I know this took forever but I hope the fact that it's nearly 30 pages long makes up for that LOL. Hope you enjoy!
The Right Hand of Fellowship
Nine years ago…
He tasted like blackberries today.
They'd been spending all their free time together since that night on the boardwalk two months ago. She didn't want to assume that they were "dating" but what else did spending all of your free time together mean?
Nik's lips hovering just below her earlobe pulled her from her thoughts. The warmth of his breath on her skin sent shivers down her spine and when she felt those lips latch on to deliver slow open-mouthed kisses, she couldn't help the moan that escaped her.
His hands kneaded her flesh as the strength in them pulled her ever closer; melding her body to fit against his as he eased her onto her back. She ran her fingers through his curls as the scruff of his cheeks grazed her, cementing in her mind that there was nothing better than being in his arms.
His mouth found hers again; kissing her so deeply she thought herself likely to melt into a puddle only to spill off of his couch and onto the floor. It wasn't fair that he was so good at this. Sure, age and experience were a factor but God...did his every touch have to make her senses want to abandon her so easily?
However, when his fingers caressed her inner thigh and began to move higher, her body stiffened and she gently pushed herself away from him in mild alarm and genuine embarrassment.
"What's wrong?" Nik asked, his eyes heavy-lidded and full of promise. Her Grams would have called them bedroom eyes and she fully understood why.
"I...I need to tell you something," she stammered. "I should've said something before but..."
Nik lifted himself off of her; giving her room to sit up. "What is it?"
There has to be a way to say things without feeling like a total idiot, right? She furiously wracked her brain in hopes of finding one, only to come up empty.
"I'm...a virgin..." She blurted out, already feeling her face warm as she avoided his gaze.
"Yes, love. I know," Nik replied, not entirely sure why that bit of information was keeping him for tasting her skin again.
"You know?!" Bonnie cried, mortified. "How do you know?!"
Nik smiled fondly, "It isn't hard to figure out if you're paying attention."
"Oh my God...Oh my God...somebody shoot me now," she groaned hiding her face in her hands as she scooted further away. She wondered if she could possibly embarrass herself more by bolting, when she felt Nik tug gently on her wrists; prying her hands from her face.
"You're not embarrassed, are you?"
"Of course, I am!" She cried. "I'm a nineteen-year old virgin and you're...not."
"No, I'm not. But a lack of experience isn't something to be embarrassed about, love."
"It is when you're dealing with something who has all the experience," Bonnie pointed out glumly.
"Look," she continued, sighing heavily. "I know Ishould have said something and I don't want you to think I'm trying to waste your time-"
"Bonnie what are you talking about?" Nik asked, exasperation coloring his words.
"I'm talking about the fact that I'm not ready, Nik," she blurted out. "And I don't know when I will be. I also know that making out isn't going to be enough for you after a while because you're used to having certain things—things I know you can definitely get somewhere else—and I...It's not fair to ask you to wait. But at the same time the idea of you going somewhere else makes me nuts which isn't fair either and I'm just-" Her words had suddenly been cut off when he kissed her.
"What was that for?" She asked breathlessly.
"You just admitted to wanting me all to yourself," Nik announced with a self satisfied smirk.
Bonnie blinked rapidly. "That's what you got? Out of everything I just said, that's what you got?"
"Well there was a considerable amount of blathering surrounding it, but that did seem to be the most prescient point."
"Nik this is serious," Bonnie insisted wearily.
"Yes, Bonnie. It is. It's quite serious," He agreed, his tone suddenly brooking no argument. "So you'll pardon me if I choose not to indulge you some nonsensical rant about going somewhere else. What does that even mean? What were you expecting me to do? Wash my hands of you to go find the first bleary-eyed vixen that crossed my path? Have you not been paying attention?"
Bonnie stared at him, her eyes wide.
"If my interest in you were solely that than yes, I can and should go elsewhere. But it isn't; and deep down I believe you're fully aware of that fact." He caught her stubborn little chin between his thumb and forefinger when she blushed and tried to look away.
He was working hard to not be offended by her innocent assumption about his intentions. Of course thoughts of burying himself deep inside her plagued both day and night; but she'd also been taking up more and more space in his...heart. And the more space she took up, the more he wanted to give; better judgement be damned.
Because let's be honest…he would never risk federal prosecution and possibly life in prison for a simple shag.
But she didn't know that. She couldn't know that, not yet anyway.
"From the moment you toppled over on me, I've wanted you in my life," he continued. "Yes, that includes in my bed; but while that might be an important part of my life, it isn't the only part and it certainly isn't the part that would deter me from my original goal. So, if I have to wait until you're ready, then it'll be time well spent since I'll be spending it with you. Do you understand?"
His eyes held her, urging her to explore the length and breadth of feeling behind his words. As charming as her naïveté could be, he had no intention of allowing misplaced skittishness to undermine what he knew in his bones was taking place between them.
"Now…what was that about wanting me all to yourself?" He asked with a smile.
Her own laughter at that caught her off guard, so floored was she by his way he looked at her made her feel as though her heart would sprout wings and take flight; it made her feel brave.
She reached out and cupped his cheeks, "I do," she said. "I do want you all to myself…but...don't you have…needs?"
"Damned right I do," he snorted. "And so do you. But there are ways to tend to both…"
Bravery turned into daring as Bonnie's eyes lit up with intrigue. There was a relief that came with his understanding and with it a reassurance that her limits weren't something to be ashamed of or dismissed. Whenever she'd stopped Jeremy, he'd turn sullen and she was left feeling like she'd committed a horrible offense.
"What ways?" She asked.
Nik leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. "Well that depends on how much you want me to take off, little witch."
Bonnie's eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat as she watch him peel his shirt from his body.
Her fingers had nervously danced along his toned muscles before, but she'd never actually gotten a good look; her eyes usually closed or the room dim. But now her eyes were open and the sight of him made her throat dry.
Nik sat back and waited for her to make a move; wanting her to be as comfortable exploring his body and equally comfortable his exploration of hers.
Shyly, Bonnie placed her hands on his bare chest; the warmth of his skin calming her nervous fingers. She planted a kiss on his collarbone as her hand began to wander, stopping at his ribcage when she felt him stiffen slightly and heard him choke back a laugh.
"You're ticklish," she giggled at the revelation.
Nik smiled and inclined his head until his nose rubbed against hers. "If you tell anyone, I'm going to lock you in here and never let you out," he replied before kissing her. He'd meant it to be quick peck, but Bonnie's hands came up to cup his face and held him there as she deepened the kiss.
She scooted even closer to him and felt her insides flutter as her tongue played with his.
When his arms finally came around her, she leaned back, guiding them both down to the sofa cushions; the delightful pressure of his body covering hers no longer bringing with it the bells of apprehension.
