Chapter 18

Elijah smiled and kissed the top of his head before smiling at Elena.

"He's been good, right?" He asked, worried. He didn't want Elena to stress out over Jeremy.

"He's been good though he gets nightmares about something big and scary." She whispered. "I sing to him which calms him."

"What do you see that gives you nightmares?" Elijah asked Jeremy.

"It's in the book but it's big and scary." He whimpered, thinking about it. Kol grabbed the book that was on the coffee table and began flipping through it, showing Jeremy the pictures until he got to the smoke one and the boy just whimpered more and tried to bury his face in his father's neck even more.

"It's evil and big and scary!" Jeremy barely got out.

"It's magic effusion," Bonnie said. "Some very powerful spells work by spreading like that my Grams says."

"Do you know why he's dreaming of it? Why it's giving him nightmares?" Elena asked nervously.

"Maybe subconsciously he's remembering it and how awful it is." Bonnie said thoughtfully. "I know a spell that'll make him sleep well throughout the night with no nightmares."

"Please, before we take him up to bed tonight, can you do that spell? As well as spell the house so that no one hears anything inside." Elijah asked her.

"I can." Bonnie smiled.

"I know you're doing it for Elena," Kol said, "but thanks."

"I'm doing it for both of them - for all of you," Bonnie said.

Kol smiled at her and ruffled Jeremy's hair.

"Do you wanna play that game again or do you want to stay in your dad's arms?" Kol asked the boy.

"Game Uncle Kol!" Jeremy cheered and Bonnie grinned. Kol could feel her happiness.

"Make sure that the game isn't a violent one." Elena worried.

"We will," Bonnie said as she went with Kol and Jeremy.

"It's not a violent one." Kol said. "It's not-he's learning how to drive cars."

"It better be Forza and not Grand Theft Auto," Elijah growled.

Kol squeaked and shouted, "IT IS!"

About twenty minutes later the pizza delivery arrived. Everyone gathered at the table to grab some. Bonnie fixed Kol's plate as Elena fixed Elijah's.

"Maybe we should just stay here," Caroline smiled. "Nothing can happen to us here."

"What about your mother?" Elena asked Caroline. "Won't she be worried?"

"Yeah maybe but I don't want to leave," Caroline said. "You're my friends and I want to help."

"Still-you should tell your mom. Grams always knows where I am." Bonnie said to her.

Caroline nodded and got her cell phone out to make the call.

The call was short as her mother was swamped with calls and the mayor himself came by to talk to her.

"Okay now she knows where I am," Caroline said.

Elena and Bonnie smiled before Jeremy sat on Elijah's lap to take the pizza slice.

"Wait-your uncle wants to say Grace to this food." Elijah said as he took his son's hands in his.

Kol smiled at Elijah, "Heavenly Father for the blessings and bounty you give us in life may we be truly thankful. Please watch over all of our family gathered here and keep us safe. We ask these things in your holy name, amen." Kol finished and everyone began to eat.

Elijah gave Jeremy a small slice and some juice. The boy was smiling as he bit into a slice of pizza.

Everyone laughed, talked and had a good time over dinner. Afterwards Elena told Jeremy it was bath time.

"I want Daddy to do it!" Jeremy decided.

"Wow Elena you're super lucky - an instant family," Bonnie smiled. "Makes me kind of wish I'd had a child."

Elena raised an eyebrow at her.

"Ha ha Bonnie, funny." Elena remarked before looking up at Elijah. "Why don't you give your son a bath?" She added to Elijah.

He smirked and looked down at him.

"Come on buddy-it's bath time." He told him.

"What!" Bonnie looked at Elena, "do you honestly expect me to believe that you don't want a relationship with Elijah?"

"They can hear you, you know," Elena growled.

"I just meant you seemed really happy and I'm a little envious- that's all," Bonnie shrugged.

She sighed.

"I'm a little on edge right now." She said as a way of apology.

Bonnie quickly enveloped her in a hug.

"I know sweetie. We're all here to help. We're going to fix this. I won't let them win," she said bravely.

Elena smiled sadly at her.

"Thanks Bonnie." She told her with a smile.

Bonnie settled on the floor and Kol sat down across from her. At first she looked surprised but then she remembered that he had the power to help her now. He placed his palms out and she placed her hands in his. Bonnie began to chant and as soon as Kol caught on he joined her. Soon beautiful shimmers spread out from them to cover floors, walls, ceilings furniture everything to mask any conversation from people outside the house. Bonnie was beaming at Kol as they finished the spell.

He was grinning from ear to ear.

"Now that was amazing!" He said excitedly. Caroline, who was there, had seen that and said, "wickedly awesome!"