A/N: Hey lovely people, here's another chapter for ya! My updates aren't as frequent as I would like, so when inspiration strikes, I'm definitely taking advantage of it! I did bump up the rating. I reading through this again and realized that one of Bonnie's nightmares was pretty intense and probably surpassed the 'T' rating. This is going to continue to be a slow-burn – don't worry! The pace will stay the same as it was. If you read, please review!

Love,
Anneryn

loveyourself - There is definitely a possibility of Matt and Caroline visiting Bonnie sometime in the future, but I already have other couples planned and plotted out. Sorry!

Take care,
Anneryn

I DO NOT OWN THE VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS.
Music Credit: "She Will Be Loved" – Maroon 5

~*.*~
'I don't mind spending every day, out on the corner in the pouring rain.
Look for the girl with a broken smile.
Ask her if she wants to stay a while.
And she will be loved – she will be loved…'
~*.*~

Chapter Eleven:

I felt suddenly shy around Klaus, since he came to the coffee shop. I was more self-conscious about everything I did. I think that when Klaus admitted just how strongly he felt for me, it really cemented just how much he really cares for me – not just him, his family, too. It feels surreal and I feel unworthy. I feel guilty for wanting him back – them back – because I know that he could do so much better than me.

Some days, I'm not even sure that this is all worth it. What's the point? It's not like I'll ever be the woman who I used to be. She's dead and she's not coming back. I'm just… a shell.

A knock on my bedroom door slammed me into reality. I jumped and ran into the bathroom to grab my robe. I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even bother to cover up when I walked into my room. I grabbed a towel and started drying my hair.

"Are you dressed, love?" Klaus asked from outside the room.

"I'm covered. You can come in." I replied just loud enough for him to hear me. I heard the door open, before I turned on the blow-dryer that Rebekah keeps putting back in my bathroom.

I saw Klaus come into the bathroom behind me, as I willed my hair to dry faster. He leaned back on the wall behind me and just watched me. My hand shook a little, as I handled the dryer. He didn't say anything, just observed. I watched him watching me as I finished up. I turned off the dryer and ran a brush through my hair. I left it down, before turning around to face him.

"You look beautiful in the morning, sweetheart." He told me, softly. I tried to ignore the blush that I knew was going full force in my cheeks. He walked over to me and cupped my face. I glanced up at him and it released a surge of emotions through me. "Did you sleep alright?" He asked me, gently. I nodded, momentarily forgetting how to speak. He inched closer at a glacial pace, so I had time to push him away, if I wanted to. I didn't. He stopped, right before our mouths were touching. "Kiss me." He breathed. My eyebrows rose. He initiates the kissing, almost always. Maybe this is his way of helping me assert my control, too…

"Kiss you?" I echoed. He nodded.

"Unless you don't want to. I won't ask you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable, Bonnie." He assured me. I nodded, still trying to wrap my head around his words.

My hand moved to my neck and I gripped my already closed robe, tighter, making sure that it stayed closed, even though I knew it was securely fastened on my hip. I feel naked and exposed. He makes me feel naked. It's taking everything in my power not to bolt from the room and put on the heaviest clothes I own. I want to kiss him, but at the same time I don't – not like this. I nodded, again and took a deep breath. I stood a bit taller, so I was barely on my tiptoes and I touched his face with my free hand. His eyes moved to mine and I was sucked into the bottomless blue. I looked over his face before leaning in slowly. I rubbed my nose against his and pressed my lips softly on his. I pulled back and glanced at his face. He wasn't smiling, but his eyes were. I leaned in again, and kissed him just a tiny bit harder, before leaving the room.

My heart was beating a mile a minute, as I walked into my closet. I turned on the light and shut the door behind me. I took off my robe and pulled on clean undergarments. I pulled on a green pair of yoga pants that Rebekah made me buy, a white tank top and a grey cardigan. As much as I want to bury myself in fabric, I've been trying to look more human these days. Most people don't make a habit of swimming in their clothes. I reserve that for my really bad days. I slid my feet into a pair of flats and left my closet with my robe in hand.

