In a dark corner of Mystic Falls' hospital, Bonnie made a call. One she should've made a long time ago.
"... Can you please move back? I- I fucked up, and- and Caroline is lying in a hospital bed, Tyler's dad is dead, I don't know what to do with my magic and, and ... please, Tori, please, come back to town.."
"..."
"I'll be there in the morning."
≛
Driving by Mystic Falls' welcome sign, Tori's hand gripped the steering wheel tighter. This town was not her favorite place and yet, for her sister, she was moving back. As calmly as she felt, she wheeled through the familiar streets, occasionally greeting people but stopping for no one. It was probably known by the whole town that she equal parts loved and hated this place. She took the road leading to the hospital, found a parking spot near the entrance and climbed out of the car. She then walked in the hospital to look for the kids she'd spent her younger years taking care of.
"Victoria?" A surprised yelp came from her left when she entered the building. "Tori! oh my god!!" She only had the time to see light auburn hair before the other woman had flung herself in her arms.
Tori returned the hug with a small smile on her face. "Missed you too, Jen."
Jenna Sommers was Tori's childhood friend, a friendship that stayed strong even through colleges miles apart. Tori & Jen had been the town's chaotic and feared duo during their school years, mischievous as they were. They had given their parents and guardians quite a few headaches. The last time they'd properly seen each other was at Grams' funeral a few weeks back but back then, a grief-stricken Tori couldn't stand the sight of the town and fled town rather quickly.
"I missed you so much, oh my god," Jenna pulled back, grabbing her arms. "Honey look at you!" Tori's light brown skin was positively glowing, she'd pulled her dark dreads into a loose low ponytail and her hazel green eyes had recovered their twinkle. On her neck was her usual amethyst talisman but Jenna thought it was a family pendant since she'd seen it for such a long time. "I see Atlanta's been treating you well!"
"It has," Tori chuckled, exposing deep dimples. "But now I'm back to good ole Mystic Falls."
Jenna startled, shaking her arms a bit. "What? What do you mean you're back? For good?! Don't play with me!"
"Hmm, maybe not for good," she mused, "but I took Miller up on his offer to run Grayson's old practice until he finds a permanent doctor." Whilst Jenna had gone on to become a realtor, Tori had completed med school two years prior and had been working in a small Atlanta practice for a year. Her chosen field was peculiar since she worked more with herbs than pills. "The office will be up and running in two days so you, my dear, have before you Dr. Victoria Bennett of Mystic Falls." Tori said in a fake British accent, her chin high.
Jenna lightly pushed her shoulder. "Ok, alright, your majesty. How about we go up and see the kids?"
Tori rolled her eyes at the old nickname her friends came up with when they were learning about English history back in 10th grade and followed Jenna in the elevator. On the second floor, Tori walked out of the elevator, startled to see Elena and an old ... friend conversing in hushed whispers. She arched a brow at the sight before Elena's gaze strayed and the younger girl noticed her.
"Tori??!" The brunette quickly walked up, giving her the same bone crushing hug her aunt had delivered. "Oh, my god!"
"Will you all stop saying that," Tori mumbled. "I haven't been gone that long," she ignored the piercing glare coming from behind Elena.
"Elena, I came as soon as I got your message." Jenna took her niece's arm. "How's John?"
Letting them talk, Tori moved to the side, walking slightly beside the one and only Damon Salvatore.
"All this mess and a Salvatore at the center of it all. Shocker."
With a snicker, Damon eyed her up and down. "And here comes a Bennett to save the day. Shocker."
Tori snorted. "Damon, I don't think I need to remind you just how much of a witch I am. I'm not a babysitter." Her eyes darted around. "Where's your number two?"
".. Stefan's around."
Though brief, Tori's history with the Salvatore brothers was eventful — for a story for another time.
"How long are you staying in town?" Damon probed, his demeanor cold but he could never fool her.
"Why? Worried I'll play games with you two brothers again?" Tori grinned. "Relax, I'm not that bored and besides," her gaze strayed to Elena. "Seems to me like you're wreaking havoc all on your own."
"Where have you been by the way?" Tori heard Elena ask her aunt.
"At the fire department, I had to fill out a report. I told you earlier."
Confused, Elena shook her head. "No, you didn't."
"Yes, I did."
"No, Jenna, you didn't." The young girl insisted.
"Yes, I did!"
"Mmm, you've got to be kidding me." Damon's tone held exasperation. "As if having one psycho back in town wasn't enough."
After a tense silence, "Damon," Tori caught his gaze. "I sure hope for everyone's sake that Katerina is not in town because I will burn her to the ground." Tori only had two women she hated with a fierceness and Katherine Pierce was one of those.
"Fuck." Damon walked away, surely to warn his brother. Having Katherine in town was bad but add Tori to that? There was bound to be a bloodbath.
Pushing the matter at the back of her mind, Tori walked towards the East wing, looking for her sister. She found Bonnie, looking more at ease than on the phone the day before, with Matt at her side and Caroline's mother standing a bit further from them, looking in her daughter's room.
They saw her before she could announce herself, thus Tori having the third person of the day flying in her arms. Thank god Bonnie didn't exclaim to the lord at her presence though.
"Hey, Bon-Bon," she patted the other's hair. "Let me say a quick hello to Matt and Liz and then you can explain to me how all this happened."
After a few more hugs given around to Matt and Liz, Bonnie and Tori found themselves in an empty room at the end of the wing. Once Bonnie started talking, there was no stopping her, and Tori quietly listened. Her eyes, she knew, held a murderous glint when she heard of exactly why her grandmother had passed and she lowered her gaze to hide it from her sister. After all, she blamed Grams' death on every single person that was in that tomb, her younger sister included. After a few minutes of her pinching herself, she got her emotions under control and looked back at Bonnie with a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Bon-Bon, I'm here now." And her revenge would sting.