A/N: Thanks again to all your lovely reviews. They mean so much to me. And a big thank you to everyone who follows my story or me and everyone who added my story or me to their favorites.

Vie: I thought I should address you personally. Thank you so, so much for all your reviews and for continuing to review and reading. I love to hear your opinion of each chapter and what you wish to see happening. Your reviews make me laugh – honestly, I love the way you put your opinion. Thanks for your encouraging words.

This chapter is the second part of the last one. Special thanks to Reighn Venhem 33704 because she reminded me that there are more characters in Mystic Falls than just Damon and Bonnie (I tend to forget that while writing) and told me it'd be nice to hear Stefan's opinion to all of that. So, Reighn Venhem, I hope you're not disappointed with this chapter – though I don't think that this is the last we're going to hear from Stefan.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries or anything connected to it.

Enjoy reading.

Chapter 8:

Damon was once again sitting in front of the fireplace in the den a glass of scotch in his hand. Weird, that although they were vampires and it was the middle of summer there always seemed to be a fire going. He'd always known his brother was strange.

The first half an hour, Damon had been euphoric – partially because he was still horny after his short make out session with his little witch and part of – and he hated to admit it – the fact of giving Bonnie the gifts and her happiness receiving them. God, he'd turned into some ass-head boyscout.

However, that hadn't last long. It was obvious Bonnie wanted him – not only was it in her eyes when they were talking but he could smell her. If she just knew how much self-control was needed to resist the urge to throw her on the closest surface and rip her clothes off, every time he got a whiff of her want, she wouldn't think him a perv. He'd be her hero for resisting as long as he did.

But no, his little witch needed to be all judgey.

Never giving credit were credit was due.

At least, now he good enjoy his alcohol once more. The stress of winning Bonnie was lessened at the moment. He had just staked his claim once more. What Bonnie didn't realize was that with every time he cornered her or touched her body, she took on his scent. Even though human males couldn't notice his smell just by touch (those ignorant jerks needed his cologne or his shirt on Bonnie to realize his scent on her) supernatural creatures would be able to. And if they knew what's good for them wouldn't come too close to her.

Ya, she would so kill me for that.

But now, he was worrying about the gifts again. Did she like them? Did he go overboard? Wasn't it enough? Did he buy crap? Why did he listen to Caroline? Why didn't he listen to Caroline when she tried to talk him into way more expensive stuff? Why did he need to know it better than one of Bonnie's longest friends? Why …

"How are you?" A somber voice suddenly asked.

Damon had been so deep in his thoughts he hadn't heard his brother enter the house. Ever since the worrying about his life had stopped, the thread for Elena had been diminished for the moment and Jenna had lost her life, Stefan was spending even more time with his girlfriend than before. Stefan just came home to take a stash of clothes or to check upon his brother. He still wasn't convinced his brother was well.

"I don't know. Somehow, almost losing my life changed something in me. My former life seems so meaningless and I feel bad for the things I've done. And I decided to stop drinking human blood and go with your diet …", Damon sighed.

"Honestly Stefan, why do you think I'd open up to you now? What's wrong with you? You can't be that naïve. Uh … who do you think I am? You? All saint and shit?" Standing up, Damon turned to his brother. "I'm alive, I'm well and I'm going to live until someone else is going to be pissed off by me and Bonnie decides not to save me that time. All those jealous f*ckers trying to feel better by killing someone superior to them. Leave me alone, Stefan!"

With those departing words Damon passed Stefan and stomped up the stairs to his room.

Perplexed, Stefan looked after his brother. What was wrong with him? After becoming a vampire and overcoming the first wave of despair, Damon had always been cranky. Returning to Mystic Falls, however, had seemed to have changed him. He had his moments. Sometimes he acted or said something like when he'd been human – when they still had been brothers.

And after surviving the werewolf bite, he seemed even more like the long-lost brother. Sure, he was a bit more sulking but that was Damon; mood swings like a teenage girl. But he was thriven by emotions – no matter if it was hate, disgust, fury, care or love. He was passionate about everything he did – not always to his best or well-being.

But the last few days he'd become more sullen, more brooding – nothing like himself. First, Stefan thought it wise to let his brother have his space. The last few weeks had been a lot to take in and cope with. However, Elena was save and though she still was his girlfriend (thank god for that), she was alive and Damon should be happy about that.

