Humanity 6 "The Change"

Chapter 6

DAMON'S POV

"I missed you too, buddy." I mumble truthfully as I pull away from Stefan's tight embrace, where we stand together in the crypt.

"I can't believe it." He says with a sigh. "I thought you were gone."

"Well, you didn't think I was gone gone. I promised you an eternity of misery." I smirk at him.

It feels so good to back.

ASHLEY'S POV

"He's back?" I ask Elena as we sit in the dorm room. "How?"

This news has hit me really hard. I'm not really sure how I feel about it. I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about it either.

"I don't know." Elena shrugs. "Honestly, everything Stefan said after 'Damon's back' is kind of a blur."

"What about Bonnie?" I ask hopefully.

DAMON'S POV

"She sacrificed herself so I could come back." I tell Stefan after he asks where Bonnie is.

It kills me that I left her behind, but I didn't have a choice. The ascendant was in my hands and the eclipse was above me. I hardly had time to process what was happening before it was too late.

"But I don't want anyone to know. No sense making this harder than it already is." I explain.

"What are we gonna tell people?" Stefan asks me.

ASHLEY'S POV

"He said she wasn't over there." Elena says sadly, and my face falls. Bonnie isn't back.

"Where is 'there,' exactly?" I ask, changing the subject.

DAMON'S POV

"Mystic Falls? 1994?" Stefan asks with a frown as I nod.

"I know. If a bunch of witches were going to get together and create some space time purgatory, you'd think they'd pick a better year than the one Kurt Cobain killed himself in. The whole thing was just very depressing." I tell him as I take a swig from the bottle of bourbon.

"So, how did you get back?"

"Long story, big flash of light, two decades worth of jet lag." I sigh. "I will explain all of my adventures in that flannel hell hole, but first, there's someone I gotta go see."

I smile to myself, thinking of her as I start walking towards the door.

ASHLEY'S POV

"I don't wanna see him." I state firmly as I stand in front of Ric's desk in his office.

"I get it." He sighs, standing up. "But that's how you feel now, Ashley. If you thought there was even a chance that you'd see Damon again, you would have never asked me to compel away your memories of loving him."

DAMON'S POV

"She did what?" I ask in disbelief, spinning around to face Stefan.

"She, uh...she had Alaric do it." Stefan explains hesitantly.

ASHLEY'S POV

"Damon is going to kill me." Ric tells me in frustration.

"You're unkillable." I say calmly.

"Doesn't mean he won't try."

"What do you think is gonna happen when I do see him?" I ask Ric unsurely.

DAMON'S POV

"I just need to see her, Stefan." I raise my voice. "Our eyes will meet, fireworks will go off, and the balance of nature will be restored. She loves me."