A.N. Hey all! I hope you're all having a wonderful summer! Thanks for reading, replying and rocking with this story! Enjoy!
"I could never describe the way I love you...the way I loved you."
Chapter 37: Nothing lasts forever, even for a vampire
The next morning, I awake to the sound of someone knocking feverish at the door. Rolling over I run smack dab into Caroline which was a throwback to the days when we had slumber parties and all stayed in the same bed. Thinking back now, everything seemed so much more simpler. We were young, and the idea of vampires, witches and werewolves was that of rumblings, or horror movies. We were happy and content, it something I missed greatly.
Opening my eyes, I blow my hair out of my face and look over to my bestie, who even as a human slept like the dead, now it was nearly impossible to get her up...well unless she smelled fresh food. Crawling out of bed, I make my way over to the door, opening it all but a crack, as I'm ready to tell whoever is at the door to keep going. It's only when I realize whose at the door that I stand up a little straighter.
Standing in front of me, is non other than Damon, looking more nervous than I had ever seen him. He's wearing black jeans which, is typical. It's his shirt that surprises me, it's a crisp light blue shirt that makes his eyes pop. "Hey." He smirks leaning against the door.
"Damon, hi!" I say surprised that he was up but then again, he was up with the chickens on most days. Forget the fact that he was on his deathbed mere hours before or that he had been rendered human by a crazy man and a bored woman. Vampire blood always cured everything up.
"Long night?" He asks his eyes running all over me.
I nod. "You have no idea." I say cheerful. "But it was well worth it." Pause. "Shouldn't you be resting?" I ask eyebrows furrowed, my hip sticking out to the side.
He sticks his boot clad foot in the crack of the door opening it up without much effort. "I should be," Smolder. "But I couldn't stop thinking about you and us." Pause. "So, I'm here." He says with a smirk.
I tilt my head to the side. "We agreed that you were going to take it easy while in this form." I remind him, my eyes traveling the length of him, only for Damon to grab a hold of my hand and hold it over his heart.
This was the part where butterflies would normally soar in my stomach, my face would get warm and I'd swear that Damon was playing games but this time around, I knew better and my heart wasn't in it, not like it use to be. We waited to long.
"I'm fine." He says laying his hand on mine. "You feel that right?" He says suddenly. "It's my heart beating and right now, it's beating for you."
I flick my eyes up to meet his, slowly removing my hand as to not hurt his feelings. "I just– I just want you to be ok." I say my words coming out in a stutter. Things were different now, the way he looked at me was different. Now when I looked up at him, I kept hearing him say I love you Bon, I'm in love with you. And those words changed everything. Especially for someone like me who just wanted to be loved...really loved.
He smiles a genuine smile. "Hey," He says his voice as low as a whisper. "I'm okay, and that's thanks to you. And I know you're going to say that everything worked out because of other people, but your voice..." Swallow. "It was you, that brought me back." He says with so much emotion.
I push my hair out of my face. Shying away from the topic but more importantly the emotions behind it. "I don't know what to say."
He steps forward. "Don't say anything, just come out with me, have breakfast and bask in my hotness." Smile.
I wipe my face, as a smile falls onto my lips. "Okay. Give me an hour."
He smiles walking back. "One hour. See you then."
"Damon." I call out quickly needing to get these words out. When he turns around he's got this look in his eyes that I want to shy away from but instead I stand tall, tilt my head up and look him straight in the eyes. "You're my best friend, no matter what, I will always stand with you."
Damon reaches out now that the door is open and touches my face. "And I will never leave you." Grin. He reaches out for my other hand as we do our secret hand shake. "You and I are in this together, all the days of our lives." He says letting go of my hand. He walks away this time whistling a tune as he heads down the hallway.
Closing the door, I turn around to see Caroline sitting up looking my way. "What are you gonna do?"
I whirl around to face her. "That, is to be determined." I say as my phone flashes on the table.
It was now or never, I needed to make a decision and the right decision for me.
SS-SS-SS
Stefan
Sitting in a coffee house, he tried to wrap his mind around the latest events. Pen in hand, he's poised to write down his every thought. When he had originally sent for Elena, the plan had been to convince Damon that coming home was his best option. In fact, he was positive that everything would fall into place once Damon had seen Elena. That however, was not how everything went down.
