A/N: Thank you again to everyone who reviewed, added the story or me to their alerts or even favorites. Thank you guys so much. I'm still baffled.

Vie: Thank you once more for reviewing. I love to read your reviews, your opinion on the chapter and on the characters. They're great. Sometimes I've got the feeling you put more thought into analyzing the chapter than I do writing it ^^

I put links on my profile for Bonnie's gifts for everyone who's interested.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Vampire Diaries or anything that's related to it, neither do I own anything else you might recognize and no money is made out of.

Enjoy reading.

Chapter 10:

Sunlight was poking straight into her eyes. Why didn't she let the blinds down yesterday? She hadn't been so out of it. She'd felt great and hadn't done anything more than rambling and giggling. Then why were the blinds still up?

Wondering, Bonnie spread herself out in her bed. For the first time since … she couldn't even remember … a long time she'd had a peaceful and restful sleep. Stretching her arms over her head, her left fist bumped against the bedpost.

The girl froze. Her bed didn't have such a high wooden bedpost. Turning her head, Bonnie tried to see what was going on. Upside down she couldn't put it together; seemed like she'd need to stand up. Watchful, the witch rose.

She knew that room. But it wasn't anywhere near her home. Closing her eyes tight, Bonnie cursed lowly. She had hoped that had been a dream; a dream evoked from Caroline's insistence.

No, she'd really gone to the Boarding House – scratch that, you went into Damon's room, not the 'Boarding House' –, opened up to him and kissed him passionately – for quite some while.

Looking down at herself, she realized something else. She'd slept in some of his clothes! What am I doing here?

Damon had coaxed her into a shirt of his and she'd compromised on a shirt and pants. He had another thing coming if he thought she would reveal that much to him after a few kisses. She wasn't just some game to win.

After changing in the corner of his bathroom – Why am I not surprised that his bathroom is missing a door? Must be great to have no use for a toilet any longer –, the tiredness Bonnie had suppressed had made itself known full force. Too tired to fight, Bonnie had let Damon lead her to his bed.

No! What's wrong with me?! Bonnie couldn't believe she caved so easily.

But something else was nagging on her mind. The last few days she'd felt … she didn't know what she felt exactly … but it'd been a weird feeling. She even caught herself a few times rubbing a hand over her heart.

Last night, that feeling vanished. The closer she'd come to the Boarding House, the weaker that feeling had become. Crossing the threshold, it had felt like the last resistance between them had been overcome. All night, that feeling of … emptiness? … had been gone.

There wasn't much room to fight the reality of the whole Kiss thing anymore. Was that feeling one of the symptoms the other witches had warned her of? Was it one of those things that'll happen if they fought their fate? Did he feel it as well?

Too many questions and not enough answers.

What was she supposed to do? She didn't want her life to be predestined by some weird magic because she saved the live of someone similar to a friend. She wanted to choose with who she wanted to spent the rest of her life with because they fit together, they complemented each other, because they loved each other. How was she supposed to give in to Damon just because some stupid spell told her so?

If they didn't gave in immediately, what would happen? Would they have pain? Would the magic really cause them pain? What would happen? Would it only affect her because he was a vampire? He healed faster than Wolverine but she was still human. Was she making herself go crazy? Perhaps this wasn't because of the magic and perhaps that feeling was just an imagination?

Too many, not enough.

However, staying in Damon's bedroom wouldn't get anything done, Bonnie decided and made her way out of his room and downstairs. Maybe she could find a little snack in the kitchen that Elena had stationed there.

Damon was in the kitchen preparing once again waffles for Bonnie. Last time they'd placated her, so he figured it couldn't do any harm trying to keep her satisfied with food when she woke up and realized they'd slept in the same bed.

He still couldn't believe last night had happened. (And he couldn't believe he was so skeptical about such little action but it was Bonnie and in their relationship it was a huge leap that she came to him and told him willingly so much about herself.) But she was up there in his bedroom sleeping in his bed.

A 'bling' signaled that the last of the dough was done and Damon hurried to take the waffle out of the waffle iron before it burned. Whipping the cream he heard Bonnie waking up; a small smile adorned his features as he pictured a sleepy Bonnie stretching in his bed and noticing where she was.

