I giggled quietly looking down at my little angel whose steel grey eyes were now covered with a hard pink plastic pair of goggles. Stood in her galaxy pink costume, Avari had her small arms in matching aim bands as we looked at Zak's pool.

"I'm scared." Avari admitted tightening her hand on mine.

"There's no need to be, we are going to do this slowly and I have a big inflatable unicorn for you."

"Cool!" She answered excitedly.

"Just jump in!" Holly called from her sun lounger.

"I- maybe not, I think that will frighten her. But maybe when you're confident. Right?" I asked Avari and answered Holly.

"No it's too deep. I'll sink. Are you coming in?" Avari questioned looking at me for some support.

"Umm. I don't know yet." I replied honestly.

I mean after seeing Jessica Rabbit, I felt inferior! I could see why Zak kept her around with the small white bikini and flawless make up.

"But you're wearing your swimming stuff too." Avari noted.

"Maybe I will then. But not just yet." I answered her causing a small smile.

The weather was slowly building and I had plastered Avari with sun cream hoping that she wouldn't burn in the heat. I was almost jealous of Holly's complexion but from the colour of her hands I realised that her tan wasn't all natural.

Since arriving at Zak's, I had managed to keep myself busy with Avari to avoid the awkward chat. Two days ago he stormed my workplace and escorted me out with force. After I slapped him and yelled, we kissed and that was a line I didn't want to cross. Now I feared that his motives would not only be for building a bond for Avari, but for trying to reverse time and get me back into bed.

I had spent the last two days avoiding his calls and grumbling over my stupid actions but also for coming to the conclusion that I never really let him go. He was cemented into my heart, mind, body and soul because of one little girl stood at my side scrunching her face at the brightness of the sun. I accepted that he hurt me, but in order for him to have hurt me, I had given him the chance too and that wasn't something I was willing to do again.

Leaving Vegas made me grow up, I had to be responsible, I had a small baby growing in my stomach that relied upon me, that didn't care for my heartache and tears. But cared only for food, safety and warmth. I couldn't be careless, selfish or arrogant in believing that my situation would better. I had to step up and in order for me to do that, I had to become strong and independent.

Of course I was wounded, limping around like a broken bird with a swollen tummy that appeared within weeks. But I knew that despite never really having Zak to call mine, I had a piece of him and maybe that was twisted in a way but I loved my little girl unconditionally and I knew with her I would be able to overcome anything.

I had also avoided Zak for one other main reason... His actions cost me my job. Yes the half baked rescue attempt that wasn't really a rescue resorted in me being given the boot. Not that I was upset.. No. I was just mad he had intervened. It has also worked out fairly well for him, seeing as I was now unemployed, needed money to support my little girl and he just so happened to need another assistant.

Not a set up at all. Although I was now playing the hard game of accepting it. I wanted to make him sweat first.

"Right let's get cracking!" Zak announced coming into the garden without a top on in his swim shorts that finished at the knee. Even they were black..

"You need lotion silly! You will burn like bacon! That's what mommy said to me and I like bacon." Avari replied.

"Well look at Little Miss Chalky!" He grinned. I couldn't hide my smile when I looked down to see Avari a shade paler from the amount I used.

"How much did mommy use on you?" He asked amused.

"A lot. But I don't want to be bacon. Here." Avari dropped my hand to retrieve the lotion from my bag.

"Oh thank you..." Zak smiled taking it before looking at me. "Would you?"

"To save arguments, I think you can do it, for your back? Maybe ask Holly." I answered holding back my grumble.

"I'm not touching that stuff, I want to be a mahogany sunset! I don't want an uneven tan because I had to put that on you!" She complained from across the garden.

"So I'm gonna burn." He concluded holding it out again.

I grunted and snatched the bottle making him grin. "Wanna rub it on my chest?" He teased.

"Would you like it in your mouth and eyes too?" I questioned popping the cap.

"You wouldn't be so cruel.."

I rolled my eyes and put a load into my hand slapping it across his back causing him to hiss.

"Jesus! Couldn't you have warmed it up first!" He complained.

"Stop being a baby. Do your chest." I retorted setting off on an adventure with my hand and his forever broad back.

I ran my hands over the muscles feeling them shift under my touch. Every fibre in my body worked to stop my mind delving into old memories of when I used to mark his skin with my nails or even teeth from the moments we were together..

I paused momentarily worried in case he could hear my thoughts, worried in case I had thought any of it aloud.

"What's wrong?" Zak asked trying to look over his shoulder at me.

"Nothing. T-turn the other way." I complained making him grunt and face the opposite way. Taking the bottle from the seat beside me I applied more... Yes even more.

I did his arms and the very backs of them knowing full well how painful sun burn there can be. I also did his neck and the edges of his ears making him smirk.

"Well I didn't think you cared so much." He teased turning once I was happy.

"I could have let you burn, but then I'd miss all the pain for when you go away." I replied bopping a small dollop on his nose.

"Hey."

