Youngest Shepherd

Brother

Easter
Ava felt like she had been suffocating as everyone was constantly watching her and waiting for her to break down. She couldn't take much more as she took Mark and left Seattle to go to New York to help her mom as she was struggling too after losing Derek.

Ava had decided to take Mark out as they had gone to a cafe in which Ava had spent most of her time when she was in high school. It had been Derek who had been the first to bring her to the cafe when she was in kindergarten as they had a snow day.

Ava took a photo as Mark pulled a huge grin at the waffles in front of him which reminded Ava of Jackson as he had stayed back in Seattle. He hadn't understood why Ava wanted to go to New York but she had told him her mom was struggling and needed her it was only partially the truth as Ava needed time for herself too.

She sent the picture to Catherine and Jackson as she had been speaking to Catherine a lot as her mother in law was also worried for her daughter in law.
~
Memorial Day...
Ava was still staying with her mom in New York she had been spending her time with her sisters and their children. She had been avoiding most of her calls from her friends and from Jackson. She was calling Jackson one a week so he could talk and see Mark but she wouldn't talk for very long.

The Shepherds were also becoming concerned for their daughter and sister as she had been helping everyone else through her brothers death but completely avoiding her own grief. It had become almost impossible to talk about Derek with her.

Ava's phone rang as she a FaceTime request from Jackson as he hadn't spoken to Mark this week she had decided to answer it as his face popped up on her screen.

"Dadda!" Mark exclaims with happiness as he sat on Ava's lap seeing his dad on the phone as Jackson smiled immediately at the sight of his son.

"Hey champ have you been good for momma?" Jackson says as Mark takes a hold of Ava's phone babbling to his dad.

Ava watches Mark for a while as she takes the phone out of his hand so Jackson can see something other than his stomach. "Hey hows work been?" Ava asks making small conversation.

"Umm just the same as usual Ive got these burn patients and Wilson been helping out." Jackson says as Ava nods her head at him.

"Any news on how Owen and April are doing?" Ava asks him as he looks at her.

"Umm April not coming home yet and Mason ain't handling it too well and when are you coming home Ava it's been over a month?" Jackson says as Ava looks down at Mark.

"I don't Know Jackson I'm still needed here I need to go anyway Marks getting restless and he need nap we'll call you later." Ava says as she hangs up the phone as she watches her son.
~
4th July
Ava sat with her mom as they watched the fireworks as Ava had put Mark to bed as he had already fallen asleep.

Ava had her head resting on her moms shoulder like she would when she was younger and they would talk about her dad. "What's going on Ava?" Carolyn asks her youngest daughter as Ava looks up at her mom.

"What do you mean?" Ava asks knowing exactly what her mom was talking about as she gave her youngest daughter a small smile.

"I know you came here for me honey and I wouldn't have been able to make it through this without you but you've also been running away from your own grief and from everyone who care about you. Your life is in Seattle with Jackson and Mark. I'll be okay if you ready to go back." Carolyn tries to reassure her daughter as Ava looks at her mom.

"I don't think I'm ready to go back because I can't handle the stares and everyone treating me like I'm going to break at any moment. Jackson he thinks he helping but he wasn't I felt like I was suffocating and everyone is saying I'm running away from my grief but I'm not I said goodbye to Derek and I'm okay I ain't going to just break down." Ava tells her mom as she nods trying to understand her daughter.

"You know your welcome here as long as you want and I love having Mark around." Carolyn says as she hugs her daughter as Ava hugs her back.

"Thank you mom." Ava says as she rests her head on her shoulder again.
~
Halloween
Ava was baking with her mom as Mark came up from behind her. "Boo." Mark says stood in his bat costume as Ava turned around seeing him.

Ava acted scared as she picked him up tickling him as he burst into a fit of giggles as her mom watched smiling at her daughter and Grandson. "Well don't you look absolutely adorable." Ava says as she rested Mark on her hip.

"Call dadda!" Mark exclaims as Ava smiles at her sons excitement as she grabbed her phone as she called her husband number. The two had been speaking less maybe a few times a month or less.

Jackson picked up the phone as Ava rested it against the wall so that Jackson could see Mark entire costume. "Hey buddy wow don't you look awesome." Jackson says as he smiled at his son.

"Miss you dadda." Mark says as Jackson looked at his son as well as sharing a look with his wife which Ava knew meant Jackson was struggling as he looked tired and he hasn't been taking care of himself.

"I know buddy I miss you too but we'll see each other soon I love you and you be good for mommy." Jackson says as Mark nodded his head as Ava let him down as he ran into the other room.

"He's gone into the front room now he was excited to call you." Ava says as Jackson looks at her with his tired eyes.

"Ava when are you coming home?" Jackson asks as Ava lets out a small sigh looking at her husband.

"I don't know Jackson-" Ava says as Jackson cuts her off growing frustrated with her.

"No Ava i can't keep doing this I miss you and I miss Mark I need you here okay I know your struggling with Dereks death and i gave you time and space because i thought you needed it but I haven't seen you or Mark in six months and we barely even talk anymore Ava. Is this what are marriage is coming too because if it is then I'm not sure I can keep doing this." Jackson says to Ava as she taken back by what he says but before she can answer his pager goes off.

"Look I've got to go tell mark I love him and I'll see him soon. I'll talk to you when I can." Jackson says as he ended the phone as Ava began to think of the strain this was all having on Jackson and their marriage.
~
A few days before Marks 2nd Birthday and Thanksgiving...
Ava had landed back in Seattle with Mark as they had headed home to unpack but Jackson was still at the hospital. Ava had decided to go surprise Jackson at the hospital as she made her way their with Mark.

Emotions overwhelmed her but she kept pushing through as she knew she couldn't keep running away like she had been doing. And now it was affecting her family.

Ava saw Jackson with one of his patients as she picked Mark up so that he wasn't wandering off. She watched Jackson for a while which brought a small smile to her face.

Her time in New York did her good it allowed her to feel connected to Derek and even Mark. Taking her son to do the things she did when she was little and being there for her mom and sisters but no matter how much it helped her no matter where she was her heart always aches to be near the person she loved the most.

Jackson came out of the patients room as he was handing the file to the nurse. "Daddy!" Mark exclaims as Ava set him down and he ran in the direction of Jackson.

Jackson looked as he heard his sons small voice as he saw him running towards him with his wife following behind. Jackson leaned down as he picked up his son into his arms holding him close taking in the moments.

Ava smiled the two as Jackson opened his other arm drawing her into his chest as pressed a kiss against her head. He was glad to have them back but everything wasn't going to stay like this forever.
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A/N- What did you think of this chapter?
I wasn't too sure about writing her going to New York but they've had a pretty solid relationship and i think Ava's going through a rough time and she hurting so she hurting the persons who she loves most which is Jackson.