She sits on the ground, reclined against the pristine white wall, the bright blue denim of her jeans a pleasant contrast against the round saffron rug. One elbow bears what little of her weight there is and the sun streaming through the glass terrace doors shines on her face. Mini rainbows splash across her brow bone and the corner of her mouth, reflections of UV on pool water at just the right angle. Kai studies her from where he sits near her feet, slightly to the side, his sketchbook forgotten for the moment.
When he lifts his heavy camera from where it hangs against his chest to point the lens squarely in her direction, opaque, fragrant smoke curls out of her slightly parted lips to waft through her thick, glossy curls and the long lashes of her slightly lowered eyelids. Bless her, he thinks when she doesn't speak as his finger snaps one picture and then another of her utter repose; she doesn't falter, or move awkwardly, or hold her hand up over her visage while shaking her head and sighing 'not right now.' She does smile a little to herself, a secret joke that he thinks he knows the punchline to, and raises an arm to rest on the top her head, lit, tightly rolled rose petals held between fingertips that brush her shoulder as she flips through the pages of her Better Homes & Gardens magazine. The movement is elegant and disinterested, a little contradictory to her true nature. It's his turn to allow a smile to tug at the corner of his lips; he appreciates it when she moves for him, when she helps him create art without a second thought.
She lends him several minutes before she gently stubs out the calming herbal blend into a shallow, dark wood bowl that rests a few feet away from her hip and Kai takes a couple more shots, only pausing when she looks straight into the lens, full lips quirked up to the side. He finally lowers his hands slightly and her expression relaxes, gaze still fixed on him, and just as her mood shifts from indulgently exasperated to well worn fondness he raises the camera once more to capture the way her malachite irises glow among the bright green vines that curl and fall over fat, healthy leaves of the various house plants she's tucked herself between. The thin, vertical stripes on her fitted white and viridian sweater almost help her blend in with the foliage and the overall image makes Kai think of catching sight of a tiger out of the corner of your eye as you trek through the shadows of a rain forest .
"Kai," Bonnie says with no heat.
"I'm done," he promises and takes one more picture just to see the amusement in her eyes.
"You are never done," she says, straightening up.
"I can't help it; you look like you're from the 70's and about to try and recruit me into a cult," he murmurs. "It's hot."
"Thanks," she huffs a laugh, head tilted to the side, beckoning him closer with her gaze.
He finally lets his camera go to hang against his chest once more and he tugs lightly at the end of her jeans. "They still make bell bottoms?"
"If you know where to look."
He studies her pleased little smile and closes his sketchbook, moving to settle beside her. Their shoulders brush. He looks down at her profile. "You made them, didn't you?"
Her smile gets wider. "Maybe."
"My little sewing fairy," he says, genuinely impressed. "They're nice. I like em.'"
She's grinning now. "Thanks. You know how long it takes me when it comes to pants in general. And jeans? Ridiculously hard. But look!" Bonnie stands up quickly, walking forward to give him a good angle, and she moves those short, slightly bowed legs he always wants to bite in a way that he's sure she thinks demonstrates her point of "they're insanely stretchy. I could probably do splits in these."
"Oh, now that I'd like to see..." he says, grinning at how proud she looks.
"I conquered denim with elastane and a new pattern. And my butt looks amazing." She spins around and turns her head to look down, showing off the snug fit. "See?" Kai laughs and holds up his hands in a rectangle, mimicking finding just the right frame.
"Perfect."
"What'd I say? Never done," Bonnie says, even as she grins and turns around to sink back down onto her knees. She crawls the short distance over to him, and settles on his lap, straddling his legs.
"With an ass like that?" He leans his head back against the wall, running his hands up and down her sides, loving how warm and soft she feels, "I can't stop. It's a compulsion - I need it all documented. Every bikini, every bellbottom, Every. single. pair of. shorts."
She winds her arms around his neck, fingers playing in the short hairs at his nape. "Oooh, so it's the ass, huh? That's why I'm having my whole life damn near documented."
"Of course. I thought you knew the deal by now."
Their eyes smile into the other's, both knowing he's bluffing. He can't help but raise his camera so often when she talks, walks, laughs, creates, celebrates, contemplates. She's one the most beautiful things he's ever seen.
"You look tired," she says quietly when he lets his eyes close as her fingers continue to tug and rub gently. "You didn't come to bed until after three. And you still went running at six-thirty. Everything ok?"
