A/N: Oh my goodness, this one is a bit longer than usual. I couldn't stop myself once again. If you guys have any thoughts you want to share, don't be afraid of leaving a review. I always appreciate them. I want to know that everything makes sense for those who are reading this.

I loved writing this one. I finally got to where I want this story to be. And Bonnie isn't gonna be so depressed anymore. Hint hint, read title lol. Anyways, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own TVD.

Way Back Home

Kol had whisked Bonnie and himself to the first spot he could think of- which happened to be a crowded nightclub. People were parting in clusters when they noticed a chest hovering midair.

"Kol?! What the hell?"

He looked sheepish. "Sorry darling. Just one moment."

He then took them to an appropriate place, a vacant forest.

Bonnie put the chest down and faced him.

"Why do you think Silas was there?"

"Beats me." He was furrowing his brows.

"I can't believe this." She started mumbling to herself. "And why was he imitating Stefan?" She sounded so disbelieving.

"Let's just be glad he didn't manage to take it from us. Not that he could actually harm us, but you never know."

"You're pretty confident that he wanted the talisman?" she asked quietly.

"I have no doubt of it." His face was somber. Seeing Kol worried was only increasing her own anxiety. Initially, he had been all about joviality and sarcastic comments, but the more she got to know him, the more he revealed- which was a much more serious personality than she would ever have thought. Being thrown into such a situation with Bonnie, he was forced to be more honest than usual. For some odd reason, Bonnie felt relieved at the thought.

"Kol?"

He looked closely at her. "Yeah?"

"What are we gonna do?" She was reeking of unease.

"Exactly what we planned." He answered quickly. His voice was brash. "We'll give the talisman to your boy Jeremy and hopefully all this magical juju will work and we'll be good as new."

Bonnie smiled faintly.

Seeing Silas had brought back all of her old fears, her feelings of uncertainty and lack of confidence.

At least they had their plan.

When Kazima had revealed that there was a talisman, she had also given them instructions on how to use it. Once the object was found, it had to be given to someone living, in order for Bonnie and Kol to be tethered to the living world. None of it required spirit magic. And Bonnie assumed that meant expression, which Bonnie was really dreading if that was the case.

Kol's laugh brought her out of her thoughts.

"We should probably check that it's in there in the first place."

Bonnie let out a shaky laugh. "Yeah that's probably important."

There was no lock on the chest. Only a small knob.

Bonnie only had to hover her hand close to the opening and it promptly burst open.

She let out a small gasp.

It was a crystal. And it was glowing. Like emitting actual rays of light.

No wonder Bonnie had felt such a strong pull towards it. The thing was practically pulsing with life.

She picked it up. It was surprisingly light.

"It's pretty amazing, isn't it?" she was looking at it with wonder. "How much power is in this one little thing."

Kol was looking at her face. "Uh, sure. Listen we'd better get out of here, we're only a couple hundred miles away from those mountains." He nodded at the crystal. "Having that object along is making transportation a lot more difficult."

Bonnie was amazed that they could even teleport with it at all, considering it was a real world object and ghosts normally couldn't touch anything. Whatever Kazima had done, she had given some sort of magic to Bonnie. How that was even possible was mind-boggling. There was definitely more to this witch than met the eye.

Bonnie reluctantly put the crystal back in the chest. She picked it up and Kol took them to a very familiar looking forest.

"Are we in Mystic Falls?" she asked him.

He nodded. "Well, this is where he'll be, yeah?"

"I guess. I mean, I haven't seen any of them since I died. I haven't really-"

"Wanted to." He gazed at her seriously. "I get it, sort of. I didn't exactly linger around watching my family when the veil went back up."

It could be tough being a ghost. It was funny that she and Kol both had that in common- the whole avoidance issue. Most ghosts wanted to be around their loved ones and hold onto it, but they both did the opposite; they wanted to escape the pain of watching everyone move on.

Which reminded her.

"Before we do anything, there's something I have to do." She lowered the chest to the ground beside a tree.

