Author Notes

It is my absolute pleasure to share the final chapter of this fic. I am so freakin proud of myself for finishing the damn thing! I wanted to write the Bonkai story I was itching to read, and it means so much that the tribe embraced it too. Thank you for every kudos, follow, and review.

Bonnie and Kai have reunited and now they have to sort through the shit that comes with it. Bonnie has certainly grown into herself over the last year, but how can she reconcile Kai's crazy with his deep love for her? Let the heart-to-hearts commence.

sweet dreams,

disconapnoir

oOoOoOo

The alarm rang out for the third time that morning, loud and shrill. Bonnie climbed out of bed and trudged over to the pile of clothes where she threw her phone. She took a brisk shower to clear her head, still heavy with the memory of their conversation just a few hours ago.

Bonnie stood at the kitchen stove, stirring a fragrant mixture of black tea, spiced rum and cinnamon. She was topping off the mixture with honey and lemon when Kai came around the corner.

"I was definitely referring to alcohol, but tea is fine with me." Kai stood behind her, hands on her hips as she stirred the dark liquid.

"It's a hot toddy, Kai." She ladled the hot mixture into two mugs.

"A hot who?"

Bonnie turned to hand him his mug. "Rum."

Kai held the mug under his nose and hummed. "Yes. Definitely rum."

"You found those sweat pants I told you about." Bonnie smirked as she took in his long legs stretching out her old MFHS pants.

"I hate your 'cover your dick in the kitchen' rule." Kai watched as Bonnie took a seat on the island, tucking her long cardigan underneath her bottom.

"Well, you shouldn't have set your pants on fire then." She blew on her tea before taking a sip.

"That was you."

"Oh, yeah." She smirked up at Kai.

"Naughty girl…" Kai's hand grazed the sensitive skin behind her knees.

Bonnie's amusement melted away. "This thing between us, Kai. It feels great. I just don't know how we can make it work."

Kai's face began to darken. He braced himself on the counter top, leaning in close. "Of course we can make it work. We're too badass not to."

"I have too many concerns." She shook her head.

"Such as?" Kai asked, impatiently.

"I don't know if I can trust you. I don't even know if you respect me enough to be transparent with me." Bonnie admitted.

"Of course I respect you—" Kai tried to reassure her.

"I'm not finished." Bonnie cut him off. "It's obvious we have chemistry. Amazing, mouthwatering chemistry. But what about everything else? Will you still be interested in me when were not having sex? When I'm trying to finish a paper, or my PMS is insane, or I'm watching Scandal?"

Kai kept drinking the hot liquid to keep his mouth shut.

"You've only been back in the real world for, what? Not even a minute compared to how much time you spent locked away. And you're already so sure you want me? Of all the witches in the world! You're content with committing to just me? The girl who kept choosing death and then got stuck in a prison world not even meant for her?" She pushed the frizzy curls out of her face. "I mean really, Kai? Come on!"

"Is that it?" Kai finally asked.

"No!" Bonnie took another long drink before continuing. "Then there's the biggest concern. The one that will surely have you walking away from me sooner than later."

"What could that possibly be, Bonnie?" Kai set their mugs to the side.

"Our goals are different now. And I know I said I wouldn't stop you, but that doesn't mean I agree with your plans, Kai. I don't want you to kill anybody! I don't want you to terrorize people or manipulate people in order to get what you want!"

"Bonnie, you have to understand—"

"I know about Jo." Bonnie spoke calmly. Kai froze above her.

"She's not a threat." Kai broke the silence.

"I bet she's been in touch with your siblings though. Luke and Liv?" She cocked her head to the side.

Kai's exhale was loaded. He underestimated Bonnie's ability to find out so much intel on his family. He knows for a fact Damon hadn't told her, but of course that idiot wouldn't know if she was putting pieces together for herself behind the scenes.

"Damon and Alaric like to think they're tough stuff, but they can be as clear as water some days." Bonnie confirmed his thoughts. "Even though I'm not as close to him as Damon is, Alaric is still a friend. And he's dating your twin now. It's very important to me what happens next."

The two lovers stared each other down, unmoving from their spots in the dark kitchen.

