There was a melodic soothing coming from the numerous machines in the hospital. After Ava's breakdown Damon had managed to comfort the blond until she fell asleep. The doctors thought it be best for Ava to remain in hospital until things could get sorted out. Damon sighed and glanced over to the sleeping little blond. She hadn't spoken since had learned about what happened.

Ava shifted in her restless sleep causing Damon to tighten his grip around her waist. She had been whimpering and crying out for her gran in her sleep. She had only stopped when the vampire had climbed in beside her and held her close. Damon ran his fingers through her blond locks and pressed his lips against her temple.

"It'll get better Ava, I promise" he whispered into her ear. She stirred slightly but the vampire rubbed her back sending her back to sleep.

"You're good with her" Damon's head snapped towards the doorway where that voice had come from

"Elena? What are you doing here?" the vampire sat up, he canted his head to the side he swore that the brunette had just left

"Haven't you heard?" she asked "Caroline's been in a car accident-"

"Ssh" Damon hissed jumping onto his feet and grabbed the female by her arm dragging her out of the room. He glared at the brunette "Are you out of your mind?-"

"What?"

"Ava has just gone to sleep, I don't think she needs this right now" he sniped.

"Oh" the brunette played dumb "I didn't think that it…"she sniffed.

"It's fine. Look is the sheriff around?"

"Yeah-"

"I'll be back. Just keep an eye on Ava ok?" he asked, she nodded and the raven head vampire briskly walked down the hall.

"Now that was easy" Katherine smirked and waltzed into the hospital room. "Now now now my little Xenia…I've been wanting to meet you as much as I wanted to meet Elena" she drawled and ran the tip of her finger across her cheek and it came to a rest on her temple…."Never thought I'd meet one" she uttered "they'll be very happy with you." Katherine purred "too bad Damon is smitten with you. It won't last little Ava…not until they come-"

She froze hearing hurried footsteps coming towards the room

"Got to go" Ava's eyes fluttered open feeling a gust of wind and pressed her face into the pillow. Matt entered the hospital room and shut the door behind him.

"Ava?" he said quietly and walked over to her bedside, "I get you probably don't want to talk right now" he grasped her hand and let his eyes roam her face "so I won't ask you how you are" and sat down on the vacant chair. "But Ava I really friend right now…." He sniffed. "It's Caroline, there was a car crash and…I don't know they say she's in critical condition" he uttered and wiped his tears. "Ava can you hear-"she gave his hand the smallest squeeze alerting him that she had heard him. She took in deep shuddering breaths silent tears made their way down her face.

"Ava-"but she rolled away showing him her back. Matt swallowed the lump down his throat seeing the distraught teen. He decided to just sit with her; he wasn't the only one who needed a friend. It was roughly ten minutes of Ava's quiet sobbing when Bonnie came thundering into the room, she had heard about her other friend.

"How is she?" Bonnie asked softly sitting on the edge of the bed.

Matt shrugged his shoulders "How do you think? She hadn't said a word Bonnie" he told her. The witch licked her lips "How's Caroline? Should we go-"

"No she needs to know Bon" he muttered "Caroline's not good"

"What happened?" she glanced over to Ava who was facing towards them her face was pale and she had dark circles beneath her eyes

Ava was listening to every word that was coming out of the pairs mouth, truth be told she was grateful that they were here. She needed to get her mind off of Gran. A pang shot through her heart recalling her.

"We were driving and Tyler heard this noise and-"Ava stiffened hearing that

"What noise?" Bonnie asked curiously

"I don't know he got this migraine" Matt uttered and shook his head "or something…he lost control of the car"

Ava swallowed was Tyler effected by the same thing that she had been?

"I thought that Caroline was fine and that…she wasn't so…-"

"It's my fault, should I have un-spelled the device before? But the vampire-s" Ava stiffened at that her mind was working a mile a minute. The device affected her and Gran had pushed her away and was taken instead. She clenched her fists into her sheets.

"I'm going to see if there's any news" Matt stood up, but not before dropping a kiss on Ava's temple.

Bonnie cleared her throat and pulled out a Tupperware of soup from her bag "Ava I got your favourite chicken soup and-"

"Go away" Ava managed to get out; her voice was croaky and hoarse

"What? Ava-"but before she could ask what was wrong Elena barged into the room. The brunette looked over to Ava and frowned at the curled up form

"Hey how's Caroline?" she asked

"She's weak and Ava is barely speaking" Bonnie muttered "they don't know if Caroline is going to make it" she uttered tears welled up her in her eyes.