But because she was Bonnie Bennett and clearly incapable of having a "normal" make-out session, she misjudged her proximity to the edge of the sofa and suddenly felt herself falling. Her arms tightened around him and they both tumbled to the floor.
Bonnie's back hit the floor with a soft thud; the laughter that bubbled out of her on impact warmed him as he braced himself with his arms and hovered over her.
When she quieted, he bent down and kissed her with a tenderness that had her arms pulling him closer. He kissed her with such deliberation that she found herself taking the initiative to deepen it, her tongue lapping at his lips until they parted.
He lowered his body until she felt the weight of him and the nervousness that tended to spring up within was noticeably absent now and which one of his large hand gripped her waist and molded her body close enough to feel the hardness through his jeans, she didn't back away from it. There was a security to his embrace; that she could enjoy as much as she dared whenever she dared and it was enough for her to loosen her hold on him.
Nik's hands palmed her breasts through her tank top; his thumb causing her nipples to harden and strain painful against the confines of her bra. Bonnie gasped at the sensation as he licked and sucked every portion of her skin within his reach.
Her skirt having ridden up, she felt his thigh pressed against the crotch of her dampening panties. The friction she caused when her hips began to grind against him made her ache in a way that had her fingers itching to do what they'd been doing nearly every night since the day she met him.
But she couldn't do that…not in front of him, could she?
The knowing look Nik paused to give her before claiming her lips again told her that she could.
Tentatively, slipped her fingers past her panties and towards her mound. They slid through her fold and she moaned into his mouth in response. She fingered herself slowly, enjoying the thrill of doing something so private in in front of him. The thought alone caused her fingers to work in earnest and she felt her core begin to tighten around itself.
When she felt his fingers entwine with her own, she didn't launch herself away from as she would have done only a hour earlier. Instead her eyes found his as her hips continued to work in concert with their efforts; Nik's thumb beginning to circle her nub as he gazed down at her; intent on capturing every minute detail of her pleasure as her release neared.
Their fingers, slick with her wetness, slid over each other as she felt the pressure within her build and stars began to explode behind her eyes.
#
Bonnie awakened to the darkness of Nik's bedroom. He'd asked her spend the night and given her one of his shirts to wear. She'd fallen asleep snuggled next to him, her body still tingling from her introduction to the many ways they could tend to their needs. His body was so warm and the circle of his arms so inviting that she could already feel herself being coaxed back into slumber.
Instead, she crept from his bed as soundlessly as she could and rustled around in her purse until she found her phone. She padded on bare feet to his pristine bathroom. She carefully lowered the toilet seat cover and sat down, her fingers already flying across the keyboard of her phone.
Me: You up?
Lucy: More or less. Since I'm home and ur not…you ride the lightning yet? :P
Me: No! And FYI we're in no rush. So there! LOL
Lucy: Is that so?
Me: Yep. We talked and we're gonna wait until I'm ready.
Lucy: Woah. So does Bon Bon officially have a new man?
Me: Wouldn't I need an old man in order to have a new one?
Lucy: All of sudden Jeremy don't count! Bwhahahahahahaha!
Bonnie chewed her bottom lip before her thumbs went back to work.
Me: Jeremy never made me feel like this.
Lucy: Well damn...bout time I get to live vicariously thru u for a change.
Me: Oh ha ha. But I meant it Luce. I've never felt this before and it's scary...but in a good way, ya kno?
Lucy: Yeah I've been there, kiddo.
Me: So what does it mean?
Bonnie's eyes widened at Lucy's reply. It was a question that had been running through her mind for weeks and after tonight it had begun stomping around in combat boots; cementing itself in her brain and demanding that she admit she already knew the answer.
She ended her text with Lucy, but her cousin's reply was now emblazoned behind her eyes as she made her way back into Nik's bedroom. She crawled into bed and smiled when he reached for her and pulled her close; his lips dropping sleepy kisses on her forehead before he drifted off again.
As she felt her own sleepiness beginning to seep and take over, she never felt more certain that nothing felt warmer or safer than being in Nik Mikaelson's arms—the reason best explained by her loud mouth cousin's text:
Lucy: IT MEANS YOU'RE FALLING IN LOVE, DUMBO!
BKBKBKBK
She was fit to be tied, as they say. And while he'd never had reason to experience this side of her during their courtship and marriage, he found he liked it quite a bit. Her irritation at her current predicament made her eyes flash beneath the midday sun. Even the way she failed at pursing her full lips into empty flat lines pleased him.
In truth, there was nothing about Bonnie Bennett-Mikaelson—yes, Mikaelson, damn it—that didn't please him, not even her ire.
Upon arriving in Fell's Church, he took her to the mechanic he'd hired to oversee the transport of a few of his favorite cars from England to Mystic Fall, only to discover that Stefan Salvatore—the owner of Salvatore Auto was yet another person who'd known Bonnie for most of her life.
He noted how familiar they were; how his tightly wound wife relaxed into warm smiles and happy embraces upon seeing him.
He also noted how Salvatore's eyes stayed glued to Bonnie's legs when she wasn't looking; the way he held her hand longer than necessary and took every opportunity to be as close to her as possible.
For her part, she remained oblivious to the mechanic's interest. It wasn't surprising given that she'd always been blind to the affections of others. She was the sun; completely unware of how many went blind staring at her brilliance.
One thing was for certain though: for all of his interest, Stefan Salvatore was not her mystery man.
After Stefan sent one of his employees to fetch her truck from the highway and promised to call her once he knew more about its condition, Nik settled into convincing Bonnie into letting him assist in completing whatever errand had put her on the road to Fell's Church in the first place.
"It really isn't necessary," she said.
"Are we really about to have this conversation again?" He asked. "Because my position hasn't changed in the last 30 minutes."
"I'm sure you have more important things to do," she argued.
"And yet I can't think a single one more important or more interesting," he countered. "Besides, which would you prefer: putting up with me here, or back in Mystic Falls?"
"How about neither?" Bonnie asked, her voice bright with sarcasm.
"Alas, there is no third option, love," he answered smugly.
He ended up taking her to the office of the local paper so she could place an ad for the shop's Spring Sale and stopped into a number of small shops that also sold her products. Now they were riding toward the opposite end of town towards an apiary with the unfortunate name of Sweetie's Bees and Trees.
Sweetie was an elderly gentlemen who greeted them with a warm smile and armed them both with mason jars filled with ice cold sweet tea. After escorting them to his tasting room, Sweetie left them to sample his most recent batches of honey which were featured in a number of Bonnie's products.
They spoke very little, Bonnie choosing to immerse herself into each errand. By his account, Nik could easily see that she was a well-regarded businesswoman in Fell's Church and the relationships she'd formed both here and back in Mystic Falls proved her to be both shrewd and fair minded.
