Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter One

Bonnie opened her eyes and found herself slumped against the side of a dirt caked mausoleum, the same one where many scary and funny moments had occurred during her time in Mystic Falls. Her head felt heavy and slightly dizzy but so far she wasn’t having any issues focusing. She knew with crystal clarity that she was more or less home, or at least the place she’d called home for seventeen years. It was hard to think of it as such considering what she’d been through recently. Still at least she was back among the living.

She could smell dirt and wild onions nestled between blades of thick summer grass. She could hear the sounds of birds singing happily and small animals rushing about the brush. Everything appeared nice and quiet but that tended to be deceiving. After all it had been a nice and quiet night when she and Damon Salvatore had officially died; stood hand in hand as the other side literally ripped apart at the seams. She could still feel the cold wind lashing across her face as the white light got so bright it threatened to burn her eyes out. Neither of them could have imagined what would happen next, not in a million years.

And yet here they were now back in Mystic Falls. Somehow.

Now comes the hard part.

Exhaling deeply, she blinked away hazy images caused by the shining sunlight and glanced around. “Damon?”

A groan sounded from the bushes and she chuckled as Damon struggled to get to his feet, slapping at the skinny branches that stuck to his clothes. He’d recovered quicker than she had—which was to be expected, he was a vampire after all—though he stumbled when he noticed her slumped, legs stretched out.

“Hey, you okay?” Immediately he was at her side and caressing her cheek, thumb brushing across the apple. “Where does it hurt?”

She shook her head. “I’m fine. Just the effects of coming through I suppose. I’m a little weak.”

He nodded and sat down in front of her. “We’ll chill a few before heading into town. Hopefully Markos’ spell died with him and I don’t burst into flames while dying of a gunshot wound.”

She smiled wryly. “We’ve been here for about two minutes and nothing has tried to use me to cross over so I think we might both be in the clear. I think I’m a witch again.”

Damon hummed. “Good. That will no doubt come in handy more than the anchor crap.” Sighing, he rubbed the back of his neck and glanced up at the sky. “Wonder what day it is here? Hell, wonder what month it is? What if everyone is gone?”

All good questions. “Then I guess we could try to find them. They deserve to know we’re back—that we’re safe.”

His intense blue eyes turned soft. “That things are different…?”

She wet her lips. “Yeah. Not a conversation I am looking forward to having but it’s the right thing to do.”

He grunted. “You chicks and you’re doing the right thing. No one respects me for my utter love of doing whatever the hell I want.”

Chuckling, she reached up and pulled an errant leaf out of his silky black hair. “Enzo did. Perhaps you should have dated him.”

Grinning, he grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles. “If he’s still around I’ll proposition him. You can watch and direct.”

Bonnie laughed and it felt good to know she still could. That traveling back to Mystic Falls hadn’t automatically dampened the progress they’d made when they were…wherever they had been. Specifics were dodgy but obviously her Grams had done something to save her, something that Damon was able to hijack by them holding hands. At the time she’d joked about wanting to be with anyone else but in reality Damon had been a sort of anchor for her. Just knowing she wasn’t facing oblivion alone made it a little easier.

It made everything afterwards a little awkward, well, until it wasn’t anymore.

Her relationship with Damon had never been easy and all of the bad blood between them had only managed to become a low simmer because situations called for them to be civil. Their last day together consisted of him mildly threatening her with a fire poker, something he’d never apologized for. Not that she had expected it. Things like that became so small in the grand scheme of what they were dealing with on the other side. The other other side.

Though there was a grain of worry blooming in her heart now that they were home. “Damon, we’re going to be seeing Elena soon and—”

He pressed a finger to her lips. “Stop. Don’t go all weird on me okay? You don’t bring up the E word and I won’t bring up the J word. Fair enough?”

Rolling her eyes, she slapped playfully at his hand. “We’re going to have to deal with whatever we find. They are going to have questions and we have to fill in the blanks.”

