Several years ago

"Paul you can't just take your eyes off of Ava! I found her out by the woods far from the cabin!"

Maria held on to the small hand as Ava tried to get out of her mother's grip. Paul looked up from the stacks of paperwork and check books eyes dead shot. He rubbed his eyes as he looked at his wife and his daughter. Ava looking ashamed as her mom still held on to her hand.

"I was just playing and picking up flowers daddy" her soft voice said. A small smile formed on his lips as he crouched down to her level Maria still looking very upset. They came to this small cabin to get away from Klaus but unfortunately they knew they were found.

"Ava dear now I know you get bored staying inside all day but when you run out you could get seriously hurt or lost, we will be worried and scared you wouldn't want that do you?"

Ava's dark brown curls bouncing as she shook her head no. " I won't do it again daddy" Paul gave his daughter a kiss on her forehead and told her to get ready for bed and she did but she didn't get a story that night.

Ava woke up to her parents shouting again until they loudly whispered because her father reminded her mother that she was asleep in the other room. She never knew what caused them to fight so much but it made her cry and upset thinking it was her fault.

She got off her Pooh bear bed her soft fuzzy light yellow socks not making her feel the cold wooden floor she tip toed to her parents room the soft lamp giving the only light. She jumped when her father threw papers off the work table inside the room making her mother jump.

"I told you Paul! I begged you, the very thing that is important to us can get hurt!"

"You don't think I'm aware?! I didn't mean to take my eyes off her...it shouldn't be this hard " he whispered the end making her mother watch him more closely. He turned to look at her again "I told you to wait until this was over to have a child. But you didn't listen "

Ava watched her mother take a step back. Tears in her eyes as well as her mother thinking her father didn't want her. Her mother's tone hardened as she glared at her husband.

"Don't you dare Paul Lopez! I was on the pill what happened wasn't our fault and need I remind you you stopped me from getting an appointment at the clinic and refused adoption! I love our daughter to death but I would have done anything for you! Yet you can't even pay attention to your child that we had both wanted in the end!"

Ava couldn't hear no more and ran downstairs making sure her parents didn't notice her. They didn't want her fine she will go. All she had on was her pajamas on and her socks. She ran into the deepest part of the woods where she hoped no one will find her.

she must have gone pretty far as she could no longer see the lights from the cabin she slumped down by a base of a tree and sobbed. She must have been sobbing so hard she didn't notice an animal just a few feet from her. It looked like a doggy. Wiping her eyes she looked at the animal.

"Hi Mr wolf are you here to eat me?" The wolf growled deep from its chest. But Ava just smiled. "Just make sure it doesn't hurt please mommy and daddy don't want me anyways "

the wolf seemed to be taken back Ava was too tired and her small eyes began to drop but snapped open by the small rain drop that landed on her nose. The wolf came closer but she wasn't scared she held her hand out with a smile. "It's okay wolfie I know you're just hungry but if you can keep me company for just a little while I appreciate it."

The wolf huffed and was a bit unsure but found himself sitting next to the small child. Soon the rain began to pour and the child was soaked the wolf didn't know what came over him but he picked the child up from the back of her shirt and brought her to a small place of cover from the rain. She giggled as she bounced from the small run he had to do in order to get her to safety.

"I love you Wolfie! You're my best friend!" Ava hugged the wolf with warmth he never felt and it made him growl when she didn't let go. Her smile dropped and she apologized if she hurt him. She went to a spot far from him which he found he didn't like she fell asleep and was shivering from the cold. Letting out a huff he moved to give the child warmth she smiled and pet his.

"Your not so scary wolfie more like a big bunny" the child had the nerve to giggle soon and was asleep and wondered when he too fell asleep.

Next morning

The next morning he heard the footsteps of a few people shouting the girls name. She was fast asleep curled into the side of his fur his head picked up as he heard closer foot steps. Getting up slowly to not wake the small toddler he ran away from the small cave gaining the attention of a man with a flashlight as he looked stunned but ran into the cave.

Her parents found her not shortly after. The child cried a sound that he felt his heartbeat become heavy. She was crying for him an animal a monster to all that knew him but she was crying like she lost someone very close to her.

"I want bunny!" She shouted as her father picked her up. They were confused and she explained in a very detailed manner of the wolf that saved her he can see the worried glances her parents gave each other but tried to calm the child in the man's arms. She was still weak so she passed out from all the small energy she had left.

He watched as they made their way back to the cabin even when he changed back to his normal form he watched as all she wanted was the wolf bunny that saved her. At the airport at a safe distance the father bought a small toy a ...black bunny to his displeasure. Why she thought of him as bunny he would never know. But upon seeing the small toy her eyes lit up.

"what are you going to name it Ava?" Her mother asked smiling softly at her husband. The girl took a long hard look with a determination he never saw in a child's face.

"Claudia!" He got up ready to rip the thing from her hands but stopped as the mother asked why. Curiously he sat back down.

"It feels like it's close and safe but bunny was a boy mommy"

"Why not Claud then sweetie?" Her father asked her lip wobbled and looked down at her bunny.

"If she was a boy she would leave me like Mr bunny. I miss him daddy he didn't let me say goodbye "

His heart did that irritating heavy feeling again as they got on their plane. He watched as the plane took off missing the small child.

*Now*

Klaus woke to the sound of knocking on his door. He sighed as he dreamed about the first he met Ava. The beginning of him watching her from afar and protecting her without her even knowing as he kept telling himself that she was just insurance to get back what was rightfully his.

Getting up to open the door he found her looking uncomfortable. Her outfit consisted of ripped black leggings black combat boots and a dark blue dodger T-shirt with a thin white tan sweater on top. Her hair was in a braided ponytail,She cleared her throat to get his attention.

"I asked Rebekah to help me find you. It's almost eight and I don't know where the school is."

Quickly turning to look at the clock on his nightstand it read 7:45. He growled making her jump she stepped back and her hand waving up and down embarrassed. "Um I'll just wait until your dressed" her face was red and he looked down and realized he was only in his black boxers.

He starting to feeling like maybe he made a mistake.