A/N: Smut. Bad Language. Please excuse grammatical errors.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
It was later than she had realized. It took a moment for Bonnie to collect herself and figure out how she was going to get home. The normally rowdy Bourbon Street was simmering down for the night. Bonnie intended to catch the trolley back to Tremé, but wasn't sure what time they stopped running.
She was going to stop in at the pizza joint on the corner but the doors were closed. So the witch kept walking maybe the McDonald's two blocks over was still open. She could wait for a cab there. The witch had picked up a tail as she walked to the fast food restaurant. A black cat that was missing the right side of his face had been following her since she had passed the fake voodoo shop for tourists. Charmaine was watching over her. Two hybrids were trailing her as well.
Bonnie stopped suddenly and turned to face them. "Tonight isn't the night, fellas. Why don't you do yourselves a favor and crawl back to wherever you came from?"
"Yow. You hear that Benny. She's got a mouth on her. I wonder what other things that mouth is good at." A white man with disheveled red dreadlocks joked.
"You're disgusting. I'm asking you nicely to walk away." Bonnie said rounding a corner.
"Klaus wants to talk to you." The second man stated. His accent was thick with his Mexican ancestry.
"Does he now? Tell the hybrid he can kiss my ass." Bonnie answered.
The Want to-be-Rasta hybrid tried to grab her. The man yelled in pain as his hand started to burn against the witches skin. His palm blistered.
"I warned you." Bonne smirked. The man went to backhand her but his palm was crushed when his arm smashed into her ward. Bonnie's fingers shot out and the vamp flew backwards into the building. Before he could stand the cat attached itself to the hybrid's face scratching at his eyes. Bonnie watched in horror as an army of dead animals swarmed into the street attacking the creature tearing him from limb to limb. Charmaine was wicked.
The other assailant didn't even get a chance to move before Bonnie's hex magic snaked around his head and started trying to rip its off his shoulders. With a crackling, his neck broke. His skull hung suspended in the air as his body folded to the ground. Seconds later his noggin followed, as the witch released her spell.
A vampire was lying in wait above the action. When the predator jumped down to overtake the preoccupied witch, a fist punched through the female vampire's back. The shocked woman watched the hand shoot through her chest, her heart clasped in a pale fist. She took a few steps with blood sputtering out her mouth then collapsed.
Bonnie turned. Kol was standing behind her his hand covered in gore. "I sensed the vamp. I didn't need your help."
"I think the words your looking for are thank you." Bonnie pursed her lips staring at the man.
"Thank you." She said unsure why he had intervened. Kol turned and began walking down the street. Bonnie watched him desperate to make him stay.
"Wait! That's it! You're just going to save me then walk away!" Bonnie yelled after him.
"You did it. Why can't I?" Kol returned.
"How many times do I have to explain? How long will you continue you to punish me for something that I needed to do? Bonnie, you need to live your own life. Bonnie, think of yourself. Bonnie, you can learn something from Elena. You need to learn how to be selfish. I guess that was all bullshit. You just wanted me to stop saving them and save you instead." Kol turned glaring at the witch.
"I never ask you to save me. You chose once again to martyr yourself for everyone. I just wanted to love you. I didn't require your sacrifice, just your companionship."
"I needed to find out about myself. I needed…"
"A moment." Kol said speeding back to the witch. He was inches away from her now. "At least that's what you told Stefan. Imagine his surprise when he found out you were making a new life in California. What was his name…Paul? How is Paul, Bonnie? What have you done with the poor bloke now that you're here in New Orleans? Cause you sure don't give a damn about Stefan. He called and wrote for a year. Who had to clean the blood off of him every night for a month? Who dealt with his drunken stupors? Who had to talk him down from becoming the ripper? I hope you enjoyed your moment." Kol said peering into her eyes.
He looked down when he realized that was mistake. Beyond the tears, past the regret, he saw what he had been denying for the last three years. He locked it away reminding himself of what he has had to endure. "Why are you even here?" he spat at the witch desperate to separate himself from those horrid feelings.
"I missed you, both of you. I realized that I loved you, and I came…hoping." Kol's mouth dropped open. His lips pulled into a grin. It held no joy, just pain and incredulous.
"You're amazing. You here to have us back, are you? Now after three years, and another man has…" Kol shook his head. "Stay away from me, and stay away from Stefan."
-o0o-
To say Bonnie was having a bad day was an understatement. She was hung-over from her weekend of living inside a tequila bottle. Charmaine reamed her as soon as she stepped into the office. An hour later Cass and Lucy joined in the throttling on an impromptu conference call. It's a wonder Charmaine didn't summon Grams and Qetsiyah to get her point across. Maybe the necromancer could find Abby and fly her in to yell at Bonnie as well. Bonnie erased those thoughts quickly. She didn't know if the psychic-medium thing extended to mind reading. She didn't want to give the Death Rider any ideas. Her boss definitely had the power to pull it off.
