Holly and I Only!!!

"I bet I coulda helped," he said, acting tough. "I woulda bit him and not let go - ever. Well, until I got hungry..."

She laughed and nodded. "I bet you could have. But you wern't born yet."

Ryder smiled. He liked making his mom laugh. It was a comforting sound. "Was I in your tummy?"

She shook her head. "Not yet. It wasn't until later that I got you." she smiled.

"Why was the bad guy after Daddy and Uncle Niko?"

"Yes. Both of them."

"but why," he asked.

"I don't know why. I never really understood. You should ask Daddy." she smiled.

"I will when he gets back," Ryder nodded.

"Good." She smiled. "Now, let's see your swim. You promised Dad to be able to float on your back without a floaty."

Ryder nodded and lifted his arms up so his mom could take his floaty off of him. "You'll stay by me, right," he asked her. He might act like a tough little vampire, but he's scared about most things still.

She nodded. "Right next to you." she said, pulling the floaty off him.

He smiled and pulled his feet up, getting used to floating before he tried getting on his back.

Baily held his hands, helping him float and letting him go at his own pace.

"Mommy, why do I need to learn how to swim," he asked. "I just wanna play."

"Swimming is necessary." she said. "You can play after you float."

"Okay," he said and nodded. "I think I'm ready to float on my back now, mommy," he said, looking a little scared. But he wanted to play and he knew mommy wouldn't let him until he learned to float.

She nodded, helping him onto his back and holding him up with her hands. "You ready to do it by yourself?" she asked.

After a few minutes, he nodded. 'I think so," he told her, taking in a big breath. He learned that air helped him float easier.

She chuckled and kissed his cheek, slowly moving her hands from his back.

For a while, he floated fine. Then his breath ran out and he let it out, quickly taking in another big breath. Again, his breath ran out, but he realized the first time that he didn't sink, and let it out slowly to see what would happen. "Mommy, I'm floating," he said happily, afraid to move in case he sank.

Baily smiled, nodding and moving to float on her own back, showing him he could swim by moving his arms. "Yes you are. Baby, I'm proud of you."

He smiled and tried imitating his mom, moving more slowly because he wasn't sure if he could do it right. He smiled hugely. "It feels like I'm flying on my back," he giggled.

She nodded then heard the front door slam. The pool was a little ways away. "I think Daddy's home." she smiled. She always smiled when Damon came home.

Damon followed his family's scent to he pool and smiled. "You're floating, buddy!"

Ryder smiled, not sure how to stop floating, or if he could reach the bottom if he figured it out. "Mommy's a good teacher," he grinned. "Can you teach me how to fight now, daddy?"

Damon chuckled, shaking his head. "Not right now, buddy. We've got to pack up."

"Pack? For what," he asked.