PROLOGUE; THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

❝ there is no real ending. it's just the place where you stop the story ❞

[ songs to listen to during this chapter ]

❝ hold on, chord overstreet / way down we go, kaleo / six feet under, billie eilish / dream, imagine dragons / running up that hill, kate bush / burning pile, mother mother / monster, paramore / arms tonite, mother mother / born to die, lana del rey / don't blame me, taylor swift / I'm tired, zendaya, labrinth / as the world caves in, matt maltese / me and my husband, mitski / two birds, regina spektor/ achilles come down, gang of youths / meant to be yours, ryan mccartan / whatever it takes, imagine dragons / one more hour, tame impala / goner, twenty one pilots / leave out all the rest, linkin park / brutal, olivia rodrigo / no time to die, billie eilish / all for us,n/ formula, labrinth / black out day, phantogram / poison, rita ora / she knows, j.cole / never say never, the fray / killer queen, queen / glimpse of us, joji / dafterglow, taylor swift / monster, skillet / angel with a shotgun, the cab / believer, imagine dragons / skyfall, adele / babooshka, kate bush / forest fire, brighton / the great war, taylor swift / moondust, jaymes young / holy ground, banners ❞

･ ｡ﾟ☆

❝ the salvatore boarding house [ Stefan and Maya's bedroom ]❞

IT NEVER CEASED TO AMAZE Stefan how effortlessly beautiful Maya was, especially as she slept. Last night the couple came home from a night of celebrating their engagement, again, which lead the couple upstairs to their room at the end of the night. However, their celebration was a louder evening than Damon wanted so he too left them alone to make as much noise as they wanted.

And as the morning light casted over her porcelain skin her counted himself lucky for whatever had allowed this woman into his life. And soon, he would have a whole human life to live with her. Be her husband, step father to the twins, he saw it all when he looked at her. The happy life he always wanted laid right beside him, and he couldn't stop smiling about it.

"You're staring Salvatore," muttered Maya feeling his eyes on her the second she woke. His strong arms wrapped around her waist pulling her closer making her giggle.

"I can't help it, my fiancé is just too gorgeous," he complimented smothering the side of her face with kisses making her laughter even louder.

Maya managed to push her hands between their faces catching his. He mumbled into her hands hovering above her now, "You're lucky I like you Salavtore cause people have been killed for waking me up before," she joked as he fell back to the bed.

He pulled the blankets up careful to keep her warm, "I know, which is exactly how I know I'm your favorite person alive."

"I mean Josie and Lizzie give you real competition, but I see you're point," Maya said resting her head onto his chest. Her began lightly running his fingers through her hair as he always did when they laid together. Most times they laid down Maya was asleep so soon after because of how relaxed he made her feel. The tribrid was about to welcome the lazy feeling of the morning when she heard footsteps approaching.

She sat up making Stefan ask, "What?"

"Someone's coming," she told him quickly grabbing the robe that hung on the bed pulling it over her naked body.

Two seconds later, Damon, without knocking, slammed the door open demanding, "Wonder Woman, Steve Trevor, get up. Everyone is done stairs waiting to talk."

"About," Stefan asked using the blanket to cover his lower half still.

Much to Damon's own insanity he replied, "Katherine Pierce now move it." The eldest brother shut the door behind him leaving the couple to quickly dress.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the salvatore boarding house [ great room ]❞

Damon wasn't kidding when he said he had everyone waiting, the second she and Stefan arrived they began. Over the phone laid out on the coffee table was Alaric who was being asked, "Alright, professor, how do we get rid of the queen of hell?"

Hoping they'd somehow gotten it wrong he countered, "Are you sure Katherine's in our world?"

With Stefan's hand on her shoulder as an attempt to help her rage Maya explained, "When Cade crossed planes after the 11th ring of the bell, other souls could step through, too. Same way Kai did. Katherine would have jumped at that chance there's no way she didn't sneak through. You think a second chance to actually live a life would quell her obsession with all of us."

"Then why haven't we seen her yet? I thought by now she'd be strutting around, making demands, or trying to get us all killed," chimed Caroline in doubt from the couch opposite her.

"Maybe she's biding her time," offered Bonnie who was upset her psychic abilities couldn't really help with the battle ahead. It was all going to fall on Maya, again.

Standing by the fire Enzo, still growing accustomed to his reintroduction to the land of the living, said, "Or putting her own plan together."

Another voice suddenly spoke up from the phone saying, "Either way, you're gonna need a new weapon."

"Is that Dorian," Stefan asked making Maya reach for his hand.

Awkwardly Alaric cleared his throat to say, "Yeah, I've asked Dorian to take point on our research front. "

Coldly he told Stefan, "This doesn't mean you and I are cool. I still have those files on you, so I'm here to hold you accountable for the rest of your God-given life." Maya squeezed her fiancé's hand, she wanted to make Dorian forget what happened again. Maybe it was selfish, it probably was but she didn't want to worry about another threat. Even one she knew that if it came to pass, she could deal with. The only reason she didn't was because it offered Stefan comfort as well as Dorian. Dorian didn't need to know that if he handed the files over Maya would just compel whoever came to think Dorian was crazy and to spread the word. She wasn't going to let Dorian of all people become the thing that took Stefan from her.

"I hope that you do," Stefan told him.

Disrupting the conversation from going any further into the topic Maya asked, "So what have you guys come up with or are you going to silently judge Stefan for the rest of your days?"

Switching gears Dorian went on to say, "Cade was killed with a dagger that was made from his bones. It was fused into glass by a white-hot flame. First things first, though, I don't suppose you know where Katherine's bones are?"

Finding the tiniest silver lining he could find, Damon hummed joyous as he said, "Oh, who'd have ever thought she'd have done us a favor? We've got every last one of Katherine's bones in the cave, underneath the old church, left over from a traveler barbecue she had when she tried to possess Elena."

Skeptical with their plan Bonnie wondered, "But fusing the bones into glass, how do we make that kind of weapon?"

"Would putting the bone in a metal dagger do the trick? My parents are in town. I could ask my dad for help," offered Matt who was on Carolines phone that was also laid out on the table.

"'Parents,' plural," repeated Caroline hoping she'd heard him wrong. Even after all these years, and a broken friendship with Matt, Maya still hated his mother and couldn't fathom why she was in town.

Being quick about his answer Matt replied, "Unexpected family reunion, so now I've got two nightmares to deal with."

"Gossip later, townies," remarked a playful Damon who looked at his brother adding, "Stefan and I will go on bone-fetching duty."

"Dorian and I will research an alternative to fight her," said Ric.

Reminding them all of a very important detail, Enzo said, "That's all well and good but if Katherine's back, that means hell still exists. We need to figure out a way to break her link to hell."

"These psychic dimensions are tied to emotional trauma. Cade created his when he was burned at the stake. I created mine," the words stopped coming for Bonnie as she cast a look Stefans way briefly. She admitted the truth saying, "When I saw Enzo get murdered. I'm just saying maybe there's a way to destroy the dimension itself. Destroying hell destroys her."

"Great. You guys are on Hail Mary miracle duty, so how do the rest of us get Katherine to show herself," wondered Caroline.

This part of their plan was simple, Damon had already planned it, "Easy. She's obsessed with Stefan and insanely jealous. If she sees anyone making him happy, she won't be able to control herself. So, she'll have no choice but to come out of hiding."

"Your point," ordered his brother.

Swirling the bourbon in his glass Damon replied, "My point is we shove Stefan's happiness in her face. We throw the one-party Katherine would never miss." Maya's face fell with the knowledge of what he was mentioning, "Who doesn't love a wedding?"

"Our wedding," Maya repeated back hesitant.

"Yes, you have been the most annoying frustration to her ultimate goal of winning over Stefan from the second you two met. She will not miss the chance to ruin this day," argued Damon as the couple looked slightly unhappy their wedding was a backdrop to this. But what choice did they have?

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ Salvatore boarding house [ the kitchen ] ❞

Running back into the kitchen with one of her binders Maya rambled, "Sure, May, get married. The day you've dreamt of your whole life, just throw it together like some shotgun Vegas wedding to lure out and murder your nemesis, all before the vows are over." Letting out a sigh as she slammed the book down Maya added, "Thank god, Hecate, Freya, Hera, whomever, that I have magic and can cut setting up in half. That plus a little compassion and with some luck, this will meet my standards."

"That is exactly why I sent Enzo to start compelling people to help," said Bonnie before taking a sip of her champagne. Taking what little time, she was going to have today Bonnie said, "I never got a chance, to really thank you for bringing Enzo back."

