Instant Mommy

One...

It was only supposed to be for a week. Just a week, that's it. And now as she stood in a funeral home holding a fussy six month old, Ava was coming to terms with the reality that she was now the sole caregiver of this precious little girl. Ava was reeling with questions and emotions. Why did it have to be them? Why did they choose her? What was she going to do?

She thought back to the days before, how happy their little family was. Jenna and Geoff were made for each other. Then they were blessed with a little, pink, bundle of joy, Isabelle.

Neither Ava nor Isabelle had slept much since receiving the news. Ava knew Izzy was too young understand what was happening around her, but she felt the pain and frustration in Ava as she did her best to provide for her. She needed help, she needed someone to show her whatever she was doing wrong.

She and Aaron became fast friends after the BAU team had been selected for sensory training. She had met Jack a couple of times and just before she'd abruptly became a single guardian. She agreed to an actual date with Aaron but, that was a week ago she had cancelled, promising that the pair would find a time to reschedule somewhere down the line.

The day dragged on for Ava, every second that passed felt like hours. She had to endure hours of stories about her beloved friends, many she had been there for, most she had heard, and some she was in. And then of course there were the looks, the ones that made her skin crawl. They were all disapproving, Jenna and Geoff's families didn't like the fact that she was the one to keep little Izzy. It was especially difficult when their parents were the ones giving her he looks. Luckily for Ava, Isabelle was getting cranky and needed to be put down for a nap. That gave them the perfect excuse to slip out before she could be stopped.

She found Aaron and Jack waiting on her front doorstep as she pulled into her driveway. Ava smiled stepping out of her car. "How long have you two been waiting there?"

"Not long, Jack wanted to see how you were holding up?" It was true to a point. Aaron needed to know she was alright.

"I'm alright. Just a lot to process. And well, you'll see." She opened to back door of her car reaching inside to free Izzy from her car seat. He little hazel eyes rimmed in red from the over stimulation and exhaustion. The baby curled herself into Ava's chest as she turned to face Aaron. "I'm her guardian. I thought for sure they would have found someone better suited for the job."

Aaron chuckled at the look of insecurity scrawled across Ava's face. "You're going to be just fine." He grabbed the diaper bag from the car and walked with her to the door.

Walking in she pointed to her kitchen table. "You can set those over there. Let me go lay her down."

Aaron nodded placing the bags on the table, Jack already panted himself on the couch looking though one of Ava's books. Ava emerged from the spare bedroom and smiled. She ruffled Jack's hair as she walked past him. "Can I get you anything?" She offered.

"No, we ate on the way over." He knew she was worried about everything. It was all happening so fast.

"You know I thought I'd have kids one day but, I always pictured a wedding and nine months of swollen ankles to go along with it. I never thought it would happen like this."

"Some things in life happen when they're meant to, not when we want them to. I believe that you've been given a rare opportunity to prove you're more than capable of handling this on your own. But, if you need anything we're all here for you." Aaron placed and comforting hand on her slim shoulder. "You're not alone."

Ava smiled putting her hand over his. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. She could do this, she could handle anything. After all she was one badass agent.