——— MADDIE BLINKED HER EYES OPEN as she tried to remember what had happened. Flashes of yesterday ran through her mind and she flinched. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to will them away. She was starting to fall back asleep, but then she heard rock music playing elsewhere in the corridors. She groaned as she rolled over, grabbing her other pillow, covering her head, but she could still hear it. "Who the hell is up at.." Maddie trailed off, glancing at the clock. "6:15am in the morning?" Maddie mumbled to herself, groaning as she sat up. She stared at her door, raising her eyebrow, mentally counting down. 5.. 4... 3..: 2... 1. Her door opened, revealing Stefan in his mood. The music was louder as it came through the bedroom. "Morning, Maddie!" Stefan cheered happily. Maddie groaned as she fell backwards. "It's too damn early, Stefan." Maddie covered her face with her pillows, burying to fall back asleep. She sighed as she closed her eyes. All of the sudden, the pillows were gone and she was being lifted in the air. Maddie yelled in shock and surprise. She opened her eyes to see Damon smirking at her. "Mornin!" Damon cheered, as he had Maddie upside down, arms around her waist as her head dangled. "Rise and shine!" Stefan followed his brother after Damon exited her bedroom. Maddie covered her face, letting herself being dangled by Damon.

After both Stefan and Damon had instructed her to eat breakfast, she groaned, but obliged. She was glad they were getting along for her sake. She knew yesterday had been really hard. Maddie technically still had blood in her system, so she was definitely staying away from harm for another couple hours. Although, Stefan had acted strange, he seemed happier, healthier. Maddie wanted to try something. "Stef.. I want you to try human blood." Maddie looked at Stefan. Stefan closed his eyes. "Madelyn, I-i don't know if I can." Stefan shook his head. Maddie sighed, closing her eyes. "Stef, you're not strong enough to fight battles for me. Damon had help. We need you strong. I need you stronger." Maddie whispered. Damon silently sliding a glass of blood toward Stefan. Maddie stared at Stefan, the smell of blood getting to her, but she wouldn't move her gaze. "Take little sips, if you want, if I poke my finger, would you try?" Maddie asked, glancing at a knife that's laying beside Damon. Maddie had discussed this with Damon about human blood with Stefan, but Damon was skeptical, Maddie wanted Stefan stronger. Stefan looked at the glass, then the knife. Stefan closed his eyes, holding his breath as he slowly slid the glass toward Damon, which Damon took from him. "Finger first." Stefan asked warily. Stefan knew Maddie wanted, and he understood. He'd do anything for her. Maddie nodded slowly, taking the knife which Damon held. Maddie turned to Stefan. "You sure?" Maddie asked him. Stefan nodded slowly. Maddie sighed and she carefully poked her index finger not too deep, but enough that blood was pooling on her finger. She slowly set the knife down, and slid closer to Stefan, but far enough for Damon in whisk her away if Stefan was out of control. Damon stood up slowly and watched with intent eyes on the two. Stefan carefully grabbed her wrist. "You sure?" Stefan repeated her words. Maddie gave him an encouraging nod. "I'm sure, Stef. You need to get stronger, for me." She whispered. Stefan nodded, closing his eyes, slowly bringing Maddie's finger toward his mouth. The smell of blood caused him to transform, gently pressing his lips to her finger, tasting her blood. Stefan knew he could do this, if he tried. Stefan opened his lips for the pool of blood to pour into his mouth, gently licking it softly. Maddie nodded, smiling softly as he sucked the blood so it would stop the bleed. Maddie tugged slowly, as Stefan let go of her wrist. She moved her hand away from Stefan, and grabbed a bandaid, and Damon wrapped it around her finger, surprise evident on his face. Maddie had a smile. "You did it!" Maddie laughed softly. Stefan sighed, nodded, a smile on his lips. Stefan was trying, that was good news. Stefan felt a burst of energy, but along with hunger, he didn't know what to do. Maddie smiled softly, hugging Stefan as Stefan glanced over at Damon, who was silent, watching them both.

