A wedding is quickly planned for Kai and Bonnie in order to lure a dangerous enemy out into the open. This looming threat puts the fate of Mystic Falls in anticipating danger and must be destroyed.

"Abby lied to me."

It hurt and angered Kai to hear the bitterness with which Bonnie spoke her mother's name, but he kept his expression politely neutral.

"Bonnie please, Joshua is lying. Abby would never do something like that." Lucy felt guilty, but no less resolved."Really? Then why did she leave my dad?" Bonnie shouted, and her voice echoed a bit through the vast open space of the boardinghouse. "Why did she leave me?"

Lucy frowned, as if surprised by her question. "Rudy was a piece of shit husband, that's why. It has nothing to do with Mikael."

Her eyes were wide—scared, imploring. "I don't believe that. Grams used to fuck with Stefan. Damon knew. He knew Grams was dating Stefan back in…"

Lucy sighed deeply as she lifted her head. "Okay, so Shelia got with Stefan before she was married."

Her blood boiled. "They both lied to me. All this bullshit about staying away from vampires when they…"

Kai's tone sharpened slightly, despite his best efforts. "Bonnie, please calm down."

Her heartbeat picked up.

"How can I?" Bonnie asked with deep irritation in her voice, directly at Kai. "All my life, it's been nothing but hypocrisy and lies."

Kai made a sound in his throat.

"They're both dead, we don't know the complete story." Lucy bit her lip and glanced towards the window front. "I don't know what really went down when Mikael came looking for your friend. I just know Sheila wanted to protect you and your mom. I have no clue if their relationship was consensual or not. And for Sheila, well she made her choices."

Kai laid an arm around Bonnie's shoulder and pulled her in. "Babe, I know this is a lot to deal with but right now we have way more pressing matters."

Bonnie shuddered against him. The headache beating to the rhythm of her heart didn't help her control her emotions.

Lucy's gaze was piercing. "Like what the hell do you plan on doing with your father?"

"We were thinking, create another prison world and lock his ass up." There was a brief pause. "With Bonnie's blood, I'll fix the ascendant tonight, and tomorrow we can…"

"Tomorrow? Shouldn't this be a top priority?" Lucy said in a harsh voice, earning two wary glances. "I say we locked him up right now."

Bonnie gnaws at her lower lip, not quite looking at Lucy anymore. "Someone else seems to have top priority over Joshua."

Lucy stared at them blankly for a moment. "Who?"

"Joshua claims Katherine is running hell." Kai had tried not to make a big deal out of it.

"I'm sorry, I must be hearing wrong." Lucy squealed, her voice high pitched and forcibly tight.

"Oh no, you're hearing right," Kai murmured pensively, "The big bad bitch is back. Katherine took Cade's place once he died."

"Katherine did what now?"

Damon and Caroline both walked into the boardinghouse parlor together. Both their jaws dropped at what they had heard.

Kai offered a biting chuckle. "Your ex has taken over hell."

Next to Damon, Caroline ruffled her blonde curls until a few strands were coming disheveled. With the little smudges around her eyes and the pale skin, it was probably the least put-together look Bonnie had ever seen on her. "I'm sorry, but how is that possible?"

"According to my dad, that was the plan," Kai said with grim amusement. "They wanted us to kill Cade so that Katherine could rule over instead."

Damon stood still for a second before he nodded and began pacing.

"Okay, so how the hell are we going to get rid of the queen of hell this time?" Caroline inquired good-naturedly.

Lucy shifted uncomfortably but said, "Wait, we don't even know if she's taken a step out of hell yet?"

Bonnie noticed her phone was chiming. It was Matt. She placed the phone on speaker.

"We have a tremendous problem, Matty," Bonnie half-shouted, picking up in the middle of the first ring.

"That bitch Katherine is back." Damon spat. His eyebrows twitched.

"How is that possible?" Matt demanded, his voice rising in pitch and volume.

"When Cade crossed planes after the 11th ring of the bell, other souls could step through, too," said Kai earnestly. "My dad figured it out."

"It's only a matter of time before Katherine does the same," Damon shouted, intensely irritated.

Lucy threw up her hands in exasperation. "Then where is she?"

Damon wasn't pacing around anymore. "I know Kat. She's planning something. Something big."

"Look," Bonnie began, seeming a little more steady, "We need to break whatever psychic link she has to hell. If we destroy hell, it will destroy her." She trailed off and looked at the ground.

