CHAPTER 30

Thank you everyone for your patience. By now, I think most of you know sometimes RL and my mental health take everything I have as I unfortunately struggle with severe depression. I just finished up my masters degree and I'm back to writing fic my one true passion while I job hunt. I moved to the Netherlands right before the pandemic to attend school and it was a big adjustment that took its toll on my mental health. But I passed and hopefully I'll have a teaching job come autumn! Anyway, I hope this chapter is worth the wait.

Bonnie put her head on Kai's shoulder. She knew she shouldn't start to depend on him, but she couldn't fight what was happening between them anymore. A little voice at the back of her mind whispered Kai would eventually let her down again or worse betray her. Still since the merge he seemed different.

On screen a zombie started devouring a person. The noise was disgusting and the images were too much. She squealed and buried her face in his shoulder. He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Too grizzly for you, Bonster?"

She glared at him and saw he was still eating popcorn.

"How are you still eating? You're such a psycho."

"Hey, not anymore, remember babe?"

Kai kissed the side of her head and pulled her closer. Bonnie sighed and gave in to it.

"Don't call me babe."

"What should I call you?"

"Bonnie, maybe Bon."

"You got it, Bunny."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. If there was one thing, she would change about Kai it was his inability to call anyone by their right name. She just hoped in her case it was because she was special to him.

"Shut up, would you? I'm trying to watch the movie."

Kai snorted and he drew her closer. "Cutting class was a really good idea. But we still need to work out what to do with the vampires."

"How about a tracking spell and we stake them when we find them?"

"I like it. Best to round up every teen witch in the coven."

Bonnie grinned. "See? Damon is toast. And then we handle the rest of your coven."

"You're sexy when you're badass."

"I am," she agreed with a broad smile.

Kai leaned in and he pressed his lips to hers. She put her hands on his chest and closed her eyes. It was soft and gentle, warmth spread through her. They broke apart, she blushed and put her head back on his shoulder.

"How exactly do we handle the coven?"

"Maybe we just tell them the truth?"

Kai snorted. "Oh, wait you're serious? Yeah, honesty isn't how the Geminis roll, Bonster."

"Or we can keep up this glamour for years and then what when it's time for you to merge? How long do you think Nick can keep posing as Joshua before he's caught? And the coven knows Jo is dead. How do you explain the merge in four years?"

"Fair point. Maybe a little complacency spell to make things go over more smoothly?"

"Just once could you please try to find another solution before you dive into the morally ambiguous one?"

"Why would I do that? Stick with what you know."

Again, Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Fine, it's your coven."

"Fine," Kai said from between ground teeth. "I'll give honesty a shot, but if this goes wrong -"

"I know your coven will try to throw you into a prison world, but I promise I won't let that happen."

"I guess if I use a show of force when breaking the news, I can probably keep power."

"Probably?"

"Probably," Kai confirmed.

Sometimes, Bonnie forgot how truly ruthless the Geminis were.

"Your coven is insane."

"Yeah, we are."

Bonnie's stomach twisted into knots. "Maybe we should reconsider the whole honesty thing."

"Although if I won the merge, it doesn't matter when it happened, they still might respect the outcome."

"But you aren't sure."

"I'm not," Kai said with a tense look on his face, which quickly turned calculated. "What I need is a show of power. Something so big not even the fuddy duddy elders can't go against it."

"Like what?"

"Not sure. It would have to be something along the lines of uniting every coven in the world under the Gemini coven."

"Somehow I don't see that working out."

"Well that's how powerful I would have to be to get them off my back. But something less time consuming."

"Uh-huh. Got anything like that up your sleeve?"

"If I did would I be this stressed?"

"Maybe? For all I know super stressed out Kai is just a normal change after the merge."

Kai scowled. "You're hilarious."

"Wait - I think I might have an idea."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I read about it in Kol's grimoires. It's a barrier spell."

"I hate to break it to you, but I can do a barrier spell in my sleep. So can any half-decent witch or warlock."

The lights turned on and the credits ended. She got to her feet and started walking. She didn't need to look behind her to know Kai was dogging her every step. She could feel the electric crackle of his magic in the air.

"I don't mean a normal barrier spell. How do the Geminis keep vampires and other creatures out of Portland now?"

"Mostly through force. We sweep the city regularly for supernatural activity. If we find any here, we kill 'em."

"Well that's both creepy and borderline insane so it's on brand for you Geminis," Bonnie said as she pushed the door to the movie theater open. "But what if we threw up a barrier spell that kept everyone except witches and warlocks outside of Portland?"

Bonnie walked past the concession stand and she glanced over her shoulder. Kai almost looked impressed.

"Now that's creepy and borderline insane on your part. Are we rubbing off on you?"

"You said the Geminis don't like others in their territory. It's the biggest coven in North-America yet there is no spell to keep vampires out?"

"No, there is a spell you're right about that. But it was lost centuries ago."

Bonnie flashed a smile. "Not lost. Stolen. Stolen by a lone witch and I think Kol stole it from her."

"Or she gave it to him because they were hooking up."

"Shut up."

"Ooh, touchy are we? C'mon, Bunny. Did you honestly think you're the only witch Kol has ever hooked up with? His love of witches is infamous."

"Seriously? You're going off on another jealous tirade?"

"Well maybe I wouldn't if you hadn't chosen him," Kai shoved his hands in his pockets and shuffled up next to her.

"Kai," Bonnie murmured and hooked her arm through his. "What do you think of the spell?"

"There's a reason that spell wasn't used even when the Geminis had it."

