Hello! So sorry for the late post, I've had a super eventful couple of weeks! These next couple of chapters are going to be action-packed as many unanswered questions you may have had will be answered. I am super excited for you all to see what I have planned! As always your comments are big motivators for me, I love that you have connected with the newer characters, I'm super protective of them lol! This chapter starts with showing what Bastien and Emeline were up to before the dinner, since we know what Damon and Bonnie were up to 😊
Bonnie Bennett – Kat Graham
Damon Salvatore – Ian Somerhalder
Stefan Salvatore – Paul Wesley
Lexi – Arielle Kebel
Caroline Forbes/Salvatore – Candice King
Katherine Pierce – Nina Dobrev
Abby – Persia White
Disclaimer: These Characters Belong to LJ Smith/CW Network. No Copyright infringement is intended.
Adonis - Thomas Doherty
Bastien Archambeau- Jesse Williams
Sophia Archambeau – Tawny Cypress
Emeline Archambeau Bennett- Whitney Peak
Lana Gilbert – Sophie Thatcher
Eamon – Trevor Jackson
Bruce – Christopher Abbott
RJ – Trevante Rhodes
Chris – Danny Ramirez
Before the dinner…
Bastien's steps echoed in the hallowed silence as he descended into the basement. He needed this retreat, not just for privacy but to reconnect with a world that had gone on without him. There had been so much going on in such a short time, that he could only imagine what else was happening beyond Bonnie and his daughter. Once he made it through the AI security, he was finally in the basement behind the spelled walls so no one who wasn't in there with him could hear.
Bastien sat in one of the many vacant workstations and let out a sigh as he sensed a familiar presence behind him.
"Mom," Bastien's voice was a blend of weariness and relief as he turned to face the apparition of Sophia, his mother, her form youthful and ethereal.
"Dying has its perks, makes it much easier for me to show myself to you since you've crossed that barrier" Sophia teased lightly as she walked over to her son.
"What if I stayed dead, no one has to know I'm alive" Bastien half-heartedly joked.
"They would have to know you even died for starters" Sophia laughed, Bastien shrugged in return.
"My son, what can I do for you" Sophia her inability to touch him was a poignant reminder of the chasm death had placed between them.
"How do I fix this, I wasn't expecting to come back, and anything I tell Bonnie, the secrets I kept from her for all these years would be.."
"Disastrous? Yeah, I know, she may understand, she may not – she's, been through so much, more than you ever have in your hundreds of years, she may seem confident and unaffected by it all but –" Sophia began before Bastien cut in.
"She's a ticking time bomb, with Damon being he's been.." Bastien began, speaking of Bonnie with a mixture of awe and fear. Their pact to not use their empathic abilities on each other had left him blind to the storm brewing within her, a storm subdued, paradoxically, by Damon's presence.
"A blessing and a curse," he continued, acknowledging the complicated dynamics that Damon's influence wrought.
"He's the only thing keeping the flames within her from being stoked and the perfect distraction while you figure everything out" Sophia crossed her arms as she thought about it all and the part she played.
"Me? You think just because you're dead and Sabre is locked up, I have to be the voice of reason? Ha, you're incredibly funny" Bastien retorted unamused.
"I – I've already messed up too much, and my focus is on you, Sabre, Emeline, and Bonnie if she would let me back in..things on my end are..confusing, my reach only goes so far on this plane" Sophia tried to be empathetic to how Bastien was feeling.
"On another note, how are you taking being alive again, with Bonnie" Sophia asked curiously, as she always knew, that if Bonnie was able to feel the feelings she had for Damon, life for her and her son would be completely different.
"I would be lying if I said I was doing great…truthfully, I don't know yet, I love her, she was the love of my life before I died, and in death, it's the same, but it's also why I have to tell her everything I know, everyone she's loved has kept her in the dark about something that would hurt her if she knew and me keeping this from her doesn't make me any different." Bastien lowered his head slightly.
"She loves you Bastien, that I know, regardless of her love for Damon, she'll forgive you, and she'll need you, she always will" Sophia smiled at Bastien as her eyes welled up.
"I love you, Mom," Bastien said to his mom who returned the sentiment before apparating away.
"Luna, connect me with the midnight soldiers, this is Bastien, passcode 752" Bastien announced to the AI comms as a holographic screen appeared to him.
"Bastien, you don't know how glad I am that the rumors are true" Eamon's voice crackled through the connection, a mixture of shock and relief at Bastien's return.
"Yeah, about that I need a full run–down of what has gone on in my absence" Bastien let out a deep sigh as he sensed that Eamon wanted to ask about Emeline. "She's okay," Bastien said softly with a slight nod.
"Yes, sir uhm, let me know when you're ready" Eamon stated as he cleared his throat.
They went over different footage of the battle, what was new, and updates on Adonis, his army, and his minions as well as Sabre who was imprisoned in the chateau. After their call ended, Bastien made a few more calls to different allies he trusts to touch base and let them know to stay weary of the OWIA until they knew more, he let them know he would be coming back to France soon to get started on organizing with their allies for the inevitable war.
Before he wrapped up his call, he sensed that there was something he needed to check as a feeling of unease crept up his neck.
"Luna, there's a prisoner in B wing isn't there, who is he," Bastien asked. Luna quickly showed him the rundown of the prisoner, from when Hope first sent him down to the basement. Luna went over who he was, his name, and how long he had been in the OWIA. Luna let him know that he had been given food and water around the clock and was being monitored as he had recently been exhibiting symptoms of turning into what the other soldiers turned into after they died. Luna asked Bastien if he wanted to see the soldier, Bastien declined and made a mental note that he would after dinner if there was time.
He made his way up to the main floors and checked on Emeline and Lana who were giggling and singing in the kitchen, a sound that made him smile from ear to ear.
"I'm grabbing some clothes for all of us for the night, Caroline wants us all under one roof and I would like to keep my few-day-old streak of not pissing her off" Bastien teased. He walked over to Emeline to place a kiss a top of her head.
"Thanks, Dad, I can go with you, if you'd like? Lana keeps roasting my dough kneading skills" Emeline dramatically dropped her shoulders with a sigh.
"Put some muscle into it! It's embarrassing me and this fabulous kitchen!" Lana exclaimed earning a flour bomb to her face from Emeline as they broke out into more laughter.
"I'm fine little moon, hold it down here, I'll be back soon" Bastien playfully ruffled Emeline's curls before heading out of the kitchen.
"I'm coming with you" Lexi announced as she met up with Bastien in the foyer.
"You really don't-" Bastien began
"Yeah…no," Lexi shook her head, a playful yet earnest look in her eyes. "Every girl has her essentials, you know? Underwear, nightly routines... I'm pretty sure your daughter wouldn't appreciate you rummaging through her private stuff. Besides," she added with a mischievous grin, "I've been dying to check out Bonnie's badass closet. Trust me, it's for the best."
