Chapter 13 - Hi

When Ava woke a few days later she was surprised but not completely displeased to find herself alone. Ever since she had met her mother and father they had hardly left her side only leaving her alone with Ricki when it was time for her lessons.

They had begun more physical therapy. Ricki has been getting Ava to try to walk but she was finding it very frustrating. Although Ricki had assured her that she was coming along swimmingly she was constantly angered by the fact that she was unable to take more than three steps before falling into Ricki's arms.

Ava was pleased to be alone for a few minutes because it gave her time to think. Ever since she met her mother they had been talking to her about her siblings. Ricki, mum, and dad assured her that they were completely safe but Ava was still wary about meeting them. She knew that they had all been hoping that they could have met before now but Ricki made sure Ava knew no one was angry with her or would force her to do something she wasn't ready for, however Ricki had been talking to her about being released in the near future from the hospital and going home. Ava knew she wanted to meet everyone before she left to avoid having to do it all at once but she still felt the need to put it off for as long as possible.

It wasn't long until Ricki entered the room closing the door behind her.

"Good morning, Ava. How are you feeling?"

She replied by pointing towards the bathroom. Ricki smiled, "Okay but I want you to try to walk there."

When Ava gave her a look of disbelief she added, "While holding on to me of course."

She assisted the small girl by lifting her from the bed and setting her on the floor. Ava held onto Ricki's arms with all her strength. "Don't worry, deer, I won't let you fall."

It took much longer than it had whenever Ricki carried Ava or used the wheel chair but they eventually made their way to the bathroom without a problem.

Ricki helped Ava use the washroom and bathe. Ricki used magic to quickly dry her hair and helped her dress again. She had Ava sit on the edge of the bathtub so she could brush her hair. Every time she brushed it she couldn't help but think that Ava needed a haircut. Not because her hair was overly long. It was actually at a good length. The problem was that it still looked as though someone cut it with a piece of glass. It was uneven had several split ends.

When she was finished she got Ava to stand up and helped her try to walk again but as soon as they exited the bathroom Ricki felt Ava sliding down.

"Accio wheel chair," she said and the wheelchair from the corner of the room quickly rolled over to them.

Ricki easily kept Ava up and set her in the chair. She was just about to wheel Ava back to her bed when she said something.

"What there?"

Ricki looked down at her and saw her pointing at the door that led to the rest of the hospital.

"That's the door to the other parts of the hospital," Ricki informed her.

"People there?"

"Well right now your parents, siblings, and Auror Tonks are on the other side. You remember hearing about Tonks right?"

"Rescue?"

"Yes, she was part of the group that rescued you."

"Danger there?" she questioned pointing at the door again.

"No sweetie, there is nothing dangerous there. And Tonks and Kingsley take their turns to make sure it stays that way."

"Go there?"

That was not what Ricki was expecting. "You want to go out there?"

Ava nodded.

"Are you sure Ava? I mean there are quite a few people out there. Your Mum and Dad, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, and Tonks; and Kingsley, Albus, and Minerva might come by after. Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"You said family, no hurt; rescue, no hurt. Safe."

"Alright, Ava. We can go meet them. One second." Ricki quickly took pushed Ava closer to the bed and grabbed her favorite pillow, a blanket Molly had given her (she had knitted it herself), and her lion. She put the pillow behind Ava's back and handed her the lion knowing it would comfort her. She then placed the blanket on Ava's lap knowing the cool hospital would be cold on the bare legs behind the small gown.

Although Ricki wasn't expecting this she was not going to stop Ava from meeting her family. In fact she had been trying to convince her to since she had met Arthur and Molly. She had just expected that when she did meet them it would be one at a time. But it seemed that her childlike curiosity got the better of Ava and Ricki couldn't have been happier at the progress that were making.

"Okay, are you ready?" Ricki asked. Ava nodded firmly. The only sign of nervousness she showed was in clutching her lion to her chest. "Okay." As she pushed the chair towards the door Ricki couldn't help but be thankful that she had been smart enough to train everyone on how to act when meeting Ava a few days prior.

She used magic to open the door and pushed her chair through. Immediately all eyes fell on the pair and no one dared breathe let alone move.

Ava's eyes darted around the corridor in part fear and part curiosity. They eventually landed on a group of red-heads and a young lady with pink hair. When nobody moved Ava became more nervous. She quickly spotted her Mummy and Daddy.

Ava softy whispered, "Hi."