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 Seven: Torn
Sometimes I wonder what certainty feels like. Absolute and complete certainty. No doubting or second guessing. Is there even such a thing? The more I experience in this time the less I believe that such a thing actually exists. I am certain of very few things in life but my certainty of certain things has grown since I came here. I am certain that I am powerful. I am certain that I am strong. I am certain that I am loved and can be loved. I am certain that I have worth outside of the worth that others assign to me. I am certain that when I go home I will be much changed and I am certain that those who truly love me will accept those changes. But I am finding that the things that I am certain of are not the things that I fear. It is the things that I am uncertain about that I find to be the most terrifying.
― From Bonnie Bennett's letter to Caroline Forbes written, April, 1864
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864
Bonnie Bennett and Thomas La Belle looked on as Corrine hugged her son tightly. He had made it. He had come to them by night fall and though it was not her job to do so Bonnie turned so that she could prepare his room for him. Corrine deserved some time alone with her son as worried as she had been for him all of this time.
Thomas followed behind her as they ascended the stairs to her house. "I thought that he might not make it," Bonnie said as they walked. She sighed as she ran her hands over her dress. Two days had passed since she had last seen Stefan or Damon but she knew that it was for the best. She had spent most of her time in the interim working on magic with Thomas and Aimee and waiting for any sign of William with Corrine. "I was certain that he would be caught and sold anyway," she frowned.
William was a tall man with rich dark skin and kind hazel eyes. His smile reminded her of Corrine's. She was told that he looked like his father. But his father had been sold away and Corrine had not seen him for some time.
"The universe must have smiled upon him," Thomas grinned, "It happens that way sometimes, mon chéri." He wrapped an arm around Bonnie's shoulders and pulled her into his side. "Fortune favors the good hearted my mother always said," he told her.
"I must not be good hearted for me to end up here," Bonnie grinned, half joking.
"You have the best heart of anyone I know," Thomas said seriously, "There is a reason that you're here, my pet, the spirits would not have allowed it otherwise. Besides it has been good for you I think. You're much changed from when you first arrived. You smile more. You laugh more. It's as if your spirit was missing but has been returned to you somehow."
Bonnie smiled as she wrapped her arms around his middle. "I will miss you when I have to leave," she said, as they made it upstairs, "You are like the big brother I always wanted."
"While I will miss you when you go," Thomas sighed, "I would be fine if I knew that you were somewhere safe and happy. Don't let your spirit die when you leave this place, Bonnie. Keep it alive and live as you wish to live."
Bonnie nodded as she let him go slowly. "I will," she said, wiping the tear that had threatened to fall from the corner of her eye.
They stopped in front of the guest room where William would stay and opened the door. Corrine had gotten everything ready for the most part but Bonnie knew it wouldn't hurt to double check. "I know where I am," Bonnie said as she smoothed out the covers on the bed, "I know what time that I am in. I understand that what William had to go through is the norm here in many ways but…," she swallowed before she continued. "It's kind of surreal for me to think of someone being sold off," she said, "To have someone place a price on your head. To have them define your worth. Determine your value. It's disgusting."
Thomas put down the pillow that he had been fluffing and looked at Bonnie, his eyes and face serious. "The world can beat you down and break you," he stated, "Someone can look at you and see nothing. And another person can look at you and see the world. You can do something to change someone's life for the better in one moment and something to ruin another person's life in the same breath. But none of that matters. What matters is only this. No one can define who you are. No one. You must know what you are worth. If you can find value in yourself then no one can touch you. No one. Do you understand?"
Bonnie reached across the bed and took Thomas's hand. "I understand," she whispered. And in the moment she loved him just as dearly as she had ever loved anyone who shared her blood and her family name.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 2011
They had been quiet for some time now. Both waiting for the other to start the conversation. Both afraid to speak.
It had been fine when they had spent the beginning of the conversation trying to puzzle out what Klaus wanted from Bonnie. They had been able to toss theories at one another and they had been able to let the words flow freely. They had come up with a few possible answers but then they had grown silent. Silent as death, because there was nothing left to discuss between them except for the things that they did not want to discuss.
Stefan Salvatore sat across from his brother and waited for him to speak. He was tired of being the one to initiate conversation. Tired of being the one to make the effort. Still he was close to biting the bullet and breaking the silence when Damon finally spoke.
"There are some things that I need you know before Bonnie gets back," Damon sighed, "Some things I need to say."
Stefan waited. Damon let the words hang in the air and Stefan sighed. "Go ahead," he told him, "I'm listening."
"This isn't like before," Damon said, after a moment, "I mean…I'm not doing this to hurt you. This isn't some obsession like with Katherine. I'm not trying to finally be the guy that gets the girl like with Elena. With Bonnie…I love her in a way that I never thought I could love someone. It isn't selfish. I want her to know how I feel. I want that chance to tell her. I want to get a fair chance but more than anything I want her to be happy. If it's with me then fine…if it's with you I'm okay with that too as long as you take care of her and I know that you will. I'm just saying that if it does happen…if it is you that she wants then you won't have to worry about me interfering. Not again. Not ever."
Stefan nodded. "I know that was hard for you to say," he frowned, running a hand over his face, "I know that you know that no matter what happens she'll need us both. Before anything else we were her friends and she was afraid in the end that she would lose that." Stefan looked down at the carpeted floor before he continued. "You probably know this already but I stopped pursuing her back then because I knew how you felt about her," he sighed, "I knew how rare it was for you. I knew how much you needed it. Needed her. I thought it was the right thing at the time but I don't anymore. If we had let things play out naturally or simply backed off when she asked maybe it would have been better. I wouldn't have broken and told her the truth before she left because she would have already known. Things wouldn't have gone as far as they did."
He paused as Damon cleared his throat. He looked back up at Damon and met his gaze head on. "I can't make that mistake again," he said, "No matter the outcome I can't walk away from her. Not for your sake or anyone else's. I won't say that she is the only woman I've ever loved but she was the first. The one who left the biggest imprint. My mirror."
"A piece of your soul," Damon laughed, but there was no humor in it, "I heard you tell her that once." His hands clenched into fist. "I know what she was to you and she was my heart. My passion and peace all in one. The-"
"Love of your life," Stefan chimed in, "Your eternal flame. I always found it darkly amusing that you hate reading but you could be so poetic."
