Keep holding on — Avril Lavigne

Gianina had gotten her own apartment in order to keep others away from her yet, there always seemed to be a problem people needed help fixing. No matter how long she tried to ignore things, or have fun by herself, or just try to heal from the events of the past year, nobody would leave her alone. It was as if she was meant to be uneasy her entire life.

"Is this going to become a regular thing?" The Salvatore girl asked impatiently, tapping her foot on the ground as she rested on the door frame.

"Only if you want it to." Klaus responded slyly, making his way into the apartment. "We have some business to discuss, it's about your brother."

"Oh, you mean one of the people who uses me just as equally, if not more than you do?" Gianina rolled her eyes as she let the door shut behind her, the woman's feet bringing her to the middle of the living room.

"Use you? I do not use you, Gianina. I have never set out to do that, and I never will." The Mikaelson man explained, in an almost fragile way before he continued what he had set out to say. "But my family is important to me, and yours has taken it away. I must get my siblings back."

"You mean the people you locked in boxes?" Gia shook her head slightly. "I'm sorry, I don't know how to help you, I can't help you."

"Surely you must know what I have to do to make Stefan willing to give them back." Klaus commented, the look of frustration in his eyes evident.

"You overestimate how close I am to my brother, he despises me." Gianina let the words flow out of her, not even realizing how vulnerable she would feel afterwards. "I don't know either of my brothers as much as they know each other, and they'd both kill me before letting anything happen to the other so, i'd rather stay out of this."

"... but they cannot kill you." The Mikaelson man reminded her.

"I'd really hate to go through the pain of seeing them try." The Salvatore girl lightly cleared her throat as she walked to the front door, opening it back up again. "Goodbye, Klaus."

The mans eyes held a million emotions as he walked passed the girl but, the main one that surfaced as he intended to pay her brother a visit?

Anger.

Being locked up in her home was apparently the worst idea Gianina Salvatore could have ever had. Someone was knocking at the door yet again but, this one was weak, fragile even. She knew it couldn't have been Klaus, he was always aggressive when he came to the door but, if not him, who else would it be?

She scrambled to her feet, pulling her robe onto her body as she approached the door, an annoyed pout on her lips. She didn't have any friends so she couldn't comprehend why so many people came to her door. The girl turned the knob begrudgingly, and resisted the urge to shut it as soon as it was opened.

"I didn't know who else to come to." The face said through tears, catching her by surprise.

"Stefan? How do you know where I live?" Gianina furrowed her brows, learning her secret place wasn't exactly a secret to well... anyone.

"Alaric lives in the building next door." The younger Salvatore looked around, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Can I come in?"

"I—uhm..." the girl was hesitant, that was for sure, he wouldn't have let her in if the roles were reversed. "Yeah, come on, and hurry up before I change my mind."

The one comment made the Salvatore laugh as he stepped inside, his sister closing the door behind her.

"I'm sorry, and I know we aren't in the best place now... or ever but, I just needed someone to talk to." Stefan admitted, looking down to the ground. "Damon and Elena, they uh, they kissed."

Did she feel bad for him? Damn her bleeding heart.

"How do you feel?" Gianina knew the answer, it had happened to her before, more than once. It always dumbfounded her how badly her and her siblings could hurt each other.

Whether that was love or just complete toxicness, she didn't know.

"Like she could do better, than me and him..." Stefan trailed off before he finally continued. "I never should have threatened to run her off that bridge, I—"

"She's been gone long before that, Stef. You know it, I know it, and she knows it too." Gianina sighed, running a stressed hand over her face. "If you want honesty, maybe it's for the best. Maybe you'll find somebody who will love you for you now, and not even look at Damon remotely the same as you."

"How is that working out for you?" The younger Salvatore looked up towards his sister, hoping and praying that she had found somebody who cared for her like she cared for Katherine.

... because maybe then, it would happen for him.

"I don't know, I really don't know."

The next morning, Gianina had decided to go on a run. The breeze was cool as it brushed upon her skin, the woman taking in a deep breath and savoring every moment of it. She had been cooped up in her house, eating and watching tv for days and she figured it was time to get out of her rut.

When she stopped, taking her headphones out of her ears to look around the area, the girl felt uneasy, like someone was watching her. She bit her inner lip and continued to run, letting her headphones hang down by her knees as she did. She gasped upon feeling someone grab her, whisking her away to a more private area.

