The thin piece of paper resting under Angela's hand terrifies me. She flicks the pen against the kitchen bench top as she continues to mutter the things we'll need. As I sit on the couch with Blake beside me, I wince at how expensive it'll be to buy the basics. Maybe Blake and I can live with one cup and a spoon for now? We'll sit on the floor and use a cardboard box for a table.

"We're not going to be able to afford any of this," I whisper to Blake.

As much as I want to move out and explore the freedom of having our own house, this is beginning to feel like more of a hassle than a dream come true. I know it's just a small hurdle, but what next?

"It'll be okay." He pats my knee. "We'll figure it out."

"Your father and I can pay for some of this," says Angela. "We'll cover the cost of-"

"You've given us enough already." Blake quickly dismisses the idea. "You've also got your wedding anniversary party to plan and pay for. Don't worry about us, I'll figure it out."

Angela slowly swings around on her stool to look at the pair of us. Her eyes narrow in with the classic sassy look Angela does so well.

"Blake, you know I can't let you move out of this house unprepared. So drop that idea and let's think! Maybe we could go to the second-hand store for the basics?" she offers.

"That's a start." He nods.

"You can have the bedding, towels, and that kind of stuff," she mutters.

"I can't take the bed, what if you need to use it?"

"I've got it!" Angela jumps off the stool which excitement. "You can have everything here. Take the kitchen ware, the furniture, take everything."

"Now you're sounding crazy! We can't take this stuff."

"Why not?" Angela pouts.

"What if you need it?"

"Why would I need more dishes?" she grumbles. "Your father doesn't clean the ones we have now."

I burst into laughter while Angela seemingly batters her eyelashes innocently. We're going to need a boat load more boxes if Angela decides she really wants to give this stuff away. Knowing her, she'll probably clean her house and give us even more. It's not soo bad but we'd have boxes to the roof.

"Mum." Blake's voice is low with the slight edge of annoyance. "I can't take your things."

"Don't be silly, Blake. What are you going to eat off or at? How are you going to sit and watch television without a couch or screen? These are just objects to me, but it's a home to you. Take it."

"I'll grab more boxes from the entry way." I climb off the couch so that Blake and Angela have a moment to talk.

Down the hall is a set of flat boxes we'd manage to collect from people. I grab one and pop it into shape. As I tape the edges, Blake wanders down the hall and comes to stand beside me.

"I know you don't like the idea, but she's got a point."

"I, just." He sighs.

"What's wrong?" I frown.

"On top of using their money to purchase the house, it feels wrong taking their things. It's just, I wanted to make this our home. I wanted to buy our own cups, furniture, and stuff."

"Just because your mother gives us things, it doesn't make the house any less our home. A home isn't a home because it's filled with trinkets and bobs, it's a home because of the people who are there. Having you two there makes it a home regardless of where the stuff comes from," I say.

"You're right." He nods his head.

"One day, we'll pay them back. Send them on a fancy cruise around the world." I chuckle.

"I think my mother would like that."

"Or more grandchildren, she's desperate for those." I giggle.

"I'm not ashamed to admit it either," Angela yells in response.

"See." I smile.

Blake grabs the box and tape, then shuffles back to the kitchen. I grab more supplies and follow in pursuit. I pack the linen while Blake manages to pack the kitchen stuff up before moving to unplug things from the living room. Now that we have so many things to transport, we're going to need that moving van.

Angela's generosity is overwhelming but I love that giving quality about her. It's a wonderful quality she's passed to Blake, and hopefully, London gets it too.

With Angela's help, Blake and I get a significant amount done. We pack the boxes in the entry to be moved later on. London on the other hand, she grabs her toys and cries as Angela tries to pack them away. She doesn't understand we're moving to a new house yet.

"You're going to get them back, hunny," she says. "Mum and Dad are moving to a new house and we need to take your things there as well. Don't you want dolly to move with you?"

"Yes." She nods.

