I'm sorry I have not been updating at often as I should be, I plan of finishing this story and in fact I know exactly how it will end. Life has been crazy but I hope it won't take as long to update again. Thanks again for sticking with this story.
Dear Diary
At times we can be so involved in our own personal lives that we are not totally aware of what our friends are going through. Sure we have an idea but the truth is we try not to let it in too much because we are afraid of what we might find. I've known for a while now that Connor was bad news and how some Bonnie shouldn't be relying on him but I didn't know exactly how bad it was.
Bonnie was so focused on this modeling career and the lengths he had her going to were so dangerous. I should have been more insistent about her not getting involved with him but I didn't. There was so much more I could of done for her but I didn't and I hate myself for it, we all do.
We missed all the signs of Bonnie needing our help and fast that it had cost her more then we ever thought. She is our friend and while we didn't want her to hate us for protecting her from him we are now forced to see what he had done to her and know that there were so many what ifs that could of changed the situation. Sure Bonnie would probably hate us for getting in between her and her dream but she wouldn't be lying were she is now.
I failed as a friend today,
Elena.
The red and blue lights flashed and the siren blared as the ambulance drove down the streets of Mystic Falls and towards the hospital. Everything was so hectic as Bonnie lay on the gurney as paramedics worked fast trying to revive her. Her skin was ice cold and body so lifeless as they did their best to preform CPR and bring her back. This was probably the longest ride to the hospital Bonnie's mother had ever had as she sat there screaming and trying to do everything to save her daughter. They paramedics tried to get the distraught mother to stay back but the doctor in her wanted to do everything to could.
The paramedics worked fast and never stopped trying as the ambulance finally pulled up to the hospital emergency room. The back door of the ambulance swung open and Bonnie's lifeless cold body was rushed into the hospital. Doctors were there waiting for them and quickly took over from the paramedics as she was raced into the hospital.
"What do we got?" called the doctor as he looked at the paramedic.
"Bonnie Bennett, Hypothermic" he responded.
"How long has she been down?" he asked and the paramedic gave a look letting him know it was a long time.
"She is still alive! Get a trauma room!" called Bonnie's mother and then ushered everyone to hurry up and get into the hospital.
As she wheeled into a trauma room, Bonnie's mother was told to stay outside and let her colleagues work. She wasn't happy about it but ended up staying back as she watched frantically from the window as doctors worked hard trying to get her breathing again. Things didn't look good as time went by and there was no change.
"Lets get some warm blankets, her temp is still only at 80 degrees," one of the doctors said. Just then the monitor started beeping and everyone was looking up to see that they were losing her. "Okay lets charge to 300!" he called out and then panels were brought in to start up her heart.
"Clear!" the doctor called doing what they could to get her heart pumping again.
Back in the hallway Bonnie's mother was a wreck on the floor as her mind raced back to the moment she had found her daughter in the bathtub. She had just returned from a long double shift at the hospital and the house was quiet. So quiet that she had chills that something was wrong. She called out to Bonnie as she climbed the stairs searching for her daughter but got no answer. "Bonnie?" she called again and again but still got no answer. Something didn't feel right and she continued searching until she came to bathroom door. As she swung it open the sight in front of her both terrified her and almost caused her to collapse. She immediately race to her daughter's side and pulled her out of the ice-cold water and started CPR. Calling out and begging Bonnie to wake up, a neighbour over heard the screaming and ran into help and called 911.
Doctors worked hard to keep her breathing and warm her up but it was a long and almost hopeless process. "Temp is only at 81 degrees one of the doctors announced as they were far from out of the woods.
Twenty minutes in she flat lined and they were losing her.
Standing in the entrance on the gymnasium where the high school prom was being held, Caroline was standing there with her phone in hand looking frustrated. While teenagers were running around having fun at prom Caroline was upset that her friends weren't here. Tyler came over seeing that Caroline was trying once again to call Bonnie and see why she wasn't here yet.
"Come on Caroline lets go have some fun" Tyler suggested knowing that Caroline had dreamed about this night for so long and definitely didn't want to see her spending the whole night on the phone.
"She should be here already," Caroline said with a huff. "Actually Elena and Bonnie should be here but somehow neither one of them is here. It's our prom night and we only get one of those," she told him as she paced around the floor and texting Bonnie once again.
This was supposed to be their night, a night that they got to celebrate coming to the end of their high school years and everything that they had been through. It was prom night, a night they were suppose to make memories that would last forever but her two best friends weren't here. Of course she understood that in Elena's case that Claire was sick but a part of her still was upset her friend hadn't come. In Bonnie's case she was suppose to be here but seemed to be MIA along with her terrible boyfriend Connor.
"Come on Care, lets go have some fun" Tyler pleaded as he didn't want to spend his whole prom night standing in the hall and just listening to kids having fun.
"JUST GIVE ME A MINUTE TYLER!" Caroline snapped before turning her back to him and dialing Bonnie's number again.
Rolling his eyes Tyler crossed his arms and watched as more kids were running into the gymnasium while he was stuck out here with his date. Leaning against the wall figuring he would be here for a while, Tyler let out a sigh just as Stefan was walking by and took notice of Caroline on the phone and Tyler looking bored out of his mind.
