Paige, Ashley, and Kelsie went out for coffee before she had to leave the next day. They hadn't got to see her much since she had been released from the hospital. This would be their last chance to see her for a long while.
Paige was very careful to keep the subject off Craig; they didn't want to get her mad. They wanted her to have a nice day with them.
"So Paige I talked to Blake yesterday, and he really wants to meet you. He seen the some picture's when they were unloading the van into our house, and he thinks you're real hot."
"What?" astonished by this.
"Yeah, he hopes that you'll come down this summer so that he can get to know you." She loved setting her friends up.
"I'll have to think about it," she smirked. She could see that Kelsie was just loving this.
"So Ash, do you think that you and Jimmy will end up moving in together in the near future?" curious to know if they were ready for something like that in their relationship.
"Yeah, maybe after college, I mean it would be nearly impossible to do it otherwise since our colleges aren't close enough to each other."
"Yeah, I get what you mean. At least you both will be close enough to visit each other," she grinned.
Craig walked into Kelsie's living room, feeling a little edgy, feeling like he could be caught at any moment. He really wanted to see his sweet Ava before she went and left his life what may be forever.
"Chris do you think this really is a good idea, what if she comes home?" not wanting to have Kelsie to have more things to hang against him.
"She's out with the girls, we've got plenty of time," he tried to reassure him. He hated lying to Kelsie, but he thought he was doing the right thing. He knew that in the bottom of her heart she knew Ava needed him real dad.
Chris planted Ava in Craig's arms. Craig face lit up, and stopped worrying as he looked at Ava. She was so beautiful! As long as he was with her, he felt like nothing else mattered in the world.
"Craig when you move to Victoria. I'll try to get her away so that you can see her, but maybe by then Kels will have changed her mind."
"Why are you doing this? Why are jeopardizing your own relationship with Kelsie?" unsure why he would risk everything for someone he barely knew.
"Because I've come to realize how much Ava and you need each other, and I believe that you both deserve that chance."
"I really appreciate this, because I don't know how I would go on with my life without seeing her sweet face ever again," feeling like he could cry. Never seeing her again would be worse then dying.
The boys were in such a deep conversation, that they didn't even hear the front door close. In walked Kelsie and the girls, as Kelsie glazed into the living room, her face began to burn up with anger. She was about to speak up, and yell at the top of her lungs, but something stopped her. She noticed Craig's face as he cradled Ava on his arms; it beamed with so much love. It reminded her of the way he used to look at her. Her anger was soon melted away by it.
"What do you think you're doing?" Kelsie asked, scaring both of the boys. Paige and Ashley worried that there was going to be another fight.
"I can explain," Chris said as he stood up, looking back at her.
"No, let my talk," she said calmly.
Oh here it come Craig thought, believing that he had just hindered Chris and her relationship. And made matters worse for both of them.
"We both said some horrible things that we shouldn't have, but I know now that it wasn't the real you talking. I shouldn't have taken my anger for you out on our daughter. Chris was right she does need her father. When I saw you with her just now, I just knew that you both need each other. And I don't want to be like Manny, taking away your flesh and blood," feeling a sign of relied come over her.
Joy was filled in Craig's eyes. He hadn't heard such wonderful news since Kelsie had said that she loved him, "Thank you."
Kelsie walked over to him, and hugged him, "Your welcome."
"So what are we going to do now?" wondering how they would work this out.
"Well when we leave, I'll keep you updated every week until you arrive in Victoria," thinking that was probably the best way.
"Sounds good." Looking down at Ava, "But I'm going to miss this little one until then," leaning in, and kissing her forehead.
Emma didn't want to let him go, she wanted this second to last forever. Pulling out of her grip, "Come on Em, I've got to go, or I'll miss my flight," Craig pleaded with her not want to leave either but he knew he had to.
Looking down with a sad voice, "I know."
"I'll miss you too." He pulled her into one last hug, just before leaning in for a sweet, but still passionate kiss.
He began walking away, "I love you," she hollered.
"I love you too," he mouthed as he walked backwards through the door. Trying to make every moment last, wanting to see her face as long as he could.
Tears ran down her face, it was so hard to watch her love walk out of her life. She knew she would see him again, it just felt like forever before it would be that time. What was she going to do this summer? It seemed like all her friends had a special someone to spend it with. And she was stuck all by herself.
Craig was poignant to be leaving Emma, but excited that he was going to see his daughter after almost 3 months.
He wondered how different life would be in Victoria compared to Toronto. What would his apartment look like? There were so many questions he had about what his new life would be like. It would be so foreign to be living on his own, doing things all for himself without any help.
He had so much to do once he got there, find a job, and get Joey to send the rest of his stuff down once he found out how big his place was. Then he would need to explore the town of his, get to know all the places.
He grew tired, and soon fell asleep on the plane. Leaving all his cares and worries behind him.
The plane landed, and Kelsie and Ava were there to greet Craig. A big grin came over his face. He felt like he was coming home to his family, not like what he had with Joey, but his very own little family. "Hey you," he said taking Ava into his arms. "You've grown so much?" Looking at Kelsie, "She looks much bigger than the photo's you sent me."
"Yeah, I defiantly think she's going to be a tall one." Touching her hair, "But look at how curly her hair is getting."
"I see," touching her hair. It reminded him of Angie when she was her age.
"So how was your flight?"
"Good, it let me catch up on some needed sleep."
"Why is that, did you spend a sleepless night with Emma," nudging him slightly. Remembering how it was when she had to leave Chris.
"Not in the way your thinking, Em and I haven't done that yet. No we spent the night talking, just being in each other's presence." He began to wonder how he was going to live without that.
"I see. Maybe this can be good thing for you two to see if you're meant to be," trying think encouraging for him.
"I guess," trying to be optimistic. Just thinking about being away from her made him depressed.
"Why don't we go get your stuff, and head to your new apartment?"
"Okay," he smirked as they began to walk towards luggage claim.