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𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 - 𝐂𝐡. 01
"𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔"

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— IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA,
the city was bustling and busy as ever despite it still being early in the morning, however on the edge of the city was a manor, set away from the bustling downtown LA streets, walls confined its privacy, and a large gate gave those who could enter access to the home.

Inside the home, the lights were all off, everyone who lived there were either asleep or out of the house. In one room, the inhabitants were beginning to stir awake, the room was second largest bedroom in the house and belonged to Skyler and Kol Mikaelson, the master bedroom belonged to Klaus.

Birds chirped outside their window as Skyler turned over, half asleep and still reluctant to wake, she reached out for her husband and soulmate, who was already awake. Kol reached out, pulling her closer as she nuzzled against him, stirring in his arms as she made herself comfortable before she settled, and he smiled warmly.

"Do you have to go?" He murmured, his head rested on top of hers.

"Unfortunately." She mumbled in tired response, "blame your brother."

In response, he pulled her impossibly closer with a sigh, "Already planned on it, darling."

"It won't be long. Right?"

Kol nodded, though they both knew he couldn't promise such a thing, and he didn't want to lie to her either, so instead he said, "even if it is, I'll be here waiting. We can get a little house on the edge of town, just for us and you can sneak away."

"I'd like that." She smiled, and he made a mental note to do just that. Klaus had enough funds for the whole family for eternity even if they didn't have their own, and so long as it didn't cause any issues with his plan, Klaus would surely agree to it.

Even if he didn't, Kol thought as though it was a casual afterthought, he'd do it anyway. He'd do anything for Skyler.

"We'll do that then." He told her once he realized he had yet to respond. He squeezed her arm and closed his eyes, wondering if maybe he'd be able to sleep for awhile longer.

Just then, the door opened with a shout of "you two better be decent!" And then Rebekah was standing in front of them, her eyes covered by one of her hands despite her call.

"We're decent, Bekah, though we could change that very easily." Kol told his sister teasingly, holding onto his wife tightly even as they sat up, their eyes now reluctantly open. Neither of them wanted to get out of bed and admit it was time to get up, however both knew they wouldn't be going back to sleep.

Rebekah wrinkled her nose in disgust as she uncovered her eyes, "don't play games today, brother."

"I will do whatever I wish today, Sister." Kol snarked, his sister ignored him entirely as she focused her gaze on Skyler.

"I wanted to set up a farewell party for you but Klaus said no." She huffed indignantly.

Skyler smiled, admittedly she was relieved to hear that Klaus had told her no, she never had liked parties for her, "I'm fine without a party, Rebekah, don't worry."

"Klaus wants us all to meet downstairs. He says you must leave soon." Rebekah told them in a bored tone, "I'll leave you love birds to it."

"Thanks Rebekah." Skyler called as she closed the door just in time for Kol to pull her back into his arms tightly.

"I hate my brother." He mumbled as he buried his face in her neck, as though hiding himself from the realities they'd soon face.

The two laid their like that for as long as they could before Skyler sniffled and pulled away, and then took her ring off her finger, "Keep this safe for me?" She asked softly. She didn't want to risk anyone questioning it, and most of all she didn't want to lose it, especially in the hellish town of Mystic Falls. It could be easily replaced, they were hardly low on money, however the memories couldn't be so easily replaced.

"I don't like this." He whispered, even as he took the ring from her.

"I know." She responded, the I don't either went unsaid but heard by both of the bonded pair. "Let's go downstairs, get this over with." She said, wiping away a tear before it could trail down her face.

Kol held her close, they didn't go downstairs for another ten minutes, not long enough, they thought as they would have much rather have forgotten the world and stayed in each others arms. Instead, Skyler eventually dragged herself away from Kol and downstairs where the others were waiting, spread out around the living room couches. Elijah had found a comfortable arm chair, where he sat now with a book in hand, Rebekah found herself a comfortable corner of the love seat, sprawled out with a bag of blood in her mouth, a disgusted look on her face, Skyler had no doubt she'd just finished complaining about the blood not being fresh from the source though she still drank it, meanwhile Klaus sat on the other end of the couch from his sister with a cup of coffee in hand, and he smirked when he saw the couple approaching.

"Well look who's finally here."

Skyler glared at him coldly and made her way over to him while Kol sat on the love seat that was sat by the couch on the side closest to Rebekah, Kol naturally saved a spot for her beside him while she snatched Klaus's cup of coffee out of his hand with a practiced ease before she sat down beside her husband.

"That my coffee!" Klaus said indignantly.

Skyler raised her brow at Klaus, emanating danger, "And Mystic Falls is my hell on earth, what's your point?" Before anyone could respond she continued, "When must I leave?" She took a sip of her coffee, because it was hers now, as she looked at Klaus for answers, after all it was his plan.

Klaus pursed his lips as though ready to argue before he decided better and simply replied, "An hour."

Skyler nodded in response, her body tense though her features were schooled to look indifferent as she curled into Kol's side with her coffee, determined to stay as close to him as possible for the next hour, and so she did.

When the hour came and passed, she was still by Kol's side as the family made their way to the front door, Skyler's suitcase trailing behind Klaus, who had offered (been forced) to carry it for her so she could disappear into Kol's side.

"You'll be waiting for me?" She whispered to Kol, looking up at him with complete trust and love.

"Always." He promised.

Skyler smiled warmly, tears brimming in her eyes as she leaned up and pressed her lips to his. When she pulled away, she made her way over to Klaus and punched his arm before pulling him into a hug, "Asshole." She mumbled.

"I'll bring you home as soon as I can." He promised rather than arguing her statement.

"You better." She mumbled, "I'm gonna miss you, you jerk."

He chuckled as she pulled away from the hug. He looked at her with regret as she made her way over to his siblings to say goodbye.

After saying goodbye to Rebekah and Elijah, their goodbyes being shorter since she didn't quite know them yet, Skyler as always found her way back to Kol's side, she reached for the necklace on his neck, pulling it out from under his shirt to reveal her ring, settling delicately over his heart, "Keep it safe for me?" She asked.

Kol didn't respond, instead he pulled her back into his arms and held her as close as he could, wishing he didn't have to let go.

"I'll be back soon." Skyler promised softly as she pulled away, "I love you, mio cuore."

"I love you, my gem." Reluctantly, Skyler pulled away, and grabbed her suitcase, before she made her way out of Mikaelson manor. Approximately 30 feet away from the manor, at the gates, she sped away with her vampire speed, her tears fell into the wind as she ran, and she let her memory lead her back to her hometown of Mystic Falls.

After awhile, she found herself in front of the town sign, and it wasn't hard to find the Salvatore boarding house from there. When she arrived she wasn't expecting to see her brothers, looking the same as they had over a hundred years ago while simultaneously looking completely changed, as they made their way into the home, unbeknownst to their sister stood in the distance, watching with tears in her eyes.

However much she hated the town, she had always known she'd find her way back there someday.

"Hello brothers." She whispered to the air, to the house, to her memories, and to her brothers who were too far away to hear.

Her story in this town wasn't finished yet.

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