Ava has to stop walking after awhile, having grown dizzy. She takes a seat on a bench and sighs. There’s a flight in half an hour. It won’t be taking her back to Cameron’s dad’s house, it’ll be taking her back to America. She’s already arranged for someone to pick up Kreja and take him to the private jet so he can join her. She books a first class ticket before shutting off her phone and leans heavily agains the metal back of the bench. It takes her awhile but she does end up cancelling the ticket. This is ridiculous. She’ll pack her shit and then go to pick up Kreja herself. If Cameron begs for forgiveness when she sees him then she’ll consider not telling him to fuck off. She fumes for a few more minutes before heading back to the hotel. It’s gotten hot and she’s still dizzy so that’s fun. Once she’s there, she packs up all of her things and leaves, sending a message to her pilot.
Cameron was back home before he knew it, and walking into the house. He was greeted by his father, only to tell him that he needed to talk. He pushed the dogs back and took off his shoes in front of the door, following his father into the living room and sighing. He started with his father to the very beginning. He hadn't even told his own dad about his previous relationship. He had just said that it didn't work out. But he told him everything about the cheating and the arguing and losing his son and feeling crushed about it for years. His father was silent as he explained everything, taking most of his time. At one point Zore had joined him on his lap and started to lick his face of his tears, which had started to fall without him realizing it.
Ava arrives at the airport mere minutes after the jet returns. She drops her backs down, flops into the nearest chair, and waits. The trip is less than smooth and she has to get up and throw up every few minutes. Her mood is even worse by the time she’s leaving the plane. Entering the house, she completely ignores everyone and heads straight upstairs. She pulls out a large suitcase for herself and a smaller one for Kreja before she starts to quickly and quietly pack. Some space should do them some good. Maybe after a week or so with her family, she’ll come back. Kreja trots hesitantly into the bedroom, looking very confused.
Rose bumbled after Kreja, her small tail wagging, but there was a puppy missing. Zore was whimpering softly up at Cameron as he leaned back, trying to control himself but failing. Lachlan's jaw was set as he listened, sighing softly and biting his lip.
"Я хотел бы попытаться двигаться дальше, но я не могу," Cameron finally murmured past the kisses and faint sobs that were trying to break through. "Я не могу заставить себя сказать ей, либо. Я был в депрессии, когда возникла проблема, что Кормак на самом деле не был моим сыном."
Ava smiles slightly at the sight of two of her pups. “Hey, babies.” Sighing, she presses a kiss to both of their heads. “It’s going to be okay, I promise. Mommy just needs to go home for a bit.” She knows that the dogs can understand her but she feels better telling them what’s going on. Turning back to the suitcases, she adds some more clothes for herself and some supplies for the dogs. She adds things for Rose and Zore in the hopes that she’ll be able to take them with her. It’s unlikely but it’s worth a shot. Once the suitcases are packed, she zips them up and moves them off to the side. She needs to let the pilot know when they’ll be leaving.
(oh btw I forgot to mention you have to go through the living room to get upstairs lmao)
Lachlan sighed an nudged him up to his feet. "Тебе нужно поговорить с ней. Она захочет узнать, что происходит, независимо от того, насколько она зла на вас." He pushed his son up the steps, who seemed more than reluctant with Zore whimpering in his arms. Lachlan pushed him in and accompanied the sobbing mess that was his son, holding his arm steadily.
"Ава, Кэмерон есть что тебе сказать," Lachlan said in his deep voice to take her attention, in a tone warning her not to deck his son.
(Alrighty, that’s good to know lol)
Ava sets up the plan with the pilot before grabbing a few more things that she deems necessary. When she turns to leaves, she finds herself face to face with Lachlan and Cameron. Though still very furious, her anger lessens a little when she sees the state that he’s in. She crosses her arms and studies them for a long time, her displeased gaze unwavering. “Поговорите быстро, мой рейс скоро отправится.” This has better be an apology or something equally as important.
"Тогда ты не уйдешь," Lachlan responded sharply, matching her gaze with a fierce look of fatherly rage that would absolutely topple any tower. Lachlan gently tugged on Cameron, who was looking down at Zore for emotional support. The man who probably hasn't cried once in the presence of Ava was absolutely broken down, his hair lank and depressed as it framed his face.
"I'm sorry," He said in the most broken, hoarse voice possible. He sobbed softly and hid his eyes. "I'm so sorry Ava."