Damon shook his head. "We are so fucked up," he muttered. He wasn't surprised when Stefan nodded in agreement. "Why does this keep happening?"
Stefan leaned back in the chair that he was sitting in and stared at the opposite wall. "Sometimes I think that we're both trying to fill the hole that mother left," Stefan frowned, "I just wish that we didn't keep looking in the same direction."
"It won't happen again," Damon said, as he leaned back in his own chair, "As far as I'm concerned…Bonnie is it." Stefan didn't say so out loud but Damon knew he was of the same mind and that was a part of the problem.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864
Bonnie Bennett brushed off her hands on her apron as she finished planting the last of the chrysanthemums in her back yard. She was more comfortable than she had been since she had arrived. Her hair down. Her normal day dress traded in for a linen blouse and skirt.
She had not seen Stefan and Damon in days and in spite of the fact that a part of her missed them, she was grateful for it. She had told them that it would be best if they kept their distance after taking such a risk by going night swimming.
The idea and the concern behind it were sound but the real reason she wanted to have a break from them had little to do with the fact that they had been committing some risky behavior as of recent and more to do with her muddled feelings. After Stefan had kissed her she had been forced to face things that she had been trying to deny. Things that she had hoped to avoid.
It was clear to her now that what everyone was attempting to tell her was true. Both Stefan and Damon had feelings for her that were beyond friendship. It was frightening and surreal. So surreal in fact that Bonnie was hell bent on not examining her own feelings.
She could be their friend. She could keep her distance until she went home. There was no way that she could offer more than that. No way that, she could let herself desire more than that from either of them. Too many factors were at play.
There were things to consider. Things that would have to be faced when she returned home. There was her own change in personality. Because she had changed, slowly but drastically. There was the fact that both the Damon and Stefan in her time were in love with her best friend. There was the fact that after she left she would likely never see or interact with the Damon and Stefan in this time ever again. Not only that but she doubted she would be interacting with the Salvatore brothers at all when she returned.
She had discussed the matter with Aimee. The only way that her actions would not affect the present timeline when she left would be if the Salvatore brothers were made to forget her. If that was the case Bonnie didn't think she could handle interacting with them in any capacity when she got back. She couldn't go back to the relationship, for lack of a better word, that she had had with them before. Not after she had experienced what it was like for them to care about her and to care about them in turn. Not when she would likely have to pretend as if nothing had happened. As if nothing had changed.
That was in fact the worse part about the entire prospect of going home, even though she wanted to more than ever. She had changed. Everything had changed. She had developed a relationship with herself and with others that were essential to her now but they would be gone when she left aside from the one she had built with herself. They would be gone because at home nothing would have changed. Aimee, Raoul, Thomas, Corrine, Emmanuelle, and Solomon would not exist. The Stefan and Damon she knew of this time would not exist. It would just be her, alone again, with memories of finally not being alone to make her feel the loneliness that much more.
Sighing Bonnie bent down and began to start digging the holes that would house the yellow orchids. Perhaps she was being pessimistic. There was still Caroline. There was still Matt. Though, things would be awkward on her part given the position she was now in, she wanted to try and still be there for Elena if she could manage to do that and avoid the Salvatore brothers at the same time. She still had her father, and she was determined to try with Abby no matter what the woman felt upon her return. She would only be lonely if she allowed herself to be.
Besides, there was no reason that she had to tie herself down to the same people either. She could go and see new places and meet new people. She would be going to college soon and that would be a fresh start. Mystic Falls was not the center of the universe. There were other places to be and to see.
But the thought of leaving everything behind wasn't as appealing as she wanted it to be. It seemed like no matter what she did when she came home, a part of her would feel as if it were missing or broken.
"What are you thinking so hard about?" A voice said from behind her and she froze.
She didn't answer as Stefan walked over and kneeled down beside her. "I know you had your mind set on avoiding me but I couldn't stay away any longer," he said.
Sighing Bonnie stood, brushing her hand on her apron once more. "I think that we should talk," she said carefully.
He stood as well, following her lead. "I'm surprised that you want to," Stefan said, honestly, "I had thought that you would ask me to leave on sight." He reached out and brushed away the hair that had fallen into her face. "I'm glad that you haven't however, as I have much to say."
Bonnie took a step away from him. "Before you do," she sighed, "I need to tell you that I…I wish for us to remain friends and only friends. I see no reason to put our friendship at risk and to complicate things. There is no place in this time or in this town for a relationship between us for a number of reasons and it would be better if things stayed as they are."
"It's funny that you say that," Stefan smiled, "Because if things were to stay as they are, with us spending time together as we do…I am afraid that I would grow even fonder of you than I am now and I would be very much in danger of falling in l-"
"Stefan," Bonnie interjected before he could finish the statement, "I care about you very deeply…as a friend."
Stefan looked dejected for only a moment before he looked determined and then he pressed on. "I know that my kissing you must have been a shock," he tried, "But I had thought…surely you must have thought about me in that way at least once? Because when it comes to you I can think of little else." She was all he thought about anymore in fact. When he was with her he thought about things that he could do to make her smile. To make laugh. To keep her close. When he wasn't with her, he thought about the next time that he would see her again.
"I…," Bonnie trailed and looked away. She had thought about what it would be like. With him. In this time and before. She had played around with things in her head at certain times with Damon even. But she had never given any serious thought to being with either. But if she could ever love either of them in any carnation it would be the ones she was with now. With them as humans. Humans that treated her like she was human. Like she mattered. And that scared her. "I don't have that luxury," she whispered, "Not with you or anyone else."
"But you said…that you had loved before," Stefan pressed, "That you could love again and I had thought…I had hoped that you could have at least tried…with me."
Bonnie shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. "This isn't a book Stefan," she said, "This is real life. This is the world. There is no happy ending. No resolution that will tie everything together in a nice little package with a bow on top. Yes…I care about you…probably more than I should. I can tell you anything and I feel like…sometimes I feel like you understand me in a way that no one else ever has. But the reality is this. This place is not my home. This town is full of people who don't want me or my family here. Your father would sooner have me dead than anywhere near you and I belong to your brother on paper. When this plaçage thing blows up in everyone's face I will be forced to leave if not sooner. I'm a witch and if that would not get me prosecuted the color of my skin would. Nothing about any of this leaves room for romance. I can be your friend…and that is it."
