10

Damon sits quietly during the memorial service. For the first time some emotions of regret began to fill him as he stares at the urn of Tyler's remains on the mantel.

He feels Elena hold his hand, dabbing tears from her eyes as they listen to the string quartet play its somber music. He shifts uncomfortably and his eyes float to Bonnie, sitting at the end of the row beside Caroline. She looks so beautiful, and she hadn't aged at all. Questions swirl around Damon's head as he notices that Klaus is nowhere to be found. He wonders why he would leave before the service even began. But then again it's not as if Klaus actually cared about their friend group, even if Tyler was one of his hybrids.

Klaus pulls papers out of Tyler's office at the city council. Everyone was attending Tyler's funeral so the whole building was empty, giving Klaus the opportunity to look around. He glanced at papers and opened drawers, trying to find any clue as to what Tyler had that was so valuable it cost him his life. No defensive wounds made Klaus believe Tyler had known his attacker and wasn't expecting to lose his life. After pulling the last drawer open he found nothing of importance or out of the ordinary.

Klaus exits Tyler's office, on his way out the door of the building, when a familiar name on one of the office doors catches his attention. Curiosity gets the better of him and he finds himself turning the knob of Damon's office, easily breaking the lock and opening the door.

When Klaus enters Damon's office his eyes widen at the faint smell of blood...Tyler's blood. He knows the scent of one of his hybrids. Klaus is an ancient vampire and his senses are better than the younger naïve vampire who probably believes his cleaning job was sufficient to cover the tracks from other vampires and supernaturals. But not someone as old as Klaus. "What have you done Damon Salvatore" Klaus muses to himself out loud as he begins to open drawers in Damon's office.

Bonnie sighs and sits across from Elena and Caroline at the bakery. The waiter takes her order for her usual cookie milkshake. As soon as the waiter leaves Caroline points at Bonnie's ring on her finger, "explain!?" she yells.

Bonnie can't hide the happiness in her eyes. "Klaus proposed" she says simply. Caroline and Elena gasp. "More details" Caroline presses. This proposal is very surprising to Caroline and Elena. Caroline suspected that Bonnie and Klaus were moving fast, but Klaus actually proposing to Bonnie was unexpected. Elena was also surprised. She always assumed this thing with Klaus was a phase and eventually Bonnie or Klaus would get bored or tired of each other and the relationship would fizzle out.

Elena glanced enviously at the ring, her and Damon had been dating longer than anyone and they hadn't even brought up the prospect of marriage.

When Caroline pushes for more details of the proposal, Bonnie doesn't tell them about his impromptu proposal after her confession of love. It would cause her to bring up the drama with Damon, which she didn't want to get into, and also her telling Klaus she loved him was a private moment she wanted to keep to herself. She opts to tell them Klaus' second proposal.

"We were sitting in his study and talking, when suddenly he pulled a ring out, got on one knee and proposed." Bonnie said glancing from Caroline to Elena.

"Wow Bonnie, congratulations I can't believe you're getting married...to Klaus!" Caroline says, her voice surprised, but still happy. If Bonnie was happy, Caroline would be happy for her then.

"Yea Bon congrats" Elena said softly, placing her hand on Bonnie's ring. It was a gorgeous diamond. Elena felt envious of the progress Bonnie and Klaus had seemed to make overnight.

"Thanks guys" Bonnie says.

The waiter arrives with her milkshake and she sips, letting her news settle between Caroline and Elena.

Damon sits in his car. Eyes narrowing at the new sporty car Bonnie had drove to the bakery. Perhaps Klaus felt her slipping from him and bought her a new car to keep her by his side. But Damon doubted even his own thoughts, he knew Bonnie wasn't the type of woman that could be bought with expensive gifts. But then again, lately he'd become unsure of who this new Bonnie was that dated Klaus Mikaelson, wore tight dresses to night clubs, made out on private planes, and drove a new expensive car.

He drives off, afraid to go into the bakery and interrupt the conversation. He knew that whatever information Caroline and Elena got from Bonnie would be revealed to him later.

"Oh and the car...was that an engagement present? Also you look totally gorgeous by the way. I love that blouse, and those shoes! Ugh why do you have such little feet; I'd love to borrow those!" Caroline said excitedly.

