The Vampire Diaries

Zacarias nodded.

Hope got up then with a small wince, walking to get her coat.

Zacarias got to his feet and followed to grab his own.

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"I don't know how to relax around people anymore," Cole mumbled quietly to his grandfather with a small frown, "I hate it, it's awful. Sometimes it's so bad that I want to throw up."

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"Dex," Astrid called quietly, wandering into the kitchen.

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Later on in the day, Isabella was sat in her room. Listening to her music through headphones as she waited for Nikolai to call her.

"Yeah Asa?" Dex hummed from where he was feeding Maisie on the couch.

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"I know it might not help but... Just remember that just as there are some awful awful people out there, some people are genuinely nice, and just want to talk or make sure you're okay. Not everyone is horrible. I know you don't trust yourself to tell the difference... Just listen to your intuition."

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"Do you uh... Want to go see Sammy?" Hope asked quietly.

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Zacarias hesitated before nodding in response to that, "Yeah," he whispered quietly, "Please."

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"Turns out Adam's marrying Olivia tomorrow, he said Kol organised it all as a surprise for Olivia. He wanted to know if we were coming." Astrid replied, grabbing herself a bloodbag before wandering into the room he was in and sitting herself down beside him.

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Cole just let out a deep sigh.

Hope nodded, taking his hand before heading out.

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"Are we going?" Dex hummed as he rubbed Maisie's back, holding her up when she whined at seeing her mother, holding her arms out.

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"There's people out there who'll be your friends. It'll take a while to find them but you will, and you'll realise that some people will protect you to the ends of the earth because they love you."

"You don't have any friends.." Cole pointed out quietly, "And you've been alive for who knows how long." he shrugged.

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"Well, I am," Astrid whispered, reaching over to take Maisie from him and kissing her forehead gently in greeting, "It's up to you if you want to, Adam wants us to be civil to Kol, talk to him, which is why I don't mind if you don't want to come. I'm only going to talk to him for Adam, because I'm obligated too, you have no obligation."

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Zacarias walked alongside her.

"I have no friends because I'm not a nice person."

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"I'll come, make sure youre okay."

Maisie grinned and wrapped her arms around her mothers neck, gumming on her shoulder.

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"I don't know how Kota did it." Hope whispered. "Losing as many babies as she did and still going... We only lost one and I was ready to give up until mum offered."

Astrid just nodded subtly in response to that, "If you're sure," she whispered quietly, "We'll have to book the next flight so we can be there in time for tomorrow and get a decent nights sleep too." she added, brushing her fingers through the strands of Maisie's hair.

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"She must be strong," Zacarias whispered quietly.

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"I don't know. I like you.. I don't like many people, so you have to be decent."

"Really really strong." Hope nodded in agreement.

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Kol just chuckled at that. "Thanks kiddo."

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Dex nodded. "I'll get right on it."

Maisie cooed happily.

"You really don't have to come if you don't want to, Dex. I don't want him hurting you..." Astrid whispered quietly with a deep frown.

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Cole smiled a little bit at that.

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Zacarias was silent then.

"If I don't go your sons will have something to use against me."

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Hope squeezed his hand gently.

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Kol leaned over and ruffled his hair.

Astrid just let out a small sigh and slid an arm around her, kissing his cheek gently and whispering, "I love you, handsome,"

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Cole grimaced and hit his hand away before mumbling, "Do you think I should meet Zosia's friend then?"

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Zacarias glanced to the side at her.

"Yeah." Kol nodded. "Zosia knows what happened, right? There's no way she'd let anyone near you that she thought would hurt you. This girl is probably ridiculously nice. She might not be your type, you might not want anything more from her than to be friends, but you might come home with someone new to talk to".

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"Love you too darling."

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"I think we're strong too."

"I think you are." Zacarias replied quietly, "I'm not so sure about myself though."

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"I know," Astrid whispered with a small smile.

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Cole nodded subtly in response to that.

"You're just as strong as me. If you weren't you'd have walked away from me and you haven't."

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"Zosia loves you, she wouldn't let you get hurt."

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Maisie cooed quietly against her mothers neck.

"You too Maisie." Dex chuckled.

Astrid laughed a bit, lifting Maisie up so she could study her face, "You're beautiful, aren't you baby? So, so beautiful and perfect. If your brothers lived nearer then I'm sure they'd see you a lot more too."

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Cole just nodded subtly.

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"I just love you too much to," Zacarias whispered quietly.

"You ever think about walking away?" Hope asked, looking up at him. "Wouldn't blame you, we've had some pretty tough times."

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Maisie giggled and reached for her mothers face, grabbing her hair and playing with it.

"She looks so much like you." Dex smiled. "I'm glad she got your beauty."

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"If it makes you feel better, ask Zosia to wait nearby and keep an eye on you, or if you dont want that, ask her to come inside and pick you up later, so you'll never be somewhere that's not public with this girl, then you know for sure she cant try anything you don't want."

"No," Zacarias replied, shaking his head a little bit in the negative, "No, I don't. The only times I ever had was a long, long time ago. After I lost control with you that time."

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Astrid just laughed a bit and shook her head in the negative, "She wouldn't exactly of been ugly if she looked more like you then me,"

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Cole just nodded subtly.

Dex just chuckled at that.

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Hope nodded. "See, you're strong."

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"It'll be okay Cole."

"I hope you're right," Cole whispered quietly in response to that.

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"No, it means you're good at convincing me otherwise," Zacarias replied quietly.

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Astrid laughed a little bit at his chuckle.

"Either way, I'm glad she looks like you."

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"You're strong Zac. You've battled a lot."

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"M'always right." Kol grinned.

Cole laughed a little bit in response to that and shook his head in the negative, "No you're not,"

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"That doesn't make me strong,"

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Astrid just nodded subtly in response to that.

"It does. In my eyes."

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"I like to think I am."

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"If you go pack I'll book flights."

"Okay," Astrid nodded, getting to her feet and heading up the stairs with Maisie to pack.

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"Mm," Zacarias hummed quietly.

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Cole just shook his head with a quiet laugh.