Well the finale happened…the Bamon moments were golden and that is all I can say about the show. LOL!
I want to thank each and every one of you who have read, favorited, followed, commented and messaged me. This fic was a labor of love and I love that you stayed with me through it. I appreciate each and every one of you.
Epilogue-Two years later…
Bonnie stared at the open suitcase that she had not placed one stitch of clothing in for the entire hour that she told Damon that she would spend packing. They were due to leave Hawaii the next morning for a quick trip to Mystic Falls and just the thought of going back there awakened so many feelings in her.
Over the past two years, she had truly embraced her life for the first time since she was 16 years old. Hawaii had given her almost the same thing the Mystic Falls with Giuseppe and her Grams had given her, it gave her peace. She smiled more, she laughed more and she was able to relax more than she ever had in her life.
Then there was Damon. Damon Salvatore…her…something…they had been able to breathe without any people attempting to kill them and because of that, Damon has been a good vampire (well as good as Damon could be) and he was also the person who helped her be a little selfish for her own good.
"Making progress?" Damon remarked as he stood in the doorway of their bedroom.
Bonnie frowned sheepishly, "I am trying".
Damon walked over and peered into the empty suitcase, "Yes, looks like it".
"I just…I don't think I'm ready to go back there", she turned to him, "things are great here and I'm sorry, I really am but when I think about Mystic Falls—I don't have good feelings anymore. It's like visiting a place where horrible things happened to you and all of those feelings will come back attacking you".
"Is this about the fact that Mystic Falls is one of the cesspools of America or the fact that you will have to see Elena again and there has been some new developments?" Damon asked holding up Bonnie's left hand where the emerald ring glistened. Nothing had been set in stone, there was no ceremony between them, but there was an understanding and when people around town saw Bonnie they knew that she was the Pilialo to the blue-eyed man on the beach.
"No".
"Really?"
"No, me and Elena have made our peace with certain things and besides, I doubt she would possibly have any feelings about us now".
Damon shrugged, "I am really hard to get over Bonnie Bennett", he smirked.
She hit him playfully in the chest, "Oh sure…Alani is counting the days until I leave you, so that she can have you for herself".
"She has no idea that you are not above setting a 65 year old Hawaiian woman on fire to keep her away from me", Damon wrapped her in his arms.
"Yeah right", Bonnie laughed as Damon turned her around to face him.
"Bonnie, you don't have to come to Mystic Falls…I have to go, but I know how you feel and I think everyone else will understand if you don't ever want to set foot back there. Also, I don't want you to come back there if it's going to break you the way it did before we left".
"No…it's not that".
"Bonnie, it is that and people will get that".
"It's selfish of me".
"And so what, everyone deserves to be selfish once in awhile and you especially deserve it. I spent my entire life being selfish, I can't be that way now towards Stefan—but you, Bonnie, have earned some selfish points", Damon replied.
Bonnie bit her lip for a few moments, "Can you tell Stefan and Elena that I'm sorry?"
"Of course and you stay here, teach your art classes and relax", he said bringing her towards him and kissing her on the forehead.
"You sure that no one will hate me?"
Damon lifted Bonnie up off of the floor, "How could anyone hate you Bennett?"
"You did", Bonnie answered.
"I never hated you", he said lying her on the bed as he kicked her suitcase on the floor, "but even if I did, I was craazzzyyy back then".
"That you were", she laughed as he closed the space between them with a kiss.
SSSSSS
"How did this small affair turn into 200 people?" Stefan asked as he looked over the piece of paper that Elena handed him in the middle of the Salvatore living room, "I wasn't aware that we even knew 200 people".
"Well people in Mystic Falls know Elena Gilbert and honestly, this is something normal…we are having a normal wedding and for a day, we can be normal", Elena grinned as she kissed Stefan on the lips.
"I guess…but just so you know…", he said pulling her closer to him, "whether there are two people or 200 people, I can't imagine anything that would make me happier than making you my wife".
"Oh the sweetness of this scene is nauseating", a voice scoffed from behind them.
Stefan and Elena broke apart to see Damon standing in the foyer, "You came", Stefan grinned as he walked over and Elena smiled slightly.