Her smile, bright and persuasive, seemed to work its magic on Bastien. He couldn't help but concede, a reluctant chuckle escaping him. "Alright, alright," he agreed, nodding thoughtfully. "You have a point. Probably best to leave this to someone who knows what they're doing. Heaven knows I'd be lost at sea."
BBBB
As soon as Emeline sensed her father had left, she turned to Lana with a conspiratorial gleam in her eyes. "He's gone. I'm going to cast a spell on the kitchen so we can talk without worrying about being overheard," she declared, her voice a mix of excitement and determination.
Lana frowned slightly, her gaze sharp. "A level 3 spell, huh? You know Caroline and your mom might get an alert about it. They'll definitely have questions."
Emeline hesitated for a moment, biting her lip in contemplation. The risk of setting off magical alarms was real, but the need for privacy seemed to outweigh the potential fallout. With a rebellious shrug, she replied, "Fine. If they ask, we'll just say we needed some urgent girl talk. It's not entirely untrue, anyway."
Satisfied with her own reasoning, Emeline quickly murmured the incantation. A subtle shimmer enveloped the room, signaling the spell's activation and the beginning of their secret conversation.
Emeline looked at Lana with a mixture of exasperation and disbelief, the spell now ensuring their privacy. "Lana, what the fuck?" she said, her tone flat but her eyes alive with curiosity.
Lana, undeterred, threw her hands up in a gesture of mock surrender. "Which part are you baffled by? It seems like everyone's so accustomed to the chaos, that they're just rolling with it. It's like, 'Oh, the gang's back together, no biggie, nothing to see here!'"
Emeline couldn't help but shake her head, still trying to process everything. A moment of silence passed between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts, before they both succumbed to laughter, breaking the tension.
Lana's eyes sparkled with mischief as she regained her composure. "So, sweet cheeks, where do we start? We've got quite the agenda," she said, her expression turning serious.
Emeline edged closer, lowering her voice despite the protective spell. "Well, before we dive into the real mess, there's something you should know. I'm almost certain that my mom and Damon are..." She paused, leaning in to whisper the next part, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur, "together, together."
Watching Lana's reaction, Emeline realized her friend wasn't shocked in the least. Lana hesitated for a moment, then pressed her lips together, her eyes widening as if to say, 'Tell me something I don't know.'
"She thinks she's so stealthy, but I know her too well. Honestly, I'm just waiting for her to open up to me about everything. Despite being old enough to understand, I feel they still see me as this naive child," Emeline mused, a hint of frustration lacing her voice.
Lana couldn't resist a playful jab. "Oh, you're far from innocent, you little heathen." Her tone softened as she asked, "But seriously, how does all this make you feel?"
Emeline took a moment to reflect, considering not just the surface-level events but the underlying emotions and hidden truths she'd noticed. "It's clear to me now, especially how my mom acts around Damon. Even without saying anything, I obviously can tell that the love is..way deeper than I originally thought. They make sense together, in a way. What I really want is for my mom to be upfront with me. As for both of my parents, they need to sort things out. I'm not a child anymore; I can handle the truth. What's important is their happiness," she concluded, idly playing with pieces of dough as she spoke.
Lana, always one to find the silver lining, chimed in with her characteristic flair for the dramatic. "I think it's all very hot and romantic... and Ash is going to die when she hears."
"You both are gross," Emeline shot back with a laugh, deflecting the teasing with ease.
The conversation took a turn as Lana probed further. "What if your dad found someone new? How would that sit with you?"
Emeline paused, considering the hypothetical. "Considering he's officially back from the dead and still adores my mom, it would take someone extraordinary, like Venus herself, to catch his eye. But honestly? I'd support him," she said, a tentative smile suggesting her complex feelings on the matter.
Lana, sensing the depth of their conversation, leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "This maturity tells me we're not yet at the heart of what's actually bothering you. So, what's really going on?"
Emeline hesitated, then began, "Well, first off, Eamon and I—"
"I KNEW IT! It's like a fairy tale, the princess and her knight!" Lana couldn't contain her excitement.
"Slow your roll. We've had our moments, sure, but I haven't seen him since the incident," Emeline continued, her voice trailing off as she braced herself to reveal even more.
"Okay, so what's the big deal?" Lana urged, leaning in, her interest clearly piqued by Emeline's hesitation.
Taking a deep breath, Emeline unleashed her revelation, "It's... complicated. My oldest ancestor's spirit is somehow inside me, and it turns out she was Adonis' great love. And, believe it or not, I saw Adonis recently. For a fleeting second, I got the fanny flutters , which I'm mentally kicking myself for. I can hear my ancestor wondering what on earth a 'fanny flutter' is. I said it out loud just to annoy her, she's so judgy, but honestly, I'm so conflicted about him and—"
"STOP, just STOP!" Lana cut her off, her voice a mix of shock and incredulity. "Back up, let's flip it AND reverse it, and start from the beginning"
Before Emeline could elaborate further, their private discussion was abruptly halted by Rj and Chris entering the kitchen. Catching Lana's eye, Emeline swiftly made a "zip it" gesture across her lips, signaling the need for discretion. Lana, momentarily frozen, quickly regained her composure and pretended to be deeply engrossed in stirring the sauce, which was already perfectly cooked.
BBBB
On the drive from the school to Bonnie and Bastien's house in Mystic Falls, Bastien and Lexi quickly found common ground. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with laughter over corny jokes and a shared love for 80's music, setting a light-hearted tone before they arrived at their destination.
"You and Bonnie have an incredible bad-ass daughter. Not that it's a surprise, but she's definitely going to give a hard time to any asshole who tries to mess with her," Lexi commented, admiringly, as Bastien keyed in the entrance code to their home.
"Yeah, that's the plan," Bastien replied with a hopeful smile, allowing himself a moment of pride.
Once inside, Bastien guided Lexi to Emeline's room, where she meticulously gathered essentials and a few comforts for a girl's overnight stay. Finishing there, Lexi lightly knocked on the frame of Bastien and Bonnie's bedroom door, peeking in with a curious tilt of her head. Bastien, packing his own bag, welcomed her with a nod.
"This room is so Bonnie. Though I'm still getting to know your style, I'd venture to guess..." Lexi mused, eyeing Bastien's nightstand decorated with a bonsai tree, a leather-shaded lamp, and a sand garden. "This setup is all you," she concluded, pointing towards a car-themed table book as well.
Bastien chuckled. "The sand garden was a dead giveaway, huh?"
"Absolutely," Lexi grinned, then moved on to the master closet to inquire about the packing progress.
"Have you packed her things yet?" Lexi asked as she looked around the closet.
Bastien answered from across the room, detailing how he'd packed for Bonnie, ensuring her to-go bag was ready with all her essentials, a testament to their bi-coastal lifestyle. Lexi couldn't help but think that of course Bonnie married a man with some sense.
