Sorry it's been so long! Please drop a comment and let me know what you think :) I hope everyone has a great holiday season!
Bonnie Bennett – Kat Graham
Damon Salvatore – Ian Somerhalder
Stefan Salvatore – Paul Wesley
Lexi – Arielle Kebel
Hope – Danielle Russell
Caroline Forbes/Salvatore – Candice King
Disclaimer: These Characters Belong to LJ Smith/CW Network. No Copyright infringement is intended.
Evelde – Ella Balinska
Adonis - Thomas Doherty
Isolda/Iris - Angela Sarafyan
Bastien Archambeau- Jesse Williams
Sophia/Calista Archambeau – young Tawny Cypress
Emeline Archambeau Bennett- Whitney Peak
Lana Gilbert – Sophie Thatcher
Ash – Ayo Edebiri
Eamon – Trevor Jackson
Bonnie gazed upon the imposing steel gates, their surface adorned with entwining vines, marveling at how the Earth always reclaims its dominion over time.
"Your ring will protect you from any magic that isn't mine," she explained, her voice resonating with the solemnity of her words. "It's a similar spell to the one I did when I spelled rings for you and Elena." Her gaze shifted momentarily to the ring adorning his left ring finger.
"This is the third time you've mentioned this, it's not going to make the spell any stronger Bon-Bon" Damon returned with a smirk as he cast a playful glance her way.
Bonnie mustered a quick smile in response before resuming her focus on their mission. She couldn't bring herself to confess the depth of her worry for Damon's safety, despite his newfound strength and agility as an original vampire.
"I'm heading straight for Adonis," Bonnie declared, as she straightened her posture while she channeled her magic and anger onto Adonis, sensing him close by.
"Find my daughter, Damon," she continued, her eyes rising to meet his. Damon's raven hair framed his face, and Bonnie couldn't help but admire his striking beauty. "I'll sense if you need me, and I'll come to you."
Damon clasped Bonnie's hand, his thumb brushing lightly across her illuminated brown skin, sensing a fraction of her formidable magic. As Bonnie's eyes darkened, she added with unwavering resolve, "And Damon…No lives spared."
With that declaration, Bonnie turned her gaze ahead to the steel gates and disappeared from their location, apparating elsewhere.
Adonis acted swiftly, concealing Bastien and Emeline with a cloaking spell, knowing that Bonnie was closing in. He purposely recalled the guards from safeguarding the castle grounds. As he completed the spell, the world around him seemed to dissolve into darkness, the walls and floor melting away. Instead of being filled with fear, Adonis found himself both amused and eager to confront Bonnie Bennett.
"Bonnie Bennett, it truly is a pleasure to be in the presence of such a worthy being, I've been getting bored with the silly creatures I've come across." Adonis sneered; his impatience palpable as he tried to find Bonnie in the darkness. Before he could take another step, he was forcefully knocked to the ground and slammed into what felt like a wall.
Adonis growled audibly as he struggled to rise, only to be knocked down again. "I'm growing irritated with these theatrics," he muttered, his breath strained. "But if you wish to play with your food, be my guest."
He breathily cast a luminescent spell, revealing a dimly lit golden hall adorned with paintings from a distant era. The sound of heels on marble floors approaching reached his ears, and he turned to witness one of the most exquisite beings he had ever encountered. Bonnie advanced toward him, draped in a long black gown with a bodice adorned solely with black jewels. Her hair cascaded straight down her back, and her skin exuded hints of golden sparkle as if she were a rare jewel herself. Her piercing green eyes locked onto his blue sapphire eyes as she approached.
Adonis drew a deep breath, admiring the enchantress closing in on him while also realizing that Bonnie's magic surrounded him and the space, they were in.
"You're scared," Bonnie softly stated, her voice carrying a monotonous, eerie quality as she drew nearer while scrutinizing Adonis's beautiful and otherworldly features that held a touch of familiarity.
Adonis forced a smile, attempting to suppress the sliver of fear deep within him that had only been felt a handful of times in his life. "Any being as powerful as you who doesn't realize the extent of their power is...terrifying," he confessed, locking eyes with Bonnie, who now stood only a few feet away.
"What makes you think I don't?" Bonnie inquired, her magic worked its way into his mind, gathering knowledge subtly, like a phantom slipping through barriers.
"This world, it's impressive, but unstable," Adonis remarked, attempting to utilize his magic within the space. His magic tried to grasp at anything within reach. "You've constructed it beyond the confines of space and time, much like a prison world, but... more formidable."
"Why would that terrify you?" Bonnie asked, her curiosity genuine, as she continued to probe Adonis's thoughts, carefully unlocking his magical barriers.
"No... this is..this is something different," Adonis began, his voice softening, as he took a step closer to Bonnie. "If you're going to delve into my thoughts, please…be a bit gentler."
Before Bonnie could respond, she stumbled upon a memory from Adonis's past when he had first encountered Evelde and Sophia at a full moon gathering. She detected the uncanny resemblance between Evelde and her Bennett bloodline and was drawn deeper into the memory. Bonnie, growing distracted by the memory, reached out to touch Evelde's face, which caused Sophia to sense her presence and hastily cast a spell, causing Bonnie to recoil in pain and fall back.
Adonis turned to her with awe in his eyes. "My Gods," he whispered.
"How did that happen?" Bonnie demanded, recovering from the burn on her hand. She swiftly lunged toward Adonis, grasping his throat firmly.
Adonis struggled to breathe as Bonnie's grip tightened, her green eyes glaring into his.
Meanwhile, Bastien and Emeline remained trapped within an invisible cage, still in the room Adonis had left them. They heard screams echoing from various parts of the house. Emeline collapsed, clutching her throat in a desperate struggle to breathe.
"Emeline, Emeline!" Bastien shouted, panic coursing through him as a handprint formed on her neck, preventing her from breathing.
Adonis, exerting the little strength he had left, gently touched the side of Bonnie's face, showing her the peril Emeline was in. "Emeline," Bonnie uttered in anguish, as she finally released her hold on Adonis's throat.
Before Adonis could fully regain his composure, they were all transported back to the room within his occupied castle.