Bonnie swallowed some of her shake. "My car was on its last leg, and Klaus bought me a new one...I guess it could be considered an engagement gift. Rebekah decided I needed a few new outfits to go with the new car."

Bonnie took another sip of her drink, readying for the next part. "Also...I kind of moved in with Klaus. But I'm not selling Grams' house. Just moving in..." Bonnie trailed off drinking more of her shake, trying to avoid their eyes.

"Wow Bonnie, looks like you had one hell of a weekend. I guess the next time you go ghost you'll be married living in Newport Connecticut with Klaus and your two kids and a small dog" Caroline said teasingly. But part of her was serious, she felt Bonnie slipping away into her new life with Klaus.

Elena finished her shake, all of this information was a lot too process. "Jeez, new car, new clothes, and now your moving in with them. They're turning you into one of them, they're changing you Bonnie." Elena said, worried for her friend, but also a little jealous of Bonnie's new shiny life right now.

Bonnie scoffs. "They're not changing me. Klaus proposed yes, but we love each other so it feels right. I needed a new car, even if I'd paid the thousands of dollars to repair my old car, it would've been back in the shop in the next few months, who cares about new clothes." Bonnie tries to argue. She doesn't like Elena's implication that she is losing herself in this relationship. To be honest she's never felt more like herself.

Elena throws her hands up in defense, sensing Bonnie's frustration at her comment. "I'm just saying Bon, I hope Klaus or his siblings don't hurt or use you."

"I trust Klaus, and Elijah's only focus is his family's happiness and security, and Rebekah isn't as bad as she seems, we're actually getting along, and Kol is actually-" Bonnie stops herself, realizing that they didn't know Kol was back from the dead.

Elena gives a surprised gasp. "Kol?!" she yells questioningly. Caroline's eyes widen, questioning Bonnie. "Oh...right...well apparently a witch in New Orleans brought Kol back to life as a favor to Elijah" Bonnie says quietly. After everything with Damon and Klaus' proposal she hadn't even thought about telling the group Kol was back.

"How long have you known this Bonnie?" Elena questions. She is afraid. With Kol back he could be on the hunt for blood and of course Elena who'd actually killed him would be his first victim.

"He's only been in town less than a week, like 5 days, I'm sorry I was going to tell you" Bonnie says apologetically.

"Are you forgetting Bonnie that I killed Kol. He could be on his way to kill me, and the rest of us" Elena said worriedly and glanced at Caroline.

Bonnie shook her head. "He's not. To maintain the peace in Mystic Falls, Kol isn't going to kill you or anyone else. Klaus and Elijah told him not to. Besides if he wanted to kill you he would've already done so, it's not like he doesn't know where to find you" Bonnie argued.

"So you're defending him? We're supposed to just trust Kol isn't going to try and get revenge because your fiancé told him not to" Elena asks heatedly.

Bonnie narrows her eyes "Kol doesn't care about killing any of you. If he did, I'm sure he would've just walked into the boarding house and killed you. You just have to trust me when I say Kol isn't a threat."

Caroline places a hand on Elena's shoulder to calm her down. "Bonnie, do you really think Kol isn't going to come after Elena or any of us?" Caroline asks softly, trying to diffuse the tension.

"Yes, he told me himself. He has a second chance at life and he's using it, leaving the past in the past. Kol Mikaelson isn't a threat, just like the rest of them aren't." Bonnie says sternly, upset that she is now in a position to where she has to defend Kol and the rest of his family.

Elena laughs bitterly. "Bonnie do you hear yourself? Your saying Kol Mikaelson isn't a threat! Your defending him. You are becoming one of them!"

"Well I'm marrying one of them! What did you expect?" Bonnie jumps from the table, and reaches into her purse, throwing a $20-dollar bill on the table and leaving. Bonnie stomps to her car and drives off, not looking back to the stunned vampires she left at the table.

Caroline watches Bonnie peel off in her car and down the road. She turns to Elena who had been doing the same. "Elena what the hell?" Caroline says frustrated.

