CHAPTER ONE; THE RETURN

❝a world without you is a world where I have no sanity ❞

[ songs to listen to during this chapter ]

❝ don't blame me, taylor swift / I can't handle change, roar / queen of disaster, sirlofi / achilles heel, j.maya ❞

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ mystic falls hospital ❞

MAYA GILBERT WAS PRACTICALLY SPRINTING through the hospital after getting the call from Matt saying Caroline got hurt. She didn't care who she ran into as she pushed through another set of doors. Just as she did and she saw Elena hugging Bonnie, she could only see red. Catching the glimpse of Maya over her friends shoulder Elena tried, "Maya don't––"

Before Elena could even do anything more, Maya had already forced the pair apart. She shoved the witch against the wall shouting like a mad woman, "What did you do!? You were supposed to disarm the damn device!" Every time she tried to stand up straight Maya shoved her back again, "I don't know about you Bonnie but the device seemed pretty alive and active tonight! She's in the hospital now and it all your fault Bonnie!!!"

To the best of her might Bonnie pushed the brunette pack, "I did what my grams would've done," she tried to argue and defend noticing the attention they were creating.

This enraged Maya, she released her grip only to bring her hand down to slap the witch across the face. Bonnie stood stunned covering her cheek as Elena stood eyes wide and mouth opened. She watched silently as her sister said, "Frame it however you want, you did a god damn selfish thing Bonnie. You may not like Damon and yeah, maybe he deserves to die but Stefan saved your life! And you clearly had no idea what it could do considering Tyler and his dad were both affected by your fuck up. You didn't care about them, or anyone else in this town that just wanted a normal life after suffering a terrible injustice, they're dead too now. Why? Because out all the ways you could kill Damon you did the one that made sure you didn't have to look him in the eye. Next time, handle it yourself and don't be such a coward."

"Hey, let's just give her a second to explain okay," Elena pleaded turning to face the witch as she asked, "Is there something that either of you can do? Like a spell or something?"

The Bennett looked down feeling nothing but guilt as she was asked the question. "She doesn't know how, do you," Damon pointed out walking up to the three.

"No, I don't," Bonnie stated sadly her eyes making sure to keep Maya in her eye sight. Sure Bonnie had power, but she knew that if Maya wanted to, she could sure as hell kill her with her bare hands. She had liked Maya very much since they met, but that never wavered this darkness Bonnie sensed around her. It wasn't like Stefan and Damons, it was all together different, maybe even scarier to her.

One of the reasons it frightened her so much because she associated the feeling of vampirism with death, what possible darkness lurked within Maya that she felt worse than death. Maya rubbed her hand across her face clearly stressed as she turned her back on them. "No, you don't because it took Emily years to learn a spell like that," Damon told the them.

Bonnie squinted at him annoyed, "No but I can take down a vampire, that spell was easy to learn."

"Really? Do you know the one to stop someone from hurting you? Because if she doesn't make it you will have to deal with me and that isn't an empty threat," Maya swore to her. From the moment she had arrived in Mystic Falls Caroline had been nothing but nice to her. She welcome her and offered for them to hang out all the time, Maya refused to lose her. They had just started to go one dates...this couldn't be happening.

Seeing the tension Damon put his hands on her shoulder assuring them, "I can give Caroline some blood."

Elena shook her head not comfortable deciding that type of thing for her friend, "No, no way."

"It's not your life on the line," Maya said quickly before she looked directly to Damon insisting, "Do it. We got Caroline hurt, our actions lead to this we need to fix it." With tears brimming her eyes almost sobbing right there in the hallway. Suddenly she felt nothing but guilt knowing their actions and carelessness had lead to Caroline being where she was.

"No, just enough to heal her, she will be safe in the hospital and it will be out of her system in a day, she will be better Elena," the Salvatore tried convincing her wanting both their okay's before he went through anything. It was a bit of insurance from their wrath.

