Ava groaned feeling Claudine shifting next to her, it was about three days after Shelia's funeral, Gran had taken it hard and Ava didn't blame her at all. But slowly Claudine was coming back to her normal self, as soon as they learnt of Sheila's death, they had rushed to the house and the elderly was greeted by the sight of Sheila lying still in the bed, eyes closed looking peaceful.

Ava spent the last couple of days camping outside her Grandmother's room waiting for her to let her in. on the second day Claudine had finally let Ava in and that night she spent it with her.

"Gran?" Ava yawned "You want to watch a movie or….?"

"Nope, no more moping" with that the elderly swung her legs out of her bed, Ava sat up and could hear her moving around

"Gran we could just-"

"No Ava, no moping" Claudine said sternly

"But she was your best friend and-"

"Honey" Claudine sat down on the edge of the bed in front of her "Life moves on, people pass away and you just have to move on. I will cherish the time I spent with Sheila but now she's gone. Moping about won't bring her back to me, even if I wish it did."

"Are you ok though?" Ava asked concern etched onto her face

"Ava you don't need to take care of me-"

"I want to" she said earnestly "the last couple of days-"

"You've been looking after me, and you shouldn't have to I am here to take care of you" Claudine kissed the crown on the petite teen's head "and I love you for that Ava. But no more, I am a grown woman and I can and will move pass this"

Ava sighed "I'm glad you're ok" she said quietly

"Me too, but now I know" she moved away from Ava since she had to get ready for the day, Ava swung her legs out of the bed and felt the cool wood against her bare feet.

"Know what?" Ava asked

"That you're able to take care of yourself"

"Gran? what-"

"Leave it honey, go and get ready. You can't lounge around all day" Claudine ushered her out of the room "I have to call Greg-"

"Wait Gran-"

"Honey I'm going to tell you something important, a life lesson if you will." She dropped her hands on her shoulders "when you're upset or down in the dumps you know what you can do?"

"Erm…call ghost busters?" she yelped when Gran slapped her upside the head

"No" Claudine rolled her eyes "plus that's not even the line-"

"You're the one-"

"Ava"

"Alright, alright, go ahead" Ava uttered "when I'm down in the dumps what would cheer me up?"

"Having loads and loads of….sex-"

"GRAN" she shrieked balking at the idea "how the hell-"

"Trust me it does work. So that's what I'm-"

"Oh god" Ava shoved her fingers into her ears "I'm not listening….I'm not listening laa di-" she jumped when she heard the sound of the door slamming shut. "Gran-you shut the door-"

"Yeah honey. Now go away and get out of the house-"

"Gran-"

"I love you Ava, but seriously actually go outside. You're going to turn all pasty and I don't want an ugly grand-daughter"

Ava rolled her eyes and stomped off, she wasn't that annoyed since she could see her old Gran shining through. She shut her bedroom door behind her and headed straight to the bathroom for a much needed shower. Ava brushed her teeth and did her usual morning routine.

She showered and dried herself off, Ava wrapped her towel around herself and padded barefooted to her bedroom, she walked over to the dresser and pulled out the first drawer and picked up the first bra that her hand landed on, it was lacy type, and she slipped it on as well as her panties.

The blond then moved over to her closet, she trailed her hand over the labels, and decided to wear a dress, and paired with thick woollen tights, after a few minutes she was dressed. Ava brushed her hair and left it out, she picked up her jacket and slipped on her shoes, she trudged downstairs and headed into the kitchen.

"Gran?"

"Here's a muffin now off you go" Gran shooed her out

"Wait, what? I-"

"I'm going out, here take two, Elena's yapping on her porch. Go bug her." she kissed Ava on the temple and handed the teen her cane "I might see you at the Grill"

Without another word Ava was pushed outside, she rolled her eyes and used her cane to guide herself down the pathway; she headed in the direction of the Gilbert House.


She could hear Elena talking on the phone

"Hey Elena" Ava greeted

"Hi, hold a sec-"but the blond strolled into the Gilbert house making a beeline towards kitchen and rummaged around the fridge, her hand closed around a jar she took the lid off and sniffed it and blanched at the smell of it.

"By the look on your face you don't like that" she jumped hearing Jeremy's voice

"Crap" she clutched her chest "do you want to give me a heart attack?" she shut the fridge door and then moved on to the cupboards "what are you doing here anyway?" she asked feeling an assortment of snacks

"I live here" Jeremy stated "You-oh wait you're here to take our food. Doesn't your Gran feed you?"