He watched as she sampled each jar of honey; making notes about each flavor on a small note pad. When she finally made her decisions and placed her order, Sweetie encouraged them to explore the orchards while they were waited for Stefan's call.
The trees had not yet begun to bloom, but the with the birds returning to the warmer climate, the stillness lived between the rows of barren trees was punctuated with their song.
Bonnie tried to ignore him as much as humanly possible, but with her plans to spend the day not thinking about him or the disruption he'd caused in her life completely shot to hell, she could at least get a few of her questions answered after so many years.
"Can I ask you something?" She asked finally.
"You can ask me anything, love."
"Why bank robbery? After you got arrested it didn't take much to figure out what you'd been doing for your-what did you call it-exit strategy. But why rob banks? Couldn't think of a way to legally divest from your family's money?"
Nik smiled as they walked. "Has there ever been a time when you wanted something you weren't meant to have and took it anyway? Do you remember how it felt to put your hand in the cookie jar and not get caught? I excel at a great many things, but very few brought me quite the same satisfaction."
"How long were you planning to do it?"
"Ironically enough, that last job was meant to be the last. When you're in that line of work, the longer you keep at it, the more likely you are to be caught."
"What about the others? They got away Scott-free, right? Why didn't you?"
"I didn't follow the plan," he replied.
"What plan?"
"After each job, we'd scatter off until time to reconvene for the next one. After the last, we were each bound for the non-extradition destination of our choice—mine being Maldives."
Bonnie chewed her lip thoughtfully. She'd wanted to know why he'd chosen a life of crime, but now she was treading into dangerous territory and there were questions that lay ahead that she'd promised herself years ago that she didn't need to know the answers to after going so long without them.
And yet she wanted them anyway.
"Why didn't you follow the plan?" She asked, softly.
"Why do you think?"
"Please don't feed me some line about it being for Henry and me," she scoffed, her feet already rejecting the idea as she increased her pace enough to put distance between them.
He caught up with her within a few strides and wrapped a hand around one of her arms halting her. "Why not? It's the truth. I wanted you both with me. I tried to think of a way but I couldn't-"
"You couldn't figure out how to convince me to go without telling me the truth," she concluded.
"That and I didn't want you to have to make that choice," he admitted.. If I'd told you the truth and asked you to run, you'd have had to change your identity and potentially never see your friends, your family, your home again. I couldn't ask you to do that, Bonnie. I was going to stay and hope that with everyone else gone, my name would continue to let me hide in plain sight."
"But that didn't happen. Instead you got caught and then treated your wife and son like we didn't exist," she gritted out, her eyes hard as she yanked her arm from his grip.
"They had me dead to rights and I wasn't going to make a deal and sell out my mates. I was going to prison for 25 years at least, Bonnie. I didn't want you or Henry to see me like that. I didn't want your life with me reduced to hour-long visits once a month. I didn't want Henry's only memory of me to come from behind bulletproof glass." She had to understand that he thought he was doing the best thing for both of them.
He watched as she stepped away from him, her head tilted to the sky as she his words became the missing puzzle pieces from the picture of their marriage.
"Wow..." She intoned.
"Wow?" Nik echoed. "Is that really all you have to say?"
"Well what would you prefer, Nik? Would you prefer it if I pointed out that decisions like that aren't supposed to be made on your own? That you arbitrarily went around making decisions about my life-our life-without me…or wow?
"I would like for you to at least try to understand, Bonnie."
"I do get it Nik. I think a part of me always did—especially after New York. You thought you were doing what was best. But the problem I'm having with your reasoning is the fact even though I trusted you with everything, you couldn't trust me enough to take a chance on what I thought we had. As far as you were concerned I couldn't handle the truth before you got busted and I didn't deserve an explanation after."
Her accusations lay at his feet and he couldn't refute them, not in any way that made them any less true. Telling her that he feared the truth would lead to her rejection didn't change the heart of what he'd done or how she felt about it.
"Is this how it's going to be?" He asked finally. "I try to apologize and you won't let me, we agree to be civil and you treat my presence like the plague, I try to show you that I'm not here to hurt you or anyone else and you act like you want to beat me within a inch of my life—"
"Because I'm angry, Nik!" She snapped. "Don't you get that? You think I like feeling like this? I wasn't raised to hold anger in my heart but it's there goddamn it and I don't know how to get it out and it's all your fault. So I'm sorry if that inconveniences your second chance at life, but you're just gonna have to live with it until I figure out how to get rid of it."
Bonnie pinched the bridge of her nose and let out an exasperated sigh
"Look, you're going to be out of Ms. Pearl's in less than a month. After which I fully expect you to set off in search of whatever city that suits you. And that's a good thing, because I'd really prefer to sort through all of this without you being within punching distance."
He was about to tell her that any notion of him leaving was a pipe dream when her cell phone rang.
Bonnie answered it quickly, grateful for the distraction as Stefan Salvatore delivered the good news and the bad news.
#
Nik slowed his bike to stop in front of Bonnie's house. The good news was that her truck could be fixed. The bad news was that the parts he needed to fix it wouldn't arrive until the next day and after their talk, all she wanted was to head home.
He felt Bonnie dismount and looked up in time to see an old pick-up truck pulling into her driveway. Henry sat in the passenger seat and the driver could be none other than Bonnie's father.
When it rains it pours.
He watched as Henry climbed down from the truck and ran across the front yard waving at them.
"Hi mama! Hi Nik!" He called as his grandfather's truck pealed out of the driveway to the sound of screeching tires.
"Hey, baby," Bonnie replied tiredly when he reached them. "Where's Gramps going?"
"He said he'll be back. He went home to get Retta."
Bonnie nodded absently and turned to thank Nik for the ride and finally put an end to a surprisingly shitty day when the boy's words finally registered.
"Wait…" She started, frowning down at him. "Did he really say that?"
Henry nodded, eyes wide.
"Shit," she muttered before turning to Nik. "You need to leave. Now."
Nik did his own bit of frowning at the urgency in her voice. "What's wrong? Who's Retta?"
"Retta's not a who, Retta's a what. Loretta. His shotgun."
She crouched down to face Henry. "Sweetie, why don't you go inside and get cleaned up," she said, handing him her house keys.
"Ok…bye Nik!"
"Surely you don't think he's coming back here to shoot me, do you?" Nik asked, as he watched Henry sprint up the front porch.
"Well he's not coming back here to shoot me!" Bonnie hissed in exasperation. Before her eyes widened at the sound of Rudy's truck rumbling towards them.
"Oh god…" she groaned. She really wasn't in the mood to deal with this first meeting of her father and her ex-husband, but Rudy jumping from his truck wielding his double-barreled shotgun, ruined all hope of a raincheck.