After a day of trial, returning uncles and surprising news from Damon, officially sent Maddie home, which was a bad move since her uncle John had came to town. She scowled immediately, knowing what was happening. She didn't hate him per se, she just wished John would stop being a creepy uncle and become the fun one. But sadly, we can't get what we want in life. As soon as she walked through the door, she noticed her aunts, uncle and Jeremy talking in the kitchen. She made her way upstairs towards her room, noticing Damon was there. She frowned in confusion as she knocked on Elena's door. Elena and Damon turned to Maddie. "Hey, come in." Elena waved from her bed. Maddie walked in, shutting her door. "Okay, why is uncle John here? Didn't aunt Haley and aunt Jenna hate him?" She wondered out loud. Damon turned around, looking at the two girls curiously. Elena shrugged. "Don't know, haven't really got there yet. Did you just..?" Elena trailed off. Maddie nodded. "Yep, this one sent me. I gave Stefan a little of my blood to start helping him build up his strength, but we'll see." She told Elena with a small smile. Elena frowned, but shrugged it off. Damon fell back on Elena's bed, finding a teddy bear. Maddie's lips twitched amusement as she watched him. Elena turned around, crossing her arms. "Did you know that Uncle John has been kicking it with the Founder's Council?" Maddie asked Elena, having heard from Damon that morning. "What?" She asked in shock. Maddie nodded. "Yep." Damon answered for Maddie. Maddie looked at her sister. Elena sighed. "Perfect." Elena told them sarcastically. "We'll add it to the growing list that is also falling apart." Maddie frowned in confusion. "Aside from me helping Stefan?" Elena hummed. Damon used the arm to point at the broken lamp from the day before. "What happened right there?" Maddie frowned, turning towards where Damon was looking at. "Uh... nothing." Elena told them. Maddie rose an eyebrow. Elena looked at Damon. "Damon, look, I'm worried about Stefan. He says that everything's fine, but he's obviously struggling. How long will it take for him to get back to normal?" Maddie frowned. "Wait, but I gave him blood this morning, he seemed fine?" She told Elena. Elena frowned. "I—." She trailed off. Maddie turned to Damon. "A few days." Damon told them. "Give or take." Maddie sighed. "I—I don't understand, he was just fine this morning; Damon." Maddie told him, crossing her arms. "I know, Maddie. I know." Damon soothed her with a sigh. "It's been a few days, Damon." Elena told him. "Give, then." Damon told Elena: "I don't know." He stood, walking towards Maddie. "What's the big deal?" Maddie leaned on Damon, as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "The big deal is that he is not himself, Damon." Elena told him. Damon scoffed. "Well, maybe his problem is that he's spent too long not being himself." Damon rolled his eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?" Maddie asked, watching Damon walk towards Elena's dresser. "Don't make me sorry for asking you." Elena told him. Damon took a picture of Elena, looking at it. Maddie sighed, shaking his head. Elena reached for the picture. "Hey." Damon held the picture out of Elena's reach. "The Stefan the two of you know is the good behavior Stefan. Maddie already knew the human Stefan, right?" Damon asked, Maddie nodded. "I did." Maddie answered, furrowed eyebrows. "The reined in Stefan. The refuse-my-nature-to-a-very-obsessive-level... Stefan. But if you think that there's not another side of this, you haven't been paying attention." Maddie frowned, wondering what he meant. "He's not you, Damon." Maddie spoke softly. Elena took the picture away from him, using it to point at him. "Not even close." Elena turned away, walking towards her dresser. "Well, he doesn't wanna be me." Damon told Elena, staring at her. "And, truth be told, Madelyn had seen every side of Stefan as a child, she's seen every side of me as a child. We've sheltered her from our true emotions whenever our father was around. Maddie doesn't need to know the dark past we had to be put through. And I rather keep my sister in the dark, Elena, for her sake." Damon told her, staring intently at Elena. "We all have a dark past. Madelyn's nightmares she has, they're true. Our father despised her for who she is. And don't get me started with the bad history, bad past you want to dig up. And if one event leads to history repeating, we could go back to our formal selves just as easily." Maddie frowned as she sat on her bed, lost and confused to what Damon's words he spoke of. Elena looked nervous after hearing Damon's words. Damon walked to Maddie, kissing her forehead, before walking out of the room. Maddie glanced at Elena, confusion. "What did you do, Elena." She stood up, eyes wary. "Stefan worked so well this morning, what happened." She told her. Elena opened her mouth, but closing it as she had nothing to explain. Maddie shook her head, walking out of Elena's room, to her own room.

