"Ava wake up, Ava"

Ava groaned and rolled over, she was having a good night's sleep well she was until she was being poked and prodded awake.

"No" Ava grunted and pulled the covers over her head "I wanna sleep-"she whined

"You know you sound like a puppy who's tail has been stood on" Claudine commented and prodded the mountain of blond locks peeking out from the covers.

"Gran-"

"Up, up and oh yeah Ava? Get up" Claudine tore the covers off of her causing Ava to curl up into a little ball.

"I don't want to-"

"It's the Mystic Falls parade thingy today" the elderly woman uttered, "Ava-"

"Can we just have a nice day in? Watch movies and-"

"No. now come on it's been a while since there has been one in town. We are going." She said. Ava sighed and rolled onto her back.

"Gran-"

"No arguing" Claudine uttered grabbing Ava's wrist and hauled her up so that the teen was in a sitting position. "Go shower you smell-"

"Hey-"

"Go and I'll put something out nice for you to wear" Claudine said she turned on her heel and walked out. Ava was about to lye back but her grandmother popped her head back around the bedroom door "Up Ava-"

Ava swore and swung her legs out of bed "God you sound like a drill Sargent-"she huffed stumbling in the direction of her bathroom.

"You got that right. Now if you don't move your ass I'll make you give me a hundred push-ups-"Ava snorted "I mean it"

"Fine" Ava slammed the bathroom door shut and started her morning routine. She brushed her teeth and turned the shower faucet on. Ava squirted the toothpaste onto her toothbrush and brushed her teeth.

The blond rinsed her mouth and once she was sure that the water was warm she stripped out of her short and camisole and stepped under the spray of water. Like the rest of the room Ava had organised her bathroom so that she knew where everything was. Once Ava was showered she turned the shower faucet off and dried herself off.

She was so tempted to hide away in her room and not even go to the parade. But she knew that Gran would drag her there.

"Ava hurry up" Claudine banged on the bathroom door. Making the blond jump

"Alright, alright" Ava snapped and padded barefooted back to her room

"You dress is laid out on your bed" Claudine said from the doorway "get dressed and I'll do your hair-"

"You are so excited about going aren't you?"

"Duh" Claudine scoffed. Ava meanders over to her dresser and pulled out some underwear "It's an ample place to pick up some fellas…plus I kind of owe Carol Lockwood for messing up the launch party-"

"Ha I knew it" Ava scoffed "you-"

"I got hammered and you got tasered. What a night to remember" she scrunched up her nose taking in what Ava had randomly picked out of her dresser. She marched over to the teen and snatched the undergarments out of her hands

"Gran-"Ava started

"You hush" Claudine rummaged through the drawer "wear matching underwear, way sexier-"

"Eww please no sex advice-"Ava scrunched up her nose in disgust, it was one of the traits she had unknowingly picked up from her grandmother "you're old an-"

"Don't finish that sentence unless you want to go and find your own breakfast-"Claudine uttered "I may be old dear but I am flexible, and oh…wear these lacy underwear is hot…you might get lucky and-"

"Ok" Ava spoke over her "stop, stop and oh yeah stop"

Claudine laughed and threw the underwear at Ava managing to hit her in the face. "Go and get dressed, and hurry I have to sort myself out first" she hurried out of the room.

Ava sighed and slipped on the bra and panties. She held out hands and trailed it over the dress; she felt the lacy material over the length of the dress. Ava picked it up and felt the buttons going down the top of bodice, she fumbled with the buttons but when it was undone she slipped the dress over her head and was beginning to struggle with the bobbly buttons.

"Ava let me" Claudine uttered walking back into the bedroom.

"Gran I can do it myself" Ava snapped, but yelped when the elderly woman slapped her upside the head

"Don't snap and you are my gran-kid I help out Ava so deal with it" Claudine scolded her; she quickly buttoned up the front of Ava's black dress and ushered the teen over to the vanity.

"Gran-"

"Ava try and have some fun today ok? You deserve it" she dropped a kiss on her cheek and grabbed the hairdryer "this dress is far too good for it to be damp" with that Claudine turned on the hairdryer and started to dry Ava's hair. Until it was in its usual loose curls.

"Oww-"

"Don't you dare" Claudine threatened "I haven't even started to brush your hair"

"I'm getting prepared?" Ava grinned

Claudine rolled her eyes and started to brush Ava's long locks, the teen closed her eyes feeling the bristles literally stroking her scalp

"Oh that's good-"

"Ava it sounds like you're having an orgasm. Now that's the exact same I make when Greg. Remember him? He was well endowed if you get my drift-"

"Ergh" Ava balked her hands were splayed out on the table. "Gran stop that's gross-"

"Ava you need to know about the human body. So a guy has a penis and a woman's got a vagina…well you do get the case where a woman would have a penis or something like that…come to think of it…what's a hermaphrodite-"

"Shut up Gran" Ava's cheeks were bright pink. Claudine cooed

"Aww so cute" she pinched the teen's cheek,

"Gran-"Ava whined

"Alright, alright" Claudine giggled and opted to pin Ava's bangs' away from her face, she did Ava's hair in a way where the top half of the teen's hair was pulled back but a few curls came loose to frame her face. The rest of her hair cascaded down her back. "There now you don't look like a sheep dog" she took a step back to admire her work "wear this" she instructed handing Ava a black cardigan over "it might get chilly"

"Fine. And thanks Gran" Ava muttered pulling her arms through the sleeves of the cardigan.