"Daddy, no," Bonnie declared, placing herself in front of Nik with her arms outstretched. "If you want to get out of this alive, please let me do the talking," she muttered over her shoulder.
"Get out of the way, Bonnie," Rudy ordered, gun and eyes both trained on Nik.
So this was the guy. When he'd pulled up to drop Henry off and saw Bonnie sitting behind Nik on his bike, he'd known right away who he was. He didn't know what she'd been doing riding around with him and he didn't care. All he saw were the tear-stained cheeks that had greeted him every morning for nearly a year. All he heard were the muffled sobs that had visited her every night.
The next thing he knew, he was spinning the combination on his gun safe.
"Daddy…you can't kill him," Bonnie said.
"Why not?"
"Because…there's a neighborhood full of eyewitnesses?"
"You know damn well they'd help hide the body."
"Ok yeah they would," she admitted "But like it or not, Nik is Henry's father. Do you really want to shoot his father in our front yard?"
Rudy had held his tongue against Henry's exuberance over Nik's presence and her own silent pleas for patience. She'd hoped that Nik would be bored with Mystic Falls and on his way out before a run in with her father. Why was he still here dammit?!
"Bonnie…"
"Look, the truck broke down on the way to Fell's Church. Nik was just giving me a ride home, ok?" She wrapped a hand around the barrel of the shotgun and began to slowly lower it.
"Go home, Dad…please. Henry and I'll be over later to make you dinner, ok?" she promised as the gun came to rest at her father's side; Rudy's eyes, still focused on the source of her weariness.
"You're lucky she was here, boy," he said finally, before he glanced at Bonnie. She nodded encouragingly at him until the tension in his shoulders eased enough for him to exhale slowly before he backed off and made his way back to his truck.
"Glad to know you aren't angry enough to want me dead," Nik said.
"Oh, I haven't wanted you dead in five years at least," Bonnie sighed.
"Well…that's a bit of progress I suppose," he replied with a wry smile as she turned toward the house.
"Would you?" Nik asked, halting her steps. "If I'd told you the truth, would you have run away with me?" The question had been banging around in his head since the orchard.
Yes. Because I was young and stupid and loved you past all good sense. Because we were a family and I trusted you to take care of us. Because I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere you weren't.
Bonnie turned to look back at him. Each breath became a polishing of her armor; a hammering out of the dents the day created.
"In the words of Kanye…I guess we'll never know," she shrugged with a rueful smirk.
BKBKBKBK
Nik parked in front of the Fell building and waited.
A cursory glance through the recently cleaned front windows revealed Elena Gilbert-Salvatore fussing about with whatever final preparations before his appointment. Not in any hurry, he continued to sit astride his bike as he surveyed the streets his possible new business venture would sit.
From what he'd already gather about the layout of Mystic Falls, the location was perfect. Technically it was still a part of the downtown area, but this section of Elm street was far enough removed from the usual activity of the area as to be a location one sought out specifically. Considering what he hand in mind, it was both perfect and several years overdue.
"Do you ever feel like you're not doing what you're meant to do?" Bonnie asked from her perch. With the relatively mild weather they'd been having, they'd regularly taken time to spend on the roof of Nik's apartment building—him finishing up a cityscape he was painting while she studied for finals.
"I think we all do at one time or another," he replied, glancing towards her as he mixed paint colors.
"What did you do when you felt like that?"
Started robbing banks, he thought. "I took care of it."
Bonnie frowned. "Ok...but how? I mean you've said you hate looking after your family's businesses, so how are you taking care of it?"
"I thought about what I'd rather be doing and set that as a goal. Everything I've done since then has been in the service of meeting that goal." He watched the way her teeth worried away at her bottom lip as she absently dog-eared the pages of her textbook.
"What's brought this about, love?" He asked, setting down his brush and palette.
"I don't know," Bonnie sighed. "I guess I thought I'd have a better idea of what I wanted to do with my life by now."
"You're a freshman in college, Bonnie. It's not like you don't have time to figure it out. Wasn't that part of the reason you moved to Chicago in the first place; give yourself time to figure it out?"
"Yes but...what if what you want to do makes you feel like you've been wasting your time instead of just doing it?"
"What would you rather be doing?"
"It's silly…" Bonnie muttered.
"I seriously doubt that," Nik replied. "So out with it."
Bonnie set aside her book when he came closer. "Well...you know how much I love my Gram's cookbook, right?" She'd finally gotten the nerve to show the treasured to him the last time he'd been invited to dinner with her and Lucy. The book contained not only contained a wealth of culinary recipes that had been passed down, it also contained all of Sheila Bennett's recipes, formulas and notes for all of her home remedies; some passed down and some of her own creation. She'd spent over an hour shyly flipping through its pages and showing Nik recipe after recipe and pointing out the medicinal properties of each.
"Of course, and with good reason," he said.
"The other day I was out with Lucy and we came across this little homeopathic store and..."
"And you found yourself critiquing the merchandise," Nik finished.
"A little," Bonnie blushed. "It's not that there was anything wrong, it's just that...I know I can make better and more effective products. And that got me to thinking about maybe opening a shop of my own one day."
"And that's what you want to do?" He asked.
"When I try to see myself years from now, all I see is me owning a little shop somewhere," Bonnie explained. "One of the things I really admired about Grams is how much she cared for everyone around her. Cared enough to do whatever she could with the knowledge she had just to make their lives a little easier. When you couldn't afford a doctor bill for a common ailment, there she was with another option that was just as effective if not more so. And I think I want to be that kind of help to people too.
"Plus...I just love cooking, Nik. That's what my Grams used to call it. She was always cooking something up for one person or another. I love all of it. From growing my own ingredients to turning them into something that really helps people. I practically know all of Gram's recipes by heart, but I've started creating my own too and I have all these ideas and...it's not painting, but it just feels like art. Does that make sense?"
"I'm still waiting to hear the silly part, love," Nik offered and earned an elbow to his ribs.
"I believe you can do anything you set your mind to," he said finally. "And if this is the direction your heart wants you to follow, then you should do whatever it takes to get there, otherwise what's the point?"
"I think I'm going to need to change majors..." Bonnie said as she chewed her lip thoughtfully.
"You major in Liberal Arts. Anything you change it to will be an improvement," Nik quipped and dodged another elbow.
"Botany," Bonnie said, firmly. "I'm going to change my major to Horticultural Science."
"Hmm...a science major," Nik mused as he gently pulled her from her perch and into his arms. "I suspect you'll be quite fetching in a lab coat." His mind already drawing up images of her wearing one and very little else.
Bonnie slid her arms around his neck and leaned into him. "Get your mind out of the gutter," she chided.
"But it's so much fun down there," he pouted and nuzzled her neck.