Damon considered this for a beat. "Great idea, you and lover-boy can get right on that. We still need to figure out how we're going to get her out of hiding."

Kai crossed his arms sullenly. "We need to do something outlandish to lure her out."

Lucy nodded, getting the message. "We were planning to have the wedding at the armory."

"Really, how meek," Damon said with a shrug. "Thought the old English gentleman would be way fancier."

"Damon!" scold Caroline testily.

"Bonnie and I are getting married." As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt Bonnie tense in his arms—

Damon's head flew up at that. "What?"

Caroline exhaled deeply. "OH MY GOD, BONNIE!"

"Umm," Matt raised, after a few more moments of companionably miserable silence, "Congrats?"

Lucy stiffened. "That's great."

Kai sighed heavily, pulling Bonnie's palm to his mouth and kissing the skin there. "I proposed like a couple of hours ago. So much has happened in the past month, something is always happening. Just felt like there was no time like the present. We both want this. There's no point waiting any longer."

Bonnie grinned mischievously—as always, knowing exactly what he was thinking—and leaned up to press a tender kiss on his cheek.

Damon sighed deeply and glanced away. Ultimately, his inner battle fell to a draw, like it always did.

"Katherine would come out of hiding for a wedding." Raw emotion stormed into Damon's eyes, and he tore his gaze away, focusing on the floor instead. "Who wouldn't want to attend Bonnie Bennett's wedding? It will be the biggest event in Mystic Falls. Everyone's invited."

Kai pursed his lips. He didn't object, not outright, but it was obvious that he didn't care for this plan. Bonnie kept her eyes on him, her expression blank. Oddly, she felt as though Kai was guiding her on how to keep calm.

The feeling both calmed her and distressed her. They were having a shot-gun wedding.

-A pearly white dress? Check. Luckily, the bride's custom Roberto Cavalli Couture by Peter Dundas gown Lucy had ordered was too tight for her curvy physique, but it had fit Bonnie's petite figure instead.

-Flowers? Check. Ms. Wu was happy to hear that the wedding was still on, and that Bonnie needed another large order to go with it since half the town was attending her wedding.

-Food? Check. Matt was taking care of the caterer. He was pulling strings from Mystic Grill. Simple finger food and a last-minute wedding cake could be done within 24 hours.

-Security? Check. Damon went to compel the entire police department to protect the civilians. No innocents would be hurt while luring Katherine out.

Thankfully, Caroline was on wedding planner duty. She made a checklist, while deciding to organize the wedding plans for Bonnie.

"Tonight is your last night as a single woman. What do you want to do?"

"Nothing, probably gonna turn in early," Bonnie shrugged, shoving her hands into the pockets of the sweatpants she was wearing. She had half a mind to suggest they watch a movie or something when someone else beat her to the punch.

A bleak smile flickered across Lucy's face. "Bonnie, you're getting married tomorrow. We need to celebrate with drinks."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "We need to rest up for tomorrow. The plan is to capture Katherine."

"It's still your big day," Lucy assured her.

"I'm not at all excited about the fact that I've only been engaged for 24 hours and I'm having a shot-gun wedding." Bonnie rubbed her forehead before looking down at her lap. "I didn't get to try on dresses, go on cake tasting, have a bachelorette party. And the worst part is that Elena isn't even here to celebrate with me. Or my mom."

"Oh, Bon."

Bonnie exhaled, then shrugged unapologetically. "How can I be happy about this?"

Lucy made a dissatisfied expression, then seemed to come to a resolution. "Kai adores you. And it's not like he has any family outside of his nieces. You have me, and your friends are all there to support you."

"It's probably best that you're having second thoughts." Caroline pipped in. "The cure is gone, which means Kai can't be human again. What's the plan after the wedding?"

Bonnie frowned, wanting to protest.

"I know we're doing all of this to get Katherine, but let's be real. Bonnie and Kai don't have a real future together."

Lucy huffed at Caroline's choice of words. "You and Alaric are making it work."

"Alaric and I are doing what we have to for our children, our situation is a lot more complex than Bonnie and Kai's," Caroline hissed. "She's better off with Jeremy, at least they can have a real future."

Anger and frustration rushed through Bonnie's veins with brief hesitation. She knew Caroline was just unknowingly rubbing salt into an already gaping wound, and Bonnie also knew she was probably overreacting a bit.

"Kai and I have a future." Bonnie explained plaintively, "Maybe not a normal one. Maybe we're meant to be different. Travel the world, get a pet, create a life just outside of Mystic Falls. I don't need biological kids and a mortal husband. I sure as hell don't want Jeremy back."