“We will. But that doesn’t mean we have to have some kinda crisis beforehand.” He stood and brushed off the back of his dark jeans. “We hooked up—anyone who didn’t see that coming wasn’t paying attention. I mean all the hate sex we needed to get out of our systems alone could have had us shacked up for a few months. Doing it while stuck in some odd paradise world makes sense.” Lips stretching into a smile, he held out a hand and helped her up when she clasped it.

It made sense to her too but she doubted anyone else would think so. “I take it you wanna do all the talking, then?”

Damon tilted his head to the side. “If you want to rip the band-aid off as quickly as possible, then sure. But Bonnie you’re coming at this from the angle that they’ve been crying into their alcohol since we’ve been gone. For all we know Stefan and Elena are together again and Jeremy—well maybe Jeremy took a run at Matt.” Pause. “They had a lot in common. For starters being dumb as two boxes of very dumb rocks.”

She snickered, leaning into him for a comforting hug. “I’m nervous.”

Tucking strands of black hair behind her ear—she’d kept it cute and short while gone—he kissed her forehead. “I’m…curious. What happened wasn’t our fault so they can’t be that angry. We saved everyone we cared about and went out like bosses. If we walk into town and there is not a giant statue of us I’m gonna be pissed off.”

Bonnie snorted but was amused. She threaded her fingers through his, a gesture they had repeated many times since that night and gave him a little tug. “Come on. Let’s see the state of things.”

Naturally he let himself he pulled along.

If she had to classify her relationship with Damon she would say that they were serious about each other. You didn’t go through a traumatic experience like dying together and come out still wanting to slap each other. Okay so sometimes she did want to slap Damon but that was because he was Damon, and going to another dimension had not dampened his sarcastic sense of humor one bit. But what was once annoying was now sort of comforting in an odd way. She knew what to expect from him and there was no more fear he would let her die to save someone he thought more important.

Except for perhaps Stefan but that’s okay because Stefan is his brother.

Stepping over small fallen limbs with rocks crunching under the shoes, they made their way through the woods towards the camp ground area where people usually parked when a party was going on. They walked in a relaxed silence, both more or less lost in their own thoughts. They didn’t know what was waiting for them at the Salvatore mansion, or if they could even make it that far. First and foremost Damon wanted to see Stefan and make sure he was alright. Next he would probably check on Enzo since Alaric was no doubt flourishing and back to playing father figure to the Gilberts.

Hopefully the whole gang was okay. The thought of anything else un-nerved her as did the idea that their sacrifice had been in vain.

As they reached the edge of the woods to step out onto the highway, Bonnie bit the inside of her cheek. “How do you feel?”

Damon slowly stepped onto the concrete and looked from side to side, touching his stomach. “Normal.” He stuck his hand into a beam of sunlight. “I guess the spell went poof when the Travelers did too.”

Relief washed over her. “That is so good to know. It means the others could have a life here again.”

Smiling, he took a moment to flex his fingers and make one hundred percent sure, his daylight ring glinting in the light. “Seems like it. As long as it’s not on a delay.”

“I don’t see why it would be. It was nearly instant last time.” Bonnie crossed over the ditch and patted his shoulder as she continued past him. “I think bringing people back from the dead is the biggest thing I’ve ever done.”

“And the stupidest but we’re had this argument before.” He pointed out cheerfully. “Now that we’re back you’re not gonna revert back to that, right? Throwing yourself under the bus for us.”

“No.” She whispered. “I’ll help but not if it puts me in serious danger.”

“And it only took dying twice for you to get there.” Winking, he slipped an arm around her shoulders. “I won’t give you too much of a hard time since we are some of the most careless people on the planet.”

He is not wrong. There was no danger where they were before. Not like in Mystic Falls with Originals and hybrids and Travelers all vying for a piece of them. It had been peaceful—almost like Heaven but without actually being so. Now that they were back she planned to research other universes to perhaps find some answers to her many questions. Really she knew only Grams could explain what miraculous thing she had done but of course that wouldn’t be happening. Grams and Lexi were at peace and she wouldn’t change that for the world.

Oddly enough she also wouldn’t change her new circumstances with Damon.