"Oh come on Caroline, don't act like this isn't ridiculous. Bonnie marrying Klaus. Now we find out Kol is back from the dead and she didn't even tell us. Instead she's defending him!" Elena tries to argue her point.

Caroline sighs. Yes Bonnie's engagement had been very surprising, and her now her moving in with him, things were moving fast, but Bonnie looked so happy, Caroline wanted to trust Bonnie's happiness. She really wanted to trust that Klaus wouldn't break her best friend's heart.

"You know Elena I remember you defending Damon after he attacked Bonnie. I remember you still being friends with Damon after Bonnie lost her grams trying to help him. I remember you still loving Damon even after he threw insults and jabs at Bonnie. Because you loved Damon and with that love came trust. Bonnie loves Klaus, so she trusts Klaus, and if Klaus has promised peace, then we have to believe Bonnie knows what she is doing."

Elena gives Caroline a guilty look. Before they finally became friends and could tolerate each other, Damon was rude and sometimes downright mean to Bonnie, even when she was helping them, and Elena hadn't let his treatment towards her best friend faze her, she'd still loved Damon through all of that.

"If you don't start inwardly reflecting on your own actions, and start cutting Bonnie some slack, you're going to lose her" Caroline said in a serious tone.

Bonnie briskly walks into the Mikaelson mansion, her heels tapping the shiny hardwood floors. She rushes up to her and Klaus' room, removing her shoes and pulling her curls back into a messy bun. She falls onto the king size bed, allowing the tension of her argument with Elena to float away.

"I assume your little group didn't take the news of our impending nuptials well" Klaus muses as he leans against his door frame. He'd been in his study when he heard his little witch stomp up the stairs, already knowing that her damn friends had ruined the serene and happy mood she'd been in all weekend.

Bonnie pulls herself up on her elbows, looking over at Klaus. "Caroline was fine. Elena freaked about it, and she got mad that I didn't tell her about Kol being back. I tried to tell her that Kol wasn't going to go after them, but she got mad and said I was defending him. She thinks I'm choosing you all over them." Bonnie sighs and lets her head fall back on the bed.

Klaus shrugs. "To hell with them" he says nonchalantly.

Bonnie groans. Klaus walks toward the bed and crawls up her body, he places a kiss on her forehead and lays on his side, letting his legs tangle with hers. They lie facing each other, Bonnie pulls herself closer to Klaus' chest, already feeling the tension leave her body.

Klaus rubs circles on Bonnie's back. Inhaling the scent of peach in her curls. "I'm serious Bonnie...to hell with them...you deserve better than Elena Gilbert"

"Klaus..." Bonnie starts to defend Elena, but she doesn't have the energy. Not just tonight, but not at all. Bonnie no longer has the energy to defend or deal with a spoiled, entitled Elena Gilbert.

"Hmm....so I suppose I will be Klaus in the streets, but Nik in the bed" he chuckles, changing the subject. Bonnie laughs into his chest, a little embarrassed as he attempts to imitate the passionate manner in which she said his name in her car earlier that afternoon.

She kisses him happily, and problems like Elena Gilbert are quickly forgotten.

Elena and Caroline walk quietly into the boarding house. Caroline goes into Stefan's room, while Elena joins Damon on the couch.

When Caroline enters Stefan's room he is coming out of the shower in only a towel. "What a nice greeting..." she purrs, running to his arms kissing him, not caring about her dress getting wet from being pressed against his freshly showered skin. Stefan laughs and returns the kiss.

Caroline sits back on the bed as Stefan dries himself and changes into pajama pants.

"You're not going to believe this, but Klaus proposed to Bonnie, they're getting married! He bought her a new car, she's moving in with him, oh and a delightful cherry on top is that Kol Mikaelson is back from the dead, courtesy of some witch" Caroline falls back onto the bed, her feet still firmly planted on the floor.

Stefan's eyes widen a little at the news of Bonnie and Klaus getting married. Kol Mikaelson back isn't as surprising. The originals are strong and powerful and he isn't surprised that even death could hold Kol Mikaelson.

"Sooo...are we invited to this wedding? I'm assuming Klaus is handling all the details meticulously" Stefan says causing Caroline to laugh at the thought of Klaus Mikaelson planning a wedding.

