Damon was sitting in Hell, and he would know since he's lived through multiple versions of it. The day was sweltering making the church hot and stuffy. For any sense of relief Damon tugs at his collar, his tie was choking him.
That's when the doors at the back of the room swing gracefully open, golden light spilling into the room. There she is, the reason for all of Damon's discomfort. Looking divine, her white dress contrasting gorgeously with her dark skin: Bonnie.
The organist begins to play that dreaded solemn tune. Damon stands with everyone Bonnie considers her family: Elena, Caroline, Matt, Stephan, Alaric and Jeremey, (the last of whom he'll never understand why). He watches, his heart in his throat, as Bonnie glides down the aisle towards her future. She smiles brightly towards him as she passes. He thinks Elena and Caroline smile back at her, but he swears Bonnie was looking at only him.
With no one to give her away, he had offered, as a best friend should, but she turned him down saying there was no need for tradition; it was just a new chapter in her life. Exactly what Damon had expected from her but he had offered nonetheless.
Now that the moment was upon them he was glad she had turned him down. There's no way Damon would have been able to let go of her arm when they got to the alter, he doesn't even know if they would've made it halfway down before he scooped her up and ran far away.
As she steps in front of Enzo and the priest starts his prepared monologue Damon realizes two things: first he's not that guy anymore, he doesn't make selfish decisions. He's worked so hard to be better. Second he fears that today will be the day he backtracks on all his hard work.
As the priest says those fateful words Damon can't take it anymore. It feels like everything is in slow motion as he stands. The chapel falls dead silent, becoming a tomb for Damons heart.
Why are his hands trembling? Damon's faced monster after monster, he's faced the devil! He even faced the monster within himself! This should be a piece of cake but in his heart he knows it's not. It can't be, because the fact he was even alive and in this room was all thanks to Bonnie. All of it. Saving him from Hell, several times. Saving him from being dragged there again by Cade. She was truly a gifted witch and remarkable woman.
Everyone is staring at him. Elena, with her mouth hanging open and disbelieving eyes. Stephen, with his knowing look. Damon only pays them notice for a moment before his eyes are drawn to the bride. His best friend. Her eyes are so soft as she looks into his expectantly. He clears his throat, it echos through the silence. "Wait," He says, "don't, don't do this."
Carolines gasp ricochets around the room but the sound doesn't shake Damon away from Bonnie's eyes. "Please Bon, you have to hear me out. You can't marry him. Not before- you have to know- my feelings. I have fee- I," Damon stumbles over his words nervously. He let's out a small frustrated grunt "I used to be so good at this. So smooth, but I guess I've never truly been in love, until now, because I love you." He rushes out. Bonnie simply looks at him, completely stunned.
The silence grates on Damons ears, suddenly he wishes Cade would show up and open up a hole to Hell.
Enzo glares hard and he scoffs at Damon "You're a little late, mate. Really should've thought of this before I put a ring on it." He chuckles victoriously.
Damon's fists clench along with his heart. Enzo is right and he has never felt so uncomfortable in his long life, he has to get out of there. He can't watch the true love of his life marry someone else. So he awkwardly pushes past Elena and baby Gilbert and hurries away.
Damon slips through the doors with a million self criticizing thoughts swirling through his mind "I thought I could do it. I thought I could just let her be happy. I thought I could be a better man. Not force her to choose between her fiancé, her future! And her best friend but I suppose Bonnie didn't get rid of every problem... I didn't."
He curses himself the whole way down the stairs. He's so busy yelling at himself for his cruel callousness towards someone he's supposed to take care of, he doesn't hear her until the doors behind him crash open.
She looks absolutely livid. Bonnie glares down at him and theres a fire in her eyes he hasn't seen in a while. It still scares him, he knows what she can do.
Damon feels the shame and headache before she even pops a blood vessel or gives him a lecture.
"How dare you," she exclaims, "how dare you!" He can't even make eye contact with her now, it hurts too much now that he's laid it all on the table.
"You tell me you love me as I'm standing at the alter about to marry a man I don't truly love?" Damons eyes snap up to hers.
"I was only marrying him because I thought you didn't care! How dare you wait this long! All this time? We could've- but you never said- and-Damon." She gasps out, tears making her eyes glisten like stars "I love you too!" she whispers with a watery smile.
Shocked, Damon stares longingly at her "You love me too?" He whispers back.
A huge smile breaks across Bonnies face "I love you too!" she yells throwing her hands in the air triumphantly.
Bonnie flys down the stairs and into Damons arms. So similar to their hug when they were reunited after Bonnie escaped the prison world, the two wonder why it took them so long to admit it to each other and themselves.
They grasp onto each other like they're the last drop of water in the desert. For a long moment it's only them, clinging to each other. They can hear their friends and the rejected groom gathering at the top of the stairs to gossip amongst themselves and watch, but they're past the point of caring about what others may think.
Bonnie fits so perfectly in his arms. He breathes in her lovely scent of vanilla and jasmine. Bonnie rests her forehead on Damons, she looks at him then with so much feeling its almost painful. Her lips are on his in an instant and suddenly Damon can't think of anything else in the world. Her hand is at the back of his head, slowly she threads her fingers through his hair as his arms secure her by her waist keeping her suspended in his arms.
She kisses him gently and slowly and Damon meets her with the same reverence he was supposed to have in the church.
When they pull away Bonnie can't help herself, "Let's run away and get married," she giggles softly in his ear.
"Whatever you want Bon Bon" he says almost deliriously. Damon crashes into her lips again, and he kisses her senseless while he carries her to his Camaro. He settles her in and she gazes at him breathless and giddy. He smiles adoringly down at her, a smile Bonnie has seen many times before and now, finally, she understands, before he closes the door.
Damon suddenly remembers their audience and he turns to look at the surprised congregation behind him. He flashes them his signature smirk "Sorry everyone! I didn't mean to ruin a perfect white veil occasion, but she should not be marrying the wrong guy… No offense Enzo!", he yells at the dejected groom. Damon flies into his Camaro and peels out of the gravel parking lot at vampiric speed.
Bonnie is glowing in the passenger seat her wedding dress piled around her making her look like an angel sitting on the clouds. She breathes a content sigh as she rubs her thumb over his knuckles, "I'm so glad you finally confessed" Bonnie teases
And Damon is infinitely grateful he decided not to be the better man when the priest said "speak now."