Lapse

by jazzywazzy08

An accident leaves Bonnie with no memories and the Originals use the fact to turn her into someone that no one is prepared to handle, least of all them. Guilt pushes the Salvatore to help Bonnie get her memories back; but along the way their motivations change. Whose side will Bonnie be on when she remembers, the Originals, the Salvatore, or her own? Post 3x18.

6. PART SIX: REIGN

Title: Lapse

Rating: M

Genre: AU/AH

Pairing(s): Bonnie/Klaus, Kol/Lucy, Elijah/Abby, Stefan/Meredith, Bonnie/Damon (One-sided), Caroline/Tyler, Matt/Katherine, Marcel/Rebekah, mentions of past Bonnie/Jeremy etc.

Summary: "Taking advantage of the situation will be easy," Klaus said, "We can turn her into anything we want. The real beauty of it all is as long we keep her happy; meaning fed, fucked, acknowledged, and oblivious to anything involving Elena Gilbert, all the things that she was deprived of while in the company of the Salvatore, even if she begins to remember she won't think of asking any questions." An accident leaves Bonnie with no memories and the Originals use the fact to turn her into someone that no one is prepared to handle, least of all them. Guilt pushes the Salvatore to help Bonnie get her memories back; but along the way their motivations change. Whose side will Bonnie be on when she remembers, the Originals, the Salvatore, or her own? Post 3x18.

Warnings: Non-Canon, Dark!Bonnie, Character Death, Violence, Graphic Torture, Dark Magic, etc.

PART SIX: REIGN

"Kings are no trouble. It's the queens."

~Luigi Donzelli

Niklaus Mikaelson stop speaking as his wife placed a finger over his lips. His wife. It was strange to think of her as such, in more ways than one. Not too long ago they had despised each other. Had wanted each other dead. The problem was, while he was in love and she was in love for now, when her memory returned there was no guarantee that her feelings for him would remain. In fact he was sure that they would turn quite the opposite and he would lose everything that he had gained.

"You've told me all I need to know about Damon and the others that might be with him and then some," Bonnie said, "I've heard everything. You've explained to me what we were to one another. What we've done to one another. The truth about my accident as you know it. What are you afraid of?"

They were sitting together on an old couch in a room that Klaus used to use for painting long before Bonnie existed. She was looking up at him as he wrapped his arms around her and he was mentally counting down in his head as he waited for the bottom to fall out of this new reality he had created and for her to look upon him as if he were a monster once more.

"You should be careful," he said, cautiously, "What actions that you take against them if you see them. While I don't care what happens to them, you might when you remember. You might even blame me and-"

"Use it as an excuse to leave you?" Bonnie asked. A nod was his response. Bonnie frowned as she looked up at him. "I'm not as blind to the situation as I was and I'm still here," she pointed out, "I don't know what'll happen if I remember but… You said that before…that you were planning on killing me once I remembered to protect yourself and your siblings. I know it would be harder now if at all possible with the amount of people loyal to me and with my power but is that still the plan?"

"Of course not," he sighed, "And not because of the repercussions I would likely face from you and the city if I tried. I would never hurt you. Not now."

"And if I remember," Bonnie pressed, "And I lash out at you and the others, would that still stand?"

He frowned. To answer would mean to show vulnerability but he had already done that. He was past that. Especially with her. "If you lashed out it would be with good reason," he answered, "I also understand the need for revenge. I would let you get out your anger in any way you felt necessary and I would hope that you would keep your promise to me and remember that I love you."

Bonnie smiled as she took his face in her hands. "You see," Bonnie said, "You love me. I see that. I can feel that. And even if I remember…what I feel for you isn't just going to go away. Even if I end up wanting it to." Bonnie searched his eyes and she pressed forward. "You're not keeping me prisoner," she said, "You've told me the truth and I'm still here. I'm giving myself to you. I'm taking your name. I love you. That has to mean something."

"It means everything," he whispered, "I wouldn't fear losing it so much if it didn't."

"Everyone has said that you wanted me before," she responded, "That you gave up before you tried. That the reason that you took me once my memory was gone was because you thought it was the only way that you could have me. I…need you to promise me that no matter happens if or when I remember that you'll fight for me. That you won't give up. If you do that then you don't have to worry. If you do that then I'll have no choice but to believe that some part of this is real even if my memories tell me differently."