"This is a nightmare" Elena muttered, Bonnie pulled her into a hug "is there something you could do like a spell? Or something?"

The silence was broken by Ava who let out another sniff, Elena laid down next to her and sighed pulling the teen close

"Bonnie? Do you know how to do a spell?" Elena asked as the witch laid a hand over Ava's shoulder but the teen stiffened causing Bonnie to pull her hand back with a frown.

"She doesn't know how" Damon drawled walking into the room, he climbed in on Ava's other side. Elena clutched Ava's hand whilst the vampire took the other.

"I don't" Bonnie grudgingly agreed

"No you don't" Damon uttered "because it took Emily years to learn a spell like that-"

"I can take down a vampire" Bonnie countered "that spell was easy to learn"

Ava pressed her face against his shoulder causing Elena to look at her in concern, she looked over to Damon but the vampire shook his head.

"How about I give her some blood?" Damon suggested, his hand stroking Ava's back the teen was still wearing the hospital gown "just a little, it'll be out of her system in a day and she'll get better Elena and I'm sure Ava agrees with me"

"It's too risky" Elena shook her head getting onto her feet "I can't risk that"

"Do it" Bonnie said surprising the pair, Ava remained motionless her head was resting against Damon's shoulder. "This is Caroline, we can't let her dies"

Ava felt a whole hoard of anger coursing through her; she bit down on her bottom lip hard.

"Do it" Bonnie insisted

"If I do this will you and I call it a truce?" Damon uttered

"No but you'll do it anyway for Ava-"

"Get out" a hard voice bit out silencing the trio,

"Ava?" this was the first time she had spoken since this whole conversation started

"Ava come on-"

"GET OUT" Ava shrieked "Get out, get out, get out-"Damon grabbed her as she tried to get out of the bed, he pulled her into his lap but she struggled against him.

"Ava—"Elena was surprised "honey you-"

"You were supposed to un-spell the device" a sob tore from Ava's throat "And you didn't, Caroline can't die but my gran did" she cried. Tears streamed down her face

"Ava it wasn't meant to happen like this. Claudine was never meant to go down-"

"I BLAME YOU" Ava shouted "You're…GET OUT" she collapsed against his chest and pressed it into the crook of his neck.

"Bonnie I'll call you later" Elena said

Bonnie swallowed and nodded, she hadn't thought about it like that. She turned on her heel and left.

"Ava maybe you should eat?" Elena suggested opening the Tupperware of soup "here it's chicken and-"but Ava knocked it out of her hand sending the contents spilling all over the floor.

"Ava-"

"Go away." Ava crawled onto the bed

"Ava-"

"Elena don't" Damon slid off the bed pulling the covers over her, he massaged the back of Ava's head "Wait…" he frowned "I thought you were in here earlier"

"No I wasn't" Elena uttered her eyes were focused on Ava who was staring listlessly towards their direction,

"Yeah you were I told you to keep an eye on Ava and-"

"I wasn't here Damon" she snapped "anyway did you know that one of the tomb vampires got out and tried to kill John?"

Damon frowned in confusion he swore that Elena was wearing something different "What? When? What are you talking about? After I left?"

"You were there?"

"Ava was asleep I went to talk to Jeremy" the vampire replied idly stroking Ava's locks. "I passed you on the porch"

Ava heard the hospital doors once again opening; Jenna's hurried footsteps entered the room. "I got your message Elena. How's John?"

"Where have you've been?" Elena asked

"At the fire department I had to fill out the report. I told you earlier-"

Elena shook her head "No you didn't"

"Yes I did" Damon paused in his light ministrations and looked over to the pair

"No you didn't"

"Yes I did" Elena uttered. The vampire's eyes widened he was connecting the dots

"Oh no" he breathed and mentally swore "You've got to be kidding me. Stay with her" he gestured towards Ava and a dropped a quick kiss on her temple and left.

Elena frowned in confusion "Jenna, I'm going to go and check on Jeremy you-"

"I'll stay with her" Jenna nodded, Elena sent her a look and left as well.


Jenna sighed and looked down Ava "Oh Ava-"

"Please just go away" Ava muttered once again tears trekked down her face, she just wanted her grandmother no one else.

"I can't do that. And I won't" Jenna climbed in beside Ava and wiped away her tears "You know the first time I met your grandmother was on the porch. It was back when I would've got high and drunk out of my mind for no reason" she confided in her. She smiled at the memory her heart lurched recalling the elderly woman.

