Keeping Love Alive – Part III

Summary: AH – 1997 – Three years have passed since Damon broke up with Bonnie.

Song Inspiration: 4 The Rest of My Life – Robyn Thicke

For the rest of my life you know I'm gonna be yours
For the rest of my life you know I wanna be yours
For the rest of my life for you I'm gonna be strong
For the rest of my life
For the rest of my life
Baby will you stay
Baby will you stay mine

…

Three Years Later:

I sat by the bed reading in the lounge chair while my grandfather slept. It had been a hard road the last three years; multiple hospital trips, chemo, radiation, and surgeries, but things were finally starting to look up. The doctor had declared him cancer free, and now he was on the road to recovery.

I worked for my uncle during the week, and on weekends I tended bar at the Grill to make ends meet and pay the bills. It wasn't a glamorous lifestyle by any means, but it was enough to keep the debt collectors off our porch. My grandma urged me to get out, see my friends and meet new people…trying and have a life outside of this house, but it all just seemed so trivial to me now. The days of sitting on the bleachers, smoking and listening to music were gone, and so were the parties and the drinking and anything else I use to consider a good time. Life was too short to fuck around; and I didn't want to piss mine away on people I wouldn't know five years from now.

I heard the doorbell ring and I jumped up to get it, placing the book down on the arm of the chair. As I got to the door, I saw my grandma come around the corner, wiping her hands on the kitchen towel. "It's okay Nonna, I got it." I pulled open the door and I was stunned into silence by who was on the other side.

"Hi Damon." She smiled, albeit nervously. She was in a short floral print dress, a jean jacket, sheer black tights and black heeled boots. Her hair was straight and a lighter shade of brown than I remember. She looked mature…grown, like a woman with some wisdom behind her eyes. I hadn't seen her since that day she ran away from the playground, and I'd heard a week later that she was moving to New York to go to Columbia. The day she left I found my leather jacket on the front porch. "You just going to stare at me all day?" she joked with a raise of her brow and I huffed a laugh.

"Sorry, I'm just…surprised." I shifted my weight, leaning on the door. "You're back." I observed unnecessarily. Obviously.

"Yeah…um," she glanced down, fidgeting with her hands. "I'm sorry to just show up like this. I didn't mean to put you on the spot or anything."

"You're not." I rushed out. "It's good to see you, Bonnie. You look great." I swallowed deeply. Understatement; she looked amazing. It was taking all my will power to not reach out and touch her.

She smiled and it lit up her face. "It's good to see you too. I like the beard." She chuckled, and I scratched at the stubble that had grown in recently.

"Yeah, kind of completes the whole rugged construction guy look, doesn't it? All I need is a beer belly and a chip on my shoulder and I'd fit right in." She laughed and it reminded me of better times. I looked her up and down with a reminiscent smile. "Not that I'm not happy to see you...but the last time I saw you, you said you never wanted to see me again."

She rolled her eyes indulgently. "That was a little dramatic. Can we talk?" She nodded towards the porch swing, and I followed her over, sitting down next to her. There was an awkward moment of silence, and I rubbed my palms on my jeans. "I heard about your granddad. How is he?" I could see the genuine concern on her face.

"He's good; better. He still asks about you, you know?" I shot her a lopsided smile.

She lit up. "He does?"

I nodded, holding her gaze meaningfully. "He thought you were the one that got away. So did I."

Letting out a sigh, Bonnie dropped her gaze to her lap as she gently swung us back and forth. "Did I really get away? Or did you push me away?" she glanced back up at me with a knowing look, and I had to admit she was right. I let her get way…I showed her the damn door. "I know why you did what you did…I didn't get it then, but I do now." She stared down at her hands anxiously. "I would have stayed for you; even though you never asked me to, even if you told me to go…"

"Why?" I asked in a whisper.

She shrugged helplessly as her eyes raised to meet mine. "Because I loved you, Damon. I couldn't think straight when it came to you. I just thought…" she let out a sharp exhale. "I just thought you loved me too."

"I did. I just didn't want you to regret staying here when you had a chance at something better. I loved you enough to let you go…" My voice strained in my throat, and I nervously rubbed my palms together, resting my elbows on my knees.