Though his brother had been telling him, subtly so, that he was no longer in love with Elena. To actually hear, Damon utter the words not just to him but to say them to Elena had been a shock for the ages. What was even worst was, a big part of him wanted to console his one time love. He had wanted to make it better for her, because that was what he did whenever she needed him. But sitting alone now, he realized that was no longer his role in her life. Damon had spoken his truth, he basked in his truth and for the first time in months his brother was living in his truth. And that truth had been that Damon was in love with Bonnie and had been for a very long time.
Holding up his mug, he's seconds away from taking a sip of coffee when a familiar scent hits his nose. Seconds later he's greeted with the sight of Lucy Bennett. She doesn't notice him, not that he'd expect her to say anything at all. He hadn't been on his best behavior with her or Vincent and if the withering looks she gave him last night was any insight to her feelings about him, then he had a lot of work to do.
Hazel eyes watch her as she walks into the coffeehouse, unaware of all the attention she gaining just by being present. Her hair is piled high above her head in messy bun. She's got on a white tank that she fills out nicely, and tight jeans that fit her like a glove. On her feet are boots that he just knows she's stuck in the chest of plenty men who were unworthy of her time.
He listens as she orders a matcha iced tea with, almond milk, three pumps of vanilla and four pumps of brown sugar. The pen he had been holding once to write now is his newest chew toy as he waits for the perfect moment.
It's only when she's finished ordering does he finally make his presence known. "Funny running into you here!"
She lets out a sigh but never dares to look his way. "And here I thought, I'd never have to see or hear you again." She says finally flashing honey brown eyes his way. "Pity."
He chuckles, which is a first for him in a very long time. "Would you care to sit, it's kind of crowded here and you may be waiting an awful long time?"
The brown-skinned witch reply to his suggestion is to look at her phone, and continue typing something a smirk on her lips. Once finished she places the device in her back pocket. "I'd rather walk on glass barefoot, while doing the hula hoop and chewing rusty nails."
He snorts at the dramatics of it all. "So I'm that bad?"
She sends him a withering look and a glare this time and then goes back to looking elsewhere.
He hums. "And most people say I'm the better brother."
She turns her head back to look at him, sizing him up. He can feel the heat of her glare which somehow tickles him pink. "Those people clearly are idiots." She snorts. "I've heard plenty about your dirty deeds. The only difference between you and your brother is that your brother just happens to be my cousins bff, she cares about him which means he's tolerable." She huffs. "You sir, I wouldn't spit on if you were on fire."
He sits back in his chair. "Wow, that's just wow." He says biting back a grin.
She shrugs. "It's all true."
He nods. "Speaking of Damon and Bonnie..." He says playing coy. Lucy gets his hint and soon menders his way, though painfully so.
Once seated, she crosses her legs. "Spit it out."
He's delighted that she's even looking his way. "Damon, he's in love with Bonnie."
"That has been obvious, since Bonnie rolled into town with Damon in tow." Lucy admits.
He continues as if she hasn't spoken. "I never understood it, never condoned them off traveling the world, but after hearing him last night, I know that his heart has been with her for a very long time." He says taking a sip of his lukewarm coffee.
A Barista soon comes by with the drink Lucy ordered and a sample of scones, doughnut holes and a croissant. The bronze beauty only sends a stunning smile accepting the gracious sample.
Turning her attention back to him, she gets down to the point. "What does this have to do with me?"
He places his elbow on the table leaning forward a little bit. "Elena is hurt right now, and she has a tendency to make things worse when she's emotional."
Lucy picks up her drinks and sips from the straw. "Listen, I don't care about Elena, you just need to make sure you tell her if she comes after Bonnie then she'll get some of me to."
"What about Klaus?" He asks suddenly. "I noticed he hasn't been around? I know for a fact that he fights dirty. Do you know if he has anything planned for Damon?"
Standing up, she gets a hold of her bag. "First of all, don't think you can pump me for information. Secondly, Klaus does what he wants as he always does. Thirdly, whatever is going on or will go on between Bonnie and Damon or Bonnie and Klaus has nothing to do with us." She says getting ready to walk away. "Sometimes you just have to let people live, and love em for it."