"Why not?"

"The last time it was cast was in 1487 in attempt to hide witches and warlocks from the Puritans. It killed half the coven and cursed the survivors."

"Spells can backfire into curses?"

"They can if the spell is powerful enough. I'm not sure I am juiced up enough to pull it off."

"Maybe not alone, but the two of us together? We kick ass."

"It took a whole coven last time."

"So we bring in the New Englanders and Lucy. Bennetts and the New Englanders plus the Gemini coven leader? That's big magic."

"Gotta admit that's some powerful mojo. Only one problem we don't know how to get our hands on that grimoire."

"I could probably call Kol. I mean he does owe us both after all."

"You call him over my dead body, Bunny!"

"Oh my God. Is this going to turn into a whole jealous thing?"

Bonnie started to open the car door when Kai grabbed her arm and turned her around.

"Yes, this is going to a turn into a whole jealous thing. Because he's your ex, who tried to send me to prison and he still has feelings for you!"

"You said it yourself the spell is missing. It has been missing since it was cast centuries ago. If only we knew someone, who was alive back then. Gee, who do we know, who was alive in 1487 and hanging out with witches? It really is too bad we don't know anyone like that."

"Ha-ha," Kai said dryly. "Can the sarcasm."

Bonnie glowered. "All I'm saying is, it's our best chance."

"No way in hell. I'm not doing it."

"Fine, then I'll meet with Kol alone."

"That's an even worse idea!"

This time, Bonnie could have sworn she saw a glimpse of the old Kai in his eyes. A glimpse of the sociopath she had once known. That cold edge of steel was back. But that wasn't all she saw. There was fear there too and a protective streak that had never existed within him before. Or maybe she was imagining things. Desperate to hold onto the new Kai, the one, who could feel the same way about her as she did him.

But maybe it had all been an act?

"Kai," she said taking a step back on instinct. "You aren't the boss of me."

"Even after he lied to you, you're still not over him."

"And apparently, you're still the same jerk."

Bonnie's words caught even her by surprise. Kai looked stricken. She didn't think he could have been hurt worse if she had actually hit him.

"Fine, Bunny. Do what you want."

Kai walked away and Bonnie watched him go. The last thing she had expected was for him to walk away. The old Kai would have followed her around until she forced him to back off or gone completely psycho on her. Sometimes, the only thing that kept the old him at bay was her magic or the threat of Kol's retaliation.

Maybe he was just worried about her with Kol. And she couldn't blame him. The last time either of them had crossed paths with Kol, things hadn't ended well.

Alright, so Kai might have a point about the Geminis and the Mikaelsons getting together. But she wasn't a Gemini and in spite of her Grams' protests Bennetts always seemed to be in the thick of vampire drama.

So she picked up her phone and took a deep breath. She called Kol's number and her heart almost stopped when he picked up on the second ring.

"Greetings, little witch. I was wondering when I would hear from you."

"This isn't about us. I'm looking for a spell. Specifically a stolen Gemini spell."

"That sounds like a Kai problem. Tell him to put on his big boy pants on and handle it."

"It's the stolen barrier spell. It belongs to the Geminis not you," she said struggling to remain calm. "What's your price?"

"You're in luck, little witch. What I want you can afford to pay."

Bonnie groaned in frustration. "Don't-"

"I want you back," he said and she could hear the smile in his voice. "A powerful Bennett witch in exchange for a Gemini spell. I'm sure even Kai will agree it's a fair trade."

"Dick."

"That's the price. Take it or leave it."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "It's your own fault we broke up so just cough up the spell already, would you? It's not even yours!"

She could hear Kol considering her request through the silence over the line.

"It's not yours either. Unless you've joined the Geminis?"

"I haven't. What else do you want? And maybe try to ask for something that's gonna happen this time."

Kol sighed. "I told you my price. Ring me back when you can deliver your half and I'll bring the spell to you."

Cursing Kol under her breath she hung up.

All she could do now was wait for the inevitable hell that would break loose from one phone call.

XXX

Bonnie was half-tempted to talk to Lucy about the spell situation, but since she was attached at the hip to Rebekah these days it seemed like a bad idea. The less information Kol had about the situation the better.

Bonnie's fingers hovered over Sheila's name in her contacts. If there was anyone, who could help Kai keep power it was Sheila. Still Bonnie hesitated. Her Grams was safe in Mystic Falls. And worse still, Bonnie had broken her promise to her when she reached out to Kol.

Who did that leave? Not Kai. He would blow a gasket.

Cassie. Of course she could turn to her. The New Englanders were motivated to help Kai solidify his power. If he didn't succeed they were stuck as Geminis and every last one of them wanted nothing more than to go home.

Bonnie sped back to school, parked and found Cassie in the locker room.

"Where have you been?"

"Getting myself into trouble."

Cassie smiled. "So the usual then?"

"You know it," she lowered her voice before giving Cassie the whole story. By the time she was done her brow was furrowed with worry.

"Are you crazy? You called Kol? Do you have any idea how bad Kai is going to freak out when he finds out you brought an Original into Gemini business? Your ex no less?"

"I know, but this spell solves all of our problems. With it Damon isn't a threat and Kai can show the Geminis he's a good leader."

"My mom always says you don't put out a fire by pouring gasoline on it, which is what this is."

"I know it's dangerous-"

"Yeah, and not just for you either. This spell can backfire so bad it will curse all of us."

"So what do we do?"

"We stake Damon and Stefan too if he makes us. Then we handle the coven."