"Ok, you can head back down there after you tell me about your goal." she replied.
"What do you think it is?" Nik asked.
"I think the obvious guess would be your paintings. Showing them in galleries or accepting commissions," she stated. "But then I've seen you while you work and I think what you create is too personal to you for that. I can't see you making any of your pieces available for public consumption because I don't think that's why you paint."
He almost kissed her then. How was it possible that someone who'd known him only a few months understood something that his own father had been unable to grasp? How many times had Mikael ridiculed and harangued him about his paintings? Browbeat him over his insistence in indulging in a meaningless hobby that did nothing to either elevate himself or increase the family coffers?
He knew he was talented. He knew many of his pieces would likely sell. But suggesting that he turn any of them over to the private collection of some wealthy aficionado was akin to asking someone to take years of faithfully written personal journals and publish them.
The canvas was both his confessional and his refuge. There simply wasn't a dollar amount persuasive enough to let any of them go.
"Freedom," he said softly.
Bonnie frowned in confusion, "Freedom? From what?"
"From all things Mikaelson of course." He'd spoken of his family before, but he didn't know if he could adequately explain his feelings for either his parents or his siblings. They were a greedy, self-serving, spiteful lot who hid their deeds behind money and title. If nothing else, they'd taught him all about hiding in plain sight while robbing someone blind.
And any deviation from the family line was met with scorn, vindictiveness and in his father's case, violence.
"What I'm doing right now...I'm not just begrudgingly overseeing my portion of the family's affairs, Bonnie," he explained. "I'm working on my exit strategy and when I'm finished, I'll be rid of them; part and parcel."
"And after that, then what?"
"Then, I live a life that's truly mine," he answered. "I've actually fancied the idea of owning a bar."
Bonnie's eyes widened at his admission. "Really?"
Nik nodded slowly choosing his words carefully. He may not tell her the truth in its entirety, but she was owed some of it.
"Yes. I think I'd enjoy owning a place for those with a genuine appreciation of music. Drinking...dancing...a stage for live music...and a juke box curated by yours truly."
It was the truth. When it was all said and done and the Night Owls parted ways, he had every intention of opening a small bar in the beautifully extradition-free Maldives. Perhaps he'd wear button-down shirts with ridiculously tropical prints on them while he plied patrons with too much rum.
Bonnie smiled at the idea. She honestly hadn't expected him to come up with something so normal considering he carried himself in a way that made him seem larger than life. Own his own country? Sure. But a bar?
"Tell you what," she began. "By the time I open my shop, I expect you to have opened your bar. Deal?"
Nik frowned at the pinky finger she now held out to him. "You must be joking."
"A pinky swear is a very serious oath, Nik," she said as she wriggled the small digit impatiently; her eyes dancing.
"Fine," he agreed, dryly as he grasped her pinky with his own.
"And you have to promise that when you open, I'll always have free drinks," she added.
The comment was intended to be harmless. Instead, it coiled in his gut and sank like a stone.
How long had he spent planning for the day he'd be free of the Mikaelson legacy and live out the rest of his days on a tiny bit paradise? The robbery of Riverside Savings & Loan had been perfect. The crew walked away with 15 million and he'd been back in Bonnie's arms two weeks later. He wouldn't meet up with the guys to plan the next heist in New Jersey for another month. Seven jobs down...three more to go.
The end was in sight. But where it should have been clearer than ever, there stood his little witch with a giant question mark over her head. What of her? When had she become such a factor that life on a tiny bit of paradise without her lost its appeal?
He'd known the risks of pursuing anything with her as well as how much more complicated it all would become the closer he got to achieving his goal. And yet he'd still let her crawl into his heart to take up as much space as she liked.
How would he bring himself to say goodbye to her?
He wouldn't, that's how.
He was the man with the plan. The one who could think his way out of any situation. If he was unwilling to let Bonnie go, then he would simply need to recalibrate his plans to include her. He ran too great a risk of losing her if he told the truth; and remaining in the states to be with her ran an even greater risk...
"Well?" Bonnie asked, insisting on an answer and pulling him from his thoughts.
Nik's released her finger and wrapped his arms around her. "Give me a moment...I'm figuring out how massive a dent such a promise would make in my liquor inventory."
Bonnie gasped in faux outrage before smacking his arm. "You'd better be glad I love you-"
Her eyes widened in shock; as if she hadn't realized she'd said those words aloud. Before she could wriggle from his grasp and scamper away in embarrassment, he cupped her rapidly reddening face in his hands and kissed her deeply.
"I-" she started, her mind frantically grasped for a way out.
Another kiss swallowed any means of escape.
"You don't-" She hadn't meant to say it and she needed to tell him that it didn't mean he had to feel the same way. That-
He kissed her again and her thoughts scattered with no hope of returning.
Nik held her there until he felt her body relax into his; fully intent on kissing her until any foolish notion of taking back or qualifying what she'd said disappeared right along with any thoughts of his being without her.
He finally let her come up for air and pressed his forehead against hers.
"I love you too."
Nik opened the now unlocked door to the Fell Building and entered.
"Good, you're on time," Elena remarked, curtly.
"I usually am. Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Gilbert-Salvatore," he answered, extending his hand.
"I'd like to say it's a pleasure but I'm not a fan of lying," she answered smoothly and ignored his hand.
Pearl had spent the past few days briefing him on everything he'd need to know when dealing with Bonnie's best friends.
"Caroline and Elena are always going to have Bonnie's back," she'd said. "But between the two of them, the one more willing to listen and who might actually show you an iota of compassion, is Elena. So tread carefully and don't fuck this up."
"Business it is then," Nik replied. "Shall we get to it?
#
Did she say why she was so upset?" Bonnie asked as she secured a voluminous yellow hat atop her head with a pin.
"No," Caroline answered, still frowning at her cellphone. "She just said she'd be here in ten minutes."
They'd arrived at Hayleen's Hattery a few moments earlier when Caroline's phone started blaring and a frantic Elena insisted that they meet up.
"You think Damon found out about Liam?" Bonnie asked, frowning at her reflection as she assessed the hat.
"Doubt it. She wouldn't sound that bothered if he had," Caroline pointed out as she selected a pink hat to try on.
"True."
A tall brunette strolled up to where the two sat. "Hello, ladies."
"Hey Haley. How's Ms. Hayleen doing?" Hayleen Marshall owned Mystic Falls' only hat shop, which was currently abuzz with customers searching for the perfect item to wear to church that Sunday. The first Sunday of spring brought about Hat Day for just about every church in town and those who participated regarded the event with the reverence of the Super Bowl.
Before Haley could answer, the front door swung open and Elena rushed in. Her eyes scanned the shop until they landed on Bonnie and Caroline. She hurried over to them and snatched Caroline's mimosa from her hand and downed it in one gulp.