With that the bronze beauty heads for the door. "Lucy." He calls after her.
"Goodbye Stefan, I truly hope this is our final encounter for a very long time." Lucy says offering him peace fingers as she walks away completely.
He watches as she walks out the door and passes his booth through the window, thinking to himself not a chance.
KM-KM
Klaus
He had spent the night with his favorite two people camping under the stars. Marcel had set everything up and it worked on keeping his mind off of Bonnie. She had sent him messages, messages that he had read but refused to answer. Now that Hope had gone back home with Haley and Marcel was out living his life, he was left alone. Elijah who was still stuck in his own head was placed in his very special coffin in the basement.
Now he was all alone, till the sound of clicking heels sounds and he knows it's his sister.
"You just missed Marcel." He slurs, his cup filled with Brandy.
Rebekah dressed in all black has her arms crossed in front of her chest. "I came here to see you."
"I don't need a baby sitter." He snaps holding the glass so hard he hears cracking sounds before it burst in his hand.
"Fine!" Rebekah says throwing her hands up in the air. "I came to check on Elijah."
"He's in the basement." He says walking to the liquor cabinet. He looks at each bottle realizing that they needed to restock it soon, he was running low.
Rebekah gets ten feet away before she stops and turns back around. "Have you heard from Bonnie?"
His tone is morose. "She's texted me, I read words, but it's obvious...she's going back to M.F., back to her life with them...back with Damon." He says as unaffected as possible.
"Klaus," Rebekah says comfortingly. "You don't know that. In fact I would bet money that she's coming back here for you. I've seen you two together– what you two have is special...it means something to you and to her."
He bites his lip. "She begged me to save him." He says laughing madly. "And I did it for her and she's with him right now." He says drinking from the decanter. He can hear the ghost of Mikael laughing in his ears. Mikael always said he would never be enough for anyone, not anyone who was really worth it and his father had been right.
"This place smells like a brewery did you start tossing them back once Marcel and Hope left?" She asks looking at him. He only holds up the decanter. "I think you've had enough."
A low growl leaves his mouth. "Don't manage me Bekah."
"Fine!" She wipes her face. "Just talk to her and if you don't want to talk to her just wait till she gets here before you do anything."
He shakes his head. "No! It's over whatever it was, it's over now." He says resolute in his voice. "Why drag it out, when we both know the truth."
She tilts her head to the side. "You don't mean that Klaus."
"I do." He yells. "And if by some miracle she does return I'll make sure it's over for her as well. She'll never want to come this way again."
Not liking the sound of his words she speeds over to him. "Don't do this, whatever you have planned don't tear down what you've built out of anger and on a whim."
He smiles now. "It's too late, she started this I'll end it." He says determined. "Have fun catching up with Elijah, though I think he's trapped somewhere between the red door, Tatia all her ancestors and every other woman he's failed."
With that he walks out the door. "Lock up will you." He tosses over his shoulder. His intentions were clear, and reckless, a trait he fell back in whenever his hopes were dashed.
EG-EG-EG
Elena
She had told herself that by morning she would pack her shit and leave this awful town, this place where the man she risked it all for had dared to tell her that he loved another woman! But when morning came, and she lay in bed alone, a sheet covering her head, she knew that– this could not be how it ended for her and Damon.
That of course meant, she did what any other girl in this situation would do. She hopped out of bed, took a quick shower and dressed to remind Damon of the woman he fell in love with and why he fell in love with her.
Grinning she pushed her long hair back off her shoulder. It was straight now, the dress she wore was a sun dress one that exuded innocence. Damon was tired of the same ole same ole. That was why he was running to Bonnie. He wanted Bonnie, loved Bonnie for everything that Bonnie was that she was not. Well, she'd give Bonnie a run for her money.
Rushing out of her room she runs smack dab into Lucy Bennett. It's not just Lucy that she see's but it's Stefan that she smells all over the Bennett witch. A wave of nausea hits her fast, followed by a sense of anger that is so hot she thinks for a second the witch has set her on fire.
