A/N: I'm absolutely awful and I know it. I'm sorry it took so long to update any of my stories. If you haven't read my A/N on Just Ours, I have a new job and it has been taken up majority of my time (night shifts dude). I write when I can. BUT BEHOLD I HAVE BESTOWED UPON YOU A NEW CHAPTER! This freaking chapter was pissing me off but I love it. I know it's not Retrograde Pt 2, like I promised (that will be chapter four) but this chapter is definitely exploring the background of how this caretaking business first came about. I hope you guys enjoy it. Disclaimer: TVD doesn't belong to me but that doesn't stop me from having my klonnie XD

Thank you guys for reading/following/favoriting/reviewing Fall Into Me. I am so happy you guy like it :) Please excuse any misspelled words I missed.

ENJOY!

Chapter 3: Fates Intertwined

I'm so tired…

So tired…

I don't want to get up…

…

Can I sleep for a little while longer?

…

You can sleep as long as you like…

xx

Savannah, Georgia

(Three Days before Bonnie's Unexpected Arrival at the Compound)

Fingernails tapped on dark wood awkwardly trying to break the eerie silence in the empty bar. A woman sat on a barstool as another sat across from her behind the bar. "So…" She started. "How have you been?" The other woman said nothing. "The bar look nice." She tried again but still nothing.

The woman behind the bar ignored the question and pulled out two glasses. She placed one in front of her and the other in front of her company. She reached blindingly underneath the bar to pull out her favorite bottle of liquor she only drunk on special occasions. She personally wouldn't call this union something "special", but this particular situation did call for a hard drink and the other liquor in her cabinetry wouldn't cut it.

"How are the children?" The woman on the barstool asked hoping the other would speak to her. She didn't of course, which made her even more uneasy. She hated awkward situations such as these. She made it her business to avoid uncomfortable confrontations. Though the woman would have loved to be anywhere but there in quaint little bar known as Lenny's, but this was something she couldn't avoid any longer.

The woman watched the bar owner pour the dark substance into her glass then hers. She fiddled with her hands trying to scrape any ounce of courage she had inside her. "Could you talk to me please?"

"Why are you here?" The woman asked with a clipped voice. The one nicknamed Lenny snapped the cap back on the liquor bottle. "It's been what, fifteen years since we last talked? Then eighteen the last we seen each other." The bar owner questioned haughtily to her uninvited guest. To say the woman was irritated was an understatement. She was furious. "What do you want?"

The guest took a steady breath. She knew this wasn't going to be easy. She expected the hostility and being truly honest with herself, she knew she deserved it. However, that knowledge didn't make things easier. "I wanted…I want to make things right." She cringed inwardly when she heard the other snort nastily.

"And how exactly will you do that?" When she didn't get answer, the bar owner asked again. "How?"

"Lenny –"

"Don't Lenny me. I want to know how. How are you going to make things right? How are you going to fix everything?" She moved her glass to the side. "How are you going to do it? Do you think just because you came walking in here after all these years everything will go back to the way it was?"

"I never said that."

"So what are you planning to do?"

"I'm planning to make things better."

"How?" The woman yelled.

"By being here!" Hope laced through her voice reflecting the emotion in the woman's eyes. She needed this to happen. She needed her sister to believe in her.

Lenny stared crossly at her younger sister then shook her head. Maroon painted nails raked through her unruly wild chocolate curls. "I don't believe you." She watched the hope in her sister's eyes slowly dissipate hearing those words. "I don't think I can believe you after all these years. I can't –"

"Trust me." The youngest finished for her. "I understand that, but Lenny I'm asking you…begging you to give me a chance to prove it." Hope once again flared within coffee brown eyes and courage steadily rebuilding itself. "I know I have been difficult and I have made a mess out of things. I have no excuse." She blinked back her tears feelings eighteen years worth of guilt, hurt, and uncontrollable fear run through her. It was the most painful feeling she ever felt but she was grateful to feel these crippling sensations. It was a reminder, a reminder that what she was doing was right. It was a reminder that she needed to solidify everything the woman had single handedly broken. All she needed was a chance. "But I ask you for this last time for forgiveness."

"Why now?" Lenny questioned. "Why come now? For all you know I can tell you to get the hell out of my bar and never show your face around here again."

The sister only shrugged her shoulders. "I have nothing left." Tears she was trying to keep at bay began to trickle down her tawny high cheekbones. "Mom is…" Her hand quickly covers her mouth finding herself unable to speak on the subject concerning her mother. It was too hard.

Lenny turned away from the heart breaking sight wiping her tears away. "Yeah…" She didn't know what else to say other than that.

Everything was crashing on the woman and emotions were high. She was angered by seeing her sister unexpectedly sitting in her bar, but a part of her was happy to see her. She was happy she was okay and living. However, her eighteen years worth of loss and ire was more potent and now their mother brought up in the conversation. This was simply not her day.

"I think you should leave."

"Let me try. That's all I ask."

Lenny eyes stared down at her untouched drink as her mind raced. The bar owner was completely blindsided. She wasn't expecting this to happen. After everything, she wasn't expecting on her early Sunday morning to see her sister. She wasn't expecting anything from her. She thought the ties been severed since the last time they talked. Lenny mentally nodded her head. "You should go. I can't keep doing this. I can't…" She rubbed her tired face. "I can't keep doing this."

"Lenny, please…" More tears fell down her little sister's face. She was desperate. "Let me try. That's all I want. That's all I ever need."

Lenny hardened heart softened. This was not good. She sighed heavily rolling her eyes. "You were always the cry baby." She said with lightness in her tone bringing a small watery smile on her sister's face. The elder Bennett woman reached behind her to grab the box of tissues. She was an idiot and she told herself she was one for doing this. "One chance…" Abilene Bennett held the tissue out to her. "One chance Abby is all you get." She said seriously erasing any trace of jest from before in her voice. "It's all I can give you."

The newly turned vampire Abigail Bennett nodded her head after wiping the wet trails from her cheeks. "I understand."