"Elena, what's going on?" Bonnie asked, her voice filled with concern.
"He's not leaving," she answered flatly.
"Who?"
"Your ex-husband. He has zero intention of leaving," Elena said, motioning for another drink.
Bonnie watched as Haley passed her a new bottle of champagne and a carafe of orange juice.
"I know it feels like he's been here forever," she ventured. "But he's going to be out of Ms. Pearl's in a few weeks and then things will go back to normal."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really," Bonnie assured.
"Then why is he making an offer on the old Fell building?"
"What?" Caroline gasped.
Bonnie began blinking rapidly, hoping she's misunderstood Elena's question.
"You heard me," Elena continued. "I just came from doing a walk-through with that son of a bitch."
"If you don't mind my asking," Elena began. "What's your interest in this building?" She'd been surprised when she'd found that Vicki had added Mikaelson's name to her appointment schedule. She'd been tempted to cancel and avoid any possible interaction, but curiosity got the best of her as to why the ex-con would suddenly develop and interest in local real estate. If what Bonnie had been saying were true, he should be climbing the walls to get out of their sleepy little town by now. And yet her showing of the Fell building had been met with pointed and thorough questions about the property's condition, the regional market for a building of its kind. It didn't take long for her to realize that despite whatever ulterior motives he may have, he was genuinely interested in buying the building.
"I don't mind at all, Nik replied. "After a bit of renovation, I'll be calling the second floor home, while the first floor would make a marvelous venue for my new business venture."
"New business venture?" Elena asked, cautiously.
"Indeed," he replied as he slid his hands into his pockets. "I've been here for over two months. And from what I've seen, Mystic Falls is in desperate need of a bar."
"A bar?" Elena frowned. "So what...You're going to try and run the Mystic Grill out of business?" she could already feel her irritation beginning to rise.
"Of course not," Nik scoffed. "The Mystic Grill is a place for families. This place will be for those who've put their families to bed for the night." If the building checked out, the former video store could be renovated with little trouble if his initial assessments were accurate.
"Elena," he continued, smirking at the way her eyes narrowed at his familiarity. "Despite what my ex-wife may have told you, I'm not working on some nefarious plan to bring down either her or this town."
"But you are planning on staying here," she said bluntly.
"Absolutely. My family is here and I can think of no better place for a fresh start. And-if you're willing to put your personal prejudices aside for a moment-you might see that my being here would be of great benefit to Mystic Falls as a whole."
What followed was a condensed version of his plans for Mystic Falls. He questioned why Mystic Falls had failed to capitalize on its proximity to Whitmore and suggested that Mystic Falls was dying and in desperate need of new blood.
He wasn't wrong.
Considering the regional market, Mystic Fall should be her top earner as far as homes and commercial properties. It should be a haven for commuting college families.
She knew why; the members of the city council were set in their ways and terrified of change. Mystic Falls was good place and, for the most part, filled with good people. But in their effort to keep the town as a place you'd want your kids to grow up in, they were choking off its ability to survive long after they were gone.
"With my resources," Nik continued. "Mystic Falls can become a place where small businesses flock. Small business means jobs. Jobs mean families come and stay in town rather than leaving once the college acceptance letters have gone out."
The discussion he'd drawn her into has been frank. He pointed out that the leadership of the town had ignorantly contributed to Mystic Falls' woes and then had the audacity to point out that whatever young educated business owners that remained weren't positioning themselves to take the reins from a governing body that was old and failing.
"If people like you want this town to grow, then your involvement is going to have to go beyond yearly charity functions, especially if you want to have an actual say in what does and doesn't go on here," he said.
It was a good point.
Bonnie never mention your civic mindedness," Elena remarked, dryly.
"I wasn't always," Nik admitted.
"So what happened?"
"Prison."
"He's not just here temporarily, guys," Elena concluded.
"Ok so if this isn't some elaborate bluff, he can't be doing this just to stay close to Henry," Caroline surmised.
"I don't think he is," Elena agreed. "He said his family was here and he did not give me the impression he was just talking about Henry. I think he's here for you too, Bon."
Bonnie sat in silence. In all honest she'd only half heard Elena's story—her brain seemed to have stopped working at the mention of the bar. Completely unbidden images of a Chicago rooftop in a sunny afternoon rose to the fore. Memories of shy admissions of dreams and warm encouragement, Promises of a future that hadn't turned out the way either had planned.
"But of all the things to put his money into, why a bar?" Caroline asked, her voice finally breaking through Bonnie's reverie as she and Elena pondered Nik's motive.
"Because he pinky swore," Bonnie said softly.
BKBKBKBK
"Hi Henry's dad!" Nik heard and turned to find little Emily walking towards him in her Sunday best with a rather bored looking teenaged boy holding her hand.
Well Good Morning, Emily.. How goes it?"
"Fiiiiine," the child sang; craning her neck to look up at him
"Well that's certainly good to hear. Weekend good?"
Emily's face fell. "No, my mama took me to the dentist yesterday."
Nik frowned, "Now that's a nasty bit of business to be sure." He crouched down to her level and leaned in conspiratorially.
"Word of advice: next time you go, remember that when it comes to your cooperation, accept nothing less than two candies. Understand?"
Emily nodded vigorously, her eyes as wide as if she'd just been given the secret to the universe.
"Good, girl," he replied as the child was led away, her tiny hand waving at him.
Nik stood before the open double doors of The Greater Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church of Mystic Falls and frowned. Churchgoers milled about both among the pews inside and among the myriad of rose bushes on the lawn outside.
Men wore well-tailored suits that shunned the somberness of black in favor of blues, greens, tans and the occasional white; their expressions ranging from jovial to bored indifference as they escorted whomever was on their arm through a sea of pre-service small talk.
Women were draped in linens, silks and lace; each a portrait in pastels. The painstaking care they'd taken with their attire, extended to the elaborate array of artwork that sat upon each head. Hats of every size and color were on full display, bending and spiraling into gravity-defying shapes. They were exotic birds, flitting from one place to the next; cooing and twittering in the faint southern drawl of Virginia. Each greeted and blessed beatifically before descending into whispered gossip and side-long glances.
"It's like a southern fried version of Ascot," Nik muttered.
"Oh hush. Now you remembered to bring money, right?"
"Yes," Nik sighed in boredom he surveyed the crowd in search for Bonnie and Henry.
"Good, because you're gonna need it."
"And why is that, by the way?"
"Because this afternoon is the annual Mystic Falls Inter-Faith Picnic," Pearl explained. "It's a community fundraiser and everyone from every church and temple in town will be there. And the money is for the Basket Auction."
"Basket Auction?"
"Mmhmm. People put together fancy picnic baskets to donate. The baskets get auctioned off and whoever wins the basket, has lunch today with whoever made the basket.."
