Title: Sire
Rating: M
Genre: AU/Supernatural/Romance
Pairing(s): Bonnie/Klaus, Rebekah/Marcel, Stefan/Rebekah (minor), Caroline/Tyler, Matt/Katherine, Kol/Davina, Elijah/Celeste, Finn/Lucy, etc.
Summary: "She is my progeny. Blood of my blood. I am her maker. Her originator. Her ruler. She is of my creation and so she will never escape me." Niklaus Mikaelson sees Bonnie Bennett as the threat that she is and decides to eliminate her before she can interfere further with his plans by turning her into a vampire. However, in the after effects of the transformation not only does Bonnie become something unexpected by a connection forms between maker and progeny that neither of them are prepared for. Post 2x22
Warnings: Violence, Character Death, Sexual Content, Dub-con, Minor OCC-ness, etc.
Three
"One has to pay dearly for immortality; one has to die several times while one is still alive." ~Friedrich Nietzsche
New Orleans, Louisiana
Bonnie Bennett knew that the best way to rectify the situation would be to explain it but there was a part of her that didn't care to explain. A part of her that didn't feel that she had to. It wasn't as if anyone had been keen to stay in contact with her all summer and it wasn't as if Klaus was just anyone to her, not anymore.
Even so Bonnie tugged at Klaus arms in an effort to loosen his grip on her. However, he was stiff and immobile. Bonnie sighed in annoyance as she watched as Elena and Damon stared at her expectantly.
She was saved a moment later as Stefan approached them, and though she knew she wasn't completely out of the line of scrutiny, she was glad that their attention was now divided. She was surprised however, when Stefan moved to stand behind her and Klaus and not next to Elena and his brother. Then again, she was sure that he was simply attempting to play his cards right, and not show his true loyalties to Klaus upfront, though given the way that Klaus had attacked him before, she doubted Klaus much cared anymore about where Stefan's loyalties lied as long as Bonnie didn't get harmed in the process.
"What are you two doing here?" Stefan asked, his eyes moving from Damon to Elena and lingering there. To his surprise, Klaus didn't even seem to be shocked at seeing the doppelganger or even inclined to remedy the fact that she was still alive.
"Well," Damon started, though his eyes were on Bonnie rather than his brother, "We came to find you Stefan. But obviously we didn't expect to find witchy here tongue deep in our friendly neighborhood hybrid. At least we know why she hasn't been answering her phone all day."
Bonnie felt Klaus's grip on her loosen then and there was no doubt in her mind that he was going to not just attack Damon but kill him and reluctantly she placed her hand over his hand. "Don't," she murmured, so softly she was sure that only the vampires in the room heard her. She glanced around to find that Marcel and his men were looking on the scene as well, all looking ready to attack Damon in her defense. Frowning, she shook her head. Without turning to face Klaus she reached back and up, touching the side of his face, running her fingers along his jawline in a gesture of reassurance. "I'm fine," she said, louder this time, making sure Marcel and his men heard her as well.
Damon frowned as he watched Klaus's eyes close at Bonnie's touch. He became even more disturbed when the hybrid turned his head and kissed the palm of Bonnie's hand. "What the hell is going on here?" He spat.
Klaus opened his mouth to answer but Stefan cut him off. "I'm surprised you were even calling her at all," Stefan said, more to bring the attention back to him than anything else, "I mean what did you want something from her?" He was trying to get Damon off of looking toward Bonnie and in turn save his brother's life, but the more that thought about it the more that truth of his words sunk in. "Let me guess," he continued, "You remembered after figuring out where I was that Bonnie was here too and you wanted to use her to find me?"
A look of guilt passed over Elena's face and Bonnie didn't even begin to doubt Stefan's words. While she was hurt, she was not surprised. She shook her head. This was what their relationship was now. What it had been for some time. And while she still would rather be home than in Klaus's clutches, she didn't feel the need to have to settle for what Elena had to offer her in terms of friendship anymore. Her emotions were too erratic now for that, she would likely end up killing her friend at the slightest provocation and she had spent too much time keeping Elena alive to want her dead now.
She hated Klaus. She didn't trust Rebekah. She and Stefan weren't on friendly terms. And with Marcel she knew that their alliance was tentatively heading towards friendship but she was still aware of the fact that he was capable of using her as much as Klaus was. But the thing was she found more comfort in those connections than she could feel as she looked at Elena. She knew where she stood with them. They were straightforward with her. They let it be known what their motivations were and her connection to them, particularly Klaus, was more mutual in nature than her friendship with Elena now was and that was sad considering just a few years ago she could say without out a doubt that she and Elena were sisters and would be able to grow old and die together.
But looking at their friendship from a different vantage point, without the blinding loyalty that she had once had for Elena that had now transferred more toward Klaus, she could see their friendship for what it was, for what it had been for some time. It had morphed from mutual love, care, and respect; into something one-sided. Something toxic and co-dependent. Something that Bonnie had clung to because she was afraid of feeling alone, and of losing someone else after she had lost her grandmother.
Because who did she have if she didn't have Elena, or Jeremy, or Caroline, or Matt. Before the answer had been clear. She had lost her Grams. Her mother had abandon her a long time ago. Her father was never home and she barely ever saw his side of the family. The answer had been no one, before. But now…now things were different.
Now Bonnie had Marcel. Now Bonnie had her sire and when he turned others they would have their pack. She still had her father, even if she wished he was around more often. She had her aunt as naïve as the woman was. And most importantly, she had herself. She understood that now. She could not just survive on her own, she could thrive. She wouldn't have to settle for this.
Bonnie turned in Klaus's arms and looked up at him hopefully. "Just give me ten minutes okay?" She asked, though it wasn't really a question.
"Only if it's to get rid of them and not to follow them back to where they came from," he said, his tone warning.
Bonnie rolled her eyes. "I'm not going anywhere and I am pretty sure that we both know that." She ignored the eyes she could feel on her back and focused on Klaus as he stared down at her. He looked skeptical. "Let me put it to you this way," Bonnie said, running her hands down his arms, "What happens if I run?" She lowered her voice to the point where she was barely speaking, knowing even if the other vampires in the room tried, they wouldn't be able to make out her words. "I mean other than the bond making it extremely painful and uncomfortable for me to be away from my maker?"
Klaus raised an eyebrow at her. "I would come after you and likely kill anyone involved in harboring you in any way for having the audacity to try and keep you from me," he said, clearly wanting the other vampires in the room to hear him.