"God I remember that, I got the car crashed and I was having a fit on the porch. Miranda was going to kill me it was her car. Claudine saw me and invited me in I think you were drawing or something. Anyway she ended up coming up some crazy story about how the car got stolen and all this crap…in the end she I got caught. And you know what she did?" Ava didn't reply but Jenna didn't let her put that off.

"She dropped me in it. Got grounded for a couple of weeks…I was so angry at her. She made it up to me though taking me to a keg party." Jenna chuckled. Ava's lips twitched at that.

Jenna sighed and swallowed the lump in her throat "I miss her too Ava, but your Gran wouldn't want to see you like this."

Ava blinked and turned her face away using the pillow to wipe away her face "Listen Ava, they're discharging you tomorrow, and you're coming home with us-"

Ava shook her head "I want to go home-"she muttered her body shook. Jenna's lips thinned

"I'm sorry sweetie but you can't. The mayor's memorial is tomorrow and we're going as a family-"Ava rolled away from her. Jenna sat up

"Listen Claudine's funeral has been set for Thursday. I made all the arrangements so you don't have to worry. But is there anything you want to add?" she asked.

Jenna received no response from the teen and sighed quietly she glanced at the time and saw that she should visit John. "Ava try and go sleep" just as she was about to leave the room when she heard the teen's muffled voice.

"What?"

"Gran liked pale pink gerberas. They're her favourite flowers" Ava uttered.

"Ok, sweetie" Jenna uttered "Try to sleep-"

"I can't every time I do I….she's there" Ava sniffed and pulled the covers over her head. Jenna looked on sadly and turned on her heel and left .She gently closing the door behind her. The strawberry blond haired woman passed the nurses' station; she paused and decided to do this.

Jenna knew that Ava would be angry but she didn't want the teen to completely restless.

"Excuse me" she cleared her throat "Hi I just came from Ava Xenia's room, she's having trouble sleeping. I was wondering if you could give her anything or…"

"Oh poor dear" the nurse frowned "she's been crying her sleep as well"

Jenna swallowed "So can you? Give her something to make her sleep I mean?" she asked.

"I can do that"

Jenna nodded and hurried off to John's room.


Ava could hear the doors once again opening,

"Hi sweetie" she frowned "This should make her drift off-"

"I don't want to sleep" she shouted scrambling backwards she could hear the nurse coming closer "Get away from me "

"It'll help. You just need to calm down-"

"I said go away."

"Honey your friend Jenna-"

"I told Jenna, I told her I didn't want to go sleep" Ava shrieked she was scared of falling asleep, every time she could close her eyes she could hear the screaming from the cellar. And there's always a picture of Claudine's face in her mind.

The nurse could see that the teen was getting hysterical. She slammed her hand against the panic button to get some back up.

"Honey just relax-"

"Don't call me that" Ava shouted "Go away, go away I don't want to sleep-"the hospital doors swung open and a couple of nurses entered the room.

"Mary-"

"She needs to be sedated" the head nurse instructed, they all managed to pin Ava down.

"No" Ava cried "I don't want to go-"they injected her with something that she had no clue about. Her body sagged against the mattress. "I don't want-"her eyes drifted closed and she passed out.

"Gran?" a five year old Ava called out and jumped when another clap of thunder shook the house. Causing the little girl to shriek and clamoured off her bed, she clutched on to her teddy and stumbled towards her grandmother's room.

Little Ava pushed the door open and could see the figure on the bed.

"Granny?" the little girl sniffed "Granny-"

Claudine groaned and rolled over; her brows furrowed seeing the child "Ava? What are you…it's four in the morning-"just then another clap of thunder boom around the house. Ava yelped and struggled to climb up onto the bigger bed.

"You're such a short kid" Claudine muttered and sat up, she easily grabbed the child and hoisted her up on to the bed.

"You're old-"Ava muttered and pouted when Claudine lightly spanked her pyjama covered bottom. She whimpered when there was another flash of lightening. The old lady grunted when Ava clamoured on top of her and snuggled her face into her neck. She chuckled

"You're like my personal teddy bear"

"I got Mr Snood" Ava uttered holding her bear.

"Mr Snood? What happened to Ms Clover?" Claudine uttered running her fingers through Ava's blond curls. She tilted the child's face up; Ava looked dead serious as she answered her grandmother's question.

"She was being a….bitch"

Claudine's eyes bugged out and made Ava cry out by swatting her bottom "How the hell did you learn that word?" she asked

"You…"Ava sniffled "called Mrs Lockwood one and you said she was mean. Ms Clover was mean too" Claudine sighed "Listen to me Miss Ava do not under any circumstances call someone that ok?"