"You'd probably be in less danger if you ran off with him," Caroline assured her, scowling.

"I'm not moving to New Orleans." Bonnie snapped. "That's Stefan's plan."

Caroline's jawline twitched. "Stefan's moving to New Orleans?"

Lucy's expression remained unimpressed, and Caroline felt her resolve dropping in the face of reality.

"He can't keep living in Mystic Falls, not when the word is catching on that he's human again. Klaus is the only one that has the power to protect him. And he would also do anything for Stefan."

"Look, Bonnie…" Caroline started, and that was obviously the push Lucy had needed.

"Enough of your shit," Lucy yelled, and her eyes flared dangerously. "Bonnie has enough to deal with. We don't need your nasty little attitude around here. You're supposed to be her best friend, and all you've been these past few years is a selfish bitch."

Bonnie sighed, feeling the beginning of a headache stirring. "Why can't you just support me?"

"How can I?" There was genuine hurt in Caroline's voice, too. "You think because I've been away from the supernatural world, my life has been easy. It hasn't. I hate my life, I hate my job, my husband, my home. The only thing holding me together are the girls, and sometimes I hate them too."

Caroline took a long deep breath, held it, and exhaled it again very slowly.

"I can't watch you have everything I've always wanted. Even if it's to lure Katherine out. I'm sorry Bonnie."

It was obviously the wrong thing to say. Bonnie only stared at her disbelievingly for endless seconds before small, bitter chuckles commanded her body.

"I can't keep doing this with you, Caroline. If you want to leave, then go. Be with Stefan or Klaus. Just leave the girls and Alaric, let them find peace. Kai and I can handle everything from here."

Caroline sighed, the anger somewhat draining from her face. "Good luck."

The blonde walked out.

Lucy sighed heavily, opened her mouth, and then grew annoyed with herself for the lack of words that rose to her tongue.

"Has it always been like that?"

"Yes. No. It's gotten worse after high school." Bonnie trailed off, and a pained look flashed across her eyes. "Caroline and Elena have cared more about boys than our friendship. Honestly, I don't think either of them has ever really been my friend. Or maybe I was just too dependent on them."

Lucy's eyes softened a bit, and she took a step in Bonnie's direction. "You have me now. You don't need Caroline."

Bonnie tried to compose her features into something unyielding. "I don't know what I'd do without Luce."

"You really want me at the wedding?"

Kai decided they need to have at least several back plans. He invited Stefan, Damon, and Matt to join him at the grill for beers. This was the closest thing he could even have as a bachelor party.

Kai shook his head and frowned. "Look, Katherine is madly in love with you. You're probably going to be the only one who can talk to her."

"She likes Matt too," croaked Stefan awkwardly.

Next to Kai, Matt rolled his eyes. "I don't think she'll listen to anything I have to say."

"Great, so Stefan is the mediator," Damon replied and smiled knowingly. "Let's focus on what's important, who's the best man."

Kai snorted. "Obviously not you."

"You'd be a complete idiot to let him be your best man," Matt replied with no heat.

"It's the 21st century, Malachai," a voice entered the conversation. "You need a best woman."

Kai held his gaze with a newly present Valerie for a minute longer, then smiled a little and nodded. "You're offering?"

"First off, why am I the last to know you're getting married." Valerie's expression had gone deathly stoic.

There was a long pause. Eventually, Kai took a long breath. "I proposed last night."

Valerie and Stefan briefly made eye contact before turning away from each other, awkwardly.

Kai shrugged unapologetically. "It's gonna be a quick shot-gun wedding. We need to get Katherine out of hiding."

"Katherine? As in Katherine Pierce." Valerie asked without preamble.

Damon gave a mild huff. "The one and only."

"I've only been gone for one day," Valerie asked, panicking. "What's been going on?"

"Oh, you know my dad escaped hell." Kai said slowly, caressing his temples. "Stefan killed Cade with the devil's bone. Hell is still standing with Katherine at the helms. And I got engaged last night."

"Joshua also kidnapped the twins to trade Kai's soul for his," Damon said serenely.

Valerie seemed to think about this for a moment, "Your father was in hell this whole time."

"He had my mom killed." Kai clenched both hands into fists and took a deep, trembling breath to calm himself.

Valerie must have seen the look on Kai's face. "Holy shit."

Damon exhaled a humorless laugh. "That's rough buddy."

Matt's mouth drew into a tight line. "Can't be worse than having both your parents in town, trying to kill each other."