"Not today. She bribed me off with muffins" Ava answered her hand closed around a cardboard box "What's this?" she held the box up to Jeremy

"They're my pop-tarts. So put them back"

"Right" Ava nodded slowly

"Ava don-"she bolted with the pop-tarts towards the front door

"AVA- NO-"Jeremy chased after her. Ava groped around and felt the doorknob of the staircase cupboard "AVA You-"

"YOU'VE GOT LIKE THREE BOXES-"

"GET YOUR OWN-!"

"GRAN REFUSES SOMETHING ABOUT TOO MUCH SUGAR" she shouted back and could hear Jeremy charging towards her, she gripped the door knob and flung the wooden door open.

"OWW" he ended up barrelling into it and being knocked off his feet. Ava grinned triumphantly

"Better luck next time" she turned on her heel and ran straight into the front door and like Jeremy was knocked off her feet and landed on her bum "Oww, oww, oww" she clutched her head

"Ava you…well done" Jeremy crouched down in front of Ava he brushed aside her blond hair to be revealing an already forming bruise. "Yep you're going to have a bruise"

"Thanks for the update doc" she said sarcastically "here" she thrust the box towards her, Jeremy rolled his eyes seeing the pout on her face

"Come on" he pulled her onto her feet "You can keep them"

"Thanks Jere" she grinned and hugged him; he smiled and shook his head. Ava and him parted ways and exited the house

"Miss you Bonnie-"she cleared her throat "oh and Ava misses you as well"

Ava plopped down on the vacant seat beside her, and opened the box of pop-tarts "Have you spoken to her yet or…?"

"Just leaving messages" Elena sighed hanging up "Could she be avoiding me?"

"Nah she probably just needs some time on her own-"

"What?"

Ava bit down on her pop-tart and her eyes widened "Oh, nothing I…just….you-"

"Hey" she sagged in relief hearing "Ava are those Jeremy-"

"He gave them to me" she spoke over her

"Right" Jenna chuckled she wouldn't put it pass the blond to steal it, "What are you doing out here? it's cold"

"Eating, and Gran kicked me out of the house. She got a date with Gary or something"

"Hmm, well before Ava came along I was thinking and writing" Elena said closing her journal "Bonnie's Gram's funeral brought back a lot about mom and dad. I was wondering you said you would do some digging about them about the adoption"

"Right" Jenna nodded

"So did you?" Elena asked "dig?"

"Come inside" she gestured towards the house, and headed inside. Elena jumped onto her feet but looked back and saw Ava was still sitting there

"Ava?"

"Well I thought that this was a family thing and-"

"You are part of this family" Elena grabbed her hand pulling her onto her feet "plus we all know you're not for being discreet-"

"What does that mean?" Ava asked as the taller teen dragged her into the house

"It means knowing you, you would sneak into the house and hide behind the door to eavesdrop-"

"Oh my god, one time I did that" she rolled her eyes as they entered the kitchen, Jenna at the moment was setting up the laptop

"Four times Ava" Elena uttered.


They were all now gathered around the table, Ava sat down in the chair beside Jenna whilst on Jena's other side was Elena

"Your dad kept everything from his medical practise, records, logs old appointment books. I found an entry from the night you were born" Ava leant forward in her seat so that her elbows were resting on the table "patient name and a birth date. Isobel Peterson"

"You think that's her real name?" Elena asked

Ava scoffed "No, if she ran away that meant she didn't want anyone to know where she went. Meaning she wouldn't have used her real name" she explained

"She's right, the first name could be, but where she get Peterson from? Classmate? Best friend? So…I binged it-"

"That's how you got it?" Ava shook her head

"What? it's not as if I can hack into a government database" Jenna uttered

"Gran can" she muttered under her breath

"Anyway can we do this?" Elena said bringing the topic back on hand

"Right, well I searched all the Petersons in this area born in the same year as Isobel, and found three. Two men and a woman, Trudie who lives in Grove Hill in Virginia,-"

"That's not far from here" Elena murmured leaning over Jenna's shoulder so she could see the screen,

"Well watch this" Ava could hear Jenna typing something

"Isobel" Elena smiled

"Oh you got her then?" the blond asked tapping her fingers against her cane

"Yep, she was a cheerleader" the brunette grinned, Ava couldn't help but smile she could hear how happy Elena was about finding something about her birthmother. She couldn't say she related or anything since she never knew her mother or her father.