"Bonnie made one, didn't she?"
"She makes one every year," Pearl nodded.
He spotted her coming from the parking lot; Henry's hand in hers. She wore a bright peach sundress that swirled around her calves; a black lace shrug around her shoulders. Atop her head perched a black hat; its brim stretched beyond the span of her shoulders and curved downward to hide her right eye.
The sound of Pearl's voice—currently engaged in pointing out one person or another—faded into the background as he watched her. His mind's eye slowed down her gait and emphasized the sway of her hips as she walked, her bright red lips as she greeted someone with a wide smile, the rise and fall of her breasts when she'd stopped to chat.
Pearl pinched the back of his hand hard and yanked him from his thoughts.
"What the—" He started, irritably.
"Now over there is someone you should get to know," she said, ignoring his complaint in favor of pointing out some corn-fed bloke who knew nothing of Sunday finery if worn jeans and MFHS Athletic Department t-shirt were any indication.
"That there is Matt Donovan," Pearl explained. "You've already had to pleasure of meeting his older sister Vicki."
Nik's lip inadvertently curled at the name. "Lucky him," he said dryly.
"Don't let the gene pool fool you; they're like night and day. While Vicki is perpetual hot mess, Matt is an absolute angel," Pearl assured, already seeing Nik's attention being drawn back to Bonnie, who'd found Elena in the crowd.
"Matt's been gone for the past few months doing a fellowship with the NCAA. Shadowing athletic directors and what not. Coach Wagner at the high school is retiring this year and Matt wants to replace him as director. Something about wanting to turn the school into feeder for college athletics.
"Not a bad idea. Still haven't heard why I should care." Nik murmured as he continued to track Bonnie's movements.
Pearl smiled as raised up to her tip toes and whispered into his ear.
"Because when it comes to Bonnie's basket…he's the one who's gonna be bidding against you."
Nik's eyes narrowed as he watched Bonnie walk into the circle of Matt Donovan's arms; a smile he hadn't seen in years plastered on her face. He ground his teeth only to be rewarded with Henry calling excitedly:
"Hi Uncle Matt!"
#
"What are you doing here? When did you get in?" Bonnie asked as she hugged him. When she let him go, he scooped Henry up and tossed the boy over his shoulder and held him there with one arm as he laughed and squirmed in his grasp.
"Got in late last night. I promised Caroline I'd meet her down at the park with the O-line to help set up, so I can't stay." Matt explained before blue eyes softened and his thumb caressed her cheek.
"I just didn't want to go any longer than I had to before seeing your face."
"Like we haven't been Face Timing the whole time," Bonnie scoffed with a grin that did nothing to hide the blush creeping up cheeks.
"It's not the same thing, Bon. Not by a long shot."
"No, it isn't," she agreed as she slid her arms around his waist.
Nik watched the exchange from his vantage point. He hadn't known what to expect, but strangely enough he hadn't expected this. Sure he'd proven himself to be no said, but he didn't think that she'd be so adverse to the likes of him that she'd turn to Captain Fucking America.
He saw the blonde meathead set Henry back on his feet only to turn to Bonnie again and drop a kiss at the corner of her mouth before walked away with noticeable reluctance. The SUV that waited for him was filled with equally meat-headed teenaged boys who whistled and teased having witnessed the display.
Nik's hands clenched into fists as Donovan drove off. He'd never felt this before. This irrational urge to chase him down, beat him within an inch of his life for having touched her and then lock Bonnie away until she came to her senses and realized that despite everything, no one—least of all some overgrown boy scout—could love her the way she wanted except him.
Pearl patted his hand sympathetically. "She's known him her whole life. He's loved by everyone in this town—including her father—and the worse thing he's ever done was get busted for cow tipping. He's honest, loyal, true and not to mention easy on the eyes in his own right."
"He sounds like a St. Bernard," Nik murmured.
"He sounds like the one thing that you've proven yourself not to be," Pearl countered. "He's safe and nothing short of flat out lying on him is going to prove otherwise. Now do you get why he can't be your focus? You may have more money than him, but he's got everything else. And right now, he's got points on the board and you've yet to score."
She looped her arm with his and guided him to the church doors.
"But...if you follow my lead, I'll have you in this ballgame before Tithes and Offerings."
#
"Why isn't Bonnie's father here?" Nik asked, still stewing about Donovan as they finally entered the church.
"Rudy's never been big on church. He tends to hold the opinion that if you've been sinning for six days out of the week, why not seven?"
"A man after my own heart," Nik muttered, remembering the double-barreled shotgun the old man had aimed at him.
"I didn't expect to see you here," Bonnie announced, walking up to their pew. She'd sent Henry to find a seat with Elena before she headed to the choir room when she spotted him. He wore a perfectly tailored navy-blue suit
"Pearl insisted I attend and who am I to refuse my only ally?"
"Ally? Are we at war?"
"You tell me," Nik replied.
"It's an uneasy truce at best," she answered dryly. "But as a matter of fact, I'm glad you're here."
"Is that a fact?" Nik asked. Why? So, you could engage in that sappy display right in front of me?
"Yes. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind taking Henry for a couple of hours after service and then drop him off at the park? He was supposed to hang out with Stanley before heading to the picnic but Stanley home with a cold today. Elena and I are helping with final set up and with all the activity, it probably won't be the safest place to have him running around," she explained.
"Of course," Nik replied. "Although I won't need to drop him off as I'll be attending myself."
Bonnie's eyes widened in surprise, "you will?"
"Nik is going to be my date for the picnic, Bonnie," Pearl offered with a smile.
"He is?" Her eyes narrowed as she watched them as they amiably nodded towards one another.
This was what she hated; the feeling of having no center. The feeling of having just about everything Nik said or did no matter how insignificant throw her off balance. It was like pinwheeling your arms in a desperate attempt to grab on to anything that could possibly make this situation make sense even for a moment.
"What are you two up to?" She blurted out finally.
"Nothing sweetheart," Pearl purred.
"Oh God..." Bonnie groaned in reply. She knew bullshit when she heard it and these two were full of it. It was bad enough that Elena had officially taken the "For Sale or Lease" sign off of the Fell Building a few days ago and now here Nik was at her church on one of the biggest days of the year. And for the life of her, she still hadn't figured out why Pearl Gregory was helping him with whatever he had planned. She'd known Pearl her entire life; so why had she pledged allegiance to the man responsible for completely upending it?
"Look, Henry has a change of clothes in his backpack. Just don't let him get crazy with snack before the picnic, ok?"
Nik nodded, "I think I can do that."
"Good," Bonnie responded primly, before she turned away.
