Two

My stomach turned, and I felt like I was going to be sick. I couldn't take my eyes off the little girl who clung to Ava's leg.

It was her, it was definitely her. I would know that smile and those eyes anywhere.

So, who was the child? She had to be Ava's daughter, there was no doubt, she was the spitting image of her.

And her eyes.

They looked so much like mine, maybe a shade or two a darker blue.

I wanted to approach her, but my feet wouldn't allow me. I was glued to the spot, my mouth dry as the Sahara Desert, all the moisture in my body was sweating out my hands and forehead.

God, she still looks so beautiful.

I watched as she is handed a caramel covered apple, and leans down again to hand it to the little girl. She thanks the person behind the counter with a sweet, breathtaking smile, and turns towards me. I still can't move, her eyes roam over the crowd.

And land on me.

That sweet smile is wiped off her face, and is replaced with a frightened look.

Frightened? Why does she look so scared?

My feet moved on their own, and I started walking towards her.

"Ashton?" She breathed my name, her voice coming out in a silky whisper, her blood red lips parted slightly. I like that color of lipstick on her, it made her look all the more tempting, paired with her white, strapless summer dress, that hugged her body in all the right places, and flowed out just above her knees, leaving much to the imagination.

I shook my head and stopped, the sound of my name on her lips after so long sent my heart into a frenzy. I want to reach out to her, feel her skin against mine, kiss her until I passed out. Air? What the hell was air? Who the hell needed it, when the only thing I ever needed to live is right in front of me, just as perfect looking as the day she left.

My legs finally regained movement, and I walked towards her. Before I could get a foot closer, she picked up the little girl and dashed off the other way.

"Ava, wait!" I called after her, but she weaved through the crowd like smoke, and was gone. I tried to run after her, but there are too many people, and even with my 6-foot frame, I can't see her over the sea of bobbing heads.

I continued to try and push my way through, until I eventually landed myself in the parking lot. I was glad to avoid the area where I had left Amber, though I have a feeling she wasn't there anymore, and was wandering around looking for me. My eyes scanned the entire lot, until by some miracle, I spot her tiny frame as she rushes over to her car.

She takes her keys out of her pocket and opens the door for the little girl, to buckle her into her car-seat. I rush after her, and I already know she senses my presence. I see her back tense when I stop just a few feet away. She finishes buckling in the girl, and turns those killer green eyes on me.

"What are you doing here?" she asks. Just the sound of her voice, and my heart is pounding in my chest. I missed her voice so much, I never realized how much it killed a part of me inside.

"I should be asking you that," I manage to utter out. I'm still getting over the fact that she is here, right in front of me. I have dreamt of this day for years, I never thought it would come true.

"I don't have time to explain this, I need to get my daughter home to bed." She stops suddenly, as if realizing what she just said.

She is her daughter!

Ava turns back towards her car, like she is making another break for it. I won't allow her this time. I move faster than her, and I pin her lightly against the car next to us, thanking the gods that it doesn't have a car alarm.

"A-Ashton, my daughter is in the car!" she cries, and gestures to the wide-eyed girl, staring at us through the window.

"You look beautiful," I whisper in her ear. I feel her shudder underneath me, and it makes my body feel all kinds of things it hasn't felt in a while.

"I can't do this right now, please let me go." Her voice is trembling, and I'm afraid I hurt or scared her. I let go of her hands and take a step back, but not enough for her to get by.

"I'm not going anywhere, my sweet Ava. I've been looking for you for three years, and I find you out of the blue like this? What makes you think I'm letting you go so easily?" I stare directly into her eyes, wanting her to know how serious I am. That I have longed for her touch for so long, I wasn't going to give her up without a fight.

She gazes right back up at me, her emerald green eyes holding so many emotions, I wasn't sure which one to focus on. Anger, sadness, regret, joy, confusion.

"Please, Ashton, I need to go." She manages to muster up enough strength to push me away a little and get around to her car. Just before she closes it, I put my hand between and stop it, giving her one last pleading look.

"I'm not giving up, Ava. I'll see you soon," I whisper to her through the crack. She bites her lip, in the nervous way I always liked. She goes to close the door again.

"Wait!" I call out to her. She rolls down her window and gives me a questioning look. "What is her name?" I ask, and look to the little girl, now sound asleep in the back. Ava glances at her, and her eyes soften momentarily, before she looks back at me with hard determination.

Determination to keep me out. But why?

"Emily," she says, so softly, the wind almost carried it away. She closes her door, and backs up as quickly as she can. Before her car disappears completely, I snap a picture of her license plate, and make plans to call up an old friend.

