"I'm going to become half of you. And I need you to know that every moment you love being yourself, that's me, loving you and loving being you."
-Rose Quartz, Steven Universe "Lion 3: Straight to Video"
She had been born into a world of chaos.
In the midst of a blood bath, she had been that small moment of joy. A flicker of light in the raging darkness. But even in that moment, a life was to be lost. Caroline Forbes gave a sob of joy as she cleaned the last bits of fluid and blood off the crying baby. Its eyes were closed and tiny fists were shaking as the newborn cried its tiny lung off.
"She's got some pipes on her." she commented and turned to the baby's mother. "Such a pretty girl too, just like her mother."
Bonnie gave a faint smile. "Let me hold her?" she asked.
Caroline nodded. "Alright sweetpea," she cooed down at the little girl and handed her to Bonnie. "Watch her head."
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "I know Care," she said. The blonde moved off to the corner, watching as the mother and daughter shared a moment. Bonnie looked down at the baby. She has stopped crying, but now she was giving small coos. "Hello there, my sweet, sweet girl."
The baby turned its little eyes on her. "Hi," Bonnie breathed out. What else could she say to the little girl. "Hello my lovely girl. I'm sorry we're meeting on the worse of circumstances. And I'm sorry that I can't be here for you."
Caroline grimaced but said nothing.
"But don't worry," Bonnie reassured the child. "I'll always be with you. Do you want to know why, my sweet Rhea? It's because I love you. I love you so much and I will always be with you. In your dreams, in the stories you hear of me, in every moment you love yourself, I'm loving you too."
Caroline watched the two share their only moment. Bonnie had some tears in her eyes but she didn't let them fall. Instead she kissed her daughter's face, from the crown of her head to the tip of her chin. Her heartbeat was getting weaker. "Never let her forget that," Bonnie said to Caroline. "Never let her forget that I love her. Never let her father forget that either."
"I won't," Caroline promised. She walked over and embraced Bonnie, careful of the baby. She kissed Bonnie's forehead. "I love you Bonnie."
"I love you too Caroline," she replied, handing her Rhea. "Keep her safe."
Caroline nodded, taking her goddaughter. She missed Bonnie shutting her eyes, a soft smile on her face as she fell into a slumber. Caroline bit her bottom lip to keep from crying. The door to the Boardinghouse opened and she turned to see Damon rushing inside. He blurred over to them, ignoring the baby and the fact he was bloody, grasping Bonnie's cheek.
"Bonbon?" he called. "Hey wake up, we did it. We won. You can wake up now."
Caroline exhaled. "Damon."
"Come on witchy, wake up. We got some celebrating to do. I'll drink since you're pregnant."
"Damon."
"Damn it all Bonnie, open your eyes!"
"Damon!" cried Caroline. The shout caused the baby to start crying. Damon turned, seeing the little bundle in her arms and then looked at Bonnie. The tone Caroline carried told him all he needed to know.
Bonnie was dead.
Caroline squeezed his shoulder best she could. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"She's dead," he whispered and looked at the baby in her arms. "And it's all her fault."
"No it isn't." Caroline snapped.
"If it wasn't for her, Bonnie would still be alive."
"Damn it all Damon, she's a newborn child!" Caroline yelled at him.
Damon moved to attack when he dropped to the floor, Caroline having turned and shielded Rhea before she head the sickening crack of a neck snapping. She looked over and saw Klaus Mikaelson standing over Damon's body. He turned and looked at Bonnie's peaceful form. He brushed his fingers along her cheek.
"Good night, little witch." He whispered. He turned back towards Caroline though his eyes were on Rhea. "May I hold her?"
Caroline nodded and stepped over Damon, handing the baby to him. Klaus smiled down at her. It was like holding Hope all over again. At the very thought of his daughter, a small blur of blonde curls came into the room, as well as Elijah, Hayley and a bloodied Kol.
"Bonnie love, we're..." Kol paused, seeing Klaus holding the baby.
"Daddy," said the little girl. Hope walked up to her father and then looked up at the baby in his arms. "Is that my cousin?"
"Yes dear," he answered affectionately. He bent down so Hope could see her. "Meet your cousin my dear."
"Why is Auntie Bonnie sleeping? Is she going to wake up?" Hope asked.
Klaus blinked back tears. "I'm sorry dear, but Auntie Bonnie won't be waking up."
Hope frowned, confused. "Why?"
Klaus looked down at the baby, again. "Because she wanted to do some last good deed in this world. She wanted to give us your cousin."
"Rhea," whispered Caroline. "Her name is Rhea."
Klaus nodded. "Welcome to the world, Rhea Bennett-Mikaelson."