Although ever since his cure Damon hadn't been following Elena anymore. He was gone the whole day or he was sitting in his chair pondering about what-the-hell-he-was-pondering-about.

But the last days he seemed to be more aggravated than usual and Stefan had a nagging feeling it hadn't to do anything with his own girlfriend (he couldn't help himself but to reassure himself that Elena, indeed, still was his girlfriend – no matter what some glances said) but with a certain witch who might be (no, not might, is, Stefan reassured himself. The other possibility was too hard to face) his brother's true love.

Stefan didn't know what he should think of that whole revelation. A small voice inside his head was still there nagging that it could have been Elena and not Bonnie – but with all the evidence (his brother believing in it was good enough for him) he suppressed that voice.

At first he'd been elated because it meant his brother would live. In those last moments of his brother's life Stefan hadn't cared about anything else; he hadn't cares about who his true love was, he hadn't cared that it had been a high possibility that it was Elena. Hell, he even would have given his life or worse – especially for someone with eternity waiting for him – his freedom for his brother.

After all they'd been through, that's what they were: brothers for all eternity.

Ehh, perhaps Damon was right and he was sappy. Whatever.

Then, he had been glad his brother was save once more. And as it seemed his brother had his own girl waiting for him. After all those years, Stefan could take a deep breath again. There wouldn't be anymore fights over a girl.

His girlfriend was his. He could start to really plan a future with Elena without any doubts in the back of his mind (What if she chose to give into his brother?).

And without the biggest hindrance between them they could work on their brotherly bond. Maybe things would be like they were before.

Hope was a strong emotion.

So, he was utterly exhilarated that Bonnie was Damon's true love.

But when the first wave of relief had passed, Stefan hadn't known what he should feel. Sure, he was still glad that the ever-present competition with his brother over the same girl (Elena may forgive him) for almost 150 years was done with. However, he knew his brother and he wasn't easy to bear most of the time. And he knew the relationship Damon had with Bonnie. They only worked out together when there was no way out and they had to rely on the presence of the other.

If the witch became the new obsession of his brother, Stefan didn't know how long it was until Bonnie set him on fire once more.

It wasn't just his brother's well being he was concerned about. Damon was nothing if not intense and if he wanted something he pursuit it until he got it. Elena had had him to turn to and she loved getting attention and nonetheless, it got too much to handle sometimes.

Bonnie was a whole other matter. She didn't like to get that much attention, she was happy with being appreciated by her friends and being noticed from time to time. Where Caroline and Elena had been in the center of their cheerleading squad, Bonnie hadn't pushed to get in the middle. Just being a part of their circle was enough.

How she would handle Damon's affection over a long time, Stefan wasn't too sure.

On the other hand if someone was able to defy his brother, it was Bonnie. She didn't back down and to all of their wonderment, he let her get away with it. Nothing more serious than an insult here and a threat there, which wasn't much for someone who easily lost his temper and acted on instinct – he'd killed people for less.

Stefan sighed. Why was life always that complicated? Why was his brother always this complicated? Those good old days when neither he nor Damon had to fight for their own lives and the lives of those closest to them. Unfortunately, they rarely had had one of those days and then the war had begun with all of its dire aftermath and Katherine had come into town.

Life never had been easy – especially not for his brother.

God knew he needed some happiness. Perhaps it was with Bonnie. Who was he to stand in the way of that?

But Bonnie was a sweet girl, nice, trustworthy, loyal, someone with a good heart; he couldn't excuse to let his brother loose on her.

Stefan didn't know what he was feeling. What he was supposed to be feeling in such a situation. Should he warn his brother off? As if Damon ever listened to you. Should he warn Bonnie? The girl knows how to defend herself against Damon. What else is she supposed to do? Protecting spells so he can't get into a 500 meter radius of her? A magic restraining order?

Knowing his brother, he'd find a way to get close to her, nonetheless. He wasn't easily distracted when he set his heart to something. You just had to look at his choice of friends. Who in his right mind would come to the conclusion to befriend the husband of the woman he killed? A vampire hunter who knew about his doing no less? Only his brother.

Shaking his head, Stefan stared after Damon's retreating form long after he was gone. All the younger brother could do was to keep an eye on Damon and to watch out for Bonnie.

For now, that was the only way he could keep her safe and his brother in a good mood.

When had his own life turned into such a bore?