A New York Evening

by LangsonGal

Based on the Video Killed The Radio Star episode in s23. Trevor and Olivia's date at the gala and what happens afterwards. Originally a one shot but with all the lovely comments and encouragement, this will be multichapter :)

10. Chapter 10

HI GUYS, here it is, i have a cute ass date set up for Liv and Trev in the next chapter and a lil less drama but something else brewing in the back ground! Please leave me acomments and lemme know what you thihnk so far :)

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"Okay but… why do you think that Spain is part of North America?" Trevor asked Noah at the dining table. Noah frowned at his school work and looked back at Trevor. He sighed and put his face in his hands, his face was burning with embarrassment, knowing it was the wrong answer.

He shrugged.

"I'm not mad," Trevor told him gently, "I don't want you to get upset, I am just curious what your thinking is, because if I can understand why you thought that, then maybe I can help explain the answer a little better."

Olivia did her best to hold back and not get involved despite the fact that she understood all of the signs of Noah becoming upset. She wanted to give Trevor the chance to navigate her son's sensitivity.

"I don't know," he mumbled.

Noah felt Trevor's hand on his back and heard the scrape of the chair against the tiles getting closer. He gave him an encouraging rub on the back. "Its okay, I don't want you to get upset, it's just homework, it's not that important… would you feel more comfortable if Mom helped instead of me?"

Noah just shrugged again.

"Okay, look, how about I tell you the answer and I'll explain the reason for the answer, does that sound better?"

Noah nodded but still kept his face covered not wanting to reveal his tears and his hot, red face. Olivia sipped her wine and peeled the potatoes for their dinner while Ava prepared the vegetables for the roast that they were working on.

Gently, Trevor pulled Noah's hand from his face. "I'm sorry if I upset you," he apologised to the little boy. "That's the last thing I want," he gave him a little smile. "Come here, give me one of your best Noah Benson cuddles."

Noah held his arms out and Trevor scooped him in to his arms and on to his lap. "I love you, kiddo, I just want you to learn new stuff and you can tell me if I upset you."

"I thought I was in trouble," he murmured, "like when my teacher calls on us and we don't know the answer," he explained.

"You're not in trouble," Trevor smiled, "and I never want you to feel stupid for anything, even if the answer is wrong. You're learning and you only learn things by getting things wrong sometimes, okay?"

Noah nodded. Trevor smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "Okay, do you want to try again? You can tell me what makes you think Spain is part of North America."

"Because they speak Spanish," he replied, "and Mexico is part of North America."

"Ah," Trevor smiled, "see! That's not at all a silly thought; it can be a little confusing because some countries that speak Spanish are in North America and some aren't. Spain is a country in Europe, but there's other Spanish speaking countries that are part of South America, but we don't need to learn about those right now. We are just learning about Spain tonight."

Olivia smiled to herself. Ava caught her smiling to herself and knew it was because of her father and Noah. "Olivia are you happy with the vegetables like this?," she asked, showing her the roasting tray.

"Yeah, sweetheart, they look wonderful, you did a great job. Did you want me to show you how to make the best and crispiest roast potatoes?"

"Yes! Oh my gosh, roast potatoes are my favourite," Ava remarked.

"Honey, I think your phone is ringing," Olivia nodded, to the phone that was in the front pocket of her hoodie - the screen was lighting up but it was clearly on silent. Ava pulled it out and saw her friend Rory calling.

She picked it up, "hey!," she greeted him. She flicked the phone to speaker and placed it down, "you're on speaker and my family is here," she warned him, "I'm just cooking with Liv."

"Oh, sorry," he apologised, "I can let you go, I just wanted to see what you were doing."

"Mystery solved!" Ava replied with a little giggle as she plucked out the spare peeler and helped Liv with the last of the potatoes. "What are you doing?"

"Not much, Dad's at work as usual. The boys from McFarlane High invited me out to one of their parties, but I'm trying to stay away from them without causing too much attention," he replied. "I have some History homework, I guess."

"You should do that," Ava replied. "What did you do today?"

"I just hung out and played X-box… what about you? Did you hang out with your family?" he wondered.

"Yeah… I had my swim meet this morning, I did much better this week and I am looking for a new dance studio and I think we found one today. When we got home Noah and I played Bomberman and Liv and I have been reading this stupid UFO book together."

"That's nice, you sound like you have a nice family… What are you cooking?"

"My family is the best, I'm really lucky," Ava confirmed. She smiled at her father's girlfriend. "Olivia and I are making a roast and Dad and Noah are working on his homework. What are you gonna do for dinner?"

"I dunno, there might be some left overs from last night, I haven't really checked," Rory replied.

Ava felt a little guilty for almost shoving it in his face. Trevor turned to Ava and said something, but she couldn't understand. "Hang on a tick, Rory," she said softly and pressed mute on the call. "Sorry, Dad, I didn't hear."

"I said, it sounds like your friend needs a good, home-cooked meal, why don't you invite him here for dinner." He looked to Liv, "there's plenty of food, right?," he wondered.

"It's a little far from his house, Dad…" Ava reminded him.

"That's okay, when we put the potatoes on to boil, you and I can go and pick him up," Olivia opted.

"Okay," Ava said slowly, a little suspicious. She took him off speakerphone. "Hey Rory? Would you like to come to my place for dinner? Olivia and I can come and pick you up."

"Oh, no, no… I'll be okay, Ava, that's really nice of you guys."

"Come on," she said, "you can meet my Dad and Liv and Noah… Olivia promised to teach me how to make the best roast potatoes I'll ever eat," she added with a little smile. She could almost hear her friend considering it.

"It'd be our pleasure, Rory," Liv added. Ava grinned at her. "That was Liv," she told him.

"Okay, that would be so nice, thank you."

"Okay, I don't have your address or anything so you could drop pin it and I'll text you when we're on our way."

"Thanks Ava, thank Liv and your Dad for me too. And maybe you can finally show me this super old Bomber Man game."

She laughed. "Yeah I can definitely do that. Bring your homework, maybe we can work on our History stuff together."

"Okay, I'll let you get to your cooking." She hung up the phone and grinned at Liv excitedly. "I know you guys just invited him because you want to make sure he's not a jerk, but I'm happy anyway, I think he has a tough time at home."

"Yeah… it kind of paints that sort of picture. Does he have a Mom?" Liv asked as she boiled the potatoes on the stovetop.

"No, his Mom passed, it's just him and his Dad." She lowered her voice, "he told me his Dad works and drinks every night and his apartment is so small and … kind of gross."

"I guess some kids are more fortunate than others," Olivia replied to her, "and it's always important to realise how lucky you are," she smiled at her, "but I think you and Noah are very good like that."

Ava nodded, "but… I didn't know people really lived like that," she admitted, "I thought it was like… a TV thing."

"A lot of people live like that, kiddo, the kind of apartment you have and the kind of apartment Noah has… it's probably out of the ordinary, your Dad and I are so fortunate to have good jobs that pay nicely but some people who have very good jobs and work just as hard as us don't have the same opportunities."

Ava thought about it for a moment as she chopped some herbs for Olivia. "Did you grow up in a big apartment?"

She shook her head, "No, I probably grew up in one that was more like Rory's…but I was fortunate that my job was good and that I've climbed up from being a baby detective to the Captain… and the same for your Dad, we were lucky."

/

Trevor couldn't help but feel a little on edge about Ava's friend visiting. He wanted to like him for his daughter's sake, but he knew already that he drank alcohol and hung out with the wrong crowd outside of school, so he was apprehensive.

Olivia, Ava and Rory walked through the door as Trevor and Noah were finishing up with the homework. Trevor had turned Olivia's potatoes off the stovetop. "We're ba-ack," Olivia sang out. She made eye-contact with Trevor and gave him a reassuring smile.

"Hi guys," Trevor greeted them. Rory was not what he expected. He was tall and solid and looked like he'd put his Sunday best on for the occasion. He wore a pair of faded jeans and a button-down black top.

"Dad, this is my friend Rory… Rory this is my Dad."

Trevor smiled and threw a dish-towel over his shoulder. "Hi Rory, nice to meet you, I'm Trevor."

"Hi Mr. Langan," he greeted him, looking Ava's Dad in the eye and shaking his hand firmly. Trevor took it as a good sign.

"I hope you are hungry, Liv and Ava have been cooking all afternoon."

Rory smiled and glanced at Ava and Trevor knew immediately that he did have a crush on his daughter. "I can't wait, I haven't had a roast dinner for a long time," he smiled.

Trevor smiled at him. Noah came from the living room and approached Ava's friend. "Hi! I'm Noah!"

Rory grinned at the little boy and held up his hand. "Hey little guy, I'm Rory, Ava talks about you all the time, you must be super cool!"

Noah grinned right back. "Do you wanna play Bomber Man with me?"

"Noah, Rory is Ava's friend kiddo, he came to spend time with Ava and have dinner with us. Why don't you and Trevor go and play Bomber Man for awhile and we can finish dinner." Olivia stepped in.

"That's a good idea, Noah, you can teach me," Trevor smiled at Noah. "Come on, let's leave Mom and Ava and Rory to the cooking…"

Trevor was excited and Noah slipped his hand in to his and pulled him toward the living room.

Rory smiled. "Do you guys need any help?," he asked the two women in the kitchen.

"No way, you're the guest, take a seat." Ava nodded at the stool at the breakfast bar, "I'll get you a drink and something eat for a snack," she told him.

"Do you cook Rory?" Olivia asked him,

He shrugged, "I don't really know how, maybe I'll learn something." He had already decided that Ava's family were nice, kind people. He knew that they weren't randomly rich people, they were the kind of money that they'd worked hard for over generational money.

"We can teach you, I am about to teach Ava how to make good roast potatoes. Maybe you could make them for your Dad."

