LIV'S POV
"It feels good to be home huh baby?" I asked Avery as i helped her out of her boots.
"Yes mommy" she whispered "i miss nana em"
I watched as she jumped slightly when i turned on the radio. As much as she calmed down the past two weeks i knew it would be a long time until she was comfortable.
"I miss her too but she's only half an hour away and i bet she'll be around all the time"
"Poppy too?"
"Poppy has to work far away but he'll be there most times"
She nodded and went towards my room. I knew co sleeping was going to be hard to get her out of but she was so small and helpless if she slept well with me for right now i was okay with it.
"Does Nana Em work too?"
"Not anymore" i smiled and watched her nod off beside me.
"Twinkie twinkie little star how i wonder whatchu are" i woke up early in the morning as i felt Avery right beside me scrunched up, tears streaming down her face.
"Aves? You okay?"
"I had a nightmare gain mommy, i try wake you up but you kept sleeping"
I sat up quickly and pulled her against me "I'm sorry, next time wake me up until i get up okay?"
"Kay" she mumbled
"Can we watch tv?"
"You don't want to sleep anymore?"
"No"
"Okay, you can watch tv" i carried her to the living room and watched her wait for me to lay down. She climbed on top of me and rested her head against my chest.
(Break)
It was a week filled of getting to know each other again, her nightmares seemed to be getting worse though and i was worried about when i had to go back to work.
"You staying too right mommy?" Avery looked up at me as Emily helped her out of her coat. She looked up at me with big bambi eyes and i wanted to cave in.
"I'm going out with Uncle Teddy for a bit"
Avery's eyes started watering and she ran over to me wrapping both of her arms around mine as she started sobbing.
"Don't leave me mommy! I be good i promise!"
"Avery" I bent down and wiped her tears "mommy isn't leaving you because you were bad, you're never bad"
"I'm not?" She said still crying
"No, nana Em just wanted to spend some time with you just the two of you"
"But you come back?"
"I promise i'm coming back, we're a team you and me"
She stopped crying and wiped her tears
"Kay" she started sucking her thumb
"When you wake up from your nap i'll be here"
"Kay mommy" she hiccuped "i miss you much much"
"I'll miss you too" I smiled and she leant forward smacking her lips against mine. I stood and watched her go over to Emily but bite her nails as i got my things to go. She held onto Emily's hand and waved a little when i opened the door. I waved back and felt horrible watching her look so nervous but i knew we had to start spending some time apart so she could get used to me not around.
"Well, well, well look who gets a kid and disappears from civilization" Teddy said as he stood kissing my cheek as i walked into the restaurant we were meeting at.
"You saw me two weeks ago"
He shot me a look "Used to be every other day"
"Is someone jealous?"
"No" he rolled his eyes "reservation under Grant" he told the waitress and she scrunched up her face.
"Is there a problem?"
"No sir, just can i get your first name?"
"Teddy"
She nodded and crossed his name off
"We have more than one reservation with that last name that's all"
"Not a problem" Teddy let me follow her and i was so wrapped up in Avery i wasn't really focusing on anything else.
"Can i get you two something to drink?"
"She'll have a glass of your finest red wine-"
"Teddy!" I screeched "it's 1pm!"
"It's 5 o'clock somewhere Libby!" He turned back to the waiter "i will have a scotch, keep them coming"
She left and i watched Teddy chuckle as i glared at him.
"Your wife pregnant yet?" He started glaring at me instead.
"No, we talked and she agreed to 6 more months without trying for baby number 2"
"What changed her mind?"
"She said Mase had no one to play with, i told her he just got a brilliant new cousin around the same age"
"So, you use my child as a bargaining chip" i laughed
"How's my favourite little niece?"
"She's your only niece and she's alright. She started sobbing when i was leaving. She said she was sorry she was so bad and to not leave her"
"She thought you weren't coming back?"
I nodded "Her mother messed her up, she's so innocent, smart and a good little girl i don't see why anyone would want to bring her down"
"Hey, don't you always say God does things for a reason? If you didn't go through all of that do you think she would be with you right now?"
"No"
"Then just take it one day at a time, Lex and I are always here for you"
"Thanks" i huffed out. Teddy always made me feel better.
"No way!" Teddy's eyes looked up and his face spread out to a grin as he looked behind me. I stared confused until someone went straight in for a hug with him. I stood and suddenly knew from the height difference who it was.
"Hi" Governor Fitzgerald Grant stood in front of me. He leaned down to hug me as we both kissed each others cheek
"Hi"
I sat back down and watched Teddy smile across the table
"So, what are you doing here big bro? Sit"
"I actually can't i have a meeting and i'm only in town for the meeting then i'm getting back to work"
"How has your first couple of days been?"i asked clearly surprising them both.
"It's been amazing so far, we cleared a bill already"
I smiled "congratulations, if you'll excuse me." i said as my phone started ringing. I walked out onto the balcony
"Hello?"
"Liv, it's Senator Edison Davis" i rolled my eyes.
"Senator, how can i help you?"
"I'd like to hire you"
"You'll have to tell me what this is concerning before i accept"
"Before you accept?"
"I'm a busy woman Senator, i cannot be taking on cases that are useless"
"Can we meet in person?"
"I'm sorry that is not duo able for the next 6 weeks. I am off until after New Years."
"Someone has been planting something in my office for the past month. Conversations with different people heard and leaked in the press"
"I will call my associate Huck to come over and sweep the room"
"Thank you"
"Not a problem Senator"
"Please call me Edison" he offered "i look forward to seeing you at The christmas ball next week"
"Goodbye Senator" i quickly hung up and made my way back to the table to see Fitz had left and Teddy was nursing his scotch.
"Fitz said he would see us next week"
I nodded "Do you have a date?"
"No why?"
"Fitz doesn't either"
"No"
"But-"
"Leave it alone Teddy, i'm civil, i can stand being in the same room finally so just can we talk about something else?"
"Fine" he sighed "i'll work on getting you a date"
"I don't need one Avery will be there"
"She'll be playing with Mason"
"Teddy-"
"He'll meet you at the gala alright? Less pressure"
"Fine" i mumbled "can we eat now?"
"Of course libby" he smiled
"Hello?" I called through the decorated house that had transformed since i had left. I took set my purse down and the only sound i heard was my heels clicking against the floor until i heard tiny patter of feet running towards me as i entered the kitchen. It was two seconds before Avery reached me and slammed into my legs.
"Mommy you came back! You came back" she gripped my thighs
"I promised i would" i kissed her hair "did you have fun with nana Em?"
"Uh huh, we decor-" she struggled "decorra" she huffed out "decorated the house and i made you a picture!"
"You did?! Can i see?!"
She nodded and pulled me towards the dining room table as i said hi to Emily.
"Wow baby" i smiled as she showed me macaroni letters spelling out her name with glitter and stickers all over it
"Do you like it mommy?"
"I LOVE it!" She grinned "it's going up in my office at work"
She smiled and started playing with my hand. "How about you go get your dolls packed up?"
"Kay" she nodded and went over to the living room.
"Was she okay?"
"The first hour she was a bit sad but she was fine once i started the tree" Emily smiled "How was lunch?"
"Lunch was good, Teddy is a real nut"
"I agree" she laughed