Damon scoffed but Bonnie ignored him her eyes remaining locked with the blue ones of her sire. Even if she was slightly put off by Klaus's words she didn't doubt the seriousness of them. She would never say so out loud but it did something for her that someone cared so much about losing her for whatever reason. That someone would think that she was worth coming after. Seeking out. No matter the motivation. "There's your answer," she swallowed, brushing away her thoughts, "So I'll ask you again. Can I please have ten minutes?"
"What? You need his permission now?" Damon commented and Bonnie felt the urge to snap his neck.
Bonnie wasn't very keen on being physically affectionate with Klaus after having just kissed him, even if the kiss had been more about getting to taste his blood than anything else, but she knew that she had to calm him down. His eyes had flickered toward Damon more than once and she knew that he would only take so much provocation when it wasn't coming from her. "Klaus?" She whispered her tone placating, before standing on her toes and pressing her lips to his neck.
Someone, she suspected Damon, cleared their throat and Bonnie pulled back from Klaus scowling. Reading her emotions Klaus ran a hand up and down her back in an effort to soothe her. "Five minutes," he leaned down a murmured in her ear, "And if you need me-"
"I know," Bonnie nodded stiffly. He let her go rather slowly and she glanced at Stefan before she moved toward the exit.
"Outside," Stefan said, looking in between both Damon and Elena, the latter whom had been rather silent.
"What?" Damon frowned.
"If you want an explanation then let's talk outside," Stefan sighed, "If not then you can take Elena and leave. I doubt very much that you want to have this conversation in here." He glanced rather pointedly at Klaus and the other vampires in the room who looked ready to torture Damon because of the prospect that he had even come close to upsetting Bonnie. Stefan found it amusing that it seemed that the supernatural community of New Orleans that they had come across thus far had taken on the same sort of instant protectiveness and liking toward Bonnie that the people in Mystic Falls had taken toward Elena. The difference he found was that the obliviousness about the situation and desire to take care of herself and not depend on others wasn't phoned in on Bonnie's part.
Frowning at the negative thought toward Elena, Stefan shook his head and moved to follow Bonnie outside.
Damon and Elena followed him a moment later and he was relieved that they would not have to press the issue. As he walked out into the night, he breathed in the night air as his eyes searched for Bonnie. His gaze stopped on her as she leaned against the side of the house that they had just left.
Bonnie eyed him as he walked up to her and leaned against the house as well. "I'm surprised you tried to combat the situation," Bonnie said, "It's not as if we've been on the best of terms lately."
Stefan blinked at her and sighed. "I'm beginning to realize that that's not necessarily your fault," he said, "In there….I thought Klaus was going to attack you. It went the opposite direction." He laughed as Bonnie looked down at her feet. "But I was worried about you," he said, "I felt protective of you….like before…like in the beginning…."
"Like when we first met and you thought it would easier for me to understand what you were because I was a witch?" Bonnie asked, smiling just a little.
Stefan nodded. "I forgot how scared your were of all of this and to tell you the truth after a while your fear stopped mattering to me and if I could still feel anything then I would probably be ashamed of that," he told her, "But I get that this is hard for you and instead of resenting you for doing what's in your nature like your loyalty to Klaus and your desire for vampire blood it should have been easier with me for you. I should have been the one person that understood."
"Look, Stefan," Bonnie shrugged, "We were never really friends and I don't know if we ever could be but if you're done with this passive aggressive crap you've been pulling and you can stop playing the brooding ripping martyr for five minutes then maybe we could start over."
Stefan grinned and nodded. "I like that you're speaking up for yourself again," he said, "I didn't realize it but I kind of miss that."
Bonnie smiled wistfully and to Stefan she looked much older than her years even with her vampiric state promising her enteral youth. "Me too," she agreed.
Stefan thought things would be better now, that they could move forward. With his lack of emotion and Klaus being involved he wouldn't be able to help her in the same way as he had done with Caroline but he could possibly do something. He didn't hate her and he owed not just her but her family. They could at the very least come to some kind of understanding.
"So," Stefan said, after a moment, "What was kissing Klaus like?"
Bonnie gave him a look that told him that she didn't appreciate the new topic of conversation. "It was about the blood," she stated, "That's it."
Stefan was skeptical and was more than sure that she was in denial. Perhaps it had been the blood at first but it was pretty clear toward the end that she had been getting into it. Still he decided not to push the issue. He opened his mouth to change the subject but closed it again as Damon and Elena walked toward them. Stefan saw the look on Elena's face and knew that he would immediately have to go on the defensive.
"Bonnie what the hell?" Elena spat, "I mean how could you? It's Klaus! Klaus! Klaus who terrorized us and tried to kill me. He killed Jenna. He tried to kill you..."
Bonnie felt something inside of her snap. She was tired of this. All this time she had kept her mouth shut and the one time that she had done something that Elena and the others thought was out of line and it was something that Bonnie didn't even really have control over for the most part and Bonnie got a mouthful. "You of all people have absolutely no right to lecture me Elena," Bonnie spat, her heightened emotions getting the better of her.
"What?" Elena said, looking dumbfounded.
"Yeah," Bonnie said, standing upright, "You heard me. You have no right to lecture me. You didn't even come here for me. You came here for Stefan. The same Stefan who my grams died trying to save and that killed Matt's sister. You came here with the man who attacked me, tried to kill your brother, abused Caroline, and I could go on but why? At least I don't really have a choice when it comes to dealing with Klaus you on the other hand are fucking with Tweedledum and Tweedledee all of your own free will." She glanced at Stefan and gave him a semi-apologetic look, but he only shrugged.
Elena looked hurt a moment before she shook it off. She had to press forward. They had to fix whatever was wrong with Bonnie as quickly as possible so that she could focus on convincing Stefan to come home. "Okay so Klaus is forcing this on you," she frowned, "How exactly? We can fix it."
Bonnie blinked at her. "No we can't," she sighed, "And even if we could I couldn't trust the reasons that you would actually want to."
Damon looked like he was about to intervene but Elena shook her head. "Because you're my friend," Elena said, "I wouldn't give up on Stefan so why would I give up on you?"
Bonnie laughed bitterly. Was that supposed to make her feel better? "I'm in the same league as Stefan now," Bonnie smirked, "That's a first."
"That's enough Bonnie," Damon said, stepping forward, "I don't know what's gotten into you and frankly I don't care. Whatever it is you're not going to take it out on Elena."
Bonnie clenched her fists in an effort to keep herself from attacking him, biting into his neck, and draining him dry. "Damon stop it," Elena sighed, "This isn't Bonnie talking its Klaus. This is all his fault ever since…"
Bonnie shook her head and felt herself tremble. That had done it. Not only did Elena have the nerve to judge her, she had the gall to bad mouth her sire.
