CHAPTER 10

Bonnie woke because she heard crying and shouting. So many angry sounds that she couldn't make out properly. She blinked or tried to her, eyelids felt too heavy just like her head.

"Bonnie?" the female voice was choked. In her hazy confusion she couldn't place it.

Bonnie rubbed her eyes and forced them open. The room was dark except for two candles. Rebekah was sitting on the bed next to her. Her ordinarily neat blonde hair was disheveled her. Her face was puffy and her eyes were rimmed with red.

"Rebekah? What's wrong?"

Stupid question, Bonnie told herself. She knew what had happened if only she could remember.

Rebekah stifled a sob. "Henrik."

"Henrik," Bonnie echoed.

In a flash the night's events passed before Bonnie's eyes.

The sleeping potion.

Ayanna was hurt – Mikael had hurt her, raged boiled through Bonnie at the thought. How dare he raise a hand to one of her relatives?

Then she was running and there were werewolves.

She and Klaus – they had come so close to save Henrik only to fail miserably. If Kol - if only Kol had tried to save him too.

There was movement, in the next room, voices – calmer than earlier. Rebekah motioned for her to be quiet and Bonnie did as she asked, straining her ears to hear.

"He snuck away from me," Klaus said.

She heard Esther curse. "He shouldn't have been there and neither should you, Niklaus!"

"I know!" Klaus' voice was a pitiful wail. "He just wanted to see them transform and I thought we would be safe in the rocks, but he wanted to get closer and he was so fast, I lost him."

Klaus dissolved into tears. Bonnie squeezed her eyes shut.

"Where is your father?" Bonnie asked quietly.

"I don't know," Rebekah said looking miserable.

"How did I get here?"

When Rebekah turned to look at her again, her eyes were filled with sorrow. On instinct, Bonnie reached out and held her hand.

"Kol says you must have passed out," she shrugged. "You weren't hurt, at least nothing more than a few cuts and bruises."

Bonnie checked under the blanket. She was wearing a white linen nightgown, it was rough-hewn and far too big for her. She checked her legs and saw they were all banged up from her trip through the woods, but someone must have bandaged them for her while she slept. It was first then she noticed her hands were covered in bandages as well.

"Thank you, Bekah."

"We were too late," again Rebekah shrugged and it was such a painfully helpless gesture it hurt Bonnie.

"So was I," she whispered. "But how did you -" she didn't know how to finish her question so she just let it hang there.

"We realized when you took off that Nik and Henrik must have done something stupid. We tried to catch up to you, but by the time Kol and I got past father you were already gone. We searched everywhere."

"You shouldn't have done that. You could have been killed."

"You're one to talk," Rebekah snorted sounding almost like her old self for a moment. "Thank you, Bonnie. Thank you for trying to help my brothers."

Tears stung her eyes and she blinked them away. She kept her eyes firmly locked on the ceiling.

"It was the least I could have done, I'm sorry I didn't save Henrik."

"You tried and I'll forever be grateful to you for that."

XXX

Rebekah sat quietly in the kitchen with Elijah and Klaus. Katherine was skulking around the house somewhere, no doubt trying to concoct a scheme. Lucy was making tea. She had no real idea what was wrong with them, but their glum expressions had the witch concerned. Lucy's kindness reminded Rebekah of Bonnie.

Rebekah was remembering how Bonnie tried to save Henrik. How she had gone into the woods after them on the night of a full moon. And Rebekah was still grateful to Bonnie. A thousand years later and she was as grateful to Bonnie as she had been the morning after the attack.

"Why would she do that?" Rebekah whispered. "Why would she risk her life like that for Henrik?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Klaus said, but his voice lacked his usual arrogance. "If Henrik never died mother would never have turned us into what we are now."

Bonnie, Rebekah realized genuinely had been her friend. She had fought to keep them human even when she had been sent there to kill them, she had found another way. It was touching even if her efforts hadn't mattered in the long run.

"I am surprised Kol let her get so close," Elijah said clearing his throat.

"Maybe she put him out of commission?" Rebekah suggested lazily.

She didn't understand the inner workings of Kol's mind. But she did know he was frequently distracted by a pretty girl. That was one thing Bonnie could have easily used to her advantage to get the drop on him. But Bonnie appeared to genuinely care for Kol's past self.

"Maybe, he has feelings for her," Lucy remarked. She handed out mugs of tea and sat down. "Is my cousin alive?"

"Of course, she is," Rebekah said with an eye roll. "You Bennetts are difficult to kill. Apparently, not even werewolves can accomplish that."

"She saved my life," Klaus said slowly. "Suppose I won't have to murder her when she returns after all."

"Niklaus," Elijah said, but he was tired. "That was never our intention."

"Speak for yourself, big brother however, since she saved me from getting my throat torn out by a werewolf, I suppose I can forgive her this once."

"Forgive her for what exactly?" Lucy demanded. "From where I'm sitting, Bonnie is as much a victim of your mother as you are."

"But why?" Rebekah repeated. "Wouldn't it have been easier to simply kill us?"

"Not necessarily with your psycho brother running around unchecked," Lucy said.

"Kol isn't in the habit of murdering witches, lucky for your cousin," Klaus said with an amused snort.

"I do not believe Bonnie could bring herself to murder us when we were mortal," Elijah said. "She has too much integrity for that."

"Do you remember how small Henrik was?" Rebekah said not listening to the others. She was lost in her memories.

With these new memories about the night, she couldn't remember what had happened before. Instead, she had new memories ones that made her grief feel fresh again after a thousand years.

"I do," Elijah said with a smile.

"Well this is depressing," Katherine announced. She sauntered into the room dressed for an evening out on the town. She flopped down on the chair next to Elijah and tugged on his tie. "What is all this depressing nonsense? I could hear you all even from my room."

"It's none of your business," Rebekah sneered.

Katherine rolled her eyes. "Always so dramatic."

"We were simply discussing how peculiar it was that Bonnie attempted to save Henrik's life," Elijah explained.

"Honestly," Katherine huffed. "Isn't it obvious?"

When all she received were uncomprehending stares from the other three vampires, she rolled her eyes again. Katherine tossed her hair and exchanged knowing looks with Lucy.

"It's Bonnie," Lucy said. "She isn't a killer. She has spent the past three years protecting her friends according to Caroline. And let me tell you they are ungrateful."

"Obviously," Rebekah said. "Otherwise they would sort out their own problems and leave her well enough alone. You would think two vampires wouldn't require a witch to bail them out of every mess they create for themselves."

"Well the Salvatores have never been very smart," Katherine said. Sighing, she studied her nails. "And poor little Bonnie, caught in the middle of it. Must be hard for her, caring for people the way she does."

