Blake's Point of View

As I stretch my back, I brush the back of my hand over my forehead. The built-up perspiration transfers onto my arm which trickles down my skin. I wipe the back of my arm on my pant leg to remove it. The fiery sun beats down uncomfortable, but I push through it. We've got a tight deadline to meet.

"Oi, pass me the bag," a young guy calls out, his head nodding to the large bag of cement behind me.

Putting the automatic nail guy down, I step back and grab the bag. I lift it onto my shoulder and walk the short distance to concrete. He takes the bag from my shoulder and smiles.

"Cheers, man."

"No worries." I half-nod.

I walk back to my post and continue working. My phone vibrates in my back pocket, which captures my attention. I pull out the phone and see Tori's name flashing on the screen. Instead of answering it, I slide the buzzing phone in my pocket and continue working.

Unfortunately, we're running behind on this job. I don't need her distractions while I should be working. Ava's got London at the moment, which makes me doubt this will be an urgent call.

Tori has subtly hinted that she wants to take London on full-time, but I don't like that idea. I worry that she'll go back to how she was before. I don't want to go back to square one, not with another baby to worry about. I want London to be close, where I can protect her.

Grabbing a long piece of wood, I continue to assemble the frame of the house. I'm almost finished blocking out the kitchen for the brickie to come through and start.

One day, I want to build a house for Ava and our children. It's been a long-term dream to build a house by myself or as much as I can. I find a sense of importance providing for my family. With our bub on the way and money constraints, it's a dream I'll have to postpone until later.

I don't regret starting our family early, it's given me a reason to wake up every morning and go to work. Earn money and provide for a family of my own. Ben doesn't get it, I wouldn't have gotten it either until I started experiencing it for myself.

"Rivers, we need to talk," someone yells from a distance.

Looking over my shoulder, I see my father slowly approaching, a grave look on his face. I put the nail gun down and scurry over to him, a confused look sprawled on my face. I look over my station and clothing to see if I've messed up. But I can't see anything wrong.

Dad folds his arms across his chest and frowns at me. I see the sadness pooling into his eyes, which jerks my heart into panic. Balling my fist up, I take a deep breath and try to prepare myself for what's to come.

"What's happening?" I ask.

I see a car pulling up in front of the block, which draws my attention there. As it sits idly, I notice someone in the front seat, Mum. What's she doing here?

"You need to go with your mother," he says.

My gaze flickers back to him. Regret circles is facial features, his body stiff and uncomfortable.

"Why, what's wrong?" My palms nervously sweat without control.

"Go." Dad nods his head in her direction. I see the serious look consuming his face, so I don't question him again.

"What about -"

"I'll organise it," he quickly dismisses.

Taking off my hard hat, I run towards Mum's car and get inside. As soon as the door closes, she's speeds down the road to make a u-turn. I buckle in my seatbelt and look at her expectantly. I don't know what's happening, but I wished I'd answered Tori's call.

"So?"

"There's been an accident," Mum nervously says.

"Shit, don't tell me it's . . ." My mind races directly to Ava.

"Ava's fallen down the stairs and she's in hospital." Her words swirl through my mind, almost like a daydream. It's only when her hands tighten around the leather steering wheel that I notice this isn't some kind of twisted dream playing in mind, it is reality.

"Are they okay? Tell me they're okay." I need to hear they're okay.

"I'm sorry." She shakes her head. "I don't know what's happening."

"Dammit," I cuss. "How come you don't know?"

Mum bites her lip nervously. "When Tori called, they were just admitting her to hospital. I got in the car from work and rushed here," she explains.

"Shit." I clench my fist. "I should have answered her call." Regret consumes my inside like a twisted vine. I should have answered that phone call. I should have known Ava was in trouble.

"You wouldn't have know, don't blame yourself," says Mum. But I blame myself.

Mum could easily say, don't blame yourself. But I regret not being there for my girl and our baby. I should have answered that phone call . . . gotten in the car to get to her. I don't want Ava sitting in the hospital panicking by herself.

"We need to get there soon, can you drive faster?" I ask.

"I'm going as quick as I can, Blake," she mutters.

When my phone starts ringing again, I quickly answer it. The first thing I hear is sobbing cracking through the line. I expect it to be Ava, but when she starts speaking, I notice it's actually Tori calling.

"What's wrong?" I ask. Her upset state makes me distressed. What's happening? Why aren't they telling me what's happening with Ava?

"I'm so sorry, Blake," she sobs. "We were in the bathroom changing London when we heard Ava fall. I called the ambulance but she wasn't moving Blake -" Tori bursts into another round of sobs, which makes it hard to hear.