"Good." Abilene, Lenny for short, picked up her glass drowning her alcoholic beverage then quickly poured herself another. "Don't waste my alcohol." She stared pointedly at her sister's untouched drink.

Abigail picked up the glass wearily. "It's so…black."

The older Bennett shrugged. "Like other things I love." She wiggled her eyebrows up and down. "You know I love black liqueur, now drink. That's twenty dollars a glass."

"And expensive." Abigail read the label on the Fernet-Branca bottle.

"I also like expensive things."Abilene said once she drunk her glass. She poured herself another. Abigail grunted in response. "Drink it, Abby. Grow some hair on your chest."

The younger Bennett quickly swallowed the black liqueur down. A vicious cough broke from her lips after swallowing death in liquid form. She caught an evil smile on her sister's face as the vampire tried not to cough her dead heart out of her chest. After her coughs subsided, Abigail shook her head. "Obviously you like poison as well."

"It's delicious and bitter."

"Like your soul."

"You're right, my soul is delicious." Abilene snickered seeing Abby wipe the taste off her tongue with a napkin. "I thought vampires supposed to be tough." The Bennett witch poked.

Abby sucked her teeth. "Don't get cute." She stood from the barstool staring at her sister sincerely. "I'll make it right, Len. I promise."

Abilene shook her head. "Don't make promises you can't keep, little sis."

The Bennett vampire leaned over the bar to kiss her sister on the cheek. "It is a promise I'm willing to keep." She turned to make her leave. "Make sure to give the children my love? I'll be seeing them soon."

"I will." Abilene muttered before drinking her fourth, maybe fifth or six glass of Fernet. "How long are you staying, Abby?" She asked pouring another glass.

Abigail shrugged her shoulder as she grabbed her pursed from the table. "I'm staying for a good while."

Abilene squint her eyes. Though it had been over a decade since both Bennett women seen each other, the witch still knew when her sister was hiding something from her. "What's going on, Abigail?"

"Why must it be something wrong? Can't I just rekindle my relationship with my dearest sister?"

"Call it twin intuition."

Abigail shrugged nonchalantly again at her other half. "If I do, I'll make sure to call you." The vampire chuckled when she seen the displeased look on her sister's face. "Lenny, it's nothing you should worry about."

"Mhmm," The witch swallowed her drink. "Sure it isn't." Abilene placed her and Abigail's glass in the sink behind her. "Don't make me come looking for you, Abby." She could hear her twin mutter an "alright" as her footsteps headed towards the door. "Do I need to call for back up?"

The suggestion made Abigail's ears perk. "You better not call them, Len." She heard a snicker behind her. She faced her evil sister fully. "I'm serious Abilene. Don't call any of them, especially Barta."

"They are your sisters, Abby." A wicked smile curled at the second youngest out of the seven Bennett sisters. "Besides, they will be just thrilled that our baby sister is in town and staying for a while."

Abigail actually felt a chill run down her spine. It was one thing seeing Abilene but seeing the rest of her sisters were out of the question. The Bennett wasn't emotionally and physically ready to take that step yet. "Lenny, please don't. Not yet."

Abilene snorted obnoxiously. "What do you think they're going to do to you, Abby? They'll be pissed sure, but they won't do any damage." Abigail arched her brow at her twin. "…that much, but look…" The witch move from behind the bar walking toward Abigail. "How about I give you a day or two before I call them? Just so you're prepared."

"And then what?"

"Nothing! The most they will do is ask to see you. I mean can you blame us?" Guilt swelled in Abigail hearing the well know fact. She owed them. "Come on, Abby." Abilene nudged her playfully.

"Fine." She relented. A huge smile spread across Abilene's face. "Oh shut up."

"I knew you will see it my way." Abilene threw her arm over her little sister's shoulder walking her to the door. "Everything will be fine."

"Sure it will."

"It will! I'll even make sure Barta won't get on you that much, promise." She held out her pinky.

The vampire stared at the digit then back at her. "Really?"

Abilene shrugged her shoulder. "Old twin habit."

Abigail stared at the slim jointed part for a moment before joining her pinky with hers. "This is so childish."

"Maybe."

"You won't let them beat me up will you?" The Bennett witch asked half jokingly. Her sisters were rough.

Abilene burst in laughter as she opened the door walking Abby to her car. "Of course I won't." The Bennett witch thought about it. "Well maybe a little, Abby. Goddess knows you deserve a good thrashing after all these years." When they reached the car, Abilene playfully kicked Abigail's boot. "Be safe, Abby. If there is anything you need –"

"– I know I know, call you." Abigail moved in to give her sister a hug and Abilene gladly accepted it. "It was really good seeing you, Len."

"It was good seeing you too, Abby." The witch squeezed her tightly. As she held her, a spark of fear settled in her.

The Bennett woman was scared of losing her little sister again. If that happened again, the witch didn't know how she would take it. She loved all her sisters, but Abigail was her twin, her other half. It didn't feel right not having her in her life. This moment felt too perfect and she didn't want to let the feeling go ever.

"Please, don't let this be the last time I see you."

Hearing the graveness and sadness in her sister's voice caused the Bennett vampire to tighten her hold. "It won't be." Abigail pulled away and kissed her nose. "Besides, I got your nose."

Abilene giggled at their old childhood "see you later". This time the witch knew she would see her sister again. How else was she supposed to get her nose back? "Really?"

Abigail buckled her seat belt then looked up at her sister. "Old twin habit." She put on her shades and drove off.

"Childish!" Abilene yelled after her.

It wasn't until Abigail's taillights were out of her line of vision before she stepped back into her establishment. She had a few hours left to do inventory before she opened for business. The Bennett witch stepped into the bar moving towards the sink. She turned on the faucet and grabbed the dish detergent to clean the two glasses.

"How long are you going to stand in the shadows?"

From the far corner of the bar, a figure shifted in the dark hall. "You've noticed?"

"Don't insult me."

"But Abby didn't." A deep frown settled on the shadowed figure face. "She really lost her magic." Abilene didn't speak knowing it wasn't a question. "Shameful."