"Would you get to the point?" Klaus growled.

"My point is," Katherine said with a sly smile. "Bonnie would do anything for the people she cares about except murder innocents."

"We are hardly innocents," Rebekah said with a cold laugh.

"You were once, we all were," Katherine said and this was accompanied by a resentful look at Klaus. "Now Bonnie is in the past, she makes new friends, she gets attached. And she decides to protect Henrik because if she does then vampires are never created. She convinces herself she is helping everyone, your family, her friends here. Because the world is a better place without vampires and I for one, don't blame her."

Rebekah studied Katherine for a moment. Did this girl miss her human life? Did she still grieve for the family Klaus slaughtered centuries ago? It was a possibility and Rebekah was surprised, she hadn't thought Katherine capable of genuine emotion.

"But how will she get home? The second vampire Kol is out of the equation she has to travel through time several times to get home," Lucy said. "That's a dangerous trip to take with someone watching your back, but alone, it's deadly. I don't know, I just don't see Bonnie surviving in ye old days. Most kids today would be screwed."

Something occurred to Rebekah. "Who says she was planning to come back?"

"Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me," Lucy muttered. "My cousin is planning on staying a thousand years into the past? With cholera and dysentery and no indoor plumbing?"

"Kol did propose," Rebekah said turning to Elijah. "She accepted. The last time I spoke to Bonnie before the full moon we were talking about sewing her wedding dress. She sounded genuine."

"Oh my God," Lucy groaned. She threw herself face down on the table. She was tugging on her hair. "If my cousin gets back, I am going to kill her myself, what the hell is she thinking?"

"That's easy enough," Katherine said. "She thinks she is being noble and she gets to keep her boyfriend the way he is or should I say, was?"

"Survival wouldn't have a been a problem," Elijah said. "She had Ayanna and Kol looking out for her. As far as plans go, it is a fairly sound one. Even if it is rather self-sacrificing."

"How do we get them back?" Rebekah asked.

"They'll come on their own now," Elijah said. "Kol isn't going to murder Bonnie, not for protecting Henrik. I doubt he would agree with her, but he won't hold it against her."

"There is something about that night that I never told you," Klaus said looking thoughtful. "Kol was there. I thought I was hallucinating, I was injured and the pain -" he shook himself out of his daze and gave Katherine a nasty look. "Why are you still here?"

"She is my guest, Niklaus," Elijah said patiently. "And since she has proved helpful by providing us with Lucy's help, I suggest you leave her alone. We have enough enemies for now without your eternal grudge against Katerina."

"And what did I do that was so wrong? I just wanted to live," Katherine said, but no one answered her.

In all honesty, Rebekah agreed with her. She didn't like Katherine, but she could understand why she had done what she did.

"Fine," Klaus growled. "As I was saying, I saw Kol there."

"Kol? But he was with me," Rebekah said.

"No, that can't be," Elijah said.

"Yes, it was," Klaus said. "But Kol arrived much later with Bekah as you said," he nodded to her. "So I thought I was hallucinating, but now? I think it was our Kol. He was trying to protect Henrik, but a wolf got him first."

"Are you telling me Kol is running around the past with no one to stop him except my cousin with a werewolf bite in him?" Lucy demanded sitting up straight. Her whole posture was tense. "Because those bites cause insanity. He'll slaughter the whole village before it kills him."

"A werewolf bite won't kill him," Klaus said with a look of exasperation.

"It took Kol weeks to ride out the last bite," Rebekah said. "He massacred people when he was out of his mind from the delusions before we found him. He even killed his friends."

"He needs your blood, Niklaus," Elijah said.

"I am aware, but as he is more than a thousand years in the past what do you suggest?"

"Let's hope he knows enough to get some from the soon to be vampire you," Lucy muttered.

XXX

Bonnie found warlock Kol outside. He was sitting in the yard holding a sword. It was a wooden practice one like the one he used to teach her. She sat down next to him.

"I am so sorry."

"As am I."

Kol's eyes didn't waver from the sword, but they were rimmed with red and his face was splotchy. He must have been crying at some point.

"What's that?"

"It's Henrik's or it was. He was going to be brilliant. Easily the best swordsman in the family."

Bonnie put her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist. It was an awkward embrace with the height difference and sitting behind him, but he didn't seem to mind.

"He was a good kid. I'm going to miss him."

"His body is gone."

"Gone? What do you mean gone?"

Bonnie sat up straight.

Kol shook his head. "I've no idea. I went to see him and it was gone."

"Does your mother know?"

"Yes, she's as confused as I am. Keeps talking about a way to stop this from happening ever again."

Bonnie tensed, but it was too late. She had seen Esther in passing. She was grief-stricken and beyond reason. She had tried to change history and failed miserably, there was nothing left for Bonnie to do except go home.

But she didn't want to leave Kol. Not now when he looked like this. She just hoped she had a few days because she knew vampire Kol would want to leave before they transitioned. With five Original vampires and their heightened senses, his presence wouldn't stay secret for long.

"Where is your father?"

"Took off. Probably went hunting, he'll be back in a few days. Killing something usually calms him down."

Bonnie shuddered.

"Bonnie?" Esther said coming out of the house. "You should go home now. Ayanna will need help with her injury."

"Of course," Bonnie said then lowered her voice to talk to Kol. "Will you be alright?"

"I'll be fine."

Bonnie kissed him on the cheek. She hoped it wasn't the last time she saw him alive.

"I love you."

"I love you too, little witch."

Bonnie refused to cry in front of Kol. She couldn't tell him the situation was even more hopeless than he imagined. She wanted to, she desperately wanted to, but it was too late for that now. She wanted to stay with him. If he turned, she wanted to turn with him. They might not be married yet, but when she accepted his proposal she had meant it. But she had no idea how to explain any of this so she stayed silent.

Instead, she stood up on stiff legs and walked back home.

It wasn't until she was safely inside of Ayanna's house that she broke down in tears. Awful, noisy sobs that made her body convulse. She cried until she couldn't breathe anymore then she just sat there gasping for breath and sobbing silently.

Vampire Kol walked in and sat down next to her. He looked depressed and she couldn't say she blamed him. He had just lost his brother for the second time.

Then that thought made her angry because while she had been trying desperately to save Henrik's life, he had only come to save hers.

"How could you?" she asked wiping away the tears that were still falling.

"How could I what?"

"How could you just let Henrik die? You could have done something! Anything, but you didn't even try."

"You think I stood by and watched as Henrik died?" Kol growled and there was a dark flash in his eyes.

She recognized that look, it was dangerous.

