DISCLAIM!
What's this? Another update in less than a year? Minor success!
As always, thank you to all the reviewers! You're truly the best!
So, I'm pretty excited about posting this chapter, though I'm still not happy with it - no news there. I'm hoping you guys will really like this one. I mean, really like it. lol. But we'll see. I'm still struggling with the blockage, plus my newly formed hatred for the show (I've stopped watching, it's that bad), but I'm hoping that the next update won't take a year. Also, small note about chocolate - I have no idea what it would taste like in the 1800s but I imagine it wouldn't be the same as now, they wouldn't add as much sugar... so humour me.
Food For Thought: Someone asked me why Stefan was so willing to help Bonnie and Damon keep their secret last chapter and I thought it was a very good question, so I decided to make it an FFT. Here's my reasoing - I figure it's partly just his nature, because he's such a great person and I couldn't really see him throwing stones at them in any sense. But mainly it's a love for his brother and not wanting Damon to incur society's wrath for an unorthodox friendship. Especially during a civil war. Could you imagine? Also, I doubt he would want to see Bonnie beaten or killed (a very real possibility) just for being friends with his brother, so he's protecting them even though he doesn't fully understand their relationship.
Bonnie had never been in a billiard room before, besides the recreation area of The Mystic Grille and that wasn't the same thing. The small room she was in now was quite literally devoted to the table sport with not much in it besides the pool table which, oddly enough, didn't look to have any pockets for the balls. There was a small cue rack against the wall to her left, a few chairs lined against the other walls, a potted plant in one corner and an unobtrusive side-table or two, but very little else occupied the space and Bonnie wondered what in world she was meant to be dusting.
She nibbled thoughtfully on her bottom lip and eyed the dark wood panelling of the pool table. Maybe she could dust that?
"Hello, Bonnie."
Bonnie spun to find Damon's smiling face a few inches away from her own. Her heart jumped out of her chest and she stifled the urge to give him a swift kick. Her eyes shot to the entrance of the room to find the door closed securely. Damon must have shut it as he came in; how had she not heard it? Turning her attention back to the man in question, she frowned.
"You enjoy scaring me, don't you?"
"I don't deny it," he answered with a half-shrug. "It took me ages to find you. Are you not usually cleaning in the dining area at this time?"
"Yeah, well I..." Wait a second – "How do you know that?"
She studied him closely as he stiffened, his cheeks tinting ruby and his gaze focused just above her head on the wall behind her. "I... We're friends. It is not so uncommon for a friend to take note of such things."
"I suppose so." She agreed, though she made no effort to mask her scepticism. Deciding to let the matter drop she concentrated on something else. "You look well."
The red in his cheeks faded, but he kept his eyes fixed to the wall as he nodded, "Yes, I am much recovered. Thank you."
"See. You didn't even die a little bit," she teased with a light smile.
His eyes finally dropped to hers, no longer bright with fever but still the clearest blue she'd ever seen, and he offered her a soft smile. "No, not even a little. It would seem my fears were unwarranted after all." He cleared his throat then, his gaze dropping briefly before finding hers again. "I went into town today."
"Oh?" She tried to sound politely curious, but she was sure her confusion was obvious.
"I brought you back something."
Her eyes widened considerably. "For me?"
His smile broadened in response.
Shaking her head frantically, Bonnie protested. "Whatever it is, I can't accept it."
"Why ever not?" He had the gall to sound exasperated with her.
"Because," she began as if speaking to someone exceptionally slow, "it's inappropriate."
"That's hardly an excuse," he said, brushing off her argument with a wave of his hand. "Our entire acquaintance is inappropriate."
He made a valid point.
"Regardless, you shouldn't be running around buying me things."
"I assure you, there was no running involved."
Bonnie rolled her eyes skyward and begged for patience. He was always such a smartass.
She hadn't noticed he had been holding one of his hands behind his back until he moved it in front of her face to reveal a small round chocolate. "When I saw it I could not help but think of you."
She felt her cheeks warm rapidly. Why was she blushing over stupid chocolate? She narrowed her eyes critically at the offending candy. "Because it's black?" she questioned accusingly, even though she was 99 percent sure that wasn't the reason.
He titled his head slightly as he regarded her, brow crumpling in confusion. "No, don't be silly." His eyes flickered to the chocolate and, if possible, his brow creased even more. "Though, now that you mention it..."
