Bonnie was minutes away from falling asleep in the backseat of Damon's car. They had been waiting in the parking lot of this warehouse for the last hour. Earlier, she had received a call from Joshua Parker. The leader of the Gemini Coven assured Bonnie that he would arrive at 10 o'clock sharp. She didn't why the arrival had been delayed and Joshua wasn't responding to her messages. The young witch could not help but wonder if this was a petty reprisal. Bonnie knew that the older man couldn't be eager to work with her. He certainly wasn't fond of Damon and Tyler.

It had been three days since the meeting at Klaus' house and they were no closer to a solution. They were monitoring the travelers and protecting the veil from tampering. Her family had also been contacting other covens about Ansel and Ayana's idea for a supernatural council. There had been a surprising amount of interest, especially among younger witches. The benefits of emerging from the shadows were almost as numerous as the threats. However, the sticking point continued to be Klaus' role as leader. Many wouldn't even consider a scenario where he was a figurehead. They didn't trust the original hybrid and Bonnie couldn't fault them for that.

Things were not going as well with the werewolves. Tyler's beta, Gabe, had been reaching out to Alphas all over the world. He had encountered many packs during his travels. Meanwhile, Cary reached out to other members of their bloodline to gauge their responses. The werewolves were concerned about agreeing to any part of the idea. As a group that had already faced near extinction, they were not eager to put themselves at risk again. They were also not interested in working with Klaus under any circumstances. However, perhaps the largest stumbling block was getting them to believe that this vision of the future was factual. Werewolves were made of magic but didn't have a strong relationship with it. Therefore, they were skeptical of premonitions.

On the vampire front, it would take months to accumulate the amount of blood necessary to conduct the summoning spells. In the meantime, they were contacting vampires the old-fashioned way. It was a bit like a game of telephone. They were contacting vampires that they knew and telling them to pass on the information. Thus far the vampires had been a bit of a mixed bag. The older vampires that Klaus and Elijah managed to contact were interested in this new version of the world. However, some of the younger vampires thought it would be better to just kill the humans instead of trying to integrate themselves into society.

Bonnie wished that Tyler had been able to join this meeting. She was starting to miss him and the scent on her borrowed sweatshirt was starting to fade. However, Tyler was accompanying Lucy and Joanna to a truckstop about an hour away from Mystic Falls. She was grateful that Tyler and Maddox were there to keep her cousin and aunt safe. Freeing Yanko had proven to be a wise decision. He had found a traveler couple that weren't in love with Markos' plan. Julian and Maria knew of other travelers that were just as skeptical about lowering the veil. Bonnie only hoped that the couple could be convinced to join them.

Damon's bored voice cut into Bonnie's thoughts. He said, "I'm beginning to think that we've been stood up, witchy."

She stifled a yawn and muttered, "You might be right about that. I'm not sure if that's bad news or terrible news."

The vampire hummed in agreement. It would be bad news if Parker decided to abandon the plan for securing the veil without a word of warning. However, it would be terrible news if someone else had delayed his arrival. The anchor falling into the hands of the travelers would prove catastrophic. Damon was only mildly optimistic because the man was a bonafide control freak. There was no way that Joshua would transport the anchor across country without adequate security. He opted to believe that the bastard was just running late and did not feel compelled to warn them. It wasn't as if there was any love lost between them. Damon had nearly killed Joshua the last time they crossed paths in Oregon. The Gemini Coven's leader had to be 'convinced' to help Bonnie.

Bonnie scrambled over the seat and plopped down beside Damon. She said, "I don't know what time Tyler is coming back tonight. Do you mind if I stay at the boarding house?"

He nodded. "You know that you don't have to ask, Bon-Bon."

She smiled and shrugged. "Well, your house is a little crowded these days I didn't want to assume."