Anyway it was a bit jarring to make it to the town square and find the Grille an ashy burnt out shell surrounded by yellow tape. People were going about their days like everything was fine but she had assumed it would be rebuild by now. Though it did appear as if construction was about to start soon. She wouldn’t be too surprised to learn they were taking their time; bad things tended to happen in the Grille. Maybe letting it die wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

There were no familiar faces as Damon and Bonnie continued on though the Sheriff’s squad car was parked in its usual place. Sheriff Forbes had survived and that was wonderful, one of them deserved to still have a parent with an actual beating heart. At the thought of her parents a deep sadden settled in the pit of her stomach and she gave it a slow rub, praying her father was at peace. That he wasn’t judging her for the choices she had made and continued to make. He would have hated Damon…he wouldn’t have understood their connection. And she wouldn’t have blamed him because vampires leaned towards bad more than they leaned good.

Yes he’d talked to her mom when magic was getting the best of her but that had been a different story altogether. I wonder did anyone tell her I was dead. Jeremy or Caroline might have though I kinda hope they didn’t.

“Should we live in the mansion? It’s probably pretty damn crowded with Alaric, Elena, Jeremy and Stefan. Hell I wouldn’t be surprised if Enzo is squatting there too.”

Damon’s voice brought her back to the present. “Oh, well where else would we live?”

His grin was trifling. “I could compel a real estate agent to give us a house. Or I could kick all those freeloaders out since I am the oldest which means technically it’s mine.”

She laughed. “No, that would be mean. We’ll figure out the details after we get settled. I should still have a house unless someone sold it. I wonder where all my stuff is. Clothes and everything.”

His brow rose. “Huh. I haDn’t thought of that. Obviously whatever spit us back here didn’t either. Thanks a lot for that by the way!”

Shushing him, she stifled a yawn and made a face. Had it always taken this long to get to his house? “First on the agenda is a car. I don’t want to walk everywhere.”

Damon massaged the back of her neck gently. “That I can take care of pretty quickly. Even with me dead I doubt Stefan would get rid of my car. It’s vintage. And if he did I’m stealing that red one he loves so much.”

Sounds like a plan. “Long as there is a big back seat.”

“Oh I love it when you talk dirty.”

“Shut up you know what I mean!”

“Yes that you want me to take you in the back seat of a fancy car.”

“Heh yeah, no. By the way we won’t be breaking any beds anytime soon either.”

“Never say never Bonnie. We can do anything we put our minds to.”

Bonnie huffed but couldn’t stop the smile that curved the corner of her mouth. Sometime she was pretty certain Damon’s quick one liners had been the only thing keeping her sane when neither of them could make heads or tails of their new surroundings. Deep down he had been worried but he’d covered well. He’d went head first as they explored and tried to find a way out, keeping her behind him just in case something jumped out at them. Protecting her because, well she was all he had and vice versa.

She could remember watching him go to great lengths for Elena and being sort of…charmed by it. Especially in the latter days when killing random people wasn’t on his to do list. Secretly she had wished to have someone like that someday; someone strong enough to withstand whatever life threw at them. Jeremy hadn’t exactly been like that. Strong yes but there was just a stark difference between him and Damon Salvatore. Not necessarily a bad one but different. She would not have ever tried to take Damon from Elena—attempting it would have been impossible anyway—but not that she had him it was hard to think of a time when she didn’t.

Damon was an all in type of guy. It made sense; he had been all in with Katherine for more years than she had been alive. She supposed she just never expected him to be all in with her, seeing as how she didn’t have Katherine’s face.

But that makes it even better, doesn’t it? I know he wants me for me and not who I remind him of. I don’t remind him of anybody.

Rounding a sharp bend in the road, they trooped around it to see the wide front yard of the mansion come into view. The bushes and flowers were in bloom—it all looked pretty and perfect as usual—like nothing bad could ever touch the place. So many houses and buildings in Mystic Falls tended to get destroyed but the Salvatore house never did. If she didn’t know any better she would think there was a protection spell around the place.

Walking up to the front door, Damon exhaled before rapping his knuckles loudly against the wood. Bonnie’s heart was racing rapidly in her chest to the point where she could see it thumping underneath her skin. She had that unpleasant rumble in her stomach, her limbs prickling like they had been asleep for a long time. She supposed she had nothing to worry about—there was no danger here, hopefully—but she couldn’t help that her emotions were spiking. In truth she felt as if she were about to shake apart at the seams.