Damon's mouth dropped open. "I'm sorry, Kelly Donovan is back?"

"This morning she showed up," Matt muttered irritably. "She and Peter are snapping at each other."

Stefan tried not to let a huge grin split his face and failed. "This has been an odd 24 hours."

"We still need to celebrate one thing," Valerie chimed in. "Malachai and Bonnie's happiness. The one pure and real thing happening. I'm glad you've managed to carve out something for yourselves. Bonnie was so lost when you were off with that siren bitch, but you came back to her. That kind of love is unwavering. I'm truly proud of the man you've become."

Damon shifted uncomfortably and peeked at Stefan, who only shrugged at him.

Matt beamed, even though Damon was scowling a bit. "To Kai and Bonnie."

Kai glanced up at Valerie with a hint of a grin. "When did you become a romantic, Val?"

Valerie released an exasperated sigh and pouted. "Fuck off, Malachai." A heavy, awkward beat passed between them. "What do you plan to do with your father?"

Kai all but shook with anger. "Lucy and I got that handle, he won't be around much longer."

Bonnie,

Here is something borrowed, for your epic day.

K

It surprised Bonnie when she finally opened the box that there was only a necklace inside. And at first glance, it didn't look like someone's most prized possession, either. It was beautiful, but it was really simple. It sort of matched her engagement ring as well. Bonnie wondered if it was another family heirloom.

It was her wedding day, and she was waiting patiently. The ceremony would begin in an hour, and she was all but ready. Bonnie was nervous. This wasn't an uncommon feeling, but her reflection seemed to magnify the problem. And her hands were shaking, badly.

"Why aren't you dressed yet?" Lucy's entrance did little to break Bonnie's feelings.

Bonnie let out a gasp. "I'm getting married." Her eyes filled with tears that she prayed wouldn't ruin her make-up.

"I know," Lucy murmured, running a hand along Bonnie's cheek. "What's going on in that head of yours?"

"I always imagine dad walking me down the aisle. He and mom should be here." She tried to quell the nausea that surged within her. "Grams should be here with us. Elena should be my maid of honor, Caroline…" She tried to sound strong, but the quiver in her voice showed that her heart was already broken because today wouldn't be her dream wedding.

Lucy sighed and stood upright, smoothing her one-shoulder tulle-wired hem maxi dress in cream down her body. Her face hardened, lips falling into a parted line.

"Today should have been my day with Enzo."

Bonnie's mouth dropped open. "I'm sorry."

An unimpressed Lucy just stared at her. "So am I. But I'm also proud of you and the woman you've become. No one, I mean no one. Deserves this more than you."

"Thank you." She took a deep breath to ease her nerves, but it didn't help.

Just then, Valerie poked her head into the room.

"The girls are ready." She blinked, shutting the door behind her.

Bonnie lifted her eyebrows, tilting her head slightly. "Wait, is it safe for them to be here?"

"They're Kai's only living relatives. If they didn't show up, Katherine would know something is up." Lucy admitted. At that, Bonnie's disbelieving expression softened.

Valerie gave a grin and said, "Don't worry, I put a protection spell on them, so they'll be safe no matter what."

Tugging on a strand of hair. She inspects it, teeth digging into her lower lip, and decides it looked better before, and sets out to recreate the previous look.

"Oh no, you have cold feet." She hears Valerie swallow and then the blonde says, small and terrified, "Please tell me you're not reconsidering this?"

Shaking her head, Bonnie lets out a soft sigh. "It's not that." Then, after a pause thick with anxiety, Bonnie continues. "I'm going to ask Kai to turn me, tonight, after the wedding."

There's a hesitant pause, and Bonnie has to close her eyes and breathe. It's just nerves, she reminds herself.

"Are you sure?"

Bonnie's face dropped into a faded mask of worry. "Not at first. When Kai told me he wanted to take the cure, I thought that was the perfect solution. We could have a normal life together. And I wanted to get my magic back. But I haven't and the cure is gone. At least this way we can have a real future together. I want to be a vampire."

Valerie shrugged, sharing a conspiratorial look with Lucy.

"If the Bennett bloodline is going to end either way, I guess it doesn't hurt if you were immortal."

Lucy's eyebrows crease and she lifts a hand to Bonnie's face, rubbing her thumb across the corner of Bonnie's eye, correcting a smudge in her eyeshadow that she had evidently missed.

"If this is what you want, I will support you."