Sitting down across from both of her best friends Maya began, "Bonnie, when you said to me that my happiness makes you feel so alone you wanted to die––"

"I shouldn't have put that on you. It wasn't your responsibility. My happiness is not your responsibility," Bonnie tried to say.

Maya shook her head assuring her, "Nevertheless, you had every right to feel what you did. Time and time again you gave up your happiness just as I did mine, only I was able to get mine back. If you didn't get a happy ending Bonnie Bennett, I wasn't either." Looking at both of the girls who had survived everything with her, she said, "Without both of you being where you are now, it wouldn't be a happy ending. Not a true one anyway, it would just be a selfish one that I got lucky with. I love you two, and I would do anything to make you guys happy."

Caroline had a look of bittersweetness on her face as she took Maya's hand and said, "And we would never be happy without you, you give so much to all of us, we don't forget that."

In addition, the Bennett said, "My whole life there has only been one thing I've been certain of, the three of us, and Elena –– we're unshakable."

Maya wanted to cry knowing how much the two women meant to her. "I love you both, I'm happy I will have you guys with me tomorrow."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ salvatore study ❞

With the little time Maya knew she would have of calm before the storm, she decided to take advantage of it. She'd spent the whole day using her magic to ready the Lockwood backyard and interior to look exactly how she wanted. After all was said and done, Caroline and Bonnie sent her back home to do more work themselves and for her to relax. This wedding may have been part of a plot to stop Katherine ( again ) but it was still their wedding. They were still getting married and deserved a moment to truly enjoy it.

So she was, and she'd decided to do something she hadn't had time for since the twins and sirens. To draw, she'd placed her notebook and pencils down but just as she was going to sit, she caught sight of a box. On top of the box was a note addressed to her, curiously she made her way over picking up the card. It had roses covering the outside, inside it had a simple note.

[ Maya, I hope you like this. ]

She opened the box seeing a beautiful antique necklace, the kind that had a white silhouette and red background. Her mouth grew into a smile believing the necklace had come from Stefan.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ salvatore great room ❞

Maya was on the couch pouring herself a glass of wine when the door swung open with an abrupt thud. "Alright, bulletin," Damon announced making the tribrid jump out of fright as he finished, "Human Stefan is a lightweight."

Standing her feet Maya saw Damon half hazardously carrying Stefan with one arm and a bottle of liquor in the other. "Damon," Maya groaned with a small chuckle seeing how sloppy Stefan was.

"This is not my fault, Maya," Damon said defensively not seeing any fault in not knowing Stefan was such a lightweight. The last time he'd seen a human Stefan drink was literally a hundred years ago. Throwing him down on the couch he ended, "Impromptu weddings call for impromptu bachelor parties."

Laying down, a groaning mess, Stefan in a drunklike manner begged, "Oh, please, don't be mad at me, May."

Maya giggled throwing a blanket over his body saying, "I'm not mad at you, never could be, your brother is a different story." At her last word she sent a pointed look Damon's way adding, "Wish I would've been given the heads up, plus, kinda funny seeing you this way. Roles reversed for us and all." Looking at her fiancé she thanked, "Oh and thank you for my present, by the way."

As much as he wanted to reply, Stefan felt too sick to even move. "Looks like I am gonna need a new drinking buddy," declared Damon patting Maya on her shoulder as he walked back to the front door.

Thinking it was better to stay with Stefan, Maya refused, "Pass."

Walking backwards aw he spoke the Salvatore offered, "Oh, come on. It's your last night as a single gal, there's no munchkins to take care of. Let's blow this popsicle stand!" Maya couldn't help but shake her head amused as Stefan groaned sound like he was going to vomit. "No. That is a $10,000 rug," he warned his brother pointing to the trash can he'd put underneath him. Pulling her attention away from her fiancé Damon called out, "Psst." Having longed to hang out with her friend Maya smiled grabbing another bottle heading out of the house with him.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ salvatore greenshouse ❞

"I still can't believe we never hung out in here more," Maya slurred pouring herself a glass.

"Alright. I got one more," claimed Damon as he took the glass.

Maya laughed refusing him, "No. No more practice speeches. I swear if I have to hear one more joke about you and him switching sisters, I will kill myself. I get it, we were all very dumb and didn't see what we wanted."

"Shh, shh, shh, shh, shh," he hushed the tribrid who groaned allowing him to say, "Okay, listen. Come on, come on. Up." Maya did as ask raising her glass along with him, "To the woman who was the first to accept me as her friend, the one who, despite many good reasons, never gave up on me. She's always had my back and she is singlehandedly saving the whole world, one person at a time. I am so glad I now get to call her family, a sister. To Maya, the most heroic and loving person I've met in my hundred and seventy years on this earth."

The Gilbert woman felt bittersweet tears in her eyes as she readied her glass, "I think I like that one." Knocking back the burning bourbon swiftly she added once she's swallowed, "I just...with everything happening tomorrow I just wish my family were there too. My girls won't be, my parents, both sets can't, not even Jenna, or Ty will be. Jeremy won't be able to get here so fast, Elena can't which is harder than any of it. We used to plan this day as if the only important thing was going to be our dresses and her speech. I miss her...I miss her so much it hurt physically."

"Hold that thought," Damon said digging in his pockets as he said, "So, I remember when you gave me this at Christmas." Pulling out the familiar necklace her sister wore he said, "You said it was for future me. A guy who'd one day ask for your forgiveness."

Titling her head she pondered, "Is this you asking?"

"Let's save that for another Salvatore bonding night, - why don't we," he offered knowing the sins he would pay for needed more than one night, "I just wanted you to know that Elena would be with you tomorrow. But just so we're clear I want that back."

Maya took the necklace starring sadly at it, she could still see the image of her sister wearing it fresh in her mind. Elena was so young, she so much life ahead of her. She forced a smile agreeing, "Something borrowed. Got it. Caroline was bitching at me to find one anyway." Maya leaned her head against his shoulder saying, "I really missed you Dracula."

She couldn't see him, but she knew he was smiling as he said, "I missed you too Buffy."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the lockwood mansion [ tylers room; next morning ] ❞

After all these years, Maya still could almost hear the faintest sounds of her and Tylers laughter. Their shouting too, but mostly their laughter. Long ago she swore it would be him at the end of the isle waiting for her, it felt wrong he wouldn't be there at all now. Which was part of the reason they decided to use his house as the venue.

It was the only way she could still feel him close. She dragged her fingers across the still made bed feeling their soft fabric beneath her. Still on his nightstand were pictures of him and Liv, but the biggest frame had just her. He loved Liv and she was sure he still did by the time he died.

It pained her knowing all he'd been robbed of, but she found solace in believing they'd found each other again. That was the promise of peace, right? That he was in some kind of heaven and could see Liv again, play football like his life still depended on it. In truth, the only reason she didn't try to revive him was fear she'd be tearing him from a heaven he long deserved.

Her grief didn't give her the right to ruin something so beautiful like that. So, she'd settled for keeping his ghost close in hopes that one day, when death would come for her, whether a year or a hundred from now, she'd see him again. They'd be Tyler and Maya, twin flames and best friends, forever. Taking one last look around she saw the photos of him and Caroline, Maya and Tyler, their whole group of friends. Most were group shots of him, Care, and Maya, they used to be so close... No matter how much time had passed, he always loved them, but it was time to let him go.

Maya sucked in a deep breath shutting the door to his room walking back to the spare room she was getting ready in. A breath escaped her lungs feeling a little overwhelmed with what her day was to become. Between research to kill Cade, save Stefan, revive Enzo, and now destroying hell and killing Katherine? Throwing the wedding planning and the actual event on top and it was enough to make her head spin. Truly, she felt sick just thinking about it.

And as if they'd known she would need something to excite her, Caroline had snuck a gift in from her bridesmaids. It was a velvet deep red box with a gold bow matching the theme of the wedding, she knew Caroline must've picked it out. She opened it her breath stopping seeing a beautiful gold hairpiece designed to have a moon made of diamonds in the middle surrounded by gold vines. At each end were chains to wrap around her head with diamonds that looked like smaller moons acting as clips. Attached was a note from both Bonnie and Caroline addressed to her.