"Shit," Stefan muttered as she saw the moment Bonnie's eyes turned from green to amber. He stepped in between Bonnie and Elena even knowing that he was putting himself in the line of fire. He had intended on letting Bonnie state her peace and walk away but Bonnie clearly wanted to do more than walk away. "Bonnie," he said, grabbing her by the waist, "Just calm down. I'll go get Klaus…you just have to calm down, okay?"
"No," Bonnie growled letting her fangs fall, "No…she's such a hypocrite and I'm so tired of being silent. She can blame the world but she never ever once blames herself not unless it's because she wants someone to feel sorry for her…no….I can't do this anymore." A part of her knew that she was being irrational due to the fact that the mention of Klaus had been what had set her off and she could see the fear on Elena's face but she couldn't stop herself. Damon moved to shield Elena and Bonnie waved her hand sending him flying into the opposite wall.
"Elena," Stefan said, his hold on Bonnie tightening, "Run."
Elena tried to move but found herself rendered immobile. "I can't," Elena panicked, her mouth going dry. It was clear Bonnie had been turned but she had her powers still which likely meant that Klaus was responsible and there was more than one type of hybrid he had been planning on making.
"Don't worry Stefan," Bonnie declared, "She's still human and weak and I'm better than that. I'm not a killer like you and your brother and if she dies that means I've wasted all of my time trying to keep her alive. But I will say that I regret ever being willing to die for her, and it has nothing to do with Klaus. She wants to hate Klaus that's fine, she has every right to do so, but she won't speak badly of him in front of me and she will listen to me and listen well."
Stefan frowned but nodded. "Alright," he said, glancing over to where Damon laid unconscious on the ground, "But if you're going to talk then talk that's it."
After a moment, Bonnie's face returned back to normal. "Fine," Bonnie muttered, shoving his hands away. She turned toward Elena a moment later and sighed. "I gave up everything for you," she said, "The one person that loved me more than anything died because I begged her to help your boyfriend. I was willing to die for you. I was the one who performed the spell that spared you from the sacrifice. I brought your brother back from the dead. Me. And you couldn't even call me practically all summer because you were chasing after the same vampire who turned our lives inside out. And the Salvatore brothers, Katherine, Klaus, all of them would never have come into our lives if not for the fact that you existed and never did I once blame you for any of it. But you want to blame Katherine and Klaus and whoever as long as you and Stefan and Damon escape blame. Yeah, maybe this is Klaus's fault. But I would never had been involved with Klaus if I hadn't tried to protect you and that was my choice and so that was my fault. But I'm done now."
Bonnie walked around Stefan and walked up to Elena with her head held high. "No matter how many people who are willing to put their lives on the line for you, you keep saying you're alone and you have no one."
No matter who was hurt or died or suffered it was never as much as Elena's suffering, especially when it had been done in her name. Bonnie had seen it before but she had not allowed herself to really take in how selfish and changed that Elena had become and was still becoming. She wasn't the girl that Bonnie had called sister and hadn't been for a while now. It had come so slowly, but it wasn't something that could be stopped.
Bonnie knew that once she walked away Elena would think of even this in terms of Bonnie hurting her, and of her losing Bonnie as a friend and not the other way around. "Well…you just lost me so have fun throwing yourself a pity party over it and I am sure you can cry about it on Damon's shoulder later because I just don't care anymore. But you need to face the fact that you are not the only one who has lost because of all of this. Not the only one who has suffered and at the end of the day you still have more than I do. You have your humanity. You have Jeremy as your family. You still have people willing to kill and die for you and I can't even get people who I have been friends with for years to call me on the phone to check and see if I'm alive. I've become the one thing that I hate but I'm glad because I'm free from you."
"I never knew that I had you trapped," Elena frowned, "That that was all our friendship means to you."
"You still don't get it," Bonnie laughed without humor, "Klaus hates me and he understands me better than you. His sister and I have barely spoken and she gets me. There are people here who care more about my wellbeing and my sense for free will and agency than you ever will and they have known me for a few days. You can accept Stefan and Damon but not me and I'm pretty sure that that tells me everything I need to know about our friendship. Goodbye Elena."
Elena felt the spell holding her immobile become inactive and she tried to go after Bonnie as the witch left. "Look," Elena said, "Your emotions are out of control because of what you are now. Because of what Klaus made you. Jeremy's here. If you talk to him then maybe…"
"Maybe what?" Bonnie said, turning on her, "I haven't talked to him all summer either. Besides if he comes near me then Klaus will probably kill him. I knew I would lose the life that I had because of what I am now. But obviously I was losing it before I was even turned. I just didn't really realize it until now."
Bonnie turned to walk away again and as Elena went to walk after her she stopped as she felt Stefan's hand on Elena's shoulder. "When I first met you," Stefan said, "I thought that your friendship with Bonnie was a good thing. It was. You cared about each other. Supported each other but…now…it isn't a good thing anymore. At least not for Bonnie. You should let her go." He thought about his role in things. Before he and his brother the girls had both had normal for the most part. He was a part of the reason that their friendship was fractured and even now he knew that he ranked over Bonnie in importance as far as Elena was concerned and he also knew that he shouldn't as much as it hurt him to admit it. "You should let me go to. Go home Elena. There's nothing left for you here."
Without another word Stefan walked away, heading back inside to the party. Elena looked after him a moment before walking over to Damon and waiting for him to regain consciousness.
:::
Bernadette Hopkins frowned at the knock on her door. She didn't usually mind visitors but the hour was very late and she was certain that it was no one that she knew. Bonnie had already seen her that morning and her beau had been by that afternoon. No one at work would ever come by so late and most of her friends and acquaintances would either be out or in bed so late.
Sighing she put down her paint brush and wiped her hands with the white paint stained cloth on her shoulder. Standing from the stool that she was sitting on in front of her easel she left the painting that she had been working on to attend to the door. The painting, was a portrait of Bonnie, commissioned for her by Niklaus. He had been planning on doing one of his own but he had said that he liked Bernadette's abstract style and he was paying her a pretty penny to capture her niece.
At first she had been hesitant about the relationship because of the apparent age difference but it was clear that Niklaus was completely enamored with Bonnie and though her niece was more close mouthed about the relationship, in the rare moments his name left her lips during their breakfast, a small smile had touched Bonnie's lips and Bernadette wasn't sure that he niece even noticed.