Bonnie canted her head to catch my eyes. "And now…?"

I glanced her way and I offered her a lopsided smile; one I knew used to turn her to mush. "It's always been you, Bonnie." I was rewarded with a beaming smile and a sparkle lit up her eyes.

"Soooo…" she bit down on her lower lip in a way that stirred up lusty feelings in me. "if we were to try and pick up where we left off, you'd say…" her green eyes pierced int me from under her lashes as she trailed off.

"Yes." I answered immediately – entirely too eager. "I'd say yes."

And she must have been eager too, because within seconds she was crushing her lips to mine weaving her fingers in my hair and pulling me closer. I felt my whole body ignite, and I cupped her face bringing her closer to me. It felt like coming home.

The front door, opened, and we both broke away bashfully at being caught by my Nonna; Bonnie covering her mouth with a little giggle and I squeezed my eyes shut, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Damon, dinner's ready. Oh Bonnie!" She looked between us with a mischievous smile. "So nice to see you home. Just visiting?"

She shot me a little smile. "Actually, I'm moving back. I missed this place too much to stay away." Here eyes never left mine, and my heart warmed knowing she was talking about me.

"Then you must stay for dinner." she insisted excitedly. "I'm making Damon's favorite."

Bonnie grinned, hopping to her feet. "Mmm! Eggplant Parm?! How could I say no? Thank you, Vincenza!" I followed after her slowly, watching the way she slid into old habits; setting the table, and helping finish up in the kitchen. The house was filled with chatter as my grandfather woke, and we all caught up after years apart. She fit right into my family, and they loved her as much as I did.

…

Eight Years Later:

I couldn't take my eyes off her, and neither could anyone else. How could they, she was stunning. Bonnie was laughing as she danced with her young cousin, Jordan, as the little boy tried not to step on her toes, and I got a flash of what our future would be like…and how wonderful a mother she would make.

I stood from my seat, weaving through the room of guests who congratulated me and clapped me on my back as I passed. I placed my hands on Jordan's shoulder, and he looked up at me, tilting his head back. "Mind if I cut in, little guy?"

Jordan ran off to play with the other kids, and I held out a hand for her to take. "Can I have this dance, Mrs. Salvatore?" I uttered tenderly.

She chuckled. "You may." I caught the glance of the DJ, and the song changed from the upbeat song, to something slower and familiar to both of us. "Mmmm…" She hummed, as I pulled her in close, resting our hands against my heart as we swayed.

Darling, you send me
I know you send me
Darling, you send me
Honest, you do, honest, you do
Honest, you do, whoa

"Can you believe it?" She whispered. "And to think I almost didn't give you a chance."

I pressed my cheek against the crown of her head. "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist me forever…I'm very charming."

You thrill me
I know you, you, you thrill me
Darling, you, you, you, you thrill me
Honest, you do

Usually, she would slap my chest playfully, or chid me for being so full of myself, but she let out a dreamy smile as she rested her head on my shoulder. "Yes, you are."

As the song continued, I sang along, whispering in her ear like I did the first time we danced to this song. "At first I thought it was infatuation. But, woo, it's lasted so long. Now I find myself wanting to marry you and take you home…" I could see her smile and she looked up at me with so much love in her eyes. "Let's have a baby." I blurted out.

Bonnie pulled back with a sexy smirk. "Wanna start trying?"

My brows shot up high on my forehead. "What, now?"

She nodded. "Meet me upstairs in ten minutes." Bonnie slipped away from me with a wink, and all the blood in my body rushed south. God, to this day she still surprised me, and I think she'd keep surprising me until we're old and grey.

…

AN: And that's the end of this 3-part series! I hope you enjoyed it. I named Damon's Nonna (grandma) after my late Nonna as homage to her, to put a little bit of myself in this story 😊

I have lots of other one-shots on the go; some already done, and a couple in the works. So, I'll keep them coming until you get sick of them lol! My other Delena stories are wrapped up, so I think I'll start a Bamon multi-chapter story…what do you think? Please review, and I'll be back soon! - Vanessa