"Is she is calling to complain about the centerpieces? Not the right shade of silver and black?" Stefan teases as he looked over at Caroline pacing the floor and her heels clicking with every step.
"I wish, instead this is the worst prom ever in the history of proms" Tyler stated in his best Caroline impersonation, "Elena and Bonnie aren't here," he added.
"Yeah I heard about Elena, but not sure what is up with Bonnie though" Stefan replied.
"Well where ever she is she better hurry up or the only part of this prom I am going to see is that ridiculous balloon entry way" Tyler stated as he pointed to the large black and silver balloon archway.
"It is not ridiculous" Caroline snapped as she came back over after not being able to get through to Bonnie.
"Look why don't we go in? I'm sure Bonnie is just running a little late," Tyler suggested.
"You know what I don't need her to have fun tonight, if she wants to ditch me for that low life boyfriend well I am not wasting another moment of my prom night worrying about her" Caroline said in anger and although Tyler didn't like seeing her mad at her friends he was also happy they could now go in and enjoy their prom night.
"GREAT!" Tyler said happily as he linked his arm with Caroline so that they could walk through the entryway to start their prom night.
Unfortunately just before they could walk on through, Caroline's phone started to ring. Tyler rolled his eyes since they were so close but now had come to a halt as Caroline dug her phone out of her clutch.
Stepping back Tyler shared an annoyed look with Stefan as they both watched Caroline find her phone and desperately checking to see whom it was. "It's my mom…" Caroline said in a confused tone before she answered the call and put her phone to her ear. "Mom?"
Tyler and Stefan both had their hands in their suit pockets as they watched Caroline answer the call that had delayed them from going in to their prom yet again. They both watched as Caroline's conversation was first one of confusion and slowly one of shock and panic. Caroline let out a loud shriek as she fell to her knees looking terrified and both Tyler and Stefan jumped towards her knowing something was definitely not right. Caroline was shaking as she was begging her mom to tell her it wasn't true. Tyler too was on his knees and had his arms wrapped around his girl as he asked her what was going on.
"I'm coming" Caroline said into the phone ignoring Tyler's questions at first and then ended the call as the tears her streaming down her face. "Bonnie was rushed to the hospital, we have to go" she told them and while both Tyler and Stefan were shocked by this new piece of information they both jumped into action and ran out the door needing to get to the hospital.
"Oh my god she can't die, I can't lose her, oh my god Elena we have to call Elena!" Caroline was yelling as the jumped into a cab and was driving off. Her mind was racing with a million things at once.
"It's okay I'll call her" Stefan assured her and with a nod Caroline broke down in tears and clung to Tyler. She had spent that last half an hour angry with her friend for not showing up when this whole time her friend was fighting for her life in the ER.
It was all a blur as Elena ran through the hospital still in her prom dress, her heart pounding at the thought that she could lose her best friend. When she got the call from Stefan only fifteen minutes ago she wanted it to be some kind of sick joke. Bonnie couldn't be fighting for her life because she had seen her just hours ago and she was fine.
Her mind was on a single mission and that was to find Bonnie and nothing else. Everything else around her was just blocked out while she did her best to keep herself from breaking down in the hallway of the hospital. Nurses and doctors past her in the hallway but she hardly took much notice of them, as she desperately needed to find out what was happening with her best friend.
"Elena!" came Caroline's voice sounding scared but also relieved that Elena had gotten the message. When the two girls saw each other they broke into tears and ran towards each other in the middle of the waiting room. Their arms wrapped tightly around each other both terrified for their friend and trying to understand how this had happened.
"Have you heard anything? How is she?" Elena asked still hugging Caroline tightly.
Damon came running around the corner not long after and bit his lip as he saw Elena and Caroline in a tight embrace both scared for their friends life. It was only about an hour ago that him and Elena were having fun and happy as they had their own little prom. Looking up at the stars the two were so relax and were able to have a little time to themselves which was hard to come by with a two year old but it was nice to get some alone time. Yet as nice as it was things came to a halt when Elena got a phone call from Stefan about Bonnie.
At first Damon wasn't quite sure what was going on as Elena started off smiling on the phone and then within a second she was collapsing in his arm while she tried to grasp everything that Stefan was telling her.
Now here they were in the waiting room of the hospital with Stefan and Tyler sitting not to far away with Bonnie's mother as they waited for the doctors to come with any kind of information.
"They haven't told us anything, we can't see her, they say it's not good" Caroline told Elena as tears were streaming down her face. "She can't die, she just can't!"
Just then a doctor came out and everyone turned to look at her. Bonnie's mother was on her feet and rushing over to the doctor begging her to tell them that she was okay and that she was going to live.
"The doctors are still working on her, we are doing everything we can," she explained but it was obvious by the look on her face that things weren't going very well.
"I am a doctor here, give it to me straight!" Dr. Bennett said to the young doctor, as she didn't want to be treated like a patient's family and sugar code it. Being a doctor she knew all the lines they gave to the family of patients and while hope was always a good thing it also meant you didn't get all the facts right away.
