AN: Sorry for the long wait everyone! I was out for a girl's trip, but to make up for it, I got some great content for you! This chapter is rated M for mature themes 😉 There are some things that will be revealed in this chapter too, so I hope that clears up some questions. Enjoy! - Vanessa

Silhouettes – Part VIII

Mystic Falls 1864:

"What do you mean you won't do it, Emily?" Katherine demanded with a snarl. "We had a deal."

The witch held her stare steadfastly, with a narrowed, sly glint. "I will not help you, Katherine. I'm afraid you've used your last favor. You're lucky I even let you walk away alive."

Katherine changed tactics. "Emily, please. I need this! You know how long I've waited." She begged, forcing the tears to fill her eyes. "Don't do this to me!"

She was unaffected by the manipulation. "I have an obligation to my family. I cannot allow myself to engage in magicks that sinister. I will make sure you get out of that church as planned, but that is the limit of my loyalty to you. It would be wise if you never return." She advised cryptically.

The crestfallen look on Katherine's face disappeared, replaced with one of indignation. "Is that a threat? Oh, don't tell me you're still sour about Damon?" she added with a malevolent excitement. "I told you it wasn't anything personal; you know how I feel about a feud between brothers…" she drawled with a gloved hand pressed to her chest elegantly. "I simply cannot help myself."

To her credit, Emily did not waver, instead an expecting smile pulled on her lips. "I have long since been surprised by your devious ways. One day they will catch up to you." With her chin tilted high, Emily brushed passed the vampire, grazing her shoulder intentionally.

…

It was late, but Bonnie couldn't sleep. Stefan was staying the night at Elena's, leaving the boarding house quiet. Then she heard it; the soft melody of piano keys floating through the house and upstairs. Throwing the blankets off her legs, Bonnie padded barefoot downstairs in her tank top and shorts, following the music into the parlor room.

She was pleasantly surprised to see Damon sitting at the Steinway rosewood grand piano, which she was sure was older that he was; yet it was pristine. She walked in, sitting next to him on the bench, her back to the piano and he graced her with a welcoming smile as his fingers continued along the ivory keys. "I didn't know you played piano."

He nodded. "My mother insisted on it. I think she thought it was my way of escaping this place."

Bonnie realized that he rarely spoke of his childhood, and she was curious to know more. "You're talented! Why didn't you?"

Damon scoffed a laugh. "Stefan. I couldn't leave him and my mother alone with my father. He was abusive and a drunk…not a good combination. But if he was taking it out on me, he wasn't taking it out on them." He answered, plagued with the memories of his past. The man was dead, yet the impact he had on him left deep seeded scars that still ached after all these years. It hardened his heart and told him he wasn't worthy of his respect, and Damon carried that with him for nearly two centuries.

She watched him, her eyes flitting over his face, seeing the somber expression pull on his brows. He was so much more than what meets the eye. When she met him, Bonnie thought he was arrogant, and glib and cared about no one but himself. But evidently, he was the opposite. He had insecurities just like the rest of them, and he was haunted by a past that was still causing damage. "You're a good son…and brother."

His lips quirked in an ironic smirk. "I wouldn't go that far. I've done a lot of things to Stefan to prove otherwise. I still got a lot to make up for."

Bonnie placed her hand on his thigh, and he faltered in keeping up with the keys as he glanced at her. There was a reassuring smile on her face. "No time like the present." Her hand trailed away as she stood, and he turned watching as she walked to the record player, flipping through until she found a record she liked and carefully placed it on, dropping the stylus down slowly. "Hey…how full is your dance card?" She turned back to him with a secretive smirk, and he gracefully stood.

"At this time of night? Packed." He teased, sauntering over like a lion towards his prey; slow, deliberate…eyes burning through her. "But…for a certain someone, I might be willing to clear my schedule." He was standing right in front of her now, forcing her to look up at him.

"Dance with me?" Her eyes carried a warmth in them, and a sensuality that was new to the way she looked at him.

"I'd love to." He raised a hand, and she gently raised hers to join with it, linking their fingers together as he pulled her closer. Damon wrapped an arm around her waist, dancing his fingertips along the base of her spine as she rested her other hand on his shoulder.

They moved slowly in a circle, swaying to the sound of Sam Cooke's voice singing 'Bring it on home to me'. Her eyes never left his, and he couldn't help but feel she was trying to tell him something. Damon cocked his head curiously. "What?" She asked with a little chuckle. He hesitated. "It's okay, Damon…you don't have to hide from me." She encouraged. "I don't want you to hold back."

