Force of Gravity • NM

•7•

Years had passed since Naira left the brothers' small haven and enrolled in a boarding school far from Mystic Falls. Stefan and Damon, despite being bound to the complexities of their lives in Mystic Falls, spoke about her often. Naira had become more than just a sibling to them; she was a quiet reminder of their humanity, their family, and the love that, despite all else, remained their anchor.Though they kept her existence a well-guarded secret, they ensured she always felt cherished. Katherine, too, had quietly watched over Naira, her rare soft side showing through in moments where she ensured Naira's safety and happiness from a distance. Despite her history with the brothers, Katherine saw something special in Naira and knew that she represented the very best of the Salvatore family.  

As Naira stepped into Mystic Falls for her 18th birthday, she hadn't expected to be greeted with such warmth from her brothers, especially given all the dangers surrounding them. But for one night, Damon and Stefan wanted her to feel special, to let her know how much she was loved. They had been planning her birthday for weeks, despite the chaos looming with Klaus, and now, standing in front of her, they each wore matching proud smiles, hiding the worry they carried.

Damon scooped her up into a tight hug as soon as he saw her. "Hey kid, it's been way too long," he murmured, holding her close, uncharacteristically tender. "You have no idea how much we missed you," he said with a wink, trying to cover up his softness with a playful smile.Stefan pulled her into his arms next, his embrace warm and steady. "You're really all grown up now, Naira," he said softly, his voice filled with emotion. "But to us, you'll always be our baby sister."They shared a quiet moment, leaning against each other, just the three of them, before Stefan and Damon led her through the woods, exchanging excited glances. As they reached a small clearing, Naira's eyes widened, her breath catching. There it was: a cozy cottage nestled in the trees, surrounded by flowers, herbs, and tall, protective trees."Surprise," Damon said, a soft smile on his face. "This is your cottage, your sanctuary. Built it ourselves."Naira turned to them, eyes wide with wonder. "You...built this? For me?"Stefan nodded, guiding her inside. "We wanted to make sure you had a place that felt like home whenever you needed it," he said, watching her take in the cozy little space.The inside was perfect: walls lined with shelves full of books, a small kitchen with every ingredient and tool she could need for baking, and an herb nursery by the window. She could feel the love they had put into every detail, from the carefully chosen blankets to the small vases of flowers. Everything was so distinctly "her."

Damon walked up behind her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "It's got everything you love. We even stocked it with all those books you keep pestering us about." He chuckled, looking at her with a mix of pride and affection.

Naira turned to them, tears in her eyes, and hugged them both tightly, feeling overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you... I love it so much. I love both of you so much."They spent the rest of the day together, cozied up in the cottage.Damon, not one to be outdone, brought out a bottle of bourbon for himself and, to Naira's delight, her favorite hot cocoa, prepared just the way she liked. As they all sat together, sipping and chatting, Naira felt like she was in the safest place on earth.They laughed as they shared stories from Mystic Falls, Damon telling exaggerated tales about "the drama in high school". They told her about Elena, a girl who uncannily resembled Katherine, and how she had changed their lives. They'd forged alliances and enemies, the Scooby gang, and now Klaus's power loomed closer than ever.

For the moment, their laughter filled the air, making the cottage feel warmer and brighter. But as the night went on, the topic turned serious. They shared with her the recent events surrounding Klaus and his curse, the danger he posed, and the imminent threat of his arrival in Mystic Falls.Damon took her hand, looking more serious than usual. "We want you to stay here until this is over, Naira. We've worked too hard to keep you safe to let anything happen now."Naira nodded, understanding their worry, though her own worry for them was evident in her eyes. "I'll stay here. I promise."

They shared another quiet hug, her brothers both holding her close, reluctant to let her go. The warmth and love they shared wrapped around her like a blanket, and she knew, no matter the danger, that they would protect her with everything they had.Just before they left, they told her about Katherine's gift a witch's spell around the cottage for protection, only those with good intentions can cross the barrier into the cottage.

Naira's heart swelled with gratitude, feeling the fierce protectiveness from all of them. The cottage, surrounded by the spell and filled with memories of her family, would be her sanctuary—a place where she could wait safely, hoping that her brothers would return to her soon, safe and sound. 

"Naira, you know we'd love to have you stay with us in Mystic Falls," Stefan said, holding her hand. "But right now, Klaus is unpredictable. The town is full of people caught up in something beyond their control."Damon leaned back, his usual smirk softened, and added, "We need you safe, Naira. We want you to stay here at the cottage until things settle down. You're the only family we have left pumpkin."Naira looked between her brothers, her heart aching with worry. They stayed together a little longer, savoring the peacefulness of the night, holding close to the unspoken bond that had kept them together despite every challenge.The next day, as they prepared to head back into the turmoil of Mystic Falls, Stefan and Damon left with heavy hearts, comforted only by the knowledge that Naira was safe.For the brothers, Naira's cottage in the woods became a symbol of hope, a refuge of innocence they could return to, no matter what awaited them in Mystic Falls. They vowed to end the ordeal with the Originals so that one day, Naira could finally join them without fear, her family finally free from the shadows.