A smile broke across his face so wide she was surprised it fit as he stepped closer. She fought the urge to maintain the distance and take a step back.
"This is a bonbon for the only Bon-Bon of my acquaintance."
What. A. Nerd, she thought with teasing affection, trying to restrain her smile as she took in the joy on his face. "How long have you been waiting to say that?"
"A good while now. It was worth the wait. Take it. A token of my gratitude for taking such good care of me."
She reached a hesitant hand forward, feeling the paper crinkle beneath her fingers as she lifted the confection out of his grasp. Peeling the wrapping back, very aware of Damon watching her every move, she took a timid bite.
Her nose scrunched involuntarily, even as she fought to keep her features neutral. The chocolate swirled around her tongue in an unrelentingly bitter wave with nothing to sweeten it. It was like dark chocolate on crack.
But it's not dark chocolate, is it?
She scrutinized the bonbon closer, noting its light milky complexion, and had to wonder.
"Verdict?" Damon questioned with hushed excitement, his eyes boring into her intently.
"It's, uh... strong."
Confusion tightened his brow. "Have you not had chocolate before?"
"Not like this. Where I'm from it's sweeter."
There was a lull where Bonnie held the bonbon loosely between her fingers and Damon watched her expectantly. When the lull began to drag and she had yet to take another bite, he spoke:
"Am I to understand that you don't care for it?"
"No, I do care for it!"
"You don't care for it." He affirmed with a sudden frown, eyes dimming. He abruptly became very interested with the cuffs of his shirt.
"No, I do!" she exclaimed, feeling the overwhelming need to convince him she liked the bloody chocolate even though he was right – she hated it. "Look, see?"
He kept his head down, but she knew he was watching, could feel him peering at her from under his lashes. Doing her best not to scrunch her face up in distaste she shoved the bitter sweet in her mouth and began to chew.
"Mm," she managed vaguely as the chocolate crumpled and melted between her teeth. She even nodded her head for emphasis. His lips quirked as he watched her thinly veiled attempt to placate him, but he refused to lift his head or say a word. She stubbornly continued to chew, the harsh flavour coating her tongue thickly and making her eyes water. "Mmhmm. Good."
The quirk became a full blown smirk yet he remained unmoved.
"It's so... layered. What's not to like?" she finished feebly.
Damon released a sharp and sudden, "Ha!" Finally he lifted his head, meeting her eyes dead on. His gaze was soft with mirth, but the upraised corner of his lip exposing his canines was sharp. "I will be certain to purchase you another one in future, since you so thoroughly enjoyed this one."
She glared and mumbled reluctantly, "I look forward to it."
The lines of his mouth relaxed and his attention fell to her lips. "You've made a mess of yourself." His thumb brushed the seam of her bottom lip and her pulse spiked. She swallowed past the unexpected dryness of her throat, only noticing once she felt lightheaded that she wasn't breathing.
Damon, for his part, seemed distracted as he continued to swipe his thumb back and forth against the fullness of her lip. It was making her head spin.
He needed to stop. What if someone saw them like this? They would think something was happening that most definitely wasn't happening... and then she'd be killed!
Somehow, she found her voice lodged where it was at the back of her throat and whispered, "Damon."
As if waking from a dream, his eyes slowly focused on her before widening dramatically. His hand snapped to his side where he held it rigidly, fists clenched so tight his knuckles began to turn white. "I – Forgive me, I... there was chocolate! I meant no offense. I swear on my mother's memory, I would never –"
"It's fine, Damon," she reassured. "I know you would never..." She trailed off, not knowing how to finish the sentence.
Never, what? Kiss me?
She frowned, not liking the way the thought twisted at her stomach.
"Good," he answered more to himself than her. Nodding slightly, his gaze was locked on some point behind her, perhaps the potted plant in the corner. "I should leave you to your work."
If he was capable of vampire speed, she was certain he would have used it at that moment. As it was he made it out of the room with remarkable speed for a human. With his departure, Bonnie felt the tension seep out of the room and her body, but it did nothing to quiet the pounding of her heart.
Bonnie was situated in the parlor room, sweeping her duster absentmindedly across a shelf when she heard voices travelling down the corridor. Not such an unusual thing, but, though she couldn't make out what they were saying, she could tell they were raised in argument and that made her pause to listen closer.