Rory didn't say much, he just smiled and watched Ava's step-mother. Rory watched as Olivia pulled out a baking tray and showed them both how she made her favourite potatoes.

"Liv, this is making me so hungry," Ava remarked. "I can't wait to eat, the chicken has crisped up nicely but by the time the potatoes are done its gonna be perfect."

Liv smiled at both of the teens as Ava poured some cheesy popcorn in to a bowl and got Rory a coke. "Do you want a coke, Liv?" She asked.

"No thanks baby, I'm gonna get a glass of wine a minute, thank you…" She put a an arm around Ava and gave her a squeeze. Liv glanced at Rory. "Ava told me you are really good at sports, that you're on a wrestling scholarship."

He nodded, a little embarrassed, "yeah but my grades are high too, if I can keep out of trouble."

"Good job! Who's giving you trouble?"

"Rich kids," he shrugged. "I don't have the right clothes or live in the right neighbourhood."

Olivia smiled at him, feeling akin. "I get it, I was in a similar situation when I was at school. I didn't come from the right neighbourhood and I was a scholarship kid too. I had to keep friendly with the girls at school and also keep friendly with the girls in the neighbourhood. It's hard to find balance… but if I can give you advice, its to stay focused on your education…"

Rory nodded, "I'll try," he said solemnly.

"Things that people say to you, or the way that people make you feel when you're at school isn't that important. It feels important," Olivia told them, talking to Ava too, "but when you grow up, you won't know them and their opinions won't matter anymore. Everyone will be living their own lives and if you make the wrong decisions now, when you're young, you're only hurting you."

"Thanks," Rory replied thoughtfully. "That's really nice," he managed, trying not to say anything awkward or uncool.

Olivia just smiled at him and changed the subject to give directions to Ava so that they could get the potatoes going.

/

"Mmmm I don't know, I didn't get to go a lot of very cool places when I was a child," Olivia explained to her new family and Ava's friend, "but as an adult I've always loved going to Miami and even California," she smiled. She turned to Trevor, "and you, love?"

Trevor tried to think up some interesting conversation for the dinner table as they ate, wanting to know a little more about Ava's friend and usually, he or Olivia tried to indulge the kids to talk by asking thoughtful questions that didn't revolve only around their school day.

He'd asked Olivia about her favourite place to go.

"We used to go to Maine, right honey?," he asked Ava, "I have some really wonderful memories of going to Maine with you, the beach, our walks along the promenade, taking you for ice cream and to the park and watching you play with all the other kids…" he smiled at Ava lovingly. He reached over and touched her hand, "but we're gonna make some new memories now…"

"Yeah, Maine was great before you and Mom split up" Ava smiled. "What about you, Rory? Where's your favourite place in the world?," she asked, not wanting to go too much in to that or make her father feel bad.

Rory thought for a moment and looked at his plate. He finally glanced at Ava and smiled at her. He couldn't help but feel taken by how gorgeous his friend was. He could never lie and he felt like her family were very good people. "When my Mom got sick we used to take her to Times Square because she loved to see the lights at night… it sounds lame, but sometimes I like to go and sit there and look at the lights because it makes me feel close to her."

"I'm sorry about your Mom," Ava remarked, "that sounds nice though."

"Its okay," Rory smiled.

"How old were you when you lost your Mom, if that's not too personal?" Trevor asked.

"I was 11, almost 12," he replied, "but she was sick for a long time so I knew it was gonna happen," he shrugged, trying not to let it become too dark. He smiled at Noah, "And you little guy, what's your favourite place?" He changed the subject.

Noah thought for a moment and shrugged, "I don't have a favourite place, I like to be with Mom and Ava and Trevor at home and when we do fun stuff…." He thought for a second, "oh it was fun when we went to the water park that day," he told Olivia and Trevor, "when you helped me on the slide and jump from the rock!"

Trevor smiled at him, "you know what?, that was a great day, that was one of my favourite days with you too, bud."

"Me too," Ava added.

"Baby, you really killed it with the dinner tonight," Trevor told Olivia shaking his head as he took a bite of the crispy potatoes, "I had no idea you could cook like this, you are a rare diamond…"

Ava grinned at her Dad, she loved how much he loved Olivia.

"Yeah, thank you Ms Benson, this is the nicest meal I've had for a long time,"

"Please Rory," Olivia smiled at him, "call me Olivia,".

Rory took another mouthful of his roast chicken. "Eat as much as you like, there's plenty left over too if you'd like more," she added.

"Thanks," he smiled. Olivia made a mental note to send him home with leftovers. She remembered being a teen and having just one friend that understood her home situation; the parents were kind too, always helping in small ways that didn't embarrass her or make her feel inferior.

"So Rory, Ava told me that she went to your house on friday night with Rosa," Trevor brought it up. He ignored the glare that Ava was shooting at him.

"Yeah, I didn't know she wasn't allowed and I didn't know actually know she was even with Rosa until they arrived," he spoke slowly and carefully. He glanced at Ava, "Sorry, but it's true. Rosa knows all the guys from McFarlane, some are friends with her brother…"

"I wasn't very happy about it when she told me about all the boys that were at your house,"

"I'm sorry, the last thing I wanted was for Ava to get in to trouble and I would have never let anything happen to her. I told Rosa to cut it out, she was being stupid and I didn't like it."

"Dad, we already talked about this, this isn't Rory's fault-"

"I'm not suggesting that it's Rory's fault," Trevor told her, "you made your own decisions," he shrugged. "I'm just making conversation… do you often have these types of parties at your house?"

"Mmm… it's not really a party, it's just that those guys know my Dad is on nights and—" he felt awkward, "I don't know, it's more of an assumed thing."

"But you like school? You're good at school?" Trevor wondered.

"I think so, I think I'm good at most things. I suck at History but Ava said she'd help me tonight," Rory replied a little shyly.

Trevor finally smiled at him. "Yeah? What do you think is your best subject?"

Rory smiled too, "English Lit and Physics; anything Science-y."

"Ava told me you stood up for her and I want to say that I appreciate that, but I don't want you getting in to trouble for doing that…"

He shrugged. "The kids are scared of me and it's not because it's anything I've done, they think I'm in a gang," he held back a smile, "but I'm not, I think it's cos of my neighbourhood, but I hate the way everyone has been treating Ava, it's not fair and she doesn't deserve it."

"That's nice, Rory… I'm sure it helps Ava to have a friend at school," Olivia interjected. She could tell Ava was getting uncomfortable.

"I read this thing and it kind of … struck me, I read this book by an amazing woman called Simone de Beauvoir and she said something about what a woman has to do to be seen as a woman in society and how women get judged if they act different to that status quo," he explained. Trevor lifted an eyebrow in absolute shock, "and I just think that maybe the kids at school have grown up in these privileged worlds where men and women have determined futures and that determines how they think they should all have to act — like they all play these stupid roles and Ava is different and different makes them nervous."

Olivia blinked hard, exchanging a shell-shocked look with Trevor. "Sorry," he said quietly, "I hope that doesn't sound dumb."

"No," Olivia shook her head and grinned at him, "I think that's incredibly astute and I would be very inclined to agree with that." She smiled at Ava, "Also, Simone de Beauvoir is impressive, she says, 'women act like women and are accused of being inferior and when they act like human beings they are accused of behaving like men…"

Rory nodded with a big smile. "My Mom's hero was Simone de Beauvoir and she had some quotes up around her office and some of her books which I read this year… it helps me understand her."

"I'm impressed," Trevor added. "French philosophy, huh?" He turned to Ava, "maybe you should give one of those books a read."

Rory laughed, "I'll give you the run-down so you can keep telling me about your UFO theories."

"Oh brother," Trevor rolled his eyes, "you're going to be wearing a tin-foil hat in no time, kiddo," he told Ava as a joke. He wasn't worried, Ava was very well-read for her age.

"I study a lot," she retorted, "I am allowed to indulge in a stupid fun read… and besides Olivia is now my UFO buddy, I can't leave her hanging."

Olivia laughed, "Maybe we'll read Simone de Beauvoir next?"

Ava nodded, "Good idea, can't have Rory out feminist-ing me," she joked.

They laughed.

"Mommy, what's a feminist?" Noah asked.

"It's someone who understands and celebrates women to be equal to men," she explained. "It's what Mom does at work sometimes when she's not catching bad guys," she added.

"Oh…" he replied and looked at Trevor, "are you a feminist?," he wondered.

"Absolutely, I am." Trevor replied without flinching. "I would like to think all of us sitting here are feminists… And I know your Mom will raise you right and you'll be a great champion of women too," he smiled at Noah.

/

"What do you think of the friend?" Trevor asked Olivia quietly, watching both teens studying from the living room.

Olivia shrugged, "he seems like a nice kid, just caught in a weird situation and no one at home to lay down the rules."

"I feel like… maybe his father dropped the ball and how much do we extend ourselves before it makes this kid feel like a charity case?"

"Just make him feel welcome, if he and Ava continue to be friends, he can come to dinner and take home left overs and just…" she shrugged, "feel part of a family for a few hours every now and then…"

"Was it like that for you, growing up?" Trevor asked.

"Yeah… a little," she told him.

"The difference is that you had a Mom who loved you at home," he replied, "from what Ava told me, it sounds like his Dad is a bit of an alcoholic."

"Mmmm," Olivia replied, "anyway, I've put some leftovers aside so he has something to eat tomorrow."

Trevor kissed her softly. "You're the best Mom, I love you…"

"I love you too," she replied. "I think it's probably time to take him home, what do you think? Get an early night?"

He nodded, "it's getting late anyway."

Trevor got up and stretched and made his way to the kitchen, "hey guys… I think it's probably time to wrap this up, it's getting a bit late and I've still gotta take you home, Rory."