"I'll get your shoes" a minute later Ava felt shoes being slipped onto one of her foot, Claudine gazed up at her and didn't miss the small frown on her face. The elderly woman sighed and tied the laces of Ava's shoes to that they were in a neat bow.

"Ava-" she placed her warm hand on Ava's bare knee "we'll be there for a couple of hours and after the fireworks we'll leave and have a night in watching movies or whatever you want"

Ava smiled "Can we bake those banana muffins?" she asked, Claudine grinned she couldn't help but noted that the teen looked like a little girl.

"Yes banana muffins" she had now slipped Ava's shoe on, and tied the laces "But I'll probably do most of the cooking-"

"You're alright for an old lady" Ava teased.


"I'm here bitches-"

"Ava?" Jenna trudged down the stairs she whistled "wow you look nice…hey why are you here? I thought you and Claudine were going to the parade thing together?" Jenna glanced down at her wrist watch and frowned "Wait isn't it a bit early or…"

"Gran kicked me out" Ava muttered and left her cane by the front door, she waltzed towards the kitchen with Jenna following behind her.

"What did you do?" Jenna asked as Ava plopped down on the on the high stool. The strawberry haired woman moved around the kitchen and poured a bowl of cereal for Ava

"I called her old so she didn't feed me" Ava pouted and heard the sound of something being set down in front of her "Isn't that sort…of abusive?"

"To a normal family yeah, but you and Claudine?" Jenna grinned "Nope" she uttered popping the 'p'

Ava rolled her eyes and started to munch after two spoonful she pouted "Jen seriously buy better cereals-"

"Do you not want to be fed?"

"No, I'll be good" the petite teen declared.

"I knew threatening to take away food makes you behave" Jenna muttered and watched as the blond literally inhaled her food.


"It's so noisy" Ava shook her head, she and got a ride off of Elena

"That's the whole point of a celebration Ava it's meant to be noisy" Elena chuckled "come on…wait where's your cane?"

"I left it at your house, oh crap" Ava grumbled

"It's ok" Elena assured her and linked her arm with Ava's "you know the layout of the whole town, let's go find Stefan." they weaved their way through the crowd.

"So Elena how is your dress working out for you?"

"It's a pain" Elena uttered "and….wait I think…Claudine looks like she's…ok she is"

"What?" Ava asked there were sounds of laughter, people chatting and Ava could swear there was some sound of music from the school's marching band. Ava assumed they must still be practising.

"Your gran is making out with the pawn shop owner" Elena snorted all of a sudden "Carol Lockwood saw her-"

"Shit come on. If that woman spots me she might think I've got something to do with it" Ava hissed.

Elena chuckled, she could recall more than a few occasions where her friend got in trouble because of the elderly woman.

"Oh there's Stefan" Elena spotted her boyfriend and Damon; the brunette inclined her head to the pair of brothers and smiled.

"Elena" Stefan kissed her and smiled at Ava "Ava-"

"Hey Stef" the petite teen smiled "dressed up as Elena's bitch-"

"Ava-"

"I mean escort" Ava hastily uttered.

"That was a sucky cover up" Damon murmured into her ear

"Oh bite me" she shot a dirty look in his direction. The raven head vampire smirked

"Don't mind if I do" with that he grabbed a startled Ava around her waist and tugged her to his chest.

"Damon" she squealed as he pushed her hair aside and laughed when he kissed her neck

"SALVATORE DON'T TOUCH HER HAIR" Claudine shrieked from the other side of the grassy grounds.

"Got it" he yelled back but grunted when Ava elbowed him in the gut. And slipped out of his hold,

Stefan had watched the whole exchange unlike he wasn't that surprised compared to Elena who had witnessed the whole exchange with her mouth hanging open.

"Elena can I talk to you?"

"Sure Ava-"

"I'll keep her company-"

"And that's my cue to go find someone to annoy" Ava uttered and turned on her heel and walked off. But Damon followed after her

"Slow down princess" he gently grasped her hand and linked his hand with hers. "So you look sexy in black-"

"Damon don't be a pervert today please. It's a family event-"

"Blah. Blah blah want to make out somewhere-"

Ava rolled her eyes they walked over the grass "So what's Stefan talking to Elena about?" she asked

"Can't you use this" he used his index to tap her temple "your awesome mind powers"

"Unlike you Damy I do respect people's privacy-"

"Pfft no you don't" he snorted and plucked a flower from one the of the floats much to Carol Lockwood's annoyance and tucked it behind her ear

"What was-"

"It's a sunflower, you don't seem like a lily type and it's your favourite right?" Damon uttered

Ava was surprised "How'd you-"

"I do occasionally listen to you Ava…even sometimes you do chat shi-"

"And once again Salvatore you ruined another nice moment." Ava rolled her milky green eyes, the sunflower stood out against Ava's mane of golden locks "Dick-"

"How about I make it up to you?" he smirked

"How?" she asked suspiciously "nothing where you grab my-"

"No" Damon laughed placing his large hand over her lips, "now will you be quiet for a couple of minutes so I can spill?"