Perhaps she sounded harsh but nothing that she had said had been a lie. Things would be complicated enough by the time she went home and there was no reason to complicate them further.
Stefan was silent for a long time. She knew it was because he could not argue with any of her points. Still after some time he spoke. "You're right," he murmured, "It is impossible. Improbable. Not at all a fairy tale. But for me you are well worth the risk. I would…I would rather have a few nights of happiness with you and have it end in tragedy than walk away just for the sake of a positive outcome. This world may be a terrible place with everyone in it poised to act against us but my world would not be the same without you in it."
Bonnie tried to stop the tears that fell but they came just the same. "I need you to go," she begged, as she clenched her fists to keep from sobbing, "Please."
"I have to meet Raoul," he said, "We have some business to take care of in regards to my studies. In the meantime…please think about what I've said. I'll call on you again later."
As he leaned down and kissed her cheek Bonnie jerked away from him. He tried to mask the hurt he felt as he turned and walked away without looking back.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 2011
There was a knock on the door to the boarding house. Damon might have been more displeased with the fact that the intrusion had interrupted his conversation with his brother but in truth their talk wasn't getting them anywhere anyway.
He had not learned anything that he hadn't known already in terms of his brother's interaction with Bonnie and though they had vowed to stay out of each other's way in terms of their pursuit of her they had not gained any ground. Still at least their cards were on the table. It was something.
Damon wondered if their guest was Raoul or perhaps Aimee. He knew that there was something that they were telling them. They had been vague regarding their actions and motivations thus far. While Raoul had briefed them on the situation regarding Esther sponging off the Bennett line Damon knew that something was amiss.
They had told Aimee about Klaus approaching Stefan and she had told them that if things did not go as planned with the unbinding spell that Klaus would try and turn Bonnie into a vampire in an effort to make sure that Esther no longer had access to the powers of the Bennett women. While this was a problem because Bonnie would never wish to be a vampire and Damon could only imagine what it would do to her to be turned, it seemed as if there was another reason that the others were adamant about Bonnie remaining human.
Or perhaps he was simply being paranoid. Whatever the case he knew that they would have the answers once Bonnie returned home.
As Damon made it to the front door and pulled it open he could hear Stefan walk up behind him. He froze at who stood on the other side.
She looked exactly the same as she did when last he saw her alive and well. Same midnight black hair. Same moss green eyes. Same angular features and milky white skin. There she was standing in front of him as if she had never left. Damon could not move. He could not speak.
"Mom?" Stefan's voice came cautiously from behind him and Damon was sure that the woman was who he had thought she was.
She smiled in the way she used to smile at them when they were children. "Hello boys," she said, "If you would be so good as to invite me in…I have much to tell you."
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864
The garden seemed to be coming along nicely. The fact that Bonnie had already begun work on it told Damon that though it had not been the eternity that he had felt as if it had been since he had last seen Bonnie, it was pretty close.
She had told him that she had wanted to grow things. That she liked nature. That her powers were tied to it. That the earth calmed her. But she looked anything but calm as she stabbed the hand trowel that she gripped into the ground again and again.
Silently he walked up to her and took off his jacket as he sat beside her on the ground. She continued her motions as if he wasn't there as he unbuttoned the sleeves to his shirt and rolled them up. Sighing as Bonnie continued to stab the trowel into the ground Damon decided to remain positive before he spoke. "What are we planting today, little witch?" He asked.
Bonnie frowned as her motions finally stopped. "I wish I could tell you to leave but I'm kind of glad that you're here," she sighed. She never minded seeing him much, not anymore. In fact she looked forward to it now and Solomon's words about love and the like made her want to examine why. But she fought the urge. She had already dealt with Stefan and so she hoped that she could spare herself anymore declarations for one day.
"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?" Damon asked after a moment.
"It wouldn't be fair to you if I did," Bonnie said, "Besides…I'm not even really sure exactly what's bothering me. It's like…being exhausted but not being able to sleep."
Damon blinked. "I'm not sure what you mean," he said. Even if she was behaving strangely he was happy to see her. He had decided after the incident with the night swimming that he would stop hiding from his developing feelings for her and embrace them instead. They didn't seem to be going anywhere and if he were honest he would say that he enjoyed them. They were new and invigorating and frustrating and nice and oddly painful. It was probably the most he had felt in a long time.
Bonnie tossed the hand tool onto the ground, regaining his attention. "I've been trying to figure it out myself," she muttered.
"What can I do?" He asked seriously.
"I'm kind of beginning to wonder why you care enough to want to do anything at all," she said. She almost liked it better when she could count on him not to care. Because him caring made her care and her caring had only grown over time. It would keep growing and then she would be in trouble. She was already in trouble if her reaction to Stefan's abruptly revealing to her his feelings for her were any indication.
Damon stared at her a moment and he knew that this would be the opening he needed to tell her the truth of his feelings. "Because I'm fond of…no I adore you," he said, "I know I like to tease you but I'm serious when I say that even though you are frustrating and a bit nagging and you don't handle being taken care of well at all I can no longer picture my life without you in it. I like that you are not afraid to say what you think. I like that you believe in me. That I can be a good person. I like that you hold me accountable for my actions. I like the way you smile when you play the piano forte because I know you're thinking of your grandmother. I like the way you have taken on everyone around you here as your family. Bringing them into your life and making them better for it. I like that you are so powerful but so humble and so human even so. I like that you take care of my brother in the same way I do. And I know that you say that I irritate you more times than not but you still ask Corrine to make me apple pies. You still hug me when my mood is dark and listen to me even when I can't find the words to express how I feel. I know that I don't know anything about love but this…what I feel for you is the closest thing that I have ever felt to it."
Bonnie stared at him as he looked at her expectantly after he had finished. If she had not heard the words leave his mouth she would have sworn that they had come from someone else. In spite of her softening toward him, in spite of how deeply she now cared about him, she hadn't thought that he was capable of feeling half of what he was saying. "I don't know what to say," she said. And she didn't.
Bonnie stayed frozen, shell-shocked, as he leaned down and gently pressed his lips to hers. She felt a strange fluttering in the pit of her stomach as he pulled back. It was the same feeling she had felt she realized when they had slow danced and then again when he had rescued her from George Lockwood. But still, this didn't make sense. It couldn't have been happening. This was Damon after all…he was human but this was still Damon.