Bonnie squeezes Lucy's hand gratefully. "Thank you, guys." Her gaze softened as she looked at the two of them, smiling.

"Now please, get dressed."

Her next stage of life was about to begin. It was kind of scary, but it was going to be a grand adventure.

He never expected his life to be this way, let alone get to this point. In a rose garden waiting to get married. Bonnie Bennett was the only woman in the world that made him feel worthy and alive again.

When he dreamed of returning home from the prison world, finding a girl and settling down was never in the equation. Those things always seemed trivial and a waste of time to him. They were unnecessary distractions against his goal of destroying his coven. Kai never meant to fall in love.

At this moment in time where he currently was standing staring at himself in a black tuxedo.

"Relax, Malachai," a hand slapped him on the back, followed by a wide sharp-toothed grin staring back at him. "We need you focus and alive out here."

"How is Bonnie?"

"She's great, and she can't wait to marry you." His best woman gave him a big smile of reassurance.

He must've zoned out the last twenty minutes because now here he stood waiting for the music to start so he could see his bride walk down this unnecessarily long aisle. Lizzie and Josie walked out first, tossing rose petals along the aisle, then Lucy came with a bouquet of white roses.

Kai could feel a gust of wind blow over him as he stared out to see Bonnie walking down the aisle. Her white dress clung tightly to her upper body, but trialed down the bottom. She had a long train following her from the back.

He couldn't keep his eyes off her and how breathtaking she looked. Everyone stared at her with wide eyes and cheerful smiles. But Bonnie's eyes were focused on him. Kai felt his hand shaking with nerves, he could hear her heart was pounding hard and fast as she finally stood before him. Her dark hair was brushed against her shoulders and framed her face. Her smile was nervous as their eyes locked, blue to green.

"Wait a minute, where's the minister?" Valerie demanded, quickly spotting the problem.

Both he and Bonnie stared at each other with alarming looks.

"I'm here." Damon arrived beside them, seeming inordinately troubled by the question.

"You?" Bonnie looked at him, and palpable fear crossed her face.

Damon laughed. "I got licensed. There's a funny story to it."

Kai was not impressed. "Get on with it Damon."

Valerie took the bouquet from Bonnie's hand's a moved off to the side. Kai took Bonnie's hand, a spar lighting under his skin, and he wondered if this feeling would ever go away, the effect this woman had on him.

"Umm, Bon Bon, where did you get that necklace?"

Kai exhaled an annoyed breath. "Damon, this isn't the time…."

Bonnie hummed. "Kai gave it to me."

"No, I didn't." His body went completely rigid, and he looked directly at the necklace around Bonnie's neck.

There was a long pause; Damon's breath lingered in the air as his eyes went wide. "Oh boy, I'm pretty sure it's Katherine's."

"Shit, so she's here."

Bonnie took a theatrically deep breath and gazed at Kai with a faux-worried expression. "Should I take it off?"

"No, let her see you in," Damon said, his tone was low and matter-of-fact.

Kai scowled, but couldn't stop the small snort from leaving his lips. "If it's a show she wants, let's give her one."

Damon cleared his throat and brought everyone's attention to him.

"We are gathered here today to witness the joining of these two epic lovebirds in official matrimony. Bonnie has found the man of her dreams, and she's going to share the rest of her human life with him. But before we begin, if anyone has any objections to this union, please speak now or forever hold your peace. Yep. Speak right now. Anyone? As of now. Right now."

There was an eruption of laughter from the audience, and even Bonnie had to chuckle at Damon's antics.

"Well, it seems like no one's objecting, so we will continue with the ceremony," Damon said with a wide smile. "The couple has written their own vows…"

"We did?" Bonnie whispered, this time a little more forcefully.

"You sure did, something straight from the heart." Damon smiled slightly as he glanced at her. "Per request, the groom will go first."

Kai released Bonnie's hand to reach into his suit jacket to grab his vows. Bonnie grabbed his left one because she needed to be touched by him.

Kai took a deep breath, struggling to keep himself together. He could feel the unshed tears behind his eyes.

"Bonster," he started, his voice trembling. "I don't know what I ever did to deserve you. My life has been so much better with you in it. I remember the first time I fell in love with you. It was Halloween night four years ago. We were at the Whitmore Medical Center. You told me you forgave me, after you got the news about your Grams."

Kai looked up from the paper to look at Bonnie's tearful eyes. He sniffled too as he looked back at the paper. "I never thought in a million years I could earn the forgiveness of Bonnie Bennett, but I'm grateful I did, and I promise I won't ever let you regret it. I promise to cherish you, love you, and protect you. I love you so much, and I will spend the rest of my life showing you how much."