Damon sips his drink slowly as he leans back on the couch trying to be as casual as possible, waiting for Elena to volunteer information about their get together with Bonnie. From the looks of it, things didn't go well.

"Are you alright?" He says softly, letting the ice in his drink clink against the glass of his tumbler. Elena huffs. "Bonnie dropped like a thousand bombs on us, and it was a lot to handle." She leaned on Damon's shoulder, playing with his free hand, twirling his daylight ring around on his finger. From Elena's behavior, obviously Bonnie hadn't told them about the wolves and his declaration of love to her.

Elena sighed. "Klaus proposed to Bonnie and now they're getting married" before Elena can finish telling Damon all the details, she hears the glass shatter, coating his hand and pants with blood and bourbon. Elena jumped up, "Damon?!" she questioned worriedly. His face was blank, but his eyes were livid with rejection and pain. Bonnie had clearly made her choice. 'No Damon...I love Klaus' Bonnie's earlier confession echoes in his mind.

He spares a glance at Elena, who looks at him worried and confused, he begins to walk up the stairs to his bedroom. The cuts on his hands already healed and the blood and liquor beginning to cake his hand.

Elena follows him. "Damon, what is going on? I know your worried about Bonnie, but clearly she's chosen Klaus" Damon stops before entering his room, and looks back at Elena. "I know...and now I...we've lost her" the words start to choke and Damon rushes to his bathroom and locking the door behind him, turning the shower so Elena can't hear his quiet sobs as he sinks his head against the tiles.

Elena is puzzled by Damon's words and actions. She yells to the bathroom door, "it's ok Damon, we still have Bonnie...we haven't lost her...I don't think we have..." but Elena was unsure. Perhaps her earlier words had pushed her closer to Klaus and his family.

Klaus sits nervously behind his desk as he quietly watches Bonnie sit on the couch and read the selected pages from the grimoire he'd shown her. He was nervous when he expressed to her that he wished to have a private magical wedding ceremony, before the official one Rebekah has been so focused on planning. "So it's a bonding ceremony" Bonnie said flipping through the pages.

"Something like that, but much more" he says joining her on the couch. "Basically love, we already have a strong bond. But this ceremony would connect our souls and intertwine our life forces. One partner is the anchor who shares their life force with the other partner, connecting us for as long as the anchor lives..." Klaus paused in his explanation watching Bonnie's reaction intently. Bonnie's face was neutral as she listened, digesting and understanding the ritual.

"So I'm assuming you would be the anchor?" Bonnie asks curiously. Klaus nods.

"So if you share your life force with me...which is immortality...then I would be immortal, like you?" Klaus nods. "Yes love, but you wouldn't be anything like a vampire, no need for blood, you would just be an immortal witch."

Bonnie nods. She'd heard of different types of magical wedding ceremonies, that connected partners' souls and emotions, but one that connected life forces was new to her. She didn't realize that immortality was an option without becoming a vampire.

"If our life forces are connected, then if something ever happens to you...then I die?" Bonnie questions. Klaus nods, this would be the hardest part for her to agree to. "The good thing is I'm indestructible which would make you the same. You would also share my ability to heal" Klaus said as he waited on Bonnie's decision.

"What if something happened to me? Like if I now have your strength, then I have your weaknesses. What if someone somehow got a white oak dagger and stabbed me?" Bonnie asked.

The thought caused Klaus anxiety. Someone using Bonnie to get to him. "I'm the anchor, so the bond would be broken, I would survive for a time being, but at what costs I am not sure. I would be half a soul, half a being, I believe the anchor eventually dies from the weakness of losing their partner." Klaus explains.

Bonnie contemplates, the thought of becoming an immortal witch. She was astounded to hear of such a spell. She knew eventually she would have to have the conversation of immortality with Klaus, she dreaded the thought of having to tell him she didn't want to become a vampire, but now of course Klaus had brought to her a solution that was a win for both of them.

"You want to spend forever with me?" She asks sweetly. "Forever and always my love" Klaus responds kissing the top of her left hand.

Bonnie nodded "yes, let's do it then." Bonnie was more than willing to take immortality if it meant forever with Klaus.