"Nose as well, or it will get burnt and peel. Done your elbows and knees?"

He frowned "Christ Lettie you're getting a bit over the top."

"Fine. Don't cry to me when you get burnt.. Or when you smell your skin burning."

"Like bacon!" Avari cheered tossing the ball for Gracie.

"Good throw!" I praised making her grin.

As I turned to take my seat beside the pool to watch Avari, I saw Zak pick up the lotion and apply it to his elbows and knees discreetly making me hide my smile.

"Kick! Kick! Kick!" Zak instructed making Avari's legs beat the water as she tried to keep herself up.

My eyes hadn't left her since she entered the pool with Zak and he knew the level of nervousness I was at from my constant watchful eyes.

"Okay." Zak spoke grabbing hold of her bringing her to a stop. She panted away heavily and looked over at me.

"Did you see me mommy?!" She cried with excitement.

"I did well done!" I clapped.

"Holly did you see me?! I swam!" Avari asked.

"Yeah, brilliant, now keep it down I'm trying to sleep." She answered.

I rolled my eyes and looked back at Avari who shrugged it off and looked at Zak.

"Your hair is flat." She informed him and pushed it up in all directions. "That's better."

"I'm going to inflate your unicorn... How about you try and get mommy in?" He asked looking over at me not so discreetly.

Zak placed Avari on the edge of the pool and hopped out walking over to me dripping wet. His swim shorts had vacuumed themselves to his body leaving little to the imagination as he stopped directly in front of me.

"H-hi." I stuttered feeling my face heating up.

"Hi." He answered smugly.

"Uh- I'll go do the unicorn or you'll get the house soaking wet." I quipped quickly picking up the box.

"Maybe you can strip off and join us too." He added making me almost running away with the unicorn.

I stood in the lounge with the small electric pump sat on the floor, the rattling off it was driving me crazy as it slowly built up.  Looking across at Avari she was throwing a ball for Gracie who never seemed to tire! Whilst Zak was talking to Jessica Rabbit who had undone her top to avoid tan lines.

Nervous about myself, but desperate to keep my little girl happy, I stripped off.

"Don't be nervous. You had a child. So what if you're a little fuller than Jessica silicone rabbit. You're a yummy mommy." I spoke to myself before picking up the now inflated unicorn and switching off the pump.

"You're a yummy mommy." I spoke setting off with my mantra.

After a few seconds fighting to get the unicorn out the door, I paused realising I couldn't see my little mermaid.

"Avari?" I questioned looking around the garden quickly. My eyes landed on Gracie who whined hitting the water with her paw.

Dropping the unicorn, I raced over to the pool to find Avari under the water. "No!" I cried throwing myself in. My sights were set on her as she kicked and flailed at the water helplessly.

Grabbing her little body, I kicked off the floor and broke up through the water to find Zak grabbing for her.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" He panicked pulling her out as Avari began crying.

I pulled myself out and grabbed hold of her hugging her tightly.

"I swear I didn't take my eyes off her that long! I- it was a couple seconds I- Lettie is she okay?"

"Where are her armbands?!" I snapped.

He shook his head holding his hands out when Avari pulled back. "I w-wanted to be a b-big girl and s-swim without them. B-but I d-didn't swim."

"Oh sweetheart. You're not strong enough yet but you will be." I hushed hugging her again.

This was my fault, her almost drowning was my fault because I was too concerned about running away from Zak and my problems than I was my daughter's safety! This is why nothing can happen! This is why all my attention needs to be centred on her, because life is too quick to be taken away!

Avari stayed with me a little longer until she moved out of my arms, but I myself was too shaken to move from the side of the pool. Now I wanted to guard and keep her away from it.

"Lettie she's okay..." Zak spoke quietly.

"Shut up, this is all your fault!" I whispered harshly getting up and storming away.

"Avari keep away from the pool for mommy please!" I begged grabbing my clothes to put them back on.

"I'm playing with Gracie now mommy! We are going to play basketball!" She called back pulling on her shoes and running off with her hooded towel poncho.

Her moment in the deep end of the pool was a result of a poorly aimed ball throw. She had leant in to get it but stretched too far and tumbled in.

Walking into the kitchen through the glass doors, I grabbed a drink and stood looking out the window when Zak came barrelling in.

"No, you don't get to blame me for that! I didn't push her in! And I didn't take her armbands off!" He fired.

"You were suppose to be watching her! Why weren't you watching her?!" I shouted pulling on my top and flicking my hair out.

Over his shoulder I could still see Holly laid out with not a care in the world. I mean... Did she even move whilst my daughter was under the water?!

"It was a matter of seconds! I swe-"

"IT ONLY TAKES A MATTER OF SECONDS FOR HER TO DROWN!" I screamed back at him before I burst into tears.

I pushed my hand over my face and turned around to avoid Zak as they kept falling and fast.

"Lettie..." He whispered.

"I can't lose her, I can't lose her too, I-"

"She's safe." He replied placing a hand on my back.