"I will," he promised, "And it is real."

Bonnie wrapped her arms around his neck as he leaned down and kissed her. They pulled a part a moment later at the sound of a throat clearing.

They turned to see Rebekah and Davina standing in the doorway. "If you two are done," Rebekah sighed, "I need to borrow my sister. We have shopping to do."

"Sister?" Bonnie asked, raising a brow. Bonnie grinned as Klaus rolled his eyes.

"Apparently you two tied the knot while no one was paying attention," Rebekah shrugged, "So it would seem so. Now come on. We have to make sure you look good enough to eat for your birthday party. We will talk about wedding details later. Because there will be an actual wedding and I will be the one planning it."

Klaus sighed heavily at the thought but didn't object as Bonnie nodded in agreement. Bonnie moved to stand but Klaus kept his arms around her. She turned to him and frowned in question. "Nothing too short or too tight for the party," he said.

Bonnie sighed. "Don't be that way," she pouted, "Besides…what does it matter what I wear when you'll just rip it off of me later anyway."

"You have a point," he conceded as she kissed him again. Reluctantly, he let her go. "Be careful," he said, "There's a lot of people out there who want your attention. If you need anything…"

"I'll call you," she nodded, "Now stop worrying so much."

Klaus nodded in turn as he watched Bonnie walk toward his sister. But in truth he wasn't sure that he could.

:::

Bonnie Bennett felt as if she were being followed. She had been out shopping with Rebekah and Davina for hours and while they were being constantly watched and approached by the supernatural citizens of the city, this felt different. Like she was being targeted, and pursued, for something different than the showing of respect, the asking of a favor, or the declaration of loyalty.

Rebekah was keeping most of those people at bay, when a look or nod from Bonnie didn't send them scurrying away. Still whoever this was, whoever was following her so persistently had not ceased since they had started.

Bonnie stopped walking, letting Rebekah and Davina walk inside of the dress shop in which they were headed, in front of her. She took a few steps back and waited for whoever had been following her to show themselves.

She didn't have to wait long. As soon as Rebekah and Davina were out of eyesight, Bonnie found herself grabbed by the wrist and she was pulled into a nearby alcove.

She looked up and into familiar blue eyes as she was pressed against the side of a brick building. "Did you miss me, witchy?"

Bonnie frowned as her eyes took in Damon Salvatore. There was a moment of recognition and the next moment Damon found him slammed hard into the opposite wall. "What the hell are you doing here?" Bonnie spat.

"So you do know who I am," Damon said, as he picked himself up, "Because I was under the impression that you were suffering from some sort of memory loss." He had known that the plan was to lay low and stay out of sight, but when he had seen Bonnie he couldn't bring himself to stay way.

Bonnie frowned as she eyed him. "I'm beginning to remember things," Bonnie said, "Like the fact that you killed my mother. Like the fact that you attacked me at least once. Also the fact that I am not very fond of you."

Damon laughed, brushing off his shirt. "Are you remembering things or is Klaus telling you things because there is a difference," he said.

Bonnie's jaw ticked and she felt her temper rise. "You will not speak his name," Bonnie spat, as the wind picked up around them. "Besides if I was wrong about anything that I just said then you would have corrected me I'm sure."

"Look," Damon said, "If you don't want to talk about him then fine. We'll talk about you." He tried to smile but the expression on her face made it hard to do so. "I'm here to bring you home," he said fiercely, "I'm not leaving this city without you, Bonnie."

She raised her hand and Damon found himself pressed against the wall unable to move. Bonnie closed her hand into a fist and then Damon's throat closed cutting off his air supply. "You have no right to speak my name either," Bonnie spat, "I may not remember you but I remember enough to piss me off."

Damon attempted to move but his limbs wouldn't cooperate. He knew that he would lose consciousness soon and that would be the end of their plans. He watched as Bonnie moved her other hand across her neck and suddenly Damon's throat split open, blood pouring from the wound.

Just as he began to feel dizzy and the pain began to surface like little knives prickling all over skin, Bonnie released him as they heard the sound of footsteps.

Bonnie turned away from Damon as he fell to the ground and turned toward the women that were approaching them. For a moment as she studied the woman in the forefront, Bonnie thought that they were there to help Damon. However, as they bowed to her, she knew differently.