"I'm not asking for you to fall in love with me," he whispered as he looked into her eyes, "Just for us to be together."
Bonnie sighed wringing her hands together. This was exactly what she hadn't wanted. What she had been trying to avoid. "I…," she trailed, and then, "I'm going to say something and I don't want you to get upset or think that it's because I don't think that you're good enough…I think a lot of you Damon. The only thing that surprises me more than the goodness that you are capable of is how much I could allow myself to care about you. I didn't think I would…"
He almost dared to hope but her expression was not as encouraging as her words. "But," he said his tone leading.
Bonnie swallowed. She didn't want to upset him and not just because she was afraid that he would go off the rails. "I think it would be better if we remained friends," she said, carefully, "Taking things any further than that would complicate things. There's a lot at stake. The people of this town don't want us here as it is. Your father already doesn't approve but if he were to find out about my powers…I know you would probably be fine with dealing with those things but there are other things that I can't exactly go into and…I like things the way they are now between us."
Bonnie waited for the explosion or the tantrum but it never came. Damon simply smiled and nodded. "Perhaps one day you will feel differently but for now," he said, "If that is what you want then I'm fine with it."
"That's it?" Bonnie asked, her surprise evident.
"What I want more than anything is for you to be happy and for you to remain in my life," he shrugged, "You're happy with us being friends. If we're friends then you remain in my life. While I want more than that…what I want is less important than what you need Bonnie."
She could tell by the look on his face that he meant his words. But it was something so selfless, so unlike Damon that it unnerved her. This was not a small thing she knew and though she tried not to be affected by it she was. Her presence had changed things more drastically than she realized and she knew without a doubt that when she went back to her time that this man, this Damon would be completely lost to her.
She blamed the revelation for her actions as she moved forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. As she hugged him she knew that she felt something for him even if she didn't want to examine what it was just yet. "Thank you for understanding," she said.
Damon wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him. This was not what he had hoped for but it was better than the alternative of not having her at all.
Neither of them noticed Stefan standing in the doorway of the back door watching them from inside.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 2011
Caroline Forbes set the stack of letters aside as she heard a knock at her front door. She wasn't expecting anyone. She had plans to go over to Bonnie's house later with Matt but he was working and so she was sure that it wasn't him.
A part of her hoped that it was someone with some news on Bonnie, though she knew that it was too early yet for her friend to have returned home.
From the letters it had become increasingly clear to Caroline that whatever was going on between Bonnie and the Salvatore brothers back then was not exactly one sided. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. What the most important thing was, however, was that Bonnie made it home safe and when she got home she would never have to doubt how much anyone cared for her again.
Caroline walked up to door and opened it. While she wasn't expecting to see Tyler Lockwood on the other side she couldn't say that she wasn't pleased. "Tyler," she smiled, "You're home."
She launched herself at him wrapping her arms around his neck. As he kissed her she remembered just how much she had missed him. His timing was kind of perfect. Now she could focus on Bonnie and not be worrying about them both at the same time.
Tyler smiled at her as he pulled back from the kiss. "The sire bond is broken," he said, "I'm free."
He looked as if a weight had been lifted and though Caroline wanted to believe him she had heard from Stefan that Klaus was lurking around. She didn't want to doubt Tyler but if it was a ploy to get information about Bonnie or her whereabouts then she would have to think of her friend first.
"How?" She asked, deciding to at least hear him out. She would give him the benefit of the doubt until he did something suspicious but she would keep her mouth shut about Bonnie.
"A witch came to me," he said, his expression showing he was choosing his words carefully before he spoke, "A strong one from Bonnie's line…well kind of from Bonnie's line. I mean she's a Bennett for sure but her last name is well…you're probably not going to believe this."
Caroline raised a brow at him. "Try me," she said, as she stepped aside and allowed him to enter.
"First I'll ask if you know about Bonnie being in the eighteen hundreds," Tyler said as he stepped inside.
Caroline frowned. "How did you know about the time travel?" she asked, he hadn't been around and she hadn't felt comfortable calling to tell him with the sire bond in place, "How long have you been back? Did Matt tell you?"
Tyler shook his head as she shut the door behind him. "I just got back and you were the first person I came to see," he said, "And I'm glad you know about the whole time travel thing because that gives me a lot less explaining to do. I know about Bonnie because the witch I mentioned before…she told me. Her name is Mila and she's really powerful like I said. She's the one who helped me with the sire bond."
"Okay," Caroline frowned, "So more of Bonnie's relatives are leaping forward in time then." She had heard from Thomas more about Raoul and Aimee and she wasn't too surprised.
Again Tyler shook his head. He wasn't sure if Caroline would believe him. He had been skeptical from the moment the girl had shown up calling him 'Uncle Ty' and telling him the story of Bonnie traveling through time. But the girl was so much like Bonnie and she knew things about Bonnie and her friends. All of them. So much in fact that it was clear that she loved and cared about them and they loved her in turn. It was weird and he had only known her for a few days but Tyler kind of loved her already in a little sister kind of way. "She's leaping but she's kind of from the future not the past," he explained, "She's…well she's kind of Bonnie's daughter."
"Daughter?" Caroline frowned, "What do you mean Bonnie's daughter?"
Tyler sighed. "That's what I'm trying to tell you," he said, "We have to make sure Bonnie is protected when she gets back because when Bonnie comes back from the eighteen hundreds she comes back pregnant."
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864
Giuseppe Salvatore sat across from John Gilbert and George Lockwood as they all huddled together at the desk in his study. Gilbert had shown up to tell him that a strange man had been moved into the house that his son had procured for the Bennett girl at the same time that Lockwood had shown up claiming that he had saw the girl in his sons swimming in the lake late at night engaging in questionable behavior beyond of the act of normal water exercising.
The girl was becoming a problem. But as long as Giuseppe could not protect his son from being called to fight in the war without Raoul's help his hands were tied. The town had even become accustomed to the presences of the intruders from Louisiana for the most part. There were murmurs here and there but no actions had been taken against them. Not yet.
"Your sons have always been good boys, Mr. Salvatore," George said amiably, "While some of Damon's behavior over the years has been questionable it has been nothing to the caliber of what they have been up to since the Bennett girl arrived. With them going against you so adamantly. Creeping out to the lake at odd hours. Standing up for that slave hand you used to have here. There has to be a reason. Something that the girl is doing to control their behavior."