Once again the older sibling shook her head adamantly refusing to give her the blood, "It's too risky, I can't agree to that."

"And not doing it is even riskier Elena and I'm not willing to gamble with her life. Do it," Maya demanded earning a look from her sister as she repeated again, "This is Caroline. We can't let her die. I won't, so either do it or I just punch the shit out of you until I have enough blood. Choice is yours."

Agreeing with Maya firmly, the Bennett witch gazed at Damon and ordered him sternly, "Do it."

Damon looked at her as if he was looking for a favor asking, "If I do this, you and me, call truce?"

"No," she told him stubbornly before dropping a little bomb of information, "But you'll do it anyway, for Elena." After the words left her lips the witch walked away leaving the three of them alone.

Once they were all alone Damon changed the topic by saying, "I know this is probably the last thing you want to do right now but we should talk about what happened tonight."

The Gilbert girl sighed saying, "Yeah, one of the tomb vampires has got into to house and almost killed John."

Confused Damon questioned squinting his eyes, "What? When? What are you talking about? After I left?"

Voicing her own confusion in Maya asked him, "You were there?"

The Salvatore man looked at Maya having forgotten she was there until she spoke up. Damon pulled Elena away talking to her in a hushed whisper. Annoyed Maya let out a breath of air whisper shouting, "Nice, been through multiple life and death situations and now is the moment we're keeping secrets. How foolish of me." Maya waited for them to answer her but instead they ignored her making her say, "Thats fine, don't answer me... I'll just die."

Clear in her irritation as she stood there tapping her foot repeatedly waiting for them to stop. Her chance only came when Jenna walked up to them asking, "Elena, I came as soon as I get you message. How is John?"

Elena looked to their aunt asking her having made up a hundred thoughts on what Katherine had done to her, "Where have you been?"

The older female looked at her niece strangely reminding her, "At the fire department, I deferred a report. I told you earlier."

Shaking her head in response Elena disagreed, "No, you didn't."

"Yes I did," Jenna repeated looking Maya for help but she just looked just as confuse as Jenna was and shrugged at her.

Elena disagreed again and argued, "No, Jenna, you didn't."

"Yes I did," repeated the red head.

Blurting into the conversation having had enough of awkwardly standing there, "Well I didn't know where anyone was so.."

Standing near Damon started to realize something that troubled him, "Oh, you got to be kidding me." The three women looked at him puzzled by his sudden outburst not sure what the hell he was talking about.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the gilbert house [ entrance / porch ]❞

"Damon can you please tell me why the hell I am here and not at the hospital? Whatever you had to say you could've just told us there," Maya groaned annoyed as they made their way up the porch steps.

Sighing the vampire replied, "Shut up and get inside wonder girl Stefan needed to hear it too and he isn't answering his phone."

Maya rolled her eyes just as he opened the door shoving her through the doorway. The pair followed right behind and as soon at they did the three they saw the younger Salvatore laying on the floor. In a concerned tone Elena questioned, "Stefan?"

"What the hell happened," she asked seeing their things knocked over carelessly.

Answering for his brother with bitterness in his words Damon said, "Katherine happened."

Hearing his words Maya paused looking at Stefans confirming face, "I hate you guys sometimes, you two are truly pains in my ass," she sighed.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the gilbert house [ kitchen ] ❞

"Did she say what she wanted," Damon asked his brother as they sat in the kitchen as the eldest twin went upstairs for a moment. Maya sat eating some frosted flakes as they discussed their current issue. She had forgotten to eat all day and was leaving to the hospital soon.

Stefan clearly agitated, paced back and forth as he told him, "No."

"The women really likes dramatic entrances. Tricked almost everyone as her welcome back," Maya mumbled from the other side of the kitchen counter earning a disapproving glare from Stefan. Holding her spoon and bowl still she held up her hands defensively.

Getting back to the idea at hand, Stefan asked still pacing out his worries, "She said she fooled one of us at least. What is that mean?"

