Chapter Text
"Ahh.”
A cry erupts from her lips as the edge of a branch slices into her arm. The immediate burning sensation from the wound causing her to stop running as she sagged against the nearest tree for support. Twisting her arm gingerly in order to inspect the cut, she winces not only from the pain but the sight of it. It was going to leave a scar if not treated properly, but she could not worry about that now. At the moment she only has time enough to concern herself with the bleeding, because it was imperative she starts moving again.
It didn't matter that it was in the middle of the night, nor that is was raining so hard she could barely see a few feet in front of her. It did not even matter that she was tired and cold nor the fact that her clothes were soaked through all the way to her underskirts. All of it weighing her down. It made no difference that she had no idea where she was or where she could go. All that matters was that she had to keep moving and get as far away from them as possible. She couldn't let them catch her; there was just too much at stake.
Straining to reach the bottom of her tattered dress, she rips a piece of it to wrap a makeshift tourniquet around her arm; she will worry about infection later. Using her available hand and her teeth she ties it as tight as she can, her breath shuttering slightly from the pain.
Inhaling deeply, her hand comes to rest protectively over her round stomach, "All right little one," she begins; her tone soft and loving, though a bit weary, "we have to keep going. Hopefully, we will come to a town soon, where we will be able to send for help." Her words really meant to give herself hope as she rubs gentle circles over her belly. But it is then that she feels a swift kick. It is as if her little boy was letting her know he was in fact here with her. And despite her tears, she laughs.
Nodding, she took another deep breath as she pushed herself off the tree. “Okay,” she says feeling a little more empowered as she begins to navigate through the woods again.
With every forward step, she went deeper into the woods, lost but seeking. And though she is determined to keep moving, she cannot deny that her body is weak and her energy waning. She was not sure how much longer she can go; how much longer she can press. After a while, she cannot help but lean against a nearby tree as she tries to catch her breath. "Mama just needs a moment," she sighs rubbing her stomach as she looks around her. It isn't raining as hard as it had been before but it is still very dark. She cannot see anything that might indicate she is near some kind of refuge, expect…
Looking just to her right, she narrows her eyes not sure she is seeing what she thinks she is seeing … there appears to be a dim light in the distance. "Thank the goddess," she cries in relief as she pushes from the tree with renewed strength making her way towards the light. As she gets closer she sees that it is coming from a small cottage.
She is so tired as she makes her way up the stairs of the small porch, but she pushes and uses all her strength to bang on the door. She continues banging even when she hears someone coming. They are right behind the door now … she is almost safe.
But then the door opens and her heart stops. "We've been waiting for you, dear," an old man greets her in an overly polite voice that does not match the sinister smile adorning his face.
Backing away from the door, her hands protectively covers her stomach, a gentle disbelieving, "No," escaping past her lips. Then just as she prepares to turn and run away another man, younger than the first, grabs her from behind. She fights with all her might, but it is no use. He is stronger than her and her magic is weak."Please let us go. Why are you doing this?" Her words coming out in a fit as she continues to fight with whatever strength she has left.
"You know we cannot do that, dear," the old man explains as he moves from the doorway so that the younger man can bring her inside. "Not until we make sure that abomination in your womb does not live beyond its first breath."
It was at that moment that Bonnie jumped up out of her sleep, a resounding, "No," echoing off the walls of her room as she pressed her hand to her chest. Inhaling and exhaling in measured breaths as she tried to slow her rapidly beating heart. It had all felt so real.
"Bonnie." The gentle call of her name causing her to look up to find Damon sitting on the edge of her bed as he tentatively reached for her. She hadn't even heard him come in, which is not something that should surprise her. Damon was a master at sleuth, but the speed in which he reached her side was fast even for him. It was almost like he was already there before she woke up. "Hey. Whatever it was; it's over now. You're safe," he told her in a comforting voice as he pulled her against his bare chest.
Taking another shuddering breath, Bonnie allowed the familiar feel of his arms around her to comfort her as her heart finally started to slow. No more words passed between them as Damon just continued to hold her, his right hand gently cupping the back of her head as his left moved in soothing circles over her back. They were both so content and comfortable at that moment, that neither of them was aware of the passing time.
“Damon? Is everything all right?”
The sound of Elena's voice, sleepy and confused, coming from Bonnie's doorway caused the young witch to stiffen. "Yeah everything's fine," Damon assured her, glancing over his shoulder, but not bothering to loosen his hold on Bonnie, though the young witch tried to move away. "Bonnie had a bad dream. Go back to bed, I'll be there soon." He didn't even wait to see if Elena had anything else to say before turning back to Bonnie.
"I'm okay, Damon," Bonnie told him before he could say anything to her, pulling away from him as she spoke. "You don't need to worry about me," her tone playful but uneasy as she bit into her lower lip. "You already have so much else to concern yourself with." Like the fact that they just discovered his mother was locked in a 1903 prison world.
"Bonnie," her name felt like a caress as it passed through his lips. "You know that I can't not worry about you. You are the only concern that matters right now," he told her softly as he moved her hair from her face and cupped her cheek. "So what made you so upset?"
It took everything in Bonnie not to lean into his touch. Instead, she gently placed her hand over his and removed it from her cheek. "It was nothing big; I think I am just adjusting to being back," she told him lamely. "But really I'm okay … there is nothing to worry about," she tried to convince him.
True she had been having these nightmares for weeks now; they started shortly after he left the 1994 prison world. Nightmares with her running in the woods, dressed as if she was from the 1800s and pregnant, and trying to get away from someone trying to hurt her baby only to always get caught in the end. There had been some dreams too - lovers meeting in secret with kisses and soft touches. But all from a weird time with faces she did not recognize. Bonnie had thought they were some strange byproduct of being alone in the prison world, but here she was her second night back and she was still having them. And while a big part of her wanted to share them with Damon, she didn't want him to worry. She wasn't lying when she told him there were other things he should be concerning himself with. "Go back to bed … back to Elena." Her tone resigned as she moved towards the other side of the bed putting space between them.
Something in Damon told him there was something she wasn't telling him. Whatever she was dreaming about had had her moaning and kicking in her sleep before she had finally awakened. He had been just about to wake her himself when she shot up. And whoever or whatever she was fighting had really shaken her up; he wanted to know what it was. He wanted to help her chase the demons away. But he also understood her need for distance.
Reluctantly he rose from his seat at the edge of her bed. "Okay, I'll go," he started to leave then stopped when he reached her doorway, "but I'm right next door if you need me though," he reminded her.
“I know.”
And with one last little smile, he was gone.