AN: Hi everyone, thank you so much for your reviews! I really appreciate the response on these stories! Super inspiring. I will be back with the Part 2 for Traitor soon, but I had this one stuck in my head, and couldn't work on anything else until I got it out of my system lol. It's a bit shorter, but I didn't intend for this one to run quite as long as the others.

Anyways, hope you enjoy it and can't wait to hear what you think – Vanessa

Every Time I Close My Eyes

Summary: AU. Bonnie is haunted in her dreams by a pair of azure blue eyes belonging to a man she doesn't remember.

Song Inspiration: When You Sleep – Mary Lambert

I swore I saw you in a dream
All dressed in white and wide smile
You politely asked to take a walk with me
And I married you there underneath the trees
Can you feel the beat of my heart beat, beat through me?
Can you feel the beat of my heart beat, beat through me?

I could make you happy
I could make you love me
I could disappear completely
I could be your love song
I could be long gone
I could be a ghost in your eardrum
When you sleep, will it be with me?
When you sleep, will it be with me?

…

One foot in front of the other. She coached herself as she calmed her racing heart. Keep breathing. She exhaled slowly and a smile pulled at her lips as he turned to face her. He was the most handsome man she'd ever seen and now he was looking at her as if she was his whole world. Her bare feet sunk softly into the grass, and the wind licked at her skin, blowing her hair and flowing white dress gently like smoke on the water. His eyes melted through her, and everyone else fell away. She'd never forget those eyes…

The closer she got, the more her heart raced, then suddenly the air shifted. She stopped dead in her tracks as the lush greens of the bushes and the pinks and yellows of the flowers wilted and the setting sun faded to a dull grey sky. She looked down; the grass was replaced by dirt and her dress was no longer a pristine white, but caked in blood and mud. When she looked up in horror, the beautiful man was gone.

.

Bonnie shot out of bed with a gasp. Sweat beaded on her forehead and she brought a shaky hand up to wipe it away. The dreams were becoming more and more frequent the last couple weeks and she still had no idea what they meant. It always started the same way; she was walking across the grass towards a man dressed in white with raven hair and somehow, she knew deep in her heart that this was the man she was destined to spend the rest of her life with. But just as it began…it ended the same way every time. He vanishes, and she's left alone, in the dark and covered in blood. Bonnie could picture this man so vividly; when she closed her eyes, she could still see him smiling at her, his blue eyes shining with adoration…but she'd never met him. She longed for him, and the feelings he evoked in her with just that one look. How could she miss a man she'd never met?

With a deep exhale, Bonnie flipped the blankets off her and swung her feet over the edge of the bed. It was early…too early, but she couldn't go back to sleep now. The sky was still dark and there was a slight breeze blowing off the first few leaves off the trees, causing them to roll and tumble on the ground in twirls of yellow and red. She threw her hair up in a high ponytail, slipped into her yoga pants and matching black zip up sweater and silently headed downstairs, careful not to wake her dad. Running was the one thing she felt could clear her head these days. School had just started and she had this feeling of foreboding and anxiousness about it. After a summer with her Grams, and listening to all of her stories of witches in Salem and 'her inner power' Bonnie couldn't help but feel like these dreams were a sign of some sort.

She let her feet hit the pavement and take her down a new route, just enjoying the quiet solitude of the early morning. There wasn't a soul on the road, just her and the chirping songs of the birds in the trees. The farther she went, the further apart the houses were, until she found herself in an older part of town, closer to the woods. She pushed herself, picking up speed as she passed a particularly massive house, when something caught her eye. Bonnie slowed to a stop, panting and tilting her head in disbelief as her eyes coasted over the property. No…this wasn't – was it? Her hands rested on her hips, and she stepped closer, her brow creasing. The lush green garden, the willow tree, the flowers…it was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She glanced around, taking in her surroundings; she'd never been this far before, how could she possibly dream this place so accurately? Her heart pounded as she backed away shocked, and she took off running back home.

…

"I'm telling you, Elena…it was creepy." She told her later that morning as they were driving to school.

Elena turned in the passenger seat to look at her friend. "You must have seen that house before…what other explanation is there?"

Bonnie shot her a side glance. "Well…remember all that stuff my Grams told me about my family lineage?"