"Yes, I do," she pressed on heedless of the danger. "You ruined everything!"

She got to her feet and glared daggers at him. Kol rose to his feet as well and he was growling.

"HE WAS MY BROTHER!"

"AND HE WAS MY FRIEND! I WOULD HAVE DIED TO SAVE HIM! AND WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"I GOT MYSELF BIT AND YOU BETTER HOPE NIK TURNS BEFORE THE BITE MAKES ME MURDEROUS!"

"I DON'T BELIEVE YOU!"

Bonnie stormed past him. Ayanna wasn't back from the medicine woman's home yet. Since, she had nothing else to do, she made breakfast. She made sure to make enough for the Mikaelson family as well.

As she cooked she felt rage boiling up inside of her. Kol had lied to her. That was in a way worse than standing by idly. Instead of telling her the truth and admitting to sacrificing his own brother for power, he had lied about a werewolf bite.

She chopped vegetables pouring all of her grief and rage into the process. Part of her was constantly wondering what to do next. She needed to get out here, the Mikaelsons would turn any day. But she didn't want to go, didn't want to leave Kol behind. She also knew, he would never leave his family behind. Desperately, she wanted to stay with him no matter what happened.

"Bonnie," Kol said coming into the kitchen and he could barely look at her. "I'm sorry."

"You ruined everything," she repeated. "Everything would have been fine if you had just helped me."

"I did try," he snarled. "And I got myself injured in the process."

"I don't believe you," she said keeping her back to him.

"As for Henrik, he isn't dead."

"Shut up."

Bonnie started preparing everything to go. She kept her back firmly turned on Kol until she was sure he was gone. Then she exhaled and finished getting ready everything to go with her.

With a feeling of dread growing inside of her, Bonnie started off toward the Mikaelson home. The closer she got, she started to realize that it wasn't just because of what had happened. She was having one of her psychic feelings. Something was wrong and she hurried.

Even as she approached the door to knock, some part of her knew she was too late. The door opened a crack and Esther came outside.

"Bonnie -" the older woman said startled and her eyes kept darting around. "What are you doing here?"

Bonnie could feel the magic in the air.

"I came to -" she stopped short. "What are you doing?"

"Casting a spell."

"What kind of spell? Esther what are you doing?" Bonnie demanded as her sense of urgency grew stronger.

"I doubt you've heard of it."

Esther tried to slip back inside and Bonnie shoved the door shut on her.

"Try me."

"I have to protect my children," Esther said tearing up.

Fury and grief welled up in Bonnie.

"You are killing them!"

Esther's expression hardened. "You are too late."

"This won't end well, you will regret this."

"How do -"

"Trust me, you will come to regret this," Bonnie said viciously. "And me? I'll regret this for the rest of my life because I didn't even get to say goodbye."

"You're psychic, Kol told me about that," Esther nodded as if confirming something to herself. "And I will never regret protecting my children because I cannot lose anymore."

"You will, you will lose all of them this way."

"In time, you will see I did what was best for my family," Esther said with her chin held high.

"Then turn me too. Because I want to stay with him."

"I can't do that, Bonnie. I'm so sorry, but the spell is complete. When they wake, they will be immortal."

Bonnie left and feeling broken, she wandered aimlessly. She had no idea where she was until she sunk into a heap and started to cry for the second time that day.

XXX

Kol was leaving Ayanna. She was still with the medicine woman, but he had snuck in when the woman was preoccupied. He had warned her what was to come and how to stay safe. He was on his way back to Ayanna's home, going through the woods so as not to be seen when he heard a woman crying.

He would never have gone toward that woman, but he knew it was Bonnie. He recognized those same cries from earlier. He found her not far from his old family home. She was on the ground sobbing. He hesitated, not sure if she would welcome his company.

Just as he was thinking about leaving, she let out a heart wrenching wail that he could not ignore. That was why he did something that went against every instinct he had. He sat down next to her and pulled her into his arms.

Bonnie gasped in surprise. She gave another sob and wrapped her arms around his neck. He lifted her onto his lap and tucked her head underneath his chin. She cried for what seemed like an eternity before she finally stopped.

"What's wrong, little witch?" he murmured at last.

He could feel himself starting to get worn out. Ordinarily, vampires didn't experience physical fatigue unless they were well past hungry. But it was the werewolf bite. In a few short days, he would hallucinate and start massacring people.

He really needed some of Nik's hybrid blood. Otherwise, Bonnie would be in danger along with everyone else here. Ordinarily that was also not something he would care about except it put Bonnie in danger and it could disrupt the timeline. If him and siblings hadn't turned, he could end up killing their past selves when he was out of his mind.

He could handle disappearing from existence, but he couldn't take it if anything happened to Bonnie. He recalled the memory of his proposal to Bonnie. How he had told her he loved her and how she returned those feelings.

He felt an acute pang thinking she loved a version of him that was long dead. Whereas he was stuck in love with her. For a brief moment of insanity, he considered telling her, he still loved her. The mad impulse vanished and he assumed it was the werewolf bite beginning to take effect.

XXX

Bonnie couldn't believe she had cried her eyes out to vampire Kol of all people. She dried her eyes and sat up. She accidentally, elbowed him in the stomach. He groaned and covered the spot with his hand.

"What's wrong?"

Instantly, she started grabbing at his stomach.

"It's nothing," Kol growled.

He grabbed her wrists and held them away from his stomach. His dark eyes were unflinching, but by now, she knew Kol well enough to know when he was hiding something from her.

"You're lying. Tell me the truth or so help me, we are going to have a witch versus vampire smackdown, right now."

Kol's jaw clenched. He looked over her head for a long time before giving in. He raised his shirt up and she gasped. There was an ugly bite on his stomach. It was red and there were infected veins surrounding that bite.

"Oh my God, is that a werewolf bite?"

Kol nodded, still not looking at her.

She covered her hands with her mouth. "How - when – how did you get this?" she whispered.

"After you ran away from me in the woods, I tried to save Henrik, but I was injured."

Bonnie put her face in her hands, willing the tears back. Then she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. Grateful that he had tried to save Henrik. Kol grunted when she accidentally brushed up against the bite.

"I am so sorry I didn't believe you," she whispered.

"It's alright. You were distraught."

"Oh my God, what do we do?"

"I need Nik's blood. His hybrid blood, nothing else will do the trick."

Bonnie choked back a sob and blinked back the tears. This was horrible.

How had things gone so wrong?

The werewolf bite wouldn't kill Kol, but she knew from experience how difficult it was to contain vampires, who were crazy from bites. It would be ten times harder to restrain an Original. But there was a chance that could all be avoided.

"That's easy enough. You are transitioning now."