***

I walk into the small coffee shop in downtown Manhattan, and order two black coffees. It has been a week since I last saw Ava, and a week since I met Amber. It was quite the shit show, after I had eventually found her at the carnival, and explained that I ran into a work colleague, and we got talking some business. She bought the whole thing, which was all I cared about.

Apparently, though, that wasn't enough to put in a bad word for me with her father, and have her cancel the whole arranged marriage crap. My mother was in my office the next morning, gushing about how great of a time Amber said she had, and how attracted she is to me.

I had to suppress the urge to shudder when she had said that. I'm not the least bit attracted to her. That isn't due to a certain green-eyed beauty. Even if I hadn't miraculously found Ava, I still would not be attracted to her.

Once I have my order of coffees, I seek out the farthest table in the shop, where the least number of people are huddled around. Not moments after I have sat down, the bell for the front door rings, and a familiar face walks in, a wide grin on his lips.

"Ashton Bradford, as I live and breathe," he said and comes in for a hug. "How have yeah been, mate? I was quite surprised to hear you had called, I almost called my assistant a liar."

"You know me, Lucas, I'm all over the map now a day, I don't have much time for anything."

He gives me a curious look.

"You aren't still looking for her, are you?" he asks quietly.

I just smile in response, and rolls his eyes. "Ashton, what have I told you? You need to give up this wild chase, it's been three years. She's an adult now and probably out on her own, and if she wanted to find you, she would have. I'm sorry, it hurts to hear, but–"

"I found her, Lucas."

His eyes bulge out of his face and his mouth drops to the table.

"Y-you found her? You mean, you actually found her? Without my help, or anyone's help?"

I scoffed at how little faith he has in me.

"I didn't need anyone's help. Honest, mate, it was like it was fate that I met her. She was just standing there, like she appeared right in front of me. I couldn't believe it myself, until I saw who she was with," I trail off slowly.

Lucas leans in, as if to silently urge me to continue.

"She had a child with her, her daughter."

Lucas does a double take and blinks rapidly at me. He went to open his mouth, then shuts it again.

"You can't be serious?" he whispers loudly. "Are you sure it was her daughter? And not like a friend's kid she was babysitting or something?"

I nod. "She said right to me, that it was her daughter. I don't think she had meant for me to know, because she looked like she regretted it the moment she told me. I asked what her name is, just before she left. She named her Emily," I say, and I can hear the soft tone of admiration in my voice. She chose a perfect name, it matched the little girl well.

Lucas gives me another curious and cautious look.

"Why do you look all sappy and shit right now? I thought you would be upset, she has a kid with someone else. It's not like she is your daughter."

I just stare at him, and try to keep a good poker face. But knowing Lucas, he sees right through it. It's not long, until he narrows his eyes at me, and then widens them.

"She is your daughter, isn't she? You, and Ava – had sex that night before, and then – mate! Why did you never tell me this? I'm your best friend, we're supposed to tell each other shit like this," he cries and punches me in the shoulder.

"I'm sorry, it was a pretty hard time, all I can remember caring about was the fact that she was gone, and I needed to get her back. I didn't even remember that I didn't use condom until now, I hadn't even thought about it."

"So, then wait. How do you know she's your daughter then?" Lucas asks.

"Because she looks no older then 3-years-old, and has almost the exact same eyes as me. It makes perfect sense, if I can find out when her birthday is, I can know for sure."

"Why don't you just ask Ava yourself? Would she not know?"

I frown, and remember the exchange between Ava and I in the parking lot. "That's easier said than done. Anyway, that sort of has to do with why I called you here."

"I had a feeling you needed something," he says and lifts a brow. "I'm assuming you need my connections and tech, am I, right?"

I nod. "As smart as always, Lucas."

"I'm not a part of the CIA due to pure luck."

I roll my eyes at him. He's always finding a way to boast about his new job. I'm proud of him, but I get it already.

"What is it you need?" he asks.

I take out my phone and flip to the picture, before sliding it across the table to him.

"I need you to take this license plate, and find out everything you can about the owner."

He nods and sends the picture to himself. He doesn't need to ask who the license plate belongs too. The foot of our conversation has covered that.

"I'll get right on it, and call you if I find anything useful," he says and bids me farewell. I finish my coffee and think the day over. It has felt like everything that has been hovering above me, my dark cloud of negativity, has finally released all its pent up crap, and has rained down the good shit.

For once, in what has been 3 years, I felt a genuine smile tug at my lips, at the thought of the secret family I always longed for, and never knew I already had.

Whatever it takes, I will get her back.