Chapter Eleven

Getting It Out In The Open

"You're so hypnotizing. Could you be the devil? Could you be an angel? Your touch magnetizing. Feels like I am floating. Leaves my body glowing..." ~ Katy Perry

"Tell me would you kill to save a life? Tell me would you kill to prove you're right?..." ~ 30 Seconds To Mars

"These are my words. That I've never said before. I think I'm doing ok. And this is the smile. That I've never shown before..." ~ Staind

Ava hit the wall with a grunt, the wind knocked out of her. She huffed as she hit the floor breaking her fall with her elbow. I flinched and was at her side in an instant already pulling her to her feet. I lifted her face and inspected it for any damage. She's been her old self again. She's not having any difficulties healing herself whenever she's taken a few knocks, and she's been smiling. I loved seeing Ava happy. Although the last few weeks have been full on and a bit crazy, she seems to take it in her stride.
I think having Sasha around is making a huge difference. They seem closer than ever and both seem to enjoy being around each other. I have to admit at first I wasn't too sure how I felt about having a daughter. But after spending only a few days with Sasha I knew that no matter what I had to protect my family. Especially Sasha.

I know that Sasha had some Keeper abilities, but not nearly enough to keep her safe if we had to have a physical battle. So, in an attempt to keep my family safe I needed to make sure that Sasha could protect herself. That's why I insisted on Sasha and Elena taking defense courses with either myself, Stefan or Alaric. Ava who thought it was a great idea also got involved. Ava was skilled enough to take care of herself, but she needed to hone her skills. I mean, it has been a while since she's been in combat.

"I'm fine," Ava said with a smile meeting my gaze. I smiled back, and pushed a strand of stray hair behind her ear. "I forget how capable you are,"' I joked, leaning forward my lips brushing her hair line. "You're holding back on me," Ava accused playfully, pulling back. Her beauty still amazed me. She looked at me with those big green eyes and I found myself getting lost in them. I always have. "How do you know?" I asked.

She lifted her head a little and parted her lips slightly. "I just do," she whispered running her fingers up my torso. She knew how do drive me insane. She looked at me with those beautiful green eyes and luscious pink lips and it's like the whole world came to a standstill, my focus just on her. I chuckled leaned in more and kissed her.

I felt her body react to my kiss and the excitement building inside her. She deepened the kiss, wrapping her arms around my waist pulling me closer. I gripped her hips, pushing her against the wall, my lust for her taking control. Ava tangled her fingers in my hair devouring my lips. I lost myself in the kiss and so did she.

We let our emotions free and allowed our lust for each other control our actions.

I moved her skirt up, running my fingers along the inside of her thighs. When she decided to wear a skirt I wondered how practical it would be for our training session, but now I'm glad she did. Ava moaned into the kiss pressing herself against me, begging me with her body to satisfy her yearning. She dug her elbows lightly into my shoulders, using the leverage to pull herself up, wrapping her legs around my waist.

The sound of footsteps coming towards the room forced us to untangle ourselves from each other Ava pulled her skirt down and I ran my fingers through my hair.

A few minutes later Bonnie walked into the room. She paused when she saw me and rolled her eyes. She turned around on her heels and left. Bonnie really didn't like me.

It could be that I turned her mother or the fact that I had something to do with her grandmother's death. But honestly who knew. It might just be because she has an issue with my awesomeness. "She hates you," Ava observed shaking her head.

"Hate is a strong word," I said. "But I think she does if her actions are any indication."

"What do you mean?" Ava asked looking at me. "Nothing I can't handle," I said with a shrug. Ava looked at me and I knew what that look was. She was worried.

"Has she done something to hurt you?" Ava asked more seriously. I contemplated lying but what use was that when Ava could easily find out what I didn't tell her.

"She helped the council build a device to kill all vampires and werewolves. It's how the Mayor died and has let to Caroline becoming a vampire and Tyler a werewolf." Ava looked horrified. She knew exactly what device I was referring to.

"Then why is she helping us?"

"She's doing Elena a favor."

"She better not betray us or I will kill her," Ava threatened.

And I didn't think for a second that she was kidding.

