(chapter thirteen: Isobel)

There's a battle ahead
Many battles are lost
But you'll never see the end of the road
While you're travelling with me

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Isobel stood at the bar, her gaze steady as she greeted Alaric. "It's good to see you. You look good." She said, her voice calm and detached. "I hear that you're a high school history teacher. How-how is that?"

Alaric's expression hardened. "Where have you been, Isobel?" he asked, his tone laced with frustration and pain. A pain he had endured for years—not just for himself but for their daughter, Olivia.

"I don't have any reasons that are going to comfort you." She replied bluntly. "I don't have any explanations that are going to satisfy you. I wanted this."

Alaric's eyes narrowed at her. "It's that simple?"

"Yeah." She said without hesitation. "You were supposed to mourn me and move on."

Alaric shook his head in disbelief. "You were my wife, the mother of my child, and I loved you. Do you have any idea what you did to Olivia? How could I not search for you when our daughter cried herself to sleep for months, thinking she lost her mother?"

"Because I wasn't lost, Rick." Isobel said firmly, as though his words didn't cut her. She reached for a piece of paper and started writing. "I understand that you know my daughter, Elena." She said, her voice now tinged with purpose. "And I hear that she's been looking for me. So..." She handed the paper to Alaric. "I want you to arrange a meeting for us. And Olivia of course."

"You want me to deliver a message?" He asked, glancing down at the paper.

"Yeah." She replied with a small smile.

Alaric's jaw clenched as his anger erupted. He crumpled the paper and threw it to the ground. "Screw you. You selfish bitch. You walked out on us, left Olivia to think you were dead, and now you show up with this? How dare you?" He pushed his chair back, stood, and stormed out.

In the parking lot, Alaric made his way to his car, muttering under his breath. Before he could open the door, Isobel appeared behind him.

"What do you want from me?" He demanded, his patience completely gone.

"I told you." Isobel said, her tone colder now.

"I'm not going to do anything for you." He shot back, his voice rising.

Without warning, Isobel grabbed him by the neck, her grip strong and unyielding. She slammed him against the car with a force that left him breathless.

"You better tell them that I want to meet." She hissed, her face inches from his. "Or I'm going to start killing the citizens of this town one by one, and I'm going to start with your history students. Got it?"

She released him abruptly, letting him crumple to the ground. Picking up the paper, she tossed it at him before turning and walking away. Alaric slowly stood, his gaze dropping to the paper in his hand as her threat echoed in his mind. But behind his anger, one thought haunted him—how would he ever explain this to Olivia? That her once kind, loving mother had turned into a psychotic, murderous bitch.

☀️☀️☀️

Caroline sat at her laptop, typing furiously, her fingers tapping with a determined rhythm. Olivia leaned over her shoulder, casually sipping a chocolate milkshake she'd grabbed from the Mystic Grill that morning while out with her uncle. Next to her was, Stefan Salvatore, arms crossed, looking mildly amused and entirely out of place. "Let's reference last year's Miss Mystic float." Caroline announced, typing Mystic Falls Founders' Day into the search bar.

"Why am I even here?" Stefan muttered, casting a sidelong glance at Olivia.

"Because you love me." Olivia replied, her tone dripping with faux sweetness as she moved closer towards him.

Stefan raised a brow and hummed "True."

"Good." Olivia quipped, taking another sip of her milkshake before turning to Caroline with a smirk. "Please tell me it wasn't as bad as I think it is."

Caroline pulled up a photo and turned the laptop to show them. "Oh, it was worse." She said with a grimace. "This is exactly what we don't want to do."

Bonnie cringed. "Ew. Okay! So, what are we doing instead?"

Caroline beamed, clearly excited. "Southern classic elegance!"

"Gone with the Wind?" Bonnie guessed, raising an eyebrow.

Caroline turned back to the laptop, typing in something else. "Where's Elena?" Caroline asked before glancing around to see if she could find Elena somewhere in the cafeteria. "She's supposed to be helping."