"Ok" Ava nodded "Can I sleep here?" she asked softly.

Claudine smiled "Whenever you get scared Ava just come to me and I'll make everything ok? Got it?" she kissed the top of Ava's head

"Yeah I got it Granny" Ava grinned at her, Claudine smile grew wider and hugged her close "Love you Granny-"

"Love you too sweetie" Claudine murmured. The memory faded.

Ava jolted awake and glanced around, she could hear cries of pain and groaning "GRAN?" she screamed running through her house, and she slammed the basement door opened. "Gran?"

"AVA? HELP PLEASE" Claudine screamed…fires licked at the teen's legs. "AVA…PLEASE I DON'T WANT TO DIE-"

"GRAN" Ava bolted upright gasping for breath; she looked frantically around where was she? Her mind was a messed. Why was she here? She needed to save Gran. She swung her legs out of the bed and ran down the hall barging and storming passed people, she ignored their cries and shouts for her to stop. She needed to get home.

Alaric had rounded the corner he was here to talk to Jenna but had managed to miss her. The hunter spun around hearing shouting

"Ava?" he uttered seeing the petite teen running down the hallway. "AVA" he shouted running after the frantic teen.

Ava burst through the hospital doors and ran forward. Alaric was on her heels.

Elena had just climbed out the car she and she and Stefan were here to see John to ask about Katherine.

"AVA"

"What the-Oh my god STEFAN" Elena screamed seeing Ava running out into the road as an ambulance came zooming towards her. Stefan eyes widened he sped towards the blond.

"No-"

Alaric tackled Ava out of the way. He clutched onto the blond as they rolled out onto the sidewalk.

Elena and Stefan ran towards them.

"What the fuck Ava?" Alaric hissed.

"Have you completely lost your mind?" Stefan snapped kneeling down in front of the blond; he lightly slapped her face getting her attention

"Stefan-"Elena uttered but the history teacher shook his head.

"What has gotten into you?" the vampire growled.

Ava shook her head a look of defeat passed her features. She was slowly coming back to reality

"Ava?" Stefan uttered his eyes were hard truth be told he hadn't been scared like that for a long time.

"I want to go home" Ava sobbed "I want to….I want my Gran"

Alaric sighed as Stefan wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her onto her unsteady feet. "I don't want to be here anymore" she uttered; Elena sighed and pulled out a tissue cleaning Ava's face.

"Well you don't need to. You've been discharged Ava, come on let's get you cleaned up." Elena said softly. "Ric can you go with Ava me and Stefan have to see John" she handed a bag of clothes and toiletries over to the hunter that she had picked up from the house. When Elena had entered the Xenia house it was cold and not at all welcoming.

"Yeah sure" Alaric murmured "come on Ava" gently took her hand and led her back to the hospital.

Alaric looked up and saw Ava emerging from the bathroom. Her hair was damp and her eyes were red from tears. He watched as she ambled over to him and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Ava your shoes are in front of you" he told her.

He saw her struggling to get the shoes and, she hastily wiped her tears and tried again, she just couldn't get the straps in place.

"Let me"

Alaric said and knelt down buckling Ava's shoes. "Ava what happened back there?" she remained silent causing him to sigh. "I understand you're hurt Ava but what you did was dangerous and crazy why did you do it?"

Ava shook her head. Alaric frowned and knew she wasn't going to speak. It wasn't long before Elena and Stefan had returned to collect her. Elena ushered Ava out whilst Stefan stayed back for a minute with Alaric.

"Did she say anything?" the vampire asked

"No, but I know what's wrong with her" Alaric uttered staring after the small blond

"What?"

"She's broken Stefan. It's going to be a while before the pieces come back together." The hunter said wisely.

"I know" Stefan nodded.


"You stay here Ava; I'm going to go get Jenna and Jeremy ok?" Elena didn't expect a reply so climbed out of the car; she thought it'd be best for Ava not to be alone, especially not after what happened at the car-lot.

Ava knew she was only a couple of yards away from her house. She placed her hand on the door handle and was about to open it. She wanted to go home but before she could Jeremy, Elena and Jenna walked down the driveway.

"Hey Ava" Jeremy slid in the backseat so that he was next to Ava.

"We definitely have to sort that hair out before we arrive at the Lockwoods" Jenna attempted to brighten the mood but failed.