Maddie was in her bedroom, writing her English essay when Elena knocked on her open door. "Hey." Elena spoke. Maddie looked up, pausing her Spotify playlist on her laptop. "What's going on?" Maddie asked. "I was thinking of telling Jeremy now." Elena told her. Maddie bit her lip. "Ellie, Jeremy already knows about me.." She trailed off. Elena sighed. "I know, but come on." Elena nodded her head towards Jeremy's room. Maddie sighed, nodding as she set her notebook on top of her laptop keyboard, as she placed her pencil down. She grabbed her leather jacket, and stood up. "We should get aunt Haley too." Maddie told her. Elena nodded. "Yeah, for sure." Elena laughed. She shook her head, grabbing her scarf and hat off of her dresser, and following Elena out of her room.

Haley, Maddie, Elena and Jeremy were walking along the lake side. "I can't believe that you and Maddie are adopted." Haley told them. "I mean, I knew of Maddie, because of Jenna and Miranda, but wow." Haley shook her head, with a smile. "I'm sure they would've eventually." Elena told them. "Why were you worried about what we thought?" Jeremy asked. Although, Jeremy knew more than the adoption, he knew many things, but he was forbidden until it was the right time. "Because..." Elena trailed off. "I don't know. It's weird. Going your whole life thinking you're related by blood to someone..." Maddie finished Elena's statement. Haley rose an eyebrow. "Does it bug you that we're not?" Haley asked. Haley had a feeling that Elena and Maddie were John's kids, instead of Greyson. "No, aunt Haley, of course not." Elena shook her head. "No matter what happens, aunt Haley. You are my aunt, you always will be." Maddie told her. Elena nodded. "Just like how Jer's our brother." Elena told her. Haley smiled. "That's all it matters." Maddie told them. Elena hesitated, but she turned to Jeremy. "So, Mr. Saltzman said you have been doing great in history now." Elena asked. She knew Maddie was in this class too. "Yeah, yeah." Jeremy told Elena. "He's really been helping us out. He gave us some credit and stuff." He referred to him and Maddie with his thumb. Elena smiled. Haley rose an eyebrow. "He loved your mythology paper." Elena told them. "Vampires, werewolves..." She trailed off. Maddie and Jeremy exchanged a subtle look of knowing behind Elena. "He thought we had a clever angle." Jeremy told her. "What drew you to that subject matter?" Elena asked, not adding Maddie in, because she knew. Jeremy noticed it. "Uh, I don't know." Jeremy lied, shrugging. "Boredom. Or maybe we're just as nuts as the long line of Gilbert crazies." Maddie and Haley laughed. Haley wrapped an arm around Jeremy's waist, which he smiled towards her. "The Gilbert's aren't crazy." Elena told him. Haley rose an eyebrow. Jeremy looked at Elena and Maddie teasingly. "Easy for you two to say. You're not." Maddie stopped walking, frowning as she looked at Jeremy. "Wow." Elena told him. "Ouch." Maddie faked gasped, placing a hand on her heart. Jeremy smiled. Haley laughed softly, bumping Maddie. Maddie laughed, bumping into Jeremy. Jeremy bumped into Elena. Elena laughed, playfully shoving Jeremy.

Later that night, Maddie stood in front of a mirror, sighing as she was getting ready for the Founder's Day kickoff party. She had no choice but to go, since she was apart of a founding family, let alone two of them. She turned to see her aunt Haley by the door. "You ready? There's someone downstairs to see you." Haley smiled softly. Maddie frowned, nodding as she grabbed a shall, and followed her aunt. Down the staircase, Caspian and Tatum was talking to Haley and Jenna. "Caspian?" Maddie asked, confused. Caspian turned around, as he smiled. "Hello, Maddie. Isaiah had asked me and my brother to escort you." He spoke softly. Tatum glanced up, his eyes widening momentarily as he was stunned. Maddie looked exactly alike Sienna, it was uncanny. "You look beautiful." Tatum slipped into Bulgarian. Maddie blushed. "Thank you." She spoke softly, having understood the language. Caspian smiled. "Ready?" He extended his arm. Maddie nodded. "Of course." Maddie linked her arm with Caspian, noticing Haley did the same with Tatum. Maddie winked at Haley, who blushed. The four walked out of the house, and left for the kick-off party.