Kai took a deep breath as Bonnie sniffled and wiped the tears away. He wanted to reach over and kiss away the tears. When she glanced at him, he could see her eyes rimmed and small streaks of black falling from her eyes.

"I never thought that I could get a fairytale ending. I thought I'd always be a bridesmaid and never a bride. Forgiving you was the best decision I've ever made, and you never once made me regret my choice. I was so afraid of getting hurt, but all you've done is love and protect me, care for not only me but my family." She sniffled and Kai clenched his jaw to keep himself from shedding tears. He briefly met eyes with Lucy, his soon-to-be cousin-in-law. "We've fought so many battles. Let's enjoy a life of happiness together. But whatever does inevitably come our way, I promise to stand by you. I will be your voice of reason, your partner, and your family. I vow to be your wife, for all eternity."

It clicked for him. "Are you sure?" he mouths.

"Yes," Bonnie mouths, her eyes still leaking water.

"You two are really doing it huh," Damon raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Munchkins. Rings. Now."

Josie and Lizzie both hurried over to hand Kai the ring for Bonnie and handed Bonnie the ring for Kai. He cracked a smile at both of his nieces as he watched them head back to sit with Lucy.

Kai took a deep breath and gripped Bonnie's left hand, sliding the white gold ring onto her delicate ring finger over the engagement ring he gave her the other night.

"With this ring, I thee wed."

He could hear her breathe deeply as she took his left hand into her to slide on the matching ring over his own ring finger.

"With this ring, I thee wed."

"With the power recently vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, I now pronounce you husband and wife." Damon said, smiling as he folded his hands together in front of him. "You may kiss your bride, Malachai."

Kai puts one hand on Bonnie's waist and one behind her head as he dips her dramatically. His lips muffle her gasps and laugh on her. She smiles against his lips and he stands her up straight again. Bonnie leans forward to kiss him one more time.

The organ plays again, and Valerie hands Bonnie her bouquet. Kai takes her hand and they walk down the aisle followed by Lucy, Josie, and Lizzie, Valerie and Stefan, and finally Damon.

"I love you Bonnie Bennett-Parker," Kai whispered, looking into her jade eyes.

Bonnie smiled even wider than before. "I love you too, Malachai."

The champagne was readily available, and servers circled the floor with hors-d'œuvre and shrimp cocktail. Matt watched the door, remaining on the lookout. The reception room was lavishly decorated, but the most eye-catching thing was the happiness radiating off the newlyweds as they danced.

"May I have this dance, Mrs. Parker?" Damon asked with an emphasis on Mrs. Parker, that charming smile plastered to his face.

"Are you actually giving me a choice this time, Damon?" Bonnie questioned, her tone solemn as she slipped her hand into his, his fingers immediately curling around her smaller hand, pulling her up out of her chair and into his arms.

"I just want to congratulate you on all this," He gestured around them, at the wedding reception. "We really pulled it off in less than twenty-four hours."

Bonnie shook her head with a chortle, agreeably following him onto the dance floor under the large canopy decorated with string lights, some guests sat at their tables eating and gossiping, others were on the dance floor, like Valerie and Kai, dancing nearby them.

"Look, Bonnie, I really want you to know that I'm truly sorry for everything I put you through," Damon said in that hushed voice of his, his arm going around her waist and pulling her closer. "I made my choices many years ago. Elena was my one true love. It's been awful living without her, and I've been punishing you for it. I was an awful friend. You don't owe me a damn thing, and I'm happy that you found someone that loves you, the way I love Elena. You deserve all of this and more."

"Thank you," Bonnie replied simply with that proud smile of hers. "I know this isn't ideal for you. Losing the cure, and having Elena wake up as a human without you, everything between you two will be short and sweet."

"We'll cope when the time comes. But you, Mrs. Parker, you're really going to be a vampire for Kai." His face clouded over, and there was something in his voice Bonnie couldn't quite make out.

"I love him, Damon," Bonnie replied in an almost reverential hush. "He's my husband and I won't ever leave him."

Damon considered this, then nodded. "I'm sorry about how all this turned out. It was my responsibility to protect the Bennett line, and I've failed you. I failed Emily Bennett too."

Bonnie squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. "Doesn't matter anymore, this is my choice."

"Time for the toast," unsurprisingly Kelly Donovan drunkenly arrives.

