After spending some time at Megan's, Avery heads home with Owen. They walk through the front door, and as soon as they do, Avery catches the smell of cooking. She inhales deeply and grins.

'Is that BBQ pork?' She asks, turning to Owen.

'It is.' Owen laughs and nods. 'T.K. and Carlos offered to come buy and cook so you can eat when you got back. They're doing BBQ pulled pork burgers with some fries and salad. That's if you want to eat?'

'Yeah, I'm hungry.' Avery nods.

'They also said that if you'd rather see them another day, they'll go out the back way.'

'Cute.' Avery smirks, folding her arms in front of her chest. 'They think they can escape from my antics.' She walks through to the kitchen and sees Carlos and T.K. standing at the counter with their back to her. She sneaks up behind T.K. and stands up on her tip-toes.

'Hello.' She states, causing both T.K. and Carlos to jump.

'Jesus fucking christ!' T.K. exclaims, spinning to face his younger sister. 'When are you going to stop being a sneaky fucker?'

'Hmm, let me think.' Avery goes back to standing flat on her feet and taps her finger on her lip. 'Never.' She deadpans.

'Wouldn't expect anything less.' Carlos laughs, shaking his head. 'The food is just about ready so why don't you sit down at the table.'

'Sure,' she nods, 'but not before I do this.' She quickly sticks her finger in her mouth, stands on her tiptoes once more and sticks it in T.K.'s ear.

'Eugh, gross.' T.K. pretend gags and he steps away whilst Avery descends into fits of giggles.

'That's,' she starts to say through her laughing, 'that's what you get for' her eyes start filling with tears from how hard she's laughing, 'for thinking you run away from my antics.'

'What's going on?' Owen asks as he walks in.

'Avery gave T.K. a wet willie.' Carlos laughs. Owen spins to his daughter and raises his eyebrow.

'What?' Avery shrugs, calming down and wiping her eyes.

'Let's just sit down and eat.' Owen shakes his head, stifling a laugh. Owen and Avery sit at the table as Carlos and T.K. carry over the plates. They both sit down and start to eat.

'So, have you spoken to Charlotte since you were discharged?' T.K. asks his younger sister, smirking causing Carlos to kick him in the shin. 'Ow.' He turns to Carlos who has an eyebrow raised. 'What? I'm curious.'

'We spoke earlier.' Avery answers and T.K. turns his attention back to her. 'We're meeting for coffee tomorrow.'

'You'll have to speak to your support worker about that tomorrow.' Owen points out.

'Yeah,' Avery nods, 'I will.'

.

Later that evening, Jason is at the Strand residence. Both he and Avery are sitting in the reading room.

'So, have you eaten today?' Jason asks his best friend.

'Yeah, I had a BBQ pulled pork burger with fries and salad when I got back.' Avery nods. 'Carlos and T.K. made it.'

'Ah, one of your favourites.' Jason grins.

'And,' Avery adds, 'I ate it all.'

'Ave,' Jason smiles proudly. 'I'm so proud of you.'

'Thanks.' Avery whispers quietly.

'So, how did it go with Megan?' Jason questions.

'Good.' Avery nods. 'She's coming over tomorrow after-' she then stops herself before correcting herself, 'tomorrow. She's coming over tomorrow.'

'After what?' Jason raises an eyebrow.

'Nothing.' Avery shakes her head.

'Nuh-uh.' Jason shakes his head. 'After what?' He repeats.

'I have a coffee date with Charlotte.' Avery sighs. 'Well, I wouldn't really call it a date. She's taking me for coffee.'

'Charlotte is taking you for coffee, so she's buying?' Jason asks and Avery nods. 'And it's not a date?'

'We had a bet. Charlotte suggested it. We had to see who could read the most books between her discharge and mine. I won so she has to buy me coffee. So, it's more out of obligation than anything.'

'Ave, I think that was her way of asking you on a date.' Jason laughs slightly.

'I don't know.' Avery shrugs. 'I mean, we clicked straight away but I don't know if either of us is ready for anything serious.'

'I didn't think I was ready for anything serious.' Jason states. 'Then I met Megan. We never know when we're ready for something serious. It happens when it happens. Sometimes when we least expect it.'

'I guess.' Avery mumbles.

'When do your support workers start?' Jason asks, curious.

'Tomorrow. Marcy, Ellen and Jazz. Marcy starts tomorrow and then they'll alternate.' Avery tells him.

'How are you feeling about that?'

