On the Friday after his ever so charming brother throws a bash in their presidential suite, racks up an impressive bill in liquor and drains five of the girls he met at a popular nightclub, Klaus spends most of the day compelling terrified maids so they won't mention the blood staining the ancient rug in the dining room.
In another life, compelling most of the Four Seasons staff would be a nuisance and nothing more. This time, he feels exhausted with the cleanup.
Perhaps he's grown bored with the utter debauchery Kol insisted on having. There are only so many lingerie-clad women he can see and mouthfuls of blood he can take before it all blurs into the same.
Perhaps he's grown too used to Bonnie and the quiet comfort she provides, the sweet scent of her honey and oatmeal soap on her skin.
After every single trace of the 'small soiree' vanished from the white marble floors and five hundred thread count sheets, Klaus makes a phone call and boards a chartered plane.
Three stops and almost thirteen hours later, he's back in Mystic Falls. The strange relief he feels when he sees the two story house and the tall sugar maple tree is more than palpable.
It's been less than a year – maybe six months? Bonnie's not sure anymore- but she's already learned how to tell that sensation apart from all the others. How to feel him.
It's a little fluttering, more subtle than butterfly wings, combined with a jolt. Like energy, in a way. Not strong enough to hurt, but enough to rouse her from almost sleeping through a marathon of old Project Runway episodes.
So yeah, she feels that before she smells his citrus peppery cologne, before she feels him nosing through her messy curls, before she hears his voice with that oh, so distinctive accent.
"Did you miss me, love?"
They kiss right after that. Short, sweet pecks against her cheeks, the tip of her nose, the column of her neck, as he takes in the sweet jasmine scent from her body lotion.
He feels like a small boy with attachment issues instead of a dangerous hybrid because he cannot stop touching her. After a week without Bonnie, he finally feels centered now that he's in her orbit again.
She slides into his lap, murmurs words he can't understand, not even with his supernatural hearing. He picks up a soft 'I really did miss you', and tries to ignore the way his heart swirls around in his chest because he refuses to fully acknowledge the effect she has on him.
He will, however, acknowledge that leaving Thailand currently ranks as one of his better decisions.
Especially when Bonnie kisses him again, and lets out a breathy moan right against his ear.
It's been less than a year, but Klaus has come to know Bonnie like he knows a nice glass of an old aged Kentucky Bourbon.
He knows she has the ability to pout until she can get him to make whatever she wants – her pursed lips are the sole responsible for him making her grilled cheese. He knows she resembles a cat when she's comfortable; all sprawled out on his lap and arms wrapped around him. He also knows she's become quite the chatterbox whenever they're like this; under the covers watching whatever dreadful show of her choosing.
In a usual day, she would be running color commentary while munching on the grilled cheese, and laughing whenever he grimaces and rolls his eyes at the sheer idiocy happening on the screen.
These moments, when she's so happy and so free around him, are some of his favorite. Perhaps that's why this silence, combined with the way she nips at her lower lip, makes him anxious.
He tries to let it go. After all, he hasn't seen her in a week – a long week – and he's spent the better part of the day in an airplane. There's a small chance that the lack of blood and exhaustion have contributed to him misreading the situation.
Then Bonnie glances up at him, with narrowed eyes as if she's trying to read his mind, and he just knows something's wrong.
"Alright, witch. Out with it. Tell me your darkest, deepest secrets," he says and feels somewhat nauseous when she looks up at him with nothing but hesitance painted on her face.
"Tell me, little witch, What's causing you to divert from your usual chatterbox behavior, which can be quite annoying, I must say."
Bonnie can't help but smile at his words as she rubs her eyes and thinks of the thick white envelope that's hidden in between some of her photography books.
"I didn't apply to Whitmore," she whispers, almost as if she's confessing to murder.
It should not that big of a deal, the fact that she didn't apply to a school she doesn't want to attend. But then she thinks about Caroline and Elena, and their unwavering excitement about their perfect college experience.
("We can get an off-campus apartment. I just saw the perfect place for us! Or should we join a sorority? I don't know if I would want to rush, but honestly, what place wouldn't want us?" Caroline asks; a white smile brighter than a flawless diamond as she scribbles Research sororities down on her notepad with a flowery calligraphy.
Sitting next to a beaming Elena, Bonnie feels trapped. She opens her mouth and for a moment, she thinks the words are about slip out.
I'm sorry, but I don't want that.
