Looking Too Closely – Part IV

2 Months Later:

Bonnie rolled off him with a satisfied moan, and Damon was quick to tuck her in close; wrapping an arm around her slim back. "One of these days we'll make it to the bed." She laughed breathlessly.

Damon's eyes darted around. They were on the kitchen floor between the sink and the island. He'd been cleaning up the dishes from breakfast when Bonnie came up behind him, peppering his bare back with kisses. The next think he knew, she was riding him with her head thrown back, and her nails digging into his chest. Over the last two months, Bonnie truly unlocked a wilder side of herself, and Damon was pleased to say he was reaping all the benefits.

He let out a chuckle as he kissed the crown of her head. "One of these days." Bonnie leaned up on her elbow, looking down at her with her hair falling over her shoulder. He couldn't resist reaching up and running his fingers through the silky strands and she pinned him with a sultry smile, leaning into his touch. She was so responsive to him; he almost couldn't believe she was real. "Are you free tonight? I promised Ric I'd go with him to this architecture convention thing," he mumbled with an eye roll. "Which I'm currently regretting, but maybe you can sneak off on one of those midnight runs you love so much, and come by later?" he suggested with a kiss to her shoulder.

Bonnie was still staying with Caroline and Stefan, and her 'midnight runs' were an excuse to come over to Damon's without getting bombarded with questions. "Or…" she started, pulling back to stare at him with a serious look. "I can tell Caroline the truth and we don't have to hide the fact that we've been sleeping together."

Damon sighed. "Bonnie, we talked about this."

"I know…but can you blame me for wanting to tell my friends about us?" She tucked her hair behind her ear. "I hate lying to them."

Damon sat up and caressed her face. "I know, but Caroline can't help herself and you know she'll tell Enzo."

Sucking in a deep breath, Bonnie bit the bullet. "Then maybe it's time we tell Enzo." She knew that Damon was worried about Enzo's reaction the most, but the truth would come out eventually.

His eyes flitted over her face with a ghost of a sad smile. "He'll never forgive me; the second he finds out about us I'll lose my best friend. I don't want to lose you too."

She frowned in confusion. "You won't. What would make you think that?"

"You know how I feel about you," He started hesitantly. Since that night he told her he loved her, Damon had not said it since. He didn't want to make her uncomfortable or scary her away again, and he didn't know if he could handle seeing that panicked look on her face. "And I know you're not there yet," She started respond but he continued. "And that's okay. But once this gets out of the bag everything is going to turn sideways, and the last thing I want is for this to be ruined by everyone else getting involved." She nodded, and Damon pulled her closer kissing her softly. "We'll tell him…just not yet. I want to have you all to myself for a while longer, okay?"

Her lips parted in a beautiful smile. "Okay."

…

"Alright…" Caroline started as she walked down the stairs towards Bonnie, who was quietly grabbing her car keys off the hook. It was just after eleven and when she though everyone was asleep Bonnie made her move. "Fess up. Who's got you sneaking out in the middle of the night?" She crossed her arms as she stood on the landing, with a little smirk on her face.

Bonnie turned to her like a deer in headlights. "What are you talking about?"

The blonde rolled her eyes, tightening the robe around her as she came down the rest of the steps. "Do you honestly think I wouldn't catch on? The late-night phone calls, the 'midnight runs' you occasionally don't come home from. I mean, I'm happy that you're getting back out there, but you could have told me."

Bonnie resigned with an indulgent roll of her eyes. She knew better then to try and deny it. "Okay, yes…I'm seeing someone. But it's new, I wasn't ready for it to be public knowledge."

Caroline's eyes lit up. "Well, who is it?! Tell me everything!"

"Just someone from work." Bonnie covered. "Look can you just be cool about this?" She asked, seeing Caroline start to bounce on her feet, probably filled with questions. "I know you're curious but I kind of like having something that's just mine, you know." She reiterated Damon's earlier words to her with a reminiscent smile. The smile turned into a smirk when she looked back up at Caroline, zipping up her jacket. "Don't wait up."