Bonnie rushed to Emeline's side as her daughter slowly began to heal from Bonnie's magical grip. "Mom," Emeline croaked, reaching out to touch Bonnie's face so she could direct her gaze towards Bastien.
Tears flowed freely from Bonnie's eyes as she realized that Bastien had returned to the land of the living and did not just exist in her psychic world. Bastien knelt beside them, assisting Emeline as she continued to recover.
"We need to go... now," Bastien declared, his voice firm. Bonnie nodded, and in an instant, she apparated them out of the castle.
Damon, unaffected by the magic within the different magical beings in the castle, easily made his way to Sabre, who had agreed to lead him to Emeline. Damon knew not to harm her until he had safely retrieved Bonnie's daughter, and Sabre reluctantly began to accept her fate if it meant her niece would be safe and protected.
Together, they ascended the stairs and approached a massive set of doors leading to the war room where Adonis awaited. The doors swung open before them, raising their suspicions.
"If you want to live for the next 15 minutes," Damon warned, glowering at Sabre, "this better not be a trap."
Sabre rolled her eyes at his comment. "No offense, but you're not nearly that important."
"In that case, you go first," Damon replied with a sly grin, raising an eyebrow as he pushed her towards the opening.
Sabre advanced cautiously with Damon trailing closely behind. Adonis stood with his back to the doors, his gaze fixated on the scenery beyond the window as he uncloaked his army.
"You're alive," Sabre stated, her curiosity piqued, not expecting that Bonnie would spare his life.
"Plans have changed... greatly," Adonis replied ominously.
"Where are they?" Damon snarled, his impatience mounting.
Adonis smirked and turned to face both Sabre and the blood-stained vampire. "I assume they've returned home," he replied, eyeing Damon up and down, which made Damon uncomfortable.
"Bullshit. She wouldn't leave without me," Damon retorted, growing increasingly frustrated.
"Where... is... she?" Damon demanded, advancing towards Adonis, his fury growing. Before Adonis could answer, he cast a spell that sent excruciating pain coursing through Damon's body, causing every vein to burn as if filled with dragon fire.
Damon screamed in agony until Adonis finally relented. "Damon Salvatore," Adonis began, as he telekinetically placed Damon in a chair. "The apple does not fall far from the tree, does it?"
Sabre couldn't quite grasp Adonis's true intentions but grew intrigued at how his magic worked on Damon. She approached Adonis and Damon, her curiosity intensifying.
"That ring... I think I'll take it," Adonis calmly lifted the ring from Damon's finger using his magic, inspecting it closely as Damon struggled against Adonis's magical grasp.
"You've killed many of my people tonight, Damon. I should end your second life for all the bloodshed," Adonis mused, his tone eerily composed. "However, I respect you for fighting your witch's battles, and I'm rooting for you both... genuinely."
With those words, Adonis stepped closer to Damon, casting a spell that brought more pain. Damon howled in agony before Adonis finally released him from the excruciating pain.
"It's poetic.. really, you exist, your kind exists from the magic of my love's bloodline, the perfect example of what her line is capable of, and it is my line, that is yet again drawn to the enchantress whose bloodline is made from both the moon and the sun, a beautiful chaos in brown skin. They thought it would be my union, with my Evelde that would have brought the world to its knees, but Evelde…she was the sun, that showed light to the darkness. How easily she gave me up, she would have never accepted me for the things that I've done for her….. for us" Adonis grew angry recounting the story, Damon furrowed his brows as he carefully observed the blue-eyed magical being not wanting to believe what he was saying. Sabre carefully observed both men, putting different stories she'd heard over the years together in her mind like a puzzle.
"But your witch Damon, she's an eclipse, a dangerous one. And you" Adonis chuckled before continuing. "You were made in the darkness like me, which makes you two more dangerous of a pair than Evelde and I ever could be. Which is why…it's good I've brought your brother back" Adonis turned to look at Sabre who shot him a warning glare as she took in what he said.
Sabre and Damon echoed each other, their voices laced with disbelief, "What?"
"I'm sparing both of you this time, consider it a favor that is expected to be returned." Adonis stated gravely, his expression unwavering and stern. Damon could finally rise from the chair, and they shared a knowing look, silently agreeing to join forces against Adonis.
As Damon and Sabre lunged toward him, Adonis swiftly transported them back to the Archambeau manor
BBBB
"I'll fix it! I can fix it, just let me fix it!" Bonnie yelled at Bastien after they recounted what happened and Emeline finally went to bed in their Mystic Falls home.
"Bonnie! It's not that simple, he is pulling from her magic just as she's pulling from his, if he senses that you're picking through his spell, he can easily end her life, or something worse, there's worse things than death, we both would know" Bastien lowered his voice as he placed his hand on her shoulder and softly squeezed it, visibly seeing that his touch made her tense up.
"So what am I supposed to do Bastien, I obviously can't imprison him, I can't kill him, and I'm not going to let him control me like he has controlled your family for thousands of years, I've seen this too many times before and I refuse to be controlled by a man assuming he knows what my weakness is" Bonnie stepped away from Bastien to walk into the dining room and took a seat at the end of the table.
"We will find a way Bonnie, he knows you're the only person on this planet stronger than him, he isn't going to risk pissing you off just yet anyway" Bastien continued as he sat at the opposite end of the table.
"Bonnie" Bastien stated her name as if it were an order. Bonnie gazed at the wooden dining room table and grew distracted at the designs in the wood.
"You've barely looked at me, I know things are…unsettling right now, and were all dealing with the aftermath of what just happened, but I hoped you'd be.." Before Bastien could continue, Bonnie quickly cut him off.
"Happier to see you? Bast, I…I can't focus on that right now, the only reason I am not going to war at this very moment is so my..our daughter, can actually get some rest with both of her parents here to protect her" Bonnie slowly crossed her arms and bit the inside of her cheek as she looked at the family pictures on the wall to her right.
"Can we just go to bed and discuss this in the morning?" Bastien said softly as he got up from the dining room chair.
Bastien made his way over to Bonnie who was still sitting with her arms crossed as she studied the dining room table.
"Bonnie" Bastien whispered, his voice filling the air with a silent, desperate plea.
Bonnie, filled with guilt, finally raised her eyes to meet his there was an undeniable pull within her, Yet she was struck by the realization that this desire was only a fragment, not her entirety.
