Splitting Our Odds Into Evens

To love a dying man

Kol woke to the sound of someone vomiting in the bathroom.

He shot upright in bed. "Bonnie?"

Another retch echoed from the bathroom.

Kol was out of bed instantly.

They'd stayed overnight at the compound because he hadn't been feeling well.

He rushed into the bathroom.

Bonnie was on her knees over the toilet.

Kol immediately knelt beside her, pulling her hair back and holding it out of the way while rubbing her back as she threw up.

"I'm sorry. This is so—"

She leaned forward again and gagged, vomiting once more.

Kol winced in sympathy.

"—embarrassing," she finished weakly.

"Oh, darling," Kol said, grimacing slightly. Some part of him felt nauseous too. Being human again meant every smell hit him harder now. But he pushed it down.

"There is nothing embarrassing about this, love," he said gently. "You're carrying a human."

"I know," Bonnie muttered. She flushed the toilet and rinsed her mouth with mouthwash before leaning against the counter. "Sorry for waking you up."

Kol rubbed his eyes, still half asleep. "Don't worry. You didn't wake me."

Bonnie slowly turned to look at him. She rolled her eyes. "You don't have to lie to me."

Kol started to yawn but forced it back down. "I promise I'm not."

She huffed out a small laugh and walked back to the bed, practically collapsing onto it.

Kol followed and laid down beside her.

"Now I don't have to lie anymore about this being the flu," she said.

There was a brief pause.

Then Kol suddenly shot out of bed. "I'm a father!"

Bonnie flinched. "Kol, what the—"

He grabbed her before she could finish, lifting her bridal-style out of the bed.

"Kol!"

He laughed and threw her over his shoulder, spinning around the room. "We're going to be parents!"

"Kol, put me down!" Bonnie said between laughs.

But he kept on. "We're having a baby!"

Bonnie was laughing, until her face suddenly changed. "Kol...I think I'm gonna throw up again."

Kol froze. "Oh." He quickly set her down.

Bonnie gagged, trying to hold it in. "I—I'm fine—"

Another gag came up stronger.

"Never mind, I'm not—"

She ran back to the bathroom.

Suddenly, the bedroom door opened. Hayley stood there, looking half awake and annoyed.

"You guys woke me up," she said, voice hoarse.

Kol gave her an awkward smile. "Sorry about that."

Then he heard Bonnie gag again.

"Coming, love." He rushed back into the bathroom.

Kol dropped to his knees beside her, holding her hair back and rubbing her back like before.