"No, this won't work." Caroline barely steps inside the home before she dismisses it.
The realtor barely holds in her annoyance before crossing the last home off her listing. Bonnie hides her smile behind her hand as they all troop outside.
"Well, I'll have to head back to the office and rustle up more potential homes. I'll be in touch, Ms. Forbes." With that, the woman beelines to her car, most likely cursing her newest client.
"That was a bust." Caroline blew out a stream of air. "Maybe I should get my own list together. I mean, this cannot be all that they have to offer. I'm sure I can find something better on my own. What do you think?"
Bonnie raises an eyebrow, "Oh, are you asking for my opinion? I thought I was banned from saying anything after I liked the blue cottage."
"You know I didn't mean it, and besides, this will be your home too! Don't you want to find the perfect place for all of us?" Caroline cajoled.
Bonnie smiled softly at the blonde, ever since she had been reunited with the girls, Caroline has been adamant about not letting anymore time slip through her fingers. She quit her job in Mystic Falls without hesitation, and began planning her move out to California.
"I would have had to leave eventually" she rationalized to Bonnie. "This is just a head start."
They were all staying at the Parker house during their transition, and while Kai said he didn't mind, Bonnie knows having Caroline there constantly has him a little on edge. He'd taken to disappearing in the library after dinner. He claimed that he wanted to give them all a chance to get to know each other again, but Bonnie knew he was just steeling himself for what he thinks is inevitable. That the girls would want to leave him.
Caroline squinted at Bonnie, "You will be moving in with me, right?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Bonnie walked towards the car.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe because there's a certain warlock who follows your every move that doesn't want you to go?" She teased buckling herself in the passenger seat. "You two seem to have gotten over your bad history, and hello, I have eyes!"
"That doesn't mean I'm going to move in with him, Care." Bonnie starts the drive back to their temporary home.
"I'm just saying, it's not like any of us would be surprised. I can only imagine what you two get up to in the library." Bonnie remains suspiciously quiet, which sets Caroline's 'gossip' meter pinging. "Bonnie? What have you two been up to in the library?"
Bonnie kept quiet.
"If you think I won't grab that wheel, you are sadly mistaken." Caroline threatened.
"We haven't done anything more than make-out." Bonnie mumbled.
"Pull over." Bonnie knew that tone, and she hastily complied.
Once they were safely parked in an empty parking lot, Caroline turned to Bonnie. "Okay what is it? Why have you not jumped on that and ridden it like Seabiscuit?"
Bonnie shrugged, "It's not like I don't want to, I'm just…"
"Waiting on the other shoe to drop?" Caroline suggested gently.
"I guess, yeah. You know my history, I haven't had the best luck with guys sticking around, and if I start something with Kai and it goes south…..I'd be crushed. I mean, I'd be absolutely devastated, Care. I want him, I really want him, all of him. Why can't I get over this stupid fear and go for what I want?" Bonnie sniffled.
"Because you unfortunately have had extremely shitty luck when it comes to your boyfriends." Caroline said bluntly. "I've watched you over the years after Enzo died and you have closed yourself off to anyone that even hints that they like you."
"Um, cause I seem to be cursed. Kai has somehow managed to do the impossible and turn his life around, he's actually a great Uncle. I don't want to come in and blow all that progress out the water. Knowing my luck, we'll get together and he'll somehow manage to get tossed into another prison world." Bonnie grumbled.
"Look, I'll admit that I'm not the biggest fan of Kai." Caroline turned to face Bonnie. "He swooped in and took my girls from right out underneath our noses. Alaric drank himself to death because he thought he had nothing to live for, and quite frankly, he puts me on edge. But even I have to give him props for raising the girls to be so fierce. They're never going to have to go through what we put you through, and honestly, I'm grateful to him for that if nothing else."
"You need someone like him in your life, Bon. I know what you're thinking, and this isn't really like Elena and Damon. Kai hurt me yes, but it wasn't because he was trying to get into your panties, or piss off a sibling, he made a decision to do better by his last remaining family members. Yes, he killed his family and his coven, but I truly believe his time in 1903 and Hell changed him. You must think so too, if you didn't you wouldn't be okay with leaving them in his care."
Bonnie nodded in agreement as she started up the car and brought them back to the house. Kai had made no secret that he would be okay with her deciding to stay at his home, but she couldn't leave Caroline alone when she uprooted her whole life just to be near the girls.
