Tyler reclined against the headboard as he watched Bonnie change clothes. He was worried about her. Something had been on her mind since she arrived at the beach house. He had been tempted to ask what was wrong but decided to wait until they were alone. Fortunately, great minds think alike because after lunch Bonnie told Matt that he could knock off early. Matt was happy to have some free time to see Davina. Lately, he had not been able to spend much time with her because of their differing schedules. All of that would change once Bonnie moved into the beach house.

Bonnie's cashmere sweater and leather pants had been a cute ensemble for the doctor's appointment. However, she just wanted to be comfortable now. She could practically hear the fluffy king size bed calling her name. The hour-long nap on the ride to the beach house had been an unsatisfying tease. Bonnie planned to get a much longer nap after she talked to Tyler. She finished changing into a pair of black shorts and a tank top before joining him on the bed. Bonnie sat beside him in a modified lotus position as she pulled her braids into a ponytail.

He couldn't help but to smile as he watched Bonnie. She looked beautiful but also genuinely happy. Just a few months ago, Tyler had started to believe that he might never see his friend smile again. She had been miserable living in the Salvatore Manor. Sarah had been her only source of joy. He was eagerly awaiting Giuseppe's death because of what he did to Bonnie. However, the decrepit psychopath had unwittingly set all of this in motion. Tyler didn't know if Bonnie would have found the strength to leave that toxic family if not for Giuseppe's actions or Damon's inaction for that matter.

Bonnie stopped fidgeting with her hair and met Tyler's intense gaze. He had noticed her mood from the moment she stepped foot into the house. She wasn't really surprised because Tyler was hands down her best friend. It had been that way for as long as she could remember. Sometimes she missed the good old days when she, Tyler, and Stefan were the Three Musketeers. They gave the Manor's staff fits as they tore throw the old house like a trio of tornadoes. However, her friendship with both men began changing the moment that she married Damon. She had no doubt that Stefan loved her. He behaved as if she were truly his little sister.

Yet Bonnie never allowed herself to forget that Damon was his older brother. She knew from experience that blood always sided with blood. On the other hand, her relationship with Tyler had gone in the other direction. They grew closer as the walls of her prison rose higher. He became the one person in the world with whom she could share her sorrow. He was also the first person she thought of when anything good happened in her life. Tyler was the first person she told about her pregnancy. He had been happy for her despite how much he despised Damon. The unconditional love that Bonnie received from Tyler acted as a healing balm.

Tyler gazed into Bonnie's eyes with a worried expression. He found her hesitancy to be disconcerting. Bonnie never shied away from expressing herself with him. He always had her back and that would never change. Tyler reached out and smoothed a comforting hand down her bare arm. "Are you going to make me ask you?"

Bonnie sought out the Saint Christopher's medal around her neck. It had become something of a nervous tic. However, the simple action always seemed to reassure her. She shook her head. "No. I need to talk to you about something important but I am worried. I don't want to fight or argue with you, Ty."

Tyler moved closer to Bonnie and brushed his lips against hers. He wanted to say that he wasn't Damon. He wouldn't fly off the handle because they had differing opinions. However, he knew that it would be cruel to throw Bonnie's dysfunctional marriage in her face. He said, "Just talk to me, Bon. Whatever is going on, we will figure it out together. I promise that I will listen to what you have to say instead of just reacting."

In a few short months, Bonnie would fulfill her duty to the Benedetto and Salvatore families. She would give birth to a healthy son and daughter. Damon would have his male heir and she would have her freedom. Freedom was an abstract concept to Bonnie because she had never experienced it. Other people had been pulling her strings as if she were little more than a marionette her entire life. She recognized that her grandmother's intentions toward her were not malicious. Sheila only wanted to complete the machinations that her mother had begun decades ago. Suffering under the love of Giuseppe had only strengthened Sheila's resolve. Grinding him to dust and stealing his organization out from under his heirs was the only way she could achieve anything resembling remuneration. She had truly believed that Damon would grow into his role of husband. Sheila had faith in the boy that she helped raise. Perhaps he would become a better man with time but Bonnie was done waiting.

