise, in the arms of a fallen angel.

Damon could have done this forever. However, Bonnie of course, had to breathe. So he wasn't surprised when she pulled away, looking extremely flustered. But then, he noticed a slip in her expression.

"Redbird? What is it? Is it…going too fast?"

Bonnie shook her head, a small squeaking noise leaving her lips. She looked mortified. "No! I love it! I mean..no, it's fine."

The vampire gave a small grin at her expression, but his eyes showed concern. Something had spooked her.

"It's just…the prophecy. The sacrifice. Who does that mean?"

Damon's face fell. She wasn't supposed to pick up on that, because he didn't want to tell her. If he said it out loud, it was like admitting it was real, and the nightmare would become a reality.

"You know something, Damon. I know you do. Just..tell me. Who does it mean? You know, I know you do. Please, just tell me." Bonnie's hazel eyes, which were usually big and childlike anyway, had now grown so large, she looked much like a puppy dog. God, he really was going soft, wasn't he?

"I'm not certain, but…I have an idea. It's just…I don't want to worry you, and.." Damon was cut off, as Bonnie put a finger to his lips.

"Just tell me, okay? Please."

Taking a deep breath, the vampire nodded. "I think though I'm not certain that it means…well. Someone pure, innocent. Someone like you."

As this information sunk in, and it began to dawn on her, Bonnie's mouth became agape. "No…"

Damon nodded glumly. "Yes. I think the sacrifice, Bonnie, is you."

I think the sacrifice, Bonnie, is you.

Damon's words swirled around and around in Bonnie's head. How had she been so stupid? It was obvious, obvious now to her, now she knew the truth. Pure and innocent. Poor, little, innocent Bonnie.

This was supposed to end! She'd left High School. She was going to College. She was going to be a different person entirely. Her persona would remain, but she wouldn't be different. People wouldn't view her as a child; they'd treat her how she was. A young adult.

Well, that was how it was meant to be.

Now, it was going to be different. She was going to be sacrificed, so Klaus could come back, and kill everyone she'd ever cared about.

And today? Today she had to act like nothing was wrong. That she hadn't had a trance. That her and Damon hadn't had a…moment. Heck, they couldn't even know Damon was alive!

But how was she supposed to do that? These past few weeks had been spent in her bedroom, seeking refuge from the outside world. Meredith, Elena, Matt, even Stefan and Mrs Flowers tried hopelessly to lure her out the room, with promises of swimming, days out and picnics in the sun. Normal, human stuff.

But Bonnie hadn't felt normal. Hell, she hadn't even felt human.

Things were different today, though. She had to get back into the swing of things, but subtly; how could she explain an overnight transformation, from half dead witch, to springing, happy human? It wouldn't happen. But then, she'd just have to go about it in a different way. Pretend she was pulled out of her small fit of depression, and was beginning to move on while secretly, it was anything but the truth.

She was happy, but scared too. If she was the sacrifice, it meant she would die. And she wouldn't even die to save her friends. She'd always wanted a tragic death, something romantic. Dying so that a powerful Old vampire could rise from the dead and kill everyone, including her love, was anything but. Of course, Damon had sworn he would protect her. That he would do everything to make sure she didn't get sacrificed.

After he heard her Father awakening, the vampire had fled, with promises that he would be back in the evening, and that he'd never stray too far; if she was in danger, he'd reveal himself. But before he'd left, he'd kissed her again harsher this time, fiercer, fiery and full of passion, enough that she was almost sure she would faint and promised that nothing would hurt her.

Bonnie trusted him, of course she did she trusted him with everything she had, including her heart. But this time, she wasn't entirely sure that was a promise he could keep.

The ringing doorbell and a shout from her Father snapped the redhead out of her thoughts, and she managed a small smile. Every day, at almost exactly 11am, her friends had called around. Sometimes they came back in the evening, or sometimes they spent hours trying to tempt the girl out of the room. This time though, Bonnie was ready for them.

She was at her bedroom door just as Meredith lifted a hand to knock. As she took in her miniscule but undeniably naturally pretty red-haired friend, her face was an expression of pure shock, as was Elena's. Both just stood there, standing in shock, mouth agape.

As usual, calm, serene Meredith was the first to recover. "Bonnie! You look…great!" Beside her, Elena nodded, perfect strawberry lips which had probably kissed Damon a time or too, the girl noted with slight indignation turning into a smile.

Bonnie just smiled at their reactions, a very small laugh leaving her lips. "I don't know whether to take that as a compliment, or an insult that I didn't before."

Elena blinked. "Well…I think, we just meant…you're…dressed! And up, and…oh Bonnie, will you come out with us?"

"You think I got dressed just for my own entertainment?" Bonnie asked, grin widening. She was unaware of how unusually sarcastic, but decided that either she was spending too much time with Damon, or she had changed slightly. After all, things like this did it to you. Trauma. Grief. Love. It changes you, she decided, and she knew it better than anyone else. "Of course I'm coming with you. It's…time I got out and about."

Both of her friends were grinning properly now, and Elena was already advancing to hook her arm in her friend's. "Come on. It's lovely weather. Stefan and Matt are waiting in the car; we're going on a picnic!"

Nodding, a little bemused at her friend's excitement, Bonnie grabbed her purse and followed them. "I'm ready," she announced. Despite it sounding desperately dramatic, the girl couldn't help but think this was the next step, into a whole new adventure; and what would happen, nobody knew. For now, she just had to take it one step at a time…and try to act normal.