Having dispatched Stefan upstairs to wrap the rest of the gifts, Bonnie and Rebekah set about peeling apples for the pie.

The blond vampire had calmed down some and they worked together in companionable silence. Bonnie wiped her hands on the borrowed apron and twisted her hair off her neck into a bun, causing her earrings to catch the light and attract Rebekah's eye.

"Those are pretty. Did Nik get them for you?"

"He did, for my birthday," Bonnie gave a small laugh, "I think they cost more than my old car. I've told him not to buy me super expensive gifts but…,"

"He keeps doing it anyway? My brother's always been so insecure when he really cares about something, or someone."

Bonnie kept her gaze on the apple she was peeling so Rebekah wouldn't notice the flush along her cheeks or the flicker of interest in her eyes, "Did he tell you that?"

"Bonnie, I've known him for centuries, literally, and I've never seen him this way. It's like he's a new person…," she lifted her head, pausing in the middle of mixing butter and flour for the pie dough, "…no, it's like he's the Niklaus he used to be, before Henrik died."

Bonnie couldn't suppress the smile that widened across her face, "You think so?"

"I know so. I don't know how you've managed to make him see the light, but it gives me hope. It gives us all hope."

They exchanged glances and Bonnie felt a genuine rush of affection for this centuries-old Original who was, after everything, still a trusting girl at heart.

"You give me hope too, after all this time you're still kind and loving. I respect that. And I know Stefan values it."

It was Rebekah's turn to smile and blush, "He doesn't even mind when I get shouty. Sometimes I feel so happy I think it's dream, that I'll wake up in a coffin somewhere with a dagger through my heart."

Rebekah yelped when Bonnie used magic to send a quick stab of pain through her foream, and the witch grinned, "See? you're not dreaming."

Stefan was instantly in the kitchen, a piece of duct tape stuck to his hair, expression concerned, "What happened? I heard a noise."

"Bonnie and I were just talking," Rebekah leaned over and kissed his cheek, prompting Stefan to pull her into his arms in a flurry of flour-dust.

"About?"

"How happy I am," she kissed him on the mouth this time, and Bonnie averted her eyes from the increasingly passionate PDA.

"Stefan if you must grope our sister could you at least have the decency to keep it behind closed doors?" Elijah's suave voice followed him and Klaus into the kitchen.

Stefan and Rebekah reluctantly moved apart, with Rebekah making a jab about her "prudish" elder brother which caused Elijah to threaten to regale her with his "adventures" in Paris upon which Rebekah made a grossed-out face and returned to kneading pie crust.

Klaus set his bag down on the counter and came up behind Bonnie as she sliced into the last apple, wrapping his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck. The cold tip of his nose caused her to jump, nipping her finger on the blade.

"Tsk tsk," Klaus affected, picking up her hand, "how very remiss of me." As he sucked the drop of blood on her finger, his half-lidded eyes grew dark with a promise of Later, more, and Bonnie felt a shiver go through as she remembered the feel of his mouth on the curve of her neck, the inside of her thigh, her shoulder…

"Nik, leave her alone, we have to finish cooking."

He sighed against Bonnie hand, "She's right, Klaus," she smiled, "We'll be finished soon."

"Very well," he acquiesced, "I suppose I should go ensure Elijah and Stefan aren't setting the tree on fire."

He dropped a quick kiss on her knuckles and sauntered out of the kitchen, leaving Bonnie to subdue the tremors of desire running down her back and legs.