"What are you suggesting, Lockwood?" He asked.
It was Gilbert who answered. "There have been rumors about town, sir," he said, "Slaves being mysteriously heeled of their ailments. Strange occurrences here and there. I believe it may have to do with the occult sir…with witchcraft. I'm not sure the girl has ill intentions. However, I believe that she may be influencing your sons in some way."
Giuseppe wasn't sure that he believed it but it was better than the alternative. He couldn't go after the girl himself without risking Raoul's wrath and possibly having him withdraw his protection over Damon. But he could plant a few ideas in the minds of the town's folk. Light a spark and watch it turn to flames. Even if she wasn't what they claimed if they had the right ammo it would not matter. But they would need something damning.
"If we are going to accuse the tramp of witchcraft gentlemen," Giuseppe said, "We will need proof. Something that will get the town up in arms against her. Bring me proof."
"I'll do whatever you want, Mr. Salvatore," George said, "I'll find all the proof that you need on one condition. If you bring the girl to me before you let the town at her."
John frowned slightly at George's words but he kept his mouth shut.
Giuseppe nodded. Whatever it took to get the girl away from his sons. "You have a deal, Mr. Lockwood."
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 2011
Rebekah Mikaelson frowned as she sat down across from her brother. Niklaus was paranoid at the best of times. However, as she listened to him detail the plan that he had overheard being conspired between their mother and Finn she could not help but believe his words.
For now Esther's plan was failing. She had not yet managed to link them together and so killing them was not going to be so simple. The problem was that she still had access to the powers of the Bennett witches. She was sponging off their line and while Rebekah shouldn't have been surprised by the revelation she was.
"What do you think that we should do?" She asked.
Klaus frowned. "We'll have to unbind her from the Bennetts of course," he said, "But it will be tricky. If they find out that she plans on using the witch's powers to kill us I am sure that Bonnie and her little friends will happily assist mother. What I need to do is figure out where they are keeping the witch so that I can manipulate the situation in our favor. She's all but disappeared and there have been some unfamiliar faces in the company of her friends as of late. Something strange is going on."
Rebekah frowned as she thought about her mother's missing necklace and about the male witch she had never seen before who had taken it. "These unfamiliar faces," she said, "Are there witches among them?"
Klaus frowned. "I'm not certain but I believe Stefan has an acquaintance among them who is married to a witch and she seems to have a male apprentice," he said.
Rebekah's eyes narrowed remembering the man's look and his accent. "And where are they from would you say?"
"We haven't been to our fair city in some time but I know a Louisiana accent when I hear one," he said, "If I had to guess I would say New Orleans."
Rebekah nodded. "I know where we can get some information," she stood and ignored Klaus's raised eyebrow, "Don't worry. I'll keep you posted."
Klaus watched her walk away. He didn't like being kept in the dark but as long as she got results he decided not to complain.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864
Bonnie Bennett scanned the photograph of Mary Salvatore as Solomon held it out to her. He had been helping her in the garden on and off all day and he sat next to her underneath the tree that housed her swing as they took a break. The woman that looked back at her was an odd mixture of Damon and Stefan. Black hair. She could not tell her eye color as the photograph was black and white but Solomon told her they were the same color as Stefan's eyes. Her features were sharp like Damon's but she had Stefan's smile.
Damon had found some pictures of his mother in his father's study and had gifted one of them to Solomon before his departure that day. In speaking with Damon, her resolve to keep both he and Stefan at a distance had only strengthened.
"She was full of light that one," Solomon said, "I knew her for years and I never met someone so full of light. When she was a young girl she used to follow me around. Ask me questions about my life. My day. For a while I thought that she was a bit touched in the head."
Bonnie laughed a little as she glanced over at Solomon. "Because she actually talked to you or because she had the gall to ask a slave how his day was?" She asked.
"A little bit of both," he grinned, "But she was special to me. Or rather she became special to me after a while. She brought me peace. Calm. You have to act a certain way around whites most of the time but around her I could breathe."
Bonnie could understand that. Since she had gotten there that was how Stefan made her feel. At peace. Like she didn't have to try so hard or hide who she was. Bonnie frowned and decided to think about something else. Now was not the time to analyze her feelings for Stefan or acknowledge that she had any. Not when she was determined to get no closer to him or his brother than she was already. "You talk about her a lot," Bonnie said, "In a way that you don't talk about your wife. I had asked Aimee once if you were in love with Mary…she said you loved her but she didn't know about you being in love with her."
Solomon smiled wistfully. "We might've been in another life," Solomon said, laughing, "Mary always said that she felt like she knew me before. Like she had walked with my soul in another lifetime. I loved her…but the only woman I have ever fallen in love with is my wife. I don't talk about my wife because it's harder for me. It hurts more for me to do so. But if Mary was my peace then, Grace, my wife, was my passion. She was the reason I lived. The reason I woke up every morning. Even now the memory of her love is the reason my heart still beats. I've lost them both now. But the thing is I know they would want me to keep living. To keep loving. And I do. I love Stefan and Damon like they're my own and you may not believe this but I couldn't love you and Aimee more if you was my own daughters and I mean that." Bonnie smiled at his words. "Some people go their whole lives without loving or being loved but the lucky ones like me," he said, "We get to experience love from all kinds of places."
Bonnie wasn't sure what category she fit into anymore. She supposed it depended on what part of her life she was thinking of and now what time she was in. She looked up in time to see Stefan crossing the yard and walking toward them.
Solomon frowned at Bonnie's expression. She was usually happy to see either Salvatore but at the moment she seemed apprehensive. He reached over and touched her hand before he stood. "You don't have to have everything figured out all the time Bonnie," he said, "Some things work themselves out in time."
Bonnie stood as well and nodded. As Stefan stopped in front of them, Solomon greeted him before heading in the direction of the house. "You came back," Bonnie said. She knew he had promised to but she was sure after what she had said to him that he wouldn't have come back so soon. She didn't know what else to say as what she wanted to say and what she should say were two different things.
"I said that I would," he answered.
Stefan had been speaking to Raoul about studying in France only a few hours before. Bonnie had been right about the obstacles that they faced in Virginia. But if they went away then perhaps things would be different. He would miss his brother and his father but they could return one day when the war was over if the North won and things got better.
