22nd November- Canary Islands, Spain
Brian and Mia’s beach house
Dom’s POV
I was numb as I made my way to Mia and Brian’s, Ava starting to wake in the back. Getting out I walked around and picked her up as she woke up confused as to where she was.
“Hey princess.” I said gently rubbing cheek as she smiled up at me giggling happily and I smiled as I gave her kiss and hugged her close reaching in to get her bag.
“Ava.” Mia cooed as she caught sight of us and I smiled slightly handing her over as Mia gave her a kiss and spoke to her.
“Where Letty?” Brian asked as he placed a kiss on Ava’s head as he stopped in front of me holding Alexis.
“Uh… at the house. I have Ava for the night.” I said quietly and I felt his stare briefly before I made my way inside smiling at Nico as he waved at me before going back to colouring. I said a quiet hello to Rosa and went and sat next to Elena.
“You okay?” she asked quietly but I didn’t answer not sure how to even explain it. Mia had put Ava on the ground next to Alexis and she crawled over to me using my legs to pull herself up into a standing position. I smiled and brushed her hair softly as she grinned up at me.
“Clever girl.” I cooed softly. I sat in my own little world as I watched Ava play ignoring the conversation around me focusing solely on my little girl. I didn’t know what I would do if Letty left, I’d miss them both and not being able to see Ava everyday would kill me. I had to do something because this wasn’t working obviously.
“Dom?” I looked over at Mia confused.
“What?” I asked not knowing what was said.
“Man are you okay? You’re really quiet.” Brian asked as he handed me a beer.
“Did something else happen between you and Letty?” Mia asked softly. I was silent again as I looked back to Ava and I could feel every one watching the two of us.
“She told me she’s thinking about leaving.” I said quietly before taking a drink while my other hand still ran over Ava’s head as she laid her head on my legs talking to herself.
“Why?” Mia whispered and I shrugged.
“She won’t tell me what I can do to fix it, said I had to work it out myself.” I explained sadly as I looked over at my sister and she bit her lip.
“We knew this wasn’t going to be easy, I mean she’s spent a year resenting you.”
“Thanks Mia.” I muttered moodily and leant back against the couch properly holding my hand out for a toy Ava handed me.
“Ta.” She said.
“Ta thank you baby.” She giggled as she let go making herself fall back down and I laughed a little at the surprised look on her face.
“What about Ava?” Brian asked me.
“Said I could visit.” I said sullenly.
“When?”
“I’ve asked her to give me until Ava’s birthday to try and fix things. Leon’s back in a couple of days.” I added.
“It might not make a difference but maybe you should sort things out with Leon and see if that helps a little.” Elena said quietly passing Ava the ball she dropped.
“I guess it won’t hurt.” I said quietly.
Dinner was a quiet affair with the news from earlier putting a damper on things. Ava yawned tiredly as she sat cuddled into my chest as I hugged her close listening to the conversation around us.
“Someone’s tired.” Rosa noted and I smiled softly nodding.
“Yeah I might take her home hopefully she’ll go down easy. Where are you staying tonight?” I asked Elena and she shrugged.
“You can stay at mine, I’ll put Ava in with me.” She nodded and we all said our good byes and left.
Dom's beach house
Ava was almost asleep when we got home and I thought about skipping the bottle but then Rosa pointed out if I didn’t give it to her she’d wake in a few hours for it. Elena heated it up for me as I went and got Ava changed for bed.
“Here you go.” I took the bottle from her as she handed it to me and I smiled in thanks as I sat against the head board on the bed with Ava lying in my arms. Elena left us alone heading back out to Rosa and Nico. I gave Ava the bottle watching her as she took a few mouthfuls before turning her head spitting it out.
“Mummy wasn’t wrong huh?” I said softly as I sat it on the side table grabbing my bath towel that was still on the bed and wiped her face. She started crying and I laid her on my chest rubbing her back softly as she quietened over time. Wriggling down a bit further so I was lying flat I held her close as she started falling asleep, as I lay awake thinking.
‘What the hell was I going to do? I couldn’t lose this.’
Elena’s POV
I looked at the clock and frowned a little worried that Dom hadn’t come out yet, Nico and Rosa had retired a little while ago and I had been waiting to speak with Dom. The light was still on as I walked towards his room and I paused at the door smiling slightly as I took in the sight of them on the bed. Ava was spread out on his chest fast asleep and Dom was asleep with one hand on Ava’s back. Walking back out the room I picked up Dom’s camera before walking back in taking a couple of pictures. Taking the bottle out to place back in the fridge and switching the light off for the night.
25th November- Canary Islands, Spain
Letty’s beach house
Leon’s POV
I arrived on the island and headed straight to the address Charlotte had given me that led to Letty’s new house. Knocking on the door I waited and smiled at them both as they answered the door. Ava squealed loudly nearly leaping out of Letty’s arms to get to me and we laughed as I took hold of the little girl and hugged her tightly kissing all over her face.