The boarding house wasn't crowded by traditional standards. However, the house had more occupants that it normally did. Caroline and Sarah were living there full-time now. Elodie and one of her daughters were crashing there as well. Elodie kept odd hours as they worked to keep the travelers at bay. However, she shared Damon's bed most nights. The vampire was grateful for her presence. Elodie provided a tantalizing distraction from all the angst that would normally drive him insane. Damon enjoyed the simplicity of their relationship. They had been friends with benefits since the 1930's. Elodie knew Damon better than most and only demanded respect from him. It was the reason they had been estranged until recently.

"Not so crowded that you can't spend the night, witchy. We can watch Magnum PI," he suggested.

She laughed and asked, "Do you spend all your money on bourbon and DVDs of classic TV shows?"

"And clothes...don't forget the clothes," he said with a smirk.

Bonnie rolled her eyes in exasperation. However, she had to admit that Damon's wardrobe was impressive. She asked, "How are things going with Sarah?"

Damon's cocky smirk tightened. He glanced up at the night sky and said, "She seems eager to learn self-defense. It seems like she wants to stick around."

"And you don't want that?" Bonnie asked curiously.

He groaned. "I was angry at Stefan for hiding Sarah from me but it was the right decision. I'm not a danger to her now...I wouldn't kill my niece. But that doesn't mean that she won't die because of me. Maybe Stefan was right to protect from everything that comes with being related to us."

Bonnie poked his arm. "Sarah is old enough to decide what she wants. And she wants to be with her family. I don't think there is anything wrong with that, Damon. Maybe our lives are dangerous but humans die everyday in fires, car crashes, and household accidents. No one is ever truly safe. I think Sarah is in the safest place that she could possibly be now. She's with her uncles that can be completely terrifying and brutally lethal when someone crosses them. Besides, Ty and I will help keep her safe."

He chuckled wryly. "You're signing your boyfriend up for bodyguard detail?"

Bonnie looked a little chagrined. Then she shrugged innocently. "If I'm protecting Sarah, then Tyler will want to help. If only to keep me safe."

He nodded in agreement because Bonnie had a point. Begrudgingly, he said, "Thank you."

"You're welcome. What do you think of her so far?"

He frowned. "She's...my niece."

The witch rolled her eyes. "Come on, Damon. You must have an opinion about Sarah. You have an opinion about everyone and everything. She seems sweet...like Stefan."

Damon snorted. He settled on, "She's interesting. Definitely, not what I would have expected from someone with Zach's boring genes."

"Have you talked to her about...what you did?" Bonnie asked.

He noted that Bonnie kept her voice soft as she asked such a blunt question. Damon shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He said, "We haven't discussed it in any detail. But Sarah did say that Enzo told her the truth. She knows that I killed Gail and Zach."

Bonnie had overheard part of that conversation a couple days ago. Damon had offered Sarah a free shot at killing him for revenge. She asked, "You haven't talked to her about it again?"

"What else would I say? An apology would be useless and largely insincere," he replied.

"I don't believe that. You regret killing Gail. I know you well enough to know that, Damon."

Damon frowned at the witch. "Gail isn't the first woman I killed and she won't be the last. I never really regretted killing her. I did regret killing the baby she carried...that child was my blood. Now I know that I didn't do that."

"Suddenly, your conscience is clear? I don't believe that for a moment."

Damon was grateful when a large white panel van pulled into the parking lot. He could see Joshua sitting in the driver's seat. He said, "Looks like we weren't stood up, witchy."

Bonnie chuckled and said, "We are going to finish this conversation later, Damon. You aren't getting off the hook that easy."

He smirked and then climbed out the car. He walked over to the van to greet the older witch. He grumbled, "You're late."

Josh crossed to Damon and scowled at the vampire. He could think of few people in the world that he wanted to work with less than Damon Salvatore. However, the Bennett witches were not the only ones that received dream warnings from their ancestors. Witches all over the world were on high alert.

He replied, "We ran into some difficulties."

Bonnie said, "Thank you for making the trip, Mr. Parker. I know you must be exhausted from the cross country drive."

Josh relaxed minisculely after Bonnie spoke. He had not enjoyed being coerced and threatened into helping her. However, he did not regret freeing the girl from her role as the anchor. Frankly, he couldn't believe that a fellow witch would do something so cruel to his or her descendant. It made him wonder if Qetsiyah had always been cruel or if years on the Other Side had changed her.

