I started digging for my castle's foundation near the water, so I could access it. I slowly started building my castle with a good amount of water mixed into my sand. I didn't even look to see what Ava was doing. I was determined to win though.

"Hey, Gabe?" Ava asked from behind me.

"Yeah?" I asked her.

"Are you just going to keep giving Lily books?" She asked me.

"I don't know how else to get to her. I felt like she got better when I taught her two years ago. But she came back the next year worse than ever before. She used to refuse to go to her class and come to mine instead. Eventually, I convinced her to go to her class and things got a little better. But overall, she just gets less and less social with time. There has to be something going on." I sighed.

"Ask her. Please ask her." Ava said.

"I do. I always try to ask her about the things that are going on at home. She won't say anything." I sighed.

"So... how are you going to teach her everything for this test?" She asked.

"Maybe after school classes, or at lunch... I don't know. But she needs to learn this stuff, and I can't do it all through books. There's math on this test and she hates math." I sighed.

"Take some candy. It'll help with the math." She said.

"I don't know about that. These questions are too hard for candy." I sighed.

"She can't be anywhere past subtraction...." Ava said.

"Yeah. She's not. But it's like hard subtraction. Like five hundred and sixty three minus eighteen." I sighed.

"That's not too hard, but I get what you mean." Ava nodded. "What else is on the test?"

"The states of matter... probably something about habitats, but like general easy stuff that she probably knows... none of it is really an issue, the kid is really smart. It's just math. Every single time I even mention math, I become her worst enemy." I groaned.

"She'll be ok, Gabe... you're an amazing teacher, you'll find a way to teach her. It's also ok to be her enemy for a little while. She's not going to hate you because you made her do math." Ava laughed.

"I just feel horrible. It feels like I'm walking on eggshells with her. Like, what if she does actually start hating me and she doesn't want to talk to even me?" I asked.

"Be the cute, sweet man that I know you as. Don't push too much, ok? The kid is smart, like you said. She'll know that you're only trying to help." Ava assured me.

"I hope you're right." I smiled.

"It's heartbreaking." She said.

"What is?" I asked.

"This poor kid... I mean, she had no idea that any of this is happening. And if she really is going through something, then... then like... that's even worse... I mean, how old is she? Seven?" Ava sighed.

"She's six... a year younger than all her classmates. I don't understand why they put her in school when she could've had a whole extra year." I said.

"Gabe... I genuinely think that she's being neglected. Maybe it's not a bad thing that they want to call child services..." Ava said.

"Ava, the foster care system is trash. No matter what happens the government doesn't seem to understand that these children are the future and they need to be protected. The horror stories I've heard about what Sophie went through... I don't want this innocent little girl to go through it." I sighed.

"I know... I know, but if her parents are neglecting her, maybe someone better will be able to take care of her. Maybe it'll be a good thing for her." Ava said.

"I know what you mean." I nodded.

"I guess it's just a matter of time before we see what happens. I hope that she passes the test... but I think her home life needs investigation." Ava said.

"The next time they leave her at school and she doesn't get picked up, I'm going to send her home with one of the staff. I just... I need to know there's a parent somewhere. I don't even see them. She just runs off with the other kids, and bam... she's gone." I growled in frustration.

"It's ok." Ava said, noticing how upset I was. "I want to help you make a story for her though. It could be super fun." Ava smiled.

"We can do that after this." I chuckled.

"Cool." Ava said, continuing her castle building. I finished my own castle and watched her make the rest of hers.

I personally thought that I had a chance at winning, but again, more of my family voted for Ava's castle than for mine. I lost yet again and Ava was quite pleased, but she was too excited about the little story we were going to write for Lily to brag about her win.

She sat with her back against my chest and her head rested on my shoulder while we planned out the little story. Ava was a little perfectionist at heart, and she had everything about the story planned to every last detail before she let us move.

We both demolished our sand castles before we left and we buried the ash from our fire so that no sparks got away and started any fires. After that, we were off. We both decided that I was the winner for the best date competition. So Ava still had to prove herself in terms of planning dates. That left me with at least one victory out of all of our competitions that day. But I did have another victory, and that was Ava asking me to be her boyfriend.

I dropped my girlfriend off at home, kissing her goodnight and heading home. I had to do one last thing before allowing the day to end. I needed to speak to Ava's parents. So as soon as I got to my apartment, I collapsed on my couch and I texted both of her parents at once.

G - Hello, this is Gabriel... The man who Ava is seeing. I'd love to have a chat with you two at your earliest convenience.

Before I even had time to look away from my screen, her father's name flashed across my screen and my phone began to vibrate silently.

I took a deep breath and found myself accepting.

"Hello." I smiled once I answered.

"Hello, Gabriel. I'm Ava's father." The man said.

"I know... I uh... I wanted to talk to you." I explained.

"About?" Her father asked.

"About my relationship with Ava... I understand that I probably should've spoken to you earlier. But Ava is a stubborn girl and I didn't want to freak her out more than I already had during these past two years." I explained myself.

"Aw, he's so cute!" I heard a woman's voice say, bringing a smile to my face.

"Honey, please. Let me handle this." Her father said. "So... what exactly is it that you'd like to say to me?"