Elena chuckled. "The witches? Bonnie, come on…you don't really believe all that, do you? Look, it's weird, I admit, but you have lived here your whole life. The old Salvatore boarding house is a huge part of Founding Family history; maybe you saw a photo of it at the historical society and it embedded in your subconscious." She finished with a resolute nod.

Bonnie let out an annoyed sigh. She knew this wasn't a memory of a photo; she remembered it as if she was walking through the property herself, but she let it go, knowing that Elena wasn't going to believe it. "Maybe you're right." She expressed flatly.

Not a second later, a crow hit her windshield and she slammed on the breaks as both girls shrieked. Elena gripped the dash and car door, Bonnie glance at her apologetically. "Shit…I'm sorry, 'Lena. It came out of nowhere; are you okay?"

The brunette nodded, relaxing. "I'm fine…it's okay." She squeezed Bonnie's leg seeing the sympathy in her eyes. "I'm okay, Bon. Now, that was weird." She laughed nervously as Bonnie continued driving.

She nodded, feeling that foreboding feeling clench her gut again.

.

Deep breath…exhale. The sun was warm on her face as she slowly crossed the grass and there he was, waiting for her. His smile was wide and as she reached him, he held out a hand which she took eagerly. His eyes pierced through her as his lips met her knuckles and Bonnie had to swallow the lump in her throat as emotions overcame her.

"Walk with me." He tucked her arm in the crook of his elbow, and she felt his words ripple through her. The deep timber of his voice melted her like butter, and all she could do was nod as he led her to the willow tree. The branches cast shadows across his face, the sunlight beaming through making the moment that much more magical. She turned to face him, and his thumb brushed away a tear that slipped down her cheek. "Not having second thoughts, are you?" he teased with a lopsided smirk.

"Is this real?" she whispered gently as if her words would break the spell.

He leaned down, resting his forehead on hers and the both closed their eyes in bliss. "Do you want it to be?" he asked her in an equally hushed tone.

She could have cried. "Yes…" Her delicate hand came up to caress the side of his face, and he held it there, kissing the inside of her wrist sweetly. "Who are you?"

His eyes popped open, and she was looking directly into pools of azure blue. "I'm yours, Bonnie."

Her head snapped up to the tree when she heard a rustle, and suddenly the smile fell from her face. A crow was looking directly at her with dead, beady eyes and it cawed loudly, cocking its head. Bonnie's chest heaved and her eyes widened as it flapped its wings and swooped down towards them. She covered her head, and ducked to dodge it but when she looked up, she was alone. No…she looked down and her hands were covered in blood.

.

Bonnie startled awake, tears from her dream dried on her cheeks. This one was different. Never before had she made it to him, never before hand she heard his voice or touched him…and the crow? What the hell was that about?

"Bonnie…" Caroline's voice snapped her back to reality. "Are you okay?" Her brows were pulled tightly in concern.

Bonnie glanced around her, and realized that she had fallen asleep in class, and now had the attention of everyone, including the teacher. With a shake of her head, she grabbed her books and her bag and ran out of there without another word. She ran down the hall out the front doors of the school as if hell was on her heels. Why was this happening to her? Who was this man that plagued her dreams and stayed heavy on her mind day and night? I'm yours, Bonnie. It echoed in her head the whole way home.

.

She felt like she was floating; his arm was around her waist, fingers splayed across the small of her back, and his other hand, cradling hers against his chest as they swayed to the music. There was no one around – just the two of them, in the twilight of the moon under a gazebo adorned and weaved with fairy lights and her favorite flowers. Bonnie was staring up at him in a daze, and he smiled down at her, brushing his nose against hers. "What is this? Why do I keep dreaming about you?"

"Maybe it's my dashing good looks?" he flashed his eyes at her with a playfulness.

Bonnie couldn't help the laugh that bubbled from her throat. "I'm serious…who are you? How do I know you?"

His face became serious. "You don't." He brought her hand to his lips. "Not yet."

Her brows tightened. "But I will?" He nodded, his eyes darting back and forth between hers. "When?"

He pulled her closer, resting his chin on top of her head. "When you're ready."

Bonnie pulled back to stare up at him. "I'm ready now."

He chuckled, bringing a hand up to push a lock of hair behind her ear. "No, you aren't, Bon."