"Alright, but make it snappy witch. The longer we wait, the more risk involved."

She nodded jerkily. "I won't be long. Just stay here. And don't let it out of your sight."

His tone was sardonic."You think I'm gonna take a stroll-"

He broke off when she suddenly disappeared.

Bloody witches.

It was in a small cabin that Bonnie found Sheila.

She came across her grandmother sitting in a kitchen chair.

Before Bonnie was even in her line of vision Sheila spoke.

"I know why you're here," She drawled. Sheila swiveled her head around to gaze at Bonnie. "You came to say goodbye." She looked wistful.

Bonnie stared. "How did you-"

"You think I don't know my own granddaughter? You're the most caring person I know. Tenacious as well. If there was a way to help your friends I knew you would find it."

"I'm sorry Grams."

"Don't be sorry. I'm glad you're going back." Her face turned regretful. "You were too young to die as it was. I'm just afraid for you is all. Afraid you're gonna end up back here even worse. That you're gonna regret everything you're about to do."

She added, "There will be consequences Bonnie. You may not see it now, but nothing good can come with messing with Nature. You've seen that already, but this is different. I can feel it."

Bonnie felt a trickle of fear go through her. She really hoped her grandmother was wrong this time. Couldn't anything go smoothly? Bonnie had the sudden urge to ask Grams to go with her, but she already knew the answer. Grams was at home here. She didn't need to be alive to be content. After what she just said, she knew Grams wouldn't be comfortable going against the balance. She was on her own. In some ways anyway. She still had Kol. For now.

Grams stood up and Bonnie rushed to her in an embrace. She could feel her heart breaking. Bonnie couldn't help but believe that she was abandoning her.

Sheila murmured, "Don't worry Bonnie. I'll see you again. We always do, remember?"

Bonnie nodded and gave a weak smile.

Sheila let her go. Bonnie turned to leave but Sheila's voice stopped her.

"Please be careful. And don't trust any witches. The ones in our group were truthful, but believe me, there are those that are shady and underhanded. I know you haven't come across that many in your young life but I knew quite a few when I was alive, and they weren't a good sort."

"I'll be careful Grams."

"Good."

Kol didn't question where she was when she arrived back. He seemed to know that she wanted to keep it private and she was grateful for that.

She once again heaved the chest in her arms. And Kol deftly took them to Jeremy.

...

Bonnie felt bad for surprising Jeremy. She hadn't intended on scaring him but it really couldn't be helped.

Kol hadn't given her any warning that they were immediately going into his bedroom.

The first thing she realized was that it was a completely different house, which made sense considering the Gilbert home had burnt down. She almost forgot about that.

The jolt from teleporting combined with the shock of seeing Jeremy sit at his computer desk had caused Bonnie to drop the chest.

Jeremy jumped from the sudden noise. He turned around rapidly and made a loud exclamation as he tumbled from the sight in front of him.

"What-?! Bonnie?" He started shouting more expletives before he registered Kol standing behind her. "You! What the hell are you doing here? Get out-" Jeremy then dashed over to Bonnie to grab her. Of course he couldn't actually pull her away from Kol so he settled for quickly hugging her and standing between her and Kol.

"If you hurt her or-"

"Oh please. Spare us the juvenile heroics," Kol mocked loudly.

"Kol!" Bonnie glared at him.

Bonnie tried to placate Jeremy. She put her hands on his upper arms."Jer, just calm down. Everything's okay. He's good." She said while gesturing to Kol.

"Good?! He tried to kill me Bonnie-" Jeremy's expression was of disbelief.

"Yeah if you hadn't killed me first, boy-" Kol was practically growling.

"In self defense-!" Jeremy retorted.

"Oh don't play that with me. You wanted to kill my sire line to finish that stupid hunter's mark. Great idea, by the way, it really worked out well for you-"

"Stop it!" Bonnie shouted out.

They both turned and looked at her.

