Bonnie walked downstairs in search of coffee. The pot brewing in the kitchen was calling to her like a siren's song. She was going to need a few cups in order to be remotely cordial. The young witch was practically asleep on her feet but her house was already buzzing with activity. Her annoying relatives had started arriving shortly after 8 o'clock that morning. Unfortunately, Bonnie had only gotten four hours of sleep. She and Tyler had put that silencing spell to good use last night. They took all the tension and frustration from the day and converted it into spine-tingling sex.
Tyler had gotten dressed and left for a run about an hour ago. Bonnie had teased her mate because he was frustratingly chipper that morning. However, Tyler being part-vampire meant he didn't really need much sleep. Four hours of rest was more than enough to satisfy his wolf-side. Bonnie was determined to sneak in a nap later. She would certainly need one after dealing with Klaus and her relatives. The elders of the Bennett bloodline had postponed the seance until today. As Lucy had predicted, they refused to hold the seance at the Mikaelson Mansion. After many hours of arguing, everyone agreed that the seance would take place at the cemetery.
Joanna smiled when Bonnie walked into the kitchen. She was one of a handful of Bennett witches that had stayed the night. She wanted to be close to her daughter and granddaughter in case the Mikaelsons tried anything. "Good morning. I hope you are hungry."
Bonnie was always hungry now that she was a hybrid. She smiled and asked, "Is there enough for me?"
"I went shopping this morning so that you wouldn't be eaten out of house and home. We cooked enough for everyone to eat their fill. We have a long day ahead of us. Get yourself a plate, Bonnie," Joanna replied.
Bonnie grabbed a paper plate and walked over to the island. It had been turned into a makeshift buffet. She put a couple pancakes on her plate with bacon, scrambled eggs, and fruit salad. Then she walked over to the coffee maker.
Della was sitting in the breakfast nook with a plate in front of her. She said, "That's not decaf, dear heart."
Bonnie filled her favorite mug with coffee. She added sugar and too much milk. Bonnie shrugged and replied, "I don't mind. I have never really liked decaf."
The older woman chuckled and said, "I don't blame you on that but caffeine isn't good for pregnant women."
Bonnie froze when Della mentioned her pregnancy. First, Bonnie wondered how her great-aunt knew something that she had been trying to keep a secret. Second, she realized that Della was right about drinking caffeine.
Lucy rolled her eyes as she walked into the kitchen. "You can drink caffeine but only in small amounts. One cup filled with milk won't hurt anything."
Della frowned at her niece, she obviously didn't agree with her assessment.
Joanna could tell that her sister was about to launch into a lecture. Lucy and Della had a contentious relationship, but they loved each other. Della did not have the same history with Bonnie. Joanna didn't want to risk alienating the girl. Lucy had told her how hurt and angry Bonnie had been yesterday. Joanna hoped that she could mend some of those broken bridges today.
She said, "Lucy is right, Della. A little caffeine isn't any cause for concern. I'll pick up some decaf later. I will need to go shopping for dinner."
Della's face looked as if she had sucked an entire lemon. However, she relented after seeing the warning look she received from Joanna. Bonnie was their great-niece and undeniably the most powerful witch in their family. The girl had untapped power that she had no idea how to use. Yesterday, their unkind treatment had convinced Bonnie that she needed a filthy beast like Klaus Mikaelson to teach her about witchcraft. Fortunately, the fight over the seance's location had prevented her from signing the magic bound contract.
Della waved a hand and said, "These doctors change their minds about everything."
Lucy was pleasantly surprised by Della's behavior. She assumed that they had her mother to thank for the abrupt about-face. She looked at Bonnie. "Besides, your little one is going to be very hearty. Trust me. My pregnancy wasn't what I would call normal."
Bonnie still looked unsure about drinking the coffee. She was suddenly very aware of everything she didn't know about pregnancy. She knew the basics because, much to her father's chagrin, she had taken a health class in the tenth grade. They had learned about reproduction and watched the Miracle of Life video. Bonnie remembered being incredibly freaked out by the whole thing.