“Uncle Leon missed you so much.” I said to her quietly as I stepped fully into the house.
“Hey Le.” I smiled at Letty and gave her a one armed hug with my free arm.
“You doing okay?” She nodded but I wasn’t fooled. She had her walls up and I knew there was no way to get through them.
“So I heard you let Dom have her the other night.” I said quietly.
“Yeah he wanted to have her, I figured it wouldn’t hurt.” She said quietly.
“How did you cope with that?” I asked gently but I had my answer by her silence.
“I told him about me thinking of leaving.” I paused in playing with Ava.
“What did he say?”
“You can imagine, he wasn’t mad he was… upset.”
“Did you tell him about choosing?” she shook her head.
“I told him he had to work it out himself. He begged me to give him till her birthday.”
“That’s five weeks away.” I pointed out just in case she hadn’t thought it through.
“I know.” I nodded and smiled at Ava placing another kiss on her cheek.
“Guess where we’re going miss?” I said happily my tone catching her attention and Letty’s.
“I’m afraid to ask.” She muttered and I grinned at her.
“Mia’s invited us for breakfast and we’re going.” I said as her head snapped towards me.
“Are we just?” She stated and I nodded.
“You aren’t getting out of it.” I told her as she sighed swearing under her breath.
“Ava want to see daddy?” She grinned at the word getting all excited and I shot a smug look at Letty.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
Brian and Mia’s beach house
“Leon.” Brian called as we stepped out of the car Letty going to retrieve Ava while I shook hands with Brian.
“You all good man?” I nodded and we all walked into the house. Dom was sitting on the lounge with Lexie when we walked in and he stared blankly at me for a moment before smiling slightly, surprised by the gesture I smiled back sitting down next to Mia. We smiled at each other in greeting before Letty joined us.
“So how did you go getting back everything okay?” Mia asked and I nodded.
“Yeah everything was fine Charlotte got me across and back.” I said quietly.
“Is she still alive? Or have you stuffed her in a body bag somewhere?” Letty joked slightly and I grinned.
“She’s alive I didn’t kill her.”
“Glad to hear.”
“Mama.” Ava called and Letty turned her attention back to her.
“Yes baby?” She held out her arms and Letty picked her up.
“Leon.” I turned my head to Dom as he said my name quietly.
“Yeah?” I asked.
“Can we talk? Alone.” He hinted and I nodded slightly uneasy about what this might be about as Dom passed Alexis to Mia before we headed into the kitchen. Seeing Letty’s worried look I gave her a smile to try and ease her worries.
“What’s wrong?” I asked as we both leant on opposite sides of the counter.
“I wanted to apologise for the other week. I shouldn’t have let my temper get the better of me. I also want to apologise for LA.” I was a little shocked at his apology that’s not what I had expected.
“You look shocked.”
“Well that’s not what I thought this was going to be about. You don’t apologise often.” I said seriously.
“Only in cases where I know I’m in the wrong.” He joked slightly and I smiled at him.
“I probably would have done the same thing if it happened to me so let’s just forget about it. It won’t happen again. I won’t break this promise again.”
“Thanks that means a lot.” I nodded.
“I just want to get something clear though.” He nodded and waited for me to continue.
“I forgive you for LA and for the other week but I don’t forgive you just yet for what you put Letty through.”
“I guess I should have expected that but I don’t forgive myself for that either.” I nodded.
“As long as we’re on the same page.”
“There is another thing…”
“What?” I asked getting that uneasy feeling back in my stomach.
“I need some advice.” I stared at him for a moment before shaking my head.
“I can’t help you Dom, this really is something you need to do on your own. Letty won’t trust you if you can’t.” He sighed heavily but nodded.
“How’s Ava been?” I asked changing topics.
“She’s been great, I love being with her every day.”
“I think she loves that too.” I said quietly but that’s where the conversation stopped when Brian walked in with Alexis.
“We’re taking the kids down onto the beach if you guys want to come.” Dom nodded and I assumed that meant we were done as he followed Brian out.
I sat next to Letty in the sand as we silent watched Dom and Ava in the water. I spared a glance at Letty out of the corner of my eye and found her watching intently.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked quietly we were sitting away from everyone else but still in hearing distance.
“Everything.”
“Well that narrows it down.” I said sarcastically and she smiled slightly.
“I was being honest.”
“What are you going to do Let?” I asked quietly as I lay back on my arms.
“What did he want?” She asked ignoring my question.
“He apologised.” I laughed a little at the shocked look on her face and nodded.
“Yeah I thought that too at first but he means it. I think he really wants to make things work I just don’t think he knows where to start, he has a lot of regrets.”
“Well… I guess this is a start. I didn’t think he’d ever apologise.” I smiled at her quiet and unsure words.
“So I’ll ask again, what are you going to do?” We stared at each other and I watched as she struggled with her emotions.
“I’ll wait and see.”