X

Welcome to the Family


It was Damon who opened his big mouth first—as usual. "Well if it isn't the Mother of the Year," he said, sarcasm heavy in his tone. Abby paid him no attention as she directed her eyes towards Elena and her friends. Lucy, on the other hand, was more transfixed on the young boy staring at her, the striking green eyes of a Bennett staring back at her, wearily.

She stepped forward and held out her hand to the young boy. "Hello there," she greeted. Those green eyes stared at her hand before moving up to her face, curious and something that read Bonnie. Maybe it was the way he scrunched his nose up.

"I don't shake hands, lady." He said with an air of gusto — too big for an eight-year-old boy— as he crossed his arm over his chest. Those eyes slide towards Abby as he continued, "Especially not with a vampire walking around claiming to be my Grandma."

Abby paused, her eyes reading over the young boy. Could it be possible? It had been almost nine years since she had seen her daughter. Abby winced at the thought. Bonnie had begged her not to leave and when she did, she could remember how broken she sounded.

"If she is our grandmother," the little girl muttered, mostly to herself with her finger pressed to her chin. "I don't feel much of a connection. But the woman with her, she feels like family."

"You're not wrong there," Lucy said, walking up to the two. While the twins obviously favored their father, Lucy saw small things. The boy had Bonnie's frown, he even had her little scrunch of the nose. His eyes had more emerald in them than the girl beside him. but she had the shape of Bonnie's eyes and Lucy knew she would definitely look more like her mother as she got older. Bennett magic flared in their veins, but she could feel something else. She'd get the answer later, but right now, she wanted to get to know these two. She held out her hand for them. "I'm Lucy Bennett. I'm Bonnie's cousin."

The twins shared a look. "Prove it," the boy said and reached out his hand. Lucy reached out and took hold of him smaller one. As their fingers brushed against each other, she felt the warmth of magic beneath his finger tips. The little girl reached out and placed her hand on top of Lucy's.

Lucy smiled. Bonnie's magic echoed just beneath theirs, but there was something else. Something darker and it was mingling with their magic. She gave a soft push and gasped, hands dropping. Abby was by her side, asking her what was wrong. The twins didn't even look angry, it was obvious they knew.

"Half demons," Lucy muttered. "Why would Bonnie do that?"

Damon answered before Abby could ask what she meant. "BonBon had a bit of a rebellious streak. Those little crumb-snatchers are the result a brief fling."

"Fling?" Abby questioned.

The little girl turned her eyes on Damon and he tsked. "Don't even try it. Big, bad Silas is out to get you."

"Fuck him," the little boy declared. "You've been talking a lot of crap about my mom and especially taking crap shots at our dad. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous."

"Evan," the girl nudged her shoulder into his. He quieted down and crossed his arms over his chest. It was clear he wasn't done talking to Damon, but he put it aside.

"Bonnie didn't have a fling," Kat stated, glaring at Damon. She turned to the two Bennett women and held out her hand. "My name is Kat."

"Lucy."

"Abby. How do you know my daughter?"

"We're family. I've lived with them for years." Kat answered. "But why are you here?"

Lucy sighed. "I felt Bonnie for the first time in years a few days ago. I'd been trying to find her through locator spells but every time I tried, nothing. When I felt her magic, I tried again. Her last known location was here."

"But she isn't," Caroline said and sighed. "She left a few hours ago."

Abby deflated. Ten years since she had seen her daughter, and she finds everything but her. A house that was being lived in, people she'd never met. Grandchildren she never got to hold. Everything but the daughter she wanted to see. The daughter she shouldn't have left behind.

"When will she be back?"

The twins snapped their heads suddenly. A large portal opened, spitting something out. A woman with long red hair was hunched over, arms wrapped around someone else. Someone fighting to get out of her hold.

"Let me go!" Bonnie cried, shoving at Eva. Her eyes landed on the closing portal. She had to get back. She had help Dante. Eyes changing crimson, she shoved the angel off and rushed for the portal. It closed, causing her to skid to a stop.

"Mom!" Called the twins, rushing to wrap their arms around her. She hugged them back, pressing them closer to her.

It was Evan who spoke first. "What happened to dad and Uncle Vergil?"

"We got ambushed," Eva spoke. "We were doing so well, but it was getting too much. Dante didn't want Bonnie or I involved."

"That bastard!" Bonnie hissed, eyes still red. "I told him we would handle this together."

Caroline stepped forward, wanting to say something, when Elena spoke first.

"Bonnie, you are equals. He just wants to keep you safe."

"And I want to keep him safe," Bonnie snapped. Her children shared a look before they let her go.

"He'll be okay mom," Evan reassured. "He hasn't let us down once."

Bonnie sighed, ruffling her son's hair. Dante would be okay, she knew that in her heart. But she had vowed to stay by him. When that demon blindsided her, she hadn't expected to taken down so fast. It was a reminder that she was, even with magic, a human.

Dante knew it. He could take a few good beat downs before he was seriously hurt. But this was Hell, and she didn't trust to leave him with the likes of Vergil. He has already lied to them. She wouldn't have put it past him to stab her husband once they found their father.

"Bonnie," three different voices spoke at once. Bonnie turned, seeing that Eva had gone quiet, looking at the two women in the house. Lucy looked ready to cry at the sight of her cousin. But Abby was a sight for sore eyes.

Lucy was the first to react. She rushed forward, mindful of the kids and wrapped her cousin in a bear hug. "I missed you so much, cuz. I should have called you more."

Bonnie laughed. "You should have," she said to her cousin before looking back at her children. "You two go say hi to your grandmothers, and be nice about it Vera."

Her daughter stared with her mouth hanging. "Evan is worse."

"I'll behave," Evan grinned and rushed over to Eva while his sister hugged and walked over to Abby.

"Welcome to the family," they chorused.

"Grams," Evan greeted Eva.

"Grandmother," Vera said to Abby.