"I don't know." Bonnie answered with a shrug, also spotting her best friend nowhere.

"She'll be here." Olivia said confidently, her voice calm and reassuring. Without hesitation, she reached out and grabbed Caroline's hand in a comforting way, giving it a light squeeze. "You've got this, Caroline. Don't stress too much."

Caroline's breath hitched for a split second as she felt Olivia's warm touch. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked down, hoping no one noticed the way her cheeks turned the faintest shade of pink.

"Thanks." Caroline muttered, her voice quieter than usual. She glanced up at Olivia, who was smiling at her with that easy, carefree expression that always made Caroline's stomach twist in ways she didn't quite understand—or maybe didn't want to admit.

Bonnie watched the interaction with a raised eyebrow, a small smile tugging at her lips as she noticed Caroline's pink cheeks. "Alright, let's focus. We still need to decide on centerpiece colors."

Caroline blinked, pulling herself back into focus. "Right. Centerpiece colors. Let's make it classy—gold and white with subtle accents of—"

"Caroline." Olivia interrupted playfully, still holding her hand for a moment longer before letting go, "Breathe. It's going to be the best float ever. Trust me."

Caroline bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile. Why does she have to be so perfect all the time? She wondered, her heart betraying her as it raced.

Stefan leaned back, arms still crossed, his eyes flicking between Caroline and Olivia as the conversation continued. A subtle tension lingered in the air that he couldn't quite ignore. He was used to being observant, but today, the way Caroline reacted to Olivia's touch didn't sit well with him, even though he was careful not to show it. He and Olivia were close, and the thought of Caroline, who Olivia considered a good friend, best friend even, possibly developing feelings for her stirred something in him that he didn't want to confront.

Stefan's gaze lingered on Caroline, trying to keep his expression neutral. He wasn't the type to get jealous easily, but the way Caroline's demeanor had shifted when Olivia touched her—it didn't sit right with him. He was used to watching his friends, of course, but today, the undercurrent between Caroline and Olivia felt more intense, more... personal. He trusted Olivia and knew that she wouldn't do anything to hurt his feelings. Especially after the last few weeks of supporting him with his blood problems but Caroline looked so wrapped up in Olivia's support and attention.

Stefan cleared his throat and leaned forward, breaking the silence. "So," he said, his tone light, but there was a trace of jealousy under it. "Are we really going with the gold and white for the float, or are we throwing in some red for good luck?" He tried to steer the conversation away from the awkwardness, but his mind was still fixated on the way Caroline had reacted to Olivia.

Olivia, still oblivious to the tension, smiled and shrugged. "I think Caroline's got the right idea. Southern elegance is timeless, and I trust her judgment." She shot a playful glance at Caroline, whose cheeks were still flushed.

Caroline swallowed, her pulse quickening. "Yeah, I think it'll look great. Simple, classy, and, um, not over the top like last year." She forced herself to focus, trying to keep the conversation on the float instead of where her thoughts kept drifting. And Stefan had picked up on Caroline's pulse speeding up.

Bonnie, sensing that something was off but not sure what, threw in her own suggestion. "Maybe we can add a few accents—flowers or something to give it some life?"

"Perfect." Caroline said, nodding quickly, grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, maybe some magnolias. It's subtle, but it'll work." She quickly turned back to the laptop, focusing on pulling up some inspiration pictures.

Stefan's eyes darted to Olivia again, and he couldn't help but feel a little unsettled by how effortlessly she and Caroline interacted. It was nothing dramatic, just a small touch here, a smile there. But for some reason, it bothered him more than he wanted to admit. He tried to shake it off, but the feeling lingered.

"Hey, Livy, Stefan, can we talk to you? It's important." Olivia glanced up as she felt a hand on her shoulder. It didn't take the girl long to figure out that the voice belonged to her uncle.

