Splitting Our Odds Into Evens

By the time Bonnie came downstairs, there were entirely too many people in her living room.

She stopped on the last step.

Rebekah was sitting in the armchair with Nala against her chest.

Davina was stretched across the couch with Brixton asleep on top of her.

Hayley was sitting on the floor beside Blossom's bassinet, folding clothes Bonnie distinctly remembered leaving in a basket upstairs.

Bonnie looked around. "How did you even get that?"

Hayley glanced down at the onesie in her hands. "Kol brought the basket down."

"Why?"

"Because I asked him to."

Bonnie looked toward the kitchen.

Kol was standing at the island eating something directly out of a container. He pointed his fork toward Hayley. "She frightened me."

Hayley didn't even look at him. "Good."

Bonnie came the rest of the way downstairs.

She'd showered. Actually showered.

Washed her hair. Conditioned it. Stood underneath the water long enough that at one point she'd forgotten what she was supposed to be doing.

She hadn't rushed. She'd even put lotion on afterward. It was probably the most accomplished she'd felt all week.

Rebekah looked her over. "You look human again."

Bonnie frowned. "Thank you?"

"It was a compliment."

"It didn't sound like one."

"That's generally how her compliments work," Hayley said.

Rebekah ignored her.

Nala was awake in her arms, staring up at her while Rebekah ran a finger lightly over her cheek.

Bonnie smiled. "You guys really didn't have to come over."

"I'm not here for you," Rebekah said.

"Of course not."

"Nala wanted to see me."

Bonnie walked over. "Nala can't speak."

"She communicates."

"How?"

Rebekah looked down at her. "We understand each other."

Nala reached up and grabbed a fistful of her hair.

Rebekah's face tightened.

Bonnie laughed. "She's communicating."

"She's surprisingly strong."

"She tried to take my earring out yesterday."

Rebekah carefully freed her hair from Nala's hand. "Violent little thing."

"Don't call my baby violent."

Rebekah looked at Bonnie.

Bonnie heard it a second after she'd said it.

My baby.

There was still a little ache attached to that. Probably would be for a while. But it didn't knock the air out of her this time.

Rebekah didn't react to it either. She simply looked back at Nala. "Your mother is terribly sensitive."

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "Give me my child."