Mumbling Maya retained, "Kinda tricked both of you..."

"She pretended to be Elena too when I showed up earlier tonight," he explained to his brother just as Elena came back downstairs. She watched as Damon shifted his stance making Maya realize that must been what he was trying to talk to Elena about.

"I told Jeremy," Elena told them with a defeated sigh escaping her mouth, "We can't lie to him anymore."

Stefan walked over to his girlfriend asking, "Are you alright?"

The older sister girl looked at the three before answering, "No, I'm not alright. I thought that with all the tomb vampires gone things were getting better."

"Evidently we were all wrong and I'm beginning to think we should always expect the other shoe to drop," Maya replied back to her.

"Katherine was in this house, that means she's been invited in, what are we gonna do," Elena asked sounding slightly scared.

From the spot next to Maya the elder brother with the upmost seriousness she shrugged, "Move."

The younger girl held her hand up as if offering up a idea, "I second that motion, that's better than staying here and ending up as that crazy bitches dinner."

"Very helpful you two, thank you, really," Elena said to the two glaring.

Maya shrugged not caring about the sarcasm in her sisters voice. "Katherine wants you and maybe me dead because let's face it at this point it's usually both of us they want dead," Maya began to explain to her.

 Glancing at Damon and Stefan for confirmation she said, "Betting there's zero you can do about it givens she's how old?" When neither of them disagreed she said, "Thought so, because we could barley stop these two, so you, and, or I will be dead but we're not. So clearly she has other plans 'Lena considering we are both still breathing which terrifies me more, and should scare the shit out of all of us. She killed 27 of her friends for whatever reason, she doesn't even like us I doubt she'll struggle."

Stefan nodded agreeing with what she said, "Right and we need to find out what those other plans are and not provoke her in the process," he finished directing that last part at his brother and Maya. The two of them shared looks amused knowing looks from the warning as Stefan asked his brother curiously, "What happened tonight when you thought she was Elena?"

The elder Salvatore looked back at Maya smirking tightly before answering his brother, "To risk another front line encroaching on your very crowded forehead," Damon began as Maya shoved more Frosted Flakes in her mouth, "We... kissed."

As the words left his mouth Maya choked on her food for a moment before being able to swallow it roughly. "And you thought it was me," Elena asked not believing his words as she sat at the kitchen table with Stefan standing behind her. Trying to clear her throat as she watched interested in the chaos Maya sipped down some water. She didn't mean to find it so amusing it, but it was so dramatic and unnecessary given the fact they had bigger problems.

Fighting for her life all the time taught Maya, most drama was really pointless and caused by either lack of communication or plane miscommunication. After everything, they were all still caught up in all the little things. The green eyed vampire glared at his brother his jaw clenched asking, "What do you mean you kissed?"

"You know, when two lips pucker and then," he taunted as he feigned a kiss. Stefan rushed over to him with his super speed but Damon was faster and ended up by Elena.

Maya rolled her eyes at the brothers behavior telling them, "The two of you are over 100 years old yet here you guys are fighting like little children over some toy solider. Which Elena is not by the way, maybe we should table this for a discussion when someone isn't trying to kill us." Elena smiled at her sister, in the year they've been together she had never felt more fiercely protected by someone before. Her whole life she thought something was missing, not until she met Maya did she realize it was her.

Damon smirked mischievously at his baby brother warning him, "Yeah don't be obvious Stefan, we have bigger matters at hand."

Once again, Stefan went towards him again but this time Elena stepped up putting herself between them, "Stefan wait, he kissed Katherine, not me." She looked back at Damon hurtfully saying, "I wouldn't do that. We don't have time for this guys."

"Later," Stefan told his brother as his girlfriend walked over to him.

"John must know something. It has to be a reason why Katherine tried to kill him," Elena offered up trying to change the topic.