"How is she now?" I ask.

"I keep asking, but they won't tell me yet."

"Call me when you find out, okay?" I hang up the phone and turn to look out the window. I can't hear about her not moving . . . Oblivion is the key to holding onto my sanity until the moment I can wrap my arms around her.

When we arrive at the hospital, Mum drops me off at the entrance as she goes to park the car. I hurry through the door and walk into the main waiting area. I scan the room and find Ava's parents standing off to the side.

Her mother is crying into a tissue pressed against her face and her father has his arm wrapped around her. The sight of Ava's mother makes me angry. Why is she here? And why is she crying? She didn't care when Ava was pregnant. She doesn't get to care now.

"You need to leave." I growl. "You don't deserve to be here."

"Calm down, Blake," he hushes, but that does nothing to calm me down.

"No, you don't get to cry. You were never there for Ava when she told you about our baby. You don't get to walk in now like you care." I don't care what she's going through, what she's been through. Ava is her daughter and only child, she has to be supportive of her.

"Blake, let's find Ava." Mum tugs on my arm, but my feet stay firmly planted on the ground. She huddles into his chest and sobs, but I don't feel sorry for what I've said. When Mum tugs on my arm again, I let her lead me away.

As we walk deeper into the waiting room, Tori launches herself at me. She tightly wraps her arms around my body and sobs into my chest uncontrollably. I embrace Tori for a moment while I suss out what's happening. Jude gets off a nearby chair and walks over with London fidgeting in her arms.

"Do you know anything?" I ask.

"No." Jude shakes his head. "They're keeping it tight lipped."

"Okay." I grab Tori's arms and pull her off me. I pass her to Mum so that I can go to the reception desk. I faintly see Tori cling to Mum, which seems odd, even now.

When I reach the reception desk, I wait a moment until the nurse looks up at me.

"My partner, Ava Greyson was brought in by ambulance through the emergency section. Can I get an update on her condition, or see her?" I ask, my voice shaky and unsure.

"The doctor hasn't released information," she replies.

"Can I see her?"

"I can get you a brief visit, but only for a short moment," she explains.

"Okay." I nod my head. That'll do.

The nurse behind the reception desk waves someone over and explains the situation. The girl listening nods her head and walks out from behind the office. We walk out of the waiting room and down a hallway to a selection of rooms.

We stop in front of one and the nurse opens the door and we walk inside.

It takes me a moment to gather my wits. I see Ava laying in bed hooked to various beeping machines that have numbers and lines flashing and moving everywhere. I move to her side and grab her hand.

"Baby, I'm right here." I kiss the soft skin before placing my other hand on her swelling tummy. "We're okay, we're okay," I mutter.

Rubbing my thumb over the back of her hand, I kiss it once more. "I love you so much, Ava baby."

"Can you tell me anything?" I ask the nurse.

"The doctor will be in soon, they'll be able to tell you," she explains.

I sigh with frustration, that wasn't the answer I was looking for.

"You can't tell me about the baby then?"

"Sorry." She offers a weak smile, but it does nothing to help the situation.

There's a slight commotion in the hall before Mum bursts into the room, a look of annoyance plastered on her face. The nurse in the room tells her she needs to leave, but mum puts her foot down and shakes her head. She's as stubborn as a bull sometimes.

"You're just wasting your breath. I'm not leaving." Mum walks past her and stands by my side, softly pressing her hand against my back.

"What are you doing, Mum?" I ask.

"I wanted to make sure you're okay," she says.

"I'm not okay then, not yet," I answer honestly.

"They're in good care, Blake. Everything is going to be okay." She wraps her arm around my waist and rests her head against my side.

"We'll see."

Shortly after, the doctor returns to the room. The older woman dismisses the nurse and grabs the charts from the end of the bed. She looks through the papers and then begins checking out Ava's stats on the machines.

"So, are they okay?" I ask, prompting her for an answer. "What's happening?"

She looks at me with a grave face, the kind that stirs my insides the wrong way.

"I'm so sorry," she mutters. "I've -" Before she can finish her sentence, my bliss bubble of denial shatters into a thousand pieces. I watch the life I've begun to create crumble around me.

The world seems less sparkly and exciting, more like a suction plug pulling all the goodness out of the earth. That's what Ava was, a source of goodness in my life.

I don't realise what I've done until I see my fist connecting with the dull white hospital wall. My fist aches as I draw it back.

Ripping the door open, I storm outside before I lose myself completely. All that's left inside is a broken heart and a fading will. Things wouldn't be okay until she woke up.

Do you think she'll be okay?