Damon moaned lowly. "Oh, fuck."

"Congratulations Bonnie Bennett, never thought I would see you with a prized man." Kelly scolded. "You picked better than your mom, that's for sure."

Bonnie hissed at Kelly, while Kai was inching towards her.

"Who the fuck is this?" growled Kai, arms crossed tightly over his chest.

"Matt's mom." Bonnie's voice was still mild, but the look she gave Kelly Donovan was steely.

Kai shook his head vehemently, "Seriously?"

Damon cast Matt's mother a long glance. "Enough, Mrs. Donovan, please…"

"You little fucker, you awful piece of shit," Kelly shouted, "what you did to Vicki… shame on you." Her voice was a little shaky. "She never got the chance to turn her life around, because of what you did to her."

The whole reception got quiet.

"I know how this town views me and my kids. You all look your noses down on me." Kelly cleared her throat. "Even my own son, he didn't even know I passed away two years ago… nasty little fall."

"Mom…" Matt's voice had been very neutral, but Bonnie had felt the tension radiating off of his body.

"But Katherine Pierce, she gave a damn about me," Kelly informed her son with a rueful smile.

Bonnie felt incredibly frustrated. "Kelly, where is Katherine?"

Kelly turned to stare at Bonnie incredulously. "No clue, but she's the least of your worries."

"Mom, tell us what you know? Matt hollered, watching the emotions play over all his friends' faces, "Please."

"Sorry, Matty," Kelly said, suddenly enlightened. "I was busy causing a gas leak in the house."

Bonnie jerked as though someone had slapped her. Valerie yelled. Her face twisted and spasmed as though hit with sudden pain.

"LUCY TOOK THE KIDS BACK TO THE HOUSE."

Bonnie was horrified at what Valerie had just said. Suddenly she could see all the fight just drain from Kai. The light in his eyes seeped away while Bonnie watched. It was terrifying.

"Come on ladies, we need to get back to the party."

"How come mommy didn't come?" Lizzie asks, and to Lucy's surprise, the girl actually looks distressed by her missing mother. Almost like she's about to cry or throw a tantrum.

Josie looked up at her, too. "Yeah, isn't she and Aunt Bonnie best friends?"

Lizzie's eyes were enormous, but she nodded her head furiously. "Mom said Aunt Bonnie was her sister."

Lucy inhales sharply, eyes dark with anger. "Sometimes, friends have falling outs. Your mom is going through a lot right now. She couldn't support Bonnie in her happiness, so she removed herself from Bonnie's life."

Josie stepped away from Lucy, looking warily between her and Lizzie. "But why?"

"One day, you girls will understand. It's an adult thing." Lucy said carefully.

Lizzie gave an exaggerated gasp. "Daddy's always saying that."

"Your father is a smart man," Lucy said, her features both tired and amused.

"Is mommy going to leave daddy for Stefan?" the blonde demands to know.

Lucy's jaw dropped. "Umm…"

"I heard them fighting about mommy leaving us," Josie whispered, tugging Lucy's hand.

"Girls, I shouldn't be the one telling you any of this. I mean, I don't know what's going on with your parents. But just know they love you, no matter what's going on with them."

"We want to stay here," Lizzie shouted with a giggle.

Josie bounces on the heels of her feet in enthusiasm and eagerness. "Yeah, Uncle Kai and Aunt Bonnie are fun."

The two girls immediately brighten up – good thing kids have a short attention span, she thinks.

Lucy couldn't help but laugh. "That's great, girls."

Josie was talking back, but Lucy couldn't hear any of it. Her ears were ringing, head-splitting from the door. Gritting her teeth, she tried to bring the sound into focus; nothing happened until a bomb went off.

The gas flooded the air, snapping everything back into focus. Lizzie started shouting in fear. There was nothing but flames of fire around them.

Josie shouted something, but she didn't hear it. Vision fading, Lucy tried to focus her vision on her surroundings. She felt hands on her, clutching her body.

"Focus, love." That voice still sent shivers down along her spine. It was deep and soft, but with a rasp to it.

Lucy didn't have to be able to make out his facial features to recognize him. She would have known the man anywhere by the shape of his body, his stance, just from an indefinable something.

"Enzo?" Lucy marveled that her voice actually sounded almost normal.

A bittersweet smile lit up Enzo's face as he answered. "I'm here with you. Right now you need to get these girls out of here."

Lucy's eyes were nearly crossed with the effort it took to concentrate. "How can I see you?"