Thankfully Charmaine released her an hour ago to actually get work done and give her time to think about her apparently reckless decision to venture out into Klaus's territory at night. No one recalls that she had Klaus on his knees as a teenager. No one talks about the time she desiccated him. How about three years ago when she vanquished Silas. No, she's Bonnie, the baby witch we all have to coddle. Now she was back at her cubicle all alone with her thoughts, and she couldn't stop thinking about Stefan and Kol.
She wasn't going to apologize for moving to California, for dating Paul. Men thought because they slept with you once they owned you. She had broken up with Kol and Stefan before she left. She had made it clear. It had been a year before she even considered dating another person, and that was only to get Lucy off her back. Paul turned out to be great. She was genuinely happy Cass had introduced them. Kol was an ass.
The problem was she was so in love with that ass, and Stefan. She also wouldn't apologize for Stefan going off the rails either. Stefan was an addict, and more importantly an adult, a 200-year-old adult. She should have told him, but honestly she was afraid of what happened happening. Bonnie was glad Kol was there for him. Bonnie thought about Kol loving Stefan enough to clean blood off him, Kol wanting to protect Stefan from Bonnie the evil seductress. Knowing that they were still together, and as Winston said, inseparable, made Bonnie smile. It also made her long to be part of something she missed dearly.
Bonnie's phone rang at her desk. She stared at it a moment. She wasn't sure she wanted to answer, but this was a place of business so she picked up the phone.
"Clermont and Associates. This is Bonnie. How may I help you?" Bonnie said in her most professional tone.
"The necro has you trained well." Matt said laughing into the phone.
"Matt?" Bonnie said recognizing the voice.
"That's me. Hang on Bon…" Bonnie heard rustling then Matt's muffled voice. "Ralph that's a five hundred year old lamp try not to ding it. Allegra, see if we have some brass polish in the lab. I want to see my face in that thing. Okay Bon, I'm back." Matt said returning to their conversation.
"Who's back? Matt Donovan or the Bourbon Street Don." Bonnie said looking at their prom picture on her phone.
"Both. Don't go getting all judgy on me Bon. You're my friend, and I love you, but things change. People grow up. Especially when you don't call or write in three years." Bonnie sighed.
"Not you too. I get it. I deserve-" Bonnie began
"Hey. I'm not calling to make you feel bad. You had your reasons, just like I have mine. I'm actually calling to invite you to lunch. It seems like you can like you can use a friend." Matt said gently.
"Matt, I don't want to come between you and Kol. I mean he said you were his best friend. I don't want to cause anymore problems than I already have." The witch was trying to forget the rage in the original's eyes.
"A. You were my friend long before Kol. B. I'm his boy because I don't take his shit. And C. I'm hungry and I want to catch up with my friend. So what do you say? My treat. I'll send a car for you in ten." A Car? Bonnie thought impressed yet again by the Don's lifestyle.
"I'm too poor to turn down free food. I'll see you then." Bonnie said checking to make sure nothing was on the calendar.
"Great. See you then."
-o0o-
Bonnie was in culinary heaven. She tried not to moan as she ladled gumbo into her mouth. The witch occasionally tore herself away from her meal to listen to the executive chef butter up Matt. The place was packed when they arrived but the Don managed to get a table within seconds of hitting the door despite the line. Five minutes into their lunch the chef came out to welcome Matt and Bonnie to the restaurant. Bonnie had put it off long enough. She had to know about the meteoric rise of the Bourbon Street Don. She waited until they were alone, and her bowl of gumbo was nonexistent.
"Alright Donovan, are you going to tell me what's going on? How is it three years ago you were a manager at the Grill, and now you're the lord of the criminal underground." Bonnie said watching him eat some fancy smancy salad that was basically cabbage and turnips. The green-eyed woman was amused watching him dab the corner of his mouth with a cloth napkin. This was the same guy who wanted to go to Wendy's for their prom dinner. Matt sighed.
"You know how my mom was. Let's just say every guy she brought around wasn't stepfather material. I saw things. Figured some things out when I was younger, things I could of acted on, but my mom was all over the place. I was the man of the house, and well I had to take care of Vick. There was no time to develop a healthy fascination with illegal enterprises. Fast forward to the Grill. I worked my ass off for two years, and made manager. I'm good with numbers and managing people. Kol enters the picture and asks me to tag along to New Orleans. I figured I'm young. I got my life ahead of me. I was working hard to pay my mom's bills, but had nobody to go home to. So I said yes." Matt pauses as the waiters arrive with the second course. After the staff exchanges their plates he continues.
"We get to New Orleans, and Kol immediately goes after Klaus's organization. He's my boy, but Kol acts out when emotions are involved. There was no strategy to what he was doing. I mentioned it one night, and he agreed on a more discreet approach. We recruited a few guys, and started watching the quarter. Before long we had a read on things, not only Klaus, but pretty much every dirty deed in New Orleans. It helps when your minions are supernatural." Matt said smiling.