[ we got this back when you first told us about the engagement, and we thought it could be you're something new. you and Stefan do deserve this moment of peace in the midst of all this chaos. you both have been like stars leading a lost man at sea home for each other. I'm glad I get to see this. you fought so long for your happiness maya, don't waste a second of it. - bonnie ]

[ I remember being the first and only person you'd ever told that you loved Stefan. and I never told you, but years ago, when he'd broken up with Elena there was only one thing on his mind –– you. he said that he wasn't as sad as he thought he'd be because he knew they made the right choice. years have gone by, and you guys have survived trials and tribulations no couple ever should –– and you guys made it. I'm happy I got to see you find you're happy ending, I love you MJ. - caroline ]

As she finished reading the note Maya wiped her tears away feeling more loved than she usually did. Making matters better, she heard small footsteps running towards her. Just as she turned her head to look, she saw Josie and Lizzie. Their arms were held out wide shouting, "Mommy!"

Maya's face lit up like a star as she kneeled down holding out her arms for them, "Oh! Ooh! Oh, you girls look amazing. Ooh." Letting go of them allowing them to run about the room practicing with their flower petals. "But I thought we decided it wasn't safe," she said speaking directly to Alaric.

The older man shook his head telling him, "Yeah, well, you and I both know that Katherine would smell a rat if they weren't there. So Stefan called in a favor from Valerie. It turns out she has a soft spot for Gemini twins. She put a protection spell on them, so they'll be safe no matter what."

"Wish she would've came, I kinda miss her. Plus, she did help the twins survive and let us know that they existed," said the brunette with a small chuckle, "But thank you for bringing them."

Bursting from the seams with excitement Josie shouted, "Daddy, come practice with us!"

Maya looked back laughing shaking her head as she looked at the girls jumping in the middle of the room. "Oh, I'd love to, sweetheart, but Daddy has to go back to work."

The tribrid looked back at him with some disappointment as he said, "You understand, right?" She nodded not being able to use her words to tell him anything.

Distracting her Noise held up Maya's head jewelry asking, "Can I wear this?"

"Uh, I'm pretty sure that's Mommy's," Alaric told her gently.

Kneeling down before her the brunette asked, "That is my something new. Do you want to help me put it on?" Josie nodded humming her agreement giggling as she placed it around her head. Her mother took the clips on the side lightly holding them in place. "I think you have a future talent for hairstyling kid," Maya said smirking proudly.

Her voice soft as could be Josie said, "Yes."

"Thank you," Maya said kissing Josie's cheek repeatedly making her giggle. Pulling back, she said, "Also have something old, and something borrowed. Things my best friends all helped me get. No something blue, red is more my color anyway."

Having been starring at her mother from the side and in awe of everything about her Lizzie whispered, "Mommy looks so pretty." Maya's hair was perfectly curled and resting down her back and stopped mid waist. Her nails were done with a deep maroon almond shape. Her makeup was this light red with some gold to create a light smoky eye.

"Yes, yes, she does," Maya looked back at him sighing attempting to say something but he beat her to it, "Be happy, Maya."

"You too Ric," she replied feeling the tug of Lizzie's pulling on her hand away from him. She let him go without a word joining her little girls as the begged for their mother to spin them as if they were dancing. "You girls want to see something Aunt Bonnie taught me," she asked them.

Josie nodded looking like her eyes were about to budge out of her head. Jumping up and down Lizzie pleaded, "Yes mommy! Please please please!" Since they hadn't told them about their mother vampirism Maya made sure not conceal, she was a witch. Given they were too, she felt them knowing it was okay, normal was important, so she often did magic for them.

Lizzie was the leader of begging to see more magic, it was often how Maya got her to settle down enough for bed. "Okay, sit and close your eyes," she told them and before she even finished, they were jumping on the couch. They shut their eyes tightly while Maya waved her hand over the floor gathering the petals they'd thrown around. She pulled her hands up silently causing the petals to float in the air like Bonnie had done with feathers a lifetime ago.

"Okay, open," Maya told them.

All around the girls when their eyes opened were red rose petals, petals from her and Stefans's spot. The same place he'd asked her to marry him in, twice. The twins squealed giggling as they tapped the petals as if they were bubbles. Maya loved the way the girls got so excited for magic; it was a love she knew they would all share as they got older. She would be the one to teach them magic, something she never thought herself capable of. Yet here she was, a master of her craft and someday a teacher for her little girls.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

The closer she got to the wedding Maya started to feel nauseous with nerves. She was pacing back and forth in front of Bonnie, Caroline, and the twins. "You girls will go in front of Mommy, and then Bonnie with Caroline and Mommy will just walk herself down the aisle, and it will all be fine."

Revealing the surprise of his presence a voice offered, "Or I could walk with you." Maya turned her back gasping seeing the person she least expected she would, Jeremy. Tears immediately found themselves forming in her eyes. Jeremy chuckled standing before her in his suit and tie, "You think I was gonna miss this? Elena alone would kill me for that."

Doig her best to hold back her tears Maya advanced towards him saying, "For once I am really happy, I was wrong." Once close enough she threw her arms around her brother who lifted her up slightly. It had been two years since they'd last seen each other and she'd missed him dearly. And she was constantly worried that the career he'd chosen of being a hunter would lead him into an early grave. Yet there he was fully intact and alive. "I love you Jer, thanks for being here," Maya said hardly holding back her tears.

"I wouldn't miss this for anything," he told her still holding her.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the armory ❞

Coming back from the upper-level library Dorian began telling Alaric, "So I've been reading about psychic energy manipulation. If we could create a massive amount of energy that breaches the psychic plane of hell, we might be able to destroy it. Kind of like how they blow out oil well fires by creating an even bigger explosion. Except our explosion would be made of incredibly intense psychic energy."

As the younger scholar came to the seating area Alaric was in, he could tell he wasn't really listening. Taking the seat across from him he said, "Or, we-we don't have to talk. What with your, your co-parent getting married today and all, that's You know what? You look like you need bourbon. I should find some bourbon."

Just as Dorian went to move the older man suddenly started to say, "Did I ever tell you why I came to Mystic Falls?" Dorian sat back down to listen as he explained, "I was hunting Damon. He had killed my first wife. Then I found out he had turned her, and that was what she wanted. Eventually, I got past that."

"How," asked Dorian taken back on how he possible could move on.

Looking off like he was a thousand miles away, he answered, "I guess I didn't have the energy to hate somebody forever. We've all made terrible mistakes in our lives. Done things that no apology can heal. But you just have to keep going. Try to find some new happiness. No matter how much you've lost. The strange thing is losing those people is what brought us together. It's how we found each other. It's what made us a family. Maya spent all this time reminding all of us that, no matter what we were forced to do, or just did, we were still worthy of family. She never forgot that no matter how terrible things got or how angry she was at us, she never forgot. She really is the best of all of us."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ lockwood mansion [ backyard ] ❞

"Are you ready," asked Jeremy while they watched the twins begin their descent down the stairs. Her arm was intertwined with Jeremy's, "If you want to run right now, we can. I can sneak you out the back. I think we're both pretty good at making clean getaways, so we'll be fine."

Maya chuckled looking at her little brother who towered over her in their older age, "Of course you would, but I'm ready." Jeremy smiled pulling the veil over her face to cover her. She was grateful for the shade while she walked down the stairs.

Everyone's eyes were on her mesmerized by her half lace half silk gown. They were all looking at her, but she was only looking at Stefan. With each step she took the world around them seemed to disappear leaving just her and Stefan. After all these years she knew this was the single best thing she'd ever decided to do for herself. Marrying Stefan Salvatore would be the greatest day of her life, and she knew it.

As she drew closer, and despite not being able to fully see her face Stefan was overwhelmed with how beautiful she looked. Even with creating a beautiful landscape, and the arched angle vintage doorway with gadded glass with beautiful red roses for the alter she had time to look the way she did. Breathtakingly gorgeous, a goddess in her own right. There she was, Maya Jane, the greatest thing to ever happen to him. And she would become his wife, for the rest of his human life.

Just before stepping up to the alter Maya looked to her brother whispering, "Thank you, Jeremy." He nodded slipping away to the side allowing Maya to hand off her flowers to Caroline who was waiting for them. "And thank you Caroline, for always being there for me," Maya said squeezing the blonde hand.

"I always will be," said Caroline squeezing her hand in response.

She looked at Bonnie saying, "Don't ever leave me Bennett, okay? We'd be lost without you."

"Never a chance of that happening," said Bonnie as she checked for any last minute needed adjustments. But she didn't need any, she was perfect.

