Unfinished: The Reincarnation of Bonnie Bennett

by jazzywazzy08

Bonnie uncovers memories of a previous life that she spent with Klaus, Stefan, and Rebekah….

4. Part Four: Ghosts of the Past

Title: Unfinished

Rating: M

Genre: AU/Supernatural/Romance

Pairing(s): Bonnie/Klaus, Stefan/Rebekah, Bonnie/Stefan (minor), Klaus/Stefan (minor), Bonnie/Rebekah (minor), Caroline/Tyler, Matt/Katherine, Rudy/Gloria, Abby/Elijah, etc.

Summary: Bonnie uncovers memories of a previous life that she spent with Klaus, Stefan, and Rebekah….

Warnings: Violence, Sexual Content, Racial Tension (Slurs, Racially Motivated Crimes and the Like), Character Death, Bad use of 1920's slang, ect.

Part Four: Ghosts of the Past

Bonnie Bennett wanted to kick herself. She had been doing some rather stupid things as of late but agreeing to come home with Stefan really took the cake. She had come to the boardinghouse thinking that it would be smarter than having her house infiltrated by a hybrid, a ripper, and an original vampire. Considering none of them seemed too keen on leaving her alone, which was odd within itself, she had thought that it was better idea than having them force her to invite them into her home. It was what would've most likely happened and it would have given them all open access. The alternative of Stefan's humble abode seemed like the smarter choice.

Though, she had come up with a way to keep them from infiltrating her home, Bonnie had never considered that both Klaus and Rebekah had already infiltrated Stefan's. Still she shouldn't have been so surprised that Klaus and his sister were staying with Stefan. Stefan was Klaus's only ally in Mystic Falls, so of course he would take residence with him.

Still, once Bonnie had taken the time to think about the events of the night and even more time to think about her increasingly unexplainable actions, she had been less than comfortable after finding out that she would likely be sharing the roof with all of them for the night. Stefan had promised not to let her out of his sight.

She hoped that a shower would calm her nerves. So when Stefan had offered, she wasted no time in agreeing, disappearing upstairs and into the bathroom upon entering the house. She had taken her time in the shower and decided not to worry about anything outside of the way that the hot water felt on her skin, or washing the chlorine out of her hair. As a result of not thinking she ended up staying in the shower far longer than she intended. Even though the sensation of being in the water was less pleasant than it would have been had she not nearly drowned hours earlier, it did have a calming effect on Bonnie.

When Bonnie finally left the shower, she found a towel and a fresh set of clothing sitting on the sink. She looked at the clothing skeptically but decide it was safe enough. Though, she was certain that the pair of pajama pants among them were the ones that Elena had purchased for Stefan for Christmas the year before which was just weird. Also, she could have sworn that she seen Klaus wear the shirt that was with it at some point. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, Bonnie put on the clothes anyway.

Considering the car ride in which she had for some reason clung to Klaus, feeling the uncontrollable urge to keep him calm, she figured that things couldn't get any weirder. But of course she was wrong.

As soon as Bonnie finished getting dressed there was a knock on the door as if whoever was on the other side was waiting for her movements behind the door to stop. Which, being in a house full of supernatural beings with super hearing, was probably the case. Hesitantly, Bonnie opened the door and was slightly relieved to find Rebekah on the other side. Not that she felt particularly comfortable around the blonde but considering her other options she would much rather be stuck with Rebekah than an overly attentive Stefan or an oddly vulnerable Klaus.

Rebekah insisted on blow drying Bonnie's hair, and it was only because Bonnie was tired and in no mood to argue that she agreed. All and all it was a rather surreal experience. The blonde looked almost happy to be taking care of her. It was bizarre because Bonnie could tell even from the short time that she had known her that Rebekah was the territorial type, and from Stefan's journal Bonnie knew of her and Stefan's past and possible present together. Stefan wasn't exactly being secretive about his affection toward Bonnie, so Bonnie had figured that Rebekah would want to rip her head off.

But it seemed just the opposite. As Rebekah turned the blow dryer off she began to brush Bonnie's hair while humming Bonnie's favorite song in a rather soothing manner. Bonnie's was too on edge to relax, however. She wasn't sure what to make of Rebekah's behavior.

"How are you feeling?" Rebekah's soft accented voice inquired as she pulled Bonnie's hair up into a ponytail.

Bonnie shrugged fiddling with the odd amulet that was still around her neck. She knew that whatever the necklace was it was somehow connected to how Klaus had saved her life. Bonnie sighed. Klaus had saved her life, yet another thing that she didn't really want to think about.

"Better," Bonnie whispered as she looked at Rebekah's reflection in the mirror, "Thanks for asking."

She was surprised that Rebekah even cared. Had the blonde not looked so sincere when asking the question, Bonnie might not have bothered to answer her.

"No problem, doll face," Rebekah said as she finished her task. She inclined her head to the side and Bonnie raised a brow at her in question. Rebekah ignored her and appeared to be listening to something. The voices downstairs Bonnie realized. After a moment her attention turned back to Bonnie. "Stefan will be up with your tea soon," she said.

"Oh," Bonnie said not really knowing how else to respond.

Rebekah rested her chin on Bonnie's shoulder meeting her eyes in the mirror. For some reason Bonnie didn't really mind her invading her space. "You must be hungry," Rebekah said.

Bonnie shook her head. "Not really," she said. She didn't really feel like eating at the moment. After everything that had happened she wasn't sure that she would ever get her appetite back. They were quiet a moment and then Bonnie couldn't help but ask about Rebekah's behavior. "Can I ask you something?" She said thoughtfully.

Rebekah shrugged. "You can ask me anything, love," she said in a way that kind of reminded Bonnie of Klaus.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Bonnie asked. Somehow Bonnie knew that Rebekah wouldn't be nice to just anyone. She was after all Klaus's sister.

Rebekah sighed. She had seen the question coming. At first she wasn't sure how to answer. But after giving it some thought, she decided to give the witch an answer that she would believe but that also rang true. "Because you're important to Stefan and my brother and they're important to me," Rebekah said.

Bonnie was about to deny the fact that she was important to Klaus when she remembered the way that he had looked at her when she opened her eyes after he had saved her life by the pool. The way that he had held his hand over her chest as if reviling in the beating of her heart. Bonnie pushed the thoughts away. Though, she nodded to Rebekah in understanding, she still doubted that she was as important to Klaus or Stefan as Rebekah seemed to think. "So," Bonnie said wanting to change the subject, "You and Stefan are together?"

Rebekah didn't know how to answer that question. They had been once upon a time, even if there were times when she had shared him with Nik or Bonnie. Or he had shared her with Bonnie. It had always been them in the end. But time had passed and things had changed. Like Bonnie he had lived a whole life without her. Rebekah didn't know what they were. But there was a tension there that they both kept dancing around.

"Something like that," Rebekah answered finally. She watched as Bonnie nodded, seemingly digesting the information. The witch grew silent and a thought occurred to Rebekah. "Would it bother you if we were?"

"Not really," Bonnie said with a shake of her head and Rebekah knew that she was telling the truth.

Bonnie didn't know why it didn't bother her. When she thought of Stefan and Elena it sent a twinge of jealousy through her and more than a little anger, though she hated to admit it. But for some reason the idea of Stefan and Rebekah didn't bother Bonnie, it almost seemed natural.

Rebekah smiled and looked at her in a way that made Bonnie wonder. "Of course it wouldn't," Rebekah said sounding completely unsurprised.

"You almost sound like you knew that I wouldn't be bothered by it," Bonnie said, her confusion obvious.

Rebekah shrugged. "Maybe I did know," she said, "And for the record if it were you and Stefan it wouldn't bother me either."

Bonnie raised a brow at that. As territorial as Blondie seemed she found her words extremely hard to believe.

"Were it anyone else I wouldn't stand for it," Rebekah said seriously, "But with you I don't mind."

"Why me?" Bonnie asked. As much as she didn't want to believe what Rebekah was saying, something in the way that she was looking at Bonnie made her words seem all the more sincere.

"You look at him almost the same way that I do," she said smiling softer than Bonnie would have expected given the circumstances, "You can't look at someone like that without there being..." Rebekah barely restrained herself from saying the 'l' word. "Deep feelings there. You obviously know how to handle and accept him for who he is…even in this state. Nik and I were the only ones that were ever able to do that with him before you. So…you're the only one that I trust with him outside of us." Rebekah remembered saying almost the same words to Bonnie once and she meant them as much as she did the first time that she said them.

