"Hello Natalia, this is Ava my I speak to my mom."

"Oh" was the only thing that came to her mind to say. Ava was probably only calling the house phone because Olivia had not answered her cell. Why else she risk talking to the so called Christian who left her mother broken and miserable. Natalia had not even the decency to make an appearance at her father's funeral although he had undoubtedly kept Rafe from and even longer prison term after being shot for doing his job. There were a few people that Natalia still kept front and center when her prayers turned toward confession but Ava had her own special edition. Olivia and Emma had only been in the home for the past two weeks and it was a miracle that she had gotten by this long before she was confronted with the pain that Olivia must had endured with Rafe when he refused to see their love as anything but sin and confusion. Rafe and Ava could not stop the love that the two women shared but there was the undeniable fact that both women would be irrevocably torn if the children opposed their joining. The worst part was that aside from the craziness with Gus Olivia had done nothing to warrant Rafe's ire and Natalia knew that sooner or later the kindhearted man she had raised would prevail against anger and ignorance. That was not remotely true of Ava. She had acted with total disregard to both Emma and Olivia and did not think middle Spencer would ever forgive the mistake.

"Um. . .Natalia you still there? Can I speak to Olivia or …"

"I'm so sorry. I know you must hate me." Natalia rushed out. Embarrassed to make Ava talk to her any longer than she must but she couldn't just keep pretending that everything was fine until it got closer and closer to the holidays. Either Ava would give lame excuses to be around the family or when she arrived her contempt would everyone uncomfortable. Worse Olivia would feel the need to protect her from her daughter's justified anger. So it was best to attempt to win over Ava now although she was under no illusion that this Spencer was any less bullheaded than the other two.

"it's fine I can leave her a ..what??"

"First I want to say how sorry I am that I didn't attend your father's funeral. There isn't any excuse that I can come up after your father was so good to Rafe after everything that happened."

"It's fine Natalia my dad would have. . ."

"and the for causing your mother to get to such a state that she had to send Emma to you. I know you have no reason to trust or believe me but I love your mother and your sister so much and I swear to spend my entire life proving that over and over to you."

"Wait…I think…"

"I will never hurt them again. I hope that someday you are able to see me as a friend and"

"Christ on a stick."

"you can find it in your heart to ..Ava! I understand that your angry with me but"

"Natalia, ha I'm sorry about what I said but it was the only way to get you to stop talking."

"Ava" Natalia whispered with tears in her eyes. Olivia had once said that their relationship could not stand if Rafe was opposed to them and she could only surmise the same would now be true because of Ava.

"Natalia listen, I'm not going to say that I understand everything that's going on between you and my mother but you know what…I'm the last person to criticize anyone who has been driven crazy by love. Remember me the woman who went to a sperm bank just to land a baby daddy and then happened to sleep with a black guy but married a white one."

"Ha, yeah that wasn't the smartest move." Natalia said almost doubling over with laughter.

"Yeah well as I was trying to say, I understand getting a little wacky. I just am hoping that now you are clear on what you want since my mother and sister are depending on you."

"Oh." It was laughable just how chaotic her emotions were at the moment. Seconds ago she had to move the phone from her mouth because of a snort and now tears were spilling down her face thinking of the enormous trust that Olivia had placed in her by sharing not only her heart but that of Emma's with a woman who had run away for 30 days without a single look back.

"Listen Natalia don't okay. Its over. You wigged out a bit but your back right? Right?"

A breathless "right." was the only response. How on earth would she ever make this up to them.

"Good. And I hear that I have inherited a baby sister and a 20 year old brother. Weird I always wanted brothers and sisters and now it seems I'm getting more ever day."

"oh Ava" The tearful phrase stood for so much while she was standing in the middle of the kitchen ignoring dirty dishes and unfolded laundry talking to the eldest daughter of her lover. It meant I'm sorry that you lost your father after just finding him. Or I'm sorry that I hurt your mother and sister and promise to never do so again. But most importantly it meant I don't know you very well but I promise to spend the rest of my life doing so not only because you are the daughter of Olivia and Jeffrey and the sister of Francesca and Emma and Rafe but because you are kind and good and strong.

"So could you ask my mom to call me later?"

"Of course sweetheart. So when do we get to see you again? I hope that your not thinking you only have to come on the holidays and major events because I have you know if that's the case I'm Catholic and there are a lot of holidays I'm going to expecting to see you."

Laughing Ava responded "As long as mom is paying for the tickets I don't mind racking up the mileage points. Actually I was calling mom to see if I could come out for a few days soon."

"Really?"

"Yeah I've been dealing with some things out here and I thought maybe it would do me some good to get away and what better place than to see my family. I was hoping that mom would convince you to let another kid in the house."

"Sweetheart you are always welcome here. Don't you ever think otherwise. I know that your mother would love to have you and Emma would be ecstatic."

"I hope so"

"I know so. Did your mother tell you that Emma has already gotten together a list of all the things that she and the baby are going to do together and this list is based off of all the things that you and Emma did together?"

"Really?"

"Yeah she is always talking about how she is going to be just like her big sister and even live in San Francisco."

"Well I can't wait to see her again that's for sure. So you really don't mind?"

"I really don't" Natalia said with a huge smile.

The next minute or so were spent going which days and times that she might be expected to fly into town but Natalia's was amazed at how wonderful it felt to have everything and everyone that was important to her reaffirm that she was important to them when she could have easily ended up alone and reviled.

She had a momentary start when familiar arms wrapped around her waist but when she leaned up to kiss and tasted tears she worried that the good feelings that had come with the phone call would be displaced. "Olivia what is it?" She said softly trying to read the face that now hidden by dark hair.

"Thank you."

"What?"

"Thank you for what you said to Ava."

"You don't have to thank me for"

"No I do. During most of my relationships my child and my partner were kept separate. As I look back on them I always kept Emma on one side and the guy was on the other. Even the men that I loved and married. And I know that if I had raised Ava it would have been the same thing because I never really trusted them. I didn't trust them with my whole heart or mind how could I trust them with my daughters. I didn't even realize I was doing it until I was listening to you talking to Ava and I could feel your love for her."

"Of course I love her and Emma. Just like you love Rafe and this baby."

"You say of course but I was married so many times and I never once wanted or even expected the person to love my child and I certainly never loved theirs."

"Olivia"

"No listen. I love you but I am hopelessly in love with our family. And I swear to you nothing and no one will ever mean as much to me as you and our children."