"Leaving so soon? I mean you didn't even bother to shower, I can still smell Stefan all over you." She asks causing Lucy who has her bags and her friend to look at her a scoff.
"Wow, this all about Stefan, but then again I thought you were in love with his brother but then again, it does run in your family to keep it in their family, now does it?" Lucy smirks.
She can't help but gasp. "You don't get to judge me when your cousin has been plotting at stealing my boyfriend." She rages. "Bonnie has gaslit him to think he's in love with her and not me."
Lucy laughs now tilting her head back. "Oh my god, Katherine was so much more brighter than you are. Gas light yourself all you want, but it won't change the facts." Lucy says gleefully. "You nearly tore Bonnies world apart, you are the reason everything bad has ever happened to her and your boyfriend," Lucy says stepping closer. "He's finally seen the light on how poisonous your bloodline is." She grins. "Like Bonnie he's seen the light and that's all anyone can hope for." Grin. "Peace bitch!" She says holding up the peace sign and then leaving one prominent finger up.
Having heard, smelled and seen enough she's ready to launch into attack mode when Stefan of all people sounds from behind. "Let it go Elena." Stefan says patiently. "Just let it all go."
Turning around she spins on her heel and glares at Stefan. "The way you let me go, you didn't even fight for me when I was leaning toward your brother!" She snaps. "You who were suppose to love me, every version of me."
Stefan places his hands in his pockets and walks closer. "I let you go because that's what you wanted, and that's what you should do for Damon, let him go because you won't change his mind and trying to is futile." Stefan says in that Stefan way that's patient and kind. She only wants to kick him in the teeth. "Sometimes you gotta let people live," He says looking behind Elena at Lucy who was lost in her phone. "A wise woman told me that today."
"Well." Lucy says looking up. "That woman sounds downright brilliant. Now, if you'll excuse us." Lucy says putting her bag on her shoulder. "We've got to go."
"Right." Vincent says taking the bag off of Lucy's shoulder. "The further away from this, the better." The warlock says escorting the bronzed Bennett witch further and further away.
It's not missed that the warlock and Salvatore share a long look which only proves that something is brewing, something that won't end well.
Having witnessed enough she scoffs. "You can stop staring Stefan, she's gone now."
Stefan then turns around and wipes his face. "Elena, move on, it best for everyone." He says walking away leaving her to stand alone.
KM-RM-KM
Klaus
When he gets to the familiar bar, he's not surprised by the closed sign. It'll be a couple hours before she lets the doors open to the restless NOLA bar hopping crowd which consisted of regulars and tourists alike.
Pushing open the door he finds the place mostly empty except for Camille who likes to come in early and set out a menu of personalized drinks for the day. One of the things that makes this place popular aside from the beautiful owner and head bartender was the mere fact that the menu changes everyday and so does the drinks. He knows for a fact that her staff will come in about an hour before opening already knowing the menu and then it's busy, busy, busy till closing. He knows this, because before Bonnie had blown into town stealing all sense he had, captivating him with her sheer beauty and wicked mouth, he had spent his time here flirting with his favorite bar owner/ therapist.
The very last time he had been here it had been a late night, a night where Camille had leaned into a little bit longer than usual and a hell of a lot more often. Her smile had lingered longer and her eyes always caught his. That night, he could've made his move, would've made his move but Bonnie had walked in... and he couldn't help himself.
Flashback
He had known she was in town for a while now. Though they had only shared a brief encounter at the festival, a moment when she fell into him and he grabbed her waist to steady her. He can remember looking into expressive green eyes and then looking down at plump heart shaped lips. It was then he felt the first spark. He knew then that she was trouble wrapped in a delicious package.
That of course doesn't stop him from fantasying about her. If she only knew. Now though he sits at the bar, in his favorite seat grinning at Camille as she grins back at him before disappearing to serve other patrons. It's then that he feels this sort of electricity in the air, it's powerful and all Bennett. Training his ears, he hears Bonnie and her cousin Lucy as they get attention from just about everyone who comes in contact with them. It's Bonnie though that he's listening for, he likes the way her voice sounds, like the familiar sound of her heartbeat and the magic she brings with her.
