Chapter 3:

Rebekah joined Elijah in the woods but she knew that she was really joining him in a different time. Wordlessly he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"He can't be gone," Rebekah said sadly. "It's been the four of us for so long. I mean it's different when Klaus daggers him but this time…"

"I keep expecting him to come through the mansion door," Elijah sighed. "He didn't deserve what happened to him and they will pay. I was just thinking about when we were younger and Kol used to practice with his sword out here. You would sneak up that ash tree to watch him."

"You knew"

"Of course I knew," Elijah smiled. "Why do you think I finally gave in and taught you how to wield a blade?"

"He wasn't nearly as good at it as your or Klaus but he certainly tried," Rebekah remembered fondly.

"Well as we found out he was much better with a baseball bat and his bare hands," Elijah said, "Kol was lethal which is why I can't believe the Gilberts of all people ended him." He growled in anger. He had trusted her. She had given every indication that family meant as much to her as it did to him. Then she had taken his second youngest brother from him. Elijah closed his eyes and saw Kol's smile – the one he only wore when he was truly happy.

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Meanwhile Kol was propped against Bonnie's pillows on her bed with his little witch sound asleep in his arms. She had finally fallen from exhaustion a few hours ago when the fever had eased up again. He leaned in and kissed the side of her neck and she smiled and nuzzled closer to him. She barely reacted when he bit her.

"You're okay," Kol encouraged and he rubbed her back as he fed. As soon as he finished he gave her some more of his blood and soon the pain and fire was coursing through her body again. He held her and as the night wore on he got bolder with how much he drained from her. The Expression magic was fighting hard. She became critical at one point in the night and Kol worried that she might actually die and turn. While it would rid her of Expression he knew it wasn't what she wanted.

The next morning Bonnie woke lying atop Kol's chest. It felt surprisingly comfortable there. She smiled as she noticed that he was asleep and she laid there for a moment and watched him. His hair was disheveled and he looked so handsome and loving in the innocence of sleep. She carefully lifted herself from his chest and went downstairs to make some breakfast. By the time she arrived she had two blood bags ready for him as well as oatmeal and fruit for the two of them.

"Thank you," Kol said motioning to breakfast. Bonnie smiled.

"Thank you…for helping me through this," Bonnie said before she settled into her breakfast. They ate in companionable silence and after breakfast Bonnie settled in a salt circle to try and reach her ancestors. As she was just about to give up Sheila Bennett appeared. She smiled to Bonnie and then looked to Kol.

"Grams," Bonnie smiled.

"Bonnie what were you thinking child? Expression magic?"

"I didn't know Gram's…once the spirits deserted me after I helped Klaus well I didn't want to be without my powers. People were depending on me…"

"Expression could have killed you," Sheila fussed. Then she looked to Kol.

"What is your interest in this?" she asked Kol.

"I have always had a special interest in witches and I have seen what Expression can do to them. I have seen good witches killed because they thought they could control it. I didn't want that to happen to Bonnie," Kol replied. Sheila saw both what he said and what he didn't. This original vampire was interested in her granddaughter on a more personal level as well.

"Does this mean that the spirits have forgiven me?" Bonnie asked.

"I came to encourage you Bonnie but you did cause the death of twelve witches, twelves humans and twelve supernaturals…that's 36 lives that you pulled out of the balance Bonnie. Those deaths are on your shoulders," Sheila Bennett said firmly and as Bonnie began to cry Kol grew angry but he held it in check. Bonnie did need to deal with the consequences of her actions.

"Will they ever forgive me?" Bonnie asked in a small voice.

"Only time will tell but remember Bonnie I love you no matter what," Grams said. She looked to Kol completely surprised by what she was about to say next, "you let this young man help you along Bonnie. He obviously cares a great deal for your well-being." Then she looked to Kol directly, "thank you for helping her. Keep her safe, please." Kol nodded his head simply. It wasn't every day that a thousand year old vampire received thanks from a witch.

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