Later on that day, Bonnie is having dinner with the rest of the Mikaelson's, when the doorbell rings. Rebekah goes to answer and returns to the dinner table a frown on her face. "Bonnie you have visitors. Elena and Caroline." Kol makes a face at the mention of Elena's name. Bonnie is surprised, she can't remember if Elena or Caroline had ever actually stepped foot inside the Mikaelson mansion. Bonnie stood to walk to the foyer, she could hear Klaus telling Kol to behave.

Bonnie walks to the foyer and sees Caroline and Elena standing in the center of the room, shifting nervously. "Hi guys" Bonnie says surprised.

"Hi Bonnie...we wanted to come see you, and I wanted to apologize about last night" Elena said. Bonnie nodded. "Umm...we can talk upstairs" Elena and Caroline nod and follow Bonnie into Klaus' study. Bonnie had started to use Klaus' study as her own as well.

Elena and Caroline sat down on the leather couch, their eyes glancing around the room. This was the first time they'd ever been in the Mikaelson's home, let alone Klaus' private study. They saw easels laid against a far wall, and several blank canvases and one canvas that was covered with a tarp. Caroline then remembers that Klaus is an artist. Sitting on the well-polished wooden desk, they see multiple grimoires stacked on one corner of the desk, and in the center of the desk they recognize Bonnie's laptop. It was strange to see how quickly Bonnie and Klaus had settled into a domestic life.

Bonnie sits in the chair closer to the fire place, turning the chair to face the couch. Bonnie is unsure of how to react to this impromptu visit, she also realizes she is quite lost on how to host her friends in this new place. "You guys want anything? Tea? Blood?" They decline shaking their heads.

All three girls sat nervously, doing unnecessary stretches and thumb twiddling. Finally, after a moment of uncomfortable silence, Elena was the first to say something. "Bonnie, I wanted to apologize for the things I said the other day. Please just understand that...I don't know the Klaus that you know. While he's become the man you love, he's still Klaus the man who terrorized us. So sometimes it's difficult when you defend him and his family. But I will try to be better Bonnie, I promise." Elena meant the words she said, because she did not want to lose Bonnie. Bonnie was a constant in her life, a safety net that she needed to keep her grounded. Elena wasn't fond of change and she didn't like the thought of losing Bonnie, especially to Klaus. So if keeping Bonnie, meant playing nice with Klaus and his family, then she would try.

Bonnie nodded at Elena's words. That's all they were to her, just words. Bonnie knew Elena better than Caroline, Stefan, and Damon. Elena wanted things to go back to normal, she wanted Bonnie to be her constant shoulder to lean on again, so now she was here, bending the knee to try and appease her. Bonnie was not moved by Elena's words, and she realizes suddenly that it's because she doesn't care. The same discontentment she has for Damon and his actions, she has for Elena and her words. Bonnie finds it easier to pretend to accept Elena's words, it makes this whole song and dance a whole lot easier.

"Thank you Elena." Bonnie adds, and Elena smiles, reaching for Bonnie's hand, and Bonnie extends it, throwing her a plastered on smile.

Perhaps Elena is right, Bonnie is changing, but not for Klaus' benefit, but for her own. For the first time in a very long time, Bonnie is her own person, and she realizes that this whole time it wasn't her who needed that little group, but that little group that needed her. So she doesn't really need Elena's apology, because Bonnie will be just perfect, with or without it.

Suddenly the door to Klaus' study opens and Rebekah is carrying wine. She places it on the table in front of them, "tensions seemed a bit high, thought this could be of use" Bonnie's face shifts to a genuine smile and she nods walking over to Klaus' bar and pulling glasses from the cupboards. Rebekah takes a seat on top of Klaus' desk while Bonnie pours everyone a glass.

Elena and Caroline wordlessly accept the glasses. Rebekah holds her glass up in a silent toast and all the girls drink. "Thanks, definitely needed that" Caroline says.

Rebekah looks around and suddenly gasps, causing all three girls to look at her. "I just realized something...with the exception of Bonnie, we've all fucked the Salvatore brothers" Rebekah said teasingly.

Caroline burst into laughter and Elena blushed. All the girls drank more of the wine, and soon Caroline was pouring everyone a refill. The alcohol loosened their tension and their mouths, as Caroline and Rebekah both agreed that Stefan was sort of into feet.