With a playful spark, Lexi asked if she could snag a few items for herself, to which Bastien's laughter and approval were all the encouragement she needed to pack a small bag of her own.
"Considering we're still getting to know each other," Lexi began, her tone shifting to a more serious note as she walked toward Bastien in the bathroom. "How are you handling all of this?"
"I mean we've got the basics out of the way, you're a Bon Jovi girl, you prefer cheese tots to cheese fries, and your dimple comes out when you're smiling or in deep thought" Bastien looked up in the mirror and chuckled as Lexi realized she was doing the deep thought face.
"Okay, well.." Lexi said as she was notably flustered at how quickly Bastien noticed her nuances.
"You know," he began, catching Lexi's reflection in the mirror and sharing a knowing smile, "living as long as I have, you learn to distinguish between fleeting concerns and what truly matters. Bonnie's feelings for Damon don't diminish my love for her. Love, in its essence, transcends all—time, space, the material world. Denying that would be to deny the very essence of what makes us human. I can say a lot about the situation, but I won't deny how deeply they love each other"
"You are not a real person" Lexi cleared her throat and let out a nervous laugh as she walked out of the bathroom. She mouthed "Oh my god" to herself as she grabbed her bag and left the room.
Bastien chuckled to himself as he could feel what Lexi was feeling. He was thankful Lexi was there to keep him company and understood why Stefan and she were such good friends, he felt bad at her life trajectory and how it ended, at the hands of Damon of course. But here they were, granted a second chance at life, and Bastien found himself genuinely caring for her. This realization was unexpected, considering the brevity of their acquaintance, yet it spoke volumes about the connection they were beginning to forge.
They finally packed the car up and played a few 80's tunes, Lexi convinced him to sing along with her to "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" by Tears For Fears, at the top of their lungs as they pretended to pass an invisible microphone. Lexi joked that the opening of the song "Welcome to your life" was for their 2nd shot of being alive and that they should change the lyrics to "Welcome to your 2nd life".
Lexi finally made Bastien admit that even though his love was unconditional for Bonnie, there was still a part of him that was pissed, which made her teasingly announce that he was a real boy after all. As the journey came to an end, and the familiar sight of the school loomed into view, a sense of melancholy settled over them. The excursion felt all too brief, a brief escape from the reality waiting for them.
BBBB
After the Dinner..
In the quiet courtyard, under a sky jeweled with stars, Damon and Bonnie had gathered with Bastien, Lexi, Stefan, and Caroline around a welcoming firepit, the warmth and light a gentle contrast to the cool darkness. They had retreated here following their conversation in the library, where Bastien had been sharing the celestial wisdom of his paternal lineage, the Archambeaus, and how they utilized the stars in every facet of their lives. Lexi, ever the skeptic raised playful doubts about the validity of star-based predictions, earning herself light-hearted jabs from the group because she was a vampire who had cheated the finality of death yet again.
"This is –" Bonnie's voice began to waver. "Wow" Bonnie cleared her throat as she fought back tears. "Uhm, this is really great, having you all here, I never thought, years ago, that this would be my life today, for better and for worse. I really hate that some of you are here because of me, and not because you deserve to be here" Bonnie sat between Caroline and Lexi who both quickly comforted her as her voice began to break.
"Stefan, Lexi, Damon.. your afterlife being dependent on what my ancestors want you to do is a cruel joke, no matter their intentions, and Bastien" Bonnie looked up as she locked eyes his with him.
"I still don't know the conditions on you being back– what I'm trying to say is that I don't quite know what my next –" Bonnie began before Damon interjected.
"Our next step" Damon asserted as everyone fervently agreed with their nods.
"Yes, Bonnie, ours, whatever happens to you, your daughter, it affects all of us" Caroline chimed in as she wrapped her arm around her.
"Bastien and I are going to France as a united front. What happens tomorrow will determine everything," Bonnie declared, her smile brimming with resolve. Bastien returned the smile, though a shadow of guilt lingered in his eyes, burdened by a secret he had yet to share.
"Yes, but before we embark on that journey, there's something pressing we need to address," Bastien began, his tone turning serious. "Hope has taken a prisoner, and after reading the incident note she left, it's clear he's gradually transforming into the same monstrous entities that have been seen among the other agents after their attack here."
Stefan chimed in, his expression grave, "The undead agents. Their transformation was almost instantaneous."
"That doesn't add up," Caroline interjected, her brow furrowed in thought. "He hasn't died. I monitor his vitals very closely; I receive updates hourly." She pondered the last time she had actually seen the prisoner, realizing that other urgent matters had since overshadowed his condition.
"It could be a slow-acting spell or some form of poison. Perhaps death merely accelerates the process," Bastien speculated, prompting Damon to sink into contemplation.
"Perhaps," Damon mused, drawing a parallel that seemed all too familiar. "It reminds me of the ice zombie king from Game of Thrones. Remember? They all rose at the same time." A hint of amusement touched his voice as he acknowledged the countless adaptations he had begrudgingly watched over the years.
"Two things can be true at the same time—it might be a 'Walking Dead' scenario where everyone in the OWIA is already carrying the virus," Bastien pondered, his excitement palpable as he delved deeper into the theory.
Bonnie and Caroline exchanged bewildered glances, taken aback by the sudden shift in the conversation. It was as if they were witnessing a peculiar bonding moment between Bastien and Damon, who were revealing themselves to be quite the undercover aficionados of nerd culture as they continued to share theories involving different pop-culture zombie references.
"Then we have a huge problem," Lexi finally stated, setting a grave tone. Bonnie quickly grasped the severity of the situation as she sensed what Lexi was going to say.
"RJ and Chris... Caroline, when they return, they have to be quarantined. It might be nothing, but we need to compare their blood samples with the prisoner's," Bonnie instructed with urgency. Caroline sighed, dreading the medical tasks ahead. Despite the convenience of having staff to handle such matters, the school's temporary closure and the imperative to maintain secrecy meant she had no choice but to step up.
"And operation Sparrow, send Emeline and Lana to Hope. They have a good rapport with her and might be able to defuse the situation. It's crucial we don't turn Hope against us, no matter how challenging she can be... Caroline" she added, noticing Caroline's puzzled look. Bonnie nudged her friend who had an expression on her face as if she did not know what Bonnie was talking about.
"Damon and Stefan, you'll be going with them" Bonnie continued, offering Damon a sympathetic smile, aware of his disdain for what he considered babysitting duties.
"And Lexi, you'll stay here with Caroline to assist with the research. I'm sending Katherine and Bruce back to New York to stay close to Qetsiyah," Bonnie concluded, her tone reflective as she assigned roles to each member of their group.