As Maddie, Caspian, Tatum and Haley walked in. They all noticed Stefan and Damon by the other side. Both Stefan and Damon turned to see their sister, eyes widening, as she reminded them of their human life. "Oh, God." Stefan groaned. "I shouldn't be here." Maddie frowned as she walked towards them, with the other three in tow. "Are you okay?" Maddie asked her brother, as she placed a hand on his cheek. Stefan sighed. "I'm trying." He admitted. Maddie sighed. "Come on, don't be downers, it'll be fun. It'll distract you. Besides it's a party for the Founding Families." Maddie explained, empathizing Founding Families. Damon nodded. "That would be us." Damon agreed. "It would be rude to skip it." Damon added in. Caspian and Tatum glanced around, but they admired their aunt. They knew Maddie was a part of two founding families, so they couldn't skip it either. "No cravings?" Maddie asked Stefan. "No urges?" Caspian and Tatum had also volunteered to watch for Stefan, partly on Maddie's behalf. "Is that whiskey you've been drinking doing its job?" Haley asked in amusement. Caspian and Tatum both smirked. Stefan chuckled. "We are who we are, Stefan." Damon told him. "Nothing's gonna change that." Maddie frowned, pained that she couldn't help him. Stefan, Damon, Tatum and Caspian noticed her look. "Nothing will make you happier to just see me give in, huh, Damon?" Stefan asked. "Whatever." Damon told him. "It's inevitable." Maddie sighed. "Damon, stop." She told him. "Well, I'm gonna find Elena." Stefan told them, walking away. "And I'm gonna find my nephew." Haley told them, following Stefan. Maddie walked towards Caspian and Tatum. "Shall we?" She asked them. The two extended their arms, as Maddie grabbed each one. "We shall." Tatum spoke in his Bulgarian accent. Damon looked after them, pointing at them. "Don't embarrass me, little sister." Damon smirked. Maddie rolled her eyes, giggling as she led Caspian and Tatum someplace else.

Maddie noticed Caspian and Tatum standing in a corner talking in Bulgarian. "And, hello Maddie." Tatum spoke softly, with a smile. Maddie blushed. "I didn't mean to interrupt, I was merely a bit bored." She shuffled nervously, as she looked at them. Caspian smiled softly. "May I have this dance, Miss. Gilbert?" Caspian bowed slightly, as he extended his hand. Maddie blushed. "Pleasure is mine, Mr. Petrov." She curtsied, taking his hand. Caspian led Maddie to the dance floor, Tatum watching his aunt with a small smile on his face. Caspian spun Maddie around, causing her to laugh. Maddie noticed Stefan and Elena talking. She bit her lip, she had been worried. "Penny for your thoughts?" Caspian asked, frowning in concern. Maddie looked up, as she sighed. "I've been helping Stefan, and he seems to be doing well this morning. I just don't understand what happened now." She admitted, with a worried glance towards her brother. Caspian and Tatum, who had heard. "Perhaps something got in the way? We all have slip ups, Maddie. We all make mistakes." Caspian spoke gently, concerned. Maddie bit her lip, nodding hesitantly. "Maybe you're right." She told him softly. "I give him a little this morning, maybe I should have given him more." Maddie sighed, shaking her head. Caspian swayed with Maddie on the dance floor, as he twirled her around once more. "Don't put this on yourself. You were merely helping your brother. It's understandable. We all make mistakes that we slip up. I admit, I have made plenty." Caspian told her quietly, looking down at her, seeing he was taller than Maddie by several inches. Maddie blushed, nodding her head. She leaned her head against Caspian's shoulder. "Thank you." She murmured softly, as she swayed to the music. Caspian chuckled, but didn't say a word as they both continued to dance, that until Stefan had compelled the DJ. Maddie laughed softly, hearing 1901 by Phoenix on. Maddie smiled softly as she watched Stefan bring Kelly Donovan to the dance floor.

