Title: The Gods of Virginia
Rating: M
Genre: AU/AH, Time Travel/Romance
Pairing(s): Bonnie/Stefan, Bonnie/Damon, Elijah/Katherine, Tyler/Caroline, Rebekah/OC, Matt/Katherine, etc.
Summary: When an accident sends Bonnie Bennett back to 1864, and circumstance forces her into becoming a "kept" woman, she is less than excited to find that Damon Salvatore will be the one for whom she will play placée, but it is the price she must pay to live amongst the gens de couleur, a society that holds the only ancestor she has with the power to send her home. However, Bonnie begins to interest Stefan Salvatore as well and to make matters worse Mystic Falls isn't ready to witness open concubinage between a white man and a black woman especially when that woman is suspected of witchcraft.
Warnings: Time Travel, Non-Canon, Racism, Sexual Content, Violence, Original Character etc.
Part Two: Duty
In life there are many wars that must be fought. Both physical and mental in nature. I have come to find that when a man is called to fight for his country, even if the cause is one in which the man does not believe he must stand behind it. It is his duty. And in the south duty is held above all unless it means duty to oneself. Because while boys and men are encouraged to fight wars and kill other men for causes that they do not believe in when it comes something they do believe in if it does not go along with the rules of society they are not to speak or fight, they are to keep their mouths shut. They are to hold their heads down. They are to let their souls die as they watch other human beings suffer, because the world does not see those who suffer as human beings. They are to pick up guns and march and let out battle cries for and fight to keep the very rules they despise in place. It is our duty to be miserable. Our duty to perpetrate hate. Our duty to inherit the whips used to break the backs of men who are only weak because we make them so. It is an odd thing to me that a white man who does his duty can be called gentlemen, when a slave cannot even be labeled as human. An odd thing when all of the monsters that I have known have had white skin and those that I have known that have the most humanity have been black.
― From the journal of Damon Salvatore circa April, 1864
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864
Bonnie Bennett followed Thomas into the room that in her time held her grandmother's sewing supplies. However, the room was being used for something far more interesting by Aimee and Thomas it seemed. It held the majority of their magical stores. Potions and herbs that Bonnie had never seen before.
"Why are you showing me this?" Bonnie asked, as she walked from shelf the shelf. The dress that she wore was becoming uncomfortable, but she supposed that she would have to get used to it.
"Since you are here now I have someone to learn alongside me," Thomas said, "Unless you have prowess over your powers already?"
Bonnie shook her head at him. It was clear that he was excited to have her there for reasons beyond the fact that Aimee would not kill him for the sake of the missing girl.
"Aimee used to teach me alongside my sister," Thomas revealed as he picked up a jar of lamb's blood from the wall, "I do not learn as well on my own."
Bonnie frowned as she looked at him. "Your sister," she said, "Why did she run?"
Thomas placed the jar back on its shelf and shook his head. "Running," he said, "She was in love and trying to escape the very system Aimee is trying to promote. We were all born into it. It was how we met. Our circles crossed when we were very young. I always looked up to Aimee. She is very headstrong and very powerful."
"How powerful?" Bonnie asked.
"Powerful enough that the vastness of your power did not surprise me once I knew that you came from her line," he said.
"Does Raoul know about her powers?" Bonnie asked.
Thomas nodded. "He does," he replied, "And in spite of his temper he takes most things regarding Aimee in stride. She could grow another limb and he would blink and then have dresses made for her to accommodate it." Thomas smiled as Bonnie laughed. "But our powers do not go over as well with some as they do others. Especially here."
"Then how do we hide them?" Bonnie asked, "I sometimes have issues with control and even then I know that it's hard to be careful all the time. To look over your shoulder at every moment."
"It was easier in New Orleans," he said, "Louisiana is known for such things. The supernatural has been embedded in the city since it was created. It is so common place that people dismiss the issue of magic when it comes up, unless they are in need of it of course." Thomas smirked, as he leaned against the closed door. "But towns like these," he sighed, "Small towns looking for anything and everything to demonize. With little people stuck in old ways that are ready to prosecute anything different….these are the town's that we must be wary of. We would not have come at all if Raoul did not have ties here. We will have to be careful. And as for control…" Thomas walked over to one of the shelves and picked up a long rectangular box, "This will help you with it."
Bonnie took the box as he held it out for her. She was still uneasy, but it was hard to be afraid when there were so many people who seemed too willing to help her to adjust. She opened the wooden box and looked inside. It was a silver locket with flowers engraved on the front of it. "It's beautiful," Bonnie said.
"It was my sister Lisette's," Thomas said, "One of the things she left behind. There is not a picture inside but an herb. Passionflower. It helps with control."
"It was your sister's," Bonnie said, shaking her head, "I can't take this."
"You can," he said, "She has many others and you will need it while you are here. Our powers are tied to our emotions. And you are not used to this time. Trust me when I tell you that you will witness things and experience things that will inspire an emotional reaction. I do not know what a loss of control would mean in your time, but in this time it could mean death."
Bonnie took the necklace out of the box and held it out in front of her. She wondered once more what she had condemned herself to as Thomas stepped forward to help her put the necklace on her neck. "Since I am so unfamiliar with this time," Bonnie said, as Thomas stepped up behind her, "Do you really think that I should go tonight?"
