[ it's now. caroline's step forward, bonnie's step back; she looks between them, presses her lips together. it registers what they're waiting for, what this is and feels a squeeze in her chest. for a moment she can only look at them and remember a time when this wasn't their lives. try to. (she can't envision what their lives will be; there are no answers past this moment.)
she reaches out to accept the bag from caroline. the blood is cold in her hands, and she looks at it a moment before lifting her head to bonnie, tears shining in her eyes. ]
You'll have to invite me in. [ she remembers what happened to elijah, how he couldn't seem to breathe. it's a practical request, one that makes this more real. she needs another moment. she needs that reassurance. ]