The woman leading them stepped forward, her dark hair matching her deep brown eyes. The tribal tattoo on her arm caught Bonnie's attention as she stood up straight. "Hello, déesse," she said, "I am Sophie Deveraux. The witches of the Quarter have come to pay our respects. We don't think that you should be wasting your powers on this plebian. We've come to assist you."

Bonnie was about to respond when she saw Damon stand up and speed off out of the corner of her eye. Crossing her arms over her chest she turned back to the other witches. "Thanks to you he got away," she said, "So as nice as it was to meet you I think you've done enough."

Bonnie moved to walk around them when the witch reached out a hand to her. "Déesse," Sophie said, "He'll be back and when he comes the city will be ready and willing to protect you."

Bonnie raised an eyebrow and the woman dropped her arm immediately. "I'm assuming you are here for something else," Bonnie said, "We both know that I could have handled him myself."

"That's true," Sophie nodded, "We came to pay our respects and to ask…if you plan on implementing any new rules for the Quarter or are you going to help Marcel enforce the ones still in place."

Bonnie frowned. "I haven't even adjusted to my powers yet," she said, "And with all due respect Ms. Deveraux I don't know the ways of the Quarter well enough to implement or change anything yet. However, I can tell you that things will change and when they do you'll know. And in the meantime, if you plan on coming after Davina then don't."

Bonnie knew before the woman opened her that she was about to argue. "You know what ties that she has to our powers," Sophie said.

Bonnie nodded. "I'm aware," she revealed, "I'm working on that. You can trust me and wait until I find another solution or you can come after her and die. It's your choice."

Sophie stepped aside. "Spoken like a true, déesse," she responded, "One that we have decided to put our trust in. If you could keep us informed of your progress."

"As I plan on having you assist me I'm sure that won't be a problem," Bonnie said.

Sophie raised a brow at her. "Assist you?" She asked, watching as Bonnie asked one of the other witches for a pen and piece of paper and they scrambled to comply.

Bonnie's hands were free because her bags and things were being carried by some of Marcel's vampires, she didn't remember their names. Just that they were eager to serve her. "It's your problem and not mine," Bonnie said, "So I don't see why I should be the only one working to solve it. Besides, the witches obviously respect you, so it would be a good thing if the two of us came to an understanding. Or I could bypass that and kill you and they can come to an understand with me instead."

A witch handed Bonnie a piece of paper and pen and Bonnie motioned for her to turn around and bend down. Bonnie used her back as a table as she wrote down her information. Sophie eyed the scene and Bonnie was aware the woman knew that she was doing it to display her power. "This is where you can reach me," Bonnie said, handing the paper to Sophie, "I'll trust you'll be in touch."

Without waiting for a response as she had said all she had needed to say, Bonnie walked away from them coming out of the alcove just as Rebekah ran around the corner looking for her.

"There you are," Rebekah said, sighing in relief, "Where did you go? We turned around and you were gone."

"We have a problem," Bonnie frowned. Rebekah raised an eyebrow at her. "Damon's here," she said, "And from what you filled in for me about him and the others I doubt that he's alone."

"We have to warn the others," Rebekah said, "Not that I'm worried." In truth she was. All it would take was one of Bonnie's former acquaintances to spark a memory and everything would be over.

"You shouldn't be," Bonnie said, "I could take them all by myself no matter the number and between all of us, Marcel's men, and the city being practically wrapped around my finger there's nothing to be worried about. No one's going to take me away from any of you. We're family now." She said the words so vehemently that Rebekah wanted to believe her. "I have power. Nothing bad is going to happen. Let's go."

As Bonnie walked away Rebekah followed. It didn't escape Rebekah's notice that Bonnie didn't seem to have an issue with asserting her authority. She knew as she and Bonnie fell into step with each other that this wouldn't be the last time that she would be following the witch's lead.

:::

The house that her daughter was now staying in was still surrounded by supernatural beings hoping to get a glimpse of her standing out front and gifts adorning the porch and steps. Abby Bennett-Wilson managed to weed through the crowd and convince the vampires standing out guarding the front that she was indeed Bonnie's mother.

She sat in a small study and waited. Her daughter was out. That meant that she was left to meet with one of the originals. Elijah his name was. He was the eldest now that the brother, Finn, was dead.