"It would not do well for us to leave you here alone cher," he said, "Just make sure to stay close to one of us at all times. If Aimee says that she will protect you then you can believe it, poupée."
Bonnie nodded, as she touched the necklace as it fell in between her breast. "How does one behave at these balls?" Bonnie asked.
Thomas laughed, a little as he stepped away from her. "That is a good question, ma belle," he grinned, "The answer to which may take a while. You will learn best if I take you to join the other girls. They grew up as women in this world and so they are the ones to ask."
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia 2011
Abby Bennett paced the length of the living room in which she had spent most of her childhood. Her daughter had vanished seemingly into thin air and she had no idea where she had gone or what she could do about it.
Her powers were very weak at the best of times and Abby had no one to call. Sheila was dead. Even if Rudy could come home from whatever business trip he was on, he would be of no help. Bonnie's friends were powerless without Bonnie. There was nothing she could do.
Abby had never felt so helpless. When she had left Bonnie, she had cut herself off not just from her daughter, but the entire supernatural community of which she had been a part of. She wished that she had at least kept in contact with one witch in all of the years she had stopped practicing magic.
They barely had any family left. They were thinning out to near nonexistence. The only person that came to mind was Lucy, the woman was on the move constantly and almost always in some sort of trouble. The likelihood of her showing up if she were to call, was slim but Abby knew that she would have to at the very least try.
She moved through the house to find her phone so that she could get Lucy's contact information, but stopped as she heard a knock on the door.
Frowning and expecting to find one of Bonnie's friends asking for something that Abby was in no mood to give, Abby stalked toward the door.
Abby opened the door and was ready to give whoever was on the other side a verbal lashing when she froze. There was a hooded female figure on the other side of the door, her silhouette looking oddly familiar against the night sky.
"Can I help you?" Abby asked hesitantly.
"No," a smooth accented voice replied, "But I can help you, chérie." The woman reached up and removed the hood from her head and Abby gasped as Aimee Bennett-Mercier stared back at her. "That is," she smiled, "If you would be nice enough to invite me in."
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia 1864
Bonnie watched as Aimee made her way about the room in the Town Hall that they had been permitted to hold the ball in. The way that she fluttered about, moving around giving orders brought Caroline Forbes to mind and she gave a sad smile as Aimee turned and waved at her and Raoul.
"She strives for perfection in everything," Raoul leaned down to whisper in Bonnie's ear, "We best stay out of her way."
"I have a friend back home that operates the same way," Bonnie said, "I didn't much appreciate it at the time but it seems kind of endearing now."
Raoul smiled knowingly. "Things often seem better in retrospect," he said, "Unless the things that you fall into are better than the ones that you left behind."
Bonnie glanced over at him and noted that he was staring at Aimee. "You're talking about Aimee?" She asked, though she knew the answer.
"I talk of little else," he said.
"Then wouldn't it have been easier for you if you had stayed in France instead of coming back here?" Bonnie asked.
"Of course it would have been easier," Raoul said, "But Aimee and I have never believed in taking the easy way out. One cannot affect change that way."
Bonnie gave a more genuine smile at his words. These were the people that she had come from. People that had been erased from the town's history but had more strength and character than its founders whom were given a parade each year.
Bonnie sprang to attention as Thomas approached them and offered her his arm. At Raoul's nod she took it and allowed herself to be led across the room toward one of the other girls that would be participating in the nights festivities, if that was the word that should be used.
The girl smiled as they walked toward her. Bonnie was a little intimidated by her tall slim frame. She wore a pale blue dress that offset the deep rich dark color of her skin. Her eyes were the color of espresso with flecks of black and her features had an angular sharp quality to them.
"This lovely lady here is Emmanuelle Fontaine." Thomas said, as they stopped in front of her, "If anyone can help you navigate through the ball she can."
"You flatter me, Thomas," She said, waving the fan in her hand in his direction.
"I give praise where it is due, ma belle," Thomas said with a wink, before he introduced Bonnie by name.
"It is a wonder that Aimee still lets you near her girls as much as you like to flirt," she laughed. She eyed Bonnie and she squirmed in her gaze in response. "You are a pretty little thing," she said, "You should fare well tonight."
Bonnie blinked at the complement. "Thank you," she said, "But I would appreciate any advice that you could give just the same."
Emmanuelle tapped her fan against her hand as she thought. "Well," she said, "Most white men do not take rejection well. Particularly, if it comes from a colored woman. A lot of these men like to consider these systems an act of charity when really in many ways it could be considered the other way around."
"This one has a mouth on her," Thomas laughed, "Which is all fine in well unless the wrong person hears her."
"Not to worry, Thomas," Emmanuelle said, "I know how to play my role well. I will be on my best behavior. You can be sure of that. I know very well what could happen if I am not." She turned toward Bonnie, and her face grew serious, though her eyes held a playful edge. "The best advice I could you Miss Bonnie," she said, "Is that if you are not interested, then act politely interested. And if you are interested, then act overly so. If you have an itch never scratch it. If you cannot stop an unpleasant expression before it appears on your face then hide it behind your fan. And always laugh at the jokes, especially the terrible ones."
As Thomas shook his head and Emmanuelle winked, Bonnie couldn't help but laugh just a little in spite of her nervousness.
"Perhaps I have chosen the wrong mentor for you," Thomas said.