Damon observed Bonnie with admiration, marveling at her natural leadership. He reminisced about his past tendencies to prioritize his own schemes, often considering himself the smartest person present. Yet, Bonnie's ability to inspire confidence and dedication in those around her was unparalleled. He wished the younger, more self-doubting Bonnie could witness her own growth and the empire she had built.
The conversation continued with talk about strategy, and ways to un-do Adonis' intricate spell with Emeline, both of their magic was tethered to each other now in an endless knotted web. Bonnie kept to herself the theory she had about Lucy, as the thought of the wrong people siphoning Bennett magic worried her, and she didn't want to worry her friends. After a while, everyone finally felt ready to call it a night and didn't want to wait up for the others to be back from the local bar, Lexi however agreed to stay up to greet them and tell them the plan.
Bonnie walked side by side with Damon as they made their way inside from the courtyard leaving Bastien out under the stars by himself.
"Who knew you were such a nerd," Bonnie teased, her shoulder bumping against his in a gesture of affectionate mockery.
"Someone had to keep Stefan up to date on the other side, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make" Damon quipped back, his voice dripping with mock seriousness.
"Oh, I'm so sure. That totally explains why you dragged me to all those movie marathons whenever I visited," Bonnie countered, her voice laced with amusement and a hint of sarcasm.
"Dragged? You practically sprinted to blow my money on overpriced popcorn and cookie dough," Damon retorted with a smirk.
"Whatever, nerd," Bonnie giggled, only to shift gears as her expression sobered. "Hey," she began, signaling a more serious tone.
"Here we go," Damon's sarcasm veiling his anticipation of another significant revelation from Bonnie.
Bonnie cocked her head to the side and folded her arms in response.
"Okay, what is it judgey, give it to me straight" Damon asked as he placed both hands on her shoulders.
"You'll be on your own tonight. I have some important discussions ahead, and I don't want you waiting up," she conveyed, her reluctance evident in her voice.
Damon's dramatic response, feigning a heart attack, elicited laughter from Bonnie, easing the tension of their conversation. "You're such a jerk," she teased affectionately.
"I've been called worse. Sticks and stones, Bon-Bon," Damon replied, pulling her into a comforting hug and planting a kiss atop her head.
"I love you, Damon," Bonnie nestled against him, soaking in his familiar scent before letting go.
"I love you too," Damon whispered back, his touch gentle on her cheek. Bonnie grabbed his hand and placed, a tender kiss on it.
Damon playfully acknowledged his restraint, "I'm trying to be the good guy here and not steal you away,"
"You hang up…no you hang up!" Stefan mocked from the other room earning a giggle from Bonnie.
"It's okay to be jealous Stefan, I know how…vocal we can be" Damon called out, his brows wiggling suggestively.
"On that note, I'm leaving" Bonnie stated as she smiled and shook her head.
"Fair" Damon responded in defear. They squeezed each other's hands before Bonnie finally left to go back outside and sit with Bastien, ready to confront what needed to be said.
"The cold shoulder didn't last for long I see" Bonnie's lips turned slightly to show a small upward smile. Bastien left out a quick chuckle.
"Yeah..well, longer than most, the last time we got in a fight I didn't speak to you for about 5 minutes, I'm aiming for a smooth 45 minutes in about ten years" he joked, eliciting laughter from Bonnie, though her expression soon turned contemplative.
"Let's hope we get those ten years" Bonnie took in a deep breath.
"People like you and me have gotten longer than most, but yeah, I'm hoping we do too" Bastien replied, his gaze meeting Bonnie's across the fire, admiration and affection evident in his eyes.
"Things have changed quite a bit haven't they" Bonnie mused as she tried to find a way to break the tension.
"Yes, but they were bound to, even though your ancestors were cruel, at least it kind of played in your favor, I don't think you would recover if Damon never came back, and you were left to deal with years of suppressed emotions coming back with no resolution in sight" Bastien acknowledged with empathy.
This led Bonnie to inwardly question her ability to continue living her life with Bastien had Damon not returned, realizing the depth of her connection to Damon was irreplaceable, despite her profound love for Bastien. She quickly concluded in her mind that there wouldn't be a way to go back for her.
"I love you Bastien, you made me feel alive, you've given me everything, even when I didn't deserve it" Bonnie began to tear up. Bastien got up from his seat to sit closer to her.
"That's the thing, Bonnie, you think you don't deserve the simplest of things because of how hard they would come for you, everything in your life has had a 'but' and you've rolled with the punches" Bastien reassured her.
"I gave you so much hell though, I swear I fought loving you and letting myself be loved every other month" Bonnie confessed with a laugh, wiping away her tears.
"Don't even get me started, and I wasn't going to say it but I am so happy Kenji finally fucked up and you got to kill him" Bastien remembered how enamored Kenji was with Bonnie, and when she finally gave in while she and Bastien were on a break, Kenji was hooked ever since.
Bonnie playfully countered with a reminder of Bastien's own questionable decisions during a break in their relationship. "Okay, do we need to revisit how you drunkenly hooked up with his ex first? While we were on a break?" She got up briefly to rearrange how she was sitting but he grabbed her arm and pulled her on top of his lap.
"Always taking a play out of my book, I taught you everything you know, and I mean everything" Bastien joked as he held Bonnie's waist as she sat with her back against his chest.
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, I did too once or twice" Bonnie mused as she looked up at the stars.
"Once or twice" Bastien repeated.
"You and I, we were a pair, weren't we?" Bastien remarked, emotion evident in his voice. Bonnie's response, "Were, huh," led to a mutual realization of their current reality.
"We're over, aren't we?" Bonnie's question, filled with the weight of finality, was met with Bastien's tender affirmation.
Bonnie took in his confirmation and felt a pang of sadness.
"Oh, my love, when I died and let you go, it was over then. I tried to fight the truth when I came back, but I'm setting you free," he confessed, his voice heavy. The tender kiss he placed on her cheek and the way he rested his forehead against hers underscored the gravity of his decision.
"I love you, Bastien, forever, I do," she said, her voice a whisper of genuine undying affection and gratitude.
Bastien's response was heartfelt, "I love you too, Bonnie. I'm always going to be your family, we are always going to be family, I meant what I said when I was dead, I had my happily ever after, and you deserve all the love, to love and to be loved" affirming that while their romantic journey might be ending, their bond would remain unbreakable. Bonnie remembered what Bastien had told her regarding her and Damon.
"So how do we do this? I've never gotten a divorce" Bonnie finally stated with a serious tone, breaking the brief silence. They both grew quiet again, before breaking into loud laughter.
"We never got a marriage license, a legal one, so technically…." Bastien shrugged. Bonnie was adamant that they didn't need a piece of paper to say they were married since they were married in the magical sense, and they constantly had to falsify different government records regardless due to being semi-immortal beings.
"Do we just announce it into the universe? Do we burn things?" Bonnie joked, finding humor even as they navigated the complexity of their emotions.