"Kol only had designs on Klaus's territory. Typical, I know, but all he's ever wanted was the bar and to piss his siblings off. I on the other hand found a small but dwindling window of opportunity in the local smuggling business. This is after all the port of New Orleans. There was a Frenchman who had everything pretty much locked up, but he's on his deathbed and his son doesn't have what it takes. So it can either be me or the Frenchman's lieutenants." Matt sat back, looking at his plate. Uh-oh, Bonnie thought.
"These weren't good guys Bon." Matt started.
"Kol told me that once after he unleashed the ripper on child predator's in Mystic Falls. Did you spare anyone?" Bonnie said glaring at the top of Matt's head. Matt looked out the window. Then cleared his throat.
"I don't move drugs. I don't do human trafficking. I leave that to the Peruvian. I frown on moving weapons, but anything else is fair game. I run my business differently. I treat people with respect. I help them out of tough situations so they will owe me their loyalty. I donate to local charities, and I'm a nice guy. People like dealing with me. Why lurk in the alley with a guy that might rape or kill you when you can come to me. If you're a rich man and you would like a few bottles of rare wine slipped into the country. I'm your man. You need to move your Ming Dynasty collection give the Don a call." Matt said biting into his sweetbreads. Bonnie shook her head. Matt was enjoying telling his story.
"Hanging with Stefan has only added to the legend. While Kol and me were plotting in the corner, he somehow managed to become the darling of New Orleans. He gets invited places Klaus couldn't compel his way into. The mayor's on his speed dial. He has the governor at his beck and call. Fun fact he was voted NOLA's most eligible bachelor for a second year in a row last month. Anyway between Kol's muscle, my brains, and Stefan's charms I have become the Bourbon Street Don." Matt grinned.
"How lovely. Are you any happier? Who do you come home to now? Stefan and Kol?" Matt choked. The man coughed taking a sip out of his water goblet.
"Hell no. I have a few female companions I like to spend my time with. Stefan and Kol are Stefan and Kol. I only know one person who could change that. They're my brothers. I owe them everything." Matt said sipping his wine. Bonnie considered the man's words. She wondered if her friendship with Matt would cause a serious riff between the friends.
Matt and Bonnie spent the rest of their lunch gossiping about the New Orleans supernatural elite and discussing Bonnie's plans. The Matt she knew wasn't gone he was just repackaged. Three years ago she would never guess they would be at Herbsaint, a world famous restaurant discussing their professional lives.
"I'm casting my vote. You should study at Tulane. I won't insult you by making the obvious argument, but they did offer you the most money even if it is only 80 dollars more a semester. Also, you have the gig with the Death Rider. You want to open your own agency. Wouldn't it look good if you trained under her for two years instead of just one summer? Let's not forget you're in NOLA. And I'm here to introduce you to the city." Bonnie huffed biting her lip.
"I don't know. It's a huge decision. I have to think about my academic credentials. I want to teach too. Riverside's anthro department really has done some interesting research on the occult, and criminology is almost nonexistent at Tulane. I would have to take sociology instead." Bonnie said finishing off her catfish.
"You want research on the occult or the actual occult. Besides, you've lived in California for three years. You're going to go back there? It's time for a new atmosphere. Before you say it, Massachusetts has cold and snow. Yuck." Matt said remembering Mystic Falls in the winter. Bonnie chuckled at his crumpled face. She sobered remembering the giant elephant in the room.
"Kol and Stefan don't want me here." Bonnie stated quietly.
"Kol is an ass, and as I have already pointed out, acts really dumb when he's emotional. It is true him and Stefan are very intimate, but I'm fairly certain he doesn't speak for him." Matt said polishing off his goat.
"He must know what he's thinking." Bonnie responded thoughtfully. "Since they are so intimate. They were reading each other's minds, literally, last time I saw them."
"Why don't you ask Stefan yourself?" Matt suggested taking a sip of wine.
"How am I supposed to do that? He straight up bolted the last time I saw him." Bonnie returned.
"I think it's going to be easier than you think." Matt said looking towards the front of the restaurant.
"Why?" Bonnie asked watching his face curiously.
"Because I asked him to meet me here. He should be here just in time for dessert." Matt replied grinning. He glanced over Bonnie's head when the front door swung open.
"And here he is." Matt added, spotting the topic of their conversation. Bonnie's head snapped around. Stefan stood at the hostess stand looking into the heart of the restaurant. The hostess steered him through the crowded establishment to their table in the back of the small bistro.
Matt beckoned the manager to the table with a flick of his wrist. "Kevin, I think I'm going to take my Coconut Tart to go. Charge everything to my account including Mr. Salvatore's meal." Matt said rising, jut as Stefan made it to the table.
"Hey." Stefan said looking at Matt confused, and Bonnie quickly. Bonnie eyed him just as fast. They were acting like two middle-schoolers afraid to admit they liked each other.
"Sup. I am about to head out. You can have my seat." Matt said clapping Stefan on the back.
"You…You're not staying." Stefan said glancing down at Bonnie again. Matt peeled off a few bills and placed them on the table.