Damon and Stefan hugged, "I wouldn't miss this for the world, my brother actually happy and no brooding, that is something I have to see and hello Elena".
"Hi Damon", she greeted him, "umm…where's Bonnie?" she looked past him, "did she stop somewhere else?"
"Umm…well…Bonnie couldn't come".
Stefan and Elena exchanged looks, "Any particular reason why?" Stefan asked.
"She wasn't feeling well, nothing serious", Damon answered quickly, noticing Elena's face fall slightly, "but she sends her best wishes".
"Well…I hope that it's not too serious, I guess I should be going. Caroline's probably at the airport by now", Elena gathered her bag, "thanks for coming Damon, see you later", she kissed Stefan and headed towards the door closing it behind her.
"What?" Damon asked as Stefan stared at him.
"Bonnie's not coming because she's sick?" Stefan raised an eyebrow.
"Look, Mystic Falls doesn't give her the warm and fuzzies and frankly, Bonnie's in a good place now and if it's a choice between coming here and her feeling like crap the entire time she's here or staying in Hawaii and being happy, I will always choose that for her".
"I understand, I guess…Elena was looking forward to Bonnie being here", Stefan shrugged.
"Well she will just have to settle for me", Damon shrugged, "so getting married Little Brother to thee Elena Gilbert, I honestly have to say…I didn't think it would happen this quickly".
"Well, Elena and I had some time to think about what we meant to each other and what we want and what we want are each other", Stefan shrugged, "it's simple and even though we've had obstacles, the feelings we had for each other stayed in tact".
"Even with the slight detour with me?" Damon smirked.
Stefan frowned, "That's something that we don't particularly discuss daily".
"Don't worry, it's all in the past. We all have started second lives now and the past is just that".
"Damon Salvatore, leaving the past in the past…almost unheard of", Stefan marveled.
He shrugged.
"So how are things with you and Bonnie?"
Damon chuckled, "Me and Bonnie are great".
"So being away and barely calling home worked huh?"
"We were fine whether we are here or in Hawaii, but I think Hawaii gave us the relationship that we needed without the drama of Mystic Falls. As for calling him, I knew you were fine and you knew the same for me".
Stefan nodded, "I think Elena's a little upset that Bonnie didn't come".
Damon shrugged, "She needed to do what was best for her. I would never force her to come back here, not after she had a near breakdown before we left".
"Two years away…", Stefan shook his head.
"Two years…and in that two years, you and Elena managed to piece everything back together and you are on your way to holy matrimony".
"Well once you have time to really focus on the important things in life, everything can fall into place easily".
"Could the Salvatore Brothers be on the way to being happy after all we've done?" Damon asked.
"Looks like it", Stefan stated.
SSSSSS
"Well I guess I have to relinquish my best man duties to you", Alaric grinned as he shook Damon's hand entering into the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner.
"You should have known that I would not miss my brother's wedding to my former love of my life", Damon smirked.
"I wonder how Bonnie would feel hearing you say that", Jeremy scoffed walking up next to them.
Damon turned to the young Gilbert, "And it was a perfect visit so far and to answer your question, Bonnie would be fine with hearing that because unlike you—she doesn't have a stick up her as…"
"I hope we're all getting along here", Stefan interrupted.
"We are, Jeremy was just asking how close Bonnie and I are now and I was just about to tell him about the king sized bed we have in Hawaii and how we need all the room to…"
"And on that note, I think we should get a celebratory drink", Stefan replied pulling Damon over to the bar.
"I was just warming up", Damon smirked as he ordered a glass of bourbon.
"I know, but you killing Elena's brother at our rehearsal dinner is not exactly in the plans".
"The little punk asks for it".
"Now, Damon…you really shouldn't talk about your future brother in law like that", Elena smiled walking over.
He rolled his eyes, "Then keep him away from me".
"I've called Bonnie five times and she refuses to pick up, did she leave you and you're just not telling us", Caroline narrowed her eyes joining the gang.
"No, but I can guess that she probably doesn't want to talk to you, she's answered every call of mine since I've been here", Damon widened his eyes turning to Caroline.