"Who knew you were such a party animal!" Lucy says as Bonnie leads them to the bar. He turns around to spot her she stands out amongst a bunch of people who are in black and white, while she's in color...technicolor. Bonnie is dressed for the night, wearing a white tank that is snug in all the right places and cut off shorts that make his mouth water.
He turns back around to sip his drink. He still can't wrap his mind around the fact that this was the girl who was the sacrificial lamb, the wallflower that never changed. Though she had always been strong, her magic was untrained. Now magic dripped off of her like it was sweat peppering her body on a hot day.
She pushes through the crowed eager to get to the bar and when she does reach the precious bar, she doesn't even notice him. That gives me him pause because normally, he was the hottest person in here and everyone noticed. Bonnie doesn't even look his way, instead she orders two whisky sours while Lucy spots him.
He finishes his drink annoyed that she hasn't noticed him yet. "Out of all the bars in town you come to this one." He says causing Bonnie to look his way. "Tell me love, are you looking for a real man instead of that man child that follows you around?"
The bartender waste no time preparing her drink and soon Bonnie is passing one to Lucy before downing her own. "When I find a real man, I'll be sure to point him in your direction so you know what that looks like."
"Bon," Lucy calls sensing danger.
"What?" Bonnie says as a song comes on that she likes because soon she's swaying back and forth to the music.
"Play nice." Lucy reminds her through gritted teeth.
Eye roll. "Fine. I'm just kidding, a little bit, maybe...I don't know." Bonnie mumbles before turning back to the bartender. "Two more and put it on his tab." She says with a dazzling smile.
He chuckles, panty melting dimples on display. "Like what you see?"
She chuckles. "Repulsed actually."
Someone from behind pushes her closer to him which gives him a good whiff of her. "You look sweet." He says eyes darting all over her. "Smell even sweeter, I wonder–"
She scowls his way. "Finish that sentence and you will be lit aflame."
He dimples. "So much fire B.B. you know, love, I'm not afraid of the flames."
She turns around sharply back to the crowd still swaying to the beat. "You should be, because you could get burned." He hears her say.
He only dimples yet again. When he's watched her walk out of the bar, he turns back to the bar, to see his drink is on fire.
He can only chuckle.
End flashback
From that night on, he wanted her and he made a vow to himself that he would get her. And he had her, if only for a little while.
"Klaus?" Camille calls snapping her fingers in front of his face and snapping him out of his memory. "What are you doing here?"
He grins causing Cami to look his way flustered. "Are you ok?" She asks slowly.
He looks down. "Maybe I missed this place...or maybe I missed the company." He rattles off.
Camille goes back to looking over her checklist and soon begins setting up the bar with all the drinks she'll need for the night. "Well, you've been preoccupied with having a steady girlfriend." She says her back to him. "How many years has it been since you were with one person only."
He folds his hands in front of him. "It doesn't matter."
Turning back to him she can probably see the rage that he's biting down on. "What's going on, where's Bonnie?"
"I need a drink." He says pointing to the liquor behind her. "Whiskey sour." He rattles off as Camille prepares his drink.
Once it's finished she peers his way. "Now talk." She demands.
"Bonnie says she's with Caroline when really she's with Damon who probably convinced her to move back to Virginia and now she's probably trying to figure out how many days till she's back in Virginia." He says draining his glass.
Cami leans on the bar. "You guys get into a fight?"
He looks past her now. "I wanted her to come home with me, I practically begged her to come home with me and chose me." He says swallowing hard. "Instead she chose Caroline and Damon and even Stefan." He says nodding. "She chose them, when I gave her everything and in the end it wasn't enough...I wasn't enough."
She comes around the bar to sit next to him. "I'm sorry. I know it took a lot to open up to her...to trust her but the good thing is that you came here instead of getting violent in these NOLA streets." Pause. "Are you sure that whatever happen wasn't a misunderstanding?" She asks. "I've seen the two of you together, everyone has and the feelings you have for each other are mutual."
He wipes at his eyes. "I don't want to talk about her anymore."