Kai held Bonnie's shin and sighed. "I have to finish what I started, Bonnie."

Bonnie could feel the tears of her frustration building. She took a deep breath. "I know."

They were silent again. Kai continued to rub the back of her leg. Bonnie ached to bring him closer.

"I think we should call it a night." She pushed at his chest and slid off the counter.

"Yeah, we should." Kai stretched out his back. "Mind if we go to your bed this time?"

"I'll be going to my bed. You'll be going to the Mystique." She walked past him towards the front door.

"What? No!" Kai hurried behind her. Bonnie pushed his coat into his hands.

"Your phone and keys are in the left pocket." She kept her voice soft.

"I don't wanna go." A young Kai stared down at the adamant witch.

"I've got a full day tomorrow and I know you know we wouldn't be sleeping for long if you stayed."

Kai smirked in response.

"Come find me tomorrow night. I'll be helping Caroline host a fundraiser at the Mystic Grill." Bonnie helped him push his long arms through the heavy coat.

"The fundraiser for single moms, right? 6:00?" Kai nodded.

Bonnie shook her head, dumbfounded. "Yeah. How did you know?"

"I saw the flyer on the bulletin board at the grocery store. I love community news. Interesting stuff." Kai pulled Bonnie in close.

"I need you to think about what I just told you, Kai." She stretched on her toes to kiss him one last time. "You know where to find me."

Bonnie cursed as she stubbed her toe on the leg of her bed frame. She forced herself to take deeper breaths as she finished getting dressed and grabbed the garment bag protecting her dress for the evening festivities. She descended the stairs with none of the lightness she felt just some hours ago. No time for coffee. She'd grab some on the road. She snatched her keys out of the decorative clam shell by the door and left the house, letting her magic lock the door behind her.

"Ahh, shit." She looked at the empty driveway.

Damon's phone rang a moment later. He didn't have to look at the screen.

"Morning, Bon Bon. Looking for your dear friend, Toyota?"

Bonnie faked a gasp. "What did you do to her?"

Damon laughed, loud and arrogant. "Nothing she didn't like."

"You're crazy. You're fucking crazy!" Bonnie rasped in her best imitation of Keanu Reeves.

"No, I'm eccentric!" Damon continued to speed down the main road towards Bonnie's neighborhood. "She was dying for some gas and just aching for some fresh oil. By the time I got through with your Toyota, she was absolutely purring."

Damon smiled at Bonnie's laugh coming through the speaker.

"Are you with her now?" She asked.

"We'll be outside your door in just a minute."

Bonnie swooned in her best Southern accent. "Oh, how could I ever repay you?"

"You could give me a ride back to the boarding house." Damon laughed at Bonnie's ugly scoff in response.

"You're such a lazy ass vampire sometimes." She admonished.

Still, Bonnie complied and drove her best friend back to the boarding house. He invited her inside for coffee and wasn't above using his generous car maintenance as a guilt trip for her to stay for a cup.

Bonnie sat at the kitchen table across from Damon trying to ignore the strong memories of the prison world the image summoned. She took a sip and smiled. He remembered how she liked her coffee.

"Thanks for the coffee, asshole." She kept her gaze on the mug in her hands.

"Anytime, judgey." Damon sat with his arms tightly crossed, his untouched mug of blood with a shot of espresso cooling in front of him.

A long moment of silence passed. Bonnie could hear every tick of the clock above the sink.

"Do we need some liquor for this interrogation or what?" She finally asked.

Damon shook his head. "This isn't an interrogation, Bonnie. We're just going to talk about Kai."

Bonnie rolled her eyes, but decided to play along. "Cool. What about him?"

"I was out running a few errands yesterday when I happened to run into the Parker boy at the grocery store. We got to talking and he made it clear that you two had…" He trailed off, unable to find any accurate words that he'd be willing to hold in his mouth.

"Slept together." Bonnie finished for him.

"Which you later confirmed." Damon scowled and took a long drink. "It's obvious he's obsessed with you now. I don't even blame the freak for that. But now that he's back in Mystic Falls, it's very important that you make things crystal clear to him."

"Which is?" Bonnie spoke into her mug.