Haley and Damon approached Liz, who was not in uniform. Damon had grabbed Haley from Jenna's wrath as he needed company. Haley tagged along for his sake. "Ah, you know, I love a woman in uniform, but I have to side with this one. You look... you look smashing." Damon spoke softly to Liz. Liz chuckled. "Thank you, Damon. Cheers. I needed that. You know, I had my doubts about you at first, but like everyone else in the Council, you've won me over." Haley frowned, tilting her head in a curious way. "Thanks, Liz." Damon told her. "It's really nice how welcoming the Council has been. I like my life here in Mystic Falls. It's starting to feel like home again." Haley smiled softly, as Haley's arm was tucked in Damon's own. "You look beautiful, Ms. Forbes." Haley spoke softly, curtsying. Liz chuckled. "Thank you, Miss. Gilbert." Liz responded in return, with a smile. "Well, you're not gonna like what I have to tell you." Liz told him, but her eyes trained on Haley, who frowned. Damon noticed, and concern was evident on his face. "Liz?" Damon asked, frowning. Liz sighed. "Johnathan Gilbert's claims check out. Blood banks, the missing people, all of its true. We might have a problem." Haley stood frozen, eyes wide in confusion. "Are you sure, you're talking about my brother, my older brother who has not been here since Greyson's death, that brother?" Haley asked in disbelief. Liz sighed, nodding her head. Haley noticed Jeremy, as she frowned. "Excuse me, Sheriff. I was curious if there's been any more information about what happened to Vicki Donovan?" Jeremy knew the truth, but he had to keep up appearances. Haley frowned in confusion, tilting her head. "It was an overdose, Jeremy." Liz told him. "Yeah, but her body was buried." Jeremy told her. "Somebody must have done that." Jeremy knew Damon did it. Damon tried to conceal the fact he was uncomfortable about the subject. Haley squeezed his arm, giving him support and comfort. Damon glanced down, and smiled softly, his eyes softening for a moment. "We're aware of that." Liz told them. "The investigation is ongoing, but there's nothing more I can tell you at this time. I'm sorry." Liz told him. Haley placed a hand on Jeremy's arm, concerned for her nephew. "It's okay." Jeremy told her, before he turned to his aunt, kissing her cheek, walking away. Liz, Damon and Haley watched him go. Haley and Damon shared a knowing glance to one another.

Tatum had found Haley, and asked for a dance, which Haley had agreed too. Tatum liked Haley, considering she was also her family, thus his own. Haley smiled softly, as she placed her hand into his own, as she wrapped one arm around Tatum's neck. "So, I know you're a vampire." Haley murmured against his ear, as they both was merely inches from one another. Tatum chuckled. "Fair enough." Tatum spoke, his Bulgarian accent. "You're also related to my nieces, one way or another." Haley supplied, as Tatum twirled her around, making Haley smile. Tatum nodded. "I am." He spoke, knowing Haley would have figured it out soon. "I've seen the way you and Caspian stare at Maddie. So which life?" She asked, getting to the point. Tatum wasn't surprised, but he knew that Haley would eventually dig deeper. "Second." He spoke. "My mother is her older sister." He told her softly. "Maddie is my aunt." Tatum whispered, as he dipped her. Haley's eyes widen. "How?" She breathed in surprise, as Tatum brought her up. "My mother had me out of wedlock. She left my father and I to another village; and Sienna had no choice but to follow." He told her softly, as he swayed. Tatum noticed Damon; Stefan, Elena, Caspian and Maddie watching along with others. "I have another aunt, although, she remains a mystery." Tatum spoke. Haley was trying to wrap her mind around Tatum. "Caspian is your son, isn't he." She spoke slowly. Tatum smirked. "He's also related to a certain Bennett." Tatum hinted. Damon, Stefan, and Haley's eyes widen in shock. "Bonnie!?" Haley asked in surprise. Tatum smirked. "Well, her ancestor, my beloved, yes." His eyes held pain. Haley noticed. "She died at childbirth. Caspian hadn't married anyone else, instead, he became a vampire at 16." He spoke lowly, as he twirled her around. Haley nodded. "Then how did Bonnie and Emily exist?" She asked, curious. "Ayana." He spoke simply. Tatum did not know much of the Bennett family, aside from Bryana, who was Ayana's granddaughter. Haley nodded slowly, as she was twirled again. "Tell me about her?" She asked him softly. Tatum smirked softly. "Bryana was a wonderful lady, she was very respectful and kind to others. When I arrived in Mystic Falls, I had discovered that my aunts had been missing. Sienna had been killed by wolves, Tatia had been ritually used in a sacrifice, and Sofia, my other aunt. She had fled, but I did not know if she survived." Tatum spoke softly, as he smiled down at Haley. Haley smiled. "You'll have to tell me more soon." Haley told him. Tatum pulled away, bowing as he kissed Haley's hand. "I certainly will." Tatum led to the others, with a hand on Haley's lower back, guiding her. Haley was still recovering from shock, with everything processed in her mind of what Tatum spoke of.

