This is for AshGurl2897. Cause the poor girl STILL hasn't been able to watch the show...So hopefully this will entertain you until it's up on youtube!!

"I'll be back with Ava, Ames." Leo said, walking into the living room holding Ava's car seat. He picked her up and put her in the car seat and came over to hug me.

"He'll be back, Ames."
"I just hope he doesn't hate me." I whispered.

Leo pulled away from me and shook his head. "He doesn't hate you. I promise."

I nodded. "I hope you're right." I said, tears welling up in my eyes.

"I'll be back, Amy…just let me know." He starting walking towards the door with Ava and I stopped him.
"Any idea when Ben's coming home?" I yelled after him.

"No clue, Amy…He'll be home. I know that much. Good luck." He said, and with that, left.

I sat on the couch and sighed, laying my head back. I heard my phone ring and looked at it. Restricted. I sighed, and pressed the talk button.

"Hello?"
"Amy…it's me."

"Ricky?"
"Yeah."
"What do you want?" I asked, angrily.

"Sorry. I had to block my number because I knew you wouldn't answer if you saw it was me."

"What do you want, Ricky?"
"I wanted to apologize. Amy, I didn't mean to cause problems between you and Ben…but the fact that you call Ben Ava's dad…it just…I don't know. It made me angry. I wanted what he had. I wanted to be Ava's dad."
"Look…Ricky…I can't trust you right now. And you can come see Ava, but there are conditions."
"I'm listening."

I continued. "When you come over, Ben is going to be here. At least for a while. Cause right now…well…he left right after you did and I have no clue where he is or when he's coming home. But I shouldn't keep you from seeing your daughter just because you were an idiot and made a move."

Ricky laughed. "That's good enough for me."
"And Ricky?"
"Yeah?"
"I will tell Ava that you're her father...but when she's old enough to make the decision, it's HER decision whether she wants you to be her father. If she chooses Ben, then that's her decision."
"But he'll always just be the step dad. I'm her father."

"Ricky, I know that. I just…I don't trust you not to hurt me…to not hurt her. I know you say you want to be involved and that you love her, but I don't see it yet. But Ben has shown me from the beginning. I love him. And he loves me…and our daughter."

"What if she doesn't choose Ben though?"
"Then that's a bridge we'll have to cross later."

He sighed. "I guess that's good enough for now. I just want to see Ava. And I want her to know that I'm her father. Not Ben. Me."

"I know, Ricky…Listen…I think I heard Ben pull up, and I really don't think it's a good idea that when he first comes home after us getting in a huge fight, he hears me talking to you."
"I understand…um…call me when things get better. And I'm sorry for problems I might've caused you and Ben. I'm really not interested in you that way…honest."
"Thanks, Ricky. I'll call you next week or something."
"Sounds good. Bye." And with that, he hung up. I sighed, looking out the window. I saw Ben walk up the sidewalk and to the front door. I opened the door, and he smiled weakly. I moved out of the way so he could get in the house and I shut the door after him. I looked at him, tears in my eyes, and hugged him tightly. He pulled away from me, then kissed me, with more passion than he ever had before.

"I'm such an idiot, Amy. I love you."
"I know. I love you too."

"And I know you don't love Ricky."

I smiled. "Good. Cause I don't. But we really do need to talk about Ricky."
He sighed. "I know that."

I grabbed his hand, walking into the living room. I sat on the couch and he sat beside me, facing me.

"What's wrong?"
"I just got off the phone with him."
"Oh." He said, looking down.

"Ben…don't do that."
"Do what? Be jealous?"
"There's nothing to be jealous of!" I sighed, rolling my eyes.

"Continue…you talked to Ricky…and?"
"He wants Ava to know that he is her father."
"Oh." Ben said, in that same disappointed tone.

"Ben…there was this quote on a card I gave my dad for father's day years ago…it said something along the lines of 'Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.' And that's what you are, Ben. You're her dad. Ricky is her father, but you're her dad! Ben…do you realize how important and amazing that is? Not only to me, but to her?"
"But what if she doesn't want me?"
"Ben…honey…what are you talking about?"

"What if when we tell her that Ricky's her father, she'll want nothing to do with me?"

"I can't imagine that happening…"
"But what if it did, Amy? Nothing is certain."

"That's true."

"So why don't I just step aside and let Ricky in?"
"Is that what you think I want, Ben? For you to step aside?" I asked, standing up, my voice getting louder and angrier with every word I said.

"Cause it's definitely not." I continued. "Ben…how many times do I have to say it? You're her DAD, Ben! There is nothing more beautiful than a dad with his daughter."
"But it's not ME, Amy! I'm not her dad!"
"Yes you are. And I KNOW you love Ava more than anything in this world. You ARE her dad. Whether Ricky likes it or not. I will tell her someday that Ricky is her father, and then it is her decision whether she wants him involved or not. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. She's JUST now a month old, Ben. We have time to sort this out. So please, don't worry and don't leave us. I need you now, Ben. I'm in love with you." I whispered that last sentence, sitting down again, holding his hands in mine.

"Ben, look at me." I requested, and he looked deep into my eyes.

"You are Ava's dad, Ben. I don't know how many times I have to tell you this before you believe it. And she loves you, Ben. And I know you love her. So please…stop worrying about the future. Whatever happens happens. And there's nothing we can do about it. All we can do is hope for the best. But remember, Ben…not everyone you love is going to leave you."

He kissed me, tears welling up in his eyes as well. "I'm sorry…it's just…I don't know…this overwhelming fear that I would lose Ava came over me. I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

"Ben…your mom left. She had no choice, Ben! Anyone who has a choice won't leave you! I know I didn't."
"You almost did." He pointed out.

"I know. But I didn't. Cause I couldn't bear to be without you, Ben. And Ava will feel the same way about you."
"How do you know?"
I shrugged. "Apple doesn't fall far from the tree?"

He laughed. "I love you, Amy."
"I love you too, Ben."

"And please…don't do this again. I love you. Please don't doubt it."

He smiled, laying down on the couch, enveloping me in his arms. And for once, everything felt right in the world, and I was exactly where I belonged.

Review?

The show was AMAZING tonight! I can't wait for next week! YAY!!