The door opened rather slowly, and there was Stefan all sad eyes and chiseled cheekbones. Handsome Stefan whose eyes widened almost comically at the sight of them standing there, like he couldn’t really believe it. He practically gaped at them before kicking himself into gear. “What—how—how are you here right now?”

Damon smirked at hm. “Oh you know me brother, where there is a will there is a way.” And then he was pulling Stefan forward for a hug. “See? Solid and everything.”

Stefan clutched at Damon’s shoulders and searched his face for a lie before hugging him back, tight enough to make Damon wince. “I can’t believe you’re here.” A beat. “Damon I am so sorry that—”

Damon shook his head. “Hey, it’s okay. Whatever you have been beating yourself up over it’s okay. I said I would bring you back and I did.”

Stefan frowned. “Yeah and you died doing it.”

Damon shrugged. “If I can’t die for my baby brother then who can I die for?”

Visibly touched by the sentiment, Stefan hugged him again. “Still I would prefer it if you didn’t do that again.” Noticing Bonnie, he smiled turned away from Damon to hug her too. “And I supposed you—” His sentence cut off abruptly. “Bonnie? What—”

“Stefan?” It was Elena. “Who’s at the door?”

She stepped into view and all of the color drained from her pretty face. Her big dark eyes stretched to the size of saucers and she walked over step by measured step as if afraid the ground would swallow her up with one wrong move. Her hand was shaking when it reached out and touched Damon’s chest, fingers dragging up to his face. Tears immediately dampened her lashes and a low sob sounded before she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms tight around his neck.

It wasn’t exactly the reaction Bonnie had expected but she went with it because grief was a funny thing, and it affected everyone differently. Some people just didn’t move on as quickly as others.

For his part Damon just smiled and whispered soothing words against the side of her head. Let her cling to him for as long as she needed because he understood the moment and what it meant. Their parting had been intense but utterly one sided; a good-bye to thin air on her side. A denial of closure really.

When she pulled back she cupped his cheeks in both hands and just looked at him. Shallow breaths escaped her throat and although more tears came she started to smile. It broke across her face and honestly Bonnie defied anyone not to smile along with her. She knew how she would feel if she could be reunited with her father, how the relief and contentment would push itself out of her pores.

“Is this real?” Elena asked. “Are you really here?”

“Yup.” Damon clasped her wrists, giving them a squeeze. “Hi.”

She gave a wet laugh. “Hi to you too.” Pause. “How—Bonnie? Oh god you’re here too!” To her credit she looked just as happy to see her best friend and there was another round of hugs to give. “What happened? We heard Jeremy screaming for you and then you just disappeared.” Blinking, she jerked back as if burned. “What’s going on? What is…”

Bonnie kissed her cheek. “We uh, we have a lot to talk about. Is anyone else here?”

Stefan folded his arms over his chest. “Alaric and Jeremy are inside. Caroline and Enzo went into the woods to hunt.”

Damon snickered at the mention of his friend’s name. “Trying to convert Enzo to your squirrel diet? How is that going?”

Stefan was serene as he replied, “As well as can be expected. Maybe he’ll actually listen now that you are back.” Taking out his cell phone, he typed quickly. “I’ll tell them to come back so that we can all talk.”

Elena furrowed her brow. “Tell them to hurry. I want to know what’s going on.”

“Yeeah I’m gonna need a drink for this.” Weaving around them, Damon headed into the house and into the study where they kept the alcohol. That was where he found Alaric and Jeremy lounging, both of them jumping to their feet at the sight of him.

“What the hell?” Jeremy balked. “Damon? Is that you?”

Damon swirled his Scotch before taking a healthy gulp. “Yup. Not dead anymore. Oh and neither is Bonnie. Right, sweetheart?”

Rolling her eyes, Bonnie offered up a rather timid smile upon entering the room. “Hey guys.”