In a way they reminded her of Bonnie's parents when they had begun dating. Rudy had been affectionate and had spoken of Abby often. Her brother had laid out every virtue that one could think of on his former wife but Abby…she had been much more subdued and closed off about their relationship. Rudy had claimed that the woman could be very passionate behind closed doors but Bernadette had taken it as a warning sign. The divorce had seemed to have proven her point.
However, when she had asked Niklaus why Bonnie had never spoken to her about them or any other man for that matter, he had told her it was just Bonnie's way. That she had liked to keep private things private. Bernadette knew that to be true as Bonnie had rarely ever spoken about her life in Mystic Falls and so she took his words at face value and assumed that Bonnie was like her mother in that respect.
The knocking came again and Bernadette sighed. "I'll be right there," she called. She looked down at herself and shook her head at the oversized blue shirt and jean shorts that adorned her slim frame. Paint spotted her chestnut skin and the mismatched socks that she was wearing did nothing in her favor. Reaching up she snatched off the scarf she had wrapped around her head and tossed it on her kitchen table as she passed through. She attempted to fluff out her kinky curls in an effort to look somewhat presentable as she stopped in front of her door and looked through the peep hole.
Like her brother she had large brown eyes and they widened at who was on the other side. She took a step back before she opened the door to a woman she had not seen in over twelve years.
"Hey, Bernie," Abby Bennett said as she smiled at her former sister-in-law.
The woman looked much the same aside from the age lines around her mouth. The last time she had seen Abby she had been distantly looking out the window as Rudy and Bonnie had played in their back yard. Before the woman left Rudy had been a loving and attentive father but afterward Rudy had stayed out of town for the most part. He hadn't liked to stay home and face the memory of their family once being whole. Whatever tolerance she had for the woman had long ago gone for the hurt that she had caused both her brother and Bonnie. "You don't get to call me that anymore," Bernadette frowned, "It's been how many years since I've seen you? To what do I owe this honor?"
Abby sighed. She had not been anticipating a warm reception and she was of the same mind as Bernadette. She didn't really deserve one. However, she didn't have time to rehash the past or the reasons for her actions. "Listen," Abby exhaled, "You don't like me and I don't like you. We established that a long time ago but I'm here to see my daughter."
Bernadette raised an eyebrow and placed a hand on her hip. "Your daughter?" Bernadette laughed, "Since when."
Abby opened her mouth to protest but stopped as another woman that Bernadette hadn't noticed before stepped into the doorway. Though, the woman and Abby had the same eyes, this woman's skin was slightly darker in shade and her hair was a light brown rather than black. She was taller than Abby as well though her angular features brought Sheila Bennett's late husband to mind. "We don't have time for this," the woman frowned, eyeing Abby and nodding at Bernadette.
"Bernie," Abby introduced, "This is Lucy Bennett. She's a cousin." Bernadette blinked at her and Abby bit her bottom lip the gesture bringing Bonnie to mind. "Come on, Bernie," Abby begged, "I need to see my Bonbon. It's important. There's a chance that she could be in trouble."
Bernadette frowned, becoming concerned. "What kind of trouble and how would you even know? How did you even know she was with me?"
"I called Rudy," Abby revealed, "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't important. Contrary to what you believe I do care about my daughter and I have kept an eye on her over the years."
"Look Abby," Bernadette muttered, "If Bonnie is really in trouble I would love to help you but she isn't here."
"What do you mean she's not here?" Abby and Lucy asked at the same time, both women wearing expressions of alarm. Lucy had not seen Bonnie for some time but there had been a reason why the woman had not been able to stay when Bonnie had asked her to.
"She moved out the night before last," Bernadette told them, "She's been staying with her boyfriend but if you had been keeping as good an eye on her as you claimed then you would have known that."
Abby's eyebrows furrowed together as she tried to think about the details that she had gotten about Bonnie from the last few calls that she had had with Rudy. Because of the situation she limited herself to only so many calls a year, but she had always gotten as many details from him as she possibly could about their daughter. "You mean she went back to Mystic Falls to stay with Jeremy and Elena Gilbert?"
It was Bernadette's turn to look confused. "No," she said, "I mean I think she mentioned a Jeremy and Elena before but it was in passing. Her boyfriend's name is Niklaus. Has a house near Bourbon Street."
"Niklaus," Abby scowled, "As in Klaus….as in Klaus Mikaelson?"
Bernadette nodded and was taken aback as both women's expressions fell. "What's going on?" she demanded, "What's the big deal? Niklaus is a gentlemen and he adores Bonnie and they seem happy."
Abby shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Listen Bernie there's something that you should know," she said, carefully, "Something that Rudy and I should have told you a long time ago. I'll tell you and then you have to tell me exactly where Bonnie is."
:::
Finding a witch willing to help him was easier than Jeremy Gilbert had thought. He had walked into one bar in the quarter and mentioned Bonnie's name to the bartender and one had sought him out.
Her name was Sophie Deveraux. She had dark hair, tan skin, and a tribal tattoo on her shoulder. She had listened to his situation and promised rather amiably to help him if he could get Bonnie to meet them behind the bar so that they could have a talk. She wanted her help resurrecting her sister. Jeremy knew that Bonnie had brought him back from the dead and so he figured she was likely powerful enough to do the same for Jane-Anne.
Sophie was apparently taking a risk in helping him as the witches of the quarter were barred from using magic. However, there was no going back for Jeremy. He couldn't ask Bonnie to get rid of Anna and Vicki, he had to do it on his own without her knowing.
Elena had been attempting to call him but Jeremy ignored her calls. He had instead called Bonnie and after some initial reluctance she agreed to meet him. It wasn't until then that Sophie had performed the spell and to Jeremy's surprise it seemed to have worked. No matter how much he thought about Anna or Vicki, neither of them had popped up.
In a way he was sad and he wished that he had gotten to say goodbye to Anna at least. However, it didn't really matter. They were dead and they weren't coming back. Bonnie was very much alive and even if his feelings for her had changed, she was at the very least attainable.
Jeremy waited at the back of the bar for Bonnie to appear. She was taking longer than he thought to be necessary and he knew from the way that Sophie was peeking out every ten minutes that she was getting impatient. It was really late and Jeremy was beginning to wonder if she would even come.
Jeremy jolted at the sound of heels clicking on the ground. He turned and frowned as Bonnie walked toward him. He could barely recognize her. Her hair was shorter and her facial expression was harder. The dress she was wearing wasn't something he could ever really imagine her wearing. "Bonnie?"
She nodded as she stopped in front of him. "Hey," she said, attempting to smile but failing, "Look Jeremy, I just came to say goodbye."
