Disclaimer: I don't own The Vampire Diaries or The Originals.

A/N: This idea popped into my head as I was watching the season 5's finale. I've always liked the idea of Kol and Bonnie, and it could've been a cool opportunity to bring them back together for a scene. So, I wrote my own version of it!

Pain pulsed through Bonnie as she struggled to keep the portal to the real world open as the Other Side fell apart before her eyes. She clenched her teeth, trying with all her might to keep control while she waited for Damon. Where was he?

"Well, I'll be. It's true." A familiar voice spoke the words, prompting Bonnie to forget about her current struggle and focus her attention on a person that she oddly was pleasantly surprised to see. "Kol," she stated.

He smirked as he sauntered over to her, "In the flesh. Kind of." He joked. His eyes roamed every inch of Bonnie, trying to soak in the fact that she was here before him. For some reason that he never quite understood, he has always had a soft spot for the Bennett witch. He kept his smirk in place as he continued, "I have been hearing whispers here and there about you as the anchor and central point to this world, but I had to see you here for myself." He frowned, his voice suddenly transitioning in tone and sounding solemn. "How can you be here?"

She wasn't sure if hysteria has finally kicked in at the prospect of death and never seeing her loved ones again, but Bonnie chuckled darkly at his words. "It's a long story, Kol." She rested her sad eyes onto his own, silently asking him to end the questions. She knew he wouldn't, but she wished there was some way that he would—even pretend for a moment that none of this was happening. For Bonnie, this moment was the end of her entire word. As soon as Damon arrived, she would send him through the portal and be over. Entirely over.

Kol recognized the pain surfacing in the tiny brunette's eyes and seeing such a look—a mixture of despair and fear—on her face sent chills down his spine and a pain in his chest. It was almost as if he was human again, and his heart became the real organ it was supposed to be—pumping blood and life through his body again instead of being as hardened and lifeless as a stone, representing a burden that forever reminded him of his lost humanity. His took a deep breath before he said the words out loud. "You are doing this for that doppelganger bitch, right? I should have known." He laughed when the Bonnie's eyes darkened for a moment, and he put his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry, but it's true. She is." He shook his head, disappointment lacing his voice, "You are always sacrificing yourself, little witch. None of them deserve you." His eyes pierced into her own as he said the last words, and Bonnie knew—just from the sincere look in his eyes—that he meant it. It was like a silent apology to her on behalf of everything she has had to do for her friends.

His acknowledgement filled her with peace in that moment, and she was incredibly grateful for his words. She even chose to avoid scolding him for insulting Elena and instead used her words to settle things between them. "I'm so sorry, Kol." She uttered the words softly, regret consuming her voice. "I don't regret my decision to stop your plan of lowering the veil for good and allowing all hell to break loose, but I do regret that the decision stopped your plans to cross over and be with your family. I'm truly am sorry for that."

The Original stared at the witch in awe and disbelief at what he was hearing. Hell must have frozen over if a Bennett witch—the Bennett witch in his eyes—was apologizing to an abomination like him. She really was a good one. He smiled genuinely, bowing his head slightly in acknowledgment of her words. "Can't say I wasn't pissed off, little witch. But, I understand why you did it." He clenched his jaw when he caught her looking at him with an awestricken expression of her own, which prompted him to break eye contact with her, settling his gaze onto a ray of the blue light that Bonnie was creating with her power. It took a lot for him to admit that to himself much less to her. He still felt anger and despair about the situation, but what's done is done, and Kol Mikaelson has had a lot of time to come to terms with the idea.

Bonnie couldn't help but frown at the Original in front of her. His sadness penetrated her soul in a very real, intense manner that instilled an overwhelming feeling of sorrow in her heart. She wanted to fix it like she wants fix everyone's pain around her.

"You know Klaus relocated to New Orleans to reclaim his throne or whatever." She rolled her eyes briefly at the thought of the lead and incredibly overdramatic Original who had made their lives hell.