…

Caroline knowing she was dating someone did help some things; she didn't have to sneak around or hide her smiles every time a text came through from Damon, but it also meant that she had to be a hell of a lot more careful when ever her phone went off. She even thought about changing his name in her phone, but she enjoyed seeing it pop up on her screen too much.

However, she also knew that it wouldn't be long before she let it slip to someone.

"So…" Elena started from the other end of the phone. "A little blonde birdy told me you're dating again." She finished enthusiastically. "This must be so exciting for you."

Bonnie rolled her eyes, plopping down on her bed with a chuckle. "Not nearly as excited as you two are, apparently. I thought she was going to explode with happiness; you'd think she was the one with a new boyfriend."

"Ooh, boyfriend status already? I thought it was new?" Elena cooed slyly.

Bonnie squeezed her eyes shut, feeling caught. "It is new, but…I like him. I feel different around him; freer somehow…like I can just be myself." The thought brought a smile to her face. Being with Damon had liberated her from the fear of the unknown and she had never felt better. "Ugh, I get butterflies just thinking about him…I forgot what it was like to be wanted like that." She uttered, almost forgetting who she was talking to.

"So who is this mystery man?"

She fell silent, taken off guard for a moment. "Um, just someone from work."

"Why don't I believe you?" she laughed lightheartedly. "Come on, Bonnie. It's me…I'm not going to judge you, or be mad or tell anyone you don't want me to." There was something in her tone that was serious and reassuring. "It's Damon…isn't it?"

Bonnie let out a relieved but shaky sigh. "Elena…"

"It's okay. Honestly, I'm not really surprised."

Bonnie shook her head in disbelief. "How did you even know? You're on the other side of the country." She let out a breathless laugh, trying to keep her voice down.

Elena chuckled to herself. "I saw the two of you that night at the club. I've seen that look before; I used to look at him the same way. Then when you told us about the kiss and that you called off the wedding…I just put it all together." Bonnie was silent on the other end and Elena continued. "Look Damon is not Enzo…he's passionate and spontaneous, every day is going to feel like a rollercoaster." Bonnie nodded to herself. "But he's also loyal and a lot more selfless than he lets on, so just…don't hurt him, okay? If this is just some fling, or some fun rebound than you need to let him know." For all the drama of her relationship with Damon, Elena probably knew him better than most. Even though she knew he wasn't fully in love with her, he never strayed from her, he did his best to make her happy even in his most miserable of states, because deep down he still cared.

Bonnie gnawed on her lip as she listened to the sound advice from her friend. She hadn't really wanted to think about what this was with Damon; she was simply enjoying wherever it went. Of course, she knew how much Damon felt for her, and part of her felt guilty going into this knowing that, but she couldn't resist him. He made her feel like a teenager again, and she craved the way he made her feel. "Thank you, 'Lena. And please…don't tell Caroline. She won't be quite so forgiving." She pleaded.

Elena laughed. "Are you kidding; if I tell Caroline, everyone in town will know before the end of the week." Bonnie laughed along with her and flopped back on her pillow as her and Elena caught up on the latest excitements in their lives.

…

Bonnie stretched languorously in Damon's king-sized bed, as the sun started to peek through the blinds. Her hand reached out for him, expecting to make contact with his chest, but instead was met with cold sheets.

"Morning." He greeted her with a lazy smile from the doorway holding a cup.

"Good morning." She smiled sleepily at him from under hooded eyes, and he moved into the room, taking in her naked form in as she shifted under the thin sheets.

He could die happy waking up to her like this everyday. Unfortunately, he was lucky if he got her for the full weekend. But it was moments like this where he was able to convince himself that she was his, if only for a little while. He didn't want to disillusion himself with what this was; they weren't a couple, they weren't even dating…Damon didn't even want to ask if she was seeing other people, but he wanted to believe that she wasn't.

"Coffee?" He offered her, knowing she was incapable of saying no. If that was one thing he learned from their times together, she needed coffee promptly upon waking. He chuckled her when her eyes lit up and she sat up, taking the cup from him gratefully.