"Jenna you suck" Jeremy scoffed. He wanted to clear things up with Ava make sure she knew that she knew she did mean something to him. She was like a sister and Jeremy knew that she needed to have her family around "Hey Ava I got brownies, double fudge your favourite" he added, Ava's nose twitched she could smell the delicious treats but felt nauseous about the idea of actually eating it.

Jeremy frowned when she faced away from him. Jenna had watched the whole exchange through the rear-view mirror, Jeremy caught her eye but Jenna shook her head.

"Yeah I know we're late, but I'm just getting into the car. We'll be there in five" Elena said slamming the car door behind her.

"Everything ok?" Jenna asked as Elena started the car

"Bonnie is…"she trailed off recalling Ava's and Bonnie's alteration from the morning. She shook her head and turned the key pulling out of the driveway. They were off.

They had finally arrived at the Lockwoods; Ava was very reluctant to even get out of the car. But she forced herself too.

"Come on Ava" Jeremy grasped her hand pulling her out of the car, Elena and Jenna led the way.

"It looks like the whole town turned out" Jenna commented looking around.

"Well he is….was the mayor" Elena uttered.

"Ava" Jeremy said quietly, the whole town had learnt about the Claudine's Xenia demise and were shooting glances over to the teen. "I-about last night I didn't mean it. It's literally an honour to call you family" he said sincerely. He was please to feel Ava squeezing his hand in reply.

"Why don't they save it for the funeral?" Jeremy asked "Steps" he told Ava. As they trudged up the stairs.

"It's what people do" Jenna shrugged her shoulders "the Lockwoods were here when we went through this, it'll be quick we'll drop off the food pay our respects and go"

Ava abruptly stopped causing the Gilbert siblings and Jenna to look at her "Ava?" Elena asked.

The blond shook her head she didn't want to be here. The mayor was also part of the fiasco that had taken Claudine away from her "I…don't-"

"Ava it'll be quick" Jenna assured her, she went to grab her hand but Ava snatched it away and stumbled back. Her balance wasn't great, Jeremy scrambled to catch her as she fell but someone already beaten him to the punch.

"I got her." Damon said "you guys go in."

Jenna and Elena shared looks but nodded and entered the house with Jeremy following on their heels.

"Come on Ava" Damon led her over to the large porch so that they were leaning against the banister. "Ava?"

"I don't want to be here" she confided

"But yet you are." He murmured "Stefan told me about the stunt you pulled earlier" she frowned, and glanced away but Damon grasped her chin and glared at her "If you ever do that again Ava I will personally feed you my blood, I rather do that than see you end up dead" he hissed.

"Ok" she said through gritted teeth ripping her chin out of his hold. Damon frowned and sighed his arm dropped around her shoulders and pulled her close.

"Ava why did you do it? running out into a road?"

"I wanted to go home-"

"Ava" he could see that she was holding something back.

"I had a nightmare. It…the night where…you know" she said tearfully but hastily wiped away her tears she didn't want to cry anymore "Gran…I wanted to save her"

Damon shook his head "Ava you couldn't. Before you even got there she was gone. There was nothing you could do. Know that"

Just then Elena approached them "Hey…Ava they got some of those mini-pizzas you like-"

"Elena" Bonnie burst out of the manor

"What's wrong?" Elena asked frowning

"It's Katherine she's here"


Ava sighed she was currently slumped against the staircase near the back of the manor. She wanted to go home.

"Hey Ava" Tyler spotted the teen "thanks for coming. I'm sorry about your gran-"

"That's not going to bring her back isn't?" she snapped. "Sorry" she sighed and ran her hand through her messy blond hair "Especially after your dad and-"

"He was a dick Ava. Nothing compared to your grandmother" he took the seat beside her. They were on the staircase hidden away from the party goers.

Ava hummed "You're dad was king of a dick-"

Tyler snorted "You got that right. Here this'll distract you" she felt something cool being pressed into her hand. Her brows furrowed

"What? a flask..."

"Yep go ahead drown your sorrows no one is looking" the other teen coaxed her. Ava raised the flask to her lips and downed half the contents. She sighed and closed her eyes, "It's not working"

"Try more-"

"I don't think so" Stefan snatched the flask out of her hands.

"Stef-"

"No. have you completely lost it?" he snarled "Do you think your grandmother would like to see you like this?"

"Not cool Stefan" Tyler shook his head.

"How would I know she left me" she scowled and stormed off. Ava didn't care where she was going she just wanted to leave.

She slammed into someone and would have been sent tumbling to the ground if strong hands hadn't caught her before she fell.

"Oh now here's a pretty face I haven't seen in a while" a familiar voice uttered.