"Oh, Bonnie," Nik called after her. When she finally turned to face him, he took care to drink in one final look before they retreated to neutral corners. One final look at what one day would be his again,
"You're looking very lovely today," he said.
It was a simple compliment. One she'd heard many times before to no consequences. But she'd learned that nothing was ever simple with Nik; especially when he looked at her as though he'd committed every single detail of her to memory, She balled her hands into fists and let the sharpness of her fingernail digging into her palms distract her from the blush she felt warming her cheeks.
"Thank you," she replied, stiffly, before she hurried off to the choir room.
#
What Pearl called the Praise and Worship portion of the day's service had been harmless. Nik had never been one for church, but the hymns were more lively than he was accustomed to while the constant instruction to turn to one's neighbor and repeat some overly simplistic declaration was baffling. Any real enjoyment came from hearing Bonnie's voice among the choir. He'd heard her sing before; either in the shower or crooning as he held her in his arms. But today, she was in full voice and he listened as she skillfully handled each change in key and emoted a happiness he couldn't name.
"Now if anyone would like to testify, please raise your hand and share the goodness of the Lord," the pastor intoned.
Nik sat in his pew and sighed. He'd rather be doing anything in the world other than sitting here listening to doddering old fools yammer on about being healed of their bursitis or their grandson getting into college or some revelation they received about the lord.
He was near to nodding off when out of the corner of his eye, he saw Pearl raise her hand.
"Sister Pearl come on down and share a word!"
He watched as she rose from her seat and sauntered down the aisle towards the pulpit.
"Praise the Lord, Saints," she began once she stood behind the podium.
"Now I don't have anything to report on my life since the Lord is good to me all the time. But I would like to speak on a new friend that's been placed in my path. A prime example of not only the Lord's justice, but also his tender mercy."
Nik felt a chill run down his back at that. She wouldn't dare...
"Nik?" Pearl called out to the congregation. "Stand up for the people so they can see you."
He could see the older woman's eyes dancing even from this distance. I didn't know what she was up to, but she'd said to follow her lead and he would oblige. But this had better be good.
"Now brothers and sisters," she went on. "This here is a man who has been blessed in ways that not a one of us could ever imagine. He came into this world blessed with wealth, beauty and the skin color that allowed him to truly benefit from both." She waited...as murmurs of agreement rose among the congregation.
"But as we all know...when much is given, much is required and this young man just hasn't been up to snuff in that department. Can I get amen?"
Bonnie sat in the choir stand, blinking furiously; trying to erase the melodrama that was about to take place before her eyes. Why, Lord? Why?
"Rather than use his blessings for the glory of the Lord and the betterment of his fellow man," Pearl continued. "He gave himself over to Satan and start stealing what he did not need. Robbing banks, brothers and sisters!" She fanned herself as if the horror of his misdeed was simply too much to bear.
Henry stood in his seat and turned to face his father. "You used to rob banks?!" He asked, his eyes wide. "That's so cool!"
"Henry!" Elena hissed, tugging on the boy's pants leg.
"But as we do in our own ways, he eventually had to render unto Caesar what was Caesar's by being sentenced to a 25-year bit that he so richly deserved," Pearl thundered as she shook her finger at all assembled.
"But while my God is one of vengeance and justice…He's also the God of forgiveness and second chances," she said, her voice suddenly beatific.
"And He who sits on high and looks down low, saw this wretched soul and took pity on him by giving him an opportunity—a fork in the road, if you will."
Nik continued to stand as Pearl held the congregation in rapt attention with her tale. She'd said that she would have him in the game before Tithes and Offerings and she was well on her way to doing just that; all he needed to do was pick up what she was putting down. He glanced in Bonnie's direction to find her sitting. She'd removed her hat before service began and revealed her hair pulled back into a neat chignon. A look of mortification contrasted the smile she'd forced to remain on her face.
He felt a tad bit sorry for her, given what a private person she'd always been. He added whatever embarrassment she may be feeling right now to the list of offenses that he would make up to her tenfold. There would be more before there estrangement was over, and he would add them to the list as well.
I'm sorry love, but all's fair in love in war.
"The FBI came to him with a problem," he heard Pearl say. "Men much more dangerous than him were robbing banks the same way he did. But while Brother Nik had never hurt a living soul, these demons were leaving dead bodies in their wake!" She clutched her signature pearls in horror as the congregation gasped in response.
"Now he could have told those men of the law to go take a flying leap; he could have wallowed in bitterness at the mess he'd made of his life; he could have even fallen back on honor amongst thieves," she pointed out. "But instead he helped them and they were able to catch those demons and bring them to justice!" Her fist punched the air in triumph.
"And because he chose to do the right thing, Brother Nik's sentence was commuted to time served," she concluded as the congregation exploded into applause as they jumped to their feet. Nik felt pats a support and encouragement land on his shoulders as the church goers around him shook his hands good-naturedly. In all of five minutes he'd gone from tolerated pariah to warmly welcomed folk hero.
That woman is a bloody genius.
"Now if that ain't a testimony, I don't know what is!" Pearl shouted over the din. "So I ask you brothers and sisters to extend a hand of welcome to a man who's learned his lessons the hard way. Now is the time when communal support is needed to keep us all on the straight and narrow; can I get an amen?"
The congregation responded in kind and continued to applaud as Pearl relinquished the mic to the pastor.
"Brother Nik, would you care to say a few words?" He asked, when the church finally quieted.
He glanced over at Henry who still sat next to Elena. The boy's face was bright with excitement as he squirmed to get a better look without standing in his seat. Henry nodded his head encouragingly.
Rather than make his way to the pulpit, Nik remained standing as Pearl finally rejoined him.
"Ms. Pearl summed everything up quite well," he began. "I would only add that I have indeed spent the past several years learning valuable lessons. I've learned the importance of a home and family; and that when one has been blessed with both, he should hold on to them with both hands and never let go. I've learned that if given the opportunity, I wouldn't reach backwards to the life I once had; that life was filled with lies and half-truths. Instead, I intend to look forward and build anew. I hope to become a valued member of this wonderful community and create a life for myself and my loved ones that is worthy of the grace I've been given."
Nik felt Bonnie's hard stare and found her face unreadable.
"So any rumors about my stay in Mystic Falls being temporary have been greatly exaggerated," he continued as he held her gaze.
"I'm here to stay."
A/N: Thank you all so much for your patience! I know I suck donkey balls of taking this long to update, but this one went through several rewrites and then I stopped for a bit both to do Night of the Hunter and to flesh out another Klonnie fic that's in the works. The next one shouldn't take nearly as long, especially since winter break is around the corner at work
There's a lot going on with this one, so please let me know what you think and thanks to everyone who bugged me to update, it really kept me motivated.
Next Up: More on Bonnie and Matt's budding relationship, the picnic from hell and what happened in New York?