The young doctor hesitated for a moment but with Dr. Bennett being very adamant about knowing the ugly truth it was hard to leave it at that. "You need to prepare yourselves," she told them, as she looked at all the scared faces of Bonnie's friend.
"Why does that sound like you are about to call time of death?" Caroline yelled as her whole body was shaking. At this point the doctor said nothing and just bit her lip and Caroline knew that she was right. "Oh my god" she said as she hands came up to cover her mouth as everything started to sink in. Tyler quickly moved in behind Caroline and wrapped his arms around her just before she collapsed in tears.
Elena too, started crying and quickly turned to bury her face in Damon's chest as he wrapped his arms around her tightly. She couldn't believe this was happening, Bonnie was fine earlier today and now her life was hanging on by a string. It brought back horrible memories of her and Jeremy having to wait helplessly back in New York after the car accident that killed her parents. It was a horrible feeling when there was nothing she could do and after praying and begging for their life they still died.
Damon did his best to comfort her but he knew it wasn't going to be much help. From the looks of it she may lose her best friend tonight and it would be an experience that would change her forever. Holding her close he kissed the top of her head as he rubbed her back doing what ever he could to be there for her during this horrible time.
"Come on Bonnie!" the doctor yelled as he pumped on her chest trying to get her heart to start beating again. "Come on I am not going to be the one to lose Dr. Bennett's daughter!" he yelled at his other doctors and nurses to continue doing what ever they could think of.
"Sir..." one of the interns said as nothing was changing in her status, as Bonnie was flat lined once again. The long beep sound filled the room, as Bonnie was lying there lifeless. They had been at this for a long time now but she wasn't coming back.
"TRY AGAIN!" he yelled at them.
"Sir..."
"TRY AGAIN!" he repeated not ready to give up just yet.
One of the other doctors looked at Bonnie and then gave a nod, one more round" he replied and then all the other doctors were on board. They worked quickly to do what ever they could to get a heartbeat and then just when almost all hope was loss they notice a heartbeat appear on the monitor.
"We got a heartbeat!" a resident called out as a doctor stepped forward with his stethoscope to examine Bonnie. Everyone remained silent and waited for the final conformation and with a nod he stepped back, "We got it" he assured them and everyone let out a sigh of relief as Bonnie's heartbeat started to get stronger.
Bonnie remained unconscious for quite some time but with her heartbeat getting stronger and stronger the doctors were very hopeful that she would be okay. While she lay in the hospital bed, her mother was at her side and was refusing to move until she woke up. The gang was also in the room waiting and waiting for the moment their friend would open her eyes.
Elena sat there on the sofa in the room doing her best to stay awake as it was now about two in the morning. Looking over at Caroline who too was still in her prom dress as well she was cuddled up with Tyler but her eyes never left Bonnie's bed, as she wanted to see the moment she opened her eyes. Licking her dry lips Elena ran her fingers through her hair just as Damon was coming back into the room with a tray of coffee for everyone.
"Hey," Elena said with a smile as she accepted the hot coffee and then brought it to her lips.
Without a word he handed out the rest of the coffees including Bonnie's mother who was looking so exhausted since she had been up for more than 24 hours now. She accepted the coffee with a smile and thank him was she watched Damon take a seat next to Elena.
"Did you call Jenna?" Elena asked as Damon wrapped an arm around her.
"Yeah, she said that Claire's fever has gone down and went back to sleep" Damon told her as Elena lay her head on Damon's shoulder while she sipped her coffee. With a sigh Elena looked over at Bonnie asleep in the hospital bed and couldn't help but notice how fragile and weak she looked. Her body was so small from her starving herself for this image Connor had for her. Bonnie had so much trust in Connor that she was allowing him to dictate her life and because of that she almost lost her life. Her skin was also covered in bruises and she had a black eye that wasn't there when they were with her at the hair salon. It had to of happened after when she left suddenly when she got a phone call and Elena knew that Connor was the bastard who did this to her. He some how manage to belittle her so much that she felt worthless and almost died because of him. Elena knew that Bonnie's struggles were far from over but it was now time whether Bonnie like it or not for them to make sure Connor stayed away from her.
While the room was silent Bonnie started to stir on the bed and let out at small groan. This caught everybody's attention and as they all sat up or moved closer to the bed they waited for Bonnie to come to.
"Bonnie honey" her mother said as she was on her feet.
Dr. Bennett was standing over her daughter bedside and brushing her hair back away from her face and whispering softly to her, as Bonnie was slowly waking up and trying to figure out where she was. As Bonnie's eyes opened it all seemed blurry at first, she saw the many faces staring down at her. She felt so groggy and had no idea where she was but the fact that everyone was surrounding her made her realized something must of happened. Her mother was holding her hand and seemed to be crying but Bonnie couldn't figure out why. What had happened why were people crying and why was she feeling so weak and sore.
"Bonnie you are okay you are in the hospital" her mother told her as Bonnie looked around confused and unsure of where she was and why everyone was gathered around her looking both relieved and scared.