"I can't believe that she's not coming, ever since we were little we planned our weddings and it was always supposed to be the three of us helping the bride…always", Caroline whined.
"It's ok, Caroline", Elena spoke up, "I understand that Bonnie's not ready to come back and it's ok…it really is, this is a happy time and maybe soon me and Stefan will come visit you two".
"That won't be the same thing, Elena", Caroline stated forcefully.
Damon rolled his eyes—moments like this in Mystic Falls, made him wish that he was back in Hawaii with Bonnie.
"Umm…everyone, can I have a minute with Damon please?" Elena asked
"Sure…take all the time you need, we will move into the banquet room", Stefan smiled as he turned to walk towards the French doors with Caroline following.
"Soo…", Damon said.
"I wanted to ask…Bonnie didn't stay away because of the way we left things. I mean, I know we've talked here and there—but I thought we were getting to a good place".
"She wanted to be here, it's just that Mystic Falls doesn't exactly make her feel very good".
"I understand, but you came".
"I came because Stefan always wanted to see me happy. He would put his happiness over mine and I had to be here because he is finally getting that happiness. I also wanted to come because you deserve to be happy as well and I wanted to be here to see you finally get that happiness".
Elena smiled, "I'm not angry anymore. I'm not angry about how things happened or rather, how things fell apart between us. I realize now that everything worked out the way they needed to".
"And you're happy?"
"I'm unbelievably happy", Elena grinned.
"So am I and really, that's all we really wanted for each other".
Elena shook her head, "Being away…I mean, not going to Hawaii, but before that. When you were with your father, that changed you, didn't it?"
"It did".
"I'm happy for you Damon, I'm happy that you are finally happy…completely happy".
"Thank you…now shall we go into this rehearsal dinner before Stefan thinks I'm stealing you away?" Damon winked holding out his arm.
"We should", Elena smiled taking his arm and walking into the rehearsal dinner room.
SSSSSS
The next afternoon, Stefan stood in the mirror fixing his tie. "As the best man, shouldn't I help with that?" Damon asked walking into the room.
"Yes, it's about time you do something", Stefan smirked turning to him.
Damon chuckled as he walked over, "It's a good thing I came when I did, looks like you made a mess of this tie".
"Always the encouraging brother".
"Well this is it…the day you pledge to spend forever with Elena Gilbert, the doppelganger that launched a million brotherly rivalries".
Stefan chuckled, "This is that day".
"After all that we've been through, did you always believe this day would happen?"
Stefan thought for a few moments, "I did".
Damon raised an eyebrow as Stefan chuckled, "I'm sorry Damon, but I did".
"No, you were right. I was never a good fit for Elena. I would never become the person I was meant to become with Elena. Bonnie made me who I am today and I think that was always in the cards—that's probably why every time that I threatened the witch, I knew it was an empty threat…there was always something about her".
"Yeah, she didn't allow you to get away with being Damon".
"That she didn't", Damon chuckled.
"I wish that she decided to come today".
"Well there will be other times for us to be together", Damon answered as he finished Stefan's tie.
SSSSSS
"Look at you", Caroline cooed staring at Elena with tears in her eyes, "I mean, if I ignore the fact that you are marrying the guy that I had a slight crush on for a couple of months…I think you look absolutely perfect".
Elena stood up in her wedding gown and looked in the mirror, "After all that we've been through, it's almost impossible to believe that I could be this happy and I am happy".
Caroline hugged Elena, "I'm happy for you and even happier that I was able to bring my totally hot boyfriend to this wedding to make every single girl jealous".
Elena shook her head.
"Is there room for one more in that hug?" a voice asked from behind them.
Caroline and Elena turned around to see Bonnie standing in the doorway. She was dressed in a beautiful lilac dress with her hair in soft waves of curls down her back.
"Bonnie!" Caroline beamed as she rushed over enveloping her in a hug.
Bonnie held tightly onto Caroline as she looked over at Elena dressed in her beautiful mermaid wedding gown.
"I had to come, I'm sorry that it took me so long to realize it", Bonnie said breaking her hug with Caroline.
