Thank you all so much. I'm so glad you liked the last one. It's my personal favorite and I'm definitely toying with the idea of using it as a starting point for something else... Anyways.

Juno, your comment before made me curious, about what this couple means to you personally... (but don't worry, no need to elaborate...)

A little fluff coming up...

They spent the next days laying down somewhere or other, mostly with their limbs entangled, their fingers entwined, or tracing each other's bodies.

It was intimate, sensual, passionate; it was cozy and felt reassuring, safe… Had it not been for varying degrees of pain, it would have been perfect.

As it was, Bonnie's flu was slowly ebbing away, and Enzo's broken skin and bones looked a little less gruesome with every new day, but they were both still not feeling exactly back to normal by the time the inevitable was more than just looming.

Enzo needed to go back to give Alexandria the locket.

He hadn't even noticed how torn up his shoulder still was, his neck, until he finally put some clothes back on after having spent two days mostly wearing nothing but a blanket - and a bandage…

It hurt to move his arm, it hurt to pull the fabric of his shirt over his head and try to get his arms into the sleeves. He hissed in pain, then gritted his teeth when he quickly got his left arm through the sleeve. The worst was over, he thought.

But it also hurt to bend down to put on some fresh boxers and a pair of pants. And gosh, did it hurt to try and put on some socks.

He gave up on that last one, it wasn't worth it. He'd just have to wear his shoes without socks. Nobody would notice. Nobody would care.

"You're not seriously going without socks, Enzo."

He looked up with a grimace and a grin, using his hands and arms to get enough leverage to get back off the edge of the bed he'd sat on.

"As a matter of fact I just decided that that's exactly what I am gonna do," he said and smiled at Bonnie.

With her arms on her hips in an exasperated stance, and a pout on her lips, she looked overwhelmingly adorable. With nothing on but her wide gray t-shirt that fell off one shoulder and allowed him a good view of the beginnings of her breasts, she looked hot. He cocked his head, taking her in. "You're gorgeous, love. I already regret having to do this, but it's time to bring this piece of metal to my dear 'cousin'," he said the last word mockingly, and rolled his eyes, never taking them off of her.

"And you were planning on doing that without socks." A statement. A glare.

He sighed. He'd hoped she'd let it go. "Not exactly 'planned', love, but yes, I was going to go without socks. Does it matter? I doubt the Armory will have a problem with me not wearing any. In fact, I doubt they'll even notice," he gave her a pointed look, "it's not like they care much about me to begin with, and they don't have any secret tests or security personnel that will not allow you in if you don't adhere to their dress code. So," he got up and slowly walked over to her, gently pulling her close to him, "as reluctant as I am, this is goodbye for now. I'll miss you, Bonnie Bennett…"

She was looking up at him, she was a good bit shorter than he was, and he could tell that she was balancing on her tip toes. Her frown still lined her forehead, but she gave him a kiss anyways, then pulled away from him a little. He eyed her warily. If he was being honest with himself - which he tried to avoid, there was still a part of him that couldn't believe any of this was true. He knew what kind of person she was and that she wasn't one to play with him and toss him away, but the scars on his soul were there and even if he knew all that, he was still guarded, he hadn't completely torn down his barriers, even with her.

He wasn't ready yet.

But all she did was lay a hand against his cheek and shake her head. "It's below freezing out there, Lorenzo St. John," she reminded him. "And I know you like to pretend you're strong and independent. But every once in a while it's really okay to accept some help, even if it's just with a stupid pair of socks."

He tried to grin, but grimaced. "You just can't let it go, Bonnie Bennett, can you?" He knocked against her head gently, but making a point nonetheless. "It's eating you up in there. That I didn't put socks on…"

She glared at him again and he laughed. He saw her frown dissolve and make room for a new expression, one he wasn't sure he'd seen before. It was his turn to frown, confused. "What?" he asked, feeling awkward. Like he hadn't caught on to something rather obvious.

Bonnie's free hand touched his neck carefully, very close to his injury, yet far enough away to not cause him additional pain. The light movement of her fingers was a soft caress that made him tingle.

"You have the most beautiful laugh, Enzo," she whispered, "I don't think I've ever heard you laugh. Really truly laugh. From the heart. Like you just did now," she told him, an awe in her eyes that made him feel slightly awkward, and very much like the luckiest person in the whole world, "I hope I'll hear more of it…"

He smiled down on her, then kissed her, soft skin against soft skin.