"Nope. You think you can give Bonnie a ride back to her office." Matt asked smiling at Bonnie. When Stefan turned he wiggled his eyebrows at the witch. Bonnie narrowed her eyes.
"I can catch a-" Bonnie stuttered not wanting to prolong what was sure to be an awkward and painful conversation.
"Yeah. Sure. I can do that." Stefan said sitting down in front of the witch. They both watched Matt saunter through the restaurant. Allegra and a giant Samoan man joined him on his way out the door.
"Hey." Bonnie offered. Not sure how to begin this conversation.
"Hey." Stefan mumbled, looking at the witch expectantly.
"Look, if you don't want to be here. I can catch a cab-" Bonnie tried again. Stefan shook his head.
"I want to be here." He admitted. "To catch up." He added as an afterthought.
"Oh." Bonnie returned, genuinely surprised. She tried not to get her hopes up too fast, but there they were, tap dancing in the bottom of her belly.
"Yeah. So. Tell me about your job." Stefan said as a waitress put a beer and an order of French fries in front of Stefan. The vampire was obviously a regular.
"It's a job." Bonnie explained nervously. "I answer phones, and file stuff. I get coffee. I did get to meet an incubus, interrogate the Bourbon Street Don." She said amused. "I'm mostly doing it for the experience. I want to do what Charmaine Clermont does."
"You want to be a necromancer. I thought you had to be born-" Stefan started.
"No, I mean I want to be a crisis manger. A supernatural Olivia Pope. Witch for Hire." Bonnie interrupted.
"So… You're here to get training." Stefan said nodding. Bonnie didn't like the sour note in his voice.
"Yeah." Bonnie nodded. "Well and I'm thinking of attending graduate school here also." Bonnie added, needing something more substantial to say.
"At Tulane." Stefan guessed.
"Yep." Bonnie felt like she was losing him. Like he was slipping away from her. She was blowing her chance.
"Hmm." Stefan retorted taking a sip of his beer. She looked at his green eyes filling with indifference, and it just slipped out.
"Okay. Maybe, I'm lying…to myself more than anyone. The truth is I'm here for you, and Kol. I applied to Tulane because I knew you lived in New Orleans. I'm here for the summer to see if you still feel the same way about me, if you love me. I love you Stefan. I want you back. I want Kol back. I've been all over the world, and met a lot of people. I've even dated the perfect guy. I don't want perfect. I want you, and Kol." Bonnie finished out of breath. Stefan swallowed, eyeing the witch.
"After two years of no word." He questioned softly. Bonnie's lips pursed. She thought if anyone understood. It would be Stefan.
"I won't apologize for taking time for myself. I'm just trying to be honest here. I simply want to know if there is a chance that you could love me the way you used to." Bonnie stated as clearly as possible.
Stefan looked down at his hands and exhaled deeply. "No."
It's amazing what one word could do to you. Bonnie tried to quiet the pain trying to overtake her soul. She would have to deal with it. She would have to move on, but right now she had to fight back the tears. "Chance has nothing to do with this. I loved you then, I love you now, and I will love you tomorrow." Stefan said after a moment. Bonnie smiled. She was able to breathe again.
"But if we're being honest. You should know that I'm angry with you. I tried to understand and be there for you as a friend. I tried to keep in touch. I know I had no right to stop you from dating, we were after all just friends at that point, but I didn't like finding out through Facebook that you had a boyfriend when I talked to you every week. I don't like that when I stopped calling you never picked up the phone to see if I was okay. I don't like that the only person you kept in contact with was Caroline, and I definitely don't like how you showed back up here, and expecting me and Kol to drop everything, and accept you into the life we made together." Stefan informed. He had a lot of time to think about what he wanted to say to the witch. It was true that he still loved her, but he wasn't sure he trusted her with his heart anymore.
"You want me back in your life. Fine. We can pick up were we left off as friends, but you're going to have to earn my trust back. Love, a relationship, is a whole other ball game. Kol has been here for these past three years, and I can't make a decision without thinking of him. Right now, I'm not going to lie. You're not his favorite person. I can't jeopardize what we have to take you back. So…Yeah. I love you. I never stop loving you. If you decide to stay in New Orleans, I would be okay with spending time with you. I just don't know if that's enough for you. I'm not sure if that's what you want. For now it's all I can offer."
-o0o-
Kol was livid. He had been restless the entire day. None of his usual diversions could hold his attention for more than a couple of minutes. His unrest turned to anger when he realized the source of his discontent. He was disappointed, mostly in himself. People didn't get to throw him away and then expect him to be waiting like a sad puppy for their return. He didn't even like the fact that someone could think that was a possibility. It shouldn't be, but if the vampire was being honest with himself some part of himself had indeed been waiting. He wasn't conscious of it a course. The thought had just dawned on him this morning. He had existed in both denial and a metaphorical limbo for the past three years.