"What? What do you mean?" He asked. He was a little astonished. He had finally done the right thing and now it seemed that she was ready to break up with him. "Look, I know I have been kind of distant this summer but I had my reasons."
Bonnie shook her head slightly. "I'm sure that you did," she shrugged, "Just like I have my reasons for ending things now. Elena will probably tell you this later so I'll just get it over with. I'm not going back to Mystic Falls. I'm staying here. I don't really have a choice. Klaus he…turned me and I can't go back."
Jeremy blinked at her. "So you're a vampire now?" He asked. She nodded and he sighed. "Okay so you'll have to adjust but you can still come back to Mystic Falls I mean look at Caroline and all of the other vampires that have lived there."
"I can't explain in any way that you would understand but I can't go back and even if I could …the two of us," she shook her head, "We don't work anymore. And I just told you that I was a vampire now and you had no reaction."
"It doesn't matter to me." Jeremy reached out and touched her hand but she pulled away from him.
"But it matters to me," Bonnie frowned, "I'm something I hate now. I'm just like the thing I have been fighting so hard against and you know that and you didn't even ask me if I was alright or how I felt about it. I care about you and I always will but we can't be together."
Bonnie was almost glad for the distance that had grown between them because if they had been as close as they once were it would have been harder to let him go. But she still would have had to let him go. There was no room for him in what her life had become, in the situation that she was now trapped in. If Klaus was willing to harm Marcel for befriending Bonnie she knew that he would have no issue with killing Jeremy were they to even try to stay together.
Besides that, even if she didn't want to admit it, as much as she was repulsed by Klaus she was beginning to be attracted to him as well. She was growing accustomed to their connection to one another and even now it was hard for her to be away from him and she could feel him becoming agitated at the distance. It would be a lie if she said she didn't enjoy having an effect on someone like Klaus as well.
"You seem to have made up your mind about this," Jeremy said, throwing up his hands, "I guess I don't get a say right?"
Bonnie opened her mouth to tell him that he could go ahead and say what he needed to say even if it wouldn't change anything when the back door of the bar opened and a woman walked out of the back. Bonnie shook her head as she felt the remnants of power, not just a woman, a witch.
"This isn't really a good time Sophie," Jeremy commented as she turned to face the woman slightly.
However, she didn't look at all perturbed by his words. "We had a deal," she reminded him, "I get rid of your ghostly ex-girlfriends and you arrange a meeting with your current one."
Bonnie raised an eyebrow at the exchange and glanced between the woman and Jeremy. "What is she talking about Jeremy?" Bonnie asked.
Frowning at the other witch, he sighed before turning back to Bonnie. "I've been seeing the ghosts of Vicki and Anna all summer," he muttered, "I guess they were the consequences of bringing me back from the dead."
"Were you planning on telling me?" Bonnie questioned further. She was met with silence and she shook her head. "I don't have time for this," she said, thinking that she needed to get back to Klaus before he came after her, "I said what I needed to say and now I'm leaving."
She turned to walk away but the woman moved forward and objected. "Listen," she said, "There are witches here that would have you dead for the right price but I just want to talk. I need your help."
Bonnie turned back and around and eyed the woman. "I don't know you and to be honest I don't really care to," she rubbed the sides of her head with her fingers in irritation as she heard the faint echo of Klaus calling her, "I have to go so whatever deal you had with him, consider it null and void."
Bonnie moved to leave again and found herself stuck to the spot that she was in. Scowling she crossed her arms over her chest. "Look lady," Bonnie sighed, "If I don't kill you the people that are going to come looking for me will so I suggest that you let this go."
Jeremy seemed surprised by the conviction in Bonnie's voice. "Bonnie you're not a killer," he said.
"The boy is right," Sophie said, "You're too good for that. I know about your family. Your line. You wouldn't hurt a fly if you can help it."
"Maybe before," Bonnie agreed, "But now my blood is not my own and my maker is getting angrier by the minute. He's coming for me and all that he asks is that I bide my time here so that he can kill you himself." Klaus was in her head now and she was allowing it. Showing him any and everything about the location that she was in that would assist in helping him find her.
"Even if you could attack me," Sophie shrugged, "I would have to release you in order for that to happen and I'm not dumb enough to do that."
Bonnie felt her own power surge to the surface. "Who said I couldn't break free from your hold myself?" She asked. She took a step forward and the woman took a step backward and hesitated. Bonnie knew that she could run now that she was free but that would mean leaving Jeremy in the line of fire and even if this situation was his doing and they had just broken up, she didn't want him dead. "So are you going to walk away or am I going to have to force you?"
"Who says that I'm alone?" Sophie said. Bonnie watched as witches came out of the shadows and she rolled her eyes. She had never been in a one on one fight with a witch before and now she was dealing with at least five. "We just want some of your blood," Sophie reasoned, "That's it. No one has to get hurt and you could save a lot of people."
Bonnie searched her head for Klaus, for guidance. "Fight," she heard his voice say, "You are stronger then all of them put together. They are nothing. You are everything. I'm close. Fight until I get there." Bonnie still felt uncertain but she had no real choice but to listen. "If you want my blood," she said aloud, trying to hide her confusion as to why they would want it, "You'll have to kill me first."
"There's an idea," Sophie said, raising her hand to attack. Before she could even recite the spell Bonnie sent her flying into the nearest wall.
:::
There was anger and then there was the complete and utter rage that Klaus was feeling at the moment. When Stefan had come back into the party alone he had been suspicious. But the vampire insisted that Bonnie had simply needed some time to cool down after the confrontation that she had had with the doppelganger. However, as the time passed Klaus grew more and more impatient.
Then after waiting a total of ten minutes he had gone out to look for her. When he couldn't sense her and knew she wasn't close he had recruited, his sister, Stefan, and Marcel to help. A few of Marcel's men had joined them and it wasn't long before Klaus sensed that Bonnie was in danger.
"I'm sorry," Stefan said, as he walked beside him, "I shouldn't have left her alone."
Klaus shook his head as they rounded the corner. "It isn't your job to protect her," he said, "It's mine." He had fallen short and with each bout of panic and pain that he could feel coming from Bonnie he was reminded of it. "If something happens to her…," he trailed, his mind an image of mayhem and destruction.
"It won't," Stefan said, shaking his head.
"Doesn't matter," Klaus spat, "Either way everyone involved has to die." His tone was matter of fact and left no room for argument. His thoughts had one track. Everything was centered on Bonnie. She was close, he could feel it.
