...

When the door to their room opened, Abby wasn't paying much attention. Caroline had only just managed to convince her boyfriend to let Abby have a look at him, after she had patched up the girl's injured shoulder and a few scratches first.

Abby had been frustrated with the kid, although she knew she couldn't blame him, especially since he seemed to have a bad case of post traumatic stress that had only been exacerbated by the recent events. They should have never even brought him. But for better or for worse, he was an Eternal and they had needed as many good fighters as they could get, especially highly trained ones like him.

Sometimes individual fates simply didn't or couldn't matter, or at least that's what she tried to tell herself. Had to tell herself. Because if she didn't, she wouldn't be able to live with herself, and the things she had done...

She shook her head briefly, forcing herself back into the moment. Sitting hunched by Tyler's side, she began inspecting his arm and his side, then got her suture kit out and with a sigh went about her work.

At least Caroline had been right. Once she had volunteered to go first - despite his angry tries to keep her from doing so, and once he had seen that Abby did a good job of dealing with her injuries, he had finally surrendered and allowed her to do the same for him.

"Almost done," she eventually announced, and startled when Alaric Saltzman's sonorous voice suddenly piped up behind her.

"Nice work, Doctor Abby." He was smiling at her gently when she turned around, and she couldn't help but smile back, flushing a little in the dim light of the room. Saltzman's smile widened before he jerked his head in Tyler's direction, letting her off the hook.

"If he lets me, I'll start round two of the treatment tomorrow," he suggested, "Just need to make a bit more of the 'cure' first." He air quoted, and Tyler looked up to him with a blank expression, though at least he didn't immediately say no. Alaric made a move as if to pat him on the shoulder, but Caroline stepped in between them before he could, arms crossed, shaking her head. He raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. Shrugging, he simply turned to the doorway instead, where Enzo and Bonnie had appeared. "That goes for you, too, by the way, St. John. I think there's no more reason to wait any longer after today…"

Enzo nodded to him briefly, his stare almost as empty as Tyler's.

Abby's gaze fell on Bonnie beside him, holding onto her boyfriend, that strange dark Eternal, son of the Captain, bonded to her daughter, and they both looked so worn and tired that Abby's heart almost burst with sympathy.

Her daughter… Bonnie was so strong, so alive. She had changed so much from the young girl Abby had left behind and she knew she couldn't pride herself for what had become of her, but she was proud of her nonetheless. Against all odds, her daughter had kept her head above water, had made the impossible work, a bond to an enemy soldier, and she had turned around the world from there.

Abby didn't know Enzo much, or at all. But she trusted Bonnie's judgment of him. Besides, she had gotten to know his sister Rebekah quite well during the last few months. She had grown fond of the girl. Enzo simply couldn't be a bad person when Bonnie loved him like she so obviously did, and when he had brought his sister up to be the person that she was.

"I'll be right back with you, okay?" With a smile down on Tyler, she got up slowly, walking over to Bonnie. She realized how hard today had been for all of them, and why it had been so difficult for her, too: she had developed a soft spot for these kids, all of them. Rebekah, Marcel, Caroline, Tyler, even Enzo, and of course Bonnie, her beautiful strong Bonnie… It was almost like in a way they were all her children now, and she was relieved to see them all here, with her, mostly whole if weary. Mostly alright.

When she had finally crossed the few feet of distance between herself and Bonnie, she gently cupped her daughter's face, smiling at her.

"Are you okay?" she asked, and Bonnie nodded with a smile, not taking her arm off Enzo, holding him close to her side, his arm around her shoulders, and she rested against him, barely even lifting her head.

Abby smiled, then nodded, already walking back to the bed, to Tyler. She knew Bonnie was okay, would be okay as long as she was with Enzo. Her daughter didn't need her mom to gather her up for a hug anymore, a bittersweet realization.

But others needed her. Right now, Tyler did. She felt Bonnie's gaze on her as she knelt down, Saltzman doing the same right next to her. Tyler was backing away warily, and Bonnie seemed to perk up a little at that, asking, "Everything alright?"

Abby nodded, Alaric said something, too, but it was Tyler's reaction she seemed to be waiting for, and her mother had to smile at that. Despite everything her daughter had been through, she still saw other people's fears, cared about their pain and worries more than her own.

Abby had seen her fight and kill earlier. She had secretly swallowed her despair over the fact that her baby girl had done such horrible things - had had to do them. She had worried that it would break Bonnie eventually. But throughout their whole mission, their "adventure" as Ric had cheerily called it before, Bonnie had kept her humanity, her compassion. She wasn't lost. She would be alright.

...

When Tyler finally nodded ever so slightly, Bonnie smiled at him, allowing herself to slump even more against Enzo. "If you want me to take over for her," she started, indicating her mother, but he shook his head. He looked paler than usual, Caroline holding onto him as if to make sure he wasn't going to pass out and crash onto the floor, but his voice was firm when he replied, "I'm fine. Thanks, though…"

Bonnie wanted to believe him, because she felt like she was about to keel over herself. It had all been so much...

"Okay," she therefore quietly whispered, then, in a sudden non-sequitur, "I think I'm ready for some rest. Any volunteers for first shift?"

They all exchanged glances, so very exhausted, so weary and tired. But eventually, Marcel stepped forward.

"I'll do it. You all need to rest."

"Happy to keep you company," a dark man that Bonnie hadn't noticed before suddenly said as he was coming up from behind, and they all frowned at him, wary, until Alaric stood up, patting Abby's shoulder gently as he did.

"No need to worry, my friends. Meet my old friend Julian. I trust him with my life, but I could see why you wouldn't." He smirked over at Enzo at that. "So, why don't I go with them, too."