Bonnie shook her head. "No, she is perfect," she said, grinning, "I will be sure to take the advice to heart." She may have been out of time but at least she was in good company.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 2011
Raoul Mercier took the glass of bourbon that Damon offered him as he sat down on the couch in front of the fire place. They had arrived at the Salvatore boarding house, having left the ball shortly after Raoul's sudden surprise appearance.
Damon sat down across from Raoul, watching as his brother took off the jacket to his tuxedo and sat down next to Raoul.
"Which would you like to explain first?" Damon asked, looking at Raoul, "The fact that you're alive or the fact that Bonnie somehow managed to get herself stuck in 1864?" Damon had tried calling her five times already, getting no answer each time. As much as he had doubted the memories that had suddenly surfaced were real, he was forced to accept that they were.
"Which would you like to hear first?" Raoul asked, taking a sip from his glass.
"We want to know about Bonnie," Stefan said, as he tossed his jacket aside. He looked toward Damon and wasn't surprised when his brother nodded in agreement.
"Are you sure about that?" Raoul asked, "Because from the looks of things you two are quite over, ma poupée. At least if that doe eyed little waif that you were parading around was any indication. She is pretty to be sure but rather thin and childlike in her mannerism. There is likely nothing you can do about her personality but at least you can try to feed her more."
"Raoul," Stefan pressed, choosing not to comment on the man's assessment of Elena, "Please tell us what is going on. How did Bonnie travel through time and why are we just now remembering her?"
They had left Elena with Caroline Forbes, trusting that the girl would get her home safe. They had given very little explanation as to their whereabouts and Stefan suspected there would be calls and questions from her sooner or later. But they would deal with that when the time came.
"You are just now remembering," Raoul said, regaining Stefan's attention, "Because my lovely wife orchestrated it that way. She did not want Bonnie's presence to interfere with the timeline and so she erased it from the town's memory. Those who knew her then and were still alive would remember once she went back. Everything comes full circle that way."
"Aimee?" Stefan asked, "If you are alive then-"
"Yes," Raoul nodded, "Mon amour, lives. Or at least I hope that she is alive, because if she is not then I have no idea who that woman in bed with me last night was."
Damon rolled his eyes, and sighed. "Cut the crap, Raoul," he said, "How did Bonnie go back?"
Raoul pulled the pocket watch out of his pocket, once more. "By the same means in which she will return here," he said, "A watch, very much like this."
"A watch?" Damon blinked.
Raoul nodded. "The process is called leaping," Raoul said, "We discovered it in 1864 on our quest to get Bonnie a means in which to return home. The gentlemen who sells the watches is an odd sort of fellow but he leaped for some time. These people they travel in and out of time and the spirits allow it as long as there is no disturbance to the timeline. What is fated to happen must still happen and all of that. That is how I am before you now. Aimee, Thomas, and I have been leaping for the past five years. For me that is how long it's been since I have seen you. We started after Bonnie left. And we had to make sure that she went back you see because without her, we never would have discovered the truth of the watches and we never would have started leaping in the first place. Aimee would have really been killed and I would have been destroyed in the process."
Damon and Stefan looked at him as if he had spontaneously sprouted wings. "So you have been traveling through time," Stefan said, "Doing what exactly?"
"Experiencing things," Raoul said, shrugging, "Doing favors for the spirits. Realigning things when they become askew. We have been in this time for a few months. We are hoping to settle here for a while as we would very much like to spend some time with Bonnie when she returns."
"And when will she return?" Stefan asked.
"A few months in the time she is in," Raoul said, taking another drink, "But for us in this time it will only seem like a week and a few days."
Damon frowned as he considered Raoul. The man was a lot of things, but he was never known to be a liar. Still he was having a hard time processing what Raoul was saying. "I am going to need some real concrete proof before I buy any of this," he muttered.
Raoul sighed, shaking his head. "Of course your precious memories are not proof enough," he said, "Aimee always said our Bonnie could do better. Now I am very much inclined to believe her." He stood walking toward the book shelf in the corner of the room, scanning the spines of the books there. "You have had the proof all along, boys," he said, "Right here in front of you had you bothered to look."
They watched as Raoul pulled a first edition copy of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens from the shelf. He walked over to Stefan and placed the book in his hands.
Stefan knew the particular memory that was tied to the book, but he wasn't sure how that was proof. "Open it," Raoul said.
Stefan opened the cover of the book and flipped through the pages. He stopped when he came to a page that was marked by an envelope. There was a line underlined. "I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be." Stefan closed his eyes a moment before he took out the envelope out from between the pages. He opened the envelope and pulled out what was inside. His eyes widened as he realized that it was a photograph.
"What is it?" Damon asked.
Stefan swallowed, before handing the picture over to Damon. He took the picture from Stefan's hand and flipped it over. As he looked down at the worn sepia colored exposure he was surprised to see Bonnie staring back at him.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia 1864
Bonnie sat down on the fountain in the courtyard just outside of the ballroom. She had grown tired of wearing a fake smile and being followed around and virtually groped by George Lockwood and Johnathan Gilbert. She felt stiff and dejected. They were basically expected to sell themselves to these men and watching it go on was almost as bad as having to participate in it.
She wanted to go home. She wondered if Abby was worried about her. If anyone outside of Abby would actually notice that she was gone. Perhaps they would figure it out eventually. When they needed a spell or when something went wrong that they wanted her to fix it.