"Long time, no see, Gia. I'm assuming we have quite a lot to catch up on." The man staring her directly in the eyes shocked the girl, her lips turning slightly upward.

"I see that Klaus finally had the balls to undagger you." The Salvatore girl responded, lightly pushing the man away from her. "How can I help you, Elijah?"

"I've come to see if my brothers horrible choice of turning your humanity off has worn off, i'm delighted to see it has." The Mikaelson man responded with a grin. "How? May I ask."

"Long story, one i'd rather not talk about." Gianina shrugged her shoulders, trying to hold back letting out too much emotion, she had done enough of that for multiple lifetimes.

"I understand." Elijah straightened his tie as the girl began to walk, the man catching up and walking beside her. "I've also come to ask your stance on what is happening with Niklaus and your brothers, it seems both of them are planning to kill the other."

"My stance is neutral, not that i'm surprised they are all acting like brutes." Gia pinched the bridge of her nose. "If you are asking for me to choose a side, i'm not going to."

"Actually, i've come to ask if you'd attend a dinner with us all, i'm hoping it will clear things up." The Mikaelson man said mysteriously, making the woman narrow her eyes.

"What do I have to do with any of this?" The Salvatore girl asked, tilting her head to the side.

"You are the glue for both families to be peaceful together, you'll just have to trust me on the rest, can you do that?"

Gianina weighed her options for a few moments, she knew Elijah had never done anything to betray her trust, and she did respect him. However, lately she's always thought she was walking into a trap at every turn. In this situation, there was no right or wrong answer.

"Fine, i'll go."

Being in a group with both her brothers again was certainly odd for Gia. When Damon called to say he was there to get her, she had almost froze right then and there. Now, as they walked toward the door where they were supposed to meet the Mikaelsons, she couldn't help but cherish the moment where they were semi united.

"Niklaus, our guests have arrived." Elijah spoke after opening the door for them.

The trio walked in, all of them carefully studying the room around them.

"Damon, Gianina, Stefan, Elijah tells me you seek an audience. Very bold, let's discuss the terms of our agreement like civilized people, shall we?" Klaus gestured to the side where beautiful women all stood, a table set up for all of them to sit at.

"It is better to indulge him." The elder Mikaelson commented, making his way passed them and further into the room.

"I didn't, uh, come here to eat, Klaus." Stefan spoke up. "In fact, I didn't want to come here at all but, I was told I had to because you'd hear us out."

"So much for peace." Gia mumbled, walking passed her brothers as she took a seat next to Elijah at the table.

"Hm, well, we can sit and eat, or I will reach down both your throats and pull out your insides." The Mikaelson man spoke, pointing to both the girls brothers. "Your choice."

He sat on Gianina's other side, making her sigh slightly.

"Fine." Stefan agreed, both of the other Salvatores making their way to the table and sitting down too.

"I'm glad you've come to your senses." Klaus commented confidently, watching as everyone was poured a glass of wine by all their individual waitresses. "I see you've lost your appetite."

Everyone looked at the youngest Salvatore who hadn't even picked up his fork.

"I thought we agreed to leave the grumpy Stefan at home." Damon commented, trying to encourage their brother to calm down.

The brooding vampire finally let his shoulders relax, letting himself smile.

"That's the spirit. Isn't this nice? The five of us enjoying dinner together, such a treat. Is this what you had in mind when you pulled the dagger out of my brother?" Klaus questioned, looking toward the eldest Salvatore.

"Well, I know what he felt about you, so I figured, the more.. the merrier." Damon commented, a sarcastic grin on his face.

"...because playing on sibling arguments is very fun apparently." Gianina commented, pushing her food gently around her plate.

"Elijah and I have had our share of quarrels over the centuries, but we always make it through." Klaus explained, the Salvatore furrowing her eyes as she felt the brunette man tense up next to her.

"Kind of like, uh, you and Rebekah, right? Where is she, by the way? Last I checked, she was still daggered because you were too afraid to face her." Stefan said dryly, angrily, he was bitter, about more than just what Klaus had done.

"You have Rebekah?" Gianina searched the other hybrids eyes for any signs of remorse he hadn't told her but, there was none. Of course, the big bad wolf couldn't show any emotions in front of his enemies, typical.

"If you are referring to the fact that Rebekah knows I killed our mother, i've already come clean to Elijah." The Mikaelson man said to them, the two brothers exchanging smiles before the hybrid looked to the woman next to him. "I knew you'd be angry I left the dagger in her."

