A/N Thank you all for reviewing!
"Hello, little brother."
At the sound of light footsteps, Skylar turned around just in time to offer her brother a small smile as a greeting but watched him vigilantly. Hands behind his back, Stefan returned the small smile as he ventured further into the bedroom, giving his sister a one over as if checking for any signs that she'd been mistreated.
"This place is a maze. I only found you because I heard your singing-"Stefan said as he looked around with a curious look before he gave his sister a pointed look as he added."Which hasn't gotten any better, by the way."
"You speak as if your singing voice is better. It's not, just so you know."Skylar retorted with an almost petulant tone, but her smile remained when her younger brother's own smile widened a little, and his body language relaxed. Skylar took a moment to observe her brother, noticing the lively glimmer in his green eyes, showing that his humanity was inside him somewhere."You don't look so ripper-like. Broody, yes, but not ripper."
"A little bit like usual Stefan but you still got some ripper inside, I can sense it."Skylar quietly said as she continued to study her brother, shaking her head firmly when he frowned defensively, crossing his arms over his chest."No, keep that, it makes you strong."
Skylar then grinned with a one-shouldered shrug."And more fun."
"I'm, uh..."Stefan was quiet for a moment, his stoic expression softening a little as Skylar continued to smile at him."I'm fine."
Skylar parted her lips to tell brother she was pleased for him, but her mouth snapped shut when her eyes zeroed in on her brother's arms that were now crossed over his chest. In each hand, Stefan held two darts that, as Skylar looked closer, she could see they were filled with vervain. Her smile quickly faded, her blue eyes glazed over and darkened defensively. Skylar kept her eyes on her brother as she took a step backward.
"Why do you have vervain?"
Skylar looked between her brother and the vervain darts with a cautious expression. She tried to read her brother's body language. She knew Stefan wouldn't kill her even if his switch was flipped, but that didn't mean he wouldn't vervain her.
"Are we gonna fight? Stefan?"When Stefan just frowned at her, she sighed and nodded before glancing around for something blunt to hit her brother with. Skylar hated merely bickering with her brothers, but she would not go down without a struggle."I just had a bubble bath but if given no choice..."
Skylar trailed off and rolled back her shoulders before raising her fists. She beckoned her brother to make the first move with her fingers. Skylar waited for Stefan to lunge at her but nothing happened. The seconds ticked by and her brother remained in his spot, making Skylar uneasy. Her brother didn't look murderous or guilty which made Skylar feel a little less nervous around him.
She slowly put down her fists when her brother continued to stare at her with a troubled look."What?"
"You honestly thought i'd use-forget it."Stefan shook his head, holding out the darts with an insulted frown. He scoffed then pocketed the darts before holding out up hands in surrender for a second before dropping them back to his sides."I just brought them just in case I bumped into Klaus or Finn."
Skylar sombrely looked at Stefan, her expression blank as she processed his words. Stefan straightened as Skylar shook her head, the younger Salvatore suddenly feeling defensive.
Until Skylar burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?"Stefan sent his sister a puzzled look, slowly shaking his head."What?"
Skylar continued to giggle to herself without explanation, making Stefan even more confused and slightly irritated. Her laughter was almost a relief to her brother; he hadn't heard her laugh in months. But, considering he assumed she was laughing at him, the relief soon turned to slight annoyance.
"Skylar!"
His sister waved him off, inhaling and exhaling to compose herself and calm herself down before she finally answered him.
"Klaus I get, he takes the kettle boiling too long as a threat personally made against him. But Finn?"Skylar gave a sardonic smile, seeming amused at the thought of the eldest Mikaelson acting hostile unless given no choice."Seriously?"
Stefan shrugged with a nonchalant reply."He's a Mikaelson."
Skylar nodded in agreement but, going by her small smile and Stefan's frown, the pair had completely different views on Stefan's harsh statement.
"Finn's a moralist; he won't even acknowledge your presence let alone attempt to rip your heart out for visiting. Provided that you're not a threat to his family."Skylar responded with an amused tone, breathily laughing before a sudden look of realization flickered over her features."He's a lot like you, actually."
Stefan went silent at her words and blinked at his sister, looking utterly bewildered, and he stared at her as if she'd suddenly grown a second head.
"He's a Mikaelson."Stefan repeated with narrowed brows as if considering his sister's sanity before he, almost reluctantly let out a long breath, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes."I know you might feel something for Klaus and i'd understand you wanting to defend him."