"Mm, thank you. You're the best." Bonnie kept her eyes on him as she sipped her coffee and he sat down on the edge of the bed. It was things like this that made her heart warm. Over ten years with Enzo and not once had he made her coffee, or brought her breakfast in bed, or even attempted to cook for her. But every day that she was here, Damon did all of those and more. How could she have possibly known under all the hostility and snarky comments was an attentive and thoughtful man? She quirked her head taking in his attire. "Why are you dressed?" She carefully set her cup on the night stand, and sat up, letting the sheet fall to her waist as she reached for him. "You should be naked, and in bed with me." she added coyly, pulling him closer and peppering kisses along his jaw and neck.

He let out a moan, as her tongue trailed a path behind his ear. "Mm…I really should but I got called into work." He uttered regretfully.

Bonnie pulled back with a pout. "But it's Sunday."

He grinned at her, placing a kiss on her full bottom lip. "I know, baby, but the executive chef is sick, and they need me to cover lunch for him." Bonnie felt a blush come to her cheeks. The way he called her baby was so natural and relaxed she almost didn't think he noticed that he said it at all. And it didn't bother her. "You can stay here as long as you want and I promise I'll make it up to you. Dinner, tonight. I'll make you anything you want, you name it."

Bonnie flung the sheets off, and got out of bed, giving Damon an unhindered view of her naked mocha skin, flawless in the morning sunlight. She walked around, and his eyes ate her up hungrily. "Anything I want?" she asked seductively, as she stood in front of him completely unashamed of her state of undress. She used to modestly hide from him in the beginning, but now her confidence oozed out of her.

Damon's hands immediately found her hips, pulling her closer so she straddled him. "Mhm…" he nearly growled, flexing his fingers on her waist as she ground down on him.

Her eyes darkened, and he knew then he was done for. He'd give his right nut to have her look at him like that. "What if this is what I want?" She slowly slid to her knees, her fingers undoing his belt while her gaze stayed on him, challenging him to try and stop her. He didn't have the strength; he was at her mercy. She allowed his length to spring free, and softly run her tongue around his weeping tip, earning a groan from him as he gripped the edge of the bed.

Bonnie smiled, before ingulfing him in her mouth, bobbing and swirling her tongue around him in a rhythm and pattern that she knew he liked. Soon, he was tunneling his hand in her hair, watching her suck him off like he was her favorite lollipop. He was in awe of her. Her name was like a chanted whisper as he reached his climax. He spilled down her throat and he moaned as she swallowed him down. She stood with a cute little smile, that was far too innocent for what she just did, and pulled him to his feet. "I think we need to get cleaned up."

Suddenly, he didn't really care if he was late for prep and he followed her to the bathroom wanting nothing more than to return the favor. He whipped his shirt off as she started the shower, and he wrapped his arms around her from behind, letting his hands trail from her breasts down between her legs.

She was already ready for him, and she gasped as his fingers slid along her opening. He heard the knock on his door, and chose to ignore it; it was probably Ric, as Bonnie walked into the shower, but the knocking only got louder and more persistent. He grunted in annoyance. "Let me get rid of Ric and I'll come join you." He gave her a playful slap on the ass and she shrieked, which turned into a giggle. "Don't get started without me." He winked.

Grabbing his discarded shirt, he slipped it back on, not bothering to do up the buttons as she answered the door. He expected to see Ric, but his eyes widened when it was Enzo on the other side. "Enzo…hey. What's up?" His eyes darted around his apartment quickly, unsure if anything of Bonne's was laying around.

He walked right in, completely ignorant to Damon's panic. "She's seeing someone. Already she's moved on, Damon." He grumbled. "I don't believe this."

Damon blinked, and then frowned. "Well haven't you? You haven't exactly been the poster boy for abstinence." He countered defensively. Enzo had been working his way through multiple women since the break up, and he was genuinely beginning to think Enzo was getting over Bonnie. He looked happy and was trying new things, meeting new people; Enzo barely even brought up her name in the last two months.