Kol's lips turned upwards slightly. "Yeah, I have been watching the bloke in my spare time. Him, Elijah, and Rebekah are having an interesting time down there." He chuckled weakly, but Bonnie immediately detected the wistful tone in his words. His desire, despite everything, to be with his family. It broke her heart.

Wincing a bit in an effort to regain more control over the portal, Bonnie tried to keep her tone light. "I can see you in New Orleans." She smiled when his eyes met hers. They were shining with an emotion Bonnie couldn't quite put her finger on.

"Yeah?" the youngest Original asked, hope lacing his voice.

His innocence in that moment brought a real smile on her face. "Yeah. The incredible life of the city, the music…the huge party every year," she paused to take in the sight of him laughing. Her smile grew wider. "I can definitely see it." She reached her hand forward, beckoning him to take it. "Take my hand. Cross over before it's too late. You deserve to be there with them." Her voice became urgent at the thought; she knew that time was running out for her and the spell.

Kol's eyes widened as he took one step closer to Bonnie without making any effort to touch her hand; He just wanted to be closer to her as he processed what has happening before him. "Bonnie," he whispered, "You're serious?" He looked into her emerald eyes, searching them for an answer. She just smiled—a sign of her honesty. Happiness at the thought of a second chance consumed him, but it was cut short by an unsettling thought. "Will it hurt you?" he asked, never breaking eye contact and taking another step closer to her.

Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes—she was going to die, and there was no other way out. At least, one that she knew of right now. "I won't feel a thing," she lied, trying to reassure him with a calm tone and a small smile.

He shook his head, "I mean will you be able to go back too?" He watched her shuffle her feet and glance at the ground. "Bennett," he begged.

"Prob—" she forced herself to look in his eyes, "Probably not. The spell is very powerful, and I have challenged nature's boundaries too much already. It's not likely that I'll be able to."

Kol couldn't believe it. She was going to sacrifice her life again for those idiots she surrounds herself with? "No," he challenged her, his voice rising with intensity.

Bonnie continued to look him dead in the eye. "Yes," she retorted softly. She sighed, "We're running out of time. Please, take my hand. Give me a chance to make things right for the last opportunity I may have."

Jaw clenched, Kol stared at Bonnie in silence for a moment. He knew the panicked look in her eyes meant that he had to act fast, but his heart felt like it was being torn into two and the feeling was so foreign to him that it paralyzed him.

"Kol," Bonnie urged him, reaching for his arm. Kol swerved in the opposite direction to avoid his touch. Bonnie's eyes widened, worry overtaking her features. She broke their eye contact briefly to check for any sign of Damon. She didn't know how long this portal could be kept open by her and the young witch helping her from the other world who was close to her own limit—Bonnie could feel it in her bones.

Seeing the desperation in Bonnie's eyes forced him to realize that he really did have to act fast if he wanted to get out of here. But the idea of Bonnie being left behind hurt for some reason. Kol didn't have time to really analyze it. "I'll go if you promise me something," he stared at her expectantly.

"What's that?" she asked.

Kol shrugged his shoulders, "Find me in New Orleans and have a drink with me."

A laugh escaped Bonnie's lips despite the severity of the entire situation. "What?" she asked surprised.

Kol didn't waver. "You heard me," he chided her in an affectionate tone. "Promise me you'll meet up with me in New Orleans."

Bonnie couldn't contain the smile that graced her face—leave it to Kol to completely lighten a situation. She was grateful for his playful personality. She sighed, her heart fluttering under his steady gaze. There was no other choice but to play along. "Deal," she stated. "But," she held her hand out, "You also have to buy me beignets when I'm there. A box of them."

He grinned, taking a step closer. "Anything for you Bennett. Just come back."

"I'll try."

He nodded sadly, "I know you will. You're strong. You will find a way."

His confidence instilled a small sense of hope in her heavy heart. "Okay."

They stood quietly, gazing into each other's eyes. Kol took her hand, and Bonnie was left standing alone on the other side.