Haley and Damon was on the balcony, getting fresh air. John approached them. "Damon, right?" Haley looked up at him. "John." Haley spoke softly, with a smile. John smiled softly. "Haley." He greeted, before turning to Damon. "We didn't get the chance to meet at the Council meeting." John told him. "Wait, what meeting?" Haley asked confused. Since Greyson had passed, and John hadn't been in town, it would have passed it down to Haley to take over the Gilbert part of the Council, but it seems John had taken that over. "Yeah." Damon agreed, shaking his hand. "It's a pleasure. Are you enjoying the kick-off?" Haley sighed, glancing at her brother warily. "Oh, yeah." John answered. "I forgot how much these small town celebrations can be." Haley rolled her eyes. "Makes me wonder why you decide to return now. I was supposed to take over as head, I'm the next in line after Greyson, John." Haley reminded John, who sighed. "You're young, Haley. And I'm back, just for awhile, then Liz will transfer everything to you." John told Haley, his eyes knowing. Haley sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "When was the last time you were here?" Damon asked. "Hasn't been that long." John answered. "My brother's funeral. How long have you been in town?" Haley knew this was coming. "Oh, not long at all." Damon replied in return. "So, what do you think; Damon?" John asked. "You know, this vampire problem is real, right? It's a potential blood bath." Haley sighed. "John." She warned, knowing John possibly knew Damon was a vampire, no less. John gave her a look, which Haley ignored. "I wouldn't overreact, John." Damon told him. "Oh, I think it's like 1864 all over again, vampires running amok." John told him. "I guess were just have to hunt them down, throw them in a church and burn them to ash." Haley tilted her head, remembering about the tomb. "That's the story, huh?" Damon asked. "Part of the story, yeah." John answered. "Oh, there's more?" Haley asked, intrigued and curious. John smiled, reserved for his sister. "Oh, there's a lot more." John answered to Haley. "See, it seems there was a tomb under the church, where vampires was hidden, waiting for someone to come along and set them free. But then you already knew that, didn't you?" Damon looked out into the night, uncomfortable. "John." Haley warned her brother, again, "I mean, you're the one that did it." Damon looked at John. "And you're telling me this why?" Haley frowned, looking in between the two. "I just thought we get the introductions of the way." John answered. Haley scoffed. "You know that I could rip your throat out before anyone would notice, except Haley here." Damon asked. Haley's eyes widen. "Damon; don't." She noticed John's hand, and her eyes flickered to John, who gave her a mild nod. "Yeah." John answered, unafraid. "Yeah?" Damon asked. "Okay. But you probably ingest vervain, like Haley, so..." Haley closed her eyes. "Damon..." She warned him. "Why don't you take a bite to find out?" John asked. Damon smirked, "it's not worth my time." John and Damon exchanged a look, smiling tightly. "Little Gilbert, might well walk away." Damon spoke, turning to Haley, raising an eyebrow. Haley scoffed, folding her arms. "I'm good." She stood her ground. John rose an eyebrow at his sister, turning to Damon. Damon started to walk away, stopping, looking at John for a moment. He rushed toward him, snapping his neck, throwing him off the balcony. "Damon!" Haley widened her eyes in shock. John's dead body laid on the ground at an uncomfortable angle. Damon looked around to see if anyone had noticed, smirking. He turned to Haley. "What? He had it coming." Damon told her. Haley slapped his cheek, tears in her eyes. "Go ahead, kill my only living brother for all I care." Haley picked up the hem of her dress, and walking away, and towards John's body, tears leaking down her cheeks. She knew he'd come back to life, but she couldn't handle seeing her brother dead temporarily on the ground. Haley rushed to her brother, sobbing as she picked up her brother's head, and brushing the hair from his eyes. "Oh, John." She sniffled, burying her head into his neck, tears leaking down her eyes as she straightened his body, holding his hand that held the Gilbert ring.