Bonnie slowly rose from the chair and reluctantly took Bastien's hand and allowed him to lead her way to their bedroom.
They both stopped to check on Emeline who was peacefully sleeping in her bed, Bonnie immediately felt thankful to have this moment again with Bastien and tried to bury the guilt she felt. Bastine bent down to place a kiss upon Bonnie's head which Bonnie finally welcomed due to the familiarity of it all. They then made their way into their master bedroom, noting that it was kept as if they had never left, except for a few drawers opened in the dresser.
"Very few people know about your death, a lot of my supporters support me because of their love for you, I couldn't make it known to everyone yet, at least not before I got to properly mourn and celebrate you," Bonnie stated as she made her way to the master bath.
"You've done what you could Bonnie albeit, some choices were made… but.. I get it" Bastien teased as he smiled a familiar smile that kept her warm for decades of their union.
"I've been watching by the sidelines," he began, his eyes reflecting a storm of emotions – regret, longing, determination.
"So, I am pretty caught up with most things, though there are some details you shielded me from…' His voice trailed off for a moment, acknowledging the unsaid, the secrets that lingered in the air between them. "I don't need to know everything. What matters is that I'm back now... here... with you and our daughter." He paused, his gaze locking with hers, fierce and unwavering.
"I'm not letting either of you go," he declared with an intensity that was rare for him.
In the bathroom, Bonnie stood frozen for a moment, the weight of his declaration sinking in. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes betraying the turmoil within. As she clipped her hair up, preparing for her shower, Bastien noticed that her movements were automatic, with her mind far away, caught in the gravity of Bastien's words. She finally nodded, not so much in agreement, but in acknowledgment of the profound shift that his return had brought into their lives.
"Bas…" Bonnie's voice was soft and hesitant, a weak attempt to interject. But her words barely took flight before they were swallowed by Bastien's.
"No, I... I accepted my fate," Bastien's voice was a tumultuous mix of resignation and fervor, his eyes wild with an intensity that spoke of deep, unresolved emotions. "And I would never expect you to wait for me. I thought... maybe someone else could be there for you, a placeholder for me so you wouldn't have to be—"
"Alone?" Bonnie's word was a sharp scoff, cutting through the air like a knife. She moved with a fluid grace, her steps carrying her towards the doorway where she leaned casually against the frame. Yet, her casual posture belied the storm brewing in her eyes. As she cocked her head to the side, her gaze was piercing, challenging, a silent demand for honesty.
"That's not what I was going to say—" Bastien's response was quick, a defensive reflex. His tone betrayed a hint of panic, a fear of being misunderstood, as he stumbled over his words, trying desperately to fix the miscommunication growing between them.
"Wow…if this is about me and Damon" I promise you I didn't fuck him repeatedly because I was…lonely" Bonnie laughed and shook her head though the action was devoid of any playful intent.
"That's not at all whatI was going to say and if you weren't so damn stubborn and hardheaded you would understand what I'm intending to say" His steps towards Bonnie were deliberate, each footfall echoing his growing impatience.
Bonnie, however, stood her ground, her eyes igniting with a fiery defiance.
"Please, do tell," Bonnie waved her hand as if she were presenting a prize on a game show, "The floor is all yours," she finished, her tone laced with an unmistakable edge.
"I was willing to let Damon take my place, to keep you safe, to protect our daughter, and to give you a chance at love again. But Bonnie, you are... you've always been the love of my life. I won't just stand by, like a spectator, yearning for you from a distance, building a life with someone else out of fear of loneliness, like a coward. I chose you yesterday, I choose you today, and I'll choose you for every day that I'm given.'" Bastien stood a foot away from Bonnie now, towering over her as she took in what she was saying.
"I love him. Every bone in my body, every fiber of my being aches for him. I can't... I don't want to stop feeling this way, not even now that you're back, Bast... not even if I could" Bonnie pleaded as she tried to swallow back tears.
Bastien clenched his jaw, a vain attempt to mask the hurt that flickered across his face. "Do you still love me?"
"Yes, of course, a part of me is forever tied to you Bastien, in a way I can't comprehend" Bonnie pleaded with tears running down her face.
"Then give your husband, your partner, the father of your daughter a fighting chance, at the end of the day Damon will get in his own way, you know he will, even if he's matured, he's still Damon, Bonnie," Bastien placed his hand on her cheek, and Bonnie couldn't help how much she did miss the familiarity of his touch.
Bonnie took a deep breath and brought her hand to his. Bastien placed his other hand on her neck and bent down to kiss her. He pulled away slightly, trying to sense how Bonnie was responding to the intimate contact. Bonnie smiled slightly and lifted her head to return the kiss. Bastien then lifted her into his arms and walked them into the bathroom to place her on the counter. They continued to place wandering kisses all over each other as the familiarity took over. Bastien moved his lips from hers and then down her neck as they began to tear at each other's clothes. Once their clothes hit the floor, Bastien grabbed Bonnie by her thighs so she could wrap her legs around him again as he lifted her up and turned her around to walk them to the shower. Bonnie caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror for a moment and quickly saw a vision of Damon looking back at her which made her turn her attention back to Bastien.
"Let's uhm, let's take it easy tonight," Bonnie said breathily as he placed her in the shower.
Bastien brought his eyes to the ceiling while biting his bottom lip and sighed.
"Fine, I'll use the downstairs bathroom," Bastien conceded, his tone carrying a hint of exasperation and acceptance.
"Bast, you don't have to. I just—" Bonnie's words tumbled out her voice laced with a mix of hesitation and an unspoken plea.
"No, I get it, but trust me, I'll remind you in all the ways that you're mine Bonnie Archambeau" Bastien placed another kiss on her lips before leaving the bathroom.
Bonnie let out a deep, weary sigh, feeling the cascade of warm water attempt to wash away the turmoil within her. As the steam rose around her, so did her conflicting thoughts. Which role was she supposed to prioritize now? The nurturing instincts of a mother? The responsibilities of a leader? The compassion of a friend? Or was she to revert to being a wife, a role she had thought buried with her widowhood? Each question seemed to splinter into a dozen more, each demanding her attention, yet offering no clear answers.