"I'm just trying to figure out how you snuck up on me. I never thought I'd feel this way about anyone and yet…" he swallowed thickly. "I'm so in love with you, Bonnie." He breathed out in amazement, and was pleased to see her smile. "You don't have to say anything…that's not why I'm telling you. I just need you to know that it's real for me."

Her hand trailed down from his shoulder to the taut muscle of his chest. "I do…and one day, I'll be able to say it back. I know I'm falling for you, but I'm scared…because just imagining my life without you in it, hurts." She finished around the lump in her throat. He'd become her rock in a raging ocean, keeping her afloat when she was close to drowning.

The lights flickered, but eased as his hand brushed a curl from her face. "I know the feeling." Gauging her reaction, he leaned in, searching for any sign she wasn't ready, and there wasn't one. In fact, she wet her lips and tilted her head up in anticipation. Damon kissed her slow, savoring the taste of her and cradling her face gently under the loose ringlets of her curls. Her fingers clung to his shirt, pulling him closer as his tongue caressed hers, and it quickly turned passionate. His arms wound around her, one large hand snaking under her tank top up her slender back, and he moaned into her mouth discovering she wasn't wearing a bra.

He trailed his kisses from her lips down her jaw, allowing her to breathe in panting exhales. Bonnie felt like her body was on fire at his touch, his mouth working down the column of her neck. It should have terrified her; having a vampire so close to her jugular, but knowing it was Damon sent a bolt of excitement between her legs. The light bulbs in the sconces exploded in succession, dimming the lighting in the room significantly. With an amused chuckle, he raised his head to see the bliss on her face; eyes closed, chest heaving, a ghost of a smile on her kiss-stung lips. She was beautiful.

She collected herself as he pulled back, and her jade green eyes met with his heatedly. Without a word, she grabbed his hand, and slowly walked backwards, leading him to the stairs. Damon followed completely helpless to resist. She led him up the stairs, unhurriedly, but he could hear her heart pounding against her chest. He knew she was nervous, and so was he, but when they reached his room and she faced him there was determination in her eyes.

Her fingers trembled as she tugged on the hem of her tank top and his hands covered hers. "Bonnie…are you sure about this?" There was nothing he wanted more than to make love to her, and show her exactly how much she meant to him, but this was a big step for her, and he didn't want her to regret it.

"I'm sure. I want this…I want you, Damon." She whispered back confidently, and that was all he needed to hear.

He kissed her again, his hushed words brushing against her lips. "Raise your arms." She did as he asked, and slowly he pulled the tank over her head, appreciating the soft curves of her hips, the dip in her belly button and the dusty brown of her nipples of her supple bare breasts. His breath caught in his throat. "You're so beautiful." She blushed prettily, and self-consciously attempting to cover herself. "No…" he stopped her gently. "You don't have to hide from me either."

Effortlessly, Damon picked her up by her hips, and gently spread her out on his bed appreciating the sight of her half naked before him; hair fanned out around her, her back arched as he dragged a hand between her breasts, down her toned stomach to the hem of her pajama shorts. He could already smell her arousal, and he couldn't wait to make her completely succumb to him. His lips followed his hand, and she was gasping as his nose nuzzled between her legs. No one had ever been this intimate with her before, and as nervous she was, it felt right having Damon be the one to usher her into sexual awakening. Looking down at him, she was surprised to see he was lost in his own lust. His eyes were closed, as he kissed and caressed her hips and thighs and he tugged down her shorts and panties. And now, as they slipped off her ankles, she was completely bare to him, and he was looking at her hungrily.

"Damon?" she questioned, unsure about what he was about to do.

His eyes darted back up to her with an easy smile. "Just relax, I've got you."

…

Katherine sat in the office chair; her heeled feet kicked up on the desk as she fiddled with a pair of mystical orbs. She was a firm believer that if you wanted something done right, you had to do it yourself. Which was why instead of being on the other side of the country, she was back in Virginia paying the professor a little visit.

The door opened, and professor Shaine stopped in surprise at the figure casually lounged in his chair. "Katherine Pierce." He breathed in fascination, laced with fear.

"Atticus. Do you mind if I call you Atticus? I feel like it's time we officially met. You see, I'm not a big fan of being blown off, and I thought that was better expressed in person." She snapped with a nasty smirk. Gracefully and all in one movement, Katherine pulled her legs down and stood, tossing and catching one of the orbs in the air as she approached him.

He held his hands up, realizing what she held and rambled out in a panic. "Please be careful with those! Those are ancient relics extracted from the tomb of the Egyptian God Osiris! They are over four thousand years old!"