She was surprised that the man had agreed to meet her. She had expected to be targeted or avoided the moment that she made contact.

Abby sat up in the chair as the door to the study opened and then closed again. A moment later Elijah Mikaelson was walking around the desk that Abby was sitting behind and sitting down in front of her. She had only seen him once but he was as poised and put together as she remembered.

"Thank you for meeting with me," Abby said, keeping her tone neutral, "Now could you kindly tell me where the hell my daughter is?"

Elijah smirked and placed his hands on the desktop. "Gladly Ms. Bennett-Wilson," he said, "But first I'll tell you this. Your daughter has come into her powers. All of them. She has no memory of who you are and as of right now my family and those loyal to us are who she prioritizes.

"She is in love with my brother and whether you believe it or not he loves her in return. She has been well cared for and well taken care of in a way that she was never taken care of while she was with the Salvatore. If you try to force her hand or if you come softly it will not matter. She will not leave us. You abandoned your daughter when she was very young. Her memory loss could be a new start for your relationship. A blank slate just as it was for us. I will tell you where she is and you can do one of two things with the information. You can skulk off to the Salvatore brother's with her whereabouts and end up with your daughter resenting you once more and farm her out to the same idiots who are the reason behind her current predicament in the first place. Hand her over to the man that turned you and his brother so they can use and abuse her once more. Or you can do the smart thing and align yourself with us. Watch over your daughter while she's under our care. Be there for her and teach her while she remains rather happily where she is and you remain in her favor. What will you do Ms. Bennett-Wilson?"

Abby knew he was right. If she kept watch over them as they kept Bonnie at least she would know firsthand that her daughter was alright. They could not beat them. They were too strong. Bonnie was on their side as of right now, which meant that remaining team Salvatore would likely get her killed. She had no loyalty to Stefan or Damon, or Caroline or Elena for that matter. Whatever Bonnie did to them they brought on themselves. Besides, she could always turn on the originals later. Take her daughter away once she remembered everything. "I'll take option number two," Abby said aloud, "How soon can I see Bonnie?"

"Soon," Elijah smiled. His brother would be happy to know that he had swayed Bonnie's mother. There was nothing standing in their way now. Giving Bonnie up was no longer an option for any of them. It was open season on the Salvatore brothers. If it was war they wanted then it was war they would get.

:::

Damon Salvatore winced as the lights came on in the normally darkened room. He was tied to a chair beaten, bloodied and broken. He listened as he heard the sound of footsteps. They were familiar to him now and so he was not surprised when Bonnie Bennett came into his line of vision.

She looked different. Tired. She looked at him as if he was nothing. She was beyond him. Above him. That had been there while she was torturing him before. That look. But it seemed that she didn't even see the value of torturing him anymore.

"Why haven't you fought back?" she asked, "You haven't lashed out at me. Not once."

He blinked at her through slightly blurred vision. "Because I deserve this," he answered, "Because I still….I still think that one day I can reach you and you'll come back."

"Back to what?" Bonnie frowned, "Back to Mystic Falls. Back to the twisted girl with low self-esteem that let you push her around and use her friends to manipulate her?"

"No," he shook his head, with some effort, "No. Back to the girl that was good. And naïve. And silly. The girl that smiled easily. That trusted easily. The girl that was strong and stubborn. The loyal girl that loved her friends. The girl you were before…before Stefan…before me."

A laugh. Low and bitter. "She's dead," she said, "I'm a queen now. A goddess. A leader. I don't need to be that girl anymore. Just like I don't need to waste any more time on you. The others have given up already. Stefan. Elena. Caroline. The torture. They broke. It only took a few days and they were calling me a monster. Cursing me to hell. Begging me for mercy. But I don't need them to tell me who I am. Not anymore. I know who I am now. And that's why I'm letting you go. All of you. But I want to ask you something. Why haven't you given up yet?"

A thought occurred to him. One he did not want to dwell on. One that he did not wish to voice. "I owe you," he said, instead of what he had been thinking.

"It's a little late to try and pay the piper," she grinned, "But whatever the case your debt is paid. I don't want anything from you. Will you give up now?" A head shake in response. "Why not?" she pressed, "Why do you care?"

A pause. Silence and then. "Because…," he whispered, "Because…I'm sorry. Because I…love you."