It's always just been her and Gran she remembered asking once when she was younger where were her mom and dad, Gran simply told her they were in heaven. She never learnt the true circumstances of their death, and Ava never felt the need to find out since she had her Gran. But once every year they would visit the cemetery and lay flowers down,

"But Trudie still lives there" Jenna said holding up a piece of paper to Elena bringing Ava back to reality "this is her address" she said handing it over

"What about Isobel?"

"I couldn't find anything about her" she admitted Elena took the seat beside Ava "listen there's something else, Mr Saltzman, Ric? His wife was from around here, and her name was also Isobel-"

"Whoa, that's….whoa" Ava uttered this was surreal it felt like something out of a movie

"Wait 'was' as in?" Elena trailed off

"She died" Jenna revealed.


Ava was currently face down on Elena's bed, she was listening to Stefan and Elena talking

"So wait Alaric's wife might've been your mother?" he asked in disbelief dropping down onto the bed to lay down beside Ava

"That's just weird" Ava muttered resting her cheek against the bed

"It can't be true right? It just can't be-"

"Elena there's vampires in the world, I think anything else is possible" the petite blond commented

"But the coincidence alone is just crazy" Elena uttered, Ava rolled over but misinterpreted the distance of the edge of the bed, she was about to fall off but Stefan grabbed the back of her dress and pulled her back

"You really need to be more careful" Stefan shook his head, Ava turned her face so that their faces were aligned

"I know Stef" she muttered, and felt the bed dip down on her other side, Elena laid down beside her

"I have the address" she declared holding up the sticky note "for Trudie"

"You want to talk to her?" Stefan asked

"I don't know" Elena sighed "I mean if it's true and they are the same person, that means that my birth mother is dead. And I don't know if I can handle that"

Ava shifted and pushed herself up against the headboard,

"Elena did Jenna tell you anything about Alaric's wife?" the vampire asked "how she died?"

Elena shook her head "Just that she was killed and that the case was never solved." She canted her head to the side "You knew that already?"

Ava frowned in confusion, "The night at the school when he attacked me he told me some things about her death"

"Well-"

"No it's not possible, it's a coincidence" Stefan assured her, Ava didn't believe it for a second, there was a reason why Alaric Saltzman came to Mystic Falls of all place, this was all just so twisted, she was having trouble "Listen if you do decide to go, and talk to her I'll go with you"

"I just don't know what to do yet" Stefan got off the bed

"I should go, I have to deal with Damon."

Ava tucked a stray curl behind her ear "How is he?" she asked she did feel concern for the vampire and hadn't heard from him since that night at the ruins.

"He's dealing in his own way" Stefan replied "see you two later" he kissed Elena and pecked Ava on the cheek.

"So Ava-"

"Yes I'm coming" Ava jumped off the couch, for the last half an hour she was lounging in the Gilbert living room

"What-"

"You're going to see Trudie right?" she asked pulling on her jacket and slipping on her shoes

"How did-"

"I know you Gilbert, and I know that you're curious" she declared picking up her cane, Elena smiled

"Are you sure-"

"Elena you're literally like a sister" Ava held out her hand and felt Elena grabbing it, "I'm here for you so I want to go with you"

"Thank you Ava" Elena grinned "come on" they walked out of the living room, Elena grabbed her jacket and keys "You sure?"

"Yep" Ava walked down the driveway "plus I'm bored, very, very bored-"

"And we were having such a nice moment" Elena drawled unlocking the car, she slid in to the driver's side. Ava groaned they had borrowed Stefan's car and she wasn't accustomed to his belt, she tugged the belt but was struggling

"Ava let me-"

"I can do it Elena" she snapped, Elena knew not to take it to heart, she knew that Ava was independent, she saw Ava struggling with the seatbelt,

"Ava, let me. It's ok to get help" Elena took the belt and buckled her in, "ok?"

"OK" Ava nodded leaning back in her seat and felt the car coming to life and soon enough they were on the road.


"We're here?" Ava asked the car had come to a stop

"Yes" Elena said pulling out the sticky note from her pocket, she glanced down at the text and nodded they were in the right place.

