AN/

So I've been a bit MIA and I feel like I owe you an apology. I needed to take a little social media break including ff and writing. Please know though that this story is not abandoned nor do i plan to abandon it. Thank you for your support and patience.

/End of AN/

Ava and Nikolas knocked on the front door of the Corinthos's property and waited for it to open. Nik could tell Ava was impatient and anxious as she tapped her foot as she waited only to knock again. Suddenly the door opened before she could knock a third revealing Sonny.

"Now is not a good time." He said flatly.

"We know you just lost Micheal but this is important." Nikolas spoke for him and Ava. "It's about Avery."

"Is she okay?" Sonny asked.

"For now." Ava snided.

Nik sighed knowing that he'd have to be the third party to make this even somewhat of a civil interaction. Emotions were running and the stakes were high. He understood that, but they still had to talk regardless.

"Can we come in?" Nik asked nicely, hoping it would be the trick to receptiveness.

Sonny reluctantly let them in, only for the concern of Avery. As Nikolas and Ava entered they noticed Carly was sitting on the couch clutching a tissue in one hand and a framed photo of Michael in the other. She turned when she noticed their presences in the room.

"What are they doing here?" Carly asked Sonny, not even addressing them directly earning an eye roll from Ava who had no time for games.

"I don't know, they said it's about Avery." Sonny explained. "So, what is it?"

"I'm-we.." Ava corrected herself, still getting used to the idea of having Nikolas unconditionally by her side. "...are suing you both for full custody of Avery."

Ava wasted no time getting it out in the open that she planned on having her daughter safe and with her. Sonny and Carly's reaction was nothing you wouldn't expect. They were not receptive.

"How dare you come into our home and do this to us right now." Carly snarled, addressing Ava for the first time with distatse. "We just lost our son!"

"I think that's horrible." Ava replied. "Which is why I don't want that to happen to Avery if I don't take her from the dangerous environment you provide."

"You are not taking Avery from us." Sonny spit out.

"That's for a judge to decide, Sonny." Nikolas stepped in, making it clear he stood by his wife.

"I'm not losing another daughter." Ava shook her head. "She comes first, not you two."

"Keeping her from the family she loves is putting her first? I don't buy it!" Sonny's voice raised. "This is just you selfishly trying to take her away because that's what you are! Selfish!"

"I'm not a threat to her! Which is more than I can say for you!" Ava yelled back, the argument heating.

"I'm her father!" Sonny screamed back.

"No you aren't!" Ava let out loudly, causing a silence to fall around them.

"What?" Sonny demanded an answer.

"Avery is not your daughter. She's Morgan's." Ava told him, breathing out in relief for it to be out in the open now.

"That's a lie."

"It's not." Nikolas chimed in. "I wouldn't make this up."

"Why not? This is just a trick for custody and it's messed up.

"If he wasn't Avery's father why wouldn't you have used this a long time ago?" Carly finally spoke after a while of silence, her defensive tone present as ever.

"We just found out. But the fact is that it's the truth." Nikolas said.

"We are just supposed to trust you?" Carly scoffed.

"No. You can look for yourself. Or we can run a new test. It doesn't matter what you think because it's the truth." Ava told her just as defensive.

Sonny had to sit down, too overwhelmed. It was Ava, it had to be a trick. But she seemed so sure….what if it wasn't. What could he believe?

"If she's Morgan's then we are still family!" Carly yelled out. "We still have rights."

"Maybe you do….maybe a few visits a year if the judge allows. But she is my daughter and it's time I do what mother's are supposed to do! Protect her."

"From us? Carly countered.

"Damn straight." Ava exclaimed, turning and heading out without another word. Nikolas tried to grab her hand to stop her, wanting it to end a bit more civil, but she pulled away and ran out.

Carly looked angry as she looked to Nikolas. They were on opposite sides now, and as far as she was concerned he was just as much an enemy as Ava.

"We need to talk about this...this is huge." Nik suggested.

"No." Carly said. "Get out of my house."

Nikolas was taken aback. "Don't you care? This is a huge change. You don't seem very phased."

"That's because I'm too angry. I'm grieving my son and you show up not to give condolences but to tell me you'll be taking another child from me."

"Sonny…" Nik tried to get him to speak up, but he didn't speak, too deep in thoughts. "Whatever, I have to go find Ava."

Nikolas left and Carly waited to hear the door close before she collapsed on the couch in a heap of exhaust.

"Carly…" Sonny finally spoke, looking to her with caution to be hopeful. "They are just bluffing right?"

"What?" Carly said, out of it. "Sorry."

"I just...I know I was in pentonville when this happened but you were here. Didn't you see the results? This isn't true, right?"

"No….of course not." Carly assured him. "Of course not."