"Yeah, just... a lot of ideas, you know?"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Okay... if there's anything on your mind-"
"You are the only one who I would tell," he says, opening his eyes to look at her face haloed by the sunlight. She moves one hand to cup his cheek, running a thumb over his chin and he relaxes into her palm. He turns his head to kiss the soft skin absently and she goes back to playing with his hair. After a few seconds of quiet she speaks.
"You know, we still haven't RSVP'd to Elena and Damon's engagement party," she reminds him apropos to nothing. "Have you cleared your schedule?" She raises her voice slightly to talk louder over his groan and the subsequent thump of his head against the wall. "Have you rescheduled the model for that day?"
"Baby-"
"Nope. No babies. You need to tell Kossandra she's not needed that day; she can plan ahead, get another job to fill that time. You know other people sketch her too."
"I know, I know, just... how awful is it that I just want to stay home?"
"Pretty awful?" Bonnie says, eyebrow raised. "You would rather sit home and draw, wouldn't you?" He nods sheepishly, because when it boils down to it yeah, it's his job, but he literally just wants to stay in his studio and finish those curves in Koss's back, fix the way he's shaded her elbow. "They are our friends."
"I know," he says again, rubbing his hands up and down her spread thighs now. "Is it just me, or have they gotten a lot more annoying lately?" he asks casually and Bonnie snorts.
"You sound like a Grinch," she laughs.
"I don't," he insists, smirking. "C'mon, you know I'm right. They were extra when they were dating, but ever since they got engaged they're..."
"I know," Bonnie says, good-naturedly.
"It's only been a week. And I didn't know Damon could be more..."
"Yeah," she hums, sounding pleased.
"And he's dragging Elena right with him."
"They're just insanely happy right now. I think it's sweet."
"Were we that bad?" he asks, brow furrowing. "All... in love. Gazing into each other's eyes and swearing we'd die for the other."
"Yup," she pops the P. "Hate to break it to you, but we still make people sick sometimes. Caroline called us disgusting at brunch last week, remember? When I fed you that mango slice?"
He takes his camera from around his neck to set it carefully to the side and pulls her in. "Like she has room to talk; didn't Klaus buy her a vacation cottage/barn hybrid upstate because she said she loves watching Barefoot Contessa?" He sighs. "I don't want to celebrate the two most annoying people I know becoming a team," he whines slightly.
"Yes you do," she says laughing. "You're the one who suggested they date. You are the biggest phony, I swear. It's not like you have a choice anyway," she says a little smugly. "I'm pulling thee card."
"Nooo," he groans, wrapping his arms around her waist, pulling her even closer so he can bury his face into the curve of her sweet smelling throat. "Don't do it," he says muffled.
"Sorry. Gotta," he hears close to his ear. "I'm pulling the 'Wife' card. It's mandatory attendance." He groans again and lets his head to fall back against the wall once more. "I know you have more commissions than usual, but it won't be that bad. Remember Caroline and Klaus' wedding?" she bargains cajolingly. "Remember how amazing it was?"
"Yes," he says begrudgingly. She knows good and well he was in a low level of Heaven at that wedding, the clean aesthetic and just the right touch of tasteful opulence kept him firmly in a good space. "You think Damon and Elena can pull that off?" he asks, interest piqued. He's a sucker for a beautiful venue.
"You never know," she shrugs. "Caroline is helping plan it, I think. I wonder what they'll do about flowers. God, remember that massive flower arrangement Care had, with the falling roses right in the middle of that archway?"
Kai smiles faintly. He has a picture of that magnificent arrangement upstairs in his portfolio. Bonnie and the girls are all in baby blue dresses, Bonnie's long silk creation draped beautifully, hugging her curves, while the girls' had a lot more tule. All three of them are smiling and dancing in front of the large piece, caught in the joyous rapture only a mother with her children can portray. It's one of his favorite candid shots of his little family - the girls were only barely three then, their little mouths wide in laughter as Juno reached towards the sky, one hand in Bonnie's while Laylah crouched playfully. He still needs to get that picture framed.
"We should check on the girls," he says.
"They're still napping," Bonnie says. "Don't change the subject. We have the engagement party, the rehearsal dinners-"
"Is that not just for the wedding party?"
She fixes him with a look. "Kai. Stop. You know I'm in this wedding party."