Bonnie took off the white gloves on her hands tossed them on the ground. Even as she missed home she didn't necessarily like the idea of going back to what she had left. But she knew that she did not belong here. This was not her world. She did not know how she could fit into this time or this place. She was in a sort of limbo and she didn't know how to get out of it.
Bonnie muttered a curse as she felt herself start to cry. This was not the time or the place for tears. Still the more she wiped at her face, the more the tears seemed to fall.
"Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before─ more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle."
Bonnie looked up at the sound of the voice and was surprised to find Stefan Salvatore walking toward her. She frowned as she thought about his words. She had heard them somewhere before. Or rather she had read them. "Charles Dickens," Bonnie said, clearing her throat.
Stefan nodded, smiling as he hesitantly sat down next to her. "Great Expectations," he said, "Have you read it?"
"There was a long hard time when I kept far from me the remembrance of what I had thrown away when I was quite ignorant of its worth," Bonnie responded.
Stefan looked surprised and then pleased. "You have read it," he said, as he took a handkerchief out of his breast pocket.
Bonnie's eyes widened as he held the handkerchief out to her in offering. She studied him a moment, and saw something that she had seen when she had first met him. A goodness there that she thought had been a lie. "Thank you," she said, taking it from his hand.
"You are very welcome," Stefan said, and then, "Would it offend you very much if I asked you why you were crying just now?"
"Thinking of home," Bonnie said, simply as she dabbed at her eyes. It was a surreal thing, sitting next to a human Stefan Salvatore. One who seemed all innocence and boyish charm. The music wafting out from the inside reminding Bonnie that she was indeed at a quadroon ball.
"Are you far from home?" Stefan asked. She was the first woman that he had spoken to all night. Partially because, she was Raoul's kin and it felt safe to do so; and partially because he was inexplicably drawn to her.
Bonnie laughed. Technically she was in her home town, but she was very far from home indeed. "Yes," she said, "And no." Bonnie turned her body toward him, and the movement seemed to startle him slightly as their eyes met. She wondered for a moment if she was being improper. However, she didn't really care as this was Stefan. And though she did not know this Stefan, he was familiar. "Can I ask you why you came here tonight?" Bonnie whispered, "I'm sure it's not to sit out here with me quoting Charles Dickens and wiping my tears."
Stefan swallowed, looking away from her unwavering gaze a moment and then back again. She seemed to him otherworldly as the moon shined down on her face. When one took her features in one at a time there did not seem to be anything special about them but together; her eyes, her lips, everything seemed to come together and form something that was both enticing and unexpectedly beautiful. "Would you prefer the answer that I am supposed to give or the truth?" He asked, once he was able to get out of his own head.
"The truth," Bonnie said, seriously, "I don't believe lies are necessary when you're not in a life or death situation."
"That is an odd way of viewing things," Stefan murmured, looking away from her again. When she shrugged, he sighed. "My brother and I have been friends with Raoul for some time," he said, "We owe him a great deal. We are here out of a sense of duty to him. My brother seems to be carrying on just fine but I am a bit overwhelmed by both the atmosphere and the company."
Bonnie's eyes narrowed. She knew it was not the normal town's folk that caused such a reaction because Stefan likely saw them every day. "Is it interacting with the women that has you out of sorts or the people of color?" Bonnie asked, being sure to keep her tone less accusatory and more curious.
Stefan coughed loudly. It was a very brazen question, asked in a very blunt manner. A much unexpected thing from a woman of any race. But she was kin with Aimee and in Raoul's letters he had always told Stefan that Aimee had never shied away from saying any thought that entered her mind. "Both," he said, reluctantly, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.
"An honest answer," Bonnie smiled, "I'm surprised."
"Well," he shrugged, "It is not a matter of life and death and so I thought that honesty would be appropriate."
"I happen to be out of my element as well," she said, thinking that it was the biggest understatement of the century, "So I will not judge you." She glanced at his attire, trying not to laugh at the picture that he made, as she was sure the tux he was wearing was very fashionable for the time. "Well I might have to judge you for wearing your bowtie so crooked," she said.
Stefan looked down at himself. "Is it crooked?" He asked. The frown he wore and the look of concern making Bonnie snicker just a little.
"Here," Bonnie offered, placing the handkerchief in her lap, "I'll fix it."
Stefan watched as she reached out her small hands and adjusted his tie. It was a wonder that no one had come looking for them by now. "Do you like other literature?" Stefan asked, more to distract himself from the fact that she was touching him than anything else, "Do you read anything other than Dickens?"
Bonnie nodded. She had only known Dickens because she had been forced to read him during her sophomore year of high school. She had grown to appreciate it but it was not the type of literature that she usually read. "Nothing you would be familiar with," she said. She brushed off his shoulders and then pulled her hands away once she was done. "There," she said, "Now you are presentable enough to try your luck with the women."
"I seem to be doing well with one at least," Stefan blurted and then chastised himself for it soon after.
Bonnie blinked at him, not really knowing how to respond. Clearly he had not encountered Katherine yet, as no one seemed to know of her when Bonnie mentioned her to Aimee. So it would stand to reason that it would be possible that he could show interest in someone else. However, Bonnie could not compute that that someone else could be her.