"Oh, it's okay Mr. Langan, I can take the subway," he shrugged.

Trevor laughed but realised the kid was serious. "I am not letting you, in good-conscience take the subway home at 10 o'clock at night," he smiled, "Ava and I will drop you home."

"Thank you, I appreciate it," he said politely.

/

"Dad, do you think Rory has a crush on me?" Ava asked out of the blue as they sat quietly in the traffic after they dropped him off.

"I don't know…" Trevor shrugged and glanced at his daughter, "what kind of clues do you think he's given you that he might?"

"He just says nice things to me all the time, like… he tells me I'm pretty and that I'm the most interesting girl he's known and … I really like him as my friend, sometimes it makes me uncomfortable because I don't want to hurt his feelings."

"You should tell him, honey, be clear so that you don't hurt his feelings later on. I think he might have a little eye on you but I do think he's a little in awe of you, he'd be crazy not to be."

Ava's cheeks flushed pink. "He said he isn't talking to Rosa because he's mad at her for bringing the pot, I thought she got it from someone at his place… but I think it was her plan the whole time because she wouldn't have been able to get away with smoking it at her own place."

Trevor sighed. "I think he's a nice kid," he told her, "I do want you to be careful. I don't want you in any sort of trouble and if he gets you in any trouble, I'll be angry with him and now I know where he lives."

She laughed, "Ok, I promise and I don't want him to get in to any trouble either. He's really smart and he keeps that part hidden because he doesn't want to get made fun of."

"I get that, I can tell… I've never met a teenager who can quote French philosophers," he chuckled, "that kind of blew Liv and I out of the water."

"And me too, but I told you, he's smart. And he loves and misses his Mom so much and he said she was a true feminist and used to be involved in a lot of women's rights stuff in college."

"So what about his Dad?" Trevor asked.

Ava shifted in her seat and shrugged. "He said his Dad just wasn't the same after his Mom passed, he goes to work and drinks and that's it and barely acknowledges Rory."

"That's sad…" Trevor murmured, "well, he's always welcome to have dinner with us and if he needs anything, Ava, please tell him to come to you, kids in dire situations do stupid things if they're desperate, so you let him know that you are his friend and you will help him with anything."

"Okay, thanks Dad."

/

"Mommy, do we live here now?" Noah asked Olivia as she put his book down.

"No baby, we don't live here, this is kind of our sometimes house now isn't it?," she smiled.

He nodded. "Can I have Timothy over next weekend? Am I allowed to have my friends here?"

"Mmm well I'm not sure babe, maybe we can spend next weekend at our apartment," she shrugged, "and I think Mom and Trev are going out on the weekend so maybe not a sleep-over, maybe just a play-date, is that okay?"

"Oh, where are you going?," he asked.

"Not sure honey, Trevor is taking me on a surprise date," she smiled at him, "but that means you might have a fun night with Ava and Lucy again, how about that?"

"Okay," Noah yawned.

Olivia could hear Trevor and Ava getting home. She kissed him on the forehead. "We'll talk more about it during the week and I'll chat to Timothy's Mom," she promised. "Trevor and Ava will come and say goodnight in a minute, sweet dreams…"

"Goodnight Mom," he called, waving at her.

/

Noah stood aghast, "don't!," he yelled at the kids, trying to step in front of Ava, "don't hurt her! She's my big sister!" He shoved one of the bullies who had just roughly pushed Ava against a wall.

"Get out of the way, squirt!" An older boy grabbed Noah's arm and thrust him aside.

"Noah, it's okay, just keep walking to school," Ava said calmly despite her interior panic, ignoring her schoolmate who had her pinned against the building. "I can see your school, its okay," she added, knowing that the little boy was freaking out. She also knew that if anything happened to Noah, Olivia would never trust her with him again.

"No!" Noah yelped, getting back up, trying with all of his might to push him away from her again.

Distracted, Ava was able to momentarily pull out her phone, attempting to call Rory. All Rory had to do was to show up beside her and they'd leave her alone. One of the guys, Chad, smacked her phone out of her hand and watched it clatter to the sidewalk, laughing brutishly with his friends. "How's your wannabe Mommy cop gonna help you now!"

Noah scrambled to get it. He ran a little further ahead and looked back, not wanting to leave Ava alone, watching a few boys push her around. He looked down trying to figure out how the phone worked, he heard the sound of a slap and looked up in alarm as he saw one of the boys hit Ava.

"Stop it!" He shouted, his hands were shaking. He looked down at the cracked phone screen and found the last contact that said, "DAD" he dialled it.

A few seconds later, Trevor picked up.

"Trevor!" Noah exclaimed, "Trevor, the boys from Ava's school are hurting her and pushing her and I'm scared," he said, starting to cry.

"Wait, what?! Where are you?"

"Near my school," he told him, "hurry up…"

"I'm coming," he said, hurriedly. "Stay on the phone to me, okay? I'm coming right now. Are you okay? Are you safe?"

"Yes," Noah's voice shook. "One of the boys just hit her on her face," he let out a sob. He ran back to the boys and pushed the one who hit her with all of his force, "DON'T TOUCH AVA!" He yelled protectively, running to Ava and wrapping his arms around her, "don't touch her! You're hurting her!"

"Get out of the way," one of the kids grabbed Noah and ripped him away from her once again, making Noah stumble to the ground as if he was bored with the little boy. He turned back to Ava and spat on her. "What are you gonna do now? No friends to save you! Your gay boyfriend isn't here to protect you!"

Trevor was distressed, his heart hammered in his chest as he could hear Noah yelp out in pain and the kids taunting them. He moved fast through the morning crowds the four blocks, passing Olivia's building until he neared the school. Trevor wasn't a runner, but he made it in almost record time, in minutes even and was so thankful that he chose to send his daughter to a school close to home, even closer than what he'd originally intended.

"Trevor!" Noah was distraught and Ava was shocked. She'd been backed up against a wall, threatened and spat on and struck and as soon as the three boys saw Trevor, they let go of her and ran for it.

"Hey," he said gently, fuming but holding back. His main concern was whether or not the kids were okay. He collected Noah up in his arms, cuddling him close and turned to Ava who collapsed against her Dad in tears as he drew her near to him. "Its okay," he said to both kids as he tried his best to catch his breath.

He was furious that no one had stopped to help them, he looked around accusingly as people stared.

He kissed the crown of Ava's head and Noah's cheek. "Are you guys okay?," he asked, turning his attention to the both of them.

He felt Ava nodding and Noah didn't say anything. He buried his head in to Trevor's neck, shaken up by what had happened. Both kids were crying and shaking.

"Okay, I'm taking you both home," he told them, "let's go…" he turned to Ava, "pass me your bag, baby," he said softly. She let it slide from her shoulder and passed it to him.

He felt deflated and heartbroken. "When we get back, we'll call your Mom, Noah and she can call your school and let them know you're staying home with Ava and I today…"

Ava drew away from her Dad and wiped her eyes. For the first time since she was small, he felt her take his hand. His heart melted a little. He drew her close to him, holding it tightly. "Come on…"

/

"What the fuck happened, Trevor?" Olivia demanded to know, "do I need to come home? Do I need to go to the school?"

"The kids are okay, Noah is a little shaken up. His knee got scraped but I promise he's alright. He's been totally brave. We've just walked in the door and as soon as I clean up his cut, I'll get him to give you a call," he took Noah's hand, cradling the phone between his shoulder and ear as he took him upstairs, "okay?"

"I'm coming home," she said decisively. "These poor kids…" Olivia sighed. "How's Ava?"

"Upset, but okay. She came straight in and ran upstairs. You don't have to come home, honestly, I've got this. I just need you to tell Noah's school that he's not coming in," Trevor told her gently.

"No, no… I'll come, I just want to see for myself that they're both okay and then I'll go back to work," Olivia insisted.

"Okay… see you soon," Trevor relented. "Love you."

"Love you too," she replied.

Trevor sat Noah up on the bathroom basin and looked beneath the sink for some anti-septic. "Mom's gonna come home for a little while because she wants to check on you and Ava and give you both a big hug."

Noah wiped the fresh tears from his cheeks. "Thank you for using your quick thinking this morning and calling me to come," Trevor told him, "you were really brave and I saw that you tried to help Ava."

He started to cry again. "I know, it must have been really scary."

"I thought Ava was gonna get hurt," he hiccuped.

"I think you both got hurt and it's not acceptable and Mom and I are going to make sure that never happens again." Trevor put a little anti-septic on the end of a q-tip. "This might sting a little, okay? But I know you're so brave," he smiled at Noah.

The little boy winced and flinched a little at the q-tip touching his banged up knee but he relaxed after a moment as Trevor cleaned up the cuts and made sure there was no more dirt. He covered it over with a band-aid. "Good as new," he told Noah brightly, "does that feel okay?"

Noah nodded. "Okay, let's go check on Ava and see how she is…"

Together Noah and Trevor went to Ava's room and knocked on the door that was left ajar. She was already in her pyjamas and was holding a bag of peas against her cheek that Trevor had grabbed for her when they got in the door. "Are you okay, Noah?," she asked him softly.

He nodded. Without waiting for an invite, Noah climbed on to the bed with her, minding his sore knee. "Honey, do you know the names of those boys?," he asked.

Ava nodded. "Chad, Justin and Josh and Rhiannon was waiting for them with her new friend Joanne."

"Okay," he said softly and simply, trying to remember them, "show me your cheek." He took a seat on the other side of Ava. She turned her head to face him and pulled the ice away. There was a red mark where she had been hit and it didn't look particularly bad, but he knew it would take some time for the bruise to show up. He tried so hard to keep his eyes from watering but as his daughter stared at him with her big blue eyes sadly, he felt his own welling up.

"Its okay, Dad," she murmured.