The sound of broken glassed shrilled in the silent room. The Bennett witch's magic crackled in the air around them sweltering in the once cool room. "And you wonder why she is the way she is." Her knuckles gripped the sink tightly. "You always run her off with your unnecessary bullshit."

"I didn't make her run! She left us then she left us repeatedly after that. I didn't do that, Abilene. Abigail did that on her own free will." Heat began to spread on the witch's fingers. "And look where it gotten her. From losing her magic to being turned into a monster –"

"– Don't call her that!"

"She's a vampire!"

"She's our sister, Barta." Abilene turned to the eldest out of all seven Bennett sisters. "She didn't choose this."

"It doesn't change what she is. Because of her choices she made in the past, ruin followed her, which led her to the consequences she is suffering now. No doubt, it will take on more dastardly effects in the future for her, for us. Do you know what the witch community is saying about her?"

"Like I care what those old bats are saying about our family. They have no real foothold in the witch community anyway, especially not over us."

"How could you say that? They cared for us. Took us in when Sheila couldn't."

"Our mother protected us! You know that. You're just too pig headed to realize it." Abilene derided. "None of us held that against her except you. It's like you're trying to make her –"

"I'm not doing anything." Barta fumed. "I just know what is and I know my mother left us when we were five years old and didn't come back until ten years later, which she never told us why!"

"She was protecting us!"

"She was selfish! She was only worrying about herself, not the welfare of her daughters and the trauma that would come from it."

Abilene glanced at her older sister sadly. "It's sad that you're the only one that feels that way."

Bartha Bennett came from out the shadows of the hall into the light where her sister stood. "You don't know our mother as much as you think you do." She said venomously. "None of you know the real Sheila Bennett. Death was kind to her even though she deserved worse."

"Barta…" Abilene called out. "Don't...Just don't." She wasn't going to take too much disrespect towards her deceased mother, blood or not.

"Like Sheila, Abigail chose this whether it was intentional or not."

"You're right. It doesn't change what she is, but what does need to change is this nastiness and spitefulness you have against her."

"Can you blame me?" Bartha questioned as she twiddles her silver pendant between her fingers "She started this, have you forgotten."

"I never forgotten and even if I did, you make sure we all know it." Abilene leaned against the sink fully facing the Bennett. "Don't ruin this for us."

"Us?"

"Yes us, Barta!" Abilene bellowed. "You know the rest of us want to see Abby. Just because you might not want to, doesn't mean we shouldn't."

Bartha scoffed. "All of you always babied her, especially you."

"And you were always the hardest on her."

"I was trying to protect her!"

"So you say but I don't remember almost killing your sister being the same as protecting her." Abilene sneered. "As I said before, don't you dare ruin it for us or so help me…I swear Bartha –"

"Challenging me again little sister?" Butterscotch colored eyes glowered menacingly. "It didn't do you any good last time." The eldest warned.

Hearing the warning, the second youngest of the Bennett sisters' magic pulsed. Lights flickered on and off and the floor and walls wailed from the heavy pressure coming from the witch. "I'm not a child anymore, Bartha!" The scar that stretched across her back began to burn. "This time I will ruin you if you destroy our chances getting our sister back and I will never forgive you. Neither will the rest of our sisters." The witch turned away from her to clean the broken glass out the sink. "You can leave now."

Bartha hard glare soften seeing she might have went a bit too far mentioning their last fight. It was a dark time in the Bennett household and with dark times came things a person though they would never do. "Len," Bartha started. "I'm only trying to –"

"I said you can leave!" Abilene leaned heavily on the sink trying to keep upright. When she didn't hear any retreating steps, rage fluttered in the witch. "Leave now!"

Bartha nodded to Abilene even though the younger Bennett didn't see it. "So be it." She stared at her sister's back for a moment before she backed herself into the narrow hallway disappearing into the shadows.

When Abilene felt her sister's ominous presence gone, she quickly took out her cell phone from her pocket quickly dialing her contact. It answered after one ring. "We have a problem." A shot of electricity danced up her back feeling four familiar auras behind her. "Good, you were all together. We have a problem."

"So you said." The third youngest of the Bennett sisters, Rubin-Denise, also known as Ruby-Dee, grunted. "We got your call." She pointed to the third eldest, Georgette's phone who was sitting next to the second eldest, Margery. "What's exactly is the problem, Len?"

"Abigail is here." She finally said.

Barbra Bennett, the middle child, stood behind the bar ready to pour herself a drink froze in mid-pour. "Abby is here as in here in Savannah?"

Abilene let a smile stretch across her face. "She is." She noticed the not so happy faces around her. "And believe me I know that's a lot to take in."

"You think?" Georgette snapped.

The news their sister was in town brought on a myriad of emotions through the Bennett sisters. There was hurt, anger, but mostly relief. They have been following their little sister's whereabouts for years. Then it was known throughout the witch community that Abigail and her daughter were helping the Original witch to destroy the Originals. Soon after, their sister became a vampire tying her to the bloodthirsty monsters. The Bennett sisters never counted on that happening to one of their own, a heartbreaking reality. Unknown to the sisters, they didn't know how much Abigail turning into vampire would shifted the witch community in a way no one would have guessed.

Georgette pulled on the root of her hair. "How long was she here?"

"How long is she staying?" Barbra interrogated more.

"And why the hell didn't you call us sooner, Lenny!" Ruby-Dee gritted.

"Forget that right now! We have a serious problem."

"What's the problem?" Margery stood from her seat getting nervous seeing her little sister clearly upset about something.

"Barta knows Abby is here."

A pregnant pause only lasted minute until Ruby-Dee broke the eerie silence saying what everyone else was thinking aloud.

"Shit."

"Shit is right." Abilene rubbed her temples. "And you know Barta is going to tell that wench and her league of devil spawns."

"Why does she even be around them?" Barbra asked while searching through the small fridge looking for something to snack on.

"Maybe gratitude." Abilene shrugged uninterested. "Who knows what goes through that stubborn woman's head. I sure don't and don't touch my pistachio ice cream, Barbra."