Could she?
She mulled over what Caroline said as she got dressed for dinner. She had been invited to dinner with a few members of the Kellett coven. The invitation was just for her, so Bonnie knew from Shawn that they wanted to pick her brain about Kai. His past actions, his current actions, and everything in between. They still hadn't said yes to becoming a formal ally to the newly formed Gemini coven, and Bonnie hated the idea that she would most likely be the swing vote.
"You look nice." Bonnie jumped as Kai's voice floated over to her.
"Thanks," She ran her hands down her sides, "I hope this is appropriate."
He walked in and stood behind her wrapping his arms around her as they both looked at their reflections in the mirror. "It's very tasteful." He dropped a kiss on her shoulder. "Did you and Caroline find something suitable?"
Bonnie rolled her eyes, "You know we didn't, otherwise I'm sure you would have heard us talking about it. I forgot how picky she can be." She turns around to face him. "Sorry, looks like you're stuck with us for a while longer."
"I think I can live with that." She lifts her face, and his eager lips meet hers in an impromptu make-out session.
Footsteps thunder past the still open door. "Auntie Bonnie, the car's here!" They break apart breathing heavily.
"Are you gonna be up when I get back?" Bonnie asks.
"I'm pretty sure I'm always 'up' around you." Kai quips. It's the perfect thing to get them giggling like the teenagers they no longer are. Bonnie smacks him on the arm as she leaves the circle of his arms to gather her purse and shoes. He walks her to the car, and right before he shuts the door he leans in, "Whatever they ask you, just answer. Good, bad, or whatever. I trust you." With that, he's gone and the car is on it's way.
Bonnie is surprised to pull up to a house, and not another restaurant. Her door opens to Shawn's smiling face, his husband not too far behind him. "Thank you for coming, Bonnie. I heard the bad news about the cottage, tough luck kiddo." She smiled up at him, in the time that she's been back in California she's grown close to the older man. Caroline liked him too, although not as well as she ended up liking Clint.
The vampire had made her intentions about settling in near the girls very clear from the get go, everyone else be damned. Bonnie was fully prepared to fight for her friend to stay, but they found an excellent ally in Clint, who revealed that he had spent a chunk of his childhood years being raised by a vampire himself before her untimely death.
The two of them quickly bonded, and it was usually Clint that accompanied Caroline on her impossible house search. He owned his own architectural firm, and used his connections to put Caroline in contact with a realtor that he'd worked with over the years. Shawn had confided in Bonnie that Clint was looking to build their forever home, and his house hunting with Caroline was doing nothing but giving him more ideas than they could ever feasibly execute. Both he and Bonnie were hoping that Caroline found a place soon.
"It was perfect." Bonnie lamented about her one choice. "It had room for all of us, but not freakishly huge. It was near Kai and the girls' school. I swear, sometimes I think she's drawing this out on purpose." She hugged Clint and fixed him with a stern look, "Can you tell your friend that she's got one more week then I'm making a choice myself."
Clint merely laughed and walked with them to the dining room. They stopped at the door, "You're not joining us?" Clint shook his head, "This is just for you and Claire, we'll be nearby, but we aren't needed here." Bonnie had been relaxed about dinner up until that very moment, but hearing it would be just her and the coven leader freaked her out completely.
"Bonnie, so nice to see you again." Claire hugged her warmly. Bonnie really liked the older woman, she ran her coven in what seemed like a fair way. No sketchy merging ceremonies, or ritualistic killing of its younger members to gain and keep power, plus, they worked with other species. If Bonnie had been interested in joining a coven, the Kellett Coven would have been at the top of the list.
"Thank you for inviting me." Bonnie greeted as she took her seat.
"I'm sure you know why you're here, and you're mostly right. But I also wanted to talk about you." Bonnie feels her eyebrows shoot up in surprise, she tries to recall if she's run afoul of any members of her coven in the preceding years.
What she's thinking must show on her face because Claire laughs and assures her that this isn't an ambush nor does she bear any ill will towards Bonnie. They enjoy a delicious dinner of roasted chicken and finish with the most amazing chocolate mousse Bonnie has ever tasted.
They adjourned to the study after dinner where Claire got right down to business. "I invited you here because you are one of the only people who have seen all sides of Mr. Parker. Pre and post merge. Before and after his stint in Hell. Do you think he's changed enough to be trusted?"