Ava frowned "Who? Who-"

"It's me Mason Lockwood" he scooped her up and spun around. "Little Ava still as pretty as I remember where's Claudine? Last time I saw her I-"

"Ava can I talk to you" Bonnie rushed up to her

"Ava where's Claudine-"

"Please-"

"Poor Tyler-"

"And that kid Ava-"

"Can't believe Claudine is gone and-"

"Ava are you ok?" Mason frowned. Ava grabbed her head shaking it

"Shut up shut up shut up" she muttered. Damon frowned hearing a commotion coming from the back of the room.

"Ava what's wrong?" Mason asked he had never seen the cheerful blond like this before.

"Ava please-"

"SHE'S DEAD AND IT'S YOUR FAULT. SO EVERYONE SHUT UP" Ava shouted the whole room went silent, "I-"she ran out through the back door. Bonnie went to follow after her but Damon grabbed her wrist stopping her.

"What-"

"Leave her alone. It's quiet clear she wants nothing to do with you" the raven head vampire sneered at the witch.


Ava sighed and furiously wiped away her tears. She pressed the palms of her hands against her eyes.

"Ava?" she jumped feeling someone touching her shoulder

"Elena?" she frowned "You were with Jenna I thought-"

"I saw how upset you was"

"Ava go inside" Stefan uttered striding towards the pair of females. Ava frowned and canted her head to the side

"So Ava you and Bonnie-"

"You're not Elena" Ava took a step back "You must be Katherine"

Katherine giggled "Yay she can't even see and she wasn't fooled. But you ruined my fun" she pouted. Stefan's eyes hardened and he took a protective stance in front of the blond; Katherine rolled her eyes seeing this

"Relax I don't want her dead." Katherine drawled looking at her nails. She smirked at Stefan and blurred around so that she was behind Ava. "But I always wanted to taste one of your kind" she shivered when the female vampire pressed her nose against Ava's throat. Stefan grasped Ava's arm and pulled her so that once again behind him.

"Did you know that the Lockwood got more land then they use to" Katherine uttered, Stefan could feel Ava grabbing onto the back of his shirt to make sure he was there "the possessions of the tomb vampire made built them quiet a fortune-" she strolled away down by the lake.

"Ava stay-"

"No Ava come. After that fiasco inside I'll doubt she wants to go back" Katherine uttered

"No-"

The older vampire sent him a look "If you don't Stef I'll just simply force my blood down her throat. And we both know how that goes" she uttered batting her eyelashes. Stefan gritted his teeth and clutched onto the petite teen's hand forcing her to come along. Ava grunted as she stumbled over a large branch

"You wanted to kill the tomb vampires" Stefan commented "why? You turned most of them."

Katherine scoffed "There's nothing more annoying than a vengeful vampire Stefan" she uttered. "Just ask John Gilbert"

They came to a stop by a stone bench and Stefan placed his hands on Ava's shoulders gently pushing her down so she was now sitting. He gave the teen a quick once over, she looked unhealthy, pale and slightly gaunt.

"You haven't changed at all have you?" Stefan asked

"But you have though. You're stronger meaner, sexy" Ava rolled her eyes

"Slut" she muttered under her breath, and pressed her hands against her temple and leant forward. Her shoulders were hunched.

"Don't flirt with me Katherine I'm not Damon" the male vampire made a face "I haven't spent a hundred and forty five years obsess with you."

"Yeah I must say your choice of women say otherwise" Katherine waltzed passed Ava "Though I'll admit it does bother me that you've fallen in love with someone else"

Stefan walked around so that once again he was in front of the blond. "I was never in love with you Katherine. You compelled me. So none of my feelings were real" he uttered seriously, a whirl of wind passed over them. Ava was barely paying attention to them; she was lost in her own little world.

"Believe what you want Stefan" Katherine stepped up to the other vampire and folded her arms in front of her chest "but I know the truth and deep down so do you" she trailed her fingers down his chest and took a step back.

"The truth?" Stefan questioned "well the truth is you're the same lying selfish manipulative bitch you've always been" he sniped "So whatever is it that brought you here why don't you just get on with it and leave town? Because if you don't I'll hunt you down and rip your heart out" he threatened her.

Ava licked her dry lips and frowned

"You know why I'm here Stefan?" Katherine asked "I came back for you-"

"You really are fucking pathetic" Ava snapped gaining both vampires attention "He doesn't want you anymore. He's is love with one of your relatives or some twisted shit. So fuck off"

Katherine narrowed her eyes at her "I'll let that one slide since you're still so upset about your old lady. Tragic way to go wasn't it? Tell me does it hurt knowing that you were meant to be the one in the fire not her?"