Bonnie laughed shaking her head. "If this is how you love people no wonder Katherine and Elena didn't want you," she said, "No wonder Klaus seems like the preferable option in this scenario."

She waved her hand and a moment later his wrists were untied. "Bonnie?"

"Go home Damon," she said, "There's nothing here for you. There never was." Before he could respond, she turned and walked away.

Damon's eyes opened and he shot up in the hotel bed. His brother looked over at him from where he stood looking out the window and frowned.

"We just sent Elena and Caroline into the line of fire and you choose now to sleep?" Stefan asked.

Damon shook his head. "I….," he sighed, "Had another dream. We have to get to Bonnie. I have to try again." He didn't want to dwell on the dream or its contents but his mind was telling him that there was something to the conversation that his dream-self had been having with Bonnie.

"Listen Damon," Stefan frowned, "I know you want to see this through but there's a chance we won't be able to. Bonnie is really powerful now. We lost contact with her mother and so who knows what happened to her. You, me, Elena, and Caroline are all that's left in this. If Caroline and Elena can't get through to her then we sure as hell can't. They're her best friends. This whole city is loyal to Bonnie and the originals. Bonnie attacked you on sight today. The longer we stay here the bigger the risk."

"I can't leave her here Stefan," Damon said as he got out of bed, "If you want to take the girls and leave then fine. But I'm staying. I'm seeing this through to the end."

"You don't even like Bonnie," Stefan sighed, "Why is this so important to you?" He knew his brother well and even though he was sure that Damon cared about Bonnie more than he was willing to let on, he still didn't understand his actions.

"I owe her," Damon responded, "And that's all that you need to know." Nodding Stefan decided to drop the subject and silently hoped that in terms of Bonnie, he was wrong.

:::

The bar that they had followed Klaus and his unknown companion whom Klaus referred to only as Marcel, to was dark and smelled heavily of smoke. Caroline Forbes and Elena Gilbert had been sent out by Damon to get information from them. They had hoped that it would be Elijah with Klaus as they were sure Elena would have a better chance to grill him than a stranger, but they moved forward anyway. While they had all planned on crashing Bonnie's party that night, they wanted to know exactly what they were getting themselves into beforehand.

Caroline's eyes roamed the bar in search of any sign of Bonnie. She wasn't sure what she would say to her if she were to see her but she couldn't help but wonder what kind of condition the originals were keeping Bonnie in. She snapped back to the matter at hand when Elena grabbed her by the arm.

"Remember what Damon said," Elena whispered, into Caroline's ear, "She doesn't remember us and Klaus has been filling her head with things. Even if she is here we can't approach her. We're not here for her. Not right now at least."

Caroline frowned but nodded. She watched as Elena walked toward the bar and sat down on one of the stools. Klaus and his companion were sitting together in a booth across the bar. For now it was better that Elena stay out of it. Since it was Klaus that they would have to go after instead of Elijah then Caroline was who they needed.

Klaus had been enamored with her when he left Mystic Falls and so she was sure that getting him to dismiss his companion and talk to her alone would not be hard. She was meant to figure out exactly what he wanted from Bonnie. So she walked across the bar and stopped in front of the booth that Klaus and Marcel were sitting in talking lowly to one another.

As Klaus looked up at her, his eyes were surprisingly cold. Even colder than they had been all those times that he had gone after them before. Even the last time she had seen him prior to his brother's death, there had been warmth there directed at her, but that was gone now. It shouldn't have bothered her but it did.

"You don't look surprised to see me," Caroline commented. She watched as Marcel stood wordlessly and walked toward the bar before turning her attention back to Klaus.

"That's because I'm not," Klaus responded, picking up the glass of bourbon in front of him and twirling the ice around a bit, "Thanks to Damon, your presence has been known for at least the past hour and so you've sort of lost the element of surprise."

"I'm guessing since Bonnie isn't around," Caroline said, glancing over at her Elena, who was now eyeing the situation with concern, "That what Damon said about her memory and you keeping her locked up is accurate."

"I don't need to keep her locked up," Klaus grinned, "She comes and goes as she pleases. She is much too powerful to control you see. It's simply that she comes home to me of her own free will now." Caroline frowned and was about to voice her objections to the thought but he spoke first. "As for her memory," Klaus said, taking a sip from the glass, "Some things are coming back to her. But it would seem that it doesn't much matter." He blinked at her a few times before he next spoke. "Since you know she doesn't remember you and you know that we want you dead. Is there a particular reason that you're here?"

