"I saw that," Klaus said, coming up behind Kol, beer in hand. "You know, you never told me how smooth you were with women, but I'm so honored to get to see it for myself." He took a swig from the bottle.

"Oh, shut up, Nik," Kol yelled. "I don't need any of your comments. I know it didn't go well."

"Why are you so worked up about this?" Klaus asked. "She's just a woman. There are tons of them here, and isn't that the whole reason why you decided to have this party anyway? To prove to Bonnie and yourself that you were ready to move on?"

"Well, I thought I was," Kol answered. "But then she had to show up with that-that-that, and now everything is confused. I don't know what to do." Kol sat down on a barstool, looking dejected.

"I'll tell you what you're going to do, Kol," Klaus said, forcing him to a standing position. "You're going to get yourself a drink, you're going to drink it, and then you're going to chat up those lovely brunettes in the corner there. See them?"

Kol looked. He saw. "Yes," he said. "I see them." He waved half-heartedly and they waved back.

"So why not go!" Kol gave his brother a little push toward the girls. "You were so full of bravado this morning. Where did it all go?"

Out the door with Bonnie and her date, Kol thought to himself. But he didn't say it. Instead, he cleared his throat, squared his shoulders, and strode across the club to the group of women who were eagerly waiting for him while Klaus watched.

"He's a complete mess, isn't he?" Rebekah asked as she came over and sat on the barstool he'd just left.

"Oh, yes," Klaus nodded. "A complete and utter wreck."

"Do you think we should do something about that?" Rebekah asked.

"Nah," Klaus shook his head. "It'll be more fun watching him try to figure it all out for himself."

The party dragged on after that and Kol was more than happy when it ended. He, Rebekah and Klaus drove home and on the way, Kol was uncharacteristically silent.

"You want to talk about it?" Rebekah asked him.

Kol shook his head. "No, just leave me alone, would you?" The car lapsed into silence again, and when they reached the mansion, Kol ran up to his room and slammed the door.

"I'm guessing those brunettes you showed him didn't do the trick," Rebekah told Klaus.

"No," Klaus shook his head. "Apparently not. But I don't see why he's acting this way. He's been with several women over the years and he's always managed to end things on his terms and then make a clean break. What's different now?"

"Well, think about the reason why Kol ended things with Bonnie," Rebekah reminded Klaus with a smirk. "Not exactly the manliest reason out there, was it?"

"No," Klaus shook his head. "You have a point. Definitely not the usual satisfactory finish for Kol's relationships."

"So maybe he's still clinging to things with Bonnie because they didn't end the right way for him," Klaus said. "Maybe if we got Bonnie here, then Kol would have the opportunity to break things off with her the right way. On his own terms, and emerge strong and confident."

"I don't know," Rebekah said skeptically. "Maybe he's not over Bonnie because he actually liked her and he's mad at himself for letting her go for such a stupid reason."

Klaus gave Rebekah a look and then burst out laughing. "Oh, please, Bekah!" he said. "I can't breathe. What a funny joke!"

"Why is it so funny?" Rebekah asked. "Why is it so difficult for you to think that Kol might like someone?"

"Please," Klaus said. "Bekah, the only person Kol likes is himself. There's no space in that inflated head of his to allow him to think of anyone else. Come on, you know I'm right."

"Maybe," Rebekah sighed. "Maybe."

Kol lay on his bed a few hours later, feeling listless. He wasn't tired, but he didn't feel like walking around either. Suddenly, his cell phone rang. He sat up and grabbed it. "Hello?" He said.

"Hi, Kol," Bonnie said. "Sorry for calling so late. I hope I didn't disturb you. But I just-I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I know it was probably a shock seeing me with Roger, especially since you had no idea that I'd moved on. I didn't mean to hurt you, you know."

"Oh, of course you didn't," Kol replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "And I'm fine, thank you. I got numbers from three cocktail waitresses and I'm going to see one of them tomorrow. You don't have to worry about me."

"Well, good," Bonnie replied. "I just wanted to make sure because when we came in, you didn't look well at all."

"Oh, that was nothing," Kol said. "I'd just had a bit too much to drink. That's what it was. It had nothing to do with the fact that you were with what's-his-name."

"Roger," Bonnie supplied. "All right. As long as you're fine, which you definitely seem to be, I'm gonna say goodnight, okay?"

"Sure," Kol nodded. "Say goodnight to Roger for me too."

"No," Bonnie said briefly. "I'm not gonna do that. Goodnight, Kol."

"Goodnight, Bonnie," Kol said. He turned off his phone, sighed and collapsed back onto his pillow, preparing for a restless night.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Nik," Rebekah said a few days later. "Why can't you just mind your own business and leave Kol and Bonnie alone?"

"Because I know I'm right, Bekah," Klaus said. "The reason why our brother is so morose is because he didn't get to end things with Bonnie the right way. Now, I'm going to give him a chance." He called up the stairs. "Kol, come down, will you? We have to be to lunch soon!"

"What's the rush?" Kol asked, coming down stairs still wearing only his boxers. "Why is it so important that we leave right this minute?"

"Well, it obviously can't be right this minute," Klaus answered. "You look terrible. Go clean yourself up, would you? You can't see your surprise looking like that!"

"Surprise?" Kol's eyes narrowed. "What surprise?"

"Well, that's the nature of a surprise, isn't it?" Klaus asked. "If I told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore. Now just trust me and go get ready!"

"Nik, I've never trusted you," Kol said. "But as I haven't left the house in three days, I suppose it wouldn't hurt me to come with you." He ran upstairs, showered, dressed, and then followed Klaus and Rebekah out to the car.

"So where exactly are we going for lunch?" Kol asked.

"That quaint little outdoor place next to the antique mart on south street," Rebekah told him. "The one with the seafood."

"Oh," Kol nodded. "Okay."

When they reached the restaurant, they picked an outdoor table and the waiter came and handed them each a menu. "So there'll be three dining today?" He asked.

"Actually, there will be four," Klaus said. "Our other dining companion hasn't arrived yet." He turned his head and saw Bonnie off in the distance, walking toward them. "Never mind," he said. "She's nearly here."

When Bonnie reached the table, Kol got to his feet. "Here," he said, pulling out a chair for her. "Sit here, next to me."

"Well, thank you," Bonnie said, sitting down. "You know, when your brother called and told me you wanted to talk to me, I was a little surprised. Just know that I'm happily with Roger, so rekindling what we had is off the table, but I'd be willing to be friends."

"Friends?" Kol choked on the sip of water he'd just taken. "Did you just tell me you'd be willing to be friends?"

"Well, yeah," Bonnie nodded. "What else did you think I would say?"

"Well, I thought that once you realized I was penitent, you'd dump Roger and come back to me," Kol said. "I'm really sorry about the way things ended between us. It was all my fault and if I could change things, I would."

"It's not gonna be as simple as you feeling bad about the way things ended between us," Bonnie told him, putting her napkin in her lap and picking up her menu. "It's gonna take a lot more from you than that. Now, could you tell me what's good to eat here?"

Kol sighed. "I've always liked the shrimp."

As Klaus watched them back and forth, Rebekah motioned to him. They walked a distance from the table and Klaus said, "I don't understand. I honestly thought he wanted to break up with her."

"Well," Rebekah grinned, "It looks like you were wrong."