CBloom2: Haha, it isn't like him at all but I can understand why he did it.

sweeet-as-honey: I always love reading your reviews, thank you for spending the time to write such lovely comments. I like Ava's personality, she's the perfect mix of Lily and Ethan.

Chapter Nineteen

Lily wanted to make sure that Ava had the best birthday ever. She'd been struggling at school quite a lot and it would be her last birthday as an only child anyway, so she definitely wanted her to have a fun time. She'd invited everyone from Ava's class round, hired a magician and a bouncy castle and had made a whole range of sandwiches. Most of the kids had had clowns for their parties but she'd had a massive fear of them from a young age so that was a big no.

"Mummy!" Ava squealed, running into the kitchen as Lily got the party food ready. She was wearing a blue and silver Princess Elsa dress, something that Lily and Ethan had bought for her. The funny thing was, was that she was also wearing her bright pink converse so the outfit didn't really go together. "Can you come on the bouncy castle with me and Ashley?"

"In a minute, sweetie," Lily laughed. "Hey, why don't we open your presents? You've been waiting so patiently."

"Yes!" Ava yelled and did a fist pump. "On second thoughts, I don't need you on the bouncy castle with me. I'm big now, I can do things by myself."

"I'm sure you can," Lily said and kissed her on the forehead. "Come on, let's go and open those presents hmm? Remember your pleases and thank you's."

Ava nodded and took Lily's hand, dragging her into the garden. Lily lifted her up and blew a raspberry on her cheek before sitting her down on the grass by the present table. Ethan turned off the music and came to stand beside Lily.

"Looks like she's having a good day," he sighed.

"Let's not ruin it, yeah?" Lily whispered, as she watched the kids gather round Ava. "So um...I know you still hate me and everything but can we just try and get along for Ava's sake? It's her special day."

"I don't hate you," Ethan muttered under his breath and walked over to his daughter. "Hey princess," he said, stumbling slightly before kneeling beside her. "You having fun?"

"Yes," Ava giggled.

"Are you okay?" Lily asked and Ethan nodded. "You just fell over."

"I tripped," Ethan sighed and Lily handed the first present to him to give to his daughter. "Here you go beautiful, this is from Ashley." Ava nodded happily and began to tear the pink, princess paper off.

Ava had tonnes of lovely presents, including barbie play-sets, dressing up clothes, stuffed toys, baby dolls and at every single one, she'd remembered to say thank you. Ethan was on lunch duty for the kids and Lily was about to head into the house and prepare the cake when she saw Connie.

"I thought you had work," Lily said.

"My shift is finished," Connie said. "I'm about to go and pick up Grace so I thought I'd drop this off for Ava," she added and handed a neatly wrapped package over to Lily.

"You didn't have to get her anything," Lily mentioned.

"I wanted to," Connie said. "It's Sylvanian Families. Grace loved them as a child."

"That's really thoughtful," Lily said. "I'm sure Ava will love it. She loves little people and furry animals and stuff, thanks Connie."

"So when are you planning to tell everyone about the new baby?" Connie asked her quietly.

"After our scan," Lily said.

Connie had managed to book Lily in for an ultrasound but it wasn't until next Wednesday unfortunately, Ethan had promised to come along and the two of them had both agreed not to tell anyone until they'd seen that the baby was nice and healthy.

"Looks like Ava's having a nice birthday anyway," Connie said. "Grace is too old for parties like this now. It's all shopping trips and sleepovers with her friends, I kind of miss it. Have you and Ethan spoken much?"

"He's been quiet with me," Lily whispered. "We're trying to stay civil with each other today, for Ava's sake."

"You two can have a chat now if you want to," Connie offered. "I don't mind staying with the kids."

"I don't know if it's really fair to leave you in charge of a bunch of twenty five and six year olds," Lily laughed.

"I don't mind," Connie said. "If you want to have a chat with Ethan, go and do it now. I'll look after the kids, besides they're only having food aren't they? I'll be fine, Lily."

Lily nodded thankfully at her and glanced across at her husband who was already making his way over. "Can um...Can we talk in the kitchen?" Lily whispered and Ethan nodded. "Connie said that she'd watch the kids."