The voices were male and obviously very angry. She strained to pick something out, keeping completely still, but to no avail. They were too far away. Bonnie scoffed suddenly, shaking her head at herself. When had she started eavesdropping as a way to entertain herself? Bonnie was not a gossip-monger. She was big on privacy... but really, there was very little else to do for entertainment here.
She jumped unexpectedly at the sound of a door being slammed down the hallway.
Turning back to the shelf she tried to focus on her work when Damon came charging into the room. Spinning swiftly around, she watched as he stormed across the space without so much as a sideways glance at her. He headed straight for the decanters of liquor at the bar and poured himself a generous helping of something she suspected was bourbon.
He swirled the brown liquid petulantly in his glass before tossing it back and pouring himself another helping.
For some reason, Bonnie found herself hesitating to draw attention to her presence. Maybe it was because she had always found Damon the most intimidating when he was on the brink of an emotional meltdown, or maybe it had to do with the lingering awkwardness she felt pulsing through her veins since last week's bonbon incident.
Either way it took her a while to find her voice. "Damon?"
His frame, already tense, stiffened further. Keeping his back to her, he tilted his head in her direction in acknowledgement while downing his drink. Barely restrained frustration rolled off him, making the air pregnant and heavy. But Bonnie bit back her concern when rustling skirts in the hallway forced her to drag her attention back to her work.
"Damon, there you are," Katherine exclaimed, entering the room loudly. "I heard voices. Is something the matter?"
Bonnie listened carefully as he let out a weighted sigh. "Nothing that concerns you, Miss Katherine."
"If it upsets you so greatly, Damon, it concerns me," Katherine answered demurely. "Mayhap I can be of some assistance?"
Ugh. Where's a stake when you need one? Bonnie thought darkly.
"It would seem I am to be drafted," he revealed with a humourless laugh that made Bonnie's blood run cold. She stood perfectly still, not even bothering to keep up the pretense of dusting, as she waited for him to continue. "So you see there is nothing for it, unless you can stop the war, Miss Katherine."
"If it were in my power to do so, I would. So much unnecessary bloodshed: it's such a waste."
It was the first time Katherine had said something Bonnie believed might be true and it made her already cold blood turn to ice.
"Indeed," Damon replied earnestly, not understanding what it was he was really agreeing with.
Turning discretely, Bonnie found a table to her right that would afford her a view of Damon and Katherine without drawing too much attention to herself. Moving to it, she began to sweep her duster lightly along the surface while keeping her head ducked just enough that she could watch them covertly.
Katherine had her back to her, but Bonnie was certain she was aware of her presence. Katherine closed the distance between her and Damon and brought her voice to just above a whisper. Loud enough that Bonnie could hear, but low enough that it seemed she was trying not to be overheard.
"I may not be able to stop the war, Damon, but I can give you a proper send off. One worthy of a man of your caliber."
Bonnie's lip curled unpleasantly, but she managed not to scoff in disgust.
Damon flushed a flattering rose colour, his eyes widening to twice their normal size. "Miss Katherine, I..." He bowed his head. "I would be honoured to share my last few hours here with you."
WHAT? Bonnie nearly screamed before catching herself. What the hell is he playing at?
She had never wanted to smack him harder than she did in this moment. And that included all the time she had spent with him in the 21st century.
"When do you depart?"
"Within the week."
"Well then, we shall have to make the most of the time left to us."
Bonnie became aware of the statuette floating off the table in front of her and placed her hand on top of it to set it back down. She took deep breaths and tried to clear her head from the insistent ringing in her ears that sounded an awful lot like kill Katherine.
"Miss Katherine, I have no intention of taking advantage of your friendship -"
"None sense. I won't take no for an answer. I expect to see you this very evening."
"Tonight?"
Bonnie's eyes widened with alarm as she spotted the piano stool lifting from the floor just behind Katherine. Fortunately, both Katherine and Damon were too engrossed in their conversation to notice and so Bonnie concentrated really hard on getting it back down and not slamming it into Katherine's back.
"Why of course."
"I'm afraid I simply cannot tonight. I have a prior engagement."
Bonnie felt her eyebrows rising as Katherine questioned with polite incredulousness, "Oh?"
"You see, I've been meaning to take Lenore out for a ride for some time now. It's very important to me." Damon let his eyes slip past Katherine to meet Bonnie's over her shoulder. His electric blues held her frozen for a small significant second as he conveyed a silent message.
