The ultimatum: one shots

Twins talk about ashley+finds the letter Ashley sent to Tim

READ BEFORE READING!
Hey guys. This has been in my head for hours. The chapter when Tim gets a letter from Ashley and reads it during the twins birthday party and goes awol in the ultimatum (you have to read the ultimatum to understand this one shot) I was thinking what if when the twins were 12-13 they found the letter and read it.

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"Arlo we really shouldn't be in here." Ava says nervously looking around the basement.
"I know." He replies shrugging.

"So why are we?" She asks and Arlo shrugs.
"I want to snoop in these boxes ." Arlo replies kneeling infront of the box.
"fine. but what if dad walks in? Or what if mom comes back from work and comes in?"Ava asks and arlo shrugs.

"They won't. Moms working until after dinner and dad is helping Aidan with some kind of homework. He didn't  even acknowledge that we are down here." Arlo replies.

"If we get caught though, your taking the fall. You know dad hates us being down here." Ava says kneeling down near a box and Arlo nods.

It was a bunch of letters, photos of the kids growing up and a police report from when Ava got sent to hospital.
"Police report from when mum, well Ashley framed dad and hurt me"Ava sighs and hands it to arlo to read over.

"I'm glad he fought for custody." Ava admits.
"Yeah me too." He sighs and looks through the box.
"What if he didn't..you know fight for custody?" Arlo asks.

"We will Probably be dead." Ava grumbles.
"Avalynn." Arlo sighs.
"I'm being serious Arlo. She nearly even killed me that day. I don't care what you think but I am never letting that woman in my life." Avalynn stares.
"She's still our mom" he says and Avalynn freezes and glares at him.

"No she's not. Lucy is." Avalynn says.
"Yeah but you know, Lucy isn't our mom biologically. She hasn't even adopted us" arlo says and Avalynn glares at her twin.
"Yeah because Ashley won't let her adopt us through spite." She snaps back.

"come on Ava the woman birthed us." Arlo says.
"Yes she did. But she made our start to life a living hell. Do you not remember every punch? Every smack? Every hair pull? Because I do. Do you not remember the neglect? How quiet and closed off and how skinny we were?! So no I don't care that she birthed us Arlo. That woman has ingrained awful memories in my mind for life!" She snaps.

"Yeah but..if we get in contact with her maybe she's changed.." he wonders.
"We have seen her twice since she was released arlo..and she was released years ago. If she had changed she would have tried to be a mom, but no she hasn't"  Avalynn scoffs putting everything back in the box.

Avalynn had enough, she got up and started to walk off until Arlo tells her to wait.
"Wait..Ava. I found a letter that mom..Ashley sent to dad from prison" Arlo says holding it up. Ava raises a brow and comes back over.

"It's dated from 9 years go..we would have been four." Ava looks and arlo nods.
"That means we wouldn't have been in dads care for that long. Should we read it or?" Arlo asks.

"Probably not a great idea arlo." Avalynn sighs.
Arlo shrugs and reads it anyway, Avalynn couldn't help her self from reading it too.

''To Tim Bradford.

I am sorry for everything, I regret all my terrible actions...even though it's only been a few months..being in prison has changed me Tim!! I'm different now, and now I'm locked in..I've realised how much of a good man you are.

And the twins are unbelievably lucky to be in your care. I hope you are spoiling them and giving them what I couldn't and didn't.
I love you all so much..and when I get out I want to make it work Tim.

I have had my time reduced due to good behaviour. I get out in three years now, I realise the twins will be older and they will probably forget who I am. But Tim please tell them how much I love and miss them please.
When I get out Tim, I'm going to fight for custody back and be a good mom..I'm going to restart with them and make it work.

It's not too bad in here, I've got a few friends I suppose. The food is shit..it's all unhealthy and disgusting. I hope you have kept my babies on a healthy diet, I don't want them to be unhealthy and obese when they grow up. I hope you are taking care of your self too.

I also have something to admit..and tell you.
The first week I got put into prison, I found out I was a few weeks pregnant and it was your baby. I didn't want to go through all that stress again and carry another baby making my body out of shape so I had an abortion. Sorry.

Tell the twins mommy says happy birthday and that I love them so much.
Come and visit sometime Tim with the twins

Lots of love Ashley mcgrady. '

Avalynn just scoffs "that woman is a joke. She tells dad that she's going to fight for custody. Which she didn't? And she tells him that she's had an abortion in the same letter. How sick can one be" Avalynn shakes her head, her blood was boiling because she had always been a daddy's girl since being in Tim's care.

"wait read this part" Arlo points out.
' I hope you have kept my babies on a healthy diet, I don't want them to be unhealthy and obese when they grow up.'
"She's a joke. Seriously. We were practically skin and bone when we were little-" Avalynn starts and she hears someone come down the basement stairs.

"Shoot! Come on quick" she whispers and packs everything up.
"What are you guys doing down here?" Tim asks frowning.
"uhhh nothing!" Arlo shrugs hiding the letter behind his back.

"Where's Aidan?" Avalynn asks
"he's watching tv. Arlo James Bradford what is behind your back." Tim raises a brow and arlo sighs and holds it up.

Tim recognises it straight away and sighs.
"You guys..you didn't have to see that."Tim says going up to them and taking it off them.
"I'm sorry she sent that dad." Avalynn sighs softly with a sad smile.

"Hey, it doesn't bother me now. Your mom is a waste of space-" he says before he gets cut off
"Ashley. Lucy is our mom" Avalynn corrects him.

"Ashley sorry, she's a waste of space, and you guys don't need her. At all. Of course if you ever want to see her again I can arrange it and It won't upset me. I know you guys were only little when your life was awful..but you guys will be still be carrying a baggage of trauma so if you want to speak to me..or Lucy..Angela ,Wesley, or even a professional don't hesitate "" Tim smiles softly.

"We will consider it don't worry" Avalynn says softly.
"why did she say she will fight for custody? Even though she didn't?" Arlo wonders.
"Because she is an awful mother and she doesn't care about us Arlo, she probably tried to mess with dad's head" Avalynn replies sadly.

"I remember when I read the letter." Tim says reading over the letter again.
"What did you do?" Arlo asks.
"It was your fourth birthday party. I decided to read it..I ended up going awol and yeah. You don't need to know the rest" Tim chuckles awkwardly remembering he held a knife to Ryan's neck.

"Dad, I appreciate you so much. Thankyou for giving us a perfect life. I love you lots" Avalynn says and hugs him, arlo joins her.
"I love you guys more than you know. Okay enough of the past let's go and watch tv with your brother. Then when your mom gets home we can convince her to get take out" Tim smirks and the twins faces lighten up and they run upstairs happily.

Tim shakes his head and looks back down at the letter and tears it apart. He throws it in the trash can and goes up stairs to spend time with his kids.