She intended to use her newfound freedom to go after what she wanted—Tyler Lockwood. Bonnie loved him and she knew that he felt the same about her. She knew that keeping the relationship a secret would be next to impossible. Damon hadn't been able to keep his affairs quiet because there were too many eyes on him. Bonnie would encounter the same problem. Tongues would wag and before long, Damon would be seething with rage. She had not forgotten when he threatened to slit the throat of any man that became her lover. He would lose his mind if that man turned out to be one of his subordinates. Therefore, she would have to construct a firewall around Tyler. She needed Damon to know that killing him would be met with swift action from her family.

While managing Damon was at the top of her list, she did have another pressing problem to address. Tyler was her best friend. She hoped that in time he would become her significant other. Unfortunately, he was also a member of her organization. The two friends were usually in lockstep with one another. However, she had no clue how to navigate the situation if they were at odds. In a normal relationship, there would be some sort of compromise. Bonnie would never pull rank on Tyler in their romantic relationship. However, sometimes compromises weren't possible when it came to matters of business. Bonnie was dealing with such a situation right now. She dreaded the idea of telling him about the new plan for Niklaus. Bonnie knew that he wouldn't agree to it straight away. He wanted to rip out Niklaus' throat.

"I have made a decision about how to proceed with Niklaus. I know that you want him dead or in prison but he is worth more to me on the street. I want to turn him into an asset for our organization. I have already spoken to my father. The details are still vague but essentially I will save Niklaus right before the feds swoop in for the bust. Before any of that happens, you are going to take a couple of guys and jump Klaus tomorrow night. I will lure him somewhere private. It won't be hard to convince him to meet with me. You can do whatever you want short of killing him," she explained.

Tyler took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. His initial impulse was to track Klaus down and blow his brains out. He didn't care about the fall out. He knew that death was a likely outcome when he became a made man. Death didn't scare him but losing Bonnie did.

Bonnie anxiously watched as Tyler mulled over everything. She could see the veins bulging in his neck. In a word, he was furious. She kept waiting for him to explode but it never came.

Tyler had been sitting beside Bonnie in complete silence for well over five minutes. He stopped himself every time that he considered responding to her. If he was being objective, Tyler could see how Niklaus was a chess piece better left on the board. However, he couldn't be objective in this situation because that animal had hurt Bonnie. He had hurt her in such a way that she hid it from him for years. After all this time, she still carried that pain around with her. She still had nightmares about what he did to her. A few years in prison wasn't nearly enough to absolve Klaus of his crimes but it was better than letting him roam free.

She took Tyler's hand cautiously as if she was afraid that he would pull away from her. She interlaced their fingers and said, "Talk to me, Ty. Tell me what you are thinking. Please…"

He hated hearing the quiver in her voice. Bonnie was obviously anticipating that he would push her away. He said, "I love you, Bonnie."

"I love you, too," she replied immediately.

"Let me finish, Bon…"

She nodded and tried to pull her hand away but Tyler held on tight. Bonnie looked down at their joined hands.

"I don't like this fucking idea. I think Klaus is a psychopath. No, a psychopath is too generous. He is a sexual predator and a psychopath that also happens to be obsessed with you. I think that you playing his savior is dangerous and reckless. What happens if he wants to be more than just your good friend and asset?"

Bonnie felt the venom in Tyler's words but she knew that they came from a place of concern. She hated that her pain was hurting the people that she loved. "I'm not a 16-year-old girl anymore, Ty. I'm not going to let him…"

"I'm not saying that you would, Bon. I am saying Klaus is violent and unpredictable. He is going to see this as a second chance to be with you. Your separation from Damon isn't what I would call a state secret. Word is getting around that you are staying with your mother. The chatter will only get louder once you have moved in here. Klaus can be charming. According to Vicki, girls love those fucking dimples of his. He is used to women falling all over themselves for him. He is going to believe that with a little time, effort, and charm that you will give him another shot. When that doesn't happen, he will turn on you because that is his nature. He is going to hurt you and then I am going to peel the skin off every inch of his fucking body! I get that you are the boss. I am not trying to disrespect your position. I just don't think being the boss means putting your safety on the line. Miss Sheila was a hell of a woman but she should have called the whole thing off the first time Giuseppe put his greasy fucking hands on her. Instead, she spent countless years fighting an asshole twice her size. I mean fucking hell, I will never get your screams out of my head when you called the night he pushed her through that glass door. You thought he had fucking killed her. You couldn't stop talking about the blood everywhere."