It was after hearing her mother say she was in the hospital did this started to come crashing back to her. How she didn't get the modeling job in Atlanta, how Connor was so upset with her for not getting the gig and how she was nothing but a failure, she remembered how he hit her and made her feel worthless. Staring up at the people who surrounded her bed she could see tears in their eyes as they smiled down at her.
It was then that Bonnie thought about what she had tried to do by drowning herself and how she had put those who loved her most in a state of fear. Looking up at her mother and seeing how terrified she must have been Bonnie hated that she did that to her and that for a while her mother had to imagine her not making it. Her mother had always been someone she could turn to and would always be on her side and she didn't deserve to go through what she must have. "Mommy I'm so sorry" Bonnie said as she started to cry uncontrollably.
"I'm just glad you are okay" her mother responded before she broke down and hugged her daughter close because not too long ago the idea of not being able to share a hug with her daughter again was almost a reality. "I love you Bonnie," he mother added as she held on to her daughter for dear life.
Both Elena and Bonnie were standing at the foot of the bed both crying but doing their best to hold back as they were so glad that their friend was going to be okay. Covering their mouths to hold in their cries they looked on as mother and daughter clung to each other in a time when Bonnie needed them all the most. They tried to be strong for her but the idea of almost losing their best friend was a terrible feeling and they knew that from this moment they would have to be there for Bonnie and let her know she is too important to give up on life.
Theresa Salvatore was sitting at one of the tables in Mystic Grill in the early afternoon checking her watch. The restaurant was pretty much empty except for a couple on the far side and a gentleman at the bar, which she was happy about. Ever since she returned to town she had been getting stares and saw a lot of whispering going on about her return to Mystic Falls. It was one of the things she hated about this town, everyone knew everybody's business and thought that had a right to an opinion on it.
As she checked her watch once again she heard the chimes of the front door go off and when she looked up she saw Stefan walking in the door. She gave a smile to her youngest son as he made his way over to her. Unlike Damon, Stefan was willing to meet with her and get to know her. Stefan had been so young when she left all those years ago and although he looked a lot like her ex husband she still saw a lot of herself in him.
Standing up, as Stefan got closer Theresa leaned towards her son and gave him a hug. "I'm glad you came," she said to him as she pulled back and fixed his hair. "I heard about what happened to your friend last night is she okay?" she asked as they both took their seats at the table.
"Bonnie, yeah she is recovering" Stefan told her as he sat across from his mother on their fourth meeting together since she arrived back in town. Damon was still against meeting with her and was still not shy about letting his brother know that he disapproved of him meeting with her but this was something Stefan needed to do for himself. He never had a mother growing up and while their relationship wasn't exactly like mother and son he did feel a connection with her.
"It was a scary situation but Bonnie is doing a lot better now and I think she is meeting with a therapist today. They still have her on suicide watch but I think she is getting the help she needs right now" Stefan told his mother as he thought back to the event that had taken place last night and this morning.
"She is lucky to have friends like you" Theresa replied with a smile as she looked up at her son. "You have grown up so much Stefan and it is hard to believe you will be graduating high school in a month" she added.
Stefan gave a smile as he looked down at his hands while his mother reached out to grasp hold of his hands. Staring at her hands he found himself thinking about how for years he wondered about her and what had happened and now all these years later she was back and he was finally having the chance to get to know her. Yet at the same time his mind couldn't help but wonder that big question as to why she had left in the first place and never came back until now. "What happen mom? Where did you go?" he asked her as his pleading eyes look at his mother for answers.
"Oh Stefan I'm so sorry for the pain you went through" she told him as she held his hands. "I made many mistakes, I was young, scared, I panicked as my life was all set in a big house and two small children and a husband that was never home" she tried to explain to him.
"I broke down many times over the years and at one point I lost it completely and before I realized what I was doing I had left Mystic Falls. I was so lost and so ashamed of my choices for years about leaving you and I know that I can never make up for the time I lost with you and your brother. That shame I felt from abandoning you was more then I could bare and didn't know for the longest time how to come back and face you. I want to be a better person, I've made terrible choices throughout my life and now I want to change and be the person I should have been years ago."
Stefan looked at his mother and desperately wanted to believe that she had changed after all these years but his brother and uncle's voices were in the back on his mind telling him not to trust her. Looking away from her Stefan bit his bottom lip and thought about how he finally had a chance to know the mother he never had.
"I am trying to get my life back on track and I want to get to know you" Theresa told her son and as Stefan turn back to look at her. "I'm just going to need a little help," she added.
Pretty much around the clock Bonnie had someone at her side doing whatever they could to make sure she was comfortable. She knew they were terrified about what had happened and now were not about to give her a moment alone. As much as she didn't want them all fretting over her she knew that she put them through hell the other day and there was no excuse that would justify what she tried to do in the bathtub.
Sitting up Bonnie rolled her eyes as her pillows were once again being fluffed. "They are fine Quinn" Bonnie said with a mumble as she sat back and looked at the anxious face of her older sister who had arrived in town early this morning. Their mother had given her a call once she was stabled and before Quinn had hung up the phone she was booking her flight across the country.