Once she had handed off what she needed to, Maya stepped onto the wooden alter they had. Her heart was pounding, and she could hear Stefan's going even faster. He reached out lifting the veil up and over her head revealing his fiancé beneath. "Hey, Salvatore," she said just soft enough for him.

He chuckled saying, "Hi, Gilbert." Stefan's eyes looked at her chest breaking the beautiful moment for them by asking, "Where did you get that necklace?"

"You gave it to me," she answered briefly looking at it.

Knowing the jewelry anywhere he replied, "No, I didn't. That's Katherine's, she got it from Shay."

"Seems she accepted our invitation," muttered Damon who stood ready to perform the ceremony.

Trying to find the clamps to take it off Maya panicked, "She snuck into our house?"

Pointedly as he scanned the area around them the eldest Salvatore said, "She's a villain. What do you expect?"

Grabbing her hand Stefan said quietly, "No, no, no. Keep it on. We want her to see you wearing it."

"You think she's already here," Maya wondered peeking around the room as best she could from her spot.

"Wouldn't be surprised if the evil vampire slut was in a sniper's nest ready to shoot you Buffy. Guess we should start then," Damon muttered as Maya rubbed her thumb against Stefan's hand. "Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to witness the joining of these two epic lovebirds in official matrimony. Stefan has found the woman of his dreams, and he's going to share the rest of his human life with her. But before we begin, if anyone has any objections to this union, please speak now or forever hold your peace."

Everyone, from Enzo in the front row to Jeremy standing at the back of all the seat keeping watch waited with bated breath. "Yep. Speak right now," Damon urged waiting for her to show, "Anyone? As in now. Right now." But no one appeared, Katherine wasn't coming even if she was watching. Going into his next plan Damon said, "Well. Well, it seems like no one's objecting, so we will continue with the ceremony."

"We will," Maya confirmed sending a nervous look his direction.

With a tight smile he insisted, "You betcha. Do you, Stefan, take this lovely woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do," said Stefan with a teary smile.

"And do you, Maya Jane, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, till death do you part," asked Damon changing his attention to her.

Her smile grew as she answered, "I do."

Going straight off the map of what they had planned, Damon said, "I believe the bride and groom have chosen to write their own vows."

"We haven't," Stefan told him with a look of sheer worry on his and Maya's faces.

"Oh," Damon said speaking lowly, "Well just wing it. Go."

The couple shared a look of panicked amusement that made them laugh. "I'll go first," offered Stefan, "From the moment when we first met I think I always knew that I would always choose you. Even when I was too stupid to see it for myself a part of me knew that for me, there is only you. You have been my best friend, my protector, and the star leading me home in the dark. I am so happy to begin this human life with you, to help you raise your children, and to be there for you when you need it. I love you Maya, and there is no world where I could exist without you. There is no universe where our souls do not meet, I know it."

"Wow, that's a tough act to follow," Maya joked rubbing away her tears careful not to destroy her makeup.

Small laughter filled the crowd as Maya composed herself. "I did everything within my power not to love you. I was scared to feel happy after my parents died, and I knew that what I felt with you was terrifyingly good. And that wasn't safe, at least I thought it wasn't. But you, you wore away at my fear and replaced it with safety. You gave me something I never thought was possible, love, unconditional love. Not the kind where we can do anything and get away with it, but the type that breeds forgiveness, laughter, support, that carries us through literal hell. I am grateful I bumped into that day in the hall. And if I could do it all again, taking the good with the bad, I would just to fall in love all over again. And hundred years from now, I will remember this moment for the both of us."

Bonnie held back her tears but she unable to help herself from looking at the man who made her feel the same, Enzo. Maybe her and Maya wouldn't get the happy ending they had expected for themselves, but they were still getting them none the less. As he watched his sister, Jeremy felt the bittersweetness of his fathers hand on his shoulder. It was like he could hear his mother lean over and whisper, 'I have been waiting for them to do this forever.' Maybe he was delusional but it was nice to believe they were there watching her. Maya thought the same thing, she'd imagined that all the ghost of her past were watching, celebrating this moment. It was the only way to not be completely taken over by her emotions.

Caroline, she watched with this terrible feeling of longing. She had never spoken a word to Maya of how she felt about her, how she saw her, and never would. She had known for a long time the lives they each pictured for themselves were different, too different. As she watched them confess their undying love, she felt as if she was losing something. But how could she be? Maya was never hers, not in that way at least.

However, she knew if Maya knew, she would urge Caroline to let her go. To live a life where she could become anything, love anyone. A part of her knew that watching this happen was that exact message. Maya was never holding her back, Caroline was doing it to herself. She told herself that from this moment on she would find her happiness, one way or another.

Hearing how they sounded so much in love Damon said, "Wow. Munchkins. Rings."

The girls leaped off their chair each of them handing one of them a ring. Maya tapped each of their noses affectionately as the scattered back down the steps. Holding out her hand readying himself to slip on her gold wedding band Stefan said, "Now. With this ring, I thee wed."

Maya watched as he slid on her ring having it sit in front of her bigger engagement ring. She chuckled repeating his words back as she slid on his ring, "With this ring, I thee wed."

"With the power recently vested in me by the Commonwealth of Virginia, I now pronounce you husband and wife," Damon spoke loudly adding, "You may kiss the bride, little brother." Maya felt her heart skip a thousand beats as he leaned in kissing her. And even after all these years, their kiss felt exactly like the first time. Magical, and like two souls forever intertwined across universes. All their worries, even the present one of Katherine didn't matter.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ lockwood venue ❞

With her head resting on Stefan's chest Maya swayed to the song Gravity by Sara Bareilles. It was their first song when they came out together and the song she was listening to when she realized she was in love with him. Her hand was being cradled in Stefans and she had never known bliss like this. "I need to say something," Stefan voiced making her lift her head with a hum.

"I never tell you enough how thankful I am for you. I have never felt more complete, more whole than when I am with you. That is something most people never get, but we have it. Even with all the bad things we've been through, it was all worth it for it to lead us here," Stefan said lost in her soft brown eyes.

"Me too, because without it, our story, it never would've happened," she replied leaning up to kiss him again. As they pulled apart she asked, "How about for our honeymoon, we finally take that trip. Everywhere and anywhere, just you and me?"

"I think..." he trailed off before Stefan playfully dipped her making her gasp, "It's a date." He pulled her back up cupping either side of her face kissing her again never getting enough of her. She was like a drug to him, just like he was to her.

Distracting them by grabbing the mic Damon began, "Paging the bride and groom. Thank you. It is now time for everyone's favorite best man to make a little toast." The couple laughed shaking their heads, but this was the moment she was waiting for. Maya quickly grabbed the correct glass of wine giving it to Stefan. He didn't know it, but once he drank all of it, they would never have to worry about him dying again. Maya waited for the moment as Damon smacked lips, inhaled slowly and began, "Little brother, I have waited a hundred and well, a whole lot of years, to make this speech. And today, I finally get to tell my little brother––"

Abruptly stopping him Kelly Donovan snatched the mic, "I'll take it from here, gorgeous." Everyone around the room shared puzzled stares as she carried on in a raspy voice, "He and I made out once. Super hot."

With a tight frustrated smile forming even having her there Maya mumbled to her husband, "Drunken toast from Kelly Donovan. Perfect. Now it's a wedding. Though, Kelly being here was never in my plans but, hey! What does the brides opinion even matter."

Stefan rubbed his hand across her back as she continued saying, "Well, I've known Stefan Salvatore for years, but I can honestly say I'm not sure what all the fuss is about." Maya clenched her jaw already seeing the tone she was going for, "And then, there's little Mrs. Perfect. Actually, who am I kidding, here little miss perfect slutty nutcase. You all remember how you spoke about her when she was a teenager, they were brutal. Much more brutal than I'm being. Shame mommy, daddy, and sissy are dead and can't be here to see someone make a honest woman out of you. Not that we ever thought that could be done."

Maya fought her eyes changing colors as Damon tired to proactively snatched the mic, "Okay, okay. Yeah, yeah. That's enough." He looked her in her eyes compelling, "Hey. Now go find the open bar. "

Surprising the hell out of all the supernatural beings there, she refused still speaking into the mic, "No. Damon. You're worse than either of them. What you did to Vicki? Shame on you. She didn't hurt anyone ever. She might have turned her life around, but you didn't give her the chance. Then again, I never had a chance, either. No, this town made up its mind about me long time ago." Trying to stop this Matt started approaching which made her say, "You all looked right through me for years. Treated me like a joke. Sent me packing without a second thought. Maybe if you hadn't forgotten all about me, you would have known that I had a bad fall two years ago. And you never knew I was dead." Maya instantly looked across the room at Matt who was just as shocked as the rest of them. Kelly happily continued, "No, the only one who gave a damn about me was Katherine. She saw how I was suffering in hel––"

Having grown tired of her voice Maya sped across the dance floor grabbing her by the throat, "Where the hell is she?"