Though, he didn't need to be a vampire to hear her coming down the stairs – sleepy Bonnie was clumsy to put it nicely.

Few seconds later, his little witch entered the kitchen. "Good morning," she yawned. "What are you doing? I'd never pictured you as someone who had breakfast in the morning. Real food, anyway", Bonnie continues insecure.

Damon shot her a breathtaking smile. "A racy co-ed was enough for me but then you came along and forbade me my favorite breakfast. And suddenly I was forced on a plastic bag diet."

Bonnie rolled her eyes at him. It would have been kind of funny – Damon's weird kind of funny anyway – if she didn't know that what he said was the truth. A pointed glare followed.

"And you better remember that. Or else I'll have to reinforce the diet." She didn't want to but that didn't mean she wouldn't take care of it if he relapsed into old habits. As the last Bennett witch in Mystic Falls she needed to honor her legacy.

"You do know we eat normal meals?"

Bonnie snorted. Just yesterday she had similar thoughts about eating habits of vampires. "I do know. What do you think I am? – Don't answer that. You know what I meant. I'm just surprised seeing you in the kitchen baking. I thought you more of the 'cup of coffee for breakfast'-type."

Why do I always start to ramble when I'm around him nowadays? It's Damon, stop acting so weird! Thankfully, her complexion was dark enough that she had to blush to an extreme for anyone to see it. Though a glance at Damon revealed that he knew. As if a vampire couldn't say where the majority of your blood was rushing to. Oh goodness... She really didn't want to think about what else they knew …

"I'm trying to butter you up since it worked last time", he admitted unabashed.

Shaking her head, the girl wasn't able to hide a small smile. What did she think? That he would be completely different from before? Not likely.

That was his charm.

And when the last year proved anything than that it worked. Even Bonnie herself had to admit she wasn't immune to it. However, the way like some threw themselves at him (yes, cougar Lockwood, I mean you 'Carol'.), was just disgusting. A self-respecting woman wouldn't do that and Bonnie would be dead before anyone found her acting like that.

All her intentions, though, didn't help her as she was staring into the mesmerizing blue orbs of his. She could lose herself in those eyes.

Her eyes shifted to his lips.

The knowing smirk on his lips, however, brought her back to reality. What was she doing? He used her tiredness against her last night. He got her into his clothes and slept in the same bed as her.

"So you did sleep in the same bed as me," Bonnie stated.

At Damon's fake innocent look she elaborated. "You did something to piss me off otherwise there'd be no need to 'butter me up'."

"It was my bed you spent last night in. It wasn't like I was the one to climb into yours," he answered in a joking but at the same time serious manner. He was right after all.

Aaand the old Damon was back. Had she really been wishing for him back when she'd been confronted with the nice, insecure version of him?

There was something seriously wrong with her.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I didn't think I was that tired when I came over." Uhh... that sounded just wrong. Damon's eyebrows rose.

"You know what I mean. It was Caroline's fault anyway. She encouraged me. Oh … that … that … if I get ahold of her. She played me. She let it sound like I wouldn't do it, like I'm scared of it. That … that … some kind of friend, is she?!"

Damon could barely hide his smile. So Caroline had meant it when she'd told him she wanted Bonnie and him together. And little Miss Sunshine even played into his cards and pushed her best friend right into his awaiting arms.

Now he probably should get her the earrings she'd gushed about in the mall.

At least she hadn't seen the shops where he'd gotten Bonnie's gifts from. He'd be broke after that. Luckily, he had her running home early – literally.

"Go sit down." Damon gestured to the island in the kitchen.

That was the down side of living in a mansion. Sure, both Damon and Stefan had their own huge rooms, they had several large guest rooms, lots of unused rooms, an impressive library, a nice sized den, a big kitchen and a wine cellar. However, the spacious dining room was too big for just two people. There wasn't any comfort in the coldness of the lone table and all those single chairs around it.

The kitchen island was a lot cozier.

For once, Bonnie did as she was told. After serving the waffles and pouring a cup of coffee for Bonnie, Damon sat down next to her, the corner of the island between them.