Bonnie took a deep breath, "I totally understand why you would be wary of him, and he's got a horrible past, no denying that. But I do believe he's changed for the better. I think the fact that he died and what he went through while in Hell managed to get through to him that he couldn't continue as he was. Kai is admittedly someone who, when you give an inch, he'll try to take a mile."
"Like he took his nieces?" Claire took a sip of her drink.
"Yes, like he took his nieces." Bonnie agreed. "He's very possessive of what he considers his, the fact that they were cared for and loved by Alaric...their father." Bonnie rushed to explain. "He still saw them as his simply because they were his sister's kids, therefore they were Gemini. Therefore they belonged to him."
"Do you agree with that line of thinking?"
Bonnie shook her head, "No. I've made it clear that what he did was horrible. Alaric drank himself to death, my friend Caroline was inconsolable. You know she's a vampire?" At Claire's nod, Bonnie continued, "She considered this her one and only chance to be pregnant and carry children. So to have them stolen from her, she blamed herself for a long time."
"But" The other woman prompted.
"But, I can't find fault with the way he's raised them. They are smart, capable, extremely talented young women. They've grown up in a great environment, and they are going to be a credit to the Gemini Coven, and whatever coven chooses to have them as allies."
"Your upbringing was vastly different, was it not? You were around their age when you discovered your powers, correct?" Claire prodded.
Bonnie frowned, why were they talking about her? "Um, yes. It was around this time, yeah."
"You lost your grandmother at a pivotal time, all that magical knowledge she could have imparted onto you, just gone. The ensuing years were extremely trying as well." She paused to look at Bonnie. "You haven't had the easiest time, have you, Bonnie? Having had to go at it alone all this time."
Bonnie was starting to get an inkling of what else the coven leader wanted to talk about. Her suspicions were soon confirmed. "I've already made up my mind about Malachai. You see, I knew him and his family prior to that horrible day in May. Becoming reacquainted with him after all this time, not to mention his delightful nieces, it's obvious that he is not the same young man. He needed help, not isolation, and I suppose granting him ally-ship is my way of offering him the assistance that none of us offered back then."
Claire stood and walked to Bonnie, "But you, you would also be an invaluable addition. Not only are you a Bennett, but you have more than proven yourself as a capable witch in your own right. You lost your magical family at such an important period in your life, what would you say to joining mine?"
Bonnie was speechless, this isn't the first time that she has been offered the chance to join a coven, but it is the first time she feels a tug of want.
"I'll let you think it over." They bid each other a good night and soon Bonnie was on her way back to Kai's house.
"Anyone home?" Bonnie called out. The house was unusually silent. Normally around this time, there would be heated discussions on who's turn it was to clean the kitchen, and fights about doing homework.
"Kai? Care?" Bonnie made her way up the stairs to the room she had woken up in all those months ago. She knew that Kai normally liked to hide in there sometimes just to get away from what he called "the estrogen parade".
"Kai?" Bonnie knocked softly before opening the door. Kai was reclined on his back sideways on his bed with his phone clutched in his hand.
"How was dinner?" He didn't so much as blink, just continued to stare up at the ceiling.
"Um, fine. Good. Are you okay?" Bonnie walked over and laid down beside him.
Kai let out a laugh, "Yeah. I'm good. Claire just called, said she's agreeing to align her coven with mine." He turned his head towards Bonnie, "I don't know what you said, but thank you."
"I told her you were possessive as fuck, and that your time in Hell must have kicked some sense into your psychotic ass." Bonnie deadpanned.
"Well whatever it was, thank you." He leaned over to brush a kiss against her lips. She smiled into the kiss, "I mean, I didn't do anything, but if you really wanna show some gratitude…" she trailed off as he rolled so he was laying on top of her. "Oh, I've got all kinds of gratitude for you, Bon."
Bonnie swatted his arm, "So charming."
"Damn straight."
The next morning found Bonnie attempting to sneak back into her own room, but even before becoming a vampire, Caroline had a nose for gossip. She waited until Bonnie had shut her own door before revealing herself, "Exactly what have you been up to, young lady?"
Bonnie let out a shriek before spinning around to see the blond standing with her arms crossed in the middle of the room. "Fuck!"
