Instant Mommy

Two...

Two weeks after the funeral Ava still wasn't dealing with things well. She rubbed her tired eyes as she sat back in her chair. Izzy was in daycare while she was working, she had to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Plus it seemed to be the only thing she was doing right these days. Well, some days anyway. Today was just one of those days for her where nothing went right. All day long she was dropping things, running into people and making mistakes on her paper work. Ava laid her head on her desk and groaned loudly as JJ passed her.

"You look exhausted." She gave Ava a sympathetic look knowing all to well the struggles of raising a baby.

"I am. Izzy, she sleeps all day and when its time for bed at night she just screams. I've had the local PD at my place a couple times cause my neighbors complain about the noise. I've tried everything I can think of and she just won't sleep." Ava threw her hands up.

"I'm gonna let you in on a little secret." JJ leaned closer and whispered. "She's fine, you need to get your confidence back and things will fall into place. She may just be a baby but, she knows you aren't comfortable with yourself and she's picking up on that."

"I never thought of it that way." Ava amended. She really hadn't had time to think much about it. Everything happened so fast, so she was just going through the motions. "Maybe I should take some time off. I've got a few weeks of vacation time saved up. Ya think that'll help?"

JJ gave her a warm smile and a pat on the back. "Yes, I think that's a good start. And if you need anything... You know where to find me."

Ava smiled as she watched JJ leave.

Before the work day ended she had turned in her request and been approved to have the next few weeks off. Somehow, some way she and Isabelle were going to get on the same page with this whole life thing. At least that was the plan.

Day 1...

"Alright pretty girl. It's just you and me kiddo. We can do this." She smoothed a few strands of her hair away from her eyes. Isabelle was smiling at her. She was the cutest little thing first thing in the morning. "How about some breakfast, huh? You like that?" The baby squealed happily as Ava bounced her on her hip as they headed for the kitchen. She sat Izzy in the highchair and went to the cabinet to grab a jar of baby food out for her. She hummed a bit as she went about mixing it with a bit of cereal the way she had watched Jenna so many times before. "Here we go." She chirped sitting in a chair in front of her. After a few minutes Ava smiled. "See, this isn't so hard." Izzy babbled in between bites fussing of Ava wasn't fast enough for her. Ava's phone rang as it set on the kitchen table. "Hold that thought sweet girl." She set the bowl down on the tray of the highchair as she went and answered her phone, smiling as she saw Aaron's name across the screen. "Now I wondered when I might be hearin' from you." She laughed padding her way back to Izzy, who by now have a mixture of apple sauce and baby cereal all over her face and hands.

"I heard you were taking some time off and I wanted to make sure you and Isabelle were alright." Aaron admitted.

"Yeah, we're just fine. Havin' some breakfast and then I thought we might try our hand at this thing called going out. JJ thought it might help us both if Izzy and I had some one on one." Ava sat back in the chair attempting to pry the bowl and spoon from the small child. She was a bit stronger than she looked so it was no easy task.

Aaron chuckled. "JJ is a smart woman. I'm sure she's right, you'll get it in no time I'm sure."

"Let's hope you're both right." Ava finally had the bowl and spoon but, everything that was in it was on the tray and Izzy wasted no time in smearing it all over the place. Now she had a mess to clean up. Just as she was getting up to go and get a rag to wipe the tray and the baby somehow Izzy found enough to throw. Yes , throw right into her hair and on the side of her neck. Ava let out a squeal that could have awaken the dead. Aaron had to pull the phone away from his ear as he got a few looks from those around him.

"Ava?" He asked a little concerned.

"It's ok, I'm fine. I have oatmeal and apple sauce in my hair, but I'm fine." Izzy was laughing her little heart out at the reaction she had gotten by just a simple flick of her arm. "We both need a bath. Aaron I'm gonna have to call you back."

Aaron didn't have time to say anything before the line clicked. He shook his head and chuckled to himself. JJ was there as he put his phone back in his pocket. "Let me guess, Izzy learned how to throw her food?" The blonde haired agent asked.

"Yes she did. Oatmeal and apples." He chuckled a little more seeing JJ 's expression.

"That's not an easy clean!" She laughed with him as they went about their work for the day.