Back to the Green's House

Ava and Sarah came to the Green Villa hand in hand and rang the doorbell. Ava was a little nervous, after three years she will be seeing her parents. Her emotion was in all over the place today.

"Lilly opened the door and froze in the doorway before jumping and taking Ava into her arm. She asked in a choked voice, "Ava sweetie, is that really you? Am I dreaming?"

As soon as Ava was in Lilly's arms, she started to cry hysterically, "Yes mom, it's me. I am back."

Lilly pulled Ava inside and started to shout, "James…James, come here quickly. Look who is here. Oh, my sweet little baby, you are finally back."

James heard Lilly shouting he quickly came out of his study and seeing Ava he also froze in place for a while before running to her and taking her to his arm. She was alive…she was alive. Oliver was right, she came back. James's eyes turned red and tears started to flow freely. He urged his wife and Sarah to come to him and he took the three women in arm as his heart filled with the joy of his daughter's return, his family was complete again.

"Dad, how are you? I am so sorry mom, dad I left without saying anything, please forgive me." Ava tried to apologize in between her sobs.

"It's ok…it's ok. All that matters is you are alive and you came back. That's all we needed." James said voice filled with joy.

After they all calmed down Lilly pulled Ava to the couch and started to look at her closely. "Honey, why have you become so thin?"

Ava laughed and said, "Mom, where am I thin? I am perfectly healthy. "

They talked and laughed for a while, then Lilly asked in a hesitant tone, "Ava sweetie, where have you been all these years? Are you the woman called Mackie, the pianist?" James and Lilly saw the news of Mackie just this morning, although the woman looked like Ava but they were not sure if it was her, so James asked someone to investigate Mackie, however, that's not necessary anymore as she was standing right in front of them.

"Mom, I…I was in the US. Daniel helped me to set up a business and arranged for concerts for me to play Piano. Although it took some time but I have become one of the renowned international pianists. Are you proud mom?" Ava asked smiling like a flower. She knew Lilly never supported her decision to stop playing piano, so she knew her parents, especially her mother would be very happy to know that she made a career as a pianist.

Lilly and James looked at each other and Lilly asked again hesitantly, "So what the news said is true? You two are married?"

"Yes mom, we are married, he is good to me. " Ava said calmly looking at her mother in the eye.

"But…what about Oliver?" Lilly asked.

Ava sighed and said, "Well, mom Oliver and me, we are over. So I would appreciate it if you would not mention him in front of me." Ava intentionally hid the part about her and Daniel being nominal husband and wife. She didn't want Oliver to know it, that man's ego was already big enough, if he found out this he will be thrilled and Ava will never give him the satisfaction.

James could see the hostility in Ava's eyes for Oliver. He suddenly recalled the night when Oliver apologized to him again and again for something he did to Ava. She must be still mad at him. Knowing his daughter James wondered if Ava will ever give Oliver a chance to explain himself. James sighed in his heart but kept quiet.

"But Ava honey, Oliver loves you so much, what happened between you two?" Lilly asked confused. They were so much in love, what happened between the two that they are hiding from them?

"Mom, I don't want to talk about the past, I have nothing to do with Oliver and you shouldn't either. I came back because of you people but if you are uncomfortable with my life choices then Me and Daniel will go back to the US." Ava said in a slightly irritated tone. She knew she would have to face these questions but after knowing how they became so close to Oliver, she was really annoyed and on an impulse threatened her parents.

James and Lilly both were shocked to hear her daughter, Lilly was about to argue but James held her hand and gave her a squeeze to stop her, then he said in a very calm and steady voice. "Ok Ava. This is between you and Oliver and we will not interfere with your life. As long as you are happy we are happy. We just got you back and we would like you to stay here but again it's your choice. However, as your parents, we would like to request you to at least let us know before you leave this time. As for Oliver, it was you who bought him into our life but when you were gone it was him who helped us with our grieving, he supported us, we can't just break ties with him now that you are back, we can't turn blind eyes to what he has done for us over the years. You don't want us to mention him we won't but he will always be part of our life whether you like it or not."

James knew Oliver has done something wrong for Ava to leave but still the way she left and made it look like she was dead was very wrong in his eyes. If there was any problem between them they could talk things out. He couldn't understand why his daughter had to take such drastic measures and disappear. Now that she was back how could she demand they should cut ties with Oliver? He had seen over the years how Lilly suffered and blamed herself for Ava's death. If it wasn't for Oliver and Orion they wouldn't be able to get through so how could he just forget everything and throw Oliver out of their lives? Moreover seeing Oliver suffering for his daughter for the past three years he had no intention to accept Ava's willfulness. As a father he wants his daughter to be happy so he might not stop her but he certainly won't support her every decision.

It was Ava's turn to be shocked. Until now she hadn't realized how important Oliver has become to her family over the years but her father's straightforward words have made it very clear where she stands and where Oliver stands. Ava was hurt but she had no one to blame, it was her fault for leaving without any word, and even giving the impression of her being dead. She was so consumed in her own grief of losing the child and Oliver's deception that she didn't even think before leaving about how it will impact her parents life. Now she realized how wrong she was. It's only normal that her parents have lost their faith in her while it was Oliver who picked up the pieces. Was she being selfish and cruel for doing that back then? Ava closed her eyes in guilt, what has she done? She could easily hear the blame in her father's tone. He wouldn't forgive her for the grief she had caused them and although he said if she was happy they would be too but it was also clear her father was not happy with her decisions. She suddenly realized she was being unreasonable, she shouldn't have pushed the matter about Oliver like this knowing what he had done for them. If anything she should be grateful that Oliver took care of them while she was gone even though he didn't have to. Ava lowered her eyes ashamed, it's true that Oliver caused her a lot of pain and she could never forgive him for that but the way he looked after her parents, should she make peace with him?

After a while, Ava said in a very low voice, ''Mom, Dad, I am sorry for the grief I caused you and also sorry for being unreasonable just now. I shouldn't have said that.''

James soften hearing his daughter and said, "it's ok Ava. Please don't misunderstand us, You are the only child of us, we love you very much and we would be very happy if you stayed but I also wanted to make Oliver's place in our hearts clear to you. The rest is up to you. I hope you understand."

"Yes, Dad I understand," Ava said lowering her eyes, hiding the pain and hurt in them. How did this happen? Why Oliver took away everything from her?