Bonnie didn't really understand how Rebekah had come to that conclusion after knowing her for less than one night. Nor did she understand what Rebekah saw when Bonnie looked at Stefan that she didn't see when she saw Elena look at Stefan. Bonnie frowned slightly at the thought of Elena. Still, she could admit that Elena did love Stefan, even if she couldn't accept him as he was now. Just because Bonnie could didn't mean that her feelings for Stefan were any greater, did it?

Rebekah laughed at the serious expression on Bonnie's face. "Stop thinking so hard," she chastised, "Let's just go and get your tea."

Bonnie nodded. They left the bathroom and Bonnie followed Rebekah toward the stairs, surprised at how at home the blonde was acting. Actually Rebekah's behavior in general surprised Bonnie but not enough to make Bonnie willing to ask for the reason behind her behavior. She knew that she wasn't ready for the answers that her questions would likely receive.

:::

Matt Donovan took a deep breath as he stopped in front of Caroline Forbes's house. He had dropped Tyler off first and he had felt nothing as he watched the two kiss each other goodbye. His mind was elsewhere.

When he wasn't thinking about himself almost dying, he was thinking about Bonnie almost dying. When he wasn't thinking about Bonnie almost dying, he was thinking about Klaus saving Bonnie at the pool side. The whispered words, the frantic movements, the look of loss. Matt shuddered as he thought about Bonnie sandwiched between Stefan and Klaus.

He remembered how they had been with her after. How they had hovered so close. How Bonnie had seemed to be unable to let go of Klaus' hand even as he was forcing Tyler to drink Elena's blood. The looks that she and Stefan kept sharing, and worse the looks that she and Klaus kept sharing. The way that Klaus, Stefan, and Klaus's sister had herded Bonnie out of the school. Matt kept replaying it all in his head.

"Some night, huh?" Caroline said as he turned off his truck. Matt shrugged his shoulders. "You alright?"

"No," Matt said honestly, "You?" He turned to her hoping that he could get some comfort from her presence but it only reminded him that she wasn't his to draw comfort from anymore.

"I will be," Caroline said. She studied him a moment but didn't make any move to get out of the truck. "Do you want to talk about what happened?" Caroline asked after a moment, "Bonnie told me what the two of you did for Tyler. Thank you."

He hadn't done it for her. Not entirely for Tyler either. but he nodded in response to her thanks just the same. He was silent, not really knowing what else to say. Even if he did want to talk about it, which he didn't, he wouldn't know where to start.

"See you at school tomorrow," Caroline said softly when she realized that Matt wasn't going to say anything further. Even with what had happened he still didn't feel comfortable with confiding in her. She wondered what it would take for them to get their friendship back. She moved to get out of the car and he stopped her, grabbing her arm. She turned back to him and looked at him with concern when she saw the expression on his face. "What is it Matt?" Caroline asked.

"I know what you assumed happened," he said, "But I wasn't the one who saved Bonnie after she saved me. It was Klaus."

Caroline frowned. "Klaus?" She asked. She thought back to the moment in the classroom when Klaus had given Tyler, Elena's blood. She had been focused on Tyler at the time but she could remember now, other details. Klaus's sister wrapping her jacket around Bonnie's shoulders. Stefan toweling off her damp hair. Then there was Klaus holding tightly to Bonnie's hand.

Matt nodded. "I don't know why he did it," he said, "I can't explain what happened, but he…I never thought before, that he could actually feel. You know? I thought he was just this monster with no emotions but he…The way he looked at her. The way he touched her. He was gentle, he acted like she was so frail. It scared me, Care, even more than when he was threatening us all. It scared me.

"So many things just hit me at once. Bonnie…she isn't invincible. Klaus knew that, and he knew that when we didn't. Just because she has her powers doesn't mean she can't break, that she can't die." Matt's eyes squeezed shut. "Klaus knew that. That monster didn't see her as a witch when he was saving her life. He saw her as a girl that needed to be saved Caroline. How could someone who has terrorized all of us, who has encountered Bonnie less than handful of times still be able to see her that way? All of us, people who grew with her our wholes lives, stopped seeing her that way almost the moment that we found what she was."

Caroline didn't know what to say. She had never heard his voice sound so small before. The things that he was saying made her feel confused and guilty all at once. It was true that once their plans failed or even as a first solution they all depended on Bonnie's powers. They had all forgotten about Bonnie the carefree girl that made silly predictions about the future, sang old jazz tunes in the school talent shows, and had an easy smile, in favor of Bonnie the witch who willingly risked her life for all of them without thought.

"But this isn't just about Bonnie," he said, "This is about all of us. We have to stop this. We can't keep putting Elena's life before everyone else's. We can't keep forgetting who we all were before all of this. We were kids. We were friends, all of us. Friends who would do anything for each other. Friends that didn't take from each other. I'm not saying that things can go back the way they were, too much has happened and is happening for that. I am saying that we're still who we were, all of us, and we have to remember that. We have to do better. No more sacrificing one for the good of all. No more one of us playing hero. We need to stick together and we need to protect each other. And every once in a while, how about we maybe we hang out and do normal stuff. We shouldn't have to have something bad happen to remember that we're friends. Okay?"

Caroline nodded. She wondered what Matt had seen by the pool that had made him break down like this. It was funny that even when they were dating Matt hadn't ever said that Elena's life wasn't worth what they all were going through.

But he was right. Vicki was dead. Ms. Sheila was dead. Caroline herself was a vampire. Tyler had just been made a hybrid that very night and the list went on and on. But in all of that they had put Elena's losses above everything else. They had all forgotten how to really be there for each other without the selfishness and the single-mindedness. Matt was right, things couldn't be how they were before but that didn't mean they had to keep on the way they were now.

Caroline leaned over in her seat and wrapped her arms around Matt. "Okay," she said, "We'll do better."

:::

Rebekah sat on the bench that was in front of the monster that Bonnie claimed was a piano. Stefan and Nik had moved the bulky mess into their haunt the night that Klaus had broken down Bonnie's door and stopped her from leaving Chicago. Rebekah had long sense gotten used to Bonnie hammering away at it. She ran her hands over the keys. Rebekah wished that she had a passion for something that meant something, like Bonnie and her music.

"I wrote you something," Bonnie said coming up to stand behind her, "I'll sing a few bars if you promise not to laugh."

Rebekah turned to her and smiled. She was wearing the green dress that Rebekah had picked up for her the day before. It was an odd thing, getting gifts for the witch when she had resented her so much just a little while ago. But now that she didn't hate Bonnie it was hard for her to remember why she had ever thought she had.

"Alright doll," Rebekah said scooting over and making room on the bench for Bonnie to sit, "But it had better be good or I'm taking that dress back."

Bonnie sat down next to Rebekah and stretched her arms over her head, cracking her knuckles. "It isn't much but Nik likes it," she said.

"That's hardly an accomplishment," Rebekah said fluffing her hair lightly, "Nik likes everything you write." Bonnie gave her a look and she shrugged. "What?" She asked, "It's the truth and you know it." Bonnie was apparently choosing not to respond. She instead she begin to play a tune that was more upbeat than Rebekah would have thought when thinking of something that had been written for her.

"Don't laugh Bekah," Bonnie warned. Rebekah nodded. Bonnie looked skeptical. "I mean it," she said.

"Oh stop being an idiot and sing it already," Rebekah said with a roll of her eyes, "Or I will be forced to go through Nik's nightstand and flush all of your ciggys."

Rebekah didn't know if it was the threat to her cigarettes or the embarrassment brought about by the illusion that Rebekah had made to Bonnie taking up residents in Nik's bedroom rather than the guest room that was readily available to her, but for whatever reason Bonnie began to sing. "Quick wit, silver tongue, oh boy can you take it? She'll give you her heart but you better not break it. A devil with an angel's smile. She's the blonde in the red dress you'd like to come and stay awhile…"

Bonnie stopped singing as they heard the front door open and footsteps coming up the stairs. "Come on," Rebekah said poking Bonnie playfully in the side, "I want to hear the rest."

Bonnie shrugged. "That's it so far," Bonnie said, "There would have been more but...well your brother can be kind of distracting when he wants to be. A dame can only take so much."

Rebekah rolled her eyes. "Of course," Rebekah frowned, "Next time tell him that he can have his fun after I get my song." Bonnie laughed but nodded. Rebekah rested her head on Bonnie's shoulder. "I did like it though," she said, "Makes me sound like a heart breaker."

"That's because you are," a voice said from behind them. They turned and smiled at the same time as Stefan entered the room. "I like seeing my two favorite girls getting along," he said as he stopped in front of them.