Maddie was with Stefan, Tatum and Caspian at the bar. Maddie had a glass of water, and the three vampires had a glass of bourbon. "Look who's letting herself have fun." Maddie rose an eyebrow. "Please, I dread every party I attend." She deadpanned, rolling her eyes. Caspian and Tatum rose an eyebrow, smirking. "True enough." Stefan acknowledged her, with a nod. He turned to the bartender. "Bourbon, please." He rose a hand. "ID, please." The bartender responded. Tatum turned to him, compelling. "You don't need one." The bartender looked at them for a moment, starting to pour them drinks. Maddie scrunched her nose. "Subtle, Tatum." Maddie murmured quietly, but sarcastically. "Oh, you know that isn't my forte." Tatum spoke to his aunt, with a smirk on his face. Maddie turned to see Damon approaching. "Sorry to crash the fun, but we need to talk. You want to hear the bad news or really bad news?" Maddie, Tatum, Stefan and Caspian exchanged a confused look. "Damon?" Maddie asked, frowning. Damon hesitated. "All right, let me rephrase." Damon told them. "Do you want to hear how the Council is back on vampire mode, or how I just killed Maddie's Uncle John Gilbert?" Maddie's eyes snapped up to Damon, eyes wide with shock. Tatum and Caspian stood up. "You did what?" She hissed, eyes narrowing. Stefan rose an eyebrow, nevertheless all of them looked at Damon in surprised confusion, processing his words. "Great party by the way, huh?" Damon asked, smiling, walking away. Maddie stayed rooted at her spot, tears brimming. Tatum, Caspian and Stefan exchanged a look. Stefan started to follow Damon. "Damon." Stefan suddenly stopped walking. Maddie noticed. "Guys." She pointed to Stefan and Kelly, who was crying and bleeding. Maddie turned around, and walking to find her aunt and uncle. She may not have liked John, but he was her family. She was shocked, but she was also hurt. Caspian and Tatum watched her go, with sadness, but they also watched Stefan and Kelly. Tatum approached them, pulling Stefan away from Kelly, Caspian gently took Kelly from Stefan. Tatum pushed Stefan to his feet, turning to him. "Whoa, Stefan. Now is not the right place or time." Stefan looked at Tatum, brought out of his daze. Tatum looked at him with reassurance as they both walked away. Caspian helped Kelly, unfazed and unaffected by the blood.

Maddie found Haley and John. "Uncle John." Maddie gasped in surprise, but confusion. John smiled at her. "I'm all right, just a misunderstanding." John murmured as he pulled her to his chest, as he held her for a moment. Haley had been happy knowing John wasn't dead, but she remained attached to John, the death of Greyson still held open wounds, but she couldn't loose another brother, not ever. "When Damon told me, I thought he was just acting his usual self, but then I thought, I couldn't, I came to find you." Maddie whispered. John looked at her, wiping his tears. "I assure you, I won't be going anywhere." He swore, as he hugged his sister and niece to his body. John led them into the room, alive and completely well. Damon looked at them, but at John in confused and suspicion. "You got to be kidding me." Maddie and Haley turned to him in surprise, and anger. Maddie walked to him and slapped him. Damon held his cheek in surprise. "Maddie..." Damon started. "Don't. Just—just don't." Maddie turned around, Haley leading her out of the room, leaving John and Damon alone. Damon stared after his sister, his eyes dimming slightly in sadness. John caught the look and knew, he regretted it, even if he wouldn't admit it.

After the party fiasco, Haley had taken Jeremy and Maddie home. Maddie told Jeremy that now was the time to find Elena's diary, and that's exactly what Jeremy was doing. So Jeremy walked into the house after his aunt and sister, walking upstairs. Haley and Maddie moved to the kitchen, exhausted. Jeremy walked into Elena's room, looking everywhere, trying to find something. He looked through the dressers against the wall, through Elena's things. He knew that whatever Elena wrote, he would already know because of Maddie and Damon, but he knew it was time to get Elena to tell him one way or another. He looked everywhere to find nothing, until he looked up, noticing a horse painting above the bedside table, looking at it curiously. He stood from the bedside table as he walked towards it, looking behind the painting, finding Elena's diary. He looked at her diary, debating whether to open it. He also went to Maddie's room, noticing diaries on her bed. Jeremy frowned, noticing that they must be the diaries from Maddie's past. He went to grab them, turning around, and walking towards his room. Maddie watched with a sad smile. Haley stood next to her, sighing. "It's about time." She muttered, walking towards her room, and shutting it. Maddie was left in the hallway, gazing at Jeremy's room, before she walked to her own; and getting changed for bed.