"I don't want your nasty ice cream." Barbra took out a bag of frozen grapes. "Do you think she already told them?"

"Of course she did." Margery grimaced. She might have been pissed at her little sister but it didn't mean she wanted the Savannah witches to get their hands on her. "This is not good."

Looking around at her sisters' worried faces, Ruby-Dee pulled out her cell phone dialing a number she thought she never would have to call.

Noticing her sister dialing, Margery moved closer. "Ruby, who are you calling?"

"Who do you think?" The other Bennett women waited for her to tell them. "I'm calling that bastard."

Margery couldn't help but to snort knowing exactly who she was talking about. "Goddess, help us all." She muttered to herself.

"Ruby, please no. Please don't. Don't call him."

"It's an idea, Georgie."

"It is the worst idea ever." Georgette groaned from across the room.

"I agree." Barbra raised her hand.

Abilene raised her hand as well. "I second that. What the hell are you thinking, Ruby?"

"I'm thinking the good for nothing owes us and this is how he will repay that debt."

"This is going to be a true crap storm." Georgette mumbled to herself.

"Stop being so negative all the time!"

"He's not going to come, you know that right?" Barbra said taking a sip of her brandy.

Ruby-Dee's butterscotch colored eyes darkened bringing a malevolent aura around her. "He'll come if five very angry Bennett witches show up at his doorstep."

"And if he still refuses?" Margery asked coyly liking the wicked aura dressing the room. The Bennett witch was all for starting some trouble. She was getting bored living the simple life.

Ruby-Dee only smiled unkindly. "Then we put him back in that shithole he crawled out of. The same shithole our mother locked him in for twenty years."

xx

NOW

"So let me get this straight," Hayley said from the couch placing her daughter on the blanket below her to play with her building blocks. "You want us to be Bonnie's witnesses but what exactly is a witness?"

"Those selected few who witness the contract signing. Of course there's more to it but that will fully be explained when both Bonnie is awake and the contractor arrives." Klaus explained.

"And as witnesses you need us to complete this contract thing?"

"Correct." Elijah replied as he plucked a piece of lint off his navy blue suit jacket. "We need five signatures."

"So we in this room make the five witnesses?"

"Not quite. My brother and I will take on a different task when it comes to Miss Bennett."

"So who are the other two witnesses?" Gia probed.

"That information is on need to know basis for a selected few."

"And the selected few are you and Klaus."

"Correct." Klaus answered before Elijah could utter a word. "No need to worry your pretty little head about it, sweetheart."

"All witnesses need to be present before the contractor gets here." Elijah glanced down at his watch. "Which is in an hour and half from now."

"How did she get here?" Hayley needed more information than what they were giving her. She didn't understand what was going on and particularly why the Bennett witch was staying in the compound with them. However, she did know whatever it was it was going to put all of them in danger and the young hybrid was not signing up for that. She had a daughter to protect. "Why is she here?"

"That is need to know –"

"Klaus cut the crap." Marcel stepped in. The ex-vampire king was beginning to feel slightly irritated that their question weren't be answered straight forwardly. "Why is she here and what do you need her for?"

"To answer your first question Hayley, I believe Niklaus said she fell from his bedroom ceiling."

Hayley shook her head not believing what she was hearing. "She fell through the ceiling?" She chuckled humorlessly. "Is this some sort of joke?"

"A joke it is not, little wolf." Klaus sat down across from her. "She indeed fell through my ceiling. She was supposed to arrive at Josephine's home. Elijah and Gia were to retrieve her and bring her back to the compound." Klaus turned towards the closed door leading to his bedroom where the witch slept. "You can imagine my surprise when a five foot two witch fell onto my lap. It was like Christmas morning." A coy smile pulled at his red lips turning back to Hayley. "The only thing missing was a big red bow."

"Where was she before she…dropped in?" Hayley couldn't believe what was coming out of her mouth.

"She was dead." Klaus said plainly.

Marcel rubbed his face tiredly. "She was dead?"

"Inevitably, yes."

"How is she alive right now? Last I checked the Other Side imploded."

"Oh it did and Bonnie went along with it." Everyone waited for the Original to continue. "Bonnie was the anchor to the Other Side."

"I'm sorry." Gia raised her hand. "I'm new here but what exactly is an anchor and what is this Other Side place?"

Elijah nodded. "The anchor is a being that is not alive but not dead. They are the passage for the dead to enter and, if willing, leaving the Other Side."

"So she was a doorway to purgatory?"

"Precisely."

"How did she become the anchor?"

Klaus shrugs carelessly. "That is because a very powerful witch made it so. It is the same powerful witch or shall I say traveler who created the anchor in the first place. She is also Bonnie's ancestor, Qetsiyah."

"Miss Bennett had already faced her demise in her premature death." Elijah bent down to hand Hope another building block to finish her castle. "It made perfect sense to make her the anchor."

"So she was already dead before all this happened?" Marcel moved forward standing within the circle. "Then she turned into the anchor?"

"Correct." Klaus replied.

"Then the Other Side disappeared?"

Klaus rolled his eye becoming impatient. "Yes, we already established that early on, Marcellus."

"How did she die in the first place?" Hayley pressed feeling somewhat enamored by someone could face such catastrophic events. She felt as though Bonnie was someone who was very strong, but many layers to her. The young hybrid wanted to know more about her. She wanted to know exactly who Bonnie Bennett was.

Elijah face wore a grimace. "That however, we don't know."

"No doubt it had something to do with the Petrova doppelganger and her two pets." Klaus thought about the Mystic Fall gang. A lingering thought stsyed on a certain blonde vampire but just as quickly it came, it left along with any desire he ever felt for Caroline Forbes. "The little witch always bent herself backwards beyond measures for her so called friends with what seems like little to none returns."

Gia's brows turned down. "They don't sound like good friends."

"Eh well, their loss is our gain." Klaus smiled unapologetically.

"Then what happened to her after the Other Side got obliterated?" Hayley looked towards Klaus then Elijah. She wanted to hear the rest of the story of the troubled young Bennett witch. "If there was no Other Side, where did Bonnie go?"