Bonnie cleared her throat, replacing her gloves on her hands. She turned back toward him and opened her mouth to speak but it snapped shut as she heard the sound of footsteps.
They both stood quickly and as Stefan took a step away from her Bonnie was sure that at least some part of what they were doing was improper.
She frowned as George Lockwood came into view. His eyes zeroed in on her and Bonnie wanted to run. "There you are Miss Bennett," he said, "I have been looking all over for you. I thought that you might want to join me for another dance."
Bonnie wanted to say no but at the same time she did not want to face the potential consequences that might come with refusing him.
The sound of more footsteps came and Bonnie hoped that it was someone that could save her. She sighed in relief as Damon Salvatore, came into view and she gave him a pleading look over George Lockwood's shoulder. As he raised an eyebrow at her Bonnie realized that she was not in her time. And suddenly she missed Damon the vampire. Damon whom even if she did not get along with or like, she could silently communicate with and seemed to work rather seamlessly with when the time called for it.
"Shall we?" George asked, holding out his hand. He phrased it as a question but Bonnie saw it for what it was. Not an invitation but a demand.
Bonnie's hands clenched into fists at her side and she bit her bottom lip. Stefan hesitated before taking a step forward, but Damon moved quicker walking around George and offering his own hand to Bonnie. "Sorry George, old boy," he said, offering him an apologetic smile, "but Miss Bennett already promised the next dance to me."
Bonnie mouthed the words, "Thank you," as she took his hand. Damon nodded, as he led her around George and back in the direction of the ballroom.
"I have to warn you," Bonnie leaned in to whisper, once they were far enough away, "I can't really dance. At least not the way you dance."
"Not to worry," Damon smirked, "I give you permission to step on my toes if the need comes."
Bonnie couldn't help herself as she rolled her eyes in his direction. "How very chivalrous of you," she smiled.
"I do try to be a good and dutiful southern gentlemen, Miss Bennett," Damon responded.
"Really?" Bonnie asked, "I had heard quite the opposite from every source that I have come across so far." Damon stopped walking and Bonnie froze. She had gotten too comfortable. This was what they did. Banter, go back and forth. But this wasn't the Damon that she knew and this was not the time when she didn't have to be careful of things that she said.
Bonnie let out a sigh of relief when Damon laughed. "Been talking to Raoul have you?" he asked, shaking his head, "Well, I assure you that everything that he said about me is…." He looked around as if afraid that they were being watched, before he leaned down toward her. "Absolutely true," he whispered.
Bonnie covered her mouth to hide her smile. If nothing else she found relief in the fact that certain things remained the same in regards to Damon and Stefan. Thinking of Stefan, Bonnie turned in the direction they had come from and found him following behind with a chattering George Lockwood.
As their eyes met, Bonnie was uncertain at the look that he was giving her. She decided not to dwell on it as she continued to walk at Damon's side. Aimee would be sending word to her contacts in New Orleans in the morning, and Bonnie hoped that that meant that she would be going home soon.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 2011
Stefan Salvatore ran his hands over the spine of the worn copy of Great Expectations and frowned. He was still supposed to be without emotion and yet…Yet, it seemed that he had never felt so much since he had gotten turned. He did not know what to do with the information that he had been given.
He wondered if it would have been less confusing had he not been made to forget the things that he now remembered.
He had once told Bonnie that the answers to everything in life could be found in the pages of the right book. He had been young, a student, and idealistic. He wasn't even sure that he had believed it when he said it, and he believed it even less now. However, not knowing what else to do, Stefan opened the book in his hand to random page and began reading at the top of it.
"Love her, love her, love her! If she favors you, love her. If she wounds you, love her. If she tears your heart to pieces – and as it gets older and stronger, it will tear deeper – love her, love her, love her!"
Stefan laughed as he shut the book. "Some advice," he muttered, shaking his head.
"What's so funny?" Damon asked, as he walked into Stefan's room without knocking. When Stefan's only response was a wave of his hand, Damon sighed. "Elena's here," he said, "Do you want to explain what's going on or should I?"
"I think we both should," Stefan said, "But first there's something I have to tell you. Something about me and Bonnie. Something that happened toward the end before we thought that she ran…"
Damon frowned, his jaw ticking slightly. "I already know, Stefan," he said, his face closing off, "I'm not stupid. I saw the way that you two looked at each other."
Stefan looked away, not wanting to be in this situation again. Not wanting another woman coming in between him and his brother. "It never would have happened," Stefan said, "If I didn't….if I didn't love her."
"I know that too," Damon said. He looked like he wanted to say more but his mouth snapped shut as he turned to leave the room.
Now angry with himself, Stefan tossed the book on top of his bed. It popped open and another line caught Stefan's attention. "The broken heart. You think you will die, but you just keep living, day after day after terrible day."
"Now that," Stefan said, "I agree with." Turning he followed Damon out of the room without looking back.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864
When Bonnie Bennett awoke the next morning she had hoped that she had been having some sort of bad dream. However, as she sat across from Aimee, not only did she find that she was not dreaming but she found that she was trapped in some sort of waking nightmare.
"The good news is that I have written to my contacts in Louisiana," Aimee said, "However, the bad news is that it will take a while for them to receive my letter and find the watch vendor….it would not be a problem were it not for the fact that a few of the gentlemen from last night have shown interest in you. Not many of our girls were chosen but you were one. I refused them of course but a few were very persistent. George Lockwood in particular. He could not understand why he would not be able to form a contract with you until I told him that you had already come to an agreement with another."