Thinking it was pointless Damon told them, "She's Katherine, she loves to play games and you're fooling yourself if you think you're going to find out what she's been up to before she wants you to know."

"No, actually Elena's right," Stefan said still pissed at his brother. "John could know something threw Isobel. You mother, she was in touch with Katherine so maybe we can go to the hospital and talk."

"I've got a better idea," Damon began to offer.

Elena and Stefan turned back looking at him asking, "What's that?"

"I'm just gonna ignore the bitch. See you."

Speaking up raising her hand to grab their attention Maya asked him, "Is that smart? I know I'm not know for always thinking things through but even to me this seems a little...too impulsive. No?"

Damon shrugged not caring as he made his way towards the door, "If Katherine thinks she's been ignored it will lure her out, she'll make a move."

"Yeah? And then what," wondered Stefan.

The elder brother rolled his eyes answering nonchalantly, "Stake her; rip her head off, something poetic. We'll see." Without another word, Damon turned away walking out the front door.

"Well that was illuminating," Maya said making the couple look back to her. Jumping off the chair she was on the brunette told them, "On that note I'm going home. Don't call me, I am having one peaceful nights sleep."

Swiftly Maya walked towards the door sending smiles to her sister before she left. Despite being related Maya lived on her own, after she found out who her mother was Alaric had Duke give her the pension he was supposed to get as her beneficiary. The monthly deposits for that plus working at the Grill regularly was more than enough to keep her comfortable on her own. Alaric and Jenna both asked for her to stay at either of their houses but she declined. She had spent most her life living in someone else's home, Maya just wanted something that was hers. Something permanent and untainted, a space all her own. 

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:· 

❝ mystic fall hospital [ caroline's room ] ❞

In her hands Maya came with an entire care package for Caroline while in the hospital. She'd gotten permission from her mother to get some of her things from her bedroom. Things like her perfume, brush, the books on her nightstand, her laptop, along with its charger. There was also this soft pink and purple ombre blanket on her bed that she knew she would want. 

Then she stopped at the store to get her her favorite candies and drinks. All of which she had placed inside a basket she carefully carried dow the halls all the way to Caroline's room. For the blonde, all she could see was a giant lavender basket filled with treats blocking someone, "Is that for me?"

Peaking her head from behind the basket Maya answered, "I hope so, unless I stole a bunch of stuff from the wrong persons room." Caroline giggled watching as she placed the basket down on the table. Once she had she joined the blonde by her bed, "I really worried about you..."

Maya was the first girl Caroline ever had feelings for and though their romantic relationship had just begun, she never felt more seen. Like Maya was the only person who had ever truly liked her exactly as she was. "I'm fine, could've been a lot worse. The doctors were worried about me for a second my mom said."

Taking Caroline hand in hers she said, "We'll I'm glad you're okay. For a second there you had me imagining a life without you, don't ever do that again."

"I promise, no more near death experiences from me," promised the blonde. Suddenly Maya realized, she couldn't keep that promise, not with her lingering around. Without even realizing it she released her grasp on her hand, "Hey.. what's wrong?"

Suddenly wanting to distance herself from the blonde knowing Katherine was lurking around Maya said, "Nothing I just...I just realized I'm supposed to meet Elena, Jeremy, and Jenna at Tylers. I wanted to stay with you longer, go through some of your stuff that I brought you."

Glancing at the basket the blonde encouraged, "It's okay, you can sneak in later tonight. The nurse checks twice during the night so I can hide you."

"And until I get back," questioned the brunette.

Caroline mused her answer over before saying, "I go through all the goodies you brought me and since I see my laptop I'm definitely binging more Jersey Shore, the marathon ended and I'm not ready for that."