"Sure." Olivia stood up quickly, her gaze flickering to Stefan as she grabbed her bag off the chair. She didn't need to ask what this was about. The seriousness in her uncle's voice said it all. She nodded at Stefan, who followed without a word, his eyes scanning the room one last time before they headed towards the hallway.

Her uncle walked ahead of them, his pace steady but urgent, as though he had something important to say. Olivia stayed quiet, glancing at Stefan, who seemed unusually distant. She noticed the slight tension in his jaw, the way his eyes darted around as they walked. Something was off, but she didn't want to press him right now. There would be time later to ask.

The hallway was empty, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the walls as they made their way to her father's classroom. Her uncle pushed open the door without knocking and stepped inside, motioning for them to follow.

Olivia stepped inside the classroom, glancing around briefly before her eyes landed on her father, who sat by his desk, a serious expression on his face. Her uncle closed the door behind them, and for a moment, the room was quiet except for the sound of breathing.

"What's going on?" Olivia asked again, her voice steady but with a hint of worry. She looked between her father and uncle, sensing something heavy in the air.

Alaric leaned back in his chair, his gaze meeting hers. There was an unreadable expression in his eyes, something that made Olivia's stomach churn. After a long moment, he exhaled slowly.

"I need to tell you something, Livy." He began, his voice low.

Olivia's heart skipped a beat. "What is it, Dad?"

Her uncle, who had been standing near the door, stepped closer, glancing at Alaric before looking back at Olivia. "It's about your mother."

Olivia's eyes widened. "What about her?"

Alaric hesitated before speaking, his tone becoming more cautious. "She's here."

Olivia's breath caught in her throat as Damon entered the room, his usual cocky swagger filling the space. The familiar smirk on his face faded when he noticed the tense atmosphere. Elena and Benjamin Fell followed closely behind him, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Thanks for coming." Alaric spoke, looking at the three.

"Sorry, we're late. The dog ate my-" Damon tried to joke, but when he saw the looks on everyone's faces, he stopped speaking.

Benjamin's eyes quickly swept the room, landing on Olivia. "What's going on here? It looks like we missed something interesting."

Elena's voice pulled Olivia back to the moment. "Liv, are you okay?" She asked softly, her concern clear in her eyes.

Olivia took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill her lungs as she pushed back the knot in her throat. She wasn't sure if she was okay, but she didn't want to admit it. Not yet. She managed a small, strained smile and nodded, her eyes meeting Elena's. "Yeah, I'm okay."

Stefan, who had remained quiet until now, kept his arm around Olivia's shoulders, offering the comfort he knew she needed. His touch was gentle but grounding, and she found herself leaning into him.

"What's going on?" Benjamin asked again.

"Alaric saw Isobel last night." Alexander answered with a worried look towards his niece and Elena, who's mouth slowly opened, but no words came out.

"Isobel is here?" Alaric nodded. "In town?" Again the history teacher nodded his head.

Damon leaned against the edge of Alaric's desk, his eyes narrowed as he studied his friend. "Did you ask her about Uncle John? Are they working together?" he asked, his tone more pointed than usual.

Alaric shook his head, the frustration and worry he'd been carrying for days clear on his face. "No."

Damon raised an eyebrow. "No, they're not?"

Alaric sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "No, I didn't ask."

"What about the invention?" Damon pressed, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Alaric's gaze dropped for a moment. "Didn't ask."

Damon didn't let up. "Did she know about the tomb vampires?"

"I don't know." Alaric muttered, his patience wearing thin. He glanced up at Damon, his expression growing sharper.

"Did words completely escape you?"

"Look, I was a little too distracted by my dead vampire wife to ask any questions." Alaric snapped back at Damon, who's eyes flicked to Elena, who was standing quietly nearby, her face unreadable. He shifted his focus to her. "What did she want?" He asked bluntly, but Elena, and Olivia, looked over at Alaric with a frown on her face.

"She wants to see you two." Alaric spoke, his eyes softening as he looked down at his daughter.