Seconds later he gets a phone call, looking down he's see's Bonnie smiling at the party he had with her and Hope. He looks at the picture for a while before sending the call to voice mail. Two seconds later a text message pops up. It's a picture of her and Caroline with matching smiles. He wonders if she's fucking with him, she has to be.
"I need a distraction." He says turning his phone over. "Do you want to be my distraction?"
Eye roll. "Fine." She says pushing her hair to the side.
He chuckles. "Don't look so grim, you'll have the time of your life."
"I'm counting on it." She says resting her hand close to his.
His hand rest close but not too close when his phone blares to life once again. It's Bonnie deciding now was the time to tell her to fuck off he picks up the phone call.
"Bonnie–"
"Klaus," she sighs into the phone and he can admit that hearing her voice feels good, the soft timber of it, the raspiness. "I'm so glad you picked up the phone–"
His heart beats at the sound of her voice at her saying his name but he pushes down the elation. "I'm busy right now and I really don't want to talk to you."
"Klaus, we can't just leave it like this."
"I'm hanging up now. Don't call me."
When he gets off the phone he feels like shit. He could hear the hurt in her voice, detect the fact that she had been upset but right now he couldn't deal with her feelings, he was trying to deal with his feelings and then not deal with his feelings.
Camille who had been watching and listening to him, pats his shoulder. "You still need a distraction?"
"Yeah, I heard about this art show, down–"
He doesn't get a chance to finish his words because soon Camille is kissing him and he might just kiss her back.
BB-BB-BB
Bonnie
I knew what I wanted to do upon waking up and finding that, I wasn't back home...back in NOLA and that Klaus wasn't the person I woke up to. I needed to get back home, I needed to see where this thing with Klaus was headed. Even after everything Damon had said, though I was greatly effected by it, I couldn't just let go of everything with Klaus.
Everything was set, I had packed up my things. Caroline had decided that she wanted to come stay with us for a week in NOLA and I had made arrangements for our tickets. Our flight left in four hours which gave us all plenty of time to get everything out in the open.
The café that Damon had chosen was surprisingly a quaint eatery that overlooked the water. What I liked most about it, was the fact that it had such a small town feel to it. Even though I had been traveling for quite some time now, I had always found myself drifting back to things that were familiar. I loved beach communities and places where it felt like it could be your next home.
"You like?" Damon asks startling me as he gets real close to my ear. Turning around, I spot him, he's got a toothy grin on his face and looks pleased with himself.
"Yeah." I grin back. "It reminds me of that place in Venice."
"The place where you couldn't stop eating breakfast for dinner."
"That's the one." I nod.
"Come on, our spot is over here." He says his hand resting on the curve of my back.
Once seated we're seated all but two seconds before a waiter brings out mimosas and plates of food.
I look up at Damon who only shrugs. "I may have put in a special order, for a special girl."
I pick up a fork and start eating my potatoes and eggs. "You and Caroline are going to spoil me."
Damon only hums. "Speaking of Caroline, you guys got in late last night, we didn't get a chance to talk."
Swallowing, I pick up my napkin. "We had a lot to catch up on."
"Like me telling you I was in love with you?" He says causing my eyes to fly up to meet his. "Because I remember saying those words and even now, I still mean them."
I take a sip of my drink. "So we're just going to dive in?" I say dropping my fork down as Damon peers back at me. My hope was to just talk and enjoy breakfast. I wanted to keep things the way it had been, the way we had gotten so familiar with. We were good together, our relationship worked perfectly well the way it was, but nothing lasted forever, even for a witch and a vampire.
"Yep." Damon says scooping up some of his runny eggs with toast. "Raw and unfiltered, that's the kind of people we are." Grin. "So lets get raw."
"A lot has happened in the last couple hours Damon, things that can't be undone." I admit thinking back to Enzo. I didn't regret what I did, I had to do what I had to do, but it was the fact that I felt so numb to everything about it that was troubling.
Knowing my train of thought his eyes soften. "You're talking about Enzo." He deduces. "How are you feeling about that?"
I bite on the inside of my cheek. "I feel numb when it comes to him. But I'd rip his heart out again if it kept the people I care about safe. I have no regrets." I say firmly.
He sits back in his chair. "I wish I had done it, I wish I done it for you– to spare you all of this."