"I'm just making sure" Quinn responded as she smiled and looked down at her little sister. The two were like mirror image of each other with the same eyes and long brown hair.
Bonnie gave a nod knowing she meant well as she fussed over her and wanted to make sure everything was okay. Apart from the circumstance that had brought Quinn home, Bonnie was so happy to see her after all this time. Usually in the summer months Quinn was off traveling and never made it home to visit. "I'm glad you're here Quinn, I've missed you" Bonnie told her as her eyes started to water.
Quinn couldn't hold back her tears either as she let out a frustrated sigh and the leaned forward to give her little sister a tight hug. It was hard to believe that she had almost lots her and that she was so close to never getting to see her sister again. It made her rethink her decision about leaving Mystic Falls behind and never returning because although the town was not her favorite place she really loved growing up with her sister. Before she was in full-blown tears Quinn pulled away and took a deep breath, "I'm going to go get some coffee, you want some?" she asked.
"Yeah sure, two sugars" Bonnie replied and with a smile Quinn walked out o the room and headed down towards the cafeteria.
When she was gone Bonnie lay back in her bed and let out a deep sigh. She hated that she had put her family and friends through hell but all seemed to be trying and keep it together, there were many times they would walk out of the room and break down in the hall way. She may not be able to see them but these walls were thin and the sound of their cries broke her heart.
"I thought she would never leave" came a haunting voice and as Bonnie turned to look at the door she saw Connor standing there with a big smirk on his face.
"I can't believe I agreed to this" Damon said as he held Claire in his arms and was carrying her through the halls of the hospital. He had his cell phone to his ear and was not exactly thrilled that he was doing this.
"It means the world to me that you are doing this" Elena said on the other line a she stood in a dress boutique while Jenna was getting fitted in her wedding dress.
"You realize she can't stand me right?" Damon said.
"I am with Jenna while she does the last minute fitting for her dress and someone needs to go check on Bonnie. She needs to know we are here for her and that we are all going to help her get through this" Elena replied.
"And sending me is the best answer you got?" Damon teased.
"Just make sure she is ok," Elena asked him.
"I will" Damon told her before he hung up the phone and continued on walking down the hospital hallway while he talked sweetly to Claire about how her mother is able to get him to do anything for her.
As the two walked down the hall they came face to face with Caroline who seemed to be heading in the same direction. Both came to a stop and eyed each other before Damon spoke up, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm coming to check on Bonnie before I meet up with Jenna and Elena for some wedding planning" Caroline answered.
"Then why the hell do I have to check on her?" Damon snapped.
"Aw you came to check on her" Caroline gushed.
"Not willingly" Damon replied.
"Oh stop the tough bad boy act Damon, you lost that title when you can name all the characters in Dora the Explorer" Caroline teased as the two continued on walking down the hall together.
"Dora!" Claire repeated after hearing her favorite t.v character.
"See what you have done now," Damon growled at Caroline as he bounced Claire in his arms as she kept repeating Dora, Dora, Dora. Caroline could only laugh as the cute little girl babbled on and showed off that adorable big smile with her dark curly pigtails. Yet her laughter was short lived as Damon and her came to s sudden halt at Bonnie's hospital room and saw Connor trying pull Bonnie out of bed.
Caroline was completely shocked that Connor would even dare show up at the hospital given that he was the reason she was here as well as the black eye and busies on her arms. Her eyes went wide and her jaw dropped at the sight of Connor aggressively trying to get Bonnie out of her hospital bed even with Bonnie resisting him. "What the hell are you doing here?" Caroline snapped at him as she glared at the bastard who was responsible for this whole mess.
"This is none of your business, get out" Connor yelled at the yappy blonde.
"NO YOU GET OUT!" Caroline yelled back at him not afraid to get in his face.
Damon was standing there silently holding Claire as his eyes moved from Bonnie to Connor and then back on Bonnie. She had a hint of fear in her eyes as she tried to break herself free from Connor's hold on her but he seemed insistent in getting his way. Looking over at Caroline he knew she would go into attack mode and he couldn't very well pull her off while he had Claire with him. So he did the next best thing that would keep thing a little more controlled. "Caroline, here take Claire," he told her.
"What?" Caroline replied as she turned to look at Damon and giving him a look to say she was in the middle of something.
"Please, take Claire to the cafeteria, get her a cookie or something" he said and then before Caroline could object he was throwing Claire at her and pushing her out the door. Caroline was still not happy about this and tried to argue with Damon on it but he just ignored her and got her out of the room.
Giving up Caroline rolled her eyes and adjusted Claire on her hip and carried the two year old down the hall in search of the cafeteria for a damn cookie.
"Good now that she is gone, Bonnie it is time to go" Connor said and the yanked Bonnie even harder to the point she stumbled and he was dragging her across he floor.
What happen next was so unexpected to Connor, Bonnie and even Damon himself as he stepped forwards and grabbed Connor by the collar. His sudden move made Connor let go of Bonnie so that she could back away from him as Damon slammed that bastard against the far wall.
"You son of a…" Connor started to say but Damon gripped hold of him harder and slammed Connor's back hard against the wall again.
