"Was I a mistake?" Ava probes.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean did you really want me? Sometimes I think that you wish I didn't exist,"

"Why would you say that Ava?"

"Because. I've spent most of my life living with my grandparents when I had a perfectly capable mother to take care of me. Sometimes I think that you'd be happier if I weren't around. If I weren't around to remind you of him,"

"Ava. I always wanted you. Always. No matter what happened, or didn't happen. And yeah sometimes you do remind me of your dad, but the good parts,"

"Then why didn't you raise me?"

"Because I was afraid that I'd fall flat on my face and take you with me. That I'd fail you completely. I didn't want to be a bad mom, not like my mom. I thought if your grandparents raised you that you'd have a better chance of turning out normal. I didn't want to screw you up. Before I had you I was a very selfish person that didn't have a clue. I was very naive. Having you gave me a overly needed wake-up call,"

"Did you hate daddy?"

"No, but he wasn't always my most favorite person,"

"I know,"

"Are you ashamed of me?"

"Why would you think that Ava?"

"Because you didn't want me. I mean nobody but you and grandma and grandpa know I exist. I mean not really. Your friends don't know about me..."

"That isn't because I'm ashamed of you,"

"Then why don't they know?"

"Because I want to protect you,"

"From what?"

"If the public knew about you any time a case went sour your life could be in danger. I couldn't take that,"

"I guess I can understand that,"

"Why are you asking me all of these questions anyway?"

"Because I am,"

"What's going on?"

"Grandma and grandpa didn't send me back here because I got in trouble for skipping school,"

"Oh," Olivia's voice drops.

"They don't like my boyfriend,"

"Why not?"

"Because they think he's a bad guy,"

"Why? Is he in a gang?"

"No,"

"Does he do drugs?"

"No,"

"Does he drink?"

"No,"

"Does he smoke?"

"No,"

"Does he cuss?"

"No,"

"Why would they dislike this guy? Does he have a bad attitude? Is he too old for you?"

"No, and no. He's sweet, and he's only like six months older than I am,"

"Is he a criminal?"

"No,"

"Is he..."

"He's black,"

"That's why they don't like him?"

"No. He's a good guy. He goes to church, and he's sweet,"

"Is he mean to you?"

"No,"

"Then what's the problem?"

"They found him in my room one morning before school,"

"Oh," Olivia swallows hard.

"But it wasn't what you think. He was on the floor,"

"So nothing happened, and they were just over reacting?"

"That's not why they sent me back though,"

"Ok,"

"Grandma freaked out and she made me go to the doctor and get birth control,"

"Ava why did they send you back?"

"Even though I told her I wasn't going to do anything,"

"How can you be sure?"

"Cause I can,"

"So why did she send you back? I'm waiting,"

"Mom. Stop when you use that tone of voice you sound like a cop,"

"I am a cop," she reminds.

"I know,"

"Continue please," Olivia demands.

"Well the doctor told Grandma that she couldn't give me birth control..."

"Without an exam?"

"No. She did a blood test before that. She told her that she couldn't give me birth control because I was pregnant,"

"What?" Olivia says hysterically trying to keep her anger at bay.

"Let me explain. I know it sounds bad. It was really stupid but it was an accident,"

"I'd hope so,"

"I wanted to wait but..."

"Did he make you do something you didn't want to?" Olivia questions in alarm.

"No. Not really. I mean No. We just got really caught up in the moment. I didn't mean for it to happen. It was all like one big blur, I barely remember what happened. But it only happened once. Once I realized what happened I freaked out. I knew that I screwed up. I figured it wouldn't be the end of the world though. I mean I was upset, because I knew that I couldn't fix it. That I couldn't go back. I felt horrible. I decided just because it happened once didn't mean that it was ok. Because it wasn't. Not to me anyway. So I didn't let it happen again. I figured that I'd be able to forget about it. I mean I knew I wouldn't, but I didn't think that I'd have to worry about it. But I was wrong,"

"When did this happen?"

"About two weeks before thanksgiving,"

"That was four and a half months ago,"

"I know,"

"What happened? Exactly. Walk me through it,"

"Well grandma and grandpa went to Cleveland to see Aunt Kate, Uncle Greg and their kids. She knew that since she was out of town I wouldn't want to be alone. She told me that it was find to invite over some friends. She said five was the limit. She told me she didn't care if I invited a couple of my guy friends, but there was to be no alcohol and no funny business. I invited my boyfriend and two other couples from school. His best friend and my best friend and their girlfriend and boyfriend. We played games and watched T.V. Nothing weird was going on. His friend's boyfriend refilled our drinks and everything was blurry from there. I remember going upstairs. And I remember waking up with Adam,"

"Your boyfriend?"

"Yeah,"

"Did the drinks taste funny?"

"No I don't know I didn't really pay any attention,"

"What were you drinking?"

"Sparkling apple cider. We were drinking out of shot glasses. We thought it was funny,"

Ava disappears for a minute and then reappears with a shot glass.

"That looks kind of moldy,"

"Yeah we made a pact not to wash them,"

"Eww,"

"Sorry,"

"Go put some water in it,"

"Why?"

"Please,"

"Fine," Ava agrees.

When she comes back from the sink Olivia has some sort of plastic strip.

"What is that?"

"Watch,"

"Watch what?" Ava asks.

Olivia dips the strip into the water, and scrapes the bottom of the glass.

"It's pink!" Ava exclaims.

"Yeah,"

"What does that mean?"

"Someone put something in your drink,"

"Like what?"

"Probably the date rape drug," Olivia says very seriously.

"How do you know that?"

"Because this tests for those types of drugs,"

"Where would you get those?"

"The captain gave them to me,"

"Captain Crunch?"

"No the captain of my squad. When you're a cop they pass these things out like candy,"

"Oh,"

"Ava it wasn't your fault,"

"I wasn't even sure that anything happened. I mean until I realized that I was pregnant,"

"So what do you want to do?"

"I don't know. I mean everything is so crazy. School sucks but I'm starting to make friends. I..."

"Ava you can do whatever you want,"

"You'll be mad,"

"I won't," she promises.

"How did you know?"

"Know what?"

"Know that you wanted to keep me?"

"I don't know. I couldn't give you away,"

"But the..."

"I don't believe in abortion,"

"Even after what you do? You'd honestly tell someone that was raped to keep the baby?"

"No. Not in that instance. I'm just saying for me it's not something I believe in. It's fine for other people. They can do what they want with their lives but I couldn't do that,"

"Why not?"

"I didn't have the happiest childhood. But if my mother could have me after the way I was conceived I just couldn't,"

"Did people think that you should get rid of me?"

"Yeah. A lot of people thought that. We found out about you no more than a month before your dad died. It was early, and people thought that it would be easier for me if I didn't have you,"

"But you did,"

"Yeah. And I'm glad. I know that I haven't always been there for you. But it was never because I didn't want you. I just didn't want you to be involved in my problems. I'm not a saint,"

"That would be boring,"

"Probably,"

"Was it worth it?"

"Uh huh. Even the sixteen hours of labor,"

"Ouch,"

"You had drugs though right?"

"No,"

"Why not?"

"I was out of my mind. You were stubborn. Then you finally came out,"

"Was I an ugly baby,"

"No. Some babies look old and wrinkly when they come out but you were perfect,"

"Really?"

"Yeah. Chubby, and bald,"

"Just like a butterball turkey. How sweet,"

"As soon as you looked up at with me with your big blue eyes I knew it was meant to be,"

"Didn't they remind you of daddy?"

"Uh huh. But that's ok. You only got our good qualities–for the most part. I wouldn't want you any other way either," Olivia smiles.