They frowned at him simultaneously. "Women," Rebekah and Bonnie corrected him, "Not girls."

Stefan leaned forward and placed a lingering kiss on Rebekah's lips, his lips then found Bonnie's though the kiss was much shorter. "Women then," he said as he pulled back grinning at them both in turn.

"Are you coming, Blondie?" Bonnie asked, breaking Rebekah out of her revelry, as she stood frozen on the steps and lost in her memories. Nik had never really understood how she had managed to share Stefan with Bonnie, but she had managed to share him with Nik as well. Just as Bonnie had managed to share Nik with Stefan, and Stefan had managed to share Rebekah with Bonnie. It was like a cycle with them. They all belonged to one another. As long as at the end of the day it was the four of them together it was all that mattered.

"Sure I'm coming," Rebekah said. She made her way down the stairs leaving her thoughts behind her. "Bonnie," she said as she appeared at the witch's side, "Have you ever thought about taking up the piano?"

Bonnie gave Rebekah a surprised look that was just on the verge of suspicious. "I used to play when I was little," she said, "No one knew that but my parents and my Grams though. What made you think of that?"

"You look like you've got a nice set of pipes," Rebekah shrugged attempting to look nonchalant, "I just have this picture of you cranking out songs behind a piano."

"I used to dream about it when I was younger," Bonnie shrugged, "Haven't done much singing lately though."

"Maybe you should," Rebekah hedged. She could tell that Bonnie was considering it as well as considering her.

"Maybe," Bonnie said with a grin, "I might even write you a song." Bonnie began humming to herself, an odd little upbeat tune that made her think of Rebekah for some strange reason.

Rebekah smiled to herself as she realized that Bonnie was humming her song. "I'd like that," she said, "Just make sure you finish it." She stopped just short of adding, "This time" to the end of her statement.

When they reached the kitchen Bonnie was surprised to find that Stefan was there alone. She wondered where Klaus had gone. For some reason the thought of him leaving without a word made her uneasy. She didn't comment on Stefan's solitude however, choosing to take a seat at the kitchen table. She was surprised when Rebekah took the seat next to her, though given her behavior since their arrival she didn't know why.

"Nik is upstairs scaring up some old records," Stefan said as if reading her mind. Bonnie tried to hide the odd feeling of relief that she felt at finding out that Klaus hadn't left but Stefan noticed anyway. "How are you feeling?" He asked placing a steaming cup of tea in front of Bonnie.

He had been right, a ripper serving her tea was a bizarre sight indeed. "I'm fine," Bonnie said choosing not to harp on his sudden domesticity, "Rebekah took care of me." Bonnie sipped her tea in an effort to cover up her own surprise at her words.

Stefan smiled at Rebekah before turning back to Bonnie. "Glad to see my two favorite girls getting along," he said.

"Women," Bonnie and Rebekah corrected him at the same time, "Not girls."
Stefan shook his head but he was smiling even wider. He looked between the two of them and then he and Rebekah shared a look that made Bonnie think that they knew something that Bonnie didn't. "Women then," Stefan conceded, "Not girls."

:::

Gloria closed another grimoire and sighed. She felt as if she wasn't looking in the right place. It had been hours and she had yet to find anything to pertain to memory loss or the spell that she had performed in order to bring Bonnie back. Something in the back of her mind told her that there was something that she was overlooking but she couldn't put her finger on it.

She tapped her fingers against the coffee table that she sat in front of on the couch that had once belonged to Bonnie's grandmother. That was it. She would have to ask for Sheila's assistance and hope that the woman would trust her enough to give her something that she could go on.

Gloria concentrated. "Come on Sheila," she said, "What am I missing?" She waited and at first nothing came. Frowning Gloria concentrated harder. After another moment a voice told her that she already knew the answer. Her mind drifted to the conversation that she had had with Klaus earlier that day. How she had mentioned that none of them had been there for Bonnie's rebirth.

Gloria blinked. That had to be it. Whatever was wrong now had to be tied to Bonnie's rebirth in some way. "Okay," Gloria said aloud, "Now how do I find out about Bonnie's rebirth?"

Gloria stood, leaving the living room and heading toward the stairs. She took them two at a time as she made her way in the direction that the spirit of Sheila Bennett was directing her. She stopped in front of a door that said, "Bonnie's Room," in pink letters. The door was decorated in black music notes that brought a smile to Gloria's face.

Tentatively, Gloria, reached for the knob and opened the door. She stepped inside slowly, shutting the door behind her. Looking around the room Gloria smiled wider. There were pictures of Bonnie and her friends on her nightstand and many scattered around her room as well. A poster of Dorothy Dandridge on one wall and on of Louis Armstrong on another, and a jewelry box with a jazz singer on top wearing a green dress that reminded Gloria of the one that Rebekah so loved to see Bonnie in. Gloria walked across the room and sat down on the edge of Bonnie's bed. Looking around her it was hard to believe that Bonnie didn't remember.

She stood and walked over to the record player that sat on top of Bonnie's dresser. There was a purple crate full of vinyl records that sat at the foot of her dresser. Gloria bent down on her knees flipping through the records. She stopped her hand frozen as she came upon one that was much older and worn than the others. Her hands shook and she removed it from the crate. There was a picture of her on the cover, blonde wig, red lips and all. "How You Do Me Like You Do," recorded live. It was the first and only record Gloria had ever recorded. It hadn't sold well but Bonnie, she had played it almost every night. Her favorite song, recorded by her favorite singer, she had always said. There were little hearts around Gloria's name, with the words, "Bonnie's favorite! Don't touch!" written in childish script.

"How?" Gloria whispered to herself, tears stinging her eyes. How could she have had Gloria's record and not remember?

Gloria jumped slightly as the floor boards beneath her began to shake. She carefully returned the record to its place and then looked down at the floor. The floorboards continued to tremble until finally one loosened and popped out of place. Frowning Gloria reached out and moved the lose board aside. She carefully reached into the hole that the floorboard had left behind her hand coming into contact with something immediately. She picked it up and from the feel of it she knew that it was book of some sort. She pulled the book through the hole and as it came into view she held it in both of her hands and careful opened the cover. It was Bonnie's old journal, if anything had the answers that she was looking for then this would be it.

She skimmed through the first few pages. It began the first few years after Bonnie's rebirth. Gloria smiled as she read Bonnie's words.

Elena's parents like to call me an 'old soul'. They don't know the half of it. Dad thinks it's nice. Says that I have a talent, he's so different than before. In my old life, the first one, he thought my music was a waste of time. He's still not around a lot like before, always away on business, but he always brings me back the best records and he's paying for me to take piano lessons. Sometimes I think he remembers losing me before, and he's trying to make up for it. Or maybe this time around I just understand him better.

Gloria's eyes widened at the words. Pushing down the building excitement she flipped a few pages and continued to read.

Sometimes I think I hear Nik's voice at night. Whispering in my ear as I fall asleep. But he's never really there. Not really. I hate being this young, this small, and this helpless; and having these feelings. I miss him, all of them so much it hurts sometimes. I love them and they loved me. They loved me enough to bring me back. It was Gloria's magic that did this, I just know it. But why haven't they come for me? Why haven't they come?

The pain in the words was Gloria's breaking point. The tears finally fell as she turned pages closer to the end.

I went to Stefan's house today. The ruins of where he grew up. I had to sneak out of the house but it was okay. I could almost feel him there. He always wanted to show the place to me but I doubt he ever thought that the first time that I'd see it would be as a six year old little girl after sneaking out of my back door. It's hard for me to fit in. I know too much. Have too many memories of a life, a long life, an adult life. I say things sometimes that scare people. My Grams knows I think. She bought me a copy of Gloria's record for my birthday. I feel better when I play it. Today as I looked at the place where Stefan grew up, proof that he was real, they all were real, my memories are real; it made me feel better too.

Swallowing hard Gloria flipped to the very last entry. Taking a deep breath she read it.

I have nightmares about dying sometimes. About Mikael's teeth sinking into my throat. I can't talk to anyone about them. Abby doesn't like when I talk about any of it, my life before. When I wake up at night screaming and crying, sometimes I reach out for Nik, or call out for Stefan, or look around my room for Rebekah. They're never there. For all I know they never will be. Sometimes I think the nightmares aren't about my death at all. Sometimes I think that Mikael got to them before I had a chance to come back. Sometimes I think they haven't come for me because they're already dead.

Gloria closed the book and clutched it to her chest. Bonnie had remembered. She had remembered them all. She had been reborn and lost and alone with both new memories and old and none of them had been there. She had waited for them to come and they had never come. "My sweet little Bonnie girl," she whispered, "I'm so sorry."