"And how do you know that?" She said defensively, attitude oozing out of her as she canted her head. She tried not to be offended when he continued to chuckle. "Why are you laughing?" That only made him break further, so she poked him hard in his chest. "Hey!"

He bit his lower lip, and his eyes twinkled charmingly. "It's just…your fierceness, your tenacity…it's one of the many things I love about you." He realized then he overstepped when she blinked in surprise. "Bon…"

Bonnie felt her heart hammer in her chest and she stepped away from him. "Don't call me that. How do you know me?"

He reached for her desperately. "Come back to me, Bonnie."

She stepped further back. "What are you talking about?"

He stepped closer – cautiously, but those blue eyes held an urgency she'd never seen before. "You're so close, baby don't give up."

Baby?She thought in confusion. She held up her hands to halt him, and eyed him with a hard glare. "Who. Are. You?" she demanded firmly.

The man's eyes sloped sadly, and she felt her heart clench. "I'm your husband."

.

Bonnie clutched a hand to her chest, still feeling the heartache from her dream. Although now, she was convinced that this wasn't just a dream. The man wasn't just a figment of her imagination and she knew that the house wasn't just a memory from a photo; she'd been there…it felt like home. She needed to see it for herself.

Getting dressed frantically, Bonnie rushed out the door, ignoring her dad asking if she wanted breakfast. He seemed to be showing more concern for her lately, probably because she'd barely attended school the last few days. She drove over the boarding house, breaking every speed limit, and when she got to the end of the driveway she parked and hopped out, storming right up to the door.

Her chest heaved as she stared at the barrier, wondering what the hell was going to be on the other side. She squeezed her eyes shut, and it was she had x-ray vision as she envisioned the inside. The grand foyer, dark wood, sunken living room, the fireplace, the bar, the staircase to the right…her eyes snapped open, and to her surprise, the door was now ajar. Hesitantly, Bonnie pushed the door open further, the loud creak breaking the silence and she stumbled backwards, her back hitting the brick barrier behind her. She muffled a sob with her hand; it was exactly how she pictured it and that alone was enough to make her run for the hills.

Bonnie turned and ran away, nearly tripping over her own feet as they desperately tried to get as far from the house as they could carry her. When she got to the end of the driveway, she glanced back, her green eyes wide and terrified and what she saw made her breath catch in her throat. A silhouette of a man stood in the doorway that she was just standing in; she couldn't make out his face, but she recognized his frame and she watched, shell shocked as he stared back at her, before slowly closing the door.

…

She knocked incessantly until it opened, and she rushed in engulfing her Grams in a tight hug, heavy sobbed racking her body. A soothing hand ran over her hair and back, as Sheila cooed gently, trying to hush her cries long enough to find out what was wrong.

She led her granddaughter into the living room, and put on a pot of tea. Once Bonnie was settled with a mug, sitting demurely on the sofa, Sheila sat beside her. "Okay, sweetheart…tell me what has you so shaken up."

Bonnie wiped the tears from her cheeks. "Is it true? Are we witches?"

Grams let out a sigh, a tight smile pulling her lips as she stood and moved to her bookcase. "I was wondering how long until you started to take me seriously." She pulled out an ancient book, and placed it gently in Bonnie's lap. "This is your family history, Bonnie." She watched as Bonnie flipped through the delicate pages carefully, blinking in disbelief. "Something happened…"

"There's this man…I keep dreaming about him; every time I close my eyes. I don't know who he is, but it's like there is a part of me that knows deep down that…I love him." She finished timidly. "I feel like I'm straddling this line, and he's pulling me towards him but something keeps holding me back."

Sheila grabbed her hands. "Being a Bennett witch, means trusting your intuition…it means trusting your gut, and your heart. What is that telling you?"

Bonnie closed her eyes, and she saw his smiling face. "It's telling me to go to him."

"Then that's what you do, baby." She eased her worry with a calming smile.

"But I'm scared."

"I know…but you need to face that fear. That's what's holding you back." She cupped her granddaughter's cheek comfortingly. "Don't be afraid of the unknown, Bonnie. Be brave."

The young witch nodded through her smile, even as the tears polled in her eyes.

