Force of Gravity • NM

•6•

The morning light filtered through the window as Naira walked up the path toward the house, her heart beating a little faster than usual. She knew Katherine was right behind her, and the thought of her brothers' reaction made her nervous.Taking a deep breath, Naira entered the house and found Damon and Stefan in the living room, their expressions immediately softening at the sight of her. She gave them a small, pleading smile."Okay, don't react," she said, biting her lip. "Promise me you won't... freak out?"Damon raised an eyebrow, a smirk forming on his lips. "That depends. Why would I freak out?"

As if on cue, Katherine stepped into the doorway, her dark eyes glinting with her signature confidence. Damon's smirk vanished, and Stefan froze, his expression an intense mixture of anger, disbelief, and caution. They exchanged a loaded glance, both stepping subtly in front of Naira protectively, shielding her from Katherine's reach.

"Hello, boys," Katherine purred, arching an eyebrow with her usual sass. "Miss me?"Damon's jaw clenched. "Katherine," he growled, voice dripping with disdain. "You were dead, i saw the church burn...."Katherine rolled her eyes, leaning against the doorframe. "Always so dramatic, Damon. Relax. I'm here for Naira, not to stir up whatever old vendettas you're holding onto."Stefan, clearly torn between his emotions, took a step forward. "Why are you here, Katherine? And why now? How are you alive"Katherine looked at Naira with a soft, protective gaze that neither brother had seen before. "I came because Naira deserves to know why I came to Mystic Falls all those years ago. I was running from something bigger—someone older than I could ever be. You don't know what it's like to run from someone that ancient."

The brothers exchanged a cautious glance. Damon's stance softened, but his eyes remained guarded. Stefan, though quiet, still radiated concern for Naira, his protective instincts toward her evident.

"Look, I know you two can barely stand me," Katherine continued, her tone shifting, "but I have always kept an eye on Naira, watching from a distance. I owe her that much, especially with what's coming."Damon's expression remained unreadable as he regarded her, a hint of concern slipping through. "And you think we'll just believe that?"Katherine smirked. "Believe what you want, but this isn't about us. It's about her. And for her sake, you're going to pretend I was never here. In fact, if you care about keeping her safe, keeping your family safe, distance is sometimes the best option. I didn't come here to change things for us, just for her."Stefan exchanged a glance with Damon, clearly wrestling with his emotions. He looked back at Naira, a resigned determination setting in.

"Fine," Stefan said quietly. "If this is what's best for her, I'll leave for Mystic Falls. But don't think for a second I trust you, Katherine. Not with Naira, not with anyone."

Damon crossed his arms, his smirk hiding the worry in his eyes. "We'll keep our word, Katherine, but if anything happens to her..." he trailed off, his voice holding a threat too subtle to miss.Katherine nodded, a hint of satisfaction in her expression as she looked at the three of them, knowing she'd secured a silent agreement. "Distance may hurt, but sometimes it's what keeps us safest. Naira will always have me, even if it's from afar. Take care of her."With that, Katherine gave Naira a small, encouraging smile before turning to leave. She slipped out of the house as swiftly as she'd entered, leaving the Salvatore brothers standing protectively around Naira, the weight of their unspoken promises hanging in the room.

The silence hung thick in the room after Katherine's departure, her warning still echoing between them. Damon and Stefan exchanged a long look, both grappling with the shock that Katherine was alive. For so long, they'd thought her burned to ashes in that old church.Damon finally broke the silence, swirling his bourbon. "After all these years... Katherine, alive. She just loves making a grand entrance, doesn't she?"Stefan nodded, brow furrowed, still struggling to wrap his mind around it. "If she survived, that means she's been watching us. Watching Naira. It's unsettling."

Naira, sitting quietly between her brothers, looked up at them, her eyes full of uncertainty. "Do you think she's telling the truth?" she asked, her voice soft. "About the danger?"

Stefan turned to her, his expression softening. "I don't know, Naira. But if she's right, then we need answers."Damon looked over at Stefan, his face uncharacteristically serious. "Then go back to Mystic Falls, Stefan. Dig up what you can. We can handle things here, and you know where to find us."

Stefan let out a long breath, nodding slowly. "Yeah. I think it's time I did." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver pendant on a delicate chain, the letter "S" engraved on the front. Holding it out to her, he smiled. "Here. I want you to have this, so you'll always remember your family. We're always with you, no matter where we are."

Naira's eyes widened with joy and surprise as she reached out to take the pendant. "It's beautiful, Stefan. Thank you." She clutched it in her hands, feeling the cool metal against her skin. It was a little piece of both brothers—a small reminder that she belonged to them, part of this peculiar, enduring family.

Damon smirked, watching the exchange, though his eyes betrayed a softer emotion. "Alright, enough of the sentimental stuff. Let's get something to drink." He poured himself a fresh glass of bourbon, while Stefan and Naira joined him in the kitchen, where Stefan set a pot of hot cocoa on the stove.

The three of them settled into the living room, Naira tucked comfortably between her brothers, her new pendant resting just above her heart. Damon took a long sip of his bourbon, letting the warmth chase away the memories of the past. Stefan, sipping his cocoa, watched his sister with a soft, protective gaze."Stay safe, Stefan," Naira said, looking up at him, her voice barely above a whisper. "Promise?"Stefan gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Always. And you too—stay out of trouble, alright?"She nodded, smiling as she leaned back into the couch, feeling the warmth of her brothers beside her. They might be separated soon, but for now, she was exactly where she belonged, held close by the two people she trusted most.