Stefan watched as Klaus quickened his steps. The only reason that he hadn't sped ahead of them was that he was the only person who could sense Bonnie. The only person who knew where she was. So he would have to lead them to her. Still he could tell that they weren't moving fast enough for Klaus's tastes and the hybrid was getting impatient.
"We're close," Klaus said, interrupting Stefan's thoughts, "Move it. If she dies you all die." His tone was menacing, but it was serious. There was no room for argument and no exception to the rule. Not even his sister, who stood silent as a grave at Marcel's side. His mind, his head, was full of Bonnie and there was no room for anything else.
Klaus quickened his pace as he heard the sound of her heartbeat. Heard her voice. He was sure they could all hear her too and so he finally felt comfortable enough to use his speed and left them all behind, not caring if they followed.
As he rounded the corner and walked behind the bar he could see Bonnie still fighting. Two of the witches were incapacitated and Jeremy Gilbert lay unconscious near the bar's back door, probably Bonnie's doing to get him out of the way and protect him. Three of the witches were left standing but their powers were weakening and Klaus knew that they wouldn't last long.
He was about to go for the strongest one when Bonnie suddenly turned toward him, sensing his presence. "Klaus," she said, smiling. Her eyes were full of hope and relief. But then one of the witches took advantage of the moment of inattention and sent a discarded piece of pipe flying through the air into Bonnie's chest, right through her heart, and out the other side.
Klaus could feel it as if it had pierced through him and the scream that left him was animalistic as he watched Bonnie fall to the ground. He didn't even notice when the other's came up behind him. A few of them chasing after the witches that were trying to flee.
Klaus moved forward, slowly kneeling down next to her body. No pulse. No heartbeat. Nothing. He could feel the connection between them starting to fade. He placed his hand over the still bleeding wound as if the blood loss were the problem. Her eyes were open, blank, staring up at the night.
"Bonnie don't do this," he said, "Please don't do this." He felt as if he had lost a limb. The pain was unbearable. "Open your eyes," he ordered, "Come back to me."
Stefan, Rebekah, and Marcel watched over Klaus's shoulder. All three were experiencing a sense of loss but they had known death. Seen it before. And even without that factor, they knew it would never affect them then way it was affecting Klaus to lose her.
Rebekah stepped forward. "Nik," she said, softly, "She's gone."
"No," Klaus said, shaking his head, "She has too much strength. Too much power to die this easily. And if she is then we'll bring her back."
"Magic isn't that simple," Marcel said sadly.
"It has to be," Klaus cried, "I was supposed to protect her. She was distracted and even before I let her go out alone..." He looked down at her silently willing her to show some sign of life.
He continued to listen, for something, anything that would prove his sister's words to be false. After what seemed like an eternity he heard her heart began to beat. The sound was faint at first, so faint that he thought he was imagining it, but then it grew strong. He ran his hand gingerly over the wound and felt it beginning to heal.
"She's healing," he whispered, his tone full of awe, "I told you she was strong."
They all frowned, for a moment thinking that Klaus had gone insane, knowing that there was no way it could be possible. But then Bonnie blinked. Then gasped and then her hand reached up and touched Klaus's face.
"I thought I had lost you," he said, as he placed a hand over hers.
"I knew you would come for me," Bonnie replied and he wondered if she realized the magnitude of what she had just done.
Rebekah, Stefan, and Marcel shared a look, all wondering the same thing. What the hell had just happened?
:::
They had wanted her blood. The question was why and Klaus had no real answer. His blood, he could understand. His death he could understand. He didn't mind being the target. But no one could ever target his witch. For any reason. He wouldn't allow it.
He sat in the living room of the aging house, wanting to drink but he needed to be sober for Bonnie. She needed him. She needed his head clear. She was upstairs. Showering. Crying. Questioning. Asking herself things Klaus should have been able to answer.
The witches had not been killed but they had been tortured. Marcel and Stefan had seen to that. He knew that Bonnie wouldn't like it but he could not let it stand. Could not let them think they could go after him without consequence. He was surprised that Stefan had stayed since Damon and the Gilberts were who the hell cared where. The last time Klaus had seen Bonnie's former beau he had been left unconscious in the alley that they had found Bonnie in. They hadn't bothered to contact his sister or the other Salvatore. No one cared about his wellbeing, not even Bonnie at the moment.
His sister was the only other person in the house and he wouldn't speak to anyone. Not until he spoke to Bonnie. He could feel her even now. Getting dressed. Going into his room, not in search of him but for something else, for she knew where he was. Always she knew, when they were close enough to one another.
Coming down the stairs. Through the foyer. Talking briefly to Rebekah. Laughing. Smiling. Heading toward him again. Closing herself off so that he could not feel her turmoil. It wasn't working. Still she forged ahead, coming into the living room.
He opened his eyes once she stood before him. She was wearing one of his shirts. A black one with long sleeves. The thing she had gone into his room for. "I'm sorry," he said, running a hand over his face, "What happened tonight shouldn't have happened."
She sighed as she sat down on the edge of the coffee table in front of him, still so close that their knees touched. "This isn't your fault," Bonnie frowned, "I was upset but I should have told you where I was going and why. I didn't think to bring you with me because I knew I had to talk to Jeremy and I thought… or rather I didn't think he would do something so stupid. But it doesn't matter now. It's over."
"I'm supposed to protect you," he said, looking down.
"And you did," she insisted, reaching out and grabbing his hands, "You came for me and I knew you would. I've never been so sure of anything in my life and when I saw you…I knew that I would be safe." Ordinarily, she wouldn't have bothered to reassure him but something inside of her was forcing her to do so.
He tugged her forward and she stood. There was a surreal moment when he whispered, "If anything had happened to you…" and she wondered what the end of that statement would be. His plans would be ruined perhaps. Or perhaps he would have to turn another witch. That was a possibility as well. She stiffened slightly as he pulled her to stand in between his legs. "I wanted to kill them," he continued as he wrapped his arms around her middle, "You should have let me." He buried his face in her stomach for a moment, before leaning back and looking up with her, his eyes saying something that she couldn't quite place. "I can't lose you," he said, "Do you understand?"
She reached down in spite of herself and ran a hand through his hair. "I understand," she whispered.
Bonnie heard someone clear their throat and looked up to see Rebekah watching them. She frowned at the fact that she hadn't noticed the other original even enter the room.
Klaus turned his head toward his sister, but his arms remained around her. "What is it Rebekah?"
Rebekah studied Bonnie's face and seemed to be searching for something, before she turned back to Klaus. "We have some visitors," she said, "Or rather Bonnie does."