"Now?" Kol was shocked. "I don't recall the transition being so soon after Henrik's death."

"Yeah," Bonnie was now the one to look away. She got to her feet and asked the question she had been burning to ask. "Will he – you still be you? Just for a few days."

Kol's expression was carefully closed, she couldn't read it.

"No. You know what new vampires are like."

"Yeah, I do, but I hoped since you were the first vampires – maybe things were different."

"They were, they were far worse. We had no idea what was happening to us and the bloodlust was uncontrollable."

"Oh, I should have known," she wiped away the tears that were threatening to spill. "We need to get some of Klaus' blood."

"And then, little witch, we need to leave, tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Tonight," he nodded. "Things are going to get dangerous around here."

"Alright, I'll pack."

She twisted the engagement ring. Her Kol was dead and he was never coming back. No matter how desperately she wanted him to. And along with him, the life they could have had together was gone. For a few brief weeks, she'd had everything she dreamed of.

"Good, I'll steal us some horses. We leave as soon as it's dark."

Bonnie looked up at the sky. It was starting to darken.

Where had the day gone?

She felt an infinite sadness at the thought of leaving everywhere thing she could have had here, in the past.

"I take it we will follow the compass to the next nexus."

"Unless you feel like waiting here for the next, say a thousand years," Kol replied with a wry twist of his lips.

"No, we should go," she agreed. "Oh, and Henrik's body is missing. You know where he is, don't you?"
"Run along, little witch. I'll meet you shortly."

That wasn't an answer and Bonnie had the feeling, she wouldn't like what Kol had done so she dropped it.

XXX

Kol crept up on his family home. He went through the back and sped into Nik's room. He knew at this speed none of his relatives would see him. And the only one, who could have sensed him was himself. If memory served, if he would be passed out for another couple of days. His magic had been the strongest and Esther assumed that was why his transition took the longest. He still recalled waking up, unable to sense nature and feeling entirely alone. Now, the loss of Bonnie would be added to that pain.

Nik was out cold on his bed. Kol took out his knife, slit Nik's wrist. He let a few drops fall into his mouth. He pulled up his shirt and checked his bite. It was already healing.

Kol smelled Tatia's blood in the air. He snuck into the room where her body was lying. He stored some of her blood in a vial. Doppelganger blood could be useful in a number of ways and he would be foolish to leave it here.

Then he stroked her face and apologized to her. It was a pity Tatia had to die for this.

Tatia lay on the floor, her eyes were closed and if not for the bloody wounds on her wrists, she could have been sleeping. He had always liked Tatia, but Esther hated her. Hated how she toyed with Elijah and Klaus, playing them off each other. Still, to kill her for it, it felt excessive. Small wonder, they had become killers when their witch mother was capable of sacrificing a girl they had grown up with.

Kol disappeared in a blur. He ran at vampire speed back to the cave where Henrik was. His younger brother, woke eyes fluttering open. He clutched his head.

"Oh, Kol what happened?" Henrik groaned. He blinked and looked around the cave confused. "Where's Nik?"

"It's a long story."

Kol found himself explaining everything to Henrik, including the time travel. He wasn't sure how much of it, Henrik actually caught. He kept running around the cave, zooming around and trying out his vampire speed. He was unable to stop doing things like lifting boulders. He raised a huge one over his head.

"Woah, check this out, Kol!"

"Yes, yes, you are stronger than everyone now," Kol said with an eye roll.

He had slipped Henrik some of his vampire blood the day of the full moon. He had planned it perfectly. He had no intentions of losing Henrik twice. Bonnie's intervention had failed to make him see why it was so important they remain human, but she had made him realize one thing. He couldn't allow Henrik to die twice. He was his big brother and it was his job to protect him. A job, Kol had taken so seriously he had even foolishly attempted to save Henrik's mortal life.

"This is amazing," Henrik whooped. "How are you not freaking out?"

Kol rolled his eyes. "Come along, Henrik. We must find you someone to eat."

Henrik paled and shook his head.

"Sorry, there is nothing to be done about it, little brother."

Kol kept pace with Henrik as the younger boy vampire ran to the village. He was still excited and Kol kept a close watch on him. Baby vampires were impulse, they often ran away and bit the first person they saw.

Ordinarily, he allowed his newly turned vampires to rampage, until they learned control on their own, but there were things at stake. He only hoped they could make it out of the village unseen and Henrik did not turn into one of those dreadful Mary Sue vampires.

Kol led Henrik to a house on the outskirts of the village. One of the young daughters was picking herbs in the garden. He ordered Henrik to stay hidden among the trees. Then he ran so fast he was invisible through the garden, snatched her up and carried her back to Henrik.

Kol couldn't remember the girl's name, but he knew his brother fancied her. He had a vague recollection of Henrik staring at her and telling Kol how beautiful she was.

"Red?" Henrik said staring.

But Kol knew this was not the ordinary reaction from a teenage boy. Henrik's eyes were fixed on her pulse line and his vampire face began to emerge. As was common with new vampires, his little brother had no idea what was happening.

Kol compelled the girl not to scream and to hold still. Not that it looked to him as if it was necessary. She was about two seconds away from fainting.

Henrik tore into her throat and Kol stepped back. He only intervened when Henrik was about to kill her. He threw his brother into a tree and when he flashed fang at him, Kol roared. Henrik backed down quickly.

Afterwards, he healed the girl, compelled her to forget and stole some horses before he went back to Ayanna's. He ordered Henrik to stay out of sight among the trees until he brought Bonnie back. Henrik appeared to be in shock from what he had done, but Kol knew he would adjust in time. Henrik was strong.

Ayanna was waiting for him outside of her house.

"You -" she pointed at him firmly. "You had best take good care of my descendant because I will be watching from the Other Side and if you don't, I will find a way to put you in the ground."

Kol's first instinct was to be annoyed, but he let it slide because it was Ayanna.

"I will."

"I will hold you to that."

Kol expected nothing else.

XXX

Bonnie packed in a hurry. Tears were spilling and she put everything she owned into a bag. It wasn't much. She only had a couple of dresses. Then she looked around the room and refused to allow herself to think of everything that might have been.

On her way out, she ran into Ayanna in the kitchen. Bonnie smiled and wiped away the tears. She had planned to leave Ayanna a note, thanking her for everything, but she was happy it hadn't come to that.

There were no words, she threw her arms around Ayanna. The older woman hugged her back.

"Thank you for everything."

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you, honey. I wish I could have done more."
"Me too."

Ayanna patted her cheek. "Kol is outside. You should go."

