Summary: After Damon and Stefan rescue Elena from Elijah, they forget to also rescue Maddison Bennett, also known as Maddie. Elijah ends up finding her and as time passes they grown an instant connection with one another. Maddie knows that it's wrong and she ultimately shouldn't be with Elijah, but she doesn't care. This is her story.

Review Responses to Chapter 60

TriniDem – Your review honestly means so much to me, thank you! I hope that you enjoy this chapter.

Shanty-lol – Here is more lol. I am thrilled that you have been enjoying this story, I hope that you like this chapter.

– So glad that you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you so much for reviewing. I know I mentioned him doing that to her before in another chapter but I'm not sure either if I actually wrote it. I will have to go back and check lol. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

NicoleR85 – Thank you for always reviewing and I am so glad that you have continued to give support and love this story. I hope that you enjoy this chapter.

Kineret – Thanks for reviewing. And lol Cordelia is my spirit animal.

Before the Sun Sets

CHAPTER 61 ~ We Are Almost There

I DO NOT OWN THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

Maddie felt herself be awakened by kisses being peppered along her neck. A smile crossed her face before she dug her head back into the pillows. The feeling of the Egyptian sheets she was swarmed up in made her want to go right back to sleep.

"Elijah," she groaned slightly, "let me sleep."

"I let you sleep until ten," he murmured in her ear. "Now it's time to get up."

She felt herself jump up. "TEN?!"

"No need to yell."

Her eyes slightly closed making her glare, "Ten?"

"Yes ten."

"Oh shit. My mom is probably going crazy."

"She thinks that you are at Hanna's."

"Oh good." She relaxed slightly laying back down. It was a moment before she looked back over to him, "How do you know that?"

"Your phone kept going off so I checked it. I hope you don't mind."

She shrugged, "I don't care." It wasn't like she had anything to hide. Moving her head slightly against the pillows to get comfortable she moved her face from the left to the right slightly. Seeing brown against the white pillows she frowned, moving in a tad closer. Shit, it was the makeup.

"I got makeup all over your pillows," she said. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it."

Looking at his face she forgot all about the makeup that was on his sheets. Instead she moved closer to him leaning in for a kiss.

"How does a shower sound to you?" She questioned.

Elijah pretended to think about it while moving so that he could get her into his arms, "A shower sounds wonder," he told her picking her up.

"ELIJAH!" She yelled out while laughing.

"You do realize that you are graduating from high school tomorrow right?"

Maddie rolled her eyes, "No Cordelia I don't realize that tomorrow is the day that will mark the end to a very long journey." There was a slight pause. "A very long twelve year journey."

"Don't get snappy," Cordelia said. "My point is you are no longer baby which means that now you are stepping out into the real world."

Maddie gave her sister a slight look before heading towards the next isle. Since graduation was tomorrow that meant that she needed to decorate her cap. She still wasn't sure what she wanted to do for it but she knew that she was going to do something. Cordelia had volunteered to come with her to the craft store. They drove separate cars since Cordelia would be heading out with her friends later when she was done. Hanna had offered for her to come over so that they could do them together. She gladly accepted, especially since she had no idea how to put hers together. She knew that her mom would help her but she was already doing enough since her graduation party would be in two days. Not to mention her mother would be in town for it. Janette already knew that an argument was mostly likely bound to breakout with either her mother and Christian, or Cordelia or Maddie.

"Yes," Maddie finally said acknowledging that her sister had said something to her just moments ago. "I know that I will be stepping out into the real world but right now all that I am worried about is finding stuff for my cap."

"I thought you didn't know what you wanted to put on there."

A frown came over her face as she began looking through different letter, "I don't." She turned her head to get a look at her sister, "What did you do for yours?"

Cordelia thought about it for a moment before laughing, "I did something about whining a lot but getting through it, I don't remember the exact words but I do remember I had a picture of an actual wine glass on the hat."

"Bet mom loved that."

Cordelia began to mock her mom, "Cordelia! I can not believe you just did that. Oh my god everyone saw it." The sisters laughed together. "She eventually got over it though."

Maddie looked through the different kinds of paper material that was around. Shiny a shiny black colored paper she picked it up. It would definitely look nice for a base. She then went back to look at the different kinds of lettering that was around.

"That's cute paper," commented Cordelia.

"Yeah," she sighed, "it's different." She picked up a sheet of the bubble letters, "You like these?"

Cordelia looked at the pink bubble letters that her sister was holding up, "It's cute. Hot pink of black but keep looking since you still don't know what you're doing yet."

Maddie nodded and went back to looking when she felt her phone, which was in her back pocket buzzing. She grabbed it and answered without looking to see who was calling, "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me," said Caroline. "Caroline."