"Well I'm not," he grumbles stubbornly. He feels the lack of sleep creeping in, trying to settle in his bones. Taking a nap while the girls are as well doesn't sound too bad right now.
"I wouldn't bet on that for too long; after this dinner I'm sure you'll be a groomsman. You know damn well you and Damon love each other."
"Slander."
"I hear you two, playing Call of Duty all hours of the night-" she teases sternly.
"It's to improve my dexterity."
"What about when you helped him get over Rose? Taking him out with Stefan and Ric for drinks? Listening to him mope for weeks? That help with the dexterity too?"
"You're a nice guy a couple of times and all of a sudden you're in a wedding."
"Friends." She kisses him gently on the chin. "You have them. And they love you. And you love them. Get used to it."
"Well, I'm not going to this shindig unless I can sneak Jun and Laylay in."
"They're invited to the wedding. I promise, you're the only dad I know who wants to take their kids everywhere. Literally."
"They are literally my best friends. You know, Jun added lyrics to her "Help Daddy Paint" song. And Laylay has been giving great advice lately."
"I wonder if they're the same words as her "Help Mommy Sew" song. And, yeah, Lay's been handing out some gems lately, but aren't you tired of them always being broke?" she says, jokingly.
"Of course," Kai says. "But, to be fair, it's pretty hard getting into the workforce at four years old."
Bonnie grins. "They need to hurry up and pitch in."
"Nah, I got em. I made them this crazy deal way back - you were there actually. Granted, you'd just pushed them out, so maybe you didn't catch it being so tired and all."
"What was the deal?"
He squints one eye as if afraid of being admonished. "I kind of promised that I'd cover the collective bill for the both of them for the next eighteen years. At least. To be honest, I'm pretty sure I'm locked in a solid twenty year verbal contract."
"Kai," she gasps, faux shock playing on her face. "You could have talked that over with me first."
"I know! But they were so small and cute. And then they yawned at the exact same time and it couldn't be stopped. It just happened."
"Hmm," she hums, her gaze infinitely warm as she leans in to kiss his cheek, "very noble, but now look at you. A slave to their tiny whims."
"It's not so bad," he says easily, leaning in to kiss the corner of her mouth before she can pull away.
"No?"
"Nah. I'm used to their mom bossing me around." He kisses her again, this time softly on the lips and feels her smile. "She's lucky she's cute as hell too. I'm surrounded," another kiss, "by very tiny, adorable women," another, "who have me wrapped around their fingers and the worst part is," he groans dramatically and rests his forehead on her collarbone. "They know it."
Her tinkling laugh lights up the room and he's gripped once again, for what he's sure is the millionth time, with the strength of his love for her. She runs her fingernails lightly down his arms and presses her lips to his hair and the idea of kissing her until she's sighing into his mouth and grinding down sweetly into his lap begins to form. Kai's two seconds away from doing just that, his fingers already sliding into her hair to cradle her head and bring their faces together when there's the stirring of little shuffles in the hallway and then the sound of the office door opening slightly with a barely there squeak. In the doorway stands a little girl with wild, thick, dark golden ringlets set haphazardly in a bun on top of her head, displaced in it's post nap glory. She scratches at her tiny chest clad in a yellow Nala the Lion T-shirt and she yawns, bright hazel eyes still sleepy looking.
"Daddy," comes her small, high pitched voice.
Speak of the cutest devil. One of them anyway. "What's goin on, Lay?"
"What're doin?" she mumbles.
"Hanging out with Mommy." He picks up his camera and snaps a picture of Laylah right as she looks out of the patio doors, expression peaceful and angelic, her brown skin glowing in the sun's rays. "Takin pictures." He sets the camera back down. "Wanna hang out with us?"
Laylah nods and pads over. She wedges herself between Bonnie and Kai, fitting perfectly when Bonnie moves back a little. "Did you have a good nap," Bonnie asks, gently smoothing back their daughter's messy hair.
Laylah nods. "I dreamed I was takin' pictures like Daddy."
"Really?" Kai asks, extremely pleased. "What'd you take pictures of?"
"The giraffes and the grass. And the hippo."
"Sounds like someone went to Africa," Bonnie says, eyes sparkling as she listens attentively.
"And kangas. I saw the kangas too, Mommy. With their pockets for their babies. Their joeys."
"And Australia," Kai adds. "Look at our little globetrotter. Those kid encyclopedias are doing the trick."