Gia stayed silent, turning her gaze to her plate as the conversation continued.

"Hey, Stef, remember when you killed dad? Might want to dial down the judgement ill dessert." Damon added on to the conversation, signaling for his brother to calm down, once again.

"We're here to make a deal, Damon. Doesn't mean we need to kiss his ass for seven courses." Stefan responded irritably.

"Exactly, you are all here to make a deal so, let's cut the whole you're a bad sibling routine, yeah? Because none of us are winning awards for brother or sister of the year." Gianina interrupted, before anyone could argue further.

"Fine, let's change the subject to something else. Stefan, where is the lovely Elena tonight?"Elijah asked with a smile on his face, not realizing what had been happening since he was daggered.

"I don't know, ask Damon." The broody vampire responded, making the air around them all extremely tense.

"I'm sorry, you've missed so much." Klaus said after letting out a laugh and placing his hand against his face. "Ah, trouble in paradise."

"One more word about Elena, and uh, this dinner is over." Stefan threatened, looking around at a group of people he could definitely not defeat.

An original hybrid, a hybrid linked to him, a regular original, and his older brother who no doubt drank more blood than him. So, what exactly was his angle? His sister couldn't help but wonder that, did he want to be killed?

"You know what, probably best just to keep Elena in the do not discuss pile." Damon spoke up, everyone nodding along.

Those damn doppelgängers, always causing trouble.

"It's just the allure of the petrova doppelgänger is still so strong. What do you say, brother? Shall we tell them about Tatia?" Klaus questioned, setting down his fork.

Gianina couldn't care less about another woman who looked like Katherine because honestly, nobody was like her, even if they did have an uncanny resemblance.

"Now why should we discuss matters long since resolved?" Elijah asked, chuckling slightly as he reorganized his place setting.

"Well, given their shared affection for Elena, and the affection they all shared for Katerina, I think our guests might be curious to learn about the originator of the Petrova line." Klaus explained, Gia biting her inner lip at where the conversation had gone.

"Well, we're not going anywhere, Elijah, please, do tell."

So, they did.

Maybe all doppelgängers were the same Gianina thought as she heard the rest of the Mikaelson brothers story. Not being able to choose who they love, tragic backstories, it was all their signature move. Apparently, it was a never ending loop, and maybe she wasn't meant to be apart of that.

"So why don't we move this evening along and discuss the terms of this proposal." Elijah suggested, everyone turning their attention towards him.

"Well, it's very simple. Klaus gets his coffin back. In exchange, he, and the original extended family, leave Mystic Falls forever. Me, Stefan, and Elena live happily ever after, no grudges." Damon proposed as he held up a glass.

"Deal sounds fair, brother." The elder Mikaelson noted, trying to convince his brother to accept.

"I couldn't help but notice your sister doesn't fall anywhere within that plan." Klaus spoke up, the words cutting Gia like a knife laced in vervain, because she had realized it too. "I don't think you understand, I cannot except because Elena's doppelgänger blood ensured that her and I will always have more hybrids to fight those who oppose her or I. I will never leave Elena behind. Let's say I do leave her here, under your protection. What then? How long before one of you turns her into a vampire? Or worse, how long before she dies, caught between your feuding? You see, each one of you truly believes that you're the one that can protect her and that is simply a delusion. Gentleman... the worst thing for Elena Gilbert is the two of you."

He was right, somehow, the man was always right.

"I'm going to go get some air." Damon commented, pushing himself away from his seat before walking away without another word.

Gianina was about to check on him but, as she got up, Elijah stopped her by placing his hand over hers, rising from his seat.

"Let me deal with this." He nodded at her reassuringly before exiting the room behind the eldest Salvatore.

"Looks line you've ruined dinner." Gianina commented, the air uncomfortable as she tapped her fingers lightly on the table.

"What it looks like to me is, Klaus only agreed to this to drive a wedge between you, me, and Damon." Stefan noted, standing up from the table as the Salvatore girl looked between them all.

"Oh, no, you're doing that well enough on your own, because of Elena, you're going to lose your brother, and because of both your love for her, you'll lose your sister, you only have yourself to blame, and your dear sister can only be stretched so thin, Stefan." Klaus spoke, the woman clearing her throat lightly as she pushed herself out of her seat.

"What do you say, Klaus? It's time to put something on the table." Damon interrupted, coming back into the room along with Elijah. "We've made our offer, now you counter."