"I have no idea. I was busy causing a gas leak in the house," said Kelly making Maya let her go as the realization set in.

"Oh, my God. The girls. And Bonnie," she told Stefan as she started rushing towards the house.

Even with her speed, the second she got outside, the building exploded sending her flying back onto the ground. She stumbled back to her feet as Stefan lifted her off the ground and she saw the building burning. "LIZZIE, JOSIE," Maya shouted struggling in his arms while Enzo tried to break free of Damon.

"Stefan, my babies," May shouted breaking free.

Just as she was about to run inside the flames pushed through the chimney. Seconds later she heard small voices shouting, "Mommy!"

Maya ran up to her girls pulling them into her arms, "Oh, my God. Oh You're okay. Oh, my babies. You're okay." Looking up at Stefan she asked, "Check on Bonnie, please." He nodded rushing off while Maya checked the girls for wounds. While she was looking she heard this loud bang echo throughout the town, like a bell. Hearing it both Maya and the twins doubled over in pain screaming.

Rushing to their aid Enzo asked, "Maya, Maya are you alright? What's happening?"

Clutching her head she answered panic across her face, "The bell, they're ringing the bell." Maya screamed her daughters shouts being overpowered by her sound.

Coming from the other side of the grounds, Jeremy cupped his sister into his arms. "Maya,"meh said trying to get her to focus on anything but the pain. But it was impossible, beside her daughters clinging to her nothing else was even noticed. And then, suddenly, it stopped. She felt relief as her mind began to refocus, "Are you okay," he asked helping her sit upright.

But Maya wasn't concerned about herself, she lifted the girls faces rushing out, "Did you feel it stop? Are you okay?"

"What was that mommy," asked Lizzie as Josie nuzzled her head into Jeremy's chest wanting someone to hold her.

"A bell sweetie, it's just really loud for us that's all," Maya said and as the words left her lips she remember, "Bonnie, shit." She quickly came to her feet telling Jeremy and the girls, "Do not let them out of your sight Jer, girls, stay with your uncle!"

The tribrid and Enzo rushed towards the building only to see Stefan over Bonnie preforming CPR. "What happened," Maya rushed out knowing she and the girls were alright so why was she unconscious.

"The magic was too much for her," answered her husband.

An idea coming to mind she told them, "Get back, I have an idea." Both men back away as she kneeled down beside her, "Lecutio maxima." Small electric charges escaped her finger tips jolting Bonnie awake.

"Thank god," Enzo exhaled pulling her into his arms.

"I saw her," Bonnie said as she leaned into her boyfriends arms, "I saw Elena."

"Y-you saw Elena," Maya repeated her eyes softening with hurt. Stefan helped her to stand up while Bonnie was lifted up by Enzo.

Bonnie nodded replaying the memory with guilt and sorrow lingering on her face. "Yes. She was as real as you are to me now," the resurrected witch repeated.

Maya wanted to dwell on this information, but she knew she didn't have the time. "They rang the bell," she informed the all, "I heard it, they're gonna burn Mystic Falls."

"The we have to get to the bell and see whose even ringing it," urged Stefan taking his wife's hand as they all rushed to leave.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the town square ❞

"There has to be something we can do," argued Stefan as he and his wife stood in the square right outside the clock tower. Bonnie, Caroline, Jeremy and Enzo had agreed to help Alaric get the twins out of town. With hellfire coming Maya knew her abilities and Bonnies were all they had left to fight it.

With obvious distrust Damon spat, still in his suit, "The only chance we've got is if Donovan can somehow convince his train wreck of a sister hell ain't so bad."

"So basically were dead," Maya figured her hands shaking with worry as she stood in the street still in her wedding attire as well. She looked over the eldest Salvatore's shoulder seeing the human in question exiting the building. "There he is. Matt," Maya shouted grabbing his attention.

He didn't need to hear her question, he simply spoke loud enough for her to hear, "Yeah, it's Sheriff Donovan. Activate the evacuation protocol. Gas leak. Yeah, again."he didn't say a word more as he ran past them.

"That can't be it? After everything we're just gonna let the town burn to a crisp? Can we even get them all out in time," Maya panicked feeling her gut twist inside with worry.

"We don't have a choice, I've seen what that bell can do, if she rings it nine more times nothing in this town will survive. Get to safety," he warned running off to get as many humans as he could out of the town before things truly became dangerous.

As her eyes fell back to the brothers she saw not an ounce of argument left for them to save the town. "So we're just gonna leave it all to burn," Maya realized. This was her home, the last real connection she had to all the people she had loved and lost. Even if they rebuilt the town, it wouldn't be the home she had. It wouldn't be the same place, the high school wouldn't be the same halls she'd walked with Tyler. Or the same place she used to skip classes at run off to, streets she walked with her parents would be new. Her spot would be burned, and all it's roses dead. She could not let this happen, but she didn't know how to stop it.

"It's just a town," Damon tried to say but he didn't even believe it. It was his home too, and he had no wish to see it burn.

Correcting him Maya argued, "But it's our town."

The eldest Salvatore knew they didn't have time to think, only act. "We have to go get Elena," he told them walking off to his car.

"Go to the twins, I will get Elena," Stefan tried wanting to get her as far away as possible.

Maya scoffed refusing, "She's my sister, I'm not leaving town without her. The girls are already halfway to the armory I can meet up with them after I have Elena. I can't leave her behind, she needs me."

He was going to argue, but he knew better. His wife, she wasn't capable of leaving Elena behind anymore than he could leave Damon. "Okay, we get her and then you get out of here as fast as you can," he urged.

"As long as I have you, Damon and her, I will leave," she returned knowing that they would intend on fighting till the last second. But if the town was to burn, let it burn, as long as they survived she would have to accept what was.

"I bet this wasn't how you were expecting to spend our wedding night," he said taking just a moment to bask in the joy that she was his wife and he was her husband.

She laughed teasing, "No, but dodging death on the eve of our wedding definitely should've been something we saw coming. We tend attract disaster, Mr. Salvatore."

"Yes, but it never feel so chaotic when it's just us, Mrs. Gilbert Salvatore," he said unsure if she would be willing to give up her last name.

But honestly, as the years went by she had felt more herself and loved around the Salvatores than most. Her parents, despite her love for them, had raised her to be a weapon without care if that was what she wanted. She would always love them, but she could never fully forgive them for it.

"I thought for the longest time I would want that to be my name, but I think I like Mrs. Maya Salvatore better," the brunette beauty before him admitted.

"MAYA, STEFAN, let's go," Damon shouted stomping his foot angrily down trying to grab their attention.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the salvatore boarding house [ the great room ] ❞

"There's got to be something we're missing," Stefan said as they all entered the house.

"Nope. Katherine won. She played the long game and finally beat us," Damon said admitting his defeat for once.

"Don't ever repeat those words again Damon, the soul sucker could be anywhere and you're giving her satisfaction," warned Maya bitterly.

Just as the three of them rounded the corner, they saw Elena's coffin, open. With no one inside, "What," Damon said barely above a whisper.

Remembering what had occurred earlier, Maya thought, "Earlier, Bonnie's heart stopped." Damon turned around to face her as she finished, "She said she saw Elena."

Hearing their voices, Elena, still in her blue dress called out, "Damon?"

Maya's breath caught in her throat as Damon faced her saying, "Elena..."

Seeing him drawing closer, Elena held out her hand asking, "What's going on? Is Bonnie––"

Cutting her off Damon said, "Bonnie's okay. You're both okay."

A laugh escaped her mouth as she asked, "I'm awake?"

"You're awake," Damon said running into her arms lifting her off the ground.

But then Maya realized, Elena didn't even acknowledge her, nor notice the obvious wedding gown. Elena would have at least, looked at her sister, but she didn't. Moving too fast to even see, Maya had shoved the couple apart making Katherine fall behind the coffin.

"What the hell," Damon snapped not even realizing anything yet.

"That's not Elena," Maya warned standing between Katherine and the Salvatores, just as she always had.

Standing up from the floor fixing her hair Katherine snapped, "Rude."

Hearing they hateful sneer in her voice Damon admitted, "Katherine."

