"Is daddy angry at me?" Zoe asked her mom after her dad closed the door behind him leaving mother and daughter alone.
Bonnie walked over to Zoe and took her hands and smiled softly at her. "No his not Princess give your dad time he will cool down."
"Mom I can't let them take Aslan back to that zoo. He will never make it in there."
"I will think of something and I promise you Aslan will not go back but for now I need you to stay calm and focus your energy on the competition. I know its hard being the first swimmer to have a chance to win gold for us at the competition. The eyes of the whole town on you to bring back that gold. Its hard but I know my Zoe is one strong girl that will conquer the world one day. I am so proud of you Zoe and don't you ever forget that and yes I fully understand why you took Aslan from that zoo and I support you all the way. I will do whatever it takes to keep Aslan safe." Bonnie said and kissed her daughter softly on her forehead.
"Mom." Zoe said deeply touched by her mother's beautiful words. Words spoken in love and hope. "I promise I will make you all proud of me."
As Bonnie looked in her daughters shiny emerald eyes. She could not stop her own tears. "I know you will and when your over there, you give it your all Princess. Not for me or dad or anyone. You give your all for you and no matter what happens you will always be a winner in my eyes." Bonnie said softly. She closed her eyes and rested her forehead on that of her daughter's.
A soft knock on the door broke the beautiful moment between mother and daughter. It was Kenzie. "Hey the vet is here that dad called I thought you might want to be there when he examines your little lion." Kenzie said with a soft smile. She felt so sorry for Zoe.
"Thank you Kenz." Zoe said softly.
Bonnie took Zoe's hand and together they walked up to Zoe's room.
...
"And we are all done." The vet said after he was done examining Aslan. "No major concern other than a little bit of malnutrition but by the looks of it his eating big and healthy as he should. I put a bandage on his left paw I think someone stepped on it or kicked it. It hurts but its not life threatening. Oh and no more milk only raw meat. If you have any dogs or cats be sure to keep an eye on them and away from Aslan. Lions are very territorial. You should also let him get some fresh air for maybe eight hours a day. I suggest taking him up the mountain road beyond the mountain lodge. Its very primitive beautiful and raw up there with lots of animals for him to hunt."
Zoe smiled relieved and grateful. She was sitting on her bed with Aslan on her lap.
The whole family was there except Damon.
"Thank you Brink and thank you for giving us your word that you will not tell anyone what you did here." Bonnie said to Brink the vet who she knows from schooldays.
Brink smiled and said. "Even if I did tell I don't think anyone in this town will believe me. I'm just glad I could help Bonnie. I don't like to see animals suffer that's why I became a vet to help any animal regardless what the circumstances might be behind that animal. I just do my job."
"Thank you Mr Brink." Zoe said with shiny eyes. She looked down in Aslan's eyes and swallowed her tears back. Aslan nestled deeper under her arms trying to hide himself from the onlookers.
"I think his shy just like his mother." Alex said with a smirk and winked at Zoe.
"And so cute adorable." Kenzie said and stroke his tale softly. "I just love his soft white fur its so beautiful. I know I keep on repeating myself but I can't help it."
"We should keep him." Dylan said.
The twins were fascinated with Aslan. Their little hands could not stop touching Aslan. They pulled his tale and laughed when it wiggled.
Cayllum who was standing off to the side watched Zoe intensely. The sadness in her eyes hurt him. He wished with all his heart he was alone with her right now. She needs him. He could feel it in his heart.
"Let me walk you out Brink." Bonnie said and than turned to the kids. "Kids can I leave you in charge of dinner tonight? I'm going over to your aunt Caroline."
"We are on it." Alex said. He walked over to Brink and shook the vet's hand. "Thank you again for helping my little sister with her lion not a lot of people would have done that."
Brink patted Alex fatherly on the shoulder and smiled. He and Bonnie than left the room.
Alex turned back to others and said. "Guys you heard mom. Cayllum and Dylan take Aslan out for some fresh air it will do him good after that big meal he had. Zoe and Kenz the two of you can order some take outs or do some magic and cook up a mean meal like only you two can."