"Okay, I'll try and make it back in time," she said kissing her on the cheek before slipping away. Caroline held her hand as long as she could before she left.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ lockwood mansion [ interior ] ❞

Maya was walking around the Lockwood mansion waiting for her sister to arrive when she heard the sound of Bonnie's voice calling out for someone. Curiously, she moved towards the sound of her voice realizing it was her calling out for Elena. When she came across her walking through one of the many room she asked, "Hey, Bonnie! Is everything alright?"

Her eyes wide having too much fear to remember their confrontation yesterday, Bonnie refused, "No."

The brunette opened her mouth to speak but a new voice made her jump, "I'm Katherine." As she jumped in fright Maya backed away from the voice blocking Bonnie as they saw, Elena...though it certainly couldn't have been. Her attire was completely out of fashion for Elena, not that her sister would look bad in an all black look evidently.

Standing behind the hunter the Bennett said, "We know who you are." Moving slowly Maya pulled the dagger hidden in her waist grasping it firmly in her hand. 

"Of course you do," Katherine began not failing to notice Maya's movements.

She was in awe of the vampire that stood before her, all she could think about was how she looked exactly like her sister. In this moment she understood exactly what it was like for Stefan and Damon to be near the two of them. If this was how much Katherine appeared like Maya, she could only imagine what Samara had looked like.

"You're the best friend right? I've been putting all the pieces of Elena's life together," she said her eyes falling to Maya as she added confidently, "And don't worry I've put the pieces of your life together too though it's not that hard to do for a girl who only really had a life this past year." The brunette looked at her disturbed as she went on, "Isobel told me it was a bit of a puzzle. I do know who Jenna and Jeremy are and I met that delicious ex-boyfriend Matt. Tyler wasn't anything really special but I saw him too."

Katherine circled the girls with the pair careful to keep their eyes on her while Maya kept her blade up. "He's still miserably single and Caroline is  sweet on Maya, and then there's you, the vampire-hating Bennett witch. Did I do good?"

"You did great! You've proved you're good at stalking people," Maya stated with a bitchy smile taking Bonnie's hand trying to make a run for the door. They didn't make it far at all before Katherine used her much faster speed to cut her off. Acting on instinct, Maya swiped her blade upwards through the air cutting Katherine's hand as she caught the blade.

She began to crush Maya's wrist making her cry out, acting fast Bonnie focused on Katherine creating the feeling her brain was on fire for her. Playing along, the vampire released Maya only for her to back up carefully. For a moment Katherine feigned to be hurt bending over before she looked up at them with a wicked grin, "I've been around a long time Bonnie; you have to do better than that."

Suddenly she caught Bonnie and Maya by their necks and pushed them against the wall. Maya took her dagger jamming it into the vampires arm forcing her to let go. The hunter collapsed roughly to the floor coughing as she scooted away from the bleeding vampire. Out of rage Katherine's face changed becoming almost demonic as she fangs grew. With nothing left to do, Bonnie open the doors with her mind by creating a gust of wind that let everyone see in. 

"Nice," she said impressed letting her face go back to normal.

The brunette stood to her feet about to lung at the vampire no matter the commotion when she heard Stefan's voice call out, "Katherine." Maya stopped lowering her dagger from eyesight.

"Stefan," the vampire said happily.

Ordering her he said, "Leave her alone."

Katherine smiled amused by how protective he was over them, but she gave in. "Okay," roughly she letting Bonnie making sure to hit her head.

Maya rubbed her neck soothingly as watched Katherine leave with Stefan. "What do we do now," Bonnie asked as she moved to stand next to her watching the spot the walked away from.

Her voice clearly abrasive Maya answered taking her as she pulled her along, "We find Elena, or Damon and let them know that creepy little thing is walking around."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

As fast as Bonnie and Maya could they ran through the house looking for Elena. Just as they passed through the grand room she caught sight of Damon and Elena standing outside the large almost completely made of window doors. The brunette tapped on Bonnie's shoulder pointing outside, the two rushed out the door together. "Elena," Maya shouted for her sister grabbing both of their attentions.