Lucy gave her cousin a worried look. "Bonnie?"
She snapped out of her thoughts and offered a sheepish grin. "Sorry. What was your pregnancy like?"
Lucy said, "Well, I was a hormonal mess for most of the pregnancy. But I definitely enjoyed the boost in my powers."
Bonnie sat down across from Della and asked, "Boost in your powers? Is that normal?"
Lucy had already eaten but she joined Bonnie at the breakfast nook. "Yes and no. Most witches experience some change to their magic while pregnant but this was different. In the later stages of my pregnancy, I could feel Mari's magic all the time."
"It is an awesome feeling, isn't it? I felt my baby's magic for the first time a few days ago. It was such a strange feeling but also really comforting. It's how I realized that I was pregnant."
All three women looked at Bonnie with varying degrees of shock.
She stopped chewing and swallowed her food. "Did I say something wrong?"
Della asked, "You can already sense your child's magic?"
Bonnie nodded slowly and took a sip of coffee. "Yeah…"
Della and Joanna exchange looks.
"Is that wrong?" Bonnie asked again. Their loaded looks made her feel anxious.
Joanna shook her head. "No, it's not wrong, dear heart. It is just very early. I thought you said that Tyler bit you a little over a week ago."
Bonnie said, "It's been closer to two weeks ago at this point."
Della was quiet as she thought of a tactful way to ask her great-niece a personal question. Finally, she placed a hand atop Bonnie's hand and asked, "Is it possible that Tyler isn't the father of your child?"
Bonnie was visibly wounded by the question. She quickly withdrew her hand from Della's grasp and replied, "I don't make a habit of sleeping around. Tyler is the only man I have been with since I was resurrected."
Joanna winced because she understood what her sister was trying to determine. However, the execution had been uncharacteristically clumsy. Della was known for being blunt and straightforward. In short, Della was often rude and her family just dealt with it. She said, "Della isn't accusing you of being promiscuous, Bonnie. Normally, a witch can sense when there is new life growing within her body very early in a pregnancy. However, feeling the child's magic usually happens around the beginning of the third trimester. Sometimes a witch does not sense the child's magic at all. It is either because the child doesn't possess magic or it will develop later in life."
Bonnie settled down once she understood the reasoning behind Della's question. She shook her head. "I am certain that Tyler is the father of my baby. I am also certain that I felt his or her magic. I can always feel it now."
Joanna looked pointedly at her older sister. She had warned her against underestimating Bonnie's power. The girl had faced off against The Originals and Silas. Somehow she was still alive. Joanna refused to believe that was down to dumb luck. In fact, she only died because the spirits decided to teach her a lesson about preserving the balance. Bonnie was definitely more powerful than Amelia had been. It was significant because their mother had been the most powerful witch in their bloodline since Emily.
Bonnie was becoming more agitated by the moment. She stood up and said, "I have to run a few errands. I will be at the cemetery in time for the seance."
Joanna said, "You haven't even finished your breakfast."
"I've lost my appetite," she replied neutrally.
Lucy rolled her eyes in exasperation. She said, "Don't leave, Bonnie. We're family. If there are grievances, then we should get them out in the open."
Della said, "You young people are so dramatic. We were only trying to offer you some guidance that you are so obviously lacking. I still can't believe that you were considering asking that monster to instruct you. If your grandmother were alive..."
Joanna should have expected Della to react this way but it couldn't have come at a worse time.
Bonnie's eyes went gold and black because she had reached her limit. She practically growled at her great-aunts, "I'm not the one that has a problem here. You all have been looking down your noses at me from the moment you set foot in this house-my house. I am trying to be respectful because my Grams was your sister but my patience is wearing thin. I am tired of being blamed for something that isn't my fault. You're hybrids now. Get over it or find a way to bind your wolf side...I really don't care what any of you do. I just want to deal with the travelers so that you all can go back to pretending I don't exist. Frankly, I wouldn't mind handling the travelers alone if it meant all of you would leave sooner. Wouldn't be the first time I've faced certain death alone."