Bastien, ever the pragmatist, suggested a simple yet profound approach. "I think we just know, and then slowly start telling people. I'll make it adamant to our allies that it changes nothing," he assured, his tone serious yet comforting. This acknowledgment of their new reality—a mutual decision to part ways while maintaining the deep, familial bond they shared—was met with a nod from Bonnie, a silent agreement to move forward with grace and love.
In this moment, Bastien's resolve to let Bonnie go, despite his enduring love for her, was both evident and deeply felt. It was a selfless act of love, recognizing that true freedom and happiness for Bonnie lay beyond the confines of their marriage.
"Bast" Bonnie asked, "I want you to be happy"
"I am happy," he claimed, though the lack of conviction betrayed his true feelings, "As happy as I can be." Bonnie's slight frown revealed her understanding of the unspoken words between them, recognizing that some wounds required time and the lifting of heavy burdens to fully heal.
"Well" Bonnie began as she broke away from his hold and stood up from his lap. "I'm going to go snuggle our daughter, are you going to stay out here all night?" Her arms crossed, partly in an embrace of herself, partly as a barrier against the chill and the emotions of the evening.
Bastien's gaze remained fixed on the heavens, finding solace in the celestial. "Only for a little while longer. The stars and their signs are active tonight," he mused, his voice a mix of resignation and wonder, sharing a moment of silent stargazing with Bonnie.
"Good-night, Astrodamus," Bonnie teased.
"You're one to talk, good night, Bonnie," Bastien softly responded.
Bonnie's return to the warmth and familiarity of her daughter's room, the same room she slept in the prison world with Damon, offered a momentary reprieve from the complexities of the evening. Observing Emeline and Lana sharing a moment of laughter and camaraderie reminded Bonnie of her own cherished memories with Elena and Caroline. It was a comforting sight, reassuring Bonnie that, despite the chaos that often surrounded them, Emeline had managed to forge bonds of friendship and trust as strong as the ones Bonnie valued in her own life.
"Hey mom, everything okay?" Emeline's question, tinged with nervousness, hinted at her awareness of the undercurrents of tension and the secrets she herself was guarding.
"Yes, can't I spend some time with my daughter, and my honoree daughter?" Bonnie smiled at Lana who nervously smiled back.
"I'm actually on my way to bed, if I don't get at least four hours of consistent sleep, I will not be a functioning person" Lana said as she got up. The three of them said their goodnights. Once Lana left the room Bonnie climbed onto the bed with Emeline.
"You probably have a ton of questions" Bonnie stated as she sat next to Emeline.
"You probably do too" Emeline said with a side smile and a shrug.
Bonnie's concern for her daughter was palpable as she broached the subject of Emeline's recent actions. "Yeah, I actually do. What you did was huge, Emeline. That's a lot of power, and I want to make sure you're doing okay,"
Emeline's nervous habit of biting her cheek betrayed her anxiety about the discussion, signaling the weight of the responsibilities and choices she faced.
Emeline's explanation, "I felt as if I had no other choice, it just came out of me," revealed the instinctual nature of her actions, a glimpse into the depth of her power and the instinctive drive to use it, even when fraught with uncertainty and fear.
"Do you have a good handle on it? I'm not doubting you or your abilities, I just want to make sure you're not pushing yourself too hard to prove a point" Bonnie said, her words carefully chosen to reassure Emeline that her interest stemmed from care, not control.
"I think so, I honestly probably just channeled Adonis and didn't realize it" Emeline explained, she heard Evelde's voice in the back of her head to not downplay her magic and the amount of energy it took from her.
"How is that by the way, he hasn't tried to hurt you has he?" Bonnie asked as she studied Emeline's face and her micro-expressions.
"No, if anything, it's been more the other way around, but so far nothing to write home about" Emeline shrugged, hoping her mom would leave it at that. Emeline's nonchalant dismissal, however, suggested a reluctance to delve deeper into the matter, a stance that Bonnie noted but chose not to challenge directly.
"Can I take a look at the spell? I promise I won't mess with it" Bonnie asked, Emeline quickly nodded giving consent. Bonnie tapped into her refined abilities to perceive the intricacies of spellwork—a talent that had grown with her over the years. As Bonnie focused, the visual and sensory landscape of Emeline's magical signature unfolded before her, revealing the complex, interwoven pattern of the spell that bound her to Adonis and vice-versa. The golden hue of the spell, reminiscent of nerves woven throughout a body, underscored the delicacy and depth of the spell, bound to both Emeline and Adonis. As Bonnie focused on the intricate woven details of the spell, she sensed something else in Emeline, a magical signature she wasn't familiar with, before she could concentrate harder, Emeline broke away.
Emeline, keen to deflect her mother's probing gaze, quickly sought refuge in a topic she knew would draw attention away from her own complexities. "Yeah, it's not pretty, I'm sure," she said hastily, hoping to steer the conversation toward the shifting dynamics of her parents' relationship.
Bonnie, perceptive yet respectful of her daughter's subtle cues, allowed the conversation to shift, masking her awareness of Emeline's sudden discomfort.
"Well – " Bonnie began before Emeline interjected.
"What are you and Dad going to do? Because honestly, Mom, I'm not a child, nor a teenager, and I can handle my parents not being together. I mean, he died, and you're in love with Uncle Damon," Emeline stated, folding her arms in a gesture that signaled her readiness to discuss this openly, yet with an underlying relief that this topic might keep her mother from delving too deeply into her own secrets.
"I was hoping this was a conversation your father and I could have together, but to be transparent and honest, we have decided that while we aren't together as husband and wife, we are very much still family, that's not going to change" Bonnie began her voice steady and reassuring. She placed her hand on Emeline's and squeezed it as she eyed her expressionless daughter.
"Do you have any questions for me? We can have a more formal conversation about this with your dad another day" Bonnie added, her tone warm and empathetic, inviting Emeline to share her own thoughts and concerns about the changes unfolding within their family.
"No, but this means I get at least one year to pull the 'my parents divorced and ruined my life' card," Emeline said with a smirk, eliciting an eye roll from Bonnie which made Emeline laugh.
"I don't want you to think that I just fell out of love with your dad, I love him so much, and always will, and our love brought us you, I have zero regrets, because of you my little moon" Bonnie expressed, enveloping Emeline in a playful embrace.
"And what about Damon? It's still so weird to see him not all old and grey, I now see why he was such an issue back in your day" Emeline smirked as she wasn't going to even try to deny how beautiful that man is.
"Oh god, back in my day? That hurts me" Bonnie teased.
"I mean, I'm just so curious about all of it, I sensed a change in you immediately after he died, I think I sensed it before you did" Emeline confessed.
"The spell" Bonnie sat up and sighed deeply, as the wounds from her ancestors were far from being healed.
"Yeah, why would they do that? I get he's a vampire but so was Enzo, so what was the point?" Emeline continued with genuine curiosity.