The twins looked up at their big brother with bright smiles. They were clever enough to know that Alex left them out.
Alex smiled down at the two and said. "Cayllum take the twins with you and keep an eye on them."
Cayllum smirked and said. "You know I will. Okay boys you want to play with Aslan?" he asked excited.
"Yes!" The two cried out with happiness.
Cayllum took Aslan carefully from Zoe and kissed her on her cheek. "Smile for me. Please." He whispered.
Zoe gazed up at him and gave him a warm soft smile that lit up her face and softened the pain Cayllum's heart.
"There's my river goddess." He said. Her eyes followed him out with Aslan in his arms and the twins being carried by Dylan. They laughed and cheered as they walked out of her room.
She blushed when she saw the smiles on Alex and Kenzie's faces looking at her.
"Well look at you big brother handing out orders and what are you going to do?" Kenzie asked Alex with a smirk.
"I have to talk with Sam." Alex said with a serious expression on his face.
"About time! I hope you dump her ass." Kenzie said.
Alex didn't answer her. He just turned around and leave without saying another word.
"Lets go join the boys." Kenzie said cheery.
"But we have to make dinner you heard mom and Alex." Zoe said with a soft laugh. She too wanted to be outside with Aslan and the others but duty comes first.
"Alex did mention take outs and you can order take outs from anywhere in this world even from your own backyard!" Kenzie said and pulled Zoe up by her hand. "I didn't wanted to say this in front of everyone but I would also like to play with Aslan. I mean why does the boys got to have all the fun. We are joining in!"
Zoe laughed sweetly. She missed this playful child-like side of Kenz. This side of her she really liked the most.
The two sisters laughed happily as they rushed out of the room. When they came at the bottom of the stairs they accidentally bumped into their dad who were coming from his study.
"Careful now, what's the rush?" He asked the two.
"We have a playdate with Aslan in our backyard dad. You joining?" Kenzie said with a cheery smile without thinking.
Zoe was quiet and looked down at her feet.
"Is that so? Just don't get too attached to him. He does not belong to us." Damon said and than asked. "Where's your mother?"
"She went to aunt Caroline." Kenzie said and almost rolled her eyes.
"I'm going out just make sure dinner is ready." Damon said.
"Sure will that be all dad? Or do you want us to paint the living room too? Or wait do you want us to remodel the kitchen before you get back?" Kenzie asked with sarcasm.
Zoe looked at her sister with wide eyes. This is so like Kenzie she got to have the last word in just like dad.
"I know what you're trying to do Kenzie and I'm not going to entertain it." Damon said before he walked off.
"What is wrong with you Kenz? You know dad is already in a bad mood why do have to make things worse." Zoe asked with tears threatening to spill from her eyes.
"I'm sorry Zoe I'm just mad at dad for going off on you. I think his over reacting."
Zoe sigh. "That does not give you any reason to be disrespectful Kenz. What I did was wrong but I do not regret it. I will do it all over again if I have to but please no more attitude its just going to make things worse."
"Okay, yeah that was kinda mean of me." Kenzie said after taking her sister's words to heart.
"You will apologise to dad?" Zoe asked softly.
"I will, promise but for now let's go join the boys." Kenzie said.
Zoe laughed and said. "Lead the way sister."
Sam was furious by the time Alex came up to his room. She was on him the minute he stepped inside.
"I have been calling and texting you all day Alex why didn't you just drop your mother and sister off in town and come back to me. You left me here all alone the whole day." Sam said in anger.
"I'm sorry Sam. I was going to come back but my mom needed me to drive them around. The twins can be a handful." Alex said. He saw Sam's packed bags on the bed but ignored it. He walked to his window and opened it wide.
"So now your family are more important than me? What happened to you Alex? To us? Ever since we came here your different its like I don't know you anymore."
Alex sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm still the same Alex, Sam."