A bag landed on the floor with a crash. Elena stood there staring at them. Her expression was equal parts horrified and unhappy. What was worse, Caroline was right behind her.

"You're going to kill Stefan?"

"What's going? And I'm really sick of all the secrets so if anyone wants to tell me the truth now is the time. Otherwise I'm going home," Caroline demanded.

Bonnie grimaced and Elena winced.

"Don't you dare tell her," Elena said.

"I have to. If she goes back to Mystic Falls alone, who knows what could happen? Damon still has a hold on her," Bonnie said.

"No, he doesn't!"

"Maybe this isn't the place for this," Celestia said emerging around the corner of the lockers. "I could hear you at the other end of the room."

XXX

Bonnie and the others went back to the apartment Celestia was sharing with Elena and Caroline. It seemed like the safest place for them. Celestia had magical wards like the Parker house, but a lot less magical drama and secret coven meetings. Plus a few wards of her own creation.

"Here's the thing," Bonnie said feeling both nervous and sheepish. "Things haven't been normal for me and Elena for a while now. I'm a witch and Elena's been dating a vampire."

Caroline's jaw dropped before she started laughing hysterically. "Yeah, right. You've been listening to grams' drunken stories again. Because there's no way Stefan is a vampire."

"Show her," Cassie said.

Bonnie sighed and levitated Cassie. She laughed and grinned as she spun around. Bonnie carefully lowered her back onto the couch.

Caroline's eyes were round as saucers. "It's real."

"Yeah, we didn't want you to get caught up in this mess, but Damon is loose in Portland and he's coming for me. And he has some kind of mind-control powers over you so it might actually be more dangerous not to tell you."

Bonnie and Elena took turns filling Caroline in all of the details she had missed the last school year. Including what Damon was like and the real reason Bonnie was in Portland. It was a lot and honestly, Bonnie hadn't realized until now just how insane this school year really had been.

Caroline gaped at them. "So you're telling me all of my friends are some kind of supernatural creature or another?"

"I'm not," Elena said.

"You're a doppelganger. That makes you supernatural," Celestia explained.

"And –" Caroline swallowed nervously. "My ex-boyfriend is a vampire, who has some kind of weird vampire hold on my mind?"

"It's called compulsion," Elena said.

Caroline waved a hand at her. "Is that the point? What am I supposed to do with that information?"

"I'm looking for a way to break it," Bonnie said. "He won't hurt you again."

"Don't even get me started on you. You let another vampire use his mind games on me."

In Bonnie's defense Elijah really had been trying to break Damon's hold on Caroline.

"To protect you," Elena said.

Caroline snorted. "Full offense, but you weren't going to let them even tell me, Elena. So why should I believe you?"

"Because I'm your friend?"

Caroline snorted. "Friend? Do friends let vampires mess with their friends heads?"

"You're right. We should have told you sooner. I'm sorry. Can you forgive us?" Bonnie pleaded.

Caroline's expression wavered for a split second before her anger evaporated.

"I can't stay mad at you. Either of you even though I would really like to."

"Good because we'd miss you if you ever stopped talking to us."

"So Kai's coven is in trouble and I'm still unclear on why that's your problem," Caroline said.

Bonnie shrugged. "It's a long story."

"And it's her problem because she's in love with him," Cassie said giggling.

Bonnie looked at her in exasperation. "I'm not in love with Kai. I have standards."

"I'm not so sure that's true," Celestia said.

"Whose side are you on?"

"I'm a Gemini and a Bennett I'm as neutral as you can get around here," Celestia said. "But you really can't argue with your own track record."

"It's true. You do have terrible taste in guys, Bon. At least Kai's hot and not a vampire," Caroline said. Coming from her hot was a ringing endorsement. There was no higher compliment for a teenage boy.

"Can we talk about something else? Literally anything else," Bonnie said.

"But if you guys aren't Geminis why are you fighting their battles?" Caroline asked.

"Because we need Kai to release us from the Gemini coven. The threat against us is dead so we can finally go home to New England, but he can't do that until the coven elders accept him as their new leader. Also part of a much longer story," Cassie explained.

"Let's just skip past the whole everything in Portland is super complicated. So what are we doing about the Damon is evil thing?" Caroline asked.

"We're going to kill him," Bonnie said.

"And anyone, who gets in our way," Celestia agreed with a predatory smile.

"Not Stefan!" Elena cried.

"You don't get a vote," Cassie said.

Elena gaped at her. "Of course I do. Stefan is my boyfriend."

"You're not a witch or one of his victims. You don't get a vote," Cassie said firmly.

"I hate to say it, but I agree with Cassie," Bonnie said.

Caroline nodded vehemently. "He can control me when I'm asleep. He almost killed me trying to get at Bonnie. Damon needs to die."

"Damon maybe, but Stefan is innocent."

"I don't want to hurt Stefan either, but Damon's way too dangerous, we can't just let him go. If Stefan gets in the way, I'll take him out too."

"He's a good person," Elena argued.

"He kind of is," Caroline admitted grimacing.

Celestia scoffed and Cassie's face said it all.

"He's not a person. He's a vampire, who has technically been dead for over a hundred years."

"Then why didn't you let Kai kill Kol? If he isn't a person."

"Because I was weak and now I know better," Bonnie said. It was a lesson she had learned the hard way, which meant she would never forget it.

"I don't know what made you like this, but I want no part of it," Elena said.

"Then go home, Elena. You don't have to be in Portland. Run back to Mystic Falls and lead a normal life," Bonnie said getting to her feet. It might have been harsh, but it was becoming more and more clear she and Elena were no longer friends. Not really. And certainly not in the ways that mattered. Maybe they never had been.