"That this is the real world, and you're way better than some pathetic psycho killer that spent nearly a quarter of a human life by himself. That there's no way you could ever love him!" Damon leaned forward, eyes wide and searching for confirmation in Bonnie's expression.

Bonnie sighed, the coming meltdown already sizzling on the tabletop between them. "Damon—"

"Careful, Bonnie!" Damon cut in. He shook his head. "All you have to do is say you do not love Kai. It's as simple as that."

Bonnie was silent as she finished the last of her coffee. It really was too good to waste.

"I'm in love with Malachai." She heard his mug shatter across the room before she saw it leave the table.

"GODDAMN IT BONNIE!" Damon was up and pacing the kitchen in a rage. Bonnie watched from her seat at the table and was surprised by the sudden ache in her heart. It was Damon's pain.

"Do you really?" He stood above her. She held her green eyes to his ice blues and nodded. Just once.

"HE'S DANGEROUS BONNIE!" He hollered, towering over her. She refused to look away while he threw his tantrum.

Damon rubbed at his face, trying to calm himself back down. There would be no getting through to her if he spoke out of anger.

"Bonnie…" He got down on his knees before her, gathering her hands into his. "It's barely been a year since you got out of that hell hole. You're just starting to really live your life. The last thing you need is some psycho stalker following you around town, sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. Kai will ruin your life."

Bonnie was suddenly hit with a wave of deja vu. She shivered in her seat, eyes glazed over as she replayed her conversation with Elena about Damon many moons ago. And then she giggled. The giggles turned into a laugh and before Bonnie realized it, she was full out cackling, wiping tears from her eyes as Damon stared perplexed.

"This isn't funny! The man is evil, Bonnie, and it won't be enough to suck you into his life. He'll come after all of us." Damon shook her shoulders. "You need to take this seriously! He's unstable!"

"That's not it!" Bonnie's laughter died down but her teary-eyed grin remained. "Come on, Damon. Don't tell me you can't hear yourself right now."

"I hear myself just fine. You're the one out of your damn mind!" Damon's yelling ended abruptly at the feel of Bonnie's hands gripping the sides of his face.

"Damon." She leaned in close. "I am not Elena…and you are not the only monster in this world worthy of love."

Damon's shoulders caved in but he held eye contact with the witch, her green eyes shining fierce in the morning sun beaming through the windows behind him.

"You love Kai?" His voice was barely a whisper.

"I do." Bonnie's smile was warm and soft. Damon had never seen it before.

"You do?" He whispered, more to himself.

Bonnie nodded. "Yeah. And I like him. I really, really like him."

And if this new smile was any indication, Damon believed her. He shook his head and looked away, blinking his eyes at the sudden sting. He was prepared for an intervention, not a heart-to-heart.

"He's dangerous." Damon couldn't help but repeat.

"So am I." She spread her magic out across the room. Damon could feel the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end.

"But you love people. Protecting the innocent and all that shit. Kai hates people." He rebutted.

"Funny, that sounds a lot like a good friend of mine…" Bonnie tapped her nose, faux contemplating.

"That's not what I mean!" He shouted.

"Then what do you mean?" Bonnie was suddenly exhausted with the conversation.

"Kai hates us! Elena, Caroline, Stefan—"

"You." She said without missing a beat.

"All of us!" Damon bit out. "He'll poison you against everyone, isolate you, and god knows what kind of shit you can get sucked into then!"

"Again! Are you listening to yourself?!" Bonnie shouted.

"This is different!" Damon grabbed her hands and held them tightly to his chest. "You're different, Bonnie!"

"Damon!" Bonnie grimaced at the vice around her hands.

"I already lost you once and that's never fucking happening again. Do you understand? I've fucked up too many times, but I'm here now and I'll protect you! I'll always protect you, Bonnie!"

"Damon!" Bonnie's eyes flashed white and Damon froze as a sudden gust of wind swept through the kitchen. They remained silent until all the fixtures settled back to their original place.

"Damon." Bonnie's voice had softened. "It's not your fault what happened over there. I needed to choose to save myself for once, and I did. And now for the first time in a very long time, I'm actually home."

She brought Damon's large hands into her lap. He struggled to keep eye contact as she continued.