He liked to make fun of Stefan, and his ever-wavering tide of emotion, but the truth was his mate had thrown himself into the social scene after he realized the witch had moved on. Kol on the other hand had become somewhat of a recluse. His singular focus had been on his toxic family. When was the last time he had some fun that didn't involve destroying the Mikealson Empire? When was the last time he had sex with a woman? The original knew the answer to that question. He tried to block out the last tryst the three of them had together. He had been berating his mate for holding out hope for the witch, and he had turned himself into a monk for her. You're even more pathetic than the ripper, you daft git.
The original looked up from the book that sat unread in his lap when Stefan walked into their loft. Stefan's mood had changed since this morning. It had improved astronomically since last night. It's amazing how much you could discern about a person if you lived with him or her long enough.
"How was lunch with the turncoat?" Kol inquired watching the vampire carefully. Something in the hang of Stefan's shoulders made Kol more annoyed.
"If you mean Donavon. You're bestie? It was fine. Your beef with him is silly. It's just a fucked up situation."
"Rubbish." Kol replied returning to his book. Stefan came and sat by him on the couch, flipping through the mail. The vampire read a few letters then turned to Kol.
"Hey, Speaking of Matt. Do you know if he's done using the house in the Garden District?" Kol looked up from the book he was perusing. His eyes narrowed.
"You haven't asked about that house in years. Why do you want to know?" Kol said closing the book turning his full glare on Stefan.
"I don't know. I mean this place is nice, but I'm getting tired of living in a tourist trap. I think we could use some more space. Plus maybe being in the Garden District would be good for you." Stefan stated casually.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kol demanded.
"How long are you going to go back and forth with Klaus? You guys won't kill each other. You're just getting other people killed in the process. It's been three years. Haven't you exacted your revenge?"
"Your concern is noted, but my relationship with my family is complicated. But your right maybe I should stop killing Klaus's henchman so they can feast on humans indiscriminately. That will be great for business. And, if I remember correctly. I had to remodel this flat because you didn't want to stay at the house you brought for her."
"For the last time I did not by the house for Bo-"
"Yeah, cause I'm a bloody idiot. She writes to you about how she loves her cousin's Victorian home. The next thing I know I'm out half a million dollars. Now suddenly she appears, and you want to move back. You see her one time and your ready to roll over for her." Kol watches Stefan turn away from him.
"You saw her again." Kol accused. "Did the quarterback even ask you to meet him for lunch or was that a lie?"
"He ambushed me. She was there. We talked. We've decided to be friends." Stefan admitted.
"Friends? You're mental you know that. Where was your friend when you were trying to drown yourself in a bottle? Hmm? Where was she when that werewolf took a bite out of your shoulder last year? I can tell you, under another bloke. He's probably crying somewhere trying to figure out what went wrong." Kol spat.
"Kol, that's unfair and you know it. How many women have I slept with in the last two years? I know it hurt you tremendously when she left, and I know it stung when she started dating again, especially since you had just started to move on. And I know you want to blame her for my near relapse but that was on me. We've talked and this is happening. I'm going to resume my friendship with Bonnie. She's human. After years of being selfless, she gets three years of being selfish." Kol rolled his eyes.
"You're a head case. Sometimes, I wonder what we have in common?" Stefan smiled at his partner.
"Besides our ferocious appetite for sex and blood? I know you don't like to talk about it, but I love her, and I know you still love her too. What we had was special." Stefan said seriously.
"Bite your tongue, ripper." Kol sneered.
"Kol you have channeled all your feelings into this obsession with Klaus. Women are invisible to you." Stefan pointed out.
"Maybe, I have decided to be faithful to you." Kol quipped.
"Yeah right. Without demanding I be faithful to you. Not a chance." The vampire fired back.
"I want to be her friend nothing more, and I want you to be okay with that. Maybe we could all just get to know each other again." Stefan said trying to appeal to the original's logical side. It was no use.
"Do what you want. To me she's just another one of your birds."
-o0o-
Bonnie jumped when the buzzer sounded. She applied two more swipes of mascara to her lashes before going over to the intercom to ascertain who was on the front stoop.
"Can I help you?" Bonnie spoke into the device.
"Yeah, I got flowers for a Caroline Forbes." Bonnie rolled her eyes glancing at her bathroom door. The girl was in town for a day and was getting deliveries at Bonnie's place.
"I'll buzz you in." Bonnie said going over to her closet to find a robe.
"Who is that?" The blonde said emerging from the bathroom wrapped in a towel.
"Delivery. Someone sent you flowers." Bonnie said going back to the door. She cracked it hearing the approaching footsteps. The man handed Bonnie a massive bouquet of blood red roses through the sliver in the door.
"Thanks" Bonnie said as she signed the form. The witch locked the door and snatched the card before the blonde could get to the bouquet.
"Hey, nosy." Caroline said taking her gift from her friend's arms.
"I wonder who is sending you flowers in New Orleans? Who even knows you're here? Could it be Niklaus still has a thing for you?"
"No. Shut-up." Caroline said placing the flowers in an empty vase.