Bonnie looked at her perplexed as Klaus stood, his arms falling from her. She watched as Rebekah gestured toward whoever was standing just outside the room to enter. She recognized the first person after a moment. "Lucy?" Bonnie frowned in confusion, "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"
The woman smiled at her as she walked fully into the room but Bonnie didn't return it. She was confused and wary after the dealing with the witches of the quarter. She would have to learn more about her craft. Her power was useless if she didn't know how to use it.
"We talked to your Aunt Bernadette," Lucy revealed, "Told her everything about you, about the supernatural and she told us where to find you."
"We?" Bonnie asked. She walked around the couch to stand before Lucy, Klaus walking up to stand behind her.
"Your mother and I," Lucy said after a moment.
Bonnie shook her head. "That's impossible," she frowned, "My mother doesn't give a damn about me. I haven't seen or heard from her in over twelve years."
Lucy moved to speak but stopped as Abby Bennett entered the room. She could tell that a part of Bonnie recognized the woman by the look in the girl's eyes. "Hello, Bonnie," Abby said, offering a smile.
Bonnie shook her head taking a step backward, stopping as she bumped into Klaus's chest. He reached forward slightly and took her hand and suddenly she felt surer of herself. She cleared her throat and spoke. "Klaus," she said, "This is my cousin Lucy and apparently my mom….I'm sorry I don't know your name."
"Abby," she responded, quietly looking down.
They stared at each other and Bonnie noted that their features in many ways were similar. She saw her grams in the woman as well and that did more to dampen her already dulling mood. "Why are you here?" Bonnie asked.
"We're here to help you," Lucy said.
"Well," Bonnie sighed, "I'm a little beyond help at this point. So far I've been turned into a vampire witch hybrid. Sired to the first hybrid. Attacked by witches who want my blood. And that is just this summer. I could go over the last twelve years or so but why?" She glanced from Lucy to the woman who claimed to be her mother. She had been hoping to shock them. However, they looked back at her straight-faced. "You don't look surprised by any of this," she said, "Why is that?"
"Because we knew that this would happen," Abby sighed, "Just like we know why the witches wanted your blood and probably still want it. And they won't be the only ones."
Bonnie blinked at her not sure how to respond. "Explain," Klaus demanded, saving her the trouble.
Abby scowled as she eyed him. "I'm here to speak to my daughter and only my daughter," she said.
"Whatever you have to say to me you can say in front of him," Bonnie stated, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"Fine," Abby said, "He's involved as well so I guess it doesn't matter much." She swallowed before she continued. "When I was pregnant with you the spirits told me and my mother that you would die young," Abby revealed, "Not just die young, but you would be turned. Turned by a creature that was of wolf, witch, and vampire blood and that your blood would change as a result. Or rather what lay dormant in your blood would surface."
"What do you mean what lay dormant?" Klaus frowned. As far as he knew the Bennett line was a witch line. He didn't know what else there was besides what was in his blood.
"Your family may have produced the first vampires but the Bennett line produced the first immortals," Abby replied, "Long ago there was a woman in our line named Qetsiyah. She and her lover Silas were both very powerful. They came together to create an elixir that would grant them immortality. However, when she drank it, Qetsiyah didn't realize that she was with child. While the baby did not become immortal, it affected her blood and her power. After she was born as punishment for breaking the balance Qetsiyah and Silas were imprisoned on the other side. Their child was given to Qetsiyah's sister to raise and our line started with her, our blood is her blood."
"What does that mean exactly?" Bonnie asked, "And who was this Silas guy anyway?"
"He's an ancestor of the Salvatore," Abby said, "We're related to them…distantly. That is why Emily trusted Damon with the protection of our line and why mom placed so much faith in Stefan and she was willing to save him…even if it meant her own death."
"You know about Grams?" Bonnie asked, her guilt resurfacing.
Abby nodded. "I know," she said, "She doesn't want you to feel guilty anymore. She talks to me sometimes. From the other side. She wants you to know that she knew what would happen. That it was her choice."
Bonnie bit her lip and used her free hand to wipe at the tear that had fallen at the words. "The rest," she said, needing to change the subject, "Explain the rest."
"Like I said," Abby continued, "Our line holds the blood of those immortals but it remained dormant, due to the actions of the witches on the other side. They intended to keep the balance so they couldn't allow the spell Qetsiyah used to be replicated and they couldn't allow our blood to interfere with the balance either. That was the whole reason the vampire spell was even necessary to create the Originals. Prior to that Qetsiyah's way had been the only way. Qetsiyah knew that if we were ever able to access what was in our blood, there could be endless ways in which we could cheat death, endless spells that could be created. Even ones that could open the door to the other side and free her. The problem is that every witch has to answer to the spirits, the only way to break from them is to not be one. But without being a witch there were no powers. She needed it both ways, and that wasn't possible until the first hybrid was created. A creature with the blood of a witch, a werewolf, and vampire. The key to combining the species. Klaus. All that was left would be to have someone in our line brought into his path. But she needed someone strong enough. The strongest since her, and that Bonnie was always destined to be you. The last of the Bennett line. Even before you were born she has been working on the other side to get you into Klaus's path so that he could turn you into something that is both witch and vampire but more powerful than both, so that you could unlock the secret of immortality hidden in our blood. Something that can't die. The spirits have been fighting her. Trying to weaken her. Trying to weaken you and police her power. The original witch fought, commissioning witches from the other side to kill Klaus with promises of power and a number of other things. To kill you, before she realized that you could not be killed. I have been fighting her as well. But she won. You and Klaus are together just as she had planned but the consequences of her machinations are going to be much greater than even she imagined."
The spirits had been attempting to make Bonnie weaker. Immediately Bonnie's mind went to the nose bleeds. This was too much information. She didn't know what to make of it and still she had more questions. "You said you fought her," she asked, "What do you mean? Have your seen her?"
Abby shook her head. "No," she frowned, "Before you were born your grandmother and I researched the originals. Klaus. Every connection we had to their line. Every possible motivation. We found out that a big part of the reason that he wanted to access his werewolf side and break the curse was because of his fear of a hunter named Mikael that also happened to be a vampire and his mother's husband. After you were born I waited a few years before hunting him down and entombing him hoping that it would make Klaus end his crusade to break the hybrid curse since he would no longer have anything to fear. No breaking of the curse. No hybrid. No one for Qetsiyah to send after you and you would be safe. Live a normal happy life."
"You're the one who entombed Mikael?" Klaus interrupted. He shouldn't have been surprised. She was a Bennett witch after all and apparently their line was even more powerful than he knew. And Bonnie, she would never die, could never die. He could have her by his side forever.