Bonnie felt like in a haze. Was this real? Or was she still dreaming?

To her dismay she had to admit that ever since the perfect breakfast Damon had made her, she found herself dreaming regularly about Damon. Over the last few days, the dreams had intensified. She not only dreamed more often about him but the dreams got raunchier and simultaneously more domestic every time. In her dreams they had the perfect relationship.

It was getting harder and harder to separate dream and reality.

With a thankful smile to Damon, the witch dug in to her meal. "Mmm. I know I've said that before but … mmmm … your waffles are really good," Bonnie moaned.

The next few minutes passed in compatible silence while the witch ate and the vampire drank his coffee to restore his body temperature.

Bonnie was eating the last of her breakfast when she got a weird feeling. She didn't know what it was but it was quite uncomfortable and she had to restrain herself from lifting her hand and swatting the air like with an irritating fly.

Looking up, the girl saw Damon watching her intently from behind his coffee mug.

"What?" Bonnie inquired a tad bit aggravated. She didn't like the feeling of Damon's intense eyes on her. It was unsettling to say the least.

"Nothing", answered Damon hiding his smile behind the cup.

"No, honestly. What's wrong? Do I have whipped cream on my face? A coffee mustache over my lips? What is it?" Why did she have to embarrass herself when she was around Damon as off late?

The fight was lost, Damon couldn't hold in his laughter, pissing off Bonnie at the same time.

"It's nothing. Nothing is wrong. Am I not allowed to look at you? Is it all of a sudden a crime? Am I getting arrested? Are you going to handcuff me? If you want to, I have some in my bedroom. Go ahead," smirked Damon.

At his last words, Bonnie flushed once again. Why wasn't he able to have one talk without any inappropriate suggestions? Just one?

Proofing to him that she wasn't as gullible as the floozies who were frequently walking in and out of the Boarding House, Bonnie rolled her eyes.

"You know, that's exactly why I can't take you or your intentions or even that stupid Kiss-thing serious! One minute you're nice and charming and I'm thinking about the possibilities and the next instant you're back being the jerk we all know you are. Suddenly everything you say is nasty or emphasized to sound dirty. You don't care about me or what I have to say or anyone for that matter."

Bonnie was frustrated. She couldn't take his shit any longer – not after their night and before she finished her breakfast. Wiping her hands on a serviette, Bonnie got up. "It doesn't matter. I don't know what I was thinking coming here in the first place. I'm done. I'm out. See you next time I have to save your sorry butt."

Hurt, the witch made her way to the front door of the Boarding House. She didn't know what she was expecting but over the last few days they were getting along pretty well and the previous night was … if nothing else … comfortable, cozy, safe. He even went out of his way and made her breakfast once more.

However, his words weren't charming or seductive or cute. His words showed Bonnie that he didn't care for her feelings. If he wanted to win her over, he shouldn't remind her with how many women he slept with and he shouldn't put her on the same level with them by treating her like those desperate creatures. She despised their behavior and if he really cared for her, he would know that after a whole year knowing each other.

See, that's what happens when you start trusting people. They turn their back on you. And Damon of all people. Honestly, what was I thinking?

Damon froze. What had just happened? They were getting along quite well and suddenly she's pissed because of a few teasing words? What the hell?!

The hurt in the witch's eyes brought him back to reality. In a whoosh he was in front of Bonnie preventing her from leaving the house, ignoring any sense of private space again.

Damon needed her to look at him, really look at him. Gentle but firm at the same time, Damon cupped her face in his hands, crowding her space. She was quite a few inches smaller than him, only making her more endearing.

"You know I didn't mean it like that so stop acting like you're PMSing," stated the vampire impatiently.

Bonnie's raised eyebrow and crossed arms made him back-paddle. "Ah damn! That's not what I meant. You know it. You know me ..."

"Do I?" Bonnie asked, attitude still intact.

The question took all the remaining energy out of Damon and he deflated in himself. "You do. Damn it, Bonnie! I'm not good with feelings. I'm not good with words. When I don't know what to say, I make some sarcastic remark or say something suggestive and inappropriate", admitted the vampire, his intense eyes penetrating her own.