He was getting ahead of himself he knew but he was sure that Bonnie felt something for him. That over time there was a chance it could grow into something more. That one day they could be together and if that were to happen he wanted to be ready. Ready to take Bonnie and to leave if it were necessary. At least that was what he had planned before he had witnessed his brother tell Bonnie that he had feelings for her.
Now his plans had changed. He knew what it must have been like for Damon to open himself up. For Damon who had such a disparaging belief in love to feel something even close to it was nothing short of a miracle. Who was Stefan to get in the way of that?
Even if Bonnie would have chosen Damon anyway just the knowledge of Stefan feeling the way that he felt would put a strain on the relationship. He would have to remove himself from the equation. He would have to step aside and hope that both his brother and Bonnie could be happy as a result.
"There's something I need to tell you," Bonnie said, breaking into Stefan's thoughts, "I was harsh with you before because I was afraid. I care about you a lot. I need you. When I'm with you I'm at peace and I'm happy. It isn't that I don't feel-"
"Bonnie," Stefan interjected gently, "You needn't worry yourself with an explanation." If she had continued he may not have been able to say what he needed to say. "I thought about what you said at great length," he said, "And I not only understand but I agree. I apologize for any harm that my actions might've caused. Now that I've had time to think I realize that my feelings for you are not as…not as strong as I thought them to be. I was romanticizing our relationship because I have never been this close to another person outside of Damon and Raoul. I realize what I had mistaken for romantic attachment was…closer to friendly affection."
"Oh," Bonnie blinked. She was hurt by his words, though she did not want to think about why. She shouldn't have been surprised. She had seen him in love, really in love, before. But she could read him now, better than before. He was lying in a way, she knew. But this was for the best. It was what she wanted. It had to be. "I would like us to still be friends," she said.
Stefan forced a smile and nodded. "I told you that I would always be there for you and I meant that," he said seriously. He cleared his throat as she returned his smile. "But unfortunately right now I must go," he said, "I promised to spend time with my father. I only came to clear the air between us. I'll call again…in a few days." He would need time, time away from her.
Bonnie nodded. "Okay," she said, "I'll…I'll be waiting."
He turned and left in the next moment and as she watched him go she couldn't help but think that she had lost him in some sense. She had to keep telling herself that she was doing the right thing to keep herself from calling after him.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 2011
Thomas La Belle frowned as Rebekah Mikaelson smiled at him. She had come into Mystic Grill and sat herself beside him at the bar about twenty minutes prior declaring that they call a truce. It had taken him about five minutes to figure out what she had really wanted. But he had simply blinked at her and allowed her to try and woo him with her womanly wiles.
She began to flounder much sooner than he thought she would once she realized that her advances weren't working on him. Thomas shook his head. "I thought you would be better at the whole seduction thing given that you're older than dirt," he commented as he took a swig of the beer that he had been drinking.
Rebekah's eyes narrowed. "Was I that obvious or is it just so rare that a woman shows interest in you that you deem the occurrence to be impossible when it happens?"
"That's cute," Thomas grinned, "But considering the last time I saw you, you were covered in tree sap and looking like you wanted to castrate me I'd say the turnabout to wanting to jump my bones seemed a tad bit out of character, chère." He turned to her as she opened her mouth to respond but he held up his hand. "Let's cut the bullshit shall we?" he sighed, "To be frank I don't have time to deal with you or your family because I have a dear friend to protect. I'm guessing that your dear old brother found out about your mother's connection to the Bennett line and you found out about my ties to Bonnie and decided to grill me for information."
Rebekah frowned but decided it would be easier if she put all of her cards on the table rather than play dumb. "I'm assuming that you don't want the witch tied to my mother any more than I do," Rebekah whispered, "Considering you stole her necklace and that you were stomping around the woods for rare herbs I'm assuming that you're at work on an unbinding spell of some sort."
Thomas was silent, choosing not to confirm or deny her theory. "All you need to know is that the matter is being taken care of," Thomas said, seriously, "If you and your siblings wish to live then I suggest you all stay out of it and let us witches handle your dear mère. If she remains connected to the Bennetts she will find a way to kill you. Your best bet, if you want to survive, is to leave the matter to us."
Rebekah blinked. "I suggest you hurry up about it," she frowned, "My brother is an impatient man and he might just decide to take matters into his own hands."
"In order for him to do that," Thomas smirked, "He would have to off one of the Bennett women. But you see Abby is very well protected and he doesn't know where Bonnie is. We are the ones with the advantage and we all want the same end. So I suggest you stall your brother. If he comes for us we won't be nearly as nice as to him as I am to you. And we are not Bonnie, there isn't a novice among us, and even she isn't novice anymore. We have a few tricks up our sleeves that the hybrid wouldn't like."
Thomas stood and placed a few bills on the counter. He moved to walk away but stopped as Rebekah grabbed his arm. He turned slightly and raised a brow at her.
"And why are you so nice to me?" She asked.
Thomas leaned down until their faces were inches apart. "Well," he murmured, "I thought that it was obvious." He waited until she smiled slowly before he continued. "Your name has more notoriety than it should," he continued after moment, "You aren't half as dangerous as you think you are and as an opponent you leave much to be desired. If I were mean to you well…it'd be like I was kicking a puppy now wouldn't it."
Rebekah glared at him. "I have killed people for less than anything that has left your mouth when you've been in my company," she commented.
"Then perhaps I should ask why you're so nice to me then," Thomas said, with a shrug.
Rebekah rolled her eyes as she stood. "I will let you know when I figure it out," she told him. She gave him a once over before shaking her head. "I'll keep my brother out of your hair but you had better keep me posted on your progress," she demanded, "And I want my necklace back when you're done with it."
Thomas shook his head as she walked away. He decided to throw her a bone and let her have the last word. She had tried rather hard to make a dramatic exit after all.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864
Bonnie Bennett sighed as she sat at her piano forte, staring off into space. She had planned on playing in order to clear her head. However, there was too much to think about. Aimee's contacts had found the man with the watches. She had told her almost as soon as Bonnie had finished gardening with Solomon.
There was a watch in route to them as she sat there. On the road from Louisiana. She should have been happy. Especially after her confrontations with both Stefan and Damon. But she had mixed feelings.