She rolled her eyes, "Yes I know who you are Caroline. What's going on?" Cordelia's interest was now peaked hearing that it was Caroline who had called. Maddie shrugged to her sister. She wasn't sure why she was calling or what she wanted.

"Can you come to the Salvatore's?"

Her response was quick, "No."

"Please," Caroline whined. "It's about Matt."

"Is he okay?"

"No, but I think that if we work together we can make it better."

"I'll be there in ten minutes." She hung up and looked to her sister, "Gotta go."

"What's going?"

She shrugged, "I'm not sure but Caroline said that it has something to do with Matt and to meet her at the boarding house."

"I can come."

She shook her head, "It's fine. I got it. Can you do me a favor and buy this stuff? I will give you the money back home."

Cordelia grabbed the paper and words from her sister while rolling her eyes, "Like I'm going to take money from you. Who exactly do you take me for?"

"That's a good question."

Both girls turned to look down the aisle. Right on cue there stood Klaus. Maddie wasn't sure whether to smirk at his timing or whether to roll her eyes at him.

"Right," she looked between her sister and the hybrid as they stared at one another, "I'll see you both later."

"Good luck tomorrow," Klaus said when she passed him.

Without responding she commented, "Thank you."

With her departure that left just Klaus and Cordelia. The two still continued to look at one another until Klaus made a move walking closer to her.

"Hello love."

She bit the inside of her cheek slightly, no blushing, she told herself. "Hey."

"You didn't call."

"I don't usually call."

"You do text."

She countered, "You text first." She gave a shrug, "Besides if you really wanted to see me you know where to find me."

"Well I've found you."

A smirk crossed over her face, "That you have."

"Alright I'm here." Maddie said walking up to where Caroline and Matt were sitting outside.

"Finally," breathed Caroline. "For a couple of minutes there I was beginning to think that you weren't going to show."

Maddie stared at her with a blank face, "Caroline, first I told you that I would be here in ten minutes and I got here in six. Second, if Matt is involved I am coming."

"Right. Well we need to help him."

Maddie looked at Matt, "What is she talking about?"

"He isn't going to graduate!" Yelled Caroline.

Maddie walked up to him and jabbed his shoulder, "OUCH!" Matt yelled.

Maddie didn't care about him yelling. It was now her turn, "What the hell does she mean you aren't going to graduate?! We talked about this. We studied. We got work done. What happened?"

She didn't understand how this was happening. She had been helping Matt get it together. She had even been sure she had seen him at graduation rehearsal. In fact, she knew she saw him there because they had spoken to one another.

"You helped but I am still failing classes."

Her face hardened, "I will go to Ric's right now. He is not going to fail you of all people. I won't allow it."

"Calm down," Matt said, "Alaric has already cut me enough slack. Besides he said he would pass me, which he shouldn't even do, but he is."

"Yes!" She snapped at Matt, "He should!" If Ric was going to pass Elena, which she knew for a fact he was doing, then he should give that same curtesy to Matt who actually tried to do well in school.

"You both need to calm down," he looked between the two of his friends. "Maybe it just wasn't meant to be, you know?"

"Matthew Donovan you are walking your ass across that stage with us tomorrow whether you like it or not." Maddie said.

Matt held her eye. She wasn't backing down. Caroline's voice interrupted them when she said, "What the hell is she doing here?"

Maddie looked up and a frown came over her face when she saw Rebekah. Looking around to Matt and Caroline who both seemed equally confused she got up and followed them inside. As they walked in Rebekah had her back to them. When she turned around she had a container in her hand. Maddie noticed how she looked unsure of herself.

"Hi," Rebekah said. "I didn't mean to interfere. It's just I happen to know that all they keep in this house is blood and booze so I brought a peace offering." She extended the container, "Burgers."

With a smile on his face Matt walked up to her and took it, "Thanks."

"That was thoughtful of you," commented Maddie.

Caroline decided to cut in at that moment saying, "Yeah we can't really entertain right now but thanks for stopping by." She began to turn towards the door giving Rebekah the hint to leave when she was cut off.

Rebekah, not paying Caroline's upcoming suggestion to leave any mind said, "I think I might stay." Caroline turned back around at once. "Matt mentioned that he was failing classes and needed a study buddy."

"That's why we are here!" Caroline snapped before she gestured between herself and Maddie.

"Does it really even make a difference?" Questioned Maddie. "You called this meeting and as long as he gets the quick help he needs who cares who he gets it from." She didn't. She just wanted to make sure that he walked across the stage.

Matt defended himself by saying, "Well I didn't exactly ask her and I'm not exactly failing," he looked between all three girls, "I'm just really, really behind."

"So you're failing," noted Maddie rolling her eyes. "Which subjects are you doing the worst in?"

"Probably history, Italian and math. Not to mention I haven't handed in any of the English papers that were due this quarter."