"I sure hope so." Caroline sat on the still unmade bed and patted the seat next to her. "Come on, the girls are still sleeping, and I need some good morning after talk. It feeds my soul, and you don't want my soul to go hungry, do you?"
"Can I go to the bathroom first? Or is your soul on the verge of passing out?" Bonnie snarked.
"You have 10 minutes, Bennett." Caroline looked at her watch purposefully. Bonnie knew from experience that her friend was serious.
10 minutes later on the dot, Bonnie was sitting on her bed with her childhood friend. She had made sure the room was spelled, so there would be no one listening in on her conversation. Caroline nodded at the right moments, and made all the appropriate comments. Bonnie felt like they were 15 and squeeing over their high school crushes again.
"So you took the plunge, finally!" Caroline beamed, "Now I can stop dragging out this damn house search and sign the papers."
"You've been dragging this out? Why?"
"Because you needed to get laid!" Caroline yelled. "My God, watching you two circle each other was just painful for everyone." She put on her serious face as she spoke to Bonnie, "Look, I know why you were hesitating, but this isn't like the whole Damon/Elena thing. As much as a part of me will always hate Kai for taking the girls away, he made the right choice, Bonnie. I truly believe that. It wasn't just for the sake of being destructive. He wasn't lashing out because you rejected him….well this time." Caroline conceded. "He learned from his mistakes, something Damon never had to because Elena was always there to forgive him for whatever shit thing he did."
"He did it because he was thinking of his last remaining family members. He knew he was most likely killing his chances with you ever forgiving him, but all that took a back seat to protecting them and teaching them to be as strong as they could be. I can overlook missing all that time because he focused on them, on their health, and their well-being, not his own."
"I don't want it to seem like just because I'm hot for him, I forgive everything he's done." Bonnie tried to clarify. "He killed his siblings, then his whole coven."
"Then you and Damon sent his ass to Hell. I mean, if that's not a wakeup call to look at your life and decide to change, then I don't know what is." Caroline answered back. "You obviously have worked your way through it to have fallen for him, so why be hesitant now? Go for it, I'll back you 100% if anyone wants to say anything. You deserve to be happy, Bonnie. Does he make you happy?"
"Yeah." Bonnie sniffled as she nodded. "He makes me real happy, I haven't felt this since.."
"Enzo?" Caroline supplied.
"Kinda, I know my relationship with Enzo was not exactly healthy. I think I latched on to him because we were the only two people around. I did love him, but I don't think it was in a good way. I wanted him to be my everything, I wanted it to be overwhelming. Hell, I almost set myself on fire just to get him to save me."
"You did what!" Oh right, she'd never told anyone about that.
"This isn't like that" Bonnie rushed to say, "it's big yeah, but it's not overwhelming. I don't feel like I have to compete with anyone. I know he wants me, and not a ghost, or as a consolation for the one he couldn't have."
"Which brings me back to my question that I've asked many, many times before. Will you be moving in with me?" Caroline raised a perfectly arched brow.
Bonnie groaned as she set down the final box.
"You realize that you're just gonna have to move this stuff back in eventually, right?" Kai commented from the open door.
Bonnie rolled her eyes, "Okay, first of all, nobody asked you. Second, it's not everything, just clothes and stuff. I can't let Caroline live by herself."
"She's got the girls like three days a week, she's hardly alone." Kai swooped down and picked her up, carrying her to the bed and tossing her on it.
"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Bonnie was so proud of Kai, he and Caroline had come to an amicable arrangement on the girls. Their main residence was with Kai, of course, but most weekends and school breaks they stayed with Caroline and Bonnie.
Kai shrugged, "I'd rather have you all underneath my roof, but this works too." He leaned down to kiss under her ear, "But as an added bonus, we don't have to worry about the girls barging in on us as much."
No sooner had the words been spoken than they heard twin sounds of disgust from the door, "Ew gross. You guys have a whole other house to do that in now." Josie's face was scrunched up, while Lizzie was averting her eyes.
Kai lifted his head, "Have I taught you two nothing about privacy? Maybe I should spell your rooms to never let you out while I'm here." He jumps off the bed and heads down the hallway to their bedrooms, with the girls fighting him every step of the way.
Bonnie laughed as she got back to unpacking, suddenly feeling the urge to call Damon and thank him for doing whatever he did that ended up with her being hexed. She had managed to find not only two lost little girls, but also a brand new family to call her own.