Enzo squinted at him cautiously, Bonnie lightly tugging his arm, and Alaric scoffed. "I see, you still don't trust me, either, not even after what we just did together."

"I don't know." Enzo cocked his head, scrutinizing him more. "Should I? I mean, what kind of connection exactly do you guys have?"

"Business, of course." Alaric didn't have to think about it. He smiled brightly at the younger man, then at the others. Like so often, his gaze ended on Abby, who smiled a small smile in return before she shook it off and returned her focus back on the long gash in her patient's side. Bonnie squinted at her mom, still unsure of what to make of her mother's reactions to the man.

"Right." Enzo clenched his jaw, and Bonnie gently put a hand on his chest, feeling his tension rise yet again.

Not tonight...

He allowed himself to deflate a little, but he wasn't going to let Alaric go for long. "You know we'll have to talk about that," he told the man, who nodded with a mild smile.

"Of course. But for now, I suggest sleep." He waved a hand, then turned around, leaving with Julian and Marcel in tow.

…

Enzo stayed tense and wary until Rebekah stepped closer to him, her hand resting on her sword. "I'll go with them."

The siblings exchanged a long glance, something unspoken passing between them. A worry, an assurance. One day, they would have to talk about what had happened, about everything, not just today. But right then, neither of them was ready to acknowledge it. So they just nodded at each other before Rebekah finally went outside, following Marcel and the two other men.

Once they were out of sight, once Abby was calmly talking to Caroline again, and Bonnie shot Tyler a last glance that he didn't quite reciprocate, they eventually allowed the weariness to wash over them completely, and all they wanted was to lay down for a moment, close their eyes and get some much needed rest.

"I got this," Abby was saying, addressing Bonnie, only briefly looking up. "Why don't you and Enzo take the other room for now? Get some sleep…"

"Thanks mom," Bonnie breathed, feeling as if she was already half asleep. She looked at Caroline, who was clinging to her boyfriend, but with a strong, a stoic expression that made Bonnie believe she would be alright, they would be alright.

"Go," the girl mouthed, smiling at her before a hiss from Tyler made her focus back on him, pressing him against her a little more.

It was time to leave.

...

They would have the room to themselves until the others came to wake them, and Bonnie was incredibly grateful for that. She was starved for peace and quiet and alone time with Enzo. When she opened the door to the small room, she smiled at him.

"Nothing like Alaric's mansion," she said, "but it beats sleeping outside or under rubble by a mile…" She gasped when he suddenly pulled her close before the door had even completely swung shut, and kissed her with unexpectedly passionate force.

"Enzo." She chuckled, her voice sounding like she was chiding him, and he smirked at her, his features more lively again than they had been out there. With a look at him, she gently placed her hands against his chest, feeling his heartbeat accelerate. She knew what he wanted, what she wanted, but she thought that maybe they should wait and talk about what had happened first. His mom, the profound changes that were about to follow after what they had done. It had already begun.

"Let's... don't," he rasped, even though she hadn't said anything, and she bit her lip, nudging him as his hands wandered under her coat, under her shirt. "Please," he begged. A shuddering breath escaped him, making her lean in to him more, her lips finding his, her hands finding his skin as he walked them both into the room, closing the door completely with a light kick of his boot.

Their gazes met, and she could see it all, feel it. Pain, confusion, worry, hope, and wonder. He had all those conflicting emotions, about his mother, his sister, even about her. What she would think of him. What she would do now… It was too much for him to deal with at the moment so he shoved it down, away, to tackle another time, another day, and she let him. She didn't want to force him to face what she couldn't face herself yet, so instead, they allowed themselves to feel desire for each other, to feel the need to be with each other, and they used it to override everything else. Because nothing mattered in that moment but themselves.

Bonnie didn't say anything, just silently agreed, shrugging out of her coat, taking off her shirt, her shoes, everything, while he stared at her half lost in some thought or other before he returned to her, placing a hand on her neck, spreading out his fingers, tracing her.

His throat was moving as he swallowed, desire and arousal creeping into his face, something akin to a flush on his pale complexion, but not quite.

She inclined her head, lower lip between her teeth as she moved to pull him closer. Unbuckling his belt, she leaned in to kiss him, until his hand stilled her movement and he took over, hoisting her up, so she could straddle him as he carried her over to one of the two narrow beds in the room, her legs slung around him tightly, and she threw her head back, suppressing a gasp.

He laid her down on the bed, her hands gripping his arms as he did, feeling his muscles flex. Her breath hitched as she saw how ready he was, but then he surprised her by kneeling down in front of her, her legs half dangling off the bed.

"What are you doing?" she moaned, but he merely looked at her, his stare so intense that her eyes widened. In lieu of an answer he took her legs, placing them over his shoulders while he positioned himself oh so close. As she felt the first soft tingle, she shivered, forgetting everything, clawing her hands into his hair, half caressing him, half begging for more, pushing him down when she wanted it harder. Shoving him up when it was almost too much to bear.

It felt too good, almost painfully so. A strange self confidence was building up inside of her as he went on, making her wiggle and buck, pushing herself off the bed and toward him when the rhythm became just too good, too good…

She moaned out loudly, unable to stifle it, unable to even think anymore until his light happy chuckle reached her and his face appeared beside her for a second before he came to lay right next to her, staring up, breathing in deeply.

Her face flushed with a happy smirk, she softly touched him where he was still so ready, and she tightened her grip, rolling on top of him, her eyes flickering as she told him not to stop, to fuck her, to come inside, because she needed to feel him, the shudder that went through his body when he came, the only thing that could make her forget the world for a bit as it centered right inside of her.

And when that moment came, so full of bliss and happiness, she truly did forget all their struggles, all the things past, all the things still lying ahead of them, and she just lived in that moment. With him.