"Hello, brothers," greeted Katherine with a prideful grin on her face. Her eyes fell to the brunette before her and added, "Rude. Though, I shouldn't expect any less from you beasty."

"Sticks and stone Kat, we all know you're here cause you're a spiteful, miserable cunt who can't stop obsessing over the only man who didn't want you. Jealousy is not a good look on you and you wear it all the time, it's as really," Maya remarked confidently.

Katherine chuckled not bother at all as she said, "Please, everything looks good on me. Including revenge, especially when I still know more than you guys."

"What do you want," demanded Stefan stepping forward to stand by his wife.

"It's not just what she wants," another voice spoke aloud, one that chilled Maya to the bone. It scared her so much because it was...her voice. Revealing who had truly been behind everything, long before Katherine, there was Shay.

"Shay," Stefan said barely loud enough to hear.

"Samara, actually. Samara Petrova. You guys never heard me use it simply because, I didn't trust you. But now? What the hell do I have to fear Klaus for," Samara joked thinking of her revenge on him that would come next.

Standing before them was Shay Pierce, or rather Samara Petrova as she preferred. She hated being Shay, but she had to be, in order to survive. She spent four hundred years hating who she was just to die sick and deranged while the next version of her got everything. She got Stefan, her sister, her children, and all the power in the world. Power she didn't do anything with, power she'd used to kill Katherine.

The older doppelgänger was dressed in all black with a corset vest that hugged her curves perfectly. To match she had perfectly ironed black pants with heels to complement. Katherine wore a wicked grin as she watched her sister step down into the conversation pit pouring herself a drink.

Smug as ever, Samara looked up and asked, "Are we drinking alone?"

"Where's Elena," demanded Damon.

Sarcastic as ever, Katherine replied swinging back her entire drink, "Dead."

Correcting her Samara said, "A spiritual coma, if we're getting technical."

A frustrated sigh escaped his lips as Stefan clarified, "Her physical body. Where is it?"

"That's for me to know, and for you to dot, dot, dot," mocked Katherine taking the second drink Samara had poured them again.

Elaborating on what they had done, Samara continued, "I hope you enjoyed the little show I put on for you, because let me tell you, convincing the devil you're not a liar is remarkably harder than you'd expect when you are in fact lying." Unable to help herself, she laughed beside herself as she said, "It really has been a hoot watching you take on the devil though. Especially considering I've had him wrapped around my finger since the minute I stepped into hell. Why did you think he wanted you? Because I wanted you. Duh."

"I don't care about your petty revenge on them, where is my sister," Maya shouted her voice booming throughout the house.

Samara smirked proudly admitting, "It really is the perfect revenge, on all of you." For the first time Samara dropped her look of hoy and replaced it with disgust and rage, "The Salvatores got me killed, got Katherine killed as well. But you and Elena, you both got everything we wanted, and you deserved none of it. At 10:00 p. m., Mystic Falls will burn, precious Elena will burn and I'm guessing one of you two Salvatores are going down with her. Should I place my bets now? I am curious to see if Maya chooses her children or her sister, that is a dilemma I'm excited for."

Joyously Katherine stated, "I bet it's gonna be all three of them, Damon can't leave Elena, neither can Maya, and Stefan can't leave either of them. The way I see it, the Salvatores and Gilberts will all be dead by sunrise." Taking the blade he'd had in his pocket the whole time, Stefan jabbed the blade into Katherine.

Seeing his movements second before he completed his task, Maya snapped Samaras neck. As Katherine fell, Maya removed the blade making sure she stabbed it through Samara's heart with it as well. They hoped the fact they were twins with the same dna would make it work for both. When she didn't wake up they knew it had worked, luckily.

"Well, that shut her up," remarked Damon.

Glancing back at the clock ticking Stefan warned, "We're running out of time. We have to find Elena. Let's go."

"You guys start looking, I'm gonna get out the dress. Get our stuff and try a locator spell," Maya urged them before they disperse to get things done as quickly as possible.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the salvatore boarding house [ maya and stefan's bedroom / mystic falls streets ] ❞

Over the phone, Stefan explained to his wife as soon as she answered, "She's not in the house. Damon's checking the grounds and the cemetery."

"Forget it," she told him zipping up her bags in her new attire. She had grabbed the outfit she had laid out for the next morning in prep for the chaos of the wedding. "She's not there, she's at the school. I'm not sure where but she's there," she told him looking at the map she had laid out and used her blood to track her twin.

"Alright," he agreed immediately changing his path.

"Okay, I'll bring the car and meet you there. I tried to grab as much of all our stuff as I could. I grabbed photos, mostly the girls photos, money, and some of our records," she explained to him walking down the steps making her way to the front door. There was an interrupting beeping that made her look at her phone and see Alaric calling her. "I'll see you soon. Alaric is calling," she told him as she ended the call answering the incoming one.

"Hey, have you got everything? Are you on the road yet," Alaric asked already having grabbed everything of the twins from his house that they might need.

"No. I just got everything and I'm going to the school to help Stefan," she told him shutting her bag in her doge charger not willing to leave it to burn.

Alaric almost had an aneurism as he questioned, "Help Stefan do what?"

With regretful admission she said, "Katherine has taken Elena's body, so I'm going to help them find it. I tracked her down but now I just need to get her."

Immediately he refused her, "No. No, Maya."

Getting in her car after she finished putting everything in her car she said, "You know me nor Damon will leave this town without her."

Terrified for their twins Alaric argued, "Maya, Elena cannot be your problem this time. For once, put yourself first before Elena."

"Ric! It's Elena, she needs me––" she tried to argue before ehe cut her off.

"Your girls need you. Lizzie and Josie, they need you," he said unable to avoid looking in the back seat where they sat with headphones blocking their ears.

"And they will have me Alaric but Elena needs me. Get them to the Armory, I'll meet you there. When I'm there I'll have Stefan, Damon, and Elena. We will all survive. I promise, I promise on my life they will all make it home. I won't teach my girls it's okay to abandon their sister, so don't ask me to."

Still Alaric couldn't risk it, "No. I don't need to remind you what it's like to lose your mother. Don't make me have to tell those girls you died because you put somebody else before them."

"Firstly, no Alaric, in case you forgot I lost two mothers, three if you count Jenna, which I do, and I do remember it well. But out of all of us I am the only with a possibility at even surviving the blast. Second, Elena isn't just somebody, she is my twin. I am doing the same thing for Elena that would want the girls to do for each other. Anything and everything they could to save each other.  You won't have to tell them anything because I will be there for them, just trust me. I'll get out of here safely. I promise."

"Fine, I'm holding you to your promise," he said ending the call giving her the time she would need to get away.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ mystic falls cemetery / mystic falls high school ❞

"The boiler room? There is a horror movie reference in there somewhere, but it escapes me," Damon said walking to the woods after hearing from his brother his wife had discovered Elena was at the school. But as to some sick cruel joke, she was spelled into the room.

"I'm fine, but she's trapped. We're running out of time. You have to get Katherine or Sh--Samara to break the spell," Stefan pleaded knowing his wife was on her way but without knowledge of what they used to spell her in, it would take too long to undo it without it.

Hearing footsteps behind him he said, "I'm all over it."

Standing behind him joy beaming from her, Samara asked, "Need something?"

"You're like a bad penny," he grimaced wishing she would've just stayed dead. Katherine was annoying enough, but this, the two of them were insufferable.

All to pleased to tell him so as she stood with her arms crossed, she said, "Funny thing about that bone dagger, it sends us to hell, but it can't keep us there. You got lucky with that. I'm sorry doesn't work how you want it to though." Damons face contorted feeling the urge to stab her bubbling over, "Oh, and if you want to know how to get Elena free, you can't. Kai Parker was kind enough to set that trap for us, and, if I'm not mistaken, he's forever indisposed. Thanks to Maya –– Katherine was right given the chance she wouldn't be able to resit permanently removing him from the board. She did it for us."

"She truly is like an animal, poke her and she just loses it," chuckled Katherine.

The Eldest Salvatore sighed, "After 153 odd years, this banter that we have, is just old Kit-Kat." Pointing to Samara he added, "And I'm glad I didn't have to suffer through more time listening to you. I much prefer my banter with your better copy if I'm honest. So, why don't we just skip to the part where you tell me what you want and we'll negotiate. Every single bad guys has it, so waste time telling me your evil plan."

