AN: Chapters are getting a little longer now, AND this one is a day early! Happy reading :)

Chapter 7. The Return

The drive to Sanctuary was quiet, all the vault hunters were much too fatigued to make conversation. All Maya could think about was her bed, and seeing Lilith again.

Was she worried about me? Is she going to be relieved to see me again? Is she thinking about this as much as i am?!

Who was she kidding? Lilith will be more relieved to see Roland she was sure. And for that she couldn't even be mad. How could she? She barely knew Lilith, this guy was her ex boyfriend. They probably know everything about each other.

They pulled up to the barrier just outside Sanctuary and hopped out. Axton practically ran to the HQ, dragging Maya with him. Roland made his way much slower, hanging a few meters back. "Axton what the hell?"

He continued to drag her up the stairs, before bursting into the door of the War room startling a very shocked, very beautiful Lilith.

"May I present to you the fucking badass of the evening! Miss Maya the Siren! Holy hell Lilith you should've seen it, we'd all be toast if it wasn't for her."

Maya felt her face heat up. She wasn't sure she liked being the center of attention, and said nothing.

Lilith was looking at her intently, but Maya was having trouble maintaining eye contact. If she didn't know any better, it looked as though Lilith was bothered. Something angry was behind that cocky demeanor, and Maya did not want to provoke it.

Lilith cleared her throat, before replacing the look with her signature cocky smile. It didn't quite reach her eyes, "Damn Maya. You sure proved your stuff today. It has been a victory for the Crimson Raiders, and I can't thank you both enough. I also cant tell you how relieved I am that you're all okay, despite pulling some seriously risky shit."

Ah. There it is. That's what's bothering her. I nearly got myself and everyone else killed with that launcher. Sure, it worked out, but it could've easily went south. Hell I didn't even think of the constructor shielding Roland, he could've been killed and it would've all been my fault.

As if on cue, there was a cough behind her. All the eyes in the room went to Roland in the doorway.

"Lilith."

"Roland. I'm glad you're safe. I knew it would take more than a gang of bloodshots to take you down. You should probably go get cleaned up and see Dr. Zed and get some rest. All of you. Especially because I'm going to be waking you all up tonight for a celebration at Moxxi's. I think this day calls for a drink or ten."

"WOOOOOO!" Axton shouted with glee before heading down the stairs. Roland's eyes lingered on Lilith for a moment, they seemed impassive, perhaps a little cold, before he too stepped out of the doorway and ducked down the stairs. Their breakup must make things kinda awkward for them still.

"Maya…"

She turned to see Lilith had crossed the room and now stood an arms length away. When did she get so close?

Maya gulped, her mouth feeling dryer than ever. Maya had limited experience with beauty. When she was younger, she found the flowers in her mother's garden beautiful, with the rainbow of colors and life it bloomed in the spring. She found sunsets and sunrises beautiful, the pinkish gold hue seemingly stretching for infinity, with endless possibilities. Even with all the bad memories which lingered within, she found the temple of Athenas beautiful, its walkways told a thousand stories, the stain glass windows letting in beams of colors and light that could not be found anywhere else. To say that Lilith was beautiful was not enough, for she made all of those things pale in comparison to her. Her eyes alone put those sunsets to shame. She knew she was staring, but she had no control.

Lilith just stared back, before her eyes travelled downward, and back up. Maya suddenly felt vulnerable, and wrapped her arms around her middle.

"I was worried for you Maya…I don't think I could live with myself if you hadn't come back. It would've been all my fault. And you were so reckless…I wanted to strangle you myself. But you're here," Lilith's hand went to Mayas forearm, her touch was like fire. "…and that's all that matters."

She removed her hand and Maya immediately missed its presence. The strange feelings had started to come back, she could feel the heat in her cheeks and her loins.

"I'm.. I'm glad to be back too." She whispered shyly.

Lilith just smiled. "good, now you need to get some rest. I fully intend to buy you your first drink tonight. Deal?"

Maya felt her own smile form. Lilith was infectious. "Deal."

Maya unlocked the door to her room and stepped inside. It was about mid afternoon, so she knew that she had ample time for a nap until the evenings festivities. She shrugged off her gear, padding over to the body mirror to assess her injuries. She had ugly purple bruising littering most of her body, a few red welts here and there. There was a slight cut on her cheek from what she guessed was either shrapnel, or when she was thrown from the tower during the explosion. She actually looked pretty good considering the circumstances they walked out of.

The shower pipes made the familiar groan before spouting out deliciously hot water. God I cant wait to get clean! The hot water felt good on her aching muscles, she merely stood for a while, letting it run through her long hair and down her body, washing away all the blood and grime from the battlefield. A moan escaped her. I could live in here.