"Your horse?"
He brought his attention back to Katherine. "Yes. I may not receive another opportunity. You understand, don't you?"
"Of course!" she exclaimed, her voice tight with false compassion. "I cannot say I'm not disappointed, but I understand how close a man and his horse can be."
There was something about the way she said that that made Bonnie's skin crawl and she found herself turning involuntarily away from the scene. Behind her, she heard the rustling of skirts as Katherine made her way through the room, but as quickly as it began it came to a halt.
"Oh hello, Bonnie. My, you are everywhere, aren't you?"
Bonnie turned her head and took in Katherine's empty smile before returning one of her own. "Only where I need to be, Miss."
Katherine hummed thoughtfully and continued on her way.
Bonnie waited patiently for a few moments before chancing conversation. "Lenore, huh?"
"If you would not like to –"
"No, I don't mind." And she really didn't.
The night air was warm as they walked along silently beside one another. Summer was fast approaching. She had already spent nearly two months trapped a hundred plus years in the past; it was enough to make her head spin. So much had changed since she arrived: she was a stronger witch thanks to Emily, she knew how to have a bath with only a bucketful of water and one hand, she was an expert at dusting, knew how to ride a horse and was good friends with Damon Salvatore of all people.
It wasn't as difficult to reconcile her fondness of this Damon to the Damon she would one day know anymore. Lately, she had been comparing the two and she had come to realize that despite the all-together bad attitude and utter lack of impulse control Vampire Damon had, they really weren't all that different. On the few occasions she had spoken to 21st century Damon, he had proven to be very intelligent and witty, though he often used his wit maliciously. Both Damons shared a devil-may-care attitude and a desperate need for approval.
The biggest difference between them was that this Damon was innocent and excited by the multitude of possibilities that life had to offer him while the Damon he would one day become was jaded, cynical and tainted by the blood on his hands.
Maybe he's more like his human self when he's with Elena. Maybe that's why she cares for him so much... The thought tugged uncomfortably at her insides and she tried to push it down. It would explain why Elena was always so willing to forgive him. If she knew the man Bonnie had gotten to know...
The tugging intensified and she frowned, trying to breath around it.
"You're deep in thought?" Damon noted from beside her.
"Yeah. I was just thinking about... home."
"Canada?"
Bonnie paused mid-step, brow crinkling. "What?"
Damon continued on, one hand holding Lenore's reins gently as he guided her behind him. He had been walking her for some time now, and Bonnie was beginning to suspect that he had no real intention of riding her tonight. Without missing a step he answered over his shoulder, "Your home."
"Oh!"
Her eyes bugged as she remembered that bit of information. "Right, that – yeah, that is what I was thinking of."
She balled her skirt in her good hand and sprinted lightly to catch up to him, letting the fabric fall back in place once they were in step.
"Do you miss it?"
"Sometimes," she answered honestly, focusing on the way the blades of grass bent under her shoes with each step, "but not as much as I used to. I mean, I still hope to go back someday –"
"Go back?" He stopped walking suddenly, so she stopped too. His gaze was heavy when it landed on her, but she met it dead on.
"I'm only here temporarily," she admitted, feeling oddly guilty about not telling him earlier.
"Oh," he said, voice smaller than she'd heard it in a long time. He nodded sagely, his eyes straying to her ear. "I imagine your family must miss you a great deal."
"I wouldn't think so. My grandmother, she..." Bonnie took a deep breath," she passed away not too long ago, and my father is the only family I have left, but he's usually away on business, so it's really just me."
His attention snapped back to her again as he questioned, "What of your mother?"
Another deep breath.
"She left when I was still young."
"Left? To go where?" He asked, genuinely perplexed.
"She never said. She just left."
"How could a mother abandon her child?"
His eyes bored into hers as if they held the answer to his question and Bonnie realized how abstract a concept it must seem to him. Trying to imagine a woman choosing to leave her family when she had very little to no rights of her own.
She shook her head. "I don't know. But what I lack in family I make up for in friends, and honestly, we've known each other for so long that they are family to me."
"Tell me of them."
She studied him then, taking in the curiosity sparking behind his baby blues, and it dawned on her that in all their conversations she had rarely spoken about herself. Maybe because she didn't want to have to remember the lies and omissions that would be necessary to divulge any real information. Or more likely, it was the fact that she hadn't trusted him enough to talk about her inner most thoughts and fears the way he did.