"Damon, from the moment I died and landed in hell I have patiently been waiting to seek revenge on Klaus. This whole time I worked Cade, I tricked the devil simply by letting him know my story. Because all men are tricked by a pretty innocent face with a tragic story. I barely had to convince him to help me seek revenge, he brought Katherine soul to me when she died. He kept us in a safe place of his making inside hell, so even when you send me back, I'm not really in hell. Even if we're stuck there forever, her and I now rule it together, we have everything we want, Damon, or we're about to."

Finishing for her Katherine warned, "Once that last bell rings, this stupid town will go up in flames and everybody will go poof. Well, they'll burn alive first, but then their ashes will go poof."

"You know, petty doesn't look good on a woman your age, Shay. Sorry, MarMar," he said in a mocking tone.

Still smug she chuckled saying, "Oh, I'm not being petty. I'm gloating."

"No, you're jealous of Elena, of Maya. Because you know that Stefan and I both would choose them over you every time," Damon said with the upmost certainty in his voice.

Countering his claim Samara mocked in return, "And they would choose Stefan."

"What makes you so sure of that," he asked more so about Elena than Maya.

As if it were clear as the air around them she said, "Because I would. Any woman would. Stefan is the better man. But I am so happy Maya's happy little ending is about to go up in smoke, because we both know she won't leave Elena to die alone. She, you, and Stefan are all dead Damon, you just don't know it yet." Having heard enough of her taunting Damon took the blade stabbing it into her heart watching gleefully as she fell down dead.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ mystic falls high school [ main hallway ] ❞

"Kai spelled her in. She can't get out. I can try to break it but I don't know how long that's gonna take," Maya informed Bonnie, Enzo, Caroline, and Alaric over the phone while they continued to drive.

Knowing her powers could help make the process faster but she was too far gone Bonnie said, "We're too far away. Can't get back in time to help."

"What are we supposed to do," Maya asked looking at her husband sadly admitting, "I can't leave Elena here, I won't..."

"It's not just Elena," Stefan admitted remembering Katherine and Samara's taunt from earlier.

Not putting together what he asked, Enzo asked, "What do you mean?"

With tears in his eyes Stefan said, "You know Damon won't leave her here to die alone." Maya's heart broke not knowing how she would even possibly leave her sister behind.

Knowing her promise Alaric reminded her, "You need to head out now, Maya. Take the tunnels. It'll be faster for you." Without another word, Maya ended the call locking eyes with her husband.

She shook her head refusing to believe this, "I can't believe this is happening."

"I need to talk to Damon."

Reaching for his hands she said, "Do you think you'll convince him? Can you convince me? I don't think I can leave her Stefan, her being under the sleeping curse is bad enough but this? This--This means all I get with her is a lousy twenty two years? I live for eternity but she gets burned alive? All because what? Because she was happy? I have given enough, I can't give her up too..."

"No. But I have to try, for him, and for you," Stefan said watching as her heart was breaking right in front of him.

Knowing her words to Alaric she said, "I made a promise to Ric that I wouldn't risk the girls growing up without a mother. So I can't help you - with Damon, but I can't, I can't leave her."

Shaking his head as he stepped forward Stefan dug his hands into her hair putting them on either side of her face. "No. I can do it alone. You get to safety. Family first," he told her his heart almost unable to bare the look in her eyes.

"We're family now. Okay? You and me and the girls, Damon, Elena, all of us. It's just please, please," breaking down into a sob Maya finished, "Don't make me leave you. Please."

Trying to convince her to leave just as she had asked him to do, Stefan encouraged fighting tears, "If I want to convince Damon I have to move fast, and I can't do that unless I know you're safe."

Tears streaming down her face as Stefan tried to be strong, Maya refused, "No, Stefan no. She-she needs me, she can't die without me there. I have to tell her goodbye."

"I know, but she would want you to be a mother first, a sister second. He's my brother, I will try to get him out. Jeremy is out there, don't make him lose two sisters," he insisted holding back his tears but it was obvious his sadness. His eyes were red and aching with pain.

Maya nodded hearing his point as she said, "Okay, okay...family first. I love you so much." Reaching into her pocket she gave him her keys saying, "If Damon doesn't leave take my car, it's right outside the main entrance and go. Leave him, do not be a hero. For once please, don't be a hero."

"I love you, Salvatore," he said kissing her feeling the tears on her face.

As they pulled apart she pleaded, "I love you, more than life itself. Don't leave me all alone, Salvatore." Without another word, Maya vanished from his sight speeding to the cellar before she could even stop herself.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

❝ the armory ❞

"I need to thank you for what you did earlier tonight in the fire," Bonnie said crouching down before the twins.

Knowing exactly what the did Josie said, "We saved you."

The Bennett smiled encouraging them both as she held each of their small hands, "Yeah, you did. And not just that, you made me realize that I had all the magic I ever needed right inside me." Bonnie pointed to her cheek telling them, "Now, give me a little luck." Josie stroked Bonnie's cheek, while Lizzie touched her opposite side. "Thank you, girls," she told them making each of them feel as if they had helped in some way.

Much to the relief of everyone waiting for her, Maya entered the room announcing herself, "I made it, as promised. Any word from Stefan?"

There was a sickening look everyone shared as Alaric quickly distracted her, "Listen, we have to leave quickly. I'll explain everything in the car to you, okay? Come on, girls, run to the car. Run to the car."

Maya was stunned watching as Enzo, Jeremy, and Caroline guarded the girls on their way to the car.
No one was answering her; why was no one answering her? Giving her as little information as possible Bonnie took her hands, "I'm gonna save the world. And you need to get in that car and drive away."

Maya laughed at the thought saying, "But I don't... Bonnie."

Alaric quickly tried to rush her, "Maya, I'm so sorry but we have to go."

"No. I can't leave without Stefan. And what about Damon? He and Elena, they're all still there aren't they," Maya rambled her mind trying to deny what her heart already knew.

Knowing they were running out of time Bonnie said, "Take the girls, go, Maya will help more here anyway." Alaric went to protest but the witch beat him to it saying with a heavy weight to her words, "Let her help, Ric."

Alaric took one look at Mayas face and knew there was nothing he could do. If it were Jo, he would do the same, "Just stay alive, that's all I ask," he told her walking out.

As he left Maya waited for Bonnie to say something, anything, but she couldn't find the right words. "To kill Katherine and Samara...they have to be in hell when it happens. Stefan is going to keep them there. Call him Maya, I don't know how much time we have before the flames."

"He's killing himself," Maya sobbed reaching for her phone quickly dialing his number. It rang four times, but there was no answer, just his voicemail as she entered the next room.

"Hey, it's Stefan, leave me a message. Call you back soon."

His voice made her weep, "Stefan...you weren't supposed to be the hero. I am so mad at you right now, but I get it...You couldn't let either of them die." Maya leaned against the wall barley able to stand, "I just...I just wanted to be your wife. I love you, Salvatore, and I always will. I will never love anyone the way I love you. G-Goodbye, my sweet, heroic love. I will always be yours." Maya wanted to say more, she had more to say, but the machine cut her off.

"No, no, no," she threw her phone letting out a howl so loud Alaric and the others could hear it. It was the most heartbreaking sound they'd ever heard, almost like they knew who had done it, the twin instantly cried. Caroline held Lizzie who was closest to her allowing her to cry, Stefan was dead. And now, Maya probably was too. Jeremy held Josie guilt ridden he wasn't with their mother when she clearly needed him.

But Bonnie was there, "I got you," she said leading her out of the hall. The brunette was a mess, "Maya, I need to start the spell. Stay behind me, okay?" But Maya couldn't speak, her tears and agony was too loud.

The Bennett wanted to console her better, but she couldn't. Not now, she had to protect her first. Standing before the fireplace she said, "Okay, Grams. If I ever needed you to hear me, hear me now."

Bonnie raised her hands slowly beginning, "Phasmatos incendia movet, phasmatos incendia moventur, ego ex vos, vos ex unos..." As she chanted a wisp of wind caught the pages of an open grimore and books on the tabletop. Not even this had moved Maya from her spot on the floor, all she saw was Stefan, dying, alone. Without her. It was too much for her soul to bare.

Bonnie was still chanting and the hellfire that threatened to escape the tower was manipulated back inside the clock tower and through the underground tunnels.  "phasmatos incendia moventur, ego ex vos, vos ex unos, phasmatos incendia entrare! Phasmatos incendia movet, phasmatos incendia moventur, ego ex vos, vos ex unos, phasmatos incendia entrare!Phasmatos incendia movet, phasmatos incendia moventur, ego ex vos, vos ex unos, phasmatos incendia entrare!!!"

