Author's Note: Hey guys, so I'm starting a new fic….lets see how this goes.

What you will need to know is that it's going to be a slow build of Damon and Bonnie.

This fic takes place after the events of "ROSE" episode from Vampire Diaries. One change that I'm incorporating is that the rose character doesn't appear in Mystic falls after Elijah is presumed dead, she just runs away. So everything that happened prior and in the episode of ROSE all applies to this fic.

Thank you for everyone who liked my one shot: By the light of the moon. I'm glad you enjoyed it and thanks again for your reviews- I enjoy reading them :)

And thanks to everyone who has reviewed….Put my fic under fave and author alerts…..that's just inspires me to write more. I appreciate the time you take to do that.

Well I hope you like it….

Chapter 1

Bonnie was exhausted as she opened the door to her home and was welcomed with dead silence. She was worried her father had waited up for her, but was glad to hear his snores filter all the way down to the main foyer where she stood listening.

A soft amused smile crept upon Bonnie's lips as she placed her keys onto the side table by the front door and tip toed up the stairs- stopping every so often when her father's snores didn't reach her ears and only continued forward when they picked up again.

Bonnie glanced to her right as she reached the top of the stairs where she peeked into her father's room and saw him sleeping in his reading chair with a book laid on top of his stomach, his reading glasses slipping down his nose as his chest moved up and down at a slow and steady pace. The lamp near him was still lit and Bonnie felt guilty not waking up her father, knowing he would have the worst knot in his neck in the morning from falling a sleep in the chair instead of his bed.

Bonnie looked down at her watch and saw that she was way past her curfew and if she woke her father up now she would mot likely get a lecture on staying out too late, even if she was with Elena. So instead Bonnie gave her father's sleeping form one last regretful look and slid away from his door as quietly as possible.

Taking a small soundless breath and thanking her lucky stars that her father was in a deep sleep- Bonnie took a couple of light steps towards her own bedroom, which was only a few doors down from her fathers and slinked inside as she gently shut the door behind.

Bonnie leaned against her door for a second as she let out a weary sigh, while facing her darkened room, which glistened with a few strands of light that snuck through her bedroom window from the street light below.

Elena was alive Bonnie thought as she looked around her room- her eyes adjusting to the darkness that almost blanketed her room. The light switch was to her left, but she had no desire to flip it on.

One most occasions- the dark unsettled her, but for some reason tonight, she embraced its solitude. She dropped her purse to the floor by the door and started to walk towards her bed as she slid her jacket off, which she promptly threw across to the chair in the corner of her room.

She took a seat onto her bed and flopped back as she took a deep breath, trying to unburden the day from her shoulders, as she exhaled slowly. Bonnie felt the tension ease out of her muscles, slowly but surely.

Elena was safe and that's what mattered.

In all the craziness that had become Bonnie's life- there was a victory today. Bonnie still had her best friend by her side. She would focus on that and deal with all the other stuff Elena had explained to her and Jeremy later.

Bonnie and everyone else had thought with Katherine stuck in the tomb- there was nothing else to worry about, at least life threatening. Boy were they all wrong Bonnie thought to herself as she turned onto her side and curled up into the fetal position, with her knees scrunched up close to her stomach as one of he arms lay like a pillow underneath her head, while the other nestled close to her heart. She was so tired.

Closing her eyes, Bonnie took another deep breath and let it out steadily. She repeated the action over and over again, but she found it didn't really ease away the worry and strain she felt throbbing inside her mind.

Today had worked out, she was able to locate Elena and we got our happy ending, but what about tomorrow and the next day after that. Would she be strong enough to take on what was to come in Mystic Falls? And did she even have a chance in hell in surviving it? If she was being completely honest with herself- she knew she wasn't. Bonnie still had a lot to learn about herself and her gifts. What was she capable of? How far could she amp up her magic and not get hurt in the process? What would happen if she denied her magic? Would others suffer because of her fears? How far was she really willing to go to save mystic falls?

Bonnie was stirred out of her endless thoughts as she heard a buzzing sound coming from her jacket. It was her phone she could tell as her display screen shined bright into the room as her phone ended its vibrations. Not wanting to get up, Bonnie just stared at her jacket as the room elapsed into darkness again as the display screen light from her cell turned off.

Someone had texted her. Bonnie knew she should get it but she rested her eyes for a second and almost immediately popped them back open as she heard her phone buzzing once again. The corner where her jacket lay was illuminated with the display light of her phone. Almost has if it were beckoning her to come and check the message.