"At least Klaus still wuvs you. I got the bitter brother."
"Bonnie." Caroline chastised, filling the vase with water.
"I bet he wrote you a love poem." Bonnie said opening the envelope. Bonnie frowned looking at the name.
"There from some guy named Elliot." Caroline nose scrunched.
"Oh. He's the accountant from Pearson and Shultz. We worked at the CPA conference together last year. I called and told him I was going in town. He's supposed to introduce me to a few professional contacts while you're at work this week. He may have a little crush."
"Oh. Well that's nice." Bonnie said placing the card on the coffee table.
"Yeah, I guess. I just hope he didn't get the wrong idea. Can I borrow your leather jacket tonight? It will look really good with my new boots."
"Go ahead." Bonnie said going over to the closet to pick out what she was going to wear. Her and Caroline were meeting Matt and Stefan for drinks at the bar. She had no idea if Kol was going to put in an appearance or not.
"Maybe I should stay home tonight." Bonnie said a little bummed at how everything was going in her love life. She should just give them their space and move on.
"What? No." Caroline said slipping into her pants.
"They hate me." Bonnie pouted sitting on the bed.
"They don't hate you. They're angry with you." Caroline responded.
"I'm pretty sure Kol hates me. God, it's so annoying too. Apparently, I broke some deep vow of trust because I had the nerve to start dating again after I broke up with them."
"I think it's more than that. They loved you."
"And I was in love with them, I just wasn't ready for our relationship then, which I told them."
"You know how Stefan is. He's going to hold out hope until the last minute. Besides, he said he was open to being friends."
"I don't want to be Stefan's friend. I want it to go back to the way it was. Yes, I'm aware I sound like a spoiled brat. I don't know what I expected. I knew it was going to be hard, but this. I forgot to tell you Stefan is NOLA's most eligible bachelor. He's going to have women hanging all over him."
"Hmm." Caroline uttered.
"What?" Bonnie said recognizing the tone.
"Well, you were ranting about Stefan and Kol being upset that you dated Paul, but you don't even want to be the ripper's friend if he's talking to other women let alone dating them. Why, because it hurts your feelings. Your upset Kol won't talk to you. But you haven't spoken to him in three years." Bonnie eyed her friend, letting Caroline's words sink in.
"You know sometimes I wish I had a best friend who agreed with everything I said and did." The witch said after a moment of consideration.
"That's not a best friend. That's a phony beotch. I love you. I want you to be happy. That's why I'm telling you this. Now hurry up and get dressed. I can't wait to check out the new and improved Matt Donovan."
-o0o-
Stefan was drunk. He would like to say it was just the alcohol, but being around this woman made him happy. If Kol were here he would be on cloud nine. That thought took the wind out of his sails. What was he going to do if the man never forgave Bonnie?
"Whatever your brooding about let it go." Caroline whispered in his ear as she got up to dance with Bonnie. He missed his friend. He felt bad for blowing her off last year, but he couldn't talk with her without thinking of her best friend. Of course, Caroline took him to task over the snub and of course he had to admit she was right. Stefan pulled himself out of his thoughts and focused on the here and now. He was immediately rewarded for his trouble.
Leila, a particularly lovely South African dragon, came up to the table he and Matt were sitting at. The woman was always so forward. His libido appreciated the fact that she liked to get to the point without any of the bullshit. When her hand eased into his lap, his lips pulled into grin. Matt immediately excused himself. Matt was always looking out. Little Stefan was ready to take this conversation to Kol's office upstairs, but Big Stefan couldn't stop thinking of the witch. Friends, Salvatore. You're just friends. Stefan thought warring with himself. When he slid Leila's hand off his lap, and kissed her on the cheek, he knew "just friends" with Bonnie wasn't a possibility.
-o0o-
"Stefan are you sure this is a good idea?" Bonnie said watching the vampire slide the key into the lock.
"It's fine. It's four o'clock in the morning. You're not getting a cab to Tremé at this hour. Plus Caroline looks like she's about to fall over." Stefan said chuckling at the intoxicated blonde.
"I don't want Kol-" Bonnie began.
"I live here too. You're my friends. You need a place to crash tonight." Stefan said finally opening the door after several attempts. The vampire had to admit, he was a little sloshed himself.
"We could have stayed with Matt." Bonnie tried again.
"Donovan is doing his own entertaining tonight." Stefan said as the room slowly illuminated as he entered the residence.
Bonnie walked in and immediately felt a pull to stay, forever. It was similar to the way she felt about the cabin. She forgot how powerful that feeling was, looking back she didn't know how she was able to resist it, and walk away. She realized that at the time she needed something else more, now that she had found it, there was no need to fight the magic that connected her to Kol and Stefan. Unfortunately, Kol seemed to have no problem resisting the charm.