"According to Josephine, Miss Bennett somehow was transported into a dimensional prison with a prisoner named Malachai Parker, an unstable powerless sociopathic witch."

"Bonnie was alone with him?" Hayley back stood straighter in alarm. "For how long?"

"Unfortunately, we do not know the specifics of Miss Bennett stay in the dimensional prison." A deep frown pulled one the noble Original's lips. "But seeing her disposition and mannerism, I could only imagine the horror she must have been through."

The three in front of him remained silent letting the information they received soak in. Gia was the first to speak.

"I'll do it." Everyone turned to the young vampire. "I don't know her and I don't know what good I'll do, but I'll do it. I'll be Bonnie's witness."

Hayley looked back at Marcel who was already looking at her. She turned back to Elijah waiting for her answer. "Looks like you have three witnesses."

"Splendid." Klaus leaned down to kiss his daughter's cheek then stood to his full height. "Are the other two witnesses on their way?"

"They are." Elijah stood from his seat.

"And our contractor…?"

"– Is on his way, Niklaus. Must you be so impatient?" The nobleman lightly scolded his brother.

"Don't get cute with me, brother."

Elijah cleared his throat as he stood from his seat straightening his navy suit jacket. "There is much to prepare. Gia, would you please?" He held out his hand for the newborn to take. Gia didn't hesitate to take it.

"What kind of preparations?" Hayley asked while staring closely at the joined hands.

"There is an engagement Gia and I have to attend. Afterwards we will get the last remaining things we need to finalize the contract. We should be back before the contractor arrives."

"What specifically is needed?" Marcel questioned.

"Oh you know the same old boring medieval tools." Klaus began. "A few black candles, sage, a dagger, your blood –"

Hayley eyes widen. "Our blood? Why do you need our blood?"

"Niklaus, I'm sure you can handle things from here on out." Elijah said over his shoulder as he escorted his darling Gia out the room.

Hayley and Marcel turned to the Original Hybrid. "Well?"

"I would love to explain more to you little wolf, but I need to check on our guest." With that, Klaus escaped from the heated glares from the young hybrid and his child to check on his witch.

"What did we get ourselves into, Marcel?" Hayley said still keeping her eyes on the door Klaus went through.

"Why, trouble of course." He picked up the unopened bottle of bourbon. "What else this family is good for?"

"Besides providing the good booze?" Hayley gave him a small smile as she picked up her daughter.

Marcel walked towards her swapping the bourbon for the small bundle in her hands "Besides providing good booze." He kissed the baby's cheek. "But you wouldn't know nothing about, would you little lady?" Hope didn't understand what was being said but she smiled anyway. "Good girl."

xx

Bonnie didn't know how long she was sleeping but she knew it was time to wake up. The thought of opening her eyes made her cringe. She buried herself deeper into the soft pillow letting the sweet scent of apple-wood and pine fill her nose. Instantly she felt calm. She let her tense shoulders sag and body sink into the bed. She was relaxed until she felt someone try to shake her gently awake.

"I'm so tired…"

She didn't want to get up, not yet.

"So tired…"

She felt a brush of someone's fingertips flutter over her cheek. It felt comforting and strangely, she felt safe.

"Can I sleep for a little while longer?" The witch muttered sleepily.

Klaus stared down at the tired witch. He supposed to be waking her. There were things they needed to discuss before the other two witnesses and the contractor arrive for the ceremony. However seeing the tiny witch lying still in her slumber for some reason he couldn't bring himself to wake her.

"You can sleep as long as you like."

Bonnie sighed contently pressing herself into Klaus' pillow. "Thank you." She mumbled before she fell back into a deep sleep.

Klaus made his leave to let Bonnie rest. Soon as the door closed behind him, his phone began to buzz in his pocket. He took it out pushing the green button already knowing who it was. "Are you done with your little engagement already, Elijah?"

"Is she awake?" The Original asked getting to the point.

The hybrid glanced back at the door. "No."

"No?" Elijah parroted. "Why isn't she awake? We have –"

"I am well aware of what I have to do, Elijah. I want her to rest before tonight festivities. My little witch has had a trying morning and no doubt will be even more trying when she finds out everything."

Elijah pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine, Niklaus. Please make sure to wake Miss Bennett in thirty minutes."

"An hour." No longer wanting to speak on the subject, he hung up the phone.

Elijah stated down at his phone for a moment before putting the device back into his breast pocket. "How strange…" He said aloud.

Gia turned from the blurring city framed in the car window to look at the Original. "What's strange?"

"Are you ready?" He asked purposely ignoring her question.

Gia shook her head. "I can't stand when you do that."

"Do what, my darling Gia?"

The vampire snorted. "And what is with that name? You've been calling me that a lot lately."

"Don't you like it?"

Gia turned away from Elijah hiding her blush. "I'm no darling." She almost missed the subtle smile on the Original's lips. "Why are we meeting this guy when he's already on his way to the compound?"

"There's something I would like to discuss with him before signing the contract."

Gia waited for Elijah to tell her what but the Original sat quietly driving the car. "Which is?"

"Nothing you should worry over."

The young vampire rolled her eyes. "Okay, fair enough. At least tell me why do I need to come with you on a venture that I don't need to worry about?"

Elijah chuckled. "What a sharp tongue you have."

"Answer, please."

"I thought we had established our partnership."

"Right, partnership is a nice way to say it."

Elijah thought for a moment. "Should I say a partnership with acceptable benefits then?"

"That sounds worse."

"Would you rather I call you my lover?"

Gia couldn't help her mouth to split apart into a grin. She shook her head as she turned in her seat to place her tan legs over Elijah's, pressing her back against the car door. "Just drive, Elijah." The violinist playfully said as she closed her eyes.

Elijah almost jumped when he felt the heel of Gia's stiletto slightly grazed him between his legs. The vampire took one hand off the steering wheel to caress his lover's knee then her succulent thigh. He almost forgotten she wore a dress while seeing Josephine earlier. His hands traveled up her thigh until it reached the hem of her midnight blue form fitting dress. "Have I told you today you look ravishing in that dress?"

