"I'm sorry.."

The words drifted through the air making me look away from the two amigos in the garden hunting for Vegas' dragon.

"You don't mean that." I answered observing Zak's face.

"I do.." He sat down beside me keeping his eyes fixed on my face. "I realised I said some pretty shitty things in there. I wouldn't take Avari from you, I couldn't. It would break my heart to see her without you. She needs her mommy, but she also needs her daddy and you have to let me in Scarlett."

I shifted in my seat. "I am, but letting you in doesn't mean opening my legs. There has to be a line, you have Holly, I won't be second best anymore, I have to be strong for Avari and every time I involve myself with you, I lose some of myself."

Zak rubbed his face in stress before moving forward slightly "We are both hiding and arguing behind a little girl here. You know that.. We need to speak properly about what is going on here Lettie."

"Y-you're bonding with her, that's what's happening." I nodded.

"You know that's not the only thing.. Me being at that club wasn't by chance the other night, I went to your home. I wanted to speak with you, I needed your clarity, sense and energy. Lettie since you've been back...." He paused shaking his head for words.

"Since I've been back what? It's been too much? I'm causing problems? I'm complicating your life? What?" I guessed.

"Since you've been back, I've wanted you."

I frowned before laughing "Oh wow. I mean-. Wow Zak you've really done a number on me. I mean, acting like you care for Avari to get at me? It's freakin' sick. You-"

"No, I- that's not what I mean. You're twisting it." He panicked.

"That's what you've just said?!" I accused him.

"Jesus Christ Scarlett it's not, just..." He paused looking around us. "I need to talk to you alone, okay, not with potential ears. Please say you're prepared to hear me out?"

I stared up into his eyes, searching for the answers instead of having to wait, I wanted to get inside the enigma in front of me and decipher what cryptic messages he had to tell me. But all I found was the man I had fallen in love with, the same man I would have given up everything for, the man that made me promises in the small hours of the morning and tore those promises to pieces time and time again. The man who would sleep beside me and also the man that would have his fill and leave the moment we finished. The man who was afraid to love but fought for it so desperately.

"Okay." I whispered barely audible for me to hear, but the relief that filled his face confirmed that I had said it loud enough for him.

"Thank you. Thank you." He sighed grabbing my hands and pressing a kiss on my knuckles.

It was then I realised what I had done. I had given him the opportunity to hurt me all over again...

Squeals of laughter and joy filled Zak's home as I watched my jubilant 6 year old being tossed around by Aaron.

"Dude she's gonna hurl." Zak chuckled as Aaron simulated a rocket.

Avari was led across Aaron's arms as he spun her around hastily. I couldn't help but grin at the pair of kids. Aaron was the 41 year old child that never grew up, and judging from the shed load of toys he arrived with... My statement was true.

"So?!" He puffed placing Avari on her feet "What toys are you having?" He asked.

"I can't see! I feel all dizzy!" Avari exclaimed holding her hands over her eyes.

"Oh! Means we gotta go in reverse!" Aaron declared going tp grab her again. But Zak swooped in and placed her on the couch.

"Hey! No fun." He poured as Zak lifted his brow.

"You're gonna make her sick. Just calm down. Before something gets broke, like a bone.." Zak answered as Aaron slumped down in the couch beside Avari.

They both had mischievous grins on their faces and I didn't miss Aaron's arm extending to poke Avari's arm before snapping back innocently.

Avari's hair was all ruffled and falling from its pony tail, but as I was about to get her to come over so I could fix it, Zak stood behind her and removed the hair tie. I paused watching him put concentration into swooping up all of her hair and putting it back into its pony tail.

"There you go." He smiled brushing the top of her head gently.

"Thank you. Can I go get a drink? Please?" She asked turning to look up at him.

"Sure pumpkin."

Avari clambered off the chair and raced to the kitchen calling Gracie behind her as she went.

"I guarantee the dog treats are all over the floor within 5 minutes." Zak predicted sitting down amused.