Olivia's stomach dropped at her father's words. Hearing that—hearing that Isobel wanted to see her and Elena—it hit her like a wave she hadn't been ready for. Her chest tightened, and her heart raced.

Her gaze flickered to Elena, who was silent for a moment, but Olivia could see the same unease on her face. They were both in this together, but the weight of the situation felt heavy on Olivia's shoulders and she was sure Elena was feeling the same way.

She wasn't sure what to expect from this meeting. Would Isobel want to explain herself? Would she be angry? Olivia had so many questions but no real answers. She couldn't even wrap her head around what it meant that her mother was back.

"Alaric is supposed to arrange a meeting. We don't know why or what she wants."

Damon's eyes went over to the girls as he spoke. "You don't have to see her if you don't want to."

Alaric's voice cut through the tension in the room. "She's threatened to go on a killing spree if we don't cooperate. But he is right, you neither have to do it, if you don't want to do it."

Damon's expression hardened, a sharp intake of breath betraying his surprise. "Oh! I take it that's not okay with you guys."

Elena nodded, her eyes darkening. "I want to do it. I want to meet her. If I don't, I know I'll regret it." Her gaze met Damon's, her resolve unshaken.

"Liv?" Stefan asked, looking down on his mate, who nodded.

"I have to see her." Olivia spoke with the same tone as her sister. It was maybe her only chance on receiving answers from her mother.

"Alright." Stefan nodded.

☀️☀️☀️

The Mystic Grill hummed with its usual energy, but for Olivia and Elena, the atmosphere felt heavy, almost suffocating. The two sat side by side at a booth near the back.

The space between them and their boyfriends felt like an entire world of distance, despite the proximity. Stefan and Benjamin sat a few tables ahead of them, their voices low as they shared quiet words—both of them visibly on edge, though each for different reasons.

Olivia's mind raced as she sat there, her heart pounding in her chest. She was supposed to be prepared for this meeting with her mother, but the reality of it all was sinking in more than she had expected. She was waiting, as was Elena, for Isobel to arrive for answers to her questions.

And she had many, but only one person would be able to answer them.

"Do you think she's really coming?" Elena's voice broke through Olivia's thoughts, soft but filled with the weight of unspoken fear.

Olivia glanced at her sister. "I don't know," she admitted. "But if she is, I don't think I'm ready for this."

"I don't think anyone would be." Elena said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But we don't have a choice."

The door to the Grill swung open, and both girls instinctively looked up, their breath catching in their throats. Isobel stood in the doorway, her presence immediately commanding the attention of the room.  She looked exactly as Olivia remembered, but her eyes didn't hold the same love they had once done. There was nothing warm or familiar in them now—just a coldness that seemed to freeze the very air around her.

Isobel's gaze swept across the room before landing on Elena, then flicking to Olivia, lingering for just a moment longer, as though assessing them both. The way she studied them was clinical, detached, as though they were strangers. And to her, they might as well have been.

"Isobel." Elena said, her voice a mixture of wariness and resolve.

Olivia didn't speak, her throat tight. She could feel the weight of her mother's gaze, the years of absence between them hanging thick in the air. Isobel's presence was suffocating, and Olivia wasn't sure whether she wanted to face her mother or run from the room.

Isobel slowly moved toward them, her every step deliberate, her eyes never leaving them. When she finally reached their table, she took a seat. "Hello, Elena. You look just like her. It's eerie." She smiled at her oldest daughter. "Hello, Olivia. It's nice to see you again." Her mother's words hung in the air, but Olivia wasn't sure if she should believe them. The way Isobel spoke, the lack of any warmth in her tone it had once contained, made it hard to trust her. There was no familiarity in her voice, no softness that would suggest any real emotion. Just coldness.

Olivia's grip on the edge of the table tightened, her fingers tingling with the need to do something—say something. But the words stuck in her throat, and she couldn't shake the feeling that her mother wasn't really here to reconnect. Was she just pretending, or did she truly not care? The gap between them felt like an ocean, and no matter how hard she tried to bridge it, Olivia couldn't reach her.