Katherine tossed one up and let it smash to the floor. "Maybe you shouldn't have been using them as paperweights." She ignored his devastated look and stepped over the shattered pieces. "Where is he?"

"I don't know; he doesn't exactly share his schedule with me." He retorted in anger. The vampire advanced, baring her fangs. "Do you know how hard it is to keep track of a two-thousand-year-old immortal witch?"

She poked a slender finger into his chest, which had him staggering back. "You listen to me; I didn't help you wake up Silas just so he could ride off into the sunset without giving me what I want. I did my part, now you need to do yours before my hands start to get slippery." She tossed him the other orb, and he caught it frantically as she slipped passed him. "Get him here, Shaine!" she called over her shoulder as she strode out the door.

…

Damon watched her stir as the sun shone through the blinds, illuminating her face, and catching the lighter strands of her curls. She had a lazy smile on her face, obviously sated from last night's activities. Her eyes opened, squinting against the sun. "Good morning…" she ducked her face shyly into the pillows.

It amazed him how she could be shy after he's seen her so intimately. He grinned, caressing the side of her face adoringly. "Morning. How're you feeling?"

She stretched, letting the sheet slip over her breasts, just barely revealing her nipples to him. "Sore in places I didn't even know had muscles." She giggled and he chuckled along with her, dropping his head to her shoulder, and covering her in affectionate kisses. "But great." She added, meeting his gaze with a starry-eyed wonder. "Last night was…something else." She giggled again as the memories flashed in her mind.

A proud grin spread across his face. "It sure was. So…" He trailed his fingertips over her arm, jumping to her hip, and down her thigh, causing goosebumps to raise to the surface. "Does this make us official now, or do I have to change my status on Facebook or something?" he teased with a lazy roll of his eyes.

Bonnie's head tipped back with laughter. "You have Facebook?"

"No…" he snaked an arm around her hip, pulling her closer to him and nuzzling his face in her neck. "But if that's what it takes…" he sing-songed, muffled by her skin.

Bonnie pulled back, tracing her fingertips over his cheekbones, and over his full lower lip. "I wouldn't torture you that way. You'd hate it." She chuckled.

"I would." He agreed with a snicker. "But there are a lot of things I'd tolerate…for you." He added seriously.

Biting her lip coyly, her eyes pierced right through him. "Yes…yes this makes us official." She caught the clock on the nightstand beside him, her eyes widening. "And I'm officially late for school." Bonnie stated pointedly, making a move to get up.

A big boyish grin dimpled his cheeks, and he rolled on top of her, cradled between her supple thighs. "Well, as your boyfriend, I don't think I can let you leave this bed for at least another…four hours." He nuzzled his nose against hers.

She ran her fingers through his raven locks, brushing the curls that fell to his forehead. "Four hours? That's ambitious." She teased.

He ground his hips into hers, allowing her to feel his length bare and hard against her opening. "What can I say…I'm an overachiever." She was already gasping, baring her neck as her head tipped back.

When he slowly eased himself inside her, she let out a drawn-out moan, meeting his hips. Her heated gaze locked back on him, and Bonnie threw her arms around his neck. "School's overrated anyways."

…

Elena followed Stefan into the boarding house later that day. "I can't help but be worried, Stefan. She's not answering my calls, she didn't show up to class today, and Caroline hasn't heard from her either. I'm allowed to be worried."

Stefan turned to her, almost amused by her fretting. "Not to state the obvious, but maybe she's with Damon."

The thought of the growing relationship between her friend and her boyfriend's brother was still off-putting, but Stefan helped her put things into perspective. During his ripper days, it was Damon that tried to pull him back from the edge. And when Stefan did nothing but disappoint him, Damon still stood by him until he was back on track. So, when his brother faltered, Stefan was there for him the same way. People can change, and obviously Bonnie believed that he had or she wouldn't be so trusting…right? Elena could only hope.

"Even if she was, you'd think she at least call me back." She responded with a resigned pout. Her head shot up, when the trill of laughter made its way down the hall from the stairs.

Bonnie and Damon came into the front room, shoulder to shoulder and laughing about a secret joke. "Oh, hey guys!" she smiled easily.

"Bonnie…" Elena's eyes swung to Stefan, who was looking smug. "You're here. I thought you were coming into school today."

She bit down on her lips, hiding a smirk. "I mean I was planning to but…"

"She was otherwise…occupied." Damon commented, a roughish smirk twisting his mouth. He didn't bother dodging Bonnie's playful slap of his chest.