Enzo scoffed. "None of those women actually mean anything to me, and I sure as hell don't want a relationship with any of them. But Caroline said she's…involved. Some idiot she works with or something. She might actually like this guy, Damon, and I don't know how I'm supposed to deal with it." His friend looked at him for the answers, while his heart jumped to his throat. The woman in question was currently naked and waiting for him in the shower.

"Maybe you need to find someone you like too. Fucking your way through the girls at the club isn't anyway to find the love of your life." Damon offered.

Enzo glared at him. "Bonnie is the love of my life, Damon. How can anyone else compare to what I built with her? She was always there for me, she encouraged me to pursue my dreams, she has been the one constant in my life. Sure, we fought, and sometimes it felt like our relationship had run its course, but there are people that would kill for what we had. How could she just throw that all away?"

Damon sighed in frustration, running his hand through his hair. "Yeah, high school sweethearts, it's a great story, Enzo…but was it real? Did you love her because of who she is, or because she put up with you for so long?" His friend swallowed, turning away. "What did you love about her, Enzo?" Damon continued challengingly. "Do you know her mannerisms, what her favorite movie is, the way she parts her hair? Do you care about the things that she cares about, or is it always about you?" he snapped. He had been so tired of hearing Enzo plead his case for Bonnie based on things she did for him, instead of what he should have done for her.

It wasn't lost on him the look of surprise on her face whenever he did something special; whenever he held the door open, or massaged her feet, or ran her a hot bath before bed, and it bothered him that his friend didn't treat her the way she deserved to be treated.

Enzo rounded on him. "What the hell is that about? Are you my friend or hers? You're supposed to back me up, Damon; take my side and talk shit about the guy she's seeing! Why are you so quick to defend her; you don't even like her!" he retorted with a wild gesture.

Damon heard the shower turn off. "Look, can we talk about this later? I'm late for work." He rushed out, guiding Enzo back to the door.

"Da-mon!" Her teasing voice carried out from the bathroom. "I'm getting lonely in here."

Enzo frowned. "Who the hell is that?" There was something familiar about the voice and he blinked as it came to him. "No…"

Damon held up his hands. "Enzo, listen to me."

But it was too late; he'd already pushed passed him, storming down the hall to the bathroom. "Bonnie!" he yelled, and when he pushed open the door, he found her wrapping herself in a robe, shock written all over her face. "What the fuck is this!?"

Damon followed behind him, meeting Bonnie's panicked stare over Enzo's shoulder. "Enzo what are you doing here?" she self-consciously tightened the robe around her.

His face was the picture of rage. "What am I doing here? What are you doing here, Bonnie!? Are you fucking him?"

Bonnie's face pinched in sympathy. "Enzo, I'm sorry…we were going to tell you."

He staggered back in shock, then turned to Damon. "You…" He shook his head. "You were my best friend. You were supposed to be my best man, and you're fucking my fiancé!?"

"It's a lot more complicated than that." Damon started.

"No, it's not. Tell me what the fuck this is."

Damon caught her eyes and saw the tears pool in her eyes. "I'm in love with her."

Enzo let out a sardonic laugh. "Oh, you've got to be fucking joking. You have hated Bonnie since the day I introduced you to her." Damon's gaze dropped to the floor and he pieced it all together. "But that's not true, is it? You've loved her this whole time, haven't you? For years, you lied to me, then the second you get the chance you stab me in the back."

Bonnie reached for him, but Enzo wrenched out of her grasp. "We're so sorry…this wasn't about hurting you, it just happened." She cried.

He glared at her. "Things like this don't just happen, Bonnie! How long has this been going on?"

"Two months." She responded meekly.

Enzo scoffed. "Well, it didn't take you long, did it? God, I can't even look at you…" he mumbled miserably, before turning to Damon. "And you…we're through." He nearly growled. "You were my best friend; you were like a brother to me. Now you're nothing." He seethed.