Ava nodded against the palm of his hand he removed it "Ok…well turns out Creepy John is Elena's biological father"

"Fuck…creepy John had sex to reproduce-"

"That's what came to mind?" Damon scoffed he knew he wouldn't get a normal reaction out of her. well this was Ava and she wasn't exactly normal.

"Well…-"

"Ava" Claudine jogged towards her "Vamp you're looking super sexy in black"

Damon chuckled "Thanks for noticing, not looking so bad yourself fancy coming over for a nightcap-"

"Ok" Ava swallowed her brows knitted together "she's like a hundred and you're hitting on her. pervert-Oww" she yelped when Claudine slapped her upside the head.

"I am not a hundred. Try fifty four you little shit-"

"Did you call me a little shit-"

"Ok out of order" Claudine rolled her eyes; they were surrounded by a vast amount of students who were voluntarily helping out with the parade. "Did you know that Mark has a tattoo on his pe-"

"Gran" Ava shouted.

"Right, I got off the subject anyway hide this" she shoved a cell phone in Ava's hand.

"What? And where-"

"How about down your top?" Damon suggested "how about I help?" he went to unbutton the front of Ava's dress but both she and Claudine slapped his hand away

"Damon-"

"That's sexual harassment-"Ava cried out.

"What? I was trying-"

"Ok pervy vamp…ergh hide it in your pocket" Claudine uttered

"Who's phone-"her eyes widened in realisation "Oh my god who's phone did you stole?"

"I didn't-"

"Gran-"

"Fine Carol Lockwood" Claudine huffed; Damon had watched the whole exchange on in amusement. "She was being annoying so I pickpocketed her"

"Ha-"

"Damon don't encourage her-"

"HAS ANYONE SEEN MY CELL PHONE?"

"And I think I'll go and help boss around some kids" Claudine muttered and scurried away. Ava shook her head she could hear Damon sniggering "What?"

"I just realised that you're the stable one out of the pair." With that Ava whacked him upside the head.


Ava was currently eating a toffee covered apple, she was standing beside Bonnie. The witch was taking pictures of Caroline and Matt in their outfits.

"How can you have that much sugar?" Bonnie asked

Ava grinned goofily her lips were covered in toffee "Want some?" she offered her the sticky apple. Bonnie cringed as Ava waved it under her nose "Eww no…Ava near my face-"

"Go on" the blond urged her but the witch batted her hand away causing the apple to go flying across the gravel

"Oh Bon" Ava whined

"I'll buy you another-"Bonnie rolled her eyes seeing the pout on the teen's face "Fine two" she offered

"Thanks Bon-"Ava grinned

"Ava get in here, you two Bon, Matt can you take a picture of us?" Caroline asked her boyfriend.

"Sure-"

"No-"

"You're not getting out of this Ava" Bonnie dragged the smaller blond over to Caroline

"Wait, wait she's got toffee all over her face" the taller girl uttered "We have to clean her up-"

Ava huffed "It's only a bit-"

"No it's not it's all over you face-"

"Here" Matt threw a wad of napkin towards Bonnie who managed to catch it.

"Hold still" Caroline warned her, she held on to Ava's chin and began to literally scrubbed the toffee off of petite teen's creamy skin.

"Oww" Ava wriggled and grouched.

"Matt?"

"Yeah Bon, I'm definitely taking a video of this" Matt chuckled and held up the digital camera, Bonnie giggled at the scene, Caroline was going pink in the face from the sheer effort of wiping Ava's face clean. And Ava's pout became more and more pronounce

"Just a bit more-"

"Ow fucking hell Care" Ava shrieked "STRANGER DANGER, STRANGER DANGER-ARGH-"

"AVA SHUT UP" Caroline yelled hitting her on the shoulder.

"Ok Care Ava you want to take a picture yet or…?" Bonnie uttered

"Yes quick come on" Caroline ordered. Bonnie rushed over to her two friends and after a few pictures of the trio; the witch was once again taking pictures of Caroline and Matt.

Since Bonnie couldn't find the toffee apple stand she had gotten Ava a large cone of ice cream. Ava licked off the chocolate topping

"Say cheese" Bonnie uttered. Ava swallowed

"How comes it's always cheese? Why not crackers? Or toffee? But cheese isn't that just-"

"Bon just take the picture" Caroline giggled, Matt shook his head at Ava's antics. "Wait hide your cast" she demanded

"What?"