“При всем моем уважении, вы не можете остановить меня.” Ava maintains a very thin layer of politeness. It’s not Lachlan that she’s mad at and she adores him so she’s not going to take her frustrations out on him. Her eyes shift back to Cameron as she takes in the mess that’s her fiancé. Seeing him cry like this makes her heart hurt but her anger is near unwavering. She can’t help but break a little at his pitiful apology. This scene almost makes her feel bad for yelling at him. “Cameron, what happened?”
Cameron just sobbed and murmured apologies as small Zore tried her best to lick his cheeks to make him feel better. Lachlan seemed to have felt bad, for he jumped in and started to explain what Cameron had told him, but paraphrased. His ex-wife had cheated on him and plunged him into this giant period of stress and depression of his own worthiness to be in a relationship. He explained about Cormac and the problems he had when there was this confusion of whether it was his son or not. When he was taken away from him, it caused a lot more problems into distrust and Ava happened to walk in on it before he could even admit he had a problem.
Ava continuously looks back and forth before Cameron and Lachlan. The cheating thing makes sense but she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t insulted by it. Of course she understands why that thought would cross his mind but it still hurts. She’s more than a little surprised when told Cormac isn’t his son. Several questions arise after this but she decides now isn’t the best time to ask them. By the time Lachlan is done, she has no damn idea what she’s supposed to say about this. What can she say? This whole situation is a lot more complicated than she thought. With a quiet sigh, she steps forward and gently brushes the tears off of Cameron’s face before giving him a hug.
Lachlan quickly took Zore so Cameron could hug her back, gripping her shirt tight in his hands as he sobbed softly into her hair. He felt stupid for holding it from her for so long, and just as pathetic for crying like this. He had no idea what came over him, it all was happening so fast his head was hurting and he just wanted to lay down and forget he had ever become an adult with problems. He sniffled softly into her hair, shaking his head as apologies from different languages– mostly English and Russian– spilled out of his shaking lips.
Ava soothingly rubs his back, holding him close. “It’s okay, Cameron, you’re okay.” That’s all she can think to say right now. After awhile, she pulls back and cups his cheek. “Stop apologizing. It’s okay, okay? I’ve got you and I’m not going anywhere.” She hates seeing him like this. The look on his face and the crying……she just feels horrible for the way she acted and what he had to go through. “I’m so sorry for running off like that. We should’ve talked, I should’ve stayed.”
Cameron sniffled when she pulled back, wiping his face off with his shirt and sort of hiding in it as he tried to recover, inhaling sharply and slowly opening his eyes to look at her.
"That's okay, Ava," He said softly, looking down at his feet and sniffling again. "I should have told you sooner. I shouldn't keep stuff like that from you. I trust you with my life and you're the love of my life. I feel like a total asshole for not trying to stop you and just explain myself.
Ava studies him, stopping herself from just begging him to stop crying. She’s not used to the tears and is not equip to deal with them. Running her thumb across his cheek she offers a weak but reassuring smile.
“Cameron, it’s okay. I’m just glad you told me. We both did some stupid shit and we both handled our anger poorly. Everything is good now though.” She understands that talking about this would be hard and the way is came out wasn’t under the best of circumstances but things are getting back on track.
Cameron paused to listen to her, nodding a little afterwards. Lachlan gently pushed them to sit on the bed, telling them he'd bring up some water and setting Zore down next to Rose, who was sitting at Cameron's feet. Lachlan walked out of the room, and Cameron rubbed his face.
"I'm just… really sorry. I should've told you sooner, at some other time when it was better. I probably should've gotten help but…" He sniffled and shook his head. "I'm just stupid. I'm sorry." He looked at her with his heavy, red eyes. "If you're confused or anything… I'll answer some questions." He inhaled and exhaled shakily. "I'm okay now."
“Cameron, please please stop apologizing.” Ava sits down on the bed next to him, fidgeting a little. “You aren’t stupid, I promise. What happened to you isn’t an easy thing to go through. You have every right to feel the way you do. If you want help then we’ll get you help, okay?” Reaching out, she takes his hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. “We don’t have to talk about this if you don’t want to.” The last thing she wants is for him to start crying or breaking down again.
Cameron bit his lip and tried not to apologize again. That would make him feel really stupid. He looked down at their entwined hands and nodded, inhaling softly.
"No… no it's good you know all of it. That's what dad said and I believe him," He murmured, leaning against her. "Just ask me any question at all, I'll answer it if I can." He rested his head on her shoulder with another soft sniffle, still feeling really pathetic but somewhat better now that he wasn't sobbing.