"No you listen you pathetic piece of shit!" Damon growled at him in a tone that had Connor a little scared even if he would never admit it. The look in Damon's eyes was one of anger and his aggressive manner was not something he had seen from the guy before and was not something he wanted to endure. "Smacking girls around may be fun to you but you are nothing but a dick!" he told him as his face was just inches from Connor's.
"You are going to stay the hell way from Bonnie or anyone in Mystic Falls for that matter, or believe me I will make your life a living hell!" Damon growled.
"Get your hands off me!" Connor yelled as he tried to struggle against Damon but in return Damon just slammed him harder against the wall so that Connor let out a painful groan.
"Sorry did that hurt?" Damon asked him although he could really careless if Connor didn't like someone being rough with him.
Bonnie was standing on the other side of the room with her hands around herself as she stared at the scene in front of her. She had only seen this side of Damon once before and that was when Elena was pregnant and students were bullying her. Damon seemed so protective right now and was bringing the fear out of Connor. Of everyone she never expected Damon to be the one to threaten Connor and so forcefully.
"You as much as look at her or anyone and I will rip your heart out and feed it to you!" Damon threatened, as his hold on Connor's collar got tighter. "Got it!" he yelled at him as his eyes burned into Connor's.
"What is going on in here?" came Quinn's voice as she re-entered the room and saw Bonnie in the corner with tears as one man had another backed against the wall.
"Everything is fine he was just leaving" Damon answered without taking his eyes off Connor to see who was standing behind him. Him and Connor shared a heated glare for a little longer before Damon released him and with his eyes told Connor to get the hell out.
Once he was set free Connor fixed his collar and hesitantly left in a hurry and not daring to even think of looking at Bonnie as he left and past Quinn in the process who still stood there confused as to what was going on.
When Damon finally turned around him and Quinn came face to face and the look of shock to see the other played off on both their faces. It had been three years since they had seen each other and it wasn't on happy term that they had left them in. "Damon..." was all Quinn could say as she stared at him in shock.
Damon said nothing as he tried to think of what to say but before he could answer her they were interrupted by Caroline's return with Claire holding her hand.
"I got cookie Daddy!" Claire announced cheerfully as she let go of Caroline's hand and ran over to her daddy.
Quinn was still standing their in shock at seeing Damon and now her eyes turned to look at the little girl with his blue eyes as she ran towards him. She had been told that Damon had a daughter now but could never really picture him being a hands on dad with how he was when she knew him. She watched him as he knelt down to the little girl as she held up her cookie and had a smile on his face as he talked softly to the little girl. He whispered something to her that no one else could hear but it was obvious what it as Claire turned around and happily bounced over to wear Bonnie was and gave her a hug.
As Claire had her arms around Bonnie legs in a hug, everyone watched as Bonnie knelt down and gave Claire a proper hug. With an innocent smile Claire looked upon Bonnie's face and saw her black eye and she touched it gently. "Kiss booboo better" Claire said to her and then softly gave Bonnie's sore eye a kiss.
Bonnie couldn't help but smile at the gesture from the little girl and wrapped her arms around her tightly. "Thank you sweetie" Bonnie said to her quietly.
While Damon watched the interaction between the two it was so obvious to see the innocence of a child. He looked down at his feet while Bonnie was hugging Claire and was thinking about how it was situations like this he hope his little girl would never have to go through.
Everyone in the room was watching the sweet little girl and Quinn couldn't help but look back at Damon as he stood there watching his daughter. It was pretty evident that things had changed while she had been away but one of those big changes had to be Damon. She just stood there speechless not knowing what to say to him after all this time.
When Claire pulled away from Bonnie she gave her one last smile and then turned on her heels and ran back over to her daddy. While she was standing by his feet Claire's eyes looked over at the Bonnie's sister in the room who was a stranger to her. While her eyes continued to stare at the girl slowly moved behind her daddy's leg not knowing who she was.
Clearing his throat he turned to pick Claire up and held her in his arms while there was an awkward silence in the room. Quinn and Damon shared a few stares as she still seemed to be surprised by Claire or at least that he was involved in her life. The two had known each other years ago when Damon cared little about anyone but himself.
At this point Caroline had moved into the room and was comforting Bonnie and making sure she was okay. She had seen Connor leave in a hurry and although she wasn't sure what had happened she had a pretty good idea that Damon had something to do with it.
"Anyway we better go, just wanted to make sure you were okay," Damon said as he broke the silence in the room. With one last nod he moved to leave the room and past Quinn who still seemed speechless to see him.
As he reached the doorway Bonnie quickly broke free from Caroline's hug and ran after him. "Damon!" she called out to him and felt her heart racing as he turned around to look at her. In all the time she had known Damon he had never done anything like that, of course Elena was always saying how protective he was, she never thought she would be one of the people he would protect. Scratching her head and pulling down on the sleeves of her hospital gown she tried to think of what to say. "Listen I just wanted to thank you" she said to him, as the two were just a couple feet apart.