Bonnie looked over her shoulder and tears welled up in her eyes when she caught her last glimpse of Ayanna. Coming here and meeting Ayanna and the Mikaelsons had changed Bonnie's entire perspective on her magic. It wasn't a tool. It was a gift and she needed to use it wisely to balance nature. And that was a lesson, Bonnie would always be grateful for.

Kol was out behind the house, hovering just on the edge of the woods. He had three horses with him.

"Greetings, little witch."

"Why do we have three horses?" Bonnie asked even though she suspected she already knew.

"You can come out now," Kol said.

Bonnie faltered when Henrik stepped out from the darkness. He was pale and his eyes were black.

"Is he?"

"A vampire," Kol agreed. "I gave him some of my blood as a safety."

"INSTEAD OF SAVING HIM?"
"I told you, my rescue mission went awry."

"He tried Bonnie," Henrik said. "I woke up just in time to see Kol attacked by the werewolf."

"And then I had to get out of there before Nik saw me."

Bonnie sighed in defeat. That would have been difficult to explain away especially since all of the Mikaelsons drank vervain tea regularly.

"Henrik," Bonnie said the shock finally starting to wear off.

There he was with his floppy dark hair and goofy smile. Without thinking Bonnie ran to him to hug him. In the past few months Henrik had become like a little brother to her, but Kol caught her elbow and pulled her to him. She stared up at him, hurt and angry. Why had he stopped her?

"Don't hug the baby vampire, little witch. They bite."

"Oh," she sagged against Kol.

Bonnie started to cry. She couldn't help herself, Henrik was here, but he was a vampire. She couldn't even hug him anymore, maybe not for a long time. Stefan still hadn't learned full control after over a centuries whereas Caroline had learned it in a matter of weeks.

Who knew how long it would be before Henrik learned control?

"We have to go," Kol said in a gentle murmur.

"I don't want to," she said between sobs.

"Can you handle the second horse?" Kol asked Henrik.

"Sure."

Kol picked her up and put her on the horse. He got on behind her. She kept crying and he wrapped his arms around her waist, he took up the reigns and set off at a slow trot.

His arms tightened around her and he made soft shushing noises. His lips brushed her hair and all she could think about was the life she had lost with her Kol. The warlock she cast spells with, who playfully kissed her and wanted to wait until marriage.

The best and worst part was the truth she had been forced to face today. This version of Kol was still her Kol. He wasn't gone, not really, just the part that made him like her. And worst still, was the truth she had come to realize about herself. If Esther had given her the choice, she would have chosen to turn with him. To walk the earth with him for an eternity even if it made her a monster.

"I want to stay," Bonnie repeated.

"So I've gathered."

Bonnie tilted her head to the side so she could see him. "Let me go back. I'll beg Esther to turn me as well. I know she said it was too late, but there has to be a way."

Kol's mouth popped open. She didn't think he could still be surprised, not after a thousand years, but she was wrong.

"What about stopping us from turning?"

"It doesn't matter, not anymore. I failed. But he proposed and I - I don't want to leave him alone."

Kol rolled his eyes. "I can assure you, I will survive. And I doubt you would have liked me during my early years."

"Kol."

He kissed the back of her head and put his head on her shoulder. She was impressed by how easily he rode. He barely seemed to pay attention as if riding came perfectly natural to him.

Bonnie didn't want to leave Kol all alone for a thousand years. Unlike this Kol he loved her. He would look for her, she knew he would and when he didn't find her, he would think she had left him. She had to blink back fresh tears at that thought.

Poor Kol, her brave Kol, who had attacked his own father to protect her, would think she had abandoned him.

"What good would come of that, little witch? You are young and you don't want to lose your powers, I know you don't."

"But I don't want to lose him -" that wasn't right she could tell by the way he tensed. "You either."

"I'm still here, but it's better for everyone if we change as little as possible. Who knows what chaos our presence has already caused?"

"Still," she sighed. "Just this once, doing the right thing was also doing the selfish thing so of course everything went wrong."

XXX

Kol was relieved when Bonnie finally stopped crying. However, every now and then she would sigh or sniffle, and his heart would break all over again. When she wasn't sniffling, she was staring vacantly at the forest landscape that passed them by.

He supposed she was grieving the death of his warlock self as much as the life they were meant to have together. He understood that, he had memories of their plans. They had discussed them at length. Where they would live, how he would support them and even children's names. Of course, Bonnie was distraught.

The poor girl had allowed herself to believe the dream would become reality even when she should have known better. Kol wanted to fault her for it, but he couldn't. She was young, only seventeen and he had certainly been plenty foolish at that age.

Kol's head felt as if it was splitting open and he grit his teeth. He did not want to alert Bonnie to his suffering, his latest memory would only upset her after she had calmed down.

His past self had woken up and naturally his first thought was Bonnie, he needed to get to Bonnie. In his mind's eye, he saw his quick arrival outside of Ayanna's. Ayanna had let him in and he had run to the room, he knew she was staying in.

His past self had torn through the guest room. The only sign he found of Bonnie had been her lingering scent and the drawing Nik had made of them that day at the falls. Kol shook off the memories of her past self. He didn't need to see the memory to know it would end in him going on a bender, eating everyone in sight.

All because he believed Bonnie had abandoned him. His past self believed she left the drawing behind because she didn't love him any longer. Kol had no idea why she had left it, but he knew that wasn't the case.

Yes, it would seem his loss of Bonnie would turn him into even more of a monster. No surprise there.

XXX

The past few days, Bonnie had travelled with Kol and Henrik headed north. They were following the compass to the next nexus. Henrik was still in the midst of those insane mood swings newly turned vampires experienced. The days were getting colder and Bonnie was in a strange holding pattern with Kol.

"I'm hungry," Henrik complained.

Bonnie was building a fire. The others didn't need to eat actual food, but she did. Kol had caught and skinned a rabbit. With some herbs they picked along the way it would be a decent meal. One thing was for sure with a vampire to do her hunting for her, they were never short on game.

"There's a deer nearby, I'm sure," Kol drawled.

He was in the process of washing off in the stream they were camped out beside.

Bonnie didn't dare look up from the fire. She could feel Henrik's eyes on her neck and she was determined to ignore him just as she was purposely staying calm so that her heartrate wouldn't be too tantalizing. Henrik had already had a few near misses attacking her, she'd been forced to use her magic on him. Other times, Kol had restrained him. Each time was heartbreaking.

"I'm sick of deer, they taste weird. Not Red though, she tasted amazing," Henrik sighed. His eyes were closed.

Bonnie felt sick. This was not the first time, Henrik had complained about the animal diet Kol was keeping him on. She looked at Henrik and saw he was exactly the same boy he had been before the full moon. At least on the outside, but on the inside he was a whole other creature.