'Nervous.' Avery admits. 'I know I need them to help me settle back into some sort of normalcy. They can't stop me doing what I want to do unless it's illegal or puts myself or other people in danger.' She adds. 'Marcy is the one starting tomorrow so she'll have to come with me to see her.'

'They can't stop you going alone.' Jason reminds her.

'I know, but,' she sighs, 'I don't know. This is all new to me.'

'How about, you ask Marcy to go with you? She can leave you there with Charlotte, set a time for her to be back, and she can go off and do her own thing?' Jason suggests. 'That way, she's still doing her job whilst also letting you have autonomy.'

'I'll speak with her about it in the morning.' Avery nods. They spend the next couple of hours talking before Jason leaves and Avery settles down for the night.

.

The next day, Avery wakes up at 7 am. It's the day one of her support workers, Marcy, starts. It's also the day of her coffee "date" with Charlotte. She gets out of bed and hops in the shower before getting changed into a simple copper sweater, black leggings and some sneakers. Once she's dressed, she dries her hair and curls it into some waves before doing her make-up. By the time she's ready, it's nearly 8 am so she picks up her phone and the book she's currently reading, A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft, and heads downstairs to the kitchen. Owen is at the counter preparing breakfast.

'Morning.' Owen smiles at his daughter.

'Morning.' Avery smiles back.

'I'm making some blueberry pancakes for breakfast, that good with you?' He asks.

'Yeah, that's fine.' Avery nods. The doorbell rings. 'That must be Marcy.'

'You wanna answer it, or me?'

'I've got it.' Avery puts her phone and book on the kitchen counter and walks to the door. Taking a deep breath she opens the door to see a young woman who looks to be in her early 20s.

'Hi. I'm Marcy.' Marcy beams.

'Avery.' Avery replies, nodding. 'Come in.' She motions for Marcy to enter, she does and Avery shuts the door.

'Would you like me to take my shoes off?' Marcy questions.

'No, it's fine.' Avery shakes her head. 'You can put your coat and bag in the closet.' She points to the closet, 'or, if you'd prefer you can just stick them in the front room.' She points to the front room.

'I'll pop them in the closet.' Marcy responds. She takes her coat off whilst Avery opens the closet. Marcy takes a folder, pen and notebook out of her bag before hanging up her coat and bag in the closet. Avery closes the door and turns back to face her.

'This folder just has your paperwork in like your risk assessments, support plan, hospital passport and medication administration record sheets.' Marcy explains, knowing Avery will have questions, 'and the notebook is just where myself, Ellen and Jazz will write your support notes.'

'Okay, cool.' Avery nods. 'My dad is in the kitchen doing breakfast so I'll take you through to him.' Avery informs her. Marcy nods as she follows Avery to the kitchen. Owen looks up as they walk in.

'Marcy, I assume?' Owen asks as he plates some pancakes.

'Yes.' Marcy smiles and nods. 'It's nice to meet you, Mr Strand.'

'Please, call me Owen.' Owen smiles. 'Would you like some pancakes?'

'No, it's okay.' Marcy shakes her head. 'I've got some food in my bag.'

'Are you sure?' Owen double-checks.

'Yeah, I'm sure.' Marcy nods.

'Here's yours, Ave.' Owen hands the plate of pancakes and a knife and fork to his daughter.

'Thanks, Dad.' Avery smiles as she takes the plate and walks over to the table. She sits down and starts eating.

'You can sit down.' Owen tells Marcy. Marcy smiles slightly and sits on a stool at the counter. 'Whenever you and your co-workers are here, feel free to help yourself to food and drink.'

'Thank you, I appreciate that.' Marcy nods.

'I'll be at work today, but the agency should have given you my number in case of emergencies.' Owen states.

'Erm, yeah, they did.' Marcy replies.

'Do you have any questions for me before I get going?' Owen questions.

'Just one. I usually vape, would I be able to go out the back and vape? Obviously, I wouldn't do it if I was directly supporting Avery with something.'

'I don't have a problem with it, but it's up to Avery.' Owen responds and they look at Avery who has a pancake halfway to her mouth.

'Fine by me.' She shrugs before scoffing the bite of pancake.

'You okay to clean up?' Owen asks Avery as she swallows the food she's chewing.

'Sure.' Avery nods. Owen walks up to his daughter and kisses her on the top of the head.

'I'll see you later. Love you.'

'Love you too.' Avery replies, smiling. He walks out of the room and leaves to go to work.

'Your first meds are at half eight, right?' Marcy double-checks with Avery.