He then gave a head shake, gestured to the large painting that hung on the wall, Klaus' signature on the bottom right and made a sound of disgust.
Stefan glanced at the painting, lowering his voice to a hiss."You don't need to defend the rest of them."
"They're my friends."Skylar swiftly replied, her firm tone mirroring Stefan's as she emphasized the last word before her voice softened."And you're my brother, Steffie. So, unless you're in a fight, you won't lay a hand on eachother."
"How can you def-"Stefan interrupted himself by holding up a hand, swallowing the string of curses that he wanted to shout. He forced himself to bite them back and took a deep breath before quietly declaring."I'm not here to fight."
It was Skylar's turn to scoff as she sent her brother a cynical eye roll."Could've fooled me."
Stefan didn't react to her terse tone and took it with a simple nod. Silence befell the room as the Salvatore siblings met eyes, Skylar's harsh expression faltering somewhat as Stefan bowed his head, downcast.
Her little brother had the power to pull on her heartstrings.
"Stefan."
"I know."Stefan forced a smile, but it didn't last, just like their eye contact because he quickly broke their gaze, unable to meet her eyes."I know that Damon and I have been acting like..."
Stefan trailed off, unsure of the right word to label their recent falling out. But, as usual, Skylar was more than happy to provide suggestions.
She utterly despised drawn out mawkish moments.
"Idiots? Fools?"Skylar offered with an innocent smile, lips curving up when Stefan quietly chuckled. She spoke once more but, this time, her tone was laced with what Stefan assumed to be an attempt at a British accent."Complete pillocks?"
"A little British slang for you."Skylar gave a proud grin and a self-congratulatory and dramatic bow."I learned the last one from Kol. It's his nickname for Klaus."
Stefan just nodded along, noticing the pitch raise in Skylar's voice. Before she had spoken with unforgotten bitterness but a fond familiarity, a soft tone she would only use around her younger brother.
But, as she spoke about the Mikaelson's—far too eagerly, Stefan resentfully thought—she talked about them almost affectionately. It was as if she were talking about people she had a special affinity with, people she cared for.
Family.
Stefan knew Skylar hadn't been residing with the Originals for so long just to irk her brothers; she wouldn't have been able to play a long game. And he knew that her 'relationship' with Klaus ran deeper than just a fling, he'd been aware of that for a while, but he hadn't given her relationship with the others much thought.
Had she'd replaced them?
It itched at him the longer he thought about it.
"...but it's also Elijah's nickname for Kol."Skylar carried on smiling to herself when she remembered the video Kol had sent to Klaus earlier and the prank he'd pulled on Elijah."And I suspect when they both come home tonight there will be a whole lot more of them-."
Stefan's head snapped up in curiosity at a particular word that his sister had just so casually said without much thought.
"What was that?"
Skylar raised an eyebrow at her brother, looking tempted to scold him for interrupting her but then quickly realized he'd probably learned it from Skylar herself. Salvatore's had never been known for their civility.
"What was what?"
"Oh, Elijah and Kol chaperoned Rebekah to the fancy dress dance. Her date was a complete ass to her, so they stepped up."Skylar gave an irritated head-shake, but her smile soon returned when she thought of the prank, a smile so broad that it looked as if it hurt."But Elijah was dressed in this awesome Top Gun costume that's come back to bite him in the-"
"No, not that."Stefan interrupted again with a shake of his head, almost pleading with his sister."You said home. You realize that, don't you?"
As Stefan carefully studied his sister as he awaited a response, he noticed that Skylar's smile instantly faltered and her once shining blue orbs darkened.
"Yes, I realize I said a word. I also said Top Gun. As in Elijah Mikaelson in a Top Gun costume."Skylar quickly replied, giving her brother an unimpressed look."Damon would've gotten that."
The second she finished, Skylar suddenly looked agitated. She looked uncomfortable, panicked but, most of all, annoyed that she felt vulnerable. Stefan watched her, tempted to offer her comfort, but he knew better. He also knew that his sister being so vulnerable―allowing herself to be vulnerable―at peace, wasn't a bad thing for her.
In fact, it was good for her because Skylar Salvatore hadn't been vulnerable—content, almost—in close to two centuries. The only problem was that Stefan knew his sister. He was aware that Skylar, like Damon, was most likely ruin it if she even pondered the thought of having any emotional connection to someone that didn't share blood.