Ava paled

"Ava-"she stalked off. She didn't want to be here anymore. She wanted to go home and crawl into her own bed.

"AVA" Stefan shouted after her he was about to run after the blond but Katherine grabbed his arm and slammed him against the tree.

"We have unfinished business" she smirked.

Ava barged into the manor and was set on leaving this gathering

"Ava-"Damon grabbed her wrist

"Let go" she snapped

"Ava-"

"Where's Stefan?" Elena asked her eyes darting between the pair

"With Katherine."

"What?-"

"You should go get him. She's intent ripping his heart out" Ava uttered. With that she sent Elena off running towards her boyfriend.

Damon's jaw clenched "Ava? What's….?"He could see that something was wrong she looked like she could burst into tears any moment "I'll be back stay here understand"

Ava didn't listen she exited the manor and ran all the way back home.


"You think she's here?" Damon asked his brother. It was later in the day once they were sure Katherine had slinked off they went off to look for Ava.

Both Salvatores were frustrated to learn that the petite teen had vanished. It wasn't until Jenna had said that she kept muttering about going home till they realised where the telepath had hidden.

"Yes" Stefan uttered, he placed his hand against the doorknob and turned it.

So that the door swung open, they could hear the sound of sniffles coming from upstairs. The vampire headed upstairs and saw that the sounds were coming from the last door on the left.

"Ava" Damon breathed seeing the teen curled up in the middle of Claudine's bed.

"You can't keep doing this Ava" Stefan murmured they each slid in on either side of her. Damon brushed back her long locks away from her tearstained face

"Why not?" Ava uttered

"Because your Gran would want this, she would want you to-"

"She's dead" her voice shook "It's not Bonnie's fault, it's mine" she cried Damon looked at the younger Salvatore in alarm.

"Ava it isn't your fault" Stefan said compassionately. But Ava violently shook her head

"It is" she sobbed "It was meant to be me; I was supposed to be there not her. Gran wasn't-"

"She did what she did to save you" Damon's voice was hard "Nothing to do with you. Do not blame yourself. If you do it'll only make you hate yourself-"

"I'm a bad person. I'm a freak. She's-"

"Listen" Stefan snapped "You're not a freak Ava, you're magical. You're so bright and lovely-"

"Ok Stef don't overdo it. The way you're going its like rainbows are going to jump out of your ass"

Stefan rolled his eyes but before he could scold him Ava let out a watery smile causing the scolding to die down in his throat.

"You should get some rest. Claudine's funeral is tomorrow and I bet she doesn't want her gran kid to look like complete crap" Damon murmured him and Stefan were about to get up but she grabbed their wrists

"Can you stay please?" she looked so vulnerable at the moment that Damon wanted to scoop her up and hold her

"Ava we weren't going anywhere" Stefan uttered as they laid back down. Her upper body was resting against Damon whilst she was facing towards Stefan. He sent a quick text to Elena telling them that they were with Ava.

Soon enough Ava had dozed off, Stefan sighed and stared up at the ceiling, she wasn't experiencing a peaceful sleep it was just dreamless, but every time she let out a quiet cry Damon would just rub her back.

"Katherine is back"

"I know that" Damon uttered their voices were hushed not wanting to wake up the petite teen who was asleep on his chest

"She's here for something, and you're not tempted-"

"I found someone much worthier then that bitch" Damon uttered

"So-"

"Relax Fabio I am not going off the deep end because off her. she's not worth it. I have someone more important" Damon looked down at Ava who every now and then would sniff.

"She needs us Damon-"

"I know-"

"So don't screw up-"

"Never" they lapsed into silence so that the only sound coming from the room was Ava's soft breathing.


Ava cleared her throat she was currently standing at the front; it was Claudine Xenia's funeral. The sun was out and there were more than a few people who had showed up for the funeral. She licked her lips

"My Gran…" Ava started and bit her lower lip hard. "She wasn't just that to me…she was also my mother, my father and my best friend."

The Salvatores, the Gilberts were sitting at the front. Jenna thought it be appropriate for the whole event to be taking place outside. Bonnie was at the back. Whilst Alaric was sitting next to Jenna.