"If you as much as look at Bonnie, I'll snap your neck," Kol growled.

In a flash, Kol was beside her instead of at the creek.

"He won't," Bonnie said with a tentative smile at Henrik. "We're friends," Henrik was still staring at her neck in a way she didn't like. "But that doesn't mean I won't set him on fire. Again," she muttered the last part under her breath.

Henrik crossed his arms, but went back to staring at the tree line instead of her.

"It's not fair. You feed from her."

Bonnie tensed.

"What would you know about that?" Kol demanded his voice quietly angry.

And that was always much scarier Bonnie thought.

"I smelled her blood last night after you thought I was asleep."

"It's not that simple," Bonnie mumbled reddening.

"Why not?" Henrik said petulantly.

"It's different," Kol said darkly. "And you will leave it alone."

"Fine, I'll go kill a deer."

Henrik disappeared in a blur. Bonnie sighed in relief. She was still too hot and embarrassed. She didn't want Henrik to understand the difference in what they did. As much as she tried to distance herself from Kol during bloodsharing, there was no denying there was an intimacy to the act. One that had been there from the beginning whether or not she liked it. Probably a direct result of their mutual attraction.

"Shouldn't he have calmed down by now?" she glanced at Kol.

"Yes and no, depends on the vampire."

Kol was staring after Henrik with a dark expression. One that made her think, he might be hiding something. But she rubbed the sides of her temples and decided she had enough troubles without worrying about Henrik.

Such as the way the trees were changing colors. The green was fading and they were starting to turn brown. She looked at the cave they were camping in and the small bag of supplies they had. The vampires would no doubt survive the winter and cold without much trouble, but her? That was another story. The Virginia winters were harsh and she had a vague recollection from history class about the winter the first Brits came over. They had barely survived, wouldn't have without the help of the Natives.

"What do we do if we don't reach the next nexus by winter?"

Kol thought about that for a moment.

"From what I remember from the grimoires, it's not nearby," Kol said slowly. "We might have to stay with a nearby tribe. I don't like the idea of wandering the wilderness with you in winter."

"Yeah, I need actual food."

"And the temperatures, you'll need proper clothing and shelter," he agreed. "I think there is a spell we can cast to ascertain the time of the nexus being at full power. But we'll need to use the stars to guide us."

"How?"

"Through blood magic. I can't help with the actual casting, but I can walk you through the spell."

Bonnie didn't have much experience with blood magic, but she had studied it a little with Ayanna. They hadn't reached the part of the lesson where she actually tried it before everything went to hell.

"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" she demanded.

This was another way to get them home. And Kol had kept this key piece of information from her. It made her distrustful of him and it stung. She didn't want it to, but it did. There was a version of Kol that she loved and he might be gone, but Kol was still here. That made her want to trust him. To believe a part of him still cared about her the way he once had.

"Because you were plotting against me."

Kol's eyes were dark. His expression was unreadable and she knew that meant he was telling her the cold hard truth.

"I wasn't plotting against you. I wanted us to have a real future."

"That isn't me, not anymore however, that's all irrelevant now."

"How far away is this village?"

"Not far. There was a large population of natives in this era, little witch. Tens of thousands," he cracked a smile.

"Okay," Bonnie nodded. "But blood magic relating to the stars," she said slowly. "I'm guessing that needs to be cast at night."

"Under the stars," he smiled another smile that made her stomach do a flip. "Fantastic isn't it when magic is so literal?"

"It's the best," she rolled her eyes. "This spell will probably be complicated so I'm going to get some sleep."

"I'll join you."

Bonnie groaned and walked away. She went inside the cave they were using for shelter. It was cool and damp inside of it. She lay down on the animal skins and covered herself. At least, Kol had picked up something to keep her warm when they fled Mystic Falls.

She closed her eyes and felt her body start to unwind. What little peace she had managed to find quickly disappeared as flashes of the life she could have played through her mind's eye. Tears prickled behind her eyes and she wiped them away. She would not spend another day crying herself to sleep and longing for what could have been.

The Mikaelsons had been her friends. And Kol – he had been the best of them all. He had been brave, strong and kind. He was still strong and brave, but his kindness had disappeared along with his humanity. Gone was the warlock she had spent hours casting spells with.

Kol had been the first person since her Grams, who understood her magic. There had been Luka, but he had vanished all too soon and Abby, who hated what she was. Then there was Kol. He had taught her magic was a gift, it was valuable and it was a part of her. It was meant to be used for good, but it was not a tool. Not something to be thrown around to solve everyone's problems and neither was she.

He had no idea the path he had saved her from. Back in her time, she had started to develop a martyr complex. She was willing to die for her friends and she supposed it was still there to an extent. But now, she wasn't willing to fight for individual lives rather for the balance in nature. That same balance vampires upended.

At least that had been her goal before. Now, she was lost and she had no idea what she was meant to do with herself and her magic. So she worked towards going home with Kol because there was nothing else left for her.

Kol lay down next to her and she kept her back to him. She felt his hand out reach to her and she let him intertwine their fingers. It wasn't the same, it would never be the same, but the only thing that kept her going these days was the knowledge that Kol was not entirely lost to her.

His fingers brushed the ring on her finger and she felt electricity spark through her. She sighed, closing her eyes and imagining her Kol. His touch and the way he had made her feel. How he used to give her a touch of magic when he caressed her. How that electricity had quickened her pulse and made her blood sing. It was a rush.

"You still wear it."

It wasn't a question. His voice wasn't judgmental or gloating. It was curious.

"I do," she whispered. "You or well other you made it for me."

Kol snorted. "That was me. I've changed over the years, but we are not two separate people. Don't tell me you still believe I am sort of evil double."

"No, I guess I don't."

Kol laced their fingers together and squeezed her hand. A tingle of warmth spread from where he touched her to the rest of her. The roughness of his palm was familiar and she knew in a way she had not allowed herself to know before, he was still the same Kol. Different in the ways a person changed after becoming a vampire, after a thousand of time, but still Kol.

But things were different between them now. She knew this Kol wanted her, but he didn't love her like his past self did. And she was still in love with him. In spite of everything, she still loved him. She would have turned to stay with him, but that option had not been given to her. And now the version of him she had fallen in love with was lost to her forever.

Trying to protect her heart, she took her hand back.

XXX

Later that night, Henrik was back. Bonnie sat by the fire with Kol. They didn't need anything for this spell other than the flames, the night sky and her blood.

She picked up a knife and stared at the blade tentatively. It was long and broad, sharp. She knew one pinprick with it would be more than enough to draw blood. She knew that because it had been forged by Kol's human self. It was his ceremonial blade, he used it in castings and he had lent it to her. She never got the chance to return it.