"Made her like this?" Celestia said quietly before looking up at Elena with pure fury. "You mean a strong witch? Someone, who puts the well-being of witches above vampires? Someone, who isn't at your beck and call? The days of my cousin risking her neck to get mixed up in your vampire drama are over."

"Bonnie, what have you told her?"

"The truth," Bonnie said coldly.

"I'm going back to Mystic Falls."

Elena grabbed her backpack and left.

Cassie sighed, putting her face in her hands. "How much are you willing to bet she's off to warn Stefan?"

"Everything I have," Celestia said.

"Oh, that's definitely where she's going!" Caroline exclaimed her voice rising to a high-pitched shrill.

"Oh my god," Bonnie groaned. "Kai's going to blow a gasket."

"Imagine if he was still a sociopath," Cassie said in an undertone.

"If he was still a what? Never mind I'm getting a headache from all this witchy weirdness," Caroline rubbed her temples. "What are we going to do if Damon tries to use me like a pawn again?"

"That's kind of why you're staying here," Celestia said awkwardly. "I'm a medium. I'm at constant risk of spirit possession especially when I'm asleep so I have all these really specific wards placed all around my house. We're kind of banking on vampire compulsion working the same way."

Caroline paled then brightened again. "That's fine. We aren't going to let this get us down because we have a plan and in that plan I'm not vampire fodder."

Celestia looked askance at Bonnie. "Is she always this perky?"

"Yes."

"It's one of my best qualities," Caroline said with a winning smile.

"I need to talk to Kai. Preferably before Damon tries to kidnap one of the kids or something equally diabolic."

"Good luck. He's going to freak."

"He always freaks," Bonnie said laughing.

XXX

Bonnie returned to find the whole house in chaos. Joey and Kyle were playing some violent shooter game in the living room with the volume as loud as it went. Annie and Katie were running around with their hair in a mess eating junk food while Kai tried and failed to get the twins to stop crying.

"C'mon guys, just tell me what you want and I'll give it to you," Kai said looking closer to a nervous breakdown than she had ever seen him.

She assessed the damage and decided to start with Annie and Katie. Out of all the kids they listened to her the best. She cut in front of them and lowered to be at eye level with them when they stopped.

"Girls," Bonnie said doing her best to hide how comical she found the solution. "Did you do your homework?"

Both girls shook their heads looking somewhere between guilty and defiant.

"And you're a mess." Sheila would have sooner died than let Bonnie look like this for as much as a second. "Go get cleaned up and then we can all do our homework together, alright?"

Giggling the girls ran up the stairs. Bonnie shook her head and let a laugh slip.

Since Kai looked closer to tears than she had ever seen him, she went to him next.

"You're home, Bunny."

She took Luke from him hoisting him onto her hip. Either as a greeting or out of relief Kai kissed her. It was brief yet filled with want and the promise of more to come. It occurred to her they were the picture of domestic bliss, which made her inch backward. It took everything in her not to turn and run.

"Oh, Luke what's wrong?" Luke answered by crying even louder than before. "Did the twins take their nap?"

Kai's brow furrowed. "Their what?"

"Their afternoon nap. The one they take after daycare?"

"Is that the reason we get an hour of quiet after school?"

In spite of herself she smiled. She couldn't help herself he was adorable when he was frazzled.

"Yeah. It's why we're so strict about homework time."

"We are?"

She looked at him exasperation. "Kai."

"I'll put the twins down for their nap, but you might want to do something about that if you want them to get any sleep," he inclined his head toward Kyle and Joey.

"I'm on it."

She passed Luke back to him. He told the twins the whole way to their playpen no wonder they were so crabby. Naptime would have them right as rain.

Bonnie turned off the TV. Kyle and Joey shouted complaints. She sat down on the coffee table in front of them.

"Guys," Bonnie said as gently as she could manage. "I know things are hard, but you're older than your siblings and I need you to take better care of yourselves. If you want to talk about anything I'm here."

"We're fine."

"We're just having fun, Bunny," Kyle said sounding infuriatingly like Kai.

Bonnie frowned. "Have you done your homework? And don't even think about lying to me."

"Did you cast a truth spell?" Joey asked his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Lying so isn't your strong suit either of yours and it's wrong. So tell me the truth."

Kyle muttered something under his breath.

She tamped down on a sigh. Teenage boys were exhausting. "Tell you what, finish your homework and you can spend the rest of the night blowing each other's heads off in game, deal?"

"No dishes?"

"No dishes, I promise," she confirmed.

The boys ran off faster to do their homework than she had ever seen them move before. Bonnie looked at her own book bag filled with homework forlorn. Unlike the other kids she needed to get the house in order first and help the kids with theirs.

Sighing resignedly Bonnie went to the laundry room in the basement. She grabbed the white plastic laundry basket and wandered the house looking for dirty clothes. It didn't surprise her that Joey had left his gym clothes strewn around the kitchen floor.

"Why did World War I break out?" Kyle asked.

"If you need help with history you'll have to ask Kai. I'm barely passing, kid."

Bonnie ruffled his hair on her way past. She hated history class. Every teacher she had glossed over black history and was more than happy to tell a watered down version of American. So why should she pay attention to a class that tried to sweep her people and every minority under the rug? The only teacher she had ever had, who tried to do the opposite was Mr Saltzman and even he'd done a half-assed job of it. Now that he was gone, she was back to not trying.