"You've met Katherine?" Elena asked, grabbing a hold of Olivia's hand under the table since she saw the girl's struggle to see her mother again after so long.

"She found me after I turned. Genetic curiosity, I suppose. She would be fascinated by you." Isobel said, once again bringing Katherine into the conversation.

"Is that how you can walk around in the sun?" Elena asked, looking down on the blue stoned neckless around her biological mother's neck.

Isobel's fingers instinctively brushed the necklace as Elena's eyes lingered on it. She gave a small, knowing smile, her expression cold yet laced with something almost nostalgic. "Yes." She answered simply. "Katherine helped me obtain it."

"Who's my father?"

"Not important. He was a teenage waste of space." Isobel answered, quickly dismissing her question.

"A name would be nice."

"It would, wouldn't it? You ask a lot of questions." Isobel smirked up at Elena, taking a side way glance at her youngest daughter, who was slowly returning back to her usual demeanor after sharing a small look with Stefan.

"Why did you compel that man to kill himself? Right after he told us to stop looking for you." Elena asked. She remembered the man like it had happened a few minutes before, but in fact it had been weeks.

"Dramatic impact. Wish it would have been more effective." Isobel simply shrugged.

Elena's heart ached with the coldness in her mother's words. She couldn't comprehend how someone could be so indifferent to human life, so casual about destroying it. "Human life means that little to you?" She asked.

"Means nothing to me." Isobel replied flatly, her eyes dark as she spoke of it like it was an inconvenience. "It's just part of being what I am."

"No it's not. I know other vampires, that's not true."

"You mean your boyfriends over there by the pool table? Stefan Salvatore." Her mother let out a chuckle as she looked at Olivia. "Why Stefan, Olivia? Why didn't you go for Damon? Or are you enjoying them both like Katherine did?" She asked her with a smirk.

Olivia's expression suddenly hardened when she heard her mother talking about that. As she turned to face Isobel, her voice cool but firm. "I would never do that." She said, shaking her head slowly and Isobel was surprised. She didn't actually think that Olivia would speak to her and definitely not in such way. "You might think it's some twisted game, but I'm not like you or Katherine. I won't use people like that."

Isobel hummed.

"Why did you want to meet me?" Elena asked, her voice sharp. "Can't be to just catch up."

Isobel smiled faintly, her gaze unwavering. "Because I'm curious about you. But the real reason is: I want what your uncle wants. Jonathan Gilbert's invention."

Elena's eyes narrowed, her suspicion growing. "How do you know my uncle?"

Isobel's expression softened, the memories from her past flickering. "I used to spend a lot of time here when I was younger. John had a crush on me for years. He was the first one to tell me about vampires."

"So what made you want to be one?" Olivia questioned.

Isobel sighed, a small smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "It's a very long list of reasons, sweetheart. All of which I'm sure you've thought about."

Olivia shook her head, her voice quieter now. "No."

Isobel raised an eyebrow. "That was your first lie." She leaned forward slightly, her tone colder now. "It's inevitable. You're going to get old, your boyfriend won't." Olivia's gaze shifted to Stefan, who sat nearby, his face clouded with sadness. "Forever doesn't last very long when you're human."

"I'm sorry," Elena said quietly, watching the interaction between Stefan and Olivia. She could see the concern in Stefan's eyes, but there was something else too — an understanding, a shared burden that neither of them could avoid. But as she thought about Isobel's words, a part of her had to admit that her mother was right.

She had thought about the reasons it would be easier, or maybe even better, to become a vampire, to stop the aging, to escape the inevitable loss of everyone she loved. But every time she considered it, the same conclusion came back to her: She did not want to live forever.

"I don't have what you're looking for." Elena said. She wished it were as simple as giving Isobel what she wanted, but it wasn't.

At the same moment, the two girls stood up, both deciding that the conversation was over, but before they could walk away, one of Isobel's hands closed around Olivia's wrist, while the other one poured something in Olivia's untouched drink.