"You're not just my friend's boyfriend. You're not just a supernatural ally. You're my friend, Damon. My best friend. Nothing but our own actions would change that. Not Elena, not Kai, or anybody else." Bonnie held his hands tighter. "And I'm really sorry that things aren't working out with Elena, but I promise everything won't implode if you two split for good. It'll be hard, and you'll have a lot of work to do, a lot of self reflection—your favorite activity—"

Damon snorted.

"But you'll still have me. I'm not going anywhere."

Damon could feel his cold body warming with her words but he had no time to bask in it. Bonnie quickly rose to her feet, still holding onto Damon's hands as he lifted his head to look up at her.

"But…" Bonnie's face fell flat. "You don't get to decide who I let into my life or not. That's my choice. And if you keep pushing me…sticking your nose where it doesn't belong…I'll cut it off."

Bonnie's eyes flashed white again. "Understood?"

Damon swallowed heavily. "Understood."

"Another round before we get ready for this fundraiser?" Her light-hearted tone was back as she bounced to the cupboard. Damon nodded his head.

"You really know how to threaten a man, Bon." He slowly stood to his feet.

Bonnie handed him a fresh mug. "That means a lot coming from you, Salvatore."

Damon made his way to the coffee maker. "I'm strangely turned on."

"Bet you are." Bonnie kicked her legs up onto the table and stretched out, a feline smile gracing her pixie face.

"You really are dangerous now, aren't you." He smiled back.

"Oh, you have no idea."

oOoOoOo

Bonnie hauled three large bags through the front door of the Mystic Grill. The gang had already assembled and were helping the bar team set up the space.

"Hey, Bon. Do you need help with the bags?" Stefan asked, already reaching for all three bags and lifting them off her arms with ease.

"Thanks, Stef." She rotated her shoulder, annoyed that she couldn't use her magic in this space.

Bonnie made her way to the bar to check-in with Matt who was busy taking inventory of glassware. "Need some hands?"

Matt looked up, surprised to see her so soon. "Bonnie! You're here already?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" She chuckled as he hurried around the bar to embrace her in a bear hug.

"Thank, God! Caroline has been at everyone's throat for the last hour." He pulled away, shaking his head. "I have a feeling we're the only two that can survive it through the end of the night."

Bonnie laughed, taking a seat at the bar. "Most likely."

Matt shifted on his feet next to her. "Any reason why our vampire friends keep looking at you like you have a second head or something?"

Bonnie looked over her shoulder. Stefan and Elena had the grace to pretend to be busy doing other things. Damon, however, met her gaze and shook his head, his hands going through the motions of untangling string lights and garland.

"They're upset because they just found out the psycho who held me hostage in the prison world actually escaped with me and now he's in Mystic Falls." Bonnie took up the polishing cloth. "And we're kind of dating."

"Oh…" Matt paused to scratch the back of his head. "Well, Bon…you sure that's a good idea?"

Bonnie met his eyes. "No. Not at all."

"I see." Matt nodded. "Well, you're safe, right? And are you happy, at least?"

"Very." Her smile was soft.

"Cool." Matt passed over a batch of freshly washed glasses and Bonnie got to work, whispering a quiet prayer of thanks for her big-hearted, human friend.

They continued to work, setting up the decorations, donation boxes, and raffle tables. Despite the visceral uneasiness amongst the core group, they found community in rolling their eyes at General Forbes who barked out orders to her friends and bar staff alike.

The fundraiser kicked off at 6:00 sharp and Bonnie was impressed at the turnout. She was instructed to man the raffle table, collecting donations in exchange for tickets. She didn't mind. This assignment was preferred to circulating the room for donations which meant navigating Damon and Elena who were generating their own special universe of awkward. Whether it was due to Bonnie's not-so-mystery guy or their own relationship trouble was unknown. Bonnie figured it was a big, stupid combo of both.

"Hey, Bonnie." Elena approached from the behind the table, taking the empty seat beside her. "Can we talk for a minute?"

"Shoot." Bonnie kept her eyes on the bills in her hand, counting under her breath.

"Caroline and I met for brunch this morning. We had a long talk about your reveal the other night." Elena began to ring her hands, but her large doe eyes remained fixed on her best friend.