"Who is your English teacher?" Maddie questioned.

"Puccio."

Maddie felt relieved, Ms. Puccio loved her and she was also a very good friend of her moms. "I can help you get away with that but you have to do them today."

"Yeah, I know. I have until this afternoon to drop everything off."

Maddie looked at the time on her phone, "It's already the afternoon!"

"Well later in the afternoon. If it helps I did stop by earlier and took my Italian final, finally."

"School ended like two weeks ago!"

Caroline butted in, "Seriously Matt what have you been doing! I mean you could have come to us at any time and asked for us to help you."

"I've been a little busy."

"Matt!" Whined Caroline.

He looked at her, "This year has been a little distracting."

Trying to diffuse the obvious tension Rebekah stepped in saying, "We can all help. All hands on deck, that's the motto around here, right?"

Sarcastically, Caroline responded, "We don't have a motto." She looked back to Matt. "Look if you need to study we're gonna study. I'm going to go home and get my flash cards and my study guides and some energy bars, this is going to be good." She then turned to leave.

"You dated that?" Questioned Rebekah. The question made Maddie snort to which she tried to cough to cover it up.

Matt said, "She likes projects."

"Let's get to work," noted Maddie.

The trio did just that. Matt had already started some stuff which Maddie made him immediately finish. If that was out of the way she could get it to the school while Rebekah worked on other stuff with him. She wasn't sure how long they would stick around for especially with graduation being the next day. So whatever work she was able to get in to them now she would. She left the boarding house around three taking the work he completed and bringing it to the school before she went home. She had decided that she would give Matt and Rebekah some alone time and Caroline had never returned either.

Cordelia still wasn't home when she got there. She knew that she had lunch plans with her friends but she figured that afterwards she would be hanging out with Klaus or whatever. She hadn't seen him since that New Orleans trip. While she took it as new news was good new she was glad to see that from in person he looked to be alright. He was an ass but she did consider him to be a friend.

Going upstairs to her bedroom she found that her sister had left the stuff for her cap on her bed. She had a little bit of time before she had to head off to Hanna's. Looking for ideas through Pinterest she found some she liked. By the time she had decided on something it was time for her to leave. In fact, she would be a little late since she had lost track of time. Addison, Casey, Miranda, Samantha and Jen were there by the time she got there. They hadn't started yet though. She didn't wind up leaving Hanna's until after eight. They had finished for some time but stuck around to hangout and let their caps dry. They also reminisced on the good old days going back as far as middle school. They all shared the same feelings about what tomorrow would bring. They were happy that it would finally be over but it was also a sad occasion. They would miss seeing one another in the halls, going out to lunch at random times, being on the same sports teams, movie nights, dinner, Mystic Falls events and the parties. But they would try to stay in touch. Maddie knew that she and Hanna wouldn't fall out of touch especially since they would be spending the next four years right across from one another in their dorm room.

Janette already had dinner ready by the time Maddie got home. Cordelia still wasn't there. She figured that she was off with Klaus and most likely just wouldn't come home until the morning or would come home after midnight. Since she needed all of the sleep she could get she wasn't going to wait. After dinner she took a nice shower before slipping into pajamas and getting into her bed. Sleep was going to be important tonight. On her desk lay her cap which read, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, and had pictures from her high school years under the words. Her graduating year, 17 was in the corner. As she lay in bed she had a smile on her face already anticipating what kind of day tomorrow would be.

Maddie blinked her eyes. She was still tired. She took in the darkness of the room. She knew that meant it couldn't be morning yet. Turning around she reached for her phone. Tapping the screen, the time appeared. 1:34.

Well, she thought sarcastically to herself, happy graduation day.

Turning back over she was prepared to go back to sleep. If she were to stay up then she wouldn't fall back asleep until three or four and then she wouldn't want to get up. The ceremony would be around nine-thirty and she had to be there around nine to get ready to walk out. Not to mention she was going to have to get ready. She still wasn't sure about what outfit she wanted to wear, or how she wanted to do her hair, or if she wanted to wear sandals or heels. She would need all of the sleep she could get.

Getting comfortable she moved her covers up some more. She was slightly shocked that Cordelia wasn't in her bed right now. She could briefly hear the TV from her sister's room mixed in with her own. She wouldn't be surprised if her sister was still up.

She was almost back to sleep when she heard it. It was a light noise but she had still heard it. It had sounded like a stepping sound of sorts. Her eyes popped open and she turned around. Seeing what appeared to be a figure she jumped up.

"Hi sweetheart."

That voice. Her heart began to raise, "Grams?"

Her grandmother, Sheila Bennett, smiled at her.

Thank you all so much for reading! The next chapter is the last one!

In this chapter … Maddie prepares herself for her upcoming graduation

Next chapter … Graduation