There was a question that Gloria had for which there was still no answer. She now had proof that the spell had worked as intended. Bonnie had remembered them once, the question was why didn't she remember any of them now? "Come on Sheila," she said, "You got me this far. What are you trying to tell me?"

Gloria read over the entries. Bonnie had referred to Sheila as 'Grams' and her father as 'dad', but there was one person that she had called by name, Abby. Gloria had a feeling if she found out who Abby was then she would have her answers.

:::

When Bonnie had asked Stefan where she would be staying for the night she half expected him to point her in the direction of his bedroom. In the state that she was in, she doubted if she would refuse him if he had. However, Stefan had gratefully intended on Bonnie staying in one of the rooms in the boardinghouse that wasn't being used.

Bonnie was tired and she figured that she had had more than enough excitement for one night. She opened the door to the room that Stefan had indicated and was surprised to find Klaus already occupying the room. Obviously Stefan had made some sort of mistake, or perhaps he had assumed that Klaus would be leaving soon. Bonnie knew the best thing to do would be to leave and try and figure out what sort of game that Stefan was playing, and she turned to do just that but something, some sort of pull she couldn't explain stopped her.

She walked into the room shutting the door behind her. Klaus was seated on the floor, a record player in front of him, and records scattered about around him. He didn't show any indication that he was aware of her presence and yet she was sure that he could feel her there just as surely as she could feel him.

"These are very rare," Klaus said as if speaking to himself, his hands running over the cover of one of the records, "Originals, all of them. In the exact same sleeves and almost in the exact same condition as when they were bought. Works of art meant for the ears instead of the eyes."

Bonnie clutched the mug of tea that was still in her hands from when Stefan had given it to her and took a hesitant few steps forward. "I've always believed that music sounds the best on vinyl," she said as she continued her slow uneasy steps forward, "Especially jazz. You can't get the feel of the music, really know what it was meant to be, until you listen to as it was originally recorded."

Klaus looked up at her and smiled such a genuine smile that Bonnie was taken aback. "You're a purest," he said, "Like me." Ordinarily being compared to him may have bothered her but he had saved her life, and even without that fact lingering in her mind, she had to agree with his sentiment. "Sit," he said, "Let's have a listen."

Bonnie sat down carefully, choosing to focus on the warmth coming from her mug and not on how close she had chosen to sit next to him. Bonnie silently sipped her tea as Klaus sifted through the records. She watched him curiously until finally he made a selection. Bonnie smiled just a little as she heard the first chords of Jelly Roll Morton's, "Dead Man's Blues".

They were silent for a moment as they listened. It was a peaceful sort of silence that came with spending a lifetime in someone's company, one that Bonnie couldn't make any real sense of them sharing. It lasted only as long as Bonnie's curiosity could hold out. "Can I ask you something?" Bonnie asked.

Klaus nodded. He moved slightly closer to her until their shoulder's touched. She found that she didn't mind the contact all that much. "Ask me whatever you like, love," he said far too easily.

She thought of the way Rebekah had been similarly agreeable earlier and frowned slightly. They were both being far too nice for her liking. And the way that he had said 'love', it didn't sound like some word that was tacked on at the end of a sentence, the sarcasm or the biting tone that usually accompanied it was gone as well, it almost sounded as if he had meant it. Bonnie shook her head, almost drowning had somehow messed with her brain functioning. "Why did you save my life?" Bonnie asked, her mind drifting back to the matter at hand, "Is it because you want something from me in return? You want me indebted to you, right, so that I can do your bidding? Is that it?"

Klaus sighed. Of course that was what she would think. He didn't know why he had even bothered hoping that she would think any differently. All he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her and never let go and yet even after almost losing her again, he was no closer to getting her back, and he had still made no progress. He had taken two steps forward and three back.

"I saved your life because you needed to be saved. I don't want anything from you, Bonnie," he said sounding as tired as he felt. He had lost his will to play the game, to take on the role he was meant to play, of hiding his true feelings.

Bonnie frowned. He almost sounded like he was hurt that she thought he had some sort of ulterior motive but there was nothing else that made sense. And why would he be hurt? What else would she think? Nothing else that she could think of would give him a reason to save her life. She thought back to the way that he looked at her when her eyes had opened by the pool; he had held her so tightly on the ride over to the Boarding House. Something like doubt began to service. "I want to give you something anyway," she said hoping to take her mind off of things she would rather forget, "I don't want to owe you anything. You saved me and I'm grateful, but I don't want to be indebted to you."

"And as I want nothing from you," Klaus said patiently, "You won't be."

Bonnie sighed. It wasn't that she didn't believe him; she just didn't feel that she could leave things this way and she didn't think that he wouldn't call in a favor later on. Whether he had saved her or not he was still Klaus. She had seen what Lucy had been willing to do for Katherine because the vampire had saved her life. She didn't want that. "Please just let me repay you," she said, "I can't have this hanging over my head. If not for you, then do it for me." She didn't know why she thought to use herself to convince him, but when she saw his eyes soften she knew it had worked, though she didn't know why.

Klaus looked over at her then. Even without remembering their history she still knew exactly what to say in order to get her way. She could still play him as easily as the keys of a piano. "Fine," he said frowning, "For you." He considered her as she stared down at her cup. There were only two things that he was willing to ask of her and only one he expected her to agree to. He reached out and took hold of the evil eye that still dangled from her neck. She looked up at him, their eyes meeting and holding. "The first is," he whispered, "You must never remove this from your neck under any circumstances. Promise me."

Bonnie's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She had asked Stefan about the necklace and he had claimed it was a valuable source of protection. She had to wonder why Klaus would waste something so valuable on her rather than on something or someone he cared about, if such a thing or person even existed. "Why?" she asked, "Stefan said that it's meant to protect me but why not keep it for yourself or give it to Rebekah?"

"I cannot be killed and none of you know how to kill Rebekah. Stefan can take care of himself. It is you that is the most mortal of all of us and tonight proved that you are in the most need of protection. That's exactly why I need you to wear that necklace at all times, my dear," he said, "Nothing can harm you as long as it's around your neck. It will keep you safe when I cannot."

Bonnie didn't even think to ask him why he wanted her safe, for some reason she didn't think that he had an ulterior motive in that respect, though she didn't really understand his actual motives. She was taking his words at face value and that scared her. "So you're going to have me repay you for saving my life by wearing a necklace that will protect me from being killed, that you gave me which basically means you're saving me again," Bonnie said. That wouldn't be her repaying a debt it would just be him creating a new one.

Klaus laughed a little at her reasoning. Of course she would over analyze his request. She over analyzed everything. She could nitpick something within an inch of its life and still find a way to dissect it even more. He was convinced it was the only reason that she had been able to ever break down his defenses, she had chipped away at him until there was nothing left the same way that she did with everything else and in the end he had loved her for it, though now he was sure it could have easily gone the other way. "Well," he shrugged, "When you put it that way..."

"This isn't funny, hybrid," Bonnie hissed, "I need you to take this seriously." Klaus gave her a look and she poked him hard in the side. "I know that's hard for you, Niklaus, but do try." He raised a brow at her at the use of his full name. It was his own fault for pissing her off. She couldn't help but use his full name when he was acting like child, it was fitting that when he did, she treat him like one. "The second thing," Bonnie pressed ignoring her own odd thoughts, "What is it?" She set her tea aside, and gave him her full attention. "It had better be good or I swear I'll repay you for saving my life by ending yours."

"Always so dramatic," Klaus muttered under his breath with a roll of his eyes. He hated it when she used his full name, it reminded him of his mother. Klaus blinked, looked at Bonnie, and then smirked. Son of a bitch, he thought grinning wider, she used my full name. He wondered if she had even realized that she had done it. "Promise that you won't take the necklace off and I will tell you," Klaus bargained. He edged a little closer to her. Carefully he placed his hand over hers.

Bonnie didn't understand how she could go from wanting to cause him bodily harm to getting lost in his eyes in less than five seconds flat. It had to be the fact that he had saved her life, there was no other reason that was at all acceptable. Bonnie swallowed hard as he laced his fingers through hers. She didn't understand how someone who knew so little of her could look at her the way that he was looking at her, especially him, given everything that he was and everything that he had done. He was a monster, she knew this and yet it was hard at the moment for her to care. "Fine," she said resting her chin on his shoulder despite the incongruence and the strangeness of her thoughts, "I promise."