"The why's don't really matter," came out sharper than intended, a brief flash of anger surfacing as she contemplated the painful history and its implications. However, Bonnie quickly composed herself, recognizing the importance of focusing on the present and the well-being of her daughter.
"What matters now is that spell; it's a nasty one," Bonnie said, her gaze meeting Emeline's, who offered a noncommittal shrug in response. This exchange underscored the gravity of the situation they were discussing, with Emeline sensing the seriousness beneath her mother's words. Emeline chose to pivot the topic back to her mom and Damon as she didn't want her mom focusing on the spell and possibly finding out about Evelde.
"But mom, I have to tell you, when your other version, the younger one, was here, we—I mean I," she stuttered, cautious not to reveal too much about Evelde's involvement. "I felt the level of connection you and Damon have, it was nothing like I've ever felt before," she confessed, "Lana, Ash, and I have theories"
"Theories?" Bonnie's interest was piqued, both amused and intrigued that her relationship with Damon had become a topic of speculation and theory among Emeline and her friends.
Emeline delved deeper into her observations about the unique interplay between Bonnie's emotions and her magical abilities, specifically highlighting Damon's unwitting influence on them. "Yes, all the different stories of how you've been able to channel your magic and strengthen it, he's been a big part of it. Not that he's the sole reason, but your magic channeled him before you even realized it, whether it was fueled by your hatred, your annoyance, or your love for him. Anyone who has read your chapters in our books could see it," Emeline explained, her earnestness evident even as she nervously bit the inside of her cheek, seeking validation from Bonnie's expression.
Feeling her mother's skepticism, Emeline pressed on, her conviction in her theory undiminished. "Okay," she said, sitting up straighter, a sign of her determination to be heard. "I wish Ash was here; she could articulate this so much better. But think about it, Mom. You started paying more attention to your psychic abilities the exact moment Damon came back into town. You always attributed it to Stefan's arrival, but Stefan had been in town a few times without such a reaction from you. It was Damon's return that triggered something in you," she argued, her frustration mounting as Bonnie's silent contemplation seemed to cast doubt on her insights.
Bonnie, sensing her daughter's growing irritation and the depth of thought she had put into this theory, offered reassurance. "I'm listening," she said, an acknowledgment that she was open to considering Emeline's perspective, despite her initial reservations.
"Now think about the times when he pissed you off, the times when you weirdly wanted to save his life, and the times when you actually started to care about him. Aunt Elena, love her always, but she was never the true motivation for your powers. It was because of him and how you felt about him whether it was hate or love, and he also was pulled to save you several times, and I doubt it was just because Emily told him to, he genuinely wanted to, again not because of Aunt Elena either" she posited, looking earnestly at Bonnie's thoughtful expression.
Bonnie, both amused and challenged by Emeline's summary, responded, "That's an oversimplification of my history if I've ever heard one," her raised eyebrow signaling her intrigue at the theory presented.
Emeline, undeterred and quick to clarify her point, pressed on. "But you're not denying it! Mom, we all know there's so much more to your story. You're like a true witchy feminist icon," she exclaimed, interpreting Bonnie's 'excuse me?' look as an invitation to elaborate further. "What I am saying is, you two were never just friends; you were, are something so much more than that, more than lovers. The ancestors knew it, your grams knew it, and I know it. And no one is going to blame you for following your heart. I'm old enough to know that your love for Damon does not diminish what you and my dad have, nor does it diminish what Damon and Aunt Elena had," Emeline concluded, her words resonating with Bonnie and softening her initial resistance.
"When did you get so—"
"Annoyingly insightful? After decades of inter-generational trauma, your generation finally got mental health and self-care right," Emeline interjected with a mix of pride and a hint of sheepishness as she admitted, "And we read a lot of romance novels."
Bonnie couldn't help but laugh, acknowledging the unique blend of wisdom and whimsy in her daughter's perspective. "Well, you've given me a lot to think about that I've never considered before," she admitted, the conversation opening new avenues of reflection for her.
"Do you love him?" Emeline asked, already aware of the depth of Bonnie's feelings.
Bonnie's nod, paired with a knowing smirk, confirmed what Emeline had sensed all along. Their discussion then turned to the nuances of magical perception, with Emeline sharing how she'd learned to shield herself from the intensity of Damon's emotions—a testament to the strong, often overwhelming nature of his feelings for Bonnie.
"Yeah, he's definitely a special case," Bonnie agreed, her smile reflecting a mix of affection and complexity.
Emeline turned her head slightly as Evelde was speaking to her.
"Emeline, I'm worried about her, I know you felt the coldness when you brought up her ancestors, which can easily be used against her, if you tell her that I'm –"
"Nope," Emeline said out loud which made Bonnie cock her head to the side.
"I mean nope, I felt some cramps coming on and I am just manifesting that they'll go away" Emeline quickly said.
Bonnie nodded her head in agreement, and they spent the rest of the night talking about magic, boys, and what it was like to go to a different time. They spoke about the plans for the foreseeable future and slowly talked each other into a deep sleep.
BBBB
Meanwhile..
Damon Salvatore found himself wrestling with sleeplessness, a rare occurrence since his vampire days were typically filled with nocturnal escapades or drowning sorrows in alcohol alongside Alaric until consciousness eluded them. This night, however, the unease stemmed from a different source—Bonnie's proximity within the same house yet not beside him. His mind, usually preoccupied with the thrill of the hunt or the camaraderie of inebriation, now buzzed with anticipation and concern over Bonnie's conversation with Bastien, and what the results were.
Restlessness was an old foe; one he had learned to overcome with time when he was human. However, the current unease refused to be tamed by mere physical and mental exhaustion. Disinclined to surrender to introspection—considering it irrelevant in the moment—Damon realized the silence of the house suggested that the other members of their Mystic Falls gang were yet to return. Seizing the opportunity for a diversion, he decided to seek out Lexi, confident she'd be awake and possibly open to providing some distraction.
Navigating the dimly lit corridors with ease born of habit, Damon made his way toward the kitchen, guided by the scent that unmistakably belonged to Lexi. However, his approach was abruptly halted as Lexi tackled him to the ground in a swift, playful ambush.
"Ha! I still got it," Lexi exclaimed, reveling in her small victory over Damon, who lay on the floor, a mix of surprise and annoyance flickering across his features.
"I'm a sleep-deprived, distracted, vampire, hardly a fair fight" Damon retorted, his voice tinged with feigned indignation.
"Excuses, excuses. Even with your fancy upgrades, I can still take you down. That's just how badass I am," Lexi shot back, her tone dripping with mock arrogance as she fetched a bottle of bourbon hidden away in the kitchen. "So, what's keeping you up? Missing the excitement of your past nightly escapades?
"Well-" Damon began
"Please, as if I care about your melodrama," Lexi quipped, cutting him off with a playful disregard.