His words were comforting and I knew he meant all of it, in his Damon way of thinking. But in reality I needed to be the one to end things with Enzo finally. I had let things linger far too long. "It was time for me to end that chapter and that story of my life."
A stark look crosses his face. "I guess we both did that yesterday, end a chapter in our lives to move forward." He says his face showing no signs of distress, in fact even though he kind of sort of mentioned Elena, he looked at peace with his decision to end things with Elena.
"You alright?" I ask not being able to help myself.
"Yeah." He says picking up his coffee cup. I watch as he takes a sip savoring the flavor. It's nice to see him enjoying the little things in life, because soon he'll be back to being a vampire and everything will change.
"I know you think everything I said to you was a result of everything that happened and maybe you're right." He says pausing. "Maybe what happened forced me to be honest with myself and with you." He says letting out a breath. He then looks at me with determination, his everything focused on me. "I meant it, when I told you I loved you." He says relief dripping off of him. "I love you, and it's not a fleeting emotion that sprung out of nowhere...it's something I felt and carried with me for a long time." He says so sincerely that I can't help but squirm in my seat. "Bon, what I'm trying to say is that I've known for quite a while that I was in love with you and so has everyone else."
I run my hands though my hair. "I don't even know what to say to that, and you chose now as the time to tell me when I've finally gotten my life together. When I've finally found..." I pause and shake my head, not ready to say the word till it was to the person that needed to hear it most.
Having had enough he hits the table which doesn't surprise me at all because this is Damon after all. "I am not the only one who was trying to run away from it...from us." He says in a harsh whisper after numerous people look our way. "But I'll admit it," He says holding his hands up. "I ran first and I ran far–" He says swallowing hard. "That was why I desiccated."
"What! The fuck Damon!" I say my outburst causing people to look our way yet again. Tired of people looking our way I wiggle my fingers making our conversation private.
When he looks back at me again, this time he has the nerve to look shameful, while I don't know what to think or what to feel about anything.
Placing his hands on the table he speaks again. "I tired to bury it deep, but I couldn't deny it." He says licking his teeth. "That's why I fought so hard to get you back, to get us back on track...I knew I couldn't lose you for good. I knew I needed you in my life even if we were never together."
"I cannot believe this." I say my head spinning. I knew we had mutual feelings for each other, that was true, but I had no idea he had desiccated to get away from it...to get away from me.
"Nor could I believe when I came home and you were dating Enzo! It drove me crazy seeing the two of you together knowing that he got to touch you, and do all the things I wanted to do with you."
I roll my eyes. "Don't." I say sharply. "Up until last night you had a girlfriend, a girlfriend you were willing to sacrifice everyone for. As for Enzo, he's dust now."
He only glares. "I'll admit, I didn't want you with anyone and when I wasn't with Elena I wanted you all to myself. But, that doesn't negate the fact that out of all the men that fawn over you– you chose him...you chose Enzo."
Now it was my turn to get quiet, it wasn't lost of me the fact that I finally gave into the Enzo and his advances once Damon had left town. My friends, my real friends had even talked to me about it the reasoning behind it. And I knew the real reason, I wanted someone who could fill the void of Damon, someone who understood what it felt to be abandon by him. Sighing I spoke. "He...He reminded me of you." I whisper out calm as I look up at him. "And no matter how angry I was with you, I missed you immensely." I say getting emotional.
Damon smiles at that. "I'm kind of liking this honesty thing." He says with a chuckle before reaching out to touch my hand. "Perhaps all of this...everything that happened is because maybe just maybe you had fallen in love with me too." He says softly. "It's okay, to love me Bon, it's ok to let go because then you'd be in love with someone that loved you back."
"Damon." I say patiently. I knew that this was not going to end the way he wanted it to. I loved him, so very much but things had changed. If we had a chance, we missed it and that was both our faults. I was with Klaus and yes things were muddy right now but I wanted Klaus.
Ignoring the pleading look in my eyes he continues warm and happy, almost oblivious to what is to come. "We've traveled the world together and it's been my happiest times."
I nod and smile. "Me too." I admit. "You're important to me." Pause. "When I thought you were gone, I was not ok."