Isobel's grip tightened as Olivia tried to pull away, her eyes flashing with an intensity that made Elena pause. "Sit down you two." Isobel spoke to them and as she noticed Stefan and Benjamin making their way over to the table she spoke again. "And tell your boyfriends to walk away. I want the invention."

Both Olivia and Elena nodded towards the two vampires that they were okay as they sat back down.

"We don't have it."

Isobel stood up, her eyes dark with determination as she spoke coldly to Elena. "I know that, but Damon does, and you're going to get it for me."

Elena's heart sank at the threat in her voice. "He's not going to give it to me." Elena responded and Olivia picked up her glass of water, placed it against her lips and took a sip.

Isobel's gaze hardened, and her lips curled into a cruel smile. "Then the blood will be on your hands." She said. "It was nice seeing you again, Olivia and it was nice meeting you, Elena." And with that she left the Grill.

As Isobel turned to leave, her words hanging in the air like a threat. Ben and Stefan were making their way toward Elena and Olivia, but Bonnie, who had seen the starting tears in Elena's eyes also came forwards, but she immediately turned away when she saw the two vampires, walking quickly in the opposite direction.

Stefan, noticing Olivia's tense stance, moved toward her. Without a word, he gently wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to calm her down,

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Stefan whispered softly, his voice low and soothing. He held her tighter for a moment, hoping to offer some comfort in the midst of the storm.

Olivia didn't pull away, but she didn't relax either. The weight of Isobel's words still clung to her. "She's just playing games." She muttered, but even she wasn't convinced by her own words.

Stefan tightened his hold, giving her the space she needed, but remaining there for her. "She doesn't get to win." He said, his tone firm. "None of her threats matter."

"I think I'm gonna be sick." Olivia muttered out.

Stefan's grip on Olivia tightened, sensing her distress. His expression softened, and he gently guided her to a nearby seat, his voice calm but filled with concern. "Hey, take a deep breath, alright? You're okay."

But before she sat down, she spoke again. "No, I think I'm actually gonna be sick." Stefan's grip loosened as Olivia abruptly turned away, her words leaving him frozen for a second. His eyes followed her as she hurried toward the bathroom, her pace urgent. Elena watched her with concern, glancing at Stefan. "Is she okay?" She asked, her voice laced with worry.

"I don't know." Stefan murmured, his jaw tightening as his eyebrows turned into a frown. She had been fine half an hour before, but it was probably stress from seeing her mother again.

"Hey, what's wrong with her drink?" Benjamin asked, looking down on Olivia's glass of water, to see that it had changed to a slightly different colour.

Stefan's head snapped toward Benjamin, his frown deepening. "What do you mean?" he asked, his tone sharp as his eyes shifted to the glass in Benjamin's hand.

Benjamin held it up slightly, tilting it so the light caught the faint discoloration. "Her water—it's not clear anymore."

Stefan moved quickly, taking the glass from Benjamin and sniffing it cautiously. A faint but sharp scent lingered, something unnatural. His jaw clenched as realization hit him. "She must have put something in it." He muttered, his mind immediately flashing to Isobel and her subtle movements at the table. "Damn it."

Inside the bathroom, Bonnie, who had retreated there moments earlier to avoid the tension in the Grill, looked up from where she was standing by the sink. Her brows furrowed as she saw Olivia rush into a stall, the sound of retching echoing in the small space.

"Olivia?" Bonnie asked cautiously, stepping closer to the stall. "Are you okay?"

There was a long pause before Olivia's muffled voice came through, strained and embarrassed. "I'm fine. Just... give me a second."

Bonnie frowned, crossing her arms. "Fine doesn't sound like that," she said dryly, though her tone softened slightly. "Did something happen? Was it that woman?"

Olivia sighed heavily, flushing the toilet before leaning her head against the cool metal door of the stall. "My mom. It was just too much." She admitted weakly. "And now I'm here, throwing up like an idiot."

