where the poison is

Amy was her grandmother's name. Her mother always told her she resembles her grandma, so it only felt right to use her name.

She changed her name for safety sake. Not that she thought Billie would be crazy enough to go searching every country for her. But just as a safety precaution if she does.

Today was a slow day at the office. So much that she got to be dismissed early.

She will admit, she does feel bad for just leaving, but it was what was best for herself and for her daughter.

Ava is now one and a half years old. She's stubborn like Billie is, and demanding. Diana tries her best to tone her down, but just as she wasn't able to do so with Billie, she simply cannot with Ava.

Just the other day the little girl threw a tantrum because she wanted to have pizza for two nights in a row. Diana refused of course, and Ava threw a massive tantrum. She kicked and screamed and tossed objects around. At first Diana tried cheering her up, it didn't work. So she ignored her and hoped it would pass, that didn't work either. So eventually she gave in.

Michael, her now husband, told her to just 'hit that child'. "You're spoiling it." he had said. "She'll keep doing this because she knows you won't punish her."

"She's one years old, for God's sake." Diana had retorted.

Ava could barely understand right and wrong, let alone comprehend that she is being hit as a form of punishment for her wrong doings. She'll just think mummy hates her.

Diana, or rather Amy rushed home after work. Ava was alone with her father, or rather step father, and he didn't like when she gets home too late.

Micheal isn't a horrible father. He just lacks a bit of patience. Either than that, he's loving towards Ava. Seeing as he works from home, he is with her during the day while Diana works. She is planning on getting her into kindergarten. But she doesn't want to do it too soon.

When she reached her one story home, she was confused by the blue Chevrolet that was parked next to the house. Maybe Michael had a friend over? She thought. Although, it seemed like the car was hired, given the car hire sticker on the window.

She thought nothing of it, thinking perhaps the neighbors were going on some kind of road trip.

She quickly found out that was the case, when she stepped into her house, and found her daughter in Billie's arms, and her husband no where to be seen.

"You can't have fruit snacks unless you eat the noodles I made you, alright?" Billie says to Ava softly. Upon hearing the door shut, she lifts her head and smiles. "Look, baby, mommy's here."

Ava immediately turned her bright blue eyes to Diana, shuffling off of Billie to waddle towards her mother. Diana met her halfway, scooping her daughter off the ground and holding her away from Billie protectively.

"What are you doing here?" she asks.

"I thought I'd come visit my daughter." Billie says bitterly. "You didn't think to atleast tell me we had a girl?"

"I told your brother-"

"I am not my brother, Diana! And he is not her dad!"

"Will you keep your voice down, please." Diana begs, gesturing towards the little girl.

Billie releases a huff. Her heart was pounding. She wanted to hold Diana, and hug her and tell her she misses her. But instead she's forced to be mad at her.

"Where's Michael?" Diana asks.

"That thing you left with my child?" Billie asks.

"He's my husband-"

"Don't say those words in front of me."

"Well, he is Billie. Where is he?"

Billie shrugs. "Don't know."

"What do you mean, you don't know?" she frowns.

"I mean I don't know. Hey, you know what we should talk about? How you changed your entire identity to get away from me, as if I was some kind of cruel murderer. Or, ooh, you know what's better? How you kept my daughter away from me. That was something, huh?"

"Billie, where's my husband."

Billie scowled. She hasn't changed one bit, even after two years. She hasn't matured in the slightest.

"He left."

"He wouldn't do that." she shakes her head.

"He would, and he did."

"You're lying."

"Why'd you marry him? You thought that would help you get over me?"

"I wanted a stable home for my daughter-"

"Our daughter."

"You didn't even know she was a girl until now."

"And who's fucking fault is that? I wanted to be in her life, and you just took that from me. And that hurt, so fucking bad. And you, you just don't fucking care, Diana. You don't care!"

"I do-"

"No! You wouldn't leave me if you did. I'm a person, do you understand that? I'm not just some fucking child, I have feelings. And don't you dare say you did this for me, because you did it for yourself. You're fucking selfish, and evil and I wish you could just fucking die!"

By now, Ava began to cry. So instead of acknowledging Billie's words, Diana began to rub her hand across her back to pacify her.

Billie silenced to watch, feeling guilty for being the cause of her daughter's tears.

"Give her to me." she proposed, it seemed like the little girl wasn't stopping.

"No, I can handle it."

"If you can leave her alone with that ogre you call a husband, you can let me hold her. Give me my daughter."

Billie didn't wait for her to comply. Instead she went over and gently took the little girl from Diana's arms.

Billie rubbed her hand across her back the way she saw Diana do it, and after a few second the little girl stopped crying.

The silence lasted a while, until Billie spoke. "She's coming back with me."

Diana's eyes go wide. "No-"

"I wasn't asking. You either join us, or stay. I don't care. But Ava leaves with me."

"You can't do that."

"You can do anything with money, Diana. How do you think I found you?"

Diana knew that fighting would be hopeless. Billie would always win.

A part of her didn't mind the thought of a life with Billie. A huge part, in fact, regretted leaving without giving her a chance to prove herself. She was here with Ava now, and she was doing a good job so far.

Maybe she judged her a little too soon. Now she can give Billie the chance to prove herself.

"Okay. I'll pack our things."

Billie was shocked. She expected more of a fight.

"Are you serious?" she asks.

"Yeah. You were right, I shouldn't have just left like that. You deserve to be in your daughter's life, and it was wrong for me to deprive you of that."

She didn't have to worry about Billie ever leaving. She proved her commitment and eagerness by finding them.

"I want you both in my life." Billie said, and the words warmed Diana's heart.

"Like I said, I'll go pack our things."

She's never seen Billie smile so big. At this moment she doesn't regret a thing.

Diana admires Billie's optimism. They had a responsibility to handle yet Billie treated it like a gift. Maybe she's been the one this whole time. Maybe 'the one' isn't supposed to look a certain way, or be a certain age. They just have to care enough, and love you enough.

The end.