John was leaving as Damon and Alaric followed. Tatum and Caspian followed them intrigued and curious. "Going somewhere?" Damon asked. "I've never like to be the last one to leave a party." John told them. "It's too desperate. You're going to kill me again, or you're going to let Mr. Saltzman do your dirty work?" Caspian and Tatum glanced at one another. "Okay, you obviously know who I am." Alaric told him. "I do." John answered. They stopped walking. John turned to them. "Alaric Saltzman, a high school history teacher with a secret. Now, if you excuse me..." John turned to leave. Tatum stepped forward. "See, my friend told me all about you, John, what you know, what you threatened him with. Sure know a lot for someone who just got to town." John smirked. "More than you can imagine..." He didn't know the two newcomers, which surprised Damon and Alaric, and a smirk to appear on Tatum and Caspian. "My knowledge of this town goes beyond anything that you." John looked at Damon. "Or you." He looked at Alaric. "And possibly the two." He looked at Tatum and Caspian, who rose their eyebrows. "Or the Council knows. So, if you're planning on some clever high speed snatch ring vamp kill move, know that if I die, everything I know goes to the Council." He looked at Damon. "Including the fascinating little tale of the original Salvatore siblings, and their present day return to Mystic Falls. And that the Salvatore family has had a long history of protecting you and your brother... like Maddie. If the town wanted sympathizers to burn in 1864, then imagine what they would want for sympathizers today." Damon smirked sarcastically, but inside, he was seething and worried, seeing how John knew of his sister. "I'd really like to see you try." Tatum and Caspian knew that John could have outed Maddie to the Council for simply being a Salvatore in a previous life. They were both glad that their secrets had remained safe, seeing they had no ties to Mystic Falls. "How did you get that ring?" Alaric asked. John looked at Alaric. "I inherited one, my brother, Grey, the other. This was his." He showed them his ring to them. "Haley was supposed to have a necklace, but it never been passed down. The necklace is lost." John told them. "And I wouldn't have given mine to Isobel if I had known she'd hand it over to another guy." Caspian and Tatum looked curiously, but stayed silent. "So you did know her." Damon asked. "Who do you think sent her your way when she wanted to become a vampire?" John asked. "You sent her?" Damon asked. "Guilty." John answered. "Why? Did you think someone else sent her? Maybe Katherine Pierce?" Caspian and Tatum barely moved, but they knew her. "How do you know about Katherine?" Damon asked. "How do I know anything, Damon." John responded. "What do you want?" Alaric asked. "So many questions." John told them. He looked at Alaric. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Ric, I've heard much about you." John walked away leaving. Alaric, Damon, Caspian and Tatum exchanged a look, watching John go.

Maddie was in her bed, knowing that next few days would be intense, not only for her, but everyone around her. She heard Jeremy and Elena, and she knew that Jeremy was finally releasing his anger to his sister. Maddie knew that she needed to keep up the act, which Jeremy knew. Caspian and Tatum had called Maddie to explain about John and discovering that he knew about everyone, Stefan, Damon, even her past, and to be frank, she was afraid. Haley knocked on her door as she walked in. "Everything's going to be okay. John wouldn't hurt you." Haley murmured, climbing in beside of Maddie. Maddie sighed, looking at her aunt. "Everything's complicated." Maddie mumbled to Haley. Haley laughed. "True enough. Alright, get some sleep, you need it. Miss Mystic Falls is in a few days. And I know you'd be helping Elena and others soon enough." Haley kissed her forehead, as she exited the room. Maddie sighed to herself, closing her eyes as she fell asleep, unaware of eyes on her outside her window.

||

•• And here's another chapter in the works!
•• Sorry it took me awhile to update, I've been lacking inspiration, and these next chapters will be somewhat AU, since I planned Stefan not going on his killing spree and whatnot, and Maddie had finally helped him a bit, that will continue on!
•• Uncle John seems to know something's up, and he knows of Maddie.
•• Isaiah will be back soon enough, don't worry!
•• Stay tuned for Miss Mystic Falls!