Bonnie frowned. "What do you mean?" she asked, "Why would you say that?"
"Calm down," Aimee said, placating, "Please, just listen before you make any assumptions. I have your best interest in mind remember?"
Bonnie nodded, but she still couldn't stop herself from doubting Aimee's words. But she had no control over the situation and no options.
"It was Raoul's idea," Aimee said, "That you enter into a contract with Damon for your own protection. He has talked the matter over with Damon at length. No one expects anything of you, it will just be a piece of paper to keep the others at bay. They are looking at a house a few houses down from here."
"I can't stay with you?" Bonnie asked, feeling panic set in.
Aimee shook her head. "It would not be proper once you enter into the contract," she said, "But the house will be closed off to anyone who you do not wish to enter it and I will protect it through magical means of course. Besides, Thomas, Raoul, and I will be your constant companions. And Emmanuelle has shown interest and befriending you as well. She is not a witch, but she is a nice girl and as she has entered into a contract with Johnathan Gilbert, she will be in need of friendship just as much as you. This will be temporary of course, until we can send you home."
"Do I…," Bonnie said, carefully, "Do I have to sleep with him?"
Aimee gave her a look. "We would never have agreed if that was the case," she said, "Though, as far as the town is concerned the relationship will be a physical one, Damon has promised that nothing will happen that you do not wish to happen. And if something does, then you must tell us immediately. Do you understand?"
Bonnie nodded, still feeling uncertain. "Could I possibly," she said, "Talk this over with him?"
Aimee nodded. "He thought that you might wish to," she said, "He is here now. I will go and retrieve him." Bonnie watched apprehensively as she stared after her.
She twisted and untwisted something over and over again in her hands and she looked down and found that she still had Stefan's handkerchief. She hadn't realized that she had kept it, let alone that she had been carrying it around.
Frowning, Bonnie turned and stuffed the handkerchief in between the cushions of the couch that she was sitting on as she heard footsteps. She didn't think that it would seem right to be clutching something of Stefan's while she was making arrangements with his brother, even if the contract was supposed to be for show.
Bonnie stood as Damon entered the room, and greeted him with a forced smile, before she noticed the pieces of paper in his hands. "Is that the…?" Bonnie asked, trailing, unable to say the words aloud.
Damon nodded. "Raoul and I took care of everything," Damon said, "You will be well provided for and there will be nothing expected of you in return. I owe Raoul a great debt and I am doing this as a favor to him, so I do not want you to feel as if you are obligated to me. I am aware of how the system works but Aimee made it clear that it is not something that you wish to be a part of. Had it been Lockwood or any other man I assure you they would not have shown restraint because you were uncomfortable with the arrangement."
That's a delicate way of putting it, Bonnie thought. "So you are just going to put me up in a house somewhere and never see me again as a favor to Raoul?"
"Not exactly," Damon said. He did not quite know how to broach the topic, but he knew that it had to be discussed. "If I do not come around a few times at least," he said, "It will look suspicious."
"Then what do you suggest?" Bonnie asked, curiously.
"Well," he said, placing the papers down on the table in the middle of the room, "In the beginning of Aimee and Raoul's arrangement they had come to an understanding. They formed a sort of friendship. I had hoped that we might do the same."
Bonnie didn't know what was more surreal, her current situation or the fact that Damon wanted to be her friend. "You want to be my friend?" Bonnie asked, to clarify.
Damon looked unsure for a moment. "Well I did enjoy your company last night," he said, "Even though you did step on my toes, I gave you permission so I cannot very well hold it against you." He smiled as Bonnie tried to hide her own. "See," he said, "You seem to find me tolerable at least. So a friendship between us would not be so impossible a thing would it?"
"No," Bonnie said, "I guess it wouldn't." Bonnie was not sure that it was possible, but she was sure that her situation could be much worse.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 2011
Elena Gilbert sat down in the seat that Raoul had occupied only moments before. Her ball gown was gone and she looked on in confusion as Damon held something out to her. Stefan was sitting on the opposite side of her, and the man whom she only knew by name was across the room leaning against a nearby bookshelf.
"What is this?" Elena asked, as she took the envelope from his hand.
"Open it," Damon said, without looking at her. He sat down across from her and next to Stefan as he waited.
Elena opened the envelope and took out the picture inside of it. She frowned as she studied it. "Is this a joke?" She asked, after a moment, looking from one Salvatore to another.
Stefan shook his head. "Bonnie got sent to the past tonight," he said, "She won't be gone long by our standards but for her it will be a couple months at least. Earlier, at the ball we were experiencing memories of her."
Elena frowned. She just knew that there was something that they weren't telling her. Something important. Something that she likely needed to hear. "Why do I get the feeling that you're not just telling me this because Bonnie is my best friend and you thought that I should know?"
Stefan glanced at Damon and the elder Salvatore sighed. "We have a past with her Elena," Damon said, "A past that is very different from our relationship with her at present." He wished that he had remembered, but he knew deep down that memory or no memory he should have treated Bonnie better in the first place.
"Different in what way?" Elena asked, feeling the need to press the issue.