"Sorry, I'll have a word-"

"No leave her." He interrupted me giving me a smile "She's okay. Few treats can't hurt."

I looked over at Aaron who looked like he had a lot to say. "What's up?"

"So she okay? Like no baddies have returned?" He asked sitting forward to keep his tone quiet.

"No, no baddies, she's... She's a child again. I can't be anymore grateful and happy about that."

"Avari's my daughter." Zak announced making my bouncing leg pause.

Aaron laughed at him "Yeah okay bro."

I glared at Zak for his brashness, it's not that I couldn't trust Aaron, I knew I could. But he could have given us both some warning on announcing that.

"H-he's joking right?" Aaron chuckled.

I took a quick glimpse at Aaron before looking down.

"Holy fucking shit." He whispered. "A-are you serious?!"

"Surprise, you're an uncle." Zak smiled.

"I- are you, this is a wind up? Isn't it?" He asked shooting looks between us.

"No." I mumbled.

"No? No?! No! Wha- how?!"

"Do I need to tell you about the sperm and the egg?" Zak asked.

"When?! I- no!" Aaron whispered again. "Scarlett?"

"It's true.. Avari Grace Summers. Is really Avari Grace Bagans."

He stood up before sitting back down in shock "But you left? I, I've missed so much haven't I? That's why there is an atmosphere in here... When did you find out?" He asked Zak.

"When Lettie stayed here with Avari." He answered.

"I- does Avari know?"

"No." Both myself and Zak answered.

"Well why not? She's calling you Zak when it should be daddy instead!"

"Keep it down Aaron, we have decided to wait, Lettie is apprehensive about throwing Avari in the deep.. No pun intended for earlier." He quickly added.

"Shit. Well damn congrats man but woah.." Aaron spoke quietly.

"Shh!" I hushed them sitting up straight.

"What?" Zak asked instantly.

"Can you hear that?" I questioned them both.

"No, I can't hear anything." Aaron replied.

"Exactly.." I responded getting up and walking towards the kitchen.

Any parent knew silence was a bad thing!

As I pushed open the kitchen door, Avari jumped up from the floor hiding her hand.

"What are you up to?" I asked stepping in to see the bowl of dog treats had been moved.

"Nothing..."

I lifted my brow "Avari? What have we said about telling porkies?"

"I didn't mean to! I was running and you said I shouldn't run in the house, cause I will break something, but I did and the bowl, it tumbled over so I tried to pick up all of Gracie's biscuits, but there was too many so I got the brush."

I looked to see the brush across the floor. "Okay.."

"And I accidentally knocked Holly's bag down. Mommy you said sharing is important."

I frowned "It is sweetheart."

"Then why isn't Holly sharing her sweeties with us? She has fizzy dust and she isn't sharing, that's naughty. Isn't it?" She asked pulling her hand out to show me the contents.

My heart dropped and I felt the colour drain from my face. "W-where did you get that?" I asked trying to keep calm.

"In Holly's bag. She has lots."

"D-did you have any?"

"Noooo....."

"Avari? Honestly?"

"No, but I was going too." She admitted.

I clasped a hand over my mouth and rushed over holding her face "Promise me baby, promise me you didn't have any?"

"Promise mommy."

"Good girl. Oh darling." I whispered taking the contents from her hand and giving her a hug.

"I didn't have any mommy. I'm sorry I scared you." Avari answered hugging my neck.

"It's okay. Everything is okay, you didn't have any, and you shouldn't because this isn't candy baby girl." I spoke as Avari pulled back.

"What is it?" She asked frowning at it.

"This.. This is baddie dust. Real baddie dust. Now, I uh.. I need you to get Peanut okay? You left him with Aaron."

"Okay. Are we leaving?" She asked looking at me a little sad.

"Yeah. Yeah we are, but we are taking Gracie too. Get Peanut, and go and wait.." my mind began to reel. "Go and wait in the basketball court yeah?"