"If you wanted me dead then I would be dead already," she said, though she sounded unsure, to him.

"Not necessarily," he said, "You're not a threat to us any longer and so killing you is no longer a necessity. If we killed you now it would be for fun and we would likely torture you first." He smiled as Caroline winced. She was weak. He could not look at her now and even fathom what appeal he had seen in her. "But we are planning a party at the moment and so torture is not on the menu until tomorrow," he continued, "However, you are free to tour the city until then. But you should know that this city will likely be the last thing that you'll ever see. If I don't kill you myself then Bonnie will. So I suggest that you go home."

Caroline decided to try a different tactic. She sat down in the seat that his companion had vacated. She placed her hand over his and was surprised when he snatched his hand away violently. "You're trying to act so cold but that won't work with me," she said, deciding to push forward in the hopes that her efforts would be rewarded with information, "I've seen a different side of you. A caring side. I know that you're not a monster. I know that you know what my friendship to Bonnie means to me-"

"Nothing much as far as I can tell," he interrupted. He looked away from her as she continued to try and convince him to tell her Bonnie's whereabouts. To let Bonnie go. As if he were keeping her captive. He saw the moment that Bonnie and his sister walked into the bar and scooted even further away from Caroline as Bonnie's eyes landed on them and narrowed. "Miss Forbes," he said, slowly, "If you value your life then I suggest that you stand up and walk away now."

Caroline scowled. She didn't understand it. When he had left he had been like putty in her hands. Going out of his way to prove to her that he had genuine feelings for her and now she had no pull all. They were back to square one. She supposed killing Finn had taken them back to that. "Are you threatening me now?"

Klaus rolled his eyes. He didn't understand why it would surprise her if he were. He had done so many times before. But he was not. "No," he said, "However, my wife is a very powerful and very possessive woman so she might. And she hasn't been as nice as I've been as of late even with her former disposition for heroics so if I were I would not risk it."

"Wife?" Caroline asked dumbfounded, "Who exactly would marry you?"

Instead of answering Klaus smiled in Bonnie's direction as she grew closer. Caroline followed his gaze and stood upon seeing Bonnie. She raced over to the girl and smiled. "Bonnie," she said, "I'm so glad that you're okay."

Bonnie blinked at the girl as she grabbed her shoulders. "You're touching me," she frowned. Caroline's hands dropped to her sides and she saw that there was no recognition in Bonnie's eyes as she looked at her. "And you were throwing yourself at my husband," she said. She shook her head as she turned and glanced at Rebekah. "Have you ever met anyone so rude in your life?"

Rebekah grinned shaking her head as she pulled Elena to her feet and took the seat she had been sitting in and nodded at Marcel. "Can't say that have," she commented.

"Husband?" Elena frowned as she joined the scene, "What are you talking about?"

Bonnie sighed. "And your little doe eyed friend is now joining the conversation uninvited," Bonnie frowned, "No manners between the two of you I swear."

Caroline glared. "She was your friend too at one point," she said, "I know you don't remember that now but-"

Bonnie laughed and Caroline grew silent. "I know who you are," Bonnie shrugged, "I just…don't care." Bonnie didn't even put down her shopping bags and as she waved her hand and broke all the bones in Caroline's legs. She smiled wider as both Caroline and Elena screamed. A moment later she sent Caroline flying across the bar and into the far wall.

Elena looked around in search of help but realized that the bar was full of vampires. Everyone even the bartender had sprouted fangs and looked to be waiting for the word from Bonnie to attack her. She watched as Bonnie picked up the cell phone that had fallen out of Caroline's hand and placed it into one of her bags. She had known Bonnie for years but she did not recognize the person standing in front of her.

"I hope that was enough to scare you off," Bonnie said, regaining her attention, "If it wasn't I know a few more tricks if you'd like to see."

"No," Elena said, shaking her head.

"Good," Bonnie nodded, "You're smarter than you look. When your friend wakes up I suggest that you get her out of here and you go home before I stop being nice and decide I want you dead. I'm sure one of my friends here would appease me if I asked."

Elena glanced warily at the bar's other occupants. "That won't be necessary," Elena said, attempting to hide her fear, "We'll leave."

