Back From The Dead

The Next Day – Salvatore House

Bonnie knocked on the door, arms crossed, her patience already thin.

The heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing Stefan. He stood there, dressed in black, his expression neutral at first—until his eyes landed on her.

His smile faltered. Faded. Then disappeared entirely.

"...Thought you were dead."

Bonnie let out a humorless chuckle. "Yeah, well. You made sure of it."

Stefan exhaled through his nose, tilting his head slightly. "Well, in my defense, it was a mistake. Rebekah placed you in front of my attack." His voice was flat, indifferent, like he was talking about the weather.

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know." She moved to step inside, but Stefan shifted, blocking her path. His gaze sharpened.

"How are you alive?"

Bonnie stared at him for a second, then sighed. "The veil. It lifted yesterday, connecting the Other Side and the real world. I used that opportunity before it was closed… to stay back."

Stefan's head tilted slightly, considering her words. Then, ever so slowly, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Smart."

Bonnie didn't respond. She just held his gaze, her expression unreadable.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick, tense. The Stefan in front of her wasn't the same Stefan she once knew. His eyes were too empty. Too cold.

His humanity was off.

And he wasn't even trying to hide it.

The tension in the air was suffocating. Bonnie could feel Stefan's gaze burning into her as she stepped past him, brushing against his shoulder without another word. He let her in, but she knew it wasn't out of kindness. He was just curious.

Inside, the house was exactly how she remembered—dim lighting, expensive furniture, that ever-present scent of bourbon in the air. But something felt off. Maybe it was just her. Or maybe it was the fact that she shouldn't even be here.

The soft murmur of voices echoed from the living room. Bonnie's steps were slow, measured, as she turned the corner—

And then they saw her.

Damon was the first to react. He was sprawled on the couch, a drink in hand, looking half-bored. His blue eyes flickered up, and for a split second, there was shock. Real shock. But then, as quickly as it came, it vanished behind that signature Damon smirk.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the witch who refuses to stay dead." He tilted his glass in her direction. "Gotta say, Bon. You've got a real flair for dramatic entrances."

Bonnie didn't blink. "Yeah? And you've got a real talent for pretending you don't care."

Damon grinned, but there was something sharp behind it. He took a sip of his drink, eyes never leaving hers.

Caroline was next. She stood near the fireplace, arms crossed, her expression caught between disbelief and relief.

"Bonnie?" Her voice was small, hesitant, like she didn't trust what she was seeing.

Bonnie swallowed. This part was always the hardest.

"Hey, Care."

Caroline blinked, her lips pressing together as she took a step forward. "I—I thought you were gone. For good."

Bonnie nodded. "I was."

Caroline inhaled sharply, looking away for a second like she was trying to keep it together. But then she turned back, her face hardening.

"How?"

Bonnie sighed. "The veil lifted yesterday. I used the opening to stay."

That was all she said. That was all she wanted to say.

Damon whistled low, shaking his head. "You know, for someone who's supposed to be dead, you look really alive."

Bonnie shot him a glare. "Sorry to disappoint."

"You're not," he said smoothly, "but somebody will be."

And just like that, the air shifted.

Because now, they all understood.

Bonnie being back? It wasn't just some random miracle. It meant something. And if the universe worked the way it always did in Mystic Falls…

It meant something bad.

The silence stretched. Caroline bit her lip, her fingers gripping her arm like she was holding herself together

Footsteps echoed from the staircase. Slow. Hesitant.

Bonnie turned just in time to see her.

Elena stood frozen on the stairs, her face pale, her brown eyes wide with something between disbelief and fear. Her fingers tightened on the railing, like she needed it to stay steady.

For a second, she didn't say anything. She just stared.

Then, her lips parted.

"…Bonnie?"

Her voice was small. Fragile. Like she thought saying the name too loudly would shatter the illusion in front of her.

Bonnie swallowed, forcing herself to stay still. "Yeah."

That was all she said.

Elena let out a shaky breath, and suddenly, she was moving—fast. Too fast. She reached Bonnie in seconds, arms wrapping around her in a crushing hug.

Bonnie stiffened.

She hadn't even processed it before Elena was squeezing her tight, like she was afraid she'd disappear again if she let go.

Bonnie exhaled, closing her eyes briefly. It was overwhelming—too much warmth, too much emotion after being so cold for so long.

But then she felt Elena shake against her.

And she realized—Elena was crying.

Bonnie hesitated, then slowly, carefully, lifted her arms and hugged her back. Just for a second.

Then—

"Elena."

Damon's voice cut through the moment. A warning.

Elena ignored him.

She pulled back, just enough to look at Bonnie's face, her hands gripping her shoulders like she needed to see her to believe her.

"How? How are you here?" Her voice broke on the last word.

Bonnie forced a small smile. "Long story."

Elena let out a breathless laugh—half relief, half disbelief—before pulling her back into another hug. "I thought I lost you," she whispered. "I felt it."

Bonnie's chest tightened. Because she knew.

She'd felt Elena grieving on the Other Side. Felt every tear, every aching sob, every silent apology whispered into the empty space where Bonnie used to be.

And now, she was here.

Elena pulled back again, her fingers still wrapped around Bonnie's arms, her expression a mess of emotions—relief, confusion, guilt, everything at once.

And then—

A flicker of something in her eyes.

Realization.

She stepped back, her grip loosening, her face shifting ever so slightly.

"…Bonnie." Her voice was quieter now. More careful.

Bonnie knew what was coming.

"You used the veil to stay?"

Bonnie nodded.

Elena's brows furrowed, her mind working through the pieces.

"So that means…" She trailed off, but Bonnie already knew what she was thinking.

The veil didn't just lift for her.

It lifted for everything else too.

Damon sighed loudly, tossing back the rest of his drink. "There it is. The part where we realize this is probably gonna bite us in the ass."

Caroline shot him a glare. "Damon, not now."

Bonnie looked at Elena, her voice steady. "I'm still me."

Elena searched her eyes, like she was trying to find the truth in them.

Bonnie held her gaze. Unwavering.

Because she wasn't lying.

She was still Bonnie.

But she wasn't just Bonnie they used to know.