"Sure," Ethan sighed and followed Lily into the house. "So, what do you need to talk to me about then? It's Ava's birthday, I kind of didn't want an argument."

"I don't want us to have an argument either," Lily said. "But you wanted to be on good terms and I'm sorry since you found out about me and Cal, it hasn't felt like that. You've hardly spoken to me."

"Well excuse me for being upset," Ethan scoffed. "You need to give me some time to take it all in, Lily."

"Yes but stop being upset on our daughter's birthday for crying out loud," Lily hissed. "I am trying to make it a nice day for her and you have just been miserable. She's going to notice, Ethan. She isn't stupid!"

"Would you keep your voice down?" Ethan hissed.

"Hate me as much as you like, okay?" Lily asked. "But do not take it out on our daughter."

"How many times do I have to tell you?" Ethan asked through gritted teeth. "I don't hate you and that's the worst thing!"

"What do you mean?" Lily asked.

"I want to hate you," Ethan cried. "I want to hate you with all my guts because you slept with my brother but I don't, I love you more than anything because you're my wife and THAT is what I hate. MYSELF for...For still loving you."

"Daddy..." A small voice whispered and Lily and Ethan both glanced across at Ava who was standing in the doorway. Tears shone in her eyes and she held her thumb in her mouth, a terrified look on her face.

"Ava," Ethan whispered and shook his head. "Ava, sweetheart..." But before he could continue, Ava fled the kitchen.


Lily found Ava sitting on the edge of the bouncy castle, chewing on the sleeve of the Princess Elsa dress. Lily sighed and perched next to her, a hand on her small baby bump. She smiled and tucked a curly strand of Ava's hair behind her ear, noticing her tear stained cheeks.

"Hey princess, talk to mummy," Lily said. "Daddy didn't mean to shout. He was just upset."

"With you," Ava whispered in a small, choked up voice.

"Yeah," Lily sighed. "With me. Not with you though. What did you hear?" Ava gave a tiny shrug. "Princess, mummy isn't going to be cross with you. What did you hear?"

"That...That daddy hates you..." Ava choked out. "That you went to sleep with Uncle Cal." Lily chewed her lip and let out a heavy sigh. "Why did you go to sleep with Uncle Cal? Were you lonely?"

"Um...Y...Yes..." Lily stuttered.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Ava asked. Lily stifled a giggle and gave a small nod. "But you sleep with daddy, daddy always helps nightmares."

"I um...I guess daddy wasn't there at the time," Lily said.

"Oh." Ava hung her head. "And now daddy is upset with you." Lily nodded. "Don't cry mummy, you have me," Ava said with a huge grin and took hold of Lily's hand. "I'm not upset with you."

"Thank you gorgeous," Lily said and gave her a kiss. "And listen, daddy did not mean to shout okay? He loves you and me, just because we had a tiny argument it does not mean that we don't love each other anymore and it does not mean that we love you any less. Do you understand?" Ava nodded. "Good girl. I'd like you to give daddy a big hug later because I think he's a bit upset with himself now for shouting. He's your dad, you mean the world to him."

"Okay mummy," Ava agreed. "Can you come on the bouncy castle with me now?"

"Sure," Lily chuckled. "Come on." She stood up and lifted Ava onto the bouncy castle before climbing up there herself. "You can jump higher than that, can't you?" Lily laughed. "Come on, impress me."

"I can jump very high!" Ava squealed, holding her arms up above her head.

"Lily, do be careful," Connie said, walking over and popping her head through the hole in the castle. "The baby," she then warned.

"Don't worry," Lily reassured her. "I'll do mini bounces."

"Yes, mummy can do mini bounces," Ava repeated.

"Can I tell you something?" Connie asked. "Even though I'm going to find it extremely difficult having a conversation with you through the entrance of a bouncy castle."

"Sure," Lily said, continuing to bounce whilst holding her daughter's hand.

"When you first started at the ED..." Connie began to speak. "If someone had asked me that a few years later you'll be laughing and spending your Saturday bouncing up and down on a bouncy castle, I would have never believed them."

Hope you liked the chapter x