She took a deep breath and slashed open the palm of her hand. No matter, how many times she had done this for spells, it never got easier. The pain was sharp and she gasped. She clenched her fist tightly and allowed the blood to drip into the fire. It hissed and cracked.

Bonnie closed her eyes and summoned her magic. She chanted in Latin. She kept going through the first verse and she could feel the wind surrounding her as it picked up. Her magic roared to life, a living breathing entity.

Upon entering the second verse, she raised her eyes and palms to the sky. She chanted louder now, shouting to compete with the howling wind. The skies were glowing more brightly and moving.

When she reached the third verse the flames roared to life. They exploded and settled into the night sky. The flames fell into formation with the stars.

After the third verse, she ended the spell. She fell forward, catching herself with her palms. She was breathing hard.

"Cool," Henrik said with awe in his voice.

Bonnie looked to Kol. "Did you get what you needed?"

The spell casting might have landed on her, but it was Kol, who knew how to read the stars. When he had been a warlock, he had been proficient in blood magic.

"Yes, the midwinter solstice," Kol said his face breaking into a grin. "Three months from now."

Bonnie took out the compass. It still pointed north.

"We have to go north."

"We'll need supplies and better clothing for you," Kol said frowning. "I don't like this however, if it comes down to it, I'll turn you rather than allow you to die."

Bonnie felt something flicker inside of her. If she turned, she could track down her version of Kol. She could tell him, she hadn't abandoned him. But as a witch this territory was dangerous and she was reliant on others for survival. It was how humans had always survived.

"We'll deal with it if it comes to that."

Kol eyed her suspiciously. "You aren't running back to him. Vampire or not. We have already disrupted the timeline enough."

"And why not?"

"Because Nik will murder you or dagger me to keep us apart. Why do you think Finn hasn't seen his girlfriend in nine hundred years?"

"Nine hundred years?" Bonnie stared at him. "He's been in a coffin for nine hundred years? Where is his girlfriend?"

"Travelling, last I ran into her, she was still waiting for him. She was lucky to have escaped with her life. I won't have you and I in the same predicament, little witch."

Bonnie took all of that in. It was a lot and no wonder Klaus had thrown a monkey wrench in Rebekah and Stefan's romance. Klaus was obviously a control freak, who wanted his siblings all to himself. Even if it meant they spent eternity in a coffin.

"So what you're saying is Klaus was even crazier back when you first turned?"

"Hard to believe, I know," Kol chuckled. "We are going back to our own time. End of discussion."

"Fine," Bonnie crossed her arms.

"And Henrik you are coming with us."

The younger boy shook his head. "No, I don't want to become a monster. I already feel myself turning into one. I can smell Bonnie's blood and all I want to do is tear into her throat. She's my friend and I would kill her without blinking if I let myself."

Bonnie shivered, but she readied her magic just the same.

"That means you are gaining control, that's a good thing, right?" Bonnie said glancing at Kol for confirmation.

"It does," Kol said slowly. "Don't worry, little brother once we are among people, you can feed to your hearts delight. I'd to see you end up as one of those Mary Sue vampires."

"No," Henrik said firmly. "I've given this a lot of thought and I want you to kill me."

"No," Bonnie gasped.

"Absolutely not."

"If you don't, I'll just end up like the rest of you. Bloodthirsty killers and I don't want that."

"There are other ways," Bonnie argued. "I know a lot of vampires back in our time and a lot of them are good. One of my best friends is a vampire and she doesn't hurt anyone. She protects people."

Thinking of Caroline was good incentive to go home. She did have friends and people who were waiting for her. Like Lucy. Losing warlock Kol had been a blow and it had made her forget, she had a life. It was just not the one she had begun to imagine for herself.

"She's good?" Henrik asked with a hopeful gleam in his eyes.

"She's the best," Bonnie confirmed. "And the funny thing is becoming a vampire actually made her a better person. The transition, it forced her to work on herself."

"It heightens personality traits that are already there," Kol said. "Magnifying it and it makes you more impulsive certainly. However, we also feel things more strongly. Every emotion is heightened. That often tips many vampires over the edge."

Caroline had told Bonnie it was like being on crack. And the old Caroline on crack hadn't been pretty so she had worked hard and brought out the best in herself. Bonnie wished she could have given Caroline a normal life, but at least she would be alright.

"We feel things more?"

"You must have noticed,"Kol replied. "Hunger becomes famine. Irritation becomes rage and a mild attraction becomes lust."

Caught off guard, Bonnie glanced at Kol. Was that how he felt about her? An attraction that could have only been mild had turned into full-blown lust? It definitely explained why he couldn't keep his hands to himself when they slept next to each other.

"That explains a lot and I won't feed from people. No matter how much better they taste," Henrik said resolutely.

"In our time, you won't have to," Bonnie said. "The vampires in our time they have other choices. Even if not all of them choose to employ those methods."

"Now where is the fun in that, little witch?" Kol replied in response to her dark look.

"You're a jerk and I'm going to bed. I'll see you in the morning, Henrik."

Bonnie walked away and back to the cave. As she lay down to sleep her head was full of thoughts. Mostly surrounding the heightened feelings of vampires. The Kol she had been with would have that experience. The love he had felt for her would be even stronger, which meant the pain he felt when he realized she had abandoned him even worse.

With a guilty conscience she eventually fell asleep.

XXX

Kol was growing weary of travelling. They had been riding for the nearest village for a little over a week now and they should be getting closer, but it was starting to wear on his already thin patience. Mostly because Henrik kept going through every emotion in the book. In the morning, he would have one personality and by the time evening came around, he would have another.

Then there was Bonnie, who was still a point of concern. He felt this distance between them like a chasm. She had never felt further away. Not even when they first arrived here or when she was dating his past self. No, this was something else. She was still filled with grief and he suspected lost.

The air was still hot and he spied a lake. They could all use a bath and the horses could use a break. He got off and let the horse graze peacefully. They were well trained and wouldn't run away. Bonnie and Henrik followed.

"What are you doing?" Bonnie asked.

She dismounted and went to the water, refilling her water skin.

"I need a bath."

"Fine, I'll be over here while you swim. I'll go once you are done," Bonnie said starting to walk away.

"If memory serves, little witch -"

Henrik rolled his eyes. Kol knew what that was about. He was tired of being the third wheel again. Depending on his mood, he was fine with it. Other times like now, it made him cranky.

"Whatever, I'm going hunting."

Henrik disappeared in a blur.

"He's kind of a normal teenager," Bonnie said staring in the direction Henrik had disappeared.