"Seriously Elena, he never asked you to send him pictures of just your toes in the middle of the day? Or did he ever caress your feet a little too long?" Caroline asks as she drinks more of her wine. Elena laughs and shakes her head no, pouring herself another glass. "Or volunteer to paint your toe nails?" Rebekah adds, and Caroline nods in agreement.

Bonnie sits back and just laughs listening to now way too much information about Stefan Salvatore. "Glad I missed the boat on that one" Bonnie says quietly.

Caroline teasingly rolls her eyes, "well Bonnie there's only one boat, you've ever been on..." Bonnie gasps trying to sound serious, but her lips betray the ghost of a smile. "Caroline!" she says. "Wait! Oh my...Bonnie...was Nik your first? Goodness, I'm sure he ate that up...literally" Rebekah says with a glint in her eye.

Bonnie groans, she did not want to discuss the vivid details of losing her virginity to Klaus, especially with his sister in the room. All the girls laugh and make 'aww so sweet' sounds at Bonnie.

"Wait! You're getting married!" Caroline says as if this is news to everyone in the room. "Wedding plans? Maid of Honor? What is going on with that?" Caroline excitingly asks.

"The wedding won't be until after graduation, in the fall" Bonnie simply answers.

"Rebekah has been really helpful with a lot of stuff" Bonnie adds.

Caroline tries to not make a jealous face, but she is. She hadn't realized how close Rebekah and Bonnie had become. She was the best friend who was supposed to plan weddings, and help with picking out dresses, new outfits, and all of those fun things. Bonnie looks to Caroline, already sensing her jealousy towards Rebekah.

"But you know we will definitely need your help, and Elena, if you want to of course. Obviously I want you all in the wedding." Bonnie turns and includes Rebekah in her conversation.

Rebekah tries not to become emotional at Bonnie's invitation to include her in her wedding party. "I would be honored Bonnie" Rebekah says. "So would I" Elena adds. "Well if Rebekah is doing most of the wedding planning, I call the bachelorette party!" Caroline exclaims.

Another hour later and 3 bottles later the girls are laughing and talking. "Come on Bonnie, just yes or no...is Klaus well endowed?" Caroline tipsily asks. "Oh gross that's my brother" Rebekah says making a face. "Close your eyes then!" Caroline says. Which causes all the girls to laugh.

Their laughter is interrupted when Klaus opens the door one eyebrow quirked as he takes in the display of Rebekah sitting atop his priceless antique desk, Elena Gilbert and Caroline Forbes sprawled over his custom upholstered leather couch, and his little witch sitting cross legged in his custom padded chair.

So much female energy in his home was new to him. "Is this wine and gossip hour over yet, I'd enjoy the use of my study again" Klaus ignores the rude faces all the ladies make at him as he walks over to retrieve his sketch pad from his desk drawer.

"Nik" Bonnie says softly pouting her lips and widening her eyes at him, Klaus' attention is immediately on Bonnie, he narrows his eyes at her using Nik, he supposes now she has found a weakness on him, his nickname on her lips.

Bonnie stares at him innocently and his narrowed eyes relax, easily relenting. "Oh fine, but if there is one drop of wine on that custom couch, I'm sending the dry cleaning bill to the Salvatore brothers, Klaus says pointing at Caroline and Elena and stomping out of the room closing the door behind him.

"You've got him well trained" Carline says to Bonnie taking another swig of her wine, causing all the ladies to laugh.

Later that night Bonnie brings Elena and Caroline down the stairs of the house. Klaus is there at the foot with Hudson standing by the door. "Hudson will drive your car Caroline, to get you and Elena home" Klaus says, not really offering just telling. Both girls nod, knowing that his concern was only for Bonnie's benefit.

Bonnie stands at the door and watches Hudson pull out of the drive way, both Elena and Caroline already asleep in the backseat of her car.

When Bonnie closes the door she feels fingers wrap around her waist, and a firm hand swats her playfully on the bottom causing her to yelp, she feels Klaus' breath tickle her ears from behind her "now little witch, I think we need to discuss your use of Nik."