The Salvatore Sister

Chapter 35

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"Feel like telling me what Ester talked to you about now?" 

"Do you really care?" Nini shot back immediately. She wasn't ready to pretend nothing had happened on the bridge, that he hadn't hurt her. 

"No, I guess I don't. But I'm trying not to be viewed as the bad guy, especially by you." 

"Why? If you don't care, if you can't, why does it matter if we all hate you? And believe me, I want to. I want to hate you but I can't, because you're my brother, and despite the fact that you are a emotionless dick at the moment I'd still help save your ass and keep you out of trouble." 

"Why? It can't just be because you're my sister." 

"Because I love you, and you would do the same for me." The two let those words sit between them for a moment, silently continuing to move with the music before Nini took a nearly silent breath. "She said she could make me 14 again, and human. No catches, no pay back, I would just grow up human until I'm 18. Then I would be a vampire again." Stefan still didn't speak, spinning Nini twice as he thought about what she said. 

"You should do it." His response shocked her, she expected him to convince her not to, not because it would be dangerous, but because it could be an inconvenience to him. 

"Really?" He nodded.

"Yeah, if anyone deserves another chance it's you. And if she really doesn't want anything in return, take the opportunity. If it's what you want, do it." Nini looked up at him, astonishment on her features. 

This was the closest she had been to seeing the real Stefan in weeks. If she didn't know any better, she would think this was him. 

Without thinking she wrapped her arms around him in a hug, his arms slowly going around her. And for just a moment it was perfect, this was her big brother, the one who had protected her as a child when Damon wasn't home, the one who held her hand at their mothers funeral while Damon blocked her from view. The brother who had played guitar for her, danced across the ballroom with her in 1984. 

"I wish you would turn it back on." Her voice was hardly a whisper, her chin resting on his shoulder as she looked past him. 

"I know." He whispered back. "But I can't. The pain, it's just-" 

Nini cut him off, repeating his words, "I know." Taking a step back, she turned her eyes away, not wanting to look at him anymore. "I'm going to find Elijah." Nini excused herself, lifting her dress slightly as she hurried out of the crowd. 

Finally Nini spotted Elijah, the Original had two glasses of champagne as he headed towards her and she smiled as she nearly reached him only for the Original to stop, stepping next to Elena and handing her a glass. 

Her smile faded slowly. Surely he had seen her, right? 

Ester appeared at the top of the staircase, her own glass in hand as she addressed the room. "Good Evening, Ladies and Gentleman. Waiters are coming around with champagne. I invite you all to join me in raising a glass. It provides me with no greater joy than to see my family back together as one."

"And how did you find yourself without someone at your side, Lynne?" Kol wondered aloud, taking a place next to the Salvatore and offering her a glass which she accepted. 

"I'm not sure." She mumbled, Kols eyes following hers to Elijah who was chatting closely with Elena. 

"Bastard." He growled, his eyes narrowing. 

"I'd like to thank everyone for being apart of this spectacular evening! Cheers!" 

"Cheers!" Everyone echoed, Kols eyes focusing back on Nini.