She walked over to Caroline slowly eyeing the room as she waited for the blonde to heal and wake. There was a surreal moment as Bonnie nodded and every vampire went about their normal business as if nothing had happened.

Elena watched as Bonnie walked over to Klaus and slid into the booth next to him. Bonnie smiled, kissed him, and began to show off her purchases as if she assaulted her best friends every day and what she did was not out of the norm. Elena swallowed. No matter what Damon said she knew the truth now. Bonnie was gone. They had lost her.

:::

Rebekah Mikaelson watched as Bonnie Bennett was reunited with her mother from afar. The girl seemed more than happy to see her. She was even more pleased that the woman seemed to have taken her side in things and was willing to allow her to stay with Klaus and his siblings.

"I don't like her being here," Rebekah said, as Marcel walked up behind her, "Not only do I not trust her but she abandoned Bonnie when she was a child. The woman is not fit to kiss the ground at her feet."

Between Damon approaching Bonnie, both Caroline and Elena showing up in front of Klaus and Bonnie, and her mother aligning herself with them out of the blue; Rebekah was tired of the people that Bonnie was once loyal too popping up. They were threats to Bonnie's connections to her family, all of them. If she had it her way they would all be dead. But Klaus was afraid to kill them now for a different reason. When Bonnie remembered he didn't want her to have another reason to hate them by killing her former friends.

Marcel looked down at her and shook his head. "And you are?" he asked. He was met with silence. "She's just doing the same thing that you and your siblings are doing," he reminded her, "Taking advantage of Bonnie's memory loss in order to get a fresh start. I'm not judging. I am here to make sure I stay on her good side myself because I know what she is going to be capable of when it's all said and done. But I'll tell you what I told your brother. Be careful."

Rebekah frowned and she turned to him. "It's different now," she said, "We care for her."

Marcel sighed. "I never said you didn't but that might not matter when it's all said and done," he said, "If she remembers she won't be happy. She might be alright and forgive you after a while since you all told the truth but when she first remembers…she's not going to be thinking logically. She might lash out. I'm saying this because I care about you and I don't want to see you hurt."

"Still?" Rebekah asked, the look in her eyes slightly hopeful.

Marcel nodded. "Always," he stated. The moment between them passed as Bonnie laughed at something her mother was saying. A story from her childhood. That drew their attention. "And if it makes you feel any better," he said, as he glanced pointedly at Abby, "I don't like her either."

"See," Rebekah smiled, "I was right." She was pleased as Marcel placed a hand on the small of her back and he was pleased when she didn't pull away.

:::

Kol Mikaelson looked up and away from himself in the mirror as his sister-in-law walked into his room. It was odd thinking of her in those terms but he was used to change. He had seen lots of things in his long existence. He smiled at the sight of her. She was wearing a white lace slip dress, the color making her seem innocent, but the fit making her seem anything but. A contradiction just like his dear Bonnie.

"What are you doing here so close to your party?" he asked, "You're obviously dressed. I thought you'd be at the warehouse by now."

Bonnie smiled in a way that reminded him of himself. He and Rebekah had rubbed off on the girl more than he had initially realized it seemed. "I wanted to talk to you first," she said, "Aren't you going to tell me how nice I look?"

"You know you look lovely," his said his eyes narrowing, "You also know that you don't need to fish for complements…at least not from me. And I highly doubt that you've come to tell me that you wish to divorce my brother and run away with me. Have you?" Bonnie laughed shaking her head. "Wishful thinking I suppose," he shrugged, "Tell me why are you here then, sweetheart?"

He would miss this. Miss her when all was said and done. He was sure that things would not be the same once she remembered. But even so she could not come out of the experience unchanged. Her new power and her time with them would see to that. And that gave him hope.

"Would you like to be a dear and give me my birthday present early?" She asked, waving a phone he had not noticed before in his face.

"What's that?"

"A phone," she said, with a grin, "One that belongs to the blonde baby vampire I used to be friends with. The one that thinks she still has a chance with my husband."

Kol crossed his arms over his chest. He attempted to hide his amusement at the fact that Bonnie was so easily referring to his brother as her husband. She was slipping into the role of wife rather quickly and Rebekah had told him that she was adjusting to being a goddess with ease as well. He wondered what her former self would think of her new self once she remembered.