…

That night, Bonnie lay in her bed fully prepared to get the answers she needed. It wasn't long before sleep took her and she found herself transported.

.

Bonnie found herself standing alone under the willow tree, but this time, she was in her usual attire and not the flowing white dress. It was night, and the stars shone brightly in the sky above.

"You came back…" His surprised voice caused her to spin around. "I thought I'd scared you away." He walked towards her from the house, offering her a reassuring smile.

"I'm not afraid of you. I need answers; I need to know how I know you. Why do I feel this way?" she begged.

He shrugged, giving her a boyish smile. "We're soulmates." He said simply, as if that were enough. "But you don't belong here, Bonnie. You need to come home." He swallowed painfully. "I need you to come home now."

She frowned. "Home?"

He nodded, coming closer, hands up and cautious like she could dart at any moment. "Yes…home." He gestured behind him. "Ourhome. I know you're scared. I know that you feel safe here…but I don't know how much longer I can do this without you."

Her breathing picked up. "I-I don't understand…"

He stood in front of her, his blue gaze roaming her face. "One week ago, we stood right here…" His fingers ran down her arms and linked with hers. "I took your hands, and I promised you that I'd spend the rest of my life making you happy. I vowed to love you, and protect you above all others…" the words choked in his throat, "and I married you, beneath this tree…" he glanced up with a wistful smile at the memory. "It was best and worst day of my life, because that night…I thought I'd lost you." Bonnie gave him her rapt attention as she listened to the picture he painted. "We were attacked, and you got hurt…I tried to save you but you wouldn't wake up." His eyes clouded with tears. "And every day since, I go inside your mind to try and bring you back." He cupped her face in both his hands, staring into her deep green eyes. "Come back to me, Bonnie…please."

Suddenly, she was hit by a barrage of flash images.

Bumping into him outside her school.

Getting bitten.

Arguing.

Dancing.

An embrace.

Fighting.

Holding his hand.

Smiles.

Pancakes.

Laughter.

Jumping into his arms.

Amsterdam.

The letter.

A kiss.

Their bodies tangled in sheets.

Him on one knee.

Him in a white suit.

The willow tree.

'I do.'

The first dance.

The blood staining her dress.

It all came back to her in seconds. During their first dance as husband and wife, Bonnie was stabbed through the back with a wooden pole; deep enough that it penetrated Damon as well, but just missed his heart. He fell to the ground with her, and their friends came to their aid, but that was all she remembered before everything went dark.

She gasped, grasping at him as her knees buckled. "Damon?"

He lit up. "Yes…you remember?"

"I remember…I remember everything." She buried her head in his chest and tears stained his shirt.

He cradled her there for a few minutes, relishing in the feeling of having her back in his arms. "You have to wake up." He urged her.

"I don't want to leave you." She whimpered quietly.

"I'm not going anywhere." he took a deep breath, and pulled back, holding her face him his hands again as they stared intently at each other. His thumbs swiped away her tears lovingly. "On the count of three, okay? One…two…"

.

Bonnies eyes popped open, and she wasted no time in getting out of bed and running down the stairs, still clothed in her pajama pants and a tank top. Her bare feet slapped against the pavement as she ran to the boarding house, only the street lamps lighting her way. She knew what she had to do now.

Without any hesitation she ran up the driveway and burst through the front door and the second she crossed the threshold she was met with a blinding white light.

With a gasp she woke, and her eyes darted around in a panic as her surroundings became clear. She was lying in bed – their bedroom, and Damon was clutching her hands in his resting them on his forehead at her side. His head shot up, and she immediately clamored into his arms.

He held her to him like a lifeline and she'd never felt safer in her whole life. "I'm so sorry, Bonnie. I should have never let this happen to you." He whispered into her hair.

"I'm okay…" she pulled away staring into those azure blue eyes that kept her from giving up. "I knew…even though I didn't know you, I knew that I loved you. You did save me, Damon. You always have." She whispered; her voice thick with emotion. She remembered when there was a time that he'd blatantly said he didn't care if she lived or died…but when it came down to it, he always saved her; from Klaus, on the island, from the loneliness of oblivion, Kai, the Armory…herself. He was always there. And now she got to spend the rest of her life knowing, he always would be.

…

AN: Hope you enjoyed that little twist 😉 thanks for reading, please review!