"Drive, Elijah." Said vampire could hear the laughter hidden in her demand.

"Yes my darling Gia."

xx

Bonnie was beginning to stir awake from her much needed rest. A slight breeze tickled her nose making it crinkle slightly. Eyelids leisurely open revealing her catlike green eyes. She could see nothing but shadows and shapes. The witch rubbed her eyes with the heel of her palms struggling to clear her vision.

"Ah, our little Alice is awake." She heard from above her.

Bonnie held in a groan. "Please…just don't." She didn't have the strength to argue with anyone let alone Klaus.

Bonnie pushed herself up from her lying position. Everything that happened suddenly came rushing back. The fog in her mind been lifted and her cloudy vision became clear. Beside her, Klaus was leaning against the wall near the bed and across from her Elijah was sitting comfortably on the cushioned chair.

The witch held in her surprise seeing the Original and turned to Klaus. "How long was I sleep?"

Klaus pushed aside the curtain near him displaying the painted indigo sky. "For a long time evidently."

"Evidently." Bonnie sneered. She removed the duvet covers from her feeling hot all the sudden.

Elijah watched the witch movements. They were slow and careful. She didn't trust her surroundings, which he didn't blame her for. She was in a room with a pair of vampires that caused her nothing but distressed in her life. "Are you hungry?"

Bonnie crawled to the end of the bed where the dapper vampire only sat a foot away from her. "Tell me how I got here." She folded her legs. "I want to know why I'm here."

"A straight to the point kind of woman I see." Klaus teased.

"Niklaus –"

"How did I get here?" Bonnie asked again this time directing her question to Elijah.

"Of course I will answer all your questions, but I must warn you Miss Bennett that you might not like the how and why."

Bonnie shook her head. "You let me worry about that. Besides, if I don't like what I hear I'm leaving."

The brazen declaration made the hybrid snort. "As if you have a choice."

Bonnie glowered at Klaus. "I will leave."

"Good luck getting to the door, love." Klaus grinned malevolent.

Bonnie was about to comment but Elijah had other plans. "I believe that is quite enough out of both you, especially you Niklaus." The Original stared at the hybrid pointedly before he turned back to the fuming witch. "Bonnie, if you do not like what is being said and will not partake in this rare venture then we will not stop you from leaving." Elijah ignored his brother's glare and continued. "If that is what you wish, we will not stop you." Bonnie nodded. "All I ask is that you listen to what we have to say before you make your decision."

Bonnie crossed her arms tightly over her chest straightening her back. "That's fair. And you or Klaus or whoever will not threaten me to stay?"

"We will not."

"You won't harm any of my –" Bonnie swallowed the lump in her throat. "– anyone from Mystic Falls if I leave."

She wasn't asking and the Original knew as much. "We will not."

Bonnie stared closely at the vampire. Her mind was screaming not to trust him. She never expected Elijah to keep his promises. She learned that the hard way when he not once but twice broke his promise to save his homicidal brother. Bonnie had no reason to trust the elder vampire and she certainly didn't owe him or his dysfunctional family anything. Though she felt this way, her curiosity was getting the best of her in the end.

"How did I get here?"

"Before I tell you how my brother and I brought you back to the living, you must know a bit of history between the Bennett's and the Mikaelson's. Our families have quite a history."

"Between Ayanna and your insane mother, yeah I know."

"It certainly was the beginning of our family's relationship, yes. However, it is not where our family connection ended."

Bonnie's brows pinched together in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about a true history, Miss Bennett. Centuries upon centuries, our families' fates intertwined."

"How?"

"Let's start from the beginning." Elijah started. "A thousand years ago or so there was agreement between two witches. One was our mother, Esther and the other was your great ancestor Ayanna. As you know, your ancestor was the one who taught our mother the true essence of magic." Bonnie nodded. "However, at first Ayanna refused."

Bonnie's eyes widen. "She did? Why?"

"Our dear mother wasn't deemed worthy." Klaus crossed his ankle over the other. "Ayanna wasn't a fool. She could see behind our mother's daunting sickly sweet exterior for the monster she truly was."

"Wait," Bonnie held her hand up. "I thought Esther and Ayanna were friends."

"They had a certain kinship." Elijah admitted as memories of the witch that he known since he was a child surfaced. "But mainly it was a pupil and mentor relationship." Bonnie nodded her head for him to continue. "Ayanna knew being involved with our mother would bring darkness upon this world."

"Vampires." Bonnie said knowingly.

"Vampires."

"And yet she still taught her."

Elijah nodded. "That she did but not without some sort of sacrifice from my mother. It was the only way she would teach our mother anything."

Bonnie looked between Elijah and Klaus. "What was it?"

"A Deal." Klaus said happily.

Bonnie turned to the hybrid perplexed. "What deal?"

"A deal that sealed our families' fates for all these years." Bonnie continued to stare on waiting for him to finish. "Ayanna was a spectacular witch. My siblings and I grew up around her. We respected her. We even loved her like she was our own mother when ours wasn't so forthcoming." Disdain dripped on his every word. "She knew that she would be attached to us before we even knew her. And for that, the deal had begun." Klaus sat on the bed across from Bonnie. "As long as the Bennett line lives, a Mikaelson if needed to be at anytime shall be their caretaker."

Bonnie swallowed the lump in her throat. "Grams told me what a caretaker was…but I know there's more to it, more that have to be involved."

"There is." Elijah agreed. "It is an undeniable connection between the participant and the caretaker or caretakers."

"You can have more than one?"

"Yes, but it is ideally to have only one."

"Have you ever been a caretaker before?"

"No, I haven't."

"So who has?" Bonnie questioned. "I mean have any of the Mikaelson's have been a caretaker to a Bennett?"

"Our brother Kol has been caretaker to the total of four of your ancestors."

Bonnie snorted. "You can't be serious…" She waited for someone to deny it. "You're serious?"

"As an exploding heart, love." Klaus walked over to his wet bar. "Kol has always been infatuated with magic and witches, particularly Bennett witches."