"Suppose so."

Kol cracked a teasing smile when she turned to face him. He remembered that day in the cave and he had replayed that memory a few hundred times since it had appeared. And he knew Bonnie remembered it as well. He was hoping a swim before the summer fled completely would close the gap between him and Bonnie. At least a little.

"I'm going for a swim. Are you coming?"

"No," she scoffed.

"Why not? Scared?"

"That's so immature. You know you're like ancient, right?"

"I'm not like ancient. I'm 1057."

She snorted, but there was an unmistakable smile on her face.

Kol took his shirt off. He didn't turn away from Bonnie and he was rewarded with an utterly scandalized look and a blush. Her jaw dropped open and she turned around.

"I know what you're doing and it won't work, Kol."

He couldn't see her face, but her voice was caught somewhere between annoyed and amused. He smirked and started to unbuckle his belt.

"What am I doing, little witch?"

"You're trying to seduce me so I'll sleep with you, obviously."

Kol did have to admit, he was obvious. Ordinarily, he didn't have to put this much effort into bedding anyone, not even witches, but Bonnie was remarkably stubborn. Therefore, he had thrown caution to the wind and decided to tell her flat out what he wanted.

"Come now, little witch. That's not all I want."

He heard how her heart beat quickened and her sharp intake of breath. Whatever she had been expecting that clearly wasn't it.

"Stop it," she muttered and walked away.

Kol sighed and discarded the rest of his clothes. He threw himself in the water.

XXX

Bonnie felt faint. She walked away from Kol and sat down on a rock. She tried to steady herself, but it was difficult.

What had Kol meant?

That wasn't all he wanted, what did that even mean?

She took several deep breaths and stayed where she was. She heard the noises of Kol swimming. He was right about one thing though, he needed a bath. They all did. Travelling through the woods for days on end, sleeping under the stars and in caves, wasn't exactly great personal hygiene.

As hard as she tried to calm back down, it was impossible. Her mind just kept playing Kol's words over and over again on an endless loop. They still didn't make sense to her.

If she had believed it was possible this version of him loved her, was still in love with her or whatever, she would have thought that was what he was trying to say. But how could it be? Kol hadn't indicated he still had those types of feelings for her.

Sure, he kept her safe, but without a witch, he wasn't going to travel through time. That didn't mean he cared, it just meant she was necessary. Just like he was necessary to keep her alive. She knew nothing about surviving in the wilderness. Even after months in the past, she had a lot to learn.

She knew he lusted after her. But love and lust weren't the same thing. You could feel one without the other. And she had asked him point blank, if he still loved her and he hadn't given her an answer.

That could only mean one thing, he didn't.

Deciding the only way she was going to get any answers out of him was to confront him, she took off her dress and walked down to the lake. She was still wearing her white chemise and when her feet touched the cold water, she was assaulted by memories of her day with warlock Kol.

That day at the falls, it had been magical. Until the witch hunters showed up, she half-thought she was in a fairy tale.

Trapped in her memories, she stayed froze at the water's edge. Kol saw her and swam over. When she still didn't move, he walked out to meet her. At least he was wearing underwear, otherwise she would have turned and run away.

As it was, she could see all too much of him. Firmly, she kept her eyes on his.

"Alright there, little witch?"

"I don't know."

Kol nodded as if this was expected. He held his hand out to her. "You coming in?"

"I guess I am."

Bonnie put her hand in his. She had to fight to remind herself, this wasn't her Kol. No matter how much she wished it was. The man that stood before her now was different from the one she loved. But when she felt the roughness of his palm, it was easy to forget.

Kol led her further into the water. It was cold and it felt good against the heat of the air. She stopped walking when they were past waist deep. She dove in and swam to the center of the lake. She got her hair wet and pushed it out of her face.

Kol floated next to her on his back. His eyes were closed and he wore a content smile.

"Isn't this better than riding all hot and dirty?"

"I thought vampires don't get hot?"

Kol lowered himself so he was staying afloat by kicking his feet. He cracked a lopsided smile.

"No, but we do get dirty," he said mischievously.

Bonnie splashed his face and giggled at the offended look on his face.

"What did you do that for?" he complained.

"Just helping you get clean."

"C'mere."

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. She was flush against his chest. With her chemise soaked through she could feel every inch of him. She blushed and made sure her chest was covered by the water. She reminded herself, he had the memories of those days by the lake so technically it was nothing he hadn't seen before. But with vampire Kol, it felt different. It always did – he had a way of making things feel more sensual than younger self.

His arm snaked around her waist, keeping her pinned to him. Bonnie gave him a dirty look even as she wrapped her arms around his neck for support. He touched his forehead to hers and his lips brushed hers. Her breath caught in her throat.

The way he made her feel, the fire that roared through her, she had thought it was gone forever. It could only be ignited now because of the sense of DeJa'Vu this moment was giving her.

"I remember that day in the caves," he murmured against her lips.

His breath fanned her face and she shivered, pressing herself closer on instinct.

"Me too."

"I wished we could have stayed in there forever."

She gasped. Her eyes flew open to study his face. He looked content and there was a wistful smile playing on the corner of his lips.

"That was one of the best days of my life," she confessed.

"Mine too. Would you believe it? In a thousand years, I've never had a better day than the ones I've spent with you."

"When you were a warlock, you mean?" she breathed.

She barely dared ask the question. Her heart was pounding and she was scared of the answer. If he rejected her now, he was really lost to her. And she didn't know if she could go through that twice. Up until now, she had allowed herself to believe at least a small part of her Kol was still alive.

"Yes, and every day since," he whispered. His fingers caressed her spine and her knees were weak. The only thing holding her up now was Kol. "I never want to be without you."

"You don't?"

"No, you asked me before if I still love you."

"I did."

"I do still love you and I'm still here, Bonnie. Do you still love me? Even like this?"

Henrik's scream interrupted.

You guys didn't actually think I was going to let Kol's declaration of love go off without a hitch, did you? Mwhaha.

Thank you so much to all of the lovely people, who are reading this fic. You give me tons of inspiration and to those of you showing support here and on Ao3, I see you and you are the best! As always, let me know what you thought of this chapter.

And if you have any time/place you want Bonnie and Kol to visit let me know and I will see what I can do. I plan for them to jump forward through time several times and I have most of the plot already planned, but I am open to different locations/times if you have something in mind.

Izzy

Guest: Thanks for reading and I hope this update is soon enough.

Kae: Thank you so much! Your review left me grinning from ear to ear! They are going to jump forward in time a few times to get home. And I do plan on writing that one-shot, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Because I know I promised people both endings.

Guest: Thank you so much for reading!