But alas she couldn't, her eyes were growing too weary, she knew she needed some kind of sleep if she were to make it to the party tonight. And she really wanted to see Lilith. That woman seemed to spend a lot of time in her mind lately, she could almost see her everywhere she went. Why am I so drawn to her? Maya was terrified of blurting out something stupid tonight, she desperately wanted the other Sirens approval. She wanted her to like her. The feelings remained confusing as ever, what was this feeling? Why the fuck do I care so much? I'm a Siren! I'm Maya of Athenas! I have more to worry about than the opinion of some woman! A very beautiful, mysterious woman…

She shook her head as if to shake off the weird thoughts and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped a fluffy towel around her toned body, drying herself off as she made her way to the bed before unceremoniously floppy down onto it. She didn't realize just how tired she was until her head hit the pillow, and she was out like a light.

Lilith sat back in her chair in the war room, letting out a deep sigh. I'm gonna have to fucking talk to Roland. She really didn't want to. Obviously, if they were going to take down Handsome Jack, they had to put all this bullshit aside and work together, but the fact of the matter was that Lilith was still pissed. She didn't want to talk to him. She didn't want to look at him. I wish I could just move to a different Sanctuary and work from there! With that being said, Lilith was never the one to run from her problems. She would confront this head on, and maybe she and Roland could salvage their friendship when all was said and done. She had to admit, she missed the days even before they were lovers, discovering the vault and taking down the destroyer, with Brick and Mordecai in tow. They were inseparable, the family she never had.

She glanced to the clock. 4 pm. I have plenty of time, so I guess it's now or never.

She eased out of her chair and made her way to the door and down the stairs. She could faintly hear the street noise outside, as well as Patricia Tannis muttering to herself in the lab in the front foyer. She turned left down a hall that held Axton and Patricia's bedrooms, and heard only silence. Axton was probably still sleeping off their fight hangovers. She knew one person that would still be up though…

Continuing down the hall, she came to the rusty elevator that led to the basement. The thing was a death trap, but hey, this was Pandora. Out here anything can kill you. She pressed the green button hanging haphazardly on the wall, and the pulleys above groaned with the weight of the elevator, slowly screeching it's way up from the basement. She stepped in the iron box and tapped the inside button to head down. God what am I even going to fucking

The elevator slowed to a stop, all the noises from upstairs now muffled. She walked out into a dimly lit hallway with a single door at the end. She debated turning back, but she was no coward. The air needed to be cleared, and they both knew it.

*Knock knock*

She chewed on her lip as she waited for the door to open. She heard the heavy footsteps, moving purposely toward the door.

It opened and there stood Roland. "Lilith, please come in."

She awkwardly stepped over the threshold, into his small dark room. A radio broadcast played quietly in the corner, the only light was a small lamp on the bedside table. She chose a seat on the chair near the door. Easy means for a quick escape if needed.

They sat in silence until Lilith spoke first,

"Roland, I'm so glad you're back. The crimson raiders need you, I don't think we would be able to stop Jack alone if something happened to you. And I would just…miss you!" she said throwing her hands up. "you were my best friend in this world, we've been through so much together. I know that the job comes first, I've always known. I guess I just felt used. I felt like you made me out to be a fool…almost like I was betrayed by the one person I thought I could trust in wholeheartedly."

She didn't know what else to say. "I just don't want to lose that friendship…'

Roland watched her intently as she spoke. He looked sad. " Lilith, I never, EVER meant for you to feel any of those things. I only wanted what was best for Pandora. I wanted to give all of myself to this mission. It was the only way. But I was so wrong to put you through this. I was selfish in thinking I could have both…" he looked away and visibly swallowed. " I still love you Lilith, that will never change. Maybe one day things will be different but for now.. I don't want to lose that friendship either."

Lilith didn't want to be angry anymore, but she couldn't allow him false hope that she would wait at his beck and call to simply pick up where they left off. It didn't work like that with Lilith. She already knew the love was gone, despite her anger for how he made her feel, she was mad for all the wrong reasons. She wasn't made because she lost him, she was mad because she felt used. "Roland, let me make one thing clear. You will always be my dearest friend, but there is no us anymore. There never will be. Not that way."

He looked a little taken aback. "Excuse me? Lilith, I told you from the beginning that this wasn't because the love wasn't there, it's because we both need to focus on the mission! I will still never love another like I do you. I still want you by my side when this is all over! You told me you loved me too, I'm not trying to make you…you wait for me! This us what's best for both of us for the time being!"

The anger was back, hot and red. "you don't get to fucking tell me what's best for me. You never cared before did you? Its what's best for the mission, right? I thought you knew me Roland but it's clear you were never paying attention. I'm moving on. I don't need a lover to be fulfilled. And I do not need to be told what to do by you. That will never change!"