"Let me guess," Bonnie finally looked up, "she put you in your place, huh?"

Elena let out a tense laugh. "Yeah, you know she did."

Bonnie laughed with her, amused at their friend's ability to cut through any uncomfortable situation.

"I understand why you didn't tell me about Kai right away. I have no right to judge you, but you knew that I would, and you were right." Elena sighed. "I'm sorry, Bonnie. I'm so sorry. The standard we all hold you to is—"

"Unfair? Unrealistic? Hypocritical?" Bonnie interjected.

"All of the above." Elena nodded solemnly. "You are better than us, Bon. More kind, more patient. Way more brave. But now I see how unfair that is. To hold you to this high standard when you have just as much passion and need as the rest of us."

Bonnie took in her words quietly. "I'm aware of what I've gotten myself into, Elena."

"I know. Probably even better than I do." She replied.

Bonnie choked on a laugh. "Absolutely better than you do."

"I walked right into that." Elena laughed in spite of herself. Bonnie joined in, surprised by the sudden lightness she felt between them.

"I love you, Bonnie. And as happy as I am that you found your way back to us, I'm even more happy that you found a way back to yourself." She smiled, her eyes beginning to water. "Whatever I have to do to keep you glowing like this, I'll do it."

"I love you, too, 'Lena."

They hugged. Elena let out the breath she was holding, relieved to be in her friend's good graces again. They jumped at the sound of Caroline's voice above them.

"Finally! Mystic Falls Angels are back!" Caroline clapped her hands.

"You sound like Damon." Elena shook her head, laughing.

"Damon uses it disparagingly." Caroline put her hands on her hips. "But that doesn't mean the title doesn't fit. We're total babes and we fight villains all the time."

"Or fall in love with them." Bonnie joked. Elena held back a laugh with her hand.

"True." Caroline shrugged. "It's good to see you smiling, Bon."

Bonnie's smile grew in response.

"Now, Elena, since you're feeling better, I need you back at table 14 talking Mr Honda dealer into a nice four-figure check for our single mothers in need. Chop chop!" She spun on her heels and made a beeline for the DJ who had clearly strayed from her playlist.

The girls laughed behind their hands as they watched the poor DJ attempt to defend himself against their vampire friend. Suddenly, Bonnie sat up, hand clutching her chest.

"Kai…" She whispered.

"He's here? Where?" Elena scanned the room. Bonnie turned in her seat, her magic already pinning him near the bar. He was headed their way, a cocktail in hand.

"Bonnie." He nodded.

"Kai." She titled her head.

"Elsa." He turned to her friend.

"You know my name is Elena." She glowered.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but do you mind giving me and Bonnie some privacy?" He asked in an uncharacteristically earnest voice.

Elena was thrown off by his energy and turned to her friend. Bonnie nodded.

"Okay. I'll be around if you need me, Bon." She stood and rounded the table.

"Thanks, Elena." Kai replied as he took her vacated seat.

"It's Elena—" She stopped abruptly. Kai looked up at her with faux innocence. "Ugh, whatever."

Bonnie suppressed a laugh as she watched Elena sashay away. She could feel Kai's eyes on her the entire time.

"I didn't expect you to come." Bonnie finally addressed him.

"Neither did I." Kai slid his chair closer. "But I knew you'd be here, so that was more than enough motivation."

Bonnie turned away to help a guest at the table. Kai watched as she smiled and counted tickets and passed out programs. He was amazed that this ethereal being could socialize so effortlessly in the midst of such losers. And yet, the way people smiled in response to her sweet words. How their eyes lingered on her even when she moved on to help the next guest. If they could understand how enchanting his Bonnie was, then maybe they weren't such losers after all.

"Caroline has you working hard I see. Can I get you a drink?" Kai offered.

Bonnie held up a large water bottle in response.

"Maximum hydration. Good girl." He slid his drink towards her hand. "Do you wanna try my drink?"

Bonnie's eyes flickered to Kai. She hesitated, but decided to take a sip. She hummed. "That's a good old fashioned. Matt must've made it."

Kai took the glass for another drink. "Is that the blonde, jock looking guy?"

"Yes. I like most of the bar team, but our Matty knows how to mix a better drink. Hands down." She continued to work the table.