She thought about their 'reunion' at Elijah's house. Klaus had been incensed by her attempt to avoid him all evening. He was under the influence at the time but Bonnie believed drugs and alcohol only made you more yourself. It cleared away all of those pesky inhibitions that usually masked a person's worst impulses. Tyler was right to be concerned for her safety. Klaus was bound to lash out when he realized that she was never going to be with him. It occurred to her that perhaps there was a compromise to be had here. She had promised herself that she would be different than her grandmother was. Bonnie knew that sacrifices came with the territory but perhaps there was a way to get what she wanted without putting herself in the line of fire. She could take care of herself. She was always armed now and wouldn't hesitate to put Klaus down if he crossed the line with her again. However, she didn't need to put herself in that position.

Tyler relaxed when he saw that Bonnie was reevaluating the situation. Even if he was unable to change her mind, he felt justified in trying his best. He didn't envy her position. Bonnie was responsible for her family's legacy and success. She was responsible for the lives of the men and women that worked for her family. She was also responsible for the assets her family had cultivated over the years. Every decision she made had to be deliberate and conscious of the risks and consequences that everyone faced. He gently ran his thumb over her wrist. He needed her to know that he wasn't walking away if they disagreed about something.

It was Bonnie's turn to sit in quiet contemplation. Tyler had given her a lot to consider. She smiled to herself because this was the benefit of trusting someone implicitly. She probably would have disregarded someone else's concern. However, she knew that Tyler respected her position as boss. She had nothing to prove to him. Moreover, he knew just how terrible things had gotten between Sheila and Giuseppe. Not even Big John knew the kind of violence her grandmother had suffered over the years. Bonnie was willing to consider that perhaps she was playing this situation the wrong way. If she was, then perhaps there was a scenario that would satisfy them both. She was reminded of her great-grandparents and her great-great grandparents. Both couples were so successful because two heads were better than one. Sheila had been an amazing leader but she shouldered it all alone. Maybe she would have killed Giuseppe years ago if she had someone like Tyler in her corner.

Tyler was perfectly aware that dating the boss was a bad idea. He also knew that their romantic relationship might crash and burn. He didn't care. Neither of them would ever be able to move on until they investigated what was between them. A small part of them would always wonder what might have been.

Finally, Bonnie released Tyler's hand and straddled his lap. She took his face in both of her hands and kissed him urgently. The taste of BBQ sauce and rum lingered on his tongue as it slipped between her parted lips. Bonnie was grateful that they had found a way to talk about this without getting into a huge argument. She didn't have the energy to fight with Tyler. It would hurt too much. In hindsight, Bonnie realized that she should have never doubted him.

He slowly pulled away from the kiss and asked, "What was that for?"

"Thank you for being you and for loving and respecting me the way you do."

"How could I do anything else?' he asked seriously.

She shook her head. "I just appreciate it. I also realize that you may have a point about interacting so closely with Niklaus. I don't want to give him false hope. I don't want to be in a position where I have to kill him. There is no way to gauge the possible collateral damage."

Tyler rested his hands on Bonnie's hips as he looked into her green eyes. He said, "I like where this is headed so far."

She laughed softly. "Don't get too excited. I still intend to use Niklaus until he becomes useless or more trouble than he is worth. However, there is no reason that I should have to run point on this. I will still step in to save him from the DEA's sting, but I will make someone else his handler. I am thinking that you and Lucy would be the perfect tag team to keep Niklaus in line. In the beginning, I will accompany you both for meetings with him. Then as time goes on, I will slowly drop out of frame. I promise that I will never be alone with him again."

Tyler wasn't in love with the idea but it was a far cry better than her first plan. He and Lucy would be able to handle Klaus. Lucy was smart, pretty, and handy with a gun. Tyler could play the fool for Klaus. The bastard liked feeling superior to other people.