Bonnie took a deep breath. She turned to Jeremy. "Listen, sorry about the shocker. But we need your help-"

Jeremy interrupted her, "Where have you been? You could've visited me anytime and instead you're hanging around him. He's a monster-"

"For fuck's sakes-" Bonnie slightly cringed, she wasn't used to a lot of swearing from Kol, with the exception of bloody which he seemed overly fond of. "-this is no time to be moping around because she didn't visit you for tea. We've had a lot more going on than your angsty return to the living."

"Oh I can't wait to hear this. You..." Bonnie tuned them out. They weren't getting anywhere. She could still hear them trading insults back and forth. She went up to the chest and deftly picked it up.

She then slammed it loudly on the floor. Bonnie then looked down at it. I really hope I didn't break it.

The ear-piercing slam caused the two of them to stare at her.

"Now, if the two of you are finished acting like pansy little girls we have shit to get done."

Jeremy sighed. "You better hope my neighbours didn't hear that. We're in a townhouse now."

"Well if they did, you can just tell them that everything's fine," Kol answered easily.

"I doubt it," Jeremy mumbled. "They seem to think I'm suicidal or something-"

"Gee I wonder why." Kol said sarcastically.

Jeremy glared at him and opened his mouth to retort something.

Bonnie cut him off before he could say anything.

"Jeremy." She said loudly. "There is some really important we have to tell you. So you're going to want to listen to me." His attention was back on Bonnie.

"The first thing being-," she paused for a second, "-we need your help to bring us back."

Jeremy stared at her. "You mean back back? Like alive back?"

Bonnie smiled. "Yeah that kind of back."

Jeremy laughed and forgot all about his earlier anger. He clasped his hands together. "Tell me what to do."

Although Jeremy seemed reluctant to bring Kol back, Bonnie insisted that it was either both of them are nothing. Kol had grinned widely at that comment. He was also amused when Bonnie made sure that he was invited in, so that when (not if) he was a vampire again, he wouldn't be in some awful agony by being in the house. Kol then huffed when Bonnie made him promise not to kill Jeremy or Elena. Jeremy had smirked at him after Kol grudgingly swore that he wouldn't.

Bonnie told Jeremy that his role in this was vital. Not only because he was a medium, but because he had spent a lengthy period of time on the Other Side- creating an essential connection to Bonnie and Kol. Any other medium wouldn't be as effective.

Bonnie hadn't really understood the magical aspect of it because part of it, she suspected, had to do with the magical properties that Kazima had bestowed in her. Kazima had also been extremely vague when it came to that. As long as it worked, she guessed it didn't really matter.

Bonnie was feeling anxious ten-fold. What if it didn't work? Bonnie tried to comfort herself by knowing that Grams was still back there, but it didn't seem to help. She wanted this so desperately.

They decided that they would do this in the kitchen. Bonnie had spent enough time in forests lately that she wanted to do this indoors. The location didn't matter anyways since they had Jeremy and the talisman. Spirits weren't going to be involved in this.

Jeremy had informed them that no one would be visiting unexpectedly. Elena and Damon had gone on some kind of road trip for a few days. There were so many things that Bonnie wanted to ask him right now. But then she thought, later.

They were now sitting at the kitchen table.

Jeremy asked, "So, how does this work exactly? Do you guys just hold onto me and I mentally bring you back?" He sounded uncertain.

Bonnie answered softly. "From what she said, it sounds like we just have to be physically touching, and I'll be doing all the work. You just have to clear your mind and hold onto this." She pulled out the crystal and handed it to him. It seemed to brighten even further when it touched his skin.

Here we go.

Bonnie recalled Kazima's words. Draw on the energy I've given you. It will bond with this Jeremy and then you will feel it.

Since Kol was sitting on her left she grabbed his right hand. She put her other hand in Jeremy's left one. They all took deep breaths.

And then Bonnie started to concentrate. She closed her eyes searched inwardly for the entity within her and held onto it. She started to ply it, manipulate it.

