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𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 - 𝐂𝐡. 8
"𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒔
𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌"

┗━━━ ━━━┛

— SKYLER WOKE TO LIPS PRESSED AGAINST HERS, the sun just beginning to rise through the windows of her balcony. She settled further into the kiss, grabbing Kol and bringing him closer.

"I have to go." He mumbled as he pulled away, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke.

Skyler could have whimpered or cried at that, instead, she pulled him into another kiss and whispered, "I love you."

Kol smiled, kissing her back and not hesitating to voice his love for her before he had to bid he farewell for now. "I'll see you soon." He said as though it was a promise.

She held onto his hand even as he pulled away albeit reluctantly, neither wanted to say goodbye however after a moment, she let his hand slip from her grasp, and he made his way out through the balcony. Nobody would even know he was here, her heart ached at the thought. It was good, she reminded herself, her brothers weren't supposed to know about Kol. Still, it hurt that instead of proudly holding his hand in public, they had to hide even in private. All because of her brothers, she thought bitterly.

Her brothers...

Memories of the argument from last night flooded her mind, Stefan's words came to mind immediately and she had to refrain from letting that sadness, that pain, from overwhelming her.

Knock, knock

A soft yet powerful knock came on her door causing her to jump. She glanced around with wide eyes, surprised to see the sun now risen. How long had it been? Had she drifted off or was she so stuck in her mind she didn't realize how swiftly the time passed?

She shook her head and stood up, swinging herself out of bed before she strolled over to the door. Once she swung the door open she was shocked to see Stefan stood there, waiting.

Skyler quickly composed herself and stood tensely, her eyes narrowed, "What do you want?"

She stared at him unforgiving and he stared back, face filled with guilt. "To apologize." He admitted sheepishly. He looked away, "I was... really worried and upset yesterday and that's not an excuse, I know." He swallowed thickly and dared himself to look her in the eyes, so she would see the honest guilt in his eyes, "I crossed a line that I shouldn't have, I can't take it back but I can apologize and make up for it. If you'll let me."

Skyler merely stared, a mixture of surprise and unease on her face, she was entirely unsure of what to do in this situation. She and Stefan had fought several times in the past, they are siblings after all, however, Stefan had never really apologized like this before. He'd apologize for hurting her feelings on accident, though typically he tended to avoid ever admitting guilt. And in their last years together before being turned, their fighting had increased, while the apologies had fallen to become nonexistent. Skyler still wasn't sure who was to blame for it all, Katherine... or them. 

"Did you plan this apology?" She blurted out, "It sounds like you practiced it."

He winced, as though caught in the act and embarrassed, he turned sheepish like a child as he looked away, "I may have practiced a bit... Damon had a lot of critiques."

Skyler nodded, and then after a moment of silence realized he was waiting for her to say something.

"Thank you. For the apology." She said awkwardly, "It means a lot."

Stefan nodded and shifted uncertainly on his feet, "About what you said before... about us focusing on why you changed and not wanting to get to know who you are now..."

He looked her in the eyes, picking his head up with a bit more confidence, a familiar fire in his eyes that Skyler often saw in her own, "I'd like to get to know you now. The new you." After a moment of silence, he added, "If you'll let me."

Another moment of silence passed, the air thick with uncertainty before it lessened with a mere smile from Skyler, "I'd like that, a lot."

Stefan smiled, hesitated a moment, and then asked, "Can I hug you?" It only took a short nod for Stefan to step forward and pull her into his arms, holding her close in a warm, protective embrace. "I really missed you."

Before Skyler could respond, a new voice spoke from nearby, "So the notorious Salvatore twins are finally back."

Stefan rolled his eyes at their big brother's antics, however, Skyler only smiled as the twins pulled away. "Yeah," she agreed and she nudged her twin, who couldn't help but smile, "I'd say we are.  Finally."

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The fire crackled, Damon stood leaning against the bricks that made up the large elegant fireplace with a glass of bourbon in his hand, Stefan sat on one of the armchairs with a book in hand, while Skyler sat on the couch, a bored look on her face. Damon looked down at his glass, displeased to realize that his drink was empty. With a frown, he made his way over to the bar and grabbed the bottle of bourbon, pouring another glass before he set the bottle down on the center coffee table that just so happened to be in front of Skyler. Her eyes lit up mischievously and while her brothers were distracted, Stefan with his book, and Damon with his glass, Skyler reached out and grabbed the bottle.

Now listen, she knows she died before the age of 21, having only been 17 when she died, but! She had lived a long life since. She was over a hundred years old!  And that meant she could drink whenever she pleased.

Damon did not agree, snatching the bottle from her hand before it reached her lips. "Ah ah, this is adult juice." He said almost mockingly, "Baby sister." He added teasingly with a grin.

She glared, "I'm 163!" She exclaimed incredulously.

He booped her nose, "baby."

Skyler's glare intensified and she reached out, grabbing the hand that booped her nose and bending it unnaturally. While Damon cried out, she grabbed the bottle of bourbon and took a large gulp before she released his hand.

"Did you see that?!" Damon asked Stefan in disbelief.

The vampire in question looked up from his book and shrugged unhelpfully. "I'd let her drink."

"She's my baby sister!"

She rolled her eyes, "Oh please. I was drinking before I was even turned."

Damon turned and glared at her, "No! You were a baby."

"I was seventeen!"

"Baby!" He hissed in exaggerated anger. She raised her brows and brought the bottle of bourbon to her lips once more, and watched in amusement as his eyes widened before he threw his hands in the air and walked away. "I'm going to the grill."

She waved teasingly at him with a grin. The door closed, she sighed and set the bottle down happily while Stefan shook his head and then set his book down, standing up he made his way to the front door.

"Aww where are you going?" She called, turning on the couch so she was facing the door, she laid her arms down on the back of the couch and leaned her head on it as she watched him curiously.

Stefan grabbed his jacket and chuckled, "I'm going to meet up with... someone."

Skyler narrowed her eyes. "Elena." She guessed, Stefan didn't respond but his reaction told her enough as he turned away almost guilty.

"Goodbye Skyler." Stefan called as he opened the door.

She rolled her eyes as the door closed and with a sigh, she turned and sunk into the couch, once again bored when suddenly her phone buzzed in her pocket, which would've gone unnoticed since she wasn't quite used to it. She usually had her phone's notifications customized with certain sounds, however since she was "undercover" she had turned her notifications on vibrate, her calls on silent.

Thankful for the distraction, she grabbed her phone. A message from Kol greeted her, she smiled... until she read it.

Kol
He caught on
Klaus caught me sneaking back in

Suddenly filled with the embarrassment of a teenager caught having their boyfriend sneak in, she hesitated before glancing further down her notifications. Sure enough, there were multiple messages from Klaus, and — she winced — even a missed call.

A call, which they'd all agreed would only happen when they needed to discuss something serious since she was undercover here.

Was lecturing her really that serious?

For a moment, Skyler debated even responding to Klaus, wondering what would happen if she just... ignored it.

She sighed and decided better on that, and rather than hitting the power off button, she pressed Klaus's contact and pressed call. With the phone against her ear, a feeling of doom settled on her. And then he answered with a hiss.

"Skyler Gem Mikaelson."

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