"And now let me help you put these on already!" she suddenly commanded, pointing at the obnoxious socks and he threw his head back in a show of annoyance and defeat and said, "Alright. If it makes you feel better."

"It does," she smiled. "I can't stand the thought of your feet all cold and frozen while you're out there dealing with lockets and remote cousins and shady people."

She gave his hand a squeeze, reassuring, then got down on her knees. "Let's do it," she said, sock in hand, and he leaned forward suddenly, pulling her with him despite the screaming protests of his body and said, "One last time before I really have to go…"

She giggled only momentarily, before committing herself to something else entirely, taking off the clothes he'd so painfully put on just minutes before...

…

Hours later, he stood in front of Alex St. John, the woman that shared his last name and that couldn't have been a bigger disappointment to someone like him, who'd desperately wanted nothing but a family of his own. He clenched his teeth, fighting those thoughts.

His bare feet were like ice in his shoes.

He closed his eyes briefly, trying to concentrate on Bonnie rather than on Alex; the memory of Bonnie's body moving lithely on top of his, making both of them forget everything around them, including their pain. Including the socks.

"Took you long enough," Alex was saying. He felt her scrutinizing gaze on him. He was quite certain that she'd caught on to the fact that he'd gotten hurt during his hunt for the locket, and he could tell she was contemplating on how best to bring it up.

"Here you have it," he tossed her the small object, which she caught easily, "If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way now." He shot her a glance, then turned around on the spot, starting to swagger back to the door.

"Wait." He stopped without turning back around. He inclined his head the smallest bit to show that he was listening to whatever she had to say.

"What happened out there? Did they get to you?"

"Who."

"You know who." She sounded annoyed, but he wanted her to acknowledge it. To say it. "The werewolves," she allowed, her voice quieter now.

"Just a scratch," he said, smiling to himself.

"Not a bite then? Because if you got bitten, you'll need the antidote, you know that. Let's take a look and patch you up-"

He turned around abruptly, hands raised slightly. "I appreciate the concern, Alex," he spat her name out like a swear word, "but I'm fine. No thanks to you, might I add. Now let me go, if you need me for another treasure hunt, you know how to reach me." He waved at her, a cocky gesture, and he saw her features scrunch up into an angry expression.

"I could lock you up, Enzo-"

"I don't think so."

"Who helped you? Was it the werewolf witch?"

He grinned at her, but didn't grace her with a reply. She could fish in the dark for however long she wanted.

"It was the Bennett witch." Alex concluded and he had to give everything to not slip up now, no flinch, no wrong huff or scoff or too rash movement of his body, or flicker of his lids. And especially not a word. She'd be able to see through him if he so much as showed a single reaction. So he remained completely frozen.

Just like his feet.

He thought of ice. Snow. Cold… he remembered experiments long past. Standing naked in a freezer, his blood frozen inside of him. And then… thawing.

"You may go now. I'll call you." Alexandria's words jolted him back from wherever he'd just gone. He blinked, nothing more, then finally walked out the door.

He had no idea whether she had tried to ask him any more questions, for suddenly there had only been ice.

…

When he got back to the cabin, morning was already dawning. He knew he probably shouldn't have come back there so quickly. But he'd made sure his car wasn't bugged and he'd switched to another one again anyways. A habit he'd gotten into to protect Bonnie.

She was probably still asleep and he didn't want to wake her so he briefly thought of waiting in the car, but then he noticed a small light come on inside and he sighed. He'd woken her up.

The door opened at the same time he got out of the car. He leaned against it briefly, closing the door that way and looking at her.

She was an apparition. The light of the cabin gave her a halo, and even from a distance he could see the spark in her eyes, the sheen of her beautiful soft skin. He remembered what it felt like.

"You're early," she said, walking toward him.

"I'm late." He was by her side before she could take another breath. He swooped her up and carried her all the way back into the cabin.

"You forgot your socks after all," she mumbled between kisses and he shushed her. His hands were already wandering down her body, his mind busy with shedding clothes rather than putting them on.

He kissed her, nibbled on her neck without grazing her skin, and he felt himself stiffen when she made the smallest moaning sound.

"You're so cold," she muttered, worry stealing itself into her voice, but he just murmured against her skin, "Don't talk, love…"

And she didn't. She just let him have his way with her, let him trace his way down her body, his lips, his tongue caressing her, until…

He found the perfect spot and he felt her arch her back to meet him.

And soon after there was only heat, and sweat, and salt. And their writhing bodies shining in the fire burning in the fireplace...