"When I was little" Ava's eyes welled up, Damon had to push down the urge to rush up there and comfort her "I always asked her how comes I don't have a mom or a dad. I used to be jealous of Elena, Caroline and everyone else who had theirs. But…." She swallowed the lump in her throat; she needed to get this out

"I had my gran and she was the best person I ever knew. Gran…we…"she fumbled with her words "Life was never boring with her. Somehow when I was with her I ended up in bar-fights. Drunken brawls that she started and well to be honest she was a real bitch sometimes, I remembered when she attended my parents thingy days-I don't care what they're called. Gran came and she messed the whole thing up by punching one of the teachers in the face."

"I remembered that" Jeremy snickered it was hilarious.

"It…wasn't a normal childhood. But it was special and that was because of her. My gran. She taught me so much and I am so grateful…"Ava's voice cracked here "I will never forget you Gran I love you" the crowd clapped and Jenna rushed up to Ava

"That was a lovely speech Ava, she would have loved it" Jenna murmured

"You think so?"

"I know so. She was so proud of you Ava, you were her world."


Claudine Xenia was finally put in the ground, Ava was currently standing in front of the gravestone, and they had set her down next to Faith Xenia and Xavier Crass, Ava's parents. She sighed and dropped to her knees.

She placed the pale pink gerberas on the grave. She wiped her tears. All the people who had come to the service had now left.

"She hasn't moved for half an hour" Elena said worriedly

"Why don't you go home? We'll take care of her" Stefan uttered

"No she's coming home-"

"Elena I'll explain later. Trust me" Stefan assured her. Damon was already walking over to the distraught blond and kneeled down beside her.

Ava closed her eyes and ran her fingers through the engraved headstone. She bit her lip

"It's ok to cry-"

"I feel like I cried too much" Ava uttered her voice shook,

"You're allowed to Ava" Damon shed off of his suit jacket and wrapped it around her. "That's what goes on in funerals-"

"Don't be so callous Damon" Stefan knelt down on Ava's other side

"Yeah dick" Ava muttered she leant back against her haunches, "that's all of them, my family" she uttered "dead and gone"

"Ava-"

"I'm all alone now" tears once again streamed down her face, she was surprised that she had any left to shed "Alone." Ava cried "I don't want to be alone. I don't want to go back to an empty house and-"the blond still felt like her heart was ripping in two.

"No Ava" Damon held her "You're not alone" he assured her

"Never alone Ava" Stefan stroked her back "In fact I think-"

"But I have to go home and-"

"No you don't" Damon cut her off "You're not going back to an empty home. You're coming home with us"

Ava pushed herself away slightly so both vampires could see her blotchy face "I don't understand"

"I thought you were meant to be smart-"

"Damon" Stefan snapped

"You're moving in with us." He saw her opening her mouth no doubt about to refuse but he wouldn't let that happen. "No arguing Ava. I'm going to promise one thing Xenia and that is you're never going to be alone. You're stuck with the pair of us. Now let's get a move on. You're not that sexy with tears running down your face" Damon hoisted her onto her feet and the trio walked off. Ava paused for a second, she felt like someone was watching her.


From afar Claudine Xenia let out a smile

"I told you she would be taken care of mom" the old lady clad in all white turned around to face her daughter, Faith Xenia, she was the spitting image of Ava but slightly older.

"Are you sure? She looks so broken" Claudine murmured watching as Damon guided her granddaughter into his car

"It won't be easy, but time heals all wounds. And those Salvatore boys will help heal her" Faith said her voice was soft and melodic "Now come on mom. We've got to go, we need to go back" Claudine glanced over her shoulder catching one last glimpse of Ava and took Faith's hand

"I won't see her again will I?" Claudine uttered

"No" Faith answered "Because we don't belong here mom. Once we're dead our kind doesn't stay in this world anymore. Ava will be looked after. She's special after all."

With a bright white light they were gone.


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

So this chap-Not that funny...(But did you expect it to be?) Anyway the beginning, Damon had stayed the night with Ava. Katherine made an appearance she mentions 'they' are looking for her. Matt, Elena and Bonnie visited her. she learnt about Caroline. Ava screams out Bonnie. She gets sedated. We see a little Ava where Claudine puts her to sleep. It turns into a nightmare. Ava runs into the road. Alaric saves her. Stefan's angry. Ava is forced to go to the Lockwoods. Mason appears, clears signs are that Ava isn't coping. She meets Katherine. There are Salvatore and Ava moments. Stefan and Damon finds her in her house. they comfort her. The Funeral happens. she gives a speech. Damon and Stefan tells her she's moving in with them. We see a brief glimpse of Claudine and Faith at the end before they dissapear.

Next Chap-Vampire Caroline.

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