"Thank you for your concern, Miss Bennett. However, we all have a part to play in this grand scheme."

She said, "You mentioned running into some difficulties on your way here. I hope it wasn't anything too serious."

Damon looked amused by the whole exchange. Bonnie annoyed him at times but she had a way of putting people at ease. It was one of the reasons Damon had always respected the judgy little witch even when they were supposedly enemies.

Luke joined the group and frowned deeply. He explained, "A group of travelers tried to ambush us about an hour away from here. It was a messy fight that ended with a few casualties. It is lucky that we weren't traveling alone. We had a car that was traveling about a mile ahead of our position. We also had a second van trailing us to offer support."

Bonnie was immediately concerned by Luke's tale. In a grave voice, she said, "We've been monitoring Markos' group. They are staying in a couple RV parks all over Virginia. We haven't received reports of anyone leaving."

Damon's blue eyes narrowed. He took out his phone. "I'll call Wolf Boy to get an update."

She nodded and offered him a grateful smile. There was a chance that the travelers responsible for the attack were never at one of the RV parks. There was also a chance that one of the surveillance teams had been identified and eliminated by the travelers.

Bonnie cleared her throat. "I am afraid your troubles on the road have to change things a bit. Leaving the anchor here is too dangerous. My coven and my mate's pack are already spread thin. We've been surveilling the RV parks and protecting the veil."

Joshua said, "Our coven will be joining us within the hour. The anchor will have protection 24/7."

She was relieved to learn that the rest of the Gemini Coven would be joining Joshua. They were so close to the finish line. They couldn't afford to lose the anchor now. She asked, "Do you need help moving the anchor into the storage unit?"

The older man didn't know how long it would take for the rest of his coven to arrive. He nodded. "Yes, I could use the help. The four of us should be able to carry the casket with some effort.

Bonnie said, "I'll get Damon."

She jogged across the parking lot. She lifted an eyebrow and motioned to the phone. "Did you learn anything?"

He nodded. "Two members of Tyler's pack missed their scheduled check in. He thinks the tralvers are responsible now that I've told him about what happened to the Gemini Coven."

Bonnie knew that it had to be serious if Damon offered his reply without a jest at Tyler's expense. She asked, "Does he need our help?"

Damon said, "He's put me on hold."

She nodded and said, "We need to move the anchor into the storage unit. We're sitting ducks out here."

He frowned and ended the call with Tyler. The teen would call back when he had an update on his missing pack members. In the meantime, they had more important things to do. The anchor falling into the travelers' hands wasn't the only risk they faced. None of them would be happy to see the creature sealed in that casket free. The old woman was one of the oldest witches/vampires in the known world. She had been under the radar for centuries until two years ago. Suddenly, she came out of hiding and started killing witches. The Gemini Coven captured the witch and wanted to put her in a prison world. Fortunately, Damon had shown up in the nick of time. He forced Joshua to use the hybrid witch as the anchor.

Damon grunted as he pushed away from his Camaro. He said, "Let's go move a dessicated witch."

Bonnie sat on the couch with Amelia's grimoire spread across her lap. She was looking for a spell or ritual that would help them out of a sticky situation. Bonnie was also waiting for Tyler to come home. A few hours ago, they learned that two members of his pack had been attacked by travelers. However, the travelers had not killed Derek and Bobby. The travelers had used some foul spell to force the werewolves into shifting without the aid of the full moon. The two men were still alive but seemed unable to shift again. Joanna theorized that the men were trapped as wolves until the next full moon.

Tyler had spent a great deal of time chasing the disoriented members of his pack through the woods. Bonnie regretted that she had not been with him this evening. She could feel his distress and guilt even with miles separating them. She wanted nothing more than to comfort her mate in his time of need. Bonnie knew that Tyler was blaming himself for sending members of his pack into danger. Bonnie was grateful that Lucy and Joanna had been with her mate this evening. They offered him a form of support and comfort that she couldn't from so far away. Moreover, her cousin and aunt put the werewolves under a sleeping spell. They were headed back to Mystic Falls now.