Licking her lips as she gingerly got up from bed and made her way to the chair, where her phone was half slipped out from her jacket pocket- Bonnie grabbed it and clicked inbox to read the text she had received. Making her way back to her bed she sat near the edge as she scrolled down to open her two messages.

You made it home, okay?

Jer-

How are you feeling?

Jer-

A small warm sensation filled her chest at reading those words, while a smile etched its way across her mouth of its own accord.

Jeremy had taken care of her when she had lost consciousness trying to relay a message to Elena. He had not only taken care of her, but listened and had kept her weakness to himself with no questions asked. She deeply appreciated that, more than words could convey.

I made it home fine with my dad none the wiser- thanks again Jer :)

I didn't do anything- you're the one who helped find Elena Jeremy texted back almost instantly.

You were a big part of that as well Jer-

I'm just glad that Stefan and Damon were able to find her, how is she doing?

Good, sleeping- I just checked in on her. I just wanted to see if you were okay as well before I hit the bed.

I'm fine Jer, thanks again- sleep well Bonnie texted back

You too, C U at school

"Yeah see you at school" Bonnie responded softly to her room, as she placed her phone on the table.

Getting up from her seat on the bed, Bonnie decided she would change into her sleep attire, knowing her father would wake from his chair in the middle of the night and come check in on her before he went to sleep again.

Stripping her clothes from her body as she made it to her dresser drawer, she pulled out cotton sweatpants and a tank, which Bonnie immediately started to put on before the chill in her room touched and lingered on her skin for too long. Bonnie also grabbed a hair tie and scooped her hair into a ponytail, while making it back to her bed.

She flipped the covers down and got in, wrapping the covering around her tight. Talking to Jeremy for those brief moments had actually eased her mind. She didn't know what to make of that. Before she could think about it further, her phone vibrated against her side table. Bonnie grabbed the phone and clicked on the message that appeared on her screen, thinking it was Jeremy.

Meet me tomorrow- my place or I'll just find you

Damon

Well this was a surprise Bonnie thought. She didn't want to deal, think, nor see when it came to Damon if she could help it.

Deciding his message was more of an order than a conversation, she ignored his message

Bonnie was about to put her phone aside, but another message popped up on her screen again. Clicking it open, she read-

Oh and cute parlor trick with the blood and locating spell- came in real handy today. See you tomorrow Bon.

Gosh, it irritated her to no end that Damon always managed to get under her skin with his foolish comments. She wanted to dismiss his printed words she was now staring daggers at, but she knew she couldn't leave it alone

You know, a simple Hey Bonnie good job- would suffice

Maybe, but it wouldn't have gotten you to write back to me, now would it?

Bonnie could almost see the smugness dripping off each word he wrote in his reply. He thought he was real smart.

Wanting to shut her phone and not reply was a real impulse she was fighting to stop because Bonnie didn't want Damon to know that he had power over her actions- she didn't want him to win.

Wanting to show that he hadn't gotten a rise out of her, Bonnie obligingly texted back even if it was the last thing she wanted to do.

You have something worth actually saying to me- cause I got sleep to catch up on

Everything I say and do is important- was the immediate repose from Damon.

Bonnie rolled her eyes at his reply, while her fingers texted away on their on accord.

It's 1:30 am in the morning, if you don't have anything useful to say in your next reply- this delightful (that's me being sarcastic by the way) conversation is over.

Bonnie bit her lip as she waited for Damon's reply, she knew she implied that she was tired but she was wide awake now. Seconds turned into minutes and Bonne couldn't take the waiting.

Well? Bonnie texted

Nothing useful to say- thought I'd let you be

Why do you need to see me? Bonnie texted, knowing Damon was just trying to be difficult and antagonize her

Show up and find out-

Sweet dreams

Bonnie let out a frustrated breath. She was so pissed off at the moment. So much had gone on in the last twelve hours as emotions had run from highs to lows. And now she had Damon ending her day on a agitated note. Why did she have to pick up the damn phone?

Just to show him who was boss- she wasn't going to meet him tomorrow no matter what happened.

Bonnie shut her cell off and placed it back onto the table near her bed.

She lay on her back and a few minutes later adjusted to her side trying to get comfortable, speaking with Damn had completely erased the calm state she had been in after talking with Jeremy.

Not only was Damon irritating, the most selfish person she had met, but she had a sneaking suspicion he would haunt her dreams tonight Bonnie miserably thought to herself as she closed her eyes, hoping she didn't encounter any vampires. All she wanted was 8 hours of sleep- was that to much to ask for, these days?

A/N: What did you think? Good? Bad? Any reaction? I'd love to read it. Thanks!