Sighing, he looked away before directing his blue orbs back on her. "Every time I'm near you, I can't speak. I don't know what to say. I revert to something familiar. That's why you receive most of my inappropriate suggestions. I know you're not some floozy and I don't see you like one of them. Please, believe me Bonnie", Damon pleaded.

It was all so strange. Bonnie couldn't believe what she was witnessing. Did he mean it? He couldn't, could he? He was right, she knew him and the things he did. So why was she as hurt as she was?

She didn't know him any other way than perverted – the first time they met, he was hitting on Caroline and flirting with her. Must have been quite a wake up call when he realized that his seduction wasn't working with me.

However, Bonnie was tired. They had enough to worry about without his continuous mood swings. She hadn't left the energy anymore to worry about him and if he was going to kill or harm someone because things didn't go his way.

Bonnie wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe the words he'd said. Though the doubts were still there. Looking in his eyes, she saw all his feelings; to her, he was like an open book. She saw the anguish, the desperation, the honesty in there and a man on the edge of losing his sanity in front of her. It tore at her heart seeing, watching all those emotions in him, breaking him down, shattering him into tiny little pieces of the person he once used to be.

The next moment her lips were soothing his suffering. Before she knew what she was doing, Bonnie had closed the small gap between them and kissed him with a fiery passion.

Shocked at first, Damon needed a few seconds before he could react but then, there was no holding back. Bonnie's hands were all over his back, touching every inch she could reach while he kept his hands on her face, taking control of the kiss.

After a few minutes, Bonnie ended the kiss. "Damon, we can't. I can't do that", sighed the witch, her breathing still heavy.

Damon looked at her. Was she for real? He knew he should get angry with her. She was the one to initiate the kiss and now she tried to play the 'victim'? But Damon was too shocked to feel anything. He felt numb. Was he really that bad and repulsive that no one wanted him? Not really? Was he that repulsive that no one wanted to spend more time with him? Wanted him for the long run?

Seeing his agony Bonnie cupped his face in one hand while the other stroke through his magnificent black hair. "I don't regret it. But I can't just jump from hating you to being with you, from dislike to making out. It's too much too fast." Bonnie hoped he understood. She wasn't like Caroline or even like Elena who could give their affection so freely and fleetingly at times. She was apprehensive, hesitant.

She was guarded.

If there was someone who understood her, it was Damon. Lust was easy, but feelings were messy. When no one knew what you felt, they couldn't kill you. Sure, they still were able to wound you pretty bad, but you wouldn't give them the satisfaction of knowing it. Keep to yourself and you wouldn't be vulnerable.

Look what his feelings did for him. First his feelings for his father (which pretty fast taught him never to rely on another person – even if they are blood related), then Katherine (which turned into a disaster nearly as fast as with his father) and Elena (whatever it was that had been there).

Honestly he didn't know why he was as eager to accept the whole 'soul mate' thing as he was. Why was he so agreeable with the whole love thing? Why was he opening up to the little witch?

He just was.

"Please", she pleaded. Her eyes silently asking him to understand it, to understand her.

Taking a few deep breaths, Damon silently agreed. "Okay."

Soon, a wicked smirk returned on his face. "Okay, but I have a few conditions of my own. You're not the only one who can demand things."

The Bennett witch had an uneasy feeling in her gut, nevertheless, she accepted, ready to hear his requests.

"First, we are friends. Officially, no more sneaking around. Second, we're friends until I've convinced you to be more than just friends. Third, I try to keep my 'offending' remarks" – at that Damon rolled his eyes and stared at her, his eyes seemingly coming out of their sockets – "and you try not to insult me with every other sentence you say. And if I don't get any of your blood, you're not allowed to give me any more of your beloved aneurysms. Quid pro quo, Bennett. And we're actually going to hang out with another."

Pondering about Damon's suggestion, Bonnie tried to negotiate. Before she had a chance to make a sound, Damon's thumb and fingers were keeping her lips sealed. "My terms, Judgey. Take it or not. It's up to you. But so you know … if you don't agree, I'm pestering you until you cave – night and day."

Shooting him a glare, Bonnie sighed. "You've got yourself a deal, Salvatore."

She knew she was going to regret it.