Force of Gravity • NM

•38•

It had been months since Damon, Elena, Bonnie, and Kol had left for their mission to investigate the mysterious weakening of the prison world. At first, their absence didn't feel too heavy—group chats buzzed with updates, teasing remarks, and the occasional photo that reassured those left behind. But over the past few days, the chat had gone ominously silent.

No updates. No messages. Not even Kol's signature jokes or Damon's sarcastic one-liners. It was as though they had vanished off the face of the earth.

One morning , Rebekah waddled into the parlor, her seven-month belly leading the way. Stefan had already claimed a spot on the couch, pretending to read a book but glancing up at her every few seconds.

"You're going to wear a hole in that spot" she teased, noticing his feet fidgeting.

Stefan set the book aside. "You're one to talk. I saw you pacing upstairs."

"Henry's restless." She placed her hands on her belly, her voice soft. "Or maybe he can feel something's wrong. It's been days, even weeks Stefan. What if something's happened to them?"

Stefan moved to her side, resting a reassuring hand over hers. "Rebekah, they'll be fine. This is Damon we're talking about. He's too stubborn to let anything happen."

Rebekah smiled faintly but didn't look convinced. "I hope you're right. For Henry's sake too."

The study had turned into a war room. Maps were pinned to walls, ancient diaries were scattered across the table, and magical tomes were stacked precariously on chairs.

"Couldn't Sage have just left a sticky note saying where she is?" Naira muttered, circling yet another lead. Caroline smirked. "She's a 900-year-old vampire, not a Yelp reviewer. They didn't exactly have an address system back then." Naira laughed, sitting back in her chair. "Still, imagine her with an Instagram account. #EternalYouth #StillNotDead." Despite the banter, both women were tense. Every so often, Naira and Caroline would glance at their phone, willing it to buzz with a message from Bonnie, or Damon.

Even in the shadow of uncertainty, Rebekah's pregnancy brought moments of light.

One evening, as Klaus was ranting about how he would dagger Kol for not responding, Rebekah gasped and grabbed his hand. "Nik, feel this!" she exclaimed. For a moment, the ever-fearsome hybrid looked utterly stunned. "Is that—?" he began, but Rebekah cut him off. "Yes, your nephew. He just kicked you. Probably because you're yelling too much.

Naira and Caroline spent hours decorating the nursery. I should paint wolves," Naira suggested cheekily. "It's fitting." Klaus groaned from the doorway. "Absolutely not."

Elijah meticulously updated their plan in the dining room while Finn and Klaus debated strategies. "If something's happened to them—" Finn began. "We don't know anything yet," Elijah interrupted firmly.

Klaus slammed his hands on the table. "If they've been hurt, I'll destroy whoever's responsible."

The only details they had that, their family was stuck in the prison world with a psychotic witch.....but these guys were no less. Stefan, entering the room, raised a calming hand. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now, let's focus on what we can control."

Before the silence, the group chat had been a comforting distraction, from them not being around:

Kol: Bonnie made me try instant ramen today. I think I've been poisoned.
Stefan: Don't be dramatic Kol. It's called seasoning.
Naira: Says the guy who burned a frozen pizza!!!
Elijah: Any progress on the prison world?
Kol: Define "progress" dear brother.

Now, the once-lively chat was eerily quiet, the silence weighing heavily on everyone left behind.

As the sun set, Caroline and Naira attempted yet another locator spell in the study, finding Damon. For the first time in days, the map flickered to life, revealing an unfamiliar location before fading again. "It's something," Caroline said, her voice trembling with relief. Naira grinned. "Finally! Let's figure out how to bring them back."

Later that night, just as everyone was settling into their usual routine of worry, a notification buzzed through the room.

Damon: Guess who's back? Kai's flirting with Bonnie. Kol's brooding. Send drinks.

A photo followed: Kol glaring at Kai, arms crossed, while Bonnie looked both annoyed and amused.

Rebekah laughed so hard she clutched her belly. "Of course, Damon's first update involves bourbon and drama." Stefan grinned. "They're okay." Naira's eyes sparkled with relief. "They're more than okay. They're them." Even Finn allowed a small smile to form as he muttered under his breath, "About time."

As laughter filled the room, the heavy weight of silence lifted, replaced by hope and anticipation. For now, everything was okay. But the real adventure was only just beginning.