Klaus eyed her for a moment and after a while he felt that he could believe her. It was the first time since pulling her out of the water that he had truly felt at peace. She would have the eye, and so she would always be safe. It would be much easier for him to leave the next morning when the time came. "The second thing is," Klaus said softly, keeping his word, "I'd like for you, Stefan, and Rebekah to look after each other in my absence."

Bonnie made the same noise she always made when she was frustrated with him. It was an odd combination of a snarl and a whine that always made him want to laugh, when it didn't make him want to duct tape her mouth shut. He wondered what she found so displeasing about his request. He didn't think she would agree, but he had thought she would take it better than this. She had after all wanted him to ask her something that would warrant him saving her life.

"The point of this is to ask me something that I may not otherwise do or at least something of importance that I wouldn't have agreed to if you hadn't saved my life," she said, "Considering Stefan and Rebekah are likely not going to let me out of their sight after what happen tonight because they have for whatever reason decided to latch onto the idea of taking care of me and keeping me safe, and the fact that I am probably going to be watching their every move if for no other reason but to make sure they don't slaughter everyone in town, this request of yours is bullshit. Whether you asked me or not we would have been looking after each other in some way, shape, or form so this doesn't count. Think of something else."

Klaus gave a heavy sigh. Really she was acting more like herself then someone with no memories should have. If he didn't know any better he would have called bullshit on her not being able to recall their life together. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, sweetheart, but there is really nothing else that I want," he said. It was a lie, a big one, but he doubted that she would let him hold her or kiss her or keep her locked up somewhere safe until he got back.

"Bullshit," Bonnie said without batting an eyelash, "But since you're not going to ask me for anything I'll do something that I normally wouldn't do."

He watched as she let go of his hand and stood. "I wouldn't want to put you out, doll," he said his voice dripping with sarcasm. She was the only person he knew that he could argue with and still be this happy around at the same time. At first he had found it odd but he had long since gotten used to it. Even she didn't seem to take offense to his tone. She just looked at him in that darkly amused sort of way she always did when they were arguing about nothing, and fighting about less than nothing.

"Since when?" Bonnie asked looking down at him. He looked up at her with wide innocent eyes. "You live to put me out," she said, "We both know it so just admit it."

"Actually," Klaus said getting to his feet, "I would much rather spend my time convincing you to put out then putting you out, but we can work out the technicalities later." Bonnie looked away from him, biting back a laugh in an attempt to hide her amusement. "So what, my darling, are you willing to give me in exchange for saving your pretty little neck?"

Bonnie chose to ignore the endearment as she looked back at him. "I believe," she said, "That you mentioned something about it being too long since the last dance." Klaus nodded. She looked at him expectantly, he simply looked back at her. He was going to make her say it. "Stefan said that you were leaving tomorrow," she said quietly, "So, hybrid, how about a dance for the road?"

It took a moment for Klaus to realize that she was serious. "If that's the best that you've got to offer," he agreed before she could change her mind.

Bonnie inclined her head in a gesture of indifference. "It's not like I didn't give you the chance to take advantage of the situation," she said with a shrug.

Klaus wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. "I still might," he said, "We're not even until I say we're even after all."

"Ah," Bonnie said smiling, "I was wondering when your true colors would finally come out." She was actually relieved to see his manipulative side surface. Bonnie was being too comfortable with him.

Klaus was surprised when she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I was never good at hiding myself from you," he whispered low enough that he doubted that she had heard him.

Bonnie had heard him, but as he began to sway to the music, pulling her closer in his arms, she pretended that she hadn't.

:::

Stefan smiled as he heard the sound of music coming from upstairs. He had expected Bonnie to come right back downstairs when she discovered just who was in the room that he had sent her too. He found, despite his own hesitance with the situation he was happy that Bonnie had stayed and talked to Klaus. For the first time since he had remembered he felt as if that life wasn't so far away. He felt as if there was a true possibility that they could get it all back.

"It's easier than I thought it would be," Stefan said as he looked to where Rebekah sat across from him at the kitchen table, 'The four of us being together in one place again. Even without Bonnie being able to remember it's almost like things are just falling right back into place."

Rebekah nodded, smiling slightly. "When I saw them arguing together at the school tonight I knew that it would be," she said, "Those two, even without Bonnie's memories they're the same people. We all are essentially. We're bound to come together, to find each other, just like we did back then."

Stefan studied her a moment. Everything that had first drawn him to her was still there. Everything that he had once loved about her seemed to be staring back at him. "What about you and me?" Stefan asked, "Do you think we can find each other again?"

Rebekah frowned, looking down at her untouched cup of tea. "I was never really lost to you, Stefan," she said, "Not really. The question is if you want us to find one another again. I know that with Bonnie it's easier for you. There isn't the weight of the history there, and while you lived a whole life without me, these last couple of years Bonnie has been in your life. Even Nik has been there the last few months. I'm just a girl that's been stuck in some coffin that knows nothing about this time or how you've been living in it. For me it's like no time at all has passed. The last thing I remember is begging Nik to let me go so that I could be with you. I know it's not the same with you, I understand that. But you should understand that if you don't want me I'm not going pine after you or chase you. I may love you, but I love myself more."

Stefan sighed. "You were never just some girl Rebekah," he said seriously, "You're never going to be just some girl. The only reason it's easier with Bonnie is because even though I love her, I've always loved her, but not the same way I loved you, that I still love you. Bonnie once told me that the harder it is to love someone the stronger that love will be, that's how she feels about Nik. They have to work to love each other and they were always willing to do that because they knew what the payout would be. Loving Elena was easy, because she never really knew who I was and she was willing to accept so much. Loving Bonnie is easy because even though she challenges me, we've always understood each other, always been connected. Even loving Katherine was easy because I could just follow her lead. But you, we clash, and you're a spoiled brat and you have a mouth that makes me want to snap you're neck. You were never easy Rebekah but I stayed because I was in it for the pay out. I won't lie and say that I can say that I still feel exactly the same but those feelings aren't gone, they could easily come back. I mean I still love teasing you and provoking you, so maybe the rest will come back with time. I'm trying to integrate two lives here into something that makes sense, and while I'm figuring it out I want you here with me."

It was the most that Stefan had revealed to anyone about the way he was feeling. While he felt comfortable showing his emotions to a certain extent to Bonnie, talking about them was a different story. But he knew that Rebekah would understand, she always understood. Besides that, it was useless lying to her, she could always tell.

"If you want me with you," Rebekah said softly once she was satisfied that he was telling the truth, "Then I'm with you. But if there is ever a time when you don't want me with you then I need you to tell me, Stefan."
Stefan stood slightly, leaning across the space that separated them, and kissing her softly on the lips. "I will," he said, "I promise." As she smiled at him, he didn't think that that time would come.

:::

Bonnie awoke rather early, even with the first day of school being imminent. As she opened her eyes she found that she wasn't in her own bed. After a moment she remembered the events on the night before. Sighing she closed her eyes again and rolled over, only to roll into something or rather someone. Her eyes snapped opened as she looked at Klaus' sleeping form. After a moment she realized that her head was pillowed on one of his arms and his other arm was wrapped tightly around her middle.

Bonnie gathered all of her self control and tried in vain not to freak out. What the hell was she thinking? Well, obviously she wasn't thinking. She remembered dancing with him the night before and listening to a few more records. At some point she must have fallen asleep, and for whatever reason Klaus had felt comfortable enough to fall asleep with her. It was bad enough that she was still going to have to deal with the Stefan issue but now she apparently had some issues with Klaus. She had thought it was bad when she was beginning to be comfortable around Stefan but this was just ridiculous. Even as she attempted to unwrap herself from Klaus she found that a part of her didn't want to be away from him.

She couldn't help but marvel at how at peace he looked in his sleep. It was odd and unnerving that she felt that she could watch him sleeping all day. It was that thought that finally got Bonnie to pry herself away from him. Though, she did pull the covers up to his chest after she had gotten out of bed, managing to just stop herself from kissing him on the forehead. She wondered if having a life debt somehow caused some sort of bond between them, maybe that was what Klaus had wanted. But that couldn't have been it. Even when Stefan had saved her life before she had felt a connection to him but it hadn't been this bad and she had even had his blood in her system.

Bonnie shook her head not wanting to think too hard about it. Getting out of the bed, Bonnie walked across the floor, careful to avoid the records scattered about and left the room. The smell of food hit her as soon as she opened the door and as she closed it behind her she found that her appetite had returned since the night before.