"Then we put them into a box for the move, it's like their car seat. When Daddy takes you in the car, you sit in your princess chair, right? That's what they're doing . . . just in a box."

"Ok." London dumps her toys in the box, then waddles off to grab some more things to toss in there. Angela sits on the ground and stretches out. It's that moment she sees me standing in the doorway watching.

"I thought I'd have a screaming toddler on my hands," she comments.

"That's only if you suggest Mr. Pin goes into the box." I laugh.

"True." Angela chuckles.

"Is it dinner time?" Blake groans.

He shuffles down the hallway with the box of plates in his arms. Blake scoots past me and places the box on the ground before falling to the ground himself and spreading out. London screams with excitement as she runs through her room to jump onto Blake's stomach.

"Ugh!" He huffs as she crushes his vital organs. "How did you get this heavy?"

London erupts into a set of giggle as Blake tickles her sides.

"Who's been feeding you?" He chuckles. "Is it granny?"

"She's perfectly fine." Angela shoots him a playful glare.

"Nobody has been feeding me because I'm starved." I swoop in and grab London as I make a run for Angela's house. The pair follow in pursuit but Angela is victorious in taking London from my grasp. I let her run off with London into the kitchen seeing as this is hopefully our last night here.

There isn't a lot of stuff at my parents, but I might stay one more night before moving out. Maybe we can have a gigantic sleepover? I think my mother would love to have London in the house.

I flop onto the couch and Blake sits on my legs. Angela eventually returns with a pizza menu in hand.

"How does pizza sounds?"

"As long as there's garlic bread, I'm good," I say.

"Of course, we can't forget that," Blake replies.

"I'll order pizza and sort London's dinner."

"Do you-" Blake grabs my leg which shuts me up.

When I don't continue, Angela smiles as she walks down the hallway with London still perched in her arms.

"What's wrong?" I ask Blake.

"This is my mum's last chance to take care of us. She actually loves doing it, even if she says otherwise." Blake laughs.

"You know this won't be the last time she fusses over you, Blake?" I chuckle.

With Blake's comment, it sounds more like this is for his benefit oppose to Angela's.

"It's just." He grabs my hand. "Even though I'm old enough to take care of myself, there's this blissful child like feeling when my Mum fusses or cooks." The cheeky glint cascading in his vibrant green eyes makes me smile.

"I understand." I nod. "Maybe we can catch up as a family once a week?"

"Ahh." He smiles.

"We could go between houses for meals so it's not at the same place all the time. We could invite our parents, Jude, and Tori and her family. We'll have that one meal a week to sit down and talk that way no matter house busy our week is, no matter what we face, we'll see our family at the end and beginning of each week."

"That sounds like the perfect idea, Ava." Blake nods his head.

"If you're going for full custody," I whisper. "This at least gives everyone a meeting point."

"Possibly. I know Tori isn't going to like the idea of us taking her, but I think it's a good start at suggesting we want London to be around her family."

"All we can do is try and give London the best upbringing we can. Don't worry about small things, Blake. I'm sure at some point, Tori knew this was going to happen. You'd never let her walk off into the sunset with London, just as you'd never let her leave you." I think we're all a little guarded despite the change in circumstances. The past might be the past, but it's never truly forgotten.

"That is another problem to worry about later," he dismisses. "Once the house is settled and London is back to routine, I'll talk with Tori and talk about the future. Until then, oblivion doesn't cause immediate problems."

"Just don't let oblivion become the end goal." I lean across the couch and kiss Blake. He hooks his arm around my waist and holds me in place. His lips find my neck while my fingertips find his soft brown locks.

At some point in life, we must break away from our parent's pathways and form our own. There's nothing wrong about spending a moment skipping back in time either. However, it's important to branch our like a tree. Close enough that when leaves rustle, it's like a harmony singing in the wind, and solid enough that we're reminded of our roots. Who you are, where you came from, and where you are growing too. 

Do you think Tori will do something crazy when she finds out Blake will go for full custordy?