"No, it's not okay, sweetheart, I'm so sorry to both you and you," he looked at Noah.

"Aw no, are you crying, Trev?" Noah asked, catching on. He jumped off the bed and climbed on to his Mom's boyfriend's lap. Both Ava and Noah hugged him tightly.

"I'm going to make sure this never happens again, okay?," he said softly to the kids, "I never ever want either of you to get hurt for just going to school."

"They're not gonna stop," Ava replied, defeated. "You talked to school a month ago and they've just gotten worse," she replied, "every day, it's bad and the only reason they haven't done anything is because Rory is my friend and they're scared of him," she cried. "And now Noah got hurt…" she turned to Noah, "I'm so sorry, Noah, I didn't want you to get hurt, I just wanted you to keep going to school."

"I love that you are both trying to protect each other, but you shouldn't have to and this is going to end."

He kissed each kid. "I promise. No more of this… fear of going to school, of being of being alone in case someone threatens you…or not being able to walk to school without getting harassed."

"They always do," Noah told him.

Trevor did a double take, "what do you mean?" Noah realised quickly that he was supposed to keep Ava's secret. "I mean, they always are mean to Ava when she's at school," he covered up his comment.

"I know…" Trevor murmured in reply. He turned to Ava, "Did you wash your face, sweetie?" He asked Ava, realising that she'd been spat on which to him was the most disgusting of all.

She nodded. "I put my school clothes in the laundry basket."

"Okay," he turned to Noah, "let's go get you some clothes to change in to and then I'm gonna call and cancel my meetings and we're all gonna hang out…"

"Thanks Dad…"

/

Olivia opened the door and let herself inside. The house was silent save for some hushed voices upstairs. She set down her purse and was thankful she had decided to leave her gun in the safe at work. She followed the voices upstairs and down to Trevor's room. "I'm home…" she called out.

"Mom!" Noah exclaimed. She followed the voice and found Trevor and Ava and Noah watching a movie on the television that was mounted on the wall above the dresser. It wasn't bigger than the one downstairs but she knew that Trevor was upset and wanted to do his best to cheer both of the kids up. It looked cosy and Olivia knew immediately that she would not be going back to work.

"Hi my loves," she greeted them in her soft, soothing voice.

"Mommmmmmy!" Noah exclaimed, jumping up, running toward his Mom. Olivia swept up her little boy and kissed him.

"Hi babe, I heard you all had a bit of a yucky morning…" she kissed him and gave him a little squeeze before setting him down.

She came in to the bedroom and kicked her work boots off and slid down beside Ava. "Hi kiddo," she greeted her, kissing her forehead. Trevor leaned over to receive a kiss of his own. "How are you?" She saw the dark red mark just beneath her cheekbone. She lightly ran her fingertips over it. "You poor baby, are you alright?"

Ava nodded and blinked back tears. "It was just a little bit scary," she admitted for the first time.

"I can only imagine," she murmured, glancing at Trevor, noticing the pained expression spread across his face. "I think I might take the rest of the day and we can have a relaxing day all together…"

"Liv," Trevor sighed, "its okay, I've got it…"

"I know," she smiled at him, "but I'm a little jealous that you all get to hang out without me…"

"I wanna hang out with both of you, both of my parents," Ava said with a little smile, wondering if that was maybe going to irritate her father. Olivia didn't quite know how to respond and glanced at Trevor for his reaction.

"You have a mother in LA, sweetheart," Olivia said gently, "but if you mean your Dad and I, I would love to hang out with you too."

Ava sighed, "Obviously I was joking, Olivia, I know you're not my Mom, jeez…" she said in a way that was a little snappy and surprising to both Olivia and Trevor.

Rejection, Trevor thought, it was Ava's way of deflecting her feelings and he immediately felt bad for her but Olivia's response hadn't been wrong. Instead, she continued, "I know," she told Ava, stroking her hair, "but you know what I do love?," she wondered rhetorically, "I looooove hanging out with you and I love being your Dad's girlfriend and I love being your bonus-Mom."

Ava didn't say anything in reply she turned to Noah instead and smiled at him, "Hey slugger, my lil protector, get back over here," she smiled at him.

Noah giggled and got comfortable beside her. "I love you!," he told her.

"And I love you! Hey, I heard you call me your big sister this morning, that was really nice," she told him, ignoring what Olivia had just said, "you're the best, Noah Benson, did you know that? You are the best, bravest, little brother I ever dreamed of."

Trevor couldn't help but be taken by the kids sweet moment. He knew he should pull Ava up but he didn't want her to hurt her feelings more, it had already been tough enough of a morning. He would talk to her later. Noah snuggled up to Ava. She hugged him tightly.

Olivia looked over at Trevor with a little concern but didn't say anything. "Actually, I'm gonna get up and call work and let them know I'm not coming back in and I'll get my pyjamas on too."

"Dad, that means you have to put your pyjamas on and then we'll all have a pyjama day," Ava smiled at her father knowing how much he hated his pyjamas.

Trevor chuckled. "You're lucky I love you, kiddo. Why don't I get some snacks?" He suggested, "popcorn and water bottles?," he asked.

"Yeah!" Noah exclaimed, excited.

"Okay, "I'll go get both of your pillows and we're gonna have a cosy day, it's terrible weather out anyway," he commented. He was able to see from his bedroom window that it was going to rain at any moment.

It was unspoken that he and Olivia would talk downstairs.

/

"So tell me what happened…" Olivia asked Trevor, "and then we need to talk about what Ava just said…"

Trevor sighed and explained what happened to the kids and how he had witnessed one of the boys tossing Noah aside after he attempted to stand up for Ava. He explained the spitting and open hand hitting and pushing her against a wall.

Olivia was incensed and shook her head, "I'm going to speak to her school as an officer tomorrow, Trev, this needs to fucking stop and what happened today was a crime, she's being sexually harassed and that's my department."

"Maybe they'll listen to you," he murmured. "I just feel helpless and shit, if I caught even just one of those shitty kids…" he sighed.

Olivia slipped her hands over his hips. "I wasn't second guessing your ability to deal with this, by the way, I came home because I wanted to support you and I knew you'd be upset and I really was just so worried about them both and wanted to give them both a big hug and you too…"

"I know…" he murmured. "Thank you for that, and for being so gentle with Ava…" he kissed her forehead and drew her in, letting her hold him, remembering what a wonderful comfort she was.

"Baby, I didn't know what to say back there…I am so sorry if I overstepped," she told him and they both knew she was referring to Ava calling her a parent.

"I know, she put you on the spot and I'm glad you said what you said but I know she felt hurt, she got a little snappy. I think… our kids get attached a lot faster than we realise and she really has been craving that motherly love and whether or not we want to see it, you do give her that…"

"I am so scared of you and I not working out and her having her heart monumentally broken, Trev…"

"You think we won't work out?," he wondered, a little surprised.

"I'm not saying that, I'm just saying anything could happen and I don't want to take her mother's place. I don't want to discourage that relationship or even impede it."

"I appreciate that… but I realised today when I saw Noah literally throw himself in front of a 5ft9 teenager to protect Ava and yell at them to leave his big sister alone, just how close they are and just how quickly they've formed a bond and I think we've been a little irresponsible with that…"

Olivia sighed knowing that he was right. "What's the answer? Less time together?," she wondered, feeling struck by a pang of hurt at the anticipation of his answer.

He shook his head and shrugged and drew her near again. "I think that'll make it worse but I think we need to let them navigate their own bond and respect it regardless of what happens. In a year's time Noah might not want a bar of her…"

Liv laughed. "I don't think so, he loves her so much. She has so much time and patience for him and he told me last week that she and Timothy are her best friends."

"I love that but I'm scared too," Trevor replied, "and I'm scared that her feelings just got hurt in a big way back up there,"

Olivia felt bad and felt frustrated with him for causing her to be the one to respond to his daughter when perhaps he should have pulled her up first. "Well, I don't know what else to do, Trevor…"

"I know," he murmured, "I just hate that my kid is always getting rejected and I know that you didn't do the wrong thing, but it's still hurts."

"I didn't love correcting her, you know," she blurted out, letting go of him; "I don't love looking your beautiful kid in the eyes and letting her know I can't be her Mom… you could have had that conversation with her any day of the week, Trevor, you can't make me feel like the bad guy here just adding to the pile of shit on top of her."

"I'm not doing that," he replied, trying to to take the sting out of what he had just expressed, "I'm just telling you how I feel, that's all, I don't want you to feel bad…"

"As if I'm not going to feel bad, honey," she told him with irritation. "I basically had to reject her just as you said… I don't want to hurt her, for goodness sakes… maybe I was on to something maybe we do need to create some more distance, maybe Ava and Noah are growing too attached."

She turned her back to him. She felt hurt and frustrated but despite that, Noah and Ava were the priorities — or at least needed to come back to focus. "I am not her mother, Trevor. This is why I didn't want to do this-"

"Do what?," he asked.

"Do this… get involved while I have a fucking nine year old… while you've got a 14 year old… they should be our priority before our own feelings, not whatever is between us."

"Olivia…" Trevor felt stricken, he could hear the panic in her voice and knew he needed to quickly allay it before she wound up angrier. "Stop, please…" he followed after her and grabbed her gently by the waist, "please…"

"Can you both stop?" Ava called from the landing of the stairs. Tears were streaming down her face and she stared at Olivia. "I made a stupid comment and you are going to punish me by taking Noah away from me and stop dating my Dad?," she asked looking stricken by her own sense of panic, "why would you do that, Liv? You don't have to be my Mom, Liv, it was just a dumb comment, I'm sorry."