Bonnie made her way downstairs and followed the smell into the kitchen. She lingered in the doorway when she found the source of the smell. The witch that she had seen in Chicago was now cooking breakfast in the Salvatore kitchen. Bonnie had to wonder what sort of pull Klaus had over her. She seemed the no nonsense type and she doubted the woman would deal with his bullshit.

As Bonnie studied her she looked almost familiar. Like she had seen her somewhere before. Bonnie chalked it up to the Chicago encounter as she walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

"Good morning," the witch said, "We haven't been properly introduced. The name's Gloria." As she spoke the woman took a plate down from the cabinet.

"Bonnie," Bonnie said quietly as she watched the woman looking so at home in what was basically a vampire's lair.

"I know," Gloria said, "The others have spoken of you. I heard you had a rough night. You must be hungry." Gloria smiled as Bonnie nodded. It was a good thing that she had made the girl's favorites. She was still upset about what she had discovered the night before but she didn't want to tell the others just yet until she got more information. If she told Klaus that Bonnie had remembered at some point without being able to tell him why she couldn't remember now then she was pretty sure that it would only lead to another fight.

Bonnie gave a happy sigh as Gloria put the plate down in front of her. She found that she liked the woman already. "Rough isn't really the word that I would use to describe my night," she said, "But thanks for the breakfast."

"You want to talk about it?" Gloria asked. She didn't know if the girl would take her up on the offer but she was so used to being Bonnie's confidant that she couldn't help but make it.

"Maybe," Bonnie shrugged, "Once I've ruled out the possibility that I'm having some sort of nervous breakdown." The sad part was she was only half joking.

Gloria laughed. At least her girl still had a sense of humor. "Well I can tell you that I am the only bit of sanity that you'll find in this lot," she said, "So if you need anything you be sure to let me know."

Bonnie nodded. "I'll do that," she said. Though, she didn't really know why, as Gloria smiled at her Bonnie had just felt that she had gotten back something that she had lost.

:::

Nik loved watching Bonnie sleep, her expressions were always the most open and honest when she slept and often she dreamed of him. Even now she was curled into his side in her sleep, clinging to him as if she was afraid that he would disappear before she woke.

Nik ran his fingers through her hair, placing kisses on her face until her eyes fluttered open. She looked up at him her eyes smiling before her lips did. No one ever looked at him the way that Bonnie looked at him. She knew him for what he was and still she could look at him as if he were some sort of gift, some broken miracle.

Bonnie beckoned him toward her with her finger. Nik leaned forward covering Bonnie's mouth with his. The kiss was long, slow, sensual, and practiced. He chuckled a little at the glazed look in Bonnie's eyes as he pulled away. "Nik," she whispered, "I want you to make me a promise."

"It depends on what it is," he said his tone playful.

"I'm serious," Bonnie said smacking him in the chest. Nik nodded. "I want you to promise me that for every day that I've had or will have to wake up without you that there will be ten that I won't."

Nik wasn't sure what had brought on the demand but it wasn't as if he would deny her. "I promise," he whispered and he intended to keep it.

It was that promise that had made Klaus climb into bed with Bonnie the night before, that and the need to be near her. To hold her, to prove that she was still alive, and somehow still here. But he had overstepped, he now realized. He had let himself become too vulnerable. When they had talked and argued and danced, he had gotten too comfortable. He now realized his mistake, as he would have to leave soon and Bonnie was avoiding him. All the progress he had made with her seemed to once again take a back slide.

He stood in front of the front door, Stefan beside him, waiting for Bonnie to come downstairs. He wanted to see her just one more time before he had to leave, even if it didn't end well when he did.

"She'll come around," Stefan said as if reading his mind. Klaus nodded though he couldn't say that he believe him. "Be safe, Nik," he said.

Klaus smiled. He pulled Stefan into a hug, only slightly surprised when he didn't pull away. "Be safe old friend," Klaus whispered into his ear, "Protect them both."

Stefan didn't need to ask who he was referring to. "Always," Stefan said, "I'll protect your interest as well." He felt Klaus nod before he let him go.

Klaus looked up as Rebekah came down the stairs. She stopped in front of him and placed a kiss onto his cheek. "Try not to stay gone too long," she said.

"Try to stay out of trouble until I get back," he countered. Rebekah gave him a look. "I know," he said, "You can't make any promises." Rebekah nodded as she took Stefan's hand. Klaus looked up at the stairs expectantly but there was no movement that could be heard from upstairs.

"Bonnie left," a voice said from behind them, "After breakfast. She showered, dressed in the clothes that Rebekah laid out for her and left. She said there was something that she had to do before school." As Klaus turned to Gloria he didn't see the smugness he had expected to see on her face. She looked as if she felt sorry for him which was much worse in his opinion. "I know you'd like to see her before you go," she said, "But she'll be here when you get back."

Klaus nodded. He had pushed his luck with Bonnie the night before, he had obviously made her uncomfortable and now he wouldn't be able to say goodbye. "Well," he said, "I'll see you all upon my return. Take care of one another." They all nodded and Klaus reached for the door knob.

Before Klaus could open the door it opened from the other side. Bonnie flew in looking slightly disheveled and wearing one of the outfits that Rebekah had purchased for her. She looked at him and gave him a small hesitant smile.

"You're still here," she said, "Good. I thought I might have missed you."

She laughed at the confused expression on Klaus' face as she pulled something out of the pocket of the white dress she was wearing. It was a silver pocket watch, it glinted in the light as she held it out to him.

"It was my grandfather's it was the only thing that I could find that wouldn't look too weird if you wore it," she said in a rush her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, "Gloria told me about the eye and its really valuable and I thought… Well, I put a protection spell on it, it isn't anywhere near as strong as the eye, but it'll keep you safe while you're gone."

The shock on Klaus' face was evident. He recovered quickly, however, smiling as he took the watch. He had been worrying for nothing it seemed. "Thank you, Bonnie," he said, "I'd say that this makes us even."

Bonnie blinked at him. "Even?" She asked. Then she remembered the life debt. "Oh," she said, "That. Right, of course, that's why I did it."

She looked at the others one after another and they all looked skeptical. She was beginning to feel stupid. But when Gloria had told her the real magnitude of the eye at breakfast she couldn't help but think that Klaus would need it more than her but knowing that he wouldn't take it back she had settled on the next best thing. She hadn't even been thinking about the debt. "Seriously," she said attempting to save face and failing, "Don't read too much into it."

"Of course not," Klaus smirked. He leaned forward and placed a kiss on Bonnie's forehead. "Whatever your reasons I will treasure it," he whispered so that only she could hear. "Be safe," he said as he pulled away and her eyes met his.

"Don't worry," Bonnie said poking him in the chest, "I'll be here to kill you when you get back." Her smile took the sting out of her words.

Klaus wrapped his arms around her and though she didn't hug him back, she didn't pull away either. "I look forward to it." he said. He let her go and left quickly before he could do what he really wanted and think up an excuse to stay.

Bonnie looked at Stefan and Rebekah as the door closed behind him. There was an odd feeling that she got as soon as he was gone, if she didn't know any better then she would say that she had already started to miss him.

"You alright, green eyes?" Stefan asked stepping up behind her.

"Fine," Bonnie said though it wasn't entirely true, "Let's go to school." Bonnie went toward the door and as she felt both Rebekah and Stefan move to follow her she felt a little less alone.

:::

Matt Donavan smiled as he saw Bonnie standing by her locker. Despite what had happened the night before she didn't look too worse for wear. He watched as Jeremy Gilbert approached her and began to wonder when she cut the conversation short. But then she saw him and she was smiling and Matt thought that maybe she was just having problems with Jeremy and not doing bad in general. Either way he decided not to bother her with the fact that he was still seeing Vicki. Besides that he wasn't ready to say goodbye to his sister all over again just yet.

"Feel like walking with me to class," Bonnie asked as she walked up to Matt.

"Sure," Matt said with a shrug, "How are you? I mean after yesterday." He eyed her closely trying to gauge her reaction to the question.

"Okay," Bonnie said, "Maybe a little freaked out, or a lot freaked out. I feel like I'm in another dimension. Things just keep getting stranger."

"I know what you mean," Matt said thinking about the way that Klaus had saved her life, "Did Klaus leave?"

"Yeah," Bonnie said, "He left this morning." Matt thought that she sounded almost saddened by the thought. "He won't be gone long, though," she said, "He never stays gone long." She then frowned at her own statement.

Somehow Matt didn't think that Bonnie was referring to Klaus often coming back to terrorize them. There was something else in the statement, something almost personal, that Matt couldn't put his finger on. "That's a good thing isn't it?" Matt asked, "That he left I mean?"