"It's ok…I'm happy that you're here", Elena said enveloping Bonnie in a hug as tears appeared in her eyes, "I know that coming back here will never be easy for you, but thank you for coming back for this".
Bonnie held onto Elena tightly as Caroline joined the hug.
"And oh…I don't care you are totally going to be in the wedding, we have an extra bouquet", Elena said.
"I don't have to be, I mean…"
"We planned our weddings a long time ago and I don't care about all the detours, it will be the three of us just like we planned", Elena said as she looked down at Bonnie's left hand along with Caroline.
"Apparently, we already missed a wedding…Bonnie, you want to tell us something?" Caroline asked.
"Oh…it's not what you think, we haven't made anything official", she said cradling her hand, "it's just…it's something between us, that's all".
"Oooh ok", Caroline said exchanging looks with Elena.
"Well we should be going", Elena said quickly.
"Yes…let's go", Bonnie smiled as she helped Caroline with Elena's train.
SSSSSS
"You look like you're about to pass out", Damon whispered in Stefan's ear as they stood at the front of the altar.
"Why did I want you here again?" Stefan whispered back.
"I have no…", Damon began, but then his eyes drifted to the beginning of the aisle where the perfect image appeared in front of him.
Bonnie smiled as she made her way down the aisle and then locked eyes with Damon. He winked at her and she grinned back.
SSSSSSS
"And now, may I pronounce to you Mr. and Mrs. Stefan Salvatore", the officiant announced, "you may now kiss your bride".
Stefan lifted Elena's veil and placed his hands on her cheeks as he kissed her softly. They both grinned as the music began to play and they headed down the aisle.
Bonnie moved to the center of the aisle and Damon held out his arm. She linked arms with him, "I knew you would come", he whispered in her ear.
"You know me best", she answered as they walked down the aisle.
SSSSSSS
Damon rested his hand on Bonnie's thigh as Caroline droned on with her Maid of Honor speech at the reception an hour later. "We can get out of here and go back to the boarding house", Damon whispered in Bonnie's ear.
"Shh", Bonnie turned to him.
"You can't be interested in this, I swear this speech is about 5 pages", Damon whined.
Bonnie turned to him and placed her two fingers on his lips and he took them in his mouth, "Eww", she giggled drawing them back.
"Do I have to separate you two kids?" Alaric whispered.
"Only if you want to lose an arm", Damon smiled at him.
"So I wish the happy couple nothing but the best", Caroline said holding up her wine glass as everyone took a sip of their drink.
"Guess I'm on", Damon started to stand.
"Be good", Bonnie held onto his suit jacket.
"Aren't I always?" he winked as he stood up and cleared his throat.
Bonnie covered her face—she could just imagine what he would say.
"So…as many of you know, I am Stefan's older…wiser…and better looking brother, Damon", he began.
Stefan and Bonnie both had a look of utter embarrassment come over them, "But what you don't know is that I am the brother that kind of looked up to his younger brother if you can believe that. Stefan has always had a spirit that would give anything and everything to make sure that those he cared about were happy. Often their happiness came at the expense of his own and he never once complained. I stand here watching my brother finally receiving the happiness that he was always meant to have and I just can't say it enough…I am happy for you Stefan, you deserve this and I wish you and Elena nothing but the best for as long as you two live. So I raise my glass to Stefan and Elena on their wedding day", Damon toasted as he held out his glass and clinked it with Stefan's before hugging him.
SSSSSS
Once the speeches were out of the way, the dance floor became filled with the guests. Bonnie looked out at everyone laughing and dancing around the room and shook her head with a smile; she almost missed this because of some fear from years ago. She noticed Jeremy standing by the bar and although, they had not said much to each other since she appeared at the wedding, she thought that this was the perfect time to walk over to him.
"So do you think I could have this dance?" Bonnie asked holding out her hand to him.
He looked down at her hand and noticed the ring, "You sure Damon won't kill me?" he smirked.
Bonnie smiled, "Damon's over there entertaining the guests with stories, come on", she said taking Jeremy's hand and bringing him out on the dance floor.
They danced in silence for a few moments and then Jeremy spoke, "You look great Bon".