Olivia felt her stomach drop and quickly moved toward her, "honey, no… that's not-"

Ava flinched from her grasp, "don't… you don't have to love me, I understand, I am hard work, not even my mother wants me so I don't expect you or anyone else-"

"Ava stop, please…" Liv told her, feeling her eyes welling up, hating that she'd hurt her and hating that she'd witnessed the disagreement with Trevor. "That's not true, none of that is true."

"It is true, stop pretending, I don't care about me anymore, my Dad loves you and he deserves to be happy."

Olivia didn't let her flinch away from her this time, she drew her in. "Honey, I do love you," she told her, folding the teen in to her arms, holding her tight, knowing that she had reached her threshold for the pain and trauma she was going through. "I love you so much and I love your Dad so much and I am not walking away." She could hear Ava crying against her and Trevor made his way to them, feeling hurt too.

"I think everyone just has some big emotions about what happened today," he murmured, wrapping an arm around the two most important women in his life. "But no one is mad at you, Ava, no one loves you any less…We are all just so heartbroken for you."

"Ava," Olivia tried, wiping her own eyes, "I would be so honoured to be your mother, you would be the biggest blessing if I had a daughter as wonderful and as smart and kind as you, but you have a mother and I would never want to disrespect her or replace her, this is not about you."

Trevor kissed Olivia's temple.

"Mom doesn't want me, she doesn't care about me…" Ava murmured.

"Stop saying that," Trevor contradicted her.

"Read my phone, Dad!" Ava snapped, pulling away from Olivia. She shrugged away from Olivia's embrace and made her way back up to her own bedroom and both of them exchanged a look, hearing the door slam.

"Fuckkkkkkk…" Olivia murmured with a sigh, "I'm so sorry, Trevor, I fucked up…" she apologised.

"Its alright," he said gently, "I'm sorry for what I said, I didn't mean it to sound how it did, I just… have had a rough morning too, I love you and I don't want this to change anything."

She let him hold her for a second. "Should I go and talk to her or should I leave her to calm down?"

"Let her calm down," Trevor replied. "She doesn't want to hear what either of us have to say right now, she's obviously very emotional."

"I know, but… I don't want her to be alone with those feelings."

Trevor kissed her. "I don't want you to get mad or feel like I'm putting anything on you because I'm not, but… do you realise, this, what you are saying now, you're being a Mom to my daughter because someone who is required to do the job decided to shirk her responsibilities and you've kind of fulfilled that spot whether or not you like it…"

"Trev-"

"Liv, you did it without thinking, I'm not saying you're replacing Sarah or that you should let her call you her Mom, that's crazy, I'm just saying that you're doing Mom stuff, you did that the night she called you when we were at the hotel and the day she called you when she got her period — you are the one she goes to instead of her actual Mother….. and I don't mind as long as you don't mind because I know you are so careful with her heart, but whatever you feel about it, tell her and commit to it, I won't be mad either way."

Olivia wasn't entirely ready to have that conversation with him, it wasn't that she didn't feel committed, but she was emotional too and wanted to give her thoughts without the tears and wanted to feel excited about it decisions they would make together.

"Can you and I…can we have this conversation another time?," she asked softly, "everything you've said is right and you and I need to discuss things but… I can't, not right now. I need to be clearer…"

"That's okay, honey." He kissed her lips softly. "Once this house calms down a little and everybody recovers from the shittiness of the morning, it'll be okay."

She let Trevor cuddle her for a moment. She appreciated that he was understanding, that he had apologised but she also understood that he needed her to decide on who she chose to be to his daughter. Trevor relished her body surrendering in to his embrace. He knew they had narrowly avoided a misunderstanding that could have evolved in to a fight.

He kissed her again. "I love you, Olivia, and can I just say, I love Noah with all of my heart too. He's the sweetest kid and I've always wanted a son and he may end up being the closest I ever get to that and I'm hanging on to him and I am hanging on to his Mom and even though I'm not looking to be his Dad at this stage, I know that we will all just make this thing work and we'll all find our feet — the four of us."

Olivia hoped he was right. She squeezed him tight. "I love you so much," she told him.

"I'm adamant that I can turn this day around," he told her, slowly releasing her, "so I'm gonna spoil these kids rotten today and you better be down with that."

She managed a laugh. "Maybe just a little TLC… I might go up and have a proper chat with Ava. I need her to know that I love her and I will always be here for her and that she's free to think of me how she wants, but to be clear, I don't want to take away her Mom's role. I would hate that if someone did that with Noah."

"Okay…"

/

Olivia could see Ava's door ajar. She could hear Trevor's daughter and her son talking softly together. "Why are they so mean to you?" Noah asked, "I won't tell Mom if it's a secret."

"It's not a secret, it's just complicated," she told him, "I'm not like the other kids at school and they don't like that I'm different," she replied. "Don't worry about it, I'm okay."

"I won't tell Mom or your Dad about the other times they were mean to us on our walks to school."

"Better not or else they won't let me walk with you anymore, but maybe we'll just go a different way to school," she suggested.

"Okay," Noah agreed. "I'm sorry you're sad, Ava, my Mom can be your Mom too, she's the best Mom. Did you know I'm adopted? Maybe if your real Mom is being crazy, my Mom could adopt you too."

Ava laughed, "I don't think it's that simple, I don't think your Mom wants another kid, especially one who has as many problems as me, but I love you for wanting to share. You're the best, Noah. Did you know you're my best friend?," she asked him.

"Yes," he replied without flinching. "You're my best friend and one day when your Dad is my Dad we'll be best friends and a real brother and sister."

Olivia pushed open the door and smiled at the two. "Hey kiddos… is it alright if I come in? Or is this a private chat?"

Ava didn't reply. "It's not private, Mom…" said Noah

"Okay, honey do you think you could go downstairs and help Trevor with some snacks and drinks?," she asked Noah gently.

"Maybe you should just help him," Ava shot back not. Olivia cocked her head to the side and gave her a reproachful stare. "Really, Ava? You're going to be rude to me?"

Noah didn't say a word, he eased off Ava's bed and left his Mom and Ava alone, unsure if she was able to get in to trouble for talking back.

Ava ignored her and picked up her phone, she could barely use it, the screen was smashed in and only half of it was working. Tears blurred her vision, yet another reminder of what had happened to her.

Olivia still hadn't taken her coat off. She discarded it and put it at the foot of the bed and climbed up alongside Ava. "What's going on on social media?," she asked, taking a casual approach.

Ava said nothing and turned the phone so Olivia could see the smashed screen. "Oh no… did that happen today?," she wondered.

"Yeah," Ava wiped her eyes, "this is the new phone Dad bought me when I moved in… and they smashed it."

"Its okay sweetheart, we'll get you another phone, this is not irreplaceable… the main thing is that you're okay."

"Can you read this?" Ava asked, showing Olivia a message that was a little obscured by the a huge crack through the screen a little shatter on the bottom that made the touch screen hard to work. Olivia took the phone and read the message and realised it was from Sarah.

"Ava, I need you to stop this attention seeking bullshit. If it's not one thing it's another. If your father isn't giving you the reaction you want from your lesbian tantrums, you've got another and another and another, when is it going to stop? I can't keep getting these SOS calls from you. I left you with your father and its his turn to be there for you, I need to get to live my life like he lived his own for so long. This is not a punishment, it's just a reality. You go to your father with this, I don't want to hear it anymore, you're out of control and I've had enough and I don't know what you want from me."

Olivia felt sick reading the long rant from her. She looked at Ava's simple response. "I just want my mother. I want you to love me like you used to before I told you I was gay."

Olivia scrolled a little further to Sarah's last response. "I think you need to turn to your father from now on. I love you but I can't accept this for your life, Ava, and until you realise you've made a mistake or you're past this phase, I think its best if you stop looking for my support because I don't support this for you. Maybe your father does and maybe he thinks its okay, but you weren't brought up like this and I'm not going to pretend I'm okay with it."

Liv was aware of Ava wiping her cheeks as the tears continually fell down them.

"Thanks Sarah, got it, loud and clear. That's fine. I can't accept that I have a mother who's a bigot, so don't worry about coming back after the three months is up. At least my Dad and Olivia love me no matter what. Your love comes with conditions and I don't need that. Goodbye."

"Oh, honey…" Liv murmured, setting the phone down. "I am so sorry that I hurt your feelings earlier, you know that is the absolute last thing I'd ever want." She reached for Ava's hand. "I'm so sorry that your Mom said all of this."

"Sarah. Sarah said all of that. She's not my mother. A mother wouldn't do that."

"Do you know when I made the comment upstairs, it was because your Dad and I have only been together a very short space of time, not even three months yet," she smiled, "but, down the track, when we have a very strong commitment between us, I will be just as committed to being a parent to you too… but that's not to say that right now you can't think of me as that, but your Dad and I are still navigating this, neither of us have ever had a serious relationship with children and we want to be so careful with your heart and with Noah's heart…"

"I know that, I just…" she sighed, "I just wish that I knew you were never gonna go away too because I love you and since you met my Dad, you're the person I call first. I told a white lie when I got my period; I did call Sarah, but I called you first because I knew you'd answer and help me before she would."

Olivia scooted closer to Ava who moved her pile of pillows over so that she could share them with her Dad's girlfriend. "Sweetie, come here, you deserve all the love and affection in the world because you are such a great kid and I love you and I am really honoured that you feel comfortable enough so quickly to place so much trust in me… It actually makes me a little emotional," she smiled as Ava nested in to her arms, allowing herself the indulgence of Olivia's comfort. She breathed a sigh of relief.

It was the relief of having another woman that was on her side, of being able to talk to another woman about things that she couldn't talk to her father about and for just being able to have someone who showed how much she cared with her actions as well as her words. "Mom is just a title, isn't it?" Ava asked softly, "I don't need to call you Mom to have you feel like a parent to me, or at the least someone who cares for me as much as a parent might."