Jeremy was in front of her in a second, strong hand gripping her shoulder with enough pressure to bruise. His lashes were fluttering as if he were fending off tears. It was the sudden kiss however that made her completely speechless. A sound press of his lips to hers that he seemed reluctant to break. It was sort of the first clue that perhaps everything wasn’t as cut and dry as she and Damon had thought.

“Are you okay? How are you back? What happened? Where did you go?” Jeremy had a lot of questions for her.

Not that she blamed him.

Squeezing his hand, she moved over to the couch and sat down, her feet grateful for the reprieve. She toed off her shoes and dug her heels into the carpet, letting the cool air take a bit of the edge off. Damon brought her a glass of water before flopping down beside her, and she sipped a few times as her mind calculated the looks everyone was giving them.

“I’m glad you’re back, Damon.” Alaric leaned against the table. “Drinking’s not the same without you here to dare me to take just one more shot.”

“We can get back to that anytime you want.” Damon teased. “Though seeing as how the Grille is still fucked up I suppose we’ll have to import.”

“Bonnie!” Caroline rushed into the room like a firefly and made a beeline for her friend, taking the seat on the other side of her. “Oh my god! You’re really here! This is amazing and so great and… Why is everyone looking like their dog just died? Bonnie and Damon are alive! We should be celebrating.”

Enzo cleared his throat as he swaggered in. “Might want to hold off on the festivities, Blondie. Happy as I am that he’s back, I’ve still got a bone to pick with my former friend. Breaking your neck might settle old debts.”

Damon pretended to pout. “Violence? But we just sat down.”

Stefan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why don’t we find out where they were before we start with the threats?”

Yes please. “I guess we should start at the beginning. As you guys know the other side was tumbling down and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it. As the anchor when there was no more other side, there would be no more me. Damon and I basically watched it rip itself a part.”

Caroline was riveted. “That must have been when you blinked out of existence. One minute you were there and the next you were just, gone. Jeremy filled us in afterwards.”

Nodding, Bonnie shivered as she remembered that night, bravely facing her own demise while secretly shattering inside. “I didn’t tell you guys because I didn’t want to worry you. I know it was stupid but…well I always knew being the anchor was temporary. It was just a—a plug in the dam of my own mortality. I’m sorry if it hurt you. At the time sparing you seemed like the better option.”

A cute frown shadowed Caroline’s features. “Do that again Bonnie Bennett and I will kick your ass! When are you going to realize that you are just as important as the rest of us?”

I’ve missed you Caroline Forbes. “I see that now, I honestly do. No more sacrificing myself.”

Stefan rubbed his chin. “What happened next?”

Bonnie nibbled on her bottom lip as the details floated around in her brain. “Damon and I were holding hands when everything went white and we think that he sort of hijack whatever crazy thing my Grams did to save me. She had alluded to doing something but I’d forgotten by the time the shit hit the fan. Anyway one minute we are watching the world explode and the next we are waking up on the grass, and we have no idea where we are.”

Damon slouched. “To be fair we still don’t know what the place was called but it was nice. Calm. And there were houses like it was a neighborhood or something. Other people too.”

“Other supernaturals.” Bonnie elaborated. “Ones I guess that hadn’t been sucked up into the darkness. Mostly witches.”

Jeremy exhaled. “So then what happened? You lived in one of the houses or something?”

“Basically.” After a fashion… “We didn’t know where we were or how to get home so, seeking shelter sounded like a good idea. After we got our wits about us we did try to find a way back but there was nothing. It was like that was it. We think it was another dimension.”

Elena tugged at her shirt. “How are you back now?”

Damon removed his jacket and tossed it over the back of the sofa. “Don’t know. One minute we’re having lunch and the next we’re being pulled towards this glaring white hole that appeared in the middle of our kitchen. Long story short we woke up in the cemetery.”

Alaric hummed. “This is pretty fascinating stuff, guys. Would you mind if I did some research on it?”

“Please do.” Damon told him. “Turn over every rock and look in every cranny. Go crazy.”

Alaric flipped him off good naturedly while Stefan looked thoughtful. “So you were in some sort of holding zone, like a domestic limbo. Maybe it took some type of energy build up to get you back to the land of the living. I could see three months doing that, though it doesn’t explain other stuff.”