Bonnie helped Stefan lay Caroline on the massive bed in the guest room. The room was beautiful just like the rest of their amazing loft. She knew Stefan had exquisite taste, she recognized his style in some of the dark masculine furnishings and urbane décor. The space would feel somber if not for the dramatic flares of color, imaginative art, and statement pieces littered throughout the flat. The home was a stunning fusion of Stefan and Kol. She wanted nothing more than to walk about and discover who they had become in her absence. It made her sad that she may never get the chance that she no longer had the right.
Stefan wished her a goodnight. Bonnie slipped out of her clothes intent on joining Caroline in the bed, when she realized she needed to use the bathroom. She opened the door to the room and peered into the dark.
"Stefan." She whispered. When no one answered the witch stepped out into the hall. Trying to guess which of the other three doors led to the restroom. She opened the door nearest the living room and found an office. Stefan was inside zonked out on a leather couch with a journal in his lap. Bonnie tipped over to him, removing his journal and swinging his legs on the couch. She covered him with a mink throw. Her hands swept to his face on their own accord. She was strong enough to hold her lips in check but just so.
She was tempted to read his thoughts over the last few days, but decided against it. They were already claiming she was untrustworthy. Despite her superior attitude about Paul, she had to confess that their claim really wounded her. She backed out of the room when her bladder beckoned.
The second door revealed a small powder room where the witch relieved herself, and washed her hands. As she stepped back into the hallway she noticed a collage of black and white photographs on the wall. Most were of Stefan and Kol in various parts of the world, some included Matt. She stared at the picture of Stefan and Kol in front of the house on Garden Street. Her heart fluttered. How she longed to be apart of that moment. Why did saving herself have to mean sacrificing everything else?
"I thought I told you to stay way from me and Stefan. And here I find you in my home, my sanctum Santorum, half naked." Kol said softly from the shadows.
"Stefan insisted. You know what never mind. I'll go back to the guest room." Bonnie spat irritated.
"Or you could just scamper back to California?" Kol sniped.
"I don't want to scamper back to California. I want to stay here. Where my job is. Where my school is. Where my future is. Where my heart is." Bonnie responded automatically, nothing like anger to bring out the truth.
Kol pursed his lips. "Your heart. How melodramatic. Was Paul you're heart too?" Kol said turning from the witch going back into the bedroom. He had awoken to check on Stefan. Most nights he had to drag him from the study to bed.
"No. He was my distraction. He helped take my mind off the mind-bending pain I was in because I had left the two men I love. He was sweet, and noble but he could not compare to the all consuming and enveloping power of my feelings for you. Which is insane because you're an immature ass. I tried to forget you. I did. I tried to move on because I knew it would be hard to try to win your affections again. I love you. I love Stef-"
Kol was in her face in a flash. His breath was warm against her lips. His scent perfumed around her. "Bollocks. I don't want to hear your bloody lies." Kol growled almost pleading with the witch.
"No. You can hate me. Be mean all you like. It won't change the fact that I am utterly hopelessly yours." Bonnie breathed.
Bonnie didn't realize she was in another room until her back was hitting the pillowy surface of a bed. Her black lace panties were being pulled away from her skin. Her bare nipples were pebbling in the night air.
-o0o-
Kol hovered over the witch unsure of his actions. His body was on autopilot. She lay before him just as beautiful as he remembered. Her hips were a little wider, her breast a little heavier, but the woman was still breathtaking and commanded every inch of him. You're a head case Stefan, he said. And here you are about to ravage the woman you claimed is just another one of my birds. Stefan mentally sent to Kol. Kol head snapped up from licking the underside of Bonnie's breast. The spell that overtook him was beginning to fade.
"Kol?" Bonnie questioned worriedly. She hoped he wasn't changing his mind. The witch needed this. She needed him.
It's not what it seems. I got carried away. I-, Kol thought trying to reconcile his feelings for Stefan, his anger, and his undeniable love for the woman caressing his face.
"I want this." Bonnie said lifting to kiss him on the lips. Kol's eyes closed as her lips found his. That taste. It was just as addictive as he remembered.
You heard her. She wants this. It's okay to admit you want it too. Stefan words rang out in the original's head. Kol shook his head sitting up in the bed. Bonnie tried to stifle the tears. Look at her. Stefan said to his partner. Kol turned watching moisture pool in the bottom of Bonnie's eyes. Kol reached up to wipe away a tear, as it was about to fall.
"You left us." He said softly.
"I did." Bonnie said somberly. "To find myself." She added.
She came back. Stefan sung into the man's soul. Stop punishing her, and more importantly stop punishing yourself. Kol turned to the witch. He reached for her and pulled her mouth to his. He emptied himself into that kiss. So much so that Stefan could feel it down the hall. Stefan was just about to disconnect the bond they shared for the first time in three years to give the original some privacy. Kol felt him slipping.
No. I need-. Stay. Kol thought desperately, apprehensive about his actions, unwilling to take this leap of faith alone.
"I love you." Bonnie whispered against his ear, her tongue flicking out to tease his lobe. Kol swallowed.