"Exactly," Olivia nodded, "and you know what? If Noah had anything going on with him and he didn't feel comfortable enough to call me, I would hope that he'd look to your Dad in the same way. I mean, he kind of did today, he called your Dad first for help, I think we are all on the same page but those other connections, sweetie, they're gonna take a little longer."

"Do you mean… like marriage?," she wondered.

"Yeah… and maybe that's not on the cards for Dad and I, maybe we will always just be each other's partner and maybe he doesn't want to legally marry me, maybe we'll break up — I hope not, but we just never know and that's why, I guess, I am reluctant to have either you or Noah calling us Mom or Dad."

"If you and Dad got married, would you be comfortable with Noah sharing my Dad with me or… me… saying you're my Mom."

Olivia looked in to her blue eyes and smiled, "I'd be okay with whatever you both were comfortable with in that scenario, but that's something we'd have to discuss later down the track."

"For the record," Ava started, "I want Dad to marry you and I want you guys to have the funnest wedding and we could all have the same last name…"

Olivia kissed her forehead and grinned at her, giving her a squeeze. "You are the sweetest."

Ava relished the way she was able to relax a little more now that Olivia had clarified what she meant.

"You know what, I just wanted to tell you something for whatever its worth…" Olivia had tossed up whether or not it was okay to talk about her own experiences with her, but after the morning and the day Ava plus the things that she had shown her with regards to Sarah, she knew it might help her a little.

"What's that?"

"Well… this is private between you and I, okay?" Olivia started, "I haven't really even talked to your Dad about this before so, I am trusting you with all of my heart."

"I promise to never repeat what you say to me," she said solemnly.

"I had a lot of problems with my Mom when I was young too," she explained, "my Mom was a terrible alcoholic."

"Oh…" Ava's seemed surprised.

"We weren't exactly poor; my Mom was a very educated woman but she could be violent and mean and she didn't know how to take care of me properly so I went to school a little like Rory did… not having any food or the right clothes or money for things that other kids had, it's kind of alienating. I would have adored to have a friend like you."

Ava smiled. "Where was your Dad?," she asked.

Olivia smiled at her but it wasn't a happy one and Ava picked up on that. "My biological father was a terrible person and I don't even know his name. He is the reason my mother was the way that she was. And… Ava, deep down I know your Mom does love you, in her own messed up way, she does…and my Mom did too, you know, but it doesn't stop it from not being enough sometimes."

Ava nodded. "It changed when I said I was gay, the second I told her, she changed… I wish I could take it back, but I can't and Dad said I shouldn't pretend."

"I don't think you should pretend, my love," Olivia replied. "Being gay isn't your entire identity, but it makes up who you are and I don't think you should have to hide that, ever. I would always want you to talk about your crushes with me or your Dad and feel free enough to do that openly."

Ava giggled, "I had a little crush on Rosa, I think," she admitted, "but when she was making fun of me that night, it killed it dead."

Olivia smiled, glad that Ava was totally on board with ditching the girl who turned out to be bad news.

"Olivia, did you ever meet your Dad? My Mom has been awful, but at least I had my Dad. Who did you have if it wasn't him?"

"Mmmm, I had some really special teachers at school. I went to a Catholic girls school and the nuns took care of me. They gave me food and they checked in on me at home and my Mom always managed to make it seem like she had it together when it counted… but you're very lucky to have a supportive Dad. I don't think I've ever met a Dad that loves his daughter as much as your father loves you…"

Ava smiled. "My Dad is a very cool Dad. But don't tell him I said that. I love that he is so professional and all of my friends used to think he was scary, but he's so much fun, he just expects me to be a certain way too, but not in a bad way."

"Like what?" Olivia asked, curious to hear what Ava took away from that relationship.

"Great manners. He expects me to get good grades and if I don't, he wants me to be tutored or try harder until I've done my best. He likes me to speak properly, no slang and doesn't let me spend as much time as my friends on the computer or phone…" she paused and thought for a moment, "Oh and he likes me to read certain types of books too, but I think he's given up on that," she smirked. "But I like that he's like that. I think it's made me smarter."

"I think so too. Those are all fair expectations and I'd expect those from Noah, but he's fun too, you're right." Olivia agreed.

"Do you still see your Mom now?" Ava asked curiously.

"No, my Mom passed away when I was 25… we'd just settled some things between us and were more open with our feelings, so I'm glad I was able to do get that chance."

"And your Dad, would you ever look for him?"

Olivia shook her head. "See, my biological father sexually assaulted my mother while she was in college and she became pregnant and as a result my mother had me and that's why she was an alcoholic and that's why our relationship was so bad."

"Oh, Olivia, I'm so sorry," Ava said quickly, "I didn't know that. That is so awful."

Liv smiled at her affectionately. "Honey, of course you didn't know, your Dad doesn't even know that, so as I said, I am trusting you with that information. And I'm telling you because I want you to know that I feel your pain. I know what you are going through with your Mom and I know what it's like to be bullied mercilessly about something that doesn't really make you any different in your heart."

"I love you Liv, I'm sorry things were so hard for you too."

Olivia smiled, "I love you too, precious girl. I'm so sorry about what happened to you and Noah this morning and I overheard you and Noah talking about this happening before on the way to school…"

"Yeah but no one ever touched us," she said quickly.

"I know and I want you to know that I don't blame you but I think from now on your Dad and I are going to be taking you both to school just until we sort it out. I don't want you to think we don't trust you with Noah though, because we do…"

"Okay," she sighed.

"And what happened to you today was a crime and I am going to get to the bottom of it, okay? When this kind of thing happens to grown adults, I arrest them and I am going to let these kids know that it is not going to be any different for them."

"I was really scared, Liv," Ava admitted, looking away from her. "I didn't know what they were trying to do. I thought Chad was going to try to kiss me or worse and I was scared that Noah was gonna get hurt and I kept telling him to keep going to school because it was just at the end of the block and he was trying to protect me… which I love, but I was so scared he would get hurt."

"My kid loves his big sister, Ava," she smiled, nudging her. "Your Dad told me…"

Ava was able to giggle. "Does that bother you? That Noah called me his big sister?"

"No, not really… I think both of you understand what the situation… and I love that you're both close. You are so good to my little boy. He's everything to me and I heard him tell you that he's adopted, so you'd probably understand from the work your Dad does, how precious and important he is to me."

Ava nodded. "Maybe one day you'll unofficially adopt me."

Olivia grinned at her, "Kiddo, I already have…and I think we all know that."

Ava laughed. "Thanks for trusting me with stuff about your Mom and biological father."

"That's okay, I'm glad we can have these talks that are only for us. And maybe one day I will talk to your Dad about it, but for now I think I can sort of relate… the problems that you have with your Mom, I understand it and it hurts me to see how much it hurts you and sometimes it sends me back to how I felt when I was your age… just… misunderstood and unloved."

"At least I know you and Dad and Noah love me… and Rory and I have become really close."

Olivia smiled. "I think… if Dad says its okay, I might take you out with me later this afternoon and we'll buy you a new phone… no promises, I have to run it by your Dad."

"Really?" Ava's eyes lit up.

"Yeah but lemme run it past your Dad," she smiled. "Because he might want to do that for you and I don't want to step on his toes."

"Okay," Ava tried not to show too much excitement. "Should we go back and hang out with Dad and Noah in your guys room?," she wondered.

"Yeah, I think I should get changed and we'll have a nice calm day. I know I could do with a nap."

"Do you think Dad would let me text Rory? I know my touch screen is broken…"

"Probably, you can just get your Dad to text him and let him know what happened and that you'll text him as soon as your phone works again," she flashed her a smile as she got up. She held out her hand to Ava, "come on…"

"When we go to get a phone can we get some matching pyjamas like you and Noah?," Ava asked almost sheepishly. "I mean, if we get a phone."

Olivia grinned at her, "you bet… we'll get Noah and Dad matching pyjamas too because I know how much your Dad loves pyjamas. What do you think?"

They both laughed. "Definitely," Ava agreed, "Dad needs a onesie."

/

"Trev can I ask you a question?" Liv asked quietly so that the kids couldn't hear as she got changed.

"Yeah, what's up?" He asked, kicking the bathroom door shut, leaving it slightly ajar.

"Do you think it'd be okay if I took Ava later this afternoon to buy a new phone?"

"Oh," he gave her a slight smile, "I'll give you some money, I don't think it's gonna be a cheap exchange."

"No, no…" Liv shook her head, "I want to take her to do that, I want to pay. Can you let me do that?"

Trevor looked at her for a moment and smiled. "Baby, it's okay-" he tried to stop her but she held up her hand. "No Trev, I'm asking you if you'll allow me to take Ava to buy a new phone and I don't need anything from you…"

"Liv, I think that is so sweet but you dont have to," he told her softly, smiling, taking a hand and pulling her toward him. "I am happy to give you some money."

Olivia took a step closer to him and kissed him softly on the lips. "I love you so much but I don't need your money, baby."

"Okay," he said softly, "thank you for doing that." He kissed her lips again. "I love you too, by the way."

"I think she deserves a little pampering… I'm happy to take Noah with us, but-"

"No," Trevor shook his head, "why don't you leave us boys to hang out and do boy stuff. Maybe I'll take him to the park or something fun."

Olivia smiled. "Sounds good…I love that you and Noah are getting closer. He craves that relationship, I think. I didn't realise how much until I see him doting on you and vice versa," she told him.

Her words roused a smile upon Trevor's lips in return. He had been working on spending more time with Noah, but navigating a relationship with Noah was something foreign to him but he loved discovering the world a second time around through the eyes of a little boy. He was a totally different child to Ava; he was a little more sensitive; or at least was more open with his emotions than Ava had ever been and he was creative minded and spirited and loved imaginative games which was harder for Trevor since he was more serious and logical minded.