"Our Matty?" Kai asked suspiciously.

"Yes, our Matt. We've been friends since preschool." She replied, her skin prickling at the slight anger beginning to radiate off the man beside her.

"So, what? Did you guys used to date or something?" He kept his hand on the cold glass to keep it from turning into a fist.

"Elena. Then Caroline, believe it or not." Bonnie retrieved a new stack of programs from under the table. "Small town shenanigans you know?"

"Yeah, I get that." Kai was quiet a moment. "So you two never dated right? He wasn't like your first kiss or anything?"

Bonnie sighed, tired of his fishing into her personal history. "If you count 6 year olds on the playground a first kiss."

"So he was your first kiss!" Kai growled.

"Kai!" Bonnie slammed her hands on the table. "Why are you here?"

Kai took a deep breath to calm himself. "Because we need to talk, and if we talk here you don't have to worry about me getting all worked up and coaxing you into a fight-fuck fest."

Bonnie rolled her eyes at his language. "I'm listening."

Kai perked up in his seat.

"I did a lot of thinking about those very awful points you made about why we can't be together, and I finally understand them now." He took a sip of his drink, his silver rings clinking the glass. "I can even prove it you."

"How?" Bonnie scoffed.

"There's a formula to everything, Bonnie." Kai rolled his eyes. "One year around Elsa again and you're forgetting everything I taught you."

"How, Kai?" She ignored the jab at her friend.

"You're smart. For real smart, not like the vapid, intellectual wannabe type, but actually highly intelligent. You can see the patterns and commit them to memory. You're resourceful. You know how to execute, even under pressure, and you're not afraid to call bullshit. That's how you know—" He ticked off the reason with his index finger. "I respect you."

"Second…" Kai leaned in closely, irises darkening as he zeroed in on Bonnie. "You and me…total, animal attraction."

"Animal attraction?" Bonnie tried her best to whisper. She was vaguely aware of the nosey server making her rounds near their table.

"We're animals, Bonnie. And we found each other in our prime!"

"I get it! You can stop right there—" She shook her head.

"It's way beyond sexual compatibility." Kai stressed his words.

"Oh my god…" Bonnie looked to her left and right as discretely as possible.

"I mean, the completely depraved things we did to each other in the prison world—"

She desperately wanted to whisper a silencing spell but Kai's words churned up hot and heavy memories in her head, turning the memorized Latin into mush. He continued, all the more encouraged to do so at the sight of Bonnie's flushed face.

"And not to mention the filthy things we did just this morning! Remember when I had you upside down on the sofa—"

"Yes, Kai! Can you please make your point already?" Bonnie faked a smile at the server topping off an already full cup of water near her.

"But even throughout our more hedonistic activities," Kai decided to give her a break, "there were still several more intimate moments between us. We both love spicy food even though it makes our noses all runny, except that makes you embarrassed, so you get this deliciously red face when I wipe your nose for you."

"Because I hate when you do that." Bonnie scrunched up said nose in disgust.

"Which makes it all the more delicious to me, Bonnie." Kai continued. "We both love to cuddle and that's how I know you like your torso rubbed when you get tired, and how you know I like to go to my happy place when I start falling asleep."

"And I absolutely hate that you call it that." She interjected.

"There's no reason to be so casual about your unbelievable tits, Bonster. My face pressed between those two, beautiful brown girls is the closest man can come to Nirvana." Kai closed his eyes in wonder.

Bonnie huffed in annoyance, and did her best not to think about the sensation of her dress rubbing against her sensitive skin.

"I only know these things about us because of those intimate moments with you. It's a fact that I love way more about our time together than just how hard we play. And we do play hard." He concluded his point with a wink.

"And finally, and most importantly, I know for a fact that I don't want to live in a world without Bonnie Bennett. I lived in that world for a long time—for a really long time—and I won't go back." Kai took her small hand into his.

"And I don't want you to go back." Bonnie focused on the silver rings on his hand.

"I'm not just talking about the prison world. I'm talking about you! The thought of losing you, the thought of something bad happening to you! You laying somewhere, helpless and bleeding—well that's kinda hot. But you bleeding out, helpless somewhere? I hate the thought. It should be me, you know? Standing over you with a knife in my hand." Kai paused to give her a toothless grin.