Ava grasped tightly onto her cane and got out of the car, she slammed the door shut behind her. Elena walked around the car and linked her arm through Ava's

"Four steps" she murmured, Ava swung her cane in a low arch and felt the steps, they were at the front door and Elena raised the knocker and was about to slam it down but Ava grabbed her hand

"Are you sure about this? If you want we can turn back now" Ava said seriously

"Yeah I am" Elena nodded,

"Ok then" Ava dropped her hand and Elena slammed the knocker down, it was a couple of moments before the door was opened

"Trudie? Trudie Peterson?" the blond woman smiled and nodded

"Yes"

"Well….erm I-"

Ava intervened hearing her friend was struggling to get the words out "Hey" she smiled easily "I'm Ava Xenia and this is Elena Gilbert. We wanted to talk to you about Isobel Flemming"

Trudie gave the teens a once over, Elena noticed that her eyes seem to linger on Ava's cane, she cleared her throat bringing the older woman back to reality.

"Well I haven't heard of that name in a long time" Trudie uttered "how do you know her?"

Elena decided to take over now, Ava started the conversation "I…think that….erm d-"

"Oh my god" Ava sighed "She wants to know if you know if Isobel gave a baby up for adoption? And if you did this is her"

"Ava" Elena hissed

"What?" Ava sniped back "if we carried on at your pace, we'd be here forever."

"My god" Trudie breathed her eyes on Elena "you're her daughter. I was just about to make some tea would you like some?"

"Sure-"

"Tea-"

"Ava be polite" Elena whispered it was like looking after an impatience five year old

"I am-te-"

"The kitchen's this way" Trudie gestured behind her

"Thanks" Elena plastered a smile on to her face and lightly grasped Ava's wrist and tugged her into the house. Ava noted that woman hadn't invited them in; she stored that in her mind for later.

Ava pulled of her leather jacket Elena was doing the same, Trudie had led to the living room where there was a dining table

"I didn't think I was going to come, but I…well Ava kind of pushed me into coming-"

"No I didn't" Ava rolled her eyes placing her jacket on the back of the chair "She was curious and viola here we are"

"Well I thought of coming in the first place because I was about to drive to the store, and then I remembered my mom teaching me how to drive and then I just-"

"Elena you're babbling" Ava said with a small grin on her face, she plopped down on the chair

"Right" Elena said embarrassedly this was the first time in a long time that it was Ava who told her that she was rambling usually it was the other way round. "Sorry for barging in"

"It's no problem" Trudie smiled "It's a surprise though" Elena took the vacant seat beside Ava who was at the end of the table, Trudie also sat down "Haven't thought about Isobel in years though"

Ava opened her mind up a little and lightly shook her head she was getting a buzz but nothing else. Damn Gran was right she needed to concentrate more.

"When was the last time you saw her?" Elena asked her

"About seventeen years ago, when she left to go have you" Trudie replied "we kept in touch for a while, but then we drifted apart" she shrugged her shoulders.

"So you don't know where she ended up?" Ava questioned tucking in a stray curl behind her ear

"She was in Florida for a while, she was on her own, it wasn't easy"

Ava leant back in her seat and licked her lips

"Do you have any idea of who my father is?" now this was a question that Ava wanted answered as well

"I could never get her to fess up" Trudie uttered "anyway she finally got it together and got to college by getting a scholarship"

Elena smiled "Where did she go?"

"Somewhere in North Carolina, Duke I think. Smart girl smart school-"

"Pity Elena never inherited that-oww" she yelped when Elena elbowed her, Trudie chuckled just as the kettle whistled

"Let me just get that" the older woman left the two teens

"Ergh tea-"

"Ava you better drink it-"

"I don't drink tea" Ava whispered

"Well now you do, it's impolite if you don't" Elena muttered

"Who cares if I am if-"

"You and Claudine are impossible"

Ava rolled her eyes and collapsed back into her seat folding her arms across her chest.

A couple of minutes later Trudie returned with a tray of tea and a photo album. Once again they were all gathered around the table. Elena set a cup in front of Ava

"In front Ava"

Ava nodded silently telling her that she heard her. The silence was filled by Trudie who was telling them about hers and Isobel's past exploits. The conversation had moved on to them being cheerleaders

"They came to the games for us, the football team hadn't won a game in years"

"Kind of like ours" Ava muttered under her breath

"We were the stars, well Izzy was but I was a damn good back up" Trudie smiled gazing down at the picture

"This is great thank you" Elena smiled

"You're welcome, I'm sorry but did you say your last name is Xenia?" she asked Ava who was tapping her fingers idly against the table top

"Yes is there-"

"No, no reason. You guys haven't touched your tea yet" she hinted

"Probably because I don't want to" Ava muttered, earning a slight prod from her friend

"Drink it"

Ava reluctantly picked up her tea and sipped it, she scrunched up her nose in distaste. And balked at the taste it was leafy or something. Elena frowned sniffing her own cup, Ava shifted slightly and turned her head away, she spat the tea back out into the cup

"Lovely" she plastered a fake smile on to her face "but it's a bit leafy or something"

"What is it?" Elena asked

"Oh just some herbal mix" Trudie simply replied, "Vervaine….good they're not v-

"You're a crap liar-"

"Ava" Elena scolded

"Oh shut up Elena, don't you get it. she knows" Ava said

"What?"