"I'm getting there; I think it's been good because if I can just let myself relax and not worry about things not always being so … regimented and black and white, I can actually find myself falling in to the way his mind works. Noah is so smart but he's also equal parts creative in a very different way to what Ava was like."

Olivia loved that Trevor had obviously given it a lot of thought, it was typical of him though, to contemplate things until it made sense to him. "I just know those moments, like when you guys did the couch tent, that kind of stuff makes him so crazy happy and I could tell you lost yourself in it too and that kinda stuff makes me…" she stopped and listened for the kids and could hear them talking on the bed, "very hot for you…" she whispered, slipping her hands around his neck.

Trevor laughed, "Olivia Benson!," he exclaimed in a low voice as his perfect eyes studied her pink lips that were stained slightly from the lipstick she'd been wearing earlier when she arrived back from work, "You need to stop that right now…" he warned her, pressing his lips against hers.

Her light laughter reverberated against his mouth as she pulled away. "Come on, better get outta here."

Trevor kissed her again and released her. She smoothed down her pyjama top and went and climbed back in to bed beside the kids as Trevor lingered in the bathroom a little longer. It had already been taken over by the scent of her perfume and some of her belongings like make up that was scattered around the basin. He smiled to himself, in the past the lack of order in the bathroom would have bothered him, but he liked the traces of her all over his house. Noah too, he thought.

Until Ava moved in, his apartment felt a little sterile at times, but now it felt lived in and warm and a place where memories were being made every day.

/

"Trevor…" Noah began, holding on to his hand as they walked toward, "can you please help me with Mommy's birthday gift?," he asked. Trevor looked down, alarmed, realising that Olivia's birthday was upcoming even though he wasn't entirely sure of the exact day.

"Of course," he breathed his words, sweetened by her son's thoughtfulness. "What did you want to buy for her? How much money do you need me to give you?"

"Nooooo," he shook his head, "I don't need money, I just want to make something. Mom loves when I make her stuff, but I think Mom would like it more if you and Ava helped me."

"Ohh! Okay," Trevor said slowly, "do you have any ideas?," he wondered.

"Not yet, but I want it to be the best gift ever," he said.

"Hmmm okay, well, let us think about it and then one night when Mom is on a night shift, we can work on the surprise together."

"Yeah! Thanks Trevor," he skipped a step excitedly, "we could make Mom a book," he said suddenly, "and we could put photos and we could write down all the things we love about Mom and we could put all of her favourite things in it and that way she would know that we know her really well and she would love that because she always tells me to remember small things about people, because they like that," he rambled on and Trevor was grinning, Olivia's son had such a good heart and she had raised him that way and he had come to the realisation that since she had started growing close with Ava, Ava had dropped some of her blunt sense of bravado and was more open and warmer towards him.

"That sounds like such a great idea," Trevor replied, "do you think we should buy a special notebook or should we make one?," he wondered.

"I think we should make one, let's make the entire gift, I think she would love that more."

Trevor smiled. "Okay, I have a few ideas then…" he told Noah, "I bet we could come up with something great." He paused, "When I was younger I liked to do some work with different types of wood and my Dad taught me to make some fun things and one of those things was how to make a really sturdy book cover with timber… I think I could still remember how to do it and maybe we could do that together."

"Yeah!" Noah exclaimed with excitement, "but don't tell Mom okay, Trevor? Its gotta be a total secret! I don't want her to know."

"Of course, just between us and Ava."

/

"So do you want the same phone that you have now?" Olivia asked Ava as they headed inside the phone store.

"No," Ava shrugged, "its okay, that phone was far too expensive…" she looked around, "you show me what phone you think I should have," she was afraid it would happen again, that someone would damage her things and she didn't think it was particularly fair that Trevor and Olivia had to keep footing the bill.

"No sweetie," Olivia said softly, feeling as though perhaps Ava was worried about money, "there's no point getting an old phone, we'll just get you something new," she told her. "You were so excited earlier when I mentioned this, where's that excitement!" She took her by the shoulders and shook her playfully.

Ava flinched and winced in pain. "What's wrong?" Olivia asked, quickly letting go, "did I hurt you? I'm sorry…"

"No, it's not you… today when Josh pushed me against the wall, he hurt my shoulder," she admitted, "please don't tell Dad, he's already so upset."

Olivia looked at her seriously for a moment. "Is it just bruised do you think or does it hurt more than that?," she wanted to know.

"I'm not sure, I think it's bruised but it hurts when I touch it or lay on it," she added.

"Okay, we can take a look when we get home if you like…" Olivia replied, concerned. She reached for Ava's hand and guided her to the front of the store to the display of touch phones.

"Liv, I don't want you to spend a lot of money because this could happen again," she said softly, "and what if my phone gets broken or stolen or something."

"If this happens again to your property I will make sure that whoever is responsible will get you a new one." Olivia replied, "don't worry about the money, sweetie, you let your Dad and I worry about that. I want you to pick the phone that you want and that's all you need to concern yourself with."

A sales assistant approached them. With a little encouragement Olivia was able to get Ava a little more excited. She explained to the assistant what had happened with Ava's current phone and they were offered a free transfer of data service. Ava was excited since she had resigned herself to losing a lot of photos of herself and her Dad and videos she and Noah had taken of dances.

"What colour phone would you like to get?" The sales assistant asked.

Ava looked at all the phone's colours. "Mmm I don't know I can't choose between the fire fighter red or the turquoise… what do you think, Liv?"

"It's your choice, sweetie, you choose."

"No, but if you were gonna choose, which would you choose?" Ava insisted. She was leaning more toward red.

"Well, turquoise is actually one of my favourite colours but it seems to be super popular right now so I'd go with red."

Ava looked up at Olivia and they exchanged a smile. She looked back at the sales assistant, "could I please have the red one?"

"Of course. To let you both know the transfer process might take 20 minutes to an hour, do you have anything else you'd like to do for that time?"

"Sure," Olivia replied, Ava had looked at her a little alarmed, thinking that Olivia might not have wanted to wait. "We can go and do some stuff and grab a coffee or something and come back."

"Do you have a phone?" The assistant asked Olivia, "I could call you when it's finished."

Olivia gave the store assistant her details and paid for the phone and they made their way out of the store. "Are you sure that's okay? Is Dad gonna be mad? It was so expensive."

"Ava, don't worry about the money. I want you to have a phone and it was my choice to buy it for you."

She stopped Olivia as they walked a little aimlessly. "No but really, Liv, that was so nice of you, thank you so much, I appreciate it so much and thank you for talking to me earlier, I didn't say it because I was sad but I meant to tell you that I love you too."

A smile crossed Olivia's lips. She gently took Ava in her arms and gave her a warm hug. "You are very welcome."

"What are we gonna do now?" Ava asked as she withdrew from the hug.

"I think we should go and buy us all some cute matching pyamas like you suggested and then if we are still waiting we can just go to Starbucks or something."

"Great! Do you think Dad will wear pyjamas? I always have to argue with him about them."

Olivia laughed, "Your Dad can't resist us, we'll wear him down," she smiled as they walked along. She felt Ava's hand slip in to hers and smiled to herself. "You are the sweetest kid, Ava Langan…"

/

"Trev, can you help me with my homework tonight?" Noah asked as Trevor piggy-backed him home from the park. "I like when Mom helps me but don't tell her this, but I like it when you help me better," he said quietly like he could be guilty and as though he could be overheard.

Trevor laughed, "Sure, your secret is safe with me, kiddo, is it just your spelling tonight?"

"Yeah just spelling," he replied, holding on to Trevor around his neck because it looked like a long way down if he was to fall.

"I can do that, we'll do it after dinner, how about that?"

"Thanks Trev, I'm glad you're with my Mom now, I get to have a sister and someone who is like a Dad."

Trevor went a little rigid at first, not really knowing what to say. "I love that too, Noah," he replied because it was true. He was also glad that he was part of Olivia and Noah's life. He was glad that Ava got to have a sibling and vice-versa and he was also glad that he got to be a parent all over again in a different way.

"One day we could maybe all live together for real in an apartment."

"Yeah? Would you like that?" Trevor wondered with a little smile.

"Yeah," Noah replied, "where would we live at your place or my apartment? I like my apartment."

"I'm not sure, that's something Mom and I would have to talk about." Trevor thought for a moment before adding to it. "Do you prefer your place or do you like to stay here more?"

Noah thought for a moment. "Wellllllllll," his voice trailed thoughtfully, "I like the living room at your apartment because there's a lot of space for when we play xbox but I like my room."

"Understandable," Trevor agreed. He ducked a little as he always had to when they entered the front stoop of the apartment building, moving lower this time with Noah on his back. "Watch your head, bud," he warned him.

"Maybe one day Mom and I might move in and get an entirely new apartment to share and then we can take in to consideration what everybody likes about both apartments and try to find something to make us all happy," Trevor suggested, "but I don't think that'll happen for awhile."

"Trev, do you think you're gonna marry, Mommy?" Noah asked as he and Trevor waited for the elevator.

Trevor laughed as the doors dinged and they got in. "Buddy, that's a huge question. I don't know the answer to that right now, but maybe one day, I would love that. Only if you are ready to share your Mom with Ava and I though…"

"Hmmm I think that would be okay with me," Noah replied. "Trev I can get down now," he told his Mom's boyfriend. Trevor crouched down so Noah could slide off of his back as they stood in the hall just in front of the door.

Noah slid off. Trevor adjusted his t-shirt and opened the front door, making way for Noah to go through first.

Olivia and Ava were both already in the kitchen. "Wait, what is this?" Trevor laughed, putting his keys down on the table. "We are making a cheese and meat platter and a little candy too, for the sweet tooth in the family…" she eyed Noah and winked at him. "How was the park?"