One would be lucky if Skylar Salvatore shared a thought, let alone admit she felt for you on any level.
"You like being here. I knew you did, you've been here for months but seeing it..."Stefan trailed off, unable to continue while he stared at his sister with realization and a heavy heart."It's just familiar but not. Seeing you feeling at home with them the way you were with Damon and me."
Skylar tilted her head at him, looking a little curious if anything.
"But home isn't just family; I know that now. It's those you care about."Her brother cleared his throat, shifting from foot to foot almost uncomfortably as realization dawned on him."Or those you love."
At the mere mention of the four lettered word Skylar broke.
"You know what?!"Skylar snapped, pushing away from the drawers she'd been leaning against, the force of her sudden movement causing it to shake."I'd much rather fight than listen to the ramblings of a hopeless romantic who had no clue what he's rambling on about."
Skylar shook her head in annoyance and marched angrily towards the door only for her brother to follow her. The younger Salvatore flashed in front of his sister, holding his hands up in surrender but she knew better. If her brother was anything it was determined, irritability determined.
"I'm not here to fight. I'm just trying to make amends."Stefan honestly proclaimed, lowering his hands when Skylar made no move to walk away from him."I want to make things right."
Skylar nodded along to his words, calmly smiling.
"But it sounded like you were accusing me of something."Skylar quietly said, eyes searching Stefan's for any indication he had plans to expand on his earlier claims."Are you accusing me of something, Stefan?"
Her brother's jaw clenched at her tone. She was warning him.
Skylar's tone of voice was low, almost threatening, though she forced a smile with an insouciant shrug but the stiffness of her body language proved she was anything but relaxed.
But Stefan was determined to push her and, while he hated doing so, he knew it was right for his sister. Skylar had made no intimate connections in her long life, she'd been so focused on her brothers, so entangled in their rivalry and that she'd become closed off to anything regarding her own happiness.
But, most of all, Skylar had seen what love had done to her brothers. How it had seduced them only to chew them up and spit them out. How it had almost destroyed their family all together. And, in witnessing its wrath, anything associated with love had Skylar determined to resist its allure.
Love never meant anything but pain to Skylar Salvatore.
"But I recognized it, Skylar."
Skylar's eyes widened a little in surprise that her brother had gone against her wishes. He knew, more than anyone, even Damon, just how defensive and utterly uncomfortable she was with the subject.
Skylar fiercely shook her head with a murmur."Stefan..."
"I saw it in your eyes."Stefan paused when Skylar sent him a glower, but it didn't stop him. He quietly laughed, raising his hand and pointing to his sister, speaking almost in awe."Nothing more than a flicker but I saw it and I know you feel it. You wouldn't be so scared if you didn't."
As she listened to her brother, Skylar's eye almost twitched, and she felt a sharp pang in her chest. And it crept up on her, as soared through her body, from her head to her toes, tiny little sharp pangs feeling like someone was stabbing her with a dozen needles.
Skylar was familiar with the feeling. She was panicking.
It, it, IT. Skylar, for less than a second, looked almost relieved that he hadn't repeated the four lettered word.
Stefan tried to read his sister when she went silent."I'm right, aren't I?"
Skylar slowly blinked at her brother, eyes clouding and glazing over as the infamous Salvatore defensive mechanism reared its ugly head. Stefan shook his head again, recognizing her now vacant eyes and tight smile.
She had completely shut down.
"You, little brother, you have finally lost it."Skylar cleared her throat, swallowing thickly as she composed herself. Her face contorted into a mask of amusement and Skylar let out a bemused laugh."You've gone completely barmy."
Refusing to be lied to by his own sister, refusing to be brushed off, Stefan replied almost forcefully.
"You're in love with him."He simply proclaimed without warning, without giving Skylar even more time to cut herself off from the conversation."You're in love with Klaus."
Caught off guard, Skylar trailed off, losing her train of thought.
He said it. He actually said it. What a dick.
She shook her head at her brother, blue eyes glassing over angrily as her face lost its color. Skylar looked utterly mortified and a little shocked that Stefan had dared even to think it, let alone say it out loud. Her brother stared back at her, a little shocked that she had lost her composure. Skylar was almost an expert at containing her poker face; she could almost outdo Damon.
"Seriously?"Skylar finally spoke with a laugh, a laugh that was obvious forced, crossing her arms over her chest defensively."Can't a girl just have a bit of fun without someone assuming they're head over heels?"