Bonnie smiled, "Thank you and so do you, I think we both made out ok".
"I think we did and don't ever tell Damon this, but it looks like he is doing a good job keeping you happy".
"Don't worry, it will be our secret", Bonnie hugged him.
"Can I steal the wedding crasher for a minute?" Stefan asked interrupting their dance.
"Only because I need to get a dance with my sister while I can", Jeremy said letting Bonnie go and kissing her on the cheek.
Stefan wrapped his arm around Bonnie's waist, "Thank you", he said simply.
"What did I do?"
"You gave Elena something that I couldn't give her on her wedding day, her best friend".
Bonnie smiled, "Stefan, I just showed up to a wedding".
"You did more than that. I know that you and Elena will never be the friends that you were before, but this was a big step towards building new friendships".
"I wanted to see you two happy together, you both deserve it".
"Well thank you either way".
Stefan held onto Bonnie as they moved across the dance floor.
SSSSSS
Caroline and Elena danced on the dance floor to one of Taylor Swift's songs and Bonnie joined in. It was completely silly and completely corny, but they laughed and danced around each other just like old times. They laughed as each one took a turn dancing in the middle.
"Ok…ok…I'm going to get some champagne, I will bring you two some", Caroline danced away.
Bonnie and Elena took each other's hands and began to dance and then they hugged each other laughing, "Thank you for coming Bonnie", Elena held onto her, "I've missed my best friend so much".
"I've missed you too and no matter how I felt about Mystic Falls, I couldn't miss this".
"This day didn't feel right until I saw you this afternoon", Elena teared up as Bonnie matched her eyes.
"I couldn't let you get married without me", Bonnie wiped her eyes.
"Thank you", Elena hugged her tightly, "and when you decide to make things official with Damon, I will be there", she whispered in Bonnie's ear.
Bonnie's eyes immediately filled with tears again as she held onto Elena.
SSSSSS
Damon and Stefan watched Bonnie and Elena on the dance floor, "Do you think that they're piecing everything back together?" Stefan asked.
"Of course they are, they're not Salvatores", Damon answered, "it won't take them over 100 years to make nice with each other".
"Oh but Elena is a Salvatore now and Bonnie…"
"Would kill me if she was addressed as anything less than a Bennett", Damon answered, "and being that her powers get more advanced as the days go on, she could do it by just thinking about it".
Stefan looked out at Bonnie and Elena laughing and talking, "Well I think anything is possible at this point".
Damon looked over at Bonnie as she caught his eye and smiled back at him, "You may be right brother…you may be right about that, but if you will excuse me—it is time for me to share a dance with my little witch".
"By all means", Stefan gestured to the dance floor.
SSSSSS
Immediately following the reception, Stefan and Elena rode off in his convertible on their honeymoon to parts unknown and Bonnie and Damon went back to the boarding house. Bonnie sat in between Damon's legs, under the stars eating cake and occasionally feeding Damon a piece.
"What time does our flight leave tomorrow?" Damon asked as Bonnie fed him a piece of cake.
"2", she answered.
"Hmm..."
"I know, its nice to be back…but I can't wait to get back to Hawaii".
"Mmm, hmm", Damon kissed her on the shoulder.
"Damon…do you think that everything we went through…going into the white light, spending time in that Mystic Falls, coming back, working through everything and finally ending up in Hawaii together…do you think that was all to bring us to this point? Do you think that all of that was so we could find our peace here?" Bonnie asked looking up at Damon.
"I don't know, I don't know if we could ever know that. What I do know is that, right here we have everything that your Grams ever wanted for you and what Giuseppe wanted for me", Damon said.
"Do you ever wish they could see us like this?"
"Every day", Damon answered.
Bonnie looked up at Damon, "I love you".
"Love you too…", he bent down and kissed her, "…the future Ms. Damon Salvatore".
Bonnie hit him in the leg, "I hate you".
"You love me", Damon mumbled as he deepened their kiss.
"I do", she whispered into the kiss.
Fin
Thank you everyone for reading this one…without you, this fic would not have made it to a second chapter…let alone an epilogue.
Next up…the end of Kaleidoscope.