"I think you should-"

"Ah, ah" the petite blond shook her head "she knows about them. She didn't invite us in and now she's giving up vervaine tea, she knows about Vampires"

The pieces in Elena's mind finally clicked in to place, Trudie was impressed the small blond was far more observant than she let on.

"I think you should leave" Trudie abruptly stood up

"What are you hiding Trudie?" Ava asked still remaining seated

"I th-"

"Trudie" Elena said

"Please go"

Ava sighed and stood up, she grabbed her jacket and cane. Elena grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the house.

"Well-"

"Let's go" Elena zipped up her jacket as they walked to the car, Ava groped around for the car door handle and had pulled it open when she stopped

"Why is there a man there? Is he walking-"

"Elena?"

"Get in the car Ava" she instructed. Ava did as she was told and got into the car, Elena soon joined her she started the car once she was sure that Ava was buckled in

"Elena? I…" she didn't know what to say "At least you know some things about your mom. That's something"

Elena nodded a small smile was on her face "Yeah it is something"


Ava was back at home, lounging on the couch, she was hanging upside down so her feet were propped up on the back of the couch whilst her hair skimmed the wooden floor.

"You're going to give yourself a headache" Claudine said walking pass the living room.

"I'm bored"

"Are you sulking?" she asked amused

Ava rolled her eyes "Yes, because I'm bored"

"Yeah I got that, aren't you going to that fundraiser thing?"

"I don't-"

"You're going" Gran cut her off looking at herself through the mirror, she put her earrings on "It'd be fun-"

"I'll be a loser" the teen huffed

"No you won't" she glanced at the time and saw that it was nearly seven in the evening so the fundraiser should be starting. "Plus I hired personal….erm fetchers to make sure you go. I don't want you hanging around the house like an old spinster. I'm going out with Greg, and I don't want you on your own"

Before Ava could argue there was a knock on the door, she could hear the muffle sound of talking,

"Right here"

"Hey Ava-"

"Elena is my fetcher or whatever?" she managed to sit up "why-"

"What's a fetcher?" Elena asked

"Well-"

"You make her sound like a dog"

"With that hair-"

"Gran" Elena rolled her eyes seeing the pair, you could obviously tell that they were related

"Ok can we go-"

"No-"

"Yes-"

"I don't want-"

"Take her"

"I'm not moving" Ava said determinedly, Elena leant against the wall and watched on the exchange in amusement

"If you don't move" Claudine threatened "I will tell you all of my sexual exploits, from when I lost my virginity to the day I used nipple cla-"

"AHH I'M GOING, I'M GOING" Ava shrieked and fell off the couch, she stumbled onto her feet. Claudine set Elena a wink; the brunette giggled and shook her head.

Both Ava and Elena had finally left the house

"AVA YOUR CANE-AVA DON'T YOU WALK AWAY FROM ME. AVA-"

Ava sighed and turned back taking the cane off of her "AVA-"

"Oh my god Gran right here. No need to shriek like a banshee" Ava said

"Have fun"

"Oh-"

"Ok let's go" Elena shook her head and lightly pushed Ava in the direction of the car "we have to pick up Stefan first"

"Fine but don't make out with him if I'm there" Ava drawled climbing into the car, "you guys are like freaking rabbits always hum-"

"Please don't finish that sentence" Elena started the car and rolled her eyes seeing Ava miming zipping her mouth shut.


Ava stepped into the Boarding House following after Elena

"I'm going up to his room, you-"

"Can wonder around" she finished off "I'll be fine" she added on.

"Ok, don't break anything" Elena called over her shoulder. Ava rolled her eyes and walked further into the house; she held out her hand and used her cane to guide herself. She sighed and headed into the direction of the parlour, maybe Damon was right she should learn the layout of the house. Her hand trailed along the wall and came into contact with rows upon rows of book.

"Huh someone's a reader" she muttered under her breath. Ava swung her cane low and groaned when it came into contact with something hard, but wobbled it was a small table that had an expensive vase on it. She sighed in relief when nothing seemed to happen

"Ava?"