He asked, "Do I still get to kick the shit out of him tomorrow night?"

Bonnie nodded and toyed with the hair at the base of his skull. She smirked and replied, "Short of killing the son of a bitch, I don't care what you do to him. Just wear a mask. I doubt that he will want to work with one of the people that jumped him. Pride and all that..."

He snorted. "I am sure that Brady has a balaclava that I can borrow. He is going to be like a kid on Christmas morning when I tell him about tomorrow night. He hates Klaus."

She wasn't surprised that Tyler planned to take Brady with him. Uncle and nephew were incredibly close. Furthermore, Bonnie couldn't think of a person more qualified to throw an old school beat down. Brady was a skilled assassin for the family but he started out busting kneecaps and breaking arms. She said, "That seems to be a popular sentiment. People either love Niklaus or hate him. There is no middle ground with him."

"You can put me firmly in the hate column."

She said, "Yes, I got that impression. I am sorry that this is such short notice. I am going to let you choose the place. Just let me know before tomorrow evening so that I can get Klaus there on time."

Tyler was already running prospective locations through his mind. He knew all of the Bennett properties by heart. He wanted a place where no one would think of calling the police no matter what was seen or heard. His ultimate goal was to break one of Klaus' limbs. He didn't have a preference of which limb was broken but he wanted to leave the bastard with a reminder that wouldn't heal in a matter of days.

"Don't worry about it, Bon. I will figure something out by tonight," he promised.

"I am glad that is settled."

"Me, too," he replied.

Bonnie decided to take advantage of her position on Tyler's lap. She kissed him softly but it quickly grew more intense. She moved to kissing Tyler's neck. She had the urge to give leave a hickey on his neck, but knew that it was unwise.

Tyler closed his eyes and enjoyed the feeling of Bonnie's soft lips on his neck. He couldn't help but think that she smelled good enough to eat. She smelled like vanilla. "I really want to be a gentleman right now. I also really want to cop a feel."

Bonnie giggled softly as she grabbed Tyler's right hand and placed it on her butt. "Better?"

He squeezed her butt and said, "It's not exactly what I had in mind but I'm not about to look a gift horse in the mouth."

She stopped kissing his neck and lifted an eyebrow at him. "Am I the horse in this scenario?"

"Maybe but you are a sexy horse," he joked.

Bonnie pinched both of his nipples and twisted them.

He growled playfully but the move actually hurt. He said, "I'm sorry!"

She released his nipples and grinned. "That's better. Your game needs some serious fine-tuning. Comparing a woman to a horse is just not a good look, Ty."

Tyler flipped Bonnie onto her back carefully. He straddled her and slid his hands underneath her shirt. His fingers ghosted over her breasts. He asked, "Did you really just give me a purple nurple?"

She giggled and shook her head. She said, "No. It was just a little love pinch."

"Good because I would hate to have to return the favor," he teased.

Bonnie eyes went wide and her hands moved up to shield her nipples from his fingers. "Don't. They're already sore."

"Really?" he asked.

She nodded.

"I am sorry that they're hurting. Do you want me to kiss them better?"he asked with a smile that was downright lecherous.

Bonnie bit her lip and said, "I am sure that you don't have an ulterior motive at all."

Tyler feigned innocence as his fingers lightly grazed her nipples. "I just want to make you feel better, Bon."

She rolled her eyes and said, "Liar."

"Okay. I want you to feel better and I want to see you shirtless," he confessed.

Bonnie sat up just enough to pull off her tank top and moved to unhook her bra.

"May I?"

She rolled her eyes but let Tyler unhook her bra with a quick flick of his fingers. He had years of practice to perfect the move. She knew that he was quite proud of his skills. Bonnie was fully prepared to mock him but instead she let out a breathy moan as soon as his lips closed around her nipple.

The two friends had been making out like teenagers whenever they had time alone. However, it never seemed to be the right time or place to take it any further.

"Ty?"

He reluctantly pulled away from Bonnie's breasts. He looked up to meet her green eyes. "Yeah?"

"Sarah is probably going to spend Christmas night at the Manor with Damon. I was thinking that maybe you and I could spend the night together here," she suggested.