And then, as if on cue, her thoughts drifted towards Damon. The thought of him was like an herbal balm, momentarily soothing the chaos in her mind, pushing away the barrage of questions. Yet, this brief respite was also a poignant reminder of her deep-seated conflict and the complexity of her emotions
"'Damon,' Bonnie whispered, her voice barely audible above the steady drumming of the shower. She gently lowered herself to the floor, drawing her knees up to her chest in a protective embrace. The hard tiles contrasted sharply with her need for comfort.
As she closed her eyes, the warm cascade of water enveloped her, offering a small solace in its embrace. The heat seeped into her brown skin, a faint attempt to soothe the ache that lingered within her, but it was no match for the cold void Damon's short absence had left.
BBBB
The commotion of Damon and Sabre returning to the Archambeau Manor finally settled down with Sabre agreeing to be temporarily imprisoned until Bonnie and possibly Bastien decided what to do with her.
"Is Bastien really alive? Can we really trust Adonis? Did you see him? Did you see Emeline" Ash questioned an exhausted Damon.
"Find out next time on this episode of 'The Days of our enchanted lives' " Lana playfully interjected earning an eye roll from Ash.
"Ash, he's been asked this question multiple times by multiple people, if something changed in the last 10 minutes, I promise you, we would all know" Lana mouthed the word "Sorry" to Damon after trying to reign in an anxious Ash.
"Well, as much as I've enjoyed this little rendezvous, I've got a witch waiting for me, and a brother probably getting into trouble as we speak." Damon walked over to Ash who was easily flustered.
"So, how about one of you conjures up some of that witchy woo magic and send me back to where I belong? That'd be just peachy," Damon with his mischievous eyes and grin that worked for him time and time again fell flat among the witch and the huntress.
Lana and Ash exchanged a glance that spoke volumes, their eyes briefly locking in silent understanding before turning back to face Damon.
"Uh, don't you think, I mean, if it were me—" Her voice faltered, revealing her nervousness. She fidgeted slightly, clearly struggling to find the right words without provoking Damon.
"This? This is me being the epitome of nice and patient. A skill I perfected when I raised teenagers which is why I know you're stalling, what are you hiding, both of you" Damon looked between Lana and Ash, eyeing their doe-eyed expressions.
"Grandpa, Uncle Damon... sorry, I'm just not sure what to call you. You're not, like, super old anymore. Well, I mean, technically you are, but you don't look old—" Lana's rambling was abruptly cut off by Damon.
"ENOUGH" Damon snapped his voice dripping with frustration and anger, as he vamp-sped toward Lana.
"If Bastien is alive, then Bonnie is with her family, where she should be" Eamon walked into the room towards Lana and Damon, ready to protect both girls if need be.
As Eamon approached, Damon and Lana instinctively turned to him, their expressions shifting to attentive curiosity.
"I'm not entirely sure about the dynamics of your... relationship with Bonnie, but let's be clear: if Bastien is back, that chapter is closed. Our priorities now are clear – saving Emeline, and dealing with Adonis and his growing army. And remember, without your ring..." He stepped closer, his chest puffed out slightly, a subtle show of dominance as he stepped closer to Damon and Lana.
"I would tread extremely lightly" Eamon leaned in and prodded Damon's chest with force which made Damon give him an unsettling smile that almost welcomed the challenge.
"Oh please, just shut up!" Ash yelled in a tone that startled all three standing near. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the tension in the room.
"Damon's brother is in Mystic Falls, so we should be sending him there anyways, we're good here, Sabre has willingly surrendered for the moment which is almost the bigger issue…either way I don't have that kind of magic to just send you on your way, and I doubt you still have a bank account and valid ID, Lana?" Ash turned to Lana who was still taken aback by Ash's assertiveness.
"Right, that I can help with, Damon, we are going back the old-fashioned way, follow me" Lana began to walk out while Damon reluctantly followed after shoulder-checking Eamon.
BBBB
Damon and Lana got settled in their seats on the Archambeau's private – plane, with Lana opting to sit across from the re-born vampire.
She initiated the conversation with a mix of curiosity and caution. "I've read about your past exploits, Damon. Before you became human again," she said, with her eyes searching his.
Damon, seemingly disinterested, sipped from a blood bag, his gaze distant. After a moment, he met her eyes, his voice calm yet edged with a cold detachment. "What do you wish to know?" he asked, casually wiping a stray drop of blood from his lips with his thumb.
Lana leaned forward; her observation pointed. "It's just... I think the old Damon, the one I've read about, would have bulldozed his way through any obstacle, including Eamon. But you didn't. You held back." She watched him closely, trying to decipher his thoughts.
"With age comes wisdom," he replied, his voice laced with a tinge of sarcasm, yet underneath lay a current of self-restraint. "You learn to choose your battles, to control the urges that once controlled you. As a hunter sitting across from the one thing that gave your kind a purpose, you should be well-versed in that logic." Damon took a sip from his bourbon and smiled at the taste knowing that he taught his witch well.
"No…that's not it, and as a hunter, I know when to call bull-shit, so..bullshit Damon" Lana cocked her head to the side as she boldly took his bourbon to take a sip of it. Damon's gaze shifted to her, not with his usual indifference, but with a hint of disdain.
"It's her, you know she genuinely would be upset with you… and with Bastien back, you can't give her any reason to not choose you" Lana mused, piecing together the puzzle with a self-satisfied smile.
Damon took a deep breath as he narrowed his eyes while looking at Lana, studying her Gilbert–like features and bleached blonde hair.
"My grandpa, he never thought you loved his sister, not like she loved you at least, and not like the performance you'd put on. Since I embraced what's in our Gilbert line, he gave me the truth on everyone, for my protection, knowledge is power after all. He taught me how to read people and you as a human I guess, made it very easy to look past the façade of 'Damon Salvatore, family man and bar owner'. You were never content with just being human, were you? Always craving the thrill, and the girl that could never be yours." Lana noted Damon's jaw clenching as he faked a smile that didn't quite reach his blue eyes.
Before Damon could muster a reply, a distant echo of Bonnie's voice pierced the air, softly calling his name. The sound instantly transformed his demeanor, etching lines of concern across his forehead. His heart clenched at the sound of Bonnie's voice the one anchor he had in a sea of turmoil, in this life and the one prior.