What? “Three months? Wait—we’ve only been gone three months?”

Stefan shoved his hands into his pockets. “Yeah. Why?”

“It was longer for us.” She cut her eyes to Damon. “A lot longer.”

Before anyone could say anything else, Caroline waved a hand. “Oh who cares how long they were gone? They’re back and that is all that matters.” Grinning, she leaned over and drew Bonnie into an excited hug, letting out a high gasp. “Oh my god! Bonnie are you pregnant?!”

Dead silence. The room fell into dead silence and Bonnie suddenly felt like a bug under a microscope with all of the prying eyes trained on her. She thought about running but knew that wouldn’t solve anything. Her friends deserved answers, especially now that they’d learned there was a huge time difference. God things are about to get so complicated but all of a sudden their reactions make so much sense.

Fighting for the right words, she pushed off her long gray sweater to reveal the rounded swell of her belly. “I—I am.”

Caroline sputtered, “Wha—wha—how? Who is the father?”

Ooh boy. “Damon.”

Damon grinned proudly. “Just more proof that I am not only incredibly handsome but extremely virile as well.”

The Gilberts were frowning so heavily their faces looked disfigured. “That’s not possible,” Jeremy said. “Vampires can’t have children.”

“Maybe here they can’t.” Damon mused, placing his hand almost possessively on Bonnie’s bump.

Bonnie pursed her lips. “We don’t know how it happened.”

Enzo chuckled. “I think we all know how it happened, love.”

Didn’t miss that while I was gone. “I mean we don’t understand the logic or biology behind it. Vampires aren’t supposed to be able to have children...but somehow Damon could there.”

“You’ve only been gone three months and you slept together?” Elena’s tone was accusing. “While we were here grieving for you? Crying our eyes out and trying to think of any way to get you back?”

Bonnie got her anger and her pain so she tried to keep her own voice steady as she explained. “It was three months for you guys but it was longer for us. It was almost three years for us and in that time, things changed.” She scowled. “We tried so hard to find a way home but there was nothing. After a while we figured we were just stuck there forever…so we lived our lives. Whatever they were.”

Damon dropped the bravado. “It wasn’t easy, Elena. All I wanted to do was get back to you, and keep my promise. I was an annoying little shit and I’m sure I drove Bonnie crazy with my behavior but all I could think about was you. We were there a year before I could even talk about you without punching something.” His free hand curled against the arm of the couch. “This thing with Bonnie didn’t happen overnight.”

Elena expression tightened. “But it happened.”

“I don’t believe this!” Jeremy growled. “This has to be some kind of joke. You two hated each other.”

Not really, at least not at the end. “We did…until we didn’t.” Ugh. “I don’t know what to say to make any of this better.”

Elena dragged her fingers through her hair. “There isn’t anything you can say. God I—when I thought about getting you guys back it was never like this.” She gestured at them. “It was never my boyfriend and my best friend having started this new life together where I don’t matter. And I—I know that sounds selfish but it hasn’t been three years for me. It’s been three months; three of the hardest months of my entire life.”

Jeremy clenched his jaw almost painfully. “Mine too. Here we are worried that you guys just don’t exist anymore or that you’re being tortured, when you’re shacking up.”

Damon’s eyes narrowed. “Did you miss the part where I said this hasn’t been all fun and games? Do you think Bonnie and I didn’t miss you guys? Hell, all of you. Even Enzo.” The man in question snorted and Damon continued. “Leaving the people in this room broke us. I didn’t wanna leave you, Elena. I wanted to stay and fight with you, and laugh with you and give as good as I got. I honestly thought I would survive that night.”

Fidgeting and needing to move, Elena paced a little in front of the fireplace. “Are you two…in love?”

“Yes.” Damon answered without hesitation. “None of this was planned but I’m not going to lie. There would be no point. Bonnie was the only thing that kept me sane, and one thing lead to another one night.”

Bonnie wanted to take his hand but she reframed, still wanting to somehow protect those she cared about from pain. “If we had known time moved differently here—well I want to say we would have addressed the situation differently. But I’m happy and maybe it sounds bad but I don’t want to give this up.” Lightly she touched her stomach. “I’ve lost everything. My dad is dead and my mom is a vampire, and my Grams is finally at peace. This baby is a new start for me. For…us.”