"She doesn't want the picture to look sucky" Ava commented

"Fine" Matt huffed. "Come here"

Bonnie took the picture as Tyler came up walking behind Ava and the witch "Ava-" he grabbed her hips causing her to shriek and drop her cone of ice-cream

"Fucking hell-you're such a douchebag" Ava snapped

Tyler laughed "I was having a laugh-"

"Well your so called laugh cost me an ice-cream" she muttered, Tyler rolled his eyes and lightly patted her back "You owe me-"

"I know you've got my mom's cell-"

"Did I tell you how much I love you Tyler Lockwood?" Ava grinned, "But you're still a dick after what you done to Matt"

"I want to take one with Bonnie" Caroline declared

"Here I'll take it-"Tyler took the camera off of Bonnie

"I'll be on the float" Matt walked off, Ava bit her bottom lip

"This is awkward" Bonnie muttered

"Now you said that it makes it even more awkward" Ava commented, there was music in the background so she was slightly straining to hear everything.

"What? I said I was sorry" Tyler exclaimed in response the petite teen whacked him

"Stupid, you made out with his mom and then beat the shit out of him" Ava rolled her milky green eyes "sorry isn't going to cut it. And people say I'm oblivious" without another word she wondered off.


"He's still so angry at me and-there's Ava" Elena spotted the blond through the crowd and picked up the skirts of her dress and shot towards her. "Ava?"

Ava spun around "Elena?" she had heard the brunette's voice "What's up?" she asked

"I…Jeremy knows about the vampire and…"

"Is he angry at you?" Ava asked softly, the wind swept through them sending her curls flying forward "Or-"

"Not just me. He's angry at you as well" Elena told her she glanced around but couldn't see any sign of her angry little brother.

"What?" Ava asked surprised "What'd I-"

"He knows that you knew about his memory getting wiped and-"

"How the hell does he know that?" Ava asked incredulous "Wait….you wrote it in that freaking journal…now he's pissed at me. Elena didn't I tell you to hide it in a better place?"

"I did" to Elena Ava looked like a little kid who was a couple of seconds away from stomping her dainty foot. "I hid it behind the picture-"

Ava snorted "That's a shitty hiding place, next time go for the water tank in the-"

"Ava you're going off again" Elena uttered she heard her name being called and looked over her shoulder. The taller girl could see Carol Lockwood waving her over, the parade was about to start

"Listen I have to go, but if do bump into Jeremy can you try and talk to him?"

"Wait..-and she's gone" Ava mumbled and shook her head. She sighed and opened her mind up trying to locate her gran, since they were meant to be together when the parade started. She could pick up familiar thoughts coming from near the side of the road. Ava headed in that direction and out of all the odds she had bumped into Jeremy.

"Jeremy" she smiled

"Ava how-"

"How are you?" she asked brightly

"Go away Ava. I know Elena sent you over-"he picked up his pace, but the blond teen was persistent

"So I heard you're rocking the soldier type of uniform thing" Ava uttered "and that the float is awesome. Well I can't see it but-"

"What part of go away do you not understand?" Jeremy snapped turning to face the startled teen.

Ava bit her lip "I'm sorry I didn't-"

"Go away Ava. You came over to the house practically every day. And you never said a word" he stopped up to her towering over her small frame "I thought I meant more to you than that Ava?-"

"You do" Ava said sincerely.

Jeremy shook his head "Obviously I don't or you and Elena wouldn't have lied to my friend. Now leave me alone Ava. You can't fix this" he stormed off. This time Ava didn't follow after him.

"Ava darling" Claudine smiled seeing her granddaughter, but her smile faltered seeing the saddened look on her face. "What's wrong?" she asked gently sweeping aside some of Ava's fallen curls.

"Nothing-"

"Now that's a lie." She dropped her arm around Ava's shoulders and hugged her granddaughter to her side "but I'm guessing you don't want to talk about it?" Ava nodded "Well how about we go get some ice cream and go and watch the parade. Come on"


Ava could hear music being played by the marching band. She and Gran were right by the front of the crowd and Ava was currently finishing off her ice-cream.

"Let's give a big welcome to Mystic Falls high school marching band" Carol called out. The crowd cheered and clapped

"BOO YOU SUCK THAT'S NOT A MARCHING BAND-"Claudine screeched.

Ava's cheeks flamed up "Oh my god please stop. Gran what the hell?" she hissed.

Claudine cackled "It makes it more exciting-"was her excuse, Ava rolled her eyes and finished off her ice-cream.

"And for a little local history Mr Saltzman's students had recreated the Battle of Willow Creek-"

"Ava Carol is reading off of cards" Claudine whispered loudly "she really needs to brush up on her history"

Ava giggled and clapped and cheered loudly "Ladies and gentlemen please welcome our stunning Miss Mystic Falls court and their handsome escorts" Carol declared, Ava whistled and waved wildly nearly taking Claudine's eye out.

"Shit Ava-"

"And Miss Mystic Falls is Miss Caroline Forbes-"there were loud cheers and whistles, Claudine sighed sadly

"Your mother back in the day was a contender. So was I" the elderly woman informed Ava "I wanted to see you up there" she murmured.