Stefan bit back his own amusement. "Well, I guess it's a good thing we weren't here last night." He mumbled, leaning down to whisper by his girlfriend's ear.

Elena's eyes widened as she glanced back at her. "No…you're joking, right?" she chuckled nervously.

The witch shrugged. "What?" She chuckled breezily, completely unbothered. "Why are you the only one that gets to have hot vampire sex; because it was…hot. Really hot." She added daring a heated look at Damon.

He raised his brows at her happily. "So, I assume we're telling people now."

Bonnie straightened, filled with confidence. "Yeah…I guess we are. Elena, Damon and I are together now, and if you don't like it…I don't really care." The words tumbled out of her mouth with a chuckle, feeling freer than ever. She was enjoying this side of herself. She didn't feel weighed down by the people around her, and she was happy, for the first time in what seemed like years. Her body was basically humming, and she felt like nothing could break her good mood.

Elena followed after Bonnie, as she padded barefoot into the kitchen. Only now did she notice her friend's attire; a pair of spandex shorts and a loose-fitting black v-neck. Only now did she recognize it as Damon's favorite Varvatos shirt. "Bonnie wait!" The witch turned to her friend expecting another lecture but was surprised when Elena offered her a gentle smile. "Look, I don't understand it…but I see the way you are with him, and the way that he looks at you; its clear that he's totally crazy about you, and if he makes you happy, then I'm happy for you."

Bonnie nodded. "He does. More than I thought I could be. He kind of snuck up on me, you know? One minute I hated him and the next…I couldn't stand being away from him. He got in somehow…and I don't really let people in, Elena." Bonnie admitted contentedly before eying Elena curiously. "So, what made you change your mind?"

"I realized I'm not in any place to judge Damon on his past. Stefan wasn't perfect. He did some terrible things too, but if he can change…then I guess so can Damon." Stefan had been reluctant to share his more sinister side, but in an effort to defend his brother, he let her read his journals. It had been a shock to say the least.

Bonnie engulfed Elena in a tight hug. "Thank you. It means a lot to me. I know Caroline is going to be a bit harder to convince." She added wearily.

Elena smiled as she pulled back. "Probably, but she loves you, just like I do, so she'll come around. Now…you have to tell me everything!" she exclaimed excitedly.

…

Two weeks later:

"Seriously?!" The blonde screeched from their booth in the corner of the Grill.

Elena gave her a look. "Caroline, be nice."

Caroline scoffed, crossing her arms. "So, I'm just supposed to forget the fact that he's a raging lunatic?"

Bonnie sighed, but looked at her with a calmness she didn't have before when dealing with her judgmental friend. "I'm not asking you to forget. But he's not the man he was when he first came here. He's changed…and he's been there for me." Caroline's lips twisted as she glanced away in thought. "I care about him a lot, Caroline. All I'm asking is that you support me in my choice…please?"

"Well, when you pull that card…it's not like I can say no." she conceded with a reluctant smile, her eyes rolling skyward. "Fine! You have my blessing or whatever. I thought you two were just doing it; I didn't think it was that serious."

Bonnie couldn't help the grin that cracked her face and dimpled her cheeks. "It is."

Out of the corner of her eyes, Elena caught Stefan sauntering in, and heading to the bar. "Um, I'll be right back." She slipped out of the booth and draped her arms around him, kissing his shoulder as she stood beside him. "Hey…I thought you were with Damon tonight."

He stared at her for a moment before smiling back. "I was, but he had some errands to run." His eyes drifted to the girls in the booth. "Girl's night?"

"Yeah, Bonnie is finally telling Caroline about her and Damon. She's been dreading it the last couple weeks for obvious reasons."

His brow furrowed as he commented. "Because of the compulsion."

She nodded. "Among other things." Elena leaned in to whisper. "I think she loves him, but she's afraid to admit it. I mean, I've never seen Bonnie look at someone the way she looks at Damon." She chuckled. "It's kind of adorable."

He looked over at the witch, and little smile curling his lips. "It really is."

"So, are you coming by later tonight? Jenna's staying on campus tonight, and Jeremy is at a friend's house. We have the whole house to ourselves." She coaxed, looking at hm from under her lashes.

"How can I say no." he smirked back, leaning down to kiss her soundly.

She was breathless when he pulled away, nearly stumbling on her feet. "Wow…um, well I should get back, but I'll see you later?" He nodded and with a blush she tucked her hair behind her ear before heading back to the booth.

"You certainly will Elena." He mumbled to himself, watching her go with a gleam in his eye.