Ava sighs with relief when the apologizing ends. Emotions are not her thing. She turns and presses a light kiss to the side of his head, giving his hand another light squeeze.
“I actually do have a few questions.” She taps her free hand on her leg as she thinks. “Does Cormac know about this? How did you find out? Do you…..do you know who his biological father is?” Moving her hand up, she runs it through his curls in what she hopes is a soothing manner.
Cameron sighed and relaxed against her, biting his lip. "He's… he's my son. But she told me she was pregnant with Cormac around the time I found out she was cheating on me. He doesn't know, unless she told him which she absolutely wouldn't. I'm his father, but the timing in which I found out both things was just… bad." He leaned his head back into her hand, his breathing steadying out slowly.
Ava nods her head slightly. DNA testing on an unborn baby is highly dangerous so she assumes that they didn’t do anything until he was actually born. Unfortunately that means that Cameron probably went nine months without knowing if he was the real father or if the baby was the product of one of his wife’s affairs. Damn. Just thinking about it makes her head hurt. “So earlier…..you were thinking that…..um….” She doesn’t even want to say it.
"Yeah. That's why I… I got really angry. I just jumped to that conclusion instead of trying to talk to you because you got angry too, and I didn't want you taking it the wrong way. I was afraid you'd get more pissed off and leave me." He looked down at her hands again, sniffling. "But I knew you were better than that, I just couldn't believe it. I didn't want to, and I feel awful for it. I know you're not that woman. You care about me and I'm so thankful."
“God, we’re both so fucking stupid.” All of this could have been easily avoided had they just talked to each other. “That’s fair. If you had even mentioned something like that I would’ve at the very least punched you and kicked you.” She can’t exactly blame him for not bringing that up. “Cameron, I’m not going to ever do that to you, I promise. I love you so damn much.” Feeling more relieved than before, she gives him a side hug.
Cameron smiled meekly and laughed softly. "Yeah, I guess we are. I didn't really feel like getting beaten up so I didn't mention it," He sighed and hugged her back, shutting his eyes as he soaked up the hug with a soft sigh.
"I love you too, Ava. I'm just glad it's out now." He pressed small kisses to her neck.
Ava leans her head lightly against his. “Can we never do anything like this again? The next time something like this comes up we just have to tell each other, even at risk of being beaten up.” Fighting with him sucks, especially when it gets to be this bad. She lets out a soft hum as she thinks. Well, she should probably unpack and cancel the plane. A quick glance at him tells her that she’s waiting until later to do so.
"Yeah. Yeah I'd rather get beaten up then lose you, baby." He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes and pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I'm gonna lay down. You can… you can do whatever you'd like. I didn't mean to interrupt a flight– I think you said." He took off his shoes and socks, then shimmied back into the soft bed and relaxed with a soft sigh. He tilted his head to watch Zore whimper for up, and he sat up to help her.
“Oh, screw the flight. I don’t want to see my asshole relatives anymore than I want to drink grape kool aid.” She sighs and stands up, figuring that she should deal with the flight. Once he’s settled down, she takes out her phone and texts the pilot, giving him the rest of the day off and an apology. With that down, she gets to work on unpacking everything. It’s an unpleasant task but she gets it done. Once the suitcases are put away again, she heads into the bathroom and just sinks to the floor. Today has been a roller coaster is emotions.
Cameron helped Rose up and invited Kreja, patting the bed for him and gently calling his name. He watched her move around, his eyes round and heavy as he leaned his head on Rose, who was barking softly at him and nibbling his ear. He frowned a little when she walked away into the bathroom, snuggling into the bed for a nap.
Kreja’s ears perk up when he hears his name. The dog glances over to the bed and debates it for a moment. He stretches out before lumbering forward and jumping onto the bed. Curling up, he huffs.
Ava buries her face in her hands. Today could have been so much worse and that’s all she can think of. She could have lost him. And for what? Because she has a short temper and the ability to never talk things through? Sighing heavily, she leans her head back against the cabinet, that dizzy feeling from earlier returning.
Cameron smiled when Kreja joined him, petting the dog slowly. Rose struggled across the bed and snuggled up against him too, leaning her chin on his back. Zore stayed put on Cameron's chest, acting almost as a guard dog for him. Cam snuggled into the fluffy pile of dogs and dozed off with a soft noise, hugging all of them collectively somehow. He loved his doggies. But something was missing.
"Ava? Are you okay love?" He called for her, his head perking up again.