Damon felt his words like a blow to his chest. "Enzo, please just let me explain." He tried to stop him from leaving but Enzo responded with a punch across his face, earning a gasp from Bonnie.

Damon took the hit respectfully, knowing he probably deserved worse, and didn't raise his gaze to meet Enzo's heated glare. He had a finger pointed in his face. "I don't want to hear anything you have to say. You're dead to me." He pushed past him, and a few moments later, the door slammed.

"Are you okay?" Bonnie rushed to Damon, reaching up to touch his jaw, but he stopped her by grabbing her wrist and slipping away down the hall. "Damon?" she called out after him, following him back int the bedroom. She watched him for several moments while he stared out the window, his back rigid with tension. "What was he even doing here?" She asked with a wobble in her tone.

Damon huffed a laugh as he turned back to her. "He came here to talk about you." He snapped. "To vent to me about this guy you're seeing; asking his friend for advice on how to deal with it, completely oblivious to the fact that I'm the guy, Bonnie!" he yelled, pointing a finger into his own chest. "I did the one thing I promised myself I'd never do, and I let my feelings for you affect my friendship with Enzo and now everything is fucked!" He slammed his hand on the wall, making the painting rattle and Bonnie jump.

"This isn't your fault, Damon." She reassured him coming closer.

"Of course it is!" he retorted with an incredulous glare. "Because I'm weak; the second you showed up here I should have sent you packing. I knew what was going to happen but I did it anyways because I'm so fucking in love with you that I couldn't say no." His chest heaved as he pinned her with a stony glare. "And you knew that, didn't you?"

Bonnie reeled back. "What?" Her brows furrowed in a betrayed disbelief. "You actually think I came to you that night to manipulate you into sleeping with me? It couldn't possibly be because I actually care about you!" she yelled back at him, her eyes narrowing.

He threw his arms out. "Why now!? You never did before! No, you just wanted a taste of that 'something more' and you knew I'd give it to you." He was getting increasingly angrier, more with himself than anything.

Tears tracked her cheeks. "You think I never cared about you? I always cared about you, Damon, but you pushed me out; every time I tried to get to know you, be your friend, try to connect with you, you kept me out of reach. And I get it…I know why you did, but don't tell me I didn't try!" She released a deep sigh, and wiped her tears, walking over and wrapping her arms around, resting her head on his chest. "Let's just take the day, and we can talk about this tonight when you get back, okay?"

Damon rested his chin on the top of her head, hating himself for what he was about to say. "Maybe you should just go home." He felt her stiffen in his arms and he kept his gaze on a spot on the wall. "Maybe this whole thing was a mistake."

She pulled back with hurt in her eyes. "You don't mean that." He didn't respond. "So that's it? What happened to not wanting to lose me?"

He extracted himself from her arms. "You were never really mine to lose." He waked around her, leaving her stunned in her spot. "I have to get to work." He mumbled doing up his shirt and grabbed his keys, wallet and phone from the kitchen counter, and with a hollowness in his heart, he left.

…

Three Weeks Later:

When Damon had gotten home that night, Bonnie was gone, as so was every trace of her in his apartment. Since then, he hadn't spoken to her or Enzo, despite his best efforts. Enzo never answered his texts or calls, he refused to answer the door, and of course when it all came out, he ended up getting the cold shoulder from his friends as well. Bonnie was silent too. He had reached out to her one night, days later telling her that if he ever had a chance of gaining Enzo's forgiveness, he'd have to let her go. It wasn't one of the hardest things he'd ever had to do. So, Damon resigned himself to his fate; alienated by his friends, racked with guilt and feeling incredibly lonely with Bonnie's absence.

Bonnie was also having a hard time dealing with the guilt, which is what brought her to her old apartment, waiting for Enzo to open the door. She could hear him on the other side after she knocked, and waited as he debated on whether or not to answer it. "Enzo, please…we need to talk."

Seconds later, the lock opened and he appeared on the other side, looking a little worse for wear. His beard was growing in, and his hair was disheveled. "What do you want?"