Tyler planned to keep Derek and Bobby safe and comfortable in Bonnie's basement. It was the best option until she found a solution. Unfortunately, she had not found anything the would help their cause. She hoped that Lucy and Aunt Joanna would have some suggestions. Despite an inauspicious start with her extended family, she was glad to have their experience and wisdom. Bonnie was particularly interested in learning from Lucy and Joanna. The two witches had used dark magic and blood magic to hex Klaus. Bonnie had never heard of such an unholy mixture before and yet she had witnessed the potency of the hex. They understood magic on an elemental level. It was more than Bonnie could aspire to if she could only learn from the written words of her long dead ancestors.

Nyx leaped onto the couch and meowed plaintively. Her mismatched eyes looked toward the large bay window.

Bonnie was startled by Nyx's sudden appearance. The loud meow struck some chord deep within the witch. She might have ignored the strange behavior from another cat. However, Drusilla had confirmed that Nyx was her familiar. The creature was imbued with Bennett magic and would protect Bonnie to the best of her ability. If Nyx was behaving odd then she would heed it. She slowly placed the grimoire on the coffee table and closed her eyes. Bonnie allowed her enhanced senses to take over in an attempt to detect some unseen threat. She had been so focused on the grimoire that everything else had faded to the background. In hindsight, she realized that had been foolish of her. Bonnie was home alone with only Mari and Nyx for company.

She gave an audible sniff and realized there was a werewolf outside her home. The scent did not belong to her mate despite it seeming somewhat familiar to her.

She thought of her infant cousin sleeping peacefully upstairs. She looked at Nyx and whispered, "Go look after Mari."

The cat blinked before leaping off the couch obediently.

Bonnie slowly made her way to the front door and peered out the glass panels. Her eyes narrowed at the large werewolf on her porch. She hissed in annoyance and opened the door to glare at him. She asked, "Do you know what time it is?"

The large wolf looked up at Bonnie with something close to a grin. He peered around her pointedly.

She said, "Lucy isn't here if that's why you've turned up at this hour. We've had an issue with the travelers."

Klaus' amusement died down at the mention of the travelers and his mate. He growled to express his displeasure at not being informed sooner.

"She's safe, Uncle Klaus. They are driving back now," Bonnie replied in an effort calm him.

It wouldn't be good for an angry Klaus to roam of the streets of Mystic Falls. He was unpredictable at the best of times. Bonnie couldn't begin to guess how he would behave after spending so much time as a wolf.

The wolf tilted his head when Bonnie called him 'Uncle Klaus'. He looked past her again and let out a sharp howl.

Bonnie lifted an eyebrow at his behavior. "I don't care if you look adorable as a wolf, I will never invite you into my home. But I assume you'd like to be able to change forms so that we can talk. Meet me around back."

Klaus seemed to hesitate for a moment before trotting down the stairs.

She slipped into the house and locked the door. Afterwards, she walked to the living room to retrieve a fleece blanket from the couch and the baby monitor. Then she went out onto the deck.

Klaus was already waiting for Bonnie.

She tossed the blanket in front of him and then turned her back. "Go ahead and change. I could do without seeing your dangly bits again, Uncle Klaus."

The Original Hybrid's bones shifted into place quickly and then he moved to stand at his human height. He picked up the offered blanket and wrapped it around his waist. "Uncle Klaus, is it?"

Bonnie stayed looking at the backdoor unsure if he had made use of the blanket yet. She wasn't even sure if Klaus would use the blanket. He seemed unsettlingly comfortable with his nudity. She shrugged, "That's what you are. I figured I'd try it on for size."

Klaus chuckled. "And how do you find it, little witch?"

"Depends? Does it annoy you?" she asked with a small smirk.

"No, should it?" he asked with a smirk of his own.

"Are you decent?" she asked with a huff.