This man was scary. He sounded ready to stab me in my sleep and I was beginning to think he hated me and that this whole conversation was just digging me deeper.

"I just... ideally I would've spoken to you before Ava and I made it official... I was planning on asking her to be my girlfriend tomorrow after I got your permission but she asked me today." I said. "I just... I... I really love your daughter and I wouldn't ever want to hurt her. I'm in this relationship because I genuinely believe that what we have can last forever... so, as it is in my plan to eventually marry her, and since I want her to know how serious I am about her. I wanted to speak to you, get your blessing and show her that this is real for me."

"I appreciate the sentiment, young man. Ava knows your intentions. Ava truly believes that you are the one for her. I've spoken to her about you countless times. So... you do have my blessing. But I swear to you, Gabriel, if my daughter ever... and I mean ever... feels in any way violated, disrespected, trapped... I will end you. She has been through a lot. My little girl is sensitive although she hides it, and her past has hurt her more than she lets on. You better respect her space." He told me.

"Of course. Her comfort and happiness are my biggest priorities." I said.

"Good. Now go to sleep... I believe she expects to see you for breakfast tomorrow morning." He told me.

"Yes. She does." I chuckled.

"Good. Take care of my little angel." He told me.

"I will, Sir. I promise you, she's in good hands." I explained.

"Wait! I want to talk to him." Her mother said.

"Alright. My wife wants to talk to you." Her father told me.

"Ok." I said.

"Gabriel, honey! How are you?" Her mother asked.

"I'm doing well, thank you. How are you, Ma'am?" I asked.

"Aw, such a cutie. I'm good, sweetheart." She said to me. "How old are you, Gabriel?"

"I'm 29." I answered.

"That's a wonderful age for Ava. What do you do?" She asked me.

"I'm a teacher." I smiled.

"Oh, that's lovely. And do you teach young children or the older ones?" She asked me.

"I teach the youngest... I'm an elementary school teacher, but I've been teaching primary for five years." I explained.

"Primary?" She asked me.

"Oh, I think you guys do kindergarten in the states? My students are around five years old and they go from my class to the first grade." I explained.

"Oh, I see. Are they in the same building as the older kids?" She asked me.

"Yes, yes. They are." I chuckled.

"Ah, I see... what other things do you do? When you aren't teaching." Her mother asked me.

"I help my older sister out. She owns a restaurant... or some of my other family members... I also teach some martial arts classes for toddlers at a gym... I run an after school program and volunteer for the school." I explained.

"I see. That's wonderful... your sister owns a restaurant... does she cook?" Ava's mother investigated.

"She does." I chuckled.

"And do you?" Her mother asked.

"Yes. I do." I laughed. "I can cook anything Ava's heart desires, don't you worry, Ma'am."

"I'm sure she'd love that." Her mother laughed.

"I hope so." I smiled.

"So... have you two spoken about your plans for the future yet?" Her mother asked me.

"We have." I nodded, even though they couldn't see me.

"And you seem to love children... are you alright with the fact that Ava doesn't see her own children in her future?" Her mother asked me.

"I am... having our own children would either require Ava to be pregnant, which is entirely her choice as it is her body. Or... we could adopt, which would mean a lot of work on our part to handle whatever trauma the child may have... parenting a child involves a great deal of hard work and dedication. And if Ava doesn't think that she'd be capable of sacrificing enough time for the child, then I wouldn't ever force her to. I love children, but I have all my students and my family is a big one. There are lots of children around me... and that's enough for me. The most important thing is Ava's comfort and happiness." I said.

"And you aren't just saying that because you think she'll eventually give in?" Her mother questioned.

"Of course not. I had the chance to walk away if I thought I wanted kids, and I chose Ava over a future with children, I stand by that decision. I would never lead her on or push her into something she doesn't want." I explained.

"You're a good man, Gabriel. Take care of my daughter." She told me.

"I will, Ma'am. She's very important to me." I smiled, thinking about that gorgeous smile on Ava's face.

"Then you have my blessing, and my husband's... but he's, of course, jealous that there's another man in his baby girl's life... that's why he's so grumpy." She told me with a laugh.

I understand. But, I will take care of her and she'll always be his daughter. I'll never ever keep her from either of you. I know how important family is." I smiled.

"Are you close with your own family?" Her mother asked me.

"Yes. We're all as close as a family can get." I smiled.

"That's wonderful. We look forward to meeting you sometime soon." She told me.

"I'll try to make sure that happens." I smiled. "Maybe once she gets licensed and settles down with work at the clinic... she can take a few days off from the clinic and we can fly over."

"That sounds lovely. You take care, honey. It was lovely to talk to you and hear a little more about the man my daughter has been gushing about." Her mother laughed.

I chuckled.

"It was great speaking with you. Thank you for accepting me as your daughter's boyfriend. I'll put her before everything, I promise you. You guys have a lovely day." I smiled.

"You too. Bye." Her mother said.

"Bye." I said, hanging up and smiling down at my phone.

I had gotten both of her parents' blessings for beginning this relationship and my heart was fluttering with joy. Ava was officially my girl and I was all hers. Forever.