Bonnie rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, well, I've seen worse reactions to situations like these. At least you're not breaking stuff."

The door creaked open as Olivia stepped out, her face pale but determined. "I'd rather be breaking stuff." She muttered, heading to the sink to splash water on her face. She glanced at Bonnie in the mirror. "Thanks, by the way."

Bonnie shrugged, a knowing look in her eyes. "You're welcome. Now let's get out there before Stefan decides to kick the door down."

Olivia managed a weak laugh as they left the bathroom together.

☀️☀️☀️

Olivia lay in bed, her face pale and her eyes heavy-lidded. A damp cloth rested on her forehead as she pulled the blanket closer, shivering slightly. Caroline stood at the foot of the bed, her arms crossed, and a worried expression etched on her face. 

She was speaking in her usual energetic tone, but it was clear she was trying to mask her concern. "You're lucky I came by, you know. Elena said you were sick, but she didn't mention you looked like a Victorian ghost bride." She paused, looking Olivia up and down. "Do you want tea? Soup? Because seriously, Liv, this isn't your best look."

Olivia let out a weak laugh, her voice hoarse. "Thanks for the pep talk, Care. Really inspiring."

Caroline sighed and plopped herself down on the edge of the bed, careful not to jostle Olivia too much. "I'm serious, though. What happened? You were fine a few hours ago."

"I don't know. It's probably stress. I saw my mom today." Olivia admitted.

"But your mom is-" Caroline blinked in confusion, her brows furrowing.

"Dead? Yeah, we thought so too.

Caroline's jaw dropped, and she leaned closer. "Wait, wait, wait. Are you saying that your mom is alive and like, walking-around Mystic Falls alive?"

"Yeah. She showed up at the Grill. Sat down like it was the most normal thing in the world." Olivia nodded, her lips pressing into a thin line.

"I'm sorry. Are you okay?" Caroline asked.

"Not really. I mean, how do you even process something like that? She's supposed to be dead, Care. And seeing her... it just brought everything back. All the anger, the hurt. Everything I tried to bury." Olivia let out a shaky laugh, shaking her head.

"You don't have to process it alone, Liv. We'll figure this out, together. She doesn't get to just waltz back into your life and screw everything up."

"Thanks, Care." Olivia smiled.

Before Caroline could respond, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the apartment. Both girls looked toward the doorway as Stefan appeared moments later, his face etched with concern. He carried a bag in one hand, clearly in a rush.

"Hey." Stefan said softly, his eyes immediately finding Olivia. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit by a truck. Twice." Olivia shrugged, trying to mask her unease.

"Alright, I'll let you two talk. But call me if you need anything, okay?" Caroline gave Olivia a quick squeeze on the shoulder before standing up.

"Thanks, Care." Olivia murmured as Caroline left the room.

Stefan sat on the side of the bed, his expression softening as he studied Olivia. "I'm sorry you had to see her." He said quietly.

"Yeah, me too." Olivia let out a bitter laugh.

"We'll figure this out, Liv. I'm not going to let her hurt you." Stefan reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Olivia held his gaze for a moment before nodding, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know. Can you stay with me?"

"Of course." Stefan replied softly, his voice steady and reassuring.

He slipped off his jacket and set it on a nearby chair before settling onto the edge of the bed. Gently, he pulled the blanket up over Olivia's shoulders, his hand lingering on hers for a moment.

"Get some rest." He said, his tone calm yet protective. "I'll be right here." Olivia gave him a small, grateful smile before closing her eyes, her body finally relaxing against the pillows.

☀️☀️☀️

Forget my words from a few chapters back. I'm gonna make Damon have a soft spot for Olivia :)

And I'm sorry I was supposed to update this yesterday but I just didn't get it done!

Words: 5279

Published: December 26, 2024

Be sure to comment. I love reading them and it keeps me really motivated! And thanks for reading again!

song at the start: Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House

mwah Katherine