Most of what she was doing was based on intuition, a recalling of her former gifts as a witch. When she finally felt that she had enough control over it, she began to fuse it with Jeremy's energy that was activated by holding the crystal. It seemed the crystal had the ability to invigorate its holder's energy- which in this case was Jeremy's.

When she finally felt that she had a hold of it, she waited for it to happen. And then it did. Her own magic took on a life of its own, and mingled completely with Jeremy's. It was then that she felt Kol's as well. His was being transferred through her as a vessel.

Although Bonnie wasn't aware of it, the lights in the kitchen started flickering.

She could feel the bond strengthening, inadvertently causing a tingling throughout her whole body.

"Bonnie."

"Just wait Jer." It wouldn't be much longer now.

"Bonnie look!" Bonnie opened her eyes. Jeremy's eyes had widened and shifted back and forth from her to Kol.

When she turned to glance at Kol, she saw what had caught his attention. Bonnie and Kol both had a blue tinge to their skin, it was a similar blue to the colour the crystal was emitting.

Although Bonnie's concentration had broken, it didn't matter. Her energy was doing all of the work now. They only had to wait.

It was then that Bonnie noticed that the cabinets in the kitchen were shuddering. The lights were still flickering madly.

"What's going on?" Kol whispered

"I don't know. It must be some after effect."

The prickling feeling was now pulsing through her entire being. Ten minutes must have passed.

We're almost there.

And then the shit storm happened.

It was Kol's comment that started it all.

"What the hell is she doing here?" His eyes were shocked.

Bonnie turned to look behind her.

Kazima was standing right behind her chair.

"Kazima? What are you doing here? I thought you never left the third plane-"

Kazima's voice interrupted, "I lied my dear. After thousands of years, I finally have my chance, and you led me right to it."

Kazima placed her hands on Bonnie's shoulders.

"Wait! What are you doing?" Bonnie's voice was alarmed.

"What do you think? I'm going back of course. To finish what I started." Kazima's voice had a menacing tone that Bonnie didn't recognize. Was this really Kazima? Had she played them all?

Bonnie was now staring at the hands clasped on her shoulders. They were gradually attaining the same tinge of blue that Bonnie and Kol had.

Bonnie was desperate to push Kazima's hands off but that would mean that she would sever the connection. And then they would never go back. She could tell that they were only moments away. The crystal started discharging electrical waves.

"Why would you want to go back?" It was Kol asking it this time.

The crystal was crackling from the shockwaves.

"I'd explain it my dear, but we've run out of time."

And then the room was engulfed in white light.

The first thing that Bonnie registered was pain.

Real pain. Like the kind that one felt as a living being.

She groaned loudly. There was a loud ringing in her ears, as if she had just been adjacent to an explosion. She was practically deaf.

And then she heard it.

Bonnie.

"Bonnie can you hear me?" It was a lot clearer now.

She couldn't even open her eyes.

Could she even talk?

She tried saying what happened but the only thing that came out of her mouth was some incoherent mumble.

Jeremy's voice spoke again.

"Don't worry. You're gonna be fine. Kol was the same way."

What- spouting gibberish?

Jeremy continued. "I think it has to do with getting back your motor control. And adjusting to your senses and whatnot."

"Try opening your eyes," he prodded softly.

Bonnie slowly opened her eyes. And instantly shut them again. There was way too much light in here.

Bonnie managed to whisper, "Too bright." Well at least I can say that.

She heard Jeremy pause. "Uh really?" He sounded confused. "It seems pretty fine to me. I guess you need to adjust to that too."

She tried to lift her head up. "Hold on, don't try and overexert yourself. Just lay there." He added reluctantly, "I'll check on Kol for just a sec."

She could hear Kol's voice in the background. "Don't bother. I'm fine now. It's her that doesn't look so great."

Jeremy said, "I don't know why it affected her so much more."

Kol snorted. "It's because she's a weak human."

Hey! She wanted to yell at him but couldn't seem to muster the energy.

She could tell that Kol was much closer when he spoke again. "Oi! Witch! Can you hear me?"

Bonnie managed to mutter "Jerk" before taking a deep breath.