"Very funny." She said dryly. Kai noted the slight smirk curling at the corner of her mouth and smiled in response.

"No one else will do. I'm committed to you, Bonnie."

She looked into his eyes and was stunned silent by the cold, hard sincerity shining through. She ignored the tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "You're missing a key variable in this doomed formula."

"Yes, I've thought a lot about that point, and you're wrong." Kai finished his drink.

"Am I?" She spat in disbelief.

"Yes! Of course our goals are aligned. They always have been! You're not finished growing into the all powerful Bennett witch you will be. And I'm certainly not done growing into the all powerful Gemini siphoner that I will be. Look at how far we've already come together! Now imagine what we could do with the rest of our lives." Kai could see the wheels turning in Bonnie's pretty, stubborn head and rushed to continue his point.

"And no, I'm not going to change my plans. I will become the supreme leader of the Gemini coven and I don't care what goodie goodie bullshit you do to try and stop me! I'll take your judgments and your interference and all your annoying 'I can save the day' schemes anytime. As long as I'm with you. As long as you choose to be with me, Bonnie."

Somewhere at the bar a rowdy group started to take shots, but Bonnie could no longer notice anything happening around them.

"You'd still want to be with me? Even if I sabotaged your plans? Even if I kicked your ass for harming people?"

"Like I said, Bonnie, you're a smart girl. If you act out because you think another course of action is better for me—is better for us—I'll do it." Kai nudged her foot beneath the table. "We work well together. Present circumstances can't change that fact."

"You sound…decided about all this." Bonnie sniffed, grasping at the last shreds off her nonchalance.

"I am." Kai nodded, unblinking. "I love you, Bonnie Bennett. I want you everyday. And no matter what you do, I will never let you go."

The stinging in her eyes became unbearable and tears began to escape. Bonnie wanted to look down in search of a napkin, but she wasn't ready to dab her eyes and admit she was crying in the first place.

"You don't own me, Malachai." She was having trouble keeping her voice steady.

"You own me." Kai's fist beat his chest. "I belong to Bonnie Bennett."

Bonnie bit down hard on her bottom lip but it did nothing to dry her eyes. Kai followed the tears running down her flushed face and curling underneath her chin.

"God! You're beautiful." Kai smiled.

Bonnie snatched his cocktail napkin and wiped her face. When she looked back up, Kai was standing by her side dropping a few large bills on the table.

"For the desperate house mothers." He nodded at the money, tucking his wallet into his back pocket.

Bonnie looked up, wide-eyed and red-faced as he lifted his hand to caress the side of her neck. Kai's smile was casual, but his eyes burned in that signature way of his, gleaming with murderous intent and like she was in on his joke at the same time.

His fingers lightly wrapped around her throat as he leaned in to whisper. "I need you to think about what I just told you, Bonnie. You know how to find me."

With that he sauntered away from the table, and out the front doors. She continued to stare into the vacated space before her. A series of buzzes rattled the table and snapped Bonnie out of her trance. She grabbed the phone. Four messages from Damon:

DANGEROUS SON OF A BITCH!

I'm just saying

I still respect your choices and whatever

#Feminism

Bonnie exhaled tiredly and wiped her face again, checking the napkin for smeared mascara. She could feel the vampires' eyes on her from across the busy room, but refused to make eye contact. She placed Kai's donation into the lockbox and hastily typed a message while putting on her coat.

Tell Caroline I'll be back in time for the raffle drawing

oOoOoOo

It was beginning to snow. A light fall that couldn't stick to the warm ground. Bonnie's heeled boots clacked on the wet cobblestone leading up to Mystic Fall's oldest—and only—hotel. Her hands buzzed inside the confines of her coat pockets. She could see Kai's figure reclining on a stone bench, his long outline accentuated by the string lights wrapped throughout the shrubbery behind him. He perked up at the sight of Bonnie bundled up in her red coat, a fuzzy beret protecting her beautiful curls.

"Kai." She addressed him, sashaying ever closer.

"Bonnie." He rubbed his hands together, warming the exposed digits in his fingerless gloves.