Ava smiled and shrugged her shoulders "Clearly I don't belong there. Plus it's only-"

"Been part of our family. You would have looked stunning up there Ava" Claudine said seriously

"Then why isn't she up there?" Damon asked appearing beside both Xenias. The vampire had just finished his conversation with Bonnie and had noticed the pair

"Because I don't want to be-"

"So far the last two years I try to sign Ava up for this but Carol Lockwood refused to let Ava enter because…-"

"I don't exactly fit the mould for this whole thing" Ava said easily "No biggie-"

"It is a big deal" Claudine snapped

"She's right-"

"Just drop it the both of you. There's nothing you can do about it anymore" Ava uttered.

Damon narrowed his eyes and glanced over to Claudine, who caught his eyes, the vampire nodded towards the float that Elena and Caroline were standing on. "You got a camera Claudine?"

Claudine grinned knowing what he was getting at "Why yes I do. Quick-"

"Wait what-DAMON" Ava screamed when she was flung on to his jump, there were gasps from the crowds when the vampire jumped onto the float landing beside his brother and Elena.

"Damon what are you doing?" Stefan snapped eyes wide.

"Getting a picture-"

"Huh?-"

"Ava you're going to puke?" Damon asked setting Ava onto her feet

"No-"but she flung her fist out, the vampire swerved out the way, Ava accidentally punched Tina Fell in the face

"Oh shit-"Damon swore, "Quick Claudine take the picture-"

"What?" Elena asked confused. Damon had basically along with Ava commandeered a whole float so Claudine could take a picture? She thought

"SMILE" Claudine grinned but scowled when a chubby child at the front blocked her path "hey fatty move-"

"SECURITY-"Carol screamed

"Hurry up Gran" Ava snapped

"What-"

"Keep up Stef." Damon snapped wrapping his arm around Ava's shoulders "Claudine wanted a picture of Ava on the float, it's some sentimental thing and I'm giving her that so smile-"with that Claudine lost any bit of patience she had left and pushed the chubby kid over. She ignored his cry "SMILE" with that the whole group par Tina Fell grinned, Damon made sure Ava was facing in the correct direction and a picture was taken.

"Erm Claudine there are guards" Elena pointed seeing the burly security men rushing towards Claudine

"THERE RIGHT THERE HER-"Carol uttered but the elderly woman cut her off

"RUN" Claudine shrieked and legged it down the road. Damon jumped off the float and also ran off.

"Wait what?" Ava shouted "what about me?"

"Oh shit-"the whole crowd broke out into laughter when Damon returned and once again flung Ava over his shoulder and ran off after Claudine.

There was a resounding silence and then all of a sudden laughter once again broke over the crowd much to Carol Lockwood's annoyance. Another event where the Xenia's managed to cause chaos


"Ok well I'm going to say bye to Mark-crap I think that's his name" Claudine muttered a couple of hours had passed since the parade had been over

"Gran-"

"Love meet out here in a few you got to piss and I have to deal with that man"

Ava rolled her eyes. They were just outside the Grill "The fireworks? We're-"

"I'll be back before then" she assured Ava; the blond nodded and entered the Grill. the place was pretty busy

"It's never going to be ok is it? Jeremy's still so mad at me-"she heard Elena's distraught thoughts. Jeremy groaned under his breath seeing Ava by the door. He brushed passed her but Ava grabbed his arm

"Jere-"

"Leave me alone Ava" he snarled.

Ava scowled "You really are a dick aren't you? Elena is sorry and so am I" she sighed her anger disappeared "I really am. Please I want to fix this" she pleaded "You're like a brother to me"

"Ava?"

She brightened up at least he was talking somewhat civilly towards her "Yes?"

"Guess what?"

"What?" she leant forward her milky green eyes board in to him. For someone who couldn't see Ava sure did a convincing impression that she could see.

"You are nothing like a sister to me. You mean nothing Ava" with that he stalked off. Damon had watched the whole scene and saw the way Ava's face crumpled. Ava sniffed loudly, Jeremy's words had hurt her more than she had expected. Damon strode towards the sad little blond

"Ava-"she hastily wiped her tears

"Hey Damon-"

"Cut the crap" he scoffed and pulled her into a tight hug "He hurt you?"

"He's upset and-"

"Stay here-"

"No Damon don't-"

"Stay here Ava. Elena's by the bar" he kissed the crown of her head and gently pushed her off towards Elena.

Once he saw Elena greeting Ava, Damon turned on his heel, he was beyond pissed the whole time he known Ava he had never once witnessed her actually crying like that. He had to force himself not to rip Jeremy's little head off.

He needed to talk to Jeremy Gilbert and make sure that knew what he had said to Ava was completely out of line.


"And that's your final treat of the day" Claudine declared. She and Ava like the other townsfolk were in the town's local square. They were waiting for the fireworks to begin and at the moment they were both munching on pink candy floss.

"So Ava you and Damon huh?" the elderly woman asked slyly

Ava rolled her eyes; they were near the back of the crowd. Claudine thought it be best if Ava wasn't too close to where the fireworks since there would loud bangs and knew it would mess her hearing up.