His brother had mentioned a run in with the Forbes girl and the eldest of the Salvatore brothers but he hadn't seemed particularly worried. "I'm familiar with her, yes," he said, bringing his attention back to Bonnie.

"Klaus thinks that I should leave the Salvatore and their female sidekicks be," she said, "After all I have my mother back and they have lost before they even started. But…"

"You have something else in mind?" Kol pressed.

A nod. "I don't think I should show them mercy," she sighed, "I know they won't stop. And what kind of goddess would I be if I didn't make sure that everyone around me feared and revered me in turn?"

Kol laughed. "I do love the way you think," he said, "Besides, you've got my brother going soft. And you are the new queen of the quarter so why not exercise a little power? See what you can do?"

"Exactly," Bonnie nodded. She had known that Kol would see things her way. "Well," Bonnie said, "I want to play a little game and I need your help and this phone to do it."

Kol smiled rubbing his hands together. Even if Marcel was right and this would likely blow up in their faces once Bonnie's memory came back, he would have fun with her while the situation still allowed for it. "Now you're speaking my language, dear sister," he said, "Who doesn't love a good game."

:::

There was a formidable crowd outside of the old abandon warehouse where Bonnie's party was being held. It had taken them some time but they had finally gotten inside. Damon Salvatore and his band of not so merry men were all wearing black and hooded sweatshirts. His brother's idea. In an effort to keep them from being discovered.

However, the crowd was so large, Damon doubted anyone would be able to pick them out of it. He looked around and was met with a blur of infinite unfamiliar faces. He could not find Bonnie among them.

He knew that at any given moment that any one of the party goers would turn against him if he got too close to Bonnie but he had to find her. He had no choice. Klaus's ties to Bonnie were stronger than they thought. He had managed to trick her into agreeing to marry him, at least on paper. Damon wasn't sure how far the relationship had gone otherwise. The whole situation was insane.

The problem was that Bonnie could be anywhere. The room they were in was wide, large and darkened. There were other floors. Balconies on each level looking over the floor that they were on. But they would search. If they searched all night it didn't matter.

The others had all but given up but Bonnie's behavior had only strengthened Damon's resolve.

He was shoving his way through the crowd and making sure he kept his brother in view out of the corner of his eyes when suddenly lights came on in the center of the room and he looked through the crowd in time to see Bonnie walk out onto a stage he had not noticed. She looked beautiful, ethereal in the spot light as she smiled and waved to the crowd. They were chanting. Some chanting her name. Some chanting déesse. Some chanting goddess.

Damon frowned as he noted the giant white screens displaying Bonnie's image just behind her for the crowd members on the other floors. Who knew how many supernatural creatures were there amongst the naïve city tourists who had no idea what they had gotten themselves into. Klaus and his siblings were there as well he knew though they had not shown themselves yet.

Damon watched as Bonnie held up her hands and the crowd quieted as she lifted the microphone in her hand to her lips and spoke. "Thank you all for coming to share this moment with me," she said. She smiled at the cheers that followed before she continued. "I want you all to have a good time and to make sure you do I want to play a little game," she grinned.

Damon shot a glance at Stefan and noted the scowl on his brother's face.

"There are some people here," she said, pouting, "Who want to ruin your déesse's fun?"

Damon froze as the crowd booed.

"I know right," Bonnie sighed, "It's my birthday and I can't even celebrate in peace. But….I'm not going to let a few party crashers ruin my good time and neither are you, right?"

The crowd gave a resounding 'no'. Damon watched in horror as pictures of himself, Stefan, Elena, and Caroline flashed on the enormous screens. All of them Caroline had taken at different points in time. He hadn't understood why Bonnie had taken the girl's phone when Caroline had told him but he was beginning to.

"So here's what I want you to do," Bonnie said, regaining his attention, "You see these people on the screen. I need you to go on a little scavenger hunt and find them. Bring them to me alive so that I can have a little fun with them and you will be handsomely rewarded. You have until midnight. Okay?"

More cheers filled the air and Damon's stomach dropped.

"In the meantime we are going to party," Bonnie beamed at the crowd, looking for all the world as if she hadn't just started the most sadistic game of hide and seek ever played, "So who's ready for karaoke?"

As the crowd roared a part of Damon wished that they had heeded Sheila Bennett's warning.