She jumped and spun around, her cane twirled at and she cringed when there was the alarming sound of something smash against the floor

"Oh my god" Elena's jaw drop at the sight of the smashed vase "Was that-"

"First edition, rare and one of a kind" Stefan closed his eyes inhaling slowly

Ava gulped "Oops?"

"Oops? Oops Ava that-"

"Fine" Damon staggered into the parlour "It was ugly and ergh…now Ava" he grinned seeing the petite blond. He strode towards her

Ava quirked an eyebrow "I haven't see you in ages" she scrunched up her nose slightly as she was vaporized with his breath "you can't exactly say the same-"

"Damon" Stefan warned

"What?" the raven head vampire grinned "I'm only joking Ava knows I'm joking don't you Ava my blind-"

"Alright, alright, you're drunk" Ava pushed him back

"Nope, but I must say Ava you're looking radiant tonight fancy a quick sh-"he cupped her cheek and she felt his cool fingertips on her throat

"Back off" Ava snapped using her cane and smacked him on the shin, causing the vampire to buckle

"Ava-"

"Ok that's it" Stefan grabbed her by her hand and pushed her towards the front door with Elena on their heels.


"So Stefan bailed?" Ava commented as she and Elena walked into the Grill

"He did not bail" Elena laughed "He's meeting us here, I think he and Damon are talking. So are Caroline and Matt"

"How are you dealing with that?" she asked curiously

"It's fine I'm happy for them. Come on let's greet them" Elena said "Hey guys"

"Ava, Elena" Caroline smiled

"Hey Care" Elena grinned

"You never guess what?"

"Erm…there's a-"

"No Ava, rhetorical question" Matt laughed, Ava blushed

"Right well carry on"

Caroline giggled "Matt has already been hit on like thirty five times, he's total cougar bait-"

"I don't know where to be grossed out or happy for you Matt" Ava smiled

"Me neither" he ran his fingers through his hair

"Impressive" Elena drawled

"More like embarrassing-"

"Yes that's the word" Ava declared nodding making Caroline laugh

"Oh she's here-"Caroline perked up "Oh hi Mrs Donavan"

But the woman ignored her and turned to Elena "Elena honey-"she hugged the brunette

"Why doesn't she like me? It's always going to be Elena, perfect Elena-"Ava frowned hearing her friend's thoughts

"Hi Kelly"

"Long time no see"

"How are you doing?" Ava inwardly sighed wondering if it was Elena who was blind, didn't she have a clue that Caroline was upset by this

"Same old same old." Kelly took a step back "Matty told me you broke his heart"

"Mom" Matt hissed

"Just kidding calm down, he found his rebound girl-" she glanced over to Caroline, who had tears welling up in her eyes

"Insensitive cow" Ava muttered

"Ava still blind I see" Kelly smiled mockingly at her

"Kelly" a familiar voice drawled "still a bitch I see"

"Claudine-"

"Save it" Claudine glared at the woman

"Well take this honey" Kelly handed Caroline some cash "as many as that would buy, hope I don't get bachelor number three, dated him in high school, not impressive-"

"Wow, and you should know" the elder Xenia sneered at her "the old town bike-"

"You still alive Claudine? Thought you'd be dead by now—"

"Mom" Matt glared at his mother, Elena and Caroline watched on in stunned silence

"Oh no. you see I can't be dead after all I have my baby" she squeezed Ava's shoulder "to look after, unlike you I don't walk out on my own"

Kelly shot a dirty look at her and walked off

"No offence Matt, but your mom is a bitch-"

"Gran-"

"What it's true, and Caroline you're a sweetheart" she smiled at the teen, Caroline grinned at her she literally loved Claudine, she was like her own grandmother. "Now some tickets if you will-"

"Sure-"

"No wait hold the phone, I thought you was meant to be with Greg?" Ava frowned in confusion

"Well he was busy and I need some fun. Thanks darling, I'll get us a table and some drinks" Claudine smiled and walked in the direction of the bar

"Is it bad to say my own grandmother is a slut?" Ava asked the group of friends

"Not when it's true-"

"Matt—"

"What?" the jock avoided the swats that was thrown his way

"No he's right" Ava rolled her eyes.


"And then it turns out he had the world's smallest penis" Claudine finished off sending both Jenna and Elena into fits of laughter. There was a resounding sound of something thumping against the table, the trio of women looked over to where the sound came from and saw Ava face down on the table banging her head

"Please never, ever tell that story again" Ava groaned

"Oh Ava only having fun" Claudine chuckled Carol Lockwood's voice was in the background, the woman was currently questioning the bachelors

"But it's wrong, creepy and…did I say wrong?"