Klaus laughed heartily at her question. "Oh, I haven't been decent in years, niece. But it is safe for you to turn around now. My nudity will not offend your delicate sensibilities."

The girl turned around and rolled her eyes at Klaus. She didn't appreciate him mocking her. "Why are you here?"

"That's not any way you greet your beloved uncle," he scolded her in a mocking voice.

Bonnie huffed because he had taken all the fun out of calling him 'Uncle Klaus'. "Pardon me. Dearest Uncle, to what do I owe your most welcome visit to my humble abode?"

Klaus threw his head back and gave a boisterous laugh. He sat down on wrought iron bench and said, "I think I like you better as a hybrid. The wolf in you is showing...I think. I am here to speak to you about Ansel's plan."

Bonnie leaned against the deck's railing. She was surprised by Klaus' genuine laughter. She had only heard it when he was mocking someone or making some cruel reference. She asked, "Has it changed in some way?"

He shook his head. "No, but I think perhaps it should. I have given some thought to the implications of me as the head of the council. It cannot happen. If we press the issue, the council will be dead before it even begins. Few would submit to me willing. I would have to commit increasingly gruesome acts of violence to bring everyone to heel...we'd be all the weaker for it. Moreover, I would not make more enemies when I now have one daughter and another yet to be born."

Bonnie was actually relieved to hear Klaus say as much. She had never taken him to be unintelligent. However, he was frustratingly arrogant. Some part of Bonnie could even understand his arrogance. How must it feel to be at the very top of the food chain? That sort of power could corrupt many people. One only had to look at human politicians to see the truth in that. Yet they did not possess even a fraction of the power contained within the original hybrid.

She declared, "Then you are here with another proposal. Is there someone that you would nominate to the position?"

He nodded.

Bonnie sneered, "I will never support your brother."

Klaus lifted an eyebrow upon seeing the witch's hackles raised at the mere thought of his brother. He had warned Elijah earlier to be wary of the the girl. Klaus would issue the same warning when he returned home. The girl would find some way to extract her pound of flesh from Elijah. He could see her determination clearly now.

"I would not come here to suggest my brother after what happened at the cemetery. I know you will not support him and it seems that the Bennett witches will follow your lead. No, the name I came here to propose is yours, niece," he said with a wry smile.

Bonnie's mouth opened in surprise. She shook her head. "You think that I should lead the council? Who would follow me?"

"I cannot tell if you are fishing for compliments or if you are serious," he said with narrowed eyes.

She rolled her eyes and said, "I do not fish for compliments. I certainly wouldn't want them from you. I am being serious. Who would join the council if a teenage witch was the leader? I'm not even old enough to drink yet."

Klaus waved a hand dismissively. "That is only an issue here in the very puritanical United States. Eighteen is the legal age to drink in most of Europe and South America. Age is hardly a good gauge for maturity. Moreover, power is more important in this situation. I can think of few more powerful than you are. You could be even more powerful if only you had a qualified teacher."

She could scarcely believe that Klaus was being serious. However, it didn't seem to be a joke. She asked, "And you would be my teacher?"

"I offered my services once. Later, you came to ask for those services. You can ask Lucy about my methods. I am an extraordinary teacher."

Bonnie wrinkled her nose. "I don't know if I want all the lessons that you taught her, Uncle Klaus."

Klaus chuckled and said, "Touche, but I was talking about my methods in the classroom."

She considered his offer. "Do you want to be my teacher or do you want me to be your puppet?"

He smirked at the girl's clever mind. "I doubt that anyone could make you their puppet-truly. However, I would like to enjoy some influence with the head of the council."

Bonnie's frown deepened. "You are mated to my cousin and fathered her child. You are my uncle and I am unfortunately fond of your wolfside. How much influence do you need?"

"My relationship with Lucy is more likely to draw your ire. We are not exactly a match made. Case in point, she hexed me one day and has been in my bed every day since."

She made a disgusted face. "That was way too TMI but I get your point. Lucy is hot tempered and is almost as mercurial as you are."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Bonnie shook her head in exasperation. "You really shouldn't."