Joanna scowled at her sister. She could feel Bonnie's magic building as she became angrier. The girl was powerful but obviously did not have precise control.
Suddenly all the cabinets and drawers in the kitchen opened simultaneously.
Bonnie looked shocked as she glanced around the kitchen. She didn't need anyone to tell her that she was responsible.
Joanna said, "Bonnie, Della is rough around the edges but she doesn't mean any harm."
"I want you all out of my house after the seance."
Bonnie stormed upstairs to get her purse. She needed to get away from her family before she did more than randomly open doors.
She opened the front door and nearly ran into Abby.
Abby said, "Bonnie…"
The girl shook her head. "Nope!"
"What?" Abby asked in confusion.
Bonnie walked around Abby and went straight to her car. She climbed inside and sped away from house without looking back.
At first, Bonnie didn't know where she was headed. She just needed to get away from her relatives. She couldn't even wrap her mind around Abby's sudden appearance.
Bonnie was a few blocks away from her house when her phone started ringing. She was tempted the throw it out the window. However, a quick peek at the screen changed her mind.
She pulled off the road and answered Tyler's call. "Hey…"
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Bonnie couldn't imagine what he was sensing through the bond right now. She said, "I am okay. I just got into an argument with my family. I might have kicked them out of my house."
Tyler paused before he asked, "Did you kick them out?"
She sighed deeply, "Yes, I told them to clear out after the seance. I am sure Grams is really proud of me right now. She didn't raise me to act this way."
"You are probably the kindest person I know, Bon. If you kicked them out your house, then I know you had a good reason."
"You put too much faith in me. I am not nearly as nice as you seem to think," she argued with a small frown.
"You kept saving everyone, even when we didn't appreciate all your sacrifices. I don't think anyone can blame you for asserting yourself now. People can't just walk all over you. They're lucky that your wolf didn't make an appearance."
Bonnie bit her lip. She knew that Tyler had a point. Before she died, Bonnie would have put up with Della's disdain without complaint. "Where are you now? I stormed out the house with nowhere to go. I'm just sitting in my car now."
He said, "I am near the falls. Do you want to meet there?"
"Are you almost done with your run?"
Tyler still had a mile to go but he could tell that Bonnie needed him. He said, "I was on my way back to your house."
"That feels less than honest but I really need you right now," she replied sheepishly.
He chuckled quietly. "It's fine. I'll feel better when I can put my arms around you. I'll meet you at the falls, Bon."
"Okay. I'll be there in a few minutes," she agreed.
Bonnie disconnected the call and then got back onto the road. She already felt better after just talking to Tyler for a few minutes. He was her family now. She didn't need the Bennett witches.
She sighed deeply because even her internal thoughts were petulant. Bonnie felt embarrassed by her behavior. In hindsight, she should have expressed herself without so much anger. Unfortunately, she felt incredibly emotional and didn't know how to tamp it down. Bonnie was used to being rejected and neglected, but her wolf side was reacting to being rejected by her kin.
A few minutes later, she parked on the side of the road near the falls. She turned off the engine and grabbed her phone. Bonnie needed a break from everyone, but her family and friends needed to be able to reach her. The travelers could strike at any moment and she needed to prepared.
She climbed out the car and started walking through the woods. Bonnie didn't know if Tyler was there yet but she didn't see a reason to wait on him. He would find her at the falls whenever he arrived.
Bonnie walked until she reached the falls. She sat on a felled log and took of her shoes and socks. Then she stripped down to her panties and bra.
She slowly walked into the water and drew in a deep breath. The water was frigid but Bonnie didn't care. This was the calmest she had felt in days. Bonnie walked farther away from the shore until that water was up to her waist.