Without a word, Damon stood, his movements more protective than dismissive. He gently patted Lana's shoulder, a gesture more reflexive than affectionate, as he took his drink and headed towards the back of the plane. His mind was no longer on the conversation, but on Bonnie, the one person whose voice had the power to break his resolve.
Lana smiled to herself and sat back in her chair, noting that Damon never argued with her assumptions about himself.
BBBB
"Emeline, you have a magical hold on Adonis, just as much as he has on you, you need to see if you can psychically reach him, he's hiding something, he always is" Evelde sat across from Emeline, both protected in Emeline's dream state so they could speak freely.
Emeline rubbed her neck as she listened to Evelde, remembering the powerful hold Bonnie had on Adonis and subsequently herself.
"Your mother did not mean to do that" Evelde stated, her words laced with affection and empathy, as she walked towards Emeline.
"I know. it's just, I could feel Adonis' fear, genuine fear, and from what you've said, he's never been in a position where he's ever felt fear like that, the only thing that comes close is when he knew he lost you" Emeline looked up to meet Evelde's brown eyes.
"Well, he's never met his match or his superior… but Emeline, we need to use that against him" Evelde returned.
"I'll let you rest, I'll stay in the background so you can focus on healing and being with your family, but Em, the clock is ticking" Evelde warned as she placed her hand on Emeline's face.
"I know, I'll call for you when it's time" Emeline said to her ancestor, appreciating how many features they shared as she studied Evelde's face.
Emeline finally woke up and immediately was filled with the familiar scent and sight of her Mystic Falls bedroom.
"What time is it" Emeline asked herself in a groggy tone. She shuffled towards her window, rubbing her eyes. The sky outside was painted in the warm hues of sunset, a familiar and comforting sight.
Emeline walked towards her door and could hear the soft, muffled sounds of her parents' voices up from somewhere downstairs. A smile broke across Emeline's face, her eyes filling with tears. The realization that her family was reunited filled her heart with bittersweet joy.
"She's awake, I can sense it," Bastien said smiling as he squeezed Bonnie's hand. They made their way to the staircase together as Emeline made her way out of the room.
"Mom..Dad!" Emeline croaked before running down the stairs to hug them both.
Bonnie and Bastien both squeezed Emeline tightly as they all laughed and cried into each other.
"How long was I out?" Emeline asked as she pulled away.
"12 or 16 hours? Give or take, we didn't know if you'd be awake for breakfast, lunch, or dinner so we have all three packaged up for you in the fridge" Bastien stated as he placed a kiss on Emeline's forehead.
"All your favorites little moon" Bonnie squeezed Emeline's hand, taking in the short-lived normalcy of it all.
"I know that everything is weird and a lot right now, but I would like at least one night of normalcy with both of my parents, no magic, no war, nothing" Emeline happily ordered as she wiped away the few stray tears she shed.
"Deal!" Bonnie instantly exclaimed.
Bastien warmed up their meals and carried them to the living room where they gathered around the coffee table to talk about lighter topics such as Emeline's life with her friends before coming back to Chateau Archambeau. Eventually, the evening eased into a few hours of indulging in guilty pleasure reality TV. By the end of it, Emeline had drifted off to sleep on the couch.
Bonnie and Bastien both took advantage of the moment and brought the empty dishes to take them back to the kitchen, dancing around each other and ignoring the obvious tension between them.
"You can check your phone now; it's been lighting up more than the Christmas lights in New York" Bastien's pointed but light tone cut through the tension of the silence between them.
Bonnie shook her head slightly, her hands busy rinsing the dishes. "I know, but I didn't want to get distracted. Whatever it is, it can wait. Tonight was about being here, in this moment, with our little family"
Bastien stepped closer, wrapping his arms around Bonnie from behind in a fleeting but warm embrace, planting a gentle kiss on the side of her head.
"I understand. And you should remember, not everyone knows I'm back yet. You're still the one they look to for guidance." He reluctantly let go to hand her, her phone.
"Fine, but just so we're clear, coming back from the dead doesn't excuse you from learning how to load the dishwasher properly." Bonnie teased as she handed Bastien the dishtowel.
Bastien laughed and bent down to bring Bonnie's lips up to his. They quickly shared a kiss before Bonnie finally slipped away and out of the kitchen.
Still smiling, she walked towards the dining room to go through the different mixed texts and calls from Caroline.
Bonnie was just about to respond when her phone rang, interrupting her. She let out a deep sigh before answering, bracing herself for the conversation.
"Car-" she started, but was quickly cut off by the familiar voice on the other end of the call.
"Bonnie," Damon's voice came through, soft and laden with an urgency that was impossible to ignore.
The moment Damon said her name, Bonnie felt a surge of adrenaline. Her heart pounded, a mix of worry and readiness taking over. Without a second thought, she responded, "I'm coming," and hung up abruptly. She dashed upstairs to change, slipping out of her hoodie and pajama pants in record timing.
As Bonnie was quickly changing, the sound of Bastien entering the bedroom sliced through her hurried movements.
"Should I expect you back anytime soon?" Bastien inquired, his voice echoing from the entrance of their custom walk-in closet.
Bonnie paused, running her fingers through her long, soft curls before turning to face him. "I'll be back before she wakes up, I promise. There's trouble at the school, something about Hope. I have to go. I'm sorry," she explained, her words tumbling out as she moved past him towards the vanity to spray her perfume.
Bastien watched her, muttering a resigned "Oookay" to himself. He knew better than to press her, especially when her attire—black tights, heeled booties, a snug green corduroy skirt, and a cream-colored oversized button-up tucked neatly into her belted skirt—suggested she was leaving out a significant detail of her departure.
"Here," Bastien said, picking up a gold necklace with a diamond-studded crescent moon pendant from the dresser. He walked over to Bonnie with purpose.
"Bast-" Bonnie began, turning towards him.
"Shh" Bastien placed his finger on Bonnie's pouted lips and stepped behind her to lightly brush her hair to the side so he could properly place her necklace around her neck.