"Please, Bonnie."

"Alright, let's see it."

Kyle showed her the text and she read over his shoulder leaning forward to see better. It must have been her distraction that allowed Kai to sneak in unseen or she would have sensed his magic rippling through the air.

The second their eyes met she saw the amusement there and something else, something new only post-merge Kai possessed. Warmth. She knew what he was thinking and that he longed to tease her about this perfect picture of domesticity, but she shook her head and he let it go.

Bonnie went back to the text and explained it as best she could. Then she went back to gathering as much dirty laundry as she could. On her way to the living room, she brushed past Kai. Her fingers just brushed his in passing.

"Will you get dinner started while I do a load of laundry?"

"Anything for you, Bunny."

Room by room she combed the house finding more dirty laundry than she could hope to wash in a month until she dragged a mountain of clothes down to the laundry room.

Kai followed her into the laundry room. Irritably, she brushed a lock of hair behind ear and dumped as much as would fit into the washing machine.

"What is it? You know I hate it when you lurk."

Kai leaned against the doorway crossing his arms.

"Do you think Jo had any spells for chores?"

"If she did she wouldn't have been half as exhausted," Bonnie mumbled to herself. Then spoke louder, "We need to talk."

"About?"

She filled him in on everything he had missed at school that day.

"Shit, Bunny. You called Kol and let Carol know we're witches all in one day? That's a massive fuck up."

She bristled, slamming the washing machine door shut harder than necessary.

"What did you expect to me to do?"

"I don't know, but not that."

She crossed her arms and glared. "You're not the boss of me. I'm not one of your Gemini flunkies you can order around."

He crossed his arms and fixed her with a piercing glare. One that revealed how angry he really was. Much to her annoyance, it was the kind of angry that was cold. She almost preferred it when they were screaming their heads off each at each other, but that would upset the kids so maybe this was better.

"Oh, I know the bigger fuck up was letting an Original vampire know we're in trouble. Let me guess all he wants in return for saving the day is you."

Bonnie blushed. There was nothing she hated more than when Kai was right.

"I told him no."

"And you think he'll leave it at that?"

"He has to because I never want to see him again. Ever."

Kai grinned then. "Good because you're stuck with me."

She rolled her eyes. "You're lucky those kids need me."

Kai stalked across the room. He boxed her in and his magic ripped through the room. Hers poured out of her rushing to meet his. Their magic collided in the air and it rocked her to her core.

She moved back and only ended up boxed between the cold hard cement wall and Kai's warm body. His muscles were taught, palms flexing on either side of her head.

"Now Bunny, I don't want to freak you out, but Clara has to die."

"What?" she gasped.

He ran his nose along her cheek. A shiver ran down her spine as she wondered if maybe the old Kai wasn't re-emerging.

"You told her Gemini secrets in our territory. It's the law."

"Kai, please you're the leader you can make an exception."

She hoped reasoning with him would work. If not she would do whatever it took to protect Caroline even if her stomach twisted at the thought of being at odds with Kai once again.

"A leader in hiding, babe."

She turned her face to his. "So stop hiding. Don't hurt her, she's my friend."

"I don't know, Bunny. You've been spilling secrets. Naughty girl."

She released a breath she hadn't know she was holding. Kai was playing a game, teasing her. And she had to admit it was hot. Her whole body was taut like a live wire. She pressed herself closer loving the feel of him against her. The sound of his voice whispering in her ear. He had a great voice, warm and deep, it did things to her.

"Please Kai," she murmured. "For me? Please?'

"I might be persuaded to make an exception for your friend, but you would owe me big."

She pressed her lips to the underside of his jaw. She felt his shudder and his magic rippled in the air with desire.

"Kai," she murmured. "Friends don't things for each other to get favors in return."

He laughed. She felt the vibrations in his chest from laughter and they shot into her.

"Is that what you call us? Friends?"

She nodded. "Really, really good friends."

He kissed her then. It was light and teasing. He touched his forehead to hers.

"I wouldn't do it for a friend, but I might do it for my girlfriend. Shame I don't have one of those."

She exhaled and laughed. "Kai, c'mon. It's as much for me as it is for Caroline."

"Alright, I'll do it. Because you're my girlfriend."

"Seriously? Can't you just admit you're doing a good deed?"

Kai's expression changed from mischievous in a heartbeat. He caught her hand in his, their palms flat against each other a bright light burst between their hands. An electric current passed from his palm into hers. It vibrated through her, warming her whole body, tossing her around in a riptide. Heat pooled low in her stomach. It was pure ecstasy. Her head fell back against the wall and a soft moan escaped her lips.

"Oh my god, Kai. What is that?"

He pressed his lips to hers swallowing her moans.

"Magic. It's torture to have it stolen, but having it given to you?" he whistled. "That's a whole other story."

He stopped and she whimpered. "Kai."

"I have never felt anything like your magic, Bunny. It's amazing."

So that was why she was Kai's favorite target. Even when there were other witches nearby, he'd always taken her magic. She had always thought it was because she wouldn't complain.

"You aren't going to bully or seduce me into being your girlfriend?"

"Bunny," he complained. "We live together, we sleep in the same bed, we do things I'm pretty sure you don't do with your other friends. And if you do well boy am I gonna be jealous and we all know how well I handle that."

"Would you just shut up and kiss me?"

"Not until you tell me why this is such an issue."

Bonnie huffed and pushed on him. He took a step back, but kept her where she was. The whole boundaries thing with Kai was still a work in progress. Before they were just something to be mimicked. Now he was struggling to learn how real people interacted and she had to admit he was a quick study.