Kol let out a laugh. "I guess you can."

She then felt a set of arms place themselves under her knees and middle back. The physical contact startled her.

"Hey! Be careful!" Jeremy said to Kol.

Kol's voice retorted. "I'm not going to drop her. Am I wrong in thinking she should probably be somewhere other than the kitchen floor?"

Jeremy's voice lowered and he mumbled, "Put her on the couch then."

With that, Kol brought her up from the floor and adjusted her in his arms. She could feel Kol's muscles stretching and contracting beneath her. Huh. This was new. She vaguely noticed that she was moving. A few seconds later, Kol gently lowered her to the couch.

Kol said to Jeremy. "Dim the lights."

After a few seconds, Kol said softly, "Bonnie I want you to try and open your eyes."

Hesitantly at first, Bonnie slowly opened them. She squinted at first to adjust, but after about thirty seconds, she tentatively opened them completely.

Kol had kneeled down next to the couch, and his face was only inches from hers.

He smiled. "There she is."

Jeremy then kneeled next to Kol. His eyes were concerned.

"How you feeling?" he asked.

Bonnie could feel her throat closing up. She muttered, "Thirsty."

Jeremy quickly got up. "I'll go get you some water."

Kol smirked. "I'm thirsty too." Bonnie smiled slowly. She knew he wasn't talking about water.

Kol stood up and Jeremy returned with a glass of water.

"Bonnie you have to sit up." Jeremy carefully pushed Bonnie's torso so that she sat upwards. He adjusted the pillows to keep her supported.

"Do you think you can hold the glass?"

Bonnie nodded and reached out her hand. Jeremy handed the glass over carefully. She took a slow sip and deposited the glass on the table next to the couch.

"Can you talk now?"

"Yeah," she croaked. After clearing her throat she repeated it. "Yeah."

"Are you okay now?" Jeremy still looked troubled.

She replied quietly. "Yeah, just weak. Why am I so weak?"

It was Kol who spoke this time. "It's not just your body. I suspect part of it is because of that witch," he said the last word with disgust.

Bonnie had forgotten. Where was Kazima?

"I can't believe I forgot. Where did she go?"

"To be honest Bonnie, I don't think she came back. I mean, she was just gone after. You guys were on the ground and she wasn't." Jeremy stopped for a moment in thought. "I honestly think it just didn't work for her, she wasn't as connected as the rest of us."

Bonnie met Kol's eyes. He didn't look nearly as convinced.

Was Kazima here on earth?

Kazima's last cryptic words were bothering her. Finish what? Was she hoping to kill Silas herself? Or was it something completely different?

"Let's hope so. We have enough to deal with on Silas' end, let alone some maniacal witch with unfinished business."

Bonnie and Jeremy both looked at Kol.

Jeremy asked, "What do you mean? I thought Bonnie put him down. And Stefan hid him where no one could find him before he left town."

"Jer," she said solemnly. "He was free from that spell when I died, the night you came back."

Shock registered in Jeremy's eyes."You mean he's been around this whole time?"

"How long has it been? Since I died?" Bonnie was afraid to hear the answer.

"Fifty-three days," he answered quietly.

Almost two months. That made it almost the end of July.

"Does anyone know I'm dead?"

Jeremy looked away guiltily. He scratched the back of his head.

"I didn't tell them right away Bonnie. I swear. Elena only found out about two weeks ago." He raised his hands sheepishly. "I couldn't help it okay? She could tell something was up. At first I could blame my moods on adjusting to life again, but then she started bugging me about it."

He continued quietly, "I think that's why she and Damon left. She needed to get out of here. You know her, she was completely torn up about it."

"What about Caroline?"

"Uhhh well Caroline is being well, Caroline. She's gone a bit overboard."

"What do you mean?" Bonnie prompted softly.

"Well," he paused for a second, "she's been cooking for one thing. Like a lot. And she keeps-" he stopped when the doorbell rang, "-bringing it all over here." He groaned loudly.