Damon gave a nod as he bit his lip and looked at Bonnie. Him standing up for her and her thanking him was definitely a change in their relationship. Most of the time they were taking shots at each other, insulting each other or even flat out ignoring that the other was even there. For just under three years the only thing the two had in common was Elena and they couldn't even manage to get along for her.
"Are you sure you are going to be okay?" Damon asked her honestly.
Bonnie gave a nod and brushed her hair behind her ear and in doing so it really showed the bruises she got from Connor. "Yeah I'll be fine" she told him and then with a smile looked at Claire who was resting her head on her dad's shoulder. "Thank you" she added and then reached forward to run her index finger down Claire's arm as she clung to her dad's leather jacket. When she pulled away she looked back at Damon with a smile before he gave a nod and then started to head down the hallway towards the exit of the hospital. Today Bonnie had seen a different side of Damon and how even though the two hardly ever saw eye to eye he didn't hesitate to stand up for her against Connor.
After running a few more errands Damon pulled back up to the Salvatore house in his Camaro and parked it in front of the house. As he killed the engine Damon let out a sigh and looked into the back seat where Claire was sipping on her cup of juice cup. "Home sweet home" Damon announced to the little girl as he popped open the door and stepped out.
"Home sweet home" Claire repeated as her dad was moved to open up her door and unbuckle her from her car seat.
"Yep we are home," Damon said with a laugh to his little parrot.
"Mommy home?" she asked him as her little arms went up for Damon to pick her up out of the car seat.
"No mommy not home yet" he replied t her. "After somebody's nap time" he added with a kiss.
"NO" Claire shot back not wanting to go for a nap.
"Yes nap time!" Damon answered her as he walked towards the front door. Pulling out his key he unlocked the door and stepped inside. The house was quiet when he stepped inside but as he tossed the keys down on the table Damon could hear voices coming from Zach's office. As he got a little closer Damon was able to make out the voices talking were Zach and Stefan. From the sound of it things weren't sounding like a pleasant conversation. Stefan seemed upset that Zach wasn't agreeing with him about something no matter how much he begged.
Biting his bottom lip Damon figured it was best to put Claire down for her nap before going to see what was wrong and quietly made his way upstairs to put Claire to sleep in the nursery.
"Uncle Zach she has changed, she wants to apologize for leaving us," Stefan said as he paced the floor in Zach's office as his uncle sat in his chair behind his desk. He didn't seem too thrilled to be having this conversation as his head was shaking in disbelief.
"Stefan the fact that she is only been in town for a couple weeks and is already asking for money tells me otherwise" Zach replied as he leaned back in his chair and stared at his nephew. He knew how much Stefan wanted to believe that their mother had returned with good intentions because he never had the chance to know her. Growing up Stefan would ask questions about his mother, wanting to know what she was like and the different things she had done with them. Zach had done his best to answer questions without painting her in such a bad light but his personal thoughts of his sister in-law were not good ones.
To him he would always see her as the selfish woman who married for all the wrong reason. She married for the money, attention not of love and commitment. Both her and his brother were young and stupid and didn't seem to have a care in the world about what anyone else had to say about their quick wedding. Both were not mature enough for making the type of decisions they were making and one of the biggest one was having children.
Theresa woke up one day a mother of two, a wife to a husband who liked to be out partying, in a strange city because they didn't have the approval of their families back home in Mystic Falls. Zach knew she may have been lonely and felt trapped but she had so many other option available to her other then taking off and leaving her two sons with a future that would only include more heart break in the years that followed.
Both Giuseppe and Theresa were too young and irresponsible to be parents all those years ago and due to their selfishness Damon and Stefan paid the price. With a mother who took off because she was overwhelmed and life wasn't as glamorous being married to a Salvatore as she had hoped. As well as a father who partied almost every night and after his wife left him continued to drink his life away.
"Please uncle Zach, just meet with her and I promise you that you will see she has changed" Stefan told him as he saw his uncle wasn't in agreement with him.
"Who's changed?" came Damon's voice as he entered the room and leaned against the doorframe staring at his brother and uncle.
Stefan ignored Damon knowing he would be no help and instead pleaded with his uncle to give Theresa a chance.
"How much does she want?" Zach asked as he humour his nephew.
"Five grand" Stefan replied.
Zach scoffed and shook his head in disbelief, sure he figured his sister in-law had some ulterior motive for being back in town but he had thought she would of maybe thought better then to come back and ask for that kind of money. "Absolutely not!" Zach shot back.
"Uncle Zach!" Stefan begged.
"I am not handing over five grand to a woman who left years ago and not once tried to contact her family until now. I mean what the hell does she even need the money for?" Zach asked as he got up from his desk and was now walking around the room.
"Seriously Stefan, you are still seeing her?" Damon asked not to thrilled about it either.
"She is our mother Damon!" he shot back.
"Just because someone spits you out of their crotch, doesn't make them a mother" Damon yelled back.
"Damon she knows she messed up" Stefan shot back to defend their mother.
"Its not like she missed our birthday, she missed sixteen birthdays and now she comes here wanting money from us? Face it Stefan she isn't a mother, just a woman who happens to share some blood with us" Damon snarled back.