"Me and Damon? "she scoffed "We're friends Gran-"

"Friends? Huh?" Claudine gently nudged her and spotted the chubby kid she had pushed over earlier. She rolled her eyes seeing the little kid eyeing her and Ava's candy floss "take it fatty, go shoo go away" she clapped her hands. Ava giggled hearing what her grandmother had just said.

"So-"

"Don't change the subject what's going on with you and the sexier Salvatore?"

Ava snorted "Nothing trust me."

Claudine hummed thoughtfully "Hmm he cares for you Ava a lot-"

"Yeah and he's a bit of a douche and-"

"But he does care for you. He would take care of you Ava know that" Claudine said seriously. Ava frowned and hesitantly nodded. "God how long till the fireworks? I'm freezing my tits off"

Ava snickered at that. "Oh the mayor's on the stage finally"

The petite teen faltered for a second "Gran do you see Elena or the others anywhere?" she asked.

Claudine scoured the crowd and frowned the teens were no-where in sight. She opted to shrug it off

"They must be having a keg party somewhere" and excited look appeared on her face "want to go Ava?"

"Erm…no" Ava uttered

"Fine, fine, I did agree a nice quiet night in" Claudine huffed. The mayor stepped up on the podium and cleared his throat silencing the crowd.

"A hundred and fifty years, Mystic Falls has been the kind of town" he gestured around himself "that everybody wants to call home; it's safe, prosperous, welcoming."

"This isn't such a bad speech ya know" Claudine commented causing Ava to smile, she tucked a stray curl behind her ear; she focused back on the mayor.

"And we have the Founders to thank for that. That's why I like to dedicate this evening fireworks display to their legacy-"

Damon grabbed both Ava's and Claudine's shoulders causing them to jump "Vamp boy what's up?" the elder Xenia asked

"You need to go home-"

"Rude much" Damon shook his head and grabbed their hands pulling them away from the crowd "Listen, the tomb vampires are on the loose they're after the founders but with Ava's blood-"

"They'll go after her" Claudine finished off

"Stay safe" he ordered the pair of them. Ava managed to grab his hand

"Where are you going?" she asked

"I need to talk to John Gilbert. Take her home" Claudine nodded and without another word the vampire left.

"Come on" Claudine grabbed Ava's hand "we're going to have to walk super-fast ok Ava?"

"Gran-"

"Ssh baby girl. No need to be scared" Gran assured her and with one final glance over her shoulder she tugged Ava away from the square.


"Come on Ava" they were jogging down the road. Ava could hear the crowd cheering loudly. They were only a couple of yards away.

"Oww" Ava whimpered her heels were killing her.

"Ava come on" Claudine ordered clutching her chest god she was getting old for this. She slumped against the wall for a second. The fireworks were going off. Claudine couldn't help but gaze up at the night sky

"It's beautiful Ava" she said softly her hand tightened around Ava's "You would love this" the fireworks lit up Ava's face. she never looked more like Faith than she did now Claudine thought. "Come on-"another loud explosion of fireworks went off.

Ava screamed in pain and clutched her head making Claudine gasp

"AVA" she screamed as Ava cried out and fell to her knees. "Ava-"

"Gran my head" Ava groaned tears marred her face "my head" she screamed "make it stop, make it stop"

Claudine swallowed and looked around "Ava listen to me-"but the teen was literally writhing in pain. She grabbed Ava's face and saw the two steady trails of blood leaking out of her nose.

"Gran-"she whimpered hunching over

"No, listen to me Ava. We need to get you out" she said determinedly, it must be the device she thought. After all it only had this sort of effect on a supernatural creature. "Come on" she wrapped am arm around Ava's waist and attempted to make the teen walk forward but she was in too much pain.

It felt like needles were repeatedly stabbing her in the brain. They had just passed an alleyway

"Gran make it stop" Ava begged

"Close your mind Ava-"

"I can't please" tears brimmed from Claudine's eyes she couldn't stand the sight of seeing her granddaughter in pain, another shot of intense pain exploded in Ava's head causing her to scream even louder,

"Dear god" Claudine muttered and frantically looked around, she grew even more panicked seeing blood leaking out from Ava's ears. "Ava-"she froze hearing thundering footsteps running towards them.

Claudine's head shot up, her eyes widened taking in sight of a deputy who was coming towards them "It's going to be ok Ava, you're going to be ok" she whispered "Know that I love you and that I'll will always be here. in your heart. I am sorry" she dropped a kiss on Ava's sweaty temple and clenched her eyes shut.

Claudine pushed Ava into the alley sending her tumbling to ground. The elder Xenia knew what she needed to do and that was to protect Ava. So without further ado she dropped to her knees and screamed in pain and clutched her head. So it appeared that she was the one that was affected by the Gilbert device not Ava.

