TVD: The Siphoner

Evening settled over Mystic Falls, warm and quiet. Inside Elena's house, the kitchen buzzed softly with the sounds of dinner being prepared.

Bonnie and Elena moved around the space with practiced ease—clattering dishes, simmering pans, shared glances.

"Explain this to me…" Bonnie began, leaning against the counter as Elena set down some plates. "Last night I was watching Nine Bowls, and during the commercial break, I thought—'I bet the phone ad's coming on.' And guess what? It was the phone ad."

Elena raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Come on. They show that ad, like, ten times a night."

"Okay, fair," Bonnie allowed. "But then what about this?" She held up three fingers. "Today, I'm obsessed with the numbers 8, 14, and 22. They're just stuck in my head. Like… looping."

Elena paused and leaned closer with a teasing smile. "Maybe we should play them in the lottery."

Bonnie rolled her eyes, unamused.

Elena chuckled as she turned back to the stove. "Have you talked to your grandma about it?"

"No," Bonnie replied quickly, her voice tight. "She'll just tell me the same thing she always does: 'You're a witch, Bonnie.'" She shook her head. "I don't want to be a witch. Who would?"

"I wouldn't want to be a witch," Elena echoed softly, glancing her way.

They worked in silence for a moment.

"Okay…" Elena said, glancing around. "Where did I have Jenna put the knives—?"

"Central drawer. A little to the left," Bonnie said without hesitation.

Elena stopped. Looked at her. Then opened the drawer.

And there they were.

Knives, neatly stacked.

Elena raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. "Well, you've been in this kitchen a lot of times…"

"Yes, but…" Bonnie began—but she didn't get to finish.

Ding-dong.

The doorbell rang.

"Okay…" Elena said, wiping her hands on a towel. "They're here. Don't be nervous—just be your usual sweet self." She gave Bonnie a reassuring smile before heading for the door.

But Bonnie was nervous.

She didn't want to be near Stefan.

As Elena walked off, Bonnie glanced at the drawer in front of her. Almost on instinct, she murmured, "Birthday candles…"

She pulled the drawer open—and there they were.

The exact pack of candles she'd been thinking of.

She shut the drawer quickly.

From the hallway, she heard:

"Hi, Aiken…" Elena said warmly, ushering him in.

"Hi, Elena." Aiken smiled as he stepped inside.

"And a hi to you too, Stefan." Elena added, giving Stefan a soft kiss on the lips.

"Hi…" Stefan replied, wrapping an arm gently around her waist.

They walked toward the kitchen.

"Hi, Bonnie," Aiken greeted as he stepped in and leaned forward to kiss her cheek.

"Hi…" Bonnie replied quietly, tense, her eyes flicking toward Stefan with something close to fear.

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Later, at the dinner table…

Elena and Stefan sat across from Bonnie and Aiken. Despite the delicious spread in front of them, the air was thick with awkwardness.

Elena and Aiken exchanged subtle glances, both silently asking the same question: How do we get them to talk?

Trying to break the silence, Elena asked, "So… Tanner gave you a hard time today?"

Stefan shrugged, managing a smile. "He accepted me onto the team, so I guess I didn't do too bad."

Elena turned to Bonnie, eyes bright. "Bonnie, you should've seen him—Tyler threw him the ball, and—"

"I know," Bonnie interrupted quietly.

And just like that, the awkwardness returned.

Elena took a long sip of wine.

Aiken turned to Bonnie. "Why don't you tell Stefan about your family?"

Bonnie shot him a look—Really?—but relented.

"Ah… my parents are divorced. No mother. I live with my father."

"I meant the witches," Aiken clarified, smiling.

Stefan's eyes widened a little.

"She comes from a family of witches," Aiken explained.

"That's really cool," Elena added, trying to help.

Bonnie gave her a look. "Cool is not the word I'd use."

"Well, it's… really interesting," Stefan offered carefully. "I'm not exactly an expert in the field…" He glanced at Aiken, who was trying—and failing—not to laugh. "…but I think some Celtic druids migrated here around the 800s."

"My family comes from Salem," Bonnie said flatly.

"Really?" Stefan looked genuinely intrigued. "The Salem witches?"

Bonnie smiled slightly. "Yes."

"That's… really cool," Stefan repeated, this time turning to Elena, as if seeking confirmation.

"Really? And why?" Bonnie challenged, her smile returning—but sharper this time.

Stefan didn't flinch. "The Salem witches are a heroic example of individualism. And anti-conformism."

Bonnie's smile softened into something real. "Yes. That's true."

Aiken smiled as Bonnie glanced at him. Elena chuckled lightly, finally sensing the ice breaking.

And then—

Ding-dong.

The bell rang again.

Everyone looked toward the door.

"Who is it at this hour?" Elena muttered as she stood and walked toward the front door.

She pulled it open.

"Surprise!" Caroline chirped, bright as ever, wearing an eye-catching scarf and holding a white box with careful pride. Damon stood behind her, all smirking eyes and lazy confidence.

"Bonnie said you were all having dinner here," Caroline added. "So we brought the sweet!"

"Oh…" Elena blinked, stepping aside as Caroline breezed in.

"I hope it doesn't bother you," Damon said from the doorway, leaning casually against the frame.

Stefan appeared immediately, tension radiating from him. "What are you doing here?"

Damon's smile curled. "Well, I'm waiting for Elena to invite me in."

Stefan turned to Elena, his voice low but firm. "He can't stay."

"Am I right, Damon?" Stefan asked, eyes locked with his brother's.

The brothers stared each other down.

"Come on, enter already," Caroline urged, oblivious or pretending to be.

"We're still eating," Stefan said quickly, turning to Elena.

"It doesn't matter," Elena replied after a short breath. She turned to Damon. "Come in."

Damon stepped past the threshold with theatrical flair and flashed Stefan a satisfied smile. "You have a beautiful house, Elena."

"Thank you," she said, her tone polite but measured.

Damon's grin widened. He glanced again at Stefan, who stared back, jaw tight.

Damon moved into the living room, taking in the space, when from the dining table just a few steps away, Aiken stood abruptly.

"What is he doing here?" Aiken asked sharply, eyes shifting to Stefan in a silent demand for an answer.

Bonnie looked between them, her fork hovering midair. The energy in the room dropped several degrees.

To be continued...

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