"There" Bastien looked at their reflection in the vanity mirror and placed his hand over her necklace trailing the bare skin left open from the unbuttoned buttons. Bonnie closed her eyes and smiled at the physical contact.
"I'll be back soon, and thanks for this," Bonnie opened her eyes back up and smiled at Bastien through the mirror.
"Only you can look this good and put together in the span of 6 minutes, I won't be waiting up for you but, you've given me some good material to keep my mind busy" Bastien teased which amused Bonnie as she rolled her eyes before stepping away from his hold.
"Good – night Bast, I'll keep you updated, keep our girl safe," Bonnie said before giving her no longer-dead husband another look before heading down the stairs and out of the house.
Bonnie didn't allow herself a moment of hesitation or guilt as she left Bastien behind, her mind singularly focused on reaching Damon. She couldn't deny, not even to herself, that her haste was fueled by more than just the urgency of Caroline's consistent calls and texts. It was Damon on the other end, her blue-eyed vampire, and the thought of being away from him any longer was unbearable.
Bonnie effortlessly used her magic to open the gates of the school once she reached the gates. She drove up the familiar path, her heart racing with anticipation. She could sense the many different vampires present in the school but focused on one in particular.
Exiting the car, she was immediately greeted by Caroline. "Bonnie, you're lucky I didn't have to drag you here myself. You've missed so much," Caroline exclaimed, pulling her into the foyer with force.
Bonnie, her mind elsewhere, quickly replied, "I know, Care, and I'm sorry. But I need to see Damon first. After that, I'm all yours." She brushed past Caroline, ignoring her exasperated look, and followed her instincts straight to the kitchen where she sensed Damon.
Upon entering, Bonnie locked eyes with Stefan. His knowing smile and a subtle nod toward Damon told her all she needed to know. "I'll let Lexi and Lana know you're here. Good to see you, Bonnie," Stefan said, as Damon finally turned to face her.
"Yeah, you too, Stef," Bonnie replied, with her gaze fixed on Damon, undistracted by Stefan's amused departure.
"I'm mad at you," Damon said, his eyes intensely fixed on the green-eyed enchantress approaching him.
"I know," Bonnie retorted, her arms crossed, an unspoken challenge in her stance.
Damon stepped closer, with a playful yet serious glint in his eyes. "I heard you say my name," he revealed, his hand reaching out to her belt, pulling her closer.
Bonnie's eyebrows were raised in surprise. "What? When?"
"I was on the plane. I don't know what time it was for you, but I heard you. I heard you call out for me," Damon whispered, his hand gently holding hers.
Bonnie furrowed her brows in thought before remembering she said his name in the shower.
"Oh..yeah, I was in the shower," Bonnie mused as she placed a hand on Damon's chest.
"You can't tell me that when I'm mad at you, that's playing dirty Bon-Bon," Damon responded softly as he brought a hand up to Bonnie's face to place a curl behind her ear.
"Damon, I'm sorry, I-"Bonnie began before Damon interrupted.
"Don't apologize for putting your family first. That's quintessentially you, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I was managing fine until..." He trailed off, lifting his hand and wiggling his fingers to draw her attention to where his ring used to be.
Bonnie's eyes widened in shock as she instinctively reached for his hand. "I'll make you a new one. I'm so sorry, Damon... But he let you go? Why?" she asked, curiosity mingling with her concern as she released his hand.
Damon raised an eyebrow, stepping back to retrieve his glass of bourbon from the counter. "He didn't just let me go. He let both me and Sabre go without a second thought," he said, taking a sip of his bourbon, his eyes never leaving Bonnie's face, gauging her reaction.
"You didn't kill her?" Bonnie's tone was sharp, almost accusatory, which didn't sit well with Damon.
"Killing her would have been a colossal mistake, especially considering it would piss off her brother," Damon said, his eyes widening slightly at the indirect reference to Bastien.
"Damon, yes, he's alive, and no, I don't know where we stand now. But I also can't risk alienating our allies," Bonnie said, her frustration evident as she walked over to the bourbon and took a swig directly from it, prompting a small smile from Damon.
"I won't be kept as some secret, Bonnie," Damon stated firmly, walking towards her, his gaze intent as she held onto the bottle of bourbon
Bonnie let out a scoff, her expression a mix of defiance and turmoil.
"I never asked you to be, look..Damon, I came straight to you no questions asked, I told him exactly how I feel about you, how much I'm in love with you, my body, my everything literally aches for you" Bonnie took a deep breath as she took in Damon's stupid smirk. Damon immediately vamp-sped to her and crashed his lips into hers as he quickly lifted her and placed her on the table.
"Damon, we're not doing this here" Bonnie ordered while smiling at the pure bliss she was feeling while Damon was making his way down her neck before grabbing onto her thighs and pulling her legs around his waist.
"Get off and bend over" Damon ordered in a low husky tone which Bonnie quickly complied as she sat up and slid off the table, eyeing Damon's wild and hungry blue eyes. Damon stepped back so Bonnie could place her arms on the table as she bent over for him.
Damon took in the image in front of him, his witch submitting for him in her little skirt and stockings, drunk off the sight and her scent filling the air around them.
"You're going to make sure this whole house can hear you Bonnie Bennett" Damon murmured, as he grabbed her waist with one hand and with the other freed her breasts from her lacy bandeau under her button-up. Bonnie moaned at the touch as he grazed his fingers across her perked nipples begging for more as she arched her ass into him feeling his erection.
"Mmm not yet witchy, I want to feel just how much your body calls out to me" Damon brought his hand back to her thighs as he brought his hand to her wet center soaking through her tights, which made Bonnie moan louder.
"No underwear just for me, you're bad Bon-Bon" Damon uttered softly as he tore open her tights which gave him perfect access to her as he slipped in a finger.
"Fuck, you weren't lying, were you?" Damon asked as he pumped in one finger and then another. Bonnie moaned in response.
"Answer me, Bonnie," Damon demanded as he continued to penetrate her with his fingers while freeing himself with his other hand.
"No, I wasn't" Bonnie responded breathily as she tried to steady herself on the table. "You make me feel so good" Bonnie continued.
"Who's making you feel so good" Damon asked in a low tone, as he continued to pump his fingers into her.
"You are" Bonnie answered still trying to steady herself.