Leaving had always been her intention. She did not belong there. She had tried to remember that. She knew that. But when she left she would lose everyone. There would be no Aimee to be her sister and mentor. There would be no Raoul or Thomas to be her brothers and sounding boards. There would be no Corrine to mother her. There would be no more quiet conversations with Solomon. There would be no more sewing sessions with Emmanuelle. She would even lose Stefan and Damon, only it would be worse because she would have shadows of them there in the people they had been when she left. Like ghosts haunting her with memories that she wanted to remember and forget all at once.
She had thought that not thinking too much was the answer but she couldn't stop thinking. Her mind was trying and failing to sort out her feelings. She turned as she heard footsteps behind her and smiled as William entered the room.
"I hope I'm not intruding," he said, as he sat down next to her on the piano bench, "I simply wanted to thank you for allowing me to take refuge here."
"Your mother is an amazing woman," she smiled, "I love her and it would only make sense for me to care about you as well by extension." As he held out a glass to her that she did not notice him holding, she raised a brow at him. "It wasn't just my choice in any case," she said.
"Just a little wine," he said, nodding his head toward the glass, "I wanted to have a drink but I do not like drinking alone." He had changed out of his soiled uniform and was wearing a pair of trousers and a white button down shirt. "And I had the opportunity to thank Mr. Salvatore when he was here earlier," he told her.
Bonnie smiled as she took a sip from the glass. "Good," she murmured. She chanced a glance at him and frowned at his expression. "If I could ask," she said carefully, "Why the drinking so late at night? You made it here alive. You have seen your mother. And yet…you don't look very happy."
William scowled as he downed the rest of his glass. "There was someone I left behind," he said, after a moment, "Someone that I loved. A nurse." He paused as he looked down into the empty glass intently as if he thought he could stare more wine into appearing into the bottom. "Lenore," he whispered, "Her name was Lenore."
Bonnie saw the defeat in his frame and shook her head. Standing she tugged at his sleeve. She would help him with his problems. It would be easier than trying to puzzle through her own.
After talking to Solomon she was beginning to understand what he had meant. About passion and peace. About how caring for someone as a friend could be under different circumstances caring to the point that was just short of falling in love. She had found her peace already. She was on the verge of finding her passion. But she was not supposed to find either. Not here. That was the problem.
"Come on," she said, breaking free of her thoughts, "Let's get you another drink and you can tell me all about it."
William followed her through the house and into the sitting room. Bonnie was about to go to the kitchen where they kept the wine but decided to go against it when she saw the small wet bar that Raoul, Damon, and Thomas had set up for the nights that they spent there sometimes playing card games and debating about social and political issues while she and Stefan would read by the fire.
She downed the rest of her own glass before refilling both hers and William's. She filled his with the whiskey that Raoul drank like water and hers with Damon's bourbon. She handed William his glass as she sat down next to him and waited for him to speak.
"I was not completely honest with my mother," he revealed, "About what brought me here. I...Lenore and I weren't ever meant to be together you see."
Bonnie frowned. Something in his tone gave her pause. "She was white," she said once she had put it together.
A nod. "I loved her at first sight," he said, "I believe she felt the same but I knew the consequences of such things and I tried to keep her at a distance. I tried to hide my feelings but then…she became engaged to be married. I would have let her go. I had the mind to but she…she told me how she felt. Wanted me to face my feelings and I...we kissed. Just once. That was all and we were caught. I would have been killed if her brother had not taken mercy on me and helped me escape. I was never in danger of being sold. I was however in danger of being lynched."
Bonnie took a large gulp from her glass not knowing how to respond. "I understand how that would cause a man to drink," she said, taking another and then continued once she had swallowed, "If you didn't want to tell Corrine, then why tell me?"
"I never got to tell Lenore how I felt," he sighed, "Not before we kissed or after. She knew of course. But if I had not hid…if I had not denied what was right in front of me and refused to sort out my feelings then I might have had more time with her even if the end would have been the same. My biggest regret was not spending as much time with her as I could while I could." He paused and smiled hesitantly at her before he continued. "I know that I am overstepping, Miss Bennett," he said quietly, "but you have been kind to me…kinder than most. My presence here is putting you at risk and I…I came under false pretenses and still you can look upon me with empathy. So I will say what I aim to say. I saw you with the Salvatore brothers today. I could tell that you are not as immune to them as you might like to think and I am sure that they can to. I do not wish for you to share my regrets so I will give you some advice. It only takes a few seconds to lose someone that you care for. But the regret of not having told them, not having spent time with them, not allowing yourself to feel what is in your heart...it is never ending and cannot be measured by time."
Bonnie nodded stiffly, staring down into her glass. "I'll remember that," she whispered.
"Good," William said as he stood, "Good night, Miss Bennett."
Bonnie didn't bother to answer as he left the room. Instead she downed the rest of her glass before standing and pouring another.
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 2011
Matt Donovan was just coming to the end of his shift. He was planning on going over to the house that Bonnie had occupied in the eighteen hundreds and doing some cleaning and perhaps sorting things out in the attic. He wasn't sure as to whether or not he should call Caroline as she was still going through Bonnie's letters that she had received the day before and a part of him wanted to be alone and do this for Bonnie on his own.
He missed her. While he had been feeling isolated from the group as of late, Bonnie had never made him feel so. He had always been aware that she was thinking about him, that she cared about him and his wellbeing. She was the person he spoke to the most out of everyone now that Tyler was gone attempting to break the sire bond. It felt weird not being able to see her, or call her, or text her.
"Hey, blue eyes," a feminine voice said drawing his attention, "How about you stop brooding and take my order."
"Sorry," Matt muttered as he looked up. He paused as he studied the girl who was smiling at him playfully. It almost seemed familiar, her smile. She was tall and thin, her hair long and light brown, her skin a honey almond color that brought Miss Sheila to mind. Her eyes reminded him of Bonnie's grandmother as well, molten brown, warm, and full of humor. He blinked at her a moment before he spoke. "This is going to sound really weird," he said, "And I promise that this isn't a line or anything. I just…do I know you from somewhere?"
The girl's lips twisted into a smirk that seemed familiar as well. She climbed onto the barstool in front of her and crossed her jean clad legs. "Yes and no," she said, as she tapped her red painted nails on the bar top.