The girl drew in an even deeper breath and then ducked under the water. She would pay later for getting her curls wet but this was more important. When Bonnie resurfaced, she began swimming towards the falls. She had only made the lengthy swim once and Tyler had been with her at the time. Bonnie didn't need a swim buddy now that she knew her body could survive the strain.
Bonnie knew that it wasn't wise to ignore her negative emotions. She didn't want to lose control of her wolf side at an inopportune time. She would never forgive herself for physically injuring someone that had merely hurt her feelings. Bonnie wasn't capable of a full shift because she was pregnant, but she was still strong enough to seriously hurt someone. Moreover, she was still able to partially shift. Her fingers elongated into claws and her canines became more pronounced. Both physical traits could prove lethal in a fight.
The new hybrid decided the best solution was to integrate her two sides. She was a witch and a wolf. Bonnie didn't want those two sides jockeying for control within her. She wanted both sides to be in harmony. Ansel promised that she would be stronger that way. Bonnie knew that the connection to nature was what united the witch and wolf sides. The girl closed her eyes as she propelled her lithe body through the water. Then Bonnie relinquished the tight control that she always maintained.
Tyler arrived late because Ruby had called him about a pack issue. Dakota and her aunt, Tina, decided it was better if they left the pack. Tyler really wasn't surprised by the their decision. Bonnie had humiliated Dakota in front of the pack. She was far too vain to weather that embarrassment long term. Tyler felt guilty because he was glad that they were leaving the pack. He didn't want anyone causing friction in his relationship with Bonnie.
The hybrid's pace slowed as he approached the falls. His senses reacted to the fog of magic permeating the air. He could instantly tell that it was Bonnie's magic. Tyler growled quietly as he fought the urge to shift. Her magic was calling to his wolf side and he was having a hard time resisting.
"What the hell are you doing, Bon?" he muttered to himself.
Tyler growled again and then used his vampire speed to run to the falls. He was expecting to find Bonnie, but only her clothes and phone remained on the shore. He toed off his shoes and socks. Then he undressed until only his boxers remained. He walked to the edge of the lake and waded into the water. He had no choice but to catch up with Bonnie. Tyler was grateful that he was faster than she was.
Once Tyler began swimming towards the falls, he realized that the water felt different. Bonnie's magic was mingling with the water. He pushed his body to glide through the water faster than he normally did. He was worried that Bonnie would overexert her magic and start feeling fatigued. Getting tired in the middle of a lake was a dangerous prospect even for a hybrid.
As he drew closer to his mate, he could hear her limbs moving against the water. He plunged deeper into the lake's murky depths. When Tyler resurfaced, he was directly in Bonnie's path.
Bonnie had heard Tyler when he got closer to her. However, she had lost track of him for a time. She was startled when he appeared in front of her. Her head popped out of the water. She gasped, "Ty!"
Tyler chuckled at the surprised look on her face. He swam closer and pecked her lips. "I'll always be faster."
She rolled her eyes at him. "It wasn't meant to be a race."
"You could have fooled me. What made you swim all the way out here without me?"
"I just needed to blow off some steam. I was so angry...I kinda wanted to destroy something," she explained sheepishly. She felt guilty because Tyler was obviously worried about her.
He smiled at her. "You could have leveled a few trees. I doubt that anyone would have noticed or complained...except for the little woodland creatures that you love so much."
Bonnie huffed out a laugh. "I didn't want to give into the destructive side, Ty. I was worried…"
"...that you might not be able to stop?"
She nodded. Bonnie felt better having Tyler with her. She knew that he wouldn't judge her.
Tyler pulled Bonnie into a hug and kissed the top of her head. "What exactly happened this morning?"
She bit her lip. "I feel ridiculous now. Maybe I overreacted."
"You might have overreacted in the moment. We're werewolves and flying off the handle is kinda our thing," he retorted.
Bonnie bit back a smile.
Tyler kissed her softly. "Tell me…"
"I guess the morning got off on the wrong foot when we started talking about pregnancies," she recounted.