Damon grabbed onto his erection and rubbed it against her, coating his dick with her arousal. Making Bonnie moan as she moved her body against him, willing him to fully enter. Damon then suddenly pulled away.
"Damon!" Bonnie yelled breathily aching at the sudden loss of him.
"No, what do you want me to do, say it" Damon responded in a warm soft tone, before smacking her ass, making Bonnie yelp.
"Seriously..Damon!" Bonnie breathily yelled.
"No not until you say it" Damon continued as he rubbed the mark his hand left.
"I want you to fuck me Damon, fuck me, Damon, please!" Bonnie yelled, which satisfied Damon.
Damon immediately entered his erection into her slowly, pumping into her before picking up the pace which made Bonnie continue to moan and yell his name.
Damon pulled out and made Bonnie get up. Bonnie immediately turned around and hungrily grabbed Damon's face who happily returned the urgency as they nipped at
and sucked each other's lips.
Bonnie wrapped her legs around him and then placed her weight on her elbows as she arched into him and threw her head back.
"I fucking love you," Damon cooed as he held onto her waist to steady his thrusts, getting closer to climax.
"I love you too" Bonnie exhaustingly responded, as she lifted her head back up to look at him.
After a few more thrusts they both came together yelling each other's names before quieting each other with their lips again. Damon bit her lip lightly which made her yell before moaning at the taste of her blood as they continued to kiss each other with urgency. After a moment Bonnie finally pulled away to catch her breath.
"I may be a powerful slow-aging witch, but I'm still human-ish" Bonnie said breathily as Damon pulled his pants back up in silence before grabbing Bonnie a cup of water.
"Waiting on the sidelines? Not my style. Let's not kid ourselves and make him believe he actually has a say in this," Damon remarked while he casually passed the water to a flushed Bonnie. "Also, you may as well toss those" Damon devilishly smiled at the state of Bonnie's ripped tights which made her roll her eyes and laugh.
Before Bonnie responded to Damon's statement, she immediately became very aware of where she was and what they just did and began to blush.
"Oh my god, Damon I am so embarrassed…ugh" Bonnie said as she got up from the table to kick off her booties so she could take off her ripped tights.
"Don't be, Stefan will just give a few disapproving looks, Caroline will give you a lecture and Lexi will call me a pig" Damon smiled to himself and then caught the ripped tights Bonnie threw at him.
Damon brought the tights to his nose and growled as he took in the scent, Bonnie was turned on but poorly pretended to be disgusted.
"Damon, I sensed Lana was here too, she's technically your granddaughter who very much does not know about me and you" Bonnie lectured.
Damon shrugged and held his hand out to grab onto Bonnie's.
"We're not exactly hiding, so what's the big deal" Damon quipped.
Bonnie sighed and took Damon's hand, a gesture that surprisingly felt natural to her. Damon lifted her hand to his mouth to place an affectionate and reassuring kiss.
"If they take too long to update you on everything, they shouldn't be shocked when I lose my patience," he remarked, his gaze lingering on Bonnie's smiling green eyes with an unmistakable spark of affection.
They both walked through the kitchen doors, hand in hand until they reached the main room everyone was seated in.
Hand in hand, they moved through the kitchen doors, their united front evident as they entered the main room where everyone was gathered. The room fell into a brief, noticeable silence as all eyes turned to them, a moment broken only when Caroline decided to speak up.
"Uhm Bonnie, we're going to take a walk" Caroline jumped up from her seat and made her way to a flushed Bonnie who smelled wildly of sex and vanilla.
"Okay, I need all the wild and crazy updates," Bonnie said, her voice tinged with a hint of nervousness that she couldn't quite mask.
Just as Caroline was about to whisk Bonnie away from Damon, he leaned in for a kiss that lingered a little longer than usual, drawing a deeper blush from Bonnie.
"30 minutes, blondie, yes I'll be counting" Damon ordered as he straightened up, pretending like the last hour or so didn't happen.
Caroline responded with a playfully sarcastic smile, as she finally was successful in guiding Bonnie away.
Once inside Caroline's office, she closed the door with a definitive thud.
"Was that slam really necessary?" Bonnie asked, crossing her arms and leaning against the desk, clearly in defense mode.
Caroline arched an eyebrow, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, my apologies for interrupting the tranquility with my door slamming. It's not like this big, old house amplifies every little sound or anything," she retorted.
Bonnie bit her lip and rolled her eyes, not quite able to suppress her smile at Caroline's over-the-top sarcasm.
"Really, Bonnie? This is what's occupying your thoughts right now?" Caroline pressed on, mirroring Bonnie's posture with her arms crossed.
"What do you expect me to say, Caroline?" Bonnie sighed, her arms falling to her sides in a gesture of resignation, silently wishing Caroline would drop the topic.
Caroline took a moment, inhaling deeply, to collect her thoughts. Despite her frustrations, she reminded herself that, at the end of the day, her loyalty to Bonnie was unwavering, no matter her personal opinions.
"Just, okay..how long has this been going on? Last thing I heard is Bastien is dead, and then now he's alive, this whole time I thought you were mourning…not boning Damon" Caroline whispered the last half of her sentence as if the whole house didn't just get confirmation.
"This feels like a real twisted turn of events, as if we were teenagers again" Bonnie let out a quick nervous laugh which made Caroline laugh in return.
"Sex-crazed teenagers, Stefan and I already christened the kitchen so I can't say I blame you, I don't know what it is about kitchens and Salvatores" Caroline joked as she stood next to Bonnie and playfully nudged her shoulder against Bonnie's trying to suppress her judgments.
"Caroline, I appreciate you not passing judgment... We haven't really had a chance to dive into the more personal stuff lately, but the truth is, I'm in love with him and I refuse to be shamed for it," Bonnie declared, standing her ground. In her heart, Caroline's opinion mattered more than anyone else's; her approval was something she deeply valued.
"Bonnie," Caroline began, her voice softened with empathy but tinged with concern.
"This feels like the strangest of déjà vu," Caroline cautiously admitted.
"What are you getting at?" Bonnie asked though she had a hunch about Caroline's implication.
