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Note: Read and enjoy! Last chapter for the day.

Chapter 13

"We're fine" Bonnie whispered to the guy next to them. "It's okay, we're fine" she told him slowly unlatching Damon's hand from around her wrist.

"He looks like he's bothering you, we can take care of it" the man said as Damon weighted his options. Tear the guy's heart out and then work through the other ones, or run with Bonnie in hand but without the bag or talk his way out of it. Deciding he was a fair conversationalist he moved Bonnie so she was behind him, out of the way.

"What are you doing?" she hissed angrily. "I can help" she added but Damon ignored her and gave the stranger a tight smile.

"Honestly, we're fine, we were just headed out, don't mind us, just a little tiny couple's quarrel" he told the guy who had only slightly let up on his expression.

"Couple?" one of the other vampires asked, a relatively attractive redhead.

"It's dangerous for you to be with someone like him, like us" another one said, this one a bald headed middle aged man.

"I thought we settled those issues back after the civil war" Damon attempted at a joke but no one seemed to lighten up and he only received a punch in the kidneys from Bonnie. "Right, not cool" he apologized as the others looked at Bonnie.

"I'm a witch," she finally said stepping in front of Damon. "I'm a Bennett," she told them. Damon looked at her, she had managed to get her bearings and was looking at the other vampires with purpose.

"We know who you are, and we've gotten whispers of what you're doing. We would like you to not be around here with those kind of plans" the redhead said. Damon let himself relax, they weren't looking to rip Bonnie's head from her shoulders or tell her to immediately stop.

"Fine, we'll be gone" Damon cut in as he held his hands up. "And we promise we won't be back" he said as Bonnie picked up the bag, still looking over each of the vampires. "C'mon witchy, let's get back home" he told her as she nodded and started off, glancing over her shoulder a few times.

"If we see her around here again Damon we'll kill her. We like things the way they are, we don't need rumors of anything being changed around here" the olive skinned man said, clapping onto Damon's shoulder. "You shouldn't be hanging around witches anyway, never know when one's gonna turn on you" he continued whispering.

"I know Bonnie," was all Damon could think to say.

"Just because you love her doesn't mean she really loves you" the redheaded women said. Damon was tempted to ask what she knew about love but he also knew it would probably end up causing more problems.

"Thanks for your concern" he told the group sarcastically as he pulled away and made his way over to Bonnie who was patiently but yet curiously waiting in the passenger's seat.

"Everything okay?" she asked as Damon backed out.

"As soon as we pack and leave it will be" he told her as she started to protest. "Bonnie, your grandma doesn't think this is a good idea and though I don't agree with her, I don't want to cause trouble and alert even more vampires—"

"I could've helped you, we could've took on those vampires; what happened to Batman and Robin?" she asked. Damon had been prepared to keep a tight closed expression the whole trip back as he thought about Shelia's words and the group of vampires, but with Bonnie attempting to be funny how he could stay annoyed.

"Yeah, well, I'm sure they had a sort of bromance going on and occasionally there was a situation or two Batman thought Robin should sit out. Hence Robin being the side kick" Damon explained as Bonnie rolled her eyes but decided to look out the window.

"What did Grams say to you?" she asked as they pulled up to the abandoned house.

"It doesn't matter right now Bonnie, I don't even know if it was her" he said jumping out of the car. "I'll be back, stay put" he ordered as Bonnie raised an eyebrow at him. "Please don't wander off, I told those losers we'd be gone pronto" he said then disappeared inside. He peeked out the front window as soon as he got in the house. He knew he shouldn't be too worried about her, again, worry showed weakness, weakness meant losing. He got the few things they had come with and hurried back outside. He half expected the worst, Bonnie gone, some estranged vampire waiting for him—or a note—but Bonnie was patiently waiting, strumming her fingernails on the side of the door.

"Ready to leave babe?" he asked coolly as Bonnie slightly smiled.

"Whenever you are…babe" she said, as if testing the word. Damon smiled in response as he shifted gears and headed off. For most of the trip back Damon kept his eyes on Bonnie, somehow thinking if he stopped looking she'd vanish. Part of him thinking, waiting almost, for her to finally come to her sense and realize she was with him, actually dating him, Damon Salvatore. Though lately it seemed like all the risks were coming from him dating her. But he couldn't stop, he came along way from the jerk she knew him as. He had to continue being the guy he was now, to continue being there and just loving her. As if reading his mind, as if assuring him Bonnie moved her hand to rest ontop of his hand. Neither of them said anything but Damon felt so much more secure, so complete with just this little gesture, and he knew this was definitely the person he wanted to be with. Witch or not.