"That's definitely her. She's always here around six. It's been over a week of this."

He stood up and looked back at Bonnie. "Do you want to see her?"

Bonnie felt conflicted. On one hand, she was weakened physically and her mind was still adjusting to reality. But on the other, she wanted to see her friend more than anything.

"Yeah." Bonnie smiled.

When Jeremy went to answer the door, it was to see Caroline's beaming face. It was all a facade though.

Caroline's eye bags were darker and her skin was more dull than usual. Her eyes were no longer bright and reflected the tang of grief. In her hands, she carried what looked to be two casseroles and a pecan pie.

Why Caroline brought him all this food was a mystery. He knew why she was making it- to distract herself. Perhaps in some weird way she thought he was the only one who understood her grief, and she thought he wanted the food as much as she wanted to make it.

As a routine, he had taken up on inviting her in; they would then each have a sample of whatever concoction she had made that day. They might be silent one day. Other days they had talked. It had been some weird level of coping. Until now.

Jeremy couldn't wait to tell her. This was not a Caroline he ever wanted to see again. And he hated having to waste all that food she made.

But first things first.

Jeremy stepped on the front porch and shut the door before Caroline could step in.

Caroline looked surprised.

"What's wrong? Don't you want pecan pie?" She huffed, "I know I'm a vampire and my taste buds are pretty much gonzo but before you throw it out, at least try it-" she sounded exasperated.

"Caroline."

"What?" she tried to make light of his serious tone.

"There's something I have to tell you. But-" He raised his hands to get his point across. "-you have to promise you won't freak out."

Caroline was all ears this time.

It was the sound of china breaking that caught Bonnie's attention.

In about two seconds she knew why.

Bonnie suddenly found herself smothered in blonde curls and what felt like a waterfall of tears.

Bonnie could barely breathe but didn't loosen her hold. They stayed that way for a couple minutes before Caroline finally loosened her hold.

"I can't believe this." She was saying each word between hiccups and wiping tears off her face. "One minute you're gone and the next" she laughed hysterically, "-you're back again. You sure know how to throw us for a loop."

Bonnie also had tears running down her face. She was smiling wildly amongst wiping her face.

"Oh my God! And this means you can go to college with us! Elena and I can switch rooms and we can get a three-bedroom dorm room and..."

Bonnie laughed softly. That would be the first thing Caroline thinks of.

It was Kol's voice that interrupted Caroline's tirade.

"I hate to interrupt, but I'm going to have to leave this wonderful reunion. I am a trifle thirsty for some AB positive, so if you don't mind-"

It was the first time Caroline noticed Kol's presence.

"And what is he doing here? Bonnie?!"

Bonnie stared at Caroline purposefully. "He's the reason I'm back at all Caroline."

Jeremy looked at Bonnie closely. He was surprised at her defense of Kol- he didn't necessarily agree but chose to stay silent anyways.

Caroline opened her mouth to say something but couldn't seem to find any words.

The second time however, she uttered loudly, "Wait! You-?! And him?!"

This time Kol answered, "That's right darling. Bonnie and I make a great team. We've grown very fond of each other haven't we?"

He was deliberately trying to bait Caroline.

Caroline's eyes narrowed into slits. "Listen to me, you little-"

"Caroline please! And you too Kol. All this fighting is giving me a headache."

Everyone looked away guiltily.

Kol sighed loudly. "As I said before, I fancy having a nice pint or two so I'll just be leaving. So see you all-"

"Wait." Bonnie stood up slowly and took a few steps towards him. She could feel the perspiration on her forehead and back. Her legs started shaking from standing.

Kol was there in an instant. He put his hand around her waist to steady her.

"You shouldn't be straining yourself weakling," he murmured softly.

She leaned slightly into him for balance and gazed into his eyes searchingly.

He seemed to know exactly what she was looking for.

"I'll be back soon," he promised.

He lowered her back down onto the couch and left.