Klaus was sitting on my bed. I put my robe away and stared at him, awkwardly. He gave me one of his secret smiles and beckoned me over to him. He stood up and rubbed the side of my face. My eyes fluttered closed and I relaxed into his touch. It's times like these confuse me. I enjoy our affection, but sometimes, it's just too much. I wish that I understood it better.

"I'm sorry if I was too forward, sweetheart." He apologized. I looked up at him with wide eyes.

"I… I don't think it was out of line." I finally admitted, after a pregnant pause. He smiled, again. "I'm just not used to it. You make me nervous."

"I make you nervous?" He asked to clarify. I nodded.

"Very," I nodded, again.

"You don't have anything to be nervous about." He promised. "Are you always nervous around me?" He asked, probably out of curiosity than anything else.

"Not always," I told him, truthfully. His brow furrowed, just for a second and I knew that something had clicked for him.

"Is it because of what I said the coffee shop?" He guessed. I looked down at my feet, trying to figure out what to say. This isn't like me. I'm normally good with Klaus. I'm used to him. He calms me down. He helps make me feel human again – even almost normal, sometimes.

"Yes," I whispered, "but what you said… didn't make me feel uncomfortable. It just… I knew that you cared about me, but I don't think that I realized how much or how serious you were about all of this." I tried to explain.

"How does it make you feel?" He asked me, gingerly. I raked a hand through my hair and looked back up at him.

"It scares me. It makes me feel unworthy, like I don't deserve your feelings. You're this great guy and you took in a complete stranger and you went out of your way to make me feel safe and you've been trying to help me get my life back on track and… What do I have to offer you?" I admitted. "I… I don't even understand myself most days. Every time I take one step forward, I take two steps back. I don't know when I'll be better, or if I'll ever be better. I just… You deserve the best, Klaus. You're amazing and kind and warm and selfless, when it comes to people you care about. I just, I know that I don't deserve it. I don't deserve you. I don't want to hold you back. You can do so much better than me." I finished, feebly. He sighed and took my hand in his. He led me out to the balcony. He sat down and pulled me onto his lap, so I was facing him.

"Sweetheart, you're a lot of things, but undeserving isn't one of them. I wish that I could fix things for you and take all of your pain away. I wish that I could have met you before Damon hurt you and polluted your vision of yourself. When I want something, Bonnie, I don't let it go or change my mind. I don't want another woman. I don't want to be with anyone, but you. You bring out the best qualities in me. I've never met anyone, save for my family, that I have been able to be myself around. Trust me, when I tell you that being around you is just as beneficial, if not more to me. You help me see things differently – better. I've never been this serious about anyone, before. I can see a future with you. I don't care if it takes me the rest of my life, I'm going to help you see that you're beautiful and worth loving. You have my heart, Bonnie. Please don't push me away, love." He pleaded with me. I curled up against him and leaned my head on his shoulder. He may not have come out and said it, but I know what he was hinting at. I don't mean to push him away. Really, I don't. I just – he makes me feel so exposed. It's frightening, trying to let him in. I've had to be shut off away from everyone for so long, to survive. I don't remember how to let my walls down.

"I'll try not to." I promised. He nodded and wrapped his arms around me and held me.

"That's all I ask, love." He whispered. "And for the record, I'm the one who doesn't deserve you." When he says it, I almost believe him.

~*.*~
'Tap on my window; knock on my door.
I want to make you feel beautiful…

It's not always rainbows and butterflies.
It's compromise that moves us along – yeah.
My heart is full and my door's always open.
You come anytime you want – yeah.'
~*.*~

A/N: This is actually not at all where I was going with this chapter, but it's what ended up happening. Next chapter will start almost right after this ended. Prepare yourself for a girls' day with Bonnie and the Mikaelson ladies and a guys' day with Klaus and his bros. Review?

Xo,
Anneryn