"Yah you did, oh look the bachelor number two is a carpenter, I hope I get him. Look at those arms Jenna-"

Ava rolled her eyes hearing Jenna and Elena laughing again.

"Bachelor number three, what do you do?" Carol's voice rang out

"Yeah I'm a plumber-"

"God he can sort my plumbing out" Kelly laughed

"Shut up slut" Claudine shouted at her,

"Bloody hell"

"Make me" Kelly yelled

"I will stupid-"Ava grabbed her Grandmother's arm and forced her to sit back down

"Stop"

"This is weird" Jenna whispered to Elena "Ava being responsible and-"

"Which she never is-"

"Shut up Elena-"

"Ladies" Carol snapped into the microphone causing the room to silence, she was glaring at their table "do you mind or-"

"It' was Jenna and Elena" Claudine tutted "hush you two, no need to act childishly"

Both Jenna's and Elena's faces turned bright red at the attention they got, Ava and Claudine discreetly high fived under the table

"You two are evil" Elena hissed, but both Xenia's grinned causing her anger to plummet,

"Isn't that wonderful? We could always use more plumbers" Carol smiled at the crowd "Number four that's Alaric Saltzman-"much to the history teacher's embarrassment both Ava and Claudine cheered and whistled

"That's the dude Jenna fan-"Jenna slapped her hand over Claudine's mouth shutting her up.

"Even I know when to be discreet" Ava smirked, Elena chuckled and waved over to Stefan whose face was contorted into amusement

"What do you do Alaric-"

Jenna shrieked loudly once again their table gained attention "You lick me-"

"You grabbed me-"

"Jenna, Claudine if you don't stop, I'm afraid you're going to be kicked out"

"Ha shame" Ava laughed

"You too Ava-"

"What? I didn't-"

"My god one more word you're all out-"

"Who made you the boss?" Claudine snapped the rest of the room's occupants were all laughing

"I'm the mayor-"

"Wife, you're his wife-"

"Fucking hell get on with it"

"Shut up Kelly"

Ava stood up and whistled loudly instantly shutting up her Gran, Kelly and Carol "Ok can we get on with this thing? Which is lame by the way since most of the women here who did buy tickets are desperate to get laid-"

"Hey, I bought one-"

"Me too"

"Me as well" Claudine, Jenna and Kelly said all at one

"I rest my case" with that the room broke out into laughter

"Cheeky brat" Claudine chuckled and pulled Ava back down so she was sitting back down.

"So where were we?"

"You were talking to Mr Saltzman" Ava shouted out

"One more outburst Ava and you're out" Carol threatened and plastered a smile onto her face turning back to the man "so what did you do?"

"I'm a teacher at Mystic Falls High," Alaric replied

"Oh beauty and brains he's a catch ladies" Carol uttered "What do you teach?"

"History" Claudine shouted out "duh that's the only vacancy here-"

"My god Jen, how much did she drink?" Ava whispered to Jenna

"A lot"

Alaric chuckled "Yeah I teach history, thanks Claudine-"

"You're welcome handsome" Claudine winked

"Well give us a fun fact about Mystic Falls" Carole declared

"Erm…"

"He's probably saving the best for his date, last but not least Damon Salvatore" Carol walked over to the vampire, Ava could hear the music blaring and the sound of chatter throughout the place

"We don't have much on you"

"Well, I'm tough to fit on a card"

"Do you have any hobbies? Like to travel?"

Ava sipped her soda "Oh yeah, LA, New York. A couple of years ago I was in North Carolina, near the Duke campus-"Ava eyes' bugged out hearing that "I think, I think Alaric went to school there. Didn't you?"

"Jackass" Ava muttered

"Yeah, because I know your wide did, I had a drink with her once, she was a great girl, did I ever tell you? She was delicious-"

"HE KILLED HER, HE KILLED HER-"

Ava clutched her head in pain, Elena was screaming in her mind and she wasn't prepared for that

"Ava-"

"Are you ok Elena?"

"Yeah I need some air" Elena ran out of the grill.

"Ava-"

"Me too" Ava ran after her pushing her way through the crowd, she felt the wind hit her in the face


"Elena?" she called out

"Ava-" Stefan pulled the blond back away from the road

"He killed her? Damon killed her?" Elena asked her voice shook and her eyes were full of tears "he was the vampire that killed her?"