"Who did he look after?" Bonnie asked feeling strangely intrigued.

"We do not know the first or second, however we did know the third." Elijah held out his glass for Klaus to pour him a drink."

"Her name was Helena Bennett." Klaus said as he poured the bourbon in the glass cup. "It was the year 1098."

Elijah nodded fondly. "Italy was where we met her. Kol was fascinated by her." Bonnie watched the vampire carefully seeing the glint of nostalgia in his dark eyes. "We all were."

"She had a wicked tongue and immense power." Klaus finally spoke. "She was a spitfire. She wasn't afraid of us."

"You cared for her."

Klaus scoffed at the notion. "I couldn't stand that witch. She always had something to say. She was a judgmental little thing. Sticking her nose in the air and sitting on her bloody high horse." Klaus let himself remember the fiery witch. A faint smile graced his lips. "But I respected her. It was a rarity meeting someone that was on equal footing as us."

"Do you remember when we first met her, Niklaus?"

A deep chuckled tumbled across the hybrid's red lips. "How could I forget? She sent a dagger straight through my heart." Bonnie eyes widen. "It was quite hilarious seeing the surprised look on her face when she seen I wasn't shriveling up like a prune."

"Why did she dagger you?"

"You mean besides the fact I was a blood thirsty vampire?" Bonnie rolled her eyes. "I killed her daughter's lover."

The witch's mouth gaped comically. "Wha–" She shook her head trying to clear her jumbling thoughts. "You killed her daughter's boyfriend? Why?"

"I was hungry." Klaus shrugged nonchalantly after he gulped down his drink.

"Yes, little Esmeralda was not please." Elijah tilted his head back toward Klaus.

"Broke her little heart, I did." Klaus poured another himself another glass of the amber liquid. "Come to find out, Helena didn't even like the boy." He shrugged her shoulders. "I did her a kindness without even knowing it."

"Of course you did." Bonnie said smartly. She turned from Klaus to Elijah. "Tell me more about Helena."

"Helena was one of the daughters of the Witch of the Five."

"Witch of the Five?" Bonnie mumbled. "You mean the witch that created the five vampire hunters to keep Silas from awakening? That witch?"

"The very same, Miss Bennett."

"So if Helena was one of the daughters of the Witch of the Five, that means –"

"She is also your ancestor." Elijah finished for her.

Bonnie rubbed her tired face feeling a bit warm. "Okay, so what else about Helena?"

"Helena was the youngest of her seven siblings. She had five elder sisters who were the protectors of Silas' tomb. She also had two older brothers who I believe lived to be advisors to some king." Elijah waved his hand offhandedly.

"Your great ancestor was a healer amongst the people in a small village and its neighbors. For years, Kol had protected her." Klaus swallowed the liquid in his glass then poured him another. "Unfortunately, the contract became void once a vampire hunter named Alexander came into the picture in the year 1114."

"He was one of the five."

Elijah nodded. "He was involved with Rebekah and one would say they were in love." From the corner of his peripheral, he could see Klaus rolling his eyes at the statement but ignored it. "However, sometime later he found out about Rebekah's true nature as well as ours. One night he taken Rebekah, seduced her, then daggered her while the other hunters daggered us. The only one that wasn't affected was Niklaus being what he is."

"What happened to Helena?" Bonnie eagerly asked.

"Alexander's men killed her and her coven after trying to help us." Klaus' grip on his glass tightened. The cup whined as the pressure increased along with the Original Hybrid's past ire. "They deemed her a traitor and burned her coven and Helena along with the villagers she sworn to protect." The glass finally gave out in his hands making the witch jump. She watched the shattered remains fell to the floor. "Kol watched while daggered as they burned her body."

Bonnie's heart sunk hearing the tragic tale of her ancestor. Not wanting to let the somber feeling sit in her chest any longer, she changed the subject. "Who was the fourth?"

"The fourth was Angelica Bennett."

"She sounds familiar."

"I would be surprised if it didn't. Who could ever forget La Reina Roja, the Red Queen." Klaus smiled evilly. "She was my favorite."

"You like anyone who is just as power hungry as you, dear brother."

"Now, now Elijah, don't be like that. You're just sore that she didn't fall for your exasperating decorative dribble."

"Yes well, Angelica had grown quite crass over the years." Elijah admitted before sipping his drink.

"Wasn't she…I don't know, mental?"

"She wasn't always like that." Elijah placed his glass beside him. "She was quite ductile. Angelica was innocent and pure hearted."

"So, what happened to her?"

"The little witch got a little taste of dark magic." Klaus stepped forward sitting back on the end of the bed across from Bonnie.

"She used expression?"

"No." Elijah stood from his seat. "It was something much darker than expression. It was something that wasn't even supposed to exist."

Bonnie tilted her head to side staring at the Original. "What was it?"

"It was an immense amount of power that is locked away where no one can claim it." Elijah answered gravely.

"From what I heard, Angelica Bennett died. Is that when the contract went void?"

"No, it was way before that." Bonnie raised her brow waiting for the hybrid to continue. "Kol and Angelica was a rowdy bunch. Kol and his sadistic ways and Angelica being hollowed and driven insane by dark magic, they were bringing destruction."

"But, I read Angelica served the people." Bonnie pointed out.

"Oh she did." Klaus acknowledged. "But her enemies suffered greatly."

"Anglica had become merciless and malevolent with her punishment. She burned her enemies' villages, killing their families, and killed the persecutor after enjoying the look of pain and fear on their face after they witness the horror she plagued upon them. With the dark magic coursing through her veins, she became blood thirsty and Kol thrived on it."

"So, what happened for the contract to become void?"

"Mikael." Klaus gritted.

"You mean your nutcase father?" Bonnie guffawed. "What does he have to do with it?"

"For centuries our father had been tracking us down to kill us. An endless chase trying to corner us within his grasp. With both Angelica and Kol leaving copious sum of dead bodies laying around, our father would be sure to show up and he did."

