No matter what happens I'll always stand by you

Will the social say yes or no

After weeks of meetings, supervised visits and I don't know how many questions being asked, today was our social meeting to find out if Ava could spend time with me without Bex being there.

I was really nervous all morning and kept thinking what if they say no.

Bex was meeting us there. As we arrived Ava spotted me, Aljaz and we'd brought Noah with us. Ava came over to say hi and Noah's face lit up; it was the first time Ava had seen him in ages and he'd grown so much. Aljaz passed him to her and we all went inside to find out what the social panel had decided.

All the butterflies came back as we entered, Noah had fallen asleep in Ava's arms. Aljaz tried to take him but she said don't as he was obviously happy plus he'd scream the place down. Ava sat next to Chloe who was trying to calm her down but having Noah asleep on her lap was helping.

A panel of three men and women entered. Bex was next to Ashley who was next to Chloe. As one woman started talking Ava stroked Noah's hand who had decided that now was the perfect time to wake up. As soon as he knew that his Aljaz and I were still there, he went back to sleep.

After everyone had said what they had to, we broke for lunch so they could decide what happened.

Lunch felt like it went on for ages. Chloe, Ashley and Ava sat with Aljaz, Noah and I. Bex and Ava took Noah to get some air while Chloe, Ashley, Aljaz and I sat on the steps watching them and talking.

Me: "congratulations"
Chloe: "thank you"
Aljaz: "when's your honeymoon?"
Ashley: "tomorrow"
Me: "what's happening with Ava?"
Chloe: "she was meant to be staying with her friend but now she can't, Bex said that she could stay with her"

Aljaz and I looked and nodded at each other.

Me: "if we get a yes to unsupervised visits, she can stay with us"
Ava: "who can stay with you?"
Chloe: "you know Ashley and I go on honeymoon tomorrow"
Ava: "how could I forget"
Chloe: "it's only for a week then I'll be back"
Ava: "I know. What were you going to say?"
Chloe: "we've all been talking and how would you feel about spending the week with Janette instead of Bex?"
Ava: "you serious?"
Me: "yeah, Aljaz and I love to have you, plus a certain monkey on your lap wouldn't say no to the extra attention"
Ava: "what do you say little monkey, do you want extra cuddles with your sister?"
Noah pulled his monkey face
Ava: "I think that answers the question"
Chloe: "we'll get your things after this and drop you over later"
Bex: "they've made their decision. Time to go back in"

On our way back in, I could see Ava was trying not to get her hopes up in case it didn't end the way we wanted it to. We took our seats to wait for the outcome. The men and women re entered and sat down.

The woman from earlier started talking and all we wanted to know was what they'd decided not whatever she was going on about. Eventually she said there decision was that Ava could have unsupervised visits. Bex would still be involved but she didn't have to come with us anymore.

We went back to the cars to go home to pack.

Ava: "I'll see you later my little monkey for more cuddles"

Ava passed him to me which caused him to start crying. Ava didn't like it but she knew that she'd be back with him in a few hours.

Me: "see you later"
Ava: "bye"