We are slowly wrapping up certain storylines so we can get into the main one that I am SO SO excited for! Thank you, for holding on to this slow burn!

The Characters and whom I envision playing them:

Bonnie Bennett – Kat Graham

Damon Salvatore – Ian Somerhalder

Stefan Salvatore – Paul Wesley

Elena Gilbert/Salvatore – Nina Dobrev

Jenna Sommers – Sara Canning

Disclaimer: These Characters Belong to LJ Smith/CW Network. No Copyright infringement is intended.

Sophia Archambeau – Young Tawny Cypress (25)

The year 2022 Bonnie and Sophia are packing up to leave South Africa and head to France:

Bonnie and Sophia are back at their Airbnb in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga packing up their belongings. Bonnie was thinking about what happened at the cave, the power surge she felt in her magic, and the feeling she felt seeing her grams so young as well as more questions than answers about Sophia.

"You've been quiet since we left..What is going on in that mind of yours?" asked a curious but cautious Sophia.

Bonnie laughed nervously in response.

"What isn't? I feel like I trust you, Sophia, you haven't given me a reason not to, at least a big enough reason..but.." Before Bonnie could finish her sentence, Sophia interjected.

"Anything followed with a but, is not a good sign..look, you went through a lot today, these past few years, but I got you, Bonnie, you can trust me...with your magic and safety at least, I'm not shopping for you anymore, you're so ungrateful," Sophia said with a sarcastic eye roll followed by a laugh which made Bonnie laugh as well.

"You're absolutely right, I know you want me to "put myself out there," Bonnie said exaggerating her quotation marks with her fingers.

"But I'd rather do it in something other than a thin sheet of fabric mimicking a toga..even with pasties that outfit was a bit too much…speaking of togas, I feel like I've earned the right to pry, I get that there are some things that aren't my business to ask, and I respect that, but I feel like I can't really call you a friend, even a best friend without getting some clarification on some..things"

"You want to know how old I really am" Sophia answered knowing what the first question would be.

"Yes, your younger self kind of confirmed certain things that I've always wondered, I just assumed you were a really old soul with some of your…different.. outdated references" Bonnie had moved to the balcony of her bedroom with Sophia following.

"I will assume my jokes about Aristotle weren't "hitting" like I thought they were, got it" Sophia nodded to her own statement, bringing out another laugh from Bonnie.

"Yeah, not so much" Bonnie winced while shaking her head remembering Sophia's many tired jokes.

"Okay, Okay! Noted" Sophia laughed.

"So how old am I, well I kind of stopped counting… after a while anyway," Sophia had a more serious look on her face looking out at their view.

"I don't understand, how are you aging? If you've been alive for that long, I would think you would.."

"Look like the literal crypt keeper? Yeah, I know" Sophia smiled.

Sophia then incanted a spell in French mixed with Latin that showed Bonnie her true form, not too far from the younger Sophia she met earlier that day.

"I don't understand, why wouldn't you tell me? And I know some witches age slower than others, but not that slow" Bonnie's eyes narrowed in on Sophia's features, to see if she could place an age to how she now appears.

"It's not that I wouldn't tell you, I was always going to tell you. In order for you to trust me, I couldn't come to you like this, and talk about knowing your grams through passing…at the time, the questions that you would have for me would not be questions I could answer, just yet anyway. So, I had to appear as age appropriate I could without looking too old, us witches are still a little vain"

"How" Bonnie stated, almost as an order rather than a question.

"The Sophia you met, back there in the 70's, I'm sure told you about the four major covens" Sophia started,

Bonnie placed a hand on her neck to rub her neck remembering what she felt looking into Sheila's nightmares.

"Well, we were the four that survived a great battle that weakened the state of supernaturals, there used to be many more like us. We have the gift of immortality, to an extent, we still age, just extremely slowly, if you lived to be old and grey it showed your strength, it showed that you survived many battles. We age at a normal pace until we reach somewhere in our twenties, once our bodies and our brains are fully developed, the aging process slows down, almost to a halt. You see, my people, my bloodline, my ancestors, we share the common gift of semi-immortality, and empathic abilities as you know, we were pretty powerful at manipulating the emotions of others sometimes to the point of.."

"Compulsions" Bonnie stated, intently looking at Sophia.

"Ah, yes, compulsions, the other three covens had their own gifts, all semi-immortal, with one of the covens having the power of pure strength, you wouldn't want to be in hand-to-hand combat with these people should you not be able to take them down with a spell alone. Another coven had the power of speed, they could go from one end of the earth to another in a day if water wasn't in their way. Then the last coven, some of them are rumored to be able to shape-shift, while most can use animals at their will to spy, send warnings, and sometimes attack. To keep our covens strong, since losing so many of our people, we took part in blood-sharing."