Tyler made a habit of staying late at Abby's house. However, he always left once Bonnie fell asleep. They couldn't risk anyone catching wind of their relationship just yet. "Sure."

Bonnie cleared her throat as she tried to figure out how to put her request into words. She was perfectly comfortable killing her enemies with her own two hands but she was at a loss when it came to discussing intimate matters.

"What's wrong, Bon?" he asked. Tyler lightly rubbed her hip.

She smiled a little. "Nothing is wrong. I want to have sex."

Tyler froze because her reply was unexpected. "Now?" he asked.

She laughed and said, "No, I don't mean now. I mean…I wouldn't say no to right now but…"

"You mean Sunday night when we are here alone?" he asked.

Bonnie groaned and asked, "Could I be more awkward about this?"

He chuckled and said, "Yes. We have had some very awkward moments."

She joined him in laughing. "We were kids then. It was supposed to be awkward and fumbling."

"I didn't fumble," he argued.

Bonnie shook her head with a mirthful smile. "You were just as nervous as I was."

"I was nervous because I thought your grams was going to catch me with my hand up her granddaughter's skirt," he replied.

She laughed softly. "Grams wouldn't have killed you. She loved you. They probably would have shipped you off to Milazzo for a few years."

Tyler rolled onto his back and said, "You're right. My old man and Miss Sheila would have found one of your pretty cousins for me to marry."

Bonnie rolled onto her side so that she could look at him. "Pretty?"

He grinned at the obvious jealous streak. He kissed her softly and said, "You come from a very attractive family. I haven't met a Benedetto woman that wasn't absolutely stunning. However, you are by far the most beautiful."

She sought out Tyler's hand and interlaced their fingers. "That's better than you calling me a horse."

Tyler chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

"So Sunday night…"

He said, "Sunday night I am going to cook a nice meal for you. We are going to listen to some music. Then we are going to make love for the first time in this very comfortable bed. Deal?"

"You don't have to make dinner for me."

Tyler stroked her cheek and said, "This isn't some one night stand, Bon. You are worth the wait and the effort."

Bonnie rested her forehead against his chest because her cheeks were burning. "Why do you say things like that?"

"I say it because you deserve to hear it. You should take a nap. You need to be rested before dinner tonight."

She studied his expression. "What's so special about dinner? I am just getting dinner with Sarah, my parents, and my siblings."

He groaned and said, "Abby is going to murder me if I ruin the surprise."

"Ty…."

"Your mom and Cesare rented out your favorite place for the evening. She's invited people she thinks are important to celebrate your pregnancy."

She groaned and dropped back on the bed. "How many people are we talking about?"

"I don't have any firm numbers but I know my family and Matt's family are invited."

"I told Mama that I didn't want a party," she argued uselessly.

Tyler said, "I know, Bon. Abby is just trying to be supportive. She doesn't want you to miss out on celebrating an important milestone just because your relationship with Damon is complicated."

Bonnie sighed but part of her appreciated Abby's meddling. She had felt as if her head was underwater from the moment Dr. Huerta confirmed the pregnancy. The risk factors for being underweight had sucked any joy out of the news. It only grew worse once Giuseppe attacked her while Damon was off with Katherine. She felt as if the universe was trying to stop her from carrying her pregnancy to term. Ensuring that she had a healthy pregnancy superseded any sort of enjoyment. However, things were calmer now and she was healthier. It couldn't hurt to celebrate just a little with the people that she loved. She trusted that Abby wouldn't invite anyone that would run back to Damon.

"Fine but I am having two desserts," she finally conceded.

He chuckled and pulled Bonnie into his arms. "I am sure that can be arranged. Abby is going all out for this evening. Now are you going to take a nap so that you are rested for tonight? Benedettos and Loiaconos know how to shut a place down when we are together."

She asked, "Are you going to stay with me?"

"Where the hell else would I go?" he asked. "Do you want to be the big spoon or the little spoon?"

Bonnie laughed quietly and said, "Little spoon."

They shifted around the bed until they were underneath the covers. He wrapped his arms around her and rested them on her stomach. "Is this okay?"

"Yeah. It's perfect."