Those Who Stand Beside You

Not Just You

Bonnie placed the roses on her mother's grave. They were her favorite and at this point her mother was overdue a visit. She knelt down and read the inscriptions on the stone, loving wife and mother, and let herself cry because she finally knew the truth so for the first time she didn't resent the words written on that stone anymore. Abby had made the biggest sacrifice for her and she wouldn't waste it so she'd live for the both of them.

"Bonnie" her voice said behind her and Bonnie got on her feet before turning to see her mother standing in front of her. She marvelled at how she still looked exactly as she remembered, with her long locks and glowing brown skin.

"Something's coming Bonnie, it's coming for you and your family".

She noticed her mother look at something over her shoulder with fear in her eyes and she followed suit, looking for what she had her so scared all of a sudden.

She counted six of them not too far off, the lack of a beating heart and the clear blood lust in their eyes giving them away, but there was something else. She could feel magic, it was unlike anything she's ever felt before and a chill ran down her spine.

"It's not just you anymore, Bonnie, protect your family". Abby was gone again by the time she turned to look at her and ask what she meant.

None of that mattered though cause there was suddenly a hand around her throat before she could blink and another plunged into her stomach, squeezing the life out of her.

"Attention Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Mystic Falls, Virgina. This is our final destination so please ensure that you have taken all of your belongings before you deboard the bus. We appreciate you traveling with us and we hope to have the pleasure of traveling with you again soon".

The familiar sound of the intercom woke her up from yet another nightmare. She's been having the same one for the past month or so and at first she thought it would pass, but now she wasn't so sure.

A year has gone by since her confrontation with Silas and yet she was still getting used to having Abby's powers. Her seer abilities were her biggest challenge and at this point she just really missed sleep.

She slowly got up from her seat and took her backpack from the overhead compartment. She considered texting her dad, but figured she could do that once she was actually safe in her grams house so instead she just got off the bus and made her way through the terminal where she spotted Stefan waiting for with roses in his hands. She liked roses, it was one of the things she shared with Abby and when she told Stefan, he always went out of his way to get them for her, especially if they hadn't seen each other in a while.

One month two weeks and four days to be exact.

They had a great summer in New York, but he had to come back early after Damon called him for help on a traveller problem they were having. She wanted to come back with him too, but he insisted on her spending time with her dad. Much needed time she appreciated in retrospect and time she wouldn't trade for the world. So summer had to end at some point and she had the last quarter of senior year to focus on now.

Still, she missed her dad already.

Stefan turned his head, spotting her in the sea of people and she swore her breath caught in her throat when she saw his smile.

How does someone get more beautiful in just one month?

That thought ran through her mind as she took off towards him and jumped into her open arms, wrapping herself around him.

His arms instinctively went around her waist as he lifted her clear off the ground and buried his head in her neck, breathing in her familiar cocnut shampoo. And he swore nothing smelled better than Bonnie.