"As in you fed on each other. Why?" Bonnie became uncomfortable and tense, which Sophia took notice of.

"Not in the way that, the vampires you know do so, but when we found a mate, to continue our bloodlines, we fed on each other during a ceremony that has to be done during a full moon, that bound our lives together, gifting the other of our gift of being semi-immortal so that hopefully, we raise the future of our coven together, at least until the final battle our families have been prophesizing, since before my time" Sophia smiled with tears in her eyes, thinking about her late husband.

"Your past self, you mentioned that the dreams my grams were seeing were part of a prophecy that my line shouldn't know, why?" Bonnie asked, trying to put all the pieces together in her mind that she had been gathering over the years with Sophia.

"Bonnie, I'm not powerful because of my gifts, I'm powerful because of my knowledge, a lot of these "friends" and mentees you have met around the world with me are because of my established connections with their ancestors I have made over the centuries, trying to prepare for what's to come one day, maybe even centuries from now. Your line, however, your line is powerful because of the raw power your line holds. Qetsiyah should have never been able to make that immortality spell, your ancestor who made the spell for the vampires of today should have never been able to do that either, that raw power has upset the balance of nature for centuries. I'm not saying that it's fair for people like myself to be here and not..not the vampires and other beings you have grown accustomed to. But it has given hope, for people not as powerful as you, to exploit your line, to the point of extinction if it meant they could rule over ash and bone. One of the coven leaders is an example of this, once we found out his involvement in the first battle, we, with the help of your line, were able to imprison him, with his part of the moon key hidden from him and even us."

"The leader that's locked away.." Bonnie said out loud in deep thought.

"Yes, where he has to stay, which is why I need to find his key, all of them before he comes back," Sophia said sternly.

"Our covens, we still meet every so often to discuss different findings and the world of supernaturals today. We hope to one day have us join with as many supernatural species and covens as we can to prepare for what's to come. Now, with the keys…we hid all our keys in places where our strongest ancestors can help protect them, to keep them from people or beings that can use the power within them, to find the other keys so they can manipulate the power of all the keys combined. A power not to be held lightly, for in the wrong hands it can bring permanent darkness to this world, and many different others in the universe. This is why the Bennett line is so important to us. It is in your line where a witch, a powerful one will be born, to help us battle what's to come. Bonnie, I don't think you understand, what you have been able to do, in such a short life, with little to no training is beyond anything I have seen from a Bennett witch, from any witch. But I must be honest, this also makes you the biggest threat."

Bonnie sat there silently, staring at the ground of the balcony in deep thought.

"You let the people around you, the love you have for the people around you, manipulate you, weaken you, influence you and your decisions." Sophia lectured.

"That kind of hold over you Bonnie, in the wrong hands, would be catastrophic." Sophia continued.

Bonnie looked back up to meet Sophia's eyes.

"Is that what this has been? Babysitting me? Making me feel like I finally had someone, possibly a friend that looked out for me and my magic. Only to be used for what, something that may or may not happen? I've fought enough for a lifetime. Died enough for a lifetime. I'm exhausted." Bonnie started with tears in her eyes.

"Hardly Bonnie, yes, I've helped guide your line in different ways, keeping a close eye to make sure your family and ancestors were safe, even after Qetsiyah betrayed the laws of nature. It's because of your love for the people around you that I needed to find you, to help you. Bonnie, you would never forgive yourself if you had the power to save those same people but couldn't. I know you remember the feeling of when you thought you lost your magic forever. Those moments should have never happened and won't with the training and knowledge you now have and will continue to have. Whether you want to aid the world of supernaturals in the battles to come is a question for another time, but what I do know Bonnie, is that you are incredibly special, not just to the world of magic, but in general, it's who you are, in your core, which is probably why nature and the world of magic have chosen you. You have been dealt some shitty cards Bonnie, and it's about time you have someone who is on your side for you, not to be saved, not so they can have the life of their dreams, but so you can someday have everything you ever wanted, so that someday you are in bed with the love of your life, knowing you can finally rest, and be genuinely and painfully happy while doing so. While again, I would love for you to fight with all of us one day, we've done it without you and can do it again, I am with you because of my love for Sheila, her daughter, and you."

Sophia moved her chair closer to Bonnie's so she could take her hand.