I got back home to a quiet house. It was odd to come home to silence. It hasn't been this quiet in weeks. In the dead silence I heard two heartbeats, both beating faster than normal. I heard Ava's voice and it sounded angry. I followed her voice to the study.

"Let me make this very clear," Ava said, her voice taking on a very threatening tone. "You so much as harm a hair on Damon's head, and I will have your head."

"You don't scare me," Bonnie replied, not too fussed with Ava's threat.

Bonnie was a witch but Ava had years on her, and her ability to intrude peoples thoughts was a lot stronger than any of Bonnie's magical abilities were. I saw Ava break through Bonnie's defenses faster than she was able to put them in place again.

Ava concentrated and I knew what she was doing. She's done it to other witches before. Ava would dig in their mind till she found the one spell she knew would let them break. Bonnie started screaming her face marred with fear and pain.

Ava withdrew from her head, leaving Bonnie in a state of shock. Bonnie stared at Ava, her fear creating a stink. "Now, I'll say this again," Ava said slowly, making sure Bonnie got the message. "You try anything to hurt Damon, or Stefan for that matter, again and I will kill you. Without hesitation." Bonnie nodded, too afraid to talk. Having your powers to protect you was one thing, but having them turned against you and used to kill you, was another. Something Bonnie was all too aware of.

"Why are you protecting them?" Bonnie asked, once she had her voice back.

"Because they are my family," Ava answered.

"Not by blood," Bonnie stated. I saw something in Ava's eyes I haven't seen in it a while. I could see her trying to recall a memory but she couldn't. But I could see realization set in, almost like she suddenly put one and one together and got two.

"No, by something a lot stronger," Ava said. "Love and loyalty."

"How could you love someone like, Damon?" Bonnie questioned.

"Because you can't choose who you fall in love with, Bonnie," Ava said. "Because he makes me whole." I looked at Ava, the love I felt for her threatening to crush me. It wasn't natural to love someone so much. This type of love wasn't meant to exist.

But somehow it did. I've said this before and I'll say it again. I was a fool for letting her go. We could've had a life together. We could've avoided all of this. I just had to choose her. Watching Ava defend me I vowed to always choose her, no matter what.

"He's done nothing but lie to you. Time after time," Bonnie pointed out, her anger making her reckless. She had no idea what she was up against.

"Why does it bother you? It's my life," Ava questioned, indulging Bonnie.

"You're trusting a monster that's been keeping a part of your life from you," Bonnie snapped. "If he loved you he'd have shared that with you!"

"For all Damon's faults he's always been loyal. He'd die if it meant keeping the people he cared for from getting hurt. You think you know him but you don't. Damon is who he is because of me," Ava said jabbing herself in the chest. "Before you judge him you have to know him. I understand why you hate him. But you don't know him."

That's why I could never bring myself to kill her. Ava's love was unconditional. She hated me and yet she forgave me when I begged her. Ava was pure.

"I'd understand if you don't want to stay. But I am asking for you help," Ava said more kindly, her tone softening. "I'll stay, but only because you and Elena asked," Bonnie said, after a short while, turning around to leave. I hid from her view not ready for them to know that I've been listening. Bonnie left the room and disappeared down the hall. When I was sure Bonnie wasn't going to come back I walked in to the study.

Ava leaned against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest, staring out of the window. "Ava," I said alerting her of my presence. Not that I thought she needed to be told. I suspected she already knew I was hovering. The bond between us not allowing for too much secrecy. "How much of that did you hear?" Ava asked turning around. "Most of it," I said honestly, taking a couple of steps forward.

"Bonnie's got a point you know," she said meeting my gaze.

"About what?" I asked, but I had a pretty good idea of what she was referring to.

"Remember when I shared with you my memories of Sasha?" Ava asked pushing herself away from the wall. "I want you to share with me the memories of what was taken from me." I looked at her and saw how important this was for her.

Ava needed to remember what was forgotten. And she deserved to know about our past. I just thought I'd have a little more time. Not that I deserved it. I've had years.

"You're right," I said stepping towards Ava, taking her hand. "You deserve to know."