"You're being ridiculous and we should finish dinner."

"The lasagna is in the oven. It's fine."

"The kids-'

"Are also fine. Now spill."

"You broke my heart and Kol he scared me half to death there at the end. I don't have the best luck with boyfriends and I just don't want that to happen again."

Kai was at a loss for words and she could count on one hand the number of times that had happened. Most of the time she couldn't get him to shut up. He even talked in his sleep.

"I don't know much about feelings, but I know this will never work if you have one foot out the door."

"I don't want to be trapped."

Bonnie hadn't realized until she said the words aloud how true it was. She had felt trapped since she had been shipped off to Portland, then trapped between Kai and Kol. A choice that shouldn't have been difficult made impossible by Kai's nature. The last thing she wanted was to feel that way again.

"If you ever want to leave the door is open. I'll never block it I promise. But you'll always have a place here in Portland and the protection of the Geminis if you need it."

"You're not blocking the door?"

"Nope," he confirmed.

"Kai," she said his name with the complete exasperation it deserved. "You're literally blocking the door right now."

"Yeah, but like not on purpose," he said making a crazy face at her. "There's kind of a lack of space issue taking place in the laundry room."

She half-smiled. "You're ridiculous."

"And you like that about me?"

"Sometimes," Bonnie admitted. "But I think we need to take things slow. If we don't things could get messy and the kids will be the ones, who are hurt and confused."

"One foot out the door, Bunny?"

"No, I will always be here for the kids. But they've been through a lot. We all have. And they're just starting to get used to their new routine, to you and me and us together. If we break up, they might blame themselves."

"Why would they do that?"

"Because that's what kids do. It's what I did once I was old enough to understand my mom left."

Kai might as well know now as later that in their own way her family was as messed up as hers. Weren't all families?

"Trust me, Bunny. I know crappy parents and I can promise you it wasn't your fault."

"I know that now. But thanks."

"I hear you and I'm on-board with taking things slow."

"Good."

"So you wanna make-out?"

She rolled her eyes and turned on the washer.

"I'd love to, but I have to wake the twins from their nap in," she checked her watch. "Five minutes."

"Bunny," he complained.

She kissed his cheek. "But I promise I'll make time for my boyfriend later."

His grin was dazzling. He wrapped his arms around her, crashing their lips together. The kiss was rough yet filled with heat. Her head spun and she pressed herself closer. Her magic sparked in the air around her and she felt Kai's envelop her. As always she lost herself in his touch.

Right on cue she heard the baby monitor go off with the sounds of the twins crying. Even from upstairs on the kitchen table the noise was impossible to ignore. They broke apart groaning.

"Told you," Bonnie said. "I'll take the twins, you help the others with their homework."

"Digging the bossiness, babe."

Bonnie laughed and rolled her eyes.

XXX

Bonnie wandered through the living room picking up toys. The twins were finally asleep. It had taken Kai three bedtimes stories and a promise to leave the door open and a nightlight on to get the job done, but it was a win. This was the first night in a week they hadn't screamed for her so they were making progress.

Annie and Katie were sleeping in the same bed still, but they were out like lights allowing Bonnie to slip back out.

Kyle and Joey had retreated to their room to play more violent video games. Bonnie liked it better on the nights they played basketball in the driveway, but with Damon on the loose she didn't like to leave any of the kids alone outside.

Kai sauntered down the stairs.

"So do I get that time now?"

Since the living room looked like a bomb had gone off Bonnie assumed he was joking.

"Or you could do the dishes?"

"I could, but making out with you on the couch like a couple of normal teenagers sounds like a lot more fun."

"I know what I said, but I'm swamped. I love your siblings, but they're a handful. Once I clean up the living room I still have to do the dishes unless someone else wants to do them?" she asked with a pleading look.

He took a step toward her. "I can do the dishes after we make out."

Another step toward her. She kept picking up the toys.

"I also have to do my homework, make a shopping list for tomorrow because we're almost out of everything. And we have to get the twins actual beds because they're way too old for cribs. I checked with my Grams."

She ran her hand through her hair and exhaled in exasperation.

"Woah. That's a lot of very intense worries that built up after dinner. Lucky for you because I'm awesome I can solve them all."

"Oh can you?"

"We go grocery shopping tomorrow minus a list because who likes lists?" he fake shuddered. "But first we get the twins new beds. What else you got?"

He inched closer and she inched backwards. She knew what would happen if he touched her.

"We need to talk about money. With what my dad sends for me I'm covered and I can chip in around here."

"I've got you, babe. No one knows dear old dad is dead. Nick disguised as him arranged for some time off and on Monday I'm cashing in on his early retirement plan all the while wearing his ugly old mug."

Bonnie gaped at him. "Wow, you've thought about this."

"Thanks to his freakshow levels of paranoia he set up an escape plan if he ever need to keep watch on me fulltime. Kind of ironic how it worked out in my favor, don't you think?"

She shook her head. "I guess it's time Joshua Parker takes a step back from the world."

Her stomach twisted at the thought of Joshua trapped in an eternal prison world, unable to escape or die. It was a cruel fate yet if there was anyone, who deserved it was him. And at least he would live.

"And if all else fails unlike him I'm more than capable of casting a wealth spell."

"Of course you are," she said ruefully. Her morals must have really taken a turn downhill since coming to Portland because before she would have thought it was cheating. Now it just seemed like a practical solution to a problem. "But we still have to locate Damon, kill him and then figure out how to deal with your coven."

