A/N: So, I've become quite fond of this, so I'm going to continue it. This time I listened to the song Ours by Taylor Swift.
"So, where exactly are we going?" Bonnie asked, gaining herself a fair bit of nervousness after the glare of Caroline's head lights had abandoned her completely. She wasn't completely immune to the fact that Kol hadn't said a word since their arrival on the bridge nearly an hour prior.
"Arlington." He answered, never letting his eyes waiver from the spot on the ground direictly in front of his feet.
Bonnie suddenly felt the need to laugh, "Seriously; I thought you said we were getting out of dodge. And we're not even going to leave Virginia?"
"All in good time. There is something that I wish to show you, though. In order to do so, we have to be there before the sun comes up, and we'll have to run, so you should probably hop on." Kol suggested, pausing for a second, crouching a fraction of an inch.
"What? " Bonnie backed up a few paces, "You think I'm really just going to hop on. Hate to burst your bubble, but I barely trust you as it is. I'm not just going to get on your back!"
"I was afraid you might say that." His emotions were impossible to read in the pitch black woods, but something had changed in his voice, so she really was only caught slightly off guard when he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her on to his back and almost before her brain could process what was happening, they were running at vampire speed through the woods, and her arms were wrapped tightly around his shoulders.
Nearly an hour later, Bonnie heard a whisper of, "We're here." As she was set back on the ground, to the dismay of her own let, which were shaking underneath of her, after having not supported her weight for that amount of time. After getting a grip about herself, she noticed exactly where they were, "Arlington Cemetery." She gasped, as she took a look around. They were already inside the gates, which were locked with a heavy duty, rustic-looking lock and key. Bonnie would only assume that Kol had jumped the fence, "Why are we here?" she asked, nervously, "The guards will see us, Kol."
"They've been compelled for a long while now. They won't even notice we're here. It'll be fine. I want to show you something."
Bonnie and Kol walked for a long while among the tiny head stones, until Kol came to a screeching halt. Bonnie could have swore she nearly saw a tear in his eye. He knelt before one of the small head stones, wiping some of the debris away from it, "Who is this?" she asked, kneeling on the ground beside him.
Kol remained silent for a while, until he got his grips about him. When he finally spoke, Bonnie could hear his voice cracking, "This is my weakness." He whispered, "My grandson. Well, not really my grandson, but there are an innumerable amount of 'greats' in front of it, that I've chosen to abandon."
"You had a child." Bonnie whispered in disbelief.
"And a wife, Corinne." Kol added, his eyes glazing over, as if trying to recall some long-forgotten memory, "but when our mother changed us, I had to leave it all behind. I had to give up my family for a life of running." He looked regretfully down at the stone once more; a dingy reminder of a life that once was, "You know it's funny," his voice suddenly turned dark, "I remember how humiliated I was when I learned that my wife had bore me a daughter. We had been planning for a son. I told her, when the girl was born, I had no desire to know her. Now, I'd give anything to go back in time, take that child in my arms, and hold on for dear life. The last time I saw them was the week of my transition. Corinne was at the market place, and she had her tiny child in one arm against her chest. It was just a fleeting glance, but I remembered it well. That was the last time I saw either of them.
"Elijah knew of my remorse. He was the one person I went to, to talk. He is a very righteous man, as you well know. He keeps secrets well. Without my brother, I wouldn't have learned my daughter's name."
"What was her name?" Bonnie asked, subconsciously imagining a girl with Kol's eyes and her hair running wild. She quickly shook the thought away, not entirely sure where it had even come from in the first place.
"Her name was Emry." He took a moment to pause and compose himself before continuing, "I tried to forget my family. After several centuries, I had come to the conclusion that my bloodline had died out and my family had been exterminated. I was certain it had to be by Niklaus's hand. He has ways of finding weaknesses and manipulating them.
"I never knew Gregory." He croaked, motioning to the stone in front of him, "He was born long after my brother had locked me in that coffin. Some of the Bennett witches kept an eye on him, though. They let Elijah know of him and Elijah told me. That's how I learned of this place to begin with."
Without giving her actions a second thought, Bonnie asked, "Why are you showing me this?" granted, it was very touching to see one of the scariest beings to walk the planet crumble, but on another hand, it just made him that much more confusing and difficult for her to figure out.
"I am telling you this, because in the bar I told that our families knew each other, and they did. Your ancestor, Ayanna, followed my daughter for nearly five decades, ensuring that my bloodline continued. The Bennett witches have a long history of protecting our secrets and I feel as if I should finally pay them back."
"So, that's what you're doing by smuggling me out of Mystic Falls. You're doing Ayanna a favor?"
"Well, yes, that, and there is always the fact that I'd like to get to know you. You fascinate me. You seem so strong, but every now and again, you seem to falter. It's intriguing."
"My weaknesses intrigue you?" she asked in a half-hearted tone.
"Well, seeing as you've become one of mine, I'd like to know what some of yours are."
"We'll have to wait until I trust you a little bit more, before I start spilling my guts." Bonnie commented, looking off into the horizon, "The sun is coming up. Do you think we should get going?"
"I suppose." He whispered, standing and wiping the grass from his khakis.
Kol quickly made his way towards the exit, but Bonnie put a hand out to stop him, "Wait," she called, "I'd like to try something." Kol stood over her, watching as she closed her eyes and held her hand out over the headstone. In an instant a veil of flowers lay in front of the grave, as if appearing out of midair.
"Thank you." He whispered, the tone of his voice one of shocked disbelief.