"I really don't like you," Damon shot back, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smirk as he poured himself a drink.
"The feeling is so mutual, however, I'm bored, and you're..not with Bonnie or Stefan," Lexi said as she grabbed a glass for herself.
"And you are just as annoying the second time around!" Damon quipped in a sarcastic tone. "Groundbreaking observations" Damon muttered.
"I'll tell you a secret if you tell me one" Lexi suggested, ignoring Damon's mocking.
Damon paused, considering the proposal for a fleeting moment before his expression shifted into a playful grin. "Tempting, but no thanks," he declined, turning to leave the kitchen with his drink in hand.
Lexi let out an exasperated groan, yet she couldn't resist following him.
Their exchange was abruptly cut short by the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. "Wait, they're home!" Lexi exclaimed, their attention snapping toward the front door as the car parked in the driveway.
Damon and Lexi both headed towards the entrance, curious as to where they had been all night. Katherine and Bruce were both holding up RJ and Chris, who were drunkenly belting out tunes with a joyous disregard for their surroundings. Lexi opened the front door as they stumbled inside.
Her eyes scanned the group, a mixture of amusement and concern dancing in her gaze. "Do I even want to know?" she inquired, her voice laced with a bemused skepticism as she stepped forward to assist.
Damon, standing a bit apart, couldn't mask his disdain, his nose wrinkling at the pervasive smell of cheap vodka and gin. "No, not really," Katherine responded with a weary sigh, her demeanor suggesting a night far more complicated than their drunken antics implied.
"I'll take them up to bed" Bruce offered.
"Ah, ah, no can do, they need to be quarantined" Damon declared, stepping closer, his gaze sharp.
"That's really not necessary, we'll just put a trashcan by their bed" Katherine eyed the drunk pair as they ignored the conversation happening around them.
"No, he's right, I'll explain" Lexi assured. Before she called on the AI system to incase them and send them down to the cells below, she gave Katherine and Bruce a quick low-down of the plan. Once RJ and Chris were settled in the cells, they explained they would be well taken care of and would know about the plan once they sober up.
"You all were gone for quite a long time, care to share with the class why?" Damon asked in an accusatory tone, as he eyed Katherine and Bruce who glanced at each other briefly.
"There's a group of people, descendants from the founding families who have a pretty high presence online, threatening to expose the world of magic to the world and how our government is complicit" Katherine explained. Lexi looked at Damon with worry.
Damon, unfazed, let out a scoff that echoed his disbelief and disdain. "What else is new? Those groups never gain too much traction. Let me guess, a scorned Fell or even one of Jeremy's Gilbert descendants?" he quipped.
"Those groups never gained too much traction because of the OWIA, which is now compromised, I highly doubt their focus is on cyber groups right now and because of the recent attack, some are convinced this town isn't as protected as they believed it to be" Bruce countered.
Katherine stepped closer to Damon and Lexi, her gaze locked with Damon's, ensuring she had his , undivided attention. "Funny because it was a Fell descendant who easily gave the information up. The scene from the explosion, only strengthened their rhetoric. Thankfully, the Fell descendant is in love with a warlock, as this group is not fond of any supernatural beings," she revealed, each word carefully chosen to underscore the complexity and imminent danger of their predicament.
"The leader is a Salvatore, a Salvatore-Donavan to be exact, I'm assuming one of your grandchildren" Bruce stated as he shot daggers toward Damon. The news immediately shook Lexi and Damon to their core as they shared a look of concern. Damon visibly clenched his jaw.
BBBB
Back in 2010 in another universe….
Bonnie Bennett woke to an aroma that was both inviting and unfamiliar in the Bennett household. Her culinary skills extended little beyond cereal, and with her father often absent in the mornings, the scent of a hearty breakfast was a rare luxury. As consciousness fully returned, a blush crept across her cheeks, recalling that Damon—of all people—had shared her bed the night before. The thought was quickly supplanted by the urgency of their impending meeting with Esther, propelling her into the day with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
Clad in an oversized Mystic Falls Cheerleader sweater and sweats, Bonnie called out for Abby, expecting her mother, only to halt at Damon's playful retort. "I've been called worse," he shouted back.
Taking a deep breath, Bonnie steeled herself. She had, after all, innocently shared a bed with the one person who could effortlessly rile her spirit. And now, he was in her kitchen, making breakfast. The audacity was almost admirable.
"Damon! Good morning!" she greeted, instantly questioning her choice of words as Damon turned, his smile as infuriatingly charming as ever.
"Morning, drooly" Damon widened his eyes with amusement.
"No, I'm not agreeing to that nickname, and I don't drool, you must be mistaken" Bonnie shrugged, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Abby ran to grab some coffee, you're completely out, no wonder why you're always so grumpy" Damon flipped the sizzling bacon in the pan.
"Show off" Bonnie muttered under her breath.
"I can hear you" Damon returned in a sing-song tone.
"Trust me, I know, and you didn't have to make breakfast, Abby and I have plans this morning and I don't think you're supposed to be here for them" Bonnie leaned against her fridge as she watched Damon plate her food. Two poached eggs for eyes and bacon for a smiley face.
"Are you kicking me out already? I made you breakfast" Damon scoffed in a sarcastic tone.
"You have an original at your house remember? Damon please, I don't need anyone else knowing you were over here last night and this morning, I don't have time to explain to anyone who may ask too many questions" Bonnie continued as he handed her the plate and motioned her to sit.
"Someone's having some post-cuddle regret" Damon looked at Bonnie's unenthusiastic expression and finally decided to not push her buttons. "Okay, but if you're expecting me to forget about yesterday, not gonna happen"
Bonnie hadn't even begun to fully process the previous night but knew that the lid to their pot was opened and there was no going back. Bonnie thankfully was saved by Abby coming into the home with a tray of coffee.
"Oh good, you're up!" Abby exclaimed before turning her attention to Damon, "Will we be expecting you with us all day? Or…" Her tone, laced with a mix of curiosity and skepticism, was a clear challenge to Damon's intentions. Bonnie anxiously kept eating her breakfast, not wanting to say a word.
"Leaving, thanks for the coffee" Damon quipped snatching a cup from the tray. "See you later judgey" Damon said in a lower tone with a smirk, Bonnie's reaction, a smile paired with a thumbs up, was both reflexive and mortifying in hindsight. Once Damon left Abby turned to Bonnie, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief.
"Oh my god, did I just give him a thumbs up?" Bonnie lamented; the absurdity of the gesture not lost on her.
Abby, seizing the moment to probe deeper, couldn't help but highlight the oddity of their exchange. "Wow, okay, so the thumbs up is the weirdest part of what's going on?" she quizzed, her question rhetorical yet loaded with implications.
"We don't have time to go into it, plus nothing happened" Bonnie asserted, though her evasion did little to quell Abby's concerns.