"Which we'll figure out tomorrow."

He reached for her and she jumped back making sure to keep the box filled with toys in front of her like a shield. He feinted left, she went right. No matter what way he went she went the opposite backing up.

"Bunny," Kai said slowly. "Are you scared if I touch you'll give in to what you actually want instead of being all boring and responsible?"

"Help out or get out of my way, Kai."

His face lit up like Christmas had come early. "You are. You're totally freaking out because if I get too close you'll lose control."

She tried to move to the kitchen, but he headed her off.

"It's getting late."

He tilted his head down giving her a heated and playful look.

"If you can evade me, I'll help you clean up if I catch you well whatever you really want to be doing right now wins out."

"Are you actually insane?"

"C'mon, it'll be fun. Only one rule, no magic. Keep things fair and in control because if you and I ever clashed -" he chuckled. "Oh boy, I'd pity anyone around with that much power on the loose."

"No magic," she agreed. Her pulse was already racing. In spite of her better judgement it sounded like fun. She used to love tag as a kid. None of the other kids stood a chance against her so Kai was in for a surprise. "And no waking the kids."

He flashed a wicked smile. "I'll give you a head start."

Bonnie ran into the kitchen. She heard him counting down. When he reached one, he sauntered in just as she made it to the far end of the kitchen table. He stood there leaning forward waiting for her to make a move.

She ran for the door and he vaulted across the table. Her jaw dropped and that pause cost her. He slammed the door shut just as she was opening it. She slid under his arm and ran for it before he could catch her.

She bounded up the stairs. She heard him trailing her slowly down the hallway. The slow pace was alarming like no matter how fast she ran he would catch her sooner or later. She ducked around the corner and pressed herself into a closet.

She quieted her breathing and listened for him to walk past. Once she was sure he was gone, she crept out. An arm shot out and pulled her against him. She giggled, her head falling back against his shoulder.

"You cheated!" she cried.

He nuzzled her neck. "Prove it."

Kai pressed her against the wall, capturing her lips with his and she surrendered with a sigh. Little sparks of warmth shot through her. The kiss was soft and gentle. Unhurried like they had all the time in the world, which she knew they didn't.

She ran her fingers through his hair, bringing him closer. He held her hand, their fingers interlocked. He held them against the wall, his thumb stroking circles on hers. That small intimate gesture was different from anything he'd ever done before making her breath catch. Hope bloomed in her chest. Kai really could care about her now.

Their magic swirled around each other like gently lapping waves against the shore.

"Ew! That's disgusting!"

"Get a room."

Kai cursed and turned to face his brothers. Bonnie stared at the ceiling trying to find the strength to recover from the utter mortification of getting caught mid make-out session by Kai's younger brothers.

"What?" Kai growled.

"Liv won't go back to sleep. She climbed out of her crib," Kyle complained.

"How?" Bonnie asked.

Kyle shrugged. "Dunno."

"Says she's scared to sleep alone," Joey added.

Bonnie put her face in her hands. "Liv and Luke can sleep upstairs tonight."

"With you and Kai?"

If Bonnie thought she had been mortified earlier then it was nothing compared to now.

"Sheesh, who taught you manners, Kyle?" Kai scolded.

"The same people, who taught you," Kyle retorted.

"Which explains why neither of you have any," she muttered under her breath.

Kai must have heard her because he faked wounded before winking at her.

"Guess I'll just have to teach you some then," Kai said, but it lacked his usual underlying threat of violence.

"Great, it's the blind leading the blind."

"Bonnie is my girlfriend and a guest of our coven. She can stay in my room because I'm older than you and we're raising you."

"Yeah, because you killed Jo."

Bonnie took that as her cue to slip away. She squeezed Kyle's shoulder and to her surprise Joey hugged her. She squeezed him tight.

"Don't go, Bon."

Her heart broke for him. For all the kids. They had lost every parental figure they had ever known and now they were left with her and Kai. If she was still adjusting to this strange new version of Kai it must be even worse for his younger siblings. She had no illusions that they used to prefer it when Kai ignored them because otherwise he tormented them. All the while they had front row seats to Joshua's abuse of Kai as he neglected the rest of them.

From what little she knew of their mom she wasn't much better. The one constant these kids had had was Jo and now she was gone too.

"I'm not going anywhere, Joey."

He was only twelve. He was still so much younger than Kyle, who was already the kind of teenager that partied. Joey made a show of being as adult as Kai and Kyle, but he still snuck closer when she read books to the younger kids. He hung around when she tucked them in, which was why she had taken to checking to see if him and Kyle were in bed at night. Taking a moment to sit at his bed and say she wasn't sure if they were sneaking in more video game time.

"Grow up," Kyle snorted.

Bonnie shot Kai a meaningful look. He nodded so she knew he would handle Kyle.

"Hey Joey," Bonnie said slowly. "I'm a little scared of the dark. Can you come check on the twins with me?"

Joey perked up at the chance to be a hero. She ruffled his hair and led the way.

XXX

An hour later and Joey was asleep on the couch. Bonnie had draped a blanket over him and let him sleep. Luke was sleeping with his head on her lap. Liv had fallen asleep in Joey's arms. Bonnie herself was almost asleep when Kai came bounding down the stairs, keys jangling in his hands.

"Where are you going?"

"Coven meeting. Well coven council meeting. I'm posing as dad. Gotta keep up appearances with the new vampire threat in town."

Bonnie shifted Luke and caught up to Kai.

"I'm coming with you."

"No, you're not. It's Geminis only, babe."