"Don't do that. You wouldn't be playing family with him if you didn't feel something."Stefan softly said, taking a moment as his sister's defensive expression faded while she remained quiet, eyes leaving her brother."Isaw how you looked at him earlier."
"That's not creepy at all."Skylar scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest."He's hot, Stefan. And he has an accent."
"No, that's not it."Stefan refused to accept her denial because he recognized that look, he'd given it to his loves many times over the years."You wouldn't look at him like that if you weren't in lo-"
"Stop it!"Skylar's arms uncrossed, and she pointed at her brother threateningly, her voice raising to a high pitch that it actually made Stefan's ears hurt."Just stop saying it, okay?"
Skylar, almost desperately, quietly appealed to her brother."Stop."
"Why?"Stefan softly implored asked, watching Skylar as she tried to hold onto whatever resolve she had left.""Why are you so scared to admit it?"
Skylar didn't reply, she seemed more focused on the wall behind her brother and refused to meet his gaze. But Stefan refused to let up because he knew that he was close to bringing down the walls Skylar had built up, closer than he'd ever been.
"You're happy, Skylar. I saw it. But I know what happens when you start to question yourself. You'll push him away because he won't admit it and, because Klaus is worse than you, he'll do the same but tenfold."
Skylar, eyes vacant and wide, stared up at her brother."Why are you doing this?"
"Because I want you to be happy. I want that for you. Even if it's with him."Stefan sternly replied, extending his arm as he pointed up at the Mikaelson family portrait again. Only this time he wasn't passionate with hate, he was passionate in with determination."But I know you, and I know that you'll start pushing others away because you're unable to admit it to yourself."
Switching from upset to anger in less than a second, Skylar's eyes glazed over with darkness which proved that her brother had hit a button. She glowered up at Stefan, her eyes narrowing before she brushed past him, shoving him aside as she did.
"You don't know what you're talking about."
Quickly recovering, Stefan caught himself and followed his sister without a second thought, unwilling to let go despite the anger radiating off of her.
"Yeah, I do because i've spend my entire life with you and I know Klaus. You and Klaus are the same. You're so scared of loving yourself and being rejected that you won't let yourself love an-"
Stefan had no choice but cut himself off when his sister spun around to face him, her blue eyes flashing with exasperation. And, just when Stefan stepped forward to comfort her, his head snapped to the side when a sharp blow hit his cheek, and his vision went blurry at the force. Sharp pangs of pain soared through his jaw, and when Stefan touched it and felt the heat, he knew he'd been slapped.
As he pieced together what had taken place, Stefan turned his head and looked at his sister. Skylar stood in front of him, fists clenched at her sides but she looked utterly horrified at herself.
"Because I don't want it, that's why."Skylar finally answered with such unwavering determination that it made Stefan wince.
Completely shocked, Stefan was unable to react to her outburst, and he couldn't do anything but simply watch and listen to Skylar as she started to rant.
"I'm not you, Stefan."Skylar breathily said, pointing to herself with a shake of her head."You yearn for the butterflies in your stomach; I can't think of anything worse."
"I don't want to write in a stupid journal a-about how the sun seems to shine a little better when my love s-smiles at me or..."Skylar angrily stumbled over her words as she pointed at her brother almost accusingly"...or selflessly yet utterly stupidly putting someone before myself because I couldn't imagine my life without them."
Growing more disgusted with each word she spat, Skylar's voice rose as she sardonically smiled at him."It's nauseatingly pathetic, Stefan, and I don't want it."
Stefan straightened, massaging his jaw as he shook his head at his sister almost scoldingly.
"Almost as pathetic as you trying to turn this around on me and start a fight?"Stefan inquired with an almost mocking tone, pointing to his cheek to which Skylar was already looking at with a guilty frown."I know my past, and I know who I am, Skylar."
Stefan then pointed to his sister with an almost remorseful sigh."You don't."
"Excuse me?"
"You have devoted yourself to Damon and me from the start. You were a sister, a daughter and after mother died, you became that too. You were always watching, and when you weren't, you were making excuses whenever we got into trouble."
Skylar crossed her arms over her chest once more in an attempt to protect herself. But there was a pensiveness in her eyes as Stefan reminded her that he did remember. He remembered that she'd been there even though he acted as if he'd allowed himself forget.
He remembered what they used to be. A family.