"Another one….she needs….to go….Gilbert…"


All of a sudden the stabbing pains in Ava's head stopped. She groaned and just managed to get onto her knees. She wiped her bloody nose with the back of her hand

"Gran?" her voice was hoarse from the screaming "Gran?" she shouted getting scared. Ava took a deep breath and forced to calm herself. Now was not the time to panic. She clenched her eyes shut and recalled what she might have heard.

There was screaming and then she remembered being shoved away. Claudine had pushed her but why? Footsteps there was footsteps….it was the deputy but why was he. Ava's eyes snapped open they had taking Claudine to the old Gilbert building. She sprinted out of the alley; she needed to find someone anyone

"STEFAN? DAMON? ANYONE?" Ava cried

"Ava?" Alaric spotted the blond from over the crowd. He had come out of the alley where they had hid Stefan to see if he could find anything out, preferably where the deputies had taken Damon. "Ava-"he grabbed her arm and sounds her around "Oh my god" he breathed taking sight of her bloodied face. The bottom half of Ava's face was smeared with blood and so was her ears

"Ava-"

"Where's Damon?" she asked frantically

"The deputies they took him-"Ava licked her chap lips

"Where are we?"

"Near the town square-NO AVA" he shouted but the small blond wrenched her arm away "AVA DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID. STEFAN IS GOING TO GET DA-"

"THEY TOOK MY GRAN RIC" she shouted, Alaric's grip was gone

"Ava where are you going?" he bellowed

"OLD GILBERT PLACE" she didn't care what she was doing was about to be reckless she was going to get her Gran back.

Ava sprinted towards the old Gilbert place.


Damon groaned and looked away from the Mayor's dead body

"Damon?" a familiar voice croaked. The vampire followed the voice and saw just of the sight laid a very pale looking Claudine Xenia,

"Claudine you're not a vamp-"she could feel the searing heat against her body. Claudine coughed

"No" she shook her head "I'm not a vampire-"

"But-"

"They were going to take Ava, I can't let them do that" she gasped for breath. And swallowed her eyes met Damon's icy blue ones

"Ava what?"

"The device affected her as well…she's not exactly human-"Claudine spluttered as she coughed

"What is she?" he asked the basement was filled with anguish cries and groans

"She is…special….a light…she has a light….look after her-"

Damon heart dropped seeing the old lady trying to hold onto her life


Ava sprinted down the alleyway; she was by the back door of the old Gilbert place. She had picked up on the thoughts of John and heard basement in his mind. She grabbed the door handle

"Hey-"Bonnie shouted "Ava what are you doing?" she asked

"What are you doing?" she screamed back "they took her my gran"

"Ava don't go in no-"but Ava's mind lashed out sending the witch onto her knees.

Ava opened the door and ran into the old store, like everywhere else in town she knew the layout of the place since she had hanged around here with Grayson when she was younger. On the side of the door was Bonnie who gasped.

She clutched her aching temples and swore Ava had gone in, with her mind Bonnie slowed down the flames she couldn't fully distinguish them but anything would do.

Ava managed to get to the back door and could hear the groans on the other side. She grabbed the door knob and pulled her hand back immediately when it burnt her hand. She tugged the sleeve of her cardigan down and pulled the door open.

"Gran?" she shouted "Gran-"

"Oh fuck" Damon groaned hearing the teen. "AVA GO-"

"No" Ava took one step forward and tumbled down the stairs. She groaned in pain and coughed inhaling the smoke filled air. "GRAN, GRAN PLEASE-"she stumbled forwards the flames licked her legs.

"Damon" Claudine whispered her eyes filled with tears "please….look….after….my baby-"

"Don't give up Claudine-"Damon spat "you're not going anywhere. She needs you-"

"Ava's got you. Love her like I know you do" Claudine closed her eyes.

"GRAN" Ava cried. Damon swallowed and managed to get onto his knees, as Ava had another coughing fit. It was getting harder for her to breathe

"AVA GO-"the vampire roared.

Stefan ran down the side of the building

"Hey" Bonnie shouted

"Don't stop me-"the vampire warned

Bonnie shook her head "I'm not going to you need to hurry Stefan, Ava is in there"

"What?"

"They took Claudine" Alaric sprinted towards the group coming up behind Bonnie as Elena came up behind Stefan "Ava went-"he didn't finish his sentence since Stefan blurred off.

"Alaric Jere-"

"I got him home. Call an ambulance Ava was covered in blood when I saw her"

Ava coughed "Gran-"

There was a gust of wind, Damon sighed in relief seeing Stefan was now here "Damon? Ava-"

"Get her out and Claudine-"Stefan spotted Ava's grandmother's motionless figure

Stefan nodded and picked up Ava who was covered in blood and soot. "NO my gran-"

"I got her- Damon-"

"Right behind." He coughed he was slowly getting his strength back. The pair of vampires blurred out of the basement.

"Here-"Stefan set Ava onto her feet, as Alaric took Claudine and managed to lower her onto the ground.

"Gran?"