She could almost feel that she had interrupted something as Elena asked worriedly, "Guys, what happened?" The younger twin let out a sigh trying to find the right words to tell her what she'd seen.

"Stefan...he uh, he walked off with Katherine who is here...pretending to be you," Maya shared shakily with the two. With not much else needed Damon lead the charge to go and find Stefan. Every second she was with him was a second she was getting what she wanted.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ lockwood estate property ❞

Elena and Stefan were sitting on a bench, she's washing his wound. Maya stood near feeling unsettled knowing Katherine was running around pretending to be her sister, "You're gonna be okay?"

"Yeah, it will heal," he answered feeling his body slowly stitching itself together.

Giving him a knowing look the younger girl pointed out, "You know she did't mean physically."

Looking up he told her once more, "I'm fine, I was trying to figure her out. I was playing along and let her get to me."

Coming up from behind them Damon announced frustratedly, "I tried to track her but she's gone."

When he got closer and saw Stefan's shirt lifted up he turned away teasing, "Ouch, cover up Fabio. You have a crazy ex on the loose." Looking at Elena he added on all too pleased with himself, "You better watch out, looks like Katherine is trying to steal your guy."

Maya chuckled as she stood next to Damon while Stefan assured his clearly worried girlfriend, "That's not what's happening."

"Isn't it? I mean it's only fair since I went after your girl," Damon retained and Maya eyes widen uncomfortable with the whole topic coming up again.

Elena and her sister shared a knowing look as the older twin excused them both, "We're gonna go check on Jeremy. Let us know when you guys are done." Without giving a fight Maya walked off with her sister leaving the brothers to their arguing.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the gilbert house ❞

Exiting the car Alaric had leant her, Maya walked around to the passenger side of it grabbing the groceries she bought for dinner. Making her way up the steps she got out the key Jenna had given her. Entering the house she called out, "Elena! I know Jenna is still dealing with fire stuff and lord knows you guys can't cook, I thought I make you and Jeremy dinner. Have a movie night, how's that sound?"

When she didn't get a response she began to feel nervous as she placed the bags down the the bottom of the steps, "Elena... Jeremy? Are you guys here?" Growing paranoid, Maya pulled out her dagger slowly making her way up the stairs. She gripped her large silver blade so tight she felt the handle making an impression on her skin. Opening the door to her sisters door Maya saw her sister crying over something, Jeremy.

Tears quickly flooded her eyes as at the sight of her cousin, "Jeremy...?"

Just noticing her, Stefan turned around trying to console her. Moving around him she fell to her knees asking, "What happened? Who did this to him!?"

Immediately trying to explain his brother actions Stefan said, "It's Katherine. She got on his skin, she undid everything that was good about him."

Knowing exactly what he was saying Maya cried harder, "Damon did this?" The moment Jeremy found Elena was related to Maya he immediately took her in treating her like another sister. Quickly she grew to see him like her family like she was gaining a brother through time.

As Stefan held Maya in his arms Elena said, "There's nothing good about him. Stefan, not anymore. He just decided what he wants. He just doesn't want to feel, he wants to be hated, it's just easier that way. He got his wish, I hate him; Stefan."

Looking at his body Maya could no longer hold back her tears as she cover her mouth trying to silent her sobs. "Jeremy...oh my god," Maya reach out holding his lifeless hand in hers.

Suddenly Jeremy sat up gasping for air, "Stefan, is he okay," Maya rushed out as he let her go checking on her brother.

"He's okay," answered Stefan hearing his heart beating and the warmth still in his skin.

Jeremy scared not understanding fully what happened, "He killed me, Damon killed me." The two twins pulled Jeremy into their arms holding him tight in their embrace.

maya's outfit next chapter

a/n 

welcome back! here we are at the newest version of Maya's story. obviously I decided to make Caroline her love interest first because I always wanted to explore that aspect and I am doing it here. any theories on how we're getting to Maya's tribrid storyline?