Enzo regarded Lucy for a moment. "Nevermind that, just know I'm always with you." His voice and look were solemn.

"I'm so sorry, I should have protected you…" her voice held quiet regret.

There was an utterly bleak expression on Enzo's pale face. "No, darling, my job was to protect you, and I'm always going to protect you. Right now, the twins are siphoning magic to keep flames from touching you all. You'll be able to walk out of here safely, just guide them out."

Lucy's expression was introspective, sliding quickly into fatalistic. "Okay."

Enzo reached out and cupped Lucy's cheek in his palm, stroking his thumb gently beneath one eye, as if in an attempt to wipe away the darkness, both under her eyes and in them. "We'll be together again, but you must fight, and be with Bonnie, fulfill our dream. There's so much out there for you. Live your life to the fullest for me, for us." There were tears. "I love you, Lucy Bennett, I always will."

Lucy closed her eyes and nestled her cheek into the phantom, yet snug, palm. "And I love you."

The grip loosened on her.

"Okay, girls, repeat these words. Phesmatos motus incendiaros."

"Phesmatos motus incendiaros"

"Phesmatos motus incendiaros"

"Phesmatos motus incendiaros"

Her ears were ringing, but she could hear shouting and screams and sirens.

"Are you girls okay?" Lucy could feel tears rising in her eyes again.

Lizzie pulls at Josie's hand, but the brunette sighs and her shoulder slumps like she's lost all her spirit.

"Lucy!" Stefan's voice rings above all others, and Lucy freezes.

"Josie, Lizzie," Valerie echoed alongside Stefan's, her eyes large.

"Is everyone alright?" Stefan asked with uncharacteristic restraint.

Jaw muscles clenched repeatedly, along with her fists. "What the hell is going on?"

"It's Katherine." Their fragile moment of mutual understanding was shattered.

"Start talking Kelly. What did Katherine promise you?" Damon insisted again, angrily.

She looked back at him, "I have nothing to say to you, asshole."

"Mrs. Donovan please, lives could be at stake." Bonnie had to pause for a moment to clear the small lump that seemed to block her throat. "What is Katherine's plan?"

"I don't give a damn about what Katherine is up to." Kelly released an exaggerated breath and twisted in her seat. "All she told me was to distract you idiots until the fire started."

"Let me guess, Katherine offered you nothing for your services?" Kai said in a tone that clearly betrayed his surprise.

Kelly sat eerily still, but there was nothing placate about her demeanor. "Just promised to keep me out of hell."

"Kelly, stop bullshitting us, tell us something useful," Damon yelled with palpable horror.

"The only thing Katherine wanted you to know is that she plans to burn this shit hole to the ground," Kelly said insistently. Her words were directed at Kai. Damon was ignored.

Kai could feel his face grow hot and the saliva dry in his mouth. "Oh, really."

"With hellfire," Kelly said with determination, "It's all going down tonight,"

Damon sighed, but squared his shoulders. "Any ideas on how she plans on doing that?"

"Plans on using that Maxwell bell," Kelly grinned smugly.

The absurdity of the situation made Kai want to laugh.

Damon huffed and almost looked angered. "Someone from that direct bloodline has to ring it. Deputy Donovan would never willingly do it."

"I know, but he isn't the only Maxwell, neither is Peter." Kelly's voice was filled with gentle mockery.

"You don't mean..."

The bell tolls.

Kai groaned out loud as he felt his head throbbing because of the power of the bell. He could only imagine how Bonnie was feeling.

"My darling Vicki is just on time," Kelly said, her voice mildly amused.

Bonnie made a noise. This was different. It was loud and cut short by something new. Something wet.

Kai dared himself to take his eyes off Kelly.

And he gasped at what he saw.

Bonnie was lying on her side, facing him. Tears had made tracks down her face and nose. She looked feeble and sickly; her cuffed hands lying prone on her legs. And her gag…

Kai suddenly felt sick again.

He sprinted over to her, pulling her into an embrace. "Bon, wake up." Kai clung to her.

"Umm, Kai…"

The heretic turned back to Damon and Kelly to see blood oozing from Kelly Donovan's nose and mouth, blood dripping onto the floor. Kelly sprung out of her chair and collapsed onto the floor.

Both men were silent for a few moments. Kai mentally winced and attempted to reign in his own fear. When Damon met his eyes, there was palpable sorrow and regret.

The fight starts now.

AN: The final chapter will be out in a week's time. The return of Katherine Pierce, more character death, and an alternative ending for everyone.