"I know we haven't had any proper mother – daughter bonding conversations, but honey, he made you breakfast. That nothing must be a huge something" Abby prodded, her words a mix of caution and curiosity.
"And I don't want to talk about it, especially with you, no offense" Bonnie admitted, her words a candid reflection of their strained dynamic.
"Okay, that's fair, I just want you to know that anything that could happen is such a slippery slope Bonnie, the complete opposite of the 'Not getting in vampire business' rule, plus-" Abby's warning was cut short by Bonnie's firm interruption.
"No, we're not doing this," Bonnie stated a clear indication of her reluctance to delve into the complexities of her recent interactions, particularly those involving Damon. Her actions, moving to place her dish in the sink, were an attempt to physically distance herself from the conversation as much as to emotionally distance herself from its implications.
The sudden knock at the door provided a diversion, shifting the focus from a potentially deep dive into Bonnie's personal life to the immediate concern at their doorstep. Abby, seizing the opportunity, moved to answer the door before Bonnie could voice any objections, perhaps hoping for a brief respite from their tense exchange.
"May I come in?" Esther asked Abby, Bonnie quickly went to the door which caught Esther's attention.
"No, we can have whatever conversation needs to be had outside," Abby ordered as she eyed Esther.
"Very well" Esther nodded and stepped aside so Bonnie and Abby could step outside with her.
Esther continued to eye Bonnie as she stepped outside with Abby.
"I wanted to thank you both for your combined efforts to release me, and to formally introduce myself, I do however, apologize for the aftermath, but was thankful to see you both made it out unscathed. My name is Esther Mikaelson." Esther nodded at Bonnie, acknowledging her presence at the Mikaelson ball.
"Should we be concerned about why you're here?" Abby inquired, her voice laced with a mix of suspicion and curiosity.
"No, on the contrary, I'm here to amend a grave error. My love for my children is boundless, yet I cannot deny the mistake I made in forcing them into this world as they are," she explained, her voice imbued with a mixture of love and regret.
Abby, still unconvinced, pressed further. "And how does that involve us?" she questioned, seeking clarity on their role in Esther's unexpected visit.
Esther proceeded to unveil her plan to eliminate the Mikaelson lineage, a revelation that stirred a whirlwind of emotions in Bonnie. On one hand, the Mikaelson's being there had brought nothing but trouble for Mystic Falls, herself, and her friends, on the other hand, she was now conflicted with playing a part in their demise as people and supernatural beings could change. After a while, they all agreed to the plan, as ultimately, Bonnie had a responsibility to keep the people she loved safe, and the Mikaelson's existence challenged that
As Esther was leaving, she turned to look at Bonnie an additional time which caught Bonnie's attention. As they stood and eyed each other it felt like time had slowed down for a moment. Bonnie instinctually walked toward Esther and ignored Abby's questioning.
"You are the key," Esther said as Bonnie was now standing a few feet away from her. Bonnie stood still, perplexed, before finally breaking from whatever trance she was in. Esther smiled with sympathy before getting into her taxi.
As they drove away, Abby made her way towards Bonnie.
"What was that about?" she probed, seeking insight into the cryptic interaction.
"I don't know, it was nothing" Bonnie shook her head and turned to face Abby.
"Are you having second thoughts?" Abby questioned.
"No, not at all, let's get inside" Bonnie answered as she looked back into the empty driveway.
As Bonnie stepped inside, the incessant buzzing of her phone with text alerts immediately caught her attention. She noticed a message in the group chat from Caroline, mentioning that she and Elena planned to swing by after their brunch since Bonnie hadn't been responsive that morning. Bonnie couldn't help but laugh, finding their predictability endearing. Her heart skipped a beat when she noticed a message from Damon, hesitating for a moment before opening it, given the complicated feelings brewing between them.
Damon's message revealed that Elena had visited shortly after he returned home, encountering Rebekah still at the house. He mentioned that nobody had brought up Bonnie's presence, leaving it to her discretion to share. Bonnie quickly replied with a simple 'thanks,' aware that she needed to act swiftly to erase any trace of her time with Damon, considering Caroline's sharp senses even before her vampire transformation.
Bonnie surmised that Elena's encounter with Rebekah was the catalyst for their insistence on spending the day together. In preparation for their arrival, she hurriedly showered and changed her bed linens. As her friends gathered, they caught up on recent events while Bonnie practiced a privacy spell Elena wanted her to use. During the conversation, Elena aired her grievances about Rebekah and Damon, distracting Bonnie from her spellcasting. When Elena inquired about the spell's effectiveness, Caroline's attempt to open the door so she could criticize Damon and his promiscuous ways, proved the spell's failure, leaving Bonnie feeling inadvertently criticized, despite her friends' ignorance of her recent involvement with Damon.
Changing the subject, Bonnie shared Esther's visit and her tentative agreement to cooperate with Esther's plan, sparking Elena's concern for Elijah's safety. Caroline's support of Bonnie left Elena feeling outnumbered and reluctantly resigned.
After escorting her friends out, Bonnie relished the thought of a nap, reflecting on Esther's cryptic remark about her being the key. Curiosity led her to the journal left for her, for a second time, where she revisited entries about the day's events and other significant moments involving Abby, Alaric, and the Mikaelson sire bonds.
Opting not to delve further into the journal as it was overwhelming, she remembered why the other Bonnie gave her the journal in the first place and it wasn't so history could repeat itself. She could use this to her advantage, she thought. Bonnie pondered if Esther was aware of her recent involvement with getting both Bonnie's back to their respective times, and whether this knowledge was what Esther referred to by naming her "the key." This thought offered Bonnie a glimpse into how she might leverage her unique position and the journal's contents to shape the future differently.
Bonnie found herself at a crossroads, wrestling with the realization that involving anyone close to her in her plan could potentially lead to disaster. Their well-meaning interventions might inadvertently complicate matters or thwart her intentions altogether. As she sifted through the names of those she could possibly confide in, one in particular stood out—a name that represented a gamble. This person could either be the perfect ally or the very catalyst for her plan's undoing.
With a mixture of apprehension and resolve, she decided to take the risk. Inhaling deeply to steady her nerves, Bonnie reached for her phone and dialed the number that could change everything.
"Hey! I need your help, and we need to meet privately. No one can know about this until we've had a chance to discuss it," Bonnie articulated with a sense of urgency, her words a whispered plea over the phone.
"You got it. I can be there to pick you up in 20 minutes," came Stefan's reassuring voice from the other end, his prompt agreement providing Bonnie with a flicker of hope.
"Perfect, I'll be ready," she replied, a touch of relief in her voice as she ended the call. Alone with her thoughts, Bonnie drew another deep breath, seeking solace in a mantra that had been imparted to her by the other Bonnie: "I don't have to suffer to be strong." These words, echoing in her mind, bolstered her spirit, reminding her that strength could be found in resilience and strategic action, not just in enduring hardship.