"Oh my god" Elena breathed she looked over to Stefan but the vampire shook his head he couldn't hear a heartbeat coming from the elder Xenia

"Gran?" Ava uttered coughing loudly she struggled towards her grandmother. She reached out her soot covered hand touched Claudine's cheek "GRAN? WAKE UP" she shook her "Get help. Somebody help my Gran" she screamed wondering why no one was coming, tears cascaded down Bonnie's and Elena's faces.

"Ava-"

There was so much going on around her. Ava didn't understand why her grandmother was waking up. There were voices she was finding it hard to breath

"Ava listen to me-princess-"Damon held her face but the blond was fading fast. The last thing she heard was "Sedate her" coming from one of the EMT's.


Ava groaned feeling something on her face. There was a steady beeping noise, her milky green eyes open; she was lying down on something stiff

"Gran?" she called "Gran?"

"Oh good you're awake" a new voice entered the room. "Hmm going by your charts your steady-"

"Where's my gran?" Ava asked sitting up

"Honey lye back down-"the nurse urged her. From the sounds around her Ava could hear she was in a hospital

"No where is my Gran?" Ava snapped.

"Honey-"

"WHERE IS SHE?" she screamed

"Honey she didn't make it and-"

Ava swallowed her lower lip trembled "No….no…no YOU'RE LYING" she shouted

"Honey calm down you're going to dislodge your drip-"but much to the nurse's and the doctor's surprise Ava tore it from her wrist

"She needs to be sedated again-"

"No I want my gran" Ava shouted "Why are you lying?" she stumbled out of the bed and knocked the doctor over as she ran out of the room.

"Ava-"Elena shouted she and the others which included Bonnie, Alaric and Jenna were waiting by the chairs. Stefan and Damon had gone to get them coffee.

"Where is she?" Ava asked she looked so small in the large white hospital issued gown.

"Ava-"Alaric took a step forward "listen carefully-"

Jenna, Elena and Bonnie were still in tears about Claudine's demise they could barely speak. So the hunter took it upon himself to tell her.

"Where's my gran?" Ava sobbed "they're saying-"

"Ava your grandmother…she's gone-"

"Please" Ava cried trembling she backed away from him as he took a couple of step towards her.

"Don't say that…where is she? She said we were going to have movie night. Stop it you're not funny-"

"Ava-"

"Where is she?" Ava screamed "I want my gran I want my gran I want gran-"it felt like she was being stabbed in the heart repeatedly.

"Ava Claudine didn't make it. But we're here-"

"I DON'T WANT YOU" She clutched her head "I want my gran; give her back-"a sob tore from Jenna's throat. Making Alaric wrap his arms around her

"She's getting hysterical" the doctor emerged from the room "Nurse you-

"Don't touch me" Ava shouted through her sobs and sniffed bowing her head.

"Nurse-"

"Would you stop" Stefan growled striding down the corridor being followed by an equally furious Damon "She doesn't need to be drugged. We'll deal with her she needs her friends and family-"

"No family were here-"

"We are her family" Bonnie snapped glaring at the man

"Stefan?" Ava cried "my gran-"

"Ava she's dead" Damon said, Ava's legs buckled and she sobbed hearing that. It was finally hitting her.

"Bring her back, bring her back" Ava sobbed. Damon and Stefan dropped beside her, the raven head vampire gathered her in his arms as Elena knelt down beside Stefan he hugged his girlfriend close.

"Please" she begged Damon. She smothered her face against his chest "give her some blood anything-"

"It doesn't work like that Ava" Stefan whispered. Another gut wrenching sob tore from Ava's throat. Damon rubbed her back and rocked her back and forth "Please bring her back, please bring her back. Please" she pleaded.

"We can't Ava, Claudine is gone and she's not coming back" Damon murmured all he could was hold her whilst the others watched on, their hearts breaking at the sight of destroyed looking Ava.


From the shadows lurked a tall slim brunette, she smirked taking in the sight.

It looked like John Gilbert had unknowingly done something right.

Now that Claudine Xenia was out of the picture it looked like her whole plan was falling into place, she located the doppelganger and now she had Ava the missing piece.

Katarina Petrova smirked; yes her plan was coming together.


AN: Apologies for any grammar or spelling mistakes. Outfit link on profile. Thanks to those who reviewed.

So in this finale chapter of season one-Claudine wakes up Ava. and helps her get ready. Ava teases her and her Gran kicks her out of the house. Ava goes over to the Gilberts for breakfast. Damon gives her a flower. She finds out that John is Elena's dad. Damon and Ava commandeer the float. Jeremy hurts Ava's feelings. Damon is pissed off. The fireworks goes off. The device affects Ava. Claudine hides her and gets taken away. Ava runs after her gran bumping into Alaric on the way. Claudine tells Damon to look after Ava, she's special. Ava goes into the basement trying to find her. Stefan comes in and gets them out. Ava passes out. Ava wakes up and finds out what happened to her Gran. Claudine dies. And Katherine appears.

I know Claudine is dead (don't get upset) it was needed for the story to move on. Don't worry though Claudine does return in season three for a bit.

Next Chap-A funeral, Ava lashes out and Katherine announces her presence.

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