Chapter 17

Meanwhile Elena, Bonnie and Kol were still in the kitchen.

"Well your emotions are definitely connected," Elena observed.

Kol looked at Bonnie shamefully.

"I'm sorry but...but taking away our memories for some reason? It couldn't just be wanting me to be without humanity and to tear away Elijah from his family!" He told her brokenly.

"But it is those horrible things and whatever else just makes it worse," Bonnie worried. Her worry for him was obvious though she tried to hide it.

"Until 'Lijah and I kissed...I didn't know what to think until I got some memories back in bits and pieces."

Bonnie blushed fiercely at even the thought of her lips meeting Kol's own. She couldn't make eye contact and her pulse kicked up a little.

Elena smiled at her and looked at Jeremy who went to get a cookie.

"No sweets before dinner!" She told him as she picked him up.

"Do you want your memories back?" Bonnie barely whispered to Kol while Elena was distracted by Jeremy.

"I would like that but do you?" He asked her softly.

"Yes, I think that I would," Bonnie said.

He grinned and kissed her lightly on the lips.

That kiss sparked memories of a much wanted kiss from their past. Kol and Bonnie were happy together. They had become close friends and they realized that they wanted to explore being together romantically. Bonnie helped Kol with his humanity and he brought out the best in her. They were apparently often in each other's company.

Pulling back, Bonnie was breathing heavily.

"That was amazing." She breathed.

"That changes things a little," he commented.

"How much?" She asked. "We can be secret friends-in an order to hide it from your parents."

"I don't want to hide you. I want to protect you," Kol growled possessively. "You are mine."

"But what if your parents find out?" She asked. "They could take our memories away and make me hate you or you hate me enough to kill me."

Kol took Bonnie's hand and led her before Elijah.

"I got some of my memories back and I need to protect Bonnie," Kol said hoping his brother could understand what he was trying to say.

"How about you stay here with her. I asked Sheila to put the strongest protection barrier over this house. I'm also going to be staying here for as long as I can." He smiled. "I can't leave them alone!"

"Perhaps I could try a forget-me-not spell on your ring so that you cannot forget those memories," Bonnie worried.

"We have to stop this once and for all. We can't all hide here forever," Rebekah growled.

"When we have to go out we'll have to pretend like none of this happened..." Bonnie said trying to keep the worry from her voice.

Elijah grinned.

"I get more chances to subtly take Elena out." He said with a shrug. "Kol still has his volunteering gig at the library."

Bonnie nodded.

"We need to get some things out of the house and over here," Kol said.

"Buy new whatever you want," Elijah said. "It's probably safer."

The next evening Kol arrived loaded down with shopping bags. Not only had he acquired a new tablet and some clothes that would stay at Elena's but he had also bought a tablet for Bonnie, Elena and Caroline. Bonnie was still finishing up at the library as she shared with Grams what had happened between herself and Kol.

Sheila was happy that her granddaughter had some memories back.

"Now I'm just afraid that she will hurt him and undo all the memories. I like him the way he was in those memories. I liked him a lot," Bonnie said suddenly finding her shoes very fascinating as she tried to avoid eye contact.

"Don't worry baby," Sheila told her. "Everything is going to be fine. I promise."

Bonnie hugged her Grams fiercely and hurried to Elena's house to see if Kol was in fact there.

She smiled as she saw him there, a grin on his face as Jeremy was on his lap and playing something on the iPad.

"Just make sure that it's nothing too graphic otherwise Elijah will hurt you." Bonnie told him as Elena invited her inside.

"I would never let him play anything of the sort." Kol said with a pout on his face.

Jeremy's peals of laughter told the girls he was in good hands.

"What should we fix everyone for dinner?" Bonnie asked, "sorry we all just kind of took over your house. The least I can do is help with chores."

Elena just waved her hand.

"It's fine Bonnie." Elena said warmly. "I was just thinking about ordering a pizza."

"I absolutely love pizza," Bonnie grinned. "I hope someone else likes spinach, mushrooms and feta. Do we have any balsamic vinegar? That's so good drizzled on that."

Elena raised an eyebrow at her.

"You do mean 'anyone else besides me and Elena' right? You and I can just eat one small one between us and the others can have whatever one they want." Elena said. "Besides-the balsamic vinegar is in the pantry."

"That sounds great make it three for that pizza!" Kol called.

"Vampire hearing," Bonnie giggled.

"I want pizza!" Jeremy squealed. "Daddy I want pizza!"

Elijah grinned at him as soon as he came downstairs.

"That sounds excellent." He said before picking up Jeremy. "You and I will share one."

"The girls eat spinach and mushrooms," Kol grinned at Elijah.

Elijah looked down at Jeremy with a raised eyebrow.

"Do you like that kind of pizza?" He asked and the boy shook his head in the negative.

"Spinach is gross!" The four year old said while making a face. "I wanna have cheese and mushrooms!"

Kissing him on the top of his head, Elijah grinned.

"Do you want me to order one small cheese and mushroom pizza and one large spinach and mushroom pizza?" He asked Elena with a kiss to her lips.

"Please love," Elena smiled at him.

Grinning, he ordered the two pizzas on his phone with a smile on his face.

"Do we have drinks or should I go to the store and get some?" Kol asked. Elena looked in the fridge and then shut it with a smile.

"Unless you hate Pepsi, water or juice I think we're good." She told him.

"We're good," Kol smiled.

"Can I have some soda mommy?" Jeremy asked. "Daddy? Can I?"

Elena gave him a look that said, 'no' before telling him, "no honey." Jeremy turned to stare at Elijah with a puppy dog face, hoping he would let him.

"Your mother said no," Elijah said, "and I agree with her."

The boy sighed.

"What about a sip of it?" He pleaded. "If I have just one tiny sip-I'll eat all of my vegetables!"

"Your mother said no," Elijah said firmly but gently. "You don't bargain with your parents."

The boy nodded and buried his face in his father's neck.

"Promise you won't leave?" He asked in a murmur.

"I promise that I won't leave you and your mother." Elijah whispered. Making sure that he was safe in his arms, he began to hum to him.

Jeremy curled against him holding on tightly.