Bonnie shrugged. "One would think so wouldn't they?" She answered his question with a question. A question that Matt didn't really understand.

As they walked into Alaric's classroom, Matt went for his customary seat in the back hell bent on staring out of the window and not paying attention. He expected Bonnie to take the seat in between Caroline and Elena but one look at Elena and Bonnie was following Matt to the back and taking the seat next to him. Not that he minded much.

His attention was drawn to the front door as Stefan and Klaus' sister walked in. Their eyes scanned the room until they landed on Bonnie and they seemed to move toward the back as one. Rebekah took the seat on the other side of Bonnie and Stefan sat in front of them seeming to glare at anyone who so much as looked in their direction, including Elena. Matt was surprised by the protective stance though considering Stefan's behavior toward Bonnie the day before he shouldn't have been.

As Ric took his post in the front he revealed that they would start off the year with the Roaring Twenties. Bonnie, Stefan, and Klaus' sister, Rebekah he remembered her name was, shared a look as if they were laughing at some personal joke. It was then that Matt remembered Elena mentioning something about Stefan being with Klaus in the twenties.

Alaric began to list off major events they would cover. "Prohibition," he said, "The rise in membership of the Ku Klux Klan. The first Winter Olympics of nineteen twenty-three."

"Nineteen twenty-four," Stefan corrected before Alaric could continue. Matt didn't blink as Alaric frowned as he was used to Stefan correcting him.

Alaric opened his mouth to refute Stefan's claim but Rebekah cut him off. "He's right," she said, "It was the same year that Reymont won the Literary Nobel Prize for The Peasants."

Matt sighed as Alaric's eyes narrowed. This wasn't exactly a good way to start the year off. "And the same year Bessie Smith recorded Boweavil Blues," Bonnie added. Matt's head snapped toward Bonnie. It was no secret that history wasn't her best subject and from the way the class was looking at her he wasn't really the only one surprised.

"Boweavil what?" Matt asked laughing a little in an attempt to break the tension. The class laughed and Bonnie rolled her eyes at him.

"You know that song Grams used to play," Bonnie said. Matt shook his head, he was surprised when Bonnie started to sing. He hadn't heard her sing since they were kids. "I don't want no sugar put into my tea…," she sang.

"The mens are so evil, I'm scared they might poison me," Rebekah sang in return. Matt couldn't hide his confusion as the two looked at each other and began to laugh.

"See? At least someone knows good music," Bonnie said. Matt didn't miss the glare that Caroline sent in Rebekah's direction.

"I wouldn't call that good music, Bon," he said, one eye trained on Caroline's tense form.

"It's a classic," Stefan said. He turned in his seat and gave Bonnie a wink. It was Elena's turn to glare and Matt sent Alaric a pleading look hoping that he could once again take control of the situation.

"Well," Alaric interjected, "I stand corrected." He gave Stefan a look before he turned to Bonnie and gave her a more genuine smile. "As for you Miss Bennett," he said, "I'm glad to find a subject that you're actually interested in."

Bonnie, Stefan, and Rebekah shared another look. As class went on Matt began to think that Klaus saving Bonnie wasn't just some fluke. There was something going on and it was affecting his friend. He told himself that next time Vicki popped up he would ask her and if she didn't know then he would find another way to figure it out.

:::

Bonnie smiled as Rebekah shelved yet another new book. Bonnie herself was in the process of getting all dolled up for another night at the club. Rebekah always said that she had no passion for anything the way that Bonnie had for music but it was obvious to her that Rebekah felt the same way when reading a new poem that Bonnie felt when hearing a new song.

"I think maybe I'd like to be a hoofer," Rebekah said. Bonnie gave her a look. "I know but really I need something to do that involves the club. You, Stefan, and Nik are always there. And maybe I'm being a little ridiculous but I don't like not seeing all of you so just humor me okay."

Bonnie gave a long suffering sigh, but still she smiled. "Alright," she said, "I will teach you our new routine and if you can pull it off I'll put in a good word for you."

Rebekah beamed as she watched Bonnie walk over to the record player. She began to push the coffee table back toward the couch. She was grateful that Nik had chosen a haunt with a lot of space.

"Ladies and gents," Bonnie said in a sing-song voice, "Mr. Jelly Roll Morton with King Porter Stomp."

Rebekah watched as Bonnie began to move her hips and she attempted to mimic the motions. "Hands out," Bonnie instructed, "Straight back, work the middle." Bonnie crossed her legs over each other and watched as Rebekah followed. "On the count of three, turn left and then gimme a shimmy."

Although she felt ridiculous Rebekah did as instructed. As she tripped over the rug Rebekah sighed. "I think I'll keep my day job."

Bonnie grabbed her hand and spun her around, before taking Rebekah's other hand and they began to Charleston. "Or you can stay off the stage and just dance with me," Bonnie offered.

"I don't know," Rebekah said with a laugh, "Stefan might get jealous."

Bonnie shrugged as she spun Rebekah out again. "He might be okay if I let him dance with, Nik," she said.

"You think that they can manage The Charleston?" Rebekah asked.

Bonnie shook her head as she placed her hands on Rebekah's hips. "I happen to think they're Foxtrot kind of birds," she said.

Rebekah shook her head. "I bet you ten clams that they'll go for the Waltz," Rebekah said.

Bonnie stopped dancing then her hands clutching her stomach as she doubled over in laughter. "Now that," she said, "I gotta see."

Rebekah shook her head. The sad thing was she honestly didn't think that it would take all that much convincing.

Rebekah Mikaelson wasn't at all fond of her high school experience so far. Though she was fond of walking the halls with Stefan and Bonnie and pissing the doppelganger off. Still she found that there were much better things that she could be doing with her time. She walked across the track toward where the other cheerleaders were stretching. She had no real interest in joining the squad but Bonnie was a cheerleader and just like with dancing she would do it to be close to her.

Caroline Forbes gave her a look as Rebekah stopped next to her. Rebekah rolled her eyes. As if she had time to worry about a baby vampire with an obvious inferiority complex. Rebekah was beginning to think that Caroline was a poor man's her, not that she was threatened but in all honesty she thought that it would be best to lay all of her cards out on the table now. It was best that Caroline knew that whatever friendship she had had with Stefan was over and whatever closeness that she had to Bonnie would be nothing in the face of what Bonnie and she shared. But really it wasn't worth it, showing the blonde would be better.

Caroline made some snide remark and Rebekah lost her will to ignore her. Even if Bonnie yelled at her later she would have to put the blonde in her place. It was bad enough that she thought that she was a match for Rebekah but to think that Rebekah was interested in her wolfy little boyfriend was just laughable. She didn't need anything the blonde had, she had Stefan, which was miles beyond Tyler Lockwood territory, and even her friendship with Bonnie surpassed Caroline's, other than that Caroline's life didn't seem at all enticing. In all honesty Rebekah felt the blonde was beneath her. She was about to tell her so when Bonnie walked toward them.

"Cool it, Blondie," Bonnie said as sat down next to Rebekah on the ground, "You need to learn to behave." Bonnie began to stretch as she eyed Caroline warily.

"I didn't say anything," Rebekah pointed out.

Bonnie sighed, "Your face said enough," she said. Tyler had been singing Rebekah's praises all day and Bonnie didn't want to go into the amount of times that he had mentioned Klaus. While Bonnie didn't mind (even though she probably should have), she didn't think provoking Caroline would do anyone any good. Besides that she didn't want to see Caroline upset.

"Fine," Rebekah said, "I'll be good." Bonnie sighed in relief. She gave Bonnie a smug look."If you teach me your moves," she said, "I'm not very familiar with this cheerleading thing."

Caroline rolled her eyes in Rebekah's direction. First she had decided to take Tyler out for "breakfast" and now she was trying to cozy up to Bonnie. Really she was too much. Worse Tyler just kept singing her praises and Bonnie didn't seem at all bothered by her presence. Caroline felt like she was going to snap at any minute. "I'm sure you can figure it out," Caroline said blandly, "You look like a fast learner."

"Its fine," Bonnie said with a shrug, "I can talk you through it. You just need to learn how to move your hips in the right direction and fake enthusiasm."

Caroline looked at Bonnie with wide eyes. She wondered what had happened in between yesterday and now that made Bonnie so accepting of the Rebekah. She might not have had a big part in what had went on the night before but she was still Klaus' sister. The only thing stopping Caroline from saying anything, was the fact that Matt had been adamant about being there for Bonnie and so she would try and stick to that.

"Doesn't sound too terrible," Rebekah said though her tone suggested otherwise.