"Can I come in?" she asked nervously, and she stepped in as he opened the door for her. "Thank you." She followed him into the living room, and sat on the couch opposite of him. "Look, I know you probably hate me right now, and Damon too, but please don't hold this against him."

"How can I not, Bonnie? What he did is unforgiveable."

She sighed. "It wasn't just him. I started this." Taking a moment to collect herself, Bonnie wringed her hands as she started from the beginning. "I kissed him. I was drinking and I wasn't thinking and I just did it. Damon was the one that stopped it, because he didn't want to hurt you. And after we broke up, I went to him. It wasn't supposed to be anything. I thought, maybe I could just get him out of my system…" She could tell Enzo was getting uncomfortable, his eyes darting everywhere but at her. "But I couldn't. I'm so sorry…" she pleaded with him.

His jaw set taut. "So, what is it with him? Just sex; a bit of cold comfort? Or do you have feelings for him?" The words were strained, but managed to force them out, meeting her eyes finally.

Bonnie swallowed. "Do you want the truth?" Her heart hammered in her chest.

"Yes."

Tears polled in her eyes, and she shrugged helplessly. "I love him. He just kind of snuck up on me." She breathed out as he dropped his head. "We never wanted to hurt you, and I know we made a mistake in how we handled this, but please try to forgive him. He needs you, and I know you need him too."

"Damon made his choice." He grumbled. "He chose you."

Bonnie shook her head. "No, he didn't." Enzo's gaze snapped to hers. "He may love me Enzo…but I think he loves you more. You're family to him…and he doesn't have much family left." She whispered, choking back tears. Damon and Stefan had lost both of their parents before the end of high school in a car accident and Enzo had promised them that they would always have a family with him. She stood, kissing the top of his head. "Please think about it."

She left shortly after, leaving Enzo to his pensive thoughts.

…

When Damon wasn't working, he was drinking. What was it Bonnie called it? Taking up an unhealthy drinking habit to cope with the problems they refused to face? Yup, that sounded about right. He was just settling in when there was a knock at his door, and he heaved a deep sigh, contemplating on whether he cared enough to answer.

"Damon, open the door, I know you're in there. I can hear the tv." Enzo's voice carried through, and Damon shot up to answer it.

"Hey." He greeted quietly. "I'm surprised to see you here. I thought you didn't want to talk to me."

Enzo nodded. "I don't but I need to know something. Can I come in?"

Damon moved aside. "Yeah, of course. Drink?"

"Yeah…" Damon poured him a whiskey and one for himself and they stood awkwardly in the kitchen. "Where's Bonnie?" Enzo asked cautiously.

Damon huffed out a breath. "Your guess is as good as mine. I haven't spoken to her in weeks." There was a brief silence, before he continued with pleading sincerity. "Look, Enzo, it's over with Bonnie, okay? I fucked up; I know that. I should have never allowed anything to happen with her. Which is why I will stay away, if that's what you want." He promised with pain behind his words. It killed him to let Bonnie go when he was so close to having her, but if he wanted to earn back his friends trust, then this was the sacrifice he had to make.

Enzo was silent, taking a big sip of his whiskey. "How did you do it?"

Damon hung his head. "I wasn't thinking straight-"

"No." he cut him off. "How did you sit back for eleven years watching the woman you love with someone else? How could you listen to me talk about her and not hate me?" His words were low, and genuinely curious.

"It wasn't easy." Damon admitted, tossing back the rest of his whiskey. "But you're like a brother to me, and I wanted you to be happy. And I wanted her to be happy too." He said dropping his gaze to the bottom of his glass. "That made it easier."

Enzo nodded. "And were you ever going to tell me?"

"Yes…I just-" Damon struggled with finding the words. "I knew that whatever was going on between us, wasn't going to last. And I just wanted to enjoy it while it did. You have to know how sorry I am."