"Not that it changed anything," Abby said, cutting into Klaus's thoughts, "You weren't just in it to be strong enough to stop Mikael, you were in it for the power. And I'm sure you knew that there was a chance that Mikael wouldn't stay trapped forever. So you pressed forward in breaking the curse anyway. But entombing Mikael took more power than I expected and I knew that I couldn't protect my daughter if I was weak so I've spent the last few years trying to find a way to get my powers back to what they were and finally I've done that."
Bonnie still didn't understand why the woman couldn't have called her. Come to visit her at least once. She seemed to know a lot about her and her life and so she could have been a part of it. Especially after her grandmother died. "So why did the witches want my blood?"
"You have your blood and Klaus's blood," Lucy said, "There's no telling what spells could be created. The ways in which you could cheat death. The beings that you could create. Many believe they can use your blood to recreate Qetsiyah's spell and they're probably right. But the possible power doesn't end there. I know one of the witches that came for you tonight was hoping to use your blood to resurrect her sister. Between you and Klaus, the spirits are null and void. Your very existence has completely destroyed the balance and the witches on the other side are at a loss as to how to remedy it."
Bonnie let go of Klaus's hand, not wanting to feel his smugness and vindication. She was tired of this. Tired of power. Tired of her life being disrupted. She hadn't even accepted the fact that she was a vampire and now to find out that she was truly immortal. Perhaps Klaus was too, he had drank her blood. This was too weird. Her whole life had been manipulated and orchestrated by witches that she couldn't even see. And for what. To keep her from or lead her to Klaus? And it all made sense. Even her inheriting the power of all those witches. The spirits likely hoped that on the night of the sacrifice Bonnie would have killed Klaus and died from the use of all of that power. Eliminating them both in one swoop. She had trusted the spirits more times than not and they had been out to destroy her. But now that she thought about it, the only ones who had ever been of any real help to her had been her Grams and Emily. "I can't do this right now," she said to no one in particular.
She walked out of the room ignoring the voices that called after her.
:::
Bonnie sat in the middle of her bed, legs crossed and eyes staring blankly ahead. She had lost her best friend and her boyfriend, met her mother, and learned that she was immortal in one night. She wasn't processing anything at all.
She looked up at the sound of a knock on the door. She knew exactly who was on the other side without being able to see them. She could feel him. She could always feel him. She tugged at the hem of the shirt she was wearing. It was his. It smelled like him. It was, much to her dismay, the only thing that was making her feel better and so she knew his presence would calm her as well. "Come in," she called, staring down at the red sheets on the bed.
The door opened and Klaus entered but she didn't look up. He stared down at her as he closed the door behind him. "I'd like to talk to you," he said, carefully. There was a wide array of emotions flowing off of her and none of them were positive.
"Okay," Bonnie said softly as she raised her eyes to look at him finally. She patted the bed in front of her with her hand. She watched as he sat down in front of her. "Did my mother leave?"
Klaus nodded. "She did, but she didn't go far," he told her, "She's staying with your aunt now. As is your cousin Lucy. She wanted me to tell you that she is ready to talk whenever you are."
Bonnie wasn't sure that she would ever be ready to talk to her mother. Even knowing why she really left didn't take away the sting of her absence all these years and she still wasn't sure that she could trust her. The hour was much too late to call her father and get his opinion on the matter and even if she could there was no guarantee he would answer the phone and if he did….there was no guarantee that he would want to discuss anything to do with her mother or her powers.
She had questions about what she was, and what she could do but she didn't want to address them all in one night.
"You must be happy about this," she said changing the subject, as she eyed him, "You've discovered the key to true immortality. My blood and your blood. We create all new ways to cheat death."
He had changed out of the clothes he had worn to the party, now wearing a shirt similar to the one that she had stolen from his dresser drawer and a pair of loose fitting sweatpants. He reached out and ran a finger along her bare leg, stopping as he reached the pink shorts that were peeking out from beneath his shirt that she was wearing. "I won't say I'm not pleased by the discovery," he said, "That I'm not proud in what I have created in you but…I wouldn't say that I was particularly happy about it."
Bonnie frowned. "Why not?" She knew how much he wanted supernatural notoriety. Power. Now he basically had limitless amounts of both.
"Because," he said, his expression serious, "I know how much this scares you. I can feel it." He took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. "You don't have to be afraid. I promised to take care of you and I will," he vowed.
Bonnie frowned, pulling her hand away. "It's not like I can die," Bonnie shrugged, though she still didn't know how she felt about that, "So I don't really need looking after."
"You might not be able to die," Klaus pressed, "But there are still ways to harm you. You can still get hurt and I don't want you hurt."
She wanted to believe he was being genuine but at the same time she didn't. She needed to find some ulterior motive or she would soften toward him even more than she had already and she couldn't do that. "Let me guess," she sighed, "You want to keep me out of harm's way so only you can use me to create some immortal witch army or bring a bunch of your old allies back from the dead."
"I don't need an army," he frowned, "I have you. You're enough."
"I've never been enough for anyone," Bonnie said, before she could stop herself. She looked away from him, having revealed more about herself than she ever intended to reveal, especially to him.
"Neither have I," Klaus said. He reached out and cupped the side of her face causing her to look up at him once more. "I know what that feels like," he told her, "So I wouldn't say if I didn't mean it. Especially not to you. You are enough. You're more than enough. I don't need any others. Just you."
Bonnie shook her head, feeling as if she might cry. "I'm tired," she murmured. She had wanted those words all her life and it frustrated her that when they had finally come they had come from him.
"Get some rest then," Klaus said, his hand falling to his side. He stood and walked around the bed to turn off the bed side lamp. When the room was pitched in darkness, he listened as she got underneath the covers.
Klaus moved to leave the room but stopped as Bonnie's hand shot out and wrapped around his wrist. "Would you stay for a little while until I fall asleep?" She whispered.
"Yes," he nodded, though she could hardly make out the nod in the dark.
He climbed in on the opposite side of the bed and hesitated a moment before wrapping his arms around her.
"Maybe I was wrong," Bonnie said, as she closed her eyes, "Maybe you can take care of me. Maybe you're the one who's supposed to."
"You heard what your mother said," he answered, "Even before you were born, you were meant for me. We're fated."
Bonnie shut her eyes tighter trying to block out the words even as a part of her accepted them. She hadn't thought about it in those terms. Fated. He was always supposed to be her sire. She was meant to die by his hands so they she could live on without fear of death. Fated. She hated the word but she didn't know what else to call it.