"You aren't walking into the wolves den alone."

He kissed her softly on the forehead.

"Unless you're a Gemini you can't be there and I need someone to stay with the kids."

Bonnie jutted her chin stubbornly. "I'll call Lucy she can be here in ten minutes."

"Are you joining the coven?"

"No."

"Then you're staying here."

"Kai," she caught his hand pulling on it. "What if something goes wrong?"

"I get it. You don't like being stuck on the sidelines when it's your pal Damon that's terrorizing Portland, but you literally can't come with me. You'll get me busted for sure."

"I thought we were supposed to be in this together."

His eyes lit up. "Oh-ho," he chortled. "I think I finally worked it out. You like powerful men."

"What are you talking about?"

"You, Bunny. And how you dig power. That's why you want to come with me. If I'm a mega powerful coven leader you wanna see me in action. It's the same reason you were into Kol. It's why you like me."

Bonnie sputtered before composing herself. "I liked you long before the merge."

"Yeah, but I was always going to inherit the throne," he smiled. "I'm not judging. You're mega powerful yourself. Your magic feels like pure power. You pack a whooper of a magical punch. Of course you wouldn't settle for less."

"Oh my God. When are you leaving?"

He kissed her forehead. "Seal the house when I'm gone and get some sleep."

"Fat chance of that," she muttered.

She knew she wouldn't sleep with Kai gone. With Damon lurking and a house full of sleeping kids to protect there was no way she could sleep alone. Especially not since Elena had probably warned them about the Geminis hit on Damon. And Elena knew way too many of their secrets for comfort.

"I'll be home as soon as I can."

"You better be."

XXX

Kai didn't feel right as he put his dad's face on. It wasn't just being disguised as his least favorite person that had him feeling off. He'd felt off since he left the house. Something about leaving Bonnie alone in a house full of kids with a vampire on the loose was bothering him. Maybe to someone else this was normal, but to him it was one of the weirdest experiences of his life.

If he was going to pull this off he couldn't be distracted by things like emotions so he shoved them aside. It wasn't quite the same as he'd been before as a sociopath, but it was as close an approximation as he could manage these days.

The council meetings were held in the same place as always. An old building on the outskirts of town protected by centuries worth of magic. No one, who wasn't a Gemini could set foot in here. They would be incinerated on the spot so even if he had been inclined to bring Bonnie she was out of luck. It was a more powerful version of the spell that protected his family home. It was similar to the spell Bonnie wanted to cast on all of Portland, but that magic was a lot more specific and a hell of a lot more volatile.

Normally he sat on the front row of the auditorium. Now he took his father's spot by the podium. He resisted the temptation to kick his feet up on the table. If he did everyone would know he wasn't Joshua.

"We have a pest problem. More specifically a vampire problem," Kai said.

Ugh, he even sounded like Joshua in this form and he hated it. He shook off the temptation to remove the glamor and tell his coven to suck it up, he was in charge now. That reckless side that believed every problem could be solved with the right homicide was still there. Tempered by empathy sure, but still present. He felt like a caged monster.

"You mean the vampires the Bennett witch brought with her?" Harold said. Harold was an ancient warlock with a fiery hatred of all things related to Joshua. He was powerful and the others looked to him for guidance almost as much as they did Joshua.

"Yes, those vampires. The last of the Originals are leaving by week's end, but the Salvatore brothers are in town. Damon is likely hunting our coven in an attempt to draw Bonnie out."

"Why shouldn't we just let him kill her? She isn't joining our coven and if her power isn't adding to our ranks, I don't see why we should protect her," Harold argued.

Kai sighed. Things would be so much simpler if he could just rip his tongue out like old times. "Because she will be joining our ranks in a few years when she's older."

Harold laughed. "You're joking? She hates you, Joshua. She ran away to live with the Originals to escape your clutches. Why's she back now? Because I'll bet everything I have it's because of Malachai."

Kai – it's Kai, old man. The urge to correct him was on the tip of his tongue.

"She's back and she's allied with the Geminis just as her grandmother promised."

"Because of Malachai. Not you. No sane witch would ever willingly join your coven. Where is Malachai?"

"At home with the kids," Cassie chimed in.

Kai nodded. "He and Bonnie are planning a hunting party to find the Salvatores. The New Englanders will assist."

"Sending children once again to do your bidding. Just admit it's high time you pass the throne to your children. Oh, wait you can't because Jo's dead."

That was it. It was all Kai could handle and he snapped. He removed the glamor and grinned at the shocked expressions, cries of outrage and fear rippled through his coven.

"Yeah, it's me. Your maniacal old leader is kind of locked up permanently. You might say he's gone in a big way. And Jo? Well she didn't exactly die in a car crash."

The last thought Kai had before all hell broke out was Bonnie was going to kill him. When she had asked him to tell the truth he'd refused only to do it on a whim. He had the feeling the real fun was just getting started.

Thank you so much for following, favoriting and reviewing! I'm so excited we're in the bonkai part of the fic. I woke up and desperately needed to write bonkai so here we are. Please let me know what you think of this chapter. Are we loving bonkai?

Izzy

Minstorai: Thank you! I'm so happy to hear you like how I write them.

Guest: You asked if Bonnie is POC. Yes, obviously. Bonnie is POC.

Bellavida0213: I have the ending planned and OMG am I dying for you to read it, but first there's going to be SO MUCH bonkai.

Anika: I can't even begin to apologise for the wait. Just know I'm sorry and if I didn't need to pass school I would have updated sooner.