"I know." Enzo huffed as he wiped a hand over his face. "I should be livid with you. I should hate you for lying to me about it…but I can't." Hope filled Damon's eyes. "I'm not saying I forgive you; not yet…but I'll get there." In a gesture of reassurance, he clapped Damon on the shoulder before finishing his drink. "Bonnie stopped by the day. She's the reason I'm here. You should call her…I think you'd want to hear what she has to say." He advised softly. Enzo couldn't help but feel sympathetic. Damon willing gave up the woman he loved, not knowing she loved him too, and even though he was angry…Enzo wanted him to be happy too. Because that's what family is…wanting the happiness for the ones you love, even if it hurts you.

Damon stared on in surprise, as Enzo walked out of his apartment. This was not how he expected this to go. He thought that he'd come for a fight, or to yell at him, but not this. What could Bonnie have said to Enzo that brought him here? What would she say to him? It was too much to think about right now.

It would take Damon a couple of days to get up the nerve to go see her. And he wasn't surprised by the icy welcoming Caroline gave him when she answered the door.

"Stefan's not home." She snapped; arms crossed.

He leveled her with a short-tempered stare. "I'm not here for Stefan, Caroline."

"Well, there's no one else here for you so, bye." She stared closing the door, but Bonnie, walked up behind her and pulled it back open.

She shot her friend a tired look. Caroline was a great friend; she was always ready to go to bat for the ones she cared about, but it could be a bit overbearing at times. "It's fine, Care." Her eyes landed on Damon and she smiled. "Can you give us a minute?" Caroline didn't move. "Please?"

With a scoff, the blonde turned and went back in the house, while Bonnie stepped out onto the porch. "It's good to see you." She said softly, leaning against the pillar.

Damon nodded nervously. "It's good to see you too. I hope you don't mind me just dropping in…"

"Not at all." She bit down on her lip, casting her gaze to the ground. "I missed you."

That brought a smile to his face. "I missed you too. Um…Enzo came to see me the other day. I think one day we might be able to salvage our friendship. I suppose I have you to thank for that."

A blushing smile pulled on her lips. "I may have given him a little push. But I'm happy for you. I know how much he means to you, and I didn't want to be the thing that ruined that."

He took a step closer to her. "He said something else that's got me thinking. He said that I'd want to hear what you have to say." Bonnie blinked, taken off guard with realization and she shifted her stance. "What is he talking about, Bon?" he asked gently.

"Damon…" She fought her emotions, torn between her heart and her head. Her head was telling her to make something up. But her heart was saying 'tell him. Tell him and let yourself be happy.'

Damon grabbed her hand, running the pad of his thumb over her knuckles. "Listen, you don't have to say anything…I knew what this was."

She shook her head, looking up at him. "No, I don't think you do. When I came to you that night, I felt something. I thought that maybe you just got under my skin and I'd get over it. And then I didn't." she continued passionately with more confidence as everything became clearer to her. "I was looking for something more, Damon. I was looking for happiness and passion. I wanted someone who appreciated me, made me feel special and loved." She grabbed his other hand and held them both tightly. The way Damon was looking at her was like he was completely entranced by her and she never felt surer of anything. "I wanted to fall in love. And I did…with you."

A brilliant smile lit up his face, and he found himself laughing with elation. Bonnie's laugh mingled with his and he cradled her face between his hands as he silenced her with a heated kiss. "Is this really happening, right now?" he asked her breathlessly, resting his forehead on hers. She nodded, as she caught her breath, feeling dizzy from his kiss. There was something about the way he kissed her that made her lose every thought in her brain. "I need to get you home…now." He growled playfully, widening his blue eyes at her enticingly.

Bonnie glanced over her shoulder to the door and she giggled as Damon hoisted her over his shoulder and carried her off to his car. As he walked away, Bonnie noticed Caroline peeking through the blinds, and shot her a cheerful wave. It was time to stop caring what everyone else thought, and let herself be happy. And for the first time in a long time…she knew exactly what that was.

…

AN: Sorry this one took so long to post. I had to do a couple re-writes on it, so I hope you are all happy with the end result. I know that some people feel for Enzo, I do too. But sometimes love makes you do crazy things. Anyways, thanks for sticking with me! - Vanessa