Did she trust him now?
Yeah, I do.
The answer came quickly and it didn't startle or upset her like it would have a couple weeks ago. And if she could hedge out all the futuristic details, what would be the harm in just talking?
Taking a few aimless steps, she waited for him to fall into step beside her before starting in. He listened animatedly as she spoke, asking the appropriate questions at the right intervals. She found herself hesitating to bring up Elena, the future love of Damon's life, instead telling stories about Caroline and Matt for longer than strictly necessary.
Eventually, she pushed her foolish trepidation aside and broached the subject of her oldest friend. Damon remained as politely curious as he had with Caroline and Matt, and Bonnie felt oddly relived. It was silly really. Had she really thought he would latch onto the subject of Elena and try to drain her dry for every drop of information he could get? And even if he did, why should she care?
After spending a few minutes on Elena, she moved on to Jeremy and Damon's insatiable curiosity seemed to vanish.
A lull fell naturally within her monologue as he tied Lenore's reins to a low branch on the willow tree they occasionally frequented. He took the pause as an opportunity to speak, keeping his focus on the knot he was making, his tone casual.
"This Jeremy... you speak fondly of him. Is he your betrothed?"
"Betrothed?" She echoed, confusion pulling the corners of her mouth down as she tried to remember what that meant. "Wait, you mean my fiancé?"
"Yes."
Laughter danced past her lips and hovered in the night air between them. "Jeremy? Not a chance! He's Elena's little brother."
"And?"
"And I've never thought of him in that way."
"Never thought of him?" he repeated baffled. He studied her sharply, leaning against tree and letting his cotton shirt snag carelessly. "Has your father not made arrangements for you?"
Bonnie prickled at the idea. "My father wouldn't dare. When I marry it'll be for love."
"Is that so?"
The smallest of smiles teased at his lips, and his eyes crinkled charmingly. He seemed suddenly lighter than he had a few moments ago.
"How about you? What would entice the great Damon Salvatore to matrimony?"
He crossed his arms against his chest and frowned, shaking his head gravely. "I'm ashamed to call you my friend, Bonnie. Clearly you know me very little to have to ask. Anyone who is truly acquainted with me would know I could only be enticed by one thing: money, and lots of it."
"Oh, forgive me. I forgot you were a heartless gold-digger," she smirked.
"More shame you," he deadpanned.
"It's becoming clear to me, due to your lack of morality, that I'm the conscience, reason and common sense in this relationship."
Damon looked at her then, his eyes sharp and searching while a soft smile snuck across his lips. He stood for a moment just watching her before replying, "I resent that. I possess all of those qualities in spades."
"Right. You just don't use them."
"Ha!" He barked, shaking his head slightly as his smile grew wider. "Very well. In that case, I am the..." He tilted his head back, his eyes searching the stars as if for inspiration, "spontaneity, creativity and... fun."
He swung his focus towards her suddenly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Why, Bonnie, without me you'd be Stefan."
She felt her jaw slacken as breath passed dramatically through her lips in a gasp. Taking in her expression Damon began to chuckle, which was like adding salt to the wound, but despite how hard she tried to glare she only managed to squint half-heartedly and laugh along with him.
All too soon the laughter faded into a sombre silence. It wrapped thickly around them as they both remembered the clock ticking away above their heads.
"When will you leave, do you think?" he questioned with quiet reluctance.
"I don't know. Not for some time still."
At least she hoped not. She had told Emily about her shadow theory but hadn't really had a chance to talk to her about it since.
A thought yanked incessantly at the corner of her mind and try as she might she couldn't push it away. Her mouth started forming the words even as she cringed around them, "Are you going to see Miss Katherine before you leave?"
His gaze was probing, as it had been all night, as if he were waiting for some signal. "Perhaps. Would that upset you?"
Yes, her mind hissed viciously, I'd think you're the biggest idiot I've ever met.
She really didn't feel like getting into another argument with him, especially when he'd be leaving soon, so instead she shrugged indifferently. "Why should it? You're a grown man; you can make your own decisions."
His shoulders lowered and he bowed his head. "It might be nice."
Bonnie bit her lip so hard she tasted blood.
Damon slipped past her, further into the tall grassy field before tossing himself haphazardly onto the ground. Making her slow way over to him, she was strongly reminded of the last time she had seen him in this position. The night she had won her hat – the one she looked quite well in. The night they had fought.