"I love you too." Kol said hoarsely. Stefan smiled to himself. When Bonnie climbed into the original's lap, both men responded to her advances. Kol's strong hands moved to grip her firm thighs. Stefan's hands moved to his aching member. Bonnie rubbed herself against the original until Kol was about to burst.
You're my new Hero. I would have dove inside of her ten minutes ago. Stefan thought stroking chuckled, as he leaned down to bite at her nipples. Bonnie gasped, spurring both men on.
Why don't you sit back and enjoy the show? Kol thought smacking the witch on her bottom to get her to stop moving. He and the vampire hissed when Kol positioned himself to enter her. She's so fucking wet. I have to admit I've been dreaming of this Stefan. Can you feel it? I can feel your hands sliding over your cock. Stefan groaned at the thought.
He did in fact feel the moment the tip of Kol's penis entered the tight warm depths of Bonnie. He cursed as Kol pushed further into her until he was buried to the hilt. His hands worked himself slowly as Bonnie slid up and down Kol's shaft. He matched their rhythm, until his fist was frenzied as Kol slammed into the witch on the other side of the wall. Stefan couldn't hold out any longer he had to give into the pressure. He longed to empty himself inside the witch just as Kol flooded her.
Bonnie's moan had him bucking into his hand until he was unable to move from the waves of bliss washing over him. Bonnie wound on Kol's lap trying to coax every last drop out of the original. Kol thrust lazily, spent from their lovemaking. He pulled her off his legs and placed her in the bed. He lay on top of her out breath, his head resting against her breast. Every now and again he would lick the sweat off her skin so the ripper could taste her. Bonnie lay there in nirvana, wondering what this meant.
-o0o-
The sun poured into the room warming Bonnie's face. She didn't feel like opening her eyes so she turned into the cool firm body behind her. She moaned a little snuggling into arms that were moving tighter around her. She smelled sandalwood and just a hint of citrus. "Stefan" she mumbled drifting back into her dreams. Her eyes fluttered back open as her mind registered that she was very naked and pressed against an equally naked vampire. A vampire who had claimed they were just friends days before. Memories flooded her mind as sleep fell away from her. She had sex last night with Kol, and if the far away looks meant what she thought, she had sex with Stefan too by proxy. Okay so that bit turned her on a little, Stefan experiencing Kol making love to her. Making love. She hoped it was making love and not fucking your ex for old times sake.
"You're ruining the moment." Stefan whispered in her ear. The vampire could practically hear her thinking. Her face had gone from drowsy bliss to vexation.
"Good Morning." Bonnie said groggily.
"Shh, go back to sleep." Stefan said pulling her closer to him. She lay in his arms for a few more minutes before giving into her anxiety.
"What are you doing here? I mean I thought you were angry with me. We're just friends." Bonnie said into Stefan's chest. Her brain may have been going 100 miles an hour, but her body had no plans to move out of his embrace. It felt too good. It felt right.
"You're the one naked in my bed. What are you doing here?" Stefan said his hand moving from Bonnie's back to her waist.
"I was brought here by Kol. Where is Kol?" Bonnie said lifting her head to look around the Master bedroom. It was just as chic and polished as the rest of the loft. Bonnie didn't ever want to leave the bed and the thousand thread count sheets.
"Probably being a dick to Matt. They meet every Sunday to discuss the bar and other business ventures they share. Now shut up. I'm trying to get some sleep. I was up late last night."
"Hmm. Were you? I found you in the study asleep on the couch."
"I was awakened by some strange noises in the bedroom." Stefan joked, laughing softly.
"Shut up." Bonnie blushed. A moment later she added, "this is nice, but I need to get up. Caroline-"
"Went with Kol and Matt." Stefan said his hand moving to cup Bonnie's bottom. He squeezed then let his rest on her backside.
"What are doing?"
"Trying to get some rest. You keep distracting me."
"Oh cause I'm trying to have a conversation with you."
"That and your naked in my bed. Instead of sleep, I just want to feel on you for a bit." Stefan said rubbing her ass. "Let's cuddle and then take a nap." Stefan said nudging the side of her neck.
"Friends don't cuddle and take naps naked." Bonnie whispered, shivering from his touch.
"Good thing were not friends." Stefan informed.
"We're not?" Bonnie returned dreamily.
"No I decided last night I didn't want to be your friend." Stefan said his hand moving up to stroke her face.
"Oh really? What are we now, associates?" Bonnie inquired very aware of Stefan's hands.
"That's up to you. We can be lovers, friends with benefits, life partners, husband, husband and wife. You choose long as it involves naked cuddling." Stefan said getting another squeeze in.
"I'm so happy you let me in on this decision. When did you decide this? What changed?" Bonnie said her hands doing their own cupping.
"When I realized that I want you, every part of you, pretty much anyway I can get you. It's all or nothing. No in-between, either you're going to choose to be in our lives or not. All kidding aside, what happened last night with Kol was meaningful, and it took a lot for him. You're holding the ball, beautiful Bonnie. What are you going to do with it?"
And now the conclusion...