"He put my horse's head on a pike in the middle of the town square." Klaus continued. "We gathered our things and we were ready to leave. The only one who didn't want to leave was Kol. He didn't leave me much of a choice but to dagger him. And viola, contract is terminated."

"We've gotten word while we were starting our new life in New Orleans that Angelica had died."

"Was it the dark magic?" Bonnie prodded.

Elijah shook his head. "That I do not know."

"So," Bonnie sighed heavily letting the information that was giving to her settle in. "Ayanna made a deal with Esther that her line will forever watch over hers."

"Correct, with the acceptation of witnesses if it is called for."

"Witnesses? What are witnesses?"

"Witnesses are the selected few that witness the transaction of the signing of the contract. The witnesses must be present and sign the contract as well."

"Do I have witnesses?"

"You have five."

"Who?"

"One of them is Hayley, you already met her."

"The other is my child, Marcel." Klaus stood from the bed. "His childe Gia will also be your witness."

"Who are the other two? You only named three."

Elijah opened his mother to speak but Klaus swiftly intercepted the conversation. "We'll discuss details later."

"All right." Bonnie stared at the hybrid strangely before getting back on topic. "Esther and Ayanna made a contract to watch over the Bennett line, Kol was the only Mikaelson to be a caretaker –"

"Wrong." Klaus frowned.

Bonnie narrowed her eyes. "Wrong? But I thought –"

"It is true Kol is the only one out of our siblings to be a caretaker to Bennett witches. One other Mikaelson took the name caretaker. A grand total of thirty Bennett witches."

"Thirty Bennett witches?" Bonnie yelped. "But who? Who else would…" Words fell silent on the witches tongue as it became clear. "No." She shook her head not believing what her mind was telling. "No, that couldn't be right."

"Unfortunately it is Miss Bennett." Elijah said solemnly feeling disturbed as well.

"But Mikael!" Bonnie shouted. "How could he…how could he even be caretaker to any Bennett witch?" The Bennett witch couldn't begin to fathom why her ancestors would agree for the Original vampire hunter to be their caretaker.

"It was an even trade." Bonnie snapped her attention to Klaus. "You have to remember witches were being hunted for centuries. They needed protection and what better protection than to have an Original at your side, an Original that kills and drain vampires."

"And Mikael would get powerful witches as his aid." Anger shook through Bonnie. "No doubt to help hunt his vampire children down across the world."

"Exactly." Klaus scowled. "As I said before love, it's an even trade."

"Okay," Bonnie stood from the Californian not able to keep herself still. "This is getting way too much too fast."

"Would you like to continue this discussion another time?" Elijah suggested.

"No! No, no, no, no, no," The witch spoke hurriedly as she paced wildly. "We're doing this now. I wanted to know everything and I still do." Bonnie took a deep breath to calm herself enough to speak. "Who was the last Bennett witch Mikael signed a contract with?"

"The supreme of all Bennett witches of course." Bonnie's pacing slowed giving Klaus her full attention. "The last Bennett witch Mikael signed a contract with was none other than Sheila Bennett."

Bonnie's pacing abruptly stops hearing the familiar name ring in her ears. "Grams…" She whispered. "My…my Grams signed a contract with Mikael?" Both Originals nodded their heads. "Okay, wait…" The witch rubbed her forehead feeling a pressure quickly approaching. "Just wait a second…" Bonnie was beside herself. She just couldn't believe what was being told to her. She pressed the heel of palms to her temples frantically attempting to keep her head from exploding. All the blood in her body was rushing to head making the Bennett witch light headed. Only when the throbbing in her head stopped she was able to speak again. "Mikael…" Bonnie swallowed the bile in her throat. "Mikael was my Grams' caretaker?"

"Not exactly." Elijah confessed.

Bonnie stared unblinkingly. "What?"

"Mikael wasn't Sheila's caretaker." Klaus interjected.

"But you said –"

"– She was the last Bennett to sign a contract with him, but Mikael wasn't her caretaker."

Bonnie opened and closed her mouth unable to form words. This conversation was beginning to piss her off. "Then who was it?" She waited for them to answer but no one did. "Who was the one Mikael became a caretaker for if not my Grams?" Bonnie wailed. "It doesn't make sense. Why would Grams sign a contract but she wasn't –" The witch once again fell silent letting the scattered dots finally connect together. "No." Bonnie shook her head. "No." She said again.

"Your grandmother was pregnant at the time when Mikael came to her." Elijah walked over to the shaking witch. "He –"

"There is no way!" Bonnie interrupted. "There is no way in hell Grams would let that…that monster be the caretaker of my –"

"Hello." A voice called from behind the door.

The room was still as the door creaked open as the guest stepped inside the bedroom. Bonnie stared wide-eyed as Hayley came through the door with baby Hope on her hip.

"Sorry to interrupt, but…" Behind Hayley came Marcel, Gia, and lastly –

"Mom?" Bonnie said breathlessly. All the air in her lungs had left her and she felt her throat close up seeing the woman a few feet away from her. "Mom…" She took a step forward towards her. "Mom, how are you…" She stopped abruptly seeing the woman's face noticing certain things she could only see now since she was within close proximity. "Who the hell are you?"

Before the woman could open her mouth to speak, Abigail Bennett walked through the door. "I hope we're not late." Abby stopped in front of a trembling Bonnie. "I see you told her everything." Abigail said to Klaus but kept her eyes on her daughter.

"Not everything. We were just getting to the juicy part. Well," Klaus clapped his hands together feeling excited for what was about to come. "Now that we're all in the same room, Bonnie –" Klaus stepped to the stupor witch bringing her to his side.

Klaus eyes widen as he felt the little witch grabbed his leather jacket squeezing the fabric tighter with each passing minute. Klaus hand fell to the small of Bonnie's back making small comforting circles with his thumb. He didn't know why he did but he felt he should. Already he could feel the grip she had on his jacket loosened but she didn't let go. Seeing that his little witch needed support, Klaus brought her closer to his side.

"I present to you your two last witnesses, Abigail and Abilene Bennett."

Sooooooo...how was it? Lol