"Then when we turned, when our emotions heightened, and we became immortal, you only held tighter onto us because you didn't know what else to do. You had no idea how to live if you weren't protecting, doting and being responsible Damon and me."
"You're my family."Skylar softly said, eyes darkening almost indignantly, thumb grazing her daylight ring."From womb to tomb."
Stefan nodded to his sister with a tight smile, memories flashing in his mind of Skylar saying those four words to him from the moment he'd been able to repeat them.
"I know,"Stefan confirmed, his understanding tone making Skylar feel a little less uneasy because he knew. He knew how they'd almost eradicated their family so much that their promise seemed too broken to mend."I know everything you've done is because you love us and we love you-"
The corners of Stefan's mouth curved up as he made sure to stress just how much he and Damon adored their sister because, while it wasn't spoken and rarely showed, they did.
They truly, utterly and completely did.
"And, no matter how true that is, I can't help but think it's more than that. More than family loyalty."
As Stefan slowly made his way over to her, he made sure to speak his words calmly and softly. He had no intention of harming her with his words, she knew that, but he was aware of how quick she was at closing herself off.
And Skylar, who had allowed a smile at their musings, suddenly felt a shiver of panic run up her spine as her brother came toward her.
"It's because you've never known who you were, you've always been our keeper."
Skylar opened her mouth to reply, but no sound came out. She didn't have an answer to that.
She didn't want to have an answer.
Instead, almost robotically, Skylar quietly repeated."From womb to tomb."
"From womb to tomb,"Stefan repeated with a loving smile, coming to a stop in front of his sister whose eyes widened in almost relief because he hadn't said those words with such love in a long time. "But you've devoted your entire life to being our sister, and you have no identity because of it. Damon and I make mistakes, i'm the first to admit that, but at least we've lived. "
Stefan flattened a hand against his chest, just over his heart as an attempt to emphasize his words. He'd worn his heart on his sleeve, and he'd lived because of it. Skylar had closed off her heart to anyone and had lived with the intention never to hand it over.
"Yeah, we've been in love, and we've been heartbroken."
His sister remained silent, simply staring at him without a verbal reaction but she listened, and it was a good development. She wasn't running away from him; she was simply listening, something that she had been refusing to do. Skylar attempted to blink away the tears that had glassed over her eyes as her vision became blurry.
"We've lived, Skylar. Truly lived. You haven't."Stefan murmured with a small smile to his sister when she didn't push him away and, instead, looked up and met his eyes."This is your chance, and we won't hold you back anymore. But, more importantly, you can't let yourself hold you back."
Stefan smiled down at his sister who couldn't help but smile back.
Guiding Skylar's head up so that she could meet his eyes, Stefan searched her blue orbs."You love him, don't you?"
A stray tear escaped and trickled down her face as Skylar blinked, peering up at her brother curiously, almost enviously at the fact that he could freely state those four words without hesitation.
And then she did something that shocked them both.
Inhaling a sharp breath, clutching at her brother, Skylar slowly nodded.
"Yeah."
It was a simple admission, swift and sharp. But, for Skylar, it was a big step even thinking it.
"Guess I finally succumbed to it, huh?"Skylar murmured with an almost mocking laugh, shutting her eyes for a long moment to keep her tears at bay. But, in all honesty, they weren't dejected tears, it felt the complete opposite."Well, I suppose us Salvatore's just cant help ourselves. It is who we are, right?"
Sniffing with a grim laugh, Skylar's lower lip quivered as she took a breath before she continued.
"Blessed with beauty and charisma but cursed with being l-love's bitch."
Lingering in a somewhat daze with her eyes glassed over, Skylar looked utterly astonished with herself with the words she'd voiced uttered.
She felt almost relieved. The weight that had been pushing down on her chest slowly but surely decreased, and it felt as if she could breathe properly.
But it was a wave of emotions, a mix of relief, anger, confusion, and excitement. But, most of all, as she processed her confession, Skylar suddenly felt almost intimidated.
"This is your fault, y'know."Skylar said almost accusingly with a childish glower at her brother, wiping her tears away."Your actions caused me to fall in love. Fix it."
Frowning in confusion at his sister, Stefan watched as Skylar suddenly looked petrified.
"I'll forget, Stefan; i'll let everything go."She quickly rambled, fingers curling into her brother's lapel and she pulled him toward her, eyes wide as she beseeched."Just fix it."