"I'm just glad Gran saved them for me. I thought they were long gone." Laylah rests her head against Kai's chest fiddling with her own ever present light weight, pastel, Fisher Price play camera. "Hey, Laylay. You wanna go to see Auntie Elena and Uncle Damon get married?" Bonnie asks.
Laylah shakes her head and rubs at her eyes. "I'm tired."
Kai chuckles and wraps his arms around his daughter casually and she snuggles down into his warmth. 'See?' he mouths smugly.
Bonnie shoots him a look. "Not right now, honey. In the future."
"A long time from now?"
"A little long, but not very long."
Laylah shrugs. "Ok. I want a purple dress."
"Purple? Not pink? I already started making a pretty pink one for you and your sister."
"I want purple."
"Will you try it on later? See if you like it?"
Laylah nods but repeats "I want purple."
"We'll see," Bonnie placates her and Kai knows he's going to have to be in the audience of a mini fashion show in the very near future, insisting pink is just perfect. He rests his head back against the wall again and closes his eyes as Bonnie and Laylah chatter about dresses, and dreams, and, unsurprisingly, dessert options for later on. He wasn't lying when he told Bonnie he's been inundated with ideas lately; he was up most of the night sketching and plotting out canvases and subsequently he feels himself fading away a little right when Bonnie is patiently explaining why Laylah can't eat an entire cheesecake by herself. A girl after his own heart through and through.
He doesn't know how much time has passed when he hears the sound of his camera shutter going off and he blinks awake, only realizing when he resurfaces from the edge of slumber that he'd been gone to the world.
Bonnie is smiling fondly at both him and Laylah, standing in front if his out stretched legs. Laylah is still resting quietly against his chest, fiddling with her own camera.
"I wasnt ready," he says, voice a little gravelly.
"Yeah, you were," she says softly. "I'm going to put this in your office," she holds up the camera, "and go wake up Juno before she oversl-" The quick sound of bare feet slapping hardwood sounds, then the door flies all the way open.
"Hey, Daddy!" Juno shouts, flinty blue eyes and chocolate brown hair a little wild, her nap evidently gifting her a second wind. Her Simba shirt, for some inexplicable reason, is turned inside out and backwards. "Hi Mommy! Laylay come on, les'go in the leaves."
"Nuh uh," Bonnie says. "We're not going outside right now. You two are going to eat pretzels and then help me in the kitchen."
Laylah perks up at the word kitchen and clambers up from Kai's lap. "Can I pat the bread?"
"We aren't baking tonight, but you can help me wash the vegetables."
"No veg'ables, Mommy," Juno giggles, spinning once in a circle.
"Yes, vegetables," Bonnie corrects.
Kai stretches away some of his sleepiness and rises to his feet. "What do you mean no vegetables?" he exclaims, gasping for effect. "Don't you guys wanna be big and strong like me?" he asks, quickly scooping up Juno underneath of his arm and both girls break out into peels of delighted laughter.
"I'm already strong!" Juno giggles, hanging sideways.
"I am too!" Laylah flexes her tiny arms, lips pushed out.
He scoops her up too and the twins grin at each other from underneath his arms. "Oh yeah? You guys feel like pipsqueaks to me." He jiggles them slightly and they laugh, tinkling noises that illicit the same freeing sensation wind chimes seem to inspire. Joy fills him at the sound. "Light weights. Pfft. You both obviously need allllll the vegetables."
"Noooooo," they both cry playfully.
"Want me to drop these off in the kitchen?" he aims at his wife.
"Please," Bonnie says amusement and affection in her eyes, used to their antics. "A mini cup of pretzels for them each. Nothing crazy before dinner."
"Got it." He heads towards the door leading into the hallway and he pauses to lean down and kiss her, lingering while both girls tangle their hands together forming a bridge. "Put that high on the shelf for me?" he asks quietly against her lips, referring to the camera. "I found this one," he lifts Laylah, "reaching for it the other day when it was on the desk."
"Gotcha."
He kisses her briefly once more and straightens up. "Snacks, onward," he announces and more giggles erupt. He sets them down, winking at her. "I'll race ya.'"
The twins zoom out of the room and Kai gives them a three second head start before following leisurely, memorizing the way the shafts of the vibrant afternoon sun flits over them from the multiple tall windows lining the long hallway and the bright resonance of their combined delight.