"Okay.." Klaus sat back down in his seat before continuing, a grin on his face. "I offer Elena's future happiness. You see, what she needs right now is to be rid of you lot, and fall in love with a human. Maybe that nice football player, the blonde one."

"Matt Donovan? Really?" Damon asked, his voice full of disgust.

"You act like it's below her, they've been together before." Gianina commented, shrugging her shoulders. "You can't tell me that you both have wondered how much safer Elena would be without you."

Yes, maybe the girl was jealous that somehow, her brothers cared for the doppelgänger more than her but, she was Jeremy's sister. All the hybrid wanted was for Jer to be happy, and for that, his sister needed to be safe. She wouldn't be with her brothers, they all knew that.

"They'll marry, live a long and fruitful life, and pop out a perfect family." Klaus added simply, knitting his own hands together.

"... and continue the Petrova bloodline." Stefan shook his head. "Gia, how can you listen to this guy?"

"If i'm honest, I don't care about creating more hybrids but, it's important to me that Elena is safe, for Jeremy. That's the only reason I agree with anything that is coming out of his mouth." Gianina glanced at the original hybrid, his eyes flickering away from her own.

"So, what do you say, Stefan? Do we have a deal? Elena's safety and happiness in exchange for the coffin?" Klaus asked, both men rising to their feet as they approached each other.

The two held onto each others hands like they were going to shake on it but, it became all too apparent they'd never agree on things.

"Nice try, Klaus. But no deal." Stefan said spitefully, the hybrid man retaliating by snapping his arm in half, and putting his hand toward the fire.

Damon tried to save him but, Elijah pushed him against the wall, rendering him useless.

"Klaus, stop it." Gia demanded, watching as her brothers hand began to burn.

"Bring me my coffin, before I burn him alive." The Mikaelson man demanded, his eyes focused in on the eldest Salvatore.

"I'll go get it." Damon walked off angrily, Gia letting out a sigh of relief upon realizing Stefan would be fine.

"Go with him, brother. Keep him honest. When you return, I will make good on my promise to you and I will hand over our family." Klaus said to his brother, who responded with a nod and followed the eldest Salvatore out of the room once again.

"What the hell was that?" Gianina asked upon realizing they were out of earshot, or far enough, at least.

"They were not willing to bargain, I did what had to be done. Are you forgetting just yesterday when you claimed you wanted nothing to do with your brothers?" Niklaus asked, never looking the woman in her eyes.

"That doesn't mean I want them dead, either of them." Gia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I came here because I thought you could both end this peacefully but obviously, two grouchy old vampires like you cannot do something like that."

Klaus grabbed ahold of Stefan who was waling up from the initial shock of being burned, pushing his hand toward the fireplace once again.

"I'm getting my coffin, aren't I? That's what matters." Klaus commented, keeping a firm grip so the weak vampire could not move.

"Go ahead, kill me. I know you'll do it when he brings the coffin." The youngest Salvatore commented as he breathed in and out heavily.

"Klaus, if you kill him I will never forgive you." Gianina cut in, the hybrid pushing Stefan away from the fire immediately after.

"Elijah." Niklaus stopped upon seeing his brother in the room, only a few moments after he had just exited. "Why have you not left?"

"Mind your manners, brother. You forgot dessert." The elder Mikaelson replied with a smile just as he revealed two daggers, no doubt coming from their siblings.

"Shit." Gia mumbled, not because she was scared, no. It was just something she wasn't expecting, at all.

"What have you done?" Klaus asked, the Salvatore woman girl practically feeling his fear from where she stood.

"What have I done? See, i've learned not to trust your vulgar promises, Klaus. We're doing this on my terms now." Just then, a man, most likely a brother of theirs appeared from behind one of the doors.

"Long time, brother." He said, making Niklaus back up as one of their other siblings stabbed him in the hand with a dagger.

He tried to run but then Rebekah came, stabbing another dagger into his stomach as they all circled around him, leaving Gia stunned.

"You're free to go, this is family business."

Author's note:
Hey everyone! I know I haven't updated this in awhile so I decided to do a pretty long chapter, 3500 words +.

How do you think Gia will get along with the rest of the Mikaelsons? Finn, Kol, Ester?

Also, there will be a book two, (this one ends in twenty or so chapters so would the title "Lovely" or "Vicious" be better? It involves Gia finding more about her real family, and people from her past in New York come around)

Hope you enjoyed!