"I suppose that you prefer listening to Jelly Roll Morton and dancing the Charleston?" Bonnie asked.

Caroline watched as Rebekah gave Bonnie an odd look that seemed to be somewhere in between hope and sadness. "Something like that," she said quietly her tone oddly subdued.

Noticing Rebekah's change in mood Bonnie nudged her playfully. "Stop pouting," she said, "Or I won't teach you how to shake your pompoms."

Caroline had to look away as the two of them laughed. The whole thing was just weird. It almost seemed like they were flirting. Bonnie was still flirting with Stefan so why not? Caroline was pretty sure that at the rate that Bonnie was going, Klaus would be next. As she watched Bonnie and Rebekah wave happily to Stefan as he harassed Elena as she ran laps around the track Caroline decided that she was going to have to talk to Matt and soon.

:::

After giving Klaus her grandfather's watch, missing Klaus, avoiding Jeremy, and practically shadowing Rebekah and Stefan all day Bonnie had thought that the day couldn't get any stranger. Then Matt had revealed to her that he was seeing Vicki and that he had performed a spell that made her solid, and of course the first thing on Vicki's agenda was to kill Elena.

Stefan was protecting Klaus' interest by protecting Elena and so he had become a target and as much as Bonnie hated to admit it even to herself, it was Stefan being a target and Matt having to watch his dead sister wreaking havoc that had motivated her to take action rather than Elena's life being in danger…again. She was beginning to wonder if their friendship would ever get back to what it had been, then she started to really think about what it had been and she had to say that one-sided was the word that was beginning to come to mind.

After Matt had told her the first thought that Bonnie had was to call Klaus, which was odd, but then she realized that he was long gone and Bonnie had gone with her second thought, Gloria. The woman had agreed to assist her immediately, no questions, and the easy way in which she was able to calm Bonnie's frantic thoughts had brought her Grams to mind.

Bonnie was waiting in the hallway looking for any sign of Gloria. She knew the situation was urgent but because she no longer had the powers of the other witches to help her she didn't want to do the spell without assistance, that and she suspected that Matt would need her when this was over and she wanted to make sure that she could be there without having to deal with the possible magical consequences and the clean up.

Bonnie jumped as he felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and sighed when she saw that it was Jeremy. She knew that eventually they would have to talk but he had the worse timing and she was still angry that he had been missing in action the night before. Even knowing that Damon had taken him, she still couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't even called when he had gotten back, he had to have seen all of the missed calls from her or at least he had to have heard what happened. And even when he had cornered her earlier it hadn't been to ask how she was it had been to talk about Anna.

"Not now Jeremy," Bonnie said her tone dismissive. She had more important things to worry about. The thought made her realize that there seemed to be a lot of things that she considered more important than her relationship with Jeremy lately.

"We need to talk," Jeremy pressed. He had seen her hanging all over Stefan all day even with Stefan hanging all over the blonde that Elena had told him was Klaus' sister. It was pathetic, but it was also the only thing that had kept him from thinking about Anna.

"Fine," Bonnie sighed, "Look I get that you didn't have closure with Anna or Vicki for that matter and I think that you need that. As I am about to send Vicki back to the in between I suggest you take advantage of your time with Anna and we take a break."

"Why?" Jeremy asked, "So that you can go after Stefan?" He didn't really know who Bonnie was anymore. There was a time when she would never have done anything to hurt him or Elena and now she was breaking up with him so that she could go after Elena's boyfriend, even if Stefan wasn't in the same frame of mind as he had once been Elena still loved him.

"I need to resolve some feelings there yes," Bonnie said taking Tyler's advice and being honest, "Also apparently I have some odd connection to Klaus from him saving my life I have to deal with and to be honest I don't feel the same about you anymore. My feelings aren't gone and I still love you, but it's different and how we're both acting isn't really helping. So I think we should both stop denying how we really feel. We should let go for now and if later on we find that we want to be together then maybe we could try again. But the more I think about it the more I feel like that won't happen."

"Klaus saved your life?" Was all Jeremy managed to say as Anna's words from the night before surfaced in his head.

"Were you even listening to me?" Bonnie asked. Before he could answer she shook her head. "It doesn't really matter," she said, "I've said all I needed to say."

"Do I get a say in this?" Jeremy asked.

Losing her patience Bonnie looked beyond him in order to keep herself from saying something that she would regret. It was then that she saw Rebekah and Gloria walking toward them. "We could stay here and talk this out all night but it wouldn't change anything," she said looking back at Jeremy, "I've told you how I feel. Now I'm going to go help Matt through saying goodbye to his sister. Because even though it's hard he can face his feelings and he can let go of the past. I think that both of us can learn something from him."

As Bonnie walked away from him Jeremy thought about her blowing him off to talk to Matt earlier and frowned. For all her talk of being honest, she was obviously lying to him when it came to Matt. Elena had told him about how Bonnie had saved Matt's life and now she was putting Matt's feelings above their relationship. Jeremy began to wonder if there was anyone that Bonnie didn't deem more important than him. Maybe she was right and he should let her go.

:::

Rebekah smiled as Stefan wrapped his arms around her from behind. After Gloria had helped Bonnie get rid of the spirit of Matt's dead sister it seemed as if things were finally calming down. She had half expected the threat to Elena's life to cause Stefan to run back the doppelganger with open arms, she could tell that Elena had expected as much as well.

She still couldn't believe that Elena had thought that she and Bonnie would let her lock Stefan up somewhere so that she could whine to him about their epic love and try to wane him off of human blood. Rebekah didn't know where the girl was now and she really didn't care.

Bonnie was off somewhere comforting Matt and Rebekah was glad for it. Rebekah didn't know much of Matt but he seemed to be the only one of Bonnie's friends that hadn't looked at her in an accusing manner because of the time that she had spent with Rebekah and Stefan all day. Besides Matt was better than the second option, Jeremy Gilbert, who was supposedly Bonnie's boyfriend but whom Rebekah simply saw as nuisance and an unnecessary obstacle keeping Bonnie from them and Nik. He was obviously hung up on his ghost of an ex-girlfriend and it was becoming more and more clear to her that whether or not Bonnie remembered that she and Nik would somehow end up together, though it would take much longer without the memories, it was still something that was inevitable. Rebekah just hoped Bonnie would cut him loose soon.

"How about we have a little fun before Damon get's back?" Stefan whispered in her ear.

"So you and your ex-girlfriend almost dying makes you want to have a little fun?" Rebekah asked.

She felt Stefan shrug behind her. "What being trapped in a fire engulfed car is kind of a rush," he said, "I have to do something with the left over adrenaline."

Rebekah was about to respond when the lights around them began to flash. She frowned as she looked around and Stefan's arms dropped from around her.

"Well isn't this sweet," a voice said from behind them, "Ninety years and you two are still at it. But where is sweet little Bonnie I wonder?"

Both Stefan and Rebekah's heads whipped around to see a familiar face lounging casually on Stefan's bed. Stefan growled his face distorting. "Wilkes?" Stefan hissed, "What the hell?" He could still remember the idiot's hands all over Bonnie and how it had felt to rip him apart. He didn't have to ask how the man was there. Obviously even with Vicki gone they weren't exactly rid of the ghost problem.

"Didn't you miss me?" Wilkes asked his mouth twisting into a smirk, "Your bird looks like she did. I'm sure Bonnie will."

"She doesn't even know who you are in this time you piece of shit," Stefan said, "You want to come after someone then come after me."

Wilkes smirked. He had never gotten his taste of Bonnie. That stupid bitch had always thought that she was too good for him. The uppity bitch had even gotten him killed. But she would pay and so would Stefan. He would have her and he would take her in Salvatore's body, over and over again whether the dame wanted it or not. "Come after you, you say," Wilkes smirked, "What a lovely idea?"

Stefan looked at Rebekah. "Go find Bonnie," he said, "Get her to safety and call, Nik." Rebekah nodded. She looked at Stefan one last time before she sped off. Stefan turned back to Wilkes and braced himself for an attack. An attack never came. Instead Wilkes shot himself into Stefan's body.

Salvatore put up a fight but he was no match for him this time around. Wilkes settled into his body, stretching slightly. "Ah," he said, "It's good to be back." He dug Stefan's cell phone out of his pocket. He didn't like modern technology but thanks to years of watching the world change from the place in between life and death that he was trapped, he understood it. He sifted through the photos in Stefan's phone and stopped when he found one of Bonnie, she was exactly how he had remembered. "Now," he said, "To take care of some unfinished business."