"Your mother threatened me this morning. She said she will kill me if I hurt you. What mother says that!? And not to mention your sister and the ugly things she said to me. Her stinky behaviour towards me this whole time. I think your family are seriously fucked up. Your mother and sister will kill me in a heartbeat Alex. They hate me and you are doing absolutely nothing about it." Sam said in anger.
Alex didn't answer her. He just stood there with his back to her looking far out the window at the mountains of Mystique Lake deep in thought.
Him giving her the silent treatment angered her even more. "Did you hear what I just said Alex! Be a man for once and stand up for me. I did nothing to insult your mother or that spoilt little sister of yours but look what did I get in return. This is typical how rich people act. They always look down on the poor." Sam said.
"As a kid I always imagined myself I'm an eagle soaring through the clouds and over the majestic mountains of Mystique Lake. I would stand right here where I'm standing now with my window open and arms spread out wide and when I close my eyes and I breathe in the fresh air from the mountain. I can see it all. The lake far under me. The trees stretching for miles. I felt so free." Alex said with his eyes closed.
Sam looked at him like he just lost his mind. "Are you kidding me right now? Here I am telling you how awful your mother and sister is and your getting all nostalgic over the mountains of this town and what you did as a child? Good for you Alex not all of us grew up in castles where we had our own big windows where we can imagine we are eagles or sunflowers or whatever."
"You were once a kid too Sam. We all had our special places even if it was in our imagination. Our special place where we can be anyone or anything."
"I never had the luxury to escape into an imaginary world as a kid Alex. I grew up hard. Is this your way of trying to ignore me. You want me to go stand there next to you and imagine I'm a fucking bird too because where I'm from that is not how we handle problems. We deal with it like normal people." Sam seethed.
"That's enough Sam." Alex said in a low voice. A voice Sam never heard. He slowly turned back to face her and said. "She told me everything Sam and she's just concerned like any mother will be and not just for me but for us. Bonnie Bennet is not the type of mother who will sit back and let the people she loves head rock bottom. She will ask questions because that is her damn right as my mother Sam. You should apologize to her."
Sam looked shaken for a second. This side of Alex threw her off. No longer was his eyes dreamy soft and with love instead there was a cold sadness in them. "You think I should apologize to her? You must be out of your damn mind if you think I'm going to do that to a woman who clearly said what she's going to do with me." Sam said hard.
"What did you expect Sam?" Alex said as he took a step closer to her.
"I expect more from you why can't you support me? Is this how its going to be. You choosing your family first." Sam said. She hissed her words out in anger as she took a step closer to him too.
"Your not being fair Sam." Alex said softly after a long pause. He felt tired. Tired with Sam and her moods. Tired of trying to keep her happy and it showed on his face.
"We should leave Alex. I don't think I can wait any minute longer. You will see everything will be fine once we're back in Boston, Alex." Sam said. She softly touch his cheek and gazed up in his eyes with shiny eyes.
Alex lay his hand on hers and said. "You should go Sam. Zoe is leaving in two days and I promised her I will be here when she leaves."
"There it is again. Family. Its like I'm fighting a losing battle." Sam said and shook her head.
"You don't have to fight it anymore Sam." Alex said softly.
"What .. what do you mean by that Alex?" Sam asked with furrowed brows and a fast beating heart.
"You can stay in the apartment for as long as you want don't worry I will pay the rent. Its best if I move out. We both need time and space Sam or else we just going to end up destroying each other." Alex said as he gently took her hand of his cheek.
This is not what Sam expected. She was shocked. Hurt. Stunned. This was a different Alex standing in front of her. "Alex no, please you can't do this to us, please you can't leave me. I will change I promise. I will even apologize to your mother. I will do that for you." Sam said as she wrap her arms around his neck with tears in her eyes.
"I don't want you to apologise to my mother because your doing it for me. You should do it because its the right thing to do Sam. That is what people in love do for each other." Alex said.
"But I do love you Alex and you know that." Sam said in a teary voice.
Alex closed his eyes and sigh. "I don't think we both know what love is and that's maybe our problem. Maybe we love each other for all the wrong reasons Sam."