The only thing that managed to even give Maya pause was seeing the flames bursts through the fireplace and into The Armory. But that only made it harder, because she knew that now, he truly was gone. He never drank the wine...the wine meant to link them. The one meant to protect him, she failed Stefan, and the flames were the messengers of just how much she had. The thought of the heat that powerful being what he felt in his finally moment enraged him.

She finally looked to Bonnie seeing the spell was taking its toll. Her nose was bleeding, and her feet were slipping. The fire continued to roar and inch ever near them both. And Maya realized, she couldn't cry anymore, or his sacrifice would be for nothing. With shaken breaths Maya stood to her feet taking Bonnie's hand, "I'm here," she said connecting to the same things Bonnie was beginning to see.

Standing on the other side, a figure beside Bonnie and grabbed her other hand. They both looked to see none other than Grams holding her hand, facing down hellfire alongside her. "Grams," Bonnie said softly.

Sheila turned and faced Bonnie, happy and proud of her granddaughter, and the tribrid, the creature made of all three species. She smiled and Bonnie returned the gesture shaking her hand, tears streaming down her cheeks knowing her Grams heard her plea from before.

Feeling someone grab hold of her hand, Maya turned to see Selene, "You came?"

"I never left," Selene said feeling the wave of grief that exploded out of her moments ago as a beacon to help her.

They all turned and face the hellfire once more and begun their chanting, "Phasmatos incendia movet, phasmatos incendia moveo..." Beatice Bennett appeared on Bonnie's left, only for more and more of the Bennetts to follow.

Maya felt her eyes shifting color as she felt her own power magnify so much her nose began to bleed. But she didn't give up, "Phasmatos incendia movet, phasmatos incendia moveo. Phasmatos incendia movet, phasmatos incendia moveo. Phasmatos incendia movet, phasmatos incendia moveo!!"
The tirbrid screamed thrusting her arms forward and together, the hellfire was pushed back through the tunnels back to hell.

As the flames vanished Bonnie was left to say, "We did it." When she looked at Maya, she was trying to seem happy, but broken smile said all she could think was that she just helped kill Stefan. He was her life, her soulmate, her husband, and he was gone. Maya heart couldn't bare the fate she'd just subjected herself to, her eyes appeared distant, she almost looked as if she was going to turn it off.

And she might have, if not for the spell overpowering Bonnie making her suddenly drop. Second before she hit the floor Maya caught her and laid on the ground against the benches sobbing. They had killed him, she had helped murder Stefan, and worse of all, it actually saved them all. She wished the flames would've taken her, burned her in the same painful flames that took him. But it was too late, the flames were gone, and so was Stefan.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·
❝ the salvatore boarding house [ damon's room ]❞

Since the night Stefan died, Maya had poured herself into waking Elena up. She had found distracting herself with ways to help people was the only way to not shut it off. Every day was a struggle, every sight of a happy couple or glimpse at her wedding dress and photos threatened to destroy her. Even the sound of her own name falling from people's lips began to hurt. Every time she heard them call her Maya; she wondered how long it would be until she forgot the sound of what he sounded like when he said it.

But she couldn't allow herself to think about it too long, and much to some relief, she did create a spell to wake her sister. And as soon as her beautiful brown eyes opened Maya said, "There she is."

Elena sat up looking around the familiar bedroom, "Am I?"

"You're alive," Maya said, "I did it. I broke the spell."

"How?"

Not trying to dwell on it she replied, "It took some time, but I think I've finally figured this witch thing out."

The Gilbert twins let out laughs neither of them had heard in so many years as they pulled each other into their embrace. The longer they hugged the more memories of where she was before were beginning to find her. Memories that told her why her sister, despite her smile, seemed eerily similar to how she was when their parents died, but worse. The smile was almost believable this time. Pulling back, she said, "I'm so sorry."

Maya shook her head not wanting to talk about it, she still hadn't said the words he was dead yet. "I'll be okay, just not now," she offered forcing a smile on her face.

Needing to take things slow, Elena asked, "Where is he?"

"He's with Caroline. Saying goodbye...I couldn't go without you," Maya admitted. She hadn't even left the house in days; she couldn't go to his funeral without her sister. She just needed something only Elena could offer.

Elena took her sisters hand, "I'm here now," she said vowing to never leave her again in that moment.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·
❝ the salvatore crypt ❞

Running his fingers over the word 'peace' on Stefan's tombstone, Damon wondered, "Do you think it exists?"

The Forbes Vampire, now the last vampire standing with the cure pumping through Damon, thought about it for a moment before saying, "Peace? I do. We'll see him again." Enzo didn't count, he was more dead than any of them really.

"Sure, you and Maya will see him again. Me, I'm going the other way. They'll probably reopen hell for me," Damon muttered being the only other person who hurt almost as bad as Maya.

Caroline shook her saying as she interlocked their arms, "Don't be so sure." They stayed there for a moment longer before the blonde, followed by Damon, walked outside to where Maya, Bonnie and Elena were. Being the first one out Caroline covered her mouth with excitement, but as she went to go to her Forbes, she remembered who was behind her.

Exiting the dark crypt Damon's eyes immediately found Elena's. She rushed into his arms kissing him more passionately than they ever had before. A sight in which made Maya look away, Caroline and Bonnie lead her to a bench to sit. Bonnie had only experienced the same pain for days; Maya would now have it for life. It wasn't fair, after everything Maya deserved her happy ending.

Soon after, Elena came join them sitting beside her sister. "I need you to know that Stefan said something to me before we parted," she said referencing how she had seen him before waking up. Maya's breath caught in her throat as her sister said, "You were his heroic love, and he will always be yours too."

Maya shut her eyes for a moment, "He got my message," she realized not able to tell if that made her happy or angry. Instead, it just left her feeling more numb. She had to get out of there, looking at the name Salvatore was hard enough for her, she couldn't stay there much longer.

Doing just as everyone else had, Maya approached the tree stump memorial outside the crypt. Matt and Alaric had just put roses out for him. Bonnie had left behind a letter forgiving Stefan. He deserved to know she had let go of her anger. Caroline left a snow globe keychain Stefan bought her as the worst Christmas gift ever. The sight of it made her laugh as she ran her fingers across it. Then Jeremy left a sketch book Stefan bought him when he first left town to be a hunter. He said for him not to forget what passions he had outside of hunting, to opt to forget to live. Next to it was Elena's necklace, the one he had given her when they dated.

The memories of which made her laugh sadly, back then she though Stefan didn't even notice her...now she was the last love of his long life. Beside her necklace was Damon's daylight ring, one he no longer needed. Being the only one who had yet to put something Maya pulled off her engagement ring leaving it on top of a rose she brought from their spot.

Part of her wanted to go into the crypt and say her goodbyes but she couldn't. Instead, she gripped the sides of the stump saying, "Goodbye Salvatore..."

Unbeknownst to her, and everyone else, Stefan stood beside her with his hand on her shoulder, "See you around Salvatore..."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·
❝ the salavtore boarding school [ six months later ] ❞

Dear Stefan,

It had been months since our wedding, and I have not missed you more. Every day I fight not to shut it all out, I feel desperate to do it but I won't let myself. The main things keeping me from it are Lizzie, Josie, and a bundle of joy that it hurt you will never meet. Turns out, tribrids can get pregnant the normal way too, something I wish we learned together.

I just want you to know I'm gonna take care of them, and they'll know you. They'll love you. They'll be safe, and happy because Alaric and I have already built the Salvatore Boarding School for Gifted Students. Damon said the house was gift since he and Elena left for a while so she could finish medical school. Your child will grow up loved, and knowing their father gave up everything to save their home. They will have friends in a school that was made to keep students safe, all
in your memory.

A school that even someone like Klaus Mikaelson could send his kid, which he someday may. He sent a pretty heavy donation for the offer, but i think it was Caroline whispering in his ear. After you died, she left Mystic Falls and found her own journey in New Orleans. Bonnie and Enzo have also left, a trip around the world to celebrate his regained immortality.

It's been a learning curve, living without you. I don't even go by Maya anymore, that would really throw you for a loop, wouldn't it? I can't anymore because I actually did start to forget what you sounded like when you said it. Plus, I like the way May Salvatore sounds. I didn't get to use the name with you around so I might as well make sure I use it for the rest of the time I got left. 

I love you Stefan, I just wish we had more time...

~ May Salvatore

Mayas outfit next chapter