AN/ Next chapter :) TY for reviews and reads, means a lot.

P.s. the chapter takes place the next day

/End of AN/

Liz walked down the stairs of her home, one hand gripping a baby monitor and the other hand a cup of coffee. Just as her foot hit the bottom step she heard the doorbell ring, calling her attention away from wherever it was drifting before.

Liz strolled over to the door in her socks, careful not to slip on the hardwood and reached for the door handle, pulling and revealing Ava.

"Ava," Liz smiled.

"Hey Elizabeth." Ava smiled back. "Can i come in?"

"Yeah." Liz said sidestepping to let Ava into her home. "What brings you by?"

"I have some papers for Franco to sign about the upcoming show….is he here?" Ava asked, not seeing him around.

"Oh, no he just left." Liz sighed. "Sorry about that."

"It's okay, I can leave them with you." Ava explained, pulling an envelope out of her bag and placing it on the coffee table.

"Yeah of course." Liz agreed, sitting down with Ava on the sofa.

"Can I get you a cup?" Liz gestured to the coffee in her hand.

"No, thanks." Ava said. "A part of me is glad Franco isn't here, so I can spend some time with just you. How are you doing? Lauren, as well?"

"We're doing good." Liz couldn't help but smile at the mention of her daughter. "Didn't get the best sleep last night, but we could be doing a whole lot worse."

Ava smiled back at Liz, happy to hear.

"So...you heard about the shooting?" Ava brought up after a moment of silence.

"Micheal…." Liz said solemnly. "So young..I'm so sorry for Avery, i know she was fond of him."

"She has the worst luck…..she's lost 3 sibli…" Ava stopped herself from saying siblings. Micheal wasn't actually her sibling, and Morgan was of course much more.

"Ava?" Liz noticed the weirdness of it.

"I told Franco yesterday but I guess he didn't tell you?" Ava wanted to confirm.

"You mean about Avery? Nikolas told me."

"Nikolas? When?" Ava asked, confused.

"I sorta helped him sneak a look at her files…." Liz bit her lip guilty.

"Well it's true. And I'm going for full custody."

"Oh my...oh my god, Ava. This is…" Liz was unsure what to call it.

"Good." Ava filled in for her. "It gives me what i need to keep Avery safe from being the target of the next shooting. Because we all know it's not a matter of if but when another bullet flies into one of Sonny's children."

Liz took a deep breath. She couldn't imagine dealing with that fear. Little baby Lauren was upstairs asleep and Liz never once was worried about her being subject to a mob hit. But Ava has to deal with that. Hopefully not much longer.

"I'm glad she won't be around that anymore." Liz told Ava sincerely.

"Franco agreed to testify in the custody case as someone who was close with Kiki and who knows all about Sonny and Carly."

"Good."

Ava nodded.

"I just want you to know you have my support too." Liz shared. "You are doing the right thing protecting your little girl."

Ava nodded appreciating it more than Liz would know. "Thanks.

"It's nice having you as a friend, Liz." Ava smiled.

"It's nice having you as a friend too Ava." Liz smiled back.