"Truth or dare?" She called out as she approached the bench.

Kai's eyes raked up her form. Her magic greeted him like always, but he couldn't read whether she came to accept or reject him. He considered the invitation to her game.

"Truth."

Bonnie stopped just a yard away.

"If we stay together, that doesn't change my commitment to my studies and my friends here. Could you bear to live in Mystic Falls with me? Be patient with my commutes back and forth to Whitmore?" She asked.

Kai exhaled in relief. This was a conversation he could handle.

"Yes, of course! I support your studies 100 percent, Bonnie. And as long as I'm living with you I don't care where we are. I've actually grown quite fond of Bell's Grocery. The ladies in the butcher department love me." Kai placed a hand over his heart.

"Oh, really?" Bonnie laughed.

"No worries, Bonster. They know you're my number one." He sat up straighter, opening his legs in an invitation to come closer.

Bonnie took a single step forward. "And my friends?"

Kai's face twitched. "What about your friends?"

"If you're spending time with me, you'll inevitably be spending time with my friends, Kai. Can you handle that? We already have one asshole to manage, we don't need two." She laughed at Kai's long groan in response.

"What's so funny?" Kai narrowed his eyes.

"You and Damon have a lot more in common than you realize." She shook her head in awe.

"Yeah!" Kai spat out. "We're both in love with you."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "He's not in love with me, Kai."

"Oh, my Bonnie-Bon-Bonster, this is an area you still can't see clearly." Kai's hands gripped his thighs. The knowledge that Damon would always be a threat to his and Bonnie's relationship calling to his inner monster.

"I do see this clearly." Bonnie took another step forward. "Damon's struggling with the fact that he may not be in love with Elena like he used to and it's making him feel guilty and awful. I'm the only one who's always seen right through him, so now he's looking to me for an answer."

Kai's head cocked to the side, considering. "You're not wrong."

Bonnie rolled her eyes at the half agreement. "I don't want him, Kai. I want you to be able to coexist with the people I care about. You might even surprise yourself and find a real friend."

Kai let out another pained groan. "Listen, Bonnie. I could lie to you but I won't. I will never care about your friends, but I do care about you—more than anything—so if these are the idiots you love, then I can learn to respect them in their own right."

Bonnie sighed, but smiled nonetheless. "I'll hold you to that standard then."

Kai's eyes gleamed. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth." Bonnie crept a little closer.

"All those points you made about respect and wanting more than just sex…" Kai swallowed, entirely uncomfortable with this level of emotion. "You don't feel that way about me, do you? You don't just wanna screw around for a while and leave me when some other mysterious witch enters your life?"

Bonnie closed the distance between them. "Kai, I respect you. I don't agree with everything you say or do, but I always understand where you're coming from. I feel your brilliance and I want to be around it all the time. This is one of the scariest things I've ever faced but I know I can handle it because you're on my side. Because we can see each other for who we are and who we can be. Because we're both afraid of vulnerability but we know the true cost of evolution." She took his face into her small hands. "I'm committed to you, Kai."

"Fuck, I love you." Kai's eyes were blown out by the rush of passion he felt.

"I love you, too." Bonnie couldn't help but laugh. "Truth or dare?"

"Oh, I'm feeling a dare right about now." Kai's voice was a hoarse whisper.

Bonnie climbed onto his lap. Kai eagerly braced himself so she could straddle atop him.

"I dare you to take me right here in this courtyard." She smiled innocently.

"Oh, most definitely!" Kai's hands began to hungrily knead on the swell of her ass underneath the thick coat. "But why don't we up the ante of this dare? Make it more interesting?"

"What did you have in mind?" She rocked against him and laughed when he grunted in response.

"I dare you to sing that song you performed for me back in the Hamptons."

Bonnie paused, unsure of the memory he was conjuring. "Which song?"

"Oh, you remember…" He brushed the tip of her nose with his. Bonnie wasted no time taking his mouth for a deep kiss. When they parted, he continued to brush her lips gently with his.

"It was some song about me not being able to touch this?" He tugged briefly at her magic before smacking her ass.

Bonnie leaned away, the warrior glare resurfacing on her pretty face. Kai grinned.

"What?"