Roland laughed darkly. "that's rich Lilith, you say you're moving on, that you don't need another lover, yes? Then maybe you can tell me why the fuck you were looking at that blue haired Siren like she was the only one in the room? Huh? How you seemed completely caught up in the state of her well being, over myself who was fucking kidnapped?"

Lilith was shocked. I was NOT looking at her in any sort of way! "T-that's not true Roland. I care about the team equally, I was just as concerned for your well being as I was hers."

He shook his head. "who are you trying to convince? You, or me?"

She had nothing to say to that. She bit her tongue until she was sure she could taste blood, and turned on her heel and stormed out of the door, slamming it on her way out. She entered the elevator and smashed on the button multiple times before it finally started to bring her up. "FUCKING MOTHER FUCKER!" she cried angrily, repeatedly punching the wall of the lift until she saw blood. "I don't give a fuck anymore." She hissed to herself. The lift stopped and she stormed out, eyes aglow with fire. She continued her warpath through the front foyer, determined to get back to her room and light a cigarette and start burning anything and everything that had even a slight semblance to Roland.

Patricia Tannis popped up from behind a counter, covered in various goo and dirt. And probably blood.

"OH Lilith there you are! I wanted to ask you-"

"NOT NOW TANNIS!"

"Oh my, well that was quite rude. These vault hunters have no respect for the science until they need something!.."

She could hear Patricia's rant continue but she didn't care. She stopped as she got to the front door, and turned to look up at the stairwell leading to the top floor. "Fuck it" she said.

She took the stairs two at a time until she came to Mayas door. Without hesitating she knocked sharply, not really caring if she was waking the Siren or not.

What she wasn't prepared for was for Mayas appearance when she opened the door. Lilith's cool, commanding mask had started to slip, every word she wanted to say long forgotten.

Maya stood in nothing but a baggy shirt that stopped just before the top of her knee. Does she even have pants on?! Cool it Lilith, don't stare and scare her off! Her long, soft blue hair fell in waves around her shoulders and past her breast, which did not appear to have a bra on. Kill me now. Her face was clean of makeup, but it didn't make her any less beautiful. If anything, this was probably her favorite version of the Siren. Maya looked tired and was rubbing her eyes, and Lilith suddenly felt a little bad for waking her up.

Maya yawned. "Lilith? Is everything okay? What happened?"

"I-I uhm…I just…"

Maya, now more awake since she first opened the door, looked down to remember her barely-there attire. She blushed and crossed her arms in front of her.

Lilith cleared her throat. "I was just wondering if tonight, maybe…I mean if you want to. If you don't it's totally okay…but I was wondering if you maybe wanted to go to the party. With me. At, uhm, Moxxi's? I can stop here and pick you up and we can head over there together…if you want?" she stammered. What the fuck Lilith. She's gonna think you're slow.

Maya however, was overjoyed though she did her best not to show it. But she couldn't help the big grin that broke on her face. She really enjoyed spending time with Lilith, and with all of the shit going on they haven't had much time to get to know each other. Maybe tonight they could talk, and maybe get to the root if the strange feelings she's been having as of late. "I would like that," she said quietly, trying to contain her excitement.

Lilith returned the smile, looking slightly relieved. "Great! I mean uh, cool. I'll pick you up here around 8 pm killer. See you then," she said with a wink. Before Maya could say anything else, before she could perhaps change her mind, Lilith turned and walked back down the stairs. She was suddenly feeling much better.

She got to the bottom, hesitating at the front door. "Hey Tannis? Sorry bout' snapping earlier. I'm really going through it today. What was it you needed?"

Tannis looked a little startled at Lilith's sudden change in attitude. "Yes, well, I do not have the time to waste energy on frivolous human emotions. Some people, who are not me, might consider slang experimentation immoral. Some people would not be willing to pay you a great deal of money for bringing me the experiment results from the Hyperion Reserve. Some people are stupid."

It was Lilith's turn to be taken aback. "Uhh, yeah sure no worries. We will get on it as soon as we can. I'll uhmm keep you posted."

"Please see that you do."

Weirdo. With that Lilith exited the HQ and entered the busy streets of Sanctuary. She actually appreciated this little town very much. Though relatively small, it was a maze of streets, something or someone different around every corner. They all found their place here. It was safety for the people, they were free to roam the streets and interact, you could hear Marcus advertising his wares and the base pumping from Moxxi's bar, it was like a beat that let you know the city was alive. So the buildings were a little misshapen, with little enthusiasm for color and architecture, it was the people within that mattered. The reason why the Crimson Raiders got out of bed everyday.

She had went from being angry and defensive to being light as air, donning a smile and hopefully for the future. And all it took was one person to help her see the beauty around her.