PUPPETS AND PUPPETEERS (TVD and TW crossover) [1]

29) home sweet home

(Outfit Above)

MADELINE STOOD INSIDE the house that she both loved and hated at the same time, watching Caroline carry a bucket of water that she was using to clean up the burn that was made when Elena and Jeremy killed one of her best friends.

"How long has she been like this?" Caroline asked as she poured out the water into the sink and Maddie looked to Stefan as she poured herself another cup of wine.

"Ever since we found his body, she hasn't said anything except that she's waiting for him to wake up." Stefan said before there was a smash and the wine glass that was once in Maddie's hand was in pieces on the bench and floor. Maddie looked at her hand before looking back up at Stefan.

"But he's not going to just wake up. He's gone. He's fucking dead." Maddie hissed and Stefan sighed holding his finger to his lips as if to tell them to be quiet before walking over and turning the tap on.

"Look, deep down, I think she has to. But we're talking about Elena, here. She's feels grief more powerfully than anyone except maybe Maddie. I think her denial is the one thing protecting her from letting it all in." Stefan explained and Maddie rolled her eyes.

"But she can't stay like that forever." Caroline stated as Maddie stayed silent, trying to stop herself from storming up to her little brother's room and breaking the cold hard truth to her twin sister.

"I know, but I don't want to be the one to break her out of it. Not until we know that Bonnie's safe. Not until we get Damon over here to, you know." Stefan stopped himself and Maddie scoffed.

"Yeah, use the sire bond to stop her from grieving as he cuts it to her that she's in denial." Maddie snarked and Stefan sighed and Maddie shook her head.

"I'm not in denial." Elena spoke and the three looked to her and Maddie rolled her eyes once again.

"That's exactly what someone who's in denial would say." Maddie muttered and Stefan nudged her.

"I know that he was supernatural, but did you see? His tattoo is gone. The tattoo had the spell that opened Silas's chamber. Maybe it being gone means that he fulfilled his supernatural destiny. Maybe he's back to normal. It's possible right?" Elena ranted and Maddie shook her head.

"Elena-" Caroline whispered but Elena wasn't having it. "It's possible, Caroline. There's a chance. It may be minuscule, but it's hope and I'm gonna hold on to that hope with everything that I've got because there's no way that–" Elena broke off and Maddie bit her tongue and clenched her fists as she looked everywhere but at Elena.