"She is all I have!" I shook trying to rid the image of her looking petrified out of my head.

"Avari is safe, I swear it was a few seconds not even a few."

I spun around as anger built "How the fuck would you know?! You were too busy with Holly!" I snapped pushing him away.

"You're angry. I get that, but I know you too well Scarlett." He spoke coming towards me.

"Back off or I'll swing for you! It's your fault!"

"You won't." He replied confidently.

As he came within my personal space, I swung my fist towards him causing his hand to snap over mine.

"You're not angry, you're scared. And when you're scared you act out to stop being hurt first.."

"She almost drown!" I struggled trying to break his grip.

"No this is not about Avari! The same little girl who's now playing basket ball with not a care in the world! This is about you!" He shoving my hand down and pointing his finger.

"Maybe it is!"

"This is because of the other night!" He hissed quietly looking to make sure Holly hadn't heard. "This is because you let yourself feel something and now you're mad."

"No I'm mad because our daughter was under the water! I'm mad because I took my eyes off of her, I'm mad because I trusted you for a matter of fucking seconds to watch her, I'm mad because I almost lost the one thing I've protected religiously and fiercely for the past 6 years!"

"You're mad because you opened up, that you allowed yourself to feel again. To feel me."

I scoffed "You're not my priority anymore Zak. You were once, but never, never again. Right now your feelings mean nothing! I haven't got time for anyone else and I certainly haven't got time for the games you play. I'm a mother now, I have a child and you need to respect that."

"And I do." He bit back.

"But you keep try-"

"I just want you to admit that even after everything, you do still care for me, like I care for you."

"I- you never cared for me! Never, what did we ever do? Fighting and fucking is not a relationship Zak. You used me, I let you, you hurt me, I let you. I'm only here because I want you to build a bond with Avari!" I spat.

"You're here because you want to be. You're here because you missed me as much as I missed you." He replied self assured.

"If that were in any sense true, you would have done a damn sight more and you would have kept her out the moment she admitted lying to your face and sending me those texts!" I fumed jabbing my finger in Holly's direction. "You didn't miss me Zak, you missed the easy lay, and I'm disgusted with myself for how I acted, thinking that what we had was love because the moment I saw her in that pool? Just then. I felt my stomach twist, my heart stopped and my focus was getting her. That's love. Whatever I had with you was some sick infatuation and you fed it to get what you want!"

I pushed past him to collect Avari and go when he pulled me back by my wrist.

"Typical Summers.. Trying to push blame, lash out and protect herself.-"

"Get your hand off me."

"No." He growled pulling me closer to his side with anger. "You're gonna listen to me now. You're upset, you're pissed off. I get that. But you do not use her as a weapon to get at me!"

I tugged on my arm but the vice like grip of his hand stayed. "You don't know the first thing about Av-"

"No! I don't but I never will if you go and take her the moment something happens. I fucked up, big time, we all did by not realising she had those armbands off sooner. Now she is happy with Gracie in the garden. What you gonna do? Go and pull them apart to satisfy your own needs? Because that's selfish, you're gonna be a selfish parent and upset her and take her. Using her as a weapon. Don't make me fight for her. I care too much about you to hurt you, but if I have to... I will." He spoke holding my glare.

"You wouldn't dare.." I snarled.

His face moved closer making look down "Try me. I've got millions of dollars, I already have a college fund, a bank account set aside in Avari's name, I have a job, a secure family home, I have family all around me. Also have a stable relationship, if I have to call it that. Holly would back me in a heartbeat, she would do anything for a couple hundred dollars. I'm a social services wet dream.. You lost your job, you're living on borrowed time in your home and just how are you gonna give Avari the best? I can almost bet you haven't got a fund set up for her, let alone health insurances. Not to mention your old job? I have a legal team that could crush any one of the backward hicks you hire. Face it. In a child's court? I'd win in a heartbeat."

My mind reeled from his admissions, his challenge and the fight within him. I couldn't fight with him, I wouldn't stand a chance and in this day and age the world was money orientated.

"Is that a threat?" I asked trying to keep my voice from cracking.

"No, it's a reminder of where we are on the chess board. Take her, I'll fight..."

My body shook in anger but now I knew we were at a stage of every movement I made could be used against me for the future. So punching him in the face as I originally planned would land me as a violent person and unstable parent.

I lowered my eyes from his as the tears collected, he noticed immediately causing a hurt expression to flicker across his face.

"Only you would see the benefits in buying your child's love. I may not have it all together. But I love my daughter unconditionally and I will do everything in my power to keep her-"

"Take her and I'll bring you down." He warned.

"To keep her safe. But remember one tiny detail.. Zak." I spat his name.

"What?"

"Your name isn't on the birth certificate, therefore? Avari is, has, and will always be my daughter. You're nothing but a sperm donor." I snatched my arm from his hand.

"Check mate." I snarled as my lip quivered before I stormed out of the kitchen leaving him for dust.