With a shocked look, Stefan placed his hands over hers with a slow shake of his head, attempting to comfort her. He knew that the new emotions were foreign to her. Skylar hadn't felt this way before and, because she was a vampire, they were heightened.
Squeezing his sister's hands comfortingly, Stefan quietly replied."You know I can't do that, and you don't want me to."
Skylar sniffed, shaking her head again as she processed his words and, when she did, the fear overwhelmed her. His response wasn't good enough.
"You can!"Skylar yelled as loud as she could, flashing over to her brother and pushing him up against the nearest wall."J-Just remind me of the horrible things he did. Like when he killed the only Gilbert I liked, almost killed Damon and failed miserably trying to kill Elena."
Skylar rolled her eyes dramatically at the last few words with a small laugh as if she were attempting to lighten the situation.
"Or when Damon and I barely slept because we were worried about you being gone all summer."Eyes glassing over again, Skylar smiled softly when she reached up and touched Stefan's cheek that was still lightly red from when she slapped him. She sent him an apologetic smile before continuing."He took you, Stefan, he basically made you a blood sucking slave."
Without warning, Skylar suddenly lunged forward and pulled her brother into a tight embrace. Stefan froze, surprised by the sudden movement and embrace but he quickly recovered and wrapped his arms around his sister.
"I'm sorry for hitting you."Skylar apologized against his shoulder, taking a deep breath before she whispered."I love you, Steffie."
As those words were whispered, Stefan found himself wishing Damon had been in the room. Stefan's heart skipped a beat, and that was what helped flip the switch as he processed the words. Stefan hugged his sister tightly, smiling to himself in relief because it had been months, probably years, since the siblings had probably exchanged words let alone hug one another.
"I'm sorry. I love you."He whispered back, turning to look at her before he brushed away tears from her cheek, offering her a small smile."And so does Damon. In his Damon way."
Skylar smiled back, quietly laughing to herself but the tears didn't stop. Stefan hushed his sister when he heard her shakily sigh and held onto her protectively.
"If we were able to control who we fell in love, Skylar, nobody would fall in love It's out of our control. You know that."
His sister remained quiet after his statement, but he felt her nod against him, an almost nod in agreement.
"You sound like old Stefan."She suddenly said, a lace of playfulness in her tone, that Stefan felt relief at hearing."I thought you'd turned it off?"
"It's a special occasion."Stefan replied with a silent laugh, touching his sister's hair as she buried her face in his shoulder but she did scoff, a reaction only Skylar would give in a 'mawkish' situation."My turn to ask a question. Why are you so scared?"
Skylar pulled back to look at her brother, brows furrowed, as if confused by his question.
"Power, Stefan. Everything is about power, especially love."Skylar answered almost exasperated with a small, tired smile but there was a glimmer of hope in her eyes that Stefan had recognized hadn't faded at all.
The glimmer had been flickering in her eyes when she'd been gazing at Klaus. It proved that she did have hope for the pair of them, that she wanted to remain, that she didn't want to lose the hybrid.
"It doesn't matter who you are or how passionate your love is because, at the end of the day, it all comes down to who holds the power."Skylar's voice was shaky and her cracked as she spoke, eyes shining and voice tight as she tried to keep herself composed."The power to destroy you completely. When you love someone, you're handing over your entire being."
With a shake of her head, Skylar stepped away out of her brother's arms and turned away. She mumbled a curse to herself at the tears she hadn't been able to keep at bay. As she wiped the wetness from her cheeks, her eyes caught sight of the Mikaelson lapis-lazuli daylight ring on her ring finger.
The ring Klaus had given her only hours before. Corners of her mouth curving up into a small smile, the pad of her thumb brushed against the ring fondly.
"I don't want him to destroy me, Stefan."
I am quite attached to you and would like for you to remain here with our family. With me.
Smile faltering, Skylar stared at the ring almost longingly and brought it to her mouth.
"...and I don't want to destroy him."
Thank you for reading, I hope you liked it!
This took a while to write because Skylar, like Klaus, is complex. They're both not good at expressing their feelings and when they do it's complicated and rare, like in previous chapters. It seems like everybody's waiting for them to admit it.
But Skylar knows how she feels; it's just the issue of admitting it. I hope that came across and that I did a justice because I know you've all been waiting for this.
Anyway, if you enjoyed this chapter and would like to read more of this story, please leave a review.