"Good, Mom! Trevor climbed on the big tower with me," he grinned, "and he said we could go to the wall climb part of the Trampoline place!"

"Oh, did he?" Liv asked with a little smile. Noah put his arms around her waist and leaned against his Mom.

"He did, I thought it's something we could all have some fun with," Trevor replied. "How'd the phone stuff go? Did you manage to get one?," he asked, glancing at Ava.

She nodded, almost a little embarrassed. Trevor smiled at her, "Cool, what colour did you get? The same as before?"

"No, I got red." She took the phone from her hoodie pocket and showed him. It had a clear case and a screen protector.

"Thanks for that, Liv," he told her, leaning over Noah to kiss her gently. "We appreciate your kindness, don't we, honey?" He knew Ava would have thanked her, she knew her manners.

"Of course," Ava agreed, "it was so kind of Liv."

Olivia smiled, "you're welcome, sweetheart."

"This looks so good," Trevor snapped up a piece of cheese and plopped it in to his mouth. "Also, that's a cool colour of phone, Ava," he told her, "make sure you connect it to your iCloud, same rules apply with this new phone," he told her.

"I know," she replied, "I already did that; the girl at the store transferred all of my stuff from my old phone so it'll still be connected."

"Oh that was lucky." He stole another bit of cheese from the board before Olivia threatened to smack him. "You guys wanna watch a movie or did you have something else planned?," he asked.

"We thought a movie would be a nice afternoon idea too," Olivia agreed. "Do you want to watch a movie, babe?," she asked Noah.

He let go of his Mom and nodded.

"Okay so Ava you do the honours and show your Dad and Noah what we got for us…"

Ava grinned, she had been anticipating it.

"Ooh we like gifts, don't we Noah?" Trevor asked as he watched Ava go to the white carrier bag on the kitchen table.

"Oooooooooh," Noah knew already what was in it, he knew the place his Mom took him to get pyjamas. "We got these for you guys…"

She pulled out the folded up black pyjama top for her Dad. It was black and long sleeved with donuts all over it. She unfolded it and held it up. "This is your one," she handed it to Trevor and then took the pants out and held them up for him. She stifled her a giggle as she saw his expression look almost disgusted. "And these ones for Noah…" she took the same from the bag, but a far more mini version.

"So cool!" He exclaimed. He looked at Trevor, "I love donuts, don't you, Trevor?." He asked, "And look, we're gonna match!"

"Great," Trevor replied, swallowing his distaste for pyjamas.

"So Noah, maybe Trevor will help you find some fresh underwear and an under shirt and you can have your shower super early today because you've been playing at the park and you can put your pyjamas straight on and maybe Trevor will put his on too."

"Will he?" He asked.

"He will," Olivia smiled at him and winked. "Because Ava and I both have the same pajamas as you and Noah now and you wouldn't want to be the only person who doesn't match, would you?"

"I'd probably be okay…" he teased knowing that there was no way he wasn't going to do what she asked, it was incredibly sweet. Olivia gave him a look and he smiled, letting her know he was just playing.

Trevor took Noah upstairs to help him set up for his shower. He went back to his room and looked around. It was a bit of a mess since the kids had spent their more morning with him. He didn't want to be alone for too long because he didn't want to think about what his daughter and Noah had endured before school. He knew he had to do something about it but wasn't quite sure where to start that didn't thrust him in to boiling hot rage in less than a minute.

He also needed to address his relationship with Olivia. They needed more alone time that didn't revolve around conversations about Ava or Noah— they needed deeper connections and the ability to just be alone and enjoy each other more physically.

He missed that nervous energy between them that had been replaced with daily chores, parenting, work and other boring things. Maybe it was fine for Olivia, but he was cautious of her taking on a lot with Ava but perhaps not realising the weight of it until Ava had called her mother earlier in the morning.

He sighed and laid out the pyjamas on his bed and got changed. They were a little short at the ankles but he just shook his head at his reflection in the mirror and pushed the sleeves up. He put some socks on and waited for Noah by making his bed and taking the kids' pillows back to their own room.

He noticed the text from Lucy privately confirming her availability. He went to the door and listened to make sure Ava and Liv were still downstairs and made a few phone calls to book a few things that he had planned for their next date.

He wanted to work on dating her more, he missed her and if he was honest, they weren't physical enough for her liking — though he understood, they were at different ages in life than either of them were at the time they had both last dated. Their lives were full of long hours and children and the very little time they had made it hard to steal away from the attention both Noah and Ava required, especially lately.

But… he missed being alone with Olivia.

He had organised another mega date for the weekend. And they both deserved it after the stress of work and kids and everything else; he wanted a night where they could both just cut loose and concentrate on one another.

Lucy had organised to stay the night at his apartment with Noah and Ava and he was banking on staying the night with Olivia at her own apartment.

He smiled to himself with satisfaction as he hung up and heard the water stop. He put his phone down and plugged it in to charge and stood at the bathroom door. "Hey kiddo, you all good?," he called to Noah.

"Yeah almost done! Don't come in!," he called, "I'm naked!"

"It's okay," Trevor smiled, "I'm not coming in, yell at me if you need anything."

Noah came out and stared at Trevor wearing PJs that matched his own. They both smiled, a little bashful at one another. "Do you feel silly too?" Trevor asked.

Noah nodded and giggled, "but Mommy loves to match."

"I know, sometimes as men we have to do things to keep our favourite girls happy, kiddo, you'll learn more about that as you're older, but you're a good man for going along with it!" Trevor held his hand up to high five him.

Noah obliged and smiled at Trevor as they both descended the stairs.

/

"Liv?" Ava called out. Olivia had left Trevor and Noah downstairs so that they could set up for their movie afternoon while she and Ava got ready with their pyjamas.

"What's up?" Olivia asked, pushing open the bathroom door. She almost laughed. Ava had turned on the tile warmers, the overhead heating lights — her clothes were folded neatly and towels were set to dry just so, she was so much like her father and she didn't even know it.

"Could you please look at my shoulder? It's really sore…" she admitted, "but I still don't want Dad to know."

"Of course," Olivia replied, letting herself in and pushing the door closed behind her. Ava was wrapped in a towel. She lowered it just a little so Olivia could see her left shoulder. "Show me where it hurts, sweetheart," she commanded her gently but she could already see a purple bruise showing up.

Ava held her towel together at the front of her and reached back behind her shoulder and motioned around the blooming bruise. "Yeah, there's a pretty big bruise coming up there," Olivia confirmed.

She glanced at Ava's reflection in the mirror and pushed her wet hair out of the way. "What about this," she ran over fingers over a hand print on Ava's upper arm, it wasn't a foreign bruise to her, but it did prove to her that he boys at school were not messing about, the hand print was from a grip mark on her upper arm. She told Ava to hold still and went to get her phone. She took photos of the bruising on her upper arm and her shoulder and planned on taking more in the morning just in case she needed it.

"I'm sorry that it hurts honey, let's see how it feels tomorrow and if it hurts any more than it does now, we might get it checked by a doctor."

"Okay, but do you think its alright?"

"I think so, I think it might be a little tender, but try to stay off it for a few days, okay?"

Ava nodded, "thanks Liv."

Olivia went to get her pyjamas on and washed off all of her make up. She passed Ava's room to head downstairs and caught her sitting on the edge of her bed texting on her new phone. It made her smile, she was glad that she was able to give Ava a reason to smile after a particularly awful morning.

"You coming downstairs?," she asked.

"Yeah," Ava smiled, "I was just telling Rory about our matching PJs and he said we should take photos of us all so he can see. I know Dad and Noah think its lame, but I know that Rory thinks its so cool because he doesn't get to do any cool stuff like that with his family."

"Maybe one day we'll get him some PJs and he can match with us too and hang out with us all."

Ava laughed, "that's so lame but I really think it would make him so happy. You know he's my best friend, right?"

Olivia nodded and put her arm gently around her as they walked down the stairs. She kissed her temple. "Yeah, I know that. I love your heart for him, he's a nice kid, I like him too."

"But I don't like him like that, and I had to tell him that and he said he didn't expect it but I think he was just saying that, but its fine, I think he'll get over it."

She smiled at Ava and hoped for the best. "As long as you're always clear with him, I believe you'll both be really good friends."

/

Trevor and Olivia stared at each other longingly with expressions of contentment mixed with amusement as Ava wedged herself between them and Noah spread himself out over the three of them. "We are all matching now, Mom, just like you love," he informed Olivia.

They laughed, "I know, it makes me so happy," Olivia laughed. "Come on, we better take a picture, benson16 has nothing on her instagram yet except a pic of herself and Ava…"

"Take it with my phone, the camera is crystal clear," Ava opted, holding out her phone.

"Here, I'll do it,' Trevor told them knowing he had the longest arms and could get them all in it. He took a few goes until everyone was happy. He passed the phone back to Ava. "Do what you need to do now…" he smiled at her.

Ava airdropped the pic to Liv and both of them posted it to their private accounts. Ava grinned at her phone when she noticed that Rory had added Olivia and commented on the pic. "You guys are the cutest family ever. I love this so much! Dont tell my friends I said this, ill lose street cred."

Ava giggled at his message. "I love my family! I love my Dad! I love Noah! I love you! This day started off awful but ended so nice. I love you, Liv."

Olivia picked up her phone at the notifications and read the messages and glanced at Ava and gave her a wink. "Love you too, my beauty," she smiled. Trevor looked up and saw the interchange between his daughter and Liv. He loved to see it, but he missed being physically close to her.

He could only hope that by the time they got to spend time together, the sexual tension and the interest in one another hadn't waned. There was an element of himself that was second guessing everything, he wasn't sure if it was insecurity or a reasonable fear, but he knew he was about to find out.