He nods and scoots closer. "That should tell you everything." grin. "All you have to do is say yes to us."
Taking a deep breath I spoke. "It tells me that I love you– that you're my best friend and I may...I did fall in love with you." Pause. "But those feelings were before– before Klaus." The honest truth was I was no longer in love with Damon, not anymore. That ship had sailed.
He scoots back quick and sends me a look. "Klaus! He was suppose to be a fling!" He says looking disgusted.
"I care about him okay!" I snap, my voice coming out loud. "I can't just let it go...let him go."
He lets out a long sigh. "Ok, fine. We both buried our feelings down for each other but I know that I love you now. And we can work through this, give you time to fall back in love with me." he stops then. "But I need to know, are you in love with Klaus?"
When green meet blue, I know he knows and it's in that moment that he gets up and walk away from me all together.
I push my food in front of me done with it all together. Next, I undo the spell that kept prying ears from hearing our conversation.
I'm alone all of ten seconds when suddenly a voice sounds from startling me.
"I thought you were smarter than this– you're throwing away a man that loves you on the off chance that Klaus won't be a disaster." Sabine snips.
Glaring up at Sabine I decided to stand up so we're both standing. "Why don't you just go to hell and stop trying to live out your life through me."
Sabine only grins while shaking her head. "I gave you the best gift for a woman in love with a vampire, he's human and him being human allowed him to speak his truth and yet you're wasting this chance at happiness."
Annoyed I snap. "You don't even know me."
Sabine sits down and despite myself I sit down as well. "I've seen you two together. Heard from many reliable sources that you and Damon have been through it all and yet you want to taint that with Klaus."
Now it's my turn to grin. "I told you last night to stay away from me and the people I love,"
"Does that include the now broken hearted Damon because he is mighty fine." Sabine grins.
The lights in the restaurant start to flicker. My magic wraps around her like a poisonous snake had then takes a bite. "You could've killed him you deranged bitch!" I say as my magic drains hers. I hadn't felt like this since expression. "And then you link up with Enzo" I say as people start to look on worriedly. "You think I'm gonna let you hurt anyone else I care about, I'd rather snatch your magic away for good."
Sabine who had been still weak from the night before struggles but is no match for me. Her magic starts to fight back, pushing back at me but I'm much stronger. I'm so close to snatching her magic away when Damon calls me.
"Bon, she's not worth it." Damon says. "I will get my on revenge but it's for me to get just like it was yours to get against Enzo." He says calmly. "Let her go." He says touching my back.
Fling my hands in her direction I set Sabine free. "I meant what I said, stay away from me and the people I care about." I say through gritted teeth. "Go back to hell Sabine." I say turning away from her, right into Damon.
"I second that." He says looking over at Sabine. "In fact you're on notice, I plan to be the one to send you back where you've come from."
Standing straight she walks away slowly. "I'll be seeing you both very soon."
When Sabine has made it far enough I speak. "I hate her." I say as Damon continues to hug me.
"That makes two of us." he says softly.
Looking up, I take a step back. "I thought you left?"
"I did. I was ready to head back to the hotel and brood with Stefan."
I let out a sound. "But?"
"But I'll always come back for you Bon, just like on the island, just like with Kai and every other baddie that has ever come our way. I'll always come back because I love you." Grin. "I pushed Elena to admit her feelings for me to give in to me, I won't make the same mistake with you. I love you, really love you and instead of making it about me, I'm gonna make it about you."
I click my tongue. "Damon you're really going to have to tone it down with the love talk."
"Nope." He says letting the p linger. "Listen." He says grabbing my hands. "I know you're down the rabbit hole with Klaus, but once you break free...it'll me you and me, the way it's supposed to be."
I snort but still smile. I'm glad he realizes that right now Klaus is who I want to be with, he's the man I want. "You should so sure of yourself."
He only smirks. "How can I not be, it's us, we always manage to come out on top."
I roll my eyes but I'm happy, one down, one to go.
A.N. 2: Hey all, I know Klaus is acting up but he has his reasons and we'll soon see it in the next chapter. I hoped you liked the chapter! Till next time.