They hesitated and Raoul huffed. "Tell the waif or I will," he said, "If you plan on pursuing my little doll when she returns then I suggest you both act like men or I won't give you my blessing."
"His what?" Elena asked, clearly confused.
"Don't pay attention to him," Damon said, "He's like Bonnie's great great grandfather or something I don't really entirely get how exactly they're related. But he isn't important. The truth is."
"And the truth is," Stefan said, seriously, "That we….that Bonnie was the first girl that either of us ever really loved."
"What?" Elena said, looking at them both in disbelief, "What about Katherine? And didn't you say you just remembered her now?"
"It doesn't matter," Damon said, "And she came before there was a Katherine. She came and she made us love her; no lies, no manipulations, no compulsion…just her."
Try as she might Elena could not process what they were telling her. Her feelings for of them both caused a sudden and illogical resentment toward Bonnie to begin to form. "What about now?" Elena asked, "How do you feel about her now?"
Both Damon and Stefan glanced at each other seemingly hesitant to speak while the other was in the room. "I think it's safe to say that we both still care about her," Stefan said, after a moment, "But we won't know for sure how we feel or how she feels until she gets back."
"Well," Elena frowned, "Then where exactly does that leave us?"
Damon sighed. He didn't want to do this with her again. It seemed childish and pointless, now that he had something other than Katherine to compare it to as far as loving someone went.
"Which one of them are you talking to?" Raoul asked, grinning when Damon glared at him.
Stefan frowned at the hurt look on Elena's face, but sadly he could say that it was a valid question. Still, it was clear that Raoul still had the habit of talking too much for his own good.
Elena waited for Stefan or Damon to come to her defense, and stood tossing the photo into Damon's lap when they didn't. "I can't do this right now," she said, "I have to go. I'll call Caroline and tell her what's going on. If you hear anything about Bonnie, or if you just want to talk then you know where to reach me."
They watched her go and Raoul noticed that neither of them moved to go after her.
"I still don't know which one of you she was talking to," he said, "Even in the end it was very confusing. She has very shifty eyes, that one."
"I still don't like you," Damon muttered. Raoul shrugged, laughing as Damon picked up a pillow from the couch and tossed it at his head.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864
Giuseppe Salvatore sat across from the girl who had somehow managed to make his son forget himself. His back was straight, and his face serious. Bonnie, her name was. She was a passable beauty for one of her race. Then again so was Aimee. But this arrangement would only last until he found a way to protect his sons without having to have Raoul's assistance to do it, and he thought that it would be best if she was aware of as much.
"I am not saying these things to upset you, Miss Bennett," he said, "Though, if I were I still would not regret my words. You simply must know that whatever arrangement my son made with you is not and could never be anything of permanence."
Bonnie pressed her lips into a thin line. She had sat through nearly twenty minutes of verbal abuse and veiled insults and had been forced to pretend that it was polite conversation over tea of all things. The servant that had been hired for her, Corrine, had gone in search of Aimee some time ago. Corrine was paid a meager wage but it was something, Bonnie refused to have a slave under her employ. The contracts had been signed but that did not mean that Damon's father was beyond letting his displeasure be known.
"You are not and could never be a suitable match for him," Giuseppe continued, as he eyed her, "It is not just your race, so do not think it is the only issue. Even without that you have no rank in society and your ties to Aimee and Raoul bring you even lower still. Damon perhaps believes that he is doing Raoul a service, but it means nothing outside of that. And once the town disapproves and chases you people out, and they will, your contract will be null and void, no matter what terms you purposed. I am letting this indiscretion pass because of that knowledge and that knowledge alone. Whatever, impropriety my son takes up to with you will be forgiven in the eyes of God because he is doing so as an act of duty to the south. Your soul is damned being what you are, but I believe that if you bow out gracefully when the time comes that God may show even you some mercy. Do you agree?"
Bonnie wanted to hit him, to set him on fire, or to throw the tea cup in her hand against the wall, and pour the remnants of tea still in the pot over his head because she knew it was still hot enough to scold his skin. However, what she did, was paste on a smile and bat her eyelashes disarmingly. Because a woman did not think in this time, Emmanuelle had told her once their conversations had gone from playful to serious the night before, especially a woman of her color. She certainly did not form opinions outside of those of a man, and she never would dream of going against him. "Yes, Mr. Salvatore," Bonnie murmured, feeling more broken and abused than she had in her entire life. And she knew that the longer she stayed the worse it would get and it would not just come from him.
She was grateful when he stood in the next moment. "As long as you and I can see things as one," he said, "I trust that there will be no problems." He bowed, smirking, the former gesture a mock sign of respect. "You have a lovely day, Miss Bennett."
Bonnie forced herself to see him out. Just as he left Corrine walked in. Bonnie stormed back into the living room and as Corrine followed her she let out a strangled sound of frustration.
Corrine's chocolate eyes followed her as she paced the length of the room. "Miss Bonnie," Corrine said, "You must calm yourself. Aimee and the others will be back soon."
Bonnie shook her head, ignoring the woman's words. "That fucking bastard," Bonnie spat, "He has no right! Raoul told me what he's doing for him, for Damon and Stefan and he still acts like he's so much better than Raoul and Aimee. He's nothing but an elitist racist bigot-" Bonnie's words were cut off as Corrine suddenly grabbed her by the wrists, her grip tight, as she shook her.