"Now everyone knows a loved one has been to see him." The term loved one clearly made Kol uncomfortable. It was clear he hadn't been 'loved' by anyone in centuries, "What do we do now?" Bonnie asked, once they were out of the cemetery and staring back and the huge metal gate.
"Now, we leave and we don't look back." He whispered, grasping for her hand as they walked down the sidewalk once more to go hail a morning cab.
They stopped later on that afternoon at a hole-in-the-wall diner called Happy Days. It was a typical burger joint with one single pool table, and a few bar stools and chairs, none of which matched each other. After ordering a burger for herself and for Kol, who had never been formally introduced to the idea of ordering at a counter, she stalked over to pool table with Kol tight on her heels, "I bet you've never seen this before." She chuckled, wracking.
"I can't say I have." He said, looking absolutely befuddled.
"It's easy just watch me. I'll go first." Bonnie broke, but suddenly felt embarrassment at her lack of skill. Not a single ball hit a pocket. Her ears grew bright red, which didn't go unnoticed by Kol, who burst out laughing at the redness of her features, "Here, you try." She laughed, shoving the stick into his grasp, "And pretty much do the exact opposite of what I just did."
The game went on for only several moments. It was practically over before it started. As soon as Kol even took the stick from her hand, she knew she had lost. In the midst of the happy daze they were both in, they could barely focus in on the voice that said, "Fancy seeing you here, Brother."
They both whirled, and there, standing in the doorway, in one of his typical prim-and-proper, suit-and-tie outfits, stood Elijah Smith-Michaelson, "What are you doing here?" Kol snarled.
"I suppose I could ask you the same question. And fraternizing with a Bennett witch? I'm afraid I expected more from you, Kol."
"Um- there was no fraternizing…"Bonnie started, but she was silenced by Kol, who took a step in front of her.
"Why are you here?" Kol ordered, "Were you looking for me? Did Klaus send you to put another dagger in my heart? I know how fickle you can be. What did he offer you this time, because you know it worked out so well before."
"Actually, as thrilling as that would be for everyone involved, I'm afraid I come searching for something much more self-serving."
"Out with it, then." Kol barked.
"I come seeking safety. As you well know, Esther is still out there somewhere, hell bent on killing us all, and Klaus has gone off on a little killing spree of his own. I heard from the blond that talks too much- Caroline, I believe is her name- that you had left with Bonnie. And naturally, I knew exactly where I would find you." Elijah emitted a very desperate feeling. He held it together on the outside, but Bonnie could tell something was very much amiss.
"No, no way. The last time I tried to compromise with you, you put a dagger in my heart. You're Klaus's lap dog. And that is all you will ever be."
"I can get you in contact with other witches- stronger witches." Elijah offered, sending a half-apologetic look in Bonnie's direction. She didn't need it though. She knew he was right.
"See, but the problem is that I no longer trust you, Elijah." Kol scowled, "You a scheming liar. Why should I believe anything you say?"
"Because I have the little blond menace out in my car waiting for you to join us." Elijah smirked. He knew that would catch Bonnie fancy.
"You brought Caroline with you?" Bonnie asked in disbelief, "Why isn't she back in Mystic Falls? Did you compel her?" fury began to bubble up inside of her, and Kol held a hand to her forearm to keep her from charging forward.
"Quite the opposite, actually. She came to the house last night, and practically rammed the door down, yelling some nonsense about the witch running off with my…horny…brother. Naturally, I became curious, so I knew I road trip was in order."
Without a pause, Bonnie tore past both men and ran out into the parking lot, where Caroline stood outside of Elijah's car. She had the look of impatience on her face, just like always, and Bonnie flew down the parking lot to meet her friend in a tight embrace, "What are you doing here?" she asked in disbelief.
"You really thought I was going to let you go out and see the world without me?" she chuckled, "I knew that none of us were going to make it out of that town alive, so I did what I saw was best."
"You mean getting a car with one of the people who once spear-headed a plot to kill Elena?" Bonnie laughed heartily.
"No, you were right, Bonnie. It doesn't have to be all Elena, all the time. This is me taking my life into my own hands. I knew I couldn't abandon my best friend."
"Caroline, you know we made a really big mistake ever getting involved in any of this." Bonnie laughed, shaking her head at the ridiculousness of the situation they had gotten themselves into.
"Yeah, I know." She laughed along with Bonnie and they made their way back into the diner.
"Speaking of involved," Bonnie stopped cold, a cheeky grin across her lips, "Looks like you've got your own horny Original now."
"Oh, don't be so judgy." Caroline choked. She looked like a deer in headlights, which only made Bonnie cackle harder.
"Any chance you're good at pool?" Bonnie asked hopelessly, "I kind of decided I would teach Kol and as it turns out, he's a fairly fast learner."
Bonnie was determined to have some normality in her life. If it was only for a fleeting second. She didn't want to talk about the murderous mother and the cold-blooded, younger brother. She just wanted to sit in the diner and play pool, pick up around six and keep on running. That was all she could see in her future from now on was running, so why not enjoy a little bit of freedom while she had it?
A/N: So, there you have it. Chapter tres. Yeah, this one was fun, with the reintroduction of Caroline and the introduction of Elijah. Needless to say there will be more of them in later chapters. If there is anything that anyone wants to see as this story evolves, feel free to PM me, or leave a comment if you're feeling bold. I will try to incorporate everyone's ideas, because I am a writer FOR THE PEOPLE! I thank you all in advance for your reviews! xMags