'Yeah.' Avery nods as she finishes up her pancakes. She stands up and walks to the counter. Dr Braun initially said eight, so as soon as you guys walked through the door. I asked if I could have them at half past instead so you could actually walk through the door and get settled first and she agreed.' She puts her dishes and the rest of the dishes in the sink. 'Evening meds are still eight pm but you'll be able to administer them just before you leave.'

'Great.' Marcy nods as Avery starts to clean up. 'Have you got any plans for today?'

'I have a date, sort of, at ten at Coffee and Bean.' Avery replies.

'Well, how about I take you there, we'll set a time and I'll leave yous to it then be back when you're done?' Marcy suggests.

'Are you sure?' Avery spins to face her.

'Of course.' Marcy smiles and nods. 'I don't want to be invading your privacy. Risk assessments have been done for situations like this. If you're going out with someone like a friend, your dad, or brother, then one of us doesn't need to be with you.'

'Oh, okay.' Avery nods. 'Thank you.' She turns back around and carries on with washing up the dishes. Ten minutes later, the kitchen is all clean.

'So, if it's okay with you, I'd like to have a little chat. Get to know you a bit better. I've read your support plan but if there's one thing I've learnt in this job is that a person is more than what's in their support plan.' Marcy asks the young girl.

'Yeah, that's fine.' Avery smiles slightly. 'We can go into the front room.' Marcy stands up from the stool and they both walk through to the front room where they sit down on the sofa. 'I only have one condition to this chat. I get to know you a little bit better too. All it said in your resume was your past experience and a couple of likes and dislikes. I know there are professional boundaries so I won't ask anything outlandish but if you're not comfortable with answering anything, just say so.'

'Sounds fair.' Marcy nods.

.

It's 10 am, and Avery is walking into Coffee and Bean with Marcy. She sees Charlotte sitting at a table in the corner and walks over to her with Marcy.

'How long do you think you girls will be?' Marcy questions. Avery looks at Charlotte, unsure.

'About an hour.' Charlotte responds.

'Great,' Marcy smiles and nods, 'I'll be back in an hour then.' She says goodbye before walking off whilst Avery sits opposite Charlotte.

'Was that one of your support workers?' Charlotte asks.

'Yeah, Marcy. She told me if I'm with someone then I don't need her or any of the other support workers with me.' Avery replies.

'That's good.' Charlotte nods. 'Means they're not always hovering whilst they're on shift.'

'Yeah.' Avery agrees.

'So, what do you want?' Charlotte queries, standing up.

'Iced Caramel Macchiato, please.' Avery says.

'Be right back.' Charlotte nods. A few minutes later, Charlotte returns with the drinks and sits back down. 'So, I've got to admit, I only suggested the bet because I knew Callie would be all over me, I wouldn't be able to read much and that you'd win.'

'Really?' Avery asks quietly.

'I was just too scared to ask you out on a date straight up.' Charlotte looks down.

'If it makes you feel any better, I was too scared to ask you on a date too.' Avery chuckles. 'Or even ask you if this was an actual date.'

'Look at us.' Charlotte laughs, looking back up. 'All that therapy and we're not brave enough to ask each other out on a date.'

'Yeah.' Avery laughs too.

'All that aside though, I'm glad you agreed to this.' Charlotte smiles slightly.

'Well, I can never say no to free coffee.' Avery says, holding her cup up before taking a sip causing Charlotte to chuckle, 'but in all seriousness,' she adds, setting her cup back down, 'I'm glad we're doing this.'

'Me too.' Charlotte smiles, her eyes twinkling. They spend the next hour catching up and talking about what books they're excited to read. Avery also fills Charlotte in on when she went to see Megan. Before they know it, it's been an hour and Marcy is walking up to their table.

'Darn, has it already been an hour?' Avery sighs, looking at her support worker.

'It has.' Marcy laughs. 'If you want to have more time together, that's fine. I can just grab a coffee and sit at another table until you're done?' Avery looks at Charlotte.

'As much as I'd love to, Megan is coming over in a bit.' Avery states.

'It's fine.' Charlotte smiles and nods. 'I promised Callie I'd take her to the park after lunch anyways. I'll text you later and we'll talk about when we can next meet up.' The two girls stand up.

'Sounds good.' Avery nods. The two girls walk around the side of the table and hug before saying goodbye and going their separate ways.

~~~~~~~~~~~

So, the support workers who appear in this story will be based ever so slightly on me. I'm a support worker in my day job so I'm drawing on my experience to write these characters. 

Let me know what you think!

Much love