5th May- Los Angeles, United States
O'Conner house
I sat restlessly on the bed as I watched Letty pace the floor silently. She had been quiet since getting home from Rosie's office two hours ago. I was worried but I was trying to be patient. I had seen Rosie twice on my own now since our first time together and she had me working on being patient and remaining calm, telling me that I had to trust Letty to come to me when she needed it. It was Rosie's way of trying to teach Letty to be more independent again.
I was working on it but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hard.
"Ki." Ava spoke excitedly as our tabby jumped up on the bed. I shuffled backwards, resting my back against the headboard as Ava reached out to pat Kiki. I smiled slightly as Kiki started purring softly, rubbing herself around Ava affectionately.
"Dada, Ki." She said as she looked up at me from her spot in my side.
"Kiki." I called as she climbed her way up my chest to rub her face with mine.
"No, my ki." Ava whined as she wriggled out of my hold. I rolled my eyes but lifted the tabby to place back on Ava's lap.
"You have to share Ava. Remember?" I hinted.
"Ki pway dada?" She asked innocently.
"If she wants to, okay?" I asked her gently.
"Tay." She pouted as she hugged kiki, making the cat squeak with surprise.
"Dom." Letty whispered and I immediately looked up from Ava. I tried not to frown as I spotted the bleak look on Letty's face and worked really hard to remain calm.
"Yeah Let?" I asked quietly.
"… urgh." She groaned and went back to pacing. I frowned but said nothing, watching her closely. Her pacing went on again for another five minutes before she stopped.
"Dom." She spoke again, catching my attention as she came to stand in front of me.
"Yeah Let?"
"Rosie and I have been talking about mum…" She started as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear nervously.
"Yeah?" I whispered back nervously.
"Yeah and I…. I think I'm gunna go see her?" She trailed off asking.
"Don't ask me Letty, this has to be your choice. Not mine." I spoke gently.
"No I know… I know it's just… uh why was this so much easier to say in my head?" She whispered as she sat on the edge of the bed, her head falling into her hands as she took a deep breath.
"Let…" I whispered as I moved towards her, placing both my hands on her back, massaging her shoulders so she'd relax.
"Just tell me however you need to." I breathed out.
"Okay… I'm going to visit mum with Ava. On my own." She breathed out as she turned to look at me.
"Okay. Just tell me when and I'll make sure the car is serviced." She blinked at me and frowned.
"That's it? That's all you have to say?"
"I'm not going to stop you from seeing your mum Let. I'd never do that and if you want to take Ava and go see her on your own that's okay with me. You both need this and I'm not someone she'd want to see." I spoke truthfully.
"Probably not… Are you sure you're okay with it though?"
"It's fine. I'll miss you both while you're gone but it'll only be for a few days right?" I ask but frown when she turns her head away.
"Um, maybe."
"Maybe?" I ask confused.
"If everything goes well I had planned on staying with mum and James for a while… Rosie's organised a psychiatrist, Maya Fisher, for me in Cali while I'm gone…" Feeling like the wind had been knocked out of me I breathed out shakily.
"…whatever you need to do Letty I'll support you. I'll keep working with Rosie while you're gone." I managed to stutter out as I looked over at Ava. She was oblivious to what Letty and I were talking about, her sole attention on the cat.
'I'm gunna miss out on more time.' My heart squeezed painfully at the thought but Letty needed this. I needed this too. We needed to become stronger people on our own before we could together, this would be a battle but it would be worth it in the end.
"Dom… I'm sorry-"
"Don't. Don't apologise. We need this, if we're gunna make this work we need to do this." I spoke, my eyes tightly closed as I kept my face away from her.
"I'll make sure to ring every day, so you can speak to Ava and me. We can start skyping…"
"I'll ring you every night too. I'll get Tej to set up skype for us."
"I'm not leaving you… not like you think."
"I know. It's just like a holiday right?" I said forcing out a smile as I pulled her close, pressing her face into my chest as I kissed her hair.
"Right." She whispered.
"Promise me you'll take care of yourself. Keep me updated on the baby and Ava." I whispered.
"Promise."
"I'll keep working with Rosie, I promise." I whispered lastly.
"I know you will. I'll work with Maya too, promise. We're gunna fix ourselves... then we're gunna fix us." She swore strongly as we held each other.
"Yeah baby, we are. When are you leaving?"
"Two days."
"Okay. I'll start work on the car tomorrow."
"Dom you injuries, you can't-" She argued but I shook my head.
"I need to do this, I need to make sure everything's okay for you and Ava myself. Please, let me do this for you." I whispered.
"Okay, but have Brian help please."
"Okay."
"I love you Dom." She whispered tearfully and I nodded against her hair.
"I love you too, so much. God I'm gunna miss you two." I whispered as I closed my eyes, finally letting the tears I'd been holding back go.
"We'll miss you too."