She shifted awkwardly, not knowing whether to join him or keep standing. He didn't seem aware of her presence, his attention fixed to the sky above him, gaze clouded over in thought. Whatever was on his mind it had something to do with the war he was being pulled into.
Sighing, she chose to join him. Taking a moment to get comfortable, she was conscious of the heat of him beside her, the blades of grass tickling the back of her nexk and how her shoulder brushed against his every so often.
"Bonnie?" he called so softly she wasn't sure she heard him at first.
"Yeah."
A pause stretched between them until she was convinced she had only imagined him speaking, when again his voice came, softer than even before. "I don't want to die."
Her heart shattered painfully in her chest, the shards landing somewhere around her lungs making each breath an endeavor. She twisted her head and took him in as he stared sightlessly up at the night sky. With great effort she managed to speak. "Damon... you're not going to die."
His head fell towards her, but from her glassy reflection she could tell he wasn't seeing her.
"You cannot be certain of that."
"I am. With everything I have inside me, I know for a fact you will survive this."
"Many able bodied men go, but not all return, and those that do..."
Bonnie groaned. He wasn't listening.
Placing her hand against his cheek, she was momentarily distracted by the softness of his skin. Sometimes Damon came across as so statuesque; it was startling to find him soft to the touch. Pushing these thoughts away, she forced him to really look at her.
"Damon, listen to me. You're bigger than this. You're not dying on a battlefield."
"Everyone dies, Bonnie."
"Not you. You're going to live forever."
And she wanted him to. In that instant she wanted him to become the eternal stud with the bad attitude. She wanted his snarky comments, excessive drinking and reckless impulse. More than anything, she just wanted him to live, no matter how selfish that made her.
His warm hand came up to rest on hers at his cheek and she tried not to shiver.
"I would like that."
They stayed like that for some time, watching each other silently as he drew mindless patterns across the back of her hand.
"I wish," he spoke slowly, "there was another way."
"There's always another way."
He shook his head slightly under her hand. "My father would disown me if I ran away from this."
You're father's a douche, she caught herself just before saying. Turning her head back towards the stars, she disentangled her hand from his and took a deep breath.
"My grandmother used to say, 'people will always expect a lot of you, but you can't live to other people's expectations. At some point you have to stop living for them and start living for yourself.' You can't do this because it's what your father expects of you, and you can't keep comparing yourself to Stefan or William Fell. You're not them and you never will be. You're Damon, and that's all you need to be."
Even in the dense darkness of the night she could feel the way his eyes raked over her face intently. "Your grandmother was a wise woman."
"Yeah, she was. And it's true, you know. If you keep letting people compare you, if you keep comparing yourself, you'll never be satisfied."
That's what he had been doing all along, with his father, Katherine, even Elena. Trying to meet their expectations while comparing everything he did to Stefan and knowing that the other person was doing it as well – comparing him to Stefan and finding him lacking.
"You're good enough as you are, Damon."
"Bonnie," he breathed, and he was suddenly very close, his face hovering just above hers. She struggled to settle the pounding heart in her throat, but he was just too close. His breath fanned lightly across her face and she shivered.
"You can't leave me," he whispered pleadingly. "Promise me. Promise me you will not leave until I return."
"I promise," she managed though she was barely breathing, "But you have to promise to come back, so I can leave."
The minute distance between them seemed to be closing and she couldn't be sure who was responsible for it. Their noses brushed and her heart stopped.
"Then I may never come back, simply to keep you here."
A twig snapped in the distance and they shot apart with such force Bonnie did a complete 360 roll from the effort, landing awkwardly on her bad arm. She groaned painfully into the grass.
"What do you think that was?"
Knowing he wasn't referring to her groan of pain, Bonnie snapped her head up and scanned the surrounding darkness for anything suspicious. Off in the distance, the shadow of something flashed away.
At least she hoped it was something and not someone...
I don't normally do an A/N at the end, but I didn't want to give anything away about the chapter. I'm really going to need some support to get through the next chapter or two, guys. My main incentive to write are the Bamon interactions and there aren't going to be any in the next chapter! It kills me just thinking about it! It's important for the story though. I know you guys want me to finish this story and I want to finish this story, so... if you don't hear from me in a couple months start nagging like crazy. lol. I'd really appriciate. Love ya'll!