"I still have so many questions, but I can't deny the calm I feel in your presence, and I know that's not you, using your power on me, I can always tell when you're coaxing my emotions, I welcomed it more than anything"

"And the truth comes out! I thought I was being subtle, but I should've known the great Bonnie Bennett was onto me" Sophia laughed.

Bonnie rolled her eyes and smiled while wiping her eyes from her tears.

"So, France, what's there exactly? Should I be prepared to meet the other two mysterious coven leaders?" Bonnie asked, happy to change the subject.

"No, that's going to take some time, I want to introduce you to my daughter, Sabre, and my son Bastien." Sophia said smiling, taking in Bonnie's shocked face.

BBBB

The Afterlife after Emily's revelation to Damon and Stefan:

"Damon, what exactly are you going to tell Elena?" Stefan asked with a stern expression on his face.

"That we were both right, that I would see you again, and that I didn't really deserve to find peace," Damon said with a scowl.

"You know that's not what I mean" Stefan stated.

"I'm not a mind reader Stefan" Damon responded.

"I'm not either, but I was smart enough to make an educated guess that your feelings for Bonnie went deeper than what you let on. And from what you've told me, my guess on her feeling the same was accurate. That kind of love doesn't go away simply because time has passed, and now that she remembers, she may still feel the same when you come back. Elena deserves to know exactly what you would be going back to; it would be better coming from you than being able to see it from here. I know she knows the least of it, but it won't make it hurt any less" Stefan said remembering when he could see Karoline kissing Klaus before Klaus' death.

"That will still be an easier conversation than the one you're going to have with Lexi. I will not be around for that one." Damon said while patting Stefan's shoulder before heading out the front door.

"Good luck brother, I'll see you soon." Stefan said with a nod goodbye.

Damon responded with a smile and a nod before getting into his car.

BBBB

Damon knew he could summon Elena to him just by thinking about her, but wanted to drive to her childhood home instead, so he could think and drive in peace for probably one of the last times. After they rebuilt her childhood home as closely as they could remember, to raise their children, he knew that it would never compare to the memories she had with her parents there, the memories she had that were filled with pure happiness, which is why she chose to stay there in their afterlife and not the boarding house.

Over the years, Elena grew a disdain for the supernatural life and had to work through her feelings with it the best she could as she went to therapy later in life to deal with the trauma of those formative years she spent around vampires, werewolves, and witches, and the guilt she felt as a mother when her ties to the supernatural world affected them negatively. She had made Bonnie promise to protect her and Damon's children and their children from the supernatural world as best as she could, after an attack that almost killed Damon and their daughter, that did inevitably result in Sophia's death, which made Bonnie agree to keep them safe as best as she could. Elena was not ready to spend her afterlife in the boardinghouse due to her history with it, regardless of if Damon wanted to or not.

Once Damon made it to Elena's house, he took his time walking up the porch to knock on the front door.

"Wow, what did we do to deserve a rare Damon Salvatore sighting" Asked Jenna who stood in the doorway blocking Damon.

"Is Elena here?" Damon asked, ignoring Jenna's slight rudeness in her tone.

"Yes, but not in this version, she's watching over one of your new great-grandchildren, little Ellie is staying in Elena's old bedroom if you want to go up there, she'll sense you and come back," Jenna stated moving out of the way so Damon could walk in.

"Thanks" Damon gave Jenna a quick non-genuine smile and walked in to head up the stairs.

Damon walked into Elena's old bedroom, which was set up almost the same as before she burnt her house down, he could even smell the similar scent of Elena's room which made him smile from nostalgia. Elena's apparition quickly appeared in front of Damon, choosing to appear as her 17-year-old self.

"Damon" Elena said with a deep breath.

"Hey" Damon responded with a soft smile.

"You haven't come by in a while, let alone in my old room, is everything okay?" Elena asked, sitting down on her bed with Damon following.

"You know the porch holds the most sentimental memories for me" Damon smiled, remembering the different moments they shared there which made Elena let out a quick giggle.

"Mmm me too, looking back, some of those moments felt so complicated and heavy.. now they hardly compare to how the rest of our lives went" Elena looked to her right, meeting Damon's gaze.

"All things considered; we did a damn good job raising those kids didn't we." Damon said thinking about his time as a father.

"Yeah, we did…it was touch and go there for some moments, but our kids get to live their full human lives with their loved ones, that's all I could ever want." Elena smiled at Damon, and he returned the smile.

"Elena, I have to go back." Damon said with a concerned face.

Elena nodded and looked down at her hands on her lap while nodding.

"I know"

Damon then looked confused.