Bonnie didn't try and analyze the comfort she felt from Kol's presence. She only realized it the instant he was actually gone. She didn't know when or how it had happened but somehow she and Kol had bonded in their mutual drive to return to the living. It wasn't as if she adored him or anything. He could be a downright asshole sometimes. But lately, he had shown moments of decency- where he didn't automatically retort with some smart ass comment. Were they friends? They may not have been bffs but they were definitely not acquaintances- too much had happened between them. They had trusted each other though, and that meant something. She knew it did. She could feel it in her shaky, unreliable bones.

Ignoring the scrutiny of her relationship with Kol, she still had to deal with everything else. At the moment, she was bewildered by her visual surroundings. Seeing everything so clear; it was as if she had been living in black and white before. All of her senses were on overload, every sound seemed magnified somehow, every drop in the sink, every time someone took a breath of air. She could hear it all so acutely. Even physical touch was heightened; when Caroline had hugged her it had been a shock, both emotionally and physically. It was going to take her a little bit to adjust to all of this.

After Kol left, Caroline had promptly force-fed Bonnie some of her pecan pie.

"The casseroles didn't survive," Caroline explained.

They were still in tatters on the porch.

After Caroline was sure Bonnie could eat no more she said, "Now, are you going to finally tell me what happened? Come on Bonnie I'm dying here!"

Jeremy stood next to Bonnie's chair.

"Leave her alone Caroline. She's practically dead on her feet." Jeremy must have timed that because he couldn't help grinning.

Haha.

Caroline conceded though. "Fine! Fine!" She pointed at Bonnie. "But you missy, owe me an explanation! Don't think I forgot about graduation. I can't believe you didn't tell us-"

"Caroline you know I couldn't-"

"Yeah 'cus you're too selfless for your own good. I'm not going to let you be a martyr anymore Bonnie Bennett."

Martyr.

That's what Kol had called her. Was he right? If Caroline felt that way, who else did?

"Anyways, I'm putting you to bed. You look like you're gonna collapse any second." She turned to Jeremy. "Is it okay if I put her in Elena's room?"

Jeremy nodded. "Go ahead. You can stay too if you want."

Caroline smiled broadly. "Thanks. I think I will."

With that, Caroline dragged her upstairs.

Although Bonnie was tired, she wasn't tired enough to notice the sparseness of Elena's room. Of course, everything had gone with the fire, but it was still such a change from her old room. It didn't even look lived in.

Caroline seemed to realize the direction of her thoughts, since she said, "They just moved in a couple weeks ago. Plus, she spends a lot of time at the boarding house."

Bonnie only nodded.

Bonnie sat down on the large bed while Caroline rifled through Elena's drawers.

She pulled out a set of pajamas- a button-up top and matching shorts- and handed them to Bonnie.

"These should fit you." She looked at Bonnie closely. "I'm not letting you out of my sight though."

Caroline then pulled out another set of pajamas and started changing.

She encouraged Bonnie to do the same. "Go on."

Bonnie pulled off her blouse and was about to put on the new top when she heard Caroline's exclamation.

"When did you get a tattoo? I mean, I guess it's okay you never told me but I'm your friend-"

"Wait what?! What are you talking about? I don't have a tattoo Caroline."

Caroline stared at her. "Uh, yeah you do." She pointed her finger. "It's on your right shoulder blade. It's kinda weird looking too. Like, I don't know, ancient-looking or something."

Bonnie ran over to the adjacent bathroom and placed her back to the mirror.

Holy Shit.

It was in the form of an eye. Not very big, only a couple inches wide, but it was astonishing all the same. There were two lines running from the bottom of the eye; one of them was long and ended in a circular squiggle while the one to the right of it was short and pointy.

Caroline was standing in the doorway.

"I'm guessing you didn't know about it?"

"Definitely not."

Caroline shrugged. "It's not that big a deal I guess. It's a bit high for a wedding dress, but we'll figure it out."

"Caroline!"

She laughed. "Don't worry. It's fine. Just a tattoo right?"

Bonnie looked at Caroline seriously. "That's the problem. I don't think it is."