Caroline being Caroline, she sniffled but couldn’t hide her glee. “Well I for one am happy for you. Damon is—okay most of the time I think he sucks but if you’re with him then he must have did something to gain your trust. I mean you don’t just have a baby with anyone.”

Damon flashed her a fake smile. “For the record we didn’t plan on having a kid. We figured there was no need for protection where we were.”

“I need some air.” Jeremy stalked out of the room; the front door slammed moments later.

Alaric sighed and followed him. “I’ll go talk to him.”

Bonnie realized she shouldn’t feel guilty but she couldn’t help it. Never had she expected to come back to find Jeremy or Elena still pining for them. Still holding out hope that their loved ones would return and everything would go back to normal. She could only imagine how she would feel if she were in either of their shoes. Probably completely decimated and more than a little bit angry.

There was a chance this could destroy her relationship with both Gilberts forever. That thought made her heart hurt but she ultimately felt there was nothing to be done about it. Either they would all come to some sort of agreement where they could coexist, or things were about to get very dramatic. It would probably be the latter because things were never easy for anyone involved.

“So…” Caroline wiggled her fingers. “Can I touch your stomach? Are you having a boy or a girl? How far long are you?”

At the sound of Caroline’s enthusiasm Elena’s face went blank and she left the room. Stefan wordlessly followed her, probably to make sure she was alright. She wasn’t—they all realized it.

But life went on. “You can touch and thank you for asking first. We uh, we actually don’t know what we are having yet. There weren’t exactly doctors over there. It was all really strange. I do think I’m around six months though.”

Plastering her hands to Bonnie’s tummy, Caroline’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Ah that means it’ll be here soon and there is so much to do! You’ve got to let me throw you a baby shower! We can do neutral colors since you’re not sure of the sex, or you could go to the doctor here, find out and we could bake the color into cupcakes!”

“I don’t usually think so but you’re alright this time around Barbie vamp.” Damon said sincerely.

“The thought of you as a father is laughable. And you can be rest assured that I will be here to laugh at every moment.” Enzo meandered over to fix himself a drink.

“Long as you’re not planning anything.” Damon warned. “I said I would find a way to bring you back and I did. We’re even.”

Enzo dropped a piece of ice into his glass. “I wouldn’t go after your child, mate. I’m not that far gone. Not yet anyway.”

Bonnie rubbed her eyes, her energy finally starting to wane. “I think I’m gonna go lay down. That is if Damon still has a room?”

Caroline—who was now gently poking, presumably to make the baby move—looked up. “He does. Elena’s been sleeping in there since he died. Sounds like things are about to get pretty crowded.”

Bonnie hit her in the shoulder and then slowly pushed herself off the sofa, with a little help from Damon’s hand on her lower back. “You suck.”

“I’m just teasing you.” Caroline hopped up and linked their arms together as they walked. “You know I get where you are both coming from. It’s sort of like when Tyler left and came back, and had Hayley in tow. They weren’t together but I was still jealous. Elena knows you didn’t do this out of spite or anything like that. She’ll be okay.”

I hope so. “Eventually, yes. Until that time she has to see Damon and I be happy together…with a baby on the way. It’s going to slow the healing process a lot.” They reached Damon’s room and Bonnie sat on the side of the bed. “And Jeremy’s too. It’s like we were brought back just to screw things up.”

“No that’s crazy! You’re here because this is your home and you have people who care about you here.”

“And those same people are seriously hurting right now.”

“But you didn’t do it on purpose. Bonnie you’re going to be a mom. I know you’re excited about it, and you should be. You didn’t do anything wrong by hooking up with Damon. Besides the fact that it’s Damon. Least you get the sane version, unlike the one I had.”

“Heh I missed you, Care. All things considered it’s good to be back.”

Caroline giggled. “It’s gonna be awesome. And I’ll talk to Elena for you…see where she is on the situation.”

Bonnie already knew however where she was, where Jeremy was. The question though was where would they all end up?