"It's Damon, Bonnie. Damon Salvatore. Yes, he's my brother-in-law, and sure, I've grown fond of him, but he's still Damon. I've always made light-hearted comments about you two because I sensed there was something more there. But Bonnie, if you think you can just gloss over some pretty significant past issues that don't vanish with our age, then I... I don't know if I recognize who you've become," Caroline stated bluntly, standing her ground.
"Wow, Car, don't hold back on my account," Bonnie replied her tone a mix of seriousness and a touch of hurt.
"Bonnie, seriously? You both hard launched your relationship with fucking in a kitchen, In a house full of vampires, not to mention a huntress who just happens to be his granddaughter. And let's not forget, he's either still the husband or widow of our dead best friend. And here you are, Bonnie, married to a guy who literally idolizes you. I mean, come on, it's pretty obvious this is a mess," Caroline said, her words pouring out in a rush, each one layered with a mix of disbelief and concern, a testament to the complicated situation they found themselves in.
"So, when you wanted me to read the journals, he wrote for me over the years was that just you being supportive in the moment? Because you didn't actually have to see his love for me materialize?" Bonnie said in an accusatory tone.
"That's not what I mean and you know it" Caroline tried to quickly reassure Bonnie who was biting her bottom lip so she didn't cry.
"Bon, you're more than a best friend to me, you're my family and because of that I'm always going to call it how I see it, and I hope I'm wrong about this, I do. I just don't want you to be another obsession to him, something to pass the time. You weren't there like I was while you were rightfully living out your love story, I was here and saw how they were together as they grew older. It was enough for Elena so I accepted it, but I wouldn't wish that kind of love on anyone, especially not you. If what you have with Damon is truly epic, then I'll be your biggest cheerleader, but give me some time to wrap my head around it. And just so we're clear, if he ever hurts you, I have my ways of making him regret it" Caroline placed her arm around Bonnie and laid her head on her shoulder.
Bonnie sighed and responded with a mix of resignation and understanding in her voice. "Caroline, Damon, and I, we're not like Damon and Elena. And I won't even start listing the reasons why. But you're right, maybe I'm not fully acknowledging the mess we're in, and why they're back in the first place. Let's put this conversation on hold for now. Catch me up on everything with Hope."
Caroline's expression turned serious. "Well, it's not looking great," she began, preparing to delve into the details.
BBBB
"Damon" Stefan began as if he were preparing to give Damon a lecture.
"Hey, don't start lecturing him on my account. You're just providing prime gossip material for me to share with Ash... with all due respect, of course," Lana chimed in with a playful giggle.
Meanwhile, Damon nonchalantly flopped onto the couch, reaching for Lexi's drink with his usual disregard for personal boundaries.
"Ugh, Damon, seriously? Did you even wash your hands?" Lexi snapped, smacking his hand away in a mix of annoyance and amusement.
Damon just grinned, unfazed. "Oh, come on. You know you love it. Bonnie's scent is intoxicating, and don't pretend you don't have... fond memories of our wilder days," he teased, clearly enjoying the stir he was causing.
"Seriously, Damon, enough," Stefan interjected, his patience wearing thin. But Damon was quick to fire back.
"Why am I the problem? If you didn't want to hear the beautiful sounds of -,"Damon retorted with Lexi quickly cutting him off.
"We did, believe me. But thanks to our vampire super-hearing, escaping your... escapades isn't as easy as you might think," Lexi added, her tone laced with a hint of annoyance.
"I always knew Bonnie is a badass, this just takes it up a whole notch… You know, there were always bets and speculations about you and Bonnie. My grandpa, in particular, always seemed to think there was something more" Lana mused.
Damon's face twisted into a look of distaste at the mention of Jeremy Gilbert, clearly not a fan of being the subject of gossip amongst other Gilberts.
Lexi chimed in; her tone playful yet pointed. "It's interesting, really. It wasn't until the afterlife that Stefan and I started piecing things together. We had endless time to talk about everything, including your history with certain Mystic Falls women – Damon and Elena, Damon and Katherine, and eventually, Damon and Bonnie."
Damon raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued despite himself. "Oh, really? And what did you and my oh-so-talkative little brother conclude?"
Lexi smirked slightly. "Quite a bit, actually. But mostly, it's not surprising, considering the patterns you tend to fall into."
"It's more complex than that. I think if you hadn't been so set on proving everyone wrong, including me, you might have seen what was right in front of you a long time ago. Elena could have had her normal life, and you... you might have realized who you were truly pining for." Stefan said which caused Damon to become annoyed.
"Great, I just had the best sex with the woman I love, and here you are, ruining the moment.. " Damon retorted.
Lexi, unafraid to call it as she saw it, continued, "What he's trying to say, Damon, is that sometimes your impulsive nature blinds you. Take Bonnie, for example. She's still technically married. How do you think this will look to everyone? Your tendency to be selfish and obsessive is showing up again, and if you actually want this to work, you've got to be more self–aware."
Damon scowled at Lexi's blunt assessment. "You both don't get it. Bonnie isn't like anyone I've been with before. She's not just another relationship. She challenges me, keeps me honest, and has a level of control over me that Katherine or Elena never had. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to get her now," he declared, standing up and flashing a sarcastic smile as he took his drink and walked away.
BBBB
Caroline, visibly anxious, tried to gauge Bonnie's reaction. "Bonnie, you've been quiet, and it's kind of freaking me out. What are you thinking?"
Bonnie, thoughtful and measured in her response, said, "Caroline, you did what you thought was best. But you have to understand her perspective. She's lost so much. How can she see it as fair that we get Damon, Stefan, and Lexi back, while she can't have her family? You made a mistake, and it was right of her to call you out on it. We can't enforce rules if we don't abide by them ourselves."
Deflated, Caroline asked, "So, what do we do now?"
"Nothing. She's not going to listen, not without a fight, and not for anything we could offer," Bonnie replied, her voice tinged with resignation.
"But how can, you be sure?" Caroline pressed.
"I've been connecting with her energy while you've been talking. She wants something I can't and won't provide," Bonnie explained, her pacing reflecting her inner turmoil.
Caroline's anxiety peaked. "And what is that?"
Bonnie stopped, turning to face Caroline squarely. "She knows her mom found peace and wouldn't want to be brought back to this. What she really wants is Klaus."