The lace red and black floral tunic she was wearing reminded him of something that he had seen Bonnie wear once and as she tossed her brown curls over her shoulder he was almost certain that she was a Bennett. She was young, sixteen or seventeen. He didn't know Bonnie had any relatives around that age left but as she pulled something from her pocket, a golden pocket watch he understood.
Bonnie's family had been leaping through time according to Thomas which meant that this girl, whoever she was, was either from the past or the future. "Who are you?" Matt frowned.
The girl seemed to consider him for a moment. "How about we play a game, Matty," she said, laughing a little as his eyebrow shot up, "You can ask me five questions and then if you can guess who I am after I answer them then I'll buy you some cheese fries."
Matt considered his options. She knew who he was. Had called him by his nickname. She had shown up to him so obviously she had something either to tell him or she wanted something from him. Either way he would go along with her games for now. "Are you related to Bonnie?" He asked.
The girl nodded the affirmative. "That's one," she said.
"Are you a witch?" Matt asked. He watched as she looked around as if to make sure that they weren't being eavesdropped on.
"A very powerful one," she said, as she turned her attention back to him, "That's two."
"Are you from the past?" Matt asked after a moment. She shook her head. "Future?" He asked, needing confirmation. He wasn't surprised when she nodded.
"Be careful, Matty," she said clucking her tongue, "You only have one question left."
Matt thought and decided to go with the most obvious one last. "What's your name?" he asked, leaning across the bar and crossing his arms over his chest.
"I was named after my grandmother Mary," she said, "And my great-grandmother Sheila." Matt frowned as he thought about her words. Sheila was Bonnie's grandmother. She had heard Elena say that Stefan and Damon's mother was named Mary. "But also my godmother," she continued, distracting his train of thought, "Aimee." Matt blinked. The girl was from the future. She was named after Bonnie's grandmother and Stefan and Damon's mother. Both Stefan and Damon had fallen in love with Bonnie in the past… "I also have both of my parents' last names," the girl continued but Matt wasn't listening any longer because he had figured out who she was.
"Holy shit," he muttered, shaking his head, "You're Bonnie's daughter aren't you."
The girl nodded happily. "Look at you being all smart," she beamed, "Mila Aimee Bennett-Salvatore at your service. And it looks like I owe you some cheese fries."
:::
Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864
Damon Salvatore frowned at the picture that Bonnie made as she opened the door for him to enter. He had come to warn her that they had in fact been seen at the lake and that his father would soon become even more of a problem than he was already. But it was clear to him that she was in no condition to hear such news. Her hair was wild. She was in her night clothes but her robe was practically falling off. Tears stained her face and she smelled rather heavily of bourbon.
Sighing he walked into the house and shut the door behind him. "Bonnie, sweetheart," he said gently as he grabbed her shoulders, "Have you been in my bourbon?"
"It's your fault," she slurred, "And your brother's fault. And mine. And that stupid watch's. I hate watches you know. They're useless."
He blinked wondering how much she had been drinking. She had claimed once that she did not make it a habit of drinking as she could not hold her liquor. So he was sure that something had to have happened. "Is something wrong?" he asked.
"Everything," she frowned, "I keep trying to do the right thing. But everything I do turns out wrong and everything that could be considered wrong feels right. Like this…you shouldn't be here in the middle of the night but I want you here."
Damon closed his eyes a moment before he spoke. "If this is about what happened in the garden," he said, "I understand. I'm not upset. You told me before that you didn't...that it was not your responsibility to love someone simply because they love you. Your rejection was gentle and I still have your friendship so I assure you that I am alright. Or rather I would be if you would not have driven yourself into such a state…especially if you have done so because of me."
"But it isn't that simple," Bonnie frowned, throwing up her hands and almost falling in the process, "I know you're going to love someone else someday and I'm not going to matter and it hurts because…I want to matter. And you s-said that you didn't need me to love you but just be with you but I can't. I can't because if I were with you I would love you…I would…I know I would. Because I like you…a lot."
"Bonnie," Damon muttered, "You don't have to do this. You should get some rest." She was worrying him. But more terrifying than that she was giving him hope.
"No," Bonnie pressed shaking her head, "You have to let me finish. You have to let me say this while I can say it."
Damon frowned but nodded for her to say her peace just the same.
"You're annoying and you tease me. And you steal my pie and you're reckless," Bonnie shook her head before continuing, "Sometimes you're really not smart. And you flirt too much." Damon blinked, wondering how any of that could equate to her liking him in any sense of the word. "But you let me step on your toes and you danced with me even though I didn't know how," she went on, "You saved me from George Lockwood and you stood up to your stupid jackass father to protect me. And even though it scares you…you let yourself get close to me because you trust that I wouldn't hurt you and I wouldn't…not on purpose."
She was crying now and he wanted to stop her but at the same time he wanted to hear what she had to say.
"I like that you only smile with your eyes when you're looking at someone you care about," she whispered, "I like that no matter how hard you try your hair is always messy. I like the way you look at me…because you really see me and before I came here with all of you I felt like no one did. I like that you don't take me seriously because sometimes I take myself way too seriously but then at the same time if something is important to me you listen. You accepted me being a witch and I know it could have easily gone the other way." Her mind was swimming but she forced herself to get the words out. To explain her feelings. "I like that you don't like Raoul but you love him like a brother. I like that you have these moments where you seem unshakable and determined and I can understand then…why Stefan looks up to you. I like that you love Stefan so much and I wish that you could always be the way you are now but you won't. I don't want to ever be the reason that you're not. A part of me wants…a part of me wishes I could just let myself be with you while I can for as long as I can but….there's just too many issues. Too many factors are in play for me to let myself be that selfish."
Damon exhaled the breath that he had been holding as he leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. She had no idea what her words meant to him and she probably never would. She would likely not remember saying them once she slept off her drunkenness. "I encourage you to be as selfish as humanly possible," he said, softly, "If it means that I have even half the chance to reap the benefits of it."
She looked up at him then, her eyes full of something he couldn't quite identify. She leaned her head upward and he was sure that she would kiss him. But she stumbled on her feet a moment later and her head lolled onto his shoulder as she lost consciousness.
Laughing a little to himself, Damon picked Bonnie up and headed in the direction of her bedroom. She needed her rest and he needed to think about what he would do about the words she had said.