"All right that is enough" Zach called out before the brother's fight got anymore heated.
"People change Damon, I mean you did" Stefan shot back in anger before he quickly left the room. He didn't want to listen to them anymore, whether they saw it or not he believed their mother had changed and was trying to be part of their lives. While he had hoped his uncle would be more understanding Stefan knew he wouldn't need his uncle to help his mother. He was eighteen now and he could get the money from his trust fund for her. After years of wanting to know his mother, Stefan finally had the chance and he wasn't going to lose that chance because Zach and Damon couldn't forgive.
After quite the day Damon had he was thankful when 7:30pm rolled around. Between the fight with Connor and the fight with Stefan it was a stressful day that he was glad was finally over. As he fell back on his bed he let out a tired sigh while listening to the sound of Elena giving Claire a bath in the ensuite bathroom. He could hear the giggling from both girls and the splashing of water.
Elena had returned to the Salvatore house just before dinner after spending most of the day doing dressing fittings and running a few errands for Jenna and Alaric's upcoming wedding. With the summer wedding getting closer and closer Caroline the wedding planner was doing everything to ensure things were still on track and checking off things on their to do list.
Damon did his best not to mention the wedding or ask too many questions. He found that Jenna or Caroline would always snap him at when he didn't see the big deal on some of the issues that they faced. It got to the point Elena told him not to ask and just show up when the invitation told him to for his own safety.
His train of though was broken when he heard the happy squeals and running little feet of his daughter coming into the room. She had a big smile on her face as she came running into the room dressed in her pastel pajamas after her bath. Running towards the bed she was looking straight at her daddy as she bumped into the big bed and her eyes were just able to see over the high bed. Standing on her tippy toes Claire tried to climb up onto the bed but she was still to short to make it up.
Damon turned his head to look at Claire with a smile while she was unsuccessful in trying to get onto the bed. Lucky for her Elena was coming out of the bathroom right behind her and lifted the little girl up and plopped her down on the bed. With an eager giggle Claire crawled over and jumped onto daddy and let out a big squeal.
Damon let out a laugh as she came crashing down on his chest with a big smile on her face. As Damon lay on his back, he lifted Claire up with his arms and held her up in the air like they were playing airplane. Claire let out squeals as he held her up as high as he could and then slowly lowered her down so that he could shower her with kisses.
"Don't get her all worked up before bed," Elena said as she tossed Claire's dirty clothes into the laundry hamper.
"Story daddy" Claire asked as Damon brought her back down so she was sitting next to him on the bed.
"Story?" he asked her and pretended to look confused.
"Story!" Claire repeated as she crawled over to the nightstand to grab her storybook that she wanted Damon to read to her. Crawling back over to him with book in hand she held it out him. It was a book she had got Damon to read to her almost every night and every time she would fall asleep before it finished.
"I told her you would read her a story before bed" Elena told him as Damon sat up and moved to sit at the top of the bed with Claire cuddled next to him and opening the book to the first page.
"All right lets see what we got" Damon said as he held the book in one hand and had his other arm wrapped around Claire.
Elena too moved to sit on the bed on the other side of Claire and cuddled up to listen as Damon read the book. While her one hand rubbed Claire's shoulder she leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
Damon got to about the fourth page before he looked down to see Claire out cold in between him and Elena. "One of these days I'm sure she will hear the end of this story." He said with a chuckle as he brushed his fingers over her soft dark brown hair.
"She had quite the day," Elena said as she looked down at the little girl. "I heard you did as well," Elena said as she looked up at Damon knowing exactly what he had done.
"You could say that I guess" Damon said without going into much detail about it.
"Bonnie told me what you did for her" Elena replied when Damon seemed to be not going to tell her himself. While she was spending the day with Jenna and running errands for the wedding she gave Bonnie a call to check in and was informed of how he had stood up for her and got rid of Connor. It was no secret that Damon and Bonnie didn't see eye to eye but didn't hesitate to protect her. "She is really grateful for what you did for her and so am I," she added with a smile.
"The guy was a dick and hopefully he will get lost after that" Damon told her. "Much like someone else I hope," he added as he turned the conversations to Theresa.
"You mean your mother?" Elena asked knowing things weren't all sunshine and roses with her either.
"She's not my mother, I didn't need her then and I don't need her now" Damon responded firmly as he had no plans to ever make amends with the woman who abandoned him and Stefan all those years ago. "Stefan is only going to get hurt when she end up not being the mother he envisioned her being. She'll devastate him but I can't stop him from seeing her no matter how much I want to. She'll get what she wants and then she will leave again and it is for that reason I don't want her to have anything to do with Claire" Damon told her.
Elena gave a nod as she snuggled a little closer and rested her head on Damon's shoulder while they both looked down at the little girl sleeping in between them. Right now there was so much drama going on around them with Bonnie, Theresa, Jenna's wedding and the school year coming to an end it was nice when they could grab a moment for just the three of them. With everything that they had to deal with, these down times were so few but also so precious and it was times like these that reminded them that no matter what they were up against they always had each other.
Thanks for reading and I will do my best to update as quickly as possible.