"No Alex, do not say that. Its this place. The people in this place can't you see their trying to break us up!" Sam called out desperately but Alex was done talking.
"Whenever your ready I will wait in the car for you." Alex said. He stepped away from her but she pulled him back and said.
"Alex wait." She was hurt inside and she was out to hurt him too. She knew what she was going to say to him will destroy him but she wanted him to feel what she's feeling right now. Intense pain and loss. She lost Sierra and now him. Not again her mind screamed but her heart pleaded with her to let it go and give Alex time.
"Sam?" Alex said.
"Alex I'm sorry okay. I'm sorry." Sam said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Me too Sam." Alex said with sad eyes.
"I do not want to be like this Alex. I always lose the people I love the most in my life first Sierra and now you." Sam said. She than took in a deep breath and released it slowly. "Sierra was my older sister. She was killed. Alex she was killed by your father Damon Salvatore." The minute she said it she regretted it but she knew she had to open up all the way for the pain to stop inside.
Alex stood there pale. A demi god statue frozen in shock and disbelieve.
"Sierra was your father's PA. The two of them were having an affair. She came here to confront him and he killed her when she threatened to tell your mother about the affair. Your father told me in detail how he killed her. My sister's life meant nothing to him." Sam said. She was trembling lightly and just as pale as Alex. She looked like a ghost.
Sam's shocking revelation played over and over in his mind. "No." Alex said as he took a step back away from her. His eyes staring wide at her. Eyes filled with pain. Shock and disbelieve. "No it can't be."
"Alex I'm sorry. It is the truth." He heard her say.
"Your lying. He will never do something like that. Is this your way to hurt me even more. Will my pain never be enough for you Samantha?" Alex said as a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"Alex." Sam whispered his name. Her own tears wetting her face. "Alex this is the honest truth ask him yourself. Look him in the eyes and ask him yourself."
His legs suddenly felt to weak to stand on. No longer the eagle that's soaring through the heavens but a broken young man. He leaned against the door for support looking down at his hands that was trembling lightly. "Did you knew about this before you met me?" Alex asked. He was unbelievably broken to his core and hurt.
Sam swallowed hard. "Yes I did Alex and the reason I didn't share this with you was to spare you the pain that I'm going through. I love you Alex and I didn't wanted this to come between us. I never wanted any of this Alex. Do you really think I don't want a normal relationship with you? I do want that. I want us Alex." Sam said and wipe her tears with the back of her hand from her face.
Alex closed his eyes. He needed to get himself under control before the walls completely close in on him and swallow him whole. He desperately needed to find that place he escape to in his mind. His safe haven.
"Alex?"
There came no response from him. He just stood there motionless.
"Alex please say something. Anything." Sam pleaded softly in tears.
Alex slowly opened his tear-filled eyes. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown." He said to himself but Sam heard him.
"Alex I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. Alex please say you forgive me don't let us go out like this. Yes I knew about your father and Sierra before I met you but I fell in love with you for the person that you are. I overlooked what he did because I saw I future with you." Sam pleaded.
"Forgiveness Sam? I don't think you understand the beautiful true meaning of forgiveness or what it takes to forgive. I don't think you can truly love anyone other than yourself, and that, that to me is the saddest thing in the world Sam. You should have been honest with me from the beginning no matter how much it would have hurt me. You should have told me because I deserved that Sam. I loved you with all my heart. I too saw a future with you. You knew how I felt about you so don't you think I at least deserve your honesty. There can't be a relationship or love if your not honest with the other person. A relationship is built on trust and honesty. I was open to you about my life. I shared with you my deepest fears. I told you about Tiffany aborting my child not even my parents or Josh and Neil whom I'm so close with knows this. I told you everything and I gave you everything that I had in me Sam and you stand there asking me for forgiveness? And now with what my ... what he did to your sister. Forgiveness? Where do I even start with forgiveness. How do I forgive? Do I even want to forgive? We are done Samantha. I'm done with you." Alex said and wipe the tears furiously from his eyes.
"Oh God Alex what have I done." Sam cried out as she covered her face with her hands.
...