I watched her face light up and without a second thought she raced out the kitchen.

My hands shook as I stood up looking at the packet in my hand. I dropped the packet on the side instantly and grabbed tissue to wipe the packet over. So consumed in fear and the horror that my baby had drugs in her hand, I didn't hear Zak come into the kitchen.

"What's happen- what is that?" He asked as I froze with the sachet in my hand. "I-is that cocaine?"

"I'll ask you once..." I breathed. "Is this yours?"

Zak's face threw into horror and rage "No it fucking isn't!"

"Okay. Okay... I- okay." I panicked putting it on the side.

"Where?"

"Avari, she found it."

Zak's face went pale "Did she take any?!" He shouted.

I shook my head "No, no but she was going to! She thought it was fizzy dust, you know in the straws?"

"Where did she find it too Scarlett?!" He bellowed in demand making me cower.

"H-Holly's bag." I whispered.

He snatched up the bag from the floor and emptied the contents across the table. Make up, pieces of paper, a compact mirror, perfume, a watch and general crap scattered across the side.

The last thing to fall out was a small band of sachets wrapped up with a rubber band to keep them together. His hand reached for it but I grabbed his hand back.

"No, no don't touch it."

"It's not a bomb!" He snapped.

"Fingerprints Zak. Don't be a fucking idi- is that your watch?" I asked noticing a familiar black banded silver watch.

His eyes moved to it and the upset filled his face "W-what that fuck?" He asked picking it up gently.

"Maybe it needed a batte-"

"DON'T DEFEND HER!" He yelled making me jump.

"I- I need to go. I need to take Avari and go."

"NO!"

"You don't own me or my daughter. There is drugs, and right now she is in danger of being anywhere near this.. I'll go home. I will take Gracie too okay?"

"W-what am I suppose to do?" He asked.

"The right thing Zak.. Avari could have taken that and died. This is your wake up call.. Where is Holly now?"

"A-asleep, she said she had a headache."

"Or she's having a fix." I whispered causing anger to flood his face.

I stepped aside in time as he barrelled out the kitchen and ran up the staircase.

"Scarlett?" Aaron asked as I walked out the kitchen slowly.

"I need to go.." I shook.

His eyes flicked across my body and face before he looked up to hear Zak yelling.

"What's happened?"

"A-Avari, s-she found c-cocaine in Holly's b-bag." I stuttered.

"Did she take any?! We need to take her to a hospital! Now!"

"No, no she didn't."

"How can you be sure?!" He panicked.

"Because she won't lie to me. Aaron I need to leave, I'm taking Gracie too, C-can you stay? Make sure Zak doesn't do anything stupid?" I asked him.

"Are you even fit to drive?"

"Probably not, maybe I'll walk then. Around the community? Yeah."
I nodded to myself.

"Okay, go. Around the community, I'll call you when this is sorted."

"O-okay."

I rushed out grabbing my bag along the way and met with Avari and Gracie.

"Are you okay mommy?" Avari asked looking up at me.

"Yeah baby. We are just gonna go and find a nice tree. Lay down under it okay?"

"Okay. Can we look for cloud animals too?" She asked skipping along side my long strides.

"Yep. Whatever you want." I replied hurrying her outside the back gate and leaving.

I checked my phone to see if I had a missed call, with no notifications, I shoved it back into my pocket and pushed my hair back for the hundredth time trying to relieve any stress and heat I was under.

My mind reeled with questions as to what was happening back at Zak's house?

If he rung the police?

Did he let her leave?

Why did she have his watch?

Was she stealing from him?

Is she an addict?

Or is she a supplier?

I paced the grass checking on Avari who was across the grassed area in the dog park, having found a tennis ball, she had taken it upon herself to throw it for Gracie who looked at her like a Goddess.

My body jumped at the sound of crunching metal, turning I froze seeing the car mount the curb and an evil glare in the eyes of the driver.

Stuck in fear, I was helpless.

"Avari." I whispered before darkness descended.