"You shut your mouth," Corrine said, gravely, "You think those thoughts all you want to but let the right person hear you say them out loud and you are dead." Corrine let Bonnie go and pointed at the fire place. There was a fire there, where there had been none and Bonnie knew that it was her doing. It was lucky that Corrine already knew what she, Aimee, and Thomas were. "That man could get you killed with a few words," Corrine said, "And if any one finds out about your power you would be burned just like that and your ties to Aimee would get her killed too. And Thomas." Corrine met Bonnie's gaze as she took her face in her hands. "You need to be careful," she told her, "That man is not worth none of your lives. Now calm yourself. And you best get used to being talked down to. I assure you it will not be the last time. These people do not care about the free people of color. This is not Louisiana, and even there the elevation is a slight one. A nigger in a pretty dress is still nigger as far as these people are concerned and you will do well to remember that."
Bonnie stepped away from her and felt her eyes water. "You probably think I'm silly," Bonnie said, "I'm sure you've dealt with much worse."
"It is not silly," Corrine said, "And it is not a small thing. You never get used to it either. Not really. It hurts just as much every time. But it makes you stronger if you let it. You kept yourself from setting him on fire, so there's a sign of strength right there."
Bonnie laughed, wiping her eyes. "There's the silver lining," she said. Corrine gave her a quizzical look and Bonnie opened her mouth to explain but stopped as there was a pounding at the door.
Frowning Corrine, turned toward the sound. "Get yourself together," she said, "I will answer the door."
Bonnie nodded, clearing her throat and wiping at her face once more. She knew that it was not Aimee or Raoul. They would never have knocked. She turned at the sound of footsteps, and was surprised to see Damon walking into the room and giving her an apologetic smile. Bonnie crossed her arms over her chest, nodding to Corrine as she excused herself.
"I tried to get here before him," Damon said, as he entered the room more fully, "But it seems that from your face I am too late." Bonnie said nothing as he took off his hat. "I am sure that he said things," Damon continued, "I am used to being demeaned and degraded by him myself and I can only imagine what-"
"I don't think that this should continue," Bonnie said, cutting him off.
"What do you mean?" Damon asked. He had spent the entire day making arrangements and the issue with his father was the only snag that he had hit. Still, his father would allow it to pass, now that he had had he say. That was the way that Giuseppe operated.
"I think you know what I mean," she said, "I know that you are doing this as a favor to Raoul out of some weird sense of duty but it is obvious that your father-"
"This is no longer about Raoul," Damon interrupted stepping forward, "I am actually not very fond of him if I am being honest." Bonnie was taken aback as he grabbed both of her hands in his. "Since I signed those papers my duty is now to you," he said, his eyes narrowed, "I promise I will keep my word. All I am asking is that you trust me when I tell you that this…that I am your best chance."
Bonnie knew that it was either this or taking her chances with George Lockwood so she didn't see much of a real choice. "Okay," she whispered.
No one besides Stefan and ever put their trust in him before, and Damon was determined to prove himself. "Thank you," he said, bringing one of Bonnie's hands to his lips and kissing the back of it before he let both of her hands go. "Now if you would excuse me," he said.
"Where are you going?" Bonnie asked, staring at her hand, then looking back at him oddly.
"To have a talk with my father," he said, "Though it might not be needed as I am sure enough time has passed and Raoul has gotten to him first."
"He has been known to have a temper if I am not mistaken," Bonnie said, her lips twitching upward slightly.
"Yes," Damon nodded, "And my father has been known to be on the receiving end of it. Though, he has never deserved it more than now I believe." Damon put his hat back on his head and moved to leave. At the last minute he turned slightly. "Do not worry," he said, "Everything will be taken care of."
Bonnie nodded and watched him go. Corrine moved to enter the room but stopped when another knock came on the door a moment later.
When the person was let in Bonnie was not too surprised to see that it was Stefan. Bonnie nodded to Corrine as she excused herself once more.
"I passed my brother just now," he said, "He told me what happened. Are you alright?"
"As well as to be expected," Bonnie said, wringing her hands together, and then, "I would rather not talk about it to be honest."
Stefan nodded. "That is understandable," he said, "Besides that's not the reason that I came to call on you."
Bonnie raised an eyebrow at him, but invited him to sit down just the same. Bonnie sat down next to him and looked at him quizzically. "Why did you come?" She asked.
Stefan smiled, as he pulled a book from his jacket. "I saw this at one of the shops in town and I thought of you," he said, as he handed her the copy of Great Expectations.
"Thanks," Bonnie said. She took the book and ran her hand over the cover. She smiled sadly, wanting to go home. "I have no idea what I am doing here," Bonnie sighed, speaking more to herself than to him.
"This might seem strange," Stefan said, "But when I find myself disheartened I get my answers when I think of something outside of the issue that is bothering me. It works best when I read."
Not having any other solution at hand Bonnie flipped open the book to a random page and began to read. "Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape."
Bonnie closed the cover and looked at Stefan, feeling slightly better. "It isn't strange," Bonnie said, "Not strange at all. Thank you."
Stefan nodded. "You may not know why you are here," Stefan said, quietly, "But I am glad that you are."
Bonnie had only agreed to her friendship with Damon out of necessity, but as she looked at Stefan, for the first time she was beginning to see a friendship with both Salvatore brothers as a real possibility.