"What do you mean you know?" Damon was shocked to hear that response.

Elena let out a deep breath.

"Damon, for someone who scoffed at writing in diaries and journals, I found all of yours, when we were moving into my remodeled childhood home, all your entries for Bonnie, things you wanted her to read for when you were gone when she would remember." Elena looked back up at Damon.

"Elena I'm so.."

Elena quickly cut off Damon.

"I'm not finished" Elena stated which caused Damon to stop mid-apology.

"You gave me a beautiful life, the best two kids I could ever ask for, you took care of all of us, and I don't regret any of it Damon, I really don't. We had rough patches, and in hindsight, I understand why, but I would do it all over again, not just for us, but for our kids, to watch them grow up, and live as safe of a life as possible. I forgave you a long time ago. Not for loving Bonnie, for being in love with Bonnie, but for thinking I wouldn't be able to handle it. I love you, Damon, so much, but with what I know now… I would've let you go, because of how much I love you, how much I will always love you, and how much I love Bonnie."

Damon's eyes started to well up.

"I had some help from one of the teachers at the boardinghouse, and with the little bit of traveler magic I had, I was able to reach Emily when I took Bonnie's protection ring off. I was horrified, with the answers I got, not so much at her confirming how much you both love each other, but mostly for manipulating Bonnie's memories, something I regret doing to myself, to this day, but it was my choice to do it. I could've told Bonnie right then and there but realistically, what would that have done? She was finally happy, she was married and had an entire life outside of me and you barging our way in, yet again. So, I knew that this day would possibly come, Damon, I knew about Emily's spell, and was terrified that she would call on you when we also had a family to protect. So, when she didn't, I knew it was possible for her to reach you here. Before I died Damon, one of the things I told Bonnie, besides thanking her for everything, was that she didn't need my blessing for anything she decides to do in the future, that anything she decides to do I will support her and love her, I also apologized for being so selfish when we were younger, and she deserved a better friend than what I had been, and that it should have always been her"

Elena had tears running down her face looking at Damon who also had been tearing up.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Damon asked.

"I was embarrassed that I read them, I felt like a hypocrite for using magic, and we had just gotten to a place of understanding after their wedding a year prior when you finally let her go for the final time. I knew how you felt, long before that day, without directly saying it, I accepted that I somehow became your second choice, but Damon, I gave you so many openings to leave, and you didn't so I just wanted to close that chapter so we could both finally move on to live our lives and focus on our kids."

Damon stood up and ran his hand through his hair shaking his head.

"Elena I never stopped loving you, and you were the best wife and mother any man would have ever asked for, I never deserved you or a human life with kids and I sure as hell never deserved Bonnie, you both should have left me a long time ago."

"As someone who has loved you deeply, I don't agree with that, and Bonnie wouldn't either. I know you never stopped loving me, you wouldn't have stayed if you didn't.. but Damon, I never stopped loving Stefan, and I had to let him go so I could love you how you deserved to be loved, if Bonnie was able to be with you, you would have done the same. At the time it would have felt like a betrayal, and it would have hurt deeply, but again, with what I know now, and a lot of therapy, I would have been completely fine, and you both, two people I love deeply, would have had the chance at an epic love story, that rivals Caroline and Stefan's, and what I had with both of you. I had the perfect life, and I get to watch my descendants and protect them the best I can, I don't need a second chance at anything." Elena smiled and got up to hold Damon's hands.

"I may not be able to find peace again should I not make it when I go back," Damon said holding Elena's gaze.

"As much as Emily thinks she has something to do with you finding peace now, I don't believe that's the sole reason. You have to do what you need to do, for our girl Damon, I don't need to know the details, just do the right thing, and you'll be fine." Elena gave Damon a smile and Damon pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head.

"I'll keep an eye out for our little ones and you and Bonnie from here," Elena smiled into Damon's chest.

They both finally pulled away from the hug.

"Does Stefan know?" Elena asked.

Damon nodded.

"He's apparently a part of the deal, the Salvatore special I suppose," Damon said with a smirk.

"Wow, okay, I'd like to say goodbye when the time comes," Elena responded with a stressed expression.

"Of course, it's only right, full circle and all." Damon joked.

"Damon, I didn't want to say anything but with Stefan going there's something I need to tell you, I didn't think about it until now," Elena asked with a serious expression.

"What?" Damon asked, not amused at whatever was coming next.

"If Emily, is able to bring you back, with Stefan, because of the spell she placed on you when she met you, she told me she placed the same spell on Katherine." Elena looked intently at Damon.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me." Damon scowled.