Recollection

My calm reverie didn't last for long.

'Ashley from Black Veil Brides?' I heard young female voices chime together.

"You got him?" I looked down to see Hunter curled up, dead to the world around him.

"Yeah, doesn't look like he'll be going anywhere." I smiled and Ash left my side to sign some autographs and pose for a few photographs.

One of the girls politely asked if I was his girlfriend, Ash smirked in my direction while my blood raced and my heart pounded thunderously awaiting his answer.

"You'd have to ask her." was his reply. I couldn't answer when I didn't even know myself.

Eyeing me up and down, one of the older looking girls in the group just sneered, which in turn pissed me off.

I turned to the group and the best Cheshire Cat type grin that I could manage appeared upon my face.

Ash thanked each girl for the support and said he'd like to get back. The girls trailed off - two giggling, one obviously in shock and one still sneering.

"I don't measure up do I?" I asked meekly once Ash re-wrapped his arms around me.

"What's that suppose to mean?" he asked.

"The typical 'Purdy girl'..I don't fit those qualifications do I?"

"There are no qualifications."

I didn't believe any of the words he spoke.

"There's always a buxom beauty by your side and I'm far from any of that."

"All for publicity, Aut."

"What's that supposed to mean? Publicity? Is that what this is?" I began firing off question after question, my voice slowly raising an octave with each.

"Oh hell no! Not here..come on!" he jumped up and prepared to help me up but I ignored him.

"Not until I get an answer!" I pouted childishly.

Ash dropped to his knees in the sand and placed a finger under my chin, gently lifting it to have our eyes meet.

"Far from publicity, Autumn. All this is real." he waved his other hand for show. "Nothing in my imagination could even come close."

Within a mere second, the gap between us disappeared and his lips were hungrily on mine. With just a kiss, Ash could make me forget everything.

Just then, Hunter began to stir within my embrace. Ash pulled away, smiled sweetly and took him from my arms. He moved to rummage through the diaper bag and produced not only stuff for a bottle but another diaper and his wipes.

Leaving me with the ingredients for the bottle, he whisked away towards the outdoor restrooms in the near distance.

Until the two of them returned, I badly attempted a shot at Punk's bottle. I managed to get the bottle open as well as the can, but putting the powdered formula inside proved to be a bit more difficult considering I couldn't hold onto the bottle itself. I got some inside but definitely not enough to suffice for Hunter's growing appetite.

I never would have never known they returned if it were for Ash's chuckle.

"Hey at least I tried." I laughed.

He anchored Punk into my arm and set forth making his bottle. Once finished, he helped me feed our squirming boy. And for a moment, we were like every other family.

Notes