"I don't know-"

"It sounded like it" Ava snapped

"I don't know what happened, Alaric never said what happened" Stefan tried to consol the distraught brunette

"Oh my god-"

Ava shivered she had left her jacket inside the Grill, "I'm sorry, I wanted to tell you but I wanted to know more"

"I felt sorry for him, I was hoping this whole Katherine thing would change him" Elena shook her head, Ava felt the same but after hearing him literally taunting Isobel's death to the history teacher's face, she didn't anymore.

"He didn't know the connection between you, he's been on edge and-"

"What the hell Stefan?" Ava shouted shutting the vampire up "Why are you protecting him?"

"Because you're not the only one who was hoping he might change" Stefan said

"That man-Stefan that man was outside Trudie's" Elena said seeing the man from a distance

"Get inside" Stefan pushed Ava and Elena indoors

"I need to sit down" Elena muttered "Ava?"

"Bathroom" Ava replied and hurried into the bathroom. When she was done she walked out of the room and immediately bumped into someone, she was about to fall back but someone grabbed her shoulders

"Whoa easy there buy a ticket like anyone else" Damon smirked

"Fuck off" she spat and went to walk off but he grabbed her by her upper arm

"Ava what's wrong-?"

"Nothing is wrong with me. And everything is wrong with, I felt sorry for you hell Elena felt sorry for you" she snarled poking him hard in the chest

"Ava what-"

"Did it make you feel better? Rubbing it in Alaric's face?"

"What?"

"I thought there was an inkling of good in you, but that's bullshit" Ava snapped

"Ava-"Elena appeared behind Damon with Stefan "leave-"

"No"

"Am I missing something?" Damon asked turning to face the other two

"Tell him Elena" Ava said

"What-"

"Did I mention that my birth mom the one that gave me up for adoption?" Elea asked anger was coursing through her "her name was Isobel" without another word Elena walked out

"There you go Salvatore, carry on reminiscing about her death" Ava pushed pass him heading towards her Gran; she knew that Stefan would take care of Elena.

"3496" Carol called out

"That's me" Jenna held up her ticket and vacated a seat for Ava

"What happened?" Claudine asked looking at her

"Damon apparently killed Elena's birth mom" Ava told her

There was a moment of silence before Claudine declared "That's seriously fucked up"

"You're telling me about it, so Gran you were wrong"

"What?"

"How you said there's good in everyone-"

"Ava what Damon did was wrong but there's something in him that's redeemable" Claudine murmured "There is Ava there is. Huh look at that Carol rigged the raffle she got Damon"

"Gran-"

"What? Sure he's a dick but he's oh so hot" Claudine uttered and looked down at her watch "We should go, lets' watch a movie"

Ava yawned and nodded grabbing her jacket and pulled it on

"Oh bye Claudine, I'll call you"

"Sure"

Before Ava could ask what was going on, her Gran gently took hold of her hand and tugged her out of the Grill.

"So what does that dude mean?"


They walked down the street, Ava frowned she could hear sirens and shouting "Gran what-?"

"Seems like an accident, keep walking" Claudine linked her arm through hers as they walked down the dark street "So the guy-"

"I won him" Claudine grinned

"You won the carpenter? What about Greg? Or whatever his name is" Ava frowned

"Oh I am-"

"Why are you so keen on the carpenter?" Ava asked

"Well you know our porch railing? It creaks he's going to fix it"

"My god Gran, serious? You're using your bachelor to fix the house?" she laughed Claudine chuckled

"Well who said I couldn't? Now hurry up, I fancy watching Sweeny Todd, Johnny Depp is a legend"

Ava shook her head as they carried on walking down the road, heading home.


AN: Apologies for any grammar or spelling mistakes, Outfit link on profile, Thanks to those who reviewed. (Sorry i posted the same chapter twice, half asleep)

So in this Chap-the beginning Claudine assures Ava she's ok. she kicks Ava out who ends up at the Gilbert, where she steals poptarts from Jeremy he ends up giving her the box. Her and Elena learn about Trudie. Both of them visit her, Ava hates tea, Trudie tells them to leave. Ava gets dragged to the Boarding House where she knocks over a vase. Claudine and Kelly don't like each other. Carol threatens to kick out the Xenias after Ava and Claudine outburst. Ava confronts Damon about Isobel, and Claudine and Ava walk home to watch Johnny Depp.

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BTW: Got a new fic out 'You Found Me' so whoever likes Sherlock check it out, REVIEW That Please