They don't. Bonnie coughs in an awkward way, sips on her sweet tea and doesn't say anything.
Keeps quiet when Caroline and Elena continue to discuss plans for the future and only pipes in when they stare at her in curiosity.)
Klaus chuckles and Bonnie raises an eyebrow. She doesn't know what she's expected, but a chuckle is not it. But then again, he's a thousand-year-old hybrid who's been through much worse problems than her teenage troubles.
"I didn't realize applying for Whitmore was the law of the land around here," he says; wants to laugh but doesn't because this seems important to her.
("I could've told you that teenagers have these pesky troubles, brother." Klaus can almost hear Kol telling him with a mocking smile.)
"It kind of is. Grams taught there, it's near Mystic Falls and Caroline has all of these plans for us," Bonnie lists the same reasons she's thought out for the past months when she tried to convince herself into sending her application.
"Love, I am sure Sheila doesn't care if you don't follow her footsteps. As for Caroline, I'm sure she'll be able to handle the separation anxiety."
"And will you?" Bonnie asks, eyes trained on him. "Handle separation anxiety, I mean."
The way the easy smile vanishes from his face would be funny if she wasn't so nervous.
"I got accepted to NYU and I want to go, Nik."
This is the first time Bonnie's said that out loud, the first time she's admitted her latent desire to go out and do something for herself. Something that will only be hers and will not be linked to Caroline and Elena. It makes her feel a little guilty, the fact that she doesn't see herself in Mystic Falls with everyone else. And the terrifying thing?
The thought of leaving Nik behind.
It's been less than a year, but he's her soulmate and that doesn't feel like enough time. Only a lifetime is enough time.
"Oh, witch. Do you really believe an unexpected flight to New York will be enough to make me drop you? If I remember correctly, you happen to be my soulmate."
Unlike Bonnie's expected, he sounds confident and not even a little bothered with her confession. She's been expecting a more forceful reaction out of him. Maybe him to get upset that she's been planning a future located hundreds of miles away from Mystic Falls.
"Uh, what?" Bonnie sounds as confused as she feels.
"Why the surprised face, love? Haven't you realized by now the power you have over me?" Klaus asks as he pulls her close; until their noses are almost touching, until he's drunk off her scent.
It takes her a lot not to swoon, and a little more to understand what he's trying to say.
"You want to come to New York with me," she says slowly; a doubting tone clear in her voice. He chuckles.
"Why wouldn't I? Perhaps a change of scenery is in order. Getting out of this charming cow town sounds like a very good idea."
"Even if it means leaving your siblings behind?" Bonnie asks because both of them know that is one complicated and crazy relationship.
"I would not leave you behind," he murmurs, and it comes out like a promise. "Trust me, witch."
She does.
A year later, in a sweltering July summer day, after Bonnie's spent her freshman year in the dorms, she moves into the loft in Tribeca.
Bonnie unpacks their clothes on the ridiculous his and hers closet – seriously, how much did he pay for this place?. The comfortable and unfamiliar feeling of domesticity takes over her as she folds his shirts.
In the evening, they order Thai food and open a bottle of Don Pérignon. After four flutes, Bonnie feels tipsy, light and warm all at the same time. She drags him upstairs out on the terrace; sets up a Ray Charles playlist on her phone and makes him dance with her.
Klaus tries to refuse, but takes a look at her and finds himself powerless. They sway when the song is slow, she cheers and laughs when 'Hit the road, Jack' comes on.
"I love you, Nikki," she whispers; hands wrapped around his neck as 'Georgia on my mind' plays in the background.
He cups her face and leans down for a kiss.
"Wouldn't you know, little witch? I love you, too."
Later that night, Bonnie strips down to her dark purple lingerie – a cotton pair that could be considered plain, but it molds so perfectly to her body – and jumps into the pool.
He jumps too after she pouts and pleads.
They make out until they lose track of time. Until the pads of her fingers are wrinkled. Until Klaus is certain this is the happiest he's ever been.
A/N: I know I said I had to work on Adventures, but this story just won't leave me! I've missed writing young Bonnie and Klaus and Bonnie being so in love with each other. As always, thank you all for your lovely reviews. Your support always makes me even more excited to write this story, as I love hearing your thoughts and your theories. I'm excited to write about Bonnie and Klaus trying to come together and figuring out what's best for themselves and Jules. Hope I'll be able to update soon!